Day: October 31, 2021

Dubai, October 31, 2021 (PPI-OT):New Zealand produced a stunning bowling display to beat India by eight wickets and get their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 campaign up and running.

Both India and New Zealand had lost their opening Super 12s matches to Pakistan and came into this one knowing that defeat would leave their hopes of reaching the semi-final hanging by a thread.

Kane Williamson won the toss and put India in, but despite how well teams chasing have done in this tournament, even the most optimistic of Black Caps fans would not have expected to see them claim such a dominant success.

Trent Boult started the carnage, eventually finishing with figures of three for 20, and as Indian batters picked out the fielders on the boundary with regularity, they were only able to make 110 for seven.

That was never likely to be enough and Daryl Mitchell ensured it was the case with a quickfire 49, ably supported by his captain who finished the job off with an unbeaten 33.

India had brought in Ishan Kishan and Shardul Thakur, with the former promoted to open, but he was Boult’s first victim, clipping the ball off his toes straight down the throat of Mitchell for four.

Adam Milne put Rohit Sharma down next ball, before going for 15 off his first over, but that was a rare high point for India.

KL Rahul was dismissed by the penultimate delivery of the powerplay, hooking but again picking out Mitchell in the deep as he departed for 18 with India 35 for two.

Rohit was joined by Virat Kohli but Ish Sodhi removed them both as shots to long-on fell into the hands of the fielders. At 48 for four, India were in all sorts of trouble and while Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya consolidated, they did so at the expense of the scoring rate as India went 71 balls without a boundary.

Pant eventually fell to Milne, a wild swipe at one coming back seeing him cleaned up. And while Pandya did manage end the boundary drought, he fell for 23 as he became the latest player to find the fielder on the boundary, Martin Guptill taking his second catch of the innings.

He added another, again off Boult as Thakur went for a duck, and despite Ravindra Jadeja’s efforts late on, making an unbeaten 26, India were well short of par.

In reply, Guptill began positively in making 20 before he fell to Jasprit Bumrah, the pick of the Indian bowlers.

But the low total meant that Mitchell and Williamson could just take their time. That is not the style of the former though, and he hit four fours and three sixes before getting caught by Rahul off Bumrah with 15 still to get.

Williamson was never troubled though and saw his side home comfortably.

With this win, New Zealand helped their net run-rate as they look to put pressure on Afghanistan in the race for a semi-final spot, with the pair set to meet in each team’s final game of the Super 12.

India, meanwhile, are now relying on other results if they are to make the semi-finals, with a clash against Afghanistan next up in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Scores in brief

New Zealand beat India at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai by eight wickets

India 110/7, in 20 overs (Ravindra Jadeja 26, Hardik Pandya 23; Trent Boult 3/20, Ish Sodhi 2/17)

New Zealand 111/2, in 14.3 overs (Daryl Mitchell 49, Kane Williamson 33 not out; Jasprit Bumrah 2/19, Mohammed Shami 0/11)

Player of the Match: Ish Sodhi (New Zealand)

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, October 31, 2021 (PPI-OT):Pressure was the word that both Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson came back to when describing New Zealand’s comprehensive victory over India in Dubai.

It was the pressure put on by the Black Caps’ bowling attack that never allowed India to settle after being put in, and from there the Kiwis dictated the game.

Chasing just 111 for victory, New Zealand cruised to an eight-wicket victory, igniting their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 campaign while leaving India needing other results to go their way to have a chance of making the semi-finals.

And Black Caps skipper Williamson, who scored an unbeaten 33, was thrilled at the way his bowlers set up the victory.

He said: “It was a fantastic all-round performance from us against a formidable Indian outfit who were always going to put up an incredible fight. A number of things went our way and we were very clinical in all facets.

“The first half of the game was set up perfectly on a surface which was not easy to find rhythm on, we were able to build pressure throughout and the way the openers came out and got us off to a great start really set the platform for the chase.

“The balance of our attack has two spinners in it, they were both outstanding. I think the collective unit was outstanding, the way they kept passing the baton and applying pressure. It was a really strong performance for us. We saw some a lot of good signs in our first match as well which was a tight one and we were able to build on that.”

Following a 10-wicket defeat to Pakistan, India were in desperate need of a win, but never got going as they looked to set a total.

A period of 71 balls without a boundary typified their struggles and captain Kohli, who made nine before being caught in the deep like many of his teammates, felt his side needed to be more courageous.

He said: “It was quite bizarre. I don’t think we were brave enough with bat or ball. Didn’t have much to play with but we weren’t brave enough in our body language when we entered the field. New Zealand had better intensity and better body language and they created pressure on us from the first over onwards.

“They continued that through the innings and every time we felt like we wanted to take a chance, we lost a wicket. That happens in T20 cricket but most often it’s a result of a little bit of hesitation with the bat and wondering whether you should go for the shot or not.

“When you play for the Indian cricket team you have a lot of expectations – not only from fans, but from the players themselves. So there’s always going to be more pressure with our games, that’s always been the case and we’ve embraced it over the years.

“Everyone who plays for the India team has to embrace it and learn how to cope with it. And when you cope with that as a team you are able to overcome that pressure and those situations and we haven’t done it these two games and that’s why we haven’t won.”

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, October 31, 2021 (PPI-OT):On his 29th birthday it was Indian-born Ish Sodhi who delivered the bowling masterclass that may well have signalled the end of the road for the country of his birth at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.

The tall New Zealand leg-spinner picked up the baton from Trent Boult and Tim Southee and put the clamps on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as India looked to build a total they could defend in Dubai.

In tandem with spin partner Mitchell Santner, Sodhi was able to create the pressure that starved India of boundary-scoring opportunities and brought the innings to a standstill.

Such was that pressure that even a bad ball from Sodhi ended up taking a wicket, Rohit’s timing thrown off by the variations in pace and flight and lofting a short ball outside off straight to Martin Guptill at long-on.

Immediately after the drinks break, Kohli did the same, with Boult this time the safe pair of hands at long-on and with that India were scrambling. They eventually made 110 for seven and New Zealand eased to an eight-wicket victory.

It probably should not have come as a surprise to see Sodhi do so well against India. After all, in T20 internationals, they have become his favourite opponent. His 19 wickets against India are the most of any bowler against them in the format, and his figures of two for 17 were part of a stifling bowling display.

Born in Ludhiana in the Punjab, Sodhi moved with his parents to New Zealand when aged just four learning to bowl leg-spin under the tutelage of Dipak Patel while using YouTube to study Shane Warne, Stuart McGill and Anil Kumble.

Those lessons appear to be working for Sodhi, who is also a part-time rapper, and in the shortest format of the game there are few better.

While Southee and Boult may be the star names in the Kiwi attack, Sodhi proved once again that he is a crucial cog in the team. And skipper Kane Williamson certainly appreciates the value of his leg-spinner.

He said: “Ish is an outstanding T20 bowler, white-ball bowler in particular. He’s been a big part of our side for a long period of time and he’s played in a number of comps around the world so he’s really experienced. Those two spinners, through the middle for us have been huge and when you come to these conditions you do expect spin to play a big part.”

With the wickets in the UAE so conducive to spin, it is increasingly clear that slow bowlers will have a huge influence on this tournament.

Sodhi has proven time and again that he should be considered up there with the very best of them. In fact, only Rashid Khan and Shakib Al Hasan have taken more T20I wickets of spinners at this tournament than his 77.

With two more wickets and a Player of the Match display against India, the rest of the world will certainly have taken notice of just what Sodhi can do.

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, October 31, 2021 (PPI-OT):It was seam, not spin, that proved Namibia’s undoing against Afghanistan. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 never fails to surprise.

The World Cup debutants were told to expect a trial by twirl in Abu Dhabi and reassured the world pre-match that they had comprehensively prepared for the challenge.

“We’re extremely confident against spin,” Craig Williams insisted, on the back of confident performances against the slow bowling of Scotland and Sri Lanka in the first round.

That confidence would only have been stoked by the absence of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who had the best economy rate and average of any bowler at the tournament, in the Afghan line-up.

Mujeeb took the opening over against Pakistan, and Mohammad Nabi against Scotland. This time, pace was on the ball in the shape of Naveen-ul-Haq, who struggled a little last time out.

Naveen is not a man to be underestimated. He has been playing for Afghanistan in various guises since the age of 11, and spent his early years seeking refuge in Pakistan.

He was the leading wicket-taker in the English T20 Blast over the summer with 26 victims at 17.57, working closely with mentor Ian Pont to take his game to the next level.

Naveen found a lovely full length and movement in the air with his fourth ball, forcing Craig Williams to mistime and sky a catch to mid-on, giving his side a dream start.

Namibia weren’t lying – they played spin well early on as Michael van Lingen unexpectedly hit Nabi for six over long-on against the turn.

Naveen struck again in the following over, artfully varying his pace when he saw Van Lingen charge down the pitch, inducing a false stroke and having him caught at square leg.

In a total switch of the script, Nabi disappeared again a few balls later when Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, promoted to No.3, sent him flying over the straight fence.

Gulbadin Naib hadn’t bowled in either of Afghanistan’s first two games but it was the team’s former 50-over captain who was given the crucial sixth over, the last in the powerplay.

He followed his team-mate’s lead, taking pace off the ball and getting Loftie-Eaton to swipe across the line and lose the top of his leg stump.

That ended Namibia’s hopes of chasing the target of 161 but the richness of seam wasn’t done there.

Hamid Hassan bowled superbly in the middle overs and opposing batters didn’t have an answer to his fast, well-disguised yorker and variations in length.

He finished with outstanding figures of 3-9 from four overs, including 16 dot balls.

Naveen would account for Robbie Frylinck and Gulbadin took another as they ended with 3-26 and 2-19 respectively in an outstanding bowling display.

It was essential that Afghanistan responded to their emotional defeat to Pakistan with a confident victory, and that’s exactly what they did in beating Namibia by 62 runs.

All of their key batters have now spent compelling time at the crease and their openers were typically destructive.

Hazratullah Zazai did the early damage while Mohammad Shahzad took time to settle at the crease, a fearsome formula that delivered another half-century stand for Nabi’s side.

The game marked the end of an era for Afghan cricket as Asghar Afghan played his final match for his country after a decade’s distinguished service.

His story has been the story of the rise of Afghanistan itself, an ever-present in all seven of the ICC major events they have played in.

In his last post-match press conference, he intimated the reason for his decision was to give young players around him a chance to take centre stage.

With Naveen joined by Karim Janat and Rahmanullah Gurbaz in a new crop of talent – led, of course, by Rashid Khan and Mujeeb – the future is bright for this band of history-makers.

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, October 31, 2021 (PPI-OT):The International Cricket Council (ICC) has congratulated former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan for a superb career that has seen him play a crucial role in his country’s rise in international cricket.

The batter, who has been a part of all seven major ICC tournaments that Afghanistan have participated in, has announced his retirement from all formats of the game.

His final match came against Namibia in the Super 12 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 on Sunday.

ICC Acting Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said: “Asghar has been a great ambassador of the game and played a huge part in Afghanistan’s rise up the ranks in world cricket.

“He has played a pivotal role as batter and led his team astutely during his time as captain.

“On behalf of the ICC, I wish him all the best for the future and hope that he continues to be associated with the game in the years to come.

The 33-year-old finished his career having played 114 ODI matches, scoring 2,424 runs with a century and 12 half-centuries. He also scored 440 runs in six Test matches.

Asghar captained his country in their first-ever Test match against India in 2018 and at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2016.

At the time of his retirement, he holds the record for the most wins as captain in T20 internationals having led his team to victory in 42 games.

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com