Category: Games

Dubai, November 04, 2021 (PPI-OT):There is something about Sri Lanka and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Whatever the interim years hold in terms of injuries, retirements and results, they have a time-honoured knack of pulling it together on the biggest stage of them all.

After all, no team has played more and won more in the tournament’s history, and their 39th game and 26th win pointed the way to another dominant epoch in the country’s cricket.

Sri Lanka have found batting in the powerplay tough in recent times, particularly in their three-match T20I tour of England, struggling to find a partner for the nuggety Kusal Perera.

Now, they have their man – Pathum Nissaka, who is no muscle-wrapped pinch-hitter but a canny manipulator of fields who comes for you quietly. In short, a bowler’s nightmare.

Head coach Mickey Arthur waxes lyrical: “I’ve watched every cricketer now in Sri Lanka, but I don’t see batting talent like Pathum Nissanka.

“I’ve always said since the first time I saw Pathum that he’s a wonderful talent. His balance, his feet movement, when he attacks and defends are great. He’s got it all.”

Nissanka found a perfect balance here, unruffled by the loss of Perera in the final over of the powerplay, going on to build a superb stand of 91 with Charith Asalanka.

His two standout shots were marked by breathtaking use of the crease. The first, when he rocked back in his crease to reverse sweep Akeal Hosein for a one-bounce four.

The second saw him shuffle well outside his off-stump and flick Ravi Rampaul with elastic wrists to the square leg boundary.

His superb 72 to set up the game against South Africa was another defining innings, but this one surely gave him more satisfaction as it came in a morale-boosting 20-run victory.

Watching the innings it was easy to forget he has played only 36 T20 matches and isn’t out of double figures at international level.

Neither is Asalanka, with whom he repeatedly traded boundaries in a thrilling 61-ball stand. He has played 39 T20 matches, all in his home country, and nine T20Is.

There was a biting contrast in their collaboration, compared to the one shared by Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer for the fourth Windies wicket.

Pooran cut loose almost from the moment he got to the crease, contributing 18 off 19 balls, whereas Hetmyer couldn’t get going, managing nine from his first 15.

That led to Pooran overcompensating and finding long-off from an innocuous off-stump ball from Dushmantha Chameera, a hammer blow to his side’s hopes of chasing 190.

Asalanka and Nissanka, however, both hit boundaries in the seventh and 13th overs, disrupting Hossein and Andre Russell with their awkward styles.

Asalanka spoke after his 80 from 49 balls against West Indies of the power of being given the freedom to play his natural game and he was great to watch in Abu Dhabi.

He scored heavily behind square with flicks, cuts and deflections and bore his teeth in sweeping Dwayne Bravo for six and crashing him through the covers early on.

Aged 30, Bhanuka Rajapaksa has a different tale to tell but is another forming a new batting core for Arthur, Mahela Jayawardene and all associated with this team to build on.

The fulcrum of the team is 24-year-old Wanindu Hasaranga, who only broke into the side in 2019, a two-way threat whose googly is a mighty weapon. He looks a generational talent.

They also have pace to burn in the shape of Chameera, who struggled in this game, and Lahiru Kumara, left out this time.

Who knows quite what the next year holds for Sri Lanka. But with a quick turnaround and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup returning in a year’s time in Australia, you can be sure they’ll be ready.

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, November 04, 2021 (PPI-OT):Charith Asalanka and Pathum Nissanka’s inspired batting helped propel Sri Lanka to a 20-run win over the West Indies, ending their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 on a high.

The pair put on 91 for the second wicket, with Asalanka making 68 and Nissanka 51, as their side soared to 189 for three to set a challenging target.

Kieron Pollard’s men were never equal to the task and the late heroics of Shimron Hetmyer, to the tune of 81 not out, were in vain as they ended on 169 for eight from their 20 overs.

The West Indies opted for the off-spin of Roston Chase in the opening over for the first time in the tournament to counter Kusal Perera, who tentatively poked him for four with the third ball.

Both the southpaw, searching for his first big score, and Nissanka settled well and Perera was typically severe on a short ball from Ravi Rampaul, smacking it flat over square leg for six.

Perera perished on 29 when he offered a sharp return catch to Andre Russell, who adjusted his weight superbly to dive down and pouch the catch.

From 42 for one, Nissanka and Asalanka embarked on their partnership that was characterised by subtle, fine glances and innovative use of the crease to score heavily behind square.

Akeal Hosein’s spin had posed Nissanka problems and he countered by using his reverse sweep to swat him for a one-bounce four to bring the stand to 50.

Frustration grew in the field when Russell found Nissanka’s outside edge only for it to fly to the fence and then he strayed down the leg side and was clipped to the boundary by Asalanka.

They built a partnership of 91 from 61 balls, that came to an end when Dwayne Bravo’s latest slower ball variation forced Nissanka into a big swing and he was caught by Hetmyer.

Sri Lanka barely slowed down and with skipper Dasun Shanaka freeing his arms to complement Asalanka, the 17th and 18th overs went for 16 and 17 runs respectively.

Two further blows for four from each of them was followed by Asalanka’s superb knock coming to an end when he top-edged a pull off Russell that Hetmyer did well to dive forward and grab.

Rampaul bowled an excellent final over but the momentum lay firmly with Sri Lanka and rolled over into the start of the run chase.

Beanpole quick Binura Fernando forced Chris Gayle into a soft dismissal, looping up a simple catch to Wanindu Hasaranga at mid-on.

After a pair of quick boundaries from Evin Lewis, he forced the other Windies opener to chop onto his stumps and it was 10 for two.

Fernando was in the thick of it and he took punishment from Nicholas Pooran, who cut loose with three boundaries in four balls from his second over including an emphatic six over wide long-on.

Just as Chase looked to have settled, he fell victim to a blinding diving catch at midwicket from Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who threw himself to his left to take a stunner and dismiss him for nine.

Pooran and Hetmyer tried to steady the ship but the latter failed to score quickly enough to prevent his partner from having to take undue risks.

They combined for 30 from 34 balls but Pooran went for one big shot too many and holed out off Dushmanatha Chameera to long-off for 46.

Oddly, the loss of Pooran seemed to free Hetmyer to play his natural game and he hooked the very next ball for six and then crashed Chameera for four in an eventful 13th over.

The revival wasn’t to last, however, as Andre Russell offered a tame return catch to Chamika Karunaratne to make it 94 for five, a blow that looked fatal to Windies’ chances.

The equation looked bleak and although Hetmyer swung Karunaratne for three fours that over, Pollard was clean bowled for a golden duck to settle the matter at 107 for six.

Hetmyer played a superb and largely lone hand, hitting Karunaratne for successive sixes and then a four, ending on a defiant unbeaten 81 from 54 balls.

It was an emphatic way for Sri Lanka to finish an encouraging tournament, while West Indies will hope to end their title defence with victory over Australia on Saturday.

Scores in brief

Sri Lanka beat West Indies at the Sheikh Zayed International Stadium, Abu Dhabi by 20 runs

Sri Lanka 189/3 in 20 overs (Charith Asalanka 68; Pathum Nissanka 51; Andre Russell 2/33, Dwayne Bravo 1/42)

West Indies 169/8 in 20 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 81 not out, Nicholas Pooran 46; Wanindu Hasaranga 2/19, Binura Fernando 2/24)

Player of the Match: Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka)

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, November 04, 2021 (PPI-OT):Mitchell Santner knows the easiest way for New Zealand to avoid complex mathematical calculations about their place in the semi-finals is to win their remaining two Super 12s games and says that is exactly what they’re planning to do.

If New Zealand beat Namibia in Sharjah on Friday and Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi 48 hours later, then they qualify from Group 2 of the Super 12s into the semi-finals.

However, if the Black Caps were to lose to Afghanistan, then the second qualification spot could come down to which of them, Afghanistan and India have the best net run-rate – with the Afghan team currently leading on that metric.

A convincing victory over Namibia on Friday would help New Zealand’s run-rate cause but Santner insists the sole focus is on winning cricket matches, rather than worrying about other factors.

“The nature of each group being very tight means run rate is going to play a part,” said Santner. “I guess for us it’s just about winning the next two games and then we’re through.

“I think especially at a ground like Sharjah, if you’re trying to win or win by a lot, it can be quite challenging. Just with the way the surface is.

“So, I think we’ve just got to look first at just playing our best cricket at Sharjah and beating Namibia and then moving on from there and seeing what Abu Dhabi has for us against Afghanistan.

“But I guess it’s in our control. If we win two games, we’re through. So, I don’t think we need to look too much into the net run rate.”

Left-arm spinner Santner has bowled economically so far in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 but taken just one wicket – in the first Super 12s match against Pakistan.

However, that role suits the 29-year-old just fine and says that he and Ish Sodhi are forming a potent spin tandem for the Black Caps, just as they hoped.

“Obviously as a collective we’ve began pretty good as a unit,” Santner said of New Zealand’s bowlers.

“I guess as a spinner, me and Ish, I’d say he’s probably more the aggressor.

“My role is to deny runs. It kind of forces the big shot at the other end. And we’ve seen each get the wickets, he’s bowled extremely well.

“I’m pretty happy floating around the radar and going under run a ball.”

For their part, Namibia have had an impressive ICC Men’s T20 World Cup – playing superbly to qualify from the First Round and then also beating Scotland in the Super 12s.

And ahead of playing another world-class team in the form of New Zealand, former South Africa international David Wiese admits he has loved representing Namibia on the biggest stage.

“It’s been amazing for me just being back,” explained the batter. “Playing international cricket again has been an awesome experience for me.

“To play with a team like Namibia that’s got a lot of talent, a lot of potential there, to help those guys out and to make it into the Super 12 stage has been amazing for us.

“We know New Zealand is a tough opposition. They’ve got world-class players there. And again, we’ll be seen as the underdogs in the game, but we’ve played the games at Sharjah.

“We’ve played and had a bit of success at Sharjah, and we think it’s a wicket that could suit our type of bowling. So we’ve done our prep.

“In T20 cricket at the end of the day, one person can take the game away from the opposition. And if it’s your day, you can stand up and be that man of the match performance and you never know what can happen.”

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, November 04, 2021 (PPI-OT):Adam Zampa’s five-wicket haul and a quickfire 40 from Aaron Finch saw Australia ease to an eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh in a group 1 match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai on Thursday.

Put in to bat, Bangladesh slipped to 10 for three and never recovered as all the Australian bowlers fired to dismiss Bangladesh for 73.

Aaron Finch and David Warner made short work of the chase as Australia reached the total with 82 balls to spare to boost their qualification hopes.

The tone was set by Mitchell Starc, who clean bowled Liton Das for a golden duck with the third ball of the innings.

In the next over, Josh Hazlewood undid Soumya Sarkar with added pace before Finch turned to the spin of Glenn Maxwell and the surprise move paid off, Mushfiqur Rahim falling for a single.

Another wicket would fall before the end of the powerplay and it was a key one, with the promising Mohammad Naim picking out Pat Cummins at square leg as the Tigers ended the powerplay on 33 for four.

There was no let-up when Zampa entered the attack, with his first ball seeing Afif Hossain edge to captain Finch at first slip.

Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah combined with Shamim Hossain to engineer something of a rebuild, reaching 58 for five after an opening 10 overs which included 35 dot balls.

Zampa then struck with consecutive balls as Shamim fell for 19 before Mahedi Hassan was trapped lbw.

The leg-spinner would have to wait patiently through overs from Starc and Cummins for the chance to make it three in three and he was denied his maiden hat-trick as Matthew Wade dropped Taskin Ahmed.

As a consolation, he went on to complete his five-for, taking the final two wickets of Bangladesh’s innings to finish with five for 19, his best figures in T20Is.

With Australia knowing net run rate was crucial, Finch set about chasing the total down as quickly as possible and joined forces with Warner to take 12 runs off Mustafizur Rahman’s first over

Mustafizur’s next was no better as Warner and Finch dispatched him for four boundaries to add 21 to their total.

Taskin responded well to being crashed for consecutive sixes by Finch, clean bowling the skipper but only after he had made 40 off 19 balls as Australia ended the fifth over at 58 for one.

Warner went in the next over, again clean bowled, this time by Shoriful Islam as Australia completed the powerplay needing only seven runs for victory.

Mitchell Marsh needed only three balls to complete the job, finishing the game in style with a six as Australia eased home.

Scores in brief

Australia beat Bangladesh at Dubai International Stadium, Dubai by eight wickets

Bangladesh, 73 all out in 15 overs (Shamim Hossain 19, Naim Mohammad 17; Adam Zampa 5/19, Josh Hazlewood 2-8)

Australia 78/2 in 6.3 overs (Aaron Finch 40, David Warner 18; Taskin Ahmed 1/36, Shoriful Islam 1/9)

Player of the Match: Adam Zampa (Australia)

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, November 04, 2021 (PPI-OT):Some days even when things go wrong, they go right and that was the case for Adam Zampa today.

The leg-spinner took his maiden five-fer for Australia as Bangladesh were skittled for 73 but Zampa admitted it was not his best bowling performance in the storied gold and green.

He even saw a further chance dropped by Matthew Wade when on a hat-trick ball, Zampa reminding Wade with a sly grin that was his golden opportunity.

Zampa was not required in the straightforward run chase of 74 as Aaron Finch and David Warner put on an opening stand of 58, before Mitch Marsh hit the winning runs as Australia romped to an eight-wicket victory in just 6.2 overs.

For Zampa, his star turn began in the seventh over with Bangladesh already at 33 for four and he made matters worse for the Tigers by getting Afif Hossain with his first ball.

Afif departed for a four-ball duck having been caught by Finch at first slip as Zampa conceded just five runs off the over.

His next over perhaps revealed why Zampa did not believe it was his best performance, as he was clubbed for six by Shamim Hossain, however, the 29-year-old responded well conceding only one more run from the over.

The third over of his spell was where he really came alight, dismissing Shamim for 19, the top score in Bangladesh’s innings, before getting news batsmen Mahedi Hassan for a first-ball duck.

Unluckily for Zampa, that was the end of the over and in a cruel twist of fate he would have to watch as Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins were all given opportunities to bowl Bangladesh out.

Luckily for Zampa, only Starc was able to strike, dismissing Mahmudullah for 16 to leave the Tigers eight down.

And so, finally, it was time for Zampa’s hat-trick ball and he was facing fast bowler Taskin Ahmed who attempted a drive and instead got a thick edge sending the ball straight into the path of Wade.

But it wasn’t to be, the ball spilled out and before Zampa turned back to his mark, he just gently informed Wade: ‘That was my hat-trick ball.’

He would not have to wait long to right that wrong, three deliveries later he got Mustafizur Rahman caught at long-on. For the first time in Zampa’s T20I career, he had taken four wickets and two balls later had five when Shoriful Islam was caught by Finch.

Not only that, he had taken the first five-fer of the competition and was now leading the bowling standings, his ten wickets for the tournament put him two ahead of Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga and Anrich Nortje of South Africa.

However, for Zampa, his performance wasn’t important – for him it was all about Australia upping their net run-rate and overtaking South Africa to sit second in Group 1, something they duly did, meaning qualification will go down to the wire on Saturday.

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