Category: Games

Dubai, October 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):Aiden Markram is in a class of his own when it comes to South African cricket. The 27-year-old is the only male or female player to lift an ICC trophy for the Proteas after he captained the Under-19s to glory at the 50-over World Cup in 2014.

But if things go to plan come the end of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, Temba Bavuma will join him in that exclusive club.

And as it stands, Markram is single-handedly doing his best to drag his team towards the semi-finals, showing terrific form with the bat in the UAE, the very same place where he tasted glory seven years ago.

In the Proteas’ Super 12s opener against Australia, the team struggled, posting just 118 for nine when batting first but Markram’s standout showing was an anomaly.

A fluent 40 off 36 balls was a lone hand in a disappointing start to the tournament as, despite a strong reply with the ball, an under-par total proved costly in a five-wicket defeat.

South Africa knew that defeat to the West Indies would leave their hopes of making the semi-finals hanging by a thread and Markram played a starring role with bat and ball when it mattered most.

Tasked with opening the bowling, the part-timer went for four from the opening over of the contest and remarkably recorded a maiden in the third over.

Perhaps getting greedy, his skipper Bavuma handed him a third straight over which this time went for 18 runs as Evin Lewis plundered two sixes and a four from his final three balls.

However, figures of none for 22 from three overs at the top, including 11 dot balls, are not to be sniffed at.

Faced with a potentially tricky chase, needing 144 to win, South Africa lost Bavuma early and although Reeza Hendricks’ 39 off 30 helped keep them up with the rate, the game was very much still firmly in the balance when Markram arrived at 61 for two in the tenth over.

But a blistering display of power-hitting took the game completely away from the West Indies as Markram brought up his 50 from just 25 balls, striking at an incredible rate of 200 with four sixes and two fours to boot.

Fittingly, he hit the winning single, to finish on 51 not out off 26, after excelling as the aggressor in a match-winning partnership of 83 in 57 balls alongside Rassie van der Dussen, who anchored the innings with 43 off 51.

South Africa’s commanding eight-wicket win keeps them in the hunt in Group 1 of the Super 12 stage and their star batter appears to have hit the ground running courtesy of a spell in the UAE for the IPL with the Punjab Kings.

Before the ICC Men’s World T20 2021 started, he spoke about his time at the IPL and said: “It was very enjoyable. Obviously different to how other teams work. It was nice to experience it.

“It was nice to see the conditions where we are going to play the World Cup. That was also a big positive. A lot of learning took place. It was a good few weeks that I was with the Kings.

“It is also quite a high-pressure tournament, and it was good to be exposed to such quality cricket and be exposed to some legends of T20 cricket.”

Markram also plucked a tremendous diving catch out of the sky against Australia to dismiss Steve Smith, proving he is a real force to be reckoned with in all three facets of the shortest form of the game.

If teams are to stop South Africa, the key could rest in keeping the man once earmarked by Graeme Smith as a future Test captain quiet.

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
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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 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 has approved Adam Milne as a replacement for Lockie Ferguson in the New Zealand squad.

Fast bowler Milne, who has played 40 ODIs and 23 T20Is, was named as a replacement after Ferguson was ruled out due to a calf injury. Milne was a reserve as per the allowance for teams to travel with extra players in view of COVID-19 quarantine requirements.

The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad.

The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 consists of Chris Tetley (Head of Events, Chair), Clive Hitchcock (ICC Senior Cricket Operations Manager), Rahul Dravid and Dhiraj Malhotra (BCCI Representatives), Simon Doull and Ian Bishop (Independent Members).

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 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):England wicket-keeper Jos Buttler insisted there is no room for mistakes against Bangladesh despite a convincing opening victory over the West Indies.

Eoin Morgan’s side strolled to a six-wicket win in their Super 12s opener after bundling their opponents out for just 55 in a stunning bowling performance.

Despite seeing four wickets go down at the other end in reply, opener Buttler made an unbeaten 24 off 22 deliveries to see England home with 70 balls to spare, in a massive boost to their net run rate, and the vice-captain is eager to keep the winning momentum going on Wednesday at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

“Winning momentum is vital, isn’t it? Sort of the way the tournament is set out; there’s not much room for mistakes,” said the 31-year-old.

“The beauty of T20 cricket is anyone can beat anyone on their day, and an individual can win a match for their team.

“But no, we prepare well and we are a very level team, don’t get too high, don’t get too low and we’ll try to bring our level of intensity which always brings our best level to the game.”

Incredibly, England and Bangladesh have never met in an T20I before, but Buttler is adamant there will not be any nasty surprises in store.

He added: “Yeah, we know the challenges we’ll face. We’ve played against them lots in 50-over cricket. We know they are a dangerous side.

“They have got a lot of experience in T20 cricket as well, some very good players playing quite a specific style that is quite unique to them I feel as well.

“We focus obviously and try to plan for the opposition but at the same time we are focusing on ourselves, trying to get our level of intensity to the place it needs to be.

“I think we feel confident as a group that when we get that right, no matter who we play against, it’s going to give us the best chance of success.

“We have plans as we need to but we focus a lot on ourselves.”

Bangladesh’s fast-bowling coach Ottis Gibson urged his side not to panic against England’s powerful white-ball side led by Morgan who has inspired a fearless brand of cricket in recent years.

Gibson has had two stints in charge of England’s seam ranks and is well versed in the threats that Chris Silverwood’s side will bring.

He said: “I think Eoin Morgan was crucial to sort of the way that England started to play white-ball cricket.

“They’ve picked obviously different players compared to 2015, and the brand of cricket that they play, they’re positive all the time. They’re going to take the positive option.

“So, I’ve spoken to our bowlers and our batsmen, England bowlers are looking to take wickets all the time, and England batters are looking to score runs all the time and put bowlers under pressure.

The message is not to panic, understand that you are going to get hit. You might bowl a good ball and get hit because that’s their mentality, but they also give you opportunities to take wickets.

“So, we must be calm. We must try and execute our skills plans. And when those opportunities come, we must take those opportunities of course, but the one thing we must remain as a bowling group is calm and very considered in how we approach every ball that we bowl.”

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 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus said that guiding his side to the Super 12s is the biggest achievement the Eagles have achieved under his leadership.

Erasmus made 53 not out as Namibia beat Ireland in their final match of Group A to advance on their maiden ICC Men’s T20 World Cup appearance.

His side now face Scotland in their Group 2 opener and Erasmus is looking forward to the challenges Namibia will face.

“Obviously as the captain of the team, it has to be right up there since it’s the biggest achievement under my leadership,” he said.

“As a player as well, I’m very excited to rub shoulders with the best in the world.

“Over the next week, we’re going to have to up our level and get into this challenge with all of our energy, but we’re ready to do that.”

Erasmus also called on all his team to play their part in Namibia’s success after David Wiese delivered two unbeaten performances with the bat as Namibia secured qualification to the Super 12s.

“David has had an excellent tournament for us although I don’t think we’ve quite fired as a team as a whole,” Erasmus said.

“So that’s great to know that there’s some potential sitting in the dugout still that has to come right sometime in the tournament.

“We’ll be looking to tap into the resources of each and every individual on the team, not only a few of the guys.

“There’s lots of guys that still need to prove themselves or want to prove themselves, get runs, get some wickets. I believe they can do it. We have full confidence in every guy we select on the day.”

For Scotland, they are having to regroup after a heavy defeat to Afghanistan yesterday, with wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Cross saying the side are fully focused on the Namibian challenge ahead of them.

“I don’t think it dents our confidence in the slightest, these kinds of performances can happen,” Cross said.

“At the same time, we’ve got to move on. We’ve got four big games to try to put hopefully another full member win on the board and a win against Namibia tomorrow.

“Namibia are a very good team. I actually said before the World Cup started, I expected them to go through. I’m pleased that they did.

“They’ve got everything covered, they’ve got experience, they’ve got a really, really good fielding unit and very tidy bowling.

“We know enough about them. We’ve played against them three or four times in the last three years now. There’s no real surprises, but at the same time, we do expect to go out there and win.

“It’s always challenging being a keeper. We’ve been out here for a long time now, so there’s no challenges we’re not ready for.

“Obviously, moving to a different ground tomorrow, we’ve got to adapt pretty quickly, but that’s the same for every team. Hopefully, we’ll adapt quicker than Namibia.”

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 25, 2021 (PPI-OT):In the recently concluded Group B, Super 12 game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on Sunday in Sharjah, Sri Lankan bowler Lahiru Kumara and Bangladeshi batter Liton Das Kumar were both fined for breaching level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.

Kumara was found guilty of breaching Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “Using language, actions or gestures which disparage, or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.”

Das was found guilty of breaching Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “Conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game’.

The incident occurred in the fifth over after the dismissal of batter Litton Kumar Das in the Bangladesh innings.

After he dismissed the batter Das, Lahiru Kumara walked towards him using actions and words which provoked an aggressive reaction from the batter.

Having been provoked by the bowler Kumara, Das reacted aggressively and in a manner which was contrary to the spirit of cricket.

Kumara was fined 25% of his match fee and received 1 demerit point.

Das was fined 15% of his match fee and received 1 demerit point.

Javagal Srinath of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanctions, which were ratified by the ICC Cricket Operations department as per the COVID-19 interim playing regulations. Kumara and Das both pleaded guilty to the offences and accepted the proposed sanctions, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Adrian Holdstock, 3rd umpire Michael Gough and 4th umpire Rod Tucker.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of a fine of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

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 25, 2021 (PPI-OT):Afghanistan strolled to a 130-run victory over Scotland in their opening match of Group 2 in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.

Scotland had been set 190 to beat thanks to big hitting and fast running from Najib Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the star of the second innings, taking five wickets on his T20 World Cup debut, as Scotland were bowled out for 60.

Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first, and after a tidy over from Brad Wheal, who conceded just two runs, the Afghanistan openers started to tee off.

Mohammad Shahzad hit the longest six of the Super 12s so far, firing a delivery from Wheal’s second spell 101 metres before departing for 22, caught in the deep off the bowling of Safyaan Sharif.

Mark Watt dismissed Hazratullah Zazai but only after Zazai had made 44 off 30 balls, the ball bouncing off his bat onto his pads and into the stumps.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Najib Zadran then combined to keep Afghanistan’s fast scoring going, running quickly between the wickets as Afghanistan’s 100 came off 74 balls.

The pair added 87 runs off 51 balls with Zadran doing most of the boundary scoring, but Gurbaz was always his willing partner in the running until he was caught on 46.

Zadran then claimed the longest six title with a boundary sailing 103m before holing out on the final ball of the innings as Afghanistan set Scotland what would be their record chase of 191.

George Munsey started quickly, scoring 11 off the first over, but Kyle Coetzer could not go with him, falling for 10 with Scotland at 28 for 1.

Calum MacLeod came in and was immediately given out lbw with a review not able to save him and with the captain and the architect of their famous one-day win over England gone, Scotland were in trouble.

Richie Berrington defended the hat-trick ball safely, but two deliveries later was given out, like MacLeod for lbw and again on umpire’s call. Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the delighted bowler ending the over with figures of 3 for 7.

A third duck in a row soon came with Matthew Cross going to an incredible take from wicketkeeper Shahzad, fine margins were deciding Scotland’s wickets.

There was nothing close about Scotland’s next dismissal with Mujeeb clean bowling Munsey to bring out Greaves, Scotland’s hero against Bangladesh.

Things became even more difficult for Scotland with Rashid Khan, number three in the ICC MRF Tyres T20 bowlers rankings came on to bowl. It took him just three deliveries to get a wicket, that of Michael Leask, Scotland’s fourth batter who failed to trouble the scorers.

Watt could only add one to the total before Mujeeb picked up his wicket and with it his five-fer, taking five for 20 from his four overs in an utterly dominant spell.

Rashid Khan would then take two in two, to end with figures of four for nine and seal a huge victory.

Scores in brief

Afghanistan beat Scotland at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah by 130 runs.

Afghanistan 190/4, in 20 overs (Najibullah Zadran 59, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 46; Safyaan Sharif 2/33, Mark Watt 1/23)

Scotland 160 all out, in 10.2 overs (George Munsey 25; Chris Greaves 12; Mujeeb Ur Rahman 5/20, Rashid Khan 4/9)

Player of the Match: Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan)

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