Tag: (ICC)

Dubai, March 05, 2022 (PPI-OT):Despite millions of fans watching on from either side of the border, both the India and Pakistan captains are treating their match-up in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 as just another game.

For India’s Mithali Raj, the match is the chance to build momentum as India go for a first World Cup title.

She said: “I think as a team we are excited to get into the World Cup and starting our campaign tomorrow. It’s the first game, we are not looking at it as it’s Pakistan we are playing against, we’re looking at a team which has come prepared and we are equally prepared to put our best foot forward and we want to set a momentum going into the tournament, so that’s how we look at our first game.

“Every time we play a World Cup, every game is very different – different locations, different conditions, different opponent.

“We’ve tried to give everybody a go in the warm-up game, so that everybody gets into the rhythm, they form the core players – and for tomorrow’s game I think all of them have been watching the first opening game and everybody has their set plans.”

As Raj embarks on her sixth World Cup, a record for the women’s event, she shared her message for the Women in Blue.

“I think as a team, we need to get in with a clean slate, confident unit,” Raj explained. “And believe that we can always turn things around and play according to the situation. It’s very important when you have a longer tournament – important to be present.

“Be aware on the ground and play according to the situation.”

Pakistan and India will meet in an ODI for the first time since the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup but for Pakistan skipper Bismah Maroof it will be nothing out of the ordinary.

She said: “We are well prepared and we had good practice sessions and good warm-up games and I think the things we haven’t done well in the last year, we have spoken about. Whoever takes the pressure well and plays to their strength – that team will win. We’re hoping for a good match tomorrow.”

Pakistan have built a settled bowling line-up, and if the batters can follow the bowlers’ example, Maroof believes Pakistan could record a famous victory.

“We haven’t lived up to the mark yet – we have spoken about that we haven’t scored much as the top order should, and we are hoping that in this World Cup as a batting unit, we can put up a good show,” she said.

“We have improved as a fast-bowling unit, especially Diana [Baig] and Fatima Sana have come far and I think we have gelled together.

“It’s just that we have the right combination in our bowling that all the bowlers complement each other and it’s just the batting.

“We’re looking forward that if we can put up a good show in the batting, our bowling can do well.”

Only time will tell which side will come out on top, but despite what the two skippers say the hopes of two nations are pinned on a win for their side.

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, March 05, 2022 (PPI-OT):Ayabonga Khaka’s superb seam bowling helped South Africa overcome Bangladesh in their opening match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022.

Put in to bat in Dunedin, the Proteas were bundled out for a below-par 207 with Marizanne Kapp (42) and hard-hitting Chloe Tryon (39) lifting them to a competitive total.

Bangladesh made a steady start, reaching 69 for one before Khaka let rip and reduced them to 85 for four.

A late flurry from Nigar Sultana and Ritu Moni came too late as they managed 175 as South Africa prevailed by 32 runs in Dunedin.

Sune Luus’s side felt the absence of Lizelle Lee in a ponderous start to their seventh World Cup campaign, with Bangladesh excelling from the start in a fearless display.

Teenager Fariha Trisna should have dismissed Tazmin Brits with her second World Cup ball, only to watch Nahida Akter spill a dolly of a catch at mid-on.

Jahanara Alam’s experience and Trisna’s youth made for a pleasing new ball partnership and it took Brits 19 balls to get off the mark when she lifted the latter for four over mid-on.

Brits, a former world junior javelin champion, never got off the ground and flicked to Rumana at midwicket, departing for eight at 30 for one.

Wolvaardt and Lara Goodall steadied the ship with the powerful opener profiting from the introduction of spin, carving Salma Khatun’s second ball for four behind point.

Despite the odd loose delivery from Khatun, including a half-tracker that Wolvaardt dispatched, scoring wasn’t fluent as South Africa reached 67 for one from 20 overs.

Medium-pacer Moni’s nagging accuracy was rewarded with the big wicket of Wolvaardt as she drew the ball back through her defences, dismissed for 41 from 52 balls.

One brought two for Bangladesh as Khatun induced Goodall into a mistimed reverse sweep that Rumana Ahmed pouched down to her left, making it 69 for three.

Mignon du Preez initially took a liking to Rumana’s loopy leg spin but patted a simple return catch back to the bowler as her side sunk still further.

The experienced pair of Kapp and Luus took control with three boundaries off Nahida Akter but were separated when Rumana deflected a Kapp drive back onto the stumps with Luus short of her ground.

It was left to Tryon to inject some late life into a faltering innings and an 80-metre six off Rumana in the 38th over wasn’t a bad way to start.

Both Tryon and Kapp peppered the boundary in a brilliant 71 stand at better than a run-a-ball, with Tryon thumping Khatun over long-on for a mighty maximum.

The 28-year-old looked to go big again but was caught at mid-off for 39, heralding a flurry of late wickets. The last four went down for 14 runs inside five overs as South Africa subsided.

The Proteas went in search of early wickets with aggressive lines and lengths but were met with stoical resistance from Bangladesh.

Wolvaardt got a paw to a tough chance to get Sharmin Akhter in the fifth over but could only tip it over the bar and nearly took one that fell inches short of her a few balls later.

That was as good as it got for South Africa in their quest to halt the debutants’ momentum and Kapp let out a cry of frustration when Sharmin edged for four through the slips.

Sharmin and Shamima Sultana were circumspect early on but did flirt with danger, taking a thoroughly ill-advised single in the 14th over, saved only by cover point’s hesitation to throw.

They took two fours off Luus the over before the drinks break, taken at 59-0, with Sultana then dropped at slip and escaping another possible run out.

Khaka made the breakthrough by beating Sultana’s drive and bowling her for 27 at 69 for one.

She twisted the knife with two in an over, first getting Sharmin (34) to feather behind and two balls later Murshida Khatun guided another edge to Trisha Chetty.

Poor running between the wickets was finally punished when Fargana Hoque was run out for eight and the brilliant Khaka brought up her century when Rumana nicked to Chetty.

Bangladesh wouldn’t go away and Nigar Sultana and Moni built a half-century stand, the latter’s stroke-making offering more than a glimmer of late hope.

That hope flickered out when Moni was bowled by Ismail for an excellent 27 and two further wickets saw Bangladesh finish on 175 all out.

Scores in brief:

South Africa beat Bangladesh at University Oval, Dunedin by 32 runs.

South Africa 207 all out in 49.5 overs (Marizanne Kapp 42, Laura Wolvaardt 41; Fariha Trisna 3/35, Jahanara Alam 2/28)

Bangladesh 175 all out in 49.3 overs (Sharmin Akhter 34, Nigar Sultana 29; Ayabonga Khaka 4/32, Masabata Klaas 2/36)

Player of the Match: Ayabonga Khaka (South Africa)

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, March 05, 2022 (PPI-OT):Leg-spinner Alana King was one of millions stunned by the news of Shane Warne’s tragic passing at the age of 52.

A bowler entirely in the Warne mould, her tribute was one of the first to come out of the Australia camp at ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022.

Her post on Twitter read: “Cannot fathom the news I’ve woken up to. An idol and the biggest inspiration to me. Everyone wanted to be like Warnie and I was sure one of them.

“A character who revolutionised the art of spin bowling and brought plenty of flare to the game. You’ll be missed King.”

And when Australia and England took to the pitch for their World Cup opener, the tributes from King to her fellow Victorian kept coming as Australia downed England by 12 runs.

First, King, her teammates and opponents observed an impeccable minute’s silence in tribute to Warne and fellow Australian legend Rod Marsh who had died only hours before him, and they all took to the field wearing black armbands.

King was first called on to bowl in the 26th over. After a morning spent with her mind elsewhere and with England still charging at 133 for two, she would have been forgiven for not being at her best.

But that wasn’t Warne’s way, and neither would it be King’s.

With the third ball of her second over, she turned the ball prodigiously, mystifying Tammy Beaumont who till then had looked set.

Alyssa Healy – a great keeper, like Marsh – whipped off the stumps and Beaumont was forced to go for 74.

King was not moved by the match-turning wicket, instead she stood and pointed at the black armband around her bright yellow sleeve.

It was a reminder of the darkness the cricketing world is shrouded in with one of its shining lights extinguished.

England’s grip on the run chase was slipping and it was all because of King, in her next over she got Amy Jones, another turning delivery and this time a simple catch for centurion Rachel Haynes.

After Danni Wyatt fell to leave England at 177 for five, their hopes looked remote but Nat Sciver and Sophia Dunkley combined for a 56-run partnership.

Their challenge may have got easier when King was left crawling off the wicket, wincing in pain having been struck on the shins as Dunkley drove straight back to the bowler.

But King laughed, dusted herself off and with the very next ball bowled Dunkley for 28, her third wicket of the night as she took three for 35 from her first eight overs.

England would continue to fight back as they looked to chase down an improbable 311 to win, with Natalie Sciver and Katherine Brunt combining for a late flurry of runs.

In the end, Australia clung on for a 12-run win to defeat their greatest rivals, a result that would have put a smile on the face of Shane Keith Warne, because spin was king again.

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, March 05, 2022 (PPI-OT):The one they told you not to worry about, Ayabonga Khaka took her first chance to remind the world why she is South Africa’s silent assassin.

Lacking the snarl of Shabnim Ismail or star power of Marizanne Kapp, this quiet southpaw risked flying under the radar at ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022.

No danger of that after Khaka’s inspired spell of 4/14 single-handedly saw South Africa past debutants Bangladesh in Dunedin.

In doing so, she became the fifth South African woman to claim 100 ODI wickets – joining Ismail (156), Kapp (134), Sune Luus (108) and the absent Dane van Niekerk (138).

Khaka always had the skill – if not always the hype – to belong in such an exalted company, reaching the milestone at the 74th attempt, on the biggest stage of them all.

And how they needed her to step up after South Africa’s latest bid for a first World Cup title got off to a bad start with the bat.

They have had six cracks at this tournament and reached two semi-finals but Bangladesh made them look like the tentative first-timers when they inserted them at University Oval.

Laura Wolvaardt, star of the 2017 edition, couldn’t cut loose and was short of a top-order partner in crime in the absence of new mother Lizelle Lee due to a late arrival in New Zealand and subsequent quarantine restrictions.

The innings only got off the ground when the ebullient Chloe Tryon and Kapp clubbed together for a thrilling stand of 71, lifting South Africa to a sub-par 207 all out.

The last four Proteas wickets fell inside five overs, the momentum swaying and staying with Bangladesh in the early stages of the run chase.

Khaka took the new white ball in last month’s tune-up series against West Indies but Kapp’s return to the fold saw her relegated to first change.

Neither Ismail nor Kapp could dislodge circumspect openers Sharmin Akhter and Shamima Sultana who steered their side through 19 overs, all the way to 67 without loss.

Kapp saw the need for Khaka’s grit and skill as early as the seventh over, though, and the 29-year-old delivered a water-tight first spell. 17 of her first 18 balls were dots.

After a ten-over breather, Khaka returned for a second spell and pitched the ball up even further, yielding a breakthrough with her third ball as Sultana was clean bowled.

Her next over? Two wickets in three balls and the spirit of Bangladesh’s run chase snapped, a pair of beautifully pitched up deliveries that induced nicks to Trisha Chetty.

Khaka’s 100th ODI wicket came with her worst ball of the day – and probably one of the worst of them all – as Rumana Ahmed chopped a wide one to Chetty.

Head coach Hilton Moreeng paid tribute to Khaka, saying, “For sure she is the unsung hero of this attack but she is growing in stature herself.

“She has been consistent, economical and worked extremely hard to improve her game. She’s getting the rewards for the hard work and the professionalism she has shown over the years.

“She is a good student of the game and assesses any opposition and any conditions very well. That’s what gives her the edge in games like today when the chips are down.

“We are proud of her today and she deserves all the accolades.”

So much credit has to go to Bangladesh, ranked number six in the world and making a long-awaited first World Cup appearance here.

Talismanic seamer Jahanara Alam and teenager Fariha Trisna bowled beautifully in tandem up front, showing they are far more than just a series of wily spinners.

They rallied hard after Khaka did the middle-overs damage, with Ritu Moni and captain Nigar Sultana for a pinch-hitting partnership to rival the best at this level.

Bangladesh will pose a real threat to top teams starting with New Zealand on Monday, themselves looking to get their World Cup back on track.

South Africa have a whole heap of work to do to challenge and on the strength of this lukewarm performance. But when it comes to Khaka – don’t say you weren’t warned.

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, March 05, 2022 (PPI-OT):South Africa’s depleted batting line-up can still thrive at ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022, according to head coach Hilton Moreeng.

The Proteas squeaked to a 32-run victory over tournament first-timers Bangladesh in Dunedin despite a sub-par performance with the bat.

Top-order stars Tazmin Brits and Lara Goodall looked out of nick and a total of 207 was enough but some 30 or 40 below a good score.

With Dane van Niekerk ruled out of the event through injury and Lizelle Lee arriving in New Zealand late, Moreeng admits his side have been left scratching their heads.

“I’m not concerned, more frustrated because we know what the players who find themselves in this position are capable of,” he said.

“There are games when it’s gone well, we’ve just been inconsistent. We have identified it as an area we need to work on as a team and we’re trying to improve.

“We had nerves in the opening match and the important thing is to make sure you get the job done on the day.

“We know these players are capable of a lot more and they also know. As we go along in the World Cup, it will start improving and people will see what they can do.”

Powerful opener Lee’s wife Tanja Cronje gave birth to their son on February 22, his late arrival delaying her departure to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022.

Lee is still serving mandatory pre-tournament quarantine but, according to Moreeng, does have a chance of featuring in their next game against Pakistan in Tauranga on Friday.

“Lizelle has been training all the time she has been at home with family,” said Moreeng.

“We’ll assess how she goes in the week. Knowing the player she is, she’s a very competitive cricketer and she’ll want to jump back into it.

“Once she’s passed through medical and we know she is where she needs to be in terms of sharpness and fitness, she should be considered for the next game.”

Bangladesh came close to springing an almighty surprise in their very first ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup appearance.

They threatened to chase down the target right until the 45th over thanks to a superb seventh-wicket stand of 53 between captain Nigar Sultana Joty and Ritu Moni.

Clearly, Joty and her team sensed opportunity when the Proteas struggled with the bat early on.

“Our bowlers made a good start and it felt like we had a chance,” she said.

“We restricted South Africa to a decent total, and we thought that if we could execute our batting plan, the result could be different.

“There are a lot of positives and our openers got off to an excellent start. With the experience in the team, we know we can execute our game plan in the next matches.”

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

Islamabad, March 05, 2022 (PPI-OT):Nat Sciver admitted she thought an England victory was right up until the final over in a high-scoring thriller against Australia.

Sciver made 109 off just 85 balls to give the defending World Cup champions a sliver of hope heading into the final six balls.

They were delivered by Jonassen, who conceded only three runs and took a sharp caught and bowled to clinch the game for her side as England ended on 298 for eight.

Australia had been set up by a measured 130 from Rachael Haynes at the top of the order to post 310 for three before Alana King took three for 59, but Sciver saw her name up in lights.

She revealed: “I felt like we were going to get it and I think the first ball I wasn’t really sure as to what length she was going to bowl.

“Obviously, she would keep it tight to me, but I felt like if I got that one away, it would have happened a bit easier.

“But Katherine [Brunt] had also come in and played spin really well. That catch to get Katherine out was pretty special.

“That that goes through your hand that goes for four and it could have been a different end, so I’m frustrated.”

Sciver has been in imperious form since the end of a winless Ashes campaign having backed up a century in the warm-up match against Bangladesh with a ton in Hamilton.

“I’m really happy with where I’m at, taking it from the warm-up game, it was important not to let that be a one-off. I’m really happy to be able to get to three figures, but I would have liked to get the win.

“From where we were at the end of the Ashes, I think we were in a pretty, pretty low spot. But to be able to turn that around in a couple of weeks is really important.

“And to be able to take that into the rest of the tournament, I think we’ve already seen a lot of high scoring games, so it’s important for us to do.”

Fellow centurion Haynes made good on a slow start to her innings as she posted a 131-ball 130 in an 196-run partnership with captain Meg Lanning.

And King put in a fitting tribute to her idol Shane Warne as the fellow Victorian leg-spinner took the crucial wickets of Tammy Beaumont and Sophia Dunkley before Jonassen delivered at the death again.

Haynes said: “She [Jonassen] wanted to bowl it. We wanted to use the seam to take the game as deep as we could.

“Nat Sciver was batting exceptionally well and we really dangerous, so we just wanted to use Tahlia McGrath and Megan Schutt to take the game deep.

“The thing about Jess Jonassen is she’s been a real clutch player for us in the past and really stepped into those moments in years gone by.

“When we were talking about it, she was actually already walking to the bowler’s end to take the ball so I think it was going to be pretty hard to get that over away from her.”

Australia now head to Tauranga to take on Pakistan on Tuesday with England facing the West Indies the next day in Dunedin.

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