Indian skipper virat kohli slips down to the second position in the ICC test batsman ranking. Virat Kohli’s poor performance in the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington is the cause for this. Kohli only scored 2 and 19 runs in the two innings of the first test against New Zealand. This poor performance drags Kohli to 906 points. Steve Smith, whose last Test match was in January against New Zealand, now tops the Test batting charts with 911 points.
Kohli’s slump meant Smith was back on top for the eighth time after first occupying the top position in June 2015. The last batsman, apart from Smith and Kohli, to be number one is New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, for an eight-day period in December 2015.
Virat Kohli scored 21 runs in 1st test against New Zealand
Other Indian batsmen
Cheteshwar Pujara also dropped two places to ninth while Ajinkya Rahane, who scored 46 and 19 in Wellington, gained a place to go eighth. Mayank Agarwal, who scored 92 runs over his two innings, including a half-century in the second, jumped two places and to achieve a career-highest 10th spot.
ICC test Ranking-Batting
Bowlers position
Tim Southee moved up eight places to sixth spot after picking up nine wickets against India. Trent Boult also jumped up four spots to 13th in the rankings after his impressive show against India. Ishant Sharma, who picked up a five-wicket haul for India, moved up a place to 17th with his career-highest points. Ishant Sharma is just three wickets away from joining the 300 test wicket club by Indian bowlers. Kapil Dev with 434 wickets and Zaheer Khan with 311 wickets already reached this achievement.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who took three wickets for 99 in the first innings against New Zealand, slipped a place to ninth but remained the only Indian featuring in the top 10 with 765 points
The all-rounders’ list features Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin at the third and fifth positions respectively. While Jadeja didn’t play the first Test, Ashwin scored 0 and 4 in the two innings to lose a place.
ICC test ranking-Bowlers
World Test champions
The defeat in Wellington was India’s first defeat in the World Test Championship. Second-placed Australia, whose next assignment in the longest format of the game is a two-match series in Bangladesh in June, will have a chance then to close the gap on the top of the table. In the ICC World Test Championship, India continues to be placed at the top with 360 points, followed by Australia (296).
New Zealand is on 120 after gaining 60 points for the Wellington victory. It had won 60 points in a 1-1 draw against Sri Lanka.
Toss : Australia Women won the toss and opt to bat
Captain’s talk
Salma Khatun, Bangladesh skipper: We are okay to field first and excited to play Australia for the first time. We didn’t field well in the last game and we hope to correct that today. One change for us.
Meg Lanning, Australia skipper: We are gonna have bat today. It’s generally a good batting wicket here and gives us a chance to start well with the bat. We don’t know them (Bangladesh) that well, but they played well against India the other night. So, we have done a lot of research but it’s about putting it out in the park. As prepared as we can be, it’s about delivering. Perry is good and she is good to go. Sutherland and Wareham come in today and um…not sure who is out. (*chuckles*)
Australia Women (Playing XI): Alyssa Healy(w), Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Meg Lanning(c), Rachael Haynes, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, Nicola Carey, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutted
Australia’s aggressive strike
The defending champion Australia get down to play their third match in the Women’s T20I World cup. Healy and Mooney are at the crease, Healy is on strike. Jahanara Alam opens the attack. Healy who return pavilion for a golden duck in the match against Sri Lanka has to prove herself in this match.
Healy without any delay strike the very first ball of the match towards boundary. Where everyone expected a defense strike in the first ball. With a triple boundaries in the first over Healy showed her form. This duo almost converts every ball of the match to score. Bangladesh bowlers struggled to pick a wicket as this duo strikes aggressively.
Healy and Mooney
Healy reached half century in just 26 balls
Healy with her 71 meter maximum six lifts Australia to cross 50 runs in total. Healy looks to have found her mojo today. At the end of power play Australia scored 53 runs without a wicket loss. Healy with two consecutive sixes in Khadija’s over reached the half-century in just 26 balls. This is the second fifty of the tournament for Healy. Almost the run rate remains nearly 9 per over till the power play ends.
After the power play ends Mooney too starts to strike big shots which leads Australia to score 96 runs in first 10 overs without a wicket loss. Mooney with a boundary in Jahanara Alam’s over lifts Australia towards a total of 100 runs, that’s a ton for Australia without loosing a wicket!!!.
Alyssa Healy scored 83 runs in total
Highest ever opening partnership for Australia in T20Is.
The 100 run standing partnership continuous to strike in an aggressive way that Bangladesh bowlers struggled to face them. Mooney in Rumana Ahmed’s over, driven away to sweeper cover and brings up her fifty with a single. Healy and Mooney partnership reached 121 runs which is the highest ever opening partnership for Australia in T20Is.
After 15 over Australia scored 129 runs without losing any wicket. Fianlly Salma Khatun puts an end to Healy’s terrific innings after dismissing her for 83 runs from just 53 balls. This opening duo gathered 150 runs for their first wicket and placed Australia in an advanced position.
Mooney’s impressive strike
Though Healy gets down, Ashleigh Gardner paired with Mooney and contribute 22 runs and boost the Australian’s score. Gardner strikes Salma Khatun ‘s over in an impressive way and scored 14 runs in that particular over. Mooney stand undefeated in ground with a score of 81 runs from 58 balls. Ashleigh Gardner scored 22 runs in just 9 balls and pumped Australia to score 189 runs.
Ashleigh Gardner scored 22 runs from 9 balls
Australian Innings Over view
It’s been a stunning display by Australia. They had a slow start to this tournament but they surely brought their A+ game to the fore today. Healy and Mooney put a record opening partnership of 151 runs to get Australia off to a dream start. They both took Bangladesh bowlers to the cleaners who looked rattled by the blitzkrieg of Aussie openers. Healy departed for 83 but Mooney carried on and finished the innings on a high with a magnificent 81 to power Australia to formidable 189. Bangladesh would be gutted with their effort in the field as they dropped a lot of straight forward chances. They have a mountain to climb to grab the victory.
A massive target to chase
Bangladesh have to chase down a massive target of 190 runs to register their first victory in this tournament. Shamima Sultana and Murshida Khatun get down to crease, Shamima Sultana is on strike. Perry opens the attack against Bangladesh. Bangladesh have to maintain a strong partnership in order to chase this massive score. Schutt in her second over scattered Bangladesh’s dream of victory by uprooting Murshida Khatun for 8 runs and Shamima Sultana for 13 runs.
Shamima Sultana got bowled out for 13 runs
Annabel’s maiden wicket in T20I World cup 2020
Bangladesh lost two of its opener to the Australian right-arm fast medium bowler Schutt, its a huge blow for the Bangladesh. Annabel Sutherland picks up her maiden wicket in T20I World cup 2020 by dismissing Sanjida Islam in her first over by a short delivery. After power play Bangladesh scored 27 runs for three wicket lose where Australia scored 53 runs for no wicket lose.
Sutherland’s celebration after picking her maiden wicket in WT20IWC 2020
Bangladesh in need of “miracle” to happen
After 10 overs Bangladesh scored 45 runs for three wicket lose where Fargana Hoque and Nigar Sultana stands in crease. Bangladesh have to execute a miraculous performance in order to chase down this target after losing three wickets. Carey puts an end to the Nigar Sultana’s performance when she scored 19 off 32 balls. And the 51 runs partnership has been broken atlast.
Fargana Hoque and Nigar Sultana partnership of 51 runs
With a need of 104 from 24 balls, the victory seems opened the door for Australian team. Fargana Hoque and Rumana Ahmed stands helpless in ground as their openers failed to provide a strong base. An impossible target of 90 runs to achieve from 6 balls, the victory lies in the hand of Australia. The long struggle of Bangladesh comes to an end as Australia won Bangladesh by 86 runs.
Player of the match
Alyssa Healy(Australia)
Batting : 83 runs from 53 balls(10×4,3×6)
Alyssa Healy : That’s something we identified and worked on especially (hitting straight against spinners )in the powerplay and the plan worked today. The sub-continent teams are trying to bowl as slow and we have practised a lot in the nets yesterday. Tonight with the breeze we have identified the short boundaries and Beth and I worked out which areas to target. Not easy to field under lights and we have done okay today.
Alyssa Healy player of the match
Captain’s view
Meg Lanning | Australia captain: It was a good all-round performance. Alyssa and Beth set the tone for us, right from the first ball. The attacking nature from them was good. Good all-round performance, something we needed. We wanted to go out there and be attacking. We were timid in the first two matches. As I said, they set the tone and everyone followed. As far as I know, everyone’s okay. World Cups is all about big games and we want to be part of them. New Zealand are playing good cricket, so we need to play well. The performance today was more about how we play and how we have played in the last 18 months. We again need to do better against New Zealand.
Salma Khatun | Bangladesh captain: Australia is a very good team. We didn’t bowl in the right areas. 190 was a big target. Their bowlers bowled well. I’m looking forward to the matches against New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
Toss: New Zealand Women won the toss and opt to bowl
Harmanpreet Kaur: We wanted to bat only. We have two changes today. Smriti and Radha come in for Arundhati and Richa. We are doing well in patches, we need to do well in batting. We will try to give our best today. I did struggle in the last two games but hopefully I can do well here.
Sophie Devine: We are going to bowl first. It’s a fresh wicket, we would like to make most of the conditions. Couple of changes for us. I thought Sri Lanka put us under the pump early on, we gotta be on the money against India. It’s about sticking to your strengths and not get carried away. Hoping to continue my form.
Squad
New Zealand Women: Sophie Devine(c), Rachel Priest(w), Suzie Bates, Maddy Green, Katey Martin, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Jensen, Anna Peterson, Leigh Kasperek, Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair
India Women : Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Taniya Bhatia(w), Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Shikha Pandey, Radha Yadav, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Mandhana flatters to deceive
Smriti Mandhana return to the squad after her recovery from viral fever. India already won two matches that played already and looks for the hat-trick victory. Shafali Verma who is in glorious form accompanied by Mandhana gets in crease. Tahuhu opens the attack for New Zealand. India expect a fabulous performance from this duo. But Tahuhu in her second over dismissed Mandhana and provide the New Zealand’s well needed wicket. Mandhana flatters to deceive in her comeback game for India
Taniya Bhatia gets in and joins hand with Verma as this duo opened and performed well in the India vs Bangladesh match. This duo starts to strike in an aggressive way where Shafali Verma strike two consecutive sixes in Anna Peterson’s over. At the end of power play India scored 49 runs for a wicket lose.
Shafali Verma scored 46 runs
Struggled middle order
Bhatia struggle to face ball as she placed lots of dot balls. The long struggle of Bhatia(23 runs off 25 balls) comes to an end when she got dismissed by Rosemary Mair. Bhatia and Verma lead India to score 68 run with 51 runs partnership. Shafali stands strong from the beginning and paired with the all rounder Jemimah Rodrigues.
Soon Rosemary Mair sent Rodrigues to pavilion when she scored 10 runs from 9 balls. Shafali Verma stands alone as the remaining players failed to pair with her to provide the partnership which is very much needed by India. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur(1 run from 5 balls) too return pavilion with out scoring much.
Rosemary Mair picks 2 wicket
Verma missed her half century
India gets in struggle when Amelia Kerr picked Verma’s wicket while Verma is just 4 runs away from her half century. Though India started well in the beginning, it seems collapsed when the middle order players failed to show up. India crossed 100 runs in the 15th over for 5 wicket loss.
New Zealand bowlers perfect spell collapsed India
Handy contributions from Shikha and Radha
In the very next over Veda return to pavilion when Amelia Kerr dismissed her with a review. Shikha Pandey and Radha Yadav dragged India towards a score of 133. Radha Yadav hits a massive six in the last over and dismissed in the last ball while try to cover a single.
Over-view
India have smashed, nudged, strangled and somehow scraped their way to 133 – a total that is yet to be hunted down in this World Cup. Shafali Verma carried on from where she left off in the last game and held the fort despite lack of rhythm at the other end. India yet again chopped and changed their batting order which didn’t really produce the desired outcome with Taniya, despite her 25-ball 23, consuming as many as six dots in the powerplay. The arrival of Jemimah and HarmanPreet didn’t really add any value to Shafali’s confidence as both the experienced batters got out in the space of 2 overs. Some handy contributions from the pair of Radha and Shikha, also thanks to some shabby fielding from the White Ferns, helped India get this total.
Priest disappoint New Zealand
In order to continue the winning streak New Zealand have to chase down 134 runs. Priest and Devine are at the crease, Priest is on strike. Deepti Sharma opens the attack against New Zealand. Priest hits couple of boundaries in the first over from Deepti Sharma. But its the game changer Shikha Pandey who bowls the second over and without any disappointment uproot the wicket of Priest(12 runs from 9 balls).
Shikha Pandey picks Rachel Priest’s wicket
Indian bowlers restrict New Zealand from scoring
New Zealand struggled to score and also lose Bates for 6 runs to Deepti Sharma’s slower ball. After the power play New Zealand scored 30 runs for two wicket lose whereas India scored 49 runs for a wicket lose. Poonam Yadav after providing three runs in the first over, dismissed Devine in the first ball of her second over. Indian bowlers restrict New Zealand from scoring. As a result New Zealand scored 46 runs for three wicket loss after 10 overs.
Maddy Green’s well settled partnership with Katey Martin
Maddy Green and Katey Martin paired and starts to strike steady. New Zealand scored 19 runs in two overs when Maddy Green striked aggressively with boundaries, the most expected by New Zealand. This pumped up the New Zealand’s score and results in 63 runs required from 42 balls.
With a need of 44 runs from 21 balls, Hayley Jensen gets in ground and paired with Amelia Kerr. The two left-arm spinners have bowled out, leaving the last three to Poonam, Shikha and Deepti. New Zealand need couple of big overs and it should be now. Deepti Sharma bowled and spelled 6 runs in total.
The game saviour – Shikha Pandey
The most crucial over was bowled by Poonam Yadav New Zealand seeks opportunity and strike 18 runs thar includes 4 boundaries. With a need of 16 for 6 balls Shikha Pandey to bowl the final over. The pressure builds over the players of both the team. With an unexpected return catch dropped by Pandey New Zealand advanced towards the victory. With a boundary in the fifth ball of the last over New Zealand is in need of 5 runs from last delivery. The terrific match comes to an end after a leg bye run in the last ball. Finally India win by three runs, and entered into semi-final. Amelia Kerr runs into emotion with tears after her struggle to win failed.
Shikha Pandey saved the game
INDIA WIN A THRILLER!
New Zealand make a fight of it, but Shikha Pandey holds her cool in the final over to take her team to the #T20WorldCup semi-final!#INDvNZ | #T20WorldCup
I was happy with the performance and wanted to give a good start at the powerplay. I waited for the loose balls which is my strength and it paid off today. I practised a lot with the boys and I want to thank my dad and all the boys at the practice who helped me train well in batting.
Shafali Verma consecutive player of the match award
Captains view
Harmanpreet Kaur | India captain: It is a great feeling when your team is performing like that. We did the same mistakes, we got a good start in the first 10 overs and we didn’t carry the momentum. We did bowl well in patches and some times we were not up to the mark and have to focus on those areas. She is giving us good starts and I hope she continues doing that as quick runs at the top is really important to us.
Sophie Devine | New Zealand captain: We thought we did a fantastic job, with how Shafali came out at the top, to restrict them to 133 on a reasonably good wicket was a great effort. We adapted to the conditions as we expected it to be a bit more pacier and bouncier, it wasn’t. Adjusting our lines and lengths and again our spinners came on board and really tied them down. I think the way the team nearly closed out the game today was fantastic. Green and Martin spent time in the middle and then Kerr did a brilliant job of getting us that close. That’s all you can ask for. We can take a lot of positives from this game. Our bowling on how we came back and how we almost finished the game. We cannot dwell too much as we have a game on Saturaday.
Hayley Matthews and Lee-Ann Kirby are at the crease, Hayley Matthews is on strike. Baig opens the attack against West Indies. Baig dismissed Hayley Matthewsin by LBW in the very first ball and makes the match interesting. Stafanie Taylor joins hand with Lee-Ann Kirby to play a steady game as they lose one of their opener for golden duck. This duo start settle by gathering runs in an stable form. But Baig again with her bowling spell in the 4th over picked Lee-Ann Kirby’s wicket and break the partnership.
Post power play West Indies scored only 28 runs for two wicket loss. Nida Dar dismissed Dottin in the sixth over, where West Indies lose three wicket for a total of 28 runs. Captain Stafanie Taylor and wicket keeper Shemaine Campbelle paired, now the responsibility lies over them.
Diana Baig picks two crucial wicket
Partnership that saved West Indies
This duo paired and starts strike in a well controlled form, Campbelle with a couple of sixes boost the total. The must needed partnership for West Indies as its top order players failed to prove them self. The impressive game from Campbelle comes to an end when Anam Amin dismiss her with the review. This duo added 63 runs in total that helped West Indies to score further. In the very next over Chinelle Henry return pavilion with scoring 4 runs.
Captain Taylor dismissed for 43 runs by Nida Dar when West Indies scored 111 runs with 8 balls remaining. Pakistan packed West Indies for 124 runs where Diana Baig, Aiman Anwer and Nida Dar bagged two wickets for each.
Campbelle and Taylor partnership
Over-view
West Indies finish with 124 on the board. They lost three quick wickets after opting to bat first, Taylor and Campbelle led the rescue act one again – adding 63 runs for the fourth wicket. Both made an identical 43 each to help their team post a score on the board
Notable Opening partnership
Pakistan keen to win this match to register their maiden win in the T20I World cup series 2020. With a descent score to chase down, Muneeba Ali and Javeria Khan get to the crease, Muneeba Ali is on strike. Shamilia Connell opens the attack for West Indies. Without any rush Pakistan played in a controlled form, results in scoring 48 runs without any loss by the end of power play.
Muneeba Ali and Javeria Khan scored 50 runs for the opening partnership and provide the strong base for Pakistan. Javeria Khan lose her wicket to the West Indies skipper Stafanie Taylor for 35 runs, while Pakistan scored 58 runs. Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof paired with Muneeba Ali and moved the team further.
Bismah Maroof dragged Pakistan towards victory
After 10 overs Pakistan scored 66 runs for a wicket loss and place them self in a comfortable zone. Soon the other opener Muneeba Ali lose her wicket to Afy Fletche when she scored 25 runs. Though Pakistan lose two wickets they seems to be safe with a score of 77 runs in 12 overs.
The required run rate has inched over the 6-run mark. But with 8 wickets in hand Pakistan Women played without any pressure. With 36 required from 36 balls both the team seems to play a serious game. But with Bismah Maroof on Pakistan side it seems simple as Maroof strike a boundary in each over and move Pakistan further in game.
Bismah Maroof and Nida Dar
Finishes off in style
With 6 needed of 18 balls, Pakistan paved the way for the victory. Pakistan skipper with a boundary finishes things off in style. After hitting the winning runs Maroof jogs across to the other end with her arms wide open in joy. Pakistan bagged their first victory in this World cup series.
Bismah Maroof runs in celebration
Player of the match
Javeria Khan(Pakistan)
Javeria Khan : I am really surprised with this award, I think Diana deserved it more than me. But it was a team effort. We have worked on our running between the wickets, our fielding and that paid off today. Initially it wasn’t coming onto the bat nicely, but the wicket became better to bat on eventually. I thought of taking charge early on so that the middle order batsmen could take their time. I’d like to share this award with Diana.
Javeria Khan won player of the match
Captain’s view
Bismah Maroof, Pakistan captain: We wanted this win in order to get the momentum going, very pleased with the effort. We got wickets at crucial time. Diana got us early wickets and that helped us to restrict them below 125. Our openers played really well and we as a team are smart cricketers. Nida stayed with me, rotated the strike well and kept the scoreboard ticking. We are looking forward to do well in the remaining matches.
Stafanie Taylor, West Indies captain: With the type of batters we have we should be scoring more than 150 and we haven’t been doing that. The batters need to show hunger in the first 6 overs and need to rotate the strike. That’s where we’ve been lacking. But we have been losing early wickets, that’s where we have struggled. The bowling has been terrific. The pacers have been really good, but not to take anything away from Pakistan. There’s always room for improvement, we keep saying that. We need to come out and show our prowess in the next match.
Bangladesh Cricket Board(BCB) recently released the squad details for the match between Asia XI and World XI. The two T20I match has been planned to play on next month dated March 21 and 22. Six Indian players name has been listed in the squad for Asia XI.
Players from India
“We have already received four names from India. We haven’t signed contracts but Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Shikhar Dhawan and Mohammad Shami are supposed to come. They have said KL Rahul and Virat Kohli will play one game each, but that hasn’t been finalised,” Nazmul said.
KL Rahul will take part in only one of the two games while Virat Kohli’s participation still remains under the cloud. BCB wants Kohli to play both the T20I but considering the Indian team Schedule, it remains unconfirmed about Kohli’s participation in the match.
Kohli and Dhawan
India’s upcoming matches
India currently is in New Zealand tour, after a week when New Zealand tour ends India will play a three match ODI series against South Africa begins 12th march in Dharamsala. The second game will be played in Lucknow dated March 15 and last in Kolkata on March 18. After which the expecting IPL will begin on March 29.
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly’s statement
Asked about the Indian players availability for the matches BCCI president Sourav Ganguly last Friday said “they can send four to five”.
“Kohli’s name has been sent but the call on his participation lies with him and he will take it after due consultation with BCCI president Sourav Ganguly”, a BCCI source told.
Confirmed players
“Players like Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have finalised with us, from Afghanistan. Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane will play while from Sri Lanka, we will have Lasith Malinga and Thisara Perera,” Hassan said, according to an ESPNCricinfo report.
The BCB president confirmed Banglandesh players Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman, Mahmudullah and Liton Das would be available.
“Bairstow is definitely coming. Ngidi is coming. Chris Gayle is supposed to play. Faf du Plessis. We will have some of the best players around. We are uncertain about Pakistan since the PSL is will be ongoing. We will invite some of the cricketing greats,” added Hassan.
Regarding Pakistan players
The Pakistan players are unlikely to be available for the two matches, with the final of the Pakistan Super League clashing with the second T20I. “As Pakistan is having the PSL, they are uncertain.”
Alex Hales, Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis (c), Nicholas Pooran, Brendan Taylor, Jonny Bairstow, Kieron Pollard, Adil Rashid, Sheldon Cottrell, Lungi Ngidi, Andrew Tye, Mitchell McClenaghan.
Toss : Thailand Women won the toss and opt to bowl
Squad
England Women (Playing XI): Amy Ellen Jones(w), Danielle Wyatt, Natalie Sciver, Heather Knight(c), Fran Wilson, Katherine Brunt, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Winfield, Sophie Ecclestone, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Glenn.
Jones and Wyatt are at the crease, Jones is on strike. Boochatham opens the attack for Thailand. Superb start for Thai girls as Boochatham dismissed Jones in the second ball of the match for duck. England fans shocked when Wyatt too return pavilion for duck in the very next over from Lateh. England lost two wickets for just seven runs.
England lose two wickets at an early stage
Tremendous recovery by England Women
England’s captain Heather Knight gets into crease and pair with Sciver to save England by adding some runs. This duo starts to strike aggressively and Thailand seems to struggle to pick a wicket to break this partnership. At the end of power play England scored 45 runs for two wicket loss. Where Knight scored 14 runs off 12 balls and Sciver scored 24 runs off 22 balls.
Knight and Sciver -Thailand’s nightmare
This duo starts to hit at-least couple of boundaries in each over from Thailand. At the end of 10 overs England scored 74 runs for same two wicket loss. Though England lose wickets at an early stage Sciver and Knight manage to stand strong in field. In the 12th over from Padunglerd, Knight hit a massive six and with a single in the next ball registered her half century from 38 balls.
Thailand bowled in every possible ways in seek of a wicket to break this long standing partnership but every idea seems failure. Sciver raise her fifty in Sutthiruang’s over. Thailand seems stunned as the duo have half century for each and still continuous to strike aggressively. England crossed 150 runs in total by having 17 runs in the 17th over with a couple of boundary and a six.
Knight and sciver
Knight’s maiden century
Not only team score, their partnership crossed 150 plus when Knight stand tall with 95 runs not out and looks for a ton. And reached the ton in the last over which is a maiden century for Knight in this format. With a six in the last over from Knight England reached 176 runs for just two wicket loss.
Heather Knight scores the FIRST century of the 2020 #T20WorldCup 👏
A tremendous recovery by England Women, given the fact the openers failed to trouble the scorers. Thailand Women had a brilliant start to the match, but they would have hardly anticipated what followed next. Knight and Sciver came together and kept pummeling the bowlers to all parts of the park for the rest of the innings. Knight also notched up her maiden T20I century in the process as the pair added 169 runs for the third wicket. Thailand Women have a mountain to climb, so England will be looking forward to bag a big win under their belt.
Daunting score to chase
Thailand with daunting score of 176 to chase down get into crease. With a lot to achieve Chantam and Boochatham get down to the crease, Chantam is on strike. Shrubsole will open the attack for England. In the first over from Shrubsole, Thailand’s Boochatham return for a golden duck. Thailand’s captain Koncharoenkai joins hand with Chantam and in a pressure to provide a strong base for the Thailand.
This duo managed to stand but unable to score much in the power play. After 6 overs Thailand scored 27 runs for a wicket loss and in need to have a massive performance in order to register their maiden victory. But England bowlers showed up with their bowling performance and restrict Thailand from scoring.
Sophie Ecclestone after picking Nattakan Chantam’s wicket
Thailand struggled to score
England bowling stand tall which allowed Thailand to score only 37 runs in first 10 overs of the match. With a lot to score, Thailand seems speechless and starts loosing their confidence. When Chantam return pavilion for 32 runs added strength to England. In the very next over from Sciver Thailand lose 2 wickets including their skipper.
Massive bowling performance from England
Thailand collapsed as they lose three wickets for four runs in 13th over. Thailand had no options to face England’s bowling and start to lose wicket in a regular interval. Anya Shrubsole’s three wicket and Natalie Sciver’s two wicket helps England to foldup Thailand with a huge difference. Finally England women won by 98 runs and registered their maiden win in the Women’s T20I World cup 2020.
England’s stunning bowling
Player of the Match
Heather Knight(England)
Batting: 108 from 66 balls(13×4,4×6)
Heather Knight : It was very important for us to give a performance like this, I thought we batted brilliantly. We needed to stay calm, keep building the score, not panic and put on a partnership to get a score. It was a good pitch, slightly patchy, but was a good batting strip.
Heather Knight received player of the match for scoring 108*
Captain’s view
Heather Knight | England captain: The partnership was the key I think. I caught up and hogged the strike a little bit, and I think that helped us come back into the game.
Sornnarin Tippoch | Thailand captain: It’s a challenging game for us, wasn’t under real pressure but we tried to do our best on the field. We are always trying to improve, and trying to work harder on our batting game, particularly the aggressive brand of cricket required in T20 format.
After the victory, the young champs get into a clash in the ground for which five players have been found guilty for breaching ICC Code Of Conduct. Md Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain and Rakibul Hasan from Bangladesh were found guilty of breaching Article 2.21. Two from India respectively Akash Singh and Ravi Bishnoi(leading wicket taker of the tournament) were charged for breaching Article 2.5.
Sachin’s statement
Cricket legend Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar breaks his silence on the clash and said that he is disappointed in the way that the players from both teams reacted. “One can only make an effort to teach individuals, but then a lot depends on the character of an individual,” Sachin was quoted as saying by HindustanTimes.
“In a crunch moment, one should be able to control certain things and not forget that the whole world is looking up to you. They are following certain things,” he added.
“So, I think those are the moments where controlled aggression helps. One needs to be aggressive but being vocal and saying foul things doesn’t mean that you are aggressive,” Tendulkar claimed.
“Aggression should be in your game, the way you bat or bowl-that aggression which helps the team and not goes against it. Everyone is aggressive.”
“If somebody doesn’t say anything or if somebody doesn’t do anything it doesn’t mean that he is not aggressive. We all want to go out and win. There is a method to do that. You can’t cross the line,” he added.
“What happened between those young people I think it was horrible. The cricket boards should take hard steps today so that tomorrow these type of mistakes do not happen,” he added.
Sachin Tendulkar on U19 World cup clash
Kapil Dev’s emotional talk
Previously former Team India World Cup-winning skipper Kapil Dev had said: “Who’s saying cricket is a gentleman’s game? It’s not the gentleman’s game, it was!”.
“What happened between those young people I think it was horrible. The cricket boards should take hard steps today so that tomorrow these type of mistakes do not happen,” he added.
Ashton Agar who plays a crucial role by picking five wickets in South Africa vs Australia 1st T20I . Spinner Ashton Agar, who became just the second Australian to claim a T20I hat-trick, has revealed that a recent chat with India’s Ravindra Jadeja inspired him. Agar’s was only the second hat-trick by an Australian after Brett Lee took one against Bangladesh in 2007, which was the first-ever in T20Is. Agar took five wicket that includes a hat-trick in the eighth over of South Africa’s chase.
He snared Faf du Plessis, Andile Phehlukwayo, and Dale Steyn off successive balls, as South Africa slipped from 44/4 to 44/7, and eventually fell well short of their 197-run target.
Agar took a hat-trick
Similarities between them
Both Agar and Jadeja and are similar in nature. Just like Jadeja, Agar is a left-arm spinner who is more than a handy batsman at No.7. Fielding perhaps is the only department where Jadeja will score higher than Agar but the tall Aussie is ready to improve.
“It’s funny, I was actually feeling horrible [coming] into the game. Obviously, when the wicket turns a bit, [the spinners] get a bit of assistance and your job is made a bit easier, you get on a roll and you keep going.”
Agar interacted with Jadeja during Australia’s ODI tour of India earlier this year, picking the brains of the No.3 ranked Test all-rounder in the world after India’s 2-1 series win.
“I had a wonderful chat with Ravindra Jadeja after the India series,” Agar later said. “He’s my favourite player in the world – I want to play cricket like he does.”
“He’s [Jadeja’s] an absolute rockstar: smacks them, gun fielder, and spins the ball. But it’s just his presence when he’s out there, watching his confidence… just talking to him about spin bowling, keep trying to spin the ball.
“When he’s batting he has a really positive attitude, and he takes that attitude into the field as well. So I was pretty inspired by talking to him.”
Having made his debut in 2013, Agar has never nailed down a spot in the side but hopes that the five-wicket haul helps him become a mainstay.
“I think that’s always the biggest challenge … when you’re in and out, just to keep putting yourself out there,” he said. “You have to believe in yourself at the end of the day because you are the only person you have when you’re performing out there. You have your teammates, but only you can perform your true skill.”
ICYMI: Australia dominated South Africa with Ashton Agar taking a hat-trick to run through the middle order, registering their second-biggest win by runs in T20Is.
In the ongoing ICC Women’s T20I World cup England face South Africa in one of the league match. Where South Africa women’s team beat England Women’s team with two balls to spare. England’s pacer Katherine Brunt shows the spirit of cricket by avoiding ‘Mankad’ run out.
Mankad run out
As a bowler enters his delivery stride, the non-striking batsman usually ‘backs up’. This means he leaves his popping crease and walks towards the other end of the wicket so that it will take him less time to reach the other end if he and his batting partner choose to attempt a run.
Sometimes a batsman, whilst backing up, leaves the popping crease before the bowler has actually delivered the ball. Where this has happened, the bowler may attempt to run the non-striking batsman out in accordance with the Laws of the game. If he fails, and the batsman has remained within the crease, the delivery is called a dead ball.
Some observers feel that dismissing a batsman in this way is against the spirit of the game, but others believe that the Laws and regulations exist to be used and that, as the run out backing up is expressly within the professional regulations, it is legitimate and sporting to exercise the provision.
According to the former convention, a generous bowler may warn a batsman to stay in his crease rather than to take his wicket. But this is not required by the Laws of the game nor the MCC guidance notes on the Spirit of Cricket. When the run out has happened in first-class cricket, it has on occasion provoked debate. Such dismissals have always occurred and continue to divide opinion.
Katherine Brunt-shows the spirit of game
In the last over of the match where South Africa needed 7 runs from four balls to win the match held at the WACA Ground in Perth on Monday. Brunt had a chance for “Mankand” run out Luus despite she showed the spirit of the game by not taking the wicket. The former Indian cricketer who did it in Australia – Brunt held on and returned back to her bowling mark. But in the very next ball striker hit a massive six and registered South Africa’s maiden win in T20I Women’s World cup 2020.
With the game on the line, Katherine Brunt could have dismissed Sune Luus at the non-striker’s end, but opted not to. Moments later Mignon du Preez blasted a game-defining six.
Earlier, Brunt got a reprieve herself when batting in England’s innings of 123-8. During the 17th over of the innings, South Africa’s medium-pacer Ayabonga Khaka pulled out of her delivery stride when Brunt was backing up at the non-striker’s end.
“I think it was Brunt that got one herself – a warning when she was batting, backing up. Nothing wrong with that at all,” commentator Nasser Hussain said.
India Women (Playing XI): Shafali Verma, Taniya Bhatia(w), Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Veda Krishnamurthy, Shikha Pandey, Arundhati Reddy, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Smiriti Mandhana-Viral fever
On speaking about Smiriti captain Harmanpreet Kaur said : We wanted to bat, and get a decent total on the board, so we are happy. The first game was good for us to set the tone, and we’re positive that we’ll do that. Smriti Mandhana is out due to viral fever, and Richa Ghosh comes in for her.
India’s Batting
After the victory in first match against Australia, India face Bangladesh without their opener Smiriti Mandhana. Bhatia and Shafali Verma are at the crease, Bhatia is on strike. Jahanara Alam opens the attack. Without any fear 16 year old Verma strike a six in the first over and continued her play as in the first match. In the next over bowled by Salma Khatun where Verma strike another six and rotate the strike to Bhatia. But Bhatia failed to show up and left to pavilion as she ventured out far too early from the crease and get stumped by keeper.
Bhatia run-out
Verma’s innings end by Ghosh
On the other hand Verma continued her aggressive strike with balls flying around the ground. With a six and couple of boundaries in 3rd over India scored a total of 34 runs for a wicket loss. The terrific innings of Verma comes to an end when she strike the Panna Ghosh’s ball and get caught by Shamima Sultana. At the end of power play India scored 54 runs for two wicket loss.
Harmanpreet Kaur fails to show herself as in the first T20I and return to pavilion with just 8 runs from 11 balls. Deepti Sharma then joins hand with Rodrigues where this duo is expected to score some runs.
Verma’s aggressive strike
India reached 100!!
The well formed in ground Rodrigues get an unnecessary run out and left the ground while she scored 34 runs off 37 balls. With a couple of boundaries from Richa Ghosh India reached 100 runs in total. But soon Ghosh lose her wicket to Salma Khatun and return pavilion with 14 runs.
Jemimah Rodrigues run out moment
Crazy run-out
In the same over where Deepti Sharma and Krishnamurthy are in crease. Deepti Sharma gets a run out while try to take a second run, both ended up going towards the same end after some major confusion. Shikha Pandey paired with Krishnamurthy and dragged India towards a descent score of 142. Salma Khatun and Panna Ghosh each took couple of wickets for Bangladesh.
Deepti Sharma and Krishnamurthy confused while running for a second run
Bangladesh Batting
With a target of 143 to chase down Bangladesh’s Shamima Sultana and Murshida Khatun gets in crease. Deepti Sharma opens the bowling attack for India and provided only 3 runs of the first over. Shikha Pandey took the wicket of Shamima Sultana in her first over and Bangladesh stunned as they lose their opener for 5 runs.
In the very next over of Deepti Sharma, Murshida Khatun hits three boundaries and scored 14 runs of that over. Bangladesh scored 33 runs for a wicket loss when power play ends. This duo paired and scored 39 runs for the next wicket of Murshida Khatun. Richa Ghosh took the Khatun’s catch and sent her to paviliion for 30 runs.
Nigar Sultana-Helpless
Nigar Sultana joins hand with Sanjida Islam and moved Bangladesh towards 50 runs in total. Nigar Sultana hits couple of boundaries in Arundhati Reddy’s over and after 10 overs Bangladesh scored 60 runs for two wicket loss.
Poonam Yadav’s wicket-taking form continues as she uproots Sanjida Islam’s wicket and breaks the partnership that about to do something great. Arundhati Reddy gets into celebration when she dismissed Fargana Hoque for a duck.
Poonam Yadav’s spell
Nigar Sultana single handedly fought and try to move Bangladesh towards their victory. But failed to make a partnership and have a stand by. In the 15th over Poonam Yadav uproot Fahima Khatun and provide the break through needed by Indian team. Finally the long fight of Nigar Sultana came to an end when Gayakwad dismissed her for 35 runs. An easy stumping for Jahanara Alam made by Bhatia added credits.
Poonam Yadhav
Bangladesh need an improbable 22 off the final over. That too against Shikha Pandey who was superb against Australia. With a yorker in the first ball Shikha Pandey dismissed Rumana Ahmed and paved the way for a glorious victory where India beat Bangladesh by 18 runs.
Player of the match
Shafali Verma(India)
Batting : 39 off 17 delivery
Shafali Verma : Since Mandhana wasn’t around, I wanted to take the responsibility to stay around and give India a good start. I’ve been practising hitting the ball hard and I would like to bring the team more success in the future. I’d like to continue doing this, help India win matches and ultimately win us the World Cup.
Shafali Verma player of the match
Captain’s view
Harmanpreet Kaur, India captain : The way Shafali and Richa played today, they showed how capable they are for the team. Veda’s innings was turning point. We needed boundaries at that point and she did a great job. Look at one game at a time. Looking forward to do well in the future also. Hopefully Mandhana will be ready for New Zealand. She’s feeling better now.
Salma Khatun, Bangladesh captain : Didn’t bowl well in powerplay. Had mistakes in the field. Have only played 3-4 games under lights. Have to improve our game in the powerplay.
South Africa | Playing : Quinton de Kock(w/c), Reeza Hendricks, Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Pite van Biljon, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi
Australia | Playing : David Warner, Aaron Finch(c), Steven Smith, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey(w), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa
Bench : Sean Abbott, D Arcy Short, Jhye Richardson
De Kock’s phenomenal strike
After a terrible loss against Australia in the first T20I South Africa seeks to win this match to keep Proteas alive in the T20I series. de Kock and R Hendricks enters the crease. de Kock is on strike, Starc opens the attack. Though openers dont show any boundaries in first over, de Kock smashed couple of sixes in the second over. After the bad performance in first T20I De Kock seems shows his glorious form by striking boundaries in every possible direction. De Kock seems unstoppable, he striked aggressively that boost the South Afica’s total. After the power play South Africa scored 59 runs without any lose of wicket.
K Richardson took the Hendricks’s wicket very much needed to provide a break through. Du Plessis joins hand with South African skipper and expect to play a tremendous game but Cummins dismissed Du Plessis with a slower ball off the outside half.
de kock scored 70 runs in 2nd T20I
Proteas dragged to 158
van der Dussen and De Kock strikes boundaries to boost their teams total. Where Zampa ends the De Kock’s aggressive game when he scored 70 runs from just 47 balls. At that time South Africa scored 121 runs, where Miller joins hand with van der Dussen and drag the team towards 158. Miller and Pite van Biljon stands unbeaten in ground.
Australia towards series win?
Australia get down to bat with a focus to win the match and take the Series win while a match left. Warner and Finch are at the crease, Warner is on strike. Rabada will open the attack for South Africa. As Warner lose his wicket in an early stage in the first T20I seeks to play a defensive game in second T20I.
Ngidi’s three wicket saved the game
Warner partnered with Finch and starts strike focusing towards a steady run growth. But Ngidi with his Spell took Finch’s wicket and there’s a huge smile of relief from de Kock as Finch departs. Warner joins hand with his all time favourite Smith, where Smith blew a six in Ngidi’s ball. After 10 over Australia scored 84 runs for a wicket loss, three runs ahead of South Africa.
The expected break through is provided by Pretorius when he dismissed Smith for 29 runs. South Africa’s greatest fear Warner stands tall and played aggressively, though Proteas didn’t able to dismiss Warner they dismissed other players to avoid from creating a partnership with him.
Ngidi picks three wicket in total
Warner seems helpless
After Carey’s wicket none of the Australian players scored dual digit runs, everyone returns pavilion with single digit score. When its 17 runs required from last over with Warner at the non-striker end South Africa’s winning phase seems glorious. Nortje bowled the last over and picked a wicket and allowed only four runs in that. South Africa kept the series alive by defeating Australia by 12 runs.
David Warner’s 67* is the joint second-highest score by an opening batsman remaining not out in an unsuccessful T20I chase.#SAvAUSpic.twitter.com/nVe3yKmWFf
De Kock : I’ve realized that the new ball is key while batting. It gets difficult at the end so we capitalized on the powerplay. I know it’s difficult to chase a target like this here and we knew that and we pulled it off. In international cricket we need to understand what needs to be done and I’m really proud of the boys. I think a couple of games before this our death bowling struggled, and we had a good chat, but the boys came out here and stuck to the plans to execute brilliantly. It’ll be a good game, expecting a good wicket, so hopefully the boys come up there and perform well.
Aaron Finch | Australia captain: It’s always exciting on a surface like that. Unfortunately we were on the wrong side of it today. The way their bowlers brought it back was outstanding. Quinny played well, but we did well to stop the batsmen in the end. I think we just lacked the kick at the end of the chase. Pace off was the way to go, and we tried running hard, but Miller and co make it hard to take twos. If you don’t get the balls where you want to in the powerplay, it’s about making sure we rotate the strike, but we managed to get off to a flier. They bowled to a simple and effective plan. David didn’t get much strike, but South Africa bowled beautifully despite the larger margin for error on such a surface. I think getting the winning feeling in the middle-order is important and I think this is an important game building up to the World Cup.
Thailand makes their debut match in the World cup series. Chantam and Boochatham are at the crease, Chantam is on strike. Chinelle Henry opens the attack for West Indies. As this is their first match in International tournament they struggled to show up. Soon they lose their opener Boochatham for two runs. Nannapat Koncharoenkai paired up with Chantam and expect to perform a much needed strike. But soon West Indies acheived an another break through by uprooting Chantam for 9 runs.
Thailand lose its both the opener and seems to be helpless. Naruemol Chaiwai who is the wicket keeper of Thailand enters the crease and pair with Koncharoenkai. This duo added 35 runs for the next wicket of Chaiwai who return to pavilion for 13 runs. Hayley Matthews fires in a yorker from round the wicket.
Koncharoenkai- last hope for Thailand
Sutthiruang while try to hit a round-armish full ball wide of off from round the wicket, chiped it straight back to the bowler. Koncharoenkai is the only hope for Thailand to add some runs and end their first game with a descent score. But the remaining players failed to build a partnership with Koncharoenkai. Taylor picked couple of wickets in 15th over and that added benefits for West Indies. Atlast Afy Fletcher scatters Thailands hope by uprooting Koncharoenkai’s(33runs) wicket followed by a run out of W Liengprasert. Team Thailand fold up for just 78 runs in 20 overs.
Nannapat Koncharoenkai
At the toss Stafanie Taylor mentioned that she would like to restrict Thailand under 100 and her team have succeeded in doing that.
West Indies played without pressure
With an easy target of 79 to chase down Hayley Matthews and Lee-Ann Kirby get in the crease. Hayley Matthews is on strike, Boochatham opens the attack. Pressure builds over Thailand when Lateh spell 3 wides in the second over. Inspite of the low target the lose balls from Thailand shows they are playing under-pressure.
Without any rush West Indies played the match in a steady format. Lee-Ann Kirby sent to pavilion by run out due to the poor running while try to take a single. Stafanie Taylor(right handed) West Indian’s captain walk to the crease and pair with Hayley Matthews. In the fifth over Lateh uproot the Hayley Matthews’s wicket by a clean bowled.
Nannapat’s effort to runout
Campbelle at her 100th T20I
In the very next over Dottin lose her wicket while tries to take single. Count as second run out of the match for West Indies. This builds some pressure over West Indies as they lose three wickets for 27 runs in seven overs. Campbelle joins hand with captain Taylor and decide to play a steady game as the path to victory seems glorious. This is her 100th T20I match- a milestone acheivement for Campbelle.
This duo added 48 runs in total and paved the way for the victory. With a boundary West Indies win the match with 7 wickets in hand.
Campbelle at her 100th t20i
Player of the match
Stafanie Taylor(West Indies)
Batting : 26 from 37 ball
Stafanie Taylor : The bowling I felt was good but while batting I felt I just couldn’t get the ball off the square. But had to hang in there. I had decided with Campbelle we need to take our team through. We need to take our time to get used to the wicket. I keep telling my coaches that give me lesser bowlers and that I guess makes me feel that I need to bowl everyone.
Sornnarin Tippoch: We are happy that we did well. Actually, we wanted to get around 120 but we couldn’t. They bowled short and we need to learn to deal with it. We need to keep improving on so many areas. Our bowling and fielding was excellent. We enjoyed ourselves. Had been waiting for this.
Stafanie Taylor: For them it is very special. Once they keep playing, they will keep getting better. When we played Australia and India back in the Caribbean, it wasn’t great. The bowlers bowled really well. Shamilia Connell has been working a lot with Courtney Walsh and she was brilliant. We always look at dot ball percentage. That is a factor for us and we need to work on it. We need to make sure that we are rotating the strike. We need to be tough on ourselves.
