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Fabien Allen Stars As Windies Win Low Scoring Thriller Against Sri Lanka To Win T20i Series

Fabien Allen stars as Windies win low scoring thriller against Sri Lanka to win T20I series

An all-round masterclass from Fabian Allen proved too good for the Sri Lankan side to stage a comeback. The left-hander hit 21 in just one over of Akila Dhananjaya and lifted the team that seemed struggling at 112/7 at the end of 18 overs, chasing 132. With this win at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, the Windies won the three-match series 2-1.

West Indies started the chase in a positive manner, scoring 37 in just the fifth over. However, Wanidu Hasaranaga changed the momentum, getting both the openers out in quick succession. Dushmanatha Chameera, the only speedster in the team then bowled Windies skipper Kieron Pollard for a duck and started building pressure on the chasing side.

Lakshan Sandakan, the chinaman bowler in the Sri Lankan side increased that pressure, removing two top batsmen in Rovman Powell and Dwayne Bravo in successive deliveries, having bowled Chris Gayle before that.

But just when things seemed to be getting away from West Indies and they required 20 from two overs with Jason Holder struggling, Allen walked in. The Jamaican then bashed Dhananjaya left, right and centre, hitting three gigantic sixes in the over and finishing the game off.

Earlier in the evening, Angelo Mathews after winning the toss decided to bat first, but couldn’t get the start they were looking for. The openers got out early and so did Mathews. But after the fall of the first four wickets off 46 in the 10th over, Dinesh Chandimal and Ashen Bandara put together an unbeaten 85 in 63 balls to get Sri Lanka to 131. Chandimal was the highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka with 54 from 46 balls.

Allen was the pick of the bowlers for the West Indies, finishing off with figures of 1-13 in four overs. Apart from his batting and bowling, Allen also took a blinder to remove Gunathalika off his own bowling.

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Member of PSL team allowed to take flight despite testing positive for COVID-19

A non-playing member of a Pakistani Super League (PSL) team, who had tested positive for COVID-19, was allowed to leave the bio-bubble and fly back to Lahore. The official had tested positive before the start of the tournament and had flown back to Lahore from Karachi on the second day after the result of the test, ESPNCricinfo reported. The PSL was postponed for an indefinite time on 4th March after a rapid spike in positive cases in the league. The official, who tested positive, wasn’t a part of the coaching staff and joined the franchise before the start of the tournament. He entered the bubble after having returned a couple of negative tests. But on the day, the tournament began (February 20), the member tested positive and was put in isolation. He was then asked to leave the bubble of the hotel on February 22. The official then took another test on February 24 that came out to be negative. It is not yet clear whether the security team was told about the member’s positive test and him leaving the bubble. The medical panel’s head Dr Sohail Saleem has already offered his resignation from the post. Officially, Fawad Ahmed, the Australian cricketer representing Islamabad United, was the first person to test positive in PSL. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hasn’t commented on the matter so far.

South Africa women rout Indian eves in their first international assignment post Covid-19 lockdown

South Africa women Lizelle Lee and her opening partner Laura Wolvaardt led the team to a comfortable eight-wicket win over hosts India women in the opening match of the five-match ODI series at the Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Chasing a target of 178, the two women put together an opening stand of 169 runs and killed the game for India with that partnership. Although the Women in Blue eventually managed to break the partnership, getting Wolvaardt out for 80. Jhulan Goswami then also sent back the Rainbow nation’s skipper Sune Luus for a duck. But it was never going to be enough as Lee completed the formalities, chasing down the total with eight wickets remaining and 59 balls yet to be bowled. Earlier in the day, South Africa won the toss and decided to bowl first. Playing in her 100th game, Harmanpreet Kaur partnered skipper Mithali Raj in the recovery after the fall of early wickets. From 40-3 in 14 overs, the two took India to 100 in 25 overs. However, once Harmanpreet got out, the flood gates of the Indian team opened as the last six wickets fell for 73 runs as India could manage to get to 177 in 50 overs. Mithali was the highest run-scorer for India, making 50 off 85 balls. Shabnim Ismail was the pick of the bowlers for the South Africa women, taking three wickets for 28 runs in her 20 overs. Ismail was adjudged Man of the Match for her brilliant bowling performance. Indian eves would get a chance to make comeback in the second game on 9th March at the same venue.

Shaheen Afridi to tie knot with Shahid Afridi's daughter

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi is set to tie knot with Shahid Afridi’s eldest daughter. The former Pakistan all-rounder took to Twitter and confirmed that the proposal sent by Shaheen’s family has been accepted by them. "Shaheen's family approached my family for my daughter. Both families are in touch, matches are made in heaven, if Allah wills this match will be made too. My prayers are with Shaheen for his continued success on and off the field," Afridi said in his tweet. Afridi is blessed with five daughters Aqsa, Ansha, Ajwa, Asmara, and Arwa. The two cricketers were playing the Pakistan Super League (PSL) which was postponed for indefinite time with immediate effect after a rise in COVID-19 cases within the league. The Pakistan Cricket Board did receive some criticism after the PSL was postponed. “Some players freely went outside of the bubble, whilst some people from outside came in and out of the bubble. What exactly was this bubble about?,” questioned Inzamam-ul-Haq. "The medical panel should be punished and I request the higher authorities because they played with the lives of the people... All the blame has been put on Wasim Khan and he has been asked to face everything. Who has brought Wasim Khan? Ehsan Mani (brought him). Where is Mani Sahab? Is this the responsibility of Wasim Khan to answer here? Ehsan Mani should give the answer," Shoaib Akhtar said in a video. Shaheen has played 15 Tests, 22 ODIs and 21 T20Is for Pakistan. He has picked 48 wickets in Test cricket while has 45 and 24 scalps in one day internationals and T20Is respectively.

Washington Sundar has unbelievable composure and temperament: Ravi Shastri

India all-rounder Washington Sundar has certainly played some crucial role in India’s winning campaign against Australia and England in the Test fixtures in a brief career with the side. Sundar scored 96* against England in the first innings of the fourth and final Test that India went on to win by an innings and 25 runs eventually in Ahmedabad. The win helped India clinch the series 3-1 and march into the finals of the WTC that would be played against New Zealand in June. Head coach Ravi Shastri has praised the left-hander’s batting ability. “Washington Sundar has far more natural ability than I had. I think he should be batting in top-four for his state, there is no question about that. I think he should be batting in the top four, he is good enough and he belongs there. At the same time, if he can focus on his bowling, India would have a very good number six in the future. Somebody who could get you a 60-70 and then bowl for you. That was my role at number six, and I think he can do the same role and even better,” said Shastri during a virtual press conference on Sunday. Shastri further went on to say that Sundar has “unbelievable composure and temperament”. “Sundar has unbelievable composure and temperament. For someone, who was an opening batsman during the U-19 days but to see that kind of body langugage, unfazed by the best bowlers in the world during the toughest situations, as in Brisbane and Chennai. It was unreal, this innings in the fourth Test is even better than Brisbane because you are playing at home and you have a World Championship on the line. 50 adrift from the opposition and you are batting with Pant, yes you have Axar to come in next but your objective is to get closer to 205.” “These youngsters are not thinking of that, they are playing normal and fearless cricket. They are playing free cricket, and then they went on to get 360,” he added.