IPL 2021: We want to win six out of seven matches to qualify for playoffs, says Karthik

SL vs SA | 3rd ODI: Maheesh Theekshana became a big advantage for us, says Dasun Shanaka

Spinner Maheesh Theekshana played a vital role in Sri Lanka’s 78-run win in the third and deciding ODI against South Africa in Colombo on Tuesday. Chasing 204 in 50 overs, the Proteas were bundled out for 125 in 30 overs after Theekshana scalped a four-wicket haul while Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera picked up a couple of wickets apiece during the course. Captain Dasun Shanaka has put his weight behind Theekshana and said that he brought him into the XI for this game as the track would have something on offer for the spinners and it would be difficult for the South African batsmen to read Theekshana. "I actually brought Maheesh Theekshana into the team to play T20s," Shanaka said. "But I knew that on a track like this where it turns a lot, it's going to be hard for South Africa to read someone like Theekshana out of the hand. I took that risk as a captain and the selectors and coaches supported me. And that became a big advantage for us,” he added. Batting first, the home side managed to put 203/9 in 50 overs with Asalanka top-scoring with a 71-ball 47. For South Africa, it was stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj who scalped a three-for. The hosts clinched the ODI series 2-1 and the two teams will now lock horns with each other in a three-match T20I series beginning on September 10.

CPL 2021 | Finally, a victory for Barbados as they thrash Warriors by 45 runs

Barbados Royals were able to break their three-match losing streak as they defeated Guyana Amazon Warriors by 45 runs to lodge their second win of the campaign in their seventh match, With this victory, they were also able to end their three-match losing streak and it has now kept them alive in the race to the Semi-Finals. For the first time in the league, the Barbados batters looked in real good touch as the team posted 185 in their 20 overs and put Guyana under pressure right from the beginning of the match. Kyle Mayers who was brought back into the playing XI was given an opportunity to open the innings and he made full use of it adding 42 runs for the first wicket in only four overs. Out of the 42, 36 were scored by him before being caught by Odean Smith off the bowling of Romario Shepherd. Charles then took upon the responsibility to keep the run rate going as he scored a 21 ball 41 before passing n the baton to Glenn Phillips who made 44 of 31 balls. In the ed few lusty blows from captain Jason Holder meant that the team was able to cross the 180 mark. Shepherd picked three wickets for the Warriors while Gudakesh Motie returned with figures of 2-33. The confidence shown by Riyas in batting was taken to the field in bowling too as they bowled out Guyana for 140 without letting any of the big guns settle down. Mohammad Hafeez and Odean Smith looked like the only two batters making any difference. However with Hafeez’s dismissal in the 10th over, it looked all over. Smith top-scored with 43 runs and was the last batter to be dismissed. For the Royals, Nyeem Young was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-24 while jake Lintott and Raymon Reifer picked one wicket each. Mayers for his early onslaught was adjudged Man of the Match.

CPL 2021 | SKNP vs JT: Patriots look to get back in form against struggling Jamaica

Jamaica Tallawahs face St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in St Kitts on Wednesday (September 8, 2021). Both the sides are coming into this game after suffering a defeat in their last previous matches. The Patriots might have lost a couple of matches in the tournament but they are still sitting at the helm of the points table with five wins under their belt from seven matches. Jamaica on the other side have lost four out of the six games that they have played so far. Both the sides faced some struggle with their batting line up after the batters failed to leave a mark. The Tallawahs were bundled out for 92 while chasing 168 in 20 overs against the Trinbago Knight Riders. Ali Khan ripped though the Jamaica batting line up and never let the batsmen take an upper hand during the chase. The Patriots on the other side failed to put a big total on the board against Saint Lucia Kings and were bowled out for 118. Though, the side did get a couple of early wickets including the scalp of Faf du Plessis who had thoroughly dominated the Patriots in the earlier fixture and in fact notched up a ton but didn’t capitalise on the start they got and stood at the losing end eventually. Roston Chase chipped in with a valuable half-century to anchor the Kings to a win. The last time the two sides met each other, Patriots etched a win by 6 wickets while 167, sparing more than two overs. Well, the teams would now be looking to turn the fortunes for themselves. Match Details Match: St Kitts and Nevis Patriots vs Jamaica Tallawahs, Match 21, CPL 2021 Date and TIme: 8 September 2021, 07:30 PM IST Venue: Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts Telecast: Star Sports Network Pitch Report The track in St Kitts might have something on offer for the bowlers in the initial phase of the game. The batters would have to get their eye and give a steady start before accelerating. So, if you win the toss, elect to bat first and put up a good total on the board. Probable XI SKNP: Evin Lewis, Devon Thomas (wicket-keeper), Chris Gayle (C), Asif Ali, Sherfane Rutherford, Andre McCarthy, Fabian Allen, Dominic Drakes, Naseem Shah, Paul van Meekeren, Fawad Ahmed Jamaica Tallawahs: Jason Mohammed, Kennar Lewis, Haider Ali, Syed Wasim, Rovman Powell (c), Andre Russell, Shamarh Brooks, Carlos Brathwaite, Migael Pretorius, Chris Green, Veerasammy Permaul Fantasy XI D Thomas, C Gayle (VC), K Lewis, E Lewis, S Rutherford, F Allen, A Russell (C), C Brathwaite, F Ahmed, M Pretorius, P van Meekeren

India to announce T20 World Cup 2021 squad today, here’s how it may look

The T20 World Cup 2021 is less than 40 days away now and all the boards are about to announce their squad. Keeping with the 30-day deadline, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would be announcing the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2021 by Wednesday, 08 September evening. OneCricket decided to break down the probable squad for the readers. And here’s how the Indian squad could look like and why Squad Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma (Vice Capt), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul Chahar, Yuzvendara Chahal, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Mohammad Shami Reserves Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan and Shikhar Dhawan Openers The Indian team would look to go with its two best and most experienced batters in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as openers as it tried and tested the formula in the T20I series against England and moreover skipper Kohli and management want to go with it. The middle-order Next comes the remaining batters and since Suryakumar Yadav proved his adaptability by batting brilliantly in Sro Lanka, he makes the curt. Shreyas Iyer has recovered from his injury and considering his form on spinning tracks for UAE, it was only justified that he was given a chance. KL Rahul is in great knock and could be used at number four as an alternate to Iyer. Wicket-Keepers Ishan Kishan and Rishabh pant are the wicket keepers as it is necessary to have two wicket keepers going into a World Cup level. Moreover, Sanju Samson wasn’t able to convert his chances in Sri Lanka and thus it would be easier for selectors to make the decision. All-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja walk into the team straight away as proven all-around talents and especially on spin-friendly wickets the two can give a massive boost to the squad. With Washington Sundar getting injured, it was imperative that India could afford to go with only two pure all-rounders. Bowlers With two genuine all-rounders, two wicket-keeper batsmen and five pure batsmen in the squad, only six bowlers could be chosen and thus the six being divided equally among pacers and spinners could be an idea that the Indian team would like to implement. Hence Yuzvendar Chahal, Deepak Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy look like the three spinners making the cut. Among the fast bowlers, it would be a tough fight between Mohammad Shami and Bhuveneshwar Kumar, however, Shami seems to be edging it at the moment due to Bhuvi’s poor returns in Sri Lanka. Reserves Due to the Covid-19 still in prevalence, the International Cricket Council has allowed all teams to carry at max three reserves. T Natarajan would be the first one to make it to the reserves list. If he shows great form and fitness in IPL can be drafted in the squad because his fitness at the moment is under doubt. Since Bhuvneshwar could not make it to the main squad, it would be only fair that he was at least kept in reserves. Although Shardul Thakur can give a tough fight to him even for this place. Lastly, courtesy of his experience, Shikhar Dhawan makes a case for himself.