Nida Dar becomes first Pakistan bowler to pick 100 T20I wickets

ENG vs SL | 2nd ODI: All-round performance hands England unassailable 2-0 lead

England took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka after winning the second encounter by 8 wickets in London on Thursday. Chasing 242, the hosts went over the line in 43 overs after captain Eoin Morgan and Test skipper Joe Root stitched an unbeaten stand of 140 runs for the third wicket to see the side home. While Morgan remained unbeaten at 75 off 83, Root notched up 68* off 87. England had a decent start to the chase as Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow compiled 76 runs for the first wicket before Bairstow departed for 29 after he was cleaned up by Hasaranga while trying to cut a delivery. Later, Chamika Karunaratne scalped the priced wicket of Jason Roy for 60 after he was caught by Dhananjaya de Silva. But Morgan and Root made sure that there were no more fall of wickets. The duo began the proceedings in a cautious manner and then took on the Sri Lankan bowling attack. Earlier, Sri Lanka witnessed another batting collapse right at the start of the innings after they were reduced to 21/4 and were later left tottering at 86/5. But De Silva and Shanaka showed some resistance against the England bowling attack and the two batsmen put up a partnership of 78 runs for the sixth wicket. Dhanajaya eventually departed for 91 off 91 while Shanaka was later undone for 47 off 67. The lower order also made some important contributions but they went in vain as Sri Lanka suffered another defeat on this England tour. England fast bowlers Sam Curran and David Willey ripped through the Lankan batting order. Curran returned with a fifer during the course while Willey bagged a four-wicket haul as the visitors were restricted to 241/9 in 50 overs eventually. Kusal Perera expressed his disappointment at the failure of the top order with the bat. “Very hard for the lower order to get many once the top order fails that way. Dhananjaya played very well. We want to finish on a winning note,” he said. England captain Eoin Morgan was back in form with a brilliant fifty in the second ODI. Talking about his contribution after the match, Morgan said that he was delighted to take his team to a win and also lauded the efforts from Curran and Willey with the ball and the way Roy began the proceedings with the bat. “Delighted to score runs and make contribution to a series win. Left-arm seamers swung the ball and started so well. The wicket then slowed down. Roy, Bairstow at the top and Root batting at 3.. Good day all along. Not thinking about your batting as a captain seems to be working for me. We will see more changes in the final ODI with an eye on the Pakistani series as well. Always looking to grow and get better,” Morgan said. The two teams will now play the third and final ODI on Sunday in Bristol.

TNPL set to begin on July 19: Report

The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) has received a formal written approval from the state government on holding the TNPL. The official announcement is expected to be made on July 2 while the tournament is set to begin on July 19 according to a Cricbuzz report. The TNCA has set Covid-19 guidelines before the tournament commences. A five-day quarantine for the players and the officials is mandatory along with five RT-PCR tests. Apart from this, there would be no crowds in the stands and also the media won’t be allowed to cover the matches. The final of the tournament would take place on August 15. The permission of hosting the 32 matches was granted by the government at three centres and the TNCA will now decide the other two venues after a meeting on Friday. Chennai will host the final match. The players and officials will enter the isolation on July 4 in Chennai and will have to show two negative RT-PCR reports and then three more during the quarantine. The players will only be allowed to practice from July 9 or 10 while according to the sources, BCCI’s anti-corruption officials will monitor the games. The tournament had earlier run into troubled waters after some first class cricketers and coaches had come under scanner for suspected match-fixing.

Zimbabwe call-up four uncapped players for one-off Test against Bangladesh

Zimbabwe have called-up four uncapped players Chivanga Tanaka, Joylord Gumbie, Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Dion Myers for the one-off Test against Bangladesh scheduled to take place in Bulawayo from July 7. Tanaka and Myers have only played five First-Class matches while Gumbie (44) and Kaitano (21) are a bit more experienced. The side will be led by Sean Williams and has experienced players like Brendan Taylor, Donald Tiripano and Craig Ervine in the ranks. In 44 first class matches that Gumbie has played, he has notched up 1714 runs at an average of over 24 including two tons and 8 half-centuries. On the other hand, Kaitano has scored 872 runs in 21 matches at an average of 24.91 including four fifties. The two sides will then play each other in three ODIs and as many T20Is in Harare. The visitors will play a two-day practice match scheduled for 3-4 July and then a warm-up game on July 14, a couple of day ahead of the ODI series. Squad: Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Tendai Chisoro, Tanaka Chivanga, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Roy Kaia, Kevin Kasuza, Timycen Maruma, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Milton Shumba, Brendan Taylor, Donald Tiripano, Sean Williams (C), Chivanga Tanaka, Joylord Gumbie, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Dion Myers.

Dravid is in line to become next head coach, can't be a temporary arrangement: Sodhi

Former India player Reetinder Singh Sodhi has said that Rahul Dravid who has travelled with the Indian team to Sri Lanka for a bilateral white-ball tie can take up the head coach’s position once Ravi Shastri’s tenure comes to an end. "First of all, we have to acknowledge that Ravi Shastri has done a great job as coach. And yes, his contract is coming to an end. But let's think about it… a temporary arrangement and that too Rahul Dravid? I think it's virtually impossible. If he is going to Sri Lanka as the head coach, somewhere it's a clear indication that he is in line," Sodhi said. The former India captain who is now appointed as the head of the National Cricket Academy has made significant contributions as a coach while he was with the India ‘A’ and U19 teams. In fact, the India U19 team lifted the World Cup in 2018 under the captaincy of Prithvi Shaw while ended as runners-up in 2016 under Ishan Kishan’s leadership. A number of players who were part of ‘A’ and U19 teams during his tenure have been playing for the national side for quite some time now.