Rovman Powell scores second fastest fifty in LPL history, but his team loses even after that

It has been raining sixes in the Lanka Premier League encounter between Jaffna Kings and Kandy Warriors as West Indian import of the Warriors, Rovman Powell hit the second-fastest fifty in the history of the league and fastest in this season, as he smashed seven sixes and two fours to reach to his 15 ball fifty.

The record for the fastest fifty in the name of his fellow Jamaican teammate Andre Russell who had hit a 14 ball fifty while playing for Colombo Kings. Like this game, the match in which Russell hit the fastest fifty last season was also a rain-curtailed one.

Coming back to this game, Powell’s knock put his side, Kandy, in sight of an almost impossible chase of 182 in just 12 overs. However, his wicket in the 12th over has made things a tad difficult as Kamindu Mendis joined Kennar Lewis in the middle with 36 still required from 165 balls.

But in the next four balls, only five runs came and the Warriors needed 31 from the last 12 balls to win their first game in the league. But it wasn't to be as just after the Powell wicket, the team lost the plot and it all went haywire.

It was so absurd after the fall of Powell's wicket that in total, the last three overs of the Warriors innings resulted in the side losing four wickets and scoring only 25 runs. This loss is now the third in the row for the Warriors, while Jaffna recorded its second win in the league.

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NZ vs BAN | Fazle Mahmud replaces Shakib Al Hasan in Bangladesh's Test squad

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced Fazle Mahmud, the leading run-getter in National Cricket League (NCL), Bangladesh’s premier First-Class tournament as a replacement for Shakib Al Hasan for the national team’s New Zealand tour. The decision was made after BCB granted Shakib the leave which he had asked for to avoid touring New Zealand for two-match Test series in the new year. Mahmud, who made 603 runs at an average of 60.30 in the NCL is a left-arm top-order batter and part-time left-arm spinner. The 33-year-old who has so far played 94 First-Class games having made his domestic debut way back in 2004, has played ODI cricket for Bangladesh but was never named in a Test squad. In ODIs too he played only two games against Zimbabwe in October 2018 but was out on zero in both matches. In another development, Rangana Herath, who was part of the Bangladesh set up during the T20 World Cup and the run-up to it, has rejoined the team as spin bowling consultant for the New Zealand tour. Bangladesh will be playing two games which would be part of the WTC 2021-23. The Tigers have played two Tests in the WTC so far, but have lost both the games. Bangladesh squad for New Zealand tour Mominul Haque (capt), Shadman Islam, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Fazle Mahmud, Liton Das (wk), Nurul Hasan (wk), Yasir Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Jayed, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Shohidul Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mohammad Naim

Two cricket ground staff killed in reported elephant attack in Sri Lanka

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Pat Cummins expresses delight as bowling unit follows Ashes blueprint

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BBL 2021-22 | Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat: Matthew Kelly anchors Perth to positive start

Perth Scorchers etched a 6-run win against Brisbane Heat in Perth on Wednesday as they bundled out the opponents for 151 while chasing 158 in 20 overs. The Brisbane side didn’t really have a good start as they lost early wickets and were reduced to 105/6 in the 14th over. While Sam Heazlett (34 off 17) and Xavier Bartlett (34* off 25) tried to gather some runs, they didn’t really get much support from the other end and the side eventually suffered a defeat. Matthew Kelly was the pick of the bowlers for Scorchers after picking up a four-wicket haul at the cost of 28 runs in 4 overs. Earlier, the Perth side lost an early wicket in the form of Munro but Bancroft and Kurtis Patterson came in for the rescue with a partnership of 68 runs for the second wicket. While Bancroft was dismissed for 25, Patterson went on the notch up a fifty during the course. Later, captain Ashton Turner chipped in with a valuable 28 off 19 to help his side put 157/6 in 20 overs. Kelly who was adjudged man of the match acknowledged the positive start that the team got. “Great to start off with a win, was fantastic to come and play in front of the home crowd. Didn't get the hat-trick, but it was a great performance overall by all the bowlers - Jason, AJ chipped in as well - didn't have a great time around last season, but have worked hard and this was a great result to start off the tournament,” he said after the match.