Second ODI between West Indies and Australia called off after positive Covid-19 case

IRE vs SA: Proteas clinch series after Miller saves the day with the bat

In the end, it turned out to be an easy win for South Africa in a game that could have easily gone Ireland’s game with the start that South Africa got in their innings batting first. The Proteas had lost their first four wickets for 38 runs when in walked David Miller. All the top guns were in the hut including Quinton de Kock and soon most in form Proteas batter this year, Rassie van der Dussen too was caught behind the wicket. Forced to bat with the tail, Miller produced one of the best innings of his T20I career, as he rebuilt the whole South African innings. Firstly he added 58 off 43 balls with Wiaan Mulder where Mulder was the run-scoring partner (36 from 26) while the 33-year-old settled down. As soon as Mulder got out right when the death overs started in the 18th, the Miller show began. He faced 12 off the next 17 balls and scored 37 runs off them, 24 of which came from the last six balls of the inning. Courtesy of that heroic effort from the experienced campaigner like Miller, the Proteas bowlers came all charged up and removed the most experienced Irish batter Kevin O’Brien in the very first over. From there on, there were some beautiful and entertaining shots from Paul Stirling, but with wickets falling at regular intervals, Ireland hardly looked like winning the game. At 99-9 in the 17th over, the game was done and dusted and it took another 19 to complete the formalities. As always Tabraiz Shamsi was amongst the wickets as he removed three batters to take his wickets tally in this series to seven. Bjorn Fortuin took two wickets as well. With this South Africa bagged the series with one game to go which would also be played at Stormont in Belfast on Friday, July 23.

Watch: Deepak Chahar and Indian Physio Niranjan Pandit mesmerize with their medley of Bollywood classics

On very rare occasions some Indian player would tell about his teammates singing in the dressing rooms. Earlier, only the players had the pleasure of listening to the cricketing greats in their pure singing form. But thanks to Social Media and the Board of Control for Cricket in India, even the ordinary Indian fan had an opportunity to listen to the hero from the last match for India, Deepak Chahar being bass guitarist in a duet with Indian team physio for Sri Lanka tour, Niranjan Pandit. In a video uploaded by the BCCI, Chaharand Pandit can be heard singing a medley of Bollywood classics such as “Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche”, “Ek ajnabee haseena se mulaqat” and “Kya hua tera waada”. Chahar, a famous name among cricket fans suddenly became a household name after his unbeaten 69 from 82 balls to win India a thrilling second ODI encounter against hosts Sri Lanka by three wickets. On his way to 69, Chahar had an unbeaten 84 stand with fellow fast bowlers and India vice-captain Bhuvaneshwar Kumar. The two teams will now collide with each other on July 23 in the third and final ODI at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

ZIM vs BAN: Somya Sarkar, Mohammad Naim shine as Tigers thrash hosts in T20I series opener

At the start of their innings when Regis Chakabva and Wesley Madhevere were hitting all Bangladeshi bowlers all over the park, even a total of 200 was in sight for the Zuimababweasn. But as has been the case in this entire three format tour, as soon as the settled batsmen got out, it became exceedingly difficult for the men in Red and Gold to score runs and they eventually folded for 152 in the 19th over itself, unable to complete even their designated 20 overs. Bangladesh openers Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Naim then gave the Tigers an emphatic start, adding 102 runs for the opening wicket. The visitors seemed to be rolling across to the victory rope pretty fine unless two quick wickets and some tight overs by Luke Jongwe and Wellington Masakadza meant that Bangladesh suddenly required 27 from the last three overs. With options of Jongwe, himself and Madhevere to chose for, skipper Sikandar Raza went for an audacious choice for Richard Ngarava who had till then conceded 30 in his three overs. The choice didn’t work out well for him as the bowler conceded 16 in the 18th over and left only 11 runs to defend in the last two. Much like in the last ODI, Nurul Hasan Sohan, who joined Naim at the crease after Mahmudullah’s dismissal, seemed in a hurry to finish the game. He hit Blessing Muzarabni for a six on the second ball of the 19th over to bring the equation down to 4 from 10 balls. Naim then hit Muzarabani for a four on the fourth ball to finish the game. While 21-year-old Naim remained unbeaten 63 from 51 balls, Sohan hit 16 from 8 balls. Sarkar, who got run out after hitting his fifty from45 balls having already picked a wicket in the first innings in his two overs was adjudged Man of the Match. The two teams will meet again tomorrow on July 23 at the same venue and while Zimbabwe would look to save the series and stretch it to the finale on July 25, Bangladesh would look to make it 2-0 and win this series to win all formats on this tour.

Mushfiqur Rahim to miss Australia T20I series

Bangladesh wicket-keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim will be missing the five-match T20I series against Australia which is slated to take place month. The right-handed batsman wasn’t able to start the 10-day mandatory quarantine. He had earlier missed the Zimbabwe series to be with his parents. "He had to return home because of his parents and you cannot do anything in this situation. Mushfiqur was eager to play but we cannot help it as CA was not ready to compromise," BCB cricket operation chairman Akram Khan told Cricbuzz. The match officials for the fixtures have been isolated while the Bangladesh side would directly go to the team hotel after the players arrive in Dhaka. The series will begin on August 3 in Dhaka and all the matches will be played at the same venue. Earlier, the BCB had confirmed that it will be hosting the Aussie side. "Yes, the tour is confirmed and they (Australia) are coming to play the five-match T20I series,'' Akram was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. The board wanted to hold the series at Dhaka and Chittagong but the Australian side was keen on playing the series one. The teams will now have only one day for practice at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.