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Wi Vs Sa 1St T20i Hosts Annihilate Proteas After Test Series Debacle

WI vs SA |1st T20I: Hosts annihilate Proteas after Test series debacle

Following a drubbing at the hands of the Proteas in the two-match Test series, the Caribbean team came roaring back to form in a format where they feel comfortable. Courtesy impressive bowling performance from Fabian Allen and a breezy knock of 71 by Evin Lewis, the hosts thrashed South Africa by 8 wickets to g0 1-0 up in 5-match T20I series. With the resounding defeat, the T20I skipper Temba Bavuma has to ponder upon the team selection that backfired.

Before the start of this match, West Indies had previously chased down 160 plus scores in home conditions only once, but on this occasion, they chased down the target of 161 runs with 5 overs to spare.

After winning the toss, Windies skipper Kieron Pollard put the Proteas into bat first. The skipper introduced the spinners right from the word go and though Kevin Sinclair conceded a few boundaries, Fabian Allen put the brakes on the Proteas as he bagged the wicket of Reeza Hendricks after a breezy start from the visitors. He bowled with guile and bamboozled the South African batting line-up with his impressive spell of 2/18 in his 4 overs spell.

Quinton de Kock looked comfortable during his stay at the crease but was eventually dismissed on 37 of 24 deliveries by Andre Russell. Rassie van der Dussen was South Africa’s top scorer as he stroked his way to a half-century as wickets fell around him. He struck 4 fours and a couple of sixes during his knock of 56 of 38 deliveries and was instrumental in taking the visitors overs the 160 mark. Allen and Dwayne Bravo were the pick of the bowlers with a couple of wickets each.

The sort of start Evin Lewis and Andre 'Spiceman' Fletcher provided to the hosts was more of a statement to the opposition about what they are capable of especially in this format. Both looked in a complete murderous mood and raced off to an 85-run opening partnership in just 7 overs before the dismissal of Fletcher but by then the match was almost done and dusted.

The hosts were bolstered by the return of Chris Gayle and Andre Russell and the two champion match-winner didn’t disappoint their fans. Gayle was at his usual self taking his time early on and then pressing on the launchpad. Evin Lewis on the other hand didn’t spare any of the South African bowlers and blew them away with an unbeaten knock of 71 of 35 deliveries.

Lewis was eventually dismissed by Tabraiz Shamsi in the 12th over but the hosts needed just 30 odd runs at that time. It was the big man Gayle and 'Muscle' Russell who sealed the deal with 5 overs to spare. While Gayle remained unbeaten on 32, Russell was batting on 23 when the victory target was reached.

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ENG W vs IND W: Shafali Verma becomes youngest Indian to feature in all three formats of the game

Indian Women opener Shafali Verma became the youngest Indian to feature in all three formats of the game after she was presented her ODI cap in the first game of the three-match ODI series against England. She is making her debut at 17 years and 150 days, which is the least for Indian cricketers, male or female. In the world, she is the fifth-youngest in a list that is topped by Afghanistan’s Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman, who featured in all formats of the game when he was just 17 years and 78 days old. Haryana born Verma, was also the youngest Indian to play in a T20I when she made her debut against South Africa Women in September 2019, aged just 15 years and 236 days old. Since then, the right haded batter who reminds people of Viredner Sehwaga with her attacking batting has played 22 T20Is and a Test, scoring a combined total of 776 runs. She was presented her ODI cap by India Women skipper Mithali Raj and became the 131st women to represent India in ODIs. India were asked to bat after England skipper Heather Knight win the toss and decided to bowl first. A shocking decision was in the offing as well when India decided to bench Sneh Rana, the bowling all-rounder who saved the Test match single-handedly with her brilliant batting effort.

WI vs SA | 2nd T20I: Proteas look to bounce back after getting blanked by ruthless Windies in first game

The current T20Is taking place in the West Indies which would involve the Caribbean side locking horns with South African, Pakistani and Australian units are being seen as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup in October-November this year. In that regard, the humbling defeat that South Africa were subjected to in the first game of their 5-match series against the hosts was more than just a wake-up call for Mark Boucher and his men to get into their grooves before it is too late to recover. While the batting of Temba Bavuma’s unit was still at par, it was the bowling that lacked discipline. They were simply all over, so much so that the Windies chased down 161 in just 15 overs. There seemed to be no plan against the likes of Andre Russell and Chris Gayle, two stalwarts of the T20 format. Even when the entire world knows that short balls and wide yorkers are their weak points, South Africa decide that was a good day to forget that plan. The West Indies on their part were quite professional in all departments, be it batting or bowling and even in the field, letting no chance slip away at all, apart from a few errors in the field. Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher, the two openers looked in supreme touch and then Gayle and Russell did the rest. The chase looked more like a statement to the rest of the world, ‘watch out, we are coming to defend the title’. For South Africa to make a comeback, they need to get in a plan and follow that. Moreover, they don’t have any genuine off-spinner in the side which is a problem against a left hand heavy West Indies batting lineup. But with the resources that they have, they got to back them and Temba Bavuma needs to lead by example if the team is going to get any success. West Indies vs South Africa: Match Details Match Number- 02 Time and Date: June 27, 2021, 11:30 pm IST, 06:00 pm GMT, 02:00 pm Local Venue: National Cricket Stadium, St. George’s, Grenada Live Stream: Fancode Pitch Report The pitch in the first game was absolutely terrific with the ball coming on the ball very nicely. A batting-friendly wicket predominantly, it also had something for the bowlers if the change of pace was applied with precision as was demonstrated by DJ Bravo and Russell. Weather and Toss The conditions are going to be extremely humid and there are slight chances of rain early in the match. The toss would be crucial as the team winning it would look to chase. Team News West Indies The openers did fantastically well and thus not playing Lendl Simmons did not turn out to be any bad decision. Whether Pollard would go with the same team is yet to be seen. Obed McCoy was great with the ball too, hence chances of a Fidel Edwards come back into the side are slim as well. More or less the same unit will be playing this game as well. Probable XI Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran(w), Kieron Pollard(c), Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Fabian Allen, Obed McCoy, Kevin Sinclair South Africa For the Proteas, it is a catch 22 situation, if they change the team right now, it would be too early as just by the performance of one game, the talent of a player cannot be determined. Bit if the same team plays and loses again, then changing it in the do or die third game of the series would be too late as well. Honestly, the only change they can make is to play another fast bowler in place of Linde, most probably Andile Phehlukwayo. Probable XI Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi Dream XI / Fantasy XI team Evin Lewis, Chris Gayle, Quinton de Kock(wk) (vc), Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andre Russell (c), Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kevin Sinclair

Mohammad Saifuddin’s all-round show leads Abahani to Dhaka Premier Division T20 League title win

It was the last matchday of the Dhaka Premier Division T20 League and two of the top sides, Prime Bank Cricket Club and Abahani Limited were up against each other fighting for the title. Mohammad Saifuddin’s all-round brilliance led Abahani to the title win as the 24-year-old scored an unbeaten 21 in the first innings and picked four wickets. The Mosaddek Hossain side defeated Anamul Haq captained Prime Bank by eight runs. The last game of the league for both the teams went right down to the wire with veteran Alok Kapali making sure that the Prime Bank team didn’t go down without a fight. Chasing a mere target of 151, the Prime Bank team did not get off to flyer and Rubel Mia, a consistent performer in the league for the Bank, kept on the chase with his sluggish efforts even as wickets kept falling. However, it was once he fell down at the team score of 98-6 that Kapali got into the groove and started chasing the total with all intent. The 37-year-old along with Shoriful Islam added 26 for the 10th wicket after Nayeem Hassan and Rubel Hossain too fell cheaply post Mia’s dismissal. Kapali hit 15 in the penultimate over to bring the target down to just 15 from the last over. Running the risk of losing the last wicket, he kept the strike to himself in the entire last over but was able to hit just one six and hence his team lost the game by eight runs. Earlier in the day, Abahani won the toss and decided to bat first. With the help of Nazmul Hossain Shanto’s 45, Mosaddek’s 40 and a late charge by Saifuddin, the team in blue reached 150 in their 20 overs. Rubel was the pick of the bowlers of Prime Banka, finishing his four-over quota with 2/22. With this win, Abahani won the inaugural T20 edition of an otherwise established 50 over league called the Dhaka Premier Division. Before this game, booth Abahani and Prime Bank were tied at 22 points with 11 wins from 16 games.

LPL rights holder IPG terminates Dambulla Viikings and Colombo Kings ahead of season 2

The Lanka Premier League has run into a roadblock just ahead of the start of the second season as the league’s right holders, Innovative Productive Group (IPG) decided to terminate two of the five franchises in the league. Dambulla Viikings and Colombo Kings, the two teams owned by non-Sri Lankan owners have been removed due to non-payment of dues. The Sri Lanka Cricket and IPG agreed that Kings, owned by Saza Group of Murfad Mustafa of Dubai and Viikings, owned by Telugu Warriors company of Sachin Joshi of India must be terminated. The two authorities also revealed that two other teams have been picked up as their replacement for the second season beginning on July 30. "It won't affect the league because we will be announcing the two new owners soon," IPG said in a release. "Accordingly, the Innovative Production Group FZE (IPG) has received multiple requests from many interested parties and in compliance with the contractual obligation of the IPG and Sri Lanka Cricket, for the said League, as well as in keeping with the requirement of the International Cricket Council (ICC), have submitted all KYC documents for approval to finalise the new set of owners for the said teams," the SLC said in another statement. The 2020 edition of the tournament was won by Jaffana Stallions when they beat Galle Gladiators in the finale held at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International cricket stadium. This season, the tournament running from July 30 to August 27 will be played at the same venue as well.