WI vs SA | 2nd Test: Keshav Maharaj’s historic hattrick plunders Windies to a 0-2 whitewash at home

When Wiaan Mulder held on to knick by Joshua da Silva at the leg slip, Keshav Maharaj, the bowler off whose delivery all that action unfolded, ran off like a man possessed, he was sprinting around the park at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, diving like a football player, who had just hit the best goal of his career and the rest of the South African players were chasing him, trying to catch him and hug him down to the ground, because Maharaj was literally flying.

And why shouldn’t have he been? After all the spinner had achieved something that none of the South African bowlers in the last 81 years of the team’s history were able to. With the wicket of da silva, Maharaj became only the second Proteas Men’s player and first spinner ever to take a Test hat-trick in the country’s cricketing history. Prior to Maharaj, only Geoff Griffin, a fast bowler had taken a hat-trick in Test cricket for South Africa. He took it in 1960 at Lord’s against England.

Bowling in the 37th over, the 31-year-old left-arm spinner removed Kieran Powell on the third delivery where the half centurion was caught by Anrich Nortje at deep square leg. On the very next ball, Jason Holder got an arm ball that hit his bat and pad at the same time and was grabbed by Keegan Petersen at short leg. And then there was the da Silva dismissal. Eventually, Maharaj ended up with a five-wicket haul, his 7th in only his 36th Test.

With the help of this five-wicket haul, he was able to reduce the hosts West Indies to 165-9 and crushed them to a 158 run defeat as their last man Shanon Gabriel didn’t come out to bat, as he was absent hurt. With this win, South Africa claimed the two-Test series 2-0 having already won the first game by an innings and 63 runs.

Earlier in the day, Windies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and Powell, the two overnight openers started from the score of 15. But it didn’t take too long for Kagiso Rabada to break the partnership as he removed Brathwaite and Shai Hope in quick succession.

Kyle Mayers then joined Powell and tried building a partnership as the duo 74 for the fourth wicket. It was also the highest partnership in the entire innings for the men from the Caribbean. Later on, Jermaine Blackwood and Kemar Roach added 40 for the seventh wicket, but could not delay the Proteas wicket much. Apart from Maharaj, Rabada picked three wickets while one wicket went to Lungi Ngidi.

After winning the toss on the first day, Windies skipper Brathwaite had decided to bowl first. South Africa scored 298 in their first innings courtesy of Quinton de Kock’s 96. In its reply, even after Blackwood’s half-century, the maroon capped team fell for 149 in their first innings. They came back well with the ball removing seven Proteas batters with just 73 on the board.

However, Rassie van der Dussen in partnership with Rabada sailed the ship as far as it could have been. With the help of van der Dussen’s 75*, the men from the cape of good hope posted a target of 323 for the West Indies.

Rabada was named Man of the Match while de Kock for his 237 runs in three innings was declared Man of the Series. As the Test series has concluded, the caravan would now move from St. Lucia to Grenada, where the five T20Is would take place, starting with the first one on June 26.

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'Not too many chinks in armor' but Kyle Jamieson finds 'pattern' in Virat Kohli's failure

New Zealand pace sensation Kyle Jamieson said that he reckons there is a pattern in the dismissals of Virat Kohli, who otherwise doesn’t have too many flaws in his technique. Jamieson sent Kohli back to the pavilion early on the third day of the World Test Championship final and Jamieson said the wicket ball seamed ‘a little bit’ which is beyond control of both the bowler and batsmen , irrespective of their reputation and technique. "I guess, yeah, maybe there's some sort of pattern. I don't necessarily know if we talk about it a huge amount. I think the one that I was able to get with him today certainly seamed back a little bit, and those are pretty hard to control as a bowler and pretty hard to manage as a batter no matter who you are, so I don't think it's necessarily just for him," said Jamieson, who played for RCB in IPL 2021. "He's a massive part of their team and a pretty big wicket to get. To get him pretty early this morning I guess was nice and was pleasing and pretty crucial for how the day unfolded. I think he's a world-class batter, and those guys don't tend to have too many chinks in their armor. Certainly pleasing to get him. Kyle Jamieson had downplayed the hype around the Dukes ball which are used in the longest format of the game in England before the series against England. However, after learning a ‘little bit’ about how to exploit the red cherry, Jamieson said that he focussed more on extracting movement by wobble seam than trying to swing the ball to get the better of batsmen. "I've probably learnt a little bit around technically what I'm trying to do. The ball certainly swung a fair amount, and probably at times almost too much. So I think for me personally today, and a little bit yesterday, as well, I probably tried to more wobble the ball than swing it and just kind of engage guys for longer periods,” Jamieson added. Jamieson has had a terrific start to his Test career as he has been a constant weapon for his side in the longest format. He pciked up another five-wicket haul against India in the World Test Championship final after starting off his career on a dominating note last year.

PSL 2021 | Ain’t just a lower order batter; Khushdil Shah sends strong message to Multan management

Khushdil Shah of Multan Sultans hit Islamabad United’s young bowler Akif Ajved for 29 runs in the 19th over of the innings in the ongoing Qualifier between the two teams in the Pakistan Super League. The over included four consecutive sixes as well. However, what got the attention more than his shots were his words during the innings break interview. Asked about how he handles pressure and hit such straight shots, the 26-year-old replied, “Rameez Bhai, I am not just four out batsman (coming after the loss of four wickets). People think I ma just that, but I have had 8-10 centuries in the domestic circuit and I can easily bat in the middle order.” “I come in at a time when I only have tailenders to play with, so I have to look to save wickets and also hit runs at the same time,” added Khushdil, who has played handy knocks of 40 (32), 18(11) etc. in the Abu Dhabi leg of the PSL 2021. When he came to bat during this innings, the Sultans were 122-4 and soon lost established batter Sohaib Maqsood with the score at 137-5 in the 17th over. With just three overs to go and a ‘bowling all-rounder’ of some sort, Sohail Tanvir by his side, Khushdil did well to get the team to 180-5. This is also the first time in the Abu Dhabi leg that the Sultans have reached 180. Khushdil too underscored the importance of reaching 180 as he said, “This is the first time we have reached 180 and I am sure our bowlers would be able to defend it.” At the time of writing this, Khushdil words were sounding true as the Sultans bowlers managed to get three United wickets in just four overs.

Jos Buttler defends England's rotation policy, reiterates all-format ambitions

England suffered a massive defeat against New Zealand to lose their first home series since 2014 and the first one against Kiwis at home since 1999 but for Jos Buttler the things in England cricket are not ‘as good as you think and not as bad as you think they are.’ He pointed out that England had to fight in tough conditions against India, who have been a ‘formidabe’ side in their home conditions while terming the series loss to New Zealand which was also skipper Joe Root’s first series loss at home, ‘disappointing.’ "Generally, things are never as good as you think they are and never as bad as you think they are. We played three fantastic games in the subcontinent and then hit some extremely tough conditions. India are a formidable force at home and went on to win that series. Any time you lose at home is disappointing - we're a proud nation with a proud record at home and it was Rooty's first series loss at home,” Buttler said. He added that England have improved as a side over the past 18 months and they have made significant progress in the right direction to keep things at a ‘good place’ which will help the side come back strongly against India in the upcoming series. "It's disappointing whenever you don't play cricket you know what you're capable of as a side. But in the past 18 months, two years, there have been some strides and I think the side is going in the right direction. Things are still in a good place. Any time you lose, there are question marks but I think some great things have been put in place and I'd still back everyone in that side to have a great summer against India,” he added. Buttler missed the two-match long series against New Zealand albeit he arrived in the country as England and Wales Cricket Board had decided to rest players coming back from the curtailed edition of the IPL a rest in order to try ‘new faces.’ He pointed out that England cricketers play cricket ‘more than the most’ players across the world play and hence rest periods are necessary to prevent players from getting burnt out. "It's always disappointing when you miss cricket," Buttler said. "I was feeling in good touch and things were going well but I will retain that confidence if I get another chance. At the same time, what has been helpful as a player are the open discussions you have with the coaches and captains. Those rest periods are there because it probably allows you to throw yourself into everything when you are involved. If it's an endless piece of string, then at some point you are going to burn out. "I don't think there's any perfect answers," he added. "In England we're playing a lot of cricket, more than most, so it's important for everyone to be looked after really well, and I think the ECB do a good job of that. We understand it's a short career and you want to be available and play as much as you can, but in the current climate, with all the complications of Covid etc, I do think we have to look after our people. Pointing out the difference the covid-19 has brought upon in the world of cricket, Buttler said the process of keeping families with players or going to and fro to their homes have become untenable. He said that it’s not a perfect world of management by the ECB but he emphasized that the board has been willing to take care of the players in these tough times. "Simple things like playing in England, it used to be very easy to bring your family in, and get out and go home, and do those normal things. But the stresses and strains of the environments at the moment are different to what it used to be. "I know there's been some criticism from outside, but I think it's a day and age where we've got to look after people and applaud the fact that the guys are trying to be forward-thinking and look after people. Is it perfect? No, of course it's not, but I'd rather we look after our guys." Buttler was rested from the last three Tests of the series against India before the New Zealand series but he reiterated his commitment and ambitions to all forms of the game for England. He also urged the need to regain focus on the upcoming two T20 World Cups after the triumphant ODI World Cup campaign. "That was something that helped us in the 50-over World Cup - going in confident, having played good cricket. So we need to focus hard on these next few T20s to make sure we put ourselves in as good a position as we can be when we get to the World T20,” Buttler added. "Naturally I am a better white-ball player than I am a red-ball player but I want to be the best cricketer I can be in all formats," he added. "In terms of my own ambitions, I want to be the best player I can, no matter what colour the ball is.” Jos Buttler has returned to action with Lancashire in the Vitality Blast and will walk back in the ODI team in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.

Javeria Khan named skipper for Pakistan Women’s historic West Indies tour

Top-order batter Javeria Khan would lead a 26 member Pakistan Women contingent to West Indies for a five-match ODI and three-match T20I series beginning June 30. The tour for the first time would also involve the ‘A’ sides of both countries fighting alongside at the same time as the senior members. While Rameen Shamim will lead the Pakistan Women ‘A’ side in the List A matches, wicketkeeper Sidra Nawaz will skipper the T20 side. "This is a historic occasion in the history of Pakistan women's cricket as for the first time national side and the 'A' team are travelling together," Urooj Mumtaz, National Women's Selection Committee Chairperson was quoted as saying to Cricbuzz. The contingent will fly to Antigua and Barbuda via London on June 23 from Lahore. The first T20I, as well as the T20 involving the A teams, would be held on June 30 and the next two on July 2 and 4 respectively. Both the A and senior games would be played at the same venue of Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and Coolidge Cricket Ground during the T20 leg of the tour. The ODIs will be played at the same venues as well. The first two ODIs would be played at Coolidge on July 7 and 9 respectively, while the next two will be played at SVR Stadium on July 12 and 15 before the teams moving back to Coolidge for the final ODI on July 18. The A teams will play three List A games with the first one at SVR and the next two at Coolidge. This will be only the third visit of the Pakistan Women to the West Indies. On the previous two occasions in 2011 and 2015-16, they lost the four-match ODI series 1-3. But in the most recent meeting between the two teams in 2018-19 in UAE, Pakistan Women managed to win their first-ever bilateral series against the women from the Caribbean by beating them 2-1 in the three-match series. Pakistan Women Squad Javeria Khan (captain, national team), Rameen Shamim (One-Day captain, 'A' team), Sidra Nawaz (T20 captain, 'A' team), Aliya Riaz, Aiman Anwar, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Iram Javed, Jaweria Rauf, Kainat Imtiaz, Kaynat Hafeez, Maham Tariq, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Nahida Khan, Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Saba Nazir, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, and Syeda Aroob Shah.