World T20 2021 | BAN vs SCO: Chris Greaves leads resurgence against Bangladesh

WBBL 2021 | Perth Scorchers hold nerve to clinch win in Super Over against Brisbane Heat

The WBBL clash between Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat went down the wire after the Scorchers clinched a win in the Super Over. Batting first, Perth managed to put a total of 137/7 in 20 overs on the board. Captain Sophie Devine and Mooney stitched a stand of 25 runs for the first wicket before Devine was sent back for 19 off 12. But Mooney continued to score runs at the other end and she eventually struck 40 off 37 balls. The Perth team then witnessed some fall of wickets in the middle overs but a late surge from Chloe Piparo who chipped in with an unbeaten 14-ball 20 helped the side score a good total. For Brisbane, skipper Jonassen scalped a three-wicket haul at the cost of 16 runs in 4 overs. Apart from her, India’s Poonam Yadav also scalped a couple of wickets for 25 runs in three overs. In reply, Brisbane Heat had a positive start to the chase as the openers compiled 42 runs for the first wicket. Grace Harris and Jonassen then put up a partnership of 46 runs for the second wicket before the captain walked back in the pavilion for 18 runs. Jonassen’s dismissal witnessed a fall of wickets at regular intervals and Brisbane were eventually restricted to 135/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Lillu Mills picked up three wickets for 28 runs in 4 overs for Perth. Later, Brisbane who batted first in the Super Over rode on some good piece of batting from Bosch to score 12 runs in six deliveries but her efforts went in vain as Devine smashed two sixes in the over for Perth to anchor them to a win. The two teams will now play each other at the same venue on October 19.

WBBL 2021 | Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers: Indian players have impressive outing

The Indian players had a good time at the office in the on-going women’s Big Bash League. Richa Ghosh who is a part of Hobart Hurricanes top-scored for her franchise with a 46-ball 46 that included three maximums and a four against Sydney Sixers. Hobart had a struggling Strat to the proceedings while batting as they lost early wickets but Ghosh held the fort from one end and stitched a stand of 32 runs for the sixth wicket with Sasha Moloney who chipped in with 22 runs off 16 balls. No other batter really got into the groove and the Hurricanes were restricted to 125/9 in 20 overs. Captain Ellyse Perry was the pick of the bowlers for Sydney after she returned with bowling figures of 2/9 in two overs. Apart from Perry, Bolton, Radha Yadav and Maitlan Brown also scalped a couple of wickets apiece. Radha picked up two wickets for 31 runs in 4 overs. In reply, Sydney also lost a couple of early wickets but opener Shafali Verma and Perry provided the resistance with a partnership of 63 runs for the third wicket. Shafali went on to struck a fifty as she scored 57 off 50 balls before getting out. Sydney Sixers eventually went over the line by 5 wickets and with three balls to spare.

World T20 2021 | Shakib Al Hasan becomes leading wicket-taker in T20Is, overtakes Lasith Malinga

With Liton Das catching Scotland’s Michael Leask at the long-on boundary off the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh all-rounder became the leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals, overtaking Sri Lankan and T20 legend Lasith Malinga. Leask was the 108th dismissal in Shakib’s career, one more than Malinga’s record of 107 wickets. The 34-year-old Bangladesh player, who was playing only his 89th match is also the only international player to do the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in T20Is. As far as the game is concerned, Scotland, who are playing their first game of the T20 World Cup 2021 much like Bangladesh, have been reduced to 55-6 after being put to bat first by the Tigers’ skipper Mahmudullah who won the toss. Along with Shakib’s two wickets, Mahedi Hasan has picked up three wickets while Mohammad Saifuddin bowled the Scot captain Kyle Coetzer.

World T20 2021 | Favourites to march through to next round, Sri Lanka have questions to answer

Who would have thought that a former champion side will not be able to make an automatic progress to the Super 12s stage in the World T20 tournament? Well, no one. But we do have a reality check here as Sri Lanka will be battling out among the eight teams divided into two groups of four. Only top two teams from both the groups can make the further qualification which means the Lankan lions will have to finish at the helm or at number two in their group to move ahead. Sri Lanka were ranked ninth as of December 18, 2018 and hence didn’t make an automatic qualification. But it is how it is and the Lankan fans would now be expecting the team to turn fortunes for themselves in this edition of the World T20. Sri Lanka are coming into the World Cup with a mixed experience as far as the white-ball cricket is concerned. They were hammered by England away from home while losing the ODI series against India on their home soil before providing some delight to their fans in the T20I format where they won a three-match series 2-1. The inconsistency continued further ahead as they did manage to win the ODI series against the Proteas but suffered a 3-0 whitewash defeat in T20Is. But the Dasun Shabaka-led side would be confident after winning both the warm-up games. Team News Sri Lanka would be without the services of three prominent names, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella as the players were earlier slapped with a one year ban for breaching the biosecure bubble on the tour of the UK. The cricketers have been key members of the Sri Lankan unit but unfortunately won’t be donning the team’s jersey in the competition. But as they say, the only way is to move on. The Asian side comprises players who have a lot of ability and talent. Spin- An asset Sri Lanka would like to bank upon their spinners especially Wanindu Hasaranga who has the capability of deceiving batsmen and can return in with good economy rate. Though, Hasaranga didn’t really have a great time while playing his IPL franchise, RCB where he just featured in a couple of games for them but has been consistently among wickets for his national side in T20Is as well as in ODIs. The leggie’s economy rate in T20Is is 6.57 which is very very impressive and Shanaka can keep a lot of faith in him. Maheesh Theekshana is another spinner who recently made headlines after he scalped four wickets against South Africa in the one ODI that he played. The off-spinner is new to international cricket but has already shown glimpse of his talent in a brief career. Inconsistent batting Sri Lanka might face some struggles with their middle-order batting as the batters haven’t really fired consistently. They need someone who can hold the fort for the side at one end. Captain Shanaka can be one of the options as he did against Oman in the first T20I that took place before the start of the World T20. Shanaka scored a quick-fire 51* off 24. Another player who can play that anchor’s role can be Avishka Fernando who too chipped in with 83* off 59 in that particular match. But whosoever takes this role has to be consistent because the Lankan side is facing issues in the top order as well. An experienced batsman like Dinesh Chandimal is going through a rough patch. He hasn’t scored runs at the highest level in the recent past, barring that one half-century against South Africa in the T20Is at home. So, this is surely the area of concern for the team management that needs to get sorted out as soon as they can. Squad: Dasun Shanaka (captain), Kusal Janith Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya De Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando.