World T20 2021 | Namibia vs Netherlands: David Wiese masterclass hands Namibia first WC win

World T20 2021 | Rohit Sharma, spinners thrash Australia to mark superb form, perfect preparation

Showing signs of their might and form going into the main draw of the T20 World Cup, India decimated Australia as they chased down a middling target of 153 runs losing just one wicket and with 13 balls remaining. The openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma who are all set to open the innings in the main event started on a confident note but only Rahul found his best touch from the word go. He was severe on deliveries pitched in his half while Rohit was struggling to time the ball initially. However, as soon as he got hold of the Australian pace attack, he took the game to the opposition and feated on their poor and indisciplined bowling. Rahul was aggressive but equally smart in manoeuvring field and he carried on at par with the required rate before Rohit jumped in with his timing. Suryakumar Yadav was promoted to the number three position as Virat Kohli limited himself to a bowler in the game and he looked like leaving his bad form in the early part of the UAE leg of the IPL way behind him. He flicked Cummins for a massive six, swept Mitchell Starc for an outrageous four to establish the range of shots and domination he adds to the Indian batting unit. Rohit asked Hardik Pandya, one of the biggest puzzles of the Indian batting jigsaw to have some go at the Australian bowlers and he finished the job with a trademark six, hit nonchalantly over the bowler’s head. Both the spinners, Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar were hit for massive sixes, but their bowling overall was not off the mark and the captain Aron Finch would not be fretting over their form. Starc looked the best pacer from the Australian side among Cummins and Kane Richardson and he found swing with the new ball, although for just some deliveries. He was up there with the pace as well and Australia would be pleased with his rhythm going forward in the tournament. For India, the decorated spin twins of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were on a roll and broke the backbone of the Australian batting with quick wickets of David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, and Finch. However, Steve Smith, who was struggling to get the ball off the square in the IPL was back to near his best and combined with an in-form Glenn Maxwell to steer them out of trouble and towards a respectable total. Marcus Stoinis came lower down the order and put finish tough with a 25-ball 41 to propel Australia past the 150-run mark. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was not quite at his best but was better than his last appearance in the tournament and it would be a tough ask for the team management to pick one among him and Mohammed Shami as the second pacer. Varun Chakaravarthy was explored as a death-bowling option and the move did not work well at all, although the failure is unlikely to change a lot of ideas and imagination of the team management. India must have pencilled him as the second certain spinner apart from Jadeja, and the runs against Australia would be overlooked for the variety and mystery he brings to the table for the bowling attack. India will be the happier side to walk out of the game with them being able to fulfil and try as many options they would have liked to try while Australia might well be worried over Warner’s form and Cummins’ rhythm.

World T20 2021 | Oman vs SCO: As Super 12 race intensifies, Scotland eye easy passage

Oman would be extremely disappointed after they suffered a defeat against Bangladesh in a match that looked in the hosts’ control at one stage in Al Amerat on Tuesday. If they had clinched a win against the Asian side, Oman would have created a great chance for themselves to qualify for the Super 12s. Though, the side is still in the race but there have to be a lot of permutations and combinations associated with their qualification now. Despite a brilliant stand of 80 runs for the third wicket between Shakib and Naim, the Oman bowlers got the team back in the hunt after picking up wickets in quick succession in the later stage of the innings. Bangladesh were eventually bundled out for 153 in 20 overs. Oman in reply, lost early wicket but Jatinder Singh was holding the fort in a steady manner before he was eventually undone by Shakib for 40. Oman didn’t really make a comeback in the match after Jatinder’s scalp and were restricted to 127/9 in 20 overs eventually. Mustafizur Rahman picked up a total of four wickets for his side. On the other hand, Scotland stamped authority after they won yet another encounter in the preliminary stage. Scotland had caused a major upset in their very first match against Bangladesh after winning that particular game and carried the form against PNG as well. After putting up 165/9 in 20 overs, the Scotland bowlers ripped through PNG’s top and middle order and left them tottering at 67/6. But it was Norman Vanua’s 37-ball 47 that provided PNG with some resistance but his efforts weren’t enough as he lost patterns at the other end. PNG were bowled out for 148 in the final over. Oman and Scotland will now lock horns with each other on Thursday in Al Amerat. While the home side would be looking to get back to their winning ways and stay alive in the race, Scotland would seek to continue form. Match Details Match: OMAN vs SCO, 10th Match, Group B, ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 Date: Thursday, October 21, 2021 Time: 7:30 PM Venue: Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1), Al Amerat Telecast: Star Sports Network Pitch Report The evening fixture at the venue on Tuesday saw the bowlers getting some help in the later half of the match. Mustafizur and Shakib were on song for Bangladesh against Oman and rattled the batting line up to eventually win the match. The pitch is likely to behave in the same manner. So, if you win the toss, elect to bat first. Oman’s batting depth- A worry Oman openers Jatinder Singh and Aquib Ilyas anchored the side to a 10-wicket win against PNG in the first encounter but a disappointing start to the chase in the second match against Bangladesh certainly exposed the lack of batting depth. None of the players in the middle order got in the groove and helped the side come out of a tricky situation which later resulted in their defeat. This is probably the biggest concern of the team management. Scotland equipped with match-winners Who would have thought that struggling from 53/6 against a side like Bangladesh that has so much international experience, Scotland would not only put up a fighting total but would also defend it. But they did and they did it with authority. Chris Greaves first came for the rescue with the bat after chipping in with a 28-ball 45 and then picked up a couple of wickets to produce an all-round show. They then faced a side with a very brief career at the highest level, PNG but were under the pressure after losing two early wickets while batting. The Scotland team were then provided with a much-needed resistance by Cross and Berrington who chipped in with important runs and anchored the side to 165/9 in 20 overs. Later, the bowlers managed to pick some early wickets but Vanua fought back well. However, Scotland won the match by 17 runs later. They just need to stick to the basics now. Probable XI Scotland: George Munsey, Kyle Coetzer (c), Matthew Cross (wk), Richie Berrington, Calum MacLeod, Michael Leask, Chris Greaves, Mark Watt, Josh Davey, Bradley Wheal, Alasdair Evans Oman: Jatinder Singh, Aqib Ilyas, Kashyap Prajapati, Zeeshan Maqsood (c), Mohammad Nadeem, Ayaan Khan, Sandeep Goud, Naseem Khushi (wk), Kaleemullah, Fayyaz Butt, Bilal Khan CE Fantasy XI Naseem Khushi, Kyle Coetzer, George Munsey, Calum MacLeod, Jatinder Singh (VC), Aqib Ilyas, Zesspan Maqsood (C), Richie Berrington, Mark Watt, Bilal Khan, Fayyaz Butt

World T20 2021 | Bangladesh vying for smooth entry into Super 12 against rookie Papua New Guinea

Bangladesh were presumably the strongest side in the first round of the T20 World Cup being played in the UAE and Oman and Papua New Guinea were the new kids on the block at this level. The world was all but sure of Bangladesh’ advance to the Super 12 round of the competition while any sort of success for Papua New Guinea would have made a great compelling story for the development of the game. Two games later, both of them go head to head against each other and have little to no difference in prospect for the next round. Bangladesh have won one of the two games played so far and stand just one game and win away from advancing to the next level while Papua New Guinea have been proven limited by others. The future did not come swiftly for Bangladesh as they were rocked in the very first game by Scotland, as their timid batting left a lot to be desired for the bowlers who had done their job pretty well. Batting a concern for Bangladesh Chasing a decent total of 141 runs against Scotland, Bangladesh batsmen were conservative in their approach, and especially the expired middle-order trio of Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan batted with poor strike rates and left the lower order to get a lot of runs in the end overs. They could neither get their foot off the pedal nor could they preserve a lot of wickets in their hands and in the end, the Scottish men were all over them and handed a demoralising loss. The game against Oman could well have another batting disaster for them and the end of their T20 World Cup if not for the best of Shakib just at the right moment. He scored 29-ball 42 with the bat to set up a good score and the spinners, as they usually do on supporting pitches, made light work of the Oman batting unit. Shakib termed the win over Oman a victory that would bring relief to the camp, but he too will underline the need of continuing with the good work with the bat. They are all but through but if they want the world to recognise Bangladesh as a force to reckon with, they will have to find their best by the end of the first phase against Papua New Guinea. Exposure for Papua New Guinea While the Bangla Tigers will be eager to get over the line in the game and tournament with a win, the PNG boys are eager to express themselves and take each game as a big opportunity of playing against the best in the world. "Getting exposure, playing more games and testing ourselves against quality opposition would be good. If we can get more exposure we might be able to express ourselves better," PNG skipper Assad Vala said. They have not been able to bring one upset in the tournament but in case they inflict one over Bangladesh, they can be a famous giant killer to derail Bangladesh’ rather smooth drive. Match Details Bangladesh vs Papua New Guinea, Match 6, Group B Venue: AI Amerat Cricket Ground Oman Cricket, (Ministry Turf 1) Date & Time: October 21 at 3:30 PM IST and 2:00 PM Local Time Live Streaming: Star Sports Network Pitch Report The pitches at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground have been on the slower side and Banglades would like to have similar conditions for one game in the first round of the tournament. If the surface will aid spin, Bangladesh should run over Papua New Guinea with substantial ease. Probable XI Bangladesh Liton Das, Mohammad Naim, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah (C), Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan (WK), Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman Papua New Guinea Tony Ura, Lega Siaka, Assad Vala (C), Charles Amini, Sese Bau, Simon Atai, Norman Vanua, Kiplin Doriga (WK), Chad Soper, Kabua Morea, Nosaina Pokana CE Fantasy XI Mushfiqur Rahim(C), Naim Sheikh, Sese Bau, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (C), Assad Vala, Mahedi Hasan, Charles Amini, Mustafizur Rahman (VC), Chad Soper, Mohammad Saifuddin

Nathan Lyon suffers mild concussion while fielding

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon suffered a mild concussion during New South Wales’ intra-squad match. The right-arm bowler is expected to feature in the Sheffield Shield match next week. "In NSW's 3-day intra-squad trial match that began yesterday, Test spinner Nathan Lyon suffered a mild concussion and as a precaution has withdrawn from the rest of the fixture," Cricket NSW said. "Lyon was injured while fielding late in the day, after bowling 20 well executed overs (1/79), and is expected to play in next week's Sheffield Shield opener," it added. New South Wales will play Victoria at Drummoyne Oval, Sydney from October 27. The two sides will then lock horns with each other in Melbourne from November 5 and will play the Marsh Cup fixture at the same venue on November 12. The Cricket Australia (CA) had announced the next schedule for the Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup with the borders of New South Wales and Victoria opening finally on Wednesday. Lyon who has played 100 Tests at the highest level has picked up 399 wickets at an economy of under 3 and an average of 32.1.