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Brandon King, Rovman Powell turn on the power as West Indies surge to 2-0 lead

Published

3 years ago

2023/12/15

Priyan

Rovman Powell raises his bat on reaching fifty (Cricinfo)

Brandon King and Rovman Powell produced the power surge that England’s renowned white-ball hitters couldn’t come close to replicating, as West Indies romped to a 2-0 series lead with a victory in Grenada that was significantly more emphatic than the final 10-run margin would have you believe.

Such a result didn’t seem on the cards when a collapse of 4 for 11 in 16 balls left West Indies rocking at 54 for 4 in the ninth over of the match, at which point England’s twin-spin attack of Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed were in complete command of the contest.

And yet, West Indies turned the tables in startling fashion, first through a brace of half-centuries from Powell, who belted 30 runs off Sam Curran’s second and final over, and King, whose superb unbeaten 82 from 52 included three sixes and four fours off the last 12 balls of Rehan’s day.

And then, with a stiff but attainable 177 to defend, West Indies served up a spin stranglehold of their own, as the left-armers Akeal Hossein and Gudakesh Motie put a lock on the contest for eight consecutive overs from the Pavilion End. They produced the combined figures of 3 for 33, and though Curran showed gumption to top-score with 50 from 32 balls after his chastening bowling display, a requirement of 28 off the final over proved way beyond Rehan and Moeen Ali.

West Indies owed their victory in the opening T20I to a familiar trait, with their pain-train of batters out-thumping England by 14 sixes to six. Today was a similar story – 13 played eight in the final analysis, including Rehan’s penultimate-ball slap over point when the game was already lost.

For the first half of their bowling effort, however, England appeared to have mitigated for that threat. Three of West Indies’ sixes duly came in the powerplay, but then, so too did 18 dot-balls, or half of their allocation, as the recalled Moeen burgled a three-run opening over before Chris Woakes’ crafty use of the cutter gave him the final say in an engaging duel with Kyle Mayers.

With memories of the record-breaking 46-six ODI on this same ground in 2019, Jos Buttler had had no compunction about bowling first after winning the toss, safe in the knowledge that a hefty chase was on the cards. The fact is, their eventual target wasn’t nearly as stiff as he might have bargained for, yet England were still a distant second-best.

Master and apprentice, heir apparent and all that, from the moment he bowled England to the Under-19 World Cup final two years ago, there was never much doubt that Rehan would eventually take over the mantle of England’s attack-leading legspinner across formats.

What was less obvious, however, was that there would be a period, in Rehan’s international infancy and at the tail-end of Rashid’s magnificent career, that the pair would dovetail as a twin-spin force to be envied. And to judge by their thrilling post-powerplay surge, that time might just be now, notwithstanding the gulf that eventually emerged between their eventual figures.

After entering the attack for the seventh over, Rashid was first to strike, just three balls into his spell, as Nicholas Pooran was flummoxed by a diet of loopy googlies and surrendered with a loose hack to long-on. Rehan then went one better – his second delivery burst through the defences of the in-form Shai Hope, dipping and ripping into off stump to dispatch him for 1 from 3.

Not to be outdone, Rashid took the baton back in his very next over, confounding Shimron Hetmyer with a wonderful double-whammy – a huge air-ball first-up that plopped on a middle-and-leg line, followed by a flatter flipper outside off next-up that Hetmyer could only prod uneasily to Moeen at slip.

By the time their five-over alliance was done, West Indies were listing at 68 for 4 after 11, with King’s forceful thump through the line off Rehan being their only boundary in 31 balls. That, inevitably, was about to change.

Unwittingly or otherwise, Rehan’s change of ends marked the start of West Indies’ charge. His first ball was too full and got the treatment as King climbed handsomely through the line. A fumble from Woakes at long-on then gave way to a beastly slog-sweep for King’s fourth six, and a 33-ball half-century, whereupon Powell unleashed a muscular thrash off Tymal Mills to bring up the hundred inside the 14th over.

Rashid returned to restore some short-term order. His fourth and final over yielded a trio of singles, for the outstanding figures of 2 for 11, but Powell was only just getting started. Curran’s fragile form has been a concern for some months now, and now he found himself fully exposed by the most expensive over of his career.

It started, as these things sometimes do, with a hint of misfortune, as Powell’s under-edge eluded both his stumps and Buttler’s dive. But thereafter it was carnage. Twice Curran took the pace off, twice he was butchered high over the ropes. Twice he aimed fuller, and was launched brutally down the ground. In between whiles, he tried to hide the ball and was done for a brace of wides.

The fourth of Powell’s sixes brought up his 27-ball fifty, and he might have made it five in the over had Brook at long-on not intercepted with a brilliant full-stretch dive. But his departure didn’t exactly slow West Indies’ onslaught. King was waiting for Rehan’s return, and made it 48 in two overs with three fours and a mighty slog over deep midwicket, as the rookie retreated with 1 for 47, his most bruised figures of the tour so far.

At least Mills had the experience to restore a degree of order. He’d been quietly effective across his first two overs and utilised his startling range of pace-on and -off deliveries to limit King and Andre Russell to an exchange of four singles in his third. Russell, inevitably, connected with two sixes before the innings was done, including a remarkable leaping uppercut off long-off, but Mills struck back with a pinpoint slower ball before making two in two to wrap up the 20 overs, as Jason Holder holed out to cow corner.

Left-arm round, wide on the crease, angled into the body, cramping the ambitions of a succession of eager right-handers. It was a simple recipe, devastatingly deployed, as Hosein and Motie – only playing due to a knee niggle for Romario Shepherd – dovetailed to perfection.

Three overs for Hosein in the powerplay, four overs for nine runs for Motie thereafter, then one final over for Hosein, in which the dangerous Harry Brook became the third and final of their combined victims. The lack of gumption in England’s approach was palpable, not least from the listless Buttler, whose attempt to give Hosein the charge ended with a limp push to short cover – either that or accept he was about to be stumped by a mile.

And while that lockdown was being enacted, Alzarri Joseph had licence to crank it up from the far end. His extra pace had been something of a liability in the preceding contests of this tour, but now his pounding of the pitch from just back of a length, with awkward lift into the body and a succession of catchers lined up on the leg-side, was all West Indies needed to turn the screw on their opponents.

His methods did for both Phil Salt and Will Jacks inside the first ten overs, both men falling in the mid-20s having struggled to turn their proactive intent into anything telling. And though Joseph’s figures were dented in his third over as Curran – promoted to No. 5 and responding with a 31-ball fifty that was, remarkably, the first of his T20I career – the first ball of his fourth effectively sealed the deal, as Hosein clung onto a skewed drive to point.

Up until that point, the only real threat to West Indies’ hegemony had come via an off-day with the ball for Andre Russell. After figures of 3 for 19 on Tuesday, he went wicketless for 66 this time, including a 22-run second over that featured an all-too-rare sighting of Liam Livingstone in power-hitting mode. Before he could turn his 17 from seven into anything substantial, Motie was on hand to saw him off.

Brief scores:
West Indies 176 for 7 (Brandon King 82*, Rovman Sam Powell 50,Moeen Ali 22*; Adil Rashid 2-11, Tymal Mills 2-30) beat England 166 for 7 (Phillip Salt 25, Will Jacks 24, Curran 50, Akeal Hossein 2-24, Alzarri Joseph 3-39) by 10 runs

(Cricinfo)

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Namibia T20I tri-series: Youth, depth and a continental dream take centre stage

Published

2 hours ago

2026/08/28

Priyan

Three captains, one trophy: Sikandar Raza, Gerhard Erasmus and Bjorn Fortuin [Namibia Cricket]

Summer has come early to the southern hemisphere and not just because of climate change. In Australia, where they have never played Tests in August before, a two-match series has already been completed, and it’s not even the end of the month. In South Africa, the international season officially starts next door – in Namibia, where a T20I tri-series kicks off a packed season.

Zimbabwe are the other participants, having long abandoned the idea of a conventional home season so they can host teams during their mild winters. It also gives next year’s men’s ODI World Cup co-hosts an opportunity to get cosy ahead of the main event.

The tri-series is a precursor to a mooted Africa T20 Cup, a continental tournament in the mould of the Asia Cup, aimed at growing the game in this region. The likes of Uganda, who played at the 2024 T20 World Cup, and recent men’s Under-19 World Cup participants Tanzania (2026) and Nigeria (2020) are likely to be involved in future editions. For now, the organisers have kept it to the continent’s heavyweights, to raise awareness and, crucially, funds. All proceeds from this tournament will go to the Africa Cricket Association.

How much the total earnings will be remains to be seen. The new Namibia Cricket Ground has world-class high-performance facilities and a seating capacity of 7,500. Ticket prices are reasonable enough to attract full houses, but that does not mean there are millions to be made. General seating has gone on sale for between 50 and 100 Namibian dollars (US$3.12 and 6.25) while premier seating is 200 Namibian dollars (12.50 USD). There is no major broadcast deal in place and on the eve of the tri-series, a television partner was yet to be announced. Cricinfo understands the games may be available on the streaming service of the continent’s biggest sports broadcaster, SuperSport , but not on their regular bouquet of channels. The series may consequently fly slightly under the radar, but it will still serve as an exercise in relationship-building for the three boards and self-discovery for their teams.

Namibia: Desperate to level up

Hosts Namibia have not progressed as they’d have liked after making the Super 12s of the 2021 T20 World Cup. They played in the next three events but had their worst outing earlier this year when they lost all four matches in their group. More game time against Full Members is what many Associates ask for and over the next three weeks Namibia will get that, in both white-ball formats as South Africa will stay on for three ODIs.

It’s exactly the kind of challenge they want as they enter the latter stages of Cricket World Cup League 2 (the progression pathway to 2027 World Cup qualification) and with the 2028 T20 World Cup qualification process not far away. “It’s sort of a question that we always get in the associate world. How do you bridge the gap to the next level? You only bridge it by winning against teams at the next level,”Gerhard Erasmus, Namibia’s captain said at the pre-tournament press conference. “The Associate teams over the years have made that happen more frequently. Lots of the Associate nations have gone away from the tag of just competing and games are actually started on very equal footing these days, especially the T20 format. It gives you that ability to impact the game or use a bit of momentum on your side. If you have two star performers on the day, it could swing the result your way.”

Erasmus is Namibia’s stand-out, as their leading run-scorer and third-highest wicket-taker in the format but it is important that they unearth others. For this series, Namibia have two 18-year-olds, Waldo Smith and Max Heingo, in the squad and three 21-year-olds. Alexander Busing-Volschenk, Junior Taanyanda and Jack Brassell are all being seen as players for the future and the last of those has impressed Erasmus most.

“A guy that comes to mind for me is Jack Brassell. Not only has his skillset gone up by the amount of overs that he’s bowled and the loads that he’s got behind him but he’s made a conscious decision to get stronger and bowl faster,” Erasmus said. “He’s now the fastest member of our side, which is something that he wants to do. They take their careers very personally and professionally. That’s what we as management or leadership also have to always do.”

South Africa: Mining their depth

Namibia will open the tri-series against South Africa, who they have bragging rights over after beating them at their only T20I meeting last year. The naysayers will point out that the South Africa XI was experimental, but so is this one and Lhuan-dre Pretoripus, Rubin Hermann and Bjorn Fortuin, as stand-in captain, are back to try and set the record straight. “It wasn’t a fun experience,” Fortuin said. “We got beaten by the better team on the day. If you take things for granted, you will definitely feel it.”

The current South African squad, which welcomes Quinton de Kock back into the fold, will be wary of making the same mistake. It is made up largely of players on the fringes of the first-choice side who will be hoping to strengthen their cases for future selection.

Fortuin occupies a slightly different position. Though capped 43 times in white-ball formats for South Africa, his entire career has run parallel to frontline left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj and it’s difficult to see how Fortuin will get a sustained run but that gives him a different role. “Kesh has obviously been exceptional for quite a few years and he’s taken those talents all across the world. I’ve tried to emulate that as much as I can,” Fortuin said. “My opportunities have been limited, but as a player, all I can do is try and make the best of it. With regards to the squad that we’ve got here, it’s a fairly inexperienced squad, but really talented. And they’ve all done some special things around the world. Hopefully I can just impart some knowledge to them and let their natural game flow.”

In line for debuts are Duan Jansen and Ethan Bosch, but everyone from Lhuan-dre to Dewald Brevis to Kwena Maphaka is worth keeping an eye on, especially in a season with eight Tests, nine ODIs, three T20Is and the SA20.

Zimbabwe: Chasing consistency

The middle of the sandwich are Zimbabwe, who stunned the cricket world by reaching the Super Eight of this year’s T20 World Cup and are finally on an upward trajectory. Three chastening T20Is against India aside, Zimbabwe’s progress has been steady but now it’s about how long they can make it last.

They’ve kept some of their senior core in captain Sikandar Raza and soon-to-be-40 Graeme Cremer to “handle all the youth,” in Raza’s words. But they are starting to transition too.

Briam Benett, Brad Evans and Blessing Muzarabani are the names that will dominate their future but they need the likes of Newman Nyamhuri, Dion Myers and Tadiwanashe Marumani to show they can do a job more often than not in order to build the core of a future side. That’s something on Raza’s mind and this series could go some way to showing him, and Zimbabwe, what they have to work with.

“For Zimbabwe to go forward and for us to be competing and winning at the top level, we need to have a big pool of players. I’ve been very vocal about that,” he said. “I’m very hopeful that the guys we have picked will grab this opportunity because one, will grow our pool of players and two, that means Zimbabwe has more depth in different fields of play and that could only mean that Zimbabwe is going up. That’s what I want to see. My personal ambition, one of them is that before I call time, I want to make sure this country is still going on the upward trajectory and that can only happen if we have a big pool of players to choose from.”

Is Raza’s time coming to an end soon? Even at 40, it doesn’t sound like it. “Unfortunately, to handle all this youth that we have in the team, I don’t think one old guy was enough. So to get another old guy is certainly helpful,” he joked, referring to himself and Cremer. “These Gen Zs are a bit difficult to handle at times.”

Ultimately, it is the Gen Zers for whom a series like this has been created. The tournament should be fast-moving and, ideally, high-octane. Seven matches will be played in 10 days before the winner will walk away with a trophy, which incidentally is a cross-section of a tree trunk.

The rings that reveal the tree’s age, and the environment it grew in, are all clearly visible in a living record of its history. The symbolism is fitting as African cricket takes another step towards a future in which the sport can grow across the continent and establish itself as a stronger force on the global stage.

[Cricinfo]

Latest News

Tharanga storms past 92m in Zurich

Published

9 hours ago

2026/08/28

Priyan

[file pic] Rumesh Tharanga

World-leading javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga underlined his status as the man to beat in world athletics with another sensational performance, winning the men’s javelin at the prestigious Weltklasse meeting in Zurich with a massive 92.07 metres.

‎Tharanga’s best effort came in the final round and left him just 21 centimetres short of the meeting record of 92.28m, which has stood for three decades.

‎The 23-year-old first overcome first round challenge from two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada. Peters took the early lead with a first-round throw of 86.93m, but Tharanga responded in the second round with 88.23m to move ahead.

‎He then increased his advantage in the third round before producing his best effort of the night in the final round, sending the javelin soaring to 92.07m.

‎Peters had to settle for second with 86.93m, while Poland’s Dawid Wegner was third with 85.16m. Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott finished fourth with 83.02m, followed by Kenya’s Julius Yego (81.66m) and American Marc Anthony Minichello (80.38m).

‎The Zurich victory further strengthens Tharanga’s position at the top of the world javelin hierarchy at a crucial stage of the season. With the Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels just a week away and the World Athletics Ultimate Championship looming, he has emerged as the athlete everyone will be watching.

‎Tharanga’s latest 92-metre-plus throw also provides a timely reminder of his extraordinary consistency at the highest level, as he continues his remarkable rise among the world’s elite javelin throwers. (RF)

Foreign News

Iran, Qatar hold Hormuz talks amid int’l hopes dialogue with US will resume

Published

9 hours ago

2026/08/28

Priyan

Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani (centre-left) and his delegation meet Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (centre-right) in Tehran on August 27, 2026

Qatar’s prime minister has held meetings in the Iranian capital, discussing key issues including the future of the Strait of Hormuz, amid international hopes that dialogue between the United States and Iran on ending the war will resume.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on Thursday discussed a proposed framework that includes the creation of a temporary shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, as well as a possible “joint project” to clear the strait of mines, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Iran says the mines were laid during the war.

The two officials also reviewed “the latest developments in the regional situation … along with the efforts being made to reduce escalation and create appropriate conditions for dialogue, contributing to the enhancement of regional security and stability”, the statement added.

Sheikh Mohammed, who is both prime minister and foreign minister of Qatar, later met separately with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and parliament speaker and top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Ghalibaf emphasised the need to de-escalate regional tensions, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency. He and Sheikh Mohammed also exchanged views on the current developments in the region and efforts to create suitable conditions for resuming dialogue, the report added.

“Qatar believes that dialogue and diplomatic solutions remain the optimal path for addressing disputes and overcoming crises,” Sheikh Mohammed said in a post on X, adding that his discussions in Tehran serve as “confirmation of our continued efforts to de-escalate tensions … while opening the door to peaceful solutions – including underscoring the importance of respecting freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law.”

Sheikh Mohammed also met with Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezai.

Rezai told him the “US must first take practical steps to fulfil Iran’s conditions and then Iran will proceed to open the Strait of Hormuz”, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

Rezai also reiterated previous pledges by Tehran that if Washington “starts any evil”, Iran would “bring disaster to its military and economic interests”.

Sheikh Mohamed’s visit follows a week of intense diplomacy in Iran involving separate meetings with Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi and senior Pakistani officials seeking ways to end the US-Israel war on Iran and reopen the strategic waterway through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil passes in peacetime.

[Aljazeera]