Sports
Latham defends decision to hold back Boult’s overs
In the opening game of the Chappell-Hadlee ODI series, Trent Boult ripped through the heart of Australia’s top order with a brilliant burst of swing and seam bowling. His opening spell had read: 3 for 12 off five overs. Despite Boult being in good rhythm, Kane Williamson decided to not give him more than five overs upfront.
Later, in the post-match presser, Boult said with a smile on his face, “I thought of having a sixth, and maybe a seventh or eighth.” So what was the reason behind New Zealand’s reluctance to continue with their pace spearhead? On his part, Tom Latham, New Zealand’s vice-captain, indicated that the decision was taken considering Australia’s lengthy batting order, with Glenn Maxwell slated to come in as low as number 8.
Boult was brought back into the attack only in the 29th over. However, by then, Alex Carey and Cameron Green hadn’t just repaired the early damage done by Boult and Matt Henry but also put Australia on course for a win. Boult went on to dismiss Maxwell in his second spell but it didn’t prove to be enough to turn the tide in the visiting side’s favour.
“You can look at it both ways,” Latham said in the presser. “Either you can bowl him one more over but you’ve got to look at the bigger picture, the batting line-up Australia have, they bat deep… whether you go for the kill at that moment or just hold him [Boult] back. The guys we’ve got in our line-up, whatever the situation is we back anyone to come in and take wickets.
“Whether we do that in the same situation next game or whether we do things slightly differently, that’s the way we went about it and we certainly back the guys in those situations. That’s the decision Kane decided to do… you do have to hold a few overs back every now and again and that was the decision we went with,” he added.
As the match progressed, the conditions too improved for batting, with the ball skidding on more under lights. “The wicket probably got a little bit better than what we expected, skidded on a little bit more and made batting a little bit easier. The way we were able to bowl at the top and put them under pressure was outstanding but unfortunately we weren’t able to create any chances through that partnership and they batted really well. Hopefully if we are in that situation on Thursday we can try and create a few more chances and get a few more wickets through the middle.” (Cricbuzz)
Sri Lanka will face India in the semi-finals of Asian Games men’s tournament after their quarter-final clash against Nepal was abandoned without a ball being bowled in Nisshin, Japan. The game was called off prior to the toss, with rain having begun hours prior to the scheduled 9am local start and not looking like abating.
Sri Lanka’s progression was assured by virtue of their higher seeding in terms of the ICC T20I rankings – Sri Lanka, alongside India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are the four seeded teams in the tournament. On Monday, India had qualified over Afghanistan after another washout, again by virtue of their higher. Similarly, Pakistan’s qualification was assured following a rain abandonment in their quarter-final against Hong Kong.
In the 2022 Asian Games, Sri Lanka had been eliminated at the quater final stage by Afghanistan. Another washout in the semis against, India though, will see the latter qualify for the final.
A few hours later, the fourth quarter-final between Bangladesh and Malaysia was also washed out. Bangladesh will now face Pakistan in the first semi-final on October 1, followed by India vs Sri Lanka later on the same day
(Cricinfo)
Sri Lanka will face India in the semi-finals of Asian Games men’s tournament after their quarter-final clash against Nepal was abandoned without a ball being bowled in Nisshin, Japan. The game was called off prior to the toss, with rain having begun hours prior to the scheduled 9am local start and not looking like abating.
Sri Lanka’s progression was assured by virtue of their higher seeding in terms of the ICC T20I rankings – Sri Lanka, alongside India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are the four seeded teams in the tournament. On Monday, India had qualified over Afghanistan after another washout, again by virtue of their higher. Similarly, Pakistan’s qualification was assured following a rain abandonment in their quarter-final against Hong Kong.
In the 2022 Asian Games, Sri Lanka had been eliminated at the quarter fial stages by Afghanistan. Another washout in the semis against, India though, will see the latter qualify for the final.
A few hours later, the fourth quarter-final between Bangladesh and Malaysia was also washed out. Bangladesh will now face Pakistan in the first semi-final on October 1, followed by India vs Sri Lanka later on the same day
(Cricinfo)
The Bangladesh vs Malaysia abandonment on Tuesday completed a quartet of rained off matches in the Asian Games men’s tournament. The match was called off two hours before the toss, with the teams told not to even turn up at the venue.
Bangladesh, by virtue of higher seeding, go through to the semi-finals where they will now face Pakistan on October 1. Earlier in the morning, the Sri Lanka vs Nepal fixture was also called off due to rain, with Sri Lanka advancing into the semi-finals where they will meet India.
There is, however, some good news, as the weather forecast in Nisshin is better for the semi-final and the medal match day, on October 1 and 3, respectively.
In the last edition (2023), Bangladesh had lost to India in the semi-final but won the third-place playoff against Pakistan to take home the bronze medal. They had won the bronze in 2014 as well and Bangladesh’s best finish was winning the gold medal in 2010, when they beat Afghanistan in the final.
(Cricinfo)
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