Sports
Shamsi, Hendricks architects of South Africa’s 1-0 lead
South Africa took a 1-0 lead in what’s effectively a two-match series with a five wicket win over India in Gqeberha.
Put in to bat on a pitch that was under covers for a while, India put on 180/7 on the board, thanks to fifties from Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh, before rain arrived with three balls left in the innings. South Africa’s adjusted target of 152 in 15 overs was driven by Reeza Hendricks’ 27-ball 49 and achieved with seven balls to spare, but wasn’t without its fair share of drama as India found ways to overcome conditions consistently against them.
With Ruturaj Gaikwad unavailable due to illness, India were saved from a difficult choice at the top of the order but the organically assembled opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill totalled zero runs between them. Jaiswal was out off the third ball of the innings, trying to back-cut a delivery from Marco Jansen and offering a sharp chance to David Miller at point; Gill was trapped on the back leg by Lizaad Williams, leaving India wobbling at 6/2 after two overs.
Gerald Coetzee to Suryakumar Yadav: that was the contest. First ball, a yorker. Second ball, a drive-and-a-miss outside off-stump. Third ball, a cover drive for a boundary. Another four and six followed later in the over as India captain Suryakumar added 15 runs in the third over and then 13 runs in the next to help India repair their PowerPlay and finish at 59/3. This 29-ball fifty was Suryakumar’s fourth in the last five matches and also delivered him to 2000 runs in the T20I format, the second-fastest batter to that milestone in terms of innings taken.
It doesn’t matter if it’s the IPL or the Asian Games or a home series against Australia or an overseas tour of South Africa, Rinku Singh scores everywhere. This time, he walked out to bat inside the PowerPlay after Tilak Varma’s dismissal and got off the mark with a classic straight drive first-ball. He then let the in-form Suryakumar take the lead, playing the perfect foil while scoring the next five runs off 10 balls. The gears went into overdrive with consecutive boundaries off Marco Jansen, followed by flicking, cutting, pulling and even stepping out to Aiden Markram in the 19th over for back-to-back sixes. His 30-ball fifty was his first in T20Is, doing his World Cup selection chances no harm.
Gerald Coetzee, who had dismissed Tilak Varma and then added the wickets of Ravindra Jadeja and Arshdeep Singh, returned figures of 3 for 32 but the pick of the bowlers was Tabraiz Shamsi who finished with 1 for 18, the wicket being that of hard-hitting Suryakumar. The left-arm legspinner was named Player of the Match for his frugal bowling figures in a T20I match where the average scoring rate was above 10.
Mohammed Siraj conceded three boundaries in the first over of the run-chase but two of them were off outside edges. With every passing minute, the South Africa batters looked more and more comfortable at the crease, not in the least because the ball got wet on a moist outfield in the aftermath of the rain delay. The openers set the side on course to 67/1 in the five PowerPlay overs (reduced from six in a rain-affected match) and it took a sharp Tilak Varma throw to end an explosive first-wicket stand of 42. But the damage had been done.
South Africa were going comfortably at 96/1 when Mukesh Kumar banged one short and had the in-form Markram top-edging to the deep. Reeza Hendricks, going hammer at tongs at the other end, was caught off the bowling of Kuldeep Yadav in the next over but it was when Heinrich Klaasen was caught off the bowling of Mohammed Siraj that India started to believe. The moment witnessed South Africa with two new batters at the crease, with 44 runs still needed. But David Miller struck crucial runs only for Tristan Stubbs and Andile Phehlukwayo to finish things off.
Brief Scores:
India 180/7 in 19.3 overs (Tilak Varma 29, Rinku Singh 68*, Suryakumar Yadav 56;Marco Jansen 1-39, Lizaad Williams 1-32, Gerald Coetzee 3-32, Tabraiz Shamsi 1-18, Aiden Markram 1-29) lost to South Africa 154/5 in 13.5 overs (Reeza Hendricks 49, Aiden Markram 30; Mohammed Siraj 1-27, Mukesh Kumar 2-34, Kuldeep Yadav 1-26) by 5 wickets (DLS)
Sri Lanka won the toss and made the surprise call to bat first on a North Sound surface with a fair covering of grass. West Indies lead the two match series 1-0.
Dhananjaya de Silva’s focus at the toss was on picking up 20 wickets and Sri Lanka’s inability to do so in the first Test, which he cited as a primary reason for their heavy defeat. Roston Chase was quite happy to bowl first, stating that it was what he would have done had he won the toss.
There were changes for both teams, with several of those injury-enforced. West Indies welcomed back Shai Hope with Joshua Da Silva making way. Kemar Roach also missed out with an injury, with Anderson Phillip replacing him to keep four pacers in the playing XI.
Sri Lanka made three changes, as Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha missed out. Nissanka underwent a wrist surgery, while Kumara suffered a hamstring injury in the first Test. Lahiru Udara, Prabath Jayasuriya and debutant pace-bowling all-rounder Isitha Wijesundera all came in.
With the pitch described as even, with a fair covering of grass with a tinge of green on it, Sri Lanka’s decision to bat first caught a few off-guard. West Indies’ four-pronged pace attack will once more look to test the Lankan top order – particularly in the first hour of play. The pitch was also expected to show some uneven bounce with a few cracks on it. Sri Lanka do have the extra spinner in their lineup, and will be hoping that when it comes time for them to bowl there will be some assistance for the slower bowlers.
The weather remained dry, but there was some forecast for rain.
West Indies: John Campbell, Brandon King, Kavem Hodge, Amir Jangoo Shai Hope (wk), Roston Chase (capt), Justin Greaves, Jayden Seales, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Anderson Phillip
Sri Lanka: Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Kusal Mendis (wk), Sonal Dinusha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Milan Rathnayake, Isitha Wijesundara, Asitha Fernando
(Cricinfo)
The much anticipated Juventus Training Camp organized by the Colombo Kickerz Football Academy will take place from 6th to 10th July at the CR&FC Grounds Colombo.
The Camp will be conducted by two official Juventus Academy coaches from Italy, and will provide 50 young footballers from across the country to participate in an intensive program based on the renowned Juventus methodology, focusing on technical development, tactical understanding, team work, discipline and personal growth.
Romario de Silva CEO of Colombo Kickerz Football Academy said that the objective of the Academy was to provide young footballers with access to world class coaching and international development opportunities.
He added that the Training Camp was made possible through the valued support of Hilton Colombo Residencies, Aitken Spence travels, The Pappare and Lady J.
Sri Lanka have been hit by a spate of injuries and an illness ahead of the secondbTest against West Indies, in North Sound, a game they must win to take something away from the series after suffering an innings defeat in the first.
The injuries have forced the team management to pick from a squad of 13, rather than the 17 they took on tour. The seam-bowling department has been especially hard hit, with Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando both going down with injuries.
The most serious injury, however, seems to be that of opener Pathum Nissanka, who left the squad on June 30 to undergo surgery on an injured wrist in the United Kingdom. Lahiru Udara will take Nissanka’s place at the top of the order for the second Test. Nissanka’s surgery casts a cloud over his Lanka Premier League participation as well.
Vishwa, meanwhile, has not sufficiently recovered from back and side pain to become available for the second Test. And Sri Lanka’s quickest bowler in the squad, Kumara, remains unavailable after having walked off the field with a hamstring complaint (a recurring injury) having delivered just one over in the previous Test.
These injuries, plus Kasun Rajitha’s modest performance in the first Test, have paved the way for seamer Isitha Wijesudera’s Test debut.
In addition, offspin-bowling allrounder Ramesh Mendis has contracted a bacterial infection on tour. As such, he is also unavailable for selection. Prabath Jayasuriya – Sri Lanka’s top specialist spinner over the last three years – will enter the XI.
(Cricinfo)
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