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Stunning Chapman onslaught helps New Zealand make it 1-1

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Mark Chapman hammered an unbeaten 87 off 42 balls

It doesn’t seem to matter who turns up for New Zealand each year; the series they play in Pakistan invariably turn out to be competitive. After a below-par performance in the second T20I, a Mark Chapman inspired New Zealand side brushed past Pakistan in the third to level the series up 1-1.

Chapman  finished with a scintillating unbeaten 87 off 42 balls as he made light work of the 178 Pakistan had mustered, with the visitors getting there with ten balls and seven wickets to spare.

Chapman was New Zealand’s most impressive performer when a similarly understrength side visited in April 2023, and had little trouble picking up where he left off. New Zealand had begun brightly with the big-hitting Tim Robinson and Tim Seifert  but lost both within the space of seven balls to Abbas Afridi and Naseem Shah respectively. At that point, with inexperience to follow and a battery of impressive bowling options for Babar Azam, the chase felt in severe danger of being railroaded off course.

But Chapman demonstrated that his ability extended beyond power hitting, as he set about taking apart the dangerous duo of Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed. He understood the target wasn’t imperious enough to require reckless slogging and manipulated the field to pick boundaries in three successive overs the two bowled. There was a fateful slice of fortune when Naseem fluffed a fairly simple chance off a miscued sweep, and it resulted in the batter going back into his shell for a stray Iftikhar Ahmed over.

The reprieve ended up costing Pakistan dearly. Iftikhar was shown no such respect when he came back on, smashed for a huge six back over his head and as Chapman steered New Zealand towards Pakistan’s total with chanceless inevitability, the flair in his game began to shine through, too. For he wouldn’t just get New Zealand to their target, but land a psychological blow by decimating their two prized fast bowlers.

Shaheen Shah Afridi was the first to bear the brunt, as two boundaries and a six in the 15th over brought the asking rate below nine. Babar brought his ace Naseem back in immediately, but a worse fate awaited him. A carved six, a carved four, a straight six, and a pulled four. That’s how his first four balls went, sealing Pakistan’s fate in a 23-run over that plunged the required rate to under a run a ball.

It’s perhaps obligatory to say at this point that Dean Foxcroft was an able understudy, but in truth, this was a one-man chase. Just two boundaries came off Foxcroft’s bat in a 117-run partnership, and while Foxcroft struggled to keep his strike rate over 100, Chapman would finish at more than double that. Pakistan will rightly reflect on the quality of their death bowling, but the fact all it took was a solo effort to hunt down what they managed raises the question about the adequacy of that first innings total.

Pakistan were put in to bat on a pitch Babar said was the typical batting-friendly strip Rawalpindi is known for, in stark contrast to Saturday’s surface. But the approach Pakistan took to setting a target befitting such a pitch was muddled, at best. Saim Ayub got the side off to his trademark flyer, but in Zak Foulkes, Ish Sodhi and Will O’Rourke, New Zealand kept finding bowlers to sneak in tight overs and stymie Pakistan’s momentum.

That was especially true once Ayub departed and Babar and Mohammad Rizwan came together two balls after the powerplay ended. Overs six to 11 saw New Zealand allow just 36 runs as the momentum Pakistan had built up faded, with Rizwan, in particular, unable to find the gaps he so cannily does in the powerplay. He would go off shortly after with a hamstring injury, while captain Michael Bracewell coaxed a false shot from the Pakistan captain to send him on his way.

Pakistan would meander for another couple of overs, but it was Shadab Khan’s  introduction that injected purpose into Pakistan’s innings. By now, the run rate had slipped to 8.07, but a couple of boundaries of his first four balls set the wheels in motion for an innings where he flew to 41 off 20. Alongside Irfan Niazi, Pakistan began to blast their way back towards a competitive total. Perhaps cruelly for New Zealand, it was Bracewell, whose overs had reined Pakistan in so, who took the greatest flak during that whirlwind partnership as the pair smashed his final over for 19 runs.

Once more, though, New Zealand found a way to have the final say, with Jacob Duffy and Foulkes managing a pair of tight final overs that kept Pakistan below 180. Pakistan might have felt it was enough against an enfeebled New Zealand side, but as is often the case in T20 cricket, there are few hiding places for below par totals.

Brief scores:
New Zealand 179 for 3 in 18.2 overs  (Tim Robinson 28, Tim Seifert 21, Mark Chapman 87*, Dean Foxcroft 31; Naeem Shah 1-44,  Abbas Afridi 2-27) beat  Pakistan 178 for 4 in 20 overs (Saim Ayub 32, Shadab Khan 41, Babar Azam 37, Mohammad Rizwan 22, Irfan Khan 30*; Jacob Duffy 1-39, Michael Bracewell 1-40, Ish Sodhi 2-25) by seven wickets

(Cricinfo)

 



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Hard-hitter Jacobs gets maiden New Zealand call-up for Sri Lanka T20Is

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Bevon Jacobs was picked up by Mumbai Indians for IPL 2025 [NZC]

Hard-hitting middle-order batter Bevon Jacobs has been handed his maiden New Zealand call-up by being picked for the upcoming three-match home T20I series against Sri Lanka.

Jacobs was part of the New Zealand XI side that took on Sri Lanka in a 10-overs-a-side tour match in Lincoln on Monday, although he did not get a chance to bat.

Jacobs’ call-up comes barely a month after he was picked up by Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025 auction, joining New Zealand internationals Trent Boult and the new white-ball captain Mitchell Santner. Jacobs’ maiden IPL contract came after an impressive Super Smash campaign last season, where he hit 134 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 188.73 while batting as a finisher.

“It’s obviously an exciting time for Bevon and his family,” NZC selector Sam Wells said. “He’s a promising player with a lot of talent and we’re looking forward to exposing him to international cricket. “He’s clearly got a lot of power with the bat, but he’s also shown in the longer formats that he has a decent technique and temperament.”

Having come through the system at Auckland, Jacobs had made a switch to Canterbury for whom he made his List A and T20 debuts just over a year ago. But he returned to Auckland ahead of the ongoing home summer, and made his first class debut for Auckland last month, with scores of 75 and 79.

After narrowly missing out on another half-century in his second before, he racked up 80 against his old team, Canterbury.

Fast bowler Zakary Foulkes, wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay and top-order batter Tim Robinson are also part of the T20I squad, and could play their first international home games, having made their debuts abroad earlier in the year.

Foulkes and Robinson debuted in the T20Is in Pakistan in April, while Hay’s debut came in Sri Lanka in November. Hay is set to keep wickets in the T20Is, and will be cover for Tom Latham in the ODIs that follow.

While Jacobs, Foulkes and Robinson have only been called up for the T20Is, Latham, Will Young and Will O’Rourke will join the squad for the one-dayers. O’Rourke has been rested for the T20Is after a heavy Test workload, having featured in all eight Tests against Sri Lanka, India and England.

The series against Sri Lanka will also see Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell and Matt Henry make a return to the white-ball squads, having been rested during their tour of Sri Lanka to prepare for the home Tests against England.

New Zealand will miss many big names, due to their commitments to various franchise T20 leagues. Lockie Ferguson, Finn Allen, Adam Milne and Tim Seifert are away at the BBL, while Kane Williamson and Devon Conway are part of the SA20 which is scheduled to begin on January 9.

Ben Sears and Kyle Jamieson remain unavailable as they are still recuperating from knee and back injuries respectively.

The team will be coached by Luke Ronchi, with regular head coach Gary Stead taking a break. Ronchi will have Jacob Oram for support as the bowling coach, while Craig McMillan will look after the batting and fielding.

This will be New Zealand’s final ODI bilateral series before the Champions Trophy, where they will take on hosts Pakistan in the tournament opener.

New Zealand also will play a tri-series in Pakistan, also featuring South Africa, before the Champions Trophy begins.

“As with the squads that recently toured Sri Lanka, we’re keen to keep exposing new talent to the big stage and it’s nice to have an experienced core of players around them,” Wells said. “The Champions Trophy, like all ICC pinnacle events, is an obvious incentive for players and I know many will be keen to put their best foot forward in the ODI series to be in the frame for selection.”

The T20Is will be played on December 28, 30 and January 2 before the ODIs on January 5, 8 and 11.

New Zealand T20I squad vs Sri Lanka

Mitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Mitchell Hay, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Nathan Smith

New Zealand ODI squad vs Sri Lanka

Mitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Mitchell Hay, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Will Young

[Cricinfo]

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Renuka, Mandhana consign West Indies to record loss

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Renuka Singh's 5 for 29 were her best figures in ODIs [BCCI]

After a T20I series that went to the decider, the first of three ODIs between India and West Indies was a thoroughly one-sided fare. The hosts dominated from start to finish despite not batting to full potential, while still scoring an imposing 314 for 9, and then hardly flexed their bowling muscle to run past a West Indies line-up that folded like nine pins.

The architects of the win were Smriti Mandhana who top scored with 91, and Renuka Singh who had an unchanged opening spell of 8-1-19-4 en route a maiden ODI five-for. Two of those strikes happened to be of Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin inside the first five overs of the chase. The game was decided right there.

India will look back at their batting performance with mixed emotions despite the massive victory margin. For the first half of their innings, they appeared to be stuck in second gear, with that safety-first approach that has troubled them in ODIs lately yet again taking precedence despite Mandhana looking in sparkling form, like she has in the format all through the year.

The caution at the start was largely down to a nervous debutant – Pratika Rawal – auditioning to be Mandhana’s batting partner at the top of the order after a number of experiments earlier in the month in Australia – most notably Richa Ghosh opening – fell flat.

Rawal made 40 in a 110-run opening stand but was aided by plenty of luck along the way. On 1, she gloved a tickle to the wicketkeeper, but West Indies didn’t review. On 3, Afy Fletcher dropped a sitter at mid-off as she attempted her first aggressive shot. In between the two, she survived a tight run-out opportunity. To Rawal’s credit, she overcame all of these to slowly build her innings, before falling to an unreal return catch to Mathews, as she threw herself full-stretch to pluck a one-handed stunner.

Mandhana brought up her half-century off 62 balls, her 28th in ODIs, and shifted gears to sweep and drive imperiously, but Harleen Deol’s struggles forced her into attempting cheeky strokes, one of which had her lbw. Harleen’s cautious approach at No. 3 despite a solid start made you wonder if India miscalculated by not promoting Jemimah Rodrigues or Harampreet Kaur.

This became evident almost immediately when Harmanpreet changed the tempo of the innings upon arrival, dashing to 32 off 20 through her trademark sweeps and ferocious lofted hits, before a mix-up with Richa Ghosh, while attempting a run to short third, cut short her innings.

Ghosh and Rodrigues played fine cameos that helped provide India the finishing kick, while also allowing them to paper over the muddle in the middle overs, with the last 20 overs bringing 160. Ghosh showed off her full range of power, timing and fineness – all in one, as she made a 13-ball 26, while Rodrigues, now seen as a finisher, made 31 off 19.

India could’ve scored a lot more if not for a series of rash shots towards the end that brought Zaida James  the young left-arm spinner, a maiden five-for ODIs. That, as it turned out was one of the few positives for West Indies on a forgettable night as they had no answers to Renuka’s devious in-duckers that kept missing.

The effect of Renuka’s spell has a mesmeric effect on the others too. Titas Sadhu picked up her first ODI wicket and young legspinner Priya Mishra delivered 4.2 crafty overs for two wickets. All told, the look of horror on Shemaine Campbelle’s face when she nailed a lofted hit only for an acrobatic Harmanpreet to intercept the ball at mid-on by leaping high and pulling off a one-handed grab summed up the evening for the West Indies.

It was no less than a horror show with the bat, which they’d hope to improve on as they build towards a 50-over World Cup on these very shores in 10 months.

Brief scores:
India Women 314 for 9 in 50 overs (Smriti Mandhana 91, Pratika Rawal 40,  Harleen Deol 44, Harmanpreet Kaur 34, Jemimah Rodrigues 31; Zaida  James 5-45, Hayley Mathews 2-61) beat West Indies Women  103 in 26.2 overs (Afy Fletcher 24;  Renuka Singh 5-29, Priya Mishra 2-22) by 211 runs

[Cricinfo]

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Kandy, CH, Havies impress during second week of club rugby

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CH & FC played impressive rugby against Police SC in their domestic rugby match played on Friday at Police Park before recording a smashing 39-27 victory. Here a CH & FC player stalls a move by Police SC with a crunching tackle.

By A Special Sports Correspondent

Kandy Sports Club continued impressively for the second week in the domestic league rugby tournament when they thrashed Army Sports Club by 70 points to 5 at Nittawela grounds on Saturday.

The winners were unstoppable in both halves and ran down nine tries in total out of which eight were converted by place kicker and fly half Tharinda Ratwatte. He also slotted in three penalties to swell the Kandy SC score. Army responded with a solitary try through Sudaraka Dikkumbura early in the first half. The soldiers were forced to play catch-up rugby for the rest of the game after that impressive try.

Former Trinitian and national player Ratwatte was in fine form with his kicking boots and also chipped in with a try. His overall contribution to his team’s score was 30 points.

In the other match played on Saturday at Ratmalana, Havelocks SC did well to down a fighting Air Force Sports Club outfit by 30 points to 19. The winners were leading 18-11 at half time.

Havies collected their points through five tries, one conversion and one penalty while the losing team responded with two tries and three penalties.

On Friday, CH & FC recorded their maiden win for the season by beating Police Sports Club by 39 points to 27 at Police Park. CH collected their points through five tries, four conversions and two penalties while Police ran down three tries and converted all three. The policemen also got points through two penalties. The tournament is conducted by Sri Lanka Rugby.

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