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Unfettered England hunt down 197 in style to seal 2-0 series lead

Published

9 months ago

2025/06/9

Priyan

Tom Banton swings into the leg side in his matchwinning cameo [Cricinfo]

Harry Brook had said at the toss that he “fancied a chase” in the second T20I in Bristol. Well, he was handed one all right, as West Indies obliged in trademark style, serving up a six-laden display of power-hitting that included five in a single 31-run over from Adil Rashid – the second-most expensive in England’s T20 history – and 75 runs off the final four overs of their innings.

Despite 15 blows over the ropes in total, and a stiff target of 197, even that was not nearly enough to rein in a newly liberated England batting line-up that responded with a salvo of cameos to hunt down their target with nine balls to spare.Fresh from his matchwinning 96 on Friday, Jos Buttler was once again the top-scorer, with 47 from 36, while Brook led as he would wish to be followed with 34 from 20. However, the star turns came from the young guns Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton in the middle order, whose combined haul of 56 from 21 balls drove England to an unassailable 2-0 series lead with Tuesday’s final match in Southampton still to come.

In a match marked by such formidable hitting, however, it was a bowler in his first international appearance since September 2023 who made the ultimate difference. Brook had wanted a “point of difference”, he said, in confirming Luke Wood’s recall. His left-arm pace is an attractive option at the best of times, but with a strong cross-wind cutting across the County Ground, the conditions were tailor-made for his inswinger to the right-hander.

So Evin Lewis discovered with an Exocet of a first delivery – full, fast, tailing in at the toe, and extracting an immediate verdict from umpire Martin Saggers, even as Wood charged down the pitch in full celebrappeal mode. His follow-up to Shai Hope wasn’t quite as intended – a wild full-toss as the yorker slipped out – but two overs for four runs in the powerplay kept West Indies very much under wraps.

Brydon Carse’s introduction gave a more accurate reflection of the carnage to come, however. With England once again opting for just two frontline quicks, Carse’s more conventional angles were very much to Hope’s liking – with two fours and three sixes, each of them creamed over long-off as he opened his stance to take advantage of the short straight boundaries.

England’s plethora of spin options were rolled out after the powerplay, as Hope’s early momentum was stalled. Johnson Charles, who had hitherto been the silent partner in their second-wicket stand, took a few early lumps out of Bethell and Rashid, whom he slammed over midwicket for six, through the grasp of a leaping Wood on the boundary’s edge.

In the same over, however, Rashid followed up with a ripper – a dipping, fizzing legbreak to Hope, that turned sharply past the edge for Buttler to complete the stumping as West Indies’ captain toppled out of his crease for 49 from 37 balls.

At 90 for 2 in the 11th, Sherfane Rutherford was pushed up the order in a bid to pick up the tempo. But Will Jacks – a decent match-up to the left-hander – cramped his style with a series of offbreaks across his body, before Bethell sent him on his way for 6 from 8, as Banton hoovered up a slog to long-on.

Charles connected for a third six, off Rashid, but 15 dot-balls out of 38 told a tale of an innings without fluency. Carse returned with a change of ends to make amends for his profligate opening gambit, but it was Wood who prised him out – second ball of his second spell – via a deflection onto middle stump as he followed the batter outside off.

West Indies’ extraordinary depth of power-hitters means that someone is bound to come good in the end … or several people, as it turned out. Rovman Powell was briefly the man as he brought Friday’s hero, Liam Dawson, down to earth with 20 off his final over, and he had blatted his next ball, from Carse, over deep midwicket for another six before Wood clung onto an excellent tumbling take on the cover boundary.

But, with Brook trusting his senior man Rashid to bowl the 19th over, Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd turned on the afterburners, amid scenes of certain carnage that were reminiscent of that infamous final over in Kolkata in 2016. Rashid was smoked for five sixes out of six – the exception being a scuffed single to backward square from Holder off the fourth ball, to mock boos from an enthusiastic contingent of West Indies’ fans.

Wood restored a degree of decorum – and capped an excellent comeback with figures of 2 for 25 – as Shepherd was run out for 19 off 11, but Roston Chase smacked his first and only ball down the ground for six, the 15th of the innings, as West Indies finished on a healthy 196 for 6 that included 75 from the final four overs. Brook had got his chase.

With ten an over needed from the outset, Jamie Smith didn’t hang around, twice slogging Holder through the line and holing out to the second attempt for 4. But his second-over departure meant the in-form Buttler had all the longer to marshal the chase, and in Holder’s next over, he signalled his poise with an imperious driven six over long-on.

Ben Duckett, however, was the impish source of early impetus, with his array of sweeps and dinks including a scoop over the keeper for six. He had a life on 11, when Lewis couldn’t cling on at point, but – after setting up the chase in a 58-run powerplay – Duckett miscued a pull off Shepherd and was spectacularly grabbed by a leaping Powell at wide long-on for 30 off 18.

Buttler took up the cudgels, including an audacious reverse-hoick for six off Gudakesh Motie’s second delivery. But, on 43 from 29, he had a reprieve in the midst of a pacy over from Alzarri Joseph, in which he was tempted to take on the short straight boundaries and instead miscued a short ball to deep midwicket. Charles, however, couldn’t settle under the swirling ball, and the moment was lost.

With the run-rate nudging above 11, it was Brook’s turn to come to the party in a 20-run over off Shepherd that included an extraordinary cut for six off a fast, straight full toss, as well as a misfield from Charles that earned him further stick from an invested Bristol crowd. But, just when it seemed the worm was turning in England’s favour, Buttler reversed his hands on a sweep off Akeal Hosein – fresh off the plane at 7.30am after his visa issues – and that man Charles was on hand at deep third to send him on his way for 47.

Brook greeted the offspin of Chase with an open-shouldered launch down the ground, but two balls later, he picked out Powell for an easier grab in the deep. At 126 for 4, the innings was in danger of slipping away.

Banton, however, slog-swept his first ball for six to lay down a marker, and though Motie’s next over started tightly, Banton showed his versatility with a reverse for four and a muscular straight six to keep the chase right on track. Bethell immediately got the memo with three more startling blows over the ropes in Joseph’s next over – his fast hands belying his apparently slight frame.

He ruined his cameo by dinking the final ball straight to Chase at short third, but his 26 from 10 balls had broken the requirement into tiny pieces. Jacks picked out cover for 7 but by then Joseph had already wrecked any hope of a fightback with five wild wides down the leg-side. Banton and Carse duly closed out the chase to make it five wins in five for the Brook regime.

Brief scores:
England 199 for 6 in 18.3 overs (Ben Duckett 30, Jos Buttler 47, Harry Brook 34, Jacob Bethell 26, Tom Banton 30*; Akeal Hossein 1-33, Jason Holder 1-30, Romario Shepherd 1-42, Alzarri Joseph 2-45, Roston Chase 1-15) beat West Indies 196 for 6 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 49, Johnson Charles 47, Rovman Powell 34, Romairo Shepherd 19, Jason Holder 29*; Luke Wood 2-25, Brydon Carse 1-42, Jacob Bethell 1-24, Adil Rashid 1-59) by four wickets

[Cricinfo]

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Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala and Mannar districts

Published

9 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. on 11 March 2026, valid for 12 March 2026.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at
some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala and Mannar districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well.

For further clarifications please contact 011-744649

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Nahid Rana and Tanzid Hasan complete Pakistan’s demolition in opening ODI

Published

17 hours ago

2026/03/11

Priyan

Nahid Rana walks back with his best figures in ODIs (Cricinfo)

Bangladesh quick Nahid Rana’s maiden five-wicket haul sent Pakistan tumbling to an eight-wicket defeat in the first ODI in Mirpur. Bangladesh completed the 115-run chase in 15.1 overs after they bowled out the visitors for 114. This was’s Bangladesh’s biggest win by wickets and balls remaining against Pakistan.

Tanzid Hasan struck seven fours and five sixes in his unbeaten 42-ball 67, while Najmul Hossain Shanto made 27 with five fours. The pair added 82 runs for the second wicket, as this became the shortest ODI between Bangladesh and Pakistan in terms of total overs bowled.

It was all due to Rana, who had a huge influence in the game in his spell of seven overs. He picked up a wicket in each of his first five overs, as Pakistan sunk rapidly against Rana’s pace and bounce, reminiscent of the last time they came across the fast bowler. Rana had taken four wickets in the Rawalpindi Test in 2024.

In Mirpur, Pakistan had played four debutants, their most since 2008 in ODIs. Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat, among those newbies, added 41 runs for the opening stand before Rana removed Farhan in the tenth over. Farhan made 27 off 38 balls, before hitting a length ball to Afif Hossain at point.

Shamyl Hussain was the next to go, top-edging a Rana bouncer which Litton Das pouched safely. Shamyl was dropped on two at long-off in the previous over, but couldn’t make the chance count. When Sadaqat fell to yet another short ball, Pakistan slipped from 41 for 0 to 55 for three in the 14th over.

There was some hope when the experienced pair Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha got together. Rizwan even struck Rana for a superb boundary, before Rana sucked him into a drive and had him caught behind. Salman’s fall next was emblematic of Pakistan’s dismissals on the day – fending a short ball to short leg, where Tanzid completed a juggling catch.

Rana kept pounding in with thunderbolts for two more overs, creating couple of chances, and also bowling a 148.6kph delivery at Faheem Ashraf.

Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz then took three wickets, while Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman took one each, as Pakistan were shot out in the 31st over. Faheem top scored with 37, adding 32 runs for the tenth wicket with Abrar Ahmed.

Shaheen Shah Afridi and Faheem began Pakistan’s defence in a wayward manner, conceding five wides in the first two overs before the former dismissed Saif Hassan. Despite the early wicket, Tanzid and Shanto went after the Pakistan bowling, with both the left-handers finding boundaries regularly. Tanzid hit Faheem for two fours in the second over, before Shanto opened his account off his second ball with a crashing drive off Afridi.

Tanzid then struck Mohammad Wasim for a six and four in the sixth over, followed by Shanto hammering Afridi for three fours in the seventh over. Tanzid continued the big-hitting in the next over, going after Abrar Ahmed for two sixes, before Shanto got an edged boundary off Afridi.

Bangladesh were 81 for one after ten overs, their second highest score after the first powerplay in ODIs against Pakistan.

Tanzid struck two more sixes off Abrar and Agha, while reaching his fifty off 32 balls. Shanto then edged Wasim to the wicketkeeper, but that wicket was a mere consolation for Pakistan, who had been thorougly outplayed.

Brief scores:

Bangladesh 115 for 2 in 15.1 overs (Tanzid Hasan 67*, Najmul Hosain Shanto 27) beat Pakistan 114 in 30.4 Overs (Faheem Ashraf 37, Shahibzada Farhan 27; Nahid Rana 5-24, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 3-29) by 8 wickets

(Cricinfo)

Latest News

Australia grants asylum to 2 more members of Iranian women’s football team

Published

1 day ago

2026/03/11

Priyan

Iranian players react from the bench during the Women's Asia Cup football match between Iran and South Korea on the Gold Coast, Australia, on March 2, 2026 (Aljazeera)

Australia ⁠has confirmed that two more members of the Iranian women’s football team have received humanitarian visas, after five players were earlier granted asylum over concerns for their safety should they return to Iran, following the team failing to simg their national anthem before a recent match.

A player and a member of the team’s support staff decided ⁠to stay ⁠in Australia after seeking asylum, Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke told reporters on Wednesday.

The pair has now joined five other team members granted humanitarian visas on Tuesday, Burke told reporters.

He said the pair sought asylum before the team departed the country late on Tuesday night, adding that all the women were taken aside individually by Australian officials and interpreters, without Iranian minders present, and offered asylum as they passed through security at Sydney airport.

“They were given a choice,” said Burke, who later posted images of the players on social media.

“In that situation, what we made sure of was that there was no rushing, there was no pressure,” he said.

Burke also said that some people linked to the team were not offered asylum, without providing details. One member of the delegation delayed boarding the departing flight from Sydney while they contacted family members and deliberated about staying in Australia, Burke said.The team’s departure from their hotel in Australia’s Gold Coast and arrival at the domestic airport in Sydney before their international departure took place amid protests, as Iranian Australians sought to prevent the women from leaving the country, citing fears for their safety in Iran.

“We weren’t sure which way that person would go,” he said. “That individual ultimately made their own decision.”

The seven team members who had requested asylum have received temporary humanitarian visas, which is a pathway to permanent residency in Australia, Burke said.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the visas offered to the team members are valid for 12 months and are similar to those granted to applicants from Ukraine, Palestine and Afghanistan.

The team’s departure from their hotel in Australia’s Gold Coast and arrival at the domestic airport in Sydney before their international departure took place amid protests, as Iranian Australians sought to prevent the women from leaving the country, citing fears for their safety in Iran.

Concerns about the players’ safety emerged after Iranian state television labelled the team “traitors” for refusing to sing the ⁠national anthem before their first Asia Cup match in Australia. The team later sang the anthem at other matches.

However, the office of ‌Iran’s ‌general prosecutor said on Tuesday that the remaining members of the team were invited home “with peace and confidence”, Iranian media reported.

“These loved ones are invited to return to their homeland with peace and confidence, and in addition to addressing the concerns of their families,” the general prosecutor’s office was quoted as saying by Iran’s Tasnim news agency.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, also urged the players to “come home”.

“To Iran’s women’s football team: don’t worry – Iran awaits you with open arms,” Baghaei wrote on X on Tuesday.

The Iranian team joined the Women’s Asian Cup tournament in Australia, just as the US and ⁠Israel launched their war on Iran, killing the country’s ⁠supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and many senior officials.

At least 1,255 people have been killed in the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has entered its 12th day and has seen devastating air strikes on the capital, Tehran, and other cities, as well as key infrastructure and civilian sites.

The high-profile offer of asylum to the football players also comes as the Australian government has moved to introduce legislation to ban people from certain countries traveling to Australia who authorities fear might overstay their visa due to the war in the Middle East.

According to the ABC, the proposed law would allow the government to stop people from nominated countries entering Australia for up to six months, even if they already have a valid temporary visa.

The Australian Greens party said on Tuesday that the law was “clearly aimed at preventing people from Iran from seeking safety in Australia”.

“We know who this is aimed at by Labor – it’s aimed at the people of Iran, the people of Lebanon, the people of Qatar and the entire Middle East. It is clearly designed to be a Trump-like mass visa freeze,” said Greens Senator David Shoebridge, referring to the governing Australian Labor Party and US President Donald Trump, who has also banned people from certain countries from entering the US.

According to the ABC, the proposed law would allow the government to stop people from nominated countries entering Australia for up to six months, even if they already have a valid temporary visa.

The Australian Greens party said on Tuesday that the law was “clearly aimed at preventing people from Iran from seeking safety in Australia”.

(Aljazeera)