Sports

West Indies campaign in disarray after back to back defeats

Published

5 years ago

2021/10/27

Aiden Markram top scored for South Africa with an unbeaten 51 as the Proteas beat West Indies by eight wickets in Dubai yesterday.(Pic by Sameera Pieris).

Rex Clementine in Dubai

Lack of genuine pace in their bowling department hurt defending champions West Indies as they suffered a heavy eight wicket defeat at the hands of South Africa in the ICC T-20 World Cup in Dubai yesterday.

The Windies may have lot of experience at their disposal possessing plenty of globetrotters who play franchise cricket but their bowling lacked penetration and a target of 144 proved to be too little to defend as South Africa won with ten deliveries to spare.

Both teams had lost their opening encounters earlier in the competition and badly needed a win and South Africa will be pleased with their effort. As for West Indies, two time World Champions, a semi-final spot seems to be slipping away from them. But you cannot completely write off the Caribbean kings, who have a remarkable record in the shortest format of the game. For that to happen, their batting needs to fire.

Batting was a flop yesterday as they managed only 143 runs and looked to be some 20 runs short.

Opening batsman Evin Lewis laid the foundation for West Indies top scoring with 56 off 35 balls with three fours and six sixes. West Indies had got off to a good start with Lewis and Lendl Simmons adding 73 runs for the first wicket.

Despite possessing some of the finest big hitters in the game, West Indies innings did not get the impetus it needed during the death overs and 143 did not look a safe score.

Anrich Nortje showed why pace matters finishing with figures of one for 14 in his four overs and was named Man of the Match.

During the run chase, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma tested Andre Russell’s arm hurrying for a quick single having pushed one to mid-on and was run out.

Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen then added 60 runs for the second wicket to set the platform for the run chase. After Hendricks was well caught by Shimron Hetmyer in the deep, Aiden Markram joined van der Dussen and sealed the deal for South Africa.

South Africa’s number three van der Dussen looked to be playing through the innings while Markram was the aggressor finishing with 51 off 26 deliveries with two fours and four sixes while van der Dussen needed 51 deliveries for his 43.

Markram brought up his half-century by pulling Andre Russell for six and in the next ball brought up South Africa’s victory with a single to mid-wicket.

All News Advertisement

Latest News

Rose Bowl expanded to include Australia vs New Zealand T20Is

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/17

Priyan

Australia have held the Rose Bowl continuously since 2000 [Cricinfo]

The Rose Bowl, which has been awarded to the winner of ODI series between the women’s teams of Australia and New Zealand since 1985, has now been expanded to include T20Is as well.

New Zealand’s three match T20I tour of Australia, which begins on Sunday at the North Sydney Oval, will be the first T20I edition of the Rose Bowl. The teams will get to face off again for the trophy in March 2027 when they meet again for three ODIs, also in Australia.

For Rose Bowl series that include matches in both white-ball formats, the trophy will go to the team with the most wins overall. In case of a drawn series, the current holder will retain the trophy.

“The Rose Bowl is a prestigious trophy that holds a lot of meaning to current and past players, and it’s a series we’ve always taken a lot of pride in competing in,”Catherine Campbell, NZC’s chief cricket operations officer and a former New Zealand player, said. “With so much T20I cricket now being played, this is a brilliant opportunity to keep the Rose Bowl relevant and to build on the history between us and our Australian rivals.”

New Zealand captain Melie Kerr was excited by the broadening of opportunities to compete for the Rose Bowl.

“We’re all aware of what the Rose Bowl represents and the importance it holds in the White Ferns whakapapa [genealogy],” said Kerr. “Great players and teams have fought for it over the years and we’d love the opportunity to claim our own piece of that history.”

Australia have held the Rose Bowl continuously since wresting it back from New Zealand in 2000. Since that 3-0 win, Australia have won 18 times with one series – in 2008-09 – shared 2-2. Overall, Australia have won 26 of the 31 ODI series played for the Rose Bowl, with New Zealand winning three times and three series drawn.

North Sydney will host all three T20Is of the upcoming Rose Bowl series, on October 18, 20 and 22.

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Sastralian Premier League to boost school cricket in Matugama

Published

11 hours ago

2026/10/17

Thilina Walpola

The inaugural Sastralian Premier League (SPL), a T10 cricket tournament aimed at strengthening the cricketing fortunes of Ananda Shasthralaya National School, Matugama, will get underway next month, bringing together eight teams.

Organised by the Old Sastralians Cricket Association in collaboration with the school, the tournament is designed to provide a platform for emerging talent while generating much needed financial support for the school’s cricket development programme.

Each franchise will be required to assemble a squad of 16 players, excluding the captain, with the competition featuring a unique set of regulations aimed at encouraging participation across different age groups.

Cricketers from other schools in the Matugama area will also have an opportunity to showcase their skills under the ‘Guest Players’ category. Each team can recruit up to six guest players, with four required to feature in the playing XI.

In a move designed to nurture the next generation, every team must include two current school cricketers in its squad, with at least one guaranteed a place in the playing XI.

The tournament will also accommodate experienced campaigners, with teams permitted to select five players over the age of 20 and three over 40. The provision to use an ‘Impact Player’ is another feature of the competition.

The eight teams have been divided into two groups. Group A comprises JSD Challengers, Jagath Express, Liveka Power Lions and Rexhill Warriors, while JPI Royals, Five Star Heroes, Marine Titans and Finnk Falcons make up Group B.

A total of 16 matches will be played across November 7, 8 and 15, with November 16 set aside as a reserve day.

Beyond the action on the field, organisers hope the tournament will provide a financial boost to school cricket while forging stronger ties between past and present cricketers.

Latest News

Iyer to lead in last two New Zealand ODIs, Kushagra earns maiden call-up

Published

18 hours ago

2026/10/16

Priyan

Gill & Iyer will share leadership duties across the five New Zealand ODIs [Cricbuzz]

Shreyas Iyer has returned as India’s ODI vice-captain for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand, having missed the preceding ODI series against the West Indies due to India’s T20I commitments during the Asian Games.

Iyer will be the vice-captain for the first three ODIs before taking over the captaincy for the fourth and fifth matches, with Ishan Kishan appointed his deputy for the final two games. This allows Shubman Gill, the regular ODI skipper and Test captain, to focus on preparing for the two-match Test series, part of the World Test Championship cycle, which follows the ODIs.

Prasidh Krishna also returns to the ODI squad for the first three matches, but his availability is subject to fitness. He sustained a left hamstring injury during the second ODI against the West Indies and was replaced by Anshul Kamboj. Meanwhile, Kamboj has also been named in the squad for the first three New Zealand ODIs.

India have also made changes to their squad for the latter half of the series, with Tilak Varma and Kumar Kushagra coming into the 16-member squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs. Prasidh and Kamboj, who are also part of the Test team, are among those not included in the squad for the final two matches. Auqib Nabi, meanwhile, has been included in the squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli feature in both squads, alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav. Incidentally, Reddy, Kuldeep and Siraj are also part of the Test squad but have been retained for the last two matches. KL Rahul has been named as the wicketkeeper for the first three matches, while Kishan will take over the role for the final two ODIs, with the former set to join the Test preparations.

The ODI series begins on November 4, following India’s five-match T20I series. The first ODI will be played in Auckland, while the second game will be held in Wellington on November 7. Hamilton will host the third match on November 10, while the last two ODIs will be played in Mount Maunganui on November 13 and 15. The Test series begins on November 19.

Squad for the first three ODIs: Shubman Gill [C], Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer [VC], KL Rahul [WK], Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan [WK], Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna*, Kuldeep Yadav

Squad for fourth and fifth ODIs: Shreyas Iyer [C], Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan [WK, VC], Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra [WK], Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav

[Cricbuzz]