Sports

England’s misery complete as Gill ton makes it 3-0

Published

1 year ago

2025/02/13

Priyan

Shubman Gill celebrates his seventh ODI century [Cricbuzz]

England’s miserable tour came to an end following another lopsided win for the home side as India hammered the visitors in the final ODI in Ahmedabad. India’s massive win was headlined by Shubman Gill’s seventh ton which came in his 50th ODI appearance for India and there were also contributions from the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. In reply, England’s chase fizzled out around the halfway mark as they lost by a massive margin of 142 runs.

With a daunting target of 357 ahead of them, England came out all guns blazing on expected lines. Ben Duckett in particular was severe against India’s new ball bowlers as he hit four boundaries against Harshit Rana before finding the fence on four successive occasions against Arshdeep Singh. As a result of this onslaught, England raced to 60/0 in just six overs, setting themselves up for the tall chase. However, things quickly turned when Duckett completely mistimed a knuckleball from Arshdeep to get caught for 34.

Tom Banton, getting an opportunity at No.3, started off with a switch-hit six against Washington Sundar but at the other end, another slower delivery from Arshdeep consumed Phil Salt. While England had 84 runs in the first nine overs, the two wickets did cause a dent. Joe Root and Banton consolidated for a brief period with the latter employing the switch hit once again for another six, this time off Axar Patel. However, Kuldeep Yadav managed to send Banton back to the pavilion with a googly and Root was castled by Axar soon after.

If those two wickets weren’t enough, Rana came back to get the big wicket of Jos Buttler, who chopped one onto his stumps to pretty much signal the end. It was a case of rinse and repeat as Harry Brook endured the same fate against the same bowler in his next over. Expensive on the night, Washington managed to open his account by getting Liam Livingstone stumped and Hardik Pandya added a couple of lower order wickets which ensured at least one scalp for every single Indian bowler. If not for a few lusty blows from Gus Atkinson, England wouldn’t have breached even 200.

Earlier in the day, India showcased their batting might to breach 350 after being sent into bat. Rohit Sharma couldn’t replicate his Cuttack heroics and was sent packing very early in the innings but Gill managed to get off to a good start yet again. Virat Kohli, under a bit of pressure, found some much-needed rhythm as well. India made 52/1 in the first powerplay and showed no signs of slowing down with the field starting to spread. Root was treated with disdain by both batters, particularly Kohli who hit him for four boundaries spread across two overs and Gill sent Atkinson out of the attack with a four and a six.

The two batters then hit Livingstone for a six each before bringing up their fifties. Against the run of play though, Adil Rashid managed to induce the outside edge of Kohli but England’s hopes of halting the flow of runs proved to be futile. Shreyas Iyer made a positive start to his innings yet again and his boundary-spree saw him race to 40 off just 30 at one point. Gill, who was continuing to make merry at the other end, brought up yet another century at his favourite venue but Rashid gave England a timely strike by getting rid of the opener just when he was looking to cut loose.

The legspinner had a very good outing as he also dismissed a well-set Shreyas for 78 before removing Hardik off the final ball of his spell. India would have still fancied their chances of touching 375 given the platform that was laid but Hardik’s wicket, which was soon followed by Axar’s dismissal, forced them to retreat a touch. KL Rahul, walking out to bat at No.5 this time, chipped in with some timely boundaries to make 40 off just 29 balls before getting trapped lbw by an excellent yorker from Saqib Mahmood. That helped England apply the squeeze and concede only 22 runs in the last three overs, which simply didn’t matter in the end anyway.

Brief scores:
India 356 in 50 overs (Shubman Gill 112, Shreyas Iyer 78; Adil Rashid 4/64, Mark Wood 2/45) beat England 214 in 34.2 overs (Gus Atkinson 38; Axar Patel 2/22, Harshit Rana 2/31) by 142 runs

[Cricbuzz]

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Nissanka ton stuns Australia, puts Sri Lanka in Super Eights

Published

6 hours ago

2026/02/16

Priyan

Pathum Nissanka celebrates his second T20I century [Cricinfo]

Sri Lanka survived an early onslaught to qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup Super Eights, leaving Australia right at the exit door and hoping for a miracle.

The returning captain Mitchell Marsh and the returning-to-runs Travis Head were brutal in taking Australia to 104 in the first 50 legal deliveries, but some spectacular fielding and spin bowling helped Sri Lanka take 10 for 77 off the last 70 balls.

In front of a partying full house in Pallekele, Sri Lanka’s two most prolific batters, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, brought out both the axe and paper cuts to slice through the chase. Nissanka, who had earlier dropped Glenn Maxwell and then dismissed him with a stunner, went on to score an unbeaten hundred and take Sri Lanka home with two overs to spare.

In the absence of Matheesha Pathirana, who walked off with a calf injury in his first over, their spinners contributed six wickets to go with excellent closing from Dushmantha Chameera. Australia’s lead spinner Adam Zampa, among the best T20 spinners of all time, took no wicket and was lucky to go for only 41 in his four overs.

Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 184/2 in 18 overs [Pathum Nissanka 100*, Kusal Mendis 51, Pavan Rathnayake 2*; Marcus Stoinis 2-41] beat Australia 181/10 in 20 overs [Mitchell Marsh 54, Travis Head 56, Josh Inglis 27, Glenn Maxwell 22; Dushmantha Chameera 2-56, Maheesh Theekshana 1-37, Dushan Hemantha 3-37, Dunith Wellalage 1-33, Kamindu Mendis 1-19] by eight wickets

[Cricinfo]

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New Zealand eye Super Eight spot against Canada

Published

7 hours ago

2026/02/16

Priyan

Tim Seifert and Finn Allen are among the best dangerous openers in world cricket [Cricinfo]

A win against Canada in their first T20I against them on Tuesday will firm up New Zealand’s spot in the Super Eight. This result will also knock out Canada; South Africa have already qualified for the next round from Group D with three wins in as many games.

New Zealand have faced Canada just three times in international cricket so far – each time in ODI World Cups. Their most recent meeting coming in the 2011 edition in Mumbai. They have won all three games and are poised to make it 4-0 against Canada in World Cups, despite the absence of Lockie Ferguson. The fast bowler has returned home for the birth of his first child and is expected to link up with the side ahead of the Super Eight. In Ferguson’s absence, Kyle Jamieson, who wasn’t even in the main squad in the first place, is set to make his T20 World Cup bow.

As for Canada, they had their moments against South Africa and UAE but they have failed to convert those into wins. On Friday in Delhi, they had UAE at 66 for 4 in the 13th over in a chase of 151, but they left the door ajar for Aryansh Sharma and Sohaib Khan to sneak home. Canada can’t afford such slip-ups against New Zealand – and then Afghanistan – if they are to notch up a win in this World Cup.

Kyle Jamieson doesn’t quite have Ferguson’s express pace, but can bang it away on a hard length and stifle the opposition batters. He also has some slower variations in his repertoire and his high-arm release could pose a big threat, especially to batters who are facing him for the first time.

Once known as “Vettori” in Canada’s club cricket circuit, Saad Bin Zafar will run into the team that was once captained by one of his heroes. The Canada left-arm spinner often attacks the stumps and keeps it tight, as his economy rate of 6.02 across 67 T20Is suggests. At 39, Saad knows he won’t be playing the game for long and will be eager to cause a few upsets on the big stage.

Jamieson is set to slot in for Ferguson unless New Zealand want to give veteran legspinner Ish Sodhi a game.

New Zealand (probable): Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (capt), Jimmy Neesham, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy

Canada are likely to play the same XI that lost to South Africa and UAE.

Canada (probable): Dilpreet Bajwa (capt), Yuvraj Samra, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva (wk), Harsh Thaker, Saad Bin Zafar, Jaskaran Singh, Dilon Heyliger, Kaleem Sana, Ansh Patel

[Cricinfo]

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Pathirana under injury cloud as he leaves the field early

Published

8 hours ago

2026/02/16

Priyan

Matheesha Pathirana walked off midway through his opening over (Cricinfo)

Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana left the field four balls into his first over, after collapsing to the ground clutching his left calf, and did not return to the field during Sri Lanka’s bowling innings against Australia. Having briefly received treatment from the Sri Lanka physiotherapist immediately after sustaining the injury, Pathirana hobbled off the field with assistance from support staff.

He then spent the majority of the innings being treated in the dressing room. Sri Lanka will likely send him off for scans as soon as the match finishes.

“Matheesha Pathirana experienced discomfort in his left leg calf while bowling during the match and was unable to continue,” a statement read. “He will not bowl further in this game. A scan will be conducted tomorrow to determine the extent of the injury.”

Pathirana had begun well against Australia, bowling two dot balls and giving away three runs (including a wide) in those first four deliveries. The last two balls of the over were delivered by Dasun Shanaka, who gave away a four and bowled a dot.

Pathirana is the quickest bowler in Sri Lanka’s attack, and a key part of their death-bowling plans for the tournament in particular. He is also the second Sri Lanka bowler to come under an injury cloud, with Wanindu Hasaranga already having been ruled out of the World Cup with a hamstring injury of his own.

After this game against Australa, Sri Lanka have another group match to play, against Zimbabwe. They have not earned qualification for the Super Eights yet.

(Cricinfo)