Nasheman

India's largest selling Urdu weekly, now also in English

You are here: Home / Archives for Cricket

World T20: Dominant Proteas thrash off-colour Sri Lankans

by

Proteas

New Delhi: South Africa dominated with both bat and ball to outclass defending champions Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the final Group 1 match of the World Twenty20 at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium here on Monday.

Having bowled out the Sri Lankans for a mere 120 runs, the South Africans overhauled the target in 17.4 overs with the veteran Hashim Amla leading the way with a half century.

Amla remained unbeaten on 56 runs off 52 balls with five boundaries and a six.

The result of the match had no bearing on the overall picture of the tournament as both teams had already crashed out of the race for the semi-finals.

The Proteas, who have two wins and as many defeats in the group stage, thus finished their campaign in this edition of the tournament on the high.

The Sri Lankans, on the other hand, will probably heave a sigh of relief as they concluded a disappointing campaign. The defending champions have suffered three defeats with a lone win against minnows Afghanistan.

South African skipper Faf du Plessis elected to field first on winning the toss. His decision proved to be a correct one as the Proteas exploited helpful bowling conditions to bundle out Sri Lanka for a meagre 120 runs.

Farhaan Behardien (2/15), Kyle Abott (2/14) and Aaron Phangiso (2/26) were the pick among the Proteas bowlers while leg-spinner Imran Tahir (1/18) was unlucky not to get more wickets.

Experienced fast bowler Dale Steyn (1/33) surprisingly, gave away quite a few runs, although he did have some consolation in the form of a wicket.

The Sri Lankans were off to a good start with openers Tilakratne Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal scoring at a brisk pace. Dilshan was the highest scorer among the Sri Lankan batsmen with 36 runs off 40 balls. Chandimal scored 21.

The duo added 45 runs before Chandimal went for a cover drive off Phangiso, only to miss the line as the ball crashed into the stumps. Phangiso then sent back Lahiru Thirimanne off the very next delivery with one that turned in sharply after pitching outside the off stump.

Dilshan and Milinda Siriwardana (15) tried to bring the Sri Lankan innings back on track with a 30-run partnership. But South Africa wrested back the advantage when a superb piece of fielding by Faf du Plesis caught Siriwardana short of his crease.

By the time Dilshan was trapped leg-before while attempting a sweep off Behardien, Sri Lanka were in trouble at 85/5. Dasun Shanaka remained unbeaten on 20 off 18 balls, but the rest of the Lankan tailenders were unable to hold their own against the Proteas bowlers.

The Proteas chase was off to a rocky start as de Kock was run out in the second over thanks to an accurate throw by Dilshan. Amla and du Plessis however, steered South Africa to saftey with a 50-run partnership.

The South Africa captain departed after scoring 31 runs off 36 deliveries, but the experienced AB de Villiers joined Amla in the middle to carry his team to victory.

De Villiers, who remained unbeaten on 20, smashed two sixes in his 12-ball knock and brought up the win by smashing a full toss from Suranga Lakmal over the midwicket fence.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka 120 in 19.3 overs (Tilakratne Dilshan 36; Farhaan Behardien 2/15, Kyle Abott 2/14, Aaron Phangiso 2/26) vs South Africa 122/2 in 17.4 overs (Hashim Amla 56 n.o., Faf du Plessis 31; Suranga Lakmal 1/28)

(IANS)

India beat Australia in thriller to enter World T20 semis

by

Virat Kohli

Mohali: Virat Kohli led the way with a sublime half-century as India defeated Australia by six wickets at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here on Sunday to enter the World Twenty20 semi-finals.

The in-form Delhi lad remained unbeaten on 82 runs off 51 balls as the Indians survived a few early setbacks to overhaul a difficult target of 161 with five deliveries to spare.

Sunday’s match, the last in Group 2, was a virtual quarter-final as the winners qualified the semi-finals. India finished their group engagements with three wins in four matches. Australia will go home with two wins and an equal number of defeats.

New Zealand had earlier qualified for the semi-finals from Group 2, while England and West Indies have gone through to the last-four stage from Group 1.

Shane Watson put in a superb all-round effort for Australia, finishing with figures of 2/23 in his four overs. Nathan Coulter-Nile (1/33) and James Faulkner (1/35) bagged a wicket each.

The Indians were off to a shaky start with openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma going back to the dugout without too many runs on the board. Watson snared Suresh Raina with a well-directed short-pitched delivery in the eighth over to leave the hosts in trouble at 49/3.

Kohli and Yuvraj Singh tried to script an Indian comeback, adding 45 runs between them in 38 balls. Yuvraj picked up a niggle in his left leg while attempting to glance a Coulter-Nile delivery to fine leg.

The experienced left-hander was clearly in some discomfort as he was hobbling while running between the wickets. But he battled bravely to post 21 runs off 18 balls with one boundary and a powerfully six off Adam Zampa.

But just as it seemed that Kohli and Yuvraj could take India to a safe position, the latter was undone by an excellent piece of fielding from Watson when he mistimed a slower one from Faulkner.

Yuvraj’s dismissal seemed to prod Kohli into action as he unleashed the big shots. The 27-year-old right-hander hit the hapless Faulkner for two boundaries and a six off successive balls in the 18th over to bring the target within India’s reach.

He then smashed four consecutive boundaries off Coulter-Nile in the next over to virtually wrap up the issue. With four runs needed in the final over, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni dispatched Faulkner’s low full toss to the long-on fence to complete a thrilling win for India.

Earlier, Australia posted a competitive total of 160/6 in their 20 overs.

Opener Aaron Finch was the highest scorer for Australia with 43 runs off 34 deliveries, hitting three boundaries and a couple sixes during his innings. Glenn Maxwell contributed 31 off 28 balls.

For India, all-rounder Hardik Pandya (2/36) copped some initial punishment before bagging a couple of crucial wickets while Yuvraj Singh (1/19), Ashish Nehra (1/20), Ravichandran Ashwin (1/31) and Jasprit Bumrah (1/32) also bagged a wicket each.

The Indians did not help their cause by conceeding as many as 14 extras.

Electing to bat first, Australia were off to an explosive start with openers Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch producing a 54-run partnership in just 26 balls. Bumrah copped a lot of punishment in his first over with Khawaja hitting him for four boundaries.

But Nehra gave India the breakthrough when Khawaja went after an outgoing delivery only to see the ball nick the top edge on the way to Dhoni behind the stumps.

The dangerous David Warner perished when he came down the track to Ashwin. The left-hander could not connect as the ball spun away from him and Dhoni pulled off an easy stumping.

Australia captain Steven Smith lasted for just six balls before Yuvraj had him caught behind with his very first ball. That saw the Australian run rate fall slightly with Finch and Maxwell struggled on a pitch which was offering a fair bit of turn.

Finch was deprived of what would have been a well-deserved half-century when he perished while trying to prop up the run rate. He tried to pull a slightly short-pitched delivery from Pandya into the stands, but did not connect properly as the ball looped up for a fairly simple catch to Shikhar Dhawan at deep midwicket.

Maxwell was looking set for a big score. But he virtually gifted away his wicket to Bumrah when he went for a cross-batted heave only to be out-foxed by a slower delivery.

Peter Nevill and Watson hit a couple of fours and a six off Pandya in the last over to give Australia a strong finish.

(IANS)

West Indies beat South Africa to enter World T20 semis

by

West Indies South Africa

Nagpur: The West Indies produced an all-round performance to outclass South Africa by three wickets in a Group 1 clash at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) stadium here on Friday to enter the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 cricket tournament.

Batting first, South Africa were never in control of the game as they lost wickets at regular intervals to post a meagre total of 122/8 in 20 overs.

In reply, riding on Marlon Samuels’ impressive 44, the West Indies batted sensibly as they chased down the target posting 123/7 in 19.4 overs.

Chasing a tricky target of 123, the West Indies lost hard-hitting opener Chris Gayle (4) in the very first over, thanks to pacer Kagiso Rabada who cleaned him up after the latter was hit for a boundary by the left-handed batsman.

After the loss of the first wicket, Johnson Charles (32) and Andre Fletcher (11) used their experience to good effect to hold on for a couple of overs but the sixth over saw some outstanding fielding followed by an electrifying throw by Rilee Rossouw ended Fletcher’s stay on the crease.

Despite the wicket of Fletcher, Charles played positively alongside incoming batsman Marlon Samuels to take team past 50-run mark.

But South Africa struck twice in quick succession dismissing Charles and Dwayne Bravo (8) to stay alive in the game.

But Samuels used his experience to good effect to take team close to victory line before getting himself out.

Next up, Carlos Brathwaite (10 not out) and Dinesh Ramdin (1 not out) remained unbeaten to take West Indies to triumph.

Imran Tahir (2-13) was the pick of the Proteas’ bowlers.

Earlier put into bat, South Africa got off to a disastrous start losing opener Hashim Amla (1), Faf Du Plessis (9) and Rossouw (0) to have team wobbling at 20/3 in three overs.

From there on, opener Quinton de Kock (47) and AB de Villiers (10) held on to help team go past the powerplay with 39/3 on board.

But next up, the Proteas received their biggest blow when de Villiers, trying to flick through midwicket, was cleaned up by a slower ball from Bravo in the eighth over.

The batting side failed to learn from the earlier mistakes on a wicket which looked tough for batting as part-time off-spinner Gayle, who had dismissed Rossouw, struck yet again in the ninth over to shatter David Miller’s stumps and have South Africa in a spot of bother at 47/5.

Incoming batsman David Wiese (28) and De Kock took their time in the middle without trying anything silly to help team go past 90-run mark in 15 overs.

But as De Kock was chipping in with ones and twos to get close to his second T20I fifty, Russell came in to get rid of the left-handed batsman to have the former three runs short off half-century.

With wickets falling at regular intervals, life became difficult for the Proteas batsmen to post a respectable total as tail-enders Chris Morris (16 not out) and Aaron Phangiso (4) helped team reach 122/8.

Chris Gayle (2-17), Dwayne Bravo (2-20) and Andre Russell (2-28) were the pick of the bowlers for the West Indies.

Brief scores: South Africa 122/8 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 47; Chris Gayle 2-17, Dwayne Bravo 2-20, Andre Russell 2-28) vs West Indies 123/7 in 19.4 overs (Marlon Samuels 44; Imran Tahir 2-13)

(IANS)

Australia win by 21 runs to throw Pakistan out of WT20

by

Pak-Australia

Mohali: Australia beat Pakistan by 21 runs in a World Twenty20 Super 10 stage match in Mohali on Friday to stay on course for the semi-finals and eliminate their opponents from the tournament.

Australia captain Steven Smith hit an unbeaten 63 off 43 balls to steer his side to 193-4, before James Faulkner took five wickets, including two off consecutive deliveries in the final over, to help his team seal the win.

For Pakistan, Khalid Latif made 46 off 41 balls while Shoaib Malik remained unbeaten on a 20-ball 40. Umar Akmal 32 and Sharjeel Khan 30 also contributed to the team total. Skipper Shahid Afridi however could only manage to score 14 off 7 balls in most likely his last cricket match for Pakistan.

Earlier, Australian skipper Steven Smith played a captain’s innings on Friday, contributing an unbeaten half-century to set Pakistan a formidable 194-run target in the crucial World Twenty20 Super 10 stage match.

Smith, who won the toss and opted to bat on a green-tinged pitch at Mohali, struck an unbeaten 61 off 43 balls after Australia lost three wickets in quick succession.

Fit-again paceman Wahab Riaz did the initial damage, bowling in-form Usman Khawaja for 21 and castling David Warner on nine.

Aaron Finch, brought in at the top of the order for his first game of the tournament, went next, bowled by left-arm spinner Imad Wasim for 15 to leave Australia struggling on 57-3.Smith, however, steadied the ship aided first by Glenn Maxwell (30 off 24 deliveries) and then by the big-hitting Shane Watson.

Watson struck four fours and three sixes to race to an unbeaten 44 off 21 deliveries as Australia took 66 runs off the last five overs.

Imad Wasim picked up 2 wickets for 31 runs, while paceman Wahab Riaz, who replaced Mohammad Irfan for the game, took 2 for 35.

Australia, bidding for a first World Twenty20 title, made two changes to the team that beat Bangladesh in their last match, bringing in the big-hitting Aaron Finch in place of Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood for John Hastings.

Australia were fourth in Group Two behind New Zealand, who are already through to the semi-finals, with Pakistan and India.

Pakistan, who lost to India and New Zealand but also beat Bangladesh, needed a victory to keep their hopes of making it to the semi-finals alive.

Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi made one change to the team that lost to New Zealand with paceman Mohammad Irfan, who conceded 46 runs in his allotted four overs, being replaced by Wahab Riaz.

(Geo)

World T20: Dhoni’s last ball sprint helps India beat Bangladesh by one run

by

indian-cricket-team

Bengaluru: India beat Bangladesh by one run in the group stage Super 10 World Twenty20 match at Chinnaswamy Stadium here in a humdinger of a contest on Wednesday.

Replying to India’s 146/7 in 20 overs, Bangladesh managed to hit 145/9 in the same number of overs.

The final over of the match witnessed some heart stopping moments where India, facing a defeat, snatched a victory with the help of two superb catches by Shikhar Dhawan and Ravindra Jadeja on Hardik Pandya’s deliveries and Captain Dhoni’s last ball sprint to run out Mustafizur Rahman with the batsmen centimetres away from the crease.

Requiring 11 runs of six balls in the last over, Bangladesh hit a single, two fours and lost three wickets to finally lose by a run.

Chasing a target of 146 runs, Tamim Iqbal top scored with 35 runs of 32 balls hitting five fours for Bangladesh. Sabbir Rahman (26), Shakib Al Hasan (22), Mahmudullah (18), Soumya Sarkar (21) and Mushfiqur Rahim (11) also chipped in with the bat.

India’s Ravichandran Ashwin produced a splendid bowling of 2/20 in four overs with an economy rate of just five runs. He was adjudged the player of the match.

Almost emulating Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja also produced a bowling performance of 2/22 in four overs.

Winning the toss, Bangladesh captain Masrafe Bin Mortaza put India to bat first. Interestingly, all toss winning captains at Bengaluru have chosen to field first.

India started off slowly with only two fours in the first three overs. Many times the ball went straight into fielders hands and India India were 27/0 in the first five overs.

Both the openers, Rohit Sharma and Shikar Dhawan hit a six each to satiate the spectators’ hunger for big hits even as they roared “We want six”.

Suresh Raina top scored for India with 30 runs in 23 balls, including two sixes and a four.

Virat Kohli (24), Dhawan (23), Sharma (18), Hardik Pandya (15), M.S. Dhoni (13) and Ravindra Jadeja contributed their bit to build a decent total for India.

Though Al-Amin Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman took two wickets each, both proved expensive for Bangladesh by letting 37 and 34 runs each in their quota of four overs.

Bowling only one over, Mahmudullah claimed a wicket allowing just four runs.

With the latest victory, India climbed to the second spot in Group two with four points and a net run rate of -0.546 while Bangladesh continued to stay at the bottom with zero points.

Brief Scores: India 146/7 in 20 overs (Suresh Raina 30, Virat Kohli 24; Al-Amin Hossain 2/37, Mustafizur Rahman 2/34) beat Bangladesh 145/9 in 20 overs (Tamim Iqbal 35, Sabbir Rahman 26; Ravichandran Ashwin 2/20, Ravindra Jadeja 2/22).

(IANS)

New Zealand beat Pakistan to enter World T20 semis

by

New Zealand Pakistan

Mohali: New Zealand beat Pakistan by 22 runs here on Tuesday to qualify for the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 cricket tournament.

Electing to bat first, New Zealand rode on Martin Guptill’s 48-ball 80 to post 180 for five wickets before restricting Pakistan to 158 for five in their 20 overs.

The win saw New Zealand move to the top of the Group B table with three wins from as many matches while Pakistan’s chances of advancing further dimmed after two straight losses.

Left-hander Sharjeel Khan (47) gave Pakistan a strong start in their reply to reach 76/1 in seven overs.

Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson introduced Ish Sodhi to produce the match’s defining phase.

The leg-spinner removed the dangerous looking Shahid Afridi and conceded only 25 runs from his four overs. He also created enough pressure for Mitchell Santner to pick up two wickets and strangle Pakistan to a 22-run defeat.

Pakistan needed 52 in 24 balls with six wickets in hand. But Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik could hardly find the gaps, as Pakistan failed to hit a boundary in its last 31 balls and finished on 158 for five.

With its third consecutive win, New Zealand became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals.

Earlier, Martin Guptill led the way with some power-packed batting as New Zealand posted a challenging total of 180/5 in their World Twenty20 Group 2 match against Pakistan at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here on Tuesday.

Guptill smashed 80 runs off 48 balls with 10 boundaries and three sixes. Ross Taylor, who remained on 36 off 23 deliveries and Corey Anderson (21) played useful knocks in the later stages of the innings.

Pacer Mohammad Sami (2/23) was the best performer among the Pakistan bowlers, although he did take some punishment from Guptill in his first spell. Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi (2/40) also bagged a couple of wickets.

This is New Zealand’s third match of the tournament. The Kiwis have made themselves near certain candidates for advancing to the semi-finals by winning both their previous matches, against hosts India and Australia. Another victory on Tuesday will see them through to the last-four stage as the top team in the group.

Electing to bat on winning the toss, New Zealand were off to a superb start with openers Guptill and Kane Williamson going great guns.

Guptill was the more aggressive of the two, handing out some rough treatment to the Pakistan bowlers while Williamson gave him steady support from the other end as the duo put together an opening partnership of 62 runs by the eighth over.

Irfan struck the first blow for Pakistan when he outfoxed Williamson with a slower one. The Kiwi right-hander mistimed his attempted drive as Shahid Afridi pulled off an easy catch at cover.

Incoming batsman Colin Munro did not last long as Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi struck in his very first over after coming on to bowl. Attempting a switch hit of a delivery which was pitched on the middle stump, the left-handed Munro hit the ball straight to Sharjeel Khan at sweeper cover.

But that did not affect the New Zealand run rate too much as Guptill and Corey Anderson continued to score at a brisk pace. The duo added 52 runs between them before Guptill tapped the ball onto his stumps while trying to dab an incoming delivery from Sami to third man.

Anderson also went back to the pavilion in the very next over as he mistimed a googly from Afridi. But Taylor ensured that the Kiwis finished their innings on a strong note.

Brief scores:

New Zealand 180/5 in 20 overs (Martin Guptill 80, Ross Taylor 36 n.o.; Mohammad Sami 2-23, Shahid Afridi 2-40); Pakistan (Sharjeel Khan 47, Ahmed Shehzad 30, Mitchell Santner 2/29, Adam Milne 2/26)

(IANS)

World T20: Australia beats Bangladesh by 3 wickets

by

Australia-Bangladesh

Bengaluru: Australia beat Bangladesh in the third match of the World Twenty20’s Super 10 stage on Monday at the Chinnaswami Stadium, chasing down a 157 run target with three wickets and nine balls to spare.

Opening the chase for Australia, Usman Khwaja played a phenomenal innings of 58 runs off 45 balls with seven fours and a sixer.

Though Australia only lost its first wicket until the eight over, wickets started falling regularly after the 11th over.

Glenn Maxwell however chipped in with 26 runs in 15 balls with two four and two sixes, while other batsmens who helped the team sail through safely included Shane Watson (21), David Warner (17) and Steve Smith (14).

Shakib Al Hassan emerged the most successful bowler for Bangladesh claiming 3/27 in four overs while Mustafizur Rahman clocked 2/30.

Winning the toss, Australian captain Steve Smith chose to field but failed to contain Bangladesh to a low total.

Mahmudullah top scored with a quickfire 49 runs off 29 balls smashing seven fours and a six.

Autralia’s Adam Zampa claimed three wickets in four overs conceding 23 runs and was declared the player of the match for his bowling effort.

With two points, Australia reached the third position in Group 2 while Bangladesh touched the bottom with the loss.

Brief Scores:

Australia 157/7 in 18.3 overs (Usman Khwaja 58, Glenn Maxwell 26; Shakib Al Hasan 3/27, Mustafizur Rahman 2/30) beat Bangladesh 156/5 in 20 overs (Mahmudullah 49, Shakib Al Hasan 33; Adam Zampa 3/23, Shane Watson 2/31).

(IANS)

West Indies beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets

by

West Indies

Bengaluru: West Indies beat Sri Lanka in the second match of the Super 10 stage of World Twenty20 here on Sunday at Chinnaswamy Stadium, chasing down the 123 run target with nearly two overs left and seven wickets in hand.

After restricting Sri Lanka to 122/9, the Caribbean team easily reached the target in the 19th over, led by Andre Fletcher’s 84 off 64 balls with five sixes and six fours.

West Indies hit 127 runs for the loss of three wickets in 18.2 overs.

Except for a little while in the middle overs, the West Indies never found the going tough. Though Johnson Charles (10), Marlon Samuels (3), and Dinesh Ramdin (5) were lost cheaply, Andre Russell saw his team home to end with style, hitting 20 runs off eight balls.

Fletcher was declared man of the match.

Winning the toss, West Indies captain Darren Sammy chose to field and his bowlers managed to contain the Sri Lankans from going for big shots with spinner Samuel Badree recording figures of 3/12.

Thisara Perera was top scorer with 40 runs off 29 balls, while Dinesh Chandimal (16), Angelo Matthews (20) and Dilshan (12) were the only other ones who managed to get into double figures.

Brief Scores: West Indies 127/3 in 18.2 overs (Andre Fletcher 84, Andre Russell 20, Milinda Siriwardana 2/33, Jeffrey Vandersay 1/11) beat Sri Lanka 122/9 in 20 overs (Thisara Perera 40, Angelo Matthew 20, Samuel Badree 3/12, Dwayne Bravo 2/20).

(IANS)

World T20: Root hits 83 as England stun South Africa

by

Joe Root

Mumbai: Star batsman Joe Root smashed a match-winning 83 as a spirited England side chased down South Africa’s massive total of 229 to win a nail-biting contest by two wickets in the Group 1 clash in the World Twenty20 cricket tournament at the Wankhede Stadium here on Friday.

Batting first, the Proteas posted a commendable 229/4 in 20 overs, thanks to half-centuries each from Hashim Amla, Jean-Paul Duminy and Quinton de Kock.

In reply, England opener Jason Roy struck a quickfire 43 off 16 which was followed by Root’s 83 off 44 that helped team chase down the total as they posted 230/8 in 19.4 overs.

Chasing a massive target of 230, openers Roy and Alex Hales (17 off 7) got England off to a flying start scoring 44 runs in just two overs.

The run feast ended as Sean Abbott got the much needed breakthrough by getting rid of Hales in the third over.

This didn’t stop Roy from playing his shots as the right-handed batsman took on the bowling striking five fours and three sixes before giving his wicket away in the fifth over leaving his team at 71/2.

All-rounder Ben Stokes (15) who was promoted up the batting order, didn’t trouble the opposition much as he along with skipper Eoin Morgan (12) returned back to the pavilion in space of four overs to have England in a bit of trouble at 111/4 in tenth over.

From there, on Root did not allow the required run-rate to climb high as he kept on finding boundaries at regular intervals to bring up his half-century in 29 balls and take team past 150-run mark.

Jos Buttler (21) who was giving good support to Root was also dismissed to end the duo’s 75-run partnership for fifth wicket.

Root held on playing sensibly to take team past 200-run mark before giving away his wicket in 19th over.

Moeen Ali (12 not out) and Adil Rashid (0 not out) to take team past victory line.

Kyle Abbott (3-41) and Kagiso Rabada (2-50) were the pick of the South African bowlers.

Earlier on put into bat, openers Amla (58 off 31) and De Kock (52 off 24) got the Proteas off to a rollicking start, scoring 83 runs in the powerplay.

Playing a flurry of shots all round the ground, the left-handed De Kock brought up his half-century in just 21 balls striking seven boundaries and three sixes.

But just when he was looking good to take the game away from the opposition, off-spinner Ali struck in the eighth over to send him packing. Amla-De Kock added 96 runs for the first wicket.

Incoming batsman A.B. de Villiers (16) failed to make a big impact this time around as he got went out cheaply to have the Proteas reduced to 114/2 in ninth over.

The right-handed Amla after being dropped by Reece Topley when he was batting at nine off the bowling off Ali, proved to be a bit costly for the Englishmen as he went on to score his fourth T20I fifty off just 25 balls. He struck seven boundaries and three sixes.

Amla and skipper Faf du Plessis (17) were then dismissed in space of four overs but ensured team went past the 150-run mark.

Next up, Duminy (54) and David Miller (28) helped team post a goo total.

Ali (2-34) was the pick of the England bowlers.

Brief scores: South Africa 229/4 in 20 overs (Hashim Amla 58, Jean-Paul Duminy 54 not out, Quinton de Kock 52; Moeen Ali 2-34) vs England 230/8 in 19.4 overs (Joe Root 83, Jason Roy 43; Kyle Abbott 3-41, Kagiso Rabada 2-50)

(IANS)

New Zealand beat Australia to win second straight World T20 match

by

New Zealand

Dharamsala: New Zealand won their second consecutive match of the World Twenty20 after beating Australia by eight runs in a group phase clash here on Friday.

New Zealand sored 142/8 after winning the toss and taking first strike and then restricted their opponents to 134/9 at the HPCA Stadium. The Kiwis beat hosts India in their opening game by 47 runs.

Fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan was the star of their neat bowling performance, taking 3/17 and derailed Australia’s innings.

New Zealand picked up wickets regularly to restrict Australia from gaining enough momentum.

They needed 19 runs from the last over, bowled by Corey Anderson and then 12 from the last three balls but came up short.

Earlier, Australia recovered from a Martin Guptill (39) blitz to restrict New Zealand to 142/8.

Guptill belted 39 runs as the Kiwis powered to 58 in six overs.

But a collapse, losing three wickets for 15 runs, jolted their charge.

Guptill, skipper Kane Williamson (24) and Corey Anderson (3) all were caught in the deep while attempting big shots.

Glenn Maxwell (2/18) claimed two wickets in the slump. All-rounder James Faulkner also contributed with identical bowling figures.

The wickets kept tumbling, including two run-outs in the final over, as New Zealand’s run-rate continued to drop.

Colin Munro steadied in his own style, switch-hitting throughout a knock of 23.

But Munro also handed over his wicket meekly.

Veteran batsman Ross Taylor managed only 11.

Brief scores: New Zealand 142/8 (Martin Guptill 39, Glenn Maxwell 2/18);

Australia 134/9 (Usman Khawaja 38, Mitchell McClenaghan 3/17)

(IANS)

KNOW US

GET INVOLVED

PROMOTE

Archives