The Australia batter was at her brilliant best as she hit 17 boundaries and two sixes on the way to a superb 133 from just 115 balls against India
Dinesh Karthik probably played the knock of his life scoring 29 off just eight balls including a six over the cover on the last ball to help India pull off sensational four-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the Nidahas Twenty20 Tri-Series final in Colombo.Soumya Sarkar got rid of Vijay Shankar (17). India 162/6, need five to winDinesh Karthik scored 22 off Rubel's over. India 155/5, need 12 in the final overDinesh Karthik scored 14 off his first three balls to keep India alive. India 149/5, need 18 off nine ballsMustafizur Rahman scalped Manish Pandey (28) and also gave away just one run (that too a leg bye) in the over. India 133/5, need 34 off 12 ballsManish Pandey 25* and Vijay Shankar 6* took India to 123/4. Target - 167India 115/4, need 52 more to win in 30 ballsNazmul Islam got the big wicket, Rohit Sharma gone for 56. India 98/4Big wicket for Bangladesh. And big setback for India as they lost their skipper at the wrong time. Rohit scored 56 off 42 balls which included three sixes and four boundaries.No. 14 for Rohit Sharma off 35 balls. India 87/3 - Target 167Rubel Hossain dismissed KL Rahul (24). India 83/3Rahul hit a six and two fours for his 14-ball 24 and added 51 runs for the third wicket with Rohit SharmaRohit Sharma 45* and KL Rahul 17* took India to 72/2. Target 167comes up for India in chase of 167Suresh Raina fell for a duck. India 32/2 in chase of 167Shakib Al Hasan dismissed Shikhar Dhawan (10). India 32/1 in chase of 167Good start for India as Rohit Sharma (21*) took the score to 24/0Shardul Thakur conceded 18 in the last over as Bangladesh posted 166/8 against IndiaSabbir Rahman's quick fifty helped Bangladesh score 166/8 against India in the final of the Nidahas Trophy at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday. Rahman, who scored 77 off 50 balls, made sure that the fall of regular wickets did not hamper Bangladesh from posting a challenging total.Jaydev Unadkat clean bowled Rubel Hossain for 0. Bangladesh 148/8Jaydev Unadkat clean bowled Sabbir Rahman for 77 (50 balls). Bangladesh 147/7India lost another review, this time too for LBW against Sabbir Rahman. Bangladesh 147/6India's review for LBW against Sabbir Rahman unsuccessful. Bangladesh 136/6Another run out. This time Shakib Al Hasan fell for 7. Bangladesh 133/6No. 4 for Sabbir Rahman off 37 balls. Bangladesh 118/5Mahmudullah run out for 21 after a mix-up with Sabbir Rahman. Bangladesh 104/5Sabbir Rahman (33) and Mahmudullah (16) took Bangladesh to 90/4Third wicket for Yuzvendra Chahal, got rid of Mushfiqur Rahim (9). Bangladesh 68/4Sabbir Rahman 28* and Mushfiqur Rahim 9* took Bangladesh to 68/3Sabbir Rahman smacked Vijay Shankar for a six and a four in consecutive balls and scored 14 runs in the over. Bangladesh 59/3Yuzvendra Chahal struck again in the same over, scalped Soumya Sarkar for 1. Bangladesh 33/3Shardul Thakur took a superb catch at long-on boundary. Yuzvendra Chahal struck in his second ball, dismissed Tamim Iqbal (15). Bangladesh 27/2Washington Sundar gave India an early breakthrough, Liton Das gone for 11. Bangladesh 27/1Jaydev Unadkat gave away 13 runs in his second over. Bangladesh 26/0Liton Das smacked Jaydev Unadkat over sweeper cover for first maximum of the match. Bangladesh 22/0Tidy start by Washington Sundar, gave away just four runs. Bangladesh 13/0Tamim Iqbal flicked the last ball for a four. Bangladesh 9/0Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das started the Bangladesh innings. Jaydev Unadkat with the ball for IndiaOne change for India - Jaydev Unadkat replaced Mohammed Siraj. Bangladesh unchangedRohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik (w), Lokesh Rahul, Manish Pandey, Vijay Shankar, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Yuzvendra ChahalTamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim (w), Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mehidy Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Nazmul Islam"This is a super hard wicket. It looks a beautiful wicket. The new ball will fly through. The game goes on, it will a bit of spin. The slower bouncer, the knuckle ball might come into play late in the game. 180-190 should be a good score." -- Brett Lee
The two teams are in the top three on the Super Sixes table, and know that the outcome of this game could have a big impact on their immediate future.
Overview
Zimbabwe v Windies
Harare Sports Club, Harare
CWCQ Super Sixes Match 5
Monday 19 March; 09:30 local, 7:30 GMT
On six occasions in the past, starting all the way back in 1983 and stopping over in 1992, 1996, 2007 and 2015, these two teams have faced off in the ICC Cricket World Cup itself. For the 2019 edition, though, they have had to go through the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018, and done well to stay in contention for those two prized slots.
Jason Holder's 3/39 against Afghanistan at CWCQ
As things stand, with all teams having played the same number of games, Zimbabwe are No.1 on the Super Sixes table with five points, the same as Scotland, while Windies are at No.3 with four points after the reversal against Afghanistan.
The game between Zimbabwe, the hosts, and Windies, the two-time world champions, therefore becomes a big one, perhaps the biggest of the competition so far simply because they have the most international experienced among the 10 participating teams, Windies much more than Zimbabwe. And when they go out at Harare Sports Club on Monday 19 March, there will be two teams that feel they have a right to be in the United Kingdom in the summer of 2019.
Brendan Taylor has scored 304 runs so far
Windies had an all-conquering run in Group A, and started the Super Sixes with the maximum possible four points in the bag. Then came the hiccup. Afghanistan, more down and up in Group B, had their spinners running rings around the Windies batsmen to restrict them to 197/8. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan and Sharafuddin Ashraf picked up seven wickets between them. Afghanistan’s chase wasn’t a straightforward affair, and the Windies bowlers sent seven of the batsmen back keeping the innings going till the 48th over before the job was done.
It ended in favour of Afghanistan, and that has set Windies back a bit. But the four points they had to start with has meant that they are still very much in the race, and in a good position too.
For Windies, the problem is when their big hitters don’t fire. Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis at the top, and Rovman Powell later, are the men with the powerful shots. There are enough batsmen to keep the innings steady, with the likes of Marlon Samuels, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope and Jason Holder all capable of consolidation and brick-laying. But, on evidence, if Gayle or Lewis don’t fire at the top, the team is set back.
Chris Gayle hasn't made a big score since the 123 against UAE
Holder, in fact, has led by example through the tournament, and is Windies’ highest run-getter as well as highest wicket-taker, with 201 and 10 respectively. Apart from him, Kemar Roach has been effective with the ball, and Keemo Paul was impressive in his first outing, against Afghanisan, keeping things tight and picking up a couple of wickets.
Zimbabwe’s story, meanwhile, is not too different from that of Windies. Like Holder, Sikandar Raza has been the talisman for them, aggregating 263 runs and picking up 11 wickets at an economy rate of 3.75 from five games. Brendan Taylor has been the other batting stalwart. He has looked hungry for one more splash at the World Cup, scoring 304 runs and partnering Raza in most things good about Zimbabwe so far.
Tendai Chisoro has had an impact for Zimbabwe
Beyond them, though, it has been a mediocre run for Zimbabwe batting-wise. Cephas Zhuwao has started with a bang most times but not been able to carry on, while Hamilton Masakadza and Craig Ervine have only played one good innings apiece. Sean Williams, the other big name in the batting department, hasn’t quite come to the party yet either.
The good things from Zimbabwe’s point of view is that Raza has had a lot of support with the ball – Graeme Cremer, the captain, has been among the most miserly in the tournament, while Tendai Chisoro has made a mark too. Among the pacers, Brian Vitori’s suspension did come as a big blow to the team, and while Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani and Kyle Jarvis have done their best, they have been a bit below par.
It needs to come together for Zimbabwe in perhaps their toughest test in the competition, which is also the case for Windies. If all guns blaze, it should make for a cracking contest.
Sikandar Raza's 69* v Ireland in the CWCQ Super Six
Key players
Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe): He has been the standout star of the tournament, and while it’s difficult to pick his best performance, the innings in the last game against Ireland deserves mention simply because it underscored Raza’s determination and drive to get to the World Cup. The total was 87/5 when he walked in, and became 139/7 not long after, but Raza packed away all his big shots and ensured that he batted till the end of the 50 overs. Chisoro was a willing ally, and Raza did the job, ending on an unbeaten 69, opening up towards the end to hit two sixes off Barry McCarthy in the final over. If he keeps doing the job with bat and ball, Zimbabwe will stand in good stead.
Chris Gayle (Windies): When he scored 123 in 91 balls in his first match of the tournament, it seemed like Gayle was in the mood and keep up the good run. It hasn’t quite been the case, and the 46 against the Netherlands has been his only other contribution of substance. It’s time now for him to live up to his reputation. Windies are still in the race, but another defeat might put them out of it, and it’s the perfect stage for the big man to deliver.
Keemo Paul (L) was impressive in the game against Afghanistan
Conditions
Big totals have been at a premium, but Zimbabwe and Windies are both capable of turning it on and entertaining the crowd despite the wear-and-tear on the pitch. The weather should be nice come match day, with the temperature in the mid-20s and some clouds hovering about.
Squads
Zimbabwe: Graeme Cremer (c), Tendai Chatara, Tendai Chisoro, Craig Ervine, Kyle Jarvis, Hamilton Masakadza, Solomon Mire, Peter Moor, Blessing Muzarabani, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor (wk), Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams, Cephas Zhuwao
Windies: Jason Holder (c), Jason Mohammed, Devendra Bishoo, Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (wk), Evin Lewis, Nikita Miller, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Kesrick Williams
There was a lot to encourage Nepal, who won a couple of good games and proved that they are a team on the ascendance.
Overall grade: C
Results summary
Group stage
Lost to Zimbabwe by 116 runs
Lost to Scotland by 4 wickets
Lost to Afghanistan by 6 wickets
Beat Hong Kong by 5 wickets
Play-off
Beat Papua New Guinea by 6 wickets
7th/8th place play-off
Lost to the Netherlands by 45 runs
Nepal beat PNG by 6 wickets in CWCQ play-off to gain ODI status
Positives to take home
If there has been a team that made a statement and benefitted immensely from the tournament despite being on the losing side most of the time, it has been Nepal. Their qualification for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 was dramatic, and they went one better by the end of the qualifiers by achieving one-day international status through to 2022.
Three consecutive defeats in the group stage ended their chances of qualification for the Super Sixes, but a win over Hong Kong in the last Group B game and then victory over Papua New Guinea gave their campaign the desired result even though they signed off with a loss against the Netherlands.
The biggest positive for Nepal was the growth of their talented leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane. The 17 year old picked up 13 wickets and played a crucial role in both of Nepal's victories. His 3/17 against Hong Kong helped set up a 154-run target, and the 4/29 against PNG skittled the opposition for 114.
Paras Khadka led the way with the bat, scoring two half-centuries and aggregating 231 runs
Areas to improve
Lamichhane aside, the bowling didn’t look up to the task on many occasions, while Paras Khadka shored up the batting almost single-handedly much like Lamichhane did the bowling.
Against Zimbabwe in the tournament opener, Nepal conceded 380 runs in return for six wickets and slipped to a heavy 116-run defeat. And once the batsmen failed to put up big totals against Scotland and Afghanistan, the runs were knocked off without the bowlers failing to put up a resistance.
The inability to plug the flow of runs and get early breakthroughs are concerns, as is the fact that after Khadka, who tallied 231 runs, and the occasional spark from Dipendra Airee, there weren’t too many efforts of note with the bat.
Sandeep Lamichhane did his growing reputation no harm
Rising star
Lamichhane was expected to be one of the talking points of the tournament and he delivered, topping the Nepal charts with the ball – 13 wickets from six games with an economy rate of 4.10. Lamichhane is just 17 and has received praise wherever he has played so far, and on the biggest stage Nepal have been in, he went shoulder to shoulder with his experienced captain Khadka to keep Nepal in the running. Good signs from a very skilful young cricketer.
