Krunal Pandya tests positive for Covid-19, 2nd T20I postponed | SL vs IND 2nd T20I postponed after Krunal Pandya tests positive to COVID-19
The 2nd T20I between India and Sri Lanka, originally scheduled to take place on the 27th July, is now postponed to 28th on account of Indian player Krunal Pandya testing positive for Covid-19. The all-rounder tested positive for the virus in a rapid antigen test conducted by the medical team on Tuesday morning.
India was leading the T20I series after winning the 1st game at Colombo on Sunday. 30-year old Krunal played a key role in India’s defense of 164 by picking the 1st wicket to put the breaks on the Lankan team. The rest of the spinners and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4/22) ensured the hosts were bowled out for 126.
It is uncertain on where he could have caught the infection but it was understood that Krunal complained of a sore throat on Tuesday morning. This prompted the Indian medical team to ask the all-rounder to take Rapid Antigen Test, followed by universally recognized RT-PCR Tests. Both turned out positive.
Eight other members of the Indian team have been identified as close contacts to Krunal Pandya. They all are in isolation since then and the entire contingent of touring Indian team will undergo RT-PCR tests on Tuesday.
BCCI in their media release confirmed this news. It stated “The second T20I between Sri Lanka and India originally scheduled to be played on July 27 has been pushed forward by a day and will now take place on Wednesday, July 28,”
“Following the Rapid Antigen Tests conducted ahead of the match on Tuesday morning, Team India all-rounder Krunal Pandya was found to be positive. The Medical Teams have identified eight members as close contacts,” the release added.
“The entire contingent is undergoing RT-PCR tests today to ascertain any further outbreak in the squad.”
However, the good news is that no Sri Lankan team member has tested positive and they are scheduled to undergo RT-PCR tests on Wednesday.
With this news of postponement, the 2nd and 3rd T20I of India vs Sri Lankaseries will happen on back-to-back days, i.e., on 28th and 29th July. This also means the Indian will have to stay in Sri Lanka a little longer than their stipulated schedule. They were supposed to leave on Thursday.
We also have wait and watch if this has any impact on Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav’s departure to England. The duo was supposed to leave for UK after the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka to join the Indian Test team as injury replacements.
Kieron Pollard slams pitches as “unacceptable” | Kieron Pollard has labelled the pitches in the Australia ODIs at unacceptable & ridiculous
West Indies captain Kieron Pollard took aim at the pitches, labelling them as “absolutely ridiculous” and “unacceptable for international cricket” in the wake of his side’s 2-1 ODI series defeat to Australia.
The Windies failed to reach 200 in the series, capitulating in both the first and third ODIs to hand Australia their third-straight ODI series win. While Pollard recognised that his team weren’t up to the mark, he pointed to the fact that both sides found it difficult to bat on such pitches.
At the presentation, Pollard minced no words when giving his views on the Barbados surfaces. “Coming here to Barbados, I think both teams struggled on the pitch and I think that’s unacceptable for international cricket,” Pollard said.
“We’re not going to make excuses. We accept that we batted badly but I don’t think the scores that we have gotten in this three-match series, for two top international teams, I think that’s very embarrassing for us as a people. Coming from St Lucia to this, I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Pollard then went on to advocate for his teammates, as well as better pitches in domestic cricket. He emphasised that if people want to see West Indies perform well, then the conditions should suit.
“It was plain for the world to see. If I continue going on about it, it’s going to be headlines, ‘Pollard this, Pollard that.’ That’s fine with me. But the reality is, we as players sometimes we get the brunt of the accusations and all the bad stuff. But give guys the opportunity to come and play on some good cricketing wickets.
“It goes back even to our regional cricket as well,” Pollard said. “I think as a whole we need to do better, and we as individuals need to do better as well. So we’re not going to cast blame. We’re going to accept responsibility as well. But I think as a holistic approach and holistic view to move forward.”‘
With 252/9 in the first ODI, Australia produced the only instance of a 200+ score in the series. Ashton Agar, player of the match in the third ODI, enjoyed bowling in such conditions. Contrary to Pollard, Agar hopes to see more such surfaces in the future.
At the presentation, Agar said, “It’s pretty favorable conditions for a spinner. You just had to get your length right. As long as you were hitting the stumps for the right-hander and pitching the ball to a left-hander, where it’s spinning in and hitting the stumps to bring all modes of dismissal into play, that’s all you can do and you let the pitch go to work.
“Really difficult conditions, really interesting style of cricket that was played. You don’t get many pitches like that and I hope we end up seeing a lot more like that in the future,” Agar continued.
Australia will now travel to Bangladesh for a five-match T20I series, after the tour was originally in doubt. West Indies will soon engage in a four-match T20I series against Pakistan, where Pollard will certainly be hoping for better surfaces.
SL vs IND 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 PitchReport | SL vs IND 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Sri Lanka vs India 2nd T20I Key Players | Colombo Pitch Report
In significant news on Tuesday, the second T20I was pushed back a day as Krunal Pandya tested positive to COVID-19. According to Express Sports, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Prithvi Shaw, Deepak Chahar, K Gowtham, Ishan Kishan and Yuzvendra Chahal were in close contact with Krunal. So, India will have an even newer looking team, with their batting lineup decimated.
Heading into India’s tour of Sri Lanka, the general consensus was that India, even with their first-team players in England, were expected to be way too good for their struggling rivals.
While India have won the majority of matches in this tour, Sri Lanka have shown positive signs since the first ODI thumping. After winning the third ODI, they were right in the first T20I, limiting India to 164/5 thanks to impressive death bowling. However, they lost too many wickets too regularly after a promising start.
Plus, only Minod Bhanuka (10 off 7) and Charith Asalanka (44 off 26) finished with a strike rate above 120, so the onus will be on the likes of Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga to produce more with the bat in the middle order.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Sri Lanka:
Charith Asalanka continues to be a bright spot for Sri Lanka. Before the first T20I, Asalanka had a T20 strike rate of 127.39 (avg. 23), but he came out firing with 44 off just 26 balls. This was after a promising ODI series where he provided good resistance (38, 65, 24).
Avishka Fernando will be key to Sri Lanka’s hopes. He was looking good to score more than his eventual 26 off 23 balls in the first T20I, and will be required to produce more in this T20I.
Dhananjaya de Silva, as one of Sri Lanka’s experienced players, has a key role to play. He hasn’t been able to impact matches yet in India’s tour yet, as he has been dismissed time and time again by slower bowling (slower balls/spin). He has a T20I fifty vs India (three innings) and the most runs of any current SL player on this ground (6 inns, 164 runs, avg. 27.33, SR 107.89).
Wanindu Hasaranga is very difficult to handle in such conditions. He took eight wickets in three T20Is in West Indies earlier this year, and with Colombo assisting spin, he was impressive in his spell of 2/28 in the first T20I. Sri Lanka will be hoping he can produce with the bat, too.
Dushmantha Chameera is enjoying a solid year in T20s, with 12 scalps in seven matches at an economy rate of 6.60. This includes figures of 4/17 and 2/24 in his last two T20Is (vs England and India).
India:
Another 40+ score awaiting skipper Shikhar Dhawan? He has a key role to play now that a number of players are out in isolation. He was looking pretty comfortable in the first T20I (46 off 36 balls), and averages above 40 vs Sri Lanka (335 runs, avg. 41.87, SR 135.62) and at this ground (6 inns, 244 runs, avg. 40.66, SR 141.86).
Devdutt Padikkal is set to play and he has been a shining light for RCB since his IPL debut in 2020. He has scored 668 IPL runs with six 50+ scores in 21 matches. Key player.
Ruturaj Gaikwad is all set to make his debut too as Shaw is in isolation. Gaikwad finished the first half of IPL 2021 in terrific form (65, 33, 75 and 4 in his last four matches). He will be keen to make a strong impact.
There is no better time for Sanju Samson to lead the way than now. The talented right-hander continues to make starts, but India will be hoping he can make a big score today in the likely absence of a number of stars.
Rahul Chahar is about to get an opportunity to further impress. He has taken 24 wickets in 15 T20 matches this year, including 11 wickets in seven matches in IPL 2021.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be key in the absence of Deepak Chahar. He will look to bowl their slower balls on a slow pitch after he took 4/22 in the first T20I.
Stats and Facts
India have won 11 of their last 12 completed T20Is vs Sri Lanka.
Dasun Shanaka has a bowling strike rate of just 15.33 against India (six wickets).
Akila Dananjaya knows this ground well (18 T20s of experience). However, he struggles in T20Is vs India: 7 inns, 2 wickets, avg. 115.00, econ. 8.62.
Sri Lanka last won a bilaterial T20I series vs Pakistan in 2019. They have lost five in a row since, and will be looking to avoid six here.
Possible Playing 11
Bhanuka Rajapaksa could come in for Ashen Bandara, who struggled badly in the first T20I (9 off 19 balls).
Update:Krunal Pandya tested positive to COVID-19. He will miss the remainder of the series. According to Express Sports, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Prithvi Shaw, Deepak Chahar, K Gowtham, Ishan Kishan and Yuzvendra Chahal were in close contact with Krunal. So, India will field an even newer looking team, with their batting lineup decimated.
Spin and pace off the ball looked very effective in the first T20I. The spinners were in the wickets and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s slower balls reaped rewards. The chasing team has won 8 of the last 11 T20Is on this ground, with the average first innings score just below 164, which was the winning score in the first T20I.
There is a chance of rain interrupting the second T20I, but there should hopefully be enough play to constitute a result.
Dream11 Prediction
Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.
TEAMS WILL BE UPDATED SOON IN LINE WITH PLAYER UPDATES.
Option 1:
SL vs IND 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
SL vs IND 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
Sri Lanka have some positives to build on, and will be coming up against a severely depeleted India team. Sri Lanka should perform better in this game and win. However, an India win still won’t be a surprise.
Pavel Florin hilarious celebration: fans react on Twitter | Twitter reactions to another hilarious Pavel Florin celebration after a wicket
Pavel Florin was back at it again. The Romanian entertained both his teammates and fans around the world with another huge celebration after taking a wicket, further enhancing his status as one of cricket’s finest personalities.
In a T10 match between Bucharest Gladiators and Baneasa, Florin ran to the commentary area after taking the wicket of Mohammad Forkan. Forkan tried to hit Florin over fine leg, only to succeed in top-edging a catch to the wicketkeeper.
Florin, the larger-than-life figure who simply loves cricket, took off from the bowling crease to the commentary area before yelling “Gladiators!” into the microphone in celebration. The commentator even knew what was about to happen, handing a headset over to Florin to do his best work.
Florin soon tweeted the footage with the caption “live every moment.”
Should India persist with Sanju Samson going forward? | Sanju Samson continues to promise plenty but not quite deliver the goods: should India persist?
India is a country of over one billion people, and cricket is the most celebrated sport in this country. So many youngsters aspire to represent the national side but a few of them actually get a chance to wear the blue jersey with pride.
Sanju Samson is one of those fortunate to have represented India in international cricket. However, he somehow he has not been able to cement his place due to ordinary returns in his limited opportunities to date. Fortunately for him, he was recalled into the national side to play the limited overs series in Sri Lanka in the absence of the first choice players.
With the T20 World Cup around the corner, this T20I series against Sri Lanka holds significant importance for Samson. If he performs admirably, he will pose a strong case for his inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad. However, if he does not deliver, will management persist with him?
Let’s find the answer by considering several factors in detail.
Numbers don’t match his potential
The first question is what Samson offers to any T20 side. The answer is simple. He is a hitter of supreme calibre, and has a naturally aggressive intent which is an asset for any T20 team. He can turn the tide of the match on his own when he is on song, and has proved this in several IPL and domestic games.
However, the question arises of how frequently he serves justice to his immense potential. He has been an inconsistent performer in the T20 format despite the ability to strike effortless and nonchalant sixes. Being a 178-match batsman, he averages just 27.6 with a strike rate of 130.5 in T20s. These ordinary numbers don’t reflect his potential at all. His consistency has been a glaring issue and has proved to be one of the major reasons for him not being able to stabilize himself in the Indian batting lineup, especially with positions open over the past few years.
Where does Sanju Samson bat in India’s T20 XI?
The next factor that I have considered is the role the Indian team has to offer to Samson and whether he is a necessity in the playing XI now. The Indian team has at least 3 to 4 batsmen reserved for the top order in the playing XI. The competition for places in the middle order is much tougher now with the emergence of the ever-consistent Suryakumar Yadav. So, if he gets a game, practically he has to play the role of an accelerator down the order even though he mostly bats at no 3 or 4 in IPL and other T20 games. However, the Indian team has Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja as the accelerators down the order in the first choice XI. So, Samson, even if selected in the World Cup squad, will have to play the role of a reserved player.
Samson is inconsistent, but should India back him anyway?
Now let’s go to the question of our interest, i.e. whether India should persist with an inconsistent performer like Samson heading to the World Cup. In my opinion, Samson hasn’t been given ample chances to prove himself. A mere seven T20I games are not enough to decide whether someone is capable enough or not. However, we can’t blame the selectors for this as India has a huge talent pool and as a player you have to capitalize on every single chance you get at the international level.
India should enable him to bat the way he naturally bats, i.e. aggressively. He doesn’t seem to be an “innings-builder” in the T20I format. So, he can play the role of aggressor down the order and finish things as far as the present situation is concerned. However, it is important then to not focus too much on the average, as batting lower down requires a strong strike rate. That’s the only way he can get into the XI.
Secondly, it’s a matter of time before the World Cup gets under way. So, in such a scenario it will be better for India to prepare a guy having so much potential like Samson to be their backup finisher in the mega event. Also, India can use him at the top or middle, should a need arise. So, it will be such a waste if India doesn’t back Samson anymore.
Samson has age on his side and superb hitting abilities. He is an experienced player as far as T20 format is concerned. It’s always beneficial to have a player like Samson in your squad who has the capacity to play any role. That increases the flexibility of the squad.
Also, he brings the intent into the team, which is definitely a plus on his side. India should judge his intent, not average. Yes, it is true that he has to capitalize on every single chance he gets from now onwards, but even if he fails to deliver, India should back him now at least for the spot of a reserved player in the mega event.
ZIM vs BAN 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ZIM vs BAN 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh 3rd T20I Key Players | Harare Pitch Report
After promising moments across formats, Zimbabwe finally got the better of Bangladesh to force a T20I series decider. In what was shaping up to be another score in the region of 150 – which was nowhere near enough in the first T20I – Zimbabwe, courtesy of Ryan Burl, produced a competitive 166/6 that Bangladesh were all-but-out of the running after the halfway mark of their innings.
Zimbabwe’s bowling plans, field settings and execution were all positive two days ago. Sikandar Raza’s men will be looking for a repeat here to achieve their first ever bilateral T20 series win in a series comprising of two or more matches.
For Bangladesh, the regularity in which they lost wickets will be a concern. They constantly found fielders when they looked to go big, and importantly, struggled to rotate strike consistently enough. Eyes will be on their batsmen, as well as their death bowling, as they face a pressure situation ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Zimbabwe:
Wessley Madhevere continues to be a bright spot for Zimbabwe. He now has two half-centuries in five T20Is at Harare, with a total of 185 runs at an average of 37.00 and strike rate of 123.00. This includes 73 off 57 balls in the last game, where he won player of the match.
Regis Chakabva has enjoyed a solid campaign vs Bangladesh across formats. He smashed 43 off 22 balls in the first T20I, and Zimbabwe will be hoping for a repeat against a team who he historically struggles against (61 runs, avg. 12.20).
Dion Myers has no issues getting started. However, he has been unable to go on with his starts. Across the Test, ODIs and T20Is, Myers has made just one score below 20, but none above 35 (27, 26, 34, 18, 34, 35 and 26).
Ryan Burl has a strike rate of 160 in four T20I knocks vs Bangladesh. This includes a crucial 34* off 19 balls to get Zimbabwe to a competitive score last game. Key finisher.
How good was Wellington Masakadza? In a performance worthy of player of the match, Masakadza broke the back of the Bangladeshi batting with 3/20, and also took three catches.
Luke Jongwe has taken 15 wickets in nine T20Is at Harare, including 3/31 in the last match. Blessing Muzarabani has 21 wickets in 17 T20s in 2021, including 2/21 in the second T20I.
Bangladesh:
Shakib Al Hasan has had a quiet series to date. Is today his big day? He has scored the fifth-most runs of any player in ZIM-BAN T20Is (10 inns, 208 runs, avg. 26, SR 129.19). Plus, he has taken 15 wickets in 11 matches against Zimbabwe.
Soumya Sarkar will be key in helping Bangladesh get a good start. He has the most runs for any Bangladesh player against Zimbabwe in T20Is (230 runs, avg. 32.85, SR 132.94), including 50 (45) in the first T20I.
Afif Hossain is the player who can achieve a fast finish for Bangladesh. He has a strike rate of 140.67 in three innings vs Zimbabwe (87 runs).
If fit, Mustafizur Rahman will be a key player for the Tigers. No bowler has more wickets in ZIM-BAN T20Is, with Rahman taking an incredible 18 wickets in nine matches, including 3/31 in the first match.
Shoriful Islam has taken five wickets in two matches this series (2/17 and 3/33).
In Zimbabwe, both Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have won two T20Is each.
Zimbabwe have never won a bilateral T20I series consisting of two or more matches.
Mahmudullah has gone 64 consecutive T20I innings without a duck. However, he averages just 19.09 in 14 T20Is vs Zimbabwe, so eyes will be on whether the captain can perform here.
Possible Playing 11
Zimbabwe should look to play with the same XI.
Zimbabwe: 1. Regis Chakabva (wk), 2. Tadiwanashe Marumani, 3. Wessley Madhevere, 4. Dion Myers, 5. Sikandar Raza (c), 6. Milton Shumba, 7. Ryan Burl, 8. Donald Tiripano, 9. Luke Jongwe, 10. Blessing Muzarabani, 11. Tendai Chatara
Liton Das and Mustafizur Rahman could return to the Bangladesh XI, if fit.
Bangladesh: 1. Soumya Sarkar, 2. Mohammad Naim, 3. Shakib Al Hasan, 4. Mahmudullah (c), 5. Nurul Hasan (wk), 6. Afif Hossain, 7. Shamim Hossain, 8. Mahedi Hasan, 9. Mohammad Saifuddin, 10. Taskin Ahmed/Mustafizur Rahman, 11. Shoriful Islam
Harare Pitch Report and Weather
The track is an easy-paced surface that offers something for both bowlers and batsmen. Good lines and lengths are rewarded with some extra bounce. A good start will be key with the bat.
Dream11 Prediction
Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.
Option 1:
ZIM vs BAN 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
ZIM vs BAN 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
This promises to be an interesting match. Any score in the region of 170 can be a winning one, given the chasing struggles that both teams possess.
SL vs IND 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SL vs IND 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Sri Lanka vs India 1st T20I Key Players | Colombo Pitch Report
After Sri Lanka picked up crucial, confidence-boosting ODI Super League points in the third ODI, attention turns to a T20I series that has significance for both the home side and India.
Like in ODIs, Sri Lanka have also had a tough time of things in T20Is, winning just one of their last 13 matches. They barely put up a fight in England, and with a potentially tricky T20 World Cup Qualifier Stage coming up against Ireland, Netherlands and Namibia, the Lions will be aiming to find form and confidence against a side filled with T20 and IPL experience.
For India, they are coming off a 2-1 ODI series win, but the batting in the last two matches is cause for improvement. How they tackle Sri Lanka’s spin threat will be key to this result, providing the Indian batsmen with great preparation ahead of the World Cup. Indeed, with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant to come into this side, it is an audition for a number of batsmen to put their hand up and be counted.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Sri Lanka:
Avishka Fernando scored the most runs of any player in the ODI series. His 159 runs included two half-centuries, so he will be looking to transfer that form to the T20Is. In Sri Lanka’s domestic competition earlier this year, Fernando scored 87 runs in three matches at an average of 27.67 and strike rate of 136.07.
Dhananjaya de Silva has the most T20I runs of any current Sri Lanka player on this ground (5 inns, 155 runs, avg. 31.00, SR 109.15, 1 50). He has a half-century against India in his two innings against them (total of 74 runs, avg. 37, SR 151.02).
Charith Asalanka is a strong chance of making his T20I debut. He showed resistance right throughout the ODI series (38, 65, 24), and Sri Lanka will be hoping for more of the same. However, Asalanka is traditionally a better List A player (1,664 runs, avg. 41.60, SR 79.57) than T20 (479 runs, avg. 23.95, SR 127.39), so it will be interesting to see how he adjusts here.
Wanindu Hasaranga missed the third ODI but is expected to be fit for this clash. He was outstanding in the T20I series in West Indies earlier this year (eight wickets in three T20Is) on pitches that offered assistance to spinners. Key player.
Dasun Shanaka has a bowling strike rate of just 13 against India (six wickets).
Akila Dananjaya has plenty of experience on this ground. In 17 T20s, he has taken 20 wickets at an economy rate of just 7.42. After his three wickets in the third ODI, he will be one to watch here.
India:
Shikhar Dhawan has been simply outstanding in IPL since the start of 2019 (1,541 runs in 41 innings). However, in T20Is, he has 363 runs in 14 matches at an average of 25.92 and strike rate of 117.47 in the same period. He will be using this series as a way to remind selectors that he belongs in India’s main T20I side.
Dhawan has a solid T20I record vs Sri Lanka. He has three half-centuries in eight innings vs the Lions (289 runs, avg. 41.28, SR 136.96).
Prithvi Shaw is all set to make his T20I debut. If he gets going, watch out. In partnership with Dhawan at the Delhi Capitals, Shaw was enjoying a fine IPL 2021 campaign (8 inns, 308 runs, avg. 38.50, SR 166.48).
Ishan Kishan was Mumbai Indians’ highest run-scorer in the title-winning season of 2020 (516 runs, avg. 57.33, SR 145.76). His partner in crime, Suryakumar Yadav, will also be key here as he has brilliant in IPL since the start of 2020 (653 runs, avg. 34.37, SR 144.79).
Yuzvendra Chahal has enjoyed success against Sri Lanka in T20Is. He has taken 14 wickets in six matches against them (avg. 15.85, SR 9.8). Kuldeep Yadav has 10 wickets in six T20Is vs Sri Lanka (avg. 15.40, SR 12).
Deepak Chahar scored a superb 69* in his last outing (second ODI). He is a powerplay specialist with the ball, so his role will be key here.
Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 19, Sri Lanka 5, India 13, N/R 1.
Sri Lanka last won a bilaterial T20I series vs Pakistan in 2019. They have lost five in a row since.
Out of players in the Sri Lanka squad, only Dasun Shanaka and Isuru Udana have played more than 100 T20 games.
Possible Playing 11
According to reports, Wanindu Hasaranga is expected to be fit for this clash. Also, the likes of Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Charith Asalanka impressed in the ODIs, and could be rewarded with a place in the T20I side.
In terms of the bowling, Sri Lanka will have a decision to make regarding their pace-spin combination. Isuru Udana has struggled in recent times, but could be brought in given his experience in the format. Akila Dananjaya looked threatening with his ability to turn the ball both ways, and could make an important part of Sri Lanka’s attack here.
On the eve of the match, Shikhar Dhawan said that India will play their best T20I team. This suggests that they could wait before handing multiple debuts.
Conditions assisted spinners in the ODIs, and more of the same is expected here. However, the chasing team has won 8 of the last 10 T20Is on this ground, with the average first innings score 163.5.
Some showers are forecast in Colombo.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
SL vs IND 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
SL vs IND 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
Sri Lanka would have taken confidence from their performance in the last two ODIs. However, India, with their great T20 experience, should win this clash.
IRE vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | IRE vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Ireland vs South Africa 3rd T20I Key Players | Belfast Pitch Report
Yet again, South Africa produced a total in the region of 160 and defended it thanks to more brilliant bowling by the world’s number one T20I bowler, Tabraiz Shamsi. However, it was far from smooth sailing as the Proteas were reduced to 58/5, with David Miller this time producing a very timely return to form.
Also, Ireland’s batting woes continued in this series, with their top order failing again to leave their middle order with too much to do. The home side has lost 19 wickets in the two games so far; cause for significant improvement as matches are limited between now and the T20 World Cup.
So, this third T20I, rather than it just being a dead rubber, serves as further important preparation for two sides whose batting still leaves a little to be desired. With spin so prominent in the second T20I, the onus will be on the batsmen to be better, with UAE conditions to certainly help spin later in the year.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Ireland:
Andy Balbirnie needs to hold things together at the top for Ireland. The home side has lost a total of six powerplay wickets this series, so Balbirnie needs to rediscover his earlier form vs South Africa. He has three 50+ scores in six internationals against them.
Paul Stirling has been effective with the ball rather than the bat. After his 2/12 in the first T20I, Stirling now has seven wickets in six T20Is on this ground at an average of just 10.14. However, he will be hoping for an improvement with the bat (6 inns, 96 runs, avg. 16.00).
Harry Tector made his first score below 25 in South Africa’s tour of Ireland (previous scores of 25, 79, 29, 36). He will be key as he has in been in decent form of late.
Simi Singh has been economical and in wicket-taking form. His three wickets this series have come at an average of 15.00 and economy rate of just 5.62.
Mark Adair has the most wickets of any Ireland bowler so far this series. He has a total of five scalps, and will be key in Ireland’s quest for a win (figures of 3/39 and 2/33).
Josh Little went wicketless for the first time vs South Africa, after taking six wickets in his first three internationals against them.
South Africa:
It has been a surprisingly quiet series so far for Quinton de Kock. He has made two scores in the 20s, and will be looking to build on that here. He recently scored 255 runs in the five T20Is vs West Indies and scored a ton in the third ODI vs Ireland.
What a timely return to form for David Miller. The left-hander is key to South Africa’s finishing, so his 75 off 44 balls would have been a relief to both he and the Proteas. His 103 runs this series have come at a strike rate of 158.46.
Aiden Markram is still warming to the task of batting at four. However, he is enjoying a strong year in T20Is, with 339 runs at an average of 37.66 and strike rate of 154.09. He will be hoping to bounce back after a score of just 8 in the second T20I.
What an arrival for Bjorn Fortuin. His 3/16 in the second T20I was a fine show of accuracy, and if selected again, he will want to make another impact. He has 10 wickets in 11 T20s in 2021.
The more we see Tabraiz Shamsi, the better he gets. He followed up his 4/27 in the first T20I with 3/14 in the next, completely bamboozling the Irish batsmen. He has taken 24 wickets in 14 T20Is this year at an average of 12.90 and economy rate of 5.32. Outstanding.
Stats and Facts
Will Ireland persist with Kevin O’Brien? The right-hander is having a terrible year, with just 27 runs in seven internationals, including consecutive ducks in this series.
If Lungi Ngidi plays, he will have the opportunity to build on a prolific T20I wicket-taking record (36 wickets in 23 matches to date).
South Africa have won five of their past seven T20Is.
Possible Playing 11
Ireland have the Kevin O’Brien question to answer. One option they have is to promote Balbirnie to opener and bring in another batsman.
Ireland: 1. Paul Stirling, 2. Kevin O’Brien, 3. Andy Balbirnie (c), 4. Harry Tector, 5. George Dockrell, 6. Lorcan Tucker (wk), 7. Shane Getkate, 8. Simi Singh, 9. Mark Adair, 10. Josh Little, 11 Craig Young/Barry McCarthy
South Africa could look at further rotation in this game. Lungi Ngidi has played both games, so could be rested for Anrich Nortje who is yet to play. Also, Kagiso Rabada could come back after missing the second match.
Also, should the Proteas persist with four openers in their top four? There is a chance Janneman Malan will be left out with either Heinrich Klaasen or Kyle Verryenne coming into the middle order.
South Africa: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Temba Bavuma (c), 3. Aiden Markram, 4. Rassie van der Dussen, 5. David Miller, 6. Kyle Verryenne/Heinrich Klaasen, 7. Wiaan Mulder, 8. Bjorn Fortuin/George Linde 9. Beuran Hendricks/Kagiso Rabada, 10. Anrich Nortje/Lungi Ngidi 11 Tabraiz Shamsi
Civil Service Cricket Club Stormont Belfast Pitch Report and Weather
The surface in the last T20I was on the slower side, with spinners taking a total of 10 wickets. The Civil Service Cricket Club hosted T20Is between Ireland Women and Scotland Women earlier this year, where the top score was 137 in four matches. Also, more sunny weather is forecast.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
IRE vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
IRE vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
Ireland have had their moments, but South Africa’s experience counts for plenty. The Proteas to win.
SL vs IND3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SL vs IND 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Sri Lanka vs India 3rd ODI Key Players | Colombo Pitch Report
There are one of two ways to bounce back from heartbreak. One, you can be left feeling sorry for yourself, thus negatively affecting performance moving forward. Or, you can use it to spur you on to go one better and end the series on a positive note.
Indeed, that is the situation Sri Lanka find themselves in. With the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan in the syllabus, it was Deepak Chahar who was the unexpected question in the exam that the home side were unable to answer. Chahar produced a record-breaking 69* to lead India to an incredible victory, further extending Sri Lanka’s long wait for their next bilateral ODI series win against their subcontinent rivals since 1997.
However, while this series may be over, Sri Lanka’s desperation should remain. Only Zimbabwe sit below them in the ODI Super League points table, and if they wish to qualify directly into the 2023 World Cup, they need to start winning now. This is especially after they were docked a point for a slow over rate in the second ODI.
For India, it’s another chance for these players, and perhaps more new faces, to make a mark.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Sri Lanka:
Avishka Fernando remains key to Sri Lanka’s hopes. He has made two starts this series (33 and 50), but needs to show an ability to carry on with those starts.
Like Fernando, Minod Bhanuka has got in then got out this series (scores of 27 and 36). Sri Lanka have had positive starts twice, but the key will be building on that.
Charith Asalanka has been a bright spot for the home side this series. His 65 in the second ODI was compact and organised, following on from his 38 in the first ODI.
All-rounders Dhananjaya de Silva and Wanindu Hasaranga will be key to Sri Lanka’s chances of avoiding a series cleansweep. Hasaranga was outstanding with the ball last game (3/37), and could be used against Prithvi Shaw early once again. Also, Dhananjaya de Silva dismissed Shaw in the first ODI.
Chamika Karunaratne has been magnificent with the bat lower down the order. He has struck scores of 43* and 44* so far at a strike rate of 127.94.
India:
Shikhar Dhawan will be required to hold the innings together for India. He was looking solid in the second ODI before getting out for 29. Dhawan has a superb overall ODI record vs Sri Lanka: 18 ODIs, 1,098 runs, avg. 73.20, SR 96.91.
How will Prithvi Shaw counter Sri Lanka’s spin plans? There is no doubting his white-ball form this year (827 runs in eight matches at an unbelievable average of 165.40 in the 2021 Vijay Hazare Trophy), but India will be hoping he can overcome Sri Lanka’s spinners early in the innings. If he does, watch out.
Suryakumar Yadav was in his usual classy element in the second ODI. He has looked outstanding in his debut ODI series so far (scores of 30* and 53), effortlessly striking at 131.25.
Of course, millions won’t forget Deepak Chahar’s efforts in a hurry. Not only did he bat beautifully in the second ODI, but he showcased his terrific slower ball that has the potential to bag him more wickets. So far, he has four scalps in two matches this series.
Yuzvendra Chahal is in fine wicket-taking form. He has the most wickets of any bowler so far this series (five), with 16 in eight ODI innings overall vs Sri Lanka (avg. 24.75, SR 30).
Stats and Facts
Dushmantha Chameera is yet to take a wicket in four ODIs vs India (34 overs, 0/211).
Sri Lanka have not won a bilateral ODI series vs India since 1997 (12 series since then).
Yuzvendra Chahal needs three wickets to reach 100 in ODIs. If he achieves it in this game, he will join Jasprit Bumrah as the second-fastest Indian to the 100-wicket mark (57 ODIs).
Possible Playing 11
Kasun Rajitha is out with an injury. He will likely be replaced by Lahiru Kamara. Also, Sri Lanka could look to bring in Akila Dhananjaya for the expensive Lakshan Sandakan (18.4 overs, 2/124, econ. 6.64 this series).
R Premadasa Stadium Colombo Pitch Report and Weather
The pitches have been good for batting for the most part, but there has been help for the spinners. Both teams could certainly look at bringing a spinner on in the powerplay overs to try pick up an early wicket or two on a ground that is traditionally good for batting. The average first innings score in the last nine ODIs on this ground is 295.67, with the team chasing winning five times.
Some rain is forecast in Colombo today, which could see interruptions throughout the match.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
SL vs IND 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
SL vs IND 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
Sri Lanka improved significantly in the second ODI. However, India’s depth and quality should see them prevail and win the series 3-0, weather permitting.
Ranked: England’s 3 best players in T20I series win vs Pakistan | Ranking 3 of England’s best players in T20I series win vs Pakistan
England wrapped up their white-ball summer with a thrilling series win over Pakistan. The victory meant a 2-1 scoreline in England’s favour and ensured they have now won all four of their limited-overs series in recent weeks – a total of 10 victories from a possible 12 games (one defeat and one no result). While it was a close call against Pakistan, they always felt just ahead of the game.
The T20I series against Pakistan was England’s last assignment on home turf before the mega event in UAE later this year. Prior to the start of the series, England captain Eoin Morgan stated that his team will look to work out with different combinations in the build-up to the T20 World Cup.
The number one T20I side in the world experimented with their resources in the 3-match series in order to fix the core of the team. Eoin Morgan tried a few things and in that process too he managed to win another bilateral series. It was a hard-fought series and it went down to the last over of the series to decide the winner. In this article, we’ll look at the 3 players who played a major role in the series win over Pakistan.
1. Liam Livingstone
This was just the series that Livingstone needed to announce his arrival at the international level. He started the series in roaring fashion with a record hundred in the Trent Bridge run-fest. Another demonstration of the versatility of the all-rounder saw him threatening right-handers with leg-spin and left-handers with off-spin.
Although he didn’t pick any wickets, he was used well as an extra bowling option. He accumulated 147 runs in the 3 game series at 49 with a blistering strike rate of 216.17 which earned him a deserving player of the series award. The Lancashire star player has timed his run perfectly to become undroppable from that World Cup squad and, almost certainly, the first-choice side.
2. Adil Rashid
One of Eoin Morgan’s most reliable men, Adil Rashid, again was the pick of England bowlers as he took 6 wickets including the best bowling performance of 4/35 coming in the third and final T20I. His best bowling figures helped England keep Pakistan to a total of less than 160.
England’s spin wizard was rested for the game England lost at Trent Bridge. He was then called back in the XI for the virtual decider in the 2nd T20I and made an immediate impact alongside Moeen Ali and Matt Parkinson to spin the game in England’s court. Rashid continues to enhance his reputation as a proven wicket-taker in the team and he’s only getting better with more games under his belt.
3. Moeen Ali
Before the start of the series, the expectations were certainly high of Moeen Ali, especially after the way he went about his business both with the bat and ball in the first phase of IPL 2021.
Although he didn’t get as many runs as he would have liked, he compensated with the ball by picking 3 wickets at 17 and conceded runs only at an economy rate of 7.28. A Player-of-the Match performance in the second T20I included a sparkling 16-ball 36 with the bat and two wickets with the ball. In the last game of the series, he didn’t give away a single boundary in his four-over spell to return with figures of 1-19.
Moeen badly needed a series like this as he was struggling to find a place in the XI. The absence of the likes Ben Stokes and Sam Curran gave him 3 games to re-establish himself again as England’s number 1 spinning all-rounder in the T20I side. And, he sure enjoyed batting higher up the order.
