Twitter reactions: Mithali Raj becomes highest-ever women’s run-scorer | Twitter reactions as Mithali Raj becomes the highest-ever run-scorer in women’s cricket
India’s victory in the third ODI against England was extra sweet for one special reason. Mithali Raj, a great of Indian cricket, became the most prolific women’s batter in the history of the game. During her superb, match-winning knock of 75*, Raj went past the great Charlotte Edwards’ record of 10,273 international runs, much to the joy of millions of fans around the globe.
Also, Mithali joins Sachin Tendulkar as the most prolific run-scorers in women’s and men’s international cricket respectively. And, incredibly, both made their debuts at exactly the same age (16 years, 205 days). Like Tendulkar, Mithali has enjoyed a superb career spanning more than two decades, and she will hold the record for quite some time as the next-highest international run-scorer behind Edwards is New Zealand’s Suzie Bates with 7,849 runs.
The Indian skipper received deserved praise from all corners of the world, particularly her home country. Fans praised her longeivity and consistency in a career that has life in it yet. Here are some of the Twitter reactions to Mithali Raj reaching a terrific milestone, including Charlotte Edwards herself:
you’re happy. we’re proud of you #MithaliRaj! true inspiration for the next so many generations of young girls who want to make it big in the cricketing scene ?? pic.twitter.com/pbU7pUcbp9
ENG vs SL 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs SL 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Sri Lanka 3rd ODI Key Players | Bristol Pitch Report
England put on a show once again with bat and ball to swat Sri Lanka aside for the fifth time in a row on a harrowing tour for the tourists. As a result, Sri Lanka not only remained winless but also went on to lose the ODI series as well having already conceded the T20I series.
And now the final game of this entire tour is to be played at Bristol. Though it would be just a formality to complete the series, both teams will be looking to finish the tour with a win on Sunday.
The Lankans have had a disastrous campaign thus far, but have ODI Super League points to play for in the upcoming contest. Evading a series whitewash won’t be easy for them by any stretch of the imagination, but will want to put in a strong performance.
Match Details
Match: ENG vs SL, 3rd ODI, Sri Lanka tour of England, 2021
Date and Time: Sunday, July 04, 2021, 3:30 PM(IST) 11:00 PM Local Time
Venue: County Ground, Bristol
Key Players/Key Stats
England:
Johny Bairstow has been brilliant in this series scoring 72 runs so far with an amazing strike rate of 126.31. He has always tried to give a quick start to his team which led them to a couple of comfortable wins. He would love to continue this form.
Another english opener and aggressive batsman Jason Roy scored a beautiful fifty in the previous game after missing the 1st ODI due to injury. And he is now all set to play 3rd and final odi with very positive intent. Roy has scored 490 runs in 11 innings with an avg of 52.44 against SL so far. And he will be looking to increase it more.
Joe Root has been England’s standout batter in the series. Having scored 147 runs, the Test captain has shown the utility he brings to the fore in the 50-overs format. He is yet to get out in the series and the Lankans, somehow, have to find a way of getting rid of him. A strike rate of 84.48 shows that he hasn’t found run-scoring tough until now in the series.
Though Sam Curran picked up his maiden ODI fifer in the previous game, it’s David Willey who’s the top wicket-taker in the series. The left-arm fast bowler has picked up seven wickets from two matches at an economy rate of 5.40. After getting three wickets in the first ODI, he picked four scalps last time around. The Lankan batters need to play him with a lot of caution as he has always been a cause of worry for them (17 wickets in 7 innings in HTH).
Captain Morgan is back. And he is back in form with a stylish 75 (83) knock. We heard a lot of talk of his failure in some recent matches, but he has proved the man correct. The man once said, “Form is temporary, Class is Permanent”.
Sri Lanka:
Sri Lankan captain Kusal Perera looked good in the first ODI but had bad luck in the previous match as it was Sam’s day. Kusal got out on a duck and now he will be looking for revenge.
Sri Lanka’s crisis man Wanindu Hasaranga has been exceptional between all the Islanders. After scoring a fifty in 1st match he played a supporting role in 2nd match for some time over there. So if Sri Lanka wants to win the final game then this man has to do some magic.
Dhananjaya de Silva played really well in the previous game scoring a beautiful 91 runs which helped his team to get past 200. And again he will have the job to stabilize the middle order and look for more and more runs without losing a wicket.
After scoring a fifty in the T20I series, Dasun Shanaka looked good in the 2nd ODI with his 46 runs. Again, he must step up to balance his nation in these tough times for them.
Stats and Facts
Head to head: Matches 77, England 38, Sri Lanka 36, Tied 1, NR 2.
Last 5 matches: England 3, Sri Lanka 2
In England: Matches 34, ENG 18, SL 14, Tie 1, NR 1
England have won 50% (6/12) matches, and Sri Lanka have not been able to win a single match (played 3) at Bristol.
Eoin Morgan will equal Alastair Cook in terms of captaincy against SL. He will reach 16 matches by the end of the match.
Possible Playing 11
England could look at rotation given the series has been won.
England: 1. Tom Banton/ Jonny Bairstow (wk), 2. Jason Roy, 3. Joe Root, 4. Eoin Morgan (c), 5. Sam Billings/Liam Livingstone, 6. Moeen Ali, 7. Sam Curran, 8. David Willey, 9. Chris Woakes/Tom Curran, 10. Adil Rashid/Liam Dawson, 11. George Garton/Mark Wood
Sri Lanka could also look at some other options in their squad.
Bowlers are expected to find life difficult in the final game, as this pitch has a history of being a good one for batting. Picking up wickets with the new ball will be crucial to get a foothold in the game.
This time, though, rain is set to impact the third ODI, with showers forecast for most of the day. The temperature will be a cool 17 degrees celsius.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
ENG vs SL 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
ENG vs SL 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction
(Tip: While selecting your fantasy team, make sure that you have selected all players who are part of playing 11’s. For that kindly edit it after the toss.)
Match Prediction
Sri Lanka put on a better display on Thursday but was still outclassed by England. Even if they rest some of their key players for this game, England will fancy their chances of pulling off a win if the rain doesn’t interrupt the match.
Steve Smith could miss T20 World Cup to be fresh for Ashes | Steve Smith aiming to fit and fresh for Ashes series; could miss the T20 World Cup
Steve Smith, Australia’s premier batsman, has hinted at the possibility that he may not be available for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The rescheduled tournament, moved from 2020 to 2021, will be held in Oman and UAE in October and November, and given the intense schedule and quarantining required of the players, there may be some sacrifice required to ensure priorities are being met.
For Steve Smith, that priority remains the Ashes. Smith, who withdrew from the limited overs tours of West Indies and Bangladesh owing to a left elbow injury, is aiming to be as fit as possible for the huge schedule which includes the second-half of IPL 2021, T20 World Cup and Ashes. As a result, if Australia do qualify for the T20 World Cup Final, it will mean that the Aussie Test players in the UAE will have no red-ball preparation ahead of the showpiece five-match series.
Speaking to cricket.com.au, Smith said, “There’s still a bit of time between now and (the T20 World Cup), and I’m tracking okay at the moment – it’s slow, but I’m going okay.”
“I’d love to be part of the World Cup, for sure, but from my point of view, Test cricket, that’s my main goal – to be right for the Ashes and try to emulate what I’ve done in the last few Ashes series I’ve been involved in.”
Smith has been impregnable in Ashes campaigns, with his last being an amazing redemption story, amassing 774 runs at a Bradmanesque average of 110.57. In the 2017/18 series in Australia, Smith also dominated, slamming 687 runs at 137.40.
Given such success, it is no surprise that Smith wants to continue that momentum and help Australia hold the urn for three straight campaigns – a feat Australia has not achieved since 2002/03.
“I want to put myself in a position where I can have that kind of impact,” he said.
“If that does mean not partaking in the World Cup, then we’ll have to go down that path, but hopefully we don’t have to go there.”
Steve Smith is open to missing the T20 World Cup if it means being fit for Ashes.
Smith also revealed that his elbow injury was affecting him during the first half of IPL 2021. Currently, he is working hard to ensure he returns to full comfort and fitness.
“I still wasn’t quite 100 per cent (during the IPL), it was still bothering me a bit, and I was playing over there medicated – taking some painkillers and anti-inflammatories every time I batted,” he said.
“It got to a point where it wasn’t really improving much, and it probably got a little bit worse while I was over there.”
Now, Smith is limiting himself to 15-minute batting sessions as a conditioning method to get his elbow up to speed. He also reiterated The Ashes as his main priority.
“Currently that’s where I’m at – 15 minutes – and I’ve got to build up to 45 to get myself to a point where the medicos believe I can be comfortable.
“I actually woke up a little bit sore after my last hit, so next hit, I’ll stay at 15, and that’s how it works.
“The Ashes is the primary focus from my point of view, (so) I need to be in a position where I can bat for long periods of time, and at the moment I can’t do that, which is annoying.”
WI vs SA 5th T20 Dream11 Prediction Today Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | WI vs SA 5th T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | West Indies vs South Africa 5th T20I Key Players | Grenada Pitch Report
Before the fourth T20I, South Africa had won two games batting first, where they held their nerve beautifully with the ball. So, was fielding first going to yield a similar result? The fourth T20I in Grenada on Thursday was that kind of crazy; part of a series that has been very much unpredictable when many thought the West Indies would win easily. The home side won by 21 runs to level the series with a match to play.
So we are here at the FINAL game of the series with 2-2 as scoreline. The fifth and final match of the series is set to take place on Saturday, July 3 at the same venue and an exciting match seems to be on the cards. The Proteas, somehow, will look to make a comeback after the defeat.
Barring Quinton de Kock, not many have been able to make an impact consistently for South Africa. WI come into the game on the back of a stunning win in the previous game, with captain Kieron Pollard striking form with the bat. However, both sides will need their middle-order to fire if they are to get past the opponents.
Both teams look evenly matched on paper, with nothing much separating them. With some of the best T20 cricketers taking center stage, a riveting contest beckons on Saturday.
Match Details
Match: West Indies vs South Africa T20I series 2021, 5th T20I.
Date and time: July 3, 02.00 PM (local time) , 11.30 PM IST.
Venue: National Cricket Stadium, St George’s, Grenada.
Key Players/Key Stats
West Indies:
Evin Lewis is one of the most important players for WI in the game. Lewis is currently the home team’s leading run-scorer with 126 runs at an average and strike rate of 31.50 and 163.63. So he is expected to give one more fine start and use the powerplay better. So is Lendl Simmons who has 69 runs thus far and has been able to give his team fast starts.
When it comes to big and important matches like this, all look at the big players like Chistopher Henry Gayle. On the 283rd day of his 42nd year, wearing a cap that hid his thinning hair but did nothing to disguise his greying dreads and beard, Chris Gayle lurched into a cartwheel. Regardless, with his first ball of the match, the seventh of the game, old man Gayle had Reeza Hendricks – 10 years his junior – stumped. And we all know about his batting (352 runs vs SA, avg. 39.11, SR 180.51). So the old man is important.
Kieron Pollard, who had looked like an imposter, much less a captain, in scoring two runs in the first three matches of the series, hit an unbeaten 51 off 25 balls in the previous game. Hence the inform power hitter is all set to play the final game of the series. And we all know how good his stats are in finals.
Andre Russell needs to be a little more consistent with bat and ball. Fabian Allen has been impressive with his left-arm spinners and he has played some handy knocks as well.
Dwayne Bravo (took 4-fer in last game) and Obed McCoy will be key with the ball. Bravo is now the top wicket taker (14 scalps in 13 innings) between WI vs SA HTH as far as T20I cricket is concerned. And McCoy is right behind him with 8 wickets in 4 innings.
South Africa:
For the Proteas, Quinton de Kock has simply been outstanding. He has scored 195 runs from four matches at an average and strike rate of 48.75 and 141.30. He has almost notched 100 runs more than Rassie van der Dussen, who is placed second with 96 runs. Both of them need to fire up if they and their team wants to finish the tour with the series win.
In the bowling, Tabraiz Shamsi has done wonderfully well. He has picked up six wickets and has bowled at a stupendous economy rate of 4.31. The number 1 T20I ranked bowler would again like to repeat the same doings from the last couple of matches.
George Linde and Kagiso Rabada have picked five wickets each. Both of them have to step up and take a few more without leaking many runs in the final match. Linde has to take care of power hitters like Gayle and Hetmyer whether Rabada should try to restrict the likes of Rusell, Lewis and Pollard. It is going to be an interesting battle.
Stats and Facts
Head to Head: Matches 13, West Indies 6, South Africa 8.
Last 5 matches : West Indies 3, South Africa 2
In West Indies : Matches 6, WI 2, SA 4.
David Miller now became the most capped player for SA in T20I with 85 matches.
In all the 4 matches this series so far, the team batting first has scored in 160’s. So we shall be looking at if it happens for the 5th time as well.
Possible Playing 11
West Indies: 1. Lendl Simmons, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Chris Gayle, 4. Shimron Hetmyer, 5. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 6. Kieron Pollard (c), 7. Andre Russell, 8. Dwayne Bravo, 9. Fabian Allen, 10. Fidel Edwards, 11. Obed McCoy
South Africa: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Reeza Hendricks/Jannemann Malan, 3. Temba Bavuma (c), 4. Aiden Markram, 5. Rassie van der Dussen, 6. David Miller, 7. George Linde, 8. Kagiso Rabada, 9. Lungi Ngidi, 10. Anrich Nortje, 11. Tabraiz Shamsi
Grenada Pitch Report and Weather
The pitch is slightly on the slower side, with the batsmen having to work for their runs. Although the ball should skid on nicely early, the bowlers will ideally revert to off-pace deliveries as the match progresses. The spinners will play a crucial role in the middle overs, with wickets in hand being key. Both teams will look to chase upon winning the toss, with 160 being an excellent total at the venue.
The weather should be clear for this game. The game will be completed without any interruption due to weather.
Dream 11 Prediction
Option 1:
WI vs SA 5th T20 Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
WI vs SA 5th T20 Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
A fascinating last game awaits. As the series has showed, it can go either way. West Indies, with their experience, might just come away with the win in a tight match. 160+ batting first will be key, however.
Top 5 magical moments of the first World Test Championship | What were the best moments in the first World Test Championship between 2019 and 2021?
The World Test Championship (WTC) finally came to an end with New Zealand emerging as the first ever winner of the championship defeating India convincingly in the final played at Southampton. The championship was played over two years and we saw some thrilling contests between various sides.
If we look back at the first ever WTC, there were some really great moments throughout the cycle. In this article, I am going to make you relive five such magical moments of the first WTC that will be etched in our memory forever. Here we go.
5. Kyle Mayers’ debut double ton to help West Indies chase 395 vs Bangladesh
Top 5 magical moments of the first World Test Championship: Kyle Mayers
It’s definitely not easy to defeat Bangladesh in their own backyard. But a young West Indies side, missing a number of key players including Jason Holder, were able to defeat the tigers in a convincing manner due to some heroic performances by their young players.
He was instrumental in his team’s win in the first Test at Chittagong, as he played a magnificent unbeaten knock of 210, helping West Indies chase down a mammoth total of 395 in the fourth innings. This victory was definitely one of the finest Test victories of the West Indies in recent years, and the winning moment was as magical as it could be.
4. The grand comeback of Steve Smith
The mental toughness of an individual is reflected from the way he bounces back after being placed under the pump. Steven Smith was handed a 1-year ban due to his involvement in the infamous ball tampering incident in the Cape Town Test back in 2018. When he returned to the Australian side to play the 2019 Ashes in England, there was so much psychological pressure on him and so much speculation regarding his form.
But, he silenced everyone in the very first game of the Ashes – also the first in WTC – by playing tremendous knocks of 144 and 142 at Edgbaston. Boos turned into standing ovations. He never looked back and amassed a huge 774 runs in the Ashes. Every time he went to bat, it seemed like he wanted to prove himself to the world. The hunger to score as many runs as possible was clearly visible in him. The world saw the vintage Steven Smith once again at his absolute best and this was definitely one of the finest moments of the first WTC.
3. Ben Stokes’ Headingley masterclass
Top 5 magical moments of the first World Test Championship: Ben Stokes
“Cut away. Cut away for four. What an innings. What a player. Take a bow, Ben Stokes. The Ashes are well and truly alive because of one cricketer.”
We can’t forget these legendary lines by Nasser Hussain after Ben Stokes scored the winning runs in the third Ashes Test at Headingley. England were on the verge of defeat as they were placed at 286 for 9 chasing 359. That epic partnership of 76 runs between Stokes and Jack Leach for the last wicket sealed England’s highest run-chase ever in their rich history. Ben Stokes was absolutely magnificent in the fourth innings as he played a glorious unbeaten knock of 135. The game had some nail-biting moments including the brain-fade moments from the Australian side as well; like wasting of a review and a missed run-out opportunity. The winning moment of the English side was purely magical and this game will forever be remembered as one of the greatest clashes between the arch-rivals Australia and England.
2. India breach the Gabba fortress
Top 5 magical moments of the first World Test Championship: India at The Gabba
The winning moment at the Gabba by the Indian side is the finest ever moment I have witnessed as an Indian fan in the first WTC. India were out for 36 in Adelaide, devoid of their best batsman Virat Kohli, players got injured one by one, and the players copped abuse by the SCG crowd. It was a completely inexperienced side to fight with the mighty Aussies in the 4th Test match at Gabba.
Added to these things, Australia hadn’t lost a single game there in 32 years. In such a critical period, Ajinkya Rahane led the team to perfection. The experienced Cheteshwar Pujara took many blows on his body and stood in the middle like a rock. More importantly, the young players like Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, Rishabh Pant and Shardul Thakur stepped up big time, which made the victory even more special in the history of Indian Cricket. That boundary by Rishabh Pant towards the long off fence and the entire team running into the middle with joy was definitely the best moment for all of the Indian fans in the WTC.
1. New Zealand lift first ICC trophy in more than 20 years
Top 5 magical moments of the first World Test Championship: NZ’s winning moment
The Kiwis are known for their extraordinary consistency in ICC tournaments. However, they hadn’t managed to win a single trophy after their victory in the final of the ICC Knockout Trophy back in 2000. But, this time they managed to break the jinx and were able to lift the respectable WTC mace by winning the ultimate Test against India at Southampton.
The game was interrupted badly by rain and bad light, and therefore there was a slim chance of getting a single winner. But, on the reserve day, the Kiwi fast bowling unit led by Kyle Jamieson went through the Indian batting order and New Zealand managed to bundle India out for a mere 170. They were given a target of just 139 in 53 overs, which they chased down quite comfortably thanks to an outstanding partnership of 96 runs between the two pillars of their batting unit, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor.
Williamson led his side in the most ideal manner and set the example of a true leader by batting his heart out in the middle in both innings. Their fast bowling unit comprising of Boult, Jamieson, Southee and Wagner was relentless and never let the Indian batsmen score easy runs. They were truly the deserving winners and the winning moment of New Zealand was definitely the finest moment of the WTC.
So, these are the 5 finest magical moments in the first ever WTC in my opinion. Do you agree? Have your say!
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South Africa are finding ways to win, be it easily in the second T20I or by the skin of their teeth in the last match. In the third T20I, they held their nerve well to win by just a run and are now remarkably leading the series with 2-1 with two matches to play in their T20I series against West Indies in Grenada.
The fourth and penultimate game of the series is scheduled to be played on Thursday, July 1. It’s a must-win affair for the Caribbean team. For South Africa, it’s a chance to wrap up the series with one match remaining, which is an incredible possibility given how badly they were beaten in the first T20I. South Africa are playing a different brand of white-ball cricket in this series compared to what they have previously shown the world, and it will be interesting to see if the Windies can overcome them under pressure.
Although both teams look evenly matched on paper, South Africa hold the edge confidence-wise, owing to two consecutive wins in the series. Can the Windies force an exciting decider?
Match Details
Match: West Indies vs South Africa T20I series 2021, 4th T20I.
Date and time: July 1, 02.00 PM (local time) , 11.30 PM IST.
Venue: National Cricket Stadium, St George’s, Grenada.
Key Players/Key Stats
South Africa:
In a line-up that featured five other frontline batters, Quinton de Kock’s 72 represented close to half the total. It showed QDK’s importance and dominance in his team. Quinton de Kock has been the standout batter from either side. The southpaw has scored 135 runs at an average and strike rate of 45 and 142.10. He will be looking to churn out another substantial knock and take the Proteas to an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series.
Rassie van der Dussen is having a solid series to date, with 90 runs at an average of 45.00 and strike rate of 136.36. Aiden Markram, who is having a good year in T20Is (202 runs, avg. 40.40, SR 174.13), looked good in the last game (23) before getting out to a full toss.
Tabraiz Shamsi again went on with his miserly bowling in terms of giving runs. The No.1 T20I ranked leggie scalped 2 wickets conceding just 13 runs in 3rd game and led his team to win. And surely he would love to repeat it against mighty power hitters.
Anrich Nortje bowled the penultimate over and continued to keep it full, and had Pooran trapped in front. And hence he set the stage for his mate Kagiso Rabada in the last over which led to win by a run. Nortje has scalped 3 wickets in the series so far and would be aiming to take a few more in this game to finish off the series.
West Indies:
In form Caribbean opener Evin Lewis has impressed a lot in this series by scoring 119 runs at a huge strike rate of 165. He was the major cause of West Indies’ only win in this series. And he has given better starts to his team in all 3 games so far, but will be looking to go on and make a big score compared to his last two games.
On Tuesday Lendl Simmons played for the first time in this series and provided good powerplay runs. He has the ability to take on the opposition bowlers at any moment and change the game. His numbers have been brilliant against South Africa. He has scored 148 runs in 3 innings against them which shows his dominance over Proteas.
Obed McCoy has been the standout bowler in the series without a doubt. The left-arm seamer couldn’t get a wicket in the first game, but he has, well and truly, made amends. In three matches, McCoy has churned out seven wickets at an economy rate of 6.41. In the previous match, he picked up a four-wicket haul and gave an account of the damage he can do.
Fabian Allen has been brilliant with his batting in the last 2 games, but failed to take his team to win. In both the games he was the hope for hosts. Though he did whatever he could, he has to contribute more in bowling as well.
Dwayne Bravo continues to be important for the Windies at the death. He took three wickets in the last match.
Stats and Facts
Head to Head: Matches 13, West Indies 5, South Africa 8.
Last 5 matches: West Indies 2, South Africa 3
In West Indies: Matches 5, WI 1, SA 4.
West Indies have won just a single T20I game (out of 4) at Grenada.
Possible Playing 11
Jason Holder has been rested for this game, and could be replaced with Fidel Edwards. Also, Akeal Hossain has come into the squad for Kevin Sinclair.
West Indies: 1. Andre Fletcher/Lendl Simmons, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Shimron Hetmyer, 4. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 5. Kieron Pollard (c), 6. Andre Russell, 7. Fabian Allen, 8. Dwayne Bravo, 9. Obed McCoy, 10. Fidel Edwards, 11. Akeal Hossain
South Africa: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Jannemann Malan/Reeza Hendricks, 3. Temba Bavuma (c), 4. Aiden Markram, 5. Rassie van der Dussen, 6. David Miller, 7. George Linde, 8. Lungi Ngidi, 9. Kagiso Rabada, 10. Tabraiz Shamsi, 11. Anrich Nortje
Grenada Pitch Report and Weather
Although the pitch at the National Cricket Stadium has slowed down as the series progressed, it should still offer a lot of runs. While the pacers should get some swing early on, they will ideally revert to off-pace deliveries as the match progresses. The spinners should play a more significant role in this game, with wickets in hand being key for either side.
The Caribbean team might not want to chase keeping in mind the results of the previous two matches. There are chances of rain during the course of the match and hence, there could be delays.
ENG vs SL 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs SL 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI Key Players | The Oval Pitch Report
Sri Lanka didn’t have much to cheer for in their opening ODI against England at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street. They lost the match by five wickets with an age to spare, and fell 0-1 down in the three-match series. And, to make matters worse, the bubble-breaking trio of Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella could be facing a ban of one year, further driving the bad news in Sri Lankan cricket right now.
The Eoin Morgan-captained England chased down the target of 186 with as many as 91 deliveries to spare. The second game is set to be played on Thursday at the Kennington Oval in London, and the home side will be aiming to drive home the advantage in what has been a very easy limited-overs campaign vs Sri Lanka to date.
The Lankans, who are depleted due to the absence of some players due to various reasons, need to be at their best to have any chance of drawing the series. The Brits, on the other hand, will be out to seal the series in what is an exciting time right now for English sport.
Match Details:
Match: ENG vs SL, 2nd ODI, Sri Lanka tour of England, 2021
Date and Time: Thursday, July 01, 2021, 5:30 PM(IST) 01:00 PM Local Time
Venue: Kennington Oval, London
Key Players/Key Stats:
England:
After a brilliant ODI series against India, Jonny Bairstow continued his form with a quickfire 43 in the first ODI. He played that cameo just like it was a T10 or T20 match. And no doubt he will be continuing that aggression and form throughout the series. Just like he took the game away from SL in the previous match he would like to continue that here.
In his 150th ODI appearance, Joe Root steered England home against Sri Lanka at the Emirates Riverside in Durham with minimum fuss on Tuesday (79*). He helped England make a recovery after the hosts were reduced to 80/4 in the 12th over. Keeping in mind his form, Root will be expected to play a similar hand next time. He also completed his 6000 ODI runs on Tuesday, and now has 1,107 runs vs Sri Lanka at an average of 61.50.
Chris Woakes was a hard nut to crack for the Lankans in the opening encounter. In his first spell, he picked up the wickets of Pathum Nissanka and Dasun Shanaka. Later, he came back to get rid of Dhananjaya Lakshan and Wanindu Hasaranga. Moreover, the speedster conceded only 18 runs at an incredible economy rate of 1.80 and churned out as many as five maidens. So he can be the threat for Lankans, provided Morgan plays him in back-to-back matches.
Moeen Ali got the chance to play in the previous match and he proved his importance once again. The attacking batsman and part time off spinner can be the cause of worry for Lanka. In ENG vs SL HTH, he has scored 341 runs in 14 innings and also scalped 12 wickets as of now.
David Willey has taken 3/27 and 3/44 in his last two matches vs Sri Lanka (T20I and ODI). Adil Rashid, who went wicketless in the first ODI, will be looking to bounce back at a ground he struggles at (six wickets, avg. 51.16).
Sri Lanka:
Lankan captain Kusal Parera scored a brilliant half century in 1st ODI even though he was under pressure. He led his team from the front but failed to take his team to par score. But he will be looking forward to restricting hosts from winning the series in the 2nd match itself.
Wanindu Hasaranga is the crisis man of Sri lanka. With his excellence in all-round performance, he has tried to bring his team to safety from mighty pressure several times. After scoring a brilliant fifty in 1st match, he proved his abilities again.
Dushmantha Chameera needs to step up and lead his young bowling unit. Again he has to be good enough to pick up early wickets in Powerplay otherwise it will be very much difficult for his team as opposition openers will destroy them. He has really good numbers against England as far as ODIs are concerned. He has taken six wickets in just two games at an avg of 11.66, and has taken nine wickets in four matches in this tour.
Stats and Facts
Head to head: Matches 76, England 37, Sri Lanka 36, Tied 1, NR 2.
Last 5 Matches : England 3, Sri Lanka 2.
The series is a part of the ICC Men’s Cricket WC Super League, which acts as a qualification scenario for the ICC World Cup 2023. England are topping the points table while Sri Lanka are languishing at the bottom.
At Kennington Oval, the chasing team has won 40 games out of 73. England has fine record at the venue (29wins /48) and Sri lanka (5wins /13).
Joe Root averages 60 in 10 ODIs at The Oval (480 runs).
Possible Playing 11
If Jason Roy is fit and available, he can slot in place of Billings or Ali.
England: 1. Jonny Bairstow (wk), 2. Liam Livingstone, 3. Joe Root, 4. Eoin Morgan (c), 5. Sam Billings, 6. Moeen Ali, 7. Sam Curran, 8. Chris Woakes, 9. David Willey, 10. Adil Rashid, 11. Mark Wood
Dhananjaya de Silva will have tests on a sore back.
Kennington Oval offers something to both bowlers and batsmen, and rewards good performance. The hosts won’t mind bowling first again after their performance in the opener. There will be some clouds around, but the rain should stay away. The temperature will be around 19 degrees Celsius.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
ENG vs SL 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
ENG vs SL 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
Anything other than an England win will be a surprise. England to win.
Dickwella, Gunathilaka, Mendis banned for 1 year: Reports | According to AFP, Sri Lanka trio to be banned for 1 year for breaking COVID-19 protocols
According to reports surfacing online, Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis may be banned for up to one year for breaking bio-secure bubble regulations in Sri Lanka’s current tour of England.
Specifically, the AFP has stated that the trio will likely get a ban of three months-one year if they are found guilty of breaching protocols, as told by an SLC official. Given the fact that footage surfaced on social media of the cricketers in Durham Market Square on Sunday night, and the fact they also admitted they broke the protocols, we could see a situation where these three cricketers will not be available for selection until mid-2022.
The Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLC) were made aware of the news because the video was posted to social media. The players were immediately flown back home, pending an inquiry. “The players have been suspended pending a full inquiry, but have confessed to having gone out,” SLC vice-president Mohan de Silva said. “They are being recalled from the tour with immediate effect.”
SLC has decided to bring back cricketers Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella for breaching the bio-bubble.
— DANUSHKA ARAVINDA (@DanuskaAravinda) June 28, 2021
ESPNCricinfo Sri Lanka correspondent Andrew Fidel Fernando minced no words in his description of the three players, as fans become increasingly frustrated with their national side. “Three players, to be exact, which you suspect is also the number of braincells that had been collectively harnessed when the decision to make a break for it was made,” read Fernando’s piece in ESPNCricinfo, highlighting the significant problems in Sri Lankan cricket.
Danushka Gunathilaka, who has a history of disciplinary issues, has been a brighter light in the darkness that is Sri Lanka’s on-field performances. He is averaging 45.16 in six ODIs in 2021, but his discipline continues to haunt him. Niroshan Dickwella and Kusal Mendis, both of whom have potential, risk the possibility of never realising their full potential.
The trio is certainly out of their upcoming home assignment against India. However, if the reports then turn to reality, the trio will be out for much longer than just a few weeks.
ENG-W vs IND-W 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG-W vs IND-W 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | England Women vs India Women 2nd ODI Key Players | Taunton Pitch Report
The first ODI highlighted the gap between these two teams in terms of where they are at in their ODI cricket journey. England, confident and modern in their style of play, totally dominated India, who are still unable to shake off an older style of ODI cricket.
The numbers were telling. India soaked up a scarcely-believable 181 dot balls as they laboured to 201/8, a total that was chased down with a mammoth eight wickets and 91 balls to spare. In the latest episode of The CricBlog Podcast, we discussed India’s batting combinations, which is cause of much deliberation among India fans. The most pressing is arguably their number three and four positions, with Punam Raut and Mithali Raj occupying similar styles of roles.
However, senior bowler Jhulan Goswami shifted the focus, saying the bowlers need to take up more responsibility. However, that is easier said than done with Tammy Beaumont leading the way in her red-hot run of form. India needs more runs with the bat, and the English bowlers will be out to ensure that doesn’t happen as their confident batting lineup aims to produce another strong display.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
England:
That red-hot run of form in ODIs in 2021 for Tammy Beaumont reads: 71, 72*, 88* and 87*. Her crisp timing is something to behold. Also, surprisingly, her 87* last game was her first ODI fifty in 18 knocks vs India. She will be out to produce more of the same.
It was a welcome return to batting form for Nat Sciver. Her dominant 74* off 74 balls in the first ODI was her third 50+ score in nine innings vs India, with her average now bumping up to 39.37 (315 runs).
Heather Knight will be looking for a big performance. The England skipper has scored just one fifty in 18 ODI knocks vs India, with a total of 385 runs at 25.66. However, as Beaumont showed, recent good form (Knight scored 95 in the Test) can work wonders.
Sophie Ecclestone continues to take a bagful of wickets, no matter the format. Her 3/40 in the first ODI took her to 13 wickets in six ODIs vs India, after she took eight wickets in the Test. Her height, accuracy and ability to turn the ball makes her a tough customer.
Katherine Brunt set the tone for England in the first ODI. No England bowler has more wickets vs India than Brunt, with 41 scalps in 29 ODIs at an average of 18.21.
India:
Shafali Verma is just 17 years of age, but she already has a huge role to play for India. Her ability to get her team off to quick starts will be key here. She recently won player of the match in the Test (96 and 63).
Smriti Mandhana will also have a key role to play. She has a fantastic record vs England, with 540 runs in 11 ODIs at an average of 54.00. This includes six 50+ scores.
Eyes will be on the experienced Mithali Raj. Her strike rate has come under question, so it will be interesting to see how she responds despite top-scoring for India last match (72 off 108 balls). No player has more runs in ENG-IND ODIs than Raj, with 1,870 runs in 56 ODIs at an average of 47.94.
Deepti Sharma will be key with both bat and ball. She has made a number of starts vs England in her career (14, 24, 26*, 54*, 7, 6*, 27*, 30), so should India bat her higher up the order? She also has 10 wickets in nine ODIs vs England (avg. 31.80).
For India to bounce back, they need to get the better of England’s top order. Jhulan Goswami can be central to that, as no bowler has more wickets in ENG-IND ODIs (72, avg. 18.41).
Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 70, England 38, India 30, NR 2.
Since the 2017 ODI World Cup, England have an average first innings score of 259. India, on the other hand, average just 213.
The form of Harmanpreet Kaur is a concern for India. The women in blue need the experienced campaigner to perform. She is capable, given her past record vs England in ODIs (18 ODIs, 559 runs, avg. 39.92, 1 hundred, 4 fifties).
Possible Playing 11
There is no reason for England to make any changes, unless forced.
England: 1. Lauren-Hill Winfield, 2. Tammy Beaumont, 3. Heather Knight (c), 4. Nat Sciver, 5. Amy Jones (wk), 6. Sophie Dunkley, 7. Katherine Brunt, 8. Sophie Ecclestone, 9. Sarah Glenn, 10. Anya Shrubsole, 11. Kate Cross
India could look to bring Jemimah Rodrigues in for some greater batting impetus.
The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton Pitch Report and Weather
Taunton has traditionally been a nice batting ground. The last men’s ODI here saw Bangladesh chase West Indies’ 321 in just 41.3 overs in the 2019 World Cup. Expect another nice, easy-paced surface here, with conditions to be mostly sunny throughout the day with only a small chance of showers.
Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
ENG-W vs IND-W 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
ENG-W vs IND-W 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction
Match Prediction
India is certainly capable of producing a strong performance. However, England’s confidence and prowess in white-ball cricket should hold them in good stead. England to win.
WI vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | WI vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | West Indies vs South Africa 3rd T20I Key Players | Grenada Pitch Report
South Africa decided to stick with the same XI that were very soundly beaten in the 1st T20, going on to produce a fine series-leveling victory on Sunday. It may have seemed like a risky call at first to stick with the same XI, but the bowlers, including the more prominent Anrich Nortje, led a stirring series fightback.
So here we are at the centre of a 5-match T20I series with a scoreline 1-1. In both matches, we saw Caribbean massive hitting and South Africa’s steady but aggressive intent. Both times hosts invited the guests to bat first and they scored in 160’s twice there. Once they failed and then they got victory, so which way will this one go?
The winner of 3rd T20I will take a big advantage for sure, but it is going to be difficult for both sides to get over the other.
Match Details
Match: West Indies vs South Africa T20I series 2021, 3rd T20I.
Date and time: June 29, 02.00 PM (local time), 11.30 PM IST
Venue: National Cricket Stadium, St George’s, Grenada.
Key Players/Key Stats
South Africa:
In the 2nd T20I George Linde kept the pressure on the West Indies with a couple of tight overs and was rewarded with the scalp of Nicholas Pooran. He also lured Andre Russell to slog one to deep midwicket. And hence led his team to victory. But the youngster has not impressed with his bat till now. He can be the X-Factor again in the 3rd match for SA.
Tabraiz Shamsi is the other Proteas spinner who has impressed in the series so far with his economical bowling. He has scalped 2 wickets in the series. The number 1 T20I ranked bowler Shamsi will be intending to catch more Carribean hitters in his net of wrist spin.
The Proteas captain Temba Bavuma scored a brilliant 46(33) in the 2nd clash of the series which led his team to reach par score. And if South Africa wants to win here, the Captain has to lead his side from the front .
Reeza Hendricks missed his half century by 8 runs but played very delightfully in the previous game. The right hand opener is again expected to give a good start to the innings in the 3rd match at Gereneda. He has scored 59 runs so far in the series and we expect more to come.
Watch out for Quinton de Kock. He has made three starts in three T20Is vs West Indies (47, 37 and 26). Is this the game he makes a 50+ score?
West Indies:
Evin Lewis hits the ball hard enough to run the risk of being charged with intent to do serious harm. Except that he hammers his runs as sweetly as if he were unspooling the lines of a sonnet. He scored brilliant 71(35) which included 7 sixes and 4 fours in the inaugural game of the ongoing series. He then looked threatening in the second game. And once again he would like to repeat that in the 3rd match.
Fabian Allen: All the viewers enjoyed Allen’s late cameo which expressed WI’s batting depth as he scored 34 (12) which included 5 maximums over the boundary line. Also he took 2 wickets in 1st T20I and had good economy in that game. So he would love to score more and scalp more in the remaining games at Grenada.
Andre Rusell showed what he is in the 1st T20I by hitting some half-dozen shots which led his team to a comfortable win. He has scalped 2 wickets in 2 games so far and would like to scalp more. His power hitting is unbelievable and he can take the game anywhere from anywhere as we know.
The top run scorer in the HTH clash (347 runs in 9 innings), Christopher Henry Gayle is just going forward and forward as he plays. The Universe Boss will want to finish things again like he did in the 1st match.
Stats and Facts
Head to Head: Matches 12, West Indies 5, South Africa 7.
Last 5 matches : West Indies 3, South Africa 2.
Kagiso Rabada is coming off a three-wicket haul, which took his tally to four wickets in four T20Is vs West Indies.
Possible Playing 11
West Indies: 1. Andre Fletcher/Lendl Simmons, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Chris Gayle, 4. Nicholas Poora (wk), 5. Kieron Pollard (c), 6. Andre Rusell, 7. Jason Holder, 8. Fabian Allen, 9. Dwayne Bravo, 10. Obed McCoy, 11. Kevin Sinclair
South Africa: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Reeza Hendricks, 3. Temba Bavuma (c), 4. David Miller, 5. Rassie van der Dussen, 6. Andile Phehlukwayo/Heinrich Klaasen, 7. George Linde, 8. Kagiso Rabada, 9. Anrich Nortje, 10. Lungi Ngidi/Lizaad Williams, 11. Tabraiz Shamsi
Grenada Pitch Report and Weather Report
The weather at Grenada once again is expected to be good for playing cricket, with few clouds here and there. The sky will be mostly clear and sunny while the temperature will remain in the range of 20-25°C. St. George Grenada offers a high scoring surface and is exceptionally good for chasing scores. Batsmen find it easy to hit the ball through the line and boundaries are small as well. Death over bowlers will be important here.
