Tag: England

MUMBAI: Heinrich Klaasen’s 61-ball century, followed by a combined bowling effort led South Africa to a thumping 229-run victory over defending champions England in the 20th match of the ICC World Cup 2023.

Set to chase 400, England could only raise 170 before bundling out in 22 overs and thus succumbed to one of the biggest defeats in the history of the World Cups.

The defending champions, after having a dismal start, lost wickets at an alarming rate and were reduced to 84/7 in 15.1 overs.

England further slipped to 100/8 in the next over when bowling all-rounder David Willey fell for a run-a-ball 12.

When it seemed all over for England, their tailenders Mark Wood and Gut Atkinson retaliated with a sensational 70-run partnership before Keshav Maharaj castled the latter to register South Africa’s dominating victory.

Atkinson scored 35 in 21 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries while Mark Wood remained unbeaten with a quickfire 43. His 17-ball knock featured two boundaries and five sixes.

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Put into bat first, the South African batters made England Jos Buttler pay as they registered a daunting total on the board with Heinrich Klaasen leading the charge courtesy of a quickfire century at the backend.

The Proteas, however, had a contrasting start as their in-form Quinton de Kock (4) fell on the second delivery of the innings.

Opening batter Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen both scored half-centuries after an early blow as they racked up 121 runs at a brisk pace for the second wicket.

The duo put South Africa in command before both fell victim to Adil Rashid in quick succession as the Proteas slipped to 164/2 in 25.2 overs.

Rassie van der Dussen scored 60 in 61 deliveries, hitting eight boundaries while Hendricks fell shy of his second ODI century, scoring a 75-ball 85, laced up with nine boundaries and three sixes.

Coming out to bat at number five, Heinrich Klaasen joined skipper Aiden Markram and stitched an important 69-run partnership before the latter fell.

South Africa then sustained another blow to their innings as David Miller (5) fell cheaply, causing the side to slip to 243/5 in 36.3 overs.

Following the slump, Heinrich Klaasen launched a counterattack on the English bowlers with a quickfire century and was brilliantly supported by Marco Jansen.

The pair went hard at the bowlers to register a match-defining 151-run partnership off just 76 deliveries before Klaasen finally perished in the final over.

Heinrich Klaasen top-scored with a berserk 109 in 67 balls, smashing 12 boundaries and four sixes.

Meanwhile, Jansen carried his bat all the way through to score an unbeaten 75, conceding just 42 deliveries and smashed three boundaries and six sixes.

Reece Topley picked up three wickets for England while Gut Atkinson and Adil Rashid bagged two each.

READ: Sri Lanka edge Netherlands to claim first win in ICC World Cup 2023

MUMBAI: England have won the toss and elected to field first against South Africa in the 20th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Wankhede Stadium.

South Africa

Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

England

Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c)(wk), Ben Stokes, David Willey, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 69, England 30, South Africa 33, NR 5, Tied 1

ODI World Cup: Matches 7, England 4, South Africa 3

READ: Hardik Pandya ruled out of ICC World Cup 2023 clash with New Zealand

MUMBAI: England head coach Matthew Motts revealed that dynamic all-rounder Ben Stokes was “on target” to be available for their crucial ICC World Cup 2023 clash against South Africa.

Stokes, who came out of retirement ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023 has now missed his side’s all three opening fixtures due to a hip complaint.

The all-rounder witnessed his side succumbing to defeats against New Zealand and Afghanistan from the dugout.

Meanwhile, England head coach Matthew Motts gave an update regarding Stokes, stating they are “confident” that he would play against South Africa.

“We’ve obviously been relatively conservative with him, but the medical staff were always confident that South Africa was a game we could target,” Mott said.

“I haven’t had a report on him in the last 24 hours, but before that, he was on target.

“So fingers crossed, he can tick off all the things that need to be ticked off and he comes back into that side.

“He’s like the spiritual leader of the group in many ways, and he certainly spoke really well after the game the other day, and spoke about that need to really assert ourselves.”

Defending champions England had a dismal start to their title defence but Ben Stokes’ potential return could serve them well, who now need to win five out of their remaining six matches to make it to the semi-finals.

They take on South Africa at Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, who also sustained a severe hit to their ICC World Cup 2023 campaign as they were upset by the Netherlands on Tuesday.

But South Africa still remained in the third spot with four points in three matches while England are in fifth with two points in as many matches.

READ: Babar Azam continues to lead ICC ODI Batting Rankings

Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott hopes Sunday’s ICC World Cup 2023 upset win over England will “encourage boys and girls” to take up cricket even though the country’s Taliban rulers ban women from playing sport.

The 69-run victory will be regarded as one of the biggest shocks in the history of the tournament as Afghanistan ended a 14-match World Cup losing streak.

“It’s not just cricket that the guys are playing for,” said Trott, who recognised the significance of a win for a nation reeling from recent earthquakes and the Taliban’s fractious international relations.

“The guys are very knowledgeable of the things and the hardship that some people are going through because of the natural disaster and for various other reasons.

“And so, if this can give a smile to people’s faces but also encourage boys and girls to pick up a cricket bat or a cricket ball and get playing cricket wherever they are in Afghanistan, then that’s the sort of the goal that’s been achieved.”

Before Sunday, Afghanistan had only won one match at the World Cup when they defeated Scotland on their 2015 debut.

They lost all nine matches they played at the 2019 tournament in England, including a 150-run rout at the hands of the hosts.

But having scored 284 on Sunday thanks to dashing opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s blistering 80 and Ikram Alikhil’s 58, Afghanistan’s bowlers set to work.

Only Harry Brook with 66 showed any real defiance while spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan claimed three wickets each as England were dismissed for 215.

The result left both sides with a win and two losses each after three games of the 10-nation tournament.

“This win is significant, certainly in the manner and by the margin as well,” added Trott.

“There’s a lot of confidence that will hopefully come from this, it’ll have a knock-on effect to all the other games, but not only in this World Cup, but for the future as well.”

Trott knows all about World Cup shocks. In 2011, he was part of the England team humbled by Ireland in Bengaluru despite him scoring 92.

“That’s the beauty of the World Cup, isn’t it? That’s what cricket’s about, it pushes and pulls you so much emotionally as a player and as a coach.

“But we can compete with anybody in the world.”

Next up for Afghanistan are New Zealand who have three wins from three games including seeing off England in the tournament opener.

New Zealand, runners-up at the last two World Cups, will be favourites.

Trott, however, believes that his players’ exposure to the international game through Twenty20 franchise cricket has only served to bolster Afghanistan’s self-belief.

“I think the fact that a lot of our players have played with the English players in franchise cricket, they get to know the ins and outs of each player so there’s that familiarity and also the confidence,” he explained.

“Sometimes I think when you see big Test-playing nations you sort of hold them in high regard. I think playing with players like that you see that they are human and you are just as entitled to win.”

READ: “Babar and Rizwan were timid,” says Hardik Pandya

Italy return to the scene of their Euro 2020 triumph at Wembley on Tuesday to face an England side enhanced by the emergence of Jude Bellingham as one of the world’s best players.

Bellingham was an unused substitute when the Azzurri broke English hearts on home soil just over two years ago, winning a penalty shootout to extend the Three Lions’ wait for major tournament glory.

The 20-year-old Bellingham is now central to Gareth Southgate’s plans as England look to seal qualification for Euro 2024 with revenge over the Italians.

Bellingham announced himself on the international stage with a series of eye-catching performances at last year’s World Cup.

Despite more pain in Qatar as they exited in the quarter-finals to France, a frightening array of talent available to Southgate makes England among the favourites for next year’s Euro.

Bellingham is the star attraction after scoring 10 goals in his first 10 games for Real Madrid since a 103 million euro ($112 million) move from Borussia Dortmund.

The former Birmingham midfielder has earned comparisons with Madrid greats Alfredo di Stefano and Zinedine Zidane for his blistering start in the Spanish capital.

England full-back Kieran Trippier knows the scrutiny that comes with playing in Madrid from his time with Atletico and believes Bellingham can now be the difference in delivering a major tournament for his country.

“He can be the difference. At such a young age, with the maturity, the quality and the aggression he’s got, he’s frightening,” said Newcastle’s Trippier.

“It’s not a surprise at all, the standards that he’s set in Madrid.

“You can see he’s playing with freedom and the players around him are going to make him even better. The scary thing is he’s only 20 years old.”

Bellingham is also far from England’s only weapon as they aim to conquer Europe in Germany next year.

Bukayo Saka missed the decisive spot-kick in the Euro 2020 final but has bounced back to lead Arsenal’s renaissance and become undroppable at the international level.

Jack Grealish, Declan Rice and Harry Kane have also all moved clubs for more than 100 million euros over the past two years.

Grealish, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and John Stones were treble winners with Manchester City last season, while James Maddison has flourished since his summer move to Tottenham.

“We lost in the Euros final but the most important thing is we’re progressing and doing very well,” added Trippier.

“We’ve got goals from all over the pitch. Jude, Maddison, Bukayo, Phil are still young but can all change games in certain moments.”

Kane remains the most reliable source of goals and became his country’s all-time leading scorer as England won in Italy for the first time since 1961 in March.

That result and four points from a possible six against Ukraine have put Southgate’s men in pole position to qualify.

By contrast, Italy followed up their Euro success by failing to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup and still have work to do to reach Germany.

Defeat in London would leave Luciano Spalletti’s men level on points with Ukraine and facing a decisive showdown with the war-torn nation next month to qualify.

Spalletti has only been in charge since August after Roberto Mancini departed to take the riches on offer as boss of Saudi Arabia.

Italy’s chances of another famous victory at Wembley have not been helped by two of their English-based players being sent home in a betting scandal.

Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo of Aston Villa were released from the squad after being investigated by criminal prosecutors for alleged gambling offences.

READ: WATCH: Babar Azam celebrates birthday with teammates in Bengaluru

NEW DELHI: Afghanistan registered a historic victory as they stunningly defeated defending champions England by 69 runs in the 13th match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 on Sunday.

Set to chase 285, holders England could score 215 in response before being bundled out in the 41st over to hand Afghanistan the biggest victory in their World Cup history.

England got off to a dismal start to the run chase as they lost Jonny Bairstow (2) in the second over with just three runs on the board.

The reigning champions continued to sink into trouble as they lost wickets at regular intervals with their key batters Joe Root (11), Dawid Malan (32), Jos Buttler (9) and Liam Livingstone (10) perishing with modest contributions.

With half of their batters returned to the dugout, England’s hopes were tied on Harry Brook, who waged a lone battle for his side with a gutsy half-century.

His resilience, however, came to an end in the 35th over when Mujeeb got him caught behind and England slipped to 169/8.

Brook remained the top-scorer for England with a 61-ball 66, laced up with seven boundaries and a six.

Late contributions from Adil Rashid (20), Reece Topley (15), and Mark Wood (18) only helped England surpass the 200-run mark.

Star Afghan spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan led the bowling charge for their side by picking up three wickets each while Mohammad Nabi bagged two.

Pacers Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi had a wicket apiece to their names.

After being put to bat, Afghanistan got off to a flying start with a 114-run opening stand, dominated by Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

Ibrahim Zadran contributed a mere 28 runs to the total before falling prey to Adil Rashid, who then sent Rahmat Shah back to the pavilion in the next over.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz who was playing at 80, was then ran out on the next ball, reducing Afghanistan to 122-3.

Gurbaz took only 57 balls to score 80, with the help of eight boundaries and four sixes.

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England bowlers capitalized and kept things really tight to incite Afghanistan batters to make mistakes, resulting in them collapsing to 190-6 in the 37th over.

Ikram Alikhil and Rashid Khan (23) then joined hands to knit a 43-run stand to help Afghanistan recover, but Adil Rashid struck again to break the partnership.

Alikhil anchored through the innings and played a gutsy knock of 58 runs from 66 deliveries, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman played a brisk 28-run cameo to push Afghanistan’s total to 277.

However, England bowlers picked back-to-back wickets and gave away only seven more runs for the last wicket to book Afghanistan to 284.

Adil Rashid led the bowling attack with three wickets, while Mark Wood picked up two wickets.

READ: Dasun Shanaka replaced by Chamika Karunaratne in ICC World Cup 2023 squad

DELHI: England have won the toss and elected to field first against Afghanistan in the thirteenth match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Arun Jaitley Stadium.

PLAYING XIs

Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

England

Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c)(wk), Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 2, England 2, Afghanistan 0

ODI World Cup: Matches 2, England 2, Afghanistan 0

READ: Dasun Shanaka replaced by Chamika Karunaratne in ICC World Cup 2023 squad

Former England captain and legendary batter Alastair Cook retired from all forms of cricket after the conclusion of the 2023 County Championship.

Alastair Cook retired from international cricket in 2018, however, he continued to play county cricket for Essex, from where he started his first-class career back in 2003.

The 38-year-old southpaw has accumulated 26643 runs in first-class cricket so far in 352 matches, with the help of 74 hundreds and 125 half-centuries.

He scored 836 runs in the ongoing County Championship from 26 innings at an average of 36.72 with one century and three half-centuries.

👑 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗿𝗮.

Alastair Cook has today retired from all forms of professional cricket.#ThankYouChef pic.twitter.com/eE4MdZIAae

— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) October 13, 2023

“It is not easy to say goodbye. For more than two decades, cricket has been so much more than my job,” said Alastair Cook in a statement released by his boyhood club Essex.

“It has allowed me to experience places I never dreamed I would go, be part of teams that have achieved things I would never have thought possible and, most importantly, created deep friendships that will last a lifetime.

“From the eight-year-old boy who first played for Wickham Bishops Under-11s to now, I end with a strange feeling of sadness mixed with pride. Although above all, I am incredibly happy. It is the right time for this part of my life to come to an end.”

Furthermore, Alastair Cook expressed his gratitude to Essex Cricket, a county side, where he started and concluded his professional first-class career.

“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Essex, the county I joined when I was aged 12. When I ended my international career, I had no idea that I would have five more bonus years of playing for Essex.

“I cannot put into words how much fun we have had during that time.

“I won’t miss strapping on my pads and facing the new ball, but I will miss being in the Eagles changing room.

“Playing a full part in the season when Essex won the County Championship in 2019 is one of my favourite achievements in the game. I look forward to watching Essex continue to punch above their weight, hopefully winning many more trophies in the coming years.

The former England captain plans to spend more time with his family at the family farm and put more time into his new career in the media with BBC and TNT Sport.

Alastair Cook has enjoyed a highly decorated international career. He is England’s highest run scorer in Test cricket with 12472 runs at 45.35 with the help of 33 centuries and 57 half-centuries.

He is the fifth-highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket and the highest among openers. His tally of 33 Test centuries is the seventh-highest in the format. Only Sunil Gavaskar has scored more hundreds as a Test opener (33) than Cook (31).

READ: Cricket approved by IOC for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

DHARAMSALA: Opening batter Dawid Malan scored a blistering knock of 140 off 107 before Reece Topley’s four-fer propelled England to a thumping 137-run victory over Bangladesh in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.

Set to chase a mammoth 365, Bangladesh could score 227 despite Litton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim’s half-centuries.

Bangladesh had a dismal start to their run chase as Reece Topley ran through their top order, dismissing Tanzid Hasan (1), Najmul Hossain Shanto (0) and Shakib Al Hasan (1) with just 26 runs on the board in the sixth over.

Bangladesh then further slipped to 49/4 in the ninth over when Mehidy Hasan Miraz fell for a seven-ball eight.

Following the slump, Das then received subtle support at the other end in the form of Mushfiqur Rahim and the pair put together an anchoring partnership.

Das and Rahim added 72 runs for the fifth wicket before the former fell in the 21st over.

He remained the top-scorer for Bangladesh with a 66-ball 76 which featured seven boundaries and two sixes.

Mushfiqur Rahim followed Das back to the dugout after putting on a cautious 43-run partnership with Towhid Hridoy.

He scored 51 in 64 deliveries with the help of four boundaries.

Bangladesh then suffered another major blow to their pursuit as Liam Livingstone removed their last set-batter Towhid Hridoy in the 40th over when the side still needed 176 runs.

Hridoy scored 39 in 61 deliveries with the help of two boundaries.

Bangladesh’s batting tail, comprised of Mahedi Hasan (14), Taskin Ahmed (14) and Shoriful Islam (12) offered some resistance but Sam Curran picked up the final wicket to wrap up a massive victory for England.

Topley led the bowling attack for England with 4/43, followed by Chris Woakes, who returned with 2/49 while Adil Rashid, Sam Curran, Mark Wood and Livingstone struck out a batter each.

England got off to a flying start after being invited to bat by Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, courtesy of a 115-run opening stand.

Opening batters Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan completed their half-centuries during the partnership before the former was bowled by Shakib Al Hasan.

Bairstow walked back to pavillion having scored 52 of 59 with the help of eight boundaries.

Joe Root then joined Dawid Malan and together they wreaked havoc on Bangladesh bowlers, adding brisk 151 runs from 117 balls for the second wicket.

Mahedi Hasan, who replaced Mahmudullah in this game, broke the stand as he castled Dawid Malan in the 38th over at a total of 266.

Malan’s blistering 140-run knock featured 16 boundaries and five sixes.

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England skipper Jos Buttler (20) and Joe Root were then involved in a brief 14-ball partnership of 30 runs before Shoriful Islam sent them back in consecutive overs.

Joe Root scored an impactful 82 off 68 balls with the help of eight boundaries and one six, however, he was caught behind off Shoriful’s slower ball.

Shoriful Islam bowled Liam Livingstone on the next ball to hand him a golden duck, reducing England to 307-4 in the 42nd over.

England, at one stage, appeared to breach the 400-run mark, however, after losing three quick wickets they failed to recover and ended up scoring 364-9 in their accumulated 50 overs.

Bangladesh bowlers made a good comeback in the death overs, picking up six wickets in the last ten overs.

Mahedi Hasan topped the bowling charts with figures of 4-71, while Shoriful Islam picked three wickets.

READ: Cricket set for Olympics return at Los Angeles 2028

DHARAMSALA: Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to field first against England in the seventh match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association [HPCA] Stadium.

PLAYING XIs

England

Jos Buttler (c)(wk), Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Reece Topley

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Bangladesh

Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 24, Bangladesh 5, England 19

ODI World Cup: Matches 4, Bangladesh 2, England 2

READ: Sri Lanka may get a boost ahead of ICC World Cup 2023 clash against Pakistan