Tag: ICC World Cup 2023

DHARAMSALA: New Zealand have won the toss and elected to field first against Australia in the 27th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association [HPCA] Stadium.

Australia

Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

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New Zealand

Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c & wk), Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 141, Australia 95, New Zealand 39, NR 7

ODI World Cup: Matches 11, Australia 8, New Zealand 3

READ: ICC World Cup 2023: South Africa down Pakistan in a nail-biter

CHENNAI: South African batters managed to hold onto their nerves as they edged spirited Pakistan by one wicket in the 26th match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.

Set to chase 271, South Africa’s number nine Keshav Maharaj scored the winning boundary off Mohammad Nawaz on the second delivery of the 48th over.

South African openers Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma gave their side a brisk start by scoring 30 runs in the first two overs.

Ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi spoiled South Africa’s flying start as he got rid of in-form de Kock in the fourth over. The left-handed opener scored a 14-ball 24, hitting five boundaries.

Aiden Markram then joined Bavuma in the middle and the pair shared a 33-run stand before the Proteas captain perished in the 10th over, scoring a 27-ball 28.

Markram was then joined by Rassie van der Dussen in the middle and the duo stitched an anchoring 54-run partnership before Usama Mir – Shadab Khan’s concussion replacement – trapped the latter lbw on 21.

South Africa then sustained a major blow to their pursuit as in-form Heinrich Klaasen (12) perished cheaply in the second over, causing South Africa to slip to 136/4.

Coming out to bat at number six, David Miller joined forces with Markram to put together a 70-run stand which lasted when Shaheen Afridi got the former caught behind in the 34th over.

He remained a notable contributor for South Africa with a 33-ball 29.

Markram was then involved in another crucial partnership when he, alongside, Marco Jansen added 29 runs to the total for the sixth wicket before Jansen fell victim to Haris Rauf after a brisk 20-run cameo.

South Africa’s mainstay Aiden Markram then finally perished in the 41st over with the scoreboard reading 250.

He looked to heave Usama over the top but only managed a leading edge to hand a simple catch to Babar Azam.

He remained the top-scorer for South Africa with a gutsy 91 in 93 deliveries, laced up with seven boundaries and three sixes.

South Africa further slipped to 250/8 in the next over when Gerald Coetzee got caught behind off Shaheen. He could score 10 in 13 deliveries.

With the departure of all their set batters, South Africa’s hopes were on Keshav Maharaj.

He put on a sensational 10-run partnership with Lungi Ngidi (4) before a match-winning 11-run partnership with Tabraiz Shamsi (4*).

Maharaj remained unbeaten with a 21-ball seven which featured one boundary.

Shaheen Shah Afridi led the bowling attack for Pakistan with 3/45 while Haris Rauf, Usama Mir and Mohammad Wasim Jr bagged two wickets each.

After opting to bat, Pakistan slipped to 38-2 in the seventh over, with both opening batters back in the dugout.

Skipper Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan then raised a 48-run stand for the third wicket before the latter knicked Gerald Coetzee to Quinton De Kock.

Rizwan’s 27-ball 31 featured four boundaries and one six.

Iftikhar Ahmed, who was promoted to bat at number five, then helped knit a 41-run partnership with Babar Azam. However, Tabraiz Shamsi removed both batters in back-to-back overs to reduce Pakistan to 141-5.

Babar Azam scored a 65-ball 50, while Iftikhar Ahmed contributed 21 runs from 31 balls.

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Saud Shakeel and Shadab Khan then stabilized Pakistan’s innings with a counterattacking partnership of 84 runs from 71 balls.

Coetzee returned to the attack to break the stand, as Shadab Khan spooned a bumper to the safe hands of Keshav Maharaj at short midwicket.

Khan scored 43 off 36 with the help of three boundaries and two sixes.

Saud Shakeel completed his third ODI half-century before getting caught behind by Shamsi at a total of 240-7. His run-a-ball 52 featured seven boundaries.

Mohammad Nawaz then scored an anchoring 24 to help drag Pakistan’s total to 268, before a leading edge off Marco Jansen flew high and was caught by David Miller.

Subsequently, Lungi Ngidi picked his solitary wicket to wrap Pakistan’s innings at 270.

Tabraiz Shamsi topped the bowling charts for South Africa with his four-fer, while Marco Jansen achieved figures of 3-43.

READ: Maheesh Theekshana says England ‘underestimated’ us

PAKISTAN vs SOUTH AFRICA (2nd INNINGS)

Set to chase 271, South Africa’s number nine Keshav Maharaj scored the winning boundary off Mohammad Nawaz on the second delivery of the 48th over.

South African openers Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma gave their side a brisk start by scoring 30 runs in the first two overs.

Ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi spoiled South Africa’s flying start as he got rid of in-form de Kock in the fourth over. The left-handed opener scored a 14-ball 24, hitting five boundaries.

Aiden Markram then joined Bavuma in the middle and the pair shared a 33-run stand before the Proteas captain perished in the 10th over, scoring a 27-ball 28.

Markram was then joined by Rassie van der Dussen in the middle and the duo stitched an anchoring 54-run partnership before Usama Mir – Shadab Khan’s concussion replacement – trapped the latter lbw on 21.

South Africa then sustained a major blow to their pursuit as in-form Heinrich Klaasen (12) perished cheaply in the second over, causing South Africa to slip to 136/4.

Coming out to bat at number six, David Miller joined forces with Markram to put together a 70-run stand which lasted when Shaheen Afridi got the former caught behind in the 34th over.

He remained a notable contributor for South Africa with a 33-ball 29.

Markram was then involved in another crucial partnership when he, alongside, Marco Jansen added 29 runs to the total for the sixth wicket before Jansen fell victim to Haris Rauf after a brisk 20-run cameo.

South Africa’s mainstay Aiden Markram then finally perished in the 41st over with the scoreboard reading 250.

He looked to heave Usama over the top but only managed a leading edge to hand a simple catch to Babar Azam.

He remained the top-scorer for South Africa with a gutsy 91 in 93 deliveries, laced up with seven boundaries and three sixes.

South Africa further slipped to 250/8 in the next over when Gerald Coetzee got caught behind off Shaheen. He could score 10 in 13 deliveries.

With the departure of all their set batters, South Africa’s hopes were on Keshav Maharaj.

He put on a sensational 10-run partnership with Lungi Ngidi (4) before a match-winning 11-run partnership with Tabraiz Shamsi (4*).

Maharaj remained unbeaten with a 21-ball seven which featured one boundary.

Shaheen Shah Afridi led the bowling attack for Pakistan with 3/45 while Haris Rauf, Usama Mir and Mohammad Wasim Jr bagged two wickets each.

PAKISTAN vs SOUTH AFRICA (1st INNINGS)

Opting to bat first, Pakistan could raise 270 runs on the board despite anchoring half-centuries by captain Babar Azam and Suad Shakeel.

Openers Abdullah Shafique (9) and Imam-ul-Haq (12) failed to give Pakistan a steady start as both perished cheaply to Marco Jansen with just 38 runs on the board in the seventh over.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam then joined forces with Mohammad Rizwan. The duo put together a 48-run stand before the latter fell victim to Gerald Coetzee after scoring a 27-ball 31.

Babar was then involved in a crucial 43-run partnership with Iftikhar Ahmed before both perished in quick succession to leave Pakistan reeling 141/5.

Babar scored 50 off 65 deliveries with the help of four boundaries and a six.

Saud Shakeel and Shadab Khan then knitted the most valuable partnership of the innings as they added 84 runs for the sixth wicket before both fell in the span of 15 deliveries.

Shadab scored a 36-ball 43 while Saud top-scored for Pakistan with a run-a-ball 52, laced up with seven boundaries.

Mohammad Nawaz then played a brief 24-run cameo at the backend before South Africa wrapped up Pakistan’s innings on 270 in the 47th over.

Shamsi led the bowling attack with 4-60, followed by Gerald Coetzee’s 3/43 while Jansen bagged two wickets.

FALL OF WICKETS

46.4: Mohammad Wasim Jr 7 (9b 0x4 1×6) SR 77.77

Wasim Jr with a huge thrash through the line, fifth-stump, a thin snick of willow as the ball flies through to the keeper.

45.5: Mohammad Nawaz 24 (24b 1×4 2×6) SR: 100

Nawaz has a hack through the line but his weight is still back in the crease in a defensive position. A huge leading-edge flies high to the off-side, Miller hurtles in from point and gathers well.

44.2: Shaheen Shah Afridi 2 (4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50

Shamsi outclasses Shaheen by a pinpoint accurate delivery on a length as the batter spoons it to Temba Bavuma at slip.

42.1: Saud Shakeel 52 (52b 7×4 0x6) SR: 100

Shamsi bowls a quicker leg break much closer to the off stump, he throws his bat at it and nicks it through to the keeper.

39.4: Shadab Khan 43 (36b 3×4 2×6) SR: 119.44

Coetzee hurled down a bumper, ball skimming at head height, 140kph on the speed dial, Shadab tried to tug that away but ended up spooning it to short midwicket, Maharaj pouched it safely in his hands.

27.5: Babar Azam 50 (65b 4×4 1×6) SR: 76.92

Sharp leg spin by Shamsi and Babar tried to scoop it over the keeper’s head but failed to connect. They decided to send it upstairs after the umpire turned down the appeal. There is a slight deflection as the ball passes the gloves and the on-field umpire has to change his decision.

25.1: Iftikhar Ahmed 21 (31b 1×4 1×6) SR: 67.74

Iftikhar came down the pitch and got the leading edge, got befuddled by Shamsi’s googly, the ball hung in the air for a while and Klaasen pouched it safely at long-on.

15.5: Mohammad Rizwan 31 (27b 4×4 1×6) SR: 114.81

A wild swipe across the line by Rizwan, not remotely settled against the sharp pace and heavy lift off the deck. This one skims through at helmet height, and it’s a faint but clear top edge through to the keeper.

6.3: Imam-ul-Haq 12 (18b 2×4 0x6) SR: 66.66

Perfect length, right up in the arc for the drive by Jansen, but the line was outside off and the pace was fractionally down, and a deep-set slip is waiting to pick off the chance.

4.3: Abdullah Shafique 9 (17b 1×4 0x6) SR: 52.94

Shafique climbed into the short ball by Jansen, seeking to lift it over the ropes, but got right underneath his stroke. The backward square was well positioned on the edge of the rope and the chance just plopped into his hands.

CHENNAI: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against South Africa in the 26th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Pakistan

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shaheen Shah Afridi

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South Africa

Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 82, Pakistan 30, South Africa 51, NR 1

ODI World Cup: Matches 5, Pakistan 2, South Africa 3

READ: Maheesh Theekshana says England ‘underestimated’ us

CHENNAI: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against South Africa in the 26th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Pakistan

Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

South Africa

Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 82, Pakistan 30, South Africa 51, NR 1

ODI World Cup: Matches 5, Pakistan 2, South Africa 3

READ: Pakistan take on ruthless South Africa in must-win World Cup game

Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana on Thursday said defending champions England “underestimated” his team in their key ICC World Cup 2023 clash.

The island nation bundled out a struggling England for 156 inside 34 overs and reached their target with 146 balls to spare in Bengaluru.

Jos Buttler’s England slipped to their fourth defeat in five matches to be on the brink of elimination in ICC World Cup 2023 while Sri Lanka kept their hopes alive of reaching the semi-finals.

“I think they underestimated our team because we also lost three games and we only won against Netherlands. I think they underestimated us,” Theekshana told reporters.

“That’s why the result went our way because we backed our strength, we went with a simple plan, so that’s why we won the game today.”

Maheesh Theekshana, who returned miserly figures of 1-21 with his mystery spin, added: “Our confidence as a team has increased a lot because we have won two matches so far. And this match is a match in which we got a very happy victory.

“As a team, we are looking to play well in the upcoming four matches and reach the semifinals.”

Fast bowler Lahiru Kumara stood out with figures of 3-35 before Pathum Nissanka (77) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (65) steered the team home in an unbeaten stand of 137.

But it was the return of former captain Angelo Mathews that spurred the team on in the must-win match in the ICC World Cup 2023.

Mathews, who came in as a replacement for injured Matheesha Pathirana, made an instant impact with the first wicket of Dawid Malan, for 38, and later dismissed Moeen Ali, for 15.

Mathews, who has played 106 Tests and 222 ODIs for Sri Lanka since 2008, gave away just 14 runs in his five overs, which included a maiden as well, of medium-pace bowling.

“As a team, we are very happy that a very experienced player has joined our team. He has played in India. We have a lot to learn from him,” Maheesh Theekshana said of the veteran all-rounder.

“Even when we bowled, we used his experience in the match. The whole team is very happy to have such an experienced player on the team.”

Sri Lanka, who won the World Cup in 1996, have jumped to fifth in the 10-team table after their second win in five matches.

READ: Pakistan take on ruthless South Africa in must-win World Cup game

Pakistan men’s cricket team, who are on a three-match losing streak take on unstoppable South Africa in their next ICC World Cup 2023 fixture at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Friday.

With their backs against the wall, Pakistan are eager to roar back into the competition when they play South Africa in their sixth match of the mega event.

The team had a terrific start to their campaign with wins over the Netherlands and Sri Lanka in Hyderabad, but since have faced three consecutive defeats.

Resilience and ability to turn the most adverse situations in their favour are the traits that define this Pakistan side.

They pulled off an epic turnaround in Australia last year to play the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and scripted a fairy-tale by winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England despite starting the campaign on the wrong foot.

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Mickey Arthur, the team director, is hopeful that Pakistan’s campaign will take another such turn on Friday.

“We said in the change room the other night that we have got six matches to win the World Cup,” Arthur told PCB Digital.

“We have to get on a streak and win six in a row. We know that as a unit, we know that as a team, we have to make sure we get our strategy 100%. We have to make sure that we get our execution 100% and if we do that, there is no reason why we cannot [win the World Cup].”

Pakistan faced a shock defeat to Afghanistan on Monday at MA Chidambaram Stadium. This loss followed defeats to India and Australia in Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, respectively.

There have been, however, some glimpses of brilliance and to make sure that Pakistan consolidate their qualification chances to the semi-final, Arthur believes that they will have to click in all three facets of the game.

“I don’t think our skills have been where they’ve needed to be in those last three games, but these players have got the skills. It is up to us as coaches to make sure that we get them firing come Friday by giving them the confidence and the belief that they can turn this around,” Arthur said.

“We have not put a game together yet. We have not played the complete game. It is up to us to delve, to dig, to give advice, to give information and to give the belief that we can put that perfect game together because we know our perfect game is good enough. Our perfect game is good enough to beat anybody.

“We have to find it because there is a massive ambition within the playing group. The boys are trying out hard in the practice and I cannot fault their effort. I cannot fault attitude. What I can fault is the execution of skills under pressure, and that’s something that we continually work on at practice.”

South Africa are in good form entering the competition with four solid wins in five matches. Can Pakistan surmount the South Africa challenge? “They are a very good cricket team and they’re full of confidence because they have played well. I know though that if we do our basics and disciplines right, our skills will come out and we can beat anybody.”

It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan are now sixth in the ICC World Cup 2023 standings with four points in five matches while South Africa hold the second position with eight points in as many matches.

READ: Sri Lanka pip Pakistan in World Cup standings with England thrashing

BENGALURU: England have won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka in the 24th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

England

Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Liam Livingstone, Jos Buttler (c)(wk), Ben Stokes, David Willey, Moeen Ali, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid, Chris Woakes

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Sri Lanka

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (c)(wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 78, England 38, Sri Lanka 36, NR 3, Tied 1

ODI World Cup: Matches 78, England 6, Sri Lanka 5

READ: Haaland bags brace as Manchester City extend perfect Champions League start

Glenn Maxwell admitted he “wasn’t expecting” to hit a record 40-ball World Cup century in Australia’s ICC World Cup 2023 fixture against the Netherlands on Wednesday.

Glenn Maxwell, nicknamed ‘The Big Show’ for his flamboyant hitting, clubbed eight fours and eight sixes in his run blitz as Australia piled up 399-8 against the Netherlands in New Delhi.

The stunning assault bettered the record of South Africa’s Aiden Markram who blasted a century off 49 balls against Sri Lanka at the same venue 18 days ago.

“It feels pretty good. I have been pretty cooked today so I wasn’t expecting much but it probably cleared my head a little bit to be able to go out there and play,” said Maxwell.

It was also the fourth-fastest century in all ODIs.

South Africa’s AB de Villiers leads the way with his 31-ball century against the West Indies in Johannesburg in 2015.

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New Zealander Corey Anderson reached three figures off 36 balls against the West Indies at Queenstown in 2014 while Shahid Afridi of Pakistan made a century from 37 deliveries facing Sri Lanka in Nairobi back in 1996.

Glenn Maxwell, 35, playing in his 133rd ODI, was eventually out for 104, just short of his career-best 108 made against England in Manchester in 2020.

It was also comfortably his best score of this World Cup — his highest before Wednesday was 31 not out against Sri Lanka in Lucknow.

“I was just trying to get a read on the bowlers because I felt like I had enough time to change and adapt. Generally I am just trying to get any reverse sweeps over the infield.

“I thought the Netherlands were outstanding. It felt like they saved some certain boundaries in the first 25-30 overs.

He added: “It is a rock hard outfield. The ball can travel around here so if you get early wickets and get into the middle order, you can put run-rate pressure on them.”

READ: Glenn Maxwell smashes fastest World Cup century

DELHI: Australia’s hard-hitting batter Glenn Maxwell on Wednesday, rewrote history as he struck the fastest World Cup century in his side’s ICC World Cup 2023 fixture against Netherlands.

Maxwell smashed the fastest World Cup century, conceding just 40 deliveries to achieve the milestone.

He finished at a 44-ball 106 that featured nine boundaries and eight sixes.

Glenn Maxwell is the first batter in ODI history to score a century after having faced the first ball after the 40th over.

The right-handed all-rounder went after his Dutch counterpart Bas de Leede and played a pivotal role in pushing the latter to register the worst bowling figures in ODI cricket.

Coming out to bat at number six when Australia were 266/4 in the 39th over, Glenn Maxwell batted sensibly in the early phase of his sensational knock before switching gears.

He baton-charged the Dutch bowlers with belligerent hitting, the highlight of which was the 28-run 49th over, bowled by Bas de Leede.

For the unversed, the previous record was held by South Africa’s Aiden Markram. He scored his century in just 49 balls against Sri Lanka at the same venue in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.

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Prior to that, Australia had a shaky start after winning the toss as they lost Mitchell Marsh in the fourth over at a meagre total of 28.

However, David Warner, fresh from his 163 off 124 against Pakistan, joined hands with Steve Smith and knitted a solid 132-run stand for the second wicket.

Both batters completed their fifties during the partnership before Aryan Dutt sent Smith back to the pavilion.

Smith scored a 68-ball 71, with the help of nine boundaries and one six.

David Warner, played an anchor role during his 84-run partnership with Marnus Labuschagne, dominated by the latter, who scored 62 in 47 deliveries.

Labuschagne’s 47-ball 62 featured seven boundaries and two sixes before he was caught in an attempt to clear mid-on off Bas de Leede.

Meanwhile, David Warned completed his 22nd and second consecutive ODI century in 91 balls but got out two balls later leaving Australia to 267-5 in the 40th over.

Meanwhile, captain Pat Cummins stayed with Maxwell on the other end of the partnership dominated by Maxwell’s onslaught. Cummins scored a mere 8 runs in the partnership of 103.

Glenn Maxwell’s 44-ball knock came to an end in the final over, before Cummins hit the last ball for four to end the Australian innings at 399.

READ: Bas de Leede registers worst bowling figures in ODIs