Sri Lanka ended their victorious fairytale tour of England with another trophy in the bag as they registered a 100 run win over the hosts with only one ball to spare in the 2nd Test match at Leeds while West Indies got back to winning ways thrashing the visiting New Zealand during the 3rd Week of June.
Eight year ban from International Cricket will cease Mohammed Ashraful’s cricket career after he was found guilty by the BPL anti-corruption tribunal for his involvement in match and spot-fixing in the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League.
Sri Lanka beat England in thrilling second Test to seal series win
Sri Lanka beat England with just one ball to spare to win the second Test at Headingley by 100 runs on 24th June and took the two-match series 1-0. This is incidentally Sri Lanka’s 1st ever Test series win in England. England, set 350 for victory, was bowled out for 249 on the fifth and final day as Sri Lanka won a Test on English soil for only the third time in its history following victories at The Oval in 1998 and Trent Bridge in 2006.
James Anderson survived for 55 balls on 0 until, off the penultimate delivery of the match; he gloved paceman Shaminda Eranga to Rangana Herath at leg gully. The defeat was tough on England’s Moeen Ali who batted for six-and-a-half hours while making 108 not out – his maiden Test century. Dhammika Prasad was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka as he scalped a 5 wicket haul for the visitors.
It was all a far cry from when England was 3 for 311 after tea on the second day of this Test, thanks to Australia-born opener Sam Robson’s maiden Test century but from there onwards Sri Lanka took control of the game with Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, the man-of-the-match, responding with a superb Test-best 160 and a key eighth-wicket stand of 149 with Herath, who made a valuable 48 in the 2nd Lankan innings. Mathews’ hundred, his second of the series, followed his Test-bowling return of four for 44 earlier in this match to dismiss England for 365 in their 1st innings.
Rejuvenated West Indies level Test series
West Indies romped to a 10-wicket victory after lunch on the final day of their second Test against visiting New Zealand at Queen’s Park Oval on June 20th.
Set 93 runs to win after the Black Caps were dismissed for 331 in their second innings, attacking opening batsman Chris Gayle stole the show with an unbeaten 80 off just 46 balls as the home side romped to 95 without loss off 13.2 overs. The result leaves the series tied at 1-1 heading into the third and final Test starting on 26th of June at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.
Darren Bravo and Kraig Brathwaite scored centuries in the West Indies 1st innings which helped the hosts post 460 runs in reply to New Zealand’s 1st innings score of 221.
Arrest Warrant against MS Dhoni
A high court in Andhra Pradesh issued an arrest warrant on 24th June against Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus.
A local court in Anantapur issued the arrest warrant as Dhoni did not appear in the court despite three summons served in the past. It directed police to present Dhoni in the court July 16. Business Today in its April 2013 edition had carried the picture. Dhoni was portrayed as Hindu god Vishnu with a sub title “God of Big Deals” and holding products of several companies including a shoe in his hand
TM Dilshan joins Surrey
Sri Lanka’s attacking opening batsman, TM Dilshan will play English domestic cricket for the first time after signing for Surrey as Hashim Amla’s replacement. Dilshan will most probably make his debut in the Championship match against Hampshire on June 28 and play in the NatWest T20 Blast match against Kent on July 2 before returning to Sri Lanka for the one-day series against South Africa.
3rd ODI ends without a result
The third and final one-day international between India and Bangladesh was declared as a no-result after inclement weather in Dhaka on 19th June. The tourists had made 119-9 in 34.2 overs, in a match already reduced from 50 to 40 overs, before the game was abandoned due to persistent rain. India won the series 2-0 after a seven-wicket victory in the opening match before triumphing by 47 runs in a low-scoring affair on 17th June.
Ashraful, Vincent and Lokuarachchi banned from cricket
Former Bangladesh Captain Mohammad Ashraful has been banned for eight years for fixing matches in the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League cricket season. The ban was handed by a disciplinary tribunal in Dhaka on 18th June. Former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent was handed a three-year ban for failing to report an approach by a bookie to rig a game and Sri Lankan batsman Kaushal Lokuarachchi was given an 18 month ban for a similar offence.
Kane Williamson reported for Suspect Action
The part-time New Zealand off-spin bowler Kane Williamson has been reported for a suspect bowling action following the 2nd Test against West Indies in Trinidad. As per ICC regulations, Williamson will have to undergo testing of his action within 21 days, nevertheless he can continue bowling until the results of the test are reported back to ICC.
South Africa’s tour of Australia will commence in November
South Africa will tour Australia for five ODIs and three T20s in November. This immediately follows a three-match ODI series in New Zealand. In all, the two tours are seen as part of South Africa’s preparation for the 2015 World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand.
Cricket unlikely at Summer Olympics
Cricket is unlikely to find a place at the sport’s grandest stage, the Olympics. According to news reports, the Indian and English cricket boards are not in favour of having cricket pitched at the Olympics.The earliest the game could have been included was at the 2024 Games. In 2017, the International Olympic Committee will take a decision on additional sports to be included for the 2024 Games.
