Glenn Maxwell bowled one of the best final overs in the history of ODI cricket as Australia won all their matches against Pakistan in UAE to secure the top spot in the ICC rankings during the 2nd Week of October.
Maxwell shines with the bat for Australia to win the 2nd ODI
Glenn Maxwell decimated Pakistan’s spinners by hitting 76 off 81 balls and carried Australia to a five-wicket victory in the second one-day international on 10th October. The win gave Australia an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series.
Maxwell made Pakistan pay heavily for dropping him on 2 and combined in a match-winning 85-run fourth wicket stand with captain George Bailey (28) to guide Australia to 217 for 5 in 43.2 overs. Pakistan had earlier spoiled a terrific opening century-stand between Sarfraz Ahmed (65) and Ahmed Shehzad (61) to get bowled out for 215. Pakistan’s batting woes continued after wicketkeeper-batsman Ahmed and Shehzad put on 126 runs off 151 balls, but both were dismissed in successive overs. Mitchell Johnson picked up 3 for 40.
Australia whitewash Pakistan 3-0
Glenn Maxwell bowled the perfect final over – a double-wicket maiden – to secure Australia a one-run win and a clean-sweep against Pakistan in the third and final one-day international on 12th October.
Maxwell’s two wickets in the final over saw Australia’s bowlers defend 231 in a game full of flashpoints that made a mockery of its status as a ‘dead rubber’. During the Australian innings, Steven Smith (77) and David Warner (56) stroked half-centuries. Left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir took 3 wickets. Chasing 232 runs to win, Asad Shafiq made 50 runs and Pakistan were 204/6 at one stage with more than 30 balls remaining before they collapsed.
All-round India level the series
After an embarrassing defeat in Kochi, India were once again on the verge of losing when the bowlers came to rescue and India registered an impressive 48-run win over West Indies at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi on 11th of October.
West Indies were once cruising at 170/3 in 35.4 overs thanks to Dwayne Smith’s 97 runs off 97 balls with 11 fours and a six. But then they lost the plot as Indian bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals and the Caribbeans were all out for 215 in 46.3 overs. Mohammed Shami picked up four wickets while Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra took three and two wickets respectively as India level the five-match series 1-1.
Earlier, Suresh Raina hit an impressive 62 while Virat Kohli returned to form with his first half-century in eight months as India posted a competitive total against the West Indies. Raina carried his splendid T20 form into the match and Kohli regained his lost touch at his home ground as they added 105 runs for the 4th wicket after a sedate start by India. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni also contributed in India’s total with his unbeaten 51 off 40 balls.
Pakistan name 19-man Test squad
Pakistan have called on uncapped leg-spinner Yasir Shah for their two-Test series with Australia, replacing the suspended Saeed Ajmal in a preliminary 19-man squad. Shah is one of four spinners in the squad along with left-arm spinners Zulfiqar Babar and Raza Hassan, and off-spinning all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez. The first Test begins in Dubai on October 22.
Pakistan Test squad: Misbah-ul Haq (Captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Talha, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan, Ehsan Adil, Ataullah, Sarfraz Ahmed, Zulfiqar Babar, Yasir Shah, Raza Hassan.
Injured Lendl Simmons out of the India tour
Batsman Lendl Simmons has been ruled out of the remainder of West Indies’ tour of India due to a back injury. Simmons will return to Trinidad & Tobago to continue his rehabilitation, according to the West Indies Cricket Board.
Third India vs West Indies ODI called off due to cyclone
The 3rd One-Day International of the five-match series between India and the West Indies scheduled in Visakapatnam on 14th October was called-off due to the cyclonic storm ‘Hudhud’.
Board of Control for Cricket in India joint secretary Anurag Thakur said the Andhra Cricket Association was confident of hosting the ODI on Tuesday but “due to extreme weather conditions” they have decided to call it off to avoid any risk.
Two uncapped players in the Zimbabwe Test squad for the Bangladesh tour
Right-arm pacer, Tinashe Panyangara returned to the Zimbabwe squad for the upcoming series in Bangladesh. Panyangara, who was expelled from the Zimbabwe camp during the triangular One-Day International series with Australia and South Africa in August because of indiscipline, was included for the bilateral series that comprises three Tests and five ODIs.
Brian Chari and Herbert Chikomba were the new faces named in the 17-man Zimbabwe Test squad, along with Wellington Masakadza, whose inclusion means the Masakadza brothers will have three members in the team with Hamilton and Shingirai also there.
Test Squad: Brendan Taylor (Captain), Sikandar Raza Butt, Regis Chakabva, Brian Chari, Tendai Chatara, Elton Chigumbura, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Shingirai Masakadza, Wellington Masakadza, Natsai M’shangwe, Richmond Mutumbami, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Malcolm Waller.
ODI Squad: Elton Chigumbura(Captain), Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza Butt, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Natsai M’shangwe, Richmond Mutumbami, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Malcolm Waller.
Ross Taylor out of South Africa ODIs due to an injury
An ill-timed calf injury will keep Black Caps batsman Ross Taylor out of this month’s one-day international series against South Africa. Taylor’s left calf strain means he will miss all three matches. A 13-strong New Zealand XI, comprising established Black Caps and a number of fringe World Cup contenders, has been named to contest a warm-up ODI against Ireland in Hamilton on 18th October. Kane Williamson’s left wrist injury means he will miss at least the first ODI against South Africa, while fast-bowler Milne is out for the entire series with an elbow injury.
