Most Test-playing countries have started their prep for the 2015 ICC World Cup which will be held in Australia/New Zealand in 6-months’ time. With the exception of New Zealand, the other 9 countries will be playing ODI cricket at the latter part of August as the race for the down-under title hunt heats up.
Pakistan’s record chase gives them 1-0 lead against Sri Lanka
Sohaib Maqsood (89*) and Fawad Alam’s (62) sixth-wicket stand of 147 was instrumental in Pakistan overcoming a top-order collapse to post a thrilling four-wicket win in the 1st ODI against the hosts, Sri Lanka in Hambantota on August 23rd, Saturday.
Pakistan’s chase of a revised Duckworth-Lewis target of 275 in 50 overs received a major jolt as it was reduced to 106 for 5 before Maqsood and Alam show dunked Sri Lanka. Maqsood finished unbeaten on 89 off just 73 balls when Shahid Afridi smashed the winning runs off Nuwan Kulasekara in the penultimate ball of the match.
Sri Lanka posted a competitive 275 for 7 after being sent in to bat in overcast conditions, but rain after six overs reduced the contest to 45-overs-a-side. Angelo Mathews continued his golden run with the bat, smashing 89 off 85 balls, while Mahela Jayawardene, who called time on his Test career previous week, made 63 to steer Sri Lanka.
South Africa whitewash Zimbabwe 3-0 comfortably
South Africa completed their dominance over hapless Zimbabwe as they clinched the series 3-0. The winning margins recorded by South Africa were very high as Zimbabwe still failing to make the mark as a Test-playing nation.
Series results:
South Africa won the 1st ODI by 93 runs.
South Africa won the 2nd ODI by 61 runs.
South Africa won the 3rd ODI by 7 wickets.
West Indies in two easy wins over Bangladesh
West Indies registered two-easy wins over Bangladesh in the 1st and 2nd ODI games played at St. George’s as they won the 3-match series with a game to spare. West Indies players were made to toil hard for victory in the 1st match as Bangladesh fought bravely but ended up losing the game by 3 wickets after Kieran Pollard and Dinesh Ramdin excelled with the bat. West Indies humiliated Bangladesh in the 2nd ODI match as they were bowled out for a mere 70 runs in chase of 247.
Warwickshire clinch NatWest T20 Blast
Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff scored 20 runs in 8 balls but his efforts weren’t quite enough to stop Warwickshire from winning the NatWest T20 Blast final at Edgbaston, Birmingham on August 23rd as Lancashire lost the game by 4 runs.
Warwickshire, who competed in the competition as Birmingham Bears, made 181 for 5 in their 20 overs. Lancashire was struggling at 152 for 7 but Flintoff smashed Oliver Hannon-Dalby, the right-arm medium pacer, for two sixes in the 19th over. Lancashire needed 14 off the last over from Chris Woakes, But Flintoff couldn’t repeat his heroics.
Australia thrash Zimbabwe in Triangular opener
A ruthless onslaught by Mitchell Marsh and George Maxwell carried Australia to a crushing 198-run victory over Zimbabwe in the first game of a one-day triangular series on 25th August.
Marsh stroked 89 from 83 deliveries after coming in at No. 3, while Maxwell hammered a 46-ball 93 as the pair added 109 runs for the 4th wicket in just 9 overs to help Australia post a formidable 350 for 6 in their 50 overs. In reply, Zimbabwe were bundled out for 152 in 39.3 overs, with Hamilton Masakadza’s 70 the only score of note as the hosts crashed to their biggest ever defeat against Australia.
England vs India – 1st ODI abandoned due to rain
England’s first ODI against India was abandoned due to rain on August 25th. It was the first ODI to be played in Bristol since 2010 with another international match not scheduled for another two years. 2nd ODI match will be played on 27th August at Cardiff.
Sohag Gazi reported for suspect action
Bangladeshi off-spinner Sohag Gazi has been reported with a suspected illegal bowling action during his side’s 177 runs loss in the second ODI against the West Indies in Grenada last Friday. The match officials’ report, which was handed over to Bangladesh team manager Habibul Bashar on Saturday, cited concerns about the legality of the 23-year-old’s bowling action for all deliveries.
Sohag’s bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC process relating to suspected illegal bowling actions reported in Tests, ODIs and T20Is. He is required to undergo testing within 21 days, and, during this period, Sohag is permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the testing are known.
Steyn and Morkel recalled for Triangular tournament
South Africa recalled pacers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel to the South African ODI squad for the tri-series against hosts Zimbabwe and Australia after the duo sat out of the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe.
Squad: AB de Villiers (captain), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Rilee Rossouw, Mthokozisi Shezi, Dale Steyn.
Dwayne Smith signs for Sydney Sixers
West Indian batsman Dwayne Smith has signed a two-year deal with Sydney Sixers for the upcoming Big Bash League in December. “I’m going to come and give it my best and hopefully we can see plenty of sixes when it is my turn to play for the Sixers,” Smith said.
