PAK vs SL, Asia Cup 2023 Super 4: Sri Lanka (253/8) Beat Pakistan (252/7) By 2 Wickets Via DLS To Set Up Sunday’s Final vs India. Kusal Mendis (91), Charith Asalanka (49*), Iftikhar Ahmed (3/50)
Charith Asalanka played one of the coolest shots in ODI cricket history to score the final two runs required off the last as Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 2 wickets in the Super 4 to reach the Asia Cup 2023 final in Colombo.
Needing 2 runs off the last ball, Asalanka walked across the stumps and flicked a full delivery from Pakistani debutant Zaman Khan to take two runs and bring an end to a thrilling contest at the R Premadasa stadium in the Sri Lankan capital on Thursday.
Sri Lanka win rain-marred contest
Chasing a rain-revised target of 252 for victory, Sri Lanka rode on the superb knocks from Kusal Mendis (91) and Asalanka, who fell short of his 10 ODI fifty by 1 run, to cross the finish line and set up the summit clash against India, which will be played at the same venue on September 17.
Sunday’s match will be Sri Lanka’s 12th appearance in the Asia Cup final while India will be playing its 10th summit clash in the tournament’s history.
The Men in Blue have won the title a record 7 times with Sri Lanka a close second with 6 trophies.
“We had the game under control, but the losing of wickets took it till the last over. We gave them a chance to come back in the game, but we knew Charith could get us home.
“We had a discussion before batting and we discussed the mistakes we made in the India game. We gave away wickets in the first 10 overs, and Kusal and Sadeera played brilliant knocks,” Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka said after the match.
India defeated Sri Lanka by 41 runs in a super four match to secure their place in the final of the Asia Cup on Tuesday.
India beat Sri Lanka by 41 runs on Tuesday.
Indian bowlers produced a splendid collective effort to carry their team to a 41-run win over a spirited Sri Lanka in a Super 4 match, and into the Asia Cup final on Tuesday. Rohit Sharma’s fifty (53 off 48 balls) was the cornerstone of India’s sub-par 213 after Lankan spinners Dunith Wellalage (5/40) and Charith Asalanka (4/18) bamboozled them. But India, guided by Kuldeep Yadav’s 4 for 43, bowled out Sri Lanka for 172. India, who entered the final with four points, will either face Sri Lanka or Pakistan in the summit clash on Sunday. The hosts will face Pakistan in a crunch match on Thursday.
The insipid effort of their batsmen made it mandatory for the Indian bowlers to be on the money from ball one, and Jasprit Bumrah led the way.
Bumrah took the ball away from Pathum Nissanka and the healthy edge was snaffled behind the wicket by a diving KL Rahul.
Kusal Mendis looked in fine touch but he failed to keep his drive off a slow, full delivery from Bumrah down.
Substitute fielder Suryakumar Yadav took the catch at covers and umpires gave Mendis out after a quick check with the TV umpire for bump ball.
Mohammed Siraj soon got into act, cramping Dimuth Karunaratne for room and his cut did not go beyond Shubman Gill at second slip.
Sri Lanka were 25 for 3 at that stage and Kuldeep took a couple of quick wickets to further dent their chase, reducing them to 99 for six.
However, Wellalage (42 not out) and Dhananjaya de Silva (41 off 66 balls) added 63 runs for an enterprising seventh wicket alliance to revive Lankan hopes.
But a moment of indiscretion ended the stand as De Silva tried to clear the infield off Jadeja only to give a simple catch to Gill at the edge of the circle.
From that point, Wellalage, who batted exceptionally well under pressure against a fancied opponent, tried to bridge the gap.
But the task was a tad too hard to achieve with a one man show.
Earlier, left-arm spinner Wellalage and offie Asalanka did not allow Indian batters to settle into any sort of rhythm, as they knifed through their line-up taking nine wickets among them.
But before Lankan spinners exploited the generous turn and grip on the Premadasa pitch, India started their innings in a blazing fashion.
Rohit added 80 runs for the opening wicket with Gill, and that remained the brightest phase of Indian innings.
Watching Rohit and Gill adding those runs in just 12 overs rekindled the memories of India’s blitz against Pakistan on Monday, when they posted a massive 356 for two.
During his innings, the Indian captain also went past a significant personal milestone, becoming the sixth Indian batsmen to score 10000 runs in ODIs.
The landmark came in a befitting fashion too, as Rohit lifted pacer Kasun Rajita over his head for a majestic six.
Other Indian batsmen to reach the mark are: Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni. Indeed, a magnificent company to be in! However, the introduction of Wellalage changed the whole complexion of the game, as the spinner halted Indian batsmen’s early charge.
Many Pakistani fans on social media questioned how officials of the PCB could be so “immature” and “careless” as to indulge in gambling.
Pakistan cricket board officials are under scrutiny for visiting a casino in Colombo
Pakistan team’s current media manager Umar Farooq Kalson and board’s GM (International Cricket) Adnan Ali are under scanner after pictures and video footages emerged of the duo visiting a Colombo casino.
Both are in Colombo in official capacity as a part of the Pakistani contingent for the ongoing Asia Cup and visiting a gambling den is sure to attract attention of ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit as it is one of the prohibited places as per code of conduct.
Many Pakistani fans on social media questioned how officials of the PCB could be so “immature” and “careless” as to indulge in gambling.
Many criticised the trend of many PCB officials going on to Colombo during the Asia Cup on official visits.
A PCB source said that at least 15-20 PCB officials had travelled o and fro between Colombo and Lahore while some were stationed there permanently as Pakistan was the official host of the Asia Cup.
After some Pakistani news channels ran headlines, the two officials in the Casino later clarified that they had only gone to the Casino to have dinner, a claim ridiculed by all and sundry on social media and also by some former test players.
Asia Cup 2023, India vs Pakistan Super Fours: India’s match against Pakistan moved to the Reserve Day after rain ruined any chance of play. Pakistan, who had won the toss, decided to field as India reached 147 for 2 in 24.1 overs before rain forced the players off the field.
India’s Squad For Cricket World Cup 2023: BCCI made a bold call in giving wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul the nod despite the fact that he didn’t feature in the first two matches of Asia Cup 2023 due to injury.
India’s Squad For Cricket World Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma (L) and Virat Kohli
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 15-member squad for the ODI World Cup 2023. The Board made a bold call in giving wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul the nod despite the fact that he didn’t feature in the first two matches of Asia Cup 2023 due to injury. Tilak Varma, who was selected in India’s 17-member team for the Asia Cup, didn’t find a place in the 15-man World Cup squad while Sanju Samson was left out too. Prasidh Krishna, who made his return to the ODI side after a long injury layoff, wasn’t picked by the selectors either but ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah was roped in.
There were no surprises in the team selection after chief selector Ajit Agarkar had suggested that the World Cup squad will be picked from the 18-member Asia Cup squad (including the reserve Samson).
“We have picked best possible combination. We have depth in batting, we have spin and other bowling options. Hardik Pandya is a complete package, his form will be crucial for us at World Cup” Rohit Sharma said.
IND vs NEP, Asia Cup 2023: India (147/0) Beat Nepal (230) By 10 Wickets (Via DLS) To Reach Super Fours. Rohit Sharma (74*), Shubhman Gill (67*), Ravindra Jadeja (3/40).
BCCI
In a remarkable display of cricket prowess, India secured a coveted spot in the Asia Cup Super Four by crushing Nepal with a resounding 10-wicket victory.
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill emerged as the stars of the match, crafting unbeaten fifties to ensure India’s triumph.
Despite facing frequent rain interruptions, Nepal managed to post a commendable total of 230 after being asked to bat first. The match’s challenging conditions made it all the more impressive.
India, facing a revised target of 145 runs from 23 overs due to the DLS calculations, comfortably achieved victory thanks to Rohit Sharma (74 not out off 59 balls) and Shubman Gill (67 not out off 62 balls). Their powerful performance was instrumental in India’s success.
With this victory, India concluded their Group A matches with three points, securing their place in the Super Four. Pakistan had already secured a spot in the Super Four with three points as well.
#TeamIndia coast to a thumping victory and storm into the Super 4s! 💥
The openers remain undefeated, ensuring 🇮🇳 win without any hiccups.
Nepal’s pacers, KC Karan and Sompal Kami, displayed excellent pace, initially causing trouble for Indian openers Rohit and Gill.
Nepal had its moments in the match, both with the ball and bat, but ultimately bowed out of the Asia Cup without earning any points.
Bowling Challenges for India
While India’s victory was significant, their bowling performance against Nepal left room for improvement. The Indian bowlers struggled against Nepal, who were expected to be an easier opponent. Fielding was also a concern, with several dropped catches and misfields.
Nepal’s Aasif Sheikh (58 off 97 balls), Kushal Bhurtel (38 off 25 balls), and Sompal Kami (48 off 55 balls) provided a tough challenge to the Indian attack.
Despite being bundled out for just 104 by Pakistan in their previous match, Nepal showed their resilience and determination in this encounter.
Nepal got off to a flying start, reaching 65 for 1 in the first 10 overs, with Kushal Bhurtel playing a pivotal role. However, India would rue the missed opportunities as they gave Bhurtel two reprieves early in his innings.
Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka made resolute fifties after Matheesha Pathirana’s hostile bowling as Sri Lanka slayed Bangladesh by five wickets in their Asia Cup opener in Pallekele on Thursday.
Sri Lanka started their 2023 Asia Cup campaign with a win on Thursday.
Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka made resolute fifties after Matheesha Pathirana’s hostile bowling as Sri Lanka slayed Bangladesh by five wickets in their Asia Cup opener in Pallekele on Thursday. Pacer Pathirana’s 4 for 32 restricted Bangladesh to 164. The home side then rode on Samarawickrama’s 54 off 77 balls and Asalanka’s unbeaten 62 off 92 balls to overhaul the target in 39 overs. Samarawickrama is going through a career rejuvenation this year after fading from the scene.
He earned a recall to the Lanka Test side after five years against Ireland this July, and he also made a return to their ODI unit after a gap of four years during the home series against Afghanistan in June.
Samarawickrama made his Test return count with a hundred in the second match against Ireland. On Thursday, his fifty was the cornerstone of Lanka’s crucial win over Bangladesh.
But Lanka had to overcome a few uncomfortable moments before that.
Bangladesh bowlers had reduced Sri Lanka to 43 for three in 9.2 overs, dragging their side back into the match after their batsmen’s shoddy effort.
In Lankan cricketing circles, Samarawickrama has always been known as a stylish batsman.
Even on a slowing down pitch, the right-hander produced some sparkling shots using a wafer-thin bat and supple wrists.
His ability to find gaps around the field was visible when he drove pacer Shoriful Islam through covers with disdain for four, and later flicked left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan through mid-wicket for a boundary.
Samarawickrama had an equally composed partner in Asalanka as they produced 78 crucial runs for the fourth wicket.
The left-handed Asalanka, who has been in fine fettle this year in ODIs, was never hesitant to take the odd risks for a boundary, and it helped Samarawickrama to bat assuredly at the other end.
But off-spinner Mahedi Hasan snapped the partnership.
Hasan had Samarawickrama stumped by Mushfiqur Rahim with a tossed-up delivery that beat the batter.
Bangladesh did get a couple of quick wickets, but they just did not have enough runs on the board to defend.
For that, Sri Lanka should thank their bowlers who worked around a resilient fifty by Najmul Shanto, who made 89 off 122 balls with seven fours.
However, other batsmen did not pick up any hint from Shanto as Pathirana and spinner Maheesh Theekshana (2/19) combined to strike at regular intervals after Bangladesh opted to bat first.
Australia hammer South Africa in the first T20I at Durban (Photo Source: Twitter)
The first T20I encounter between South Africa and Australia, part of the Australia tour of South Africa 2023, took place at Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday. After winning the toss, South Africa chose to bowl first, setting the stage for a competitive battle.
Australia Innings:
Australia posted a formidable total of 226-6 in their allotted 20 overs. The batting highlights included a powerful knock from newly-appointed captain Mitchell Marsh, who scored a remarkable 92 not out off 49 deliveries. Tim David also played a pivotal role with a quickfire 64 runs off 28 balls. Their efforts contributed significantly to Australia’s commanding total.
Bowling figures for South Africa:
Lizaad Williams emerged as the standout bowler for South Africa, securing three crucial wickets while conceding 44 runs. Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee and Tabraiz Shamsi each claimed a wicket, albeit conceding runs in the process.
South Africa Innings:
In pursuit of Australia’s formidable target, South Africa struggled and managed to score 115/10 in 15.3 overs. Reeza Hendricks showcased an impressive performance with the bat, amassing 56 runs off 43 balls. However, remaining South Africa line-up struggled against the Australian bowlers.
Bowling figures for Australia:
Tanveer Sangha shone with the white leather on his T20I debut, capturing four wickets while conceding 31 runs. Marcus Stoinis and Spencer Johnson also contributed significantly with three and two wickets, respectively.
