South Africa stutter before beating Zimbawe
Dhawan left out of India squad for series
KIMBERLEY, South Africa, Sept 30, (AFP): South Africa had some anxious moments before beating Zimbabwe by five wickets in the first one-day international at the Diamond Oval on Sunday.
It looked like being an easy day for the hosts when Zimbabwe crashed to 117 all out, their lowest total in 39 one-day internationals between the two countries.
But South Africa also struggled on a pitch of variable and occasionally steep bounce, losing their first four wickets for 58 runs before a hard-hit 44 by wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen took them most of the way to the win.
“It was a very indifferent wicket,” said stand-in South African captain JP Duminy. “There was always something in it for the bowlers. Even though we bowled well it was quite a tough total to chase down.”
Opening bowler Lungi Ngidi took three for 19 to lead a potent South African bowling performance after Duminy sent Zimbabwe in to bat.
“It was about keeping it simple, hitting your lengths and the wicket will do the rest,” said Ngidi, who was named man of the match.
Duminy’s decision to bowl paid off almost immediately when Solomon Mire was caught at second slip off Ngidi without scoring.
Although captain Hamilton Masakadza made 25 and Elton Chigumbura hit 27, Zimbabwe were unable to put together any substantial partnerships as the South African bowlers maintained control.
“We were surprised how it played,” said Masakadza. “If we had scored another 50 or 60 runs we would have been more competitive.”
Kagiso Rabada, Andile Phehlukwayo and leg-spinner took two wickets apiece to back up Ngidi.
Zimbabwe may have been unfortunate when Craig Ervine was the second batsman to fall, given out caught behind off Wiaan Mulder when replays suggested the ball may have missed his bat. No decision review system is in place in this low-profile series.
Tendai Chatara bowled an impressive opening spell, taking two for 12 in six overs to raise Zimbabwe’s hopes before Klaasen took charge. Klaasen hit 44 off 44 balls before he was fifth man out with 22
South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada bowls during the first One Day International cricket match between South Africa and Zimbabwe at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley
on Sept 30, 2018. (AFP)
runs still needed.
Klaasen hit two successive sixes off left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza before he was caught in the deep trying to hit a third.
Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan has been dropped from India’s Test squad for the upcoming West Indies series, the country’s cricket board announced Saturday.
Dhawan had a forgettable England tour with the left-handed opener managing just 162 runs in eight innings as top-ranked India lost the Test series 1-4.
Uncapped batsman Mayank Agarwal and rookie fast bowler Mohammed Siraj were included in the 15-man team that will be led by Virat Kohli, who was rested in the recent Asia Cup 50-over tournament won by India.
The national selectors decided to rest fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar due to their “recent workload”, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement.
“Both Ishant Sharma and Hardik Pandya were not considered for selection, as they are yet to recover from their injuries,” the BCCI added.
The first Test will be held in Rajkot starting Oct 4, with the second in Hyderabad from Oct 12.
The two teams will also play five one-day international and three Twenty20 matches after the Test matches.
The world’s top Test side will then head to Australia for a full series starting November.
Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), K.L. Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur
Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza says his team must overcome a “mental block” in order to secure victory in crucial games after the Tigers lost their third international final this year.
The national side were praised for their spirited showing in the Asia Cup final on Friday against India, who clinched victory by three wickets in a last-ball thriller.
Replying to Bangladesh’s modest 222, India gained victory only through a leg-bye off the final ball to secure their seventh Asia Cup title.
The agonizing loss was Bangladesh’s third this year in a championship final.
The Tigers lost to Sri Lanka in a tri-nation one-day international final in January before falling short against India in a Twenty20 tournament decider in March.
“For some reason, it is not happening. If we can do it once, maybe it will be easier,” Mortaza told reporters late Saturday upon returning from the Asia Cup venue in Dubai.
“Of course there is some mental block. Winning a tournament is important to overcome this hurdle.”
Their next opportunity will come in October and November, when Bangladesh host Zimbabwe for three one-day internationals and two Test matches.
Mortaza said he was “disappointed” that Bangladesh had slipped again. But he urged his men to take the fighting spirit they showed in the Asia Cup final into their next fixtures.