India cruise past Aussies, England edge NZ
DUBAI: India cruised to their second straight warm-up win over Australia and England beat New Zealand despite some late drama in the warm-up games ahead of the Super 12 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 on Wednesday.
All the Indian batters contributed to the eight-wicket win, with Rohit Sharma leading the way with a fantastic halfcentury.
India spun a web around the Australian top-order before Steve Smith’s half-century and Marcus Stoinis’ cameo propelled Australia to 152.
Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul started steadily on a sluggish track where shot-making was difficult against the pacers. Against the spinners, however, Rahul looked at absolute ease as he smashed Agar and Zampa down the ground for two sixes and a four. Rohit, at the other end, seemed happy to play second fiddle.
KL Rahul eventually fell to Ashton Agar, trying to clear the boundary once again only to find David Warner in the deep. By the time Rahul was out, Rohit Sharma had got his eye in and took over the mettle of run-scoring. He brought up his half-century with a wonderful cut off Stonis.
Suryakumar Yadav too got some valuable runs to boost his confidence ahead of India’s Super 12 opener against Pakistan. When India needed 26 off 30, Rohit decided to retire himself out to give Hardik Pandya some muchneeded game time and it was eventually him who sealed the game with a straight six.
Earlier in the day, Australia skipper Aaron Finch chose to bat first against Rohit Sharma-led Indian team.
India chose to start with spin at one end and reaped instant rewards as Ashwin sent David Warner and Mitchell Marsh back to the pavilion off consecutive balls.
Ravindra Jadeja scalped Aaron Finch off his first ball after which Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell have steadied the ship as Australia go into the drinks break at 57/3.
Just when it looked like Maxwell was getting in the groove, Rahul Chahar got the better of him with the googly.
Though Virat Kohli did not come out for the toss, he did roll his arm over for a couple of overs.
Steve Smith soon brought up a well-made half-century after smashing Shardul Thakur for three consecutive fours. Stoinis’ unbeaten 25-ball 41 helped Australia post 152/5 at the end of 20.
BUTTLER POWERS ENGLAND
New Zealand recovered from 103/9 to take their game against England to the last over, but fell short by 13 runs in the end in Abu Dhabi.
After Guptill got New Zealand off to a flyer, England roared back into the game and threatened to finish it early before Ish Sodhi and Todd Astle strung together a 47-run stand for the final wicket.
Defending 165, England’s decision to open the bowling with Liam Livingstone backfired after Martin Guptill smashed two sixes in the first over. Tim Seifert’s stay at the crease did not last long but Guptill at the other end showed no signs of slowing down, hitting Mark Wood for three fours in an over.
Going strong at 59/1 after the Powerplay, three wickets in four overs pegged New Zealand back as they went into the drinks breaks at 87/4.
The Kiwis never got their innings going after that as wickets kept tumbling. Adil Rashid struck twice in two balls to remove Mark Chapman and Mitchell Santner. Wood ran through the lower order and was on a hat-trick after he dismissed Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson off consecutive balls.
Earlier, Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to put England in to bat first.
Jos Buttler led the recovery after England lost Jason Roy to the first ball of the game, with Buttler hitting a classy 73 off 51.
The introduction of spin helped New Zealand put the brakes on the scoring. Ish Sodhi, who had earlier scalped Dawid Malan, trapped Morgan in front and then bagged the big wicket of Buttler in the deep.
Spinners continued to make merry as Glenn Phillips scalped Liam Livingstone for 1, but Jonny Bairstow and Sam Billings helped England finish strongly.
En route to his 27, Billings smashed Jamieson for 20 in the penultimate over as England finished on 163/6.