Toss: Pakistan won the toss and chose to field first.
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, UAE
Umpires: Chris Gaffaney & Marais Erasmus
What Actually Happened
Winner: Pakistan won by 10 wickets
Scores: India 151/7 – Pakistan 152/0
Player of the Match: Shaheeen Shah Afridi 3/31
Best Figures
Shaheen Shah Afridi (4-0-31-3)
Most Runs
Virat Kohli 57 (49)
Mohammad Rizwan 79* (55), Babar Azam 68* (52)
Moments of The Day: A Day To Remember for Pakistan’s Stars
Shaheen Shah Afridi you beauty! What a memorable spell. LBW to Rohit Sharma, ball of the tournament through the gates of KL Rahul, and finally Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli‘s strike rate might be low on paper, but he did what was necessary. Absorbed the pressure, stemmed the flow of wickets, and took India to a decent total. Just could not accelerate towards the end.
Babar Azam-Mohammad Rizwan What do I even say? They have a 50+ T20I batting partnership average and for good reason. They bat and bat and bat and bat….152* (107) absolutely brilliant partnership that. If you want to understand the mental strength of Rizwan, just look at the video below.
Tweet of the Day
This is a brilliant piece of work. If you had to look at one piece of cricket content this week, look at the video below. Rizwan is the greatest.
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: World Cup Record 12-1
After numerous ODI World Cups and T20I, Pakistan have finally won the battle. 12 attempts, 1 win, Broken Dream for India’s enviable record against Pakistan in World Cups.
Also a good time to state that the IPL (with 10 teams) cannot be considered the world’s if it does not have players like Shaheen, Babar, and Rizwan.
No need to go elsewhere for the Points Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Mohommad Naim – 126 runs (Bangladesh, 3 Matches)
Shakib Al Hasan – 11 wickets (Bangladesh, 4 Matches)
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Bangladesh Vs Sri Lanka Quick Review – Finally a high scoring run chase! Sri Lanka win 4 in 4 as Bangladesh need to reflect on certain bowling decisions.
Moments of The Day: Batting Performances Mark High Scoring Day
Mohammad Naim continued his good form as he anchored the innings till the 16th over. It was Mushfiqur Rahim’s spectacular 57* that ensured Bangladesh went up to 171. The way he swept Hasaranga meant he only got 3 overs to bowl. After a poor run of form, good signs for Bangladesh that Rahim is back.
Sri Lanka had a similar story. Just like Rahim, birthday boy Rajapaksa kept the required rate in check during the middle overs, but the story of day was of Charith Asalanka—not only did he anchor the innings, he stayed till the end to see Sri Lanka get home.
Decision to hold Shakib & Fizz back contributed to Bangladesh’s loss. For the first 8 overs, it was anybody’s game. Then came in Shakib Al Hasan. Nissanka & Fernando both bowled throughout the gate. Bangladesh felt comfortable. Shakib still had 2 overs left. Instead of going for the jugular, two overs of Mahmudullah and one over from Afif Hossain brought Sri Lanka back into the game due to the presence of left handers. Finally, a 22-over from Saifuddin killed the chase. By the time Fizz and Shakib returned, SL only needed 24 of 24.
Lanka won by an over to spare and Shakib, higest wicket taker of the tournament so far, ended with only 3 overs…
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Liton Das
Liton Das had a poor day altogether.
16 (16), exchanged words with Lahiru Kumara after his dismissal, and dropped catches of both Asalanka and Rajapaksa, which were crucial moments in a close game.
No need to go elsewhere for the Points Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Mohommad Naim – 126 runs (Bangladesh, 3 Matches)
Shakib Al Hasan – 11 wickets (Bangladesh, 4 Matches)
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Toss: England won the toss and chose to field first.
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, UAE
Umpires: Aleem Dar & Marais Erasmus
What Actually Happened
Winner: England won by 6 wickets
Scores: West Indies 55/10 – England 56/4
Player of the Match: Moeen Ali 2/17
Best Figures
Adil Rashid (2.2-0-2-4)
Akeal Hosein (4-0-24-2)
Most Runs
Chris Gayle – 13 (13)
Jos Buttler – 24 (22)
Moments of The Day: England All the Way
Moeen Ali reaps rewards – Moeen has had an interesting 2 years since COVID. Travelled for 2 years with the squad, did not get much game time. Got exactly one match in the Indian Test series, where he performed well before he was sent home due to miscommunication. A brilliant IPL with CSK at #3, where his role in England T20s was undefined. Finally a Test retirement after the India-England home series. In this game, he opened the bowling, bowled 4 overs in a row, bagged two wickets (including a maiden), batted at #4, and a difficult running catch. Perfect day out for Moeen.
Tymal Mills comes back to the international side after 4-5 years and makes an immediate impression with 4-0-17-2. What a story since his Hundred performances.
Akeal Hosein‘s bowling and marvelous catch captures West Indies’ disciplined fielding effort. Although they got out for a low total, it was good to see that they did not give up. Attacking field settings by Pollard as well.
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: West Indies’ Worst Batting Effort
West Indies’ 55 all-out was the third lowest in all T20 World Cups, their 2nd lowest overall, their first loss to England in 6 attempts at T20 World Cups, and their biggest defeat in T20Is.
No need to go elsewhere for the Points Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Mohommad Naim – 126 runs (Bangladesh, 3 Matches)
Shakib Al Hasan – 11 wickets (Bangladesh, 4 Matches)
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Toss: Australia won the toss and chose to field first.
Venue: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Umpires: Michael Gough & Nitin Menon
What Actually Happened
Winner: Australia won by 5 wickets
Scores: South Africa 118/9 – Australia 121/5
Player of the Match: Josh Hazlewood 2/19
Best Figures
Josh Hazlewood (4-1-19-2), Adam Zampa (4-0-21-2)
Anrich Nortje (4-0-21-2)
Most Runs
Aiden Markram – 40 (36)
Steven Smith – 35 (34)
Moments of The Day: Fast Bowlers Shine As Smith, Finishers Save Australia
Fast Bowlers have a say in both innings – Hazlewood bagged the player of the match award with Starc (2/24) and Cummins (4-0-17-1). Nortje (2/21) & Rabada (1/28) with good figures from Australia as well.
The core of the Australian T20 batting is Maxwell, Smith, and Stoinis and all three came to the party with different roles to play. Smith stabilized the innings after Australia were struggling for 38-3 & Stoinis’ 24* (16) (and Wade’s 15* (10)) finished the game off when Australia were in a precarious position. However, it was Maxwell’s measly spell of 4-0-24-1 in the PowerPlay that set the tone.
South Africa squeeze – At the halfway stage, 118/9 did not inspire much confidence. Maharaj & Shamsi continued the pressure left from Rabada-Nortje with combined figres of 8-0-45-2 and backed it up with impressive fielding. Highlight of their fielding effort was Aiden Markram’s flying catch to dismiss Steve Smith.
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Faf Du Plessis – Huge Gamble for South Africa?
Faf Du Plessis was in touching distance of becoming the Orange Cap holder in IPL 2021 and was literally Protea’s best player in the IPL. Additionally, the second leg of the IPL was held on the same pitches as the ongoing World Cup. With an impressive bowling line up, South Africa’s only clear weakness is the batting. Except for Quinton de Kock (who took the second game off for personal reasons) & Rassie van der Dussen, the rest of the batting does not inspire consistency. Faf will be missed in this T20 World Cup.
Who were the stars of the day? Steve Smith, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, and Marcus Stoinis, basically the 4 foreign players that play in the Delhi Capitals XI.
T20 World Cup Points Table, Stat Alert
No need to go elsewhere for the Points Table, Highest Run Scorer, Highest Wicket Taker, Most Catches, and Most Dismissals. We will keep updating it in every article!
Mohommad Naim – 126 runs (Bangladesh, 3 Matches)
Shakib Al Hasan – 11 wickets (Bangladesh, 4 Matches)
Image Courtesy: Graphic (original work), Kyle Coetzer – Photo by Francois Nel-ICC/ICC via Getty Images, Mahmudullah – Photo by Mike Hewitt-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
