Afghanistan hold nerves to beat Ireland, qualify for 2019 World Cup

Agencies
March 24, 2018

New Delhi, Mar 24: Afghanistan returned from the pit's edge to qualify for next year's ICC Cricket World Cup when they defeated Ireland by five wickets in a tension-filled last Super Six match of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 at the Harare Sports Club on Friday.

Afghanistan were set for an early flight home when they lost their first three group matches but managed to qualify for the Super Six after Nepal upset Hong Kong. After winning both their Super Six matches against the Windies and the United Arab Emirates, they received an unexpected lifeline on Thursday when the UAE held their nerves to shock Zimbabwe by three runs.

In Friday's shootout, Afghanistan suffocated Ireland for runs on what looked like a good batting surface and restricted them to 209 for seven. They then almost made a hash of a straightforward run-chase before coasting home for the loss of five wickets with five balls to spare in what turned out to be a battle of attrition.

Afghanistan have joined the Windies as the second qualifier from the Zimbabwe event and the two sides will now go head to head in the final at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

Opener Mohammad Shahzad, who was named player of the match for a brisk knock of 54, said Afghanistan had found form in time.

"We lost a couple of matches but we played good cricket in the Super Sixes. We had to win this game. The plan was simple, I was looking for the loose deliveries, I did not care whether (it was a) spinner or fast bowler, I went for it. I believe in myself and the senior management staff encouraged me. Today I waited for the loose delivery and smashed the ball. Let's see West Indies, we are coming!" Shahzad said.

Afghanistan's fairy-tale run in the qualifier resembled that of Pakistan's and Australia's successes in the 1992 and 1999 World Cups.

Pakistan, after losing three of their first four matches and a no-result against England, won their last five matches to win the 1992 event at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Similarly, Australia lifted the silverware at Lord's in 1999 when they won six matches on the trot after making a dismal start to the tournament.

Next year's event, which will take place in England and Wales from May 30 to July 14, will be Afghanistan's second successive ICC Cricket World Cup, after they had also featured in the 2015 tournament in Australia and New Zealand, where they famously defeated Scotland by one wicket with three balls to spare in Dunedin.

Ireland, electing to bat first, lacked intensity and urgency as they failed to build partnerships and in the end had to be content with 209 for seven in 50 overs. Their inability to take control of the proceedings is evident from the fact that they played a total of 174 dot balls and scored only 102 runs in the last 20 overs, including 66 runs for the loss of three wickets in the last 10 overs.

William Porterfield and Paul Stirling added 53 runs for the first wicket in 94 balls, while the third wicket partnership between Stirling and Niall O'Brien produced 44 runs from 52 balls. The other partnership of note was between Kevin O'Brien and Gary Wilson, who added 47 runs for the sixth wicket from 45 balls.

Stirling was Ireland's top scorer with a clean 55 from 87 balls with three fours and a six, before he was run-out, while Niall O'Brien, playing in his 100th ODI, contributed 36 off 41 with four fours and a six. Kevin O'Brien played a useful hand of less than run-a-ball 41 with three fours and a six.

For Afghanistan, Rashid Khan picked up three wickets for 40 runs and is now just one wicket away from becoming the quickest bowler to 100 ODI wickets. Fast bowler Dawlat Zadran took two for 54.

Ireland captain William Porterfield said his team had not got enough runs on the board.

"We were probably 25 runs short. Then again, in games like this we can't fault anyone. We had opportunities but we lost three games. We had some key moments but we could not take them. We now get back for some rest and recuperation," Porterfield said.

In their turn at the wicket, Mohammad Shahzad scored his first half-century in seven matches (six ODIs), and dominated the 86 runs first-wicket partnership with Gulbadin Naib in 16.3 overs.

Shahzad's 54 came off 50 balls and included six fours and two sixes. He became first of off-spinner Simi Singh's victims who finished with impressive figures of three for 30.

Following Shahzad's dismissal, Ireland tightened the screws around Afghanistan and were rewarded with quick wickets of Rahmat Shah (12), Gulbadin (45) and Mohammad Nabi (12) as Afghanistan reached 151 for four in 40 overs, needing 59 off the last 10 overs.

However, Samiullah Shenwari (27), captain Asghar Stanikzai (39 not out) and left-hander Najibullah Zadran (17 not out) pushed the ball for ones and twos with an odd boundary here and there to see the team through, much to the relief of their team members who burst into a celebration.

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News Network
April 4,2020

New Delhi, April 4: India skipper Virat Kohli has said that the 2014 Test series against England was the lowest point of his career.

He made the revelation during a candid Instagram Live session with former England batsman Kevin Pietersen.

To date, the 2014 Test series in England remains one of the worst Test series for Kohli as he averaged just 13.40 from 10 ten innings with his highest score being 39.

"I felt like as a batsman, you know you are going to get out in the morning as soon as you wake up. That was the time I felt like that there is no chance I am getting runs. And still to get out of bed and just get dressed for the game and to go out there and go through that, knowing that you will fail, was something that ate me up," Kohli told Pietersen.

However, just four years later, Kohli made a triumphant return to England as he scored a century in the opening Test of the 2018 series and finished as the highest run-getter in the series.

Kohli told Pietersen that the performance in 2014 came because he was just thinking about his own batting.

"2014 series happened, for all the younger guys listening, because I was too focused on doing well from a personal point of view. I wanted to get runs. I could never think of what does the team want me to do in this situation," Kohli said.

"I just got too engulfed with England tour - if I perform here, Test cricket, in my mind I am going to feel established and all that crap on the outside, which is not important at all," he added.
During the chat, Kohli talked about his favourite format in cricket and he also revealed the main reason for turning into a vegan.

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Agencies
February 7,2020

New Delhi, Feb 7: It was on February 7, 1999, that Anil Kumble became just the second bowler in the history of cricket to take all ten wickets in an innings of a Test match.

He achieved the feat against Pakistan at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, now known as Arun Jaitley cricket stadium in Delhi during the second Test of the two-match series.

India had set Pakistan a target of 420 runs in the match and the visitors got off to a steady start as openers Shahid Afridi and Saeed Anwar put on 101 runs for the first wicket.

It was then Kumble who came into the attack and wreaked havoc on the Pakistani batting line-up.

The spinner, also known as 'Jumbo' first dismissed Afridi (41) in the 25th over. After the right-handed batter's dismissal, India kept on taking wickets through Kumble and Pakistan was reduced to 128/6 in no time.

Kumble then kept on taking wickets at regular intervals and he got his tenth scalp in the 61st over after dismissing Wasim Akram.

This effort enabled India to register a win by 212 runs, and Kumble became the second bowler after England's Jim Laker to take all ten wickets in a single Test inning.

Kumble finished with the bowling figures of 10-74 from 26.3 overs.

Kumble announced his retirement from international cricket in 2008 and finished with 619 wickets in the longest format of the game.

He has the third-highest number of wickets in Tests, only behind Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Australia's Shane Warne (708).

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Agencies
February 26,2020

It could be Virat Kohli versus Faf du Plessis in the Asia XI-World XI two-match T20 series that has been organised by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on March 18 and 21 -- subject to the India skipper confirming his availability.

The matches will be played to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The BCB is awaiting a confirmation from Kohli as well as K.L. Rahul for the March 18 game as India are set to play South Africa on the same day in the final ODI of a three-match series at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Agencies had earlier reported that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly had sent the names of Kohli, Mohammed Shami, Shikhar Dhawan and Kuldeep Yadav to the BCB for the two matches. And they all feature in the Asia XI team with the addition of wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant and Rahul.

Announcing the names, BCB President Nazmul Hassan said: "We have already received four names from India. We haven't signed contracts but Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Shikhar Dhawan and Mohammed Shami are supposed to come. They have said K.L. Rahul and Virat Kohli will play one game each, but that hasn't been finalised.

"Players like Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have finalised with us, from Afghanistan. Nepal's Sandeep Lamichhane will play while from Sri Lanka, we will have Lasith Malinga and Thisara Perera. From Bangladesh, we will have Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman, Mahmudullah and Liton Das.

"I don't remember all the names, but we will have three or four players from South Africa. Definitely, there will be the same number of players from West Indies. Australia and New Zealand will be playing but we will try to find some (players). Bairstow is definitely coming. Ngidi is coming. Chris Gayle is supposed to play. Faf du Plessis. We will have some of the best players around. We are uncertain about Pakistan since the PSL is will be ongoing. We will invite some of the cricketing greats."

Squads: Asia XI: Virat Kohli*, K.L. Rahul*, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Shikhar Dhawan, Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Thisara Perera, Rashid Khan, Mustifizur Rehman, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lasith Malinga, Muzeeb ur Rehman

World XI: Alex Hales, Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis (Captain), Nicholas Pooran, Ross Taylor, Jonny Bairstow, Kieron Pollard, Adil Rashid, Sheldon Cottrell, Lungi Ngidi, Andrew Tye, Mitchell McClenaghan. (Coach: Tom Moody)

Note: (*) For one game; Kohli's selection subject to confirmation.

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