ICC World Cup 2019: South Africa defeat Australia by 10 runs

Agencies
July 7, 2019

Manchester, Jul 7: South Africa wrapped up their World Cup campaign with a consolatory 10 runs win over Australia, here on Saturday.

South Africa scored 325/6 runs in 50 overs before bowling Australia out for 315 in 49.5 overs.

For the Proteas, skipper Faf du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen scored 100 and 95 runs, respectively. In bowling, right-arm pacer Kagiso Rabada took three wickets, while Dwaine Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo also got two wickets each.

For Australia, David Warner scored 122 runs, while wicket-keeper Alex Care also chipped in with the bat as he hit 85 runs. In bowling department, left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon took two wickets each while Jason Behrendorff and Pat Cummins claimed one wicket apiece.

Faf du Plessis was declared Man of the Match. With the virtue of this win, South Africa finished seventh in the league standing with three wins in nine matches.

Now, Australia, who finished second in the 10 teams World Cup, will meet England in the second semi-final at Edgbaston on Thursday, while New Zealand will play India in the first semi-final at Old Trafford on Tuesday. The final match of the tournament will be played at Lord's on July 14. 

Chasing a mammoth target of 326 runs, defending champion Australia got off to a worst possible start as they lost their captain Aaron finch for three runs in third over of their innings. The right-handed batsman caught by Aiden Markram off leg-break bowler Imran Tahir, who was playing his last ODI.

Then, Steven Smith was trapped lbw by Dwaine Pretorius for seven, reducing the Aussies to 33-2 in 6.3 overs. Earlier, Usman Khawaja, who came at No three, was retired hurt for six runs.

Marcus Stoinis and David Warner added a crucial 62 runs for the third wicket, taking the Aussies tally to 95 runs. In the 19th over, Stoinis was run out for 22 runs off 34 ball. The all-rounder hit four boundaries.

In the 25th over, Kagiso Rabada bowled a short delivery to Glenn Maxwell and he tried a pull short but ball took an edge and went to wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock who took a brilliant one-handed catch, ending Maxwell's 12 runs innings off 20 ball in which he hit one boundary. 

Then, Warner and Alex Carey stitched together a partnership of 108 runs for the fifth wicket, keeping the five-time World Champion in the hunt. Meanwhile, Warner completed his third century in the tournament. In the 40th over, Faf du Plessis brought Pretorius back to the attack and he did not disappoint his captain. Warner was caught by Chris Morris off Pretorius for 118 runs off 116 balls. This was a big blow to Australia.

After the dismissal of Warner, Pat Cummins held one end while Carey kept hitting the ball to keep Australia's hope alive in the match. In the 45 over, Cummins was caught by Jean-Paul Duminy off Phehlukwayo for nine off 15 balls. He was dismissed in the form of sixth wicket.

In the very next over, Carey's fighting-innings ended as Aiden Markram took his catch off Morris. The keeper scored 85 runs off 69 balls, hitting 11 fours and one six.
Khawaja came back to replace Carey. In the last three overs, Australia needed 48 runs and they had three wickets in hand.

Khawaja was dismissed in the 49th over by Rabada for 18 runs. 

Mitchel Stark was clean bowled by Rabada for 16 runs. Nathan Lyon (3) was dismissed in the form of last Australian wicket in the final over of the match.

Earlier, after opting to bat, openers Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram gave South Africa an explosive start.

The duo of de Kock and Markram scored 73 runs in the first powerplay and dominated the Aussie attack. In the 12th over, Nathan Lyon got rid of Aiden Markram to give Australia their first wicket.

After de Kock's wicket, South Africa captain Faf du Plessis joined Quinton de Kock who looked in fine touch. Quinton played some great shots and took Proteas to 102/1 in 15 overs.

Meanwhile, Quinton de Kock completed his 24th ODI fifty. However, he couldn't continue his innings longer and got out to Nathan Lyon after scoring 52 runs off 51 balls.
Then, Skipper Faf du Plessis took the charge and kept his team on track for a big total. He got the most able support from the other end from Rassie van der Dussen.

In the meantime, Faf du Plessis completed his third successive fifty in this World Cup and took his team to 172/2 in 30.3 overs.

Moving ahead, both the batsmen kept on thrashing the Aussie bowlers and were set for the strong finish. Rassie van der Dussen also got his 7th ODI fifty leaving South Africa at 251/2 in 41 overs.

Eyeing for a big total, Faf du Plessis played some lusty shots and completed his 12th ODI century in just 93 balls taking Africa to 260/2 in 42.2 overs.

However, Faf du Plessis walked to the pavilion on Jason Behrendorffs's ball. du Plessis and van der Dussen stitched a partnership of 151 runs for the third wicket.

JP Duminy joined van der Dussen on the crease after du Plessis wicket. Playing his final ODI for South Africa, Duminy could only score 14 runs and got out to Starc.

In the end, Rassie van der Dussen played a crucial knock of 95 off 97 balls, leading South Africa to a total of 325/6 in 50 overs.

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Agencies
June 23,2020

Belgrade, June 23: Novak Djokovic tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday after taking part in a tennis exhibition series he organized in Serbia and Croatia.

The top-ranked Serb is the fourth player to test positive for the virus after first playing in Belgrade and then again last weekend in Zadar, Croatia.

His wife also tested positive. “The moment we arrived in Belgrade we went to be tested. My result is positive, just as Jelena's, while the results of our children are negative," Djokovic said in a statement.

Djokovic has been criticized for organizing the tournament and bringing in players from other countries amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Viktor Troicki said Tuesday that he and his pregnant wife have both been diagnosed with the virus, while Grigor Dimitrov, a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist from Bulgaria, said Sunday he tested positive.

Borna Coric played Dimitrov on Saturday in Zadar and said Monday he has also tested positive. There were no social distancing measures observed at the matches in either country and Djokovic and other players were seen hugging each other and partying in night clubs and restaurants after the matches.

 “Everything we did in the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions,” Djokovic said.

“Our tournament meant to unite and share a message of solidarity and compassion throughout the region.” Djokovic, who has previously said he was against taking a vaccine for the virus even if it became mandatory to travel, was the face behind the Adria Tour, a series of exhibition events that started in the Serbian capital and then moved to Zadar.

He left Croatia after the final was canceled and was tested in Belgrade. The statement said Djokovic was showing no symptoms.

Despite the positive test, Djokovic defended the exhibition series. “It was all born with a philanthropic idea, to direct all raised funds towards people in need and it warmed my heart to see how everybody strongly responded to this,” Djokovic said.

"We organized the tournament at the moment when the virus has weakened, believing that the conditions for hosting the Tour had been met. “Unfortunately, this virus is still present, and it is a new reality that we are still learning to cope and live with.”

Djokovic said he will remain in self-isolation for 14 days and also apologized to anyone who became infected as a result of the series. Organizers of the Adria Tour said the third stage of the event, scheduled to held next week in Bosnia, has been cancelled.

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News Network
June 25,2020

New Delhi, Jun 25: India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Thursday called the 1983 World Cup win as the 'landscape' changing moment for the game of cricket in the country.

Today, India is celebrating the completion of the 37 years of the maiden World Cup triumph under the leadership of Kapil Dev.

"Today 37 years ago, changed the cricketing landscape in India. Thank you @therealkapildev and team for making the game a career for many of us today. Deeply indebted," Ashwin tweeted.

In 1983, in the finals between India and West Indies, the latter won the toss and opted to bowl first.

The Kapil Dev-led side managed to score just 183 runs as Andy Roberts took three wickets while Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, and Larry Gomes picked up two wickets each.

Defending 183, India did a good job of keeping a check on the Windies run flow, reducing the side to 57/3.

Soon after, the team from the Caribbean was reduced to 76/6 and India was the favourites from there on to win the title.

Mohinder Amarnath took the final wicket of Michael Holding to give India their first-ever World Cup title win.

In the finals, West Indies was bowled out for 140, and as a result, India won the match by 43 runs.

Kapil Dev lifting the trophy at the balcony of Lord's Cricket Ground still remains an image to savour for all the Indian fans.

In the finals, Mohinder Amarnath was chosen as the Man of the Match as he scored 26 runs with the bat and also picked up three wickets with the ball.

India has been the regular participant in the World Cup from its beginning to the latest edition. The first edition was held in 1975 and from there on, it has taken place after a span of every four years.

West Indies won the first two World Cup titles (1975, 1979) and was the runner-up in 1983. India has won the title two times, in 1983 and in 2011.

MS Dhoni captained the 2011 team to win their second title after 28 years. Australia has won the tournament five times (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2015).

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Agencies
August 4,2020

New Delhi, Aug 4: Former India women's team captain Anjum Chopra firmly believes that the BCCI has a plan for women's cricket but she wants the Board to communicate its ideas more specifically.

Speaking to news agency, Chopra, who is now a successful broadcaster, said the BCCI is thinking in earnest about the progress of women's cricket.

"It's not that the BCCI is not thinking about women's cricket. I only think they need to be more specific in communication about women's cricket," Chopra said.

"I firmly believe that they must be thinking about women's cricket but the communication all this while has been very specific to men's cricket."

The latest trigger for criticism of BCCI was India's withdrawal from a tour of England in September owing to logistical issues arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chopra concedes it was "not nice" but Indian players' participation in the women's IPL, in November, will still be useful preparation for next year's ODI World Cup.

"It is heartening to see women's cricket making headlines. They should have been a part of that England tour and it did not feel nice initially but the women's IPL, irrespective of the format, will be helpful for World Cup preparations. Any form of cricket is good preparation," Chopra said.

"Missing out on a tournament is not nice, but logistically there may have been issues. And you can't send an under-prepared team."

"If you see in isolation we may have missed out on an opportunity to play in England. The more the girls play the better it is, before playing a tournament of the stature of World Cup. The assurance from the president is a very good thing."

Chopra welcomed the Sourav Ganguly-led BCCI's decision to hold the women's event in the UAE alongside the IPL, which will run from September 19 to November 10. The women's IPL will coincide with the business end of the men's league.

"I am definitely happy, it's always nice to be part of any cricket anywhere across the world.

"They should have been nearing the final stages of the preparation for the World Cup by now, but because of the pandemic things did not go as planned," she added.

Chopra had a successful international career spanning over 17 years, during which she represented India in a record six World Cups and became the first woman cricketer to appear in 100 One-day Internationals.

She also felt that the pandemic would not have much impact on the women's game that has gained momentum in recent times.

"...Cricket was on pause button...Once cricket resumes and players are back on the park, everything is going to get picked up. It might take some time to get started as everything starts from zero...

"The awareness the women's game has created, I hope it stays. They will just restart, not start after the pandemic."

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