India cruise to victory as Chahal puts South Africa in a spin

Agencies
February 5, 2018

Centurion, Feb 5: Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav's magical wrist spin outfoxed a depleted South Africa as Indian romped to a crushing nine-wicket win in the second ODI to reclaim the pole position in the ICC rankings here on Sunday.

India now lead the six-match series 2-0 as they literally annihilated the home team which had the ignominy of being shot out for a paltry 118 in 32.3 overs -- their lowest-ever score at home.

Chahal recorded his career-best ODI figures of 5 for 22 in 8.2 overs and was superbly complemented by Kuldeep (3/20 in 6 overs) with none of the Proteas batsmen able to read them off their hands nor off the pitch.

Interestingly Chahal's figures were best by any Indian bowler on South African soil eclipsing Yuvraj Singh's 4 for 6 against Namibia at Pietermaritzburg during 2003 World Cup.

It was a walk in the park for the batsmen as Shikhar Dhawan (51 n.o.) helped himself to a nice half-century in company of skipper Kohli (46 n.o.) to get India atop the 50-over rankings, finishing the match in 20.3 overs. However, ICC will not be releasing the ranking list till the end of the series as it is a convention.

The end of the match bordered on farcical as on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Adrian Holdstock called for lunch with India needing only two runs for a victory.

The umpires went by the book to call for lunch as 19 overs of Indian innings was possible before the break. However, commentators Mike Haysman and Sunil Gavaskar were very critical of the rigid ICC 'Playing Conditions' with players required to comeback for scoring two runs.

Probably to make a point, India played a maiden over before Kohli got a couple to finish off the match.

It was once again the wiry-framed Chahal and chubby-cheeked Kuldeep who bamboozled the batsmen with their difficult art-form with a collective haul of 8 for 42 -- best ever by spin duo in an ODI on South African soil.

While AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis' absence is an advantage, the performance on South African soil by the spinners will go a long way in shedding the tag of being backyard bullies.

Chahal struck in his second over as Quinton de Kock (20) was caught in the deep trying to pull his leg-break.

It soon became two wickets in two balls, as new skipper Aiden Markram (8) played a poor stroke off a Kuldeep half-tracker in the very next over being caught in the deep as Bhuvneshwar Kumar took a well-judged catch.

Four balls later, David Miller tried to drive a perfectly dipping leg-break delivery and offered a simple catch in the slips. South Africa lost three wickets without scoring any runs in the space of six balls and never recovered from thereon.

Khaya Zondo (25) and JP Duminy (25) added 48 runs for the fifth wicket to stem the rot but only for a brief period.

But the procession began once the wrist-spinners came back in action. Zondo miscued one off Chahal in the 27th over and was caught at midwicket, with Pandya latching on second attempt.

South Africa barely crossed 100 in that over, and then Chahal came with another breakthrough, trapping Duminy plumb lbw. The Proteas then lost their last five wickets for 11 runs and were bowled out in the 33rd over.

Chahal trapped Morne Morkel (1) leg before as well, while Kuldeep got rid of Kagiso Rabada (1) with a wrong one, another leg-before.

Chasing a paltry 119 for victory, India hardly looked in any trouble whatsoever, coasting home with plenty to spare.

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News Network
April 5,2020

New Delhi, April 5: England batsman James Vince lashed out at people for not taking proper measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and said people are going out as if "everything is normal".

"Just seen the pictures of people out and about today as if everything is normal. What selfish people, surely by now they've realised this is serious. Well done to everyone who's doing their bit and staying in," Vince tweeted.

On March 13, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that Europe was now the 'epicentre' of the disease.

The death toll due to the novel coronavirus in the UK has exceeded 4,313 with at least 708 new deaths in the last 24 hours, the largest one-day rise since the start of the outbreak as confirmed by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The total number of cases in the UK as on Saturday is 41,903, a rise of 3,735 cases in the last 24 hours.

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News Network
February 18,2020

Feb 18: Spinner Poonam Yadav claimed three wickets as India geared up for the ICC women's T20 World Cup with a thrilling two-run win over the West Indies in a low-scoring warm-up match in Brisbane on Tuesday. Electing to bat, India posted a lowly 107/8 in their stipulated 20 overs before returning to restrict the West Indies to 105/7. Chasing 108 to win, West Indies were comfortably placed at 57 for one in 13 overs when Deepti Sharma struck, cleaning up opener Lee-Ann Kirby (42) to trigger a collapse. Soon skipper Stafanie Taylor (16), Chedean Nation (0) and Deandra Dottin (1) were back in the hut as West Indies slipped to 67 for five in the 17th over.

Hayley Matthews (25) and Chinelle Henry (17) blasted three fours and a six in the 19th over to leave them with 11 to get off the last six balls.

Henry blasted Poonam for a four but the Indian dismissed Matthews in the fourth ball.

West Indies needed three runs off the last ball but Henry was caught by Veda Krishnamurthy.

Earlier, India's top-three failed to fire as they were reduced to 17 for three in 3.1 overs.

Opener Smriti Mandhana (4) lasted just six balls, while Jemimah Rodrigues (0) failed to open her account.

Young Shafali Verma blasted a couple of fours before being caught by Britney Cooper off Shamilia Connell (2/20).

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (11), too, didn't stay long, while Krishnamurthy was cleaned up by Afy Fletcher (1/26), as India slumped to 52 for five in 11.2 overs.

Deepti Sharma made a 32-ball 21 before becoming a victim of Anisa Mohammed (2/16), while Pooja Vastrakar (13) was removed by Aaliyah Alleyne (1/9).

Stafanie taylor then got rid of Taniya Bhatia for 10. Shikha Pandey finally smashed a 16-ball 24 to give some respectability to the total.

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News Network
April 8,2020

New Delhi, Apr 8: Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar on Wednesday proposed a three-match ODI series against arch-rivals India to raise funds for the fight against the Covid19 pandemic in both the countries.

The two nations have not played a full-series since 2007 due to the terrorist attacks on India by Pakistan-based outfits and the resultant diplomatic tension. They only play each other in ICC events and Asia Cup.

"In this time of crisis, I want to propose a three-match series in which for the first time, the people of neither country would be upset at the outcome of the games," Akhtar told PTI from Islamabad.

"If Virat (Kohli) scores a hundred, we will be happy, if Babar Azam scores a hundred, you will be happy. Both teams will be winners irrespective of whatever happens on the field," he said.

"You are bound to get massive viewership for the games. For the first time, both countries will play for each other. And whatever funds are generated through this can be donated equally to the government of India and Pakistan to fight this pandemic," added the 44-year-old.

No idea of logistics

With both countries in a lockdown amid the fast-spreading pandemic, the games can only be organised when things improve. However, Akhtar feels the sooner they are held, the better it would be but could not tell how the logistics of such an initiative would be worked out.

"Everyone is sitting at home at the moment, so there will be a massive following for the games. May be not now, when things start improving, the games could be organised at a neutral location like Dubai. Chartered flights could be arranged and the matches could he held.

"The whole world will tune into it, so much money can be raised to deal with this crisis. In difficult times, the character of the nation comes forward."

Start of a new era?

"It could even lead to resumption of bilateral cricketing ties and relations of both countries improve diplomatically. You never know," said the 'Rawalpindi Express'.

In these extraordinary times, Akhtar feels both countries should help each other. "We can only propose the matches. The rest is up to the authorities (to decide)."

India cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh were recently trolled for asking their social media followers to donate to Shahid Afridi's charity foundation which is doing its bit in Pakistan's fight against the deadly virus.

"It was inhuman to criticise them. It is not about countries or religion at the moment, it is about humanity," he opined.

India memories

Akhtar has spent a lot of time in India as a commentator. He fondly recalled his days in Mumbai during the World T20 in 2016, the last time he came to India for work.

"I am forever grateful about the love I have received from the people of India. For the first time I am revealing this, whatever I used to earn from India, I made a significant amount there, thirty percent of it, I used to distribute among the low income staff who used to work with me in the TV," he remembered.

Akhtar used to visit the city's slum areas with his face covered to hand out financial help to elder women there.

"From drivers, runners to my security guys. I took care of a lot of people. I was like if am earning from this country, I have to help my colleagues also.

"I also remember visiting slums of Dharavi and Sion in the wee hours to meet people I worked with," added Akhtar.

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