Author: Kashish Chadha

In a game of great context, West Indies came out on top against Bangladesh on Friday to keep their semi-final hopes alive in the T20 World Cup 2021. The Calypso Kings won by just 3 runs in a tight contest in Sharjah that went to the last ball. With their win in the virtual knock-out, the defending champions not only avoided elimination but also triggered a Super 12 exit for their Asian rivals. In an additional subplot, West Indies potentially also averted having to play the preliminary round of next year’s event in Australia.  https://twitter.com/World_T20/status/1454348362774364160 As confirmed by ICC, the finalists of…

Pakistan went three in three in the T20 World Cup 2021 on Friday, securing their victory over Afghanistan in the Super 12 Group 2 encounter in Dubai. They kept their Asian counterparts at bay and won by five wickets despite a slightly nervy second half. Chasing a target of 148, Pakistan had powerhitter Asif Ali ending the contest in the 19th over with as many as four sixes in his late blitz of 25* off seven balls. But before he went bang-bang, there was an air of tension in the chase as Pakistan had just lost their skipper Babar Azam after a half-century (51 off…

For the past year, David Warner has been termed as “finished” and what not. The Australian opener finally found some form and made a strong statement with the bat as well as on the microphone.  Warner scored 65 runs off 42 balls at Dubai as the Aussies chased down 155 in 17 overs with seven wickets remaining. Earlier, Adam Zampa 2/12 and Mitchell Starc 2/27 bowled beautifully to restrict the Lankan Lions to just 154/6 on what was a fresh belter of a deck. https://twitter.com/ESPNcricinfo/status/1453779480519004161 Speaking in post-match presser, Warner was dismissive about the whole debate about his form, saying he just laughs it off.  “I actually think people…

Finch was all praise for his team’s lead spinner Adam Zampa after his “terrific” performance with the ball against Sri Lanka in an important T20 World Cup 2021 fixture on Thursday. Playing their second Super 12 encounter in Group 1 in Dubai, Australia found themselves under pressure when Sri Lanka raced to a score of 60/1 in 7 overs. Then Zampa got into the act and delivered a four-over spell of 2/12 that completely soaked the momentum out of Sri Lanka’s innings. Zampa’s miserly spell ensured SL were forced to take extra risks for run-scoring and that led to a flurry of…

As West Indies approach the first of their string of virtual knock-outs in Group 1 of the T20 World Cup 2021, middle-order batter Nicholas Pooran said there is still no shortage of belief in his team’s camp and that they can still be “successful” in the tournament. Starting from Friday’s game against Bangladesh in Sharjah, West Indies need to win all of their remaining matches by a hefty margin to make the semis. A loss to the Bangla Tigers will end the defending champions’ title dream, as they have already tasted defeats to England and South Africa. “It’s a do-or-die game for us. And we believe that we’re going…

In a reversal of stance against gesturing his support to the Black Lives Matter campaign, Quinton de Kock will now be taking the knee and resume his South African duties in the ongoing T20 World Cup in the UAE. After contentiously missing the game against West Indies because of his disapproval of a Cricket South Africa directive, De Kock has now apologised for causing “hurt, confusion and anger” among the Proteas fans. He opted out of South Africa’s second Super 12 fixture in Dubai on Tuesday (October 26). Initially, Proteas captain Temba Bavuma said it was down to “personal reasons”, but later CSA confirmed that the player had indeed withdrawn…

On Tuesday, New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson was on Tuesday ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2021. The tall express quick will not be taking any further participation in the competition because of an injured calf of his, the New Zealand Cricket has confirmed. According to the statement released by NZC ahead of their first Super 12 game against Pakistan in Sharjah, Ferguson “felt tightness in his right calf following training” and subsequent MRI scans revealed that the pacer has “a grade two tear which would require three to four weeks recovery.” Given the tightness of the schedule in the Super 12…

Windies suffered yet another disappointing loss in the T20 World Cup 2021, going down by eight wickets to South Africa in their second Group 1 game in Dubai on Tuesday. The Calypso Kings were once again outclassed by an opposition and are now vulnerable to face a Super 12 exit. Having gone down to England at the same venue on Saturday after being bundled out for just 55, WI made a better batting effort, scoring 143/8 batting first. But that was still a score well below par for the surface. It was another grim reminder of their recent struggles in…

Defeat in their opening game against Australia is now a thing of the past, said South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada while highlighting he is instead looking forward to play against West Indies in Super 12 encounter in Dubai on Tuesday. Windies may have themselves suffered a humiliating loss versus England in their first game, but according to Rabada, the defending champions can’t be underestimated by his team.  “They’re a dangerous team. You can’t underestimate anyone. Tomorrow is a new day. We’re going to have to go and be as disciplined as we were in our first game [with the ball]. We cannot take…

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson confirmed that his persistent elbow issue is now “improving” as he and his team are set to open their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2021 on Tuesday. Ahead of the all-important Pakistan clash in Sharjah, SRH man hinted that his extended rehab is bearing good fruits and he is in a much better position to take the field and bat, although there are still certain “challenges”. “My elbow is improving. It’s just been an ongoing sort of challenge to deal with it regarding loading and these sorts of things. It’s just a work in progress. But I think all in all,…