Cricket news round-up – 05 July: West Indies win last fixture; Shaun Marsh out of World Cup

Chris Gayle‘s last World Cup match ended on a winning note as West Indies defeated Afghanistan by 23 runs. Shaun Marsh is out of World Cup 2019 due to injury. Australia Women take lead in the Ashes.

West Indies defeated a spirited Afghanistan

Contributions from middle order helped West Indies to put a 300+ score against Afghanistan. Both have been eliminated from the World Cup and had nothing to lose. Evin Lewin (58), Shai Hope (77), Shimron Hetmyer (39), Nicholas Pooran (58), and Jason Holder ( 45)- everyone clicked for West Indies in their last World Cup 2019 match. Chris Gayle playing his last World Cup match failed to score runs and went out for only seven. For Afghanistan, although Dawlat Zadran took two wickets, he was the most expensive bowler.

Afghanistan lost their captain in the second over of the chase. But the spirited Afghans did not surrender. Rahmat Shah (62) and Ikhram Alikhil (86) continued the show. Najibullah Zadran’s 31 and Ashghar Afghan’s 40 kept them in the chase. But then they lost three wickets within 16 runs and there was a collapse in the lower order except a 17-ball 25 from Sayed Shizrad. Finally, Afghanistan innings ended on 288.

Injured Shaun Marsh out of World Cup

Australia faced an injury blow as Cricket Australia confirmed that their reserve batsman Shaun Marsh has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with a fractured forearm. The 35-year-old southpaw got hit on his forearm while facing Pat Cummins in the nets at Old Trafford and was sent for scans immediately which revealed the fracture.

His replacement is the young wicketkeeper-batsman Peter Handscomb. Handscomb is already in England as part of the Australia A set up and expected to join the team by Friday.

Australia had another injury scare as all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was also had a similar issue on his arm. However, in his case, scans did not reveal any issue.

Ireland win the ODI series

Ireland openers yet again gave a solid start to the innings in the 2^nd ODI against Zimbabwe. Paul Stirling (52) and James McCollum (73) put 111 runs together. Then three wickets well in quick successions till William Porterfield (20) and Lorcan Tucker (56) held the innings. Post the dismissal of the former, Tucker singlehandedly took the score from 188/5 to 241/9. Solon Mire ran through the Irish top order to scalp four wickets.

In reply, Zimbabwe lost the openers soo. But Ervine took the charge and scored 43 runs. Once he was gone, Sean Williams (58), Sikandar Raza (31), Ryan Burl (53), and Donald Tiripano (33) continued the chase. But Tim Murtagh delivered a brilliant spell to finish with 10-1-21-5. Shane Getkate took two important ones. Eventually, Ireland won the match by five wickets and the series 2-0.

Australia Women take lead

The second ODI of Australia Women tour of England saw Australia moving up 2-0 to take lead in the Women’s Ashes points table. Tammy Beaumont scored 114 to stop the top order from collapse. She led the innings accompanied by a few to put a decent total of 217 on board. Delissa Kimmince (5/ 27 in 7.4 overs) stole the show. She ran through the lower order of England to wrap up the innings for them.

Australia struggled from the beginning while chasing. The two openers were gone within the third over of their innings. Even Meg Lanning was gone soon with the team score on 59/3. Then recovery was done by Ellyse Perry ( 62) and Rachael Haynes (30). Both built the innings slowly and gave the right direction to the chase. Then it was Beth Mooney who finally finished the tricky job. She remained not out on 43 along with Jessica Jonassen on 31. Anya Shrubsole took three wickets but couldn’t stop the Aussies.