Cricket news round-up – 29 July: Sri Lanka win series, Australia Women march on, Singapore stun Nepal

A 7-wicket win against Bangladesh at Premadasa Stadium helped Sri Lanka take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ongoing ODI series; Australia Women won their second T20I in the ongoing Ashes; Singapore won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Region Final following an 82-run win against Nepal; and Sussex and Worcestershire won their respective home matches.

Finally, a win for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka finally ended their 44-month drought with a 7-wicket win to clinch the 3-ODI series against Bangladesh. They had last won a bilateral series at home back in November 2015, against West Indies.

Batting first at Premadasa, Bangladesh were jolted early by Nuwan Pradeep (2/53) and Isuru Udana (2/58), while Akila Dananjaya celebrated his comeback with an excellent 2/39.

However, Mushfiqur Rahim (98* in 110) kept the battle going. Mehidy Hasan Miraz contributed with a 49-ball 43, helping add 83 for the seventh wicket after Bangladesh were 117/6. They eventually finished on 238/8.

In response, Avishka Fernando (82 in 75) blazed away to an excellent start. Things might have gone awry when Mustafizur Rahman (2/50) struck twice, but Kusal Mendis (41*) and Angelo Mathews (52* in 57) saw Sri Lanka home in the 45th over.

Australia Women a win away from perfect summer

Having swept the ODIs 2-0 and the drawn the Test in the ongoing Women’s Ashes, Australia Women have now taken a 2-0 lead in the T20Is as well. They are now one match away from finishing the tour undefeated.

At Hove, Jess Jonassen (4-0-19-2) and Georgia Wareham (4-0-22-2) helped restrict England Women to 121/8. Tammy Beaumont scored 43 of these runs, from 39 balls.

England took three quick wickets in response. Sophie Ecclestone bowled brilliantly for her 4-0-18-2. But Meg Lanning (43* in 37) and Ellyse Perry (47* in 39) ensured a 7-wicket win in the 18th over.

Singapore beat Nepal

Singapore beat Nepal by 83 runs in the last match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Region Final to win the tournament. They will feature in the 14-nation ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier in October, from which six teams will feature in next year’s World T20.

Singapore put up 191/6 thanks to Tim David (77 in 43 balls), Rohan Rangarajan (49 in 33), and Manpreet Singh (42 in 27) even as Abinash Bohara had 4-0-35-4 and Karan KC 3-0-26-2.

Gyanendra Malla (39 in 21) helped Nepal reach 54/1 in the seventh over in response. Then they collapsed spectacularly, to 109 in 15 overs, against Selladore Vijaykumar (4-0-25-4) and Vinoth Bhaskaran (4-0-22-2).

Vitality Blast roundup

Alex Carey blasted his way to a 46-ball 78 to help Sussex post 184/8 at Hove as Lewis Gregory had 4-0-30-3. In response, Tom Banton (51 in 45) and Babar Azam (83 in 50) added 96 in 71 balls for the opening stand, but Somerset kept losing wickets at once Banton fell and finished 11 short.

Durham posted 181/8 at New Road (Alex Lees 44 in 31, Dillon Pennington 4-0-41-2). Riki Wessels (74 in 29) and Martin Guptill (86* in 31) then launched a furious onslaught, helping chase down the target in 12.1 overs. Worcestershire won by 9 wickets.

The other two matches, between Northamptonshire and Yorkshire at Northampton and between Derbyshire and Lancashire at Derby, were washed out without a ball being bowled.