Cricket news round-up – 5 June: Sri Lanka edge out Afghanistan; Dale Steyn ruled out of the World Cup

Sri Lanka kept Afghanistan at bay in a scratchy encounter; Beuran Hendricks replaced Dale Steyn in South Africa’s World Cup squad; Sarah Taylor returned for West Indies ODIs; and Australia Women named their Ashes squad.

Sri Lanka register first World Cup win

Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 34 runs (DLS method) in a rain-affected encounter in Cardiff to register their first win of the 2019 World Cup.

The game was reduced to 41 overs per side after rain caused the loss of nearly two hours, but that was not before Mohammad Nabi’s three-wicket over had arrested Sri Lanka’s strong start as they slipped from 144/1 in the 22nd over to 159/6 in the 26th. The slide continued even after the rain break as barring Kusal Perera’s 78 none of the Sri Lankan batsman could register a score of significance, and Sri Lanka were bowled out for 201.

Nabi picked up 4/30 in 9 overs and was well-supported by Rashid Khan (2/17) and Dawlat Zadran (2/34). However, the batsmen could not replicate the hard work of their bowlers and were bundled out for 152, chasing a reduced target of 187 in 41 overs. It could have been worse for the Afghans, who found themselves at 57/5 at one stage, had it not been for the 64-run sixth-wicket stand between captain Gulbadin Naib (23) and Najibullah Zadran (43).

Najibullah’s dismissal reinitiated the slide, though, and this time there was nobody to arrest it as Lasith Malinga cleaned up the tail to finish with 3/39. But star with the ball for Sri Lanka was Nuwan Pradeep who rattled the Afghan middle order and returned 4/31 from 9 overs.

Steyn’s World Cup over

Dale Steyn has been ruled out of South Africa’s World Cup squad after failing to recover from a shoulder injury he had sustained during the IPL. The news came as a massive blow to the team’s chances of winning their maiden title as they have lost both the games they have played so far and are already short of a bowler – Lungi Ngidi injured his hamstring in South Africa’s last match against Bangladesh and is expected to be out of action for some time.

Beuran Hendricks, a left-arm fast bowler who has played two ODIs, has been called up as Steyn’s replacement. South Africa square off against India in their third league game in Southampton on June 5.

Sarah Taylor returns

Sarah Taylor has made her comeback to the England Women ODI squad to the face the West Indies in a three-match series. Taylor, now recovered from a hip injury, joined all-rounder Jenny Gunn and Sophie Ecclestone in the list of players returning to the fold.

Gunn was rested from the tours of India and Sri Lanka while Ecclestone has recovered from a broken finger.

Full squad for the first two ODIs: Heather Knight (Berkshire, captain), Tammy Beaumont (Kent), Katherine Brunt (Yorkshire), Kate Cross (Lancashire), Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire), Alex Hartley (Lancashire), Jenny Gunn (Nottinghamshire), Amy Jones (Warwickshire), Laura Marsh (Kent), Nat Sciver (Surrey), Anya Shrubsole (Berkshire), Sarah Taylor (Sussex, wicketkeeper), Fran Wilson (Kent), Lauren Winfield (Yorkshire), Danni Wyatt (Sussex).

Australia Women name Ashes squad

Tayla Vlaeminck has been named in Australia Women’s Ashes touring squad to England even as Sophie Molineux has failed to recover from a shoulder injury and has been omitted. Nicole Bolton, who had opted to take a break for personal reasons and had missed the ODI series against New Zealand earlier this year, has also been included while Lauren Cheatle has been left out.

The tour will follow the aggregate format used in recent years with points accumulated over 1 Test, 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is. Molineux has been given an indirect route to regain her place in the squad as she has been named in the Australia A squad that tours in parallel with the senior team.

Australia Women squad for Ashes series: Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlaeminck.