Cricket news round-up – December 10: England Women win, no Lakmal in Pakistan, Bangladesh win SAG gold

England Women went 1-0 up in the 3 ODIs against Pakistan Women; Bangladesh Under-23s won the gold medal in Men’s Cricket at the South Asian Games; Wasim Jaffer reached a new landmark in Ranji Trophy; and Suranga Lakmal will miss Sri Lanka’s Tests in Pakistan.

Wyatt, Beaumont clinch it for England

England Women won the first ODI of the 3-match series against Pakistan Women at Kirara Academy Oval, Kuala Lumpur, by 75 runs. Batting first, England put up 284/6 largely due to an opening stand of 188 between Danni Wyatt (110 in 95 balls) and Tammy Beaumont (107). Rameen Shamim picked up 3/61.

Pakistan lost early wickets in response. Bismah Maroof top-scored with 69, but once she fell at 186, it was only a matter of time before Kate Cross (4/32) ran through them to bowl them out for 209.

Bangladesh win second gold at SAG

The Under-23s Bangladesh team won the gold medal at the South Asian Games. They beat Sri Lanka (Under-23s) by 7 wickets in the final at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur. The Bangladesh Women’s team (Under-23) had also won a gold medal here.

Bangladesh bowled out Sri Lanka for 120 after opting to bowl. Hasan Mahmud returned 4-0-20-3 and Tanvir Islam 4-0-28-2, while Shammu Ashan top-scored with a 20-ball 25).

Saif Hasan (33 in 30) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (35* in 28) then saw Bangladesh through in the 19th over.

No Lakmal in Pakistan

Down with dengue, Suranga Lakmal will not be part of Sri Lanka’s historic Test tour of Pakistan. This is a major blow for Sri Lanka, for whom Lakmal has been excellent as a spearhead both home and away.

Sri Lanka have drafted in Asitha Fernando as replacement. Asitha will join Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, and Vishwa Fernando as part of their pace attack.

Jaffer scales new height

Wasim Jaffer became the first cricketer to play 150 Ranji Trophy matches. Jaffer reached the feat in Vidarbha’s tournament opener in the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy, against Andhra at Vijayawada.

With 145 matches, Devendra Bundela occupies second spot on the list, while Amol Muzumdar is third, with 136.