Cricket news round-up – March 7: Bangladesh, West Indies complete whitewash, Afghanistan win as well

Cricket news round-up – March 7: Bangladesh, West Indies complete whitewash, Afghanistan win as well

Liton Das Bangladesh

Bangladesh and West Indies completed their respective series whitewashes over Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka; Afghanistan started their T20I series against Ireland with a win; Ravindra Jadeja will not feature in the Ranji Trophy final; and Mitchell Starc will return mid-tour to watch Alyssa Healy play in the T20 World Cup final.

Tamim, Liton enter record books, Bangladesh thrash Zimbabwe

Tamim Iqbal (128* in 109 balls) and Liton Das (176 in 143) added 292 for the opening stand against Zimbabwe at Sylhet to help Bangladesh reach 322/3, that too in 43 overs, even as Carl Mumba took 3/69. Zimbabwe’s target was adjusted to 342 in 43 overs.

This is now the highest partnership for any wicket for Bangladesh as well as the third-highest opening stand of all time. Bangladesh’s 14 sixes are also their national record, as is Liton’s 176.

Zimbabwe folded for 218 runs (Mohammad Saifuddin 4/41) in response to concede the series 0-3. The only resistance came from Sikandar Raza (61 in 50) and Wesley Madhevere (42 in 42). This was also Mashrafe Mortaza’s last match as ODI captain.

West Indies down Sri Lanka

After losing the ODIs 0-3, West Indies came back to sweep the T20Is 2-0. Fabian Allen (4-0-24-2) and Oshane Thomas (4-0-24-1) helped restrict Sri Lanka to 155/6 after Kieron Pollard opted to bowl. Dasun Shanaka top-scored with a 24-ball 31 not out.

West Indies lost 3 wickets to finish the chase in 17 overs. Brandon King (43 in 21) launched the initial onslaught, Shimron Hetmyer (43* in 42) held the innings together, while Andre Russell (40* in 14) finished the match in an array of sixes.

Afghanistan win, too

Afghanistan beat Ireland by 11 runs (DLS Method) at Greater NOIDA to go 1-0 up in the T20I series. Batting first, Ireland raced to 63 inside the Powerplay thanks to Paul Stirling (60 in 41) and Kevin O’Brien (29 in 17) before Rashid Khan (4-0-22-3) restricted them to 172/6.

Hazratullah Zazai (23 in 15) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (28 in 13) added 54 in 27 balls in response. Simi Singh (3-0-18-2) then reduced Afghanistan to 70/4 before Najibullah Zadran (42* in 21) lifted them to 133/5 in 15 overs. They were ahead of the par score when rain intervened for good.

No Jadeja for Ranji final

BCCI turned down Saurashtra Cricket Association’s request for the service of Ravindra Jadeja for the Ranji Trophy final against Bengal. However, BCCI turned the offer down, citing the fact that Jadeja’s service may be required during the ODI series against South Africa that will coincide with the final.

However, Saurashtra will still have Cheteshwar Pujara for the final, just as Bengal will have Wriddhiman Saha. Both men (and Jadeja and Mohammed Shami) were in the Test XI in the Hamilton Test. Shami, who also plays for Bengal, picked up an injury during the Test.

Starc to join Healy before final

Mitchell Starc, member of the Australian squad on their tour to South Africa, will miss the last ODI of the 3-match series to return home. Starc will be at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to watch wife Alyssa Healy in action in the Women’s T20 World Cup final against India on March 8.

The third ODI will be played at Potchefstroom on March 7. South Africa have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.