Cricket news roundup – 14th March 2019: Rude wake-up call for India ahead of World Cup

From being 0-2 down, Australia won three ODIs on the trot – at Ranchi, Mohali, and now Delhi – to clinch the series against India; and at Port Elizabeth, South Africa comfortably beat Sri Lanka to take a 4-0 lead in the series.

Off the field, Shaun Marsh signed a three-year deal with Melbourne Renegades; New Zealand have summoned Tom Blundell as cover for the injured BJ Watling for the Christchurch Test against Bangladesh; and VRV Singh has announced his retirement from cricket.

Australia create history

Many had written Australia off after India had taken a 2-0 lead in the ODI series, but the tourists scripted history by winning the series 3-2: it was only the fifth time in history that a side had won an ODI series after being down 0-2.

Usman Khawaja continued with his fantastic form, scoring 100 in 106 balls. Peter Handscomb contributed with 52, and a late flourish from Jhye Richardson and Pat Cummins took Australia to 272/9.

At 68/1 in the 13th over, India seemed to be on course when they lost Virat Kohli. Both Rishabh Pant and Vijay Shankar perished while going for ambitious shots, and India were soon reduced to 132/6. Kedar Jadhav (44) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (46) added 91, but it was never going to be enough.

Adam Zampa starred with 3/46, while Cummins, Richardson, and Marcus Stoinis picked up two wickets apiece. Australia won by 35 runs.

South Africa cruise to win; again

South Africa beat Sri Lanka comfortably, now for the fourth time in a row, this time at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth. Asked to bat, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 189, that too in the 40th over. Things could have been worse, but Isuru Udana (78 in 57 balls) added 58 for the last wicket with Kasun Rajitha, who did not score a run.

South Africa chased down the target for the loss of four wickets, with 103 balls in hand. Quinton de Kock scored 51 and Faf du Plessis 43 before JP Duminy finished things off in a flurry of boundaries.

SOS for Renegades

Shaun Marsh has signed a three-year contract with Melbourne Renegades. Marsh’s achievements as a T20 batsman first came into limelight when he won the Orange Cap in the inaugural IPL season, in 2008. He has been a regular member of the Perth Scorchers since the inception of BBL.

VRV calls it a day

Vikram Raj Vir “VRV” Singh, the former Punjab and India fast bowlers, has decided to call it quits. A string of injuries had kept him out of domestic cricket since 2014.

VRV played 5 Tests and 2 extremely forgettable ODIs for India. While he took 8 wickets, his most famous contribution was with bat, in the first innings at Johannesburg in 2006-07. Batting at his usual No. 11 position, he slogged 29 in 19 balls, outscoring Sourav Ganguly comfortably.

New Zealand call up Blundell

Tom Blundell has been summoned to the New Zealand camp ahead of the third Test against Bangladesh, at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. Watling had pulled a hamstring before the last day’s play in the second Test; Northern Districts wicketkeeper Peter Bocock kept wickets throughout the day.

Blundell will play only if Watling is ruled out of the Test. He played two Tests two seasons ago, against West Indies, but was dropped once Watling came back – despite scoring a hundred on Test debut.