Cricket news roundup – 20th March 2019: South Africa clinch thriller in Super Over

Cricket news roundup – 20th March 2019: South Africa clinch thriller in Super Over

Sri Lanka South Africa Thisara Perera Quinton de Kock

At Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa went one-up in the T20I series against Sri Lanka – though it took a Super Over to decide the cliffhanger.

In other news, Test cricket may witness cricketers taking field in numbered jerseys, during the 2019 Ashes; both Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting have backed Rishabh Pant for the No. 4 slot in India’s ODI side; and Rohit Sharma has announced that he will open batting for Mumbai Indians throughout IPL 2019.

Drama at Newlands

Sri Lanka barely recovered after Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada reduced them to 7/2. Kamindu Mendis (41) was the only one to cross 20 as they stuttered to 134/7.

Buoyed by David Miller (41), South Africa looked in complete control. At one point they needed 7 off 14 balls when Dhananjaya de Silva took out Andile Phehlukwayo. Lasith Malinga conceded a single off the 19th and cleaned up Rabada. And only four were scored off the last over.

However, Malinga’s Super Over went for 14 – mostly due to Miller. For South Africa, Tahir conceded only 5, two of them wides.

Yet another traditionalists’ nightmare?

The English and Australian cricketers are likely to take field in numbered jerseys – an unprecedented occurrence in Test cricket – for the upcoming Ashes. ECB and CA have already raised the proposal to ICC.

Numbered Test caps have been used by cricketers for some years now, but not shirts – though it has been the norm in the County Championship since 2003.

Pant finds backing for No. 4 slot

Rishabh Pant had taken IPL 2018 by storm with his incredible boundary-hitting ability for Delhi Daredevils, now Delhi Capitals. Delhi head coach Ricky Ponting and advisor Sourav Ganguly have now voiced their support for Pant to occupy the still-undecided No. 4 slot in the Indian ODI team.

Pant’s wicketkeeping has taken some flak, but with MS Dhoni already in the side, Pant may as a batsman alone.

Rohit to stay at the top

Rohit Sharma has announced that he will open batting for Mumbai Indians throughout the 2019 IPL. Rohit has typically batted at Nos. 3 or 4 in IPL, but now he is keen on batting at the position that has turned him into a limited-overs great. It will also help his cause ahead of the upcoming World Cup.