Cricket news roundup – 23rd March 2019: Australia, South Africa cruise to wins

Australia kept their winning streak intact, making it 4 matches out of 4 with an 8-wicket thrashing of Pakistan in the first ODI, at Sharjah. At Centurion, South Africa clinched the T20I series against Sri Lanka with a 16-run win.

Away from the field, Mumbai Indians received two blows just ahead of IPL 2019; and Zimbabwe are set to return to international cricket.

Finch finds form, Australia go one up

Australia won their fifth consecutive match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium to go 1-up in the 5-ODI series against Pakistan, who had rested five key players. Pakistan put up 280/5, an innings built around Haris Sohail’s solid unbeaten 101. Umar Akmal, returning to side, made 48 and Shan Masood 40.

Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch got Australia off to a breezy start; and after Khawaja fell, Finch (116) and Shaun Marsh (91*) added 172 for the second wicket. The final touches were provided by Peter Handscomb as Australia won with an over to spare.

Proteas clinch series

After scraping through in the first T20I in the Super Over, South Africa pulled off a comprehensive win at SuperSport Park, Centurion to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the T20I series.

Asked to bat, South Africa reached 180/3 thanks to Reeza Hendricks (65 in 46 balls), Rassie van der Dussen (64 in 44) and captain JP Duminy (33* in 17).

Then Dale Steyn (2/34) struck twice in the first over and Chris Morris (3/32) twice in the fourth. Sri Lanka became 83/7 (Tabraiz Shamsi took 2/16), and even a whirlwind 48-ball 84 not out from Isuru Udana could only take them to 164/9.

Malinga to miss first six matches

Lasith Malinga, the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, has decided to miss at least the first 6 matches for Mumbai Indians to take part in the Super Provincial One Day Tournament in Sri Lanka, now mandatory to be part of Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad.

Malinga will lead Galle in the tournament, and in all likelihood, Sri Lanka in the World Cup.

Milne out of IPL

Not only Malinga: Mumbai Indians will also lost the services of Adam Milne to a heel injury for the entire IPL. According to an ESPNCricinfo report, Mumbai are considering Alzarri Joseph as replacement.

With Malinga also out, their overseas fast bowling contingency currently consists of only Mitchell McClenaghan and Ben Cutting.

Zimbabwe return

Zimbabwe are set to return to international cricket with 5 ODIs against UAE, starting April 10 at Harare Sports Club. Then, in June, they will tour Netherlands for 2 ODIs and 2 T20Is; and in the second leg of the tour, Ireland for 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is.

Zimbabwe have not played international cricket since the Bangladesh tour in November. They were supposed to host Afghanistan and tour India, but both tours got cancelled.