Cricket news roundup – 25th February 2019: Australia inch past India, Rashid Khan takes four in four

At Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, Nathan Coulter-Nile‘s spell, followed by Glenn Maxwell‘s fifty, helped Australia clinch a last-ball thriller to go 1-0 up in the T20I series against India.

At Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun, Rashid Khan became the first bowler to take four wickets in four balls in a T20I (and the second in all international cricket) to help Afghanistan whitewash Ireland.

In other news, Australia Women defeated New Zealand; South Africa have dropped Hashim Amla from the ODI squad against New Zealand; and Colin Ingram played the highest individual innings in PSL history to help Karachi Kings defeat Quetta Gladiators.

Australia clinch last-ball thriller

Despite losing Rohit Sharma early, India looked in charge in the first T20I against Australia, at Visakhapatnam. KL Rahul (50 in 36 balls) and Virat Kohli (24 in 17) put on 55 for the second wicket in 37 balls to set up what should have been the ideal launching pad.

Unfortunately, India kept losing wickets, and added only 46 in the last 10 overs to finish on 126/7. MS Dhoni (29*) was the only other batsman to cross 5. Nathan Coulter-Nile (3/26) did most of the damage. He found support at the other end too: every single bowler conceded less than 8 an over.

In response, Australia were reduced to 5/2 before Glenn Maxwell (56 in 43) and D’Arcy Short (37) added 84 for the third wicket. At that stage Australia were firmly on top, but the Indian spinners bowled a few tight overs, taking up wickets at the same time.

With 16 to defend off the last 2 overs, Jasprit Bumrah conceded only 2, picking up 2 wickets in the process. Unfortunately, Umesh Yadav conceded a boundary to each of Jhye Richardson and Pat Cummins, and with that, the match.

Rashid enters record books

Rashid Khan’s 5/27 helped Afghanistan complete their whitewash of Ireland in the third T20I, at Dehradun. Four of Rashid’s wickets came off consecutive balls: Kevin O’Brien, caught behind; George Dockrell, caught brilliantly by Mohammad Nabi at long-on; Shane Getkate, stumped; and Simi Singh, leg-before to a googly.

Rashid became the first to take four wickets in four balls in a T20I. In all international cricket, there is only one precedence: Lasith Malinga did the same against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup.

Nabi (81 in 36 balls) had helped Afghanistan put up 210/7. Ireland finished on 178/8.

Perry, Jonassen complete Aussie rout

Ellyse Perry’s maiden ODI hundred (107 in 110 balls) and Jess Jonassen’s career-best haul (5/27) helped Australia beat New Zealand in the third ODI, at Karen Rolton Oval, by 95 runs. The win also helped them win the ODI series 3-0.

Alyssa Healy (46) and Beth Mooney (42) helped Perry push Australia Women to 247/7. Sophie Devine (47) and Amy Satterthwaite (37) took the White Ferns to 93/2, but in the end they collapsed to 152.

Ngidi in, Amla out

South Africa have been left Hashim Amla out of the squad for the ODIs against Sri Lanka. Notable inclusions are Lungi Ngidi, back after a knee injury, and Dale Steyn.

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Dale Steyn,
Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Reeza Hendricks, Wiaan Mulder, Anrich Nortje, Dwaine Pretorius, Rassie van der Dussen.

Record-breaking Ingram pushes Kings to victory

At Sharjah, Rilee Rossouw scored 44 in 32 balls and Umar Akmal 55 in 37 before Anwar Ali provided the final boost, smashing 4 sixes off the 6 balls he faced. Islamabad United finished on a reasonable 186/5.

It did not matter. Colin Ingram (127 not out in 59 balls) made the target look small. In the process he registered the highest score in PSL history, going past Sharjeel Khan’s 117 set three seasons ago. Karachi Kings won with 8 balls to spare.