Cricket news roundup – 25th March 2019: Ashwin Mankads Buttler, stirs up controversy in IPL

R Ashwin Mankaded Jos Buttler in the IPL 2019 match between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab at Jaipur, thus kickstarting a controversy. Punjab won the match in the end by 14 runs.

In other news, Ricky Skerritt replaced Dave Cameron as West Indies Cricket Board President; and Lasith Malinga will be available to Mumbai Indians for the next two matches.

Drama at Jaipur

Chasing 185, Rajasthan Royals needed 77 in 43 balls at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, when Kings XI Punjab captain R Ashwin ran into to bowl at Sanju Samson. Ashwin went through with his bowling action but stopped just before releasing the ball and took the bails off at the non-striker’s end, thereby running out Jos Buttler.

Mankading has always been a matter of controversy, but this time Ashwin had gone a step further by completing his action, thereby as good as tricking Buttler into a false sense of security. Buttler was livid as he walked back.

Punjab pull off tight win

Earlier that evening, Punjab put up 184/4. The onslaught was led by Chris Gayle, who hit 4 sixes in his 47-ball 79, and got out just when a hundred seemed to be on the cards. Sarfaraz Khan contributed with an unbeaten 29-ball 46.

Rajasthan started well, with Buttler (69 in 43) adding 78 with his captain Ajinkya, then another 30 with Samson before getting out. Samson and Steven Smith – on his comeback trail – took the score to 148/2.

At this stage Rajasthan needed 37 off 20 balls with 8 wickets standing; they lost 7 wickets and added another 22. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ankit Rajpoot, and Sam Curran picked up two wickets apiece.

New management for West Indies cricket

Ricky Skerritt, former West Indies manager as well as a cabinet minister and senator in the national assembly of St Kitts and Nevis, has replaced Dave Cameron as WICB President. Skerritt won the election, contested by a secret ballot, by an 8-4 margin. Cameron’s controversial regime lasted six years.

Kishore Shallow, President of St Vincent & the Grenadines Cricket Association, replaced WICB Vice-President Emmanuel Nathan as well, winning by an identical 8-4 margin.

Malinga returns to Mumbai

Lasith Malinga, the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, will be eligible to feature in Mumbai Indians’ next two matches. Malinga had earlier announced his unavailability for the first six matches in accordance with the SLC rule that one had to play the Super Provincial One-Day Tournament to to make it to the World Cup squad.

However, SLC has now provided Malinga with a no-objection certificate, which means that Malinga can play two matches before returning home to lead Galle.