Day: November 7, 2021

Dubai, November 07, 2021 (PPI-OT):Pakistan saw off Scotland by 72 runs to top Group 2, preserve a perfect record and set up a semi-final clash with Australia at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.

Skipper Babar Azam made 66 and Shoaib Malik clubbed an incredible 18-ball fifty as Pakistan posted 189 for four from their 20 overs, having chosen to bat.

Despite Richie Berrington’s defiant unbeaten 54, Scotland only managed 117 for six in reply as their campaign ended in defeat.

The most prolific batter in the Super 12s, Babar set about compiling his fifth half-century with consummate ease, starting with a sumptuous cover drive for four off Hamza Tahir.

Babar’s opening partnership with Mohammad Rizwan has yielded two century stands and the keeper-batter launched Brad Wheal for a massive six over cow corner in the fifth over.

It wasn’t the day for another big partnership however as Tahir tossed one up and drew an under-edge from Rizwan that was well held by Matt Cross, dismissing him for 15.

Babar was unperturbed and hit the roof of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium with a maximum from Mark Watt’s bowling.

But the 27-year-old star lost another partner as Fakhar Zaman holed out to cow corner for eight to continue his lean run of form and make it 59 for two.

Mohammad Hafeez came to the crease and acted as a foil to his captain, who continued to torment the Scottish attack, taking Watt for successive fours with power and poise.

Hafeez really hit his straps in the 15th over, sending Safyaan Sharif flying fully 97 metres over long-on, then back-to-back fours before being trapped LBW for an entertaining 31.

Watt has been Scotland’s key weapon with the ball but found his economy rate ruined further with a brutal bottom-handed six from Malik to kickstart his innings.

It was Watt’s spin twin, leg-spinner Chris Greaves, who had most joy and his control was rewarded with the big wicket of Babar, who picked out George Munsey at long on to depart for 66.

Malik took aim at Sharif and struck two further massive blows over midwicket and then down the arc to take the penultimate over for 17 runs.

Then Greaves bore the full brunt of the veteran batter, who hit the last four legal deliveries of the innings for three sixes and a four to bring up Pakistan’s fastest-ever T20I fifty.

The run chase always looked a tall order for Scotland, whose high score in the tournament was 165, and they made a steady if unspectacular start.

They reached 23 for none with George Munsey finding scoring easier than his captain Kyle Coetzer, who was clean bowled by Hasan Ali for nine in the sixth over.

Pakistan struck again when Imad Wasim palmed a low Munsey drive onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end to run Cross out for five.

And Shadab Khan broke the backbone of the Scotland batting order with two wickets in three balls midway through the innings.

Munsey departed on the first ball after drinks when he nicked to short third man and Dylan Budge was bowled for a third-ball duck to make it 41 for four.

Scotland’s most consistent batter Berrington built an excellent partnership with Michael Leask, that started when Berrington whipped Hasan Ali for two boundaries in three balls.

Berrington dominated the scoring in a partnership of 46, to which Leask added 14 at a run-a-ball before being comprehensively bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi for 14.

Berrington forged on and then smacked Hasan over long-on for six before bringing up an excellent fifty from 34 balls.

Haris Rauf got Greaves for four in the final over as Scotland finished their 20 overs on 117 for six, a full 72 runs short, with Berrington ending unbeaten on 54.

The semi-finals will see Group 1 toppers England take on New Zealand in Abu Dhabi on 10 November while Group 2 toppers Pakistan will play Australia in Dubai on 11 November. The final will be played in Dubai on 14 November. The complete results and fixtures are available on the page here and the points table here

Scores in brief

Pakistan beat Scotland at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah by 72 runs

Pakistan 189/4 in 20 overs (Babar Azam 66, Shoaib Malik 54 not out; Chris Greaves 2/43, Hamza Tahir 1/24)

Scotland 117/6 in 20 overs (Richie Berrington 54 not out, George Munsey 17; Shadab Khan 2/14, Shaheen Shah Afridi 1/24)

Player of the Match: Shoaib Malik (Pakistan)

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, November 07, 2021 (PPI-OT):New Zealand sealed their place in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 semi-finals in style courtesy of a comfortable eight-wicket win over Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi.

Kane Williamson and Devon Conway’s unbroken 68-run third-wicket stand saw the Black Caps home with 11 balls to spare, securing their place as one of two Group 2 qualifiers alongside Pakistan and eliminating India in the process.

Afghanistan had begun the match with slim qualifying hopes of their own but a poor start with the bat left them on the back foot on 19 for three.

Najibullah Zadran’s sparkling 73 inspired a revival but Trent Boult was exceptional once more with the ball, taking three for 17 to limit Afghanistan to 124 for eight.

And though New Zealand lost both openers in reply, Williamson and Conway – who finished unbeaten on 40 and 36 respectively – combined to steer their side home with a minimum of fuss and set up a semi-final with either England or Australia.

Afghanistan opted to bat upon winning the toss but saw both openers dismissed in quick succession as New Zealand’s fast bowlers gained an early stranglehold.

Mohammad Shahzad was superbly caught behind by Devon Conway attempting an upper-cut off Adam Milne before Trent Boult induced a leading edge from Hazratullah Zazai, whose departure left Afghanistan 12 for two.

Tim Southee was next to strike, trapping Rahmanullah Gurbaz lbw, as the score limped to 23 for three by the end of the powerplay – the third lowest total after six overs in the tournament so far.

Najibullah settled in more smoothly than his predecessors at the crease and got the scoreboard moving with consecutive boundaries off Jimmy Neesham.

Another boundary off Ish Sodhi took Afghanistan past 50 but the spinner struck back in somewhat fortuitous fashion when a short ball was chopped on to his stumps by Gulbadin Naib.

His departure saw Afghanistan reach the halfway point on 56 for four and Najibullah was content to nudge singles before stepping on the accelerator once more in the 14th over.

Two sixes off Mitchell Santner, over long-on and deep midwicket respectively, took the run rate back above six, and Najibullah soon brought up his second half-century of the tournament – this one from 33 balls.

He cleared the ropes again off Southee as Afghanistan looked for valuable late runs, though the seamer picked up his second scalp by holding a return catch to dismiss Mohammad Nabi for 14.

The ever-reliable Boult then brought Najibullah’s fine innings to an end, Neesham taking a fine diving catch at long-off, and also accounted for Karim Janat in a typically clinical death over.

Neesham followed up by conceding just two from the final over, which also included the wicket of Rashid Khan from its final ball as Afghanistan set the Black Caps 125 to win.

Knowing victory would be enough on its own, without net run-rate entering the equation, Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell made a steady start to the chase to lay the foundations.

Mitchell cut the returning Mujeeb Ur Rahman to the point boundary but with the opening partnership worth 26, the spinner had his revenge in his next over by finding the batter’s outside edge.

Williamson joined Guptill to safely negotiate the remainder of the powerplay, which concluded with consecutive Guptill boundaries off Mujeeb to take New Zealand to 45 for one.

But the opener found life tougher against Rashid and fell aiming a heave at the spinner, who wheeled away to celebrate his 400th T20 wicket and give his side fresh hope.

With Nabi’s off-breaks proving just as hard to get away, the Black Caps reached the halfway point of the chase on 61 for two – just five runs better off than Afghanistan at the same stage.

Afghanistan continued to apply pressure, bringing close fielders in as the required rate ticked towards seven an over, and Williamson’s clip through the leg-side off Rashid midway through the 12th over brought his side’s first boundary for 33 balls.

A typically elegant drive off Gulbadin brought the Black Caps skipper four more and Conway then made effective use of the sweep against Nabi, picking up consecutive boundaries before reverse sweeping Rashid through third man.

The 50-run partnership came up in the 16th over as the pair continued to guide their side towards the finish line and Conway knocked the winning single down the ground from the first ball of the 19th over to seal his side’s progress.

New Zealand will now wait until the conclusion of Pakistan’s clash with Scotland to discover their semi-final opponents.

Should Pakistan win, New Zealand will finish second and take on England in Semi Final 1 in Abu Dhabi on 10 November.

If Scotland are successful and the Black Caps finish top of the group, they will take on Australia in Semi Final 2 in Dubai the following day.

Scores in brief

New Zealand beat Afghanistan at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi by eight wickets

Afghanistan 124/8 in 20 overs (Najibullah Zadran 73; Trent Boult 3/17, Tim Southee 2/24)

New Zealand 125/2 in 18.1 overs (Kane Williamson 40 not out, Devon Conway 36 not out; Rashid Khan 1/27, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 1/31)

Player of the Match: Trent Boult (New Zealand)

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, November 07, 2021 (PPI-OT):Shoaib Malik revealed how his anger at missing out on Pakistan’s initial squad propelled him to a starring role at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.

The veteran batter, 39, struggled badly for form in the Caribbean Premier League and missed out on Misbah-ul-Haq’s initial selection for the tournament.

But Malik managed to work his way back into contention and his brutal 18-ball fifty in Pakistan’s 72-run win over Scotland was the ultimate statement of intent.

“I was playing on the Caribbean Premier League when they have announced the first team, and my name was not there,” he said.

“Of course I felt bad. I was very disappointed. But I’ve seen a lot of the teams where my name was not there, so of course when you’re not part of World Cup team, then it hurts.

“But as a professional cricketer or as a professional athlete your goal is to talk to yourself and somehow come out from that frustration.

“I had the opportunity because I was playing in the Caribbean Premier League, and then I’ve come back, I played a domestic tournament because I still enjoy going to the ground, and that’s what keeps me going.”

Shoaib hit six sixes in what was Pakistan’s fastest-ever T20I fifty and the eighth quickest of all time.

It helped his side post 189 which was enough for victory, seeing them top Group 2 and set up a semi-final clash with Australia.

Despite the length of his service in the international game, having made his debut in 1999, Shoaib remains one of the fittest members of his squad.

It’s clear that sheer vanity plays a part in him having maintained such high physical standards.

“Well, to be honest, I would say I have self-obsession of seeing myself fit when I look at it in the mirror,” he said.

“Most importantly I’m still enjoying playing cricket, and it’s helping, as well, end of the day towards the team.

“I guess if you want to stay fit, then you’ve got to train every day, and that’s what I have been doing.

“I’m not sure about playing a year more or two more years. Right now I’m middle of a very important thing and not thinking about all that.”

Meanwhile, Scotland skipper Kyle Coetzer believes mastering the powerplay is the key to his side’s ongoing progress.

Having achieved one of their aims in advancing to the Super 12s, including via a landmark win over Bangladesh, they struggled to make an impression in the second phase.

“Not that we have never played here before, we have done and quite a few times, but what we’ve realised is the importance of the powerplay,” said Coetzer.

“We haven’t really nailed that yet in terms of with the bat. I think the importance of how to play high-quality spin bowling.

“I believe that we’re a very strong side and very capable of playing spin bowling, but it’s a different story when you come and play at Sharjah and you come and play at some of these grounds out here and the style in which the mystery spinner is coming down.

“We have to go away and look at that and see how we can develop that as much as possible.”

Coetzer reflected with pride on his team’s journey and they will hope to return to the big stage and qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.

“Well, hopefully there’s a lot of exciting things ahead,” said Coetzer

“This seven weeks or so I’m extremely proud of how we’ve played and what we’ve achieved. We’ve got an excellent group, and the guys are willing to learn.

“I think we’ve shown on a couple of occasions almost what we’re capable of. We’ve got plenty left in the tank.

“But hopefully from the seven weeks or so we’ve managed to inspire as many associate nations as we possibly can and hopefully certainly inspire young cricketers back in Scotland.”

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, November 07, 2021 (PPI-OT):India have not become a bad side overnight and plan to end their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 campaign on a high by beating Namibia.

That’s the view of bowling coach Bharat Arun, whose side were hamstrung by defeats in their first two games to Pakistan and New Zealand and can no longer qualify for the semi-finals.

With associate nation Namibia providing the fifth and final Super 12 test for Virat Kohli’s side, Bharat pointed to bad luck at the toss of the coin as key to India’s issues.

“Obviously we are a very good side, we were the tournament favourites when we did start,” he said.

“But it was most unfortunate that we lost the first two games. And that put us in a very precarious situation that we are in today. Obviously we were expecting to qualify.

“Sport is all about ups and downs, and you need to accept and move on. You need to give your best at any point in time.

I’m not trying to give any excuses, but I think the toss plays a very vital role in a match like this, which I think shouldn’t – the toss shouldn’t be of any consequence.

“But here the toss gives a very undue advantage. And that’s the reason why — it’s a huge change between batting in the first innings and batting in the second innings.

“That shouldn’t be the case in a very short format like this.”

Bharat has been at the heart of the evolution of India’s impressive bowling group, led by Jasprit Bumrah.

With his two wickets against Scotland, the pacer became India’s leading wicket-taker in men’s T20Is, overtaking Yuzvendra Chahal.

The change in Kohli’s selection that has seen India fielding five bowling options rather than four has been crucial to their success, believes Bharat.

“I think that is about being fearless,” he said.

“Earlier we went in with only mostly four bowlers and somebody who can also bowl, but right now we are going in with five regular bowlers in any given team that we have.

“So, I think that is a first fearless step because we believe we said that the batting group needs to step up. We need to take added responsibility if we need to win matches abroad and we need to take 20 wickets all the time.

“So that went into us playing this combination of at least five bowlers in every match and to us now with the wicket-keeper being a very good batsman also helps the cause.”

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup debutants Namibia have shown encouraging signs in the tournament and exceeded expectations in reaching the Super 12 stage, where they beat Scotland.

Head coach Pierre De Bruyn reflected on his team’s emotional journey to the showpiece and insisted there will be no shortage of motivation in the ranks.

“Look, we’ve analysed the Indian team,” he said. “As players, you always look to plan ahead of a game like that or any game. We know up front we’ll bat the way they play.

“If you’re not going to execute your plans and with that execute your skills, then they will punish you. That’s a guarantee.

“We want to finish this campaign on a high. You know, it’s been 45 days in this bubble. There are no excuses.

“Tomorrow’s platform for any player, any player to face the best in the world, is a platform where you should treasure that moment. You should be up for it.

“There’s no doubt that this team is going to be up for it. I think it’s just important for us to play good, competitive cricket.

“We’ve played 40 over cricket in this group. We’ve not been blown away by any team in 10 overs or 12 overs or anything like that. We’ve been willing to stretch the game and just to give ourselves a good chance against these type of opposition.

“And tomorrow’s just the classic game, where you go in and you need to own your role. You need to take brutal accountability for what you’re going to bring for the team tomorrow. It’s the last little push.

“And I say that because it’s been a long tour and it’s been an emotional roller coaster to say the least.”

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, November 07, 2021 (PPI-OT):Few teams can match New Zealand’s consistency in ICC competitions in recent years and Kane Williamson’s side look to be firmly in the groove as they approach another knockout stage.

Semi-finalists at the last ICC Men’s T20 World Cup five years ago, the Black Caps have also been runners-up in the two most recent Cricket World Cups and added the inaugural World Test Championship to their collection earlier this year.

Competing for honours across all three formats requires versatile and adaptable players and New Zealand are blessed with plenty of those across their batting and bowling departments.

The variety of their attack has come to the fore in the past two matches, both of which they needed to win to seal their latest semi-final spot.

Against Namibia in Sharjah two days ago, it was the spinners who put the squeeze on before the pace bowlers did the business at the death.

And with Afghanistan lying in wait in what felt effectively like a quarter-final, the relentless battery of New Zealand seamers proved pivotal in limiting a talented batting line-up who had opted to make first use of the Zayed Cricket Stadium surface.

Adam Milne was first to strike and Trent Boult followed as both openers were dismissed inside four overs, while Tim Southee got in on the act inside the powerplay by pinning the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz leg before.

Boult and Southee have long been a devastating partnership whether using a white or red ball and having set the tone in the powerplay, the experienced pair used all their knowhow to be equally effective at the death.

Boult’s mix of searing yorkers and slower ball bounces proved impossible to get away in the 17th over, which cost just five, and his next saw him claim two scalps – including key man Najibullah Zadran for an excellent 73 – as he took his tournament tally to 11.

Southee accounted for Mohammad Nabi in between times as the pair, backed up by the effective medium pace of Jimmy Neesham, kept the total well within reach.

Both Southee and Boult are operating at under six an over for the tournament and Milne’s four overs against Afghanistan cost just 17; this is a seam attack who know their roles inside out.

With spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner reliable in the middle overs, New Zealand’s attack appear to have all bases covered and they were backed up by some superb fielding against Afghanistan.

Devon Conway led the way with the gloves, showing excellent reactions to snaffle a sharp one-handed chance off Mohammad Shahzad, while Neesham held on to a fine diving catch at long-off to bring Najibullah’s knock to an end.

With Conway and Williamson as assured as ever during a routine chase, the Black Caps enter the semi-finals as a confident outfit whose hopes of becoming the world’s best in both the shortest and longest formats in the same year remain very much alive.

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com