The Cricket.com Weekly – Edition 16

What’s made the headlines?

SHAFALI AND CO ARE U-19 WOMEN’S T20WC CHAMPIONS

January 29 (Sunday) definitely will be one of the historic days in women’s cricket. It is really a watershed moment in India women’s cricketing folklore. After going past New Zealand with no real effort, by eight wickets, the biggest challenge of the tournament – England – awaited them in the final.

Having won the toss, Shafali made the right decision and from thereon, everything fell India’s way. Titas Sadhu and Archana Devi proved to be more than handful for England, reducing them to 22/4. India chased that total down with very little effort, creating history, becoming the first champions of the U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup 🏆🎆🥳

It is only fitting that the title comes after the announcement of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). To all those people who suggested that there was a lack of women’s talent to start the competition, this WIN REALLY WILL MAKE YOU CRY.

FORGET ALL OF THAT, Noosin Al Khadeer, who was on the wrong side of a World Cup final took this young Indian team under her wings to make the nation proud. Oh, WHAT A FEELING! South Africa really is a lucky charm for India, isn’t it?

One-handed tale of Vihari

Have you seen a brave left-hander batting even after a fracture? Graeme Smith, HELL YEAH! Have you seen someone do it in Indian cricket? Umm, not that I can remember. Don’t worry, Hanuma Vihari this week did exactly that. This is a tale that is going to be told for the longest time in the future 🏏.

Despite breaking his hand, against Avesh Khan early on in the match, Andhra Pradesh’s skipper Vihari walked out to bat in both the innings left-handed. While in the first innings, he cut the pacer for a boundary with just one hand on the handle, in the second he slapped the bowler in what could be arguably one HECK OF A SHOT!!

Days like these are rare, and even more if you consider how the batter was willing to risk his everything for the team.

Gill shows his worth as a modern all-format opener

Till date, Shubman Gill has played 40 international games and already, the right-hander has scored six centuries, including his maiden one in the shortest format. A six T20I-old Gill was in a league of his own in the decider against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, his adopted home ground. Not only did Gill time his innings to perfection but later on showed an acceleration worth applauding 👏🔥🔥.

At the death, the right-hander struck at 310.53, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? SIX SIXES and four fours, really Gill showed that he has the tools in that shed to become a genuine contender to make the cut in the shortest format. But the real test – consistency – awaits.

So, what (else) in international cricket?

International cricket

- India for the nth time came from behind to beat New Zealand in the three-match T20I series, in Ahmedabad, with Shubman Gill’s century headlining for the home team. India registered a 163-run win in the third T20I, taking the series home 2-1.

-        After losing the first two clashes, England made a strong comeback in the third ODI, with a 59-run win. It was the monumental partnership from Jos Buttler (131) and Dawid Malan (118) that took the visitors home in the third clash. South Africa ultimately clinched the series 2-1.

Women’s international cricket

-        In East London, India women’s team were on the wrong side of things against the hosts – South Africa – who even after being reduced to 21/3, won the final on the back of a herculean effort from their skipper, Sune Luus, who scored a 32-ball 57. It was definitely a missed opportunity for the women’s side.

-        However, India’s U19 side showed grit and determination in the final to overpower England in one of the most one-sided clashes of the competition. Titas Sadhu’s opening spell (2/6) destroyed England. Not the first time an Indian U-19 side has won in South Africa.  

Domestic cricket

-        Bengal have absolutely trashed the living life out of Jharkhand in the first Quarter Final 1, with a nine-wicket win, thanks to some sublime bowling from Akash Deep in the first innings (4/62) and Akash Ghatak (3/21).

-        Venkatesh M, on debut took a fifer in the first innings to dismiss Uttarakhand for 116. Shreyas Gopal’s stunning 161 in the second innings really put one foot in the semi-final for Karnataka. Gopal then returned with 3/26, as Karnataka win the clash by an innings and 281 runs.

-        After conceding a massive first-innings lead to Andhra Pradesh, Avesh Khan and Gourav Yadav combined to take seven wickets. With a target of 245, it was almost like a cake-walk for the defending champions, who breezed through to a win by five wickets.

ICYMI, find all the updates here, and also, Punjab might just make their way out against SAURASHTRA. Whaatttt 🤯🤯🤯?

Franchise cricket

- It is tight at the top of the points table in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), with Sylhet Strikers leading the competition with 16 points followed closely by Fortune Barishal (14 points). Najmul Shanto is the leading run-scorer (356 runs) but Shakib’s form is quite threatening – 347 runs @183.60.

-        Michael Neser, you beauty. After restricting the Sixers to 116/9, Brisbane Heat needed Neser’s batting efforts (48*) to take them over the line, to play the ever-so-consistent Perth Scorchers in the final of the Big Bash League. Read the final preview here. 

-        After a week’s break, well recovered, Durban’s Super Giants got a win against the MI Cape Town. The two clashes that followed were washed out on a day where there were more tear-drops from the fans than the rain in South Africa.

-        Over the last week, three teams – Desert Vipers, Gulf Giants and MI Emirates – have all qualified for the next stage of the IT20. Okay, who can still make it? As it stands, both Dubai Capitals and Sharjah Warriors have an equal chance – both with 7 points – to make it to the next stage. Sharjah have the upper hand, courtesy of one less game. 

Articles in focus

­18 years later, Nooshin Al Khadeer finally managed to erase the scars of the World Cup defeat in South Africa guiding the determined India U-19 side to be the winners of the inaugural edition of the U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup. Find out the entire story, written by Shweta Haranhalli 😀😀!

61 Tests, 17 ODIs and just 9 T20Is later, Murali Vijay has called it a time but isn’t moving away from the sport. If anything, he is only moving to a slightly off-beat chapter in his cricketing career, one where now he will play all over the world with the exception of India. What makes him stand amongst the great in the Indian cricket echelon? Aakash Sivasubramaniam explains!!

And, now for the big interview: Rovman Powell himself. In this candid conversation with Pramod Ananth, Powell talks about his rise, leading Dubai Capitals in ILT20, Windies’ exit from T20 World Cup and also reasons out what’s holding Windies back 😥

Where is the India stuff, Aakash? Well, don’t worry it is here. We know India won the series 2-1 but did they learn anything. Ummm? Nope, not one bit. Here is why I feel that it is a missed opportunity for India.

Watch this