Cricket Highlights, 29 Jun: ENG vs SL (1st ODI), WI vs SA (3rd T20I)

ENG vs SL (1st ODI)

England defeated Sri Lanka by 5 wickets in the first ODI of the series on Tuesday afternoon at Chester-le-Street. The hosts took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with 15.1 overs to spare.

After losing the toss, the Lankans went down to bat first. They lost their top 3 batsmen in 48 runs. Pathum Nissanka (5), Charith Asalanka (0), and Dasun Shanaka (1) made their way to the pavilion before reaching two figures. Captain Kusal Perera just stood on one side and watched them come and go. After that, however, Perera was leading the team with a 99-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Wanindu Hasaranga.

Then suddenly the condition changed. Hasaranga (54 off 65 balls with 6 fours and 1 six) suddenly fell victim to Chris Woakes and the visitors’ innings started to shatter. They lost 5 wickets within 15 runs. Captain Kusal Perera also got out at that time. He made 73 off 81 balls with 7 boundaries and David Willey took his wicket.

In the end, Chamika Karunaratne (19*) tried to fight but could not do so because of lacking a partner. Sri Lanka lost the last 7 wickets for 40 runs and stopped at 185 runs in 42.3 overs. Chris Woakes (4-18, 10 overs) was the most successful bowler for England with bowling 5 maidens of the 10 overs. Besides, David Willey took 3 wickets.

England got off to a great start coming down to bat for an easy target of 186 runs. However, the Sri Lankan bowlers did not try less. After a storm of 43 off 21 balls by Jonny Bairstow, they took 4 wickets for 80 runs in 12 overs, leaving the English fans a little worried. But Joe Root and Moeen Ali played carefully and brought the match to their side for the fifth wicket. Although Moeen returned to the dressing room with 28 runs, Joe Root left the field after playing an unbeaten 79-run innings off 87 balls.

Scoreboard:
Sri Lanka – 185/10 (42.3)
England – 189/5 (34.5)
Result – England won by 5 wickets
Player of the Match – Chris Woakes

WI vs SA (3rd T20I)

South Africa has defeated the hosts, West Indies by 1 run in the 3rd match of the 5-match T20 series. The Caribbeans needed 14 runs to win in the last over of the match at the National Cricket Stadium in St. George, Granada. But Fabian Allen and Dwayne Bravo managed to take 13 in that over-bowled by Kagiso Rabada.

After losing the toss and batting first, the Proteas lost 8 wickets in 20 overs and scored 167 runs. Quinton de Kock was the top scorer for South Africa smashing 5 fours and 2 sixes, he scored 72 runs off 51 balls. Rassie van der Dussen scored 32 and Aiden Markram 23 runs. Obed McCoy (4-22, 4 overs) took the highest wickets for the Caribbeans. Dwayne Bravo took 3 wickets.

West Indies scored 55 runs in just 6.5 overs to reach the target of 168 runs. Protea spinner Tabraiz Shamsi then turned the match around by picking up 2 wickets for just 13 runs in his 4 overs. In the end, the current champions of T20I had to accept the loss by one run. Evin Lewis and Nicholas Pooran scored the highest 27 runs for the Caribbeans. This win gave South Africa a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Scoreboard：
South Africa – 167/8 (20.0)
West Indies – 166/7 (20.0)
Result – South Africa won by 1 run
Player of the Match – Tabraiz Shamsi

International cricket is ongoing with some alluring battle of bat and ball. Predict the winners of them and play on Baji!