England beat West Indies to clinch ODI series
Joe Root scored his 18th One-Day International century and became England's leading run-scorer in the format when the hosts beat West Indies by three wickets on Sunday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
Root's masterly 166 off 139 balls helped England, who won the first ODI by 238 runs at Edgbaston, chase down a target of 309 at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
Root, 34, overtook Eoin Morgan to become England's leading ODI run-scorer and also the first Englishman to score more than 7,000 runs in the format.
The victory also ensured England's new era under Harry Brook began on a flying note. He succeeded Jos Buttler after the wicketkeeper-batter stepped down following their group stage exit from the ICC Champions Trophy.
"As long as I have the motivation, want to get better every day, want to be there at the end, you are always adding to the group," Root said.
"If I keep contributing, I will keep putting myself forward."
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, England made an early breakthrough to make it 6-1 by claiming the wicket of 18-year-old opener Jewel Andrew (0), before Brandon King and Keacy Carty put on a run-a-ball 141-run stand to calm West Indies' nerves.
Spinner Adil Rashid broke the partnership when King (59) holed out to long-off, and all-rounder Will Jacks struck to end Carty's fluent knock of 103 off 105 balls, reducing West Indies to 205-3.
Carty was dropped twice - on one and 41 - and also survived a few run-out chances, before going on to punish the England bowlers by notching his fourth ODI century.
But Rashid continued to shine with the ball, trapping Shimron Hetmyer (4) lbw and finishing with figures of 4-63 to become England's highest wicket-taking spinner across formats.
'Fell away'
West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals, but captain and wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope (78) and Justin Greaves (22) came to their rescue, helping the visitors to a total of 308 all out in 47.4 overs.
England opened their run chase in disastrous fashion, reduced to 2-2 after both openers, Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett, were dismissed for ducks.
Dropped on 30 by Hope off the bowling of Jayden Seales, Brook went on to make 47 as he tried to stabilise their innings before falling to Alzarri Joseph, who ended with figures of 4-31.
With Buttler out for a duck and Jacob Bethell trapped lbw, Root anchored the innings, putting together a 143-run partnership with Jacks (49).
But after Brydon Carse (2) was dismissed, Rashid (10) provided Root help on the other end as England chased down the target with seven balls to spare.
"We certainly did (lose our way)," Hope said. "With the position we were in around that 35-over mark, we should have put on 30 to 40 more runs at least.
"But we just fell away at the end and didn't give ourselves the best chance of dominating the game with the bat.
"I have to commend the bowlers for the fight they showed to keep us in the game. They fought until the end." The final ODI will be played at The Oval in London on Tuesday.
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Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
England beat West Indies to clinch ODI series
Joe Root scored his 18th One-Day International century and became England's leading run-scorer in the format when the hosts beat West Indies by three wickets on Sunday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Root's masterly 166 off 139 balls helped England, who won the first ODI by 238 runs at Edgbaston, chase down a target of 309 at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Root, 34, overtook Eoin Morgan to become England's leading ODI run-scorer and also the first Englishman to score more than 7,000 runs in the format. The victory also ensured England's new era under Harry Brook began on a flying note. He succeeded Jos Buttler after the wicketkeeper-batter stepped down following their group stage exit from the ICC Champions Trophy. "As long as I have the motivation, want to get better every day, want to be there at the end, you are always adding to the group," Root said. "If I keep contributing, I will keep putting myself forward." After winning the toss and electing to bowl, England made an early breakthrough to make it 6-1 by claiming the wicket of 18-year-old opener Jewel Andrew (0), before Brandon King and Keacy Carty put on a run-a-ball 141-run stand to calm West Indies' nerves. Spinner Adil Rashid broke the partnership when King (59) holed out to long-off, and all-rounder Will Jacks struck to end Carty's fluent knock of 103 off 105 balls, reducing West Indies to 205-3. Carty was dropped twice - on one and 41 - and also survived a few run-out chances, before going on to punish the England bowlers by notching his fourth ODI century. But Rashid continued to shine with the ball, trapping Shimron Hetmyer (4) lbw and finishing with figures of 4-63 to become England's highest wicket-taking spinner across formats. 'Fell away' West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals, but captain and wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope (78) and Justin Greaves (22) came to their rescue, helping the visitors to a total of 308 all out in 47.4 overs. England opened their run chase in disastrous fashion, reduced to 2-2 after both openers, Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett, were dismissed for ducks. Dropped on 30 by Hope off the bowling of Jayden Seales, Brook went on to make 47 as he tried to stabilise their innings before falling to Alzarri Joseph, who ended with figures of 4-31. With Buttler out for a duck and Jacob Bethell trapped lbw, Root anchored the innings, putting together a 143-run partnership with Jacks (49). But after Brydon Carse (2) was dismissed, Rashid (10) provided Root help on the other end as England chased down the target with seven balls to spare. "We certainly did (lose our way)," Hope said. "With the position we were in around that 35-over mark, we should have put on 30 to 40 more runs at least. "But we just fell away at the end and didn't give ourselves the best chance of dominating the game with the bat. "I have to commend the bowlers for the fight they showed to keep us in the game. They fought until the end." The final ODI will be played at The Oval in London on Tuesday.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
BD share tentative dates with PCB
Pakistan team in action against Bangladesh in the three-match T20I series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Photo: AFP The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has drafted the initial schedule and shared it with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The T20I series will begin on July 20, with the second and third matches scheduled for July 22 and 24, respectively. All three matches are set to be hosted at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka. Pakistan's tour of Bangladesh is not part of the Future Tours Program (FTP). This series was agreed upon during discussions between senior officials of the PCB and BCB on the sidelines of the ICC Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan. After the conclusion of the T20 series against Bangladesh, the Pakistan team will depart for the West Indies. There, they will face the Caribbean side in a three-match T20I series beginning on July 31 in the United States. This will be followed by a One Day International (ODI) series against the West Indies as well. Meanwhile, the third T20I between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be played on Sunday at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Shoriful Islam injured Bangladesh fast bowler Shoriful Islam has been ruled out of the third and final T20I against Pakistan, scheduled for Sunday at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, after suffering a groin injury. In his absence, pacer Khaled Ahmed is likely to be included in the playing XI for the third match. Additionally, Najmul Hossain Shanto may also be given a chance in the Bangladesh lineup. Pakistan holds an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series, having thoroughly outclassed the visitors in both earlier games. Meanwhile, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 37 runs in the first T20I here at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on May 28. Chasing a target of 202, the Bangladeshi side was bowled out for 164 in 19.2 overs. The second T20I also saw a dominant Pakistani performance. Batting first, the hosts posted 201/6 in their allotted 20 overs. In response, Bangladesh was bundled out for 144 in 19 overs. Pakistan delivered a clinical performance to defeat Bangladesh by 57 runs in the second T20I, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Meanwhile, Pakistan are expected to make one change to their playing XI for the third and final T20I against Bangladesh, scheduled for Sunday at the Gaddafi Stadium. Pacer Haris Rauf is likely to be rested due to his poor form, with either Abbas Afridi or Naseem Shah set to replace him in the lineup. Rauf has struggled in the ongoing series, claiming just one wicket while conceding 59 runs in five overs at an economy rate of 11.80. Despite Saim Ayub's disappointing form — scoring a duck in the first T20I and four runs in the second — the opening pair of Saim and Sahibzada Farhan is expected to be retained. In the second T20I, the hosts delivered a dominant performance, defeating Bangladesh by 57 runs. After electing to bat, Pakistan posted a commanding 201/6 in 20 overs. Despite an early setback with the dismissal of Saim Ayub, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris (41 off 25) and Sahibzada Farhan (74 off 41) stitched together a blistering 103-run stand for the second wicket. Farhan's knock featured four boundaries and six towering sixes. Following their departure, captain Salman Ali Agha (19 off 12) and Hasan Nawaz added 45 runs for the fourth wicket, maintaining the tempo. Hasan finished unbeaten on 51 off 26 balls, striking two fours and three sixes. In response, Bangladesh got off to a flying start, reaching 38/0 in just three overs with Tanzid Hasan scoring a quickfire 33. However, a middle-order collapse, sparked by Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf, reduced them to 77/7 by the 10th over. Tanzim Hasan Sakib showed some resistance with a valiant 50 off 31 deliveries, including five sixes, but received little support from the other end. Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 144 in 19 overs. Pakistan's bowling effort was well-rounded, with Abrar Ahmed leading the way with figures of 3/19 in four overs. Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah and Saim Ayub each claimed a wicket to complete a dominant team performance.
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Express Tribune
Nepal take cricket to new heights with T20 league
Nepal Cricket gets a major boost with NPL which is an effective ground for its domestic talent. PHOTO: REUTERS Glamorgan all-rounder Dan Douthwaite was not alone among the foreign players in being unsure what to expect when he headed to the Himalayas to take part in the inaugural Nepal Premier League (NPL) late last year. Taking up a playing contract in the mountainous nation of 30 million was always going to be a novel challenge for the Englishman, not least because the Twenty20 league was staged at a ground some 1,350 metres above sea level. "I thought I was going to be constantly out of breath or struggling, but it wasn't actually as bad as I thought it was going to be," the 28-year-old recalled of his time playing for the Kathmandu Gurkhas. "I think I noticed it more so with sixes. When they got the ball it absolutely went miles. A lot of balls ... kept going and going and going. "When you think you've hit one straight up and it's a 70-metre six." Apart from the extra flight of the ball at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground near Kathmandu, Douthwaite's other big takeaway from the experience was the enthusiasm of the Nepali fans. "Cricket in Nepal is probably like the Premier League in England ... there's a kind of almost Indian cricket feel about the way people appreciate and love the game," he told Reuters. The NPL hopes the passion of the fans, combined with the country's unique geography and society, will carve out a niche in a landscape dominated by the likes of the IPL and Australia's Big Bash League. "We're rich in terms of nature," said Sandesh Katwal, the chief executive of the Gurkhas, one of eight NPL franchises. "It's a beautiful country and we're a friendly, welcoming people. The weather, the hospitality suits international players." Former England batting all-rounder and IPL veteran Ravi Bopara, who turned out for Chitwan Rhinos, said it was a great experience, even if he turned down the offer of a helicopter trip to Everest Base Camp. A modest budget meant the NPL could not attract the really big names in the sport. All eight NPL franchises fetched a combined price of under 169 million Nepali rupees ($1.23 million) at an auction held last September. Prize money for the champions, Janakpur Bolts, was around $81,000. A rushed first season also made it difficult to recruit international players, Katwal said. Nevertheless, the NPL proved to be an effective proving ground for Nepal's domestic talent. Katwal said he hoped the NPL would provide that valuable competitive experience, as the IPL has done for young Indian talents.
