5th ODI Sri Lanka v South Africa

Sri Lanka 307 for 4 (Dilshan 99, Sangakkara 75*, Thirimanne 68) beat South Africa 179 (De Villiers 51, Lakmal 3-24, Mendis 3-36) by 128 runs

South Africa suffered a fifth successive sub-standard batting performance in Sri Lanka to concede the final match in the series - a dead rubber - to opposition who have shown their superiority. Throughout the 12-day contest, Sri Lanka batted with more authority and bowled with more intent and just to emphasise that, they did both even better today despite resting three senior players. 
 

Tillakaratne Dilshan followed up his century in the previous match with 99 and shared in a second-wicket stand of 163 with Lahiru Thirimanne who found confidence with a half-century, while Kumar Sangakkara racked up milestones. He overtook Misbah-ul-Haq as the leading run-scorer in ODIs this year and become the top-scorer for Sri Lanka in a bilateral series with 372 runs. With all those accolades, his best mate, Mahela Jayawardene was hardly missed.

 

Neither was Sri Lanka's marquee fast bowler, Lasith Malinga, or leading spinner Rangana Herath. Their replacements, Suranga Lakmal and Sachithra Senanayake, did the damage with five wickets between them to ensure even the flicker of a challenge South Africa posed was suffocated before it find any oxygen.

 

Although South Africa have scored more runs in each innings as this series wore on, they were always unlikely to chase down a score of 300-plus. They have a lethargic bowling performance and indifferent showing in the field to thank for being asked to do that.

 

Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe started well with probing lines outside offstump and had early success. They kept Sri Lanka's scoring rate under four an over and Morkel had Kusal Perera out when the opener bottom-edged to Quinton de Kock.

 

What South Africa should have used as an opening, Sri Lanka grabbed onto as an opportunity. They moved Thirimanne up the order and he responded by building steadily alongside Dilshan.

 

They pair gave themselves time against South Africa's ineffectual spin duo so that when Morkel was brought back, he posed little threat. Dilshan reached his half-century with a backfoot drive off him, while Thrimanne's came with a single off Phangiso. By the halfway mark, they were consistently scoring more than four runs an over and had laid enough foundation to up the aggression.

 

And they did. The very next over, Thirimanne charged Phangiso and drove Morkel with confidence. He could have been stumped for 62 but Quinton de Kock missed the chance. It only cost six runs before JP Duminy took a tumbling catch to see Thirimanne out but illustrated a wider South African problem.

 

Their fielding was not up to scratch, they didn't back up enough, their throws were wayward and de Villiers' communication in changing his fields was almost non-existent. All this while Sangakkara arrived and smoked Duminy back over his head and hit Morkel of all of his lengths. The three fours that came in the over where off a good length ball, a full one and a short one.

 

Sangakkara missed out on a century the last time he batted with Dilshan but this time it was Dilshan's turn to suffer that fate. He marched into the 90s with an authoritative pull and lingered on 99 for three balls before he was bowled by a McLaren slower ball.

 

In celebration of his wicket, South Africa seemed to forget all their plans. Tsotsobe reverted back to short balls and Morkel could not find any workable line or length. His figures were the most expensive of his career. Mathews let loose and Thisara Perera had licence to go wild but it was Sangakkara's presence that made a score over 300 possible.

 

He smacked 49 runs on the on-side and helped himself to extravagant shots like scoops over de Kock's head. He was largely responsible for the addition of 52 runs in the last five overs and for South Africa's mountain being too high.

 

They started gallantly, with de Kock showing his promise with powerful cuts, and 32 runs scored off the first five overs. He remained loose outside the offstump and when he left a gap between bat and pad against Senanayake, he was bowled. The 35 he put on with Hashim Amla was South Africa's highest opening stand of the series.

 

Amla and Duminy put on 25 before Amla also failed to read Senanayake and was plumb lbw. Dumimy padded up to Dilshan and Faf du Plessis' lean run grew longer when was caught. At 69 for 4, South Africa were only headed one way.

 

De Villiers scored a-run-a-ball 51 but was caught at point on his first attempt to lash out. South Africa they were eventually put out of their misery in the 44th over to hand Sri Lanka a 4-1 win and leave themselves with more questions than answers about the rebuilding of their one-day unit.

2nd T20 West Indies v Pakistan

Pakistan 135 for 7 (Akmal 46*, Narine 3-26) beat West Indies 124 for 9 (Tanvir 2-20) by 11 runs

Umar Akmal's 46 off 36 gave Pakistan the final surge to take them to 135, which their bowlers made look like 185 on a slow, dry and used pitch to give them the Twenty20 series to go with the ODI spoils. Pakistan threatened to leave Ahmed Shehzad's platform of 44 off 46 to waste, but Akmal did just enough - with 38 in the last four overs - for the bowlers, who were soon all over the West Indies batting. 
 

Sohail Tanvir's extra bounce accounted for Johnson Charles and Marlon Samuels, Mohammad Hafeez got Chris Gayle for the second time in two afternoons, and before you knew West Indies were 17 for 4. A strategic promotion for Sunil Narine injected some life into the chase with 28 off 16, Kieron Pollard gave them late hope with 23 off 10, but they were fighting too much quality.

 

After Charles edged Tanvir to Akmal, Gayle's horror home season continued as he fell to a leading edge; since his century in the first ODI of the tri-series earlier in the season, Gayle has not crossed 30 in 10 international innings, and has averaged 10.2. Samuels got a bit of a brute that kicked at him just outside off, and took the gove. Lendl Simmons soon played for a Shahid Afridi legbreak, but it didn't turn and took the middle stumps.

 

As Dwayne Bravo fought hard, Narine swung merrily, and enjoyed some good timing and some good luck. The two added 47 in 5.5 overs, and brought the target down 72 off 37. Pollard took time to get going, and by the time he decided everything needed to go West Indies needed 62 in four overs.

 

Over the next four balls, he brought out some savage hits against the 34-year-old rookie Zulfiqar Babar, losing two balls and scoring 20 runs. Babar, though, went over the wicket, and managed to get the outer edge, which still carried to deep cover. Immediately, he got rid of Bravo, who also wanted to go over the off side but found long-off. 

 

In those two balls, the brief life in the chase had frizzled out. Not even a shambolic no-ball call - for the front foot cutting the side crease - could make any difference. In contrast, Pakistan might not have had any such spells of brilliant hitting, but they stayed around the six-an-over mark before going for the big runs in the end. 

 

West Indies seemed to have learned their lesson from having failed to defend 152 in the first game. They didn't give Pakistan any pace to hit. When the visitors ended the Powerplay at 39 for 1, it was the last time their run rate would reach 6.5 before Akmal's hitting in the 19th over. They had to fight a controlled West Indies effort throughout.

 

Shehzad, who scored 44 off 46, found little support from the other end. Hafeez, opening in the absence of the dropped Nasir Jamshed, was caught on the late cut again. Umar Amin was done in trying to drive on the up. Haris Sohail swung before he got used to the pace of the pitch. Shahid Afridi hit Narine into the strong wind and in the air. Shehzad perished trying to pull Pollard, who had dug the ball in and provided no pace to go with.

 

At 96 for 5 in the 16th over, it seemed Pakistan would struggle to get to a defendable total, but Akmal kept them in the game. Most of his good work came in the 19th over when Bravo went round the stumps and angled the ball across Akmal with little cover on the cover boundary. He was taken for a four and a six in the 16-run over, but Narine ended his good spell with just six runs in the 20th. As it turned out, Akmal had done enough damage by then.

Pakistan 135 for 7 (Akmal 46*, Narine 3-26) v West Indies

On a tired, used and slow pitch in St Vincent, West Indies denied Pakistan any pace and kept them down to 135, which could yet prove to be a fighting total. Having bowled and fielded poorly in the first match, failing to defend 152, West Indies seemed to have learned their lesson: Darren Sammy opened the bowling and bowled out in one go, Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine did their bit, and Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard were used too. Pakistan were stifled, struggled to time their shots, and when they did time it, they often managed to hit into the wind.
 

Pakistan took 39 for 1 off the Powerplay; the next time their run rate crossed 6.5 was in the 19th over when Umar Akmal salvaged the effort in the end with an unbeaten 46 off 36. During the Powerplay, Narine had started poorly, giving away 10 in his first over, and Ahmed Shehzad was going strong. It was only downhill after that. Sammy accepted a return catch from Umar Amin in the next over; not much later Badree ran back to take a stunner off his own bowling; and when Pakistan finally looked to open up towards the end, Narine came back with a spell of 3-0-16-3.

 

Shehzad, who scored 44 off 46, found little support from the other end. Mohammad Hafeez, opening in the absence of the dropped Nasir Jamshed, was caught on the late cut again. Amin was done in trying to drive on the up. Haris Sohail swung before he got used to the pace of the pitch. Shahid Afridi hit Narine into the strong wind and in the air. Shehzad perished trying to pull Kieron Pollard, who had dug the ball in and provided no pace to go with.

 

At 96 for 5 in the 16th over, it seemed Pakistan would struggle to get to a defendable total, but Akmal kept them in the game. Most of his good work came in the 19th over when Bravo went round the stumps and angled the ball across Akmal with little cover on the cover boundary. He was taken for a four and a six in the 16-run over, but Narine ended his good spell with just six runs in the 20th.

4th ODI SL V SA

Sri Lanka 239 for 2 (Dilshan 115*, Sangakkara 91) beat South Africa 238 (Duminy 97, Mendis 4-51) by 8 wickets

An unbeaten century from Tillakaratne Dilshan and 91 from Kumar Sangakkara carried Sri Lanka to a series win over South Africa with one match to play. The pair ensured the hosts achieved the highest successful run chase at Pallekele with six overs to spare to underline some of South Africa's most pressing issues as they attempt to rebuild their one-day side.
 

At first glance, it would seem the bowlers are to blame but South Africa's middle-order are the real culprits in their defeat. Hashim Amla and JP Duminy shared a second-wicket stand of 101 to set a strong base for the team but the batsmen who followed squandered the advantage.

 

From 118 for 1, South Africa were 238 all out, losing nine wickets for 120 runs. By contrast, Dilshan and Sangakkara shared a partnership of 184 - Sri Lanka's highest against South Africa - to maintain their strong record at home against South Africa.

 

South Africa have only won two ODIs in Sri Lanka and their inability to adapt to conditions was exposed again. The absence of quality spinners and senior players to take responsibility in the batting line-up cost them dearly and they will now return to Colombo with only pride to play for.

 

South Africa began to make some amends for their failings with the bat and Hashim Amla's return was central to that. Amla, who missed the first and third match with injury and could not bat in the second, recovered in time to form one half of South Africa's fourth opening pair in as many matches.

While Quinton de Kock's inexperience was exposed against Lasith Malinga, when he was yorked for 8, Amla had the Sri Lankan attack erring. The seamers continually offered him too much width and he pulled and cut at will.

 

Amla and JP Duminy, who has looked good without producing results in the series so far, settled in and took the batting powerplay after 15 overs. That proved a tactical mistake. Sri Lanka's slew of spinners limited run-scoring opportunities and only 22 were scored in the five-over period.

 

The pair succeeded in planting a platform but Amla did not stick around to help the launch from it. He was lbw to Dilshan, who went around the wicket to trap him on the back foot, and even a review could not save him.

 

AB de Villiers' lean run continued as he was caught behind trying to paddle-sweep. Faf du Plessis also did not contribute, offering a chance to Angelo Mathews in his follow-through and eventually being stumped.

 

Ajantha Mendis foxed the less-experienced players, who have not learnt to pick him. David Miller was bowled by the legbreak and Farhaan Behardien clipped him straight to short leg.

 

The fall of wickets forced Duminy to continue a quiet vigil and his strike rate remained in the 60s, until the last four overs, when he finally decided to launch against Malinga. Duminy managed to improvise, turning would-be yorkers into low full-tosses, but Malinga's change of pace accounted for the tail.

 

Still, South Africa would have thought they had enough with 198 the previous-best successful chase in Pallekele. Their bowlers started well against a changed Sri Lankan top order - with Mahela Jayawardene replacing Upula Tharanga - as Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe extracted extra bounce and got movement, but ill-discipline infected them again. South Africa sent down 17 wides, taking their series total to 58, and indicating an obvious problem with line.

 

Jayawardene was frustrated by the early squeeze and when he tried to steer Tsotsobe to third man, he was caught by a diving Amla at gully. That was the last success South Africa saw until it was too late. Dilshan showed a willingness to ride out the pressure and looked for singles with Sangakkara instead of going for big shots to thwart the bowlers.

 

But South Africa still had their chances. Sangakkara was on three when he edged Kleinveldt but Amla could not pull off the half chance, and on 33, when Duminy appealed for an lbw against him. South Africa had a review in hand but de Villiers chose not to use it. Afterwards, he said neither Duminy nor de Kock, who was keeping, were convinced, Replays, though, showed Sangakkara was out.

His flirtation with fortune over, Sangakkara matches Dilshan blow for blow thereafter. Dilshan was strong square of the wicket and on the pull and brought out his trademark scoop off Tsotsobe. His century came off 119 balls with a swivel down to fine leg.

 

Sangakkara peppered the on-side, with 52 of his runs coming in that area. After Dilshan crossed the century mark, Sangakkara was racing against the remaining runs to get there. He smacked Morkel for two fours to get into the nineties, but fell on his sword when he top-edged to mid-off.

 

Dilshan finished things off to leave South Africa with plenty to think about. Foremost in their minds will be their poor effort in the field, and their decision-making under pressure, both of which need work before Wednesday.

25 overs Sri Lanka 103 for 1 (Dilshan 49*, Sangakkara 33*) need 136 runs to beat South Africa 238

 

Sri Lanka remained circumspect but on track to achieve the highest successful run chase in Pallekele and seal the series against South Africa. Although scoring remained slow - hovering around four runs to the over - on a sluggish track, they had lost only one wicket by the halfway stage and still required less than a run a ball to win.

Like South Africa, they made a change to their top two, moving Upul Tharanga down the order. Against South Africa's opening pair, Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who are both capable of extracting bounce and moving the ball, a more watchful approach was needed and Mahela Jayawardene was asked to provide that.

Both new-ball bowlers got extra bounce while Tsotsobe got the ball to angle across Tillakaratne Dilshan. They were, however, ill-disciplined again and bowled six wides and a no-ball to ease the pressure they were creating.

Dilshan, who is now a more careful hitter, managed a couple of boundaries off short balls while Jayawardene brought out his drive occasionally. Both struggled because of limited scoring opportunities and Jayawardene eventually fell trying to hit out in the tenth over. He attempted to steer Tsotsobe to third man but Hashim Amla was positioned at gully and took a sharp catch to leave Sri Lanka 45 for 1.

Rory Kleinveldt, brought into the side because of a hamstring injury to Ryan McLaren, also asked questions of the Sri Lankan batsmen. He tempted them by pitching it up and induced the edge from Kumar Sangakkara but Amla could not manage another stunner.

South Africa's slow bowlers once again let the grip ease against players who are accomplished against spin. The left-armer Robin Peterson posed no threat to either batsman and they could work the ball around against him. South Africa's only other bowling option is Farhaan Behardien, but unless he can have a similar impact as he did in the third match, Sri Lanka only need to time their assault well to secure the trophy.

South Africa 238 (Duminy 97, Amla 77) v Sri Lanka

JP Duminy survived a middle-order wobble to finish three short of the first century of South Africa's tour and set Sri Lanka a competitive target of 239. In the process, he ended a dry spell of his own. Duminy's last score over 50 was seven innings ago, against Netherlands at the end of May. 
 

Duminy's contribution, built on the back of the fit-again Hashim Amla's half-century, will require Sri Lanka to register the highest successful chase in Pallekele if they are to seal the series - a tough task on a slowing surface. Sri Lanka will take heart, though, from the problems they caused the rest of the South Africa line-up. Lasith Malinga made indentations at the top and tail of the innings, and the slew of spinners kept scoring to a minimum in the middle section. 

 

They erred in allowing Amla too much width early on, which gave the opener an opportunity to underline his value to South Africa's ODI unit. Amla was ruled out of the first and third matches with injury and did not bat in the second after hurting himself when fielding and his return was welcomed by AB de Villiers. He found his timing immediately and batted with a freedom the rest have lacked. 

 

His opening partner, Quinton de Kock, had no such luck. Preferred ahead of Alviro Petersen and Colin Ingram, de Kock had no chance against Malinga. De Kock faced only three balls from the mop-haired maestro and it was obvious Malinga was looking to york the youngster. His first two deliveries were full tosses and then he got the toe-crusher right to bowl de Kock for 8. 

 

Malinga did not pose the same threat to Amla, against whom he tried the short ball. Amla pulled him with confidence, although he almost gloved one early on, and took three boundaries off his third over. 

 

Sri Lanka were forced to introduce spin early in an attempt to stem the flow. Ajantha Mendis was brought on in the sixth over and Amla was immediately more watchful. He preferred to take on the likes of Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera, as both continued with a line too far outside the off stump. 

 

With Amla in full flow, Duminy had time to settle in. He also found boundaries off the seamers and as the partnership grew, South Africa took the Powerplay after 15 overs. It proved an ill-timed decision as they could manage only 22 runs in the five-over period and Amla departed soon after.

He was out lbw to Tillakaratne Dilshan who came from round the wicket to trap him on the back foot. Amla reviewed the decision but he was unsuccessful. He had done the groundwork for the middle-order but they struggled to build on it. 

 

De Villiers' lean run continued when he was caught behind trying to paddle sweep Dilshan. Faf du Plessis also did not offer a meaningful contribution. He was dropped on 12 by Mathews in his follow through and was stumped five overs later after lunging forward to Rangana Herath. 

 

Mendis again foxed the less experienced players. David Miller was bowled by the legbreak and Farhaan Behardien clipped him to short leg. The two fell in three balls and South Africa's 118 for 1 after 22 overs became 173 for 6 in the 38th. 

 

The fall of wickets forced Duminy to continue a quiet vigil and his strike rate remained in the 60s, until the last four overs, while he waited for a time to launch. In the end, he was only able to do a very small extent. 

 

Malinga was mainly responsible for the hardship Duminy experienced. He picked at the tail with short balls and slower deliveries. He accounted for Robin Peterson and Rory Kleinveldt, who hit the innings' only six. 

 

South Africa's addition of just 120 runs in the last 26.4 overs of their innings represented another batting struggle. But with 198 still the highest successful target chased at the venue, they will hope it is enough to make the final match a decider.

25 overs South Africa 127 for 3 (Duminy 36*, du Plessis 1*) v Sri Lanka


Hashim Amla's worth to South Africa's one-day unit was affirmed as the opener gave his team their first solid start of the series. Injuries kept Amla out of action or the first three matches but he recovered in time for this must-win encounter and was in full flow.
 

Amla batted with with timing Rolex would be envious of against a Sri Lanka attack which offered him too much width. While the rest of the South Africa line-up had been tempted, sometimes by average bowling earlier in the series, Amla was in a different class and used the opportunity to stamp his authority.

 

His opening partner, Quinton de Kock, had no such luck. Preferred ahead of Alviro Petersen and Colin Ingram, de Kock showed promise with two boundaries to the leg side off wayward deliveries but had no chance against Lasith Malinga.

 

De Kock faced only three balls from the mop-haired maestro and it was obvious Malinga was looking to york him. His first two deliveries were full tosses and then he got the toe-crusher right. De Kock could not get his bat down in time and was bowled for 8.

 

Malinga did not pose the same threat to Amla, against whom he tried the short ball. Amla pulled him with confidence - although he almost gloved one early on - and took three boundaries off his third over.

 

Sri Lanka were forced to introduce spin early in an attempt to stem the flow. Ajantha Mendis was brought on in the sixth over and Amla was immediately more watchful. He preferred to take on the likes of Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera, both of whom continued with a line too far outside the offstump.

 

With JP Duminy also settled in and batting with relative freedom, South Africa took the Powerplay after 15 overs but, against Sri Lanka's slew of spinners, they were unable to cash in. Just 22 runs came from the five-over period and the decision may be analysed as a poor one, considering how quickly Amla and Duminy were scoring already.

 

Despite the quiet passage, after 22 overs, their second-wicket stand had grown to 101, South Africa's most successful in the series so far and a perfect platform to launch from. But Amla was not able to do that himself. He was out lbw to Tillakaratne Dilshan who came from around the wicket to trap him on the back foot. Amla reviewed the decision but he was unsuccessful.

 

Still, Amla had done the groundwork for the middle-order, who were previously exposed and faltered. They will have no excuse for not capitalising this time, even though AB de Villiers was caught behind cheaply, irrespective of how much better Sri Lanka's bowlers operate in the second half of the innings.

3rd ODI Zimbabwe v India

India 187 for 3 (Kohli 68*) beat Zimbabwe 183 (Williams 45, Mishra 4-47) by seven wickets



India's current tour of Zimbabwe has parallels with the visit to the Southern African country for a tri-series in 2010 - a squad filled with newcomers led by a stand-in captain. Three years ago, that young Indian team had found the tri-series to be a taxing trek, losing three of four matches to crash out before the finals. This time around, though, it has been a casual stroll to a series victory, confirmed by an utterly one-sided third ODI which Zimbabwe lost by seven wickets.

Teams winning the toss have enjoyed a huge advantage in this series, and today was no different as Virat Kohli called correctly and watched his bowlers wipe out Zimbabwe for 183. Even reaching that meagre score reflected a recovery for Zimbabwe, who had been at 89 for 6 in the 23rd over, and still had three tailenders to come who had shown little aptitude for batting. Amit Mishra's variations fetched him four wickets, and the chase was orchestrated by Kohli, who continues to find ODI cricket exceedingly easy.

 

The winter pitch at the Harare Sports Club has followed the same pattern in every match this series: assisting the seamers appreciably in the first hour before gradually easing up. Vusi Sibanda clearly hadn't learnt that, though, charging out of the crease and attempting a wild heave in the first over itself, predictably edging a catch towards extra cover. After that Vinay Kumar strike, it was Mohammed Shami's turn to break through, on his first ball as well, getting Sikandar Raza to nick to the keeper.

 

With the ball hooping around, Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza survived a bunch of lbw calls and were routinely beaten but made sure no further wickets went down. Taylor could have been run-out a couple of times but he didn't attempt any risky shots, the first sign of enterprise being a controlled pull for four off Vinay in the ninth over. Masakadza was content driving through the off side, didn't play across the line much, and the pair shepherded Zimbabwe to the relative security of 67 for 2 in the 16th over.

 

The first hour had been seen off, and Zimbabwe were looking forward to more comfortable batting conditions. However, Jaydev Unadkat, India's best seamer in the previous game, ended the stand getting Taylor to chip a catch to mid-off.

 

Then, the Indian spinners took over. Zimbabwe have poked and prodded against the turning ball, regularly beset by doubts over how much the ball will spin and in which direction.

 

Mishra's mix of legspinners, googlies, sliders and seam-up deliveries have proved too much for Zimbabwe and he has prospered in his first stint in the ODI team in two years. He continued to enjoy himself today as in his first over, he trapped Masakadza and Malcolm Waller lbw to be on a hat-trick. He didn't get one but the double-blow wrecked Zimbabwe's chances of making a big score.

 

Sean Williams and Prosper Utseya arrested the slide with a 36-run stand but Williams seemed to lose his composure once Utseya fell in the 33rd over. He looked to take as much of the strike as he could, given that Tendai Chatara, Brian Vitori and Michael Chinouyi are not known for their batting skills.

 

In a gamble to retain the strike, he took on a throw from Ravindra Jadeja at midwicket , but the powerful and accurate return caught him short.

A quick end to the Zimbabwe innings seemed imminent but the bottom three weren't about to throw their wickets away. Chatara's hook for six off Vinay was the highlight as the tail extended Zimbabwe's innings by more than 11 overs before Mishra returned to polish them off.

 

Faced with a small target and a placid pitch, India weren't too troubled during the chase, and there were never any doubts over which side was heading for victory. Rohit Sharma played a few eye-catching strokes before falling cheaply for the third time in the series. His opening partner Shikhar Dhawan looked set to extend his recent golden run as he feasted on the loose deliveries on offer, but after racing to 35 off 31, he crashed a length ball straight to cover. Ambati Rayudu was slow to start but just as he got going, he chipped a return catch on 33.

 

Unlike the others, Kohli didn't throw it away. He was edgy to begin with, but calmly worked the singles early on and with asking-rate never too far from three an over, he was content to coast along. It was only towards the end of the game, with the result almost guaranteed that he opened out and hurried India past the finish line, completing India's sixth successive ODI victory.

25 overs India 109 for 2 (Kohli 32*, Rayudu 22*) need another 75 runs to beat Zimbabwe 183 (Williams 45, Mishra 4-47)

Faced with a small target and a placid pitch, India weren't too troubled as they progressed towards a series-clinching victory in Harare. Virat Kohli and Amabti Rayudu, who orchestrated the chase in first ODI, were in the middle guiding India towards their sixth consecutive one-day win.

Rohit Sharma played a few eye-catching strokes before falling cheaply for the third time in the series. His opening partner Shikhar Dhawan looked set to extend his recent golden run as he feasted on the short balls on offer, and the many deliveries on his pads. After racing to 35 off 31, though, he crashed a length ball straight to cover.

 

There were still no serious worries for India as their best batsman, Virat Kohli, was on hand to calmly keep India on course. It wasn't Kohli's most fluent innings, with several edgy shots, but he offered no real chances as India coasted towards victory.

50 overs Zimbabwe 183 (Williams 45, Mishra 4-47) v India


Teams winning the toss have enjoyed a huge advantage in this series, and today was no different as Virat Kohli called correctly and watched his bowlers wipe out Zimbabwe for 183. Even reaching that meagre score reflected a recovery for Zimbabwe, who had been at 89 for 6 in the 23rd over, and still had three tailenders to come who had shown little aptitude for batting.
 

The winter pitch at the Harare Sports Club has followed the same pattern in every match this series: assisting the seamers appreciably in the first hour before gradually easing up. A quick look at the scorecards of the first two ODIs should have given the batsman an idea of how to play first up - in the first match, the Zimbabwe openers put away the big shots to rebuff the early questions from the quicks and reached 48 for 0 after 15 overs; in the second, a more expansive India were faltering at 59 for 3 and needed some major recovery work.

 

Vusi Sibanda clearly hadn't learnt from that, charging out of the crease and attempting a wild heave in the first over itself, predictably edging a catch towards extra cover. After that Vinay Kumar strike, it was Mohammed Shami's turn to break through, on his first ball as well, getting Sikandar Raza to nick to the keeper. With the ball hooping around, Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza survived a bunch of lbw calls and were routinely beaten but made sure no further wickets went down.

 

Taylor could have been run-out a couple of times but he didn't attempt any risky shots, the first sign of enterprise being a controlled pull for four off Vinay in the ninth over. Masakadza was content driving through the off side, didn't play across the line, and the pair shepherded Zimbabwe to the relative security of 67 for 2 in the 16th over. The first hour had been seen off, and Zimbabwe were looking forward to more comfortable batting conditions. However, Jaydev Unadkat, India's best seamer in the previous game, ended the stand getting Taylor to chip a catch to mid-off.

 

Then, the Indian spinners took over. Zimbabwe have poked and prodded against the turning ball, regularly beset by doubts over how much the ball will spin and in which direction. Amit Mishra's mix of legspinners, googlies, sliders and seam-up deliveries have proved too much for Zimbabwe and he has prospered in his first stint in the ODI team in two years. He continued to enjoy himself today as in his first over, he trapped Masakadza and Malcolm Waller lbw to be on a hat-trick. He didn't get one but the double-blow wrecked Zimbabwe's chances of making a big score.

 

Ravindra Jadeja then set up the big-hitting Elton Chigumbura with a delivery that spun sharply away before getting the next one to slide on. Sean Williams and Prosper Utseya arrested the slide with a 36-run stand in which both batsmen were quick to pounce on the poor balls on offer. Williams was strong square of the wicket on either side, using the sweeps well against the spinners to make a combative 45.

 

Williams seemed to lose his composure once Utseya fell in the 33rd over, looking to take as much of the strike as he could, given that Tendai Chatara, Brian Vitori and Michael Chinouyi are not known for their batting skills. He took on a throw from Jadeja at midwicket in a gamble to retain the strike, but the powerful and accurate return caught him short.

 

A quick end to the Zimbabwe innings seemed imminent but the bottom three weren't about to throw their wickets away. Chatara's hook for six off Vinay was the highlight as the tail extended Zimbabwe's innings by more than 11 overs before Mishra returned to polish them off.

1st T20 West Indies v Pakistan

Pakistan 158 for 8 (Amin 47, Afridi 46) beat West Indies 152 for 7 (Pollard 49*, Babar 3-23, Hafeez 2-4) by two wickets

You get a chance to play international cricket at 34, becoming the second-oldest debutant for your country. You are hit for six second ball. What do you do? You dismiss three key batsmen for just 23 runs. You are then called on to finish the game. With the bat.

Understandably, you are tied down. But with six needed off six, you loft over extra cover for four. You think you have more than pulled your weight as a debutant. You have, but it is not over yet. It comes down to the last ball. One run needed. Everyone is in the circle. No sweat. You go big over mid-off, so big that you clear the rope. Zulfiqar Babar, welcome to international cricket.

It should not have come down to the last ball the way Shahid Afridi sensibly steered the chase from 86 for 5. After that became 116 for 6, he did it with the tail for company. He made 46 off 27, but barring the 27th delivery, he hardly hit a desperate, reckless stroke. With eight needed off 11 though, he tried to seal it with a straight six, and mishit to long-on.

 

West Indies sensed a chance. Babar played out a few dots. Despite that early boundary in the last over, Saeed Ajmal was run out off the fifth with the scores tied, before Babar roared one final time. 

 

The way they bowled and fielded, West Indies were lucky to have taken it down to the last ball. Shannon Gabriel took three wickets, but he crumbled under pressure each time he was called upon to deliver. Umar Amin, who played a blinder on T20 debut, took three fours off Gabriel's first over, with a flick and two pulls.

 

Amin then took Samuel Badree apart on a turning pitch. Never giving the ball a chance to spin, he repeatedly stepped out to loft Badree down the ground. When the bowler dropped it short, Amin pulled. When he overpitched, Amin drove. Even as Amin was toying with West Indies, the hosts were striking at the other end.

 

The Pakistan top order fell to miscalculated hits, but Amin's brilliance meant the asking-rate was always under control. That still didn't stop Amin from walking out to Samuels and getting stumped to make it 86 for 5.

 

Afridi took over now, striking Samuels first ball for six over long-off and drilling the third to the extra cover rope. Thereafter, he settled down into cruise mode, rotating the strike, picking the odd boundary and also lofting Sunil Narine to become the first man to reach 400 international sixes. He did everything right except the stroke on the ball he got out to, but then, it was to be the debutant's day in the end.

 

Babar, and the other Pakistan spinners, had shocked West Indies initially on the turner but the hosts recovered and then took apart the fast bowlers to post a challenging total. Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard came together at 42 for 4 and put on 56 before Darren Sammy cracked 30 off 14. Pakistan's slow bowlers did their job, taking 5 for 74 in 14 overs but the fast bowlers, missing the yorkers too often, disappeared for 1 for 73 in six. Mohammad Hafeez, who opened the bowling and dismissed the openers, gave himself just two overs.

 

Babar squared up and bowled Lendl Simmons with his fourth delivery and in his next over, found himself in the way of a powerful hit from Samuels, but managed to hold on. Samuels had been cutting Mohammad Irfan for boundaries amid all the wickets.

 

Bravo and Pollard, although not always in control, rotated the strike, a refreshing thing coming from a West Indies pair. Bravo was quick to hit with the turn through the off side, and Pollard made sure he put away the rare half-volleys for boundaries. Sammy went after the fast bowlers as he and Pollard looted 53 in four overs. As Sammy said after the game, 152 should have been defended on that pitch, but Babar was to have the perfect debut.

20 overs West Indies 152 for 7 (Pollard 49*, Sammy 30, Babar 3-23, Hafeez 2-4) v Pakistan

West Indies were shocked initially by the Pakistan spinners on a turning pitch but recovered and then took apart the fast bowlers to post a challenging total. Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard came together at 42 for 4 and put on 56 before Darren Sammy cracked 30 off 14 to lift the hosts to 152 for 7.

The pitch had been expected to take turn, so much so that Pakistan bowling coach Mohammad Akram said they had always planned to play four spinners on it. The slow bowlers did their job, taking 5 for 74 in 14 overs but the fast bowlers, missing the yorkers too often, disappeared for 1 for 73 in six. Mohammad Hafeez, who opened the bowling, gave himself just two overs.

 

Hafeez did plenty of damage in those two overs, though. Johnson Charles charged out at the third ball, missed it completely and was bowled. In his next over, Hafeez did to Chris Gayle what he does so often to left-handers - getting them leg-before with no turn when they play for spin.

 

Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, the second-oldest to debut for Pakistan at 34, then squared up Lendl Simmons with his fourth delivery in international cricket, a big turner, two balls after having been carted over long-on. In his next over, Babar found himself in the way of a powerful hit from Marlon Samuels, and managed to hold on. Samuels had been cutting Mohammad Irfan for boundaries amid all the wickets.

 

With the players to follow not exactly known to be comfortable against spin, Pakistan had a bright chance of restricting the hosts to a low score. But Bravo and Pollard, although not always in control, batted sensibly. They rotated the strike, a refreshing thing coming from a West Indies pair. Bravo was quick to hit with the turn through the off side, and Pollard made sure he put away the rare half-volleys for boundaries.

 

At 96 for 4 after 15 overs, West Indies were well placed for a late assault with two set batsmen but Babar, already having a superb debut, had Bravo caught at sweeper cover in his last over. The West Indies ODI captain's exit brought in the T20 captain, who was to face just one delivery of spin.

 

Sammy immediately went after the fast bowlers, drilling Junaid Khan down the ground. He was dropped off the same bowler by Umar Amin at deep midwicket on 12, the fielder parrying the ball over the boundary for six. Pollard reached his fifty in the last over, swatting Irfan over long-on.

 

Sammy got a high full toss, which was dispatched for six more. The partnership had looted 53 in four overs, and Pakistan were faced with a stiff chase against the West Indies spinners.

2nd ODI Zim v Ind

India 294 for 8 (Dhawan 116, Karthik 69) beat Zimbabwe 236 for 9 (Sibanda 55, Utseya 52*, Unadkat 4-41) by 58 runs


Zimbabwe were expected to provide stiffer opposition to India if the toss went in their favour. It did, and twice, once each with ball and bat, Zimbabwe were in dominating positions. Holding on to them was something different, though, and both times, they fell apart, first against Shikhar Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik, and then, via a batting collapse.
 

Zimbabwe's bowlers had a clear opportunity to embarrass India, who realised how difficult it was to bat first at Harare Sports Club with the 9am start. Four of their top five batsmen had fallen cheaply, but the one who hadn't, Dhawan, made Zimbabwe pay for letting him get away three times. Dhawan made his third century in 17 ODIs, and revived India in a 167-run fifth-wicket partnership with Karthik, who made only his second fifty after comeback.

 

Had the Zimbabwe quicks shown more control, and had their fielders caught better, India would have been in a bigger hole. Dhawan played possibly the most charmed innings of his short international career. He was caught behind off a Kyle Jarvis no-ball when on 3, dropped by the wicketkeeper off the same bowler when on 14 and handed a third life on 70 when deep square leg misjudged what should have been a straightforward catch. To his credit, Dhawan did not let anything loose go waste despite all the wickets and all the chances.

 

Apart from sending down numerous wides and no-balls, Zimbabwe often bowled on the pads to Dhawan, who picked up several boundaries through the leg side - pulling, whipping, nudging and lofting. Just after the costly no-ball to Dhawan, Jarvis conceded four leg-byes, and also gave the batsman overpitched deliveries outside off stump, which were driven for fours.

 

Dhawan was losing partners quickly, though. The same batsmen who could have hardly been bothered in the chase on Wednesday were made to struggle. The new balls swung, seamed, bounced, and skidded. Brian Vitori struck with his first ball, after having been left out in the first game. Rohit Sharma, having said just before his 100th ODI started that one needed to be careful against the new balls as an opener, chased a widish good length ball, and edged to slip.

 

Virat Kohli, coming off a match-winning hundred, looked largely solid before he pushed Jarvis to mid-on, departing in anger after twice asking for the third umpire to check whether the ball had carried. Ambati Rayudu was brought crashing down from his debut half-century in a painful 25-ball existence during which he was put down by the bowler Vitori and was beaten on numerous occasions. For once, Suresh Raina - who has made no secret of his desire to bat up the order - had plenty of overs, but nudged his 11th delivery down the leg side to the keeper.

 

At 65 for 4, Dhawan looked intent to make good use of his lives and Karthik was in superb touch. Unlike the top order, Karthik left deliveries for a while outside off and waited for the bad balls. Both Dhawan and Karthik ensured the lone spinner, Prosper Utseya, was taken for runs.

 

India's charge was arrested suddenly when Karthik was run out after a mix-up in the 43rd over, and Dhawan dragged an attempted sweep onto his stumps in the 44th. Zimbabwe were to pay for their slow over-rate, though. Taylor used Sean Williams' part-time spin for the last over, which was taken for 23 by Vinay Kumar and Mohammed Shami.

 

Zimbabwe pushed India with the bat as well early, but again, could not hold onto a strong position. And once more, it was Vusi Sibanda who threw away another start after dominating the bowlers with powerful hits. Four balls later, Brendan Taylor ran himself out. Soon, it became a flood. Williams, Hamilton Masakadza and Malcolm Waller fell to the spinners to make it 133 for 6.

 

Only a few overs ago, Sibanda was pulling boundaries at will as India's quick bowlers overdid the short ball on a pitch which had eased out considerably. Vinay Kumar, in particular, was targetted. Sibanda's second-wicket partnership with Masakadza was worth 64 at close to seven an over and the India bowlers were looking flat.

 

The situation quickly changed when Unadkat was brought back in the 21st over. Sibanda, who had reached his fifty off 57, immediately went after him, but mishit to midwicket. Panic set in with Taylor's run-out, and Zimbabwe had only themselves to blame for a big defeat, though Prosper Utseya and Elton Chigumbura reduced the margin.

3rd ODI South Africa v Sri Lanka

South Africa 223 for 7 (Miller 85*, Mendis 3-35) beat Sri Lanka 167 (Thisara 65, Tsotsobe 4-22) by 56 runs


What a difference two overs can make. That was all it took for South Africa to stay alive in the series, have their confidence restored and beat Sri Lanka at home for the first time in close to 20 years. 
 

The 49th and 50th over of their innings produced 38 runs and took their total from middling to challenging.

 

David Miller scored 35 of them himself - prior to this match no South African batsman had managed a score greater than 29 in the series - hitting Thisara Perera and Lasith Malinga straight down the ground. He proved South Africa could be competitive and could come back after being under pressure in the first two matches, and even large sections of the third.

 

And what a difference an over can almost make. Perera hit Robin Peterson for the second-most expensive over in ODI cricket to throw Sri Lanka back into contention after they slumped to 93 for 7. The 35 runs included five sixes and a four, Perera displaying his prowess, especially over the leg-side.

 

Like Miller, he showed the temperament required to succeed in conditions where the surfaces are sluggish - survive first, thrive later. Unlike the South African, Perera was asked to do too much at the end.

 

Because Miller did not have a target to chase, he had less pressure on him. His strike rate hovered between 70 and 80 for most of his stay at the crease as he settled in. He needed AB de Villiers to usher him through the period where even singles were hard to come by and soon realised patience would pay off.

 

Only at the very end, when Perera and Malinga seemed to have dinner rather than death bowling on their minds, did Miller pounce on anything too full and one which was too short. Miller registered the first South African half-century on the tour after their top order failed - Hashim Amla's absence is growing glaring as each match goes by.

 

South Africa tried a third opening pair in as many matches with Lions' team-mates Alviro Petersen and Quinton de Kock fronting up first. Both were watchful but de Kock was unable to contain his attacking instincts and was vulnerable outside the offstump.

 

He offered a chance in the fourth over when he swung at a wide one without any foot movement but Tillakaratne Dilshan at slip could not hold on. Sri Lanka hit back two balls later when Malinga bowled his first short ball and Petersen tried to hook too early, only to glove it to Kumar Sangakkara.

 

Sri Lanka's attack continued to find the edge of de Kock's bat and the youngster fell on his sword to open South Africa's middle up to a familiar state of panic. Both JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis posted insubstantial scores, with Duminy looking good again but unable to kick on and du Plessis uneasy at the crease and almost run out twice before actually being found short of his ground.

 

De Villiers looked closer to breaking the lean run but Sri Lanka's spinners and Ajanthan Mendis in particular did not let him get away. Mendis was difficult to pick while Rangana Herath and Dilshan kept things tight. It was only when Miller decided to hit out that the complexion of South Africa's tour became a little rosier.

 

Things got better for them from there as the fit-again Lonwabo Tsotsobe did the bulk of the damage upfront. He plucked three wickets in a six-over spell in which he extracted bounce, produced seam movement and partnered Morne Morkel to perfection.

 

Morkel created pressure at his end with pace and steep lift, while Tsotsobe's accuracy ensured eight dot balls were produced before the first run was scored. Sri Lanka's were troubled by anything back of a length and Dilshan was the first to succumb. He spooned a catch to de Villiers at cover before Kumar Sangakkara went in the same over, chasing one that moved away.

 

Upul Tharanga was also undone by bounce and edged Tsotsobe to Petersen at slip. With Sri Lanka at 16 for 3, South Africa were in control for the first time in the series.

 

They held the match in their grip even as Mahela Jayawardene and Dinesh Chandimal combined for a 55-run stand. Robin Peterson reviewed an lbw shout against Jayawardene, which was going down leg and Jayawardene survived a stumping chance when Peterson was bowling but the left-arm spinner had the last laugh. Peterson bowled Jayawardene with one that skidded on, but that was the end of his involvement in the night.

 

Peterson's figures were ruined by Perera, who hit his first four sixes over the mid-wicket boundary. Then, he sent Peterson back over his head for four and he finished with the biggest hit of the night, over square leg.

 

That over brought Sri Lanka's required run-rate below six but, it would take more than one over to change the course of the match. Perera had a few more meaty hits, but he didn't have a second over to match his first and when he was dismissed, Sri Lanka's hopes went with him.

5th ODI WI v Pak

Pakistan 243/6 (Shehzad 64, Misbah 63, Best 3-48 beat West Indies 242 for 7 (Dwayne Bravo 48, Samuels 45, Charles 43, Junaid 3-48) by 4 wickets & win the series 3-1.


With his fourth half-century in five games this series, the world's leading ODI run-getter of 2013 shepherded his volatile band of batsmen home in another tricky chase. Misbah-ul-Haq battled falling wickets at the other end, a charged up Tino Best, and a rain interruption as late as the 98th over of the game to take Pakistan to their third successive away bilateral series win over West Indies. Yet again this series, Umar Akmal was called upon to overcome the asking-rate towards the end, and once more, he did not disappoint, delivering the series to Pakistan with a 3-1 margin. 
 

Misbah formed partnerships with Ahmed Shehzad, Haris Sohail and Akmal before falling in the last over trying to slog the winning hit, with scores tied. He had already ensured Pakistan had won the series; a tie would have meant the margin would have been 2-1.

When Sohail became the latest profligate Pakistan batsman to fall, chasing a wide Best delivery, Pakistan needed 83 from 12 overs. Best, having conceded 25 off his first three overs, was in the mood for a furious comeback. Pinging down bouncers in the mid-140s, he smacked one into Misbah's fingers. The storm was being weathered by the captain, Akmal did his act at the other end.
 

The inexperienced Jason Holder was taken for three successive fours in the next over, the 41st, the second of those coming off a poor effort at fine leg from Marlon Samuels. It wasn't the first time West Indies had messed up in the field today, and it wasn't to be the last. Akmal steered a short ball to the fine third man rope next ball. Holder cracked further under pressure, four leg-byes resulting off Misbah's pad down the leg side off the last ball of the over.

 

Misbah managed a four off an inside edge to Sunil Narine next over and held his nerve to reverse-sweep the offspinner for four more. Then arrived the moment which once again highlighted what a farce a watered-down DRS has been in this series, in the absence of HotSpot. West Indies were sure Misbah had gloved a Best bouncer to the keeper down leg, the on-field umpire did not agree, and the third umpire had too much guesswork to do with only replays and sound as tools. Misbah was on 49 then, and Pakistan would have needed 53 of 46 had he been given.

 

Though Best lost predictably his temper, West Indies were not giving in. Dwayne Bravo, who often disappears for plenty at the death, delivered two tight overs. But Akmal found the big stroke when Pakistan sorely needed it. Narine was cut for four, Best was carted over mid-off for six. A top-edge flew over the keeper for four more, but even as clouds swept in over the stadium, Akmal holed out to mid-off for 37 off 28.

 

A 20-minute break followed but Pakistan were ahead on D/L by five runs, and safe in the knowledge that the series was theirs, in case no further play was possible. Sunshine followed soon, though, and Shahid Afridi weighed in at the hit end of the hit-or-miss scale. Bravo was smashed for six over deep midwicket and punched past point for four. Game over? Not yet.

 

Misbah hit Holder to short midwicket second ball of the final over, and Saeed Ajmal took three deliveries to get bat on ball. Had the throw from mid-on hit, it would have gone down to the final ball. It didn't, and Afridi and Ajmal hugged, as did their team-mates in the Pakistan dressing room.

Credit for the win also went to Shehzad, who made his first substantial score of the series, and guided Pakistan's chase amid tight bowling from Narine and Darren Sammy. Both sides seemed to exchange favours. West Indies did not appeal for two caught-behind chances off Narine. Pakistan paid back with a suicidal run-out and a needless slog.

The pitch eased out further in the second innings. Cutting and pulling without trouble, Nasir Jamshed and Shehzad brought up Pakistan's first 50-run opening stand in 17 innings, excluding a game against Scotland.

 

Trust Pakistan to blow such a rare promising start. Jamshed was stranded for the second game running, Shehzad taking a few steps and stopping this time, after Mohammad Hafeez in the previous game. Hafeez himself got a start and then had a heave at Sammy. However, Shehzad had Misbah to steady things.

 

The opposing captain's cameo had earlier taken his side to to 242 for 7 from 170 for 6. Dwayne Bravo, with 48 off 27, was assisted by his predecessor, Darren Sammy, who made an unbeaten 29 off 18.

 

The West Indies top six never managed any sort of sustained partnership. Two of them, Johnson Charles and Marlon Samuels, got forties, but were also the ones who struggled to score the most. Devon Smith fell early yet again. Chris Gayle and Lendl Simmons were unable to convert starts.

 

Junaid Khan was outstanding, barring the last over when Sammy went after him, making a case for him to have played through the series.

 

Mohammad Irfan was unlucky not to break through in his opening spell, but came back even stronger to remove Charles and Samuels. West Indies took 56 from overs 46 and 48 to 50, but Misbah's calm and Akmal's aggression were enough to overhaul that.

 

75 overs Pakistan 95 for 2 (Shehzad 50*, Misbah 9*) need another 148 runs to beat West Indies 242 for 7 (Dwayne Bravo 48, Samuels 45, Charles 43, Junaid 3-48)


Ahmed Shehzad made his first substantial score of the series, and guided Pakistan's chase amid tight bowling from Sunil Narine and Darren Sammy. Both sides seemed to exchange favours. West Indies did not appeal for two caught-behind chances. Pakistan paid back with a suicidal run-out and a needless slog.
 

The pitch eased out further in the second innings and the most the Pakistan openers were tested by the new balls was when a couple of express deliveries from Tino Best flew for top-edged boundaries. Although Best didn't compromise on pace, as always, he was also expensive, and West Indies missed the injured Kemar Roach.

 

Cutting and pulling without trouble, Nasir Jamshed and Shehzad brought up Pakistan's first 50-run opening stand in 17 innings, excluding a game against Scotland.

 

Trust Pakistan to blow such a rare promising start. Jamshed was stranded for the second game running, Shehzad taking a few steps and stopping this time, after Mohammad Hafeez in the previous game. Hafeez himself got a start and then had a heave at Sammy to make it 64 for 2.

 

With Best expensive, and Dwayne Bravo off the field for a while after taking a blow to his arm while batting, West Indies used up Sammy's entire quota, and also used as many as six overs from Narine. The former ODI captain, who stood in when Dwayne Bravo was off, was remorselessly accurate as ever. However, his chiding of Narine when the offspinner lazily conceded a few extra runs was uncharacteristic.

 

Narine may have been apologetic on the field, but he was hard to get away with the ball, conceding only 15 in those six overs. However, neither bowler nor wicketkeeper appealed for a catch off a clear edge Hafeez got on an attempted cut in the 14th over.

 

In Narine's next over, Shehzad seemed to get a thin edge behind. Again, no appeal from West Indies.

 

After Jamshed and Hafeez's wickets restored balance on the gift front, Shehzad and Misbah-ul-Haq steadied the chase.

50 overs West Indies 242 for 7 (Dwayne Bravo 48, Samuels 45, Charles 43, Junaid 3-48) v Pakistan


Pakistan asked West Indies to bat and hardly ever allowed them to get away, barring at the death, when Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy took their side to just above a par total for this series. Till then, the Pakistan attack, led by Junaid Khan, had kept West Indies to 170 for 6 but Dwayne Bravo, with 48 off 27, and Darren Sammy, with an unbeaten 29 off 18, converted that to 242 for 7.

The West Indies top six never managed any sort of sustained partnership. Two of them, Johnson Charles and Marlon Samuels, got forties, but were also the ones who struggled to score the most. Devon Smith fell early yet again, Darren Bravo fell early too, on referral, and Chris Gayle and Lendl Simmons were unable to convert starts.

 

Junaid was outstanding, barring the last over when Sammy went after him, making a case for him to have played through the series. Mohammad Irfan was unlucky not to break through in his opening spell, but came back even stronger to remove Charles and Samuels. Asad Ali, preferred over Wahab Riaz and slower in pace, could have had both those batsmen, had they not been dropped, the latter by himself. Saeed Ajmal, who often pulls off the extremely thankless task of bowling in the batting Powerplay and at the death with so much success, went for some runs, including an expensive last over.

 

Both captains got what they wanted out of the toss. Misbah-ul-Haq wanted his bowlers to use the morning moisture; Dwayne Bravo wanted his batsmen to make first use of the pitch, saying the moisture would not stay around for long. And West Indies did not face too many issues against the new balls, although Irfan posed problems with his bounce and some movement.

 

Smith was able to get through his usual tormentor Mohammad Hafeez's overs, but chased a widish length ball in Junaid's opening over and edged to second slip. Darren Bravo hit a few eye-catching drives but Junaid's control soon broke through again. There was a noise as Bravo pushed at a shortish delivery on off stump, and the third umpire deemed that was enough to send the batsman on his way caught-behind.

 

Charles and Samuels, put down on 18 and 3, slowly started to take a few singles. Both took on Shahid Afridi, stepping out to loft him for boundaries. Just when the partnership had gone past 50, Charles, whose knock was a mix of plays-and-misses and edged boundaries, swatted tennis-forehand style at Irfan and was caught.

 

Gayle, demoted to No 5 again, seemed intent to bat himself in, and with Samuels' increasing inability to get moving, West Indies stalled before the former hit Hafeez for successive boundaries in the 35th over. Gayle fell as soon as the Powerplay began, edging a sharp Junaid bouncer to the wicketkeeper. Samuels' crawl spilled over into the Powerplay as he played out a maiden to Ajmal. He went the Charles way soon after, forehanding Irfan, again, into the deep for 45 off 89.

 

Simmons looked in superb touch again but failed to clear the deep fielder with a slog-sweep, and it was only Dwayne Bravo and Sammy left to try and kickstart a flagging innings. Bravo cut loose first, with pulls and lofted drives over extra cover. Sammy got a few away towards the very end, as West Indies took 56 from overs 46 and 48 to 50

1st ODI Zimbabwe v India

India 230 for 4 (Kohli 115, Rayudu 63*) beat Zimbabwe 228 for 7 (Raza 82, Mishra 3-43) by six wickets
Usually, Indian cricketers ply their trade in packed and raucous concrete bowls and have to deal with a large media contingent. The Harare Sports Club, in contrast, features vast grass banks, rudimentary stands and is ringed by trees. Only a couple of Indian journalists have made the trip to Zimbabwe to cover the series.
 

If that wasn't enough to ease the pressure on an Indian squad filled with understudies, the cool weather on a sunny day, the toothless Zimbabwe bowling and a benign pitch made them feel all the more comfortable. With the schooldkids dancing in the stands and plenty of fans having a leisurely lunch near the pavilion, the match seemed more like a casual afternoon game in the park, rather than an international encounter.

 

The intensity of the contest particularly dimmed once Virat Kohli took charge of yet another chase. Over the past three years, Kohli has developed into one of the leading batsmen in one-dayers, a reputation forged on the back of several big centuries when hunting down targets, but today's hundred - his 15th in ODIs, drawing him level with Virender Sehwag and Mohammad Yousuf - could well have been his easiest in international cricket.

 

The chase revolved around a 159-run stand for the third wicket between debutant Ambati Rayudu and Kohli. Rayudu first came to national attention a decade ago, when picked as a 17-year-old for an A tour of the Caribbean and was touted as the next big thing in Indian cricket. However, a tussle with his state association and a dalliance with the unofficial Indian Cricket League combined to keep him out of the India team for years. The friendly conditions were the perfect setting for Rayudu to make his debut, and he helped himself to an unbeaten half-century.

 

Rayudu and Kohli came together after India's opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma departed fairly early - Dhawan after failing to control a hook, and Rohit after nicking a wide, amiable delivery to the keeper. Kohli was fluent right from the start, highlighted by a controlled drive through extra cover and a superbly timed flick to the midwicket boundary. With the asking-rate well in hand, Rayudu took his time early on to settle any nerves, mainly dealing in singles - he hit just two fours till he reached his half-century.

 

With the pitch having dried out, and Zimbabwe's spinners not getting much purchase, Prosper Utseya's late double-strike wasn't much more than an opportunity for the crowd to cheer.

 

The gulf between the two sides was clearly in evidence, though it was widened considerably by India winning the toss. The only time the pitch encouraged the bowlers was soon after the 9am start, and India's new-ball bowlers, Vinay Kumar and Shami Ahmed, had the ball swerving around though they couldn't separate the dogged Zimbabwe opening pair of Sikandar Raza and Vusi Sibanda. The openers, well aware of the early danger, concentrated on keeping wickets in hand, not bothering about the scoring rate which remained below three in the first hour.

 

Raza, the Sialkot-born batsman, shrugged off an indifferent start to his international career with a watchful 82 that held the innings together. The camera frequently panned to a man wearing a 'Team Raza' t-shirt, and Raza didn't disappoint his fans. The run-rate may have been wanting, and it wasn't until the 32nd over that he reached his half-century, but he then showcased his repertoire of strokes, highlighted by two sixes in the Powerplay - one a stunning straight hit over Vinay's head and the other a muscular swat over midwicket for six more.

 

India's spinners kept the pressure on Zimbabwe's top order. Jadeja continued to be in top form, with his steady spin fetching him 10-3-33-0 while legspinner Amit Mishra, playing his first ODI in more than two years, got three wickets. His googly was going to be a big weapon against a team that hasn't faced him too often, and it provided India the first breakthrough, as Sibanda was lbw in the 22nd over.

 

The disciplined bowling meant that Zimbabwe struggled to lift the scoring rate. It was only around the batting Powerplay, when Raza and Brendan Taylor - Zimbabwe's best batsman, who walked out as late as the 34th over - piled on 43 runs in five overs, that the home side finally got a move on. After Taylor departed, Raza followed, falling for 82 as he missed a short ball from Mishra. He walked off dejected, and though Elton Chigumbura reeled off a series of boundaries in an unbeaten 43 off 34 balls to lift the target to 229, it didn't prove much of a challenge for India.

25 overs Zimbabwe 81 for 1 (Raza 36*, Williams 4*) v India


Both captains, Virat Kohli and Brendan Taylor, were well aware of the threat posed by the two new balls in Harare, especially with the game starting as early as 9am. Kohli called correctly and chose to bowl, and his inexperienced bowling unit didn't spray the ball around but couldn't prise apart the opening partnership of Vusi Sibanda and Sikandar Raza for over an hour and a half as Zimbabwe made slow-and-steady progress.
 

India handed a debut to Saurashtra seamer Jaydev Unadkat, picking Vinay Kumar and Mohammad Shami as the other quicks. All three were disciplined, getting the ball to swerve around but just couldn't get the breakthrough. Unadkat, who made a forgettable Test debut back in 2010 when still a teenager, had a much better beginning to his one-day career, probing away around the off stump though he is still searching for his first international wicket.

 

Sikandar Raza was squared up by a Shami outswinger and was in trouble against the short ball, but neither he nor Sibanda went for any rash strokes though the run-rate was below three during the Powerplay. There were only two boundaries in the first ten overs, and the first really adventurous stroke was a leaping cut over point from Sibanda in the 12th over.

 

It didn't get any easier for Zimbabwe once the spinners came on, with Jadeja inducing a thick outside edge past slip from Sibanda in the 15th over. Raza also nicked Jadeja to slip on 27 only to be put down by Kohli. Legspinner Amit Mishra, in his first ODI in more than two years, also began well, and his googly was always going to be the delivery to watch for; Sibanda misread it and was lbw for 34 in the 22nd over.

 

With a solid base in place, Zimbabwe will look to be far more enterprising in the second half of the innings. Sean Williams, promoted to No. 3, already showed signs of that, getting off the mark with a reverse-swept boundary. It will also be an important period for Raza who had a string of poor-to-middling scores in the series against Bangladesh, and will need a substantial score to boost his case for a sustained run in the Zimbabwe team.