In today’s cricket games news, find out about how Sri Lanka wins the Asia Cup final after defeating Pakistan. Meanwhile, on the fourth day of the third Test at the Kia Oval saw England close in on a series victory against South Africa thanks to a dominant bowling performance. Lastly, after suffering a crushing white-ball series loss to Australia, New Zealand will have some time to reflect on their performance at home.
Sri Lanka Wins Asia Cup Over Pakistan
Original Source: Sri Lanka beats Pakistan in Asia Cup cricket final
Sri Lanka’s inexperienced cricket team overcame a poor start with bat and ball to win the Asia Cup for the sixth time.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa hit an unbeaten 71 off 45 balls in Dubai to help Sri Lanka recover from 58-5 to 170-6 in the final.
Pakistan’s top order struggled against the pace as Pramod Madushan took 4-34 in his second T20 international.
Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga baffled Pakistan’s lower order with his googlies.
Hasaranga, who scored 36 off 21 balls, caught Mohammad Rizwan (55), Asif Ali, and Khushdil Shah in his last over to finish with 3-27.
“It was all nerves, but I knew the youngsters could deliver,” Dasun Shanaka said. We have good players who performed well.
Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka conceded nine runs through a no ball and several wides before his first legitimate delivery at the sixth attempt.
Madushan, who made his T20 debut against Pakistan on Friday, calmed his team’s nerves by dismissing Babar Azam (5) and Fakhar Azam (0) in quick succession.
Babar’s hard flick was caught by Madushanka at short fine leg, and Fakhar dragged the first ball onto his stumps for a duck.
Babar, the second-ranked T20 batter, ended the tournament with 68 runs.
“As a batting unit, we didn’t perform,” Babar said. We didn’t finish well and gave away 15-20 extra runs. Learning from these ups-and-downs is good, but you need to reduce your mistakes.
Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed (32) added 71 runs in almost 10 overs as Sri Lanka bowled tidily in the middle overs.
Pakistan collapsed from 102-3 to lose its last seven wickets for 45 runs as Sri Lanka fielders held all their catches.
Pakistan’s fearsome pace attack, led by Haris Rauf (3-29), had Sri Lanka in trouble in the first nine overs before Rajapaksa and Hasaranga rallied.
He hit six fours and three sixes.
Kusal Mendis was clean bowled off the first ball by Naseem Shah (1-40), and Rauf dismissed Pathum Nissanka and Danushka Gunathilaka.
Rajapaksa and Hasaranga counterattacked after Shadab Khan’s threat (1-28). Surprisingly, Babar used his premium left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz for only one over, which went for 3 runs as both Sri Lanka batters smashed Shah and Mohammad Hasnain (0-41).
Pakistan’s fielding was sloppy; Rajapaksa was dropped twice by Shadab. Hasaranga was caught behind by Rauf in the 15th over, but Rajapaksa added 54 runs with Chamika Karunaratne (14 not out).
Rajapaksa hit a boundary off the penultimate ball and a six over extra cover to give Sri Lanka a strong total to defend.
Sri Lanka won five straight games after losing to Afghanistan in the tournament’s first game. Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in last Super 4 game.
Broad, Stokes, Robinson, and Anderson Push England to Victory
Original Source: England v South Africa: Broad, Stokes, Robinson & Anderson set up victory push
The hosts bowled South Africa out for 169, leaving 130 for a 2-1 win.
Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes took three wickets each, James Anderson and Ollie Robinson two each.
In a frantic start to the chase, England reached 97-0 in 17 overs before fading light halted them.
Zak Crawley made his first half-century in 17 Test innings and ended 57 not out. He will return with Alex Lees, who is unbeaten on 32 with 33 needed to win.
It was England’s second innings of the day; they had scored 158 earlier.
After resuming on 154-7, England lost three wickets for four runs in 16 legal deliveries, part of a 6-wicket, 29-run collapse.
South Africa erased a 40-run deficit for the loss of one wicket and were in control at 83-1 before England’s bowlers struck.
After a seesaw day, England is on the brink
England were in danger of wasting a strong position on a day when The Oval continued to show respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – black armbands are still being worn, and much of the signage remains black.
England lost their last three wickets in 13 minutes before lunch, giving South Africa the lead.
In the afternoon, the hosts cut through a South Africa batting lineup that couldn’t hold on.
After two days of play, England had 100 minutes to win on Sunday.
In a frenetic start, Crawley and Lees were carried by a rapt crowd.
England scored 27 in the first three overs, keeping with their summer revolution under Stokes and McCullum.
As light faded, tension rose. Crawley kept England on track until umpires intervened to boos.
Bowlers push for win
This was another relentless display by England’s bowlers, who have only allowed South Africa a total over 179 once in five innings.
South Africa lost their last nine wickets for 86 runs after captain Dean Elgar failed to review a lbw decision off Broad when the ball missed leg stump.
Wide was rewarded for attacking the stumps. Ryan Rickelton was lbw and Keshav Maharaj was bowled, giving Broad 566 Test wickets, fifth on the all-time list and second among seamers.
Stokes shot all over. Sarel Erwee was caught at first slip before the captain returned to bowl Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada.
Twice Robinson got the ball to jag back from outside off stump, first to have Wiaan Mulder chop on, then to pin Khaya Zondo leg before deciding to play or leave.
Anderson’s first scalp was Keegan Petersen, and he got Kyle Verreynne caught and bowled for England’s final wicket.
Crawley and Lees make strides
The idea of England completing the chase on the fourth evening was unthinkable, but Stokes’ side has regularly pushed the envelope.
In a chaotic start, Lees was dropped first ball by fourth slip Jansen, survived a direct-hit run-out attempt, and looped a catch over Maharaj’s grasp.
At the other end, Crawley looked more comfortable than ever this season.
He reached 50 with three fours in four Rabada balls, then was dropped at mid-wicket and edged between keeper and slip.
Just as victory was in sight, umpires Nitin Menon and Richard Kettleborough called a light.
England have taken the sting out of what could have been a tricky target and will reap the rewards on Monday, when entry to The Oval will be free.
“This summer has been awesome”
England bowler James Anderson told BBC Sport, “We bowled well throughout the match. We didn’t get our rewards in the first session, but we kept hammering away.”
This summer was amazing, I loved every minute. Ben and Brendon have changed the group’s and Test cricket’s mindset. The coach and captain are a breath of fresh air and make me want to continue.
Kagiso Rabada: “England came out hard in their second innings, we created chances.” If these odds fall, the game changes.
“This England team has tons of experience. We have a lot to learn as a team. I’m excited about our young players’ future prospects; it’s all a learning curve.”
Former England spinner Vic Marks on Test Match Special: “It was a crazy day because England, who will win, had a terrible first session, losing wickets before South Africa reached 70-1 at lunch.
“In the afternoon, everything changed, and it started swinging. Anderson and Broad got the flavor, imposed pressure, and England dominated from then on.
New Zealand Frustrated After ODI Series Loss
Original Source: New Zealand leave Australian shores frustrated again after ODI series defeat
A white-ball series loss to Australia rocked New Zealand’s confidence before the T20 World Cup.
Australia’s 25-run win in the third ODI in Cairns on Sunday completed a 3-0 series sweep. In 2011, New Zealand beat Australia in a Hobart Test by seven runs.
Aaron Finch wins series.
Australia beats New Zealand in Finch’s final series.
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Kane Williamson’s team hasn’t beaten the defending champions in Australia before the T20 World Cup in October.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead said the dressing room was “frustrated” “The guys are disappointed and frustrated that we missed opportunities in all three matches.”
The Black Caps, who lost to Australia in last year’s T20 World Cup final in the UAE, won their first T20 and OD series against the West Indies last month after bullying Scotland, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
They struggle to regenerate after losing key players to retirement and lucrative T20 leagues.
No New Zealand batsman reached a half-century in the Chappell-Hadlee series, and selectors will worry about replacing Trent Boult in the long term.
Boult will continue to play for his country but have a “significantly reduced role,” New Zealand Cricket said last month.
He’ll be available for T20 World Cup warmups against Pakistan and Bangladesh on Oct. 8.
“He’s been a fine bowler for New Zealand and still is, and that showed in this series,” said Stead.
If Trent is there, I think we’re a stronger team, but we need to develop our depth.
Summary of today’s Cricket/Sport News
To put it simply, Sri Lanka’s inexperienced cricket squad overcame a poor start with bat and ball to win the Asia Cup for the sixth time with a 23-run victory over Pakistan. Rajapaksa gave Sri Lanka a strong total to defend by smashing Shah for a boundary and a six off the last ball.
Meanwhile, England is winning the series against South Africa after a supreme bowling display on the fourth day of the third Test at the Kia Oval. England bowlers have only allowed South Africa a score above 179 once in five innings this series.
Finally, a white-ball series loss to Australia has depressed New Zealand ahead of the T20 World Cup. Australia beat New Zealand by 25 runs in the third ODI in Cairns on Sunday to win the series 3-0.