Bangladesh down Windies in Last Over Thriller

Mohamed Isam in ESPNcricinfo, 5 August 2018

Another Bangladesh comeback, another major contribution from their seniors. Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal powered the visitors to a 12-run win against West Indies to bring them back level in the T20I series. Towards the end of the West Indies chase, Mustafizur Rahman and Nazmul Islam took three wickets each, but the win was set up by Tamim, who top-scored with a quickfire 44-ball 74, while Shakib complemented his half-century with figures of 2 for 19 from four overs.

Bangladesh 171 for 5 (Tamim 74, Shakib 60, Nurse 2-25, Paul 2-39) beat West Indies 159 for 9 (Powell 43, Fletcher 43, Nazmul 3-28) by 12 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

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Mushfiqur Rahim’s Unique Last-Over Blues

Mohamed Isam, in ESPNcricinfo, July 27 July 2018, where the title reads “

Georgetown. Dehradun. Bengaluru. Harare. These four cities, connected by a line more than 18,000km long, have one thing in common: tense chases in which Mushfiqur Rahim has been caught on the leg-side boundary in the last over.

It has now happened five times in the last seven years, and Bangladesh have lost on each occasion, heartbreakingly, from positions of strength. Georgetown was the latest entrant on this list. This time, Mushfiqur was out hitting a Jason Holder full-toss down deep midwicket’s throat, leaving the side with eight needed off the last five balls. He had batted brilliantly up to that point to score 68 off 66 balls.

The Decline of West Indian Cricket: A Bajan Voice

Revata S Silva, in Island, June 2018,

There are parallel discussions in Sri Lanka and the Caribbean now. The reason is due to a common understanding that the two nations, once domineering forces in world cricket, have slid from their supremacy. Sri Lanka won the 1996 World Cup and since then emerged a super power across all formats. West Indies added a different taste to this gentleman’s game particularly since the 60’s and remained undisputed kings of the sport through the entire 80th decade. But both sides are now in a patchy, topsy-turvy situ.

Perera Maawatha steers Sri Lanka to Victory …. consolidating Bowling Breakthroughs

Andrew Fidel Fernando, courtesy of ESPNcricinfo, 25 June 2018, where the title reads “Kusal, Dilruwan steer Sri Lanka in nervous chase to level series,” …. with highlights here being the Editor’s imposition

The Pereras – Kusal and Dilruwan – put on a luck-filled but plucky 63-run partnership to haul Sri Lanka to victory on the fourth afternoon of the third Test. There were heart-stopping moments for Sri Lanka in this session, particularly when their best batsman Kusal Mendis was hit in front of the stumps before the team could get off the mark on the day.

Chandimal’s Ball-Tampering and Responses to the Punishment

Andrew Fidel Fernando, in ESPNcricinfo, !8 june 2018, where the title is “Sweet v sandpaper – why Chandimal’s tampering is different”

Only two months ago, three Australia cricketers were slapped with long suspensions for their role in the ball tampering scandal in Cape Town. Dinesh Chandimal, however, is unlikely to face punishments beyond the one-Test suspension the ICC has dealt out for the tampering itself (the “spirit of cricket” charge is a separate one). Here is why the two incidents will be treated differently.

There is minimal outrage in Sri Lanka

Where Cricket Australia’s response was spurred by public condemnation of the Cape Town incident, Sri Lanka’s public has, at most, expressed only quiet disappointment so far. Two possible reasons why the public reactions have been dissimilar:

• Australian sportspeople are generally put on a high pedestal, and allegations of cheating – even for what was a Level 2 ICC offence – are taken seriously. Sri Lanka’s cricketers are widely admired, but do not face anywhere near the level of public scrutiny that many others from around the world contend with. Several former players, including the super-popular Kumar Sangakkara, have spoken of the relatively laidback nature of Sri Lankan fame. As such, there is not so high an expectation of morality, even from a Sri Lanka captain.

The Ball-Tampering Issue agianst Sri Lanka at St. Lucia

Andrew Fidel Fernando and Osman Samiuddin, courtesy of ESPNcricinfo, where the ttile runs “How the ball-tampering episode unfolded in St Lucia”

Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has been officially charged with ball tampering in the ongoing Test against West Indies – a charge he and the Sri Lanka team appear likely to contest when a hearing is held at the end of the Test. Here is the sequence that led to the state of events.

• Following play on the second evening on Friday, in which Sri Lanka were straining for wickets, on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould, and television umpire Richard Kettleborough had concerns over the methods Sri Lanka had used to maintain the ball. As a result, they approached the broadcasters for footage which could support or confirm their suspicion.

Crushing Defeat for Sri Lanka in the West Indies

Fazeer Mohammed,  courtesy of ESPNcricinfo, 11 June 2018, where the title reads “West Indies crush Sri Lanka by 226-runs in first Test”

West Indies completed a crushing 226-run victory over Sri Lanka just after lunch on the final day of the first Test on Sunday as the tourists surrendered meekly following the demise of century-maker Kusal Mendis and captain Dinesh Chandimal.Set a daunting target of 453, the Sri Lankans crashed from 189 for three in mid-morning to be dismissed for 226 just after lunch, suffering their first Test match defeat at the hands of the Caribbean side for ten years, when they were also beaten at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.

 Off-spinning all-rounder Roston Chase triggered the final capitulation in which five wickets fell for just eight runs. Roston Chase of West Indies bowls during day 5 of the 1st Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad, on June 10, 2018. Randy Brooks / AFP