SL vs NZ: Sri Lanka topple New Zealand to take the lead
Day 5 of the first Test between hosts Sri Lanka and New Zealand at Galle began in a tricky situation for both sides as both the sides had a chance to win, with the tourists needing 68 runs and the island nation needing just two wickets to start the series on a high note.
The Kiwis began their chase from the overnight score of 207/8, with Rachin Ravindra batting on 91 and Ajaz Patel still looking to open his account. While New Zealand’s only hope was for Ravindra to save the game, the hosts had other plans. Prabath Jayasuriya, who was handed the bowl in the second over of the day, did not disappoint his skipper and the team as he struck on just his third delivery, picking the big wicket of Ravindra. The southpaw could manage to add just one more run to his previous night’s score. His innings of 92, included nine boundaries and one six.
With that wicket, the Dhananjaya de Silva-led side had almost confirmed their victory and were in search of that last wicket. Jayasuriya struck once again, this time dismantling the stumps of William O’Rourke for a six-ball duck.
Eventually, Sri Lanka won by 63 runs and started their two-match Test series on a promising note. Jayasuriya was rightfully named the Player of the Match award for picking nine wickets in the Test. Both sides will now lock horns in the second Test at the same venue, starting from September 26.
Afghanistan and South Africa locked horns in the third and final ODI of the series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on September 22. Afghanistan’s skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi called it correctly at the toss and opted to bat first. Both sides made a few changes in this dead rubber game, with the hosts opting for Abdul Malik (ODI debut), Farid Malik, and Naveed Zadran in place of Riaz Hassan, Rashid Khan, and Fazalhaq Farooqi. Meanwhile, the Proteas made one change, replacing Nandre Burger with Andile Phehlukwayo.
Afghanistan’s innings began with a setback as opener Abdul Malik put just nine runs on the board. Joining next, Rahmat Shah also walked back in no time after being part of a funny runout. But Rahmanullah Gurbaz held one end strongly as he smashed 89 runs off 94 balls. His innings, studded with seven fours and four sixes, provided some hope for the Afghan side.
The hosts witnessed a middle-order batting collapse, with Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil, and Mohammad Nabi all walking back to the dressing room without even crossing the double-digit score. Gurbaz and AM Ghazanfar (31 not out) were the only two to have contributed with the bat as the tourists dismantled the opposition at just 169 runs in 34 overs.
For South Africa, Nqabayomzi Peter, Lungi Ngidi, and Phehlukwayo were the pick of the bowlers, as they scalped two wickets each.
In the chase, South Africa began confidently with Tony de Zorzi and Temba Bavuma putting up a decent opening stand of 40 runs. But the opposition bowlers got rid of de Zorzi (26), Bavuma (22), and Reeza Hendricks (18) for modest scores, it was Aiden Markram who took the onus upon himself. Markram’s unbeaten 69 off 67 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes, put the Proteas in a comfortable spot.
Markram was supported well by Tristan Stubbs, who contributed with a 26 not out. Their unbroken 90-run partnership for the fourth wicket ensured that South Africa cruised to victory. South Africa saved their pride with a convincing seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the third and final match. Despite the win, Afghanistan secured a historic series win in the maiden bilateral series between the two nations. Meanwhile, Afghan’s wicketkeeper-batter, Gurbaz was awarded with both Player of the Match and Player of the series award.
