The Riverside Ground is a cricket venue located in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, England.

Established in 1995, the Riverside Ground has a seating capacity of 5,000 for domestic games and 17,000 for international matches.

It is home to Durham County Cricket Club and has hosted several international matches.

The first noteworthy match played at the Riverside Ground was between Durham and the visiting New Zealanders in 1992. 

The Riverside Ground later staged its first international cricket match, a One-Day International (ODI) played between Pakistan and Scotland in the ICC Cricket World Cup in May 1999. Under the leadership of Wasim Akram, Pakistan won the match by 94 runs.

It also hosted the ICC Cricket World Cup 1999 game between Australia and Bangladesh.  

Since then, it has staged more than 20 One-Day Internationals so far. Let’s have a look at the Riverside Ground ODI records and stats:

Riverside Ground ODI records and stats

Highest total

The Sri Lanka national cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Riverside Ground in ODI cricket. During an ICC Cricket World Cup match in July 2019, Sri Lanka posted 338/6 in their 50 overs against West Indies in Chester-le-Street, County Durham. Put in to bat, Sri Lanka rode on Avishka Fernando’s 104, along with contributions from wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Perera (64), Lahiru Thirimanne (45 not out) and Kusal Mendis�?39 to post a record ODI total at the venue. In reply, West Indies scored 315/9 in their allotted overs as Sri Lanka won the ODI by 23 runs.

Lowest total

The England cricket team registered the lowest total at the Riverside Ground in ODI cricket. Chasing 257, the hosts were bundled out for 99 in 26.1 overs in the second ODI of Sri Lanka’s tour of England in May 2014. Captain Eoin Morgan top-scored for England with 40 while Ian Bell added 12. For Sri Lanka, right-arm off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake bagged four wickets while pacer Nuwan Kulasekara picked up three scalps. Earlier, Tillakaratne Dilshan (88), Ashan Priyanjan (43) and wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Sangakkara (40) powered Sri Lanka to 256/8 in their 50 overs. Sri Lanka won the second ODI by a massive 157 runs in Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

Most runs

England’s Jonny Bairstow has scored the most runs at the Riverside Ground in ODI format. Between 2015 and 2022, the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter has amassed 374 runs in five ODIs at an average of 93.50 and an impressive strike rate of 117.98. The hard-hitting right-handed batter has slammed one century and three ODI fifties at this ground. His teammate Joe Root features second on the list with 220 runs in six matches at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 94.82.

Most wickets

England’s Graeme Swann and David Willey share the record for the most wickets at this ground in ODI cricket. Former England right-arm off-spinner Graeme Swann claimed nine wickets in just three ODIs at an average of 13.66 and an economy of 4.39. Left-arm fast bowler David Willey has also bagged nine wickets in three matches at an average of 15.22 and a strike rate of 18. Legendary England pacer James Anderson is second on the list with eight ODI wickets in seven games at an economy of 4.48.

Highest individual score

South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen holds the record for the highest individual score at this venue in the ODI format. Batting at number three, Rassie van der Dussen slammed 134 off 117 balls in the first ODI of South Africa’s tour of England in July 2022. His scintillating hundred was laced with 10 fours. Rassie van der Dussen’s magnificent ton helped South Africa post 333/5 in their 50 overs. England were later bowled out for 271 in 46.5 overs as the visitors won the game by 62 runs.

Best bowling figures

Former England cricketer Graeme Swann registered the best bowling figures at the Riverside Ground in ODI format. Graeme Swann recorded match-winning figures of 5/28 against arch-rivals Australia in September 2009. The right-arm off-spinner dismissed captain Ricky Ponting, Cameron White, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee to bowl out Australia for 176 in 45.5 overs. Joe Denly (53) and captain Andrew Strauss (47) helped England chase down the target in 40 overs. Despite England’s four-wicket win, Australia clinched the seven-match ODI series 6-1. 

Highest partnership

Former Zimbabwe cricketers Murray Goodwin and Grant Flower hold the record for the highest partnership at the Riverside Ground in ODI cricket. During a NatWest Series encounter in July 2000, Murray Goodwin and Grant Flower stitched an unbeaten 186-run stand for the fifth wicket to help Zimbabwe chase down West Indies�?287/5 in 49.1 overs. Chasing 288, Zimbabwe were reduced to 104/4 in 22.2 overs. Later, Murray Goodwin scored 112 not out while Grant Flower remained unbeaten on 96 to guide Zimbabwe to a six-wicket win in Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

Photo credit: Imago

Old Trafford is one of the oldest cricket grounds located in Greater Manchester, England.

Established in 1857, the Old Trafford opened as the home of Manchester Cricket Club and has been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since 1864.

Old Trafford hosted its first international cricket match, an Ashes Test played between arch-rivals England and Australia in July 1884 and became England’s second oldest Test venue. The match ended in a draw.

Almost a century later in 1972, it staged its first One-Day International (ODI) that featured England and Australia. Under the leadership of Brian Close, England won the first-ever ODI at the venue by six wickets.

Old Trafford hosted its first T20 international played between hosts England and New Zealand in Manchester in June 2008. Since then, it has staged more than 10 T20 internationals so far.

With a seating capacity of around 19,000, the stadium is currently known as Emirates Old Trafford due to a sponsorship deal with the Emirates airline.

With that being said, let’s have a look at Old Trafford T20I records and stats.

Old Trafford T20I records and stats

Highest total

The England cricket team holds the record for the highest total at Old Trafford in T20 international cricket. During the second T20I of Pakistan’s tour of England in August 2020, the Eoin Morgan-led hosts posted 199/5 in 19.1 overs while chasing Pakistan’s 195/4 in Manchester. England rode on captain Morgan’s 66, Dawid Malan’s unbeaten 54 and wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow’s quick-fire 44 to record the highest T20I total at the venue during their successful run-chase. While England won the second T20I by five wickets, the three-match series later ended 1-1.

Lowest total

The New Zealand cricket team registered the lowest total at Old Trafford in the T20 international format. Chasing 199, New Zealand were bundled out for 103 in 13.5 overs against England in the second T20I in September 2023. Wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert top-scored for New Zealand with 39 while Glenn Phillips added 22. For England, right-arm pacer Gus Atkinson was the wrecker-in-chief with 4/20. Earlier, Jonny Bairstow’s unbeaten 86 off 60 balls and Harry Brook’s 36-ball 67 powered England to 198/4 in their 20 overs. England won the game by 95 runs in Manchester.

Most runs

Former England captain Eoin Morgan has recorded the most runs at Old Trafford in  T20 international cricket. Between 2011 and 2021, the flamboyant southpaw amassed 185 runs in nine T20Is at an average of 23.12 and a strike rate of 160.86. Morgan slammed one T20 international fifty at the venue. Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez features second on the list with 156 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 173.33 while also maintaining an average of 78.

Most wickets

England spinner Adil Rashid has picked up the most wickets at this venue in the T20 international format. The star leg-spinner has scalped 11 wickets in eight T20I matches at an average of 19.27 and an economy of 8.15. Rashid’s best T20I bowling figures of 4/35 at Old Trafford came in a win against Pakistan in 2021. The likes of former England fast bowler Stuart Broad and Pakistan’s duo of Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim are second on the list with six wickets each.

Highest individual score

India’s KL Rahul registered the highest individual score at this ground in T20 international cricket. Batting at number three, the swashbuckling right-handed batter slammed an unbeaten 101 off 54 balls against England in the first T20I of a three-match series in July 2018. Chasing 160, Rahul hammered 10 fours and five sixes to guide India to an eight-wicket win in Manchester. Earlier, England posted 159/8 in their 20 overs with the help of Jos Buttler’s 46-ball 69.

Best bowling figures

India’s star spinner Kuldeep Yadav has the best bowling figures at Old Trafford in the T20 international format. The talented left-arm wrist spin bowler recorded match-winning figures of 5/24 against hosts England in the first T20I of a three-match series in July 2018. Kuldeep Yadav dismissed England’s Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, captain Eoin Morgan, Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root to restrict England to 159/8 in their 20 overs. Kuldeep’s incredible spell and Rahul’s brilliant century guided an eight-wicket victory in Manchester.

Highest partnership

England’s Jonny Bairstow and Harry Brook hold the record for the highest partnership at Old Trafford In T20 international cricket. Jonny Bairstow and Harry Brook forged a 131-run stand for the third wicket against New Zealand in the second T20I of a four-match series in September 2023. While Jonny Bairstow slammed an unbeaten 86, Harry Brook smashed 67 to help England post a huge total of 198/4 in their 20 overs. England later bowled out New Zealand for 103 to win the game by 95 runs.

Photo credit: Imago

The Newlands Cricket Ground is one of the world’s most beautiful cricket grounds located in Cape Town, South Africa.

Established in 1888, the Newlands is known for being overlooked by Table Mountain and Devil's Peak, two of the prominent sight-seeing landmarks in Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa.

Following a string of renovations, the stadium has increased its seating capacity to 25,000.

The Newlands Cricket Ground is the home of Western Province Cricket, Cape Cobras and MI Cape Town. 

Owned by the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA), the Newlands is one of South Africa’s oldest sporting stadiums and staged its first international match, a Test between South Africa and England in 1889. The visitors won the Test by an innings and 202 runs.

Since then, it has hosted 60 Tests, 47 ODIs and 21 T20Is. Let’s have a closer look at the Newlands Test records and stats.

Newlands Test records and stats

Highest total

The South Africa cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Test cricket. During the third Test of Australia’s tour of South Africa in 2009, the hosts posted the highest total of 651 in their first innings at this venue. Centuries from AB de Villiers (163), Ashwell Prince (150) and captain Jacques Kallis (102) powered South Africa to a mammoth total. 

Australia were bundled out for 209 in their first innings after electing to bat first. The Proteas bowled out the visitors for 422 in their second innings to win the Cape Town Test by an innings and 20 runs.

Lowest total

Hosts South Africa recorded the lowest total at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Tests. Chasing 246 in the fourth innings, South Africa were skittled out for 35 in 22.4 overs against England in the final Test of a two-match series in April 1899. 

Opening batter Albert Powell (11) was the only South African batter to register double digits in their second innings. For England, pacer Schofield Haigh was the wrecker-in-chief with six wickets. Earlier, England scored 92 in their first innings after opting to bat first while South Africa managed 177. England were bowled for 330 in their second innings. The visitors won the Test by 210 runs.

Most runs

Legendary South African cricketer Jacques Kallis scored the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format. Between 1996 and 2013, the former right-handed batter amassed 2,181 runs in 22 matches at an impressive average of 72.70. Kallis slammed nine centuries and as many fifties at the Newlands in Test cricket. His highest Test score of 224 at the Cape Town cricket ground came against Sri Lanka in 2012. Kallis�?former teammate Graeme Smith features second on the list with 1,363 runs in 17 Tests.

Most wickets

Former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn bagged the most wickets at the Newlands in Test cricket. The former right-arm fast bowler picked up 74 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 21.75 and a strike rate of 44.29. Steyn registered eight four-wicket hauls and one fifer at this venue in Tests between 2006 and 2019. Steyn’s former bowling partner Vernon Philander is second on the list with 53 wickets in 11 Tests.

Highest individual score

Former New Zealand cricketer Stephen Fleming registered the highest individual score at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Tests. Batting at number three, captain Stephen Fleming scored 262 off 423 balls in the first innings of the second Test of New Zealand’s tour of South Africa in 2006. His magnificent double hundred was laced with 31 fours and two sixes. Fleming’s innings helped New Zealand post 593/8d. In reply, South Africa scored 512 in their first innings. The visitors were 121/3 in their second innings as the match ended in a draw. South Africa won the three-match Test series 2-0.

Best bowling figures in an innings

England’s Johnny Briggs recorded the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test match at this venue in 1899. The left-arm spinner registered figures of 8/11 to bundle out South Africa for 43 in the second innings. Briggs dismissed Bernard Tancred, Arthur Ochse, Philip Hutchinson, captain William Milton, Dicky Richards, Charles Vintcent, Fred Smith and Gobo Ashley to help South Africa win the Cape Town Test by an innings and 202 runs.

Best bowling figures in a match

Johnny Briggs also holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at the Newlands. The England spinner took 15 wickets during the second Test of England’s tour of South Africa in 1889. While Briggs bagged seven wickets for 17 runs in the first innings, he scalped another eight wickets for just 11 runs in the second innings. Briggs�?incredible bowling performance helped England thrash the hosts by an innings and 202 runs.

Highest partnership

England’s Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow recorded the highest partnership at the Newlands in Test cricket. Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow forged a massive 399-run stand for the sixth wicket in the first innings of the second Test against South Africa in 2016. Stokes slammed 258 while Bairstow remained unbeaten on 150. The match ended in a draw.

Photo credit: Alamy

Uncapped England cricketer Will Smeed currently owns the record for the highest individual score in the 100-ball League.

While opening the batting for his franchise Birmingham in the 100-ball League 2022, Smeed smashed an unbeaten 101-run knock off just 50 balls against defending champions Southampton at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground.

The swashbuckling right-handed batter surpassed England cricketer Liam Livingstone’s previous record, who hammered an unbeaten 92 off just 40 balls for Birmingham against Leeds during the inaugural edition of the 100-ball League in 2021.

During his record-breaking innings, Smeed became the first batter to score a hundred in the 100-ball tournament. The Cambridge-born cricketer’s impressive knock was laced with eight fours and six sixes.

Smeed’s ton powered Birmingham to 176/4 in their allotted 100 balls. In reply, Southampton were bowled out for 123 as the hosts won the match by 53 runs.

England international Liam Livingstone boasts the second highest individual score in the 100-ball League.

Chasing a target of 144 against Leeds during the 2021 edition, Livingstone scored an unbeaten 40-ball 92 to help Birmingham chase down the total in just 74 balls. 

Livingstone’s blitzkrieg innings included three fours and 10 maximums. The knock guided Birmingham to a commanding eight-wicket victory.

England cricketer David Malan comes in third on the list for the highest individual scorers in the 100-ball League.

While representing the Nottingham franchise, the flamboyant southpaw scored 88 not out against hosts Leeds in the 2022 edition.

Malan’s unbeaten 88-run knock helped Nottingham chase down 153 in 94 balls. The England international hit 11 fours and three sixes during his match-winning innings.

England all-rounder David Willey, South Africa cricketer Colin Ingram and English batter Will Jack are next on the list. All the three cricketers have played 81-run knocks in the 100-ball League.

Playing for Nottingham, David Willey scored an unbeaten 81 off 45 balls against Lord’s London at the iconic Lord’s. Proteas batter Colin Ingram smashed 43-ball 81 not out for Oval London against hosts Birmingham the very next day of Willey’s innings.

During the 2022 edition, Oval London’s Will Jack scored 81 off 45 balls against Cardiff to equal Willey and Ingram.

New Zealand wicket-keeper batter Glenn Phillips is the only other batter to touch 80 in the 100-ball League. Representing Cardiff, Phillips smashed a 35-ball 80 against Lord’s London in the 2021 edition.

Highest individual scores in 100-ball League

Player	For	Against	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Venue	Match Date
Will Smeed	Birmingham	Southampton	101*	50	8	6	Birmingham	10 August 2022
Liam Livingstone	Birmingham	Leeds	92*	40	3	10	Leeds	17 August 2021
David Malan	Nottingham	Leeds	88*	49	11	3	Leeds	9 August 2022
David Willey	Nottingham	Lord’s London	81*	45	3	6	Lord's	3 August 2022
Colin Ingram	Oval London	Birmingham	81*	43	8	4	Birmingham	4 August 2022
Will Jack	Oval London	Cardiff	81	45	7	4	Cardiff	7 August 2022
Glenn Phillips	Cardiff	Lord’s London	80	35	5	7	Cardiff	18 August 2021
Quinton de Kock	Southampton	Leeds	72*	45	9	1	Southampton	7 August 2021
Jonny Bairstow	Cardiff	Southampton	72	39	5	5	Cardiff	27 August 2021
Josh Inglis	Lord’s London	Cardiff	72	45	7	3	Cardiff	18 August 2021

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Featured photo: Edgbaston

England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) managing director Ashley Giles has said that the England cricket team’s centrally contracted players are likely to miss the remainder of the COVID-19-hit Indian T20 League 2021 once the cash-rich tournament is rescheduled later this year.

The 14th edition of the Indian T20 League was postponed indefinitely due to the rising number of coronavirus cases inside the bio-bubble of multiple franchises across Delhi and Ahmedabad.

According to sources, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking at two windows for the T20 tournament to be resumed later this year. One option being explored is in the second half of September before the T20 World Cup (October-November) and the other being after mid-November.

However, England are scheduled to visit Bangladesh and Pakistan prior to the T20 World Cup, meaning their international players will be unavailable for their respective franchises. 

“We’re planning on involvement of England players in England matches. We’ve got a full FTP (Future Tours Programme) schedule. So if those tours to Pakistan and Bangladesh are going ahead, I’d expect the players to be there,�?Giles told ESPNcricinfo.

Earlier, Giles had stated that England players who were involved in the latter stages of the Indian T20 League could skip the two-match Test series against New Zealand, which begins on June 2. However, the ECB seems to have changed their stance since.

"The New Zealand scenario was very different. Those matches were formalised at the end of January, by which time contracts were signed for players to have full involvement in the Indian T20 League,�?Giles said.

As many as 11 Englishmen were part of various franchises in the suspended Indian T20 League 2021 with a few players being key to the fortunes of their respective teams. Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, who scored his maiden Indian T20 League ton before the tournament was suspended, is one such example. 

“None of us knows what a rearranged Indian T20 League looks like at the moment, where it’s going to be or when. But from when we start this summer against New Zealand, our programme is incredibly busy,�?Giles added.

“We’ve got a lot of important, high-profile cricket including the T20 World Cup and the Ashes. And we’re going to have to look after our players.�?/span>

Meanwhile, following the postponement of the Indian T20 League, England internationals Buttler, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali are currently serving their 10-day isolation period in government-approved hotels in the UK.

Featured photo: IPL/BCCI

Coincidence, eh?

Ten years apart:-
11 Apr 2011 - KKR defeat Deccan by 9 runs
11 Apr 2021 - KKR defeat SRH by 10 runs

Both times, the last ball of the match was hit for six after the result was already decided (Mishra then, Manish now).#SRHvKKR #IPL2021

�?Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) April 11, 2021

Kolkata register 100 wins in Indian T20 League

11:00 PM IST - Eoin Morgan's Kolkata inflicted a 10-run defeat on Hyderabad to win their first game in Chennai since 2012. It also is the franchise' 100th win in the T20 extravaganza.

While Rashid Khan had a good day in the office with the ball, he returns home with disappointment. 

Score: Kolkata - 187/6 (20.0 overs), Hyderabad - 177/5 (20.0 overs)

Should Abdul Samad have batted earlier?

Sixes hit by Abdul Samad in IPL

3 off Pat Cummins
2 off Jasprit Bumrah
2 off Anrich Nortje
1 off Kagiso Rabada#SRHvKKR #SRH

�?Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) April 11, 2021

38 runs in 12 balls, possible?

10:55 PM IST - Hyderabad now have a daunting task ahead of them, if they are to win their first game of the 2021 edition. Two overs remaining and an asking rate of seemingly touching 20, is it the end of the road for David Warner and Co.?

Score: Kolkata - 187/6 (20.0 overs), Hyderabad - 150/5 (18.0 overs)

Manish Pandey reaches 19th fifty

10:45 PM IST - With Hyderabad requiring 50 in 19 balls, the pressure is on Manish Pandey to guide the team to a victory. The odds may be against David Warner and Co., but its the Indian T20 League and anything is possible.

Score: Kolkata - 187/6 (20.0 overs), Hyderabad - 134/4 (16.2 overs)

Nabi safe despite Prasidh bouncer

10:40 PM IST - Hyderabad all-rounder Mohammad Nabi appears alright after a Prasidh Krishna bouncer hits the back of his neck. Strategic timeout called in as team medics tend to the Afghanistan star.

Oh boy Nabi.. Extremely risky to not have that helmet back guard... #SRHvKKR #IPL2021

�?Jigarr Jain (@MeinTeraHero) April 11, 2021

Score: Kolkata - 187/6 (20.0 overs), Hyderabad - 126/3 (15.4 overs)

Cummins ends Bairstow's innings

10:25 PM IST - Jonny Bairstow's ambitious innings comes to an end as the Englishman swings Pat Cummins' delivery straight to backward point, but finds Nitish Rana. Required rate now at 12.29.

Score: Kolkata - 187/6 (20.0 overs), Hyderabad - 102/3 (13.0 overs)

Appreciation flows in for Bairstow

Just an another day in the office for Johnny Bairstow his form in white ball cricket is absolutely relentless, and if he takes his team to the Victory then this will be his best knock ever in IPL. #IPL2021 #SRHvKKR #SRHvsKKR #Bairstow

�?Shubham dalmia (@TheSonOfCricket) April 11, 2021

Johnny Bairstow brings up his 50.

To use up his potential to full, make him open.

Hope he and Pandey take the game deep. #SRHvsKKR #SRHvKKR #KKRHaiTaiyaar

�?Baron Ravi Bhai Daruwala (@RaviBhai2705) April 11, 2021

Jason Roy would've thrown it away by now but not Jonny Bairstow. What an impressive half century from him. #SRHvKKR #IPL2021

�?Rahul Sharma (@CricFnatic) April 11, 2021

Bairstow reaches fifty

10:20 PM IST - With skipper David Warner failing with the bat, Jonny Bairstow has taken responsibility to shoulder the batting for Hyderabad. This is his sixth Indian T20 League fifty and it came in 32 deliveries. Leader!

Score: Kolkata - 187/6 (20.0 overs), Hyderabad - 95/2 (11.1 overs)

Strategic timeout

10:04 PM IST - With Hyderabad taking a slow-yet-steady approach, Kolkata will need to do better to put an end to the Jonny Bairstow-Manish Pandey partnership. It's all about timing and execution.

Score: Kolkata - 187/6 (20.0 overs), Hyderabad - 69/2 (9.0 overs)

Bairstow-Pandey reach 50 in partnership

9:58 PM IST - Jonny Bairstow and Manish Pandey have got Hyderabad's run chase back on track, with their ongoing 57-run partnership off 28 balls. Patience!

Score: Kolkata - 187/6 (20.0 overs), Hyderabad - 59/2 (7.5 overs)

Shakib plucks out Saha, deliciously

9:36 PM IST - Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan begins his second stint at Kolkata with a wicket off his first delivery, deceiving Wriddhiman Saha and finding the leg stump. Welcome back, Shakib!

Score: Kolkata - 187/6 (20.0 overs), Hyderabad - 10/2 (2.1 overs)

Warner walks back in disappointment

9:32 PM IST - After surviving a dismissal attempt in the first over, Kolkata got the prized wicket of David Warner. The southpaw aimed to play an inswing shot from a 136.4kph delivery by Prasidh Krishna. However, the shot took the outside edge and went straight into the hands of Dinesh Karthik.

Score: Kolkata - 187/6 (20.0 overs), Hyderabad - 10/1 (1.3 overs)

Hyderabad start chase calmly

9:30 PM IST - Hyderabad captain David Warner survived an early dismissal as Pat Cummins dropped his compatriot's miscued shot.

Score: Kolkata - 187/6 (20.0 overs), Hyderabad - 8/0 (1.0 overs)

Turbanator to open the bowling

9:25 PM IST - Harbhajan Singh opens the bowling for Kolkata against Hyderabad. It's 699 days since his last cricket activity. Will he shine on his Kolkata debut?

Could it be David Warner's night?

9:15 PM IST - Hyderabad captain David Warner could achieve two records tonight. The southpaw needs 88 runs to complete 1000 runs vs Kolkata in the Indian T20 League. In doing so, he will be the 1st player to score 1000 runs against any team in the competition.

Additionally, he needs five sixes to complete 200 sixes in the Indian T20 League.

Kolkata finish innings at 187/6

9:10 PM IST - Kolkata their innings at 187/6, with Nitish Rana (80 runs off 56 balls) and Rahul Tripathi (53 runs off 29 balls) anchoring the innings. While they were 50 for zero in the first five overs, they lost five wickets in the death overs while scoring 42 runs.

A decisive total to chase, given this score is more than the par winning score of 173. All eyes will be on David Warner and Co.

Score: Kolkata - 187/6 (20.0 overs)

Homework for Hyderabad

9:10 PM IST - Spinners were initially said to have a troubling time at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium. However, it is Hyderabad's pacers who have had a bad day in office. The pacers - Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan and Vijay Shankar - have bowled only 22 percent of their deliveries hitting the stumps, while they collectively missed 78 percent.

Redemption time for Nabi?

8:57 PM IST - After conceding 29 runs in his three overs, Mohammad Nabi has taken the prized wickets of Nitish Rana and Kolkata captain Eoin Morgan off the third and fourth deliveries in his final over. Hyderabad have effectively kept Kolkata's big-hitters in the middle-order in check. Is the contest no more one-sided?

Score: Kolkata - 160/5 (17.4 overs)

No Russell show in Chennai

8:50 PM IST - Everyone expected Andre Russell to begin Indian T20 League 2021 with a bang, but with Rashid Khan, the Kolkata fans can only frown with disappointment. The Afghanistan spinner finishes his four overs with figures of two for 24.

Score: Kolkata - 157/3 (15.2 overs)

Tripathi wastes his wicket away

8:45 PM IST - After blazing his way to a fifty in 28 balls, Rahul Tripathi miscues a slog sweep shot off a T Natarajan delivery that goes in the air, and finds the safe hands of Wriddhiman Saha. This brings an end to a decisive 93-run partnership for the second wicket off 50 balls.

Score: Kolkata - 156/2 (15.2 overs)

Second strategic timeout

8:35 PM IST - The ongoing 73-run partnership between Nitish Rana and Rahul Tripathi seems unbreakable at the moment, with Rana himself on his way towards his maiden century. Hyderabad need a decisive breakthrough.

Score: Kolkata - 126/1 (14.0 overs)

Kolkata reach 100 within 12 overs

8:25 PM IST - Riding on Nitish Rana, Kolkata breach the three-figure mark within 12 overs of the first innings. Just as he reached his fifty, Rana smashed a six at deep midwicket's left to power Kolkata past 100. A disappointing first day in office for Mohammad Nabi.

Score: Kolkata - 100/1 (11.3 overs)

Reaching 50 with a six

8:17 PM IST - Kolkata's Nitish Rana hits a cracker of a six over deep backward square leg. This is his 12th fifty in the Indian T20 League, and fourth in six innings as an opener. Outrageous!

Score: Kolkata - 92/1 (10.0 overs)

Strategic timeout

8:10 PM IST - After a confident start, Kolkata seem to have a roadblock in the name of Rashid Khan. The Afghanistan star has eight runs and a wicket from his first two overs. Can Nitish Rana put Kolkata back in the driver's seat? 

Rashid finds the middle stump

8:00 PM IST - Rashid Khan does what he does best, a googly to dismiss the opposition batsman. Shubman Gill came forward for a slog-sweep, but walks back in regret as the ball slips past him and hits the middle stump. Clever bowling!

Score: Kolkata - 53/1 (7.0 overs)

Opening partnership crosses 50

7:56 PM IST - Kolkata openers Nitish Rana and Shubman Gill cross 50 runs for the first wicket. And that brings Kolkata to the end of the powerplay.

Score: Kolkata - 50/0 (6.0 overs)

Rana rains boundaries

7:45 PM IST - Nitish Rana smashes three boundaries in a row, putting pressure on Hyderabad's Sandeep Sharma.  With run-rate almost at 10 runs per over, Kolkata seem to be on course for fifty within the first five overs.

Score: Kolkata - 31/0 (3.3 overs)

So close yet so far

7:42 PM IST - Kolkata opener Nitish Rana chipped a shot off a Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivery which was in the direction of Abdul Samad, only to fall short of his reach.

Score: Kolkata - 18/0 (2.3 overs)

Nitish Rana gets off the mark

7:35 PM IST - A boundary off the first delivery! Nitish Rana's bottom-handed drive off Bhuvneshwar Kumar's first delivery finds the gap between extra cover and mid-off. Shubman Gill is at the other end for Kolkata.

Score: Kolkata - 4/0 (0.1 overs)

Team Kolkata playing XI

7:10 PM IST - Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (captain), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Andre Russell, Shakib Al Hasan, Pat Cummins, Harbhajan Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy

Team Hyderabad playing XI

7:10 PM IST - David Warner (captain), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Manish Pandey, Jonny Bairstow, Vijay Shankar, Mohammad Nabi, Abdul Samad, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan

Toss result

7:00 PM IST - Hyderabad win the toss and will bowl first at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Toss News - #SRH have won the toss and they will bowl first against #KKR at Chennai.

Live - http://t.co/yqAwBPCpkb #VIVOIPL #SRHvKKR pic.twitter.com/f8pmqOY67r

�?IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 11, 2021

Pitch report

6:55 PM IST - Murali Karthik asserts that spinners might struggle tonight, as the square boundaries are 60 and 70 meters long. This is a dry wicket, a lot of open patches hence it will be difficult for them to contain batsmen in the powerplay overs.

Harbhajan is a knight!

6:55 PM IST - Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh receives his first Kolkata cap. After trophy-laden stints at Mumbai and Chennai, the Turbanator will now aim to shine in the purple and gold colours of Kolkata.

The Turbanator, ready for his new chapter in #KKR colours! @harbhajan_singh #KKRHaiTaiyaar #SRHvKKR #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/yjYKCKNka5

�?KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 11, 2021

The knights have arrived!

Checking in at Chepauk!@Russell12A @patcummins30 @Eoin16 @prasidh43 #KKRHaiTaiyaar #SRHvKKR #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/NEvSyz1MS6

�?KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 11, 2021

The sixes machine

6:35 PM IST - West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell is the only Kolkata player to smash 100-plus sixes in the Indian T20 League. Can he add to his count of 129 maximums tonight?

Dre Russ is in the house #VIVOIPL #SRHvKKR pic.twitter.com/bjGdAyQvT8

�?IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 11, 2021

Who will win the toss?

6:30 PM IST - Interestingly, Hyderabad have won all of their coin tosses in their last five matches but managed to win only two matches. Kolkata, on the other hand, haven't won the toss on the last five occasions but have won three matches.

Team Warner ready for Indian T20 League 2021!

#TeamWarner looks ready #OrangeArmy #OrangeOrNothing #SRHFamily #IPL2021 @davidwarner31 @CandiceWarner31 pic.twitter.com/hZeQ7SMPZS

�?SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) April 11, 2021

Hyderabad’s Sultan of Swing

Swingin' his way through the wickets

How will @BhuviOfficial kick-off his #IPL2021? #SRHvKKR #OrangeOrNothing #OrangeArmy pic.twitter.com/TT9iIiaowc

�?SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) April 11, 2021

Can Hyderabad and Kolkata break Chepauk curse?

6:15 PM IST - Both Hyderabad and Kolkata have a poor record at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. While David Warner's men have lost all three games they have played at the venue, Eoin Morgan and Co. have lost seven games in nine visits. As a matter of fact, Kolkata's only wins at Chepauk came in the 2012 edition including their five-wicket win in the final against Chennai.

Kolkata's dangermen

#ToofaniFans, what do you think the trio are chatting about here? @Sah75official @SunilPNarine74 @Russell12A #KKRHaiTaiyaar #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/seZUTlHeTt

�?KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 10, 2021

Know the Hyderabad vs Kolkata head-to-head record

6:00 PM IST - The Hyderabad vs Kolkata head-to-head record in the Indian T20 League is in favour of Kolkata, with 12 wins in 19 matches played between these two teams. Despite this, it is Team Hyderabad who boast of better individual performers against Kolkata.

Hello and welcome to Match 3 of the #VIVOIPL @davidwarner31's #SRH will be up against @Eoin16-led #KolkataKnightRiders.

Which side will come out on top and start their campaign on a winning note�?a href="http://twitter.com/hashtag/SRHvKKR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SRHvKKR pic.twitter.com/V0r49p44He

�?IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 11, 2021

For more stats and insights, click here.

The key battle to watch out - Warner vs Narine

Quite a battle between these two #SRHvKKR #OrangeOrNothing #OrangeArmy #IPL2021 @davidwarner31 pic.twitter.com/CmAHeHAXhR

�?SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) April 11, 2021

Wondering where to watch the Indian T20 League live on TV?

5:40 PM IST - The Hyderabad vs Kolkata Indian T20 League match will be telecast live at 7:30 PM IST on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Hindi HD, Star Sports Select 1 and Star Sports Select 1 HD TV channels in India, on Sunday, April 11.

Live streaming of Hyderabad vs Kolkata will be available on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website.

Welcome to game three of Indian T20 League 2021!

5:30 PM IST - Good evening and a warm welcome to SportsAdda’s live blog for the third game of the Indian T20 League 2021!

Hyderabad, who finished third last season, take on Kolkata at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Both sides began their 2020 campaign - which took place in UAE - with a defeat and they will hope for a change in fortunes this time around.

The pressure will be on David Warner’s Hyderabad, who have lost three of their last five meetings with Eoin Morgan’s Kolkata. This tie will also see Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan return to Kolkata after being released by Hyderabad prior to the 2020 campaign.

There’s a lot of action and drama in store, so stay tuned for all the latest updates, here!

Feature image courtesy: Website / Kolkata Knight Riders 

The third match of the Indian T20 League 2021 will see two of the more consistent teams of the tournament �?Hyderabad and Kolkata - clashing at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, April 11.

After both the teams finished on 14 points last season, Hyderabad (+0.608) edged past Kolkata (-0.214) with their superior run rate. And fans will expect the crunch clash on Sunday to be equally close.

Both Hyderabad and Kolkata had made a conservative approach in the mini-auction, with less money in the purse for both sides, all their core players were retained in their respective squads. While the big buys for Eoin Morgan’s side included Shakib Al Hasan and Ben Cutting, Hyderabad’s shrewd management plugged their holes by roping in experienced all-rounder Kedar Jadhav and spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman.

Hyderabad vs Kolkata full squads for Indian T20 League 2021

Hyderabad: David Warner (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Basil Thampi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jonny Bairstow (wicket-keeper), Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Shahbaz Nadeem, Shreevats Goswami (wicket-keeper), Siddarth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed, T Natarajan, Vijay Shankar, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Virat Singh, Priyam Garg, Jason Holder, Abdul Samad, Jagadeesha Suchith, Kedar Jadhav, Mujeeb ur Rahman

Kolkata: Eoin Morgan (captain), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill, Gurkeerat Singh, Rahul Tripathi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Pat Cummins, Prasidh Krishna, Sandeep Warrier, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Tim Seifert (wicket-keeper), Shakib Al Hasan, Sheldon Jackson (wicket-keeper), Vaibhav Arora, Karun Nair, Harbhajan Singh, Ben Cutting, Pawan Negi, Venkatesh Iyer

Hyderabad vs Kolkata playing XI predictions

Like defending champions Mumbai, Hyderabad has had a settled playing XI for the past few seasons. The team almost always depends on their top four batsmen to provide a strong start and the management’s only tricky decision will be whom to pick as a floater alongside Vijay Shankar. While Priyam Garg and Wriddhiman Saha suit the positions, Saha is expected to get the green light owing to his international experience.

The team selection for Kolkata won’t be very different. With most of their playing XI tried and tested for a few seasons now, the management will just have to choose between one of Shakib Al Hasan and Sunil Narine. And while both the players are match-winners on their given day, it will be Shakib’s reliable batting skills that will likely get the nod at Chepauk.

Hyderabad playing XI: David Warner (captain), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Jonny Bairstow, Manish Pandey, Kane Williamson, Vijay Shankar, Abdul Samad, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, Sandeep Sharma

Kolkata playing XI: Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (captain) Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Shakib Al Hasan, Andre Russell, Rahul Tripathi/Karun Nair, Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy

Hyderabad vs Kolkata head-to-head in Indian T20 League

Hyderabad and Kolkata have faced each other 19 times with the latter leading the head-to-head record 12-7 quite comfortably winning 63.6 per cent of the matches played between these two sides. However, what makes Sunday's game even more exciting for Kolkata is Hyderabad's record at Chepauk.

Hyderabad have played in Chennai only thrice in the high-profile league, failing to win on each occasion. Hence, even by Kolkata's underwhelming record of just two wins at the venue in nine games, they have a better chance of winning the fixture.

Hyderabad vs Kolkata: Match result prediction

While Hyderabad boasts of some of the best names in T20 cricket in their batting line-up, Kolkata have arguably the best middle order in the tournament. However, as was evident on Saturday, Chepauk’s slow and spinning turf will have more for the bowlers than batsmen.

Interestingly, while Rashid Khan will be a big weapon for Hyderabad, Kolkata have Shakib Al Hasan and Varun Chakravarthy to inflict damage. With both the teams evenly matched, it is Kolkata’s experience at the venue that should give them the edge in their opening match.

Best performers in Hyderabad vs Kolkata

Top Tip: Best Batsmen

Hyderabad would edge almost any team in the Indian T20 League riding on David Warner’s stupendous batting records. The southpaw has been one of the most successful run-getters in the tournament with 5,254 runs to his name in 142 matches, and 912 runs of his tally have come against Kolkata. He will undoubtedly be the player to watch on Sunday’s fixture.

Though Kolkata's best bet against Hyderabad so far has been their former skipper Dinesh Karthik, who has 259 runs in 18 matches, Shubman Gill is expected to be Hyderabad’s main threat on Sunday. The youngster had tallied 440 runs last season and if his Australian tour is anything to go by, then the opener is expected to amass big scores this season.

Top Tip: Best Bowlers

Hyderabad is known to defend the smallest of targets with their bowling and captain David Warner will hope to see Bhuvneshwar Kumar back to his devastating best, which was evident in India’s recently concluded series against England. The pacer has 27 scalps against Kolkata and will be licking his lips to get the season started with a bang.

Kolkata's best bowler against Hyderabad has been wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who has 10 wickets in 10 matches. However, with the bowler hitting a bad patch of late, he is unlikely to be picked for the match. From Ajantha Mendis to Sunil Narine, Kolkata have possessed some brilliant mystery spinners in the Indian T20 League with the latest one being Varun Chakravarthy. The finger spinner took 17 wickets last season including one five-wicket haul to his name. His variations have been a much-talked-about subject ahead of the tournament.

Top tip: All-rounders and wicket-keepers

Sunday’s clash could see two of the best wicket-keepers of the tournament facing each other. Hyderabad have a seasoned and disciplined wicket-keeper in Wriddhiman Saha who has bagged 76 dismissals, comprising 56 catches and 20 stumpings, in the Indian T20 League so far. However, Kolkata’s Dinesh Karthik topples Saha with his record of 140 dismissals - 110 catches and 30 stumpings. Karthik also has the record of taking the most catches behind the wicket in the tournament’s history.

All-rounder is a specific trait that Hyderabad’s team lacks. Though Vijay Shankar does the job decently for the side, Kolkata has an edge with Andre Russell in their ranks. The West Indian has the highest strike rate in the Indian T20 League with 182.33 scoring 1,517 runs. Apart from that Andre Russell also contributes as a death-over specialist having scalped 61 wickets in the tournament so far.

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Dibyangshu Sarkar

David Warner-led Team Hyderabad have been one of the most consistent sides in the Indian T20 League. The Orange Army had won the title in 2016 by defeating Virat Kohli’s Bangalore in the final and qualified for the playoffs every season since then.

With you and us together,
It's # #OrangeArmy, we are ready for #IPL2021! Are you? pic.twitter.com/SOoU21yykp

�?SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) March 27, 2021

In the last edition of the Indian T20 League held in UAE, Hyderabad were knocked out by Team Delhi in the second qualifier, thus ending their dream of lifting their second title.

Ahead of the new season, Hyderabad made a big announcement as they appointed their former head coach Tom Moody as the director of cricket for the franchise.

The 55-year-old Australian had coached the Hyderabad franchise until 2019, after which he was replaced by compatriot and 2019 World Cup-winning coach Trevor Bayliss.

Team Hyderabad squad

Hyderabad had a more or less settled core as they released only five players in the lead up to the mini-auction in February. Under coach Trevor Bayliss, Hyderabad went into the player auction with a purse of 10.75 crore and picked just three players. Karnataka all-rounder Jagadeesha Suchith joined them for Rs 30 lakh while the franchise also added India batsman Kedar Jadhav (for Rs 2 crore) and Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman (for 1.5 crore) to add more depth to their settled squad.

#WelcomeToSRH Jagadeesha Suchith, @JadhavKedar and @Mujeeb_R88! #IPLAuction #OrangeArmy #IPL2021 #SRH pic.twitter.com/jqE8evn072

�?SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) February 18, 2021

Team Hyderabad squad for Indian T20 League 2021: David Warner (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Basil Thampi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jonny Bairstow, Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Shahbaz Nadeem, Shreevats Goswami, Siddharth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed, T Natarajan, Vijay Shankar, Wriddhiman Saha, Abdul Samad, Jason Roy, Jason Holder, Priyam Garg, Virat Singh, Kedar Jadhav, Mujeeb ur Rehman, J Suchith

Team Hyderabad strength and weakness

Strength

Hyderabad have one of the most balanced squads in the Indian T20 league this year. They have several match-winners in the team including captain David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, Kane Williamson, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan.

Led by David Warner, the team has a power-packed batting line-up in the league. Along with Warner, they have Jonny Bairstow, Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey and Jason Roy, whom they have roped in this year in place of Mitchell Marsh - who pulled out of the Indian T20 League last week.

Hyderabad also have a strong bowling department as they have T20 specialists like Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan in their arsenal.

The franchise also bought another Afghan spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, who is expected to add more variety to their bowling attack.

Weakness

Team Hyderabad lack a swashbuckling finisher like Andre Russell or Kieron Pollard in their squad. They have brought in Maharashtra batsman Kedar Jadhav for this season and would hope he performs that role but he certainly hasn't had much practice.

David Warner and Co. will also be a little bit worried about their middle-order as they failed to perform in the last edition of the league.

Who can be the highest run-scorer for Team Hyderabad?

Hyderabad captain David Warner is the leading run-scorer among overseas players in Indian T20 League history. The 34-year has amassed 5254 runs in 142 matches at an average of 42.71. He has smashed 4 tons and 38 half-centuries in the league. Warner is only behind Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina in the all-time highest run-getter list in the Indian T20 League history. The southpaw is tipped to be the highest run-scorer for Hyderabad in the upcoming edition of the league.

Who can be the highest wicket-taker for Team Hyderabad?

Ever since his debut Indian T20 League season in 2017, Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has been a match-winner for Hyderabad in the cash-rich league. In 62 Indian T20 League matches, Rashid has claimed 75 wickets at an average of 20.49. The 22-year-old will once again play an important role for David Warner’s team and he is expected to be Hyderabad’s top wicket-taker this year.

Where will Team Hyderabad finish in Indian T20 League 2021?

Team Hyderabad have one of the most balanced squads in the upcoming edition of the T20 league. The Orange Army is once again tipped to finish in the top four this year. If the local Indian players have a decent season, Hyderabad will be a tough team to beat for any side.

Feature image courtesy: IPL, BCCI 2021

Pakistan cricket team opener Fakhar Zaman’s controversial run-out in the second One Day International (ODI) against South Africa reignited a massive debate on the contentious fake fielding law in cricket.

Chasing 342 to win at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, Fakhar Zaman smashed 193 runs off just 155 balls �?the highest ever individual score in an ODI chase. It looked like he would take Pakistan home and seal the three-match ODI series when the incident happened.

The untimely end to Fakhar Zaman’s epic innings saw Pakistan fall short by 17 runs as the hosts levelled the three-match ODI series 1-1. However, the manner of Fakhar  Zaman’s dismissal -- Quinton de Kock having deceived the batsman --  has sparked outrage.

The Fakhar Zaman, Quinton de Kock fake fielding controversy

Requiring 31 runs in the last six balls, Fakhar Zaman drove Proteas pacer Lungi Ngidi to long-off in the first ball of the 50th over and came back for a second run.

Spotting an opportunity for a run-out, South Africa wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock seemingly signalled Aiden Markram to throw at the non-striker’s end even though the ball was already thrown. It convinced Zaman that he was safe at his end.

It was at this time that the Pakistani batsman turned around to check on his partner. Realising that the ball was instead coming at his end, the Pakistan batsman hurriedly attempted to slide his bat inside the crease. However, it was too little too late as Fakhar Zaman failed to complete the second run and was run-out.

Fake fielding. 5 run penalty.

Except when Pakistan is involved. In that case, run out a bloke on 193 http://t.co/UxxWPMprEq

�?Dennis Fakhar (@DennisCricket_) April 4, 2021

Explained: What is fake fielding?

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which is the custodian of the Laws of Cricket has provisioned law 41.5.1 to cover fake fielding, stating that “it is unfair for any fielder wilfully to attempt, by word or action, to distract, deceive or obstruct either batsman after the striker has received the ball�? According to clause 41.5.2, “It is for either one of the umpires to decide whether any distraction, deception or obstruction is wilful or not.�?/span>

As far as I understand this law, Fakhar Zaman should have been not out and Pakistan must have been awarded 5 penalty runs. pic.twitter.com/uFXD9zeOY4

�?Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) April 4, 2021

In 2015, former Sri Lanka wicket-keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara had deceived Pakistan’s Ahmed Shehzad during an ODI as he attempted to take the bails off even though the throw was yet to reach him. Interestingly though, the fake fielding law wasn’t a part of the ICC playing conditions during that time.

Similarly, in 2019, England wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow had fooled Australia batsman Steve Smith into diving to make his ground as he pretended to receive a throw while Jofra Archer would collect the ball at the bowler's end. However, on-field umpires Marais Erasmus and Kumar Dharmasena didn’t take any action against Jonny Bairstow.

When was the fake fielding law introduced in cricket?

The fake fielding rule was Introduced in 2017 by the ICC. Queensland’s Marnus Labuschagne became the first player to be penalised for violating the fake fielding law in 2017 for trying to fake a throw without having the ball in hand to prevent a run in Australia’s domestic 50-over tournament.

What is the fake fielding penalty?

According to law 41.5.6, the bowler's end umpire shall award five penalty runs to the batting side and also inform the captain of the fielding side of the reason for this action.  The captain of the batting side is informed too, at the earliest opportunity available. Additionally, the ball shall not count as one of the over.

Meanwhile, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) took to Twitter to explain the law, saying it is up to the umpire to decide whether the act of the fielder to distract the batter was willful or not.

“Law 41.5.1 states: “It is unfair for any fielder wilfully to attempt, by word or action, to distract, deceive or obstruct either batsman after the striker has received the ball,�?MCC tweeted.

“The Law is clear, with the offence being an ATTEMPT to deceive, rather than the batsman actually being deceived. It’s up to the umpires to decide if there was such an attempt. If so, then it’s not out, 5 Penalty runs + the 2 they ran, and batsmen choose who faces next ball.�?/span>

The Law is clear, with the offence being an ATTEMPT to deceive, rather than the batsman actually being deceived.

It’s up to the umpires to decide if there was such an attempt. If so, then it's Not out, 5 Penalty runs + the 2 they ran, and batsmen choose who faces next ball.

�?Marylebone Cricket Club (@MCCOfficial) April 4, 2021

Was Quinton de Kock guilty of violating the fake fielding rule?

South Africa limited-overs captain Temba Bavuma defended wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock for his role in the controversial run-out.

“It was quite clever from Quinny. Maybe some people might criticise it for maybe not being in the spirit of the game. But it was an important wicket for us. Zaman was getting close to our target. Yeah, it was clever from Quinny,�?ESPNcricinfo quoted Bavuma as saying.

“You’ve always got to look for ways especially when things are not going your way, got to find ways to turn the momentum around. Quinny did that �?I don’t think he broke the rules in any kind of way. It was a clever piece of cricket,�?he added.

Fakhar Zaman had also said that Quinton de Kock did no mistake and it was only his fault that he was found short of the crease.

“The fault was mine as I was too busy looking out for Haris Rauf at the other end as I felt he’d started off a little late from his crease, so I thought he was in trouble. The rest is up to the match referee, but I don’t think it’s Quinton’s fault,�?ESPNcricinfo quoted Zaman as saying.

Featured photo: Christiaan Kotze / AFP

The England cricket team humbled India by six wickets in the second ODI International to level the three-match series level at 1-1 and set up a mouthwatering finale at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Sunday.

While the Indian cricket team rode on the inspirational knocks of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant to post a score of 336, England's Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes orchestrated the third-highest successful run chase by any team against the Men in Blue in the 50-over format.

Highest successful run chases against India in ODI Cricket
Team	Score	Overs	Run rate	Ground	Date
Australia	359/6	47.5	7.50	Mohali	March 10, 2019
New Zealand	348/6	48.1	7.22	Hamilton	February 5, 2020
England	337/4	43.3	7.74	Pune	March 26, 2021
Pakistan	322/6	49.5	6.46	Mohali	November 8, 2007
Sri Lanka	322/3	48.4	6.61	The Oval	June 8, 2017

Interestingly, England's victory in the second ODI is the second-best successful chase on Indian soil in terms of balls remaining.

England's successful run ODI chases in India (in terms of balls remaining)
Team	Margin of win	Balls remaining	Ground	Date
England	5 wickets	44	Jamshedpur	April 12, 2006
England	6 wickets	39	Pune	March 26, 2021
England	7 wickets	16	Dharamsala	January 27, 2013
England	5 wickets	13	Ahmedabad	November 25, 1981
England	4 wickets	10	Pune	December 5, 1984

In his first ODI game since January 2020, Rishabh Pant proved why he should be a permanent member in the ODI team with a fiery 77-run knock off just 40 balls, laced with seven sixes and three fours. His tally of maximums is the most by an Indian against England in ODI cricket.

Most sixes in an innings for India vs England
Player	Runs	Sixes	Strike rate	Ground	Date
Rishabh Pant	77	7	192.50	Pune	March 26, 2021
Yuvraj Singh	138*	6	176.92	Rajkot	November 14, 2008
MS Dhoni	134	6	109.83	Cuttack	January 19, 2017
Sachin Tendulkar	120	5	104.34	Bengaluru	February 27, 2011
Virat Kohli	122	5	116.19	Pune	January 15, 2017

Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy gave England a strong headstart to their run chase of 337 with a 110-run partnership for the first wicket. This is the pair's second 100-plus stand in the series and they also became the most successful English pairing in ODI, with a record 13th hundred partnerships between them.

Highest partnership records for England
Players	Span	Innings	Runs	100	50
JM Bairstow, JJ Roy	2015-2021	47	2736	13	10
EJG Morgan, JE Root	2013-2020	75	3181	12	9
JE Root, JJ Roy	2015-2020	28	1649	7	7
IR Bell, IJL Trott	2010-2013	28	1320	5	6
AD Hales, JE Root	2014-2019	33	1869	5	10

The Indian bowling unit had a disappointing day in office, as they conceded a staggering 331 runs in the second ODI against England. This is the third-most runs conceded in an innings against England at home.

Most runs conceded by India vs England at home
Match	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Average	Date
vs England at Cuttack	50	359	7	51.28	January 19, 2017
vs England at Pune	50	338	6	56.33	January 15, 2017
vs England at Pune	43.3	331	3	110.33	March 26, 2021
vs England at Bengaluru	50	330	8	41.25	February 27, 2011
vs England at Rajkot	50	325	3	108.33	January 11, 2013

India and England will lock horns in the series decider in Pune on Sunday, to fight for the bragging rights of the three-match ODI series.

Feature image courtesy: AFP /