NEW DELHI: The Sri Lanka cricket board has complained to the sport’s governing body about the poor air quality in which its players have been compelled to play a Test match in the Indian capital.
Sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said Sri Lanka Cricket made the complaint on Tuesday to the International Cricket Council, saying “we can’t play like this as four players had vomited” due to the pollution. Sri Lanka’s cricketers wore face masks during the match and the bowlers complained of shortness of breath. Jayasekara said the ICC had informed them that it will take necessary steps. However, it is not certain what action ICC had taken.
On the field, debutant Sri Lankan Roshen Silva batted for 184 minutes on day five yesterday to force a draw.
Chasing 410, Sri Lanka was on 299-5 when play was called off with seven overs remaining in the mandatory hour of play. At stumps, Silva was unbeaten on 74 while Niroshan Dickwella was 44 not out.
India had scored 536-7d and 246-5d in their two innings. Sri Lanka had made 373 in the first innings.
As a result, India won the three-match series 1-0 after winning in Nagpur by an innings and 239 runs. The first Test in Kolkata was drawn.
This is India’s ninth consecutive test series win since 2017, including a 3-0 win in Sri Lanka in July-August this year. India has equaled Australia’s record of nine series wins from 2005-08.
Sri Lanka complains to ICC on air pollution at Delhi game
Sri Lanka complains to ICC on air pollution at Delhi game
Desert Vipers cruise to 8-wicket ILT20 victory over Gulf Giants
- Bowler Khuzaima Tanveer is the star in the field with a record-breaking powerplay performance that set the foundation for a comfortable win
- Unbeaten 123-run batting partnership between Sam Curran and Max Holden ensures Vipers maintain 100% record after 5 matches
DUBAI: A brilliant performance by the Desert Vipers was rewarded with a fifth-straight win in the International League T20 on Friday, as they beat Gulf Giants by eight wickets to maintain their 100 percent record for the season.
After a fielding display led by a strong powerplay performance from Khuzaima Tanveer during which he took four wickets, an unbeaten 123-run batting partnership between Sam Curran and Max Holden made light work of the target set by the Giants at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Tanveer finished 4 for 10 in the first innings, an ILT20 record for a UAE bowler, and he also became the first to claim four wickets in the powerplay. His early attack kept the Giants on the back foot throughout, restricting them to 157/7 in 20 overs.
When it was the Vipers’ turn to bat, Curran’s unbeaten 67 off 43 balls, including five fours and three sixes, complemented Holden’s 64 runs off 41 balls as they chased the target and reached it with ease. It was the Vipers’ sixth straight win over the Giants.
Fakhar Zaman (14 off 8) was the first Viper to fall, in the second over, courtesy of a beautiful delivery by Chris Wood. Holden kept the runs flowing, however, and other than a run out of Hassan Nawaz (7 off 9) in the fourth over, the Vipers looked to be in complete control of the chase, finishing the powerplay at 53 for 2.
Curran joined the attack at the start of the fifth over. He smashed 19 runs off Liam Dawson, including three sixes, considerably reducing the required run rate. His power hitting continued off Kyle Mayers, and he completed his half-century in just 32 balls with a lovely four, scoring 18 runs in the 14th over.
The Vipers continued to build momentum and Holden joined Curran on the half-century list in just 31 balls, also with a four. Their partnership kept the scoreboard ticking over as they found regular boundaries while also rotating the strike.
The likes of Wood and Mark Adair were unable to keep them in check as they built an unbeaten 123-run partnership in just 77 balls, reaching the target in 16.5 overs.
Earlier, Tanveer made quick inroads into the Giants top order, striking twice in the second over: first removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz (2 off 4) with a superb delivery, then James Vince (0 off 2), who edged behind.
He picked up another out in the fourth, removing the dangerous Pathum Nissanka (19 off 12), and struck again in the sixth as Gerhard Erasmus (4 off 9) nicked to slip. A dominant powerplay left the Giants reeling at 30/4.
Mayers (30 off 24) briefly lifted the innings for the Giants when he took 18 off David Payne in the ninth over, but Noor Ahmad trapped him LBW to halt the momentum at 67/5 midway through the inning.
Asif Khan (36 off 38) held one end but the Vipers maintained control as Tom Curran removed Azmatullah Omarzai (20 off 15), and Ahmad dismissed Adair (1 off 2) soon after.
A late Dawson assault rescued the Giants somewhat as he smashed Lockie Ferguson for 16 in the 19th over and followed this up with a 21-run final over. He finished unbeaten on a blazing 38 off 14 (including three fours and three sixes), lifting his side’s total to a competitive 157/7.
Desert Vipers captain Ferguson said: “Tanveer has been outstanding for us all season. He was brilliant last year, too, winning games with the bat, and tonight he was exceptional with the ball.
“He’s played a lot of cricket recently, his rhythm is spot on, and the ball is coming out beautifully. He’s in a really good space. It was also great to see Max and Sam put together a big partnership.”
Vince, the Gulf Giants captain, said: “Tanveer bowled exceptionally well; full credit to him. We’ll probably look back and think about what we could have done differently but we were on the back foot early. We did well to recover to 157.
“This was the first match of the tournament where we were outplayed from the start. We were simply outplayed today, though the dew was a factor.”
