BENGALURU: India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first against the Netherlands in the final league game of the Cricket World Cup on Sunday.
India is atop the points’ standings with 16 points from eight wins – the only unbeaten side in the tournament. It will be aiming for a clean sweep in the league stage ahead of the semifinals, where the two-time champions will take on fourth-placed New Zealand in the first semifinal at Mumbai on Nov. 15.
Second-placed South Africa will take on five-time champions Australia, which finished the league stage in third place, in the second semifinal at Kolkata on Nov. 16.
The Netherlands has four points from eight games from its two wins against South Africa and Bangladesh. It is placed tenth in the standings and needs a win against India to move to six points and edge out eighth-placed Bangladesh, which would confirm its qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
The top eight teams in the league stage of this World Cup qualify for the Champions Trophy.
India is unchanged from its previous game against South Africa in Kolkata, which it won by a huge 243 runs.
The Netherlands also fielded an unchanged team from its previous game against England in Pune, which it lost by 160 runs.
A capacity crowd is expected at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium with the match cooinciding with the auspicious festival of Diwali.
Star Indian batter Virat Kohli will again be in the spotlight – he has scored 543 runs in eight matches, third highest in the tournament thus far.
More importantly, he is currently on 49 ODI centuries and level with compatriot and Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, with a Sunday full-house anticipating a record 50th hundred at his adopted home ground. He plays for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.
The Bengaluru pitch should aid batters, and Kohli in his endeavour. A high scoring game could be in the offing, with chasing under lights preferable at this venue.
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Lineups:
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Lokesh Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Netherlands: Wesley Barresi, Max O’Dowd, Colin Ackermann, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Scott Edwards (captain), Bas de Leede, Teja Nidamanuru, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren
India wins toss and will bat against Netherlands at Cricket World Cup
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India wins toss and will bat against Netherlands at Cricket World Cup
- Undefeated India play their last league game before facing New Zealand in the semifinal
- Netherlands have beaten just South Africa and Bangladesh from their eight league matches
Jahangir’s 99 powers Dubai Capitals past Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
- Jahangir’s commanding 99, the highest score by an associate player in the tournament’s history, rescued the Capitals after early setback
ABU DHABI: Shayan Jahangir produced a career-defining innings to steer the Dubai Capitals to a thrilling nine-run victory over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the Intertnational League T20 at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Jahangir’s commanding 99, the highest score by an associate player in the tournament’s history, rescued the Capitals after early setbacks and laid the platform for a second win of the season, as the Capitals held their nerve with the ball to withstand a late onslaught from Andre Russell.
After being asked to bat first, the Capitals were rocked early and slumped to 4/2 inside the powerplay, with Leus du Plooy and Toby Albert dismissed cheaply. Jahangir then combined with Jordan Cox to stabilise the innings, the pair adding a crucial 115-run partnership that turned the match decisively in the Capitals’ favour.
Cox scored 29 from 30 balls before falling lbw to Jason Holder, while Jahangir anchored the innings with authority, striking 10 fours and five sixes. He brought up his half-century with his fourth six, off George Garton in the ninth over, before falling agonisingly short of a century on 99 as the Capitals posted a formidable 196/5.
Rovman Powell provided late impetus with an unbeaten 38 from 24 deliveries, including a blistering assault late in the innings, ensuring the Capitals finished strongly.
In response, the Knight Riders struggled to build momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals. Phil Salt’s brisk 33 offered early hope, but the chase stalled after David Willey and Waqar Salamkheil struck to leave Abu Dhabi 49/3 at the end of the powerplay.
Alishan Sharafu counter-attacked with a rapid 26, but Salamkheil and Mohammad Nabi applied the brakes through the middle overs, removing key batters and keeping the required rate climbing.
Andre Russell reignited the contest with an explosive unbeaten 53 from 33 balls, sharing a rapid 46-run stand with Jason Holder. However, Mustafizur Rahman broke the partnership at a critical juncture, and Muhammad Jawadullah held his nerve to defend 26 runs in the final over as the Capitals sealed a deserved victory.
Named player of the match, Jahangir said he was proud to contribute to back-to-back wins for the Capitals and to represent the USA in the tournament.
“I’m proud to now be part of the ILT20, representing the USA, where cricket is making strong progress. Performances like these will bring greater recognition to US cricket,” he said.
Capitals captain Dasun Shanaka praised Jahangir’s composure after a difficult start.
“Jahangir was under pressure early and didn’t have the best powerplay, but he showed character to go on and make 99. Hopefully, he will build on this in the matches to come,” he said.
