Page 29 - Pakistan Link - May 17, 2019

SPORTS MAY 17, 2019 – PAKISTAN LINK – P29
SPORTS MAY 17, 2019 - PAKISTAN LINK
Pakistan look to snap winless Pakistan can still lodge complaint

streak in third ODI against Plunkett

under their belt ahead of 30 May, KARACHI: The International eight runs while in the overall nine
overs that he bowled, he turned over 64
Cricket Council (ICC) might have
when the World Cup gets underway. cleared Liam Plunkett for ball-tam- runs. When he was made aware of the
Their job won’t be easy, how- pering during England’s second One- images on Sunday, Plunkett himself
ever, seeing as they’re facing the day International against Pakistan on reported the footage to match referee
world’s top-ranked side. England are Saturday but a complaint can still be Richie Richardson and said he was
a mighty batting unit, with various lodged against the paceman by the only spinning the ball in his fingers.
batsmen capable of stealing the show Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Richardson spoke to the on-field
on any given day. It was Jos Buttler “Yes as per the code of con- umpire Chris Gaffaney on Sunday
who did the honours in the previous duct — a CEO of either of the two who confirmed he had no suspicions
game with an unbeaten 55-ball 110. sides can lodge a complaint”, an ICC over the condition of the ball.
The hosts’ bowling attack looks spokesperson told this correspondent “The match officials are com-
robust too, and they will be very on Sunday. “For level three offence, fortable that there was no attempt
pleased with David Willey’s three- they [PCB in this case] can formally to change the condition of the ball
over spell in the death in South- complain within 96 hours of the inci- or any evidence of this on the over
ampton, during which he took 2/17 dent or them being made aware of it.” by over examination of the ball
including the big wickets of Asif Ali England won the game by 12 throughout the game,” said the ICC
and Imad Wasim. runs, defending their total of 373 de- in a statement. The ball looked as if
Both teams are expected to ring spite a superb century from Pakistan it had flaps of leather hanging off it
in the changes with Joe Denly set opener Fakhar Zaman. and was in poor condition by the end
to play in place of the resting Adil In a widely-circulating video, the of the Pakistan innings but the white
BRISTOL: Defeat in the second may not be as gloomy as the numbers Rashid for England, making this Plunkett can be seen scratching the kookaburra does not wear well. The
One-day International to England suggest, for they put up a remarkable match an audition of sorts for Denly ball, leading to belief that the tamper- LED advertising boards also damage
extended Pakistan’s winless streak, fight in the second ODI in Southamp- to prove his worth as a back-up leg- ing could have been done to produce the ball.
but there were positive signs from ton, going down by only 12 runs in spin option. reverse swing in death overs. There are two different balls used
which they will look to draw confi- a chase of a mammoth 374 against Tom Curran will have an outing During the penultimate over that at each end and at the conclusion of
dence heading into the third match some pretty good bowling. in place of David Willey and But- he bowled, Plunkett sent Faheem each over the ball is returned to the
on Tuesday. One of big question marks over tler could well be rested after his Ashraf back to the pavilion allowing umpire.
Pakistan’s ODI record this year Pakistan’s readiness for the World jaw-dropping display at the Ageas
has been poor so far. In 12 matches Cup has pertained to their ability to Bowl, while Adil and Jofra Archer
across three series, they have won score rapidly, but they seemed to do did not travel to Bristol after being
only two and have lost nine. More rather well in that department, thanks given some time off.
worryingly, they’ve been winless in largely to Fakhar Zaman’s bound- Pakistan will be forced into one
their last eight games, including a ary-laced 138. But even Asif Ali and change of plan after the viral illness
washout in the first ODI of the ongo- Sarfaraz Ahmed scored at well over which kept Mohammad Amir out
ing series. run-a-ball. of the match in Southampton now
With the World Cup pretty much The positive signs notwithstand- thought to be chicken pox, scupper-
at the doorstep, Pakistan have plen- ing, Pakistan will want to pull togeth- ing any hopes they had of bringing
ty of reason for concern. But things er in all departments to get some wins him back.
Sana Mir becomes world’s most Rahmat leads

successful women’s ODI spinner Afghanistan to

BENONI: Pakistan’s off-spinner (56) giving them a solid start in a 75- win over Scots
Sana Mir became the most successful run first-wicket partnership.
women’s ODI spinner in the world Javeria Khan (74) and Aliya
when she dismissed South Africa’s Riaz (71) led Pakistan’s reply with
Sune Luus in the third One-Day Inter- tailender Nashra Sandhu hitting a six Ambris ton helps WI make
national of the ICC Women’s Cham- off the penultimate ball of the match
pionship which ended in a thrilling tie and then taking a single off the final
at the Willowmoore Park on Sunday. ball with two runs to secure a tie that record ODI chase
It was Sana’s 147th ODI wick- meant the series finished in a 1-1
et in her 118th appearance, helping draw. The result means Pakistan oc- DUBLIN: Sunil Ambris’ maiden West Indies to their second triangular
her leapfrog Anisa Mohammed of cupy the fifth spot in the ICC Wom- One-day International hundred saw series win over the tournament hosts.
the Windies and Australia’s Lisa en’s Championship rankings with the West Indies complete their high- Earlier, Andrew Balbirnie scored a
Sthalekar into third place on the all- 15 points from as many games, one est successful ODI run chase as they brilliant hundred of his own in an Ire-
time list of most successful bowlers, more than New Zealand who have 14 beat Ireland by five wickets in Dublin land total of 327 for five.
behind fast bowlers Jhulan Goswami points. on Saturday. Balbirnie scored 135 from 124
of India (218) and Australia’s Cath- Sana, meanwhile, is third in the Ambris made 148, off just 126 balls and registered his fourth ODI
ryn Fitzpatrick (180). ICC bowlers’ rankings but is expect- balls including 19 fours and a six, as hundred, passing 3,000 runs for Ire-
Luus’ dismissal came in 49th ed to make an upward movement the West Indies surpassed Ireland’s land in the process.
over of the South African innings as when the new rankings are released total of 327 for five with 13 deliver- He received good support came
they set the visitors a target of 266 on Monday. In October last year, she ies remaining. The West Indies, who from Paul Stirling (77) and Kevin
after being put into bat with openers became the first Pakistan bowler to unlike Ireland have qualified for the O’Brien, who smashed 63 off 40 balls
Lizelle Lee (57) and Laura Wolvaardt top the ICC rankings. upcoming World Cup in England and that included three consecutive sixes
Wales, were behind the run-rate at off paceman Holder.
112 for two in the 20th over. West Indies’ victory moved them
But a third-wicket stand of 128 above Bangladesh in the tri-series
between Ambris, playing only his standings, and left Ireland without a
fourth ODI, and Roston Chase (46) win after three matches.
EDINBURGH: Rahmat Shah hit helped get the tourists back on track. Ireland will now need to beat
113 while Hashmatullah Shahidi and Not even a three-wicket haul from Bangladesh next week and hope oth-
Mohammad Shahzad made half-cen- Ireland’s former England fast bowler er results go their way if they are to
turies as Afghanistan defeated Scot- Boyd Rankin was sufficient to deny reach the final. West Indies open their
land by two runs in a rain-hit ODI on the two-time World Cup-winners, World Cup campaign against Paki-
Friday. Scotland made 325 for seven with Jonathan Carter (43 not out) and stan at Trent Bridge in Nottingham
from their 50 overs with Calum Ma- captain Jason Holder (36) seeing the on May 31.
cLeod hitting 100 and captain Kyle
Coetzer supporting him with 79.
Afghanistan reached 269 for
three with 31 balls remaining when
rain forced the players off the field
and they were eventually declared
the winners on the Duckworth-Lew-
is-Stern method.
Hashmatullah Shahidi finished
with an unbeaten 59 while opener
Mohammad Shahzad hit 55.
The first match that was sched-
uled for Wednesday was called off
without a ball being bowled because
of rain. Afghanistan are one of just 10
teams taking part in the World Cup
which gets underway in England and
Wales on May 30.
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