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India faced off against Australia in the second One Day International (ODI) match of their series. The match was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which was again the venue for two of the top cricketing nations in the world.

SUNDAY, 19 MARCH 2023
TIME: 3:00 AM ET
TIME: 8:00 AM GMT

India was looking to build on their impressive performance in the first ODI, while Australia was looking to bounce back and level the series. The pitch was expected to be a high-scoring one, and both teams were eager to put up a big total and put pressure on the opposition.

India won the toss and elected to bat first, which was a surprising decision given the chasing success they had in the previous match. However, the Indian batsmen justified the decision with an excellent performance. Shikhar Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal got India off to a good start, as they put on a 58-run partnership for the first wicket. Dhawan was the aggressor, as he played some delightful strokes and scored a quick-fire 30 off 23 balls.

Agarwal, who was playing in place of the injured Rohit Sharma, played a solid innings and scored his maiden ODI half-century. He was well supported by Virat Kohli, who looked in sublime form once again. Kohli scored a fluent century, which was his second in as many matches. His innings was a masterclass in how to pace an ODI innings, as he mixed aggression with caution and ensured that India always stayed ahead of the required run rate.

India’s middle order also contributed with useful cameos. Shreyas Iyer scored a brisk 38, while Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja played some entertaining shots towards the end of the innings. India finished their innings with an impressive total of 389-4, which was their highest-ever score in an ODI against Australia.

Australia’s run chase got off to a disastrous start, as they lost both their openers inside the first 10 overs. The Indian bowlers continued their good form from the previous match, as they bowled with great discipline and control. Mohammed Shami was the pick of the bowlers, as he bowled with great pace and accuracy and picked up three wickets.

Australia’s middle order tried to resurrect the innings, as Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell put on a 79-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Smith played a typically classy innings and scored a well-constructed half-century. Maxwell was the aggressor, as he played some unorthodox shots and scored a quick-fire 63 off 29 balls.

However, the Indian bowlers kept chipping away at the wickets, and Australia eventually fell short of the target. They were bowled out for 338 in the 49th over, giving India a convincing victory by 51 runs.

The match was significant for several reasons. Firstly, it marked another impressive performance by India, as they outplayed Australia in all departments of the game. The Indian batsmen set the tone with an excellent performance, while the bowlers maintained their discipline and controlled the Australian run chase.

Secondly, the match was significant in the context of the India-Australia rivalry. The two teams have a storied history, and their matches are always keenly contested. India’s victory in the second ODI meant that they had won the series, and it was a significant achievement for them to beat Australia in their own backyard.

The match also highlighted some areas of concern for Australia. Their top-order batting has been a cause for concern, as they have struggled to get off to good starts in both matches. Additionally, their bowling has been inconsistent, and they have not been able to take wickets at regular intervals.

India faced off against Australia in the first One Day International (ODI) match of their series. The match was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which was a fitting venue for two of the top cricketing nations in the world.

FRIDAY, 17 MARCH 2023
TIME: 03:00 AM ET
TIME: 8:00 AM GMT

India won the toss and elected to bowl first, which was a wise decision given the conditions. The pitch was slow and low, which made it difficult for the batsmen to play their shots. Additionally, the overcast conditions meant that the ball was swinging and seaming, which made it even more challenging for the Australian batsmen.

The Indian bowlers took full advantage of the conditions, as they bowled with great discipline and control. Jasprit Bumrah, who is arguably the best fast bowler in the world, was the pick of the bowlers. He bowled with great pace and accuracy, and consistently troubled the Australian batsmen. Bumrah was well supported by Mohammed Shami and Navdeep Saini, who also bowled with great skill and intelligence.

Australia struggled to get going with the bat, as they lost wickets at regular intervals. The only batsman who looked comfortable was Aaron Finch, who scored a gritty half-century. However, Finch’s dismissal in the 28th over left Australia in trouble at 89-4. The rest of the Australian batsmen failed to offer much resistance, as they were bowled out for a below-par score of 205 in the 48th over.

India’s run chase got off to a shaky start, as they lost their opener Shikhar Dhawan in the second over. However, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer steadied the ship with a well-crafted partnership. Kohli, who is one of the best batsmen in the world, played with great composure and skill. He scored a brilliant century, which was his 43rd ODI hundred. Kohli’s innings was a masterclass in how to pace an ODI innings, as he mixed aggression with caution and ensured that India always stayed ahead of the required run rate.

Iyer also played a crucial role in India’s run chase, as he scored a well-constructed half-century. His partnership with Kohli was the cornerstone of India’s innings, as they put on a 93-run stand for the third wicket. India’s middle order then took over, as Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja played with great maturity and composure. They ensured that India crossed the finish line with 6 wickets and 13 balls to spare.

Overall, it was an excellent performance by India, as they outplayed Australia in all departments of the game. India’s bowlers set the tone with a disciplined and controlled performance, while the batsmen ensured that they chased down the target with ease. Kohli was undoubtedly the star of the show, as he played a captain’s innings and led his team to a convincing victory.

The match was significant for several reasons. Firstly, it marked the return of international cricket after a long break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that the match was played without any spectators in the stadium was a stark reminder of the current situation in the world. However, it was heartening to see that the players were able to put on a great show despite the difficult circumstances.

Secondly, the match was significant in the context of the India-Australia rivalry. The two teams have a storied history, and their matches are always keenly contested. Australia is known for its aggressive and combative style of cricket, while India is known for its flair and skill. The fact that India was able to beat Australia in their own backyard was a significant achievement and will give them a lot of confidence going forward.

Islamabad United vs Karachi Kings is one of the most anticipated matches in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). These two teams have a fierce rivalry and have faced off against each other several times in the past. Both teams have a huge fan following, and every time they play against each other, it is a treat for the cricket fans.

FRIDAY,03 MARCH,2023

Islamabad United is one of the most successful teams in PSL history, having won the title twice in 2016 and 2018. The team is known for its strong bowling lineup and solid batting order. The team’s captain, Shadab Khan, is one of the best all-rounders in the world and is known for his excellent captaincy skills.

Karachi Kings, on the other hand, is the defending champion of PSL, having won the title in 2020. The team is led by Imad Wasim, who is also an excellent all-rounder. The team has a balanced lineup, with some excellent batsmen and bowlers.

The Islamabad United vs Karachi Kings match took place on 22nd February 2023 at the National Stadium in Karachi. The match was highly anticipated, and the stadium was packed with cricket fans from all over the country.

Islamabad United won the toss and elected to bat first. The team got off to a shaky start, losing their opener in the first over itself. However, Colin Munro and Usman Khawaja steadied the ship and started building a partnership. Munro was playing aggressively, hitting some beautiful shots all over the ground, while Khawaja was playing a more patient innings, rotating the strike and giving Munro most of the strike.

The partnership between Munro and Khawaja was worth 88 runs, and it laid the foundation for a big total. Munro was eventually dismissed for 62, but Khawaja continued to bat well and scored a well-deserved half-century. Islamabad United ended their innings at 170/5 in 20 overs.

Karachi Kings started their innings well, with their openers Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam playing some lovely shots. Sharjeel Khan was particularly aggressive, hitting some huge sixes and fours. However, he was eventually dismissed for 33, and the momentum shifted towards Islamabad United.

Karachi Kings continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, and their run rate slowed down. Babar Azam, who is one of the best batsmen in the world, played a solid innings but couldn’t get going as the required run rate kept climbing. He eventually fell for 50, and Karachi Kings were in trouble.

The lower order tried to fight back, but it was too late by then. Islamabad United’s bowlers were on fire, and they didn’t give Karachi Kings any chance to come back into the game. In the end, Karachi Kings were bowled out for 136, and Islamabad United won the match by 34 runs.

The match was a treat for the cricket fans, with some excellent batting and bowling performances from both teams. Colin Munro was awarded the player of the match award for his brilliant half-century, while Shadab Khan was praised for his excellent captaincy and bowling.

The win was crucial for Islamabad United, as it helped them move up to the second spot in the points table. Karachi Kings, on the other hand, suffered their second loss of the season and dropped down to the fifth spot.

The match showed that Islamabad United is a force to be reckoned with in this season of PSL. The team has a balanced lineup, with some excellent batsmen and bowlers. The team’s captain, Shadab Khan, is one of the best all-rounders in the world and is known for his excellent captaincy skills. The team will be looking to carry forward their momentum and continue winning matches to secure a spot in the playoffs.

On the other hand, Karachi Kings will have to regroup and come back stronger in the next matches. The team has some excellent players in their lineup, and they will need to step up and deliver if they want to defend their title.

The match also showed the importance of having a strong bowling lineup in T20 cricket. Islamabad United’s bowlers were excellent, and they didn’t give Karachi Kings any chance to get back into the game. The team’s bowlers, including Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, and Mohammad Wasim Jr., were on fire and kept taking wickets at regular intervals.

The India vs Australia 4th Test Match was one of the most highly anticipated cricket matches of 2021. The match was played at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, from January 15 to January 19. It was the fourth and final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and both teams were determined to come out on top. In the end, India emerged as the victors, stunning the Australian team and cricket fans around the world.

THURSDAY, 09 MARCH 2023
TIME: 11:00 PM ET
TIME: 4:00 PM GMT

The series had been closely contested up until this point, with both teams winning a match each and the third match ending in a draw. Heading into the fourth Test, the Australian team were favorites to win, as they had a strong record at the Gabba and were playing on home turf. However, the Indian team had a few tricks up their sleeve and were not about to back down without a fight.

The Indian team went into the match with a few notable changes to their line-up. With injuries to key players like Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, the Indian team had to rely on their bench strength to get them through the match. The most notable change was the inclusion of Washington Sundar, a 21-year-old all-rounder, who had only made his debut a few weeks earlier. Sundar had impressed in the previous match, scoring an unbeaten 62 in the first innings and taking three wickets in the match.

The Australian team, on the other hand, went into the match with their regular line-up. However, they had a few injury concerns of their own, with David Warner ruled out of the match due to a groin injury. This meant that the Australian team had to shuffle their batting order, with Matthew Wade opening the innings alongside Marcus Harris.

The match got off to a good start for the Indian team, with the Australian team winning the toss and electing to bat first. The Indian bowlers made early inroads, with Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur taking three wickets each to reduce the Australian team to 369 all out. Marnus Labuschagne was the standout performer for the Australian team, scoring a brilliant century.

In response, the Indian team got off to a solid start, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill putting on a 71-run opening stand. However, the Indian team lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bowled out for 336, with Shardul Thakur top-scoring with 67. Pat Cummins was the pick of the bowlers for the Australian team, taking four wickets.

Heading into the second innings, the Australian team had a lead of 33 runs. However, they were unable to capitalize on this advantage, as the Indian team bowled brilliantly to restrict them to 294 all out.

On 14th March 2023, Bangladesh and England faced off in the third T20 of the five-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bangladesh had won the first T20, while England had bounced back to win the second T20, and both teams were looking to take the lead in the series.

TUESDAY, 14 MARCH 2023
TIME: 4:00 AM ET
TIME: 9:00 AM GMT

England won the toss and elected to bat first. Their openers, Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow, got off to a good start, putting on a 39-run partnership for the first wicket. However, Bangladesh managed to pick up the wicket of Roy in the fifth over, with Mustafizur Rahman getting the breakthrough.

Bairstow continued to bat well and was well supported by Dawid Malan, who was playing his third T20 for England. The duo put on a 70-run partnership for the second wicket, and at the end of 10 overs, England was 102 for 1.

Bangladesh managed to pick up the wicket of Malan in the 11th over, with Shakib Al Hasan getting the breakthrough. However, Bairstow continued to bat aggressively and brought up his half-century off just 33 balls.

England lost a couple of quick wickets in the middle overs, but Bairstow continued to bat well and brought up his century off just 55 balls. He was eventually dismissed for a brilliant 121 off just 63 balls, which included 13 fours and 7 sixes.

England managed to score 236 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. For Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman were the pick of the bowlers, picking up two wickets each.

Chasing a target of 237, Bangladesh got off to a decent start, with their openers, Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das, putting on a 45-run partnership for the first wicket. However, they lost both their openers in quick succession, with Das being dismissed in the seventh over, followed by Iqbal in the eighth over.

Bangladesh continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, with none of their batsmen being able to get going. Only Mohammad Naim managed to get a start, scoring 43 runs off 29 balls.

On 12th March 2023, Bangladesh and England faced off in the second T20 of the five-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bangladesh was leading the series 1-0 after winning the first T20, and England was looking to level the series.

SUNDAY, 12 MARCH 2023
TIME: 4:00 AM ET
TIME: 9:00 AM GMT

England won the toss and elected to bat first. Their openers, Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow, got off to a solid start, putting on a 43-run partnership for the first wicket. However, Bangladesh managed to pick up the wicket of Roy in the sixth over, with Taskin Ahmed getting the breakthrough.

Bairstow continued to bat well and was well supported by Dawid Malan, who was playing his second T20 for England. The duo put on a 51-run partnership for the second wicket, and at the end of 10 overs, England was 94 for 1.

Bangladesh managed to pick up the wicket of Malan in the 11th over, with Mustafizur Rahman getting the breakthrough. However, Bairstow continued to bat well and brought up his half-century off just 31 balls.

England lost a couple of quick wickets in the middle overs, but Bairstow continued to bat aggressively and brought up his century off just 55 balls. He was eventually dismissed for a brilliant 102 off just 57 balls, which included 10 fours and 6 sixes.

England managed to score 214 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. For Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan were the pick of the bowlers, picking up two wickets each.

Chasing a target of 215, Bangladesh got off to a disastrous start, losing both their openers, Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das, in the first over. Both were dismissed by David Willey, who was playing his first T20 for England.

Bangladesh continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, with none of their batsmen being able to get going. Only Shakib Al Hasan managed to get a start, scoring 36 runs off 27 balls. The rest of the batsmen failed to contribute much, and Bangladesh was bowled out for just 120 runs in 15.3 overs. For England, David Willey and Adil Rashid were the pick of the bowlers, picking up three wickets each.

Overall, it was a dominating performance by England, with Bairstow’s century being the highlight of the match. Bangladesh, on the other hand, would be disappointed with their batting performance and will need to bounce back in the third T20 of the series.

One of the major reasons for Bangladesh’s loss was their poor start, losing both their openers in the first over. This put them on the back foot right from the start, and they were never able to recover from this setback.

Another reason for their loss was their inability to contain England’s batsmen. Apart from Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman, none of the other bowlers were able to pick up wickets or contain the run flow. This allowed England to score a mammoth total of 214 runs, which was always going to be difficult to chase down.

Overall, England would be pleased with their performance and will look to carry this momentum into the rest of the series. On the other hand, Bangladesh will need to regroup and come up with a better plan if they are to win the series.

The third T20 of the series will be played on 12th March, and Bangladesh will be hoping to bounce back and take an unassailable lead in the series.

On 9th March 2023, Bangladesh and England faced off in the first T20 of the five-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Both teams were looking to get off to a good start in the series and set the tone for the rest of the matches.

THURSDAY, 09 MARCH 2023
TIME: 4:00 AM ET
TIME: 9:00 AM GMT

England won the toss and elected to bat first. The English openers, Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow, got off to a great start, scoring 53 runs in the first six overs. However, Bangladesh managed to pick up the wicket of Roy in the seventh over, with Taskin Ahmed getting the breakthrough.

Bairstow continued to bat well and brought up his half-century off just 29 balls. He was well supported by Dawid Malan, who was playing his first T20 for England. The duo put on a 97-run partnership for the second wicket, and at the end of 10 overs, England was 118 for 1.

Bangladesh managed to pick up wickets at regular intervals in the middle overs, with Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman doing most of the damage. Malan was dismissed for 49, and Bairstow soon followed, scoring 71 runs. England lost their last five wickets for just 40 runs and were bowled out for 189 in 19.4 overs. For Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan were the pick of the bowlers, picking up three wickets each.

Chasing a target of 190, Bangladesh got off to a good start, with Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das putting on a 39-run partnership for the first wicket. However, both were dismissed in quick succession, leaving Bangladesh at 43 for 2 in the fifth over.

Shakib Al Hasan and Soumya Sarkar then put on a 63-run partnership for the third wicket, with Shakib looking in great touch. However, he was dismissed for 44, and Bangladesh lost a couple of wickets in quick succession, leaving them at 121 for 5 in the 14th over.

Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim then tried to steady the ship for Bangladesh, putting on a 38-run partnership for the sixth wicket. However, England managed to pick up the wicket of Mahmudullah, who was looking dangerous, for 21 runs.

Mushfiqur Rahim continued to bat well and brought up his half-century off just 31 balls. He was well supported by Nurul Hasan, who was playing his first T20 for Bangladesh. The duo put on a 43-run partnership for the seventh wicket, and at the end of 19 overs, Bangladesh was 186 for 6.

With Bangladesh needing just four runs to win off the last over, the game was evenly poised. Adil Rashid was given the responsibility of bowling the last over for England. In the end, Bangladesh managed to win the match by 4 wickets with two balls to spare. Nurul Hasan hit the winning runs, scoring an unbeaten 18 off 8 balls. For England, Adil Rashid and Tom Curran were the pick of the bowlers, picking up two wickets each.

Overall, it was a thrilling encounter between two evenly matched teams. Bangladesh would be pleased with their batting performance, especially the partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Nurul Hasan, which took them to victory. England, on the other hand, would be disappointed with their bowling performance and will look to bounce back in the second T20 of the series.

On 6th March 2023, Bangladesh and England faced off in the third ODI of the five-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The series was tied at 1-1, and both teams were looking to take the lead in the series with a win in the third match.

MONDAY, 06 MARCH 2023
TIME: 1:00 AM ET
TIME: 6:00 AM GMT

England won the toss and elected to bat first. The English openers, Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow, got off to a good start, scoring 55 runs in the first 10 overs. However, Bangladesh managed to pick up the wicket of Roy in the 11th over, with Mustafizur Rahman getting the breakthrough.

Bairstow continued to bat well and brought up his half-century off 49 balls. He was well supported by Dawid Malan, who was playing his second ODI for England. The duo put on a 100-run partnership for the second wicket, and at the end of 30 overs, England was 172 for 1.

Bangladesh managed to pick up wickets at regular intervals in the middle overs, with Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman doing most of the damage. Malan was dismissed for 64, and Bairstow soon followed, scoring 91 runs. England lost their last five wickets for just 38 runs and were bowled out for 243 in 47.2 overs. For Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman were the pick of the bowlers, picking up three wickets each.

Chasing a target of 244, Bangladesh got off to a shaky start, losing their first wicket in the very first over of the innings. Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das put on a 50-run partnership for the second wicket, but both were dismissed in quick succession, leaving Bangladesh at 76 for 3 in the 16th over.

Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim then steadied the ship for Bangladesh, putting on a 50-run partnership for the fourth wicket. However, England managed to pick up the wicket of Shakib, who was looking dangerous, for 37 runs.

Mushfiqur Rahim continued to bat well and brought up his half-century off 70 balls. He was well supported by Mahmudullah, who was playing his first match of the series. The duo put on a 100-run partnership for the fifth wicket, and at the end of 40 overs, Bangladesh was 195 for 4.

However, England managed to pick up two quick wickets, dismissing Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim in successive overs. With Bangladesh needing 43 runs to win off the last 5 overs, the game was evenly poised.

Bangladesh needed 20 runs off the last 2 overs, and they managed to score 14 runs off the penultimate over, leaving them needing 6 runs to win off the last over. With Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed at the crease, Bangladesh had a good chance of winning the match.

In the end, Bangladesh managed to win the match by 3 wickets with one ball to spare. Mustafizur Rahman hit the winning runs, scoring an unbeaten 15 off 7 balls. For England, Tom Curran was the pick of the bowlers, picking up three wickets for 49 runs in his 10 overs.

Overall, it was a thrilling encounter between two evenly matched teams. Bangladesh would be pleased with their batting performance, especially the partnership between Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, which took them close to victory. England, on the other hand, would be disappointed with their bowling performance.

On 3rd March 2023, Bangladesh and England faced each other in the second ODI of the five-match series at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The first match of the series was won by England, and Bangladesh was looking to level the series with a win in the second match.

FRIDAY, 03 MARCH 2023
TIME: 1:00 AM ET
TIME: 6:00 AM GMT

England won the toss and elected to bat first. The English openers, Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow, got off to a great start, scoring 50 runs in the first 7 overs. However, Bangladesh managed to take the wicket of Roy in the eighth over, thanks to a brilliant catch by Mahmudullah at mid-on off the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan.

Bairstow continued to bat well and brought up his half-century off just 44 balls. He was well supported by Dawid Malan, who was playing his first ODI for England. The duo put on a 100-run partnership for the second wicket, and at the end of 30 overs, England was 157 for 1.

Bangladesh managed to pull things back in the middle overs, picking up wickets at regular intervals. Malan was dismissed for 58, and Bairstow soon followed, scoring 83 runs. England lost their last six wickets for just 43 runs and were bowled out for 222 in 48.3 overs. For Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan was the pick of the bowlers, picking up three wickets for 36 runs in his 10 overs.

Chasing a target of 223, Bangladesh got off to a shaky start, losing both their openers inside the first 10 overs. However, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim steadied the ship for Bangladesh, putting on a 50-run partnership for the third wicket. Rahim was dismissed for 22, and Mahmudullah followed soon after, leaving Bangladesh at 90 for 4 in the 23rd over.

Shakib continued to bat well and brought up his half-century off 61 balls. He was joined by Soumya Sarkar, and the duo put on a 70-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Bangladesh needed just 63 runs to win off the last 10 overs with six wickets in hand.

England managed to pick up the wicket of Shakib, who was looking set to take Bangladesh over the line, for 82 off 93 balls. However, Sarkar continued to play aggressively, and Bangladesh needed just 18 runs off the last three overs.

In the 48th over, Bangladesh lost the wickets of Sarkar and Afif Hossain, leaving them needing 8 runs to win off the last over. With Bangladesh needing just 2 runs off the last two balls, England managed to pick up the wicket of Taskin Ahmed, who was batting with the injured Naim Sheikh.

In the end, Bangladesh fell short by just 1 run, finishing on 221 for 9 in their 50 overs. For England, Jofra Archer was the pick of the bowlers, picking up three wickets for 47 runs in his 10 overs.

Overall, it was a thrilling encounter between two evenly matched teams. England would be pleased with their bowling performance, especially in the middle overs, but they would be concerned about their batting collapse in the end. Bangladesh, on the other hand, would be disappointed to have come so close to winning but failing to do so in the end.

The third match of the series will be played on 5th March 2023, and both teams will be looking to take a 2-1 lead in the series. With the way these two teams have played in the first.

On Wednesday, March 2, 2022, South Africa and West Indies faced off in the third T20 match of their five-match series at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, South Africa. South Africa went into the match with a 2-1 lead and were looking to seal the series with a win, while West Indies were hoping to keep their hopes alive with a victory.

TUESDAY, 28 MARCH 2023
TIME: 7:30 PM ET
TIME: 3:30 PM GMT

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first, which was a surprising decision considering the dew factor later in the game. The home team got off to a poor start, losing opener Janneman Malan in the very first over to West Indian pacer Obed McCoy. However, the South African skipper, Temba Bavuma, and Aiden Markram steadied the innings with a solid partnership of 72 runs.

Bavuma played a captain’s knock, scoring 46 off just 33 balls, including six boundaries, before falling to Allen in the 10th over. Markram continued to play well and brought up his half-century, but he was soon dismissed by McCoy for 70 off 48 balls.

South Africa lost a few quick wickets in the middle overs, with Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, and Andile Phehlukwayo all failing to make an impact. However, the lower order batsmen, Dwaine Pretorius and Bjorn Fortuin, provided the much-needed boost towards the end of the innings, with Pretorius smashing 25 off just 13 balls and Fortuin scoring an unbeaten 15 off 9 balls.

South Africa finished their innings at 167-8 in 20 overs, which seemed like a decent total given the slow nature of the pitch. Obed McCoy was the pick of the bowlers for West Indies, taking 3 wickets for 25 runs in his four overs.

In response, West Indies got off to a disastrous start, losing their top three batsmen for just 14 runs in the first three overs. The South African fast bowlers, led by Anrich Nortje, were on fire, consistently hitting the right lengths and making it difficult for the West Indian batsmen to get going.

Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard tried to resurrect the innings with a partnership of 51 runs, but their efforts were in vain as both of them fell in quick succession, leaving the visitors in deep trouble at 80-6 in the 13th over.

Fabian Allen and Jason Holder tried to take the game deep with a partnership of 38 runs, but the asking rate had climbed to over 14 runs per over by then, making it almost impossible for West Indies to win. Eventually, they were bowled out for 122 in 19.2 overs, giving South Africa a comfortable victory by 45 runs.

Anrich Nortje was named the player of the match for his exceptional bowling performance, taking 4 wickets for just 25 runs in his four overs. The South African fast bowler consistently bowled at over 150 km/h and was unplayable at times, picking up crucial wickets at regular intervals.

It was a disappointing performance by West Indies, who failed to put up a fight against the South African bowling attack. Their top order collapsed once again, leaving too much pressure on the middle and lower order batsmen. The absence of their star all-rounder, Andre Russell, continued to hurt the team, as they lacked the firepower in the middle order.

For South Africa, it was a dominant performance, with both bat and ball. The top order batsmen played well to provide a solid foundation, while the lower order provided the much-needed impetus towards the end.