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The extra official will be separate from the third and fourth umpires and will use technology to help the on-field officials

Vishal Dikshit05-Nov-2019The IPL is planning to have an exclusive TV umpire to monitor no-balls from the 2020 edition. It is understood this extra match official will be separate from the third and fourth umpires and will use technology to help on-field officials monitor no-balls.The decision to use technology more in order to reduce the errors made by the on-field umpires was taken by the newly-formed IPL governing council, headed by former India batsman Brijesh Patel, at a meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday.One governing council member confirmed that they were first looking to try out this additional umpire in a domestic tournament. With the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament beginning on Friday followed by the Ranji Trophy next month, the official said the new idea could be tried out in either of the tournaments.The development is likely to be welcomed by players and teams considering umpiring standards in the IPL have been a talking point for several years, which saw the introduction of DRS in the tournament in 2018. In IPL 2019, India’s two senior-most players – Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni – pulled up match officials in separate matches over controversial no-ball decisions.Kohli called a missed no-ball opportunity “ridiculous” after a match against Mumbai Indians when Royal Challengers Bangalore needed seven off the final ball and Shivam Dube only managed a single. TV replays on the big screen later showed Lasith Malinga had overstepped, and had the no-ball been called, AB de Villiers, who was on 70 off 41, would have taken strike and faced a free hit with five needed off the last ball.”We are playing at IPL level, not club cricket,” Kohli had said at the post-match presentation. “That’s just a ridiculous call off the last ball. The umpires should have their eyes open.”MS Dhoni stops the game to confront the umpires over a revoked no-ball call•BCCI

Earlier in the tournament, in Chennai Super Kings’ away match in Jaipur against Rajasthan Royals, Dhoni controversially walked on to the field to engage with the on-field umpire Ulhas Gandhe over a no-ball call. The incident took place in the final over of Super Kings’ chase with the visitors needing 18 to win. With eight needed off the last three balls and new man Mitchell Santner on strike, Ben Stokes bowled a full toss and Gandhe first signalled a no-ball for height, only for his square-leg colleague Bruce Oxenford to overrule the decision.The IPL’s idea comes on the back of a similar decision taken by the ICC which recently decided to conduct trials in which a TV umpire will monitor front-foot no-balls. The ICC said it was looking to try it out in a few limited-overs series first, similar to how it was used during an England-Pakistan ODI series in 2016.

The PCB chief selector has taken exception to rumours that he tried to abuse his position to secure his son’s selection in Pakistan’s Under-19 squad

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Sep-2018A meeting between the PCB chairman Ehsan Mani and chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq would appear to have ended the uncertainty surrounding Inzamam’s role in a selection controversy that arose over the past few days. The meeting, requested by Inzamam after he took exception to rumours circulating in the Pakistani media he had abused his position to try and secure a favourable selection outcome for his son in the Pakistan U-19 squad. The PCB are understood to have given him full assurance of their trust and support.Inzamam, incensed by the accusation, released a video message categorically denying it was true, saying he would resign if that were proven. At the same time, he challenged the person responsible for the origin of the accusation to do the same if he failed to prove the claim. He is also believed to be assessing his legal options.The origin of the story appeared to be an off-the-record chat between a Pakistani journalist and former international player Abdul Qadir. According to the journalist, Qadir had said the chief selector of the Pakistan U-19 team Basit Ali had been phoned by Inzamam, who requested him to include his son, Ibtasam-ul-Haq in the side. Once the story broke, Qadir stood by this version of events, while Basit denied the conversation, either with Qadir or with Inzamam, ever took place.”I strongly refute this unfounded and malicious claim,” Inzamam wrote in a tweet on Wednesday. “For the record, no one from junior selection committee was approached and there is no truth in this. I am taking this matter quite seriously and will be meeting PCB chairman for an open inquiry on this matter tomorrow.”Nepotism is a particularly prickly issue for Inzamam, particularly in the wake of Imam-ul-Haq’s selection for the national side last year. Imam is Inzamam’s nephew, and there had been questions about whether Inzamam’s influence on selection had played a part in securing a spot for Imam. However, Imam’s bright start to international cricket – he made four centuries in his first nine ODIs, including on debut – have largely dispelled those concerns.

An impressive debut from Dawid Malan helped England seal the T20 series over South Africa with a 19-run victory at Cardiff

The Report by George Dobell in Cardiff25-Jun-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMason Crane was overjoyed at claiming AB de Villiers as a maiden international wicket•Getty Images

An impressive debut from Dawid Malan helped England seal the T20 series over South Africa with a 19-run victory at Cardiff.Malan, the fourth England debutant in the series, contributed a classy 78 to help his new team cope with the absence of their captain, Eoin Morgan, and take the three-match series 2-1.Morgan had decided to leave himself out in order to provide another opportunity for England to take a look at some of their fringe players. Specifically, he said they were keen to provide another game for Liam Livingstone, who endured a nervous debut at Taunton.And while some ticket-holders were upset at the lack of star players in the England side – Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali were among those to be rested for this series, while Jonny Bairstow had returned to Yorkshire to prepare for the day-night Championship fixtures starting on Monday – Morgan’s decision might have helped England build some depth ahead of a typically relentless winter schedule during which resources will be stretched.Malan, in particular, took advantage in a strikingly assured performance. Having left his first ball outside off stump, he pulled his second – from the distinctly sharp Morne Morkel – for six to kick-start an innings that displayed timing, power and an ability to improvise. It was, by some distance, the highest score by an England player on T20I debut.He was not the only new-ish player to impress. Mason Crane, back in the side after making his debut in Southampton, survived an early assault at the hands of AB de Villiers in a display that hinted at a wonderfully calm temperament. At one stage, de Villiers, who was playing his final match of the tour, swept Crane for 16 in three balls – two sixes and a four – but the young legspinner retained his nerve and his flight and, by the end of the over, had de Villiers well held by Alex Hales on the square-leg fence as he attempted a repeat. Crane, whose celebrations of his maiden international wicket were something to behold, finished his spell by conceding just two from his final over.”He handled it really well,” de Villiers said of Crane afterwards. “He was always the one to get after, but he stuck to his guns. Well played to him.”Livingstone, however, was unable to take advantage of his second outing. He would have been the man to miss out had Morgan played, and might have wished he had after falling first ball as he went across his stumps and attempted to scoop over the leg side.There was also no debut for Craig Overton. Despite England having intimated that all their new faces would win an opportunity at some point during the series, Overton – who was declared fully sit – was not utilised. It left Somerset’s director of cricket, Matt Maynard, unimpressed. He tweeted that he was “gutted” for Overton and then added “#brokenword”.”We couldn’t get him in today,” Morgan said. “We wanted to retain our seamers from the second game who bowled well. Craig is aware and all is fine.”Perhaps, had England failed to win, they would have been criticised for their decision to rotate to the extent they did. But with impressive performances over the series from the likes of Malan, Crane, Bairstow and Tom Curran, who again looked to have the skills and temperament to thrive at this level, England will feel it was a worthwhile experiment. It is probably also fair to suggest that, while both sides would have wanted to win this game, it was hardly the most meaningful confrontation either has played even this month. The calls for greater context for such matches are certain to increase.”We recognise the series as a big opportunity to have a look at a younger group of players,” Eoin Morgan told Sky Sports. “It’s an important part of our development and our success in 50-over cricket and T20 has been down to the strength in depth we’ve had in the side. We’ve always had a lot of competition in the playing XI.”Ideally, I would play, yes. Given the rotation system that we have had in the past, it’s unfortunate. If it was a case where I could go on and captain, I would. But this is an important part of our development for this series. You have to look to the long-term.”Besides, Malan looked every inch an international-quality player. British-born but raised in South Africa, his debut has come relatively late – he is aged 29 – but he has put himself at the head of the queue of those pressing for places.Here he added 105 in 63 balls with Hales, who survived a simple chance to Andile Phehlukwayo on 10, bringing up his fifty with a beautifully-played scoop to the boundary off Imran Tahir, while a driven straight six off Morkel also caught the eye.South Africa’s fielding was oddly fallible, though. De Villiers reckoned they “gave away around 20 runs” which, considering the margin of defeat, was crucial. “We let ourselves down in the field,” he said.Once the pair were parted, England fell away against some excellent death bowling from South Africa. England managed only 54 from the final 39 balls of their innings, culminating in a spell where they lost five wickets for 14 runs from 13 balls against Dane Paterson, who was twice on a hat-trick, and Phehlukwayo.But only for a moment, when de Villiers was partnered by JJ Smuts, did it appear South Africa might get close. With Liam Plunkett again bowling at sharp pace and gaining some assistance for his back-of-a-length bowling from the River Taff End, South Africa subsided to 91 for 6 in the 14th over.Phehlukwayo and Mangaliso Mosehle narrowed the margin with some impressive strokeplay – Willey was plundered for 34 from his final couple of overs – but once de Villiers had gone, there was only ever likely to be one result.

Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to retain outgoing chief selector Aravinda de Silva as an “advisor of cricket affairs” – a new loosely-defined position, in which he will be expected to work with the new selectors and national team management

Andrew Fidel Fernando12-Apr-2016Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to retain outgoing chief selector Aravinda de Silva as an “advisor of cricket affairs” – a new loosely-defined position, in which he will be expected to work with the new selectors and national team management. De Silva will step down as chief selector at the end of the month to focus on his business interests, but the board has asked that he stay involved in this consulting role.”We all know of Aravinda de Silva’s experience, his knowledge and his ability to work constructively with people around him,” SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala said. “So we have made this request of him, because our cricket needs to tap into those resources.”SLC also re-appointed Charith Senanayake as team manager for the tour to England, and Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka in July and August. Senanayake had most recently been manager in early 2013, before he was ousted from that role by the Upali Dhardmadasa-led board at the time.Jerome Jayaratne, who had performed the duties of team manager during the World T20 and Asia Cup, will now be free to focus on his role as assistant coach.

Wayne Madsen, the Derbyshire captain, has been awarded the inaugural Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket Elite Award

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Sep-2013Wayne Madsen, the Derbyshire captain, has been awarded the inaugural Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket Elite Award, created by MCC and the BBC to acknowledge exceptional sportsmanship, for walking during a crucial County Championship match.The award is bound to reawaken the debate over whether “walking” is to be regarded as a preferable form of behaviour in the modern game or whether the MCC, by championing the issue, is in danger of pushing the Spirit of Cricket to a point where it risks alienating majority support.Walking has been uncommon in all forms of cricket in England for half a century or more, yet in a display of double standards which has long been accepted as inevitable, a failure to walk still ensures a batsman who remains at the crease is treated to ritual abuse.The issue came back into the public eye when England’s Stuart Broad failed to walk for an obvious edge in the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, his “sin” looking worse than it was as the ball deflected off the gloves of the wicketkeeper, Brad Haddin and was caught at first slip.At Chesterfield, in July, chasing Yorkshire’s first innings total of 617, Madsen feathered a ball from bowler Steve Patterson to the wicketkeeper.With one lone appeal coming from the Yorkshire fielders, umpire Jeff Evans gave the Derbyshire captain not out, only for Madsen to walk back to the pavilion on his own accord. Saying that it was a matter of principle, Madsen went on to score a defiant 141 in the second innings, but his side still lost by an innings and 113 runs.MCC president, Mike Griffith, said: “MCC is passionate about its role as Guardian of the Laws and Spirit of Cricket, and it is instances like Wayne Madsen walking when his Derbyshire side was in real trouble against Yorkshire, which set an example for everyone in the game to follow and must be encouraged.”The winners of the youth award were Alton CC under-13 girls’ team who impressed the judges after lending their opposition players to field during a league match and also allowing some of the opposition to bat twice.”Deciding on the winner of the Youth Award and the school beneficiary was simultaneously challenging and heartening,” Griffith said. “We received so many wonderful examples of how the Spirit of Cricket is alive and kicking in the junior game at clubs and on school playing fields across the country. Congratulations to the Alton CC under-13 girls team who ultimately won the Youth Award. Their story really epitomises what the Spirit of Cricket means.Broad was pilloried in sections of the media for dishonesty and his actions, in return, were passionately supported by other critics as well as the vast majority of those involved in the game who said decisions should be left to the umpires.

A round-up of Group B matches of Women’s World Twenty20 played on September 28, 2012

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Sep-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Sri Lanka ran out four West Indies batsmen•ICC/Getty

West Indies imploded in spectacular fashion to lose to Sri Lanka by five runs in a rain-affected match in Galle. Chasing a modest D/L target of 48 runs in eight overs, West Indies appeared well on their way with Tremayne Smartt getting a boundary off the first ball and nine runs in the opening over. The first ball of the second over resulted in a run-out, but with previous match’s top-scorer Deandra Dottin opening her account with a boundary, the match was in West Indies’ control.Though Inoka Ranaweera’s double-strike in the third over injected some life into the game, West Indies continued to attack, taking 10 runs off the fourth over. Two overs and another run out later, West Indies needed 12 off 12 with six wickets in hand and were still ahead.However, the next six balls capsized the chase. The first was a dot ball and Chamani Seneviratna had Juliana Nero stumped off the second. Third ball saw the third run-out of the innings. A dot ball was then followed by a stumping, which was followed by another dot and the advantage was duly handed over to Sri Lanka. There were no more surprises in the last over, just a bonus run-out.West Indies had put Sri Lanka in to bat in a match reduced to 17-overs a side after wet outfield had delayed the start by an hour. Sri Lanka made a good start with 21 off three overs, but the loss of their openers in consecutive overs slowed them down. The rains came again and Sri Lanka’s innings was halted at 50 for 3 after 10.3 overs, with West Indies getting a revised D/L target of 48.West Indies’ loss meant that all four teams in the group are now tied on points.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details Sophie Devine dazzled with bat and ball to help New Zealand overpower South Africa by 22 runs the first match of the day in Galle. Devine scored a well-paced 59 off 46 balls and then picked up two wickets during South Africa’s faltering chase.Teams have preferred to field first in the tournament so far and South Africa’s decision after winning the toss appeared correct as Susan Benade got rid of both New Zealand openers by the fourth over with only 24 runs on the board. Devine, along with Frances Mackay, played out the next few overs carefully as New Zealand made slow progress to reach 44 in nine overs. The batsmen, however, changed gears in the tenth over with the introduction of offspinner Sunette Loubser. Devine smashed the bowler for a six and a four off consecutive balls to take 13 runs off the over and hit two boundaries in the next. Mackay, after playing second fiddle to Devine for a while, also joined in with three consecutive boundaries off Dane van Niekerk.Devine brought up her first T20 fifty with a six off Loubser but was dismissed in the same over, the 16th of the innings, after sharing a 94-run stand with Mackay that came off 44 balls. Mackay continued to attack and her 49 helped New Zealand score 151 – the highest total in the tournament thus far.Benade led a counter-attack during the chase after South Africa lost the openers early to Erin Bermingham, but she became the first of Nicola Browne’s three wickets in three overs, effectively ending the contest. Van Niekerk resisted with an unbeaten 34 but she ran out of partners as South Africa finished 22 runs short.Devine, who was selected for the tournament after spending a year playing with New Zealand hockey team, was named the Player of the Match.”It has given me a lot of confidence now that I can perform again at the international stage. It has been a wee while. So it is really pleasing for me to get some runs and also a couple of wickets,” Devine said.

In terms of the outcome, this was more Belfast 2009 then Bangalore 2011 as England edged a match that was interrupted frequently by the weather

Andrew McGlashan in Dublin25-Aug-2011In terms of the outcome, this was more Belfast 2009 then Bangalore 2011 as England edged a match that was interrupted frequently by the weather and, like at Stormont two year ago, Eoin Morgan was central to the victory. On that occasion it was one piece of fielding on the boundary edge which saved England, but here he contributed the most fluent innings of the game and made calm captaincy decisions in the closing stages.It meant he finished his brief stint as captain with a 100% record, although he has no qualms about handing back to Alastair Cook. He said he’d got a “buzz” from the day, especially when it came to watching the younger players, and believed that an inexperienced side will have gained immensely from the tight situations they found themselves in. Although the three debutants – James Taylor, Ben Stokes and Scott Borthwick all had quiet matches – Morgan knows how valuable it will have been to be around the set up.”It was something completely different and something they aren’t used to in county cricket,” he said. “A bit of an indifferent pitch is challenging, where dot ball follows dot ball and you have to calm yourself down and I thought they showed a lot of maturity in the field. It took me 10-12 one-day internationals to get going and for them to be around guys like Jonathan Trott really helps, guys who have been there, done that and be able to learn from them. Experiences like today will really help.”Morgan, himself, also showed some tactical acumen when he had to juggle his bowlers in the final part of the game. Before the rain he’d given Chris Woakes and Steven Finn standard new-ball spells, but after the reduction in overs it meant they’d completed their allocation so the likes of Samit Patel and Ravi Bopara played important roles.Although Morgan took the Man-of-the-Match award for his 59 off 65 balls the match-winning performance for England came from Jade Dernbach, who produced another nerveless display of yorkers, slower balls and bouncers with 3 for 30. He is already being suggested as the best England have had in that ‘death’ role since Darren Gough or Andrew Flintoff and his ball to remove Kevin O’Brien, who was turning the game Ireland’s way with a flurry of boundaries reminiscent of Bangalore, was unplayable.”The wicket really helped his slower ball,” Morgan said. “Going from 85mph to a slower ball is a hell of a skill and is something that’s worked consistently for him since he’s come in. He stepped up in the last series against Sri Lanka, particularly the last game at Old Trafford where he was exceptional. We haven’t had someone like that in a long time and he fits the bill.”The day, though, didn’t quite live up to the hopes and expectations of the locals. Of course the weather and result played a part in that but there remains a lingering thought that England could have done a little more to feel part of the occasion. Sending young players was completely understandable but the team, minus Morgan who is staying on to spend time with friends and family for a few days before the squad meets up in Manchester on Sunday, were flying straight back to Heathrow that evening. Two of them, Taylor and Craig Kieswetter, are involved in Twenty20 Finals Day but it would have been nice to see them linger with the hosts.England’s swift departure also meant there wasn’t the usual extra hour available to compensate for the rain which required overs to be lost earlier than would have otherwise been required. It may not have altered the result, but Ireland captain William Porterfield admitted the final requirement of 90 in 10 overs was “steep” on that surface.However, while Kevin O’Brien was batting for Ireland they were favourites to make it back-to-back victories over England and Porterfield had a wry smile when it was suggested to him that his run out, off the second ball of the final 10 overs, may have been tactical. “I could have got a better dive in but it probably did us a favour,” he said. “When Kevin was in they whipped the spinners off pretty quickly. Another couple of overs of them and it could have been over pretty quickly but seam wasn’t easy to get away on that wicket when you bowled straight.”It’s a sign of the development in Ireland’s cricket that defeats like these really hurt. As the supporters and home players looked back on the day with a few pints of a local tipple in the Clontarf pavilion they, no doubt, reflected on one that got away. England, meanwhile, were already on their way to the airport grateful that they had at least come out on the right side of this result.

The PCB has issued instructions to its players, stipulating that all their agents will have to be approved by the board, failing which the player will be ineligible for selection

Cricinfo staff10-Sep-2010The Pakistan Cricket Board has issued instructions to its players, stipulating that all their agents will have to be approved by the board, failing which the player will be ineligible for selection. The deadline for completing this process is September 30.”No Pakistan cricketer, who is selected for any squad for local and international teams, will be allowed to engage any agent/manager without the prior written approval of the PCB,” the board said in a release. “Failure to comply with these instructions will result in the player being declared ineligible for selection in any of the domestic and international cricketing events under the control of PCB.”According to the board’s instructions, all agents wishing to represent players will have to submit a written application to the PCB furnishing details such as the names of players they want to represent, terms of the contracts and background data. The PCB will then forward the information to the high commissioner of Pakistan in the country to which the agent belongs for verification and approval. In case of Pakistani agents, the country’s law enforcement agency will be responsible for verification.The move comes in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal that broke during the Lord’s Test, after the tabloid released details of a sting operation on Mazhar Majeed, an agent for Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer. The Pakistan trio were provisionally suspended by the ICC last Thursday and were quizzed by police the next day for their alleged role in bowling deliberate no-balls at Lord’s. The undercover operation by the tabloid apparently revealed that they had done so at the behest of Majeed, who was arrested but released on bail, while the players had their mobile phones confiscated. No charges have been pressed against them yet.Butt, Asif and Amir are set to return to Pakistan, according to Pakistan’s interior minister Rehman Malik. It does not, however, mean that they are cleared from the ongoing criminal investigation: the government of Pakistan, Malik said, will provide a written assurance that the players be made available if needed for further investigations.

They enter this WPL after losing back-to-back finals, as Lanning looks to work on “just some small things here and there”

Sruthi Ravindranath11-Feb-2025Two seasons, two top-of-the-table finishes. Two finals, but no trophies. Delhi Capitals (DC) came close to title wins in WPL 2023 and 2024, before falling short in the final against Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, respectively. But for captain Meg Lanning, continuing to do what they’ve done the last two seasons along with “a few little changes” is all the team needs to go one step ahead and clinch the title in 2025.”We’ve had two good seasons without obviously being able to finish it off the way we would have liked in winning the title,” Lanning said. “I guess the key for us is maintaining what we’ve been doing well. We think we have been playing some really good cricket, and doing a lot of things right. We’re just evolving and making a few little changes here and there that we think will make a big difference, and hopefully allows us to take that next step. It’s not [a] big shift from us.”We’ve added some new players, and also the players who have been here previously have also improved and gotten better as well. We feel like we’re [at] a really good spot. It’s not [about] changing too much. We’ve been doing a lot right. It’s just some small things here and there to to take us to the next step.”Related

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• Shafali focuses on 'playing long innings' as she eyes India comeback

Lanning has continued to be part of franchise leagues and domestic cricket after announcing her international retirement in 2023. Not playing for Australia has given her plenty of time at home, which she enjoys, but being around young players during franchise-based tournaments and giving them advice has been gratifying, Lanning admitted. Playing these leagues before a tournament like WPL also helps her get into the “rhythm”.Lanning is not only entering this WPL season as the tournament’s highest-ever run-getter – she has 676 runs across two seasons – but also on the back of some superb scores in the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL), Australia’s domestic 50-over competition, where she averaged 51.14 in eight games.”Playing matches is important; there’s nothing quite like being out in the middle and being in a good rhythm with that,” she said. “I feel like those games are great for me in that respect. I feel like I’m in a good spot with my game. I always enjoy playing and batting over here in India. I’ve had some success in the past. So far, the couple [of] days I’ve been here, it’s been nice to just get used to the conditions again, and just be really clear on what my plan is and how I want to go about it.”I think having experienced international cricket for so long, I’ve picked up different things along the way on what works and what doesn’t. And I guess now I’ve got the opportunity to work with – particularly back home, but also in tournaments like this – younger players, and try and pass on some of the knowledge that I’ve picked up not just on the field but [also] off the field – in terms of how you can manage yourself with the pressures that come with playing cricket at this level.”So that’s something I try to do with any team I play in now is pass on some of that knowledge and answer any questions that any of the other players [have]. Everybody here wants to learn and ask questions, and I really loved that about the environment.”Meg Lanning on Shafali Verma: “She looks like she’s in really good touch, and enjoying herself and having fun too”•Delhi Capitals

‘I’ve got the best seat in the house’ – Lanning on batting alongside Shafali

Among the biggest positives for DC over the last two seasons has been the Lanning-Shafali Verma opening partnership. Lanning has been the solid batter at one end with a regular flow of runs while Shafali has gone for the big shots, and together, they have broken several partnership records. So far, they have put up three 100-plus stands in the tournament, and also hold the record of the highest-ever partnership of 162, which they put up against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2023, in the tournament. Lanning hopes to repeat the feat this season as well, adding how much she enjoys playing with Shafali.Shafali has been in terrific form, having returned to domestic cricket after being dropped from the Indian team in November last year. She finished as the top run-getter in the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy and the One Day Challenger Trophy.”I love batting with Shafali,” Lanning said. “She often puts on a very entertaining show, and I’ve got the best seat in the house watching from the other end most of the time. In the practice game, she did a very similar thing a few days ago. She looks like she’s in really good touch, and enjoying herself and having fun too, which I think is really important. So for me, just watching her play with freedom, express herself…when she does that, that plays a really important role for our team.”I always enjoy batting with her; we get on really well. Hopefully, this season can continue on through from where we have been the first two.”

Kohli and Iyer lifted India to an above-par 326 for 5 and in return South Africa could manage just 83

Deivarayan Muthu05-Nov-20231:29

‘Ridiculous!’ – Anil Kumble marvels at Virat Kohli’s ODI numbers

Virat Kohli gifted himself a record-equalling 49th ODI century and India their eighth successive victory in this World Cup, on his 35th birthday. When Kohli drew level with Sachin Tendulkar, with a punched single in the penultimate over of India’s innings, a crowd of 60,000 at Eden Gardens celebrated with Kohli and made it a memorable birthday bash.Kohli, who walked out to bat in the sixth over after Rohit Sharma had won the toss and challenged India to bat, batted till the end of the innings, lifting India to an above-par 326 for 5. He ended up outscoring South Africa who could manage just 83 in 27.1 overs. Ravindra Jadeja bagged career-best figures of 5 for 33 to wreck South Africa’s chase and consign them to their joint second-lowest total in ODI cricket.Most of Kohli’s centuries in recent times have had an air of inevitability about them. Sunday’s innings was anything but. The conditions in Kolkata were challenging and even Kohli had struggled to get the old ball away. South Africa’s left-arm spinners Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi also challenged Kohli with drift, dip and turn.Related

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• 'Gives the world a gift on his own birthday'

In his very first over, Maharaj had knocked Shubman Gill (23) over with a ripper that beat his outside edge to trim the off bail. When Maharaj bowled a similar delivery to Kohli, the ball missed the outside edge. Having run away to a fast start – he was on 17 off 13 balls at one point – Kohli slowed down against spin, but he navigated that passage of play to pick the seamers away. When Lungi Ngidi was brought back into the attack in the 35th over, Kohli jumped out of his crease and shovelled him away for four.Maharaj’s boundary-less spell – 10-0-30-1 – was a throwback to ODIs in the 90s. Even Shreyas Iyer, who is arguably India’s best player of spin, couldn’t throw Maharaj off his lines and lengths. Iyer instead lined up Shamsi for four boundaries and allowed Kohli to bat deep into the innings. After being on 12 off 35 balls, Iyer zoomed to 77 off 87 balls.Quinton de Kock wears a dejected look after being bowled out in the second over of the chase•ICC via Getty Images

With no batting insurance in the form of Hardik Pandya, who has now been sidelined from the rest of the tournament, Kohli refused to take any undue risks. Suryakumar Yadav (22) and Jadeja (29) took such risks at the other end, ensuring that India passed 300.It was Rohit who had laid the foundation for the 134-run third-wicket partnership between Kohli and Iyer. The India captain dashed out of the blocks in the powerplay, cracking 40 off 24 balls. He dismantled Marco Jansen, the most prolific bowler in the powerplay in this tournament, and Ngidi, South Africa’s enforcer in the absence of Gerald Coetzee.Jansen ended up conceding 94 in 9.4 overs for just one wicket. As for Ngidi, he left the field two balls into the final over of India’s innings with an injury scare.South Africa’s troubles then seeped into their batting. Quinton de Kock chopped Mohammed Siraj on in the second over while Temba Bavuma was bowled by Jadeja, who got the new ball to rag away past the outside edge.Things were only going to get tougher against the older, softer ball. Jadeja and Mohammed Shami overpowered South Africa’s middle order. Jadeja removed Henrich Klaasen and David Miller while Shami bested Aiden Markram with Test-match line and length. After bringing a pair of deliveries back into Markram from over the wicket, Shami had one to leave the batter and kiss the outside edge.At one stage, it appeared like India might not even need Kuldeep Yadav, their premier spinner, with the ball. But Jansen and the tail wagged long enough to prompt the introduction of the left-arm wristspinner. Kuldeep kept them guessing by turning the ball both ways and came away with two wickets. Jadeja claimed his second five-wicket haul in ODI cricket; he also became the second Indian spinner, after Yuvraj Singh, to take a five-for in World Cups.