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Pragyan Ojha has decided to leave Hyderabad, and could turn out for Bengal in the 2015-16 domestic season

Amol Karhadkar30-Jun-2015Pragyan Ojha has decided to leave Hyderabad and ply his trade as a professional on the domestic circuit. The left-arm spinner, who was cleared to bowl in February after being suspended for bowling with an illegal action earlier in the 2014-15 season, could turn out for Bengal next season.John Manoj, the Hyderabad Cricket Association secretary, said the HCA had issued permission to Ojha for turning professional, and Sourav Ganguly, the CAB joint secretary, confirmed Bengal were in talks with the bowler.”It is still work in progress,” Ganguly told ESPNcricinfo. “We may take a few days more to arrive at a decision.”According to a CAB insider, only the formal approval of the CAB executive committee remains before Ojha is officially unveiled as a Bengal player. Ojha will start the new season next month, playing for India A in two four-day games against Australia A.It is understood that Ojha wanted to showcase his skills against top teams in the Ranji Trophy in his bid to return to international cricket. With Hyderabad playing in Group C, the lowest rung of the Ranji Trophy, Ojha opted to switch allegiance to a higher-ranked team. Bengal were happy to have him on board since they were struggling to find a lead spinner.Ojha will thus become the second high-profile cricketer to leave Hyderabad in recent seasons. Ambati Rayudu had moved first to neighbouring Andhra before settling on Baroda following a stint in the unrecognised Indian Cricket League following a spat with the HCA hierarchy. Ojha’s switch, on the other hand, looks like a smooth one.”He approached us and explained his rationale honestly,” Manoj said. “Once he had made up his mind, we just respected his decision, supported him and issued the NOC.”According to BCCI rules, players who wish to turn professional have to first obtain a no objection certificate from their home associations and submit it to the BCCI. The deadline for domestic transfers is September 1.Bengal, meanwhile, have approached Lalchand Rajput, the former India opening batsman, to replace Ashok Malhotra as coach. It is understood that Rajput has also been in talks with Uttar Pradesh, who are looking for a replacement for Venkatesh Prasad.

ICC vice-president AHM Mustafa Kamal has denied any “unconditional commitment” from Bangladesh to tour Pakistan

Mohammad Isam09-Jan-2013ICC vice-president AHM Mustafa Kamal has denied any “unconditional commitment” from Bangladesh to tour Pakistan, contrary to what the current BCB president, Nazmul Hassan, had stated last month. Kamal, the former BCB president, said he approves the idea of touring Pakistan, but insisted that the final decision on touring rests with the BCB.”It [unconditional commitment] was not in any ICC meetings’ minutes,” Kamal told reporters. “I have not missed a single meeting [in my time as BCB president]. Such things cannot be written in minutes of a meeting. I deny it, this cannot have happened.”There were a lot of discussions in the ICC and those have been mentioned in their minutes. At every instance it was mentioned that if Bangladesh tours Pakistan, the ICC will be involved in some capacity. The assessment of their security team will determine whether they’ll send officials or not. We have never said that we will bypass the ICC, which will set a precedent for other countries. It is true that ICC wants Bangladesh to tour Pakistan, otherwise discussions wouldn’t be mentioned in its books.”However, Hassan, while announcing Bangladesh’s postponement of a proposed Pakistan tour on December 31, had clearly mentioned such a commitment made in the ICC meeting (in April 2012). When the plans for the tour were renewed in early November, Hassan said that the BCB had made a written commitment to tour Pakistan in a letter.Kamal said he wouldn’t distance himself from holding the idea of touring Pakistan, and insists Bangladesh should go to the country. “It was my initiation, and I wouldn’t deny it. Bangladesh must go to Pakistan, and I know a lot has been written against me. But it was my work and if I hadn’t [done the job], nothing would be written against me.”

Sri Lanka Women notched up another easy victory over Bangladesh Women ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier that begins in Bangladesh on November 14

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Nov-2011
ScorecardSri Lanka Women notched up another easy victory over Bangladesh Women ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier that begins in Bangladesh on November 14. Sri Lanka had come to Bangladesh early to play two matches against the hosts and after winning the first by 64 runs, cruised home by six wickets and with 21.5 overs to spare in the second. Bangladesh were put in to bat, and like in the first game scored extremely slowly. They lasted the whole 50 overs but scored at just 2.58 an over to reach 129 for 8. Most of the top order got into double digits, with Farjan Hoque’s 34 the top score, but none of the top six batsmen had a strike-rate over 50.Sri Lanka’s spinners, left- armer Suwini de Alwis and offspinner Shashikala Siriwardene, struck at regular intervals and finished with five wickets between them. The chase was always going to be comfortable and Sri Lanka got to the target in 28.1 overs. Prasadani Weerakkody scored 38 at the top of the order while Eshani Kaushalya raced to 40 not out off 36 balls.

Cricinfo’s preview of the first ODI between Australia and Sri Lanka at the MCG

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale02-Nov-2010

Match Facts

Xavier Doherty is set for his ODI debut•Getty Images

Wednesday, November 3, Melbourne

Start time 14.20 local (03.20 GMT)

The Big Picture

Sri Lanka’s victory in the Twenty20 has given Australia plenty to think about. They haven’t won an international match since the Lord’s Test against Pakistan in July and, while they will claim their focus is on winning this series, as much as anything that is for the momentum that it would give their Ashes campaign. Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz and an out-of-form and under-pressure Michael Hussey are back in the squad, which features the majority of the men likely to take the field in the Gabba Test, although Ponting and Hauritz won’t play in this one-day series opener.”If you look at it that way, since July, it looks like a long time,” Ponting said of the losing streak. “It’s only a few games, really. There’s no sugar-coating anything, we know we’ve got some work to do. It’s really important that we do start getting that winning feeling back around the group again. There’s no doubt that it’s always a different feeling around the change rooms when you are winning games of cricket. We have to start that off pretty soon, and hopefully that’s tomorrow.”Sri Lanka have never won a series in Australia and if they can carry their Twenty20 form in to the ODI arena, this could be their best chance yet of breaking that record. They are also planning ahead to the World Cup, which will partly be held in their own country starting next February. Last time they co-hosted the World Cup they emerged as the champions, and they deserve to be among the favourites in 2011. Following this tour they head back to Sri Lanka for a Test series against West Indies, so they too are hoping to build momentum heading in to a home series.The other question is whether anybody will turn up to the match. Many Victorians have already taken an extra long weekend due to Tuesday’s public holiday for the iconic Melbourne Cup horse race, and asking the public to back up immediately and attend another day of elite sport is ambitious.

Form guide

(most recent first)

Australia LWWLL
Sri Lanka WWLWL

Watch out for…

On Sunday, Peter Siddle played his first international match since January. It was a promising comeback for Siddle, who had sat out for nearly nine months due to stress fractures in his back. His recovery was geared towards making him available for the Ashes but to break back in to the side he needs to perform at every opportunity. If he plays on Wednesday, it will be his first one-day international at his home ground, the MCG.Thisara Perera bowled well in the Twenty20 in Perth, where his 2 for 22 from four overs helped restrict Australia. But the hosts will be equally concerned about his batting, even though he faced only four balls. Perera came out towards the end of the chase and his scorebook read 1, 6, 4, 6. He monstered Steven Smith over long-on twice to confirm the victory, and if he gets the chance to spend five overs at the crease, he could do some serious damage.

Team news

Ponting will be in Launceston on Wednesday for the funeral of his grandmother, so Michael Clarke will remain in charge after leading Australia to defeat in Sunday’s Twenty20 at the WACA. On Tuesday, Nathan Hauritz had not yet joined the squad following his Sheffield Shield performance over the past couple of days, so the Tasmanian spinner Xavier Doherty is in line to make his international debut. Michael Hussey and Mitchell Johnson are back after missing the T20, while there are plenty of bowling options, with Johnson, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc and John Hastings all in the squad. Brad Haddin will play his first ODI since March and could be back near the top of the order.Australia (possible) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Shaun Marsh, 3 Brad Haddin (wk), 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Cameron White, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Steven Smith, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 John Hastings, 10 Xavier Doherty, 11 Peter Siddle.Kumar Sangakkara confirmed that Sri Lanka will open with Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan, and that Muttiah Muralitharan would take his place in the side for his first ODI since June. On an MCG pitch that could be affected by rain, that might make it difficult for Suraj Randiv to squeeze in as a second spinner, despite being the Man of the Match in Sunday’s Twenty20 triumph.Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Upul Tharanga, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Mahela Jayawardene, 4 Kumar Sangakkara (capt, wk), 5 Chamara Kapugedera, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Chamara Silva, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Nuwan Kulasekera, 10 Muttiah Muralitharan, 11 Lasith Malinga.

Pitch and conditions

Australia’s training session on Tuesday was interrupted by rain and isolated showers are forecast for Wednesday. The drop-in pitches at the MCG can be a little on the slow side, so don’t expect the pace and bounce seen at the WACA on Sunday.

Stats and trivia

• Michael Clarke has captained Australia 16 times in ODIs and has made two centuries in those games; in his remaining 163 one-day internationals he has managed only three hundreds
• This is a Sri Lankan side with plenty of experience: Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara have each played more than 30 ODIs in Australia
• The MCG is Sri Lanka’s best venue in Australia in ODIs against the hosts (of grounds where they have played more than once), with four wins from 11 meetings
  

  Quotes

  “If we start winning games of cricket again, the whole atmosphere and attitude around the team changes. We’ll worry about the Ashes when that comes.”
  
  “A player of Ricky’s calibre not being in the side is a huge blow. He’s one of the best batsmen of the last two decades.”
  .

A round-up of the third day’s action from the sixth round of the Ranji Trophy Super League

Cricinfo staff10-Dec-2009

Group B

Scorecard
Uttar Pradesh resumed the third day needing 183 to get with eight wickets in hand and lost five of them en route to a win that took them to the quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy’s Super League. Mohammad Kaif, batting at No. 3, added 40 runs to his overnight score even as Shivakant Shukla added just one to his, dismissed in the first over of the day, but really aiding UP’s charge to victory was Parvinder Singh. Parvinder atoned for a first-innings duck with 62 from 95 balls, studded with ten boundaries, and added 93 with Kaif. The pair was dismissed in relative succession – within five overs and ten runs of each other – but handy cameos from Bhuvneshwar Kumar (29) and Piyush Chawla (21) helped UP chase their target of 236 with three wickets remaining. UP are now second in their group’s points table with 18, second to Karnataka’s 23. Bengal, after this defeat, sit at fifth place with eight points.
Scorecard
Five wickets from Pradeep Sangwan trumped a century from Ankit Bawne and ensured Delhi stayed on course for a crucial win – their second on the trot – at the Roshanara. Following in, Maharashtra resumed the third day on 32 for 1 and were 334 for 9 at stumps. It was an improved showing from the visitors, who were bowled out 163 in their first innings, but a 78-run lead at the close should not worry Delhi much. Leading the way was Bawne, with 118, and Rohit Motwani with a gritty 61. Sangwan was the hero with the ball, cutting through the top and middle order before Bawne and Motwani put on 107 for the fifth wicket. Once Motwani was removed by Parwinder Awana, Banwe added 105 with Digambar Waghmare (46) to take Maharashtra past 300. In successive deliveries, Sangwan dismissed Bawne and Jitendra Patil to give Delhi a final lift before the day ended.

Group A

Scorecard
A stunning collapse by Gujarat, at the hands of left-arm seamer Mohinder Sharma, set Himachal Pradesh up for a six-wicket win on day three in Surat. Gujarat held the edge coming in to the day, needing just to wickets to take a first-innings lead, and that they achieved with Siddharth Trivedi taking them to finish with a career-best 6 for 32. HP only added eight runs to their total, but what followed was stunning. Mohinder Sharma, sharing the new ball, dismissed the Gujarat openers inside four overs and, after Ashok Thakur nabbed No’s 3 and 4, proceeded to take a career-best haul. Gujarat were never allowed to gain momentum and folded for a paltry 87 in 42.4 overs, leaving HP to chase 140. That attempt began poorly as the debutant Tatsat Brahmbhatt took three wickets in his first three overs, but a 68-run stand between Hemant Dogra (42) and Mukesh Sharma (52*) resurrected the innings. It was HP’s first win of the tournament and put them at sixth on their pool’s points table.
Scorecard
Sanjay Bangar’s quick strikes on the third morning at the Uppal Stadium dented Hyderabad and gave Railways crucial first-innings points. Ambati Rayudu and the tail breathed life back into the innings and at the end of the day the likely result was a draw. From 99 for 2 overnight, Hyderabad slipped to 119 for 5, losing Anirudh Singh for 42, but Rayudu’s patient 73 led a fightback. Krishnakant Upadhyay, with four wickets, including that of VVS Laxman for 9, kept the pressure up but Hyderadad’s lower order rallied to get the score past the 300-run mark. Munagala Praneet Arjun (22), Alfred Absolem (29) and Mohammed Khader (34) each got stuck in to frustrate Railways. At stumps, Railways led by 20 with their openers together after nine overs at the crease.
Scorecard
An exciting day’s play in Chandigarh saw Orissa take the first-innings lead and add to that significantly against hosts Punjab. Basanth Mohanty added a couple more wickets go finish with 6 for 65 as Punjab managed to add 33 to their total, with Mayank Sidhana hitting his maiden half-century. Love Ablish tried hard to wrest back some momentum for Punjab, taking five wickets, but the opener Subhrajit Sahoo’s 62 proved crucial. Halhadar Das, the wicketkeeper, was unbeaten on 39 at stumps with Orissa leading by 302.Click here to read Nagraj Gollapudi’s bulletin of the third day’s play between Mumbai and Tamil Nadu.

It’s now a three-way battle for semi-finals qualification from Group B, with two games to go

S Rajesh26-Feb-2025

If Australia and South Africa win

Australia and South Africa will qualify with five points each. The top spot in the group will be decided by the win margins, with South Africa favourites to finish first, given their comprehensive win over Afghanistan. Assuming a one-run win for South Africa after scoring 300, Australia need to win by 87 runs (with the same first-innings total) to go past South Africa’s NRR.

If Australia and England win

Australia will top the group with five points, while South Africa will still finish second on three.

If Afghanistan and South Africa win

South Africa will top with five points, while Afghanistan, with four points, will finish second ahead of Australia.

If Afghanistan and England win

Afghanistan will finish on top with four points. The second place will then go to either Australia or South Africa, who will both finish on three points. South Africa are well ahead on NRR currently, which means they will have to suffer a big loss to England for Australia to move ahead on NRR. So, if Australia lose by just one run after Afghanistan score 300, South Africa will have lose by 87 chasing the same target for their NRR to slip below Australia’s.

If Afghanistan vs Australia is washed out

There’s a possibility of showers in Lahore on Friday. If points are shared in that game, Australia will go up to four points and will be assured of qualification.If South Africa beat England, they will top the group with five points, but if England win, then South Africa and Afghanistan will finish on three points each, which will bring NRR into the equation. Afghanistan (NRR -0.99) will almost certainly be eliminated then, as they need South Africa to lose by at least 207 runs (chasing 301) to move up to second place and qualify.

ICC’s chief executive officer says “they (IOC) have been following the progress or the developments there”

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-2023Afghanistan’s participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is in the hands of the International Olympics Council (IOC), not the ICC. This is the view expressed by ICC’s chief executive officer Geoff Allardice, who was responding to how cricket’s governing body will tackle the challenge of Afghanistan women players being forced into exile since Taliban assumed power in 2021.In October the IOC approved the LA28’s recommendation of adding T20 cricket as a new sport, convinced by its popularity across the Commonwealth countries as well as the younger generation, along with the potential it brings for growth in markets such as the USA.In its proposal, the ICC had recommended a six-team event for both the men’s and women’s competitions which was approved by the IOC. By 2025, the LA28 and ICC will work out a competition structure as well as the way in which teams can qualify for the event.The LA28 organisers have stressed on gender equality at the Olympics, which normally sees participation from both genders in individual and team sports. However, Afghanistan currently do not have a women’s cricket team, with 22 out of the 25 contracted players moving overseas since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. There remains a chance, however, that the men’s team might take part in the event in five years’ time.”(In) the Olympic competition teams are fielded by the National Olympic Committees of those countries,” Allardice told the ‘s Stumped podcast. “As an international sporting federation, we position our sport with the LA28 organisers for inclusion. And the IOC and they (LA28) have included cricket. In terms of the position of the National Olympic Committee of Afghanistan, it’s probably something for the IOC to be able to address more accurately than me. But I know that they (IOC) have been following the progress or the developments there. Our position on cricket and supporting our member in Afghanistan is not dissimilar to those of other international sporting organisations.”Related

• Human rights question hangs over success story of Afghanistan's men

• Afghanistan agree 'in principle' to support women's cricket

• Afghanistan women's cricket in danger after Taliban's reported opposition

• Women's cricket 'in peril' but fans rejoice as the game returns to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

• IOC to monitor support for women's cricket in Afghanistan ahead of LA28

In its communication with the Taliban government, the IOC has been emphasising that the country’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) will be in danger of suspension if access to sports for women continues to be restricted. The IOC has not cleared Afghanistan’s participation for the 2024 Paris Olympics.Addressing the IOC session in Mumbai in October, James Macleod, IOC head of Olympic Solidarity and National Olympic Committee Relations, said that there was a “tiny bit of progress” made which was evident in the Hangzhou Asian Games recently. Out of the 83 Afghan athletes, 17 were women. While it was the men who owned all five medals, the women athletes – all of whom reside overseas – competed in volleyball, athletics and cycling. They also had male and female flag bearers at the event.IOC president Thomas Bach had pointed out at the Mumbai session that the onus was on Afghanistan’s National Olympic Committee to show the progress it was making to ensure women cricketers were receiving encouragement and support to compete at all levels. “In this broader context, cricket will be considered in the end,” he saidAfghanistan men were part of the gold medal match in the Asian Games in the absence of the women’s team. Allardice, who traveled to Hangzhou, said that the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had committed to developing women’s cricket when it was granted ICC’s Full Membership in 2017.”They were in the process of doing that through to 2021,” Allardice said. “And in 2021 the regime in the country changed and has brought in rules, laws that prohibit women from playing sport in the country. Whilst we have spoken with the Afghanistan Cricket Board and their position is that they have to operate within the laws of the country and the rules set by the government.”An ICC working group, led by its deputy chair Imran Khwaja, has been liaising with the Taliban government in the last year with the ultimate aim of helping women play cricket safely. “The question for the ICC board is do we support our member in their ability to promote cricket within the rules set by the government of the country? And view is yes,” Allardice said.As a Full Member, the ACB receives significant funding. As per the ICC’s financial distribution model for the next cycle (2024-27), the ACB will receive approximately USD 16.8 million as its share from the commercial earnings. Allardice said that the member boards had the autonomy to utilise the funds as they saw fit.”How those members distribute those funds and the use of that money is very much up to those members. With any of our members, we have a check and balance over how that money is distributed and whether it goes to certain contracts or other contracts. We don’t stipulate how that needs to be managed.”

All three matches will take place in Townsville on August 28, August 31 and September 3

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Aug-2022The fit-again fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani has made a comeback into Zimbabwe’s ODI squad for the three-match series against Australia starting on August 28. Muzarabani missed Zimbabwe’s recent limited-overs series against Bangladesh and India at home with a thigh muscle tear, but was passed fit to depart for Townsville on Tuesday with the rest of the 15-member squad.Regis Chakabva will lead Zimbabwe for a third successive ODI series with regular captain Craig Ervine still recovering from hamstring injury. Tendai Chatara (collarbone fracture), left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza (shoulder tendon injury) and opening batter Milton Shumba (quadricep injury) were all unavailable for selection as well.Zimbabwe squad for Australia series•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The last time Zimbabwe played an ODI in Australia was during the 2015 World Cup, before which their previous assignment in the country was a tri-series involving the hosts and India way back in 2004.This upcoming series was initially scheduled for August 2020, but had to be postponed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.Related

• Zampa returns, Cummins rested for ODIs against Zimbabwe, NZ

• Labuschagne wants to 'continue to get better' at No. 5 after disappointing tour of Sri Lanka

The tour is part of the ODI Super League, which is being contested by 13 teams with the top eight qualifying for the 2023 World Cup in India. Zimbabwe sit 12th on the table, having won just three out of their 18 matches so far in the cycle. Australia occupy the eighth spot.Apart from the 15 players en route to Australia, Zimbabwe have also named Tanaka Chivanga and John Masara as non-travelling reserves.All three ODIs will take place in Townsville on August 28, August 31 and September 3.

The composition of the new board will be documented in CSA’s new Memorandum of Incorporation

Firdose Moonda10-Apr-2021Cricket South Africa has avoided ministerial interference after the Members’ Council – the highest decision-making body in the organisation, made up of 14 provincial presidents – agreed to a majority independent board with an independent chairperson. The composition of the new board will be documented in CSA’s new Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI), which the minister-appointed interim board is overseeing.Related

• Lawson Naidoo elected chairperson of Cricket South Africa

• South Africa sports minister issues another ultimatum to CSA

• CSA's Members Council rejects proposal for a majority independent board

• CSA interim board granted two-month extension by sports minister

• Thabang Moroe fired as Cricket South Africa CEO

Initially, the Members’ Council was resistant to a majority independent board, despite agreeing to one almost a decade ago following the Gerald Majola bonus scandal.Under a majority non-independent board, CSA has since spiralled through crises, which last year resulted in the firing of former CEO Thabang Moroe, the suspension of several senior staff and the resignation of the entire board. South Africa’s sports minister Nathi Mthethwa then stepped in, attempting to force CSA to iron out its governance issues under an interim board, who have been in charge since last November.The Members’ Council resisted several aspects of the interim board involvement, most notably the composition of a new board, prompting Mthethwa to issue an ultimatum that he would use the country’s National Sports and Recreation Act to intervene if needs be, which could have resulted in official recognition being withdrawn from CSA. Mthethwa gave the Members Council until 6pm on Friday to agree on an MOI that stipulates a majority independent board and independent chair, which they eventually accepted.”I take this opportunity to congratulate CSA through the CSA Acting President and Interim Board Chair for this positive act of putting cricket first,” Mthethwa said. “As has been my position since the appointment of the Interim Board, I regard this breakthrough as the end of my involvement in the current process. As the two points of difference were the main obstacles threatening the April 2021 AGM, I have no doubt that the requisite numbers needed to adopt the MOI by the AGM will be achieved. The ball is now in the hands of the two parties.”The details of the MOI will now be outlined and a report prepared for CSA’s AGM, at which point the interim board’s tenure will end. As things stand, their work is due to be complete by April 15, but that may be extended.

India amassed 387 thanks to their openers and audacious hitting from Iyer and Pant, and Shami and Kuldeep did the rest

Sidharth Monga18-Dec-2019For the second time in a must-win game during West Indies’ tour of India, the home batsmen stood up to post a well-above-par total. Often, during the last four-five years, the batsmen could have been accused of conservative batting, leaving the bowlers seemingly impressive but ultimately subpar totals to defend. Not in Mumbai in the T20I decider, not in Visakhapatnam when asked to bat to keep the ODI series alive.What they got was a glimpse of what their outrageously talented batting unit can achieve when they go all out to give their under-pressure bowling a total to defend in the dew. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul scored hundreds in a 37-over partnership, and Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer followed up by unleashing mayhem in the last 10 overs.In the end, India had a total of 387 at a ground where West Indies tied a chase of 321 last year. The way Nicholas Pooran and Shai Hope went after the middle overs, India would have been thankful for those extra 60 runs.Rohit fell for 159 in the 44th over, his eighth score of 150 or more, which was an improvement on the record he already holds, but the headline at that moment was that he had fallen short of a fourth double, which would have been an improvement on another record he already holds. By the end of it, West Indies would have hoped Rohit had got his double because his replacement Pant took the carnage to another level. Pant’s 19-ball 36 forced West Indies to go for the offspin of Roston Chase; a reputed power hitter against spin, Iyer cashed in with a 31-run over to finish on 53 off 32. The two added 73 in four overs.A chart-topper from the Rohit Sharma pull playlist•BCCI

A pleasing sign for the team management will be that it wasn’t just the youngsters batting to their murderous potential. Rahul and Rohit began the attempts to increase the scoring rate from the 21st over onwards. The start had been good in flat conditions with Rahul not letting India feel the pinch of a slightly but typically slow Rohit start. India were 98 in 20 overs, an old recipe for a seemingly effortless score of 320-330 for India. Soon they showed they were not going to be happy with that.In the next five overs, India took 47 runs, with Rohit helping himself to five fours and Rahul to four. West Indies were desperate for a quiet spell of play for which they needed a wicket in order to tie the new man in. That opportunity came when Rohit threw his bat at Chase in the 28th over, but Shimron Hetmyer dropped the catch running in from long-off. Soon Rohit hit another gear while Rahul could cruise towards his hundred at a run a ball.There was all kinds of incredible hitting happening now: straight hits, hits over cover, using the pace to dunk balls over short fine leg. It was in the 37th over that Alzarri Joseph managed to get rid of Rahul. Kieron Pollard managed to follow it up with a golden duck for Virat Kohli. And yet it failed to produce that slow spell.Rohit went on hitting at will while Iyer scored at a run a ball. The first signs of fatigue showed in the 43rd over. Rohit had scored 55 off 29 after reaching his hundred. Against the left-arm spin of Khary Pierre, though, he swung and missed a bit, and that brought about his dismissal in the next over.West Indies were hoping for a slowdown to carry some momentum into the chase, but they also had two of India’s strongest power hitters to contend with. Pant played havoc with West Indies’ bowler of the tour, Sheldon Cottrell. His two sixes over the off side – his less-favoured flank – off Joseph made Cottrell go straight but with similar results. A 24-run over from Cottrell brought Chase on, whom Iyer hit for four sixes and a four. At 217, this was the third-highest toll India had taken of the last 20 overs in an ODI innings.Kuldeep Yadav completes his action•BCCI

West Indies would have hoped to enter those last 20 overs with the game still alive. India would have known they couldn’t afford to sit back and just defend especially because the pitch quickens under lights, and the dew makes the outfield quicker. The move to bring in Shardul Thakur, a specialist bowler, for the allrounder Shivam Dube paid dividends when he got Evin lewis with a bouncer in the 11th over. Soon, Iyer’s sensational fielding, and the rare turning delivery from Ravindra Jadeja made it 86 for 3 after 16 overs.West Indies’ response was to counterattack. Pooran and Hope went after most of the bowling. Catches began to go down. Quick hits began to slip out of hands. Jadeja was hit out. Deepak Chahar didn’t have much impact. Somehow, they managed to get the better of Kuldeep Yadav too. Mohammed Shami’s first ball back was flicked disdainfully for a six. In 29 overs, West Indies had 192 for 3. They still had a long way to go, but it appeared they wouldn’t be out of it going into the last 20 overs.That’s when Shami happened. In his second over back, he bowled the perfect bouncer to Pooran, wide enough for him to have to drag his pull. That the top edge still nearly carried for a six showed the importance of the line. Kuldeep didn’t drop it this time. A full ball first ball made Pollard the second captain to register a golden duck on the day.West Indies now began to swing their bats, and Kuldeep was clever enough to register his second ODI hat-trick to kill the game off.