Australia keep cool to beat SA by 5 wkts

October 23, 2021 19:19

England captain Eoin Morgan has won the toss and elected to bowl vs West Indies in their T20 World Cup Super 12 match in Dubai on Saturday.

A destructive batting order and a balanced bowling attack means top-ranked England will start the T20 World Cup confident of adding the trophy to the 50-over title they claimed in 2019.

They may have been deprived of all-rounders Ben Stokes and Sam Curran as well as pace bowler Jofra Archer, but skipper Eoin Morgan still boasts a fearful array of weapons.

Packed with experience in the heat of battle, England will also be spurred on by the bitter taste of defeat in the final of the last edition of the tournament in 2016.

The West Indies will need the likes of Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran to fire to make a good start and win at least three group matches to qualify for the semi-finals.

One of the major concerns for West Indies is the form of Chris Gayle, who scored just 165 runs in 9 innings in the Carribean Premier League and featured in just two games for Punjab Kings in the UAE leg of the IPL.

Experienced all-rounder Andre Russell too has had frequent fitness issues, the latest being a hamstring injury. He played only three games for Kolkata Knight Riders in UAE.

With Oshane Thomas in the ranks, pace still looks better than their spin department which features the likes of Fabian Allen, Chase and Akeal Hosein.

Earlier, Marcus Stoinis and Mathew Wade kept their cool to guide Australia to a 5 wkt win.

South Africa had looked to fightback with two quick wickets of Glen Maxwell and Steve Smith, but the bowlers leaked runs in the end overs to give Aussies the edge.

For Australia Smith top scored with 35, while for SA Nortje picked up 2-21 won the game with 2 balls to spare.

Playing XIs:

West Indies: Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran(w), Kieron Pollard(c), Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Akeal Hosein, Obed McCoy, Ravi Rampaul

England: Jos Buttler(w), Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan(c), Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Tymal Mills

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

We don't send dossiers on terror; we kill by entering their homes: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said Indian government's approach to tackling terror has seen a sea change compared to what was followed during the Congress regime.

Shami's Road To Recovery

The fast bowler shared photos on social media using crutches, showcasing his progress after undergoing surgery for an ankle injury in February.

DC Vs KKR: Who Took Best Catch? VOTE!

While a few catches were put down by both teams, there were some that stuck.

India eyes superpower status as we beg to avoid bankruptcy: Pak Oppn leader

He attributed the nation's predicament to unseen forces orchestrating decisions from behind the scenes, reducing elected officials to mere puppets.

Kashmir On Edge: Jhelum Crosses Danger Mark

Kashmir's divisional commissioner announced the closure of all schools across the Valley as a precautionary measure amid the heavy downpour.