Weekly CRICKET Review - LXXV | Kiwi men did it

Hello, fellow Cricket Enthusiasts,

You already know I am sharing a weekly wrap-up of what is happening within the Cricket community. It's the 75th edition now. The last week it was Kiwi Women did it, and today the gender has changed. So, let's see what's happening!!

Using Canva & Getty Images

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New Zealand tour of India, 2024

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• Well, this was a very interesting and historic series. First Kiwis registered their first win in a Test match in India since 1988! Then they won a Test series in India for the first team. After the final match, they became the first team to whitewash India in a home Test (with 3 or more matches).

• The series was something to forget for the Indians. They had to taste the spin magic of NZ in their backyard. Anyway, earlier I discussed the first two Tests. The third one was a thrilling contest, more between the Kiwis and Pant.

• NZ started the batting, and they lost Conway early. Eventhough there was nothing much to offer for the pacers, spinners Jadeja and Sundar showed their magic. Amidst the threats, Mitchel and Young did well, scoring half-centuries. Anyway after 65 overs, NZ was all out for just 235 runs.

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• The chase was not easy for the hosts as well. Rohit went early. Jaiswal and Gill batted patiently and put up a 50-run partnership, but just before the end of the day, Ajaz Patel trapped Jaiswal. And Siraj who came as the night watchman, got out for a golden duck, wasting a review as well. Misery continues for Kohli once again. Gill and Pant put up a 96-run partnership for the fifth wicket. With a good effort from Sundar at the end, India ended up scoring 263 runs with a 28-run lead as well.

• The second inning of NZ was even worse. They start losing wickets from the first over, and with small partnerships, it's only 174 runs at the end. Jadeja took his second fifer in the match.

• So, India needed only 147 runs for the win. They just needed one solid partnership. But just after 07 overs they lost 05 wickets for 29 runs. Only Pant was successful in the chase, looking for a partner from the other side. Before his wicket, India needed only 41 runs with 04 wickets remaining. But when he fell out for 61 runs, Kiwiz bounced back to win the match by 25 runs. Ajaz Patel was the man of the match, and Will Young was awarded as the player of the series.

England tour of West Indies, 2024

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• It is a big white ball series with 3-ODI matches and 5 T20I. The ODI series has already concluded with a famous win for the Windies.

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• England batted first, in the first ODI and their top order couldn't capitalize even after a good start. The score was only 209 runs, with top performance from the WI pacers and Motie. When Brandon King faced difficulty in middling, Evin Lewis batted like crazy. In his knock of 94 runs off 69 balls, he smashed 8 sixes and 5 fours. With the interruption from rain, the target was reduced to 157 runs in 35 overs, WI achieved the feat inside 26 overs with 8 wickets remaining.

• The second match was the highlight of all. England chased down 329-run target, the second-highest ever in the Caribbean. WI started the proceedings but lost the openers very early. Shai Hope(117 runs) and Keacy Carty(71 runs) built the innings patiently. Then with firecrackers from Sherfane Rutherford, Hetmyer, and Forde, they scored 328/6.

England after losing the first wicket early, Salt scored a half-century. Then it was all around the big man Livingstone. He started slowly but scored a match-winning quick hundred (124* runs off 85 balls with 9 sixes). Jacob Bethell carried the inning first with a half-century, but after his wickets, Livingstone added a 140-run partnership with Sam Curren for the fifth wicket. England won the match by 5 wickets with 15 balls remaining.

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• After winning the toss in the decider, WI started balling. The decision paid off well, as visitors were 24/4 at the end of the powerplay. But Salt and the Tail played well to secure 263/8 at the end of 50 overs. Even though it was a competitive target WI was on a different mission. After losing the first wicket, King and Carty 209 runs for the second wicket, with centuries, securing a famous series win for the Windies.

Afghanistan v Bangladesh in UAE, 2024

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• Once again a lousy performance from the Tigers in the first match of 3 ODI series against Afghanistan. In Sharjah, Afghanistan started the batting. Bangla ballers, especially the pacers did well to restrict the free flow of runs and take regular wickets. Thanks to the fifties from Shahidi and Nabhi they just managed to put 235/10.

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• Anyway, Bangladesh started to build the chase well. After 25 overs they were 120/2 in a comfortable position. But when the partnership between Shanto and Mehidy was broken, the rest was history. Their last 08 wickets fell for just 23 runs, in the next 10 overs. They were all out for just 143 runs. The batters had no idea, especially against the new spinner, Allah Ghazanfar who claimed his first fifer.

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2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship points table

So, that's it for today!! Until the next time! Enjoy!

Thank you.
Best Regards!