du Plessis, bowlers stifle KKR to seal CSK's fourth IPL title



Sports Desk
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Chennai Super Kings made good on their promise to erase last season's aberration, as one comeback story trumped another in the IPL 2021 final.

MS Dhoni and his team put an end to Kolkata Knight Riders' rollicking second half of the season as they picked up their fourth IPL title.

No team, barring Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, has won the title after finishing outside the top two since the playoffs system was introduced in the IPL, and Knight Riders didn't come close to turning that around.

Having elected to bowl, they endured one of their worst evenings in the field since the tournament moved to the UAE, with Super Kings' top order not letting their spinners settle down, while taking plenty off their fast bowlers.

Faf du Plessis led the charge, making 86 as he anchored half-century stands for each of the three wickets that fell during the course of Super Kings' 192. Robin Uthappa and Moeen Ali played their parts with the bat before Shardul Thakur ended Venkatesh Iyer's innings - and a dangerous opening stand - to cut Knight Riders' middle order open and consign them to their first defeat in an IPL final.

The previous two times - that is, 2018 and 2019 - when Super Kings reached the IPL playoffs, du Plessis managed to get a half-century in one of those big games.

He did it again in IPL 2021, this time with a free-flowing 86 in the biggest game of the lot.

His innings tonight ended off the last ball of the innings, and meant the tournament finished with the top two run-getters being from Super Kings, his opening partner Ruturaj Gaikwad being the other. Tonight, the pair put Super Kings into top gear as soon as the final began.

Gaikwad's method usually leans towards safety-first early in the innings, but he flipped the script when Knight Riders brought on a favourable match-up: Shakib Al Hasan bowled two overs in the powerplay and Gaikwad, who has never got out to a left-arm spinner in the IPL and has scored at over ten an over against these bowlers, decided he wouldn't miss out. He got two boundaries and a six against him in those overs, even as it became apparent this pitch had nothing close to the traits of Sharjah's.

But Knight Riders managed to keep him in check towards the end of the powerplay, and his 32 off 27 when he fell to Sunil Narine in the ninth over, would look unflattering by the end.

Then, du Plessis and Robin Uthappa - who got 63 in Super Kings' last game - took the attack on through the middle overs. Once again, it was through Shakib that the shackles broke, his third over fetching a six each for du Plessis and Uthappa.

That 63-run partnership off 5.2 overs involved a six in every over but one, not counting the over in which the pair was united. du Plessis also tucked into Lockie Ferguson's back-of-a-length deliveries for picturesque boundaries, the highlight a back-foot punch over extra cover.

A tiring du Plessis managed only 34 off his last 24 balls, but the sixes never would stop for Super Kings. Moeen Ali, back at No. 4 after a short-lived Shardul Thakur experiment in their last match, hit three of them.

By the end of the innings, it was ten sixes, three consecutive half-century stands and a score of 192 after being put in to bat in a final. The only thing Super Kings would have worried about at that stage was how good the pitch still was, and the prospect of dew.

Knight Riders' path to the final after qualifying had one thing in common - they bowled first, strangled two teams, and chased when batting got easier. The first part of that went alright in the final, Morgan won the toss and elected to bowl.

But the parallel ended there. Shakib was able to be economical bowling early in the innings in Sharjah but was taken down by Gaikwad in the powerplay. Dinesh Karthik missed a stumping of du Plessis early on and their go-to fast bowler, Ferguson, went for 56, his most expensive IPL spell. Morgan himself misfielded twice in what became Knight Riders' worst bowling innings of the UAE leg.

Venkatesh Iyer was reprieved off the second ball of his innings, MS Dhoni putting down a routine catch going reverse-cup to his left after Josh Hazlewood had induced an edge. Iyer went on to make his fourth fifty of the season, managing especially to pick the gaps in an off-side ring that at one point had six fielders.

The other fifty, Shubman Gill's, might not have happened if Ambati Rayudu's catch running in from deep midwicket had stood.

It didn't stand because the miscued slog touched the spidercam wire on its way down, rendering the ball dead immediately. Dhoni, at that point, was shaking his head in frustration. Knight Riders' opening stand put up 91 in 10.4 overs.

   

Naogaon’s Dolly joined ICC umpiring



District Correspondent, Barta24.com, Noagaon
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Dolly Rani Sarkar, a girl from Naogaon, has been included as the first female umpire of Bangladesh in the World Cricket Controlling Organization (ICC) ICC umpiring.

Behind reaching this stage of success is an unknown story of a struggling life. Dolly Rani was born in a poor family in Barendra Bhoomi town of Naogaon. She used to play neighborhood cricket with boys since childhood. That's where she started playing cricket. After that she got admission in BKSP. She also got a call to the national team's 20-man camp, but had to stop there and got a job in BKSP, so her cricket career did not progress further. That Dolly Rani Sarkar is now holding the umpiring helm and showing Bangladesh a dream.

Dolly Rani told Barta24.com at Naogaon Stadium, I used to play sports since childhood. I used to play handball, volleyball and athletics in all the sports events in the school and I used to play with all the older brothers of the neighborhood. The beginning is by the hands of the older brothers of my neighborhood. The beginning was very difficult for me unless the Naogaon District Sports Association and the neighborhood elder brothers, younger brothers and neighboring uncles took me to play in the cricket tournaments held in the neighborhood and from there I developed. If they didn't help, I wouldn't have come this far. I also got a call to the national team's 20-man camp, but had to stop there. Later, the job was done in BKSP, the cricket career did not progress further.

She also said, "I am so happy to join the ICC umpiring as the first woman umpire of Bangladesh that I don't know the language to express." I am very happy and glad because it was not expected that I will join ICC umpiring so soon. The cricket board has been working with us for two years. In the last two years, the cricket board has tried to make us suitable by giving matches at different places. We did that. I have been included in ICC umpiring today.

Dolly Rani said, I was a student of BKSP. I have been in umpiring practice since 2009. We started the journey with the girls' first division cricket tournament. Besides, I was the umpire for the boys' matches in BKSP, especially when Soumya, Vijaya were there. Besides, many teams from outside the country used to come to play in BKSP like I used to umpire Sri Lanka - Pakistan matches.

She also said, I was born in Naogaon, grew up in Naogaon, and started playing in Naogaon. Everything is Naogaon-centric. My primary school life was Chak Enayet Govt Primary School, Secondary Naogaon Pyarimohan (PM) Girls High School and for sports I passed SSC from Naogaon Govt Girls High School, HSC from Naogaon Govt College, Completed Graduation from BKSP, Completed Masters from Devendra College,  Manikganj, completed Bped from National University and completed Mp ED from Uttara University. 

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Dhananjaya-Mendis hit century, target of Bangladesh is 511



Sports Desk, Barta24.com
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Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis have become a nightmare for Bangladesh in the ongoing Test series. After a pair of 202 runs in the first innings, a pair of 173 runs in the second innings. Two batsmen scored centuries in both innings. The second innings of the Lankans stopped at 418 runs. And in front of Bangladesh, the target is 511 runs in the Sylhet Test.

The record of winning matches at the top of the target is not far from Bangladesh. West Indies won the highest target of 418 runs in the long history of Test cricket. That victory against Australia in the Antigua Test in 2003 is the record for the highest run chase to date.

Earlier, however, Sri Lanka, who got a lead of 92 runs in the first innings, signaled a quick stop in the second innings. They finished the second day with five wickets for 119 runs. So it was assumed that if the Lankans were crushed on the third day, Bangladesh would be able to keep the target within reach. At the beginning of the third day, that impression was also similar.

But after that everything seems to be random. Mendis came down to accompany Dhananjaya. Then these two took the lead. They reminded me of the first innings. They repeated their first innings once more. The match somehow went wrong from the hands of Bangladesh. After that the situation became such that Bangladesh can at least breathe a sigh of relief if this pair is broken.

Finally the pair broke on 173 runs. Mehedi Miraj sent Dhananjaya back for 108 runs. However, after that, Mendis formed a pair again with Prabath Jayasuriya. They accumulated another 67 runs. It was thought that the Lankans might declare an innings if this pair breaks. However, in another round, Mendis formed a pair with the last batsman of Lankans, Kasun Rajitha. Another 52 runs came from the last wicket pair. At one time it seemed that Mendis could not be stopped until the end. However Srilankans innings ended at 418 runs in the second knock. So Bangladesh will have to score a mammoth 511 in two remaining days. 

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Bangladesh won series comfortably against Sri Lanka



Sports Desk, Barta24.com
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Rishad Hossain, the name must be remembered. He had a storm with the bat in the last match of the T20 series as well, but the result did not go in his favor. In the last match of the ODI series, Rishad appeared with the bat again after getting a chance in the team. Bangladesh won the series by 2-1 by losing 4 wickets of the Lankans in the last ODI of the series with his bat.

In the series deciding match at the Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, Sri Lanka had a toss of luck. The Lankans, who won the toss and batted first, were uncomfortable from the start. Within 15 runs, Taskin Ahmed guided both the visitors' openers to the sack.

Charit Asalanka and Kushal Mendis tried to handle the initial shock. However, Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad Hossain ended their innings before it became scary. Asalanka with 37 runs and Mendis with catches behind the wicket for 29 runs increased the danger of the team.

Zenith Lienage tried to pull the Lankans out of that danger. He also played an unbeaten innings of 101 runs in 102 balls. However, despite the subsequent batsmen failing to give him minimal support, Lienage played a role in bringing the team to his maiden century of ODI career.

Taskin took the maximum 3 wickets for Bangladesh. Two wickets each went to Mustafiz and Mehdi Hasan Miraj.

Bangladesh lost Soumya Sarkar due to injury while fielding. Tanjid Hasan Tamim played a great innings as his concussion replacement. However, Lahiru Kumara swept over the other batters around him. Opener Enamul Haque Vijay, captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hriday and Mahmudullah became the victims of this Lankan pacer.

Mahmudullah scored 0 and 1 respectively in the next two matches despite playing an effective match-turning innings of 37 runs in the first ODI.

Tanjid picked up a 51-ball fifty on a day of failure by experienced batsmen. He was stopped by Wanindu Hasaranga after playing an innings of 84 runs with 9 fours and four massive sixes. Asalanka was caught on the boundary while trying to hit a big shot and burned in the regret of missing the century. Losing him, the danger of the team has increased!

However, in the sixth wicket, two experienced batsmen Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehdi Hasan Miraj scored 48 runs for Bangladesh to dream of winning again. 25 runs came off Hasaranga's bat before he was caught on the boundary.

Rishad Hossain came to the scene after the return of Miraj. Cricket fans saw his rampage with the bat in the T20 series against Sri Lanka. Today, after getting the opportunity, his bat was on fire again. He won the match and series by playing an unbeaten innings of 48 runs from 18 balls.

After pushing back the nightmare of defeat in two consecutive ODI series at home, Bangladesh has won the ODI series again. The pain of the T20 series loss will also be mitigated to some extent by this win. After two series of white ball, now two teams will fight in white clothes. The first Test of the two-match series will begin in Sylhet on March 22.

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Sri Lanka leveled series



Sports Desk, Barta24.com,Dhaka
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The expectation of Bangladesh to win the series at home was delayed. At least two more days! Having lost the last two ODI series in their home ground, Bangladesh had a bird's eye view of the Sri Lanka series. But Sri Lanka is out of the question. After losing the first match, they gritted their teeth and returned to level the series. Bangladesh lost to the Lankans by 3 wickets in the second ODI of the three-match series.

Bangladesh lost the toss and had to bat first at Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. Bangladesh's innings started with a scare when Liton Das made his way to the dressing room before opening the run book for the second consecutive match. However, with Soumya Sarkar's responsible innings of 68 runs, the first match centurion captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto's 40-run innings overcame the initial shock and the hosts got the basis for a big collection.

Tawheed is the goal that is fulfilled in the bat of the heart. His unbeaten innings of 96 helped Bangladesh to 286 in 50 overs. Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga got 4 wickets.

Sri Lanka started losing wickets at regular intervals as they started to reply. They were able to accumulate 60 runs on the scoreboard at the cost of three wickets in the power play of Taskin-Shariful's bowling spell.

However, opener Pathum Nisanka and Charit Asalanka, who was dropped at five, formed a big partnershi for the fourth wicket with the benefit of dew in Chattogram later in the evening. With the passage of time, this pair started playing with the bat. Bangladesh bowlers were feeling helpless in front of them. The fielders failed to collect the two half-chances that were being created. Nisanka picked up a 100-ball century just in time for the dew and the fielders not to be affected.

After the century, Nisanka was caught by Liton off Mehedi’s ball in the boundary area while going further uphill. He had to stop at 114 runs. That ended his 185-run stand with Asalanka for the fourth wicket. This is now Sri Lanka's highest fourth wicket partnership in ODIs.

Asalanka (91) could not stay at the crease for long after breaking the pair. The middle-order batsman returned as Taskin Ahmed's 100th victim in ODIs with a shaky 90 at home.

Sri Lanka could have been in danger losing two sets of batters within seven runs. But Hasaranga did not let that happen. Even though he couldn't stay at the crease in the end, his 25-run cameo ensured victory for the Lankans.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will face each other in the third and last ODI of the series on March 18 at the same ground. Like the T20 series, the ODI series will also be decided in the last match of the series. Like the T20 series, the end of the ODI series is also colorful for the Lankans. 

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