Let us look at some of the most-discussed cricket stories on the news on 12 September.
South Africa win second T20I, win series
The South African spinners took nine wickets in the second T20I against Sri Lanka before Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 48-ball 58 ensured a comfortable nine-wicket win in Premadasa. South Africa won the three-match series with the win, having beaten Sri Lanka by 28 runs in the series opener.
Kusal Perera top-scored with a 25-ball 30 on his return in Sri Lanka’s total after they opted to bat, but he received little support from his teammates. As a result, they were bowled out for 103in 18.1 overs.
Coming to the chase, de Kock and Reeza Hendricks ensured a solid start. They added 62 in 50 balls to lay the foundation, and Markram and de Kock then take South Africa past the finishing line with no hurry. Still, they reached there with 35 balls in hand.
Ten Doeschate to retire at 2021 end
Ryan ten Doeschate will retire from all forms of cricket at the end of 2021. The news was confirmed by Essex, for whom he has played for 19 years. ‘Tendo’ has been picked in the Netherlands squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Oman and the UAE, starting next month.
Ten Doeschate made his international debut in 2006, three years after beginning a career with Essex. In these 19 seasons, he has made 554 Essex appearances across formats, aggregating 17,046 runs and claiming 348 wickets.
Ten Doeschate was adjudged the ICC Associate Player of the Year thrice – in 2008, 2010, and 2011.
Theekshana named in Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup squad
Sri Lanka added Maheesh Theekshana to their 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. There are two surprise picks, in Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Kamindu Mendis, while Akila Dananjaya, Lahiru Kumara, Pulina Tharanga and Binura Fernando have been selected as reserves.
Sri Lanka will start their campaign against Namibia in Group A of the first round on 18 October, taking place in Abu Dhabi.
Sri Lanka squad:Dasun Shanaka (c), Dhananjaya De Silva (vc), Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Kusal Janith Perera, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Praveen Jayawickrema, Lahiru Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana.
Reserves: Lahiru Kumara, Binura Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Pulina Tharanga.
The whole country is open: Shastri on book launch criticism
Ravi Shastri, India Men’s head coach, has slammed his critics after his decision to attend a launch event of his book Star Gazing: The Players in My Life in London on 1 September was questioned. Multiple members of the Indian team’s support staff tested positive for Covid-19.
‘The whole country (The United Kingdom) is open. Anything could have happened from Test One,’ said Shastri in an interview to mid-day.
During the fourth Test match between England and India, Shastri was the first to test positive for the Coronavirus, followed by bowling coach Bharat Arun, fielding coach R. Sridhar, and assistant physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar. It forced the fifth and final Test of the series to cancel.