India take 1-0 lead with seven-wicket win against Sri Lanka
Shikhar Dhawan batted through the chase, assisted by Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan, as India mowed down the target of 263 runs in 36.4 overs to win by seven wickets. Dhawan remained unbeaten on 86, and Suryakumar Yadav struck 31* off 20 deliveries.
However, it was Shaw (43) who set the tone early with a flurry of strokes. Kishan (59) then maintained the tempo, and notched a half-century on his debut ODI.
Earlier, Sri Lanka got off to a sedate start, but lost the track. Most of their batters got starts, but none managed to convert it into a big total.
Chamika Karunaratne’s 45 not out was the highest score of the innings. Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal picked up two wickets apiece.
Buttler, spinners shine as England level the series
Saqib Mahmood (3-33), Adil Rashid (2-30), and Moeen Ali (2-32) put up a brilliant show with to restrict Pakistan to 155/9 after England were bowled out for 200 at Headingley. The series is now level 1-1.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan started on an explosive note, adding 50 for the opening wickets. But Babar’s dismissal opened the floodgates. None of the remaining batters played an innings of substance, as Pakistan lost their sixth wicket on 105. Shadab Khan remained unbeaten on 36, but the bulk of his runs came only after Pakistan lost the grip on this contest.
Earlier, Jos Buttler marked his comeback with a 39-ball 59, setting the stage for England. Moeen Ali waltzed to 36 off just 16 deliveries, while Liam Livingstone got 38 in 23 balls.
Shakib shines as Bangladesh take 2-0 lead
Shakib Al Hasan’s two wickets and unbeaten 96 helped Bangladesh prevail in a close match against Zimbabwe. Shakib drove his team past the target with five balls to spare.
Requiring 241, Bangladesh were 75/4 at one stage. But Shakib held the innings from one end. He found support from Mahmudullah and Mohammad Saifuddin.
Wesley Madhevere (56) struck a fifty earlier in the day. Brendan Taylor made 46 before ending up hitting his own stumps in a comical fashion. Dion Myers (34), Regis Chakabva (26), and Sikandar Raza (30) made vital contributions to take Zimbabwe to 240/9 in 50 overs.
No pubbing for Hundred participants?
The ECB has discouraged cricketers and staff featuring in the Hundred, scheduled to start on 21 July, from visiting local shops, pubs, and restaurants during the competition. The request presumably came in the aftermath of several Kent and Derbyshire cricketers as well as seven members of the national side testing positive.
The UK is expected to lift all Covid-19 restrictions from 19 July, but some provisions will remain until 16 August.