Asia Cup 2018: India Survive Scare, Beat Hong Kong By 26 Runs (Match Report)

In the Match 4 of Asia Cup 2018, Shikhar Dhawan hits his 14th century to help India post 285/7 while Rayudu scores 60 runs.

Asia Cup 2018: A 174-run partnership between Hong Kong openers Anshuman Rath and Nizakat Khan gave some mighty scares to the Indian camp and fans, but the Men in Blue fought back to clinch a 26-run win in their Group A match at the Dubai International Stadium. With the win, India registered their first win of the prestigious tournament.

Earlier, Hong Kong won the toss and asked India to bat first. The Indian openers, stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma (23) and Shikhar Dhawan (127), gave a good start to the Men in Blue. Chasing a target of 286 runs to win, Hong Kong made a cautious start to their innings, coupled with India's misfielding chaos.

Slowly and steadily, Rath (73) and Nizakat (92) made runs and piled pressure on the Indian bowlers, that had an inexperienced line-up, barring Bhuvneshwar Kumar and spinning duo Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, who were struggling to pick up wickets.

However, much to everyone's relief, Kuldeep drew first blood for the Men in Blue at the 34th over, accounting for Rath, who holed out at extra cover. In the next over, Nizakat was sent back to the pavilion by debutant Khaleel Ahmed, who trapped him in front to end the former's innings with a patient but well-made 92 runs.

Hong Kong's middle and lower orders then frittered away the advantage set up by the openers as Indian bowlers, led by Khaleel and Chahal, continued to get breakthroughs at regular intervals. From 174 for 0, Hong Kong lost their way and huffed and puffed past the 250-run mark, eventually finishing at 259 for 8 in 50 overs.

↓↓↓ Over -by-Over Highlights & Scorecard ↓↓↓

India Vs Hong Kong

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News Source: BS

Asia Cup 2018: India to take on minnows Hong Kong with eye on Pakistan tie (Match Preview)

India will look to finetune their playing 11 in today's Asia Cup 2018 match against Hong Kong before going into their much-anticipated clash with arch-rivals Pakistan.

Asia Cup 2018: In Match 4 of Asia Cup 2018, India, led by stand-in captain Rohit Sharma, will lock horns with Hong Kong at Dubai International Stadium in United Arab Emirates today. A formidable India will be aiming to make short work of minnows Hong Kong in their Asia Cup opener before getting battle-ready for their much-anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan. Even without regular skipper Virat Kohli, the Indian side is an intimidating one in the limited-overs format. However, Hong Kong, who were crushed by Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack in their opening tie, will look to pose a stiff challenge. India will look to finetune their playing 11 against Hong Kong before going to the much-anticipated clash with arch-rivals Pakistan.

India Cricket Team News - India Vs Hong Kong

Even as it is being seen by many as a warm-up game, Rohit Sharma and his colleagues won't want to take Hong Kong lightly. Even so, this may help India check their preparedness and make course correction, if necessary, before the all-important India vs Pakistan match the very next day.

For the past few years, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's waning batting skills have repeatedly come under scanner and this tournament will give everyone a fair idea of his ideal position. Whether he should be playing at number 5, 6 or 7 will be the big question before the Pakistan game. Possibly, Kedar Jadhav or Manish Pandey at number 5 and Hardik Pandya with his big hitting abilities at number 7 could prove ideal foil for the former India captain if he decides to come in at number 6.

Hong Kong Cricket Team news - Hong Kong Vs India

On the other hand, Hong Kong will look to play the mandatory 50 overs to put a competitive total on the board if they bat first. Hong Kong lost their opener game against Pakistan by eight wickets in a truly one-sided showdown after they managed to put only 116 runs on the board batting first.

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News Source: BS

Virat Kohli admits India were ‘outplayed’ by England in crushing Lord’s defeat

England defeated India by an innings and 159 runs on the fourth day of the second Test to take 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Sports News : After suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of England in the second Test at the Lord's, Indian skipper Virat Kohli has admitted that his side deserved to lose the match as they were completely outplayed by the home side.

Pacers James Anderson and Stuart Broad combined to take eight wickets as England crushed India by an innings and 159 runs on the fourth day of the second Test to take 2-0 lead in the five-match series here at the Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Expressing disappointment over the loss, Kohli said that he is not at all proud of the way his side performed in the match, while admitting that the England team displayed their hard work and dedication throughout the game.

"Not proud of the way we've played. First time in the last five Tests that we've been outplayed. We deserved to lose this game, the way we went about things.," Kohli said in a post-match presentation. Virat Kohli further didn't mince his words as he said the poor batting conditions could not be blamed for the defeat.

"Can't really think about conditions when you're playing the game. You can't sit and crib about these things. Sometimes the rub of the green won't go your way. Even when the ball's doing a bit, you have to pitch it in the right areas," he added.

However, Kohli allayed concerns about his injury, saying he is confident of getting fit ahead of the third Test. "I should be fine. Lower back issue, I'm confident I'll be fine in five days time with a bit of rehab," Kohli asserted. It should be noted that the match was India's first innings defeat under Kohli's captaincy.

↓↓↓ Match highlights & Scorecard ↓↓↓

India vs England Match Scorecard

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News Source : BS

India vs England 2nd Test Result: England beat India by an innings and 159 runs (Scorecard)

England bowled out India for 130 runs in 2nd innings to win second Test by an innings and 159 runs on Day 4 at Lord's cricket ground in London. England take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

 

Sports News : India suffered an embarrassing 159-run innings defeat in the second Test against England after yet another batting failure on day four at Lord's in London, leaving the struggling visitors 0-2 behind in the five-match series. Indian batsmen failed to learn from their mistakes and were all at sea against the moving ball as the second innings folded up for 130 in 47 overs.

James Anderson (4-23) once again toyed with the opposition, taking his match tally to nine, and equally effective was Stuart Broad (4-44). England, who resumed at overnight 356 for six, declared their first innings at 396 for seven earlier on Sunday with Chris Woakes staying unbeaten on 137. The Indian batsmen let the team down also in the first Test but the away side at least put up a fight. Here at the 'Home of Cricket', the Virat Kohli-led unit showed no semblance of a fight, bringing back the haunted memories of the previous series in 2014 and 2011.

With the rain threat looming large over the remainder of the game, India needed to bat for survival. But it wasn't to be as the batsmen once again cut a sorry picture after mustering 107 in the first innings that lasted just 35.2 overs. The crushing loss has given the Indian team management plenty to think about ahead of the third Test beginning August 18 at Nottingham.

The weather was also kind on the impressive hosts, who batted in the sunshine on day three while overcast conditions made the job tougher for the Indian batsmen. "Not very proud of the way we played. For the first time in the last five Tests, we were outplayed," said captain Virat Kohli at the post-match presentation.

↓↓↓ Match highlights & Scorecard ↓↓↓

India vs England Match Scorecard

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News Source : BS

India vs Ireland 2018 T20I: Virat Kohli will look to start English summer with a bang

The Indian cricket team have a full-strength squad to pick from with captain Virat Kohli back in the team after nursing a neck injury.

Sports News : India will begin their preparation for England tour by playing two T20Is against Ireland. The first of the two T20Is matches will be played at Malahide Cricket Club Ground or The Village in Dublin on Wednesday, June 27, 2018. The Indian cricket team have a full-strength squad to pick from, with captain Virat Kohli back in the team after nursing a neck injury. The men in blue will use the two T20Is against Ireland to get acclimatised to the English conditions as they have struggled to counter the swing and overcast conditions in England in the past and there is no better way to prepare than get a few games under the belt, and there is no place more suitable than Ireland.

However, the Ireland Cricket team are no pushovers and have T20 specialists like Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien in the team. Still, India will be expected to come through unscathed before they begin their England tour starting July 3. The two teams have played just one T20I in the past, during 2009 T20 World Cup which India won by 15 runs.

How Virat Kohli and Co will look at two T20Is against Ireland

For India, the two T20Is against Ireland will mark the onset of a long English summer for Virat Kohli & co, and perhaps it was a marker of this crucial impending assignment that India decided to stay on and practice in London on Monday, reports PTI. Since the tour of South Africa, this is the first time a full-strength Indian team will be seen in action. Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and MS Dhoni were rested for the T20 tri-series in Sri Lanka in March. The quadruple also missed the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Bengaluru recently. After a brilliant performance in IPL 2018, KL Rahul got another chance in limited over cricket and Ajinkya Rahane's omission from the ODI squad means that he is once again a contender for the number four spot when the three-match series against England begins on July 12.

Virat Kohli's concern: The middle order

With Rahul in contention for a starting spot in the middle order, Manish Pandey, Suresh Raina and Dinesh Karthik will be left jostling for two spots. As part of the full-strength Indian side, the three had featured in the T20 series against South Africa. Raina had been used as a pinch-hitting, aggressive number three option, but the current situation might warrant a re-think.

India playing 11 Probables: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah

Ireland playing 11 Probables: Gary Wilson (c & wk), Kevin O'Brien, William Porterfield, Paul Stirling, Simi Singh, George Dockrell, Boyd Rankin, James Shannon, Stuart Thompson, Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase

Read More → Ireland vs India

Nidahas Trophy Final: Karthik’s last ball sixer helps India beat Bangladesh

A partisan Sri Lankan crowd, who were upset by Bangladesh’s behaviour did the now famous ‘Nagin Dance’ (Sbnake Dance’) along with Indian supporters leaving the Tigers distraught.

Sports News : Dinesh Karthik did a Javed Miandad with a last-ball six as India pulled off an incredible chase beating Bangladesh by four wickets in the Nidahas T20 Tri-series final, in Colombo on Sunday night.

Needing five off the final delivery, Karthik smashed Soumya Sarkar over extra-cover as a second-string Indian side held its nerve in a tense situation to chase down a target of 167 in 20 overs. It would count as one of India’s famous last ball sixes — something that Pakistani legend did against India 32 years back in Sharjah.

“I have been practising these shots – having a strong base and then hitting from there,” Karthik said after the match.

“Happy to be where I’m and thanks to the support staff who have kept on supporting me for the last few months,” he added.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) acting president CK Khanna congratulated the Indian team for an “amazing” four-wicket victory in the final of the Nidahas Trophy.

Khanna told the media, “What an amazing win. Shows the strength of our good domestic cricket. I congratulate everyone for this victory as it shows the hard work done by every individual involved in BCCI.”

The BCCI acting president also applauded Dinesh Karthik’s cameo that helped India register a four-wicket win against Bangladesh.

“Dinesh Karthik played very well under pressure,” he said.

Karthik’s gem of a cameo got him 29 off 8 balls with two boundaries and three sixes — the last of them which will be forever be etched in the memory.

Skipper Rohit Sharma’s (56 off 42 balls) dismissal set India’s inexperienced middle-order in panic mode and Vijay Shankar’s four dot balls off the 18th over by Mustafizur Rahaman made it very difficult for India.

Karthik came at the start of the19th over and hit Rubel Hossain for 22 including two sixes and two fours to bring down the equation to 12 off the final over before finishing it off in style.

Brief Scorecard → 2018 Nidahas Trophy