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Pakistan underlined their credentials as serious contenders for the upcoming T20 World Cup with a commanding six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the opening match of the three-game series in Dambulla Wednesday.Touted as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup, which Sri Lanka will co-host with India, the series holds added significance for Pakistan, who will play all their tournament matches on the island owing to political tensions with their nuclear-armed neighbours.Pakistan ticked most boxes on the night, first bottling Sri Lanka up for a modest 128 and then knocking off the target with 20 deliveries to spare, barely breaking sweat.The game tilted decisively in Pakistan's favour early, with Shadab Khan ripping the heart out of the Sri Lankan innings by striking twice in his very first over.The leg-spinner, returning after shoulder surgery and playing his first match for Pakistan since June last year, marked his comeback with a telling spell."When you are coming back from injury it is tough. You have to start from zero but the surface was helping me. We have our eyes on the World Cup. With all our games being played here in Sri Lanka, this is a very good series for us," player-of-the-match Shadab said.Abrar Ahmed complemented Shadab neatly, finishing with 3-25, while left-arm quick Salman Mirza bowled with fire, mopping up the tail with figures of 3-18 as Sri Lanka were bowled out with four balls unused.During the run chase, openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan flew out of the blocks, racing to 50 in just 25 balls.Nuwan Thushara bore the brunt of the assault, conceding 31 runs in his first two overs as Pakistan seized early control.Farhan anchored the chase with a fluent 51 off 36 balls, peppered with four fours and two sixes - his eighth T20I half-century - as Pakistan cruised home without alarm.For Sri Lanka, the defeat compounds a turbulent lead-up to the series that saw captain Charith Asalanka axed, chairman of selectors Upul Tharanga shown the door and the coaching staff reshuffled.With little time to catch their breath, the hosts face a swift rethink ahead of the second match on Friday at the same venue."We didn't get a good start and lost too many wickets. That is an issue we need to address. We recovered well and should have got over 150, but we lost quick wickets," Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said. BRIEF SCORES: Pakistan 129 for 4 (Farhan 51, Ayub 24, de Silva 1-4) beat Sri Lanka 128 (Liyanage 40, Mirza 3-18, Abrar 3-25) by six wickets. 

Arshdeep Singh led an inspired bowling attack to help India beat South Africa by seven wickets in the third T20 international Sunday as the hosts took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.Left-arm quick Arshdeep returned figures of 2-13 as India bowled out South Africa for 117 after the hosts elected to field first in the Himalayan hill town of Dharamsala.Fast bowler Harshit Rana, spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav also took two wickets each.In reply, Indian opener Abhishek Sharma hit 35 off 18 balls as India achieved the target with 25 balls to spare to bounce back from their previous defeat in the series.“Sport teaches you a lot of things, how you come back is more important,” said India skipper Suryakumar Yadav.“There was a lot of learning after last game in the meeting and then did what we did in Cuttack (opening match) today.”It was the home side’s bowlers who set up victory after Arshdeep and fellow quick Rana struck in the first two overs to send back Reeza Hendricks, for a duck, and previous-match hero Quinton de Kock, for one.Skipper Aiden Markram made a valiant 61 off 46 balls to stem the tide but the visitors continued to lose regular wickets.Rana bowled Dewald Brevis for two, before pace bowler Hardik Pandya dismissed Tristan Stubbs for nine for his 100th T20 wicket.Chakravarthy rattled the middle order with his mystery spin as he cut short Donovan Ferreira’s knock on 20 and then had Marco Jansen bowled for two in his next over.Arshdeep, who was named player of the match, had Markram out and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep took two in the 20th over to wrap up the innings on the final ball.“They got the ball in the right areas and before you know it we were four-five down,” said Markram.“They didn’t give us much to score off. I tried to take it deep. Whole time I thought if I got us to 140-150 it could have been a closer game.”India started the chase briskly thanks to Sharma’s attacking knock laced with three fours and three sixes, as well his 60-run stand with fellow opener Shubman Gill (28).Sharma fell to Corbin Bosch and Jansen took down Gill.Suryakumar’s struggles with the bat continued as he fell for 12 off Lungi Ngidi, before Tilak Varma (26) and Shivam Dube (10) steered the team home.T20 specialist Suryakumar has managed just 239 runs across his last 21 innings in this format with no fifties.The fourth match is on Wednesday in the north Indian city of Lucknow. BRIEF SCORES: India 120 for 3 (Abhishek 35, Gill 28, Bosch 1-18) beat Sourh Africa 117 (Markram 61, Varun 2-11, Kuldeep 2-12, Arshdeep 2-13) by seven wickets. 

Hardik Pandya struck an unbeaten 59 and took a key wicket as India thrashed South Africa by 101 runs in the first T20 international Tuesday. Pandya’s 28-ball blitz, laced with six fours and four sixes, powered reigning world champions India to 175-6 after they were put in to bat first in Cuttack. The Indian bowlers then combined to skittle South Africa for their lowest T20 total of 74 in 12.3 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series as part of their build-up for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February-March. India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill returned from injury for the match but had a disappointing outing. He started with a boundary off Lungi Ngidi but got out next ball when he spooned a catch to mid-off. Wickets kept tumbling as T20 skipper Suryakumar Yadav fell for 12 and swashbuckling opener Abhishek Sharma soon followed him for 17 as India slipped to 78-4. But all-rounder Pandya made an instant impact at the crease on his international return after suffering a quadriceps injury in September. “I was very satisfied with the way I was batting,” Pandya said after being named player of the match. Pandya looked back at his recovery in the last 50 days at the National Cricket Academy, saying: “It’s very satisfying when you come here and the results follow.” The 32-year-old came out firing as he hit Keshav Maharaj for two sixes and kept up the attack despite losing Axar Patel, who made 23 off 21 balls, and Shivam Dube (11). Pandya powered India to a position of strength as, alongside Jitesh Sharma, he helped India score 30 runs off the last two overs. In reply, South Africa were hit hard when Arshdeep Singh sent back Quinton de Kock for a second-ball duck in the first over of the chase and in his next dismissed Tristan Stubbs for 14.Skipper Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis, who made 22, attempted to hit back with boundaries before Axar cut short the captain’s knock on 14. Pandya had David Miller out for one with his first ball, and when spinner Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Donovan Ferreira, South Africa slumped to 50-5. South Africa kept losing wickets and Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Brevis for his 100th T20 wicket and took one more in the over. “There was some good form with the ball and field; some boxes ticked,” said Markram. “From a batting point of view, it’s unfortunately something that can happen in this format. “It’s a pity that it had to happen in the first game. It’s a quick turnaround and we’ll give it another crack in a couple of days’ time.”The second match is Thursday in New Chandigarh. BRIEF SCORES: India 175 for 6 (Hardik 59*, Ngidi 3-31) beat South Africa 74 all out (Brevis 22, Bumrah 2-17, Chakravarthy 2-19, Axar 2-7) by 101 runs. 

Powerful batting by Black Cap Mark Chapman carried New Zealand to a three-run victory in the second T20 against West Indies in Auckland Thursday night.Chapman blitzed 78 from just 28 balls as New Zealand made 207-5 batting first at Eden Park, but brilliant power hitting from Romario Shepherd, Rovman Powell and Matthew Forde almost brought West Indies home.Forde needed a boundary from the final ball to secure at least a tie, but could only manage a single. The five-match series is level at 1-1.West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and chose to field on the same pitch that tested the batters in Wednesday’s first match.The pitch played much the same for the majority of New Zealand’s innings as they struggled to 81-2 after 12 overs.Chapman was 12 from nine balls at the time, struggling for timing on a pitch that was two-paced and tricky when bowlers pitched short.But then the timing fell into place and Chapman scored 66 runs from his next 19 balls.He blasted seven sixes and six fours, with three of the next four overs hit for more than 20 runs.West Indies conceded 126 runs from the last eight overs of the innings, Daryl Mitchell making 28 from 14 and captain Mitchell Santner 18 from 8.Jacob Duffy then struck in the first over of the West Indies’ innings, removing Brandon King for a three-ball duck.Ish Sodhi, back in the New Zealand side in place of James Neesham, took two wickets in his first two overs, leaving West Indies on 71-3 at the halfway stage. Powell and Shepherd then put the visitors back on track, Shepherd hammering 34 from 16 balls and Powell blasting 45 from the same number of deliveries.Forde also belted 29 from 13 balls in the closing overs.Sodhi ended with 3-39 and Santner took 3-31. The third game of the five-match series is in Nelson on Sunday.

Reigning 20-overs world champions India look overwhelming favourites to retain their Asia Cup title with Suryakumar Yadav leading a crack squad that can sweep aside rivals and any geopolitical distraction in the tournament beginning Tuesday.The September 9-28 tournament had looked in limbo after four days of military conflict between tournament hosts India and bitter neighbours Pakistan in May this year.The eight-team competition was subsequently moved to the United Arab Emirates but the geopolitical undercurrents were palpable with several former India cricketers demanding a boycott of matches against Pakistan.With New Delhi backing the Indian cricket board’s stance of playing Pakistan in multi-team events only, the Asian Cricket Council, which organises the Asia Cup, is confident its flagship tournament would prove a success.With an eye on the T20 World Cup next year, India gave an indication of how seriously they view the tournament when they picked pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.The 31-year-old is played sparingly to manage his all-format workload and India will hope to benefit from the wily seamer’s craft both in the powerplay and the death overs.Test captain Shubman Gill has been recalled to reinforce a batting lineup teeming with serious power-hitters like Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma, currently the top-two T20 batters in official rankings, as well as skipper Suryakumar.Arch-rivals Pakistan will enter the tournament low on experience but high on confidence after winning a tri-series, also involving Afghanistan and hosts UAE, on Sunday.“We wanted to prepare in a way that helps us for the Asia Cup and we’ve done that,” Pakistan captain Salman Agha said on Sunday.“We’ve been doing really well since the Bangladesh home series. Finally, we’re in very good shape and fully prepared for the Asia Cup.”Having ignored former captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan will need sustained contribution from their batters against tougher opposition.Afghanistan lost to Pakistan in Sunday’s final in Sharjah but skipper Rashid Khan counts their familiarity with conditions as a major gain.“It’s important for us to learn from these conditions ahead of the Asia Cup,” Rashid, who will lead Afghanistan’s spin-heavy attack, said.“Over the last eight-nine months, we haven’t played much T20 cricket together and a series like this gives us positive energy. I think it’s going to be a great and exciting Asia Cup for us.”Under Litton Das, a new-look Bangladesh will be itching to prove their mettle having lost the likes of stalwarts Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal to retirement.Afghanistan play Hong Kong in the tournament opener in Abu Dhabi Tuesday.Preliminary stage matches: Sep 09, Tue: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong, Abu DhabiSep 10, Wed: India vs UAE, DubaiSep 11, Thu: Bangladesh vs Hong Kong, Abu DhabiSep 12, Fri: Pakistan vs Oman, DubaiSep 13, Sat: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Abu DhabiSep 14, Sun: India vs Pakistan, DubaiSep 15, Mon: UAE vs Oman, Abu DhabiSep 15, Mon: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong, DubaiSep 16, Tue: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, Abu DhabiSep 17, Wed: Pakistan vs UAE, DubaiSep 18, Thu: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Abu DhabiSep 19, Fri: India vs Oman, Abu Dhabi

Afghanistan defeated Pakistan by 18 runs in a T20 international, thanks to half-centuries from Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran. Atal scored 64 and Zadran added 65, guiding Afghanistan to a total of 169 for five. Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf was the top bowler, taking four wickets for 27 runs. In their chase, Pakistan were held to 151 for nine. Despite a late surge from Haris Rauf, who hit 34 not out, steady bowling from Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad both taking two wickets ensured Afghanistan’s victory. Pakistan, who won both their matches in the tri-series, have now lost one match. Rashid Khan, Afghanistan captain, said Tuesday: “If you bowl in the right areas and with the bowling we have, it (169) was manageable and defendable.” When asked if it was a tactic playing different spinners each game, Khan said: “That is a kind of tactic. We have that bench strength. It is not just about the playing eleven. Whoever gets the opportunity can do the job. We decide based on the opposition and who might be useful on that wicket. We thought Noor and Ghazanfar would be more effective. “Quite pleased with the way they bowled and the lengths they bowled. Atal and Zadran are two great players, just the beginning for them. The way they are taking responsibility and reading conditions, they are doing it so well. They understand if we can keep wickets, we can score maximum runs.” Salman Agha, Pakistan captain, said: “I think 170 was gettable. Thought the bowlers did a good job. We lost too many wickets in the middle overs. After eight overs, we were going well but we lost many wickets (in the next 5-6 overs). When you lose that many wickets, it becomes very difficult.” BRIEF SCORES Afghanistan 169 for 5 (Zadran 65, Atal 64, Ashraf 4-27) beat Pakistan 151 for 9 (Rauf 34*, Nabi 2-20, Noor 2-20) by 18 runs

Spinner Nasum Ahmed returned figures of 3-21 to help Bangladesh thrash the Netherlands by nine wickets in the second T20 international Monday as the hosts clinched the three-match series.Bangladesh bundled out the tourists for a paltry 103 and romped home to their target in 13.1 overs to take a 2-0 lead in the series in Sylhet.Bangladesh, who won a third successive T20 series, have kept their momentum ahead of the T20 Asia Cup starting September 9 in the United Arab Emirates.Left-handed opener Tanzid Hasan made 54 and put on an unbeaten 64-run stand with skipper Litton Das, who scored 18.But it was Bangladesh's bowlers who set up victory as Nasum, who came into the team as one of two changes, struck twice on successive balls in the third over.Dutch skipper Scott Edwards played out the hat-trick ball from Nasum but later fell for nine off left-arm quick Mustafizur Rahman.Opener Vikramjit Singh made 24 off 17 ball before he fell to pace bowler Taskin Ahmed and was one of just three batsmen to manage double figures.The wickets kept tumbling as the Netherlands survived just 17.3 overs after being invited to bat first.Number nine Aryan Dutt made 30 as he took the team past 100 before he was the last wicket to fall.Bangladesh started their chase briskly with Parvez Hossain Emon's 23 off 21, and after his departure Tanzid and Litton steered the team home.The final match of the series is on Wednesday at the same venue.BRIEF SCORESBangladesh 104 for 1 (Tanzid 54*, Emon 23) beat Netherlands 103 (Dutt 30, Vikramjit 24, Nasum 3-21, Mustafizur 2-18, Taskin 2-22) by nine wickets

Taskin Ahmed starred as Bangladesh hammered the Netherlands by eight wickets in the first of the three T20 internationals in Sylhet Saturday.Fast bowler Taskin returned figures of 4-28 as Bangladesh kept the Netherlands to 136-8, a total their batters overhauled in just 13.3 overs.Skipper Litton Das, 54 not out, and Saif Hassan, unbeaten on 36, helped the hosts race to victory.Bangladesh, who recently won a home T20 series against Pakistan, maintained their momentum ahead of the T20 Asia Cup starting September 9 in the United Arab Emirates.The Netherlands, who have already qualified for next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, are without several key players including all-rounders Bas de Leede and Roelof van der Merwe.De Leede is injured while Van der Merwe and Logan van Beek are also missing.Max O'Dowd struck 23 and fellow opener Teja Nidamanuru top-scored with 26 but the Dutch lost regular wickets after being put in to bat.Taskin took a wicket in each of his first two overs before off-spinner Saif struck twice in one over including the scalp of Scott Edwards for 12.In reply, Bangladesh lost an early wicket but Litton put on 66 runs with Tanzid Hasan, who made 29.The second T20 is Monday at the same venue.BRIEF SCORESBangladesh 138 for 2 (Litton 54*, Saif 36*) beat Netherlands 136 for 8 (Nidamanuru 28, Taskin 4-28, Saif 2-18) by eight wickets