'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
There has been a lot going on in the world of cricket over the past 24 hours. Bangladesh created history by winning their first international bilateral ODI series outside Asia in 2009 by beating West Indies in the third and final ODI of the three-match ODI series at St. Kitts and Nevis.
Smriti Mandhana continued her dream form in the Kia Women's Super League and made India proud by scoring the fastest fifty by a woman in T20 cricket. Ahead of the all-important five-match ODI series against England, India coach Ravi Shastri opened up on a lot of things including the role of KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara in the Test side and also went on to say that the current team is capable of doing well anywhere in the world.
Let us take a look at the things which made news in the cricket world today (29 July 2018).
Smriti Mandhana creates history
Indian T20I vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has been in fine form in the ongoing Kia Women's Cricket Super League T20 tournament. After scoring a 20-ball 48 and a 31-ball 37 against Yorkshire Diamonds and Surrey Stars respectively, she slammed the fastest fifty in women's T20 cricket during Western Storm's third match of the season against Loughborough Lightning at Taunton.
Smriti opened the batting for Western Storm in a rain-truncated six-over per side match and got her team off to a flying start by hitting a six off the very first ball she faced in her innings. There was no stopping her as she hit five fours and four sixes in her 19-ball 52 and reached her fifty off just 18 balls, which is not only the fastest by any batswoman in the tournament but also the joint-fastest by any woman in T20 cricket along with New Zealand's Sophie Devine's 18-ball fifty against India in Bangalore in 2015.
Her nock impressed everyone including her idol Kumar Sangakkara, who sent out a tweet congratulating and appreciating the talent she is.
You can read more about Smriti's brilliant knock here.
South Africa go 1-0 up in the ODI series
South African pacer Kagiso Rabada and Chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi took four wickets each to seal the first ODI of the five-match series against hosts Sri Lanka in favour of their team. The duo helped the Proteas restrict Sri Lanka for just 193.
Chasing 194, the vistitors lost Hashim Amla and Aiden Markram early but an 86-run third-wicket stand between Quinton de Kock and skipper Faf du Plessis steadied the ship for them before JP Duminy scored an unbeaten 32-ball 53 to take his team home by five wickets.
The second ODI will be taking place on Wednesday (August 1) in Dambulla.
India's practice session called off due to rain
According to the latest weather reports coming from Birmingham, heavy showers are lashing the city of Edgbaston and the Indian Cricket Team's practice session scheduled for the day has been scheduled.
Remember that the Indian team management asked for the organisers to reduce the four-day warm-up match against Essex to have an extra practice session at Edgbaston? That was supposed to take place today.
The wet and windy weather is set to continue until later today or even tomorrow, as weather forecasters have predicted thundershowers for tonight and the wee hours of the morning tomorrow.
You can read more about Smriti's brilliant knock here.
Bangladesh beat West Indies in the three-match ODI series
Bangladesh registered their first bilateral ODI series win outside Asia for the first time since 2009 as they beat West Indies 2-1 in the three-match ODI series by beating the hosts by 18 runs.
Tamim Iqbal was the star of the show for Bangladesh as he scored his second hundred of the series taking his team to 301/6 with some assistance from Mahmudullah, Mashrafe Mortaza and Shakib al Hasan.
West Indies started off on a great note, thanks to Chris Gayle's 66-ball 73 before the Bangladesh bowlers pulled back and managed to restrict West Indies for 283/6 in 50 overs in spite of Rovman Powell's 41-ball 74.
With this, they sealed the series 2-1 and give West Indies a lot of headache going into the 2019 World Cup.
Ravi Shastri on KL Rahul's batting position
One of the major talking points ahead of the upcoming five-match Test series between India and England is the openers who will walk out to bat for India and what role KL Rahul will be having in the Indian team.
Indian coach Ravi Shastri has hinted that Rahul could bat in the middle order and the fans can expect some surprises in the upcoming Test series starting on August 1 in Birmingham.
In an interview with ESPN, the former India international addressed various things including KL Rahul's role in the team for which Shastri said, "he has been picked as the third opener. But our batting order will always be flexible. The third opener can play anywhere in the top four. We are a very, very flexible outfit. Be prepared for that. We will surprise you guys at times."
You can read more about Smriti's brilliant knock here.
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download CricRocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more! 🚀☄️
