The big news: A farce in Florida
As they say, time and tide wait for none.
Team India learnt this first hand on Sunday as their second Twenty20 International against the West Indies failed to begin on time and was delayed by 40 minutes because the broadcasters suffered a "technical" problem. After it finally began, Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and put the West Indies in. Dhoni opted for one change: he left Stuart Binny out and included the leg-spinner Amit Mishra.
The move seemed to have paid dividends as Mishra ended with figures 3/24. Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin got two wickets each to dismantle West Indies for 143. Compared to the first match where a total of 489 runs were scored and India almost chased it down, only to lose by a single run, Dhoni's team was probably far more confident of securing victory this time around.
Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane walked in to chase the target the down. However, the rain gods decided to intervene and after the delayed start, a 20-minute shower ensured that the match had to be abandoned leaving West Indies the victors of the series 1-0. The match could still have been decided by the Duckworth-Lewis method, had it started on time and not been delayed due to the "technical" glitch.
Other top stories:
- Australia beat Sri Lanka by two wickets in the third One-Day International at Dambulla on Sunday. Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first. They were bowled out for 226 in 49.2 overs owing to a brilliant bowling performance by Australia. David Warner's team sealed the win with four overs remaining to lead the five-match series 2-1.
- South Africa continued to dominate the second Test against New Zealand at SuperSport Park with Faf du Plessis smashing a brilliant century on Sunday. South Africa declared their innings on 481/8 with Du Plessis unbeaten on 112. New Zealand ended day two on 38/3 trailing the Proteas by 444 runs.
- Bangladesh and Afghanistan will play their first-ever bilateral One-Day International series in September, both cricket boards confirmed on Sunday. The two sides will play the three-match series on September 25, 28 and October 1 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
- The BCCI has exempted Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals from paying the annual IPL franchise fee during their suspension period, between 2016 and 2017. The board made the decision during its recent working committee meeting in Delhi.
- The Chepauk Super Gillies beat the Karaikudi Kaalai by 67 runs in the fifth match of the Tamil Nadu Premier League on Sunday. On Monday, the Madurai Super Giants will take on VB Thiruvallur Veerans on the sixth encounter.
- The recently retired Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan suggested that he did not have the support of some of his teammates during his 10-month stint as captain between April 2011 and January 2012. Dilshan made these remarks at a press conference after he had played the final ODI of his career against Sri Lanka on Sunday.
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