CRICKET India celebrates Diwali with big win
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Norm Da CostaPublishing date:
Nov 05, 2021 • 12 minutes ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation
India’s Rohit Sharma (left) and K.L. Rahul run between the wickets during the ICC mens Twenty20 World Cup cricket match between India and Scotland at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium yesterday. Getty Images Article content Fireworks lit up all of the major cities around India as a billion Indians celebrated Diwali, the festival of lights and it was no different in Dubai. And the Scots got a closeup look of a fireworks display that was launched off the bats of K.L. Rahul and Rohit Sharma. India annihilated Scotland by eight wickets to keep alive is hopes of advancing to the semifinals of the Twenty20 World Cup.
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Article contentIndia’s assault on the hapless Scots came two days after it battered Afghanistan following losses against Pakistan and New Zealand in Group 2 of this Super 12 phase of the competition. Pakistan has booked its place in the semis leaving the Kiwis, India and Afghanistan to fight it out for the other berth.
In Group 1 England has one foot in the semis while Australia and South Africa are in a fight for the second berth. This battle could be settled on Saturday as South Africa takes on England and Australia goes up against former defending champion and also-ran West Indies.
A huge Indian crowd, all colourfully dressed in their Diwali costumes at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, cheered from the very start after birthday boy Virat Kohli, who was celebrating his 33rd birthday, won the toss for the very first time here and opted to field first as the majority of the games have been won by the team batting second. The Scots were sent packing for a meagre 85 and India made quick work of reaching the target by taking a mere 6.3 overs to make 89 for two to secure victory and boost its run rate.
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Article contentRahul and Sharma, who also took the bat to Namibia, batted with near-relentless aggression against the Scots with Rahul smashing six fours and three sixes to bring up the fastest half century in the tournament off just 19 balls while Sharma cluttered 30 off 16 balls with a mighty six and five boundaries. The Scots had no answer to the Indian attack as Jasprit Bumrah captured two for 10 off 3.4 overs and then his fellow pacer Mohammad Shami (three for 15) and spinner Ravindra Jadeja who spun a web to trap three Scots for 15. “If we play like this no-one can beat us,’’ said man-of-the-match Jadeja. “We have to play like this in the T20 format. We knew we had to win with a big margin to improve our net run-rate so we gave 100% and did what we had to.’’
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Article contentNew Zealand, meanwhile, overcame a fright to finally put away Namibia by 52 runs in Sharjah. Namibia had the Kiwis on the ropes at one time at 87 for four in the 16th over and there was joy among the Indian fans in Dubai. But the Black Caps then came roaring back with James Neesham (35 not out off 23 balls) and Glenn Phillips (39 not out off 21 balls) putting on a 76-run stand as the Kiwis reached a respectable 163 for four. Namibia managed 111 for seven with pacers Trent Boult and Tim Southee taking two wickets each to apply the brakes.
Now the Kiwis are off to Abu Dhabi and skipper Kane Williamson said he is looking forward to the next fixture against Afghanistan on Sunday. “They (Afghanistan) are a strong side and they have played good cricket,’’ said Williamson.
“They have some match winners throughout their team but we are looking forward to that challenge. It’s a different venue so we need to make those adjustments quickly, it’s the nature of this tournament. You got to play at different venues and adjust quickly.â€
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