T20 World Cup 2022

KL Rahul has continued his good showing since India landed in Australia in early October, making a patient 74 in the second practice match against Western Australia XI in Perth and followed it up with 57 in a warm-up match against Australia at The Gabba, Brisbane.

Put into bat first, the opening partnership worth 42 runs between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis got the Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka off to a great start. Despite the wicket of Mendis in the fifth over, Shanaka's men were the happier side at the end of the Powerplay with over 50 runs.

Cricket Australia (CA) on Tuesday endorsed the 29-year-old Cummins, who guided Australia to a 4-0 Ashes triumph earlier this year, to become the country's 27th ODI captain.

"He (Stokes) is someone we want to try to give as much opportunity to impact the game as possible, try to get him up the order as high as we can," Buttler was quoted as saying by ICC on Tuesday. "We're looking to give him as much responsibility as possible and allow him to play his way to get the best out of him."

After All-rounder Sikandar Raza's 82 propelled Zimbabwe to a competitive 174/7, Muzarabani (3/24), Chatara (2/22) and Ngarava (2/22) hit their lengths beautifully in their respective four overs yielding seven wickets overall to restrict Ireland to 143/9 in 20 overs.

Mohammed Shami, bowling for the first time since July and after missing out on bilateral T20Is against Australia and South Africa, took three wickets in an over where Australia lost last four scalps as India won the match narrowly by six runs. What would please India more was Shami bowling to pin-point yorkers on the last two balls to castle Josh Inglis and Kane Richardson.

Shami hasn't played a single T20I since India's T20 World Cup campaign in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last year. He wasn't in the scheme of things of the team management but injury to Jasprit Bumrah brought the veteran pacer back in the mix. The 32-year old pacer had reached Brisbane after recovering from Covid-19 and getting a go-ahead from NCA as Bumrah's replacement in the 15-member Indian squad.

On a two-paced pitch, the match was full of twists and turns under the night sky. De Leede was pick of the bowlers for the Netherlands with 3/19, all of his scalps coming in the 19th over.

Cut to now, and two days before what happened a year ago in Abu Dhabi, Namibia were batting first against the same opposition in the first round of 2022 Men's T20 World Cup at Geelong, Australia. At 93/6 in 14.2 overs, one feared the script of 2021 clash was on the verge of being repeated in 2022.

After brilliant spells from fast bowlers Bas de Leede, Fred Klaasen and left-arm spinner Tim Pringle restricted UAE to a lowly 111/8 in 20 overs, Netherlands were also kept under check as they lost wickets at regular intervals and didn't score a boundary after the eighth over.