The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India had an unofficial start on Friday as Pakistan took on New Zealand and Bangladesh played against Sri Lanka in the first warm-up matches for the upcoming ICC event. In Hyderabad, New Zealand gunned down a 346-run target to register a five-wicket win over Pakistan, while Bangladesh handed Sri Lanka a crushing seven-wicket defeat in Guwahati.
Williamson shines on return
In the New Zealand vs Pakistan game, Kane Williamson showed his class in his first competitive outing in six months while Rachin Ravindra sizzled at the top of the order in New Zealand’s five-wicket victory.
Barring the openers, Pakistan batters including Mohammad Rizwan (103 retired hurt off 91), Babar Azam (80 off 84) and Saud Shaukeel (75 off 53) had a good hit in the middle, helping their team post a daunting 345 for five in 50 overs.
New Zealand cruised to the target in 43.4 overs with contributions from Ravindra (97 off 72), Williamson (54 off 50), Daryl Mitchell (59 retired hurt off 57) and Mark Chapman (65 not out off 41).
Ravindra, batting at the top in place of Will Young, gave the team management another opening option alongside Devon Conway, who lasted only one ball in the steep run chase.
With the focus firmly on managing players’ workload ahead of the main competition, Williamson walked back into the dressing room after scoring a sublime half-century.
New Zealand come out victorious in the warm-up match today 🏏
We play our second warm-up on Tuesday at the same venue against Australia.#NZvPAK | #CWC23 | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/MR9bjjrw6G
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 29, 2023
Williamson, who continues his knee rehabilitation from the injury he suffered in the IPL in March, only came out to bat on Friday and will not be part of the World Cup opener against England on October 5.
However, considering the way he batted against the Pakistan attack, it certainly seemed he was ready on the batting front if not the other areas of the game.
A couple of back foot punches in the cover region off a seriously quick Haris Rauf showed that Williamson was very much close to his best.
Ravindra at the other end pretty much dealt in boundaries with his first 24 runs coming off only fours. His entertaining innings comprised 16 fours and a six.
Number four Mitchell put New Zealand on the cusp of a comfortable win before retiring out. Chapman and Jimmy Neesham then bullied an ordinary-looking Pakistan attack to pick up a confidence-boosting win for New Zealand.
While the majority of the Pakistan batters would be pleased with their efforts, the bowlers have plenty to worry about.
Star pacer Shaheen Afridi did not bowl in the game, allowing Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali to audition for the new ball in the absence of injured Naseem Shah.
Rauf bowled only a four over spell and leaked 36 runs without a wicket. Hasan Ali, who is back in the Pakistan set up after nine months, was decent in his opening spell before going for runs in the later stages of New Zealand innings.
Leggie Shadab Khan did not bowl and Usama Mir (2/68 in 10) took couple of wickets in his absence. Part-time spinner Salman Agha (1/60 in 8) was easy meat for the opposition and so was left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz (0/55 in 7). Mohammad Wasim Jr (1/58 in 7) too proved expensive on a tough day for the bowlers.
After Pakistan opted to bat, Babar played his trademark drives on the off-side and ended with eight fours and two sixes. The game was played behind closed doors as it coincided with festivities surrounding Ganesh idol immersion.
Bangladesh sink Sri Lanka
Bangladesh handed Sri Lanka a crushing seven-wicket defeat in their first warm-up match of the ICC ODI World Cup, here on Friday to make a winning start.
Chasing 264, Bangladesh rode on half-centuries from top-order batters Tanzid Hasan (84), Litton Das (61) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (67 not out) to romp home in 42 overs at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
Warm-up Match (D/N) 🏏
Bangladesh 🆚 Sri Lanka | | Guwahati, IndiaSnaps from Bangladesh’s Innings 🇧🇩 🌟
Photo Credit: ICC#BCB | #Cricket | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/iVhbWcN2Hj
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 29, 2023
Hasan cracked 10 fours and two sixes to make a sturdy 84 off 88 balls, while Das hit 10 fours in his 56-ball 61. The two batters added 131 for the opening wicket.
Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 35.
Earlier in the day, opting to bat Sri Lanka were bowled out for 263 in 49.1 overs with Pathum Nissanka and Dhananjaya de Silva scoring fifties.
Opening batter Nissanka added 104 for the first wicket with Kusal Perera (34) but despite getting a strong start, Sri Lanka’s middle-order could not capitalise.
Nissanka made his 68 off 64 balls with eight fours and a six, while de Silva took 79 deliveries to score 55 with two fours and a six.
With PTI inputs
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