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The full implications of the India's refusal to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan were laid bare on Sunday as Australia and South Africa waited to find out whether they will play their semi-finals in Lahore or Dubai this week.
Shafali Verma smacked 80 not out as Delhi Capitals handed a fourth consecutive defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru with a commanding nine-wicket win in their Women's Premier League contest here on Saturday. After Ellyse Perry's fourth fifty (60 not out) of the season took the defending champions to a competitive 147/5, DC batters Shafali (80 not out) and Jess Jonassen (61 not out) brushed aside the challenge without much ado.
Virat Kohli is set to play his 300th ODI on Sunday, and New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips said the Indian batting icon's "legacy" will shine through the years while "inspiring" generations of young cricketers. Kohli will become the seventh Indian player to achieve the feat after Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Rahul Dravid, Mohammed Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh. “Obviously, he's an incredible player. And to know him a little bit personally myself is awesome," said Phillips, who once played alongside Kohli at IPL side Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Assured of a semifinal slot, India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate hinted that the team might ring in some changes in the bowling attack for its last group match against New Zealand on Sunday. At the same time, Doeschate said the side would not compromise on the balance as it also wants to top the group with an all-win preliminary campaign. New Zealand have also already qualified for the semifinals after two wins and Sunday's match will decide the Group A topper. "We've had two pretty tough training sessions, so that's been the preparation. In terms of the bench strength, I think the priority is making sure that we have our best guys available and fully fit for the second game (semifinal on March 4)," Doeschate told reporters.
New Zealand off-spinner Michael Bracewell on Friday brushed aside any talks about India getting an unfair advantage in the ongoing Champions Trophy by playing all their games in Dubai, simply saying that his team was "excited to try and play in different conditions". Rohit Sharma's team is playing all its matches in Dubai, and even the final will be held here if India goes the distance. New Zealand will be playing their first match of the tournament here -- against India on Sunday -- after their last two games were held in Pakistan. Some cricketers, including South African top-order batter Rassie van der Dussen and former Australia skipper Pat Cummins, have said India are in an advantageous position as they have played all their games at one venue while other teams have had to travel to different venues in Pakistan.
A dejected England captain Jos Buttler was at a loss for words as his side crumbled to a seven-wicket loss to South Africa on Saturday, describing their dismal batting performance as "the story of our side" as they ended their Champions Trophy campaign winless. It was a disappointing end to Buttler's ODI captaincy as England slumped to 179 all out, the lowest total of this edition so far, after he opted to bat. South Africa overhauled the target in just 29.1 overs. "A really disappointing performance. We were so far short of the mark there today. It was a decent surface - pretty slow but a bit two-paced. We're not going on and making those big, telling contributions which has been a story of this side for some time now with the bat," Buttler said at the post-match press conference.
Former India cricketer Madan Lal believes the poor drainage system that was on exhibition during the Champions Trophy match between Afghanistan and Australia at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium is a "bad advertisement" for Pakistan. The underwhelming drainage system of Gaddafi Stadium was on exhibition during the second innings of Afghanistan's and Australia's Group B encounter on Friday. During the Group B encounter between Afghanistan and Australia in the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday, rain intervened in the on-field action after 12.5 overs. After the rain had halted, there were plenty of water puddles all over the ground.
England will have to rebuild and regain their confidence in the 50-over format after a dismal Champions Trophy campaign, out-going captain Jos Buttler said, before adding that they had enough talent to turn around their flagging fortunes.