Top 5 moments of international cricket in 2019
It was a superb year of cricket across all formats in 2019
which included the World Cup and Ashes held in England
The 2019 saw the start of inaugural World Test Championship
in which India is currently dominating. Bowlers from various countries took
hat-tricks across all formats. Apart from this, legends of cricket retired which
made the audience surprise. The Indian Cricket Team performed brilliantly
across formats but could win 3rd World Cup title.
It was an amazing year of cricket which saw many memorable
moments which the audience will cherish forever.
Here we look at the top 5 moments of international cricket
in 2019
1.
England winning the 50 World Cup for the
first time
Before the 2019 World Cup started, England were touted as
the favourites to win the title. They looked a strong outfit with top quality
batters with the likes of Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler and others.
Jofra Archer was included in the squad for his speed.
England began the 2019 World Cup with a resounding 104 runs
win over South Africa in the opening match played at Oval on 30th
May. In their next match, they were stunned by Pakistan losing match by 14
runs. Pakistan posted a massive total of 348 for 8. Despite Jos Buttler and Joe
Root centuries, England fell short of the target by 14 runs.
England won their next 3 matches against Bangladesh, West
Indies and Afghanistan to be in a comfortable position. The hosts were stunned
by Sri Lanka played at Headingly, Leeds by 20 runs. After restricting Sri Lanka
to 232 for 9, despite Ben Stokes performance, England lost the match.
The hosts were outplayed by the Aussies in their next match
played at Lords on 25th June. Australia scored 285 for 7 and in
reply, England were bowled out for 221.
England came back strongly to win their next two matches
against India and then against New Zealand to qualify for the semi-finals. They
finished 3rd in the points table with 12 points.
In the semi-finals, England crushed Australia by 8 wickets to
qualify for the finals. It was a superb bowling effort by the hosts to restrict
Aussies to 223 and then chase down the target with ease.
England became the Champions of the World defeating New
Zealand in one of the amazing matches. After electing to bat, New Zealand
posted 241 for 8. In reply, England were struggling but Buttler and Stokes
partnership for the 5th wicket changed the momentum. Ben Stokes
almost took England as they were bowled out for 241.
In the Super Over, Stokes and Buttler scored 15 runs which
made the life tough for Kiwis. In reply, Kiwis also scored 15 runs but on
boundary count, England won the 50 over World Cup for the first time.
2.
Ben
Stokes performance across formats
Ben Stokes proved to be a genuine match winner for England
in the year 2019. In One day, international format, Stokes scored 719 runs from
20 matches (17 innings) with an average of 59.91. He played a key role in
helping England winning their maiden World Cup title with 465 runs from 11
matches at an average of 66.42 with 5 half-centuries.
When England were struggling in the finals at Lords against
New Zealand, Stokes scored 84 not out and almost took the hosts of winning
title. With the ball, Stokes took 7 wickets in World Cup 2019 and showed his
class on the field.
Ben Stokes also proved his worth in Test cricket with 821
runs from 11 matches (21 innings) with an average of 45.61. He played one of
the best innings of the year during the 3rd Ashes Test match at Headingley
against Australia. Chasing a massive 359 runs to win, Stokes came at the fall
of 3rd wicket at 141. On the fourth day, England kept losing wickets
at regular intervals. With only 1 wicket to go and 76 runs required, Stokes
stunned Australia with amazing hitting and rotating the strike. He remained not
out on 135 to help England snatch a memorable win by 1 wicket to level the
series. Stokes scored 441 runs in the 5 match Ashes series. The series was
levelled at 2-2, but Australia retained the urn.
3.
Steve Smith return to Test cricket in style
Steve Smith returned to Test cricket after a ban of 1 year
regarding ball tampering scandal. He played a pivotal role in Australia
retaining the Ashes. In the first Test match played at Edgbaston, Birmingham
from 1st August, Smith scored a brilliant 144 runs in the 1st
innings and took Australia to respectable total. In the 2nd innings,
he hit 142 to help Australia win 1st Test match by 251 runs.
In the second Test match at Lords, Steve Smith scored 92 in
the first innings but due to a concussion, he did not come to bat. He did not
feature in the XI for 3rd Test match against Headingly which
Australia lost by 1 wicket due to Ben Stokes brilliance.
He returned in the playing XI for the 4th Test
match played at Old Trafford, Manchester. Smith
scored a brilliant 211 which
helped Australia post a massive total of 497 for 8. In the 2nd
innings, also he made 82. Australia won the match by 185 runs to retain the
Ashes.
In the fifth and final Test match at Oval, London, Smith
scored 80 and 23 which could not prevent Australia from losing the match by 135
runs. He made a record breaking 774 runs from 4 Test matches ( 7 innings) with
3 centuries and 3 half-centuries at an astounding average of 110.57 with the
best score of 211. His knocks helped Australia retain the Ashes.
4.
Papua New Guinea and Namibia qualify for World
T20 for first time
It was history created as Papua New Guinea and Namibia
qualified for the World T20 for the first time that will take place in
Australia 2020.
Both took part in the ICC World T20 qualifiers that took
place from 18th October to 2nd November 2019 in UAE. PNG
qualified for the prestigious tournament by topping Pool A. They had the same
points compared to Netherlands, but due to better net run rate, the African
nation qualified for a major tournament for the first time.
PNG defeated Bermuda, Namibia, Netherlands, Singapore and
Kenya. Their only loss in the Group Stage came against Scotland. After
Netherlands could not chase down 131 in allocated overs, it was a memorable
moment for PNG cricket.
Namibia qualified by beating Oman in the qualifier 2 played
on 29th October at Dubai. In the Group stage, their start was not
great as they lost to Papua New Guinea and Netherlands. They raised their bar
by winning next 4 matches against Scotland, Kenya, Singapore and Bermuda. This
was an historic moment as Namibia made it to the World T20 for the first time.
PNG will be pitted against Sri Lanka, Ireland and Oman in
Group A during qualifying round. Namibia will face Scotland, Netherlands and
Bangladesh in Group B. Top two teams from pool will qualify for the Super 12
stage.
5.
Sri Lanka become the first Asian to win Test
series in South Africa
Sri Lanka became the first Asian nation to win a Test series
on South African shore. In the first Test match played at Kingsmead, Durban
from 13th February, Sri Lanka stunned South Africa by 1 wicket.
Chasing 304 runs to win, Sri Lanka were reeling at 226 for 9. Kusal Perera
played a blinder of an innings and 78 runs for the final wicket. Vishwa
Fernando gave full support scoring just 6 runs. Sri Lanka won the match by 1
wicket with Kusal Perera not out on 153.
In the 2nd Test match played at Port Elizabeth
from 21st onward, Sri Lanka won the match by 8 wickets. Despite a
poor batting performance in the first innings, Surgana Lakmal and Dhanjaya de
Silva stunned the South Africa batting line up. Chasing 197 runs to win, Kusal
Mendis and Oshando Fernando unbeaten partnership of 163 runs helped Sri Lanka
chase down the target with 8 wickets remaining. It was a remarkable performance
by young Lankan side who had no experience in the batting and bowling line up.
Kusal Perera was awarded the man of the series for his
brilliant 153 not out at Durban. Sri Lanka showed great fighting spirit and
registered an historic 2-0 whitewash over the experienced South African side.
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| Ben Stokes 135* against Australia to help England win the 3rd Test match |
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