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In another rain-filled day at the 2023 ICC World Cup warm-ups, New Zealand and England emerged winners in their respective matches.
Rain plays spoilsport in both warm-up games today
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New Zealand were seven runs ahead on the DLS rain-rule when the heavens opened at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram in their second warm-up match against South Africa. On the other hand, England eased past Sri Lanka by four wickets and with 12.5 overs to share in a match reduced to 37 overs by inclement weather at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
Rain has been the central theme on all three days of the warm-up games so far with all but two of the matches being affected by it. The four teams who were in action on Monday will, however, be thankful they got a chance to get some action under their belt.
Update from Guwahati 📰
Warm-up match between England and Bangladesh is set to resume with the clash reduced to 37 overs per side.#ENGvBAN #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/OgwXvR2uli
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) October 2, 2023
Topley, Moeen help England over the line
For England, Reece Topley shone with the ball as he finished with 3/23 while Adil Rashid broke back of the Bangladesh innings with the wickets of Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah.
Bangladesh collapsed from 138/4 to 188/9 as they looked to accelerate the innings after rain had skimmed 13 overs from their allocated 50.
In reply, England got off to their typically aggressive start, launching their 50 in four overs and reaching 100 in 10 overs.
They did lose key wickets at regular intervals though to keep Bangladesh interested but a 39-ball 56 from Moeen Ali who came in at seven, ensured there would be no hiccups for England in the chase.
South Africa lose on DLS method again
Over in Thiruvananthapuram, the New Zealand-South Africa encounter looked to be headed to a thrilling climax. South Africa were 211 for the loss of four wickets in 37 overs in response to New Zealand’s 321 for six from their stipulated when the heavens opened.
South Africa were seven runs shy of the par score according to the DLS method of scoring and it remained at that as the weather gods refused to relent.
Quinton de Kock was the star of the chase for the Proteas and in the company of David Miller, there was every chance they could have gotten close to the Kiwi score. Earlier, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen had both picked up three wickets apiece but couldn’t restrict New Zealand to less than 321 for six from their 50.
The good news from a New Zealand point of view – other than the win that is – was the fact that captain Kane Williamson got some more time in the middle. Williamson is returning to international cricket after suffering an ACL injury earlier this year and might not be available for New Zealand’s opening match.
The last set of warm-up matches before the main tournament will be played on Tuesday, October 3 as hosts India take on Netherlands, Afghanistan play Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be up against Australia. The World Cup 2023 group stage matches begin from Thursday, October 5 (check World Cup schedule here) with England taking on New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
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