DHAKA: Five teams out of ten participants of ICC World Cup 2019 are from Asia, South Asia and more specifically from South Asian Association for Cooperation (SAARC). Three of the five Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Africa have so far played their first matches of the tournament. 

Pakistan was blown away by West Indies while Sri Lanka was swept away by New Zealand. Afghanistan did a little better against reigning Champion Australia. But even then they lost by 8 wickets. Bangladesh and India are the two teams left playing their first matches. Hope they keep the admirers cheering. The unusual pace and bounce of English wickets and inept batting of the teams against quality fast bowling letting the matches going one sided affairs.

Sparkling Kiwis Sweep Away Sri Lanka 

ICC World Cup Cricket 2019 

Match Three 

New Zealand Vs Sri Lanka Played at Cardiff

Brief Score Card: New Zealand 137 /0 in 16.1 Overs (Martin Guptil 73* and Colin Munero 58*) beat Sri Lanka 136 All Out in 29.2 Overs (FDM Karunaratne 57, MDKJ Perera 29,  NLTC Perera 27, LH Ferguson 3/22, MJ Henry 3/29, 8 batsmen together contributed only 17 runs) by 10 wickets 

Sri Lanka was once swept away by a devastating Tsunami. Few days back they had seen a terrible terrorist attack. But the manner sparkling New Zealand swept away Lankan cricket pride no less hurt the sweet singing Sri Lankan cricket admirers singing and dancing wherever in the world they play cricket. Batting first the same pathetic story seen in Pakistan West Indies match was witnessed. Sri Lankans failed to keep up with sustained pace and bounce of Kiwi bowling battery and abjectly surrendered getting all out 136. New Zealand easily crused home with their swashbuckling opening batsmen M Guptill and C Munero producing unbeaten opening partnership of 137 in only 16.1 overs. Only three Lankan batsmen Karunaratne (57), MDKJ Perera (29) and NLTC Perera (27) produced double figure. Other 8 batsmen together contributed only 17 with scores like (0,0, 0,1,1,4,4,and 7). Chasing such a soft target did not call for any fiery display of explosive display. Yet in the face of friendly fire of Lankan bowling Kiwis raced to victory target with supreme ease and comfort. Guptill produced unbeaten 73 and Munero remained not out scoring 58. Kiwis won by 10 wickets with 33.5 Overs to spare.  A match of 100 overs required only 45.3 overs for an outright Kiwis win.

What a contrast! In the first warm up match New Zealand blew away power packed Indian batting inflicting on them a huge defeat. In the second match they them got bruised, battered by rampaging West Indian batting when they scored 426. Yesterday in the tournament proper another South Asian team Champions of the past had no clues how to bat against Kiwi attack. Red hot chilly Ferguson (3/22), Henry (3/29) were too hot to digest. From the second ball of the match Trimanne adjudicated LBW by Henry it was an one way traffic at Cardiff. The only time Lankans looked like giving some resistance was in the second wicket between captain Karunaratne and Perera producing 44 runs. Rests better not be wasted time to describe. Feruson and Henry stemmed the rot but all four other bowlers Boult, Grandhomme,Nisham and Santner got a wicket each. 

A target of 137 was never going to test the high quality batting resources of New Zealand. Moreover, Sri Lanka does not have any bowler of even Mohammad Amir category to put up some challenges. Even Slinger Malinga appeared well past his prime. Kiwi openers Guptill and Munero made merry while the sun shined racing to the target in only 16.1 overs. Guptill scored unbeaten 73 in 51 deliveries with 8 fours and two sixes, Munero remained not out scoring 58 in 47 deliveries striking 6 fours and a six. New Zealand cruised to 137 for no loss in 16.1overs.

Champion Australia Proved Too Hot For Afghanistan

ICC World Cup 2019 Match Four 

Australia Vs Afghanistan played at Bristol on June 1, 2019

Australia 209/3 in 34.5 overs (DA Warner 89*, AJ Flinch 66 ) beat Afghanistan 207 All Out in 38.3 Overs ( Najibullah Zadran 51, Gulbadin Naib 31, Rashid Khan 27 , PJ Cummins 3/40, A Zampa 3/60, Stonis 2/ 37) by 7 Wickets 

Star-studded reigning champions Australia had their HEXA mission well on course. In sun shining Bristol they won it easy against Afghanistan by 7 wickets. But unlike Pakistan and Sri Lanka Afghanistan put up some short of resistance while batting and could get the wickets of Flinch, Khawaja and Smith when Australia replied. Afghanistan scored 207, much better what Pakistan did against West Indies and Sri Lanka against New Zealand. Australia required 34.5 Overs.

Afghanistan had the courage of batting first against very potent Australian attack comprising of Starc, Cummins, Coulter-Nile, Stoinis and Zampa. However, their innings ran into immediate crisis as Starc and Cummins with the first 8 balls of the match reduced them to 5/2. Shehzad and Zazai were sent back before they could open their account. The ignominy of Pakistan and Sri Lanka were in view. 

But Ramat Shah and Hasmatullah Shahidi batted bravely against very hostile Aussie attack bowling fast and furious. 51 runs were put together by them in the 3rd wicket partnership before Zampa removed both of them in quick succession reducing Afghanistan to 75/4. Still Afghans batted bravely. Zadran (51) Gulbadin Naib (31) and Rashid Khan (27) gave score some respectability. 207 All out was far better than what could be expected after two premiere batsmen at the top failed even opening their account. Cummins (3/40) and Zampa (3/60) were the wreckers Stoinis also chipped in with 2/37.

No one expected drama when Australia batted. But Afghans did well keeping Australia at the wicket till 38.3 overs taking the Wickets of Flinch, Khawaja and Smith in the meantime. Blaster Warner tuned his batting with careful 89 not out in 114 deliveries, Flinch scored 66. Rashid Khan, Mujib and GulbadinNaib shared the three wickets that Afghans managed taking. Australia made resounding start to their title defense and HEXA mission.

Of the four matches played Winners England, West Indies, New Zealand and Australia all thumped their challengers in lop sided contest. 8 out of the 10 teams have already played their first matches. Bangladesh and India would complete their respective fist match today and tomorrow. Many predicted runs feast in this year's tournament. Though it is very early in the tournament. Sun has started shining brightly in London. Hope future matches would witness better contest. But it is clear now that teams of Asia have their works cut out.

BDST: 1134 HRS, JUN 2, 2019
SI