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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, February 28, 2019
Maxwell’s brutal unbeaten 113 seals T20 glory for Aussies GLENN Maxwell blasted a remarkable unbeaten 113 from just 55 balls as Australia chased down 191 to defeat India by seven wickets and secure a 2-0 Twenty20 series success. Having walked to the crease with the tourists stumbling at 22-2 after four overs, Maxwell produced one of the great T20 innings yesterday, hammering seven fours and nine sixes en route to his third century in the shortest format. Maxwell laid the platform for a successful chase alongside D’Arcy Short (40 off 28) before dominating a fourth-wicket stand worth 99 with Peter Handscomb seeing Australia home with two deliveries remaining. The brutal hitting of Maxwell, following his 56 in the series-opener, overshadowed the earlier genius of India captain Virat Kohli, who had blasted six maximums in a spectacular 38-ball 72 that
had the Bengaluru crowd on its feet. He, MS Dhoni (40 off 23) and KL Rahul propelled India to 190-4, but even that daunting total proved within Maxwell’s grasp, as he reached 50 from 28 deliveries and needed only 22 more to bring up his hundred in guiding the visitors over the line almost single-handedly. Rahul had top-scored for India with 50 in Sunday’s last-ball defeat and he looked in good form again, launching Jhye Richardson for successive sixes in the fifth over before repeating the feat off Pat Cummins in the next. He perished for a breezy 47 off 26, however, guiding a catch to deep third-man and when Shikhar Dhawan and Rishabh Pant fell cheaply - the latter to Richardson’s fine diving catch at long-off - Dhoni walked out to meet Kohli. Patient to begin with, the pair kicked on in the final six
overs, Kohli sending Nathan Coulter-Nile over the ropes three times in a row in the 16th while Short suffered punishment at the hands of Dhoni, who fell late in the piece before Kohli finished the innings in style by thumping Cummins over long-off for a maximum. Australia’s chase was in trouble as Marcus Stoinis and Aaron Finch departed for single figures, Maxwell and Short forced to rebuild before the former put his foot down in the last six overs. Krunal Pandya was hammered over long-off before Yuzvendra Chahal disappeared over the fence twice in succession – the second via a reverse sweep of remarkable power. Two fours off Jasprit Bumrah in the 17th over and a six into the sightscreen off Siddarth Kaul helped reduce the equation to seven required from four, and Maxwell crashed Kaul back over his head for a maximum and
then to the cover boundary to round off the win in fitting fashion.
Glenn Maxwell’s 55-ball hundred helped Australia romp home with seven wickets to spare. (Getty Images)
MCC to recognise women’s achievements on honours board at Lord’s … Atherton, Ponting and Muralitharan to now feature on the board WOMEN will now figure on the iconic Lord’s honour board, following the 135-year-old Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) decision to recognise centuries and five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket too. Previously, only centuries and five-wicket hauls in Test matches found a mention on the boards at the home and away dressing rooms at Lord’s. The change is a part of MCC’s refurbishment drive at the ‘Home
of Cricket’ ahead of the 2019 season. The new addition means Sarah Taylor, Claire Taylor and Caroline Atkins will be among the England women to have their names immortalised for scoring ODI centuries at Lord’s, with Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole featuring on the bowlers’ board. Shrubsole famously picked up 6 for 46 as England pipped India in a thrilling 2017 women’s World Cup
final. Among those who will now feature on the board after missing out for all these years are Michael Atherton, Ricky Ponting and Muttiah Muralitharan, who all made the grade in ODIs but not in Tests. But Sachin Tendulkar, who had a highest score of 37 in five Tests and 30 in three ODIs at Lord’s, continued to miss out. Tendulkar’s only century at the venue - 125 for Rest of the World against
MCC - came in an exhibition game played in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales.
“We are delighted to be now able to recognise the same achievements for One-Day In-
Anya Shrubsole’s six-for secures the trophy (Getty Images)
ternationals as we have done for Test Matches for many years,” Guy Lavender, MCC chief executive and secretary, said. “This is a landmark moment for Lord’s, with women’s cricket now documented in the dressing rooms for the first time. “The Honours Boards are amongst the most popular attractions for the many visitors to the Home of Cricket. There is a huge amount of prestige for players to see their name inscribed in history, so it is appropriate for a new installation of the boards to take place ahead of what will be such a busy year of cricket at Lord’s.” (ESPN Cricinfo)
Businessmen Ramballi, Bacchus form training and youth club in Affiance BUSINESSMEN Harrischan Ramballi of H. Ramballi General Constructions and Sam Bacchus of Bacchus Group of Companies have combined to form a youth training and sports cricket club in Affiance. “A lack of coaching by the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) is hampering the progress of young players,” says Ramballi. ‘This is one of the reasons therefore that we have decided to have this club which will benefit all interested young cricketers from the age of 10 to 17’. Coaching sessions have already begun under the guidance of former national Under019 player Yogeshwar Lall with assistance from senior club player Parmeshwar Persaud. The sessions, including batting, bowling and fielding drills, are held daily from 15:00hrs to 18:00hrs at the Imam Bacchus ground. The idea was conceptualised after the conclusion of the Ramballi/Mahadeo Inter-Secondary Under-17 competition where a number of promising players were identified. “It was decided between me and Mr Bacchus for us to continue supporting these youngsters with the necessary technical and financial base so that their future can be a bright one,” acknowledged Ramballi. Meanwhile Sam Bacchus disclosed that the Imam Bacchus ground is available to anyone willing to hone his skills and has undertaken to have the ground equipped with all the necessary facilities in keeping with the standards of any first class venue. The businessmen are therefore appealing to stakeholders to support the movement while they are encouraging the players to attend the sessions which will immensely benefit their game and enhance their future of becoming national and international cricketers. Entrance to the club is free but with the consent of parents and guardians. For further information contact Harrischan Ramballi on 649-2273 or Rohan Budram of Imam Bacchus Group of Companies on 600-1069. (Elroy Stephney)