World Cup 2023 Highlights Warm-ups: New Zealand beats Pakistan by five wickets; Bangladesh trounces Sri Lanka

New Zealand will take a lot of positives from its five-wicket win over Pakistan, which involved chasing 346 runs. Among the brightest spots will be Kane Williamson’s fifty on return from a prolonged injury lay-off. Even though he has been ruled out of the first match of the World Cup on October 5, New Zealand will be pleased to see its skipper back among the runs. Rachin Ravindra struck a brilliant 97 while opening the batting and Daryl Mitchell scored a steadying half-century. Mark Chapman and James Neesham then absolutely flayed the Pakistani bowlers to end the game with 38 balls to spare.

Shaheen Afridi didn’t take the field, and in his absence, the Pakistan bowling lacked teeth. Haris Rauf was taken for 36 in his four overs and though Hasan Ali bowled a tight first spell, he strayed in line and length in his second and ended up going at 8.60 runs an over in his 7.4 overs. Shadab Khan too didn’t roll his arm over and Usama Mir, the other leg-spinner in the squad, picked two wickets but was expensive initially.

A lot of questions remain unanswered for the Pakistan bowling attack, which will have to play two games in Hyderabad in the World Cup proper.

Meanwhile, in Guwahati, Bangladesh cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka was off to a strong start with the bat in the first PowerPlay but the Bangladesh spinners pulled things back in the middle-overs and restricted Sri Lanka to 263. Bangladesh openers Tanzid and Litton laid the platform with a 131-run stand, after which Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mushfiqur Rahim ensured there were no twists as the Tigers romped to a facile win.

South Africa and Afghanistan were denied an opportunity to warm-up for the big event as rain ensured no play was possible in Thiruvananthapuram.

However, there is still some time left for teams to give their preparations the final touches. India takes on England in Guwahati and Australia faces Netherlands in Thiruvananthapuram tomorrow at 2:00 PM IST. Joins us as we take you through all the live action. For now, that will be it from us. Thank you and goodnight!

Full toss outside off and Chapman opens the face of the bat and slices this behind point for a boundary. Length ball and Chapman hammers this to the square-leg boundary for four runs. A no-ball next up for over-stepping and the batters also run a single. A wide next ball. The free-hit delivery is a low full-toss outside off and Santner drives this through cover-point for a single. What a way to end the match. Slower delivery, Chapman mistimed this but the ball still sails over long-on for a six and New Zealand wins by five wickets with 38 balls to spare.

Mitchell Santner is the new man in and he’ll like to get a few hits before the tournament begins. The Kiwis are cruising here.

Full toss and Neesham ends up slicing this to the cover fielder as the bat turned in his hands.

James Neesham c Shadab b Wasim 33 (21b 3x4 2x6)

Chapman gets to his fifyy off just 37 balls with a single off Mohammad Wasim. Wasim goes down leg and this is called wide. New Zealand just needs 22 off 46 now. Full outside off and Neesham carts this away through extra-cover.

The Kiwis just need 24 runs to win from 42 balls after this Hasan Ali over. Chapman flicks a ball that strays on the pads for a six over backward square-leg.

The Kiwis are absolutely toying with Pakistan’s spinners. Chapman dances down the track and clubs a huge six over long on. Half-tracker next up outside off and slapped by Chapman over mid-off for a boundary. Full on the stumps now and Chapman drills this down the ground for four more. No relief for Pakistan’s spinners at the moment. New Zealand 310/4 in 41 overs.

Neesham steps out and absolutely clobbers a six over deep midwicket and then gives the bowler the charge again next ball and goes down the ground for a boundary. Ten runs in two balls. New Zealand 294/4 in 40 overs.

Hasan Ali has gone for runs in his second spell. Neesham first pushed a full delivery down the ground for a four. Chapman then sent a slower delivery for a boundary down the ground in his next over and Neesham miscued a pull but the ball still sailed over fine-leg.

Rahim pulls a short one from Madushanka for a single and Bangladesh romps to a commanding seven-wicket win with eight overs to spare. Good confidence-boosting win for the Tigers after all the controversies surrounding the exclusion of Tamim Iqbal from the squad that threatened to disrupt their preparations.

Mitchell hammers a six off Usama Mir over midwicket to get to his fify off 56 balls. He then punches through covers for a boundary next ball. Usama bowls out, having gone for 68 in his 10 and with two wickets to his name. New Zealand 260/4 in 36 overs. Mitchell retires out after reaching his fifty.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rahim have put Bangladesh on course for an emphatic win. Miraz is unbeaten on 61 off 59 balls.

Glenn Phillips gets a top edge to the to the short fine-leg fielder trying to sweep Usama Mir and the leg-spinner picks two wickets in quick succession. New Zealand falling apart slightly in this chase. Glenn Phillips c Hasan Ali b Usama Mir 3 (7b)

After taking quite a beating, Usama Mir finally tastes success. Tom Latham is caught behind and New Zealand loses its third wicket. Tom Latham c Rizwan b Usama 18 (13b 2x4)

Wellalage foxes Towhid with one that turns away. He stepped out of the crease and was left stranded after missing the ball. Towhid Hridoy st. Perera b Wellalage 0 (1b).

Another bright and young talent misses out on a century. Tanzid was going great guns and looked set for a splendid hundred but has to go. Tanzid Hasan c Asalanka b Kumara 84 (88b 10x4 2x6)

Ravindra is cleaned up by Salman Ali Agha and falls just three short of his century. This ball kept its line and deceived Ravindra into playing for the turn. Rachin Ravindra b Agha Salman 97 (72b 16x4 1x6).

Daryl Mitchell doesn’t take too long to get going. He steps out to Nawaz and deposits a six over wide long-off despite not really middling the ball. He then reverse-sweeps the next delivery for a boundary.

Williamson puts a short ball away through midwicket and to the boundary off Mohammad Wasim and decides to retire out.

A fine innings from Williamson and he gets his fifty off 49 balls after a long injury layoff that has kept him out of action since March. He looked flawless for the large part of his knock today, though he was dropped on 36. Williamson is set to miss the WC opener against England on October 5 but this knock should give him confidence and bodes well for the Kiwis.

Litton Das has to depart as he sweeps and is caught in the deep at midwicket. A 131-run opening stand comes to an end.

Litton Das c Pathirana b Hemantha 61 (56b 10x4)

Williamson goes inside out off Usama Mir’s bowling and Imam-ul-Haq spills a chance at extra-cover. Three balls later, Williamson reverse-sweeps and a misfield at short-third gives him a boundary. New Zealand 115/1 in 15 overs.

After getting to his fifty, Ravindra pulls a short one from Mohammad Wasim over mid-on for a maximum and then upper cut another loose delivery behind point. Two balls later, Ravindra clips one off his pads for another four. That brings up the 100-run partnership between Ravindra and Williamson.

A 41-ball half-century for Rachin Ravindra. He lofted Usama Mir for a boundary over extra-cover in the same over.

Tanzid brings up his fifty, off 53 balls as Bangladesh continues to pile up the runs. The game is slowly slipping out of Sri Lanka’s grip and this will certainly not be the morale-booster it was looking for ahead of its World Cup campaign.

Litton Das gets to his fifty off 39 balls with a four while Tanzid is on 49 off 51 balls. Litton was playing second fiddle to Tanzid initially but upped the ante by hammering Pathirana for three hours in an over.

Second boundary for Williamson in the space of three balls. This is slightly wide outside off again and short and Williamson plays a neat punch through covers.

Width outside off from Rauf and Williamson hops and guides this through short third and backward point for a boundary.

The Kiwis skipper, who is playing today only as a batter, comes out to bat for the first time since March this year after injuring his knee in the IPL opener. He is taking his time to getting into the groove, batting on 4 off 13 balls.

The Tigers are off to a rollicking start and both openers have contributed to this blossoming alliance. Litton is on 27 off 28 while Tanzid is on 37 off 38. However, Bangladesh will want to exercise caution as Sri Lanka was off to a very similar start before it suffered quite a collapse.

Devon Conway goes for a golden duck as he flicks a slower delivery straight to midwicket. Early jolt for the Kiwis in what happens to be a tall chase.

Devon Conway c Nawaz b Hasan Ali 0 (1b)

Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra are out to open the innings for the Kiwis. Haris Rauf has the new ball. A tall task ahead for New Zealand.

Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan have given Bangladesh the perfect start. The run rate is almost at par with the requirement and they have not taken any risks as yet. Both pacers, Rajitha and Madushanka, have offered width to the openers.

A commendable batting effort by Pakistan. The middle-order fired on all cylinders after a slow start. Babar Azam took his time to get going but made up for it by shifting gears and compiling a 84-ball 80. Rizwan rebuilt the innings with Babar before unleashing and getting to his hundred at less than run-a-ball. Saud Shakeel made a serious case for his inclusion in the first eleven with a quickfire 75 off 53. Agha Salman chipped in with a valuable 33 off 23 and Shadab Khan too provided a late impetus with two consecutive sixes in the penultimate over. The only sore spot in an otherwise comprehensive batting performance will be the form of the openers - Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique in this case.

We will be back for the chase shortly.

An excellent knock from Saud Shakeel comes to an end. He ends up slicing a slower full delivery on the pads high in the air and it is taken by Boult at deep square-leg.

Saud Shakeel c Boult b Neesham 75 (53b 5x4 4x6)

A slap down the ground by Salman Ali Agha off Lockie Ferguson in the 46th over takes Pakistan past the 300-run mark. Seamless acceleration by Pakistan after getting off to a slow start. Pakistan 302/4 in 46 overs.

Two exquisite lofted drives on the off-side bring up Saud Shakeel’s half-century off 42 balls. He first lofts a slot delivery outside off over long-off and then lifts one over extra-cover to bring up the fifty. He is not done yet and shuffles across next ball and scoops to the fine-leg fence. Pakistan 295/4 in 45 overs.

Dushan Hemantha is the last man to depart as Sri Lanka fails to play out its 50 overs. Sri Lanka lost its last wickets for 45 runs.

Rizwan pulls a short one from outside off to the midwicket boundary to bring up his century off 92 balls. A delightful hundred from the wicketkeeper and he retires.

Rizwan flicks a length ball coming into him to the square-leg fence and gets to 91 off 85 balls. He then swivels and pulls a short one to the fine-leg boundary in the same over off Ferguson.

A superb direct throw at the non-striker’s end ends Dimuth Karunaratne’s struggle in the middle as he departs for 18 off 27 balls. Mahmudullah with the throw to dismiss the left-hander.

Dimuth Karunaratne run out (Mahmudullah) 18 (27b 1x4)

Dhananjaya de Silva gets to his 50 off 70 balls with a nudge off his pads for a single. However, his job is half done and will need to take Sri Lanka to a fighting total.

Only 32 runs have come for Sri Lanka in the last 10 overs for the loss of a wicket. The openers were off to a cracking start but the fall of wickets in quick succession held the scoring rate back. Dhananjaya de Silva will be key from here as Karunaratne seems to be struggling to even rotate strike.

Sri Lanka gets to the 200-run mark in 38.4 overs. Dhananjaya de Silva plays a beautiful drive down the ground off a pitched-up delivery from Hasan Mahmud to take the score to 199. Sri Lanka will now be looking to lay the platform for the last 10 overs and get a sizeable score on the board.

Babar Azam goes for a slog sweep but gets a top edge and Daryl Mitchell takes a fantastic catch running in from long-on.

Babar Azam c Mitchell b Santner 80 (84b, 8x4, 2x6)

Dasun Shanaka’s woes with the bat continue as he goes for 3 off 17 balls. He miscues a pull shot off Shoriful and is caught at deep square-leg. Sri Lanka 177 for five. In comes Dimuth Karunaratne.

Dasun Shanaka c Tanzim b Shoriful 3 (17b)

After a lull, Babar and Rizwan crank through the gears gradually. Babar hits two fours in one over off Ravindra to bring up his 58-ball half-century. He then steps out and hits Phillips for a maximum over mid-off. Soon after, Rizwan gets to his fifty off 53 balls with a couple. Pakistan 147 for two in 28 overs.

Mahedi Hasan gets his third wicket as Charith Asalanka holes out at cover. Sri Lanka’s middle-order wobbles.

Charith Asalanka c Mehidy b Mahedi 18 (32b, 2x4)

Rachin Ravindra bowls a tight over after the rain break. Starts off with five dot balls before conceding a single to Rizwan off the last delivery.

Charith Asalanka pulls a short one from Taskin Ahmed to the deep midwicket boundary to bring up Sri Lanka’s 150. After a blazing start, the Sri Lankan innings has lost steam, with only 50 runs coming in the last 12 runs. Bangladesh’s spinners exerted a stranglehold and Sri Lanka lost three wickets for 28 runs.

“Covers are off. Match to start soon,” says Aravind from Hyderabad.

The South Africa vs Afghanistan match in Thiruvananthapuram has been called off due to rain.

“Still a faint drizzle in the air and the covers are still on,” Aravind informs from Hyderabad.

“The entire ground is covered with blue sheets and the two on-field umpires did come out for an inspection. Further details awaited,” says our reporter VS Aravind from the venue.

Rain has interrupted the Pakistan vs New Zealand game in Hyderabad. Pakistan was 80/2 in 18 overs and was looking to rebuild after losing the openers cheaply. Babar and Rizwan were at the crease when the rain came down. Stay tuned for further updates.

The promising Sadeera Samarawickrama has to depart for two off three balls. Sri Lanka has lost two quick wickets after a solid start.

Sadeera Samarawickrama c Shanto b Mahedi 2 (3b)

First blow for Sri Lanka as Kusal Mendis departs, getting a top edge on the sweep and is caught. He goes for 22 off 19 balls. Sri Lanka 104/1 in 14.4 overs.

Kusal Mendis c Shanto b Nasum 22 (19b 3x4 1x6)

Kusal Mendis has taken Hasun Mahmud to the cleaners, smashing the pacer for a six and a four off the last two deliveries of the 14th over to bring up Sri Lanka’s 100. Mendis is on 22 off 18 while Nissanka is on 46 off 42 and closing in on his fifty.

Mohammad Rizwan goes for a slog sweep and sends this Rachin Ravindra delivery for a six over deep midwicket. Pakistan 64 for two in 15 overs.

Mitchell Santner has Abdullah Shafique stumped after the right-hander steps down the track to loft an inside-out six but is beaten by the turn. Not the most fluent of innings and Shafique departs for 14 off 25 balls. Mohammad Rizwan the next man in.

Abdullah Shafique st. Latham b Santner 14 (25b 1x4)

Perera smashes the first ball of the 10th over to the boundary and retires after that. He seemed to have some trouble with his shoulder earlier in the innings and decided it was best to walk away and not risk aggravating the niggle at this stage of the tournament. However, his 24-ball 34 bodes well for Sri Lanka as far as its first PowerPlay batting is concerned. Kusal Mendis comes in next.

Kusal Perera retired hurt 34 (24b 6x4)

Sri Lanka’s start is in sharp contrast to that of Pakistan. Perera and Nissanka only managed 36 runs in the first seven overs with the odd movement off the pitch also troubling them a little. Nissanka got going with a couple of boundaries in the eighth over, bowled by Shoriful. Nasum Ahmed leaked three fours in the next over and Sri Lanka was 60 for no loss in nine overs.

Pakistan only manages 33 runs in the first PowerPlay with the loss of a wicket in the form of Imam-ul-Haq. Captain Babar Azam then punches a length delivery outside off from Neesham to the boundary to get things moving.

Matt Henry bowls it on a length and too straight and Babar Azam flicks it beautifully through midwicket for his first boundary. Pakistan 23/1 after six overs.

Imam-ul-Haq gets an outside edge on the cut and is caught behind. The left-hander was cramped for room a bit as the ball moved into him after pitching. Babar Azam comes in next.

Imam-ul-Haq c Latham b Henry 1 (10b)

Interesting move from New Zealand as part time off-spinner Glenn Phillips takes the ball to bowl the second over. Just three runs from it and Pakistan is 5/0 after two overs against New Zealand.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka start off cautiously after opting to bat. Just two runs from the first over for both teams.

Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique will begin the proceedings with the bat for Pakistan. Matt Henry has the new ball.

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera are out to open the innings for Sri Lanka. Perera, who returned to the ODI fold after two years in the Asia Cup, will hope to make a strong case for himself. Taskin Ahmed with the ball.

The toss for the South Africa vs Afghanistan warm-up in Thiruvananthapuram has been delayed due to rain.

Dasun Shanaka has elected to bat first against Bangladesh in Guwahati. Bangladesh will be led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz today.

Babar Azam wins the coin toss and elects to bat first against New Zealand. All 15 players in the squad can have a go today since it is a warm-up match. Meanwhile, Tom Latham will lead the Kiwis today. New Zealand has only 14 players available today with Tim Southee not travelling with the team to the venue. He will likely be fit for the WC opener against England on October 5.

It’s raining in Thiruvananthapuram, where South Africa takes on Afghanistan today.

All three ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 warm-up matches will be streamed LIVE on the Disney+Hotstar app and website at 2:00 PM IST.

The ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up match between South Africa and Afghanistan will be telecast LIVE on STAR Sports Select 1 and STAR Sports Select 1 HD from 12:30 PM IST onwards. The match will begin at 2:00 PM IST.

The ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will be telecast LIVE on STAR Sports 2 and STAR Sports 2 HD from 12:30 PM IST onwards. The match will begin at 2:00 PM IST.

The ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up match between Pakistan and New Zealand will be telecast LIVE on STAR Sports 1, STAR Sports 1 HD and STAR Sports 1 Hindi HD from 12:30 PM IST onwards. The match will begin at 2:00 PM IST.

In the absence of Kane Williamson, who will feature only as a batter today, Tom Latham will take up the captaincy duties against Pakistan.

Kiwis skipper Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the World Cup opener against England on October 5 in Ahmedabad. He will feature only as a batter in today’s warm-up match against Pakistan in Hyderabad.

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
South Africa vs Afghanistan, Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
New Zealand vs Pakistan, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad