The first day of the fourth week of the Virtual Cricket Tournament 2020 saw six matches being played on Tuesday, June 23. There were some memorable performances in the simulated reality league cricket tournament, and here, we look at what transpired through the day and bring you the summary of each virtual match.
AUS vs ENG, Match 1: Match abandoned
The first game of virtual cricket saw AUS crossing swords with ENG, and after putting in to bat by the latter, AUS registered 50/4 in five overs, with Daniel Warner scoring 23 off 13 deliveries, which included two fours and one six. The middle-order collapsed to a bowling brilliance, and a certain Moin Alee shone the brightest, picking two wickets while conceding just four runs. The e-cricket match, however, was abandoned without a ball being bowled in the second innings.
IND vs SA, Match 2: IND won by 26 runs
The second game of simulated reality league cricket tournament had IND clinching a 26-run victory over SA.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, IND put on 58/3 on board, with opener Rohan Sharma scoring 20 off 13 deliveries. Captain Viraj Kohli scored 16 off seven, while a late blitz by MS Dhanraj (13 off four) took IND to a decent total in five overs at the loss of three wickets.
IND continued the momentum with the ball by dismissing Hanif Amla and Fabian Du Plessis in the very first over to pile on the pressure on SA. And once Quincy De Kock was gone, the game was put to bat by the bowlers, restricting SA to just 32/3 in five overs.
NZ vs PAK, Match 3: NZ won by 13 runs
The third virtual match of the opening day saw NZ defeating PAK by 13 runs, courtesy Markus Guptill's 36 off just 14 balls.
NZ had a blistering start after put in to bat by PAK, with their openers Callum Munro and Guptill stitching a 33-run stand in three overs. The middle-order did collapse, but Guptill made sure he keeps the spirit high, and his innings, which included five fours and one six, took NZ all the way to 61/3.
PAK made a stable start with the bat, but as soon as Fakhar Zakir was dismissed, their batting line-up collapsed like a pack of cards. Only Baba Azem, who scored 31 in 12 balls, scored in double figures as PAK fell 13 runs short, scoring 48/6 in five overs.
AUS vs SA, Match 4: SA won by 19 runs
A forgetful day for AUS saw them losing to SA by 19 runs.
SA elected to bat, and unlike their previous game against IND, their openers put on a decent partnership (37) in three overs. And after Quincy de Kock was dismissed, captain Fabian du Plessis scored 18 off five deliveries to take SA to 62/1.
They oozed similar confidence with the ball, and it didn't take long for them to assert their authority. Both Daniel Warner and Armand Finch were dismissed in the opening two overs, and apart from Glen Maxwall, none of the AUS batsmen managed to score in double figures. They eventually ended at 43/5, losing the game by 19 runs.
IND vs PAK, Match 5: IND won by wickets
IND registered their second win of the day, this time defeating PAK by a whopping eight wickets.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, PAK put 53/3 in five overs, with Baba Azem once again becoming the shining light, scoring 19 in 10 balls. Captain Sarfaraz Ahmad scored 23 off seven, which included five boundaries, to end PAK's innings on a high.
Despite a decent total on board, PAK failed to defend their target, with IND winning the game with four balls to spare. Opener Rohan Sharma scored 26 in 10, while KL Rajul registered 13 in five to take IND to a comfortable victory.
NZ vs ENG, Match 6: ENG won by six runs
The final game of the first day of simulated reality league cricket tournament ended in ENG defeating NZ by six runs.
Ian Morgan's men were put in to bat by NZ, and openers James Butler and Jackson Bairstow put on a 34-run opening wicket stand, giving their side a much-needed headstart. Jason Ray did the rest, scoring 15 off seven, as ENG scored 63/4 in five overs, the highest total by any side on Day 1.
For the second time running, NZ openers made a blistering start, with Munro and Guptill partnering to make 51 without a loss. Despite their strong efforts though, NZ fell six runs short, putting 57/1 in five overs.
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