The third day of the fifth week of the Virtual Cricket Tournament 2020 saw six matches being played on Thursday, July 2. 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.
SA vs NZ, Match 13: NZ won by 22 runs
After being put to bat by the toss-winning SA, NZ went on to put a stout score on the board, thanks not only to Markus Guptill's 14-ball 33 but handy supporting performances from fellow top-order batsmen Callum Munro and Ken Williamson, both with strike-rates over 171.
By contrast, SA opener Quincy de Kock's golden duck set the tone for their innings, as a mostly underwhelming showing saw them fall 23 runs short of the winning target.
IND vs AUS, Match 14: AUS won by five runs
Electing to bat after winning the toss, AUS openers Daniel Warner and Armand Finch wasted no time, putting together a 29-run stand at the halfway point (2.5 overs). Following Finch's dismissal by Yuzvendra Chahar, Warner went on to add to the tally alongside Sam Smith to see out AUS' final score at 52/1.
IND's openers too were no slouches, particularly Shikhar Dhaven, who belted out an 18-ball 34. However, an uncharacteristically poor second over that netted just two singles and four dots nailed the coffin on their chances in this virtual cricket match.
PAK vs ENG, Match 15: ENG won by ten wickets
After ENG let PAK bat first after winning the toss, openers Baba Azem and Fakhar Zakir didn't do much to inspire hopes of a victory. A productive opening over laden with three boundaries belied the sparse haul that would follow for the rest of their innings, with the final tally at an unbeaten 40.
That was easily chased down by ENG, as James Butler and Jackson Bairstow breezed to the winning target in just 2.5 overs.
SA vs IND, Match 16: SA won by eight wickets
IND's hopes of recovering from their loss to AUS earlier in the day were dashed in this virtual match as well. Put to bat by SA after winning the toss, IND only managed to put 44/3 on the board, thanks in no small part to a particularly disappointing final over that saw KL Rajul and MS Dhanraj combine to collect just four singles.
Steady play from openers Quincy de Kock and Hanif Amla along with a timely six-ball 12 from JP Dominic meant SA successfully chased down the target set by IND with just a ball to spare.
NZ vs AUS, Match 17: AUS won by 11 runs
Carrying on with their winning momentum from earlier in the day, AUS shone with the bat to open the match. Finch anchored his side's innings with a 17-ball 35 laced with five boundaries and two sixes, while the rest of the top-order comprising Daniel Warner and Sam Smith held up their ends of the bargain respectably as well, to see out AUS' tally at 56/1.
NZ were slow to get going by comparison, and a dearth of boundaries and sixes characterised their innings, which fizzled out 12 runs short of the winning target.
PAK vs ENG, Match 18: ENG won by eight wickets
ENG closed out the final match of the day winning two-for-two against PAK. However, this time around, the Men in Green's top order was a bit more productive with the bat, putting together a competitive tally of 52/1.
It was not enough to rattle ENG, however, as they successfully chased down the winning target in 4.4 overs, thanks to an impressive trifecta of boundaries in five balls by James Butler while skipper Ian Morgan went berserk with a 15-ball 28 which included five boundaries.
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