The Zim Afro T10 2024 will start on September 21 and run till September 29 in Harare. 

Organised by Zimbabwe Cricket, the Zim Afro T10 2024 will see as many as six teams compete in a total of 25 matches across nine days. 

Bulawayo Braves Jaguars, Cape Town Samp Army, Durban Wolves, Harare Bolts, Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers and NY Lagos Strikers are the six teams that will participate in the second edition of the Zim Afro T10.

The number of teams has been increased to six from the previous five teams in the inaugural edition with the inclusion of debutant NYS Lagos.

As per the Zim Afro T10 2024 schedule, each team will play seven matches in the league phase. The top four teams in the standings will advance to the Zim Afro T10 2024 playoffs.

The top two teams in the standings will square off in the Qualifier 1 for a place in the Zim Afro T10 2024 final.

The third and fourth-placed teams will clash in the Eliminator for a place in the Qualifier 2. The winner of the Eliminator will face the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2 for the other spot in the final.

The Zim Afro T10 2024 final is scheduled to take place on September 29.

All matches in the Zim Afro T10 2024 will be played at the Harare Sports Club.

David Warner, Sikandar Raza, Carlos Brathwaite, David Willey, Dawid Malan, Chris Lynn, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, Blessing Muzarabani and Thisara Perera are some of the high-profile names that will feature in the upcoming T10 tournament in Harare.

Durban Qalandars won the inaugural edition of the Zim Afro T10 after they defeated Joburg Buffaloes by eight wickets in the 2023 final.

Where to watch Zim Afro T10 2024 live in India 

Live streaming of the Zim Afro T10 2024 will be available on the FanCode app and website.

There will be no live telecast of the upcoming T10 tournament on any TV channel in India.

Zim Afro T10 2024 schedule and live match start times

All timings are in India Standard Time (IST)

Saturday, September 21

Durban Wolves vs JoBurg Bangla Tigers - 6:30 PM

Cape Town Samp Army vs Harare Bolts - 8:45 PM

Bulawayo Braves Jaguars vs NYS Lagos - 11:00 PM

Sunday, September 22

Durban Wolves vs Harare Bolts - 6:30 PM

NYS Lagos vs JoBurg Bangla Tigers - 8:45 PM

Bulawayo Braves Jaguars vs Cape Town Samp Army - 11:00 PM

Monday, September 23

Harare Bolts vs JoBurg Bangla Tigers - 6:30 PM

Bulawayo Braves Jaguars vs Durban Wolves - 8:45 PM

Cape Town Samp Army vs NYS Lagos - 11:00 PM

Tuesday, September 24

NYS Lagos vs Durban Wolves - 6:30 PM

Harare Bolts vs Bulawayo Braves Jaguars - 8:45 PM

JoBurg Bangla Tigers vs Cape Town Samp Army - 11:00 PM

Wednesday, September 25

Harare Bolts vs NYS Lagos - 6:30 PM

Durban Wolves vs Cape Town Samp Army - 8:45 PM

JoBurg Bangla Tigers vs Bulawayo Braves Jaguars - 11:00 PM

Thursday, September 26

Durban Wolves vs Harare Bolts - 6:30 PM

JoBurg Bangla Tigers vs Bulawayo Braves Jaguars - 8:45 PM

Cape Town Samp Army vs NYS Lagos - 11:00 PM

Friday, September 27

Bulawayo Braves Jaguars vs Cape Town Samp Army - 6:30 PM

NYS Lagos vs Durban Wolves - 8:45 PM

Harare Bolts vs JoBurg Bangla Tigers - 11:00 PM

Saturday, September 28

Qualifier 1 - 6:30 PM

Eliminator - 8:45 PM

Qualifier 2 - 11:00 PM

Sunday, September 29

Zim Afro T10 2024 final - 9:00 PM

Zim Afro T10 2024 teams and squads

Bulawayo Braves Jaguars: David Warner, Carlos Brathwaite, Nick Hobson, Kobe Herft, Laurie Evans, Sabir Ali, Akila Dananjaya, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Richard Ngarava, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere, Panashe Taruvinga, Victor Chirwa, Kirk McKenzie, Vishas Thewmika

Cape Town Samp Army: Haider Ali, David Willey, Dawid Malan, Gulbadin Naib, Qais Ahmed, Adam Rossington, Shahnawaz Dahani, Rohan Mustafa, Salman Irshad, Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Ben Curran, Michael Frost, Brian Chari, Tawanda Maposa, Leonardo Julien, Sineth Jayawardena 

Durban Wolves: Colin Munro, Mark Chapman, Will Smeed, Sharjeel Khan, Muhammad Irfan, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Rohid Khan, Muhammad Waseem, Regis Chakabava, Gary Balance, Tinotenda Maposa, Donald Tiripano, Innocent Kaia, Emmanuel Bawa, Mbeki Joseph, Raveen De Silva

Harare Bolts: Dasun Shanaka, James Neesham, George Munsey, Rishad Hossain, Shehan Jayasuriya, Kennar Lewis, Richard Gleeson, Junaid Siddique, Lahiru Milantha, Sean Williams, Faraz Akram, Brandon Mavuta, Luke Jongwe, Alex Falao, Arinshto Vezha, Michael Palmer, Janishka Perera

Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers:  Chris Lynn, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, Hazratullah Zazai , Adam Milne, Luke Wood, Karim Janat, George Linde, Mohammad Shahzad, Sikandar Raza, Tendai Chatara, Antum Naqvi, Tashinga Musekiwa, Johnathan Campbell, Tinashe Muchawaya, Kimani Melius, Kevin Koththigoda  

NYS Lagos: Blessing Muzarabani, Thisara Perera, Asif Ali, Najibullah Zadran, Binura Fernando, Akhilesh Bogudum, Oshane Thomas, Avishka Fernando, Matiullah Khan, Ryan Burl , Clive Madande, Dion Myers, Romario Roach, Nyasha Mayavo, Newman Nyamhuri, Joshua Bishop, Kaveesh Sathsara

Photo credit: Imago

The record for the fastest fifty in cricket history is held by Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee, who smashed a nine-ball half-century against Mongolia in the 2023 Asian Games. His knock helped set up a 273-run win for Nepal.

Ashutosh Sharma from Railways hit the second-fastest fifty in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023. Playing against Arunachal Pradesh, Ashutosh achieved the record in 11 balls. 

Meanwhile, the record for the third fastest fifty in cricket history by balls faced is 12 deliveries, and five cricketers have achieved the feat to date.

Among the five, Yuvraj Singh is the only Indian to feature as the quickest half-centurion in cricket history.

Here we take a look at the record batters who have scored the fastest fifty in cricket history.

Fastest fifty in cricket history

Player	Balls faced	Year	Format
Dipendra Singh Airee	9	2023	T20
Ashutosh Sharma	11	2023	T20
Yuvraj Singh	12	2007	T20
Wayne White	12	2012	First-Class
Chris Gayle	12	2016	T20
Hazratullah Zazai	12	2018	T20

Fastest fifty in First-Class cricket

Wayne White is the record holder for the fastest fifty in First-Class cricket, having hit an unbeaten 12-ball 50 against Essex in 2012.

After playing out a knock of 53 runs in 111 deliveries in the first innings of the 2012 County Championship Division 2 match, White raced to his half-century in the second innings in record time.

His knock was infused with four boundaries and four sixes as he helped Leicestershire give Essex a target of 270 runs to chase. The match was eventually drawn.

Player	Team	Opponent	Balls faced	Year
Wayne White	Leicestershire	Essex	12	2012
Michael van Vuuren	Eastern Province ‘B�?/span>	Griqualand West	13	1985
Ned Eckersley	Leicestershire	Essex	14	2012
Khalil Mahmood	Gujranwala	Sargodha	15	2000
Bandeep Singh	Jammu and Kashmir	Tripura	15	2015

The same match would see Wayne White’s team-mate Ned Eckersley hit a 14-ball fifty and remain unbeaten with a 19-ball 70 alongside White.

Meanwhile, in India, Bandeep Singh scripted a historic record of his own in 2015. Representing Jammu and Kashmir in the Ranji Trophy match against Tripura, Bandeep smashed a 15-ball 50 to help his side set a target of 368 to win the match.

Bandeep Singh’s knock still stands as the fastest fifty in Ranji Trophy history. To know about Ranji Trophy records, click here.

Fastest fifty in Test cricket

In the international format, former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq holds the record for the fastest fifty in Test cricket.

Misbah took a record 24 minutes to reach his Test half-century in the 2014 Pakistan vs Australia Test in Abu Dhabi and broke the previous record held by Jacques Kallis in 2009 against Zimbabwe.

Player	Team	Opponent	Balls faced	Year
Misbah-ul-Haq	Pakistan	Australia	21	2014
David Warner	Australia	Griqualand West	23	2017
Jacques Kallis	South Africa	Essex	24	2005
Shane Shillingford	West Indies	New Zealand	25	2014
Shahid Afridi	Pakistan	India	26	2005

Rishabh Pant holds the record for India with a 28-ball fifty against Sri Lanka in 2022.

Fastest fifty in List A cricket

Kaushalya Weeraratne is credited as the player to score the fastest fifty in List A cricket, with his 12-ball effort coming in a List A game for Ragama Cricket Club against Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club in the 2005 Premier Limited Over Tournament.

The Sri Lankan all-rounder remained unbeaten on 66 runs off 18 balls as his knock, which included two fours and eight sixes, propelled Ragama to 219/5. The match eventually finished without a result.

Player	Team	Opponent	Balls faced	Year
Kaushalya Weeraratne	Ragama Cricket Club	Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club	12	2005
Thisara Perera	Sri Lanka Army Sports Club	Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club	13	2021
Rory Kleinveldt	Western Province	KwaZulu-Natal	14	2011
Adam Hollioake	Surrey	Yorkshire	15	1994
Salman Butt	National Bank of Pakistan	Lahore Eagles	15	2005

Baroda’s Atit Sheth hit the fastest fifty in List A cricket during the 2020-21 Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite Group A match against Chhattisgarh. The then-25-year-old hit seven maximums in his blitzkrieg to drive Baroda to a match-winning score of 332/6.

Fastest fifty in ODIs

AB de Villiers holds the record for the fastest fifty in ODIs. The legendary South African batter took just 16 balls to reach his fifty in a 2015 ODI against West Indies and finished his innings with a 44-ball 149 at a rate of 338.63.

Player	Team	Opponent	Balls faced	Year
AB de Villiers	South Africa	West Indies	16	2015
Sanath Jayasuriya	Sri Lanka	Pakistan	17	1996
Kusal Perera	Sri Lanka	Pakistan	17	2015
Martin Guptill	New Zealand	Sri Lanka	17	2015
Liam Livingstone	England	Netherlands	17	2022

Ajit Agarkar hit the fastest fifty in ODIs for the Indian cricket team in 2000. His 21-ball fifty helped India beat Zimbabwe by 39 runs.

Fastest fifty in T20 cricket

As mentioned earlier, the fastest fifty in cricket history record belongs to Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee after he hit a nine-ball half-century against Mongolia in the 2023 Asian Games to set up a 273-run win for his country.

Meanwhile, amongst the many accolades in his career, Yuvraj Singh is fondly remembered as the player with the third fastest fifty in T20 cricket.

The knock came against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup. Yuvraj smashed three fours and seven sixes in his 16-ball 58, and six of those came off a Stuart Broad over. This made the flamboyant Indian all-rounder the second player in international cricket and the fourth in cricket history to slam six sixes in an over.

Player	Team	Opponent	Balls faced	Year
Dipendra Singh Airee	Nepal	Mongolia	9	2023
Ashutosh Sharma	Railways	Arunachal Pradesh	11	2023
Yuvraj Singh	India	England	12	2007
Chris Gayle	Melbourne Renegades	Adelaide Strikers	12	2016
Hazratullah Zazai	Kabul Zwanan	Balkh Legends	12	2018
Marcus Trescothick	Somerset	Hampshire	13	2010

Yuvraj Singh’s feat, which is a record in the international format, would be matched by Chris Gayle (2016) and Hazratullah Zazai (2018) in 20-over franchise cricket.

While Gayle’s 12-ball fifty came in a Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers match in the 2016 Big Bash League, Zazai achieved the feat in a 2018 Afghanistan Premier League match between Kabul Zwanan and Balkh Legends.

Featured photo: AFP / ALEXANDER JOE

The R Premadasa Stadium is one of the most iconic cricket venues located in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Also known as Khettarama Stadium or Ranasinghe Premadasa Stadium, the R Premadasa Stadium has a seating capacity of 35,000.

It has hosted several marquee ICC tournaments including the ICC Champions Trophy 2002, the ICC World Cup 2011 and the ICC World T20 2012.

The R Premadasa Stadium staged its first T20 international match between Sri Lanka and India in 2009 and the Men in Blue won that contest by three wickets. Since then, it has hosted more than 40 T20Is.

Considered the largest stadium in Sri Lanka, it has also staged several Lanka Premier League (LPL) matches.

Let’s have a look at R Premadasa Stadium T20 records and stats:

R Premadasa T20I records and stats

Highest team total

The Bangladesh cricket team holds the record for the highest team total at the R Premadasa Stadium in T20I cricket. During a tri-series encounter in 2018, Bangladesh recorded 215/5 in 19.4 overs while chasing Sri Lanka’s 214/6. Wicketkeeper-batter   Mushfiqur Rahim’s unbeaten 72 off 35 balls, Tamim Iqbal’s 29-ball 47 and Litton Das�?43 off 19 balls helped Bangladesh chase down the mammoth total and register a five-wicket win in Colombo.

Lowest team total

The Afghanistan cricket team registered the lowest team total at the R Premadasa Stadium in the T20I format. Chasing 197 against England, Afghanistan were bowled out for 80 in 17.2 overs during an ICC World T20 clash in 2012. Gulbadin Naib (44) was the only Afghan batter to score in double digits. For England, Jade Dernbach, Stuart Broad, Samit Patel and Graeme Swann scalped two wickets each.

Most runs

Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera has scored the most runs at this cricket venue in T20I cricket. Between 2013 and 2021, the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter accumulated 425 runs in 14 matches at an average of 30.35 and a strike rate of 139.34. He has slammed four fifties in the T20I format at this ground. India’s Shikhar Dhawan is second on the list with 284 runs in eight matches.

Most wickets

Legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Lasith Malinga picked up the most wickets at the R Premadasa Stadium in T20I cricket. The right-arm pacer bagged 17 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 26.76 and an economy of 8.22. He registered best bowling figures of 3/34 on this ground in the T20I format. Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga features second on the list with 14 wickets in eight matches.

Highest individual score

Former England cricketer Luke Wright has the record for the highest individual score at this venue in the T20I format. During an ICC World T20 group match in 2012, Luke Wright slammed an unbeaten 99 off 55 balls against Afghanistan to power his side to 196/5 in 20 overs. Wright’s knock included eight fours and six maximums. England later bundled out Afghanistan for 80 to secure a massive 116-run victory.

Best bowling figures

Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga holds the record for the best bowling figures at the R Premadasa Stadium in T20I cricket. In the third T20I of a three-match series against India n 2021, the star leg-spinner registered impressive figures of 4-0-9-4. Hasaranga dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Varun Chakravarthy to restrict India to 81/8 in 20 overs. Sri Lanka chased down the target in 14.3 overs to win the match by seven wickets and seal the series 2-1.

Highest partnership

Australia’s Aaron Finch and David Warner hold the record for the highest partnership at the R Premadasa Stadium in the T20I format. Chasing 129, Finch and Warner stitched a match-winning 134-run stand for the opening wicket to help Australia register a thumping 10-wicket win in Colombo in 2022. Finch remained unbeaten on 61, while Warner was 70 not out as Australia took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

R Premadasa T20 records and stats

Highest team total

Chilaw Marians Cricket Club recorded the highest team total at the R Premadasa Stadium in T20 cricket. Chilaw Marians Cricket Club posted 227/6 in 20 overs against Colts Cricket Club during the final of a domestic T20 Tournament in 2004. Chilaw Marians Cricket Club later bowled out Colts Cricket Club for 124 in 12.5 overs to register a 103-run victory in Colombo.

Lowest team total

Combined Provinces have the lowest team total at this cricket venue in the T20 format. During the Sri Lanka Cricket Inter-Provincial Twenty20 Tournament in 2011, Combined Provinces could only manage 61/8 in a shortened encounter against Kandurata. Captain of Kandurata Tharanga Paranavitana and Kumar Sangakkara later stitched an unbeaten 63-run opening stand to register a 10-wicket win.

Highest individual score

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Upul Tharanga holds the record for the highest individual score at the R Premadasa Stadium in T20 cricket. The southpaw scored an unbeaten 124 against Galle during a SLC T20 League clash in 2018. Tharanga’s innings was laced with five fours and 11 sixes, helping Colombo to a total of 197/5 en-route to an eventual 90-run win over Galle.

Best bowling figures

Sri Lanka’s Jeffrey Vandersay has the best bowling figures at this cricket ground in cricket’s shortest format. Playing for Colombo Stars, the leg spinner registered brilliant figures of 4-1-25-6 against Kandy Warriors during a Lanka Premier League clash in 2021. His spell restricted Kandy Warriors to 124 runs in the chase as Colombo Stars won the match by 58 runs having posted 182/6 in the first innings of the game.

Most runs

Former Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal has scored the most runs at the R Premadasa Stadium in T20 cricket. The right-handed batter has amassed 1,312 runs in 48 matches at an average of 33.64 and a strike rate of 126.51 between 2011 and 2023. He’s smashed nine fifties in T20 cricket at this venue while representing the likes of B-Love Kandy, Colombo, Colombo Stars, Galle Guardians, Nondescripts Cricket Club, Ruhuna, SLC Greens, Sri Lanka, Uthura Yellows and Wayamba United..

Most wickets

Sri Lankan fast bowler Isuru Udana has scalped the most wickets at this venue in cricket’s shortest format. Between 2011 and 2023, the left-arm pacer has claimed 34 T20 wickets in 35 matches at an average of 26.20 while representing the likes of B-Love Kandy, Basnahira Greens, Combined Provinces, Dambulla, Galle Gladiators, Galle Guardians, Kandy Falcons, Nondescripts Cricket Club, Sri Lanka and Wayamba United. His best bowling T20 figures at R Premadasa Stadium is 3/39. 

Highest partnership

Kamran Akmal and Tamim Iqbal recorded the highest partnership at the R Premadasa Stadium in T20 cricket. Representing Wayamba United, Kamran Akmal and Tamim Iqbal forged a match-winning 176-run stand against Uthura Rudras during a Sri Lanka Premier League clash in 2012. Iqbal’s 93 and Akmal’s 79 guided Wayamba United to a nine-wicket win as they made light work of the 180-run target set by Uthura Rudras.

Photo credit: Alamy

The SA20 auction will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in South Africa on September 19.

Coined by Cricket South Africa (CSA), the SA20 is a new franchise-based T20 League featuring a total of six teams which are owned by Indian T20 League owners. The inaugural edition, SA20 2023, is scheduled to be played in January-February next year in South Africa.

MI Cape Town (owned by Mumbai franchise), Chennai-owned Joburg Super Kings, Durban’s Super Giants (acquired by Lucknow franchise), Delhi franchise-owned Pretoria Capitals, Sunrisers Eastern Cape (owned by Hyderabad franchise) and Paarl Royals (acquired by Rajasthan franchise) are the six teams participating in SA20 2023.

More than 300 cricketers from 14 countries have registered for the player auction of SA20 2023 scheduled to be held on September 19.

eXXcitement & anticipation for the inaugural #SA20 Auction is heating up as South African and international players look ahead to the historical event.

3️⃣1️⃣6️⃣ Players
1️⃣4️⃣ Countries

All going under the hammer on Monday.#SA20 #SA20Auction pic.twitter.com/tsbgeGAymo

�?SA20_League (@SA20_League) September 17, 2022

As per SA20 auction rules, each franchise has an overall purse of US$2 million and can sign seven overseas players and 10 local South African cricketers. During the match, every team can include four foreigners and seven local players in the playing XI.

England’s 2019 World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor, ex-Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal, West Indies batter Lendl Simmons, New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham and Sri Lankan duo of Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera are some of the big names in the SA20 auction.

Players from South Africa, England, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have registered their names for the auction.

Cricketers from Associate nations like the Netherlands, Namibia, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, USA, Oman, Sweden and Bermuda have also made themselves available for the inaugural SA20 auction.

Pakistan cricketers haven’t registered for the SA20 auction as Pakistan Cricket Board hasn’t given them consent.

The SA20 2023 schedule will clash with next year’s Australia's Big Bash League, UAE's International League T20 and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Meanwhile, the six franchises have also signed more than 30 marquee international players ahead of the player auction. This is in addition to all contracted Proteas and domestic players who have committed to the CSA T20 league.

Former Indian T20 League auctioneer Richard Madley has been roped in to conduct the SA20 auction. 

SA20 2023 teams and squads

MI Cape Town: Kagiso Rabada, Dewald Brevis, Rashid Khan, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone

Joburg Super Kings: Faf du Plessis (Captain), Moeen Ali, Maheesh Theekshana, Romario Shepherd, Gerald Coetzee

Durban’s Super Giants: Quinton de Kock, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Reece Topley, Prenelan Subrayen

Pretoria Capitals: Anrich Nortje, Migael Pretorius

Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Aiden Markram , Ottniel Baartman

Paarl Royals: Jos Buttler, David Miller, Obed McCoy, Corbin Bosch

Where to watch the SA20 auction live in India?

Live streaming of the SA20 auction will be available on SA20’s YouTube channel in India. 

There will be no live telecast of SA20 auction on any TV channel in India. 

Interested in cricket betting? Click here to check out the list of top sites

Featured photo: Aamir QURESHI / AFP

Bangladesh will be eager to secure their maiden series whitewash over Sri Lanka when the teams reconvene for the third and final ODI at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka on Friday, May 28.

The Bangladesh cricket team has taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, and are coming off a 103-run victory in the rain-marred second ODI. The victory meant the Tigers moved to the summit of the ICC Cricket World Cup’s Super League.

The Sri Lanka cricket team, meanwhile, faltered yet again as it couldn’t sustain on the sluggish pitch at Dhaka. The Lankan Lions are likely to test their bench strength and field a changed playing XI, given they have already lost the series.

BAN vs SL fantasy team picks for the third ODI 

Top tip: Best batsmen

Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim’s exploits in the second ODI make him an easy choice as a top batsman for the third BAN vs SL ODI. The 34-year-old has aggregated 209 runs at an average of 104.50 and has been rewarded with 295 fantasy points.

Kusal Perera is favoured as Sri Lanka’s best batsman for the dead rubber on Friday. Despite scoring just 44 runs, the Lankan ODI captain has earned 67 fantasy points and could be a decent pick for fantasy cricket players.

Top tip: Best bowlers

It is a no-brainer why Mustafizur Rahman is the highly-rated bowler for the third BAN vs SL game on Friday. Fantasy cricket owners ought to be aware that ‘Fizz�?has been rewarded with 437 fantasy points, and he will be eager to consolidate his tally of six wickets which have come at the cost of 3.33 runs per over.

Sri Lanka’s Dushmantha Chameera has scalped four wickets in the ongoing ODI series and is rated as the top Lankan bowler to watch out in the third ODI. The 29-year-old, with 25 wickets in 27 ODI games, has earned 141 fantasy points and should be a safe option to consider in your fantasy cricket team.

Top tip: All-rounder

Isuru Udana is pegged as the top all-rounder for this fixture and is one of the players with the most fantasy points to his name. Udana has registered 39 runs and two wickets in the ongoing series and will need to showcase his all-round skills that can propel Sri Lanka to claim a consolation win.

Play fantasy cricket with SportsAdda. Create your team, track your progress and win prizes. Start here.

Featured photo: AFP / Munir Uz Zaman

He is a big fan of Sanath Jayasuriya, so it’s not much of a surprise that there are shades of the Sri Lankan legend every time Kusal Perera takes to the crease to bat. Blessed with a short backlift and strong forearms, Perera can be as devastating as Jayasuriya on his day and has played his fair share of match-winning knocks for Sri Lanka ever since he made his international debut in 2013.

On his 30th birthday, we have a look at his best knocks for the Lankan Lions across the three formats.

153* vs South Africa

His knock of an unbeaten 153 against South Africa isn’t just one of his best but one the greatest of all-time in the history of Test cricket. It was a see-saw Test match with Sri Lanka chasing a target of 304 in the final innings. The Proteas looked like they were on course for a win when they dismissed Kasun Rajitha with the score reading 226 for 9.

However, Kusal managed to keep his wits about him and guided his team to an unlikely win in what was an incredible finale to the Test. With the team still needing 78 for a win after the loss of Rajitha, Kusal and Vishwa Fernando stitched together a record-breaking 10th-wicket stand to guide Sri Lanka to a win. Kusal, who walked in at no. 5, was the main inspiration behind the win as wickets tumbled all around him. His epic 153 not out saw him smash 12 fours and five sixes to help his team to a one-wicket win under the most dramatic of circumstances.

135 vs Ireland

Kusal’s best ODI knock came at Dublin against Ireland in 2016. Opening the innings for the Lankans, Kusal put most of Ireland’s bowlers to the sword. Kusal and Danushka Gunathilaka added 147 for the opening wicket with the former eventually being dismissed after Sri Lanka crossed the 300-mark.

He scored 135 from 128 balls at a strike rate of 105.46 before departing. The stylish left-hander hit 16 fours and two sixes as Sri Lanka went on to post a mammoth total of 377 for a comfortable win.

116 vs Pakistan

Another high-scoring innings for Sri Lanka was when Kusal helped lay the foundation at the top during the fifth ODI of Pakistan’s tour of the island nation in 2015. Even though Pakistan had already won the series, Kusal ensured that they wouldn’t have it all their way.

He scored a 109-ball 116 at a strike rate of 106.42 and hit nine fours as well as four sixes over the course of the knock. The left-hander’s brisk innings helped set Pakistan a target of 369 to chase and after the hosts won the match by 165 runs, Kusal was deservedly awarded the Player of the Match award.

111 vs Bangladesh

Kusal was at it again with a Player of the Match performance during the first ODI of Bangladesh’s tour of Sri Lanka last year. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Kusal walked into the crease with the score at 10 for 1.

Once he got his eye in, the talented left-hander began dominating Bangladesh’s bowlers and scored 111 from 99 balls at a strike rate of 112.12. He hit 17 fours, one six and helped Sri Lanka post 314, which was enough for them to record a 91-run win over Bangladesh.

110 vs Zimbabwe

Kusal’s first Test century came against Zimbabwe during Sri Lanka’s tour of the African nation in 2016. Walking in after the dismissal of one of the openers, he went on to score his maiden Test ton. Kusal scored 110 from just 121 deliveries and hit 15 boundaries as well as two sixes during the knock. He was eventually dismissed by Graeme Cremer but had done his job as Sri Lanka went on to score 537 in the first innings and 247 in the second to seal a comfortable 225-run victory.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Ishara S. Kodikara

The 2010s were a fantastic period for Test cricket as teams found better ways of reigning in Test cricket by giving priority to picking up 20 wickets. Batting wasn't always easy and therefore some of these outrageous knocks by players made a huge impact. 

Here are four best Test knocks in terms of impact in the 2010s.

Kusal Perera - 153* vs South Africa, Durban 2019

One of the all-time great Test knocks came from the unheralded Kusal Perera in a Test match against the Proteas in 2019 at Durban. The wicket-keeper batsman from Sri Lanka was stranded with the no.11 batsman in the fourth innings of the Test match, with the Lankan Lions stuck at 226 while chasing 304 for a win. 

Vishwa Fernando remained unbeaten for 27 balls, making just 6 runs, as Perera smashed the Proteas bowlers around to take Sri Lanka to an unlikely win. Perera made 153* in 200 balls with the next highest Lankan score being 40. He single-handedly led Sri Lanka to an amazing win in a foreign land which makes this knock extra special.

Ben Stokes - 135* vs Australia, Headingley 2019

2019 was a year of heroes and Ben Stokes was the ultimate champion of the year. The superstar all-rounder played a mighty hand in England's World Cup win, but his biggest impact was in the Headingley Test match of the Ashes series against Australia. Stokes blasted 135, sharing a last-wicket stand of 76 with Jack Leach, who made just one run in 17 balls. 

Stokes held England's innings together and kept the Aussie bowlers at bay, even reverse swatting Nathan Lyon out of the rough for a six to establish his supremacy. Stokes took just 219 balls for his knock and hit eight sixes in his innings. 

Kevin Pietersen - 186 vs India, Mumbai 2012

Hailed as the best ever knock by a non-Asian batsman in Asia, Kevin Pietersen's mind-blowing 186 at Mumbai against India in 2012 will forever be remembered for the utter flamboyance and confidence that was on display. Walking in at 68/2 in England's first innings after India made 327, Pietersen rendered India's daunting spinners with his spell-binding knock. Alastair Cook made a ton from the other end, but it was all Pietersen as he blitzed 186 in just 233 balls to take England to 413. The visitors went on to win the Test by 10 wickets.

Brendon McCullum - 302 vs India, Wellington 2014

In the second Test match of the 2014 series between New Zealand and India at Wellington, Brendon McCullum did the unthinkable. It was all India after one innings apiece as New Zealand were bowled out for 192 and India made 438 in their first innings, a lead of 246. At 94/5, the hosts were heading towards an innings defeat when McCullum joined hands with BJ Watling. The pair remained unseparated for 122 overs as they shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 352, the best ever for the 6th wicket in Tests at the time. New Zealand made a mammoth 680/8 before declaring as McCullum waltzed his way to 302 in 559 balls. The game ended in a draw. 

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Anesh Debiky

2019 was a very weird year for Kusal Perera. A match-winning 153* at Durban against South Africa in a Test match shot Perera into the limelight. Much like Ben Stokes' stunning Headingley knock against the Aussies in the Ashes, Perera, combining in a game-changing last-wicket stand, stood out for Lanka. 

Read | Six great Test innings

But his fortunes dwindled as the year progressed and Perera ended up being an outlier in the Test side by the end of the year. His ODI and T20I record - an average of 31.12 in ODIs and 27.88 in T20Is - isn't eye-catching, but the Lankan has the knack of producing outstanding innings.

His last innings in T20Is was a 45-ball 57 against Australia in Melbourne. But it turned out to be his first half-century since March 2018 in the format. In the World Cup in 2019, Perera slammed a 111 against Bangladesh, but was otherwise off-colour. 

As the Indore T20I against India looms, Perera will, however, be a key figure for Sri Lanka. Two years back in December 2017 at the very same venue, when Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul combined in a 165-run opening stand to help India to a total of 260, Perera waged a lone battle for Lanka.

Walking in at no. 3, Perera hit a 43-ball 77, slamming seven sixes and four fours in a lost cause. With no support from the other end, Perera was dismissed in the 15th over and the Lankan innings lost direction thereafter. From 156/3, Sri Lanka collapsed to be bowled out for 172. 

Perera averages close to 30 against India in T20Is and has a strike rate of nearly 150 in the format. Other than the 77, he has another half-century against India in T20Is - a 66 in 37 balls at Colombo in 2018.

He will aided by the fact that India have a pace attack that loves hitting the deck - the likes of Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah and Shardul Thakur. Perera is pretty convincing with his horizontal bat shots and could be a threat at the top of the order for Lanka.

Crucially, Sri Lanka seem to have hit upon the right spot for him in the format. At Melbourne in his final knock in the format, Perera batted at No. 3 and made 57. The left-hander averages a whopping 40.18 at no.3 in the format and has a strike rate of 149.32. Given his recent form, previous innings at Indore and a cosy position in the batting line-up, Perera will be Sri Lanka's x-factor for the second T20I.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Ishara S. Kodikara

We have two extremely contrasting matches this week with India taking on Sri Lanka in T20Is and Ireland and West Indies in a face-off in ODIs. For Nostragamus fantasy managers, this is a tricky week as identifying the right players from three new-look sides (Sri Lanka, Ireland and West Indies) could be a challenge. Here we give a little nudge in the right direction.

KL Rahul

Country: India

Match/Series:  India vs Sri Lanka, T20I

KL Rahul is said to be in direct competition with Shikhar Dhawan for a place in the T20I side this series but the reality is that Rahul has been in a better form for India in the format. His last few scores in T20Is speak of a player who has consistency and panache required to nail the format. In 2019, Rahul made scores of 59, 47, 20, 15, 8*, 52, 62, 11 and 91 in T20Is. The Karnataka opener has a terrific average of 43.76 in T20Is and has hit two hundreds in addition to eight half-centuries.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa

Country: Sri Lanka

Match/Series: India vs Sri Lanka, T20I

Flamboyant left-hander, Bhanuka Rajapaksa isn't a known name in International cricketing circles yet, but the left-hander had a terrific series against Pakistan recently where he made a lasting impression with his 77 in the second T20I. He had been pushed down the order in the last few games against Australia, but Rajapaksa is likely to slot in at the top against India this series. He comes on the back of a terrific Bangladesh Premier League where he shone for Cumilla Warriors.

Kusal Perera

Country: Sri Lanka

Match/Series: India vs Sri Lanka, T20I

A strong left-handed batsman with a slew of horizontal bat shots, Kusal Perera is a valuable addition in most T20 teams. In the last few matches against India in T20s, Perera has had a good run of form. He made a 77 in 37 balls at Indore (venue of the 2nd T20I) in 2017 and a 66 in 37 balls at Colombo in 2018. Perera should be a handy x-factor pick this week in your fantasy team.

Mark Adair

Country: Ireland

Match/Series: West Indies vs Ireland, ODIs

A seemingly innocuous medium pacer, Mark Adair has proved to be quite handful against top batting line-ups of late. In the Lord's Test against England, Adair made an impression but in ODIs, he has been even more eye-catching. His last few figures in the format suggest he is a natural wicket-taker with the ball - 2/53, 0/52, 4/73, 3/71, 4/19. While Adair has been expensive, his wicket-taking abilities should keep fantasy players interested in him.

Nicholas Pooran

Country: West Indies

Match/Series: West Indies vs Ireland, ODIs

Pooran has played only 19 ODIs to date. He has, however, been a revelation with 728 runs coming at an average of 52 and a strike rate of 110.13 in the format. In his last knocks in ODIs, Pooran has made 89, 75, 29*, 21 and 67, an indication of the red-hot form he is in at the moment. Pooran's extraordinary ability to grab the game by the scruff of its neck makes him a must-have in your fantasy team, particularly against a team like Ireland.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Noah Seelam

Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper-batsman, Kusal Perera has urged senior players to step up and take more responsibility if the Islanders are to beat India in the ongoing three-match T20 series.

The series, which started on January 5, saw its first game being abandoned due to rain and the teams now travel to the Holkar Stadium in Indore. As for Sri Lanka, the team has not only failed to match the expectations in recent years but have also dwindled in finding replacements of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

Speaking ahead of the game, Perera admitted that he needs to be at his best and also urged the other senior members to ‘pull their socks up.�?/p>

"I didn't play consistent Test cricket but in white-ball cricket, I played the last series in Australia. There I played well but not upto the mark. So I will try to do my best in this series," said Perera, who has played 18 Tests, 98 ODIs and 43 T20s.

"We need to play together as a team. Obviously the senior players will have to pull up their socks. They will have to do much better but at the same time the good thing is we have some young bowlers and batsmen in the squad," Perera told bcci.tv.

Sri Lanka are ranked seventh in the T20 rankings, and although India aren’t far ahead (fifth), the contrast between the two units remains a big one. Perera, on his part, is well aware of India’s threat and says the Lankan Lions will put their best show in the second T20I.

“They (India) are very good. In world cricket, India is at the top of the rank. So, as a team we will try to do what we can do in the middle. We back our strengths.�?/p>

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Ishara S. Kodikara