Fast bowler S Sreesanth was among the heroes for Kerala as they beat Uttar Pradesh by three wickets to register their second win in two games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The fast bowler took 5 for 65 as Kerala bowled UP out for 283, before fifties from Robin Uthappa (81 off 55) and Sachin Baby (76 off 83) laid the foundation for a chase that went deep.

Sreesanth is playing in his first full domestic season for Kerala since 2013 following his ban in relation to the IPL spot fixing episode. Having completed a full Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy season for them, Sreesanth’s wicket tally after this five-for is now seven wickets in two games.

It is 37-year-old Sreesanth’s second five-wicket haul in List A cricket, the first one being his ODI-best 6 for 55 against England in 2006. He dismissed two of UP’s half-centurions, opener Abhishek Goswami and middle-order batsman Akshdeep Nath and took the last four wickets of the innings, including that of Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

In response, Kerala lost Vishnu Vinod early to Bhuvneshwar, but a brisk 104-run stand between Uthappa and Sanju Samson kept them on track with the required rate. Two quick wickets followed, however, and it took consolidation from the middle order before No. 9 M Nidheesh struck an unbeaten 13 off 6 to help them get over the line.

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ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Quick had taken part in a practice game the day before the test was conducted

Sri Lanka quick Lahiru Kumara has tested positive for Covid-19, which rules him out of the tour of the West Indies in March, Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed on Monday. Suranga Lakmal is in the frame to be his replacement in the travelling party.

“Following PCR Tests carried out on the squad nominated to take part in the ‘white ball’ segment of the tour of West Indies, Lahiru Kumara has tested positive for Covid-19,” an SLC media statement said.

Earlier this month, both head coach Mickey Arthur and top-order batsman Lahiru Thirimanne had tested positive for Covid-19, while seamers Binura Fernando and Chamika Karunaratne were removed from the training group following positive tests last month.

While no other player tested positive in the latest round of testing, it might be a matter of concern that all members of the squad, including Kumara, had participated in a practice game the day before the latest tests were conducted.

“Immediately upon identification, Lahiru Kumara has been directed to follow the Government’s health protocol laid out on Covid-19,” the release said. “Sri Lanka Cricket will continue with normal operations, adhering to the stipulated Health Protocols.”

The series, which will begin with the first T20I on March 4, has had to be rescheduled once – it was originally slated to start on February 20 – and Sri Lanka’s limited-overs squad is due to fly out on February 23. But several players, who have to serve Covid-19 quarantines and/or are returning from injury, will link up with the rest of the squad at a later date, likely to be before the Test series that starts on March 17.

Fast bowler says he would have got to 100 even if was playing all formats – but maybe not this quickly

It is easy to forget that Ishant Sharma, who will play his 100th Test this Wednesday, is only 32 years old. He has seen a lot of ups and downs at such a young age. Most importantly, he has kept working on his skill and fitness to turn around a career that at one point looked like one of the luckier ones. From there to leading India’s attack to being one of the best Test bowlers in the world over the last four years is a testament to his commitment and stubbornness.

Test cricket is Ishant’s world now, and the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) is his World Cup. When asked if he can see himself going past Kapil Dev’s mark of 131 Tests – the most for an India fast bowler – Ishant said he wasn’t looking beyond qualifying for the WTC final.