Over the holidays

Shakib Al Hasan was in Disneyland in Florida with family in tow. PHOTOS: COLLECTED

For Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza it was all about relaxing at home with family.

For Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza it was all about relaxing at home with family.

For Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza it was all about relaxing at home with family. PHOTOS: COLLECTED

An auspicious occasion for Afghanistan went south fast as they fell to a rare, two-day defeat to India in Bangalore on Friday. Photo: AFP

Afghanistan's sharp fall

The match that Afghan cricket fans had been waiting years for -- their debut Test -- ended in just two days in Bangalore, and it was a royal thrashing by an innings and 262 runs at the hands of top-ranked India. Afghanistan did well enough on the first day after Shikhar Dhawan became the first Indian to score a century before lunch, getting India down to 347 for six before having them all out for 474 on June 15, the second day.

On the second day, however, they were dismissed between lunch and tea for 109 and between tea and close for 103, making them just the third team after India and Zimbabwe to be dismissed twice in a day. It was also the 21st match in Test history to be wrapped up inside two days and the first with India on the right side of the result. 

Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal was in ball-tampering trouble after the second day of the second Test against West Indies. Photo: AFP

Tampering once more?

At the end of the second day of the second Test against West Indies in St. Lucia on Friday, umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould had a close look at the ball being used by the Sri Lankans. The following morning, 10 minutes before play, the umpires informed the Sri Lankans that they were being charged with ball-tampering as footage showed that skipper Dinesh Chandimal had put something in his mouth and a couple of seconds later, rubbed the ball with the saliva. Sri Lanka were incensed by the timing of Dar's communication and did not take the field for more than 90 minutes. Play got underway eventually with match referee Javagal Srinath calming matters. The Sri Lanka board and Chandimal denied ICC's tampering charge. Chandimal will attend a hearing at the end of the Test.  

England opener Jason Roy hit 120 to help the hosts go 2-0 up over Australia in Cardiff on Friday. Photo: AFP

Roy-powered England

The last team to be caught tampering -- Australia in South Africa in March -- were not having a good time of it in their archrivals' territory as England won the second ODI by 38 runs in Cardiff to go 2-0 up in the five-match series.

Opener Jason Roy creamed a 108-ball 120 and Jos Buttler hit a 70-ball 91 to lift England to their highest score against Australia of 342 for eight.

Although Shaun Marsh batted brilliantly to score 131 off 116, the fight truly left the Aussies when he was eighth out on 283 in the 46th over.

Australia lasted just seven more balls and folded to 304 all out.