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Cricket World Player of the Week - Jason Roy

by Sandeep Shivam Monday 15 January 2018

Jason Roy scored 180 off 151 deliveries

©REUTERS

For scoring a majestic 180 run knock in the first One-Day Internationa against Australia in Melbourne, England opening batsman Jason Roy is named the Cricket World Player of the Week.

Roy's knock was pivotal in England chasing down 305 against Steven Smith's men as they claimed a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. His knock came off just 151 deliveries and had 16 fours and five sixes in it. In the process, he registered the highest score for a visiting batsman in Melbourne and even surpassed Alex Hales' score of 171 to become the highest individual run-scorer for England in the 50-over format.

Joe Root also contributed with an unbeaten 91 run knock and helped his team saw through the chase in the 49th over. Earlier, it was 107 from Aaron Finch and fifties from Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis that helped the home side reach 304 for eight in the 50 overs.

The ongoing second Test between India and South Africa saw once again bowlers take control with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ishant Sharma sharing seven wickets between them but there were contributions with the bat as well with Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli scoring 94, 82, 63 and unbeaten 85 respectively.

The five-match One-Day International series between Pakistan and New Zealand saw the hosts win the first three games as they claimed a 3-0 unassailable lead.

Martin Guptill scored an unbeaten 86 in the second game while Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor notched half-centuries in the third game which also saw Trent Boult claim a five-wicket haul to bowl out Pakistan for 74 runs.

Ireland won both the games against the United Arab Emirates in the tri-series with Ed Joyce, William Porterfield and Andy Balbirnie scoring centuries while Kevin O'Brien picked a four-wicket haul in the second game.

There were some special performances in the ongoing Big Bash League as well.

Sam Billings scored an unbeaten 61 for Sydney Sixers but that was not enough as his team went on to lose by five runs against Hobart Hurricanes. Cameron White and Tom Cooper scored half-centuries for Melbourne Renegades in the 22nd game but that went in vain as David Willey and Ashton Turner scored 55 and 70 respectively to help Perth Scorchers complete a five-wicket win chasing 186.

Fifties from Glenn Maxwell, Carey and Travis Head in the 23rd game along with a majestic unbeaten 122 from D'Arcy Short in the 24th game deserves a special mention. Usman Khawaja and Cameron Bancroft also scored 85 and 76 respectively in the 25th match while a 76-run knock from Kevin Pietersen led Melbourne Stars to their maiden win in the derby game against Melbourne Renegades.

Ashton Agar scored unbeaten 26 and picked three wickets in the 27th game of the tournament.

That concludes the performances of the week.