Cricket World Player Of The Week - Jermaine Blackwood

For two crucial knocks in either innings that helped West Indies win the third Test against England in Barbados and level the series 1-1, Jermaine Blackwood is our Cricket World Player Of The Week. 

Blackwood scored 85 in the first innings when West Indies were bundled out for 189, adding 45 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul and then 82 with the lower order before being the last man to get out in an attempt to score some quick runs.

He followed that up with a brilliant unbeaten 47 in the second innings, when West Indies were under pressure chasing 194.

He added a crucial 108 runs with Darren Bravo after West Indies were reduced to 80 for four chasing a target of 192.

Alastair Cook’s 105 in the first innings in the same game was a commendable effort as well.

In one of the few impressive bowling performances of the week was James Anderson’s six for 42 that helped England bundle out West Indies for just 189 in their first innings.

Jerome Taylor’s match figures of six for 69 were also crucial for the West Indian win as England got bundled out for 123 in the second innings setting up the game for West Indies.

Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Hafeez were two close contenders during the week; both batsmen got double-centuries in the first Test between Bangladesh and Pakistan at Khulna.

While Hafeez also contributed with four wickets, Tamim’s double ton came in the fourth innings when Bangladesh started 296 runs behind with a lot of time to bat and save the game.

He added a record opening partnership for Bangladesh of 312 with Imrul Kayes who made a splendid 150.

The week had several sparkling performances from the Indian Premier League as well.

Ajinkya Rahane’s unbeaten 91 off just 54 balls that helped Rajasthan Royals set Delhi Daredevils a target of 190 and win by 14 runs was another impressive performance.

David Warner’s 61 off just 28 balls in an innings where he brought up his half century in just 20 balls to help Sunrisers Hyderabad set Chennai Super Kings a target of 193 was a really good performance. Hyderabad eventually won by 21 runs.

Andre Russell and Mandeep Singh both played adrenaline-driven innings in the rain-shortened 10-over per side game between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Russell’s 45 off 17 helped KKR set RCB a target of 112. Mandeep’s 45 off 18 balls helped RCB chase it down after they lost their big three at the top.

There were more gems in the batting department during the week’s IPL games.

Ambati Rayudu smashed an unbeaten 53 off 27 balls to lift Mumbai Indians to 187 in a game where they defeated then table-toppers Rajasthan Royals by eight runs.

In the chase, Sanju Samson played an initially responsible innings which took off in the later part. He scored 76 off 46 balls and it was his dismissal that turned the game around.

Nathan Coulter-Nile registered one of his best bowling performances this IPL with figures of four for 20 against Kings XI Punjab to restrict them to just 118 which Delhi Daredevils chased down in under 14 overs.

For Kolkata Knight Riders, Brad Hogg and Robin Uthappa produced excellent performances as well.

Hogg’s figures of four for 29 plugged CSK back, Hogg getting the big wicket of Brendon McCullum. Uthappa’s unbeaten 80 ensured KKR chased down the target of 166 in 19.5 overs.

That concludes the list of top performances last week.

© Cricket World 2015