Kumble Recalls 'chucking Accusation' That Shifted His Career From Pace To Spin
The Great Indian Cricket Show: The former India captain Anil Kumble recalled how questions over his bowling action as a teenager forced him to abandon pace bowling and unexpectedly embrace leg spin, a decision that would ultimately define his illustrious career. Kumble revealed that he was primarily a fast bowler while playing school and club cricket before a senior player raised concerns over his action. One of the senior players in my club asked my coach to stop me from bowling as he felt I was bending my elbow. I honestly didnt even realise I was bending my elbow. I was bowling the way that felt natural to me. I was around 13-14 at that time and probably not strong enough, Kumble said while speaking on The Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan. The accusation left the young Kumble searching for an alternative just weeks before the Karnataka Under-15 selection trials. Unable to continue bowling pace, he turned to his brother for advice, who suggested trying leg spin in the hope of improving his chances of making the squad. Then I got a chance for the Under 15 selection trials, which were a month or two away. By then I couldnt bowl pace because people were already saying I used to chuck. My brother told me, Try leg spin, there arent many people, maybe you will get a look. I didnt even know much about leg spin then. I had heard the name B. S. Chandrasekhar, but television was not common and I hadnt seen him bowl in matches. Kumble admitted he entered the new discipline with little technical understanding and without formal coaching. Rather than learning textbook leg-spin, he improvised using the grip he already knew from bowling off-spin, teaching himself through experimentation. Then I got a chance for the Under 15 selection trials, which were a month or two away. By then I couldnt bowl pace because people were already saying I used to chuck. My brother told me, Try leg spin, there arent many people, maybe you will get a look. I didnt even know much about leg spin then. I had heard the name B. S. Chandrasekhar, but television was not common and I hadnt seen him bowl in matches. Also Read: Live Cricket Score That selection marked the beginning of a remarkable journey. What started as a forced change born out of criticism eventually laid the foundation for a career that saw Kumble claim 619 Test wickets, become only the second bowler to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings, and establish himself as one of India's greatest cricketers. Article Source: IANS
Sooryavanshi to have parents with him on tour of Ireland and England
BCCI secretary said the decision would help the 15-year old cope with challenges on his maiden India tour
I Tried To Replicate What Worked For Me In India A: Gurnoor
Gurnoor Brar: India fast bowler Gurnoor Brar said his seamless transition to international cricket has been shaped by the lessons picked while playing domestic cricket and spending time in the India A setup, where he learned to trust his strengths and replicate his methods at the higher level. The India A setup is obviously a big thing for me. If we perform in the Ranji Trophy, we get picked for India A, the Duleep Trophy or the Irani Cup. When I got the callup for India A, I was very happy. It was the same for me as when I bowled in Ranji, bowling fast, hitting a hard length and swinging the ball. I tried to replicate the exact same thing in India A and hit the same lines. I dont think about that (reputation) much. I believe in myself and whatever I am doing, whether it is hard length or fastpaced bowling. I tried to replicate that here as well, said Gurnoor at the end of the second ODI, where he picked 3-60 as India won by 170 runs to get an unassailable lead in the three-game series. He also admitted about being hungry to put in better performances at the international level. In these two matches, I wanted to do better from my end. I know that I can do better than I bowled here. Hopefully, in the coming matches, I will be better. The management and bowling coach back me a lot, which gives me the chance to bowl more openly. They didnt give me any new tips; they just told me to back my strength. His IPL 2026 stint with Gujarat Titans, though spent largely on the bench, provided him valuable exposure. There is a very good atmosphere in GT. There is (Ashish) Nehra sir, (Kagiso) Rabada, (Mohammed) Siraj bhai, Prasidh (Krishna) bhai and Ishant Sharma, so you get to learn a lot from them. Obviously, every player wants to get a chance to play, and I was also waiting for my chance there. But at the same time, I was observing where they were making mistakes and where they were doing well. For me, it was about how much more I could learn so that when I got my chance, I could do better. I am thankful to God that I got my chance to show what I can do with the Indian team. His IPL 2026 stint with Gujarat Titans, though spent largely on the bench, provided him valuable exposure. There is a very good atmosphere in GT. There is (Ashish) Nehra sir, (Kagiso) Rabada, (Mohammed) Siraj bhai, Prasidh (Krishna) bhai and Ishant Sharma, so you get to learn a lot from them. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The ball wasnt swinging much due to the heat and the wicket here. So we adjusted the plan. If we dont get swing, we put the ball back. It all works according to the batsman, the wicket, and the match situation. I dont get satisfied. I am happy that I did well, but I want to do more for Team India. I want to keep doing better. I just keep doing my work. Article Source: IANS
Womens T20 WC: NZ, Ireland Eye Crucial Win To Avoid Group-stage Elimination (Preview)
T20 World Cup: New Zealand and Ireland lock horns in the 13th match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup with both sides desperately searching for their first points of the tournament. Having lost their opening two matches, the contest has effectively become a must-win fixture, with defeat likely to leave the losing side's hopes of reaching the semi-finals hanging by a thread. The defending champions have endured an unexpectedly difficult start to their title defence. New Zealand were edged out by the West Indies in a dramatic one-run defeat before suffering another setback against Sri Lanka, who chased down 151 with three balls to spare. While the White Ferns have shown glimpses of their quality with the bat, they have repeatedly been let down by poor execution in key moments. Their fielding has been particularly costly, with multiple dropped catches across both games allowing opponents to build decisive partnerships. Against Sri Lanka alone, New Zealand missed three opportunities, including an early reprieve for match-winner Nilakshi de Silva, while a cautious approach in the Powerplay saw them manage just 38/1 before Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine rescued the innings with identical scores of 45, lifting the total to 150/6. Back-to-back defeats have placed the reigning champions in unfamiliar territory. Widely tipped to progress alongside England from the group, New Zealand now face the genuine prospect of an early exit unless they can quickly rediscover the consistency that powered them to last year's title. Ireland, meanwhile, have also found victories hard to come by, beginning their campaign with defeats to Scotland and England. Their opening fixture promised much before the batting line-up collapsed, allowing Scotland to take complete control. However, there were encouraging signs in their second outing against tournament hosts England. Despite posting a modest 118 in 20 overs, Gaby Lewis' side produced an impressive display with the ball, claiming six wickets and forcing England to work hard before sealing victory in the 18th over. The spirited bowling effort demonstrated the resilience within the Irish squad, even if the batting unit continues to search for greater consistency. With both teams yet to open their account, every remaining match carries knockout implications. New Zealand will be eager to translate their experience into a complete performance, while Ireland will believe another disciplined bowling display, backed by an improved batting effort, could reignite their campaign. All signs point to a fiercely contested encounter between two sides with little margin left for error. When: Friday, June 19, 11:00 PM IST Where: The Rose Bowl, Southampton Where to watch: The NZ vs IRE match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Squads: Where to watch: The NZ vs IRE match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Ireland: Gaby Lewis (c), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell, Alice Tector Article Source: IANS
'Selection Committee Deserves Credit For Spotting Gurnoor Brars Potential': Gavaskar
Gurnoor Brar: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has praised the Indian selection committee and team management for identifying and backing young pacer Gurnoor Brar, whose impressive performance helped India secure a commanding 170-run victory over Afghanistan in the second ODI in Lucknow. Brar was one of the standout performers with the ball as India bowled Afghanistan out for 232 in 44.3 overs after posting a mammoth 402, sealing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The left-arm seamer returned figures of 3/60 and played a key role in dismantling the visitors batting line-up. His run-up is so good, his rhythm is so good, he was hitting the deck and getting the ball to climb. The wicket he got of Gurbaz was particularly impressive because of the way that bouncer followed him. Its very accurate. It comes right at you, exactly where the batter does not want it, Gavaskar told Jio Hotstar. The batting great also credited chief selector Ajit Agarkar and the selection panel for looking beyond numbers and recognising Brars potential. I think the selection committee deserves all the compliments. If you look at his stats, or his India A performances, theyre okay, but not to the extent where you would say he deserved an India cap. However, the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, saw something in him, and thats why they picked him. Hes also been backed by the management, which is so important, he added. Gavaskar also reflected on captain Shubman Gills magnificent run of form and explained how a players personal performances can influence decision-making as a leader. Gill led from the front with a superb 154 off 110 balls, sharing a match-defining 224-run partnership with Ishan Kishan, who smashed 125 off 79 deliveries, as India piled up 402 all out. When youre not getting runs, youre not confident about making those marginal moves that come from your gut feel, like holding back a bowler who has bowled well, giving him an extra over, or moving a fielder from a certain position. That gut feel is a lot stronger when youre personally performing, Gavaskar explained. But if youre not performing, even when you get a gut feel, youre apprehensive about making that call because youre worried about getting it wrong. Since youre also not performing as a player, youll be criticised for your captaincy as well, he added. Looking ahead to the third and final ODI in Chennai, Gavaskar believes Indias spin department remains the area where the team management will seek greater clarity despite the convincing series win. But if youre not performing, even when you get a gut feel, youre apprehensive about making that call because youre worried about getting it wrong. Since youre also not performing as a player, youll be criticised for your captaincy as well, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score That is where India will be looking for some answers over the next few ODIs, not just in the final game of the series in Chennai, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
Womens T20 WC: When And Where To Watch NZ Vs IRE; Know All Details
T20 World Cup: New Zealand and Ireland enter their ICC Women's T20 World Cup clash knowing there is little room left for error, with both teams still searching for their first points of the tournament. A third straight defeat for either side would leave their semi-final hopes hanging by a thread, making this a must-win contest. The White Ferns were stunned by the West Indies in their campaign opener as the Caribbean side clinched a one-run win. The defending champions then faced Sri Lanka in their second encounter, but faced another setback despite posting a 151-run target as the Islanders bagged a five-wicket win with three balls to spare. New Zealand's fielding once again let them down. After several drops against the West Indies in their opening loss, they missed another three chances, including Bree Illing's important drop of match-winner Nilakshi de Silva on one. The White Ferns were poor in the field and too cautious with the bat, reaching only 38-1 during the powerplay before captain Kerr and Sophie Devine scored 45 each, helping them reach 150-6. New Zealand's opportunity to defend their title is diminishing after an unforeseen defeat to Sri Lanka. After consecutive losses in the final overs, they now face the possibility of being eliminated in the group stage, even though they are among the favourites to progress alongside England. The Irish team has not secured any points so far, losing to Scotland and England. Their first match against Scotland started promising but became one-sided at the halfway point, as Ireland experienced a batting collapse. Led by Gaby Lewis, the team put up a strong fight against the tournament hosts at The Rose Bowl. After scoring just 118 in their 20 overs, they challenged England and made it tough for them to win easily. England, guided by Nat Sciver-Brunt, chased the modest target and reached the finish line in the 18th over, with Irelands promising bowlers taking six wickets. With both sides eager for victory and each game in the tournament becoming critical, the upcoming match promises to be highly exciting. When: Friday, June 19, 11:00 PM IST Where: The Rose Bowl, Southampton Where to watch: The NZ vs IRE match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Squads: Where to watch: The NZ vs IRE match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Ireland: Gaby Lewis (c), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell, Alice Tector Article Source: IANS
BCCI mulls early start to IPL to minimise matches in extreme summer
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has revealed plans to run the tournament from around March 10 to May 15 starting next year
T20 World Cup: Indian batter Shafali Verma credited the guidance she received from senior players Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur for staying focused to execute her plans well. India continued their impressive start to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 with a commanding 95-run win over the Netherlands in Leeds, moving to the top of Group A. Mandhana and Shafali were leading the charge with their opening partnership of 115 as India posted 209/5, their highest score in Women's T20 World Cups. They followed it up with a clinical bowling performance, where Shafali icked 3-20 to dismiss the European side for 114 in 17.3 overs. On the advice she received from Smriti Mandhana at the start of her innings, Shafali said om JioStar, I couldn't execute my plans the way I wanted in the last match against Pakistan. I was a bit rushed, and my shot selection wasn't ideal. But against the Netherlands, I kept it simple. I decided to just watch the ball and react. I didn't overthink. The shots came naturally. I only went after deliveries in my hitting arc. It felt like I was in auto mode. At the start, I kept reminding myself to play along the ground. Smriti didi kept telling me to watch the ball closely. It sounds like a small thing, but as a batter, it makes a huge difference. It helps you stay balanced and time the ball better. We kept talking about it throughout the innings. That constant communication helped me stay focused. She also opened up on the support she gets from skipper Harmanpreet. She added, It feels really good to win the first two matches of the T20 World Cup. We won both games by big margins, which is crucial in a tournament like this. The atmosphere in the dressing room is very positive. We want to keep winning and make sure we qualify for the semi-finals without any last-minute pressure. Things are going as per plan, the batting is clicking, the bowlers are delivering, and the fielding has been sharp. We need to carry this momentum into the upcoming games. Every match is important, and we are not taking anything for granted. We want to keep improving and stay focused on the bigger goal of lifting the trophy. Speaking on India's strong start in the T20 World Cup, Shafali said the team needs to carry the momentum in the remaining group stage games to qualify for the knockouts without any last-minute pressure. Things are going as per plan, the batting is clicking, the bowlers are delivering, and the fielding has been sharp. We need to carry this momentum into the upcoming games. Every match is important, and we are not taking anything for granted. We want to keep improving and stay focused on the bigger goal of lifting the trophy. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Things are going as per plan, the batting is clicking, the bowlers are delivering, and the fielding has been sharp. We need to carry this momentum into the upcoming games. Every match is important, and we are not taking anything for granted. We want to keep improving and stay focused on the bigger goal of lifting the trophy. Article Source: IANS
Ekana Cricket Stadium: Ishan Kishan reflected on his successful return to the ODI setup after smashing a breathtaking 125 against Afghanistan in the second match of the series in Lucknow, saying that wearing the national jersey again filled him with immense pride and he willlook up to make India win more matches. The left-handed batter's explosive century, combined with captain Shubman Gill's magnificent 154, powered India to a commanding 170-run victory at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday, helping the hosts seal the three-match series 2-0. Kishan played one of the finest knocks of his ODI career, hammering 125 off just 79 deliveries, hitting 14 fours and 7 sixes. After Rohit Sharma's fluent 48 had laid the platform, he stitched together a game-changing 224-run partnership with Gill for the third wicket, dismantling Afghanistan's bowling attack and propelling India to 402. Reflecting on his return, Kishan said the opportunity to represent India again meant more than individual milestones. I feel very proud right now because I'm wearing this jersey after a long time. More than that, I'm just happy to be in this tremendous side because all the players here are experienced, young. It's all a mixture of everything. So, just looking up to make India win more matches, Ishan said in a BCCI video. The century marked an emphatic statement from the wicketkeeper-batter, who accelerated brilliantly after a measured start and reached three figures in only 71 balls. His fearless strokeplay ensured India maintained an aggressive scoring rate throughout the middle overs before Afghanistan briefly fought back with late wickets. I feel very proud right now because I'm wearing this jersey after a long time. More than that, I'm just happy to be in this tremendous side because all the players here are experienced, young. It's all a mixture of everything. So, just looking up to make India win more matches, Ishan said in a BCCI video. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I think it never ends for us as athletes. We just keep on playing. So, I'm just looking to be helping each teammate of mine and just trying to put up a good show every time I go in with this jersey on me, he added. Article Source: IANS
Women's T20 WC: 'Points In The Bag Are All That Matters,' Says Wolvaardt After SA Win Over Pakistan
T20 World Cup: South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt admitted her side did not produce their cleanest performance but was satisfied to begin their campaign with a victory after edging Pakistan by two wickets in a low-scoring contest of the Womens T20 World Cup at Edgbaston. Chasing 127, South Africa survived a dramatic late wobble despite being in a commanding position, eventually sealing the win after Pakistan captain Fatima Sana's all-round brilliance threatened to script an unlikely comeback. While Wolvaardt praised her bowlers for setting up the game and lauded Annerie Dercksen's attacking half-century, she also acknowledged areas for improvement ahead of South Africa's next fixture against India. Points in the bag are all that matters today. It was a little scratchy and not the way we would have liked, but there are still lots of positives to take out of it. We'll take those and move on, Wolvaardt said after the game. South Africa's victory was built on an explosive start with the ball, led by Marizanne Kapp, who dismissed Muneeba Ali with the first ball of the match before reducing Pakistan to 29/5 inside the powerplay. Shabnim Ismail's new-ball spell complemented Kapp's efforts as Pakistan's top order crumbled. It was a lovely way to start the game. Setting the tone with a wicket on the first ball was important. I think Kappie was excellent, and I thought Shabnim was great today as well. It was nice to have them bowling in tandem up front and setting up the innings like that, she added. Despite Pakistan slumping further to 50/8, Fatima Sana refused to surrender. Her unbeaten 55 from 38 balls, alongside Tuba Hassan, lifted Pakistan to 126/9 through a remarkable 71-run ninth-wicket partnership. Wolvaardt revealed South Africa's strategy was centred on limiting Sana's influence once the collapse had unfolded We knew Fatima was still there, so we tried our best to keep her off strike for as long as we could and bowl as much as possible to the other batters. I think we did well to keep her as quiet as we did. She's played innings against us before where she's hurt us a lot more than she did today. We probably could have executed a little better at the death, but she batted really well. At the end of the day, we were happy chasing 120, Wolvaardt stated. South Africa appeared to be cruising in the chase after Annerie Dercksen launched a blistering counterattack, racing to a 32-ball half-century and putting the required run rate firmly under control. However, Pakistan clawed their way back with regular wickets before Nadine de Klerk guided the visitors home in a tense finish. Wolvaardt singled out Dercksen's fearless approach as the defining feature of South Africa's chase, particularly on a sluggish surface where cautious batting could easily have allowed Pakistan back into the contest. The power she has is incredible. She's able to hit even really slow bowlers for big sixes, so it's awesome to have that in our lineup. The intent she came out with was exactly what this chase needed. It's easy to go into your shell when you're only chasing 120 and the wicket is slow and turning. I thought she played excellently and took a lot of pressure off the rest of the batting lineup, she noted. Wolvaardt singled out Dercksen's fearless approach as the defining feature of South Africa's chase, particularly on a sluggish surface where cautious batting could easily have allowed Pakistan back into the contest. Also Read: Live Cricket Score It was quite slow today and we faced a lot of spin. I imagine Manchester will be pretty similar, and India have some quality spinners as well. It's probably back to the drawing board to see how we can play those situations better. We can take some learnings from Annerie's innings and Nadine's innings. They played it really well, and we'll take it from there, she concluded. Article Source: IANS
'Im Enjoying It, But We Need To Win Games': Pakistan Skipper Sana On Historic T20 WC Double
After Fatima Sana: After Fatima Sana made history as the first captain to score a half-century and claim a three-wicket haul in a Womens T20 World Cup match, the Pakistan skipper stated she is embracing the milestone but remains focused on the bigger picture. Sanabattled hard with an unbeaten 38-ball 55 and a 3-16, but her teammates couldn't quite complement her efforts as Pakistan fell to a two-wicket defeat against South Africa in Birmingham. Reflecting on her landmark performance and her leadership responsibilities, Sana said after the match, I'm enjoying the role, but we still need to win games. I'm enjoying it, but there's still a long way to go. Despite her brilliant individual effort, Pakistan fell short in their pursuit, a result the skipper attributed to a failure in closing out the game. I think we just couldn't finish the game. The fight was there and the effort was there, but we couldn't finish it, she lamented. A major highlight of the Pakistan innings was Sana's resilient 71-run partnership with Tuba Hassan, the highest ninth-wicket stand in Women's T20 World Cups. Against all odds, Pakistan not only batted out their quota of overs but also put up a fighting total. Sana struck back-to-back sixes off Nadine De Klerk in the final over to bring up her fifty and closed the innings by stepping out against the pacer and slashing it behind point for a four, mustering 19 runs off the last over. Explaining the strategy during their time at the crease, Sana noted that the duo focused on resilience and execution. We just tried to take the game deep because we know we have the capability, and Tuba has the capability as well. We tried to take it deep and execute our plans, she said. Sana struck back-to-back sixes off Nadine De Klerk in the final over to bring up her fifty and closed the innings by stepping out against the pacer and slashing it behind point for a four, mustering 19 runs off the last over. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Definitely. We need to stay calm in the field, especially when the momentum is against us. We need to be calmer in those situations, and we'll try to improve and execute better next time, Sana concluded. Article Source: IANS
Jamshedpur Steelers, Koylanchal Super Kings Santch Points In Jharkhand T20 Cricket League
Article Source: IANS Also Read: Live Cricket Score
Dercksen, Kapp help SA stumble past Pakistan, despite Sana heroics
Fielding errors and poor running cost Pakistan dear, as De Klerk helps SA over the line
2nd Test: Bethell Strikes Twice After Blundell's 51 Help New Zealand Fight Back On Day 1
Jacob Bethell: Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips scripted a middle-order recovery for New Zealand, but part-time spinner Jacob Bethell claimed two late wickets as England fought back to grab the initiative on the opening day of the second Test at The Oval in London on Wednesday. Blundell scored an 84-ball 51 while Phillips walked off the field undefeated at the end of the first day as New Zealand reached 291/7 in 77 overs, as start of play on the first day was delayed 30 minutes because of wet ground conditions. After stand-in captain Joe Root, deputising for Ben Stokes - who was stood down following his involvement in a nightclub incident after England's first Test win at Lord's - won the toss and asked the BlackCaps to bat first, the hosts struck early blows and had the Kiwis struggling at 75/2 at lunch. Matt Fisher ended a four-year wait for a Test wicket by trapping Devon Conway lbw for nine, and Jacob Bethell picked up a stunning catch that earned Jofra Archer a wicket on his return. Josh Tongue and Sonny Baker then struck early in the afternoon session to leave the tourists 106-4. Blndell (51 off 84) pieced together partnerships of 81 and 75 with Daryl Mitchell (44 off 74) and Glenn Phillips (49 not out off 74) to stabilise New Zealand's innings, with the Black Caps threatening to carry that momentum through to the close before Bethell's intervention. But just when it looked like the visitors would take the upper hand, Bethell turned things in favour of the hosts in the final session of the day. He claimed the wickets of Blundell and Nathan Smith (4) during his five-over spell, bowled in tandem with some fiery short stuff from Archer, which helped curtail New Zealand's scoring and leave the Test finely poised. Blndell (51 off 84) pieced together partnerships of 81 and 75 with Daryl Mitchell (44 off 74) and Glenn Phillips (49 not out off 74) to stabilise New Zealand's innings, with the Black Caps threatening to carry that momentum through to the close before Bethell's intervention. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand 297/7 in 77 overs (Tom Blundell 51, Daryl Mitchell 44, Glenn Phillips 49 not out; Sonny Baker 2-63, Jacob Bethell 2-8) v England. Article Source: IANS
MPL T20 Scindia Cup: Aniket Verma Hits 60 As Bhopal Leopards Chase 195 Against Malwa Stallions
Madhya Pradesh League: In another high-scoring fixture in the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 Scindia Cup 2026, Bhopal Leopards chased down a target of 195 by five wickets against Malwa Stallions with more than an over to spare at Holkar Stadium, Indore, to return to winning ways. Malwa Stallions posted a competitive 194/9 in their allotted 20 overs after being put in to bat, in an innings that was briefly interrupted by rain. The Stallions suffered an early setback when Saksham Purohit was dismissed for 5 off just 4 deliveries. However, Ansh Yadav and Akhil Nigote Yadav steadied the innings with a solid 57-run partnership for the second wicket. Ansh departed for 13 off 11 balls, but Akhil continued to anchor the innings and brought up a fine half-century. He then combined with skipper Ashutosh Sharma to add 39 runs for the third wicket. Ashutosh played an aggressive hand, scoring 32 off 18 deliveries before being dismissed. Akhils impressive knock came to an end at 63 off 36 balls, but Malwa continued to find valuable contributions from the middle order. Parth Sahani played a crucial cameo of 41 off 24 balls, while Rishabh Chouhan chipped in with 19 off 16 deliveries. Sachin Vishwakarma added a useful 12 off 8 balls towards the end as the Stallions finished with a challenging total on the board. For the opposition, Anurag Malviya was the standout bowler, claiming 3/36 from his four overs, while Pranjul Puri picked up two wickets for 33 runs in his spell. In reply, the Bhopal Leopards got off to a flying start with Rahul Chandrol and Tanishq Yadav adding 33 runs for the opening wicket in just 3.2 overs. Chandrol was the first to depart after a quickfire 24 off 14 deliveries. Tanishq then joined forces with captain Aniket Verma, and the duo took complete control of the chase with an aggressive batting display. Verma looked in sublime touch, particularly targeting Parth Sahani, whom he smashed for three sixes in a single over. The Stallions finally found a breakthrough when Ashutosh Sharma had Tanishq caught behind for a well-made 37 off 23 balls. However, the Leopards remained firmly in command at 108/2 after 10 overs, with Verma continuing his onslaught from one end. The skipper soon brought up a brilliant half-century, but the Stallions attempted a comeback by striking a couple of timely blows, including the prized wicket of Verma. He departed after a blistering 60 off just 29 deliveries, an innings studded with five sixes and five fours. Despite the setback, Ansh Bagadia and Himanshu Shinde ensured the chase was in control. The pair stitched together a crucial 62-run partnership for the fifth wicket, keeping the required run rate well under control. Bagadia contributed 29 off 20 balls before falling with the Leopards needing just one run for victory. The skipper soon brought up a brilliant half-century, but the Stallions attempted a comeback by striking a couple of timely blows, including the prized wicket of Verma. He departed after a blistering 60 off just 29 deliveries, an innings studded with five sixes and five fours. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Reflecting on the win, Aniket Verma said, My approach was simple. In the powerplay, I wanted to spend a little time at the crease, settle in, and then build the innings one ball at a time. The idea was to ensure we found at least one boundary every over so that the required run rate never got out of control. I wasnt really looking at my strike rate, but in hindsight, I feel I could have taken the game even deeper and finished it myself. Thats something Ill look to improve in the coming matches. Article Source: IANS
WI-W vs SCO-W Match 12, Cricket Tips :The next game of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 will be played between West Indies Women and Scotland Women in Group B. This contest will be held at Headingley in Leeds on Thursday at 11 PM IST. These two teams have started the tournament with a win each. West Indies hammered the defending champion, New Zealand Women in the opening game in a tense chase. Shemaine Campbelle scored an unbeaten 90 and led her team to victory. Scotland are coming off a win over Ireland Women. They have also done well and will challenge West Indies in this game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score WI-W vs SCO-W: Match Details Date : June 18, 2026 (Thursday) Time : 11 PM IST Venue : Headingley, Leeds WI-W vs SCO-W Live Streaming Details The live action of the WI-W vs SCO-W will be available on the Star Sports networks. Fans can also watch the game through the Jio Hotstar app or website. WI-W vs SCO-W Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 01 West Indies Women : 01 Scotland Women : 00 No - Result : 00 WI-W vs SCO-W: Ground Pitch Report The wicket in Leeds is brilliant for batting. It is generally a flat deck, which has a little help for the fast bowlers early on. But the wicket is expected to get better with time. That is where the chasing team will have a little advantage. WI-W vs SCO-W Possible XIs WI-W : Qiana Joseph, Hayley Matthews (c), Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Deandra Dottin, Chinelle Henry, Jannillea Glasgow, Zaida James, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shawnisha Hector, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack SCO-W : Darcey Carter, Kathryn Bryce (c), Sarah Bryce (wk), Katherine Fraser, Megan McColl, Ailsa Lister, Priyanaz Chatterji, Kirstie Gordon, Rachel Slater, Chloe Abel, Gabriella Fontenla WI-W vs SCO-W Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Shemaine Campbelle and Kathryn Bryce are two in-form batters who played well in their opening matches. Probable Best Bowler Aaliyah Alleyne and Kirstie Gordon are the two bowlers to watch out for in this game. Today Match Prediction : West Indies Women are more experienced side, and they are expected to do well and win this game. WI-W vs SCO-W Match 12 ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, Today 2026 Match, WI-W vs SCO-W 2026 Prediction, WI-W vs SCO-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update for WI-W vs SCO-W Match Disclaimer : The predictions or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.
Womens T20 WC: Smriti And Shafali Gave Us A Great Platform, Says Harmanpreet
T20 World Cup: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur hailed the opening stand between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma as the key factor in her teams comprehensive 95run victory over the Netherlands in the 2026 ICC Womens T20 World Cup at Headingley in Leeds on Wednesday. Shafali also picked 3-20, while N Sree Charani took 4-19 as India secured their second straight win and moved to the top of Group A. I think we were really good with the bat. It wasnt that easy a wicket, but Smriti and Shafali gave us a great platform. She (Shafali) is always ready with the ball whenever the team needs it. She keeps giving us breakthroughs, and she can go on to be a great all-rounder, Harmanpreet said at the end of the game, where India posted 209/5, their highest total in tournament history. Quizzed on the fast bowlers' performance, Harmanpreet said, Kranti is one who is always bowling for us, and Nandani has got very good experience from WPL, and shes using that here, and it's a good thing that shes giving us breakthroughs in the Powerplay. Asked for an update on Shreyanka Patil, who was stretched off the field due to twisting her right ankle, Harmanpreet said, Right now, I dont have a clear update, but our medical team will give a clear update after assessing her. I think we are in a very good situation. We have achieved what we wanted to in these two games. Smriti Mandhana, adjudged Player of the Match for her second consecutive halfcentury, said she was pleased with her form but stressed preparation against unfamiliar opposition. I think it was a good batting wicket for sure. I mean, whenever we have come to Leeds, Ive played a few matches here in the Hundred, but its always been a good batting wicket and a quick outfield. Again, I mean, the Netherlands did a really good job today. Well, of course, its like unknown territory for all of us. Weve not seen a lot of them. So we had to go through a lot of videos in terms of how they bowl and how we will be approaching the game. One thing we always pride ourselves on is that we dont take any team differently because its their first time or anything. I just thought they put up a really good fight. They fielded really well, and for us it was just about focusing and doing the job for the team. On the preparation for the tougher matches ahead, especially against South Africa and Australia, Smriti said, Again, I wouldnt say I was middling the ball the way I would still like to. Im still a work in progress. But really happy with the way Shafali batted today. We had a good partnership, and it was good to have her back among the runs. Again, I mean, Sree Charani bowled extremely well. So for me, its just about doing the right things, waking up every day, doing the right things, and then seeing how the match goes. Well, of course, its like unknown territory for all of us. Weve not seen a lot of them. So we had to go through a lot of videos in terms of how they bowl and how we will be approaching the game. One thing we always pride ourselves on is that we dont take any team differently because its their first time or anything. I just thought they put up a really good fight. They fielded really well, and for us it was just about focusing and doing the job for the team. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Asked about her assessment of the Netherlands chase, Babette said, I think we never really got going. We lost too many wickets along the way. India bowled very well and very smartly. They played really good cricket, which we can learn a lot from. I think its very special to play against India. To play a top team with our friends and family in the stands, its something Ill always remember. Article Source: IANS
Pakistan opt to bat, and play Javed and Tuba; SA unchanged
Both teams enter the contest on the back of defeats in their respective opening matches of the T20 World Cup
Fi Morris' all-round show lifts struggling Lancashire
Allrounder scores 57 then takes four wickets to hand Blaze rare defeat
Women's T20 WC: Smriti, Shafali, Charani Help India Thrash Netherlands By 95 Runs (ld)
T20 World Cup: Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma struck commanding halfcenturies before Sree Charani claimed a four-wicket haul to power India to a comprehensive 95run victory over the Netherlands in their 2026 ICC Womens T20 World Cup clash at Headingley in Leeds on Wednesday. Pushed into batting first under overcast skies, Smriti and Shafali cashed in on wayward newball bowling to share a 115run stand before Shafali departed for 55 off 38 balls, studded with ten boundaries. Smriti, in imperious touch, top-scored with 74 off 47 balls, her consecutive fifty laced with 11 fours and a six. The finishing burst came from Richa Ghosh (20 not out) and Deepti Sharma (10 not out), who combined clean hitting with sharp placement to take India to their highest score in the competitions history. As India hit their first-ever 200-plus total in ICC Women's T20 World Cup history, the Netherlands had their moments but squandered the chances with dropped catches and nervy bowling. The bowlers, led by Charanis four-for and Shafali Vermas 3-20, ensured it was never threatened as they bowled out the Netherlands for 114 in 17.3 overs. With the win, India are now on top of the Group A table, with a net run rate of 3.98, which is 0.10 more than that of Australia. India will also hope that nothing is too serious with offspin allrounder Shreyanka Patil, who was stretchered off after twisting her right ankle while fielding off her own bowling. The sight of her being taken off the field on a stretcher was a dampener amid Indias dominant win. Indias innings began with Shafali opening her bat face late to steer Iris Zwilling for four, before rocking back to cut Heather Siegers through extra cover for another boundary. With the Netherlands struggling with lines, Smriti joined the boundary-hitting act with crisp drives, before Shafali pulled and lofted Isabel van der Woning for three boundaries. Smriti then lofted Iris over extra cover and punched through the same region to bring up Indias jointfastest team fifty in Womens T20 World Cup history - achieved inside 5.1 overs. Myrthe van den Raads nervy debut overcompounded the Netherlands woes, as she conceded six wides and India surged to 59/0 by the end of the powerplay. The momentum only grew from there as a measured Shafali lofted and sliced Isabel for boundaries, before hoicking and sweeping Caroline de Lange to her maiden T20 World Cup fifty off 34 balls in the 11th over. Smriti followed it up with backtoback fifties of her own this one coming in 36 balls by carving Heather for a six over longoff after dancing down the ground to hit a boundary. Even after Shafalis dismissal for 55, after holing out to long-on off Heather, Jemimah Rodrigues arrived with crisp timing - driving through extra cover and pulling confidently for her boundaries. Smriti showcased her impeccable timing and proper placement of shots while hitting Silver Siegers for four boundaries in the 15th over. She first advanced down the pitch to carve one over extra cover, then again came out to loft straight back over the bowlers head. Staying deep in the crease, Smriti then powered a pull square of the wicket before finishing the 18-run over with an emphatic slog-sweep through deep midwicket. After Smriti brought out a fantastic lofted straight drive off Caroline, Netherlands clawed back Smriti toe-ended a loft to mid-off, while Jemimah gave an edge behind while trying to play a pre-mediated scoop off Myrthe, and Yastika Bhatia was stumped after being foxed by a googly from the leg-spinner. Richa lit up the 18th over with a flat six over the bowlers head and a boundary slapped past sweeper cover, while Harmanpreet Kaur sliced and smashed to get two fours. After Harmanpreet hit to mid-off against Iris, Deepti flicked a full ball over fine leg for six to bring up Indias 200 and pulled the last ball for four, as 19 runs came off the final over. Defending a massive 209, India had to bide their time for a breakthrough as Heather and Phebe Moleknboer hit six boundaries between themselves. They finally got a breakthrough via Nandni Sharma, who had Heather chipping to extra cover for 21. Deepti followed up by taking out Phebe, who sliced to mid-off, while Shafali castled Sterre Kalis to leave the Netherlands reeling at 77/3. Skipper Babette de Leede offered resistance with 28, but her stumping off Nandni triggered a collapse. From 96/4, the Netherlands lost four wickets in the space of 12 balls, as Charani was the chief destroyer, with Robine Rijke, Frederique Overdijk, Myrthe van den Raad, and Iris Zwilling all falling to her guile. Shafali returned to add two more scalps as Indias spinners accounted for nine wickets to take the ODI World Cup holders to the top of Group A. Deepti followed up by taking out Phebe, who sliced to mid-off, while Shafali castled Sterre Kalis to leave the Netherlands reeling at 77/3. Skipper Babette de Leede offered resistance with 28, but her stumping off Nandni triggered a collapse. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India 209/5 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 74, Shafali Verma 55; Caroline de Lange 2-32, Heather Siegers 1-31) beat Netherlands 114 all out in 17.3 overs (Babette de Leede 28, Heather Siegers 21; Sree Charani 4-19, Shafali Verma 3-20) by 95 runs Article Source: IANS
Shafali's all-round show helps India beat Netherlands
India batter hits her first T20 World Cup fifty and backs it up with a three-for in Headingley
Womens T20 WC: Charani Picks 4-19 As India Register Comprehensive 95-run Win Over Netherlands
T20 World Cup: Indias bowlers, led by N Sree Charanis 4-19, delivered a ruthless performance to seal a 95run victory over the Netherlands in their 2026 ICC Womens T20 World Cup group clash at Headingley on Wednesday. With the win, India are now on top of the Group A table, with a net run rate of 3.98, which is 0.10 more than that of Australia. Halfcenturies from Smriti Mandhana (74) and Shafali Verma (55), followed by late fireworks from Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma, carried India to 209/5, their highest in Womens T20 World Cup history. The bowlers, led by Charanis four-for and Shafali Vermas 3-20, ensured it was never threatened as they bowled out the Netherlands for 114 in 17.3 overs. India will also hope that nothing is too serious with off-spin bowling all-rounder Shreyanka Patil, who was stretchered off the field after twisting her right ankle. Defending a massive 209, India had to bide their time for a breakthrough as Heather Siegers and Phebe Moleknboer hit six boundaries between themselves. They finally got a breakthrough via Nandni Sharma, who had Heather chipping to extra cover for 21. Deepti Sharma followed up with the dismissal of Phebe, who sliced to mid-off, while Shafali castled Sterre Kalis to leave the Netherlands reeling at 77/3. Babette de Leede offered resistance with 28, but her stumping off Nandni triggered a collapse. From 96/4, the Netherlands lost four wickets in the space of 12 balls, as Charani was the chief destroyer, with Robine Rijke, Frederique Overdijk, Myrthe van den Raad, and Iris Zwilling all falling to her guile. Shafali returned to add two more scalps as Indias spinners accounted for nine wickets to take the ODI World Cup holders to the top of Group A. They finally got a breakthrough via Nandni Sharma, who had Heather chipping to extra cover for 21. Deepti Sharma followed up with the dismissal of Phebe, who sliced to mid-off, while Shafali castled Sterre Kalis to leave the Netherlands reeling at 77/3. Babette de Leede offered resistance with 28, but her stumping off Nandni triggered a collapse. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India 209/5 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 74, Shafali Verma 55; Caroline de Lange 2-32, Heather Siegers 1-31) beat Netherlands 114 all out in 17.3 overs (Babette de Leede 28, Heather Siegers 21; Sree Charani 4-19, Shafali Verma 3-20) by 95 runs Article Source: IANS
Womens T20 WC: Shreyanka Patil Stretchered Off After Twisting Her Right Ankle In Leeds
T20 World Cup: India have suffered a huge scare in their 2026 ICC Womens T20 World Cup campaign when off-spin bowling allrounder Shreyanka Patil was stretchered off the field after twisting her right ankle during the ongoing Group A match against the Netherlands at Headingley in Leeds on Wednesday. The incident occurred on the first ball of the sixth over of the Netherlands innings when Shreyanka, having just come in to bowl, chased a ball towards midon, but went down on the field after twisting her right ankle. She immediately clutched her ankle and winced in pain, with teammates rushing to aid her. The Indian team medical staff attended to her on the field before she was stretchered off, with Shreyanka looking visibly distressed and covering her face. The injury looks very serious, considering Shreyanka was unable to put any weight on the injured ankle when she tried to get up from the ground. Shafali Verma then came in to complete the remainder of the sixth over. The injury is particularly worrying given Shreyankas previous record of dealing with setbacks. She had previously spent many months on the sidelines - she fractured a finger during the Womens T20 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in July 2024. After playing in the 2024 Womens T20 World Cup in the UAE, Shreyanka had shin issues in both legs and fractured her left thumb while fielding, before she made her comeback in the 2025 Womens CPL in the West Indies. Shafali Verma then came in to complete the remainder of the sixth over. The injury is particularly worrying given Shreyankas previous record of dealing with setbacks. She had previously spent many months on the sidelines - she fractured a finger during the Womens T20 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in July 2024. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Indias management is yet to issue an official update on the extent of her injury, but the sight of Shreyanka being stretchered off is a significant blow to Indias balance. With her ability to bowl in the powerplay and being a livewire on the field, Shreyankas potential absence could force India to rethink their combinations for the remainder of the group stage. Article Source: IANS
2nd ODI: We Didn't Bowl Well, Gave Them Momentum, Says Shahidi After Afghanistans Defeat To India
Ekana Cricket Stadium: Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi refused to use conditions or the toss as an excuse after his side suffered a crushing 170-run defeat to India in the second ODI here at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, instead pinpointing shortcomings with the ball as the key reason behind the loss that handed the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead. India piled up 402 before bowling Afghanistan out for 232 to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. While the visitors faced a daunting challenge after Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan's record-breaking partnership, Shahidi believed Afghanistan's bowlers allowed India to seize control far too easily. You cannot put all things on toss. I think we were not good enough at bowling. So many easy options in the bowling for them. We gave them momentum, I think that's why we didn't bowl well in the first 20 overs, Shahidi said after the match. Afghanistan struggled to contain India's batting line-up once Gill and Kishan settled in. The pair added 224 runs for the third wicket, transforming a solid platform into a mammoth total. Although Afghanistan fought back in the closing overs through Nangeyalia Kharoti and Rashid Khan, the damage had already been done. Shahidi acknowledged the challenging conditions but stressed that his team's execution with the ball fell below expectations. Yeah, it was hot, but at the same time, you cannot put everything on toss. You have to bowl well in the right areas. We didn't do that well today, so hopefully we will learn from this, he added. The Afghanistan skipper also shed light on the decision to promote Darwish Rasooli ahead of him during the chase. Chasing more than 400, Afghanistan needed quick runs, but the move was complicated by Rasooli's physical condition. I think he was cramping. I asked him, the coach asked him if he was okay, he said, 'I am okay, I want to bat.' So that's why I told him to go before me because he is a good striker of the ball and we needed someone to hit big for us, but unfortunately, he got cramps again, and hopefully he recovers soon, he stated. Rasooli's brief appearance ultimately failed to change the course of the contest as India's bowlers maintained complete control. Afghanistan's most significant resistance came through Rahmat Shah, whose fighting 79 helped prevent an even heavier defeat. The experienced batter once again demonstrated his value in the middle order, battling through a difficult chase while wickets continued to fall around him. Despite the disappointing result and the loss of the series, Shahidi insisted there were still positives for Afghanistan to carry into the final ODI in Chennai. He pointed to individual performances, particularly from Rahmat Shah and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, as signs that the batting group continues to make progress against high-quality opposition. I think a lot of learning because it was a tough series for us, and hopefully in the Chennai game, we do well, and I think we had positives also in this series. The way Rahmat played today and the way Gurbaz is playing, we have all these positive things with us, Shahidi noted. However, Shahidi made it clear that Afghanistan's bowling unit must improve significantly if they are to avoid another difficult outing in the series finale. I think a lot of learning because it was a tough series for us, and hopefully in the Chennai game, we do well, and I think we had positives also in this series. The way Rahmat played today and the way Gurbaz is playing, we have all these positive things with us, Shahidi noted. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With the series already decided, Afghanistan will head to Chennai in search of both a consolation victory and answers with the ball, while India will look to complete a clean sweep after another dominant all-round performance. Article Source: IANS
Shreyanka Patil stretchered off after twisting ankle during Netherlands clash
The offspin allrounder suffered the injury after bowling her first ball in the game while attempting to run and stop a single
Bengal T20 League: Bowlers Help Purulia Overcome Malda, Seal Semis Spot In Men's Competition
Bengal T20 League Season: Novus Royals Purulia held their nerve in yet another last-over thriller in the Bengal T20 League Season 3 men's competition, edging Sobisco Smashers Malda by eight runs at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday to seal a place in the semifinals. With the victory, Purulia became the third team after Sobisco Smashers Malda, and Shrachi Rarh Tigers to qualify for the last four. Batting first, Purulia posted 139/8 in 20 overs, with Yuvraj Deepak Keshwani top-scoring with 40 off 28 balls. Ankur Paul and Priyam Sarkar also chipped in with useful contributions to help Purulia post a competitive total. For Malda, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Ramesh Prasad, and Prayas Ray Barman bagged two wickets each. In reply, Malda fought till the very end but fell short, scoring 131/8 in their 20 overs. Prayas Ray Barman top-scored with 32 off 28 balls, but the target proved just beyond their reach. Mithilesh Das (3-18) and Pradipta Pramanik (3-20) starred with the ball for Purulia, while Ravi Kumar and Pritam Chakraborty chipped in with a wicket each to help their side clinch a memorable victory and a semifinal berth. The Bengal T20 League is a franchise-based T20 cricket competition organised under the aegis of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Now in its third season, the league features eight city-based franchises representing the breadth of West Bengal - Adamas Howrah Warriors, Novus Royals Purulia, Kolkata Royal Tigers, Murshidabad Kings & Kueens, Rashmi Nes Medinipur Wizards, Servotech Siliguri Strikers, Shrachi Rarh Tigers, and Sobisco Smashers Malda competing across men's and women's competitions. Men's matches are held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, with women's matches at the JU Salt Lake Campus, Kolkata. Mithilesh Das (3-18) and Pradipta Pramanik (3-20) starred with the ball for Purulia, while Ravi Kumar and Pritam Chakraborty chipped in with a wicket each to help their side clinch a memorable victory and a semifinal berth. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Novus Royals Purulia 139/8 in 20 overs (Yuvraj Deepak Keshwani 40) beat Sobisco Smashers Malda 131/8 in 20 overs (Prayas Ray Barman 32; Mithilesh Das 3-18, Pradipta Pramanik 3-20) by 8 runs. Article Source: IANS
CAB Stresses Legal Framework In Complaint Handling
The Cricket Association: The office-bearers of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) have written a letter to Indranil Khan, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Department of Youth Services & Sports, reaffirming the association's systemic integrity, robust grievance redressal mechanism, and judicial checks and balances. In the formal communication put forth in response to an open letter posted on his Facebook page by former CAB president Avishek Dalmiya, raising generalised apprehensions over alleged corruption, systemic rot, and selection integrity in the organisation. The incumbant managing committee led by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, made its position clear on these allegations by asserting that there are processes in place in The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) to ensure comjpliance to ethical and moral mandate as per the Constitution of the BCCI are enforced via the good office of an Ombudsman, who is, as per the norm, is a retired Chief Justice of a High Court, and an Ethics Officer. This is precisely the framework governing the CAB, where, for the last two years, the Hon'ble Justice Jyotirmay Bhattacharya, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Calcutta, has been officiating as the Hon'ble Ombudsman, and is presently also officiating as the Hon'ble Ethics Officer, the letter said. In the letter, the CAB officer-bearers took pride in stating that all complaints brought in front of the forum are treated with the highest degree of legal sanctity, impartiality, and transparency, entirely free from the interference of current office-bearers. The letter went on to say that this system has been in place since 2019 and also listed the eminent personalities who have led the CAB in the past 30 years. In the communication, the office-bearers also invited the Bengal Sports Minister to visit the CAB and interact with its 140 members to ascertain facts. Given that a retired Chief Justice of the High Court heads this apex integrity mechanism within our constitution, bypassing this established judicial forum via open public letters appears to be an attempt to publicise sports governance issues rather than addressing genuine concerns through proper legal channels, the letter alleged. In the communication, the office-bearers also invited the Bengal Sports Minister to visit the CAB and interact with its 140 members to ascertain facts. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The current administration of the CAB remains entirely focused on the meritocracy of clean governance and major infrastructure projects for the state. We assure the Government of West Bengal that any specific evidence-backed complaint submitted to the Hon'ble Ombudsman will be dealt with under the strict rule of law, the CAB office-bearers asserted in their letter. Article Source: IANS
Scotland face West Indies with a chance to reopen World Cup wounds
A loss to Scotland in the qualifiers forced West Indies out of taking part in the 2025 ODI World Cup
Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan Power India to 170-Run Win Over Afghanistan, Seal ODI Series
India clinched the three-match ODI series with an unassailable 2-0 lead after defeating Afghanistan by 170 runs in the second match at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday. The hosts combined a batting masterclass led by captain Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan with a disciplined bowling display to overpower Afghanistan despite a spirited fight from Rahmat Shah. Chasing 403, Afghanistan needed a flying start but never truly threatened the target. India's pace attack struck regularly, preventing the visitors from building meaningful partnerships. Arshdeep Singh led the charge with three wickets, while debutant Prince Yadav claimed his maiden ODI wicket and Gurnoor Brar impressed with three wickets of his own. Amid the collapse around him, Rahmat Shah stood tall with a determined innings of 79 from 89 deliveries. Displaying excellent technique and resilience, he battled through cramps and found regular boundaries to keep Afghanistan's hopes alive, albeit faintly. Rashid Khan provided some entertainment with a quickfire cameo, but the required rate continued to climb beyond reach. The end came in the 45th over when Brar and Prince Yadav cleaned up the tail. Rahmat's valiant resistance was finally ended when he pulled Prince Yadav to fine leg, where Brar completed an excellent catch. Afghanistan were bowled out for 232 in 44.3 overs, handing India a comprehensive 170-run victory. The result underlined India's dominance throughout the contest. Gill's captain's knock and Kishan's explosive century laid the platform for a massive total, while the bowlers completed the job clinically to secure the series with a game to spare. Earlier in the day, India made a steady start but were briefly checked by Afghanistan's disciplined new-ball bowling. The visitors even opened with off-spinner AM Ghazanfar in a surprise move, and Yashasvi Jaiswal struggled to find fluency before falling early. Rohit Sharma looked in sublime touch, peppering the boundary ropes with elegant strokes, but narrowly missed a half-century when he was dismissed for 48, leaving India at 80/2. What followed was the defining phase of the match. Gill and Kishan joined forces to produce a breathtaking third-wicket partnership that completely shifted momentum in India's favour. Gill played the anchor's role with characteristic composure while Kishan launched a relentless assault on Afghanistan's bowlers. The pair added 224 runs in just 140 deliveries, scoring at nearly ten runs an over and leaving the visitors with few answers. Gill brought up his ninth ODI century off just 77 balls and continued to accelerate, reaching 150 in only 108 deliveries. His magnificent 154 off 110 balls included 22 fours and two sixes, while the innings also saw him become the fastest Indian to reach 3,000 ODI runs in terms of innings. At the other end, Kishan was equally destructive, smashing 125 from only 79 balls with 14 fours and seven sixes. His century came off just 71 deliveries as he dominated the middle overs and ensured India maintained an extraordinary scoring rate. The onslaught helped India race past 300 in only 35.5 overs, one of the fastest 300-plus totals achieved by a team batting first in ODI history. Shreyas Iyer chipped in with a brisk 26, and India appeared set for an even bigger score before Afghanistan fought back admirably in the closing stages. Left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharoti sparked a collapse by dismissing both Gill and Iyer and finished with impressive figures of 4/76, while Rashid Khan claimed three wickets. India lost their final seven wickets for just 80 runs but still finished with a formidable 402 all out in 49.5 overs. The onslaught helped India race past 300 in only 35.5 overs, one of the fastest 300-plus totals achieved by a team batting first in ODI history. Shreyas Iyer chipped in with a brisk 26, and India appeared set for an even bigger score before Afghanistan fought back admirably in the closing stages. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India 402/10 in 49.5 overs (Shubman Gill 154, Ishan Kishan 125; Nangeyalia Kharoti 4-76, Rashid Khan 3-48) beat Afghanistan 232/10 in 44.3 overs (Rahmat Shah 79, Sediqullah Atal 42; Arshdeep Singh 3-45, Gurnoor Brar 3-60) by 170 runs. Article Source: IANS
Glenn, Jonassen combine for Yorkshire as Durham succumb
International spinners trigger collapse before Thomas, Winfield-Hill marshal chase
Womens T20 WC: I Just Practiced Hard To Get My Shots Again, Says Shafali Verma
T20 World Cup: Indias right-handed opener Shafali Verma said her return to form in the 2026 ICC Womens T20 World Cup was the result of hard work done in the nets, after she struck a fluent halfcentury in the teams record total of 209/5 against Netherlands at Headingley on Wednesday. Happy to be back with some runs. Happy with the batting. I just practiced hard to get my shots again and I work hard on that in the nets and just executed well. When balls were not coming on, I just went for singles so it was a mature innings. 200plus is a very big score so hopefully it will help the run rate. Richa and Deepti finished well so we are happy with that, Shafali said to broadcasters in a mid-innings chat. Shafali, 22, shared a 115-run stand with vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, which set the tone for Indias mammoth score. Shafalis 55 off 38 balls, laced with ten boundaries, was her first fifty in the Womens T20 World Cup after taking the tournament by storm as a teenager in the 2020 edition in Australia. 200plus is a very big score so hopefully it will help the run rate. Richa and Deepti finished well so we are happy with that, Shafali said to broadcasters in a mid-innings chat. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The Netherlands bowlers had their moments but dropped catches and nervy bowling proved to be costly. India will now aim to get a significant boost to their net run rate, a factor that could prove decisive in a tough group comprising Australia and South Africa, who they will face at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester on June 21. Article Source: IANS
Womens T20 WC: Smriti And Shafali Fifties Carry India To 209/5 Against Netherlands
T20 World Cup: Despite being put into batting first under overcast skies, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma struck commanding halfcenturies to carry India to 209/5 against Netherlands in the 2026 Womens T20 World Cup clash at Headingley on Wednesday. The openers cashed in on wayward newball bowling to share a 115run stand before Shafali departed for 55 off 38 balls. Smriti, in imperious touch, top-scored with 74 off 47 balls. The finishing burst came from Richa Ghosh (20 not out) and Deepti Sharma (10 not out), who combined clean hitting with sharp placement to take India to their highest score in the competition. Netherlands had their moments but squandered chances with dropped catches and missed runouts, leaving India firmly in command at the halfway stage. Indias innings began with Shafali opening her bat face late to steer Iris Zwilling for four, before rocking back to cut Heather Siegers through extra cover for another boundary. With Netherlands struggling with lines, Smriti joined the boundary-hitting act with crisp drives, before Shafali pulled and lofted Isabel van der Woning for three boundaries. Smriti then lofted Iris over extra cover and punched through the same region to bring up Indias jointfastest team fifty in Womens T20 World Cup history - achieved inside 5.1 overs. Myrthe van den Raads nervy debut over compounded Netherlands woes, as she conceded six wides and India surged to 59/0 by the end of the powerplay. The momentum only grew from there as a measured Shafali lofted and sliced Isabel for boundaries, before hoicking and sweeping Caroline de Lange to her maiden T20 World Cup fifty off 34 balls in the 11th over. Smriti followed it up with backtoback fifties of her own this one coming in 36 balls by carving Heather for a six over longoff after dancing down the ground to hit a boundary. Even after Shafalis dismissal for 55, after holing out to long-on off Heather, Jemimah Rodrigues arrived with crisp timing - driving through extra cover and pulling confidently for her boundaries. Smriti showcased her impeccable timing and proper placement of shots while hitting Silver Siegers for four boundaries in the 15th over. She first advanced down the pitch to carve one over extra cover, then again came out to loft straight back over the bowlers head. Staying deep in the crease, Smriti then powered a pull square of the wicket before finishing the 18-run over with an emphatic slog-sweep through deep midwicket. After Smriti brought out a fantastic lofted straight drive off Caroline, Netherlands clawed back Smriti toe-ended a loft to mid-off, while Jemimah gave an edge behind while trying to play a pre-mediated scoop off Myrthe and Yastika Bhatia was stumped after being foxed by a googly from the leg-spinner. She first advanced down the pitch to carve one over extra cover, then again came out to loft straight back over the bowlers head. Staying deep in the crease, Smriti then powered a pull square of the wicket before finishing the 18-run over with an emphatic slog-sweep through deep midwicket. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: India 209/5 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 74, Shafali Verma 55; Caroline de Lange 2-32, Heather Siegers 1-31) against Netherland Article Source: IANS
Womens T20 WC: England Skipper Nat SciverBrunt Ruled Out Of Next Two Games With Calf Strain
T20 World Cup: England captain Nat SciverBrunt has been sidelined for the next two matches of the 2026 ICC Womens T20 World Cup after picking a left calf strain during their Group B win over Ireland at The Rose Bowl on Tuesday evening. Vicecaptain Charlie Dean will lead England in their upcoming clashes against Scotland, to be played at Headingley on Saturday, and West Indies, to be staged at Lords on June 24 in Nats absence. Nat, 33, retired hurt on 48 with nine runs needed in Englands fourwicket win after feeling tightness in her calf, but insisted at the conclusion of the game that it was a precautionary decision. But the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Wednesday that a scan revealed a muscle strain in the same area where Nat previously suffered a calf injury in the run-up to the 12-team mega event. England Womens captain Nat SciverBrunt suffered a left calf muscle strain, in a similar location to her recent injury, while batting against Ireland Women in the ICC Womens T20 World Cup group match in Southampton on Tuesday. Following a scan on Wednesday and further assessment by the England medical team, she will be unavailable for the next two fixtures against Scotland and West Indies. Nat will continue to be monitored and assessed by the England medical team as she undertakes her rehab while remaining in the squad, said the ECB in its statement. The recurrence of calf injury to Nat is a major concern for hosts and 2009 champions England, who have begun their campaign with two wins from as many games. She had earlier missed six weeks of cricket after sustaining a minor calf tear in April, which ruled her out of whiteball series against New Zealand and India. Charlie, who only began captaining England in May, had guided the team to series wins against New Zealand and India in Nats absence. Englands victory over Ireland was built on Nats 64run stand with Heather Knight after a toporder wobble left them at 35/3. The recurrence of calf injury to Nat is a major concern for hosts and 2009 champions England, who have begun their campaign with two wins from as many games. She had earlier missed six weeks of cricket after sustaining a minor calf tear in April, which ruled her out of whiteball series against New Zealand and India. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Nats absence for Englands next two games means Sophia Dunkley, who hasnt been at her run-scoring best, could come in to bat at number three. Another option would be either of Amy Jones or Alice Capsey to bat at number three Article Source: IANS
Nat Sciver-Brunt ruled out of England's next two matches in major World Cup blow
Scans reveal England's captain suffered a repeat strain of her left calf muscle against Ireland on Tuesday
Ireland's Ava Canning out of Women's T20 World Cup with injury
Jane Maguire has been called up as a replacement to Ireland's T20 World Cup squad
Womens T20 WC: Jane Maguire Replaces Injured Ava Canning In Irelands Squad
The Event Technical Committee: Ireland have drafted seamer Jane Maguire into their squad for the 2026 ICC Womens T20 World Cup after medium pacer Ava Canning was ruled out due to a stress fracture in her back. The ICC confirmed Janes inclusion in Irelands squad after getting the approval from the tournaments Event Technical Committee, comprising Wasim Khan (Chair and ICC General Manager Cricket), Gaurav Saxena (ICC General Manager Events & Corporate Communications), Beth BarrettWild (Tournament Director and host representative), and StacyAnn King (Independent nominee). The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2026 has approved Jane Maguire as a replacement for Ava Canning in the Ireland squad. The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad, said the ICC in its statement on Wednesday. Ava had missed Irelands clash against hosts and 2009 champions England, which they lost by six wickets at The Rose Bowl in Southampton, with captain Gaby Lewis saying that it was due to a precaution. In her absence, Louise Little came into Irelands playing eleven and hit an unbeaten 26. Canning was sent for a precautionary scan yesterday after she raised concerns over her back after the match against Scotland last Saturday. Unfortunately for the Leinster all-rounder, the scan has revealed a stress fracture in her back, and she will fly home to begin recovery and rehabilitation immediately. Maguire will join up with the squad tomorrow, said Cricket Ireland in its statement. Ava had missed Irelands clash against hosts and 2009 champions England, which they lost by six wickets at The Rose Bowl in Southampton, with captain Gaby Lewis saying that it was due to a precaution. In her absence, Louise Little came into Irelands playing eleven and hit an unbeaten 26. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Ireland have lost both of their Group B games against Scotland and England. They will aim to get off the mark on the points table and get their first-ever win in the Womens T20 World Cup when they take on defending champions New Zealand in Southampton on Friday evening. Article Source: IANS
T20 World Cup: Veteran all-rounder Ellyse Perry said she was delighted to contribute to another Australian victory after playing a key role in her side's commanding nine-wicket win over Bangladesh in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at Headingley on Wednesday. Perry produced an impressive all-round performance, claiming 2-14 with the ball before remaining unbeaten on 19 as Australia comfortably chased down Bangladesh's total of 77/8 in just 9.3 overs. Her efforts earned her the Player of the Match award as Australia registered their second consecutive victory of the tournament. Reflecting on the bowling performance, Perry said Australia made the most of favourable conditions after opting to bowl first. I thought we started really well with the ball. Obviously, we came up front to take those early wickets. It sort of felt a little bit seam-friendly today, a little bit off the wicket as well as in the air, Perry said after the match. Australia's bowlers dominated from the outset, with Kim Garth, Sophie Molineux, and Perry taking two wickets each to keep Bangladesh under constant pressure. The Asian side never recovered from their early collapse and were restricted to a below-par total. So yeah, I thought it was a really great all-round job for the whole group. And, nice to contribute a little bit personally as well, Perry added. The experienced all-rounder also spoke about her continued work with the ball, dismissing suggestions that her recent bowling performances were intended to send a message about her role in the side. Its certainly not about sending any signal. I just like any opportunity to contribute. I really enjoy doing that with this group. They are wonderful cricket players, and we have a lot of fun on the field, she said. Perry explained that she continues to work hard on her bowling despite her long and successful international career. Ive been chipping away with my bowling. I love doing it. It keeps me interested in training to have a trundle. And yeah, there are bits and pieces that you've always got to learn and keep trying to develop. I've been doing that for the last little bit, so to have an opportunity today was really enjoyable. Perry also highlighted the importance of adapting quickly to different playing conditions during a major tournament, noting that Headingley offered a different challenge compared to Australia's previous match at Old Trafford. Perry explained that she continues to work hard on her bowling despite her long and successful international career. Ive been chipping away with my bowling. I love doing it. It keeps me interested in training to have a trundle. And yeah, there are bits and pieces that you've always got to learn and keep trying to develop. I've been doing that for the last little bit, so to have an opportunity today was really enjoyable. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With two wins from two matches and strong contributions coming from across the squad, Australia have made an impressive start to their campaign as they chase a record-extending seventh Women's T20 World Cup title. Article Source: IANS
MPL T20 Scindia Cup: In another high-scoring fixture in the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 Scindia Cup 2026, Bhopal Leopards chased down a target of 195 by five wickets against Malwa Stallions with more than an over to spare at Holkar Stadium, Indore to return back to winning ways. Malwa Stallions posted a competitive 194/9 in their allotted 20 overs after being put in to bat, in an innings that was briefly interrupted by rain. The Stallions suffered an early setback when Saksham Purohit was dismissed for 5 off just 4 deliveries. However, Ansh Yadav and Akhil Nigote Yadav steadied the innings with a solid 57-run partnership for the second wicket. Ansh departed for 13 off 11 balls, but Akhil continued to anchor the innings and brought up a fine half-century. He then combined with skipper Ashutosh Sharma to add 39 runs for the third wicket. Ashutosh played an aggressive hand, scoring 32 off 18 deliveries before being dismissed. Akhils impressive knock came to an end at 63 off 36 balls, but Malwa continued to find valuable contributions from the middle order. Parth Sahani played a crucial cameo of 41 off 24 balls, while Rishabh Chouhan chipped in with 19 off 16 deliveries. Sachin Vishwakarma added a useful 12 off 8 balls towards the end as the Stallions finished with a challenging total on the board. For the opposition, Anurag Malviya was the standout bowler, claiming 3/36 from his four overs, while Pranjul Puri picked up two wickets for 33 runs in his spell. In reply, the Bhopal Leopards got off to a flying start with Rahul Chandrol and Tanishq Yadav adding 33 runs for the opening wicket in just 3.2 overs. Chandrol was the first to depart after a quickfire 24 off 14 deliveries. Tanishq then joined forces with captain Aniket Verma, and the duo took complete control of the chase with an aggressive batting display. Verma looked in sublime touch, particularly targeting Parth Sahani, whom he smashed for three sixes in a single over. The Stallions finally found a breakthrough when Ashutosh Sharma had Tanishq caught behind for a well-made 37 off 23 balls. However, the Leopards remained firmly in command at 108/2 after 10 overs, with Verma continuing his onslaught from one end. The skipper soon brought up a brilliant half-century, but the Stallions attempted a comeback by striking a couple of timely blows, including the prized wicket of Verma. He departed after a blistering 60 off just 29 deliveries, an innings studded with five sixes and five fours. Despite the setback, Ansh Bagadia and Himanshu Shinde ensured the chase was in control. The pair stitched together a crucial 62-run partnership for the fifth wicket, keeping the required run rate well under control. Bagadia contributed 29 off 20 balls before falling with the Leopards needing just one run for victory. The skipper soon brought up a brilliant half-century, but the Stallions attempted a comeback by striking a couple of timely blows, including the prized wicket of Verma. He departed after a blistering 60 off just 29 deliveries, an innings studded with five sixes and five fours. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Reflecting on the win, Aniket Verma said, My approach was simple. In the powerplay, I wanted to spend a little time at the crease, settle in, and then build the innings one ball at a time. The idea was to ensure we found at least one boundary every over so that the required run rate never got out of control. I wasnt really looking at my strike rate, but in hindsight, I feel I could have taken the game even deeper and finished it myself. Thats something Ill look to improve in the coming matches. Article Source: IANS
Cooper Connolly Stars as Australia Beat Bangladesh by Four Wickets in T20I Opener
Cooper Connolly struck a rapid-fire 47 off 27 balls to steer Australia to a four-wicket win over Bangladesh in the opening T20 international on Wednesday. Australia chased down 132 with 10 balls to spare, finishing on 133-6 in 18.2 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Connolly anchored the chase after early setbacks, hitting four fours and three sixes before falling three runs short of a maiden half-century. Bangladesh made early inroads as Shoriful Islam dismissed Josh Inglis for five before Mustafizur Rahman removed Mitchell Marsh for 13, leaving Australia at 38-2 inside five overs. Connolly rebuilt the innings in a 40-run third-wicket stand with Tim David, who made 20 before falling to Mehidy Hasan. Connolly then pushed Australia towards the target before he was caught attempting a six off debutant Abdul Gaffar Saqlain. Australia stumbled again as Matt Renshaw and debutant Nikhil Chaudhary both fell for 18, with Saqlain and Rishad Hossain striking to keep Bangladesh in the contest. But debutant Joel Davies and Xavier Bartlett saw the visitors home in 18.2 overs, finishing unbeaten on seven and four respectively. Davies said Australia's bowlers had adapted their plans to the venue's dimensions. Here in Bangladesh, the grounds are a fair bit smaller than in Australia, so if there were any parts of the ground that were slightly bigger, I had to use that to my advantage, he said after the match. Saqlain returned 2-32, while Shoriful, Mustafizur, Mehidy and Rishad took one wicket each. Earlier, Australia's spinners dominated as Bangladesh were bowled out for 131 after electing to bat. Adam Zampa (3-18) and Davies (3-17) led the attack, with Australia's spinners taking nine wickets, the most by Australian spin bowlers in a T20I innings. Bangladesh lost momentum after a brisk powerplay, finishing with only 131 despite reaching 52 in six overs. Mehidy top-scored with an unbeaten 29, while stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy, captain in place of the injured Litton Das, made eight. Bangladesh pace bowling coach Talha Jubair said the hosts failed to build on a promising powerplay. Our powerplay was excellent, we scored 52 in six overs, but from there we could not carry on, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We went too far for boundaries when we could have built a partnership. We lost three wickets between overs seven and 15, where we needed to build our innings, he said.
Harris, Barnes rout Warwickshire batting as Somerset surge
Stunning collapse opens door for Learoyd's cruise to victory at Exmouth
Netherlands bowl; India bring in Nandani and Yastika
Netherlands brought in an extra bowler, Myrthe van den Raad, replacing batter Sanya Khurana in overcast conditions at Headingley
Debutant Davies lives his dream on banner day for Australia's spinners
Joel Davies took 3 for 17 as Australia's spinners sank Bangladesh in the first T20I in Chattogram
T20 World Cup: Australia captain Sophie Molineux praised her team's all-round performance after the six-time champions registered a dominant nine-wicket win over Bangladesh in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at Headingley on Wednesday, saying the squad's depth gives them the flexibility to adapt to any conditions. Australia produced a clinical display with both bat and ball to secure their second consecutive victory of the tournament. After restricting Bangladesh to 77/8 in 20 overs, they chased down the target in just 9.3 overs, with opener Georgia Voll remaining unbeaten on 45. Molineux said the decision to bowl first worked exactly as Australia had anticipated, with the bowlers making full use of the conditions. Yeah, it was sort of what we were expecting. Kimmy up front was beautiful. She got her shape and bowled beautifully. And then I think everyone who came on after that did their role. So it was, all in all, a good day, Molineux said after the match. Australia's seamers enjoyed assistance from the Headingley surface early in the innings and quickly put Bangladesh under pressure. Kim Garth struck twice in her opening spell, while Elyssa Perry and Molineux claimed two wickets each as Bangladesh never recovered from their poor start. One of the major positives for Australia was the performance of veteran all-rounder Elyssa Perry, who picked up two wickets before contributing an unbeaten 19 during the chase. Molineux said Perry's continued desire to improve remains one of her greatest strengths. Yeah, she's warmed up every single game since 2023 as well. So she's always chipping away at her game. And I think conditions like this really suit her. She's always been able to shape the ball and can get a little bit out of the wicket as well, Molineux said. So those conditions really suit her. And I think we're just blessed that we've got options no matter what conditions or opponent we're playing against, She added. The Australian captain also reserved special praise for opener Georgia Voll, whose aggressive batting ensured the chase was completed with minimal fuss. Voll struck six fours and a six in her unbeaten 45 and was named Player of the Match for her efforts. Yeah, that was great to see from Voll. We all know how clean a striker she is, and it was great to be able to see some of that today, Molineux said. The victory means Australia have now won both of their opening matches in the tournament and have quickly established themselves as one of the leading contenders for the title. Yeah, that was great to see from Voll. We all know how clean a striker she is, and it was great to be able to see some of that today, Molineux said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Yeah, I think so. It's one game at a time. It's a bit of a clich, but we can't get too far ahead of ourselves. At the same time, we have to be able to enjoy wins like this. So yeah, all in all, it's been a great start, she said. Article Source: IANS
Dream Was To Play For India And Wear The Indian Jersey: Prince Yadav
Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari: Fast bowler Prince Yadav described representing India as the fulfilment of a lifelong dream after receiving his maiden ODI cap ahead of the second ODI against Afghanistan at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Delhi pacer was presented with cap No. 263 by vice-captain Shreyas Iyer before India's clash against Afghanistan, capping a remarkable rise that has seen him progress from domestic cricket to the international stage in a short span. Whenever anyone starts playing cricket, their dream is always to play for India and wear the Indian jersey. During the headshot, I wore the jersey for the first time, so it feels really good. Made my parents feel proud, and I will thank god. Making a debut is a good thing for any player, but the main thing is that I perform for my team, and make my team win, then I will be very happy, Prince said in a video shared by BCCI. Prince was one of three changes India made for the second ODI. He replaced one of the seam-bowling options in the playing XI, while Yashasvi Jaiswal came into the side after Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out with an injury. While handing over the debut cap, Iyer praised the youngster's perseverance and backed him to seize the opportunity. Cap number 263, Prince. You have worked really hard to get here, and your performance definitely proves that. You deserve this opportunity. And the way you said yesterday that you want to make your country proud, and make every single person following you happy. So, good luck to you, your family, and everyone who has supported you throughout this journey. Do well, Buddy, said Shreyas while handing Prince his ODI debut cap. While handing over the debut cap, Iyer praised the youngster's perseverance and backed him to seize the opportunity. Also Read: Live Cricket Score His journey has also been marked by adversity. In 2019, Prince served a two-year BCCI suspension after being found guilty of age-fudging in Under-19 cricket. Since returning, he rebuilt his career through consistent performances in domestic cricket before forcing his way into IPL contention and, ultimately, earning his maiden India call-up. Article Source: IANS
T20 World Cup: Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana admitted that her side's batting collapse in the first half of the innings left them with little chance against Australia as the six-time champions cruised to a nine-wicket victory in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at Headingley on Wednesday. Bangladesh were restricted to 77/8 in their 20 overs after a disciplined Australian bowling display, with Nigar top-scoring with 27. Australia then chased down the target in just 9.3 overs, thanks to an unbeaten 45 from opener Georgia Voll. Reflecting on the defeat, Nigar said losing too many wickets in the first 10 overs made it difficult for Bangladesh to build a competitive total. Initially, I think we lost too many wickets in the first 10 overs, and it was pretty difficult for our batting unit to keep going from there. But I think we are better than this. We know that, Nigar said after the match. The Bangladesh skipper felt her side needed a bigger total to give their bowlers a realistic chance against a powerful Australian batting line-up. We really wanted to put some score on the board because we know that we have a very good bowling side, and that gives us a better chance when we go out to bowl, she added. Bangladesh's innings never gained momentum after early strikes from Kim Garth and Sophie Molineux. The situation worsened when Elyssa Perry claimed two wickets in the same over, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 34/5. Despite the conditions at Headingley offering considerable help to seam bowlers, Bangladesh included experienced left-arm spinner Nahida Akter in the playing XI. Nigar explained that the decision was taken in the hope that a defendable total would allow the bowlers to apply pressure. Yeah, I think initially we really wanted to see an experienced bowler like Nahida Akter come into the side. We were really hoping that we could put some runs on the board, so it might give us a chance with the ball. Otherwise, it's pretty difficult. A score of 78 runs is very difficult for the bowlers to defend, She said. Australia's batters proved exactly that as Voll and Elyssa Perry comfortably guided their side home with 63 balls remaining. Nigar also spoke about Bangladesh's continuing efforts to develop more power-hitters, an area she believes remains crucial for the team's progress in T20 cricket. Sometimes, you know, we have been looking for a few players who can really bat as power hitters and that we can use in the last few overs, she said. Nigar also spoke about Bangladesh's continuing efforts to develop more power-hitters, an area she believes remains crucial for the team's progress in T20 cricket. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The defeat leaves Bangladesh searching for answers ahead of their next match against Pakistan on June 20. Article Source: IANS
Womens T20 WC: Yastika, Nandni Included As India Asked To Bat First By Netherlands
Isabel Van Der Woning: India were asked to bat first by Netherlands in their Womens T20 World Cup clash at Headingley on Wednesday, with Yastika Bhatia returning to the playing eleven and Nandni Sharma handed a maiden appearance in the tournament. India arrives into Wednesdays game on the back of a comprehensive 64-run win over Pakistan, while Netherlands come into the clash after losing to Bangladesh by six wickets in what was also their first game in the mega event. India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said wicketkeeper-batter Yastika and right-arm pacer Nandini come into the playing eleven in place of Bharti Fulmali and Arundhati Reddy. Great opportunity to bat first and we want to challenge ourselves. The powerplay with bat and ball is something we are looking forward to. Sticking to your own plans and batting as deep as possible is the key on this wicket, she said. Netherlands captain Babette de Leede said seamer Myrthe van den Raad has replaced batter Sanya Khurana in their playing eleven. I think we will get something out of the wicket and hopefully chase the target later on. Super excited for this opportunity. Playing against India is a dream coming true, a little bit nervous as well, she said The match will be played on the same pitch as the Australia-Bangladesh contest, where Australia registered a resounding nine-wicket victory. In their pitch report, Ian Bishop and Charles Dagnall felt overcast conditions with a strong southwesterly breeze will bring early movement and could aid seamers, especially with 30 overs already bowled. Playing XIs: The match will be played on the same pitch as the Australia-Bangladesh contest, where Australia registered a resounding nine-wicket victory. In their pitch report, Ian Bishop and Charles Dagnall felt overcast conditions with a strong southwesterly breeze will bring early movement and could aid seamers, especially with 30 overs already bowled. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Netherlands: Heather Siegers, Phebe Molkenboer, Babette de Leede (captain & wk), Sterre Kalis, Robine Rijke, Frederique Overdijk, Iris Zwilling, Myrthe van den Raad, Caroline de Lange, Silver Siegers and Isabel Van Der Woning Article Source: IANS
Tilak, Arya, Kushagra, spinners put India A in final
Needing a win for a spot in the final, India A bowled out Afghanistan for 218 in 36.5 overs.
Bowlers, Voll power Australia to huge win over Bangladesh
Garth, Molineux and Perry shared six wickets between them to restrict Bangladesh to 77 for 8 before Australia raced home with more than 10 overs to spare
Fisher, Archer strike for England as New Zealand make steady start
Henry Nicholls battles through to lunch after England had opted to bowl
Women's T20 WC: Voll Shines As Australia Crush Bangladesh By 9 Wickets At Headingley
T20 World Cup: Australia continued their strong start to the ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2026 with a dominant nine-wicket victory over Bangladesh at Headingley on Wednesday. After restricting Bangladesh to just 77/8 in 20 overs, the six-time champions chased down the target in only 9.3 overs with opener Georgia Voll leading the way with an unbeaten 45. Chasing a modest target of 78, Australia were briefly tested by some disciplined bowling from Marufa Akter, who conceded only four runs in the opening over. However, the pressure did not last long as Beth Mooney and Voll quickly took control of the chase. Mooney got Australias first boundary in the second over before Voll shifted gears. The young opener struck a six and a four against Marufa in the third over and continued to find the gaps with ease. The Australian openers added runs at a brisk pace and put Bangladeshs bowlers under pressure with regular boundaries. Bangladesh finally found a breakthrough in the fifth over when Marufa dismissed Mooney for 10. Attempting an attacking shot, Mooney mistimed the ball and was caught by Ritu Moni. With Phoebe Litchfield unavailable due to a quad injury suffered during Australias opening match against South Africa, experienced all-rounder Elyssa Perry came in at No. 3 and immediately looked comfortable at the crease. Perry struck a boundary off just her second ball and settled quickly. Voll then produced her best over of the innings by hitting three boundaries in the final over of the powerplay. Australia raced to 49/1 after six overs, effectively ending any hopes of a Bangladesh comeback. Bangladeshs problems were compounded by poor fielding when Perry was dropped in the seventh over. The missed chance proved costly as Australia continued their charge towards victory. Voll remained in complete control and added two more boundaries in the eighth over to take Australia within touching distance of the target. She eventually finished unbeaten on 45 off 31 balls, hitting six fours and a six. Perry remained not out on 19 as Australia completed the chase with 63 balls to spare. Earlier, Bangladesh struggled throughout their innings after being asked to bat first. Captain Nigar Sultana top-scored with a patient 27, but none of the other batters could build meaningful partnerships against Australias disciplined bowling attack. Bangladesh got off to a slow start, scoring only three runs in the first over. Their troubles deepened in the second over when Kim Garth bowled Dilara Akhtar for a duck with a delivery that crashed into the stumps. Jauiriya Ferdous, who had impressed with a half-century in Bangladeshs previous match, briefly showed promise with a boundary but was trapped lbw by Garth for eight. The wickets continued to fall as Sophie Molineux dismissed Sharmin Akhtar lbw, leaving Bangladesh in early trouble. Captain Nigar Sultana and Sobhana Mostary attempted to steady the innings. Mostary played a few positive shots and struck a boundary off the final ball of the Power-play as Bangladesh reached 22/3 after six overs. Just when Bangladesh were trying to rebuild, Perry delivered a decisive blow. The veteran all-rounder removed Sobhana Mostary, who was caught by Molineux, before trapping Shorna Akter lbw later in the same over. Bangladesh suddenly found themselves struggling at 34/5. Nigar and Ritu Moni then focused on rebuilding the innings and avoiding further damage. However, Australias bowlers maintained tight lines and offered very few scoring opportunities. The conditions also assisted the seamers, making strokeplay difficult for the Bangladesh batters. The pair added some valuable runs, but boundaries were hard to come by. Bangladesh crossed the 50-run mark only in the 16th over when Ritu finally found the fence against Perry. The partnership ended in the 17th over when Georgia Wareham dismissed Ritu for 16. Nigar continued to battle at one end but struggled to accelerate. Her innings ended on 27 from 47 deliveries when she tried to attack Molineux and was caught out. Annabel Sutherland picked up another wicket in the final over as Australia completed a clinical bowling performance. The partnership ended in the 17th over when Georgia Wareham dismissed Ritu for 16. Nigar continued to battle at one end but struggled to accelerate. Her innings ended on 27 from 47 deliveries when she tried to attack Molineux and was caught out. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Bangladesh 77/8 in 20 overs (Nigar Sultana 27, Ritu Moti 16; Ellyse Perry 2-14, Sophie Molineux 2-14, Kim Garth 2-18) lost to Australia 78/1 in 9.3 overs(Georgia Voll 45*, Elyssa Perry 19*; Marufa Akter 1-28) by 9 wickets Article Source: IANS
India all out for 402 after Gill and Kishan hundreds
Nangeyalia Kharote picked up four wickets in Lucknow run-fest
2nd ODI: Gill's 154, Kishan's 125 Propel India To 402 Against Afghanistan
Ekana Cricket Stadium: India rode on magnificent centuries from captain Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan before surviving a late collapse to post a daunting 402/10 in 49.5 overs against Afghanistan in the second ODI here at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. After opting to bat, India endured a cautious start as Afghanistan surprised everyone by opening with off-spinner AM Ghazanfar. Yashasvi Jaiswal struggled to break free before falling early, while Rohit Sharma looked fluent in patches, leaving the hosts at 80/1 inside the first powerplay. Rohit started brilliantly, but was dismissed at 48, just a couple of runs shy of a well-deserved half-century. From there, Gill and Kishan produced a breathtaking counterattack that completely wrested control of the contest. Gill anchored the innings with trademark elegance while Kishan unleashed a barrage of boundaries and sixes, punishing anything short or overpitched as Afghanistan's attack wilted under relentless pressure. The duo brought up their century stand before accelerating spectacularly through the middle overs. Gill reached his ninth ODI hundred off just 77 deliveries, continuing his outstanding run of form, while Kishan shifted gears dramatically after a measured fifty, racing to his century in 71 balls. Their third-wicket stand swelled to 224 runs off only 140 deliveries at a run rate of 9.60, becoming the joint second-highest partnership against Afghanistan in ODIs and one of India's fastest double-century stands. India also stormed past 300 in just 35.5 overs, the fourth-fastest 300 by a team batting first in ODI history. Kishan eventually departed for a scintillating 125 off 79 balls, smashing 14 fours and seven sixes, when Nangeyalia Kharoti induced a mistimed pull to deep midwicket. Gill, however, continued to dominate, bringing up his 150 in only 108 deliveries before reaching 154 from 110 balls, an innings studded with 22 fours and two sixes. His knock also made him the fastest Indian to 3,000 ODI runs in terms of innings. Shreyas Iyer ensured the scoring rate never dipped, striking a brisk 26 off 24 deliveries, while Washington Sundar and the lower order looked to provide the finishing flourish as India appeared set to comfortably breach the 420-run mark. Afghanistan, however, mounted an impressive comeback in the closing overs. Left-arm spinner Kharoti dismissed both Gill and Iyer, finishing with impressive figures of 4/76 and triggering a collapse as India's lower order perished in search of quick runs. Rashid Khan and AM Ghazanfar also tightened the screws after enduring a difficult middle phase, ensuring India lost their final seven wickets for just 80 runs. Shreyas Iyer ensured the scoring rate never dipped, striking a brisk 26 off 24 deliveries, while Washington Sundar and the lower order looked to provide the finishing flourish as India appeared set to comfortably breach the 420-run mark. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: India 402/10 in 49.5 overs (Shubman Gill 154, Ishan Kishan 125; Nangeyalia Kharoti 4-76, Rashid Khan 3-48) against Afghanistan. Article Source: IANS
Australia's spinners dominate to hand visitors 1-0 series lead
Zampa and Davies, on debut, took three wickets each to bowl Bangladesh out for 131, before Connolly smashed 47 in the chase
Womens T20 WC: When And Where To Watch WI Vs SCO; Know All Details
T20 World Cup: Momentum, confidence, and valuable points will all be at stake when West Indies take on Scotland in one of the standout fixtures of the Group B schedule of the ICC Womens T20 World Cup. Having negotiated their opening assignments successfully, both teams now have the chance to take a significant step towards the knockout phase. Few players influence a match as consistently as Hayley Matthews. The West Indies captain is expected to shoulder responsibility with both bat and ball, providing the aggressive starts and crucial breakthroughs that have become her trademark. However, the Caribbean side also received a timely reminder that they possess match-winners beyond their skipper after Shemaine Campbelle's outstanding unbeaten 90 powered a dramatic victory over New Zealand. Scotland have been among the early surprise packages of the tournament. Their commanding display against Ireland reflected the steady progress the side has made over the last few seasons, built around a disciplined bowling attack and a batting unit that rarely loses composure. Kathryn and Sarah Bryce remain the backbone of the Scottish lineup, while Katherine Fraser and Kirstie Gordon have shown they can apply sustained pressure with the ball. Gordon's decisive spell in the opening game, in particular, underlined Scotland's growing ability to deliver on the biggest stage. History may favour the West Indies, but reputations will count for little once play begins. Scotland have steadily closed the gap on the established sides, setting up what promises to be one of the most competitive contests in the group. When: Thursday, June 18, 11:00 PM IST Where: Headingley, Leeds Where to watch: The WI vs SCO match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Squads: Where to watch: The WI vs SCO match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Scotland: Kathryn Bryce (c), Chloe Abel, Olivia Bell, Sarah Bryce, Darcey Carter, Priyanaz Chatterji, Gabriella Fontenla, Katherine Fraser, Kirstie Gordon, Ailsa Lister, Maisie Maceira, Abtaha Maqsood, Megan McColl, Rachel Slater, Pippa Sproul. Article Source: IANS
Womens T20 WC: West Indies, Scotland Target Early Control In Group B (Preview)
T20 World Cup: An opportunity to seize control of Group B awaits West Indies and Scotland as the two unbeaten sides meet in an ICC Womens T20 World Cup contest that could have a major bearing on the race for the semi-finals. With both teams beginning their campaigns on a winning note, another victory would significantly strengthen their position before the business end of the group stage. West Indies arrive with renewed confidence after edging past New Zealand in a thrilling chase. Shemaine Campbelle was the architect of that success, producing a composed unbeaten 90 under pressure to steer her side home off the final delivery. While Campbelle grabbed the spotlight, the influence of captain Hayley Matthews continues to define the Caribbean outfit. Whether it is providing rapid starts with the bat or making breakthroughs with the ball, Matthews remains the player Scotland must contain. The experienced Stafanie Taylor adds stability to the batting order, but West Indies will expect greater contributions from the middle order if they are to sustain another high-scoring effort. Scotland, meanwhile, have carried their growing confidence onto the global stage. Their convincing victory over Ireland showcased a disciplined all-round performance, with spinner Kirstie Gordon dismantling the middle order to secure one of the most significant results in the team's history. The Bryce sisters once again demonstrated why they are central to Scotland's ambitions, combining patience with smart shot selection, while Katherine Fraser has quietly become a reliable wicket-taking option. Although previous meetings have largely favoured West Indies, Scotland have developed into a far more competitive side in recent years. With both teams carrying momentum into the fixture, another closely fought contest appears firmly on the cards. When: Thursday, June 18, 11:00 PM IST Where: Headingley, Leeds Where to watch: The WI vs SCO match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Squads: Where to watch: The WI vs SCO match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Scotland: Kathryn Bryce (c), Chloe Abel, Olivia Bell, Sarah Bryce, Darcey Carter, Priyanaz Chatterji, Gabriella Fontenla, Katherine Fraser, Kirstie Gordon, Ailsa Lister, Maisie Maceira, Abtaha Maqsood, Megan McColl, Rachel Slater, Pippa Sproul. Article Source: IANS
England choose to bowl, Nicholls comes in for New Zealand
Joe Root wins toss on return to captaincy, leading an England side featuring three debutants
Women's T20 WC: Phoebe Litchfield Set To Miss Three Matches Due To Quad Injury
T20 World Cup: Australia have been dealt a big blow amid the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup 2026, as their in-form batter Phoebe Litchfield is set to miss the next three games after injuring her quad while batting against South Africa. Litchfield is not taking part in Australia's second match against Bangladesh on Wednesday. All-rounder Ashleigh Gardner is also not playing the match due to a leg sprain. Litchfield was in top form in the first match against South Africa; the youngster made 50 runs off just 23 balls and gave a good start to the Australian side, which made a big difference in the match. This latest setback is a fresh injury for the 23-year-old, who had been dealing with quad awareness in the same leg prior to the tournament, sitting out both warm-up matches in Cardiff. Litchfield will likely also miss upcoming games against the Netherlands and Pakistan but could return for Australia's blockbuster showdown against India at Lord's on June 28. Megan Schutt and Grace Harris have come into the Australia XI in their place as the six-time winners made a big change in the batting order. Elyssa Perry is placed at number 3 in Litchfield's absence. Litchfield will likely also miss upcoming games against the Netherlands and Pakistan but could return for Australia's blockbuster showdown against India at Lord's on June 28. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia playing XI: Beth Mooney(wk), Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry, Grace Harris, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux(c), Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt. Article Source: IANS
Bangladesh bat against Australia; Litchfield and Gardner out with injuries
Phoebe Litchfield has a quad injury, while Gardner has a sprained ankle; Grace Harris and Megan Schutt have replaced them, while Bangladesh have brought in Nahida Akter and Sultana Khatun
Bangladesh Bowlers Shine As ICC ODI Rankings See Major Shake-up
Despite Sri Lanka: Bangladeshs impressive ODI series victory over Australia has been reflected in the latest ICC rankings, with pacers Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed emerging as some of the biggest movers. Bangladesh secured a memorable 2-1 series triumph over Australia at home, and their bowlers played a key role in the success. Shoriful enjoyed a particularly rewarding series, capped by a stunning six-wicket haul in the final ODI. The left-arm pacer climbed 10 places to reach 18th in the latest ODI bowling rankings. Experienced seamer Mustafizur Rahman also made significant progress, jumping 12 spots to share 25th position, while Taskin Ahmed moved up five places to 27th following consistent performances throughout the series. Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy was another major beneficiary of the rankings update. The right-hander amassed 154 runs across the three-match series, including a top score of 83, and climbed seven places to 20th in the ODI batting rankings. Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz also enjoyed a notable rise after his superb century against India in the opening ODI of their series in Dharamsala. Gurbaz gained six spots to move up to 13th among ODI batters. Meanwhile, there was movement in the rankings following the conclusion of the ODI series between the West Indies and Sri Lanka in the Caribbean. West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph was the standout performer of the series, claiming 11 wickets and earning the Player of the Series award as the hosts secured a 2-1 victory. His exploits helped him surge 42 places to 27th in the ODI bowling rankings. Meanwhile, there was movement in the rankings following the conclusion of the ODI series between the West Indies and Sri Lanka in the Caribbean. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Despite Sri Lankas series defeat, several players enjoyed rankings success. Batter Kamil Mishara climbed 24 places to 18th in the ODI batting rankings, while spin duo Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage made significant gains among bowlers. Hasaranga rose six spots to eighth, while Wellalage jumped 11 places to share 17th position in the bowling rankings. Article Source: IANS
Women's T20 WC: Litchfield, Gardner Out As Australia Elect To Bowl Against Bangladesh
T20 World Cup: Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first against Bangladesh in the 9th match of the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at Headingley on Wednesday. Australia have been dealt a blow as Ashleigh Gardner is out of the match due to injury, while Phoebe Litchfield is also missing the match due to a quad injury. Australia are coming to the contest after registering a dominant 65-run win over South Africa. The six-time champions relied exclusively on spin to dominate at Old Trafford, fielding Sophie Molineux, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham and Alana King together. With Leeds expected to be less favourable for slow bowlers, experienced pacer Megan Schutt is firmly in contention to bolster the attack. Bangladesh, meanwhile, have little reason to alter a winning formula. They opened their campaign with a controlled six-wicket victory over the Netherlands, with debutant opener Juairiya Ferdous laying the platform through a fluent fifty before Sharmin Akter Supta finished the chase. Past meetings also point towards Australian dominance. They comfortably defeated Bangladesh in Canberra during the 2020 edition after Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney combined for a century opening stand. In 2023, Georgia Wareham's three-wicket haul restricted Bangladesh to 107 before Meg Lanning anchored a straightforward chase with an unbeaten 48. After winning the toss, Australia skipper Sophie Molineux said, We'll have a bowl. Just having a look at the pitch, it's a little bit soft on top. Hopefully we'll get the best of it with our seamers. Outfield looks a lot faster. Beautiful ground, never been here before. Two changes, Phoebe Litchfield and Ash Gardner are out. Just a couple of injuries. Poor Ash had a bit of a fall. Sprained ankle, will be fine for next game. After losing the toss, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana said, Really wanted to bat first, wanted to give the batting unit the freedom. It's all about the mindset. Have the belief that if we can execute our plans, we have a chance. For a long time we have been concerned about our top order. We found someone who can go after the bowlers (Ferdous). We're introducing off-spinners as they have three left-handers. Playing XIs After losing the toss, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana said, Really wanted to bat first, wanted to give the batting unit the freedom. It's all about the mindset. Have the belief that if we can execute our plans, we have a chance. For a long time we have been concerned about our top order. We found someone who can go after the bowlers (Ferdous). We're introducing off-spinners as they have three left-handers. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia: Beth Mooney(wk), Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry, Grace Harris, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux(c), Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt Article Source: IANS
India hand Prince Yadav debut as Afghanistan bowl in Lucknow
Darwish Rasooli, meanwhile, makes his ODI debut for Afghanistan
Bangladesh bat with Litton ruled out; Chaudhary and Davies debut for Australia
Towhid Hridoy is leading Bangladesh in Litton Das' absence, and they have handed a debut to Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, the quick bowler
2nd ODI: Prince Yadav Debuts As Afghanistan Ask India To Bat First
Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari: Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl against India in the second ODI of the three-match series here at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. The hosts have handed Prince Yadav a debut cap, making him the third debutant in this series after Harsh Dubey and Gurnoor Brar, who earned their caps in the 1st ODI. Nitish Kumar Reddy, meanwhile, was unavailable for selection due to quad issues. The series began with India drawing first blood in Dharamsala, sealing a convincing seven-wicket victory in a rain-shortened 25-overs-a-side contest. With several senior players unavailable, the opening ODI also served as an important audition for India's emerging talent, who grabbed the opportunity and gave the hosts an early 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Winning the toss, Afghan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said, Wicket looks fresh. I think it'll be spinning in the first innings. In the last game, we played really well, we missed the partnerships. We had one partnership and then threw away our wickets. Hopefully we come back stronger. Our boys have a lot of passion of cricket. We have three changes. Nabi is sick, Azmat got injured and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi isn't playing. Bilal, Darwish Rasooli and one more. The series began with India drawing first blood in Dharamsala, sealing a convincing seven-wicket victory in a rain-shortened 25-overs-a-side contest. With several senior players unavailable, the opening ODI also served as an important audition for India's emerging talent, who grabbed the opportunity and gave the hosts an early 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Playing XIs: Article Source: IANS
Conway, Tickner Return To New Zealand's 2026-27 Central Contract List
Head Coach Rob Walter: Top-order batter Devon Conway and pace bowler Blair Tickner have been included in New Zealand's central contract for the 2026-27 period, replacing Adithya Ashok and Muhammad Abbas in the 20-player list, New Zealand Cricket announced on Wednesday. After two years on a casual playing agreement, Conway returns to the central contract list with a busy 12 months of Test cricket ahead. Tickner earned his recall to the list after compelling performances across all formats for both the Central Stags and the national side. Head Coach Rob Walter said it was pleasing to see the return of both Tickner and Conway. Blair has worked extremely hard over the past few years and added new levels to his game. Hes an excellent team man and has stepped into various roles for the side over the past few months and excelled in them. Its important we continue to nurture that depth in our bowling stocks, especially with a heavy diet of red-ball cricket over the next 12 months, so to have Blair contracted full-time will help maintain that depth. Devon has been a regular member of the side in all three formats for some time now, even whilst on a casual contract, so its great to have a player of his calibre back on the central contract list, especially with the amount of exciting cricket coming up, he said. Conways 146 international caps and over 6,000 runs across all formats is a welcome return to the central contract list, with the top-order batter making himself available for all international fixtures during the upcoming contracting period (1 August 2026 - 31 July 2027). Tickner has claimed four or more wickets in five of his last eight innings for New Zealand, with his maiden international five-wicket-bag coming last month against Ireland in the one-off Test match at Stormont. Tickner and Conways inclusion means Adithya Ashok and Muhammad Abbas come off the central contract list, NZC said in a release. Zak Foulkes and Mitch Hay have retained their contracts after being added to the list for the first time last year and featuring across all three formats in the past 12 months. Foulkes has already chalked up 36 internationals and featured prominently in all formats during the first half of the home summer, playing a key role in the one-day series win against England with his seven wickets. Wicketkeeper-batter Hay has 23 caps to his name after making his Test debut in Wellington against the West Indies in December, where he scored 61 from his solitary innings and took three catches behind the stumps. Foulkes has already chalked up 36 internationals and featured prominently in all formats during the first half of the home summer, playing a key role in the one-day series win against England with his seven wickets. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Kane Williamsons recent retirement from international cricket means he will not feature as a casually contracted player. Article Source: IANS
West Indies Recall Da Silva, Jangoo For SL Tests; Alzarri, Shamar Return From Injury
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium: Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced a 15-member squad for the two-match test series against Sri Lanka, which will see the return of wicketkeeper-batters Joshua Da Silva and Amir Jangoo. The series will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua from June 25 to July 7 and the West Indies will look to make the most of home conditions. Fast bowling duo Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph have also returned to the Test setup after missing the tours of India and New Zealand through injury. The pair last featured in a Test squad during the home series against Australia in 2025. Da Silva earned a recall after amassing 996 runs across the last two seasons of the West Indies Championship. Also returning is Amir Jangoo, who earned a recall following an impressive showing in this years Championship, finishing second in runs scored, including a double century. It will be his first Test squad selection since January 2025. Jangoo, meanwhile, returned after an impressive showing in this years Championship, finishing second in runs scored, including a double century. It will be his first Test squad selection since January 2025. Meanwhile, Tevin Imlach will captain the 13-man WI Select XI in the four-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka from June 18-21 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. Head Coach Daren Sammy welcomes the challenge of playing Sri Lanka at home this summer. Every Test series is an opportunity for us to grow as a team and strengthen our identity. Sri Lanka are a quality side, so we know well have to be at our best, but were excited about the challenge ahead. For us, its about playing with discipline, showing character when the game gets tough, and representing the West Indies with pride. The players have been putting in the work, and were looking forward to putting on a strong display for our fans across the Caribbean, he said. As part of the team's preparations for the series, the squad is currently participating in a high-performance training camp in Antigua which commenced on June 12 and runs until June 22, with those players who competed in the white-ball series in Jamaica joining on June 15. The programme also provides the coaching staff with an opportunity to assess player readiness and fine-tune plans ahead of the series against Sri Lanka and the final home series against Pakistan. This is a key component of our preparations heading into the series, providing players and coaches with valuable time to enhance and improve the skills we want to see sharpened, based on the areas we need to focus our attention on when facing this opponent. It also gives us the opportunity to put clear objectives and plans in place for the conclusion of the summer against Pakistan. The programme also provides the coaching staff with an opportunity to assess player readiness and fine-tune plans ahead of the series against Sri Lanka and the final home series against Pakistan. Also Read: Live Cricket Score West Indies squad: Roston Chase (c), Jomel Warrican (vc), John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales Article Source: IANS
Footballers Who Played Cricket and Cricketers Who Made It Big in Football
The Three Lions skipper Harry Kane was recently seen leading his teams cricket practice at his teams FIFA World Cup training base in Florida. Not only this, MCC approves of football players technique with bat and ball, and the official lawmakers of the game commented on the English footballers cricket skills, Technique straight from the MCC manual, on their official Instagram page. In the pre-tournament training camp at West Palm Beach in Florida, Harry Kane rolled his arm over with some sharp deliveries and also batted. If footballers can play cricket, believe it, many cricketers have played football at the top level, even the FIFA World Cup. The first and most popular name on everyones list is Ellyse Perry of Australia, who is a two-time ICC Cricket World Cup winner and played for the Matilda (Australian football team), at the FIFA World Cup in 2011. She is a multi-sport legend and, if we talk of football only, she played for Central Coast Mariners, Canberra United and Sydney FC during her footballing career and made 18 appearances for the Matilda and even scored Australia's only goal in the 1-3 defeat against Sweden in the quarter final at the 2011 FIFA Womens World Cup. She is the last Australian to score a goal in a football World Cup. Ellyse Perry would make it among the top sportspersons in the world just based on her cricketing accolades. It is generally believed that she is the only player ever to play in both ICC and FIFA World Cups, which is incorrect. Clare Taylors achievement is no less. She was part of the 1993 cricket World Cup winning England team at Lords and two years later, in 1995, she played for England at the FIFA World Cup. Taylor is from Yorkshire and played her club football for Bronte and Liverpool Ladies. Clare Taylor is the only player of either gender to have played for England in World Cups for both cricket and football. She represented the England women's football team at the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup in Sweden, helping the team reach the quarterfinals. In fact, Taylor preferred football to cricket, and she focused on cricket after being dropped from the England football team. She was allotted 82 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of Englands inaugural international. She was No. 1 in the ICC women's batting rankings that were released for the first time in October 2008. Taylor was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2000 Birthday Honors for services to Cricket, Association Football, and to Hockey. Sir Vivian Richards had greater success on the cricket field than he ever did on a football pitch. The West Indian legend occasionally turned out for the Antiguan national football team, and he played in their qualification campaign for the 1974 World Cup finals, but Antigua lost all four of their matches, including an 11-0 dismantling at the hands of Trinidad & Tobago and a 6-0 defeat to Surinam. Believe it, Sir Geoff Hurst, scorer of the most famous hat-trick (the only one to score in a World Cup final) in the history of English football, to win the World Cup in 1966 at Wembley also played one County Championship game for Essex (against Lancashire) in 1962. He was an outstanding fielder, and occasional wicketkeeper, but couldnt spare much time for cricket. You will be surprised to note that Bobby Moore was also a very good cricketer, and it took the England cricket team until 2010 to win a World Cup, but these two English cricketers managed it 44 years earlier. CB Fry and Denis Compton were more accomplished footballers, but the connection to the football World Cup eluded them. However, in the 1953 Ashes series, a player with the name of Willie Watson also played with Compton. Watson, who played 23 Tests, scored two Test hundreds and overall accumulated more than 25000 runs in first class cricket, was one of that very small select band who represented England at both cricket and football. He was in the English squad for the World Cup in Brazil in 1950 but did not play in a match, probably because he didnt fit into the strategy of his manager. Also Read: Live Cricket Score This reference shall remain incomplete without the mention of one and only Steve Bucknor. This famous umpire did not officiate in a FIFA World Cup, but he made history as the first person to officiate in both Cricket and Football World Cup events. He was a FIFA-accredited football referee who notably officiated in World Cup qualifying matches.
Conway and Tickner return to New Zealand central contracts list
Adi Ashok and Muhammad Abbas have been dropped from the list, while Kane Williamson was not considered following his international retirement
Da Silva and Jangoo earn recalls for West Indies' Tests against Sri Lanka
Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph are also back in the Test squad after missing West Indies' last two series with injuries
Gameskraft case: Karnataka HC declares ED arrests illegal, orders immediate release of founders
The case stems from allegations of cheating and fraud against the gaming platform, following which the ED arrested the founders in May.
Sciver-Brunt to undergo calf scan as injury mars Ireland win
Predecessor Knight admits it 'wouldn't be ideal' if captain has suffered injury relapse after missing early season
Sciver-Brunt, spinners star as England edge to laboured victory over Ireland
England made heavy weather of 119-run chase after a rain delay at Hampshire Bowl
Womens T20 World Cup: England Survive Ireland Test To Maintain Winning Start
T20 World Cup: Hosts England were made to work hard for their second successive win in the ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2026 as they defeated Ireland by four wickets in a Group 2 encounter, here on Wednesday. After producing a disciplined bowling performance to restrict Ireland to 118/9 in their allotted 20 overs, England chased down the target with 15 balls to spare despite losing wickets at regular intervals. Ireland struggled to build partnerships after being put under pressure by Englands attack. Regular breakthroughs prevented them from gaining momentum, with the innings never really taking off. Sophie Ecclestone led the bowling effort with a three-wicket haul, while Englands seamers and spinners combined effectively to keep the scoring rate in check. A late contribution from the lower middle order helped Ireland push past the 100-run mark and finish on 118/9, giving their bowlers something to defend. Englands chase, however, was far from straightforward. Ireland struck early to leave the hosts under pressure and ensure the contest remained alive for most of the evening. The home side lost wickets at crucial moments and were unable to dominate proceedings against a disciplined Irish bowling attack. England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt anchored the innings with a valuable knock of 48, providing stability after the early setbacks. Her innings ensured England remained on course despite Irelands persistent challenge. With the required rate under control, Englands middle order kept the scoreboard moving before guiding the team home in the closing stages. Although Ireland continued to chip away with wickets, the target proved just within Englands reach as the hosts crossed the line with four wickets in hand. The victory strengthens Englands position in Group 2 and keeps their unbeaten run intact, while Ireland can take encouragement from a competitive performance against one of the tournament favourites despite ending on the losing side. Brief Scores: Ireland Women: 118/9 in 20 overs (Louise Little 26; Sophie Ecclestone 3 wickets) England Women: 119/6 in 17.3 overs (Louise Little 26; Sophie Ecclestone 3 wickets) Also Read: Live Cricket Score Result: England Women won by 4 wickets. Article Source: IANS
Jharkhand T20 League: Ranchi Titans Dethrone Koylanchal Super Kings To Become The Table Toppers
Jharkhand T20 Cricket League: In a day filled with commanding performances at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Santhal Strikers and Ranchi Titans registered clinical victories on Day 7 of the Jharkhand T20 Cricket League 2026. While the Strikers pulled off a win against table-toppers Koylanchal Super Kings, the Ranchi Titans continued their fine form with a stellar chase against the Dhanbad Diamonds. In the afternoon fixture, the Santhal Strikers registered their first victory of the season by defeating the league-leading Koylanchal Super Kings by seven wickets. After being put in to bat first, the Super Kings were restricted to a modest total of 148/8. Sharandeep Singh Bhatia top-scored with a well-compiled 58 off 47 balls, marking his fourth fifty-plus score of the tournament, while wicketkeeper-batter Robin Minz chipped in with a brisk 40 off 28 deliveries. The Strikers' bowling unit was spearheaded by Pratyush Kumar, who produced a clinical spell for exceptional figures of 3/17 in his four overs, while Manishi provided strong support by claiming 2/23. Chasing a target of 149, the Strikers bounced back from an early setback after losing opener Vibhor Pandey for a duck. Vivek Kumar anchored the chase spectacularly, orchestrating a vital 64-run partnership for the second wicket alongside Kumar Suraj, who contributed a solid 34. Vivek led the batting onslaught with a match-winning 64 off just 36 balls to completely take the game away from the opposition. Following his dismissal, Sumit Kumar played a highly sensible, unbeaten knock of 27* off 29 balls to guide his team home, wrapping up the comprehensive chase at 154/3 in 18.2 overs. For his standout, restrictive first-innings spell, Pratyush Kumar was rightfully adjudged the Player of the Match. The evening match was a high-scoring encounter, with the Dhanbad Diamonds batting first and being bowled out for 191 on the very last ball of their innings. Ram Raushan Sharan played a fiery knock, top-scoring with a blistering 58 off just 24 balls, while Aditya Singh (26) and Bisesh Dutta (24) made important contributions. For the Ranchi Titans, Prince Anurag Murmu continued to be the standout bowler for his side, claiming excellent figures of 3/20 in his four overs. Skipper Rajandeep Singh (2/46) and Yuvraj Kumar (2/47) also chipped in with two wickets each. The evening match was a high-scoring encounter, with the Dhanbad Diamonds batting first and being bowled out for 191 on the very last ball of their innings. Ram Raushan Sharan played a fiery knock, top-scoring with a blistering 58 off just 24 balls, while Aditya Singh (26) and Bisesh Dutta (24) made important contributions. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The battle intensifies on Wednesday, featuring a high-stakes clash between the Jamshedpur Steelers and a rejuvenated Santhal Strikers side, hungry to build on their momentum. Later in the evening, prime-time action with a heavy-hitting blockbuster pitting the Chota Nagpur Royals directly against the table toppers, Koylanchal Super Kings. Article Source: IANS
The Bengal T20 League Season: The Bengal T20 League Season 3 at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday witnessed two masterclass batting performances by Novus Royals Purulia's Priyam Sarkar (100 off 56) and Murshidabad Kings' Saksham Chaudhary (98 off 47). Priyam, who scored the fourth century in the league's history, was unlucky to end up on the losing side as Purulia went down to Murshidabad Kings by four wickets in a rain-curtailed encounter. Batting first, Purulia posted a challenging 196/3 in 18 overs, thanks to Priyam, who smashed 10 fours and 6 sixes in his knock. Yuvraj Deepak Keshwani (56 not out off 27) also played a brilliant innings. In reply, Abhishek Raman (43) gave Murshidabad Kings the perfect start. After his departure, Saksham played a knock to remember as he single-handedly took his team closer to victory before falling agonisingly short of a well-deserved century by just two runs. En route to his knock, Saksham struck 10 sixes and six fours as Murshidabad chased down the target, scoring 200/6 in 17.4 overs. Ravi Kumar bagged three wickets for Royals Purulia. In the day's second match, Shrachi Rarh Tigers edged Rashmi NES Medinipur Wizards by 3 runs in yet another thrilling contest in the league. Batting first, Shrachi Rarh Tigers scored 169/9 in 20 overs, thanks to Rohit Kumar's explosive 30 off just 8 balls and Shuvam Dey Sr's 35 off 21 deliveries. For Medinipur, Sayed Irfan Aftab bagged three wickets. In reply, Medinipur Wizards fell just short, scoring 166/6 in their 20 overs despite Abhishek Das' unbeaten 40 off 28 balls. For Rarh Tigers, Raju Halder was the pick of the bowlers, bagging 3 for 23. The result marked yet another nail-biting finish in the Bengal T20 League Season 3. After a one-wicket win for Shrachi Rarh Tigers and a one-run victory for Kolkata Royal Tigers in the previous two matchdays, Tuesday produced another thriller, underlining the fierce competition as the league heads towards its business end. Brief scores: The result marked yet another nail-biting finish in the Bengal T20 League Season 3. After a one-wicket win for Shrachi Rarh Tigers and a one-run victory for Kolkata Royal Tigers in the previous two matchdays, Tuesday produced another thriller, underlining the fierce competition as the league heads towards its business end. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Shrachi Rarh Tigers 169/9 (20 overs) beat Rashmi NES Medinipur Wizards 166/6 (20 overs) by 3 runs. Article Source: IANS
Crumpled but still a good fit, Root dons his blazer for the England cause once more
England's senior pro takes the reins for the 65th time in Tests, four years on from his previous stint
Women's T20 WC: Listening To Experienced Players Helped Me, Says Richa Ghosh
T20 World Cup: Indian women's team player Richa Ghosh has credited the advice of her experienced teammates for regaining her form in time for the ongoing ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2026, in which the Indian women's team made a rousing start with a win over archrivals Pakistan. The 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batter blasted a crucial 17-ball 34 during Indias 64-run win over Pakistan on Sunday, having hit an equally explosive 68 during her sides warm-up match against England in Cardiff. Before those two knocks, Ghosh was suffering from a lean spell in which she only scored 18 runs across four innings. But now back fully firing for Indias latest attempt at claiming a maiden T20 global crown, Ghosh, who is part of the side that will take on the Netherlands at Headingley on Wednesday, was always confident that she could turn things around. At that time, I just stayed focused on my game because, although I was not getting the runs at the time, I knew what I could do, said Ghosh. I was thinking that I could work more on my drills and just remain focused. And that it was okay if I'm not getting it, as I was in good touch at that time, but not getting runs. This happens. I spoke to Hari [Harmanpreet Kaur] and all the seniors, Smriti [Mandhana] too, about what to do. And they said, Don't worry, just play your game and just focus. That's it. And that helped me also., Richa was quoted as saying on Tuesday. Despite the Netherlands making their ICC Womens T20 World Cup debut, the Dutch outfit fitted in on the big stage during their first match of the tournament against Bangladesh, as they only narrowly missed out on a maiden World Cup win. Ghosh insists she and her teammates will not be taking the Netherlands for granted when the two meet in Leeds on Wednesday and praised them for the strides they have made in international cricket. She added, I saw them before the World Cup. They have good bowlers, and for them it's the first time. They're doing really well, and every team is like, They can do well. I think they've done really well. That's why they're here, and we are not taking any team easily, and we're just looking forward. The Netherlands head coach, Neil MacRae, was full of admiration for Wednesdays opponents and the work they had done in promoting the womens game, adding that the positive effects of India's franchise tournament, the Womens Premier League, can be felt around the world. The rise of Indian women's cricket has been an inspiration for everybody, particularly in the last few years, he said. With four years of the WPL and winning their first World Cup last year in the 50-over format, you can see that progression has really come through the WPL experience and the team has gone to a different level. MacRae was also proud of the way his players handled themselves at Edgbaston in their World Cup opener and said his charges are viewing the tournament as a chance to expand the countrys cricketing horizons. He added: It's a privilege for us to be at a World Cup taking on a team of the might of India, a country steeped in so much history and passion for cricket. It's an unbelievable opportunity to take on one of the world's best teams. I thought in the first game against Bangladesh we played some good cricket, but the occasion of our first-ever T20 World Cup match weighed quite heavily on the players. He added: It's a privilege for us to be at a World Cup taking on a team of the might of India, a country steeped in so much history and passion for cricket. It's an unbelievable opportunity to take on one of the world's best teams. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I thought they coped really well. Having experienced that now, they're much better placed in the second game to come out and play their best cricket, she added. Article Source: IANS
Women's T20 WC: 'It Was A Must-win Game For Us', Says Athapaththu After Victory Over NZ
T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu described her side's five-wicket win over defending champions New Zealand as a must-win result but insisted there is no room for complacency despite defeating one of the favourites for the Women's T20 World Cup title. Nilakshi de Silva scored an unbeaten 54, and Kaushani Nuthyangana made a steady 24 not out as Sri Lanka chased down New Zealand's 150/6 with one ball left. This marked their first victory of the tournament. Athapaththu emphasised the importance of this result for Sri Lanka's chances in the competition. She commended her batting team for sticking to their plans under pressure. I think it's a good win. It was a must-win game for us, or we would not have had a chance. As a team and batting unit, we executed our plans well. Nilakshi played excellently today. Kaushani is not in her best form, but she contributed well alongside Nilakshi. Sri Lanka's win not only relied on de Silva's crucial knock but also on solid fielding. They kept New Zealand to 150/6 after the White Ferns looked set for a much higher score. Kavisha Dilhari led the bowling with figures of 2 for 35, while the fielders made several sharp plays. Athapaththu praised the improvement from months of hard work. Our fielding unit, especially thanks to our fielding coach's efforts over the past six months, has improved a lot. We used to struggle in the field, but today we were much better. Our fielding unit performed well. Sri Lanka's bowlers managed to pull New Zealand back after Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine threatened to take control. Both scored 45 runs, but key wickets kept the White Ferns from going beyond 150. The chase was not easy. Athapaththu hit 27 off 19 balls after being dropped on seven, but Sri Lanka fell from 45/1 to 55/4. De Silva and Kavisha Dilhari then steadied the innings. After Dilhari's run-out for 17, de Silva and Nuthyangana formed an unbeaten 48-run partnership to secure the win. Sri Lanka's bowlers managed to pull New Zealand back after Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine threatened to take control. Both scored 45 runs, but key wickets kept the White Ferns from going beyond 150. Also Read: Live Cricket Score While she enjoyed the win, the Sri Lankan captain also pointed out areas for improvement. We still need to work on a few things as a team, especially our batting. We lost a few wickets in the middle part of the innings. We also need to improve a bit in our bowling. Article Source: IANS
SA-W vs PAK-W Match 11, Cricket Tips :It has not been a good start for the runner-ups of the last two Women's T20 World Cups, South Africa Women. They were humiliated by Australia in their opening encounter, losing by 65 runs. They have not just lost the game but also suffered a big hit to their NRR. So, to make a comeback, they need a big win. South Africa Women will be in action against Pakistan Women. On Wednesday, this contest will start at 11 PM IST at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Pakistan also lost their opening game, and their situation is also pretty similar. Also Read: Live Cricket Score SA-W vs PAK-W: Match Details Date : June 17, 2026 (Wednesday) Time : 11 PM IST Venue : Edgbaston, Birmingham SA-W vs PAK-W Live Streaming Details In India, the live telecast of this game will be available on the Star Sports Networks. Fans can also watch this game through the Jio Hotstar streaming platform. SA-W vs PAK-W Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 27 South Africa Women : 15 Pakistan Women : 12 No - Result : 00 SA-W vs PAK-W: Ground Pitch Report Edgbaston has been a good batting venue in England. It offers true bounce and pace off the wicket, which helps the batters play big shots. The batting conditions will remain similar in both innings, which is why it will be important for the team batting first to score big. SA-W vs PAK-W Possible XIs SA-W : Laura Wolvaardt (c), Annerie Dercksen, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Chloe Tryon, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Kayla Reyneke, Shabnim Ismail, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka PAK-W : Muneeba Ali (wk), Gull Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Saira Jabeen, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana (c), Nashra Sandhu, Rameen Shamim, Tasmia Rubab, Sadia Iqbal SA-W vs PAK-W Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Laura Wolvaardt is the prolific scorer for her team across formats. She will be the one to watch out for. For Pakistan, experienced Mnueeba Ali needs to take more responsibility with the bat. Probable Best Bowler Nonkululeko Mlaba and Sadia Iqbal showed good form in the first game, and their teams will hope they do well in this game. Today Match Prediction : Pakistan Women have troubled South Africa Women in this format. But by comparing these two, South Africa Women look like the better side to win this game. SA-W vs PAK-W Match 11 ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, Today 2026 Match, SA-W vs PAK-W 2026 Prediction, SA-W vs PAK-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update for SA-W vs PAK-W Match Disclaimer : The predictions or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.
IND-W vs NED-W Match 10, Cricket Tips :India Women were challenged by Pakistan Women in the opening game of their campaign in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026. Eventually, they had an easy win, and they beat the arch rival by 64 runs, courtesy of a record figure of 5/10 by Deepti Sharma. Smriti Mandhana also looked in good touch and scored a much-needed half-century at the top. With two points, India will now take on Netherlands on Wednesday. This contest will be held at Headingley, Leeds, at 7 PM IST. Netherlands had a defeat to start the tournament, and they will need something special to beat this Indian side. Also Read: Live Cricket Score IND-W vs NED-W: Match Details Date : June 17, 2026 (Wednesday) Time : 7 PM IST Venue : Headingley, Leeds IND-W vs NED-W Live Streaming Details Indian fans can tune into the Star Sports networks on Wednesday to watch Indian women live. The live stream of the game will be available on the Jio Hotstar app or website. IND-W vs NED-W Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 00 India Women : 00 Netherlands Women : 00 No - Result : 00 IND-W vs NED-W: Ground Pitch Report Headingley has been a good venue for the fast bowlers. There will be good help at the start of the match with the new ball. However, the wicket is expected to improve for batting, and chasing will be recommended in these conditions. IND-W vs NED-W Possible XIs IND-W : Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud NED-W : Sterre Kalis, Sanya Khurana, Babette de Leede (c & wk), Phebe Molkenboer, Robine Rijke, Iris Zwilling, Heather Siegers, Caroline de Lange, Frederique Overdijk, Silver Siegers, Isabel Woning IND-W vs NED-W Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Smriti Mandhana scored a classy fifty against Pakistan and showed why she is India's premier batter. Captain Babette de Leede was brilliant in the first game, and she will be a key batter for her team. Probable Best Bowler Deepti Sharma is coming off a MOTM performance and will be confident of another good spell. Isabel Woning holds the key for Netherlands with the ball. Today Match Prediction : On the basis of current form, experience, and skills, we predict India Women to win this game. IND-W vs NED-W Match 10 ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, Today 2026 Match, IND-W vs NED-W 2026 Prediction, IND-W vs NED-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update for IND-W vs NED-W Match Disclaimer : The predictions or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.
Women's T20 WC: Nilakshika Silva's Unbeaten Fifty Sinks Defending Champions NZ By Five Wickets
T20 World Cup: Nilakshika Silva produced a match-winning unbeaten half-century, after Sri Lanka's bowlers delivered a superb collective effort, to script a five-wicket victory over defending champions New Zealand in a thrilling seventh match in Group 2 of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, at The Rose Bowl in Southampton on Tuesday. Chasing 151, Sri Lanka stayed calm in a tense finish. Silva was not out on 54 and teamed up with Kaushani Nuthyangana, who scored 24, in a partnership worth 48 runs that brought the Asian side home with one ball left. This was Sri Lanka's first win in the tournament and dealt another serious blow to New Zealand, whose title defense is falling apart. Sri Lanka's chase started well with captain Chamari Athapaththu leading the attack. After getting a second chance on seven, she punished New Zealand by hitting 27 off just 19 balls before getting bowled in the final over of the Powerplay. Her wicket sparked a sudden collapse as New Zealand fought back into the game. Vishmi Gunaratne scored 17, Harshitha Samarawickrama made 5, and Hasini Perera was out for 2, causing Sri Lanka to drop from a strong position of 45/1 to 55/4. With the innings in jeopardy, Kavisha Dilhari and Nilakshi de Silva calmly built a critical 50-run partnership. Dilhari added 17 before being run out in the 15th over, leaving Sri Lanka needing a steady hand to finish the job. De Silva took on that role, leading the chase effectively. Needing 16 runs from the last two overs, she and Nuthyangana picked up the pace just right, scoring 11 runs in the 19th over and leaving only five needed from the final six balls. The duo showed great composure under pressure and helped Sri Lanka cross the finish line with one delivery to spare, securing a memorable win. Earlier, New Zealand scored 150/6 after deciding to bat first. Their innings faced an early blow when Isabella Gaze was out for 4 in the opening over. Georgia Plimmer (18) and captain Amelia Kerr then worked together to rebuild through a 49-run partnership before Plimmer got out. Kerr continued to lead and made 45 before being caught in the deep in the 13th over. New Zealand seemed set for a bigger total when Sophie Devine began to fight back, but Sri Lanka's bowlers applied constant pressure. Devine played well for her 45 before getting out late in the innings, while Maddy Green remained not out on 18 as the White Ferns finished at 150/6. Sri Lankas bowling performance was disciplined, with five of the six bowlers picking up wickets. Kavisha Dilhari stood out with figures of 2 for 35 from her four overs as Sri Lanka consistently broke New Zealands rhythm and stopped them from scoring more. After holding the defending champions to 150/6 and then completing a tense chase thanks to de Silva's unbeaten 54, Sri Lanka celebrated a win that could be vital for their World Cup run. Sri Lankas bowling performance was disciplined, with five of the six bowlers picking up wickets. Kavisha Dilhari stood out with figures of 2 for 35 from her four overs as Sri Lanka consistently broke New Zealands rhythm and stopped them from scoring more. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand 150/6 in 20 overs (Sophie Devine 45, Melie Kerr 45; Kavisha Dilhari 2-35) lost to Sri Lanka 153/5 in 19.4 overs (Nilakshika Silva 54 not out, Chamari Athapaththu 27; Nensi Patel 2-23) by five wickets Article Source: IANS
AUS-W vs BAN-W Match 9, Cricket Tips :Australia Women, the six-time winner, have recorded an easy win in their opening encounter of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026. They took down South Africa Women by 65 runs to earn their first points. Now, they will be up against Bangladesh Women in match 9 of the competition. This contest will be held on Wednesday at 3 PM IST at Headingley in Leeds. Only two teams will qualify from Group A, and another win will help Australia to strengthen their chances. Bangladesh Women have never beaten them, and it will be a miracle if they do it on Wednesday. Also Read: Live Cricket Score AUS-W vs BAN-W: Match Details Date : June 17, 2026 (Wednesday) Time : 3PM IST Venue : Headingley, Leeds AUS-W vs BAN-W Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch this game live on the Star Sports networks, and the live stream of this game will be available on the Jio Hotstar app or website. AUS-W vs BAN-W Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 05 Australia Women : 05 Bangladesh Women : 00 No - Result : 00 AUS-W vs BAN-W: Ground Pitch Report The wicket in Leeds is good for batting. This is a good batting-friendly deck, which offers bounce and pace to the batters to play their shots. However, fast bowlers will get some movement at the start, but the wicket is expected to settle down well for batting. AUS-W vs BAN-W Possible XIs AUS-W : Beth Mooney (wk), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux (c), Kim Garth, Alana King BAN-W : Dilara Akter, Juairiya Ferdous, Sharmin Akhter, Nigar Sultana (c) (wk), Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Shanjida Akter Meghla, Fariha Trisna AUS-W vs BAN-W Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Phoebe Litchfield scored a blistering fifty in the last game, and she is in excellent form. Juairiya Ferdous won the MOTM award for her fifty in the first game, and she has shown good promise at the top. Probable Best Bowler Marufa Akter and Kim Garth will like bowling with the new ball at this venue. Today Match Prediction : Australia have a strong record, and they have never lost to Bangladesh Women. Hence, we back Australia to win this contest. AUS-W vs BAN-W Match 9 ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, Today 2026 Match, AUS-W vs BAN-W 2026 Prediction, AUS-W vs BAN-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update for AUS-W vs BAN-W Match Disclaimer : The predictions or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.
Nilakshika, Nuthyangana stun NZ to seal famous win for Sri Lanka
Nilakshika produced her finest international innings to beat defending champions New Zealand in a thriller
James Rew to make Test debut as Jamie Smith goes on paternity leave
Three debutants and five changes for England, following victory in Lord's Test
Canada-Netherlands ODI abandoned due to dangerous pitch in Toronto
A pitch at the same venue had received an unsatisfactory rating from the match referee ODI between USA and Netherlands last week
Sri Lanka 'A' Players Sanctioned After Heated India 'A' Clash In Dambulla: Report
Sri Lanka Cricket: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has reportedly taken disciplinary action against players involved in the ill-tempered India 'A' versus Sri Lanka 'A' tri-series clash in Dambulla on Monday, with match referee Pradeep Jeyapragash imposing sanctions following the controversial contest, said a report on Tuesday. A heated exchange, which escalated into lengthy discussions and what seemed to be a physical confrontation between India's young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sri Lanka A's Vishen Halambage, overshadowed Sri Lanka A's win in the Super Over after both teams recorded an equal score of 265. According to Cricbuzz, Halambage is among the prominent targets of the sanctions issued by JJeyapragash, a former Sri Lankan fast bowler and match referee of the game. Curiously, Sri Lanka A wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella has also been fined, though it seemed that he was trying to calm the ongoing confrontation between Halambage and Sooryavanshi. Dickwella was fined for a separate violation. The violation by the keeper isn't exactly stated; however, according to Cricbuzz, it might have been for excessive appeals. It is not confirmed whether Sooryavanshi, who was seen physically nudging Halambage after the game concluded, before the exchange of words between the two, has been sanctioned or not. The violation by the keeper isn't exactly stated; however, according to Cricbuzz, it might have been for excessive appeals. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The 42-year-old referee, whose lone appearance for Sri Lanka was against India in 2005, issued the sanctions at the very ground where he made his sole international appearance. Article Source: IANS
UP Brij Stars Crowned Champions As Big Cricket League Season 2 Ends On A High
Big Cricket League Season: The second season of the Big Cricket League (BCL) concluded on a high note with UP Brij Stars emerging champions after a tournament that featured 18 matches, more than 60 amateur cricketers, and several innovative elements aimed at promoting grassroots talent. Positioning itself as a bridge between amateur and professional cricket, the league brought together aspiring players from across the country and provided them an opportunity to share the field with former international stars, including Shikhar Dhawan, Chris Gayle, Harbhajan Singh, Ross Taylor, S. Sreesanth and Upul Tharanga. One of the major highlights of the season was the league's Amateur Buzzer Reward System, which added an extra layer of competition and strategy to matches. Season 2 witnessed more than 60 Bronze Buzzers, over 10 Silver Buzzers, three Golden Buzzers, and two Platinum Buzzers, producing several match-defining moments throughout the tournament. The season also saw a unique reward initiative, with Batting Boss Amaan Patel of MP Tigers and Bowling Boss Jatin Mavi of UP Brij being awarded equity in the Big Cricket League and announced as co-owners of the league. More than 60 amateur cricketers featured in the competition, producing notable performances with bat and ball while showcasing their abilities on a national platform. Speaking on the successful completion of Season 2, RP Singh, Founder and President, Big Cricket League, said, Season 2 has been transformational for the Big Cricket League. The response we have received from players, fans, franchise owners, partners, and stakeholders has exceeded expectations. The success of innovations such as the Buzzer System, combined with the introduction of equity ownership for our Batting Boss and Bowling Boss winners, reflects our vision of creating a cricket ecosystem that is exciting, rewarding, and deeply empowering for players. Most importantly, this season proved that amateur cricketers, when given the right platform, can shine just as brightly on the biggest stages. Puneet Singh, Chief Patron, Big Cricket League, said, Big Cricket League stands for opportunity, belief, and talent discovery and Season 2 showcased exactly that. We saw players come in with dreams and leave with recognition, confidence, and life-changing experiences. The passion, energy, and quality of cricket this season reaffirmed our belief that India is filled with extraordinary untapped talent waiting for the right opportunity. Speaking on the successful completion of Season 2, RP Singh, Founder and President, Big Cricket League, said, Season 2 has been transformational for the Big Cricket League. The response we have received from players, fans, franchise owners, partners, and stakeholders has exceeded expectations. The success of innovations such as the Buzzer System, combined with the introduction of equity ownership for our Batting Boss and Bowling Boss winners, reflects our vision of creating a cricket ecosystem that is exciting, rewarding, and deeply empowering for players. Most importantly, this season proved that amateur cricketers, when given the right platform, can shine just as brightly on the biggest stages. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Following the completion of Season 2, the organisers also announced that registrations for Season 3 are now open. The next edition of the tournament is expected to be held in January 2027 and will provide aspiring cricketers from across India another opportunity to compete for recognition and rewards on one of the country's fastest-growing amateur cricket platforms. Article Source: IANS
Root stops the England captaincy gap ... but for how long?
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Women's T20 WC: Kerr, Devine Shine, But Sri Lanka Fight Back To Restrict NZ To 150/6
T20 World Cup: Kavisha Dilhari took 2-35 while a wicket each from Chamari Athapaththu, Sugandika Kumari, Nimasha Meepage, and Mithali Ayodhya helped Sri Lanka restrict New Zealand Women's innings to 150/6 in the seventh match of Group 2 of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at The Rose Bowl on Tuesday. Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine looked set to lead New Zealand Women to a much higher total, but Sri Lanka Women made a strong comeback with regular breakthroughs. New Zealand chose to bat first for the second match in a row, even after losing their tournament opener. They were confident their bowlers could defend any target. At one point, with captain Amelia Kerr and experienced player Sophie Devine playing well, a score over 165 seemed easy to reach. However, Sri Lanka's bowlers kept taking wickets at crucial moments, preventing New Zealand from running away with the game. The innings started dramatically. Izzy Gaze edged a catch off Mithali Ayodhya's bowling on the third ball of the match, leaving New Zealand at 4/1 in the first over. Georgia Plimmer and Amelia Kerr then steadied the innings with a solid 49-run partnership for the second wicket. They faced a disciplined Sri Lankan attack and guided New Zealand to 38/1 by the end of the six-over Powerplay, with Plimmer not out on 15 and Kerr on 17. The White Ferns reached fifty in 7.5 overs and looked ready to accelerate, but Nimasha Meepage took a wicket with her very first delivery. Plimmer fell for 18 off 22 balls, catching a ball to Hasini Perera at short third, which brought New Zealand to 53/2 in the ninth over. At the halfway point, New Zealand was 73/2 and looking for momentum. Sophie Devine provided just that, scoring a boundary off her first ball and quickly starting an aggressive partnership with Kerr. The experienced duo picked up the pace during the middle overs, attacking the spinners and threatening to take control of the game. With Kerr anchoring the innings and Devine hitting boundaries, New Zealand appeared to be heading toward a total beyond 165. But Sri Lanka wouldn't let up. Just when the White Ferns seemed ready to surge late in the innings, the visitors took wickets at consistent intervals. This stopped New Zealand from fully exploiting the strong foundation laid by Kerr and Devine, turning what could have been an impressive total into a more manageable one. Kerr and Devine, though given themselves a score they were always looking to have Sri Lanka chasing, with the pressure still being maintained, with Kerr falling for 45 off 36 balls that included five boundaries, after slicing Kawya Kavindi to deep mid-wicket and not reaching the rope. The middle and death overs would see Sri Lanka keep things tight as Halliday managed only 7, after being granted an unsuccessful review from Chamari Athapaththu that seemed to be outside off, before Devine threatened to set them on their way with a rapid 45 off 30 deliveries, with 4 fours and a six, before miscuing a loft to long-on, which would be caught. Izzy Sharp picked out a fielder two deliveries later for a silver duck. Green on 18 and Kerr 6, with seven off the final over, took New Zealand to 150-6. The middle and death overs would see Sri Lanka keep things tight as Halliday managed only 7, after being granted an unsuccessful review from Chamari Athapaththu that seemed to be outside off, before Devine threatened to set them on their way with a rapid 45 off 30 deliveries, with 4 fours and a six, before miscuing a loft to long-on, which would be caught. Izzy Sharp picked out a fielder two deliveries later for a silver duck. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand 150/6 in 20 overs (Sophie Devine 45, Melie Kerr 45; Kavisha Dilhari 2-35) against Sri Lanka Article Source: IANS
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