Archer Returns As England Make Two Changes For Second T20I Against India
Emirates Old Trafford: England have recalled pace spearhead Jofra Archer and handed fast bowler Josh Tongue his T20I debut as the hosts made two changes to their playing XI for the second T20I against India at Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday. Archer replaces Saqib Mahmood, while Tongue comes in for left-arm seamer Luke Wood as England look to build momentum after the opening match of the three-game series at Chester-le-Street was washed out due to rain. The first T20I ended without a result after India posted 189/7, powered by half-centuries from captain Shreyas Iyer and Abhishek Sharma, before persistent rain prevented England from beginning their chase. Archer returns to the shortest format on the back of an impressive Test series against New Zealand, where he was named Player of the Series despite featuring in only two of the three matches. The right-arm quick claimed 11 wickets at an average of 22.81 to finish as England's leading wicket-taker in the series. Having missed the opening Test, Archer made an immediate impact at The Oval with a five-wicket match haul before producing his best performance in the series finale at Trent Bridge. He picked up two wickets in the first innings and followed it up with figures of 4/53 in the second innings, removing both New Zealand openers early to put the visitors under pressure. The 30-year-old also carried excellent form from the IPL, where he finished as Rajasthan Royals' highest wicket-taker with 25 wickets in 16 matches during the 2026 season. Having missed the opening Test, Archer made an immediate impact at The Oval with a five-wicket match haul before producing his best performance in the series finale at Trent Bridge. He picked up two wickets in the first innings and followed it up with figures of 4/53 in the second innings, removing both New Zealand openers early to put the visitors under pressure. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England Playing XI: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Harry Brook (captain), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue. Article Source: IANS
Sai Sudharsan century, Padikkal 94* put India A in command
Arachchige's 127 led Sri Lanka A to 366, as Gurnoor and Jain got four wickets each for the visitors
James Coles Earns Maiden England ODI Call-up As Hosts Name Squad For India Series
ODI World Cup: Sussex all-rounder James Coles has earned his maiden England One-day International call-up after being named in a 16-member squad for the three-match ODI series against India later this month, while fast bowler Josh Tongue also received his first ODI selection. England have also brought back Gus Atkinson and Saqib Mahmood. Jofra Archer returns to the 50-over setup after being rested for the ODI series in Sri Lanka earlier this year. The inclusion of James Coles is one of the biggest topics in Harry Brook's squad as England prepares for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. The 21-year-old Sussex cricketer, a left-handed batter who bowls left-arm spin, has consistently impressed in domestic cricket. He gives England another all-round option. Liam Dawsons selection alongside Coles highlights Englands aim to strengthen their spin-bowling resources. Tongue has been rewarded for his recent performances in Test cricket. He joins a well-known pace attack featuring Archer, Atkinson, and Mahmood. Atkinson returns from injury, while Mahmood is back in ODI consideration after missing England's winter fixtures due to a knee issue. England will be without Brydon Carse, who is still recovering from a hand injury, and Jamie Overton, who has been ruled out with a quad problem. Carse had started training with the squad before the rain-affected opening T20I against India in Durham. The batting group includes captain Harry Brook, former skipper Jos Buttler, Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Sam Curran, and Rehan Ahmed. England is looking to finalise their strongest combination ahead of the next World Cup cycle. India, on the other hand, has named a full-strength squad for the 50-over series. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (subject to fitness), and Jasprit Bumrah are all set to play. The batting group includes captain Harry Brook, former skipper Jos Buttler, Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Sam Curran, and Rehan Ahmed. England is looking to finalise their strongest combination ahead of the next World Cup cycle. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England ODI squad: Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler, James Coles, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, and Josh Tongue. Article Source: IANS
Bethell in line to open as England name ODI squad for India series
Batter's promotion could foreshadow a future elevation in Test cricket as well
The International Cricket Council: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday announced the match officials for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 final, with experienced umpires Jacquline Williams and India's Vrinda Rathi set to take charge of the title clash between England and Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday. The final, set to start at 8:00 PM IST, will feature unbeaten hosts England facing six-time champions Australia. This match revisits one of the greatest rivalries in women's cricket. Williams, who is officiating her fifth ICC Women's T20 World Cup, has had another strong tournament. She was on the field for the opening match on June 12, where England defeated Sri Lanka at Edgbaston. She also oversaw England's 40-run semi-final win over South Africa and Australia's important six-wicket Group A victory against India. Sunday's final will be Williams' second ICC Women's T20 World Cup final as an on-field umpire. She previously officiated Australia's 19-run win over South Africa in the 2023 final. For Rathi, this appointment marks a significant milestone as she prepares to officiate her first Women's T20 World Cup final. During the tournament, she has overseen victories for both finalists, including Australia's strong semi-final win over the West Indies and England's four-wicket victory over Ireland. New Zealand's Kim Cotton is the third umpire, while Sri Lanka's Nimali Perera will serve as the fourth umpire. Experienced Indian official GS Lakshmi has been named the match referee for this major event. Lakshmi also officiated the tournament opener between England and Sri Lanka, as well as Sri Lanka's memorable five-wicket victory over New Zealand in Southampton. Sunday's final will be Williams' second ICC Women's T20 World Cup final as an on-field umpire. She previously officiated Australia's 19-run win over South Africa in the 2023 final. For Rathi, this appointment marks a significant milestone as she prepares to officiate her first Women's T20 World Cup final. During the tournament, she has overseen victories for both finalists, including Australia's strong semi-final win over the West Indies and England's four-wicket victory over Ireland. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia reached the final with a strong eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in the first semi-final at The Oval. Meanwhile, unbeaten hosts England secured their spot with a convincing 40-run win over South Africa. England will be chasing their second Women's T20 World Cup crown, having won the first tournament at Lord's in 2009. Australia, on the other hand, aims to add a record-extending seventh title to their impressive collection, following wins in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023. Article Source: IANS
Fresh Twist in J&K Cricket Association Turf War: Court Bars President from Exercising Powers
A Jammu court has granted ad-interim relief to the Vivek Khajuria-led faction of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), restraining suspended and reinstated president Javed Ahmad Kitab from exercising the powers of his office until the next hearing on July 6.
Women's T20 WC: Head Coach Mashimbyi Vows Stronger South Africa After Semi-final Exit
T20 World Cup: South Africa head coach Mandla Mashimbyi believes the Proteas will emerge stronger from their ICC Women's T20 World Cup campaign despite their semi-final defeat to England, insisting the team will use the disappointment as motivation to improve ahead of future global tournaments. South Africa's run ended at The Oval on Thursday after England secured a strong 40-run victory, earning a place in Sundays final against Australia. The Proteas started well by eliminating three England batters early on. However, a crucial century partnership between Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight shifted the game in Englands favor. Despite the loss, Mashimbyi remained positive about his team's growth and the lessons they learned during the tournament. You just lose and you learn, Mashimbyi said after the semi-final. We've learned a lot in this World Cup. We'll go back to the drawing board and put in place things that will make us even more dangerous and better as a team. We know where our gaps are, and thats all we can do really. We can't change the results. Its about the work we put in going forward. We want to ensure that when we get another chance to play in a World Cup or ICC Trophy tournament, we are competing with other teams. South Africa had a strong tournament, even though they did not reach the final. Opener Tazmin Brits was the team's top run-scorer with 225 runs. Experienced bowlers Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail each took eight wickets in six matches. Mashimbyi also supported veteran bowler Ismail, who came out of retirement for the tournament, to continue representing South Africa. I think she's still in for the long haul, he said. She'll have to make a decision. But right now, she's still a Proteas player. The South Africa coach dismissed claims that his side relied too much on Kapp and Ismail with the new ball. He admitted, however, that the bowling attack lacked variety and needed better support for frontline spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba. I think we had too many similar types of bowlers, and teams could figure out what we were trying to do, Mashimbyi said. Shabnim and Kapp can put any team under pressure with a new ball, and thats what weve been doing. The South Africa coach dismissed claims that his side relied too much on Kapp and Ismail with the new ball. He admitted, however, that the bowling attack lacked variety and needed better support for frontline spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba. Also Read: Live Cricket Score While South Africa's World Cup journey ended just short of the final, Mashimbyi believes the campaign has laid out a clear plan for the Proteas to become an even stronger presence in future ICC tournaments. Article Source: IANS
Dhoni, Djokovic Both Have Rare Quality To Stay Calm When It Matters Most: Deepti Sharma
Deepti Sharma: Indian women's cricket team all-rounder Deepti Sharma has drawn an interesting comparison between former India captain MS Dhoni and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, saying both sporting icons possess the rare ability to remain calm and composed in the most challenging situations. Deepti, who is attending Wimbledon for the first time, shared her thoughts on how Dhoni, like Djokovic, handles pressure with calmness. When you talk about Djokovic, everyone speaks about his mental strength. He is someone who never gives up, no matter how tough the situation is. In cricket, I think MS Dhoni sir is very similar. He is known for being very cool and calm. Whenever pressure situations come, he handles them really well. It never looks like he is in a difficult situation. He handles pressure so easily, Deepti told Jio Hotstar. Both Djokovic and Dhoni have that rare quality of staying calm and strong when it matters the most. Watching them, we learn how to stay calm and find a way out of tough situations, she added. The Indian all-rounder also revealed that watching a Wimbledon match in person had been a bucket-list wish for years. My dream was that one day I would come to watch a Wimbledon match, and it feels really good to finally be here. When you go to watch a match at an iconic venue like this, and when you have always seen it on TV but today you are seeing it live for the first time, it feels amazing. The atmosphere, the crowd, the energy everything is different. I am really enjoying watching tennis at Wimbledon. It just feels great, she said. Deepti also named Djokovic as the player she admires the most, praising the Serbian's resilience and competitive spirit. My favourite is Djokovic. I follow his game very closely. The way he fights on the court, his mental strength, and his never-give-up attitude, I really admire all of that. Watching him play is always inspiring, she said. I grew up watching greats like Federer and Nadal. I followed their matches closely for a long time. But lately, Djokovic has become my favourite. I follow his matches more than anyone else now, Deepti said. Asked whom she would like to accompany her for a day at Wimbledon, Deepti named three Indian cricket legends. I grew up watching greats like Federer and Nadal. I followed their matches closely for a long time. But lately, Djokovic has become my favourite. I follow his matches more than anyone else now, Deepti said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Deepti is the second Indian cricketer to visit Wimbledon in two days. On Wednesday, former India opener Shikhar Dhawan made an appearance at the Centre Court at the All-England Club. Article Source: IANS
Shepherd and de Kock make the difference as MI New York defend 132 in Pomona
Marcus Stoinis put on a strong all-round show, with 3 for 14 and 36 in 31 balls, but couldn't take Seattle Orcas over the line
Wijesundara set for debut as injury-hit Sri Lanka struggle to make up XI
Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando are down with injuries, Pathum Nissanka is in the UK for a wrist surgery, and Ramesh Mendis is suffering from a bacterial infection
England Ease Past SA To Set Up Women's T20 WC Final With Australia
T20 World Cup: Nat Sciver-Brunt proved pivotal as all-round England eased South Africa by 40 runs in the semifinal here at The Oval to set up a date with Australia in the Women's T20 World Cup final. Sciver-Brunt helped England rally from a shaky start and post 169/5. Despite a defiant fifty by Tazmin Brits, South Africa crumbled to 129/8 in their 20 overs. Sunday's final at the Lord's Cricket Ground pits the two unbeaten teams of the tournament, England and Australia. England will also be looking to maintain their perfect record at home -- they have never lost a women's World Cup, T20 or ODI, as hosts. After electing to field first, Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail gave South Africa a fiery start as the latter was the first to have delivered the first blow, claiming the wicket of Amy Jones while Kapp castled Danni Wyatt-Hodge. Ismail returned to attack and trapped Alice Capsey leg before the wicket to reduce England to 23/3 in 3.2 overs. In the process, Ismail also became the first bowler to cross the milestone of 50 wickets at the tournament, ICC reports. In the hunt for another key wicket, South Africa bowled out Kapp early, and the pacer finished with outstanding figures of 1/16 in four overs. After early blows, Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight led the England fightback with a 133-run stand for the third wicket, which is the highest partnership in knockouts in the tournament. Sciver-Brunt dazzled with her footwork and ran hard between the wickets, hitting 11 fours and a six en route to her eighth half-century in Women's T20 World Cup. It drew her level with the game's greats Suzie Bates (New Zealand) and Beth Mooney (Australia). At the other end, Knight also kept the runs ticking. She brought up her fifty with a heave over deep mid-wicket for six. When it looked like England were about to switch gears, Nonkululeko Mlaba landed decisive blows in the 19th over. She had the England captain caught in the deep while trying to sweep, bringing an end to the partnership. Two balls later, Knight lofted the ball straight to Laura Wolvaardt at extra-cover. Though England didn't quite get the acceleration at the death, they finished at a challenging 169/5. In response, South Africa made a steady start as Wolvaardt and Brits put on an opening partnership of 43 runs. Wolvaardt stay at the wicket was cut short as Sophie Ecclestone grabbed a leaping catch near mid-on off Linsey Smith. Freya Kemp then removed Annerie Dercksen cheaply for 3. The hammer blow was the loss of Kapp, who, having added just five, tried to flick the ball into the leg side but got a leading edge, leaving Sciver-Brunt with the simplest of catches. That left the South Africans on 68-3 in 10.4 overs. Even as South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals, Brits waged a lone battle, getting to 50. However, she was dismissed on the very next ball, as she got a leading edge off Charlie Dean that flew to Sciver-Brunt. Once Brits departed, the South African challenge fell apart and England walked away with the win. Lauren Bell and Dean were the most effective bowlers on the day and claimed two wickets each. Smith, Freya Kemp and Eccelestone also chipped in with a wicket each. Even as South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals, Brits waged a lone battle, getting to 50. However, she was dismissed on the very next ball, as she got a leading edge off Charlie Dean that flew to Sciver-Brunt. Once Brits departed, the South African challenge fell apart and England walked away with the win. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief scores: England Women 169/5 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 75, Heather Knight 58; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2-25, Shabnim Ismail 2-31) beat South Africa Women 129/8 in 20 overs (Tazmin Brits 51, Laura Wolvaardt 17; Lauren Bell 2-28, Charlie Dean 2-32) by 40 runs Article Source: IANS
Anisimova and Fritz through as Americans sparkle at Wimbledon
Even as media speculation swirled about Serena Williams' participation in the women's doubles event alongside her sister Venus after a knee injury, her singles conqueror Maya Joint fell to Alexandra Eala of the Philippines
Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight put England in final
They defended 170 with ease against South Africa and will now face Australia in the final at Lord's on Sunday
Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: Shivamogga Yodhas Climb To Second Spot With Win Over Mangaluru
Mangaluru Coastal Kings Mangaluru: Riding on a mammoth partnership between Aneesh KV and Smaran R, Shivamogga Yodhas surged to a commanding seven-wicket victory over Coastal Kings Mangaluru in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 on Thursday. The win helped the Yodhas climb to the second spot on the points table, while Coastal Kings Mangaluru slipped to third. Earlier in the day, Shreesha Achar, Abhilash Shetty, and Dhanush Gowda all registered figures of 2/33 for the Yodhas to restrict the Coastal Kings to 162/7. During the chase, Shivamogga Yodhas found themselves in early trouble after slipping to 40/3 at the end of the Power-play. Vasuki Koushik struck first to dismiss orange-cap holder Luvnith Sisodia (5 off 3), before Nischith Pai continued his impressive form by accounting for Tushar Singh (7 off 9) and Naveen MG (20 off 20). With the innings in the balance, Aneesh KV and Smaran R combined to produce a match-winning, unbeaten partnership of 125 runs off just 75 balls to wrest control of the chase. Aneesh led the counterattack, bringing up a fluent half-century in just 31 deliveries, and finishing the innings with eight fours and two sixes. By the end of the 15th over, the Yodhas were firmly in command at 127/3. Aneesh further tilted the contest with three consecutive boundaries in the 16th over before Smaran fittingly sealed the chase by launching Nischith over mid-wicket for a maximum. The left-hander also brought up a 32-ball half-century in the process, studded with six fours and two sixes. Earlier, opting to bat first, Coastal Kings Mangaluru made a steady start through Aadharsh (24 off 17) and Nikin Jose (51 off 41), who stitched together a 35-run opening stand from 31 deliveries. However, Shivamogga Yodhas' disciplined bowling attack ensured the scoring rate never got away during the Power-play. The innings then unravelled quickly as Coastal Kings Mangaluru lost wickets in clusters. Gowda turned the tide with a superb sixth over, dismissing Aadharsh and Karun Nair (0 off 2) within the space of three deliveries. Shreesha Achar compounded the damage in the eighth over by removing Siddharth Akhil (5 off 10) and Shreyas Gopal (0 off 1), leaving the batting side under pressure. Jose anchored the innings through the middle overs, adding a valuable 43-run stand with Suraj Ahuja (39 off 19), before Yashovardhan Parantap accounted for him in the 14th over with the score on 103/5. Ahuja then joined forces with CA Karthik (36 not out off 20) to inject momentum into the innings, the pair adding 29 runs in just 13 deliveries. Abhilash Shetty struck twice late in the innings, removing Ahuja and Rajvir Wadhwa (3), but Karthik remained unbeaten, smashing two fours and three sixes to lift Coastal Kings Mangaluru to a competitive total of 163. Jose anchored the innings through the middle overs, adding a valuable 43-run stand with Suraj Ahuja (39 off 19), before Yashovardhan Parantap accounted for him in the 14th over with the score on 103/5. Ahuja then joined forces with CA Karthik (36 not out off 20) to inject momentum into the innings, the pair adding 29 runs in just 13 deliveries. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Coastal Kings Managaluru 162/7 in 20 overs (Nikin Jose 51, Surah Ahuja 39, CA Karthik 36; Shreesha Achar 2/33, Abhilash Shetty 2/33, Dhanush 2/33) lost to Shivamogga Yodhas 165/3 in 18.2 overs (Aneesh KV 76 not out, Smaran R 53 not out; Nischith 2/35) by 7 wickets Article Source: IANS
South Africa bowl and bring in Sune Luus against England
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt returned after recovering from a calf muscle injury, with Dunkley making way
All-rounder Deepti Sharma Visits Wimbledon
T20 World Cup: With the Indian team's campaign in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup coming to an end, all-rounder Deepti Sharma visited Wimbledon, the world's most prestigious Grand Slam, and watched some of the top tennis players plying their trade at the All-England Club in London. One of the world's top all-rounders, Deepti, who did well for the Indian team in the T20 World Cup before their campaign came unstuck in the league stage against five-time champions Australia, was welcomed by the All-England Club on her maiden visit to Wimbledon. Welcome to Wimbledon, @officialdeeptisharma
TG20 Season 1: Rahul, Hrishikesh Score Fifties To Propel Karimnagar Diamonds To Second Spot
Ranga Reddy Risers: EIPL & eleve Karimnagar Diamonds secured their third win on the trot, registering a 58-run win against Ranga Reddy Risers in Hyderabad Cricket Association's TG20 on Thursday. The win propelled Diamonds to second place on the points table, while Risers dropped down to third spot. Rahul Radesh, the centurion from the Diamonds previous match, carried on his fine form with a 37-ball 72, including seven fours and four sixes. He was supported by Hrishikesh Sharma (60 off 38) as the two stitched together a brilliant partnership to help their side post 230/5 on the board. Narayana Teja led the way with the ball courtesy of his three-wicket haul, while Rathlavath Dinesh (2/25), Shubham Sharma (2/38), Ashish Srivastav (1/19), and B Satish Kumar (1/24) all contributed to ensure Diamonds manufactured a commanding win. Tanmay Agarwal (29 off 16) was quick off the blocks, smashing Aryan Cariappa for 16 runs in the first over. This set the tone for the Diamonds, with his partner Satwik Reddy (24 off 13) soon getting in on the action as the two set the platform for their side, scoring 42/0 after four overs. However, the Risers struck back with Tanay Jaddu bagging the prized scalp of Tanmay in the fifth over. Tanay Thyagarajann got the better of Satwik in the following over, pulling things back for the Risers. They conceded only nine runs in the next fifteen balls as Rahul Radesh and Hrishikesh Simha bided their time to consolidate the innings. After a lull in the middle, which saw boundaries drying up, both batters broke the shackles in the ninth over. They scored 49 runs in three overs to put the pressure back on the Risers bowlers. Adding to their woes, Rahul was dropped off Nitin Sai Yadavs bowling as he went on to register his half-century in 28 balls. The onslaught continued as Hrishikesh cruised to his fifty in 31 balls. The pair added 123 runs off 65 balls to build a monumental partnership the fourth-highest partnership of the tournament that put Diamonds in the ascendancy. Tanay Jaddu provided the vital breakthrough to dismiss Rahul in the 17th over and bagged his second wicket in the process. Hrishikesh too fell in the next over, with Nitin Sai Yadav getting the better of him. However, the momentum was firmly in the batting sides favour despite losing a couple of wickets. Chandan Sahani (20 off 10) and Shubham Sharma (17 off 7) chipped in with crucial cameos in the death overs. The pair scored 30 runs off the last two overs to power the Diamonds to 230/5 at the end of 20 overs. With a high total to chase down, Risers endured an early setback when Rathlavath Dinesh dismissed Avanish Rao (4 off 3) in the opening over. Gnana Prakash Reddy counterattacked with three boundaries in a single over from Harish Thakur before Dinesh got the better of him. Despite the setback, Aaron George found the fence regularly as the Risers recovered to 50/2 after five overs before Shubham dismissed Aaron (19 off 13) to leave the Risers in trouble at 51/3. Aditya Javvaji (48 off 31) then seized control of the innings alongside Alankrith Rapole. Aditya shifted gears spectacularly with back-to-back sixes off Shubham Sharma in the final over of the powerplay to lead his side to 64/3. He continued to be on the charge against Satish Kumar, scoring 16 runs off an over to help the Risers race to 97/3 at the halfway mark. Narayana Teja broke the back of the run chase with a double blow in the twelfth over. He dismissed Alankrith and Tanay Thyagarajann in successive deliveries. Ashish Srivastav then outfoxed Aditya to put the Risers further into trouble. The innings unravelled rather quickly for them thereafter. Aryan Cariappa displayed his skills with the bat to score a 20-ball 30 to help his side reduce the margin of defeat. Risers eventually fell well short, losing by 58 runs. Narayana Teja broke the back of the run chase with a double blow in the twelfth over. He dismissed Alankrith and Tanay Thyagarajann in successive deliveries. Ashish Srivastav then outfoxed Aditya to put the Risers further into trouble. Also Read: Live Cricket Score EIPL & eleve Karimnagar Diamonds 230/5 in 20 overs (Rahul Radesh 72, Hrishikesh Simha 60, Tanay Jaddu 2/48, Tanay Thyagarajannn 1/32) bt Ranga Reddy Risers 172/9 in 20 overs *(Aditya Javvaji 48, Aryan Cariappa 30, Narayana Teja 3/25, Rathlavath Dinesh 2/25) by 58 runs Article Source: IANS
Sri Lanka look for hope as Hope returns for upbeat West Indies
Sri Lanka need their batters to fire against the West Indies quicks
Skipper Sahan Arachchige: Skipper Sahan Arachchige led from the front with an unbeaten 83 to help Sri Lanka 'A' reach a commanding 288/5 on the opening day of the second four-day game against India 'A' on Thursday. For India, pacer Yash Thakur and off-spinner Saransh Jain were the standout bowlers with two scalps each. Earlier, India 'A' made three tactical alterations to their playing eleven drafting in Aman Mokhade, Zeeshan Ansari, and Gurnoor Brar in place of Ayush Pandey, Harsh Dubey, and Anshul Kamboj. B Sai Sudharsan, who retired hurt in the second innings in the first game, became fit for the ongoing game. Opting to bat first, the hosts received a steady launchpad from openers Pawantha Weerasinghe and Sohan de Livera, who put together a 53-run partnership. Thakur provided India A's first breakthrough in the 16th over by removing de Livera for 28. Weerasinghe looked set but threw away his start for 39, falling to Gurnoor Brar just before the lunch break. The afternoon session saw Nuwanidu Fernando (44) play with positive intent, hitting Brar for consecutive boundaries. He stitched a crucial 57-run stand for the third wicket with Ashen Bandara before Saransh broke the partnership in the 37th over. The pattern of batsmen failing to convert good starts persisted as Ashen was dismissed for 34 in the 47th over. Thereafter, Arachchige joined forces with Anjala Bandara to frustrate the Indian bowlers by guiding the home team to 192/4 by tea. The Sri Lanka A captain looked comfortable throughout his stay and crossed his half-century with a boundary off Auqib Nabi in the 64th over. India A's search for a wicket finally ended in the 77th over when Saransh cleaned up Anjala for 42, ending a stubborn 99-run association. However, Arachchige remained unperturbed through the final session till stumps were called. Thereafter, Arachchige joined forces with Anjala Bandara to frustrate the Indian bowlers by guiding the home team to 192/4 by tea. The Sri Lanka A captain looked comfortable throughout his stay and crossed his half-century with a boundary off Auqib Nabi in the 64th over. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sri Lanka A 288/5 in 85 overs (Sahan Arachchige 83 not out, Nuwanidu Fernando 44; Yash Thakur 2-32, Saransh Jain 2-77) against India A Article Source: IANS
Srinagar's 11-Year-Old Atiqa Asif Mir Scripts History With Selection for Formula 1 Academy Programme
Eleven-year-old karting sensation Atiqa Asif Mir from Srinagar has created history by becoming the first Indian and the first Asian female driver to be selected for the Formula 1 Academy's prestigious 'Discover Your Drive' development programme. Her remarkable achievement has earned praise from Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and is being hailed as a milestone for Indian motorsport.
Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: Abhinav Manohar's explosive 12-ball 46 lit up a rain-hit match between Hubli Tigers and Mysore Warriors before persistent rain forced the match to be abandoned in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 tournament on Thursday. Both teams walked away with one point each. Reduced to an eight-overs-a-side contest, Hubli Tigers posted 91/6, thanks largely to Manohar's breathtaking late assault. The Tigers were in trouble at 27/2 after five overs when rain interrupted play. Kruthik Krishna (23 off 19) and Hardik Raj (2 0ff 4) both retired out, leaving the innings in a precarious position. Manohar smashed two fours and six sixes in a whirlwind knock. The former Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad batter took a particular liking to Vyshak Vijaykumar, hammering 6, 4, 6, 6 in the sixth over before finishing with 6, 6, 4, 6 in the eighth. He eventually fell off the final ball of the innings after propelling the Tigers to a competitive total. The knock was a timely reminder of Manohar's big-hitting prowess, having struck 52 sixes for the Shivamogga Lions during the 2024 season, including three innings featuring nine maximums. Ritesh Bhatkal was the top performer for the Warriors, picking up two wickets for just 10 runs. The washout leaves Hubli Tigers fifth on the table with six points from seven matches, having registered two wins, three losses, and two no results. Mysore Warriors remain sixth with five points from seven matches, with two wins, four losses, and one no result. Bengaluru Blasters continue to lead the standings on 12 points, followed by Coastal Kings Mangaluru, Gulbarga Mystics, and Shivamogga Yodhas. Later in the evening, Coastal Kings Mangaluru will take on Shivamogga Yodhas. Bengaluru Blasters continue to lead the standings on 12 points, followed by Coastal Kings Mangaluru, Gulbarga Mystics, and Shivamogga Yodhas. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Hubli Tigers 91/6 in 8 overs (Kruthik Krishna 23 retired hurt, Abhinav Manohar 46; Ritesh Bhatkal 2/10). No Result Article Source: IANS
ETPL Completes Historic Inaugural Player Draft As Six Franchises Finalize Squads For Maiden Season
The European T20 Premier League: The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) completed its first-ever Player Draft in Dublin on Thursday, marking a major milestone ahead of the tournament's inaugural season. The league's six franchises selected 36 players, 12 each from Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB), to finalise their core squads, with Irish all-rounder Jai Moondra and veteran batter Paul Stirling among the headline picks. The draft saw an even distribution of talent across the six teams, although franchises largely leaned towards players from their respective regions. Amsterdam Flames and Rotterdam Dockers selected the majority of the Dutch contingent, while Edinburgh Castle Rockers and Glasgow Cosmic drafted nine of the 12 Scottish players. Dublin Guardians and Belfast Wolves, meanwhile, picked seven of the 12 Irish players. One of the biggest talking points of the draft was Rotterdam Dockers making highly rated all-rounder Jai Moondra their opening selection. Moondra has emerged as one of Ireland's brightest young prospects and recently impressed in the T20I series against India with his all-round performances. The Dockers also strengthened their squad by adding Netherlands internationals Michael Levitt, Ryan Klein, Vikramjit Singh, and Saqib Zulfiqar, along with Scotland's Jasper Davidson. Belfast Wolves, meanwhile, added proven international experience by drafting Ireland opener Paul Stirling and left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys as part of their inaugural squad. Dublin Guardians captain and mentor Ravichandran Ashwin explained that his franchise prioritised versatility and role clarity over nationality while building its squad. While the majority of our picks were Irish, I think nationality comes second; it's about the quality of the player and how they will fit into our mix. I do believe that, going into an auction or a draft, every single player that you pick must be a playable resource. Of course, there must be an exciting amount of skill that they put on display, but they must be very playable. If a player is unavailable, somebody should be able to seamlessly come in and fill that role. Rotterdam Dockers co-owner Jonty Rhodes said Moondra had been a priority target after his recent rise on the international stage. Jai Moondra was someone we were particularly keen to bring into the squad after the way he announced himself on the international stage. He is an exciting young talent with tremendous potential, and we're delighted to have secured him. Alongside Jai, we've put together a really exciting group of players from across Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands. We believe we have a strong, balanced squad with the depth and quality to be highly competitive, and we're looking forward to seeing them come together when the league gets underway. The remaining franchises also completed their player selections during the draft: Amsterdam Flames: Curtis Campher, Kyle Klein, Tim Pringle, Aryan Dutt, Jordan Neill, and Max O'Dowd. Belfast Wolves: Matthew Humphreys, Fred Klaassen, Tim Tector, Paul Stirling, Zainullah Ihsan, and Alexander Roy. Dublin Guardians: Benjamin Calitz, George Dockrell, Matthew Hollard, Craig Young, Noah Croes, and Chris Greaves. Edinburgh Castle Rockers: Gareth Delany, Ross Adair, Jack Jarvis, Charlie Tear, Safyaan Sharif, and Finlay McCreath. Glasgow Cosmic: Brad Currie, Matthew Cross, Paul van Meekeren, Michael Leask, Oliver Davidson, and Chris McBride. Rotterdam Dockers: Jai Moondra, Michael Levitt, Ryan Klein, Jasper Davidson, Vikramjit Singh, and Saqib Zulfiqar. Irish Wolves co-owner Glenn Maxwell expressed satisfaction with the squad-building process, describing the draft as a rewarding experience. Incredibly happy with how the draft went. Its a new experience for me to be involved in starting a team from scratch. To go through the risk management process, building a squad and a team that we can put on the park and be really competitive, has been a really great experience. Really happy how the draft went, we were able to get the picks that we needed, the playing skills we needed to give ourselves depth as well. Amsterdam Flames co-owner Steve Waugh said the draft demanded flexibility, particularly after making the opening selection. Incredibly happy with how the draft went. Its a new experience for me to be involved in starting a team from scratch. To go through the risk management process, building a squad and a team that we can put on the park and be really competitive, has been a really great experience. Really happy how the draft went, we were able to get the picks that we needed, the playing skills we needed to give ourselves depth as well. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The inaugural draft represents one of the most significant milestones in the ETPL's build-up, with franchises backed by several of cricket's biggest names, including Rahul Dravid, Steve Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, Glenn Maxwell, and Jonty Rhodes. With the squads now finalised, focus shifts to the league's maiden season, where established internationals and emerging talent from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands will compete together in a new franchise competition. Article Source: IANS
DPL 2026 Women's Auction: Parunika Sisodia Top Buy At 14 Lakh As Franchises Complete Squads
Delhi Premier League: Left-arm spinner Parunika Sisodia emerged as the biggest buy at the Delhi Premier League (DPL) T20 Womens Auction after being signed by East Delhi Riders for 14 lakh, as the four franchises assembled their squads for the third edition of the tournament. The auction witnessed intense bidding, strategic Right to Match (RTM) moves, and marquee signings, underlining the growing profile of the womens competition, which has established itself as one of Indias leading domestic T20 platforms. East Delhi Riders strengthened their squad by signing marquee players Parunika Sisodia and Simran Dil Bahadur, while Central Delhi Queens acquired all-rounder Arushi Goel to partner retained marquee all-rounder Soni Yadav. North Delhi Strikers bolstered their bowling attack by adding Priya Mishra alongside retained marquee player Ayushi Soni, while South Delhi Superstarz signed India batter Priya Punia to complement retained India U-19 player Shweta Sehrawat. Besides Parunikas 14 lakh deal, Arushi Goel was the second-most expensive player at 11 lakh after being picked by Central Delhi Queens. The top seven most expensive players at the auction were: Parunika Sisodia East Delhi Riders 14 lakh Arushi Goel Central Delhi Queens 11 lakh Sumiti Soni Central Delhi Queens 8 lakh Simran Dil Bahadur East Delhi Riders 8 lakh Purva Siwach East Delhi Riders 7 lakh Samaira Raghav North Delhi Strikers 7 lakh Pragya Rawat - East Delhi Riders - 7 lakh Franchises also strategically exercised their Right to Match (RTM) cards to retain proven performers from last season. East Delhi Riders brought back Pragya Rawat for 7 lakh, while North Delhi Strikers used RTM to re-sign all-rounder Samaira Raghav for 7 lakh. By the end of the auction, all four franchises assembled balanced squads featuring a blend of experienced performers and promising young talent, setting the stage for a highly competitive edition of the DPL T20 2026 Womens competition. Complete squads: Central Delhi Queens: Soni Yadav, Arushi Goel, Monika, Deeksha Sharma, Nidhi Mahto, Sumiti Soni, Medhavi Bidhuri, Ritisha Khushi, Nidhi Tanwar, Kanika Mathur, R Priyadarshni, Riya Kondal, Saachi, Jyoti, Mallika Khatri, Neha Parmar, Puja Halder, Akshita Jain, Nishtha Bisht, Kashvi Kumar, Chelcy Yadav, Tanu Chauhan. East Delhi Riders: Parunika Sisodia, Simran Dil Bahadur, Bharti Rawal, Pragya Rawat, Purva Siwach, Vanshika Lila, Aarna Dudeja, Goyinka Sharma, Mahi Chauhan, Nilanchal Nerwal, Sonakshi, Tamanna Singh, Suhana Attri, Ishika, Riti Tomar, Hridya Sharma, Neha Chhillar, Urvashi Gupta, Jasleen Kaur, Geet Rarhana, Yashasvi Dhiman, Rajshri Yadav. Central Delhi Queens: Soni Yadav, Arushi Goel, Monika, Deeksha Sharma, Nidhi Mahto, Sumiti Soni, Medhavi Bidhuri, Ritisha Khushi, Nidhi Tanwar, Kanika Mathur, R Priyadarshni, Riya Kondal, Saachi, Jyoti, Mallika Khatri, Neha Parmar, Puja Halder, Akshita Jain, Nishtha Bisht, Kashvi Kumar, Chelcy Yadav, Tanu Chauhan. Also Read: Live Cricket Score South Delhi Superstarz: Priya Punia, Shweta Sehrawat, Ekta Bhadana, Tanisha Singh, Disha Nagar, Mayuri Singh, Nishika Singh, Himakshi Chaudhary, Tanishqa Singh, Aarti Kumari, Chhavi Gupta, Kashish, Ananya Pahuja, Avleen Kaur, Harshita, Mitali R, Geetanjali, Pragati Bisht, Anamika Kumari, Yashika, Roopali Vishwa Mohan. Article Source: IANS
How RCA's Ad-hoc Regime Rose, Lingered And Fell Amid 'dynasty Politics' Charges
BJP State Spokesperson Pinkesh Jain: Rajasthan cricket over the past two-and-a-half years witnessed the rise and fall of the Rajasthan Cricket Associations (RCA) ad-hoc committee -- a body that was constituted as a temporary arrangement after the resignation of the associations elected president but gradually evolved into a prolonged administrative regime marked by repeated extensions, leadership changes and allegations of promoting parivarvad. Also, there were repeated extensions, changing conveners, internal disputes and mounting controversies, however the one task it was created to accomplish, to conduct elections, remained unfulfilled. The long-running chapter reached a decisive conclusion on Wednesday, when the Rajasthan High Court suspended the ad-hoc committee, appointed senior IAS officer Bhaskar A. Sawant as administrator and directed that elections be held at the earliest. The order effectively ended an interim arrangement that had survived three conveners, multiple extensions and nearly two and a half years of uncertainty. The story began on February 23, 2024, when the Rajasthan State Sports Council sealed the RCA office at Jaipur's Sawai Mansingh Stadium after terminating the MoU over alleged dues of nearly Rs 8 crore. Three days later, then RCA president Vaibhav Gehlot resigned, bringing the elected administration to an end and setting in motion a chain of events that would keep the state's premier cricket body under ad-hoc rule for far longer than anyone had anticipated. To fill the vacuum, the state government constituted the first ad-hoc committee on March 28, 2024, appointing BJP MLA Jaideep Bihani as its convener. The committee was given a clear mandate, to stabilise the association and conduct elections within three months. Initially, the move was welcomed as an opportunity to reform cricket administration and restore democratic governance. However, the optimism was short-lived. Within months, the committee itself became embroiled in controversy. Allegations surfaced that key decisions were being taken unilaterally, while several members claimed meetings had virtually stopped and collective decision-making had broken down. Instead of preparing the association for elections, the committee increasingly found itself defending its own functioning. Yet, despite the controversies, the committee continued to receive extensions. Its first three-month tenure, which was to end in June 2024, was extended. Another extension followed in September 2024, then again in December 2024, and once more in March 2025. With every extension, expectations of elections faded further while criticism from district cricket associations, players and administrators grew louder. Many began questioning whether the ad-hoc arrangement, conceived as a temporary measure, was quietly becoming a permanent one. Facing mounting opposition, internal disagreements and complaints regarding the committee's functioning, the government finally replaced Jaideep Bihani, appointing Deendayal (DD) Kumawat as the new convener. The leadership changed, but the narrative did not. Administrative disputes persisted, the election process remained stalled, and repeated assurances that polls would be held soon failed to inspire confidence among stakeholders. In March 2026, the government reshuffled the leadership once again, appointing Dr Mohit Jaswant Yadav as the third convener of the ad-hoc committee. While the committee continued to oversee cricketing activities, it failed to accomplish the very objective for which it had been constituted, holding elections and restoring an elected executive body. Every leadership change was accompanied by fresh promises, but the outcome remained the same. As part of this reshuffle, the incumbent convener, Deendayal Kumawat, was removed from his post. Furthermore, BJP State Spokesperson Pinkesh Jain was also dropped from the committee. In the last announcement, the ad hoc committee featured Mohit Yadav, son of BJP MLA Jaswant Yadav, as the convener of the committee, while others include Dhananjay Singh Khimsar (son of Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar), Arisht Singhvi (grandson of former Minister Chandraraj Singhvi), Ashish Tiwari (son of BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari), and Arjun Beniwal (son of MLA Sanjeev Beniwal), all five members who were sons of ruling BJP politicians. Flagging this reshuffle, the leader of opposition Tika Ram Jully said that by appointing sons of ministers and MLAs to the RCA committee, the ruling BJP, which often questions 'parivarvad' in politics, has made RCA a launching pad for relatives of politicians. By then, frustration within Rajasthan's cricket fraternity had reached a tipping point. Players, district associations and former office-bearers openly questioned why the RCA continued to function under an interim arrangement nearly two and a half years after the resignation of its elected president. What had started as a short-term administrative solution had evolved into one of the longest-running ad-hoc regimes in the association's history. The impasse eventually reached the Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday, where judges questioned the repeated extensions granted to the ad-hoc committee and sought an explanation for the continued delay in conducting elections. Observing that an ad-hoc committee could not continue indefinitely, the High Court suspended the committee, appointed senior IAS officer Bhaskar A. Sawant as administrator and directed that elections be held at the earliest. The court's intervention effectively brought the prolonged chapter to a close. It also echoed what Rajasthan's cricket fraternity had been demanding for nearly two years, that the state's premier cricket body should return to elected leadership instead of continuing under an endlessly extended interim arrangement. From the sealing of the RCA office on February 23, 2024, to Vaibhav Gehlot's resignation on February 26, the constitution of the first ad-hoc committee on March 28, followed by successive tenure extensions in June 2024, September 2024, December 2024 and March 2025, the story remained one of recurring postponements. It also echoed what Rajasthan's cricket fraternity had been demanding for nearly two years, that the state's premier cricket body should return to elected leadership instead of continuing under an endlessly extended interim arrangement. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In the end, it was judicial intervention -- rather than administrative action -- that dismantled the extended ad-hoc regime, paving the way for long-awaited elections in Rajasthans premier cricket body. Article Source: IANS
Ashwin: ETPL crucial in making cricket a global sport
The former India allrounder believes that a short format like T20 cricket is key to the sport's success in Europe and beyond, including at the LA Olympics in 2028
ETPL Will Play A Crucial Role In Making Cricket A Global Affair Ahead Of Olympics: Ashwin
European T20 Premier League: Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) can become a significant catalyst in cricket's global expansion ahead of the sport's return to the Olympic Games. Speaking after the ETPL 2026 Player Draft on Wednesday, the Dublin Guardians captain and mentor said the league's primary objective should be to develop players from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands by providing them with sustained exposure to high-level T20 cricket while preparing the game for a bigger global stage. Ashwin made the remarks when asked whether the ETPL could provide European cricketers with a platform that attracts the attention of scouts from leading franchise leagues around the world. The former India all-rounder said the league's impact would extend well beyond the tournament itself, particularly with cricket set to feature at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Look, I think there is an Olympics that's going to happen in a couple of years. And if cricket as a game is pretty serious about making it a global affair, I think the teams in this league will play a very crucial part in enabling that, Ashwin said in a media interaction following the conclusion of the ETPL 2026 Player Draft. While acknowledging the importance of building a competitive squad, Ashwin said Dublin Guardians have also embraced the responsibility of contributing to Irish cricket and the wider European ecosystem. So, as far as I'm concerned, this is a really, really exciting prospect where we not only believe that we can pick a team and do well in this tournament, but also make it a really good place for these players to come in and get better and also have a lasting impact on the tournament. We also believe that we contribute and owe it to the Dublin franchise and also Irish cricket in many ways, try to enable them, try and probably provide them with the right amount of exposure and opportunities, he added. Ashwin revealed that he and franchise co-owner Rahul Dravid were aligned from the very beginning on making local talent the centrepiece of the franchise's philosophy, as he said, It is really about them, about the Scottish players, about the Dutch players, and about the Irish players. We want to make it about them, and that's something that we were very clear about on the first day. Rahul and I spoke about it, and we will stay very true to that particular formula. He added that Dublin Guardians also want to build an environment where players consistently improve through daily learning and accountability. And we will put up a culture where cricketers play in a fashion that everyone wants to grow at least by 1% every single day. Asked how the ETPL could further aid the development of players from Europe's emerging cricket nations following Ireland's recent rise in international cricket, Ashwin said the greatest benefit would come from allowing them to share dressing rooms with experienced professionals. First of all, I think for professionals, if you come from every other country, you would be playing an integral part in terms of passing on your knowledge. And transferring how they go about their work ethics, how they practice, and how they respond to failures. How they keep themselves absolutely balanced when they are successful, the all-rounder stated. According to Ashwin, exposure to elite standards and pressure situations is something many Associate players currently lack, making the ETPL an ideal learning environment. He said, All these things will be of huge help to people who don't play this high-intensity tournament every single year. And I am sure this is going to be an annual affair, which will give them a nice launch pad into adapting to high-level performing cricket under a high-duress environment. The 38-year-old believes sustained exposure to pressure is essential for long-term improvement and expects the league to provide exactly that. So, it's going to be very good for them in that fashion. And people who respond well to pressure will obviously get better by the day. And if you don't put them under that, the chances of them getting better are also pretty minimal, he mentioned. The 38-year-old believes sustained exposure to pressure is essential for long-term improvement and expects the league to provide exactly that. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So, I am very excited about the tournament. Especially for the teams from the European side. And I am super excited. I am looking forward to it from my personal side as well, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
T20 Is Here To Stay, Not Too Sure About ODI Cricket: Ashwin
European T20 Premier League: Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes T20 cricket has cemented its place as the format that will drive the sport's future, while expressing doubts over the long-term sustainability of One-Day Internationals. Speaking during a media interaction after the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) 2026 Player Draft on Thursday, the Dublin Guardians captain and mentor said T20's shorter duration makes it the ideal vehicle for cricket's global expansion and its return to the Olympic Games. Responding to a question on whether cricket's growth in emerging nations should focus only on T20s or extend equally to other formats, Ashwin stressed that players must first master the art of adapting to different situations, irrespective of the format they play. I think cricket as a whole needs to be learned in a way that you get better every single day. You should be able to adapt. The name of the game is adaptation, Ashwin said in a media interaction following the conclusion of the ETPL 2026 Player Draft. He pointed to India's recent T20I series against Ireland as an example of how external conditions can significantly influence the shortest format, forcing players to evolve constantly. Which is why what happened recently between India and Ireland in that T20 series is a classic example of how conditions can eliminate a lot of aspects of the game that have been developed as a root cause of T20 as a sport, the all-rounder added. The veteran spinner, however, believes that when it comes to expanding cricket's footprint across new markets, T20 remains the most practical and effective format. But that aside, our job will be purely on T20 cricket and how it can get better. And if the game has to become global and it has to become an Olympic sport, the shorter the game, the more viable it is, the Dublin Guardians captain and mentor stated. The veteran spinner, however, believes that when it comes to expanding cricket's footprint across new markets, T20 remains the most practical and effective format. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The 38-year-old then offered a blunt assessment of how he views the future of the game's formats. T20 as a sport is here to stay. I am not too sure about ODI cricket. Article Source: IANS
Galle and Colombo to host India for two Tests in August 2026
No tour matches have been officially announced
Nathan McSweeney agrees 2027 Northants return
Australian has been in prolific form in County Championship and T20 Blast
WI vs SL 2nd Test: Preview, Predicted XIs, Player Tips & Match Prediction
WI vs SL 2nd Test, Cricket Tips :Sri Lanka's tour of West Indies is coming to its end. Sri Lanka won the ODI series 1-0, and West Indies bounced back with a 2-1 T20I series win. The hosts carried their good form in the test series also and beat the visitors with a massive margin of an innings and 217 runs in the first test. They have taken a 1-0 lead and will be aiming for the long-awaited series win in tests. It was their first win in the ongoing WTC cycle. Amir Jangroo scored 233 runs and won the MOTM award. Captain Roston Chase also scored 194. West Indies produced an all-round bowling display and recorded a dominating win. Sri Lanka would be feeling the pressure. They crumbled badly with the bat. With the ball, the restricted West Indies for 168/5, but after that they had a record 401-run stand, and Sri Lanka couldn't recover from there. But to stay in the series, they need to win the upcoming test. WI vs SL: Match Details Date : July 3-7, 2026 (Friday-Tuesday) Time : 7:30 PM IST Venue : Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua WI vs SL: Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch the second test on the FanCode streaming platform. WI vs SL: Head-to-Head in Tests Total Matches : 25 West Indies : 05 Sri Lanka: 11 No-result: 09 WI vs SL: Ground Pitch Report As seen in the first game, there will be something in this wicket for everyone. Fast bowlers can get good pace from the wicket, but as the game goes on, the bounce can get uneven. The spinners will have their role. Meanwhile, batters who can stick to the crease can play long innings. WI vs SL: Possible XIs West Indies : Brandon King, John Campbell, Kavem Hodge, Amir Jangoo, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Roston Chase (c), Justin Greaves, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales Sri Lanka: Nishan Madushka, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Kusal Mendis (wk), Sonal Dinusha, Milan Priyanath Rathnayake, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando WI vs SL: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Amir Jangoo scored his maiden double hundred in the game, and he will be hoping for another match-winning knock. For Sri Lanka, captain Dhananjaya de Silva scored a good century in the first innings and showed his good form. Probable Bowler Kemar Roachachieved the milestone of 300 test wickets in the first game. He was moving the ball well and took six wickets in the game. Milan Priyanath Rathnayake bowled a long spell and took five wickets. He was the only Sri Lankan who looked consistent with his line. Today Match Prediction : After the first test, West Indies will be high on confidence. They also know these conditions better. Hence, we predict West Indies to win the second test. WI vs SL Match 2nd Test, Today Match WI vs SL, WI vs SL Prediction, WI vs SL Predicted XIs, Injury Update for West Indies vs Sri Lanka Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction 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.
Entire World Waiting To See Sooryavanshi Play, Will Feature In All Three Formats Soon, Says Karim
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is not only the cynosure of Indian fans, but also of the entire cricketing world, who is eagerly waiting to see him perform at the highest level, said former India selector and wicketkeeper Saba Karim. Sooryavanshi, who grabbed headlines by amassing 776 runs at a staggering strike-rate of 237.30 to bag the Player-of-the-Tournament honour in IPL 2026 for Rajasthan Royals, is currently eyeing a much-anticipated international debut for India in the ongoing five-match T20I series against England. Sooryavanshi was unused in Ireland, as India suffered a shock 2-0 series loss. In my opinion, in the history of the IPL, perhaps after that season of Virat Kohli when he scored so many runs, if one season has to be defined, it is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's IPL, IPL 2026. The kind of performances he has put in against top-quality bowlers, even though in Indian conditions, have been top-notch. I have full faith in his ability to score big runs. Not only Indian fans but the entire world is waiting to see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play in the same manner that he did in the IPL. I have high hopes for this young lad. Very soon, we will see him in all three formats. I am dead sure about it, said Karim on JioStar. He also recalled of the time when Sooryavanshi first burst in IPL 2025 and didnt expect him to get big runs. I didn't expect him to score in his very first year. But before last season's IPL, I remember getting a lot of videos from all his coaches, Manish Ojha from the Patna academy, our Bhojpuri commentator Robin, and a few others, saying, 'Sir, you have to watch him. He's a kid, but he has great timing.' When he was bought in the auction, I was just hoping that he would get a chance to play at least once because I wanted the world to see that India now has such a talented player. Just imagine, you're playing your first match on such a big platform, up against a top-quality bowler who has played for India. He had no baggage whatsoever. The first ball he faced, he completely dismissed the bowler from his sight. This is what Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is all about. Dismissing concerns that the youngster would suffer from second-season blues after opposition analysts figured out his game, Karim revealed of his reassuring conversation with RR batting coach Vikram Rathour. Even after he scored that record 170-odd in the Under-19 World Cup final, everybody still felt that in the second season, it was possible that bowlers would come with definite plans against him and cause him problems, targeting his body and identifying areas to trouble him. But I didn't feel that he would have second-season blues. I felt that he was well prepared, and he batted in the same way. I remember having a chat with Vikram Rathour, who is the batting coach at Rajasthan Royals, where I asked him if Vaibhav could find it challenging against top-quality bowling or short-pitched deliveries at 145-150 clicks. He said, 'Saba, just wait and watch.' I think he is equally prepared to handle any kind of delivery, he said. Even after he scored that record 170-odd in the Under-19 World Cup final, everybody still felt that in the second season, it was possible that bowlers would come with definite plans against him and cause him problems, targeting his body and identifying areas to trouble him. Also Read: Live Cricket Score That kind of preparation is what he has done. That's why this year we have seen him start to play the upper cut against shorter deliveries, hit through the covers with a strong base, go over long-off, over cover, and play inside-out shots. All these shots that he has added to his scoring repertoire mean that now, whatever the conditions are, whatever the bowling attack is, he is ready, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
Surrey pile on the runs as Essex are outdone at Chelmsford
Trio of half-centuries make the difference in contest of 473 runs
European T20 Premier League: Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell believes the gap between cricket's powerhouses and emerging nations is narrowing rapidly, saying the United States came close to upsetting India at the T20 World Cup and that the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) can further accelerate the rise of developing teams. Speaking after the ETPL 2026 Player Draft on Thursday, the Belfast Wolves co-owner and captain said franchise leagues provide the exposure needed for Associate nations to consistently challenge the world's best. Asked whether ETPL could help make results like Ireland's recent T20I series win over India more frequent by giving European players a stronger competitive platform. The Australian cited the USA's performance against India at the T20 World Cup as evidence that emerging teams are already capable of challenging the sport's heavyweights, saying that the Americans came within touching distance of producing one of the biggest upsets in recent ICC tournament history. Yeah, I think you've only got to look at a team like the US. The way that they've grown as a team and how they played at the last T20 World Cup. I think it was in, sorry, the last T20 World Cup in India. And how they pushed teams. And if they had probably caught SKY (Suryakumar Yadav), they might have even upset India there as well, Maxwell said while replying to an IANS query during a media interaction following the conclusion of the 2026 Player Draft. Using that example, the Australian said emerging cricket nations are improving at a rapid pace and backed the ETPL to play a significant role in Europe's cricketing development. And hopefully the same thing will happen with the ETPL. It can happen quite fast, the growth in these nations. With the, I suppose, inspiring the next generation of cricket, the all-rounder stated. While he acknowledged that building a sustainable cricket culture takes time, Maxwell said recent ICC tournaments have already shown that Associate nations are becoming increasingly competitive against Full Members. It might take a little bit longer. But as we've seen over the last period, the last little period of time with the T20 World Cup. And involving so many different nations. It can happen quite fast, he said. He added that regular opportunities to compete against experienced international sides will only help emerging teams continue their upward trajectory. It might take a little bit longer. But as we've seen over the last period, the last little period of time with the T20 World Cup. And involving so many different nations. It can happen quite fast, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Maxwell concluded by saying that the success of the ETPL could ensure European teams continue to narrow the gap on the world's leading cricket nations, as he said, And I think that's what we're going to see in the future, pending the success of the ETPL. Article Source: IANS
LA Knight Riders Cricket Ground: ICC Chairman Jay Shah hailed the inauguration of the LA Knight Riders Cricket Ground in Los Angeles as a significant step in crickets global expansion, describing it as 'a key milestone' in the sports return to the Olympic Games The state-of-the-art venue, developed by the Knight Riders Group, hosted its first-ever Major League Cricket (MLC) match on Wednesday as the Los Angeles Knight Riders took on Washington Freedom, making the franchise the first global cricket brand to establish an international-standard cricket stadium. Congratulating Bollywood superstar and Knight Riders Group co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, who described the project as the fulfilment of a dream, Jay Shah said the initiative would play a vital role in expanding crickets footprint in emerging markets. Congratulations @iamsrk. This is a key milestone in Crickets return to the Olympics, made possible by the collaboration between the @LA_KnightRiders, @LA28 and @ICC, Shah wrote on X. The ICC Chairman said crickets continued global growth depended on collective efforts from stakeholders across the sport. Growing cricket around the world is a collective effort, and initiatives such as this one help create new ecosystems for fans and players, which fuel this growth. I wish you the best and look forward to being on the journey ahead with you, he added. Earlier, Shah Rukh Khan had celebrated the historic achievement by calling the opening of the venue the realisation of a long-cherished dream. What started as a dream turns into reality today. Welcoming you all to the Knight Riders Cricket Ground, LA. A place built not just for sports but also entertainment and for families and memories that last forever, Shah Rukh posted on X. The actor also thanked Jay Shah, the ICC and its CEO Sanjog Gupta for their support in bringing the ambitious project to life. What started as a dream turns into reality today. Welcoming you all to the Knight Riders Cricket Ground, LA. A place built not just for sports but also entertainment and for families and memories that last forever, Shah Rukh posted on X. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The Knight Riders Cricket Ground, built to international standards, marks a major investment in cricket infrastructure in the United States. Besides hosting Major League Cricket matches, the venue is expected to play an important role in expanding the games reach in North America ahead of crickets return to the Olympic programme at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Article Source: IANS
The Los Angeles Knight Riders: Bollywood Superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan hailed the opening of the Knight Riders Cricket Ground in Los Angeles as the realisation of a long-cherished dream after the venue hosted its first-ever Major League Cricket (MLC) match, with the Knight Riders Group becoming the first global cricket franchise to establish an international-standard cricket stadium. The Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) took on Washington Freedom in the inaugural fixture at the newly-built venue, marking another milestone in crickets growing presence in the United States. Reflecting on the historic occasion, Shah Rukh Khan said the project was the culmination of years of planning and a vision to take cricket to newer audiences. What started as a dream has become a reality today. Bringing cricket, the second most-watched sport in the world, to Los Angeles is a landmark moment for all of us. Through this long-term partnership between Fairplex and Knight Riders, we are creating much more than a cricket venue. We are building a space that celebrates community, togetherness, energy and entertainment. It is a place built not just for sport, but also for entertainment, for families, and for memories that will last forever, he said. Expressing his hopes for the future, Shah Rukh Khan said he wanted the ground to become the citys cricketing home and inspire generations of players and fans. We hope this becomes a home for cricket in Los Angeles and inspires generations of fans and players alike. This is for Los Angeles, for cricket fans across the globe, and for the Knight Riders family. Believe in Purple and Gold, he added. Knight Riders Sports CEO Venky Mysore described the stadium as a defining moment in the franchises global journey. We hope this becomes a home for cricket in Los Angeles and inspires generations of fans and players alike. This is for Los Angeles, for cricket fans across the globe, and for the Knight Riders family. Believe in Purple and Gold, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Built to international standards, the Knight Riders Cricket Ground features eight wickets on the main square, ICC-standard playing dimensions, six 120-foot floodlight towers and required the movement of over 32,000 metric tonnes of earth during construction. The venue will stage Major League Cricket matches from July 1 to July 5, reinforcing the United States emergence as one of crickets fastest-growing markets. Article Source: IANS
World Sports Journalists Day: Sports Min Mandaviya, Jay Shah Hail Media's 'invaluable' Contributions
On World Sports Journalists Day: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya and International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah on Thursday extended their wishes to the sports media fraternity on the occasion of World Sports Journalists Day, recognising the invaluable contribution of journalists in promoting sport, celebrating athletes achievements and connecting millions of fans with sporting action across the globe. Observed annually on July 2, World Sports Journalists Day honours the efforts of sports journalists, photographers, broadcasters and digital content creators who chronicle sporting events and bring stories from the field to audiences worldwide. The day was instituted by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) in 1994 to mark the 70th anniversary of the organisation, which was founded on July 2, 1924, during the Paris Olympic Games in France. Mandaviya highlighted the importance of sports journalists in Indias rapidly evolving sporting landscape. He described the media as vital partners in the countrys sporting journey, crediting journalists for celebrating achievements, identifying and highlighting emerging talent, and inspiring young athletes to pursue excellence. The Sports Minister further said the hard work, dedication and professional integrity displayed by members of the sports media fraternity continue to strengthen Indias sporting ecosystem. Sports journalists are vital partners in Indias sporting journey, celebrating achievements, highlighting talent, and inspiring the next generation of athletes. On World Sports Journalists Day, I extend my heartfelt wishes to the entire sports media fraternity. Your hard work, dedication, and professional integrity continue to strengthen Indias sporting ecosystem. Happy World Sports Journalists Day! he posted on X. The Sports Minister further said the hard work, dedication and professional integrity displayed by members of the sports media fraternity continue to strengthen Indias sporting ecosystem. Also Read: Live Cricket Score On World Sports Journalists Day, I extend my appreciation to sports journalists around the world whose dedication and passion bring the stories of sport to life. Your commitment to informing, inspiring, and connecting fans plays a vital role in the growth of sport globally. Thank you for your invaluable contribution, Shah wrote. Article Source: IANS
Amsterdam Flames Prioritised 'adaptable Players' In ETPL Draft: Co-owner Steve Waugh
European T20 Premier League: Australian great Steve Waugh said versatility was the defining factor behind Amsterdam Flames' selections in the inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL) 2026 Player Draft, explaining that the franchise deliberately prioritised multi-skilled cricketers over loading up on specialist batters. Amsterdam Flames entered the draft with an already formidable core featuring Australian T20I captain Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith and Tim David, alongside Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards. That allowed the franchise to focus on building balance around its established stars. The Flames used four of their six picks on all-rounders, led by Ireland international Curtis Campher. Speaking on whether adaptability had taken precedence over traditional batting depth, Waugh, who co-owns the franchise, made it clear that the strategy had been planned alongside head coach Ryan Cook. Yeah, we've got lots of all-rounders. That's what Ryan Cook, the coach, was really focused on. Players that are adaptable, that can play different roles, Waugh said while responding to an IANS query during a media interaction after the conclusion of the ETPL 2026 Player Draft. The Flames made Curtis Campher their first draft selection before adding Kyle Klein, Tim Pringle, Aryan Dutt, Jordan Neill and Max O'Dowd across the remaining rounds. While the draft appeared to lean heavily towards all-rounders, Waugh insisted the squad already possesses ample batting firepower. At the end of the day, we've got some amazing players. There's international players who are specialist batsmen. Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith and Tim David. I mean, they're three outstanding players, probably three of the best batsmen in the world in T20 cricket, he added. Waugh also pointed to the franchise's wider roster, highlighting players capable of contributing with the bat despite being classified as all-rounders. But we see a lot of these other players with multiple skills. I've been seeing Airee (Dipendra Singh Airee) from Nepal, excellent batsman, Curtis Campher. We've got lots of all-rounders. We've got lots of all-rounders. Yuvraj Samra from Canada is a specialist batsman. So we've got plenty of batsmen there, he stated. The former Australia captain believes having players who can seamlessly switch roles will prove decisive in the shortest format, particularly in a new competition expected to feature varied conditions across Europe. But we see a lot of these other players with multiple skills. I've been seeing Airee (Dipendra Singh Airee) from Nepal, excellent batsman, Curtis Campher. We've got lots of all-rounders. We've got lots of all-rounders. Yuvraj Samra from Canada is a specialist batsman. So we've got plenty of batsmen there, he stated. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The Amsterdam Flames will enter the inaugural ETPL season with a squad built around proven international experience and emerging global talent, banking on flexibility as the cornerstone of their campaign. Article Source: IANS
If Vaibhav Needs To Play, He Should, But Not At The Expense Of Dropping Someone: Pujara
T20 World Cup: Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara addressed the discussion surrounding India's top order ahead of the second T20I against England, making it clear that he does not believe Sanju Samson should lose his place to accommodate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi despite growing calls for the teenage batter to be included in the playing XI. The veteran batter added that constant speculation over Samson's place in the side was unnecessary, insisting the wicketkeeper-batter deserves a longer run. I think India should persist with Sanju Samson. I don't think he should be feeling any pressure. He has proved himself in the T20 World Cup and, with the kind of talent he possesses, he should be there in the playing XI, Pujara said on JioStar. There shouldn't be a lot of noise about dropping Sanju Samson. He is a quality player and should get a longer run. Sanju just needs to bat naturally and not think too much, he added. While Pujara acknowledged that Sooryavanshi has earned an opportunity, he argued that the youngster's inclusion should not come at the cost of disrupting India's established top order. If Vaibhav needs to play, he should play, but not at the expense of dropping someone, rather by resting someone. If you want to give him an opportunity, that is fine. But you shouldn't be dropping any of India's top three players, whether it's Sanju, Abhishek or Ishan Kishan. Having said that, Vaibhav does deserve an opportunity, and his opportunity will come, he mentioned. Pujara also praised captain Shreyas Iyer's composed innings after India recovered from an early setback to post a competitive total in the rain-hit opening T20I against England in Durham. With India losing early wickets after electing to bat first, Pujara said Iyer's ability to steady the innings before accelerating played a decisive role in putting the visitors in a strong position. Pujara felt Iyer delivered exactly what was expected of a captain after India found themselves under pressure in the powerplay, balancing caution with aggression as the innings progressed. It was an important knock from Shreyas Iyer and, when you are leading the team, you always look to lead from the front. He showed a lot of maturity because India were in trouble after losing a couple of early wickets, Pujara told JioStar. He also credited Iyer for pacing his innings according to the match situation before shifting gears once he was well established at the crease. Abhishek played a good knock, but it was important for Shreyas to hold one end up and take his time. Once he was set, he played some quality shots, he added. He also credited Iyer for pacing his innings according to the match situation before shifting gears once he was well established at the crease. Also Read: Live Cricket Score If you look at his innings at the end of the 20 overs, you know that, as a captain, you have done your job. You have put your team in a very commanding position. This was a perfect knock from Shreyas, both as a leader and as a batter, he said. Article Source: IANS
WBBL still 'the best' competition despite growth of WPL and Hundred
Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars will launch the 2026-27 season in what could be their final edition if privatisation goes through
Netravalkar, Owen bowl Washington Freedom to big win
They picked up three wickets apiece before Steven Smith steered them home in a 109-run chase
NZ Quick Sears Ruled Out Of Windies ODIs, Lister Named Replacement
T20 World Cup: New Zealand fast bowler Ben Sears has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies with an ankle injury, with Ben Lister being named as a replacement in the 16-man squad. NZC said Sears had experienced some ongoing pain in his ankle since the four-day Test against Ireland in May, which flared up during the final day of the third Test against England at Trent Bridge, so a precautionary decision has been made to send him home to New Zealand for further treatment. Lister will assemble with the squad in Guyana over the coming days. The 30-year-old medium pacer, who made his ODI debut in 2023 against Pakistan in Karachi, has featured 17 times for New Zealand (4 ODIs and 13 T20Is), taking 17 wickets and was part of the teams last ODI series, against Bangladesh in April. Injuries to key fast bowlers have been a major concern for New Zealand, as Blair Tickner will return home for scheduled surgery on his ankle and was unavailable for selection for Windies ODIs. Duffy, who missed the recent Test series in England to welcome the birth of his first child, is set to return to international cricket for the first time since the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final in March. Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, and Will ORourke will miss the series to rest after a heavy workload during the first half of 2026. The five-game series gets underway in Guyana with the first three matches on July 11, 13 and 16, before the series moves to Bridgetown in Barbados for the final two fixtures on July 19 and 21. Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, and Will ORourke will miss the series to rest after a heavy workload during the first half of 2026. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand squad for ODI series against West Indies: Mitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Kristian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Mitchell Hay (wk), Nick Kelly, Tom Latham (wk), Jayden Lennox, Ben Lister, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Nathan Smith, Will Young Article Source: IANS
Lister replaces injured Sears for ODI series in the West Indies
Ben Sears, who has complained of pain in his ankle since the Test against Ireland in May, has been sent home for treatment
MCC issues plea for members to attend Women's T20 World Cup final
Club wary of repeat of 2017 scenario when empty seats in pavilion marred England's nine-run victory
Anderson applies winning touch as allround Shadab sets up Lancashire
Veteran delivers decisive penultimate over as Derbyshire are edged out by four runs
Willey, McSweeney lead romp as Northants overwhelm Gloucestershire
Stiff target of 185 is hunted down with 16 balls to spare thanks to brace of half-centuries
Coco Gauff survives tense tiebreak against Sierra to keep Wimbledon hopes alive
Wimbledon is the only major where the American has yet to go beyond the fourth round
Wimbledon 2026 | No chinks in Djokovics armour, rolls over Tsitsipas to reach third round
The seventh seed will next face 25th-seeded Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech as he looks to continue his bid for an eighth Wimbledon title
First T20I washed out after Abhishek, Shreyas fifties take India to 189
Saqib Mahmood's 3 for 33, on England comeback, left England with a par total to chase down but heavy rain had the final say at Chester-le-Street
Former champion Krejcikova rallies past Andreeva into Wimbledon third round
Andreeva saved six match points in the decider, but was not able to stop Krejcikova from crossing the finish line and claim only her second victory over the youngster
1st T20I: Series Opener Between India And England Called Off After First Innings Due To Rain
First T20I: The first T20I between India and England was abandoned without a result on Wednesday night as heavy rain came pouring down before the home side could start its reply to the visitors' 189/7 in 20 overs at the Riverside Ground on Wednesday. The ground staff brought out the covers and applied them across the square as rain started soon around the time the players walked off the ground at the end of the 20th over of the Indian innings. The downpour became strong soon after and continued unabated as the players from both sides waited. They waited till 9 pm local time, the cut-off for a five-over game. The umpires finally decided that the match could not restart and called it off. The two captains walked out of their respective dressing rooms and shook hands before going back in. Earlier, thanks to halfcenturies from skipper Shreyas Iyer and Abhishek Sharma, along with a late surge from Shivam Dube, India overcame slight drizzle and a gloomy evening to post 189/7 in 20 overs. On a not-so-easy pitch, Iyer hit his first fifty as Indias T20I captain his knock of 68 came off 47 balls, laced with six fours and a six. Abhishek, meanwhile, hit 59 off 24 balls studded with six fours and four sixes. Dube applied the finishing touches by hitting 42 not out off just 21 balls, including two boundaries and three sixes. Sent in to bat, India slipped to 6/2 inside two overs. Sanju Samson fell cheaply again, caught at backward point off Saqib Mahmood, before Ishan Kishan was run out after a mixup with Abhishek for a duck. Abhishek then launched a blistering counterattack, racing to a 20ball fifty the fastest by an Indian batter in England with a flurry of pulls and lofted drives, before Sam Currans slower ball trapped him lbw in the eighth over, which also ended his 82-run stand with Shreyas. But by then, Abhishek had become the fastest batter to smash 100 sixes in T20Is (in 785 deliveries) and surpassed West Indies batter Evin Lewis, who had smashed hundred sixes in 789 deliveries in his career. Shreyas then combined with Tilak Varma for a 36run stand, while striking cleanly against pace and spin. Varmas dismissal, caught off a low full toss on Mahmoods bowling, brought Dube to the crease. Iyer reached his ninth T20I halfcentury from 38 balls, his slowest in the format, but accelerated with a six over extra cover and inventive strokes against Luke Wood and Mahmood, who later trapped him lbw. But by then, Abhishek had become the fastest batter to smash 100 sixes in T20Is (in 785 deliveries) and surpassed West Indies batter Evin Lewis, who had smashed hundred sixes in 789 deliveries in his career. Shreyas then combined with Tilak Varma for a 36run stand, while striking cleanly against pace and spin. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Curran accounted for Abhishek and ran out Axar Patel off the final ball as India closed on 189, which is above par at the venue. England may have a delayed start to the innings due to steady rain, after India blasted 54 runs in the last five overs. Article Source: IANS
'Not like I've forgotten how to bat' - Wolvaardt hopes to find her groove again
Obviously it's so recent, it's not like my batting has changed. It's probably just a bit of a mindset thing, she said
Redmayne completes the job as Surenkumar fells Essex
Target of 117 proves insufficient as Warwickshire romp to victory with four overs to spare
TG20 Season 1: Himateja, Sai Krishna Shine As Khammam Aces Down Nalgonda Knights
Sai Krishna Reddy: Anvita Khammam Aces rode on a breathtaking unbeaten 80 from skipper Himateja Kodimela and a fluent half-century from G. Sai Krishna Reddy to post a daunting 211/2 in their 20 overs. Ved Reddy and Wafi Kachchhi then led a disciplined bowling effort as the Aces defeated Anurag Nalgonda Knights by 34 runs in the Hyderabad Cricket Association's TG20 in Wednesday's second match. The win moves them back into the playoff spot, above EIPL & eleve Karimnagar Diamonds to fourth on the points table. Meanwhile, the Knights slip to third by virtue of a lower Net Run Rate than Ranga Reddy Risers. Himateja's unbeaten 80 moved him to second on the Orange Cap standings with 282 runs to his name, while 16-year-old Ved is now second on the Purple Cap standings, having scalped nine wickets. Aces made a solid start through Paras Raj and Wafi Kachchhi (14 off 19), helped by a wayward opening over to reach 51 without loss at the end of the powerplay. Paras led the charge with a flurry of boundaries and a six, while Wafi played the supporting role as the pair stitched together a brisk 53-run opening stand. Hyderabad E-Champions struck immediately after the Power-play as Divesh Singh dismissed Wafi, but Paras continued to anchor the innings alongside G. Sai Krishna Reddy. He added impetus with a six and a four off Varun Goud before disciplined bowling in the next two overs slowed the scoring, leaving the Aces at 76/1 after 10 overs. Aces shifted into top gear through Paras and Sai Krishna. The pair kept the scoreboard ticking before the former fell for a well-made knock of 46 runs in 39 balls after Aniketh Reddy struck in the 12th over. Himateja Kodimela then took charge, launching a six immediately after the wicket to ensure the momentum remained firmly with the Aces. With Sai Krishna providing the perfect foil, Himateja unleashed an attacking display in the death overs as the duo plundered boundaries and sixes at will. Their innings ensured that the Aces scored 135 runs in the second half of their innings, with Sai Krishna scoring a 29-ball 50 before Himateja completed his half-century in just 18 balls. The pair added quick runs against every bowler, taking 31 runs from the final two overs to propel the Aces to a formidable 211/2, with Himateja finishing with an unbeaten 80 in just 31 balls, including seven fours and five sixes, while Sai Krishna smashed 56 in just 32 balls. The Knights made a brisk start to the chase, with Jashwanth Mote (22 off 13) and Gaurav Reddy (54 off 35) putting on 45 runs in under four overs. Gaurav led the charge with two towering sixes off Mahesh Vipparla, while Jashwanth chipped in with a six and a boundary before Mahesh provided the breakthrough by dismissing him at the end of the fourth over. Nitish Reddy (17 off 14) joined Gaurav to keep the momentum going, adding useful runs as the Knights reached 76/1 at the end of the powerplay. However, Aces tightened their grip through disciplined bowling from Ved Reddy, who first restricted the scoring before dismissing the well-set Nitish in the 10th over. At the halfway mark, the Knights were well placed at 92/2, with Gaurav continuing to anchor the chase alongside skipper Rahul Buddhi (12 off 8). Knights' chase unravelled after the halfway mark despite being well placed at 98/2. Ved triggered the collapse by removing Gaurav and Divesh (0 off 1) in the same over, before Wafi tightened the screws with a brilliant spell that accounted for Rahul via a run-out, as well as Aniketh Reddy (1 off 2) and Varun Goud (5 off 8), reducing the Knights to 124/7 after 15 overs. Md Arfaz Ahmed (14 off 10) and Rakshann Readdi (10 off 5) briefly resisted before Wafi struck again to dismiss Arfaz. Harshwardhan Singh (37* off 24) then launched a late counterattack with an unbeaten cameo, smashing two sixes and four boundaries in the final three overs, but the effort came too late as the Knights finished on 177/8, falling 34 runs short of the target. Knights' chase unravelled after the halfway mark despite being well placed at 98/2. Ved triggered the collapse by removing Gaurav and Divesh (0 off 1) in the same over, before Wafi tightened the screws with a brilliant spell that accounted for Rahul via a run-out, as well as Aniketh Reddy (1 off 2) and Varun Goud (5 off 8), reducing the Knights to 124/7 after 15 overs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Anvita Khammam Aces 211/2 in 20 overs (Himateja Kodimela 80*, G Sai Krishna Reddy 56*, Aniketh Reddy 1/36, Divesh Singh 1/23) bt Anurag Nalgonda Knights 177/8 in 20 overs (Gaurav Reddy 54, Harshwardhan Singh 37*, Ved Reddy 3/26, Wafi Kachchhi 3/35) by 34 runs. Article Source: IANS
Weerappuli spins a web as Lancashire come up Roses
Yorkshire undone by teenage legspinner as fiercest rivals land morale-boosting win
Wimbledon 2026 | Sabalenka channels her inner Rocky to fend off Kessler challenge
With Wimbledon being the only major where she has yet to contest a final, Sabalenka will be hoping for another KO performance when she faces Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko for a place in the last 16
Tejasvi Dahiya Goes For Rs 40 Lakh As DPL Season 3 Men's Auction Wraps Up In New Delhi
Delhi Premier League T20: Tejasvi Dahiya emerged as the costliest player in the men's auction for Season 3 of the Delhi Premier League T20, which concluded in New Delhi on Wednesday, with all eight franchises completing their squads across multiple rounds. The auction opened with the Marquee round, in which eight players were sold across teams. Tejasvi Dahiya was the highest-sold player of the auction at Rs 40 lakh, with South Delhi Superstarz using their RTM card to secure him. New Delhi Tigers invoked their RTM to pick up Himmat Singh for Rs 38 lakh, while North Delhi Strikers matched the Rs 17 lakh bid for Sarthak Ranjan. Anuj Rawat went to Puraani Dilli 6 for Rs 27 lakh, while Kuldip Yadav, Suyash Sharma, Navdeep Saini, and Simarjeet Singh were all picked up at base price by Central Delhi Kings, West Delhi Lions, Outer Delhi Warriors, and East Delhi Riders, respectively. The remaining unsold players from the Marquee set were moved into the Category A pool at a revised base price of Rs 5 lakh each. By the time the hammer fell on the final lot, all eight franchises had assembled 23-to-26-player squads built around their retained Marquee names. Central Delhi Kings anchor their campaign around Kuldip Yadav, Yash Dhull, and Vansh Bedi; East Delhi Riders around Simarjeet Singh, Mayank Yadav, and Mayank Rawat; New Delhi Tigers around Himmat Singh and Prince Yadav; and North Delhi Strikers around Harshit Rana and Sarthak Ranjan. Outer Delhi Warriors will lean on Navdeep Saini and Priyansh Arya, Puraani Dilli 6 on Anuj Rawat, Digvesh Rathi, and Lalit Yadav, South Delhi Superstarz on Ayush Badoni and Tejasvi Dahiya, and West Delhi Lions on Nitish Rana, Suyash Sharma and Kulwant Khejroliya. With squads now locked in, attention turns to the season ahead, as all eight franchises look to blend their experienced picks with a deep bench of uncapped and emerging players. Marquee round log Tejasvi Dahiya - Rs 40L - South Delhi Superstarz (RTM) Himmat Singh - Rs 38L - New Delhi Tigers (RTM) Anuj Rawat - Rs 27L - Puraani Dilli 6 Sarthak Ranjan - Rs 17L - North Delhi Strikers (RTM) Kuldip Yadav - Rs 10L - Central Delhi Kings Suyash Sharma - Rs 10L - West Delhi Lions Navdeep Saini - Rs 10L - Outer Delhi Warriors Simarjeet Singh - Rs 10L - East Delhi Riders Full squads: Central Delhi Kings: Kuldip Yadav, Yash Dhull, Vansh Bedi, Divij Mehra, Money Grewal, Jonty Sidhu, Aayush Kumar, Vedant Sehwag, Yatish Singh, Yugal Saini, Aditya Bhandari, Siddharth Joon, Keshav Dabas, Aatrey Tripathi, Arun Pundir, Aryaveer Kohli, Gavnish Khurana, Jasvir Sehrawat, Tejas Baroka, Ojasdeep Singh, Samarth Singh, Rahul, Abhishek Kumar Yadav, Prathmesh Singh, Jai Sharma. East Delhi Riders: Simarjeet Singh, Mayank Yadav, Mayank Rawat, Arpit Rana, Dhruv Kaushik, Rounak Waghela, Hardik Sharma, Sujal Rajiv Singh, Tanmay Chaudhary, Aradhya Chawla, Rohan Parchanda, Vansh Jetly, Yashwardhan Oberai, Deepak Punia, Ashish Meena, Kavya Gupta, Rohit Yadav, Vaibhav Baisla, Uday Chawla, Sunny Rawal, Suryansh Raina, Ankit Kumar, Vansh Mehra, Suryakant Chauhan, Harsh Bhardwaj. New Delhi Tigers: Himmat Singh, Prince Yadav, Hritik Shokeen, Rahul Chaudhary, Lakshay Thareja, Vaibhav Rawal, Atulya Pandey, Dhruv Bindra, Laxman, Pradyuman Sanan, Aaryan Sharma, Keshav R. Singh, Manish Sehrawat, Parikshit Singh Bhati, Parth Kr. Bali, Shivam Gupta, Varun Vanjani, Tanuj Pawar, Rishabh Sharma, Revaant Rakyan, Saurabh Gupta, Yashjeet, Ayush Tanwar, Aditya Paweriya, Dev Chaudhary. North Delhi Strikers: Harshit Rana, Sarthak Ranjan, Pranav Rajvanshi, Vaibhav Kandpal, Aayush Singh, Akhil Chaudhary, Arnav Bugga, Kirit Kaushik, Saurabh Deswal, Yash Bhatia, Parnit Tiwari, Prikshit Sehrawat, Arjun Rapria, Kaushal Suman, Vikas Dixit, Yash Dabas, Mayank Dagar, Bharat Sindhwani, Ajay Yadav, Anant Jain, Gaurav Sabharwal, Nikhil Kumar. Outer Delhi Warriors: Navdeep Saini, Priyansh Arya, Aryan Rana, Harsh Tyagi, Shivam Sharma, Siddhant Sharma, Anant S. Sareen, Dhanya Nakra, Mohit Panwar, Saksham Gahlot, Shaurya Malik, Aman Chaudhary, Rushal Saini, Yajas Sharma, Dhruv Singh, Rishab Drall, Aditya Sharma, Akshay Saini, Monu Shukla, Pratham Saluja, Sammar Kohar, Garvit Grover, Shivam Bhan, Deepanshu Phore, Aditya Yadav. Purani Dilli 6: Anuj Rawat, Digvesh Rathi, Lalit Yadav, Rohan Rana, Samarth Seth, Dev Lakra, Kush Nagpal, Mohak Kumar, Rajneesh Dadar, Udhav Mohan, Prince Mishra, Yug Gupta, Aditya Malhotra, Ajay Ahlawat, Gaurav Saroha, Kabir Sachdeva, Pankaj Jaswal, Yash Kumar, Aryan Gaur, Aditya Verma, Ashwini Chillar, Lakshay Verma, Harshvardhan Phogat, Vanam Aggarwal, Arjun Rexwal. Outer Delhi Warriors: Navdeep Saini, Priyansh Arya, Aryan Rana, Harsh Tyagi, Shivam Sharma, Siddhant Sharma, Anant S. Sareen, Dhanya Nakra, Mohit Panwar, Saksham Gahlot, Shaurya Malik, Aman Chaudhary, Rushal Saini, Yajas Sharma, Dhruv Singh, Rishab Drall, Aditya Sharma, Akshay Saini, Monu Shukla, Pratham Saluja, Sammar Kohar, Garvit Grover, Shivam Bhan, Deepanshu Phore, Aditya Yadav. Also Read: Live Cricket Score West Delhi Lions: Nitish Rana, Suyash Sharma, Kulwant Khejroliya, Ayush Doseja, Manan Bhardwaj, Mayank Gusain, Aaryavir Sehwag, Ankit Rajesh Kumar, Dhruv Kumar Chumbak, Krish Yadav, Ravneet Tanwar, Rudra Dev Yadav, Aarav Garg, Shubham Dubey, Ajay Rana, Anirudh Chowdhary, Hiten Dalal, Jitesh Singh, Tishant Dabla, Vikas Rana, Bhanu Yadav, Sombir Sheokand, Yash Bansal, Avinash Singh Manhas, Khushhal Yadav. Article Source: IANS
Wimbledon 2026 | Sinner stays clear of trouble against Borges to reach round three
Sinner dominated to rack up an Italian record 95th Grand Slam match win, moving ahead of Nicola Pietrangeli
Dont Think I Was Utilised Properly In Last Years Tests In England, Says Shardul Thakur
Mumbai Cricket Association: Indias seam bowling allrounder Shardul Thakur has said he was underutilised during last years AndersonTendulkar Trophy in England, adding that he remains determined to play international cricket again. Thakur, 34, appeared in the Tests in Leeds and Old Trafford, scoring 1, 4, and 41 runs while bowling just 27 overs across the two matches and taking two scalps. I 100 per cent desire to play for India again. At the back of my mind, it's always there. Even if you're dropped or discarded, I think hope is a very strong word. As long as hope is alive, everything is possible. It's very hard to comment on why I may have missed out on a few selections. But after the 202425 season, the kind of season I had, I think I could have played a few more games and literally made a difference. When I played in England, I don't think I was utilised properly. In batting, yes, it was my mistake that I played a loose shot in Leeds. But in Manchester, I batted beautifully, I would say, because it was overcast, the ball was swinging, and there was one length from where the ball was hardly bouncing. I survived that spell, and India still put up a very, very strong total in the first innings. Then the pitch became flat, and we were also able to save the game, Thakur, who captains Mumbai across formats, told reporters on the sidelines of a Mumbai Cricket Association 2026/27 season launch event on Wednesday. Thakur, who has featured in 13 Tests, 47 ODIs, and 25 T20Is, said he is still very much ready to play for India again whenever called up. So it's not that I didn't make any contribution when I last played for India. But yes, I think I deserved a few more opportunities. I would say it was more about being underbowled and being used in the wrong phases. There were some calculation errors, I would say. Hope is still alive. If, in the near future, they ever ask me to play for India again, I'll be ready. Playing for India is a dream everyone's dream. Even during my previous stints with the Indian team, there were a handful of games where I made an impact and literally won matches for the team. So, even in the near future, or whenever I make a comeback, I'm still willing to contribute as much as I can (both in red-ball and white-ball cricket). Thakur, who has featured in 13 Tests, 47 ODIs, and 25 T20Is, said he is still very much ready to play for India again whenever called up. So it's not that I didn't make any contribution when I last played for India. But yes, I think I deserved a few more opportunities. I would say it was more about being underbowled and being used in the wrong phases. There were some calculation errors, I would say. Hope is still alive. If, in the near future, they ever ask me to play for India again, I'll be ready. Also Read: Live Cricket Score When you start the season with a strong message, there is always a purpose to practise. If you are mentally switched on, you are looking forward to improving your fitness, sharpening your skills, and learning something new. Article Source: IANS
Sciver-Brunt and England medical team throw everything at recovery
The England captain embarked on a high-tech regimen of treatment in an effort to return for the knockouts
Brook Is The 'front-runner' For Test Captaincy After Stokes Retirement, Says Morgan
Harry Brook: Former England skipper Eoin Morgan has listed Harry Brook as the frontrunner to take over the Test captaincy following Ben Stokes retirement, adding that he would look to get a different white-ball skipper if the right-handed batter is handed the top role. Brook is currently Englands white-ball captain and was the vice-captain in Tests when the side lost the recent three-game series to New Zealand by 2-1. I think you can coach all three formats of the game. We've seen it with India, with Australia. The thing I don't like, though, is having one captain across all three formats - and that creates a problem for England. I think there's possibly only one candidate (for the Test job) in that changing room, and that's Brook - unless they go back to Joe Root. Brook is the front-runner for me, and I would look elsewhere for the white-ball captaincy. I think there are more options to give the white-ball captaincy within the side...candidates like Phil Salt, Sam Curran, and an outside pick like Will Jacks, said Morgan ahead of the broadcast of the first T20I between England and India at the Riverside Stadium. England fast bowler Mark Wood said he was proud of how Stokes was an asset for the side, both as a player and captain. I haven't spoken to him (Stokes) yet. Obviously, a lot has happened, so you let things settle down a bit. I'm just very proud of Ben, as a friend growing up here in Durham - we came through the academy together. The man that he is, I can't speak highly enough of him. You, as all ex-players, or players who play with him, and they can't believe how loyal he is, and how good he was to play with. England fast bowler Mark Wood said he was proud of how Stokes was an asset for the side, both as a player and captain. I haven't spoken to him (Stokes) yet. Obviously, a lot has happened, so you let things settle down a bit. I'm just very proud of Ben, as a friend growing up here in Durham - we came through the academy together. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I'd have given him a shot in (recent series in) Ireland, and even against England - unleash him early! Especially when he's in his sort of form, he's red hot - and he's got a damn smart cricketing brain. Article Source: IANS
India bat first with three spinners, keep Sooryavanshi waiting in first T20I against England
Meanwhile, England brought Saqib Mahmood and Luke Wood into their side, replacing Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton from the side they fielded in the T20 World Cup semi-final
1st T20I: Chakaravarthy Returns As India Elect To Bat First Against England
Riverside Ground: India have won the toss and elected to bat first against England in the T20I series opener at the Riverside Ground on Wednesday. India will be aiming to get a winning start in England after suffering a shocking 2-0 series loss to Ireland. After winning the toss, India captain Shreyas Iyer said they are going with three spinners, with wrist-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy returning after missing the matches against Ireland due to recovery from a foot injury. India are playing three spinners in Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi and Chakaravarthy, while fielding just two seamers in Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh with Shivam Dube being the sixth bowler. Ireland is history. Its a new series, five games, everything to play for. Certainly, this is a great opportunity for us. This is actually my second series as a captain. So, pretty much excited. We got what we wanted. We got a session of practice over here yesterday, pretty much acclimatized to the surroundings as well. So, looking forward for an exciting one. Its absolutely fine. To be honest, Ireland series is history. Weve got to learn a lot from that series. And coming over here, we know how England has been playing their cricket. So, definitely slightly upbeat, know their strengths and weaknesses, so looking forward to have a great one. On his assessment of the pitch, Iyer said, Theres pretty decent amount of grass on the wicket. We practiced yesterday as well on the same one. So, cant actually predict how the wickets going to play, but definitely the intent is going to be high. England skipper Harry Brook said he was happy with bowling first, as they switch from Test series defeat to New Zealand. The moods really good. Were really looking forward to this series starting against a very strong Indian side, and, its good to be back with the lads. Thats just part of cricket. Youve just got to get ready for the next series as quickly as you possibly can, and try and make it as easy as you can for yourself. Theres a lot of experienced players, and thats quite nice for me to be able to lean on them in the middle of the game as well. Having the likes of Jos Buttler and Phil Salt, Sam Curran out in the middle as well to lean on when I need some help, is really helpful. Playing XIs: Youve just got to get ready for the next series as quickly as you possibly can, and try and make it as easy as you can for yourself. Theres a lot of experienced players, and thats quite nice for me to be able to lean on them in the middle of the game as well. Having the likes of Jos Buttler and Phil Salt, Sam Curran out in the middle as well to lean on when I need some help, is really helpful. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, and Varun Chakaravarthy Article Source: IANS
Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 Tournament: Rohan Patil and Praveen Dubey struck half-centuries while Nischith Rao bagged three wickets as Bengaluru Blasters withstood a spirited fightback from Hubli Tigers to register a thrilling two-run victory in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 Tournament in Hubballi on Wednesday. Chasing 204 for victory, Hubli Tigers were buoyed by crucial contributions from Aneeshwar Gautam (34 off 23), Shivkumar Rakshith (41 off 30), and a blistering 60 off just 22 balls from Manvanth Kumar. Abhinav Manohar also chipped in with 21 off 15 deliveries as the Tigers took the chase down to the final ball. Needing five runs off the last delivery, the Tigers eventually finished on 201/7 after the dismissals of Manohar and Manvanth at crucial stages halted their late charge. Nischith Rao (3/27) and Vidwath Kaverappa (2/55) shone with the ball for the Blasters. The victory was Bengaluru Blasters' sixth in seven matches, taking them to 12 points and strengthening their position at the top of the standings. Hubli Tigers, meanwhile, suffered their third defeat of the campaign. Earlier, Bengaluru Blasters posted 203/7 after half-centuries from Rohan Patil (64 off 38) and Praveen Dubey (51 off 28). The pair played key roles in building the innings after Rohan and Samit Dravid (32 off 23) had added 70 runs for the second wicket. Rohan then shared a valuable 51-run partnership with Praveen Dubey to keep the momentum going before Shivraj chipped in with an express knock of 23 runs in just seven balls towards the end of the innings. Vaibhav Sharma (3/38) and Abhishek Ahlawat (2/39) were the pick of the Hubli Tigers' bowling attack. The win continued Bengaluru Blasters' impressive run in the tournament after victories over Gulbarga Mystics, Shivamogga Yodhas, Coastal Kings Mangaluru (twice), and another win over Shivamogga Yodhas. Their only defeat so far came against the Mysore Warriors. Vaibhav Sharma (3/38) and Abhishek Ahlawat (2/39) were the pick of the Hubli Tigers' bowling attack. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Bengaluru Blasters 203/7 in 20 overs (Rohan Patil 64, Samit Dravid 32, Praveen Dubey 51; Vaibhav Sharma 3/38, Abhishek Ahlawat 2/39) beat Hubli Tigers 201/7 in 20 overs (Hardik Raj 25, Aneeshwar Gautam 34, Shivkumar Rakshith 41, Manvanth Kumar 60; Nischith Rao 3/27, Vidwath Kaverappa 2/55) by 2 runs. Article Source: IANS
Hridoy To Lead Bangladesh As Litton, Mehidy And Senior Stars Miss Zimbabwe T20I Series
Mehidy Hasan Miraz: Bangladesh have appointed Towhid Hridoy as captain for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe after regular skipper Litton Das, all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud were ruled out due to their Lanka Premier League commitments. It will be Hridoys second time captaining Bangladesh in T20Is, having led the team in the three-match home series against Australia last month when Litton was unavailable due to a calf injury. Litton is recovering from the injury but is expected to be fit before the second ODI of the Zimbabwe tour. This follows four key players being given No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to play in the Lanka Premier League, which overlaps with the T20I series in Zimbabwe. Bangladesh have also made changes to the squad that played against Australia. Mohammad Saifuddin, Yasir Ali, and Mosaddek Hossain return to the national setup while Shamim Hossain is left out. The other matches will be played on July 17 and July 19, and the three-match T20I series begins on July 15. All three matches will be held at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Bangladesh will play a three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe starting from July 6 ahead of the T20I leg. The tour started on a disappointing note for Bangladesh as they lost the one-off Test in Harare by an innings and 85 runs. Bangladesh squad for Zimbabwe T20Is: Towhid Hridoy (captain), Parvez Hossain Emon (wicket-keeper), Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Mosaddek Hossain, Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan (wicket-keeper), Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana, Mohammad Saifuddin, and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain. Fixtures: 15 July | 1st T20I | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo Fixtures: Also Read: Live Cricket Score 19 July | 3rd T20I | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo Article Source: IANS
Legendary WI Pacer Walsh Appointed As Zimbabwe Mens Bowling Coach
ZC Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani: Legendary West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh has been appointed as bowling coach of Zimbabwes senior mens team, said Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) on Wednesday. Walsh, who served as bowling consultant during the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, where Zimbabwe reached the Super Eights after topping Group B, now takes charge of the role fulltime as part of the support staff, which has been retained. Walsh had worked as Bangladeshs bowling coach from September 2016 on a threeyear contract. He was elevated to interim head coach in February 2018 after Chandika Hathurusinghas resignation. In October 2020, he was named as head coach of the West Indies womens team, but his contract was not renewed after the 2023 T20 World Cup. ZC added that it endorsed the Cricket Committees recommendations under the chairmanship of Blessing Ngondo in retaining the senior mens team support staff led by head coach Justin Sammons. Sammons will continue to lead the senior mens setup, supported by Walsh, assistant coach (batting) Dion Ebrahim, fielding and lowerorder batting coach Stuart Matsikenyeri, strength and conditioning coach Curtly Diesel, team doctor Dr Solomon Madzogo, team manager Dilip Chouhan, logistics manager Lovemore Banda, and media manager Darlington Majonga. ZC also endorsed succession planning, with former Zimbabwe international Chamu Chibhabha set to understudy Chouhan in team management duties. It also confirmed a refreshed senior mens selection panel while David Mutendera is retained as convener, ex-international players Hamilton Masakadza and Christopher Mpofu have been added as selectors. Continuity was reaffirmed in the Under19 programme, with Elton Chigumbura retained as head coach. Former Zimbabwe allrounder Donald Tiripano has been promoted to assistant coach (bowling), joining batting coach Remembrance Nyathi, strength and conditioning coach Clemence Rizhibhowa, physiotherapist Munashe Dengu, and team manager Frank Mawoza. ZC also endorsed succession planning, with former Zimbabwe international Chamu Chibhabha set to understudy Chouhan in team management duties. It also confirmed a refreshed senior mens selection panel while David Mutendera is retained as convener, ex-international players Hamilton Masakadza and Christopher Mpofu have been added as selectors. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We believe they represent a strong blend of experience, expertise, continuity, and fresh perspectives that will help advance our strategic objectives across our national teams and player pathway structures, said ZC Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani. Article Source: IANS
Hyderabad Cricket Association: Skipper Abhirath Reddy and district player Ganesh Gadugu led the charge for Hyderabad E-Champions as they continued their unbeaten run with a six-wicket win against Warangal Warriors in the Hyderabad Cricket Association's TG20s first match on Wednesday. With this win, the E-Champions have qualified for the Playoffs. After narrowly missing out on a couple of occasions, Abhirath registered his maiden ton in the TG20. The Orange Cap holder continued to pile on the runs for his side with a stellar 101* off 43 balls, which included seven fours and nine sixes. District player Ganesh Gadugu also played his part, scoring 50 off 31 balls after the bowlers, led by Purple Cap holder Ajay Dev Goud (3/27), restricted the Warriors to 173/9. Opting to bat first, the Warriors made a watchful start before their openers unfurled a range of strokes. They piled up 64 runs in the first five overs to set the platform for their side. However, Ajay showed why hes on top of the wicket-takers list, as he sent back both openers in the final over of the powerplay. Harshit Choudhary (22 of 14) was the first to be dismissed, with Aman Rao Perala also falling after a quickfire 20-ball 45. The twin strikers wrestled back momentum for the E-Champions. Shanmukha Ashwin got the better of Murugan Abhishek (4 off 7) soon after, putting the Warriors further into trouble. Sunkari Dheeraj (18 off 16) and Rishiket Sisodia stitched together a 50-run stand to stabilise the innings, with the latter doing the heavy lifting. He found the odd boundary and rotated strike regularly to keep the scoreboard ticking with his partner. Unfortunately for the Warriors, Rishiket fell in an attempt to up the ante, with Pranav Varma getting the better of him in the 15th over, putting an end to his 32-ball 38. That triggered a series of wickets with the Warriors stumbling at the backend of the innings. Akhil Rathod bagged his first wicket to dismiss Sunkari, while Ajay continued his wicket-taking streak by dismissing Adi Mani Kiran (5 off 6). Dev Mehta also got rid of Bhavesh Seth (6 off 8) as the Warriors found themselves at 142/7. Shaunak Kulkarnis fiery 7-ball 22-run cameo powered his side to a strong finish before he fell to Abhirath in the penultimate over. In the end, the Warriors posted a total of 173/9 at the end of 20 overs. E-Champions laid down an early marker of intent at the beginning of their run chase, scoring 27 runs in the first couple of overs with their captain leading the charge. However, they found themselves in a spot of bother as the Warriors returned strongly to bag three wickets in the powerplay, achieving that feat for the first time in the tournament. Pallepati Kranthi struck a crucial double blow in the third over, dismissing Sai Vikas Reddy (10 off 7) and Ajay Goud (0 off 2). Anvith Reddy (4 off 2) was dismissed by Salman Khan in the following over as he pegged things back for the Warriors. With the game hanging in the balance, Abhirath and Ganesh Gadugu once again showed why theyre vital cogs of the E-Champions batting unit. They displayed immense maturity to keep the required run rate under control as they built a 77-run stand in which Ganesh was the aggressor. The district player smashed his second half-century of the tournament, reaching the milestone in 30 balls to put his side in cruise control. Shaunak broke the partnership by dismissing Ganesh in the 12th over, but the writing was on the wall by then. Abhirath effortlessly switched gears to notch up his fifty in 28 balls and unleashed an array of strokes to finish things off in a hurry. He concluded the run chase on a high, launching a towering six over long-off to amass his century and secure a comprehensive win for his side with 27 balls to spare. The district player smashed his second half-century of the tournament, reaching the milestone in 30 balls to put his side in cruise control. Shaunak broke the partnership by dismissing Ganesh in the 12th over, but the writing was on the wall by then. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Warangal Warriors 173/9 in 20 overs (Aman Rao Perala 45, Rishiket Sisodia 38, Ajay Dev Goud 3/27) lost to Hyderabad E-Champions 178/4 in 15.3 overs (Abhirath Reddy 101*, Ganesh Gadugu 50, Pallepati Kranthi 1/29) by six wickets Article Source: IANS
England's top three and SA quicks, both best in class, prepare for semi-final fight
Two teams with plenty of firepower and plenty of history come together at The Oval
Hridoy to lead Bangladesh in Zimbabwe T20Is; Saifuddin makes comeback
Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud will be playing in the Lanka Premier League, which overlaps with the T20I series
Doddapaneni Kalyan Krishna Appointed As Andhras Director Of Cricket Operations
ACA President Kesineni Sivanath: Former Andhra pacer Doddapaneni Kalyankrishna has been appointed as the states Director of Cricket Operations, said the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) on Wednesday. Kalyan Krishna, who played 51 first-class games, 42 List A matches and 16 T20 games and picked 217 scalps overall, will be leading the charge of strengthening cricket operations and driving future growth in the states cricketing ecosystem. The appointment was confirmed by ACA at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Mangalagiri. The ACA looks forward to his visionary leadership in strengthening our cricket operations and driving sustainable future growth for the sport in the region, said the ACA in its statement. Speaking to IANS, Kalyan Krishna, who was in the now-defunct Deccan Chargers set-up in IPL 2008 and has been a regular broadcaster on Star Sports Telugu feed, thanked ACA President Kesineni Sivanath and Secretary Sana Sathish Babu for appointing him to the role. I am very grateful to the President and Secretary of the ACA for the faith they have shown in me in appointing me to this role. I was there in the Andhra team as a player and now I am back with the set-up in an off-field role. Its a dream for every player to give back to the game after the end of playing time and I am very fortunate to be in a position to do so now, he said. Speaking to IANS, Kalyan Krishna, who was in the now-defunct Deccan Chargers set-up in IPL 2008 and has been a regular broadcaster on Star Sports Telugu feed, thanked ACA President Kesineni Sivanath and Secretary Sana Sathish Babu for appointing him to the role. Also Read: Live Cricket Score But I am sure I will do full justice to it and will continue to expand the good work done by ACA so far in spreading the sports reach in the state in both mens and womens cricket and produce more players who can go on to represent India, he added. Article Source: IANS
Crocombe to join Surrey from 2027 as Sussex exodus continues
Highly-rated fast bowler featured in England's Test squad at The Oval last month
Women's T20 WC: When And Where To Watch South Africa Vs England Semis Clash, Know All Details
T20 World Cup: South Africa aims to continue their impressive run as they face unbeaten hosts England in the second semi-final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup at The Kennington Oval on Thursday. A spot in Sunday's final against Australia is on the line. The Proteas head into this knockout match with strong confidence after bouncing back from an early loss to Australia. They won four of their next five games. Their campaign peaked against India, where Marizanne Kapp delivered a standout performance, scoring an unbeaten 81 and taking 2/27 to help South Africa secure a place in the last four. In contrast, England has appeared to be the most well-rounded team in the tournament, winning all five of their group matches. The return of captain Nat Sciver-Brunt from injury provides a significant boost. Opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge has shone as the top batter with 282 runs in five innings at an average of 94, including an unbeaten 89 at The Oval. South Africa's hopes will once again rely heavily on Kapp, supported by experienced pace bowlers Shabnim Ismail and Ayabonga Khaka, along with left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba. Captain Laura Wolvaardt, who was out for a duck against Bangladesh in the final group match, will seek to lead strongly. England's batting depth has been a key factor in their success, achieving totals of 164, 186, and 219. Alice Capsey has contributed to explosive finishes, while Sophie Ecclestone has effectively controlled the middle overs with her reliable left-arm spin. The Oval has mostly favoured teams chasing during this tournament. Australia easily chased down the West Indies' 125 in the first semi-final at the same venue. The conditions provide early support for seamers, and evening dew may make bowling first a preferred choice. Though England will be the favourites to reach their first Women's T20 World Cup final since 2018, South Africa has already proven they can challenge the tournament's top teams. Another inspired performance from Kapp could lead the Proteas to a second consecutive global final. Match details: When: Thursday, July 2 at 7:00 PM IST Where: The Oval, London Where to watch: The second semifinal between South Africa and England will be broadcast on Star Sports Network and live-streamed on JioStar Squads: England: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Dani Gibson, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt-Hodge England: Also Read: Live Cricket Score Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Kayla Reyneke, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon, Dane van Niekerk Article Source: IANS
ENG-W vs SA-W Semi-final 2, Cricket Tips :Two games are left in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, and a new champion will be crowned. Australia Women are into the final with a win over West Indies. Now, England and South Africa will compete for the second spot in the final. This contest will kick off on Wednesday at Kennington Oval in London at 11 PM IST. These two sides are in for a hard-fought battle, where a small mistake can cost big. South Africa have shown good recent form, but their record against England is not encouraging. Their first and only T20I win over England women in England came in 2018. Nat Sciver-Brunt is likely to be back for the hosts, and her inclusion will strengthen the combination. England have already shown a great display in this tournament. ENG-W vs SA-W: Match Details Date : July 02, 2026 (Wednesday) Time : 11 PM IST Venue : Kennington Oval, London ENG-W vs SA-W Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch the second semifinal on the ENG-W vs SA-W live on the Star Sports Networks. The live stream option of this game will be available at the Jio Hotstar app or website. ENG-W vs SA-W Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 28 England Women : 23 South Africa Women : 04 No-Result: 01 ENG-W vs SA-W: Ground Pitch Report Kennington Oval has been a good batting venue in England. The wicket here produces good bounce and pace. Fast bowlers will get early movement with the new ball, which is expected to settle down with time. The wicket will offer very little assistance for the spinners. ENG-W vs SA-W Possible XIs ENG-W : Amy Jones (wk), Danni Wyatt Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Charlie Dean, Freya Kemp, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell SA-W : Laura Wolvaardt (c), Annerie Dercksen, Tazmin Brits, Dane van Niekerk, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba ENG-W vs SA-W Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Danni Wyatt Hodge has been the best batter for England, and she will be a big wicket. For South Africa, captain Laura Wolvaardt has always done well in knockout matches. Her role will be crucial in this game. Probable Best Bowler Freya Kemp has been exceptional. She has taken wickets in middle and final overs for her team. For South Africa, Marizanne Kapp needs to do well. She can take early wickets and has experience of performing on big stages. Today Match Prediction : South Africa are good, but their average record against England show that they have struggled against them. Hence, we predict England Women will win the second semifinal. ENG-W vs SAW Match Semi-final 2 ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, Today 2026 Match, ENG-W vs SA-W 2026 Prediction, ENG-W vs SA-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update for ENG-W vs SA-W Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score 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 prediction.
Nat Sciver-Brunt passed fit for semi-final after calf injury recovery
Boost for England in crucial clash as captain prepares to return after three-match absence
Bulbulia eases to victory after Rowles, Mbatha star for South Africa U19s
Heavy defeat for hosts despite Ben Dawkins' 44, and contributions from Flintoff and Lumsden
Women's T20 WC: Unbeaten England Face Resurgent South Africa For A Place In Lord's Final
T20 World Cup: Unbeaten England take on a confident South Africa in the second semi-final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup at The Kennington Oval, with the winner earning the right to face six-time champions Australia in Sunday's final at Lord's. Australia secured the first spot in the final with a convincing eight-wicket win over West Indies, successfully chasing 126 with 42 balls left. Now, England and South Africa are set to compete for the last spot in what promises to be a tight match in the knockout stage. England enters the semi-final with a perfect record, having won all five of their group matches. The return of captain Nat Sciver-Brunt makes an already strong team even better. They have posted scores of 164, 186, and 219 in the tournament, showcasing the depth of their batting lineup. South Africa, on the other hand, has bounced back impressively after losing their initial match to Australia. They have won four of their next five games. Their most significant performance came against India, where Marizanne Kapp delivered a standout performance. She scored an unbeaten 81 and took 2/27, leading her team to a memorable victory. England's greatest strength lies in their top order, led by the tournament's top run-scorer, Danni Wyatt-Hodge. The experienced opener has scored 282 runs in five innings at an average of 94. This includes an unbeaten 89 against New Zealand at The Oval, and she has already received three Player of the Match awards. Sciver-Brunts return, following a significant improvement in her calf injury after a positive MRI scan, gives England their strongest XI for the first time in three matches. Her presence also adds another quality seam-bowling option, restoring balance to the team. Alice Capsey has brought aggressive batting in the middle order, helping England score quickly. Meanwhile, world No.1 spinner Sophie Ecclestone continues to excel in the middle overs with her accuracy. Ecclestone achieved figures of 3/22 against Ireland and 2/23 against the West Indies, maintaining an excellent economy throughout the tournament. South Africas success has come from a disciplined bowling attack that includes Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, and Nonkululeko Mlaba. This quartet has consistently taken wickets throughout the tournament. Captain Laura Wolvaardt will be eager to make a mark after being dismissed on the first ball against Bangladesh in the final group match. Annerie Dercksens important 45 in that game showcased the depth in South Africas batting lineup. Kapp stands out as South Africas key player, excelling with both bat and ball. Her experience in high-pressure situations makes her a crucial asset for the team. The Oval has generally favoured teams chasing in this World Cup. Australia managed to chase down the West Indies' total comfortably on the same pitch, while both England and South Africa also had successful chases earlier in the tournament. Although the pitch initially showed a slight green tinge, it has remained good for batting overall. With an evening start and the possibility of dew, captains are likely to choose to bowl first if they win the toss. England are aiming for their first Women's T20 World Cup title since 2009, while South Africa hopes to reach another global final by defeating one of the tournament's favourites. With Australias spot already settled, only one challenge remains before Sundays final showdown at Lord's. Match details: When: Thursday, July 2 at 7:00 PM IST Where: The Oval, London Where to watch: The second semifinal between South Africa and England will be broadcast on Star Sports Network and live-streamed on JioStar Squads: England: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Dani Gibson, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt-Hodge England: Also Read: Live Cricket Score Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Kayla Reyneke, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon, Dane van Niekerk Article Source: IANS
TG20: 'A Lot To Learn From Him,' Says Aaron George On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Rise
Ranga Reddy Risers: Aaron George has shared a dressing room with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at various stages in the India U19 team, including in this years World Cup win in Zimbabwe and Namibia. Now, watching his former team-mate go from the age-group set-up to the senior India side currently on T20I tour of England has left a deep impression on George, whos turning out for Ranga Reddy Risers in the ongoing TG20 tournament. He's been doing a great job ever since he's been playing for the under-19 and now he's playing for the senior side. So it gives me a lot of joy personally to see my teammate rise to higher standards like that. Very happy with how he's doing and obviously a lot to learn from him. His clarity of thought, the way he swings his bat - there's a lot of takeaways and I'm very happy about seeing Vaibhav at the higher level, George said in an exclusive conversation with IANS. That instinct to learn from those around him has become something of a theme for George, who was quick to praise the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) for putting together a tournament that gives fringe and emerging cricketers a genuine stage to express themselves. It's been great and I think it's a great initiative that the Hyderabad Cricket Association has taken, giving a lot of exposure to young talents and also people who have not made very far in their career and are still fighting for a spot. So it's a tournament where there are a lot of diverse cricketers, a lot of different talents and it's great to have a platform like this at a young age, he said. George further pointed out the tournaments real worth is not just about the cricket, but about turning a group of wellknown players into functioning as a proper team. Oh, it's been very good. I think it's all about talking to new people, communicating with them, and understanding how all of us can be effective in a team environment. We've all done very well personally, obviously, to be playing this tournament. But how we come across each other as a team, how we can help our team go to greater heights - that is what our preparation was all about and it's been going great. On the tactical side, George is aware that the modern game places a premium on power-hitting, but he is clear that there is more than one route to being effective with the bat in T20s. As you can see, the game is always changing. The demands are going to be different in a few more years. So, as of now, the power aspect of the game is being given great light and all players have different ways of dealing with that. I am somebody who has used a lot of (on-ground shots) - I play a lot in the gap, or I run a lot during my batting. So depending on the requirement, it's a team sport and what the equation is, how many runs are required, at which over we make our decisions and move across. Its because there is not only one way out, there are different solutions for the same problem. So, we deal with whatever our strengths are, and how we can be effective in that situation with whatever we have got in our army, he added. A captain in nearly every age-group side he has represented, including leading Hyderabad to the Vinoo Mankad Trophy title after a 38-year wait, George has had to adjust to a different role in TG20, where the dressing room is populated by far more experienced campaigners, and he has embraced the change. Most of the teams that I've played in, I've always led. I've been the captain in almost every place I've played, or at least vice-captaincy per se. But when it comes to senior cricket over here, it's different to feel like a junior because everybody is older and they've played their share of cricket. So for me, it's about learning from them. Also, let it be a senior or junior, there's always something you can correct and there's always something you can learn from them. So, that was the approach I got into the tournament with and I'm liking every conversation I'm having with my seniors. It's really helping me understand the game better, and know how they think. Like I mentioned before, the diversity is a great part of this tournament, he said. George, who has recorded scores of 7, 27, 35 and 6 so far, also spoke of the freedom his coaching staff have given him to play his natural game, having worked with several of them outside the confines of the TG20. When it comes to our team, I've already worked with the coaches on different occasions outside of the TG20 tournament. They're all people who know my capability and what I can bring to the table and they have given me a free hand since the start. They've asked me to follow my instincts and bat the way I want to. Obviously, me batting the way I want to is going to give the team the best results when it works out. So I am clear about my role and there is good coordination among all the players and the coaches. George, who has recorded scores of 7, 27, 35 and 6 so far, also spoke of the freedom his coaching staff have given him to play his natural game, having worked with several of them outside the confines of the TG20. When it comes to our team, I've already worked with the coaches on different occasions outside of the TG20 tournament. They're all people who know my capability and what I can bring to the table and they have given me a free hand since the start. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Once I'm done with the tournament, I'm going to start working on, probably new shots or trying to get more range into my batting, more power, whatever it is, post the tournament. But as of now, I know what my strengths are and I'm going to stick to that preparation, he signed off. Article Source: IANS
Kishan replaces Abhishek as No. 1 T20I batter; Root slips to No. 3 among Test batters
Jasprit Bumrah became the No. 1 Test bowler after Matt Henry missed the Trent Bridge Test against England
Womens T20 WC: Shikha Pandey Predicts A Close Fight In SF2, Says England Might Just Pip South Africa
T20 World Cup: Former India pacer Shikha Pandey expects a tightly contested battle when England take on South Africa in the second semi-final of the ICC Womens T20 World Cup, saying both sides possess the quality and experience to thrive under knockout pressure. Assessing the contest ahead of the winner earning a place in the final against Australia, Shikha highlighted South Africas familiarity with English conditions but believes Englands batting depth could prove to be the decisive factor. Pandey began by explaining why South Africa remain one of the most dangerous teams in global tournaments, pointing to their temperament and experience of playing in English conditions. South Africa are ruthless when it comes to World Cups. They have a strong bowling attack and batters who can handle pressure. Many of their players have also played a lot of cricket in England. Marizanne Kapp herself has had about three to four seasons in the Hundred here on these surfaces. So they are quite well-drilled. They are fighters who don't give up easily, Shikha told JioStar. Despite acknowledging South Africa's strengths, Shikha believes England will enter the semifinal with a batting line-up that is stronger and more balanced than in previous years. But one thing I will say about England is that I have watched them for a long time, and I haven't seen their batting this organised and this deep. They have power, they have experience, and they have players who can finish games, she added. Despite acknowledging South Africa's strengths, Shikha believes England will enter the semifinal with a batting line-up that is stronger and more balanced than in previous years. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With Australia already through to the final after defeating the West Indies in the first semi-final, the spotlight now shifts to England and South Africa as they battle for the remaining place in the title decider. Article Source: IANS
T20 World Cup: Former India pacer Shikha Pandey has credited Australia's tactical discipline and batting efficiency for their comprehensive eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup semi-final at The Oval. She reserved special praise for opener Beth Mooney, saying the left-hander's movement at the crease and ability to manipulate the field make her one of the most difficult batters to bowl to in the women's game. Analysing the contest after Australia sealed a place in the final, Shikha highlighted Beth Mooney's masterclass at the top of the order, questioned key tactical decisions made by the West Indies, and explained how the Caribbean side's batting unit failed to cope with Australia's relentless bowling attack. Beth Mooney hurts you in so many ways. She is quick between the wickets, but what stands out is how she creates angles. She is always moving around the crease, making it hard for bowlers to settle on a line. Bowlers have struggled to find a way to pin her down. She will dab one for a single, and then the next ball she moves across to the off stump and finds a way to hit you all around the ground. She scored 61 off 36, and it didn't feel like she was going at a crazy pace. That shows you the skill of a high-quality batter who always keeps the game moving. She is so experienced. Having her and the young guns like Georgia Voll and Phoebe Litchfield at the top is a perfect combination for Australia, Shikha told JioStar. Shikha also pointed to Australia's intelligent batting during the chase, highlighting Ashleigh Gardner's measured approach and the team's outstanding running between the wickets as decisive factors. Ashleigh Gardner played a smart innings. She found the gaps for boundaries and when the fielders were in place, she took quick singles. She didn't try to overhit. She just rotated the strike and kept the scoreboard moving. Australians are excellent at running between the wickets, and it was clearly visible. Their awareness in the middle is top class. They turned ones into twos and kept the pressure on the fielders. That kind of batting makes a huge difference in a chase, she added. While praising Australia's execution, Shikha felt West Indies contributed to their own downfall through tactical decisions that shifted momentum towards the defending champions. West Indies, on the other hand, made some tactical errors. Their bowling changes were slightly off. Giving Jahzara Claxton the sixth over was a mistake. She leaked 18 runs in that over, which gave Australia the momentum. In a match where every run counts, those extra runs in the powerplay proved costly, Shikha said. Shikha believed the West Indies batting line-up never managed to establish control in the contest after Australia exploited the helpful conditions with the new ball. West Indies were relying heavily on Hayley Matthews, their premier batter. But they didn't make it easy for her. Qiana Joseph struggled from the start and never found her rhythm. The shot Matthews played before her dismissal was more out of desperation to keep the scoreboard moving. Joseph's dismissal soon after added more pressure on the middle order. Australia's bowlers were outstanding. The Australians adapted quickly once they realised the pitch was offering seam movement. Shikha believed the West Indies batting line-up never managed to establish control in the contest after Australia exploited the helpful conditions with the new ball. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia chased down West Indies' modest target with seven overs to spare to book their place in the Women's T20 World Cup final for a record eighth time. Article Source: IANS
KCA Revokes Sreesanth's Three Year Ban After Apology
Kerala Cricket Association: Former India fast bowler S. Sreesanth has been reinstated by the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) after the cricketing body unanimously decided to revoke the three-year ban imposed on him, following an unconditional apology tendered by the cricketer over his remarks against KCA. The decision was taken at the KCA's Special General Body meeting on Wednesday, after members deliberated on Sreesanth's formal apology, in which he expressed unconditional regret for statements he made against the Association on visual and social media platforms. The KCA imposed a three-year suspension before the last season of the Kerala Cricket League (KCL), citing Sreesanth's public comments for damaging the Association's image and reputation. The disciplinary action effectively prevented the former international from engaging in KCA-recognised activities, including his proposed role in the Kerala Cricket League. Following the suspension, Sreesanth challenged the KCA's decision before the Thiruvananthapuram Munsiff Court, seeking to have the disciplinary action set aside. However, the court dismissed his petition, leaving the suspension in force. Subsequently, Sreesanth officially submitted an unconditional apology to the Association, expressing regret for his previous remarks. The apology was presented to the Special General Body, which, after thorough discussion, unanimously decided to lift the suspension due to his clear and unambiguous expression of remorse. The Association granted relief to the former India pacer but also issued a strict warning that any future similar conduct or public statements damaging the KCA's reputation would lead to severe disciplinary measures. The decision allows Sreesanth to remain co-owner of the Aries Kollam Sailors in Season Three of the Kerala Cricket League, eliminating any doubts about his involvement. The Association granted relief to the former India pacer but also issued a strict warning that any future similar conduct or public statements damaging the KCA's reputation would lead to severe disciplinary measures. Also Read: Live Cricket Score It also paves the way for a fresh chapter in the relationship between Sreesanth and the KCA, while underlining the Association's expectation that all stakeholders maintain discipline and uphold the reputation of Kerala cricket. Article Source: IANS
Womens T20 WC: Mooney Credits Australias Squad Depth For Marching Into Record Eighth Final
T20 World Cup: Australia wicketkeeper-batter Beth Mooney has attributed her side's run to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup final to consistent contributions from across the squad after the six-time champions defeated the West Indies by eight wickets in the semi-final at The Oval. Speaking after the victory, Mooney singled out the impact of Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham and Georgia Voll, explaining how Australia's depth, versatility and ability to produce match-winners at crucial moments have put the team within one victory of another world title, with either England or South Africa awaiting in Sunday's final at Lord's. Mooney pointed to Gardner's growing confidence, particularly after her recent performances with the bat, and said it translated into another influential outing with the ball and said that the all-rounder has repeatedly proven her value to the side over the years. She's been a critical player for us for a long period of time. She obviously batted beautifully against India at Lord's the other day. She gets a lot of confidence from that. And I think we saw that today with the ball. She bowled beautifully and took wickets at critical times. So we know the threat that she poses to other teams, and we're very lucky to have her at our disposal in our team, Mooney said post match. With Australia now one step away from another global title, Mooney stressed the importance of every member of the squad finding form at the business end of the tournament. Certainly going into the pointy end of the competition, it's always good to have all your players in good form, she said. Mooney also highlighted Wareham's impact, saying the all-rounder has developed into one of Australia's most complete cricketers after adapting to different roles within the team, and the qualities that make her such an influential player. Wolf (Wareham) has been unreal. Not too many cricketers float around the world stage having the skill set that she does and the nous of the game ... the calmness. So it's probably been a little bit of time in the making for Wolf. I think she's been given different roles along the way but really come into her own in that number six role with the bat especially, and also just nailing it with the ball, she added. Mooney believes Wareham's all-round abilities make her one of the standout players in the international game. She's the all-round packageWolfbat, ball, field, great temperament, great human. So another player that is probably the envy of world cricket, and she's in our team. So I'm very lucky that I get to have the best seat in the house, both behind the stumps when I'm keeping and obviously seeing her do her thing with the bat. So hopefully she's got one more very good game in her and can help us get on the right side of the result on Sunday, the wicketkeeper-batter expressed. At the top of the order, Mooney also credited Georgia Voll for giving Australia fast starts during the powerplay, allowing the batting unit to dictate the pace of the innings. Yeah, we've discussed that that's a pretty important phase of the game to try and attack, and obviously with Georgia Voll at the top of the order, it makes it pretty easy to do that, Mooney mentioned. Mooney explained that Australia's approach is built around maximising the fielding restrictions while relying on experience to make the right decisions under pressure. From a personal point of view, I've certainly got the control and the skills to be able to take the game on a little bit earlier and played a lot of cricket and have a lot of data behind me to back up the fact that I can make good decisions and know what I'm doing every now and then. It's not going to come off all the time, but I think that's the way forward in T20 cricket is to really attack the power play if you can and adjust where you need to along the way, she said. Mooney explained that Australia's approach is built around maximising the fielding restrictions while relying on experience to make the right decisions under pressure. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia comfortably chased down West Indies' 125/7 with seven overs to spare, despite Ellyse Perry retiring hurt as a precaution during the innings. Having enjoyed significant contributions from multiple players throughout the tournament, the Aussies will now look to carry that momentum into Sunday's final at Lord's as they chase a record-extending seventh ICC Women's T20 World Cup crown. Article Source: IANS
ICC Rankings: Kishan Dethrones Abhishek To Become No.1 T20I Batter; Head Rises To Top In Tests
ICC T20 World Cup: India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has replaced teammate Abhishek Sharma as the world's No.1 T20I batter in the latest ICC Player Rankings, ending the latter's nearly year-long reign at the top after his prolific run in the shortest format. In another major change, Australia's Travis Head climbed to the No.1 spot among Test batters for the first time in his career. Kishan attained a new career-best rating to move ahead of Abhishek after the latest ICC rankings update released on Wednesday, following India's 2-0 T20I series defeat to Ireland in Belfast. The left-handed batter's rise to the summit has been fuelled by his outstanding performances at the ICC T20 World Cup earlier this year, where he amassed 317 runs at a strike rate of almost 200. His campaign included a Player of the Match-winning knock against Pakistan in Colombo. Abhishek, who had occupied the No.1 spot for almost 12 months, now trails Kishan by just seven rating points. Kishan also joins an elite list featuring Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav as only the fourth Indian men's batter to achieve the No.1 ranking in T20I cricket. Among other movers in the T20I batting rankings, Ireland captain Lorcan Tucker jumped four places to equal 77th, while Ross Adair climbed six spots to 84th after impressive performances against India. Ireland seamer Matthew Humphreys moved up one place to 25th in the T20I bowling rankings after claiming four wickets in the series, earning a career-best rating. In the T20I all-rounders' rankings, India's Shivam Dube rose three places to seventh, while Ireland's Gareth Delany and Harry Tector climbed to 24th and 38th respectively. There were significant changes in the ICC Test rankings as well, with Australia's Travis Head becoming the world's No.1 Test batter for the first time in his career. Head replaced England's Harry Brook at the top after Brook and Joe Root endured modest returns in the Nottingham Test against New Zealand. Brook slipped to second while Root dropped two places to third India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah also regained sole possession of the No.1 ranking among Test bowlers after New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry slipped to second. New Zealand's victory over England at Trent Bridge also resulted in major gains for several of their batters. Rachin Ravindra climbed two places to seventh, Daryl Mitchell advanced five spots to 11th, Devon Conway surged 14 places to equal 15th, and Tom Latham rose 12 places to equal 31st in the Test batting rankings. India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah also regained sole possession of the No.1 ranking among Test bowlers after New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry slipped to second. Also Read: Live Cricket Score West Indies fast bowlers Shamar Joseph and Kemar Roach were also rewarded for their performances in the victory over Sri Lanka in Antigua. Joseph climbed nine places to equal 14th in the Test bowling rankings, while Roach rose four spots to 17th. Article Source: IANS
Fisher Earns Maiden Call-up As NZ Name 16-man ODI Squad For WI Tour
Sir Richard Hadlee Medal: New Zealand have unveiled a 16-member squad for their five-match ODI series against the West Indies, with Northern Districts fast bowler Matthew Fisher receiving his first-ever call-up in the format and Jacob Duffy returning to international cricket. The series, which begins on July 11 in Guyana before concluding in Barbados on July 21, marks the BlackCaps' first ODI assignment in the Caribbean since their historic series triumph there in 2022. Fisher's inclusion is one of the major talking points of the squad announcement. The 26-year-old pace bowler has impressed in domestic one-day cricket, collecting 43 wickets in 25 List A matches at an average of 26. While he has already represented New Zealand in a Test against Zimbabwe in August 2025 and a T20I against Bangladesh in April 2026, the upcoming tour will offer him his first opportunity in ODI cricket. Another notable return is that of Jacob Duffy, who rejoins the national setup after missing the recent Test series in England following the birth of his first child. The reigning Sir Richard Hadlee Medal winner last represented New Zealand during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final in March. Mitchell Santner will continue to lead the side in white-ball cricket, with Tom Latham serving as the wicketkeeper. The pace attack also features Kristian Clarke, Ben Sears and Nathan Smith, while the spin department includes Michael Bracewell, Jayden Lennox and Dean Foxcroft. Head coach Rob Walter welcomed both Fisher and Duffy into the squad, highlighting the qualities they bring ahead of the Caribbean tour. Its great to have Jacob and Matt joining the group and I know theyll bring a lot of energy and excitement, he said. Walter believes Fisher has earned the opportunity after consistently improving his all-round skillset. Its a nice opportunity to introduce Matt to the ODI group for the first time. He bowls with good pace and has been working hard on his variations to ensure he can bowl at different stages of the innings, he added. The New Zealand coach also praised Duffy's impact across formats and expressed confidence that the experienced seamer will strengthen the squad as he said, Jacob has been a stand-out for us in all formats for the past couple of years. His skills and experience will be a great addition to our squad and I know hes looking forward to representing New Zealand again. Jayden Lennox has retained his place after impressing during his debut international series against India earlier this year and will embark on his third overseas white-ball tour. Experienced campaigners Michael Bracewell and Mark Chapman further bolster the group, bringing nearly 250 international appearances between them. Several regulars are unavailable for the tour. Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry and Will O'Rourke have been rested following a demanding first half of the 2026 season, while Blair Tickner will undergo scheduled ankle surgery. Devon Conway has been granted leave after the birth of his second child during the England Test series, and Rachin Ravindra will miss the tour as part of a pre-agreed arrangement with New Zealand Cricket to participate in Major League Cricket. Jayden Lennox has retained his place after impressing during his debut international series against India earlier this year and will embark on his third overseas white-ball tour. Experienced campaigners Michael Bracewell and Mark Chapman further bolster the group, bringing nearly 250 international appearances between them. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand ODI squad: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Kristian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Hay, Nick Kelly, Tom Latham, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith and Will Young. Article Source: IANS
I Want To Still Play For WI, No Doubt: Hayley Matthews Reaffirms Commitment After T20 WC Exit
T20 World Cup: West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has dismissed any speculation over her international future following her sides exit from the ICC Womens T20 World Cup, insisting she remains committed to representing the Caribbean nation. Speaking after West Indies eight-wicket semi-final defeat to Australia at The Oval, Matthews reflected on her motivation to continue playing, backed senior teammates Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin to remain involved, and assessed why the team fell short of reaching the final. Addressing questions about whether the tournament could mark the end of her international career, Matthews made it clear that her desire to wear West Indies colours remains unchanged. I want to still play for West Indies, there's no doubt about that. I always feel like West Indies has given me the opportunity to represent myself, to be a part of franchise cricket. And it might be the most stressful thing and probably one of the harder jobs around, but it's where the passion comes from, Matthews said during the post-match presentation The all-rounder also pointed to the responsibility she feels as one of the leading figures in Caribbean women's cricket, saying that her influence extends beyond her on-field performances. I certainly feel personally that I have a real opportunity to not only represent myself but to make a difference. I've seen so many young girls in the Caribbean already probably want to play cricket or take up cricket because of me, and knowing that I have that power and I guess that influence in a country and in a region where women's cricket and women's sports on a whole probably isn't represented massively, hopefully if I could just inspire a few young ladies or a few more young ladies to take up the game, she added. Matthews also indicated that experienced campaigners Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin remain motivated to continue contributing to the national side, adding that the emergence of younger players has strengthened the atmosphere within the squad. I haven't necessarily heard any of (Stafanie or Deandra) talking about retirement yet, thankfully. I think there's still a lot of passion from them to play. I think what's most important for them is just a healthy team environment, and, I think right now the passion that we have within the group has driven a lot of them, Matthews stated. She continued by explaining why the senior players continue to find purpose within the setup. I think the fresh faces that we have within the young girls and the way that they've come into the team and have exhibited the want to learn definitely makes them feel like they can play a massive role, like it has made me. And hopefully that combination of the young new players alongside Stef and Deandra and Afy (Fletcher) can keep them driven to understand that their role is so much bigger than just going out and batting and bowling as well, she said. Reflecting on the campaign itself, Matthews admitted that West Indies struggled to produce enough match-winning individual performances throughout the tournament, despite advancing to the knockout stage. The Caribbean side reached the semi-finals before being eliminated by Australia after finishing the group stage with defeats against England and Ireland. I think the fresh faces that we have within the young girls and the way that they've come into the team and have exhibited the want to learn definitely makes them feel like they can play a massive role, like it has made me. And hopefully that combination of the young new players alongside Stef and Deandra and Afy (Fletcher) can keep them driven to understand that their role is so much bigger than just going out and batting and bowling as well, she said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Matthews concluded that the inability to produce decisive individual displays consistently proved costly in the shortest format, saying, And in T20 cricket, you always need someone stepping up and putting down good performances. And I think that's probably what we lack, not only today but the entire tournament. Article Source: IANS
Indian Lifting 2011 WC Trophy Inspired My India Dream, Reveals Shedge
Civil Service Cricket Club: Suryansh Shedge has shared how India's 2011 World Cup triumph sparked his ambition to represent the country, saying that he cried watching India win and in that specific moment he decided to start working towards that dream of representing India on the biggest stage. Shedge was handed his maiden India cap in the second T20I against Ireland at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont on Sunday after he was named the replacement for all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy in the squads for the T20I series against Ireland and England. Speaking about his journey after earning national selection, Shedge looked back on the moment that ignited his dream, revealing that India's 2011 World Cup victory left a lasting impact on him. The first time I really cried watching cricket was when India won the 2011 World Cup. That night, watching the Indian team lift the trophy, something changed inside me. I knew that this is what I want to do, represent my country on the biggest stage. From that day, I started working towards that dream. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was ready to give it everything. When I received the Indian jersey and wore it for the first time, I can't describe that feeling. All those early mornings, the hard work, the sacrifices, it all felt worth it. I have worked for this since childhood. Wearing that jersey is not just a dream come true; it's the start of a new journey, Shedge told JioStar. also recalled one of the first congratulatory calls he received after his selection became official, describing it as an emotional conversation with left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. When my selection was confirmed, I received a video call from Arshdeep paaji. He congratulated me and shared his own experience of getting selected. I spoke to him for a while. It was a very emotional moment. It was really hard to process. Even now, it hasn't fully sunk in yet. It still feels like a dream, Shedge added. Shedge also highlighted the influence of captain Shreyas Iyer, explaining that their interactions extend well beyond match days and often revolve around understanding different aspects of the game. I talk a lot with Shreyas Iyer bhai. We spend a lot of time together off the field as well. We are constantly talking about cricket, about batting, bowling, match situations, and how to handle pressure. During the IPL season, we watch other games together and discuss what we would do in those situations. Those conversations are always healthy and keep going. It helps me learn a lot from his experience, he stated. Shedge also highlighted the influence of captain Shreyas Iyer, explaining that their interactions extend well beyond match days and often revolve around understanding different aspects of the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score His mentality is incredible. He genuinely enjoys batting and never overcomplicates things. He has such strong belief in his ability that even if he gets out for a duck, he doesn't let it affect him. He backs himself to score a hundred off 30 balls in the next game. That kind of self-belief is rare. He doesn't carry any baggage from the previous ball or the previous match. He lives in the moment and plays with complete freedom. That is what makes him so dangerous. He is the perfect example of being instinctive and playing without fear, Shedge mentioned. Article Source: IANS
Can NZ manage their pace riches with India and Australia looming?
Head selector Gavin Larsen discusses the issue of workload management ahead of a bumper Test summer
Zimbabwe Thrash Bangladesh by an Innings and 85 Runs in One-Off Test as Muzarabani Shines
Blessing Muzarabani took four wickets and captain Richard Ngarava three for Zimbabwe as they bowled Bangladesh out for 185 on Tuesday to win a one-off Test in Harare. The tourists had fared even in worse intheir first innings, making a meagre 140. An Innocent Kaia century steered Zimbabwe to 410 in reply. Zimbabwe won the match by an innings and 85 runs to achieve a second victory in their last three Tests against the south Asians. Player of the match Kaia said: This victory is a reward for hard work, with a strong emphasis on fitness. It was a tough wicket to play on. Credit to the Bangladesh bowlers as I think they did well. But it was my game. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said: In the first innings, we did not bat properly. That cost us the match. Our bowling was also not good enough. We came to Zimbabwe having played some good cricket in a recent series win over Pakistan. But we did not adapt to different conditions here. Bangladesh, 40-1 overnight and 230 runs behind, were no match for the Zimbabwe bowlers on the third day with only Mushfiqur Rahim (34) and Shanto (30) offering sustained resistance. Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy (22) was the first Bangladeshi to fall on Tuesday, caught at gully by Brian Bennett off a Muzarabani delivery. The dismissal of Mominul Haque soon after left the visitors on 48-3 before Rahim and Shanto added 61 runs in the only fruitful Bangladesh partnership. Brief scores Bangladesh 140 in 47.2 overs and 185 in 45 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 34, Najmul Hossain Shanto 30; B. Muzarabani 4-65, R. Ngarava 3-32) v Zimbabwe 410 in 107.2 overs Also Read: Live Cricket Score Result: Zimbabwe won by innings and 85 runs
Fisher in line for ODI debut as NZ return to full strength for WI tour
Regular captain Mitchell Santner returns alongside Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell and Jacob Duffy
The LBW Call That Changed Cricket History: Revisiting the 1986 Chennai Tie Test Controversy
The Story of India vs Australia Chennai Tied Test 1986 : A few days back, former international umpire from India, V Vikramraju, died aged 92. This news of his sad demise was not widely covered, although he remains Indias one of the most discussed umpires. He umpired in two Tests and five ODIs, besides being on duty in 42 first-class matches, which included being one of the two on-field umpires in the famous Chennai Tie Test in 1986. This Test between India and Australia, played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium from September 18 to 22 was only the second tied Test in cricket. The first one was played between Australia and West Indies in Brisbane in 1960. Vikramraju had adjudged India No. 11 Maninder Singh lbw off Greg Matthews and was at the receiving end of criticism. This decision stopped India's chase a run short of the target of 348. Although his decision made the Test historic, it is believed that his decision deprived India of a chance to score the winning run off the last ball. Dara Dotiwalla was the other on-field umpire. Standing in just his second Test, Vikramraju was not given a chance to officiate in another Test, although he was on duty at a few odds after this Test controversy. He was a match referee in a few first-class matches as well as casca T20 events. Surprisingly, the 1986 Tied Test transformed the careers of players on both sides but didnt help the man whose decision was responsible for making this a historic Test. Dean Jones scored a double-century considered as one of the most courageous ever played (at 40 degrees Celsius temperatures and 80 percent humidity, he batted for over eight hours for his 210 in Australia's first innings of 7-574). The Australian spinner Greg Matthews ended the Test with figures of 10-249, his first and only 10-wicket haul in Test cricket. Kapil Dev scored a hundred in the first innings, considered by many to be his one of the best. Why is Vikramraju's decision that ensured the fall of Indias last wicket and finished the Test as a tie with one ball remaining considered controversial? Let us start from the moment Ray Brights three quick wickets made India nine down with scores level. India collapsed from 6-331 to be all out for 347. Ravi Shastri (45 off 37 balls) was at strike, and India needed four runs in six balls, with No. 11 at the other end. Should I? Should I go for this big one, he said in a documentary produced by the Australian Broadcast Corporation? First ball: Shastri sees the first ball off. Second ball: Shastri heaves the ball through square leg and India steal two. Third ball: Yields a single and now the scores are tied, which ensured that India can't lose, but exposed the hapless tail-ender. Now Maninder Singh was at the crease with three balls remaining. Fourth ball: He keeps the ball out. Fifth ball: Maninder tries to do the same but is hit on the pad. Shastri shouted, telling Maninder not to run. On the other hand, the Australians were running around like headless chickens as Vikramraju gave Maninder out lbw. A moment later, everyone realized that Border, who was at a silly point, didn't even appeal. He was just busy retrieving the ball, nothing else. When he looked up, his players were jumping. Vikramraju always maintained his call to out Maninder was correct but faced heavy criticism post-match when Maninder claimed that the ball had touched his bat before it cannoned into his pad. The other not out batsman, Ravi Shastri, supported Maninder. The bat was not near the pad, the bat never came close to the ball, was Vikramrajus version. Matthews labelled Vikramraju as the most courageous umpire on the face of the earth. Maninder claimed that he was not out, I am sure the umpire was nervous. I was surprised because before I even played the ball, I could see his finger going up. I mean almost before playing the ball. That shows he was nervous but that's part of the game. I look at it now and realize how much pressure was on the umpire. The nervousness showed in him when he hastened in giving that decision, Maninder said. The other umpire, Dotiwalla, considered himself to be lucky that he was at square leg in that tension but claimed that he did not hear any sound. That last day, the way these two players behaved, they didn't say anything to me. But they were very harsh on Vikram, he said. Vikramraju, took it as, Outside, everyone wanted India to win the match, but when they did not win, they showed it. That we can't stop it. Also Read: Live Cricket Score There was no DRS at that time, and nobody knows how things would have turned out today.
Chandigarh Cricketer Selected In Indian Women's Squad For 2026 Asian Games
Union Territory Cricket Association: In yet another proud moment for the Union Territory Cricket Association (UTCA), Chandigarh cricketer Nandini Sharma has been selected in the Indian Women's squad for the 2026 Asian Games which is scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya in Japan in September. The Indian women's team will be entering in the competition as the defending champions after winning the gold at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou in China held from September 23 to October 8, 2023. Nandini has been rewarded for her impressive performances across various domestic and national competitions. Earlier this year, she represented India A in the ACC Rising Star Women's Asia Cup, gaining valuable international exposure. Having represented both Punjab and UTCA in BCCI-organised tournaments at the Under-19, Under-23 and Senior levels, Nandini has consistently excelled in major domestic competitions, including the Senior Women's Inter-Zonal tournaments, Women's T20 Challenger Trophy and Senior Women's One-Day Challenger Trophy. Her association with Delhi Capitals Women in the Women's Premier League (WPL) also played a significant role in her development at the highest level. Having represented both Punjab and UTCA in BCCI-organised tournaments at the Under-19, Under-23 and Senior levels, Nandini has consistently excelled in major domestic competitions, including the Senior Women's Inter-Zonal tournaments, Women's T20 Challenger Trophy and Senior Women's One-Day Challenger Trophy. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Expressing his delight, UTCA President Saraansh Tandon said, Nandini's selection in the Indian team for the Asian Games is a matter of immense pride for Chandigarh and UTCA. She has earned this opportunity through her dedication, discipline and consistent performances over the years. We are confident that she will make a significant contribution to the Indian team and continue to inspire young cricketers from the region. Article Source: IANS
