Cricket

Womens T20 WC: When And Where To Watch AUS Vs WI Semi-final, Know All Details

T20 World Cup: There will be few surprises when Australia and West Indies meet in Tuesday's Women's T20 World Cup semi-final at The Oval. The two sides know each other well after sharing seven white-ball contests earlier this year, with Australia emerging victorious on every occasion. That recent dominance gives Australia confidence, but not certainty. The six-time champions head into the knockout clash on the back of an unbeaten group campaign, capped by a commanding victory over India at Lord's. However, history offers a note of caution. Australia entered the last four of the previous T20 World Cup in similarly impressive fashion before suffering a shock defeat to South Africa, while another semi-final exit followed in last year's ODI World Cup. Those setbacks underline the challenge of knockout cricket, where one off day can undo weeks of consistency. West Indies' journey has been considerably more dramatic. A surprise defeat to Ireland left their qualification hopes hanging by a thread before England's win over New Zealand confirmed their place in the semi-finals. If they are to overturn Australia's recent supremacy, much will depend on captain Hayley Matthews producing another all-round masterclass, with experienced campaigners Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor expected to shoulder the responsibility in key moments. Australia, meanwhile, have had little time to celebrate their win over India. They have shifted base from north London to prepare at The Oval, where a single training session will be their only opportunity to reacquaint themselves with conditions before the semi-final. The winner will earn a place in Sunday's final at Lord's, where either England or South Africa await. For Australia, it is a chance to reassert their dominance on the biggest stage. For West Indies, it is an opportunity to turn a remarkable escape into an even more remarkable run. When: Tuesday, June 30, 7:00 PM IST Where: Kennington Oval, London Where to watch: The Australia vs West Indies clash will be broadcast on Star Sports Network and will be live-streamed on JioHotstar. Squads: Where to watch: The Australia vs West Indies clash will be broadcast on Star Sports Network and will be live-streamed on JioHotstar. Also Read: Live Cricket Score West Indies: Hayley Matthews (c), Chinelle Henry, Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor, Afy Fletcher, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Jannillea Glasgow, Jahzara Claxton, Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Mandy Mangru, Shawnisha Hector Article Source: IANS

Womens T20 WC: Familiar Rivals Collide As Australia Face West Indies For Place In Final (Preview)

T20 World Cup: Australia's march to the Women's T20 World Cup semi-finals has been as commanding as any side left in the tournament, but the heavyweights know all too well that form counts for little once the knockout stage begins. After powering past India at Lord's in a record-breaking performance to complete an unbeaten group campaign, Australia now turn their attention to a familiar opponent in West Indies, with Tuesday's semi-final at The Oval standing between them and another World Cup final. The turnaround has been swift. Australia's players packed up from their north London base on Sunday before moving closer to The Oval, where they will have just one training session to get accustomed to conditions before the semi-final. On paper, Australia appear overwhelming favourites. Their recent record against West Indies is difficult to ignore, having defeated the Caribbean side in all six white-ball encounters during their tour earlier this year before adding another victory in a pre-tournament warm-up fixture in Cardiff. Yet Australia's recent World Cup history serves as a reminder that dominance before the knockouts guarantees nothing. They arrived at the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-finals unbeaten only to be stunned by South Africa, while last year's ODI World Cup ended in similar heartbreak after India produced a record chase in the last four. Those defeats have reinforced the importance of resetting mentally after every victory, regardless of how convincing it may have been. The challenge posed by West Indies also extends beyond recent head-to-head results. The Caribbean side had to survive a nervy final day in the group stage after an unexpected defeat to Ireland left qualification hanging in the balance before England's victory over New Zealand eventually secured their passage. That dramatic route into the semi-finals could also leave them playing with freedom. Captain Hayley Matthews remains the heartbeat of the side, capable of influencing matches with both bat and ball, while the experienced duo of Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor bring invaluable know-how in pressure situations. If West Indies are to challenge Australia, the senior trio will almost certainly need to produce something special. The six-time champions, meanwhile, continue to boast enviable depth throughout their squad. Their batting unit has fired consistently during the tournament, while the bowling attack has repeatedly found ways to apply pressure regardless of conditions. The Oval is expected to pose a different challenge from Lord's, making Australia's brief preparation session crucial as they seek to adapt quickly to a new venue. With another World Cup final within touching distance, Australia have every reason to start as favourites. But after suffering consecutive semi-final disappointments across ICC events, they know better than anyone that knockout cricket rarely follows the script. When: Tuesday, June 30, 7:00 PM IST Where: Kennington Oval, London Where to watch: The Australia vs West Indies clash will be broadcast on Star Sports Network and will be live-streamed on JioHotstar. Squads: Where to watch: The Australia vs West Indies clash will be broadcast on Star Sports Network and will be live-streamed on JioHotstar. Also Read: Live Cricket Score West Indies: Hayley Matthews (c), Chinelle Henry, Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor, Afy Fletcher, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Jannillea Glasgow, Jahzara Claxton, Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Mandy Mangru, Shawnisha Hector Article Source: IANS

New Zealand chip away with three more wickets as history beckons

Root run-out leaves hosts with next-to-no hope as wickets slip away before lunch

Australia, India, South Africa and Great Britain qualify for women's event at LA28 Olympics

They sealed their berths as they were the highest-placed eligible finishers from Oceania, Asia, Africa and Europe, respectively, in the Women's T20 World Cup

Cricket's Return Is A Landmark Moment, Says Jay Shah As ICC Confirms Qualification Pathway For LA28 Olympics

ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta: Cricket's return to the Olympic Games after a 128-year absence moved a step closer on Monday after the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed the qualification pathway for the men's and women's T20 competitions at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics (LA28), with ICC Chairman Jay Shah hailing the development as a landmark moment for the sport. The qualification system, approved by the IOC, confirms that six teams will compete in each of the men's and women's T20 events at LA28. While five qualification spots in each competition will be decided through existing ICC events and T20I rankings, the sixth and final berth will be determined through the newly introduced ICC Olympics Qualifier in 2027, the first event of its kind. Cricket's return to the Olympic Games is a landmark moment for our sport and a powerful opportunity to showcase the very best of cricket to the world. The confirmation of this qualification pathway is an important step towards Los Angeles 2028 and gives Members across the world a clear and exciting route to the Olympic stage, ICC Chairman Jay Shah said. He believes the return to the Olympic movement presents an unprecedented opportunity to expand cricket's global footprint. The Olympic Games represent the pinnacle of multi-event sport, and cricket's inclusion at LA28 will inspire players and fans in every region. This is an historic moment, and one of great opportunity for our Members, as we continue to grow the game and take it to new audiences around the world, Shah added. Cricket will return to the Olympic programme for the first time since the 1900 Paris Games, when it made its only previous appearance. The LA28 edition will feature separate men's and women's T20 competitions, with six teams in each event and squads comprising up to 15 players. The qualification system guarantees representation from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania in both competitions. For the men's event, the highest-ranked eligible teams from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania in the ICC Men's T20I rankings as of December 31, 2026, will qualify directly alongside hosts USA, subject to meeting the stipulated ranking criteria. The final berth will be decided through the ICC Olympics Qualifier. The women's qualification pathway differs slightly, with the ongoing ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 serving as the primary qualifying tournament. Australia, Great Britain (through England), India, and South Africa have already secured Olympic qualification after finishing as the highest-placed eligible teams from Oceania, Europe, Asia, and Africa, respectively. The USA are automatically eligible to host both competitions, provided they feature in the top 15 of the relevant ICC T20I rankings at any point during the qualification period. The qualification pathway also addresses the unique case of the West Indies. Since the Caribbean side is a composite ICC member and not an IOC-recognised National Olympic Committee (NOC), it cannot participate in the Olympics as a single team. If either the men's or women's West Indies team finishes among the eight highest-ranked non-qualified sides by the qualification cut-off, a dedicated Caribbean Qualifier will determine which eligible nation progresses to the ICC Olympics Qualifier. The inaugural ICC Olympics Qualifier, scheduled for 2027, will feature eight teams in both the men's and women's competitions. Apart from the Caribbean representative, the remaining participating teams will be determined by the ICC T20I rankings, after excluding nations that have already secured Olympic qualification, where applicable. ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta described cricket's return to the Olympics as an opportunity to reach new audiences while balancing competitiveness and geographical representation. Crickets return to the Olympic Games gives the sport a unique showcase on global sport's grandest stage, supporting its introduction to new audiences and development in emerging markets, while providing the Olympic movement a gateway into the hearts and minds of more than two billion Cricket fans. This qualification structure has been designed to optimise competitive standards and global representation within the IOC and LA28 participation guidelines. We are leveraging the existing ICC elite competition structure and introducing a new qualification event, which adds an exciting new milestone on the journey to LA28. We are grateful to the IOC, LA28, and all our Members, as well as their NOCs, for their continued support for Cricket's return in the Olympics, Gupta said. Crickets return to the Olympic Games gives the sport a unique showcase on global sport's grandest stage, supporting its introduction to new audiences and development in emerging markets, while providing the Olympic movement a gateway into the hearts and minds of more than two billion Cricket fans. Also Read: Live Cricket Score A combined total of 28 matches across the men's and women's competitions will be staged at the purpose-built cricket venue in Pomona, marking cricket's long-awaited return to the Olympic stage after more than a century. Article Source: IANS

India Women Seal LA28 Olympic Berth; Men's Team Need To Finish As Asia's Top-ranked T20I Side

The International Cricket Council: The Indian women's cricket team has become one of the first sides to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, while the men's team will have to finish as Asia's highest-ranked side in the ICC Men's T20I rankings by the end of 2026 to secure direct qualification. The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday confirmed that India, alongside Australia, Great Britain (through England) and South Africa, have booked their places in the women's T20 competition at LA28 after emerging as the highest-placed eligible teams from Asia, Oceania, Europe and Africa respectively at the ongoing ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England. The direct qualification places were capped at one team from each continent. Unlike the men's event, the women's competition does not use ICC rankings to determine the first four qualifiers. Instead, the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup serves as the primary qualification tournament, with the best-performing eligible team from each of the four continents earning an Olympic berth. Hosts USA will qualify automatically provided they meet the minimum ranking eligibility criteria. If they fail to do so, the additional direct qualification place will be awarded through the ICC Women's T20I rankings, while the sixth and final berth will be decided through the newly introduced ICC Olympics Qualifier in 2027. The men's qualification pathway follows a different route. Four direct Olympic berths will be awarded through the ICC Men's T20I rankings, with the highest-ranked eligible National Olympic Committee (NOC) from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania qualifying automatically. The rankings as of December 31, 2026, will determine the four continental representatives, meaning India must finish as Asia's highest-ranked eligible side to secure a direct ticket to Los Angeles. The men's qualification pathway follows a different route. Four direct Olympic berths will be awarded through the ICC Men's T20I rankings, with the highest-ranked eligible National Olympic Committee (NOC) from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania qualifying automatically. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Cricket will return to the Olympic Games at LA28 after a gap of 128 years, with six teams each competing in the men's and women's T20 events. Article Source: IANS

IOC, ICC Unveil Qualification Pathway For Cricket At LA28 Olympics

Final Olympic Global Qualification Tournament: Cricket's return to the Olympic Games after a gap of 128 years took a significant step forward on Monday after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the qualification system for the men's and women's competitions at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics (LA28), outlining distinct qualification pathways for the two events. The approval confirms that six teams each will compete in the men's and women's T20 tournaments at LA28, with each squad comprising a maximum of 15 players. A total of 180 athletes -- 90 men and 90 women -- will feature in cricket's first Olympic appearance since the 1900 Paris Games, where the sport was contested only once. The qualification system, published jointly by the IOC and the International Cricket Council (ICC), reveals that while both competitions will feature six teams, the qualification routes differ considerably between the men's and women's events. For the men's competition, four teams will qualify directly through the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings. However, qualification will not simply be determined by the top four-ranked sides. Instead, the four highest-ranked eligible National Olympic Committees (NOCs) from four different continents at the close of the qualification window on December 31, 2026, will secure direct Olympic berths, ensuring continental representation in the six-team field. The United States, as hosts of the Los Angeles Games, have been guaranteed a place, provided they satisfy the ICC's minimum eligibility requirement of appearing within the top 15 of the ICC Men's T20I rankings at some point during the qualification period. The sixth and final men's berth will be decided through a Final Olympic Global Qualification Tournament (FOGQT), where the next eight highest-ranked eligible teams that have not already qualified will compete for the remaining Olympic place. The women's qualification system follows a different model. Instead of ICC rankings deciding the four direct qualifiers, the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup will serve as the primary qualifying event. The highest-placed eligible teams from four different continents at the conclusion of the tournament will earn direct qualification for LA28. Like the men's event, hosts USA will receive an automatic berth subject to fulfilling the minimum ranking requirement of being ranked within the top 15 during the qualification period. The final women's Olympic spot will also be determined through a Final Olympic Global Qualification Tournament featuring the next eight highest-ranked eligible teams that have not already qualified. One notable aspect of the qualification system concerns the West Indies. While the Caribbean side competes as a combined team in ICC events, it is not recognised as a National Olympic Committee by the IOC and therefore cannot compete at the Olympic Games as a single entity. If West Indies finish among the teams eligible for the Final Olympic Global Qualification Tournament, the ICC will organise a regional qualifying tournament among the constituent Caribbean nations to determine which Olympic-recognised nation advances to the global qualifier. The qualification document also clarifies that only rankings of Olympic-recognised National Olympic Committees will be considered for qualification purposes. It further notes that, in the case of Great Britain, England alone will represent the British Olympic contingent in cricket qualification. According to the qualification timeline, the women's qualification process effectively begins with the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, scheduled from June 12 to July 6, 2026. The men's qualification rankings will close on December 31, 2026, while the women's rankings used for allocating places in the global qualifier will conclude on March 1, 2027. Dates for both men's and women's Final Olympic Global Qualification Tournaments are yet to be announced. The qualification document also clarifies that only rankings of Olympic-recognised National Olympic Committees will be considered for qualification purposes. It further notes that, in the case of Great Britain, England alone will represent the British Olympic contingent in cricket qualification. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Cricket was officially added to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic programme in October 2023 alongside baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash. The T20 format was subsequently confirmed for both the men's and women's competitions. Article Source: IANS

Heinrich Malan exits Ireland head coach role on a high

Fresh off a historic T20I series win over India, Malan - whose contract ran till early 2027 - felt the time was right

Ireland Head Coach Heinrich Malan Steps Down After Historic T20I Series Win Over India

ICC ODI World Cup: In a major development following their historic 2-0 T20I series triumph over India, Ireland head coach Heinrich Malan announced on Monday that he will be stepping down from his role. Malan, whose current contract was slated to run until early 2027, informed his players and support staff that he is stepping away as part of a planned transition aligned with the next ICC ODI World Cup cycle. Appointed to the role in March 2022 after Graham Ford left the job, Malan oversaw a golden period in Irish mens cricket and leaves the set-up less than 24 hours after Ireland got its first-ever T20I series win over India in Belfast. His tenure was highlighted by three consecutive T20 World Cup qualifications, Irelands first three Test match victories, the development of a wider pool of international-standard talent, and the just-concluded, historic maiden T20I series win over heavyweights India. It has been an absolute privilege to work with these players, staff and the wider Irish cricket community. My family and I have had a wonderful experience living here, and we will look back on our time involved in Irish cricket with great affection. On the field, we can look back with great pride on our historic T20 World Cup victory against England in Melbourne, our first-ever Test victory against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, the first home Test win vs Zimbabwe in Belfast, the historic T20 series win at home vs India and beating Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa as well as direct qualifications for T20 WCs through our consistent ability to challenge and beat the world's top teams. Thank you to the players, coaches and staff for believing in our shared vision - it has been a very special journey, Malan said in his farewell statement. Cricket Ireland said Malans strategic exit is aimed at providing a new head coach the opportunity to utilize the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan in August as a crucial building block ahead of the all-important 50-over World Cup Qualifiers in early 2027. Graeme West, Cricket Ireland's Director of High Performance, stated that discussions regarding the future roadmap led to this mutual decision. I have very much enjoyed working with Heinrich over the last two years and thank him for his outstanding contribution during that time. He joined us at a challenging period and has played a key role in progressing the Ireland Mens set-up - from World Cup qualifications to historic Test wins, and in developing the depth of our playing group. Graeme West, Cricket Ireland's Director of High Performance, stated that discussions regarding the future roadmap led to this mutual decision. I have very much enjoyed working with Heinrich over the last two years and thank him for his outstanding contribution during that time. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I would like to thank Heinrich for his dedication to the head coach role through his leadership, he has worked hard to increase the depth of playing talent within the Irish system, which will benefit the squad immensely over the coming months and years. We wish Heinrich and his family well for the future, West concluded. Article Source: IANS

Sooryavanshi Ready To Play, But Must 'bide His Time And Wait,' Says Ten Doeschate

India T20I: Dynamic teenaged opening batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is ready to play international cricket for India, but will have to bide his time and wait for his opportunity in a packed line-up, said India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. The swashbuckling Sooryavanshi was fast-tracked into the India T20I side after amassing 776 runs at a staggering strike-rate of 237.30 to bag the Player-of-the-Tournament honour in IPL 2026. But Sooryavanshi was unused in Ireland, as India suffered a shock 2-0 series loss. He's absolutely ready to play international cricket, there's no doubt about that. But also, I think it's not a question to say you can leave Sanju Samson out. A guy who went a long way to winning India the World Cup three months ago. A guy who's had a fairly good IPL. It's important in terms of giving players confidence, and the message we're sending to players. We want to give guys a long run in the team. So, as ready as Vaibhav is and as excited as we are and you are to see him play, he's going to have to go through the same process as everyone else and, you know, bide his time and wait. But certainly no questions about how good he is and how ready he is, said ten Doeschate at the conclusion of the series. Sooryavanshi will now travel to England for the five-game T20I series starting in Durham on July 1. If either of Sanju Samson or Abhishek Sharma dont make big runs, then an opening for Sooryavanshis much-awaited international debut can be made. Ten Doeschate refused to hide behind scheduling constraints in Ireland being a factor in them losing the series. I think training more does give you a better chance to adapt. I think you also really need to tread carefully in terms of freshness and giving guys time off and making sure that they're mentally fresh for series as well. In hindsight, I wouldn't have done things differently. We got here on Thursday and, again, we know how hard the Irish are trying to put on good facilities. The training facilities weren't ideal, so we had a little hit there but of course you'd rather have three or four hits like you would for a normal tour. Again, no excuse. If we're really critical of ourselves, it's the desire to want to adapt and to play differently when you are presented with a different challenge. We put our hands up, and say that's something we need to get better at a lot quicker, he added. Ten Doeschate, who played for Netherlands, was also effusive in his praise for Irelands landmark achievement. Without being disrespectful, no. You mark guys player to player and what the Indian players have achieved in their careers. There's a couple of guys sitting there who have won two World Cups on the bounce. Again, no excuse. If we're really critical of ourselves, it's the desire to want to adapt and to play differently when you are presented with a different challenge. We put our hands up, and say that's something we need to get better at a lot quicker, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I mean we won both tosses as well. I'm pretty chuffed for them. It's obviously super disappointing to lose, but to see them make progress like that and just win by making the most of what they have is very impressive, and we take our hats off to them, ten Doeschate concluded. Article Source: IANS

I See Kishan To Bat At No. 4 With Kohli's Return For England ODIs: Rayudu

Sony Sports Network: Former India batter Ambati Rayudu on Monday said Ishan Kishan is ideally suited to bat at number four in the ODI side once Virat Kohli returns to the playing eleven for the three-game series against England, starting on July 14, citing the left-handed wicketkeeper-batters scoring ability against both pace and spin making him a valuable addition in the batting order. Kishan made a memorable comeback to ODI cricket with scores of 34 and 125 in ODIs against Afghanistan in Dharamshala and Lucknow earlier this month. With Kohli unavailable due to a hamstring injury, Kishan, ODI captain Shubman Gill and T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer all batted at the number three spot once. When it comes to Ishan Kishan, it is great that he is part of the ODI setup and being a left-hander, he'll add a lot of value. So I see him eventually bat at number four. That is an ideal number for him. Being a left-hander, he plays spin exceptionally well and also plays pace well. So he and Shreyas Iyer can have that role of number four and five batters. That will be a very, very formidable number four and five for India going forward, Rayudu said while replying to a question from IANS in a virtual group interaction facilitated by Sony Sports Network. In the build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup, theres been endless debate on whether Kohli and Rohit Sharma are certainties to play in the mega event. Rayudu, who played 55 ODIs and six T20Is for India and was shockingly dropped from the 2019 ODI World Cup squad, recalled how Kohlis mental strength and preparation has always been top-class, citing the turnaround he made after a difficult Test series in England in 2014. A guy like him who is so meticulous with his processes, training, and methodology, he knows that there'll be ups and downs. But when you're so focused, when you're so meticulous, when your training is so proper, you know that those lows will not last for a long time. He had a lot of help from very good Indian team management that time. So for him, it has been the process, and he has set the bar in terms of fitness and mental strength. A lot of youngsters have really tried to emulate it and they have really benefited with what he has done, seeing what he has done and learning from it. So he's been a great example if you look at it in that way, he added. On whether Rohit, the former skipper, remains a certainty in India's plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup, Rayudu backed him to remain a key figure, citing his experience and big-match temperament. After two lean scores against Afghanistan, Rohit finally found his rhythm when he hit 79 in the third ODI in Chennai. I think clarity is very, very important, especially for him. I'm sure they would have given him the clarity. Maybe they're not just giving us the clarity about Rohit Sharma. So I just think his experience is invaluable. He needs to be there because he's a leader not only on the ground but also in the dressing room to keep the atmosphere really, really nice and that is very, very important when you go into a big tournament like the World Cup. I'm sure he's in the plans for the World Cup. I think that's the reason why he's been persisted with. His batting is always sublime. It's just that when you play for so many years, your hunger sometimes might not be as much as what it used to be. But definitely when a big tournament comes around, I'm sure he'll step up big time. Even in a big series like the one that is coming up against England, I'm sure he'll be hungry and he'll be raring to go. So we can see a big knock because technically, physically, he's definitely there and mentally, it is up to him to switch on. We all know Rohit Sharma switches on whenever there's a big game, whenever there's a big moment and whenever he wants to do it. So, I'm very, very hopeful that he'll have a great impact for the Indian team in the ODIs, he elaborated. Asked about Yashasvi Jaiswal's place in the side, especially after him making way for a returning Kohli despite hitting a century against Afghanistan in Chennai, Rayudu felt the left-handed opener is best placed to be groomed as the side's third opener for the ODI World Cup. For me, both Rohit and Jaiswal have a place in the Indian side. When it comes to Jaiswal, I think he deserves an opportunity. There's no two ways about it. He will get his due, but he should be prepared to really contribute well for the Indian team in the World Cup and he definitely should be a part of the team going forward. Asked about Yashasvi Jaiswal's place in the side, especially after him making way for a returning Kohli despite hitting a century against Afghanistan in Chennai, Rayudu felt the left-handed opener is best placed to be groomed as the side's third opener for the ODI World Cup. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Watch India Tour of England 2026 - England vs. India - 1st T20I on July 1, 2026, from 10:00 PM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD and Sony MAX. Article Source: IANS

From Working As A Waiter To Mumbai T20 League, Irfan Umair Sails Over One Hurdle At A Time

Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals: The dust has settled on the 2026 edition of the T20 Mumbai League, and as the cricketers take a break before the start of the next domestic season, left-arm pacer Irfan Umair is one of those spending their time with satisfaction and anticipation. Umair is satisfied with playing a key role in helping the Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals successfully defend their title, completing the two-peat with a narrow 8-run victory over ARCS Andheri in the final. The anticipation is for the upcoming domestic season, in which Umair hopes to continue. The 29-year-old Umair ended the tournament involving eight teams with 10 wickets from seven matches. He was the second most successful bowler for the Maratha Royals, finishing behind the more experienced Tushar Deshpande; the two pacers hunted in pairs as they helped the Maratha Royals recover from two defeats to go on to reach the knockout stage by winning a must-win game. They eventually won their second title in the fourth season of the local T20 league. I loved bowling with Tushar Deshpande. It was an opportunity to learn from him, as he is quite experienced and has played for India. I liked observing how he did things before and during the match, Umair told IANS in an interview. Umair, who was also part of the Maratha Royals squad that won the title in the 2025 season, which was quite successful for him as he made his Ranji Trophy debut for Mumbai against eventual champions Jammu and Kashmir. He will be hoping to continue turning out for Mumbai at the domestic level and cement his place in the red-ball side too, establishing his credentials as an all-format player. Hailing from Ranchi in Jharkhand, Umair has had an eventful journey to where he is now, surviving hardships and gliding over one roadblock at a time. Having moved to Mumbai from Ranchi in Jharkhand when he was around 18, did odd jobs, worked at eateries as a waiter, at film shootings, served at weddings, and spent many nights at the railway stations, all the while training and playing local club cricket, aiming to make a career in cricket. The whole journeyhow it started in Mumbai, and just how challenging it was. It was incredibly tough; words can't even describe it. I feel it's better not to share too many details; its a memory that constantly reminds me of everything Ive been through. Its a significant feeling. I won't go into the specifics, but I did so much just to survive on a daily basisworking in hotels, on film shoots, and at events. Id go to weddings, anyones wedding just to earn 300 rupees a day. I even slept at railway stations at times. What can I say? It was an intense experience in Mumbai, he said. The first breakthrough for Umair came when he made it big in the tennis-ball cricket circuit, playing all over the city and country and emerging as one of the highest-paid players in the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), the tennis-ball version of the Indian Premier League (IPL). But now Umair wants to concentrate on cork-ball cricket and a successful career in local leagues and eventually make it to the national level and the international stage. The first breakthrough for Umair came when he made it big in the tennis-ball cricket circuit, playing all over the city and country and emerging as one of the highest-paid players in the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), the tennis-ball version of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Also Read: Live Cricket Score The T20 franchise cricket has opened a door for him, and Irfan Umair has his eyes set on the domestic circuit and hopes to do well and further his career in all formats. Article Source: IANS

Unfair To Blame Batters For Series Loss To Ireland, Conditions Will Be Better In England: Rayudu

Sony Sports Network: Former India batter Ambati Rayudu on Monday said it would be very unfair to blame the batters for the side suffering a shock 2-0 T20I series defeat to Ireland, asserting that conditions will get considerably better once the team moves to the UK for the upcoming five-game series against England starting on July 1 in Durham. In both games in Stormont, Belfast, India's top order of Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan crumbled against the new ball, especially when swing was on offer on pitches aiding bowlers. With left-arm pacer Jai Moondra wreaking havoc in both games, it served as a stark reminder of Indias perennial struggles against left-arm fast bowling, particularly when pitches were vastly different from the batting-friendly tracks witnessed during IPL 2026. I wouldn't really read much into it because once they go to UK, they'll encounter slightly better conditions to bat, especially also, they'll be used to the conditions by then. So, it is very, very tough on them and we don't really get wickets like that in India as well to prepare before going to a series like this. So, it'll be very, very unfair to put all the blame on the batters, Rayudu said while replying to a question from IANS in a virtual group interaction facilitated by Sony Sports Network. He further pointed out that the Indian team did not have adequate preparation time to adjust from playing on flat tracks in the IPL to the two-paced pitches and stadiums with bigger boundaries in Ireland. Firstly, I wouldn't read much into the series against Ireland simply because I don't think the Indian team had the preparation time to go on a tour like that and encounter the conditions that they have encountered there, especially coming off an IPL where they played on really flat tracks and the need of the hour was to have really high bat swing, bat lift and a very fast bat swing. In conditions like this, you need to really control your downswing and really need to time the ball and play the ball late and to make that adjustment in such a short while is very, very difficult. Also, our guys are so used to playing on the rise when the wickets are flat and the ball really comes on to the bat. It is very, very difficult to adjust and we have seen that happen against Ireland, he added. Asked whether the Indian team management was clear about the role Washington Sundar is meant to play in the T20I setup, Rayudu said the off-spin bowling all-rounder remains primarily a bowling asset at this stage of his career, even as his batting continues to develop. In T20s, I think Washington Sundar for me is someone who can bowl really well. He's up there with his bowling. But in terms of his batting, he can do a role batting at number four or five. But I don't see him as a finisher as such because to be a premier finisher for India, you need to really bat well against both spin and pace and there too, you need to hit a lot of quality deliveries for boundaries or sixes under pressure. So I don't see him doing that at this point in time. But eventually, he will get there as we have seen him really improve his batting in this IPL. So he can do a role whenever the conditions are in his favour, Rayudu added. On the decision to keep teenaged batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of the playing eleven during the T20Is in Ireland, Rayudu backed the team management's call, saying it would help him in the longer run. I think they did the right thing. It's a good learning curve for Sooryavanshi to be in the dressing room, know the nitty-gritties of what is required to play in the Indian side, and what his role would be. There'll be a lot of learning that he'll take from these games and eventually, whenever he gets his opportunity, he'll be much better prepared. It's because the incumbents definitely deserve a go because they've done well for India. They've won the World Cup for India. So, they should be persisted with and whenever an opportunity arises, Sooryavanshi will be better prepared, he added. Quizzed on his advice for skipper Shreyas Iyer for the upcoming T20Is against England, Rayudu expressed confidence that conditions will help him to excel as a captain-cum-middle order batter after having a not-so memorable start to his life as Indias new captain in the shortest format. I think things will only get better. England will be a great challenge. I'm sure he'll be up for it. Not only with his captaincy, but also his batting. The conditions will be far better than what they've encountered in Ireland. He's a guy who always keeps things very, very simple. Quizzed on his advice for skipper Shreyas Iyer for the upcoming T20Is against England, Rayudu expressed confidence that conditions will help him to excel as a captain-cum-middle order batter after having a not-so memorable start to his life as Indias new captain in the shortest format. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Watch India Tour of England 2026 - England vs. India - 1st T20I on July 1, 2026, from 10:00 PM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD and Sony MAX. Article Source: IANS

Muzumdar Asks For 18 Months To Turn 'inexperienced' Bowling Into Attacking Unit

T20 World Cup: Following India's exit from the Women's T20 World Cup, head coach Amol Muzumdar pointed out the shortcomings across multiple departments and admitted that Women in Blue's bowling attack has been very inexperienced for international cricket and asked for 18 months to develop it into the attacking unit. Addressing the media after the loss, Muzumdar reiterated that India's bowling philosophy remains rooted in attacking cricket, insisting that the team has no intention of shifting towards a defensive mindset despite the disappointing campaign. We always talk in our meetings about picking up wickets. Whatever be the format of the game whether it is T20, 50-over, or Test match cricket it is all about picking up wickets when you're on the field. Containment is never a line that we use. We always think about picking up wickets in the dressing room, and I think that will be the mode of operation going forward as well. We keep thinking of wickets when the ball is in our hand, Muzumdar said in a post-match presser. While accepting that the bowling unit fell short during the tournament, Muzumdar urged patience, pointing to the group's lack of international experience. If you look at our bowling attack, it's been very inexperienced as far as international cricket is concerned. So I've said this before in the previous press conference: give us 18 months and this attack will be a different one, he noted. Assessing the contest against Australia, Muzumdar believed India had posted a competitive total but admitted the opposition ultimately proved superior on the day. I thought it was a good score, a par score on this pitch. We even got the momentum towards the end of that innings, and I think we carried it on the field as well. It's just that I think at the end of the day, Australia were a better side than us, Muzumdar told reporters after Indias loss. The head coach also shed light on the decision to retire out Jemimah Rodrigues late in the innings, explaining that the move was dictated by the match situation rather than any reflection on the batter's contribution. It really didn't strike me at that time (with 3-4 overs to spare). I thought Jemi is a clutch player for us. Jemi and Harman, both of them, were going really strong. In the last two overs, I felt that Jemi couldn't penetrate that field, and that's why that call was taken, he added. He also highlighted the absence of all-rounder Shreyanka Patil as a significant setback, particularly on a surface where her skillset could have made a substantial impact. And also, it didn't help Shreyanka not being there. Shreyanka was probably one of our strikers. So it didn't help her missing out on half of the tournament. We really missed her in this game today. I think she would have made a difference on that pitch and on this ground, he added. On the batting front, Muzumdar rejected suggestions that India lacked intent, maintaining that the team had embraced an aggressive approach throughout the tournament. However, he admitted the bowling and fielding units failed to provide enough support. We have been batting with a lot of intent. We have been positive in our thinking. We have been thinking about fours and sixes, as modern-day T20 cricket is all about fours and sixes. So, we have been thinking and we have been playing in that fashion for sure. It's just that our bowling also needs to up the ante a little bit. I don't think our bowling or our fielding helped the cause, to be very honest, Muzumdar expressed. Looking ahead, the head coach called for a broader reassessment of the team's T20 blueprint, saying the lessons from the tournament must shape future planning. We need to really go back and think how we're going to approach the T20 game and also be in that positive frame of mind. We really need to put our heads around what combination we are going to play, he admitted. Summing up India's campaign, Muzumdar identified bowling, fielding and greater batting aggression as the three primary areas requiring immediate attention. If I have to pinpoint certain things in the entire tournament, I think we really need to think about our bowling and our fielding. We also need to be a little aggressive with the bat, and we could have maybe 15-20 runs as a cushion (against Australia), he opined. Summing up India's campaign, Muzumdar identified bowling, fielding and greater batting aggression as the three primary areas requiring immediate attention. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Yes, we could have had. I mean, every time you lose a game, you would want 10-15 runs more in the pocket, but I guess that wasn't the case. Of course, the powerplay didn't really go our way. It could have gone maybe 10-15 runs more at that time. Maybe that could have been the difference. But having said that, we hadn't lost any wicket then, so we were in total control of things. But as I said, I think Australia chased it down really well. They were also three wickets down (at the halfway mark), mind you, he said. Article Source: IANS

Richa Should've Been Sent In By 17th Over: Anjum Questions India's Decisions After T20 WC Exit

T20 World Cup: Former India captain Anjum Chopra believes India's batting strategy cost them dearly in their crucial Women's T20 World Cup clash against Australia, with the former skipper highlighting delayed tactical decisions, unsettled batting positions and an overly cautious approach as key reasons behind the team's defeat. Speaking after India's exit from the tournament, Anjum also backed Harmanpreet Kaur to continue leading the side while urging the team management to redefine its batting philosophy for the shortest format. Anjum felt India's total failed to put enough pressure on a batting line-up as experienced as Australia's and argued that the innings lacked the finishing flourish that could have changed the complexion of the contest. Firstly, the runs on the board were not enough. 170 is a good total, but against Australia, in basically a World Cup knockout, it was slightly below par. Then you have to back it up with early wickets. Against a team like Australia, one or two wickets won't cut it. To choke a team like Australia, you have to score those extra runs so that your bowlers have some cushion, Anjum told JioStar. She also questioned the timing of Richa Ghosh's arrival at the crease, believing India delayed deploying one of their most destructive finishers. Also, I felt Richa Ghosh should have been sent in by the 17th over. You didn't get the finishing kick by sending Richa in one over too late. And the fifth bowler, as usual, continued to be an issue for the Indian team, she added. Moving beyond the result itself, Anjum pointed to the absence of consistency in India's batting order, suggesting that constant reshuffling prevented players from settling into defined roles. If Yastika Bhatia was your No. 3 batter, then why didn't she bat at that position in this game? If Jemimah Rodrigues was playing at No. 3 in the England series, then why didn't she do that in the World Cup?, Anjum questioned She then laid out the batting structure she believes would allow India to maximise their strongest resource. I personally believe Harmanpreet should bat at No. 3 and, at No. 4, you should have a batter who can make a positive impact on the game, and that is Richa Ghosh. Apart from the Bangladesh game, Richa didn't bat at No. 4 throughout the tournament. Bowling is not their greatest strength, everyone knows that, even the opposition knows it. So, if batting is India's strength, then let it create the impact you need and hope that the bowling does the rest. Australia is a well-oiled unit, against them, scoring at seven an over won't win you games, you'll have to go at 9s, the former India captain expressed. Despite India's disappointing campaign, Anjum expressed confidence that Harmanpreet remains the right person to captain the T20I side. However, she insisted that the team must embrace a more fearless batting identity if it hopes to compete consistently with the world's leading teams. I personally believe Harmanpreet should bat at No. 3 and, at No. 4, you should have a batter who can make a positive impact on the game, and that is Richa Ghosh. Apart from the Bangladesh game, Richa didn't bat at No. 4 throughout the tournament. Bowling is not their greatest strength, everyone knows that, even the opposition knows it. So, if batting is India's strength, then let it create the impact you need and hope that the bowling does the rest. Australia is a well-oiled unit, against them, scoring at seven an over won't win you games, you'll have to go at 9s, the former India captain expressed. Also Read: Live Cricket Score As soon as they come back to the Indian team, they go into their shell again. Go all out. If not 200, at least get to 180. Back yourself to go that distance. The top order didn't back itself enough. I feel Harmanpreet is your best captain at this point, but who are your best batters when it comes to that fearless approach? Finding answers to that should begin from the very next day, Anjum stated. Article Source: IANS

Pretorius and Allen batter Freedom and take Unicorns to the top

Andries Gous' unbeaten 83 had given Washington Freedom a solid 190 for 4, but Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Finn Allen smashed 102 in 5.4 overs to make it a cakewalk

'Burnt Out' Ben Stokes Leaves England Facing Tricky Questions

What happens next? That is the awkward question facing English cricket after Ben Stokes announced his retirement from international duty in the middle of a Test match. Stokes explained on Sunday that he felt burnt out after four years as England's Test captain following an extraordinary day of drama in the third match of the series against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. Replacing him in the England set-up, both as captain or as a match-winning all-rounder, is going to be all but impossible. The announcement of the impending end of Stokes' England career came as the 35-year-old was involved in a marathon bowling spell, with the series on the line. It was the start of a scarcely credible sequence of events. The crowd in Nottingham gave Stokes a standing ovation before the skipper took a wicket with his next delivery -- a stark example of his ability to impact a game by sheer force of will as well as skill. Despite his heroics, the visitors were able to set England a stiff victory target of 373 after Daryl Mitchell's gutsy century. Stokes later promoted himself to open England's innings even though he is normally a middle-order batsman. He blazed his way to a tempestuous 30 off 20 balls, including two sixes, before he holed out -- showing little of the calculated risk-taking that underpinned some of his greatest innings. Stokes, who walked off to more applause, had played his last on-field role in an international career spanning 15 years. At stumps England had slumped to 103-4, facing defeat and a 2-1 series loss on Monday. The timing of the captain's announcement and his decision to promote himself to the top of the order, left him open to accusations of self-indulgence. - 'Draining' - But if the all-rounder has had enough, perhaps it is no surprise. England suffered a chastening 4-1 Ashes loss in Australia in a series that ended in January and Stokes needed major facial surgery after being hit by a ball the following month. Then came a written warning following a disciplinary incident at a London nightclub after England's win in the first Test against New Zealand, which led to his omission from the second match of the series. I'll never begrudge any moment where I've walked this team out, Stokes told Sky Sports after stumps. It's simply the greatest honour you could ever put on your shoulders as a player. But he added: As good as it is, there are bits where it does get to you, it does drain you, it does affect you in a negative way. Reflecting on England's victory in the first Test at Lord's, he said: I put so much time and effort into it I maybe, potentially burnt myself out. Everyone I spoke to about the day it (retirement) happens, they just say it kicks you straight in the face. And I thought a few weeks ago that it did. As I was putting my pads on (on Saturday) getting ready to go out there, that was the last nail in the coffin. Stokes, whose international career was interrupted by a nightclub incident in 2017 that ended with his acquittal on a charge of affray, intends to play on with his county side Durham. Being back at Durham, I found not a reconnection but a new lease of life in my affection towards cricket, he explained. And then I just couldn't get that same feeling back here this week (at Trent Bridge), as much as I was trying. England looked a badly imbalanced team in the second Test at the Oval, with his predecessor as England captain Joe Root leading the side to a heavy defeat. Harry Brook is the official vice-captain but was left in the ranks after his altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand ahead of the Ashes -- an incident that led to the imposition of the curfew Stokes breached in London. Brook on Sunday tried to follow his skipper's lead with the attacking Bazball batting that has been a hallmark of England's style since Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum teamed up in 2022. He flayed his first ball for six and holed out off his ninth, prompting former England skipper Michael Atherton to write in The Times: He is not the Test captain in waiting. Also Read: Live Cricket Score But then, who is?

Ben Stokes Announces Shock England Exit As New Zealand Eye Series Win

England captain Ben Stokes stunned the cricket world by announcing his upcoming retirement from international duty in the middle of a Test match on Sunday. But prospects of a victorious farewell were slim as New Zealand closed in on a series-clinching win. Stokes confirmed he would end his celebrated England career after the ongoing third and final Test in Nottingham, adding more drama to a three-match series locked at 1-1. But Daryl Mitchell's 100 not out took New Zealand to 288-9 declared and left England requiring 373 for victory on a wearing pitch. At stumps, however, England were 103-4 -- with Stokes out after opening the innings in another surprise move -- and needing 270 more runs to win. Stokes's announcement was made public shortly before tea on the fourth day with the 35-year-old, one of the outstanding all-rounders of his generation, having informed his team-mates before the start of Sunday's play. He was in the middle of a lengthy bowling spell, with news filtering into a stunned crowd -- who gave him a standing ovation -- as he was about to start his 11th over. And in a moment of pure sporting theatre, Stokes had Zak Foulkes caught at slip with his next ball to spark yet more raucous cheers. Stokes -- normally a middle-order batsman -- then came out to open the innings for just the third time in his 122-Test career. Stokes signalled his intentions with a fierce drive off his first ball faced before he was dropped soon afterwards. He later lofted New Zealand's Foulkes for a legside six and cleared the ropes again when he slog-swept seamer Nathan Smith. But Stokes was out for 30 off 20 balls when he slogged Foulkes to wide mid-on, with England 50-1. Four balls later, Jacob Bethell was lbw to Foulkes for a duck and before stumps of a frantic final session both Harry Brook and first-innings century-maker Ben Duckett had been dismissed as well. Sunday's shock announcement came after Stokes returned to England duty at Trent Bridge following the fall-out from a London nightclub incident also involving teammate Gus Atkinson earlier this month. The pair were omitted from England's 253-run defeat in the second Test at the Oval for breaking a midnight curfew while celebrating following the first-Test win over New Zealand. - 'Burned myself out' - England's 4-1 Ashes series loss in Australia, concluded in January, was also marred by allegations of a drinking culture. God, it's been an interesting four or five weeks, six months in general, Stokes told Sky Sports after Sunday's close. There's all types of emotions when this day comes, there's relief, there's happiness, there's excitement, there's sadness, there's everything that you go through. Since the Ashes it's been really tough. Stokes, appointed England skipper in 2022, added: It's the best thing I've ever been asked to do, captain this team and captain this country. But there's another side to it all that people don't see and don't understand. Only people close to those people can see it. As good as it is, there are bits where it does drain you, and does affect you in an emotional way. Stokes said the timing of his retirement owed much to the negative feelings he experienced from the fall-out of the nightclub incident after he tried to get England back on track at Lord's. I'd worked so hard from getting back home to try and make things right, that's what I thought I was doing, he said. I put so much time and effort into it potentially I burned myself out. Earlier, Mitchell batted for more than six-and-a-half hours, facing 241 balls including 10 fours after suffering several painful blows from England's pace attack He also shared a fourth-wicket stand of 129 with Rachin Ravindra, who fell short of a century when dismissed for 94 and also received good support from tailender Ben Sears. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sears, having retired hurt, returned at the fall of the ninth wicket to ensure Mitchell, on 92, could complete his hundred.

Kemar Roach's 300th Wicket Headlines West Indies' Innings Win Over Sri Lanka

Kemar Roach reached the landmark of 300 Test wickets in leading the West Indies to an innings and 217-run demolition of Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the first Test of a two-match series at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Sunday. Trailing on first innings by 318 runs, the visitors were routed for just 101 half-an-hour after lunch as Roach led the fast bowlers' assault on Sri Lanka. His international career seemed over a year ago, only to be recalled to West Indies service amid a fast bowlers' injury crisis for the tour of New Zealand at the end of 2025. In his first Test since returning, the 37-year-old took second-innings figures of four for 51. He became just the fifth West Indian to claim 300 wickets in the traditional format of the game when he bowled Asitha Fernando comprehensively to put his team one wicket away from victory. It's been a long journey, said a relieved Roach in reflecting on his Test debut 17 years earlier. It took a lot to be here, a lot of people supporting me, especially (physiotherapist) Dennis Byam. It took a lot of effort from him to get me back on the park coming back from injury. When asked if the second and final Test, starting on Friday at the same venue, might be his farewell performance, Roach said: Check me in the morning. Right now, we just want to celebrate this win... and then discussions will be had. Jayden Seales, celebrated as the heir apparent to Roach as the leader of the West Indies pace attack, formalised the result when he shattered the stumps of last man Lahiru Kumara to finish with innings figures of three for 14. Only former Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal offered any resistance to the West Indies pace battery with a top score of 43 before he was taken by John Campbell at first slip off Roach just after lunch, effectively signalling the end for the tourists. We thought we had enough runs on the board in the first innings, said a rueful Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva. We were without one of our key bowlers (seamer Kumara) and that was a big setback for us. If we have to come back in the second Test we need to have a better bowling attack that can take 20 wickets. For Roston Chase, this was his first win since being appointed to the helm a year ago. This is a like a dream come true to see our plans executed so well in this match, said the captain of the West Indies' second-largest margin of victory by an innings, surpassed only by the innings and 219-run thrashing of Bangladesh at the same venue in 2018. Also Read: Live Cricket Score This was the West Indies' first Test victory since a series-levelling triumph against Pakistan in Multan 17 months ago, as well as their first home win since defeating Bangladesh in Kingston, Jamaica, in November 2024.

ZIM vs BAN: Zimbabwe Dominate First Day Of Bangladesh Test

Zimbabwe took first-day honours in a one-off Test against Bangladesh on Sunday thanks to opener Innocent Kaia and left-arm quick Newman Nyamhuri. Nyamhuri took four wickets as Bangladesh collapsed to 140 all out after losing the toss at Harare Sports Club. An unbeaten 76 from Kaia then lifted Zimbabwe to 136 for the loss of one wicket as the hosts seek to follow up a Test win in Bangladesh last year with another victory. Bangladesh, fresh from a 2-0 series win over Pakistan in the longest format, arrived in southern Africa confident of winning, with captain and batter Najmul Hossain Shanto in top form. But only Mominul Haque (60), Shadman Islam (20) and Shanto (19) reached double figures in a dismal batting performance. The last seven wickets fell for a meagre 27 runs. Haque was dismissed after failing to get sufficient contact on a Nyamhuri delivery and former captain Craig Ervine took a simple catch at second slip. Nyamhuri (4-61) was ably supported by new skipper Richard Ngarava (2-18), Blessing Muzarabani (2-19) and Brad Evans (2-30). After the early losses of openers Mahmudul Hasan Joy (2) and Islam, Haque stabilised the innings adding 77 runs for the third wicket, leaving the tourists 113-3 after 33.4 overs. The Zimbabwe bowlers than wreaked havoc, starting with the wicket of Shanto, whose recent knocks included four centuries. In response, Zimbabwe had 89 runs on the scoreboard before Ben Curran (42) departed, edging the ball to Shanto at second slip off the bowling of Khaled Ahmed. Kaia, whose 108-ball stand included nine fours, then put on 47 runs with veteran Brendan Taylor (17 not out). Brief scores Bangladesh 140 in 47.2 overs (Mominul Haque 60, Shadman Islam 20; N. Nyamhuri 4-61) v Zimbabwe 136-1 in 34 overs (I. Kaia 76 not out, B. Curran 42) Also Read: Live Cricket Score Toss: Zimbabwe

India Knocked Out Of ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 As Australia Hand 6-Wicket Defeat At Lord's

India's wait for a maiden ICC T20 Women's World Cup title continues as the Women in Blue were knocked out by Australia on Sunday. Harmanpreet Kaur and Co needed a win at Lord's to qualify for the semi-final but suffered a 6-wicket defeat despite a half-century from their captain.

Sooryavanshi must 'bide his time and wait,' says ten Doeschate

Undeniably talented though he is, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have to go through the same process as everyone else, Ryan ten Doeschate says

'He Clearly Has A Talent Though...': Iceland Cricket Mocks Gambhir After Ireland Series Debacle

T20 World Cup: Iceland Cricket kept the social media sparks flying and delivered yet another classic viral jab, this time targeting India men's cricket coach Gautam Gambhir following India's humiliating T20I series loss to Ireland. Ireland's greatest triumph in cricket, a 2-0 blanking of double world champions, ended India's unbeaten run, which spanned 16 series and nearly three years. Seizing the moment, Iceland Cricket took to X to playfully rub salt into the wounds of men in blue, calling out head coach Gautam Gambhir. We can confirm that we don't wish to add Gautam Gambhir to our coaching staff. He clearly has talent, though. To take those Indian players and deliver those results in Ireland takes truly remarkable gifts, Iceland Cricket posted on X. The sarcasm pointed towards India's star-studded lineup, which included World Cup winners Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma, succumbed to Ireland's exceptional bowling performance. Notably, India remained unbeaten in every T20I series since Gambhir took charge in 2024, a streak that ended on Sunday. Under his stewardship, India have whitewashed Sri Lanka (3-0) and Bangladesh (3-0) at home, triumphed 3-1 in South Africa, and edged England 4-1 at home. They also registered a 2-1 series win in Australia and beat New Zealand 4-1 at home. The sarcasm pointed towards India's star-studded lineup, which included World Cup winners Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma, succumbed to Ireland's exceptional bowling performance. Also Read: Live Cricket Score However, Ireland broke a winless run against India in the opening T20I by registering their first-ever win over reigning world T20 champions by 34 runs; they picked up where they left off in the second T20I and scripted their historic first-ever series win over the Men in Blue. Article Source: IANS

Shanaka's blitz hands Knight Riders another defeat

The batters let Los Angeles Knight Riders down against Seattle Orcas after their bowlers, led by Sunil Narine, Fabian Allen and Jason Holder, had set up a 155-run chase

Had Some Important And Productive Discussions With BCCI Functionaries In London: Devajit Saikia

Delhi District Cricket Association: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia held productive discussions with board functionaries in London ahead of India's white-ball series against England, starting July 1. Saikia, who took to social media to share the update, wrote, Had some important and productive discussions with BCCI functionaries in London today on matters concerning Indian cricket... Looking forward to the road ahead. The meeting also saw the presence of Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) president and BCCI infra committee chief Rohan Jaitley. The BCCI secretarys social media post came at a crucial juncture when a reigning T20 world champion Indian men suffered a 0-2 series loss to Ireland, while the women's team failed to make it past the group stage after losing to Australia in their final group game at Lord's Cricket Ground. Backing up their first ever win over India in internationals on Friday, Ireland scripted an epic 1-run win in the second T20I on Sunday, spearheaded by three-fers from the pace duo of Jai Moondra and Matthew Hollard. The T20Is in Ireland was India's first since their T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year. With Shreyas at the helm of the T20I side, it marked the start of a new phase for India in the shortest format, especially with the Los Angeles Olympics and the next Mens T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2028. Backing up their first ever win over India in internationals on Friday, Ireland scripted an epic 1-run win in the second T20I on Sunday, spearheaded by three-fers from the pace duo of Jai Moondra and Matthew Hollard. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The ODI squad will be led by Shubman Gill, while Shreyas will be his deputy. The three-match ODI series will see the return of talismanic batter Virat Kohli, who missed the recently concluded ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury he sustained during IPL 2026. However, his participation is subject to fitness clearance. Article Source: IANS

'Disbelief' in India camp after a failure to adapt to 'fantastic' Ireland

Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said the side had been slow to respond to a different set of conditions, including the wind

Tector: Never been involved in a bigger accomplishment

While it can be debated whether it was Irish cricket's greatest result, without doubt it has been the sport's greatest week

Wimbledon 2026 | Emma Raducanu withdraws with leg injury

The 23-year-old former U.S. Open champion announced the decision on the eve of her first-round match

Bell-Drummond, Billings star in chase after Stewart four-for

James Vince smacks 84 but Hampshire fall away in second half

Raza, Mir play key hands as Worcestershire hold off Somerset

Visitors never get going in chase despite James Rew-Tom Banton stand

Lees lays waste to Middlesex with matchwinning hundred

Hosts slump to 100-run loss after powerhouse hundred at Richmond

Revis fireworks salvage thrilling tie as Derbyshire's winning streak ends

Yorkshire end run of nine consecutive Blast losses to rivals in Chesterfield cracker

Wraith stars for Warwickshire as Lancashire fall short in thriller

Tilly Kesteven scores 73 off 55 balls but Mary Taylor holds nerve in final over

Its unprofessional, I hate it: Serena Williams on tennis anti-doping system

Williams first match at the grass-court Grand Slam since 2022 will take place on Tuesday (June 30) when she faces Maya Joint as part of hertennis comeback

Root, Stokes defend attempts to 'cause chaos' in chase

England still hoping to give captain perfect send-off despite being four down chasing 373

Ben Stokes: 'I didn't have any more fight left in me' after Ashes loss

England captain says he was burnt out even before Lord's Test which culminated in nightclub episode

Tector and Moondra headline Ireland's historic series sweep against India

Ireland defended 154 to end India's unbeaten run that spanned 16 series and nearly three years

'Just want to bask in this moment' - Roach toasts 300th Test wicket

Roach became the fifth West Indies bowler to pick up 300 Test wickets

Resurrection Game: Can Serena and Djokovic turn back the clock?

At Wimbledon 2026, the American great will return to competitive singles after a near four-year absence while the Serb will look to win his first Major since the 2023 US Open. At 44 and 39, age is not on their side. Skill, experience and pedigree will, however, not be in short supply

Women's T20 WC: 'It Was A Really Special Day For Everyone,' Says Perry After Australia's Historic Win

T20 World Cup: Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry described her side's record-breaking victory over India at Lord's as a really special day for everyone after guiding the six-time champions into their fifth consecutive win of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 with a match-winning performance on Sunday. Perry was named Player of the Match after scoring a fluent 56 off 38 balls as Australia chased down 171 with six wickets in hand, completing the highest successful run chase in Women's T20 World Cup history. Her crucial partnership with Ashleigh Gardner, who remained unbeaten on 53, sealed Australia's place in the last four while ending India's semifinal hopes. Reflecting on the occasion, Perry said playing at the iconic Lord's in front of a packed crowd made the victory even more memorable. Just an incredible atmosphere and amazing support from the crowd. The opportunity to play here at Lord's against India in an amazing game, the battle... so, yeah, a really special day for everyone. Really appreciate everyone who came out to support us today and made it such a fun day, Perry said after receiving the Player of the Match award. Perry said Australia believed the target was achievable on a good batting surface and knew one substantial partnership through the middle overs would be enough to put the chase on track. We felt like it was a pretty good wicket. We just needed a strong partnership through the middle there to get us a good platform for the back end, she said. The experienced all-rounder reserved special praise for Gardner, whose aggressive approach ensured Australia maintained momentum throughout the chase. I thought Ash was superb. She targeted the first six balls, which was great. She regularly found the boundary off those balls, and I think that always gives you a strong footing in the over. Then we were able to go with her to get a bit of momentum. Ash was superb, Perry said. Looking ahead to the knockout stage, Perry said Australia have enjoyed every aspect of the tournament and are eager for the challenges ahead. I think it's been a wonderful tournament so far. Every venue that we've played at has had a great atmosphere and crowds. The cricket has been brilliant. There have been a few upsets as well, and various matches have gone right down to the wire. So it's been such a fun tournament to be part of so far. Looking ahead to the knockout stage, Perry said Australia have enjoyed every aspect of the tournament and are eager for the challenges ahead. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Meanwhile, after finishing the group on top with 10 points, Australia will face the West Indies in the first semi-final at the Kennington Oval on Tuesday. Article Source: IANS

Womens T20 WC: Perrys Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Says Molineux After Record Chase Against India

T20 World Cup: Australia captain Sophie Molineux hailed veteran all-rounder Ellyse Perry for backing up her confidence with a match-winning innings after her side completed the highest successful run chase in Womens T20 World Cup history to eliminate India and seal a semifinal berth at Lords on Sunday. Chasing 171 in a crucial Group stage clash, Australia recovered from an early setback to cruise home with six wickets in hand and an over to spare. Perry led the charge with a fluent 56 off 38 balls, while Ashleigh Gardner remained unbeaten on 53 as the pair shared the decisive partnership that ended Indias hopes of reaching the last four. Molineux revealed that Perry had set the tone for the chase during the innings break itself, assuring her teammates that Indias total was well within reach. Pez (Perry) brought us in after the first innings. She said 170 is very, very gettable. Her actions speak louder than words. She went out there, led from the front alongside Ash, and set the tone with the bat. It was great to watch, Molineux said after Australias victory. The Australian skipper said the experienced duo executed the chase perfectly by making the most of the conditions and keeping the pressure firmly on Indias bowlers. They both batted beautifully. They made the most of the conditions, used their experience and skills really well, targeted the shorter boundary when the opportunities came, and ran brilliantly between the wickets. They just got all the little things right, and that allowed them to build a really important partnership, she said. Molineux also praised her bowling unit for restricting India after a strong opening stand and believed Australia managed the conditions smartly despite Harmanpreet Kaurs late assault taking India to 170/4. There was plenty of discussion about the boundary sizes here at Lords. The shorter boundary down the slope, especially against the wind, was something we were very aware of. But I thought our bowlers did a really good job. There were a couple of expensive overs, but overall, the way Lucy started was fantastic, and everyone contributed at different stages. More than anything, I thought we used our cricket smarts really well, which was pleasing, she said. Although India reached 66 without loss during the Power-play phase, Molineux said Australia remained confident they could wrest back control through the middle overs. There was plenty of discussion about the boundary sizes here at Lords. The shorter boundary down the slope, especially against the wind, was something we were very aware of. But I thought our bowlers did a really good job. There were a couple of expensive overs, but overall, the way Lucy started was fantastic, and everyone contributed at different stages. More than anything, I thought we used our cricket smarts really well, which was pleasing, she said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia finished the group stage with 10 points to qualify for the semifinals alongside South Africa, while Indias campaign ended despite Harmanpreets blistering 56 and a competitive first-innings total. Article Source: IANS

2nd T20I: Ireland Definitely Outplayed India In Adaptability Department, Admits Iyer

Civil Service Cricket Club: India captain Shreyas Iyer conceded that Ireland definitely outplayed his side in the adaptability department after suffering a 2-0 series defeat, adding that the hosts were very professional in their style of play and were sorted in how they assessed and played as per the conditions. With two-time T20 World Cup winners India suffering a one-run defeat in the second game at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont on Sunday, it ended their streak of 16 consecutive T20I series wins dating back to 2023. It also meant that Iyer suffered his first series defeat after being appointed as Indias new T20I captain. Absolutely. I feel the bowlers, they were phenomenal in terms of their executions today. But we fell a bit short in our batting. We were, we fell a bit short in terms of analyzing how the wicket is going to play and also converting singles into twos. I think they definitely outplayed us in that department. Its still definitely not a great series, honestly speaking, but kudos to them, the way they played. I think they showed the professionalism and definitely had a tremendous idea about how the wicket was going to play and the field work there was phenomenal. So a comprehensive win to them and congratulations, Iyer said in the post-match presentation ceremony. On the debutants pacer Prince Yadav, who picked 3-22 and seam-bowling all-rounder Suryansh Shedge, Iyer added, Definitely, as I mentioned earlier, that hes (Prince) got great experience in the IPL and he carries that momentum over here as well. Its still definitely not a great series, honestly speaking, but kudos to them, the way they played. I think they showed the professionalism and definitely had a tremendous idea about how the wicket was going to play and the field work there was phenomenal. So a comprehensive win to them and congratulations, Iyer said in the post-match presentation ceremony. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India will now travel to England to play the T20I series opener in Durham on July 1, before playing rest of their games at Old Trafford in Manchester (July 4), Trent Bridge in Nottingham (July 7), Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol (July 9), and Rose Bowl in Southampton (July 11). Article Source: IANS

When Cricket Broke Hearts, Hockey Gave India A Reason To Smile

FIH Hockey Pro League: It was a Sunday that Indian sports fans would rather forgetuntil hockey stepped in to rescue the mood. While both the Indian mens and womens cricket teams suffered painful defeats on foreign soil, the mens hockey team ensured the weekend didnt end without a smile, producing a gritty performance to beat England in a dramatic shootout in the FIH Hockey Pro League. The heartbreak began at Lords, where Indias hopes of reaching the ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals came crashing down. Despite posting one of their best batting efforts of the tournament with 170 on the board, Harmanpreet Kaurs side watched helplessly as Australia chased down the target with an over to spare. Brilliant half-centuries from Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner powered Australia to a six-wicket win, knocking India out of the competition. For India, it was another familiar talemoments of brilliance overshadowed by a crushing exit at the business end of an ICC tournament. The defeat left them third in Group 1 with six points, while Australia and South Africa advanced to the semifinals. If that disappointment wasnt enough, more misery awaited thousands of kilometres away in Ireland. The young Indian mens T20 side, fresh from lifting the T20 World Cup earlier this year, suffered a shock 0-2 series defeat after Ireland clinched a thrilling one-run victory in the second T20I at Stormont. It was Irelands first-ever bilateral T20I series win over India and ended the visitors remarkable streak of 16 consecutive T20I series victories dating back to 2023. Even more impressive was the manner in which the Irish pulled it off. Lorcan Tuckers men showed tremendous character, defending totals in both matches to script one of the greatest weekends in Irish cricket history. Just when Indian sports fans thought Sunday had nothing left to offer, hockey came to the rescue. The Indian mens hockey team held its nerve in London, defeating England 3-2 in a tense shootout after regulation time ended goalless. The victory not only provided a fitting end to Indias FIH Hockey Pro League 2025-26 campaign but also ensured that the tricolour had something to celebrate on an otherwise gloomy day. Just when Indian sports fans thought Sunday had nothing left to offer, hockey came to the rescue. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Not every Sunday belongs to cricket. This one, unquestionably, belonged to hockey. Article Source: IANS

2nd T20I: 'I Cant Quite Believe It, But Absolutely Incredible', Says Tucker On Historic Win Over India

T20 World Cup: Ireland captain Lorcan Tucker said he 'can't quite believe' his team managed to get a stunning 2 0 series triumph over current T20 World Cup champions India, and praised the professionalism and commitment shown by his players in backing up their opening win with another spirited performance in the second game. Riding on three-fors from pacers Jai Moondra and Matthew Hollard, Ireland backed up their 34-run win over India Friday by registering an epic one-run win in the second T20I. I cant quite believe it, but absolutely incredible. I think I challenged the lads the other day to show the world that that wasnt a one off, that we could do it again, and we were able to do it today, Tucker said in the post-match presentation ceremony. Reflecting on the teams mindset after the emotional high of Fridays win, Tucker explained, I think we were obviously on a massive high the other night, but I think I challenged the lads to try and, you know, fall down from those clouds, get back to the real world, and put in a performance, do their recovery yesterday. I think we rocked up with that same intent. I felt like we were professional, we were diligent in the work we did, and we showed that again today. It felt like we were able to close the game out. I think we showed that good cricket can be simple cricket, and it doesnt always have to be that complicated, and especially when you read the conditions well, that you can be effective and you can win games of cricket. He acknowledged the impact of newer players Hollard and Moondra. Sometimes it feels like we play in the shadows of international cricket, but I think we will be front page news after this, and that will be so, its absolutely amazing. We have a lot of lads there who have very few caps between them, but I think they just showed that they do the work in the background, they know their own games well. Even when they come to the big stage like this, they can show up and they can perform, and we can beat the worlds best. He acknowledged the impact of newer players Hollard and Moondra. Sometimes it feels like we play in the shadows of international cricket, but I think we will be front page news after this, and that will be so, its absolutely amazing. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Absolutely great time to be a professional cricketer in Ireland, and even for all those kids that came to watch today, watched on TV, we hope weve given them something to strive for. Article Source: IANS

2nd T20I: Still Trying To Sink In, Says Jai Moondra After Irelands 2-0 Series Sweep Over India

Jai Moondra: Ireland left-arm pacer Jai Moondra said he was still processing the feeling of being named Player of the Match and Player of the Series in the sides 2-0 historic series sweep over India, adding that his maiden experience of playing international cricket was amazing and credited his teammates for keeping him grounded. Moondra rattled India in their chase of 155 by trapping Sanju Samson lbw, before dismissing Abhishek Sharma and Shreyas Iyer to end up with a three-for as Ireland got a one-run win to secure a memorable series victory. Still trying to sink in the feeling. I know its hard to describe in one word. Its an amazing feeling playing against the best, testing yourself. So just doing the basic for longer, that was the plan. Credit to team members and management. Keep it simple. There are gonna be tough times, but keep calm and composed and do your thing. Oh, Im still trying to process it, Moondra said in the post-match presentation ceremony. On his mindset while bowling to Samson, Moondra said, Just keep it simple, do what you have been doing. Its gonna be tough, little margin for error. So just keep what you have been doing and just stick to the plan. Still trying to sink in the feeling. I know its hard to describe in one word. Its an amazing feeling playing against the best, testing yourself. So just doing the basic for longer, that was the plan. Credit to team members and management. Keep it simple. There are gonna be tough times, but keep calm and composed and do your thing. Oh, Im still trying to process it, Moondra said in the post-match presentation ceremony. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He also praised the environment in the Ireland camp: Well, they made feel it was like one of them, like nothing different from that. It was playing amazing, good environment, good people. So just doing the duty they have given to me. Article Source: IANS

Women's T20 WC: 'We Need To Rethink How We Play Against Good Teams,' Says Harmanpreet After India's Exit

T20 World Cup: : India captain Harmanpreet Kaur admitted her side needs to reassess its approach against top opposition after Australia's record-breaking six-wicket victory at Lord's knocked the Women in Blue out of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday. Despite posting a competitive 170/4, courtesy Harmanpreet's explosive 56 off 26 balls, India were unable to defend the total as Ellyse Perry (56) and Ashleigh Gardner (53 not out) guided Australia to the highest successful run chase in Women's T20 World Cup history. The defeat ended India's semifinal hopes, with Australia and South Africa progressing to the last four from the group. Reflecting on the result, Harmanpreet felt India had put enough runs on the board but admitted the team once again failed to deliver against one of the tournament's strongest sides. End of the day, we got a decent total on the board. In between when I was batting, I thought we were a little short, but the last couple of overs did the job. They were looking for the runs but couldn't do so, Harmanpreet said after the match. The skipper acknowledged that India's performances against stronger opponents had proved costly throughout the campaign. If I have to think about the entire tournament, we didn't do well against good teams. Against the best teams, always your best comes. I think we need to rethink that, she said. Harmanpreet credited Australia for executing their plans well and felt India could not capitalise despite preserving wickets during their innings. They're one of the best. I think they bowled according to their plans. We didn't lose wickets, but at the same time, we didn't get what we were expecting. It was a good game, but unfortunately, we didn't get over the line, she added. Looking at the bigger picture, the India captain called for serious introspection, particularly over the team's recurring struggles in crunch matches against elite opposition. They're one of the best. I think they bowled according to their plans. We didn't lose wickets, but at the same time, we didn't get what we were expecting. It was a good game, but unfortunately, we didn't get over the line, she added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India finished their campaign with six points from five matches, while Australia and South Africa qualified for the semifinals with eight points each. Article Source: IANS

2nd T20I: Tector, Moondra, Hollard Star As Ireland Stun India By One Run, Win 20 Series Sweep (Ld)

Civil Service Cricket Club: Ireland stepped up really well when it mattered the most to defeat India by just one run and complete a memorable 20 series sweep their firstever bilateral triumph over the Asian heavyweights. Vice-captain Tilak Varmas fighting 55 kept India in the hunt, but debutant Jai Moondras early strikes and disciplined death bowling ensured the hosts defended 154/8 at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont on Sunday. Harry Tector, playing in his 100th T20I game, anchored the innings with a scratchy but vital 53, while the bowlers produced a superb team performance to keep India at bay. Moondra and Matthew Hollard picked three wickets apiece The result ended Indias streak of 16 consecutive T20I series wins dating back to 2023, as it also marked one of the greatest weekends in Irish cricket history. Under newly appointed T20I captain Lorcan Tucker, the side missed its five firstchoice players. But Ireland showed remarkable spirit to defend totals in both games, and celebrate a famous triumph in front of a jubilant home crowd. For India, the series defeat was a sobering reminder of the challenges outside IPLstyle batting decks and their continued struggles against leftarm pace. Despite Varmas resistance, the middle order faltered under pressure, leaving the T20 World Cup champions humbled. The chase began disastrously for India as Moondra dismissed openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for firstball ducks. Just like how it happened in the first game, Samson fell for a duck after he missed a flick off Moondras skiddy delivery and trapped lbw. On the fourth ball, Abhishek miscued a pull off Moondras short ball to third man. India were rattled further as skipper Shreyas Iyer chopped onto his stumps off Moondra for 10. Ishan Kishan attempted to rebuild alongside Tilak Varma, but a mixup resulted in his runout for 12. At 39/4, India were in deep trouble, having lost four wickets inside the Powerplay for just the 13th time in T20Is. Vice-captain Varma, however, held his nerve. He struck successive boundaries off Moondra through the leg-side and steadied the innings with a 32run stand with Axar Patel. Rain interruptions briefly halted play, but the duo ensured India stayed afloat, even as the asking rate hovered above eight runs per over. Once the game resumed, Matthew Hollard broke the partnership as Axar looked to steer him, but was caught by a superb Lorcan Tucker diving to his left and completed a stunning one-handed catch. Shivam Dube added some impetus into the innings with two fours, before pulling to deep square leg off Matthew Humphreys. Amidst all this, Varma hanged around and brought up his fifty in 45 balls by hitting Indias first six of the innings crouching low to heave Hollard over deep mid-wicket. But on the very next ball, Varmas aim to hit a lofted drive resulted in him mistiming to extra cover, and was followed by debutant Suryansh Shedges pursuit of clearing the bigger side of the ground ending in a catch to deep mid-wicket. Rana, though, had other ideas he slammed Moondra through point for four, before muscling him over long-on for six. With 20 runs needed off the final over, Rana got a boundary by evading the keeper on the free hit. Despite Tector giving two wides, he had the last laugh by having Rana caught at long-on. Though Prince Yadav hit a last-ball six, it wasnt enough to stop the result from going in Irelands favour. Previously, at one point, Ireland were primed to get 180, especially with Tector and Ben Calitz (37) sharing a 65-run stand. But losing wickets in a hurry at the end meant Ireland could just pass 150-mark. For India, Prince was impressive on debut - hitting hard-lengths and mixing yorkers and slower balls to outsmart Irish batters in the fag end. Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube and Harshit Rana were amongst the wickets too, while Axar Patel and second debutant Suryansh Shedge were wicketless. Put into batting first, Ireland were off to a flying start with Ross Adair smashing successive sixes off Arshdeep in the opening over. But Rana struck in the second over to remove Tim Tector, before Arshdeep dismissed Adair for 16 to peg the hosts back. Ireland were further dented when Lorcan Tucker was caught behind off Prince, as they reached 58/3 at the halfway stage. But Tector held the innings together and found support from Calitz, as they easily got boundaries off Shedge and Axar. Their partnership threatened to take Ireland close to 180 before Dube turned the tide by removing Calitz and Gareth Delany on successive balls in the 15th over. Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube and Harshit Rana were amongst the wickets too, while Axar Patel and second debutant Suryansh Shedge were wicketless. Put into batting first, Ireland were off to a flying start with Ross Adair smashing successive sixes off Arshdeep in the opening over. But Rana struck in the second over to remove Tim Tector, before Arshdeep dismissed Adair for 16 to peg the hosts back. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: Ireland 154/8 in 20 overs (Harry Tector 53, Ben Calitz 37; Prince Yadav 3-22, Shivam Dube 2-25) beat India 153/9 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma 55, Harshit Rana 21; Matthew Hollard 3-26, Jai Moondra 3-32) by one run Article Source: IANS

Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma cheer Harmanpreet Kaur's record Lord's fifty in India's must-win Women's T20 World Cup clash vs Australia

India posted a formidable 170/4 against Australia in their must-win ICC Women's T20 World Cup clash at Lord's, thanks to a blistering unbeaten 56 off 27 balls from captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Smriti Mandhana (38) and Shafali Verma (34) laid a solid foundation before India finished strongly, scoring 36 runs in the final two overs.

2nd T20I: Tilaks 55 In Vain As Ireland Beat India By One Run, Get Historic 2-0 Series Win

Civil Service Cricket Club: Ireland stunned T20 World Cup champions India by securing a onerun victory in the second T20I to complete a 20 series sweep, their firstever bilateral series triumph over the Asian giants. Tilak Varmas fighting 55 kept India in the hunt, but debutant Jai Moondras early strikes and disciplined death bowling ensured the hosts defended 154/8 at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont on Sunday. The result ended Indias streak of 16 consecutive T20I series wins dating back to 2023, as it marked one of the greatest weekends in Irish cricket history. Lorcan Tuckers side, missing five firstchoice players, showed remarkable spirit to defend totals in both matches. Jai Moondra and Matthew Hollard picking three wickets each helped Ireland in being the better bowling side across both games. For India, the series defeat was a sobering reminder of the challenges in excelling on outside IPL pitches and their shortcomings in facing left-arm fast bowlers. Despite Varmas resistance, the Indian middle order faltered under pressure, leaving Ireland to celebrate a famous triumph in front of a jubilant home crowd. The chase began disastrously for India as Moondra dismissed openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for firstball ducks. Just like how it happened in the first game, Samson fell for a duck after he missed a flick off Moondras skiddy delivery and trapped lbw. On the fourth ball, Abhishek miscued a pull off Moondras short ball to third man. India were rattled further as skipper Shreyas Iyer chopped onto his stumps off Moondra for 10. Ishan Kishan attempted to rebuild alongside Tilak Varma, but a mixup resulted in his runout for 12. At 39/4, India were in deep trouble, having lost four wickets inside the Powerplay for just the 13th time in T20Is. Vice-captain Varma, however, held his nerve. He struck successive boundaries off Moondra through the leg-side and steadied the innings with a 32run stand with Axar Patel. Rain interruptions briefly halted play, but the duo ensured India stayed afloat, even as the asking rate hovered above eight runs per over. Once the game resumed, Matthew Hollard broke the partnership as Axar looked to steer him, but was caught by a superb Lorcan Tucker diving to his left and completed a stunning one-handed catch. Shivam Dube added some impetus into the innings with two fours, before pulling to deep square leg off Matthew Humphreys. Amidst all this, Varma hanged around and brought up his fifty in 45 balls by hitting Indias first six of the innings crouching low to heave Hollard over deep mid-wicket. But on the very next ball, Varmas aim to hit a lofted drive resulted in him mistiming to extra cover, and was followed by debutant Suryansh Shedges pursuit of clearing the bigger side of the ground ending in a catch to deep mid-wicket. Once the game resumed, Matthew Hollard broke the partnership as Axar looked to steer him, but was caught by a superb Lorcan Tucker diving to his left and completed a stunning one-handed catch. Shivam Dube added some impetus into the innings with two fours, before pulling to deep square leg off Matthew Humphreys. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: Ireland 154/8 in 20 overs (Harry Tector 53, Ben Calitz 37; Prince Yadav 3-22, Shivam Dube 2-25) beat India 153/9 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma 55, Harshit Rana 21; Matthew Hollard 3-26, Jai Moondra 3-32) by one run Article Source: IANS

Womens T20 WC: India Knocked Out Of Semis As Perry, Gardner Power Australia To Historic Chase At Lord's

T20 World Cup: India's campaign in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 came to a heartbreaking end as Australia produced the highest successful run chase in the tournament's history to register a commanding six-wicket victory at Lord's on Sunday. Chasing a challenging target of 171, Australia rode on superb half-centuries from Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner to complete the chase with an over to spare, ending India's hopes of reaching the semifinals. The defeat meant India finished third in Group 1 with six points from five matches, while Australia and South Africa progressed to the last four with eight points each. It was another painful exit for Harmanpreet Kaur's side despite posting one of their best batting performances of the tournament. India had looked firmly in control after captain Harmanpreet Kaur produced a sensational late assault to power her side to 170/4, a total that appeared competitive on a surface offering something for both batters and bowlers. However, Australia's experienced middle order absorbed the early pressure before launching a clinical chase that eventually rewrote the Women's T20 World Cup record books. Needing a strong start, Australia suffered an early setback when Renuka Singh trapped Georgia Voll leg-before in the opening over. Voll departed for just four, briefly lifting Indian spirits in what was a must-win encounter. However, Renuka's opening over also contained four wides and conceded 11 runs, allowing Australia to recover quickly. Returning from injury, Phoebe Litchfield looked confident from the outset as she struck consecutive boundaries off Kranti Gaud in the second over before Beth Mooney joined the attack with two boundaries of her own. Litchfield ensured Australia finished the Power-play strongly by smashing a six off the first ball of the sixth over before collecting another boundary, taking Australia to 49/1 after six overs despite the early wicket. India finally found another breakthrough immediately after the Power-play through their premier spinner Shree Charani. The left-arm spinner produced a superb delivery that trapped Litchfield as she attempted to accelerate. Litchfield departed for a composed 24 from 25 deliveries, an innings featuring two fours and a six,but Australia's response was immediate. Ellyse Perry walked in with positive intent and signalled her approach by striking two boundaries in her first three deliveries. At the other end, Mooney continued rotating the strike before attempting to break free against Deepti Sharma. Looking to slog-sweep a full delivery, Mooney mistimed her shot high into the air, allowing Radha Yadav to complete a comfortable catch. Mooney's dismissal for 22 from 20 balls gave India renewed hope while Deepti achieved another personal milestone by claiming the 356th wicket of her international career. At 82/3, India sensed an opening. Instead, Perry and Ashleigh Gardner combined to produce the match-defining partnership. The experienced duo gradually shifted momentum towards Australia through intelligent strike rotation before launching an aggressive assault against India's bowlers. Gardner immediately took on Radha Yadav, smashing a four and a six during the 13th over, while Perry continued finding regular boundaries to keep the asking rate comfortably under control. Gardner cleared the ropes once again in the 15th over while Perry continued piercing the infield with elegant drives. Harmanpreet searched desperately for a breakthrough and even handed the ball to Shafali Verma in an attempt to break the partnership, but the move failed as Australia comfortably collected another 12 runs. The turning point came in the 17th over. Renuka Singh, India's most experienced pace bowler, endured a difficult spell as Perry completed her half-century off just 33 balls with another boundary. The over leaked 17 runs and effectively ended India's hopes of making a comeback. Perry eventually fell in the final over after a magnificent 56 from just 38 deliveries, striking eight boundaries, but by then the damage had already been done. Gardner ensured there would be no late twist. The Australian all-rounder reached her fifty from only 28 balls with a boundary off Deepti Sharma and remained unbeaten on 53 as Australia completed the chase in 19 overs, sealing not only a semifinal place but also the highest successful run chase in Women's T20 World Cup history. Earlier, India had produced one of their finest batting displays of the tournament after Harmanpreet elected to bat first upon winning the toss. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma began cautiously, scoring only three runs in the opening over while assessing the conditions at Lord's. Once settled, Mandhana quickly found her timing. She collected consecutive boundaries off Kim Garth in the second over before adding another four in the following over as India steadily built momentum. Shafali initially played the supporting role before launching a counterattack against Ashleigh Gardner. The aggressive opener hammered a six and a four in the fourth over before adding another boundary in the final over of the Power-play, helping India reach 43 without loss after six overs. The opening partnership continued frustrating Australia's bowlers. Shafali particularly enjoyed batting against Gardner, striking another four and a six in the ninth over as the opening stand crossed fifty and then sixty, putting India in an excellent position. Australia finally broke through in the 10th over when captain Sophie Molineux clean bowled Shafali for a fluent 34 from 26 deliveries. Her entertaining innings included three fours and two sixes and provided India with an impressive 66-run opening partnership. Mandhana continued anchoring the innings while Jemimah Rodrigues settled quickly with an early boundary. However, India's momentum suffered a setback through a costly misunderstanding between the pair. Mandhana called for a quick single, but Rodrigues, committed to playing a reverse sweep, could not respond in time. The confusion resulted in Mandhana being run out for 38 from 37 balls after an otherwise well-constructed innings featuring six boundaries. With India suddenly losing two wickets in quick succession, captain Harmanpreet Kaur walked in and immediately took charge. Alongside Jemimah, she rebuilt the innings sensibly through clever strike rotation and timely boundaries. The pair guided India past the 100-run mark in the 14th over before Harmanpreet shifted gears dramatically during the death overs. She began attacking Annabel Sutherland with boundaries before consistently finding gaps and converting singles into twos. Jemimah also accelerated by hitting a six in the 19th over as India crossed the 150-run mark. Australia's fielding standards slipped noticeably during the closing stages as Rodrigues was dropped twice. Sensing the opportunity for a stronger finisher, India retired her out after a useful 34 from 28 deliveries, which included one four and one six. The final over belonged entirely to Harmanpreet. She began attacking Annabel Sutherland with boundaries before consistently finding gaps and converting singles into twos. Jemimah also accelerated by hitting a six in the 19th over as India crossed the 150-run mark. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: India 170/4 in 20 overs(Harmanpreet Kaur 56, Smriti Mandhana 38, Shafali Verma 34; Sophie Molineux 2-46) lost to Australia 172/4 in 19 overs (Elyssa Perry 56, Ashleigh Gardner 53*,Phoebe Litchfield 24;Shree Charani 2-32, Deepti Sharma 1-31) by six wickets. Article Source: IANS

New Zealand Join England In Emotional Guard Of Honour For Retiring Ben Stokes At Trent Bridge

Wales Cricket Board: England captain Ben Stokes was given a stirring guard of honour by both his England teammates and New Zealand players at Trent Bridge on Sunday after announcing his shock retirement from international cricket. Barely an hour after the England and Wales Cricket Board announced that Stokes would retire after the third Test against New Zealand, emotional scenes unfolded in Nottingham. Shortly after the tea break on day four, England players formed a guard of honour as their captain walked out to bat. The two New Zealand batters joined the tribute. The entire Trent Bridge crowd stood to applaud one of England's greatest cricketers in a touching farewell. The tribute came after Stokes shocked the cricket world by revealing that the match would be his final international game. This announcement capped a dramatic week for the England captain. Stokes had just returned to the team after missing the second Test due to an off-field incident outside a Chelsea nightclub involving England fast bowler Gus Atkinson after the opening Test. The celebrations following the first Test turned into a disciplinary matter, with both players facing separate investigations by the ECB and the Cricket Regulator. Although they were cleared of any serious issues, Stokes and Atkinson received written warnings. This announcement capped a dramatic week for the England captain. Stokes had just returned to the team after missing the second Test due to an off-field incident outside a Chelsea nightclub involving England fast bowler Gus Atkinson after the opening Test. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Back as captain, Stokes made an immediate impact. He took four wickets in New Zealand's first innings and scored 15 in England's reply. He added two more wickets in the second innings as New Zealand declared at 288/9, setting England a target of 373 to win the final Test and secure the series. Article Source: IANS

Sri Lanka lose six, WI close in on huge win

If West Indies break through in the next session, they are likely to secure an innings win.

T20 WC: Deepti Sharma Scripts History, Becomes Leading Wicket Taker In Women's Cricket

T20 World Cup: Star Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma etched her name in history books on Sunday, becoming the highest wicket-taker in women's international cricket during India's ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Group A clash against Australia at the Lord's Cricket Ground. The Indian all-rounder entered the match needing just one wicket to surpass legendary pacer Jhulan Goswami's long-standing record of 355 international wickets. Deepti achieved the historic milestone by dismissing Australian star Beth Mooney, who miscued a slog-sweep off the off-spinner and was comfortably caught by Radha Yadav at long-on. The landmark wicket came when Deepti bowled a full delivery on the stumps, forcing Mooney out of her crease in search of a big hit. The left-hander failed to time the slog-sweep, sending the ball high into the air before Radha completed a simple catch. Mooney departed for 22 off 20 balls, with two boundaries, as Deepti claimed the record-breaking 356th wicket of her international career. The match also marked Deepti's 278th international appearance for India. The Agra-born all-rounder now has 356 wickets across all three formats, underlining her remarkable consistency over the years. Deepti's tally includes 22 wickets in six Test matches, 166 wickets in 124 One-Day Internationals, and 168 wickets in 148 T20 Internationals. Earlier in the tournament, she had already showcased her brilliance by claiming a five-wicket haul against Pakistan in India's opening match of the Women's T20 World Cup in Birmingham on June 14. The match also marked Deepti's 278th international appearance for India. The Agra-born all-rounder now has 356 wickets across all three formats, underlining her remarkable consistency over the years. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Deepti now sits alone at the top of the all-time list of wicket-takers in women's international cricket. Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry occupies third place with 336 wickets, followed by England's Katherine Sciver-Brunt with 335, Sophie Ecclestone with 333, and South Africa's Shabnim Ismail with 323. Article Source: IANS

Pacers, openers complete Zimbabwe's perfect day

The hosts bowled Bangladesh out for 140 and were only four behind by stumps on day one

Vaughan blames 'fall-out with ECB' for timing of Stokes retirement

Former England captain believes lack of trust in management is key factor in sudden announcement

Womens T20 WC: Shabnim Ismail Scripts History, Becomes Tournaments Leading Wicket-taker

T20 World Cup: South Africa pace spearhead Shabnim Ismail added another remarkable milestone to her illustrious career on Sunday by becoming the most successful bowler in the history of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The veteran fast bowler claimed her 49th wicket in the tournament during South Africa's crucial Group 1 encounter against Bangladesh at Lord's, moving past Australia's Megan Schutt to stand alone at the top of the all-time charts. The record-breaking dismissal arrived early in Bangladesh's innings when opener Taj Nehar was trapped leg-before in Ismail's second over. It was a trademark breakthrough from one of the quickest bowlers women's cricket has produced and proved to be another defining moment in a career that has consistently delivered on the biggest stages. Having made her Women's T20 World Cup debut back in 2009, Ismail has now accumulated 49 wickets from 37 appearances in the competition. Her remarkable record includes an average of 15.87 and an economy rate of just 5.96, illustrating both her wicket-taking ability and her sustained control across nearly two decades of World Cup cricket. The previous benchmark belonged to Australian seamer Megan Schutt, who finished with 48 wickets and remains part of Australia's squad at the ongoing 2026 tournament. Another South African, all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, occupies fifth place on the all-time list with 38 wickets. Ismail's latest spell also played a significant role in South Africa's push for a place in the knockout stages. She returned figures of 1/15 from four economical overs against Bangladesh, conceding runs at just 3.75 an over as the Proteas restricted their opponents to 117/5 in a must-win contest. Across the 2026 tournament, the right-arm pacer has collected six wickets in five matches while maintaining an economy rate below seven. The milestone adds another chapter to an already extraordinary journey. Ismail had stepped away from international cricket in May 2023 after helping South Africa reach their maiden Women's T20 World Cup final. With the Proteas once again targeting global success, she reversed that decision and returned for the 2026 edition, bringing invaluable experience to an attack chasing the country's first ICC limited-overs trophy. Ismail's latest spell also played a significant role in South Africa's push for a place in the knockout stages. She returned figures of 1/15 from four economical overs against Bangladesh, conceding runs at just 3.75 an over as the Proteas restricted their opponents to 117/5 in a must-win contest. Across the 2026 tournament, the right-arm pacer has collected six wickets in five matches while maintaining an economy rate below seven. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Meanwhile, the Proteas concluded their group stage with a victory against Bangladesh, with four wins and a loss from five games. However, their qualification to the semi-final hangs in the balance as only Indias loss to Australia would confirm their spot. Article Source: IANS

Women's T20 WC: Kohli, Shastri, Dhawan Cheer For India At Lord's In Must-win Clash Against Australia

T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma, Ravi Shastri and Shikhar Dhawan were among the familiar faces at Lord's as India produced a commanding batting display to post 170/4 against Australia in their must-win ICC Women's T20 World Cup clash on Saturday. Backed by a star-studded crowd, India finished with a flourish, scoring 36 runs in the final two overs and putting Australia under immense pressure. The Southern Stars struggled at the end, allowing India to gain momentum. Now, Australia needs to achieve the highest successful run chase in Women's T20 World Cup history to keep India out of the semifinals. After choosing to bat first, India got off to a confident start with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. Australia's new-ball attack failed to strike early, and the openers raced to 43 runs without losing a wicket in the powerplay. The pair added 66 runs before Shafali was bowled for 34 in the 10th over. Jemimah Rodrigues then joined Mandhana, who found it harder to score as the field spread. A terrible mix-up in the 12th over ended Mandhana's innings at 38 off 37 balls, bringing captain Harmanpreet Kaur to the crease. While Jemimah struggled to find her rhythm in a shaky 34 off 28 balls, Harmanpreet quickly changed the pace, finding the boundary often as India set up for a late assault. Jemimah was retired out on 34 before the final over, clearing the way for an explosive finish. The final over belonged to Harmanpreet. She faced off against opposing captain Sophie Molineux, hitting three consecutive sixes and reaching a stunning half-century in just 25 balls. The India skipper eventually fell for 56 off 27 balls after hitting six fours and three sixes. While Jemimah struggled to find her rhythm in a shaky 34 off 28 balls, Harmanpreet quickly changed the pace, finding the boundary often as India set up for a late assault. Jemimah was retired out on 34 before the final over, clearing the way for an explosive finish. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With 170/4 on the board, India has given themselves a strong chance in a virtual quarterfinal. The bowlers now have the responsibility to defend the total and secure a place in the Women's T20 World Cup semifinals. Article Source: IANS

Ben Stokes to retire from international cricket after third Test

England captain told team-mates that he would be stepping down at start of fourth day in Nottingham

Women's T20 WC: Harmanpreet's Fastest Fifty Powers India To 170/4 Vs Australia In A Must-win Clash

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur: Captain Harmanpreet Kaur produced a captain's knock with a scintillating half-century after Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma laid a solid platform, helping India post a competitive 170/4 against Australia in their final Group stage match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday. After winning the toss, Harmanpreet opted to bat first. India began cautiously as Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma took time to assess the conditions, managing just three runs from the opening over. Once settled, Mandhana found her rhythm and took on Kim Garth, striking consecutive boundaries in the second over before adding another four in the next as India slowly built momentum. Shafali, who had faced only a handful of deliveries early on, shifted gears in the fourth over by smashing Ashleigh Gardner for a six and a four. She continued the attack in the final over of the Power-play with another boundary as India reached a steady 43 without loss after six overs. The opening pair ensured the scoring rate never dipped after the power play. Shafali continued to dominate Gardner, hitting a four and a six in the ninth over as the opening stand crossed the 60-run mark. Australia finally found the breakthrough in the 10th over when captain Sophie Molineux clean bowled Shafali for a well-made 34 off 26 balls. Her aggressive innings, featuring three fours and two sixes, had given India a strong 66-run opening partnership. Mandhana continued to anchor the innings while Jemimah Rodrigues started confidently with a boundary. However, a costly mix-up between the two batters brought an end to Mandhana's innings. Looking for a quick single, Mandhana set off, but Rodrigues, attempting a reverse sweep, did not respond in time. Mandhana was run out for 38 from 37 balls after striking six boundaries. With India suddenly reduced by two quick wickets, Harmanpreet joined Jemimah and the pair rebuilt the innings with sensible batting. They rotated the strike effectively, kept the scoreboard moving, and brought up India's 100 in the 14th over. After settling in, Harmanpreet switched to attack. She began with a boundary off Annabel Sutherland in the 15th over and maintained the pressure by finding the fence regularly while also converting singles into twos. Jemimah also accelerated towards the end, smashing a six off Sutherland in the 19th over as India moved past the 150-run mark. Australia were untidy in the field during the closing stages, dropping Jemimah twice before India decided to retire her out for 34 off 28 balls, an innings that included a four and a six. The final over belonged entirely to Harmanpreet. The India skipper launched three consecutive sixes to race to her half-century in just 25 balls before being dismissed on the very next delivery. Her explosive knock of 56 came off just 26 balls and included six fours and three sixes. Jemimah also accelerated towards the end, smashing a six off Sutherland in the 19th over as India moved past the 150-run mark. Australia were untidy in the field during the closing stages, dropping Jemimah twice before India decided to retire her out for 34 off 28 balls, an innings that included a four and a six. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: India 170/4 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 56, Smriti Mandhana 38, Shafali Verma 34; Sophie Molineux 2-46) against Australia Article Source: IANS

Ben Stokes To Retire From International Cricket After New Zealand Series

ODI World Cup: England captain Ben Stokes will retire from international cricket at the conclusion of the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, bringing the curtain down on one of the most remarkable careers in English cricket. The 35-year-old told his England teammates about his decision before the fourth day of the third and final Test at Trent Bridge. Stokes will play the final two days of the match before ending a career that brought some of England's greatest cricket moments. An emotional Stokes spoke to the team before play, urging everyone to finish the match with full commitment. The reasons can wait, but I've had many tough times for this team, for you guys, and for those who came before. I have one more tough time to do, Stokes said in a video posted by England Cricket. The only thing I ask is that everyone do the same. We have a lot of hard work ahead, and all I want is to walk off that field, no matter the result, knowing that this group gave their all for the last two days. Thats all I want, for everyone to put in the effort not just for me but also for the team. Ive dealt with the emotional side. Now its time to get to work. Please, everyone else, join me. The announcement came after a tough week when Stokes missed the second Test due to an incident at a London nightclub. Before returning to lead England at Trent Bridge, he had only mentioned captaining the side his week, hinting at what lay ahead. Stokes leaves international cricket as one of England's greatest match-winners. His unforgettable unbeaten 84 led England to their first ODI World Cup title in the dramatic 2019 final against New Zealand. Six weeks later, his heroic 135 not out at Headingley inspired one of the greatest Ashes victories against Australia. He will finish his career with 122 Tests, including 44 as England captain, as well as 114 One-Day Internationals and 43 T20 Internationals. He also played a key role in England's victory at the 2022 T20 World Cup. In a tribute, the England and Wales Cricket Board praised Stokes' incredible impact on the game. His performances under pressure, his relentless competitiveness, and his ability to deliver when it matters most have given me and millions of fans memories that will last forever. Whether inspiring victory in crucial momentsdriving England to World Cup wins in 2019 and 2022 or leading the Test team with courageBen has been a key figure in English cricket. In a tribute, the England and Wales Cricket Board praised Stokes' incredible impact on the game. His performances under pressure, his relentless competitiveness, and his ability to deliver when it matters most have given me and millions of fans memories that will last forever. Also Read: Live Cricket Score On behalf of the ECB, I want to thank Ben for everything he has contributed to our sport and wish him and his family success and happiness in the future. Article Source: IANS

2nd T20I: Prince Yadav Picks 3-22 On Debut As India Restrict Ireland To 154/8

Civil Service Cricket Club: Debutant pacer Prince Yadav returned with figures of 3-22 as India produced a disciplined bowling effort to restrict Ireland to 154/8 in the second T20I at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont on Sunday. At one point, Ireland were primed to get 180, especially with Harry Tector (53) and Ben Calitz (37) sharing a 65-run stand. But losing wickets in a hurry at the end meant Ireland could just pass 150-mark. For India, Prince was impressive on debut - hitting hard-lengths and mixing yorkers and slower balls to outsmart Irish batters in the fag end. Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube and Harshit Rana were amongst the wickets too, while Axar Patel and second debutant Suryansh Shedge were wicketless. Put in to batting first, Ireland were off to a flying start with Ross Adair smashing successive sixes off Arshdeep in the opening over. But Rana struck in the second over to remove Tim Tector, before Arshdeep dismissed Adair for 16 to peg the hosts back Ireland were further dented when Lorcan Tucker was caught behind off Prince, as they reached 58/3 at the halfway stage. But Tector, playing his 100th T20I game, held the innings together and found support from Calitz, as they easily got boundaries off Shedge and Axar. Their partnership threatened to take Ireland close to 180 before Dube turned the tide by removing Calitz and Gareth Delany on successive balls in the 15th over. Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube and Harshit Rana were amongst the wickets too, while Axar Patel and second debutant Suryansh Shedge were wicketless. Put in to batting first, Ireland were off to a flying start with Ross Adair smashing successive sixes off Arshdeep in the opening over. But Rana struck in the second over to remove Tim Tector, before Arshdeep dismissed Adair for 16 to peg the hosts back Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: Ireland 154/8 in 20 overs (Harry Tector 53, Ben Calitz 37; Prince Yadav 3-22, Shivam Dube 2-25) against India Article Source: IANS

Womens T20 WC: Nigar Sultana Rues Bangladesh's Missed Chances After SA Loss And Tournament Exit

T20 World Cup: Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana admitted her side fell just short in a must-win Women's T20 World Cup fixture against South Africa on Sunday, saying an underwhelming middle phase with the bat ultimately proved decisive in ending their semi-final hopes. Despite a spirited bowling display that stretched the contest to the penultimate over, Bangladesh were unable to defend 117, bowing out of the tournament after a four-wicket defeat. Looking back at her team's batting effort, Sultana pointed to the early setbacks and the inability to accelerate through the middle overs as the defining moments of the innings, even though Bangladesh recovered well towards the finish. I guess we lost wickets early in the power play, but the bowlers played really well there. They were hanging there and trying to build a partnership. And I think we couldn't get runs in the middle part of the game. We finished it really well in the last few overs of the first innings. But end of the time, I think we are short of 10 to 15 runs, and it actually cost us the campaign as a whole, Nigar said post match. Although Bangladesh finished on the losing side, their bowlers refused to let South Africa cruise to victory. Regular breakthroughs, disciplined spells and committed fielding kept the pressure firmly on the Proteas until the final over, something that left the skipper immensely satisfied despite the outcome. I think I should thank all my bowlers and fielders because how they fought till the last ball, and they were keep fighting for the last run. So it really made me feel very proud about the team, she noted. Although Bangladesh finished on the losing side, their bowlers refused to let South Africa cruise to victory. Regular breakthroughs, disciplined spells and committed fielding kept the pressure firmly on the Proteas until the final over, something that left the skipper immensely satisfied despite the outcome. Also Read: Live Cricket Score And we came here to win games definitely. And we win two games here, but we wanted more. I think it's a huge achievement for the team. And I'm really proud the way each and everyone gave their 100% in the field and tried to win for Bangladesh, she concluded. Article Source: IANS

I Will Be In The Audience, Go Aussies: Wolvaardt Pins SAs Semi-final Hopes On Australia After Bangladesh Win

T20 World Cup: South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt reflected on her side's nervy victory over Bangladesh after their Women's T20 World Cup league-stage clash on Sunday, admitting the chase became far tighter than expected despite securing the result they needed. While the Proteas stayed alive in the race for the semi-finals by completing a four-wicket win, Wolvaardt acknowledged her team would now have to rely on Australia defeating India later in the day to keep their campaign alive. With South Africa successfully chasing 118, Wolvaardt admitted the finish was more dramatic than her side would have preferred. Not the way we would have liked to finish it. Probably got a bit closer than it needed to be, but happy to walk away with the win, Wolvaardt said post match. The skipper reserved special praise for her bowling attack, believing the foundation for victory was laid during Bangladesh's innings. Although satisfied with the overall effort, she felt her side missed an opportunity to restrict the opposition even further. I think we were excellent. I think we started really well with the ball. The powerplay was so good from our veterans. Probably let them get a little bit too many at the end there. Would have liked to restrict them to 100 or less. I think if we're chasing 140, it would have been a tricky chase, she added. Bangladesh's slow bowlers then ensured South Africa never enjoyed a comfortable chase, repeatedly forcing the batters to reassess their approach on a sluggish surface. Wolvaardt admitted her side struggled to maintain momentum against the spin attack. They've got some really slow spinners. It's always going to be tough in slow wickets, when they're really slowing it down like that. I think today we maybe went in our shells a little bit, so maybe just try to knock it around, the skipper said. Despite completing their own assignment, South Africa's qualification ambitions remain out of their control. Their fate now rests on the outcome of the final Group stage fixture between India and Australia, and Wolvaardt revealed exactly where her attention would be once her own match had concluded. They've got some really slow spinners. It's always going to be tough in slow wickets, when they're really slowing it down like that. I think today we maybe went in our shells a little bit, so maybe just try to knock it around, the skipper said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score South Africa have done everything they could by collecting the two points against Bangladesh, but whether their World Cup journey continues now depends entirely on Australia's ability to overcome India. Article Source: IANS

India bat with Gaud in for Nandani in must-win clash against Australia

Phoebe Litchfield returned for Australia, having missed all but their first match of the World Cup with injury

Padikkal Smashes Half-century As Rain Forces Draw In India A-Sri Lanka A Four-day Clash

Spinner Dilum Sudeera: Left-handed batter Devdutt Padikkal smashed a fine half-century before persistent inclement weather resulted in a draw on the fourth and final day of the first four-day game between India A and Sri Lanka A on Sunday. Chasing an improbable target of 312 runs in the fourth innings, Sri Lanka A were at 70/2 when play was officially called off following multiple delays due to rain. Starting their day at 53 without loss, India A progressed smoothly via an 82-run stand between opener Ayush Pandey and Padikkal. Spinner Dilum Sudeera provided the initial breakthrough by dismissing Pandey for 38, which was followed by Ravindu Fernando trapping Ruturaj Gaikwad (1) lbw to reduce India A to 137/2. Padikkal, who notched up a solid 67, anchored the innings alongside skipper, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, through a brief 44-run stand. But Sri Lanka A bounced back when Sudeera claimed Padikkal, and Sahan Arachchige had caught Jurel behind the stumps in the subsequent over to leave India A at 172/4 at lunch. A heavy downpour delayed the start of the post-lunch session, but Sri Lanka A capitalised on the resumption of play. Sudeera triggered a dramatic batting collapse, grabbing three scalps in a single over to secure a well-deserving five-wicket haul. Struggling at 189/8 but possessing a formidable overall lead of 311 runs, India A decided to declare their second innings and put Sri Lanka A into chasing. Opener Pawantha Weerasinghe struck a fluent 20, but India A made a breakthrough when medium-pacer Auqib Nabi removed him, while Harsh Dubey trapped Niroshan Dickwella plumb lbw in consecutive overs to leave the hosts two down. Sudeera triggered a dramatic batting collapse, grabbing three scalps in a single over to secure a well-deserving five-wicket haul. Struggling at 189/8 but possessing a formidable overall lead of 311 runs, India A decided to declare their second innings and put Sri Lanka A into chasing. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: India A 452/6 declared and 189/8 declared (Devdutt Padikkal 67, Ayush Pandey 38; Dilum Sudeera 5-49) drew with Sri Lanka A 330 and 70/2 in 15 overs (Pawantha Weerasinghe 20; Auqib Nabi 1-18). Article Source: IANS

Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: Coastal Kings Mangaluru Cruise To Eight Wicket Triumph Over Shivamogga Yodhas

Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: Coastal Kings Mangaluru scored an emphatic eight-wicket victory (VJD target) over Shivamogga Yodhas in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 tournament on Sunday. The match was reduced to 17 overs a side during the first innnings, due to rain. Batting first, Shivamogga Yodhas could manage only 113 for eight in their 17 overs as their batting proved brittle yet again and that led to their second successive defeat. For the winners, who reached the revised target with utmost comfort in just 12.4 overs losing just two wickets, veteran medium pacer Vasuki Koushik (2-15) did the early damage with a double blow in his second over while 17-year-old debutant B R Rathan (3-16) broke the lower-order on his debut. It was their third victory in five matches and helped them reduce the margin with the table toppers Bengaluru Blasters to a solitary point and move to second position on seven points. For the Yodhas, it was their second successive defeat and fourth in five matches. They stay in fourth with four points from five matches. In reply, Coastal Kings openers Venkatesh M and Nikin Jose added 81 runs in just 7.5 overs to effectively put the match beyond the reach of the Yodhas. Venkateshs 25-ball 45 consisted of four boundaries and three sixes while Jose continued his good form with 31 (25 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes). Siddharth Akhil (22 not out, 19 balls, 2 fours) and Rajvir Wadhwa (10 not out, 7 balls, 1 six) completed the formalities without much fuss. For Coastal Kings the 33-year-old multi-talented Koushik first clean bowled opener Naveen MG (10, 10 balls, 1 four, 1 six) of the fourth ball of his second over and then ensured K V Aneeshs poor form continued as he dismissed him for another golden duck, caught by Jose, off the very next delivery. Siddharth Akhil (22 not out, 19 balls, 2 fours) and Rajvir Wadhwa (10 not out, 7 balls, 1 six) completed the formalities without much fuss. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The remarkably talented debutant Rathan then entered the scene and completed the destruction in dramatic style, claiming the last three wickets to fall. Article Source: IANS

South Africa seal nervy chase against Bangladesh and wait for Australia vs India

If Australia beat India, South Africa will qualify for the semi-finals

Women's T20 WC: Kranti Gaud Back As India Opt To Bat Against Australia

T20 World Cup: India won the toss and elected to bat first against Australia in the final group stage match of the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday. India have made one change for the must-win encounter, as Kranti Gaud is back in the side in place of Nandni Sharma. While Phoebe Litchfield is back in Australia. Australia have been virtually flawless throughout the tournament, collecting maximum points from four matches and establishing themselves as the benchmark once again. Their impressive net run rate means only an extraordinary sequence of results could prevent them from reaching the semi-finals, allowing them to approach the contest from a position of strength. India's margin for error is considerably slimmer. Harmanpreet Kaur's team enters the final group game knowing victory would certain their qualification for semi finals while a loss would send them out of the tournament. Although Australia remain favourites, recent history suggests India have every reason to believe. The memories of knocking Australia out of last year's Women's ODI World Cup and winning a bilateral T201 series on Australian soil have demonstrated that the gap between the two sides has narrowed significantly. After winning the toss, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said, Going to bat first. Very important game for us, so we thought, let's just bat freely. One change. Kranti is back in place of Nandni. These kinds of pitches suit her. It's a fresh day, fresh mind. Today is the day to enjoy ourselves. While after losing the toss, Australian skipper Sophie Molineux said, Actually, we were going to have a bowl. Pheebs is back in; Alana King is missing out. Just conditions and matchups. Playing XIs While after losing the toss, Australian skipper Sophie Molineux said, Actually, we were going to have a bowl. Pheebs is back in; Alana King is missing out. Just conditions and matchups. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia: Beth Mooney(wk), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux (c), Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton Article Source: IANS

Womens T20 WC: South Africa Edge Bangladesh In Tense Chase But SF Fate Rests On Australia

T20 World Cup: South Africa kept their ICC Women's T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive with a hard-fought four-wicket victory over Bangladesh on Sunday at the Lords Cricket Ground, successfully chasing 118 in a contest that remained alive until the final over. After restricting Bangladesh to 117/5 through a disciplined bowling effort in the first innings, the Proteas overcame a spirited fightback led by Bangladesh's bowlers to seal victory, although their progression now depends on Australia defeating India later in the day. The modest target appeared straightforward on paper, but Bangladesh ensured South Africa had to earn every run. Marufa Akter produced a dream start by removing captain Laura Wolvaardt with the very first delivery of the chase, sending the stumps cartwheeling with a magnificent inswinger that immediately shifted the pressure onto the Proteas. Annerie Dercksen and Tazmin Brits responded calmly, refusing to let the early setback derail their pursuit. The pair rebuilt with a valuable 52-run partnership for the second wicket, rotating strike efficiently before capitalising on scoring opportunities. Dercksen settled into her innings despite a couple of anxious moments early on, while Brits mixed caution with aggression to ensure the required rate never climbed beyond control. Bangladesh, however, refused to let the game drift away. Nahida Akter provided the breakthrough by deceiving Brits into a mistimed slog-sweep before dismissing Dercksen for a well-crafted 45 after a successful review confirmed a faint edge through to wicketkeeper Nigar Sultana. Between those wickets, Shanjida Akter Meghla trapped Dane van Niekerk leg-before, keeping Bangladesh firmly in the contest despite South Africa's steady progress. Earlier, Bangladesh had battled their way to 117/5 after opting to bat, recovering from a difficult start through a series of useful partnerships. While South Africa's bowlers consistently prevented the innings from gaining sustained momentum, Bangladesh found timely contributions across the order to post a total that at least offered their bowlers something to defend. Marizanne Kapp attempted to steer South Africa home with a composed knock, but Bangladesh's persistence produced another twist when she was run out following confusion with Nadine de Klerk. The dismissal injected fresh belief into the Bangladesh camp, and De Klerk's dismissal to an outstanding catch by Shorna Akter in the 19th over further delayed the inevitable. With five required from the final over, Chloe Tryon received an element of fortune when a thick outside edge raced away for four before calmly squeezing the next delivery into the off side to complete the chase with four balls remaining. Marufa's opening burst, Nahida's double strike and Bangladesh's sharp fielding ensured South Africa never enjoyed complete control despite chasing a below-par target. Yet Dercksen's composed 45, supported by useful contributions from Brits (20), Kapp (16) and De Klerk (15), ultimately proved sufficient to guide the Proteas across the line. With five required from the final over, Chloe Tryon received an element of fortune when a thick outside edge raced away for four before calmly squeezing the next delivery into the off side to complete the chase with four balls remaining. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: Bangladesh 117/5 in 20 overs (Sobhana Mostary 42, Nigar Sultana 32*; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2-22, Marizanne Kapp 1-9) lost to South Africa (Annerie Derksen 45, Tazmin Brits 20; Nahida Akter 2-24, Ritu Moni 1-24) by 4 wickets. Article Source: IANS

2nd T20I: Debut International Match Gave An unreal Feeling, Says Ireland Pacer Moondra

T20 World Cup: Ireland left-arm pacer Jai Moondra described his maiden international outing in the T20I series opener against India as an unreal feeling and credited his teammates and coaches for helping him stick to the teams plans. Moondras figures of 2-25 helped Ireland beat India by 34 runs and get their first win over the T20 World Cup champions for the first time in international cricket. It was an amazing feeling going out, stepping on international platform, testing yourself against the best in the world. And it was unreal feeling. Can't describe in one word, but it's a different feeling, and have taken it in my book, Moondra said in a chat with broadcasters ahead of the second T20I on Sunday. Asked on what worked well for him, Moondra replied, Well, I probably would say the team plan, what they have been given to me and what they were telling me. It's more credit to the lads and the coaches that have been training with me, giving that to execute the plan, whatever the outcome. Just stick to your plan, your basics, and what you have been working. Just trust on that. It was an amazing feeling going out, stepping on international platform, testing yourself against the best in the world. And it was unreal feeling. Can't describe in one word, but it's a different feeling, and have taken it in my book, Moondra said in a chat with broadcasters ahead of the second T20I on Sunday. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Well, after Friday, had a good rest and reset day. And for today, just going with same. Don't try to change anything. Just adapt to the situation, read. International platform is a tricky one. You can have a one day up and down. So just adapt to the situations and do what team is suggesting, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

Padikkal fifty, Sudeera five-for before India A, SL A settle for draw

B Sai Sudharsan, who retired hurt on the third day, did not return to bat

India bowl in bid to level series; Prince, Shedge handed T20I debuts

Ireland, who won the first T20I, were unchanged

2nd T20I: Shedge, Prince Handed Debut Caps As India Elect To Bowl Against Unchanged Ireland

Civil Service Cricket Club: Suryansh Shedge and Prince Yadav were handed their maiden caps as India won the toss and elected to bowl first against an unchanged Ireland in the second T20I at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont on Sunday. India needs to win Sundays game to square the two-match series after losing the opening game by 34 runs which also marked their first-ever loss to Ireland in international cricket. After winning the toss, India captain Shreyas Iyer said Shedge and Prince come in for Washington Sundar and Prasidh Krishna in the playing eleven. Shedge is a powerful, destructive batter. Yes, hes a sensational youngster who has been scoring runs in domestic cricket and also in the IPL. Hes got a tremendous amount of experience in youth cricket. So definitely hes performed in the A tours and reaping the benefits. Definitely its Princes first game, so I dont want to put him under that much pressure. Its important that he comes out here and gains the experience out of what is there to offer. He must have seen the match (on Friday), how we played in the previous game. So definitely hes smart enough to adapt to it, he said. Iyer also said his decision to bowl first was also due to the weather conditions. It can pour any time, so we want to maximize the advantage of it. The trend is its just important to adapt to the conditions as quickly as possible. And they were pretty smart in terms of making bowling changes and also scoring off the back foot and front foot, clearing right in the front. So its important that we play smart cricket rather than having a set pattern and see to it that we back our instincts as well at the same time. Yes, it was a bit different, but coming back to the international, it was my first game after a very long time. Weve got many experienced players in the team who have played a considerable amount of matches. So it was just a day off for us and I'm looking forward to having a good one today. Ireland skipper Lorcan Tucker said he was happy to be batting first. We want to get a good read on the pitch as quickly as possible. Hopefully it plays pretty similarly today. I think it might just be about getting a good read on the pitch as quickly as possible, assessing what their bowlers are trying to do. We know they tried to hammer their hard lengths pretty early, and they had good success doing it the other day. But I think it's time to come back, adapt, learn from the other day, and hopefully have a slightly better go and get in the power play. On what pleased him the most about Irelands performance in the first game, Tucker explained, I think the way we put it together in the second innings, the way we shut them down. There were very long periods without boundaries, I think we were able to really dig in, put them under pressure, and the fact we were able to close out the game when they had some big hitters towards the end was exceptional. Matthew, hes fine. Hes a tough lad, so we know hes willing to get out here and play again. We know Harrys a spectacular player. I think 100 (T20I) caps is a testament to all the work hes done and the player he is, so we know he will come good today. Playing XIs: Matthew, hes fine. Hes a tough lad, so we know hes willing to get out here and play again. We know Harrys a spectacular player. I think 100 (T20I) caps is a testament to all the work hes done and the player he is, so we know he will come good today. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Ireland: Tim Tector, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (captain & wk), Benjamin Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Liam McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Jai Moondra, and Matthew Hollard Article Source: IANS

Ravindra misses century but Mitchell grinds NZ towards big lead

Spin introduction provides late breakthrough as England are made to wait for wickets

Womens T20 WC: Sobhana, Sultana Take Bangladesh To 117/5 Against South Africa

T20 World Cup: Bangladesh recovered from a disastrous start to post 117/5 in their 20 overs against South Africa after captain Nigar Sultana's unbeaten late flourish and a resilient third-wicket partnership between Sobhana Mostary and Sharmin Akhter rescued the innings here at the Lords Cricket Ground on Sunday in what is the penultimate group game of the ICC Womens T20 World Cup. On a lively surface that offered movement throughout the morning, South Africa's experienced pace attack, led by Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail, dictated the early exchanges before the spinners tightened their grip during the middle overs. Bangladesh's decision to bat first came under immediate scrutiny as Kapp struck with the opening delivery of the match. Juairiya Ferdous departed for a golden duck after missing a wild swing, setting the tone for an uncomfortable powerplay against the new ball. Kapp extracted pronounced swing from the outset, repeatedly beating the outside edge, while Ismail's pace and seam movement ensured Bangladesh found little breathing room. The pressure eventually brought another breakthrough when Taj Nehar, after a painstaking stay at the crease, was trapped leg-before by Ismail following a review. At 14/2 after four overs, Bangladesh had managed only a handful of scoring opportunities as South Africa's seamers maintained relentless discipline. Sobhana then steadied the innings with an innings built on patience rather than aggression. Initially content to absorb pressure, she gradually began rotating the strike before capitalising whenever the bowlers erred. Sharmin complemented her approach, and together the pair stitched a valuable 55-run partnership that revived Bangladesh's hopes after the early collapse. The introduction of spin briefly eased the scoring pressure. Mostary swept confidently against Nonkululeko Mlaba and punished Chloe Tryon's loose deliveries, while Sharmin found boundaries square of the wicket and accumulated through intelligent placement. Mostary also produced the innings' first six by pulling Nadine de Klerk over deep square leg, signalling Bangladesh's intent to push beyond the modest total they seemed destined for during the powerplay. Just as the partnership began to gather momentum, South Africa struck back through Mlaba. The left-arm spinner deceived Sharmin Akhter in flight, beating her attempted drive to bowl her for 22 and end the crucial stand. Bangladesh's hopes of accelerating suffered another setback when Mostary, after a hard-earned 42 from 48 deliveries, upper-cut a cleverly disguised slower short ball from de Klerk straight to deep backward point. With Bangladesh reduced to 81/4 and only a few overs remaining, captain Nigar Sultana assumed responsibility for the finish. After taking time to assess the conditions against the returning Ismail, she shifted gears dramatically in the closing overs. Nigar broke the shackles with a sliced boundary off Ayabonga Khaka before launching a powerful slog sweep for the innings' second six. Even after Mlaba removed Shorna Akter in the penultimate over, Nigar continued attacking. She slog-swept another boundary before ending the innings in style, carving consecutive fours off Khaka in the final over to remain unbeaten on 32 from just 20 balls. Bangladesh collected 22 runs across the last two overs, giving the scoreboard a far healthier appearance than had seemed possible earlier. South Africa's bowlers nevertheless remained firmly in control for most of the innings. Kapp's outstanding opening spell of 1/9 from four overs laid the platform, while Ismail's hostile pace returned figures of 1/15. Mlaba proved equally effective through the middle overs with 2/22, and de Klerk's clever changes of pace accounted for the well-set Mostary at a critical stage. Even after Mlaba removed Shorna Akter in the penultimate over, Nigar continued attacking. She slog-swept another boundary before ending the innings in style, carving consecutive fours off Khaka in the final over to remain unbeaten on 32 from just 20 balls. Bangladesh collected 22 runs across the last two overs, giving the scoreboard a far healthier appearance than had seemed possible earlier. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: Bangladesh 117/5 in 20 overs (Sobhana Mostary 42, Nigar Sultana 32*; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2-22, Marizanne Kapp 1-9) against South Africa Article Source: IANS

PCB overhauls department cricket with steep fee hike, mandatory player contracts

The participation fee to play in the President's Trophy and President's Cup this season has nearly tripled

Bangladesh opt to bat, SA unchanged in high-stakes game

Bangladesh brought in Taj Nehar for Dilara Akter at the top of the order

Womens T20 WC: Bangladesh Opt To Bat Against Unchanged South Africa In Final Group Clash

Most Sharmin Akter Supta: Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat against South Africa in the penultimate group-stage game of the ICC Womens T20 World Cup at the Lords Cricket Ground on Sunday. The Proteas enter this must-win clash with their semifinal hopes hanging by a thread. After opening their campaign with a heavy 65-run defeat to Australia, a result that badly dented their net run rate, Laura Wolvaardt's side have responded admirably with three successive victories to climb back into contention. Their NRR has improved to +0.734, but it still trails India's commanding +2.268, leaving the Proteas with very little margin for error. While there remains a mathematical possibility of overtaking India on net run rate, it would require an extraordinary victory margin that appears highly unlikely. The simpler route is clear: beat Bangladesh and hope Australia defeat India later in the day. If the defending champions do their part, South Africa's place in the semifinals will be secured without any need for complicated calculations. The Proteas will also take confidence from their impressive record against Bangladesh, having won 12 of their 14 completed T20Is. Bangladesh, meanwhile, are staring at an early exit themselves and will also be playing at Lord's for the first time, adding another challenge to an already difficult assignment. Bangladesh currently have four points from four matches and probably won't advance to the semi-final. Their best chance is to beat South Africa by over 100 runs and then hope Australia beat India by an even bigger margin. For South Africa, the equation is straightforward but unforgiving. Win first, then wait for the result from the second game of the double-header. Anything less, and their World Cup campaign could come to an end despite a spirited comeback after a difficult start. Winning the toss, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty said, Looking at the conditions, we felt it would be good to put runs on the board. We have one change from the last game - Taj Nehar comes in for Dilara Akter. It's another opportunity for us. There have been a lot of positives to take from this tournament, but we really want to finish with a win. It's a great chance for the team to end the tournament on a high. Meanwhile, South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt said, Probably would've had a bowl anyway. Unchanged today. We've had a couple of close games along the way. We're finding ways to win. Hopefully we can do that again. Numbers are pretty massive that we need to get (the NRR equations). Will take one ball at a time. Winning is the priority. Playing XIs: Meanwhile, South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt said, Probably would've had a bowl anyway. Unchanged today. We've had a couple of close games along the way. We're finding ways to win. Hopefully we can do that again. Numbers are pretty massive that we need to get (the NRR equations). Will take one ball at a time. Winning is the priority. Also Read: Live Cricket Score South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Annerie Dercksen, Dane Van Niekerk, Marizanne Kapp, Nadine De Klerk, Chloe Tryon, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba Article Source: IANS

Best Person To Tackle Perry Would Be Shree Charani: Shikha Pandey Backs India To Stick With Winning Combination Against AUS

T20 World Cup: India pacer Shikha Pandey believes that India should resist the temptation to make further changes to their playing XI and instead trust the side that defeated Bangladesh when they face Australia in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup on Sunday at the iconic Lord's. Speaking ahead of the crucial Group A clash, Shikha also assessed the key individual battles likely to shape the contest, identifying how Shafali Verma can counter Australia's new-ball attack and naming the bowler she believes is best equipped to contain Ellyse Perry. Shikha urged the Indian team management to show faith in the current combination rather than continue rotating the pace attack. I'm not going to make any more changes to the playing XI. We need to back our players a little more. The very fact that, from game one to game four, we've never played the same combination of two pacers in consecutive games tells you that we have chopped and changed too much. I would want to give them that freedom and let them feel settled. We got a good win against Bangladesh, so just go into the game against Australia with the same positive attitude, Shikha told JioStar. The former fast bowler also weighed in on the challenge of stopping Australia's in-form all-rounder Ellyse Perry, praising the veteran's continued evolution while explaining the type of bowling that could trouble her. It's not just her batting. The two times she has come on to bowl for Australia, she has taken wickets on both occasions. Some of the shots she played against Pakistan were amazing. She handled the short-pitched deliveries from Diana Baig very well; she was clinical. Another shot that she's added to her repertoire is the scoop. For a player who has played international cricket for so many years, to go back, work on new shots, and reinvent herself is just amazing to watch, she added. Shikha then pointed to the qualities India should rely on against Perry before naming her preferred matchup. Someone who can seam and swing the ball late is the kind of bowler you would want against Ellyse Perry. Arundhati Reddy did that for India in the series earlier this year. But given the form she's been in, she might not even play this game. The best person to tackle Perry would be Shree Charani, given the way she has been bowling, Shikha stated. Looking ahead to India's batting, Shikha highlighted the contest between opener Shafali Verma and Australia's new-ball bowlers, warning that the visitors have multiple options capable of testing the aggressive right-hander. Kim Garth is a very skilful bowler. Kim Garth and Sophie Molineux have been opening the bowling for Australia mostly. They've also made a change, bringing in the young left-arm medium pacer, Lucy Hamilton. So, if Hamilton plays, she'll probably try the short-pitched delivery at Shafali, which has been her undoing in a few games, the pacer noted. However, Shikha believes Shafali's recent form offers India plenty of encouragement and suggested a straightforward approach against Australia's left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux. Kim Garth is a very skilful bowler. Kim Garth and Sophie Molineux have been opening the bowling for Australia mostly. They've also made a change, bringing in the young left-arm medium pacer, Lucy Hamilton. So, if Hamilton plays, she'll probably try the short-pitched delivery at Shafali, which has been her undoing in a few games, the pacer noted. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With a place in the knockout stage at stake, India will hope the tactical battles unfold in their favour as they prepare for one of their toughest assignments of the tournament against six-time champions Australia. Article Source: IANS

Zimbabwe opt to bowl; Bangladesh hand debuts to Amite Hasan and Towhid Hridoy

For Zimbabwe, Wessly Madhevere took the spot of Sikandar Raza but there was no room for Graeme Cremer

Belfast City Hall Lights Up In Tricolour As CGI Hosts Special Reception For Team India

Civil Service Cricket Club: The Consulate General of India (CGI) in Belfast hosted a special reception for Team India, who are in Ireland for the two-match T20I series, in the Northern Ireland capital. Consul General of India Kiran Khatri welcomed the 'Men in Blue' as they will take on the hosts in the second match of the series here at the Civil Service Cricket Club on Sunday. The India men's cricket team returned to Ireland three years after their last visit. To welcome Team India, Belfast City Hall was lit up in the Indian tricolour. Sport remains one of the warmest bridges between our peoples. Wishing the Men in Blue the very best! CGI Belfast posted on X. Meanwhile, the BCCI shared the glimpses of the event on X with a caption, An evening of warmth, camaraderie and the Indian spirit in Belfast. The Consulate General of India in Belfast (@CGIBelfast) welcomed #TeamIndia at a special reception hosted by Ms Kiran Khatri, Consul General of India. Joined by members of the Indian community and distinguished guests, the occasion reflected the enduring appeal of cricket in bringing people closer. India and Ireland have met on eight occasions previously in T20Is, with India winning all eight, the last encounter being at the 2024 ICC Mens T20 World Cup in New York. Before the ongoing tour, India's last T20I on Irish soil was in 2023. The teams last played at Stormont in 2007, an ODI which India won by nine wickets. However, Ireland broke a winless run against India in the opening T20I by registering their first-ever win over reigning world T20 champions by 34 runs. India and Ireland have met on eight occasions previously in T20Is, with India winning all eight, the last encounter being at the 2024 ICC Mens T20 World Cup in New York. Before the ongoing tour, India's last T20I on Irish soil was in 2023. The teams last played at Stormont in 2007, an ODI which India won by nine wickets. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The 34-run win marks Ireland's first-ever triumph against India across all formats of the game. Article Source: IANS

'An amazing day' - Amir Jangoo takes in double-hundred after late call-up

Captain Roston Chase ended a more than seven-year wait for another hundred in what became a mammoth sixth-wicket stand

Shedge replaces injured Reddy for T20Is in Ireland and England

Uncapped allrounder was part of the India A team that won the 50-over tri-series in Sri Lanka

Sports Council Secretary Nuzhat Gull Thanks PM Modi As Centre Approves Landmark NCOE For J&K

Kashmir Sports Council Nuzhat Gull: Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council Nuzhat Gull expressed her deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the central government approved the establishment of the Union Territorys first-ever National Centre of Excellence (NCOE). Over the past few years, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a major surge in sporting achievements on national and international stages, a momentum that the new Centre of Excellence aims to strengthen. Our vision is to make Jammu & Kashmir a leading sporting Union Territory not just in winter sports, but across disciplines. We want structured grassroots programmes, professional coaching, scientific training methods and international exposure. Sports should contribute to social developmentgenerating employment, promoting tourism and providing constructive engagement for youth. Today, our athletes are not just participating; they are competing and winning. Our mission is to create better sports infrastructure, empower youth, and build a brighter future for Jammu & Kashmir. We are highly thankful to the PM Narendra Modi for sanctioning the first-ever NCOE for Jammu and Kashmir, which will greatly contribute to the professional sports across J&K, she said. Since assuming charge as secretary of the JJ&K Sports Council in 2021, Nuzhat has led effort to strengthen sports infrastructure, expand grassroots participation, create opportunities for young athletes, and position the Union Territory as a national sporting destination. Under her tenure, the sport council expanded training programmes into districts and rural areas, ensuring that children from remote regions received structured coaching and competitive exposure rather than focusing only on elite athletes. As the first woman to lead the Sports Council, Nuzhat's tenure has seen continued encouragement of female participation across sporting disciplines, increased visibility for women athletes, and greater emphasis on creating safe and inclusive sporting environments. Sports infrastructure was revitalised across the Union Territory, with stadiums, indoor halls, Khelo India coaching centres and playing fields becoming more accessible. The Council also encouraged year-round activity by opening sports facilities for community use, including extending access into evening hours so that students and working youth could train regularly. As the first woman to lead the Sports Council, Nuzhat's tenure has seen continued encouragement of female participation across sporting disciplines, increased visibility for women athletes, and greater emphasis on creating safe and inclusive sporting environments. Also Read: Live Cricket Score There has been the increasing success of J&K athletes across disciplines, including winter sports, football, martial arts, athletics, cricket, boxing, wrestling, fencing, Taekwondo, judo and many others, as athletes from the Union Territory have consistently secured medals at national and international competitions, courtesy tp the the strengthened support system created by the Sports Council, which has provided improved infrastructure, coaching, exposure, and opportunities for athletes to compete at higher levels. Article Source: IANS

Chaudhary's last-ball six wins it for Freedom after Hosein's hat-trick

Mitchell Owen set up Freedom's chase with 77 off 35 before the match hurtled towards a chaotic finish

Prolific West Indies batter Charlie Davis dies aged 82

In a Test career that ran from 1968 to 1973, Davis scored 1301 runs at an average of 54.20

Rachin Ravindra Leads New Zealand Rally In England Finale After Archer's Double Strike

Rachin Ravindra's unbeaten fifty revived New Zealand after Jofra Archer's double strike had given England renewed hope of victory in the third and deciding Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday. New Zealand, with the three-match series up for grabs at 1-1, were faltering at 12-2 in their second innings following fast bowler Archer's two wickets after tea on the third day. But at stumps they had recovered to 120-3, a significant overall lead of 204 runs, with a previously good pitch now showing signs of uneven bounce after being 'baked' for three days in soaring heat. Ravindra was 60 not out, his second fifty of the series. The 26-year-old left-hander received good support from Daryl Mitchell (26 not out) in an unbroken stand of 69. We always knew that new ball period was going to be tough work but credit to Rachin and Daryl they played really well after that, New Zealand concussion substitute Zak Foulkes, who earlier Saturday returned fine figures of 3-35 in just 15.2 overs, told reporters. Hopefully they can carry on in the morning (Sunday). England are on a run of six defeats in their last eight Tests and anything other than a win in Nottingham could spell trouble for managing director Rob Key and coach Brendon McCullum. The due, already under pressure following England's woeful 4-1 Ashes series loss in Australia, have also faced further flak for their handling of recent curfew breaches by skipper Ben Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson. England left-arm spinner Shoaib Bashir admitted a wearing pitch would be a worry when it came to a fourth-innings run-chase. - 'Pressure and excitement' - We've got unbelievable cricketers in this team but we want it to be as little as possible with this wicket deteriorating, he said. Bashir, whose nine wicketless overs Saturday cost just 28 runs added: We're human, we're obviously going to feel pressure but there's a lot of excitement going into these next two days as well. New Zealand's early batting Saturday was a far cry from their first-innings, as skipper Tom Latham and fellow opener Devon Conway, who made 151 and 157 respectively in a total of 438, fell for four and five second time around. Latham was lbw to a fine Archer ball that angled in and cut away. Conway, one of a quartet of left-handers in the top four, was then struck on the helmet by an Archer delivery that lifted awkwardly off a good length. Three balls later he was out to a similarly brutish delivery that climbed sharply off the splice before flying to Joe Root at first slip, with Archer returning impressive close figures of 2-14 in seven overs. New Zealand were 51-3 when Henry Nicholls fell for 16. But Ravindra stylishly went to fifty by whipping returning England captain Stokes through midwicket for a seventh four in 81 balls faced. - 'Stay boring' - Earlier, Nathan Smith took 4-91 and Foulkes two key wickets as an injury-hit New Zealand dismissed England for 354 to lead by 84 runs on first innings. Foulkes, New Zealand's first concussion substitute in Test cricket after replacing Blair Tickner on Friday, captured the prize scalps of Stokes (15) and Harry Brook (58). England lost three wickets for 11 runs at the start of Saturday's play as their overnight 223-2 became 234-5. Root (21) and Jacob Bethell (74) were both unable to add to their Friday scores, with wicket-keeper Tom Latham again crowding the batsmen for room by standing up to the stumps. We just tried to stay boring for as long as possible and tried to dry up the runs, said Foulkes, 24. The double strike was just what New Zealand needed after coming into this match without injured seamer Matt Henry, who took 11 wickets at the Oval, and in-form towering paceman Kyle Jamieson, rested as a fitness precaution even before Tickner was sidelined. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Stokes was back after being omitted from England's 253-run defeat in the second Test at the Oval for breaking a midnight curfew, alongside Atkinson, while celebrating at a London nightclub following the first-Test win over New Zealand.

WI vs SL 1st Test: Amir Jangoo And Roston Chase Put West Indies In Control Against Sri Lanka

A double-century by relative newcomer Amir Jangoo and 194 from captain Roston Chase put the West Indies in a commanding position with the sixth-wicket pair's partnership of 401 lifting the home side to a mammoth first innings total of 626 for nine declared on the third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Saturday. Sri Lanka, who looked a dispirited lot, completely bereft of ideas in the field for almost the entire day, lost Pathum Nissanka to Jayden Seales before the close of play, leaving them at 15 for one in the second innings, trailing on by 303 runs going into day four. I am not one to really put pressure on myself. Even though I wasn't getting the runs, my priority has been to get the best out of my teammates, said Chase in putting his sixth Test century, more than seven years after his fifth, into context. Of course it's good not just to lead by words but on the field of play as well and we have been talking a lot about finally getting our first win in this World Test Championship (cycle). On another sun-drenched day, Jangoo and Chase took full toll of their listless opponents, who were again without the services of injured seamer Lahiru Kumara. Yet the visitors' overall effort revealed a lack of imagination from captain Dhananjaya de Silva through the fruitless morning and afternoon sessions as the West Indies pair accumulated runs with increasing ease, having started the day at 271 for five. Nothing, though, could diminish the significance of the stand by the compact left-hander seeking to take full advantage of an unexpected opportunity and the slim, upright right-handed skipper who turned his first Test century for more than seven years into a truly special innings. Such was the level of their dominance that it seemed they could have batted through the entire day, having come together at the start of play after tea on the second day when the West Indies were labouring at 168 for five in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings total of 308, which then seemed a substantial effort. Indeed, they were only separated when Jangoo, who transformed his maiden Test century into a memorable 233, skied an attempted swing to leg off Milan Rathnayaka for wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis to pouch a comfortable catch. This was a failed effort to repeat the shot of a ball before when he hoisted the medium-pacer for six over deep backward-square-leg to lift the partnership to 401. - Second-highest partnership - It now stands as the second-highest partnership in Test cricket for any wicket by the West Indies, bettered only by the 446 put on by Garfield Sobers and Conrad Hunte for the second wicket against Pakistan in Kingston, Jamaica in 1958 and just two runs ahead of the 399 amassed by Sobers and his mentor, Frank Worrell, for the fourth wicket against England in their native Bridgetown, Barbados in 1960. That one hook for six before Jangoo's demise also put him and Chase at the top of the list for the highest sixth-wicket partnership in all Test cricket, surpassing the 399 by the England pair of Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow against South Africa in Cape Town in the New Year's Test of 2016. Having only gotten into the final 11 for this match when established middle-order batsman Shai Hope was ruled out on the first morning with a strained left shoulder, Jangoo's innings of more than eight hours at the crease occupied 373 deliveries, embellished by three sixes and 19 fours. Faced with a rising tide of regional dissent towards his so far unsuccessful Test captaincy, compounded by a lack of runs off his own bat, Chase's disappointment at falling six short of a double-century, bowled round his legs by spinner Sonal Dinusha, would have been eased by the volume of his contribution, an innings which occupied 324 deliveries and was highlighted by two sixes and 13 fours. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Amid the carnage, Rathnayaka completed a deserved five-wicket haul, trapping Kemar Roach leg-before to achieve the personal milestone and prompt Chase's declaration.

LAKR lose 10 for 50 after Pooran rescues MI New York

Colin Munro's run out sparked a dramatic collapse while Romario Shepherd produced the most economical figures in MLC

Wyatt-Hodge, Dunkley lead romp as NZ bow out; WI through

They shared an unbroken 128-run stand for the second wicket as England continued their unbeaten run and also helped WI sneak into the semi-final