Cricket

Saud Misses Out On Hundred Again As Pakistan-Sri Lanka First Test Ends In Draw

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium: Saud Shakeel narrowly missed out on a century for the second time in the match as the first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka ended in a draw, with the hosts reaching 284/8 in their second innings at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday. The left-handed middle-order batter scored 97 off 210 balls, hitting seven fours, as Pakistan finished their second innings at 284/8 in 84.5 overs on the fifth and final day to end the match with a lead of 272 runs. Saud, who had scored 93 in the first innings to help Pakistan declare at 434/9, once again fell agonisingly short of the three-figure mark when he was bowled by Lahiru Kumara. His patient and determined effort helped Pakistan secure a draw after the hosts had conceded a slender 12-run first-innings lead. Sri Lanka were all out for 446 in their first innings. Resuming at 57-1, Pakistan suffered a couple of early setbacks as Azan Awais (22) and Mohammad Taha (24) departed without adding to their overnight scores. Sri Lanka raised their hopes a bit when Pakistan captain Babar Azam was dismissed by Milan Rathnayaka for 34 off 48 balls, and Salman Agha managed 13 as the hosts slipped to 125/5. Saud then held the innings together, combining with wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (35) to add 92 runs for the sixth wicket. After Ghazis dismissal, Arafat Minhas chipped in with 16, while Saud continued to hold firm before becoming the eighth batter dismissed on the final ball of the match. Rathnayaka was Sri Lankas most successful bowler in the second innings with figures of 3-47, while Asitha Fernando and Kumara took two wickets each. Pakistan debutant Saqib Khan was adjudged Player of the Match for his outstanding figures of 7-130 in Sri Lankas first innings. Brief scores: Pakistan 434-9 decl. and 284-8 in 84.5 overs (Saud Shakeel 97, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori 35; Milan Rathnayaka 3-47, Asitha Fernando 2-35, Lahiru Kumara 2-65) vs Sri Lanka 446. Match drawn Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

South Africa To Continue WTC Momentum Against Bangladesh

ICC World Test Championship: Coming on the back of a 2-1 win over Australia, South Africa will next face Bangladesh at home in a two-Test series starting November 15, hoping to further improve their chances in the World Test Championship (WTC). Even though their current opponents are ranked lower in the WTC Standings than their previous opponents - Australia - the hosts will be determined not to let their feet off the accelerator as they look to make a push for next year's WTC Final. South Africa are the reigning WTC champions and considered the favourites to reach the final again. In international cricket, you can't take any series for granted, Kagiso Rabada told the reporters ahead of the two-match series. There are always high stakes on every game that you play. And moving into this series against Bangladesh, they'll be heightened in their spirits, looking at the way they've played in recent times. It's actually exciting, you know? You want to be up against the best opposition that you can be. And I think they'd want to come here and prove a point, and I'm really looking forward to this battle. I think it will show how healthy cricket is, said Rabada. Bangladesh are currently fifth in the WTC Standings, and are coming on the back of a 1-0 series defeat at the hands of the West Indies. Previously, the team had registered a well-earned draw in a two-match series in Australia. A performance that hasn't gone unnoticed in the Proteas camp. For the reigning ICC World Test Championship winners, the upcoming series is also about ensuring they continue to vie for the top two spots in the Standings. I think it's human nature; we've found ourselves on that side before where we probably got a bit too complacent, he said. It's something that we have to guard against, to really give it our best shot and not drop the intensity, to keep our standards right up there. We're not really thinking about the result; we're just going to think about how we want to play, because that's what we've been doing these past two years, having that desperation to win. And yeah, getting into the faces of our opponents, that's exactly how we want to play. We'll be looking to do more of the same, he added. The first Test between South Africa and Bangladesh will kick off in Johannesburg on Sunday. The second Test will be played at Centurion from November 23-27. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

171-run Knock Changed Women's Cricket Perception: Harmanpreet Kaur Unveils Wax Statue In Jaipur

Mahendra Singh Dhoni: Indian women's cricket star Harmanpreet Kaur on Friday joined the league of cricketing legends Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Virat Kohli as her wax statue was unveiled at a ceremony held at the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC) in Jaipur. Organisers noted that the figure, crafted by the Historica Museum, is the world's first wax statue of a female cricketer and will be placed on permanent display at the 'Historica: Step into History' museum at Nahargarh Fort. Reflecting on her career milestones at the event, Harmanpreet said her historic 171-run knock played a pivotal role in transforming public perception around women's cricket in India. She observed that the sport has undergone a remarkable shift, with stadiums increasingly drawing packed crowds and growing numbers of women turning out to cheer for the national side. Drawing a parallel with India's 1983 men's World Cup triumph, she stated that the women's team's World Cup success had similarly reshaped the landscape of the women's game. This is just the beginning. Women's cricket will reach even greater heights in the coming years, she said. Recalling the World Cup victory at Lord's, Harmanpreet described lifting the trophy as one of the most unforgettable moments of her life, emphasising that the triumph was the culmination of the entire squad's collective dream and unity. During the ceremony, young aspiring cricketers from Jaipur welcomed the Indian skipper with a guard of honour using raised bats. Touched by the gesture, Harmanpreet interacted with the youngsters, posed for photographs, and urged them to pursue their sporting ambitions with dedication. Describing the wax figure as a deeply emotional milestone, Harmanpreet noted that seeing her statue displayed alongside cricketing icons she grew up admiring reflected years of perseverance and early career struggles. She also lauded the sculptors and museum team for the detailed measurements, photographs, and video recordings undertaken to create an accurate likeness. Highlighting the need to nurture grassroots talent, Harmanpreet pointed out that India's villages and small towns possess immense sporting potential. Having hailed from a similar background herself, she called for greater encouragement and improved sporting infrastructure for aspiring female athletes in rural areas. She added that coordinated initiatives by state cricket associations and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), alongside an almost year-round cricketing calendar, now offer emerging players a stronger platform to build professional careers. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Sandpaper-gate: Langer backs Cummins, says 'We have to move on...'

Former Australia coach Justin Langer has urged Australian cricket to move past the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, supporting Pat Cummins' strong denial of prior knowledge and rejection of Usman Khawaja's claims. Langer warned that the renewed controversy is harming players and fans, echoing Mitchell Marsh's desire to move on from the incident.

Women's Emerging Nations Trophy: Sri Lanka, Pakistan maintain winning starts on Day 2

Digital Desk | Ajman (UAE), Nov 13 (IANS) Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Ireland and Bangladesh won their respective matches on Day 2 of the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 in Ajman, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday. Sri Lanka and Pakistan both bagged their second consecutive wins, beating Scotland by four wickets and Thailand by 24 runs, respectively. Elsewhere, captain Gaby Lewis's 71 powered Ireland past hosts the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 61 runs, while Dilara Akter's unbeaten 68 took Bangladesh to a nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe. Gunaratne guides Sri Lanka to another win Vishmi Gunaratne scored 49 as Sri Lanka overcame a middle-order wobble to beat Scotland by four wickets. Batting first, Scotland slipped to 26/4 after eight overs before Darcey Carter scored 62 from 55 balls to help their side to 111 for eight, with Sugandika Kumari taking two for 15. Sri Lanka lost Hasini Perera for a duck in the first over, but Gunaratne and captain Harshitha Samarawickrama (24) steadied the ship in the middle overs. Abtaha Maqsood (3-18) struck twice in three balls to give her side an opening with Sri Lanka at 83 for five, needing 29 from 32. However, Gunaratne held her nerve and took her team to within three runs of victory before Kaushini Nuthyangana (16 not out) finished the chase with 11 balls to spare. Lewis leads Ireland to first win Captain Gaby Lewis produced a Player of the Match performance, striking 71 from 40 balls as Ireland beat the UAE by 61 runs for their first win of the tournament. Lewis hit 12 fours and a six in an opening stand of 102 with Amy Hunter (29), which ended in the 11th over when Hunter was run out. Janani Thirukkumaran (2-20) slowed the scoring after Lewis was bowled by Indhuja Nandakumar, but Lara Maritz (29) and Laura Delany (18 not out) lifted Ireland to 171 for five. In reply, the UAE slipped to eight for three in the second over, as Aimee Maguire struck with successive deliveries. Captain and opener Esha Oza anchored the recovery with 51 from 45 balls, but once she was caught off Louise Little in the 15th over, the chase faded, and the UAE finished on 110 for eight. Ayesha powers Pakistan past Thailand Ayesha Zafar smashed an unbeaten 59 from 26 balls as Pakistan beat Thailand by 24 runs for their second win of the tournament. Shawaal Zulfiqar (42) and Sadaf Shamas (37) laid the platform with an opening stand of 63, before Ayesha hit 10 fours and a six in an unbroken stand of 87 with captain Muneeba Ali (37 not out) to lift Pakistan to 180 for two. Thailand made a rapid start to the chase, with Natthakan Chantham (43) and Phannita Maya (33) putting on 74 inside eight overs. Tasmia Rubab then broke the stand as Thailand lost three wickets for 17 runs to slip to 91 for three. Captain Naruemol Chaiwai (23) and Sarnsiree Plant (20) kept Thailand in the chase, but Rubab bagged three wickets in the final over to finish with four for 18 as Thailand were held to 156 for eight. Dilara leads Bangladesh to nine-wicket win Dilara Akter struck an unbeaten 68 as Bangladesh responded to their opening-day defeat with a nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe. After a steady start, Zimbabwe lost three wickets for one run as they slipped from 33/0 to 34 for three in the ninth over, with Rabeya Khan (three for 26) removing openers Kelis Ndhlovu (22) and Beloved Biza (12). Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (40) and captain Josephine Nkomo (35) rebuilt with a stand of 73 for the fourth wicket, before Disha Biswas (two for 13) dismissed both in the 18th over as Zimbabwe closed on 131 for seven. Meanwhile, Dilara (68 not out) and Shathi Rani (45) put on 104 for the first wicket, as Bangladesh comfortably reached their target with 15 balls to spare. Brief scores: Scotland v Sri Lanka Scotland 111/8 in 20 overs (Darcey Carter 62, Megan McColl 16; Sugandika Kumari 2/15, Sathya Sandeepani 2/18) lost to Sri Lanka 115/6 in 18.1 overs (Vishmi Gunaratne 49, Harshitha Samarawickrama 24; Abtaha Maqsood 3/18, Chloe Abel 1/8) by four wickets UAE v Ireland Ireland 171/5 in 20 overs (Gaby Lewis 71, Amy Hunter 29; Janani Thirukkumaran 2/20, Indhuja Nandakumar 1/22) beat UAE 110/8 in 20 overs (Esha Oza 51, Samaira Dharnidharka 18; Cara Murray 2/21, Aimee Maguire 2/23) by 61 runs Thailand v Pakistan Pakistan 180/2 in 20 overs (Ayesha Zafar 59*, Shawaal Zulfiqar 42; Suleeporn Laomi 1/28, Onnicha Kamchomphu 1/34) beat Thailand 156/8 in 20 overs (Natthakan Chantham 43, Phannita Maya 33; Tasmia Rubab 4/18, Momina Riasat 1/25) by 24 runs Zimbabwe v Bangladesh Zimbabwe 131/7 in 20 overs (Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 40, Josephine Nkomo 35; Rabeya Khan 3/26, Disha Biswas 2/13) lost to Bangladesh 132/1 in 17.3 overs (Dilara Akter 68*, Shathi Rani 45; Michelle Mavunga 1/24) by nine wickets

India Becomes Only Second Team In ODI History to Lose 3 Wickets Without Runs In First Over

India became only the second team to lose their first three wickets without scoring a run in an ODI on Friday, with New Zealand pacer Matt Henry triggering the collapse by dismissing Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer in the

Maharashtra Selection Is One Dream; Many More Still Left, Says ISPL Sensation Vivek Shelar

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Having been called into Maharashtra's squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026, fast-bowler Vivek Shelar calls the state selection a major stepping stone towards achieving his cricketing dreams. The Bhiwandi native, Shelar, starred in Season 3 of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) with nine wickets, including two hat-tricks that made heads turn. Although his team, Tiigers of Kolkata, fell short on the final hurdle to Chennai Singams, Shelar's achievements helped the 26-year-old earn a call into Maharashtra's squad for the SMAT, which gets underway on Saturday. Speaking to IANS, Shelar said the state selection is the completion of one dream, and he is hungry for more. As a sportsman, it is a very big achievement for me, Shelar told IANS. Because playing for a state is everyone's dream. So now my dream is being fulfilled. I mean, there are still a lot of dreams left. So I am feeling good, he added. He clocked a 145.2kph delivery in the ISPL, which brought him into the limelight. He opened up on how the league played a role in bringing him into the spotlight. ISPL was very important. Because of ISPL, I came into focus. When I bowled the fastest ball in ISPL, I came into the limelight. So ISPL was very important for me, he said. The ISPL is a tennis ball tournament, while Indian domestic cricket and international cricket are a different ball game altogether, with a proper season ball being used. Shelar stated that the major difference he saw in the transition from the tennis ball to the red ball was mostly mental, before detailing how he started preparing for both balls. Both have different preparations, but the mentality matters. Both games are different, but mentality is what matters. So I practise with both tennis and leather ball. So I have that mentality now. So it's a little easier for me. I had a problem in the beginning (with leather ball) when I started in 2020-21 with the leather ball. I had a problem in the first year, but now it has become a habit. So I don't have any problems now. His cricketing journey began in 2016 with the ISPL from his village before he earned a selection for Tiigers of Kolkata in the ISPL, which he believed changed things for him. I started playing cricket in 2016. I started from the village itself, with the tennis ball. I used to play well with the tennis ball. When I played for the first time in the ISPL last season, I was in Tiigers of Kolkata. So everything changed there. I got everything there. I bowled well. In the first match, I bowled the fastest ball. From there, I started getting messages. Everyone was sending me messages, he added. Shelar also opened up about a challenging period when he was down with a hamstring injury right after the second match of the tournament. Shelar, who is supported by Aspect Sports, credited Aksha Kamboj, the Chairperson of Aspect Global and owner of Tiigers of Kolkata, for helping him during this time. Aksha ma'am supported me. When I got injured, I went to the hospital on the second day. (It was) From Surat to Mumbai. I recovered within eight days. Then I went back and took two hat-tricks in the ISPL after that injury. I credit her and Tiigers of Kolkata; because of them, I got to play the tournament again. I had some doubt (mentally after hamstring) while playing the first match after returning from injury. But for the team, you have to keep your thoughts aside. You have to keep the team first. It happened automatically, Shelar added. His immediate focus lies in performing for Maharashtra and then has an eye on an IPL contract. I will focus on this tournament first. After this, I have an IPL goal. Let's see what happens next, he added. Shelar also called India icon Rohit Sharma and South Africa great Dale Steyn his idols, before revealing what he likes most about the former Proteas speedster. Rohit Sharma and Dale Steyn are my idols. (I like Steyn's) Aggression, speed, swing and everything. He has everything, Shelar added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Rabada warns South Africa against taking Bangladesh lightly

Kagiso Rabada, South Africa's key bowler, has stated that the team will maintain high intensity against Bangladesh in their upcoming home Test series, despite having recently topped the world rankings by defeating Australia. He acknowledged Bangladesh's improved performance and warned against complacency, emphasising the team's focus on playing with desperation to win.

England see tight Adelaide turnaround as dry run for 2027 World Cup

Brendon McCullum and Harry Brook accept their team were outplayed in Perth thrashing

Ploughing through the red tape: Inside Ambati Rayudus mission to fix Hyderabad cricket

In the six months since Ambati Rayudu promised to change the culture, the former India batter has been spotted pitch-side at dawn, at a soil vendors door in the rain and, by his own count, five to seven kilos lighter

Rabada 'chuffed at engagement from fans' after series win against Australia

Series against Bangladesh begins on Sunday, and Rabada hopes

Who is Mahli Beardman? Australia's new pace sensation

Mahli Beardman made a sensational ODI debut for Australia against England, taking six wickets for 24 runs. His performance helped Australia win by seven wickets and provided a welcome distraction from the 'Sandpapergate' controversy. Beardman, mentored by Dennis Lillee, is seen as a promising talent for Australia's bowling future.

Pink Ball In Day Tests? Pakistan Head Coach Mike Hesson Says PCB Must Explore Option

ICC, following its last quarterly meeting, approved the use of pink balls in day Tests as an option to address the issue of overs lost due to bad light.

Ends Speculation: Lalit Modi Welcomes BCCI's Stance On 12-Team IPL

Indian Premier League (IPL) founder Lalit Modi has welcomed the BCCI's clarification ruling out an immediate expansion of the league to 12 teams.

Sayan rejoins Bengal squad after dads demise

The pacer had rushed back to Kolkata to be with his family and attend the last rites

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Sooryavanshi in focus; Tamil Nadu, Delhi have the tools to succeed

Justin Langer Backs Pat Cummins Over Sandpaper Gate Media Address Amid Renewed Cricket Controversy

Justin Langer has backed Pat Cummins over his decision to front the media on Sandpaper-gate, adding that the current Test captain was right to give his side of the story at a time when the 2018 scandal has once again caused a storm in Australian cricket.

Deepti Sharma wins ICC Player of the Month again

Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma has been named the ICC Women's Player of the Month for October, marking her second career win. She was recognised for her outstanding performances against Zimbabwe, including a century and crucial wickets across T20I and ODI formats. South Africa's Marco Jansen received the men's award.

Sunil Gavaskar's Cheeky 'Follow-On' Joke After Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Score Ducks In Crushing Loss

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar made a lighthearted joke after star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were dismissed for ducks during India's 244-run defeat against New Zealand in 4th ODI at the Bay Oval.

Updated World Test Championship Points Table After Pakistan, Sri Lanka Play Out Draw

Saud Shakeel missed out on a century for the second successive time but his gritty 97 foiled Sri Lanka's push for a win on the fifth and final day in the drawn first cricket Test against Pakistan.

Debutant Naseer turns it around for Afghanistan after Kaia and Taylor star

Kaia fell for 96 as Zimbabwe lost 3 for 12, but Taylor was unbeaten on 96 despite Naseer's four-for

From Canterbury to Andhra: Gary Stead and Justin Pauls 34-year cricketing bond

Former New Zealand U-19 teammates reunite in India, where Paul is documenting Steads journey as Andhras head coach, three decades after their first tour together.

Marco Jansen, Deepti Sharma Named ICC Men's, Women's Players Of The Month For October

South Africa all-rounder Marco Jansen and India all-rounder Deepti Sharma have been named the ICC Men's and Women's Players of the Month for October following outstanding performances in international cricket.

India And Pakistan Set To Clash In U-19 Asia Cup Final At Amerat Cricket Ground

India will be aiming to avenge their crushing 151-run defeat to Pakistan in the 2025 final when the arch-rivals meet in the Under-19 Asia Cup title clash on Saturday at the Amerat Cricket Ground in Al Amerat.

'Ends Speculation': Lalit Modi Welcomes BCCI's Stance On 12-team IPL

Indian Premier League: Indian Premier League (IPL) founder Lalit Modi has welcomed the BCCI's clarification ruling out an immediate expansion of the league to 12 teams, but stressed that the tournament's schedule must be revised to accommodate the mandatory 94-match format and avoid the extreme heat in the final weeks of May. Modi's comments came after BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the proposal to expand the IPL from 10 to 12 teams by 2028 had not been discussed, either formally or informally, within the Board. Taking to X, Modi said he was glad the official statement had put an end to speculation about the possibility of a 12-team competition in the immediate future. I am glad this official comment for now ends speculation of 12 teams. Also, I showed you all what it will take to get the games scheduled to the 94 games going forward, which is mandatory, Modi posted. He also called for changes to the tournament calendar, arguing that the schedule would need to move forward even if the BCCI could not implement the format he had previously proposed. Even if BCCI cannot adopt the earlier schedule and one has to live with may end finish the schedule will nevertheless has to move to second week match. Moving it up 3 weeks into the third week of February will definitely be the first step to avoiding the last three weeks of May, which is the worst heat. You cannot escape climate change; I am sorry. We have to adapt and not continue to ignore reality at the cost of other cricket, he added. Saikia had recently stated that the Board's immediate priority was the 2027 edition that will be the 20th season of the IPL. No move has also been made yet to raise the team purse from Rs 125 crore to Rs 150 crore before the 2027 mega auction, said the secretary. It has been announced that the auction on December 16 will be the last auction of the current cycle. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Harmanpreet Kaur gets her own wax statue!

Indian women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur unveiled her wax statue at the Historical Museum at Nahargarh in Jaipur on Friday, describing it as a proud moment. The statue commemorates her leadership in India's Women's ODI World Cup victory in November 2025, with the Jaipur Wax Museum having announced plans for its installation after the historic win.

Pakistan, Bad Weather Hold Sri Lanka To Draw In First Test

Led by Saud Shakeel and helped by bad weather, Pakistan foiled Sri Lanka's bid for victory as their first Test ended in a draw on the fifth and final day in Rawalpindi on Friday. Sri Lanka had scented a win with four wickets in the first session, with Pakistan 151-5 at lunch and a lead of 139. But Shakeel saved the home team with a fighting 97 as Pakistan finished on 284-8, a lead of 272. Shakeel, who scored 93 in the first innings, missed out on a hundred once again when he was bowled by Lahiru Kumara, before teams shook hands to end the Test. Shakeel's 210-ball knock had seven boundaries. Pakistan were helped by a brief 20-minute bad-light break ahead of lunch before Shakeel and Ghazi Ghori (35) kept Sri Lankan bowlers at bay during a 92-run, sixth-wicket stand. Milan Rathnayaka was the best bowler with 3-47 while Asitha Fernando had figures of 2-35 and Kumara 2-65. The Test was marred by bad light in the last sessions on each of the first four days, and 117 overs from a stipulated 360 were lost, leaving a conclusive result tough to achieve. Sri Lanka spurned a strong position on day four when they lost their last six wickets and slumped from 404-6 to 446 all out in reply to Pakistan's 434-9 declared. Pacer Saqib Khan, one of four debutants for Pakistan, grabbed 7-130. Both teams will now look for a result in the second and final Test, starting at the same venue from Tuesday. Pakistan skipper Babar Azam praised his batters. Everyone was expecting the pitch to be difficult, and I give credit to my openers (for) the way they accessed the pitch and gave us a good start, said Azam, also crediting Sri Lanka. We should also give credit to Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis for the way they built the partnership before Saqib bowled superbly. Pakistan's Kusal said poor bowling on the first day had cost them. We won a good toss but did not do well in the first session, and that's where we need to learn. But overall I am happy, he said. In the morning, Azam fell to a leg-side trap, handing the short square-leg fielder a simple catch off fast bowler Rathnayaka for 34. Salman Agha fell in the same manner off Rathnayaka for 13, leaving Pakistan struggling on 125-5. Earlier, Sri Lanka struck with the first ball of the day when Kumara dismissed Azan Awais for 22 at Pakistan's overnight total of 57. Next over, Fernando made it 57-3 with Mohammad Taha caught behind for 24. Sri Lanka could have had Azam on 22 but Kamindu Mendis spilled a simple chance off Fernando as the Pakistan skipper failed to get an advantage. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Azam hit six fours and added 50 for the fourth wicket with Shakeel before playing a loose shot.

SMAT: A scouting ground and a life-changing opportunity

The domestic T20 tournament offers hope both for the rookies and seasoned campaigners; teen sensation and Bihar skipper Sooryavanshi could be this editions biggest attraction

'Seriously needs to be considered' - Babar, Hesson open to pink-ball switch for Tests

Almost 141 overs were lost in the Test match against Sri Lanka, and only three innings of cricket were possible across five days

Mayanks presence a big boost for Delhi: Sanjeev

The Delhi bowling coach is enthused by the attributes that the tearaway will bring to the table

The 15,000 Club: Sportstar book celebrates Tendulkar and Kohli

Tracing Tendulkars emergence as a wunderkind and Kohlis rise into a modern great, the book explores the continuities between two remarkable careers and the distinct legacies they have left on Indian cricket

SMAT 2026: Shami, SKY, Shaw among stars with point to prove

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2026, India's premier domestic T20 competition, is set to begin, offering a crucial platform for young talents and veteran players to impress IPL scouts ahead of the mini-auction on December 16. The tournament is a final opportunity for many uncapped Indian players to secure an IPL contract and for established stars like Mohammed Shami and Suryakumar Yadav to make a strong statement for national team comebacks or IPL retention.

We Have Shown What We Can Do Against India: Henry Praises New Zealand, Bowlers After Victory

New Zealand: New Zealand pacer Matt Henry credited the team's collective bowling effort after producing a career-best 6-27 to dismantle India's batting line-up in the fourth ODI, saying the bowlers' ability to adapt to conditions and maintain accuracy had been key to their success in the series. Henry delivered a devastating first over, taking three wickets without conceding a run, as India were bowled out for 89 in 26.4 overs while chasing 334 at the Bay Oval on Friday. His six-wicket haul helped New Zealand register a massive 244-run victory and cut India's lead in the five-match series to 2-1 with one match washed out. Reflecting on his performance, Henry said the bowling unit had consistently put India's world-class batting line-up under pressure throughout the series, even when the results had not gone their way. I think we were trying to be relentless as a bowling unit. The way we have been with the new ball throughout this series has been fantastic. We have shown that we can take wickets and put India, who have a world-class batting line-up, under pressure, Henry said during the post-match press conference. We did it in the first two games as well, and although we were not on the right side of the results, I think we showed what we can do. Today, we managed to do it again. Seeing guys like Fish (Matthew Fisher) come in and grow at that pace has been awesome and really exciting for this group. Kyle (Jamieson) has also been outstanding with the new ball, he added. Asked about his match-defining opening over, Henry said keeping things simple and bringing the stumps into play were central to his approach, particularly with the wind influencing the conditions. At the end of the day, you are just trying to bring the stumps into play. It is about keeping things simple. Bowling into the breeze probably simplified my plan even more. Ironically, you are probably not as attacking as you would usually be, and being simple and accurate out there was effective. When the ball moves sharply like that, especially against batters facing their first ball, it is not easy, he said. Henry also explained how his ability to use mobile seam has helped him adapt to different conditions, stressing that accuracy and consistency were essential to making the variation effective. It has been important to me. On days like today, when you are not getting that out-swing shape, you can go to something effective. Adapting to conditions is really important. Kyle used it beautifully as well. He saw that the ball was seaming around and went to mobile seam, he said. It is about trying to go to a place where you can be a threat. The key thing about mobile seam is actually being accurate and being able to do it for long enough because you don't know which way the ball is going to go. You have to be in the right areas for an extended period of time, Henry added. Henry also acknowledged the threat posed by India's experienced batting duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, saying their early wickets were crucial for New Zealand. They are world-class, and I have always loved the challenge of playing against them. They have definitely got the better of me many times as well. The experience they bring and the runs they continue to score make them very important wickets. They are two of the best chasers in ODI cricket, so you cannot give them a chance to get set, he said. Looking ahead to the Test series, Henry said New Zealand were expecting a challenging contest against India but remained focused on levelling the ongoing ODI series first. I think it is going to be a really good series and something we are looking forward to. But we have one more game here in the ODIs, and for us, it is really important to try and level the series before we move forward to the Tests, he said. New Zealand will face India in the fifth and final ODI at the Bay Oval on Sunday, with the hosts looking to draw level and India aiming to seal the series. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

'Still Very Raw And Quite Surreal': Beardman On Historic ODI Debut For Australia

Mahli Beardman: Australia fast bowler Mahli Beardman reflected on his historic ODI debut during the first of the three 50-over games against England as he starred with a six-wicket haul in his team's seven-wicket win at the Optus Stadium here on Friday. Beardman picked 6-24 in 7.4 overs and achieved the best bowling figures by an Australian on ODI debut as he routed the Three Lions with his pace, swing and seam to bowl them out for 131 before the visitors chased the target down in 23.3 overs with seven wickets in hand. Beardman was rightly adjudged Player of the Match, which made him the 10th Aussie to earn the honour on debut. Speaking to the reporters after the match, the 21-year-old reflected on his performance, admitting that the feeling is surreal and still very raw. Laying in bed last night, that's not what I had planned, Beardman said, as quoted by Cricinfo. Obviously, such an amazing game, and I think it's still very raw and quite surreal. I think it'll just be sitting back tonight with my family at home and go through what happened. I think it'll just take time for it to set in. The youngster idolises South African icon Dale Steyn and Aussie giant Mitchell Johnson. He stated that he picked up the ball after watching Johnson's jaw-dropping performance during the 2013-14 Ashes, where the former left-arm speedster had picked 37 wickets at an average of 13.97. I think Dale Steyn was a massive one for me. Absolutely loved watching him bowl growing up, Beardman said when asked who his cricket heroes were. Mitchell Johnson for that 2013-14 Ashes series was sort of the reason I picked a cricket ball up in the first place. And I've been lucky enough and fortunate enough to be able to have some chats with Mitch, and he's a great man. What he did for cricket inspired me the most, I think. Australian legend Dennis Lillee is his mentor and was taken to the iconic speedster through a family friend. A family friend saw me and thought there was a little bit of airspeed there. So he knew DK and got in contact with him. DK sort of said no at the start, and then I think just through my persistence after a couple of months, he gave in. I've been fortunate enough to have DK in my corner, and it's been incredible for me, he added. The 21-year-old was handed his debut cap by Michael Hussey, and Beardman highlighted that he went to school with Hussey's son. To have Mike there was amazing. I went to school with Mike's son. Played a lot of cricket with him growing up, Beardman said. Mike and I have obviously had some good chats along the way. He's been incredible for me and his speech was beautiful, he added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Pakistan And Sri Lanka Draw First Test As Saud Shakeel Stars Amid Weather Delays

Led by Saud Shakeel and helped by bad weather, Pakistan foiled Sri Lanka's victory bids as the first Test ended in a draw on the fifth and final day in Rawalpindi on Friday.

'World Cup 12 Months Away, We Learn From These Experiences': Brook After England's Thrashing

ODI World Cup: England captain Harry Brook looks for a tight turnaround from their first ODI thrashing against Australia at the Optus Stadium here as debutant Mahli Beardman ran through their top order in a strong Aussie win. Beardman picked up 6-24 to become the first Aussie player to scalp a six-wicket haul on ODI debut as he played an instrumental role in bowling the Three Lions for 131. The hosts went on to win the contest with seven wickets in hand and in 23.3 overs. Speaking after the loss, Brook hailed Beardman while also aiming for a turnaround in the second game in Adelaide. Yeah. We've been here for a week and a half or so. We've prepared extremely well. Australia have bowled extremely well. Mahli Beardman was outstanding today. He put the ball in the right areas, got enough out of the surface to dismiss us, and, yeah, they put in a good performance with the ball, Brook told broadcasters after the match. Brook also stated that the batters had prepared for adapting to the conditions but were blown away by the Australian bowling. We spoke a lot about adaptability. We want to adapt to different surfaces, and as I said before, we've been here for a week and a half. We prepared extremely well. We knew that certain shots weren't going to work on this pitch, but look, the Australian attack bowled extremely well. They put the ball in the right areas for 30-odd overs, and we probably didn't execute our skill well enough, he added. England are 1-0 behind in the three-match series but are looking to learn from the errors in the opener and bounce back in the second match as they prepare for the ODI World Cup 2027 in African conditions. Definitely, and that is the bigger picture (World Cup preparations). We've got a World Cup in South Africa in 12 months' time, and these experiences, we take them, we learn from them as much as we possibly can. We're not out of this series yet. We've been in this position a couple of times before and managed to bounce back. So hopefully we can do that when we get to Adelaide, he said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Virat Kohli's Humble Gesture For Matt Henry Hours After Losing His Wicket To New Zealand Pacer

India icon Virat Kohli gifted his jersey to New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry, who wreaked havoc to lead his team to a huge 244-run win against India in the fourth ODI of the ongoing series.

Matt Henry opens up on getting Rohit, Kohli for ducks

New Zealand pacer Matt Henry discusses his exceptional six-wicket performance against India in the fourth ODI, highlighting the team's relentless bowling and strategic approach. He shares insights into challenging world-class batsmen like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and expresses anticipation for the upcoming Test series. Henry also recounts receiving a special jersey from Kohli.

No Unplayable Deliveries: Gambhir Urges Batters To Adapt After Getting All Out For 89 Against NZ

Gautam Gambhir: India's head coach Gautam Gambhir believes the batters must find ways to tackle challenging conditions rather than allowing the opposition bowlers to dictate terms, insisting that there are no unplayable deliveries in international cricket after India suffered a humiliating 244-run defeat to New Zealand in the fourth ODI at the Bay Oval on Friday. India were bowled out for just 89 in 26.4 overs while chasing 334, with Matt Henry producing a career-best performance of 6-27 to dismantle the visitors' batting line-up. The defeat was India's second-heaviest in ODI cricket and reduced their lead in the five-match series to 2-1, with the decider scheduled to be played at the same venue on Sunday. Speaking after the match, Gambhir said the Indian batters should have been better equipped to counter Henry's disciplined bowling, adding that the movement on offer was not enough to justify the batting collapse. There are no unplayable deliveries in international cricket. Matt Henry bowled in good areas, but we should be able to negate that. I don't go into technicalities. There wasn't a lot of deviation. It's the job of the batter to negate movement. More than the seam, the areas and lengths created problems for us. We got stuck in the crease, Gambhir said in the post-match press conference. The Indian head coach admitted that repeated batting collapses were a major concern, particularly with the team needing to prepare for challenging conditions ahead of the upcoming World Cup. You are always concerned when you get bundled out for 90-odd. These are conditions close to the World Cup. Even in the previous game, we lost seven wickets, so it's a concern. We need to be mentally and skill-wise ready. A score of 35-40 without losing a wicket is fine in conditions like these. We have experience and can hopefully adapt in the last game, he added. India had also struggled in the second ODI, losing seven wickets for 111 runs, although they eventually secured a seven-wicket victory through the DLS method. Gambhir also pointed to missed opportunities in the field, particularly the dropped catches of Will Young, who capitalised on the reprieve to score 125 off 108 deliveries and guide New Zealand to 333/8. Auqib Nabi was unlucky. Had we got Will Young, it could have been different. There's always hindsight. We dropped catches and will have to pay for it, he said. Despite the defeat, Gambhir expressed satisfaction with the Indian bowling unit's effort, which picked up eight wickets, with Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi each taking two. I am proud of every player who plays for the country. All of us should be proud of our bowling unit, Gambhir said. The two teams will now meet in the fifth and final ODI on Sunday, with India looking to clinch the series and New Zealand aiming to level it. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Virat Kohli Gifts Indian Jersey To Matt Henry After Kiwi Pacer's Carnage Leads NZ To Win

Virat Kohli: India icon Virat Kohli gifted his jersey to New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry, who wreaked havoc to lead his team to a huge 244-run win against India in the fourth ODI of the ongoing series at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui here on Friday. Kohli met the Player of the Match Henry, who picked his career-best ODI figures of 6-27 and had reduced India to 0/3. He dismissed Rohit Sharma, Kohli and Shreyas Iyer for ducks in the opening over, sending India to a new low as this was the first time that India lost their first three wickets without a score in ODI cricket. Despite being dismissed by the Kiwi pacer for a four-ball duck, Kohli showed a warm gesture and gifted him his jersey as the two players exchanged smiles and had a brief discussion about the match. Henry castled an in-form Kohli on the fifth ball of the innings. After going for out-seamers, he brought one back into the right-hander as the ball stayed low and sneaked into the gap between Kohli's bat and pads. The Kiwi pacer then also got stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer for a golden duck LBW through a review. This pinned any hopes of India chasing a daunting total, and although Ishan Kishan (27), Axar Patel (21) and Naman Dhir (21) fought, the visitors were never in the chase. Henry came back and picked three more, getting Kishan, Kuldeep Yadav and Gurnoor Brar as he starred with 6-27 and set up a big win. Henry spoke on his performance and the triple wicket maiden after the match. Yeah, it's quite funny, isn't it? The wind was so strong, and it was keeping things pretty simple, and it's funny when you're actually trying to have a simple game plan. A bit of luck as well. One shot a little bit low there too, so maybe the wind pushed me a bit sideways (smiles), Henry said at the post-match presentation. Well, especially with the way the wind was going, I wasn't too worried about the swing. So from ball one it was just about trying to have the strengths and bring the stumps into play, really. We knew that there was a small window there with the new ball that you could put the batters under pressure. So just trying to be as simple as possible, obviously, and when it moves sharply like that in the first over, when people are facing the first ball, it's pretty tough, he added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

'Why won't I be concerned?' Gambhir on India's batting collapse

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir expressed significant concern after the team was bowled out for just 89 against New Zealand in the fourth ODI. He highlighted that the rapid collapse, rather than the low score itself, is a major worry, especially as the conditions in New Zealand are similar to those expected in the upcoming World Cup in South Africa. Gambhir also pointed out issues with playing the moving ball, costly dropped catches, and the inexperience of the bowling attack, while still backing the team to bounce back.

Surya, Bhuvi, Shami And Other Top Stars In Action As SMAT 2026 Sets To Get Underway (Preview)

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Several top Indian stars will be in action in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which gets underway from Saturday with 38 teams in action across the Elite and Plate divisions in India's domestic premier T20 tournament. Eyes will turn to the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, among others, as the players set out for their goals in their separate points of their careers. Indian Premier League (IPL) team owners and the national selectors will have their eyes on the tournament as the IPL retention deadline ahead of the December auction is November 17. Only two rounds of matches will have taken place by then, which will make the players leave strong impressions in their opening games of the season. India will also pick their squads for the Sri Lanka T20I series, which begins on December 22, as players will have a chance to earn recalls in the Indian team. SKY has been named Mumbai's captain for the season, and he will look to have strong outings as he is eyeing a return to the Indian team after being left out despite having led the side to the 2026 T20 title. He was also out of form in the IPL 2026, and although there is no threat to his place in the Mumbai Indians, SKY will want to have runs on his back as soon as possible. Then there will be Bhuvneshwar, who had an underwhelming return to international cricket after nearly four years. However, he picked only one wicket across the four innings he played in New Zealand. A good SMAT would be important for him to be in the squad for the Sri Lanka series. Shami will also be in the spotlight after retiring from Test cricket recently. He still has an India return in his heart and might want to play the ODI World Cup 2027. The speedster would be looking to find a way back through. Eyes will also remain on 15-year-old Sooryavanshi, who is on the other side of his career in comparison to the above-mentioned greats. The teenage sensation has been a revelation in the IPL and for India, and has been named captain of Bihar for the first two games in the SMAT, as he will later join the India A squad for the Mens Rising Stars Asia Cup, a 50-over tournament that gets underway from November 19. Sanju Samson, Varun Chakravarthy, Rajat Patidar, Prithvi Shaw, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur and Yash Dayal are among other notable names set to play in the competition, which will last 23 days, with the final on December 6. While Elite and Plate competitions begin on Saturday, the Plate final will be held on November 24 and the Elite one on December 6. When and where to watch SMAT 2026? The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026 will be available on the JioHotstar app and website for live streaming, while select matches will also be telecast on Star Sports. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

U-19 Asia Cup: India Eye Record Ninth Title With Revenge Against Arch-rival Pakistan (Preview)

The U19 Asia Cup: India will be aiming to avenge their crushing 151-run defeat to Pakistan in the 2025 final when the arch-rivals meet in the Under-19 Asia Cup title clash on Saturday at the Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 2) in Al Amerat, with the defending champions standing between the boys in blue and a record-extending ninth trophy. Pakistan, who won their second title with last year's win, will be eyeing to defend their title, while India will be hoping to capture the trophy once again and reaffirm their supremacy in the tournament. India's campaign has largely been led by two stars -- Aaryavir Sehwag and Ishan Sood, but the team will need more support from the other batsmen and bowlers if they want to beat a strong Pakistan team. Aaryavir has scored 303 runs in four matches for a massive average of 101 so far and was the top scorer in the competition. Aaryavir has scored 303 runs for two fifties and a ton in four matches. Sood has been the bowler spearheading the attack with pace and accuracy, taking 11 wickets in four games with the ball. India will require more backup for him and, more so, from the spin department if they are to prevent Pakistan's batting line-up. Skipper Lakshya Raichandani and wicketkeeper-batter Anvay Dravid, along with middle-order batters Arjun Rajput and VK Vinneeth, will be key cogs in the wheels. Their impact has been more sporadic than regular during the course of the tournament. Rajput's brisk century against Pakistan in the group stage proved too late for India in that contest. But Raichandani's 93 steered India to an easy victory over Afghanistan in the semifinal, and Vinneeth's half-century was no less useful. The Indians will be banking on all three making telling contributions in the decider. In the bowling, Rajput and Manal Chauhan will support Sood more, who has not really had any help. The two bowlers both spinners have picked up five wickets each, though three of those were in a game. Similarly, Pakistan have had their main contributors. Usman Khan has 238 runs to his name, while pacer Rizwanullah has 11 wickets and has topped Pakistan's list. Hamza Zahoor, who scored a century against India in their group-stage match, will also be a major threat. Pakistan also have Mohammad Sayyam with eight wickets and Ali Raza with six to their attack, which has strength in numbers. Having clashed earlier in the group stages, Saturday's final will see India seek revenge and reclaim the crown while Pakistan will aim to defend it. When: Saturday, November 14, 10:30 AM IST. Where: Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 2), Al Amerat. Where to watch: The U19 Asia Cup final will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network, and live streaming will be available on SonyLIV. Squads: India U19: Lakshya Raichandani [captain], Aaryavir Sehwag, V.K. Vineeth, Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan [vice-captain], Kushagra Ojha, Arjun Rajput, Manal Chauhan, Anvay Dravid [wicketkeeper], Rajat Baghel [wicketkeeper], V. Yashveer, Aryan Savsani, Mohit Ulva, Kavya Patel, Shavin Vinod, Ishan Sood. Pakistan U19: Farhan Yousaf (captain), Huzaifa Ahsan, Usman Khan, Hayam Khan, Hasnain Abbas Dar, Jahangir Bilal, Ahmed Hussain, Niqab Shafiq, Hamza Zahoor, Abdul Subhan, Ali Raza, Mohammad Huzaifa, Mohammad Sayyam, Rizwanullah, Abdul Qadir. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Marco Jansen Named ICC Men's Player Of The Month For October

ICC World Test Championship Final: South African all-rounder Marco Jansen has been named the ICC Men's Player of the Month for October 2026 following his outstanding performances in the Proteas' 2-1 Test series victory over Australia. The 26-year-old claimed his maiden Player of the Month award after beating Pakistan's rising all-rounder Arafat Minhas and West Indies white-ball captain Shai Hope, who were the other nominees for the honour. Jansen played a crucial role in South Africa's comeback after losing the opening Test, producing match-winning performances with both bat and ball to help his side clinch the three-match series. The left-arm fast bowler's most impressive performance came in the second Test at Gqeberha, where he scored 85 runs in South Africa's first innings and picked up six wickets in the match. His all-round contribution helped the hosts secure an innings and 31-run victory, bringing the series level at 1-1. Jansen continued his impressive form in the series-deciding third Test, scoring another valuable half-century and claiming three wickets as South Africa completed a memorable turnaround to register a 2-1 series triumph. Reacting to the recognition, Jansen described the award as a great honour, particularly after a competitive series against Australia, while acknowledging the contribution of his teammates and support staff. Winning the ICC Men's Player of the Month award is a great honour for me, particularly after such a competitive series against Australia. It was one of the most memorable series of my career, and being able to contribute to the team's success made it even more special, Jansen said. Individual recognition is always rewarding, but cricket is a team sport, and this achievement is a testament to the support of my teammates and the work of our support staff, who have backed us throughout, he added. Jansen also stressed that South Africa's focus would remain on maintaining their momentum as they continue their campaign to reach next year's ICC World Test Championship final. The series victory also helped South Africa return to second place in the WTC standings, with a points percentage of 71.43 from seven Tests. We are grateful to them all, and our focus now is on building on this momentum as we continue our push to reach the ICC World Test Championship Final next year, he said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Quite Funny, Isn't It?: Matt Henry Reacts To Dismissing Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer In 1 Over

Matt Henry said the strong wind at the Bay Oval took swing out of the equation and let him concentrate on attacking the stumps, as his career-best 6-27 took New Zealand to a 244-run victory over India in the fourth ODI on Friday.

Harmanpreet Kaur, India's Women's World Cup-Winning Captain, Unveils Her Wax Statue

Former Indian women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur unveiled her wax statue at a museum on Friday and described it as a proud moment for her.

Aus Find A New Star As Beardman Destroys England in Perth

Debutant Mahli Beardman claimed a sensational 6/24 to help Australia crush England by seven wickets in the first ODI in Perth. The hosts' victory came amid renewed tensions in Australian cricket following Usman Khawaja's Sandpapergate revelations.

Mahli Beardman, Mitchell Marsh Lead Australia To Crushing Win Over England

Mahli Beardman took 6-24 on debut before Mitchell Marsh smashed a 29-ball 50 as Australia crushed England by seven wickets in the first ODI in Perth on Friday.

Shreyas Iyer sums up India's embarrassing fourth ODI loss against NZ, heaps praise on Matt Henry's spell

The Indian team took on New Zealand in the fourth ODI of the ongoing series. The two sides met at Bay Oval at Mount Maunganui on November 13th, and New Zealand handed the Indian team...

Yorkshire Re-sign Pakistan's Hasan Ali On Two-year Blast Contract After Stellar Season

YCCC Head Coach: Yorkshire have re-signed Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali on a two-year T20 Blast contract after the speedster had a stellar first season with the team. Hasan, who was called in as an injury replacement for Naveen-ul-Haq, picked up 27 wickets in 12 matches as he played a key role in Yorkshire making it to the knockout stages for the first time in four seasons. He was impactful in both the powerplay and in the death overs, and was the leading-wicket taker of the season in what was his first year with Yorkshire. The club made it to the quarterfinals and should have reached the semis if not for a heroic chase from Somerset's Craig Overton, who turned the tables with his unbeaten 79 from 30 balls in the 162-run chase after Somerset were 82/8. Speaking on keeping Hasan for the next two seasons, Yorkshire's general manager, Gavin Hamilton, hoped that the contract would help the club establish strong long-term relations with overseas players. Hassans impact this year went beyond the pitch. The experience he brought to our white ball squad contributed massively to our development in this format. Anthony (McGrath, YCCC Head Coach) and I have consistently said we want to build long-term relationships with overseas players to provide that continuity that we value so highly. Hassan signing for a further two years is an illustration of that. Were all looking forward to getting Hassan back ahead of the Blast next year, Hamilton said in a release from Yorkshire. Meanwhile, the Pakistan seamer is also excited for another year with the club after they missed out on going beyond the quarters in 2026. My time at the Club this year was brilliant, and I really enjoyed playing with the lads. We played some great cricket. Whilst it was disappointing in how our T20 season finished, theres a lot to build on, and Im excited to get back to Headingley, Hasan said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

4th ODI: Henrys First Over Put Us On The Front Foot, Says Santner After NZs 244-run Rout Of India

Mount Maunganui: Matt Henrys triple-wicket opening over decided the outcome of the fourth ODI against India, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said after his side secured a whopping 244-run win at the Bay Oval on Friday. Defending 333, New Zealand had India at 0/3 after just six balls, as Henry dismissed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer before the visitors had scored a run. From there, India never recovered and were bundled out for 89, with Henry picking a career-best 6-27. Yeah, nice. He wanted to play today. Yeah, I think with the new ball on a wicket that offers a little bit, hes the worlds best. So yeah, to get three pretty big scalps in that first over really, yeah, put us on the front foot, Santner said in the post-match presentation ceremony. He also credited both his bowlers and batters, led by Will Youngs 125 and Tim Seiferts 58 in getting New Zealand a big win. Yeah, pretty happy. Didnt have to bowl again, so pretty happy. Nah, yeah obviously put in again. Thought the boys put the pressure back on them pretty early in the powerplay, which was nice. And then obviously Youngy did his thing, Seifert, little cameos along the way and then it got us to a pretty good score. We probably left a couple out there we thought. But then yeah, I guess Matt Henry with the new balls pretty nice. Santner also praised Matthew Fisher, who took three wickets with some sharp short-pitched bowling, adding that the fast bowler was getting more comfortable with each game. Yeah, I think weve seen it with, I guess, Brar as well against when its a bit in the wicket, bit of bounce and pushing guys back. Its been tricky. And I guess thats Fishers role for us. You know, when he gets his rhythm going, hes really nice. And hes going to keep growing. He was pretty nervous his first few games. But yeah, I think the more wickets, the more games under his belt, hes going to keep flying. At the same time, Santner felt the hosts had missed out on a bigger total by not extending their partnerships. Yeah, I think we were thinking that kind of 360 mark. I think we just, yeah I mean the intent was great throughout the innings. I think if we just kind of kept each partnership, maybe another 20 balls, I think you can get through the, get to the 50 overs and then you can really set up the death phase and go from there. But they did really well to keep chipping wickets away and thats what you have to do in one-day cricket. With Indias lead cut to 2-1 and the series decider on Sunday, Santner said the plan for the day off was simple. Yeah, chill. I guess the fast bowlers need to chill a little bit. I might have to come have a bowl. But yeah, I think its just rest up and see what, I guess Sunday offers for us from a pitch point of view, from a conditions point of view and go again. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

'Huge Difference Between the Wickets': Iyer Questions Pitch

Shreyas Iyer blamed the dramatic change in pitch conditions for India's 244-run defeat to New Zealand in the fourth ODI, saying the surface went from a batting-friendly belter to a seamer-friendly track. He vowed to regroup and fight back in the series decider.

There Was A Huge Difference: Shreyas Iyer Blames Pitch After India's 89-Run Collapse

India stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer vowed to draw inspiration from the first two ODIs, approach the next match with a fresh mind and level the series.

No Unplayable Deliveries: Gautam Gambhir Refuses To Spare Kohli, Rohit, Iyer After 244-Run Defeat

India head coach Gautam Gambhir refused to let Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, and other batters off easy after India weer bowled out for 89 runs by New Zealand in 4th ODI.

WA newcomer Wasley posts 179* to stonewall Victoria

The 21-year-old left-hander posted his maiden first-class maiden century as the game heads towards a draw

4th ODI: 'No one threw the wicket away; Henry was sensational,' says Shreyas after 244-run loss

Digital Desk | Mount Maunganui, Nov 13 (IANS) Matt Henry's accuracy with the new ball was the difference between the sides, said India stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer after his team were bowled out for 89 and beaten by 244 runs in the fourth ODI by New Zealand at the Bay Oval on Friday. Henry did the damage straight away by removing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the first over, then trapped Shreyas lbw on the last ball of it, before any run had been scored. The pacer went on to finish with career-best figures of 6-27. We saw it; there was a huge difference in the first innings and the second innings in terms of wicket, but also credit where its due, the way Henry bowled in the right areas right from ball one. I think that was sensational, said Iyer in the post-match presentation ceremony. New Zealands score of 333 had suggested a good batting surface, and Indias bowlers had struggled to contain batters who were driving the ball on the up. Shreyas said the dressing room had gone into the chase full of confidence, but the seam movement left his batters with no clear way to play. I think we tried almost everything in the first innings, the way they were playing on the rise. And we thought that the wicket was better to bat on considering they got 330 after that. Obviously a couple of dropped catches, but that definitely happens in a game. But when we got into the dressing room, we thought that we would be cruising through the chase as well. But the way the ball was seaming in and out, you couldnt basically decide from inside that this is how Im going to play. Or even if you saw the wickets, no one threw the wicket away. It was good deliveries. As per CricViz, 26/4 is the lowest powerplay score for India since the 2023 ODI World Cup, with the visitors also suffering their second-heaviest defeat in ODIs. The defeat cut Indias series lead to 2-1, with the decider to be played at the same ground on Sunday. Shreyas signed off by saying the side needed to put the result behind them quickly. Its important to forget about this one, obviously, analyze what went wrong in terms of bowling and batting. But at the back of the mind its important that we have also won two games. So a lot of inspiration from that one and see to it that we come with a fresh set of mind.

Cummins Opens Up On Khawaja's Explosive Captaincy Claims

Australia Test captain Pat Cummins has strongly rejected former opener Usman Khawaja's claims that he was overlooked for the national team's leadership role due to his skin colour, calling the allegation serious and demanding evidence.

Yorkshire confirm Hasan Ali return on two-year Blast contract

Pakistan quick was the Blast's leading wicket-taker last year with 27 scalps

4th ODI: Strong wind helped keep things simple, says Henry after career-best six-for

Digital Desk | Mount Maunganui, Nov 13 (IANS) Matt Henry said the strong wind at the Bay Oval took swing out of the equation and let him concentrate on attacking the stumps, as his career-best 6-27 took New Zealand to a 244-run victory over India in the fourth ODI on Friday. The Player of the Match did the damage in the very first over of the chase, removing Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer without conceding a run. India never recovered and were bowled out for 89. Well, especially with the way the wind was going, I wasnt too worried about the swing. So from ball one it was just about trying to have the strengths and bring the stumps in play, really. We knew that there was a small window there with the new ball that you could put the batters under pressure. So just trying to be as simple as possible, obviously, and when it moves sharply like that in the first over, when people are facing first ball, its pretty tough, said Henry in the post-match presentation ceremony. Reflecting on the triple-wicket maiden, Henry said a straightforward plan and some good fortune had worked in his favour. Yeah, its quite funny, isnt it? The wind was so strong and it was keeping things pretty simple, and its funny when youre actually trying to have a simple game plan. A bit of luck as well. One shot a little bit low there too, so maybe the wind pushed me a bit sideways. The match was Henrys return to ODI cricket after he missed the earlier games of the series because of a concussion with Devon Conway ahead of the ongoing series. Great to be back. Obviously its been a funny odd year. So, good to be back here with some one-day cricket. It wasnt ideal, colliding heads with Dev (Devon Conway). I think I take a bit of responsibility on that one too. So, not ideal, but it just pushed things back a little bit. But thankfully were doing alright now. Henry said careful management of his recovery had been vital, with a long home summer ahead. Yeah, I think that was the key part. Obviously once you have a head knock like that, you just got to be really careful and it pushed things back a bit. But this is really key for moving forward to what is a huge summer for us. With India leading 2-1 going into Sundays decider, Henry played down his success against them. Oh, I dont want to get too carried away. No, theyre a world-class outfit, and I think thats the message that we were saying right through. They can bat deep, and yeah, look, its one game and weve got another one coming up soon that hopefully we can level the series. Henry is now set to join the Test squad ahead of the two-match series against India starting on November 19. Yeah, join in with the Test squad. Weve got a bit of a training camp, just get the red ball in hand and then just get ready for next week, he concluded.

4th ODI: Henry Six-for, Youngs Century Helps New Zealand Thrash India By 244 Runs (Ld)

New Zealand: Matt Henry ripped through Indias top order with a triple-wicket maiden in the first over and finished with career-best figures of 6-27 as New Zealand thrashed the visitors by 244 runs in the fourth ODI at the Bay Oval on Friday. Chasing 334, India were bowled out for 89 in 26.4 overs, slumping to their second-heaviest defeat in ODIs. The result cuts Indias lead to 2-1 and sets the stage for a series decider at the same venue on Sunday. It proved to be a Friday the 13th to forget for the Indian batters, with only Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel and Naman Dhir reaching double figures. Earlier, Will Young cashed in on two early let-offs to hammer a 108-ball 125, while Tim Seifert struck a blazing 58 off 48 deliveries, as New Zealand posted 333 in their 50 overs. Asked to bat by skipper Shreyas Iyer, New Zealand went well past the venues average first-innings total, despite losing four wickets in the last ten overs. Youngs 125, his fifth ODI ton and first against India, was laced with 14 fours and four sixes, while Seiferts 58 was studded with six boundaries and three sixes. For India, Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi took two wickets each, while Arshdeep Singh and Naman Dhir had one apiece. Kuldeep Yadav, playing his first game on the tour, went wicketless by conceding 73 in eight overs. Young got New Zealand going with a boundary pristinely timed off the final ball of Arshdeeps opening over. Seifert then took charge by driving Auqib Nabi for four and dispatching the free-hit that followed a no-ball for a pulled six. The same over brought Indias first fielding lapses of the day. Rohit Sharma grassed a straightforward chance at slip off Young, and Ishan Kishan failed to hold another outside edge on the very next ball, leaving Nabi stunned. Seifert showed little mercy thereafter - lofting Gurnoor Brar for six over long-on in the pacers first over, while exchanging words with him soon after, and took 15 runs off a Nabi over before bringing up his maiden ODI half-century off 42 balls in the 10th over. He became the first New Zealand batter to reach fifty inside the opening 10 overs of an ODI against India. New Zealand were 72/0 at the end of the powerplay, but Brar had the last laugh in the 12th over when Seifert top-edged a short ball and Kishan ran to his left and dived to take a fine catch. Brars send-off was so animated that Virat Kohli had to pull him away from the batter, and umpire Chris Brown later had a word with the tall pacer. The 85-run opening stand was followed by a mini-wobble. Axar Patel had Nick Kelly stumped for four, and Nabi removed Dean Foxcroft (8) with a well-directed bouncer and fine leg caught the top-edge. Young, who reached his fifty in the 20th over, found an aggressive partner in Finn Allen. The pair added 90 runs for the fourth wicket, plundering 19 runs off Kuldeep in the 26th over that included a free-hit six. Axar broke the stand when Rohit dived to his right at short cover to send Allen back for 41. Young marched forward to bring up his century off 88 balls in the 32nd over. It was his first ODI hundred since making 107 against Pakistan at the 2025 Champions Trophy. He later survived a blow to the helmet grille while attempting a reverse-sweep, and India also lost a review against him. His innings ended when substitute fielder Kumar Kushagra held on to a catch at the second attempt when Young attempted to slog-sweep against part-time off-spinner Naman Dhir. Dhir then ran in from deep backward square leg to take a sharp catch and give Brar the wicket of Michael Bracewell (15) and leave New Zealand at 258/6. Mitchell Santner, dropped by Rohit off Dhir previously, struck the off-spinner for two sixes before Arshdeep had him caught behind for 24. Kristian Clarke (22) and Kyle Jamieson, who remained unbeaten on 19, kept the scoreboard moving until Nabi trapped Clarke lbw. The innings ended with run-outs off the last two balls, Nabi hitting the stumps directly to remove Matt Henry and Kohli combining with Kishan to run out Matthew Fisher. Indias reply, though, was over almost before they had scored a run. Rohit Sharma edged the first ball of the chase to Finn Allen after being squared up at first slip, and Virat Kohli, playing for the inward movement too late, had his stumps rattled four balls later. Stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer, the 29th man to captain India in ODIs, lasted just one delivery - trapped lbw by a sharp in-seamer after New Zealand successfully overturned an on-field not-out call. It was only the second time that Rohit and Kohli bagged ducks in the same ODI. Kyle Jamieson then had Ruturaj Gaikwad caught at second slip for five, leaving India at 9/4, matching their score at the same stage against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells in the 1983 World Cup. On that day, Kapil Dev rescued India by hitting an unbeaten 175, but here in Mount Maunganui, there was no heroic knock to rescue the visitors. Axar Patel could have fallen next ball, but Nick Kelly put down a simple chance at backward point. Axar and Kishan dug in to add 44 runs off 70 balls for the fifth wicket, before Matthew Fisher had the former at slip by Allen for 21. Henry returned for a second spell and castled Kishan on his first ball for a gritty 27. Fisher then produced a fierce bouncer, clocked at over 143kph, to have Auqib Nabi caught behind for five. Henry completed his five-wicket haul, his fourth in ODIs and second against India, when he castled Kuldeep Yadav for one. Naman Dhir offered brief entertainment, smashing Fisher for two sixes, including a thunderous pull, before holing out to extra cover for 21. Fittingly, Henry wrapped up the match by castling Gurnoor Brar for two with a full delivery that sneaked under the bat. Fisher finished with 3-31, while Jamieson conceded just 12 runs in his six overs for a scalp. But Henry, who featured in ODIs after a years absence, ensured India got a proper teaser for the Test series starting on November 19 with a deadly show at Bay Oval. Brief Scores: New Zealand 333 in 50 overs (Will Young 125, Tim Seifert 58; Axar Patel 2-39, Auqib Nabi 2-59) beat India 89 all out in 26.4 overs (Ishan Kishan 27, Naman Dhir 21; Matt Henry 6-27, Matthew Fisher 3-31) by 244 runs Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma's Failure Earns India Unwanted Record In 244-Run 4th ODI Defeat

Matt Henry finished with career-best figures of 6/27 to hand India their second-biggest loss in ODIs by runs margin.

4th ODI: Henrys Career-best Six-for Helps NZ Crush India By 244 Runs

Mount Maunganui: Matt Henry ripped through Indias top order with a triple-wicket maiden in the first over and finished with career-best figures of 6-27 as New Zealand won by a whopping 244 runs in the fourth ODI at the Bay Oval on Friday. Chasing 334, India were bowled out for just 89 in 26.4 overs, as the visitors slumped to their second-heaviest defeat in terms of runs in ODIs. The result cuts Indias lead to 2-1 and sets up a series decider at the same venue on Sunday. It proved to be a Friday the 13th to forget for the Indian batters, with only Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel and Naman Dhir reaching double figures. The damage was done before India had scored a run. Rohit Sharma edged the first ball of the chase from Henry to Finn Allen at first slip after being squared up. Virat Kohli played for the inward movement too late and was castled through the gate four balls later. Stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer, the 29th man to lead India in mens ODIs, lasted just one delivery trapped lbw by a sharp in-seamer from Henry after New Zealand successfully overturned an on-field not-out call. It was only the second time that Rohit and Kohli had both made ducks in the same ODI for India. Kyle Jamieson then had Ruturaj Gaikwad caught at second slip for five, leaving India at 9/4, matching their score at the same stage against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells in the 1983 World Cup. On that day, Kapil Dev rescued India by hitting an unbeaten 175, but here in Mount Maunganui, there was no heroic knock to rescue the visitors. Axar Patel could have fallen next ball, but Nick Kelly put down a simple chance at backward point. Axar and Kishan dug in to add 44 runs off 70 balls for the fifth wicket, before Matthew Fisher had the former at slip by Allen for 21. Henry returned for a second spell and castled Kishan on his first ball for a gritty 27. Fisher then produced a fierce bouncer, clocked at over 143kph, to have Auqib Nabi caught behind for five. Henry completed his five-wicket haul, his fourth in ODIs and second against India, when he castled Kuldeep Yadav for one. Naman Dhir offered brief entertainment, smashing Fisher for two sixes, including a thunderous pull, before holing out to extra cover for 21. Fittingly, Henry wrapped up the match by castling Gurnoor Brar for two with a full delivery that sneaked under the bat. Fisher finished with 3-31, while Jamieson conceded just 12 runs in his six overs for a scalp. But Henry, who featured in ODIs after a years absence, ensured India got a proper teaser for the Test series starting on November 19 with a deadly show at Bay Oval. Brief Scores: New Zealand 333 in 50 overs (Will Young 125, Tim Seifert 58; Axar Patel 2-39, Auqib Nabi 2-59) beat India 89 all out in 26.4 overs (Ishan Kishan 27, Naman Dhir 21; Matt Henry 6-27, Matthew Fisher 3-31) by 244 runs Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Straker four-for puts Queensland on the brink of victory

Straker took 4 for 33 to bowl Tasmania out for 233 leaving Queensland just 19 to win on day four for victory

Konstas' career-high 173 gives NSW a chance against South Australia

Former Australia captain Greg Chappell believes Konstas is ready to return to Test cricket

Pat Cummins Reveals Reason Behind 'Spat' With Wife Becky. It's Usman Khawaja

Pat Cummins said it was a bit ridiculous to have his private life made public, but revealed that the discussion was around Khawaja, with Becky really frustrated and unhappy about the controversy.

One More Year? What Lies Ahead For CSK Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad Under Coach Zaheer Khan - Decoded

Amidst all the buzz around IPL trades and the auction, one IPL captain has stayed in the background - Ruturaj Gaikwad

Does Not Look Like A T20 Cricketer: Ex-India Batter's Bold Take On Rs 1.5 Crore CSK Star

The ex-India batter added that Chennai Super Kings should release the Rs 1.5 crore star ahead of IPL 2027 auction.

If KKR Cant Find Anyone Else At Auction, Will Go Towards Rinku As Captain: Aakash Chopra

Kolkata Knight Riders: Former India batter Aakash Chopra has said three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) should name Rinku Singh as captain if the IPL 2027 auction does not result in them finding a suitable leader, especially in terms of overseas options. The question of who leads KKR has come up after Ajinkya Rahanes retirement. KKR missed the playoffs last season, and must also finalise their retention list before the deadline comes on November 17. Appoint Rinku as the captain. You made him the vice-captain, right? Then have him as the captain now. He leads his side in the UPT20. Sometimes you have to throw people in at the deep end and see what happens. So, this is that opportunity, unless they can find somebody at the auction. If they cant find anyone, rather than looking at overseas players, Ill actually go towards Rinku, said Chopra on JioStar. He also felt KKR would have the funds to look for a captain at the auction if they released two of their most expensive players, all-rounder Cameron Green and pacer Matheesha Pathirana. I am looking to leave out Cameron Green at Rs 25.2 crores. Its a World Cup year, and its an Ashes year, so I am not sure about his availability or how many matches he will play. If you release him, even if you feel like buying him back, you can easily get him for 50 per cent cheaper. Secondly, Matheesha Pathirana is also not playing, so thats another Rs 18 crore buy. KKR are likely to walk into this auction with the most amount of money, so that will be the big story. We also dont know what is going to happen with Mustafizur Rahman. If he is available and can play, you would want to retain him, but can he play? We dont know about that. If he can play, I would still have him retained because you already have a surplus of Rs 43 crore with those two releases, added Chopra. He further questioned whether keeping all-rounder Ramandeep Singh and tearaway pacer Umran Malik made sense, given how little they played in IPL 2026. Im slightly worried about Ramandeep Singh personally at four crores. Hes not getting utilised at all, so that is my area of concern. If Im not going to play him and hes not doing well, then do I want to go elsewhere? I know thats just Rs 4 crores, but that money can be utilised better. Another player is Umran Malik. Do they release him? Hes only for Rs 75 lakhs, but they dont play him. If theyre not playing him, then for Umrans sake, Ill say release him. You just feel for the boy, as hes got the upside, so why make him sit on the bench? If you cant play him and Harshit is available, then let the boy go and play somewhere else. Ex-India opener Abhinav Mukund recommended that KKR retain young wicketkeeper-batter Tejasvi Singh Dahiya, citing how much value uncapped Indian keepers fetched in the previous auction. I would still retain Tejasvi because hes a Rs 3-crore player. Considering youve got so much money on the table now, where youre not going to be fighting for players, I dont see anyone breaching the Cameron Green mark in this auction anyway. So, I just have a feeling youve got to retain these players. The last auction was a very nice example of how domestic Indian wicketkeeper-batters were in demand, with Kartik Sharma going for a lot of money, and then there was a drop-off. There was Salil Arora, Tejasvi Singh, and Ravi Singh playing for Rajasthan Royals, all in the Rs 3-4 crore bracket. So, I think youve got to retain him because the Delhi boy has potential, he added. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

India suffer their biggest ODI loss against New Zealand, suffer embarassing 244-run defeat in fourth ODI

It was Matt Henry's brilliance that helped New Zealand defeat the Indian team in the fourth ODI of the ongoing series between the two sides. The teams met at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, and...

Milan Rathnayaka, Asitha Fernando's strikes jolt Pakistan

Asitha Fernando and Milan Rathnayaka share four wickets to lead SL's victory push

India Hit Record Low, Lose First Three Wickets Without A Run For First Time In ODIs

ODI World Cup: India hit a record low in ODI cricket against New Zealand as Matt Henry ran through the Indian top-order with a breathtaking first over during the fourth ODI of the ongoing series at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui here on Friday. Evoking the previous memories against India's top-order, Henry put India 0/3 in the first over of the 334-run chase as he dismissed the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer for ducks. This marked the first instance of India losing their first three wickets in ODI cricket without a run on the board. This was just the fifth instance of a team losing their first three wickets without a score as India are the fourth-ever team to suffer this. Previously, Pakistan (twice), Bangladesh and Australia were inflicted with similar blows in the format. Henry, who famously put India in all sorts during the ODI World Cup 2019 semifinal with his three wickets in the powerplay, bowled a brilliant first over and got the prized scalps as he got the ball moving and troubled the Indian batters. Rohit was dismissed on the first ball of the chase as the former skipper was squared up with extra bounce and seam movement and poked it behind for Finn Allen to grab it at first slip. Kohli was welcomed with a jaffa of a ball that seamed away before he was bowled on the fourth ball he faced. This one nipped back and stayed low from a good length as Kohli was castled with the ball sneaking between his bat and pads. Shreyas, who marked his ODI captaincy debut in place of Shubman Gill, was pinned back by an in-seamer to be dismissed for a golden duck. The umpire remained unmoved initially but Henry got his man on review as the ball was hitting the stumps with three reds. This marked a jaw-dropping first over, with calls of it being the greatest-ever first over getting louder. This was just the second instance that India lost both Rohit and Kohli for ducks in an ODI match. The only previous time it happened was against Sri Lanka in Dambulla in 2010. Meanwhile, Rohit has also become the seventh Indian batter to be dismissed for a duck on the first ball of an ODI innings. The list features former captain 2003 World Cup captain Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag getting dismissed on first ball of an inning three times. It also includes Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Kris Srikkanth and Manoj Prabhakar apart from the newly-joined Rohit. India were asked to chase a daunting 334 after Kiwi opener Will Young put up a strong 125 from 108 balls with 14 fours and four sixes. Tim Seifert made 58 from 48 balls, and although India made a comeback with the ball, the hosts put up a daunting score. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Under-19 Asia Cup final: India eyes improved batting, bowling effort against Pakistan

Pakistan had beaten India by 151 runs last year for their second title while the boys in blue will be hunting for their record-extending ninth trophy

India's Worst Start in ODIs? Three Ducks in One Over!

India suffered a shocking top-order collapse against New Zealand in the fourth ODI, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer dismissed for ducks in the first over. The visitors slumped to 9/4, reviving memories of their 2019 World Cup semi-final defeat.

What Cummins said: Relationship with Khawaja, Australia's 'underbelly' and the 'most serious' claim

The Australia captain spoke at length to the media in Sydney, where he addressed the serious claims made by Usman Khawaja in his autobiography

Mahli Beardman Creates History, Achieves Best Figures For Australia On ODI Debut

After Xavier Bartlett: Australian fast bowler Mahli Beardman etched his name into the history books as he starred with a six-wicket haul on his ODI debut during the first match of the ongoing series against England at Perth Stadium here on Friday. Beardman picked up 6-24 in his 7.4 overs as he played an instrumental role in bowling England out for 131 in the series opener. The 21-year-old has now achieved the best bowling figures by an Australian bowler on ODI debut. He has also become the first Aussie to take six wickets on an ODI debut, surpassing former speedster Tony Dodemaide, who had taken 5-21 on his debut in 1988 against Sri Lanka at the WACA. Moreover, Beardman is just the fifth bowler to take six or more wickets on an ODI debut by anyone around the world. The best figures on ODI debut are headed by Scotland's Charlie Cassell, who picked up 7-21 on his debut against Oman in 2024. Beardman, who received his debut cap from Michael Hussey as Australia opted to bowl, ran through the English batting line-up with a stellar bowling performance. He got the prized wickets of Harry Brook, Joe Root, Jordan Cox and Sam Curran before removing Liam Dawson and Jofra Archer to complete a spectacular six-wicket haul After Xavier Bartlett and Spencer Johnson picked up English openers Tom Banton and Ben Duckett, Beardman was through to the visitors' batting line-up. He nicked Brook behind in his second over before picking out Root on caught-behind as well in the next one. Beardman kept unleashing his fiery spell as he got Cox nicked behind in his fourth over and also dismissed Curran in the same over by bouncing him to deep fine leg. Beardman completed his fifer in his fifth over only by getting Dawson caught at backward point. England were 63/7 and then 65/8 when Johnson caught and bowled Jamie Overton. There was a fight by Will Jacks and Gus Atkinson for the ninth wicket as they put up 37 runs before Jacks was caught behind off Johnson. Beardman returned and completed his six-wicket haul when he got Archer caught by a diving Jack Edwards at backward point. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Rohit Sharma enters unwanted list with nightmare start to the run chase against New Zealand in the fourth ODI

The Indian team took on New Zealand in the fourth ODI of the ongoing series. The two sides met at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on November 13, and the clash saw New Zealand come...

Beardman Makes History With Six-Wicket Haul on ODI Debut

'I'm Not Sure What Just Happened,' says Australian fast bowler Mahli Beardman after an unforgettable One-Day International debut against England in Perth, shattering a 38-year-old record with 6/24.

Rohit Sharma 0, Virat Kohli 0, Shreyas Iyer 0 Flop As Matt Henry Blows Apart India's Top Order

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer all departed for ducks in a single over as Matt Henry produced a triple-wicket maiden in the 4th ODI.

4th ODI: Asked Virat If He Was Ever Dropped Twice In An Over, Says Young After Hitting 125

Asked Virat: Moments after being dropped twice in the same over, Will Young put forth a cheeky to Virat Kohli: 'Had he ever been let off two balls in a row?' Kohli laughed and replied 'No'. Young then shrugged off his early nerves and went on to make 125 in the fourth ODI at the Bay Oval on Friday. Rohit Sharma at slip and wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan dropped Young on consecutive deliveries off Auqib Nabi in the second over. Young went on to reach his fifth ODI hundred and his first against India, as New Zealand posted 333 in their 50 overs. A little bit of relief, firstly, but no, its been amazing to spend some time in the middle. Obviously a little bit of fortune early in my innings, but I managed to stick at it and put a decent score together with a few partnerships in the middle. Well, the first one, obviously a little bit disappointed, but at the same time relieved. The second one, you just got to laugh it off. Virat came up to me and I said, Have you ever been dropped twice in an over? He laughs and said no, so just brush it off and next ball, said Young in a mid-innings chat with the broadcasters. Young also said the two escapes had made him tentative at first, so he changed his approach. Yeah, I did actually notice that I was a little bit stuck on the crease after that, those two drops. I decided to walk at them and get my weight through the ball a bit more, and that seemed to work in my favour. He praised his partners through the innings, starting with Tim Seifert, who made a quickfire 58 in an 85-run opening stand. I try to enjoy myself the whole time. Obviously, having Seifert at the other end in the opening partnership was brilliant. He played really well, and I think it was just a story of small partnerships throughout the innings, which got us to that 333. When Finn came to the middle, he talked about enjoying it and playing with a smile on his face, so that was great to see too. New Zealand were well placed at 256/4 before losing wickets steadily towards the end. Young admitted the hosts had hoped for more, but felt the total was competitive. Yeah, I think at a certain stage in the innings we would have liked a little bit more, but we did keep losing wickets. So to scrap through to 333 I think is a decent score. Obviously it might be a little bit easier chasing, but I think stats say that 314 is the average first innings winning score. So hopefully thats enough. Early wickets, feel like demons, hopefully it is. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

AUS vs ENG first ODI: Mahli Beardman takes six on debut as England crash to 131

The 21-year-old West Australian bowled with real pace and aggression to tear through the England upper order, most of whom fell to poor shots

Will Young's 125 Powers New Zealand to 333 Against India

Will Young struck a superb 125 after being dropped twice early in his innings as New Zealand posted 333 against India in the fourth ODI at Mount Maunganui. India's bowlers fought back in the final 10 overs to restrict the hosts to 68 runs.

4th ODI: Young, Seifert power NZ to 333 against India

Digital Desk | Mount Maunganui, Nov 13 (IANS) Will Young cashed in on two early let-offs to hammer a 108-ball 125, while Tim Seifert struck a blazing 58 off 48 deliveries, as New Zealand posted 333 in their 50 overs against India in the fourth ODI at the Bay Oval on Friday. Asked to bat by skipper Shreyas Iyer, New Zealand went well past the venues average first-innings total, despite losing four wickets in the last ten overs. India now need to complete a stiff target if they are to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-game series. Youngs 125, his fifth ODI ton and first against India, was laced with 14 fours and four sixes, while Seiferts 58 was studded with six boundaries and three sixes. For India, Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi took two wickets each, while Arshdeep Singh and Naman Dhir had one apiece. Kuldeep Yadav, playing his first game on the tour, went wicketless by conceding 73 in eight overs. Young got New Zealand going with a boundary pristinely timed off the final ball of Arshdeeps opening over. Seifert then took charge by driving Auqib Nabi for four and dispatching the free-hit that followed a no-ball for a pulled six. The same over brought Indias first fielding lapses of the day. Rohit Sharma grassed a straightforward chance at slip off Young, and Ishan Kishan failed to hold another outside edge on the very next ball, leaving Nabi stunned. Seifert showed little mercy thereafter, lofting Gurnoor Brar for six over long-on in the pacers first over, while exchanging words with him soon after, and took 15 runs off a Nabi's over before bringing up his maiden ODI half-century off 42 balls in the 10th over. He became the first New Zealand batter to reach fifty inside the opening 10 overs of an ODI against India. New Zealand were 72/0 at the end of the powerplay, but Brar had the last laugh in the 12th over when Seifert top-edged a short ball and Kishan ran to his left and dived to take a fine catch. Brars send-off was so animated that Virat Kohli had to pull him away from the batter, and umpire Chris Brown later had a word with the tall pacer. The 85-run opening stand was followed by a mini-wobble. Axar Patel had Nick Kelly stumped for four, and Nabi removed Dean Foxcroft (8) with a well-directed bouncer and fine leg caught the top-edge. Young, who reached his fifty in the 20th over, found an aggressive partner in Finn Allen. The pair added 90 runs for the fourth wicket, plundering 19 runs off Kuldeep in the 26th over that included a free-hit six. Axar broke the stand when Rohit dived to his right at short cover to send Allen back for 41. Young marched forward to bring up his century off 88 balls in the 32nd over. It was his first ODI hundred since making 107 against Pakistan at the 2025 Champions Trophy. He later survived a blow to the helmet grille while attempting a reverse-sweep, and India also lost a review against him. His innings ended when substitute fielder Kumar Kushagra held on to a catch at the second attempt when Young attempted to slog-sweep against part-time off-spinner Naman Dhir. Dhir then ran in from deep backward square leg to take a sharp catch and give Brar the wicket of Michael Bracewell (15) and leave New Zealand at 258/6. Mitchell Santner, dropped by Rohit off Dhir previously, struck the off-spinner for two sixes before Arshdeep had him caught behind for 24. Kristian Clarke (22) and Kyle Jamieson, who remained unbeaten on 19, kept the scoreboard moving until Nabi trapped Clarke lbw. The innings ended with run-outs off the last two balls, with Nabi hitting the stumps directly to remove Matt Henry and Kohli combining with Kishan to run out Matthew Fisher. On a pitch which is still good for batting, onus will be on Indias batters to complete the chase. Brief Scores: New Zealand 333 in 50 overs (Will Young 125, Tim Seifert 58; Axar Patel 2-39, Auqib Nabi 2-59) against India

MI Emirates Name T. Dilip, Colin Ingram As Fielding, Assistant Coaches For ILT20

DP World ILT20 Season: MI Emirates have announced T. Dilip as fielding coach and Colin Ingram as assistant coach for the upcoming ILT20 season, completing the franchise's coaching group ahead of Season 5, starting from November 21 in Dubai. The two appointments join a setup led by Mark Boucher as Head Coach, with Paras Mhambrey continuing as bowling coach. Dilip brings over 2 decades of extensive coaching experience, having previously served as the fielding coach of the Indian men's cricket team. Ingram, meanwhile, brings experience across international and franchise cricket, having enjoyed a successful playing career across multiple T20 leagues, including a player role in MI Cape Towns title-winning run in 2025. Together, the coaching group will oversee MI Emirates' preparations as the franchise looks ahead to another ILT20 campaign. DP World ILT20 Season 5 will feature some of the games biggest stars, including Moeen Ali, Usman Tariq and Finn Allen (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), Babar Azam, Shimron Hetmyer and Naseem Shah (Desert Vipers), Faf du Plessis, Marcus Stoinis and Mustafizur Rahman (Dubai Capitals), Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone and David Miller (Gulf Giants), Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran and Fazalhaq Farooqi (MI Emirates), and Mohammad Nabi, Sikandar Raza and Adil Rashid (Sharjah Warriorz). One of cricket's most respected match officials, Australias Simon Taufel, will return to lead the match officials panel at the DP World ILT20 for a fifth consecutive season. The five-time ICC Umpire of the Year (20042008) will be the match referee for the season opener on 21 November at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where defending champions Desert Vipers take on MI Emirates in a rematch of last seasons final. Taufel will share match referee duties through the season with Roshan Mahanama (52 Tests and 213 ODIs for Sri Lanka). New Zealands Chris Brown, and Martin Saggers (three Tests for England) will be the on-field umpires for the opener. Australias Paul Wilson will be the third umpire and New Zealands Wayne Knights the fourth umpire. Wilson will alternate as third umpire (TV umpire) with West Indies Leslie Reifer for the competition. Both have been appointed as specialist TV umpires, with the ILT20 leveraging the HE Smart Replay system to enhance the accuracy and time efficiency of third-umpire decision-making. The panel also includes ICC Elite Panel umpires Richard Illingworth (nine Tests and 25 ODIs for England) and South Africas Adrian Holdstock, along with Afghanistans Ahmad Pakteen. Aasif Iqbal, Akbar Ali Khan and Shiju Mannil represent the UAE. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Cummins won't sue Khawaja over Sandpapergate claims

Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has stated he will not pursue legal action against former teammate Usman Khawaja, despite being advised that some contents of Khawaja's autobiography 'Sabr' regarding the 2018 ball-tampering scandal were 'probably defamatory'.

David Warner continues to support Usman Khawaja, says Pat Cummins threw him under the bus

Former Australia cricketer David Warner has come forward and extended further support to Usman Khawaja after the latters recent comments around the sandpaper gate. It is worth noting that in his new book Sabr, Khawaja said that everyone in the Australian team knew about the sandpaper gate.

Suresh Raina Attends Bhasma Aarti At Mahakaleshwar Temple

The Bhasma Aarti: Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina on Friday visited the Mahakaleshwar temple in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain and attended the Bhasma Aarti, describing the experience as divine. Raina arrived at the temple with his brother and nephew and sought the blessings of Lord Mahakal, one of the 12 revered Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva. Speaking after offering prayers, Raina said the spiritual atmosphere at the temple was special and praised the arrangements made for devotees. It felt wonderful to seek blessings. I came here with my nephew and brother, and the energy today was on a completely different level. It was a divine experience, he said. He also appreciated the Bhasma Aarti and the dedication of the temple staff in managing the large number of devotees. The prayers performed inside, the Bhasma Aarti and all the facilities and arrangements here are very good. As you can see, people have been standing in the queue since 12:30 AM. All the staff members and those helping here work together with a sense of unity, Raina said. The Bhasma Aarti is among the most significant rituals at the Mahakaleshwar temple and is performed in the early hours of the morning. The ceremony involves the ritual worship of Lord Shiva with sacred ash, accompanied by traditional prayers, Vedic chants and devotional offerings. The ritual holds particular religious significance, as Mahakaleshwar is worshipped as a Swayambhu Jyotirlinga, believed to be self-manifested. Devotees from across the country visit Ujjain to attend the aarti and seek the blessings of Lord Mahakal. The temple witnesses a large influx of pilgrims, with many devotees arriving during the night to secure an opportunity to participate in the early-morning ceremony. The Mahakaleshwar temple is one of the most prominent pilgrimage centres in the country and an important religious landmark of Ujjain. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Rohit Sharma Turns Back The Clock With Stunning Diving Catch, Internet In Disbelief. Watch

Rohit Sharma claimed a spectacular catch to dismiss Finn Allen in the 4th ODI between India and New Zealand. The Hitman had earlier dropped an easy catch in the slips.

Warner: 'My Wife and I Lost a Baby during Sandpapergate'

Former Australian opener David Warner has accused current captain Pat Cummins of and quot;throwing Usman Khawaja under the bus and quot; regarding Khawaja's autobiography allegations about the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal. Warner, who was banned for his role, also revealed his wife lost a baby in the aftermath of the incident, describing Cricket Australia's investigation as and quot;botched. and quot;

Pat Cummins did what he had to do, says Justin Langer amid ball-tampering storm

Digital Desk | Perth, Nov 13 (IANS) Former Australia head coach Justin Langer has backed Pat Cummins over his decision to front the media on Sandpaper-gate, adding that the current Test captain was right to give his side of the story at a time when the 2018 scandal has once again caused a storm in Australian cricket. Cummins held a lengthy press conference on Friday after Usman Khawajas autobiography, Sabr, reopened questions about the Cape Town ball-tampering affair. Cummins denied having any prior knowledge or involvement in the plan to use sandpaper on the ball. He also went on to dismiss Khawajas claim as complete and utter nonsense that the whole Australian camp was aware of what was going on in Cape Town. Langer, who is currently commentating on the opening ODI between Australia and England in Perth, and said Cummins had done the right thing. I think he did what he had to do. Theyre strong leaders; they stand up and its obviously turned into a crisis point again. There was a great crisis eight years ago and the way its been reopened this week, theres a crisis in Australian cricket. And the captain stood up. Mitch Marsh stood up yesterday, and hopefully thatll put some sort of line in the sand, because we have to move on it, Langer said on SEN Radio. The former Australian opener said the controversy was hurting the whole cricket community and not only the players involved. Theres too many people being hurt in Australian cricket, theres too many people, and that includes the Australian public. When I talk about Australian cricket, its about the public, its about the fans, its about the players, its about everyone whos involved, the past players, the present players, future players. Langer added that it was too early to say whether Cummins decision to speak would calm the situation. We have to draw a line in the sand somewhere. Too many people are getting hurt, Australian crickets being hurt, and whether the press conference is going to help that, or hinder it, time will tell. Langers support for Cummins contrasts with the reaction of former opener David Warner, one of the three players banned over the scandal. On Fox Sports, Warner said that he was very disappointed over Cummins throwing Khawaja under the bus.

Cummins threw Khawaja under the bus, and what Uzzy wrote is the truth: David Warner

Warner mounted a vehement defence of Khawaja after Cummins struck down the claims of Khawaja that the entire Australian team was aware of the ball-tampering plot that became known as 'Sandpapergate'