Cricket

The Forgotten BCCI Talent Hunt That Discovered MS Dhoni, Raina and Ishant Sharma

Recently, the Mumbai Cricket Association created a Talent Resource Development Officer (TRDO) Wing and appointed former Mumbai chief selector Sanjay Patil as its first chairman. Similarly, former India cricketer Laya Francis will be chief of the Womens wing of TRDW. The TRDW is considered an important step towards finding crickets raw and new talent. TRDW is not a trademark, but in Indian cricket, mere mention of it or TRDO straightway takes to BCCI and the pioneering work done by former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar as the first chief of BCCIs Talent Resource Development Wing (TRDW). It was an excellent initiative and helped to discover new talent from all corners of the country. This system, during its existence from 2002 to 2006, brought cricketers such as Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ishant Sharma, Suresh Raina, Piyush Chawla, RP Singh and many others from obscurity to centre-stage. Its surprising that despite best results and finding wonderful performers, through the scheme, BCCI discontinued it. It was such a fruitful initiative that in 2015, the BCCIs newly constituted advisory panel of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman had recommended the revival of the Talent Resource Development Officers (TRDO) wing. The BCCI kept the issue burning for months and at last didnt revive it. The aim of the revival was to transform BCCIs National Cricket Academy from just a rehab centre to an actual nursery of the brightest talent in the country, decentralizing the NCA and starting zonal academies instead. Unfortunately, this vision didnt impress the BCCI. The cue was, however, taken by the IPL franchisees, and they redefined the role and called it talent scouting and player development. The inflow of unheard and uncapped talent straight to the IPL, bypassing the BCCI system of finding new talent is proof of the success of the process. Vaibhav Suryavanshi is the best example. The TRDW was created by the BCCI in 2002 (when its president was Jagmohan Dalmiya) and this initiative was suggested by administrator Makarand Waingankar. Dilip Vengsarkar was appointed its first chief (on a handsome salary of Rs. 15 lacs pa). The project involved appointing former cricketers and coaches as Talent Resource Development Officers (TRDO) catering to each zone, to spot local talent, looking beyond the established cricketing centres. This diminished the role of local state cricket associations in recommending names for national level selections. The TRDO discovered the talent and recommended to the BCCI directly to fast-track the grooming of players for national team duty via the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the best talent discovered by TRDO. Makarand Waingankar first tried this process in 2001 with the Karnataka State Cricket Association. The BCCI chief and former ICC Chair, Jagmohan Dalmiya, decided to replicate it for Indian cricket and within a few days the TRDW was set up with Dilip Vengsarkar as the first chief, assisted by Brijesh Patel. Twenty Talent Resource Development Officers (TRDOs) were appointed, to watch local junior matches around the country, rate the players on a uniform objective scale, and report directly to the National Junior Selection Committee and the National Cricket Academy (NCA), bypassing the state cricket associations. Today no one remembers that a TRDO named Prakash Poddar, former captain of Bengal in the 1960s, saw Dhoni playing for Jharkhand at Jamshedpur in 2003 and recommended him to the NCA. His recommendation reads, Good striker of the ball; has a lot of power but needs to work on his wicket-keeping. Technically not very good. He is very good at running between wickets. Similarly, other talented cricketers were identified. Unfortunately, the BCCI dissolved TRDW in 2006 after a power-shift and the removal of its head, Jagmoham Dalmiya. Thereafter, to unearth new talent, focus shifted to Under-19 cricket. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In 2009, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) set up a TRDW adopting the BCCI model of the scheme and brought Makarand Waingankar to implement it. Its a different story that the then KKR coach, John Buchanan, looked at the scheme as a challenge to his authority and worked very fast to pack it.

The Game Will Miss You: Yuvraj Pens Heartfelt Note For Stokes On International Retirement

Two World Cup: Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh paid an emotional tribute to Ben Stokes following the England stars retirement from international cricket upon the conclusion of the third Test against New Zealand. The Indian stalwart reflected on Stokes defining moments and lasting influence on the game, praising his ability to overcome adversity throughout a 15-year international career. Yuvraj began by highlighting the moments that, in his view, defined Stokes place among crickets modern greats. 'A World Cup final innings that nobody who watched it will ever forget. A 135 not out at Headingley that rewrote what was possible. The courage to speak openly about mental health when most wouldnt. Losing his father. And coming back every single time, Yuvraj wrote on X. The former India star drew parallels between Stokes journey and his own experiences, saying resilience, rather than statistics or silverware, ultimately defines greatness. I know what it feels like to be on top of the world one day and at your absolute lowest the next and I saw that same journey in you, he added. Yuvraj said it was Stokes repeated ability to recover from setbacks that elevated him beyond being just a successful cricketer. That is what separates the good from the truly great. Not the records. Not the trophies. The ability to get back up. He also reflected on the achievements that marked Stokes international career, acknowledging both his leadership and his success on the biggest stages, stating, 15 years. Two World Cup winners medals. A captain who made his team believe anything was possible. One of the finest that the game will always remember. Yuvraj said it was Stokes repeated ability to recover from setbacks that elevated him beyond being just a successful cricketer. That is what separates the good from the truly great. Not the records. Not the trophies. The ability to get back up. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Stokes, one of Englands most influential all-rounders, brought the curtain down on a career that included two ICC World Cup titles, Ashes heroics, and a transformative spell as Englands Test captain. Article Source: IANS

Hamilton Takes 'heaps Of Confidence From India' Heading Into T20 WC Semis

T20 World Cup: Australia fast bowler Lucy Hamilton says she will carry renewed belief into her sides ICC Womens T20 World Cup semi-final against the West Indies after producing three disciplined performances with the new ball during the tournament. Speaking at The Oval ahead of the knockout clash, the 20-year-old reflected on her experience of playing on crickets biggest stage, her confidence after facing India at Lords, and the challenge awaiting Australia as they chase a place in Sundays final. Hamilton, who earned selection in Australias World Cup squad despite limited international experience, said every outing has strengthened her confidence as she continues to settle into the role of opening the bowling. It's been really fun. (It's) really exciting to run out there and take the first over, Hamilton told cricket.com.au. The left-arm quick identified Australias group-stage victory over India as a defining moment in her tournament, saying the occasion had helped reinforce her belief ahead of the semi-finals. Personally, I took heaps of confidence (out of the India game). Everyone feels nervous, and you always have those moments, but running out, singing the anthem in front of so many people (at Lord's) and knowing how much it means to everyone, you always have those couple of nerves, but I think once you get that first over under underway you settle into the game, she added. Hamilton believes those experiences have prepared her for another high-pressure contest, with Australia needing to overcome the West Indies to keep their title hopes alive. Knowing that the team did really well ... the semi-finals are an even bigger occasion, so knowing that I've got that under my belt, and with a massive crowd and against a really strong Indian team, gives me lots of confidence, she stated. She also welcomed the short turnaround between matches, saying the team wants to build on its recent performances rather than lose momentum. It's a fast turnaround, but I think it's really good in T20 cricket to have that momentum; we're all ready to go and can't wait. The quality of cricket that we've been playing recently ... you want that leading into a semi, Hamilton said. The semi-final will also mark Hamiltons first appearance at The Oval, prompting her to visit the venue before match day to familiarise herself with the conditions. I haven't played at The Oval before ... I'm glad I came down (on match eve) just to have a look at the facilities and get used to it and see how fast the outfield is. The conditions can change a lot, so we just have to adapt to them as fast as we can and play our style of cricket, she mentioned. Hamilton expects a fearless approach from the West Indies, whose captain has already suggested her side will embrace the underdog tag in the knockout contest. I haven't played at The Oval before ... I'm glad I came down (on match eve) just to have a look at the facilities and get used to it and see how fast the outfield is. The conditions can change a lot, so we just have to adapt to them as fast as we can and play our style of cricket, she mentioned. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia face the West Indies in the first ICC Womens T20 World Cup semi-final at The Oval, with the winner advancing to Sundays final at Lords. Article Source: IANS

You Can Only Make Diamonds In Pressure: Root Pays Emotional Farewell To Stokes

ODI World Cup: Former England captain Joe Root paid a candid tribute to Ben Stokes, lauding the all-rounder's ability to thrive under immense pressure, describing him as a player who consistently produced match-winning moments when the game hung in the balance. Stokes, one of England's modern-day cricketing icons, has retired from international cricket after the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, bringing the curtain down on a glittering 15-year international career that began in 2011 and included four years as England's Test captain. Few players have shaped England's fortunes across formats quite like Ben Stokes. A genuine match-winner with bat and ball, Stokes delivered some of the most unforgettable moments, none bigger than his unbeaten 84 in the 2019 ODI World Cup final that helped England lift their first-ever world title. We've been through a huge amount as two players, but one thing I've always admired about you is, whatever's happened, you've always owned your own... But also that old saying of you can only make diamonds in pressure. Whenever the game's been in the balance, the amount of times, there are only so many players that can create moments like you have. And to say that you can count on two hands more, that your career will be remembered for that, Root said in a video shared by England and Wales Cricket Board. Brook further recalled Stookes' legendary 135 not out at Headingley that inspired one of the greatest Ashes victories in history. There's so many different moments that you have done for this team across all formats but especially in Test cricket and there'll be generations of people out there that have been inspired by what you've achieved throughout. And we are all very lucky to have been a part of that journey and to have spent time in the same dressing room as you and everything that you've done. Whether it be winning World Cups, Ashes series, individual moments like that, ridiculous innings at Headingley in 2019, he added. In 2022, following Joe Root's resignation as Test captain, Stokes took charge of the red-ball side and, alongside head coach Brendon McCullum, ushered in the fearless attacking philosophy that became known as Bazball, leding the team to 11 wins in his first 13 matches in charge. Under their leadership, England rediscovered its identity, recording memorable series victories over New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and others while bringing fresh excitement to Test cricket. Root concluded his speech by looking ahead to life after their playing days. You inspired most of the lads in this room because you're so old now and they were little teenagers growing up and learning the game. It's been a hell of a ride mate, I've loved every minute playing alongside you. Under their leadership, England rediscovered its identity, recording memorable series victories over New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and others while bringing fresh excitement to Test cricket. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He finished his Test career with 7273 runs at 34.46, including 14 centuries, and 252 wickets at 30.98, including six five-wicket hauls in 122 Tests, including 44 as England captain. In 114 ODIs, he has 3463 runs and has 585 runs in 43 T20Is. Article Source: IANS

India drop Yastika Bhatia and pick G Kamalini for Asian Games

Shreyanka Patil has been named in the squad pending a fitness clearance

Harmanpreet To Lead India In 2026 Asian Games As BCCI Names 15-strong Squad

T20 World Cup: The BCCI on Tuesday announced a Harmanpreet Kaur-led 15-member squad for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games. The selection committee has shown faith in the same contingent that featured in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, with left-hand batter and wicketkeeper G Kamalinis inclusion inplace of Yastika Bhatia remaining the only change. India will head into the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled to be played in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, as the defending champions, having clinched the historic gold medal in the womens cricket competition at the previous edition of the Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China. Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues will spearhead the batting department alongside vice-captain and Smriti Mandhana. Star all-rounder Deepti Sharma anchors a middle order, while the Richa Ghosh leads the wicketkeeping duties alongside backup glovewoman Kamalini. The pace attack will be spearheaded by swing specialist Renuka Singh Thakur and the experienced Arundhati Reddy. Meanwhile, the spin department boasts the expertise of left-arm orthodox Radha Yadav and off-spinner Shreyanka Patil. However, the BCCI said Shreyanka's inclusion in the final squad remains subject to fitness clearance following a recent injury layoff. The all-rounder was ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to a twisted ankle. The pace attack will be spearheaded by swing specialist Renuka Singh Thakur and the experienced Arundhati Reddy. Meanwhile, the spin department boasts the expertise of left-arm orthodox Radha Yadav and off-spinner Shreyanka Patil. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India's squad for the 2026 Asian Games: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), G. Kamalini (WK), Bharti Fulmali, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil (subject to fitness), Radha Yadav, Nandni Sharma. Article Source: IANS

Michael Vaughan Calls For England Change After Ben Stokes Bows Out With Defeat

Michael Vaughan said there must be more change at the top of English cricket after captain Ben Stokes's international career ended with a thumping 160-run defeat by New Zealand in the third Test at Trent Bridge. Monday's victory gave New Zealand a 2-1 series success and condemned England to a seventh defeat in nine Tests. Stokes stunned fans and pundits alike by announcing his departure from the international game on Sunday's fourth day in Nottingham, the series was still up for grabs. The 35-year-old all-rounder, normally a middle-order batsman, then opened the innings but holed out. England lost three more wickets in a manic pursuit of a stiff target of 373, before Sunday's close to leave them well on their way to a first series defeat at home in three or more Tests since 2012. England head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key were backed by their bosses to lead a rebuild of the team following a 4-1 Ashes series loss in Australia concluded in January. But former England captain Vaughan, who led England to Ashes glory in 2005, told the BBC: There must be change after what we've seen here in terms of a cricketing sense now over a period of time. I'll be absolutely staggered if this leadership group is still together (after the New Zealand series). Meanwhile, England fast bowler Jofra Archer said no longer having fellow 2019 World Cup-winner Stokes as a team-mate would be difficult. It's going to take some getting used to, said Archer at the presentation ceremony. Not just as a captain but as a friend. Someone who you can always go to at mid-off or mid-on, wherever he is you can always bounce ideas off him. Hes going to be a big miss. - 'Dumbfounded' - Earlier, former England skipper Andrew Strauss expressed surprise at the the timing of Stokes's departure. Like many people I was dumbfounded yesterday (Sunday) when the whispers started coming out that Ben Stokes was about to announce his retirement, Strauss said on LinkedIn. Strauss, hailed Stokes as one of England's genuine greatsbut added: I'm not convinced that the whole thing was orchestrated the right way yesterday - it seems like a huge distraction to a team that was battling to avoid a series defeat and the cricket in the last session very much had an 'end of term' feel to it. Everyone has the right to bow out on their own terms, and no-one has earned that more than Ben, but announcing before or after the game seems like a more sensible approach. When you are in the middle of a match, the only thing that matters is the performance of the team. Also Read: Live Cricket Score It is a small gripe in the greater scheme of things. English cricket will be far worse (and less interesting!) without Ben involved... There will be a huge vacuum in the England team that will be impossible to fill.

Tom Latham Hails 'Old School' New Zealand After Downing England

New Zealand captain Tom Latham hailed his side's old-school cricket after they became the first team to come from behind and win a three-match Test series in England after thrashing their hosts by 160 runs at Trent Bridge. Having reduced England to 103-4 overnight, they finished the job an hour after lunch on Monday's fifth day, with only Jamie Smith (60) offering much resistance. Victory sealed just New Zealand's fourth series win in England following successes in 1986, 1999 and, in a two-match series, 2021. Their triumph was all the more admirable given Kane Williamson, arguably New Zealand's greatest batsmen, retired from international cricket following a heavy defeat in the first Test at Lord's. Matt Henry and Glenn Phillips, two of the stars of their thumping 253-run win in the second Test at the Oval, with 11 wickets and a hundred respectively, were then ruled out of the Nottingham decider through injury. New Zealand also rested towering fast bowler Kyle Jamieson at Trent Bridge because of concerns over his workload. They suffered further disruption when Blair Tickner pulled out during the series finale with concussion, while Will O'Rourke suffered a hamstring injury on Monday to leave the attack severely depleted. - 'Boring as possible' - But seamer Zak Foulkes, the Black Caps' first concussion substitute in Test cricket, responded to his unexpected call-up with impressive match figures of 6-87. New Zealand's nagging accuracy, well supported by wicket-keeper Tom Blundell standing up to the stumps, frustrated England, with Foulkes saying during the game New Zealand had just tried to stay as boring as possible really and try to dry out the runs. New Zealand's approach contrasted markedly with the aggressive 'Bazball' style of England, who were utterly unable to send Ben Stokes out with a win after their talismanic captain's shock announcement on Sunday he would be retiring from international cricket at the end of this match. Latham whose first-innings 151, was one of three New Zealand hundreds in the match, was asked if teams had to be brave to be boring in modern cricket. Yeah I think so, I guess when you need to go a little bit old-school that's something that we pride ourselves on, he told reporters. Superb fielding helped New Zealand overcome their bowling setbacks, with direct hits from Henry Nicholls and Mitch Santner running out both Joe Root and Josh Tongue on Monday. Those two run outs today show the guys are engaged and giving everything theyve got, said Daryl Mitchell, struck black and blue during the course of a defiant unbeaten hundred in New Zealand's second innings. We put a lot of work into that, added Mitchell, the player-of-the-match. This series win is very special for our group. England coach Brendon McCullum, himself a former New Zealand captain, was well aware of the qualities that led to his adopted side's seventh defeat in nine Tests. New Zealand are a side that do simple things really well for a long period of time, he said. They also seize really key moments and I look at even two direct hit run-outs today, it's a significant impact on the final day of a Test match. McCullum defended England's blazing hitting on Sunday, which included promoting Stokes to open the innings, as the only way they could hope to chase down a target of 373 on a wearing pitch. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Anywhere between 250 to 290 on the last day is achievable, anything over that and you're going to start to be a little bit in danger so we knew we had to take a risk because we far behind the game, he insisted. And it was a risk worth taking.

French Open champion Andreeva beats Linette in Wimbledon first round

Mirra Andreeva used her big serve to great effect with eight aces but she also produced seven double faults as she tried to outgun the experienced Linette, 15 years her senior

Djokovic sees off inspired Wu to reach Wimbledon second round

The Serb duly wrapped up the physically draining match on serve to set up an intriguing meeting with Stefanos Tsitsipas

Wimbledon 2026 | Osaka defeats Jacquemot after Japanese-inspired 'Kill Bill' kimono walk-on

She takes on Anastasia Gasanova or Emiliana Arango next

Wimbledon 2026 | Sabalenka powers past Kostovic into second round

Sabalenka, a losing semi-finalist on her last three visits to Wimbledon, will take on American McCartney Kessler next

Sinner survives Wimbledon scare, wins first round Kecmanovic

Six of the 21 home players did take to court but all six lost, including British number one Cameron Norrie, seeded 26, beaten in five sets by American qualifier Michael Zheng

Men's T20 WC 2027: Bermuda Qualify For Americas Qualifiers With Convincing Home Performance

T20 World Cup Americas Qualifiers: Bermuda have secured qualification for the Americas Qualifier 2027 for the ICC Mens T20 World Cup after finishing first at the ICC Mens T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Americas Qualifier A on home soil. After a no-result due to weather on the opening day, Bermuda showcased their talent by overcoming every opponent convincingly and completing a flawless campaign that earned them a spot in the regional qualifier. Delray Rawlins was crucial in Bermudas win, picking up the Player of the Tournament trophy after an exceptional campaign, which was capped by an historic 121 against Brazil. The Bahamas finished in second place, followed by Panama in third, Belize in fourth, and Brazil finishing bottom of the five-team table, according to a report on the ICC website. Following their win, Bermuda captain Terryn Fray said: We are delighted with the result. Its always special to perform in front of our own fans. We now look forward to the next challenge and give it our best in the Regional Final next year. Results: Day 1 Bermuda v Bahamas (No result) Belize v Panama (No result) Day 2 Panama 155-4 (20) v Brazil 86-8 (20) Panama won by 69 runs. Scorecard Belize 45-7 (12/12) v Bermuda 48-0 (5.2/12) Bermuda won by 10 wickets. Scorecard Day 3 Bahamas 114-5 (20) v Panama 115-6 (16.5) Panama won by 4 wickets. Scorecard Brazil 133-9 (20) v Belize 134-2 (17.5) Belize won by 8 wickets. Scorecard Day 4 Panama 69-10 (18.5) v Bermuda 73-0 (4.3) Bermuda won by 10 wickets. Scorecard Brazil 111-10 (20) v Bahamas 113-4 (18.1) Bahamas won by 6 wickets. Scorecard Day 5 Bahamas 143-6 (20) v Belize 121-9 (20) Bahamas won by 22 runs. Scorecard Bermuda 220-4 (20) v Brazil 74-10 (16) Bermuda won by 146 runs. Scorecard PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT Delray Rawlins (Bermuda) BEST BATTER Delray Rawlings (Bermuda): 190 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 197.92. BEST BATTER Also Read: Live Cricket Score Derrick Brangman (Bermuda): Seven wickets at an average of five and an economy of 3.23, with best bowling figures of 3/9. Article Source: IANS

TG20 Season 1: Abhirath, Ganesh Fire Unbeaten E-Champions To 56-run Win Over Khammam Aces

Hyderabad Cricket Association: Hyderabad E-Champions produced a dominant all-round display to register a commanding 56-run victory over Anvita Khammam Aces in the Hyderabad Cricket Association's TG20 in the second match at the G.M.C. Balayogi Stadium in Gachibowli, Hyderabad on Monday. A blistering half-century from Abhirath Reddy, valuable contributions from district player Ganesh Gadugu as well as Anvith Reddy, and disciplined bowling led by Sriniketh and Ajay Dev Goud helped the E-Champions defend 211 and extend their impressive unbeaten run at the top of the table. Meanwhile, Abhiraths impressive 59 off 26 balls puts him on top of the Orange Cap standings with 252 runs to his name. Adding to the teams impressive run, Ajay Dev also took his place at the top of the Purple Cap standings with 10 wickets to his name. E-Champions recovered from a watchful start through an explosive opening partnership between Sai Vikas Reddy (22 off 20) and Abhirath. The skipper then took the attack to the bowlers with a flurry of boundaries and sixes, including a 24-run fifth over, as the E-Champions raced to 77/1 at the end of the powerplay before Ved Reddy dismissed him. Sai Vikas continued to anchor the innings alongside Anvith Reddy (32 off 21) as the E-Champions crossed the 100-run mark in the 11th over. Ved then removed Sai Vikas, while Shanmukha Ashwin's quickfire cameo of 19 in 13 balls featuring two sixes kept the momentum going before GSK Reddy struck. Anvith and Ganesh Gadugu (44 off 21) followed up with a brisk partnership of 31 runs in 16 balls to take the score to 136/3 after 13 overs. Ganesh accelerated brilliantly at the death, striking two sixes off Vidyananda Reddy before Anvith's run-out briefly slowed the innings. Pranav Varma (18 off 13) chipped in with timely boundaries as Hyderabad E-Champions surged past 170 with four overs remaining. Saaketh Dhatrak picked up two wickets in the penultimate over before Sahendra Mallu claimed two more in the final over, including Ganesh and Ajay Dev (6 off 2). Despite the late collapse, E-Champions finished with a formidable 211/9. With a tough target to chase down, Aces endured a shaky start to the chase, losing GSK Reddy (7 off 5) in the second over despite a brisk beginning from Wafi Kachchhi (21 off 15) and Himateja Kodimela. Wafi looked dangerous with a couple of boundaries but was dismissed by Sriniketh in the fifth over, while Mayank Gupta (5 off 8) struggled to accelerate as the Aces reached 50/2 at the end of the powerplay. The innings lost further momentum through the middle overs as Ashwin and Anvith kept the scoring in check. Ashwin accounted for Mayank, while Anvith removed Mickil Jaiswal (3 off 8) to leave the Aces at 68/4 after 10 overs. Himateja, however, kept the chase alive with an aggressive counterattack, smashing two sixes and a four off Akhil Rathod before finding support from Prateek Reddy (11 off 12). The pair stitched together a useful stand, with Himateja continuing to find the boundary and Prateek chipping in with a crucial six to take the Aces past the 100-run mark. However, Sriniketh broke the partnership by dismissing Prateek, before Ajay Dev struck in the following over to remove the well-set Himateja after his fighting knock of 64 runs in 44 balls. Aces' hopes of a late comeback faded in the death overs despite a few blows from Sahendra Mallu (16 off 9). Ajay Dev struck a crucial blow by dismissing Sahendra in the 18th over before Ganesh Gadugu wrapped up the innings with two wickets in the final over, restricting the Aces to 155/9 in 20 overs. The pair stitched together a useful stand, with Himateja continuing to find the boundary and Prateek chipping in with a crucial six to take the Aces past the 100-run mark. However, Sriniketh broke the partnership by dismissing Prateek, before Ajay Dev struck in the following over to remove the well-set Himateja after his fighting knock of 64 runs in 44 balls. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Hyderabad E-Champions 211/9 in 20 overs (Abhirath Reddy 59, Ganesh Gadugu 44, Ved Reddy 2/24, Sahendra Mallu 2/35) beat Anvita Khammam Aces 155/9 in 20 overs (Himateja Kodimela 65, Wafi Kachchhi 21, K. Sriniketh 3/28, Ajay Dev Goud 2/36, Ganesh Gadugu 2/2) by 56 runs Article Source: IANS

Women's T20 WC: Australia Wary Of West Indies' Matthews Threat Ahead Of Semis Clash

T20 World Cup: As they gear up for Tuesday's semifinal clash in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup with the West Indies, World No. 1 Australia are wary of the threat posed by the West Indies, especially their captain Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin, said their top player, Ellyse Perry. Australia qualified for the knockout stages by finishing at the top of Group A, enjoying an imperious time of it in the groups, completing a fourth win from four with a record ICC Womens T20 World Cup chase to beat India at Lords on Sunday. In contrast, the Windies path to The Oval was rather more complicated. After winning their first three matches, the 2016 winner, the world's seventh-ranked side, fell to defeats to England and then Ireland in Bristol, the latter loss leaving them relying on New Zealand to lose their final game. Thankfully for Matthews and her team, hosts England pulled off a brilliant chase against the White Ferns, allowing the Windies to progress. Matthews knows as well as anyone what it takes to thrive against Australia. Three years ago, she scored a sensational 132 from just 64 balls as the Windies completed the biggest chase in the history of WT20I, reaching a target of 213 with a ball to spare. That came after she had scored an unbeaten 99 in the first game of a bilateral series Down Under, while Matthews 45-ball 66 paved the way for the West Indies to win this title a decade ago. Ellyse Perry is one of the few survivors from the Australian team that was beaten that day at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. And unsurprisingly, she was keen to focus on the future rather than that defeat, particularly after back-to-back half-centuries, her first and second at the ICC Womens T20 World Cup. She said, We dont want that kind of bad juju. I mean, what's that, 10 years ago? The game has changed so much in that period of time. And I just think, like you cannot pull things, can't even pull things from the last match because it's crazy how sport works. We've played each other quite a lot in the last couple of months. We actually had a tour to the West Indies earlier this year. We've played each other in a warm-up match, so we're quite familiar with each other at the moment. Theyve got some tremendously talented and dangerous players with a lot of experience. So it will be a great challenge for us. It's a quick turnaround, too, at a different venue, so I think we're really looking forward to it. As well as Matthews, Deandra Dottin is another potential match-winner for the Windies, who has not yet exploded in the competition. And Ash Gardner, part of a 100-run partnership with Perry in Australias win over India, knows exactly what a threat Dottin can be, having played with her for the Gujarat Giants. She added, The West Indies are a completely different threat (to India). They've got a lot of class and a lot of firepower within their team. Also, a lot of experience, obviously led brilliantly by Hayley Matthews, who is a player that can take away a game pretty quickly. But then you look at someone like Deandra Dottin, she's a threat in all three phases of the game. She's a fantastic player. I've had the privilege of playing with her, and seeing how she goes about her cricket, she's so fearless in the way that she approaches it, which sometimes can be quite scary because she can flick a switch pretty quickly. Also, a lot of experience, obviously led brilliantly by Hayley Matthews, who is a player that can take away a game pretty quickly. But then you look at someone like Deandra Dottin, she's a threat in all three phases of the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score But then just to see the, I guess, inexperience as well that they've got and that rawness that they've got on their side. So yeah, they definitely pose a different threat. But luckily enough, we've played a series against them quite recently. So I guess we can do our homework in terms of how we're going to approach a new venue, a fast venue, one that's really nice to bat on. So for us, it's being able to do our homework really quickly because we've got a day to do it. And then a really quick turnaround, and then just get really excited for what the occasion is, she said. Article Source: IANS

Ben Stokes Backs Brook '100 Percent' To Succeed Him As England Test Captain

Ben Stokes backed Harry Brook to succeed him as England's Test captain after bowing out of international cricket, saying the gifted batsman had his 100 percent support. Stokes dramatically announced he would be retiring from England duty on Sunday's fourth afternoon of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, saying he was burnt out after four years as skipper. The 35-year-old all-rounder, normally a middle-order batsman, then opened the innings as England tried to attack a stiff run chase of 373. But he was out before Sunday's close, with Stokes reduced to a spectator on his last day of England duty in Nottingham on Monday as New Zealand won by a thumping 160 runs to seal a 2-1 victory in a three-match series. Brook is already the captain of England's white-ball teams and is set to skipper the side in the first T20 against India at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday. The gifted 27-year-old batsman is also the official vice-captain of the Test team. But when Stokes was omitted from the second Test against New Zealand for breaking a midnight team curfew, it was former skipper Joe Root who took temporary charge of the team. Brook was denied the role after he was involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in Wellington, New Zealand, ahead of England's woeful 2025/26 4-1 Ashes series loss in Australia -- an incident that led to the imposition of the curfew. - 'Natural progression' - Stokes, speaking to reporters at Trent Bridge after Monday's stumps, said: There's a reason he (Brook) was asked to be vice-captain of this team. I know with all the controversy over the last couple of weeks, decisions were made. They were decisions I was not part of making. You are asked to be vice-captain for a reason, and I was vice-captain under Joe for a long time. It's the natural progression, if the captain is not there you step up. There is absolutely no reason why Harry shouldn't be asked to do that. Stokes said there was no way of knowing for sure if captaincy would boost or hinder Brook, who has an impressive batting average of over 53 in 38 Tests. But with England's three-Test series at home to Pakistan starting in August, Stokes had no doubts about the identity of the new red-ball skipper. If I was to be asked who I think should do it, I would be throwing my 100 percent support behind Harry Brook, he said. Stokes, however, was less enthusiastic about England head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key, the other two architects of a 'Bazball' era seemingly now at end. Monday's reverse was England's seventh defeat in their last nine Tests and also sealed a rare series loss on home soil. Stokes, asked if McCullum and Key were still the men to take England forward, replied: What me, Brendon and Rob have managed to do over four-and-a half-years, I'm not going to lie, it's been an interesting ride. Weve had incredible highs and some pretty low lows as well. It's always worked and connected pretty well in terms of what we've wanted to achieve. It doesn't always work out the way you want it to work out. While Stokes intends to play on for county side Durham but he denied suggestions he could yet face arch-rivals Australia during next year's Ashes in England. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I'm done, he said. I've had a few questions asking whether I'll be able to sit on my sofa watching next year. I know it's the Ashes but I'll probably be watching it in a hospitality box somewhere.

New Zealand Crush England By 160 Runs To Clinch Test Series In Ben Stokes' Farewell

New Zealand: New Zealand sealed a memorable Test series triumph over England with a commanding 160-run victory in the third and deciding Test at Trent Bridge on Monday, spoiling Ben Stokes' final appearance in international cricket and condemning the hosts to their first home defeat in a Test series of three matches or more since 2012. Chasing a tough target of 373, England got bowled out well short after starting the final day at 103/4. They had already wasted much of their chance with a careless batting collapse late on day four. New Zealand had scored 438 in their first innings and then bowled out England for 354. Enjoying a lead of 85 runs, the Black Caps declared at 288/9 in their second innings, leaving England to chase a massive target. This loss marked England's seventh defeat in their last nine Tests. It will likely increase the criticism of the bold 'Bazball' style that has characterised the team over the past four years. Fans expected to see Stokes deliver one last classic performance after announcing his retirement on the fourth afternoon. Instead, the sparse crowd at Trent Bridge, which received free tickets, only saw Jamie Smith's determined half-century as England's innings ended weakly. England's struggles began the night before when Stokes was out after scoring a quick 30 off 20 balls. Jacob Bethell went out for a duck, Harry Brook made 21 off just nine balls, and Ben Duckett added 36 off 42. This left the hosts with a steep task overnight. New Zealand's players could hardly believe England's approach. Stump microphones picked up the visitors asking, What are they doing? after Brook lost his wicket with an ill-advised shot to deep fine leg. England's slim hopes rested on Joe Root, but they quickly faded on the final morning. Nathan Smith, who ended the series as the top wicket-taker with 16 wickets, first dismissed Emilio Gay for 10 after finding the outside edge. Just four balls later, Root's fight ended when Henry Nicholls made a brilliant direct-hit run out while losing his balance, sending the former England captain back for 18. Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson briefly delayed the inevitable with a stubborn 75-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Smith played aggressively, hitting a great straight six off Mitchell Santner during his innings of 60 from 90 balls. Atkinson batted for 70 balls to score 19. Their partnership temporarily lowered the target below 200 before Santner trapped Atkinson lbw just before lunch. New Zealand faced a brief challenge when paceman Will O'Rourke hurt his hamstring midway through the morning session, adding to an already weakened pace attack, but the visitors stayed in control. After lunch, England's lower order collapsed quickly. Jofra Archer edged behind, and Josh Tongue was brilliantly run out by Santner shortly after Smith reached his fifty from 87 balls with three consecutive boundaries. The wicketkeeper-batter eventually holed out in the deep off Santner, ending the match and the series. The victory capped an impressive overall performance from New Zealand. Their disciplined bowling, sharp fielding, and steady batting proved too much for England throughout the three-Test series. For England, the loss not only marked a disappointing end to Stokes' brilliant international career but also raised new questions about the team's approach following a dramatic decline, losing seven of their last nine Test matches. The victory capped an impressive overall performance from New Zealand. Their disciplined bowling, sharp fielding, and steady batting proved too much for England throughout the three-Test series. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand 438 & 288/9 decl. beat England 354 & 212 (Jamie Smith 60; Zakary Foulkes 3-52, Mitchell Santner 2-54, Nathan Smith 2-64) by 160 runs. Article Source: IANS

Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: Young Vaibhav Sharma Bowls Hubli Tigers To Fine Victory

Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20: Hubli Tigers bounced back in style following back-to-back losses in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, comprehensively beating Gulbarga Mystics by 10 wickets in Hubballi on Monday. In a match reduced to 15 overs a side due to rain, the Tigers first restricted the Mystics to 139 in 15 overs, thanks to some fabulous left-arm swing bowling by young Vaibhav Sharma (3-9). In reply, the Tigers, true to their name, pounced on every bad delivery to score big and eventually made very short work of the 140-run target. Openers Mayank Agarawal and the consistent Mohammed Taha both completed aggressive and unbeaten half-centuries to finish the job, reaching 143 for no loss in 12.1 overs. The 35-year-old veteran star Agarawal, in particular, was at his fluent best and provided glimpses of his greatness with an attacking unbeaten 81 off 38 balls, studded with eight fours and five sixes. Taha was equally opportunistic and continued his good run with another half-century despite a wrist injury (57 not out, 35 balls, 4 fours, 4 sixes). Earlier, the 19-year-old Vaibhav Sharma did all the damage, claiming the top three Mystics batters with only 28 runs on the board. He dismissed the Mystics opener B R Sharath (2) with his first ball and then did even better, catching and bowling the other opener Lochan Gowda (6) a ball later. The youngster got rid of Prakhar Chaturvedi off the first ball of his second over to complete a match-winning spell. The mystics did not recover from there, though Thippa Reddy (51, 34 balls, 6x4, 2x6) and Macneil Noronha (10) added a 31-ball 30 for the fourth wicket. Captain Manish Pandey (35 not out, 20 balls, 3 sixes) played another inspired knock to shore the innings to 139, adding a 24-ball 44 for the fifth wicket. But in the end, it proved too little too late. For Hubli Tigers, it was their second victory in five matches, and they moved to fourth position on five points. Though the Mystics suffered their third loss, they stay third with six points. Captain Manish Pandey (35 not out, 20 balls, 3 sixes) played another inspired knock to shore the innings to 139, adding a 24-ball 44 for the fifth wicket. But in the end, it proved too little too late. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Gulbarga Mystics 139/6 in 15 overs (Thippa Reddy 51, Manish Pandey 35 not out; Vaibhav Sharma 3-9) lost to Hubli Tigers 143 for no loss in 12.1 overs (Mayank Agarawal 81 not out, Mohammed Taha not out 57) by 10 wickets. Article Source: IANS

Kaia's maiden ton, Madhevere and Ervine's fifties extend Zimbabwe's dominance

After Zimbabwe were bowled out for 410, with Taijul picking up a seven-for, Bangladesh lost Shadman in the second innings

'We Haven't Had Our Best Match Yet': Matthews Backs WI To Rise Against Australia In T20 World Cup Semis

T20 World Cup: West Indies captain Hayley Matthews believes her side still has another level to reach as they prepare to face World No. 1 Australia in the semifinals of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, insisting the Caribbean side will need their biggest stars to deliver if they are to upset the tournament favourites. Australia head into Tuesday's match at The Oval in strong form, having won all four of their group-stage games. They finished the group with a record run chase in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup against India at Lord's. West Indies took a much more dramatic path to reach the semifinals. They started the tournament with three straight wins, but then lost to England and Ireland. This left their future uncertain until England's win over New Zealand secured their place in the semi-finals. Matthews has scored 115 runs in five innings so far. She acknowledged that she has not yet played her best cricket but believes the Windies still have a lot of potential. We need big performances from our top players. A standout individual effort will be important, she said. However, to beat a team like Australia, we need more than one player stepping up. Our best players need to rise to the occasion tomorrow. I feel like players like Aliyah Alleyne and Jahzara Claxton have been excellent role players throughout the tournament. With our stars alongside them stepping up, we'll need a complete team performance. We havent played our best match yet. Neither I nor Deandra Dottin nor I have scored enough runs, which gives us plenty of room to improve as a team. Hopefully, some of us can step up more and challenge the Aussies. Matthews has had memorable success against Australia in the past. Three years ago, she scored 132 runs off just 64 balls, helping the West Indies achieve the highest successful chase in women's T20 international history by chasing down 213 runs with one ball left. Earlier in that series, she also scored an unbeaten 99, and in Kolkata a decade ago, her 45-ball 66 helped the West Indies win the Women's T20 World Cup. Australia's Ellyse Perry, one of the few players still around from the side that lost that 2016 final, chose not to focus on the past, despite entering the semi-final on the back of two consecutive half-centuries. We don't want to think about past losses. That was 10 years ago. The game has changed a lot since then. You can't even relate things to our last match because sports can be unpredictable, she said. We've played against each other quite a lot in the past couple of months. Earlier this year, we toured the West Indies and had a warm-up match, so we know each other fairly well right now. They have tremendously talented and dangerous players with a lot of experience. This will be a great challenge for us. The quick turnaround and the change of venue make it even more interesting. We're really looking forward to it. Australia's Ash Gardner also recognised the challenge posed by Matthews and Deandra Dottin. They previously played together at the Gujarat Giants. The West Indies present a different threat. They have a lot of talent and power within their team. They also have plenty of experience, led expertly by Hayley Matthews, who can change a game quickly. Then you have Deandra Dottin, who is a threat in every aspect of the game. Shes an excellent player, and I've had the chance to play alongside her. I admire her fearless approach to cricket, which can be intimidating because she can turn a game around in an instant. The West Indies present a different threat. They have a lot of talent and power within their team. They also have plenty of experience, led expertly by Hayley Matthews, who can change a game quickly. Then you have Deandra Dottin, who is a threat in every aspect of the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We need to do our homework fast since we only have one day before the match. Then we can get excited about the occasion. Article Source: IANS

Brendon McCullum on coaching future: 'Commitment to England has never wavered'

Head coach says he's still energised by role, despite overseeing seven defeats in nine Tests

TG20 Season 1: Arfaz, Nishanth Set Up Buddhi's Heroics As Nalgonda Knights Register Third Straight Win

Md Arfaz Ahmed: Anurag Nalgonda Knights secured their third win on the trot, registering a comprehensive six-wicket victory against Palamuru Strikers in the first match of the day in the Hyderabad Cricket Association's TG20 at the G. M. C. Balayogi Stadium at Gachibowli in Hyderabad on Monday. Knights bowlers were sensational in executing their plans as Md Arfaz Ahmed (3/39) and Nishanth Saranu (2/16) were the standouts, restricting the Strikers to 148/9. Skipper Rahul Buddhi (68* off 40) held his nerve in the run chase to lead his side to a comfortable victory with 28 balls to spare, helping them jump to second on the points table. It was a wobbly start for the Strikers as they lost three wickets in the Power-play. A run out cost the in-form Vignesh Reddy his wicket in the first over, while Aniketh Reddy (1/18) got the better of Karan Yadav (0 off 2) in the following over to have the batting side reeling at 5/2. Strikers found themselves in deeper trouble as Arfaz bounced out Rohit Rayudu (4 off 10) in the fifth over. Pragnay Reddy (55 off 35) led the counterpunch to add some impetus to the innings as he stitched a 37-run stand with Chaitanya Reddy (17 off 18). The latter rotated strike cleverly before he too succumbed to Divesh Singh in the ninth over. With their team in trouble, Pragnay and Rathan Teja (50 off 33) dug deep to strike a 74-run stand in 50 balls. Both batters displayed maturity to rotate strike regularly while also finding boundaries at regular intervals as they struck their respective half-centuries in 32 balls. The duo carried their side past the 100-run mark and seemingly set the platform for a big finish. They scored 22 runs off the 17th over before Nishanth broke the partnership to dismiss both batters within a span of four deliveries in the 18th over. The twin strikes left Strikers struggling at 134/6. They scored only 14 runs in the last two overs, losing three wickets in the final over, courtesy a brilliant performance from the Knights bowlers as they restricted the Strikers to 148/9. Debutant Jashwanth Mote (17 off 11) and Gaurav Reddy (18 off 10) got the Knights off to a strong start in the run chase, with the openers scoring 21 runs in the first couple of overs. Rishab Baslas gave the Strikers a glimmer of hope as he dismissed both openers in successive overs, putting the Knights in a spot of bother at 47/2 in the fifth over. Skipper Rahul and Nitish Reddy (19 off 15) steadied the ship for the batting side, with the former taking the onus on himself to keep up with the scoring rate as he unleashed a range of strokes. They constructed a 48-run partnership to wipe off a chunk of the target. Rohit got the better of Nitish in the tenth over with Varun Goud (13 off 12) falling to a soft dismissal soon after. However, Rahul made sure he finished the job for his side. He amassed his fifty with a maximum, reaching the milestone in 30 balls. His knock included seven fours and three sixes, as he comfortably led his side over the line with 28 balls to spare. Skipper Rahul and Nitish Reddy (19 off 15) steadied the ship for the batting side, with the former taking the onus on himself to keep up with the scoring rate as he unleashed a range of strokes. They constructed a 48-run partnership to wipe off a chunk of the target. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Palamuru Strikers 148/9 in 20 overs (Pragnay Reddy 55, Rathan Teja 50, Md Arfaz Ahmed 3/39, Nishanth Saranu 2/16) lost to Anurag Nalgonda Knights 149/4 in 15.2 overs (Rahul Buddhi 68*, Nitish Reddy 19, Rishab Baslas 2/26) by six wickets. Article Source: IANS

Unstoppable Australia overwhelming favourites against hit-and-miss WI

In nine World Cups, Australia have qualified for the final seven times

Matthews: West Indies ready to 'prove people wrong' against Australia

Pressure off our shoulders, says WI captain on facing high-flying Australia at The Oval in Tuesday's semi-final

Gardner: West Indies 'pose a different threat'

Australia hold a considerable edge over them but semi-final dynamics mean that may not matter as much

Womens T20 WC: Australia And England Are The Two Form Teams In The Tournament, Says Ian Bishop

Former West Indies: Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop has termed heavyweights Australia and England as the two standout form teams heading into the high-stakes semi-finals of the 2026 Womens T20 World Cup, adding that adaptability to varying conditions for the knockouts will be the ultimate differentiator for any side looking to stop them from lifting the trophy. Six-time champions Australia, the Group A toppers, will take on West Indies, the 2016 champions, who finished second in Group B at The Oval, London, on Tuesday. Hosts and 2009 champions England will take on two-time runners-up South Africa at the same venue on Thursday. The winners of the two semifinals will square off in the title clash at Lord's on July 5. Adapting to conditions is always critical - for example, in this World Cup. As with most tournaments, you find teams playing at different venues, and a lot of teams have had to play - for example, down in Southampton, then go all the way up to Leeds, back down to Manchester, and down to Lords. So, adapting to those varying conditions without much practice time, sometimes a team would have gotten to a new venue a day or two before. It's not new in the international game, and it's not an excuse, but it is critical to adapt. But you have some form teams, and we can get into that a little bit later. Obviously, Australia and England are the two form teams in the tournament, Bishop, an ICC Womens T20 World Cup expert, told IANS on JioStar's Media Day on Monday. Asked what it would take for the West Indies to stop the Australian juggernaut, Bishop admitted that the Caribbean side must lift their game in the big clash. Given the number of titles Australia has had, it's self-evident that they have been far ahead of many of us in the world game. They've lost in the finals to the West Indies, former champions in 2016, and England have had their day. New Zealand won the last T20 World Cup. But if you talk about consistency over time, Australia have obviously have been ahead more consistently. How can they stop them? The West Indies are going to have to lift their game significantly, and they're capable of Hayley Matthews, who hasn't really fired yet, and Deandra Dottin, who hasn't really fired yet. We've seen some good things from Stafanie Taylor, so hopefully she's fit, healthy, firing and ready to go. Shemaine Campbell had a good outing. Those big players, I think one or two or some of them are going to have to stand tall, simply because Australia have decent enough bowling resources, very experienced in the spin department, and their batting depth and power is amongst the best in the game, certainly in the top two. So whatever happens at the toss, the West Indies are going to have to bat a lot better than they've batted before in this tournament. The batting has been shaky, and they have to hope their bowling group is on target. Chinelle Henry is a vital piece of the puzzle, and she had injuries in the last game, so hopefully she is fit. That, to me, is another big thing. West Indies have to be fit, and they have to bowl to the best of their ability because that Australian machine is very, very good all round. So I'm not saying it can't be done. For it to be done, the West Indies have to be on top of their game, bat well with the big three or four they have, and hope that Chinelle, amongst the other bowlers, is fit, he elaborated. Analysing the second semi-final between South Africa and hosts England, Bishop warned against discounting the Proteas, despite England's formidable record in tournaments held on home soil. You never write off South Africa. South Africa have been plugging away in every format and genre of the game, men's and women's, over the last few years, and the women's team in particular have been knocking at the door. Their win yesterday was a little bit shaky in that run chase, but I think they have enough soldiers in their leader, in Marizanne Kapp and several other players, Tasmin Brits, etc., who can win a game on the day. So I would never write them off at all. I hope that one day they push all the way to lifting one of these trophies in the female game. However, England's record of never having lost a Women's World Cup of any kind at home is a strong one. If Nat Sciver-Brunt is running and available and running at 100 percent, then I think they are one of the favourites. With Australia battling there in that form, I wouldn't say they are runaway favourites. They're going to be tough to beat. But Australia are also a strong team and, on their day, South Africa can surprise you. Lauding the impact of England head coach Charlotte Edwards, Bishop stated that her aggressive philosophy has transformed the host nation into a self-assured, structure-driven side, as seen from their ending in Group B as an unbeaten side. Everything takes time. WPL takes time to get things better. IPL would have taken time to get things better. In the Caribbean, we have our own systems and leagues that took time. In Australia, I'm sure the privatisation or the professionalisation of the game took time to advance the women's game, as in England. So look, I've known Charlotte for a while and known about her and spoken to her on a couple of occasions. I think I said it on social media that she would do a good job a couple of years ago, before she got the job. What she has them doing is playing an aggressive brand of cricket with great self-belief, which I think England needed. She's given them a good structure. Everything takes time. WPL takes time to get things better. IPL would have taken time to get things better. In the Caribbean, we have our own systems and leagues that took time. In Australia, I'm sure the privatisation or the professionalisation of the game took time to advance the women's game, as in England. So look, I've known Charlotte for a while and known about her and spoken to her on a couple of occasions. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Watch ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals, Australia vs West Indies on June 30, and England vs South Africa on July 2, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network. Article Source: IANS

Womens T20 WC: The Women's Game Is A Standalone Thing And Is Growing, Says Ian Bishop

Former West Indies: Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop firmly believes that womens cricket has now established itself as a standalone product capable of drawing massive crowds despite competing with major global sporting events. Bishop's observations come at a historic juncture for the tournament which has been competing for attention alongside the FIFA World Cup, men's Test series against New Zealand, and Wimbledon. The group stage attendance record at an ICC Womens T20 World Cup group stage match was broken for the second time in 24 hours, as a total of 27,163 fans were in attendance at Lord's for India-Australia Group A game. That tally went past the total of 21,018 recorded in the match between England and New Zealand at The Oval. The attendance on the final day of the group stage comes on the back of the tournament crossing the 125,000 mark in on-ground attendance, making it the highest-selling ICC Womens T20 World Cup in history. The women's game is a standalone thing. I think we've talked about that for a couple of years now. Even just as the pandemic started, it has grown where my little girl, just as an example close to me, now loves the game. She wants to play cricket every day. She's a teenager. She never used to play. She wasn't interested. Now at school, she wants to play every cricket game every day of the week and I'm sure that is reflected across other nations. I have been to a lot more age group games in Trinidad in the last couple of years because of my daughter, and I have seen the love and passion for the game. So the gospel has been spreading more and more, and that is reflected also in the attendance. I still think that there's a lot going on - football World Cup, Test series with the men, Wimbledon starting, and that the numbers could have been better otherwise. So I think the women's game is growing, Bishop, an ICC Womens T20 World Cup expert, told IANS on JioStar's Media Day on Monday. Questioned about the tournament being heavily batting-friendly with five 200-plus scores recorded and batting records broken, Bishop credited the evolution of the game and the pitches maintained by ground staff members, despite a heatwave coming in the later phase of the competition. I think batting form is proven. What's the example that I can use? Obviously, England have been, with Australia, the two of the highest scoring teams in the tournament. It's no surprise that they are two out of four in the semi-finals, as it stands. If I may take the team from the region where I emanate the West Indies, and some of their struggles from a batting perspective have been critical to their faltering in the last couple of matches that they've played. The dominant forces have been Australia and England, who have scored runs, but who also have bowling lineups that are able to hold their own against most other competitors. Maybe in a semi-final clash or final clash, it could come down to that, because they both bat deep, England and Australia. South Africa, when they have been good? We saw Marizanne Kapp with that match-winning innings. But in addition to that, they've got good variety in their bowling. So the top teams in the world now, as in any facet of T20 cricket, you more or less have to have a dynamic batting team, he explained. Bishop expanded on the technical aspects driving these big totals, adding that lower-ranked sides are being left behind in power-hitting and that modern bowlers must adapt now. I just think the evolution of the game. The evolution of the game where the women with each passing World Cup, the better teams are being more dynamic and you find the lower-ranked teams are getting left. It's a similar story, have been left behind with regards to the power in their batting Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. We've had some really good batting conditions as well. I think the grounds staffs and the grounds where we've played, these are some kudos for leaving enough grass on the pitch for the ball to come on. The ball hasn't ragged square on too many of the pitches. But I think it's the evolution and the advancement of the women's game. This is where bowlers now have to catch up. One of the big things that I feel going forward is that we have to give more autonomy to organizations to find some more fast bowling and seam bowling options in the women's game. I think the women's game has got to a point now where it stands on its own. But I want to see more fast bowling, seam bowling options come through because we have a lot of spin. That's a good thing, but we need to put a search on to get some more dynamic fast bowling. We know Shabnam Ismail has been excellent in the past, one or two of the Australians, he elaborated. When asked to evaluate the performances of teams that came through the qualifiers like Scotland, the Netherlands, and Ireland, Bishop lauded their spirit while calling for greater administrative focus and professionalization. I love the Netherlands, for example. I love what Babette de Leede has brought and Sterre Kallis being the two players that have been very professional in their lineup. I think they've won a lot of plaudits because so many of the other players have lives outside of the game and are very, are not professionals, they're amateurs with careers, with university degrees and qualifications. I love the energy that they brought, but you saw the shortcomings where some of their fielding. Bowling under pressure against the better teams is still a work in progress. I love what Darcey Carter of Scotland brought and for Netherlands, Iris Zwilling is another one that I can put my hand up. I love the way she bowled in the final game, hitting her lengths and her lines. Katherine Fraser is another one from Scotland and so I really have enjoyed, even with Ireland, but we've known about Ireland for a while, right? We've known about Orla Prendergast and Amy Hunter for a while, but they showed and they reminded us, and not forget that match against the West Indies some time ago, that they have quality, he detailed. Bishop further stressed that closing the gap between top-tier sides and developing nations requires structured exposure and dedicated governing arms for the women's game. If we give them more exposure, and of course Ireland is a full member nation, and not an associate nation as such, they've shown us hope. I love the Netherlands and I hope the Netherlands get more help. I hope that they find another coach who is able to take them to another level. I hope they get to professionalise the game. I hope that Scotland will see much more of what they can bring, because I'm big on having the lower-ranked nations elevate themselves, because they bring a lot to the game. Where we see them falling short is only because they have not had the opportunity to play against more high-level competition, to play professionally and rub shoulders apart from a few players with the other great players in the game. If we can get the balance of that, we will see much more of a challenging situation from these teams. I hope that they find another coach who is able to take them to another level. I hope they get to professionalise the game. I hope that Scotland will see much more of what they can bring, because I'm big on having the lower-ranked nations elevate themselves, because they bring a lot to the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Give them autonomy so that they have all the attention at the local, territorial, country boards, and maybe at the top governing body, to pour more into the women's game, and it will get even better. So that would be my cry from here on. A lot of work has gone into that, but I still want to see more, Bishop concluded. Article Source: IANS

India Were Unfortunate With Injuries, But Need More Pacers, Power Hitters After T20 WC Exit, Says Bishop

T20 World Cup: Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop believes that India must aggressively unearth more fast bowlers and inject more power into their batting lineup if they want to bridge the gap with six-time champions Australia, who sent them crashing out of the 2026 Womens T20 World Cup. Indias campaign in the ongoing tournament ended in another league-stage exit after losing to Australia by six wickets at Lords on Sunday. In a tournament with very little margin for error, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led India paid the price of not knowing their best playing eleven and all departments not being in sync, as they suffered crucial defeats to South Africa and Australia. From India's point of view, I wouldn't say that I call myself the most knowledgeable person on it, but I just felt from a bowling perspective, there needs to be (more penetration). They were unfortunate with injuries, Shreyanka Patil going out, and they need some pace additions, I believe. Not just being a former fast bowler, but I think generally, and I asked Charlie Dean about this - I've been talking about the Australians and how they have managed to win six T20 World Cups -- with a little bit more balance in the bowling attack, with a little bit more pace, cutting edge in addition to the spinners is one thing and in T20 cricket now, where Australia have been very good in winning six titles, is the power in their batting. India does have a little bit of that, but they need more, and looking back at the game yesterday, I wonder if Richa Ghosh could have come in a little bit earlier, when Jemimah Rodrigues was struggling to get the ball away. So those are little points to look back on, Bishop, an ICC Womens T20 World Cup expert, told IANS on JioStar's Media Day on Monday. As per statistics from CricViz, India had a few positives Shafali Verma having a Power-play strike-rate of 171 and evolving as an all-rounder, while Sree Charani has been the tournaments leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps. But what stood out as a concern was the misfiring middle-order and constant changes in batting positions. It meant key mainstays like Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh, and Deepti Sharma struggled to find a consistent rhythm. India were also forced to field a different bowling combination in all five matches, including a pace bowling attack and new ball takers. Injuries to Amanjot Kaur, Kashvee Gautam, and Shreyanka Patil also upset the balance. In fielding, India dropped 12 catches across the tournament, including shelling four chances against Bangladesh and giving veteran Marizanne Kapp twin reprieves. When questioned on whether a target of 170 was a par score against Australia at Lords and whether bringing Kranti Gaud in place of Nandni Sharma was a good move, Bishop noted that India needed to aim significantly higher to put the six-time champions under pressure. If 170 was par, it was a better total. I think that you had to aim for that sort of total. That's where I suppose the discussions will be around Jemimah's knock. She eventually had to retire out, and Richa Ghosh came in and didn't have the chance, apart from a ball or two, to flex her muscles. But that's the sort of power that you wanted to utilise a little bit more of in hindsight. So I think that total would have been about par if I had just gone back to the result of it. You want to be above those given the power of Australia's batting, and the other point about it. So I would agree with you, India needed to be above that 170, right? What I will say is that even for the injuries that India have had with their bowling pre-tournament and with Shreyanka Patil being injured in the tournament, India still need to find a couple of seamers before the next T20 WC comes and through the phase until then, a couple of potent seamers (need to be unearthed). There has to be a deliberate hunt to get those effective seamers to go with their spinners. Responding to queries about why India still lacks format-specific players despite the Women's Premier League (WPL) being around for four years, Bishop defended the tournament, explaining that it is still in its infancy and needs time to yield full results. I think you're starting to see some of the benefits of the WPL. It's still a very young tournament. A handful of years ago, it was still very young, but you're starting to see some spin-offs of that, where young women in India are starting to see more and more cricket as a career option. Not just internationally, but on the domestic front, and I think that stretches across the world as well. A lot of players across the world want to play the WPL in addition to the WBBL, in addition to playing professionally in England, for example. We get several players now coming out to the WCPL in the Caribbean. So, WPL, given the vastness of the nation, is a great thing. But you're still going to have to wait a little bit longer to see the full impact of that. Drawing a parallel with the Indian Premier League (IPL) and citing the WCPLs example, Bishop pointed out that the evolution of domestic talent takes time, and the WPL must be structured to groom Indian players for high-stakes roles. If I may just draw, and now may not be a good time for it, given that India lost a couple of games to Ireland in the last couple of T20s, but those are blips. I believe those are blips, right? What we've seen with the IPL is that initially, in the IPL, several finishers with the bat and a number of excellent all-rounders were drafted in from across the cricketing globe to franchises to take up key positions to try to win games. Now we're starting to see a little bit of an evolution in that where India are starting to produce their own all-rounders who are finishing games with the bat and who can bowl a bit of seam, and that still needs growth. So I think in the WCPL, you still have to position teams in a way where you want the overseas players coming in, but also ensure that, as T20 internationals demand, a number of your key positions still have to be influenced by Indian selections. If I may just draw, and now may not be a good time for it, given that India lost a couple of games to Ireland in the last couple of T20s, but those are blips. I believe those are blips, right? What we've seen with the IPL is that initially, in the IPL, several finishers with the bat and a number of excellent all-rounders were drafted in from across the cricketing globe to franchises to take up key positions to try to win games. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Watch ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals, Australia vs West Indies on June 30, and England vs South Africa on July 2, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network. Article Source: IANS

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

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

New Zealand chip away with three more wickets as history beckons

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gary Wilson Appointed Ireland Head Coach, Becomes First Local In Charge In Over 30 Years

Cricket World Cup: Former skipper Gary Wilson was on Monday appointed as the new head coach of the Ireland men's cricket team, as he becomes the first Irish-born coach to take charge of the national side in over three decades. Wilson, 40, represented Ireland 292 times across a distinguished 15-year international career before retiring in 2020 and succeeding Heinrich Malan in the head coach role. Previously, Malan stepped down just a day after Ireland secured a historic 2-0 T20I series triumph over India to facilitate a smooth transition for the upcoming 2027 ICC Mens Cricket World Cup qualification cycle. Wilson is the first local coach to guide the senior men's team since John Wills in the early 1990s. He moved into coaching shortly after his retirement, initially leading the domestic side North West Warriors before joining the senior national setup as an assistant coach under Malan in 2022. Representing Ireland as a player is something I will always be hugely proud of, but to now take on the role of Head Coach is a very special honour that means a great deal to me. I have been extremely fortunate over the years to work with some of the best coaches and to learn so much. My coaching beliefs have been shaped by each coach I have worked with and are centred around strong communication, building and maintaining relationships to get the best out of players, hard work, a player-centred focus, and setting high challenges for those who are driven to succeed. Above all, the power of the connection to the Shamrock is something Ive witnessed and is something I intend on using to our advantage, said Wilson. Malan will work closely with Wilson over the coming month to ensure a seamless handover before Ireland hosts Afghanistan for a five-match ODI series commencing on August 5. Wilson also acknowledged his predecessor's contribution to his growth as a coach. Id like to put on record my thanks to Heinrich - over the last 4 years, he has allowed me to have the responsibility that has put me in a position to be ready for this role, and for that I am truly grateful. We have had some great days in that time, and I wish him and his family all the very best for what comes next. Currently ranked 11th in the ICC ODI rankings, Ireland may need to go through a global qualifier next year to secure a World Cup spot. Ireland havent played in the ODI World Cup since 2015, and the 2027 edition will feature 14 teams. Graeme West, Cricket Ireland's Director of High Performance, said, I would like to congratulate Gary on his appointment - he has demonstrated strong leadership qualities both as a player and as a coach, and we look forward to working with him as we continue to develop this squad. Currently ranked 11th in the ICC ODI rankings, Ireland may need to go through a global qualifier next year to secure a World Cup spot. Ireland havent played in the ODI World Cup since 2015, and the 2027 edition will feature 14 teams. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Looking longer term - with his extensive background in international and county cricket -- Gary will have a wealth of insights and experience to call upon as we develop and deliver on a high-performance strategy, he said. Article Source: IANS

IOC, ICC Unveil Qualification Pathway For Cricket At LA28 Olympics

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

AUS-W vs WI-W Semi-final 1 Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Preview, Predicted XIs, Player Tips & Match Prediction

AUS-W vs WI-W Semi-final 1, Cricket Tips :Australia Women have finished the group stage of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 without losing a single game. Their undefeated streak will be tested in the semifinal, when they will lock horns with West Indies Women. This match will be played at Kennington Oval on Tuesday at 7 PM IST. West Indies would feel lucky, as despite losing the last two group games, they managed to secure a semi-final spot. But how long can they stay lucky? This is a must-win game against the best team of the competition. Australia have been clinical, and they will look to secure a place in the final for the 8th time. AUS-W vs WI-W: Match Details Date : June 30, 2026 (Tuesday) Time : 7 PM IST Venue : Kennington Oval, London AUS-W vs WI-W Live Streaming Details The live action of the semifinal game will be live on the Star Sports networks. Fans can also access the live stream on the JIo Hotstar app or website. AUS-W vs WI-W Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 19 Australia Women : 17 West Indies Women : 02 No-Result: 00 AUS-W vs WI-W: Ground Pitch Report Kennington Oval is a good venue for the batters. The bounce and pace in the wicket are pretty good, and batters can play their shot. The small square boundaries will be a challenge for the bowling side. Teams have done well here chasing. AUS-W vs WI-W Possible XIs AUS-W : Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney (wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Nicola Carey, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux (c), Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton WI-W : Hayley Matthews (c), Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Qiana Joseph, Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Jannillea Glasgow, Chinelle Henry, Jahzara Claxton, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Ashmini Munisar AUS-W vs WI-W Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Ellyse Perry has scored consecutive fifties and won consecutive MOTM awards. She is in good form and will be key for Australia. For West Indies, captain Hayley Matthews will be key, because she is someone who can attack this Australian bowling unit. Probable Best Bowler Captain Sophie Molineux has been the pick of the bowlers for Australia and has taken most wickets for her team. For West Indies, Aaliyah Alleyne has been delivering consistent performance with the ball. Today Match Prediction : West Indies need to focus on their batting, which has struggled a lot. But Australia have been dominant this edtion. We predict Australia Women will win this game. AUS-W vs WI-W Match Semi-final 1 ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, Today 2026 Match, AUS-W vs WI-W 2026 Prediction, AUS-W vs WI-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update for AUS-W vs WI-W Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer: The predictions or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your prediction.

Heinrich Malan exits Ireland head coach role on a high

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'Retiring Out A Batter Is Still Seen As Taboo: Chopra Questions India's Strategy After T20 WC Exit

T20 World Cup: India's Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign came under fresh scrutiny after former India opener Aakash Chopra assessed the team's tactical decisions and long-term priorities following their defeat to Australia, which ended their hopes of progressing further in the tournament. Speaking after India's elimination, Chopra questioned the timing of Jemimah Rodrigues' retirement and identified fitness as a critical area requiring attention if India are to challenge the world's leading sides in future ICC events. Chopra felt India missed an opportunity by delaying a tactical batting change during the innings, arguing that maximising every delivery should take precedence over conventional thinking. My issue is that retiring out a batter is still seen as taboo, as if retiring a batter out means you've insulted them. But that's not the case. I'll draw a simple parallel. If a bowler isn't having a great day, we don't forcefully make them bowl their full quota. So, if a batter is trying their level best and just isn't able to time the ball well, why should they bat out their entire innings? Ultimately, it's a game of 120 balls, and you have to maximise every one of them, Chopra told JioStar. He believed India's innings had already lost momentum before the middle overs and suggested greater urgency was required in deploying their finishing resources. You were already behind the eight ball when Shafali and Smriti Mandhana played almost run-a-ball innings, then Harmanpreet had to single-handedly finish the game. It's not like Richa would have started hitting sixes from the outset, but if you have resources and still don't use them well, you're just left regretting the decision of not bringing Richa in earlier, he added. Looking beyond the result, Chopra said India's development ahead of the next global tournament should extend beyond tactical adjustments and place significant emphasis on athletic standards, particularly in the shortest format. One area where Indian women's cricket will have to improve is fitness, and this format, especially, highlights that aspect. If you want to compete against Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in the shortest format, you'll have to be a lot fitter, the former opener said. According to Chopra, T20 cricket increasingly rewards physical sharpness alongside technical ability, making fitness an indispensable component of success against the world's strongest teams. In the longer formats, you can still stay relevant because of your skill and craft, but when it comes to T20s, which is a dynamic format, your fielding, how well you cover the ground, and how far you can hit the ball matter a lot more, Chopra said. According to Chopra, T20 cricket increasingly rewards physical sharpness alongside technical ability, making fitness an indispensable component of success against the world's strongest teams. Also Read: Live Cricket Score This team has a lot of upside and the potential to create history, so if they have to conquer the world, by the time the next World Cup arrives, everyone should look absolutely fit and hungry, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

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

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

Pretorius and Allen batter Freedom and take Unicorns to the top

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

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

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

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

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

ZIM vs BAN: Zimbabwe Dominate First Day Of Bangladesh Test

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

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

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

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

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

Hasabnis and Deol take India A past England A in first one-dayer

Pratika Rawal, Niki Prasad and Minnu Mani played key roles for India A too, while Grace Scrivens and Charis Pavely impressed with the bat for England A

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

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

Shanaka's blitz hands Knight Riders another defeat

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

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

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

Tector: Never been involved in a bigger accomplishment

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

Wimbledon 2026 | Emma Raducanu withdraws with leg injury

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

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

James Vince smacks 84 but Hampshire fall away in second half

Raza, Mir play key hands as Worcestershire hold off Somerset

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

Munsey, Linde extend Notts dominance in 74-run win

Leicestershire outmuscled at Grace Road as visitors head towards knock-outs

Lees lays waste to Middlesex with matchwinning hundred

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bryony Smith leads charge before Surrey sneak home in two-wicket win

Laura Harris' three-for key in limiting Somerset, despite Sophie Luff's continued good form

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Perry, Gardner fifties knock India out, SA through to semi-finals

Harmanpreet blitz in vain; Australia meet West Indies while South Africa face England in the semi-finals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sri Lanka lose six, WI close in on huge win

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

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

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

Pacers, openers complete Zimbabwe's perfect day

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

Womens T20 WC: 'It Was A Brilliant Knock By Harman, Says Mandhana After India Post 170/

T20 World Cup: India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana credited skipper Harmanpreet Kaur for lifting the team to a competitive total after the captains explosive half-century powered India to 170/4 against Australia in their final Group stage match of the ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2026 at Lords Cricket Ground on Sunday. After India made a steady start through Mandhana and Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet took charge in the closing stages, smashing an unbeaten 56 off just 26 deliveries, including three consecutive sixes in the final over, to give India a strong total in their must-win encounter. Praising her captains innings, Mandhana said Harmanpreets late acceleration helped India reach the score they had targeted before the start of the match. Harman did really well to get us to 170. This is the score we were looking at at the start. The way she batted, especially in the last over, it was a brilliant knock by her, Mandhana said during the innings break. Mandhana also felt the Lords surface was not the easiest to bat on and believed Indias total was around par despite the late flourish. It wasnt an easy wicket. We felt 170 was a good score and probably around par. The pace bowlers didnt get a lot of assistance at the start, but anything straight down the ground was a good option, she added. Earlier, Mandhana and Shafali Verma provided India with a solid start, adding 66 runs for the opening wicket. Shafali scored 34 before being dismissed by Australia captain Sophie Molineux, while Mandhana made 38 from 37 deliveries, striking six boundaries before being run out following a mix-up with Jemimah Rodrigues. Asked about the unfortunate dismissal, Mandhana chose not to dwell on the incident. Earlier, Mandhana and Shafali Verma provided India with a solid start, adding 66 runs for the opening wicket. Shafali scored 34 before being dismissed by Australia captain Sophie Molineux, while Mandhana made 38 from 37 deliveries, striking six boundaries before being run out following a mix-up with Jemimah Rodrigues. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India will now look to defend 170 and secure a place in the semi-finals, while Australia, already through to the knockout stage, needs 171 runs for their fifth successive victory in the tournament. Article Source: IANS

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ben Stokes to retire from international cricket after third Test

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

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

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

Ben Stokes To Retire From International Cricket After New Zealand Series

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