Page 30 - Cricket

Hosts Sri Lanka thrash India by 8 wickets to win Women's T20 Asia Cup

Chamari Athapaththu (61) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (69 not out) shone brightly as Sri Lanka thrashed India by eight wickets to win their first ever Women's T20 Asia Cup title here on Sunday. Chasing 166, Sri Lanka showed no qualms in knocking off the target in 18.4 overs to score 167/2 and win with eight balls to spare. Skipper Athapaththu led from the front with a 43-ball 61 with nine fours and two sixes and Harshitha made 69 not out from 51 balls with six fours and two sixes. Earlier, India made 165/6 in their 20 overs after Smriti Mandhana hit a 47-ball 60 and Richa Ghosh provided late fireworks with a rapid 30. Brief Scores: India 165/6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 60, Jemimah Rodgrigues 29, Richa Ghosh 30; Kavisha Dilhari 2/36) lost to Sri Lanka 167/2 in 18.4 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 61, Harshitha Samarawickrama 69*, Kavisha Dilhari 30*; Deepti Sharma 1/30) by 8 wickets.

Sri Lanka fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera ruled out of series against India

Sri Lanka fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera has been ruled out of Sri Lanka's white-ball home series against India owing to an injury, chief selector Upul Tharanga said on Wednesday. A replacement will be named shortly by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). "Yesterday we got the reports, and it can be confirmed that he will miss the T20Is and ODIs against India," Tharanga said during a press in which newly appointed interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya was also present. "We will name a replacement shortly." The 32-year-old Chameera, who made his international debut for Sri Lanka in 2015 and bowls at a good pace, has been plagued with injuries throughout his career. So far, he has played 12 Tests, 52 ODIs, and 55 T20 matches, taking 32, 56 and 55 wickets respectively. Chameera didn't play the last few matches for Kandy Falcons in the recently-concluded Lanka Premier League (LPL). However, it is not clear as to when he picked up the injury. Among big events, Chameera missed the Asia Cup in 202

Gambhir-Agarkar lay down strict guidelines for players' workload management

Gautam Gambhir's plain-speak and Ajit Agarkar's lucidity is set to make for a heady combo as the new head coach and the chairman of selectors looked completely in sync while spelling out, in no uncertain terms, that days of cherry-picking series by citing workload management could be over. They explained certain tough calls while in a few things, they were subtle yet said enough to allow people to read between the lines. Physically, neither Gambhir nor Agarkar have an imposing presence but ask anyone in the periphery of Indian cricket and people will swear by the fact that these are two individuals with sharp and informed takes, which don't change readily. As they put up a united front in their first joint media interaction, it was clear that they were ready to put their money where their mouths were. Technically, it might seem that Agarkar enters his second year of chairmanship but perhaps like Gambhir, this is also a fresh start in which the duo can create a road-map for the 2027

Women's Asia Cup: Khadka, Barma sparkle as Nepal beat UAE by 6 wickets

Opener Samjhana Khadka made a breezy, unbeaten fifty and pacer Indu Barma grabbed three wickets as Nepal outclassed UAE by six wickets to make a winning start to their campaign in the Women's T20 Asia Cup here on Friday. Khadka (71 not out, 45b, 11x4) played a fine hand to take her side past the target of 116 in 16.1 overs. The Emirates' outfit could not fight against the more experienced Nepal bowlers led by Barma (3/19), ending up at a below par 115 for eight. However, Nepal had to go through some anxious moments when they lost three wickets to off-spinner Kavisha Egodage (3/12) that temporarily halted their progress after the Power Play. But Khadka singlehandedly guided Nepal's chase, playing shots around the park. Earlier, Khushi Sharma (36, 39 balls, 2x4) and Egodage (22, 26b, 2x4) arrested a slide after UAE found themselves at 38 for three after the Power Play segment. But their knocks consumed way too many balls and none of the other batters also could give momentum to UAE

PCB unlikely to allow Babar, Rizwan, Afridi to play in Canadian GT20 league

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is unlikely to allow senior players Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi to play in the upcoming Global T20 Canadian League, citing a busy international calendar. The PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi held discussions with coaches Jason Gilliespie and Gary Kirsten, who were also not in favour of allowing these players to participate in the GT20, informed a reliable source in the board. That these three cricketers play in all formats of the sport too influenced the board's decision, said the source. The board has allowed NOCs to some of those players who are not all format players like Shadab Khan to play in some leagues. But since Babar, Shaheen and Rizwan play in all formats the case is different for them, the source said. The source attributed PCB's call to deny an NOC for pacer Naseem Shah to play in the Hundred in England too to the same reason. However, he conceded that the board is expecting resentment from the players and their agents as

All-rounder Hardik Pandya, wife Natasa Stankovic officially part ways

Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, on Thursday, announced his separation with wife Natasa Stankovic after a relationship of four years. The couple disclosed the decision in a joint statement on their official Instagram accounts. Pandya and Stankovic got married on May 31, 2020, and welcomed their first child, son Agastya on July 30 of the same year. They renewed their wedding vows in the presence of close friends and family on February 14, 2023 in Udaipur in a grand celebration. "After 4 years of being together, Natasa and I have decided to mutually part ways. We tried our best together and gave it our all, and we believe this is in the best interest for both of us. This was a tough decision for us to make, given the joy, mutual respect and companionship we enjoyed together and as we grew a family," the couple said in the joint statement. "We are blessed with Agastya, who will continue to be at the centre of both of our lives and we will co-parent to ensure that we give him ...

Jaiswal-Gill partnership registers 10-wicket win over Zim; Ind lead by 3-1

Yashasvi Jaiswal's flair was complemented by skipper Shubman Gill's poise as young Indian team cantered to a 10-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the fourth T20 International, taking an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series. This is the second time that India beat Zimbabwe by 10 wickets after a similar-margin win at the same venue in 2016. Jaiswal and Gill's approach was in complete contrast as the Mumbai southpaw went hammer and tongs during his unbeaten 93-run knock while the skipper (58 not out) was ready to play the second fiddle in a chase of 153 which was completed in 15.2 overs. The target was made to look way easier than it should have been on a track that had good bounce and carry. Jaiswal, who had to sit out during the T20 World Cup campaign hardly looked rusty, playing shots all around the wicket. The thumping bowler's back-drive off rival skipper Sikandar Raza was delightful and equally stylish was the pick-up pull off Richard Ngarava for a six. The lack of pac

Cricket match-fixing case: Court orders framing cheating charges against 4

A court here has ordered framing charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating against four persons accused of fixing international cricket matches between India and South Africa in 2000. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Neha Priya was hearing the case against Rajesh Kalra, Krishan Kumar, Sunil Dara and Sanjeev Chawla. The Chanakaya Puri police station had registered a case against them. Noting the evidence before it, the court said that the "chain of events, record of conversations, conduct and surrounding circumstances" showed the complicity of Kalra, Kumar and Dara in the deals struck by Chawla with Hansie Cronje (deceased and also an accused) and led to the "inference that they were acting in connivance and were co-participants in the main object of fixing cricket matches for monetary gain." In an order passed on July 11, the court said there was sufficient material on record to frame charges against the four accused under Indian Penal Code sections 420 (cheating) read with 12

'I am in pain': Kapil Dev appeals BCCI to help ailing Anshuman Gaekwad

Former cricketer and India coach Anshuman Gaekwad, aged 71, has been receiving treatment at King's College Hospital in London for the past year

Sachin Tendulkar best batter to bowl to, says England legend James Anderson

England fast bowling great James Anderson, who is into his final few days as an international cricketer, enjoyed his battles against Sachin Tendulkar the most over the course of his remarkably long career. Anderson, who is playing his 188th Test for England against the West Indies at Lord's, will retire after the game. Even though Anderson dismissed Tendulkar on nine occasions, he could not have a set plan against the Indian master blaster. The best batter I would have to say is Sachin Tendulkar, Anderson told Sky Sports when asked about the toughest batter he bowled to. I don't remember having a specific game plan against Sachin Tendulkar. Once he came on, I would just think that I cannot bowl a bad ball here, he was that kind of player. He was a key for India as well. If you get him out in India, the whole atmosphere, in the ground changes. He was such a big wicket, Anderson said. Like Tendulkar, who represented India for 24 years, Anderson has set a telling example for fast ..

India take series lead over Zimbabwe with all-round show in third T20

Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad produced high-quality knocks before the bowlers did their part as India outplayed Zimbabwe by 23 runs in the third T20 here on Wednesday. Gill (66 off 49), Yashasvi Jaiswal (36 off 27) and Gaikwad (49 off 28) propelled India to 182 for four against Zimbabwe after the visitors opted to bat on a fresh pitch. Zimbabwe were never really in the run chase despite an entertaining effort from number four Dion Myers (65 not out 49), ending at 159 for six in their stipulated 20 overs. Washington Sundar, who is likely to play a bigger role in India's T20 set-up after the retirement of Ravindra Jadeja, struck thrice while Avesh Khan took a couple of wickets. The fourth T20 of the five-match series will be staged here on Saturday, July 13. After a loss in the series opener, India have restored normal service with back-to-back victories. After Avesh Khan bounced out opener Wessly Madhevere in the second over, the wickets kept falling for the home team. However,

Rahul Dravid declines Rs 2.5 crore bonus for 2024 T20 World Cup victory

ICC T20 World Cup: Rahul Dravid requested his bonus be reduced to align with the Rs 2.5 crore given to other support staff, including bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and batting coach Vikram Rathore

Chapter closed but not fully: Warner teases return for Champions Trophy

David Warner has declared his international career a "closed chapter" but at the same time, the Australian batting great won't mind padding up in the Champions Trophy next year should he be selected, something that has been described as an "emergency option" by his ODI captain Pat Cummins. Warner retired from ODIs after Australia's World Cup-winning run in November last year, while his last Test was against Pakistan in January. His final T20I came against India on June 24 at the shortest format's recently-concluded global showpiece . "Chapter closed!! It's been an unbelievable experience to play at the highest level for such a long period. Australia was my team. The majority of my career was at the international level. It's been an honour to be able to do this. 100+ games in all formats is my highlight," Warner wrote in an Instagram post on Monday. "I will continue to play franchise cricket for a while, and I am also open to playing for Australia in the Champions trophy if selected,

'Kirsten, Gillespie given free hand by PCB to turn fortunes of Pak cricket'

In the wake of Pakistan's dismal showing in the T20 World Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday gave head coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie a free hand to turn the fortunes of the team, according to sources. Pakistan lost to newcomers USA and arch-rivals India in the Group stages of the World Cup to be eliminated from the competition held in the USA and the Caribbean. Naqvi met the white-ball and red-ball coaches, where Kirsten and Gillespie shared their plans for the national team. According to the PCB, Naqvi told both the coaches that he had full confidence in them and they would get full backing from the cricket board. "Kirsten was blunt in laying down his concerns about the white-ball team based on the World Cup," said a PCB source. Both the head coaches told the PCB chairman that they wanted to set clear guidelines about the fitness levels required to be considered for Pakistan team selection. "Naqvi told them they should do whatever is ...

SLC refutes claims of drinking party in team hotel during recent World Cup

The Sri Lankan Cricket Board on Tuesday described a media report which claimed that its players were involved in a drinking party inside team hotel during the recent T20 World Cup as "entirely false, fabricated, and baseless". A weekend newspaper had on July 7 claimed that the Sri Lankan players had a drinking party inside the team hotel before the match against South Africa, which the islanders lost by six wickets in New York on June 3. "Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wishes to issue the following clarification regarding an inaccurate article titled 'Drinking Party Inside Team Hotel Before South Africa Match?' published in a weekend newspaper on July 7th and subsequently circulated on social media. "SLC categorically and strongly refutes the contents of the article and confirms that no such incidents, as described, have occurred. Therefore, SLC states unequivocally that the news report is entirely false, fabricated, and baseless," the SLC said in a statement. Sri Lanka secured only one .

James Anderson makes peace with retirement ahead of final Test match

James Anderson has made peace with his impending England retirement even if the evergreen seamer believes he is bowling as well as he ever has done. Anderson, who turns 42 this month, was told by England's management team in April that they would be moving on from him this summer as they look toward the future. Despite his age, Anderson warmed up for his 188th and final Test appearance against the West Indies at Lord's which starts Wednesday with a seven-wicket haul for Lancashire last week. Anderson, whose 700 Test wickets are a record for a non-spinner, insisted he is excited for what the future holds after agreeing to remain with England's red-ball side for the rest of the summer as a fast bowling mentor. I feel like I'm still bowling as well as I ever have, Anderson said. But, I knew it had to end at some point. Whether it's now or in a year or two. The fact it's now is something I've got to deal with and accept. The last couple of months I've made peace with that. I can ...

Abhishek's ton powers India to 100-run win over Zimbabwe; levels series 1-1

Chasing a massive 235-run target the visitors got off to a poor start losing opener Innocent Kaia for 4 in the first over as Mukesh Kumar gave India an early breakthrough

Shukla hits back at Thackeray, says cannot prioritise one city over another

The BCCI cannot prioritise one city over another when it comes to organising important finals, said board's vice-president on Friday in response to Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray's demand. Following a massive turnout during Indian cricket team's T20 World Cup victory parade on Marine Drive to the Wankhede Stadium, Thackeray had urged BCCI to not "take away" any final match from Mumbai. "Yesterday's celebration in Mumbai is also a strong message to the BCCI... Never take away a World Cup final from Mumbai!, Thackeray had written on X. "It is BCCI's policy that where the final should take place. It cannot always be given to a particular city, Shukla told PTI on Friday. The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai hosted the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal whereas the world's largest stadium in terms of sitting capacity, in Ahmedabad, was the venue for the final. "There has been a final match -- 1987 World Cup -- in Kolkata also, and Kolkata is considered as Mecca. So it can't be decided that it

Rohit, Suryakumar's banter on 'The Catch' captivates Maharashtra Assembly

Cricket outshone politics in Maharashtra Legislature on Friday as Rohit Sharma and other T20 World Cup winning team members from the city were honoured at the Vidhan Bhawan. When Suryakumar Yadav, who took the incredible match-defining catch in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa rose to speak, those in the Central Hall, including ministers and legislators, chanted in unison that he speak on the catch. Catch basla hatat (the catch just landed in my hands), Suryakumar said in Marathi, to loud cheers from the audience. He then went on to give a replay of sorts, gesturing with his hands on how he took the catch. The team captain Rohit Sharma who spoke after Suryakumar, said, Surya just now said that the ball sat in his hands. It is good that the ball sat in his hands or else I would have made him sit (out of the team). In his Marathi speech, Rohit said, It was a dream to bring the World Cup back in India. We waited 11 years for this. In 2013, we had won the ICC Champions ...

T20WC: Logistical hassle surrounds Caribbean's first ICC event in 14 years

The recently-concluded T20 World Cup, which was the first ICC men's event in the Caribbean in 14 years, was a success on many fronts but the logistical challenges involved in staging the massive event in the region caused a lot of discomfort to the game's stakeholders, including the players and fans. Cricket West Indies reaped the benefits of hosting the big-ticket competition that gave the governing body financial security for the foreseeable future. The ICC fulfilled its vision of hosting a World Cup in a region outside the big three (India, Australia, England). The locals fans were also thrilled to see top-flight cricket being played in the Caribbean after a long time but the same could not be said about the overseas fans who had to take great pains to watch their teams in action. Before the caravan moved to the Caribbean for the Super 8s, the talk around the games in co-host USA was mainly around the undercooked drop-in pitches in New York. Logistical issues began to crop up onl