Sediqullah Atal's debut century (104) powered Afghanistan to a crushing 232-run ODI victory over Zimbabwe. A 191-run opening stand with Abdul Malik (84) set up Afghanistan's 286/6. Zimbabwe crumbled for a dismal 54, their second-lowest ODI total ever, highlighting their continued struggles in the format. Afghan bowlers dominated, sharing the wickets amongst themselves.
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Shubman Gill, back at the Gabba where he shone in India's 2021 series win, exudes confidence ahead of the third Test. The series is tied 1-1, and India aims for a big first-innings total with the red ball after two sub-par batting performances in Adelaide. Captain Rohit Sharma, returning after missing the first Test, skipped Friday's optional training.
Pretoria Capitals, the 2023 SA20 finalists, aim for a comeback in 2025 with new captain Rilee Rossouw and head coach Jonathan Trott. Key additions, including Liam Livingstone and Evin Lewis, bolster the squad. After a disappointing 2024 season, the team aims to reclaim its form, starting against Durban's Super Giants on 10 January.
Australia clinched a 2-0 series win against Sri Lanka in the second Test at Galle. Chasing 75, they lost only Travis Head before lunch on day four. Australian spinners Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann claimed four wickets each, with Kuhnemann emerging as the leading wicket-taker in the series. Steve Smith achieved a milestone of 200 Test catches.
India's captain Rohit Sharma on Wednesday admitted his batting hasn't been up to par in the ongoing five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite recent low scores, he remains confident in his preparation and mindset. Rohit emphasises the importance of his mental and physical state over current run tallies, believing a turnaround is imminent.
Shreevats Goswami humorously advised Abhishek Sharma to keep his room clean. He praised Abhishek's fearless cricket and his growth as a bowler, thanks to the guidance of Muttiah Muralitharan. Cricketer Jagadeesha Suchith encouraged Abhishek to persist with hard work, sharing advice from Sachin Tendulkar. Abhishek's big-hitting and bowling skills have made him a valuable asset.
Dinesh Lad, Rohit Sharma's childhood coach, emphasizes the importance of tennis-ball cricket in developing a cricketer's skills. This format improves batting techniques, particularly pull and square cut shots. Lad highlights the role of leagues like ISPL in nurturing future stars, praising its initiative and recognizing its value for refining shot-making abilities, especially for batsmen.
UP Warriorz, powered by Georgia Voll's 99* off 56 balls, eliminated defending champions RCB from the Women's Premier League with a thrilling 12-run victory. Key contributions from Kiran Navgire and Grace Harris helped UPW reach 225/5, while RCB's chase ended at 213 all out, despite Richa Ghosh's 69 off 33 balls.
Shan Masood and Babar Azam led Pakistan's fightback with a record 205-run opening stand against South Africa after following on in the second Test. Masood remained unbeaten on 102, while Babar scored 81. Pakistan ended day three at 213 for one, still needing 208 runs to make South Africa bat again.
Pakistan struggled on the second day of the second Test against South Africa at Newlands, closing at 64-3. South Africa declared at 615, with Ryan Rickelton scoring a chanceless 259. Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen took crucial early wickets for South Africa, leaving Pakistan trailing by 551 runs with Babar Azam unbeaten on 31.
Major League Cricket’s third season starts at Oakland Coliseum, California, in an effort to boost cricket in the U.S. Matches will be held in Oakland, Dallas, and Florida, with the finals in Dallas. The San Francisco Unicorns, supported by Silicon Valley investors, will call the Coliseum home.