Abu Dhabi Knight Riders secured their first win in DP World ILT20 Season 3, defeating Sharjah Warriorz by 30 runs. Jason Holder and David Willey were instrumental in defending a target of 159/5, while late innings contributions from Andre Russell and Laurie Evans ensured a competitive total.
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Steve Smith has been appointed captain for Australia's Sri Lanka tour. He aims to mentor young players with his sub-continental expertise. Pat Cummins is on paternity leave. The series includes two Tests starting on January 29 in Galle. The Australian squad features promising talents like Nathan McSweeney, Cooper Connolly, and Sam Konstas.
Falcon Risers Hyderabad and Srinagar Ke Veer began their ISPL Season 2 campaigns with emphatic victories. Hyderabad triumphed over Chennai Singams by eight wickets, chasing 69 runs easily. Srinagar Ke Veer then dominated KVN Bangalore Strikers, winning by 10 wickets, with Sagar Ali scoring the season's first half-century.
India's Rohit Sharma hopes Shubman Gill will continue his excellent form from the ODI series against England into the ICC Champions Trophy. India face Bangladesh in their opening match on Thursday, with significant players like Rohit, Virat Kohli, Mohd. Shami and Kuldeep Yadav aiming to perform well.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape secured a fourth consecutive win by defeating Joburg Super Kings by 14 runs, climbing to second in the SA20 table. Key contributions included captain Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs. Joburg Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming cited injuries as a challenge. Sunrisers' adaptability and home crowd support were critical to their success.
Desert Vipers head coach James Foster lauds Wanindu Hasaranga and Sherfane Rutherford for their inclusion in the ICC ODI Team of the Year. Foster highlights their on-field consistency and off-field value, calling Hasaranga the "ultimate all-rounder" and praising Rutherford's leadership. He credits the team's success to collective effort and a thoughtful management.
Pakistan's spinners led their team to a 127-run victory over the West Indies in the first Test in Multan. Sajid Khan and Abrar Ahmed took nine and four wickets, respectively, as West Indies were dismissed for 123. This marks Pakistan's third consecutive home win by making pitches extremely spin-friendly.
Tom Alsop's unbeaten 85 off 60 balls led Gulf Giants to a six-wicket victory over Sharjah Warriors in ILT20, successfully chasing 171 for 6 in the final over. Tom Curran supported with 26 not out. Zimbabwean pacer Blessing Muzarabani took 3 for 32, helping to restrict the Warriors, who had strong contributions from Jason Roy and others.
Delhi Capitals secured a two-wicket win against Mumbai Indians in the Women's Premier League. Chasing 165, Delhi reached the target on the last ball, with Shafali Verma and Niki Prasad making notable contributions. Shikha Pandey led the bowling attack with crucial wickets. Despite Nat Sciver-Brunt's unbeaten 80, Mumbai fell short, bowled out for 164.
Sanjay Manjrekar criticizes India's cricket culture of prioritizing iconic players' form over the team's best interests. He highlights the decision to move KL Rahul from the opener position, where he excelled, to accommodate an out-of-form Rohit Sharma. This practice, he argues, often disadvantages the team's overall performance.
Gongadi Trisha was pivotal in India securing their second ICC women's U-19 World Cup title in Kuala Lumpur. She notched the tournament's first century, earned player of the match in the final against South Africa, and was named player of the tournament, bringing her total to 309 runs and seven wickets.