South Africa's tailenders Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen secured a tense two-wicket win over Pakistan in the first test, ensuring the Proteas' place in the next year's World Test Championship final. Spinner Tabraiz Shamsi highlighted South Africa's cricket resurgence with performances in various formats. Captain Bavuma praised the team's journey, overcoming initial setbacks to now lead the WTC table.
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Ricky Ponting predicts South Africa as favourites for the Champions Trophy semifinal against New Zealand, citing their powerful and deep batting lineup. Ponting highlights key players like Heinrich Klaasen and key matchups such as Ryan Rickelton versus Matt Henry. He stresses the importance of a strong performance from New Zealand's Kane Williamson in this crucial encounter.
South Africa secured a 10-wicket win over Pakistan in the second Test in Cape Town, clinching a 2-0 series victory. Despite Pakistan's second-innings fightback led by Shan Masood's 145, South Africa comfortably reached their 58-run target in 7.1 overs. South Africa's bowlers faced challenges from a placid pitch but succeeded, setting them up for the Test championship final against Australia.
India's Rishabh Pant adopted a cautious approach on the first day of the fifth Test against Australia due to the challenging SCG pitch, scoring 40 off 98 balls. Pant is striving for a balance between aggression and defence, acknowledging the mental challenges during rough patches. Australian debutant Beau Webster concurred on the pitch's demanding nature.
New Zealand triumphed over Pakistan by 78 runs in the opening tri-nations series match in Lahore. Glenn Phillips scored an unbeaten 106 and Mitchell Santner took three wickets to aid the victory. New Zealand scored 330-6 in 50 overs, with Pakistan being all out for 252 in 47.5 overs. South Africa is also participating in the series.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape face MI Cape Town in the SA20 Season 3 opener at St George’s Park, with a sold-out crowd expected. Key players include Ottneil Baartman, Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, and Tristan Stubbs for the Sunrisers, while MI Cape Town's squad features Trent Boult, Kagiso Rabada, and Reeza Hendricks. The match promises high energy and entertainment.
Australia's struggling opener Nathan McSweeney has been dropped for the Boxing Day Test against India after a string of low scores. Nineteen-year-old Sam Konstas has joined the squad, potentially opening alongside Usman Khawaja, whose form is also under scrutiny. Selectors might reshuffle the batting order given inconsistencies from other players. Scott Boland will replace the injured Josh Hazlewood.
A Dhaka court has issued an arrest warrant for Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan over two bounced cheques linked to his company. The warrant also targets the managing director, while two other officials have been granted bail. Shakib remains in the US due to safety concerns following civil unrest in Bangladesh.
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.
Shardul Thakur's resilient 113 not out rescued Mumbai from a dire situation against Jammu & Kashmir. Despite severe cramps, his partnership with Tanush Kotian helped Mumbai gain a 188-run lead. This performance serves as a strong reminder of Thakur's tenacity and skill, even as questions about his future in international cricket linger.
England captain Jos Buttler acknowledged his team's inability to effectively counter India's spin attack in the first T20I, leading to a seven-wicket defeat. He emphasized the need for individual players to develop strategies against spin and highlighted the importance of adaptability for the upcoming match in Chennai.