NZ complete stunning turnaround to go 1-0 up
New Zealand completed a sensational comeback in the first T20I in Mount Maunganui over Sri Lanka to win by eight runs. Sri Lanka, given a target of 173, were cruising for most of their run chase before Jacob Duffy began the downward spiral. Sri Lanka who were 121 for 0 at one stage, collapsed to 164 for 8 by the end of their innings. None of their batters apart from the openers got to double digits. The turning point came in the 14th over when Duffy picked up three wickets in an over to give the hosts a slight opening which they pounced on. He first got Kusal Mendis (46) to glove a pull to the ‘keeper before following it up with the wickets of Kusal Perera and Kamindu Mendis off consecutive deliveries, both batters falling for ducks.
Pakistan give late scare to the Proteas in Centurion Test
With 148 runs required to seal their spot in next year’s ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final, South Africa got off to a nightmarish start in Centurion as Pakistan pacers dealt early blows. Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad struck with the ball as the Proteas closed the day at the loss of three wickets, with 27 runs on the board.Earlier, a rain-marred third day saw the entire first session being washed out. Pakistan began the second session determined to build on their lead. Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel navigated a challenging spell of bowling early on, steadily shifting the pressure back onto South Africa. Both players reached their half-centuries, building a solid partnership of 79 runs. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in favor of the hosts, thanks to a fiery spell from Marco Jansen, who claimed three quick wickets, leaving Pakistan reeling at 176-6.
Intriguing finale awaits as Pakistan eventually turn up
Karen-Anne Bosch and her husband, Brian van Onselen, knew better than to hang around Centurion on Saturday morning. Play in the first Test should have started almost an hour earlier. Early morning drizzle had steadied into rain, and the scoreboard was unmoved from Friday evening’s equation: Pakistan were two runs behind with seven wickets in hand. Hence Bosch and Van Onselen were on their way out of the ground. Nothing to see here, Corbin. We’ll come back when there is. An hour or so earlier a father and son had been walking the 1.4 kilometres from the Gautrain station to the ground. The question: “Dad, who are we playing today?” The answer: “Pakistan, boy. We’ve been playing Pakistan for two days now.” So the kid must have been confused when nobody played anybody for three hours and 40 minutes while the waiting and then the mopping up ensued.
Konstas taking on Bumrah ‘no surprise’ to his childhood coach Tahmid Islam
On the night before the Boxing Day Test, Sam Konstas told his batting coach Tahmid Islam that he would only play the scoop against Jasprit Bumrah after he reached 150. But, after a number of early plays and misses against the champion fast bowler on debut at the MCG, Konstas brought forward his plans for the scoop. It hardly surprised Tahmid, Konstas’ 29-year-old batting coach. Tahmid said as much in a conversation with Bangladeshi journalists on Saturday, a chat arranged by Prime Bank Cricket Club, Tahmid’s team in a short stint in the Dhaka Premier League several years ago. The news of Tahmid being Konstas’ batting coach has made headlines in Bangladesh. Tahmid, speaking via Zoom, said Konstas’ instincts took over on Test debut. “We were having dinner the night before when he told me that the plan was to only scoop once he got to 150,” Tahmid said. “It wasn’t really part of the plan [to play the shot so early]. But he is someone that plays on instinct. He plays with a lot of freedom. He doesn’t really think of the consequences of what people are going to say if he gets it wrong. I think it is his biggest skill and asset. Whereas loads of players think about the consequences like ‘what if I fail doing it’ or ‘what if I get out playing it’ or ‘the media and coaching staff will have a go at me’.”
Nitish Reddy’s day keeps getting better as Sachin Tendulkar’s reaction icing on the cake.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s unbeaten 105 off 176 balls on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground has kept India in the game. The visitors have clawed their way back after being reduced to 191/6. The 21-year-old perfectly mixed caution with aggression to get the better of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Scott Boland. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar heaped praise on Nitish Kumar Reddy after the latter scored his maiden international century. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar heaped praise on Nitish Kumar Reddy after the latter scored his maiden international century. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar hailed Nitish Kumar Reddy’s maiden Test hundred for India, saying the youngster “impressed” him right from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener in Perth. Nitish Kumar Reddy walked out to bat at No.8 for the visitors, leading India’s fightback after stitching together a partnership of 127 runs with Washington Sundar for the eighth wicket.
ICC Awards 2024 – Cast your votes now for your favourite players
All the shortlists across multiple categories for the annual ICC Awards 2024. It’s that time of the year when the ICC celebrates the standout performances from an action-packed year of cricket through the annual ICC Awards, honouring stars from both the men’s and women’s game. With nine categories in total, cricket fans around the world have the opportunity to cast their votes and help decide the winners of the ICC Awards 2024. Explore the categories and vote for your favourite players now!
Abbas, Shahzad keep Pakistan’s hopes alive
Pakistan struck thrice late on Day 3 to leave the first Test in the balance heading into Day 4 at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad had the ball on a string, getting the red cherry to beat the bat on numerous occasions before prizing out all three key wickets in the same manner – LBW. The hosts are currently 27 for 3 at Stumps and require a further 121 runs with seven wickets in hand to clinch a berth in the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s in June. Before that, Marco Jansen picked up a six-wicket haul (6-52) to commence a Pakistan collapse from 153 for 3 to 237 all-out. Saud Shakeel top-scored with 84 and Babar Azam chipped in with 50 himself, his first half-century since 2023. South Africa ended Pakistan’s resistance fairly quickly after the Tea break, within eight overs to be precise. However, Shakeel added some quick runs to the visitors total with three fours and a six as he farmed the strike from Shahzad. But he missed a full toss from Jansen which rendered him plumb in front of the stumps. Corbin Bosch plucked the last wicket of Abbas as the debutant ended with five wickets in the match leaving the hosts a target of 148 to chase.
Shortlist revealed for ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2024
From a career in academia as a qualified teacher to emerging as a rising star in women’s cricket, South Africa’s Annerie Dercksen has had a remarkable journey over the past couple of years. After making her debut in 2023, it took Dercksen less than two weeks to earn a spot in South Africa’s squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on home soil. Although she didn’t feature in the tournament that year, fast forward to 2024, and Dercksen was a pivotal part of the squad that reached the final. Batting opportunities were limited for Dercksen lower down the order, but she seized her chances when they came. She ended the year strongly with 69 runs in three T20Is against England, despite South Africa suffering a 3-0 series defeat. The 23-year-old also made her mark in the ODI series against England, contributing a composed 27 runs in South Africa’s only victory of the limited-overs leg during the first ODI.
8 Wickets For 43 Runs: How Sri Lanka Collapsed In Chase Against New Zealand After Openers’ 121-Run Stand
A late bowling fightback sparked by Jacob Duffy produced a remarkable eight-run victory for New Zealand against Sri Lanka at Mount Maunganui on Saturday. Sri Lanka, with openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis in sparkling form, were cruising towards the 173-run target when they reached 95 without loss at the halfway stage. But in the 14th over, with Sri Lanka 121-0, Duffy changed the game with three wickets in four balls, all caught behind by Mitchell Hay, beginning with the dismissal of Mendis for 46 off 36 deliveries. Nissanka went on to make 90 off 60, which included seven fours and three sixes for his highest T20I score, while no other Sri Lankan reached double figures. The visitors went on to lost 8 wickets in the space of 43 runs with New Zealand pulling off a huge escape.
Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi lead the Bulawayo record-fest
The unbeaten partnership between Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi is the highest for any wicket for Afghanistan in Tests, bettering the 307 between Asghar Afghan and Shahidi against the same opponent in Abu Dhabi in 2021. This is also currently the second-highest stand for any wicket against Zimbabwe, behind 438 between Marvan Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara in 2004. Rahmat and Shahidi went past 336 between Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagnarine Chanderpaul from last year to take the second spot. All three have come in Bulawayo. 26th time a wicketless day has occurred in Test Cricket and it’s the first time this has happened on Zimbabwe soil. Rahmat Shah (231*) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (141*) became the first pair to remain unbeaten throughout an entire day of play in a Test since Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews did for Sri Lanka against New Zealand in Wellington in 2018. This is only the 2nd instance in the last 15 years where a team has batted an entire day without losing a wicket.
