Cricket

The highly anticipated 'Super 8s' match of the T20 World Cup between India and Bangladesh is set to take place in the North Sound region of Antigua on Saturday. While the weather forecast predicts a relatively favorable outlook, the possibility of interruptions due to thunderstorms cannot be discounted.India, who emerged victorious in their opening Group 1 match against Afghanistan, are considered the clear favorites. However, they would be unwise to underestimate the spirited Bangladesh side, who have proven their mettle in previous encounters.According to accuweather.com, the weather forecast for Saturday in Antigua indicates partly sunny conditions with isolated thunderstorms. The cloud cover is expected to be around 41%, with intermittent rain showers throughout the day.The match is scheduled to commence at 10:30 am local time, which corresponds to 8 pm IST. India has entered the 'Super 8s' stage with an unblemished record, having secured victories over Ireland, Pakistan, and USA in the group stage. Their match against Canada in Florida was unfortunately washed out due to inclement weather.India's quest for a second T20 World Cup title is fueled by their desire to end an 11-year drought without an ICC event triumph. Their last major title came in the form of the Champions Trophy in 2013 under the leadership of MS Dhoni.India's inaugural T20 World Cup victory in 2007, also under Dhoni's captaincy, remains a cherished memory for fans. The team will be eager to replicate that success and bring home the coveted trophy once again.

India's Hardik Pandya Provides Balance, Bangladesh Faces Uphill BattleIndia's resurgence in the T20 World Cup 2024 continues as they prepare to face Bangladesh in a crucial Super Eight clash. The turnaround time from their victory over Afghanistan is short, but India's newfound balance, thanks to Hardik Pandya's all-around contributions, gives them an edge.Suryakumar Yadav has emerged as India's savior in recent matches, bailing them out of precarious situations. However, the pressure mounts on Shivam Dube to deliver as the team's spin enforcer. Against Bangladesh's formidable spin attack, Dube's performance will be crucial.Bangladesh, known for their left-arm spinners, now boasts a more versatile attack with Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad Hossain as trump cards. However, their batters have struggled to provide a solid foundation for their bowlers.India's bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, poses a significant threat to Bangladesh's batting lineup. Pandya's return to full fitness has given India the flexibility to field either a third seamer or a third spinner in Kuldeep Yadav.Beyond the on-field battle, this rivalry has gained an extra edge in recent years, fueled by controversial incidents and passionate fans. The match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium promises to be another intense encounter.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has expressed concern over his team's batting performance in the T20 World Cup, acknowledging that they have underperformed in the Super Eights stage. Despite their impressive group stage showing, Bangladesh suffered a 28-run DLS defeat to Australia in their opening Super Eight fixture."The next two matches are crucial," Shanto said at the post-match press conference. "We have a lot to gain from them. If we can win them, we will be in a better position. We will play to win every match."Bangladesh's batting woes continued against Australia, as they managed only 140/8 in their 20 overs. Shanto admitted that the team's batting has been a major concern."Yes, there was a big difference in the conditions because last match there was a lot of spin and also seam, but today the wicket looked flat... a very good wicket to bat on," Shanto said. "I think we didn't bat well. We should have targeted 160 to 170.""As a player, we had to adjust, but we couldn't execute with that new ball, especially in the power play," he added. "We couldn't finish the last five-six overs, and we lost too many wickets. If we had ended well, we could have scored a proper 160 or 170."Despite their struggles, Bangladesh remains hopeful of turning things around. They face India in their next Super Eight match, a crucial encounter that could determine their chances of reaching the semi-finals."Everyone has the capability, and people have played well in different places in the past," Shanto said. "But I do not have an answer to why this is not happening. Everyone has the freedom to play their natural game, but somehow it is not happening."

Pat Cummins' Hat-Trick Powers Australia to Victory Over Bangladesh in T20 World Cup Super EightAustralian fast bowler Pat Cummins etched his name into the history books of the T20 World Cup with a stunning hat-trick against Bangladesh in the Super Eight match in Antigua. Cummins' feat marked the first hat-trick of the 2024 tournament and the seventh in the event's history.After a quiet first spell, Cummins turned the tide in the 18th over, dismissing Mahmadullah with an inside edge that rattled his stumps. The next delivery saw Mahedi Hasan attempt an uppercut but only managed to hole out to Adam Zampa at short third.Cummins completed his hat-trick in the final over, deceiving Towhid Hridoy with a slower delivery that the batter mistimed to short-fine leg. Hridoy's dismissal for 40 off 28 balls left Bangladesh reeling at 140 for 8.Cummins' hat-trick was the second by an Australian in T20 World Cups, following Brett Lee's achievement in 2007. The other bowlers to have completed hat-tricks in the tournament are Curtis Campher, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kagiso Rabada, Karthik Meiyappan, and Josh Little.Mahmudullah's dismissal marked the sixth time he has been a victim in a hat-trick in international cricket, a testament to the rarity and significance of Cummins' feat.Cummins' three wickets, along with Adam Zampa's 2 for 24, played a crucial role in restricting Bangladesh to a modest total. Australia's bowlers kept the Bangladeshi batters in check throughout the innings, with only Hridoy and Afif Hossain (33 off 26) managing to cross the 30-run mark.Australia's victory over Bangladesh puts them in a strong position to qualify for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. Cummins' hat-trick will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the highlights of the tournament and a testament to his exceptional bowling skills.

Australia's Mitchell Marsh Opts to Bowl First in Super 8s Opener Against BangladeshIn the inaugural match of the Super 8s stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Australia captain Mitchell Marsh has elected to bowl first after winning the toss against Bangladesh at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua.Marsh expressed confidence in the wicket, stating that it appeared decent and unlikely to change significantly. He emphasized the importance of adapting to the conditions, as Australia had previously played a match at the venue."We are going to bowl first. Looks a decent wicket, don't think it'll change too much. It's always nice to get used to the conditions; we have played one game here," Marsh said.Australia has made two changes to their lineup, bringing in Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins for Ashton Agar and Nathan Ellis.The match marks the first encounter between Australia and Bangladesh in the Super 8s. Australia has maintained an undefeated record in the tournament thus far, topping Group B with four consecutive victories. Bangladesh, on the other hand, qualified as the second-placed team in Group D, winning three of their four matches.The toss was initially delayed due to rain, but the weather has since improved, allowing the players to warm up and the groundstaff to remove the covers.

India's journey in the Super 8 stage of the tournament, where they aim to secure a semifinal berth, is fraught with challenges. Afghanistan, a formidable T20 side, has demonstrated their prowess in recent matches. Despite their defeat against the hosts, West Indies, they possess the ability to regroup swiftly and pose a significant threat in the qualifiers. Bangladesh, too, has given India a run for their money, particularly in the white-ball format, and will be eager to prove their mettle once again.India recognizes the arduous task ahead of them in securing a top-two finish in their group. Australia, a formidable opponent in all formats of the game, raises their level of play when facing India. They are aware of India's lingering disappointment after their defeat in last year's World Cup final and will be determined to exact revenge.India's batting lineup has yet to fully ignite, with only Rishabh Pant delivering consistent performances. The team has played three of their four matches on a challenging pitch in New York and faced a washout in Florida. Barbados, renowned for producing legendary cricketers, will provide a different playing surface and serve as an inspiration for India to showcase their top-quality cricket. Earning the appreciation of the Barbados crowd is akin to winning a rare prize. Playing here will also offer India valuable insights into the pitch conditions should they reach the final.The match will be a battle of wits between the spin magicians of Afghanistan and India's formidable batting lineup. Afghanistan will miss the services of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, a rare spinner who excels in the PowerPlay. However, with Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad in their ranks, they remain confident in their ability to restrict India to a manageable score. India may consider introducing the left-arm wrist spin of Kuldeep Yadav, although they are likely to field an unchanged playing eleven.The bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah and ably supported by Arshdeep Singh, can extract bounce from the pitch if it is firm and hard. Hardik Pandya has bowled exceptionally well, effectively utilizing the bouncer. With Suryakumar Yadav finding form in the match against USA, the middle order concerns have been largely alleviated. Shivam Dube has also demonstrated a keen understanding of the game situation and the ability to bide his time on the unpredictable New York pitch.Predicting the outcome of a T20 match is never easy, especially against Afghanistan, whose players have extensive experience in T20 leagues worldwide. The team that maintains composure and executes their plans effectively will emerge victorious.

Australia, the reigning T20 World Cup champions, will face Bangladesh in the Super Eight stage of the tournament. The match will be a significant test for both teams, as Australia aims to continue their dominance while Bangladesh seeks to upset the odds.Australia has been in impressive form throughout the tournament, winning all five of their group stage matches. Their batting lineup has been particularly strong, with Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, and Travis Head all contributing significant runs. The bowling attack has also been impressive, led by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Adam Zampa.Bangladesh, on the other hand, has had a more challenging tournament. They lost their opening match to South Africa but recovered to win their next two matches and qualify for the Super Eight. Their batting has been inconsistent, with only Shakib Al Hasan scoring a half-century so far. However, their bowling attack has been impressive, with Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed leading the way.The match between Australia and Bangladesh is likely to be a close contest. Australia will be the favorites, but Bangladesh has the potential to cause an upset. The key for Bangladesh will be to find a way to contain Australia's powerful batting lineup. If they can do that, they will have a chance to pull off a surprise victory.

Ahead of Australia's Super Eights clash against Bangladesh in the 2024 T20 World Cup, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has revealed the chaos that ensued in the England dressing room as their qualification hung in the balance.England's fate rested on Australia's victory over Scotland, and as the match reached its climax, panic set in among the English players. Maxwell disclosed that some players were frantically booking and canceling flights as the outcome remained uncertain."There was almost this interesting part where they dropped Tim David's catch when there were three runs required off three balls," Maxwell said. "When it gets down to the last two-three balls, who knows what is going to happen? Luckily enough, we got over the line and luckily enough, they got through. But I heard it was absolutely chaos."Maxwell also received messages from England players before the game, expressing their anxiety. "Yeah, just a couple of texts here and there (from England players)," he said. "It was actually quite funny. There was a lot of chat out in the ground like 'Are we doing this? Are we seriously going to let England back in?' It was a pretty interesting game."Prior to the match, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood had stated that it would be in everyone's best interests if England were eliminated early. "In this tournament, you potentially come up against England at some stage again and...they are probably one of the top few teams on their day and we have had some real struggles against them in T20 cricket, so if we can get them out of the tournament that's in our best interest as well as probably everyone else," Hazlewood had said.Australia's victory over Scotland secured England's qualification for the Super Eights on the basis of net run rate. The defending champions will begin their Super Eights campaign against West Indies on Thursday.

Mitchell Marsh has declared himself fit to bowl in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024, providing Australia with an additional option ahead of their clash with Bangladesh in Antigua. The all-rounder has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since leaving the IPL, but has recovered sufficiently to be available for selection.Marsh's return to bowling will bolster Australia's bowling attack, which has been led by Marcus Stoinis in his absence. The team has also utilized 12 overs of spin against Scotland, indicating a potential shift in strategy for the Super Eight."I'll be available to bowl," Marsh said. "With the line-up that we've got, I don't really necessarily see a need for me to bowl, but I think it's really important in this format to have options and we're blessed with plenty of those."While Marsh's bowling role remains uncertain, he is confident in his ability to contribute with the bat. Despite a slow start to the World Cup, Marsh and Glenn Maxwell believe they are close to making a significant impact."For me and Mitch, we got a lot of confidence out of that England game for the role we played," Maxwell said. "Even though it's a small sample size we still feel like we played out role; we set the innings up for the lower order to then go nuts."Maxwell acknowledged his own struggles with form, but expressed optimism about his chances of regaining his rhythm. "I've been hitting the ball pretty well, but...it's just been really hard to, I suppose, get that rhythm and momentum," he said.Australia will face Bangladesh in Antigua on October 29th, with the Super Eight stage of the tournament set to begin on November 1st. The team will be hoping to secure a place in the semi-finals and continue their quest for a second T20 World Cup title.