Cricket

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka: Kiwis Aim to Bounce Back, Sri Lanka Seek Consolation WinSharjah, United Arab Emirates - New Zealand and Sri Lanka will face off in a crucial Women's T20 World Cup match on Tuesday, February 28, at 2 pm local time.New Zealand, who began the tournament with a comprehensive victory over India, suffered a heavy defeat to defending champions Australia in their second match. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have lost all three of their matches so far, including a disappointing loss to India that eliminated them from semi-final contention.Sri Lanka will be looking to end their losing streak against New Zealand, having broken a 12-match drought last year with a historic 10-wicket victory in Colombo. Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama were the stars of that match, and they will be key players for Sri Lanka once again.New Zealand, meanwhile, will be eager to bounce back from their loss to Australia and strengthen their chances of reaching the semi-finals. They will be relying on legspinning all-rounder Amelia Kerr, who has been one of their most consistent performers in recent times.Bangladesh vs South Africa: Proteas Aim for NRR Boost, Bangladesh Seek ResurgenceDubai, United Arab Emirates - Bangladesh and South Africa will clash in a Women's T20 World Cup match on Tuesday, February 28, at 6 pm local time.Bangladesh have lost their first two matches of the tournament, while South Africa bounced back from a defeat to England with a big win against Scotland. The Proteas will be looking to continue their momentum and improve their net run rate, while Bangladesh will be desperate to get their campaign back on track.South Africa will be led by captain Laura Wolvaardt, who is the tournament's leading run-scorer so far. She will be supported by a strong bowling attack led by Ayabonga Khaka and Marizanne Kapp.Bangladesh, meanwhile, will be hoping for a better performance from their batters, who have struggled to score runs in the tournament so far. Captain Nigar Sultana will be key for them, both with the bat and behind the stumps.

Temba Bavuma, the South African Test captain, has been ruled out of the first Test against Bangladesh due to a muscle strain in his left triceps. The injury was confirmed after scans revealed the extent of the damage. Aiden Markram will lead the Proteas in Bavuma's absence for the first Test, which begins in Dhaka on October 21.Bavuma's injury is a significant blow to South Africa's hopes of a successful tour of Bangladesh. The 32-year-old has been in good form in recent months, scoring a century in the second Test against England at Lord's in August.With Bavuma out, Markram will take over the captaincy for the first time in a Test match. The 28-year-old has captained South Africa in limited-overs cricket, but this will be his first experience leading the team in the longest format.Markram will be supported by a strong leadership group, including vice-captain Keshav Maharaj and senior players Kagiso Rabada and Dean Elgar.In addition to Bavuma's injury, South Africa have also been dealt another blow with the news that Nandre Burger has been ruled out of the series with a lumbar stress reaction. Burger was expected to play a key role in the bowling attack, but his absence will force the Proteas to reshuffle their plans.Dewald Brevis and Lungi Ngidi have been added to the squad as replacements for Bavuma and Burger. Brevis is a highly-rated young batsman who has yet to make his Test debut, while Ngidi is an experienced fast bowler who has played 17 Tests for South Africa.South Africa will be hoping to bounce back from their disappointing performance in the ODI series against Ireland, where they lost 2-1. They will be confident of their chances against Bangladesh, who they have beaten in their last two Test series.

Indian Cricket Team Arrives in Hyderabad for Series Finale Against BangladeshThe Indian cricket team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, arrived in Hyderabad on Friday for the third and final T20I match against Bangladesh. The series is already in India's grasp after convincing victories in the first two matches.In the series opener in Gwalior, India chased down Bangladesh's total of 153 with ease, winning by 7 wickets. The second T20I in Delhi was even more dominant, with India posting a massive 217/5 and restricting Bangladesh to just 131/7, securing an 86-run victory.Nitish Reddy, who hails from Visakhapatnam, expressed his excitement about playing in his home town of Hyderabad. "I'm really looking forward to playing in front of my home crowd," said Reddy, who scored a blistering 34-ball 74 in the second T20I.Bangladesh, on the other hand, are yet to register a win on this tour. They lost both Test matches that preceded the T20I series.Squads:India:* Suryakumar Yadav (C)* Abhishek Sharma* Sanju Samson (wk)* Rinku Singh* Hardik Pandya* Riyan Parag* Nitish Kumar Reddy* Washington Sundar* Ravi Bishnoi* Varun Chakaravarthy* Jitesh Sharma (wk)* Arshdeep Singh* Harshit Rana* Mayank Yadav* Tilak VarmaBangladesh:* Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain)* Tanzid Hasan Tamim* Parvez Hossain Emon* Tawhid Hridoy* Mahmud Ullah* Litton Kumer Das* Jaker Ali Anik* Mehidy Hassan Miraz* Shak Mahedi Hasan* Rishad Hossain* Mustafizur Rahman* Taskin Ahmed* Shoriful Islam* Tanzim Hasan Sakib* Rakibul HasanThe third and final T20I match between India and Bangladesh will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday, August 20.

India, having secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, will aim for a clean sweep in the final encounter in Hyderabad on Saturday. The series has provided an opportunity for India to assess the progress of their emerging talents and identify potential backup options for future international events.Despite the series victories, India's openers, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, have failed to impress. Samson has managed only 29 runs in two innings, while Sharma has contributed 15 and 16. Their inconsistency has put pressure on the middle order, with India struggling to 41 for three in the power play during the second T20I.Head coach Gautam Gambhir and the coaching staff are evaluating potential support players for the upcoming ICC event next year. Fast bowler Mayank Yadav and spinner Varun Chakravarthy have impressed in their limited opportunities. Yadav, returning from injury, has bowled at speeds over 150 km/h, while Chakravarthy claimed three wickets in his comeback match.Nitish Kumar Reddy has also made a significant impact, scoring a 34-ball 74 and taking two wickets in the Delhi T20I. The think-tank is also considering including other talented players from the bench, such as leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi and all-rounder Harshit Rana.Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be desperate for a victory to salvage some pride from the tour. They will need stronger performances from senior players like captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das, and Mustafizur Rahman, who have not lived up to expectations so far.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has lauded the Indian cricket team's performance in the second T20I against Bangladesh, highlighting the team's temperament and the foresight of the coaching staff.India's young talent Nitish Reddy shone with both bat and ball, scoring a half-century and taking two wickets as India secured an impressive 86-run victory over Bangladesh in New Delhi on Wednesday.Despite losing three wickets inside the Powerplay, India recovered to post a formidable total of 221 for 9, thanks to explosive fifties from Reddy and Rinku Singh. The bowlers then restricted Bangladesh to 135 for 9, securing a comprehensive win.Ali praised the Indian players' composure and the coaching staff's forward-thinking approach. "The thought process is very important, which is missing in Pakistani cricket," he said on his YouTube channel. "India rested Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal but nobody rests in our team. So, please learn something from India."Ali particularly commended Reddy's six-hitting prowess, calling them "Aththe" instead of sixes. He also hailed Rinku Singh's batting, comparing him to former Australian all-rounder Michael Bevan."Gautam Gambhir's thinking has been a success," Ali added. "I am not saying that he will win the World Cup straight away. Even if he flops, Gautam won't stop backing him because they pick players and make them and this is the best example of that."In the match, Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bowl first. They rattled India early, but Reddy and Rinku built a crucial partnership of 108 runs. Hardik Pandya then fired a quick 32 off 19 balls, helping India reach a big total.While chasing 222 runs, Bangladesh managed to keep up with the run-rate initially but kept losing wickets consistently. Mahmadullah was the only notable performer with 41 runs off 39 balls, including three sixes.With this victory, India won the three-match series 2-0. Nitish Kumar Reddy was named the 'Player of the Match' for his outstanding all-round performance.

Nitish Reddy, the promising Indian all-rounder, has credited the team management for giving him the freedom to play fearless cricket after his impressive performance in the second T20I against Bangladesh. The 21-year-old Andhra native played a pivotal role in India's victory, smashing a 34-ball 74 and claiming 2/23 with his medium-pace bowling.Reddy's innings was a display of power and confidence, as he took advantage of two early reprieves to hit a six off a free-hit thanks to a no-ball by Mahmudullah. He grew in confidence throughout his knock, helping India post an imposing 221/9.With the ball, Reddy showcased his versatility, bowling with accuracy and control to restrict Bangladesh to 135/9. His performance earned him praise from skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who said, "I wanted that situation, wanted my batters (5,6,7) in that situation. Happy for both (Rinku Singh and Nitish) of them."Yadav also highlighted the importance of testing the middle-order batters, saying, "They batted exactly the way I wanted. You got to go out there and express. The message has been loud and clear - do what you do in the nets, and franchises. Just the jersey changes, rest remaining remains the same."Reddy's performance has further strengthened India's position in the series, giving them an unassailable 2-0 lead going into the final T20I in Hyderabad on October 12. The all-rounder's fearless approach and ability to contribute with both bat and ball have made him a valuable asset to the Indian team.

Mayank Yadav's impressive performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 earned him a call-up to the Indian cricket team for the T20I series against Bangladesh. The fast bowler made an immediate impact, consistently bowling at speeds above 150kmph and maintaining exceptional accuracy.In his debut match against Bangladesh in Gwalior, Yadav bowled a maiden over and claimed his first international wicket in Mahmudullah. However, he has yet to reach 150kmph in international cricket, despite exceeding 149 kmph in the first T20I and clocking 146-147 on a few occasions in the second T20I.Yadav's performance has sparked a debate among fans about India's pace setup ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series against Australia. Former Bangladesh cricketer Tamim Iqbal commented that Yadav had not touched 150kmph in the series, to which Murali Kartik replied, "Neither has Bangladesh."Yadav's recovery from an abdominal strain at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru has been crucial to his return to form. He spent time at the NCA bowling eight to ten overs daily to regain match fitness.As the BGT series approaches, Yadav's performance will be closely watched as India seeks to strengthen its pace attack. His ability to bowl at high speeds and maintain accuracy could prove invaluable in the upcoming Test matches against Australia.

Hardik Pandya's All-Round Brilliance Powers India to Victory in Second T20I Against BangladeshNew Delhi: Hardik Pandya showcased his exceptional all-round abilities in India's emphatic victory over Bangladesh in the second T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.Pandya's batting prowess was on full display as he smashed 32 runs off just 19 deliveries, providing a much-needed boost to India's total of 221/9. His innings was characterized by aggressive strokeplay and intelligent shot selection.However, it was Pandya's fielding brilliance that truly stole the show. In the 16th over of Bangladesh's chase, Rishad attempted to clear the boundary off Varun Chakravarty's bowling. Pandya, stationed at long-on, displayed remarkable athleticism and anticipation to cover the distance and take a stunning running catch.Rishad's dismissal proved to be a crucial moment in the match, as it halted Bangladesh's momentum and put India firmly in control. Chakravarty, who finished with figures of 2/19 in his four overs, played a pivotal role in restricting Bangladesh's scoring.Earlier, India's batters had set a challenging target for Bangladesh. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rinku Singh led the charge with half-centuries, while Pandya's late cameo provided the finishing touches.Despite a shaky start, with India losing three wickets for just 41 runs, Reddy and Singh forged a crucial 108-run partnership to revive the innings. Reddy scored 52 off 36 balls, while Singh contributed 50 off 34 deliveries.Bangladesh's bowlers struggled to contain India's aggressive batting, with Mustafizur Rahman being the only exception. The left-arm pacer claimed three wickets for 33 runs in his four overs.In the end, India's all-round dominance proved too much for Bangladesh, who were restricted to 153/6 in their 20 overs. The victory gives India a 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with the final match scheduled to be played in Kolkata on Saturday.