Cricket

Bangladesh, led by captain Nigar Sultana, opted to bat first after winning the toss against South Africa in their final league match of the T20 World Cup in Dubai. With Bangladesh's chances of reaching the semi-finals dwindling, Sultana expressed her desire to "take back something for the country."Bangladesh made a solitary change to their lineup, replacing Taj Nehar with left-handed opener Murshida Khatun. South Africa, on the other hand, remained unchanged, with captain Laura Wolvaardt emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive victory to enhance their net run rate.The pitch conditions presented challenges for batters, with one square boundary stretching 63 meters and the other 57 meters. The wind blowing in that direction made the boundaries appear shorter. Commentator WV Raman predicted that the surface would favor spinners, urging batters to use their feet effectively.Bangladesh Playing XI:1. Dilara Akter2. Shathi Rani3. Sobhana Mostary4. Nigar Sultana (c, wk)5. Murshida Khatun6. Shorna Akter7. Ritu Moni8. Fahima Khatun9. Rabeya Khan10. Nahida Akter11. Marufa AkterSouth Africa Playing XI:1. Laura Wolvaardt (c)2. Tazmin Brits3. Anneke Bosch4. Marizanne Kapp5. Sune Luus6. Chloe Tryon7. Annerie Dercksen8. Nadine de Klerk9. Sinalo Jafta (wk)10. Nonkululeko Mlaba11. Ayabonga Khaka

Pakistan Women Elect to Bat First in T20 World Cup Clash Against Sri LankaIn a highly anticipated clash at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan Women have won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka Women. The match marks a significant moment for both teams, as Sri Lanka aims to continue their impressive form while Pakistan seeks to make a strong start to the tournament.Sri Lanka has enjoyed a remarkable year, securing their first-ever Women's Asia Cup title last July with a commanding victory over India. Captain Chamari Athapaththu expressed her team's underdog status and their determination to play without pressure."We are coming with underdog tag all the time. So, we don't have any pressure. I don't want to take too much pressure on my shoulders and my teammates' shoulders. But we keep it simple. I have a very young team, so we have a few seniors as well. I hope we can continue our best performance, because we've been playing really good cricket the last 16 months. This is a different format and different conditions, so we have to start again, fresh days. So, keep it simple, one ball one time, one game one time."Pakistan, led by Fatima Sana, will be eager to prove their mettle against a formidable Sri Lankan side. The team features experienced players like Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz, as well as promising youngsters like Muneeba Ali and Tuba Hassan."I will try to enjoy myself, express myself and back myself as well (as captain). Actually, our whole management is supporting me, and they told me that you just take a brave decision on the field, so just try to do this, be calm and just do whatever you want."The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two teams with contrasting strengths and ambitions. Sri Lanka will look to maintain their momentum and upset the more fancied Pakistan side, while Pakistan will be determined to make a statement and establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the tournament.

Sri Lanka vs New Zealand: Hosts Opt to Bat First in Galle TestThe first Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand commenced in Galle, with the hosts winning the toss and electing to bat first. The pitch, according to pitchside analyst Farvez Maharoof, offers ample grass cover, promising early assistance for the pacers.New Zealand captain Tim Southee expressed his preference for batting first in these conditions, highlighting the presence of spinners in their lineup. Sri Lanka skipper Dhananjaya de Silva echoed similar sentiments, stating that they would bat first to avoid the challenges of the fourth innings.The Sri Lankan openers, Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka, faced the opening spell from Tim Southee. Nissanka was initially troubled by the extra bounce and movement, but managed to survive the early onslaught.Southee's opening over yielded a leg bye, while Nissanka collected a boundary off an inside edge. However, the New Zealand bowlers maintained a tight line and length, restricting the Sri Lankan batsmen to cautious play.The pitch report suggests that the surface will favor the pacers in the initial stages, but as the match progresses, the spinners are expected to come into play. Both teams have included two spinners in their lineups, with Sri Lanka opting for Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis, while New Zealand has Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel.The match is poised for an intriguing contest between the two sides, with New Zealand seeking to capitalize on the early conditions and Sri Lanka aiming to build a solid foundation for the innings.

India Elects to Bat First in Women's Asia Cup Final Against Sri LankaIn the highly anticipated final of the Women's Asia Cup 2024, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur opted to bat first after winning the toss against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on Sunday. The decision was influenced by the fact that the same pitch used for both semi-finals would be utilized for the final.India's lineup remained unchanged from their victory over Bangladesh in the semi-final, with Uma Chetry retaining her spot at No. 3. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu expressed her team's desire to bowl first and improve their fielding. They made one alteration to their XI, bringing in left-arm spinner Sachini Nisansala for seamer Achini Kulasuriya.Both teams have maintained an undefeated record throughout the tournament. India has emerged victorious in three out of four T20 Asia Cup editions and four times in the ODI format. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, is yet to claim a title.Sri Lanka:1. Vishmi Gunaratne2. Chamari Athapaththu (capt)3. Harshitha Samarawickrama4. Hasini Perera5. Anushka Sanjeewani (wk)6. Kavisha Dilhari7. Nilakshika Silva8. Inoshi Priyadharshani9. Udeshika Prabodhani10. Sugandika Kumari11. Sachini NisansalaIndia:1. Shafali Verma2. Smriti Mandhana3. Uma Chetry4. Harmanpreet Kaur (capt)5. Jemimah Rodrigues6. Richa Ghosh (wk)7. Deepti Sharma8. Pooja Vastrakar9. Radha Yadav10. Renuka Singh11. Tanuja KanwarThe match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two formidable teams. India will aim to extend their dominance in the tournament, while Sri Lanka will be determined to create history by claiming their first Asia Cup title.

Thailand's captain, Thipatcha Putthawong, made a decisive call at the toss, opting to bat first against Sri Lanka in the crucial final group match of the Women's Asia Cup 2024. The Thai team remained unchanged from their previous encounter with Bangladesh, aiming for a "par score" and emphasizing partnerships.Sri Lanka, on the other hand, made four alterations to their lineup, bringing back experienced players like Hasini Perera and Udeshika Prabodhani. Captain Chamari Athapaththu expressed her desire to bat but acknowledged the opportunity to bowl first, citing their strong bowling unit.With Bangladesh already securing a semi-final berth, Sri Lanka stood at the top of Group B with two wins. A victory would guarantee their place in the final four, while even a narrow loss could suffice. Thailand, however, needed a substantial win to overtake Sri Lanka's net run rate.Sri Lanka had dominated their previous matches, crushing Bangladesh by seven wickets and Malaysia by 144 runs. Thailand, meanwhile, had a mixed record, winning against Malaysia but losing to Bangladesh.

Pakistan Opts to Bowl First Against Nepal in Crucial Women's Asia Cup MatchIn a pivotal match at the Women's Asia Cup 2024, Pakistan captain Nida Dar elected to bowl first after winning the toss against Nepal. The decision stems from Pakistan's loss batting first against India in their previous encounter.Pakistan made one change to their lineup, replacing middle-order batter Iram Javed with allrounder Omaima Sohail. Nepal, seeking a victory to secure a semi-final berth alongside India, also bolstered their batting by bringing in wicketkeeper-batter Roma Thapa for Sabnam Rai.The match is being played on the same pitch where India defeated UAE earlier in the day. The boundaries are approximately 59 meters away, but the wind conditions could significantly impact the game. During the first match, the wind direction shifted several times, a factor that both Nepal and Pakistan must consider.Nepal's Lineup:1. Samjhana Khadka2. Sita Rana Magar3. Kabita Kunwar4. Indu Barma (capt)5. Rubina Chhetry6. Puja Mahato7. Kajal Shrestha (wk)8. Roma Thapa9. Kabita Joshi10. Bindu Rawal11. Kritika MarasiniPakistan's Lineup:1. Gull Feroza2. Muneeba Ali (wk)3. Sidra Amin4. Nida Dar (capt)5. Aliya Riaz6. Omaima Sohail7. Fatima Sana8. Tuba Hassan9. Sadia Iqbal10. Nashra Sandhu11. Syeda Aroob Shah