Cricket

In a crucial match that could determine the series outcome, South Africa opted to field first against West Indies in the second T20I in Trinidad. Aiden Markram, captaining his 50th T20I, made the decision under warm and sunny conditions.South Africa made a single change to their lineup, replacing left-arm seamer Nandre Burger with right-arm seamer Lizaad Williams. Teenager Kwena Maphaka retained his spot after a promising debut, while Wiaan Mulder and Jason Smith remained on the sidelines.West Indies, on the other hand, fielded an unchanged XI from the first game. This meant that experienced pacer Obed McCoy was once again omitted, with Matthew Forde and Shamar Joseph leading the bowling attack.The West Indies will be confident in their ability to restrict South Africa after reducing them to 42 for 5 in the series opener. However, a record sixth-wicket partnership between Tristan Stubbs and Patrick Kruger propelled South Africa to a respectable total.West Indies successfully chased down the target with 13 balls to spare, completing the highest successful chase at the venue. They will be eager to replicate their batting performance and secure the series victory with a game to spare.

Surrey's dominance in the Vitality County Championship continued as they secured an emphatic innings-and-63-run victory over Lancashire at the Kia Oval. Resuming day four with a commanding lead of 214 runs, Surrey's pace attack proved too formidable for Lancashire, dismissing them for 177 in less than two sessions.Conor McKerr led the charge with a superb 4 for 27, while Dan Worrall and Jordan Clark chipped in with three wickets apiece. Lancashire's hopes rested on Matty Hurst, who fought valiantly with a 64, but the Surrey bowlers maintained their relentless pressure.Lancashire's batting woes began early as Worrall dismissed Keaton Jennings and Rocky Flintoff in quick succession. Josh Bohannon and George Balderson followed suit, leaving Lancashire reeling at 82 for 5. Hurst and Venkatesh Iyer provided some resistance, but Clark broke the partnership after lunch.Tom Hartley and Hurst showed some resilience, but McKerr's introduction proved decisive. He removed Hurst for 64 and then claimed two more wickets in his next over. Tom Aspinwall and Josh Boyden departed cheaply, leaving Hartley as the last man standing. He was eventually dismissed by McKerr, giving Surrey a comprehensive victory.Surrey's triumph extends their winning streak to seven matches in the Championship this season. They remain firmly in contention for a third consecutive title, while Lancashire's hopes of challenging for the top spot have been dealt a significant blow.

Indian cricket all-rounder Hardik Pandya and his wife Natasa Stankovic have parted ways after four years of marriage. The couple announced their separation on social media, citing mutual respect and the best interests of their son, Agastya.Sources close to the couple have revealed that Natasa struggled to adjust to Hardik's flamboyant and self-assured personality. Despite her efforts to match his energy, she found it exhausting and uncomfortable. The insider stated, "He was too flamboyant for her, too full of himself. Natasa could not handle it anymore."The decision to separate was not made overnight but was a gradual process. Natasa realized the significant differences in their personalities and the toll it was taking on her. The insider added, "She tried to match it up to him but it made her feel uncomfortable. This was a never-ending process so it became tiring after a while."Since the announcement, Agastya has been staying with Natasa in her mother's hometown in Serbia. Hardik, on the other hand, has been linked to singer Jasmin Walia.In their joint statement, Hardik and Natasa expressed their gratitude for the joy and companionship they shared. They emphasized their commitment to co-parenting Agastya and ensuring his happiness. They requested privacy during this difficult time.The separation has sparked speculation and rumors, but the couple has remained tight-lipped about the specific reasons behind their decision.

A controversial ball-change decision in the first Test between England and Sri Lanka in Manchester has sparked outrage, with Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews labeling it "unfair."During Sri Lanka's second innings, England took a new ball at 4-146, a move that Mathews believes shifted the momentum in England's favor. With a slender 24-run lead, Sri Lanka had been in a strong position, but the new ball allowed England's pacers to exploit the firmer cherry.Mathews, who was batting on 59 at the time of the ball change, was dismissed in the 10th over after the new ball was taken. "It was unfortunate, to be honest," Mathews said. "Yesterday we were sitting pretty until the ball was changed."Mathews argued that the ball change disadvantaged batters on both teams, as they had worked hard to take the shine off the old ball. "The batters are waiting to get rid of the hardness of the ball, and it's unfortunate that the ball was changed and it started swinging and it changed the whole complexion of the game," he said.This is not the first time England has been criticized for a ball-change decision. In last year's Ashes Test at the Oval, Australia great Ricky Ponting expressed frustration at a similar incident.England eventually won the opening Test by 5 wickets, but the ball-change controversy has left a sour taste in the mouths of Sri Lankan players and fans.

Manu Bhaker and Suryakumar Yadav Engage in Playful Sports SwapIndian shooting sensation Manu Bhaker and star cricketer Suryakumar Yadav recently shared a lighthearted moment on social media, showcasing their playful camaraderie. In a photo posted by Bhaker, the two athletes engaged in a role reversal, with Bhaker posing as a batter and Yadav taking on the role of a pistol shooter.Bhaker, who recently won two medals at the Paris Olympics, captioned the photo, "Learning techniques of a new sport with the Mr. 360 of India! Suryakumar Yadav." The interaction delighted fans, who appreciated the athletes' sense of humor and sportsmanship.Bhaker's impressive performance at the Paris Olympics included two bronze medals – one in the 10m air pistol and another in the 25m air pistol mixed event with partner Sarabjot Singh. Her achievements have solidified her status as one of India's most promising young shooters.Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav has also been making waves in the cricketing world. His game-changing catch in the final of the T20 World Cup against South Africa helped India secure a seven-run victory and the coveted trophy. Yadav's exceptional performance earned him the appointment as India's T20I captain after Rohit Sharma's retirement from the format.The playful interaction between Bhaker and Yadav highlights the camaraderie and mutual respect that exists among athletes from different sports. It also serves as a reminder that even the most accomplished athletes can find joy and inspiration in trying new things and interacting with their peers.

Bangladesh's bowlers tightened their grip on the second Test against Pakistan in Dhaka, dismissing key batsmen and putting the visitors under pressure. Mehidy Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan shared five wickets between them, while Nahid Rana chipped in with a crucial scalp.Pakistan resumed their second innings at 188/2, trailing by 114 runs. However, they lost Abdullah Shafique (23) and Agha Salman (0) in quick succession, both falling to Mehidy. Shakib then removed Mohammad Rizwan (29) and Shaheen Afridi (10) to leave Pakistan reeling at 199/6.Rizwan, who had been Pakistan's top scorer in the first innings, was particularly unlucky. He was initially given not out after being hit on the pad by Shakib, but the decision was overturned on review.Mehidy continued to impress, bowling with accuracy and control. He dismissed Rizwan with a well-flighted delivery that turned sharply and took the outside edge. Shakib, on the other hand, used his experience to outfox Shafique and Afridi.Nahid Rana provided valuable support, removing Salman with a delivery that kept low and trapped him in front. Pakistan's hopes now rest on captain Babar Azam and Faheem Ashraf, who are unbeaten on 13 and 10 respectively.Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be confident of wrapping up the match quickly. They have a significant lead of 114 runs and a potent bowling attack that has already taken 10 wickets.

Australia A emerged victorious in the four-day match against India A, securing a 45-run victory after a thrilling final day. The match marked the conclusion of India A's tour, which included three formats.On the final day, India A resumed their chase of 289 with a promising start, as Raghvi Bist and Uma Chetry forged a 79-run partnership for the seventh wicket. However, the momentum shifted when Tess Flintoff dismissed Chetry and Bist in quick succession, leaving India A reeling.Mannat Kashyap's dismissal to Maitlan Brown further dented India A's hopes, and despite a late resistance from the lower order, Australia A wrapped up the victory with Charlie Knott claiming the final wicket.Australia A's victory was built on key performances throughout the match. Georgia Voll's opening-day 71 and Kate Peterson's five-wicket haul gave them a narrow lead. Maddy Darke's second-innings century and Grace Parsons' all-round display, including 70 runs and two wickets, proved crucial."We only won by 40-something runs in the end so without those [runs] we wouldn't have got over the line," said Knott.India A's tour had been a tale of improvement, with the team performing better as the trip progressed. They lost the T20s 3-0 and the one-dayers 2-1, but showed resilience and determination in the four-day match.

Shikhar Dhawan, the former Indian cricketer, has been vocal about his longing for his son, Zoraver, after announcing his retirement from international cricket. Despite being granted visitation rights and video call access, Dhawan has been blocked from seeing his son for months.In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Dhawan expressed his hope that Zoraver would learn about his cricket journey and remember him as a good human being. "I would like for Zoraver to remember me as a good human being who does good deeds and brings positivity to people around him," Dhawan said.Dhawan's divorce from his ex-wife, Aesha Mukherji, in October 2023, resulted in him losing custody of Zoraver. The court ruled that Zoraver would be allowed to meet Dhawan and his family during trips to India and Australia.However, Dhawan has revealed that he has been unable to see or contact Zoraver for months. In December 2023, he posted a heartfelt message on his birthday, expressing his sadness and acceptance of the situation. "I write messages to him every day, I don't know whether he is receiving those or not, whether he is reading them or not. I don't have any expectations. I have accepted it. I am a father and I am trying to do my duty. I miss him, I feel sad but I have learnt to live with it," he said.Dhawan's longing for his son was also evident during the IPL 2024 season. He posted a photo on Instagram of a Punjab Kings jersey with Zoraver's name on the back, with the caption "You're Always with Me, My Boy."Despite the challenges, Dhawan remains hopeful that he will be able to reconnect with his son in the future. "I hope that one day, when Zoraver is old enough to understand, he will come to me and ask me about my life and my cricket journey. I will be there for him, whenever he needs me," Dhawan said.

Yorkshire is on the cusp of victory over Sussex in their Division Two clash at Hove, thanks to Ben Coad's impressive five-wicket haul.Sussex resumed their second innings on 26 without loss, trailing by 111 runs. However, Coad's new-ball brilliance proved too much for the visitors, as he claimed five wickets for 69 runs.Half-centuries from Tom Alsop and captain John Simpson provided some resistance for Sussex, but they were unable to build a substantial lead. Alsop scored 61, while Simpson top-scored with 67.Yorkshire's bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the day, with George Hill claiming two wickets and Jordan Thompson uprooting James Coles' leg stump.Alsop and Simpson's partnership of 85 gave Sussex a glimmer of hope, but their resistance was broken when Alsop was caught behind by Jonny Bairstow.Coad then returned with the second new ball and quickly dismissed Jack Carson. Ollie Robinson provided some late resistance with a quick 28, but he too was caught behind off Coad.Coad wrapped up the innings by bowling Simpson, who tried to ramp a second six. The Yorkshire seamer finished with figures of 5-69, taking his tally to 35 wickets in Division Two this season.Yorkshire closed the day on 28 for 2, needing just 75 more runs to seal victory. Sussex will need to produce a remarkable turnaround on the final day to avoid defeat.