Cricket

Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka played a pivotal role in their hard-fought four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening T20I match in Dambulla. Chasing a modest target of 136, Sri Lanka's batsmen faced a stern test against New Zealand's second-string team.Asalanka's crucial 38-run partnership with Wanindu Hasaranga for the sixth wicket proved decisive in guiding Sri Lanka to victory. Asalanka remained unbeaten on a well-crafted 35 off 28 deliveries, while Hasaranga contributed 22 before being dismissed.Earlier, New Zealand's below-par total of 135 all out provided Sri Lanka with some breathing room. Kusal Perera etched his name in the record books by surpassing Tillakaratne Dilshan as Sri Lanka's highest run-scorer in T20s with a quickfire 23 off 17 balls.New Zealand's innings was anchored by Michael Bracewell's 27 off 24, while Ish Sodhi and Zakary Foulkes added a valuable 39 runs for the ninth wicket. However, Sri Lanka's bowlers, led by Dunith Wellalage's three wickets, kept the visitors in check.Wellalage sealed Sri Lanka's victory in style, pulling Jacob Duffy for a six over mid-wicket. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner acknowledged the challenge of adjusting to the conditions and the impact of the dew on their bowling.Despite missing several key players, New Zealand showed resilience, particularly in their lower order. The second and final match of the series will be played at the same venue on Sunday, where Sri Lanka will aim to secure a series victory.

India's T20I Dominance vs. South Africa's Struggles: A Tale of Two TeamsSince the thrilling T20 World Cup 2024 final, the fortunes of India and South Africa have diverged significantly in the shortest format.India's Seamless TransitionDespite losing key players from the World Cup-winning XI, India has transitioned seamlessly. Suryakumar Yadav has emerged as a batting force, while youngsters have slotted in effortlessly. They are currently on an 11-match winning streak, including series victories over Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.South Africa's Post-World Cup SlumpIn contrast, South Africa has struggled since their World Cup defeat. They lost 3-0 to West Indies and drew 1-1 with Ireland. Their loss in Durban against India has further dented their confidence.Key Factors in the ContrastSouth Africa's struggles stem from a lack of cohesion and the absence of key players. India, on the other hand, has maintained a high level of consistency and has been able to win without their first-choice T20I players.Players to WatchGerald Coetzee, with his fiery bowling, and Arshdeep Singh, with his impressive wicket-taking ability, are players to watch in the second T20I.Team NewsIndia may consider debuting Ramandeep Singh as a finisher, while South Africa could replace Nqabayomzi Peter with Ottneil Baartman.Pitch and ConditionsThe Gqeberha pitch is expected to favor fast bowlers with good bounce and carry. Rain is unlikely to affect the match.Stats and Trivia* Hardik Pandya could move to second on India's all-time T20I wicket-takers list.* Sanju Samson has the highest strike rate among Full Member batters in 2024.* India has a strong T20I record against South Africa in South Africa.Quotes"We have to respect South Africa, but we have to play like world champions," said Sanju Samson."We need new blood and experience," said Gerald Coetzee about South Africa's rebuilding process.

New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, have opted to bat first in the opening T20I against Sri Lanka in Kandy. Santner expressed confidence in the pitch, describing it as "a good surface, maybe a touch on the slower side." With no rain expected, he felt comfortable batting first. Sri Lanka's captain, Charith Asalanka, also indicated that he would have chosen to bat first.Sri Lanka have retained the same XI that defeated West Indies in their previous T20I. Their bowling attack features fast bowlers Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara, along with spinners Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Dunith Wellalage.New Zealand, on the other hand, are fielding a depleted team due to the ongoing South Asian tour. Wicketkeeper-batter Mitch Hay is set to make his debut, while other lesser-known players include seamers Zakary Foulkes and Jacob Duffy, and allrounder Josh Clarkson.

Sri Lanka vs New Zealand T20I Series: A Clash of Titans in DambullaSri Lanka and New Zealand are set to lock horns in a highly anticipated two-match T20I series, commencing on Saturday at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. The series marks the first encounter between the two sides since Sri Lanka's 2-0 Test series triumph over the Kiwis.Sri Lanka, buoyed by their recent 2-1 T20I series victory against West Indies, have retained the same squad for this encounter. The team will be led by experienced all-rounder Dasun Shanaka, who has been in impressive form with both bat and ball. Other key players to watch out for include opener Pathum Nissanka, middle-order batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and pace bowler Dushmantha Chameera.New Zealand, on the other hand, will be eager to avenge their Test series defeat and prove their mettle in the shorter format. The Kiwis have a formidable T20I squad, led by the experienced Kane Williamson. Other notable players include opener Martin Guptill, all-rounder Mitchell Santner, and pace bowler Trent Boult.The shift to white-ball cricket presents both teams with unique challenges and opportunities. Sri Lanka will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage and the familiarity of the conditions. New Zealand, however, will be confident in their ability to adapt quickly and impose their style of play.The series is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams possessing a wealth of talent and experience. Sri Lanka will be aiming to continue their winning momentum, while New Zealand will be determined to make a statement and prove their dominance in the T20I format.

Former South African wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher has expressed concern over David Miller's struggles against spin bowling, which contributed to the Proteas' 61-run defeat to India in the first T20I. Boucher also highlighted the South African bowlers' inability to exploit the pitch conditions.During the middle overs, Miller and Heinrich Klaasen struggled to find boundaries while chasing a 203-run target. Both batters were dismissed in the same over by Varun Chakravarthy, dealing a significant blow to their team's chances.Boucher particularly highlighted the 11th over bowled by Ravi Bishnoi, where Miller played five consecutive dot balls before finally managing a single. "David Miller wasn't picking a thing at all. I mean, there's one over there where I think he missed four out of the six deliveries he faced. So yeah, he was bowled really well tonight, and it just goes to show two quality spinners. There was something there for the bowlers on that wicket. Something that South African bowlers could not exploit," Boucher said.In the subsequent over, Klaasen hit a six on the second delivery. However, Chakravarthy soon had Klaasen caught at long-on and then dismissed Miller for 18, who mistimed a shot to deep square leg.Boucher further pointed out how Bishnoi cleverly used his seam to extract help from the surface. "I was watching a couple of his (Ravi Bishnoi) balls come out a little bit different and I think what he did really well tonight, especially in the dark, is he changed the seam up. Sometimes you look at the ball, especially as a wicket-keeper as well. You look at the ball and see if you can see it spinning different ways. But he muddled his seam up very nicely," he added.In the match, India batted first and posted a challenging 202/8, thanks to Sanju Samson's blitz. South Africa's bowlers struggled to contain the Indian batters, with Gerald Coetzee being the only exception with three wickets.In the run chase, South Africa's batters failed to put up a decent performance. No Proteas batters could cross the 30-run mark. Heinrich Klaasen (25 runs) and Gerald Coetzee (23 runs) were the highest run scorers for the hosts.The Indian bowling attack was led by Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, who bundled out the hosts at 141 with two overs remaining. Both Varun and Bishnoi picked up three wickets in the game.Samson was named the Player of the Match following his stellar show with the bat. India will take on South Africa in the second T20I match of the series on Sunday in Gqeberha.

Chandigarh's remarkable journey in the Ranji Trophy has reached new heights as they secured a resounding victory over Delhi, their third consecutive win in the tournament. This triumph has solidified their position atop the standings in Group D with 19 points from four matches, bringing them closer to a quarterfinal berth for the first time in their five-year existence.After resuming the fourth day on 46 for no loss, Chandigarh needed 157 runs to seal the victory. The host team displayed their dominance by chasing down the target at a run rate of 5.06 with nine wickets in hand. Shivam Bhambri emerged as the star with the bat, notching up a century in the final stages of the game with a six over mid-on off Hrithik Shokeen. Bhambri had also made a significant contribution of 80 runs in the first innings, earning him the Player of the Match Award.Manan Vohra's presence at the crease was equally significant. The 31-year-old captain has been at the helm of Chandigarh since its inaugural season in 2019-20. Vohra expressed his team's elation and the culmination of their hard work over the past five years. He acknowledged the challenges they faced in the past, including the threat of relegation to the Plate division. However, the recent victories have ignited a sense of confidence and determination within the team.The scores:Delhi — 1st innings: 276. Chandigarh — 1st innings: 324. Delhi — 2nd innings: 250. Chandigarh — 2nd innings: Arslan Khan c Shokeen b Mathur 68, Shivam Bhambri (not out) 100, Manan Vohra (not out) 24; Extras (b-8, lb-3, w-1): 12; Total (for one wkt. in 40.2 overs): 204. Fall of wicket: 1-130. Delhi bowling: Siddhant 5-1-17-0, Shokeen 7.2-0-50-0, Badoni 5-0-17-0, Mathur 9-2-34-1, Chauhan 4-0-14-0, Vashisth 9-1-48-0, Dhull 1-0-13-0. Player of the Match: Shivam Bhambri.

MS Dhoni, the legendary Indian cricketer, is currently enjoying a well-deserved vacation in Phuket, Thailand, with his wife Sakshi and daughter Ziva. The former India captain, who turned 43 in July, is widely regarded as one of the most successful skippers in the history of the game. Under his leadership, India triumphed in the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy.Despite retiring from international cricket in 2020, Dhoni remains an active player in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was recently retained by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the mega auctions, highlighting his enduring value to the franchise.Dhoni's daughter, Ziva, has shared some heartwarming and picturesque moments from their family's trip to Phuket on her Instagram account. In one of the photos, Dhoni is seen sporting a black vest and sunglasses, posing in the sea with a stunning sunset as the backdrop.Dhoni's retention by CSK as an uncapped player for Rs 4 crore has been met with widespread approval. The five-time champions also retained their skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana, and Shivam Dube.Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has expressed his admiration for Dhoni's remarkable career and his continued impact on CSK. "Two seasons ago he probably had his worst season, but then last year again, he bounced back into really impacting some games like the MS Dhoni of old," Ponting said.Ponting believes that Dhoni's presence in the CSK team is invaluable, even if he may not play every game. "Any team that he's in, whether he's captain or not, he's always going to be a mentor and a leader around that group, whether he's playing, whether he's sitting on the sidelines, that's just who he is...he's crucial to Chennai, for that leadership that he brings on and off the field," Ponting stated.Despite recent injuries, Dhoni's ability to evolve and remain impactful has been a hallmark of his illustrious career. He continues to be a source of inspiration for young cricketers and a respected figure in the cricketing world.

Sanju Samson's blistering century against South Africa in Durban has propelled India to a commanding 1-0 lead in the four-match T20I series. The wicketkeeper-batsman's stunning 107 off 50 balls, featuring seven fours and 10 towering sixes, was the highest individual score in a T20I between India and South Africa.Samson's aggressive knock helped India reach an imposing total of 202/8 in the first innings, earning him the Player of the Match award. Reflecting on the victory, Samson credited the senior members of the team for helping him overcome the mental challenges of representing India."When you have a supporting captain like Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam bhai and VVS Laxman sir, they all support you during failures," Samson said at the post-match conference. "The way they communicate with you in your failures is very important. Everyone knows that if we are going through a negative phase, then the player can get lost there."Samson's 107 surpassed David Miller's unbeaten 106 in Guwahati in 2022 as the highest individual score in a T20I between India and South Africa. His powerful innings helped India reach an imposing total of 202/8 in the first innings, earning him the Player of the Match award.Despite a rocky start under Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach, Samson has rebounded strongly with impressive performances against Bangladesh and now South Africa. "So at that time, I received a lot of phone calls from Gautam bhai and Surya, telling me what to work on," Samson shared. "Your spin is a little bit like that. You collect all the spinners in Kerala and practice on rough wickets there. You do this, you do that. So if your Indian team's captain is calling you and telling you how to practice after a duck, then you have confidence that the captain is trusting you," he said."He wants you to do well. So I think all those small, small things play a huge role, I think, coming back here," added Samson.India and South Africa are set to clash again in the second T20I on Sunday in Gqeberha.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. This decision stems from advice received from the Indian government, which has advised against sending the team to Pakistan due to security concerns.The Champions Trophy, an eight-team tournament, is scheduled to be held in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, 2025. However, the BCCI's decision has forced the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to consider contingency plans.One possible solution is a hybrid model, where teams would play matches in Pakistan and a second venue. However, the PCB has previously ruled out this option. ESPNcricinfo understands that contingency plans were drawn up months ago in anticipation of such a scenario.The UAE and Sri Lanka are potential candidates to host matches alongside Pakistan. The ICC has been informed of the BCCI's stance, but it remains unclear whether the decision has been communicated in writing. The PCB has stated that it will need written confirmation before discussing the matter with the government.The BCCI's decision is based on the strained political relations between India and Pakistan. India has not toured Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup, despite Pakistan playing several ICC events in India, including the 2023 World Cup. The two sides have only played one bilateral series since then, a white-ball tour by Pakistan in 2012-13.The Champions Trophy will feature eight teams divided into two groups of four. The competing teams are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa. The schedule and ticketing details for the tournament have yet to be announced.