Cricket

Sri Lanka's cricket team secured a thrilling 28-run victory over Bangladesh in the final T20 match of their series, claiming the series 2-1. Opener Kusal Mendis played a pivotal role, scoring a brilliant 86 runs off 55 balls, including six fours and six sixes. His innings propelled Sri Lanka to a competitive total of 174-6.Bangladesh's chase got off to a shaky start, with pacer Nuwan Thushara making an immediate impact. Thushara, playing his first game of the series, ripped through the top order, taking four wickets in his two overs, including a hat trick. His victims included captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, and Mahmudullah.Despite Rishad Hossain's valiant effort with a 30-ball 53, Bangladesh's batting lineup crumbled under Thushara's relentless bowling. The team was eventually bowled out for 146 in 19.4 overs, falling short of the target.Thushara's career-best performance of 5-20 earned him the Player of the Match award. Sri Lanka captain Wanindu Hasaranga praised Thushara's contribution, saying, "This is our last series before the World Cup, so we take a lot of confidence from this."The victory marks a significant boost for Sri Lanka as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The team's bowling attack, led by Thushara, proved to be a formidable force, while Mendis' batting prowess provided a solid foundation.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has urged Sri Lanka to move on from the controversial timed-out incident that occurred during the 2023 World Cup. Shanto's comments came after Sri Lanka's victory in the third T20I in Sylhet, where the visitors sealed the series 2-1.During the post-match celebrations, Sri Lankan players made a collective gesture of pointing to their watches, a reference to the incident where Angelo Mathews became the first player ever timed out in international cricket. Mathews had criticized Shakib Al Hasan for appealing for the dismissal, and the gesture has since become a symbol of the rivalry between the two teams.In the first T20I of the series, Shoriful Islam used the same gesture after taking Sri Lanka's first wicket. In the third T20I, Sri Lankan fielders targeted Towhid Hridoy after his dismissal, leading to an angry exchange.Shanto expressed his disappointment with Sri Lanka's continued focus on the timed-out incident. "They haven't moved on from the timed-out incident," he said. "They should stay in the present. We were within the rules. They are in a frenzy about it."Sri Lankan assistant coach Naveed Nawaz downplayed the significance of the gesture, stating that it was a celebration that was misunderstood. He emphasized that the two teams have a good relationship off the field.Kusal Mendis, who scored a career-high 86 in the match, also addressed the issue. "I don't know why someone was doing the timed-out celebrations," he said. "We can celebrate our own things."Despite the controversy, Mendis denied that Sri Lanka felt vindicated by winning the series after the controversial overturning of Soumya Sarkar's dismissal in the previous game. "Everyone can make a mistake," he said. "Our team isn't thinking about it too much."

Former England spinner Graeme Swann has lauded the Indian batters for their exceptional performance in the fifth Test match in Dharamsala, drawing comparisons to England's aggressive approach under Ben Stokes.On Day 2, Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma struck centuries, laying the foundation for Sarfaraz Khan and Devdutt Padikkal to further torment the visitors. Swann remarked that India had adopted their own version of "Bazball," England's attacking batting style, and had executed it brilliantly throughout the series."India have come out and are playing England at their own 'Bazball' game - and they're doing very, very well," Swann said during commentary.Ravichandran Ashwin, in his landmark 100th Test, claimed a five-wicket haul as India crushed England by an innings and 64 runs, sealing the series 4-1.England's James Anderson became the third bowler to reach 700 Test wickets, but the tourists were outplayed from the start. Ashwin's off-spin proved devastating, dismissing England's top and middle order as they collapsed to 195 all out.After the match, Ashwin expressed his delight with his performance. "Win the Test and take wickets, what more can a bowler ask for?" he said.India's dominance in the series was a testament to their superior batting and bowling. Gill, Sharma, and Khan all scored centuries, while Ashwin and Mohammed Shami led the bowling attack with 18 and 16 wickets respectively.England's aggressive approach, dubbed "Bazball," had been successful in their recent victories, but India proved that they could match and even surpass their opponents' attacking style.

Poor Weather Disrupts International Cricket Fixtures in UAEUnfavorable weather conditions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have forced the cancellation of the second One-Day International (ODI) between Afghanistan and Ireland and the postponement of the ICC ODI World Cup League 2 match between UAE and Scotland.The UAE vs Scotland game in Dubai was postponed on Friday due to severe weather conditions, as per a directive from the relevant government department. On Saturday, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced the cancellation of the Afghanistan vs Ireland ODI in Sharjah due to heavy and persistent rain."The decision to call off the game was made after extensive discussions between the event's technical committee, match officials, and ground staff," the Afghanistan Cricket Board stated.Afghanistan currently holds a 1-0 lead in the series after their 35-run victory in the first ODI in Sharjah on Thursday. The third and final game of the series is scheduled to take place on March 12 at the same venue.Reports from UAE media outlets indicate that the inclement weather has led to flight cancellations and a yellow weather alert has been issued, suggesting the possibility of worsening conditions.In Abu Dhabi, thunder, lightning, and heavy rain have been reported, resulting in the suspension of bus services between Dubai and Sharjah. However, marine transport services in Dubai have resumed after morning disruptions.The weather conditions have significantly impacted international cricket fixtures in the UAE, highlighting the challenges posed by unpredictable weather patterns.

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has launched a scathing attack on England's "Bazball" approach, which he believes led to their dismal performance in the recently concluded Test series against India. England began the series with a resounding victory in Hyderabad, but their fortunes took a nosedive thereafter, as they lost the next four Tests to concede the series 1-4.Sehwag, known for his forthright opinions, took to social media to express his dismay at England's tactics. "Bazball, Batti Gull," he wrote. "There needs to be a method to madness. England simply didn't have the game to match and looked clueless particularly after the second test match."The former opener pointed out that England's captain, Ben Stokes, failed to lead by example, which compounded their problems. "The captain failing miserably only added to their woes and they simply looked like living in an illusion," Sehwag added.Sehwag believes that England's "Bazball" approach, which emphasizes aggressive batting, is flawed. "For this method to succeed, there needs to be a method to madness, which England severely lacked," he wrote.Stokes, however, defended England's approach, arguing that it is necessary to take risks in order to score runs against India's formidable bowling attack. "When India get on top, especially with the ball, they get a lot of men around the bat and with the quality of their (spin) bowlers...you've got to find ways of getting rid of those close fielders," Stokes explained."And that comes with risk, and risks don't always pay off. You've just got to be positive enough to take that risk, accept that it may lead to your downfall. But when the intent is there and you have a clear reason as to why you are playing that shot, you can hold your hands up and accept it."Despite Stokes's defense, Sehwag remains unconvinced. He believes that England's approach is unsustainable and will ultimately lead to more failures. "England need to go back to the drawing board and reassess their strategy," he said. "They need to find a way to balance aggression with caution, and they need to be more consistent with their batting."

India's young batting brigade has emerged as a beacon of hope for the team, showcasing their resilience and talent in the recently concluded Test series against England. Despite the absence of seasoned veterans Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, the next-generation stars stepped up to the plate, delivering exceptional performances that secured a resounding 4-1 series victory.Yashasvi Jaiswal, the Player of the Series, led the charge with a remarkable 712 runs, while Shubman Gill contributed 452 runs. Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel also made significant contributions, showcasing their all-round abilities.India's head coach, Rahul Dravid, expressed his pride in the team's performance, particularly the youngsters' ability to handle pressure and deliver under challenging circumstances. "We have always found people to step up," Dravid said. "We missed a few key players, but we believe there is an incredible amount of talent in India."Dravid also acknowledged the role of the selectors, who have been instrumental in identifying and nurturing these young talents. "Shout out to Ajit (Agarkar) and his team (selection panel) as well," Dravid added. "They picked the right ones, and they have come here and performed."The series victory against England marks a significant turning point for Indian cricket, as it signals the emergence of a new generation of players who are ready to carry the torch forward. Their performances have instilled confidence in the team and raised expectations for the future.

England's 4-1 series defeat to India was a result of being outplayed by the superior team, according to captain Ben Stokes. Despite winning the first Test, England struggled to maintain momentum and were outclassed in the subsequent matches.In the final Test in Dharamsala, England faced a first-innings deficit of 259 and were bowled out for 195 in their second, resulting in an innings and 64-run defeat. R Ashwin's five-wicket haul in the second innings sealed the victory for India, who had earlier posted an imposing 477 thanks to centuries from Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma.Stokes acknowledged England's shortcomings, stating that they had been "outplayed by the better team in the series." However, he emphasized the importance of taking positives from the experience and looking ahead to future challenges."We've got so much cricket coming up in our summer, and then Pakistan and New Zealand," Stokes said. "Taking the positives that we've got from the series is something that I'm really looking forward to. I'm excited to be a part of driving this team even further forward."Despite the disappointing result, Stokes remained committed to England's aggressive "Bazball" approach. He believes that the team's intent and application were evident, even if the results did not always follow."When you look at the game as a whole, and the series as a whole, there's been really small moments throughout every Test match where we wrestled a bit of momentum back towards us, but we've not just been able to maintain and keep that going," Stokes said."And in Test-match cricket, especially out here where the game can turn really fast on you, it's about understanding that and trying to understand those moments and being a bit more relentless with it."Stokes also highlighted the contributions of several young players, including spinner Shoaib Bashir, who took his second five-wicket haul in as many Tests. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett continued to develop their partnership at the top of the batting order, while veteran James Anderson reached the milestone of 700 Test wickets."I've been lucky enough to be on the field with some of the lads there, the milestones that Jimmy's got to, but being there for 700 wickets as a seamer, it is quite phenomenal," Stokes said."Everything that he has done from the day he first started being a cricketer, let alone international cricketer, to where he is now ... 41 years old, he's as fit as I've ever seen him, and I honestly just don't know when he's going to stop, because the desire to commit is still there. It's great to watch."

England's left-arm spinner Tom Hartley endured a torrid time in the recently concluded Test series against India, conceding the second-highest runs by a visiting bowler in a Test series against the subcontinent giants. Hartley's tally of 795 runs conceded in the five-match series places him just behind his teammate Adil Rashid, who conceded 861 runs in the 2016 series.Hartley's struggles were a microcosm of England's overall performance in the series, as they were comprehensively outplayed by a dominant Indian side. India's victory in the fifth and final Test by an innings and 64 runs sealed a 4-1 series triumph, extending their unbeaten streak at home to 15 Tests.The match itself was a testament to the gulf in class between the two teams. Ravichandran Ashwin, playing his 100th Test, claimed a five-wicket haul to dismantle England's batting lineup. Zak Crawley top-scored for England with 79, but the rest of the batting order failed to provide substantial support.Kuldeep Yadav and Ashwin were the standout bowlers for India, sharing nine wickets between them. In their first innings, India piled up a mammoth 477 runs, with Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Devdutt Padikkal all scoring centuries.England's bowlers struggled to contain India's batsmen throughout the series, with Shoaib Bashir being the only bowler to take more than five wickets. The English team's inability to adapt to the challenging Indian conditions and the relentless pressure applied by the Indian bowlers proved to be their undoing.Despite the disappointing result, England can take some solace in the performances of certain individuals. Crawley showed glimpses of his potential, while Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root also made valuable contributions. However, the series highlighted the need for England to address their batting depth and find a way to counter the spin-friendly conditions in India.

India's emphatic innings and 64-run victory over England in the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala has solidified their dominance atop the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. The comprehensive win sealed a 4-1 series triumph for India, further extending their lead in the WTC table.After securing the top spot last week, India's massive victory in Dharamsala earned them 12 crucial points, boosting their point percentage from 64.58 to 68.51. New Zealand, the two-time WTC finalists, now sit in second place with a point percentage of 60, while Australia remains third with 59.09.England, on the other hand, suffered their heaviest defeat under the "Bazball" era and their fourth consecutive loss against India. The defeat dropped their point percentage from 19.44 to 17.5, leaving them eighth in the standings.Kuldeep Yadav's five-wicket haul and centuries from Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in the first innings laid the foundation for India's victory. Veteran spinner R Ashwin then starred on the third day, claiming his 36th five-wicket haul in his landmark 100th Test.After taking a commanding 259-run lead, India dismissed England for 195 in their second innings late on the third day. Kuldeep was named Player of the Match for his five-wicket haul in the first innings, while young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal received the Player of the Series award for his 712 runs in the series.India's victory in Dharamsala further cements their status as one of the world's leading Test teams. With the WTC final scheduled for June 2023, India will be eager to maintain their position at the top of the standings and secure a berth in the prestigious event.