Cricket

The second Test match between India and New Zealand at the MCA Stadium in Pune witnessed an intriguing first day, marked by a spirited comeback from the Indian bowlers and a resilient batting performance from the Kiwis.After New Zealand opted to bat first, openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway provided a cautious start. However, the introduction of spin proved pivotal as Ravichandran Ashwin struck in his first over, dismissing Latham for 15. Will Young joined Conway, but their partnership was cut short when Young edged one to Rishabh Pant, giving Ashwin his second scalp.Conway, however, remained unfazed and continued to attack the Indian bowling. He reached his second half-century of the series in 109 balls, with six fours. Rachin Ravindra, who joined Conway at the crease, also played with confidence and brought up his fourth fifty in 93 balls.The 62-run partnership between Conway and Ravindra was broken by Ashwin, who got Conway for 76 in 141 balls. Daryl Mitchell joined Ravindra, and the duo continued to frustrate the Indian bowlers. Ravindra reached his half-century in 93 balls, with three fours and a six.Washington Sundar provided another breakthrough for India, dismissing Ravindra for 65 in 105 balls. Tom Blundell was then removed by Sundar for three, leaving New Zealand at 201/5 heading into tea break.The Indian bowlers, led by Ashwin and Sundar, showed great resilience to mount a comeback after a difficult period against Conway and Ravindra. The crowd at the MCA Stadium played their part, urging Indian skipper Rohit Sharma to give Virat Kohli a bowl.

New Zealand Dominate Day 2 of Bengaluru Test, India Collapse to Dismal 46New Zealand seized control of the rain-affected opening Test against India in Bengaluru, finishing Day 2 with a commanding 134-run lead. Opener Devon Conway's brilliant 91 anchored the Kiwis' response to India's disastrous 46 all out, the hosts' lowest-ever Test score at home.India's batting lineup crumbled under the pressure of Matt Henry's five-wicket haul and William O'Rourke's four wickets. Only Rishabh Pant (20) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) managed double figures as the Indian innings folded in just 31.2 overs.In response, New Zealand openers Conway and Tom Latham (22) forged a solid partnership, putting on 78 runs for the first wicket. Conway reached his half-century off just 54 balls, showcasing his excellent footwork against the Indian spinners.However, Conway's dismissal to Ravichandran Ashwin's reverse sweep left New Zealand at 105/2. Will Young (29) and Daryl Mitchell (14) then steadied the innings, taking the Kiwis to 180/3 at stumps.Earlier, India's decision to bat first under overcast conditions backfired spectacularly. Henry and O'Rourke exploited the bounce and seam movement to dismantle the Indian batting order. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Sarfaraz Khan all fell cheaply, leaving India reeling at 10/3.Pant's counter-attacking innings was cut short, and Jaiswal's patient knock ended with a stunning catch by Ajaz Patel. The dismissals of Rahul and Jadeja left India reeling at 34/6 at lunch, and the innings concluded just minutes into the second session.New Zealand's bowlers set the tone for the day, with Henry and O'Rourke generating troublesome bounce and Southee's wobble seam accounting for Rohit's wicket. The Kiwis will look to extend their lead on Day 3 and put India under further pressure.

Ashwin's Masterclass: Off-spinner Delivers Crucial Wicket in India vs. New Zealand TestOn the second day of the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru, star Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin showcased his brilliance with a stunning delivery that dismissed well-set opener Devon Conway.Captain Rohit Sharma's astute decision to bring Ashwin back for his second spell proved fruitful as the veteran spinner delivered a tossed-up delivery from around the stumps. Conway, who had been batting aggressively, attempted a premeditated reverse-sweep but missed the ball entirely, resulting in a clean bowled dismissal.The dismissal was initially referred to the third umpire to determine whether wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel's gloves were in front of the stumps at the point of delivery. After careful examination, the third umpire ruled that Jurel's gloves were within the permitted boundaries, upholding the original decision of out.Ashwin's breakthrough came at a crucial juncture, halting Conway's progress and shifting the momentum in India's favor. The dismissal highlighted Ashwin's exceptional skill and experience, reinforcing his status as a pivotal player in India's bowling attack.Known for his ability to outfox top-order batsmen, Ashwin's dismissal of Conway showcased his class and guile. The off-spinner's ability to vary his pace, trajectory, and spin makes him a formidable opponent for even the most accomplished batsmen.With Conway's dismissal, India gained a significant advantage in the match. The off-spinner's crucial wicket has put the Indian team in a strong position to take control of the Test and secure a vital victory in the series opener.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced the addition of all-rounders Nathan Smith and Josh Clarkson to its central contracts list, replacing Devon Conway and Finn Allen who declined offers last month.Smith, 26, is yet to make his international debut but has impressed in domestic cricket, particularly in red-ball cricket. He was the leading wicket-taker in last season's Plunket Shield with 33 wickets at an average of 17.18 for champions Wellington. He also had a successful stint with Worcestershire in the County Championship, claiming 27 wickets in seven matches."Nathan's been on our radar for a while having been a significant performer in domestic cricket for some time," said New Zealand head coach Gary Stead. "He's been particularly impressive in red-ball cricket and we think he has the skills to be successful in international cricket when he gets a chance."Clarkson, 27, has played three ODIs and T20Is for New Zealand. He featured in series against Bangladesh, Australia, and Pakistan last season."Josh has been involved in both white ball squads over the past twelve months which shows the strides he's made in his game," Stead said. "He's a hard-hitting player with plenty of skills and has shown in his chances so far that he can offer a lot with bat and ball on the international stage. Josh will provide depth and adds value given the volume of white ball cricket on the horizon."The vacancies on the contract list arose when Conway and Allen opted out to take up T20 league deals during January. Conway, who will play in the SA20 for Joburg Super Kings, was offered a casual playing contract, while Allen, who signed a two-year deal with Perth Scorchers in the BBL, will remain eligible for selection on a case-by-case basis.New Zealand return to action next week with a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida before traveling to Sri Lanka for two Tests and then India for three.

Devon Conway and Finn Allen have become the latest New Zealand cricketers to decline central contracts, opting instead for greater flexibility and opportunities in franchise cricket. Conway, however, has signed a casual agreement with New Zealand Cricket (NZC), similar to Kane Williamson, making him available for all internationals except for the Sri Lanka white-ball matches in January, when he will honor his SA20 commitment.Allen, the hard-hitting white-ball opener, will pursue franchise opportunities and has not been offered the same agreement by NZC. He remains eligible for selection on a case-by-case basis. Both Conway and Allen were initially included in the contract list last month but will now be replaced.Conway, who has been named in the Test squad to face Afghanistan and Sri Lanka next month, is available for all of New Zealand's nine upcoming Tests. He has also committed to warm-up matches ahead of the Champions Trophy in February, including an ODI tri-series in Pakistan."The decision to move away from a central playing contract isn't one I've taken lightly, but I believe it is the best for me and my family at this present time," Conway said. "Playing for the Blackcaps is still the pinnacle for me, and I'm hugely passionate about representing New Zealand and winning games of international cricket."NZC chief executive Scott Weenink emphasized that casual contracts are only an option for a select number of leading players. He believes it is a prudent way to manage the evolving landscape of franchise cricket."We're delighted with Devon's decision to commit to the Blackcaps - he's a quality player who's made a strong contribution to the team over the past few years," Weenink said. "In the current environment, it's important to have flexibility in our system to navigate some of the challenges posed by franchise cricket."Conway and Allen join Williamson, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, and Adam Milne in moving away from central contracts. However, Williamson, who will also play in the SA20 in January, has not ruled out taking one in the future.Under the NZC system, players must make themselves available for the domestic Super Smash tournament when they are not playing international cricket to be eligible for central contracts.

The highly anticipated final league game of the 2024 Major League Cricket season between Texas Super Kings and Seattle Orcas commenced with a thrilling start. Seattle Orcas, after winning the toss, elected to field first.The Texas Super Kings openers, Devon Conway and Faf du Plessis, faced the debutant Ayan Desai. Desai made an immediate impact, dismissing Conway for a golden duck with a skidding delivery that struck the batsman's pads. The UltraEdge confirmed the absence of bat involvement, and the on-field decision of lbw was upheld by the Ball Tracking technology.Joshua Tromp replaced Conway at the crease and attempted to release the pressure with a gorgeous boundary through covers. However, Desai maintained his tight line and length, restricting the Texas Super Kings to a slow start.The Seattle Orcas bowlers continued to dominate, with Ali Sheikh and Michael Bracewell keeping the Texas Super Kings batsmen in check. Marcus Stoinis and Milind Kumar tried to steady the innings, but the Orcas bowlers remained relentless.As the innings progressed, the Texas Super Kings struggled to find momentum. Calvin Savage and Cameron Stevenson fell in quick succession, leaving the team in a precarious position. Mitchell Santner and Noor Ahmad attempted to salvage the situation, but their efforts were not enough.Seattle Orcas' bowlers, led by Desai's impressive debut, restricted Texas Super Kings to a modest total of 125 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. Desai finished with figures of 3 for 15, while Sheikh and Bracewell claimed two wickets each.

Texas Super Kings Off to a Flying Start Against MI New YorkIn a thrilling encounter at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas Super Kings got off to a blistering start against MI New York in Match 12 of Major League Cricket 2024.Devon Conway and Faf du Plessis opened the innings for Texas Super Kings, with Conway hitting a boundary off the first ball of the match. Du Plessis then joined the party, smashing a massive six over cow corner off Trent Boult's bowling.Kagiso Rabada, brought in for Anrich Nortje, bowled a tight first over, but Conway and Du Plessis continued to find the boundaries. Conway guided a ball to backward point for a single, while Du Plessis clipped another to deep square leg.Boult returned to the attack and bowled a full delivery on the pads, which Du Plessis flicked past mid-wicket for three runs. Rabada then bowled a full delivery outside off, which Conway edged past point for another three.Du Plessis was in full flow, hitting a boundary off Rabada's next delivery. Conway then lofted a ball over mid-off for a six, bringing up the 50-run partnership for the first wicket.Boult finally got his breakthrough in the sixth over, dismissing Conway for 25. However, Du Plessis continued to dominate, hitting another six off Boult's bowling.At the end of the powerplay, Texas Super Kings were in a commanding position at 65/1, with Du Plessis unbeaten on 40 and Aaron Hardie joining him at the crease.

Devon Conway has been included in New Zealand's provisional 15-man squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, with Kane Williamson named as captain. The experienced squad also features veterans Tim Southee and Trent Boult, while Rachin Ravindra and Matt Henry are the only uncapped players.Conway's inclusion comes after he was ruled out of the IPL due to a thumb injury. Williamson, meanwhile, returns to lead the side after missing New Zealand's last two T20I series.Fast bowler Adam Milne was ruled out after ankle surgery, while Kyle Jamieson remains unavailable due to a stress fracture in his lower back. Finn Allen has recovered from a back injury, while Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, and Ish Sodhi are the only players from the Pakistan tour who have made the squad.New Zealand coach Gary Stead believes the squad has all bases covered. "We expect varied conditions in the West Indies and have selected a squad that can adapt," he said. "Matt Henry has worked hard to earn his recall, while Rachin Ravindra has impressed in recent months."

Devon Conway Ruled Out of IPL 2024, Richard Gleeson Named ReplacementChennai Super Kings (CSK) have suffered a major setback with the news that star batter Devon Conway has been ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 due to an injury. The New Zealand international had missed the first six games of the tournament due to the injury, and his absence will be a significant blow to CSK's title hopes.Conway has been a key player for CSK in recent seasons, helping them win the title in 2023. In 23 matches for the franchise, he has scored 924 runs, including nine half-centuries and a highest score of 92 not out. His ability to anchor the innings and provide stability at the top of the order will be sorely missed.To replace Conway, CSK have signed veteran England pacer Richard Gleeson. The 36-year-old has yet to make his IPL debut, but he has impressed for England in T20Is, taking nine wickets in six matches. He is known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace, which could be a valuable asset for CSK in the middle overs.Gleeson has played 90 T20s in his career, taking 101 wickets. He will join CSK for his reserve price of Rs 50 lakh.CSK are currently third in the IPL 2024 points table with four wins from six matches. They will be hoping that Gleeson can make a quick impact and help them maintain their title challenge.