Cricket

Pat Cummins' Hat-Trick Powers Australia to Victory Over Bangladesh in T20 World Cup Super EightAustralian fast bowler Pat Cummins etched his name into the history books of the T20 World Cup with a stunning hat-trick against Bangladesh in the Super Eight match in Antigua. Cummins' feat marked the first hat-trick of the 2024 tournament and the seventh in the event's history.After a quiet first spell, Cummins turned the tide in the 18th over, dismissing Mahmadullah with an inside edge that rattled his stumps. The next delivery saw Mahedi Hasan attempt an uppercut but only managed to hole out to Adam Zampa at short third.Cummins completed his hat-trick in the final over, deceiving Towhid Hridoy with a slower delivery that the batter mistimed to short-fine leg. Hridoy's dismissal for 40 off 28 balls left Bangladesh reeling at 140 for 8.Cummins' hat-trick was the second by an Australian in T20 World Cups, following Brett Lee's achievement in 2007. The other bowlers to have completed hat-tricks in the tournament are Curtis Campher, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kagiso Rabada, Karthik Meiyappan, and Josh Little.Mahmudullah's dismissal marked the sixth time he has been a victim in a hat-trick in international cricket, a testament to the rarity and significance of Cummins' feat.Cummins' three wickets, along with Adam Zampa's 2 for 24, played a crucial role in restricting Bangladesh to a modest total. Australia's bowlers kept the Bangladeshi batters in check throughout the innings, with only Hridoy and Afif Hossain (33 off 26) managing to cross the 30-run mark.Australia's victory over Bangladesh puts them in a strong position to qualify for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. Cummins' hat-trick will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the highlights of the tournament and a testament to his exceptional bowling skills.

Deepti Sharma's All-Round Brilliance Powers UP Warriorz to Thrilling WPL VictoryIn a captivating encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Deepti Sharma's exceptional all-round performance propelled UP Warriorz to a nail-biting one-run victory over Delhi Capitals in the Women's Premier League (WPL).Sharma's batting prowess was on full display as she anchored the Warriorz innings with a crucial 59 runs off 48 deliveries. Her innings was a blend of power and finesse, with boundaries flowing effortlessly from her bat. She forged a vital 46-run partnership with skipper Alyssa Healy, providing a solid foundation for the team's total of 138 for 8.However, it was Sharma's bowling that truly stole the show. In a historic moment, she became only the second player in WPL history to claim a hat-trick. Her victims were Annabel Sutherland, Anuradha Reddy, and Shikha Pandey, all dismissed in the penultimate over of the match.Delhi Capitals, chasing 139 for victory, looked poised to pull off the win thanks to Meg Lanning's brilliant 60. However, Sharma's hat-trick triggered a dramatic collapse, with Delhi losing their last seven wickets for just 44 runs.The final over was a tense affair, with Delhi needing 10 runs for victory. Grace Harris picked up two wickets, while a crucial run-out sealed the win for UP Warriorz.Sharma's all-round brilliance was the difference between the two sides. Her contributions with both bat and ball were instrumental in securing the victory for her team.