Cricket

Durham's Matthew Potts unleashed a devastating spell of bowling to secure a resounding innings and 63-run victory over Lancashire in the Vitality County Championship match at The Riverside.Resuming on 155 for four, Lancashire needed 190 runs to avoid their fourth innings defeat of the season. However, Potts' relentless pace and accuracy proved too much for the visitors, as he ripped through their batting lineup, claiming nine wickets for 68 runs.Lancashire's collapse began with George Balderson's dismissal for 16, followed by Venkatesh Iyer and Tom Hartley's quick departures. Potts' hat-trick bid was denied by Tom Bailey, but the Durham spearhead soon had Bailey caught behind for 195 for eight.Matty Hurst, who had scored a fifty in the first innings, provided some resistance with a gritty 67. However, Potts' relentless pressure eventually forced Hurst to hook a delivery to long leg, where Callum Parkinson took a stunning catch.Anderson Philip and Tom Aspinwall delayed the inevitable with a 61-run last-wicket stand, but Potts returned to dismiss Philip for 41, completing a match return of 12 for 126. Aspinwall remained unbeaten on 26.Durham's victory secures 24 points and effectively ends their relegation fears. Lancashire, on the other hand, take only one point, leaving them in ninth place in Division One and facing the prospect of relegation to the second tier.The bad news for Durham is that Potts will now join England's squad for the one-day internationals, making him unavailable for the county for the rest of the season.

Ravichandran Ashwin, India's premier off-spinner, has etched his name in cricketing history by equaling Muttiah Muralitharan's record for the most wickets in a player's 100th Test match. Ashwin's stellar performance in the fifth and final Test against England in Dharamsala saw him claim nine wickets, achieving the milestone with the dismissal of Ben Foakes on Day 3.Ashwin's remarkable outing commenced in the first innings of the Test, where he displayed his bowling prowess by capturing four crucial wickets, restricting England to a modest total of 218. Despite facing disappointment with the bat, Ashwin quickly shifted gears with the ball as India took the field on the third day.Making an immediate impact, Ashwin struck in his very first over, dismissing Ben Duckett for just two runs with a sublime delivery that shattered the stumps. He continued his dominance by claiming the wicket of Zak Crawley shortly after. In a display of skill and guile, Ashwin outsmarted Ollie Pope with a cleverly bowled short delivery, catching the batsman off guard as he attempted a sweep shot.A pivotal moment arrived just before lunch when Ashwin removed English captain Ben Stokes, delivering a deceptive slider that breached Stokes' defenses and crashed into the stumps. With this feat, Ashwin surpassed Indian legends Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev, who were tied for the most wickets by an Indian in their 100th Test.Minutes into the second session, Ashwin achieved his 36th five-wicket haul by dismissing Ben Foakes, further cementing his place in cricketing history. Ashwin's milestone also marked him as the second Indian player to claim a fifer in their 100th Test, following in the footsteps of Anil Kumble. Interestingly, Ashwin surpassed Kumble for the most five-wicket hauls by an Indian in Test history, showcasing his unparalleled impact in the longest format of the game.With his exceptional performance, Ashwin not only etched his name alongside legends but also reaffirmed his status as one of India's premier spin bowlers of all time. His ability to control the pace and trajectory of the ball, combined with his astute understanding of the game, makes him a formidable opponent for any batting lineup.