Cricket

England and West Indies are set for a high-scoring encounter in St Lucia as they resume their six-hitting battle in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup. The two teams combined for 120 sixes in their five-match T20I series in December, which West Indies won 3-2.The Daren Sammy Cricket Ground has proven to be a batting paradise, with Australia chasing down 181 against Scotland and Sri Lanka posting 201 against Netherlands in the group stage. England's players watched nervously from their hotel in Antigua as Australia pulled off the second-highest run chase of the tournament so far."It wasn't nice," said Sam Curran. "Some of us were having dinner and watching the Scotland game. It got quite close, and some of us turned it off because we got a bit nervous."England will play twice in St Lucia, against West Indies and South Africa, and they have noted how flat the pitch looks. "It looks like a really good wicket, the way guys were able to hit through the line and the way the ball was traveling," said Curran.West Indies captain Rovman Powell expects his batters to relish the truer surface after variable bounce in Guyana and Trinidad. "Tomorrow presents an opportunity here at the Daren Sammy Stadium for us as batters to get it right," he said. "It's also a better opportunity on a better wicket."This has been the lowest-scoring men's T20 World Cup out of nine, but England believe that the tournament will be "a slug-fest" on pitches that favor batting. West Indies won the six count by a margin of 64-56 in their December series, and England are looking to beat them at their own game."Sometimes it's about turning your sixes into fours as a bowler, and small things like that," said Curran. "It might sound silly, but that's where the game of cricket's going. Even if you go for a lot of runs, if you take a wicket in that over, you could change the game."The other major factor to note in St Lucia is the breeze, which has blown from the east to the west of the ground. "We have chatted as a bowling unit: in the Caribbean, the wind's a big factor," said Curran.England have some tough calls to make ahead of Wednesday's match. Liam Livingstone is a doubt due to a niggle in his side, while they must decide whether Will Jacks should come straight back in at No. 3 or whether their batting line-up is better balanced with Jonny Bairstow and Harry Brook shuffling up to three and four respectively.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 has witnessed an unprecedented explosion of run-scoring, with eight totals exceeding 250 runs and a record-breaking number of sixes. Amidst this run-fest, young Abhishek Sharma has emerged as a standout performer, showcasing his exceptional batting prowess.The 23-year-old from Punjab has amassed 401 runs in 12 innings at a staggering strike rate of 205.64, hitting the most sixes (35) and boasting the highest strike rate among batters with 400 or more runs. Sharma's breathtaking strokeplay has propelled him to the forefront of the tournament, holding his own against established names at the top of the order.After leading India to the U-19 Asia Cup title in 2016 and being part of the 2018 U-19 World Cup-winning squad, Sharma was picked up by Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) in 2018. He joined SRH the following year but initially struggled to secure regular playing time.However, in 2022, Sharma's career took a significant turn. The Sunrisers retained him for Rs.6.5 crore, and he repaid their faith with 426 runs that season. Despite a relatively quiet IPL in 2023 (226 runs), he delivered a stellar performance in domestic cricket, powering Punjab to their first Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy with 480 runs at a strike rate of over 180.In IPL 2024, Sharma has truly announced himself as a force to be reckoned with. He has formed a formidable opening partnership with Travis Head, who has also been in scintillating form. Together, they have instilled a sense of fear among the opposition, with Sharma's aggressive square-of-the-wicket play and clean swing of the bat proving particularly devastating.Sharma's standout knocks include a 23-ball 63 against Mumbai Indians, a 12-ball 37 against Chennai Super Kings, a 12-ball 46 against Delhi Capitals, a 13-ball 31 against Royal Challengers Bangalore, and a 28-ball 75* against Lucknow Super Giants.While Sharma may not have made it to India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, his performances in the IPL suggest that he is likely to be in the mix as some of the senior players move on. With batting in the shortest format becoming increasingly aggressive, Sharma's ability to lead the onslaught makes him a valuable asset for the future.

The 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed an unprecedented surge in six-hitting, with the tournament shattering records and redefining the boundaries of T20 cricket. During the thrilling encounter between Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants, the IPL witnessed a staggering 20 sixes, propelling the season's total to an astonishing 1,125. This remarkable feat surpassed the previous record of 1,124 set in the 2022 season, with several matches still remaining.The relentless pursuit of sixes has become a defining characteristic of the IPL, showcasing the growing dominance of batters in the format. Over the past three seasons, the number of sixes hit has steadily increased, reflecting the evolving strategies and skills of the players.Beyond the six-hitting frenzy, the 2024 IPL has witnessed several other groundbreaking achievements. Punjab Kings etched their name in history by chasing down a mammoth target of 262 set by Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, marking the highest successful chase in T20 cricket history. The match also featured a record-breaking 42 sixes, the most ever hit in a T20 game.Kolkata Knight Riders, known for their explosive batting, had previously set the highest total at Eden Gardens in the T20 format, scoring 261/6. However, Sunrisers Hyderabad surpassed this record by posting a staggering 287/3 against Royal Challengers Bangalore, having already broken the record earlier in the season with a score of 277/3 against Mumbai Indians.Lucknow Super Giants, determined to secure a playoff spot, completed the highest successful chase at Chepauk, overhauling a target of 211 runs. In the same match against Chennai Super Kings, Marcus Stoinis set a new record for the highest individual score in a chase, with his unbeaten 124.These remarkable achievements have not only elevated the excitement of the IPL but have also highlighted the exceptional talent and skill of the players involved. As the tournament progresses, fans can expect even more records to be broken and the boundaries of T20 cricket to be pushed further.