Cricket

Former South African captain Dane van Niekerk is set to make a highly anticipated return to professional cricket this summer after signing for provincial side Western Province. The 30-year-old all-rounder has been sidelined since August 2022 due to a thumb injury.Van Niekerk's return to the field marks a significant milestone in her career, as she aims to regain her place in the South African national team. However, she has emphasized that her immediate focus is on enjoying the game and regaining her form."My No.1 priority is to play again," van Niekerk said. "I have no expectations other than that. What will be, will be. I miss representing my country and playing at the highest level. It has nothing to do with anything other than that."Van Niekerk's absence from the international stage has been a major loss for South Africa. She is one of the most experienced and successful players in the country's history, having captained the team to numerous victories.Her return to domestic cricket will provide a much-needed boost to Western Province, who will be hoping to challenge for the provincial title. Van Niekerk's all-round abilities will be a valuable asset to the team, as she can contribute with both bat and ball.While van Niekerk's long-term goal is to return to international cricket, she is not setting any specific timelines. She is simply focused on playing as much as possible and regaining her confidence."I have no timeline," van Niekerk said. "I just want to play again and have fun. I'm not putting any pressure on myself. I just want to enjoy the game and see where it takes me."Van Niekerk's return to cricket is a testament to her resilience and determination. She has overcome numerous challenges in her career, including injuries and personal setbacks. Her return to the field is a reminder that anything is possible with hard work and perseverance.

Suryakumar Yadav's Unforgettable Catch Seals India's T20 World Cup TriumphIndian Twenty20 international captain Suryakumar Yadav has etched his name in cricket history with his match-winning catch of David Miller in the ICC T20 World Cup final against South Africa. Yadav's athleticism and composure under pressure proved pivotal in India's seven-run victory, ending their 11-year ICC trophy drought.Yadav, who finished the tournament as the ninth-highest run scorer with 199 runs, admitted that he never anticipated making such a crucial catch in a World Cup final. "I have done those things in my practice sessions a lot, but I did not think it would come at that moment," he said. "I am very grateful for that, to be doing something special on a special occasion."The catch came in the final over of South Africa's chase, with Miller attempting a powerful shot off Hardik Pandya. Yadav, positioned near the boundary, moved outside and then back inside to complete the catch legally. Commentator Ian Smith hailed it as an "incredible piece of athleticism" that shifted the momentum in India's favor.India's victory was a collective effort, with Virat Kohli (76), Hardik Pandya (3/20), and Jasprit Bumrah (2/18) playing key roles. Kohli's brilliant knock helped India post a competitive total of 176/7, while Pandya and Bumrah's pace-choking attack restricted South Africa to 169/8.Yadav's catch will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket history. It not only sealed India's second T20 World Cup title but also marked the end of their long wait for an ICC trophy.

South Africa's Test squad for the upcoming series against West Indies has undergone a change, with fast bowler Gerald Coetzee ruled out due to a side strain. Coetzee sustained the injury while playing for Texas Super Kings in the Major League Cricket (MLC) T20 franchise league in the USA.Following assessments by South Africa's medical team, Coetzee was deemed unfit to participate in the Test series, which commences on August 7. In his place, uncapped Test player Migael Pretorius has been called up.Pretorius, 29, has a wealth of experience in first-class cricket, having played 64 matches and claimed 188 wickets at an average of 27.50. He is currently the leading wicket-taker for Somerset in the ongoing English County Championship, with 23 wickets.Pretorius has previously been named in South Africa squads but has yet to make his international debut. He was part of the T20I squad for the series against Pakistan in March 2021 but did not play. He was also called up for the Test series in Sri Lanka in December 2020 but withdrew due to a shoulder injury.South Africa's Test squad for the West Indies series now includes:* Temba Bavuma (capt)* David Bedingham* Matthew Breetzke* Nandre Burger* Tony de Zorzi* Keshav Maharaj* Aiden Markram* Wiaan Mulder* Lungi Ngidi* Dane Paterson* Dane Piedt* Kagiso Rabada* Tristan Stubbs* Ryan Rickelton* Kyle Verreynne* Migael PretoriusThe Test series will begin in Port-of-Spain, followed by the second Test in Providence. Three T20Is will conclude the tour from August 24 to 28.

India's T20 World Cup triumph in 2024 was a testament to their resilience and composure under pressure. Skipper Rohit Sharma recently shed light on the nerve-wracking moments of the final against South Africa, revealing that he had to clear his mind to navigate the tense situation.With South Africa needing just 30 runs from 30 deliveries and six wickets in hand, India faced an uphill battle. Heinrich Klaasen's blistering half-century off 23 balls had put the Proteas in a commanding position. However, Rohit emphasized the importance of staying present and executing their plans."I was completely blank," Rohit said. "It's very important for me to stay in the moment and focus on the job at hand. We had to stay calm and try to execute our plans."India's composure was evident in the final five overs, where they conceded only 29 runs. Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh played pivotal roles in restricting South Africa's scoring. Bumrah's miserly six runs in the final over, including the crucial wicket of Marco Jansen, proved decisive.Arshdeep maintained the pressure in the penultimate over, giving away just four runs. Hardik's dismissal of Klaasen in the 17th over was a major turning point. He then took on the responsibility of bowling the final over and immediately dismissed David Miller on the first delivery, thanks to an unbelievable catch by Suryakumar Yadav.India's seven-run victory not only secured the T20 World Cup but also ended their 11-year-long ICC Trophy drought. Rohit's leadership and the team's ability to perform under pressure were key factors in their success.

India's women's cricket team displayed an exceptional performance in the third T20I against South Africa, securing a comprehensive 10-wicket victory. Opting to bowl first, India's bowlers, led by Pooja Vastrakar and Radha Yadav, put on a dominant display, restricting South Africa to a mere 84 runs in 17.1 overs.Pooja Vastrakar was the star of the show, claiming four wickets for just 13 runs, while Radha Yadav chipped in with three wickets for six runs. Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, and Deepti Sharma also contributed with a wicket each.South Africa's batting lineup struggled to cope with India's disciplined bowling attack. Tazmim Brits top-scored for the visitors with a 23-ball 20, while Anneke Bosch and Marizanne Kapp made 17 and 10, respectively.In response, India's openers, Shafali Varma and Smriti Mandhana, made light work of the target, scoring 88 runs without losing a wicket in just 10.5 overs. Shafali Varma contributed 27 runs, while Smriti Mandhana remained unbeaten on 54, guiding India to a comfortable victory.The win leveled the three-match series 1-1, with the final T20I scheduled to be played on Thursday. India will be looking to secure the series victory, while South Africa will be determined to bounce back and force a decider.

India and South Africa faced off in the second T20I in Chennai, with the hosts opting to bowl first after winning the toss. The decision was in line with South Africa's preference, as captain Laura Wolvaardt also expressed her desire to bat first.Both teams fielded unchanged lineups from the previous match, which was washed out due to rain. South Africa had posted a formidable 177/6 in that game, thanks to half-centuries from Tazmin Brits and Anneke Bosch.India, on the other hand, continued to miss the services of wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who was ruled out due to a concussion. Assam's Uma Chetry once again took her place behind the stumps.For South Africa, this match marked their final outing before the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. A victory would provide them with a much-needed boost after a disappointing tour that included losses in the ODI series and the one-off Test.India, meanwhile, will travel to Sri Lanka next week to participate in the Asia Cup.

Persistent rain washed out the second women's T20 International between India and South Africa in Chennai on July 8, leaving the visitors with a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. India must now win the third and final T20I on Tuesday (July 9) to avoid a rare home series defeat.The match began 15 minutes late due to rain, which continued to interrupt play throughout South Africa's innings. However, the heavens opened during the innings break, forcing both teams to remain in their dressing rooms.As the overs began to dwindle, the nagging drizzle made it impossible to meet the cut-off time for a five-over-a-side contest, prompting the umpires to abandon the match.Earlier, Tazmin Brits played a measured half-century as South Africa overcame some mid-innings jitters to post a challenging 177 for six after being asked to bat first. Brits (52 off 39 balls) received solid support from Anneke Bosch (40 off 32 balls), helping the Proteas reach their second-highest T20I total against India.Openers Laura Wolvaardt (22 off 12 balls) and Brits put on a 42-run opening stand before pacer Pooja Vastrakar dismissed Wolvaardt in the fifth over. Brits continued her brisk scoring alongside Marizanne Kapp (20 off 14 balls), as they accumulated 66 runs during the powerplay.Brits reached her 11th T20I half-century, but her partnership with Bosch ended at 38 when Deepti Sharma dismissed her in the 14th over, with the score reading 113 for three.The Indian bowlers, particularly the spinners, kept the South Africans in check, forcing them to use sweep shots frequently. Vastrakar bowled the final over and dismissed Nadine de Klerk (14 off 9 balls), but Jemimah Rodrigues dropped Annerie Dercksen (12 not out), who punished the Indians with three fours in a row off the last three balls of the innings.Vastrakar and Deepti claimed two wickets each for the hosts.

India's women's cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, faced off against South Africa in the second T20I match of their three-match series in Chennai on July 7. South Africa had won the first match, giving them a 1-0 lead in the series.India made one change to their lineup, bringing in wicketkeeper-batter Uma Chetry in place of Richa Ghosh, who had suffered a concussion in the previous match. South Africa, on the other hand, fielded an unchanged eleven.India won the toss and elected to bowl first. The South African openers, Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, got off to a solid start, putting on a 40-run partnership before Wolvaardt was dismissed by Deepti Sharma for 21. Brits continued to anchor the innings, scoring a well-paced 44 off 40 balls.Marizanne Kapp and Chloe Tryon then took over the scoring duties, adding 46 runs for the third wicket. Kapp played a blistering knock of 34 off 22 balls, while Tryon contributed with a steady 22 off 25 balls.Nadine de Klerk and Anneke Bosch provided some late fireworks, scoring 18 and 16 runs respectively, to help South Africa post a competitive total of 147/6 in their allotted 20 overs.In response, India's batting lineup struggled to get going. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana were dismissed cheaply, leaving India reeling at 12/2. Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma tried to steady the ship, but both fell in quick succession, leaving India in a precarious position at 43/4.Harmanpreet Kaur and Pooja Vastrakar then put on a brief partnership of 26 runs, but both were dismissed within a span of three overs, leaving India's hopes hanging by a thread.Arundhati Reddy and S Sajana showed some resistance in the lower order, but their efforts were not enough as India fell short by 27 runs, losing the match by 120/9.South Africa's Ayabonga Khaka was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/19 in her four overs. Nonkululeko Mlaba and Sinalo Jafta also chipped in with two wickets each.With this victory, South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The final match of the series will be played on July 9 in Chennai.

India, facing a must-win situation to keep the T20I series alive against South Africa, opted to bowl first after winning the toss in a rain-affected Chennai. The hosts made several changes to their lineup, with Richa Ghosh ruled out due to a head injury sustained in the series opener.In Ghosh's absence, 21-year-old Uma Chetry made her international debut as wicketkeeper, becoming the second female Assamese cricketer to represent India. Arundhati Reddy replaced pace spearhead Renuka Singh, while Sajeevan Sajana was given an opportunity at No. 3 in place of D Hemalatha.India's bowling department also underwent a tweak, with allrounder Shreyanka Patil replacing legspinner Asha Sobhana to join the three-pronged spin attack. South Africa, on the other hand, fielded an unchanged XI from their victory on Friday.