Cricket

The Ranji Trophy Group-C match between Bengal and Kerala ended in a dull draw at the Jadavpur University ground on Tuesday due to the massive loss of play on the first two days caused by the impact of Cyclone Dana.Resuming from 267 for seven, Kerala declared at 356 for nine, adding 89 quick runs in 18 overs in the morning. Overnight batters Salman Nizar and Mohammed Azharuddeen formed a 124-run partnership for the eighth wicket to guide Kerala to a position of strength.Azharuddeen (84, 97b, 11x4s, 2x6s) shouldered the responsibility and plundered 54, including six fours and two sixes off Shahbaz Ahmed and Mohammed Kaif, off 49 deliveries before falling to Kaif. Ishan Porel removed Nidheesh M.D. to pick up his sixth wicket.When Kerala declared its innings, Nizar (95 n.o., 262b, 8x4s, 1x6) was five short of what would have been his maiden ton.Chasing an improbable 357 in a little more than two sessions, Bengal openers, debutant Shuvam Dey (67, 113b, 7x4, 1x6) and Sudip Chatterjee (57, 102b, 9x4), batted sensibly to score half-centuries and put up 101 runs on an unresponsive track.Jalaj Saxena trapped Chatterjee lbw in the middle session, while Aditya Sarvate claimed Dey and Avilin Ghosh in consecutive overs after tea. Anustup Majumdar and Sudip Gharami displayed some patience and gamesmanship to last more than 22 overs as the match dragged on until bad light halted play.The match ended in a draw, with both teams securing one point apiece as the first innings could not be completed.

Hyderabad's relentless bowling attack, spearheaded by left-arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajan's seven-wicket haul, proved too formidable for Pondicherry, leading to an emphatic innings and 50-run victory in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.Thyagarajan's exceptional performance marked his 10th five-wicket haul in just 23 Ranji matches, showcasing his growing stature as a potent spin threat. Pondicherry's hopes of salvaging a draw were dashed as Hyderabad's bowlers maintained a relentless pressure throughout the fourth and final day.Opener Ganga Sridhar Raju provided a glimmer of hope for Pondicherry with a fine maiden Ranji century (106 off 214 balls). His gritty innings demonstrated his ability to counter the home team's attack on a pitch that showed signs of wear and tear. However, Raju's dismissal by Rohit Rayudu, a part-time off-spinner, proved to be a turning point.From that moment on, Hyderabad's bowlers took wickets at regular intervals. Akash Kargave (31), Marimuthu Vinkeshwaran (21), and Ankit Sharma (22 not out) offered some resistance, but there was no substantial partnership to threaten the hosts.Thyagarajan's consistent line and length, coupled with his ability to spin the ball sharply away, proved too much for Pondicherry's batsmen. He chipped away at the opposition's lineup, ensuring that there were no dramatic turnarounds.Left-arm spinner Aniketh, who had taken six wickets in the first innings, was below par in the second innings, failing to add to his tally. However, pace bowler Chama Milind continued to impress, picking up one wicket.With this victory, Hyderabad has now accumulated seven points from three games, solidifying their position in the tournament standings.

New Zealand's cricketers have enjoyed a remarkable week, with both the men's and women's teams achieving historic victories. The men's team secured their first Test match win in India in 36 years, while the women's team triumphed in the T20 World Cup for the first time ever.The women's victory was particularly impressive, as they overcame the host nation India in the final. The Indian team had begun their campaign with a loss to New Zealand, which ultimately proved costly as the Kiwis edged past them in the group stage and advanced to the semifinals.Harmanpreet Kaur's Indian team now has a chance for immediate revenge, as they face New Zealand in the first of a three-match ODI series on Thursday. The Indian women will be eager to settle the score from the T20 World Cup, where they were thrashed 4-1 by the White Ferns.Amelia Kerr was the star of that series win for New Zealand, plundering 353 runs at an average of 117.66. She will be a key player for the Kiwis once again, along with captain Sophie Devine and veteran Suzie Bates.The Indian bowlers will have their work cut out for them, as they face a formidable New Zealand batting lineup. Renuka Singh, Radha Yadav, and Deepti Sharma will need to be at their best to contain the likes of Kerr, Devine, and Bates.In the men's Test match, New Zealand's victory was built on a solid batting performance. Tom Latham and Devon Conway both scored centuries, while Daryl Mitchell and Henry Nicholls made valuable contributions. The bowlers also played their part, with Tim Southee and Trent Boult taking seven wickets each.The victory was a significant achievement for New Zealand, as it ended India's long unbeaten streak at home. It also gave the Kiwis a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, with the second Test scheduled to begin on November 25.

TNCA President's XI emerged victorious in the third round of the Buchi Babu cricket tournament, securing a spot in the semifinals. Skipper M. Siddharth played a pivotal role in the team's triumph, showcasing exceptional bowling skills.On the third day of the Group-B match at the Salem Cricket Foundation ground, Siddharth's left-arm spin proved devastating for Gujarat. He claimed eight wickets for just 21 runs, dismantling the opposition's batting lineup. Gujarat was bowled out for a mere 58 runs, setting TNCA President's XI a modest target of 219.The TNCA batters approached the chase with a positive mindset, recognizing the need to play aggressively on the challenging pitch. Player-of-the-match C. Andre Siddarth, who had scored an unbeaten 55 in the first innings, once again proved his worth. He slammed an unbeaten 115 off 94 deliveries, including 15 boundaries and four sixes.Siddarth's aggressive batting helped TNCA President's XI reach the target with five wickets to spare. He hit back-to-back sixes off Rinkesh Vaghela's off-spin, showcasing his power and timing. The winning shot was a slog sweep off left-arm spinner Siddharth Desai, which sailed over deep midwicket for a six.Siddharth's match haul of 14 wickets for 97 runs was a testament to his exceptional bowling abilities. His left-arm spin created constant pressure on the Gujarat batters, forcing them into errors.With this victory, TNCA President's XI topped its group and qualified for the semifinals. The team's success was largely attributed to Siddharth's outstanding performance, which helped them overcome a challenging pitch and a determined Gujarat side.

As the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) approaches its climax, the playoff picture is becoming clearer. Defending champion Lyca Kovai Kings and three-time winner Chepauk Super Gillies have already secured their spots, while SKM Salem Spartans has been eliminated.The remaining two playoff berths are up for grabs, with Trichy Grand Cholas and iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans facing off in a virtual knockout clash on Saturday. The winner will join Kovai Kings and Super Gillies in the semifinals.Dindigul Dragons, currently in fifth place, has a strong chance to qualify as it has two matches remaining and needs to win at least one. Nellai Royal Kings, in sixth place, must win its last match against Dindigul to keep its playoff hopes alive.Siechem Madurai Panthers, despite having only one win from five matches, still has an outside chance to qualify. It must win its last two matches by big margins to boost its net run rate and hope for favorable results from other teams.Last season, the NPR College Ground in Dindigul witnessed distinctive bounce and swing for pacers. The pitches retained moisture and had grass patches, resulting in low-scoring affairs. If the weather and pitch conditions remain similar this year, the playoff-aspiring teams will heavily rely on their bowlers.

India and South Africa will face off in the third and final ODI of their series at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday. India holds a 2-0 lead after winning the first two matches, but South Africa will be determined to salvage some pride and earn valuable ODI World Cup qualification points.India's batting has been in fine form, with Smriti Mandhana scoring two centuries and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur returning to form with a hundred in the second ODI. However, opener Shafali Verma's credentials for 50-over cricket remain under scrutiny, and Sunday's match could be her last chance to prove her worth.For South Africa, the game is crucial for their World Cup qualification hopes. Skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp have been in impressive form, scoring centuries in the second ODI. The Proteas will need more runs from their top-order batters, such as Tazmin Brits and Anneke Bosch, to challenge India's formidable total.There are two intriguing aspects to the series-ender. India may rotate its squad to keep players match-fit ahead of the Test and T20Is in Chennai. Additionally, the fickle Bengaluru monsoon weather, which has been favorable for cricket so far, could play a role in the outcome.

Karnataka's historic Ranji Trophy triumph in 1973-74, which broke Bombay's 15-year dominance, was celebrated with a grand felicitation ceremony at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The event honored the victorious team members, who shared their memories and anecdotes from that unforgettable season.Led by the legendary off-spin wizard EAS Prasanna, Karnataka defeated a formidable Rajasthan side captained by Hanumant Singh by 185 runs in Jaipur on March 27, 1974. The victory marked the first of eight Ranji Trophy titles for the state.The nostalgia-filled event was graced by Prasanna, G.R. Viswanath, B.S. Chandrasekhar, Brijesh Patel, Syed Kirmani, A.V. Jayaprakash, B. Sudhakar Rao, Sanjay Desai, S. Vijayprakash, B. Siddaramu, R. Arunkumar, and B. Raghunath. Tributes were also paid to the three departed souls: V.S. Vijay Kumar, B. Vijayakrishna, and K. Lakshman."The win was very satisfying," recalled Prasanna. "The likes of Kirmani, Jayaprakash, and Vijayakrishna lifted their games and scored on a wicket that was conducive to our kind of bowling. The Karnataka team may not have looked very good on paper, but we were very effective on the pitch."However, the victory was not without its share of drama. On the rest day between the third and fourth days, the team members had partaken in Holi festivities and ingested Bhang, unknowingly."It took us two days to come down to earth [from the high]," said Viswanath, as the audience guffawed. "Everybody in the team was just laughing. But I had become very serious. The England tour was coming up, and I was a bit worried about that. I didn't get runs in the final.""But the important thing was that we won," Viswanath added. "The train journey back to Bangalore, which was supposed to be for two days, took nearly 3.5 days as the train stopped everywhere. But not a single passenger complained that the train was late."One of the highlights of the triumphant campaign was Karnataka's victory over Bombay in the semifinal, and Prasanna's dismissal of Sunil Gavaskar."It is one of the greatest deliveries I have ever seen," said Viswanath. "I was standing at first slip. It wasn't a doosra, teesra, or leg-cutter. Just a proper off-spinner that left the batter slightly. Sunil had covered everything, but may have just left a millimetre open. And Pras got him."The golden jubilee celebration was a fitting tribute to the Karnataka team that broke Bombay's stranglehold on the Ranji Trophy and etched their names in the annals of Indian cricket history.