Cricket

Australia's T20 World Cup hopes now hinge on the outcome of the Afghanistan-Bangladesh match after they suffered a 24-run defeat to India in their must-win Super 8 clash.The Aussies ended their Super 8 campaign with just one victory in three matches and now require Bangladesh to beat Afghanistan and become the second team from Group 1 to qualify for the semifinals.Australia will fail to reach the last four if Afghanistan, who defeated them by 21 runs in a stunning upset last time out, beat Bangladesh in the concluding game of the Super Eights stage.Despite the defeat, Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh said his team technically still stands a chance for the last four berth and expressed his support for Bangladesh to win."It's disappointing. Still technically a chance to go through, and today India got the better of us. I think over the course of 40 overs there's a lot of small margins, but honestly, India were the better team," Marsh said at the post-match presentation.He also lavished praise on Indian captain Rohit Sharma for his blistering knock of 92, emphasizing the impact he can have on the game once he settles in at the crease."We've seen for 15 years what Rohit Sharma can do in that kind of mood, and he got off to an absolute flier. In a run chase like that, you're in it if you can keep it at tens for as long as possible, but India were too good for us. Come on, Bangladesh!"Rohit led from the front with a 41-ball knock, including seven fours and eight sixes, as his side posted a total of 205-5.Australia was then held to 181-7, with opener Travis Head top-scoring with 76 in an innings where left-arm paceman Arshdeep Singh took 3-37.India will now play defending champions England in Thursday's semi-final in Guyana.

The T20 World Cup 2024 Group 1 in Super 8 has taken an intriguing turn, with no team yet assured of a semi-final berth and none eliminated. India, Australia, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh remain in contention, with the outcome of the remaining matches holding the key.India, currently leading the points table with four points from two games, will secure a semi-final spot if they defeat Australia on Monday or if the match is washed out. Australia, with two points from one game, can advance if they beat India. However, even if they lose or the match is washed out, Australia can still qualify if Bangladesh beats Afghanistan or the match is washed out.Afghanistan, with two points from two games, can advance if they beat Bangladesh and their run-rate is better than either Australia or India. Bangladesh, currently without points, can qualify if India beats Australia and they beat Bangladesh by a significant margin, improving their net run rate.The probability of each team qualifying for the semi-finals, as per Star Sports, is as follows:* India: 80%* Australia: 60%* Afghanistan: 40%* Bangladesh: 20%Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja expressed his surprise at Afghanistan's stunning victory over Australia, praising their strength as a team. He urged Australia to move past the defeat and focus on the crucial match against India, considering both teams to be among the best in the world.Khawaja emphasized the importance of the upcoming game against India, labeling it as a "do or die" scenario for Australia. He expressed confidence in the team's process-oriented approach under Mitchell Starc and Andrew McDonald.Khawaja also highlighted the growing popularity of T20 cricket, noting its ability to engage a broader community and attract more girls and mothers to the sport. He pointed to the inclusion of the USA in the Super Eight as evidence of the format's global reach.

Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm chinaman bowler, has emerged as a key player for India in the Super 8 stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Despite missing the entire group stage, Kuldeep has made an immediate impact, picking up five wickets in two matches.After scalping three wickets against Bangladesh, Kuldeep drew a comparison between the pressure of playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the pressure of a World Cup. "IPL is completely different, boss. It's totally different," said Kuldeep. "What you experience in IPL is not what you're experiencing in T20 World Cup."Kuldeep enjoyed a brilliant season with Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, picking up 16 wickets in 11 games. However, he was surprisingly left out of India's XI in their first group game against Ireland.In the Super 8, Kuldeep has been on fire. After getting two wickets against Afghanistan, he picked up three crucial wickets against Bangladesh. The 29-year-old got the wickets of opener Tanzid Hasan, the experienced Shakib al-Hasan, and the in-form Towhid Hridoy. He finished with figures of 3-19 from his four overs.Kuldeep emphasized that spinners need to be aggressive to succeed in the shortest format. "In this format (T20), you have to read what the batters are trying to do, but be more aggressive. The length matters a lot. The aggression is helping me through the IPL and the T20 World Cup," he said.With wins over Afghanistan and Bangladesh, India boast a very healthy net run rate in their Super 8 group and are almost certainly going to make the semis of the 2024 T20 World Cup.

India and Australia, two cricketing powerhouses, are set to clash in a high-stakes Super 8 match at the T20 World Cup on Monday. A victory for India would secure their place in the semifinals and potentially eliminate Australia from the tournament.India has been in impressive form, with victories over Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Hardik Pandya has been a standout performer, contributing with both bat and ball. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav has also been crucial, delivering match-winning performances.Australia, on the other hand, has faced setbacks. They suffered an unexpected loss to Afghanistan, exposing weaknesses in their batting and fielding. The team's fate now rests on the outcome of India's match against Bangladesh. A win for India would effectively end Australia's hopes of advancing.The match will be played at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium, which has historically favored high scores in day-night matches. However, the conditions are expected to favor slower bowlers, which could benefit India's spin attack.India is determined to avenge past defeats against Australia in ICC events. They will be motivated to disrupt Australia's campaign and secure a spot in the semifinals. Australia, facing an uphill battle, will need to regroup and deliver a strong performance to keep their tournament hopes alive.The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two fierce rivals. The stakes are high, and both teams will be desperate for victory.

In a scintillating display of power-hitting, Hardik Pandya propelled India to their highest total of the 2024 T20 World Cup, smashing an unbeaten 27-ball 50 against Bangladesh in the Super 8 encounter in Antigua.Pandya's blistering knock, which included four boundaries and three towering sixes, came at a staggering strike rate of over 185. He became the first Indian batter to score a half-century at No. 6 in T20 World Cup history, guiding India to a formidable 196 for 5.The vice-captain's heroics overshadowed significant contributions from Shivam Dube (34 off 24), Rishabh Pant (36 off 24), and Virat Kohli (37 off 28). Bangladesh's Tanzim Hasan Sakib emerged as the pick of their bowlers, claiming two wickets for 32 runs.Pandya's innings drew widespread praise on social media, with fans hailing his match-winning performance. The 30-year-old's ability to accelerate the scoring rate and clear the boundary with ease proved pivotal for India."He (Dube) had to take his time because his role was to take on the spinners," Pandya said during the mid-innings chat. "I think when the time came we both were allowed to free our hands and that was very important to us."India's total of 196 is their highest ever in T20Is in North Sound. The team will now look to their bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, to defend their imposing score and secure a crucial victory in the Super 8 stage.

Afghanistan vs Australia: Super 8 Clash in ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 is set to witness a thrilling encounter between Afghanistan and Australia in the Super 8 stage. The match will take place at the Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent on June 23, 2024, at 06:00 AM IST.Australia enters the match with momentum after a convincing 28-run victory over Bangladesh. Pat Cummins emerged as the standout performer, amassing 91 fantasy points. Afghanistan, on the other hand, suffered a setback in their previous game, losing to India by 47 runs. Rashid Khan was the top fantasy performer for Afghanistan, scoring 111 points.Historically, Australia has dominated Afghanistan in T20Is, winning the only match played between the two teams. The Aussies' batters have generally outperformed Afghanistan, while the Afghan bowlers have been their main contributors.Key Players to Watch:* Fazalhaq Farooqi (AFG): The left-arm medium-fast bowler has been in excellent form, taking 15 wickets in his last five matches.* Marcus Stoinis (AUS): The batting all-rounder has scored 156 runs and taken seven wickets for Australia.* Rashid Khan (AFG): The Afghanistan skipper has led his team's bowling unit and has taken nine wickets in his last five matches.* Adam Zampa (AUS): The star leg spinner has been one of the highest wicket-takers in the tournament, with 11 wickets.* Travis Head (AUS): The explosive top-order batter has amassed 179 runs in the recent five matches.* Ibrahim Zadran (AFG): The right-handed top-order batter has scored 160 runs in the recent five matches.Prediction:Australia is the favorite to win this match based on their recent form and historical dominance over Afghanistan. However, Afghanistan has the potential to upset the Aussies with their talented bowling attack. The match promises to be a close and exciting contest.

The Afghanistan cricket team faced an unexpected dietary challenge during their stay in Bridgetown for the T20 World Cup Super Eights match against India. The absence of halal meat, a crucial component of their dietary requirements, at their hotel left them in a predicament.Accustomed to the abundant hospitality they experienced in India during the previous year's 50-over tournament, the Afghanistan team found themselves in a different situation. To address the issue, some team members took it upon themselves to temporarily assume the role of chefs.While halal meat is available in the Caribbean region, it is not guaranteed to be a standard offering at all hotels and restaurants. This lack of certainty posed a significant challenge for the Afghanistan team, who adhere to specific dietary guidelines."Halal meat is not available in our hotel. Sometimes we cook on our own or sometimes we go out. In the last World Cup in India, everything was perfect. Halal beef is an issue here," a player told PTI."We had it in St. Lucia but it is not there at all venues. A friend arranged it for us and we cooked on our own."Despite the dietary challenges, India secured a resounding 47-run victory against Afghanistan at the Kensington Oval on Thursday, marking a perfect beginning to their Super 8 campaign.The Super 8 stage presents a grueling schedule for the teams, requiring them to participate in three matches across various countries with just a single day for travel in between. Given the restricted air travel options available in these islands, the logistics pose a significant challenge.An additional Afghanistan team member highlighted that the demanding Super 8 schedule has also taken a toll on their team's readiness and preparations for the matches."There is uncertainty over flights and training schedule. We are often informed about it at the last minute. We understand that the organisers are doing their best considering logistical challenges, which are bigger in the Caribbean than anywhere else," he said.Afghanistan next face Australia in St Vincent on Saturday.Meanwhile, Indian fans continue to flock to the Caribbean to support their team. Despite the Kensington Oval being only partially filled during the India-Afghanistan match, a significant portion of the crowd donned the iconic blue jersey, proudly displaying their allegiance to the Indian side.The Caribbean's close proximity to the United States and Canada has facilitated the journey for Indian expatriates, allowing them to witness the matches in person. Additionally, Indians residing in the United Kingdom have embarked on the trans-Atlantic voyage to support their team."I have come here from Toronto. There was no direct connectivity so I went to Miami and then came to Barbados. I have tickets for all India games, I just want one for the final here," said Paresh.The Caribbean locals are also caught up in the excitement surrounding the event. Everyone, from the cab driver to the hotel's front desk manager, is engrossed in the tournament, hoping for the West Indies to clinch an unprecedented third championship.

The United States and South Africa will clash in a highly anticipated Super 8 match at the 2024 T20 World Cup on Wednesday, June 19 (IST). The match will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua, and will start at 8:00 PM IST.USA's remarkable journey in the tournament continues as they enter the Super 8 stage, where they will face a formidable South African team that dominated Group D. However, the USA will no longer enjoy the home support and conditions that fueled their success in the group stage.South Africa, led by David Miller, has yet to see any player apart from Miller score more than 80 runs in the tournament. Their batting lineup will face a stern test against the in-form USA duo of Saurabh Netravalkar and Ali Khan, who have been oozing confidence and fire.The USA's success in the tournament has been built on their strong bowling attack, led by Netravalkar and Khan. They will need to continue their impressive form against a South African batting lineup that includes Miller, Quinton de Kock, and Rilee Rossouw.South Africa, on the other hand, will rely on their experienced bowling attack, which includes Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Wayne Parnell. They will need to find a way to contain the dangerous USA batting lineup, which has shown the ability to score quickly and consistently.The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two teams with contrasting strengths and weaknesses. The USA will be looking to continue their dream run, while South Africa will be determined to prove their dominance and advance to the next stage of the tournament.

The 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 stage is set to commence on June 19, with seven of the eight participating teams confirmed. India, the reigning champions, will face off against Australia in a highly anticipated rematch of the 2023 World Cup Final on June 24.India secured their Super 8 berth by topping Group A, winning three games and having their final fixture washed out. Bangladesh is poised to become the eighth team, with the Netherlands holding an outside chance.The Super 8s will witness India's relocation from the USA to the West Indies. All three of India's Super 8 matches will be played in the Caribbean. Their opening match will be against Afghanistan on June 20.Super 8 Format:The Super 8 groups were predetermined based on a seeding format for the top eight teams in the rankings. However, due to the elimination of Pakistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, their spots will be filled by USA (A2), Afghanistan (C1), and Bangladesh/Netherlands (D2).The seeding format aims to provide fans with a clearer understanding of potential match locations in the tournament's later stages. The top two teams from each Super 8 group will advance to the semi-finals.Super 8 Groups:* Group 1: India (A1), Australia (B2), Afghanistan (C1), Bangladesh/Netherlands (D2)* Group 2: USA (A2), England (B1), West Indies (C2), South Africa (D1)India's Schedule:* June 20: vs Afghanistan, Kensington Oval, Barbados [8:00 PM IST]* June 22: vs Bangladesh/Netherlands, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua [8:00 PM IST]* June 24: vs Australia, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St. Lucia [8:00 PM IST]