Cricket

India Eyes Super Eights Victory Over Australia in T20 World Cup 2024Ahead of the highly anticipated Super Eights clash between India and Australia in the T20 World Cup 2024, heavy rainfall has drenched St Lucia, where the match is scheduled to take place at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium on Monday.India, led by Rohit Sharma, currently sits atop Group 1 of the Super Eights, having emerged victorious in their previous encounters against Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The team is determined to maintain its momentum and secure significant wins to qualify for the semifinals.Their ultimate goal is to break India's ICC trophy drought, which has persisted since the 2013 Champions Trophy, and claim their first T20 World Cup title since the inaugural edition in South Africa in 2007.India enters this match following a dominant 50-run victory over Bangladesh at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Australia, on the other hand, led by Mitchell Marsh, suffered a disappointing 21-run defeat against Afghanistan in their previous match.In the previous encounter between India and Bangladesh, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field first. India's innings was propelled by Hardik Pandya's unbeaten 50 runs off just 24 deliveries, including 4 fours and 3 sixes. His exceptional performance helped India reach a total of 196/5 despite losing wickets in quick succession.Rishabh Pant's 36 runs from 24 balls, featuring 4 fours and 2 sixes, and Shivam Dube's 34 runs from 24 balls, including 3 sixes, also contributed significantly to India's total.Bangladesh's batting lineup struggled against India's bowling attack during their chase. Najmul Hossain Shanto was the lone warrior for Bangladesh, scoring 40 runs from 32 balls with 1 four and 3 sixes, but his efforts were insufficient to help his team reach the 197-run target.Kuldeep Yadav led the Indian bowling attack, claiming three wickets while conceding only 19 runs in his four-over spell. Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah also played crucial roles, picking up two wickets each in their respective spells. Their combined efforts helped India secure a convincing 50-run victory over Bangladesh.

West Indies and South Africa Set for Super Eights Clash in ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024Co-hosts West Indies will face off against South Africa in the highly anticipated Super Eights Match 10 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. The match is scheduled to take place at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua on June 24th, 2024, at 06:00 AM IST.West Indies' Momentum vs South Africa's ExperienceWest Indies enter the match with momentum on their side, having secured a convincing nine-wicket victory over the USA in their previous outing. Shai Hope emerged as the standout performer for the Caribbean side, amassing 128 fantasy points.South Africa, on the other hand, will be looking to continue their winning streak after defeating England by seven runs in their last game. Quinton de Kock was the top fantasy performer for the Proteas, scoring 95 points.Head-to-Head Record and Recent FormHistorically, the West Indies and South Africa have faced each other 22 times in T20Is since 2007, with both sides winning 11 matches each. Notably, the West Indies have won the last four encounters between the two teams in the T20 format.In terms of recent form, West Indies have been impressive with the bat, while South Africa have relied heavily on their bowling attack.Key Players to WatchKagiso Rabada (SA): The South African pace spearhead has been in excellent form, picking up nine wickets in six matches at an economy of 6.09.Johnson Charles (WI): The West Indies opener has been a consistent performer, scoring 140 runs in six matches.Reeza Hendricks (SA): The South African top-order batter has been in decent form, scoring 80 runs in six matches.Nicholas Pooran (WI): The explosive left-hander is one of the tournament's leading run-scorers, with 227 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 148.36.Marco Jansen (SA): The fast bowling all-rounder has been a regular contributor for South Africa, picking up two wickets in six matches.Gudakesh Motie (WI): The slow left-arm spinner has been a consistent wicket-taker for the West Indies, picking up eight wickets in six matches.

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 is set to witness a thrilling encounter between the United States and England in Super Eights Match 9. The match will take place at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Sunday.Both teams enter the match with contrasting fortunes. The USA suffered a nine-wicket defeat to the West Indies in their Super 8 opener, while England fell short by seven runs against South Africa.Despite their recent setbacks, both teams will be eager to secure a victory in this crucial fixture. The USA will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing start, while England will be determined to avoid a second consecutive loss.Head-to-Head:Surprisingly, the USA and England have never faced each other in the T20I format. This will be the first time these two teams will lock horns, making it a highly anticipated encounter.Key Players to Watch:Phil Salt (ENG): England's top-order batter has been in impressive form, scoring 158 runs in the recent five matches.Steven Ryan Taylor (USA): The USA's top-order batter has been a vital cog in their batting unit, scoring 62 runs in the recent five matches.Jos Buttler (ENG): England's skipper has been in flamboyant form with the bat, smashing 108 runs in the recent five matches.Harmeet Singh (USA): The bowling all-rounder has provided balance to the USA's starting XI, picking up four wickets and scoring 48 runs in the recent five matches.Sam Curran (ENG): The star all-rounder was the player of the tournament in the T20 World Cup 2022. He has scored 10 runs and picked up one wicket in the recent three matches.Jasdeep Singh (USA): The right-arm medium pacer has been a prominent part of the USA's pace battery, scalping one wicket in the recent four matches.With a mix of experienced and emerging players on both sides, this match promises to be a close and exciting contest. The winner will take a significant step towards securing a place in the semi-finals.

India vs Bangladesh: A Rivalry Renewed in the Super EightsThe highly anticipated Super Eights clash between India and Bangladesh at the ongoing T20 World Cup promises to be a captivating encounter, fueled by both on-field rivalry and off-field tensions.India, the tournament favorites, enter the match with an unblemished record in the Super Eights, having dispatched Afghanistan with ease. Bangladesh, on the other hand, has struggled for consistency, losing to South Africa in their opening match.Despite their contrasting fortunes, Bangladesh has a history of upsetting India in big matches. The two South Asian neighbors have been involved in several off-field controversies, with Bangladesh expressing concerns over India's financial dominance in cricket.The head-to-head record between the two teams heavily favors India, but Bangladesh has shown resilience in the past. Rohit Sharma and his men will be wary of their opponents' ability to punch above their weight.The match will also feature a subplot of long-standing rivalry. The two teams have faced off in numerous high-stakes matches over the past decade, creating an atmosphere of intense competition.Both India and Bangladesh will be desperate for their batting stars to find form in this crucial encounter. India's top order, led by Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul, has been in impressive touch, while Bangladesh will rely on the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim to deliver.The match promises to be a thrilling contest between two teams with contrasting strengths and weaknesses. India's experience and firepower will be tested against Bangladesh's determination and unpredictability.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has expressed concern over his team's batting performance in the T20 World Cup, acknowledging that they have underperformed in the Super Eights stage. Despite their impressive group stage showing, Bangladesh suffered a 28-run DLS defeat to Australia in their opening Super Eight fixture."The next two matches are crucial," Shanto said at the post-match press conference. "We have a lot to gain from them. If we can win them, we will be in a better position. We will play to win every match."Bangladesh's batting woes continued against Australia, as they managed only 140/8 in their 20 overs. Shanto admitted that the team's batting has been a major concern."Yes, there was a big difference in the conditions because last match there was a lot of spin and also seam, but today the wicket looked flat... a very good wicket to bat on," Shanto said. "I think we didn't bat well. We should have targeted 160 to 170.""As a player, we had to adjust, but we couldn't execute with that new ball, especially in the power play," he added. "We couldn't finish the last five-six overs, and we lost too many wickets. If we had ended well, we could have scored a proper 160 or 170."Despite their struggles, Bangladesh remains hopeful of turning things around. They face India in their next Super Eight match, a crucial encounter that could determine their chances of reaching the semi-finals."Everyone has the capability, and people have played well in different places in the past," Shanto said. "But I do not have an answer to why this is not happening. Everyone has the freedom to play their natural game, but somehow it is not happening."

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto expressed mixed emotions after his team's qualification for the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup. While delighted with the achievement, he voiced concerns over the team's underwhelming batting performance.Despite securing a 21-run victory over Nepal, Bangladesh's batting woes continued, with the team being dismissed for a mere 106. Shanto acknowledged the team's struggles, stating, "Our batting is not up to the mark."The skipper dismissed suggestions that slow pitches were a contributing factor, emphasizing that the team should have been able to score at least 140-150 runs on the given wicket. He stressed the importance of a strong start and lamented the team's inability to capitalize on opportunities."The start is very important. We are not getting the start, and the lower-order batsmen are not finishing it well," Shanto pointed out. "We have to come out of this and think about how to come out of this."Despite their batting struggles, Bangladesh has managed to win three games, with their only defeat coming against South Africa. Shanto attributed this success to the team's bowlers, who have performed exceptionally well."The way our bowlers bowled in the last three-four matches, really happy," Shanto said. "I hope they will continue their form."Looking ahead to the Super Eights, Shanto acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead. Bangladesh has been grouped with India, Australia, and Afghanistan, all formidable opponents."All 20 teams are here to win. So now, we are going to play Super Eights. All matches will be competitive," Shanto stated. "There are no big teams or big names, I hope we'll have a good Super Eights."Bangladesh will face Australia in their Super Eight opener on Thursday, followed by India two days later. They will conclude their group stage campaign against Afghanistan on June 24.

Australia's Mitchell Marsh: Super Eights to Test Team Against World's BestAustralian captain Mitchell Marsh expressed his team's eagerness to face the world's top teams in the Super Eights of the ICC T20 World Cup. After their dominant five-wicket victory over Scotland, Marsh emphasized the importance of playing in a challenging environment to bring out the best in his squad."We spoke about sticking to our game and staying consistent in how we wanted to play," Marsh said after the match. "Having already qualified, there was less pressure on us, but whenever our team is challenged, it brings the best out of us."Marsh praised Scotland's progress, acknowledging their highest-ever finish in an ICC tournament. "Scotland are a good team, they have improved a lot, and we certainly wanted to respect them," he said.The Australian skipper also acknowledged the hectic schedule ahead in the Super Eights. "It's going to be a busy schedule. T20 is a hard format, but we are excited for what is to come," Marsh said.Australia's victory secured their top spot in Group B with eight points from four wins. Scotland finished third with five points, but failed to advance to the Super Eights. England also qualified, sharing the same points and win-loss record as Scotland but with a superior net run rate.