Cricket

Australia and Pakistan will clash in the third and final T20I of their three-match series on Monday, November 18, at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. The hosts, Australia, have already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, but Pakistan will be determined to salvage a consolation victory.In the second T20I on Saturday, Australia's Spencer Johnson starred with a brilliant 5-26, helping his team to a narrow 13-run victory. Pakistan, chasing a modest target of 148, were bowled out for 134 in the final over despite a valiant 52 from Usman Khan.Australia made a strong start to the second T20I, removing Pakistan captain Babar Azam for just 3 runs in the second over. Johnson then struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Sahibzada Farhan and Iftikhar Ahmed to leave Pakistan reeling at 15-3.Usman Khan and Mohammad Rizwan attempted to rebuild the innings, but Johnson returned to claim the wicket of Rizwan for 23. Khan continued to fight, hitting 52 off 41 balls, but Pakistan's chase was derailed by the loss of wickets at regular intervals.Australia's bowlers maintained their discipline throughout the innings, with Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, and Xavier Bartlett all chipping in with wickets. In the end, Pakistan fell short by 13 runs, handing Australia a comfortable series victory.As the series moves to Hobart for the third and final T20I, Pakistan will be desperate to avoid a whitewash. They will need their top-order batsmen to fire and their bowlers to be more economical. Australia, on the other hand, will be looking to maintain their dominance and complete a clean sweep of the series.

In a thrilling T20I series opener in Brisbane, Australia emerged victorious over Pakistan by 29 runs, despite a rain-delayed start that reduced the match to a seven-over contest.Veteran batter Glenn Maxwell showcased his exceptional form, smashing a blistering 43 off 19 deliveries to power Australia to an imposing 93-4. Openers Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short set the tone with an aggressive start, while Marcus Stoinis provided a late surge with an unbeaten 21 off seven balls.Pakistan's chase faltered under the lights as quicks Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis claimed three wickets apiece. Bartlett dismissed captain Mohammad Rizwan for a second-ball duck and Usman Khan in the same over, while Ellis accounted for Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris.Despite a late flurry from Abbas Afridi, who top-scored with an unbeaten 20 off 10 balls, Pakistan's batting order crumbled, finishing well short on 64-9.The victory marked a resounding performance for an Australia side missing several top players who are preparing for the upcoming Test series against India. Maxwell expressed his delight, saying, "We almost had our bags packed because we thought we wouldn't get a game in. We certainly had a lot of fun out there."The series now shifts to the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday before concluding in Hobart on Monday. Pakistan captain Rizwan acknowledged the challenges of playing in such a fast-paced match, saying, "It's difficult to keep things normal in this type of match because it went very fast."

India's T20I dominance over South Africa continued as they clinched an unassailable 2-1 series lead with an 11-run victory in the third match at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.Tilak Varma's scintillating unbeaten 107 and Abhishek Sharma's brisk 50 propelled India to a formidable 219/6 after being invited to bat first. Varma's knock was a masterclass in power-hitting, featuring seven sixes and eight fours off just 57 deliveries. Sharma, who had endured a lean patch, played a vital role with a 25-ball 50, including five sixes and three fours.South Africa's chase got off to a solid start, with Aiden Markram (29), Reeza Hendricks (21), and Ryan Rickelton (20) contributing at the top of the order. However, it was Marco Jansen's late blitz that kept the Proteas in contention. The left-hander smashed 54 off just 17 balls, but his dismissal in the final over extinguished South Africa's hopes of a remarkable comeback.Heinrich Klaasen (41 off 22) also played a significant role for South Africa, but their efforts ultimately fell short. Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the Indian bowlers, claiming 3/37, while Varun Chakravarthy chipped in with two wickets.Varma's century was a testament to his exceptional talent and composure. The 22-year-old controlled the game with his wide-ranging strokes, ensuring India capitalized on their strong start. His partnership with Sharma for the second wicket laid the foundation for India's imposing total.Despite the early loss of Sanju Samson (0), India's batting lineup showed resilience and depth. Suryakumar Yadav (1), Hardik Pandya (18), and Rinku Singh (8) failed to make significant contributions, but Varma's brilliance overshadowed their struggles.South Africa's bowlers, led by Keshav Maharaj (2/36), managed to slow down the scoring rate during the middle overs. However, Varma's late assault, where he scored 52 runs off just 22 balls, proved decisive.With the series victory secured, India will look to complete a clean sweep in the fourth and final T20I at the Wanderers on Friday. South Africa, on the other hand, will be determined to salvage some pride and avoid a series whitewash.

India and South Africa will face off in the third T20I of their four-match series on Sunday, November 13, with both teams eyeing a series lead. The match will be played at SuperSport Park in Centurion, South Africa, and will begin at 08:30 PM IST.India took an early lead in the series with a commanding 61-run victory in the first T20I. Sanju Samson was the star of the show, smashing a sensational century (107 off 50 balls) to power India to a massive total of 211/4. However, the second game saw a contrasting result as South Africa registered a narrow 3-wicket win.Despite a disappointing batting performance from India, which saw them post a below-par total of 124/6, leg-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy's five-wicket haul (5/17) kept them in the game. However, Tristan Stubbs and Gerald Coetzee guided South Africa to victory in a tense chase.The third T20I promises to be another thrilling encounter. India will be keen to bounce back from their defeat and take a commanding lead in the series, while South Africa will be determined to level the series and gain momentum.

India and South Africa Clash in Crucial Third T20IWith the series tied at 1-1, the third T20I between India and South Africa in Centurion on Wednesday has become a pivotal encounter. The winner of this match will gain a significant advantage in the five-match series.India began the series with a dominant 61-run victory in Durban, thanks to a brilliant century from Sanju Samson. However, the Proteas bounced back in the second T20I in Gqeberha, securing a narrow three-wicket win.Samson, who celebrated his 30th birthday on November 11, was the center of attention during the team's journey from Gqeberha to Centurion. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a heartwarming video on social media, capturing the Indian cricketers' birthday wishes for Samson on the bus and his cake-cutting celebration at the team hotel.The Indian team is determined to regain the momentum in the third T20I. They will be looking to their star players, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul, to deliver match-winning performances. South Africa, on the other hand, will be eager to continue their winning streak and take a 2-1 lead in the series.The fourth and final T20I of the series will be played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday. The outcome of the third T20I will have a significant impact on the overall result of the series.

India's upcoming T20I match against South Africa in Gqeberha has sparked speculation about potential changes to the playing XI. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra suggests that leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi may be dropped in favor of a two-spinner strategy.Chopra believes that Axar Patel's all-round abilities and Varun Chakaravarthy's recent performances make them indispensable. Chakaravarthy's ability to take key wickets, as evidenced in the first match, gives him an edge over Bishnoi.If India opts for two spinners, Chopra predicts that Chakaravarthy and Patel will be the chosen duo. However, the Gqeberha surface may favor a seam-bowling option, potentially opening the door for all-rounder Ramandeep Singh to make his debut.India's squad for the match includes:* Suryakumar Yadav (c)* Abhishek Sharma* Sanju Samson (wk)* Rinku Singh* Tilak Varma* Jitesh Sharma (wk)* Hardik Pandya* Axar Patel* Ramandeep Singh* Varun Chakravarthy* Ravi Bishnoi* Arshdeep Singh* Vijaykumar Vyshak* Avesh Khan* Yash Dayal

England's Phil Salt Shines with Unbeaten Century in T20I Series Opener Victory over West IndiesIn the opening match of the five-match T20I series in Barbados, England secured an impressive eight-wicket victory over West Indies on Saturday, thanks to a scintillating century from opener Phil Salt.Batting first, West Indies posted a challenging total of 183 runs, with Gudakesh Motie and Romario Shepherd contributing crucial runs in the latter stages of the innings. However, England's chase was anchored by Salt's unbeaten 103 off just 54 deliveries, which included six towering sixes.Salt's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, as he dominated the West Indies bowling attack. He was ably supported by Jacob Bethell, who made his T20I debut and contributed a valuable 50 runs.England's victory was also aided by the return of Saqib Mahmood, who impressed with figures of 3 for 24. Mahmood's wickets helped restrict West Indies' scoring and put England in a strong position.Despite an aggressive batting approach, West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals. A ninth-wicket partnership of 49 runs between Shepherd and Motie provided some late impetus, but it was not enough to prevent England from securing a comfortable victory.England captain Jos Buttler, returning from injury, was dismissed for a golden duck in his first match since November. However, Salt's heroics ensured that England's batting lineup remained unfazed.With the win, England takes a 1-0 lead in the series. The two teams will meet again at the same venue on Sunday, with England aiming to extend their advantage and West Indies looking to level the series.

England have won the toss and elected to field first in the opening T20I against West Indies in Barbados. The match marks the start of England's final white-ball series of the year, following their 2-1 ODI series loss to the hosts.England are looking to bounce back from their ODI disappointment and will be boosted by the return of captain Jos Buttler, who has been sidelined for five months with a calf injury. Buttler will bat at No. 3 and relinquish the wicketkeeping gloves to Phil Salt.Dan Mousley will make his T20I debut after scoring a maiden international fifty in the deciding ODI. Jofra Archer is out of the side after playing three ODIs in a row, with Jamie Overton, Saqib Mahmood, and Reece Topley comprising England's seam-bowling attack."Looking forward to it," Buttler said of captaining from the field as opposed to behind the stumps. "A different view point, another thing taken off my plate so I can focus on the captaincy and the team."West Indies are without quick Alzarri Joseph, who is serving a two-match ban for storming off the pitch in a temper during the third and final ODI. They have opted for two spinners in Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie.Rovman Powell, their captain, said at the toss: "It's a case of whether you bat or bowl first, you've got to do it well. In years gone by we were just looking to compete as a West Indies team, now we're looking to beat sides in bilateral series."

Sanju Samson's wife, Charulatha Remesh, expressed her admiration for her husband's remarkable performance in the 1st T20I against South Africa in Durban. Samson's century played a pivotal role in India's victory, marking his second consecutive century in T20Is.Samson's aggressive approach in T20Is has been a key factor in his success. He believes in trusting his shot-making abilities and attacking each ball. This mindset has led to both success and failure, but Samson remains focused on maximizing runs in the first innings.In preparation for the South Africa series, Samson made a conscious switch from playing Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy matches. He believes this adjustment has given him an advantage in understanding the South African conditions and replicating scenarios.Samson's preparation involves practicing on different pitches with various balls to simulate match conditions. He emphasizes the importance of being ready to perform at the international level, which requires hard work and mental effort.Samson's journey to the Indian team has been marked by dedication and perseverance. He is grateful for the opportunity to showcase his talent on the international stage and contribute to India's success.