Cricket

Ireland vs Pakistan 2nd T20I: Pakistan Aims to Redeem Themselves After Series-Opening LossPakistan will be eager to make amends when they face Ireland in the second T20I of the three-match series in Dublin on Sunday, May 12. The hosts stunned the visitors in the series opener at the Clontarf Cricket Club, securing a five-wicket victory to take an early lead.Pakistan's disappointing performance in the first match has prompted them to consider changes to their lineup. Pacer Mohammad Amir, who missed the series opener due to a visa delay, is expected to make his debut for Pakistan in the second T20I.Ireland, on the other hand, will be looking to build on their momentum and secure a series victory. The hosts have been in impressive form, having won their last three T20I matches.Match Details:* Date: Sunday, May 12* Venue: Clontarf Cricket Club Ground, Dublin* Start Time: 7:30 PM ISTBroadcast Information:* TV: Not telecast in India* Live Streaming: FanCodeKey Players to Watch:* Ireland: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie, Josh Little* Pakistan: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad AmirAnalysis:Pakistan will be desperate to level the series and avoid a humiliating defeat. The return of Amir will bolster their bowling attack, but they will need to improve their batting performance.Ireland, meanwhile, will be confident of continuing their winning streak. They have a well-balanced team with experienced players and exciting young talents.The second T20I promises to be an exciting contest between two evenly matched teams. Pakistan will be determined to prove their worth, while Ireland will be aiming to secure a series victory on home soil.

Ireland's captain, Paul Stirling, took a playful jab at Pakistan after his team's triumph in the first T20I of a three-match series in Dublin on Friday. Former captain Andrew Balbirnie's impressive 77 guided Ireland to their first victory over Pakistan in 17 years. This was only Ireland's second win against Pakistan, following their surprising triumph at the 2007 50-over World Cup in the West Indies.In a post-match interview, Stirling took a swipe at the pitches in Pakistan, describing them as the "flattest decks in the world." He elaborated, "When you come here, especially from Pakistan, the flattest pitches in the world, ask them to bat first and see what they can get. We were happy to chase 180."After Ireland elected to bowl, Pakistan's captain Babar Azam and opener Saim Ayub formed a solid partnership, adding 85 runs for the second wicket. Babar top-scored for the tourists with 57, while Ayub contributed 45. Iftikhar Ahmed (37) and Shadab Khan (14) made valuable contributions down the order, helping Pakistan reach a total of 182/6.In response, Ireland chased down the target of 183 with a ball to spare. Ireland needed 40 runs from the last four overs, and Abbas Afridi dismissed George Dockrell for 24. With Ireland requiring 11 runs from the final over, Curtis Campher under-edged a boundary off Abbas and sealed the victory with a leg bye."I didn't watch the last over. (I) went to the tent and put a towel over my head. I felt it was my job to get the team over the line... Harry said if we could bat normally till the 13th over, we could get the runs. That was a partnership which set it up," said Balbirnie, who was dismissed in the 19th over.

Ireland Hosts Pakistan in T20I Series OpenerIreland and Pakistan will kick off their three-match T20I series on Friday, May 10, at the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Dublin. The series marks Pakistan's first international outing since their underwhelming performance against New Zealand at home.Pakistan, led by Babar Azam, will be eager to bounce back from their 2-2 draw against the Black Caps. However, they will be without the services of pacer Mohammed Amir for the series opener. Ireland, on the other hand, will be missing their star pacer Joshua Little, who is recovering from an injury.Despite the absence of key players, both teams will be looking to make a statement ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup. Ireland, in particular, will be keen to impress as they prepare for the global tournament.Match Details:* Date: Friday, May 10* Venue: Clontarf Cricket Club Ground, Dublin* Start Time: 7:30 PM ISTBroadcast Information:* The match will not be telecast in India.* Live streaming will be available on FanCode.Key Players to Watch:* Pakistan: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi* Ireland: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie, Mark AdairSeries Preview:Pakistan will be looking to assert their dominance against Ireland, who they have defeated in all three of their previous T20I encounters. However, Ireland will be determined to upset the odds and prove their mettle ahead of the T20 World Cup.The series opener promises to be a thrilling contest between two teams with contrasting strengths and weaknesses. Pakistan's batting prowess will be tested by Ireland's disciplined bowling attack, while Ireland's batting lineup will need to find a way to overcome Pakistan's formidable pace attack.

West Indies' Hayley Matthews continued her exceptional form in Pakistan, leading her team to an emphatic eight-wicket victory in the final T20I in Karachi. Matthews' scintillating 78 off 59 deliveries propelled the visitors to a comfortable win, securing a 4-1 series triumph.Pakistan, batting first, made a promising start with a 38-run opening partnership between Ayesha Zafar and Sidra Ameen. However, West Indies' bowlers, led by legspinner Afy Fletcher, orchestrated a dramatic collapse. Fletcher claimed three wickets, while Qiana Joseph and Matthews chipped in with two each, restricting Pakistan to a modest 134 for 8.In response, West Indies displayed their dominance from the outset. Matthews, who had scored a century in the series opener, once again played a pivotal role. She shared a 103-run partnership with Shemaine Campbelle (33*), guiding her team towards victory with ten balls to spare.Matthews' innings was a masterclass in power-hitting. She struck 11 boundaries, including three sixes, and reached her half-century in just 34 deliveries. Campbelle, playing a supporting role, ensured that West Indies maintained a steady run rate throughout their chase.Pakistan's bowlers struggled to contain Matthews' onslaught. Sadia Iqbal dismissed Rashada Williams early on, but Matthews and Campbelle proved too strong for the home side's attack. Nashra Sandhu eventually dismissed Matthews, but by then, West Indies were on the cusp of victory.The win capped off a memorable tour for Matthews, who emerged as the standout performer for West Indies. Her consistent brilliance with both bat and ball played a crucial role in her team's series triumph.

In the third T20I encounter against Bangladesh, India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur opted to field first after winning the toss in Sylhet on an overcast day. India holds a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series and aims to secure the victory.India fielded an unchanged lineup from the rain-affected second game, with Yastika Bhatia, who missed the previous match due to a niggle, remaining out of the XI. Bangladesh made a single alteration, introducing Shorifa Khatun in place of Sultana Khatun.In the second game, Bangladesh displayed improved batting intent, with Murshida Khatun scoring 46. However, she lacked support from her teammates, resulting in Bangladesh being dismissed for 117.The possibility of a thunderstorm looms late in the evening.India:1. Shafali Verma2. Smriti Mandhana3. D Hemalatha4. Harmanpreet Kaur (capt)5. Richa Ghosh (wk)6. Deepti Sharma7. S Sajana8. Pooja Vastrakar9. Renuka Singh10. Shreyanka Patil11. Radha YadavBangladesh:1. Dilara Akter2. Murshida Khatun3. Sobhana Mostary4. Nigar Sultana (capt, wk)5. Ritu Moni6. Fahima Khatun7. Rabeya Khan8. Nahida Akter9. Shorifa Khatun10. Marufa Akter11. Fariha Trishna

India vs Bangladesh: Hemalatha Replaces Bhatia in Second T20IIn the second T20I match between India and Bangladesh in Sylhet, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana opted to bat first after winning the toss. Both teams made minor adjustments to their lineups, with India bringing in spin-bowling allrounder D Hemalatha for Yastika Bhatia, who suffered a niggle after scoring 36 runs in the first game. Bangladesh, on the other hand, replaced spin-bowling allrounder Shorna Akther with experienced pace allrounder Ritu Moni.Hemalatha earned her spot in the Indian squad through her impressive performances in the 2024 Women's Premier League (WPL) for the Gujarat Giants. She last played a T20I in September 2022 and is eager to make the most of this series to secure her place in the T20 World Cup later this year. With Jemimah Rodrigues absent due to a back niggle, Hemalatha may move up the batting order, having primarily played in the middle order for India.In the first match of the five-match series, India emerged victorious, giving them a 1-0 lead.India XI:* Shafali Verma* Smriti Mandhana* D Hemalatha* Harmanpreet Kaur (capt)* Richa Ghosh (wk)* Deepti Sharma* S Sajana* Pooja Vastrakar* Renuka Singh Thakur* Shreyanka Patil* Radha YadavBangladesh XI:* Dilara Akter* Murshida Khatun* Sobhana Mostary* Nigar Sultana (capt, wk)* Ritu Moni* Fahima Khatun* Rabeya Khan* Nahida Akter* Sultana Khatun* Marufa Akter* Fariha Trishna

India Women Dominate Bangladesh in Second T20I, Take 2-0 Series LeadIn the second T20I match of the five-match series in Sylhet, India Women extended their dominance over Bangladesh Women, securing a comfortable victory to take a 2-0 series lead.Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first, but their innings was stifled by India's disciplined bowling attack. Renuka Singh struck early, dismissing Dilara Akter for 4, while Deepti Sharma claimed the wicket of Sobhana Mostary for 14.Murshida Khatun top-scored for Bangladesh with 21 runs, but the team struggled to build partnerships and were restricted to a modest total of 100/6 in their allotted 20 overs.In response, India Women chased down the target with ease, reaching 101/2 in just 14.3 overs. Smriti Mandhana led the way with an unbeaten 30, while Shafali Verma contributed 24.Pooja Vastrakar provided a late flourish with a boundary to seal the victory for India.Key Moments:* Renuka Singh's early wickets put Bangladesh on the back foot.* Deepti Sharma's economical spell (1/15) restricted Bangladesh's scoring.* Murshida Khatun's 21 was the highest score for Bangladesh.* Smriti Mandhana's unbeaten 30 anchored India's chase.* Pooja Vastrakar's boundary sealed the victory for India.Post-Match Reactions:India captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed satisfaction with her team's performance, particularly their bowling. She also praised Dayalan Hemalatha for her return to the team and her contributions.Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana acknowledged the challenges faced by her team but remained optimistic about their potential to bounce back.

Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh's star all-rounder, is poised to make a return to white-ball cricket next month in the T20I series against Zimbabwe. Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain revealed that Shakib is expected to arrive in Dhaka at the end of April and could feature in a couple of Dhaka Premier League (DPL) matches before joining the national team."We have communicated with him," Ashraf said. "He is expected to arrive in Dhaka at the end of this month. He will possibly play one or two DPL matches. Afterwards, he will get involved with the team management. There he can do his training on cricketing skill as per the desire of team management. We will definitely want him to play a couple of matches in the series."Shakib has been on a break from white-ball cricket since the 2023 ODI World Cup due to an eye condition and a finger injury. He returned to international cricket in the Chattogram Test against Sri Lanka earlier this month.Bangladesh have announced a 17-man preparatory squad that will train for three days in Chattogram from April 26. The group doesn't include Shakib or Mustafizur Rahman, who is playing for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL until May 1. Ashraf said that Mustafizur would also miss the first T20I against Zimbabwe on May 3 in Chattogram.The training squad includes Mohammad Saifuddin, who returns after a long injury layoff. He last played for Bangladesh shortly before the 2022 T20 World Cup and returned to action in this season's BPL, where he was part of Fortune Barishal's title-winning squad."Definitely (Mohammad) Saifuddin is a promising player and if he is not injured he could have more international experience," Ashraf said. "He is ahead with his batting but in bowling he has competitors. So it's a good opportunity for him to get back into his groove in the Zimbabwe series because we have a lot of interest in him."Bangladesh play the first three T20Is against Zimbabwe in Chattogram on May 3, 5, and 7, and the last two T20Is in Dhaka on May 10 and 12.

Pakistan's skipper Babar Azam expressed satisfaction with his team's batting performance in the third T20I against New Zealand at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, despite their 7-wicket loss.Azam, who scored a 37-run knock off 29 balls, acknowledged that Mohammad Rizwan's injury in the first inning was a setback. Rizwan, who had scored 22 runs off 21 balls, was forced to retire hurt."We did well with the bat. I don't think it [the slowdown] made much of a difference because we had caught up in the end. You can say we were ten runs short. Unfortunately, we had a bit of a setback with [Mohammad] Rizwan's injury because it wasn't easy for new batters. But Shadab recovered well and had an outstanding partnership with Irfan [Khan]," Azam said at the post-match presentation.Azam praised the partnership between Shadab Khan and Irfan Khan, which helped Pakistan recover in the game. "In Pindi, 180-190 is a par score," he added.After winning the toss, New Zealand opted to field first. Saim Ayub (32) and Babar Azam opened the innings for Pakistan, putting on a 55-run partnership. Shadab Khan (41) was the standout batter for the hosts, while Irfan Khan (30) also contributed.Ish Sodhi led the Kiwi bowling attack with two wickets, while Bracewell and Jacob Duffy took one wicket each.In the run chase, Dean Foxcroft (31) and Mark Chapman (87) played a crucial 117-run partnership to guide New Zealand to a comfortable victory. Pakistan's bowling performance was lackluster, with only Afridi and Shah taking wickets.The five-match series is currently tied at 1-1, with both teams having won one game each.