Cricket

India's emphatic victory over Bangladesh in the second Test in Kanpur has propelled them towards a third consecutive World Test Championship (WTC) final appearance. The comprehensive 7-wicket triumph has solidified India's position at the summit of the WTC standings, with 98 points from 11 matches.Despite the weather interruptions that marred the first three days of the Test, India showcased their resilience and adaptability. The team's all-round performance was a testament to their depth and quality.India's bowlers, led by Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav, wreaked havoc on the Bangladesh batting lineup, dismissing them for 227 and 173. The spinners accounted for 17 of the 20 wickets to fall in the match.The Indian batsmen, too, played their part, with Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara scoring half-centuries in the first innings. Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer then guided India to victory in the second innings, with unbeaten knocks of 59 and 29, respectively.The win has extended India's lead at the top of the WTC standings, with a points percentage of 74.24. They are now overwhelming favorites to qualify for the final, which will be held at Lord's in June 2025.India's next assignment in the WTC is a three-Test series against New Zealand, starting on October 16 in Bengaluru. A 3-0 sweep against the Black Caps would guarantee India a place in the final.However, if India fails to whitewash New Zealand, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia will become even more crucial. Australia, currently second in the WTC standings, could overtake India with a series win.The upcoming Test series against New Zealand and Australia will be pivotal in determining India's fate in the WTC. With their current form and depth, India is well-positioned to secure a third consecutive appearance in the final.

India's relentless bowling attack, led by Ravindra Jadeja's triple-strike, dismantled Bangladesh's batting lineup on the final day of the second Test in Dhaka, setting the hosts a modest target of 95 runs to secure victory.Resuming on 26 for 2, Bangladesh's hopes rested on the shoulders of Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shadman Islam, who had forged a stubborn 55-run partnership. However, Jadeja's introduction proved decisive, as he dismissed Shanto with his second ball, breaking the crucial stand.Akash Deep then removed the well-set Shadman, caught at gully, before Jadeja sent back Litton Das and Shakib Al Hasan cheaply, reducing Bangladesh to 94 for 7. The pressure mounted on the visitors, as Jadeja and Ashwin's tight and skiddy bowling proved too much to handle.Earlier, Ashwin had struck early, dismissing Mominul Haque for 2, while Bumrah and Ashwin kept Shanto and Shadman in check. However, Shadman's confident strokeplay against Ashwin gave Bangladesh the lead, but his dismissal by Akash Deep triggered a collapse.Jadeja's triple-strike in quick succession left Bangladesh reeling, and Bumrah's return to the attack wiped out the tail. Mushfiqur Rahim delayed the inevitable, but Bumrah's beauty left Mehidy Hasan Miraz late for an edge, and the visitors were all out for 146.India's bowlers shared the spoils, with Jadeja, Ashwin, and Bumrah claiming three wickets each. The hosts will now look to chase down the target and secure a series victory in the second Test.

India tightened their grip on the rain-hit second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur on Monday, reducing the visitors to 26 for two in their second innings. Star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin struck twice to leave Bangladesh trailing by 26 runs with two days remaining.Earlier, India declared their first innings at 285 for nine, setting Bangladesh a target of 312. Yashasvi Jaiswal (71 off 52) and KL Rahul (68 off 43) played aggressive knocks to propel India to a commanding position. Virat Kohli also contributed with a fluent 47 off 35 balls.Bangladesh's veteran left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan and off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz shared eight wickets between them to restrict India's free-flowing batting. Shakib claimed four wickets for 78 runs, while Miraz picked up four for 41.In response, Bangladesh were bundled out for 233 in their first innings. India's bowlers, led by Mohammed Siraj (3/30) and Umesh Yadav (3/53), shared the spoils.With Ashwin's early strikes in Bangladesh's second innings, India are now in a dominant position. The visitors need to bat out of their skins to save the match, while India will be looking to wrap up the victory and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the two-match series.

A Canine Interruption and Sri Lanka's Triumph: Highlights from the Weekend in SportsOn Saturday, the Durham vs Kent County Championship match took an unexpected turn when a playful dog made its way onto the field. The adorable canine briefly halted play, leaving commentators and spectators alike in amusement. The incident was captured on video and has since gone viral on social media.Meanwhile, on the international cricket scene, Sri Lanka celebrated a historic victory against New Zealand in the second Test in Galle. Debutant off-spinner Nishan Peiris emerged as the hero, claiming six wickets to seal Sri Lanka's first series win against the Kiwis in 15 years.Peiris and fellow spinner Prabath Jayasuriya wreaked havoc on New Zealand's batting lineup, sharing 18 wickets in the match. Jayasuriya's six-wicket haul in the first innings restricted New Zealand to a mere 88 runs, while Peiris's six wickets in the second innings proved decisive.Despite a valiant effort from New Zealand's lower order, Sri Lanka's bowlers remained relentless. Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, and Mitchell Santner all scored half-centuries, but it was not enough to prevent Sri Lanka from securing an innings and 154-run victory.The win marks a significant milestone for Sri Lanka, as it is their first series triumph against New Zealand since 2009. It also extends their unbeaten streak at Galle to six Tests, with New Zealand's 360-run total being their highest innings score at the venue.

Bangladesh resumed their first innings on the fourth morning of the second Test against India, with Mominul Haque leading the charge. Despite losing three wickets, Bangladesh reached lunch at 205 for 6, with Mominul unbeaten on 102.India's bowlers, led by Akash Deep and Ravichandran Ashwin, bowled with discipline, but Mominul proved to be a thorn in their side. He weathered the early storm and played with patience and determination.The pitch showed signs of improvement, with better carry, but the low bounce remained a factor. Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah tested Mominul and Mushfiqur Rahim's patience with their accurate bowling.Bumrah dismissed Mushfiqur with a sharp in-ducker that took his inside edge and clipped the off stump. Litton Das came in and played aggressively, hitting three fours off Bumrah. However, he fell to a length ball from Mohammed Siraj, which he slapped aerially to Rohit Sharma at wide mid-off.Shakib Al Hasan's stay was brief, as he was caught by Siraj off Ashwin's bowling. Ravindra Jadeja was brought on, but Mominul used his feet well and swept him for a six to reach the nineties.Mominul was given two lives, with Rishabh Pant dropping a catch at 93 and Virat Kohli dropping another at 95. He made the most of these chances and reached his century with a sweep shot.At lunch, Bangladesh were in a strong position, with Mominul anchoring the innings and Mehidy Hasan providing support. India will need to find a way to break the partnership and take control of the match.

Jasprit Bumrah Breaks the Deadlock on Day 4 of India vs. Bangladesh TestAfter two days of rain-induced delays, the second Test between India and Bangladesh finally resumed on Monday in Kanpur. With India seeking a crucial wicket to break the Bangladesh resistance, Jasprit Bumrah stepped up to deliver.Bumrah, known for his exceptional bowling skills, was handed the ball by captain Rohit Sharma to open the fourth day's play. The pacer didn't disappoint, striking in the third over to remove Mushfiqur Rahim for 11.Rahim, expecting an outswinger, left the ball only to be surprised as it sharply came back in and crashed into his stumps. The dismissal was a testament to Bumrah's accuracy and ability to deceive batters.Bumrah's wicket was the first for India on Day 4, adding to the two wickets taken by Akash Deep and one by Ravichandran Ashwin. Bangladesh had resumed their first innings at 107-3, with Mominul Haque unbeaten on 40 and Rahim on six.The match had been severely affected by rain, with only 35 overs possible on the opening day. The weather had forced the umpires to abandon play on Saturday and Sunday due to a soggy outfield.India, who lead the two-match series 1-0 after winning the opener in Chennai, will be looking to capitalize on Bumrah's early breakthrough and build pressure on Bangladesh. The visitors, on the other hand, will need to dig deep and find a way to counter India's bowling attack.

Kanpur's Green Park Stadium Under Fire for Poor Drainage SystemThe second Test between India and Bangladesh at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium has been marred by poor facilities, particularly the inadequate drainage system. Despite no rain on Sunday, Day 3 was abandoned due to a wet outfield, sparking outrage among fans and cricket experts.The drainage system at Green Park has been a recurring issue, with the stadium lacking the modern infrastructure expected of international cricket venues. The lack of proper drainage has led to multiple delays and disruptions in the ongoing Test match.On Day 1, rain interrupted play, and Day 2 was completely washed out due to a wet outfield. However, the decision to abandon play on Day 3, when there was no rain, left fans particularly frustrated. Umpires conducted multiple inspections throughout the day, but the outfield remained unfit for play, resulting in another frustrating delay.The lack of drainage has drawn comparisons to other stadiums with better infrastructure. Fans and pundits have argued that the match would have resumed sooner at more advanced grounds.The recurring issues at Green Park have raised questions about its suitability as a host for future international matches. The stadium's poor facilities have cast a shadow over the ongoing Test match and have sparked concerns about the future of cricket in Kanpur.

New Zealand's batting woes continued on day four of the first Test against Sri Lanka, despite valiant efforts from Glenn Phillips and Tom Blundell. The visitors resumed on 249 for 5, trailing by 353 runs, but lost three wickets in the first session to slip further behind.Phillips and Blundell, who had both scored half-centuries overnight, added 64 runs for the sixth wicket before Peiris dismissed them both. Phillips was caught at long-on for 78, while Blundell was trapped lbw for 60.Mitchell Santner then joined forces with Phillips to put on another 64 runs for the seventh wicket. Santner struck 48 not out off 56 balls, including two sixes and a four.However, New Zealand's lower order could not provide the necessary support, and they were eventually bowled out for 335, still 179 runs behind Sri Lanka's first-innings total of 602 for 5 declared.Peiris was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, finishing with figures of 5 for 155. He was ably supported by Prabath Jayasuriya, who took 3 for 77.New Zealand now face an uphill battle to save the match. They need to bat out the remaining two days without losing any further wickets, a task that looks increasingly unlikely given their fragile batting lineup.

15-Year-Old Boy Cycles 58 Kilometers to Witness Virat Kohli's BattingIn a testament to the unwavering passion and dedication of young sports enthusiasts, 15-year-old Kartikey from Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, embarked on an extraordinary journey to witness his cricketing idol, Virat Kohli, in action. Undeterred by the distance, Kartikey cycled 58 kilometers from his hometown to Kanpur, where the Indian cricket team was facing Bangladesh in a Test match.Kartikey's arduous journey began at 4 am, as he pedaled through the early morning darkness. Seven hours later, he arrived at the Green Park Stadium, his determination unwavering despite the physical exertion. His unwavering spirit and love for the game captured the hearts of many, as a video of his journey went viral on social media.The first day's play of the Test match was unfortunately cut short due to bad light and heavy rain. However, Kartikey's efforts were not in vain, as he witnessed India's fast bowler Akash Deep claim two early wickets. Captain Rohit Sharma's decision to field first proved fruitful, as Deep dismissed opener Zakir Hasan for a duck and trapped Shadman Islam lbw for 24.After lunch, India's hero from the first match, Ravichandran Ashwin, broke the partnership between Bangladesh's captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque. Ashwin's sharp-turning delivery from around the wicket sent Shanto back to the pavilion, leaving Bangladesh at 107-3 before the match was called off early.Kartikey's journey serves as an inspiration to young athletes and sports enthusiasts everywhere. His unwavering determination and passion for the game are a testament to the power of dreams and the lengths people will go to pursue them.