Cricket

South Africa's decade-long wait for a Test victory in the subcontinent has finally come to an end, with their triumph in Mirpur marking a significant milestone for the young and inexperienced squad. The victory, their first in the region since 2014, has instilled a renewed sense of confidence and belief within the team.Despite the absence of experienced players in the subcontinent, South Africa's stand-in captain Aiden Markram hailed the win as a testament to the team's potential. "It's special. We're a pretty young, slightly inexperienced group, so to come to the subcontinent and get a win is great for us and the environment," Markram said.The victory is particularly significant given South Africa's recent struggles in the subcontinent. After their last Test win in Galle in 2014, they endured a string of heavy defeats, losing 10 out of 14 Tests. However, the win in Mirpur has sparked memories of a time when South Africa were a dominant force in the region.Between 2007 and 2014, South Africa lost only three out of 15 Tests in the subcontinent, racking up series wins over Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the UAE. They were the most successful team in Asia during that period, apart from India and Sri Lanka.However, their dominance ended in 2015, when they were outplayed 3-0 in India. Since then, they have struggled against spin bowling, which has been their Achilles heel in the subcontinent.In Mirpur, spin once again proved to be a major threat, with South Africa losing five of their top six to Taijul Islam in the first innings. However, Kyle Verreynne's brilliant century, his second in Tests, helped South Africa take a healthy lead.Verreynne's innings was particularly impressive, as he faced 115 deliveries from spinners, scoring almost half his runs with sweeps. His ability to play spin effectively was crucial to South Africa's success.The victory has also highlighted the importance of Kagiso Rabada, who took a six-for in the second innings. Rabada's wicket-taking ability is second to none, and his performance in the subcontinent has further enhanced his reputation.The win in Mirpur has given South Africa a much-needed boost ahead of their return to the subcontinent next year. They will face Pakistan and India in two Tests each, and the experience gained in Bangladesh will be invaluable."The biggest thing we take from it is the belief and the confidence that we actually can do well here as a team," Markram said. "I believe that's where a lot of the game is played, from a confidence and belief and a mental side of things. It will help the team a lot as far as moving forward and seeing if we can put back-to-back performances together goes."

New Zealand's cricket teams have etched their names in history with remarkable victories over the weekend. The men's team triumphed in their Test match against India, securing their first Test win on Indian soil in 36 years. Meanwhile, the White Ferns claimed the ICC Women's T20 World Cup title, their maiden triumph in the tournament.Men's Test Victory:In the Test match against India in Bengaluru, New Zealand's bowlers dominated, with Matt Henry and William O'Rourke dismantling the Indian batting lineup. India was bowled out for a mere 46 runs in their first innings, giving New Zealand a significant advantage.Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and Tim Southee contributed crucial runs to New Zealand's total of 402/10. Despite a valiant effort from India's batters, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Sarfaraz Khan, they could only manage 462/10 in their second innings.New Zealand chased down the modest target of 106 runs comfortably, winning by eight wickets. Ravindra was named 'Player of the Match' for his outstanding performance with both bat and ball.Women's T20 World Cup Triumph:The White Ferns made history by defeating South Africa in the final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. After being put in to bat, New Zealand posted a competitive total of 158/5, thanks to contributions from Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, and Brooke Halliday.South Africa's chase started promisingly, but they lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually restricted to 126/9. Kerr and Rosemary Mair were the standout bowlers for New Zealand, with Kerr earning the 'Player of the Match' award for her all-round performance.