Cricket

In the final match of the T20I series between West Indies and South Africa, the hosts opted to bowl first after winning the toss. With the series already secured, West Indies made several changes to their lineup, including appointing Roston Chase as captain in place of Rovman Powell.West Indies brought back experienced seamer Obed McCoy and introduced spinner Fabian Allen into the team. This move meant sacrificing a batter, with Sherfane Rutherford making way for Shimron Hetmyer. South Africa also made changes, handing a debut to Jason Smith and giving Wiaan Mulder his first outing of the series.The match was delayed by an hour due to rain, but the skies cleared in time for play to begin at 4pm local time. West Indies' lineup featured Shai Hope, Alick Athanaze, Nicholas Pooran, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Fabian Allen, Gudakesh Motie, and Obed McCoy.South Africa's team consisted of Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Jason Smith, Wiaan Mulder, Patrick Kruger, Bjorn Fortuin, Ottneil Baartman, Lizaad Williams, and Kwena Maphaka.

Sri Lanka, led by Charith Asalanka, has opted to bat first in the decisive third ODI against India in Colombo. The hosts, who lead the series 1-0, are aiming to secure their first bilateral ODI series victory over India since 1997.Asalanka expressed confidence in his decision to bat, citing the success of this strategy in the previous matches. Sri Lanka has made one change to their lineup, with Maheesh Theekshana replacing Akila Dhananjaya.India, on the other hand, has made two changes. Riyan Parag, who impressed in the T20Is, makes his ODI debut in place of Arshdeep Singh, bolstering India's batting and adding an extra spinner. Rishabh Pant, who has recovered from a car crash, replaces KL Rahul as wicketkeeper.India's lineup now features two seam bowlers and four spinners, while Sri Lanka will rely on a single seamer, Janith Liyanage, and five spinners. The dry pitch is expected to favor spin bowling as the match progresses.Both teams have struggled to convert starts into substantial scores, and Asalanka hopes to see a century on this pitch. The weather forecast predicts clear skies at the start of the game, with a possibility of rain later in the afternoon.

Sri Lanka, led by Charith Asalanka, chose to bowl first in the third and final T20I against India in Pallekele. The match, delayed by rain and a wet outfield, was played on a fresh pitch expected to favor spinners.Sri Lanka, seeking to avoid a series whitewash, made one change, introducing debutant Chamindu Wickramasinghe in place of Dasun Shanaka. India, on the other hand, made four changes to ensure all squad members received playing time. Shubman Gill, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, and Khaleel Ahmed made their series debuts, replacing Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Arshdeep Singh.The Indian batting lineup featured Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, and Khaleel Ahmed.Sri Lanka's batting order consisted of Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wicket-keeper), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (captain), Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, and Matheesha Pathirana.With the match underway, both teams aimed to establish a strong start and secure a series victory or avoid a clean sweep. The outcome of the match will determine the overall result of the T20I series between India and Sri Lanka.

India Opt to Bowl First in Second T20I Against Sri LankaAfter a 45-minute delay due to intermittent rain, India captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to bowl first in the second T20I against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. The start of the match was pushed back to 7.45pm local time.Yadav explained that the wet weather conditions influenced his decision to chase. India made a forced change, with Sanju Samson replacing vice-captain Shubman Gill, who woke up with a neck spasm.Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka expressed indifference about batting first, despite the match being a must-win for his team after losing the opening T20I. The hosts also made one change, bringing in offspin-bowling allrounder Ramesh Mendis for left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka.Mendis, who was not initially part of Sri Lanka's squad, was added as a standby due to illness and injury. His recent form has been impressive, including an unbeaten 30 off 11 balls and 2 for 10 in his last T20 game for Kandy Falcons in the LPL.Team Lineups:India:* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Sanju Samson* Suryakumar Yadav (capt)* Rishabh Pant (wk)* Riyan Parag* Hardik Pandya* Rinku Singh* Axar Patel* Arshdeep Singh* Ravi Bishnoi* Mohammed SirajSri Lanka:* Kusal Mendis (wk)* Pathum Nissanka* Kusal Perera* Kamindu Mendis* Charith Asalanka (capt)* Dasun Shanaka* Wanindu Hasaranga* Ramesh Mendis* Maheesh Theekshana* Matheesha Pathirana* Asitha Fernando

India Elects to Bat First in Women's Asia Cup Final Against Sri LankaIn the highly anticipated final of the Women's Asia Cup 2024, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur opted to bat first after winning the toss against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on Sunday. The decision was influenced by the fact that the same pitch used for both semi-finals would be utilized for the final.India's lineup remained unchanged from their victory over Bangladesh in the semi-final, with Uma Chetry retaining her spot at No. 3. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu expressed her team's desire to bowl first and improve their fielding. They made one alteration to their XI, bringing in left-arm spinner Sachini Nisansala for seamer Achini Kulasuriya.Both teams have maintained an undefeated record throughout the tournament. India has emerged victorious in three out of four T20 Asia Cup editions and four times in the ODI format. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, is yet to claim a title.Sri Lanka:1. Vishmi Gunaratne2. Chamari Athapaththu (capt)3. Harshitha Samarawickrama4. Hasini Perera5. Anushka Sanjeewani (wk)6. Kavisha Dilhari7. Nilakshika Silva8. Inoshi Priyadharshani9. Udeshika Prabodhani10. Sugandika Kumari11. Sachini NisansalaIndia:1. Shafali Verma2. Smriti Mandhana3. Uma Chetry4. Harmanpreet Kaur (capt)5. Jemimah Rodrigues6. Richa Ghosh (wk)7. Deepti Sharma8. Pooja Vastrakar9. Radha Yadav10. Renuka Singh11. Tanuja KanwarThe match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two formidable teams. India will aim to extend their dominance in the tournament, while Sri Lanka will be determined to create history by claiming their first Asia Cup title.

Sri Lanka Opts to Bowl First in Women's Asia Cup Semi-Final Against PakistanIn a crucial semi-final clash of the Women's Asia Cup, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu elected to field first after winning the toss in Dambulla. Athapaththu expressed her team's intention to restrict Pakistan to a modest total of 140 or less.Both Sri Lanka and Pakistan fielded unchanged lineups for the high-stakes encounter. Pakistan skipper Nida Dar, on the other hand, preferred to bat first in a knockout match to alleviate pressure. She also stated that a score above 140 would provide a solid foundation for their defense.Sri Lanka, who have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, and Pakistan have experienced contrasting fortunes in T20I cricket this year. Athapaththu's team has triumphed in 12 of their 15 matches, while Pakistan has managed only three victories in 11 outings, with two of those wins coming in the ongoing Asia Cup.The winner of this semi-final will advance to the final to face India, who have already secured their place.Sri Lanka Playing XI:1. Vishmi Gunaratne2. Chamari Athapaththu (c)3. Harshitha Samarawickrama4. Hasini Perera5. Anushka Sanjeewaniu (wk)6. Kavisha Dilhari7. Nilakshika Silva8. Inoshi Priyadharshani9. Udeshika Prabodhani10. Sugandika Kumari11. Achini KulasuriyaPakistan Playing XI:1. Gull Feroza2. Muneeba Ali (wk)3. Sidra Amin4. Nida Dar (c)5. Omaima Sohail6. Aliya Riaz7. Fatima Sana8. Tuba Hassan9. Sadia Iqbal10. Nashra Sandhu11. Syeda Aroob Shah

Thailand's captain, Thipatcha Putthawong, made a decisive call at the toss, opting to bat first against Sri Lanka in the crucial final group match of the Women's Asia Cup 2024. The Thai team remained unchanged from their previous encounter with Bangladesh, aiming for a "par score" and emphasizing partnerships.Sri Lanka, on the other hand, made four alterations to their lineup, bringing back experienced players like Hasini Perera and Udeshika Prabodhani. Captain Chamari Athapaththu expressed her desire to bat but acknowledged the opportunity to bowl first, citing their strong bowling unit.With Bangladesh already securing a semi-final berth, Sri Lanka stood at the top of Group B with two wins. A victory would guarantee their place in the final four, while even a narrow loss could suffice. Thailand, however, needed a substantial win to overtake Sri Lanka's net run rate.Sri Lanka had dominated their previous matches, crushing Bangladesh by seven wickets and Malaysia by 144 runs. Thailand, meanwhile, had a mixed record, winning against Malaysia but losing to Bangladesh.

San Francisco Unicorns Win Toss, Opt to Field in Major League Cricket 2024 ClashThe San Francisco Unicorns have emerged victorious in the toss for the Major League Cricket 2024 match against the Washington Freedom at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. The Unicorns have chosen to field first, giving the Freedom the opportunity to set a target.The Unicorns' playing XI features a formidable lineup, including explosive opener Finn Allen, experienced all-rounder Jake Fraser-McGurk, and wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis. The middle order boasts the power-hitting abilities of Sherfane Rutherford and Corey Anderson, who will also captain the side.The bowling attack is equally impressive, with Hassan Khan, Tajinder Dhillon, and Juanoy Drysdale providing pace and variety. Haris Rauf and Matt Henry, two of the most sought-after bowlers in the world, will lead the charge with their express pace and wicket-taking abilities.The Washington Freedom, on the other hand, will be looking to make a strong start to their campaign. Their playing XI is yet to be announced, but they are expected to field a competitive team capable of challenging the Unicorns.The match promises to be an exciting contest between two evenly matched sides. The Unicorns will be aiming to capitalize on their strong bowling attack and set a low target for the Freedom to chase. The Freedom, in turn, will be looking to put up a big score and put pressure on the Unicorns' batting lineup.With the toss out of the way, the stage is set for an enthralling encounter in the inaugural season of Major League Cricket.

Major League Cricket: MI New York Triumphs in Toss, Elects to Field Against Los Angeles Knight RidersIn a highly anticipated Major League Cricket match at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, MI New York emerged victorious in the toss and opted to field against the Los Angeles Knight Riders.The match commenced with Rushil Ugarkar of MI New York bowling to Jason Roy of the Knight Riders. Roy managed to score a leg bye in the first over, followed by a flurry of singles in the subsequent overs. However, it was Trent Boult of MI New York who made the first significant impact, bowling a six to Roy in the second over.The Knight Riders continued to accumulate runs steadily, with Sunil Narine hitting a four off Boult in the fourth over. However, MI New York's bowlers maintained a tight grip on the game, restricting the Knight Riders to 14 runs in the first six overs.The Knight Riders' innings was characterized by a mix of aggressive batting and cautious play. Roy, in particular, displayed his power-hitting abilities, while Narine played a more anchoring role.Meanwhile, MI New York's bowling attack proved to be a formidable force. Boult, in particular, was in excellent form, bowling with pace and accuracy. Ugarkar also impressed with his economical bowling, conceding just 10 runs in his first three overs.As the match progressed, the Knight Riders looked to up the ante, with David Miller and Andre Russell coming to the crease. However, MI New York's bowlers continued to hold their own, preventing the Knight Riders from breaking free.With the Knight Riders' innings drawing to a close, the match remained evenly poised. MI New York will now look to capitalize on their advantage in the field and chase down the target set by the Knight Riders.