Cricket

Sri Lanka's dominance over New Zealand continued in the third ODI, as they secured a comprehensive victory to complete a historic 3-0 series whitewash. Under the guidance of legendary coach Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka has witnessed a remarkable resurgence in their cricket, and this series triumph stands as a testament to their newfound prowess.The match, played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, saw Sri Lanka bat first and post a formidable total of 283/9. Opener Pathum Nissanka led the charge with a brilliant 72, while Dhananjaya de Silva contributed a valuable 66. New Zealand's bowlers struggled to contain Sri Lanka's aggressive batting, with only Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell managing to take multiple wickets.In response, New Zealand's chase faltered from the outset. They lost early wickets and never managed to recover, eventually being bowled out for just 162. Sri Lanka's bowlers shared the spoils, with Kasun Rajitha, Chamika Karunaratne, and Maheesh Theekshana each claiming three wickets.The victory marks a significant milestone for Sri Lanka, as it is the first time they have ever whitewashed New Zealand in an ODI series. It also extends their winning streak to five consecutive ODIs, a testament to their newfound confidence and consistency.For New Zealand, the series defeat will serve as a wake-up call ahead of the upcoming T20I series. They will need to regroup and find a way to counter Sri Lanka's aggressive approach and potent bowling attack.

Pakistan's white-ball captain, Mohammad Rizwan, exudes confidence in his team's ability to triumph in the upcoming T20 international series against Australia. His aspirations extend beyond victory, aiming for a clean sweep of the home team.Pakistan's recent ODI series triumph in Australia, their first since 2002, came as a surprise to many. The Australian team's decision to rest five senior players for the decider in Perth drew criticism from former players and disappointment from Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley.Pakistan's white-ball coach, Jason Gillispie, expressed disappointment over Cricket Australia's perceived lack of promotion for the Pakistan-Australia series.Rizwan believes that a united Pakistan team can achieve a whitewash in the T20 series. He emphasized the importance of appropriate conduct on tour, reminding players of their role as ambassadors for Pakistan."We must strive to win major titles like the World Cups and Champions Trophy to showcase the true potential of Pakistan cricket," Rizwan stated.He urged the team to break long-standing records of underperformance in various countries. Rizwan's leadership style involves consulting with players and officials to ensure clarity in decision-making.

India's Historic Humiliation: New Zealand's Unprecedented 3-0 WhitewashIndia's cricket team has suffered an unprecedented humiliation at home, as New Zealand became the first team to whitewash them 3-0 in a Test series on Indian soil. The Kiwis' historic victory in the Mumbai Test within three days exposed India's glaring weaknesses in all three departments, particularly in batting.The New Zealand spinners, led by Ajaz Patel and Michael Bracewell, wreaked havoc on Indian pitches, exploiting the hosts' vulnerability to spin. India's batting lineup, led by captain Rohit Sharma, failed to rise to the occasion, consistently falling short of expectations.Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has been a mainstay of the team for over a decade, expressed his devastation over the series loss. "It's a very shattering experience," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. "I didn't know how to react or respond to it for the last 2-3 days."Ashwin also took responsibility for his own lack of contributions with the bat, acknowledging that he could have done more to support the team. "I am a guy who says I am the reason for everything that went wrong," he said. "I am also a big reason and a big part of it (series loss)."The unexpected series loss has put India's chances of reaching the World Test Championship Final in jeopardy. They now need to win four out of five Tests in Australia to qualify for the summit clash without relying on the results of other teams.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia begins on November 22 in Perth, and India will be desperate to bounce back from this humiliating defeat. However, they will face a formidable challenge against a strong Australian team on their home turf.

India's humiliating 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand, their first-ever Test series loss on home soil, has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. The defeat has exposed glaring deficiencies in India's batting lineup and raised questions about the team's preparation and tactics.In the third Test in Mumbai, India needed just 147 runs to win but collapsed to a 25-run defeat on a red-soil turner at the Wankhede Stadium. Barring Rishabh Pant's valiant 64, none of the Indian batters, including top-order stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, could handle the spin of Ajaz Patel (6 for 57) and Glenn Phillips (3 for 42).Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has slammed India's head coach Gautam Gambhir for his IPL-like tactics, which he believes contributed to the team's downfall. Gambhir, who was appointed after leading Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL victory earlier this year, has been criticized for his aggressive approach, which has seen India lose three consecutive Tests inside three days.Ali argues that Gambhir's tactics, which prioritize quick runs and attacking play, are not suited to Test cricket. He points to the example of England's "Bazball" approach, which has yet to yield significant results in terms of major tournament success.Ali also questions India's strategy of preparing turning tracks, which he believes has undermined the confidence of their batters. With the all-important Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia approaching, he fears that India's lack of preparation on seaming wickets could prove costly.

India's humiliating 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. Former Indian cricketers have expressed their dismay and called for introspection.Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Harbhajan Singh have urged the team management to stop "needless experimentation" in the Test format and start playing on better pitches. They believe that the team's poor performance against spin is a major concern.Tendulkar highlighted the lack of match practice and poor shot selection as possible reasons for the debacle. He praised Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill for their fighting performances.Sehwag criticized the team's skill against spin and questioned the need for unnecessary experimentation in Test cricket. He congratulated New Zealand for their historic victory.Harbhajan Singh emphasized the need for better pitches, stating that turning tracks make every batsman look ordinary. He believes that teams don't need legendary spinners to take wickets on such surfaces.Irfan Pathan pointed out the lack of red-ball cricket for senior Indian batters as a contributing factor. He also raised concerns about the quality of domestic cricket pitches.Sanjay Manjrekar believes that India's long phase of rank turners is coming to an end.Overseas reactions included Michael Vaughan's observation that Indian batters now struggle against spin like most teams. Ian Bishop praised New Zealand's remarkable turnaround after their whitewash in Sri Lanka.Lasith Malinga hailed New Zealand's historic win, while Mitchell McClenaghan called it arguably their best ever. Mickey Arthur pointed out that India will have a point to prove in their upcoming tour of Australia.

New Zealand has etched its name in cricket history by becoming the first team to inflict a humiliating 3-0 whitewash on India on home soil. The Kiwis' triumph at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday marked a watershed moment in the annals of Test cricket.This unprecedented victory is a testament to New Zealand's unwavering determination and tactical brilliance. It is the first time the Black Caps have ever won three Tests in a series, both home and away. Moreover, it is the first time they have triumphed in three consecutive away Tests.The whitewash is a bitter pill for India to swallow, as it is the first time they have been swept aside in a home series of three or more Tests. New Zealand joins an elite group of teams, including England, Australia, and the West Indies, to have whitewashed India in a series of three or more Tests.Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, who had previously taken ten wickets in an innings at the Wankhede Stadium, played a pivotal role in New Zealand's victory. His five wickets in the first innings prevented India from gaining a substantial lead. Patel's match-winning spell of 6/57 saw India collapse to a paltry 121 all out in just 29.1 overs.In the post-match presentation, New Zealand captain Tom Latham expressed his elation. "We are ecstatic," he said. "The boys have done a fantastic job over the last three Test matches. We are pretty happy. We just want to keep it simple here. We tried to be more proactive and guys chipped in. We are very happy to stand at this position."New Zealand's dominance was evident throughout the series. They won the first Test in Bengaluru by 8 wickets and the second Test in Pune by 113 runs. Their victory in Mumbai was a fitting end to a remarkable tour.

India's Test dominance at home has been shattered by New Zealand, who have inflicted a humiliating 0-3 whitewash on the hosts. This is the first time India have been swept aside in a home Test series since 1998, when Australia achieved the feat.The Kiwis' triumph began with an eight-wicket victory in Bengaluru, followed by a 113-run triumph in Pune. In Mumbai, they completed the clean sweep with a 25-run win at the Wankhede Stadium.Chasing a modest 147, India's batting crumbled once again. Captain Rohit Sharma (11) fell early, followed by Shubman Gill (1) and Virat Kohli (1). Yashasvi Jaiswal (5) and Sarfaraz Khan (1) also departed cheaply, leaving India reeling at 29/5.Rishabh Pant (64) and Ravindra Jadeja (28) provided some resistance with a 42-run stand, but Pant's dismissal after lunch triggered a collapse. Ajaz Patel (6/57) was the wrecker-in-chief, while Matt Henry (1/10) and Glenn Philips (3/42) also contributed.New Zealand's victory marks the first time they have won a Test series in India since 2012. They are also the first team to whitewash India in a home Test series in over 24 years.India's batting woes have been a major concern throughout the series. The top order has failed to provide a solid foundation, while the middle order has been unable to capitalize on starts. The bowling attack, led by Jadeja, has been competitive but has lacked support from the batsmen.New Zealand, on the other hand, have played with great discipline and determination. Their bowlers have been relentless, while their batsmen have shown resilience and adaptability.The whitewash is a major setback for India, who have been the dominant force in Test cricket in recent years. It will be interesting to see how they respond in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.

Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis has emerged as a formidable force in Test cricket, surpassing the 1,000-run milestone in just 13 innings. His exceptional batting performance has been instrumental in Sri Lanka's recent whitewash of New Zealand.In the second Test in Galle, Mendis showcased his brilliance with an unbeaten 182, guiding Sri Lanka to a massive 602/5. His innings was adorned with 16 fours and four towering sixes, propelling his team to an innings and 154-run victory.Mendis's success stems from a positive mindset and technical adjustments. "I'm enjoying scoring runs, especially since Galle is my hometown," he said. "I think I did well, and credit goes to Kusal and Chandimal as well. I think I had the same mindset and some small changes to the way I batted in England; I made some tweaks while playing spin."Mendis's achievement is remarkable, as he became the first player to score fifty or more in eight consecutive Test matches since making his debut. He also joined the legendary Don Bradman as the third-fastest player to reach 1,000 Test runs in just 13 innings.Overall, Mendis has amassed 1,004 Test runs in eight matches at an impressive average of 91.27. His contributions have been pivotal in Sri Lanka's recent resurgence in Test cricket.As Sri Lanka prepares for upcoming white-ball tours, Mendis is eager to continue his impressive form. "It is a great pleasure to score 1000 runs so quickly, but we have to improve day by day," he said. "There are upcoming tours, ODIs, and T20s as well. I want to keep doing well."Mendis's exceptional batting skills and unwavering determination make him a valuable asset to the Sri Lankan team. His ability to adapt and excel in different conditions bodes well for Sri Lanka's future in international cricket.

Afghanistan, riding high on their historic series win over South Africa, will be aiming to complete an unprecedented 3-0 whitewash when the two teams face off in the third and final ODI on Sunday, July 22.Afghanistan's remarkable success in the series has been built on their exceptional bowling performances, with South Africa being bowled out for under 150 in both matches. The Afghan bowlers, led by star spinner Rashid Khan and wicketkeeper-batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz, have been in devastating form. However, it is the emergence of young talents like AM Ghazanfar and Nangeyalia Kharote that has been particularly impressive.South Africa, on the other hand, will be desperate to salvage some pride and end the series on a positive note. Their inexperienced side has struggled to cope with the pressure, but they will be hoping for a better performance in the final match.The match will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah, starting at 5:30 PM IST. It will be live telecast on the Eurosport network and live streamed on the Fancode app and website.Afghanistan will be confident of completing the whitewash, but South Africa will be determined to avoid a humiliating 3-0 defeat. The stage is set for an exciting and potentially historic encounter.