Cricket

Women's red-ball cricket made a triumphant return to India's domestic calendar after a six-year hiatus, with the Senior Women Inter-Zonal Multi-Day Trophy kicking off in Pune on March 28. East Zone, led by Deepti Sharma, opted to bat first and put up a formidable 385 for 8 against North East Zone.East Zone's innings was anchored by a magnificent 140 from Dhara Gujjar, who batted for 216 balls and struck 22 boundaries. She shared crucial partnerships with Rizu Saha (109 runs) and Durga Murmu (99 runs), consolidating the innings after the early loss of Uma Chetry (47) and Deepti Sharma (49).North East Zone's bowling attack was led by Debasmita Dutta, who claimed 5/76 from 32 overs. Yasin Sariba also chipped in with 2/100.In the other match of the tournament, West Zone dominated Central Zone at the DY Patil Academy in Ambi. West Zone's spin duo of Anuja Patil (5/75) and Radha Yadav (3/55) shared eight wickets between them, bowling Central Zone out for 245 in 87.3 overs.Punam Raut top-scored for Central Zone with a resolute 84 off 209 balls, but her efforts were not enough to prevent West Zone from taking a strong position in the match. West Zone ended the day on 26 for no loss, trailing Central Zone by 219 runs.

Cricket Namibia has made history by becoming the first sports governing body in the country to offer professional contracts to both its men's and women's national cricket teams. This groundbreaking move marks a significant milestone for women's sports in Namibia.The contracts, negotiated and signed in February, were officially announced on Tuesday. Cricket Namibia chief executive Johan Muller expressed his excitement, stating, "For the first time, we have been able to professionalize the women's game. This is a significant moment for sports in the country. It's the first time ladies have been signed on contracts where cricket is their occupation."The contracts provide financial support to ten talented women cricketers, enabling them to pursue their passion while supporting their households. The value of the contracts and other details remain confidential.The contracted players include Kayleen Green, Sune Wittmann, Arrasta Diergaardt, Edelle van Zyl, Bianca Manuel, Irene van Zyl, Wilka Mwatile, Mekelaye Mwatile, Naomi Benjamin, and Saima Tuhadeleni.The Namibia women's team, known as the "Capricorn Eagles," currently holds the 17th position in the ICC Women's T20I team rankings, their highest ranking to date. Despite a recent setback at the African Games, where they won only one group-stage game, the team has made significant progress since receiving T20I status in 2018.In their 72 international matches, Namibia has emerged victorious in 44. In 2019, they represented Africa in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier but narrowly missed out on advancing to the main event in 2020.Cricket Namibia's commitment to professionalizing women's cricket is a testament to the growing recognition of women's sports in the country. The contracts will not only provide financial stability to the players but also inspire young girls to pursue their dreams in cricket.

Australia will host England in a historic four-day pink-ball women's Ashes Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in January 2025. This match will mark the 90th anniversary of the first women's Test series between the two nations.The multi-format women's Ashes series will kick off Australia's home summer, which also includes a T20I series against New Zealand, a three-match ODI series against India, and the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.The MCG Test will be the first women's Test played at the venue since 1948-49 and will also be the first women's international match since the 2020 T20 World Cup final.Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry expressed her excitement about the fixture, recognizing its historical significance and the potential it holds for the growth of women's cricket.However, the debate continues over whether four-day or five-day cricket is the optimal format for women's Tests. Perry believes more quantifiable data is needed to determine the most effective approach.Cricket Australia (CA) remains committed to four-day games, citing the need to improve Test cricket and attract more fans. CA's head of scheduling, Peter Roach, emphasized the importance of finding the right balance and outcome for women's cricket.Despite Australia's preference for the WACA ground, the MCG's similar pace and bounce in recent men's Tests made it an ideal choice for this historic occasion.Perry highlighted the team's connection to past players and the importance of recognizing the history of women's cricket. She mentioned the 50th anniversary celebration of the 1973 women's World Cup team and the presence of former players at the 2020 World Cup final.

The Indian women's cricket team celebrated a historic triumph at the NDTV Indian of the Year 2024 awards ceremony, receiving the prestigious "Sports Performance of the Year" award. The team's remarkable achievements have propelled women's cricket in India to new heights.Shreyanka Patil, Shafali Verma, Sneh Rana, and Radha Yadav represented the team at the ceremony, where they were honored by tennis legend Sania Mirza. Shreyanka expressed her gratitude for the recognition and highlighted the transformative journey of women's cricket in India."Women's cricket has undergone a profound change in recent years," Shreyanka said. "We are now receiving financial support and opportunities that were once unimaginable. The BCCI deserves immense credit for their unwavering commitment to our growth."Shreyanka's words resonated with the team's recent success in the Women's Premier League (WPL). As a member of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) side, she played a pivotal role in their historic title victory."Winning the WPL title was a dream come true," Shreyanka said. "It was the first time an RCB team had won a championship, and we are incredibly proud of our accomplishment."Shreyanka also extended her support to the RCB men's team, who are currently competing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. "We have been eagerly waiting for the men's team to lift the IPL trophy," she said. "We know they are working hard and determined to bring it home. We wish them all the best."The Indian women's cricket team's success is a testament to their talent, dedication, and the growing support for women's sports in India. Their achievements have inspired a new generation of young girls to pursue their dreams on the cricket field.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has received bids from 16 of the 18 first-class counties for the creation of eight professional women's teams in a revamped domestic competition starting next season. The move aims to address the identity crisis faced by some regional teams by aligning them more closely with existing counties.Essex, Glamorgan, Surrey, Lancashire, Sussex, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Middlesex, Kent, Northamptonshire, Durham, Yorkshire, Leicestershire, and Somerset have all submitted tenders for Tier 1 teams. Worcestershire and Derbyshire are the only two counties that have confirmed they did not bid.The ECB will invest a minimum of £1.3 million per year into each Tier 1 team, with a portion earmarked for player salaries, sports science and medicine, and talent pathways. Counties are not required to make a minimum financial commitment but are expected to outline their projected investment as part of the tender process.The existing regional teams will remain in place for the 2024 season. However, the ECB is seeking to establish a more sustainable and cohesive women's domestic structure by aligning teams with counties. This will provide greater ownership, responsibility, and governance to the clubs.Counties not awarded Tier 1 status, along with National Counties, will be invited to participate in a process to determine the make-up of Tier 2 and Tier 3 competitions. Derbyshire, despite not bidding for a Tier 1 team, has expressed its commitment to developing a sustainable Tier 2 women's structure with the aim of eventually achieving Tier 1 status.Worcestershire CEO Ashley Giles cited funding and resource constraints as reasons for not bidding for a Tier 1 team. However, the county will continue to support the Central Sparks regional team and develop its own Women's Rapids team for future competitions.The ECB will notify counties of interview slots for the next stage of the process imminently, with interviews expected to take place by the end of March. The successful counties will be announced in due course.

In the final group-stage encounter of the Women's Premier League (WPL), Gujarat Giants opted to bat first against Delhi Capitals in Delhi. While Delhi Capitals had already secured their place in the knockout phase, Gujarat Giants were playing for pride, having been eliminated from contention.Delhi Capitals made one change to their lineup, bringing in offspinner Minnu Mani for quick bowler Titas Sadhu. Gujarat Giants, on the other hand, fielded an unchanged XI.The match commenced after a brief spell of light rain earlier in the evening. Gujarat Giants' openers, Laura Wolvaardt and Beth Mooney, provided a solid start, putting on a 50-run partnership. However, the introduction of spin proved to be a challenge for the Giants, as they lost wickets at regular intervals.Dayalan Hemalatha and Phoebe Litchfield made valuable contributions, but the Giants were eventually restricted to 149/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Shabnam Shakil was the pick of the Delhi Capitals bowlers, claiming 2/25.In response, Delhi Capitals openers Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma got their team off to a flying start. Lanning, in particular, looked in ominous form, hitting boundaries at will. However, the introduction of Meghna Singh into the attack proved to be a game-changer.Singh dismissed both Lanning and Verma in quick succession, and the Delhi Capitals innings began to falter. Jemimah Rodrigues and Alice Capsey tried to steady the ship, but the Giants bowlers kept chipping away at the wickets.In the end, Delhi Capitals fell short of their target, finishing on 138/8. Singh was the star performer for Gujarat Giants, taking 3/23.Despite the defeat, Delhi Capitals remain in a strong position to qualify for the final directly. Gujarat Giants, on the other hand, will be disappointed to have ended their campaign on a losing note.

Ellyse Perry, the Australian all-rounder, has been a beacon of consistency across sports, excelling in both football and cricket. Despite her impressive achievements, Perry remains grounded and focused on the present.After her remarkable performance in the Women's Premier League (WPL), where she claimed 6 for 15 against Mumbai Indians, Perry celebrated modestly with a chocolate brownie and ice cream. However, she emphasized the importance of maintaining perspective and not getting carried away by success."It's easy to get really carried away when things go well," Perry said. "But I feel like a lot of time you don't have that much control over things panning well or not."Perry's reduced bowling workload in recent times has not diminished her preparation. She believes in staying ready for any opportunity to contribute to her team."I have played for a long period of time now, so I have got a bit of a handle on how I need to prepare," Perry explained. "I do that keeping in mind that you are available if the opportunity presents itself to bowl in a game."With the Women's T20 World Cup approaching, Perry's performance in the WPL has raised questions about her potential role in the Australian team. However, she remains focused on her team's success rather than personal accolades."I don't think there is a case for anything," Perry said. "I have played a lot of cricket over a number of years. We have been pretty fortunate in the Australian team that we have a lot of options."Perry credits the positive atmosphere and leadership of Smriti Mandhana for Royal Challengers Bangalore's turnaround in the WPL."There's a really strong sense of calmness and people are enjoying themselves," Perry said. "Smriti has led the group exceptionally well."As RCB prepares for the Eliminator against Mumbai Indians, Perry remains confident in her team's abilities."The team, as a whole, has had more time together," Perry said. "The fact that we can take the field knowing each other and supporting each other has been great."

Delhi Capitals Eye Direct WPL Final Qualification in Clash with Gujarat GiantsWith the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024 playoffs looming, the Delhi Capitals are poised to take on the Gujarat Giants in their final league stage match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday. The Capitals have already secured a berth in the playoffs with five wins and two losses, amassing 10 points.Jemimah Rodrigues, who played a pivotal role in Delhi's one-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore with a Player of the Match performance of 58 off 36 balls, expressed her confidence in the team's abilities. "I've been working hard and it's paying off. I'm glad I can contribute to the team's success," she said.Rodrigues, the eighth-highest run-getter in WPL 2024 with 197 runs in seven innings, has smashed two fifties, including a best score of 69*. She believes the team has recovered well from recent setbacks and is ready for the challenges ahead."We've had some close finishes, but those experiences will help us in the playoffs," she said. "Our approach remains the same: to keep improving and play good cricket."The Delhi Capitals will face the Gujarat Giants in their next match of the WPL 2024 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

UP Warriorz vs Mumbai Indians: A Clash of Fluctuating Fortunes in WPL 2024The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024 season continues to unfold with an intriguing clash between UP Warriorz and Mumbai Indians at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Both teams have experienced contrasting fortunes in the tournament so far, and this match presents an opportunity for them to establish a more consistent form.Mumbai Indians, after a disappointing start in the Delhi leg with a loss to Delhi Capitals, have bounced back with three victories in their subsequent five matches. They will be eager to maintain their momentum and consolidate their position in the standings. UP Warriorz, on the other hand, have struggled for consistency, winning only two of their six matches. They will be determined to turn their fortunes around and secure a much-needed victory.The UP Warriorz have been dealt a blow with the news that Vrinda Dinesh has been ruled out of the tournament due to a shoulder injury. She has been replaced by Uma Chetry, who will be making her WPL debut.Mumbai Indians will be looking to their star-studded lineup to deliver once again. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been in impressive form with the bat, while Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amelia Kerr have also made significant contributions. The bowling attack, led by Pooja Vastrakar and Rajeshwari Gayakwad, has been equally effective.UP Warriorz will rely on the experience of Alyssa Healy and Sophie Ecclestone to guide them through this crucial stage of the tournament. Healy has been a consistent performer at the top of the order, while Ecclestone's spin bowling has been a key factor in their victories.With both teams eager to establish their dominance, this match promises to be a thrilling contest. The outcome could have a significant impact on the standings and the race for the playoffs.