Cricket

India A's hopes of securing a victory in the unofficial one-off women's Test against Australia A are dwindling after the visitors faced a batting collapse in their second innings. Resuming on 164 for 7, Australia A managed to post a respectable 260, thanks to an unbeaten 105 from Maddy Darke. However, India A's chase of 289 has been severely hampered by the Australian spinners.Chasing the target, India A openers Priya Punia and Shweta Sehrawat provided a solid start with a 37-run partnership. However, the introduction of spin proved to be India A's undoing. Charli Knott, Grace Parsons, and Lilly Mills wreaked havoc, claiming six wickets between them. Punia (36) and Shubha Satheesh (45) were the only batters to offer some resistance, but their dismissals left India A reeling at 130 for 5.The visitors' hopes were further dented when Parsons dismissed Tejal Hasabnis and Tess Flintoff removed Satheesh. India A skipper Minnu Mani became the fifth wicket to fall, leaving the team in dire straits. Parsons then struck again, dismissing Sajeevan Sajana, as Australia A tightened their grip on the match.At stumps, Raghvi Bist (16) and Uma Chetry (10) were at the crease, with India A still needing 140 runs to win with four wickets in hand. The hosts will be confident of completing a victory on the fourth day, while India A face an uphill task to salvage a draw.

India A's bowlers put up a valiant fightback on the second day of the unofficial one-off women's Test against Australia A, but the hosts extended their overall lead to 192 runs.India A captain Minnu Mani completed her match haul of 10 wickets, but Kate Peterson's impressive 5/16 gave Australia a slender 28-run lead in the first innings. Resuming at 100/2, India A looked set to take a substantial lead, but Peterson's incisive bowling derailed their plans.Tejal Hasabnis (32) and Shweta Sehrawat (40) were the first to fall, triggering a collapse that saw India A lose five wickets for 27 runs. However, Sayali Satghare (21), Mani (17), and Mannat Kashyap (19) added 56 runs to deny Australia a larger lead.Mani then turned the tables with the ball, dismissing Georgia Voll and Charli Knott for ducks in consecutive overs. She also accounted for Nicole Faltum (16) and Tess Fintoo, leaving Australia A reeling at 0/4.Emma de Broughe held firm for the hosts, scoring a gritty 58 off 117 balls. Wicketkeeper Maddy Drake played a crucial role in Australia's recovery, hitting an unbeaten half-century (54 not out off 100 deliveries).Drake and Maitlan Brown (26 off 45) added 54 for the sixth wicket before Brown became Mani's tenth victim. At the end of play, Australia A were 164/7, with Drake and Darke at the crease.

Australia A extended their lead over India A on the second day of their four-day match on the Gold Coast, thanks to a gritty half-century from Maddy Darke.After dismissing India A for 184 in their first innings, Australia A lost two early wickets in their second innings. However, Darke steadied the ship with an unbeaten 54, adding 54 for the sixth wicket with Maitlan Brown.India A had resumed their first innings on 100 for 2, but Kate Peterson ran through the middle order, taking five wickets for just 16 runs. Tejal Hasabnis, Shweta Sehrawat, Sajana Sajeevan, Uma Chetry, and Raghvi Bist all fell to Peterson's bowling.Handy lower-order contributions from Sneh Rana (25) and Mansi Joshi (22) helped India A close in on Australia A's total, but they were eventually dismissed for 184.In their second innings, Australia A lost Georgia Voll and Charli Knott cheaply to Minnu Mani, who finished with match figures of 10 for 94. Nicole Faltum and Tess Flintoff also fell cheaply, but Darke and Emma de Broughe (58) put together a half-century partnership to stretch the lead towards 200.De Broughe was eventually dismissed by Priya Mishra, but Darke remained unbeaten to guide Australia A to 164 for 7 at stumps. The hosts now lead by 192 runs with three days remaining in the match.

Jemimah Rodrigues, a seasoned T20 globetrotter, is currently honing her skills in the Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) for Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR). With the upcoming women's T20 World Cup in the UAE looming, Rodrigues views this tournament as an invaluable opportunity to test herself in competitive environments and clutch moments.Rodrigues' international debut came in 2018, but her career hit a rough patch in 2021. However, she rediscovered her form during her time with Northern Superchargers in the Hundred, where she struck an unbeaten 92 in her first game. This performance gave her career a second wind.As she prepares for her fourth T20 World Cup, Rodrigues believes that the WCPL stint will provide her with the best possible preparation. "These are the matches that I'm actually going to get before going and playing like proper team matches [T20 World Cup]," she said. "I'm really looking forward to a few things that I'm working on to try and implement it here because when you do it in practice it's different. When you do it in a match, it's way different and franchise cricket has always excited me."Rodrigues has been known to be a touch player, but she has had to move out of her comfort zone and bat at No. 5 for India. However, at the WCPL, she is likely to bat at No. 3. Despite the challenges of batting on slower Caribbean surfaces, Rodrigues is confident in her ability to adapt. "For me, just knowing which shots work and having that clarity and going out there with clarity helps wherever I play," she explained.Rodrigues' versatility and adaptability make her a valuable asset to any team. She is eager to embrace the challenges of the WCPL and use it as a platform to prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

India A's spinners, Minnu Mani and Priya Mishra, put on a dominant performance on the opening day of the four-day match against Australia A in Gold Coast, sharing nine wickets to restrict the hosts to 212.Australia A, opting to bat first, made a promising start with openers Emma de Broughe and Georgia Voll. However, Mishra's introduction in the 13th over proved pivotal as she dismissed de Broughe with a wrong'un. Mani then joined the party, trapping Australia A captain Charlie Knott in front.Voll played a fluent innings, scoring 71 off 95 balls, but was eventually caught behind off Mannat Kashyap. Mishra and Mani continued to bowl with discipline, picking up regular wickets on a surface that was not as spin-friendly as expected.Kate Peterson and Grace Parsons showed patience and used the crease well against the spinners, adding 60 runs for the ninth wicket. However, Mani broke the stand by trapping Parsons lbw, while Mishra's wrong'un accounted for Peterson.In reply, India A lost Priya Punia early to a short ball from Maitlan Brown. Shubha looked at ease against the fast bowlers but was trapped lbw by Peterson. Shweta Sehrawat and Tejal Hasabnis then steadied the innings, adding an unbroken 53-run stand for the third wicket.Sehrawat, who finished the day unbeaten on 40, looked increasingly comfortable as the innings progressed. Hasabnis, with 31 not out, provided solid support. India A ended the day on 100 for 2, trailing Australia A by 112 runs.

India's vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has ascended one spot to third in the latest ICC ODI rankings for women, released on Tuesday. With 738 rating points, Mandhana is the top-ranked Indian batter in the 50-over format, while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur maintains her ninth position.Sri Lanka's star batter Chamari Athapaththu has slipped behind Mandhana to fourth place, but her compatriots Nilakshika de Silva (up three places to 32nd), Harshitha Samarawickrama (up eight places to 44th), and Kavisha Dilhari (up four places to 50th) have all made significant gains in the ODI batting rankings.Mandhana also retained her fourth spot in the T20 rankings, with Sri Lanka's Samarawickrama and Ireland opener Gaby Lewis reaching career highs. Samarawickrama's impressive knock of 65 off 44 balls in the second T20I between Sri Lanka and Ireland propelled her up three places to 13th position, while Lewis's match-winning 119 off 75 balls has lifted her four places to a career-best-equalling 21st position, which she had previously attained in July 2022.Mandhana's consistent performances in both ODI and T20 cricket have solidified her status as one of the world's leading batters. Her ability to score runs at a rapid pace and her versatility in playing different roles in the team make her a valuable asset for India.The rise of Sri Lankan batters in the rankings is a testament to the team's recent resurgence in women's cricket. Athapaththu, Samarawickrama, and de Silva have all played key roles in Sri Lanka's recent victories over Ireland and Pakistan.The ICC rankings are a reflection of the current form and performances of players and teams. Mandhana's rise in the rankings is a recognition of her exceptional batting skills and her contribution to India's success in women's cricket.

Bess Heath, England's rising star wicketkeeper-batter, has inked a three-year deal with Durham, solidifying her position as a cornerstone of the Tier 1 outfit. The move marks a significant shift in the women's county cricket landscape, as Durham prepares to replace the Northern Diamonds in the new competition from 2025 onwards.Heath, 22, has amassed over 3000 runs across all formats since her professional debut four years ago. Her impressive performances earned her a place in the England squad, where she has made five appearances, including against Sri Lanka last year.Throughout her burgeoning career, Heath has represented various teams, including Brisbane Heat, Northern Superchargers, Melbourne Stars, and Yorkshire. With Northern Diamonds, she reached the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final in her debut season in 2020 and lifted the trophy two years later. Her exceptional 286 runs in the same competition last summer earned her a nomination for the PCA Women's Young Player of the Year award.Heath's decision to join Durham comes amidst a period of transition for the Diamonds squad, following the relocation of the new club's base from Headingley to Chester-le-Street. Her teammate and fellow wicketkeeper, Lauren Winfield-Hill, is expected to remain with her native Yorkshire, despite their Tier 2 status next summer.Upon joining Durham, Heath expressed her excitement: "I am so excited to be joining Durham from next season and get going in the North East. The opportunity to join Durham is something I am very much looking forward to and hopefully I can play my part in creating new history for Durham."Marcus North, Director of Cricket, hailed Heath's signing: "Bess is one of the most exciting young talents in England, and we are thrilled to have recruited her to Durham on a long-term contract.""Despite being only 22, she already has a tremendous amount of experience in the domestic game and we look forward to seeing her continue to thrive at Durham as she looks to add more England caps."Meanwhile, David Ripley has been appointed as the Head Coach of Northamptonshire's Women for their inaugural Tier 2 season next year. Ripley, who guided Northamptonshire's men to two T20 Blast titles in 2013 and 2016, also achieved two promotions to the County Championship Division One.Ripley will officially take up his new role in February 2025, ahead of a maiden Tier 2 season that will also feature Derbyshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire, Middlesex, Sussex, Worcestershire, and Yorkshire."I'm delighted to be joining the Women's Steelbacks as Head Coach, it's exciting times ahead as the new format is rolled out," Ripley said. "As well as a competitive senior team I hope to help develop our younger girls into future professional players, in partnership with our pathway coaches."

The Hundred, the ECB's flagship T20 competition, has completed its fourth season, albeit with mixed results. While the women's tournament continues to thrive, the men's competition has faced challenges, including declining scoring rates and crowd numbers.The ECB's main goal for the 2024 season is to consolidate the Hundred's position and prove its concept. They hope to attract investors for hospitality suites during the finals weekend, despite the competition's overall decline in attendance.Official figures show a 7% drop in ticket sales, with most of the decline occurring outside of London. Lord's and The Oval accounted for nearly half of the Hundred's total attendance, highlighting the importance of these venues.Despite the challenges, the ECB remains optimistic about the Hundred's future. They cite record-breaking attendances at women's fixtures and believe the competition has significantly boosted the women's game.The cricket itself has been a mixed bag. The men's competition suffered from clashes with other tournaments and the absence of key players like Jos Buttler. A decline in scoring rates, due to swing-friendly balls and heavy investment in bowling, has also been a concern.However, the success of Oval Invincibles, who have won back-to-back titles, has provided a positive narrative for the men's tournament. In the women's game, Welsh Fire's resurgence and Southern Brave's struggles have added intrigue.The Hundred's overlap with Major League Cricket led to some farcical one-match signings, such as Mohammad Amir's brief appearance. However, the women's competition has proven that investment can attract top players, with Meg Lanning and Ash Gardner making their Hundred debuts.Despite the presence of overseas stars, the quality of domestic players remains crucial for the Hundred's success. England player availability is also important, and Ben Stokes' injury was a significant setback.The imminent sale of the Hundred's franchises means the future of the competition is uncertain. However, the ECB is confident that the Hundred can achieve its goals of accelerating the growth of the women's game and attracting new fans to cricket.

Indian cricketers Jemimah Rodrigues, Shikha Pandey, and former pacer Jhulan Goswami have joined the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) for the inaugural Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) scheduled from August 21 to 29.The Trinbago Knight Riders Women, led by Deandra Dottin, will commence their campaign against defending champions Barbados Royals Women on Thursday. The team boasts an impressive roster, including Australian captain Meg Lanning, all-rounder Jess Jonassen, and the newly arrived Indian trio.Jhulan Goswami, who retired from international cricket last year, will serve as the mentor for the Knight Riders this season. Her experience and guidance will be invaluable to the team as they navigate the tournament.The WCPL is a significant development for women's cricket in the Caribbean region. It provides a platform for talented players to showcase their skills and gain international exposure. The tournament also aims to inspire young girls to pursue cricket and break down barriers in the sport.The Trinbago Knight Riders, with their diverse mix of international and local talent, are poised to make a strong impression in the WCPL. The team's success will not only benefit the franchise but also contribute to the growth of women's cricket in the Caribbean and beyond.