Cricket

West Indies captain Rovman Powell has opted to bowl first in their crucial match against the United States in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier. Powell believes the wicket will favor early bowling, giving his team an advantage in chasing down the target.Despite their recent struggles, Powell remains confident in his team's batting prowess. He emphasized the importance of individual batters stepping up and delivering big performances. The West Indies have made two changes to their lineup, bringing in Obed McCoy and Shai Hope for Romario Shepherd and Brandon King.Meanwhile, the United States faces a challenge in their batting department. Corey Anderson, who was expected to play a pivotal role, has yet to make a significant impact. His absence at the top of the order puts added pressure on Steven Taylor to provide a solid start.The West Indies will look to exploit the new ball and restrict the US batters. Their bowling attack, led by Alzarri Joseph and Gudakesh Motie, will be crucial in containing the opposition's scoring.The match is a must-win for both teams, as they aim to secure a spot in the semifinals. The West Indies still have their destiny in their own hands, but they need to play two strong games to advance.

Sri Lanka Women's cricket team secured a thrilling 15-run victory over United Arab Emirates in the semi-final of the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier in Abu Dhabi. This triumph not only earned them a spot in the main event in Bangladesh later this year but also a place in Tuesday's final against Scotland.Batting first, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 149 for 6, thanks to a solid innings from Vishmi Gunaratne, who top-scored with 45 runs off 44 deliveries. Gunaratne shared a 52-run opening partnership with Chamari Athapaththu, who contributed 21 runs. After Athapaththu's dismissal, the middle order accelerated the scoring, adding 43 runs in the final three overs. Nilakshika Silva's quickfire 18 off 10 balls, including three boundaries, helped boost the total.In response, UAE's chase got off to a shaky start as Inoshi Fernando dismissed Theertha Satish for a duck. However, Esha Oza emerged as a beacon of hope for UAE, smashing 66 runs off 44 balls, including two fours and four sixes. Her aggressive batting kept UAE in contention for an upset.Khushi Sharma (22) and Kavisha Egodage (16) provided valuable support to Oza, but Sri Lanka's bowlers managed to break through the UAE resistance. Athapaththu dismissed Egodage, while Udeshika Prabodhani bowled Oza in the next over. The run-out of Heena Hotchandani triggered a collapse, with UAE losing three wickets for just seven runs in 12 balls.Athapaththu claimed another wicket, removing Samaira Dharnidharka for 5. Vaishnave Mahesh fought valiantly for UAE, scoring 13 not out off eight balls, but the asking rate proved too daunting. Sri Lanka's bowlers held their nerve, restricting UAE to 134 for 7, securing a hard-fought victory.