Cricket

Worcestershire County Cricket Club is facing an uncertain future at its historic New Road ground due to persistent flooding. The club has confirmed that it will explore a permanent move away from the venue in the coming months to ensure its long-term viability.New Road has been Worcestershire's home since 1899, but its location on a floodplain has made it vulnerable to flooding. The ground has been inundated seven times during the 2023-24 winter, forcing the club to relocate its first two County Championship matches to Kidderminster.In 2014, Worcestershire invested between £7 million and £8 million in flood-resistant measures, but these have proven insufficient to prevent further flooding. The club now faces the prospect of losing two months of its six-month season due to the ongoing issues.Chief executive Ashley Giles has warned that any further delays in hosting cricket at New Road would be "devastating" for the club. He has floated the idea of moving to a new home, stating that "we can't carry on like this."The club's board has now confirmed that it is actively exploring all options, including a move from New Road. The aim is to secure the long-term future of Worcestershire County Cricket Club and ensure its financial stability.The potential move away from New Road is a significant development for Worcestershire. The ground has been a cornerstone of the club's identity for over a century, but the increasing frequency and severity of flooding have made it unsustainable.The club will continue to host cricket at New Road for the remainder of the 2023 season, but further bad weather could affect its T20 Blast campaign. The club is also scheduled to host a women's ODI between England Women and New Zealand on June 30.The decision on whether to move from New Road will be a difficult one for Worcestershire, but it is clear that the club must take action to secure its future. The club's board will now work to explore all options and present a plan to its members and stakeholders in the coming months.

In a breathtaking display of power-hitting, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Dinesh Karthik etched his name in IPL 2024 history by smashing the longest six, a 108m hit, of the tournament against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday.Karthik unleashed his immense batting prowess to deliver a thunderous blow that left the Chinnaswamy Stadium crowd stunned and his opponents awestruck. The thunderous moment happened on the first ball of the 16th over bowled by T Natarajan when Karthik unleashed a monstrous blow off his pads on the leg side, sending the ball soaring to dizzying heights, where it kissed the stadium roof before gracefully descending back.SRH's Heinrich Klaasen also hit a 106m six earlier in the first innings, which was the joint highest till that time along with KKR's Venkatesh Iyer and LSG's Nicholas Pooran.Facing the Sunrisers' bowling attack, Karthik demonstrated remarkable timing and brute force as he launched the ball into orbit, sending it soaring high into the night sky. The sheer magnitude of the hit propelled the ball over the boundary ropes and deep into the stands, leaving spectators in awe of its distance and ferocity.Karthik's monumental six not only electrified the atmosphere but also showcased his ability to clear the ropes with such authority and years of experience in the shortest format of the game. As the ball disappeared into the stands, Karthik's emphatic stroke reverberated throughout the stadium, signaling his intent to dominate the proceedings. His remarkable six is one of the standout moments of IPL 2024 till date.On the match front, Australian batter Travis Head smashed a century while his skipper Pat Cummins grabbed three wickets as SRH defeated RCB by 25 runs after posting the highest-ever IPL total in Bengaluru on Monday. SRH scored a mammoth 287/3, the second highest in all forms of T20 cricket, and then restricted the home team to 262/7. SRH skipper Cummins then returned figures of 3/43, while spinner Mayank Markande (2/46) took two as the visitors managed to restrict RCB despite a heroic effort from Dinesh Karthik, who hit a 35-ball 83 with the help of five fours and seven sixes.

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has attributed the team's defeat in the IPL's "El Clasico" against Chennai Super Kings to the impact of Matheesha Pathirana. The high-scoring encounter at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday saw CSK emerge victorious by 20 runs.After a blistering start by Mumbai's opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, Pathirana's introduction in the eighth over proved pivotal. He dismissed Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav in quick succession, breaking the 70-run partnership."Definitely it was gettable. But I think they bowled pretty well, Pathirana was the difference. He came and got the wickets, at the same time they were also quite smart with their approach. They used the longer boundary well," Pandya said after the match.Pathirana's wickets set Mumbai back, forcing them to chase the game. CSK's bowlers, including Shardul Thakur and Mustafizur Rahman, exploited the conditions with variations. Thakur, despite conceding 33 runs in his first three overs, came back strongly to concede just two runs in his final over.Tushar Deshpande's dismissal of Pandya further tightened the equation for Mumbai. "They were smart with the plans and their approach. They got the hang of it, there's a man behind the stumps (Dhoni) who tells them what's working, that helps. It (pitch) was holding up a bit and getting difficult," Pandya added.Earlier, CSK had posted a formidable 206/4, thanks to Shivam Dube's unbeaten 66 and Ruturaj Gaikwad's 69. MS Dhoni's late cameo provided the finishing touches.In reply, Rohit Sharma's unbeaten 105 was not enough to guide Mumbai to victory. The defeat leaves Mumbai with a 1-2 record in the IPL, while CSK improves to 2-1.

Riyan Parag, the young all-rounder from Assam, has emerged as one of the brightest stars of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. His consistent performances at the crucial No. 4 position have been instrumental in Rajasthan Royals' rise to the top of the table.Parag has amassed 284 runs in 10 innings, averaging an impressive 71 and striking at a blistering 155.19. His ability to accelerate the innings and finish games has made him a valuable asset for the Royals.The 20-year-old's transformation has been remarkable. In previous seasons, he struggled to find his footing in the IPL, but this year, he has shown maturity and composure beyond his years."I have been contributing a lot to the team, and that is what I have been trying to do for the last few years, but it didn't click, this time it has," Parag said at a press conference.Parag's success has sparked speculation about his potential inclusion in India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. However, the youngster remains focused on the present and helping the Royals win the IPL."If you had told me this last year that I would be in this position, I would not have believed you," he said. "My main goal is to help Royals win the IPL. We haven't won the IPL for a long time – that is the main goal."Parag's rise has been a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has spent countless hours honing his skills and studying the game. His success is also a reflection of the Royals' faith in him and their willingness to give him the opportunity to shine.As the IPL season progresses, Parag will be one of the players to watch. His performances could not only help the Royals win their second IPL title but also earn him a place in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup.

Hampshire and Lancashire played out a thrilling draw in their Vitality County Championship fixture at the Utilita Bowl, with Nick Gubbins' resolute batting ensuring the hosts avoided defeat.Hampshire, resuming on 179 for 4, needed to bat out the final day to secure a draw. Gubbins, who had scored a half-century in the first innings, played a pivotal role, adding an unbeaten 69 in a four-and-a-half-hour vigil. His innings, coupled with James Vince's 56 and Tom Prest's 45*, nullified any threat of a Hampshire collapse.Lancashire, who had declared on 484 thanks to centuries from Keaton Jennings and George Bell, were unable to force a result despite picking up one extra point to Hampshire's 12. The draw extended the Red Roses' unbeaten record in first-class away matches at Hampshire to 35 years.The morning session was washed out due to rain, leaving Lancashire with 24 overs to take the remaining eight wickets. However, Gubbins and Vince occupied the crease for the next two hours, frustrating the visitors' bowlers.Nathan Lyon, who had claimed three first-inning wickets, tried various tactics to spark a flurry of wickets, but Gubbins and Vince remained steadfast in their partnership. Lyon eventually dismissed Vince lbw, but Gubbins continued to anchor the Hampshire innings.Prest, who had also scored a half-century in the first innings, joined Gubbins at the crease and continued the resistance. He hit two sixes over the ropes to end up unbeaten on 45.The inevitable handshakes came at 16:50 BST, after a short rain delay, to signal the draw.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday, as the Hyderabad batters unleashed a relentless onslaught at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.SRH's Travis Head was the star of the show, smashing a blistering century in just 39 balls, the fourth-fastest IPL ton ever. Head's fireworks propelled SRH to 100 runs in the eighth over and past the 150-mark in the 12th over. No RCB bowler was spared as SRH launched an all-out attack.Despite Head's dismissal on 102, Heinrich Klaasen continued the carnage, guiding SRH to a mammoth 287/3, the highest-ever IPL total. The RCB bowling attack was utterly ineffective, with every bowler conceding runs at an alarming rate.Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan took to social media to criticize RCB's bowling performance, calling it "rubbish."RCB captain Faf du Plessis had opted to bowl first after winning the toss, but his decision backfired spectacularly. Mohammad Siraj and Glenn Maxwell were dropped from the team, while Lockie Ferguson came in.SRH captain Pat Cummins expressed confidence in his team's ability to chase down any target, but the RCB bowlers proved to be no match for the Hyderabad batters.The defeat leaves RCB languishing at the bottom of the IPL standings, while SRH moves up to the top of the table.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has extended Mustafizur Rahman's No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by one day, allowing him to participate in the team's match against Punjab Kings on May 1.Mustafizur's extended NOC means he will be available for CSK's back-to-back matches against Lucknow Super Giants on April 19 and 23, Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 28, and Punjab Kings on May 1. After these matches, he will return to Bangladesh for the home T20I series against Zimbabwe from May 3 to 12, followed by the T20I series against USA in Texas from May 21."We had given Mustafizur a leave to play in the IPL till April 30, but since Chennai has a match on May 1, we have extended his leave by a day upon receiving a request from Chennai and the BCCI," said Shahriar Nafees, BCB's deputy manager of cricket operations.Mustafizur has been in impressive form for CSK, taking ten wickets at an average of 18.30 in five matches, including his maiden four-wicket haul in the competition. This is his best performance in the IPL since the 2021 season when he played for the Rajasthan Royals.The wickets have come at a crucial time for the left-arm quick, who had lost his place in the Bangladesh ODI side after taking just two wickets in the T20I series against Sri Lanka. However, Mustafizur remains Bangladesh's most successful bowler in T20Is and has a confirmed place in the T20 World Cup squad.

India's women's cricket team has announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on April 28. The squad features two notable inclusions in S Sajana and S Asha, who have earned their maiden India call-ups.Sajana, a hard-hitting batter, emerged as one of Mumbai's breakout stars in the recently concluded Women's Premier League (WPL). Her ability to accelerate the innings in the latter stages was instrumental in Mumbai's success. Asha, on the other hand, became the first Indian to claim a five-wicket haul in the WPL. She finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, showcasing her impressive bowling skills.The squad also includes the return of experienced all-rounder D Hemalatha and left-arm spinner Radha Yadav. Hemalatha last played a T20I in September 2022, while Yadav's last appearance came at the T20 World Cup in South Africa last year.The composition of the squad aligns with captain Harmanpreet Kaur's stated goal of providing opportunities to top performers ahead of the T20 World Cup, scheduled for September-October in Bangladesh.Jemimah Rodrigues, a key member of the Indian team, will miss the Bangladesh tour due to a back niggle. She is currently undergoing treatment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. The decision to rest Rodrigues is precautionary, considering the upcoming T20 World Cup.The squad is predominantly spin-heavy, reflecting the expected conditions in Bangladesh. Deepti Sharma will lead the spin attack, supported by Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, Asha, and Radha Yadav. Renuka Singh Thakur and Titas Sadhu are the two frontline pacers, with Pooja Vastrakar and Amanjot Kaur providing seam-bowling options.Richa Ghosh is expected to be the first-choice wicketkeeper, while Yastika Bhatia, who has impressed as a pure batter, is likely to serve as a backup.India will be aiming to continue their dominance over Bangladesh in T20Is. In their previous encounter in July 2022, India won the series 2-1.

Travis Head's blistering century against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has etched his name into the annals of the tournament's history. The Australian opener's scintillating knock of 100 runs off just 39 balls stands as the fourth fastest century in IPL history and the fastest by a Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) batter.Head's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, characterized by nine boundaries and eight towering sixes. His exceptional timing and placement, combined with sheer brute force, allowed him to dispatch the ball to all parts of the ground with consummate ease.The left-hander's century provided a significant boost to SRH, propelling them to a commanding position in the match. His innings was not only a display of individual brilliance but also a masterclass in the art of aggressive batting in the shortest format of the game.Head's achievement of reaching a century in just 39 balls adds his name to the illustrious list of players who have lit up the IPL with their explosive batting performances. RCB's Chris Gayle, who achieved the landmark in 30 balls way back in 2013, leads the list of fastest centurions followed by Yusuf Pathan (Rajasthan Royals) in 37 balls and David Miller (Kings XI Punjab) in 38 balls.Head's innings serves as a reminder of the thrilling and unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, where moments of brilliance can turn the tide of a match in an instant. His century will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most memorable batting performances in IPL history.