Category: Cricket

KINGSTON: Sherfane Rutherford produced a composed unbeaten half-century while Shamar Joseph’s five-wicket haul set up a dramatic West Indies victory over Sri Lanka in the third T20I at Sabina Park on Sunday, as the hosts clinched the three-match series 2-1.

Chasing a target of 170, the West Indies completed the job in 19.4 overs after a tense finish that swung repeatedly before the Caribbean side eventually held their nerve to seal a thrilling win.

The chase, however, began on the worst possible note as the West Indies lost their captain early in the innings, putting immediate pressure on the top order.

Shimron Hetmyer provided brief resistance with a brisk 32 off 19 balls, but Sri Lanka’s spinners quickly tightened their grip, reducing the hosts to 53-4 inside 8.2 overs.

At that stage, Sri Lanka appeared firmly in control of the contest.

The momentum shifted through a crucial 81-run partnership between Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford, who rebuilt the innings with calculated aggression.

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Powell, who contributed a vital 33, accelerated the scoring in the death overs, striking three sixes in a single over off Dushmantha Chameera in the 17th over before falling on the final delivery of the same over.

With the match finely poised, Rutherford found support from Jason Holder, who delivered a stunning late cameo. Holder smashed three sixes in the 19th over to completely swing the match in West Indies’ favour, reducing the equation to just six runs needed from the final over.

The hosts completed the chase on the fourth ball of the last over, sealing a memorable series victory in front of a jubilant home crowd.

Rutherford remained unbeaten on 54 off 40 deliveries, striking three fours and four sixes, while Holder finished with a blistering 21 not out from just five balls, including three towering sixes.

Earlier, Sri Lanka posted 169 all out in their 20 overs, with Dunith Wellalage top-scoring with 43 off 28 balls. Kamil Mishara added 28, while Pathum Nissanka contributed 26 in a steady but ultimately insufficient batting effort.

Shamar Joseph led the bowling attack for West Indies, taking five wickets for 33 runs, while Akeal Hosein, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder and Roston Chase chipped in with one wicket each..

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England have suffered another setback ahead of the second Test against New Zealand after pace bowler Ollie Robinson was ruled out with a knee injury.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that Robinson experienced soreness in his knee during a training session in Hove on Friday and will undergo further scans to assess the extent of the issue.

Despite being unavailable for the second Test, England remain hopeful that the right-arm pacer could return for the third and final match of the series at Trent Bridge, scheduled to begin on June 25.

Robinson will stay with the squad and continue to be monitored by the medical staff over the coming days.

The latest injury concern adds to England’s growing selection problems, with Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson already unavailable due to disciplinary reasons.

Ollie Robinson had made an impressive return to Test cricket in the series opener at Lord’s after spending two years out of the side.

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The Sussex seamer led England’s bowling attack and produced career-best match figures of 7-77, playing a key role in the hosts’ victory.

To cover for Robinson’s absence, England have called up his Sussex teammate Henry Crocombe.

The uncapped seamer has been one of the standout performers in county cricket this season, claiming 21 wickets in Division One at an average of 28.61.

Crocombe also impressed earlier this month while representing the England Lions, taking 4-65 in the first unofficial Test against South Africa A.

England have already bolstered their pace-bowling options by recalling Jofra Archer to the squad following the absence of Stokes and Atkinson.

Matthew Fisher and Sonny Baker are also available as seam-bowling options for the second Test.

READ: India sink Pakistan in Women’s World Cup 2026 clash

BIRMINGHAM: Smriti Mandhana’s swashbuckling fifty, backed by Deepti Sharma’s five-wicket haul, powered India to a big win over Pakistan in the sixth match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2026. 

Set a daunting 171, Pakistan’s innings folded on 106 in 17 overs. Muneeba Ali  remained the top-scorer with 41 off 35 deliveries.

The openers provided a flying start with a 38-run partnership inside five fours. Gull Feroza was the first one to be dismissed, caught after scoring only 12.

The scorecard read 53 when Ayesha Zafar went back after making 12. Soon after, Shree Charani removed Saira Jabeen (2) to leave Pakistan in deep trouble at 58-3 in eight overs.

Muneeba Ali and Natalia Pervaiz tried to arrest the slide with a 17-run partnership. However, India’s bowlers continued to dominate proceedings with quick wickets.

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Consequently, Pakistan slumped from 75-4 to 91-7 and 107 all out in 17 overs.

For India, Deepti Sharma picked up five wickets while giving away just 10 runs.

Earlier, Smriti Mandhana hit an eye-catching fifty, powering India to 170 in their 20 overs despite a jittery start.

Sadia Iqbal removed Shafali Verma (6) in the first over, followed by Jemimah Rodrigues (1) in the third over. As a result, India were reduced to 18-2.

However, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana shared a 91-run stand for the third wicket to take their side out of trouble.

Kaur played second fiddle while Mandhana cleared the fence over covers on numerous occasions to raise her fifty. Her eye-catching shots made Pakistan bowlers clueless.

The stand was eventually broken in the 14th over as Mandhana was caught scoring after 68 off 44, including nine fours and two sixes.

At this moment, Pakistan sniffed a comeback with quick wickets, leaving India 123-5 in 16 overs.

But it was Rich Ghosh’s cameo that provided the innings’ late flourish, scoring 34 off just 17 deliveries, striking a six and five fours.

READ: Tickets sold out for Pakistan-India Women’s World Cup 2026 clash

MIRPUR: Copper Connolly’s sublime 149 triumphed Shoriful Islam’s six-wicket haul to seal a nail-biting victory in the final ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing 275, Australia got off to a flying start, with skipper Josh Inglis and Connolly racing to 40 inside four overs.

However, Shoriful’s two in an over dented the visitors’ progress. He first removed Inglis, who made 12 before dismissing Renshaw for a duck.

With Australia two wickets down, Alex Carey (8) and Connolly provided brief resistance, adding a 30-run partnership that culminated with the former’s wicket.

Bangladesh continued to chip through Australia’s middle order, but left-handed Connoly remained firm and reached his half-century.

Bangladesh continued to chip away at Australia’s middle order, but left-handed Connolly remained firm and reached his half-century.

He stringed three half-century stands alongside Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, and Oliver Peake to keep his side in the hunt. In doing so, he notched up his maiden century.

It was Shoriful again who struck thrice in the 46th and 48th over to lift Bangladesh. Connoly was eventually dismissed in the penultimate over after scoring 149 off 134, striking six maximums and 13 fours.

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With the visitors needing just three runs and only one wicket in hand, Adam Zampa struck a boundary off the third ball to seal an emphatic win.

For Bangladesh, Shoriful Islam bowled wonderfully and picked up six wickets in his 10 overs.

Earlier, Towhid Hridoy struck a composed 83 to anchor Bangladesh’s innings of 274-5 after a nervous start against Australia in the final ODI match in Mirpur on Sunday.

Litton Das (58 off 78 balls) and Mosaddek Hossain (56 off 51) also contributed unbeaten half-centuries to give the hosts a competitive total in the dead rubber, with Bangladesh having already clinched the three-match series.

Bangladesh, missing regular captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz due to concussion, had a torrid start when Xavier Bartlett bowled opener Soumya Sarkar for two in the first over.

Tanzid Hasan and stand-in skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto steadied the innings with a 51-run second-wicket stand before Matt Renshaw struck twice in quick succession to leave Bangladesh reeling at 61-3.

Tanzid fell for 19, caught by Riley Meredith at mid-on after top-edging a sweep off Renshaw, who then trapped Shanto lbw for 24.

Hridoy held Bangladesh together through the middle overs with his 88-ball innings.

He shared a 92-run fourth-wicket partnership with Litton before the wicketkeeper-batter retired hurt with cramp on 48.

Hridoy went on to reach his 13th ODI half-century in an innings that included eight fours.

Litton returned to bring up his first ODI fifty at Mirpur, finishing with 58 off 78 balls and striking four fours and two sixes.

Mosaddek provided a late flourish and was unbeaten on 56 off 51 deliveries, including five fours and a six, his fourth ODI half-century in ODI cricket.

Bartlett and Renshaw picked up two wickets apiece for Australia.

READ: Tickets sold out for Pakistan-India Women’s World Cup 2026 clash

BIRMINGHAM: The tickets for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 fixture between Pakistan and India have sold out.

The ICC announced via official social media channels that fans should avoid visiting the designated ticket counters for Sunday’s big match, as no additional tickets will be sold at the gates

“Edgbaston is SOLD OUT for today’s T20 World Cup double-header,” the ICC posted.

“A cracking day of cricket is underway as Netherlands take on Bangladesh before the India-Pakistan match. No additional tickets will be available at the gates,” it added.

Pakistan will face India in their opening encounter of the mega event. The Green Shirts have featured in every edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup since 2009.

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Despite every appearance, they have not managed to advance through the group stage. Sana Mir captained the side in the first five editions from 2009 to 2016.

India has historically led the rivalry, winning 13 out of 16 T20 internationals between the two teams, while Pakistan has secured three victories.

Squads

Pakistan: Fatima Sana (c), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan.

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nandani Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud, Shreyanka Patil, and Radha Yadav.

READ: Women’s T20 World Cup: Australia crush South Africa to make statement start

BIRMINGHAM: India have won the toss and opted to bat first against Pakistan in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2026 clash at Edgbaston Stadium on Sunday.

Head to Head

India has historically led the rivalry, winning 13 out of 16 T20 internationals between the two teams, while Pakistan has secured three victories.

In T20 World Cups, India has secured six wins while Pakistan have managed two out of eight games.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali (wk), Ayesha Zafar, Saira Jabeen, Natalia Pervaiz, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana (c), Rameen Shamim, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal and Tasmia Rubab.

India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani and Shreyanka Patil.

READ: Women’s T20 World Cup: Australia crush South Africa to make statement start

Vinicius Junior scored a brilliant equaliser for Brazil in a 1-1 draw with Morocco on Saturday as the five-time FIFA World Cup winners made an uncertain start to the 2026 edition in New Jersey.

Ismael Saibari ran through to give Morocco a 21st-minute lead with a clever scoop in the Group C opener, but Vinicius produced a moment of magic to ensure Brazil came away with a point.

Brazil are chasing a record sixth World Cup title, 24 years after last lifting the trophy, but this performance suggests there is a lot of work to be done by Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Kaka were all members of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning squad and were among those in attendance at MetLife Stadium.

Brazil have turned to the hugely successful Ancelotti in a bid to end the country’s title drought. He is the first foreign coach to lead Brazil at football’s biggest tournament.

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A fifth-placed finish in South American qualifying underlined the scale of the challenge facing Ancelotti. However, the Italian insists Brazil possess a squad capable of competing with anyone in the expanded 48-team tournament.

He was without Neymar for the start of the competition, with Brazil’s all-time record goalscorer still recovering from a calf injury, having not played for his country since 2023.

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi urged his players not to fear Brazil, and his message appeared to resonate as the 2022 semi-finalists started brightly in one of the standout matches of the first round.

After Neil El Aynaoui and Achraf Hakimi threatened the Brazil goal, Saibari made the breakthrough when he latched onto a fine pass from Brahim Diaz.

The PSV Eindhoven forward raced beyond Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes, holding his nerve with a clinical chipped finish over the advancing Alisson Becker.

Brazil drew level 11 minutes later through Vinicius, who will have a vital role to play if Brazil are to shine this summer.

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The Real Madrid star received the ball from Bruno Guimaraes on the left side of the area before cutting back onto his right foot and hammering into the far corner past Yassine Bounou.

It belatedly breathed life into a lacklustre Brazil, and Lucas Paqueta saw his acrobatic effort pushed away by Bounou before half-time.

Bounou saved well from Igor Thiago as Brazil caught Morocco napping with a quick throw-in after the break, while Raphinha and Danilo shot right at Bounou as the Selecao pressed for a winner.

Morocco nearly snatched it at the death when Alisson parried a long-range effort from El Aynaoui and had to react sharply to block the follow-up from Ayoube Amaimouni.

Brazil remained unbeaten in World Cup openers since 1934. They next face outsiders Haiti while Morocco take on Scotland in their second match.

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MANCHESTER: Georgia Wareham delivered with bat and ball to power Australia to a 65-run win over South Africa in the third match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Opting to bat first at the Old Trafford Ground, Australia racked up 172-8 in 20 overs, largely due to Phoebe Litchfield’s quick-fire half-century.

Australia were in trouble with four down for 61 after the powerplay, despite Litchfield’s counter-attacking half-century. Litchfield made 50 off 24, striking nine fours and six before getting dismissed after the fielding restrictions were lifted.

It was Ellyse Perry and Georgia Wareham, who put the innings back on track with a 58-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Perry scored 36 off 26, hitting four boundaries. Wareham hit six fours in her 32 off 22 deliveries.

Annabel Sutherland provided the innings with a late flourish, ensuring her side reached a strong total. She made 21 from 14 balls.

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For South Africa, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba, and Nadine de Klerk picked up two wickets each.

In reply, South Africa were bowled out for 107 inside 17 overs, thanks to a Georgia Wareham three-wicket haul.

The Proteas were in dire straits at the start of their innings with 7-2 in 1.5 overs.

Skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Nadine de Klerk launched a swift recovery, adding 41 for the third wicket partnership. Wolvaardt made 44 off 39 balls while De Klerk made 25 off 23.

Wareham broke the threatening stand in the seventh over, cleaning up De Klerk.

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Despite the wicket, Wolvaardt held the innings, stitching another brief 34-run partnership with Marizanne Kapp, who made only 12.

Both batters’ dismissals in quick succession sparked a collapse that South Africa could never recover from. As a result, South Africa,  96-5 to 107 all out.

Earlier, Scotland prevailed over Ireland by 40 runs at the same venue.

Scotland set Ireland 162 to win in 20 overs, with Kathryn Bryce top-scoring with a 60 off 39 balls. Bryce hit six boundaries and a maximum in her knock. She was ably supported by Sarah Bryce, who made 49 off 35 deliveries.

Ava Canning scalped three wickets for Ireland in her quota of four overs.

In reply, Ireland were bundled out for 121 in 19.1 overs. Orla Prendergast remained the highest scorer for them with 33 off 23 balls.

For Scotland, Katherine Fraser and Kirstie Gordon shared six wickets between them.

READ: Mohsin Naqvi links central contracts to domestic cricket participation

Skipper Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 84 and inspired bowling led India to an emphatic seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in a rain-reduced 25-overs-a-side ODI contest on Saturday.

Chasing 195 for victory, India needed Gill’s 66-ball knock to achieve the target with 13 balls to spare in Dharamsala and lead the three-match series 1-0.

The bilateral series is the first between the two nations in the 50-over format.

Afghanistan posted 194 all out despite opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 102 as the rest of the batting faltered after the match started four hours and 15 minutes late due to persistent rain.

Indian debutants Gurnoor Brar, a fast bowler, and Harsh Dubey, a left-arm spinner, took three wickets each to bowl out Afghanistan in 24.5 overs after Gurbaz’s ninth ODI century.

Batters kept up the dominance with Gill leading the charge as he put on 46 runs with veteran batter Rohit Sharma, who made 16 before being run out.

White-ball star Rohit became the oldest Indian men’s player at 39 years and 44 days to play an ODI, 37 years after Mohinder Amarnath took the field at 39 years and 36 days.

Rohit departed after a mix-up with the captain, who then put on 70 runs with wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who made 34, to lay the foundation for the chase.

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India lost Kishan and then Shreyas Iyer before Gill and KL Rahul, who struck a 19-ball 39, steered the team home in an unbeaten stand of 53.

Invited to bat first, Afghanistan lost three early wickets before Gurbaz hit back in his 51-ball knock laced with eight fours and eight sixes.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, a wicketkeeper-batter, reached his hundred off 48 balls as he leapt up in the air, kissed the ground and acknowledged the applause from the Afghan dressing room.

He put on 118 runs for the fourth wicket with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, who made 27, after Afghanistan slipped to 26-3 in 4.3 overs.

Brar struck in his first over to send back Ibrahim Zadran for one after the batter mistimed a hit to be caught at mid-off.

Left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh then struck twice, but Gurbaz counter-attacked till his departure as he finally fell bowled to medium-pace bowler Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Shahidi became Dubey’s first wicket, and the bowler took two more, including one from a stunning catch by Gill, who dived to take a one-handed grab at first slip.

Azmatullah Omarzai hit a 16-ball 26 before the batting fell apart, and Gurnoor wrapped up the innings with his third strike.

The second match is on Wednesday in Lucknow.

READ: Mohsin Naqvi links central contracts to domestic cricket participation

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has said that central contracts will be limited to players participating in domestic cricket.

He made these remarks during an informal media interaction at NCA Lahore.

During the interaction, Naqvi said that the new policy will be finalized by Monday after consultation with players.

According to the board chairman, 15 points have been included in the selection committee framework to ensure transparency, and a player’s contract will be renewed only if he maintains consistent performance.

The PCB chairman revealed that the updated system will include five categories, with separate classifications for Test and T20 cricket. Additionally, an emerging players category will be added.

“If a player does not play domestic cricket, he will not receive a central contract,” Naqvi said.

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He revealed that the central contract will be digitized, with no person having any influence over it.

“The contract document will be computerized, and no one will have any influence over it. Nobody will be able to say that a player should have been in Category A or Category B,” he added.

He further remarked that the number of domestic matches for Test players is being increased, while match fees have also been raised to boost morale.

PCB chairman noted that the contract would be awarded strictly on merit and according to clearly defined benchmarks, regardless of a player’s profile or status.

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Regarding Shan Masood’s captaincy, he said the future of Test captain Shan Masood will be decided by “cricket minds.”

“I want cricket minds to decide what should and should not be done,” he remarked.

Naqvi concluded by saying that he is consulting several former legends, including Younis Khan, to improve Pakistan cricket.

READ: Rahmanullah Gurbaz falls short of Shahid Afridi’s record against India