Category: Top Picks

GUWAHATI: South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt broke multiple records with her epic 169 from 143 balls against England in the first semi-final of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

Put into bat first, the Proteas recorded a massive 319-run total in their 50 overs, courtesy of Wolvaardt’s sublime knock.

Highest total for SA-W in ODI World Cups

319/7 against England in Guwahati, 2025 semi-final
312/9 against Pakistan in Colombo, 2025
305/9 against England in Bristol, 2017
275/7 against India in Christchurch, 2022

With the help of the skippers knock, South Africa outplayed England by a hefty margin of 125 runs to book a place in the final for the first time.

The 319 run total was South Africa’s highest ever in World Cup matches. Moreover, it was also the second-highest total in a knockout match.

The skipper struck 20 fours and four maximums in her monumental knock, which made her the first women’s player to score an ODI hundred in the knockout of the World Cup.

She has now scored the most half-centuries (12) in the marquee event, surpassing India’s Mithali Raj’s record of 11. Her 169 is also the second-best score by a captain in the women’s ODI WC.

Highest individual scores in World Cup knockouts

Harmanpreet Kaur – 171* against Australia, 2017 semi-final
Alyssa Healy – 170 against England, 2022 final
Laura Wolvaardt – 169 against England, 2025 semi-final
Nat Sciver-Brunt – 148* against Australia, 2022 final

During her knock, she also crossed the 5000 runs mark and entered the list of batters with the most centuries in WODIs.

Best Individual Innings in Women’s World Cup

15 – Meg Lanning (Australia)
14 – Smriti Mandhana (India)
13 – Suzie Bates (New Zealand)
12 – Tammy Beaumont (England)
10 – Nat Sciver-Brunt (England)
10 – Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)

READ: South Africa crush England to reach first ever Women’s World Cup final

GUWAHATI: Laura Wolvaardt’s magnificent 169 and Marizanne Kapp’s all-round heroics powered South Africa to victory over England in the first semi-final of the ICC Women’s World Cup here at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

The emphatic win marked the first time that South Africa women have reached the World Cup final.

Set a daunting 319-run target, England crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for a mere 194 in 42.3 overs.

The Three Lions chase started on a bizarre note as they lost their top-three batters for ducks in the first two overs.

Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka wreaked havoc with the new ball, removing Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont, and Heather Knight.

As a result, England were in deep waters with 3-1 in 1.1 overs.

After early setbacks, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey paired up and added 107 runs for the third wicket partnership. The stand provided them with some respite and increased their hopes of reaching the final.

Skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt made 64 from 76 balls, while Capsey scored 50 from 71 deliveries.

However, Sune Luus provided South Africa the much-needed breakthrough with Capsey’s dismissal. At this stage, England were 108-4 in 22.5 overs.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Sciver-Brunt was involved in another partnership of 30 runs with Danni Wyatt-Hodge before a collapse that folded their innings. Wyatt made 30 from 34 balls with the help of five fours.

For South Africa, Marizanne Kapp picked up a five-wicket haul while Nadine de Klerk scalped two wickets.

Earlier, after being put into bat, South Africa racked up 319-7 in their 50 overs.

Captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits laid a strong foundation with a mammoth 116-run stand for the opening wickets. Brits stuck 45 from 65, including six fours and a maximum.

England kept on taking wickets at regular intervals, but it was Wolvaardt’s knock for the ages that held South Africa’s innings. The skipper 169 from 143 balls was peppered with 20 fours and four sixes.

Marizanne Kapp also starred with the bat as she hit four boundaries and a six on her way to 42 from 33 balls.

For England, Sophie Ecclestone was the long, bright star in the bowling. She picked up four wickets in her quota of 10 overs.

The second semi-final between hosts India and defending champions Australia will be played tomorrow in Navi Mumbai.

READ: Persistent rain washes out India-Australia T20I opener

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Wednesday confirmed that Oman would replace Pakistan in the forthcoming Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup, set to be held in India from November 28.

The decision came after Pakistan’s withdrawal from the mega event due to security concerns.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Rana Mujahid announced that the decision had been formally communicated.

“Under the prevailing circumstances, it is by no means appropriate to travel to India and play,” Mujahid said.

“Pakistan had proposed staging their matches at a neutral venue instead — a suggestion the FIH did not accept,” he added.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Following this, FIH confirmed Oman’s participation in the tournament in a press release.

Oman was included based on its ranking in the Junior Asia Cup 2024, which served as a qualifier for the Junior World Cup.

“For the very first time, the FIH Hockey Junior World Cups 2025, women and men, will involve 24 teams each, enabling greater accessibility to FIH events, which is one of the fundamental principles of the FIH Empowerment and Engagement strategy,” the press release said.

The pool stage matches of the World Cup will run from November 28 to December 2, followed by knockout matches, which will take place from December 4 to December 10.

Teams and Pools

Pool A: Canada, Germany, Ireland, South Africa

Pool B: Chile, India, Oman, Switzerland

Pool C: Argentina, China, Japan, New Zealand

Pool D: Belgium, Egypt, Spain, Namibia

Pool E: Austria, England, Malaysia, Netherlands

Pool F: Australia, Bangladesh, France, Korea

READ: Persistent rain washes out India-Australia T20I opener

Persistent rain forced the opening Twenty20 clash between Australia and India to be abandoned on Wednesday, leaving Suryakumar Yadav stranded on 39 and Shubman Gill on 37.

After being sent in on a chilly Canberra night, the visitors raced to 97-1 off 9.4 overs before being forced off for a second time by the weather with no more play possible.

India got off to a solid start with their newest T20 sensation, Abhishek Sharma, signalling his intent immediately, advancing down the wicket to Josh Hazlewood on his first ball.

He clobbered four boundaries in a quick-fire 19, but the gung-ho innings came to an end against Nathan Ellis, deceived by a slower ball and caught by Tim David at mid-off.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Skipper Yadav slammed a giant six off Hazlewood before they were forced off by drizzle on 43-1 from five overs.

When they returned after 45 minutes and with the game reduced to 18 overs, the runs began flowing for Yadav and Gill as they upped the ante.

But the rain came back and they went off again, having reached 97-1, and that proved the end of the match.

The second game is at a sold-out Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.

READ: Salman Naseer confirms franchise auction for new PSL teams

Salman Naseer, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), confirmed on Wednesday that an auction will take place for two new franchises to be included in the tournament’s 11th edition in 2026.

Naseer, during a press conference at the National Bank Stadium, revealed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will soon conduct an auction process for the new franchises.

“An auction will be held for two new PSL franchises,” he said. “Bidding parties will be provided a list of city names, from which they can select one team.”

The CEO announced that all existing sponsorship and franchise agreements from the league’s inaugural cycle have now concluded, following the completion of PSL’s 10th season, which marks a pivotal transition phase for the competition.

“All major contracts, including those with sponsors and franchises, have ended after ten years. HBL will continue as title sponsor for Seasons 11 and 12,” Naseer added.

Reflecting on PSL’s journey, Salman Naseer recalled the challenges faced when the project began in 2015, at a time when international cricket had yet to return to Pakistan.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“In the beginning, there was limited interest and few sponsors. But once the league started in the UAE, it quickly gained popularity. Even in difficult times, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the PSL never stopped,” he said.

He credited all franchises for playing a vital role in strengthening the PSL brand, noting that the league has survived “testing circumstances, including times of political and regional instability.”

Looking ahead, Naseer confirmed that Faisalabad and Peshawar are being considered as future PSL venues, with ongoing efforts to revive cricket in both cities.

“I think from our side, as management and even the other stakeholders, including franchises, everyone wants to expand our footprint beyond these four cities,” said Naseer.

“Peshawar Stadium’s lease matters are being worked out, and both venues are part of our long-term planning.

“Once two new teams come in, final decisions regarding venues and match allocations will be made in consultation with the PCB chairman.”

READ: Mohammad Nawaz breaks into Top Ten in ICC T20I Rankings

DUBAI: Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has made a notable rise, entering the top ten of the latest ICC Men’s T20I Rankings released on Wednesday.

The left-handed spinner climbed eight spots to secure the sixth position among the world’s best all-rounders.

The rise comes on the back of Nawaz’s impressive all-round display in the first T20I against South Africa in Rawalpindi, where he claimed three wickets and smashed 36 off just 20 deliveries.

Despite Pakistan’s 55-run loss, the 31-year-old’s individual performance stood out as one of the few positives.

Meanwhile, young left-hander Saim Ayub continues to lead the ICC Men’s T20I All-Rounder Rankings with 262 rating points, maintaining his position ahead of India’s Hardik Pandya and Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi.

In the T20I batters’ list, Sahibzada Farhan climbed one place to 11th with 670 rating points, consolidating his position as Pakistan’s top-ranked T20I batter.

Mohammad Rizwan also rose one spot to 40th, while Babar Azam retained his 39th position.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Among bowlers, Abrar Ahmed slipped one place to eighth, while Shaheen Shah Afridi dropped two places to 16th.

Sufiyan Muqeem and Haris Rauf also slid down to 19th and 34th, respectively. Nawaz, however, continued his upward trend, gaining six places to reach 33rd.

In ODIs, there were minor shifts in the performance of several Pakistani players.

Mohammad Rizwan climbed one spot to 24th in the batting rankings, followed by Imam-ul-Haq at 40th and Saim Ayub at 53rd. Salman Ali Agha, however, dropped to 39th.

Among ODI bowlers, Shaheen Afridi moved up to 14th, while Abrar Ahmed and Naseem Shah gained one place each to sit at 38th and 43rd, respectively. Mohammad Nawaz slipped three spots to 72nd.

In the all-rounders’ category, Salman Ali Agha climbed to 19th, while Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah held steady at 27th and 36th. Haris Rauf and Saim Ayub both advanced to jointly occupy the 55th position.

READ: Rohit Sharma becomes No.1 ODI batter for the first time

DUBAI: Former Indian captain Rohit Sharma has added another feather to his illustrious cap, becoming the top-ranked ODI batter in the world for the first time in his career, according to the latest ICC Men’s Rankings released on Wednesday.

The Indian captain climbed two spots to claim the No.1 position after a match-winning, unbeaten century in the final ODI against Australia in Sydney, where India cruised to a nine-wicket victory.

Rohit’s dazzling 113* off 93 balls, laced with 13 boundaries and three towering sixes, guided India to a commanding victory in the dead-rubber match.

However, this innings propelled him past Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran and teammate Shubman Gill in the ICC Men’s Batting Rankings.

It marks a landmark moment for the 38-year-old, who has spent nearly a decade as a consistent presence in the top 10 but had never before reached the summit.

Rohit Sharma wasn’t the only Indian to make strides in the rankings update.

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel made notable progress, rising six places to 31st among ODI bowlers and climbing to eighth in the all-rounders’ chart, just behind Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s captain Mitchell Santner moved up three places to fourth in the ODI bowlers’ rankings, while Australia’s Josh Hazlewood gained two spots to reach eighth.

England’s Harry Brook, meanwhile, made a significant leap of 23 places to 25th among ODI batters following a string of consistent performances.

READ: New Zealand crush England to seal ODI series in Hamilton

HAMILTON: New Zealand produced a dominant all-round performance to seal the three-match ODI series against England with a commanding win in the second game at Seddon Park on Wednesday.

Led by Blair Tickner’s fiery spell and composed half-centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, the Black Caps chased down a modest target of 176 with five wickets and nearly 17 overs to spare, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

Tickner’s 4-34 set the tone as England were bundled out for just 175 in 36 overs after being put in to bat.

None of the English batters managed to occupy the crease for long, as regular wickets derailed their innings from start to finish.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Only Jamie Overton (42 off 27) and captain Harry Brook (34 off 34) offered brief resistance, but both fell to soft dismissals that summed up England’s reckless approach.

In reply, New Zealand’s chase began shakily when Jofra Archer removed Will Young for a duck in the very first over.

However, Rachin Ravindra steadied the innings with a fluent 54 off 58 balls, striking eight boundaries and a six. He shared a 63-run stand with Daryl Mitchell, who once again proved to be New Zealand’s rock in the middle order.

Mitchell remained unbeaten on 56 from 59 deliveries, decorated with six fours and two sixes, while captain Mitchell Santner’s blistering cameo of 34 off 17 balls ensured a quick finish as the hosts reached 177-5 in just 33.1 overs.

Archer was the standout bowler for England, finishing with 3-23 in his 10 overs, while Jamie Overton and Adil Rashid claimed one wicket each.

READ: Australia’s Pat Cummins makes tentative bowling return

Borussia Dortmund eliminated Eintracht Frankfurt from the German Cup in the second round on Tuesday, winning 4-2 on penalties after the match finished 1-1.

Dortmund were faultless from the spot with Fabio Silva, Niklas Suele, Carney Chukwuemeka and Felix Nmecha all converting, while Ritsu Doan and Fares Chaibi both missed penalties for the home side.

Frankfurt’s Mario Goetze and Ansgar Knauff, both cup winners with Dortmund, combined to put the home side in front after seven minutes. Goetze threaded the ball through the Dortmund defence, allowing Knauff to stroke home.

Dortmund hit back three minutes after the break, Julian Brandt tapping in a pinpoint Julian Ryerson cross from close range.

The match went to extra time, and Germany striker Jonathan Burkardt looked to have sealed it for the hosts when he scored in the 115th minute, but the strike was ruled out for offside.

In the shootout, Can Uzun and former Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi both converted for Frankfurt, but Doan blasted his attempt well over the bar.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Chaibi needed to convert Frankfurt’s fourth kick to keep his side in with a chance, but blasted the ball straight at Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, sending the visitors to the last 16.

“We’ve got a sensational goalie and plenty of good penalty shooters. It feels nice,” Brandt told reporters.

The game was a rematch of the 2017 German Cup final, won 2-1 by Dortmund, with current Borussia coach Niko Kovac then in the Frankfurt dugout.

Two-time winners RB Leipzig cantered to a 4-1 victory at neighbours Energie Cottbus, with Johan Bakayoko and Christoph Baumgartner both scoring doubles for the visitors.

Bochum eliminated top-flight Augsburg 1-0 away, and Borussia Moenchengladbach won 3-1 at home against Karlsruhe.

Elsewhere, Hertha Berlin beat Elversberg 3-0 in the German capital, Hamburg won 1-0 at Heidenheim and second-division Holstein Kiel beat hosts Wolfsburg 1-0.

On Wednesday, 20-time winners Bayern Munich travel to Cologne while holders Stuttgart play at Mainz.

READ: Australia’s Pat Cummins makes tentative bowling return

Injured Australia captain Pat Cummins bowled for the first time since July on Wednesday as he races the clock to be fit for the second Ashes Test against England.

The 32-year-old pace spearhead has not played since picking up a lower back injury against the West Indies more than three months ago.

But he made a tentative return in a brief net session in Sydney captured by local television cameras, bowling off a five-step run-up.

Cummins has been ruled out of the first Test against Ben Stokes’ England in Perth from November 21, with hopes that he will be ready for the second day-night contest in Brisbane on December 4.

“We’re on the journey to that second Test and very hopeful that that will be a positive outcome,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald said on Monday of Cummins.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“We will see how he pulls up and then we’ll make decisions moving forward.”

Steve Smith will captain the side in Cummins’ absence with Scott Boland almost certainly replacing him to join fellow quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

Australia are still grappling with who will open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja.

Incumbent Sam Konstas’ form has nosedived, and he was again out cheaply in the Sheffield Shield on Thursday, bowled for 10.

Selectors are due to finalise their Ashes squad at the end of the current round of the domestic red-ball competition, with Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne also in the running to be the opener.

READ: Mohammad Hafeez takes subtle dig at Pakistan T20I team