Sri Lanka faced a challenging task of chasing 209 runs to win. The left-arm seamer, Richard Ngarava, created difficulties for the batsmen with his extra bounce, taking the first four Sri Lankan wickets. He ended up taking five wickets for 32 runs, making it his best performance in his career. Despite the early struggles, Sri Lanka managed to recover, thanks to a 56-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Maheesh Theekshana and Liyanage. However, Liyanage fell short of his century by five runs while attempting to clear mid-off. Ngarava’s impressive bowling performance helped Sri Lanka gain some breathing room, and Liyanage’s inclusion in the team for this series was based on his excellent form in domestic cricket.

His 95 came off 127 deliveries with six fours and two sixes. “I wanted get to the hundred but was disappointed,” he said.

When Liyanage got out, Sri Lanka needed 37 runs with two wickets left. Jeffrey Vandersay (19) and Dushmantha Chameera (18) successfully chased the target, adding an unbroken 39 runs for the ninth wicket. Rain caused a delay of more than an hour during the Sri Lankan innings, but the game continued without reducing the overs. Spin bowler Sikandar Raza supported Ngarava, taking two wickets for 32 runs in his 10 overs, but the other bowlers didn’t provide enough support. Zimbabwe chose to bat first, and captain Craig Ervine scored the highest with 82 runs. Sadeera Samarawickrama’s one-handed diving catch at extra cover dismissed Ervine, leading to Zimbabwe’s struggle. From 182 for four, Zimbabwe collapsed, losing the last six wickets for 26 runs, and ended up with a total of 209 all out. Theekshana took four wickets, while Chameera and Vandersay claimed two wickets each.

Ervine called it a “well fought game” and was “proud” of his bowlers. “We have one more game and we need to look at squaring the series,” he said.

Sri Lanka is ahead in the three-match series with a 1-0 lead. The first game on Saturday was canceled due to rain, and there’s a chance of bad weather affecting the upcoming match on Thursday at the same venue.

The road ahead looks challenging for Bangladesh in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, as reports suggest that the Tigers are placed in a formidable group. According to insights from The Telegraph, Bangladesh is set to compete against South Africa, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, and Nepal in Group D.

In contrast, Group A sees a showdown between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, while Group B features another intense clash with reigning champions England and Australia.

Notably, Bangladesh’s Group D stands out as the sole group hosting matches in both the US and West Indies during the tournament’s ninth edition, scheduled from June 04 to June 30.

As the competition unfolds, the top two teams from each group will progress to the Super Eight stage, adding another layer of excitement and anticipation. The official announcement of the World Cup groupings is expected soon, although the ICC has reportedly shared this information with the participating nations, as mentioned in The Telegraph’s report.

Craig Ervine, who missed the home series against Ireland in December due to injury, is back to lead the ODI side, while Sikandar Raza will captain the T20I side. The squad includes uncapped Tapiwa Mufudza, selected by caretaker coach Walter Chawaguta following Dave Houghton’s departure last month. Mufudza, an off-spinner, earned his place with consistently impressive performances in domestic cricket in Zimbabwe.

Pace bowler Faraz Akram, primarily a T20 player, is set to make his ODI debut. In the T20I matches in Colombo, Mufudza, Akram, and Takudzwanashe Kaitano are replaced by Brian Bennett, Carl Mumba, and Ainsley Ndlovu. The ODI matches are scheduled for January 6, 8, and 11, and the T20I matches for January 14, 16, and 18.

Squads:
ODI

Craig Ervine (capt),Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Clive Madande, Wellington Masakadza, Tapiwa Mufudza, Tony Munyonga, Milton Shumba ,Faraz Akram, Blessing Muzarabani,Joylord Gumbie, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza,

T20I
Sikandar Raza (capt), Ryan Burl,Brian Bennett, Craig Ervine, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Clive Madande, Milton Shumba ,Wellington Masakadza, Carl Mumba, Tony Munyonga, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Blessing Muzarabani, Ainsley Ndlovu, Richard Ngarava.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto praised his team for achieving their first-ever Twenty20 victory against New Zealand in the opening match of the three-game series in Napier today.

“Really excited and really proud with the way we played today,” Shanto said immediately after his side won the match by five wickets.

The Tigers secured the win, thanks to impressive performances by bowlers Shoriful Islam (3-26) and Mahedi Hasan (3-14), limiting the Kiwis to 134-9. Captain Shanto acknowledged the bowlers for adapting well to the conditions and executing their plans, emphasizing the importance of quick learning.

Shoriful and Sakib performed admirably with the new ball, while Sheikh Mahedi bowled effectively in the given conditions, according to Shanto. The unbeaten 42 by Liton Das and a valuable 19 from player-of-the-match Mahedi ensured victory with eight balls to spare.

Having previously led Bangladesh to their first ODI win over New Zealand in the same venue, Shanto now wants the team to focus on the upcoming two games, aiming for their maiden series win in the country. He expressed confidence in the team but stressed the need to plan for the next T20 and urged everyone to do their jobs.

Brandon King’s unbeaten 82 and skipper Rovman Powell’s explosive 50 powered West Indies to a thrilling 10-run victory over England, establishing a commanding 2-0 lead in their five-match T20 international series in Grenada on Thursday. In a remarkable turnaround, West Indies opener King displayed his prowess with eight fours and five sixes from 52 balls, rescuing the team from a precarious 54-4 to a strong finish of 176-7 at the National Stadium in St. George’s. Despite winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, England struggled against a disciplined home team, finishing at 166-7.

Tourist Sam Curran led England’s batting with a score of 50 off 32 balls, but they faced constant challenges in reaching the required run rate against the formidable West Indies bowling attack. Alzarri Joseph stood out with figures of 3-39 off four overs, while spinner Gudakesh Motie frustrated England with an economical 1-9 from four overs.

Post-match, man-of-the-match King highlighted the significance of his resilient innings, stating,

“It was very important for me to stay there and build partnerships. We’re playing well, and everyone’s playing with confidence.”

England captain Jos Buttler acknowledged the impact of the explosive latter part of the West Indies innings, conceding:

“They had a couple of big overs at the back end which pushed the score up, but we’re only losing by 10 — there’s plenty of ways we can find those 10 runs.”

King’s unbeaten knock received crucial support from Powell, who made a swashbuckling cameo, contributing to West Indies posting a competitive total. Powell’s half-century off just 28 balls, featuring five sixes and three fours, included a standout 16th over where he dominated Curran, scoring 30 runs with four sixes.

Adil Rashid emerged as the top performer among England bowlers with figures of 2-11 off four overs. With the win, West Indies lead the series 1-0, having previously beaten England by four wickets in the opening T20 in Barbados on Tuesday. The third match of the series is set to take place in Grenada on Saturday.

Ireland won the series 2-1 with a great performance. Tector scored 54, Dockrell made 49, and they secured the victory with eight balls to spare. Following Andy Balbirnie’s retirement, Paul Stirling made a flawless debut as captain with this victory.

“The way George came in and batted took the pressure off me. Credit has to go to him, he batted so well,” said Tector after being named player-of-the-series. “Generally, the ball stayed low, but it was a good cricket wicket with plenty in it for bowlers and batters.”

Zimbabwe scored 140-6 in 20 overs after losing the toss. In response, Ireland faced an early struggle, reaching 37-4 after seven overs at Harare Sports Club. However, Tector and Dockrell turned the game around for the tourists.

Tector hit two sixes and three fours in his 45-ball innings, while Dockrell contributed with three sixes and three fours in 32 deliveries. Brandon Mavuta was the best-performing bowler for Zimbabwe, taking the wicket of Curtis Campher and conceding 17 runs in three overs.

Ryan Burl, captaining in place of the suspended Sikandar Raza, top-scored for Zimbabwe with 36 runs, including four fours. In the bowling department, Gareth Delany, Josh Little, and Craig Young each took two wickets for Ireland.

The final scores were Zimbabwe 140-6 in 20 overs and Ireland 141-4 in 18.4 overs, with Tector scoring an unbeaten 54 and Dockrell contributing 49 not out.

Australian batting all-rounder Glenn Maxwell’s wife, Vini Raman, expressed her joy in a sweet post following Maxwell’s spectacular hundred in the third T20I against India at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on November 28. With a picture of Maxwell on social media, she captioned it with a simple yet heartfelt “home time.”

In a dazzling display of batting prowess, Maxwell smashed an unbeaten 104 off 48 balls, comprising eight fours and as many sixes, guiding Australia to chase down a challenging target of 223 with five wickets in hand. The 35-year-old rightfully earned the Player of the Match award for his exceptional performance.

Prior to the game, it was confirmed that Maxwell, along with Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis, and Sean Abbott, would be returning home after the third T20I. Steve Smith and Adam Zampa had already departed before the match, as reported by cricket.com.au.

Eagerly anticipating Maxwell’s return, Vini shared an Instagram story featuring a red heart and an airplane emoji, capturing the excitement of welcoming her husband back home.

Before the T20I series in India, Maxwell played a pivotal role in Australia’s victory in the 2023 ODI World Cup. His notable achievements include a brilliant double hundred against Afghanistan and breaking the record for the fastest ODI World Cup hundred against the Netherlands, reaching three figures in just 40 balls.

Reflecting on his remarkable century in the third T20I, which also marked his 100th match for Australia in the format, Maxwell acknowledged the challenges posed by the dew. Despite the difficulty for bowlers, he commended his team for staying competitive until the final over.

“The dew obviously makes it difficult to hold on to, we knew it was going to be hard work to bowl yorkers, and there probably wasn’t a number in our head at the back-end to set ourselves to. We thought if we can stay in the hunt until the last over, we can give ourselves a chance, you never know it might come off the middle and you might stay in the game,” Maxwell said after his match-winning knock.

“We did really well to stay in the game until the final over. Knowing that Axar [Patel] had one over left meant (Matthew Wade) Wadey had to be out there to cash in and I was trying to take on all the pace bowlers and get the run rate under a little bit under control,” the 35-year-old added.

In the latest T20 clash against India at Guwahati, Glenn Maxwell, the dynamic Australian all-rounder, once again lived up to his nickname, ‘The Big Show,’ delivering a stellar performance that mirrored his outstanding run in white-ball cricket. His unbeaten 104 off 48 balls, featuring eight fours and eight sixes, played a pivotal role in Australia’s successful chase of India’s formidable total of 223. This century not only marked Maxwell’s 100th T20I match but also tied him with Indian skipper Rohit Sharma for the most T20I centuries, achieved in just 92 innings, showcasing his exceptional batting prowess.

Maxwell’s T20I career statistics are equally impressive, amassing 2,275 runs in 100 matches at an average of 29.54 and a striking rate exceeding 153. He now shares the honor of being Australia’s third-highest T20I run-scorer with four centuries and 10 fifties, the highest being an unbeaten 145*. Notably, this achievement comes on the heels of Maxwell’s power-packed display in ODI cricket during the World Cup.

In a memorable encounter against the Netherlands, Maxwell entered the fray with Australia at 266/4 in the 39th over. Within a mere 11 overs, he transformed the match into a breathtaking century, the fastest-ever in Cricket World Cup history. His 106 off 44 balls, featuring nine fours and eight sixes, propelled Australia to a commanding total of 399, ultimately leading to the Netherlands being dismissed for 90.

On November 7, facing a potential upset against Afghanistan, Maxwell once again emerged as the savior. Despite battling heat, cramps and back spasms, he forged a match-winning partnership with skipper Pat Cummins. Maxwell’s audacious strokes, resembling golf or baseball shots, saw him score an unbeaten 201* in just 128 balls, with 12 fours and 10 sixes, securing an extraordinary victory. This remarkable innings not only marked Australia’s comeback but also etched Maxwell’s name in history as the first Australian male cricketer to score an ODI double century, the highest-ever by a non-opener.

The resilience, fearlessness, and never-give-up attitude displayed by Maxwell mirrored a Bollywood script, where the hero rises from adversity to triumph unexpectedly. Social media buzzed with memes and comparisons to WWE icon Undertaker, underscoring Maxwell’s energetic assault on opponents when defeat seemed imminent.

Fast forward three weeks, and Maxwell replicated his heroics with a record-equalling century against India in the third T20I. With 529 runs in 13 matches this year at an average of 58.77 and a strike rate exceeding 156, Maxwell appears poised to play a crucial role in Australia’s bid for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in June. As cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the tournament, only time will reveal if ‘The Big Show’ continues to dazzle and guide Australia to yet another ICC title.

In a bold move by Cricket Australia, star players Steve Smith and Adam Zampa have been sent home from India ahead of the pivotal 3rd T20I in Guwahati. With three matches remaining in the series, the decision to recall these key players reflects a strategic shake-up in the squad. Additionally, four more players, namely Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis, and Sean Abbott, are set to depart on Wednesday as part of a comprehensive workload management plan.

The team’s restructuring includes the introduction of replacements for the series. Wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Philippe and power-hitter Ben McDermott are set to join the squad before the 3rd T20I in Guwahati. Moreover, Ben Dwarshuis and spinner Chris Green from New South Wales are scheduled to link up with the team in Raipur ahead of the fourth match.

The revised Australia squad for the 3rd T20I includes players such as Matthew Wade (c), Jason Behrendorff, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Chris Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Ben McDermott, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, and Kane Richardson.

Reflecting on the changes, Australia’s stand-in head coach Andre Borovec shared:

“One of the things we had in our planning coming into this series was to have a look at Steve (Smith) up top, and we’ve had a chance to do that now. We’re extremely happy with the intent that he’s shown with the bat; (I) couldn’t fault it actually.”

Looking ahead, Australia is gearing up for a series of 10 T20 internationals leading up to next year’s T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean.

Australia T20 squad: Matthew Wade (c), Aaron Hardie, Jason Behrendorff, Sean Abbott (withdrawn), Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Chris Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (withdrawn), Glenn Maxwell (withdrawn), Ben McDermott, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith (withdrawn), Marcus Stoinis (withdrawn), Kane Richardson, and Adam Zampa (withdrawn).

India T20 squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad (vc), Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dubey, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, and Shreyas Iyer (last two matches only).

After Australia’s setback, with a 44-run defeat to India in the second T20I, coach Andre Borovec didn’t mince words, stating that the execution by the team was subpar. On a day marked by Indian dominance, the Men in Blue showcased their prowess with impressive performances from Prasidh Krishna and Ravi Bishnoi, who claimed three wickets each, along with substantial contributions from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, all hitting fifties. The match unfolded in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.

Addressing the team’s performance, Andre shared his insights in a post-match presentation, saying:

“If you look at the bowling, there was a fine line with execution. We were not able to make inroads in the first six overs. In these conditions, the plans and intent are there, and you do not have to miss by an awful lot. We are making the right decisions but are not executing in the right moments.”

In terms of the game, Australia chose to field first. Yashasvi Jaiswal (53 in 25 balls) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (58 in 43 balls) both notched up half-centuries, forming a formidable opening partnership of 77 runs. Ishan Kishan also contributed with a half-century, scoring 52 in 32 balls.

Nathan Ellis (3/45) and Marcus Stoinis (1/27) were the notable wicket-takers for the Australians.

In their pursuit of 236, Australia faced a tough start, finding themselves at 58/4. A promising 81-run partnership between Marcus Stoinis (45 in 25 balls) and Tim David (37 in 22 balls) posed a temporary threat to India. However, a resilient effort by the Men in Blue led to the restriction of Australia to 191/9 in 20 overs.

Ravi Bishnoi (3/32) and Prasidh Krishna (3/41) emerged as the top bowlers for India, with Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and Mukesh Kumar claiming one wicket each.