Hayley Matthews, who had earlier appeared poised for a second T20I century, played a pivotal role for the West Indies. She batted through their innings, crafting an entertaining knock of 99 from 74 balls, featuring four sixes and 12 fours. Unfortunately, her efforts were in vain as her teammates failed to capitalize.

Despite Matthews’ batting brilliance, West Indies faced an uphill battle, especially after dropping several crucial chances. Chinelle Henry (1-30) was the only other wicket-taker for the West Indies as Australia displayed dominance with the bat.

Megan Schutt, playing her 100th T20I for Australia, made an impressive start by conceding just one run from her two overs. Ellyse Perry, who had previously suffered a knee injury against Ireland in July, returned to the lineup but refrained from bowling in this match.

In an intense opening Twenty20 International on Thursday, West Indies stunned India by securing a narrow four-run triumph, defending a modest target of 150 runs.

India started promisingly, reaching 77-3 in the 11th over, driven by the debutant Tilak Varma’s impressive knock of 39 and Suryakumar Yadav’s 21. However, their fortunes changed as they lost six wickets for just 68 runs.

Shimron Hetmyer, making a comeback to international cricket after a year, played a pivotal role for West Indies with three crucial catches and a run-out of Arshdeep Singh in the final over, sealing the low-scoring encounter.

Tilak Varma, the 20-year-old IPL sensation with 343 runs for Mumbai Indians, displayed his hitting prowess with three sixes during his 22-ball innings. Two of his sixes came off the first three balls he faced from Alzarri Joseph.

Varma’s innings came to an end on the last ball of the 11th over, caught by Hetmyer at fine leg off pace bowler Romario Shepherd, with the total at 77. Suryakumar was earlier caught brilliantly by Hetmyer at short extra cover off the bowling of Jason Holder.

West Indies captain Rovman Powell top-scored with 48 as his team posted 149-6 after opting to bat first. Powell’s 32-ball innings included three fours and three sixes, and he was well-supported by Nicholas Pooran, who contributed 41 runs.

Holder was exceptional with the ball for West Indies, ending with impressive figures of 2-19 in his four overs, earning him the title of the man of the match.

Despite India’s valiant efforts, they made some costly errors in the chase, and captain Hardik Pandya attributed it to the inexperience of the young team.

The thrilling victory marks a positive start for West Indies in the T20I series, and the teams will now move on to play the next two matches in Bridgetown on Sunday and Tuesday before concluding the series in Florida on August 12 and 13. India previously won the two-Test series 1-0 and the ODIs 2-1 against West Indies.

India Bounce Back with Emphatic 200-Run Win Over West Indies in Series Decider. India swiftly recovered from a disappointing second match to dominate the West Indies by a whopping 200 runs in the decisive third and final one-day international at the Brian Lara Stadium on Tuesday.

Despite resting senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, India’s batting line-up finally clicked collectively, posting an imposing 351-5 while batting first. Their seamers wreaked havoc on the West Indies’ top order, and a ninth-wicket partnership of 55 only delayed the inevitable as the hosts were bundled out for 151 off 35.3 overs.

The margin of victory was India’s second-largest against the West Indies in ODIs, extending their streak of bilateral series wins against the Caribbean team to 13.

Openers Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan set the tone for India’s innings, with Kishan scoring an explosive 77 off 64 balls – his third consecutive half-century – in a record-breaking opening stand of 143. Gill contributed a solid 85 off 92 balls before falling to Gudakesh Motie, who proved to be the most economical bowler for the home side.

Hardik Pandya, the stand-in captain, then stole the show with an unbeaten 70 off just 52 deliveries, featuring five sixes and four fours. Sanju Samson also made his presence felt with a quickfire 51 off 41 balls.

The West Indies, playing their first-ever men’s ODI at the venue, never threatened the imposing target, as Mukesh Kumar’s opening burst dismantled their top order. Shardul Thakur and Jaydev Unadkat joined in to leave the hosts in tatters at 50 for six.

Despite resistance from Motie (39 not out) and Alzarri Joseph, the West Indies could not prevent the inevitable. Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist-spin claimed two more wickets, while Thakur finished with the best figures of 4-37, becoming the leading wicket-taker of the series with eight dismissals.

Both teams are now gearing up for the final leg of the tour, a five-match T20 international series, with the first match scheduled for Thursday at the Brian Lara Stadium.

On the fourth day of the second and final Test, Ravichandran Ashwin’s brilliant bowling fetched two crucial wickets for India, but the West Indies displayed resilience, reaching 76 for two while chasing a daunting target of 365.

Amidst intermittent showers at Queen’s Park Oval, Mohammed Siraj dismantled the lower order of the West Indies in the morning, granting India a lead of 183 runs in the first innings.

India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, and wicketkeeper-batsman, Ishan Kishan, then accelerated the scoring with impressive half-centuries, leading to a swift declaration of the second innings at 181 for two in just 24 overs.

Ashwin, who had been the tormentor of the West Indies in the first Test with an outstanding 11-wicket performance, continued his dominance by dismissing West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite through a top-edged sweep and then removing debutant Kirk McKenzie lbw without any runs scored.

Yet, the determined Tagenarine Chanderpaul, very much resembling his celebrated father Shivnarine, remained at the crease, forming a partnership with vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood until the close of play.

The West Indies face a formidable target of 289 runs on the final day, and it seems like a daunting challenge, given the experience, competence, and confidence of the Indian team striving for a 2-0 series sweep, marking the beginning of the new World Test Championship cycle.

In humid conditions earlier in the day, Siraj’s exceptional performance saw him claim his best Test figures of five for 60, causing the West Indies to collapse from an overnight score of 229 for five to 255 all out, with the last five wickets falling for just 26 runs.

Sharma set the pace for India with a rapid 35-ball 50 before lunch, eventually scoring 57, while his opening partner, Yashasvi Jaiswal, played a similarly attacking innings with 38 runs in the three overs bowled during the afternoon session.

Following Jaiswal’s dismissal, Ishan Kishan showcased his natural flair, remaining unbeaten on 52 off just 34 balls, including four fours and two sixes, marking his maiden Test half-century.

Looking ahead, Kishan emphasized the importance of execution on the final day and credited Virat Kohli’s support for allowing him to play his natural game. The Indian team is eager to demonstrate the result of their preparation for this series.

In the West Indies’ second innings, debutant pacer Mukesh Kumar was given a chance to share the new ball with Siraj after his pivotal wicket in the first over of the day. However, the opening pair of Brathwaite and Chanderpaul handled the challenge without significant trouble. It was Ashwin’s cunning bowling in the 18th over that eventually broke the partnership, marking the fourth time in four innings that he dismissed West Indies captain Brathwaite.

On the third day of the second and final Test at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, rain interruptions and a turgid display of cricket saw the West Indies reaching 229 for five in response to India’s first innings total of 438 by stumps.

The match progress, spanning 65 overs and hampered by seasonal showers, lacked excitement as the home side prioritized survival over entertainment, aiming to avoid a repeat of their capitulation in the first Test.

Leading from the front, Kraigg Brathwaite’s innings of 75 embodied the team’s determined, though unattractive, approach following their three-day humiliation in Dominica the previous week. Spending nearly five hours at the crease and facing 235 deliveries, Brathwaite struck five fours and one six before being dismissed by familiar adversary, Ravichandran Ashwin, who bowled him between bat and pad.

Starting the day alongside debutant Kirk McKenzie at 86 for one, the West Indies progressed steadily until McKenzie’s unfortunate waft at a wide delivery from fellow debutant Mukesh Kumar led to his dismissal, giving the newcomer his first Test wicket.

India, keen for breakthroughs, found success immediately after tea when the usually attacking Jermaine Blackwood fell to a splendid catch by Ajinkya Rahane at slip off left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja. Blackwood’s innings of 20 spanned 92 deliveries.

With only one wicket falling in each of the first two sessions, India continued to press hard for more success after tea. Their efforts paid off when Mohammed Siraj uprooted Joshua da Silva’s middle stump, securing his first wicket of the innings with the West Indies at 208 for five.

However, former captain Jason Holder provided stability and support to Alick Athanaze (37 not out) as the young left-hander navigated a challenging period against the second new ball, guiding the West Indies’ effort into the fourth morning.

Reflecting on the day’s play, Athanaze acknowledged the quality of India’s bowling, stating, “The batting conditions may not have been as tough as in Dominica but given the quality of bowling that they have, they still made life difficult for us. It was tricky at the end of the day against the new ball but we were able to hold on. It’s no secret that we are trying to rebuild, and it’s all about enjoying the challenge that we face.”

In order to better prepare for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup, Pakistan has made the decision to postpone a two-match home Test series against the West Indies until 2025, as confirmed by officials on Tuesday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board announced that the national team will now engage in an additional 10 T20 matches against New Zealand during the 2023-24 season. Meanwhile, a home series consisting of two Tests and three T20s against the West Indies will be rescheduled to January 2025.

This strategic decision aims to provide the best possible preparation opportunities for the T20 World Cup in 2024, according to a statement from the board.

Pakistan and New Zealand will compete in T20 matches in Auckland (Jan 12), Hamilton (Jan 14), Dunedin (Jan 17), and Christchurch (Jan 19 and 21).

Additionally, New Zealand is scheduled to make a return visit to Pakistan in April 2024 for a series of five T20 matches.

The next T20 World Cup is set to take place in the West Indies and the United States in June 2024.

Prior to that, Pakistan’s cricket calendar includes three T20 matches against the Netherlands, two against Ireland, and four against England—all of which will be played away from home.

The PCB has also announced that the women’s team will embark on a tour to New Zealand in December, participating in three T20 matches and three ODIs.

In preparation for the second and final test against India, commencing in Port of Spain on Thursday, West Indies have strengthened their spin department by including uncapped all-rounder Kevin Sinclair in place of Raymon Reifer.

During the opening test in Roseau, the hosts presented a turning track that ended up working against them as India’s spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja claimed 17 out of the 20 wickets, resulting in a victory within three days.

In that match, West Indies left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican bowled 45 overs, while off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall bowled 16 overs to each claim one wicket.

Additionally, part-time spinners Kraigg Brathwaite, Alick Athanaze, and Jermaine Blackwood were among the nine bowlers utilized by West Indies during India’s only innings at Windsor Park.

Kevin Sinclair, an off-spinning all-rounder with 13 limited-overs internationals under his belt, may make his debut in the longer format, which would mark the 100th test between India and West Indies.

Raymon Reifer, a fast-bowling all-rounder, will travel to Trinidad as injury cover.

India Dominates Opening Test against West Indies with Ashwin’s Heroic Five-Wicket Haul

On the first day of the opening Test in Dominica, Ravichandran Ashwin showcased his exceptional bowling skills, taking five wickets to lead India’s dominant performance. After bundling out the West Indies for 150, India ended the day at 80 without loss. Ashwin, who was omitted for the World Test Championship final against Australia a month earlier, delivered a remarkable performance, claiming figures of 5/60 off 24.3 overs. This left West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite ruing his decision to bat first after winning the toss.

Ashwin received excellent support from fellow spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who secured three wickets for just 26 runs. The only notable resistance came from debutant batsman Alick Athanaze, who delighted the home fans with his composed innings of 47 before falling just before the tea interval.

India’s opening batsmen, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma, remained unbeaten at stumps, forming an unbroken partnership. The West Indies’ varied bowling attack struggled to pose a threat, setting a daunting task for the Caribbean team going into day two.

Reflecting on his performance, Ashwin commented on the pitch conditions, noting that it started to turn slowly as the day progressed. He emphasized the importance of adapting and continuously striving for improvement in international cricket.

Ashwin’s impactful day began with the dismissal of Tagenarine Chanderpaul and an unfortunate miscue from Brathwaite. These early breakthroughs set the tone for a disappointing batting display by the West Indies.

Despite the wickets tumbling around him, Athanaze showcased his shot-making ability but fell just short of a half-century when he attempted a pull shot off Ashwin, resulting in a simple catch for Shardul Thakur at mid-on. His partnership of 41 runs with Jason Holder was the most substantial of the West Indies’ innings.

Mohammed Siraj also made his mark, taking a stunning leaping catch at mid-off to dismiss Jermaine Blackwood right before lunch, thanks to Jadeja’s bowling. Thakur contributed to India’s success by claiming a wicket in the morning session, dismissing Raymon Reifer with a low catch taken by debutant wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan.

Kishan’s wicket-keeping skills, however, appeared somewhat untidy when standing up to the spinners. This has raised questions about the decision to omit the incumbent gloveman Srikar Bharat.

In the final over of the day, Jaiswal confidently executed a reverse sweep against left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, earning a boundary and emphasizing India’s dominance.

With such a commanding performance on day one, India has made a clear statement of intent heading into day two of the Test match.

In a thrilling final group game that went down to a super over, the West Indies, two-time champions, now face a monumental task to secure qualification for the Cricket World Cup. Nicholas Pooran’s exceptional century, his second of the qualifiers, propelled the West Indies to a commanding total of 374/6. However, Teja Nidamanuru’s brilliant 111-run knock in response gave the Netherlands hope, with victory requiring just one run off the final ball.

Jason Holder’s outstanding catch denied Logan van Beek, resulting in a tied score. In the ensuing super over, Van Beek unleashed an explosive display, scoring 30 runs off Holder’s over, leading to a remarkable win for the Dutch in Harare. Van Beek continued to shine by restricting the West Indies to a mere eight runs in their super over, dismissing Johnson Charles and Romario Shepherd with consecutive deliveries, sealing an extraordinary triumph.

“It’s hard to put into words at the moment. We aimed to do something special,” said Van Beek. Reflecting on the victory, he added, “Having lost so many games from similar situations, it was immensely satisfying to come out on top. Now we have a significant opportunity to participate in the World Cup in India.”

Pooran’s unbeaten 104 off 65 balls, along with strong contributions from openers Brandon King (76) and Charles (54), helped the West Indies amass a formidable total while batting first. King and Charles laid a solid foundation with a 101-run opening partnership, while Shai Hope’s 47 further bolstered the score during a century stand with Pooran. Keemo Paul’s quick-fire 46 not out also added valuable runs to the team’s total.

Although the Netherlands got off to a promising start, reaching 76 without loss, it was not until Nidamanuru partnered with captain Scott Edwards (67) that they seemed capable of achieving the target. However, their dismissals in consecutive overs raised doubts. Van Beek and Aryan Dutt took up the challenge, but faltered with just five runs needed off the last five balls, seemingly on the verge of victory.

Despite failing to seal the win on the final delivery from Alzarri Joseph, Van Beek’s explosive performance in the super over placed the West Indies in real danger of missing out on the World Cup later this year. “We let ourselves down there,” expressed Hope, the West Indies captain. He acknowledged the challenging situation the team now faces, saying, “We are aware of what we must do. It’s an unfortunate position we’ve put ourselves in.”

The Netherlands progress as runners-up in Group A, carrying over two points, while the West Indies start at zero and must secure victories against Scotland, Oman, and Sri Lanka to keep their hopes alive, though their qualification hangs by a thread.