Raghuram and Leelakrishna, 14 and 12 respectively, are brothers. Away from school hours, they go to a cricket academy not far from home, in Dharwad, in northern Karnataka, to train. Sunday was a memorable day for the boys, as they got to see some prominent cricketers, and get a few autographs and selfies. All in their neck of the woods – Dharwad to Hubbali is a half-hour’s drive – which…
New Zealand are “disappointed and frustrated” after being swept 3-0 by Australia in the ODI series in Cairns, especially after “having opportunities in all three matches and not getting over the line,” according to their coach Gary Stead. New Zealand had the hosts under pressure with early wickets in all three games but lost two of those by slim margins: the first by two wickets and the third by 25…
The economic crisis has formed the backdrop for much of Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup campaign. But their brand of cricket and some landmark wins – like the ODI series triumph over Australia at home and now the Asia Cup title – have come as a balm. On Sunday, in fact, the Sri Lanka women’s team were crowned Asian netball champions. For a people desperately seeking solace through sporting glory, this…
Saqlain Mushtaq, the Pakistan head coach, is a philosophical man at the best of times. On Sunday night, after Sri Lanka had won the Asia Cup final, the hope in his words, however, struck a note of misplaced optimism. No team had won after losing the toss in Dubai at the tournament before the final. Sri Lanka did it despite slipping to 58 for 5. It was their only win…
Lightning 230 for 9 (K Bryce 104, Gardner 3-45) beat Sunrisers 160 (Scrivens 54, Gordon 4-31) by 70 runs Captain Kathryn Bryce rescued Lightning with her second century of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy as they fought back to overcome winless Sunrisers by 70 runs at Chelmsford. Bryce’s shrewd knock of 104 from 109 balls underpinned the visitors’ recovery from 129 for 6 to post 230 for 9 – and…
Sri Lanka 170 for 6 (Rajapaksa 71*, Rauf 3-29) beat Pakistan 147 all out (Rizwan 55, Madushan 4-34, Hasaranga 3-27) by 23 runs A tournament that began for Sri Lanka with tumult at home and turbulence in the UAE has ended with them taking home the Asia Cup trophy. Pakistan were the side at the receiving end of this thumping, outclassed with the bat, outsmarted with the ball, outdone in…
James Anderson and Stuart Broad admitted to a mixture of frustration and sympathy for the umpires at the close of another captivating day’s play in the third and final Test against South Africa, after a capacity crowd was denied the prospect of witnessing an England victory march by the onset of bad light. After being set a target of 130 for victory, England’s openers Zak Crawley and Alex Lees had…
South East Stars 254 for 9 (Brewer 57, Davidson-Richards 50, Russell 3-44) beat Central Sparks 159 for 9 (Davis 52*, Gray 3-28) by 59 runs The South East Stars thrashed the Central Sparks by 59 runs in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Beckenham, limiting them to 159 for nine from 50 overs. Liz Russell took three for 44, but it was a total the visitors never looked like getting…
Northern Diamonds 334 for 6 (Armitage 131, Winfield-Hill 74, Heath 70) beat Western Storm 230 (Gibson 76, Smale 59, Levick 4-41) by 104 runs Hollie Armitage registered her first professional hundred as Northern Diamonds beat Western Storm by 104 runs to secure their place in the knockout stages of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy on a record-breaking day at the Cooper Associates Ground in Taunton. Diamonds won the toss, elected…
Southern Vipers 204 for 6 (Windsor 59) beat Thunder 203 (Threlkeld 79, Lamb 63, Norris 3-42) by four wickets Emily Windsor backed up her Hundred final heroics to guide Southern Vipers to a fifth straight Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy victory and guarantee a spot in the Playoff. Batter Windsor scored the winning runs at Lord’s last Saturday to give Oval Invincibles back-to-back titles, and at the Ageas Bowl against Thunder…