‘Special’ Root fires England to highest World Twenty20 run chase

Mumbai – Joe Root hailed his 83 against South Africa as the best of his Twenty20 career as England sensationally chased down a target of 230 to stun South Africa by two wickets on Friday. England batsman Joe Root plays a shot during the World T20 cricket tournament match between England and South Africa at The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 18, 2016 © AFP Punit Paranjpe Full Scorecard:…

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Love not war as India-Pakistan resume rivalry

Kolkata – It’s one of the world’s fiercest sporting rivalries and previous showdowns have taken place while the countries have been at war, or used as an icebreaker between frosty leaders. India’s Virat Kohli (R) shakes hands with Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi during a training session at The Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium in Kolkata on March 18, 2016 © AFP Dibyangshu Sarkar India’s Virat Kohli (R) shakes hands with Pakistan…

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We assessed right lengths in first few overs – McClenaghan

Play 01:20 WATCH – McClenaghan’s marvellous 19th over Early doors into the warm-ups, on a beautiful sunny day bucking all forecasts, it was apparent New Zealand were going to be unchanged from the XI that stunned India in Nagpur. This was not an identical pitch but similar: the only grass it is likely familiar to is of the kind that brings tourists from far and wide to the Himalayas, and…

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Smith urges sensible batting in middle overs

Play 02:08 ‘Batters are to blame’ – Smith Australia captain Steven Smith has pulled up his batsmen for the team’s eight-run defeat to New Zealand. Ahead of the opening match of their World Twenty20 campaign in Dharamsala, Smith had stressed the need for his players to bat smartly during the middle overs, to look for gaps and take the safer route to runs if the conditions did not warrant the…

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'First time that the pressure is more on India'

Play 03:16 Agarkar: Toughest match of Dhoni’s career India’s cricket team is undoubtedly, indisputably, unarguably, and by a massive distance, better than Pakistan’s cricket team. At football. It was probably the only definitive bit of knowledge anyone could have gleaned from watching the two teams’ training sessions on the eve of their World T20 clash at the Eden Gardens. If Saturday’s big match involved goalposts and a large, inflated ball,…

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Rejuvenated Pakistan out to test India's bouncebackability

Match facts Saturday, March 19, 2016Start time 1930 local (1400 GMT) Ahmed Shehzad, a late change to the squad, promises to solve Pakistan’s top-order puzzle © AFP Big picture The build-up to the India-Pakistan clash began once Dharamsala was named as the venue on December 11 last year. Political tensions and security concerns in the weeks preceding the tournament, however, left the administrators and fans in a limbo: ‘Will they,…

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Bates, Devine steer New Zealand to thumping win

New Zealand Women 177 for 3 (Bates 82, Devine 47) beat Ireland Women 84 for 5 (Joyce 28, Bermingham 2-17) by 93 runsScorecard Suzie Bates struck her 13th T20I fifty against Ireland on Friday © IDI/Getty Images Suzie Bates‘ swift 60-ball 82 and her 104-run partnership with Sophie Devine for the second wicket set the base for New Zealand Women’s massive 93-run win over Ireland Women in the World T20…

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England bowl first; South Africa open with de Kock and Amla

Toss England won the toss and decided to bowl against South AfricaLive scorecard and ball-by-ball details Play 02:45 Match Day: SA a formidable challenge for England South Africa were asked to set England a target in their first appearance at this World T20 and they would do so with all three of the men who have opened the batting in the tournament build-up. After a robust debate over whether Hashim…

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Black Caps hold their nerve

New Zealand pipped Australia by eight runs in a World Twenty20 thriller in Dharamsala. Chasing 143 to win their tournament opener, Australia were in contention thanks to 38 from Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell’s 22 and 24 by Mitchell Marsh. But from 100 for four with five overs to go, regular wickets fell as Steven Smith’s side finished agonisingly short in another pulsating limited-overs contest between the teams like last year’s…

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McClenaghan leads NZ to second victory

New Zealand 142 for 8 (Guptill 39, Elliott 27, Faulkner 2-18) beat Australia 134 for 9 (Khawaja 38, Marsh 24, McClenaghan 3-17) by eight runsScorecard and ball-by-ball details Mitchell McClenaghan held his nerve to pick up two wickets and concede just three runs in the penultimate over of Australia’s chase © Getty Images New Zealand’s Midas touch at this World Twenty20 continued in Dharamsala, where they took their tournament record…

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