tag

England beat India by 27 runs in a high-scoring contest at Lord's on Sunday to secure their first bilateral one-day international series victory against the world’s number one-ranked side since 2018.Opener Ben Duckett laid the foundations for a colossal total of 387-3 in 50 overs with a record-breaking 141 from 135 balls as England took the series 2-1.It was the highest innings in an ODI at Lord’s, eclipsing Viv Richards’s 138 not out in the 1979 World Cup final."That's pretty cool to me. Very precious,” said Duckett. "But all that I'm really bothered about today is that we've beaten the best side in the world."We've probably had a fair few critics over the last 12 to 18 months and a lot of that has been rightly so at times but now we can build on this."We've shown what we're capable of, we are just trying to be as consistent with it as possible moving forward."The bowlers have been pretty good this series. With the bat, we've let ourselves down a little bit so it was really nice to put that performance together today.” ROHIT SHARMA'S THRILLING 138Rohit Sharma gave India hope with a thrilling 138 from 110 balls which served to underline his continuing value to India after the talk over whether he still has a future in the side but, with Sam Curran taking 4-75, the huge target proved beyond the tourists.Duckett, who hit 18 fours and one six, shared in an opening stand of 192 - England’s highest in an ODI against India - with Jacob Bethell, who made 91. With player of the series Joe Root hitting 74 not out - his sixth successive ODI half-century - and Jos Buttler a blazing unbeaten 41 off just 13 balls, England posted their highest total at Lord’s in an ODI.India’s attack, missing Jasprit Bumrah with a knee injury, suffered badly. Gurnoor Brar’s figures of 0-97 in his 10 overs were the most expensive for his country against England in an ODI while Prince Yadav, who bowled seven wides, took 1-79.Rohit, who made his 34th ODI hundred, shared in a 147-run first-wicket stand with Shubman Gill, who made 77, but once the 39-year-old had gone, bowled by the slow left arm spin of Bethell, India fell further and further behind the required run rate. The loss of three wickets in the space of seven deliveries from Curran effectively ended the pursuit.Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer both fell to catches in the deep by substitute Rehan Ahmed before Virat Kohli miscued to England captain Harry Brook to depart for 74.It was Kohli’s first half-century at Lord’s but, even with India reaching 360-7, it was ultimately in a losing cause."We gave a bit too many runs in the last three overs - around 60 runs. That's where the game went too far ahead from us,” said Gill, India's captain.It has been a disappointing white-ball trip all round for India who also lost both their T20 series to Ireland and England.  BRIEF SCORES England 387 for 3 (Duckett 141, Bethell 91, Root 74*, Buttler 41*) beat India 360 for 7 (Rohit 138, Gill 77, Kohli 74) by 27 runs

India team management has thrown its weight behind struggling opener Rohit Sharma amid speculation back home that Sunday's third one-day international against England at Lord's could be his last.The 39-year-old managed a laboured 26 off 47 balls on Thursday as England won the second match in Cardiff to level the three-match series.Rohit has now gone 11 ODIs without a hundred and his poor run of form raises questions about his place for next year's World Cup, which South Africa will host along with Zimbabwe and Namibia.The Indian Express newspaper said the 39-year-old former India captain has been informed that the selectors have decided to "move on".Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, however, said white-ball stalwart Rohit was "too good" a player to feel any pressure. SUGGESTIONS ABOUT STRUGGLE DISMISSED"Yes, he didn’t get runs, but I don’t think that makes any difference," Kotak told reporters after Thursday's loss, dismissing suggestions that Rohit was struggling."On a particular day, many batters don’t get the momentum they are looking for, and that can happen. You might see a completely different innings from Rohit Sharma at Lord’s.""Rohit probably didn’t get balls in his areas and didn’t get going. That’s what I felt. So I wouldn’t say he was struggling."Former India captain Rohit is the only batter to have scored three 200-plus scores in ODIs, including a 264 against Sri Lanka, which remains the highest score by a batter in this format.Rohit has already quit test cricket and T20 Internationals. 

Joe Root's typically composed 99 not out steered jittery England to a four-wicket win over India in the second one-day international in Cardiff on Thursday that levelled this three-match series at 1-1.Root walked out to bat with England 0-1 after Ben Duckett was caught behind off Jasprit Bumrah from the first ball of the innings.England were 8-2 when Jacob Bethell nicked a rising delivery from Prasidh Krishna to wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan, a replacement for the ill KL Rahul, before skipper Harry Brook fell to a skittish scoop.Root, not for the first time in his long career, led an England revival as they chased down a modest target of 234 with 35 balls remaining to turn Sunday's finale at Lord's into a series decider.The former England captain faced 133 balls, including nine fours, and was only denied what would have been his 21st ODI century when the recalled Gus Atkinson, riding his luck with a few streaky shots, pulled Prasidh Krishna for four.When Sam Curran (22) was excellently taken standing up to the stumps by Kishan - the stand-in's fourth catch - off Shivam Dube, England were faltering at 94-4.But Root completed a 76-ball fifty - his second half-century in three days following his 76 not out in a six-wicket India win in Tuesday's series opener at Edgbaston.Fellow veteran Jos Buttler fell for just 17, clean bowled trying to drive left-arm spinner Axar Patel.Root needed a reliable ally and it seemed he had found one in Will Jacks.But having made 30, Jacks inexplicably backed away to leg and slapped paceman Gurnoor Brar straight to extra cover.Root threw his head back in anguish as India gained renewed hope with England 197-6 off 40 overs.Earlier, Jofra Archer led a much-improved England bowling display as India were dismissed for 233.India looked set for a score in excess of 300 when Virat Kohli (65) and Shreyas Iyer (66) were at the crease together.But a revamped England attack used the short ball to good effect to seize back the initiative at a sun-drenched Sophia Gardens.India, who had been 178-3, lost their last seven wickets for 55 runs - including a mini collapse of 4-15 - as they were all out with six overs remaining.Fast bowler Archer took 3-47 from his 10 overs after Brook won the toss, with Atkinson and Saqib Mahmood recalled to bolster England's seam-bowling options.India captain Shubman Gill, fresh from his 80 at Edgbaston, fell for 31 when he drove Atkinson to cover.Kohli has already retired from Test and T20 international cricket and this series could be the last time the legendary 37-year-old represents India in Britain.He showed his class by straight-driving Curran for four to bring up a run-a-ball fifty as chants of "Kohli, Kohli, Kohli" echoed round the ground.Iyer was dropped on 25 and soon afterwards, he drove leg-spinner Adil Rashid for a soaring straight six.England dismissed Kohli when a top edge off Archer flew to Rashid at third man.Archer struck with successive deliveries to reduce India to 193-7.Patel was caught behind off a attempted ramp and Dube drove a fuller-length delivery straight back to Archer.Iyer's casual hook for six off Archer saw him to a 42-ball fifty. But he fell tamely, caught behind off Atkinson, who finished with 3-50.Brief Scores: England 235 for 6 (Root 99*, Gurnoor 2-67) beat India 233 (Iyer 66, Kohli 65, Archer 3-47) by four wickets. 

Pace bowler Prasidh Krishna's 5-23 and an unbeaten 110 by Yashasvi Jaiswal powered India to a nine-wicket win over Afghanistan in the third ODI and sweep the series 3-0 on Saturday.Krishna registered his first five-wicket haul in ODI cricket to help bowl out Afghanistan for 218 in 44.2 overs despite skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi's 102 in Chennai.The left-handed Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma then put on 170 for the first wicket and the hosts romped home in 28.4 overs.Jaiswal raised his second ODI ton with a six and put another one over the fence to take India to victory after senior partner Rohit departed on 79 off 69 balls.The series - the first bi-lateral ODI fixture between the two nations - kickstarts the road to the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.Krishna started India's domination as he took the first four wickets as Afghanistan slumped to 36-4 before Shahidi struck his maiden ODI ton.Afghanistan elected to bat first, but Krishna sent back Rahmanullah Gurbaz (5), Rahmat Shah (5) and Ibrahim Zadran (11), all three batters caught by Rohit.Darwish Rasooli was next out for one before Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai, who made 50, put on 105 for the fifth wicket to thwart the opposition bowling. It was only temporary, though, as Prince Yadav broke through to dismiss Omarzai after the batters' ninth ODI half-century.Mohammad Nabi made 21 in another stand with Shahidi before wickets tumbled.Shahidi suffered cramps in hot and humid Chennai and limped towards the back end of his innings but reached his hundred with a four off Washington Sundar.The captain soon fell to Krishna, who took his fifth to wrap up the innings.Jaiswal and Rohit came out and hit regular boundaries to pummel the opposition attack and put India on course. Rohit miscued a pull to be caught at deep mid-wicket off spinner Mohammad Nabi but Jaiswal kept up the pace.He added 54 with Shreyas Iyer, who made 20 not out, to take the team home. It gives India a sweep across formats after they hammered Afghanistan in the one-off Test. BRIEF SCORES: India 224 for 1 (Jaiswal 110*, Rohit 79, Nabi 1-47) beat Afghanistan 218 (Shahidi 102, Omarzai 50, Prasidh 5-23) by nine wickets. 

Captain Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan led the way with centuries as they set up India's massive 170-run victory over Afghanistan on Wednesday, sealing the three-match one-day international (ODI) series with ‌two straight wins.Gill and Kishan added 224 runs for ​the third wicket as ‌India scored 402 after being put in to bat first ‌in Lucknow. ⁠Afghanistan could only ‌reach 232-9 in reply, with ‌Darwish Rasooli retiring hurt.After Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) fell early and Rohit Sharma (48) was ⁠bowled by Rashid Khan (3-48), Gill and Kishan kept the runs flowing, punishing the Afghan bowlers through the middle overs.When India neared the 200-run mark, the two batters upped the tempo, scoring 121 runs in nine overs to get India to 307-2 after 36 overs. Gill and Kishan both completed their centuries with boundaries in the ​33rd over, while collecting 21 runs from Bilal Sami.But spinner Nangeyalia Kharote (4-76) limited the damage, getting both of them out. Kishan, who scored his first ODI ‌century since 2022, hit seven ⁠sixes and 14 ​boundaries en route to an explosive 125 off 79 balls ​before getting caught trying to pull Kharote for six.Gill was more measured, hitting only two sixes and 22 fours as he scored 154 off 110 balls, his ninth ODI hundred. But his tactful attempt to reverse sweep Kharote backfired, and the mis-timed shot got caught at deep point.Kharote dismissed KL Rahul for a golden duck in the very next ball, leaving India at 360-5 in the 43rd over. India lost the rest of their batters ‌within 42 runs, and were ‌bowled out with one ball ⁠to spare.SHAH'S LONELY BATTLE FALLS SHORTAfghanistan were up against the odds ⁠chasing a target of 403, ⁠and their chances looked thinner after Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who had scored a 48-ball century in the previous match, got dismissed at 41 by Gurnoor Brar (3-60).Sediqullah Atal (42) failed to get the visitors back on track. Darwish Rasooli had to retire hurt with a right hamstring injury soon after, and ​Brar bowled captain Hashmatullah Shahidi two balls later.By the time Arshdeep Singh (3-45) dismissed Rashid Khan and Allah Ghazanfar in two successive deliveries in different overs, it was all but over with Afghanistan at 190-7."I did not realise I was on a hat-trick... now I have a regret," said Singh in a post-match interview.But Rahmat Shah's lonely resistance, with a defiant 79 off 89 balls, helped the visitors get to 232 ‌before the fall ​of their ninth wicket ended the match in the 45th over. BRIEF SCORES India 402 (Gill 154, Kishan 125, Kharote 4-76, Rashid 3-48) beat Afghanistan 232 (Rahmat 79, Gurbaz 41, Arshdeep 3-45, Gurnoor 3-60) by 170 runs

Spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan starred in Pakistan's four-wicket win in their decisive third and final one-day international against Australia in Lahore on Thursday. Shaheen grabbed 3-30 to bundle Australia out for 157 before Shadab added a fighting 29 not out to his two wickets, helping Pakistan to their winning target in 41.5 overs. That gave Pakistan a 2-1 series win - their third successive ODI series victory over Australia - after they won the first match by five wickers in Rawalpindi. Australia won the second by 41 runs, also in Lahore. Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann's career best 3-38 - including Babar Azam's wicket for 40 - had given the visitors some hope of an unlikely win. At 112-6, Pakistan were in a spot of bother but Shadab found an able partner in Abdul Samad as the duo added a match-winning 49 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket stand. Shadab's second boundary sealed the win, while Samad's 18 not out included one boundary. Shaheen praised a complete team effort. "All bowlers executed plans well to keep Australia down to 157," said Shaheen.  "The conditions were tough for the batters but the players put in a great effort. "I think it was a complete team effort throughout the series." Australian captain Josh Inglis praised his team. "I thought the bowlers and the fielding group made a great effort to put us in a position to potentially win the game, but it wasn't to be in the end," he said. "We have some young and inexperienced guys so it's a great learning experience for them." Earlier, Shaheen was ably supported by Abrar Ahmed (2-19) and Shadab (2-28) as Australia's innings folded in 42 overs after they won the toss and batted. Spinners Abrar and Shadab built on Shaheen's early strikes as Pakistan made a strong comeback after a disappointing loss in the second game. Inglis top-scored with a 71-ball 65 which included eight boundaries and a six, with Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey scoring 19 each and Adam Zampa making 10. Shaheen had Matthew Short caught off the second ball of the match before Inglis added 46 for the second wicket with Labuschagne and another 52 for the third with Carey. But Australia lost their last seven wickets for a meagre 38 runs with two run outs also hurting their innings. 

Test and ODI skipper Shubman Gill Saturday said he respected the Indian selectors' shock decision to drop him from the squad for the T20 World Cup on home soil, calling it "destiny".The 26-year-old will lead the one-day team in three matches against New Zealand starting today in Vadodara before many of India's players head into a five-match T20 series.Indian selectors surprisingly axed the batsman from the T20 squad after he scored only 291 runs in his past 15 matches in the game's shortest format at an average of 24.25."Firstly, it is my belief that in my life, I am where I am supposed to be. Whatever is written in my destiny, I will have it," Gill told reporters."As a player I want to win games for my team, but having said that, I respect the selectors' decision. I wish the T20 team the very best. I hope that they win the World Cup."India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, are the defending champions in the T20 World Cup which takes place in India and Sri Lanka between February 7 and March 8.Before that, India will play 50-over matches against New Zealand with the spotlight on stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.Kohli and Rohit play only the ODI format since retiring from T20s, following the World Cup triumph in Barbados in 2024, and Test cricket.Gill said the presence of the two greats was invaluable for any captain."Definitely when you have these two people in your team, it makes your life a lot easier," said Gill."And whenever you are in a tough situation, they have been in those kind of situations and conditions many times in their life, so you can always go to them and see how they are thinking or what they would do."And that piece of information is very valuable for any captain."The 37-year-old Kohli and Rohit, 38, have been in top batting form in international and domestic cricket, scoring centuries and runs to turn back the clock.Meanwhile, New Zealand's ODI captain Michael Bracewell is keen to make the most of the Indian conditions ahead of the T20 World Cup."It's always fun coming over and playing here," said Bracewell, a left-hand batter and off-spinner."A month before the T20 World Cup, getting used to these conditions. You won't be in the same venue but in general, getting used to the nature of the surfaces that they have."Bracewell said he will name the playing XI at the toss but confirmed fast bowler Kristian Clarke will make his international debut in the ODI opener. 

Salman Ali Agha’s unbeaten century and Haris Rauf’s four-wicket burst helped Pakistan pip Sri Lanka by just six runs in the opening ODI of the three-match series as they successfully defended the 299-run total Tuesday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.Pakistan’s pace arsenal led by Haris (4-61) picked up eight of the nine Sri Lankan wickets to fall as Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah also chipped in with two scalps apiece. Meanwhile, Mohammad Nawaz outfoxed Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka at a crucial juncture in the chase.Wanindu Hasaranga top-scored for his side with a 52-ball 59 hitting seven fours and kept them well in the hunt till 49th over after walking in to bat at 191-6, when Sri Lanka required 109 runs off the remaining 102 balls.Hasaranga – who struck his fifth half-century in the format – stitched a 19-run stand with Kamindu Mendis, a 42-ball 37-run stand with Dushmantha Chameera and finally a 26-ball 32-run ninth-wicket stand with Maheesh Theekshana (21 not out, 18b, 2x4s) before being caught at long-on boundary off Naseem in the penultimate over.With 21 required off the last over delivered by Hussain Talat, Theekshana threatened Pakistan with two consecutive fours off the third and fourth ball before only gathering two runs off the remaining two as Sri Lanka agonisingly fell six runs short.In pursuit of the 300-run target, Sri Lankan opening duo of debutant Kamil Mishara (38, 36b, 5x4s, 1x6) and Pathum Nissanka (29, 39b, 3x4s) got their team to a flying start as they belted 85 runs off the opening 11.5 overs including 75 in the Powerplay.Haris missed out on a hat-trick after he he got Mishara caught at mid-off and castled Kusal Mendis for a golden duck. He then returned to further dent Sri Lanka’s audacious progress by getting Nissanka caught behind with the scorecard reading 90-3 in 13.2 overs.Sadeera Samarawickrama (39, 48b, 6x4s) and Charith Asalanka (32, 49b, 2x4s) then rebuilt the innings with a dogged 80-ball 57-run stand, which was again broken by Haris courtesy an outstanding one-handed grab by Babar Azam at first slip to remove the former.Asalanka then put on 36 runs with Janith Liyanage before Nawaz got him stumped in the 32nd over. Liyanage, who lifted Sri Lanka’s spirits with two fours and as many sixes in a 24-ball 28 was bowled by Naseem in the 33rd over with 191 on the board and four wickets in hand.Earlier, Pakistan were asked to bat first and Sri Lanka took 4.1 overs to draw first blood as Asitha Fernando trapped Saim Ayub leg-before for a 14-ball six following which Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman dug deep for a 54-run second-wicket stand.Hasaranga then cut open Pakistan’s innings with three valuable scalps getting Fakhar (32, 55b, 2x4s) stumped, Rizwan trapped leg-before and beating Babar’s defenses to hit the stumps as the hosts were reduced to 95-4 in 23.2 overs.Salman – who brought up his second ODI ton (105 not out, 87b, 9x4s) – joined forces with Hussain Talat (62, 63b, 6x4s, 1x6) to lift Pakistan out of the hole as the duo put on a game-changing 138-run stand for the fifth wicket.That Pakistan converted their 96-4 from first 25 overs to 299-5 by collecting 203 runs in the second half of the innings was due to the Salman and Hussain’s counterattacking effort. The duo picked the pace after 35th over when they were 152-4, getting at least a boundary off each over except 40th and 43rd.Hussain fell to Theekshana in the 44th over before Nawaz arrived to provide Pakistan a late flourish with his brisk 23-ball 36 not out hitting five four and one six. He also shared an unbeaten 66-run stand with Salman.Salman brought up his century off 83 balls in the 48th over – which yielded 20 runs - hitting Chameera for two consecutive fours and a single off the first three balls. Pakistan crucially took 22 runs off the last two overs of their innings including a four on the last ball to post their fourth-highest ODI total at the venue.Brief ScoresPakistan 299-5, 50 overs (Salman Ali Agha 105 not out, Hussain Talat 62, Mohammad Nawaz 36 not out, Fakhar Zamn 32, Babar Azam 29; Wanindu Hasaranga 3-54) bt Sri Lanka 293-9, 50 overs (Wanindu Hasaranga 59, Sadeera Samarawickrama 39, Kamil Mishara 38, Charith Asalanka 32, Pathum Nissanka 29, Janith Liyanage 28, Maheesh Theekshana 21 not out; Haris Rauf 4-61, Faheem Ashraf 2-49, Naseem Shah 2-55)

Quinton de Kock hit a brilliant century and Nandre Burger grabbed four wickets as South Africa thumped Pakistan by eight wickets in their second one-day international Thursday.Playing his second ODI after reversing his 2023 decision to retire from the format, the dashing De Kock smashed an unbeaten 123 to anchor a 270-run chase with 9.5 overs in spare at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. South African victory levelled the three-match series at 1-1 after Pakistan won the first match by two wickets. The third and final match is on Saturday, all in Faisalabad.De Kock put on a solid 81 for the opening wicket with Lhuan-dre Pretorius (46), before compiling a 153-run stand for the second wicket with Tony de Zorzi, who scored an attractive 63-ball 76.The left-handed trio took the attack to Pakistan’s pace quartet, with De Kock knocking eight fours and seven sixes while Pretorius had seven boundaries and one maximum.De Kock reached his 22nd ODI hundred with a couple off a luckless Mohammad Wasim, who saw Mohammad Nawaz drop the wicketkeeper-batter on 15. De Zorzi sped up the scoring rate with three sixes and nine boundaries before he was caught off Faheem Ashraf with 36 needed. Skipper Matthew Breetzke took the winning single, making 17 not out.“I set myself high goals so I am happy to bat well today,” said De Kock. “I think Nandre set us well with early wickets and then we batted well to chase that down.”Earlier, South African fast bowler Burger registered his best ODI figures of 4-46 to keep the home team down to 269-9.The 30-year-old ripped out Pakistan’s first three wickets in his opening three overs after the hosts won the toss and batted.From 22-3, however, the hosts rebuilt the innings and half-centuries from opener Saim Ayub and Salman Agha, who added 92 for the fourth wicket, and later from Nawaz helped them to a fighting total. Burger struck with his third delivery, having opener Fakhar Zaman caught behind by De Kock for a duck.He then struck twice in his third over: crowd favourite Babar Azam was caught in the slips for 11 from the first ball and four balls later Mohammad Rizwan chopped on to his stumps for four. Ayub hit 53 off 66 balls with a six and five fours, while Agha made a more docile 69 from 106 deliveries with five boundaries as the pair revived the innings. Ayub hit his second ODI fifty before giving Corbin Bosch a return catch in the 25th over, while Agha was bowled by Bosch in the 41st.Down the order, Nawaz blasted a run-a-ball 59 with four sixes and three fours while all-rounder Faheem made 28 as Pakistan plundered 90 runs in the final 10 overs.“I think we put up a good total but did not bowl and field well,” said Shaheen. “We will come back strongly.”BRIEF SCORES: South Africa 270 for 2 (de Kock 123*, de Zorzi 76, Ashreef 1-40) beat Pakistan 269 for 9 (Agha 69, Nawaz 59, Burger 4-46) by eight wickets.