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Showing posts from October, 2021

T20 World Cup: Rewriting grammar of white-ball cricket

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England skipper Eoin Morgan, no less an aggressive player himself, paid his best friend Jos Buttler the ultimate compliment, saying he was one of the 'few' who have revolutionised batting in the T20 era.

Ish Sodhi praises Mitchell Santner's role in NZ's win over India

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Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santer may have not picked up a wicket in New Zealand's thumping win over India but his tidy spell helped immensely in putting pressure on the opposition batters, feels teammmate Ish Sodhi.

Bubble fatigue: Bumrah lends perspective to India's poor T20 WC

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India's pace-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah said bubble fatigue is a tough reality of the current times as he tried to explain the team's shambolic campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup in the UAE.

'Tentative' India blasted after T20 WC loss to New Zealand

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Former India cricketers lined up to slate Virat Kohli's side after Sunday's crushing eight-wicket defeat against New Zealand left them on the brink of elimination from the T20 World Cup.

Confident England eye semis spot, Sri Lanka look for survival

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​They are at two ends of the spectrum. England have been one of the stand-out teams of the T20 World Cup so far and a win against Sri Lanka on Monday will all but book them a spot in the semis.

NZ coach Gary Stead hails 'really special' win over India

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New Zealand coach Gary Stead said his bowlers produced one of their best ever T20 performances in Sunday's eight-wicket victory over India, which put the 'Black Caps' firmly back on track for a place in the T20 World Cup semifinals.

T20 World Cup: We weren't brave enough, says Virat Kohli

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"We need to be brutal here. I don't think we were brave enough with the bat or ball. Didn't have much to defend but we weren't brave when we walked out to the field. New Zealand had more intensity," a curt Virat Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

India's title dreams virtually over after another drubbing

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As New Zealand, without any scoreboard pressure chasing 111, cantered along merrily, with Darryl Mitchell (49 off 35; 4x4, 3x6) at times toying with the much-vaunted attack, India's shoulders drooped, the faces went grim and their pre-tournament billing appeared manufactured.

Attacking intent for extra runs didn't come off, says Bumrah

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India's pace-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah on Sunday said that the batters tried to play "an attacking game" in a bid to give extra 20-30 runs to the bowlers on a dew-laden surface as that was the communication from the team management for the match against New Zealand. India were handed an eight-wicket defeat in the end.

NZ have almost ensured India don't make the semis, says Sehwag

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India suffered an eight-wicket loss against New Zealand in a 'Super 12' game of the ongoing tournament on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium, which have now seriously hurt the chances of Virat Kohli & Co reaching the semifinals of the T20 World Cup.

A complete performance: Williamson lauds NZ for India win

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New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said the Dubai wicket wasn't an easy one to bat but the Kiwi openers made things easy for the side against India in their T20 World Cup game on Sunday. New Zealand went on to register a comprehensive eight-wicket win to revive their campaign.

We were not brave enough: Virat Kohli

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Indian captain Virat Kohli said his team was not brave enough with the bat, ball and in its body language as it copped an 8-wicket thrashing at the hands of New Zealand which has put the side in danger of a group-stage exit from the T20 World Cup. "We didn't have much to defend but we weren't brave when we walked out to field," Kohli said. The defeat will once again raise questions over Kohli's leadership even though he is stepping down from T20 captaincy after the ongoing tournament.

T20 World Cup: India stare at exit after being walloped by NZ

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India's superstar cricketers were pummelled on a second-straight Sunday as a disciplined New Zealand firmly pushed them towards the exit door with an easy eight-wicket victory in the ICC T20 World Cup.

Watch: Asghar Afghan receives Guard of Honour from Namibia

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Former Afghanistan skipper Asghar Afghan on Sunday received a guard of honour from Namibia during the ongoing match in the T20 World Cup.

On this day in 1987: Chetan Sharma took first-ever World Cup hat-trick

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This day, 34 years ago, India's Chetan Sharma scripted history by becoming the first bowler to take a World Cup hat-trick. This was also the first instance of an Indian taking a hat-trick in any format of the game.

Former Australia all-rounder Philpott dies aged 86

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Former Australia all-rounder Peter Philpott has died at the age of 86 following a long battle with illness, Cricket Australia (CA) said in a statement on Sunday.

T20 World Cup India vs NZ: What Kohli said ahead of the big match

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Virat Kohli will be stepping down as the captain of the Indian T20I team after the ongoing T20 World Cup. The match against New Zealand today will be a very crucial one in that context, not just for Team India, but also for Virat the T20I captain.

T20 WC Live: Namibia hope to continue dream run vs Afghans

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You need experience of Ashwin for NZ game: Sanjay Bangar

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India and New Zealand will lock horns against in the 'Super 12' stage of the T20 World Cup on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Both sides will enter the contest after suffering a loss against Pakistan. Bangar said that Ashwin should come into the playing XI in place of Varun Chakravarthy.

Shardul would give depth to India's batting line-up: Laxman

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Former India batsman VVS Laxman said that Team India requires Shardul Thakur to get the balance in the eleven right for an all-important game against New Zealand in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

WBBL: Harmanpreet, Deepti deliver match-winning performances

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India T20 skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and all-rounder Deepti Sharma delivered player-of-the-match performances for their respective teams in the Women's Big Bash League on Sunday.

On this day in 2005: MS Dhoni registered his highest ODI score

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It was on this day, 16 years ago, when former India skipper MS Dhoni registered his highest ODI score.

Final will be either between India-Pakistan or Australia-England: Warne

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Former Australia spinner Shane Warne has predicted that either India-Pakistan or England-Australia will square off in the finals of the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

T20 WC: Warne blasts Smith selection after England thump Australia

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Former spinner Shane Warne has questioned the inclusion of Steve Smith in Australia's line-up at the Twenty20 World Cup in a scathing assessment of the country's loss against England on Saturday.

T20 WC, India vs NZ: Martin Guptill fit for India game

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New Zealand opener Martin Guptill, who had suffered a toe injury, has regained fitness and available for selection for the T20 World Cup match against India here.

WT20, India vs New Zealand: When and where to watch

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The format of the ongoing T20 World Cup is such that the Super 12 stage is extremely competitive and very tough. Out of the 12 teams playing in it, as many as 8 teams will be knocked out and only 4 teams will make it through to the next round - the semi-finals.

Asif Ali has rare gift of hitting hard at the death: Matthew Hayden

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There's a new finisher in town. Or maybe not. The cricket world is waking up to Asif Ali a little late.

England hand Australia a thrashing, close in on semis spot

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England are still unbeaten in this event while the Aussies have never found the right rhythm for T20 International cricket thanks to a lot of their players opting out of international assignments prior to the World Cup, much to the displeasure of their skipper Aaron Finch.

Afghanistan batter Asghar Afghan to retire from all formats

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Senior Afghanistan batter Asghar Afghan will retire from all formats of the game after his side's T20 World Cup Super 12 match against Namibia here on Sunday.

T20 World Cup: 'Killer' Miller clinches a thriller for South Africa

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If two shots could ever decide the fate of a match, then this game was a classic example of it. Capitalising on two misfired length balls by Lahiru Kumara, David Miller, that old pro, blasted two massive sixes over the cow corner in the final over, to take South Africa to a nerve-wracking, four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in a T20 World Cup Group I match in Sharjah on Saturday.

'Attacking one over religion pathetic': Virat Kohli backs Mohammed Shami

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Furious at the trolling of pacer Mohammed Shami on religious lines following India's defeat to Pakistan last week, Kohli said, "Attacking someone over religion is the most pathetic thing a human being can do… it is the lowest level of human potential one can operate at. We stand by Shami fully. We are backing him 200%. All those who have attacked him can come with more force if they want to (but) our brotherhood, our friendship within the team… nothing can be shaken".

Relentless with our lengths, bowlers came up trumps: Morgan

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England captain Eoin Morgan on Saturday heaped praise on his bowlers for their "relentless" discipline, saying they have come up "trumps" on different wickets to help the side inch closer to a T20 World Cup semifinal spot with three successive wins.

Buttler played hell of an innings and put pressure on us: Finch

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Australia skipper Aaron Finch lavished praise on England team following the defeat of his side on Saturday in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Chris Jordan scalped three before Jos Buttler fired a stylish fifty to help England defeat Australia by eight wickets.

Australia face must-win matches against Bangladesh and WI: Finch

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After suffering a defeat against England in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Australia skipper Aaron Finch admitted that his side now has to win its remaining two matches against Bangladesh and West Indies.

T20 World Cup: Can Team India break the New Zealand jinx?

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These are two teams driven to similar states of desperation by defeat to the same opponent, Pakistan. Two teams with no lack of mutual respect, hoping to somehow claw and scratch their way past each other in Sunday's big-billing, winner-takes-all World Cup contest in Dubai.

Trent Boult hopes to swing it like Shaheen Afridi

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New Zealand's lead pacer Trent Boult is hoping to exploit India's frailties against left-arm fast bowling, taking up from where Shaheen Shah Afridi left off, in their vital Super 12 T20 World Cup match here on Sunday.

Viswanath recalls first meeting with Madhav Mantri, 'Polly kaka'

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The legendary GR Viswanath on Saturday recalled his first meeting with two India stalwarts -- Madhav Mantri and Polly Umrigar -- and spoke about how an advice shared by the former remained with him throughout his distinguished career.

T20 World Cup Live Score: South Africa vs Sri Lanka

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IPL: Lucknow, Ahmedabad likely to target Warner, KL, Iyer and Pandya

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The 2022 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be a 10-team affair and the two new inducted teams, Lucknow and Ahmedabad, are likely to target T20 stars -- David Warner, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya and Surya Kumar Yadav, among others to make a solid team and loyal fan base.

Nabi defends decision to bring in Rashid Khan after 10th over vs Pakistan

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Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi has defended his decision to introduce front-line spinner Rashid Khan into the attack after 10 overs in the T20 World Cup loss against Pakistan.

T20 World Cup Live: South Africa face sluggish Sri Lanka

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Scaffolding to Sachin's desert storm: Sharjah's 40-year love of cricket

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Sharjah's love affair with cricket extends into the Twenty20 World Cup as memories of Javed Miandad's last-ball six and Sachin Tendulkar's "desert storm" linger at the famed venue.​

Australia mourns the loss of greats Alan Davidson and Ashley Mallett

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Australian cricket was in mourning Saturday after the deaths of former greats Alan Davidson and Ashley Mallett within 24 hours of each other.

ICC asks Emirates Cricket to investigate alleged forceful entry of Afghan supporters

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The ICC has instructed the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to conduct a detailed investigation into the unruly behaviour of the ticket-less Afghanistan fans gathered outside the Dubai International Stadium for the T20 World Cup Super 12 match between their country and Pakistan.

Can't take anything for granted against in-form Sri Lanka: Maharaj

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South African spinner Keshav Maharaj has said that the Proteas will be taking nothing for granted against Sri Lanka despite recent successes against the same opposition.

Criticism never bothered me, focused on my batting: Asif Ali

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Pakistan batting sensation Asif Ali, who has grabbed headlines with his six-hitting prowess in last two T20 World Cup matches, insisted that he has never paid heed to criticism about his selection in the national squad.

T20 World Cup: England face traditional rivals Australia in high-voltage clash

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The Ashes is the holy grail for any England or Australian cricketer. But that’s six weeks away. What’s more, much of the England squad who will face Australia in the T20 World Cup on Saturday in a Super 12 Group 1 clash do not play red-ball cricket. Only five of them (Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Dawid Malan, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood) will be on the plane to Australia. Yet, both teams would like to score some brownie points in the blockbuster clash.

WT20: De Kock likely to return as SA take on SL

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As a buoyant, impressive-looking South Africa take on a patchy, unpredictable Sri Lanka in their Super 12 game at the T20 World Cup in Sharjah on Saturday afternoon, TOI takes a look at key things to look forward to in the clash.

England still looking for the 'right' gesture against racism

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Before the T20 World Cup began, the England team had plans to protest racism and any form of discrimination by wearing T-shirts with messages. However, when they arrived in the UAE, they were told by the International Cricket Council (ICC) that they would not be able to wear those T-shirts.

Win or lose, Afghans turn out to cheer their cricket heroes

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Afghanistan's new Taliban government was very clear with cricket fans before Friday's much-anticipated clash with neighbours Pakistan.