Sport
Nabi claims top spot in ODI rankings
Shakib Al Hasan's reign at the top is over after Afghanistan veteran Mohammad Nabi claimed the No.1 spot on the latest ICC Men's ODI All-Rounder Rankings.
Shakib held the premier position in 50-over cricket for 1,739 days – from 7 May 2019 (when he took over from Rashid Khan) until 9 February 2024 - the longest unbroken stretch anyone has had on top of the ODI all-rounder rankings.
But an ongoing injury concern coupled with some good recent form from Nabi has seen a change at the top.
Men's ODI All-Rounder Rankings
Nabi reached the No.1 spot on the back of his splendid innings of 136 during the opening match of Afghanistan's three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, while the 39-year-old also picked up a wicket in the same contest to gain one place and move to seventh on the latest rankings for ODI bowlers.
Nabi at 39 years and 1 month old has become the oldest player to top the ICC ODI All-rounder table, breaking the record held by Tillakaratne Dilshan, who was 38 years 8 months when he was top in June 2015.
Men's ODI Bowler Rankings
South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj maintains his lead at the top of that list, while Sri Lanka duo Wanindu Hasaranga (up 14 spots to equal 26th) and Dilshan Madushanka (up four places to 33rd) join Nabi in making some ground on the latest set of rankings.
Babar Azam is well clear in the ODI rankings for batters, with a trio of Sri Lankan players making some ground on the former Pakistan skipper following an impressive start to their series with Afghanistan.
Men's ODI Batter Rankings
Charith Asalanka jumps five places to 15th overall following his unbeaten 97 in the second match of the series, Pathum Nissanka improves 10 spots to 18th after his double century in the series opener, while Sadeera Samarawickrama climbs six rungs to 41st due to a stylish half-century.
Men's Test Batting Rankings
There is little to no change at the top of the Test rankings, with Kane Williamson increasing his lead at the top of the list for batters after a pair of centuries in the first Test against South Africa and India quick Jasprit Bumrah still at the head of proceedings for bowlers.
Men's Test Bowling Rankings
Kiwi pacer Kyle Jamieson did make some ground on Bumrah following six wickets for the match in that Mount Maunganui contest with the Proteas, with the right-armer jumping six places to eighth overall in an impressive performance.
Men's Test All-Rounder Rankings
Jamieson also moves up two places to 13th on the list for Test all-rounders after a contribution of 8* with the bat against South Africa, with India's Ravindra Jadeja still leading the way comprehensively in that category.
Men's T20I Batting Rankings
A host of stars from Australia and the West Indies also made ground on the latest set of T20I rankings following the completion of their series Down Under.
Australia clinched a 2-1 series triumph, with Glenn Maxwell (up 11 spots to 24th), Tim David (up 35 places to 27th) and David Warner (up 19 spots to 36th) all rising the batting rankings following solid contributions during the three matches and West Indies counterparts Rovman Powell (up four rungs to 25th) and Johnson Charles (up 12 spots to equal 38th) doing similar.
Men's T20I Bowling Rankings
Adam Zampa is the big mover up the T20I bowling charts as the spinner jumps five places to equal 11th behind England's Adil Rashid, while Australia teammate Marcus Stoinis climbs three spots to second on the list for T20I all-rounders and closes in on Shakib following his efforts against the West Indies.
Sport
Afghanistan clinches ODI series victory against Zimbabwe
Afghanistan's national cricket team triumphed over Zimbabwe by 8 wickets in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) to claim the series victory.
In a dominant bowling display, Afghanistan dismissed Zimbabwe for just 127 runs in 30.1 overs. The Afghan batsmen then chased down the target comfortably in 26.5 overs, losing only 2 wickets along the way.
The standout performer of the match was Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, who took a remarkable 5 wickets, while Rashid Khan supported with 3 wickets. Azmatullah Omarzai and Farid Ahmad each claimed 1 wicket.
The first match of the series was abandoned due to rain, but Afghanistan bounced back strongly in the second match, securing a commanding 232-run victory.
This series win follows Afghanistan's earlier success in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, further cementing their dominance in international cricket.
Sport
Bangla Tigers lift Lanka T10 Super League title
Player of the match and player of the series was Titan’s skipper Dasun Shanaka.
Hambantota Bangla Tigers beat favorites Jaffna Titans by 26 runs in Thursday’s Lanka T10 Super League final at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy.
The Tigers produced a fine all-round performance to beat the Titans, who had won all their matches in the lead up to the final.
Player of the match and player of the series was Titan’s skipper Dasun Shanaka.
Hambantota Bangla Tigers, put into bat first, posted 133 for seven from their allotted 10 overs through some useful contributions from their top order batsmen.
The openers Mohammad Shahzad and Kusal Perera added 35 runs from 2.4 overs before they suffered a middle order collapse and reached 59 for three at the halfway stage of the innings.
However, skipper Dasun Shanaka and Shevon Daniel revived the innings with a fourth-wicket partnership of 44 runs in three overs.
Shanaka made 21 with two sixes and two boundaries while Daniel struck 26 with one six and three boundaries before Kennar Lewis and Dhananjaya Lakshan added the finishing touches.
Chasing 133 runs for victory, Jaffna Titans lost wickets at regular intervals and they eventually finished at 107 for six despite a fighting unbeaten half century from middle order batsman Tom Abell.
Richard Gleeson wrecked the Hambantota Bangla Tigers’ innings with excellent figures of three wickets for 21 while Shanaka captured two wickets for four runs.
Sport
Afghanistan crush Zimbabwe by 232 runs in second ODI
Afghanistan defeated Zimbabwe by 232 runs in the second ODI on Thursday to secure a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Sent to bat first by Zimbabwe who won the toss, Afghanistan posted 286-6 in Harare.
Sediqullah Atal scored 104, his first hundred in an international match. Abdul Malik followed with 84.
In reply, Zimbabwe scored 54 runs before being bowled out in the 17.5 overs.
Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar and Naweed Zadran took three wickets each. Fazlullah Farooqi picked up two wickets and Azmatullah Omarzai one.
This was the second match of the ODI series between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. The first was abandoned due to rain.
The third and final game of the series will be played on Saturday.
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