Sport
ICC Men’s T20I team rankings – India on top, Afghanistan ranked 10th
India have concreted their position with 270 rating at the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings following the annual update on Wednesday, 4 May.
According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), India's lead over England on the top of the charts has extended to five rating points, from one previously.
India have been in brilliant form in the format, following their disappointment at the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman, where they failed to make the semis.
India have seen off New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka on home turf, under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, who took over from Virat Kohli following the global event last year.
England are on second place with 265 rating points. Pakistan round up the top three with 261 rating points.
South Africa, ranked fourth, have made a jump of one spot – maintaining their old rating points (253) – while Australia too have gained a spot in the table and now sit at fifth, while maintaining their rating points (251), ICC said.
New Zealand have dropped two places to No.6, losing five rating points (250). West Indies (240 points) remain on the seventh spot.
Bangladesh (233 points) and Sri Lanka (230 points) have both gained one position in the chart to occupy the eighth and ninth positions respectively. Afghanistan have dropped down two places, rounding out the top ten after losing six rating points (226).
Portugal are the biggest overall gainers in the annual update, gaining eleven points (54). This has seen them jump five places in the charts, moving up to the 45th position.
Overall, the number of ranked teams has dropped down to 72 from 91, with each team being required to play a minimum of six rated matches since May 2019, ICC reported.
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.
-
Sport5 days ago
Lanka T10: All three matches abandoned due to rain
-
Latest News5 days ago
India hoping to import coal and marble from Afghanistan
-
Sport4 days ago
Zimbabwe’s opening ODI against Afghanistan abandoned
-
Latest News5 days ago
Japan announces $27.5 million aid package to Afghanistan
-
Latest News1 day ago
Afghan men must stand with women to support viable future of country: US envoy
-
Latest News3 days ago
Two horror accidents on Kabul-Kandahar highway leave 52 dead
-
World3 days ago
North Korean troops suffer 100 deaths, struggling in drone warfare, South Korea says
-
International Sports4 days ago
Lanka T10: Kandy Bolts in at 4th spot in playoffs after thrilling day