Openers Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum provided the perfect platform as Gujarat Lions chased down an imposing 196-run target to beat Rising Pune Supergiants in the Indian Premier League match, at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, in Pune, on Friday.
Steven Smith and Shaun Marsh scored unbeaten half-centuries to launch a strong response from Australia after Dinesh Chandimal's patient hundred pushed Sri Lanka's first-innings total to 355 on the second day of the third and final Test on Sunday.
'I feel like my rhythm has been good for a few weeks now and I guess the last couple of nights I've got the ball to shape in the air and do a little bit off the wicket. So, it's feeling in a good place and hopefully it continues.'
Steve Smith completed his fourth century in as many matches on Wednesday as Australia compiled a daunting first innings total in the final Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Aaron Finch has been dumped as Australia's captain in the shorTest form of the game and replaced by Test skipper Steve Smith just a month before the start of the World Twenty20.
The decision not to review a leg before wicket appeal on Australia's captain Steve Smith was the right one at the time as there was significant doubt from even people off the field, New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has said.
Images from Day 2 of the third Test between Australia and South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday
Delhi Daredevils were already out of reckoning for Indian Premier League play-offs before Friday's match against Rising Pune Supergiant but their captain Zaheer Khan said that his side wanted to win as many matches as possible.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the opening Ashes Test played between England and Australia at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham on Saturday.
Star Indian batsman Virat Kohli, on Friday, explained what was behind his fiery 'send-off' of Steven Smith during the first T20 International earlier this week and said that it had nothing to do with the Australian wearing a microphone.
Here are a slew of records that were scripted on Wednesday...
Mahendra Singh Dhoni knows the introduction of broadcast technology has enhanced the viewing experience for fans but the Indian skipper has called for restraint after the overhead 'Spidercam' interfered with play in Saturday's one-dayer against Australia.
'It's certainly there, the way that they want to play, this bold new approach to Test match cricket, trying to make bold decisions at any stage in the game where they can.'
Australia's head cricket coach Darren Lehmann hopes the test team can avenge the Wallabies' Rugby World Cup final defeat by the All Blacks with a victory in the series opener in Brisbane starting this week.
With a new captain in place, Rising Pune Supergiants would look to make amends for a poor last season but have a tough opening battle at hand against two-time former champions Mumbai Indians.
Images from Day 3 of the second Test between Australia and South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
James Faulkner, who partnered Australian teammate Steven Smith to pull off a sensational win for Rajasthan Royals in an IPL match, said chasing 190 from a "nothing to lose" position was a special feeling.
Ravindra Jadeja has been voted as the best player of India's home season in a poll conducted by ESPNCricinfo.
Architect of India's six-wicket win over Australia, wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul has a solid all-round game and provides stability in the middle-order, said bowling coach Paras Mhambrey.
A place in the ICC ODI World Cup final once again eluded the South Africans as they went down to Australia by three wickets.
Australia captain Steven Smith has shrugged off his team's lamentable form on tour and is adamant his side will lift for the Test series against South Africa.
Off-spinner R Ashwin, who has been phenomenal in home conditions, has made it to the Test team as the 12th man, while pacer Mohammed Shami has been included in the ODI team.
Steve Smith and George Bailey's brilliant knocks overshadowed Rohit Sharma's magnificent 171 as Australia beat India by five wickets in the first ODI of the five-match series in Perth on Tuesday.
Ben Stokes was on 26 and Rajasthan had lost two quick wickets and were languishing at 55-2.
Steve Smith reached his maiden Test century with a six as Australia, trailing 3-0 in the series, took control of the fifth and final Ashes Test against England at the Oval on Thursday.
Australia's batting sensation Steven Smith tells Harish Kotian switching over from the Test and One-day mode to T20 will not be a problem for him in the upcoming eighth edition of the IPL.
MS Dhoni will play for Pune in the next edition of the Indian Premier League.
Kings XI Punjab skipper George Bailey rued making changes to the batting order, saying it played a part in their defeat to Rajasthan Royals in Friday night's IPL match in Pune.
Singapore-born all-rounder Tim David has been named in Australia's Twenty20 World Cup squad, while leg spinner Mitchell Swepson was omitted, Cricket Australia said on Thursday.
Images from the World Cup 2023 match between Australia and South Africa.
Captain Steven Smith's love affair with Pune continued as he led Rising Pune Supergiant to a seven-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in a thrilling Indian Premier League match, in Pune, on Thursday.
Television network Channel Nine's use of on-field mike chat has come under fire following Australian batsman Steve Smith's dismissal just after a live conversation with commentators in the first cricket Twenty20 International against India.
Australia must stifle their attacking instincts in the subcontinent and 'bore' batsmen into giving up their wickets, captain Smith has said.
After losing from a position of strength in their previous encounter, the diffident Royal Challengers Bangalore will lock horns against bottom-of-the-table Delhi Daredevils.
Australia must address their tendency to collapse before this year's Ashes series against England, skipper Steve Smith said after his team levelled their two-Test series against Bangladesh on Thursday.
Will Australia become the first team to win back-to-back T20 World Cups?
Rediff.com presents the Best Photos of the Week from the sporting world.
Steven Smith has credited Rajasthan Royal's success to fellow Australian James Faulkner's triple strike in the penultimate over.
FIXTURES (Start at 14.40 local, 0910 IST, 0340 GMT)
Murali Vijay (153) cracked his second successive century before Bhuvneshwar Kumar quickly snapped up three Australian wickets to raise hopes of an Indian victory in the third cricket Test which seemed headed for an exciting finish.
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