Opener Dean Elgar struck his third Test century as South Africa rode their luck to finish the first day of the second Test against West Indies on 270 for two on Friday.
Batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson's woeful form will be in focus when Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad meet in a return IPL fixture at the Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai, on Sunday.
A high-stakes match between cross-city rivals Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Chennai on Friday will usher in IPL 2024, but, beyond the grandeur around it, the two protagonists will have to find early answers to some deep questions as they attempt to enter a rarefied territory.
In the 82 matches he has donned the red and blue of the Capitals, Patel scored 967 runs and picked up 62 wickets, at an impressive economy of 7.09.
Down and out, the two bottom-placed teams know that this will be their best chance to post their first win in the ongoing 50-over showpiece.
'We're noticing all surface-to-missile sites that were just sitting there ready to go.'
'I just want to have a lot of fun and just enjoy myself on the field and give myself fully to this team, like I have for so many years, without any load.'
At the halfway point, after winning just two games out of seven, CSK are looking set to miss the play-offs for the first time in their history. Harish Kotian tells Captain M S Dhoni and Coach Stephen Fleming how to get CSK back to its winning ways.
'Winding down for team dinner before we hit the road for the away leg.'
Mahendra Singh Dhoni nearly pulled off a heist but Parthiv Patel's last ball run out helped Royal Challengers Bangalore edge past Chennai Super Kings by one run off the last ball in a thrilling finish.
'The next objective is to make sure we create the right performance, and culture where the players can really go and showcase what they are capable of, and go out and entertain the public.'
Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock struck commanding hundreds to author South Africa's spectacular fightback before Ravichandran Ashwin wrested back India's control with a five-wicket haul on the third day of the opening Test.
South Africa, who have been hit by injuries to their pacers, finally have something to cheer about with Lungi Ngidi set to make a comeback in their next game against Afghanistan on June 15.
Skipper Virat Kohli's weakness outside the off-stump was again exposed as India plunged into deep trouble at 28 for three, after their bowlers dismissed South Africa for a modest 286, on the opening day of the first Test in Cape Town on Friday.
Bollywood actress and IPL Kings XI Punjab team co-owner, Preity Zinta, has been confirmed as the owner of the Stellenbosch franchise team in the South African T20 Global League.
The Proteas skipper felt that the manner in which Rohit Sharma batted in the second innings for his knock of 127, really made the chase difficult for his side.
Rajat Patidar's strike rate when batting against spinners is an incredible 224, having hit 182 runs from 81 balls, with 20 sixes and five fours.
'He (Rahul) pulled his hip flexor, I guess. I do not know how bad it is'
Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen says defending champions Mumbai Indians can ill-afford a typical slow start when the IPL resumes, and the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings have a "fantastic shot" at regaining the title after a poor 2020 season.
Images from Wednesday's World Cup match between India and South Africa, at Southampton.
Dhoni returns to the Indian dressing room after three months and for him the series will be start of the preparation for next year's World Twenty20, that will be hosted by India.
Images from the IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, in Dubai, on Sunday.
Delhi are enduring a poor start to the season as they have lost all their four games in IPL 2023 so far.
Images from Wednesday's IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, in Abu Dhabi.
Virat Kohli remains the biggest draw as he returns to his 'home ground' at the back of five half-centuries in nine games. Four of them have come away from the Chinnaswamy Stadium and despite being in the opposition camp, the Delhi crowd will be hoping the Indian superstar extends his prolific run in the tournament.
The country's woes at World Cups, be it the 50-over or shortest format, are well documented and so the expectations back home have been tempered
Pushed into a tight corner, Royal Challengers Bengaluru rose above their frailties to notch four wins on the trot and stay alive in the race to play-offs. However, a volatile Delhi Capitals offer them a different challenge in their penultimate IPL league match in Bengaluru on Sunday.
Some cricketers try to add personality and a unique style to their masks by getting customised graphics on them.
After South Africa were penalised five runs for ball tampering against Pakistan in the second Test in Dubai on Friday, AB de Villiers insisted the Proteas were not cheats.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings, in Dubai, on Thursday.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, on Thursday, launched the jersey of his team, Rising Pune Supergiants, one of the new entrants in this year's Indian Premier League.
Karn Sharma took a sharp catch off his own bowling to send back Abdul Samad.
The paceman had injury problems in the recent ICC Champions Trophy in England, forcing him to miss the semi-final defeat by the hosts, and that has weighed heavily on the minds of the selectors with Test series coming up against Pakistan, India and Australia.
South Africa batter David Miller picked his preferred spot in the Proteas T20 World Cup setup as well as what they need to do as a team in order to enjoy a successful tournament.
Kohli has not played competitive cricket in almost two months after opting out of the recently-concluded Test series against England at home
Patidar was ignored at this year's auction only to be picked as an injury replacement
South Africa's Imran Tahir became the first spinner to bowl the first over in a World Cup match on Thursday.
Images from Day 4 of the second Test between South Africa and Australia in Port Elizabeth on Monday.
South Africa have named an unchanged squad for the remaining two Tests against England as AB de Villiers prepares to lead the five-day team for the first time in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Images from the IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, in Mumbai, on Monday.
