Brendon McCullum smashed an unbeaten half-century to steer New Zealand to a seven-wicket win over India in their first Twenty20 international in Christchurch on Wednesday. The Kiwis overhauled India's total of 162 for eight with seven balls to spare.
The Australians started the series as favorites, but a stirring show by the visitors put them on the backfoot after the first two ODIs. The wounded Kangaroos came back strongly, winning the next two outings at Sydney and Adelaide. Sadly, rain played spoilsport in the deciding ODI at Brisbane.
Current calculations point to a World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand in Mumbai, and pacer Trent Boult expressed hope that the aggressive approach of Rohit Sharma's side will give the Kiwis a chance to snap the hosts' red-hot run.
Slamming the move of breaking the worldwide famous opening pair of Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan following the team's loss in the T20I series against New Zealand, former Pakistan cricketer and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja asked the selectors what benefit they gained out of it.
Images from the ICC World Cup match between Australia and New Zealand, in Dharamsala, on Saturday.
England skipper Eoin Morgan would like to believe his team peaked at the right time at the ongoing World Twenty20 while New Zealand were slightly premature going into Wednesday's semi-final at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. Kane Williamson and his Kiwi team mates have not put a foot wrong since landing in India, winning all four group matches without really breaking a sweat to qualify for the semi-finals as the tournament's only unbeaten team. For a side boasting an explosive batting order and a balanced attack to go with, England's passage proved bumpier. Even before they could soak in the atmosphere, England were blown away by a Chris Gayle century in their tournament opener against West Indies in Mumbai.
Virat Kohli's World record 50th ODI hundred, a scintillating century by Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Shami's brilliant pace bowling powered the hosts past New Zealand in the first semi-final with a 70-run victory at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald is unperturbed by batter Marnus Labuschagne's recent run of low scores, saying that there are going to be "ebbs and flows" in one's Test career and the team is much more concerned about their batting line-up performing well as a collective.
Sri Lanka had New Zealand tottering on 75 for 4 after play finally got underway in the rain-ravaged second Test.
He has scored 994 runs in 35 innings at an average of 31.06. However, his statistics suggest his struggle against red-ball giants like New Zealand, England and now South Africa.
Pakistan lost two early wickets before captain Babar Azam steadied the ship with an innings of 79.
Hussey also expressed confidence in Rachin Ravindra's mental resilience despite recent misses, and said a good knock from the Kiwi may just be round the corner.
CSK can ill-afford to take Punjab Kings lightly, who are coming in to this match after chasing down a world record total of 262 against KKR.
A spirited performance from their bowlers saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru outclass Chennai Super Kings by 27 runs to qualify for the play-offs.
New Zealand's crushing of Pakistan in the World Cup Group A match came at the price of an injury to their captain Daniel Vettori. The Kiwis are hoping it does not prove costly as the tournament progresses.
New Zealand paceman Neil Wagner called time on his 64-Test career on Tuesday, bowing out as the nation's fifth highest wicket-taker with 260 victims after being informed he would not be selected in the upcoming series against Australia.
Mohit Sharma finished off CSK's hopes with an inspirational spell in the middle overs.
New Zealand got plenty of opportunities to draw level in the form of five more penalty corners in the final three minutes but their execution was not up to the mark.
Bangladesh vice-captain Najmul Hossain Shanto says the team is hoping to benefit from the inputs it is receiving from technical consultant Sridharan Sriram in the World Cup matches, including Friday's game against New Zealand.
There were many contenders on Sunday for the best batter's prize: Salt, Jacks, Iyer, Patidar, Karn Sharma...
Australia opener Travis Head is a player of great class who saves his greatest performances for the biggest occasions. He was at his best throughout the majority of 2023, and when it counted most, he helped Australia win a sixth World Cup in India. He hammered an unbelievable 137 against India in the decider to help Australia lift the trophy.
New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips was purportedly seen applying saliva on the ball on Day 3 of the first Test between Bangladesh and the Kiwis on Thursday according to ESPNcricinfo.
Former New Zealand coach, Mark Greatbatch has raised questions about the current crop of Kiwi batsmen's inability to cope with spin bowling after the Indian spinners wreaked havoc to beat them by an innings and 115 runs in the first Test in Hyderabad.
Sarfraz Ahmed struck a defiant century before Pakistan's spinners wrecked New Zealand's top and middle order to leave the second Test in Dubai nicely poised on Thursday. New Zealand had reduced Pakistan to 287 for eight and appeared on course for a healthy first innings lead, but Sarfraz (112) added 81 runs for the last wicket with Rahat Ali to dash their hopes.
Former Pakistan player and cricket expert Sikander Bakht made a shocking claim about Indian skipper Rohit Sharma's toss technique.
Lauding the affable demeanour of the Kane Williamson-led side, Kohli said they are great ambassadors for the sport.
Dawid Malan's half-century and Harry Brook's fiery knock helped England rout New Zealand by seven wickets in the first T20 International.
Pathan mentioned that the Hyderabad-based franchise needs a proper spinner who can take wickets.
Images from Day 2 of the first Test between India and New Zealand, in Kanpur, on Friday.
Defending champions Chennai Super Kings clash against Gujarat Titans in a repeat of last season's final in the IPL 2024 match in Chennai on Tuesday.
Narendra Singh, a dhaba owner in Ahmedabad said that he will serve free 'curry chawal' if the 'Men in Blue' win the World Cup final.
A look at 7 memorable moments of World Cup 2023.
The Capitals made a challenging 194 for five as Shafali Varma mustered a 31-ball 50 after they were asked to bat first.
The Black Caps will be the third major side to tour Pakistan this year after Australia played a full series in March-April and England featured in seven T20Is in September-October.
IMAGES of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday.
Axar Patel claimed 2/23 and 2/16 in India's identical six-wicket wins over Afghanistan in the first two T20Is.
The Kiwi bowler said all teams will look to have their World Cup players spending the coming weeks together in order to finalise their preparations for the mega event.
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