Sri Lanka had New Zealand tottering on 75 for 4 after play finally got underway in the rain-ravaged second Test.
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.
Fakhar Zaman's ninth hundred in One Day Internationals trumped Daryl Mitchell's breezy century as Pakistan clinched a five-wicket victory over New Zealand.
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.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins bowled Kane Williamson in the final hour of play on the second day of the second Test in Christchurch on Saturday, just as the master batsman threatened an innings that would put New Zealand on top.
Skipper Kane Williamson says New Zealand are looking forward to a World Cup semi-final with India if the are fortunate enough to make it.
Fleming once again mentioned Dube's power-hitting which has been a standout factor in his batting.
Rachin Ravindra becomes youngest recipient of Sir Richard Hadlee Medal
But with the Kiwis set to play a total of 14 Tests during the current cycle, Mitchell knows his side have plenty of work ahead before they think about a potential place in the World Test Championship final at Lord's in the middle of 2025.
In a nervy finish, Australia snatched a last-ball win over New Zealand in the first T20 International in Wellington.
Former Pakistan cricket director Muhammad Hafeez has claimed that ex-captain, Babar Azam and foreign coaches Mickey Arthur and Grant Bradburn had given team fitness lowest priority in the lead-up to the ODI World Cup in India.
Australia's success in Christchurch sets up home Test series against India
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.
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.
Pakistan lost two early wickets before captain Babar Azam steadied the ship with an innings of 79.
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.
Images from the ICC World Cup match between Australia and New Zealand, in Dharamsala, on Saturday.
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.
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.
Stationed at mid off, Du Plessis 'flew' with his right hand stretched out to pluck it out of the air. The 39 year old timed his jump to perfection as he was 2.3 metres off the ground when he grabbed the ball.
Lauding the affable demeanour of the Kane Williamson-led side, Kohli said they are great ambassadors for the sport.
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.
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.
Ross Taylor (151) and Jesse Ryder (137 not out) scored centuries as New Zealand rallied from a precarious 23 for 3 to 351 for 4 at stumps on Day 1 in the second Test against India in Napier on Thursday. India, who won the first Test in Hamilton by 10 wickets, are seeking their first series win in New Zealand since 1968 but were dealt a blow when captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni sustained a back injury during the warm-up and was replaced by Dinesh Karthik.
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.
Images from Day 2 of the first Test between India and New Zealand, in Kanpur, on Friday.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New Zealand fell two runs short of eclipsing Sri Lanka's highest score in One-Day Internationals on Wenesday.
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 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.
Mohit Sharma finished off CSK's hopes with an inspirational spell in the middle overs.
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.
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.
After restricting India to 186 for 6, New Zealand scored 187 for 8 in the allotted 50 overs in the the fifth and final match.
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