Pakistan completed a second Twenty20 victory over World Cup finalists Australia in as many days at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Tuesday. The Pakistanis, beaten by Australia in the World Cup semi-finals in the Caribbean this year, won by 11 runs after their 23-run win on Monday to clinch the two-match series.
Daniel Vettori led from the front with both and ball and Grant Elliott sparkled with a gritty innings of 75 to help New Zealand outclass Pakistan by five wickets to enter the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in Johannesburg, on Saturday. Chasing 234 for victory, New Zealand kept losing wickets at regular intervals before the 104-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Elliott and Vettori, who made a quick 41 from 42 deliveries, sealed the deal in their favour.
Images from the Asia Cup final match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, being played in Mirpur
Pakistan regained the Asia Cup title after a gap of 12 years as they pulled off a nail-biting two run victory against Bangladesh who came agonisingly close to a historic triumph but ran out of steam in the dying moments to go past the target in Mirpur.
None of New Zealand's batters were able to build on their starts
'I was confident pre-tournament itself that he would deliver when needed.'
Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal stole the show with a blistering half-century, surpassing the legendary Virender Sehwag's record for the fastest Test fifty by an Indian batter.
Rizwan's unbeaten half-century not only helped Pakistan chase down a modest target of 107 but also saw him equal Rohit Sharma's record for most fifties by a T20I opener
Joe Root scored his 35th Test century as he went past the legendary trio of Sunil Gavaskar, Brian Lara and Younis Khan, who had made 34 centuries in their career.
Pakistan scrambled the 40 runs they required to beat Australia by three wickets in the second Test at Headingley on Saturday to level the series at 1-1.
India must quickly move on from Friday's shock defeat against New Zealand to revive their fortunes in the women's T20 World Cup, batter Jemimah Rodrigues said.
'Tried to hit the seam as much as I could, and tried to be as clear as I could with my execution and it all came out well so I felt happy.'
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam was relieved after the team's first victory in the T20 World Cup in New York on Tuesday, but lamented that they couldn't complete their chase of 107 in fewer overs because the pitch was difficult to bat on.
Pakistan posted 347 for 5 and then restricted the visitors to 243 for 7 in 50 overs.
England take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
IMAGES from the Asia Cup Super 4 match played between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Colombo on Thursday.
Pakistan recalled left-handed opener Salman Butt in place of Imran Nazir while India picked in-form Gautam Gambhir ahead of the experienced Virender Sehwag.
The Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan was called off due to persistent rain in Pallekele on Saturday.
Born in Wellington to parents hailing from Bengaluru, the mop-haired left-hander emerged as a big crowd favourite in India when he played for the Black Caps in last year's 50-overs World Cup and for Chennai in this season's Indian Premier League.
Light rain delayed the start of the tri-series final between India and Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali compared the dynamic wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant to India's iconic opener, Virender Sehwag.
Pakistan produced a clinical display to beat Sri Lanka by six wickets and storm into the final of the Asia Cup. Their second successive victory put them in the final of the tournament for the first time in 12 years.
England opener Alastair Cook ended a dismal run of form with an untypically aggressive 110, but England were 221 for 9, 146 runs ahead, in their second innings when bad light stopped play on the third day of the third Test against Pakistan.
Pakistan find their tournament in tatters
The wickets proved to be mere consolation for Pakistan as Salt continued his onslaught and struck the winning runs in the 15th over, ending with 13 fours and three sixes in his 41-ball knock.
Pakistan openers Salman Butt and Nasir Jamshed produced an unbroken century partnership to set up a comprehensive 10-wicket win over Bangladesh in the final Asia Cup super league match on Friday. Butt scored 56 and Jamshed reached 52 as the two left-handers easily overtook the Bangladesh total of 115 in only 19.4 overs.
It has been 4,302 days since India last lost a Test series at home.
Both the spinners shared six wickets between them in England's first innings which ended at 219 in 70.3 overs. The duo bowled just 21.3 overs in the first innings.
Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis snared nine wickets between them
South Africa easily chased down Pakistan's 230 for nine with 74 balls to spare to leave the series tied at 2-2 with the final game to be played in Lahore on Monday.
Just when things looked to go well for Pakistan, Shadab dropped Bhanuka Rajapaksa at long on off Haris.
Virat Kohli's supreme fitness was evident in his 47th ODI century while comeback man KL Rahul produced an equally engaging ton on comeback as India thrashed a listless Pakistan by record 228-run margin.
Rachin Ravindra, the rising star of New Zealand cricket, has once again showcased his exceptional talent, guiding his team to a dominant position in the first Test against India.
Hardik became the highest wicket taker for India against Pakistan in T20Is.
James Anderson nearly got Abdullah caught behind on 64 but replays confirmed the ball had touched the ground before nestling in the glove of a diving Ollie Pope.
India made one change to their line-up, bringing in all-rounder Suresh Raina in place of left-arm spinner Murali Kartik.
Having taken a 78-run lead in the runfest, England declared their second innings on 264-7 to set Pakistan an improbable victory target of 343 with four sessions to go.
Yashasvi Jaiswal struck a superb 93 from 53 balls to guide India to a 10-wicket win over Zimbabwe
India captain Rohit Sharma on Wednesday urged his side to keep their focus on "things we can control" ahead of the mega World Cup clash against arch-rival Pakistan, having completed a dominating eight-wicket win over Afghanistan in New Delhi.
Fastest 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 in Tests...
