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United News of India
10 hours ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Gill joins elite club with ton on Test captaincy debut
Leeds, June 20 (UNI) Shubman Gill marked his first outing as India's Test captain in spectacular fashion, slamming an unbeaten century on debut as skipper against England at Headingley on Friday. Gill's composed century came off 165 deliveries and placed him in an elite group of Indian cricketers who have notched hundreds in their maiden innings as Test captain — a distinguished list that includes Vijay Hazare (164 not out vs England, 1951), Sunil Gavaskar (116 vs New Zealand, 1976), Virat Kohli (115 vs Australia, 2014), and now Gill. Facing Josh Tongue on 74.2, Gill reached his century with a crisp cover drive for four, sparking an emotional celebration. He flung his helmet in the air, roared with a 'come on', and hugged Rishabh Pant at the non-striker's end before saluting the Indian contingent with arms wide open. 'This was one of his most fluent and assured innings,' remarked a former India international on air. Gill showed immense composure and control throughout, anchoring the Indian innings with elegance and intent, and looked every bit the leader at the crease. His knock not only stabilised the Indian innings on Day 1 of the first Test of the series but also officially signalled the beginning of the "Shubman Gill era" in Indian Test cricket. UNI BDN SSP
United News of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Shanto, Mushfiqur put Bangladesh on top in Galle
Galle, June 17 (UNI) A dominant unbeaten partnership between Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim turned the tide in Bangladesh's favour on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle today. After a shaky start that saw three wickets fall for less than 50, the visitors rallied strongly, courtesy a resolute and masterful 247-run unbroken stand between Shanto and Mushfiqur, who remained unbeaten on 136 and 105 respectively at stumps. Earlier in the morning, Sri Lanka appeared to be in command. Having won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch offering ideal batting conditions, Shanto would have been pleased. But within the first hour, Bangladesh were tottering, losing Anamul Haque, Shadman Islam, and Mominul Haque. Debutant spinner Tharindu Rathnayake struck twice in successive deliveries, while seamer Asitha Fernando provided the early breakthrough. However, the course of the match shifted dramatically once Shanto and Mushfiqur joined forces. Shanto, despite facing only three deliveries when Mushfiqur arrived at the crease, quickly asserted himself. He struck Tharindu for a lofted boundary in just his seventh delivery, setting the tone for an innings marked by controlled aggression and composure. Shanto's 14 boundaries, nine of which came off Tharindu, reflected his intent to neutralise the debutant spinner. Mushfiqur, anchoring the other end, offered solidity and experience. Together, they ensured that Sri Lanka's bowlers were made to toil for the rest of the day. The scoring rate remained steady around 3 to 3.5 runs an over, with session scores of 90, 92, and 110. In the final hour, the tiring Sri Lankan attack allowed Bangladesh to score freely, touching nearly four runs an over. Seamer Milan Rathnayake was the most economical among the Lankan bowlers, conceding just 19 runs from 12 overs, but Sri Lanka's strategy came under scrutiny. The overuse of debutant Tharindu even as he was being targeted, and the delayed reintroduction of senior spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, raised questions about tactical decisions. The day had begun on a ceremonial note, with retiring Sri Lankan stalwart Angelo Mathews receiving a guard of honour in his final Test appearance. Early celebrations continued with Sri Lanka's initial breakthroughs, but by the end of the day, it was Bangladesh who were celebrating, firmly in control. With the pitch expected to wear down later in the match, Bangladesh's patient approach to "bat first and bat long" seemed justified. The visitors will now look to push on from their commanding 314/3 on Day 2. UNI BDN SSP
United News of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Time to step aside for new talent: Angelo Mathews
Galle, June 16 (UNI) Angelo Mathews, one of Sri Lanka's modern Test greats, brought his 16-year-long red-ball career to a poignant close at the same venue where it all began — the Galle International Stadium, choosing to step aside not for personal reasons, but to open the door for the next generation. "We all come and go. Many greats came before us, and we came in as youngsters. Now it's time for us to leave as seniors," said Mathews, speaking on the eve of the first Test against Bangladesh. "We've got so many youngsters knocking on the door. I felt this was the right time to step aside." The 37-year-old, who debuted in 2009 at this very ground, said he made the decision after assessing both his own recent form and Sri Lanka's future schedule. "My performances in the last 7-8 games weren't what I expected of myself. I didn't want to be a burden to the team," Mathews said. "Also, we don't have any Test games for over a year after this series. It would be unfair for the youngster replacing me to wait that long for another opportunity." He confirmed he would not play in the second Test of the ongoing series, allowing his successor a chance to gain valuable experience. Reflecting on his career, Mathews cited several highlights: the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne (2010), the historic Test series win in England in 2014, Sri Lanka's ICC World T20 title in 2014, and back-to-back Asia Cup wins in 2014 and 2016 — the triumphing over Australia in Bangladesh. "Winning in Bangladesh was special," he added, acknowledging his fondness for the country and the camaraderie he shares with most of its players. When asked about his equation with Shakib Al Hasan following the controversial timed-out incident during the 2023 World Cup, Mathews responded with dignity: "It was an unfortunate incident. I hope it never happens again. But I hold no grudges. Everyone's a good friend, and I wish them well." Looking ahead, Mathews expressed confidence in the current setup under selectors like Sanath Jayasuriya and the leadership of retired Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis. "Communication has been excellent. Whether you're a junior or senior, they keep you in the loop. That sort of clarity creates a healthy environment, and performance follows. We've seen that across formats in the past two years." Ending where he began, Mathews reflected on the symbolism of Galle. "It's poetic. I made my debut here, played my 100th Test here, and now I say goodbye here. It feels right." As Sri Lanka embarks on a transitional phase, Mathews' exit marks the end of an era — not with fanfare, but with humility and foresight. UNI BDN SSP
United News of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- United News of India
India face Pak in Oct as ICC announces Women's WC 2025 itinerary
Dubai, June 16 (UNI) Cricket fans across the subcontinent are set for a blockbuster showdown as India and Pakistan are slated to meet in a high-voltage league-stage clash at the upcoming ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, with the full schedule officially announced on Monday by the International Cricket Council. In a much-anticipated fixture likely to draw massive viewership, India will face arch-rivals Pakistan in Colombo on 11 October, setting the stage for one of the most emotionally charged encounters of the tournament. The 2025 edition of the Women's World Cup will be held jointly in India and Sri Lanka from 30 September to 2 November, returning to Indian soil after over a decade. Hosts India will launch their campaign against Sri Lanka in the tournament opener at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, while defending champions Australia will begin their title defence against New Zealand on 1 October in Indore. The tournament format follows a single round-robin league where the eight qualified teams, India, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, will face each other once, with the top four advancing to the semifinals. In the build-up, India will play two warm-up games, including a key preparatory clash against 2022 runners-up England on 24 September in Bengaluru, followed by South Africa in Guwahati on 27 September. Matches will be spread across five cities - Bengaluru, Indore, Visakhapatnam, Guwahati, and Colombo, with semifinals scheduled in Bengaluru and either Guwahati or Colombo, and the Final set for 2 November in either Bengaluru or Colombo. This will be the 13th edition of the Women's Cricket World Cup since its inception in 1973. Australia, who secured their record seventh title in 2022, qualified automatically along with the top six finishers of the ICC Women's Championship. Pakistan and Bangladesh sealed the final two spots via the global qualifiers earlier this year. As the countdown begins, all eyes will be on the India-Pakistan face-off, a contest that continues to transcend sport and capture imaginations across the globe. UNI BDN SSP
United News of India
13-06-2025
- Sport
- United News of India
South Africa 94/2 at tea, need 188 to win WTC final
London, Jun 13 (UNI) The ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's is finely poised as South Africa reached 94 for 2 at tea on the third day, needing 188 more runs to defeat Australia and claim their maiden WTC title. Chasing a target of 288, the Proteas made a cautious start but were pegged back early when Mitchell Starc removed Ryan Rickelton cheaply for six with the new ball. Despite the early setback, Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder responded with positive strokeplay, stitching together a fluent half-century stand. However, just as the partnership was gaining momentum, Starc struck again to dismiss Mulder for 27, a soft dismissal that gave Australia a much-needed breakthrough. Temba Bavuma, the South African skipper, joined Markram and had a shaky start, surviving a chance on 2 and needing on-field treatment for a hamstring niggle. He remained unbeaten at the break. Markram looked solid at the other end, playing some crisp strokes en route to an unbeaten 49. The pitch, while appearing benign for most part, has shown occasional variable bounce, keeping the Australian bowlers interested. Earlier in the day, Starc's counterattacking half-century lifted Australia to 207 in their second innings. Coming in with the lead under 230, the left-arm pacer remained unbeaten on 58 and added 59 crucial runs with Josh Hazlewood (17) for the 10th wicket, frustrating the South African bowlers. Kagiso Rabada was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with nine wickets in the match. South Africa now require another 188 runs with eight wickets in hand to claim victory, while Australia will look to their experienced pace attack to close out the match and secure a second consecutive WTC crown. As the final session of Day 3 approaches, the game hangs in the balance — setting the stage for a thrilling finish to the WTC cycle. UNI BDN SSP
