New Zealand chased down 346 against Pakistan in Hyderabad while Bangladesh were clinical with the bat in their successful run-chase against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on the opening day of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 warm-up fixtures.
Pakistan v New Zealand: Babar’s Brilliance Sets the Tone
In what was Pakistan’s first match on Indian soil after seven years, Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bat against New Zealand. Pakistan suffered an early setback as Imam-ul-Haq departed for just one run in the third over.
However, Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique steadied the ship with a promising partnership. Unfortunately for Pakistan, Shafique’s stint ended when Mitchell Santner outfoxed him, leaving Pakistan at 46-2.
New Zealand knock off outstanding win in warm-up clash against Pakistan | CWC23
Undeterred by the loss of the wicket, Mohammad Rizwan joined his skipper in the middle, and together they stitched a vital 114-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Although Babar fell short of his century, Rizwan reached his milestone and retired out. Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, and Iftikhar Ahmed contributed crucial runs towards the end, setting a challenging target of 346 for the Blackcaps.
Mohammad Rizwan sizzles with a century in the warm-up game against New Zealand | CWC23
New Zealand’s chase began on the wrong foot as Devon Conway departed for a duck in just the second over, caught off Hasan Ali’s first ball. This early setback placed the onus on the Kiwi batters to mount a formidable comeback.
Kane Williamson, who had missed the first innings, made an impactful return with the bat, notching up 54 runs off 50 balls and dispelling any concerns of rustiness. He partnered with Rachin Ravindra, who opened the batting, and the duo put on a vital century partnership.
Ravindra played a substantial innings, falling just short of his century at 97. His dismissal came off Salman Ali Agha as Pakistan aimed to stage a comeback.
Daryl Mitchell then contributed with a valuable half-century before also retiring, leaving New Zealand with over 80 runs still needed. Jimmy Neesham and Mark Chapman rose to the occasion, combining to navigate New Zealand close to a win.
They eventually registered a win by five wickets in the 44th over with Mark Chapman hitting the winning six.
Sri Lanka v Bangladesh: Tigers tame Sri Lanka
In the day’s other warm-up encounter, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera set the stage ablaze with a blistering start. However, Perera retired hurt in the 10th over and Bangladesh spinners then began weaving a web around the Sri Lankan batters.
Dhananjaya de Silva was the sole Sri Lankan batter to provide some resistance, scoring a gritty 55 off 76 balls. Sri Lanka managed to post a total of 263 runs.
Bangladesh cruise to comfortable win against Sri Lanka in warm-up fixture | CWC23
Bangladesh’s chase got off to a flying start as openers Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das combined to establish a formidable partnership of 131 runs, both notching up half-centuries along the way.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz entered the fray in the 21st over, steadying the ship further. His unbeaten 67 off 64 balls, along with Mushfiqur Rahim’s support, guided Bangladesh to a comfortable victory in just the 42nd over of the chase.
South Africa v Afghanistan: Rain plays spoilsport in Thiruvananthapuram
In the third warm-up encounter, South Africa was slated to take on Afghanistan in Thiruvananthapuram. However, persistent rain forced the match to be abandoned even before the coin toss.
South Africa’s next challenge will be against New Zealand in their second warm-up game on October 2nd, while Afghanistan are set to clash with Sri Lanka on October 3rd.
Month: September 2023
ICC announces commentators for ODI World Cup – ANI News
It was tougher than what the score showed: Juan Pedro Benali – Khel Now
NorthEast United FC got their first points of the season with an emphatic 3-0 win over southern rivals Chennaiyin FC. The Highlanders put up a dominating display and tore the Marina Machans to shreds.
Parthib Gogoi opened the scoring with a strike straight from the heavens before Phalguni Singh added a second in the second half. Asheer Akhtar scored a long ranger from outside the box and put the game the game to bed in the dying moments.
After the game, head coach Juan Pedro Benali addressed the media and heres what he had to say.
The head coach shared his thoughts on the game and said that the game was tougher than what the scoreboard displayed.
It was tougher than just what the score showed. All the players put up a good performance. Its not just Parthib (Gogoi) and Phalguni (Singh), all the players were strong defensively. The midfield was strong, Nestor gave us a lot of options, the full-back and Mirshad (Michu) were great.
He further added that the players executed the plans very well.
They played according to the game plan as we practised. Today we played against a very good team with great players. Slowly we tell everyone that we are here. We need the fans to trust in us and we need their support. We dont have fans on social media, we want them on the field, he asserted.
Asheer Akhtar has been very solid in the last two games. He performed extremely well defensively and capped it off by scoring an absolute screamer in the last minute of the game. Speaking about him, the head coach said, He is a great player. Hes performing everyday and growing and is one of the most important players of the team. And its not just him, everyone were great.
Juan Pedro Benali signed off by sharing his thoughts ahead of the next game and said the team will now focus on the fixture and start their preparations from tomorrow.
For us the next game is on the 6th of october. Our season is just one game. And after that we will think later. Now we only think about the next game and we start tomorrow afternoon, he concluded.
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Asian Games, athletics: Kiran Baliyan, daughter of a traffic cop, left javelin throw to end India’s long drought for a women’s shot put medal – The Indian Express
While 24-year-old Kiran Baliyan was becoming the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games shot put medal in 72 years, her father Satish was managing traffic near Ghaziabad.The senior Baliyan works as a head constable with the Uttar Pradesh traffic police, and hence couldn’t watch his daughter’s best throw of 17.36m in Hangzhou on Friday. But when he came to know about Kiran’s winning a historic bronze for India, the policeman got some ladoos packed for home as well to distribute among passers-by. Kiran finished behind the Chinese duo of Gong Lijiao (19.58m) and Song Jiayuan (18.92m).While I spend my days managing traffic, my daughter is doing India proud, an emotional Baliyan told The Indian Express before heading back to his home in Meerut.
Support from government and federation made it possible to win bronze at Asian Games, says Kiran Baliyan.@Media_SAI@Adille1pic.twitter.com/MefQ8piV8C
Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) September 29, 2023
With her initial interest in javelin throw, parents Satish and Bobby got Kiran enrolled under coach Robin Singh at Kailash Prakash Sports Stadium in Meerut. With Baliyan Sr posted as a home guard there, the Baliyan family would take turns to accompany their daughter to training daily.
She was a chubby kid yet wanted to pursue javelin throw. For some days, she practised the sport but hurt herself. So coach Robin Singh decided to get her practise shot put. While I would sometimes take leaves to be with my younger son at home, my wife would always accompany Kiran on her scooty to the stadium and bring her back from training twice a day. As expenses increased, we would often seek help from friends and relatives, recalls Satish.
Kiran with her parents when she joined as sub inspector with Rajasthan Police. Express photoIn her first year of practice, the youngster finished sixth in the U18 Nationals in Ranchi with a throw of 12.49m with the 3 kg put. The following year, Kiran won the bronze medal in the U-18 category at the junior nationals in Coimbatore with a throw of 14.62m. The next three years saw Kiran progressing to the 4 kg put and bagged a gold at the Junior Athletics Championships in Vijayawada with a throw of 14.54m in 2017, before crossing the 15m mark for the first time in May 2018.
Kiran was quick to adapt to the shot out technique and learnt the glide first. She was at ease doing quarter-turns and half-turns and would also practise with the 4Kg put in training while competing with the 3 Kg put in competitions, says coach Robin Singh.
Rapid strides
Kiran won the gold medal in the South Asian Championships apart from a fifth place at the Asian Junior Championships in 2018. She first crossed the 16m mark at the UP State Championships in 2019 with a throw of 16.87m.
We made her train focusing more on her lower body initially. Once she crossed the 16m mark, it made her more confident to master the variations. She would watch videos of shot putters like two-time Olympic medallist Joe Kovacs to see their movements and would practice such maneuvers, says Singh.
Kiran Baliyan’s parents and family members celebrate her medal. Express photoDuring the Covid-19 pandemic, she trained before sunrise and after sunset at the stadium in the light generated by an inverter battery and bulbs. I got a police pass for us and would take her to practice before the curfew hours and late at night, Kiran’s father recalls.
The last two years have seen Kiran crossing the 17m mark frequently, and reaching 17.92m at the Indian Grand Prix in Chandigarh prior to the Asian Games.
She likes to throw with the rotational technique. Last year, she broke her foot and missed the Commonwealth Games qualification mark. Once the foot healed, she used the inside of the foot to lead the lower body better in this position and it has helped her in China too, says the coach.
While mother Bobby is waiting to welcome her daughter with ladoos on her return, Baliyan Sr is ready to greet her with a salute. Last year, she joined Rajasthan Police as a sub-inspector. After winning medals at the World Police and Fire Games, she was promoted to the rank of inspector. What more can a police jawan ask for apart from seeing his daughter doing India proud? She deserves a salute and thats how I will welcome her, he adds.
Gravitas: PCB chief calls India ‘enemy country’ | WION – WION
Indian Bowler Ravichandran Ashwin Included in India Squad for World Cup – Firstpost
Asian Games 2023 Hockey Points Table: Updated standings after Day 6 – Sportskeeda
After a satisfying win, the Indian women’s hockey team has emerged as the big favorite to clinch gold in the ongoing Asian Games 2023.
The team, led by Savita, has shown impressive performance in their first two matches, winning both and amassing a remarkable goal difference.
With an unblemished record, India has played two matches, defeating Singapore in a commanding fashion with a scoreline of 13-0 and overpowering Malaysia in their latest encounter.
The team’s offensive prowess is evident in their goal tally, having scored an astounding 19 goals while maintaining a clean sheet and conceding none.
The current points table reflects India’s dominance, with a total of 6 points. Trailing closely behind are South Korea and Malaysia, with 6 and 3 points, respectively. Singapore and Hong Kong, China, lag behind with 3 and 0 points, respectively.
India’s relentless pursuit of victory has not only secured their position as table-toppers but has also set the stage for a potential gold medal run.
The Indian women’s hockey team continued their triumphant run at the Asian Games, overpowering Malaysia 6-0 in a Pool-A clash in Hangzhou. The team’s commanding performance, following their emphatic 13-0 win over Singapore, solidified their status as a formidable force in the competition.
The game unfolded with relentless attacking from India right from the start, as Monika’s field strike in the seventh minute set the tone for the encounter. Vice-captain Deep Grace Eda doubled the lead a minute later, converting India’s first penalty corner.
The first quarter witnessed a goal fest, with Navneet Kaur and Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke adding to the tally in the 11th and 15th minutes, respectively.
Sangita Kumari continued India’s dominance, finding the net in the 24th minute with a reverse flick. Despite Malaysia’s goalkeeper AB Mashitah’s brilliance in denying India a penalty corner conversion, Lalremsiami’s efforts ensured a 5-0 lead at halftime.
The second half saw Malaysia regaining composure, offering a more compact defense. However, Lalremsiami’s field goal in the 50th minute sealed India’s triumph.
Despite several penalty corners, India couldn’t capitalize further. With this win, India maintains their unbeaten record and sets the stage for a crucial match against Korea on Sunday.
The Indian team, under the leadership of Savita, remains a strong contender for the gold medal.
Xavi offers Fermin Lopez advice after Barcelona beat Sevilla – Barca Blaugranes
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez was full of praise for Fermin Lopez after the youngster impressed again versus Sevilla on Friday.
Lopez came off the bench in the first half to take over from Raphinha, after he picked up an injury, and certainly impressed his manager.
Fermin has played very well, hes a top player. I hope he will be at the club for a very long time, he said.
Fermin is a great player. He doesnt lose balls. He has one on one dribbling, he can shoot from outside the box. He has many conditions to be a Barça player for many years. Hes very generous, and Im so happy for him.
If Fermín believes in himself, he can mark an era at Barça. He needs to believe that hes a good player, that he can consistently put up good performances.
Raphinha has joined Frenkie de Jong and Pedri on the sidelines which can only be good news for Fermin Lopez ahead of games against Porto and Granada.
‘Love Was Evident’: PCB Chairman Lauds Pakistan’s Reception in India For ODI WC After Controversial ‘Dushma – News18
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf has lauded India for the fantastic reception of the Pakistan cricket team in the country as it arrived in Hyderabad for the ODI World Cup 2023. The Pakistan team has travelled to India for the first time after the 2016 T20 World Cup.
PCB Chairman Ashraf came under the scanners after a video of him referring India to an enemy nation went viral. He faced backlash for his statement and now released another statement where he hailed the reception the players got at the airport.
The fantastic reception of the Pakistan team in India for the World Cup proves how much love the people of both countries have for each others players. This love was evident by the reception arranged at the Hyderabad airport. I congratulate the Indians for arranging a reception of this kind, Ashraf said in a statement released by PCB.
Ashraf further stated that the two teams will emerge on the field as traditional rivals and not enemies
Whenever India and Pakistan step onto the cricket field, they emerge as traditional rivals but not as enemies. I hope that throughout the entire World Cup, Pakistan cricketers will receive the same warmth, and Indian fans will get to see the best cricket from Pakistan, he added.
Earlier, Ashraf created unnecessary controversy with his unfortunate remark.
While addressing reporters, Zaka seemingly termed India as dushman mulk (enemy nation).
We have expressed our love towards the players with the new contracts. No one in history has allocated as much money in Pakistan history as much I have. Mera maksad ye hi hai ki hamaare jitne players hain unka morale up hona chahiye, jab ye kisi dushman mulk me khelne jaaye, ya kahi bhi jaaye jaha competition ho raha hai. (I aim is to ensure that the morale of our players his high when they travel to an enemy nation or anywhere in the world, to take part in the competition), Ashraf said in a video which has gone viral on social media.
Meanwhile, overwhelmed by the gesture, some members of the squad shared their feelings on social media. Veteran batter Mohammad Rizwan penned a note on X, while skipper Babar and pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi expressed their delight on Instagram.
Amazing reception from the people here. Everything was super smooth. Looking forward to the next 1.5 months, Rizwan wrote on the microblogging platform.
Amazing reception from the people here. Everything was super smooth. Looking forward to the next 1.5 months Muhammad Rizwan (@iMRizwanPak) September 27, 2023
Evidently elated with the reception, Babar Azam dropped a photo of himself in an Instagram story where he could be seen standing at the Hyderabad airport. Overwhelmed with the love and support here in Hyderabad, the worlds no. 1 ODI batter noted. Shaheen Afridi seemed also quite impressed as he wrote in an Instagram story, Great welcome thus far.
‘He should’ve replaced Axar…’: Yuvraj doesn’t agree with Ashwin’s WC selection – Hindustan Times
On Thursday, as Indian fans waited for the final squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup, Team India incurred a huge blow as Axar Patel was ruled out of the tournament. The spin-bowling all-rounder had incurred a tear in his quadriceps muscle, which forced him out of the World Cup as India added the experienced Ravichandran Ashwin to the squad. While the change was the most likely scenario given the proceedings in the recently-concluded Australia series, the legendary Yuvraj Singh felt India missed the trick by not picking Washington Sundar as Axar’s replacement.
Yuvraj Singh has his say on Ravichandran Ashwin’s selection for World Cup
When Axar incurred the injury during the Super Four game in Asia Cup against Bangladesh, Washington Sundar was made to fly to Colombo the next day with India slated to play the final the following day. Reportedly, Ashwin was called up first, but the bowler denied the opportunity as he wasn’t match-fit and hence Sundar was picked and later was added to the XI for the final as well, although he did not bat or bowl. Later, when the selectors picked the squad for the Australia series, both were added as replacements for Axar with India wanting to have a look at both options. However, with Ashwin being used for the opening two games, the management’s plan became fairly evident.
Axar was slated to return for the final Australia tie with BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar confident of his recovery, but he failed to recover and later was removed from the World Cup team as well. Sundar did play the final match of the series, but it was Ashwin who travelled with the Indian side to Guwahati while the former joined the Asian Games squad.
Speaking at a promotional event in Delhi, organised by Vicks, Yuvraj felt that India missed the trick by not selecting Sundar instead of Ashwin, explaining that it would have added another left-handed option to the line-up. He was also felt that Yuzvendra Chahal missing out from the World Cup team was sheer misfortune.
With Axar not there we have to wait and see who will bat at No. 7. I was thinking if Washington Sundar would have played in place of Axar then India would have had another left-hander. But unfortunately, he did not get picked and so did Yuzvendra Chahal. But otherwise, I feel the combination is fine, he said in a chat with Hindustan Times Digital.
KL Rahul or Shreyas Iyer at No. 4?
A few weeks back, India captain Rohit Sharma had admitted to the No. 4 conundrum saying that no batter has settled into that batting position since Yuvraj retired. The problem persisted in the build-up to the 2023 World Cup as well as India tested as many as five primary options for the post – Iyer, Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav, among other makeshift options. With the World Cup at the doorstep, Iyer has emerged as the batter most likely to assume the role, having appeared in 22 innings at No. 4 (most among the 5 options) with 867 runs which includes five fifties and two centuries, one of which came in the Australia series last week.
But Yuvraj seems to have Rahul is his mind as well for the No. 4 spot but rather advised the team management to settle on the batting position between the two batters and not chop and change during the World Cup.
“So whoever between KL and Iyer bats at No. 4, I don’t think India should chop and change anymore because both are coming back from an injury and both need gametime, said Yuvraj, who scored 3415 runs at No. 4 for India, which included an unbeaten 113 during the 2011 World Cup match against West Indies in Chennai.
In his parting advise to the Rohit Sharma-led side, when asked what will be India’s major challenge in the tournament, Yuvraj urged the team to not be affected by the pressure of expectation that India will face given it is a home World Cup.
He said: Keeping up with the expectation. They should be playing the situation ‘and not the expectation.