Cricket Updates

Centurion Smith leads Australia to victory

Australia beat New Zealand by 68 runs in the first ODI of Chappell-Hadlee series

Captain Steve Smith had a great match, as along with the century he also picked up two good cathches.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat, they put up a huge total of 324 for the loss of 8 wickets. 

In reply New Zealand fell 68 runs short, despite Martin Guptill heroics.

Man of the Match Smith, scored 164 runs with the help of 14 fours and 4 sixes. He dismantled the Kiwis bowling attack single handedly.

However Australia didn't make a positive start as opener Aaron Finch got out on duck off Matt Henry's delivery. Henry had bowling figures of 2/74.

Smith had two lifelines in Trent Boult's over and he didn't fail to punish the Kiwis. Smith was dropped on 13 by wicketkeeper Watling and on the next ball an LBW appeal was turned down by the umpire. 

New Zealand made a blunder by not reviewing the decision, had the decision been reviewed, he would have been back in the pavilion.

Smith got a 3rd lifeline too, this time on the score of 152 when Colin Munro dropped his catch. David Warner(24) dragged the ball onto his wickets off debutant Ferguson's delivery. 

George Bailey(17) was caught behind the wickets off James Neesham bowl and Mitchell Marsh(01) got run-out.

Smith and Travis Head(52) helped Australia reach a big score.

New Zealand didn't start well and lost some early wickets.
Martin Guptill held onto one end and scored his 11th ODI century. But no other kiwi batsmen partnered him.

Only Munro(49), Neesham (34) and Matt Henry(27) were the only three to reach double figures.

Indian Women Cricket team won Asia Cup T20

India defeated Pakistan by 17 runs in the final to put their hands on the trophy for 6th time

India won the toss and elected to bat. Mitali Raj, the star batsmen, with her innings of 73 not-out helped India reach 121 runs in 20 overs for the loss of 5 wickets. 

Apart from Mitali only Jhulan Goswami(17)  managed to reach double figures.
Anam Ameen was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with the figures of 2/24.

Indian bowlers put up a brilliant display as they restricted Pakistan for 104/6 in their 20 overs. 5 batsmen reached the double figures in Pakistan innings but nobody managed to cross 25 runs.

Bismah Maruf was the top scorer for Pakistan with 25 runs.

Mitali Raj won both, Player of the Match for her 73 runs and Player of the Tournament for scoring 220 runs in 4 matches.

BCCI President Anurag Thakur congratulated the team on their achievement.

No matches for MS Dhoni until New Year

Dhoni last played on 29th October against New Zealand in Vizag 

Indian ODI and T-20 skipper will play an international match in two and half months when he will step on the field against England in January

The first match of the series will be played in Pune on 15th January

There is a protocol for injured players that when they have to prove themselves fit for selection they must have played in at least one first class match. But Dhoni is exempted from this protocol as he has already retired from the test format.

Dhoni played Vijay Hazare trophy for his preparation of ODI and T20 series against Australia in 2015. However this time the Tournament starts from 25 February, almost one month after the beginning of series against England.

The Superintendent of Senior Selection Committee MSK Prasad said on Sunday, "We don't have any information whether Dhoni will play any Ranji trophy match or not. It's notable that he has already retired from test cricket. We have information that Dhoni is practicing consistently with Jharkhand team."

Secretary of Jharkhand Cricket Association, Rajesh Verma has made it clear that 'Dhoni is mentoring Jharkhand team and will play Vijay Hazare trophy with them.'

Well MS Dhoni fans are eager to watch the cricketer on the field in an International match.

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