Kohli’s Airport Tiff, Richa’s Record 50 And CT Update – December 19 Cricket Highlights

Virat Kohli and Richa Ghosh [Source: @KohliSensation, @BCCIWomen/x]

India Women’s record evening at the DY Patil Stadium sparked a remarkable 2-1 series win over the visiting West Indies team. In Australia, legendary Indian batter Virat Kohli lashed out at a journalist while the 2025 Champions Trophy received a major scheduling update from the ICC.

Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest news that emerged out of Thursday, December 19.

Richa Ghosh Hauls Fastest T20I Fifty As India Wins Series

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh ransacked the visiting West Indies bowlers at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The 21-year-old clobbered 54 runs from 21 balls and brought up her half-century in just 18 to record the joint-fastest fifty in Women’s T20I history. Ghosh’s whirlwind knock, coupled with Smriti Mandhana’s regal 77 off 47 balls catapulted the Indian total to 217-4 from 20 overs, marking the highest-ever in the format by the ‘Women in Blue’.

In response, Indian spinner Radha Yadav picked up four wickets in her four-over spell to restrict West Indies to just 157-9. The hosts, under the interim leadership of Mandhana, secured an emphatic 60-run win to secure the three-match series 2-1.

Afghanistan Go 1-0 Up Over ZIM With Biggest ODI Win

After the opening washout in Harare, the Afghanistan cricket team mounted 286-6 at the same venue in the second ODI. Brash young opener Sediqullah Atal carted his maiden ODI century with 104 runs from 128 balls while his partner Abdul Malik made 84 off 101 during their 191-run partnership at the top. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi also chipped in with a valiant 29* to negotiate Newman Nyamhuri’s three-wicket haul in the backend of the innings.

In response, the Zimbabweans folded up for just 54 in 17.5 overs to hand Afghanistan a huge 232-run win, the biggest-ever victory margin for the visitors. Backing up Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai’s sublime new ball gambit, young Afghan spinner AM Ghazanfar (3-9) and 19-year-old quick Naveed Zadran (3-13) also picked up three wickets each as Shahidi’s troops went 1-0 up in the three-match series.

ICC Approve Hybrid Model For CT 2025, To Announce Schedule

The International Cricket Council (ICC), in compliance with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), officially approved the hybrid model for the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. While the tournament was originally scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in its entirety, BCCI and Indian government’s travel reluctance for Team India over security matters prompted the concerned boards to revamp the competition’s scheduling arrangements.

The ICC will be revealing an updated schedule for the entire tournament within the coming days. As per reports, Sri Lanka has emerged as the leading contender to be the host for Team India matches.

Hobart Hurricanes Succumb To New BBL Low Vs Renegades

Hobart Hurricanes wrapped up for just 74 by the Melbourne Renegades in match number five of the Big Bash League 2024-25 season. Captain Nathan Ellis himself carved 35 of those runs from 29 balls, as the rest of the 10 batters collectively accrued just 34 runs combined (excluding five extras). As it turned out, Hurricanes’ evening of horror at Geelong marked their lowest BBL total, worsening their 91-run effort from 2015 against the Sydney Sixers.

For the Renegades, new ball Australian quicks Fergus O'Neill (3-16) and Tom Rogers (3-25) picked up three wickets each alongside captain Will Sutherland (3-14). The Renegades overhauled their 75-run target with six wickets in hand in the ninth over to register their opening set of points on the eight-team BBL 2024-25 standings.

Virat Kohli Gets Aggressive With A Journalist

Indian batting icon and former captain Virat Kohli seemingly lashed out at a journalist upon his arrival in Melbourne for the impending fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test match at the MCG. In a short video captured by Channel 7 and as reported by The West Australian, Kohli got upset “by the presence of cameras directed at his family.”

The legendary Indian cricketer sparked an altercation with the reporter alongside several bystanders.

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