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Pakistan's Record Win, Smith Injury Scare And WTC Penalty – December 3 Cricket Highlights

Aakash Saini∙ Updated: Dec 4 2024, 6:00 AM

Pakistan team in Zimbabwe and Australian batters [Source: @ZimCricketv, @ICC/x]Pakistan team in Zimbabwe and Australian batters [Source: @ZimCricketv, @ICC/x]

Pakistan sealed their three-match T20I series in Zimbabwe with a match to spare. In Australia, the hosts suffered a couple of injury scares to senior batters Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, just days prior to their pink-ball affair against India at the Adelaide Oval.

Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest news that emerged out of Tuesday, December 3.

Sufiyan Muqeem’s Record Spell Seals Series For PAK

Young left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem picked up five Zimbabwean wickets at an expense of just three runs in 2.4 overs to set up Pakistan’s remarkable T20I series win in Bulawayo. Muqeem’s spell helped Pakistan skittle out hosts Zimbabwe for just 57 in the second T20I, before visiting openers Omair Yousuf and Saim Ayub overwhelmed their target in 5.3 overs. Sealing a 10-wicket win with 87 balls to spare, the outcome helped Pakistan record their biggest ever margin of victory in T20Is, in terms of number of balls remaining.

Shreyas Gopal Justifies CSK Faith With Star-Studded Hat-Trick

Karnataka spinner Shreyas Gopal justified his CSK selection for IPL 2025 by picking up a star-studded hat-trick against Baroda in the Group B match of the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at Indore. Defending 170 runs for a win, Gopal dismissed well-set Baroda half-centurion Shashwat Rawat at the start of the 11th over of the innings, before bewildering Pandya brothers Hardik and Krunal in succession to snare three wickets in three balls.

The 31-year-old also toppled Baroda number three Bhanu Pania a while later to seal astonishing figures of 4-19 from four overs. Unfortunately for Shreyas, Karnataka lost the match by four wickets.

ICC Docks WTC Points Off England And New Zealand

The International Cricket Council (ICC) imposed a 15 percent fine on players from England and New Zealand for maintaining a slow over-rate during their series-opening Christchurch Test. Apart from fine imposition, the apex body also docked three WTC points from both teams, thus landing a huge blow to New Zealand’s prospects for reaching the finals.

The eight-wicket defeat, coupled with a three-point penalty means that the New Zealand cricket team has now slipped from fourth position to fifth on the updated 2023-25 WTC points table.

Australia Suffer Injury Scares With Steve Smith, Labuschagne

Australia’s middle-order batting stalwarts Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne both suffered brief injury scares during a training session on Tuesday, November 3. Premier fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has already been ruled out of Australia’s upcoming Adelaide Test match against India. Moreover, there is still uncertainty over the fitness availability of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh.

Smith walked off the field after getting hit by a ball at the Adelaide Oval. Labuschagne, on the other hand, was struck by a rising ball from Daniel Vettori during a batting session in the nets. It is worth noting that Labuschagne continued to bat even after getting hit, but the extension of injuries of both senior batters is yet to be determined.

Suryakumar Yadav Dazzles In SMAT For Mumbai

Mere weeks after leading India to a T20I series victory in South Africa, senior batter Suryakumar Yadav returned to his domestic roots for Mumbai in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Ranked number four by ICC in the world of T20I batting, the 34-year-old carted 70 runs from just 46 balls against Services, smearing seven boundaries and four sixes in the process.

Suryakumar’s batting masterclass catalysed Mumbai’s 39-run win in Hyderabad as Shreyas Iyer and co. registered their fourth Group E win of the tournament in five matches.