SA vs IND | 1st Test, Day 2: Rain delays start in Centurion

The Ashes | 3rd Test | Day 2: England stumble with bat once again as Australia come closer to urn

England had a horrific start to the second innings after they were reduced to 31/4, trailing Australia by 51 runs in the third Ashes Test in Melbourne. The visitors have struggled with their batting on this tour and the second innings of this third Test was no different. Australia’s Mitchell Starc provided his team with an early blow after he removed Zak Crawley for 5 and then followed it with Dawid Malan’s dismissal for a golden duck. Later, opener Haseeb Hameed and captain Joe Root tried to steady the ship but their resistance didn’t last long as Hameed was caught by Alex Carey off Scott Boland for 7. England then sent in Jack Leach as the night watchman but his stay too was a short one as he was sent back for zero by Boland a couple of balls later. Root along with Ben Stokes negotiated the attack and didn’t let any further wickets fall down. While Root is unbeaten at 12, Stokes is at 2. Starc and Boland scalped two wickets apiece. Earlier, in the day, England bowlers dominated the Australian batting line up and picked up wickets at regular intervals after the hosts began the proceedings at 61/1 on Day 2 and were reduced to 219/8 with the top-scorer of the side Marcus Harris also back in the pavilion. Harris struck 76 during the course. But it was a partnership of 34 runs between Pat Cummins and Starc of 34 runs in the end that certainly brought Australia back in the game. Cummins scored 21 while Starc remained not out at 24 as Australia managed to put 267 before getting bowled out. James Anderson picked up 4 wickets for England.

The Ashes | 3rd Test | Day 2: Australia regain dominance despite Anderson's masterclass with ball

Australia rode on some decent effort from the tail-enders to get them back on track in the third Ashes Test in Melbourne as they managed to take 82-run lead in the first innings. The hosts were reduced to 219/8 when captain Pat Cummins was joined by Mitchell Starc and the two batsmen chipped in with a partnership of 34 runs for the ninth wicket. While Cummins was dismissed for 21, Starc remained unbeaten at 24 as Australia put 267 before getting bundled out. Earlier, in the day, Australia started off the proceedings at 61/1 but England bowlers picked up wickets at regular intervals to push them on the back foot. Opener Marcus Harris top-scored for the hosts with a score of 76. For England, it was James Anderson who bagged a four-wicket haul at the cost of 33 runs in 23 overs while Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood scalped a couple of wickets apiece.

Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021 Final: Always wanted to play an innings like this on a big stage, says Shubham Arora

Himachal Pradesh’s Shubham Arora played an exceptional knock of 136* against Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final in Jaipur on Sunday. Himachal Pradesh created history as they clinched the title with a brilliant win by 11 runs (VJD Method) while chasing a mammoth 315 in 50 overs. Talking about his knock and the planning while chasing the big score, Arora said that to the batsmen was that they have to play 50 overs. “We were told that we need to keep wickets in hand and try to play out the entire 50 overs,” he said while talking to The Indian Express. “My duty was to try and not get out especially during the play-off. A good start is always needed while chasing a big score.” Tamil Nadu had rode on Dinesh Karthik’s ton to put 314 on the board before getting bundled out. Apart from Karthik, Baba Indrajith struck a fifty while Shahrukh Khan chipped in with a brisk 21-ball 42. In reply, Himachal Pradesh had a decent start to the chase but lost the way in the middle before Shubham and Amit Kumar steadied the ship and stitched a stand of 148 runs for the fourth wicket. Kaur scored 74 off 79. Later, Shubham was joined by captain Rishi Dhawan who unleashed a terrific knock of 42* off 23 as Himachal Pradesh stood on the winning podium.

SA vs IND | 1st Test | Day 1: Mayank Agarwal highlights discipline with bat for commanding start

India had a brilliant start to the first Test against South Africa in Centurion after the visitors piled up 272/3 on the first day. Openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal laid a perfect foundation as the two batters stitched a first-wicket stand of 117 runs before Mayank was out for 60. Rahul on the other side, went on to notch up a hundred during the course. Talking about the proceedings, Agarwal revealed the plans that the batting unit had. “The plan was to be very disciplined, to play balls which come around the stump and leave as many as possible. We could do just that,” Agarwal said at the press conference after the day’s play . “At 272 for 3, it is credit to our batting unit, we applied ourselves. The plan is those who get set will have to continue and Rahul bhai did that.” Agarwal lauded Rahul for scoring a ton and also credited the partnerships that the batting unit had. “The highlight as a team was Rahul getting a hundred. We had partnerships and that was crucial. He had a partnership first up with me, and Virat bhai had it also and then with Rahane. I hope they continue the same,” he said. Rahul is unbeaten at 122 while Ajinkya Rahane is at 40*. For South Africa, it was Lungi Ngidi who was the pick of the bowlers after he bagged all the wickets for his side.