SA vs IND | 3rd Test | Day 4: Twitterati lashes out at Pujara after he drops sitter

WI vs IRE | 2nd ODI: Andy McBrine, Harry Tector take series into decider

Ireland equalised the three-match ODI series against West Indies after clinching a win in a rain-curtailed second encounter in Jamaica. The visitors were asked to chase a revised target of 168 runs in 36 overs. Williamson Porterfield and Paul Stirling began the proceedings in a decent manner putting up a partnership of 37 runs in 5 overs before Stirling was sent back for 21 off 15 by Akeal Hosein. The Irish side then lost Porterfield at a team team score of 60 but Andy McBrine and Harry Tector steadied the ship with a 54-run stand between them. While McBrine struck 35 in 45 deliveries, Tector remained unbeaten at 54 in 75 balls to anchor the side to a win by 5 wickets eventually. Earlier, the West Indies didn’t really get into the groove with the bat and lost wickets at regular intervals to eventually get bundled out for 229 in 48 overs. The hosts were left tottering at 143/8 but it was Romario Shepherd and Odean Smith who chipped in with a partnership of 58 runs for the 8th wicket. Smith eventually was dismissed for 46 while Shepherd went on to notch up a fifty. McBrine scalped a four-fer for Ireland while Craig Young scalped a three-wicket haul during the course. The decider will now be played on Sunday in Jamaica.

U19 World Cup | Coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar mulls about India’s chances in the tournament

India coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar has backed India’s chances in the U19 World Cup, which is scheduled to get underway on Friday, 14 January in the Caribbean shores. Speaking highly about the team, Kanitkar has stated that India will bounce off the Asia Cup win and would be raring to go in the first game against South Africa on Saturday. Talking about two specific youngsters in the team, the coach backed Rajvardhan Hangarekar and captain Yash Dhull to be the main pillars of the team. Hangarekar, a fast bowling all rounder, impressed in the Asia Cup and is already being talked about for his explosiveness. "It augurs well for the future. The talent is there...it is about grooming and handling them well. Rajvardhan is a really exciting prospect and bowls at a fair clip.” "He has a good yorker and a bouncer and he is not a bad batsman. You will find that out in the tournament. He is keen to do well for the team. These are good signs," he said. Asked about captaincy in the junior format of the game, the coach said that Dhull, as a captain has the respect of all players and they think tank, trusts his on-field decisions. “He is able to take tough calls,” argued the coach "Every time, especially while fielding, he can't be told to do things, he needs to take his decisions. He is up to it. I think his instincts are tuned fine and think he can do justice to the job," Kanitkar added.

SA vs Ind | Lungi Ngidi takes jibes at Virat Kohli and co.

South Africa pacer Lungi Ngidi after the end of Thursday’s play has stated that Indians were left frustrated and under pressure after the DRS review of Dean Elgar. On Thurday, 13 January, while chasing the target Elgar was caught plumb in front by Ravichandran Ashwin. Umpire Marius Erasmus took no time in lifting the finger, however, Elgar’s DRS review turned the decision around. As the Indians looked up to the display board in a state of shock, several players including senior pros like Virat Kohli and the bowler himself took jibes at the broadcasters. “Reactions like that show a bit of frustration,” Ngidi was quoted as saying by the Times of India. “And teams capitalise on that. You never really want to show too much emotion, but I guess we could see clearly right there that emotions were high.” After the incident, South Africa took big strides in ensuring that they got a good footing in the game. However, the scales were balanced just a bit as Jasprit Bumrah removed Dean Elgar in the final ball of the innings. At the end of day three SA need 111 runs to win with 8 wickets in hand.

The Ashes | 5th Test, Day 1 - Australia lose Labuschange after excellent counter attacking knock

Marnus Labuschange and the returning Travis Head counterattacked their way out trouble after Australia went down by three wickets in the first hour of play at the Bellerive Oval on Friday, 14 January. However, the relief was shortlived as Stuart Broad cleaned up the right hander just before dinner to break a crucial partnership. Having lost the entire top order inside 12 runs and been served a lifeline by Zak Crawley in the slips, Labuschange took the onus upon himself in the morning and hit back at the English bowling attack with flowing drives and swanky pulls. Labuschange was ruthless against anything overpitched and decided to take it on despite five men in the slips waiting to pouch onto anything offered to them. After a few uppish drives, Labuschange looked in his element and decided to take on anything bowled short or full off good length. The right hander was well supported by Travis Head who returned into the Test fold after contracting Covid-19. Head, while he wasn’t as flamboyant as his partner, scored at his usual brisk rate to add on to the partnership. The duo had added 71 runs in 73 balls before the right hander got bowled out by slipping on his crease against a fairly straightforward delivery from Broad.