SA vs IND | 3rd Test: Who said what on Twitter after South Africa clinch series

Auckland Aces vs Otago Volts | Match 23 Preview, Predictions, Fantasy XI

These two teams have already met each other in the 16th match of the competition, where Auckland came on top and won the match by 8 wickets in a low scoring affair.

SA vs IND | Have backed Pujara & Rahane for what they have done in Test cricket, says Virat Kohli

India suffered a defeat against South Africa in the third Test and lost the series 1-2. The Indian captain, during the post-match conference admitted that the batting has become a concern. “The batting has let us down in the last two games and there is no running away from that,” he said. Indian batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane didn’t really impress much with the bat barring one or two occasions. Kohli though said that the team management has backed the two players for what they have done in Test cricket but the future depends upon selectors’ decision. “We have backed Pujara & Rahane for what they have done in Test cricket,” he said. “What selectors have in mind, can’t comment on that,” he added.

BBL | Rashid Khan-less Strikers defeat table toppers to stay alive in competition

No Rashid Khan? No problem for Adelaide Strikers as they defeated Perth Scorchers in a crucial game in the Big Bash League to keep their playoff hopes alive. Playing a home game in front of the home crowd Strikers dominated with the ball in the first innings and then chased it down with ease. The fact that Scorchers had several main players out of the first team helped the cause. Scorchers did not have the services of Mathew Kelly, Cameron Bancroft and Ashton Agar with having lost star batter Colin Munro previously. Given the issues with balance and experience, Scorchers folded cheaply against some quality bowling from Fawad Ahmed and Peter Siddle to score just 127 runs in 9 overs. Only Laurie Evans and Ashton Turner were able to provide some sort of resistance but that was never going to be enough. At a point, the duo of Evans and Turner put Adelaide under pressure with counterattacking knocks. Turner was impressive in particular taking on Fawad Khan, Strikers’ best bowler of the night. It did not last long though as Turner went back to the pavilion trying to play a rash shot and Evans struggled to put bat to ball after getting hit on the toe with a yorker. This ended up halting the momentum of the table toppers and they were not able to get upto a par score With barely any pressure from the scoreboard, the batters made easy work of Scorchers. Matthew Short started off aggressively in the powerplay and despite a few hiccups in the middle overs, a steady innings from debutant Ian Cockbain saw them through with three overs remaining. With the win, Strikers have kept themselves in the contention of the playoffs spots while Scorchers, though well ahead of the others missed a chance to qualify as the table toppers.

SA vs IND | 3rd Test: There were lapses of concentration from us in key moments, says Kohli

South Africa defeated India by 7 wickets in the final Test of the three-match series in Cape Town after chasing down a target of 212 runs in the second session of Day 4. The hosts had restricted India to 198 despite a century from Rishabh Pant in the second innings. The home side lost an early wicket in the form of Aiden Markram but Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen came in for the rescue as the two compiled a partnership of 78 runs for the second wicket. Elgar was eventually undone on the final delivery of the third day by Jasprit Bumrah after he was caught behind by Pant for 30. Petersen was then joined by Rassie van der Dussen on the beginning of the fourth day. Both the batsmen negotiated the initial phase of the day in a brilliant manner and stitched a stand of 54 runs for the third wicket as Petersen was out for 82 by Shardul Thakur. The South African team didn’t lose any further wickets and Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma took the team home to help the side win the series 2-1. India skipper Virat Kohli later talked about the series and admitted that the lapse of concentration did cost them the match. “I think it's a great spectacle of Test cricket for all to see. We played well in the first game to win but South Africa bounced back well in the second and carried on the momentum in the third as well. There was some lapse of concentration from us as well in key moments. I thought South Africa performed better in those key moments and totally deserved the win,” he said during the pots-match presentation.