Kolkata Test ends in draw despite Kohli, Bhuvi fireworks

Agencies
November 20, 2017

Kolkata, Nov 20: The opening Test of the three-match series between India and Sri Lanka ended in a dramatic draw after the fifth day's play was stopped early due to bad light here at the Eden Gardens on Monday.

Resuming at yesterday's score of 171-1, skipper Virat Kohli smashed a brilliant knock of 104, including 12 boundaries and six fifties, off just 119 deliveries to help India post a respectable second-innings score of 352-8 declared.

It was Kohli's 18th Test hundred and 50th international century. He surpassed Dilip Vengsarkar (17) in the list of maximum centuries in the longest format of the game, but is still behind Mohammed Azharuddin (22), Virender Sehwag (23), Sunil Gavaskar (34), Rahul Dravid (36) and Tendulkar (51).

By scoring his 50th century, he is now the joint fastest to reach the milestone in terms of innings played, along with South Africa's Hashim Amla (348 innings).

Meanwhile, right-handed batsman Cheteshwar Pujara added yet another feather to his cap as he became only the third Indian cricketer to bat on all five days of a Test match when he resumed the match on Day 5 alongside opener KL Rahul.

He had joined KL Rahul at the crease yesterday when Shikhar Dhawan departed after smashing a scorching knock of 94 off 116 deliveries.

Pujara, however, failed to replicate his first-innings fireworks and went back to pavillion after scoring just 22. Rahul, who was dismissed for a duck in the first innings, finished with a brilliant 79-run knock.

Besides these three batsmen, none of the other Indian cricketers were able to contribute much to the hosts' second innings.

For Sri Lanka, Suranga Lakmal and Dasun Shanaka bagged three wickets each, while Lahiru Gamage and Dilruwan Perera finished with a wicket each.

Chasing a target of 231 runs to win, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami ran through the Sri Lankan line up and got India just three wickets short of a well-deserved victory only for poor light to stop play.

Captain Dinesh Chandimal (20) and Niroshan Dickwella (27) were the only Lankan players to contribute some runs in their side's innings.

Bhuvneshwar was the pick of the bowlers as he finished with the figures of four for eight, while Shami picked up two wickets. Umesh Yadav also chipped in with a wicket.

Earlier, Lanka posted a first innings score of 294 in reply to India's lowly total of 172 after bad light and rain played the spoilsport and forced to call off the opening Test two days early. 

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News Network
March 7,2020

Melbourne, Mar 7: Ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup against Australia, India spinner Poonam Yadav said that skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has given her a lot of support.

"Harmanpreet has been of immense support. When I got hit for a six in the first over, she came to me and said, 'Poonam, you're one of the most experienced players in the team, and we expect better of you'," Poonam said.

The 28-year-old experienced bowler has played 68 shortest format games for India and taken 94 wickets at an average of 22.66.

She has been in devastating form throughout the tournament and has bagged nine wickets so far.

"So, that kind of stirred something within me. I told myself if my captain has that much faith in me, I should be able to make a comeback," she said.

"I took a wicket in the very next ball, and didn't look back since. Now when I look back at that moment, it means so much in the context of my individual performance and run to the final," she added.

In the opening game against Australia at Sydney Showground, Poonam came within a whisker of the third hat-trick in Women's T20 World Cup history, dismissing Rachael Haynes and Ellyse Perry before Jess Jonassen was dropped.

The final of the tournament will be played at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on March 8 -- International Women's Day.

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Hampshire, Jul 31: David Willey's maiden five-wicket haul guided England to a six-wicket victory over Ireland in the first ODI here on Friday.

With this win, the hosts have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.

Chasing a small target of 173 runs, England got off to a bad start as opener Jonny Bairstow was given LBW in the third over, bowled by Andy McBrine. Jason Roy was then joined by James Vince and the duo added 22 runs on the board before the former was dismissed.

Craig Young then got hold of Vince, who was caught behind after scoring 25 runs. Sam Billings and Tom Banton then took the charge of the chase but the latter too was caught behind which ended his 11-run innings.

Banton's dismissal brought skipper Eoin Morgan on the field. Billings and Morgan played stunning innings and kept scoring boundaries. Morgan struck a scintillating six on the last bowl of the 28th over to take England over the line. Morgan scored 36 runs while Billings played a knock of 67 runs.

Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Ireland witnessed a poor start as Paul Stirling was dismissed in the very first over of the innings, bowled by Willey. Andy Balbirnie then joined Gareth Delany but Willey struck again in his next over, removing Balbirnie.

Delany then played furiously and smashed three consecutive boundaries to Saqib Mahmood in the fourth over. However, the fall of wickets did not stop as England took three wickets in quick succession. Mahmood bowled Harry Tector while Delany and Lorcan Tucker were sent back to the pavilion by Willey.

Kevin O'Brien and Curtis Campher then took the charge and played cautiously, taking their struggling side over the 50-run mark. Adil Rashid got hold of O'Brien (22) in the 22nd over before Simranjit Singh was run out in the same over.

Andy McBrine was the next batsman and he played brilliantly along with Campher, who went on to complete his half-century. Both formed a 66-run partnership before McBrine (40) was dismissed by Tom Curran.

Campher remained unbeaten on 59 but failed to find a partner as England bundled out Ireland on 172 runs.

The second ODI between both teams will be played on Saturday.

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Northamptonshire, Jul 31: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez has tested positive for coronavirus, and as a result, he will miss the British Grand Prix.

The Racing Point driver was absent from the circuit on Thursday after self-isolating following what his team called an "inconclusive" test. Perez then re-tested later in the day and it returned positive.

Formula 1 is following a strict testing regime as part of the safety protocols put in place when racing resumed earlier this month, and this is the first time a driver has tested positive.

"Perez has entered self-quarantine in accordance with the instructions of the relevant public health authorities, and will continue to follow the procedure mandated by those authorities," Formula 1 and the FIA said in a statement.

"With the assistance of the local organiser of the British Grand Prix, local health authorities and the FIA COVID-19 delegate, a full track and trace initiative has been undertaken and all close contacts have been quarantined," the statement added.

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