Australia deny South Africa series sweep as Carey returns to form in rain-affected third ODI

  • Third ODI: Aus 322-9, SA 145-4; Australia won by 45 runs (DLS)

  • Wicketkeeper and Marsh hit half-centures while Peake also impresses

Australia have avoided a whitewash in their ODI series in South Africa with Pat Cummins’ encouraging comeback and the return to form of Adam Zampa and Alex Carey inspiring them to a morale-boosting if rain-interrupted win in Potchefstroom.

The final day-nighter was eventually called off under the lights on Wednesday as rain ruined the finale, but Australia could still celebrate a satisfying 45-run (DLS method) victory on a day when they were vastly improved after their capitulation in chases in the first two matches.

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Shubman Gill hits record-breaking double hundred as India chase 406 in second ODI

  • India captain hits 200 off 117 balls to power record chase

  • West Indies stunned after hitting three centuries to post 405

Shubman Gill struck the fastest double century in one-day international history as India completed the format’s second-highest successful chase with an eight-wicket victory against West Indies in a run-filled second match of the three-game series in Guwahati on Wednesday.

Gill, the world’s top-ranked ODI batter and India’s captain, remained unbeaten on 223 off 133 deliveries, bringing up the quickest ODI century of his career (62 balls) before converting it into the fastest ODI double hundred (117 balls) of anyone’s career. This was the 27-year-old’s second double century in ODIs, the first coming against New Zealand in Hyderabad in 2023 – he is only the second player after his opening partner Rohit Sharma to make 200 more than once.

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County pride and England chaos relegated Hundred to summer undercard | Ali Martin

Franchise tournament remains an enigma after an unexpectedly dramatic men’s international summer and a thrilling Championship title race

After pumping astronomical sums of money into English cricket, the headline act of the summer should probably have been the Hundred’s rebirth under private ownership. After all, the decks were relatively clear.

There was no Ashes series or Indian arm-wrestle in Test cricket to hog the limelight, rather a small-plates menu of touring teams. The Women’s T20 World Cup was on home soil, but for all that it outdid its 50-over equivalent in 2017 by way of engagement, the men’s football World Cup dominated. Plus, folks kind of knew Nat Sciver-Brunt’s England side was not quite ready to derail the Australian machine.

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