Cricket – Page 52 – Worldwide Sports News

March 5, 2025

New Zealand smash South Africa to set up Champions Trophy final with India

Lahore: NZ, 362-6, beat South Africa, 312-9, by 50 runs
Black Caps hit record score to book place in Dubai final

New Zealand will take on India in the final of the Champions Trophy after centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson enabled them to outmuscle South Africa in their Lahore semi-final.

The Black Caps piled on the pressure with a tournament-record score of 362 for six, Ravindra with 108 and Williamson adding 102, and their bowlers finished the job in clinical fashion to seal a comfortable 50-run win.

March 5, 2025

BREAKING: Steve Smith retires from ODI cricket after Australia’s Champions Trophy exit

Steve Smith announced his retirement from One Day International Cricket on Wednesday, declaring Test cricket “remains a priority” as he enters the final years of his career.

March 5, 2025March 6, 2025

Aussies at crossroads as big ODI calls loom after Trophy flop, Smith retirement — State of Play

While the dominant Test cricket nation in the world, Australia’s hold on ICC Championship trophies remains at two after a brave but ill-fated campaign in Pakistan and Dubai ended with a four wicket loss to India in a semi-final early on Wednesday.

March 5, 2025

‘Usually give in’: Thinly-veiled Kohli swipe twists knife in Aussies

Indian maestro Virat Kohli dug the knife in deeper after a starring role in his team’s Champions Trophy semi-final win over Australia, declaring opponents “give in” when he gets on top.

March 4, 2025

Steve Smith’s ultimate praise for Kohli, silver lining on big Aussie weakness as skipper explains exit

Steve Smith lamented the inexperience of the bowling group that fell a game short of the Champions Trophy final, but the Australian captain walked away adamant those players would “get bigger and better” after helping his team exceed expectations.

March 4, 2025

Kohli, Rohit caught ‘hurling expletives’ at sloppy teammate in moment of rage

Virat Kohli was the ice man once again in India’s successful run chase in the Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia, but earlier in the match, he was anything but cool as he snapped at a teammate.

March 4, 2025

‘What undue advantage?’ Coach unloads over India bias claims… with ironic twist under his nose

India coach Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday lashed out at critics of his team playing every game in Dubai, after beating Australia by four wickets in the Champions Trophy semi-finals.

March 4, 2025March 5, 2025

Staggering truth behind shock Aussie selection gamble as Smith cements legacy — Talking Pts

Australia has been knocked out of the Champions Trophy after India sealed a tense four-wicket win during Tuesday’s semi-final in Dubai.

March 4, 2025

Virat Kohli steers India past Australia and into Champions Trophy final

Australia 264 all out; India 267-6 in Dubai
Veteran’s 84 takes his team to four-wicket victory

Many changes of personnel, one simple change of sequence. The World Cup final in 2023 began with Pat Cummins choosing to give Australia’s bowlers the chance to choke India’s batting. A year and a half later, in the Champions Trophy, Steve Smith as injury substitute decided that a very different Australian team should bat first.

Late-career struggles or no, Virat Kohli is one-day cricket’s greatest chaser. And while a miniature tournament semi-final in Dubai is not an equal trade for a World Cup decider in a packed house at home, there will be partial catharsis for this India side beating Australia in a global tournament knockout.

March 4, 2025

Bazball’s poisoned chalice is up for grabs — and the only clear contender is still deeply flawed

Harry Brook appears to be the front runner to replace Jos Buttler as England’s white-ball captain but doubts are growing about the star batter’s suitability for the role.

March 4, 2025

‘Feel it now more than ever’: Warne tragedy three years on as ‘unbelievable’ tribute revealed

Is it Shane Warne’s “ball of the century” that beguiled Mike Gatting? Or his famous Ashes hattrick at the MCG a year later in 1994?

March 4, 2025March 4, 2025

Sloppy Aussies knocked out as King Kohli helps ‘unstoppable’ Indians seal revenge

Eighteen months after the 2023 World Cup final heartbreak, India finally has its revenge.

March 3, 2025

‘Strict bubble’: Smith’s twist on India’s controversial CT advantage as Aussie tormentor looms

Australia captain Steve Smith says his team are confident they can counter India’s quality spin attack in their Champions Trophy semi-final in Dubai on Tuesday.

March 3, 2025

Australia’s semi-final hopes against India depend on spin battle, says Smith

Captain believes key is how batters take on ‘middle overs’
Australia still to decide how many spinners to include

White-ball cricket is often about the powerplay at the start of an innings and the death overs at the end, but the Australia captain Steve Smith believes it is the overs in the middle that will decide the Champions Trophy semi-final against India on Tuesday.

Australia go into the Dubai lair that dry pitches and expat fans have turned into a home from home for India with Rohit Sharma’s team seeking to snare them in a web of spin. India used four spinners in their last match against New Zealand, the quartet taking nine wickets, five going to the recalled Varun Chakravarthy.

March 2, 2025

Youngster gets another surprise Aussie call-up as huge selection decision looms for India semi

Cooper Connolly has officially been added to Australia’s Champions Trophy squad, replacing the injured Matt Short.