SPORTS

India beat South Africa by 82 runs to level the five match series 2-2 in Rajkot. They has set a target of 170 to the Proteas, but they never looked in charge as they kept on losing wickets. The peak of the bowler was Avesh Khan who had picked up three wickets in a single over as he ended up registering figures of 4/12. Earlier Dinesh Karthik and Hardik Pandya played fighting knocks to help India post a fighting total of 169/6 in 20 overs. Karthik slammed his maiden T20I century to help India recover from a tricky stage alongside Pandya who also scored valuable 46 runs. While it was another disappointing performance from skipper Rishabh Pant who was dismissed on 17 after facing 23 balls.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bowl against India at Rajkot. The hosts decided to go unchanged for the crucial clash as they will look to level the series. While the Proteas made three changes as Quinton de Kock returns in place of Reeza Hendricks. Kagiso Rabada and Wayne Parnell were ruled out due to injury as they made places for Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen.

In a monumental inning, Australian blind cricketer Steffan Nero smashed a record-shattering 309* off 140 balls to guide Australia to a massive 270-run win over New Zealand. Nero’s batting masterclass, which included 49 fours and a six, is the highest score for visually impaired cricketers in limited-overs matches. He leapfrogged Pakistan’s Masood Jan, who scored 262* during the 1998 Blind Cricket World Cup.

Nero’s magnificent knock helped Australia post a mammoth 542/2 off 40 overs, as reported by Fox News. The bowlers then bundled out New Zealand for 272, winning the game by 270 runs. Nero was Australia’s star on the field as well as he completed five run-outs as a keeper.

Nero joined the likes of Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, and David Warner in the list of players who have scored a triple century for the country across formats.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya has been named skipper of India for the upcoming two T20Is against Ireland while Bhuvaneshwar Kumar will be his deputy. The squad also sees the inclusion of Rahul Tripathi for the first time while Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson also return to India’s middle order. India are set to play two T20Is in Ireland after which they will travel to the neighboring England where they will play three T20Is. The series will not see KL Rahul who has already been ruled out from the lone Test match to be played in Edgbaston.

Pandya got the promotion as Rishabh Pant, who is currently leading the T20 side, will join the Indian Test squad in UK only after the South Africa series.  All the players, except Pant, are leaving for England early Thursday for the July 1-5 contest, notable being skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.

Pakistan defeated the West Indies by 53 runs on Sunday (June 12) to win the three-match ODI series 3-0 at home. It was Pakistan's 10th consecutive ODI series win over the Caribbean side.  

While winning at home is a good habit to have, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam seems to picture something big on the back of good performances at home. 

After leading Pakistan to a series win over the West Indies, Babar, who was in sublime form in the three-match series, said that he is happy with his form and wants to use his purple patch to help Pakistan win two World Cups in the next year and a half. 

Joe Root, on Monday, June 13, played one of the most audacious strokes off a fast bowler one could ever imagine. The 31-year-old has been seeing the ball like a football in recent times and he hasn't shied away from playing his strokes. In England's first innings of the second Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, Root carted Tim Southee for a six.

Root was batting on 164 when he churned out an unbelievable stroke. Southee bowled a good-length delivery outside the off-stump and Root reverse-scooped him over the third man boundary. The batter timed the ball with precision and left Southee and the Black Caps' fielders stunned.

The shot was pretty reminiscent of the one Rishabh Pant played against Anderson and Jofra Archer during England's tour of India back in March 2021.