Category: Sports

MI Cape Town showed they are the best team in the SA20 league by winning easily against the Pretoria Capitals. This victory gave them a perfect record at their home ground, Newlands. They became the second team to win all five home games this season, following the Paarl Royals.

With a total of 35 points, MI Cape Town set a record for the most points in the league after the regular matches. They scored a powerful 201 runs for 5 wickets and then quickly bowled out the Capitals for just 106 runs, winning by an impressive 95 runs.

The new opening pair of Sediqullah Atal and Connor Esterhuizen did a fantastic job, scoring 133 runs together without losing a wicket. Sediqullah entertained everyone with a thrilling 77 runs in just 46 balls, while Esterhuizen contributed a strong 69 runs off 43 balls. Delano Potgieter added 26 runs in only 15 balls, helping MI Cape Town reach the highest score at Newlands this season.

The bowling team kept the pressure on as off-spinner Dane Piedt took a wicket on the first ball he bowled, getting Capitals’ opener Will Jacks caught behind. Piedt, playing his first game for MI Cape Town, took 3 wickets for just 28 runs and was named Player of the Match. The other spinners also did well: Thomas Kaber took 3 wickets for 21 runs, and George Linde took 2 wickets for only 11 runs, together dismissing the Capitals for a low score of 106 in just 14 overs.

Stand-in captain Colin Ingram expressed his gratitude for the fans, saying it’s been satisfying to see such great support for the team. He praised the players for their excellent performances and teamwork.

Next, MI Cape Town will travel to Gqeberha to play against Paarl Royals in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday. The winner will move straight to the final at the Wanderers on Saturday.

In an exciting moment, India’s team celebrated their victory in the final of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup. Sanika Chalke hit the winning runs by sending the ball to the boundary right in front of her cheering teammates at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur. G Trisha was the star of the tournament, scoring a total of 309 runs. In the final match, she also helped her team by taking 3 wickets for just 15 runs and scoring 44 runs, leading India to a 9-wicket win against South Africa.

The Indian bowling was fantastic, thanks to three left-arm spinners: Vaishnavi Sharma, Aayushi Shukla, and Parunika Sisodia, who did an amazing job of stopping the South African batsmen. After winning the tournament, the team proudly held up the trophy, showing their strength and determination. Team captain Niki Prasad expressed her happiness, saying they remained calm and focused on their game.

“It feels great to keep India at the top. We’re here to show our best,” Prasad said. “We want to keep winning for India.”

The South African team, led by Kayla Reyneke, felt the pressure of the final. Reyneke was emotional during the national anthem and after the game. She said, “We worked really hard, and though it hurts to lose, we have a strong spirit and will come back stronger.”

At the Naman Awards, famous cricket player Sachin Tendulkar received the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award from the BCCI. Sachin, lovingly called the Master Blaster, played cricket for over 30 years, breaking many records along the way. In his thank-you speech, Sachin shared touching memories from his last game. He played his final match for India against the West Indies in November 2013 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Sachin thanked MS Dhoni, the then team captain, for planning a special goodbye for him. During the ceremony, the team surprised Sachin and gave him a guard of honour, which made him realize he was finishing his career as a current player. “Looking back, I cannot believe everything that has happened to me. I feel very lucky,” Sachin shared.

Throughout his career, he made a massive 15,921 runs in Test matches and 18,426 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs). His records for most Test (200) and ODI (463) matches are still unbeaten. Sachin started his cricket journey at just 16 years old in 1989 during India’s tour of Pakistan. Now, he is the 31st person to receive the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sachin also gave advice to current players, saying, “Cricket is the greatest gift of my life. Without it, we wouldn’t be here.” He reminded them to stay focused and not let distractions harm their careers. Sachin encouraged them to value their talents and remember where they came from. “You only realize how important it is once you finish playing,” he added.

Dubai [UAE]: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has started the countdown to the Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 by announcing that the tournament will follow an “all or nothing” format. This means the top eight teams in the world will face off in high-pressure matches, where every game is crucial for their chances to qualify.

Star Sports Network is kicking off the excitement with a campaign titled “Har Match Do-or-Die,” which gives fans a taste of the thrill ahead. They released a film featuring MS Dhoni, who captained India to victory in the 2013 Champions Trophy. Known for his calmness, Dhoni shows a different side in the film, where he is seen sweating in an ice-filled bathtub in a snowy background. This unusual scene emphasizes the intense pressure players face during the tournament.

In the film, Dhoni captures the high stakes of the competition with his quote, “If you slip in even one match, consider yourself out of the tournament.” Speaking about the Champions Trophy, he stated, “This tournament is special to me as it brings the world’s best teams together for matches that are do-or-die. It’s exciting for fans, and being part of this film was nostalgic. I can relate to all the fans watching the games.”

India’s cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, will start their Champions Trophy journey against Bangladesh on February 20. They will also compete against Pakistan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 2. The tournament kicks off on February 19, with the final scheduled for March 9.

India’s cricket team has made it to the final of the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup! They beat England by nine wickets thanks to a great performance from their spinners and a solid fifty from Kamalini.

The final will be held on Sunday, where India will face South Africa. South Africa reached the final for the first time by defeating Australia in another semifinal earlier that day.

In the match against England, India’s left-arm spinners, Parunika Sisodia and Vaishnavi Sharma, shone by taking three wickets each. They helped keep England to a low score of 113 runs for 8 wickets.

India chased down this target easily, scoring 117 runs for just 1 wicket in 15 overs. G Trisha scored 35 runs quickly, and Kamalini shone with an unbeaten 56 runs. Trisha started strongly and helped India get off to a fast start, reaching 44 runs without losing a wicket in the first six overs.

Kamalini got a lucky chance when the England captain dropped a catch. Even after Trisha got out, Kamalini kept going, adding runs with Sanika Chalke. Kamalini’s batting was about smart shots rather than big hits, and England couldn’t find a way to get her out.

Earlier, England began their innings well, reaching 37 runs without losing a wicket. However, they struggled later and lost many wickets, mainly because they kept trying risky shots. England only managed to score 40 runs in the last 10 overs while losing six wickets.

In the end, England couldn’t get enough runs, and India won comfortably. Sisodia was named Player of the Match and said she focused on bowling accurately and getting the batters to make mistakes.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Exciting times are ahead for cricket lovers in Malaysia as the country prepares to host the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in 2025! With more girls joining the sport and a growing interest in cricket, this is a fantastic moment for Malaysia, which is known for its rich culture and modern facilities.

Malaysia is ready to welcome teams from around the world for this big tournament, making it a great opportunity for local players to shine in their national colors. While not every country gets to host a World Cup, Malaysia has hosted important cricket events before, showing it has the experience needed.

In recent semi-finals in Kuala Lumpur, South Africa impressed everyone by beating Australia by five wickets, ensuring they’re an undefeated team in the tournament. The South African bowlers performed well, led by Ashleigh van Wyk, who took four wickets. Australia batted first and scored 105 runs, but South Africa chased the target with confidence, thanks to strong performances from players like Jemma Botha and Kayla Reyneke.

With this win, South Africa is set to play in the final against either India or England. The excitement continues as cricket grows in Malaysia, inspiring the next generation of players!