Pat Cummins Set to Miss Sri Lanka Tour, Captaincy Remains Unaffected
Pat Cummins‘ reign as Australia’s captain shows no signs of slowing, even as he prioritizes family commitments, opting to skip his first full tour since succeeding Tim Paine four years ago.
Sunday’s emphatic six-wicket victory over India at the SCG secured the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, completing Australia’s collection of bilateral trophies and highlighting the team’s dominance under Cummins’ leadership.
With both ODI and T20 World Cup titles won during his tenure, Cummins was humorously asked after the SCG triumph if he felt he had “completed cricket.”
Pat Cummins is set to miss Australia’s upcoming tour, acknowledging on Sunday that he “might struggle” to play in Sri Lanka as he …
[2:20 pm, 6/1/2025] Sahil: Title: Afghanistan Secures Series Win as Rashid’s Career-Best Spell Crushes Zimbabwe
Afghanistan triumphed over Zimbabwe by 72 runs, thanks to Rashid Khan’s phenomenal match haul of 11 for 160, including career-best figures of 7 for 66 in the second innings.
The match saw Afghanistan post 157 (Rashid 25, Raza 3-30, Nyamhuri 3-42) and 363 (Rahmat 139, Alam 101, Muzarabani 6-95), while Zimbabwe managed 243 (Ervine 75, Raza 61, Rashid 4-94) and 205 (Ervine 53, Rashid 7-66, Zia 2-44).
Rashid sealed the victory early on the final morning, quashing Zimbabwe’s hopes of a thrilling finish just 15 deliveries into the day. With 73 runs still required and Craig Ervine leading Zimbabwe’s resistance, Afghanistan delivered two unplayable deliveries to clinch the game.
The brief passage of play on the fifth day was packed with drama. Afghanistan’s plan unfolded perfectly at the start, with Rashid Khan bowling to Zimbabwe’s No. 10, Richard Ngarava. Just four balls in, Rashid induced a mistimed slice, sending the ball skyward behind the fielder at silly point.
Hashmatullah Shahidi, stationed at cover, moved right, while Fareed Ahmad, at point, stepped left. With his focus split between the dipping ball and Fareed’s movement, Shahidi fumbled the catch, letting Ngarava off the hook. Rashid’s frustration was evident as he shot a glare at his captain, whose outstretched hands failed to hold on.
Ngarava’s reprieve was short-lived, however, as Afghanistan struck soon after to maintain control.
Ngarava safely negotiated the final two deliveries of Rashid’s over, ensuring Craig Ervine retained the strike for the next. Starting on his overnight 53 as the last recognized batter, Ervine faced a spread-out field, carefully turning down two singles before deciding to take a chance on the third.
He drove Yamin Ahmadzai’s delivery toward deep extra cover, where the fielder was positioned about three-fourths of the way to the boundary. Shahidullah sprinted forward to collect the ball and unleashed a flat, accurate throw to the wicketkeeper.
Caught off guard by Ervine’s early call for the run, Ngarava was late to react and hesitated at the non-striker’s end. Meanwhile, Ervine was already committed, and Afsar Zazai swiftly removed the bails, leaving Ngarava stranded and well short of his crease.
Blessing Muzarabani, the last man, successfully defended the next two deliveries and left the third one alone. Ervine resumed strike for the next over, with Zimbabwe still stuck on their overnight score. Rashid started with two short deliveries, then bowled a much fuller ball on the third. It landed just outside off, turned in, and struck Ervine in front as he missed an attempted sweep.
Rashid and his teammates immediately appealed, and though umpire Ahsan Raza’s finger took a moment to rise, it eventually did, despite the initial impression that the ball might have missed the leg stump. With no DRS available, the Afghanistan players erupted in celebration, knowing the wicket had been secured.
It was a hard-fought victory driven by centuries from Rahmat Shah and debutant Ismat Alam in Afghanistan’s second innings, which had started with them 86 runs behind. Rashid also made vital contributions with the bat, scoring 25 and 23.
As a result, Afghanistan clinched the two-match series 1-0, following a high-scoring draw in the first Test, while Zimbabwe were left reflecting on a series defeat across all three formats.
Read More: https://cricinside365.com/gautam-gambhir-needs-to-kick-virat-kohli-out/
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