Aaron Finch

Aaron Finch becomes the first overseas signing at MLC

Former Australia T20 skipper Aaron Finch has become the first signing in USA’s T20 league Major League Cricket. Finch, who has won the 2021 T20 World Cup, will be given the duty to lead San Francisco Unicorns.

So excited to be a part of @MLCricket @SFOUnicorns,” tweeted Aaron Finch, who captained Australia in white-ball cricket before announcing his retirement from international cricket last month.

Unicorns used their first two picks on Corey Anderson and Liam Plunkett, who now reside in the USA after marrying Americans, respectively. Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis is also a part of the Unicorns.

Other players include fellow Australians Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Marsh, as well as South Africans Anrich Nortje and Quinton de Kock and Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga. Marsh and de Kock have both been signed by Seattle Orcas, whose ownership group has ties to the Delhi Capitals franchise in the IPL. Marsh is in the Capitals squad for the 2023 IPL as well. Nortje and Hasaranga have been signed to play for Washington (DC) Freedom, whose franchise has a strategic partnership with Cricket New South Wales.

The inaugural edition of Major League Cricket will kick off later in July, but the player draft was held on March 20 with six franchises battling for supremacy. Four of the six franchises are either partly or fully owned by IPL franchises.

China's Li Shifeng bags the men's singles title at All England Open Badminton Championship

China’s Li Shifeng bags the men’s singles title at All England Open Badminton Championship

China’s ace shuttler Li Shifeng has carved his name into history. The badminton player has won the men’s singles finals against Shi Yuqi at the All England Open Badminton Championships.

Li Shifeng won in two straight sets, 26-24 and 21-5, to win the gold medal in the all-Chinese final. Shifeng was elated with the win. In the post-match interview, he stated, “I am very excited. I don’t really have the words to express my feeling for the moment.”

He further added, “It is a huge payback for all the hard work I’ve put in. Although I’ve got the All England title, I would like to aim from more titles.”

In other news, South Korea’s An Se Young bagged the women’s title. An Se Young beat Chen Yu Fei of China 21-17 10-21 21-19 to bag another singles title. “I’m so tremendously happy,” said An, 21, who had knocked Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan out in the semi-finals.

The All England event, with more than 155 matches and over 50 hours of badminton, contributes towards potential Olympics qualification, with rankings announced on April 30, deciding which players will go to the Paris Games in 2024.

Arsenal crashes out of Europa League; knocked out by Sporting Lisbon

Arsenal crashes out of Europa League; knocked out by Sporting Lisbon

Arsenal are out of the race for Europa League. The Premier League leaders were knocked out by Sporting Lisbon FC in penalties after the second leg was drawn 1-1.

Having already drawn the first leg 2-2 in Portugal, the Gunners fielded a strong XI that made an impact instantly. Granit Xhaka, the skipper of Arsenal, gave the home team the lead in the 19th minute at Emirates Stadium. For Sporting, Pedro Goncalves scored a stunning goal to level the scoreline. Goncalves’s audacious goal was reminiscent of David Beckham’s long-range chip for Manchester United against Wimbledon that launched him to superstardom in 1996.

Both the teams tried their level best to get the upper hand. But the game was forced to penalties. In penalties, Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard got their names on the scoresheet. While Gabriel Martinelli’s penalty shoot was saved by Lisbon’s goalkeeper Antonio Adan. For Lisbon, all their players were successful in penalties. Hence, ensuring their team’s successful path to the quarterfinals of the Europa League.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was disappointed with the team’s performance yesterday. He said, “A huge blow obviously. There were moments in the first 75 minutes where we weren’t at our level. We gave every ball away and we didn’t have the capacity to take the game. Arteta further added, “We had big chances to finish the game. We have to look at ourselves and why we were not good enough to go through.”

Arsenal hasn’t won a European trophy since lifting the Cup-Winners’ Cup in 1994 and their wait will go on for another year. But the Gunners would gladly swap Europa League success for a long-awaited Premier League title.

RCB Women register their first win in WPL

RCB Women register their first win in WPL

After five successive defeats, Royal Challengers Bangalore Women have registered their first victory in the Women’s Premier League. The Smriti Mandhana led-side has defeated UP Warriorz by five wickets thanks to their disciplined bowling and smart batting.

Winning the toss, RCB opted to field first. Taking full advantage of the conditions, the Bangalore side restricted the side to 135 runs. For RCB, Ellyse Perry was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets for 16 runs. Asha Shobhana and Sophie Devine took two wickets apiece.

While chasing, the Royal Challengers had a disastrous start. The Banglore side lost their skipper Smriti Mandhana for a duck. Mandhana’s opening partner Sophie Devine soon followed her to the pavilion. The side was in a difficult situation when Kanika Ahuja and Richa Ghosh stitched an important partnership to take the side home.

Mandhana was all praises for the young batters. In the post-match ceremony, she said, “Yeah, it was tense. We lost a couple of wickets in the 7th over, it was a bit nervous. But the way Kanika and Richa played was brilliant. Kanika in particular, really proud of her. Really excited to see her bat, the approach she has. She is a 360 degree player, who isn’t the most common in Indian cricket.”

With this victory, Royal Challengers Bangalore opened its account on the points table. Currently, the side is in the fourth position and faces Gujarat Giants on March 18.

Erling-Haaland-goals

Man City’s five-star striker Haaland powers the club into UCL quarter-finals

German club RB Leipzig who held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Round of 16 match were simply destroyed by City striker Erling Haaland who scored five goals. The Pep Guardiola led-side beat the Bundesliga side 7-0 (8-1 on aggregate) to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The Norwegian – whose five goals came within a devastating 35-minute spell – already had a hat-trick by half-time, a penalty, a close-range finish stemming from his pressing of the goalkeeper, and a scrappy third after Leipzig had cleared the ball off the line. Two more close-range finishes furthered the pain for the visitors, either side of Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne’s goals.

Haaland’s remarkable five-goal haul ensured he moved beyond the 30-goal mark in the Champions League, becoming the youngest goal scorer in the competition to reach that milestone – secured by his hat-trick strike just before the break. Also, Haaland now has 33 Champions League strikes in 25 appearances – the youngest player, at 22 years and 236 days, to reach 30. He eclipsed Tommy Johnson’s 38 City goals in the 1928-29 season.

Erling Haaland, who was subbed in the 58th minute, joked that he had told manager Pep Guardiola he wanted six when he was taken off. Speaking of City’s victory, he continued: “This was a big night. I am proud to play in the Champions League, I love this competition – as everyone knows. Five goals to win 7-0 at home, I am so happy!”

He further added, “We worked on pressing them for this game, especially at home but in every game we need to put the opposition under pressure. We are so good at winning the ball high up the pitch and moving forward quickly, working the ball to Kevin de Bruyne.”

In the process, Haaland joined the likes of Lionel Messi and Luiz Adriano for scoring five goals in a Champions League game.

All England Open Badminton Championships

The All England Open Badminton Championship to begin from today

One of badminton’s most prestigious tournaments, the All England Open Badminton Championships, is slated to begin today and conclude on March 19th. The tournament is happening in Birmingham, England.

The first BWF World Tour Super 1000 event of the 2023 season will see all the top stars in action, with full draws of 32 players and pairs in all five events. Many high-profile shuttles like Viktor Axelsen and Yamaguchi Akane are the top seeds for the event. Among the Indian players, shuttles like Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, PV Sindhu, and Saina Nehwal will make their presence felt at the tournament.

Where to watch the All England Open Badminton Championships live in India?

The All England Open Badminton Championships will be live telecasted on BWF TV, the official YouTube channel of BWF. The tournament will also be telecasted on Sports18, Voot, and JioCinema.

What is Team India’s squad for the Badminton Championships?

Men’s singles- Main draw: Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy

Women’s singles- Main draw: Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu

Men’s doubles- Main draw: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (6), MR Arjun/Dhruv Kapila

Women’s doubles- Main draw: Gayatri Gopichand/Treesa Jolly, Ashwini Bhat K/Shikha Gautam

Mixed doubles- Main draw: Ishaan Bhatnagar/Tanisha Crasto

harmanpreet kaur

Harmanpreet’s MI records 4th straight win in the WPL

Harmanpreet’s Kaur-led Mumbai Indians has comfortably beaten UP Warriorz by eight wickets in their group-stage match yesterday. The Women in Blue and Gold chased down UP Warriorz’s target of 160 runs inside 18 overs to record their fourth straight win in the Women’s Premier League.

Batting first, the UP Warriorz posted a competitive score of 159 for the loss of 8 wickets on the back of skipper Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath’s half-centuries. For Mumbai Indians, Saika Ishaque was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets for 33 runs in her full quota of 4 overs.

Coming to the chase, the Mumbai Indians had a strong start posting 58 runs in the first seven overs. However, they seemed to lose the plot a bit in the middle overs as the table toppers lost two wickets in successive overs. But the calm and composed gameplay of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt helped the Women in Blue and Gold effortlessly chase down the target. Harmanpreet scored an excellent half-century off 33 balls, while Sciver-Brunt played her part with fantastic 45-run innings off 31 balls.

With this win, the Mumbai Indians have earned a victory against all the other four teams in the Women’s Premier League. They are well-settled and look like a strong contender to lift the WPL trophy.

Sophia Dunkley smashes the fastest fifty of WPL

Sophia Dunkley smashes the fastest fifty of WPL

Gujarat Giants’ Sophia Dunkley has smashed the fastest fifty in the Women’s Premier League. The right-handed batter fired an 18-ball fifty against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The England batter went hammer and tongs against RCB’s Preeti Bose as she slammed her for 4,6,4,4,4 on successive balls to bring her a stunning half-century in the fifth over.

Sophia Dunkley’s blitzkrieg helped Gujarat Giants post a massive 201/7 in their full quota of 20 overs. Royal Challengers Bangalore, in reply, could manage only 190/6 in their 20 overs. Thereby helping Gujarat Giants win their first match of WPL and winning an important two points for the team.

Dunkley’s fifty is the joint-fourth fastest in all recorded women’s T20 competitions in the world. The right-handed batter eventually fell on 65 off just 28 deliveries.

Before Dunkley, the record for the fastest fifty in WPL was with Mumbai Indians’ skipper Harmanpreet Kaur when she notched up a 22-ball half-century in the tournament opener against Gujarat Giants.

PM Narendra Modi

PM Modi to attend the 4th Test between India and Australia at Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad is all set to play the host for India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese as special spectators on day one of the fourth Test between India and Australia.

As per reports, the two leaders might be seen in the commentary box as well in the first session of the Test. However, no such plans have been revealed by any officials so far, but reports have surfaced regarding the possibility of such an occurrence on Thursday. Along with that, a lap of the ground is also planned on a vintage vehicle.

According to a statement from the Australian Prime Minister’s office, his visits to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi would strengthen Australia’s strategic, economic, and people-to-people connections with India. According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Anthony Albanese will fly into Ahmedabad on March 8 before visiting Mumbai on March 9 and then flying into Delhi later that day.

The 4th Test being held at the Narendra Modi Stadium is the biggest cricket stadium in the world in terms of seating capacity. The venue can host around 1.25 lakh people, and the stadium is expected to be filled with many spectators as India faces Australia.

Having already retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Indians have too much at stake in the 4th Test. If the Indians manage to win the 4th Test, it will guarantee their place in the World Test Championship finals to be played at Lords.

Top 5 catches in Women's T20 World Cup 2023

Top 5 catches in Women’s T20 World Cup 2023

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup recently ended, with the defending champion Australia collecting another title to their impressive collection. This is their sixth T20 World Cup win, more than any other team. During this tournament, players displayed amazing talents and put on a show with remarkable performances. Viewers have seen some amazing action on the field for almost three weeks. 

Here, we take a look at the top five catches from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 

Richa Ghosh vs England 

India’s teenage wicketkeeper-batswoman Richa Ghosh took an amazing one-handed catch against England to dismiss opener Danni Wyatt. It was a daring effort, and her sharp reflexes allowed her to pull it off with ease. 

Knock in 2nd T20I vs Australia my best so far: Richa Ghosh | News

Creator: Pankaj Nangia | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2022 Getty Images

Richa Ghosh stunned everyone with her one-handed catch as Renuka Singh bowled a good-length ball that swung in and elicited an edge from Danni Wyatt. Ghosh had to react quickly and extend her right hand out, and she did so successfully, snatching the ball out of the air and securing the wicket. 

Richa Ghosh’s incredible catch set the tone for India’s strong performance in the match, as the team was able to quickly reduce England to 29-3. It was a very impressive effort from the teenage wicketkeeper and showed her potential for greatness. 

Leah Paul vs England 

Ireland’s Leah Paul certainly impressed as she completed an incredible catch to dismiss Alice Capsey. The English batswoman had scored 51 off 22 balls, and Paul managed to run to her right and dive for the low catch. It was a difficult task, but Paul’s athleticism and prowess saw her pull it off. 

Raising standards offer hope of best-ever World Cup return - Ireland preview

Creator: Oisin Keniry | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2022 Oisin Keniry

Alice Capsey’s entertaining innings were cut short when Leah Paul plucked a terrific catch at long-off. Ireland was relieved to see the back of Capsey as she attempted to clear the ropes with a slower leg-cutter. The ball was slowly descending, but Paul managed to catch it with both hands, making a successful save. 

Eden Carson vs Australia 

Unfortunately, luck was not on Beth Mooney‘s side when she attempted a big shot over the backward point region against New Zealand. Although she swung for the fences, her attempt fell short.

Eden Carson made an impressive catch at knee height, stretching her hand full tilt and taking the ball. This acrobatic effort was one of the best catches of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and a testament to her skill and athleticism. 

Grace Harris vs Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapathhu attempted a big hit against the bowling of all-rounder Ellyse Perry but wasn’t able to hit it with enough power and precision.

Grace Harris | Stats, Bio, Facts and Career Info

Creator: MARCO LONGARI

Unfortunately, her attempt fell short. Grace Harris showed off her athleticism and prowess at mid-on, taking a stunning catch that surprised everyone. She had to fly to her right in order to grab the ball and was able to do so with impressive agility and skill. 

Chinelle Henry vs England 

England batter Sophia Dunkley’s attempt to smack a full-length delivery straight over the bowler’s head ended in disappointment as Chinelle Henry was able to keep track of the ball and complete a difficult catch. It was a testament to her skill and awareness in the field. Chinelle Henry’s sharp reflexes were on display, helping West Indies to get rid of the dangerous Sophia Dunkley. Dunkley had scored 34 off 18 deliveries Iand was well-set, but Henry’s catch gave Windies the breakthrough they needed.

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