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T20 WC 2024: India starts its campaign with easy win

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Ray Sportz News Desk: Despite of an injury scare for India skipper Rohit Sharma in their first match of the T20 World Cup, Team India thrash opponent Ireland at an ease ease as the Men in Blue won the game by 8 wickets on Wednesday.

The ‘Men in Blue’ will indeed have some sleepless nights going into the Pakistan game on June 9 after Rohit’s injury.

The Mumbai man had to leave the field after a well-compiled half-century (52 off 37 balls) as he missed a pull shot off a short-pitched delivery from Gujarat Titans pacer Josh Little. The ball hit him on the upper part of his right-arm left Rohit in considerable pain.

On a drop-in track that offered variable bounce and extra seam movement, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj didn’t even need to bring in their ‘A’ game.

Arshdeep Singh and a rejuvenated Hardik Pandya were good enough to dismantle the Irish for 96 in just 16 overs. Arshdeep (2/35 in 4 overs), Pandya (3/27 in 4 overs), Siraj (1/13 in 3 overs) and Bumrah (2/6 in 3 overs) didn’t give any breathing space to Irish batters who were made to look like novices in front of swing, seam and extra bounce produced during the 14 out of 16 overs that they bowled.

Such was their plight as none of the Irish batters save Gareth Delany (26 n.o, 14 balls) could even cross the 20-run mark.
Delany’s innings took them close to the 100-run mark.

Later, Rohit entertained the crowd with his customary pull-shots which found their appointed place in the semi-empty make-shift stands to complete the chase in 12.2 overs. Virat Kohli (1) and Suryakumar Yadav (2) missed out on some batting practice while Rishabh Pant (36 not out) was generally good in his first outing as No. 3.

The Powerplay gone horribly wrong at 26 for 2 for Ireland, and there was no coming back for them. Pandya as the second change pacer bowled a perfect nip-backer with a wobbly seam to breach through Lorcan Tucker’s defence.

Bumrah then scarred an already rattled Harry Tector with a nasty bouncer that took his gloves and almost blew away his head lobbing off the helmet. At the halfway stage, Ireland, who recently beat Pakistan in a T20I at home, were 49 for 6 and the match already became lopsided.

The biggest gain from the game was Pandya bowling his full quota of overs and the lengths that he hit during his spell which will give his skipper a chance to play an extra batter or bowler as per the demands of the conditions in coming games. His three dismissals were different deliveries — first one was swing, the second seam and the third extra bounce.

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South Africa Crush India by 408 Runs, Seal Historic Series Triumph

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Ray Sportz Web Desk: South Africa completed a remarkable 408-run victory over India on the final day of the second Test in Guwahati, sealing a 2–0 series sweep and recording their first Test series win on Indian soil in 25 years. The emphatic result also marked India’s heaviest home defeat by runs, underlining a sobering end to a disappointing campaign for the hosts.
Resuming the day under immense pressure in their pursuit of an improbable 549-run target, India faltered quickly as South African off-spinner Simon Harmer ran through the batting order with clinical precision. Harmer, exploiting turn and uneven bounce, claimed six wickets in the innings, leaving the Indian side with few answers to his consistent probing.
Amidst the collapse, Ravindra Jadeja stood tall with a fighting 54 off 87 deliveries, offering brief resistance before becoming one of Harmer’s victims. Apart from Jadeja, no Indian batter managed to build a partnership of substance, and the innings folded for 140, sealing a lopsided contest.
South Africa’s dominance throughout the match was built on disciplined batting, sharp pace bowling, and Harmer’s decisive spell on the final day. Their commanding performances over both Tests signaled a significant shift in the balance of power, challenging India’s long-standing home supremacy.
For India, the series defeat raises urgent questions about batting resilience, strategic planning, and adaptability to pressure situations—even in familiar conditions. With the home fortress breached, the team faces a period of introspection ahead of future assignments.
South Africa, meanwhile, celebrated a landmark achievement—one that places this tour among their most memorable triumphs abroad, reaffirming their strength and cohesion in the longest format of the game.

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India Fight to Stay Afloat as South Africa Leave Hosts Chasing the Impossible

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Ray Sportz Web Desk: South Africa tightened their grip on the second Test on Monday, declaring their second innings at 269 for 5 and leaving India an improbable 549-run target on a wearing fourth-day surface at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.

The visitors, who already held a commanding position after posting 489 in the first innings and bowling India out for 201, chose aggression over caution as they accelerated through the morning. Tristan Stubbs once again led the charge with a fluent 94, falling agonizingly short of a century but ensuring South Africa’s lead swelled beyond India’s reach. Ravindra Jadeja offered resistance with the ball, returning figures of 4 for 62, but his effort was insufficient to halt the Proteas’ momentum.

Set a mountain to climb, India’s chase faltered almost immediately. Yashasvi Jaiswal looked promising but edged out for 13, while KL Rahul followed for 6, leaving the hosts wobbling at 27 for 2 by stumps. With 15.5 overs faced, India now stand not only far from the target but also perilously close to a defeat that would seal the series for South Africa.

As the final day approaches, India’s task has shifted from the realm of unlikely heroics to sheer survival. The pitch has shown increasing signs of deterioration, providing both seam movement and turn—conditions that South Africa’s bowlers are expected to exploit ruthlessly.

With the visitors firmly in control, the final day’s script hinges on whether India can summon enough resistance to push the contest into the afternoon, let alone threaten a miraculous comeback. For now, survival appears their only realistic ambition.

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India Clinch Historic Women’s Blind T20 World Cup in Colombo; Sri Lankan PM Graces Grand Finale

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Ray Sportz Web Desk: India carved their name into sporting history on Saturday, emerging as the inaugural champions of the Women’s T20 World Cup – Cricket for the Blind 2025 with a decisive seven-wicket victory over Nepal at the P Sara Oval. The thrilling finale was further elevated by the presence of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, whose attendance underscored the growing global spotlight on women’s blind cricket. The championship clash began with Nepal choosing to bat first after losing key early ground. India’s disciplined attack paid off when B2 Sunitha Srathe dismissed Nepal skipper Binita Pun for just 5 in the second over. Nepal recovered through Sarita Ghimire’s gritty 35 off 38 balls and Bimala Rai’s quick 26 off 26, supported by 25 extras, taking the total to a defendable 114/5 in 20 overs. India’s chase, however, got off to a shaky start, with captain Deepika and star batter Anekha Devi falling early to Ghimire’s fiery spell. But the innings soon transformed into a showcase of resilience. B1 Karuna powered the comeback with an explosive 42 off 27 balls, while B3 Phula Saren anchored the innings with a match-winning 44 off 27. Basanti Hansda added a steady 13 to steer India to 117/3, sealing the nation’s first-ever Women’s Blind T20 World Cup crown. Phula Saren (B3) was named Player of the Match. Player of the Series honours went to Nepal’s Sushma Tamang (B1), Nepal’s Mankeshi Chowdhary (B2), and Pakistan’s Mehreen Ali (B3). In a celebratory gesture, Chintals Group announced a cash prize of INR 1 lakh for each Indian player, with promises of further support. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya hailed the athletes as “true inspirations,” applauding their courage and commitment. She emphasized that Sri Lanka was honoured to host a milestone event advancing disability inclusion and women’s participation in sport. “When guided by vision, discipline, and purpose, the dreams of women and persons with disabilities in sport are not just possible — they are unstoppable,” she remarked. Dr. Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar, Chairman of CABI, praised both finalists for raising global standards in women’s blind cricket. He urged Sri Lanka to strengthen pathways for its visually impaired women cricketers, noting, “These athletes have proved their talent — now they deserve the systems and backing to soar even higher.” The award ceremony was attended by distinguished diplomats, sports administrators, and corporate leaders, including Ms Meenakashi Lekhi, Mr Santosh Jha, Mr Sulthan Shah, and global representatives from Australia, the United States, and India. India’s triumph signals a transformative chapter for women’s blind cricket — a victory built on grit, solidarity, and a collective belief in redefining what is possible.

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