Cricket
Mohun Bagan Eye Fresh Start as ACL II Campaign Kicks Off Against Ahal FK
Ray Sportz Web Desk: The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan braces itself for a crucial continental night as Mohun Bagan Super Giant host Turkmenistan’s Ahal FK in their AFC Champions League II opener on Tuesday evening. For the Mariners, this game is more than just the first step in Asia — it is an opportunity to wipe away the disappointment of their Durand Cup exit and find their rhythm before the new domestic season begins.
Mohun Bagan’s pre-season preparations were thrown off course when they crashed out of the Durand Cup at the quarter-final stage, losing 2-1 to arch-rivals East Bengal. The defeat was a bitter pill for the team, breaking a run of recent dominance in the Kolkata Derby and exposing defensive lapses. Adding to the unease has been the uncertainty surrounding the ISL schedule, which has left clubs scrambling to keep players motivated and match-ready.
Head coach José Francisco Molina, however, believes the team has put the setback behind them. “We are focused on the job at hand. This competition gives us the meaningful game time we have been waiting for. The players are ready and excited,” Molina said on the eve of the match. Midfield general Anirudh Thapa echoed his coach’s confidence, insisting that off-field issues had not distracted the squad.
The Mariners will miss forward Manvir Singh through injury, but Molina has a near full-strength squad at his disposal. There is speculation that the Spaniard could start with an attacking trio, bringing Brazilian recruit Robson Robinho into the line-up alongside Jason Cummings and Jamie Maclaren. Much will depend on how quickly the new combinations click under pressure.
Their opponents, Ahal FK, are no pushovers despite travelling without any overseas players. The Turkmen side has been in Kolkata since September 12, using the time to acclimatise to conditions and train on the Salt Lake pitch. Midfielder Enver Annayev, who has experience playing here with FK Arkadag earlier this year, will be a key figure as Ahal look to frustrate the hosts with a compact defensive set-up and spring quick counters.
For Mohun Bagan, the stakes could not be higher. A winning start would provide the confidence boost they need heading into the rest of the group stage, where tougher assignments against West Asian opposition await. The home crowd is expected to turn up in large numbers, providing the Mariners with the kind of electric atmosphere that has so often spurred them to victory.
Tonight’s clash, therefore, is about more than just three points — it is about redemption, momentum, and proving that India’s champions can once again hold their own on the continental stage.
Cricket
South Africa Crush India by 408 Runs, Seal Historic Series Triumph
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.
Cricket
India Fight to Stay Afloat as South Africa Leave Hosts Chasing the Impossible
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.
Cricket
India Clinch Historic Women’s Blind T20 World Cup in Colombo; Sri Lankan PM Graces Grand Finale
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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