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WWC 2025: England in semi-finals after India unravel in tense finish

Published

7 months ago

2025/10/20

Priyan

Heather Knight's century set up England's win [Cricinfo]

Indore was a giant party waiting to take off on Diwali eve. Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur had put together a century stand. Deepti Sharma knocked off a measured half-century after picking up four wickets with the ball.

When India needed 57 off 57 balls, with seven wickets in hand, their attempt to scale down their highest-successful chase in women’s ODIs was well on track. But big-match nerves took centre stage, like it often has in the recent past. They collapsed sensationally, and fell short by four runs. England joined Australia and South Africa in the semi-finals.

India have now lost their third straight game, their campaign threatening to derail swiftly as they next face New Zealand in a crucial clash on Thursday.

England’s win was set up by Heather Knight, whose 109 helped overcome a wobble when England were tested by India’s slower bowlers. Her century stand with Nat Sciver-Brunt gave them the platform for a lift-off towards the end. But a late collapse meant they managed 289 when 320 was within their reach.

For much of India’s chase, it seemed as if that collapse would come back to haunt England. Haunt it did, but to India, who have lots to ponder – not least the composition of their line-up, after they took a bold call of playing with a batter short – Jemimah Rodrigues dropped in favour of Renuka Singh.

India were rocked early, losing Pratika Rawal for 6 in the third over. Harleen Deol started slowly, and managed just 4 off 26 balls outside of her five boundaries as the asking rate crept up. Having spent time at the crease, like she had in each of her four previous knocks in the tournament, she threw it away – lbw playing back to Charlie Dean’s indrifter.

Mandhana was far from fluent, but Harmanpreet’s arrival took some pressure off her. The Indian captain was off the mark with a sumptuous flick off Sciver-Brunt, and looked seemingly keen on not allowing Sophie Ecclestone to settle by opening up the off side and repeatedly lofting her inside-out.

Harmanpreet’s enterprise helped Mandhana, who had faced just 18 balls in the first 12 overs of India’s chase, settle in. Mandhana was watchful, but every now and then, there were flashes of brilliance – like when she picked off two boundaries behind square off Ecclestone.

Once she got those two fours, Mandhana switched gears to raise her half-century off 60 balls, barely acknowledging the applause. On 43 at that point, Harmanpreet also turned up the tempo and moved to 70 before she glided Sciver-Brunt to short third, England breathing a sigh of relief at breaking a 125-run stand.

Deepti and Mandhana then knocked the ball into the gaps, seemingly intent on taking the chase deep. Deepti’s sensible approach also took pressure off Mandhana, forcing Sciver-Brunt to bring back Linsey Smith for another spell a tad earlier than she might have otherwise. This proved to be a masterstroke as she had Mandhana hole out to long-off on 88. Even so, at 234 for 4 in 41.2 overs, this was India’s game to lose.

However, nerves took over. Richa Ghosh drilled one straight to cover, Deepti miscued a slog, reminiscent of the shot she played in that 2017 final, and suddenly Sneh Rana and Amanjot Kaur were left with too much to do. Smith conceded just four in a clutch 48th over, leaving India needing 23 off 12. Then with 14 needed, she came back to finish off India, ensuring none of her first four deliveries went to the boundary.

As well as the spinners bowled, it would be hard to look beyond Knight’s century that gave England a chance in the first place. If her unbeaten 79 in Guwahati helped England overcome Bangladesh’s spin strangle, Sunday’s innings was a masterclass in sweeps and reverse sweeps.

After Amy Jones did the early running to construct a measured half-century, it was Knight who injected momentum through the middle overs, putting on 113 with Sciver-Brunt. Having begun sedately, she only shifted gears after the pair raised the fifty of their partnership.

While the sweep was Knight’s calling card – no spinner was spared – to say her knock was only about that stroke wouldn’t do justice to her running between the wickets, a mark of the work she’s had to put in to improve her fitness following a career-threatening injury. She also displayed her brute bottom-handed power in shovelling Kranti Gaud for six, the only one of the innings, in the 38th over.

Knight was reprieved twice in her nineties, but she soon brought up her century off 86 deliveries before her dismissal led to a meltdown with England managing just 36 off the last five overs. This would’ve cost them on most nights, but Sunday was their night. Thanks to their spinners, England remain unbeaten in the tournament.

Brief scores:
England Women 288 for 8 in 50 overs (Heather Knight 109, Amy Jones 56; Shree Charani 2-68, Deepti Sharma 4-51) beat India Women 284 for 6 in 50 overs (Smriti Mandhana 88, Harmanpreet Kaur 70, Deepti Sharma 50; Nat Sciver-Brunt 2-47) by four runs

[Cricinfo]

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Fast bowling riches in focus as Bangladesh and Pakistan switch to Test mode

Published

2 hours ago

2026/05/8

Priyan

Mushfiqur Rahim sealed a 2-0 series sweep the last time Bangladesh toured Pakistan [Cricinfo]

This series picks up from Bangladesh’s finest red-ball hour against arguably Pakistan’s bleakest one. Two years ago, Bangladesh came to Pakistan with six away Test wins in their history, and increased that tally by two in two weeks. Pakistan had never lost a Test to Bangladesh before that, but during late summer 2024 in Rawalpindi, a page turned in their cricketing relations.

This time around, the series takes place at an odd, off-kilter time. Neither side has played any Test cricket in six months, with Bangladesh’s last series a straightforward home wipeout of Ireland. Pakistan hosted South Africa in October, splitting the two Tests down the middle. This is the only red-ball international cricket Pakistan have played in 14 months.

Pakistan have filled that time going all in on T20 cricket, preparing for the recent T20 World Cup, before throwing themselves into a full PSL season. There will be just four days between the end of the PSL and the first day in Mirpur.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, have endured a more barren time. They refused to travel to India for the T20 World Cup and that has meant their only international cricket all year was an ODI series against Pakistan and New Zealand’s visit for a white-ball series [ODIs and T20Is]. Wins in all three mean they have a perfect record in international series in 2026 – a record that Pakistan will hope to put to a sterner test than they managed two years ago.

In 2024, Bangladesh’s seam attack outshone Pakistan’s, with Hasan Mahmud and Taskin Ahmed’s movement, and Nahid Rana’s rapid pace, causing more trouble than their Pakistani counterparts. If anything, Rana is in even better form, cutting Pakistan down in the sides’ ODI series, before shining in the recent PSL final for Zalmi, for which the BCB granted him special permission. Bangladesh’s four-man pace attack also includes Shoriful Islam and Ebadot Hossain, alongside Rana and Taskin, and could pose its own challenges against Pakistan.

Pakistan may hope the pitches allow a spin-bowling face-off instead. Soon after Bangladesh’s humbling of Pakistan in that 2024 series, Pakistan volte-faced from playing an all-seam attack in the first Test. Instead, their pitches assisted spin from ball one. To exploit that, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali have run riot on accommodating surfaces. If Mirpur offers assistance for the spinners, Pakistan will feel confident they have the personnel to go toe-to-toe with the hosts.

Mushfique Rahim struck a century in his 100th Test, against Ireland in November last year. He will take fresh guard against Pakistan, despite speculation about his impending retirement. Mushfiqur has resisted being pushed towards the end unless he wants to. His 191 against Pakistan in Rawalpindi was a testament to his hunger for runs, as was his celebration during this milestone 100th Test against Ireland. Mushfiqur remains a vital cog in the Bangladesh middle-order. Pakistan will be wary of him, particularly in Dhaka.

Sajid Khan has found his international opportunities limited to home Tests, but this wasn’t always the case. His first six Test matches all took place away from home, with his finest away moment coming in Bangladesh, at this very ground in Mirpur. With rain laying waste to the best part of three days of that Test, Sajid wrenched the game from the clutches of the weather. He took eight wickets in Bangladesh’s first innings, to bowl them out for 87, and narrowly force a follow-on. Four more in the second innings saw Bangladesh bowled out on the fifth evening, giving Pakistan a sensational innings win. This series is perhaps Sajid’s best chance to demonstrate he remains useful outside Pakistan.

Bangladesh are likely to bring in Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana in place of Khaled Ahmed and Hasan Murad, respectively. Shoriful Islam’s white-ball form would put pressure on Ebadot Hossain’s place.

Pakistan have been dealt a blow with Babar Azam* ruled out of the opening Test due to a left knee injury. His absence leaves a hole which is likely to be filled in by a debutant. The visitors will likely go in with two spinners in Sajid and Noman, which leaves them a choice of two of four fast bowlers. With Imam-ul-Haq back in the side, Pakistan are expected to hand a debut to one of Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal at the top of the order.

Bangladesh (probable): Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Fazal/Azan Awais, Shan Masood (capt), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Amad Butt, Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Khurram Shahzad/Hasan Ali, Sajid Khan

[Cricinfo]

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Iran says it attacked US Navy ships after they targeted Iranian tanker

Published

2 hours ago

2026/05/8

Priyan

[pic Aljazeera]

The Iranian military has said it retaliated against United States Navy ships after US forces targeted an oil tanker in Iran’s territorial waters, a major escalation that puts further strain on the fragile truce between Washington and Tehran.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters added on Thursday that the US also violated the ceasefire by carrying out air strikes on civilian areas, including Qeshm Island, “in cooperation with some regional countries”, without identifying them.

“The American aggressor, terrorist and bandit army, violating the ceasefire, targeted an Iranian oil tanker,” the statement said.

The statement also claimed that the Iranian response caused “significant damage” to US ships.

“The criminal and aggressor America and its supporting countries should know that the Islamic Republic of Iran, as powerfully as in the past, will give a crushing response to any aggression without the slightest hesitation,” the Iranian military said.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said Iranian forces used “various types of ballistic and antiship cruise missiles and destructive drones with high-explosive warheads” in response to the US violations of the truce.

But the Central Command (CENTCOM) of the US military said it “intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks” and responded with “self-defence strikes”.

“No US assets were struck,” it said.

CENTCOM added that it “does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces”.

The clashes represent the first military Iranian response to the US blockade of the country’s ports. Over the past weeks, the US military has seized several Iranian vessels and ordered dozens more to turn around.

The naval siege has been the spearhead of Trump’s pressure campaign against Iran since the ceasefire came into effect last month.

Several Iranian state-affiliated news outlets reported that blasts were heard at the ports of Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas and the southern coastal city of Minab.

Iran’s semiofficial news agency Tasnim also cited a senior source as saying that three US Navy destroyers came under Iranian fire and fled towards the Gulf of Oman.

The skirmishes come amid reports that Washington and Tehran are in advanced talks to end the war.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump ordered an operation to break Iran’s blockade on Hormuz, leading to heightened tensions that pushed the ceasefire to the brink.

On Monday, the US said it shot down seven small Iranian drones, and Iran renewed its drone and missile attacks against the United Arab Emirates.

[Aljazeera]

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Heat index likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ in the Sabaragamuwa, Northern, North-central, North-western, Eastern provinces and in Hambantota and Monaragala districts during the daytime

Published

2 hours ago

2026/05/8

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 07 May 2026, valid for 08 May 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on the human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Sabaragamuwa, Northern, North-central, North-western, Eastern provinces and in Hambantota and Monaragala districts during the daytime.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note: In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.