West Indies have named an unchanged squad for the upcoming home T20I series against Australia following the 2-0 loss to Sri Lanka.

The squad, led by Hayley Matthews, will take on the No. 1-ranked Australia side at the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground in Kingstown for all three games. The squad is a mix of experienced players such as Matthews, Stafanie Taylor, Shemaine Campbelle and Deandra Dottin with teenage prospects Eboni Brathwaite and Jahzara Claxton. The series forms a key part of the teams’ preparation for the T20 World Cup in June this year in the UK.

“We’re really excited about the opportunity to play the number one ranked ODI and T20 team in the world,” head coach Shane Deitz said. “It’s just before the World Cup, so it’s a great opportunity to see where we are in our preparation. Playing against the best team in the world, we can see where our deficiencies are and where things are working well as we look forward to the tournament in June in England.

World and Olympic champion Mondo Duplantis added another centimetre to his own world pole vault record*, clearing 6.31m at the Mondo Classic – a World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting – in Uppsala on Thursday (12).

The pole vault superstar had no failures on his way to his record-breaking performance, opening with 5.65m before scaling 5.90m and 6.08m at the first time of asking.

Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen finished second with 6.00m, his second six-metre vault of the season.

Zachery Bradford, Sam Kendricks and Kurtis Marschall all cleared 590m to place third, fourth and fifth respectively.

[World Athletics]

S. Thomas’ College adopted an ultra-cautious approach to reach 203 for four wickets at stumps on the opening day of the historic Battle of the Blues against arch rivals Royal College at the SSC Ground on Thursday.

‎After being put in to bat, the Thomian top order proceeded at a snail’s pace as they consumed a large number of overs to build their innings.

‎Openers Jaden Amaraweera and Avinash Fernando laid the foundation with a patient first wicket stand of 110 runs, occupying as many as 40 overs on either side of the lunch interval. The pair could have been separated earlier when Royal’s Vimath Dinsara dropped Avinash when the score was 85. Avinash, who was then on 39, was given a reprieve off the bowling of Gagan Gamage.

‎Making full use of the chance, Avinash went on to complete a half century. He faced 145 balls for his 50 which included five boundaries before being caught by Yasindu Dissanayake off the bowling of Gamage.

‎Amaraweera was the first to depart after compiling a patient 52 off 109 deliveries with seven fours. He was caught by Mahiru Kodituwakku off the bowling of spinner Himaru Deshan.

‎Following the two wickets that fell within the space of two overs, Methuka Gunarathna and Aaron Kodituwakku attempted to steady the innings with another long vigil at the crease. The pair batted for 28 overs but managed to add only 37 runs.

‎Aaron endured a long stay for his 12 runs, facing 89 balls before falling to the spin of Ramiru Perera. Methuka contributed 44 runs off 116 balls with six boundaries before being dismissed later in the day.

‎At the close of play, Reshon Solomon remained unbeaten on 19 after facing 70 balls, while Raphael Hettige was not out on 12 as the Thomians ended a slow but steady first day on 203 for four. (RF)