June 25, 2025
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AB de Villiers shares tactical insight ahead of South Africa's maiden WTC final at Lord's

AB de Villiers shares tactical insight ahead of South Africa’s maiden WTC final at Lord’s

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Aiden Markram of South Africa during a nets session at Lord’s Cricket Ground on June 08, 2025 in London, England. | Photo Credit: Getty Images As South Africa prepares to play in their first-ever ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, former Proteas stalwart AB de Villiers gave valuable advice and tactical perspective ahead of the all-important clash against Australia. The final, scheduled to begin on June 11 at the iconic Lord’s in London, marks a significant moment for South African cricket as they chase a maiden WTC title. While speaking to Star Sports around the historic venue, de Villiers emphasised the unique challenges posed by the conditions at Lord’s, particularly the movement off the pitch and through the air that makes life difficult for batters. “Lord’s is a tricky ground to play on. You’ve got the ball moving around more than most grounds in the world for a longer period of time,” de Villiers said. “You’re never in, and that’s probably my best advice to the batters, to sort of respect the bowlers, whether it’s the first over or the 67th over. You’re never in, so just respect the game,” he added. With Australia entering their second consecutive WTC final and South Africa making their first appearance, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Australia, led by Pat Cummins, come in with the experience of having won the title in 2023, while the Proteas are looking to script a new chapter in their red-ball history. From a bowling standpoint, de Villiers stressed the importance of hitting fuller lengths to exploit the traditional Lord’s assistance for seamers. “Lord’s, you generally want to be a bit fuller as a seam bowler and try and get the best out of the conditions,” he noted. “There’s always a bit of seam movement for the seam bowlers. So I would probably urge my bowlers to bowl full and straight for as long as possible,” he said. South Africa’s pace attack, comprising the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi, is expected to play a pivotal role in swinging the momentum their way. With the unpredictability that Lord’s offers, control and discipline with the new ball could define the outcome of the match. Published – June 09, 2025 04:03 am IST

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Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo breaks down in tears as Portugal beat Spain in penalties to clinch Nations League

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Legendary Cristiano Ronaldo broke down in tears after Portugal defeated favourites Spain in the final of the Nations League. Portugal clinched their second Nations League title in a tense final at the Allianz Arena on Sunday, June 8, beating the Euro champions on penalties. After being held to a 2-2 draw at extra time, Portugal converted all 5 of their spot kicks to beat Spain 5-3 in the penalty shootout. Ronaldo, who had scored to send the match into extra time, broke into tears after his team won the tournament, besting heavyweights Spain, who were billed to be the winners ahead of the summit clash. Ronaldo’s goal in the final was the 138th of his international career. With the goal, he pulled himself further away from the competition as the highest scorer in international football, well ahead of the likes of Lionel Messi and Sunil Chhetri. Ronaldo’s goal came after Mikel Oyarzabal had given Spain a 2-1 halftime lead. Oyarzabal squeezed the ball past Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa in the 45th after Pedri played him in. Martin Zubimendi had broken the deadlock in the 21st with a tap-in when Portugal’s defense failed to deal with Lamine Yamal’s cross. Then Nuno Mendes levelled five minutes later when he drilled a low shot inside the far post. The 40-year-old Ronaldo went off to a standing ovation and a hug from coach Roberto Martnez in the 88th. After the match remained undecided in extra time, both teams went into penalties. Spain’s Alvaro Morata, who played with Ronaldo during their time in Real Madrid was the only one to miss in the shootout, meaning that Portugal were crowned champions on Sunday. Published By: Kingshuk Kusari Published On: Jun 9, 2025

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CSK, PBKS - The Hindu

Abhimanyu, Rahul fifties extend India A’s lead to 184 after Khaleel’s four-for in unofficial Test

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KL Rahul followed up his first-innings hundred with another half-century to prepare in earnest for the upcoming Test series, while Abhimanyu Easwaran pressed his case with an 80-run knock as India A stretched their overall lead to 184 in the second unofficial Test against England Lions here on Sunday. India A ended the third day’s play at 163/4 after Rahul (51 off 64 balls) and Easwaran shared 88 runs for the second wicket. Earlier, left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed produced a penetrating spell of seam bowling to return figures of 4/70, as India A bowled out England Lions for 327 in the second session to secure a first-innings lead of 21 runs. In reply, India A once again lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (5) early, but Rahul picked up from where he left off in the first essay. His fluent knock was studded with nine boundaries. Eyeing a maiden Test call-up, Abhimanyu looked solid en route to his second fifty of the tour, which included nine hits to the fence. Abhimanyu, however, fell short of a century as he edged an outswinger from Chris Woakes (2/31) to second slip shortly after a bad light interruption. At stumps on the penultimate day, Dhruv Jurel (6) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1) were at the crease. England’s George Hill provided the early breakthrough with the left-handed Jaiswal getting out to a tentative poke to the keeper, his second straight low score after his 17 in the first innings. Rahul and Abhimanyu then steadied the innings with a confident stand. The skipper was particularly commanding with his drives and showed good judgement in leaving balls that climbed on length. Rahul, meanwhile, looked comfortable against both pace and spin and brought up his half-century in 61 balls. However, three balls after reaching his fifty, Rahul perished. Eddie Jack got one to rear up, forcing a top-edged pull from Rahul that was pouched at mid-on. Fresh from a double century in the first match, Karun Nair looked composed as he joined Abhimanyu but was dismissed by Woakes. Earlier, England Lions resumed at 192/3 but suffered a dramatic collapse in the morning session, losing four wickets for just 10 runs. Khaleel set the tone, removing skipper James Rew (10) and Hill (0) off successive deliveries to trigger the slide. He then dismissed Woakes (5) to reduce the Lions to 266/8 by lunch. After the break, Nitish Kumar Reddy ended Farhan Ahmed’s dogged 87-ball stay for 24, making it 279/9. However, the last-wicket pair of Josh Tongue and 19-year-old Eddie Jack frustrated India A with a gritty 48-run stand, which dragged the hosts past the 300-run mark. Tongue remained unbeaten on 36 (61 balls), while Jack, in just his second first-class match, impressed with his composure under pressure, striking three boundaries and defending stoutly. India A tried everything to break the final stand, including taking the second new ball in the 81st over. Khaleel was brought back in search of a five-for, but it was Anshul Kamboj (2/56) who finally ended the resistance at the stroke of tea. Tushar Deshpande (2/62) also made his mark, accounting for Max Holden (7). Jordan Cox (45) had earlier batted fluently in the morning, adding useful runs with Rew before falling just short of a fifty to become Khaleel’s first victim. Brief Scores: India A: 348 and 163/4 in 33 overs (KL Rahul 51, Abhimanyu Easwaran 80) vs England Lions 327 in 89 overs (Emilio Gay 71, Tom Haines 54, Jordan Cox 45, Josh Tongue 36 not out; Khaleel Ahmed 4/70, Anshul Kamboj 2/56, Tushar Deshpande 2/62). Published – June 09, 2025 02:48 am IST

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England chase down big total to seal T20 series against West Indies

England chase down big total to seal T20 series against West Indies

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Tom Banton and Harry Brook of England celebrate following the 2nd Vitality IT20 match between England and West Indies at Seat Unique Stadium on June 08, 2025 in Bristol, England. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Jos Buttler top-scored again as England chased down an imposing target and beat West Indies by four wickets in the second T20 on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead and seal the three-match series, continuing their excellent form under new captain Harry Brook. Former captain Buttler’s 47 from 36 balls at Bristol’s County Ground came on the back of his 96 in the first T20 in Durham and set the platform for England to hunt down West Indies’ total of 196-6 with nine balls to spare. It was a second straight series victory for England under the captaincy of Brook after they secured a 3-0 series sweep in the one-dayers. Jacob Bethell hit a thrilling 26 from 10 balls, which included three sixes, as England spread the runs throughout the team with Ben Duckett (30), Brook (34) and Tom Banton (30) providing solid backup. “We had a lot of fun out there,” said Brook. “They had a very good finish. We stuck to our plans through the middle really well. They didn’t get away. “We had a discussion before going out to bat that it was only a matter of a couple of big overs. We chased the score beautifully. It was a very good performance.” England, who won the toss and chose to bowl, got off to the perfect start with Luke Wood, who was the hosts’ standout bowler with 2-25 in his first appearance since September 2023, striking Evin Lewis on the pads with the day’s first delivery, but the tourists quickly steadied the ship. Shai Hope took the fight to England with 49 off 38 balls, while Johnson Charles started patiently before he also fell just short of his half century, with 47 from 39 deliveries. The West Indies innings threatened to stall at that point but a rollicking finish peppered with sixes from Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder saw them power to a healthy total, even considering the County Ground’s short boundaries. “I thought we were a few runs short, with the dimensions and the pitch being a decent one,” said West Indies captain Shai Hope. “I don’t think we capitalised on the middle overs with the spin, but whatever we have on the board we have to defend it… We have to try and bounce back, win the game and finish the tour strong, setting the tone as a team.” Batting depth England lost Jamie Smith for four in the second over as he tried to hit one down the ground but was caught by Holder. That brought Buttler to the crease and he wasted little time in taking the attack to the tourists, with England ending the powerplay on 58-1. The hosts’ progress was interrupted as they were reduced to 72-2 when Duckett fell after a brisk 30 from 18 balls trying to smash Shepherd for six only to draw a superb diving catch from Powell who plucked the ball out of the air on the run. Buttler was handed a reprieve in the 10th over when Charles fumbled and dropped what should have been an easy take in the deep but the England batsman did not last much longer. He was out for trying to sweep Akeal Hosein and his dismissal offered redemption for Charles, who this time held on to the catch. Brook was then caught at long-off as Powell pulled off another good catch off the bowling of Roston Chase, before England stepped up a gear. Four sixes in six balls turned momentum in their favour with Banton hitting Gudakesh Motie over the rope before Bethell dished out a double punishment to Alzarri Joseph. Yet after another ball sailed for six in the same over, Joseph got his revenge, taking the wicket of Bethell, who was out when he was caught behind by Chase attempting a reverse lob. That left England on 169 for five after 16 overs and by the time Will Jacks (7) was caught by Chase off Joseph England needed just nine runs from 16 balls. They moved comfortably within striking distance before Brydon Carse hit the winning runs, swinging at a delivery from Holder that looped back over the wicketkeeper for four. Published – June 09, 2025 02:33 am IST

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Watch: Carlos Alcaraz salutes Jannik Sinner in touching speech after French Open epic

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Carlos Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner in a tightly contested French Open final on Sunday, June 8. Stretched thin in the fourth set, Alcaraz mounted an incredible comeback against the World No. 1, ultimately clinching the match in a fifth-set super tie-break. Speaking after the match, Alcaraz delivered a heartfelt tribute to Sinner, who had only recently returned from a three-month doping ban in May at the Italian Open, the tournament immediately preceding Roland Garros. Alcaraz offered glowing praise, lauding Sinner’s level of tennis and expressing his admiration for sharing historic moments on court with him. The two players contested the longest French Open final in history, a marathon match that lasted 5 hours and 29 minutes. “I want to start with Jannik. It is amazing the level you have. Congratulations on an amazing two weeks—an amazing tournament. To you and your team, I know the hard work you’re putting in every day. It’s huge. Honestly, I know how hard you’re chasing this tournament and every tournament. I’m pretty sure you’ll be champion not once, but many, many times. It’s a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament. Making history with you—I’m just really happy to be able to do that, here and in other tournaments. You’re a huge inspiration for young kids, for everyone, and for myself,” Alcaraz said after the match. Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner: Highlights Carlos Alcaraz staged a sensational comeback to defeat top seed Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) in an epic French Open final on Sunday, solidifying his place as the “Prince of Clay” in the post-Rafael Nadal era at Roland Garros. In a thrilling showdown between two of the sport’s brightest young stars, the 22-year-old Alcaraz saved three match points in the fourth set and extended his winning streak over Sinner to five matches, snapping the Italian’s 20-match unbeaten run at Grand Slam events. The match was historic on multiple fronts—it was the first Grand Slam final between two players born in the 2000s and clocked in at a record-breaking five hours and 29 minutes, the longest men’s final in French Open history. Sinner came out strong, holding serve in a tense 12-minute opening game, then breaking Alcaraz and eventually taking the first set. He continued his dominance in the second, surging to a 4-1 lead with powerful baseline play and clinical shot selection. Although Alcaraz fought back to force a tiebreak, Sinner edged him out to go two sets up. With his back to the wall—and never having come back from two sets down before—Alcaraz dug deep. He clawed back the third set and then saved three match points in the fourth at 3-5 down before forcing a tiebreak and leveling the contest. The fifth set was a dramatic exchange of breaks, but Alcaraz elevated his game in the super tiebreak to clinch the title and his second Roland Garros crown. Published By: Kingshuk Kusari Published On: Jun 9, 2025

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French Open 2025 Final: Carlos Alcaraz saves three match points, outlasts Jannik Sinner to defend Roland-Garros crown | Tennis News

French Open 2025 Final: Carlos Alcaraz saves three match points, outlasts Jannik Sinner to defend Roland-Garros crown | Tennis News

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Carlos Alcaraz (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: Carlos Alcaraz has once again cemented his status as one of tennis’s brightest stars by retaining his 2025 French Open men’s singles title in a gripping final against Jannik Sinner. The Spaniard overcame a daunting two-set deficit and saved three match points in a marathon battle that stretched mind-boggling five hours and 29 minutes, concluding with a 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) victory on Sunday. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!This epic encounter not only marked the longest French Open final ever played but also highlighted Alcaraz’s resilience and mental toughness under immense pressure. Alcaraz’s journey to the championship was marked by consistent dominance and gritty determination. He cruised through early rounds, dispatching players like Giulio Zeppieri and Fabian Marozsan in straight sets, before enduring tougher tests against seeded opponents. Notably, in the quarterfinals, he overwhelmed Tommy Paul with a commanding 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 win, showcasing his clay-court dominance. The semifinals against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti ended prematurely when Musetti retired trailing 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-0, 2-0, paving the way for Alcaraz to face top seed Jannik Sinner in the final. Poll Was Carlos Alcaraz’s comeback in the final against Jannik Sinner surprising? Sinner started strong, taking the first two sets and appearing poised to claim his maiden Grand Slam title. However, Alcaraz’s unyielding spirit shone through as he clawed back, winning the third set and dominating a tense fourth-set tiebreak to force a decider. The final set was a nail-biting affair, with momentum swinging between both players. Alcaraz’s composure in critical moments stood out, clinching the decisive tiebreak 10-2. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket’s TV market and the watershed moments This victory secured Alcaraz’s fifth Grand Slam title, extending his unbeaten streak in major finals to five. At 22, he becomes the third youngest man to win five Grand Slams, joining Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal. The match was a historic first Grand Slam final showdown between two players born in the 2000s. Sinner, who was aiming for a third straight major title, suffered his fifth consecutive loss to Alcaraz. The Spaniard now leads their rivalry 8-5 overall, including a recent win in Rome following Sinner’s doping suspension.

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India A vs England Lions, 2nd unofficial Test: Abhimanyu Easwaran's gritty 80 take India A to 163/4 on Day 3 | Cricket News

India A vs England Lions, 2nd unofficial Test: Abhimanyu Easwaran’s gritty 80 take India A to 163/4 on Day 3 | Cricket News

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India A strengthened their position against England Lions on the third day of the second unofficial Test in Northampton, reaching 163 for four in their second innings to extend their overall lead to 184 runs on Sunday. After posting 348 in their first innings, India A bowled out the England Lions for 327, earning a slender but crucial 21-run lead. Left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers, grabbing 4 for 70 in a fiery 19-over spell. Tushar Deshpande and Anshul Kamboj chipped in with two wickets each, while Tanush Kotian and Nitish Reddy claimed one apiece. In the second innings, KL Rahul followed up his first-innings century with a fluent 51 off 64 balls, showcasing his class once again before being dismissed by Eddie Jack. Skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran anchored the innings with a composed 80 from 92 deliveries, finding form after a first-innings duck. India A suffered an early blow when Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for just 5 by George Hill. Karun Nair added 15 before falling to Chris Woakes, who also removed Easwaran to keep England in the hunt. Gautam Gambhir sends stern message after Bengaluru tragedy At stumps, Dhruv Jurel (6*) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1*) were at the crease, with India A looking to build a lead beyond 300 to set up a potential victory push. For the hosts, Emilio Gay top-scored with 71 in the first innings, while Tom Haines made 54 and Jordan Cox added 45. Josh Tongue’s late unbeaten 36 ensured England Lions got close to India A’s first innings total. The match summary reads: India A – 348 & 163/4 in 33 overs; England Lions – 327 all out in 89 overs.

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England vs West Indies, 2nd T20I: Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton steer chase to win series | Cricket News

England vs West Indies, 2nd T20I: Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton steer chase to win series | Cricket News

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England cricket team (AP/PTI) England secured a series victory against the West Indies with a four-wicket win in the second T20 international at Bristol on Sunday, successfully chasing down a target of 197 with nine balls remaining to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.Jos Buttler contributed 47 runs while captain Harry Brook made 34 as England reached 112-2 in under 13 overs. However, both were dismissed in consecutive overs with 85 runs still needed.Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton stepped up to complete the chase. Bethell scored a quick 26 off 10 balls, including three sixes, while Banton remained unbeaten on 30.The West Indies innings started poorly when Luke Wood dismissed Evin Lewis lbw with the first ball of the match. Captain Shai Hope (49) and Johnson Charles (47) stabilized the innings with a 90-run partnership. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket’s TV market and the watershed moments The Caribbean side struggled at 121-4 after 16 overs but managed to add 75 runs in the final four overs. Rovman Powell scored 34 off 15 balls, while Jason Holder contributed 29 off just nine deliveries.England’s decision to play with only two seamers proved costly in the latter stages. Leg-spinner Adil Rashid bowled the penultimate over, conceding 31 runs and finishing with his most expensive T20 figures of 1-59.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player?The West Indies posted 196-6 in their 20 overs, with Luke Wood being the pick of the England bowlers with figures of 2-25. England successfully chased down the target, scoring 199-6 in 18.3 overs, with Alzarri Joseph taking 2-45 for the West Indies.The series finale is scheduled for Tuesday in Southampton.

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Will develop cricket grounds in all districts: ACA president Sivanath

Will develop cricket grounds in all districts: ACA president Sivanath

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Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath speaking at a press conference after the 72nd Annual Meeting of the Andhra Cricket Association in Vijayawada on Saturday.  | Photo Credit: G.N. RAO The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) is working with the State government to develop cricket grounds in all the districts, said ACA president and Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath. Participating in the ACA’s 72nd Annual General Body Meeting in Vijayawada on June 8, Sunday, Mr. Sivanath said at present, the ACA is developing cricket grounds in Nellore and Kurnool on its own land. In addition to this, the ACA is focusing on bringing talented players into the limelight, he added. The Andhra Premier League is being organised to give a platform to the talented cricketers identified from across the State. “We will ensure that only the best-performing players get to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL),” the MP said. This was the first annual meeting since Mr. Kesineni Sivanath assumed charge as ACA President. He expressed happiness over the successful conduct of the annual meeting. He emphasised that the association would not only focus on identifying talent but would also provide all facilities to aspiring players to encourage them. Listing the achievements, Mr. Sivanath said the ACA, apex body, elected eight months ago, has since striven hard to develop cricket in the State. “The ACA-VDCA International stadium was modernised in just 45 days. Out of four IPL matches allotted to the venue, two matches were successfully held. Additionally, the stadium is set to host five matches of the Women’s World Cup,” he said. The MP added that there is a need to better the infrastructure for hosting cricket matches. The Visakhapatnam stadium will be further modernised so more international matches can be held, he said. ACA apex body members, District Cricket Association representatives, and international players participated in the meeting. Published – June 08, 2025 11:32 pm IST

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