Weekly CRICKET Review - LXXVi | Happening Time!

Hello, fellow Cricket Enthusiasts,

You already know I am sharing a weekly wrap-up of what is happening within the Cricket community. It's the 76th edition now. After last week's post, Kiwi men did it, there are many interesting series are going on now! So, let's see what's happening!!

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New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka, 2024

After a record-breaking tournament in India, NZ returned to Sri Lanka for a red ball series. (3 ODIs, 2 T20s)
The T20I was held at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla where the series concluded with a tie, 1-1. Sri Lanka won the first match by 4 wickets while chasing 135 runs. Charith Asalanka became the man of the match with a match-winning knock.
The second match was a close encounter. Nz batted first again, and Nuwan Thushara got the first wicket in the first ball. Starting there, the Kiwis couldn't have momentum and lost regular wickets. Wanindu Hasaranga, and Matheesha Pathirana shine in the balling department. They could only put 108 runs on the board, with only three players crossing double figures.

Santner started the wicket hunting, but Lockie Fergusen did the real damage. He took a hattrick, restricting SL to 34/4 in 7 overs. Pathum held one end, while the other wickets fell one by one. But it could have been done easily, as we just needed 8 runs in the final over with 03 wickets. But Glenn Phillips succeeded in defending and taking 03 wickets. It was the lowest total defended by Kiwis in the ODI.

After 02 ODI matches, SL has already won the series. It's after 12 years. The first match was a batting display from Sri Lanka. After Pathum fell early, Kusal Mendis and Avishka put together 206 runs; 100 from Avishka and 143 runs off 128 balls from Mendis. When rain interrupted the match SL was 324-5 in 49.2 Overs. 2nd inning was reduced to 27 overs due to rain, for a target of 221 runs. Eventhough the visitors had a good start, the innings collapsed from 88/0 to 110/5, in 05 overs. Sri Lanka won by 45 runs.
The second match was low-scoring where NZ could only put 209/10. But Sri Lanka also struggled a lot, where Mendis scored a mature knock taking us home.

Pakistan tour of Australia, 2024

It was a very intense red ball series of 3 ODIs and 3 T20s. Pakistan recreating history, winning a bilateral series in Australia after 22 years. After so many setbacks, it was a great start for the new captain Rizwan, and the coach Gillespie. It was a fast ballers' masterclass from Pakistan, led by Haris Rauf.
In the first, match we saw typical Starc on point. He took the openers early, and the Aussie ballers didn't offer the control for the batters. It was just 203/10 in 46.4 Overs. The Pakistan pacers were also on the right track. They took openers quickly, but Smith and Inglish carried the inning easily. But Haris Rauf turned the match with 03 quick wickets, and Shaheen helped him from the other end. Australia went to 155/7 from 112/2. But Cummins was so cool with the tail to secure the win by 02 wickets.

The second and third matches are nothing but a special show from Pakistan pacers, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Hasnain. They restricted Aussies to 163 & 140 respectively. Rauf's 5/29 in 28 overs in the second match was the highlight performance. The runs were chased easily by the Pakistan top order, securing a famous win.

India tour of South Africa, 2024

It's 4-T20I series, which was concluded as 3-1 India winning it. It was a stunning batting performance from India passing 200 on three occasions.
The first match was a Sanju Samson's show. Coming as the opener, he scored 107 runs 0ff 50 balls, with 10 sixes. India put a total of 202/8 in their 50 overs. Markram was out in the first overs, and Bishnoi and Varun did a great job restricting the free flow. In their 08 overs, they got 06 wickets for just 53 runs. As SA scored just 141 runs, India won by 61 runs.
SA did well to restrict India to just 124/6 in the next match. A solid performance from all the ballers. In the chase, Proteas struggled to get going. They were 86/7, at one stage, but Stubbs and Coetzee took them home securing a win by 03 wickets with an over remaining.

After Sanju, Thilak Varma stepped up and scored a century in the third match for India. India gave a target of 219/6 for the hosts. Indian openers, then Markram got fiery starts, but couldn't hold. Then Klassen got the charge, with sixes. Finally, Jansen carried the hope for SA to score a 16-ball fifty. But every time, the Indian baller handled the pressure taking wickets and winning the match by just 11 runs. SA came so close.
The final match was from both Sanju and Varma. First Abhishek Sharma smashed for fun, India was 73/1 after the powerplay. From there Sanju and Thilak put up a 210-run partnership both scoring centuries. India scored 283/1 in their 20 overs. But pitch SA couldn't handle the chase, like India's batting. They struggled and it was just 148 from them, experiencing 135 runs defeat.

2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship points table