Weekly CRICKET Review - LXXXii | Hobart Hurricanes won their maiden BBL title

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 82nd edition now. After last week's post, the International Cricket has become much active and we saw the end of one of the best leagues in the world!

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Big Bash League 2024-25

Well well well! Season 14 of the Big Bash League ended a few days ago in a prolific manner. After more than one and a half months of action, we witnessed one of the best finals, with some insane batting. So, finally, Hobart Hurricanes won their maiden BBL title after 13 years of disappointment.

After 40 Group Stage matches, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers, Sydney Thunder, and Melbourne Stars reached the knockout stage. Last season's winners, Brisbane Heat ended up as the second-last at the point table. From there Hobart Hurricanes advanced to the finals beating Sydney Sixers in the Qualifier match. And from the Challenger match, the Sydney Thunder could seal their spot.
So, it was a Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder Final at Bellerive Oval ground in Hobart. Thunders started the batting and, the openers Jason Sangha and Warner got a perfect start with a 97-run partnership. Even with a small collapse from there, they could put in a comfortable total of 182/7. Riley Meredith and Nathan Ellis took 3 wickets each.

Anyway, that target became too small, when the local boy Mitchell Owen started to hammer the ballers. He brutally smashed runs all around the park. He scored his fifty inside just 4 overs, in only 16 deliveries - the third fastest in BBL history. Other players just had to watch from the other end. In the first 6 overs, Hurricanes reached 98 runs, while Owens stole 76. He reached his century in only 39 balls, the fastest in the BBL. His 108 runs came off 42 balls, 11 sixes and 6 fours.
Hurricanes won the match by 7 wickets with 35 balls to spare.
Mitchell Owen is the highest run-scorer of this season with 452 runs in 11 innings with an average of 45.20. Jason Behrendorff of is the leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets in 10 innings.

England tour of India, 2025

It's a big white ball series of 5 T20I s, and 3 ODI s, and started the things with the shorter format.
The first match was at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. India won the toss and did everything right in a spin-friendly pitch. They balled first, and Arshadeep straight away took the openers in the first and third overs, and then the spinners did the rest. Apart from Butler's 68 runs, no one from England made a good contribution. They scored 132/10 in the 20 overs.

Then The Chase was a show by Abhishek Sharma. He smashed 79 runs off 34 balls with 8 sixes. There was nothing to do for England ballers, after his inning. India chased the target in just 12.5 overs with 7 wickets remaining.

The second match was at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, and once again England started the batting. They improved their batting and put in a comfortable total of 165/9 with overall good contributions, even after losing the openers early.

Anyway, India also never had a good run. Starting from the second over they lose regular wickets. Anyway, Thilak Varma stood and carried the inning from one end. He scored a match-winning knock of 72 runs off 55 balls. With a small help from the tail-enders, India won it by 2 wickets and just 4 wickets remaining.

West Indies tour of Pakistan, 2025

It was a 2-match Test series. After so many high-scoring roads in Pakistan, this series turned out to be completely different. The two matches were at Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan.
Pakistan started the batting in the first match, and it was a lousy start. They lost 4 wickets for just 46. From there Saud Shakeel and Rizwan added 141 together with half centuries. Anyway, WI was successful in restricting them to 230 runs.

But WI's batting effort was even worse. They lost wickets in quick succession courtesy of Pakistan's spinners. Thanks to some cameos from the tail, they could just score 137 runs, from 66/8. Noman Ali got a fifer.

With a lead of 93, Pakistan added another 157 runs. WI's spinner Jomel Warrican destroyed the inning by taking 7 wickets. Coming to chase a 250-run target WI fell for just 123 runs. Sajid Khan took a fifer and became the man of the match as well. Pakistan won the match by 127 runs.
WI created history in the second match winning a Test match in Pakistan after 34 years. WI started the batting and once again a poor start from them. In the first session of day 01, they lost 8 wickets for just 54 runs. But thanks to 55 runs from Gudakesh Moti, 25 from Kemar Roach, and 36* Jomel Warrican they reached 163/10. And then they balled out Pakistan for 154 runs.

WI added another 244 runs in the second inning with a 50 from Kraigg Brathwaite. It was a good total in the conditions. Chasing 254 runs it was just 133 from Pakistan. West Indies won by 120 runs.

So, it was a very disappointing WTC cycle for Pakistan being the last in the table.

Now this is what the WTC table looks like.

2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship points table

So, that's it for today!! Until the next time! Enjoy!

Thank you.
Best Regards!