Sunday, May 03
Aiden Markram struck a brilliant 108 to keep Durban’s Super Giants alive in the SA20 playoff race, powering them to a bonus-point 58-run win over Paarl Royals at Kingsmead. After DSG slumped to 53/3, Markram and Heinrich Klaasen revived the innings before the bowlers, led by Narine and Harmer, sealed a comprehensive victory.
Mohammed Siraj, recently appointed captain of the Hyderabad Ranji Trophy team, expressed his honor and excitement for the new role. He also addressed his absence from the T20 World Cup squad, clarifying he was rested from the South Africa ODI series to manage workload and prepare for future tournaments.
Virat Kohli's magnificent 54th ODI century against New Zealand, a record seventh against the Kiwis, anchored India's chase. Despite a challenging target and early wickets, Kohli's resilient 124 off 108 balls, featuring crucial partnerships, kept hopes alive. His defiant knock underscored his class and ability to perform under pressure, even in defeat.
India aims to maintain their strong home ODI record against New Zealand in the series decider. While Kohli and Rahul are in form, Kuldeep Yadav's struggles are a concern. New Zealand, with an inexperienced squad, seeks a historic ODI series win in India, led by Daryl Mitchell's impressive batting.
Real Madrid fans jeered their team but celebrated a 2-0 win against Levante. Kylian Mbappe and Raul Asencio scored for Real Madrid. This victory marks coach Alvaro Arbeloa's first win. Villarreal lost 2-0 to Real Betis, impacting their title challenge. The team showed more energy in the second half. Real Madrid reduced the gap on leaders Barcelona.
A controversy arose during the U-19 World Cup match between India and Bangladesh as captains failed to exchange a customary handshake at the toss. The Bangladesh Cricket Board clarified the incident was unintentional, stemming from a lapse in concentration, and emphasized their commitment to sportsmanship amid existing cricketing tensions.
Rohit Sharma's recent ODI form has sparked debate about his motivation for the 2027 World Cup. Despite a strong prior run, a lean series against New Zealand has led commentators like Simon Doull and Ravi Shastri to question his hunger. The fragmented ODI calendar is also cited as a potential factor impacting rhythm and desire for the veteran opener.
