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Ranji Trophy QF: Saha-less Bengal hold pole position against Jharkhand

Wriddhiman Saha, may have left the team in the lurch owing to his personal grudge against the establishment, but the Abhimanyu Easwaran-led Bengal will still start as favourites against Jharkhand with their pace troika ready to let it rip in their Ranji Trophy quarter-final, starting from Monday. The trio of Mukesh Kumar (15 wickets), Ishan Porel (14 wickets) and Akash Deep (10 wickets) has been the most prolific pace attack in the country and with a cumulative count of 39 wickets among the 58 that Bengal got this season, they will come all guns blazing at the Jharkhand line-up, which has shown firepower during the league stages.

I've learnt to be calm in pressure situations from MS Dhoni: Simarjeet Singh

Chennai Super Kings' right-arm pace bowler Simarjeet Singh has said he felt extremely nervous playing his first game in a highly-competitive environment like the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season, and added that seniors like Mahendra Singh Dhoni have played a big role in preparing the newcomers for "high-pressure situations". The 24-year-old Simarjeet made his IPL debut this season for CSK, taking four wickets in the six matches he played with a best of 2/27 and an economy of 7.67, which makes him one to look out for in the upcoming seasons. The tall, skiddy pace bowler, who was a net bowler with the Delhi Capitals and bought by CSK for his base price of Rs 20 lakhs at the mega auction, added that being in the playing XI is something one cannot comprehend sitting on the bench, with the pressure quotient going up several notches.

South Africa mindful of Indian fighting spirit

South Africa's limited-overs captain Temba Bavuma had expressed his desire to play and lead a franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Bavuma termed it as his "fantasy". Leading an IPL team might be Bavuma's desire, but leading his national side against India for a five-match T20I series from June 9 is a reality. To make sure the reality turns out to be a rewarding one, Bavuma has been sweating it out at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in the national Capital - the venue for the first T20 International between the two teams. The next four will be played in Cuttack (June 12), Visakhapatnam (June 14), Rajkot (June 17) and Bengaluru (June 19).

England vs New Zealand 1st Test: Joe Root’s unbeaten 77 steers England closer to winning target

Joe Root hit an unbeaten 77 to steer England to within 61 runs of victory in the first Test while New Zealand require five wickets as the contest remained intriguingly poised at the end of a tense third day at Lords. England were 216-5 at close, chasing a target of 277 after dismissing New Zealand for 285 before lunch on Saturday. Root, no longer incumbered by the captaincy, was at his imperious best as he took away the early advantage from the tourists, who had England teetering at 69-4 before tea when seamer Kyle Jamieson made early breakthroughs. Root and his successor Ben Stokes put together a 90-run partnership to turn the tide with the new skipper scoring 54 before being caught behind – the only wicket to fall after tea.