timesofindia.indiatimes.com - From Castle Corner to Castle Hill, Zimbabwe cricketers experience generational journey

From Castle Corner to Castle Hill, Zimbabwe cricketers experience generational journey

Australia are playing their first ever international series in the region but it is not the one-day cricket that is so exciting locals and packing out the city hotels. Zimbabwe, perpetual minnows of the game, have waited 18 long years to travel Down Under and face the might of Australia, and now, finally given the chance, they are being overshadowed by a rugby league match. The hometown North Queensland Cowboys play the reigning champion Penrith Panthers on Saturday night in a sold-out National Rugby League clash and in this part of Queensland, that cannot be topped.

Despite all odds, the rise and rise of Afghanistan in T20Is

Before the start of the ongoing edition of the Asia Cup, most cricket experts were expecting Afghanistan to put up strong performances - and they lived up to that billing - beating both Sri Lanka (by 8 wickets) and then Bangladesh (by 7 wickets) to become the first team to qualify for the Super Four stage. The Afghans, who are currently ranked 10th on the ICC T20I team rankings, will now be up against Sri Lanka in the first Super Four match on Saturday, September 3 after the island nation clinched a thrilling two-wicket win over Bangladesh on Thursday to knock the Bangla Tigers out of the tournament. The two rather big wins against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh (both ranked higher than Afghanistan in the T20 team rankings at 8 & 9 respectively) can't really be called upsets, considering just how much the Afghanistan T20I team has steadily improved.

Asia Cup 2022: Pakistan to face Hong Kong in virtual knock out for place in last four

Given the recent form of Hong Kong, it will not be a walk in the park for the Pakistani team. Hong Kong have recently been in a rich vein of form, winning the qualifying tournament and remaining unbeaten. They ran India close in the previous edition of the tournament, and the last thing Pakistan would want to do is write them off.

Asia Cup 2022: Will the knock against Hong Kong become the turning point Virat Kohli has been searching for?

Ask Virat Kohli. Once the best batsman in the world, now without a century for almost 3 years. The unbeaten 59 off 44 balls on Wednesday at the Asia Cup would have been very welcome runs for Kohli, even though they came against Hong Kong, who are ranked 20th in the ICC T20I team rankings. Runs under the belt always gives a batter confidence and prepares him or her for harder battles ahead. This was Kohli’s 31st T20I fifty overall - he has the maximum number of half centuries in T20I cricket overall - and though his last fifty in the shortest format was scored only 4 games ago (for him), it was over 6 months ago - on February 18, 2022.

Durand Cup: Chennaiyin FC close in on quarterfinal berth

Imphal on Thursday. This was Chennaiyin FC’s first win of the tournament. Peter Sliskovic scored a brace while Ghanaian Kwame Karikari and Iranian defender Vafa Hakhamaneshi netted the other goals to complete the rout for CFC on Thursday. Former Croat international Sliskovic opened the account for CFC in the first minute and there was no looking back. CFC now have four points from three games, same as their next opponents NEROCA FC. Chennaiyin have (7-6) a better difference than NEROCA (3-4) and a draw could be enough for them to reach the quarters as the second team from the group after Hyderabad FC, who have nine from three.

US Open 2022: Rafael Nadal overcomes freak racquet injury and Fabio Fognini to reach third round

Rafael Nadal overcame a freak injury scare when he accidentally hit himself with his own racquet to reach the US Open third round on Thursday. The Spaniard defeated Italy's Fabio Fognini 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 but only after suffering a bizarre self-inflicted injury when leading 3-0 in the fourth set. The four-time champion, and holder of a men's record 22 Grand Slam titles, was hurt when his racquet bounced back off the court as he stretched for a ball and hit him squarely on the nose.

US Open: Serena Williams swansong echoes into the third round

Serena Williams’ Little Black Dress packed more shine than the New York night. Just as well then as the American superstar let some of that sizzle rub off on her play. The 23-time major winner thumped 38 winners en route to a 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 second-round win over the world No. 2 Anett Kontaveit. The Estonian powerhouse repeatedly pushed the 40-year-old onto the backfoot, but Serena reached and stretched, chased and charged the Arthur Ashe Stadium, using the two hours and 27 minutes in the middle to underline that her defence was as deep as her offence was destructive. Next up for Serena and her diamond-encrusted sparkle is the Aussie world No. 46 Ajla Tomljanovic.

US Open 2022: Nick Kyrgios fined for spitting, obscenities

The fine was the largest handed out to a player at the tournament so far. The Wimbledon finalist maintained a running dialogue with himself throughout his 7-6(3) 6-4 4-6 6-4 win over the Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi but boiled over when he was broken late in the fourth set.

Contacts

Timesofindia.indiatimes.com Sport News

From Castle Corner to Castle Hill, Zimbabwe cricketers experience generational journey

Despite all odds, the rise and rise of Afghanistan in T20Is

Asia Cup 2022: Pakistan to face Hong Kong in virtual knock out for place in last four

Asia Cup 2022: Will the knock against Hong Kong become the turning point Virat Kohli has been searching for?

Durand Cup: Chennaiyin FC close in on quarterfinal berth

US Open 2022: Rafael Nadal overcomes freak racquet injury and Fabio Fognini to reach third round

US Open: Serena Williams swansong echoes into the third round

US Open 2022: Nick Kyrgios fined for spitting, obscenities