This week in cricket was packed with thrilling performances and historic wins across the globe. India kicked off their Test series against Bangladesh with a commanding victory, while Sri Lanka edged ahead of New Zealand by going 1-0 up in their Test series. Afghanistan stunned South Africa with a 2-1 series win, marking a major milestone for Afghan cricket. Meanwhile, Australia continued their dominance in ODIs, securing a 2-0 lead against England, marking their 14th consecutive ODI win. India A also celebrated success, lifting the prestigious Duleep Trophy. Let’s dive into all the action!
Ashwin’s All-Round Brilliance Powers India to a 280-Run Victory Over Bangladesh in Chennai
Ravichandran Ashwin delivered a match-winning performance, taking six wickets in the second innings to bowl India to a resounding 280-run win over Bangladesh on the fourth day of the first Test in Chennai. Chasing a daunting target of 515 runs, Bangladesh collapsed for 234, with only their captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, providing resistance with a commendable 82. India’s victory gave them a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Playing at his home ground, the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Tamil Nadu, Ashwin’s all-round heroics were on full display. After scoring a magnificent 113 off 133 balls in the first innings, he took 10 wickets across both innings, earning him the Player of the Match title. His efforts were well-supported by fellow spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who picked up three wickets on the final day and contributed 86 runs in a 99-run stand with Ashwin during India’s first innings.
India declared their second innings at 287-4 on day three after centuries from Shubman Gill (119*), and the returning Rishabh Pant (109), who put on a 167-run partnership for the fourth wicket. This strong batting display followed a stellar bowling effort by Jasprit Bumrah and the Indian attack, which had earlier bundled out Bangladesh for just 149 in their first innings. Despite some resistance from Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan on day four, Bangladesh could not overcome India’s dominance, folding under the pressure of Ashwin and company.
No Play on Day Four: New Zealand Falls Short in Thrilling Test Against Sri Lanka
In a rare occurrence, there was no play on what would have been the fourth day of the Test match. Rest days, once a common feature in Test cricket during the 20th century, have largely been phased out due to the increasingly packed cricketing calendar. The last time a rest day was scheduled in Test cricket was back in 2008, when Sri Lanka toured Bangladesh.
As day six of this Test began, the game was finely poised with Sri Lanka holding a slight advantage. Rachin Ravindra resumed his innings on 91, partnered by Ajaz Patel, who was yet to open his account. New Zealand needed just 68 more runs to secure a memorable victory, though their main concern was Rachin potentially running out of support at the other end.
Unfortunately for New Zealand, their hopes were dealt a significant blow early in the day when Rachin was trapped lbw by Prabath Jayasuriya for 92, reducing them to 209-9. Jayasuriya quickly wrapped things up in his next over, dismissing the final wicket and leaving New Zealand 63 runs short of their target of 275.
Afghanistan Gear Up for Champions Trophy 2025 with Historic Series Win Over South Africa
Afghanistan are making a strong statement ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 by securing a historic series win against South Africa, marking their first-ever triumph over a top-five ICC-ranked team. The Blue Tigers claimed the series in Sharjah by winning the first two matches in emphatic fashion. They clinched the opener by six wickets with 144 balls to spare and followed it up with a commanding 177-run victory in the second ODI, dismissing the Proteas for scores of just 106 and 134. South Africa salvaged some pride by winning the third match, chasing a modest target of 170.
Young batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz once again proved to be Afghanistan’s standout performer, solidifying his reputation as one of the brightest talents in international cricket. The 22-year-old scored a match-winning 105 in the second ODI and followed it up with 89 in the third, ending the series as the top scorer despite a duck in the first match. His seventh ODI century places him alongside Virat Kohli with the third-most hundreds in the format before turning 23, only behind Sachin Tendulkar and Quinton de Kock. Gurbaz’s rapid rise continues to draw attention as he joins the elite ranks of batters who reached seven ODI centuries in record time.
Afghanistan’s bowling attack, spearheaded by the returning Rashid Khan, was instrumental in dismantling South Africa. Rashid took seven wickets across the first two matches at an impressive average of 7.00, although he missed the final game due to a tight hamstring. With Afghanistan now ranked ninth in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, they will face South Africa again in the Champions Trophy group stages, along with Australia and England, in what promises to be a highly anticipated contest.
Australia Make it 14 Wins in a Row with Dominant Victory in Leeds
Australia’s men’s ODI team continued their incredible form, notching up their 14th consecutive win with a commanding victory over England in the second ODI of the bilateral series. The reigning ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 champions are now on the verge of making history, extending their winning streak in men’s ODIs, the second-longest in history. Australia’s current run follows their remarkable turnaround in the World Cup after losing their opening two games.
This streak places them just behind their own record of 21 consecutive ODI victories set in 2003, while Australia Women hold the overall record with 26 consecutive wins between 2018 and 2021. With their winning momentum, the Australian men’s team is now eyeing even more milestones in the format.
India-A Clinch Duleep Trophy Final in Dramatic Finish
In a thrilling conclusion, India-A secured a 132-run victory over India-C in the Duleep Trophy final, overturning a match that had seemed destined for a draw, and reaffirming the unpredictable excitement of Test cricket.
On the final day, India-A resumed their second innings at 270/6 and quickly declared at 286/8, leaving India-C a daunting 350-run target to chase. India-C’s run chase began with a surprising decision to send seamer Vyshak Vijaykumar to open alongside captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. The pair built a steady opening stand of 36 before Vijaykumar fell to a brilliant run-out by substitute fielder Shaik Rasheed.
Despite a 77-run partnership between Gaikwad (44) and Sai Sudharsan, India-A’s spinners Tanush Kotian and Shams Mulani tightened their grip on the game, applying pressure and turning the tide in their favor. Aaqib Khan’s bowling was instrumental as he claimed the key wicket of Gaikwad, while B. Indrajith displayed remarkable resilience by coming in at No. 10, despite being injured, in a final attempt to save the match for India-C.
The dramatic final day’s play showcased the resilience and strategic brilliance that cricket’s longest format often delivers.
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