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All the statistical highlights from India’s win in the tri-series final against Sri Lanka in Colombo

Namooh Shah11-May-20257-2 – India’s record in the finals in women’s ODIs. Only Australia have more wins in ODI finals than India, having won eight out of the 11 they have played.342 for 7 – India’s total in the ODI tri-series final is the highest ever in women’s ODIs in Sri Lanka, going past their 337 for 9 against South Africa last week. Four of the six 300-plus totals in Sri Lanka in the format came in this ODI tri-series.2 – India’s total is also the second-highest in a knockout game in women’s ODIs. Australia’s 356 for 5 against England in the World Cup final in 2022 is at the top. It is also the second-highest total conceded by Sri Lanka in ODIs.11 – Hundreds for Smriti Mandhana in ODIs are the third-most by a woman, with Meg Lanning (15) and Suzie Bates (13) ahead of her.ESPNcricinfo Ltd4 – Number of 300-plus totals for India in 2025, the joint-most by a team in a calendar year in women’s ODIs, alongside New Zealand, who also had four such scores in consecutive matches in 2018.7 – Fifty-plus partnerships between Mandhana and Pratika Rawal in eight matches in 2025, the joint-most by an opening pair in women’s ODIs in a calendar year, equaling the record of Belinda Clark and Lisa Keightley who also had seven in 2000.1 – Mandhana’s 11th ODI hundred was her first in Sri Lanka, the sixth country where she has a hundred in the format. Lanning, Sophie Devine and Bates also have scored ODI hundreds in six countries.116 – Mandhana’s score on Sunday is the third-highest in a women’s ODI tournament final.

The region has a rich cricketing history, and has produced the likes of Mahmudullah and Mosaddek Hossain. The BCB’s recognition is long overdue

Mohammad Isam12-Aug-2025The BCB’s decision to include Mymensingh as a first-class team is long-awaited reward for a region where cricket has thrived for more than a century. It was regarded as the cradle of the game in undivided Bengal, as cricket clubs were formed there as far back as in 1898. First-class recognition brings renewed hope to Mymensingh, which has produced a large number of international cricketers in the last four decades.Mahmudullah, the former Bangladesh Test and T20I captain, is the biggest name to come out of the region. He spent his formative years in Mymensingh, before playing age-group and league cricket in Dhaka. Mahmudullah, whose 430 international matches across formats is currently the third-highest for Bangladesh, often returns to Mymensingh, where he has his ancestral home.The region was rich in cricketing heritage much before Mahmudullah was born. Mymensingh Mohammedan Club (1898) and Pandit Para Club (1910) are some of the oldest clubs from undivided Bengal. (landowners) would patronise these clubs, with healthy participation among the general population. After Bangladesh’s independence, Mymensingh’s left-arm spinner Ramchand Goala became a popular name in the Dhaka league, churning out overs even into his early 50s.Related

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Harunur Rashid, the feisty opener, was the first from Mymensingh to make his ODI debut for Bangladesh, in 1988. Pace bowler Saiful Islam and allrounder Sanuar Hossain, who were in Bangladesh’s 1997 ICC Trophy-winning side, were among the bigger names who played cricket in Mymensingh in the 1980s and 1990s. More recently, the region has produced the batter Mosaddek Hossain.It was curious that the BCB held back first-class status from Mymensingh despite this rich tradition. The government had made Mymensingh Bangladesh’s eighth administrative division in 2015. Rangpur began playing the National Cricket League (NCL), Bangladesh’s domestic first-class competition, from the 2011-12 season, less than two years after the government made it the country’s seventh division.Mymensingh’s sports organisers requested the BCB for a team on numerous occasions in the last ten years, but to no avail. Earlier this year, Md Mokhtar Ahmed, Mymensingh’s divisional commissioner, the highest-ranking government official in the region, wrote a letter to the BCB in this regard. The decision from the BCB came on August 9 during a board meeting in Dhaka. Akram Khan, the BCB’s tournament committee chairman, welcomed Mymensingh into the first-class fold.”They really deserve it,” Akram told ESPNcricinfo. “Firstly, they are a division for ten years. So if Rajshahi, Chittagong and Barisal can play NCL, why can’t Mymensingh? They also have cricketing heritage. They have a sporting culture that goes back to many, many years. I played with [the former India player] Raman Lamba in Mymensingh in the 1990s. They always had good cricketers, including, Belayet Hossain and Goala, who played in Mymensingh the 1970s. They continued to produce plenty of cricketers for Bangladesh too.”Could Mahmudullah turn out for his hometown team? Sanuar Hossain certainly hopes so•ICC via Getty ImagesAkram said Mymensingh has a strong base of homegrown players already.”I think they will be able to form a good first-class team. Look, the selectors have often sent players to Barisal as Barisal have struggled to make their [own] first-class team. I am sure that Mymensingh or any other first-class team will get that help [as well]. In any case, Dhaka Division and Dhaka Metropolis used to split players from the Dhaka region. So I am sure the same arrangement [for splitting players] would be made for Dhaka Division and Mymensingh.”Mymensingh native Sanuar, who played nine Tests and 27 ODIs, was delighted with the BCB’s decision. Sanuar is a senior figure in Mymensingh cricket, organising T20 tournaments in the region whenever he finds time away from his busy schedule as a flight steward.”It is a huge achievement for Mymensingh,” Sanuar said. “It was long overdue, given the region’s cricketing heritage and also if you consider that we have been a division for almost ten years.”

“We have two very good facilities in Mymensingh that can be developed. Now, with the first-class team, we will have more impetus to develop quickly.”Former Bangladesh batter Sanuar Hossain

Sanuar felt first-class status would help Mymensingh improve its facilities. Mymensingh does have a stadium, but cricket is mainly played at the historic Circuit House ground, which is surrounded by all the club houses. The Brahmaputra river is quite close to the ground, making it a local attraction.”I think after an inspection last year, they found out that facilities were not up to the mark,” Sanuar said. “We have two very good facilities in Mymensingh that can be developed. Now, with the first-class team, we will have more impetus to develop quickly.”Sanuar was also confident Mymensingh could form a good first-class team with mostly homegrown players, and hoped Mahmudullah could turn out for them.”We have a number of established cricketers from Mymensingh. It is our advantage,” Sanuar said. “Many are already playing for Dhaka Division or Dhaka Metropolis. I want Riyad [Mahmudullah] to play at least the first season for Mymensigh. He has been our biggest source of pride over the years. I am sure he would love to play for his home team. Mymensingh will become more organised with Riyad in the team.”Mymensingh can pick players from the Jamalpur, Mymensingh, Netrokona and Sherpur districts, with the BCB allowing players not belonging to that particular region to play in the NCL.Dhaka Division beat Dhaka Metropolis to win the 2023-24 NCL title. Now the city will only have one team•BCBTo include Mymensingh, the BCB has decided to discontinue the Dhaka Metropolis team to ensure there remained an even number of teams in the NCL. Dhaka Metropolis’ last tournament will be the NCL T20s next month. The team started participating in the NCL from 2011-12, when Rangpur became a first-class team – that decision too was made to ensure an even number of participating teams.In theory, players born and based in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital city, would be playing for Metropolis, while the Dhaka Division team would be made up of players from Dhaka’s 16 other districts. This was the case for much of Dhaka Metropolis’ time in the first-class scene, but the selectors found it increasingly hard to pick a team with just players from the capital.For all its size and might, Dhaka hasn’t produced too many top cricketers in recent decades. Taskin Ahmed and Saif Hassan are the only cricketers of note to emerge from the city in the last 15 years. The rest have mostly come from the outskirts or other districts. Dhaka Metropolis have won and lost 23 matches each out of 87 matches in the NCL. They have never been champions of the NCL.Meanwhile, Mymensingh, who will replace Dhaka Metropolis, are quietly confident they can make a fist of their long-awaited opportunity. The prolonged monsoon has kept cricket away, but once the weather clears, expect the Circuit House ground to be packed with hopefuls. Cricket has a long tradition here, and this latest chapter could be the most exciting one yet.

This is the birthplace of “45 minutes of bad cricket” that cost India the 2019 World Cup semi-final and once again they are down in a series they have done well

Sidharth Monga22-Jul-20253:49

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There is likely a lot of confirmation bias involved in the following statements. Cricket fans tend to not forget dates and places. Among cricket fans, Indian cricket fans particularly tend to cling on much more. You can’t bring up November 19 without sending them spiralling into darkness. A drizzly Old Trafford can trigger – not to make light of real world mental health issues – PTSD in many India fans.A drizzly Old Trafford is, after all, the birthplace of the phrase “45 minutes of bad cricket”. To be clear it was not bad cricket in those 45 minutes in the ODI World Cup semi-final in 2019. India were caught in the perfect storm of seam-friendly conditions and some awesome bowling from New Zealand.The larger sentiment – be it the image of Richard Kettleborough’s look of astonishment at Martin Guptill’s direct hit from deep square leg in Manchester or the stunning catch from Travis Head in Ahmedabad – is that India dominated those tournaments, which is why those losses hurt more.A day before India’s second Test at Old Trafford in 35 years, a venue where they have never won, it drizzled the same way it did on the second half of day one of their 2019 World Cup semi-final. Not hard enough to take players off but just enough to prevent resumption of an already stopped contest.Related

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It is hard not to see some similarities between those “45 minutes of bad cricket” ruining the memories of entire tournaments and this ongoing Test series. India are averaging 42.96 with the bat as against England’s 38.09, but they find themselves trailing in the series 2-1. India have batted at 85% control as against England’s 78%. India have got a wicket every 12 false shots when England have needed to induce fewer than ten, and this is with India batting more carefully than England.These are not dominating numbers, although at one point at Lord’s they were. But in most series of decent lengths that can even out extreme results, they should ensure you are not in deficit. India’s batters have made fewer mistakes, their bowlers have held lengths for longer, and if they can keep on doing it, they should still back themselves to come out ahead by the end of five Tests.What about the frequent “45 minutes of bad cricket”, though? India have frequently made errors – either unforced or through lack of experience – that have cost them dearly to put them in this place: be it the collapses through casual shots at Headingley, the nightmare mix of milestone anxiety and quick single resulting in a run out just before lunch at Lord’s, or a ball-change request that could perhaps have been avoided.The Indian think tank – head coach Gautam Gambhir, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and captain Shubman Gill•Getty ImagesIt is these teams’ privilege that they get a five-Test series to correct those errors. Other teams often get just two-Test series, and have no room for these errors: you do that in one Test, and boom, it is an unassailable deficit. With the privilege, however, also comes scrutiny and schadenfreude. People can see the mention of lack of experience or luck as an excuse.It is to India’s credit that they were able to repeat their skills at both Edgbaston and Lord’s after they lost the unloseable Test at Headingley. That is the difficult bit. That is what you train for. In Tests, more than other formats, that is actually enough to win matches: you bowl more good balls, you keep out more good balls, and you win Tests. Sometimes, as at Headingley, you have catastrophic half hours, you tell yourself you won’t repeat casual shots, and then find a new way of letting the opposition back in, like at Lord’s.In an ideal world, the ideal response is to not think about these moments and focus more on training yourself on your basic skills and fitness. A human mind, though, doesn’t work in a vacuum. There is now a series on the line, and now it is the same scenario as it is for other teams who don’t have the privilege of playing long series.In 2018, when the general sentiment was that India didn’t deserve to lose 4-1 – some actually thought they could have won with a toss or two going their way – India averaged 25.23 and England 30.74. This series is actually closer to that sentiment. India are yet to win a toss, they have created more chances and pressure with the ball, and yet they are down 2-1.Of course, there is still time for India to be able to go ahead and put on numbers that actually deserve a deficit. There is also time to come back and repeat what has gone right with them. About now will be a good time to win a toss and/or be more ruthless and avoid actually living up to the 2018 assessments.

Ireland will welcome the experience of Josh Little and Mark Adair and search for a change in fortunes after losing the Test series

Mohammad Isam26-Nov-2025Bangladesh’s busiest year in T20IsWhen Bangladesh enter the field on Thursday, they will play their 28th T20I in 2025, making this their busiest year in the format. They go into this series without their main fast bowler, Taskin Ahmed, with the BCB having given him an NOC to play the Abu Dhabi T10 till November 30.Bangladesh’s fast bowling stocks have reached a level of quality that the team management is comfortable enough to give someone like Taskin a break. The current squad includes Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Shoriful Islam and Mohammad Saifuddin in the fast-bowling department. They also have their best spinners in the format – Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain and Nasum Ahmed – all available for selection.Related

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Ireland look for sub-continent comfortIreland have played just six T20Is this year, which leaves them with a bit of a gap in form and experience. Chattogram has Bangladesh’s best batting conditions, which is good news for Ireland, who couldn’t quite get enough runs in the Dhaka and Sylhet Tests.Captain Paul Stirling will have to lead from the front, as he often does in Ireland colours. The likes of Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker and Curtis Campher provide the middle-order punch. Ireland will also hope to see runs from allrounders George Dockrell and Gareth Delany, while newcomers Ben Calitz and Tim Tector will no doubt look to soak in as much experience as possible.Consistency eludes BangladeshBangladesh captain Litton Das has to step up in the run-making as the batters look for consistency in T20Is. They haven’t had the best of times in 2025, particularly against West Indies last month, when they couldn’t chase modest targets in Chattogram.Saif Hassan is the man in form, as he fights for a position in the top order with Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain Emon. Bangladesh’s top order is exciting but they don’t often click together. The likes of Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali will mind the middle order, while Nurul Hasan has attempted plenty of shots in his return to the T20I side recently. The selectors have picked Mahidul Islam Ankon ahead of Shamim Hossain, in an attempt to rejig the No. 4 or 5 positions.Josh Little is back for Ireland in the T20I setup•ACBIreland bowlers know betterHaving played a role in the Test series, the likes of Matthew Humphreys, Barry McCarthy and Craig Young would have gained good knowledge and understanding of Bangladesh conditions. Seamers McCarthy and Young didn’t play the Dhaka Test but left-arm spinner Humphreys has looked far better as the tour has progressed.They will also welcome the addition of experienced bowlers like Mark Adair and Josh Little, who have past experience of playing in these conditions. Legspinner Ben White, too, has played in Bangladesh before, so Ireland can feel confident of possessing a handy bowling attack.Batting first more viable in ChattogramWest Indies found out last month that the Chattogram pitches have better bounce and movement in the second half of night games, despite the onset of dew after 8.00pm. They defended middling totals like 165 and 149, and later chased down 151 in the third game. Teams batting first will look to beat the average total of 155 from the October series. Bangladesh will also feel that they must end the year well, particularly this being their last T20I series ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Warwickshire win with three balls to spare after Jake Lintott’s quickfire 50 and contributions from Kai Smith, Rob Yates, Zen Malik and Hamza Shaikh

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay17-Aug-2025Warwickshire 310 for 7 (Lintott 50, Yates 47) beat Somerset 309 for 8 (Lammonby 100, Rew 81) by three wicketsTom Lammonby’s maiden List A century was not enough to save Somerset from a three-wicket Metro Bank One-Day Cup defeat by Warwickshire at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.The hosts posted 309 for 8 after losing the toss, opener Lammonby scoring 100 from 111 balls, with nine fours and two sixes. James Rew contributed 81, while younger brother Thomas made a rapid 41.In reply, Warwickshire reached 310 for 7 with three balls to spare, Taunton-born Jake Lintott ensuring victory with a quickfire 50 after important contributions from Kai Smith (45 not out), Rob Yates, Zen Malik and Hamza Shaikh.Somerset, who created a party atmosphere by arranging several events to mark their 150th anniversary season, made a solid start to their innings, Lammonby and Archie Vaughan taking the score to 42 in the 11th over before the latter was bowled for 20 attempting to drive a ball from Michael Booth.It was 69 for 2 when Lewis Goldsworthy was also bowled trying to slog-sweep Taz Ali in the young leg-spinner’s first over. But Lammonby was already looking in dangerous form as he moved confidently to a half-century off 65 balls.At the halfway stage of their innings, Somerset were 102 for 2. It was then that Lammonby and James Rew began to cut loose, the two left-handers delighting home supporters with some glorious stroke-play on both sides of the wicket in a partnership of 143 in 21.2 overs. Both cleared the ropes in the same over from off-spinner Yates.Skipper Rew cruised to a 46-ball fifty, with five fours and two sixes before Lammonby reached three figures with a single to the leg side off Oliver Hannon-Dalby. It was an innings of numerous sweetly-timed cover drives and very few errors.The scoreboard read 212 for 3 in the 38th over. Without a run added Lammonby top-edged a pull shot off a slower-ball bouncer from Ed Barnard to be caught at short fine leg. Rew quickly followed, bowled aiming across the line to a ball from Booth having faced 69 deliveries, and Somerset’s hopes of reaching 300 looked in jeopardy.They got there thanks to some quality hitting from Thomas Rew, including two reverse-swept sixes in the same Ali over, and a career-best 30 not out from Alfie Ogborne off just 16 balls. Josh Thomas, Ben Green and Jack Leach fell cheaply, but JT Langridge cracked 11 off four balls to end the innings with a flourish.Warwickshire’s reply had reached 36 when Ogborne struck with the last ball of the sixth over, Barnard pinned lbw on the back foot for 14.Batting was looking straightforward in the bright sunshine as Yates and Malik brought the hundred up in the 17th over. Yates had moved comfortably to 47 off 52 balls when caught behind looking to drive Green, who struck again soon afterwards when Malik offered a low return catch, having hit six fours and a six in moving smoothly to 44.It continued to be Lammonby’s day when his left-arm seam accounted for Alex Davies, who edged a pull shot through to wicketkeeper James Rew having made 17. At halfway in their innings, Warwickshire were 144 for four.Shaikh and Smith looked to be tilting things the way of the visitors with a solid half-century stand, but Shaikh became their third player to fall in the forties when caught behind off Langridge to make it 205 for 5 with the required run-rate around eight an over.Vaansh Jani pulled a flat six off Ogborne, who responded by having him caught by the diving James Rew in the same over. That brought in Lintott, who wasted no time clearing the ropes off Green.Smith was content to play a supporting role in a match-clinching stand of 65 in 8.1 overs, which saw Lintot race to a maiden List A fifty off 34 balls, with seven fours and a six, before falling with just two runs needed.

Former Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema has heaped praise on Kylian Mbappe's performance, but at the same time, he has acknowledged that he needs more support from his teammates. After emerging as the top goal-scorer in La Liga last term, the French forward has been in steaming form this season, already topping the scoring charts.

Mbappe's sublime form this season

Mbappe has been the torch-bearer for Madrid this season, almost single-handedly carrying Los Blancos with his 18 goals in 16 games. A mainstay in the team since his arrival in 2024, he has been the most important player, at first for Carlo Ancelotti and now for Xabi Alonso. With Madrid targeting a clean sweep of trophies after missing out on all major silverware last term, Benzema says it is up to the rest to step up and combine with last season's La Liga top scorer.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWhat did Benzema say?

Benzema, himself a former Real Madrid striker, someone who has scored 354 goals in 648 matches for the club, has praised Mbappe for his deeds, but believes he requires additional support to fire more. "Mbappe is much better this season; scoring goals isn’t new to him," Benzema said. "He did it at PSG, and at Real Madrid he’s going to score many more. What we expect from Kylian is that when he gets the chance, he’ll score it. That’s how Real Madrid is."

The former French international has also urged Mbappe to combine with Brazilian counterpart Vinicius Jr, saying: "Real Madrid need him a lot, and there are games where he has to score, like vs Atletico Madrid, Liverpool. These are teams that sit back, and he has to step up, work those situations. He has to combine with Vini Jr. Real Madrid is waiting for Mbappe for these moments, to bring home the Champions League. I think he can do it with the other players. He can’t do it alone. He needs Vini Jr, other players… that’s just how it is. I think Vini Jr, Mbappe, Rodrygo (even though he doesn’t play much), Bellingham… they have to communicate. One is there to score goals, another to provide assists."

Benzema's advice to Jude Bellingham

After a rough patch, Jude Bellingham is slowly regaining his lost goal-scoring form, which is partly to be blamed to his shoulder injury and the tactical shift at Madrid under Alonso. Since his return from injury in mid-September, the English midfielder has secured three goals, including the match-winning effort against Juventus in the Champions League, and one assist. Benzema said: "We’re not going to tell Bellingham to score goals because that’s Mbappe’s job, nor are we going to tell him to be the number 10 because that’s Bellingham’s role. They need to talk. He’s now better, but he needs to focus more on these moments when Real Madrid needs him because he has everything he needs to do it."

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Getty Images SportWhen do Real Madrid return to the pitch?

Alonso's contingent will be back in the mix on November 23, against Elche. However, until December 7, they will be playing on the road. They recently witnessed a transformation of the Bernabeu, which hosted the first-ever NFL game in Spain. Their home matches were kept waiting due to this mega-event, but on December 7, they will return to home soil to play against Celta Vigo in the domestic league. In between, they have fixtures against Olympiacos (November 26), Girona (November 30) and Athletic Club (December 3).

Team-mates and opposition players pay tribute to one of the best allrounders of the modern era after his retirement announcement

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Dec-2024

Ashwin, I’ve always admired how you approached the game with your mind and heart in perfect sync. From perfecting the carrom ball to contributing crucial runs, you always found a way to win.
Watching you grow from a promising talent to one of India’s finest match-winners has been… pic.twitter.com/XawHfacaUh

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 18, 2024