Sports
Champions Trophy: Markram Notes the Wicket Was Slower Than Anticipated, but the Team Adapted Effectively

After South Africa secured a spot in the semifinals of the 2025 Champions Trophy with a seven-wicket triumph over England, captain Aiden Markram remarked that the team adapted remarkably well to the slower-than-anticipated pitch conditions. With their victory at the National Stadium, South Africa topped Group B, spearheaded by pace all-rounders Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen, who each took three wickets, dismissing England for a meager 179 all out in 38.2 overs.
The chase was anchored by Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen, who scored 72 not out and 64 runs, respectively, forming a solid partnership of 127 runs off 122 balls as South Africa completed the run chase in just 29.1 overs.
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“I thought the boys performed excellently,” Markram said during the post-match presentation. “The wicket was quite slow, slower than we anticipated. The team adapted really well and focused on maintaining a consistent length. We were able to take wickets throughout the innings.” Markram, who exited the field with a precautionary hamstring niggle, added pride in his team’s performance.
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Regarding the performances of Jansen and Klaasen, Markram stated, “He’s been crucial for us. We all recognize that in the power-play, particularly in these conditions, early wickets are vital. He is peaking at just the right moment for us. It’s always a pleasure to see Klaasen out there; he has been in phenomenal form for many months now.”
When asked if there might be a shift in strategy if South Africa faces India in the semifinals in Dubai, Markram replied, “We’ll assess the situation based on conditions if it comes to that. We have a strong squad with numerous options. Whatever role each player is assigned, Temba supports them alongside the coach.”
Jansen, awarded Player of the Match for dismissing Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, and Ben Duckett in the power-play, expressed satisfaction with his performance: “It feels great. The team worked extremely hard. Bowling in these conditions is not easy, but I’m pleased with how it turned out. There was no swing, which was disappointing, but overall I’m happy with my display.”
When asked about his exceptional catches, including one of Harry Brook, Jansen shared, “I simply saw the ball go up and didn’t overthink it. I aimed to get as close to the ball as possible and managed to get there easily. Right now, I just want to get some rest! We’ll take tomorrow as it comes, but for now, we’ll savor this win.”
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Sports
Jatinder Singh Excels in Super Over as Oman Narrowly Defeats USA in Exciting League 2 Showdown

Oman triumphed over the United States in an electrifying Super Over match on Wednesday at Lauderhill, as reported on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) official website. Captain Jatinder Singh was instrumental in securing the victory.
Jatinder played a pivotal role by scoring a century, bringing Oman to a total of 266, a score that the USA managed to match. He returned for the extra over to deliver the crucial hit that secured Oman third place in the League 2 rankings.
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The experienced right-hander led Oman’s innings after the USA skipper, Monank Patel, elected to bowl first. Jatinder scored 100 runs off 101 balls before being dismissed in the 41st over. Despite Oman appearing to have set a defendable target, Jasdeep Singh’s late effort of 17 runs from the final six balls forced a Super Over.
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In the Super Over, Jatinder hit 12 runs off the first three balls, leading Oman to victory, while the USA, represented by Harmeet Singh and Andries Gous, scored only 13 runs.
With this win, the USA remains in second place in the League 2 rankings, while Oman moves ahead of Scotland to secure third place.
Oman will next face Canada on Friday at the same venue in Lauderhill.
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Sports
Woakes Returns as Rocky Flintoff Joins 14-Member England Lions Squad to Challenge India A

The England Lions have unveiled a robust 14-member squad for their two upcoming four-day matches against India A, commencing May 30 in Canterbury. The selection boasts a blend of seasoned players, promising youth, and some intriguing picks.
Leading the announcement is the return of veteran pacer Chris Woakes and the maiden call-up for Rocky Flintoff, son of former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.
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Woakes, 36, who missed the one-off Test against Zimbabwe due to an ankle injury, aims to use the Lions fixtures to showcase his fitness and form ahead of the senior team’s Test series against India in June.
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Having excelled in last summer’s Ashes series with 19 wickets at an impressive average of 18.15—securing the Compton-Miller Medal—Woakes is a pivotal player under English conditions. However, with younger seamers like Essex’s Sam Cook making a push for selection, these matches could be essential for him to maintain his place in the senior team.
The Lions will be captained by Somerset’s James Rew, who is also part of the senior squad for the Zimbabwe Test starting May 22. Rew will lead a vibrant group, which includes legspinner Rehan Ahmed—available only for the first match before joining the T20I squad for the West Indies—and talented top-order batter Dan Mousley.
One of the standout selections is Rocky Flintoff, the son of Ashes 2005 hero Andrew Flintoff. The squad also features left-arm fast bowler Josh Hull, who made his England debut last summer against Sri Lanka, and opener Ben McKinney, a former England U-19 player looking to climb higher.
Another notable inclusion is Farhan Ahmed, younger brother of Rehan, who has earned his place thanks to impressive performances for Nottinghamshire with his off-spin bowling.
Jordan Cox is expected to return for the second match in Northampton after being sidelined for the Zimbabwe Test due to injury, while Jofra Archer will not be participating. Initially considered for the second match at Wantage Road, Archer is out due to a right-thumb injury sustained during the IPL.
England Lions Squad: James Rew (Captain), Farhan Ahmed, Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Jordan Cox, Rocky Flintoff, Emilio Gay, Tom Haines, George Hill, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben McKinney, Dan Mousley, Ajeet Singh Dale, Chris Woakes.
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Sports
Mukesh Kumar of DC Fined for Violating IPL Code of Conduct

Mukesh Kumar, a pace bowler for the Delhi Capitals, was fined 10% of his match earnings following his team’s loss to the Mumbai Indians, which officially ended their hopes of advancing to the IPL 2025 playoffs, according to ESPNcricinfo.
He was found guilty of a Level 1 breach under Article 2.2 of the IPL Code of Conduct, relating to the improper handling of cricketing equipment during the match. Kumar accepted the penalty imposed by match referee Daniel Manohar and acknowledged the charge.
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In Wednesday’s match, Kumar struggled with his bowling, giving away 48 runs in his four overs, which included three sixes and five boundaries. Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir scored a staggering 27 runs in his 19th over, playing a crucial role in setting Mumbai’s total to a strong 180. Kumar’s figures ended at 2/48, with that over going for 6, 1, 4, 6, 6, and 4.
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The Delhi batting lineup faltered, managing just 121 runs after Kumar was substituted for KL Rahul as the impact player during the chase. Only two uncapped players, Vipraj Nigam (20) and Sameer Rizvi (39), managed to cross the 20-run mark. Mumbai’s bowlers, particularly Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Santner, were impressive, combining to take three wickets while conceding just 23 runs in 44 deliveries.
Season-wise, Kumar has played in 11 of DC’s 13 matches, claiming 11 wickets. However, his performance has been costly, with an economy rate of 10.11 and an average of 32.63 runs. Following Mumbai’s victory, the playoff spots are locked in for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, and Punjab Kings, leaving the rankings of these four teams to be determined in their final group stage matches.
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