Ishan Kishan credited a "perfect wicket and situation" after he smashed the fastest-ever ODI double century in India's 227-run win over Bangladesh on Saturday.
Bangladesh had already secured series victory by winning the first two ODIs, but Kishan's 210 off 131 deliveries helped India to save some face ahead of the teams' Test series later in December.
Kishan reached his double century off just 126 balls, beating Chris Gayle's previous record of a double ton off 138 balls against Zimbabwe during the 2015 World Cup.
Kishan and Virat Kohli combined for a huge second-wicket partnership of 290 as India set Bangladesh 410 to win, a target they fell well short of as they were bowled out for 182, mustering 28 runs fewer than Kishan did on his own.
Kishan was understandably delighted after the match, saying in the post-match presentations: "It was a perfect wicket and situation to bat on.
"I was just looking to watch the ball properly, and go with the flow. At this level, whenever you get the chance, you need to make the most out of it. I was just picking the ball and the bowlers, and things were going my way!"
India captain Rohit Sharma missed the third ODI after injuring his thumb during the second match, as KL Rahul stepped in to skipper the team.
Rahul praised Kishan's attacking mentality, and acknowledged the significance of the consolation victory as the teams look ahead to the Test series starting on December 14.
"It was brilliant to see how Virat and Ishan batted," Rahul declared. "The way Kishan started, he was looking aggressive from ball one.
"He got an opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. Getting a double hundred in ODIs isn't done often.
"There are a few injury concerns, but that gives opportunity to guys. We'll try and carry this confidence and momentum into the Tests."
Bangladesh captain Litton Das commended the innings of Kishan and Kohli, adding: "Ishan and Virat batted really well. Hats off to Ishan.
"We tried our best, but we didn't find any solution. If the score would have been 330, 340, it would have been a different ball game.
"They are a good side, and we played good cricket for two games."
Darvin Ham credited the Los Angeles Lakers' resolve after they fell to a 133-122 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers, praising his team for refusing to fold.
The Lakers fought back multiple times over the course of the game to ultimately force overtime at 120 apiece, before their hosts eked out victory at the Wells Fargo Center.
A 31-point haul for Anthony Davis, aided by 25 for Austin Reaves and 23 for LeBron James, was not enough for the Lakers to stave off a third consecutive defeat.
However, Ham was in a bullish mood when quizzed on his team's performance, saying there were plenty of positives to take away despite their stinging reverse.
"We can get better from this," he stated. "I told the team, as disappointed as I am that we didn't get the win, I still can have a good meal and sleep like a baby tonight because of the way we competed.
"We did not quit, we did not give up. There was a point in the game where we could've just folded our tent.
"But we kept scratching away, kept digging deep, kept making plays one stop after another one and put ourselves in a position to win the game."
Meanwhile, 76ers coach Doc Rivers said his side rallied well to seize victory after letting their initial lead slip on several occasions.
"We will take the win," he added. "Usually when you give up a lead like that, to gather yourself and play well in overtime is rare."
The Lakers will round off their road stretch against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, before heading home to face the Boston Celtics.
Ishan Kishan smashed the fastest double century in ODI history as India secured a 227-run consolation triumph over Bangladesh in Chattogram on Saturday.
Bangladesh had already secured series victory by winning the first two ODIs, but India demolished them in the third meeting to restore some pride ahead of the teams' Test series later this month.
Kishan was the star man for India with his record innings, taking just 126 balls to hit 200 runs as he ultimately finished with 210 off 131 deliveries, smashing 10 sixes in an astonishing knock.
He formed a huge second-wicket partnership of 290 with Virat Kohli, who made his first ODI century since 2019 as he ended with an impressive 113 off 91 balls.
Washington Sundar (37) and Axar Patel (20) also made cameos as India finished on a massive total of 409-8.
Bangladesh's chase of their monster 410 target got off to a steady start, but the dismissals of openers Anamul Haque and Litton Das soon killed any momentum and the innings quickly derailed.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Yasir Ali both fell to leave Bangladesh 107-4, before the wickets started tumbling more rapidly as they lost five more batters to sit at nine down in the 30th over, with Shardul Thakur taking 3-30.
When Mustafizur Rahman (13) was bowled by Umran Malik, it meant India had ended the series with a thumping win.
Kishan's historic double century
Kishan, replacing the injured captain Rohit Sharma, came into the match with a career-high ODI score of 93.
But he has now become just the ninth man to hit an ODI double ton, and in emphatic fashion too as he beat Chris Gayle's previous men's record of a double century off 138 balls against Zimbabwe in 2015.
At 24-years-old, he is also the youngest man to hit 200 in an ODI as his 24 fours in addition to the 10 maximums to help India set Bangladesh an insurmountable target.
Kishan finished with 28 more runs individually than India's opponents could muster in their disappointing chase.
Kohli an important sidekick to Kishan
The second-wicket partnership of Kohli and Kishan was the seventh-highest in men's ODI history and played an important part, considering Sundar was India's third-highest run scorer with just 37.
It was Kohli's 44th ton in the format and 72nd across all internationals, moving him above Ricky Ponting into second overall. Only compatriot Sachin Tendulkar has more with 100.
Cristiano Ronaldo was named on Portugal's bench again as Fernando Santos stuck with Goncalo Ramos for the World Cup quarter-final against Morocco.
Ronaldo was dropped to the bench for Portugal's last-16 tie with Switzerland on Tuesday, and Santos' decision was rewarded as his side cruised to a 6-1 victory.
Benfica striker Ramos, Ronaldo's replacement in the starting XI, repaid his coach's faith by scoring a hat-trick and getting an assist, and he retained his place in the team on Saturday at Al Thumama Stadium.
Santos made just one change to the team that beat Switzerland, bringing in Ruben Neves for William Carvalho in midfield.
That meant Manchester City's Joao Cancelo also remained on the bench, with Diogo Dalot preferred at right-back and Raphael Guerreiro keeping his place on the left.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui was forced into two changes, with key defenders Noussair Mazraoui and Nayef Aguerd unavailable. Yahia Attiyat Allah and Jawad El Yamiq came in for the duo.
The Atlas Lions are appearing in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, while they are just the fourth African side to reach the last eight in the tournament's history.
Scott Boland claimed a spectacular triple wicket maiden to leave Australia on the brink of a 2-0 series victory over West Indies at the Adelaide Oval.
Mitchell Starc also claimed a wicket to leave West Indies on 38-4 in their second innings and needing an improbable 459 runs to avoid defeat on Sunday.
West Indies resumed play on day three on 102-4 and got off to a poor start when shining light Tagenarine Chanderpaul (47) was run-out by Starc.
Jason Holder (0) then edged Starc behind and, while Anderson Phillip (43) and Joshua da Silva (23) put together a 60-run seventh-wicket stand, the Windies soon faded again.
The tourists reached 214, and Australia then built up a seemingly unsurmountable lead as they posted 199-6 declared in their second innings and sent their opponents back in to bat.
Usman Khawaja top-scored with 45 off 50 balls for Australia, while Marnus Labuschagne (31), Steve Smith (35) and Travis Head (38 not out) all contributed in a rapid 31-over innings from Australia.
West Indies' opening batters were 15-0 off five overs when Smith brought in Boland, who took the wicket of Kraigg Braithwaite (3) off his first ball.
Boland then trapped Shamarh Brooks (0) in front with a ball that nipped back into the right-hanger from his third delivery, before snaring Jermaine Blackwood (0) with his sixth.
Chanderpaul did not fare much better as he was dismissed for a second time in the day three overs later for 17 when caught by Alex Carey off the bowling of Starc.
Labuschagne adds further misery
West Indies are winless in their past 18 Tests against Australia since 2003 and they have not had many – if any – worse days across that run than Saturday.
They lost 10 wickets for 150 runs across two innings, either side of Australia piling another 199, with Labuschagne's 31 taking him to 502 runs from his four innings – the sixth-most scored in a two-Test series.
Boland rips through Windies
Boland famously took 6-7 against England on his Test debut in last year's Ashes and he produced a display that was equally as ruthless here.
The 33-year-old, making just his fourth Test outing, claimed 3-9 off 5.2 overs bowled and now has a bowling average 9.81 for his 21 wickets.
Jack Leach says he "never thought" he would reach 100 Test wickets after bringing up a century during England's second Test against Pakistan.
The spinner crossed the mark with figures of 4-98 in Multan as the tourists forced a collapse from the hosts to bowl them all out for 202 on the second day.
Half-centuries for Ben Duckett and Harry Brook saw England reach stumps with a lead of 281, pushing them closer to a series victory on their first red-ball visit to the country since 2005.
Leach, who made his debut in 2018, has played 31 Tests for England, but remains surprised to have reached the magic milestone, given his struggles with Crohn's disease and other matters limiting his game.
"I never thought that would happen," he told Sky Sports.
"It's crazy to think I've got 100 wickets in Test matches just because of how difficult I've found it at times.
"But then you realise there have been some good moments along the way, you do some good things. I definitely feel like I'm getting better as I play more, so that's pleasing."
Having seen Pakistan set off in pursuit of what looked like it would be a high first-innings total, Leach's spell with ball in hand was crucial to preventing fast progress and ensuring a lead for England.
"On these wickets, it's about being as patient as you can between those [sharply turning] deliveries," he added.
"It's something I'll try to do better in the next innings, to patiently go about my work.
"There's a bit more happening than in Rawalpindi so it is just looking to be patient and work your way through. It's really difficult.
"I think it's been a really good day for us. [We'll] look to get a few more [runs] tomorrow, then have another go at them. They [the England batters] played really, really well and put us in a good position."
England took a firm grip on the second Test in Multan despite Abrar Ahmed wrapping up a 10-wicket haul on his Pakistan debut.
Ben Duckett's second half-century of the match and another fine knock from Harry Brook put the tourists on top, leading by 281 runs at the end of day two with five second-innings wickets standing.
Pakistan began the day on 107-2 but crumbled once the third-wicket alliance between Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel came to an end. Babar was bowled for 75 by Ollie Robinson, with the team score on 142, and Shakeel soon followed for 63, fourth man down.
That wicket went to Jack Leach, with James Anderson taking a terrific catch at mid-on to give the England spinner a 100th Test scalp. It was Leach's second wicket of the innings and he went on to take 4-98 as England raced through the tail, knocking over Pakistan for 202.
Armed with a first-innings lead of 79, England had ample time to build on that advantage and set about their task knowing Abrar was the chief threat, after taking seven wickets on Friday.
He was at it again, removing three batters to become just the second Pakistan bowler to take a 10-wicket Test haul on debut and grabbing an early run-out to boot, with a direct hit removing Zak Crawley.
Crawley's opening partner Duckett made 79 before being bowled by an Abrar grubber, with Brook standing defiant on 74 at stumps as England ended the day on 202-5, with captain Ben Stokes 16 not out.
Abrar goes it alone again
He took the first seven wickets in England's first innings, before Zahid Mahmood mopped up the tail, and Abrar was the chief threat once more on Saturday. He was the only bowler to strike, ending the day with 3-81 after delivering 21 of the 49 overs in England's innings so far. The other dismissals were both run-outs.
Duckett chasing perfection
Stuart Broad, analysing for Sky Sports, described it as a "perfect day" for England. For Duckett, this tour has been a game-changer, coming six years after he last featured in the Test side.
Back-to-back fifties in this game should now fortify his position in the team. He made a century and a duck in England's win in the first Test, but this ranks as progress beyond that, as his highest aggregate runs haul in a Test to date (142). He would be unhappy with how he got out, though, so perhaps the day was not entirely "perfect".
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic insists his team will have no reason to "fear" Lionel Messi in the World Cup semi-finals if they repeat the defensive approach that limited Neymar's influence against Brazil.
A 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over the Selecao on Friday following a 1-1 draw after extra time at Education City Stadium secured Croatia successive World Cup semi-final appearances.
Neymar did give Brazil the lead in the first half of extra time at the end of a brilliant move, before Bruno Petkovic's deflected strike took the game to penalties.
But Brazil's talisman otherwise struggled to penetrate the Croatian defence.
Occupying a slightly more central position inside Vinicius Junior on the left, the two players managed just one key pass and five completed dribbles out of 14 between them as Mario Pasalic, Josip Juranovic and Luka Modric worked tirelessly to pressure them.
Life will not get much easier for Croatia in their next game as they face Messi and Argentina, though Dalic is confident in their ability to keep him quiet.
"We need to guard against Messi, but not in a player-on-player style, as we didn't [do that] in our last meeting," he said.
"We know how much he runs, how much he likes to play with the ball at his feet and the key to our defensive phase will be discipline.
"If we repeat the same thing as against Brazil, which is that we are close [to him], that we stand by the player, we have nothing to fear."
Dalic was keen to stress Messi cannot be their sole focus.
However, he believes Croatia should be able to take encouragement from Argentina's struggles against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
The Albiceleste were 2-0 up against the Oranje before being pegged back by Wout Weghorst's brace, forcing extra time and subsequent penalties.
Argentina came through the shoot-out successfully, though in Dalic's mind they clearly are not bulletproof.
"We will make a detailed analysis of [Argentina] because we have not been so focused on them so far," he said.
"Messi is still their main player, who plays great and carries this national team. They also have some young, talented players and they look very dangerous.
"However, they showed they are vulnerable because they led 2-0 against the Netherlands, and in the end they barely reached penalties at 2-2.
"It's up to us to give our best and go into the game one hundred percent focused."
Lionel Messi was motivated to lead Argentina past the Netherlands due to feeling "a little attacked" by Louis van Gaal's pre-match comments, Lionel Scaloni said.
Messi is enjoying an outstanding World Cup and continued in that vein on Friday as he scored one and created another in a 2-2 quarter-final draw with the Netherlands.
Argentina advanced after a penalty shoot-out, recovering after Wout Weghorst's dramatic double had denied them victory in normal time.
There had predictably been plenty of focus on Messi heading into the match, with Netherlands coach Van Gaal suggesting Argentina were relying too heavily on their captain in attack while he would not be asked to defend.
Messi appeared to gesture in Van Gaal's direction on multiple occasions, including after scoring, cupping his ears in an apparent reference to Juan Roman Riquelme's own celebration.
Van Gaal and Riquelme were at odds during their time together at Messi's former club Barcelona.
"I'm not going to give Van Gaal advice, but it's not easy to make [Messi] play angry," Argentina coach Scaloni told TyC Sports.
"I don't know if he was angry, but to make him play the way he played today... it's exciting.
"These are things that happen on the pitch and stay there. But we didn't play with one less when we didn't have the ball, we played with 11.
"I think with Leo he felt a little attacked and showed that he is the best of all time. We are happy to have him."
After a last-16 win over Australia, in which Messi was similarly influential, team-mate Alexis Mac Allister had explained how the legendary forward was inspired to perform.
Messi was involved in a confrontation with Australia's Aziz Behich moments before scoring his first World Cup knockout goal.
"Leo, when these things happen, he brings out that inner fire that he has, that personality that makes him even bigger than he is," Mac Allister told reporters.
Jordan Pickford has been practising penalties ahead of England's World Cup quarter-final against France and is more than willing to step up and take one if required.
The 28-year-old has been in inspired form for England across their four games in Qatar so far, keeping three clean sheets in a row and conceding just twice all tournament.
After finishing top of Group B and overcoming Senegal 3-0 in the last 16, the Three Lions now face a mouthwatering showdown with France at Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday.
Friday's two quarter-finals went to penalties, with Croatia eliminating Brazil and Argentina defeating the Netherlands, and Pickford is prepared for England's tie to go the distance.
"You have to be ready for anything. You can't not practise them, you can't just go in and think 'I'll be alright'," Pickford said.
"I have to be prepared to take one and be prepared to save one.
"If it comes down to it I'll step up and take one, but it's not my call. It's the manager's call and the backroom staff."
England have a chequered history when it comes to penalty shoot-outs, though Pickford has won two out of three during his time as the Three Lions' number one.
The Everton keeper saved two of the five penalties he faced in last year's Euro 2020 final against Italy, though it was not enough to prevent England falling to a 3-2 shoot-out loss.
"For me, penalty shoot-outs, I've got my same process which I do all the time," Pickford added. "In each individual penalty I'm facing, I will do the same thing.
"I don't change my process and hopefully I go the right way and execute the save. You can do research but it's about executing your process, your dive on the night.
"They've got their process as a penalty taker, and as a goalkeeper I've got my process. It's whoever comes out on top on that individual penalty."
England have been eliminated from six of their past eight World Cup knockout matches against fellow European nations.
By contrast, France have progressed from eight of their past 10 World Cup knockout matches against European opposition, including third-place play-offs and finals.
Neymar condemned his former agent Wagner Ribeiro for claiming Brazil boss Tite was never fit for office and "spent years deceiving the people".
The criticism followed Brazil's World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Croatia, who stunned the Selecao in a penalty shoot-out on Friday after a 1-1 draw.
Defeat marked the end of Tite's six-and-a-half-year tenure as Brazil head coach, with the 61-year-old confirming his "cycle is over" following the game.
Ribeiro posted a picture of Tite on Instagram, and wrote: "This man was never a football coach. He spent years deceiving the people, losing 2 cups.
"He's only fit to be the valedictorian of the graduating class."
That prompted an angered response from Neymar, who snapped back: "Don't talk s*** Wagner!"
Tite always planned to step down after the World Cup, regardless of how Brazil got on in Qatar. He announced that intention in February, and Brazil proved unable to live up to their billing as trophy favourites.
Neymar scored a sublime goal in extra time against Croatia to give Brazil the lead, only for Bruno Petkovic's deflected shot to pull the 2018 World Cup runners-up level.
Tite was a serial trophy winner at club level with the likes of Internacional and Corinthians, and he led Brazil to the Copa America title in 2019, although they relinquished their hold on that trophy last year when losing to Argentina in the final.
Manuel Neuer will miss the rest of the season for Bayern Munich after suffering a broken leg while on holiday.
Manuel Neuer will miss the rest of the season for Bayern Munich after suffering a broken leg while on holiday.
The Bayern and Germany goalkeeper sustained a lower leg fracture while skiing on holiday after his national team were knocked out of the World Cup in Qatar at the group stage.
Neuer revealed he had undergone surgery on Friday, updating supporters in a post on social media, while confirming he will be absent for the rest of the campaign.
The injury will come as a big blow to Bayern, who are through to the Champions League knockout stages and lead the Bundesliga standings.
In a post on his Instagram feed on Saturday, Neuer said: "What can I say, the end of the year could have definitely gone better.
"While I was trying to get my head clear while ski touring, I suffered a lower leg fracture.
"Yesterday's surgery went well. Many thanks to the doctors!
"However, it hurts to know that the current season is over for me."
Neuer has kept four clean sheets in 12 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern this season, helping them to a four-point advantage at the top of the table heading into the World Cup break.
The 36-year-old also played three times in the Champions League as the German giants won all six of their group matches, setting up a clash with Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.
Bayern are due to return to competitive action on January 20, when they will travel to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
Sven Ulreich will likely be the man between the sticks for that match, having deputised three times for Neuer in the Champions League while also making three league appearances.
Lionel Messi accused Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal of showing "disrespect" before Argentina ended the Netherlands' World Cup hopes in Friday's dramatic quarter-final.
Van Gaal, remembering the 2014 semi-final between the teams, said ahead of Friday's game: "Eight years ago at the World Cup in Brazil, we succeeded well in neutralising Messi. He didn't hit a ball then."
That comment may have been one of the issues that upset Messi, while Argentina were also fired up by suggestions the Netherlands fancied themselves if the game came down to a penalty shoot-out.
The 2014 match finished goalless, with Argentina triumphing on penalties before losing to Germany in the final, but this time the Netherlands supposedly liked their chances on spot-kicks.
As it happened, a roller coaster game at Lusail Stadium did come down to a shoot-out, and Argentina won through once again to book a semi-final against Croatia.
Messi was rankled by the Dutch approach in the game, which saw Argentina's 2-0 lead reeled in after the Netherlands bombarded the Albiceleste penalty area with high balls in the closing stages.
Quoted by ESPN, Messi said: "I feel disrespected by Van Gaal after his pre-game comments and some Dutch players spoke too much during the game.
"Van Gaal sells that he plays good football and then he puts forwards in the box and starts throwing long balls. We deserved to go through and that's what happened."
Reports have also claimed that when Messi approached Van Gaal and Dutch assistant coach Edgar Davids after the game, he was complaining the Netherlands boss had too much to say, and his hand gesturing suggested as much.
Van Gaal's direct intentions were made clear when he brought on Wout Weghorst for Memphis Depay in the 78th minute, and the 6ft 5in striker made a major impact against the Argentina defence.
He headed in to cut the deficit, then scored from a sublimely worked free-kick that deceived Argentina, with his equaliser in normal time coming after 100 minutes and 30 seconds, the latest World Cup knockout stage goal on record, since Opta has exact goal times (from 1966).
Weghorst became the first substitute to score twice in a World Cup match for the Netherlands, and he apparently departed with another souvenir: a tongue-lashing from Messi.
"What are you looking at, fool?" Messi said to somebody off-camera before a TV interview with TyC Sports. That bystander has been identified by the Argentina broadcaster as having been Weghorst.
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