South Africa are hurting after their T20 World Cup final defeat to India, but captain Aidan Markram said his team must be immensely proud of their efforts.
The Proteas needed 30 runs from as many deliveries to clinch the title in Barbados on Saturday.
Instead, the wickets tumbled as India won by seven runs to secure the crown for the first time since 2007.
It was a case of so close, but so far for South Africa, who were playing in their first T20 World Cup semi-final.
While the manner of the defeat stung, Markram refused to be too downbeat.
"I think it'll take some time for us to have a really good reflection on a really good campaign that we've had," Markram said.
"Obviously for the time being, it hurts quite a bit, but having said that, still incredibly proud of this group of players and everyone that's involved in this team.
"A really good game of cricket, so on all fronts, really chuffed with the guys today. Not great to [not] get over the line, but incredibly proud of this group of people that we've got going here in our white-ball squad.
"We got into a great position, which proves that we were worthy finalists and could have won the game today. Unfortunately didn't, but still incredibly proud of the group."
India became only the third team to win the T20 World Cuo more than once, after West Indies (2012 and 2016) and England (2010 and 2022).
Allen’s 2-33 not enough as Jaffna Kings go down by five wickets to Galle Marvels in Lanka Premier League
A solid bowling effort from West Indian all-rounder Fabian Allen was not enough to prevent the Jaffna Kings from going sown by five wickets to the Galle Marvels in match two of the 2024 Lanka Premier League at the Pallekele International Stadium on Tuesday.
The Kings, after winning the toss and batting first, posted 177-7 from their 20 overs.
Avishka Fernando was the main contributor for the three-time champions with 59 from 48 balls while Pathum Nissanka hit 51 off 33 balls.
Fernando’s innings included seven fours and a six while Nissanka hit six fours and two sixes.
Captain Charith Asalanka also contributed a 15-ball 33 against 3-34 off four overs from Zahoor Khan and 2-23 from four overs from Dwayne Pretorius.
The Marvels then used all of the 120 balls available to them to successfully chase down their target.
Alex Hales led the way with 65 off 47 balls including seven fours and two sixes while Captain Niroshan Dickwella made 47 off 27 balls including eight fours and a six as Galle reached 179-5 off 20 overs.
Janith Liyanage also made a crucial 13-ball 25 for Galle. It eventually came down to them needing three runs off the last ball, a ball that Sahan Arachchige hit for four to seal the win.
Fabian Allen took 2-33 from his four overs for the Kings.
Full Scores:
Jaffna Kings 177-7 off 20 overs (Avishka Fernando 59, Pathum Nissanka 51, Charith Asalanka 33, Zahoor Khan 3-34, Dwayne Pretorius 2-23)
Galle Marvels 179-5 off 20 overs (Alex Hales 65, Niroshan Dickwella 47, Janith Liyanage 25, Fabian Allen 2-33, Avishka Fernando 2-40)
Beryl puts lid on CWI U-19 Rising Stars tournaments after wreaking havoc in Eastern Caribbean
As hurricane Beryl continues to wreak havoc across the Caribbean, the West Indies Under-19 men’s and women’s Rising Stars tournaments have been placed on hold as host nations Trinidad and Tobago and St Vincent and the Grenadines suffered blows from the category four system.
Both tournaments are scheduled to start on Tuesday, but given the effects of Beryl, organisers were forced to shelf previous plans as they continue to assess the situation where travels and other logistical issues are concerned.
In fact, CWI vice president Azim Bassarath highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the tournament.
“Nothing as yet. We don’t know what is the situation with flights coming out of the different islands after Beryl. So, it (the tournament) is on hold until everything returns to normalcy,” he told T&T Newsday.
Jamaica won both Under-19 men's title last year.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Under-19 men’s team were set to depart their shores for St Vincent on Sunday. However, flights were cancelled throughout the Caribbean.
Up to late Monday, Trinidad and Tobago’s manager Kerwin John pointed out that they did not get any word from CWI on the tournament’s status.
“We are still at home. We have not travelled to St Vincent as yet, as the flight yesterday (Sunday) was cancelled from T&T to Barbados and Barbados to St Vincent. We are waiting on the cricket board to say when is that rescheduled flight,” John stated.
St Vincent and the Grenadines’ National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) reported significant damage to properties on Monday, with Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves revealing that the islands are still under a tropical storm warning.
“We have begun to receive heartbreaking reports out of the Union Island and the southern Grenadines, even as our agencies desperately attempt to re-establish communications with certain sections and ascertain the extent of the damage to the mainland,” the Prime Minister shared in a social media post.
T&T Under-19 women's team.
Meanwhile, Nadra Dwarika-Baptiste, manager of Trinidad and Tobago’s Under-19 women’s team said they were expected to get an update soon.
Barbados and Windward Island women’s teams are already in the twin island republic as they recently engaged the host in a tri-series in preparation for the CWI tournament.
“I know the teams are represented but I can’t say if everyone is here. We haven’t been in a setting to see if everyone is present. We have not gotten anything yet, but we do expect some meetings by this afternoon,” she said in an interview T&T Newsday.
Jamaica, Leeward Islands, and Guyana are the other teams for the women’s tournament that was initially scheduled for July 2-July 13.
The men’s competition also has six teams down to vie for the three-day, and 50-over titles.
Jamaica’s men’s under-19 team won both titles last year.
Shanaka stars to lead Kandy Falcons to six-wicket win over Dambulla Sixers to kick off 2024 Lanka Premier League
Andre Fletcher’s Kandy Falcons opened the 2024 Lanka Premier League season with a six-wicket win over the Dambulla Sixers at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Monday.
The Sixers, after being put in to bat by the Falcons, first posted a respectable 179-4 from their 20 overs.
New Zealand’s Mark Chapman led the way with an excellent unbeaten 91* off 61 balls including eight fours and four sixes while Chamindu Wickramsinghe provided excellent support with 62* off 42 balls including four fours and three sixes.
Dasun Shanaka took 3-20 from his four overs for the Falcons.
Then, despite a first-ball duck from Fletcher at the top of the innings, the Falcons successfully reached 183-4 off just 17.2 overs.
Fletcher’s opening partner Dinesh Chandimal led the way with a 40-ball 65 including six fours and three sixes while Shanaka and Angelo Matthews provided the finishing touches with 46* off 15 balls and 37* off 20 balls, respectively.
Full Scores:
Dambulla Sixers 179-4 off 20 overs (Mark Chapman 91*, Chamindu Wickramsinghe 62*, Dasun Shanaka 3-20)
Kandy Falcons 183-4 off 17.2 overs (Dinesh Chandimal 65, Dasun Shanaka 46*, Angelo Matthews 37*)
The league continues on Tuesday with the Jaffna Kings taking on the Galle Marvels at 4:30 AM before the Colombo Strikers take on the Kandy Falcons at 9:00 AM (Jamaica Time).
Both games will be shown live on Sportsmax.
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