Gautam Gambhir's time in charge of India got off to a winning start as the T20 world champions breezed to a 43-run victory over Sri Lanka on Saturday.
After losing their opener to Zimbabwe in their first game after the World Cup, India made no mistake in Kandy as they took a 1-0 lead in this three-game series, piling misery on their hosts.
India made a strong start through openers Yashavi Jaiswal (40) and Shubman Gill (34) before Suryakumar Yadav's 58 carried them to 150 before he was dismissed.
Rishabh Pant fell just short of a half-century as he helped India's charge, though that soon stalled thanks to Matheesha Pathirana, whose impressive performance saw him finish with 4-40.
With India stopped at 213-7, Sri Lanka made a steady start, with Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis combining for 84 before the latter was caught for 45.
Two quick wickets from Axar Patel in the 15th over soon ended any hopes of Sri Lanka coming out on top, though, as Nissanka (79) and Kusal Perera (20) were both taken.
The hosts soon collapsed, losing their last seven wickets in just over four overs as they were bowled out for 170.
Data Debrief: India go from strength to strength
Gambhir could not have asked for a better performance at the start of his tenure with India, with their late performance in the field proving vital.
Just when Sri Lanka looked to be mounting a real attack to chase down the target of 214, they lost nine wickets from their final 5.2 overs to be bowled out well short of their target, with Patal and Arshdeep Singh both getting two wickets each.
The hosts' first game since their disappointing World Cup campaign did not quite go to plan, and they will be looking to bounce back on Sunday.
Windies in familiar spot of bother as England overcome nervy start to take control of second Test
Jamie Smith led the way as England took control on day two of their third Test against West Indies at Edgbaston.
The wicket-keeper-batter hit an impressive 95 off 109 balls, falling just shy of his maiden century in only his third Test.
Chasing the Windies' first-innings total of 282, England made a nervy start with the early wickets of Ollie Pope (10) and Harry Brook (two) leaving them at 54-5.
Joe Root (87) and Ben Stokes (54) settled the hosts down with a 115-run stand, while Smith's near-century and 62 from Chris Woakes helped them to a total of 376, a 94-run advantage.
West Indies' response was immediately halted as Woakes claimed skipper Kraigg Braithwaite for a duck in the first over.
Kirk McKenzie (eight) then fell to Gus Atkinson, while opener Mikyle Louis was fortunate to see Stokes drop a simple catch as the visitors reached stumps on 33-2.
Louis, on 18, and Alick Athanaze, on five, will resume batting on Sunday's third day with the Caribbean side 61 runs behind, and eight wickets intact to possibly make a fight of it.
Data Debrief: Root roars past Lara
Root delivered another impressive batting display for England. Although he was fortunate not to be dismissed in the second over, as replays showed he would have been given out had the Windies reviewed an lbw appeal.
Nevertheless, he fully capitalised with his 87 taking him past 12,000 Test runs, making him only the second England player to do so after Alastair Cook.
Although a 33rd Test century narrowly eluded him, Root did leapfrog Brian Lara into seventh place on the all-time leading Test run-scorers list.
Deandra Dottin comes out of international retirement
Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced on Saturday that Deandra Dottin has decided to come out of retirement and will be available for selection to represent the West Indies Women's international cricket team once again.
In a heartfelt letter to CWI, Dottin expressed her enthusiasm to return to the game.
"Representing West Indies in international cricket has always been a matter of great pride and passion for me. After a period of reflection and thoughtful dialogue with various parties within Cricket West Indies, including Cricket West Indies President, Dr. Kishore Shallow, I am pleased to inform you that I am eager to return to the game that I love, and contribute my utmost to the West Indies women’s team across all formats, with immediate effect," she said.
She continued, "I am confident that my experience, maturity, and skills will add value to the team as it has done in the past, and I am prepared to furnish my best efforts in every match and training session to ensure the team’s winning trajectory in international cricket. Moreover, I am enthusiastic about mentoring younger players and contributing to the overall development of women's cricket in our region."
CWI Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, welcomed Dottin's return, acknowledging her talent and potential impact on the team.
"Deandra is a player of immense ability and experience. We are pleased with her decision to return to international cricket and be eligible for selection. There is no doubt that she could add significant value to the West Indies Women's teams," he said.
Dottin, who will lead the Trinbago Knight Riders women’s team for the third consecutive year in the upcoming WCPL tournament, last played for West Indies in 2022. She has played 270 international matches across the ODI and T20I formats. In 2010, she scored the first Women’s T20I century. Last month, MCC awarded Dottin with Honorary Life Membership of the club.
West Indies Women will have a camp in August 2024. The players will also be engaged in the CPL next month.
The next international assignment will be the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh from October 2-19 later this year.
Allen hundred sets up rematch between San Francisco Unicorns and Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket final
Aggresive New Zealand opener Finn Allen hit the third hundred of his T20 career to propel the San Francisco Unicorns to a win over the Texas Super Kings at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Friday to advance to the Major League Cricket final.
The 25-year-old Allen put the Super Kings to the sword in Friday's Challenger to help his side make 200-6 off their 20 overs after being inserted by Super Kings skipper Faf du Plessis.
Allen faced 53 balls and hit nine fours and five sixes on his way to 101 and was supported well by Australian wicket-keeper/batsman Josh Inglis who hit 37 off 25 balls including two fours and a six.
Afghan left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad snagged 3-27 from his four overs for the Super Kings.
Then, despite unbeaten fifties from both Devon Conway and Joshua Tromp, TSK fell agonizingly short of a spot in the final, finishing 190-4 from their 20 overs.
Conway led the way with 62* off 38 balls including four fours and two sixes while Tromp hit five fours and two sixes on his way to a 36-ball 56*.
Captain du Plessis had earlier made 45 off 22 balls.
Conway and Tromp got together at 90-4 in the 10th over and tried their best with a 100-run partnership but the runs proved to be just enough for the Unicorns.
The Unicorns will now square off with the Washington Freedom in Sunday’s final, also being played at the Grand Prairie Stadium.
The pair met on Thursday in the qualifier where the Freedom chased down 146 in 15.3 overs to book their spot in the final.
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