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• Pooran’s Gladiators prepare for playoffs with three-run win over Delhi Bulls

  The Deccan Gladiators got their sixth win in seven games to end the league phase of the 2024 Abu Dhabi T10 at the top of the table.

  The Gladiators prepared for Sunday’s qualifier one against the Morrisville Samp Army with a tense three-run win over the Delhi Bulls at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

  Captain Nicholas Pooran hit a top score of 28 while Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Jos Buttler made 21, each, as the Gladiators posted 102-5 from their 10 overs after winning the toss.

  Shahid Bhutta and Salman Irshad took 2-13 and 2-15, respectively.

  Despite a rapid 30* off just 14 balls from Tim David and 29 off 14 balls from Tom Banton at the top of the order, the Bulls fell agonizingly short of their target, reaching 99-7 off their 10 overs.

  Man of the match Anrich Nortje took 3-15 from his two overs while Usman Tariq took 2-10.

  The Bulls tournament is not over, however, as they will take on the UP Nawabs in the first eliminator, also on Sunday.

  The winner of that game will take on Team Abu Dhabi in second eliminator later on Sunday.

  The winner of the second eliminator will advance to qualifier two later on Sunday against the loser of the first qualifier between the Gladiators and the Samp Army on Monday.

  The winner of qualifier two will then take on the winner of qualifier one in the final, also on Monday.

• History: Brathwaite surpasses Sobers’ record for consecutive Tests played by a West Indian

  The ongoing second Test match between the West Indies and Bangladesh at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica is a historic one for West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite as he now holds the record for most consecutive Tests played by a West Indian with 86, surpassing his legendary countryman, Sir Garfield Sobers.

  The significance of this achievement is magnified by the fact that it takes place on Barbados’ Independence Day, a fitting moment to celebrate the island's contributions to West Indies cricket.

  For Brathwaite, surpassing Sobers—a name synonymous with excellence in cricket—feels surreal. Sobers inspired generations, and now Brathwaite carries that legacy forward.

  “It means a lot,” Brathwaite said in an interview with CWI Content and Media Officer Jerome Foster prior to the second Test.

  “I’m extremely thankful because in this generation, there’s a lot of T10 and T20 cricket, but Test cricket is the real test. At the end, I will feel like I’ve done a really good job for the West Indies,” he added.

  Brathwaite recalls setting a bold goal during his school days with his coach, Mr. Roddy Estwick, a goal that continues to drive him today.

  “My goal—I will never forget—was to play 100 Test matches. Not just to play them, but to earn 100 caps for the West Indies. That is what my life has been about. Test cricket is everything to me, and I can never be in this position without putting God first.”

  Brathwaite made his Test debut in 2011 against Pakistan at Warner Park. After being dropped for nine matches, he returned in June 2014 to score his maiden Test century against New Zealand.

  Since then, he has been a consistent presence at the top of the order for the men in maroon.

  “You know, it’s just hard work,” he explains.

  “Hard work over the years, knowing what to improve, identifying areas to work on when you get back home. To succeed at this level for a long time, only hard work and perseverance will get you through.”

  Brathwaite will hope to crown this achievement with a brilliant performance with the bat as the hosts look to secure a series win.

  At publishing, Bangladesh were 22-2 after 9.2 overs after winning the toss and batting first after a delayed start due to a wet outfield.

• Lahore Qalandars claim dramatic four-run win over Hampshire Hawks in GSL

  The fourth match of the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) took pace under blue skies and bright sunshine in Providence, Guyana, on Saturday and saw the Lahore Qalandars defeat the Hampshire Hawks by four runs. 

  Carlos Braithwaite won the coin toss and decided to have first use with the bat but his side were put under immediate pressure by the English outfit.

  Mirza Baig was cleaned up in the second over by the wily left-arm spin of Danny Briggs whilst opening partner Adam Rossington hung around to provide some stability.

  Qalandars couldn’t break the shackles though, when Rossington fell for 30 off 29 deliveries the Pakistani side were struggling at 37-3 off eight overs.

  It was the story of their innings, Hampshire bowled tight lines and denied Qalandars opportunities to pick up easy runs or opportunities to find the fence with any regularity.

  Some much needed lower order hitting from Player of the Match Luke Wells (35* off 24) and from Muhammad Akhlaq (23* off 12) would prove crucial though, Akhlaq smiting three sixes off James Fuller’s second over with some lusty blows down the ground and over midwicket.

  Hampshire struggled with the bat in response, spluttering to 50 off the first ten overs, leaving them with a demanding run rate for the rest of the game.

  Asif Afridi’s left arm spin blocked up the scoring, just 16 runs came off his set of four overs and the Hawks joined up a series of dots with the bat to see their required run rate go into double figures.

  With three overs to go the Hawks needed 36 from 18 deliveries. Ashraf pulled off a fantastic catch diving forward low to the turf to get rid of the dangerous looking Howell and then Liam Dawson committed the cardinal blunder of not sliding his bat in when attempting a quick single a couple of balls later, Carlos Brathwaite and Shamsi combining to run him out at the non-strikers end.

  Chris Wood hit the final ball of the penultimate over from Ashraf’s over wide long-on for six to leave the Hawks requiring 21 off the final over. Captain Brathwaite took it upon himself to bowl it for the Qalandars and his opposite number Wood was then run out in a similar manner to Dawson.

  There was a sting in the tale and late drama as James Fuller hit two consecutive sixes off Brathwaite to leave Hawks needing a third in a row to steal the win at the last.  Brathwaite held his nerve to deliver a perfect yorker and secure the win for Qalandars. Both sides have now won one and lost one as things tightened up in the GSL table.