India Clinch Series After Crushing 8-wicket Win vs Zimbabwe
A clinical India clinched the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe, pulling off another fine all-round show to crush the minnows by eight wickets for an unassailable 2-0 lead.
It was a dominant performance yet again from the new-look Indian side whose bowlers first skittled the hosts for a lowly 126 in 34.3 overs and the batsmen hardly broke a sweat to get past the target in only 26.5 overs.
If India manage a ‘whitewash’ by winning the third ODI on Wednesday, then it would be a hat-trick of series wins for the Indian teams, maintaining a clean slate in the African nation after their victories in 2013 and 2015.
Zimbabwe: 126 all out in 34.3 overs (Vusi Sibanda 53; Yuzvendra Chahal 3/25, Barinder Sran 2/17)
India: 129/2 in 26.5 overs (Karun Nair 39, Ambati Rayudu 41 not out)
Sreejesh Concedes Soft Goals as India Lose 1-2 to Belgium
Indian captain PR Sreejesh’s lacklustre show under the bar saw the team succumb to a 1-2 defeat by Belgium in the 36th Hero Champions Trophy league stage match on Monday.
Sreejesh would be disappointed to concede two goals through his pads against the dominant Belgians, resulting in India’s first loss in three outings of the ongoing Champions Trophy.
Alexander Hendrickx converted a penalty corner in the 25th minute and India equalised through Devender Walmiki five minutes later, but Jerome Truyens won the day for the Belgians through his field goal in the 44th.
This loss leaves India on four points from three outings. They next play South Korea.
Anil Kumble in Race to Become India’s Chief Coach
Former captain and the country’s highest wicket-taker in all forms Anil Kumble has become the biggest name to have applied for the high-profile post of Indian cricket team’s coach.
“Yes, Kumble has applied for the post and probably is the biggest name doing the rounds. His name in the mix makes it very interesting,” a BCCI official told PTI today.
When asked about his coaching credentials, the official said: “He has been a mentor in both Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians. Mentors are basically extension of coaches and no one can doubt Anil’s knowledge of the game. He has a towering personality and every member of this current team has huge respect for him.”
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Pique’s Late Header Gives Spain Win Over Czechs
Reigning champions Spain left it late but Gerard Pique’s 87th-minute header earned them a deserved 1-0 victory over a dogged Czech Republic in their Euro 2016 Group D opener on Monday.
Pique headed in Andres Iniesta’s perfect cross to give Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech no chance after he had made several fine saves to put his side within sight of an unlikely draw.
Cech reacted well to deny Alvaro Morata and David Silva in the first half while Czech defender Roman Hubnik deflected Morata’s shot against his own post. Spain were given a fright when a stretching Hubnik forced a save from David de Gea and Cesc Fabregas made a goalline clearance to keep out Theodor Gebre Selassie’s header.
But Pique ensured the champions began with a victory to join Croatia on three points.
Ireland Own Goal Hands Sweden Opening Draw
Sweden needed an own goal from Ireland to share a 1-1 draw in their Euro 2016 Group E opener at the Stade de France on Monday.
The better side for most of the game, Ireland wasted a few chances before midfielder Wes Hoolahan surprised Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson with a half-volley from a cross by Seamus Coleman early in the second half.
Sweden levelled after 71 minutes when centre back Ciaran Clark headed a Zlatan Ibrahimovic centre into his own net, leaving both sides facing a struggle to emerge from a tough group that also features Belgium and Italy.
Giaccherini and Pelle Strikes Earn Italy Win Over Belgium
Italy’s Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle scored delightful goals to earn the former European champions a 2-0 win over the world’s second-ranked side Belgium in the first heavyweight clash of Euro 2016 on Monday.
Giaccherini latched on to an exquisite through ball from Leonardo Bonucci just after the half-hour mark, controlling the ball with his left foot and slotting home with his right to earn the four-times world champions a deserved win in Group E.
Belgium, seeking a first competitive victory over Italy in 44 years, belatedly came to grips with the contest as Romelu Lukaku and his replacement Divock Origi came close but the Italians go top after Sweden’s 1-1 draw with Ireland in Paris.
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