Australia capped off their 24-match ICC Women's Championship campaign with a dominant a 75-run victory over New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, securing an unassailable lead in the tournament standings and clinching their third consecutive title in the competition.

Finishing with 39 points (17 wins, three no-results, three losses), Australia’s total is beyond reach for any other team. India, their closest competitor, can only reach 37 points with their remaining matches against West Indies (two) and Ireland (three).

Brilliant century from Saim Ayub followed by a controlled team bowling performance guided Pakistan to a 3-0 ODI series sweep against South Africa on Monday (IST).

Pakistan have consigned South Africa to their first-ever clean sweep defeat in a home men's ODI series, defeating the Proteas by 36 runs (DLS Method) in a rain hit match.

The victory in the third ODI was orchestrated by Saim Ayub, who hit his second century of the series, and debutant Sufyan Moqim, who returned figures of 4-52 along with half-centuries from skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam. Saim’s 10-over spell of bowling yielded 1-34.

Ayub compiled his second century of the series (101), also claiming 1/34 with the ball as he teamed up with four fellow wicket-takers to close out the performance.

Put in to bat, Pakistan started shakily after opener Abdullah Shafique was dismissed facing his first ball. Saim and Babar Azam steadied the innings, putting on a commanding 115-run partnership.

A.K. Joti, Electoral Officer of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has said the final list of candidates for the secretary and treasurer's posts in the by-election will be announced on January 7 at 5 pm. The nomination window for the candidates is slated for January 3 and 4.

IANS had previously reported that in a notice issued to state associations on Saturday afternoon, joint secretary Devajit Saikia said the SGM will be held at 12 noon on January 12 at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai to elect a new secretary and treasurer.

Incidentally, Saikia is serving as acting secretary, after BCCI president Roger Binny exercised his special powers granted in the constitution. Article 7.2 (d) in the BCCI constitution goes as "The President shall, in the event of a vacancy, or indisposition of an office-bearer, delegate the functions to another Office-Bearer until the vacancy is duly filled up, or the indisposition ceases."

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri said a 'hard to contain' Travis Head is currently playing the best cricket of his career, adding that the left-handed batter’s success in short ball has been a standout factor.

Despite being dismissed for just 11 in his first innings of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, Head has gone on to smash 89, 140 and 152 in his next three outings. Head had previously hit centuries against India in the 2023 World Test Championship final and ODI World Cup final to give Australia title wins.

“I think he is very smart. From what I saw of him three years ago, he has improved immensely. Especially with the way he plays the short ball. He prepared to leave it. He has learned to leave it well at times.”

“It's not a big shot all the time off a short delivery angled at his armpits or something. He's prepared to either ride it or go for the big shots. And if it is middle, middle and off, then he hits it in front of square as well.”

Indian bowlers, led by pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep, had an intense bowling nets session ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Australia here on Saturday.

The five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is currently levelled at 1-1 after the rain-hit third Test ended in a draw at the Gabba in Brisbane. India had started their tour on a high with a thumping 295-run win in the series opener in Perth. However, they faltered in the pink-ball Test at the Adelaide Oval to suffer a 10-wicket drubbing and lost the early advantage.

Taking to social media, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a video of Indian bowlers sweating it hard in the nets to gear up for the fourth Test of the series. "There is no substitute for hard work. The relentless effort behind the scenes translates into success on the field. The Indian bowlers are ticking every box as we get ready for the Boxing Day Test," the BCCI added the caption on the video.

The 19-year-old Australian batter Sam Konstas, currently representing Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL), reflected on his maiden Test call-up to the men’s national team during the game against Sydney Sixers on Saturday.

With the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series perfectly poised at 1-1, Konstas is poised to debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), during the Boxing Day Test match. The right-handed opener has revealed he was ‘trying not to cry’ whilst breaking the news to his parents.

"I was in the nets and I got the call from George Bailey, he told me I was in the Test squad so I called my parents straight away, they were very emotional. I'll meet up with the team tomorrow and go from there," said Konstas to BBL broadcasters mid-game.

Kerala Blasters FC will aim to record a league double over Mohammedan SC when the two sides meet in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday.

Kerala Blasters FC secured a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture in October. Achieving another win would mark only the second instance of Kerala Blasters FC completing a league double against a team in their debut attempt, with the first being FC Pune City in 2014. However, the home side will come into this game on the back of a disappointing run of form, having lost their last three matches.

They parted ways with head coach Mikael Stahre and will look to avoid equalling their longest losing streak (four games) registered in the 2022-23 season.

After 12 games, the Kochi-based team has garnered 11 points and occupy the 10th spot in the points table. Mohammedan SC have five points from 11 matches and are placed at the bottom of the standings.

Noah Sadaoui has been crucial for Kerala Blasters FC, contributing directly to eight goals (four goals and four assists) and winning them six points this season. His contributions will be crucial for the hosts to return to winning ways.

All-rounder Annabel Sutherland hit a brilliant century as Australia moved closer to winning a third consecutive ICC Women’s Championship title through a 65-run victory via DLS method over New Zealand in the second ODI at Basin Reserve on Saturday.

After hitting a stunning century in the final ODI against India at Perth, Annabel made it back-to-back centuries by being unbeaten on 105 off just 81 deliveries, laced with 11 fours and two sixes at a strike-rate of 129.63.

The importance of her knock is further noted with none of the Australian batters touching 35. Pacer Molly Penfold picked her career-best ODI figures of 4/42, but it wasn’t enough as Australia posted 291/7.

South Africa’s prolific batter Heinrich Klaasen has been fined 15% of his match fee for committing a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct, said ICC in a statement.

One demerit point has also been added to his disciplinary record for violating Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.”

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has carried out amendments to its constitution to foster good governance, transparency, inclusivity, and efficiency in its management structure. The SLC membership carried out the amendment to the Constitution at an extraordinary general meeting held on Friday.

Among the notable changes is a substantial reduction in the total number of voting members from 147 to 60. The new voting structure ensures that voting rights are determined solely based on the level of cricket played by each member club, with all qualified clubs and associations being entitled to only one vote. This marks a pivotal step towards equitable representation and streamlined decision-making, the SLC informed in a release on Friday.