The Dunes League T20 is expected to feature players who have recently retired from international cricket but remain active on the global franchise circuit. Saudi Arabia’s growing involvement in cricket has accelerated steadily in recent years, and the launch of its own domestic franchise league marks another significant step in that expansion.

Saudi Arabia expands sporting footprint

Over the last five years, Saudi Arabia has invested heavily across global sport as part of wider efforts to diversify its economy. The country has hosted major football, boxing and tennis events, while the Public Investment Fund (PIF) also backed the LIV Golf project before recently announcing plans to withdraw funding after this season.

Cricket has increasingly become part of that strategy. Saudi Arabia previously hosted the IPL auction in 2024 and has also signed sponsorship agreements with the ICC. The SACF partnered with the UAE’s ILT20 last year and agreed a long-term deal to stage the FairBreak Women’s T20 Challenge, although the first edition has since been postponed because of conflict in the Gulf region.

Rumours surrounding Saudi Arabia’s interest in launching a major T20 competition have circulated for several years. Speculation also intensified last year around possible Saudi-backed investment into a proposed “Grand Slam-style” global T20 structure discussed by the Australian Cricketers’ Association.

League structure and player rules

The Dunes League T20 has been developed in partnership with Sports Asian Network alongside talent agencies Unique Sports Group and Prolithic.

Unique Sports Group represents England fast bowler Jofra Archer, while Prolithic manages India batter Abhishek Sharma. Former India allrounder Yuvraj Singh will serve as the league’s ambassador.

The SACF had initially outlined provisional plans for the competition late last year, describing the league as part of a wider push to place Saudi Arabia “on the global cricket map” while also helping “develop Saudi talent”.

League regulations are expected to permit a maximum of four players who have played full-member international cricket within the previous two years. That keeps the competition below the threshold requiring ICC approval.

Top player salaries could reportedly reach USD 100,000.

A significant step for Saudi cricket

The launch of the Dunes League T20 represents Saudi Arabia’s most direct move yet into franchise cricket. While the country has previously focused on sponsorships, partnerships and hosting cricket-related events, this tournament signals an attempt to establish a long-term presence within the sport itself.

With franchise cricket continuing to expand globally, the success of the Dunes League T20 could shape how Saudi Arabia positions itself within the wider T20 ecosystem in the coming years.

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Gujarat Titans crush SRH to climb top of IPL table

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After recovering from early trouble to post 168 for 5, GT tore through SRH for just 86 in 14.5 overs. Kagiso Rabada claimed 3 for 28, Holder finished with 3 for 20, while Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna kept the pressure intact throughout a one-sided chase.

The victory was Gujarat Titans’ biggest-ever win in IPL history, surpassing their previous best margin of 77 runs against Rajasthan Royals earlier this season.

Sai Sudharsan and Washington rescue Gujarat Titans

The surface in Ahmedabad proved difficult from the outset. Deliveries gripped, jagged both ways and made strokeplay extremely risky, particularly against hard lengths.

Pat Cummins identified the ideal approach immediately, bowling a disciplined line with movement away from the bat. Praful Hinge backed him up impressively after returning to the SRH side in place of Harsh Dubey.

Hinge removed Shubman Gill with a mistimed on-drive before Jos Buttler edged an attempted scoop behind. Gujarat Titans slumped to 34 for 2 in the powerplay, their lowest score in that phase this season.

Sai Sudharsan then rebuilt the innings with another composed knock. He punished the rare loose deliveries while rotating strike effectively on a difficult batting pitch. Nishant Sindhu added a valuable 22 from 14 balls during a steady middle-overs partnership.

Cummins eventually broke the stand when Sindhu mistimed a lofted drive to long-off. Sai Sudharsan later brought up his sixth half-century of the season before falling for 61 off 44 balls while attempting a scoop against Sakib Hussain.

Washington changes momentum late

Washington Sundar provided the decisive push in the closing overs with a rapid 50 from 33 balls.

He targeted anything short or wide and took full advantage of an expensive spell from Eshan Malinga, who conceded 46 runs. Washington’s inventive strokeplay stood out on a surface where timing remained difficult for most batters throughout the evening.

His acceleration lifted Gujarat Titans to 168 for 5, a score that initially appeared competitive rather than commanding given the tricky conditions.

Rabada and Siraj break SRH immediately

Any uncertainty over the target disappeared quickly once SRH began their chase.

Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada attacked relentlessly with pace and hard lengths during the powerplay. Within 19 balls, SRH had lost Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan.

Rabada was especially destructive. Bowling close to 150kph, he repeatedly angled deliveries away from the left-handers and extracted steep movement from the surface. Abhishek chopped onto his stumps, Kishan edged while driving away from the body, and R Smaran miscued to cover.

By the end of the powerplay, SRH had collapsed to 34 for 4, mirroring GT’s own difficult start but without any recovery.

Holder and Prasidh finish ruthless victory

Jason Holder’s height and variations proved equally effective once the ball softened. Slower deliveries gripped sharply off the worn surface and SRH never recovered after Heinrich Klaasen miscued to Jos Buttler behind the stumps.

Holder later dismissed Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shivang Kumar to complete figures of 3 for 20. Prasidh Krishna complemented the attack perfectly with disciplined back-of-a-length bowling, finishing with 2 for 23.

Pat Cummins top-scored for SRH with 19, underlining the extent of their collapse as the innings folded for 86.

The result strengthened Gujarat Titans’ position at the top of the table with 16 points. More significantly, their pace attack once again showed why GT have become one of the most complete sides in IPL 2026.

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Miller and Axar keep Delhi alive with stunning chase

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The post Gujarat Titans crush SRH to climb top of IPL table first appeared on The Sight Screen.

The fast bowler finished with outstanding figures of 5 for 40 from 9.5 overs as Bangladesh dismissed Pakistan for 163 in pursuit of 268. The result marked Bangladesh’s third straight Test victory over Pakistan following their 2-0 series win in 2024.

Pakistan briefly resisted through debutant Abdullah Fazal, but Nahid’s hostile spell turned the contest decisively in Bangladesh’s favour after tea.

Nahid destroys Pakistan’s middle order

Pakistan resumed the chase with work still to do after Bangladesh declared on 240 for 9 in their second innings. Abdullah Fazal again stood firm after Imam-ul-Haq fell before lunch, continuing the composure he had shown during his first-innings fifty.

Fazal counterattacked confidently after the interval, striking Mehidy Hasan Miraz for consecutive boundaries before taking on Nahid Rana with three successive fours. Two of those edges flew safely through the slips before he drove cleanly down the ground.

Bangladesh responded immediately when Mehidy dismissed Azan Awais for 15. The left-hander, who had scored a century in the first innings, was beaten by a delivery that held its line before crashing into the stumps.

Pakistan’s position worsened soon after when Nahid removed Shan Masood. At 68 for 3, the pressure shifted firmly onto the visitors.

Fazal still battled impressively and reached his half-century with an upper-cut boundary off Ebadot Hossain. The debutant became only the sixth Pakistan batter to score fifties in both innings of a debut Test.

Bangladesh tighten control after tea

The decisive phase arrived immediately after tea. Taijul Islam produced sharp turn to dismiss Fazal for 66 from 113 balls, with the TV umpire confirming the catch after a review. His innings included eleven fours and had briefly kept Pakistan alive.

Taskin Ahmed then struck another major blow when Salman Ali Agha edged to second slip. Shadman Islam completed the catch despite the ball striking his chest before he walked off the field hurt.

Nahid Rana took over from there. His pace and aggression overwhelmed Pakistan’s lower order as he removed Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi to finish the match.

Taskin and Taijul claimed two wickets each while Mehidy added one after his first-innings five-wicket haul.

Bangladesh’s aggressive declaration sets up result

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh batted positively to force a result despite losing wickets regularly during the morning session.

They added 88 runs in 20 overs before declaring at 240 for 9. Hasan Ali removed Mushfiqur Rahim for 22 early in the session, while Shaheen Afridi dismissed Litton Das after Hasan completed an excellent catch at the fine-leg boundary.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz contributed quick runs with two fours and a six before Noman Ali dismissed him for 24, a wicket that also brought up Noman’s 100th Test wicket.

Najmul Hossain Shanto once again anchored the innings and top-scored with 87. His dismissal came while attempting a reverse sweep against Noman. The Bangladesh captain narrowly missed joining Sunil Gavaskar, Ricky Ponting and David Warner as the only batters to record twin hundreds in a Test on three separate occasions.

Bangladesh’s aggressive approach on the final morning proved crucial. Their bowlers capitalised fully afterward, with Nahid Rana’s burst sealing one of Bangladesh’s most significant recent Test victories and extending Pakistan’s struggles against them.

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The post Nahid seals Bangladesh win as Pakistan collapse in Dhaka first appeared on The Sight Screen.

Punjab Kings posted 210 for 5 after half-centuries from Priyansh Arya and Shreyas Iyer, but Delhi responded through crucial knocks from Axar Patel and David Miller before Ashutosh Sharma and Madhav Tiwari sealed the chase in tense fashion.

The defeat marked PBKS’ fourth successive loss and further dented their campaign after another match slipped away despite strong batting contributions.

Arya launches PBKS into top gear

Priyansh Arya set the tone immediately after Mitchell Starc opened with a full ball outside off stump. Arya lofted it over cover-point for six and never eased off in the powerplay.

Starc struggled badly for rhythm, conceding 22 runs in the opening over — the most expensive first over of his T20 career. The over also included five wides as PBKS surged ahead aggressively.

Arya then attacked Lungi Ngidi with back-to-back sixes as Punjab raced to 51 without loss after just three overs. Questions had recently surrounded Arya’s handling of short-pitched bowling, but he countered both pace and bounce confidently during his 24-ball half-century.

Nabi and Mukesh restore balance

Delhi finally slowed the scoring through Mohammad Nabi and Mukesh Kumar, who used the seam movement effectively during the middle overs.

Nabi closed out the powerplay with a two-run over while Mukesh removed Prabhsimran Singh for 18 off 15 balls. Soon after, Madhav Tiwari dismissed Arya at deep cover, reducing PBKS to 97 for 2 after nine overs.

Despite the flying start, Punjab lost momentum briefly between overs 11 and 14, managing only 33 runs during that phase.

Iyer and Shedge push PBKS beyond 200

Shreyas Iyer anchored the innings smartly from No. 3 and steadily rebuilt after the middle-over slowdown. Cooper Connolly eventually found his rhythm too, striking Starc for a massive 96-metre six before adding another four and six against Ngidi.

Iyer reached his half-century off 32 balls with consecutive sixes off Tiwari. Although Tiwari later removed Connolly, PBKS found another late surge through Suryansh Shedge.

Mitchell Starc briefly threatened to derail the finish when he dismissed Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh off successive deliveries in the 19th over. But Shedge counterattacked immediately, smashing the hat-trick ball for six before adding another six and a boundary to lift Punjab past 200.

Arshdeep and Thakur shake DC early

Delhi’s chase began poorly as Yash Thakur struck in his first game of the season, uprooting Abishek Porel’s middle stump.

Arshdeep Singh then removed KL Rahul with a sharp short ball, Marco Jansen completing an excellent diving catch running back from first slip. Arshdeep struck again during the powerplay when Sahil Parakh mistimed another short delivery.

At 33 for 3, Delhi were under heavy pressure, especially with Punjab’s seamers extracting significant assistance from the surface. Remarkably, not a single over of spin was bowled in the match — the first IPL game of substantial length without spin since 2008.

Axar and Miller swing the contest

Axar Patel and Tristan Stubbs briefly stabilised the innings before Stubbs was run out following a mix-up. That dismissal left Delhi at 74 for 4 in the ninth over.

Punjab missed a critical opportunity immediately afterwards when Shedge dropped Axar on 25 at deep square leg. The missed chance proved costly.

Axar and David Miller transformed the chase with a 64-run stand in just 34 balls. Axar attacked Marcus Stoinis with three consecutive boundaries to bring up his half-century before falling while attempting another big shot.

Even after Axar’s dismissal, Miller continued to shift momentum. PBKS had briefly regained control when Arshdeep completed his spell early and conceded only five in the 15th over, leaving Delhi needing 68 from the last five overs.

But Miller changed the equation rapidly, smashing Marco Jansen for two sixes at the start of the 17th over. Though he fell attempting a third maximum, the damage had already been done.

Ashutosh and Tiwari finish the job

With the pressure mounting again late in the innings, Ashutosh Sharma and Madhav Tiwari remained composed to finish the chase.

Ashutosh manipulated the field cleverly while Tiwari produced clean strikes at key moments to close out the game with six balls remaining.

Delhi’s win not only kept their playoff hopes alive but also highlighted their ability to recover repeatedly in high-pressure situations. For Punjab Kings, another strong batting effort ultimately went unrewarded as missed chances and expensive bowling at crucial moments proved decisive.

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At stumps, Bangladesh were 152 for 3 in their second innings after earlier bowling Pakistan out for 386. Shanto remained unbeaten on 58 while Mushfiqur Rahim safely guided the side through the closing stages after Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Mominul late in the day.

With torrential rain wiping out the entire afternoon session and bad light ending play early, a draw increasingly appeared the likely outcome. Even so, Bangladesh maintained control for most of the available overs through disciplined batting and another century stand between Shanto and Mominul.

Pakistan strike early under overcast skies

Pakistan’s seamers enjoyed ideal bowling conditions in the morning with heavy cloud cover and the floodlights switched on from the start of play.

Mohammad Abbas made the first breakthrough when he trapped Mahmudul Hasan Joy lbw after getting the ball to nip back sharply off the surface. Hasan Ali then removed Shadman Islam with a lifting delivery that caught the shoulder of the bat, continuing Pakistan’s strong start.

Those early wickets briefly gave Pakistan momentum, especially with the surface still offering variable bounce and movement.

Mominul and Shanto regain control

The innings once again settled around Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto, the same pair that had already frustrated Pakistan in the first innings.

Their partnership steadily absorbed pressure before gradually shifting the balance back towards Bangladesh. Mominul played the more measured role while Shanto increased the tempo whenever scoring opportunities appeared.

The pair added 105 runs together, marking their second century partnership of the Test. It was also only the third occasion a Bangladesh pair had recorded two hundred-plus stands in the same Test match.

Pakistan briefly threatened through Salman Ali Agha’s offspin, particularly when Mohammad Rizwan dropped a sharp chance behind the stumps. But the danger quickly faded as both left-handers settled deeper into their innings.

Mominul even stepped out confidently before lunch to launch Agha straight down the ground, underlining Bangladesh’s growing comfort despite the difficult conditions.

Rain interruption fails to slow Bangladesh

Heavy rain halted play for several hours and completely washed out the afternoon session. The lengthy interruption might have disrupted Bangladesh’s rhythm, but the batters resumed without any visible loss of control.

Shanto and Mominul both reached half-centuries after play restarted, continuing to frustrate Pakistan’s attack on a surface that had flattened considerably compared to earlier in the match.

Abbas remained Pakistan’s most consistent threat with his relentless accuracy, while Shan Masood finally introduced Noman Ali after 35 overs. Pakistan had delayed using the left-arm spinner against two left-hand batters, but Noman immediately created chances.

He forced Mominul into a splice towards short leg where Abdullah Fazal dropped a difficult opportunity. Later, Mushfiqur Rahim nearly miscued another aggressive stroke into a catching position at long-on.

Shaheen provides late breakthrough

Pakistan finally broke the stand late in the evening when Shaheen Shah Afridi found movement back into Mominul, dismissing him for 56.

For a brief period, Pakistan sensed an opening to force further breakthroughs before bad light intervened. However, Shanto and Mushfiqur ensured Bangladesh closed the day without additional damage.

Bangladesh now lead by 179 runs with seven wickets remaining, placing them in a strong position heading into the final day. While weather interruptions and the state of the pitch have pushed the match towards a draw, Pakistan will still require early wickets if they are to force a result in Mirpur.

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The post Shanto and Mominul push Bangladesh ahead as draw looms first appeared on The Sight Screen.

RCB chased down 167 in extraordinary fashion on a difficult two-paced surface, with Krunal Pandya’s 73 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s all-round brilliance proving decisive in one of the season’s most gripping contests.

The match ended in chaos and tension. Needing two runs from the final delivery, Rasikh Salam clipped Raj Bawa towards mid-on before scrambling back for the winning second run as Ryan Rickelton broke the stumps at the striker’s end. Rasikh’s dive ensured RCB completed a remarkable escape.

Bhuvneshwar tears through MI early

The pitch in Raipur offered uneven bounce and inconsistent pace from the beginning, making hard lengths extremely dangerous for batters.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar exploited those conditions superbly. He removed Ryan Rickelton in the opening over before producing one of the finest deliveries of the IPL season to dismiss Rohit Sharma. The knuckle-ball outswinger tempted Rohit into an edge behind the wicket.

One ball later, Bhuvneshwar struck again. This time he found late movement to send Suryakumar Yadav back for a golden duck, leaving Mumbai reeling at 28 for 3 inside three overs.

The spell shaped the entire innings. On a surface where timing remained difficult throughout, Bhuvneshwar’s control over swing, seam and pace variations constantly forced errors.

Tilak and Dhir rebuild Mumbai innings

After the collapse, Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir rebuilt carefully with an old-fashioned partnership worth 82 runs from 57 balls.

The pair resisted the difficult conditions intelligently while keeping Mumbai in contention for a strong finish. Dhir counterattacked with crisp boundaries square of the wicket, while Tilak paced his innings calmly before accelerating later.

However, RCB struck back just as the innings threatened to explode.

Dhir was undone by a low shooter after attacking Rasikh Salam, while Tilak fell in the 18th over attempting a scoop against Bhuvneshwar. His dismissal for 57 proved especially damaging because Mumbai managed only 11 runs across the final two overs.

Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh continued hammering hard lengths into the surface, preventing MI from finishing strongly despite being well positioned earlier in the innings.

Bosch and Chahar pull MI back into contest

Mumbai’s defence began perfectly when Deepak Chahar removed Virat Kohli for a golden duck. Kohli attempted to attack a wide outswinger but mistimed the shot straight to mid-off.

Jacob Bethell briefly countered with two boundaries in Chahar’s opening over, but MI kept finding breakthroughs. Chahar then produced a superb delivery to dismiss Devdutt Padikkal before Corbin Bosch used the surface brilliantly to remove Rajat Patidar with a steep short ball.

RCB slipped to 39 for 3, and Mumbai appeared firmly in control.

Krunal changes the chase

Krunal Pandya’s innings became the defining difference between the two sides.

Promoted to No. 5, he handled the difficult conditions far better than anyone else in the chase. While boundaries dried up for most batters, Krunal repeatedly found methods to score against both pace and spin.

His use of the sweep and slog against spin disrupted Mumbai’s plans and forced Suryakumar Yadav to delay introducing legspinner Raghu Sharma for extended spells. Krunal also targeted Raj Bawa effectively, combining with Jitesh Sharma to take 16 runs from the 14th over.

Jitesh added a valuable 18 off 12 balls, including a hooked six off Bosch and a classy back-foot boundary against Jasprit Bumrah.

The match turned again when Bosch dismissed Jitesh and Tim David in successive deliveries. Suddenly, Mumbai regained control with RCB still requiring 30 from the final three overs.

Last-over chaos seals unforgettable finish

The key moment arrived in the 18th over when AM Ghazanfar induced a mis-hit from Krunal, only for Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir to misjudge a possible relay catch near the boundary.

Krunal capitalised immediately despite severe cramps, smashing two massive sixes in the same over before eventually falling while trying for another maximum.

That left Bumrah to bowl the 19th over against two new batters. He delivered another exceptional spell, conceding only three runs and leaving RCB needing nine from the final over.

Raj Bawa was handed responsibility for the finish and nearly pulled it off despite wides and a no-ball increasing the pressure. Romario Shepherd fell attempting a big shot, leaving Nos. 9 and 10 needing 10 from three balls.

Then came Bhuvneshwar’s crucial six over sweeper cover — his first IPL six since 2016 — before the chaotic final-ball scramble completed RCB’s victory.

The win not only snapped Bengaluru’s two-match losing streak but also dramatically reshaped the playoff race. Krunal’s rescue act and Bhuvneshwar’s influence with both bat and ball delivered one of RCB’s most significant wins of the season.

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Chasing 204, CSK reached 208 for 5 after Urvil’s stunning 23-ball 65 transformed the contest in a matter of minutes. The result also extended Chennai’s winning streak to three matches and lifted them into fifth spot on the points table.

Lucknow had earlier posted 203 for 8, driven by Josh Inglis’ blistering 85 and Shahbaz Ahmed’s late 43, but Overton’s spell of 3 for 36 and a strong middle-overs fightback prevented them from pushing beyond reach.

Inglis tears into CSK in powerplay assault

LSG reshuffled their approach at the top with Josh Inglis taking first strike instead of Mitchell Marsh, and the move paid off instantly. Inglis targeted Akeal Hosein from the outset, hammering three consecutive boundaries in the opening over before taking apart both pace and spin.

His innovative strokeplay behind the wicket repeatedly disrupted CSK’s plans. Inglis used ramps and scoops with remarkable confidence, while also punishing fuller deliveries through the covers and straight down the ground.

By the end of the powerplay, Inglis had raced to 77 off just 25 deliveries, with nine fours and six sixes. Only Suresh Raina, Travis Head and Jake Fraser-McGurk have scored more runs in the IPL powerplay phase.

The defining shift, however, came once the field spread.

Overton and Noor drag CSK back

Noor Ahmad and Jamie Overton wrestled control away from LSG after the explosive start. Noor continued his dominance over Nicholas Pooran, dismissing him for the third time this season after the left-hander managed only two runs from nine balls against him.

MS Dhoni’s advice to Noor to rely more on his legbreaks rather than constant googlies appeared to pay dividends again as the Afghanistan spinner attacked the stumps consistently.

Overton then removed Inglis with a well-directed delivery after the batter attempted an ambitious scoop. The England all-rounder mixed pace cleverly and hit hard lengths effectively, conceding just 36 runs while taking three wickets.

From 77 without loss after six overs, LSG stumbled badly through the middle phase. They lost five wickets for 56 runs in the 50 balls following the powerplay.

Shahbaz Ahmed revived the innings with 43 and struck the final ball for six to carry LSG past 200, but Chennai’s recovery with the ball had already altered the momentum.

Urvil changes the match in one over

CSK’s chase exploded into life once Urvil Patel arrived at the crease.

The right-hander unleashed one of the most destructive cameos of the season, smashing the joint-fastest fifty in IPL history in just 13 balls. At one stage, he struck five successive scoring shots of 6, 6, 6, 6 and 4, narrowly missing the opportunity to hit six consecutive sixes.

LSG’s bowlers repeatedly continued feeding his preferred hitting arc around midwicket, and Urvil made them pay relentlessly. Seven of his eight sixes landed in that region as he tore through the attack with remarkable freedom.

His innings completely flipped the chase. When Urvil walked in, CSK’s chances of victory stood at 38.13 percent. By the time he departed for 65 off 23 balls, Chennai were overwhelming favourites.

The innings also underlined the aggressive batting direction increasingly visible in T20 cricket, where fearless intent can completely alter a chase within a handful of overs.

LSG fight back before Dube finishes it

To their credit, LSG regrouped strongly after Urvil’s dismissal.

The next 41 balls produced only 43 runs and three wickets as Digvesh Rathi and Shahbaz tightened the scoring. Ruturaj Gaikwad played fluently for 42, recording his highest score in the first ten balls of an IPL innings, but could not finish the chase himself.

Pressure briefly returned when CSK required 35 from the final 23 balls. Prashant Veer survived two dropped chances in the 19th over and capitalised immediately with a crucial six that reduced the equation significantly.

LSG entrusted Aiden Markram with the final over against two left-handers, but Shivam Dube settled the contest emphatically. Having struggled initially, Dube launched consecutive sixes to seal the chase and complete one of Chennai’s most significant wins of the season.

The result not only strengthened CSK’s position in the standings but also highlighted the growing influence of younger players like Urvil, whose fearless approach transformed a daunting chase into a memorable victory.

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After Pakistan were bowled out for 386 in reply to Bangladesh’s 413, the hosts reached 7 without loss in 1.5 overs in their second innings, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Shadman Islam unbeaten at the crease.

The third day belonged largely to Pakistan’s young batters, particularly Azan Awais, whose composed century on debut highlighted a spirited recovery before Bangladesh’s bowlers triggered a decisive collapse.

Azan Awais anchors Pakistan recovery

Azan Awais produced a memorable innings of 103 in only his debut Test, combining fluency through both sides of the wicket with impressive composure against Bangladesh’s spin attack.

The left-handed opener first added 106 runs alongside Imam-ul-Haq before stitching together another century partnership worth 104 with fellow debutant Abdullah Fazal. The pair became only the third debutant duo from Pakistan to register a century stand in Test cricket.

Awais looked increasingly assured as the innings developed, regularly finding gaps through the off side while also working the ball confidently on the leg side. His knock gave Pakistan control for large parts of the morning session and placed Bangladesh under pressure after their commanding first-innings total.

Bangladesh strike back before lunch

The key moment arrived immediately after Awais’ dismissal, when Pakistan’s innings unravelled rapidly.

Taskin Ahmed removed Awais at first slip to claim his 50th Test wicket before dismissing Shan Masood for 9, caught at point. Mehidy Hasan Miraz then turned the game sharply back in Bangladesh’s favour.

Saud Shakeel fell lbw for a duck, while Abdullah Fazal’s solid innings ended when he miscued an uppish shot towards mid-on, where Taijul Islam completed the catch comfortably.

Pakistan had looked firmly placed at 210 for 1, but the collapse reduced them to 230 for 5 shortly before lunch.

Fazal’s contribution of 45 from 120 balls included seven fours and a six, with the youngster playing an important supporting role alongside Awais during Pakistan’s strongest phase of the innings.

Rizwan and Salman steady the innings

Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha rebuilt Pakistan’s innings through a valuable middle-order partnership that kept the visitors within touching distance of Bangladesh’s total.

The pair struck 15 boundaries between them while batting with greater caution after the collapse. Rizwan completed his half-century before falling shortly before tea when he attempted to attack Taijul Islam, only to find Mahmudul Hasan Joy at mid-off.

Rain then interrupted play for nearly an hour, with action resuming at 4.15pm after a lengthy delay.

Once play restarted, Bangladesh tightened their grip again. Salman Agha edged to first slip before Mehidy removed both Noman Ali and Shaheen Afridi in quick succession.

Taijul Islam eventually wrapped up the innings by bowling Hasan Ali as Pakistan were dismissed for 386, conceding a slender 27-run deficit.

Mehidy leads Bangladesh bowling effort

Mehidy Hasan Miraz finished with figures of 5 for 102, collecting his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket and proving decisive during Pakistan’s collapse.

Taskin Ahmed and Taijul Islam claimed two wickets each, while Nahid Rana added one wicket as Bangladesh’s bowlers recovered after Pakistan’s strong start.

Although Azan Awais’ debut century shifted momentum towards Pakistan for large periods of the day, Bangladesh’s ability to strike repeatedly after his dismissal ensured the hosts retained a narrow advantage heading into the fourth day.

With Bangladesh already ahead by 34 runs in the second innings and with conditions continuing to assist spin, the match remains finely balanced despite Pakistan’s strong batting response.

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The post Mehidy five-for edges Bangladesh ahead after Awais ton first appeared on The Sight Screen.

By stumps, Pakistan had moved to 179 for 1 in 46 overs, still trailing by 234 runs. Awais remained unbeaten on 85, while fellow debutant Abdullah Fazal closed the day on 37 not out after the pair guided Pakistan through the final session without further damage.

Abbas completes five-for as Bangladesh bowled out for 413

Pakistan resumed day two looking to wrap up Bangladesh’s innings after the hosts ended the opening day in a commanding position.

Mohammad Abbas led the fightback with a disciplined spell that earned him figures of 5 for 92 in 34 overs. Litton Das was the first wicket to fall on the second morning when Abbas dismissed him for 33 off 67 balls, an innings that included five boundaries.

Mushfiqur Rahim continued to anchor Bangladesh’s innings and brought up his 29th Test half-century with a patient knock. However, Pakistan kept chipping away at the lower order.

Abbas removed Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 10 and Taijul Islam for 17 as Bangladesh slipped to 378 for 7. After lunch, Shaheen Afridi ended Mushfiqur’s resistance for 71 off 179 deliveries, with the right-hander striking eight fours during his stay at the crease.

Abbas then completed his five-wicket haul by dismissing Ebadot Hossain for a duck, reducing Bangladesh to 384 for 9.

Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana added valuable lower-order runs to push Bangladesh past the 400-run mark. Taskin struck Abbas for a six as the hosts crossed 400 in the 115th over before Shaheen eventually wrapped up the innings by dismissing him for 28 off 19 balls, an innings featuring three fours and a six.

Shaheen finished with three wickets, while Hasan Ali and Noman Ali claimed one each.

Azan Awais shines on Test debut

Facing a sizeable first-innings total, Pakistan’s openers responded with confidence and positive intent.

Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais found regular boundaries early in the innings and settled quickly against Bangladesh’s attack. At tea, Pakistan had reached 50 without loss in 10 overs, with Imam unbeaten on 28 and Awais on 18.

The final session saw Pakistan accelerate further as the opening pair began to put Bangladesh’s bowlers under pressure. Awais reached his maiden Test fifty during a century opening partnership with Imam, showing composure throughout his debut innings.

The defining phase of the day came during this partnership. Bangladesh had dominated large periods of day one, but Pakistan’s opening pair absorbed that pressure and shifted momentum through controlled strokeplay and disciplined shot selection.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz eventually provided Bangladesh with the breakthrough, dismissing Imam-ul-Haq for 45 off 72 deliveries after the left-hander struck six boundaries. Pakistan were 106 for 1 at that stage.

Abdullah Fazal supports Awais after breakthrough

Another debutant, Abdullah Fazal, then joined Awais at the crease and ensured Pakistan maintained control through the closing stages of the day.

Fazal rotated the strike effectively and punished loose deliveries, helping Pakistan move beyond the 150-run mark without further setbacks. Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled to create sustained pressure after Imam’s dismissal, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz remaining their only wicket-taker of the innings.

Awais continued to bat with maturity, moving to an unbeaten 85 by stumps as Pakistan closed the day in a significantly stronger position than they had begun it.

Bangladesh’s strong first day loses momentum

Bangladesh had dominated the opening day through captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque.

After early wickets from Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali reduced Bangladesh to 31 for 2, Mominul and Shanto rebuilt the innings with a major partnership that shifted control back towards the hosts.

Shanto brought up his ninth Test century before Abbas dismissed him for 101 off 130 balls, an innings containing 12 fours and two sixes. Mominul narrowly missed out on a century of his own, falling for 91 off 200 deliveries with ten boundaries.

Mushfiqur Rahim later added stability alongside Litton Das as Bangladesh crossed 300 by the end of the first day.

However, Pakistan’s disciplined bowling effort on the second morning, followed by a composed batting display led by Azan Awais, altered the shape of the match considerably. Pakistan still trail by 234 runs, but with nine wickets in hand and two settled batters at the crease, the visitors have given themselves a strong platform heading into day three.

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Shanto, Mominul put Bangladesh in command on Day 1

Source:

https://www.pcb.com.pk/

The post Azan Awais debut fifty puts Pakistan in strong position first appeared on The Sight Screen.

GT posted 229 for 4 after Gill and Sai Sudharsan laid the foundation with a 118-run opening partnership. Rashid then turned the chase decisively in Gujarat’s favour with a match-winning spell of 4 for 36 as Rajasthan collapsed from a promising position.

Rajasthan Royals were 86 for 3 in seven overs and still keeping pace with the target when Rashid bowled Dhruv Jurel with a sharp legbreak. That dismissal triggered a collapse that completely derailed the chase, as RR eventually folded for 152.

GT openers dominate the powerplay

An all-pink Jaipur welcomed both teams as Rajasthan Royals wore special jerseys in support of their women’s empowerment initiative, but Gujarat Titans settled into the conditions far quicker.

Jofra Archer’s opening over lasted 11 deliveries and included nine extras, making it the longest first over in IPL history. Gill and Sai Sudharsan capitalised immediately without taking major risks, racing to 18 without loss after the first over.

The pair continued to score freely through the ‘V’, punishing anything on the pads or too short. By the end of the powerplay, GT had surged to 82 for 0 and were closing in on yet another century opening partnership. It became their ninth 100-plus stand together, the second-most by an IPL pair behind Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

Both batters reached their half-centuries off 30 balls, maintaining Gujarat’s control despite Rajasthan attempting to tighten the middle overs.

RR slow Gujarat through middle phase

Yash Raj Punja and Ravindra Jadeja helped Rajasthan Royals regain some control after the explosive start.

Although there was little assistance from the surface, the pair bowled disciplined lines and restricted easy boundary opportunities. Gill also appeared hampered by a leg injury while running between wickets, which slowed Gujarat’s momentum slightly.

Punja eventually dismissed Sai Sudharsan for 55 off 36 balls after he holed out to long-on, while Jadeja hurried Jos Buttler with a quicker delivery clocked at 107kph that resulted in a catch at long-off.

At one stage, GT looked set to finish below 220 after slipping to 208 for 4 at the end of the 19th over. Brijesh Sharma had delivered an excellent penultimate over, conceding only four runs while dismissing Jason Holder with clever variations.

Tewatia and Washington provide late surge

Rahul Tewatia and Washington Sundar ensured Gujarat finished strongly after Tushar Deshpande lost control in the final over.

Tewatia shuffled around the crease to launch back-to-back sixes before Washington added another maximum of his own. GT plundered valuable late runs to finish on 229 for 4, a total that ultimately proved far beyond Rajasthan’s reach.

The late acceleration gave Gujarat crucial breathing space after Rajasthan had threatened to stay in the contest during the early stages of the chase.

Rashid changes the match completely

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi threatened another explosive innings when he smashed Mohammed Siraj for six off the very first ball he faced. Moments later, Siraj nearly bowled him with a yorker before the young batter recovered to hammer three boundaries in four deliveries.

Sooryavanshi raced to 36 off just 16 balls before Siraj forced a miscued hook to square leg. Gujarat then tightened their grip through Rashid Khan.

Dhruv Jurel had looked dangerous on 24 off 9 balls before Rashid beat his attempted slog and rattled the stumps. From there, the Afghanistan legspinner dismantled the chase.

Donovan Ferreira was beaten by sharp turn through the gate, while Harsh Dubey missed a slog completely to give Rashid his third straight wicket. Ravindra Jadeja briefly counterattacked with a six over backward square leg, but Rashid trapped him lbw with the very next delivery.

Rashid mixed his legbreaks cleverly throughout the spell and consistently extracted more turn than any other spinner on the night. His four wickets proved the defining difference between the two teams.

GT continue strong surge up the table

Jason Holder wrapped up the innings with three wickets in five deliveries as Rajasthan Royals suffered their third defeat in four matches.

Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, moved up to second place with 14 points and extended their winning streak to four matches. The balance between explosive top-order batting and a disciplined bowling attack continues to make GT one of the strongest sides in the competition.

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Finn Allen century powers KKR to crushing win over DC

Source:

https://www.iplt20.com/

The post GT crush Royals as Rashid and Gill dominate in Jaipur first appeared on The Sight Screen.