Gutenberg’s Printing Press. Columbus setting sail in 1492. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Moon Landing.
Rarely does an event feel so monumental that it promises to change the course of the world as we know it.
But on November 2nd, it felt like one of those moments: India’s women cricket team winning the World Cup. Alright, perhaps not at the level of Gutenberg or the Moon Landing, but you get the point. Some moments carry an emotional force that transcends the game itself.
India has long been called the “Sleeping Giant” of world sport, a nation of passion and population, yet far from realizing its global potential. We are reminded of this with every passing FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. But even within cricket, India’s most popular sport, women’s cricket remained the final frontier.
This wasn’t an underdog story like Kapil Dev’s men of ‘83. There were expectations for the home nation, shadowed by past disappointments. A semi-final run felt realistic, but beating this world-class Australian side? Let’s be honest, not many dreamed that far.
And yet, here we are.
It wasn’t a flawless campaign by any measure. This was an imperfect victory, and that’s what made it so special. Three losses in a row. Mandhana and Harmanpreet not quite at their best early on. In-form Pratika Rawal getting injured on the eve of the semi-finals. The public turning against the team on social media. We had seen this story before.
But when Jemimah Rodrigues fought her inner demons to script an unforgettable semi-final chase, every run she took held a nation’s breath. Her silky cover drives gliding across the field, the hunger burning fiercely in her eyes, and that smiling face, the charming grace masking the depths of fear, self-doubts, and the what-ifs. She stretched her body and mind to the limit because she knew she had to see it through and remain at the crease till the end. Oh, that muddied jersey, I’ll never forget.
Then came Shafali Verma, the out-of-favor young star meeting the moment. Dancing around the pitch, hitting sixes down the ground, taking magical wickets that turned the tide as if pressure meant nothing to her.
And when the ever-positive Amanjot Kaur sprinted in for Laura Wolvaardt’s catch…dropped, caught, dropped, and caught again, in that moment, we finally started to believe.
Every player stood up and in the field, they put their bodies on the line, diving around the boundary. Lifting the trophy in the presence of Diana Edulji, Anjum Chopra, and other pioneers, bringing in Rawal on a wheelchair, celebrating with Mithali Raj and Jhulani Goswami, this was poetic justice.
Deserved world champions, a team whose grit, grace, and courage have the power to ignite the nation.
The barrier is now shattered.
Think of the impact this win will have on India’s sports culture and even its social fabric. Somewhere in a small town, a mother realizes that her daughter could dream bigger than she ever dared to. Somewhere in a boardroom, an executive finally questions pay disparity. Somewhere in the stands, a young girl’s destiny just changed, dreaming of becoming the next Richa Ghosh or Shree Charani, inspired by World Cup heroines like Deepti Sharma.
Change will not come overnight.
But on this night, it began.
This is part of a new series of short articles, where I try to aim for 500 words and make every word count. This one ended up at 549 words.
BCD#405 © Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 11/08/2025. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).
2 minute read
Send your pictures of cricket bats and other cricket stuff in unusual places to king@kingcricket.co.uk. Please consider putting the cricket thing in the unusual place yourself.
Stalwart King Cricket contributor Ged Ladd writes…
Regular readers of this website will be familiar with “The Device,” a beer-carrying contraption that King Cricket and family have used at cricket matches for decades.
Such regular readers might also have seen contributions from people like me, who have spotted cricket bats adapted for device purposes – in my case adorning a bar in Sissinghurst.
In 2025 Sam made a gold standard spotting of this kind – an adapted cricket bat in use as a device at a cricket match.
Yet, there is another King Cricket theme – cricket bats in unusual places, which has been running since 2009.
I have made several contributions to that oeuvre, including, in 2024, spotting a cricket bat in a Pigbag video.
That discovery made me surprisingly happy, given my age and stage in life.
But I am now able to set a new gold standard. For I have spotted a device-adapted cricket bat, most incongruously, in a Mexican corrido music video: El Belicón by Peso Pluma.
If you are able to take your eyes and mind away from the offensive weaponry and glamour models that also adorn the video, you will see Peso Pluma wielding the device at around the 12 second mark, and the 40 second mark, and then again a few more times during the video.
I asked Google Gemini (other AI assistants are available) to explain the device with holes wielded by Peso Puma in that video. It replied, with conviction, that the device is a güiro, which is a percussion instrument much used in Central America. This plausible-sounding theory breaks down somewhat when you look at pictures of güiros, none of which look even faintly like the cricket-bat-like device being wielded by Peso Pluma.
Plausible ideas as to why Peso Pluma is wielding a cricket bat device in this music video would be much appreciated. The hive mind of King Cricket readers can surely do better than Gemini.
Sign up for the King Cricket email for the next exciting instalment of Cricket Bats (And Other Cricket Things) In Unusual Places.
It’s Matchday, and you’ve got the Proteas on TV.
Snacks ready. Drinks poured. The braai sizzling.
The broadcast kicks off — and almost immediately, the familiar questions creep in:
Why is he opening?
Why isn’t that bowler on yet?
What’s the plan if a wicket falls right now?
Normally, you’d shrug.
Guess a little.
Scroll your phone.
Let it go.
Because that’s what fans do when they’re watching — but not really understanding.
Today is different.
You open your Proteas World Cup Digital Companion.
And suddenly, everything clicks.
In seconds, the fog lifts:
No clutter. No noise. Just clarity.
This isn’t more information.
It’s the right information — exactly when you need it.
The captain’s plan for the middle overs pops up.
The bowler comes on… and now you get it.
You know why this over matters.
Why this batter is stepping up now.
Why this moment could swing the game.
Every decision suddenly has a reason.
It feels like having a seasoned cricket mind right beside you — quietly explaining the things TV commentary never has time for.
Your friends are watching too.
They keep asking questions.
You smile.
Not because you’ve memorised stats…
But because now, you understand the game.
You tap into a player profile.
See strengths. Spot weaknesses.
Check the conditions for the next match.
Cricket stops being chaotic.
It becomes connected.
Before play even begins, you dive into the Match Preview Show — embedded directly inside the guide.
Key match-ups.
Players to watch.
Moments that will decide the game.
You don’t just watch anymore — you anticipate.
After the match, the experience continues:
It’s interactive.
It’s social.
And it never pulls you away from the live action.
The final overs arrive.
Your heart’s racing — but now there’s something new:
certainty.
You know which bowler can flip the match.
Which batter could change everything in one swing.
So when the boundary comes…
Or the wicket falls…
It hits harder.
Because now you don’t just feel it —
you understand why it happened.
When the broadcast signs off, the guide stays open.
You revisit key plays.
Explore deeper stats.
Start thinking about the next match.
Without realising it, you’ve crossed a line:
You’re no longer a casual viewer.
You’re the fan who sees the game differently.
The fan who debates smarter.
Predicts better.
Enjoys cricket on another level.
The Proteas World Cup Digital Companion isn’t just something you read.
It’s:
All living in one simple browser window.
Once you experience a match with it open…
you’ll never want to watch without it again.
The ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup will have a Super 8 stage consisting of two groups
Group 1 Super 8 T20 WC 2024: A1, B2, C1, D2
Group 2 Super 8 T20 WC 2024: A2, B1, C2, D!
But here is the interesting thing- the teams were pre-seeded going into the World Cup. India for example are A1, and Australia are B2, and India and Australia will be in the same Super 8 group as long as they qualify- it doesn’t matter whether they actually finish first or second in their respective groups.
Pre-seeding of T20 World Cup 2024 teams
A1- India
A2- Pakistan
B1- England
B2- Australia
C1- New Zealand
C2- West Indies
D1- South Africa
D2- Sri Lanka
If, for example, England don’t qualify from their group and Scotland do, Scotland will be in Group 2 for the Super 8’s as B1 alongside West Indies and South Africa.
This, therefore, provides greater incentive, so as to speak, for Australia to effectively throw the Scotland game. Lose or win in that game doesn’t matter for Australia as long as they’ve automatically qualified. Whether they finish first in the group or second is immaterial- they will be B2 for the Super 8’s, and therefore in the same group as India (A1).
If a team qualifies ahead of a seeded team- Afghanistan qualifying instead of New Zealand from Group C will make Afghanistan C1 (regardless of whether they finish first or second in Group C)
India’s Super 8 Group (as it stands) is therefore likely to be India (A1), Australia (B2), Afghanistan (C1 instead of pre-seeded New Zealand) and Bangladesh (D2 instead of pre-seeded Sri Lanka)
South Africa (Proteas) Super 8 Group will mostly likely include SA, West Indies, USA (A2 instead of pre-seeded Pakistan) and Scotland / England
Sat, Feb 7, ’26
by KRISSANIA YOUNG
West Indies ride Hetmyer’s good form, Shepherd’s hat-trick to victory against Scotland
West Indies 182 for 5 (Hetmyer 64, King 35; Currie 2-23) beat Scotland 147 all out (Berrington 42, Bruce 35; Shepherd 5-20) by 35 runs
Shimron Hetmyer did not arrive in India with the West Indies team earlier this week after he was left stranded with visa issues in South Africa following their T20 International series. The left-hander, however, turned up in time to deliver a player-of-the-match performance, which got the Caribbean side off to a winning start at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
“That part is irrelevant; he was here,” Captain Shai Hope beamed in the post-match presser. Hetmyer beat Chris Gayle’s record for the fastest fifty (22 balls) by a West Indian at the World Cup on his way to a 36-ball 64. West Indies’ new No.3 strode to the crease with his side in a scuffle at 54 for 1 in the ninth. In his knocks of 75 and 48 in that position against South Africa, the Guyanese struck at 192.2.
“Hetty, again he’s been in some tremendous form; he’s been consistent. We asked him to go out in the number three position and show a bit more responsibility, and he’s taken it [on], as you can see,” Hope continued.
“We know how good of a player he is, and I don’t think we were maximizing his true potential all the way down [the order]. So we just asked him to do the job. I’m glad that he accepted the challenge, and it’s great to see him playing the way Hetty normally plays. Hopefully he can continue throughout the tournament and give us that nice start that we asked for.”
Hetmyer shared in an innings-defining 37-ball 81-run third-wicket stand alongside Rovman Powell, who scored 24 from 14, to lift the West Indies to 182 for 5 from their 20 overs. Left-arm seamer Brad Currie led the Scottish attack with 2 for 23.
West Indies’ defense was anything but smooth sailing. After restricting Scotland to 37 for 3 in the 6th over, skipper Richie Berrington and Tom Bruce (35) put on 78 from 47 deliveries for the fourth wicket. When Jason Holder (3/30) removed Berrington for 42 in the 14th, Scotland needed 68 off 40 balls.
“[Romario Shepherd] is one of those guys who’s always willing to learn and improve. He’s always ready to put his hand up whenever the team requires him, whether it’s bat or ball,” Hope said.
Today, it was with the ball that the West Indies needed Shepherd, and he responded with a five-wicket haul (5/20), which included a hat-trick in the 17th. He removed Matthew Cross (11), Michael Leask and Oliver Davidson, both without scoring, to snatch Scotland’s hope at 133 for 8 before they were dismissed for 147 in 18.5 overs.
Hope continued, “It’s just about executing the team plans…[and] about confidence. Shepherd’s been bowling really well in the last couple of series. He’s kind of versatile for us in the middle overs especially, and it’s great to see him starting to work, and hopefully he can continue doing the same.”
With Team India as the most destructive, discover the ranking of all teams basis their best batting lineup for the T20 World Cup 2026.
Since the last couple of years, T20 Cricket has shown so much inclination towards the batters that 200 looks like the new 160, and 250 looks like the new 220. The intent mechanism has taken so much Centre stage that batters go hard at the bowlers without worrying about the score right from ball 1. Irrespective of the match situation, hitting has become paramount in T20 cricket, and one team that has shown the world how it is done, it is Team India. The current T20 World Cup can be the most destructive team in the World.
This is the reason teams are less concerned about the bowlers in the team, and are mainly focused on the batters they are adding to the squad. Each team has at least 2-3 hard-hitting batters who can take the game away from the opposition, even if they just stay for a few overs. In addition to having those aggressive, hard-hitting batters, teams are also playing it safe by batting at least till now. So, even if the teams were to compromise on bowling, they won’t compromise on batting depth, as it adds that extra layer of security for batters to play freely.
Having said that, which teams have the best batting lineup? When you know the tournament will witness some of the most belligerent batters like Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Finn Allen, Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Romario Shepherd, etc., it makes for an interesting batting lineup comparison. So, let’s analyse all teams, and look at the ranking of the top teams with respect to their batting lineup for the T20 World Cup 2026.
Starting with the number 9, it should be no surprise to see Afghanistan in this position. If there is one area where Afghanistan lack as a team, it is their batting. Afghanistan have always been a bowling side, but their batting is catching up slowly. The likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, and others have talent, but they lack consistency. Hence, as a batting unit, there is still a long way to go for Afghanistan.
Number 8 belongs to the Sri Lankan team, and while Sri Lanka’s bowling unit seems sorted, they also have a lot of work to do in their batting department. Barring Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, there’s WIP in terms of their batting unit. So, be it Kamil Mishara, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, etc., the batting lacks the punch. Hence, similar to Afghanistan, Sri Lanka will have to win most of their matches on their bowling.
For number 7, we have the Pakistan team, and it would not be an understatement, but Pakistan have one of the weakest batting lineups in history. Gone are those days of Saeed Anwar, Inzaman, Younis Khan, etc., as current batting stars for Pakistan are Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Fakhar Zaman, etc. The team seriously lacks the batting depth and attacking intent, and hence, may face difficulty in difficult batting conditions in Sri Lanka.
Number 6 sees the West Indies team, and the team has a few power Hitters and consistent batters on their side. West Indies has solid batting depth, and there are solid batters like Shai Hope, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, etc. However, among the big names, there is one thing they lack as a batting unit: consistency. The team as a whole has never performed as expected, and hence may face challenges during the Super 8 stage, if they qualify.
For number 5, we have the England team, and this is one England side that lacks the punch in their batting depth. If you have someone like Sam Curran and Jamie Overton as 7 and 8, respectively, there is a lack of quality batting depth. Sure, Curran and Overton can hit a few, but they aren’t dependable. Hence, overall, barring the likes of Phil Salt and Jos Buttler, the batting lineup doesn’t look belligerent the way we had seen the England team of the past.
Number 4 sees the New Zealand team, and the team has solid batting till number 8, with Santner batting in that position. The addition of Finn Allen and Tim Seifert at the top makes it an explosive batting unit. Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman complete the rest of the batting lineup, and it’s actually pretty good on paper. However, one thing that seems to be a concern area for them, and it is the form of Rachin, Seifert, and Champak. These three need more runs under the belt to invoke fear in the minds of the opposition.
For number 3, we have the Australian team. Mind you, Australia have some of the most aggressive batters to play T20 cricket. The likes of Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, etc., are monsters. However, the only problem with Aussie batting is batting depth. There is literally no good batter at number 8, and they will probably have to play Copper Connolly or Xavier Bartlett in that position. Cooper may still be a competent batter, but Bartlett is more of a filler, and thus Australia have one weakness in otherwise a belligerent batting unit.
Number 2 belongs to the South African team, and not only can South African batting be destructive, but they can also be consistent in their approach, and can adapt to the conditions. South Africa have batting till 8, and the team has some of the most amazing batters like Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Corbin Bosch, etc. They can’t even be termed as Underdogs as the team has seen how these potential match-winners can play. Given such a strong batting lineup, even Australia may find it difficult to beat them, and India, South Africa, and Australia will be the group to watch out for.
Finally, at the peak of its prowess is the Indian team, and my word, there is no one word to describe the batting lineup of the Indian team. A proper mix of power rangers and intent merchants, this Indian team has redefined T20 cricket in 2026. It is undoubtedly the most destructive side even to play for Team India, and when you have the quality of Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh at 6 or 7, this isn’t about filling roles; it’s a luxury to have. If India get even a slight flat pitch, there is no way any opposition in the world has the power to stop the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, etc.
ALSO READ: T20 World Cup 2026 Each Team Likely Best Playing 11 Ranking
So, that’s the best batting lineup of each team for the T20 World Cup 2026. Thanks for reading! Looking at the batting lineup ranking of each team, which team looks the best for the T20 World Cup 2026? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com.
© AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics
The Not Watching The Ashes Chronicles – Part 1
I mentioned in my last post that I don’t have the TV subscription for TNT Sports to watch the Ashes. I don’t want to look for dodgy streams or such like, and given my sleep patterns are all over the shop, more disruption to them is the last thing I need. But I will still want to know what is going on and how, so the aim, and that’s ambitious in itself when my long-term planning is about a week in advance, is to jot down some thoughts as this series rattles by in the 45 days or so they plan to play it in. Not so much match reports, because of course I won’t be watching, but thoughts. Hopefully short. But I doubt it….
My first one, and this comes as little to no surprise is why is Malcolm Conn still gainfully employed. I see he has an article in The Cricketer this month where he has a go, hold on to your hats here, at England. Pick yourself up off the floor. Right now, well actually he’s been for a while, the equivalent of the Arthur Bostrom character in Allo Allo as the gendarmerie that went “Good Moaning”. Marginally funny the first time, but ten series later, absolutely ball achingly tedious. Today he has risen to the challenge of Steve Smith’s honour as Monty Panesar takes the role of “sanctimonious” Pom for daring to mention that Smith’s team got caught banged to rights with cheating and squealed about it.
The press conference bouncer for those lachrymose mea culpae was Conn. He thought us laughing at them tearing apart was us being sanctimonious, whereas we were just wetting ourselves. Our Conn has a bit of a thing about urination – his jibe back was Monty’s “let it rain” moment on a night club attendant, which of course was preceded by Conn losing his bladder control over England celebrating the Ashes at OUR Oval. He’s a strange one. He genuinely thinks he winds us up. There’s a difference, doorman, between winding us up and pitying you.
I remember my first Ashes tour of 2002, when Vaughan got a century pre-Brisbane, and the doorman called it the luckiest century he’d ever seen. He berated Caddick for taking a wicket at The Gabba on England’s comeback (temporary) 2nd day in whatever pamphlet paid his wages, to which in a holiday tour video my quote was “If Conn says one positive thing about England while I am out here, I’ll eat this hat I’m wearing.” If you want a laugh about this guy’s cricket knowledge, catch him on the Cricket Writers On TV he appeared on – I could not stop laughing! Out of his depth.
When we got hammered in Brisbane in 2006, and started at Adelaide with a promising Day 1 score of around 275 for 3, the whingeing conn accused England of killing cricket. A clown. Why did The Cricketer think giving him a space when more talented writers like Derek Pringle or Paul Newman are about. By the way, on my hiatus from blogging, and at the suggestion a number of years ago from Nick Hoult, I read Pringle’s book. It’s good. Yes, you read that, it’s good. Not great. Good.
The sandpaper thingamy is hilarious. We don’t necessarily think that we are angels, but when the Aussies sanctified their own conduct about the line while talking about breaking fucking arms, to be so gloriously hoisted on their own petard was quite enthralling. Keep it going. They clearly don’t like that up ’em.
As for the first test, a great friend is out there, flaunting Little Creatures, stadium tour of the WACA and lovely weather while I freeze in my Hampshire bolt-hole. Jealous, but not. My days of this have passed due to the anxiety and mental health stuff. But there have been frequent pauses to think of those tours, especially the first one. There is nothing like an Ashes overseas. Although Adelaide in 2006 was traumatic for many reasons, including having my wallet stolen in Glenelg, it is still a memorable match. I was there. Oh God, I was there.
England might name a spinner, but probably won’t. Ollie Pope is in the hot seat for his batting place, and while I can see why, I think Crawley should be too. I was tickled by the reaction to Harry Brook’s madcap dismissal in the knockabout game as being “daft as a brush” “not enough brains” etc., but if a certain batsman from over a decade ago did that his loyalty to the team was questioned. Still the stinking hypocrisy grates.
As for Australia, the bowling looks a bit thin on paper, but it won’t be. Unless Dougie Bollinger has been revived, or Michael Beer/Ashton Agar/Xavier Doherty is in the wings. As for the batting, they will score runs, enough runs, to beat us. Smith will be Smith, Head will make two tons, Khawaja will have the test where you never look like getting him out, Labuschagne will come to some sort of form, Cam Green will become Mitchell Marsh, and Alex Carey will get one ton. England have had two, I think, century makers in the last two tours and neither are playing – Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan. Don’t think there is anyone else. I’m trusting my failing memory now.
Look, as the Aussies might say, I don’t expect a welter of hits. Not going to happen. But I do still love the writing of stuff, and this is me trying to work back some enthusiasm for a sport that has treated me, and many others, like total shit. The sport does not deserve us, but we are where we are because cricket is great, especially the longer forms. The Ashes is overhyped, but over there this time. The journos out there, all nicely expensed up, are showing us just how nice it is, and us poor hardworking souls are left in the bitter cold to wonder just what is happening and how the hell does BBC Sounds work? I feel so old. I got my hopes up when it said it was on Discovery + but then discovered (geddit) that my subscription for that channel, that I’ve never watched, doesn’t extend to this. So are there highlights somewhere? Or am I relying on Twitter Clips?
Whatever. Let’s see how this goes. If you have read this, thanks. Judging by the hits, you won’t. C’est La Vie. Got to take the rough side with the smooth. I’m not here to con you.
By Helen Maynard-Casely
Round 5 of the WNCL kicked off today with South Australia hosting Victoria and NSW Breakers hosting Queensland Fire as the competition gets closer to the pointy end. Across the round state sides will be seeing cameos from contracted Australia players as they seek time on the park ahead of the series against India that starts later in the month. Down in Adelaide, Annabelle Sutherland returned to the Victoria side, joining newly minted national captain Sophie Molineux. Victoria, still desperate for a first win of the season, were denied by a South Australian team again super powered by Megan Schutt, Darcy Brown and Tahlia McGrath – the latter taking player of the match in a welcome return to form.
But our main story was over the Barrasi line and further North. An overcast day greeted players across Dharug lands today, at NSW’s Cricket Central. Queensland, emboldened by the return of Jess Jonassen to the side won the toss and decided that the grey weather might favour their bowling. NSW fielded a similar side to those who had travelled to Canberra for the previous round, only swapping between two veterans with Georgia Adams out in favour of Samantha Bates.
Coming out to bat, openers Tahlia Wilson and Alyssa Healy started very conservatively, with the first boundary not coming until the 5th over. Both saw out the power play until Healy was caught by keeper captain Georgia Redmayne off of Jonassen’s bowling, for 28 runs off of 48 balls. Jonassen followed this up by taking the wickets of Wilson and Ellyse Perry, but not before they had both contributed to the total, most notably Wilson with 46. The humid conditions, peppered with some light mizzle, may have supported the Queensland bowlers, as they strangled the run rate through the middle overs.
However, Wilson’s wicket brought Katie Mack to the crease, who persisted through the lean run times, forming an excellent 130 partnership with Clare Moore to put on the backbone of the innings total. Each of the Queensland bowler’s spells came and went as the total steadily climbed. So set was the partnership, that when it ended as Sianna Ginger’s bowling took Mack’s leg stump, there were no shouts of celebration from Queensland. Just a frustrated yell and jump from Mack herself (reminiscent of Master Kogah for a Zelda fandom crossover) – gone for 95 runs. In Mack’s absence Moore continued in a similar vein, and only lost her wicket being stumped fishing for more runs in the 49th over. The NSW breakers completed the 50 overs with 7/309, their highest total so far at home ground Cricket Central. Jess Jonassen on return was the pick of the Queensland bowlers, bowling out her 10 overs for 58 runs conceded and three wickets.
Looking back over the 10 games that NSW have played at Cricket Central, they have never been beaten after posting over 300 (the joy of small statistics, this has in fact only happened once). So looking to defy that stat, the Queensland batters strode to the crease as the sun broke through the cloud. As the humidity dropped, they would be hoping to be able to reach the 310 goal set. But that was soon challenged, in the third over Breakers captain Lauren Cheatle took two wickets, firstly Mikayla Wrigley LBW, then next ball bowling Lauren Winfield-Hill. Bringing Jonassen to the crease to join the remaining opening batter, Georgia Redmayne, they scored quickly to make sure the total stayed in play. A spell of tight bowling from Sarah Coyte put a stop to that, and resulted in her bowling Jonassen for 26.
Redmayne was left to battle on, and was ably supported by Annie O’Neil who came on to bat in the 20th over. O’Neil muscled deliveries all over the park, even lofting down the ground for a 6. But just as the 6th wicket partnership was looking dangerously like catching up with the run rate, Coyte again caused a pivot in the game – bowling a double wicket maiden in the 32nd over – taking O’Neil and Hancock’s wickets. Ruby Strange had a fantastic knock, showing little fear of the NSW bowling attack and hitting big. Again, Queensland hopes started to rise, and Redmayne having feared previously running out of batting partners, was able to push on to bring up her century darting between wickets.
But time and run rate wait for no woman, and the hunt for runs was Queensland’s demise. First Strange pushed her luck too far and was caught at deep mid-wicket by Lauren Cheatle off of Sam Bate’s bowling. Then, only two balls after her century, Redmayne’s shot was caught on the boundary as she searched for an elusive 4 runs. 10 balls later the Queensland innings was over for 224, handing NSW victory, a bonus point and security at the top of the WNCL standings.
Helen (Crystallised Cricket) is a writer based in Dharug and Gundagarra country, and here is writing about a game played on Dharug country. She acknowledges the traditional owners of the lands that she writes from.
The IPL 2026 Auction PDF has become one of the most searched cricket resources as fans look for a complete list of sold and unsold players. With franchises rebuilding squads ahead of the new season, the IPL 2026 auction delivered high bids, surprise releases, and intense competition among teams. To make things easier for fans, we have created a downloadable PDF featuring the full IPL 2026 auction player list.
The IPL 2026 Auction PDF provides a quick and reliable way to track which players were sold, who went unsold, and how teams shaped their squads. Instead of scrolling through live blogs, a PDF allows fans to access verified auction data anytime. Moreover, this document is helpful for fantasy cricket players, analysts, and content creators.
Several big names attracted massive bids during the IPL 2026 auction. As expected, franchises invested heavily in proven match-winners, while young domestic talents also grabbed attention. Teams focused on strengthening their core by adding fast bowlers, middle-order batters, and all-rounders. Notably, some unexpected players crossed the crore mark, making the auction even more exciting.
The IPL 2026 Auction PDF includes:
Player name
Sold price
Buying franchise
Player role
While many players found new homes, several notable names remained unsold. Some international players missed out due to availability concerns, while others were affected by team combinations and budget limits. However, unsold players may still get chances as replacement signings during the season.
The IPL 2026 Auction PDF clearly separates sold and unsold players, ensuring transparency and ease of use.
Cricket fans can now download the IPL 2026 Auction PDF directly from www.cricupdate4u.com. The document is mobile-friendly, printable, and regularly updated to reflect official auction data.
📥 Download IPL 2026 Auction Player List PDF
📊 Download IPL 2026 Auction Player List (Excel)
Complete sold and unsold player list
Team-wise breakdown
Auction highlights and trends
Easy-to-read table format
The IPL 2026 auction has once again proven why it is one of the biggest events in world cricket. With squads finalized and expectations rising, fans will closely watch how these auction decisions impact the upcoming season. To stay updated, don’t forget to download the IPL 2026 Auction PDF and keep all player details at your fingertips.
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