Gibraltar, renowned for its role as the strait connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, found itself in the limelight for a less favorable reason as its national team set a record against France last night. France achieved a resounding 14-0 victory over Gibraltar, breaking records and solidifying their dominance in a Euro Cup qualifier.
The city of Mahatma Gandhi buzzed with anticipation in the days leading up to the finals, as cricket enthusiasts eagerly awaited the "blue festival." However, Australia played the spoiler, dampening the spirits of Indian fans with a brilliant performance that resulted in a resounding victory in the crucial match.
With only 10 minutes remaining in the match and 6,500 spectators holding their breath at the Kings Arena, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation. The home team, Bashundhara Kings, found themselves trailing 1-0 against Maldives' Mazia Sports and Recreation Club. Oscar Brujon's team faced the daunting prospect of experiencing their first defeat on home turf. However, despite the late setback, the Kings conjured up magic in the final 10 minutes to secure a remarkable 2-1 victory over Mazia Sports and Recreation Club.
The return of Mount Maunganui to Sylhet marks a significant historical moment in cricket. While victories against New Zealand in white-ball cricket have been numerous, the triumph at Mount Maunganui stands out as the sole success in the Test format. Despite the Bangladeshi team achieving a clean sweep of the Kiwis on their home turf, the success of Mount Maunganui, both at home and away, holds a special place in Bangladesh's cricket history. The upcoming Test match at the Sylhet International Stadium promises to be a continuation of Mount Maunganui's historic legacy.
India secured the series victory against Australia with one match to spare, having lost the third encounter but bouncing back strongly in the fourth ODI to seal the series 3-1. Rinku Singh played a crucial role in steering India to a formidable total after a dynamic start by Yashvi Jaiswal and a powerful performance from Jitesh Sharma. The host nation ultimately triumphed by 20 runs on Friday.
The formidable Bangladesh women's team secured a remarkable victory against the Proteas, with Swarna-Murshidar delivering an outstanding performance in the first T20 of the South Africa tour.
Bangladesh demonstrated their dominance in a resounding victory over Singapore, securing an 8-0 triumph in women's football. Singapore's goalkeeper, Lynn Bin Beatrice, found herself consistently busy, grappling with the relentless attacks launched by Bangladesh. The women's football team from Bangladesh celebrated a remarkable victory, concluding the year 2023 on a high note.
Bangladesh embarks on its 10th bilateral series in New Zealand, hoping to break the longstanding streak of disappointments that have plagued the team since their first visit in 2001. Departing in two groups, the first contingent set off on Saturday night, with the second scheduled to leave on Monday, gearing up for the upcoming three-match ODI and T20 series.
In a rain-marred encounter at Port Elizabeth, India posted a competitive total of 180 for 7, propelled by Ringku's explosive innings of 68 off 39 balls and Skipper Suryakumar Yadav's valuable contribution of 56 off 36 balls. However, South Africa emerged victorious in the shortened match, chasing down a revised target of 152 runs in 15 overs with 5 wickets to spare before seven balls remained.
In the lead-up to the main showdown, Bangladesh clinched a significant victory in their warm-up match against New Zealand XI, with leg spinner Rishad Hossain emerging as the hero of the day. Rishad's stellar all-round performance included a noteworthy 87-run innings with the bat and three crucial wickets with the ball.