A spirited innings from Liam Scott ultimately proved insufficient as Hobart Hurricanes produced a clinical all-round display to defeat Adelaide Strikers by 37 runs in Match 28 of the Big Bash League 2025-26 at the Bellerive Oval. After setting a challenging target of 179, the Hurricanes backed it up with incisive bowling, led brilliantly by Nathan Ellis, to seal a dominant home victory.

Hobart Hurricanes post competitive total after explosive start

Asked to bat first, Hobart Hurricanes began aggressively, with Mitchell Owen providing early fireworks through a blistering 33 off just nine deliveries. His clean striking set the tone, allowing the Hurricanes to maintain momentum despite losing wickets at regular intervals. Tim Ward and Rehan Ahmed steadied the innings in the middle phase, with Rehan’s quick 29 off 17 balls ensuring the run rate never dipped.

Ben McDermott struggled for fluency, but valuable contributions from Nikhil Chaudhary and Matthew Wade kept the innings on track. Wade played with intent, scoring 27 off 19 balls, while Macalister Wright’s late push helped Hobart Hurricanes close on a strong 178/6. For Adelaide Strikers, Jamie Overton stood out with an economical spell, while Tabraiz Shamsi applied the brakes during the middle overs.

Also READ: Ben Dwarshuis, Joel Davies shine as Sydney Sixers pip Melbourne Stars in a low-scoring thriller

Nathan Ellis leads bowling masterclass as Liam Scott’s fighting knock goes in vain

The chase got off to a disastrous start for Adelaide Strikers, who lost their top order cheaply and were immediately put on the back foot. Matthew Short, Chris Lynn, and Mackenzie Harvey all fell inside the powerplay, leaving the visitors reeling and in desperate need of stability.

Scott rose to the occasion with a magnificent 91 off 58 balls, showcasing composure and power in equal measure. He struck six boundaries and five sixes, single-handedly keeping the Strikers’ hopes alive. However, a lack of support from the other batters meant the required rate continued to climb.

Ellis turned the game decisively in Hobart’s favour with a superb spell, conceding just seven runs in his two overs while claiming two key wickets. He was well supported by Riley Meredith’s pace and Rishad Hossain’s guile, with the latter picking up three wickets to extinguish any chance of a late recovery. Adelaide Strikers eventually finished on 141/9, handing Hobart Hurricanes a convincing 37-run victory. Ellis’ impactful performance earned him the Player of the Match award as Hobart Hurricanes capped off a dominant display in front of their home crowd.

Hobart Hurricanes got the better of Adelaide Strikers in BBL|15 clash 💪#BBL15 pic.twitter.com/TPJMAbOdm5

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 9, 2026

Also WATCH: Riley Meredith floors Mackenzie Harvey with an unplayable delivery in BBL|15

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs on Friday termed the remarks made by US secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick that “PM Modi’s reluctance to call Trump” was the reason behind the delay in the trade deal between the United States and India, as “inaccurate.”In a media briefing MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “PM Modi and President Trump have spoken on eight occasions in 2025.”

While responding to a question about the claims made by Lutnick in a podcast where he had blamed the delay in the US-India trade agreement on New Delhi, saying that the States waited for PM Modi‘s call for too long, Jaiswal dismissed the claims as “inaccurate characterizations.”He mentioned the multiple rounds of negotiation between the two countries and how on several occasions a “deal was close.”Also read: Between the staircase and the see-saw; Did PM Modi’s reluctance to call Trump cost India a trade deal?“We have seen the remarks, India and the United States were committed to a bilateral trade agreement as far back as February 13, 2025. Since both sides have had multiple rounds of negotiations to arrive at a mutually beneficial deal. On several occasions we have been close to a deal. The characterisation of these discussions in reported remarks is not accurate,” Jaiswal said.He further went on to say India remains committed to a mutually ‘beneficial’ trade agreement, also rebutting Lutnick’s claims. “We remain committed to mutually beneficial deal between two complementary economies. Incidentally, PM Modi and President Trump have spoken on eight occasions in 2025, covering different aspects of our wide ranging partnership,” he said.Speaking at the All-In Podcast, hosted by Chamath Palihapitiya, Lutnick said, “Let’s be clear, it’s his deal. He’s the closer. He does the deal. So I said, you got to have Modi. It’s all set up. You have to have Modi…they were uncomfortable doing it.”Also read: ‘Hug hug na raha’- Congress takes dig at PM Modi; reacts to stalled India–US trade deal “So Modi didn’t call,” he claimed. This statement comes after US President on Thursday, approved a bill that can impose at least 500 per cent tariffs for countries buying Russian oil, aiming to “punish them.” US senator Lindsey Graham said that the bill would give US tremendous leverage against countries like China, India and Brazil to incentivize them to stop buying the cheap Russian oil.

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs on Friday again questioned Bangladesh over “recurring attacks on minorities”, and demanded strict action against the perpetrators. It said that the attempts to dismiss such incidents as “personal or political disputes” only “emboldened the perpetrators”. The remarks came as the reported cases of communal violence in December 2025 rose to 51, including 10 murders, according to Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC).“We have repeatedly addressed this issue in earlier briefings and continue to see a disturbing pattern of recurring attacks on minorities, their homes, and businesses by extremists in Bangladesh,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.“These communal incidents must be dealt with swiftly and firmly. Attempts to dismiss them as personal or political disputes only embolden perpetrators and deepen fear and insecurity among minorities,” he added.Earlier this week, a 25-year-old Hindu man was killed in northwestern Bangladesh after leaping into a canal while fleeing a mob that had accused him of theft, marking the latest episode of violence against the minority community.Meanwhile, police detained former madrasa teacher Yasin Arafat, the main suspect in the murder of Hindu worker Dipu Chandra Das on December 18.Bangladesh’s Hindu community has faced a wave of attacks on minorities following the December killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Among the victims was 40-year-old grocery shop owner Moni Chakraborty, who was hacked to death by unidentified assailants at Charsindhur Bazar in Palash Upazila on the night of January 5. The same day, Rana Pratap Bairagi, 38, an ice factory owner and acting editor of the Narail-based newspaper Dainik BD Khabar, was shot dead in the head by unknown attackers in Jessore district. In another incident, 50-year-old Khokon Chandra Das was viciously assaulted, hacked and set ablaze while returning home after shutting his shop on December 31. He succumbed to his injuries at a hospital on January 3.

(From left) Jyoti Singh, Sunelita Toppo and Ishika

SG Pipers had a forgettable season in the last edition of the Women’s Hockey India League (WHIL). They finished last with just one win in regulation time. However, they turned it around this season and will be facing Shrachi Bengal Tigers in the final on Saturday.They lost their final group match 2-5 against Ranchi Royals in Ranchi on Thursday but still finished on top of the table with 11 points from six matches.And one of the key factors behind the transformation has been the way their young stars have performed. Be it Sunelita Toppo, Jyoti Singh or Ishika, they have been incredible.The trio came into the tournament after a below-par showing for India in the junior World Cup but the way they picked themselves up and performed in WHIL was more than impressive.“Not many people follow junior hockey, so this was a chance for us to show what we are capable of and perform alongside the overseas players,” said junior India skipper Jyoti, who has tried to learn as much as possible from defenders Valentina Costa Biondi and Lola Reira.Besides the overseas players, their coach Sofie Gierts is the one who made the biggest difference. “As a player, it matters a lot how much trust the coach has in you. Sofie does that and it helped us to grow in confidence,” said Ishika, who scored two goals during the Junior World Cup in Santiago last year.India senior player and Pipers captain Navneet Kaur also played a major role as she guided them and gave them all the support on and off the field.“As a junior you can be good, but you need someone to push you. Especially after making mistakes, you start doubting yourself. This is where the seniors use their experience to guide us,” said Jyoti.Few have made better use of this support than Sunelita and she scored two lovely goals in the tournament.“Navneet di kept telling me to read the situation better, when to speed up and when to attack. I have been trying to do it since I made it to the senior team, but I was finally able to do it successfully during the match against Soorma,” added the youngster from Odisha.It definitely made Navneet proud, and she hopes to see them get even better in the coming days. “They have improved a lot since last year. We keep telling them to play freely, concentrate on their game,” said Naveet, who scored both the goals for Pipers on Thursday.This kind of support has given them confidence, and it has shown in the way they performed. It now remains to be seen whether they can keep it up on Saturday and lead Pipers to victory.

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EY India has recommended to extend the existing Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to new technology sectors such as AI, space, and robotics, while urging the FY27 Budget to focus on sustaining growth and ensuring tax certainty through a dedicated Customs dispute resolution mechanism. The firm said a forward-looking policy approach would be key to strengthening investor confidence and encouraging greater participation from the private sector. Highlighting the need to stimulate private investment, EY India National Tax Leader Sameer Gupta said the current PLI framework could be widened to support new-age technologies. “Additionally, public infrastructure investments in futuristic areas, including AI, GenAI, robotics, and space technology, may induce growth of private investment in these sectors. Targeted incentives for the emerging industries will be crucial in driving innovation and attracting both domestic and foreign investors,” Gupta told PTI. On taxation, EY said businesses continue to seek a firm commitment from the government towards tax certainty and simpler compliance mechanisms. Addressing indirect taxes, the firm proposed the introduction of a one-time settlement scheme under Customs law to help resolve long-pending disputes. It said the initiative could be modelled on the ‘Sabka Vishwas (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme, 2019’, which helped unlock revenue tied up in litigation. EY also stressed the need to simplify the existing customs tariff structure to ease the compliance burden on importers. It suggested sector-wise rationalisation of customs duties and aligning tariff rates with global standards to ensure that Indian goods remain competitive in global markets. On the rollout of the new Income Tax Act, 2025 from April 1, EY said that the government should issue detailed guidelines and frequently asked questions to reduce confusion during the transition from the Income Tax Act, 1961. “This is crucial to avoid litigation and ensure a smooth transition for taxpayers. Certainty and predictability: Establishing a stable tax environment by minimising frequent changes in tax rates is essential,” the firm said. EY further stated that a stable and predictable tax policy is crucial for trust and encourages compliance, playing a key role in boosting revenue collection.

Khushi Kapoor and Vedang Raina were rumoured to be in a relationship ever since they worked together in Zoya Akhtar‘s ‘The Archies’. Speculations around their relationship first surfaced during the filming of Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies in 2023. What began as a friendship on set reportedly grew stronger over time, with the two often being spotted together outside work, fuelling rumours of a romance. However, neither Khushi or Vedang ever confirmed their relationship. They were often seen together at several occasions, be it Khushi’s birthday party or ringing in the New Year’s together. Netizens were also quick to gauge when the duo seemed to be on a holiday together as they dropped pictures from the same location. But now a latest report suggests that they have broken up. Film Journalist Vickey Lalwani has quoted a source saying, “It’s over. This source further added, as quoted by him, “Khushi and Vedang are not a couple anymore but the reason for the break-up is not known. It’s something that has happened only very recently.”

That said, neither Khushi nor Vedang have reacted to the reports so far, and no official confirmation or denial has been issued by either actor.For a long while, both actors refrained from acknowledging the speculation publicly. Vedang, in his early interviews, consistently described their equation as that of “just good friends,” adding that his personal life had taken a back seat as he focused on work commitments.Khushi, meanwhile, addressed the chatter with humour on Koffee With Karan, comparing it to a familiar trope where two people repeatedly insist they’re “just good friends.” She laughed and spoke about it in reference to this popular scene from ‘Om Shanti Om’However, in April 2025, fans believed Khushi subtly confirmed the relationship when she shared pictures wearing a pendant featuring their initials, an apparent soft launch that reignited buzz around their romance.As of now, the reported breakup remains unconfirmed.

The camaraderie between India‘s batting stars Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh has long been a source of entertainment for cricket fans, but few stories are as delightful as the one Jemimah recently shared regarding a high-stakes sledging episode. This moment, revealed by Jemimah on Breakfast with Champions on January 9, 2026, has become a viral among the fans.

Jemimah Rodrigues unveils Richa Ghosh’s epic reply to destroy Alyssa Healy’s sledge

In the detailed account shared on the show, Jemimah explained that the exchange was a perfect display of Richa’s calm under pressure. Standing in the middle of a tense session during India’s one-off Test against Australia in 2023 at the Wankhede, which India ultimately won by 8-wickets, Alyssa Healy‘s attempt to patronize Richa backfired spectacularly. Jemimah recounted, “I was constantly talking to Richa, telling her what to do, and Healy was getting annoyed.” She finally said, ‘Hey, your mummy is talking, go listen to her.’

Richa didn’t say anything then, but the very next ball she played a beautiful square cut for four. She then turned around to Alyssa and said, ‘She said, Mummy told me to hit a four.’ I was just laughing my head off; it was the perfect comeback.” This witty response not only silenced the Australian captain but also showcased the strong emotional support system within the Indian dressing room. Jemimah noted that Richa’s ability to turn a sledge into motivation is what makes her such a dangerous opponent, as she remains unfazed by verbal volleys and instead lets her bat do the talking, often with a cheeky grin to follow.

Richa Ghosh is the real gangster 😎 pic.twitter.com/pOHzVmG4p4

— RCBIANS OFFICIAL (@RcbianOfficial) January 8, 2026

Also WATCH: Ellyse Perry shares emotional tribute to RCB ahead of WPL 2026 clash with Mumbai Indians

From partners to rivals: Richa and Jemimah set for clash in WPL 2026 edition

While they share a great dynamic in the national blue, the start of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 on January 9 has officially turned these best friends into high-stakes rivals. Jemimah has taken on a massive new responsibility this season, stepping up as the captain of Delhi Capitals (DC) following the departure of the legendary Meg Lanning. On the other side of the fence, Richa remains the ‘engine’ and primary finisher for the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

The shift from batting partners to opposing tactical minds has added a fascinating layer to the tournament, as Jemimah now has the daunting task of setting fields to stop the very ‘finishing’ power she usually cheers for from the non-striker’s end. This rivalry is set to be one of the most watched narratives of the season, particularly as Delhi look to shed their ‘runners-up’ tag and finally clinch the trophy under Jemimah’s leadership.

The rivalry is further intensified by the fact that both players are currently at the peak of their respective games, fresh off a successful domestic cycle. Richa, having already crossed the 1,000-run milestone in WT20Is at a staggering strike rate, is RCB’s go-to weapon in the death overs, while Jemimah’s tactical evolution as a leader has made DC one of the most balanced squads on paper.

Also WATCH: WPL 2026 Opening Ceremony: Date, Time, Performers and Live Streaming details

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

Kazuyoshi Miura poses with uniform of third-division J-League team Fukushima United. (AP Photo)

Kazuyoshi Miura is not ready to fade away. At 58, the former Japan international striker has vowed to show he still belongs on the football pitch as he prepares for an extraordinary 41st professional season, extending a career that began nearly four decades ago.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Popularly known as “King Kazu,” Miura has joined third-division side Fukushima United on a six-month loan ahead of the new Japanese season, which kicks off in early February. The move brings him back into the J. League structure for the first time in five years and underlines his refusal to let age dictate the end of his playing days.

Speaking at his official unveiling in Tokyo on Friday, Miura said he was determined to repay the faith shown in him by his new club. “Strikers can score goals in bunches or they can go through dry spells, and you have to have an image in your mind of scoring goals,” he told reporters. “It’s difficult to put a number on it but I definitely want to score and assist.”Still brimming with ambition, Miura added that he wants to contribute in multiple ways. “I’d like to dribble down the left wing and whip in crosses,” he said, offering a glimpse of the attacking intent that has defined his long career.

Miura made his professional debut in 1986 with Brazilian giants Santos and has since played across the globe, turning out for clubs in Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal. He was a central figure in popularising football in Japan, particularly after the launch of the professional J. League in 1993.Last season, Miura featured for fourth-tier Atletico Suzuka, making eight appearances without scoring as the club was relegated after finishing second from bottom and losing a playoff. Despite the setback, he remains undeterred.Miura, who earned 89 caps and scored 55 goals for Japan but was famously omitted from their 1998 World Cup squad, summed up his motivation simply: “I just want to be on the pitch, even for just one minute or one second longer.”