India won their Super 8 match against Zimbabwe in Chennai by 72 runs. All-rounder Hardik Pandya said it was ‘it was a good game to continue the rhythm’ as India aim for a semi-final spot.India batted first, and the top-order players gave a strong start.

Hardik Pandya was named Player of the Match for his excellent all-round performance. He scored an unbeaten 50 off 23 balls and then bowled 3 overs for just 21 runs.After taking his award during the post-match presentation, Pandya said, “Pretty happy. It sounds 23-ball-50, but I think I had to reassess the situation as well. I felt I was trying to hit too hard. And just in the game, I realised, I think I can time the ball and hit sixes as well. It was a good game to continue the rhythm because I feel a couple of games I had, I could not do what I wanted to do.”When asked if he was following the earlier game between South Africa and West Indies, Pandya said, “Obviously, we all were keeping an eye. Now it’s all about playing good cricket, backing your skill set, absorbing the pressure, and making sure that you put the best foot forward. So yeah, definitely we were keeping an eye, but at the same point of time, once the game got over, we focused on the fact that this is our game. We need to focus on this.“Chasing a big target of 257 runs, Zimbabwe managed 184/6 in 20 overs. Brian Bennett played brilliantly, scoring an unbeaten 97 off 59 balls.Hardik Pandya didn’t take any wickets but bowled 3 economical overs for just 21 runs.Talking about his bowling, Pandya said, “Pretty good, I think. I like bowling with the new ball. It swings. I mean, God has been kind. I have the skillset of bowling inswing and outswing. So I really enjoy. I think it gives me the opportunity to take wickets as well. It challenges the batter as well. So yeah, pretty satisfied. I still have to bowl my one over, which I’m going to go after this.”Now, India will play their last Super 8 match against the West Indies on Sunday, while Zimbabwe will face South Africa in Delhi, aiming for a consolatory win.Brief Scores: India: 256/4 (Abhishek Sharma 55, Hardik Pandya 50*, Blessing Muzarabani 1/43) beat Zimbabwe: 184/6 in 20 overs (Brian Bennett 97*, Sikandar Raza 31, Arshdeep Singh 3/24).

PARIS: Real Madrid and Manchester City will face off in a Champions League knockout tie for the fifth season running after being drawn Friday to play each other in the last 16, while reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain will take on Chelsea.The Spanish giants, record 15-time European champions, will host City in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu next month before travelling to England for the return the following week. The clubs have already played each other this season, with Pep Guardiola’s City winning 2-1 in Madrid in December during the league phase, in which the Premier League club finished eighth and Real ninth.That allowed City, Champions League winners in 2023, to advance straight to the last 16 while Madrid had to come through the knockout phase play-offs, in which they beat Benfica 3-1 on aggregate.This is the eighth season in which the teams have played each other since 2012. Real beat City in the knockout phase play-offs last season, and in the quarter-finals on the way to winning the trophy in 2024. They also emerged victorious in the semi-finals in 2022 with City winning at the same stage the following year.PSG will be at home to Chelsea in the first leg after qualifying for this stage with a 5-4 aggregate win over Ligue 1 rivals Monaco in the play-offs. Chelsea progressed straight to the last 16 after finishing sixth in the league phase.The sides played each other in the knockout stages in three consecutive years from 2014 to 2016, with Chelsea winning the first of those confrontations in the quarter-finals and PSG triumphing in the last 16 in the following two.Their last encounter came in July’s Club World Cup final in the United States, when Chelsea won 3-0 against last season’s European champions.Chelsea have been coached since January by Liam Rosenior, who had previously come up against PSG in Ligue 1 as coach of Strasbourg.– Arsenal face Leverkusen, Newcastle play Barcelona –There is a record total of six English clubs in the last 16. None will play each other in the last 16 but there are two potential all-English quarter-finals.Liverpool will have a last-16 rematch against Galatasaray, the Turkish giants having defeated the Anfield club 1-0 in September in the league phase.The winner of that tie will play either PSG or Chelsea in the quarter-finals, meaning there is a chance Liverpool will get the opportunity to avenge their defeat by the Parisians on penalties a year ago.Meanwhile, Newcastle United will take on Barcelona with the first leg at St James’ Park — the Spanish side won 2-1 there during the league phase in September.Tottenham Hotspur were drawn to play Atletico Madrid, with the winners of that tie then facing Newcastle or Barcelona in the last eight.Arsenal, who finished first in the league phase, will come up against Bayer Leverkusen and if they win that would then be huge favourites in a quarter-final against Bodo/Glimt or Sporting of Portugal.The last-16 meeting with Sporting is the Norwegian upstarts’ reward for knocking out last season’s beaten finalists Inter Milan in the play-offs.German champions Bayern Munich will play Atalanta, the sole Italian club left in the competition.The first legs will take place on March 10 and 11, with the second legs a week later. The teams who qualified directly for this stage after finishing in the top eight in the league phase will all be at home in the return matches.This season’s Champions League final will take place at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 30.

ENG vs NZ Live Cricket Score, T20 World Cup 2026: A high-stakes encounter awaits as New Zealand face England cricket team in their final Super 8 fixture of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday evening.

England have already confirmed their semifinal spot after winning both Super 8 matches.

However, they will be keen to carry momentum into the knockouts and register a third consecutive victory. For New Zealand, the scenario is straightforward: a win guarantees qualification.

With three points from two matches, the Black Caps need two more to reach five and avoid any dependence on other results.

New Zealand head into the contest after an impressive all-round performance against Sri Lanka. Despite an early wobble, they posted 168/7 before their bowlers delivered a disciplined effort to seal a 61-run triumph.

Their rain-hit match against Pakistan means net run rate could become decisive if they lose on Friday.

If beaten, New Zealand would need Pakistan to falter and also ensure their NRR remains superior. Given the tight margins at this stage, every over and run could prove critical.

England’s recent form has been strong. They defeated Pakistan in a closely fought game, chasing 165 in 19.1 overs thanks to a magnificent century from captain Harry Brook. Earlier, they overpowered Sri Lanka by 51 runs.

While their openers have not fully fired, the middle order has delivered when required. The team will also hope former captain Jos Buttler regains rhythm ahead of the semifinals.

Head-to-head, England dominate with 17 wins in 30 T20Is, compared to New Zealand’s 10 victories. With both teams boasting explosive batting and quality bowling attacks, fans can expect an intense contest under lights in Colombo as semifinal dreams hang in the balance.

England Squad: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook(c), Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Ben Duckett, Luke Wood, Josh Tongue, Rehan Ahmed

New Zealand Squad: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, James Neesham, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson, Devon Conway

T20 World Cup Super 8 Points Table | T20 World Cup Schedule 2026

NEW DELHI: Ravichandran Ashwin has defended young India batter Abhishek Sharma after former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir labelled him “just a slogger” during the T20 World Cup. Amir’s remark came after Abhishek was dismissed for three consecutive ducks in the group stage, questioning his technique and suggesting he lacked a defensive game.

However, Abhishek answered critics in style during India’s Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, smashing 55 runs off just 30 balls as India piled up 256/4. His aggressive knock helped shift the narrative around his tournament.Responding to Amir’s comments on his YouTube channel, Ashwin strongly disagreed. “There is a video of Mohammad Amir doing the rounds, where he called Abhishek Sharma a slogger. I just want to make one thing clear: you can say anything about his game, but he is not a slogger. He has one of the most enviable bat swings in the game today. We all know Yuvraj Singh is his mentor,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel.“He has probably got a better bat swing than him as well. You cannot get a better bat swing than that. Whenever Abhishek strikes the ball, it goes very far. So people can mistake him for being a slogger. The one thing Abhishek has been guilty of is showing intent on every ball.”After the knock on Thursday, Abhishek also admitted he had been waiting for such a performance. “It’s always great when you contribute to the team, and I was waiting for this moment for quite a long time now, so finally it’s happening. I’m really happy… I just wanted to spend some time at the pitch,” he said.He also praised the team’s support. “You have done this before as well, and your time is not so far. You just keep believing,” he revealed teammates had told him.

NEW DELHI: The Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has reached its decisive phase, and the latest points table leaves defending champions India with a clear equation — beat West Indies on Sunday and book a place in the semi-finals.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Group 1 witnessed a dramatic shake-up on Thursday. South Africa stormed into the last four with a commanding nine-wicket win over West Indies in Ahmedabad, chasing down 177 in just 16.1 overs. A blistering 95-run opening stand between Aiden Markram (82 not out) and Quinton de Kock (47) set the tone, while Ryan Rickelton’s unbeaten 45 sealed the deal as the Proteas finished at 177/1. The victory extended South Africa’s unbeaten run in the tournament and confirmed their semi-final berth.

India, meanwhile, kept their title defence alive with a thumping 72-run victory over Zimbabwe in Chennai. That result, coupled with South Africa’s dominance, has set up a virtual quarterfinal between India and West Indies at Eden Gardens on Sunday. Both teams sit on two points from two matches, making it a straight shootout for the second semi-final spot from Group 1.

T20 World Cup Super 8 Group 1 Points Table

While South Africa face Zimbabwe in their final Super 8 fixture, all eyes will be on Kolkata, where the winner of India vs West Indies will advance.In Group 2, co-hosts Sri Lanka became the first side to be eliminated after a 61-run loss to New Zealand. The Kiwis posted 168/7 before restricting Sri Lanka to 107/8, ending their campaign. England have already qualified with two wins from two matches, while New Zealand and Pakistan remain in contention.

T20 World Cup Super 8 Group 2 Points Table

With knockout spots on the line and net run rates in play, the race to the semi-finals is now at boiling point. Sunday’s India-West Indies clash promises to decide more than just two points — it will determine who keeps their World Cup dream alive.

NEW DELHI: Former India captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar admitted he was taken aback — not by a six or a daring stroke — but by a defensive shot from Abhishek Sharma during India’s emphatic win over Zimbabwe in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Abhishek, who had endured a rough phase after returning from a stomach bug, roared back to form with a fluent 30-ball 55 in India’s 72-run victory on Thursday. The knock ended a worrying sequence of three consecutive ducks and came at a crucial time in the tournament.

“We know how good Abhishek Sharma is as a batter. He silenced his doubters with this knock of 55 runs against Zimbabwe,” Gavaskar said on JioStar.What particularly caught the legendary batter’s attention, however, was not just the runs but the method.“He took that extra time to start his innings. There was a method to his batting. He respected the off spinner, didn’t take any kind of risks and played in a calm and composed manner,” Gavaskar observed.Then came the moment that surprised him most.“In this game, he actually played a defensive shot. He defended the ball. I was surprised to see that because we don’t usually see Abhishek do that,” Gavaskar added, underlining how rare such restraint is from the naturally aggressive opener.

For Gavaskar, the innings marked more than just a return to form — it signalled growth.“I really think this is a learning curve for him. Every cricketer goes through a rough patch of not scoring runs in back-to-back games. It is about how much you learn from it,” he said. “I feel Abhishek has learned a lot and this will augur well for him going forward, in the next couple of games and the all-important clash against West Indies in Kolkata.”Gavaskar also reflected on India’s tactical adjustments after a disappointing outing against South Africa.“India were broken against South Africa. They realised they needed a right-left combination at the top. Learning from the previous game was very important,” he noted, praising the decision to bring Sanju Samson back to the opening spot.Looking ahead to the virtual knockout against the West Indies, Gavaskar warned that India cannot afford complacency.“West Indies is a completely different challenge. They cannot be taken for granted. Their batters are in top form. Their bowlers are doing well. They punish opposition mistakes,” he cautioned.

NEW DELHI: The uncertainty surrounding India’s campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has finally cleared. After a dramatic round of Super 8 matches, the defending champions now have a straightforward path to the knockouts.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!South Africa’s commanding nine-wicket win over West Indies in Ahmedabad confirmed the Proteas’ place in the semi-finals from Group 1. Later in the day, India strengthened their position with a resounding 72-run victory over Zimbabwe in Chennai.With Zimbabwe eliminated and South Africa already through, the final Group 1 clash between India and West Indies at Eden Gardens on Sunday has effectively turned into a virtual quarterfinal.

India Semifinal Qualification Scenario

The equation is simple: India must beat the West Indies to qualify for the semi-finals.Both teams currently sit on two points from two matches. The winner of Sunday’s encounter will join South Africa in the last four.There is, however, one small caveat. If the match is washed out due to rain — and there is no reserve day — West Indies would advance on the basis of a superior net run rate, knocking India out of the tournament. At present, though, there is no forecast suggesting weather disruption in Kolkata.In short, the calculators are back in the bag. For India, it is purely a win-and-progress scenario.

India’s qualification push gathered serious momentum after a batting masterclass against Zimbabwe. Posting 256/4 — the second-highest total in men’s T20 World Cup history — India entertained home fans with a barrage of sixes.Abhishek Sharma returned to form with a blistering half-century, while Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma provided a thunderous finish. Zimbabwe fought back through Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 97, but India’s bowlers ensured a comfortable victory.Earlier, South Africa’s clinical chase of 177 against West Indies reshaped the group. A rapid opening partnership between Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock made light work of the target, underlining why the Proteas remain unbeaten in the tournament.

CHENNAI: It was a day everything went according to plan for India, starting with South Africa’s easy win against West Indies in Ahmedabad earlier in the day. That result smoothed out the rough edges of this Super 8 Group 1 and meant India would just have to win their remaining games to safely book a semis berth. And against a team like Zimbabwe, which is not quite ready for a stage as big as this, Suryakumar’s boys did the needful. As thousands of mobiles flickered in the MA Chidambaram Stadium stands, India got their campaign back on track, winning by 72 runs and setting up a direct ‘quarterfinal’ against the West Indies at Eden Gardens on Sunday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!With a pleasant evening breeze blowing across the Chepauk, the fans never stopped partying. They had their reasons. The much-loved Abhishek Sharma came back to some sort of form with a 30-ball 55, new CSK signing Sanju Samson punched a quickfire 24 and the entire middle order got some good hits on a batting beauty. Zimbabwe, though, did make things easier for India. From choosing to bowl after winning the toss to bowling pedestrian pacers in the Powerplay to dropping catches at crucial junctures, the African minnows were just the team India would have liked at this stage of the tournament.

Towards the back end, they kept delivering lollipops in trying for the yorker and were thrashed for 17 sixes in the process. A total of 256/4 was comfortably India’s highest in the T20 World Cup, going past their previous best of 218. It was way beyond Zimbabwe’s reach and they didn’t seem too interested in the chase. Zimbabwe instead chose to bat out the 20 overs and get some big-stage experience against top quality bowlers. Right-handed opener Brian Bennett (97 not out off 54 balls) played an innings of great quality that may stand him in good stead against some other opposition on some other day. But for now it’s the end of the road for Zimbabwe.The quality of opposition notwithstanding, India had to get the runs and all eyes were on the recycled opening partnership of Sanju and Abhishek.The left-hander, woefully out of form till now, wasn’t tested with off-spin, his nemesis so far in the tournament, in the Powerplay and he cashed in on it.

The blitz, though, was started by Samson, who punched a six off the back-foot over mid-off off left-arm pacer Richard Ngarava. Sanju was tested with short balls — he hit a few too — but fell to a similar delivery. However, with the score reading 48 off 3.4 overs, he had already done his job.Thereafter, it was Abhishek’s turn to show that the hard work put in by him at the nets on Tuesday would pay dividends. The southpaw kept his head still and didn’t try to pre-meditate his shots. He also didn’t show the pacers his stumps and didn’t look to charge down the track. Instead he held his shape, stayed in his crease and looked to play the ball straight. Of course, there was nothing in the Zimbabwe attack that was really challenging but the Punjab cricketer kept his side of the bargain.The crowd erupted in joy, the “Abhishek, Abhi-shek” chants grew louder as his beautifully crisp shots kept the scoreboard galloping. Even though India raced away to 80 in the Powerplay, Abhishek’s half-century, coming off 28 balls, was his second slowest in T20Is. Instead of looking for over-boundaries and power all the time, Abhishek didn’t mind the occasional boundary (4×4, 4×6). He played the field with great dexterity as India heaved a sigh of relief.

For reasons better known to Zimbabwe, skipper Sikandar Raza bowled only six overs of spin. He himself didn’t complete his quota despite dismissing Ishan Kishan while the other two shared three. They conceded 56 — a little over nine — while the pacers went anywhere between 10 to 20.Hardik (50* off 23 balls) and Tilak (44* off 16 balls), batting at No. 6, found themselves back in the flow. But things may get tougher going forward.