×
Deadspin | Seiya Suzuki’s 2-run HR helps Cubs beat Phillies to extend win streak  Apr 22, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki (27) hits a two-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images   Pete Crow-Armstrong went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Seiya Suzuki connected on a two-run homer on Wednesday, helping the Chicago Cubs earn a 7-2 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, securing their eighth straight win.  Ian Happ also drove in two runs and Alex Bregman tallied three hits for the Cubs, who outhit the Phillies 13-9. Making his first start since returning from a stint on the 15-day injured list with a left bicep strain, Matthew Boyd threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out five and walking none. Ben Brown (1-0) tossed 2 1/3 scoreless frames in relief, striking out five.  After Philadelphia’s Kyle Backhus allowed a first-inning run as an opener, Taijuan Walker (1-4) surrendered eight hits and five runs (four earned) across four innings. Walker struck out one and walked one for the Phillies, who dropped their eighth straight game. Philadelphia has lost eight in a row for the first time since a nine-gamer in September 2018.  Nico Hoerner and Bregman began the bottom of the first with consecutive singles, before Happ’s RBI groundout gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead.  After Felix Reyes and Alec Bohm singled in the second, Edmundo Sosa’s run-scoring double and Justin Crawford’s groundout put the Phillies ahead 2-1.   Walker spelled Backhus in the bottom of the second. Miguel Amaya reached on Crawford’s two-out fielding error, before scoring the tying run on Crow-Armstrong’s double.  Bregman tripled and Happ singled to return the lead to the Cubs in the third. Two batters later, Michael Busch connected on his first homer of the season to extend Chicago’s advantage to 4-2.  Bregman reached on his third hit in as many at bats in the bottom of the fifth, before Suzuki’s two-run homer doubled the Cubs’ lead.  Crow-Armstrong’s eighth-inning RBI single off Alan Rangel put the Cubs ahead 7-2, stamping Chicago’s offensive outburst.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Seiya #Suzukis #2run #helps #Cubs #beat #Phillies #extend #win #streak

Deadspin | Seiya Suzuki’s 2-run HR helps Cubs beat Phillies to extend win streak
Deadspin | Seiya Suzuki’s 2-run HR helps Cubs beat Phillies to extend win streak  Apr 22, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki (27) hits a two-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images   Pete Crow-Armstrong went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Seiya Suzuki connected on a two-run homer on Wednesday, helping the Chicago Cubs earn a 7-2 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, securing their eighth straight win.  Ian Happ also drove in two runs and Alex Bregman tallied three hits for the Cubs, who outhit the Phillies 13-9. Making his first start since returning from a stint on the 15-day injured list with a left bicep strain, Matthew Boyd threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out five and walking none. Ben Brown (1-0) tossed 2 1/3 scoreless frames in relief, striking out five.  After Philadelphia’s Kyle Backhus allowed a first-inning run as an opener, Taijuan Walker (1-4) surrendered eight hits and five runs (four earned) across four innings. Walker struck out one and walked one for the Phillies, who dropped their eighth straight game. Philadelphia has lost eight in a row for the first time since a nine-gamer in September 2018.  Nico Hoerner and Bregman began the bottom of the first with consecutive singles, before Happ’s RBI groundout gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead.  After Felix Reyes and Alec Bohm singled in the second, Edmundo Sosa’s run-scoring double and Justin Crawford’s groundout put the Phillies ahead 2-1.   Walker spelled Backhus in the bottom of the second. Miguel Amaya reached on Crawford’s two-out fielding error, before scoring the tying run on Crow-Armstrong’s double.  Bregman tripled and Happ singled to return the lead to the Cubs in the third. Two batters later, Michael Busch connected on his first homer of the season to extend Chicago’s advantage to 4-2.  Bregman reached on his third hit in as many at bats in the bottom of the fifth, before Suzuki’s two-run homer doubled the Cubs’ lead.  Crow-Armstrong’s eighth-inning RBI single off Alan Rangel put the Cubs ahead 7-2, stamping Chicago’s offensive outburst.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Seiya #Suzukis #2run #helps #Cubs #beat #Phillies #extend #win #streakApr 22, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki (27) hits a two-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

Pete Crow-Armstrong went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Seiya Suzuki connected on a two-run homer on Wednesday, helping the Chicago Cubs earn a 7-2 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, securing their eighth straight win.

Ian Happ also drove in two runs and Alex Bregman tallied three hits for the Cubs, who outhit the Phillies 13-9. Making his first start since returning from a stint on the 15-day injured list with a left bicep strain, Matthew Boyd threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out five and walking none. Ben Brown (1-0) tossed 2 1/3 scoreless frames in relief, striking out five.

After Philadelphia’s Kyle Backhus allowed a first-inning run as an opener, Taijuan Walker (1-4) surrendered eight hits and five runs (four earned) across four innings. Walker struck out one and walked one for the Phillies, who dropped their eighth straight game. Philadelphia has lost eight in a row for the first time since a nine-gamer in September 2018.

Nico Hoerner and Bregman began the bottom of the first with consecutive singles, before Happ’s RBI groundout gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead.


After Felix Reyes and Alec Bohm singled in the second, Edmundo Sosa’s run-scoring double and Justin Crawford’s groundout put the Phillies ahead 2-1.

Walker spelled Backhus in the bottom of the second. Miguel Amaya reached on Crawford’s two-out fielding error, before scoring the tying run on Crow-Armstrong’s double.

Bregman tripled and Happ singled to return the lead to the Cubs in the third. Two batters later, Michael Busch connected on his first homer of the season to extend Chicago’s advantage to 4-2.

Bregman reached on his third hit in as many at bats in the bottom of the fifth, before Suzuki’s two-run homer doubled the Cubs’ lead.

Crow-Armstrong’s eighth-inning RBI single off Alan Rangel put the Cubs ahead 7-2, stamping Chicago’s offensive outburst.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Seiya #Suzukis #2run #helps #Cubs #beat #Phillies #extend #win #streak

Apr 22, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki (27) hits a two-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

Pete Crow-Armstrong went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Seiya Suzuki connected on a two-run homer on Wednesday, helping the Chicago Cubs earn a 7-2 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, securing their eighth straight win.

Ian Happ also drove in two runs and Alex Bregman tallied three hits for the Cubs, who outhit the Phillies 13-9. Making his first start since returning from a stint on the 15-day injured list with a left bicep strain, Matthew Boyd threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out five and walking none. Ben Brown (1-0) tossed 2 1/3 scoreless frames in relief, striking out five.

After Philadelphia’s Kyle Backhus allowed a first-inning run as an opener, Taijuan Walker (1-4) surrendered eight hits and five runs (four earned) across four innings. Walker struck out one and walked one for the Phillies, who dropped their eighth straight game. Philadelphia has lost eight in a row for the first time since a nine-gamer in September 2018.

Nico Hoerner and Bregman began the bottom of the first with consecutive singles, before Happ’s RBI groundout gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead.

After Felix Reyes and Alec Bohm singled in the second, Edmundo Sosa’s run-scoring double and Justin Crawford’s groundout put the Phillies ahead 2-1.

Walker spelled Backhus in the bottom of the second. Miguel Amaya reached on Crawford’s two-out fielding error, before scoring the tying run on Crow-Armstrong’s double.

Bregman tripled and Happ singled to return the lead to the Cubs in the third. Two batters later, Michael Busch connected on his first homer of the season to extend Chicago’s advantage to 4-2.

Bregman reached on his third hit in as many at bats in the bottom of the fifth, before Suzuki’s two-run homer doubled the Cubs’ lead.

Crow-Armstrong’s eighth-inning RBI single off Alan Rangel put the Cubs ahead 7-2, stamping Chicago’s offensive outburst.

–Field Level Media

Source link
#Deadspin #Seiya #Suzukis #2run #helps #Cubs #beat #Phillies #extend #win #streak

Previous post

Broken blueprints: How Italy and Nigeria failed to qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup <div id="content-body-70887202" itemprop="articleBody"><p>As you read this, teams are taking shape, players are pushing to make it to their national sides, and coaches are scratching their heads to get strategies in place before the greatest show on earth rolls into town.</p><p>Amid the noise, there is silence in two prominent parts of the world — countries that, not so long ago, were part of this carnival: Italy and Nigeria.</p><p>Italy, the more decorated of the two, missed out on its third consecutive World Cup appearance — a phenomenon termed an ‘apocalypse’ by local media — as the four-time World Cup winner lost 1-4 on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in its final qualifier.</p><p>The Germans offer a relevant precedent here. When Germany — then a three-time World Cup winner — was knocked out of the 2004 European Championships, it decided to tear its existing blueprint apart and build another from scratch.</p><p>Its youth programme, called the Nachwuchsleistungszentrum, churned out stars like Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer and Mario Götze. A decade later, Götze — a product of Borussia Dortmund’s youth academy — volleyed his name into immortality as Germany became world champion yet again.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/z6tsg7/article70892154.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/AFP__20140713__DV1819927__v2__HighRes__491717433.jpg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/z6tsg7/article70892154.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/AFP__20140713__DV1819927__v2__HighRes__491717433.jpg" alt="Fantastic finish: Mario Göetze scored the winner in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, putting up a fine example of a finished product of Germany’s youth development programs." title="Fantastic finish: Mario Göetze scored the winner in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, putting up a fine example of a finished product of Germany’s youth development programs." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p><b>Fantastic finish: </b>Mario Göetze scored the winner in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, putting up a fine example of a finished product of Germany’s youth development programs. | Photo Credit: AFP </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"><b>Fantastic finish: </b>Mario Göetze scored the winner in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, putting up a fine example of a finished product of Germany’s youth development programs. | Photo Credit: AFP </p></div><p>A similar plan was conceptualised by Italy legend Roberto Baggio in his project ‘Renewing the Future’ after the Azzurri, then defending champions, crashed out of the 2010 World Cup in the group stage.</p><p>But within 17 months, he chose to walk away.</p><p>“A 900-page program was presented in December 2011, but it remained a dead letter for a year. So I drew my conclusions: I don’t like sitting in positions, but rather getting things done,” Baggio, resigning from the post of president of the technical sector of the Italian Football Federation, said.</p><p>The years that followed still yielded some fruits of Baggio’s vision.</p><p>Italy won Euro 2020, produced prominent European stars in Gianluigi Donnarumma — a treble winner with Paris Saint-Germain — Nicolò Barella, a two-time Champions League runner-up, and even Sandro Tonali, who helped Newcastle United win its first trophy in nearly half a century. Yet, with all of them in the squad, the ship could not be steadied against Bosnia and Herzegovina.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/qoli5l/article70892432.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-04-02T121115Z_230548433_RC2YFKAM1UHD_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-WORLDCUP-BIH-ITA.JPG" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/qoli5l/article70892432.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-04-02T121115Z_230548433_RC2YFKAM1UHD_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-WORLDCUP-BIH-ITA.JPG" alt="A night to forget: Italy fell to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties to fall short in the race to qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026." title="A night to forget: Italy fell to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties to fall short in the race to qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p><b>A night to forget: </b>Italy fell to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties to fall short in the race to qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026. | Photo Credit: REUTERS </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"><b>A night to forget: </b>Italy fell to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties to fall short in the race to qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026. | Photo Credit: REUTERS </p></div><p>Marcello Lippi, the last World Cup-winning coach of Italy, had once said, “A group of the best players does not necessarily make for the best team.”</p><p>Italy had developed a DNA influenced by Giovanni Trapattoni’s  <i>zona mista</i> (an Italian style of football prevalent in the 1960-70s) and Arrigo Sacchi’s 4-4-2 — both that were built on a simple creed: defence wins titles.</p><p>That cathedral now looks to be crumbling — neglected and abandoned.</p><div class="info-box"><h5 class="main-title"><b>Other major teams that missed the cut</b></h5><h5 class="sub-title">No encore for Sánchez</h5><p>Chile, which reached the round of 16 in each of its last three World Cup appearances, missed out on the 2026 edition — the third consecutive time it has fallen short — potentially ending Alexis Sánchez’s chances of playing in the tournament again.</p><h5 class="sub-title">Curtain call cut short</h5><p>Poland legend Robert Lewandowski broke down after a 2-3 loss to Sweden in the playoffs saw his team miss out on a World Cup spot for the first time since 2014, denying the star striker a final dance on the biggest stage.</p><h5 class="sub-title">Mbeumo misses the party</h5><p>Bryan Mbeumo will miss his first chance to play in a World Cup as his team, Cameroon — the 1990 quarterfinalist — failed to qualify for the expanded 48-team 2026 edition, set to be played in the USA, Mexico and Canada.</p></div><p>Italian players are moving to foreign leagues, and the last time an Italian club won the Champions League was 16 years ago — the same year Italy last won the World Cup.</p><p>In the current national team, four of the 11 regular starters — Donnarumma, Riccardo Calafiori, Tonali and Mateo Retegui — play outside Italy, with its main striker (Retegui) playing in Asia. In contrast, in the 2010 World Cup-winning squad, all players featured in Serie A.</p><p>Off the field, the rot runs deeper. Gabriele Gravina clung to the Italian FA presidency despite Italy failing to qualify for Qatar 2022, until he was forced to walk the plank after the 2026 qualifying debacle.</p><p>Who did Italy turn to as coach? Gennaro Gattuso — a fine player who, as a manager, had fallen short of expectations at nine clubs.</p><p>For a country trying to return to the World Cup after 12 years, was that really the best step forward? Questions will arise and Italy will need answers, or risk going around in circles.</p><p>For Nigeria, chaos has been the only constant. Too many cooks spoiled the broth for the African giant, as the Super Eagles were grounded before takeoff for the second World Cup cycle in succession.</p><p>In the 2022 qualifying campaign, Nigeria replaced Gernot Rohr, who coached in the initial qualifiers, with Augustine Eguavoen before the penultimate round. The team fell to Ghana on the away goals rule.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/7czdeq/article70892494.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/1994070903900101.jpg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/7czdeq/article70892494.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/1994070903900101.jpg" alt="Not an American dream anymore: Nigeria had made a prominent mark when the USA hosted the FIFA World Cup for the first time, in 1994. When the tournament returns to the same country this year, the Golden Eagles will only be able to watch in silence." title="Not an American dream anymore: Nigeria had made a prominent mark when the USA hosted the FIFA World Cup for the first time, in 1994. When the tournament returns to the same country this year, the Golden Eagles will only be able to watch in silence." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p><b>Not an American dream anymore: </b>Nigeria had made a prominent mark when the USA hosted the FIFA World Cup for the first time, in 1994. When the tournament returns to the same country this year, the Golden Eagles will only be able to watch in silence. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Photo Library </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"><b>Not an American dream anymore: </b>Nigeria had made a prominent mark when the USA hosted the FIFA World Cup for the first time, in 1994. When the tournament returns to the same country this year, the Golden Eagles will only be able to watch in silence. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Photo Library </p></div><p>In the next World Cup cycle, the inconsistency gave way to further drama. Several players from the team that finished runner-up in the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) were promised real estate rewards, which reportedly never arrived.</p><p>The team even boycotted the AFCON 2025 qualifier against Libya after being stranded at the airport for 12 hours.</p><p>The following month, just two days before the World Cup African playoff semifinal against Gabon, the entire squad downed tools due to unresolved wage issues. Though the matter was eventually resolved — and Nigeria dragged itself past the finish line with a 4-1 extra-time win — the cracks were clear.</p><p>Then came the revolving door of head coaches: José Peseiro, Finidi George, Augustine Eguavoen and Eric Chelle — four men in two years. Chelle remained in charge for the final stages of qualification, where Nigeria lost on penalties to the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the coach blaming voodoo for the exit. Talk about analysis.</p><p>Beyond the quagmire of administration, the harshest blow came from the treatment table — Victor Osimhen’s injury ruled him out of several matches. The former Napoli forward even fell out of favour with George, who claimed Osimhen was faking his injury, before missing clashes against South Africa and Benin.</p><p>The result: three matches, no wins. Nigeria drew twice with South Africa and lost to Benin. Without Osimhen, it earned only four points from a possible 15.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/magazine/24dh30/article70891708.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/AFP__20251010__78E93NZ__v5__HighRes__FblWc2026AfricaQualifierLesNga.jpg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/magazine/24dh30/article70891708.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/AFP__20251010__78E93NZ__v5__HighRes__FblWc2026AfricaQualifierLesNga.jpg" alt="Lost roar: Nigeria looked a different side with an without Osimhen, who missed several matches with injury in the qualification campaign." title="Lost roar: Nigeria looked a different side with an without Osimhen, who missed several matches with injury in the qualification campaign." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p><b>Lost roar: </b>Nigeria looked a different side with an without Osimhen, who missed several matches with injury in the qualification campaign. | Photo Credit: AFP </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"><b>Lost roar: </b>Nigeria looked a different side with an without Osimhen, who missed several matches with injury in the qualification campaign. | Photo Credit: AFP </p></div><p>His injury in the playoff final against DR Congo forced an early substitution, and Ademola Lookman followed 10 minutes later — leaving Nigeria to play most of the match without two of its most important strikers.</p><p>DR Congo, on the other hand, was a study in stability.</p><p>After failing to qualify for Qatar 2022, it offered a second roll of the dice to Sébastien Desabre as coach — and he repaid that faith by guiding the team to the World Cup after 52 years, beating Cameroon and Nigeria.</p><p>When the FIFA World Cup was first conducted in the United States in 1994, Nigeria and Italy had some of the loudest fans, with the former reaching the round of 16, and the latter making the final.</p><p>This time around, it will be their silence that rings loudest — a reminder that in football, failure is rarely accidental.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 23, 2026</p></div> #Broken #blueprints #Italy #Nigeria #failed #qualify #FIFA #World #Cup

Next post

Kerala Blasters vs Odisha FC LIVE streaming info: When, where to watch KBFC v OFC ISL 2025-26 match? <div id="content-body-70894366" itemprop="articleBody"><p>After lifting itself from the relegation zone and ending the winless streak at home, Kerala Blasters will look to continue the newfound resurgence when it meets Odisha FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi on Thursday in the Indian Super League 2025-26 season.</p><p><b><a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football/kerala-blasters-vs-odisha-fc-preview-isl-2025-26-ashley-westwood-injury-news/article70892984.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">READ FULL PREVIEW</a></b></p><h4 class="sub_head">LIVESTREAM AND TELECAST INFO</h4><p><b>When and where will the Kerala Blasters vs Odisha FC ISL 2025-26 match kick off?</b></p><p>The Kerala Blasters vs Odisha FC ISL 2025-26 match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. IST on Thursday, April 23, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.</p><p><b>Where to watch the Kerala Blasters vs Odisha FC ISL 2025-26 match?</b></p><p>The Kerala Blasters vs Odisha FC ISL 2025-26 match will be telecast on the <i>Sony Sports Network</i>. The match will also be livestreamed on the <i>FanCode </i>app and website.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 23, 2026</p></div> #Kerala #Blasters #Odisha #LIVE #streaming #info #watch #KBFC #OFC #ISL #match

INDIANAPOLIS — It’ll be hard to find any contest this WNBA season that compares to Thursday’s Fever-Aces showdown.

Both teams had enormous scoring runs across the first three quarters, then played down to the final buzzer in overtime and regulation. A pair of costly miscues from Caitlin Clark at the end of each segment set up Chelsea Gray for two buzzer beaters, the first to send the game to the extra session and the second to give the Aces an improbable win.

“We still battled,” Clark said postgame. “We still fought and we put ourselves in position to win the game and then, honestly, it was me that made costly errors for us. So that’s on me to help us win. That’s my job. That’s what I get paid to do.”

No game is decided by the play or mistakes of one player, but Clark’s late faux pas will certainly draw attention, as is the case with everything she does.

At the end of regulation, both Clark and Mitchell had chances to ice the game away at the line in the final seconds. The latter split her pair, missing the second before A’ja Wilson stepped out of bounds to turn the ball over while trying to save it.

Clark would eventually get to the line with seven seconds left and the chance to make it a two-possession game with Indiana up 75-72. She would miss both looks, keeping the door open for Las Vegas. Gray took full advantage, coming up with a loose ball on a broken play before calmly burying a long-range look to tie the game.

“This can’t happen,” Clark said. “Those are free throws I usually make. Certainly frustrating. Obviously, one of them gives us a two-possession lead and I kind of cost my team there for sure. So that’s on me.”

The two teams traded baskets throughout the extra session with Wilson and Mitchell doing the lion’s share of the scoring for their respective teams. Eventually, the Fever found themselves in a familiar spot, leading by one with just under 30 seconds remaining.

A bit of confusion and miscommunication left Clark standing near mid-court with Wilson, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, in front of her, 30 feet from the basket. Despite the situation, Clark could not create a shot and turned the ball over after Wilson tipped a pass in the air and corralled it. The Aces did not call a timeout and raced down the court before Gray capped off her heroics with the game-winner.

All that came after some huge momentum swings in the first three frames. The Fever were flying up and down the court in the second period, blowing the game open with a 24-4 run to take a 42-22 lead with four minutes left in the first half.

In direct response, the Aces scored the final 15 points of the second period and the first seven points of the third quarter to take the lead. In the end, the Aces went on a 40-11 run that spanned their largest deficit and largest lead of the game, the latter coming at 62-53 early in the fourth.

Clark certainly had a role in pulling Indiana back into the game, including a pair of big threes that gave Indiana the lead, the latter coming with 1:48 left. An Aliyah Boston puback off her own miss put the hosts ahead 74-72 with 30 seconds left before the Fever forced a miss from Wilson to set up the frantic finish.

Postgame, Clark willingly shouldered the blame for the loss. However, on a night when the Fever turned the ball over 21 times, gave up 12 offensive rebounds and shot 35% in the second half, her head coach wouldn’t let her.

“I think you like that as ownership,” Stephanie White said. “But as an athlete and as a coach and as somebody who’s been around for a long time, it doesn’t come down to one singular thing. Like we know that. She’s disappointed in herself certainly, as I’m sure a lot of our players are. But we got to use it as fuel.

“And she’s going to be better. I know she’s going to be better on Saturday because of it. I mean she’s a competitor. She’s a fighter…But it doesn’t come down to one thing and I know, again, it’s easy to look at it and think that it does, but it was a collection of things. If we cut our turnovers in half, it’s a different ballgame.”

#Caitlin #Clark #takes #blame #wild #Fever #loss #Aces #happen">Caitlin Clark takes blame in wild Fever loss to Aces: ‘This can’t happen’  INDIANAPOLIS — It’ll be hard to find any contest this WNBA season that compares to Thursday’s Fever-Aces showdown.Both teams had enormous scoring runs across the first three quarters, then played down to the final buzzer in overtime and regulation. A pair of costly miscues from Caitlin Clark at the end of each segment set up Chelsea Gray for two buzzer beaters, the first to send the game to the extra session and the second to give the Aces an improbable win.“We still battled,” Clark said postgame. “We still fought and we put ourselves in position to win the game and then, honestly, it was me that made costly errors for us. So that’s on me to help us win. That’s my job. That’s what I get paid to do.”No game is decided by the play or mistakes of one player, but Clark’s late faux pas will certainly draw attention, as is the case with everything she does.At the end of regulation, both Clark and Mitchell had chances to ice the game away at the line in the final seconds. The latter split her pair, missing the second before A’ja Wilson stepped out of bounds to turn the ball over while trying to save it.Clark would eventually get to the line with seven seconds left and the chance to make it a two-possession game with Indiana up 75-72. She would miss both looks, keeping the door open for Las Vegas. Gray took full advantage, coming up with a loose ball on a broken play before calmly burying a long-range look to tie the game.“This can’t happen,” Clark said. “Those are free throws I usually make. Certainly frustrating. Obviously, one of them gives us a two-possession lead and I kind of cost my team there for sure. So that’s on me.”The two teams traded baskets throughout the extra session with Wilson and Mitchell doing the lion’s share of the scoring for their respective teams. Eventually, the Fever found themselves in a familiar spot, leading by one with just under 30 seconds remaining.A bit of confusion and miscommunication left Clark standing near mid-court with Wilson, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, in front of her, 30 feet from the basket. Despite the situation, Clark could not create a shot and turned the ball over after Wilson tipped a pass in the air and corralled it. The Aces did not call a timeout and raced down the court before Gray capped off her heroics with the game-winner.All that came after some huge momentum swings in the first three frames. The Fever were flying up and down the court in the second period, blowing the game open with a 24-4 run to take a 42-22 lead with four minutes left in the first half.In direct response, the Aces scored the final 15 points of the second period and the first seven points of the third quarter to take the lead. In the end, the Aces went on a 40-11 run that spanned their largest deficit and largest lead of the game, the latter coming at 62-53 early in the fourth.Clark certainly had a role in pulling Indiana back into the game, including a pair of big threes that gave Indiana the lead, the latter coming with 1:48 left. An Aliyah Boston puback off her own miss put the hosts ahead 74-72 with 30 seconds left before the Fever forced a miss from Wilson to set up the frantic finish.Postgame, Clark willingly shouldered the blame for the loss. However, on a night when the Fever turned the ball over 21 times, gave up 12 offensive rebounds and shot 35% in the second half, her head coach wouldn’t let her.“I think you like that as ownership,” Stephanie White said. “But as an athlete and as a coach and as somebody who’s been around for a long time, it doesn’t come down to one singular thing. Like we know that. She’s disappointed in herself certainly, as I’m sure a lot of our players are. But we got to use it as fuel.“And she’s going to be better. I know she’s going to be better on Saturday because of it. I mean she’s a competitor. She’s a fighter…But it doesn’t come down to one thing and I know, again, it’s easy to look at it and think that it does, but it was a collection of things. If we cut our turnovers in half, it’s a different ballgame.”  #Caitlin #Clark #takes #blame #wild #Fever #loss #Aces #happen

IND vs SL XI Live Score: Catch the live scores, updates and highlights from the Tour match between India and Sri Lanka Cricket XI starting at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo, on Friday.

Updated : Aug 07, 2026 12:07 IST

India vs Sri Lanka Cricket XI LIVE Score, Tour match Day 1 updates: SLC XI 138/1 at LUNCH; Ravindu Rasantha completes fifty  
  IND vs SL XI Live Score: Catch the live scores, updates and highlights from the Tour match between India and Sri Lanka Cricket XI starting at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo, on Friday.
Updated : Aug 07, 2026 12:07 IST India will play a 2-match Test series in Sri Lanka starting August 15. 
                                                                          | Photo Credit:  
                                      RITURAJ KONWAR
                                                                      
                        India will play a 2-match Test series in Sri Lanka starting August 15.
                                                  | Photo Credit:  
                          RITURAJ KONWAR
                                              elcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of Day 1 of the Tour match between India and Sri Lanka Cricket XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo.The Shubman Gill-led side will look to get accustomed to the conditions on offer ahead of the two-match Test series starting on August 15.Stay tuned for live updates from the three-day game. Match info:Date: August 7-9, 2026Time: 10 am startVenue: NCC Ground, ColomboIndia squad: Shubman Gill(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor BrarSri Lanka squad: Nishan Madushka(w), Nipun Dhananjaya, Ravindu Rasantha, Pavan Rathnayake, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Sonal Dinusha(c), Ramesh Mendis, Dilum Sudeera, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Isitha Wijesundera, Asanka Manoj, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha
				LUNCH ON DAY 1
			That first session belongs to the host. Save the run-out dismissal, Sri Lanka has been pretty impressive. Ravindu Rasantha is batting on 50 and would eye a bigger score when action resumes.
				Fifty for Ravindu!
			A clip through the legside against Suthar helps Ravindu Rasantha reach the 50-run mark in 82 balls. Five fours and one six in his knock so far. SLC XI 138/1 in 29 overs
				SLC XI 110/1
			Manav Suthar into the attack. Breakthrough for India as the two batters end up at the same end trying to steal a run. Nishan Madushka will have to walk back after scoring 66 off 65 balls. Madushka had called for a run after driving towards covers. Ravindu tried sending him back but it was too late. 
				SLC XI 101/0 
			Kuldeep Yadav is into the attack. Another vital cog for India. He hasn’t been in best of forms in the white ball formats. Needs to get his rhythm back so crucial three days for him. 
				SLC XI 72/0 
			Sri Lankan openers – Nishan Madushka and Ravindu Rasantha – have been really good, not only with their defence but also scoring runs. India yet to get a breakthrough or help from the wicket. 
				SLC XI 43/0 
			From the other end, Gurnoor Brar is into the attack. So, five-over spells from Siraj and Prasidh are done. They couldn’t find much help off the wicket. Let’s see how Brar and Jadeja operate here. 
				SL XI 41/0 
			India has opted for spin after 10 overs. Ravindra Jadeja is into attack. He will play a crucial part in the two Tests. 
				SLC XI 23/0
			No breakthroughs yet for the two Indian pacers. The pitch has been quite benign so far, with not much movement off the pitch or in the air. 
				In case you were wondering…
			Why is Shubman Gill not playing for India in practice match against Sri Lanka XI?Shubman Gill misses India’s practice match against Sri Lanka XI due to an impact injury sustained during training.
				SLC XI 12/0
			Another drive through the offside for Madushka against Siraj. The length has been a touch too full from the Hyderabad pacer. Ball doing nothing in the air for him.
				No Auqib Nabi yet
			It will be Prasidh Krishna who will share the new ball with Siraj. Ravindu also gets off the mark with a clip through fine leg for a boundary. 
				Time for red-ball action!
			Mohammed Siraj to get us underway with the brand new red cherry in hand. Ravindu Rashantha and Nishan Madushka open the innings for the host. Madushka begins proceedings with a sumptuous push through the covers for four. 
				Saransh, Nabi in action
			The match against SLC XI will give India a chance to try out both players called up to the national team for the first time — Auqib Nabi and Saransh Jain.Nabi might be in action at the beginning with the new ball in hand but might not be a direct entry into the playing eleven. Saransh, the off-spinner, will be vying for a starting spot with Manav Suthar and Kuldeep Yadav. 
				Sri Lanka squad
			Nishan Madushka(w), Nipun Dhananjaya, Ravindu Rasantha, Pavan Rathnayake, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Sonal Dinusha(c), Ramesh Mendis, Dilum Sudeera, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Isitha Wijesundera, Asanka Manoj, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha
				India squad
			Shubman Gill(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar
				Toss update!
			SLC XI has won the toss and elected to bat first against India. 
				Good morning!
			Welcome to the live coverage of Day 1 of the Tour match between India and Sri Lanka Cricket XI taking place in Colombo. Stay tuned for the scores and live updates from the contest. Published on Aug 07, 2026  #India #Sri #Lanka #Cricket #LIVE #Score #Tour #match #Day #updates #SLC #LUNCH #Ravindu #Rasantha #completes #fifty

India will play a 2-match Test series in Sri Lanka starting August 15. | Photo Credit: RITURAJ KONWAR

lightbox-info

India will play a 2-match Test series in Sri Lanka starting August 15. | Photo Credit: RITURAJ KONWAR

elcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of Day 1 of the Tour match between India and Sri Lanka Cricket XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo.

The Shubman Gill-led side will look to get accustomed to the conditions on offer ahead of the two-match Test series starting on August 15.

Stay tuned for live updates from the three-day game. 

Match info:

Date: August 7-9, 2026

Time: 10 am start

Venue: NCC Ground, Colombo

India squad: Shubman Gill(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar

Sri Lanka squad: Nishan Madushka(w), Nipun Dhananjaya, Ravindu Rasantha, Pavan Rathnayake, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Sonal Dinusha(c), Ramesh Mendis, Dilum Sudeera, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Isitha Wijesundera, Asanka Manoj, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha

Published on Aug 07, 2026

#India #Sri #Lanka #Cricket #LIVE #Score #Tour #match #Day #updates #SLC #LUNCH #Ravindu #Rasantha #completes #fifty">India vs Sri Lanka Cricket XI LIVE Score, Tour match Day 1 updates: SLC XI 138/1 at LUNCH; Ravindu Rasantha completes fifty  
  IND vs SL XI Live Score: Catch the live scores, updates and highlights from the Tour match between India and Sri Lanka Cricket XI starting at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo, on Friday.
Updated : Aug 07, 2026 12:07 IST India will play a 2-match Test series in Sri Lanka starting August 15. 
                                                                          | Photo Credit:  
                                      RITURAJ KONWAR
                                                                      
                        India will play a 2-match Test series in Sri Lanka starting August 15.
                                                  | Photo Credit:  
                          RITURAJ KONWAR
                                              elcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of Day 1 of the Tour match between India and Sri Lanka Cricket XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo.The Shubman Gill-led side will look to get accustomed to the conditions on offer ahead of the two-match Test series starting on August 15.Stay tuned for live updates from the three-day game. Match info:Date: August 7-9, 2026Time: 10 am startVenue: NCC Ground, ColomboIndia squad: Shubman Gill(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor BrarSri Lanka squad: Nishan Madushka(w), Nipun Dhananjaya, Ravindu Rasantha, Pavan Rathnayake, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Sonal Dinusha(c), Ramesh Mendis, Dilum Sudeera, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Isitha Wijesundera, Asanka Manoj, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha
				LUNCH ON DAY 1
			That first session belongs to the host. Save the run-out dismissal, Sri Lanka has been pretty impressive. Ravindu Rasantha is batting on 50 and would eye a bigger score when action resumes.
				Fifty for Ravindu!
			A clip through the legside against Suthar helps Ravindu Rasantha reach the 50-run mark in 82 balls. Five fours and one six in his knock so far. SLC XI 138/1 in 29 overs
				SLC XI 110/1
			Manav Suthar into the attack. Breakthrough for India as the two batters end up at the same end trying to steal a run. Nishan Madushka will have to walk back after scoring 66 off 65 balls. Madushka had called for a run after driving towards covers. Ravindu tried sending him back but it was too late. 
				SLC XI 101/0 
			Kuldeep Yadav is into the attack. Another vital cog for India. He hasn’t been in best of forms in the white ball formats. Needs to get his rhythm back so crucial three days for him. 
				SLC XI 72/0 
			Sri Lankan openers – Nishan Madushka and Ravindu Rasantha – have been really good, not only with their defence but also scoring runs. India yet to get a breakthrough or help from the wicket. 
				SLC XI 43/0 
			From the other end, Gurnoor Brar is into the attack. So, five-over spells from Siraj and Prasidh are done. They couldn’t find much help off the wicket. Let’s see how Brar and Jadeja operate here. 
				SL XI 41/0 
			India has opted for spin after 10 overs. Ravindra Jadeja is into attack. He will play a crucial part in the two Tests. 
				SLC XI 23/0
			No breakthroughs yet for the two Indian pacers. The pitch has been quite benign so far, with not much movement off the pitch or in the air. 
				In case you were wondering…
			Why is Shubman Gill not playing for India in practice match against Sri Lanka XI?Shubman Gill misses India’s practice match against Sri Lanka XI due to an impact injury sustained during training.
				SLC XI 12/0
			Another drive through the offside for Madushka against Siraj. The length has been a touch too full from the Hyderabad pacer. Ball doing nothing in the air for him.
				No Auqib Nabi yet
			It will be Prasidh Krishna who will share the new ball with Siraj. Ravindu also gets off the mark with a clip through fine leg for a boundary. 
				Time for red-ball action!
			Mohammed Siraj to get us underway with the brand new red cherry in hand. Ravindu Rashantha and Nishan Madushka open the innings for the host. Madushka begins proceedings with a sumptuous push through the covers for four. 
				Saransh, Nabi in action
			The match against SLC XI will give India a chance to try out both players called up to the national team for the first time — Auqib Nabi and Saransh Jain.Nabi might be in action at the beginning with the new ball in hand but might not be a direct entry into the playing eleven. Saransh, the off-spinner, will be vying for a starting spot with Manav Suthar and Kuldeep Yadav. 
				Sri Lanka squad
			Nishan Madushka(w), Nipun Dhananjaya, Ravindu Rasantha, Pavan Rathnayake, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Sonal Dinusha(c), Ramesh Mendis, Dilum Sudeera, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Isitha Wijesundera, Asanka Manoj, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha
				India squad
			Shubman Gill(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar
				Toss update!
			SLC XI has won the toss and elected to bat first against India. 
				Good morning!
			Welcome to the live coverage of Day 1 of the Tour match between India and Sri Lanka Cricket XI taking place in Colombo. Stay tuned for the scores and live updates from the contest. Published on Aug 07, 2026  #India #Sri #Lanka #Cricket #LIVE #Score #Tour #match #Day #updates #SLC #LUNCH #Ravindu #Rasantha #completes #fifty

Published on Aug 07, 2026

#India #Sri #Lanka #Cricket #LIVE #Score #Tour #match #Day #updates #SLC #LUNCH #Ravindu #Rasantha #completes #fifty">India vs Sri Lanka Cricket XI LIVE Score, Tour match Day 1 updates: SLC XI 138/1 at LUNCH; Ravindu Rasantha completes fifty

IND vs SL XI Live Score: Catch the live scores, updates and highlights from the Tour match between India and Sri Lanka Cricket XI starting at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo, on Friday.

Updated : Aug 07, 2026 12:07 IST

India vs Sri Lanka Cricket XI LIVE Score, Tour match Day 1 updates: SLC XI 138/1 at LUNCH; Ravindu Rasantha completes fifty  
  IND vs SL XI Live Score: Catch the live scores, updates and highlights from the Tour match between India and Sri Lanka Cricket XI starting at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo, on Friday.
Updated : Aug 07, 2026 12:07 IST India will play a 2-match Test series in Sri Lanka starting August 15. 
                                                                          | Photo Credit:  
                                      RITURAJ KONWAR
                                                                      
                        India will play a 2-match Test series in Sri Lanka starting August 15.
                                                  | Photo Credit:  
                          RITURAJ KONWAR
                                              elcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of Day 1 of the Tour match between India and Sri Lanka Cricket XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo.The Shubman Gill-led side will look to get accustomed to the conditions on offer ahead of the two-match Test series starting on August 15.Stay tuned for live updates from the three-day game. Match info:Date: August 7-9, 2026Time: 10 am startVenue: NCC Ground, ColomboIndia squad: Shubman Gill(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor BrarSri Lanka squad: Nishan Madushka(w), Nipun Dhananjaya, Ravindu Rasantha, Pavan Rathnayake, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Sonal Dinusha(c), Ramesh Mendis, Dilum Sudeera, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Isitha Wijesundera, Asanka Manoj, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha
				LUNCH ON DAY 1
			That first session belongs to the host. Save the run-out dismissal, Sri Lanka has been pretty impressive. Ravindu Rasantha is batting on 50 and would eye a bigger score when action resumes.
				Fifty for Ravindu!
			A clip through the legside against Suthar helps Ravindu Rasantha reach the 50-run mark in 82 balls. Five fours and one six in his knock so far. SLC XI 138/1 in 29 overs
				SLC XI 110/1
			Manav Suthar into the attack. Breakthrough for India as the two batters end up at the same end trying to steal a run. Nishan Madushka will have to walk back after scoring 66 off 65 balls. Madushka had called for a run after driving towards covers. Ravindu tried sending him back but it was too late. 
				SLC XI 101/0 
			Kuldeep Yadav is into the attack. Another vital cog for India. He hasn’t been in best of forms in the white ball formats. Needs to get his rhythm back so crucial three days for him. 
				SLC XI 72/0 
			Sri Lankan openers – Nishan Madushka and Ravindu Rasantha – have been really good, not only with their defence but also scoring runs. India yet to get a breakthrough or help from the wicket. 
				SLC XI 43/0 
			From the other end, Gurnoor Brar is into the attack. So, five-over spells from Siraj and Prasidh are done. They couldn’t find much help off the wicket. Let’s see how Brar and Jadeja operate here. 
				SL XI 41/0 
			India has opted for spin after 10 overs. Ravindra Jadeja is into attack. He will play a crucial part in the two Tests. 
				SLC XI 23/0
			No breakthroughs yet for the two Indian pacers. The pitch has been quite benign so far, with not much movement off the pitch or in the air. 
				In case you were wondering…
			Why is Shubman Gill not playing for India in practice match against Sri Lanka XI?Shubman Gill misses India’s practice match against Sri Lanka XI due to an impact injury sustained during training.
				SLC XI 12/0
			Another drive through the offside for Madushka against Siraj. The length has been a touch too full from the Hyderabad pacer. Ball doing nothing in the air for him.
				No Auqib Nabi yet
			It will be Prasidh Krishna who will share the new ball with Siraj. Ravindu also gets off the mark with a clip through fine leg for a boundary. 
				Time for red-ball action!
			Mohammed Siraj to get us underway with the brand new red cherry in hand. Ravindu Rashantha and Nishan Madushka open the innings for the host. Madushka begins proceedings with a sumptuous push through the covers for four. 
				Saransh, Nabi in action
			The match against SLC XI will give India a chance to try out both players called up to the national team for the first time — Auqib Nabi and Saransh Jain.Nabi might be in action at the beginning with the new ball in hand but might not be a direct entry into the playing eleven. Saransh, the off-spinner, will be vying for a starting spot with Manav Suthar and Kuldeep Yadav. 
				Sri Lanka squad
			Nishan Madushka(w), Nipun Dhananjaya, Ravindu Rasantha, Pavan Rathnayake, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Sonal Dinusha(c), Ramesh Mendis, Dilum Sudeera, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Isitha Wijesundera, Asanka Manoj, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha
				India squad
			Shubman Gill(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar
				Toss update!
			SLC XI has won the toss and elected to bat first against India. 
				Good morning!
			Welcome to the live coverage of Day 1 of the Tour match between India and Sri Lanka Cricket XI taking place in Colombo. Stay tuned for the scores and live updates from the contest. Published on Aug 07, 2026  #India #Sri #Lanka #Cricket #LIVE #Score #Tour #match #Day #updates #SLC #LUNCH #Ravindu #Rasantha #completes #fifty

India will play a 2-match Test series in Sri Lanka starting August 15. | Photo Credit: RITURAJ KONWAR

lightbox-info

India will play a 2-match Test series in Sri Lanka starting August 15. | Photo Credit: RITURAJ KONWAR

elcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of Day 1 of the Tour match between India and Sri Lanka Cricket XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo.

The Shubman Gill-led side will look to get accustomed to the conditions on offer ahead of the two-match Test series starting on August 15.

Stay tuned for live updates from the three-day game. 

Match info:

Date: August 7-9, 2026

Time: 10 am start

Venue: NCC Ground, Colombo

India squad: Shubman Gill(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar

Sri Lanka squad: Nishan Madushka(w), Nipun Dhananjaya, Ravindu Rasantha, Pavan Rathnayake, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Sonal Dinusha(c), Ramesh Mendis, Dilum Sudeera, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Isitha Wijesundera, Asanka Manoj, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha

  • LUNCH ON DAY 1

    That first session belongs to the host. Save the run-out dismissal, Sri Lanka has been pretty impressive. Ravindu Rasantha is batting on 50 and would eye a bigger score when action resumes.


  • Fifty for Ravindu!

    A clip through the legside against Suthar helps Ravindu Rasantha reach the 50-run mark in 82 balls. Five fours and one six in his knock so far. 

    SLC XI 138/1 in 29 overs

  • SLC XI 110/1

    Manav Suthar into the attack. Breakthrough for India as the two batters end up at the same end trying to steal a run. Nishan Madushka will have to walk back after scoring 66 off 65 balls. Madushka had called for a run after driving towards covers. Ravindu tried sending him back but it was too late. 

  • SLC XI 101/0

    Kuldeep Yadav is into the attack. Another vital cog for India. He hasn’t been in best of forms in the white ball formats. Needs to get his rhythm back so crucial three days for him. 

  • SLC XI 72/0

    Sri Lankan openers – Nishan Madushka and Ravindu Rasantha – have been really good, not only with their defence but also scoring runs. India yet to get a breakthrough or help from the wicket. 

  • SLC XI 43/0

    From the other end, Gurnoor Brar is into the attack. So, five-over spells from Siraj and Prasidh are done. They couldn’t find much help off the wicket. Let’s see how Brar and Jadeja operate here. 

  • SL XI 41/0

    India has opted for spin after 10 overs. Ravindra Jadeja is into attack. He will play a crucial part in the two Tests. 

  • SLC XI 23/0

    No breakthroughs yet for the two Indian pacers. The pitch has been quite benign so far, with not much movement off the pitch or in the air. 

  • In case you were wondering…

    Why is Shubman Gill not playing for India in practice match against Sri Lanka XI?

    Shubman Gill misses India’s practice match against Sri Lanka XI due to an impact injury sustained during training.

  • SLC XI 12/0

    Another drive through the offside for Madushka against Siraj. The length has been a touch too full from the Hyderabad pacer. Ball doing nothing in the air for him.

  • No Auqib Nabi yet

    It will be Prasidh Krishna who will share the new ball with Siraj. Ravindu also gets off the mark with a clip through fine leg for a boundary. 

  • Time for red-ball action!

    Mohammed Siraj to get us underway with the brand new red cherry in hand. Ravindu Rashantha and Nishan Madushka open the innings for the host. 

    Madushka begins proceedings with a sumptuous push through the covers for four. 

  • Saransh, Nabi in action

    The match against SLC XI will give India a chance to try out both players called up to the national team for the first time — Auqib Nabi and Saransh Jain.

    Nabi might be in action at the beginning with the new ball in hand but might not be a direct entry into the playing eleven. 

    Saransh, the off-spinner, will be vying for a starting spot with Manav Suthar and Kuldeep Yadav. 

  • Sri Lanka squad

    Nishan Madushka(w), Nipun Dhananjaya, Ravindu Rasantha, Pavan Rathnayake, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Sonal Dinusha(c), Ramesh Mendis, Dilum Sudeera, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Isitha Wijesundera, Asanka Manoj, Anjala Bandara, Keshara Nuwantha

  • India squad

    Shubman Gill(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar

  • Toss update!

    SLC XI has won the toss and elected to bat first against India. 

  • Good morning!

    Welcome to the live coverage of Day 1 of the Tour match between India and Sri Lanka Cricket XI taking place in Colombo. Stay tuned for the scores and live updates from the contest. 

Published on Aug 07, 2026

#India #Sri #Lanka #Cricket #LIVE #Score #Tour #match #Day #updates #SLC #LUNCH #Ravindu #Rasantha #completes #fifty

Post Comment