T20 Series

Australia will play one Test match, three T20Is and three ODIs in the multi-format women's Ashes series, to be held in England from June 22. The Meg Lanning-led have held the women's Ashes since 2015 and won by 12-4 margin in 2021/22 at home. Litchfield, the 19-year-old batting prodigy, who caught attention by hitting back-to-back half-centuries in her first two ODIs against Pakistan in January, is the only addition to the Australian squad who secured a record-extending sixth T20 World Cup title in South Africa in February.

In a run-fest on Sunday, de Kock smashed his maiden T20I century in the chase for South Africa in a blistering 152-run opening partnership with Hendricks in just 10.5 overs to set the base for South Africa completing the highest ever successful run chase in T20Is with seven balls to spare.

"I've always said the biggest thing that's going to happen in women's cricket, and the women's team is (not) that far away. I've kept saying it for the last six, eight months (India's women's team) are not that far away from winning a big one. They've threatened, they've reached finals, they've lost some close games, but they're there," said Shastri in the latest episode of the ICC Review show.

Fine rearguard innings by Georgia Wareham (32 not out) and Jess Jonassen (22 not out) helped Australia recover from a difficult situation they had landed at the Newlands. Wareham and Jonassen raised 50 runs for the unfinished ninth wicket partnership as Australia reached 129/8 in 20 overs. In reply, India Women were bowled out for 85 in 15 overs with only three batters reaching double figures.

"He's technically so sound that it's (batting) very easy for him. It's just a switch he needs to do to play T20, ODI and Test cricket because he has the game for all three formats. So, to be honest, he's not someone who does not need to play behind the wicket because of the kind of shots he can play all around in front (of the wicket) with the kind of gaps there."

During his sensational knock, the right-handed batter became the youngest Indian (23-year-old) to score a T20I century and also the fifth batter from the country after Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, K.L. Rahul and Virat to score centuries in all three formats. "It feels good when you practice and it pays off. I was backing myself to score big. Didn't happen in the Sri Lanka series and in the first T20 matches.

"To be honest, I always play the game like this (On doing things out of the box). I try to read what is required, not have preconceived ideas. In my captaincy, I look to keep it simple and back my gut. I have a simple rule - if I go down, I will go down on my terms," Pandya said in the post-match presentation. The 29-year-old, who got the Player of the Series Award, credited the support staff for the success.

Deepti, who is leading the wicket-taker's list in the ongoing Women's T20I tri-series in South Africa with nine wickets, is now just 26 rating points behind England's left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone. Deepti, who now has 737 points, has moved up one spot, while South Africa's left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba, who has picked four wickets in the ongoing tri-series, also climbed a spot to occupy the third position with 732 points.

"Firstly, winning the World Cup is a big deal and then the Under-19 women's winning the inaugural World Cup by which the name of India will be written on it in golden letters is a big deal. By the way, the women's cricket team has played the semi-finals of the World Cup many times and also played the finals many times but never won the trophy."

Indian bowlers produced a sensational performance to restrict New Zealand to 99/8 in 20 overs. Spinners spun the web and took the first five wickets of New Zealand, who never got the momentum throughout the innings. The Indian pacers then did a brilliant finishing job for the hosts. Arshdeep Singh (2-7) was the most successful bowler for India.