Defending Champions Fortune Barishal Start Title Defense with a Stunning Win Over Durbar Rajshahi. Fortune Barishal began their title defense in style, pulling off a thrilling four-wicket victory against Durbar Rajshahi in a high-scoring clash of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. On Monday (December 30), Rajshahi set a challenging target of 198 runs for Barishal while batting first. In response, Barishal secured victory with 11 balls and 4 wickets in hand. With this win, Barishal started the tournament on a positive note. Rajshahi posted a competitive 197-7, fueled by an unbeaten 94 from Yasir Ali, who dazzled with seven fours and eight sixes in just 47 balls. Yasir, supported by skipper Anamul Haque Bijoy's 65 off 51 deliveries, helped Rajshahi recover from a precarious 25-2, sharing a 140-run stand for the third wicket. Kyle Mayers was the pick of Barishal’s bowlers, claiming 2-13 in three overs and dismissing both openers. Barishal’s chase began shakily, slumping to 61-5 by the ninth over as Taskin Ahmed (3-31) and Hasan Murad wreaked havoc. Taskin dismissed Barishal captain Tamim Iqbal (7) and dangerman Kyle Mayers (6), while Jishan Alam sent Najmul Hossain Shanto back for a first-ball duck. Towhid Hridoy offered brief resistance with a 23-ball 32 before falling to Murad, who also removed Mushfiqur Rahim (13). With Rajshahi firmly in control, veteran Mahmudullah Riyad turned the game on its head with a blistering 56 off 26 balls, smashing five fours and four sixes. He found an able partner in Pakistan’s Fahim Ashraf, who hammered 54 not out off just 21 balls, including one four and seven towering sixes. The pair shared an unbroken 88-run partnership off just 47 balls for the seventh wicket, steering Barishal to victory with 11 balls to spare. Ashraf sealed the win in style with a massive six, leaving Rajshahi stunned despite Taskin’s valiant effort. Earlier, Rajshahi’s Yasir Ali looked set for a maiden T20 century but was denied on 94, taking a single off the penultimate ball of the innings. His heroics gave Rajshahi hope, but Mahmudullah and Ashraf’s late blitz crushed their dreams of a winning start. Barishal’s thrilling victory showcased their resilience and highlighted the importance of experience and composure under pressure, setting the tone for another exciting BPL season.

India could have walked off the field with a draw after surviving three sessions on the fifth day of the Melbourne Test. The task was more difficult for Australia. On the final day, the Australian bowlers had to take all 10 wickets of India. After losing 3 wickets in the first session, India fought back strongly in the second session, with outstanding resistance from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant. The hosts were slowly becoming frustrated. However, as soon as Travis Head dismissed Pant, India's resistance collapsed. One by one, India lost wickets and faced defeat in the Boxing Day Test. With this victory, Australia advanced towards the final of the World Test Championship. On Monday (December 30), Australia defeated India by a huge margin of 184 runs at the MCG. India needed 339 runs to win in the fourth innings, but they were dismissed for just 155. India lost their last 6 wickets for only 34 runs. With this win, Australia took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Yesterday, Australia finished the day with 228 runs for 9 wickets, and today, they added just 6 more runs before being all out. As a result, India’s target for victory was set at 340 runs.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the ticket prices for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 tournament, which kicks off tomorrow (Monday). On Sunday, December 29, at noon, BCB issued a statement with details regarding ticket purchases. Tickets can be bought both directly and online. Ticket sales will start at 4 pm and continue until 7 pm today. Additionally, on the opening day of the BPL (December 30), tickets can be purchased directly at designated Madhumati Bank branches from 10 am to 4 pm. Ticket prices range from Taka 200 to Taka 2000. Fans can purchase tickets online via www.gobcbticket.com.bd or buy them in person at seven Modhumoti Bank PLC branches. The Modhumoti Bank PLC branches selling physical tickets are located in: Mirpur Branch (Mirpur 11) Motijheel Branch (Dhaka Chamber Building) Uttara Branch (Jasimuddin Road) Gulshan Branch (Between Gulshan 1 and 2) Dhanmondi Branch (Old Road 27) Kamrangirchar Branch VIP Road Branch (Polton Scout Building)   Ticket prices for specific stands are as follows: Grand Stand (Upper and Lower): Taka 2000 International Gallery North (Media Block): Taka 1000 International Gallery South (Corporate Block): Taka 800 International Lounge South (Corporate Block): Taka 1000 Club House South (Shaheed Mushtaque Stand): Taka 500 Club House North (Shaheed Jewel Stand): Taka 500 Southern Gallery: Taka 300 Northern Gallery: Taka 300 Eastern Gallery: Taka 200   Additionally, 300 seats in the Club House South-Shaheed Mushtaque Stand (Zero Waste Zone) are available at Taka 600 per ticket.

Jasprit Bumrah, India’s recent bowling sensation, has reignited his team with an incredible feat. The right-arm pacer became the fastest Indian to claim 200 Test wickets. Globally, he achieved this milestone in the fourth-lowest number of balls bowled and tied for the tenth-fastest by matches. However, Bumrah made history by claiming 200 Test wickets at the lowest economy rate ever recorded. He is the only bowler in Test history to achieve 200 wickets with an average under 20 (19.56). Under pressure from Bumrah and Siraj’s fiery bowling, Australia collapsed to 91 for 6 in their second innings, adding to the drama of the fourth Test in Melbourne in the Border-Gavaskar series. Despite their struggles, Australia managed to surpass the 200-run mark, thanks to a 105-run first-innings lead. On the fourth day of the Boxing Day Test (Sunday), India was bowled out for 369 after adding just 11 runs to their overnight total. This effort was powered by a spectacular maiden Test century by Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored 114 off 189 balls, including 11 fours and one six. Pat Cummins, Scott Boland, and Nathan Lyon each took three wickets for Australia in the first innings. In their second innings, Australia lost debutant opener Sam Constance for just 8 runs to a brilliant inswinger from Bumrah, who had previously stared him down in the first innings after his resilient 60-run knock. Mohammed Siraj then dismissed Usman Khawaja for 21 and Steven Smith for 13. Australia suffered a dramatic collapse, losing four wickets for just 11 runs, three of which were claimed by Bumrah. He reached the milestone of 200 Test wickets by dismissing Travis Head for just 1. Bumrah then sent back Mitchell Marsh (0) and Alex Carey, bringing his tally to 202 wickets in Tests. Fewest Runs Conceded for 200 Test Wickets Jasprit Bumrah: 3912 runs (average 19.56) Joel Garner: 4067 runs (average 20.34) Shaun Pollock: 4077 runs (average 20.39) Fewest Balls to 200 Test Wickets Waqar Younis: 7725 balls Dale Steyn: 7848 balls Kagiso Rabada: 8154 balls Jasprit Bumrah: 8484 balls Malcolm Marshall: 9234 balls Fastest to 200 Test Wickets for India Jasprit Bumrah: 8484 balls Mohammed Shami: 9896 balls Ravichandran Ashwin: 10,248 balls Kapil Dev: 11,066 balls Ravindra Jadeja: 11,989 balls

Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell made half-centuries in a 105-run sixth-wicket partnership to help lead New Zealand to an eight-run win over Sri Lanka on Saturday in the first of three T20 internationals. Outstanding bowling at the death also turned the match in New Zealand's favour as Sri Lanka slumped from 121-0 to 164-8 in reply to New Zealand's 172-8. Mitchell made 62 and Bracewell 59 in a partnership lasting only 60 balls, after coming together with New Zealand in trouble at 65-5 when Wanindu Hasaranga dismissed Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Hay with consecutive deliveries in the 10th over. New Zealand's total looked inadequate as Pathum Nissanka made 90 in 60 balls and shared a 121-run opening stand with Kusal Mendis which seemed to have set up Sri Lanka for a comfortable win. Mendis contributed 46 to Sri Lanka's first-century opening partnership in T20s in 122 innings over eight years. He was out in the 14th over, an over where Jacob Duffy took three wickets for one run, marking the point at which Sri Lanka's run chase began to unravel. Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Perera were also out in the same over. “They're class batters, particularly those two at the top,” Duffy said. "We know these conditions well with a bit of bounce and swing up top.” Nissanka was dismissed with a total of 153-5 in the 19th over and only 20 runs needed for victory. But Sri Lanka went into the match with a long tail and it wasn't able to finish what Nissanka and Kusal Mendis had started. “We're really disappointed about the result and we really should have done better,” Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said. “I think Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis batted really well and the rest of us, myself included, should take responsibility for this loss.” New Zealand was under pressure for most of the match, stumbling to 32-2 at the end of the power play as Binura Fernando bowled superbly at the top of the innings, finishing with 2-22. Hasaranga then stepped up and took his two important middle-order wickets as New Zealand reached 65-5 by the midpoint of its innings. Mitchell and Bracewell lifted New Zealand to a solid total which was still made to look reachable under the early onslaught from Nissanka and Mendis. But after Duffy's three-wicket burst, Sri Lanka lost its way and the next-best score after the opening pair was 8. Matt Henry and Zak Foulkes bowled superbly at the death. UNB News.