Jason Sangha stars as South Australia wins first Shield title in 29 years

South Australia ended their 29-year Sheffield Shield drought in spectacular fashion, clinching the title with a thrilling four-wicket win over Queensland at Karen Rolton Oval. Chasing a record 270 in a Shield final, 

Alex Carey and Jason Sangha produced a stunning 202-run partnership under immense pressure, steering their side to victory in front of a 4000-strong crowd. Carey’s masterclass in strike rotation saw him compile a brilliant 105 off 132 balls, while Sangha’s unbeaten 126 off 192, laced with 16 fours and two sixes, ensured the celebrations began the moment he struck the winning runs. Earlier, South Australia’s hopes looked bleak at 28 for 3 after a fiery spell from Mark Steketee and Michael Neser. 

Still, Carey and Sangha counterattacked, piling on 118 runs in the middle session without offering a clear chance. Carey’s departure to a clever slower ball from Steketee briefly reignited Queensland’s hopes, and with Jake Lehmann and Liam Scott falling in quick succession, tension crept back in. However, Ben Manenti calmed nerves with two elegant cover drives before Sangha’s final stroke through midwicket sealed history. 

Brendan Doggett was named Player of the Match for his incredible 11-wicket haul, the best in a Shield final, while South Australia, under new captain Nathan McSweeney and coach Ryan Harris, also completed a historic Shield and One-Day Cup double. The scenes that followed—fans storming the field in celebration—were reminiscent of 1996, as South Australia cemented their place in the history books with an unforgettable triumph.

Continue the story here:'They saved my career' - Sangha repays South Australia's faith with Shield final heroics

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DISCIPLINED BOWLING MAKES GUJRAT TITANS CRUISE EASILY OVER MUMBAI INDIANS

Gujarat Titans (GT) secured their first win of the season with a commanding performance against Mumbai Indians (MI), continuing MI’s familiar early-season struggles. The victory was built on a strong foundation, with Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill ensuring a dominant powerplay before Jos Buttler and Sai further cemented a formidable total. GT had specifically requested a black soil pitch, and they made full use of it. The bowlers executed their plans to perfection, with Mohammed Siraj striking early to remove both MI openers cheaply.

Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav briefly revived MI’s chase, but Tilak lost his rhythm at a crucial juncture. Prasidh Krishna then turned the game on its head, hitting the deck hard and cleverly taking the pace off the ball, stalling MI’s momentum. With Tilak gone, MI surprisingly sent Anshul Kamboj Minz ahead of Hardik Pandya, but the move backfired as Minz struggled and Hardik never found his rhythm. SKY, feeling the pressure, fell while trying to accelerate, and from there, GT cruised to a comfortable win.

In the heat of the battle, there was a brief exchange between Hardik Pandya and Sai Kishore, but by the end, they embraced in a warm hug, signaling mutual respect. Hardik, reflecting on the loss, admitted MI were 15-20 runs short in both batting and bowling, and costly mistakes in the field added another 20-25 runs to GT’s tally. He acknowledged that GT's openers batted with great discipline, playing smart cricket rather than taking unnecessary risks. The slow pitch made variations difficult to handle, and GT’s bowlers executed those tactics better on the night. MI will need their batters to step up soon, as early-season losses can quickly pile up, but for now, GT celebrated a well-earned victory.

Player Biographies:

ROHIT SHARMA 

Early Passion for Cricket

Born on April 30, 1987, in Bansod, Nagpur, Maharashtra, Rohit Sharma’s journey to cricketing stardom wasn’t an easy one. Coming from a modest background, he was raised by his grandparents in Mumbai due to financial constraints. His cricketing talent was first spotted by coach Dinesh Lad, who not only mentored him but also helped him secure a scholarship at Swami Vivekanand International School. Interestingly, Rohit started as an off-spinner before his batting abilities stole the spotlight.

 Domestic Cricket

Rohit first gained recognition in 2006 when he played a match-winning knock of 142* in the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy. His performances in the Ranji Trophy and India’s U-19 setup soon earned him a call-up to the senior Indian team for the 2007 T20 World Cup.

Early International Days: Promise and Inconsistency

Rohit made his international debut in an ODI against Ireland in 2007 and showed glimpses of brilliance. However, inconsistency plagued his initial years, and despite a few memorable knocks, he struggled to cement his place in the team. His Test debut finally came in 2013, and he made an immediate impact by scoring a stunning 177 against the West Indies at Eden Gardens.

The Game-Changing Move to Opening

The real turning point in Rohit's career came in 2013 when MS Dhoni promoted him as an opener in ODIs. That decision unlocked his full potential, and he responded with an unbeaten 141 against Australia. Later that year, he announced himself on the world stage with a breathtaking 209 against the same opponent, becoming only the third player to score a double century in ODIs.

Breaking Records and Rewriting History

Rohit Sharma has built a reputation for making batting look effortless. He remains the only cricketer to have scored three double centuries in ODIs—209 vs. Australia (2013), 264 vs. Sri Lanka (2014), and 208* vs. Sri Lanka (2017). His iconic 264 is still the highest individual score in ODI history.

During the 2019 Cricket World Cup, Rohit shattered records by becoming the first batsman to hit five centuries in a single edition, finishing as the highest run-scorer. He also holds the record for the highest individual T20I score (118) by an Indian. In Tests, he proved his mettle as an opener in 2019, scoring twin centuries against South Africa.

Captaincy and IPL Dominance

Rohit's leadership skills have been as impactful as his batting. Taking over as Mumbai Indians (MI) captain in 2013, he transformed them into the most successful IPL franchise, winning five titles (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020). His calm and tactical approach to captaincy led him to become India’s all-format captain in 2023, guiding the team to the ODI World Cup final.

A Batting Genius

With his elegant stroke play, impeccable timing, and ability to switch gears effortlessly, Rohit Sharma is one of the finest batsmen of the modern era. His knack for scoring daddy hundreds and stepping up in crucial games has made him a fan favorite and a true legend of the game.

From a young boy with big dreams in Nagpur to leading India on the grandest stages, Rohit’s journey is a testament to perseverance, hard work, and pure talent. As he continues to dominate world cricket, his legacy as "The Hitman" only grows stronger.

On This Day

Australia’s fifth World Cup triumph was nothing short of historic, made even more special as they lifted the trophy on home soil in front of a roaring 93,000-strong crowd at the MCG. For New Zealand, it was an emotional moment—reaching their first-ever World Cup final after six semi-final exits—but the occasion proved too overwhelming. Right from the start, the match lacked the intensity expected from a high-stakes final. Mitchell Starc set the tone by dismissing the explosive Brendon McCullum for a duck in the opening over, and from there, Australia’s left-arm seamers dominated. Grant Elliott fought valiantly with a gritty 83, but the rest of the batting lineup crumbled under pressure, with both Starc and Mitchell Johnson claiming two wickets each. A modest target of 183 was never going to be enough, and Australia chased it down comfortably in just 33.1 overs. David Warner, Steven Smith, and Michael Clarke—playing his final ODI—sealed the win, cementing Australia’s dominance in world cricket once again.

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