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Team India's T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer enjoys vacation at an island destination
India’s T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer is enjoying his time off, opting to recharge his batteries at an island destination before the Men in Blue face Afghanistan in a T20I series, beginning on September 13.
Iyer Instagrammed this picture to his 16.5 million followers while chilling on a speedboat. “Immersed in island reverie,” the Mumbai player captioned the post which received over one million ‘likes.’ fishroad-app.com
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ETPL: Du Plessis powers Rotterdam Dockers to five-wicket win in Dutch derby
The Hague [Netherlands], August 27 (ANI): The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) could hardly have asked for a more compelling opening chapter.
In a contest that carried the weight of a new competition and the intensity of a Dutch derby, Rotterdam Dockers produced a composed chase at Sportpark Westvliet to defeat Amsterdam Flames by five wickets and begin their ETPL campaign with a statement victory.
Chasing 158, the Dockers reached 158 for five in 18.1 overs, with captain Faf du Plessis anchoring the pursuit with a superb 83 from 55 balls. David Wiese then provided the finishing thrust, remaining unbeaten on 27 from 17 deliveries as Rotterdam crossed the line with 11 balls to spare.
Earlier, Amsterdam had posted 157 for eight after Rotterdam won the toss and elected to field. The decision immediately placed responsibility on the Flames to establish a competitive total, while Rotterdam backed their bowling attack to exploit the early conditions and then chase with a target in sight. The choice ultimately proved justified, as per a press release.
Amsterdam’s innings began positively through Max O’Dowd, who struck 25 from just 15 balls, including four boundaries. But Rotterdam made early inroads, removing Michael Levitt’s opening partner Yuvraj Samra for five before dismissing O’Dowd at the end of the fourth over.
With Amsterdam 41 for two, Bas de Leede took control of the innings.
The Netherlands all-rounder produced the standout batting performance of the Flames’ innings, scoring 75 from 53 balls at a strike rate of 141.51. His seven fours and two sixes provided the backbone of Amsterdam’s total and ensured that the Flames recovered from their early setbacks.
De Leede’s contribution was particularly important because wickets continued to fall around him. Curtis Campher made 17 from 20 balls, while Tim David was restricted to just one. Captain Scott Edwards added a useful 17 from 14, but Amsterdam were unable to find the sustained acceleration that could have pushed their total beyond 165.
Rotterdam’s bowling attack was led by Anrich Nortje and David Wiese. Nortje returned 2 for 26 from his four overs, while Wiese was particularly effective through the middle overs, claiming two wickets for 28. Roelof van der Merwe also contributed two wickets for just 21 runs from his four overs.
Amsterdam eventually closed on 157 for eight, a competitive total, but one that left Rotterdam with a clear opportunity.
The Dockers’ response began with an early setback when Michael Levitt fell for four in the second over, but the early dismissal did little to unsettle their captain.
Faf du Plessis took responsibility for controlling the chase.
The former South Africa captain combined placement with calculated aggression, allowing the innings to develop without allowing the required rate to become a concern. His 83 came from 55 balls and included seven fours and two sixes, a performance that demonstrated precisely why his experience was such a valuable asset for a newly assembled franchise.
Du Plessis’ innings was not simply about boundary hitting. He managed the tempo of the chase, absorbed pressure when wickets fell and accelerated whenever Amsterdam offered an opportunity.
His most important partnership came with Ben Manenti. Manenti’s 30 from just 18 balls changed the complexion of the chase, with the pair adding 83 runs for the fourth wicket. The partnership transformed Rotterdam from a side cautiously building towards the target into one firmly in control.
Manenti struck three fours and a six before falling with Rotterdam on 105, but the momentum had already shifted decisively.
Heinrich Klaasen’s dismissal for a duck briefly offered Amsterdam hope, but the Flames could not sustain the pressure. Saqib Zulfiqar was run out for one, leaving Rotterdam 115 for five after 13.1 overs.
At that point, 43 runs were still required. David Wiese ensured they never became 43 difficult runs. Wiese joined du Plessis and immediately shifted the tempo. His unbeaten 27 from 17 balls, including three fours, complemented his captain perfectly.
The pair added an unbeaten 43-run partnership, with du Plessis continuing to manipulate the field while Wiese attacked the scoring opportunities that came his way.
By the time the final over arrived, the equation had been reduced to a single run. Du Plessis completed the chase in the 19th over, sealing a five-wicket victory and sending the Dockers into the history books as the first winners of an ETPL match.
For a competition making its debut, it was an appropriately high-quality finish.
The defining feature of Rotterdam’s victory was not simply their ability to hit boundaries. It was their ability to manage the match.
Du Plessis, who has built an enormous T20 career across international and franchise cricket, provided the composure required in the chase. His innings was complemented by Wiese, another vastly experienced T20 campaigner, while Nortje and van der Merwe delivered with the ball.
That combination of experience and tactical awareness proved decisive.
Amsterdam, meanwhile, can take considerable encouragement from De Leede’s innings. The Dutch all-rounder, born in 1999 and already an established Netherlands international, showed why he remains such an important figure in Dutch cricket. His 75 gave the Flames a platform and ensured the contest remained competitive deep into the second innings.
Sportpark Westvliet provided a fitting setting for the opening match. Located in the Voorburg/The Hague area, the ground is home to Voorburg Cricket Club and has been a recognised venue for international cricket in the Netherlands.
The ground was established in 2006 and has hosted both ODI and T20I cricket. Its T20 record suggests a venue where competitive totals are possible without batting becoming completely dominant: across 23 recorded T20 matches before this fixture, the average first-innings score was 144 and the second-innings average 130.
That context makes Amsterdam’s 157 all the more respectable, although Rotterdam demonstrated that a well-paced chase could overcome the challenge.
The atmosphere surrounding the opening fixture also reflected the importance of the occasion. With two Dutch franchises meeting in the competition’s first match, the derby offered a natural connection between the ETPL’s international ambitions and the established cricketing culture of the Netherlands.
In the end, the opening Dutch derby belonged to Rotterdam Dockers.
Amsterdam had the innings-defining contribution through De Leede and reached a total that gave them a genuine chance. But Rotterdam’s response was measured from the outset, with du Plessis providing the stability and authority required to keep the chase under control.
His 83 was the centrepiece, Manenti’s 30 supplied the crucial acceleration, and Wiese’s unbeaten 27 ensured there was no late drama.
For the Dockers, it is a perfect beginning: a five-wicket victory, a successful chase and a captain’s innings that embodied the experience they hoped would define their campaign.
For Amsterdam Flames, there is plenty to build on. De Leede’s 75, O’Dowd’s aggressive start and a disciplined bowling effort from Nortje, Klein and van der Merwe showed that this is a side capable of challenging strongly once they find the extra margins that slipped away in the closing stages.
But on the opening night of the European T20 Premier League, Rotterdam Dockers had the final word.
The first Dutch derby belongs to Rotterdam and the ETPL has its first winner. (ANI)
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
Mbappe hat-trick powers Real Madrid to 4-1 win over Real Sociedad
Madrid [Spain], August 27 (ANI): A Kylian Mbappe hat-trick helped Real Madrid crush Real Sociedad 4-1 in their La Liga match at their home arena of Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
This marks their first win of the season at home and their second win in two matches. The Jose Mourinho era continues undefeated for the Spanish giants, who would be eyeing redemption after two dry seasons without any major titles.
Denzel Dumfries, along with Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr, was a part of the starting line-up for Real Madrid. In the first half, there were chances at both ends, with Mbappe, Vinicius and Mikel Oyarzabal of Sociedad all being denied, as per Goal.com.
A wide strike from Sergio Gomez made it seem like the first half would be drawless, but the match came to life in the final five minutes of the first half.
Mbappe struck to make it 1-0 in the 40th minute, sending his opponent the wrong way after a pass from Federico Valverde. Four minutes later, Luka Susic produced a gentle equaliser, taking the scoreline 1-1 into half-time.
Mbappe later combined with Bellingham to make it 2-1 in the 60th minute. Vinicius also struck, making it 3-1 in the 68th minute, before Mbappe completed his hat-trick in the 80th minute to make it 4-1. Brahim Diaz’s strike could have made it 5-1, but saw his goal ruled out for offside.
Speaking after the match, Mourinho said, as quoted by the club’s official website, that the first half was difficult as they struggled to click with their pressing and admitted to sitting on the bench “wishing for a water break".
“The first half was difficult for us, in the sense that we weren’t clicking with our pressing, and Real Sociedad didn’t create or have many scoring opportunities. I think their goal was the only shot on target they had in the first half, but they were very well-organized. They are a team with a very good coach, large distances between their central defenders, and very hard to press. It was one of those games where I was saying on the bench that I wished there was a water break, it would have been perfect," he said.
“At halftime, we adjusted some things, and then in the second half, we scored four goals, but it could’ve been five or six. That would have been unfair to a Real Sociedad that had a great first half but faced obvious difficulties in the second against a team with players like Kylian, Jude… It is a lot of football and a lot of quality. In the second half, it was impossible for them," he added.
Making his return to Bernabeu after the first spell with the club from 2010-13, he said that the match was “calm"
“The first match at the Bernabeu was calm. I don’t get very nervous or tense before matches anymore. I enjoyed it a lot. The last time I came here with Benfica (his previous team), I stayed in the garage watching the game. Today is the first time I have been in the new Bernabeu. I am not a fan of them chanting my name. The team is the most important thing, and feeling the support is what matters most to me. I am very happy with the players’ feelings after playing their first home match, winning well, the fans going home smiling, and tomorrow we train because Malaga is coming on Sunday," he signed off. (ANI)
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026: Anjum Chopra backs Team India to clinch title
As India look to bag their fourth title at the Women’s T20 Asia Cup, beginning in Dubai on Friday (August 28 to September 13), ex-captain Anjum Chopra has backed skipper Harmanpreet Kaur as the perfect leader even as there has been some chatter about the need to change the captain after India failed to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in England last month.
First up, Thai test
India begin their campaign against Thailand in Dubai on Sunday.
“I feel Harmanpreet is a perfect leader for this team because she’s a very good blend of aggression and calmness, which reflects in her batting. And I know for sure that reflects in her captaincy as well. If changing a captain can get you World Cup trophies, I will be the first to say, ‘let’s change a captain for every ICC tournament because I want to win that ICC trophy’,” Anjum said during a select media interaction organised by Sony Sports Network on Wednesday.
Under Kaur’s captaincy, India won the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup at Navi Mumbai in 2025.
Anjum Chopra. Pic/AFP
“I believe we should look to preserve Harmanpreet, not because she should be there as captain, but because she walks tall in the dressing room due to her runs as well, and not just because of her decision-making,” Anjum explained.
Anjum, who represented the country in 12 Tests, 127 ODIs and 18 T20Is between 1995 and 2012, felt Kaur’s biggest challenge is a lack of bowling options.
“The bigger challenge for Harman is that she doesn’t have enough bowlers to fall back on. Rather than saying change X or change Y, we should look at how many bowlers she can count on. One is Deepti Sharma [off-spinning all-rounder], second is Shree Charani [left-arm spinner] and third is Kranti Gaud [pacer], who doesn’t play every T20 game. So, she’s actually limited for options in the bowling department. So, you’ll always be looking to make that important change at critical moments when you feel you can’t handle it with any other bowler. But who is that out-and-out fast bowler apart from Kranti who can utilise the new ball?” Anjum asked.
‘India clear favourites’
Though Sri Lanka are defending champs, Anjum believes India are strong title contenders. “I feel India will emerge as champions. They will need to play very bad cricket on a particular day to lose. This Indian team is very confident, especially because of their success in the 50-over World Cup. Yes, the T20 World Cup didn’t go to plan, but they’re still one-day champions. But there will always be a challenge. I will never take Pakistan, Sri Lanka or any team lightly. Sri Lanka won this championship in 2024 and were outstanding,” Anjum concluded.