India beat Sri Lanka by 11 runs in U-19 Women’s T20
CHENNAI, June 24: Opener Tanishka Sharma’s superb fifty was complemented by the bowling duo of Janhavi Veerkar and Maitri Maniar as India defeated Sri Lanka by 11 runs in their U-19 women’s T20 game here on Wednesday.Opting to bat, India suffered an early setback losing Deeksha Katragadda (0) in the second over but Sharma made a composed 56-ball 58 laced with eight fours to anchor the innings.She added 57 runs with Ira Jadhav (26 off 21) for the second wicket, while Kumari Palak (21 off 18) and Kashvi Kandikuppa (12) also chipped in with useful contributions as India posted 134 for six.Defending the total, Janhavi Veerkar (3/14) and Maitri Maniar (3/26) snared three wickets each as Sri Lanka could manage just 123 for 8 in the stipulated 20 overs.Vimoksha Balasuriya smashed a 52-ball 61 with the help of eight boundaries to give them a good start to the chase. She added vital runs with other opener Sanjana Kavindi (14) and Manudi Nanayakkara (24) to keep them in the chase.However, Kashvi (1/24) dismissed Sanjana in the 7th over and then Maitri cleaned up Manudi in the 16th over to leave Sri Lanka at 95 for 2.Maitri returned to get rid of the dangerous Vimoksha next in the 18th over as the hosts lost their way to succumb to their second loss in as many matches.The two teams will face off in the third and final T20 on Saturday. (PTI)
Tamil Nadu appoint Yo Mahesh as all-format head coach
CHENNAI, June 24: Former all-rounder Vijaykumar Yo Mahesh was on Wednesday appointed as Tamil Nadu head coach for the upcoming 2026-27 domestic season.Yo Mahesh will be in charge of both the state red ball and white ball teams.He has replaced M Senthilnathan (red-ball) and M Venkataramana (white-ball) for the upcoming season, the state cricket association said in a release.The 32-year-old will be assisted by R Srinivasan in red ball format while J Hariesh will be his deputy in Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Hazare trophies.Yo Mahesh, who retired from all forms of cricket in 2020, has played 50 first-class matches, making 1119 runs with two hundreds, besides bagging 108 wickets.From 61 List A matches, he took 93 wickets and from 46 T20s he has 52 wickets.Yo Mahesh, who was also part of India A and U19 teams, was also signed by IPL team Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals), and he will have the tough job of reviving Tamil Nadu’s fortunes in domestic cricket as they failed to enter the knockouts of any of the premier event in the 2025-26 season. (PTI)
Hockey: Chanu to lead junior women’s team tour of UK
NEW DELHI, June 24: Mid-fielder Khaidem Shileima Chanu will lead a 24-member Indian junior women’s squad for an exposure tour of the United Kingdom from July 5 to 14.Under its new coach Tim White, the team will play seven matches across Scotland and England as part of its preparations for upcoming international competitions, including the Junior Asia Cup. The tour will begin with two matches against the Scotland senior women’s team at the University of Edinburgh before the Indian side travels to the Lilleshall National Sports Centre in England to face the junior teams of the United States, England and Belgium.Through this competitive experience, coach Tim White will look to fine-tune combinations and strategies to prepare for the tournaments ahead. (PTI)
INDIAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Nidhi, Engil Harsha Rani Minz Defenders: Pooja Sahoo, Supriya, Madhu, F. Lalbi Aksiami, Lalneihpuii, Parwati Topno Midfielders: Khaidem Shileima Chanu (c), Tanuja Toppo, Supriya Kujur, Pooja Malik, Binima Dhan, Geeta Yadav, Roshni Aind, Tanushree Dinesh Kadu Forwards: Sukhveer Kaur, Shashi Khasa, Lalrinpuii, Nisha Minj, Purnima Yadav, Kajal, Sanika Chandrakant Mane, Krishna Sharma.
