CRICKET

Australia Beat India In 1^st ODI : The India-Australia rivalry turned into a one-sided affair at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai courtesy blistering unbeaten tons from Man of the Match, David Warner (128) and skipper, Aaron Finch (110) which eventually helped the visitors win by 10 wickets. Batting first, India managed 255 in 49.1 overs as Shikhar Dhawan top scored with 74 while KL Rahul contributed with 47. For the Australians, Mitchell Starc grabbed (3-56), Pat Cummins took (2-44), Kane Richardson picked (2-43) while Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar snapped one wicket each. In reply, the Aussies finished with 258-0 in 37.4 overs. Warner smashed 17 fours and three sixes while Finch hit 13 fours and two sixes. India used all five bowlers but none were able to give the men in blue a breakthrough. The Aussies are now 1-0 in the series as the next one in Rajkot will be a do or die contest for India.

ICC Awards: In the annual ICC awards this year, Ben stokes won the ‘World Player of the Year’, Pat Cummins grabbed ‘2019 Test Cricketer of the Year’, Rohit Sharma bagged ‘2019 ODI Cricketer of the year’, Virat Kohli picked the ‘2019 Spirit of the Cricket Award’, Marnus Labuschagne got ‘2019 ICC Men’s Emerging Cricket’, Deepak Chahar earned the ‘2019 T20 Performer of the Year’ for his 6-7 V/s Bangladesh, Kyle Coetzer won the ‘2019 Associate Cricketer of the Year’ and finally Richard Illingworth picked the ‘2019 Umpire of the Year’. Indian skipper Virat Kohli also found himself as the designated captain of both the ICC Teams of the Year 2019.

BADMINTON

Indinesia Masters – Sindhu In; Saina And Srikanth Out: Ace shuttler PV Sindhu again dominated her opponent – Japan’s Aya Ohori in straight games and moved to the next round of the Indonesia Masters Super 500 tournament. Saina lost to Japan’s Sayaka Takahashi in the opening round 19-21, 13-21, 5-21 and World No. 12, Kidambi Srikanth, was beaten by Shesar Hiren Rhustavito 21-18, 12-21, 14-21.

TENNIS

Serena Williams Wins WTA Auckland Classic: Tennis superstar Serena Williams ended her three-year title drought to clinch the WTA Auckland Classic, beating Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-4. She donated her USD 43,000 winner’s cheque to the Australian bushfire relief fund.