Alex Eala records new career-high world No. 15, lands as Asia’s 2nd best

San Francisco Unicorns secured a hard-fought five-run victory over Perth Scorchers XI in their Global Super League (GSL) 2026 clash at Providence Stadium on Sunday, thanks to an outstanding all-round team performance led by Hammad Azam. After being put under pressure early in their innings, the Unicorns recovered impressively to post 152-8 in their allotted 20 overs. The foundation of the total was laid by Hammad Azam, who produced a composed unbeaten knock of 64 from 46 deliveries. The Unicorns’ batting line-up struggled at the start, slipping from 42-1 to 46-5 inside the opening six overs as the Scorchers’ bowlers dominated with the new ball. With wickets falling regularly, Hammad steadied the innings and prevented a complete collapse. He mixed caution with aggression, striking four boundaries and five sixes during his match-defining innings. His ability to rotate the strike while punishing loose deliveries helped the Unicorns recover from a difficult position and reach a competitive total. Chasing 153 for victory, Perth Scorchers XI also found themselves in early trouble. Opener Andre Fletcher was dismissed for just one in the opening over, while Joel Curtis managed only 16 before departing. Experienced batter D’Arcy Short anchored the chase with a patient 43, attempting to guide his side through the middle overs. He built useful partnerships with Usman Khan, who scored 14, and Ashton Turner, who contributed 13. Despite those efforts, regular wickets kept disrupting the chase and prevented the Scorchers from building lasting momentum. The turning point came in the 16th over when Short was dismissed with the score on 103-7, leaving Perth Scorchers XI with a difficult task in the closing stages of the innings. Just when the contest appeared to be slipping away, Brody Couch produced a spirited late assault to revive his team’s hopes. The lower-order batter blasted 23 runs from only 12 balls, smashing two fours and two sixes in an entertaining cameo. Couch and Akeal Hosein added 39 runs for the ninth wicket, reducing the target significantly and setting up a tense finish. Hosein also played an important supporting role with 16 runs as the pair pushed the match into the final over. However, the Unicorns held their composure under pressure. Hosein was dismissed on the penultimate delivery of the innings, ending the Scorchers’ hopes of completing a remarkable comeback. Perth Scorchers XI finished on 147-9, falling just five runs short of the target. With the ball, Ghulam Mudassar delivered a match-winning spell for San Francisco Unicorns, claiming four wickets at crucial moments to derail the Scorchers’ chase. His breakthroughs, combined with disciplined bowling in the closing overs, ensured the Unicorns successfully defended their total. Hammad Azam’s unbeaten half-century and Ghulam Mudassar’s four-wicket haul proved decisive as San Francisco Unicorns registered a memorable victory in a closely contested Global Super League encounter, strengthening their campaign with an impressive all-round performance.

Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket and all forms of the game, bringing an end to a distinguished career that spanned more than a decade at the highest level. The 38-year-old confirmed the decision through an emotional video message shared on social media, saying the time had come to step away from the sport that had shaped his life since childhood. Rahane represented India in all three formats between 2011 and 2023, establishing himself as one of the country’s most dependable batters. During his international career, he played 85 Test matches, 90 One-Day Internationals and 20 T20 Internationals. His final appearance for India came in a Test match against the West Indies in July 2023. The right-handed batter enjoyed considerable success in Test cricket, scoring 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46, including 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries. In the ODI format, he amassed 2,962 runs with three centuries and 24 fifties, while contributing 375 runs in T20 Internationals. Although Rahane’s batting achievements earned widespread recognition, he will be remembered most for his outstanding leadership during India’s historic Test series victory in Australia in 2020-21. The series began in disastrous fashion for India, who were dismissed for just 36 runs in Adelaide, their lowest Test total. Following the opening defeat, regular captain Virat Kohli returned home on paternity leave, leaving Rahane to take charge of a team plagued by injuries and missing several senior players. Under Rahane’s calm and composed captaincy, India staged one of the greatest comebacks in Test cricket history. He led the side to a memorable victory in Melbourne to level the series, followed by a hard-fought draw in Sydney despite several players battling injuries. The tour concluded with a remarkable win at Brisbane’s Gabba, where India successfully chased 328 on the final day to secure a famous 2-1 series triumph and end Australia’s long unbeaten run at the venue. Rahane captained India in six Test matches overall, winning four and drawing the remaining two, finishing his captaincy stint unbeaten. Speaking about his decision to retire, Rahane said timing had always been an important aspect of both his batting and his career, and he believed this was the right moment to say goodbye to professional cricket. “I’ve always relied on timing in my batting, and I’ve always understood its importance. Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats,” he said. Reflecting on his journey, Rahane expressed gratitude for fulfilling his dream of representing India and said wearing the national cap had always been his greatest motivation. He added that he always believed in putting the team ahead of personal milestones and playing the game with honesty and commitment. The veteran batter also revealed that while his playing career has come to an end, he hopes to remain connected to cricket by mentoring and guiding young players. He said he looks forward to sharing the lessons and values the sport has taught him and giving back to the game that has given him so much. Rahane concluded his farewell by thanking the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Mumbai Cricket Association, his teammates, coaches, family and fans for their unwavering support throughout his career. His final competitive appearance came for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, and his retirement leaves the franchise with the task of appointing a new captain ahead of the upcoming season.