Cricket This Week: India clinch rain-hit series, New Zealand close strong, WBBL heats up, Pakistan edge Proteas
S Arefin 
India vs Australia — series decided after Brisbane washout
India secured a 2–1 T20I series win in Australia when the fifth match in Brisbane was abandoned because of heavy rain and lightning. Australia had pushed for a split, but India’s earlier wins at the Gold Coast and Hobart proved decisive. The Gabba no-result capped a stop-start week dominated by weather and selection experiments ahead of 2026 planning.
India’s middle order looked adaptable in the limited play we saw, while Australia’s powerplay bowling remained a bright spot. Coaches on both sides flagged death-overs execution and batting tempo as pre-World Cup priorities. However, with two fixtures washed out across the series, analytics teams will treat conclusions cautiously.
New Zealand vs West Indies — Duffy and top order seal a 3–1 result
New Zealand wrapped up their five-match home T20I campaign 3–1, winning the Dunedin finale by eight wickets. Jacob Duffy cracked open West Indies’ innings with 4–35, including three strikes in his third over, restricting the tourists to 140. Devon Conway and Tim Robinson then chased briskly, finishing in the 16th over for a commanding end to the series.
The Blackcaps’ biggest gain was bench clarity: pace-off options worked on smaller grounds, while batting depth handled varied surfaces. Meanwhile, West Indies found middle-over acceleration but struggled to set above-par totals once early wickets fell. As a result, both teams leave with clearer roles as the southern-summer calendar gets busier.
Pakistan vs South Africa — Pakistan take the ODI series in Faisalabad
Pakistan claimed the three-match ODI series 2–1 after a pair of emphatic finishes in Faisalabad. South Africa levelled things in the second ODI with a clinical chase led by Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 123, but Pakistan dominated the decider, winning by seven wickets after dismissing the Proteas for 143. The swing from Game 2 to Game 3 underlined how helpful, slow surfaces rewarded varied spin and disciplined seam.
Selectors on both sides will pore over powerplay shapes and middle-over pacing. Pakistan protected spinners with short seam bursts, while South Africa’s batters targeted rotation to blunt leg-spin. However, Pakistan’s chase in the decider looked composed, suggesting a useful template for similar pitches this season.
WBBL|11 — Renegades surge; form lines emerge across a packed week
The Women’s Big Bash League accelerated with weather-hit double-headers and decisive results. The Melbourne Renegades stayed unbeaten thanks to captain Georgia Wareham’s rapid 58 and Nicole Faltum’s calm finish against the Sydney Thunder. Elsewhere, Perth’s seam-heavy plans delivered a solid win over Brisbane, while the weekly slate continued across Adelaide and Melbourne.
With condensed fixtures, depth is already separating contenders from chasers. Teams rotating sixth bowlers and flexible No. 5/6 roles are handling rain delays and DLS pivots better. Meanwhile, several squads are still integrating returning internationals, so early ladders may shift as combinations settle.
What it means — roles over results as summer ramps up
Across formats, coaching groups emphasised role clarity more than raw scorelines. India leave Australia with bench confidence and spin-pace blends mapped despite rain. New Zealand banked a series win and validated pace-off tactics, while West Indies identified middle-over hitting options to nurture. As a result, the next fortnight should sharpen selection calls before December’s heavier touring blocks.
For the women’s game, WBBL momentum matters. Renegades’ batting versatility and multi-bowler usage are translating into wins, but compressed schedules test recovery and planning. Meanwhile, conditions have skewed toward seam in Brisbane and spin-assist in Adelaide, rewarding adaptable line-ups. Expect tighter finishes as rain eases and teams stabilise workloads.
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Hamidur Rahim Mahir 
Sultanul Arefin 
