SPORTS CENTRE

South Africa Vs Pakistan Live

2021-02-07T03:32:00.002-08:00

Two uncapped players in Bangladesh squad for West Indies Tests

2021-01-31T00:58:00.002-08:00

Hasan Mahmud’s impressive performances in the ODIs against West Indies have seemingly led to his maiden call-up to the Test squad for the upcoming two-match series.

Bangladesh named an 18-member squad for the two Tests against West Indies. They swept the three-match ODI series 3-0, with Mahmud making his international debut. He played two of the three matches, returning 3/28 and 1/54.

Mahmud has so far played 14 first-class matches for Chittagong Division, claiming 37 wickets at 33.91. His Chittagong teammate Yasir Ali Chowdhury, a middle-order batsman, was the only other uncapped player in the squad. The 24-year-old has played 51 first-class matches, scoring 3542 runs at 51.33.

In a boost for Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan, their ace all-rounder, recovered from a groin injury sustained in the final ODI to make the Test squad.

This will be Bangladesh's first Test since February 2020, when they hosted Zimbabwe in Dhaka. The first game will be played in Chattogram from 3 February, before the teams move to Dhaka for the final Test, beginning on 11 February.

Squad: Mominul Haque (c), Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Saif Hassan, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hassan, Taijul Islam, Shadman Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Jayed, Ebadat Hossain, Hasan Mahmud

South Africa cruise to impressive win over Pakistan in first T20I SA v Pak, 1st T20I, report

2021-01-31T00:55:00.005-08:00

Tazmin Brits starred with the bat and Shabnim Ismail took her 100th T20I wicket as South Africa chased down 124 with an over to spare to take a 1-0 series lead over Pakistan at Kingsmead.

Match Scorecard

A classy unbeaten half-century from South Africa opener Brits helped the Proteas make it four wins from four against Pakistan in all formats on the tour, following the 3-0 One Day International series whitewash earlier this month.

The home side had batted first in all three ODI wins, but showed that they are just as comfortable chasing a target as Brits – ably supported by Lizelle Lee, Marizanne Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt – made relatively easy work of Pakistan’s first innings target of 124/8.

The South Africa attack carried their impressive form into the T20 format, keeping the Pakistan innings in check as the tourists struggled to build significant partnerships, with Kapp taking 4/24 and Ismail picking up her 100th wicket in T20I cricket. Five of the Pakistan top seven reached double-figures, but a top score of just 31 from 16-year-old Ayesha Naseem illustrated how the South African bowlers were able to take wickets at regular intervals.

In reply, the Proteas' top three got off to a flier, putting their side well ahead of the required rate before Lee fell for 22. And despite an encouraging bowling performance from Aiman Anwer with 2/29, the win rarely looked in doubt as the home side cruised to victory with six balls remaining.

Omaima Sohail’s brief flurry at the start of the match came to an abrupt end as Kapp clean-bowled the Pakistan opener with the very first ball of her spell. And Ismail soon removed the other opener, Ayesha Zafar, with a variation slower delivery that fooled the 26-year-old and cleaned out her middle stump.

That dismissal took Ismail past 100 wickets in T20I cricket, making her the fourth woman to reach the historic landmark, following in the footsteps of Anisa Mohammed (West Indies), Ellyse Perry (Australia) and Anya Shrubsole (England).

Nahida Khan, who had opened the batting in the ODI series, came in at four but lofted the third ball she faced straight to mid-wicket to leave Pakistan on 32/3 as the innings threatened to unravel. And after a counter-attack from Muneeba Ali and Kainat Imtiaz – with the latter striking consecutive boundaries back over the bowler’s head to get her off to a flier – Ali pulled a powerful shot straight to mid-on before Imtiaz miscued a front-of-the-hand slower ball into the safe hands of Ayabonga Khaka.

Pakistan’s young talent Naseem was almost run out the very next ball as she took a hesitant single, but alongside the big-hitting Nida Dar, she lifted Pakistan to a respectable total before lofting a catch to Ismail in the deep midway through the penultimate over.

A total of 124/8 always felt at least 10 runs short of par from Pakistan and the home side took control of the chase with a run-a-ball opening stand of 38 before Lee fell for 22.

Kapp, who had been South Africa’s second-highest scorer during the ODI series (115 runs at a strike rate of 110.57) helped Brits break the back of the target with 28 from 27 balls when she was stumped by Muneeba Ali off the bowling of Anwer.

But Wolvaardt’s 15 off 10 deliveries ensured there was no nervous finish for South Africa, and fittingly it was Brits who scored the winning run as she knocked a single into the off side to end with an unbeaten 52.

The teams will return to the Durban ground on Sunday for their second match, with the T20I series to conclude at the same venue on Wednesday 3 February.

Dominant Pakistan see off South Africa, swap places in WTC table Pak v SA, 1st Test, day four, report

2021-01-31T00:52:00.001-08:00

Pakistan were relentless on the fourth day in Karachi as they won the first of two Tests, snuffing out South Africa and chasing down the small target with an intent to dominate.

SCORECARD

South Africa were left to rue the slide that rocked them late on the third day, when they lost their set batsmen. Their struggles with the bat continued in the fourth morning, as they managed to add just 58 runs in the morning for the loss of six wickets. They were bowled out for 245, with Nauman Ali (5/35) and Yasir Shah (4/79) doing most of the damage.

It meant Pakistan needed just 88 runs to seal victory, which they promptly managed to within two sessions of the day, despite losing their openers. The victory meant they swapped positions with South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship table, moving to No.5.

The omens weren’t encouraging for South Africa – Keshav Maharaj, the nightwatchman, was cleaned up by Hasan Ali on the very first ball of the day. That brought together Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma, and the impression was, if South Africa had to set a daunting target for the home side, this pair had to flourish.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Yasir had sniffed blood. Within the fourth over of the morning, South Africa lost their captain, an inside-edge off the pads ending up at short leg. Thereafter, it was down to the last established pair of batsmen for South Africa – George Linde and Bavuma.

The duo resisted for nearly 14 overs, during the course of which they managed to take the lead past the 50-run mark. However, the impression was always that Pakistan merely needed a breakthrough to expose South Africa. And so they did.

An inside-edge from Linde, after a 29-ball 11, was sharply taken by Imran Butt at leg slip, and South Africa didn’t last long thereafter. Four wickets fell for just 11 runs, with the final blow being struck when Bavuma was trapped in front by Nauman Ali. It proved a memorable occasion for Nauman, who ended with a five-wicket haul and became the oldest player since 1949 to take a five-for on Test debut.

There was no stopping Pakistan thereafter. Anrich Nortje had both Imran Butt and Abid Ali dismissed in the eighth over – he had Abid bowled before inducing an edge off Butt in the final ball of the over. Despite that, Pakistan seemed in a hurry to finish the chase.

Azhar Ali and Babar Azam put on 63 for the third wicket, off just 85 deliveries, and while Azam fell right at the end, trapped in front by Maharaj, the Fawad Alam, the first-innings hero, came on to fittingly score the winning runs.

Umpire Oxenford to retire from international cricket

2021-01-31T00:49:00.000-08:00

Umpire Bruce Oxenford has decided to retire from international cricket after a fine career that saw him officiate around the world across all three formats of the game for over 15 years.

Photographs and a video interview of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel umpire available on our Online Media Zone for free editorial use giving credit to the ICC; an earlier interview of Bruce Oxenford is available on icc-cricket.com

A regular member of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires since 2012, Oxenford has officiated in 62 Test matches, the last of which was the final match of the Australia-India series in Brisbane.

Oxenford, who officially stands down in April, made his international debut at the Gabba in a T20I between Australia and South Africa in January 2006. He officiated at the last three ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups and the last three ICC Men’s T20 World Cups. He was also part of the officiating team at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cups in 2012 and 2014.

Before becoming an umpire, Oxenford represented Queensland in eight first-class matches as a leg-spin bowler and lower-order batsman.

The 60-year-old from Queensland will continue to oversee domestic fixtures despite his retirement from the international game.

Bruce Oxenford will continue officiating within Australia

Bruce Oxenford: “I look back with pride at my international career as an umpire. It is still hard to believe that I officiated in close to 200 international matches. Such a long career was not really something that I had hoped for before commencing on this journey.

“I would like to thank the International Cricket Council, Cricket Australia and all my colleagues in the ICC Elite and International panels for their support and encouragement over the years. I had a wonderful time as a match official and will miss the camaraderie that comes with being a part of such a professional group.

“I shall particularly miss seeing and interacting with the magnificent people who are part of the support structure of our game around the world.

“Most importantly, I want to thank my wife Jo, son James and daughter Kristen for all their love and support over the years. It would not have been possible for me to have such a long career without their sacrifices and for this I am eternally grateful.

“Whilst I will no longer stand in International matches, I look forward to continuing to serve the game that I love - officiating within Australia.”

Adrian Griffith, ICC Senior Manager – Umpires and Referees: “Bruce is an excellent umpire, and it has been a pleasure working with him over the years. He is a great team man and well respected by all his colleagues.”

“I congratulate Bruce on behalf of everyone at the ICC for a fine international career and wish him all the success in his future pursuits. It is pleasing to hear he will continue to umpire domestically and share his tremendous experience with the next generation of Elite umpires.”

Stirling, Mehidy gain big in ODI Rankings

2021-01-31T00:26:00.002-08:00

Ireland all-rounder Paul Stirling and Bangladesh spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz have made notable gains in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings after some fine performances in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League.

Mustafizur, Usman and Joseph among others to advance in latest update

Stirling has gained eight slots to reach 20th place after scoring 285 runs against Afghanistan which included centuries in the second and third matches. The valiant effort in the series in Abu Dhabi, that his team lost 3-0, has taken him to the top of the run aggregate in the championship with 441 runs in six matches.

Stirling also scored 135 runs in his side’s preceding series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which was not part of the Super League and which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Off-spinner Mehidy was the most successful bowler in the series against the West Indies which his side swept 3-0 and his effort reflects in the latest update to the ODI rankings. Mehidy has progressed nine spots to take fourth position after grabbing seven wickets including a haul of four for 25 in the second ODI that won him the player of the match award.

Left-arm fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman’s six wickets in the series have lifted him from 19th to eighth position while other Bangladesh players to gain in the latest rankings update include Shakib Al Hasan (up 15 places to 13th among bowlers) and Mushfiqur Rahim (up one place to 15th among batsmen) after their player of the match performances in the first and third matches, respectively.

Captain Tamim Iqbal (up one place to 22nd) and Mahmudullah (up five places to 49th) among batsmen and Mohammad Saifuddin (up three places to 43rd) among bowlers have also advanced for Bangladesh while West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has gained 11 slots to reach 34th position.

In other gains for Ireland players, Curtis Campher has advanced 81 places and is 100th among batsmen. Andy McBrine has gained two slots to reach 33rd position and Simi Singh has progressed 30 places to reach 64th among bowlers.

Afghanistan’s Hashmatullah Shahidi (70th to 66th), Rashid Khan (96th to 89th) and Javed Ahmadi (103rd to 99th) have gained in the rankings for batsmen.

The UAE also saw some gains for its players with Muhammad Usman advancing five places to reach 78th position after slamming a century in the first match of the series and Rohan Mustafa gain six slots to reach 55th .

MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings (as of 27 January 2021)

Batsmen (top 10)

Rank	(+/-)	Player	Team	Pts	Avge	Highest Rating
1	( - )	Virat Kohli	India	870	59.31	909 v Eng at Headingley 2018
2	( - )	Rohit Sharma	India	842	49.27	882 v SL at Headingley 2019
3	( - )	Babar Azam	Pak	837	55.93	844 v NZ at Wellington 2018
4	( - )	Ross Taylor	NZ	818	48.44	836 v India at Auckland 2020
5	( - )	Aaron Finch	Aus	791!	41.85	791 v India at Canberra 2020
6	( - )	Faf du Plessis	SA	790	47.47	814 v Aus at Old Trafford 2019
7	( - )	David Warner	Aus	773	45.45	868 v Pak at Adelaide 2017
8	( - )	K Williamson	NZ	765	47.48	792 v SA at Centurion 2015
9	( - )	Q de Kock	SA	755	44.65	809 v SL at Durban 2019
10	( - )	J Bairstow	Eng	754	47.16	769 v Aus at Durham 2018

Other selected rankings

Rank	(+/-)	Player	Team	Pts	Avge	Highest Rating
15	(+1)	M Rahim	Bangladesh	710	36.64	714 v SL at Colombo (RPS) 2019
20=	(+8)	Paul Stirling	Ireland	684	39.47	689 v Pak at Dublin 2013
22	(+1)	Tamim Iqbal	Bangladesh	683	36.98	728 v WI at St Kitts 2018
49	(+5)	Mahmudullah	Bangladesh	552	34.23	575 v Afg at Abu Dhabi 2018
66	(+4)	H Shahidi	Afghanistan	498	32.97	514 v India at Southampton 2019
78	(+5)	M Usman	UAE	471*	31.82	478 v Ire at Abu Dhabi 2021
89=	(+7)	Rashid Khan	Afghanistan	432	20.57	473 v Ire at Dehradun 2019
	(RE)	R Powell	West Indies	432*	25.35	453 v India at Visakhapatnam 2018
99	(+4)	Javed Ahmadi	Afghanistan	392	23.84	467 v HK at Bulawayo 2018
100=	(+81)	Curtis Campher	Ireland	391	50.83	399 v Afg at Abu Dhabi 2021

Bowlers (top 10)

Rank	(+/-)	Player	Team	Pts	Avge	Eco	Highest Rating
1	( - )	Trent Boult	NZ	722	25.29	5.03	768 v WI at Old Trafford 2019
2	( - )	M Ur Rahman	Afg	708	22.04	3.96	712 v Ire at Abu Dhabi 2021
3	( - )	J Bumrah	India	700	25.33	4.65	838 v WI at Thiruvanthapuram 2018
4	(+9)	Mehidy Hasan	Ban	694!	36.1	4.51	694 v WI at Chittagong 2021
5	(-1)	Chris Woakes	Eng	675!	30.34	5.54	675 v Aus at Old Trafford 2020
6	(-1)	Kagiso Rabada	SA	665	27.34	4.99	718 v Eng at Lord's 2017
7	(-1)	J Hazlewood	Aus	660	26.18	4.79	726 v Eng at Adelaide 2018
8	(+11)	M Rahman	Ban	658	22.35	5.13	693 v WI at Sylhet 2018
9	(-2)	M Amir	Pak	647	29.62	4.85	657 v SL at Karachi 2019
10	(-2)	Pat Cummins	Aus	646	28.78	5.25	725 v SL at The Oval 2019

Other selected rankings

Rank	(+/-)	Player	Team	Pts	Avge	Eco	Highest Rating
13	(+15)	S Al Hasan	Ban	629	29.72	4.45	715 v Zim at Chittagong 2009
33	(+2)	Andy McBrine	Ire	536	34.98	4.44	568 v Zim at Bready 2019
34	(+11)	Alzarri Joseph	WI	534*!	29.58	5.68	534 v Ban at Chittagong 2021
43=	(+3)	M Saifuddin	Ban	496*!	30.08	5.86	496 v WI at Chittagong 2021
55	(+6)	Rohan Mustafa	UAE	477*!	33.44	4.67	477 v Ire at Abu Dhabi 2021
64	(+30)	Simi Singh	Ire	448*!	23.6	3.9	448 v Afg at Abu Dhabi 2021

All-rounders (top five)

Rank	(+/-)	Player	Team	Pts	Highest Rating
1	( - )	S Al Hasan	Ban	420	447 v Zim at Chittagong 2009
2	( - )	M Nabi	Afg	294	346 v Ire at Greater Noida 2017
3	( - )	Chris Woakes	Eng	281	307 v NZ at Christchurch 2018
4	( - )	Ben Stokes	Eng	276	303 v NZ at Lord's 2019
5	( - )	Imad Wasim	Pak	271	282 v Zim at Rawalpindi 2020

Wolvaardt attains career-best ODI ranking

2021-01-31T00:23:00.000-08:00

South Africa opener Laura Wolvaardt has moved up two places to a career-best seventh position in the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings.

• Kapp, Aliya and Nashra among others to gain in latest rankings update after South Africa-Pakistan series

South Africa opener Laura Wolvaardt has moved up two places to a career-best seventh position in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings after helping her team complete a 3-0 series sweep over Pakistan.

Wolvaardt was the most successful batter from the home side scoring 125 runs in the series, which included a fine 58 in the final match. She is now joint-seventh along with Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry and ahead of India’s Mithali Raj by four points.

Marizanne Kapp’s 115 runs in the series see her gain four places and reach 22nd position while other South Africa batters to gain in the latest rankings update include Lara Goodall (up seven places to 72nd) and Shabnim Ismail (up five places to 84th).

Fast bowlers Ismail and Ayabonga Khaka have retained their fourth and 12th positions after finishing with seven wickets each in the series while 20-year-old left-arm spinner Nonkululek Mlaba has entered the rankings in 57th position.

There is notable progress by Pakistan players despite losing the series.

Aliya Riaz has gained 15 places to reach a career-best 36th position after topping the series aggregate with 136 runs while Nida Dar too has made huge gains, moving from 54th to 44th position with 124 runs. Omaima Sohail is up to 53rd position while Nashra Sandhu, Diana Baig and Sidra Nawaz too have progressed.

Among Pakistan’s bowlers, Nashra has gained three slots to reach 16th position with six wickets in the series while Diana Baig has moved from 40th to 35th with nine wickets, the most by any bowler from either side.

In the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s ODI Team Rankings, South Africa and Pakistan retain their fourth and seventh positions, respectively.

MRF Tyres ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings (as of 27 January 2021 after the South Africa-Pakistan series):

Batters (top 10)

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Avge Highest Rating

1 ( - ) Meg Lanning Aus 749 55.08 878 v NZ at Bay Oval 2016

2 ( - ) Stafanie Taylor WI 746 44.01 788 v India at St Kitts (WP) 2012

3 ( - ) Alyssa Healy Aus 741! 32.81 741 v NZ at Brisbane - AB 2020

4 ( - ) S Mandhana India 732 43.08 799 v Eng at Mumbai 2019

5 ( - ) A Satterthwaite NZ 723 38.93 781 v Aus at Bay Oval 2017

6 ( - ) T Beaumont Eng 716 41.87 737 v Aus at Leicester 2019

7= ( - ) Ellyse Perry Aus 691 52.10 776 v India at Vadodara 2018

(+2) L Wolvaardt SA 691 45.36 712 v NZ at Auckland 2020

9 (+1) Mithali Raj India 687 50.64 880 v Aus at Baroda Vadodar 2004

10 (-2) Lizelle Lee SA 681 33.72 777 v Eng at Hove 2018

Other selected rankings

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Avge Highest Rating

22 (+4) M Kapp SA 558 28.66 595 v SL at Colombo (SSC) 2014

36 (+15) Aliya Riaz Pak 410*! 20.96 410 v SA at Durban 2021

44 (+10) Nida Dar Pak 360 16.16 361 v SA at Durban 2021

53 (+15) Omaima Sohail Pak 310* 18.09 337 v SA at Durban 2021

72 (+7) Lara Goodall SA 215* 15.58 225 v Pak at Durban 2021

80 (+2) Nashra Sandhu Pak 192* 3.63 215 v Ban at Lahore 2019

84 (+5) Shabnim Ismail SA 185 11.62 320 v Ire at Doha 2014

90 (+28) Diana Baig Pak 170*! 7.00 170 v SA at Durban 2021

91 (+8) Sidra Nawaz Pak 168* 7.89 187 v NZ at Lincoln 2016

Bowlers (top 10)

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Avge Eco Highest Rating

1 ( - ) Jess Jonassen Aus 804! 20.00 3.97 804 v NZ at Brisbane - AB 2020

2 (+1) Megan Schutt Aus 735 22.50 4.22 766 v WI at Antigua 2019

3 (-1) M Kapp SA 711 23.50 3.69 738 v NZ at Hamilton 2020

4 ( - ) Shabnim Ismail SA 708 20.70 3.61 717 v NZ at Hamilton 2020

5 ( - ) J Goswami India 691 21.48 3.28 816 v Eng at Chennai 2007

6 ( - ) Poonam Yadav India 679! 20.84 3.76 679 v WI at Antigua 2019

7 ( - ) Shikha Pandey India 675 21.06 3.94 696 v SA at Vadodara 2019

8 ( - ) Ellyse Perry Aus 666 24.28 4.33 738 v India at Mumbai 2012

9 ( - ) Anya Shrubsole Eng 645 25.62 4.17 655 v SL at Katunayake 2019

10 ( - ) Deepti Sharma India 639 27.18 3.84 653 v Eng at Mumbai 2019

Other selected rankings

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Avge Eco Highest Rating

16 (+3) N Sandhu Pak 561*! 27.37 4.15 561 v SA at Durban 2021

35 (+5) Diana Baig Pak 394*! 27.78 4.83 394 v SA at Durban 2021

57 (NEW) N Mlaba SA 238*! 106.00 3.53 238 v Pak at Durban 2021

63 (+21) Sadia Iqbal Pak 212* 42.33 4.23 216 v SA at Durban 2021

79 (RE) Kainat Imtiaz Pak 115* 39.88 6.18 151 v WI at Dubai (GCA) 2019

80 (+21) Fatima Sana Pak 112* 58.00 6.00 118 v SA at Durban 2021

81 (+6) Omaima Sohail Pak 105*! 37.00 4.62 105 v SA at Durban 2021

All-rounders (top five)

Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Highest Rating

1 ( - ) Ellyse Perry Aus 460 545 v WI at Antigua 2019

2 ( - ) S Taylor WI 410 599 v NZ at Kingston 2013

3 ( - ) M Kapp SA 396 412 v Pak at Durban 2021

4 ( - ) Deepti Sharma India 359 401 v NZ at Hamilton 2019

5 (+1) Jess Jonassen Aus 301! 301 v NZ at Brisbane - AB 2020

*indicates provisional rating; ! indicates career-highest rating

For more information on player rankings, please click here.

South Africa battle to 13-run win over Pakistan SA v Pak, 2nd WODI, report

2021-01-23T21:40:00.002-08:00

Marizanne Kapp starred with the bat and ball to guide South Africa to a 2-0 ODI series lead over Pakistan.

The world no.3 all-rounder’s unbeaten 68 and 3/44 set the standard for the home side whose 252/7 was just too much for a resolute Pakistan side, who fell 13 runs short.

Aliya Riaz (81) and Nida Dar (51) put on a 111-run partnership which threatened to spoil the day for the Proteas before finishing on 239/8.

South Africa had a solid start to their innings, with Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt putting on 52 runs for the opening wicket. The duo looked good for more, but the stand was broken in unfortunate circumstances when Wolvaardt, who had scored a 40 in the first ODI, was run out for a 34-ball 27 by Diana Baig.

Lee found a good partner in skipper Sune Luus. Their 37-run partnership ensured any momentum Pakistan gained from that early wicket was drained, and when Lee finally fell in the 19th over, just three runs short of what would have been a 19th ODI fifty, Lara Goodall shored things up.

Credit: Cricket South Africa

There was a mini slide in the middle overs, when Luus and Goodall fell in consecutive overs to Nashara Sandhu and Baig respectively. Mignon du Preez added just nine before becoming Baig’s second wicket, but Kapp then entered the contest to ensure Pakistan didn’t capitalise on that breakthrough.

She scored an attacking 45-ball 68* – a fine knock comprising 10 fours and a six – to boost South Africa’s total to daunting proportions. There was support from the lower order too, with Trisha Chetty (12) and Nadine de Klerk (19) also contributing.

With the ball, Kapp got stuck into the Pakistan top order and dismissed Muneeba Ali for a duck with just her third delivery of the innings before trapping fellow opener Nahida Khan for an lbw for just eight in her next over.

While the Pakistan openers had experienced a shaky start, Omaima Sohail was having little trouble scoring runs as she routinely picked off deliveries from Shabnim Ismail to send her to the boundary three times and take Pakistan to 37/2 after eight overs.

Ayabonga Khaka was the one to break a developing partnership when skipper Javeria Khan dragged onto her stumps on 13 after a loose swipe outside her off stump, shortly followed by Sohail who was caught at mid-wicket by a diving de Klerk on 41 runs, leaving Pakistan at 63/4.

Sidra Nawaz (6) was added to Kapp’s list of wickets, bringing Aliya Riaz to the crease where she and Nida Dar were able to build a frustrating sixth-wicket partnership for the South African attack, much as they had in the first ODI.

In a bizarre moment, with the pair having put on 65 from 80 deliveries, Riaz had fortune to thank as she found herself marginally short of the crease when a throw-in from the boundary took the bails off, though no appeal from the South African fielders, and no wicket given by the umpire, allowed her to remain at the crease.

Their 100-run partnership came up in the 38th over as Riaz tickled the ball down to deep fine leg off de Klerk’s bowling.

Both Dar and Riaz determinedly reached their half-centuries, but as the run rate gradually began to slide away from them Dar (51) was the first to go, caught on the boundary by Ismail off Khaka’s bowling in the 43rd over.

Riaz continued taking the fight to South Africa, ending the match with a career-best total of 81 runs before being caught at deep mid-on off Khaka’s bowling, who ended the with figures of 4/40.

The final ODI of the series is on Tuesday, 26 January.

Afghanistan look to continue upward surge in CWCSL table

2021-01-23T21:37:00.002-08:00

After a thrilling first ODI, Afghanistan and Ireland will go again with more ICC Cricket World Cup Super League points on offer in the second of the three-match series.

Overview

Afghanistan vs Ireland, 2nd ODI
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
24 January 2021; 10am local time, 6.00am GMT

Aghanistan won the first ODI by just 16 runs after a see-saw encounter, but it meant they claimed their first points in the CWC Super League – and they now sit at fifth in the table. However, Ireland, who have already played four ODIs in the league – they lost 2-1 to England in August – will be hoping to claim the remaining 20 points on offer in this series, and move up the table themselves.

The Super League is high on the priority list for both teams, given it offers a chance for automatic promotion to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. With the likes of Sri Lanka, New Zealand and South Africa yet to begin their campaigns, it gives Ireland and Afghanistan a chance to move ahead on the competition.

Afghanistan reigned supreme in the first ODI, thanks to a century from debutant Rahmanullah Gurbaz, which helped them post a good total, despite the rest of the line-up being dismantled by the off-spin of Andy McBrine. Spin was a problem for the Ireland batsmen as well, though, with Mujeeb Ur Rehman and Rashid Khan troubling them considerably.

With the remaining ODIs taking place at the same venue, it’s safe to suggest spin will remain a significant factor in this series.

Remember the last time:

Afghanistan opted to bat, and got off to flier thanks to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the debutant. He scored a run-a-ball 127, but Ireland triggered a slide at the other end, and Afghanistan would have been in trouble had it not been for a late cameo from Rashid Khan, who hammered a 30-ball 55 to boost the total to 287/9.

Ireland didn’t get off to a great start in their chase, reduced to 88/4 within 18 overs, but Curtis Campher and Lorcan Tucker got them out of the hole with a 86-run partnership. Tucker scored a 96-ball 83, and when Simi Singh hammered a 20-ball 23, Ireland had faint hopes of seeing through the chase. However, the Afghanistan attack managed to hold them off for a 16-run win, with Ireland finishing on 271/9.

What they said:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Afghanistan batsman: "I did not play today keeping any record in mind and was not aware of it. But, I am glad I could make it and I will try to play well in future as well"

Lorcan Tucker, Ireland batsman: “Obviously, Rashid, Mujeeb and Nabi together form a dangerous attack, but our plans revolved around nullifying that threat by turning over strike and taking minimal risks. We know that as long they’re not taking wickets, we’re going alright.”

Bairstow, Wood rested for first two India Tests

2021-01-23T21:34:00.004-08:00

Jonny Bairstow, Mark Wood and Sam Curran have been rested by England for the first two Tests against India, starting on 5 February in Chennai.

In their place, England have recalled Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Rory Burns, all of whom have been rested for the ongoing series in Sri Lanka.

Ben Foakes, the wicketkeeper-batsman, has also been included in the squad, with Jos Buttler set to fly home after the first Test. Ollie Pope, who is nursing a shoulder injury in Sri Lanka at the moment, will continue his rehabilitation in India, and could play a part in the series if he passes fitness.

England and India will play in a four-Test series, with the first two matches set to played in Chennai, before the series moves to Ahmedabad for the final two Tests. The third Test of the series will be a day-night encounter, starting on 24 February.

England squad (for the first two Tests): Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler*, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes

Dominant Bangladesh move to third spot in CWCSL standings

2021-01-23T21:30:00.003-08:00

Bangladesh made it two wins in a row against West Indies, coasting to an seven-wicket victory in the second ODI in Dhaka on Friday, 22 January and moving up to the third spot in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League standings.

Bangladesh now have 20 points with two wins in two games.

Once again, their attack proved too much for the inexperienced West Indies batting line-up, the visitors being bundled out for 148. The Bangladesh batsmen, led by captain Tamim Iqbal and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, then chased down the total in just 33.2 overs.

West Indies opted to bat, their batsmen seemingly determined to be more resistant than they were in the first ODI. Opener Sunil Ambris was still dismissed within the first five overs, Mustafizur Rahman sending him back for a 15-ball six, but Kjorn Ottley and Joshua Da Silva put on an attritional partnership of 26 off 50 deliveries.

However, when the breakthrough came, more wickets quickly followed. Mehidy Hasan Miraz had both Ottley and Da Silva dismissed in the same over, within the space of four deliveries. Ottley slashed at one, only to find the fielder, while Da Silva was bowled when he failed to pick up Mehidy’s line.

Shakib Al Hasan, in his first over, then had Andre McCarthy bowled and when Kyle Mayers, West Indies’ highest-scorer in the first ODI, was run out for nought thereafter, the visitors seemed in dire straits at 41/5.

They did well thereafter to get to a total of 148. Nkrumah Bonner and captain Jason Mohammed put on a 26-run stand to revive the innings, and once the stand was broken – Shakib had Mohammed trapped in front – Rovman Powell came into the middle.

Powell sealed up one end thereafter, putting on partnerships of 17 with Raymon Reifer (2), of 32 with Alzarri Joseph (17) and of 28 runs with Akeal Hosein (12). Powell scored 66-ball 41 to revive the innings, and give their bowlers something to bowl at.

However, the total posed little problem to the Bangladesh batsmen. Tamim, the captain, led from the front, scoring a 76-ball 50 to lay the foundations of the chase, putting on 30 with Liton Das for the opening wicket, and 47 with Najmul Hossain Shanto (17) for the second wicket.

Tamim and Shakib then added a quick 32 for the third wicket to propel the chase, and despite Tamim’s dismissal shortly after reaching his milestone, Shakib’s 43* helped see the chase through.

Heinrich Klaasen set to lead young South Africa T20I side against Pakistan

2021-01-23T21:27:00.004-08:00

Heinrich Klaasen is set to captain South Africa for the first time in the three-match T20I series against Pakistan, starting in Lahore on 11 February.

Klaasen was named captain of a T20I squad that comprised several new names, as Cricket South Africa named a squad keeping in mind the three-Test series against Australia – and the quarantine requirements that come with it – later in February. With the T20 World Cup 2021 coming up later in the year, it provides an opportunity for some of the players on the fringes of the national squad.

“The circumstances we find ourselves in allow the National Selection Panel to cast a wide net and give some of the young and exciting talent that has been in their sights, the opportunity of a lifetime in a T20 World Cup year,” said CSA Director of Cricket Graeme Smith.

Okuhle Cele, Ryan Rickleton, Nandre Burger and Jacques Snyman were the players to receive their maiden national team call-ups, while Glenton Stuurman, whose left quadriceps muscle strain meant he was released midway through the Tests against Sri Lanka, also made a return to the side.

The three-match T20I series will be played in Lahore from 11 to 14 February, following the conclusion of the two-match Test series, starting in Karachi on 26 January.

Squad: Heinrich Klaasen (c), Nandre Burger, Okuhle Cele, Junior Dala, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Janneman Malan, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Ryan Rickleton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Jon-Jon Smuts, Pite van Biljon, Glenton Stuurman, Jacques Snyman

Scenarios: All to play for in the ICC World Test Championship

2021-01-23T21:24:00.001-08:00

The ICC World Test Championship is interestingly poised with Australia, India and New Zealand the top contenders for making the final in June.

After withstanding an all-out assault, India clinched the four-Test series 2-1 at The Gabba handing Australia their first defeat at the stadium since 1988. India retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy and move into No.1 spot in the ICC World Test Championship rankings while Australia slip to No.3 position.

The victory gave India the highest PCT in the nine-team table – they have 71.7% over New Zealand's 70% and Australia's 69.2%. In November, the ICC had announced that the poinst system for the World Test Championship would be remodeled due to the disruption caused to the regular calendar by COVID-19, with teams being ranked by percentage of points earned (PCT).

ICC World Test Championship standings

That in mind, the ICC World Test Championship is interestingly poised with Australia, India and New Zealand the top contenders for making the final in June. Below are some qualification scenarios:

India – 71.7%

Remaining matches: Four-Test home series against England

India’s win in the final Test in Brisbane has boosted their chances of making the final. To cement their place in the final, India will need to win by at least a two-match margin and if they lose one, then they will need to win three games (4-0, 3-0, 3-1 or 2-0) in their upcoming four-match home series against England, whereas a 0-3 or 0-4 loss against England will wipe away their chances of making the final regardless of other results.

New Zealand – 70.0%

Remaining matches: None

The equation for New Zealand is simple; as they may not have more engagements (their home series against Bangladesh is not confirmed). New Zealand will remain on 70.0%, having claimed 420 points from a possible 600. Therefore, they need no more than one other team to finish with more than 70.0% of points earned.

For instance, a combination of England winning all their remaining 5 matches and South Africa winning by a 3-0 or 2-0 margin against Australia would end New Zealand’s chances of making the final.

Australia – 69.2%

Remaining matches: Three Tests in South Africa (TBC)

Australia have slipped to third place with 69.1% points after their loss in the final Test against India in Brisbane. To secure a place in the final, Australia will have to win at least two of the yet to be confirmed 3-match series against South Africa and avoid any losses. On the other hand, a home series win by South Africa will end Australia’s chances of making the final. Any other results require a favourable combination of series results not featuring Australia.

England – 65.2%

Remaining matches: One Test in Sri Lanka, four Tests in India

England have an outside chance to reach the final. Their best chance is to beat Sri Lanka in the remaining Test in Galle and win the four-match series against India by a 3-0 or 4-0 margin. Any other results require a favourable combination of series results not featuring England.

South Africa – 40.0%

Remaining matches: Three-Test home series against Australia (TBC)

South Africa may also still be in with a mathematical chance, though it requires them to win sweep both their upcoming series i.e. away series against Pakistan and home series against Australia as well as England's results in Sri Lanka and India going in favour of Quinton de Kock's side.

The remaining teams – Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and Bangladesh – will not be able to reach the final even if they win all their remaining fixtures.

Thakur, Sundar rescue India with record stand on day three

2021-01-17T05:10:00.005-08:00

Australia are 21/0 at stumps on day three of the fourth Test at the Gabba after a fighting seventh-wicket partnership between inexperienced Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur helped India to 336.

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David Warner (20*) and Marcus Harris (1*) negotiated a tricky six-over period before stumps to build Australia's lead to 54 runs and will resume on Monday with the series-decider delicately balanced. Much attention will be centred on Warner, who missed the first two Tests of the series with a groin injury, after he appeared to pull up sore following a quick single to get off the mark.

Day three was a continuation of the engrossing cricket played by the two sides in this series. Australia were on top when the tourists slumped to 186/6 shortly after lunch, but Sundar (62) and Thakur (67) both made maiden half-centuries in a 123-run partnership that frustrated the home side. Their stand is the highest by an Indian pair in Tests at the Gabba.

Pat Cummins (2/94) finally got the breakthrough after tea when Thakur played around a delivery that clattered into off-stump.

Sundar, who took three wickets in the first innings in a fine Test debut, was well caught by Cameron Green at gully off the bowling of Mitchell Starc (2/88). India were 33 runs behind Australia's first-innings total of 369 when their brave resistance ended with Josh Hazlewood (5/57) bowling Mohammed Siraj (13) to claim the ninth five-wicket haul of his career.

Playing in his 100th Test, Nathan Lyon's drive to 400 career wickets stalled on day three with the master spinner unable to add to his tally, finishing with figures of 1/65.

India resumed at 62/2 in the morning after rain caused play to be abandoned at tea on the second day.

Hazlewood helped Australia snatch the momentum when he removed Cheteshwar Pujara (25) shortly before lunch and Mayank Agarwal (38) and Rishabh Pant (23) soon after the restart. After Ajinkya Rahane sent two edges flying through a vacant fourth slip area off his bowling, Starc was finally rewarded when Matthew Wade took two steps to his right at third slip and caught the Indian skipper on 37.

With the series tied at 1-1, Australia must win to claim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy while India can retain the coveted prize with a draw.

Sri Lanka roar back in fighting display on third day

2021-01-17T05:09:00.001-08:00

Sri Lanka have had a difficult two days against England in Galle, but they roared back on the third day to emphasise just why they are such a force at their fortress.

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After their spinners triggered a slide in the England line-up, their batsmen put in the sort of solid effort expected of them in their turf, whittling down the deficit to end the day at 156/2, 130 runs in arrears.

By the time stumps were drawn, the mood in the Sri Lankan camp was markedly different from what it was on the last two days.

Play on Day 3 had resumed with England on 320/4, boasting a lead of 185. However, they encountered a relentless Sri Lankan attack this morning, and they were able to add just 101 runs to their overnight total.

A lot of that came from Root and Buttler, who extended their overnight partnership to 68, with Root becoming the seventh England batsman to score 8000 Test runs en route.

The slide began when Buttler was snared off a full delivery from Asitha Fernando, the subtle movement away off the seam prompting a thick edge from the batsman that was pouched by the wicket-keeper. Root soon completed his fourth Test double-century – his second against Sri Lanka, having scored one against them in 2014 at Lord’s – but four of the next five batsmen were dismissed for single digits, as Sri Lanka sensed an opening.

On the very next ball after dismissing Buttler, Fernando had Sam Curran dismissed with another full delivery. England didn’t help matters. In the next over, Dom Bess was run out for nought after he set off for a run while the Sri Lankans appealed for an lbw against Root, only to realise his partner had stayed his ground.

Thereafter, it was all down to Root to keep the score ticking, as Sri Lanka chipped away at the other end. Jack Leach was trapped in front by Dilruwan Perera, who then had Mark Wood caught behind in his next over. Stuart Broad, coming in at No.11, came out swinging to put away a couple to the fence.

However, Root, with the onus now on scoring quickly, holed out off Dilruwan, as England lost their last six wickets for 49 runs.

England still had a huge lead over Sri Lanka, and would have hoped to repeat their efforts in the first innings, when they bundled out Sri Lanka for 135. However, this time around, the hosts were a different force.

Their openers, Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne, added 101 runs for the opening wicket, with Kusal doing the attacking from one end even as Thirimanne sealed up the other. They ensured they didn’t lose a wicket in the second session, and put on as many as 90 runs by tea.

They brought up the 100 mark shortly into the final session, before Kusal gave his wicket away, attempting a waft at a short and wide delivery off Curran, only to pick out the man at deep point. Unlike in the first innings, however, the wicket didn’t trigger a slide.

Kusal Mendis partnered Thirimanne in a more attritional partnership. They put on 54 runs off 135 balls, and looked good to help Sri Lanka get through the day without losing another wicket. However, late in the day, Leach had his man, drawing Mendis forward and finding a thin edge through to the ‘keeper.

Despite that setback, Sri Lanka could draw encouragement from a good day, although England still hold the advantage.

Bangladesh call up three uncapped players for West Indies ODIs

2021-01-17T05:07:00.002-08:00

Bangladesh have called-up three uncapped players for their upcoming men’s ODI home series against West Indies.

Mahadi Hasan, the off-spinner, was included in the side, along with the pacers Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud.

Mahmud, in particular, impressed during the inter-squad match between Mahmudullah XI and Tamim Iqbal XI, as per an ESPNcricinfo report. He claimed a four-wicket haul as the Mahmudullah-led side secured a five-wicket victory. Shoriful also impressed in that practice match, taking two wickets.

The team will be captained by Tamim Iqbal, and includes Shakib Al Hasan, who is set to feature in his first match for Bangladesh since September 2019, when he played against Afghanistan in a T20I.

Bangladesh and West Indies will feature in a three-match ODI series, starting on 20 January. The first two ODIs will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur, before the series moves to Chattogram for the final ODI on 25 January. The ODIs form a part of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League fixtures.

The teams will stay in Chattogram for the first of the two-match Test series thereafter, starting on 3 February, before returning to Mirpur for the final Test, which will begin on 11 February.

Bangladesh ODI squad: Tamim Iqbal (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mahadi Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam

Lyon edges closer to Test milestone before rain forces stumps

2021-01-17T05:04:00.005-08:00

Nathan Lyon's drive to 400 wickets will resume on Sunday (17 January) after rain stopped play on day two of the fourth Test, with India trailing Australia's first-innings total of 369 by 307 runs.

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India were 62/2 at tea, with Cheteshwar Pujara (8*) and Ajinkya Rahane (2*) the not-out batsmen, but play couldn't restart after the break as torrential rain lashed the Gabba.

Australia had resumed at 274/5 on Saturday, with Marnus Labuschagne's 108 the highlight of day one.

Tim Paine and Cameron Green, on 38 and 28 respectively overnight, took the total to 311 before Paine departed for 50. The skipper was well caught by Rohit Sharma at second slip off the bowling of Shardul Thakur, and Green quickly followed, bowled by debutant Washington Sundar for 47.

The tail provided some handy runs – Lyon added 24 and Mitchell Starc was not out on 20 – but it was a valiant bowling effort by the already-undermanned tourists, who lost seamer Navdeep Saini to a groin strain on day one.

Sundar (3/89), fellow debutant T Natarajan (3/78), and Shardul Thakur (3/94), playing in his second Test, all impressed as India took 95/5 in the morning session to have Australia all out at lunch.

Starc and Josh Hazlewood opened the bowling thereafter, but it was Pat Cummins who got the breakthrough with just his second delivery, Shubman Gill edging one to second slip where Steve Smith took a sharp catch.

Rohit Sharma had looked comfortable on his way to 44 before he became Lyon's 397th Test wicket. Playing in his 100th Test, Lyon coaxed a rash shot from Sharma, who advanced down the wicket only to hole out to Starc, who ran in from long-on to take a good catch.

With the series tied at 1-1, Lyon looms as a key factor as Australia attempt to claim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a win in Brisbane. India can retain the coveted trophy with a win or a draw.

Play on the third day will start 30 minutes earlier than previously scheduled to make up for lost time.

Pakistan name fresh-faced squad for home Test series against South Africa

2021-01-17T05:02:00.005-08:00

Mohammad Abbas, Shan Masood and Haris Sohail were the victims as Pakistan implemented several changes to their Test squad for the two-match home series against South Africa.

The 20-man squad bore a fresh look, with plenty of uncapped players being called up, including top-order batsman Imran Butt, all-rounders Kamran Ghulam and Agha Salman, and most prominently, the paceman Haris Rauf, who has already played two ODIs and 11 T20Is.

Most encouraging for Pakistan was the news that Test captain Babar Azam, having missed the Tests in New Zealand due to injury, has recovered sufficiently to skipper the side in the marquee home series. It would mean Azam will captain the side in Test cricket for the first time since being named permanent skipper in November last year.

Mohammad Wasim, the new Pakistan chief selector, said the call-ups to the Test squad was a reward for the young players who performed well in the recently-concluded Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s domestic first-class tournament.

“This is a reward for their consistent performance, hard work and perseverance during a difficult season played under the strict COVID-19 protocols,” Wasim said in a statement. “This is also an endorsement that domestic cricket will be valued and respected, and will remain a stepping stone for international cricket.”

The first of the two-Test series begins on 26 January at the National Stadium in Karachi. The second Test at Rawalpindi will be followed by a three-match T20I series.

Squad: Abid Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Imran Butt, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Yasir Shah, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tabish Khan

South Africa announce 18-strong squad to take on Pakistan

2021-01-17T05:00:00.003-08:00

South Africa have named their squad to take on Pakistan Women in the three One Day Internationals and three T20 matches.

All-rounder Sune Luus will step in as captain for the Proteas women due to Dane van Niekerk being ruled with a back injury. The 25-year-old has been confirmed to lead the side in both formats.

The series, which consists of three ODIs and three T20s, will be played behind closed doors at Kingsmead in Durban commencing on January 20th.

Proteas Coach Hilton Moreeng said: “I’m excited about this group we have selected, and the players have a great opportunity to continue with the great strides they have made at this level and also opportunities to the young ones.

“Many in the squad have international experience including our captain Sune who has lead us with composure in the past and hopefully will do likewise on this tour. There are several talented youngsters who show exciting potential and giving some of them an opening will not only increase the squad’s depth but increase competition for places.”

Squad: Sune Luus (c), Laura Wolvaardt, Trisha Chetty (w/k), Mignon du Preez, Shabnim Ismail, Lizelle Lee, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Nadine de Klerk, Tumi Sekhukhune, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Lara Goodall, Nondumiso Shangase, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Faye Tunnicliffe, Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits

Sublime Root, Lawrence continue England's domination in Galle

2021-01-17T04:55:00.002-08:00

The day couldn’t have gone any better for the visitors – England asserted their authority, riding on Joe Root’s century to post a lead of 185 against Sri Lanka by stumps on day two in Galle.

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It was a near-perfect day for England, in which their captain Root scored his 18th Test hundred, and put on a 173-run stand with debutant Dan Lawrence, who scored an impressive 73 in his maiden Test innings. Sri Lanka toiled throughout the day, but conceded 193 runs for just two wickets, and it could have been a lot more had rain not washed out the entirety of the final session. England had posted a daunting 320/4 by stumps.

Rain had its say in the morning as well, delaying the start of the day by 70 minutes. England, resuming on 127/2, suffered the early blow of losing Jonny Bairstow for 47. Bairstow was drawn forward to a flighted delivery from Lasith Embuldeniya, and his edge was just about pouched by Kusal Mendis in the slips.

Persistent rain has ended the second day’s play early in Galle.

England will resume tomorrow on 320/4 🏏#SLvENG Scorecard ➞ https://t.co/uTfWpFGwrm pic.twitter.com/xid0Ns4Gya
— ICC (@ICC) January 15, 2021

Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, that was the last bit of cheer they had for a while. Lawrence partnered Root, and the debutant was immediately at home at the highest level. The manner in which he slog-swept Embuldeniya, shortly before lunch, suggested he was a brave batsman. He was comfortable from the very beginning of his stint, picking up the lengths of the Sri Lankan spinners with apparent ease.

Meanwhile, Root, having gone through 2020 without a century, seemed desperate to put that poor run behind him at the first time of asking. He negated the turn confidently, picked the gaps beautifully, and brought up three figures shortly into the second session, having gone in to lunch at 99. It was already a terrific knock, but Root wasn’t done yet.

The second session visibly deflated Sri Lanka, as Root and Lawrence powered through. England added 114 runs in the middle session, with Sri Lanka managing just the single wicket of Lawrence shortly before the break.

Sri Lanka took the second new ball, and the pitch developed a bit of bite, but Root negated it all, and finished the day just nine runs short of becoming the seventh England batsman to reach 8,000 runs in Test cricket. He is also only 32 runs short of a double-century.

With Jos Buttler, unbeaten on 7, at the other end, Sri Lanka have a huge task ahead of them if they are to keep the visitors at bay.

Labuschagne century gives Australia the edge on opening day

2021-01-17T04:52:00.003-08:00

After a strong start by India, a century to Marnus Labuschagne helped Australia to 274/5 at stumps on the first day of an evenly poised fourth Test at the Gabba.

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The home side was in trouble at 17/2 after skipper Tim Paine won the toss and elected to bat, with openers David Warner (1) and Marcus Harris (5) out cheaply.

Alarm bells were ringing for Australia when Steve Smith (36) departed soon after lunch, but Labuschagne helped steady the ship with his fifth Test century.

Labuschagne, who was dropped on 37 by India captain Ajinkya Rahane, blasted nine fours before he skied a simple catch off the bowling of debutant T Natarajan on 108.

Paine (38) and Cameron Green (28) will resume on Saturday morning.

On a ground where Australia haven't lost a Test match since 1988, India had the locals on the ropes early in the series decider, despite fielding a desperately inexperienced attack.

The tourists were forced to make four changes to the line-up that fought out a courageous draw in the third Test in Sydney to leave the series tied at 1-1.

Washington Sundar and Natarajan made their Test debuts, with Mayank Agarwal and Shardul Thakur also coming into the side to replace the injured quartet of Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Hanuma Vihari.

India's wretched run of luck continued on Friday when paceman Navdeep Saini pulled up sore with a groin problem just after Rahane had dropped Labuschagne during his eighth over. The seamer left the field for treatment and is in doubt to continue.

The injury put a dampener on an impressive performance in front of 12,998 fans.

In the first over of the day, Mohammed Siraj ensured Warner's lean patch continued when the quick had the opener caught brilliantly by Rohit Sharma at second slip.

Harris, who came in for the injured Will Pucovski, failed to grasp his opportunity. The opener was on his way after he found Sundar at square-leg off the bowling of Thakur, who claimed his first Test wicket playing in his second match.

Australia were 65/2 at lunch, but India landed another huge blow when Smith departed shortly after the break. Sundar snared the prized wicket, his first in Test cricket, when Sharma took the catch at short mid-wicket to end Smith's 70-run partnership with Labuschagne.

Matthew Wade failed to convert a solid start, falling to Natarajan on 45.

Natarajan impressed on his debut with figures of 2/63, with Siraj (1/51), Thakur (1/67) and Sundar (1/63) the other wicket-takers.

Sri Lanka collapse in Galle as England dominate opening day

2021-01-17T04:49:00.002-08:00

As many as 12 wickets fell on an eventful opening day in Galle as England went into stumps at 127/2, trailing Sri Lanka by just eight runs, in the first Test of the two-match series.

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Sri Lanka were bundled out for 135 – their lowest first-innings total in Galle – after opting to bat, with Dom Bess claiming his second five-for in Test cricket, after Stuart Broad, picked in the XI over Jimmy Anderson, dismantled Sri Lanka's batting line-up.

The England batsmen then made up most of the deficit before the stumps were drawn, despite a difficult start. The visitors lost Dom Sibley in the fifth over of their innings, when Sri Lanka used the DRS to good effect – Sibley was adjudged caught at slip off Lasith Embuldeniya. When Zak Crawley, who scored a double-century in his last Test against Pakistan, followed suit, England seemed in trouble at 17/2.

However, captain Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow absorbed the pressure and counter-attacked, putting on an unbroken 110* to help England go through to stumps primed for a second-day assault. En route that solid partnership, Root brought up his 50th half-century in Test cricket, Bairstow a typically dominant 47*, and Sri Lanka were left to reflect on one of the tougher days they’ve faced in their Galle fortress.

Sri Lanka were dealt an early blow when it emerged their captain, opener Dimuth Karunaratne, was ruled out of the Test with a fractured thumb. Dinesh Chandimal took over the captaincy in his stead, but his team’s batting performance in the first innings has ensured he’ll have a tough outing. Also missing was Suranga Lakmal, who failed to recover from a niggling injury.

The hosts lost their first wicket in as early as the seventh over, when Lahiru Thirimanne fell into Broad’s trap – he had stationed a leg-slip, and sent in a delivery into his ribs, and Thirimanne promptly fended it to the fielder. Two balls later, Broad had another when Kusal Mendis fell to his leg-cutter, feathering an edge to the wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. It was his fourth duck in a row in Tests.

There were a few hopes on Kusal Perera, given his track record for reviving teams in the face of adversity, but when he was dismissed for a 28-ball 20 – he top-edged an attempted reverse-sweep – Sri Lanka were 25/3. It was then that two veteran batsmen, Angelo Mathews and Chandimal, got together to attempt to revive the innings.

It was tough going. Broad had sensed an opening, and Mathews and Chandimal had to be extremely cautious. And they were, putting on a 56-run stand for the fourth wicket, off 113 balls. They had taken the total to 81 when Broad claimed the big wicket of Mathews, who attempted a cut and edged it to slip. When Chandimal followed suit in the next over, Sri Lanka were in dire straits at 81/5.

There was a collapse thereafter. Niroshan Dickwella (12) was dismissed when Sibley took a rather fortunate catch at point off Bess, and four overs later, England struck another blow when Dasun Shanaka, who had scored a hard-fought 23, miscued a slip off Bess and was caught behind.

Dilruwan Perera and Embuldeniya both failed to get off the mark, and while Wanindu Hasaranga’s enterprising 22-ball 19 took Sri Lanka to 135, his dimissal, which helped Bess to the coveted five-wicket haul, ended a difficult innings.

England then ensured they took advantage of that.

Injury-ravaged India look to tame Australia at the Gabba

2021-01-17T04:46:00.001-08:00

Australia and India have it all to play for when their enthralling, physically punishing series reaches a much-anticipated conclusion when the fourth Test gets underway at the Gabba on Friday.

India's courageous great escape in Sydney set up the high-stakes finale, with the hard-fought series tied at 1-1.

"We're aware that this is a big Test match … there's no doubt about that," Australian skipper Tim Paine said.

"But it doesn't change the way that we go about it … we've just got to try to execute.

"We feel like when we do that we can beat any team in the world."

Australia will be desperate for victory, given a win would see Paine's men retain first place in the ICC World Test Championship, while India – in second spot heading into the series finale – can move up to No.1 if they can conjure a victory.

The winner in Brisbane will also claim the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy, while Australia will have the added incentive of moving to the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Test Rankings with a 2-1 series win.

A draw would see India retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and leave New Zealand atop the Test rankings.

The odds are against the depleted tourists, with Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah and Hanuma Vihari all adding to India's injury woes to varying degrees.

But it would be foolhardy to write them off after their final day heroics at the SCG that salvaged a famous draw.

Australia have had to deal with their own injury concerns, with Marcus Harris replacing Will Pucovski (shoulder) at the top of the batting order.

"Harry's just a no-fuss, very good player," Paine said of the opener.

"He's been working his backside off in our hub for a while now. He's had huge numbers in Sheffield Shield cricket and deserves the opportunity.

"He's someone we certainly enjoy having in and around our group and someone we have full confidence in that when he gets in and gets a start, he'll cash in and make the most of it."

The home side hasn't lost a Test match at the storied Brisbane venue since 1988, with Paine confident the pitch will be up to its usual high standard.

On an individual note, Nathan Lyon will play his 100th Test match.

The veteran off-spinner becomes the 13th Australian male to do so, and while his focus is firmly on helping his side to a series win, he also has the opportunity to take his 400th Test wicket.

"I'm pretty excited about this one ... (it's) very humbling," Lyon said.

"I look at the other 12 guys who have played over 100 Test matches of cricket for Australia and they're pure legends in my eyes."

Sophie Devine smashes fastest century in women's T20 history

2021-01-17T04:42:00.001-08:00

White Ferns skipper, Sophie Devine, took just 36 balls in what is the fastest century in women's T20 history.

Devine, playing for the Wellington Blaze in the Super Smash, smashed nine fours and as many sixes as she finished with 108* off 38 balls.

The previous record took 38 balls by West Indies batter Deandra Dottin at the ICC Women's World Cup in 2010.

She also set a new record of the fastest T20 hundred by a player, male or female, in New Zealand, surpassing Tim Seifert's 40-ball century for Northern Districts in 2017.

Playing her first game of the season for Wellington, Devine said she was nervous but was happy to "get a few out of the screws."

"I was really nervous this morning," Devine told Spark Sport on Thursday, 14 January.

"Whenever you have a bit of an extended break away from the game you get nervous about [whether] you can come back into it, so it was just [nice] to spend some time in the middle and get a few out of the screws," she added.

Devine match-winning knock powered her side to a thumping 10-wicket win, chasing down Otago Sparks' 128/7 in just 8.4 overs.

White Ferns to host England and Australia for limited-overs tours

2021-01-17T04:40:00.000-08:00

The White Ferns are all set to host England and Australia for a series of ODIs and T20Is in February and March 2021.

The women's international schedule for 2021 will kick off with England tour of New Zealand, which begins on 23 February. Reigning ICC Women's World Cup champions England will arrive in New Zealand on 26 January for the 14-day mandatory quarantine, following which, they will travel to Queenstown for a nine-day training camp.

The training schedule will also include two warm-up games at the John Davies Oval on 14 and 16 February.

Less than a week after England's departure, New Zealand will host the current ICC Women's T20 World Cup champions, Australia, for a limited-overs tour. They will play three T20Is followed by as many ODIs, the first of which begins on 28 March. All three T20Is will take place in Hamilton while Tauranga will host all the ODIs.

The first ODI will offer Meg Lanning's team a chance to overtake Ricky Ponting's record of consecutive victories in the format. They have currently equalled the mark with 21 wins in a row.

"We are very grateful to the New Zealand government for supporting and enabling these women's tours and for creating an environment in which they can proceed," said New Zealand Cricket's chief executive David White. "It is great that New Zealand and the world will be able to see these two terrific women's sides - Australia and England, in action against the White Ferns, and women's cricket receiving the attention it deserves.

"And with the ICC Women's World Cup to be hosted in New Zealand next summer, it is particularly important that teams are able to play and compete and develop their games ahead of such a significant tournament," he added.

Schedule:

New Zealand v England series, 2021

February 23: First ODI, Hagley Oval, Christchurch

February 26: Second ODI, University of Otago Oval, Dunedin

February 28: Third ODI, University of Otago Oval, Dunedin

March 3: First T20I, Sky Stadium, Wellington

March 5: Second T20I, Eden Park, Auckland

March 7: Third T20I, Bay Oval, Tauranga

New Zealand v Australia series, 2021

March 28: First T20I, Seddon Park, Hamilton

March 30: Second T20I, Seddon Park, Hamilton

April 1: Third T20I, Seddon Park, Hamilton

April 4: First ODI, Bay Oval, Tauranga

April 7: Second ODI, Bay Oval, Tauranga

April 10: Third ODI, Bay Oval, Tauranga