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Glenton Stuurman and Prenelan Subrayen are back in the mix too, while Sisanda Magala and Ryan Rickelton have earned maiden call-ups

Firdose Moonda07-Dec-2021Duanne Olivier could make a Test comeback after an absence of almost three years after being named in a 21-player squad for the upcoming three-Test series against India. The squad includes two new faces – seamer Sisanda Magala and top-order batter Ryan Rickelton, who were both part of the ODI line-up that played in the series against Netherlands, which had to be postponed because of the latest Covid-19 outbreak – and recalls for offspin-bowling allrounder Prenelan Subrayen and quick bowler Glenton Stuurman, who have been part of previous Test squads but haven’t been capped.The rest of the group is largely the same as the one that toured West Indies in June, which is when South Africa last played Test cricket. That series, which South Africa won 2-0, was Dean Elgar’s first as the regular captain. The upcoming one against India will be his first in charge at home. His vice-captain, Temba Bavuma, who was on tour in the Caribbean but missed the Tests because of injury, is also in the squad.Related

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South Africa have given themselves several options in all departments, especially in the bowling attack. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje are expected to lead the pack, with Lungi Ngidi included after recovering from Covid-19, two left-armers in Marco Jansen and Beuran Hendricks, and two right-arm options in Stuurman and Magala.A lot of the focus, though, will be on Olivier, who has been in exceptional form for the Lions and leads the first-class wickets chart this season with 28 strikes at 11.14, including two five-wicket hauls.Olivier spoke to ESPNcricinfo after the last round of fixtures and confirmed that he had been in discussion with selection convener Victor Mpitsang and was available for South Africa again after his Kolpak-enforced absence. He is the second Kolpak-returnee to be selected for a national squad after Wayne Parnell, who played against Netherlands.Conditions, on the whole, are expected to favour quicks, especially at SuperSport Park and Wanderers, where the first two Tests are scheduled to be played, but Newlands could offer something for spinners and South Africa have three of them too. Keshav Maharaj remains the first pick, and will have back-up in allrounders George Linde and Subrayen. Tabraiz Shamsi, who was part of the Test squad in West Indies, has not been selected while there was also no room for the second-highest wicket-taker – behind Olivier – in the first-class competition, Simon Harmer. But South Africa have included one seam-bowling allrounder in Wiaan Mulder.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The batting line-up has a more familiar look to it, with Sarel Erwee providing back-up to Elgar and Aiden Markram at the top of the order, and Rassie van der Dussen, Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne and de Kock expected to make up the top six.Rickelton, the other back-up batter who is in tenth place on the first-class run chart, has been preferred over Tony de Zorzi and Pieter Malan, who are leading run-scorers in the ongoing series between South Africa A and India A.This is South Africa’s first series in the 2021-2023 cycle of the World Test Championship, and first series at home since they hosted Sri Lanka over the festive period last summer. They finished fifth in the previous edition of the ICC tournament, winning two series – against Sri Lanka and West Indies – and losing three – to England, India and Pakistan. It also marks the start of a busy summer for South Africa in which they host India, travel to New Zealand, and host Bangladesh, before a winter tour in England, and it was all very nearly derailed after the discovery of Omicron, the new Covid-19 variant last month.The series has been pushed out by a week – it was initially scheduled to be played from December 17, and the first Test will now start on Boxing Day. The players will be in a biosecure bubble for the duration of the series, although they can expect to see some fans. As things stand in South Africa, 2,000 fully-vaccinated fans are permitted at sporting venues but this may change if further restrictions come into place in the next few weeks.

The proximity of the ODI World Cup has added the complexity of the Ashes series

Andrew McGlashan12-Jan-2022Australia’s players are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the Women’s Ashes runs safely and ensure no one misses the ODI World Cup amid the Covid-19 cases that have exploded over the last month.The squad will be back under tight biosecure restrictions during the multi-format contest – the schedule for which was recently amended – but there remains the risk that if a player catches Covid towards the end of the series that they would miss the World Cup, starting March 4, due there being only one opportunity for the group to travel to New Zealand.Australia’s players, who are split across 15 in the main Ashes squad and 15 in an Australia A group, will start arriving in Adelaide from Thursday with the whole group assembled by January 17 leaving just three days to prepare for the first T20I.Restrictions on what they can do are expected to be tighter than the men’s Ashes which has operated at Cricket Australia’s level four protocols with players largely confined to their hotel outside of matches.Related

• Women's Ashes: Tightrope walk for teams with 'scattered' preparations leaving them undercooked

• Women's Ashes schedule adjusted to allow for World Cup quarantine

• Women's Ashes walks Covid tightrope ahead of World Cup

• Alana King beats Amanda-Jade Wellington to place in Australia's Ashes squad

“In order to get the Ashes up and running we do need to follow some protocols and try and keep everyone as safe as possible,” captain Meg Lanning said. “We are certainly willing to do that and do whatever we need to to get the games up.”Heading into this bubble the risk of catching Covid is significantly increased than what it perhaps was even six months ago. That is a slight difference heading into this series and that World Cup on the back end is something everyone wants to be a part of and certainly doesn’t want to miss.”There is, I guess, that little bit of nervousness but having chatted to the medical staff and all the support staff they are putting everything in place that’s possible to keep the bubble very secure and minimise the risk of getting Covid. Very confident that everything is in place that needs to be and hopefully everyone can stay safe.”Already one player has been caught up in Covid with Katie Mack, who is part of the Australia A squad thanks to an outstanding season for Adelaide Strikers, isolating for seven days after her partner tested positive. Mack is currently awaiting her PCR result and if she remains negative during isolation is hopeful of still joining the squad for the T20s against England A with the worst case being she will only be able to play the ODIs next month.”I’d feel pretty lucky if I could still get there and play all the games, that’s the best-case scenario,” Mack said. “Worst-case scenario is I test positive in a couple of days and have to do [another] seven days isolation from there. It’s not ideal, but Covid’s not ideal in anyone’s life at the moment, so it would be pretty hard for me to say I’ve got it tough.”Australia’s selectors are planning for the possibility that Covid will hit the Ashes in some form with players in the A squad on notice that a call-up may come at any time. Still, on a day-to-day basis the squads will be kept separate to minimise the risk if a case emerges.Covid has had a significant impact on the women’s game in recent weeks with a raft of postponements in the WNCL which has limited players’ preparation ahead of the Ashes although Lanning believed it was a prudent measure not to carry on with those matches.Lanning herself opted to take a break after the WBBL knowing that this intense period of cricket with the Ashes and World Cup lay ahead. With a return to bubble life, which players had hoped was behind them, she is pleased she took the chance to step away.”I felt after WBBL that a break would benefit me a lot and having come back to training it has done wonders,” she said. “It’s not ideal to miss games but think the timing of that was perfect for me, to mentally more than anything switch off.”

SA lead by 305 after the quicks set up a significant first-innings lead despite Maddinson’s 82 for Victoria

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Feb-2022A half-century from Henry Hunt helped South Australia build a sizeable lead over Victoria after Nic Maddinson kept the visitors in touch with an outstanding 82 in the face of some excellent fast bowling at Adelaide Oval.Hunt made 57 and Travis Head tuned up for the Pakistan Test tour with a brisk 46 to push South Australia’s lead beyond 300 with one day remaining. The home side were 1 for 123 in their second innings with a lead of 225 following Hunt’s half-century but Jon Holland and Will Sutherland dragged Victoria back into the game.Sutherland removed Hunt, who was bowled trying to drive a good length delivery on the up. Holland, having picked up first innings century-maker Jake Weatherald, then returned to remove the dangerous Head and Daniel Drew who was also coming off a century in the first innings. Head did clobber two boundaries and three sixes, scoring 46 off just 52 balls before holing out to deep midwicket late in the day.Earlier, Maddinson played a wonderful hand to avoid Victoria giving up a 150-plus first-innings deficit. He made 82 with eight fours and two sixes as he shepherded the tail against South Australia’s quicks. Brendan Doggett, David Grant and Nathan McAndrew picked up three wickets each.

Imad-Qasim heroics in vain as Karachi Kings slide to seventh straight loss

Danyal Rasool14-Feb-2022
Islamabad United were the side beset by injuries, but the insult was all Karachi Kings’. It went much, much deeper than anyone might have believed six overs before the death, and took a third umpire’s decision on a marginal run-out to settle the outcome. But for the Kings, the result in the end was no different to their previous six games: a defeat. They become the first PSL side to lose their first seven PSL games, and the first to be eliminated from this year’s competition. But in the end, the story of United’s one-run win was much too dramatic to be reduced to mere numbers.Chasing 192, Kings were given a boost when two key United bowlers – Shadab Khan and Zeeshan Zameer – were forced off the field with injuries, leading to Asif Ali needing to bowl three overs, and taking two wickets in his first over. It was some generous fielding from United at the death and a spirited stand between Imad Wasim and Qasim Akram that even made this game a contest, but several cameos from United with the bat meant they had just about enough runs to ensure their profligacy wasn’t punished.It came down to a nail-biting final over from Waqas Maqsood, in which Kings needed eight. A boundary off the second ball brought it down to a run-a-ball, but two wickets took the game right down to the final delivery, off which the Kings needed two. Chris Jordan spooned it back to Maqsood, who somehow dropped it, but managed to gather and effect a direct hit at the non-striker’s end. Jordan was inches short of the popping crease that would have guaranteed the Kings a Super Over, and United had just about clung on to victory in a game they should have sealed long ago.United had major problems throughout their defence of 191 with Shadab and Zameer missing, and for much of the first ten overs, the Kings needed to bide their time, stay in the game, and target whoever bowled the other three overs. But when Asif Ali, who had a grand total of two career T20 wickets, stepped up, he removed Sharjeel off a rank long-hop with his first ball, and cleaned up Mohammad Nabi four deliveries later. The Kings were 80 for 5, and the game seemed done and dusted.But Pakistan U-19 captain Qasim and Imad struck up a glorious counterattacking partnership that put their side on the brink of victory. Qasim rode his luck to score an unbeaten 51 off 26, while Imad Wasim smashed 55 off 28, both capitalising on United losing their discipline on the field. No fewer than half-a-dozen catches were shelled, and ones were allowed to turn into two and four as the nerves tightened while the runs flowed freely. Hasan Ali was at the receiving end of another death-overs pasting; he was smashed for 16 runs in the penultimate over that left Qasim with so little to work with.If you’ve seen United bat once, you’ve probably seen them bat every time. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Muhammad Akhlaq fell early, but that didn’t deter them from continuing to go after the bowling. Once more, there wasn’t one outstanding contributor to their total, but five batters scored between 22 and 34, all at strike rates in excess of 130. Faheem Ashraf (29* off 10) and Asif Ali (28 off 11) blitzed a 57 off a combined 21 balls at the death as United walloped 78 off the final six overs. A couple of hours later, they would need every single one of those as they just about held off a resurgent Kings side, and shored up their own hopes of playoff qualification in the process.

Wayne Parnell has been ruled out of the match with a hamstring injury, while Temba Bavuma is fit to play

Mohammad Isam22-Mar-2022

Big picture

Before reaching South Africa, Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal and coach Russell Domingo were confident of notching up a maiden ODI series win here. They started with a big win in the first ODI in Centurion, but the hosts hit back in the second game in Johannesburg. The teams now head to Centurion again for the decider – a first on a Bangladesh tour of South Africa.South Africa have been blowing hot and cold since the start of 2021, winning seven of the 15 ODIs and losing six, with two matches producing no result. It will not be an easy task for Bangladesh to thump South Africa at home; however, it wouldn’t impossible either.A strong bowling performance led by Kagiso Rabada, who picked up a five-for, helped South Africa level the series in the second ODI. Lungi Ngidi too bowled well and so did Wayne Parnell, before injuring his left hamstring. But they might have expected a bit more from the spin duo of Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj.Related

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Quinton de Kock attacked Bangladesh from the word go, and Kyle Verreynne and Temba Bavuma, nursing a hand injury, kept them in the game in the short chase. South Africa will want more from their batters, and not just in runs, but also to take on the Bangladesh bowling attack like de Kock did in the second game.Bangladesh are unlikely to change their playing XI, with the same set of players having featured for the sixth match in a row in Johannesburg. Such consistency in selection is not common with the visitors, and it shows the approach of a captain and a coach who believe in giving enough chances to a player to prove his worth before dropping them after a poor performance.Runs from the likes of Litton Das, Yasir Ali and Afif Hossain have not only eased the pressure on the four senior batters, but has also made Bangladesh a well-rounded batting side. Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan will be manning the top-order fort, while Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, surprisingly off colour lately, will be expected to provide the flourish in the end.Bangladesh’s bowling has also done the job. Taskin Ahmed will be leading the attack with his accuracy and searing pace. Mustafizur Rahman is the end-overs master, while Shoriful Islam has shown he is adept at both ends of the innings. Mehidy Hasan Miraz is evolving as an allrounder, with Shakib being the backbone of the bowling department.

Form guide

South Africa WLWWW (Last five completed matches; most recent first)

Bangladesh LWLWWKagiso Rabada will once again be key for South Africa•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlight

Kagiso Rabada, the leader of South Africa’s pace attack, will be expected to do a bulk of the damage to guide the hosts to the series win. The fast bowler rattled the batting line-up in the second ODI, where his first spell extended to seven overs.There is a lot of talk about promoting Afif Hossain up the order, but Bangladesh believe he will be best suited for No 7. It also looks like Afif is getting accustomed to the role now, evident in the way he rescued the team with an unbeaten 93 after the early collapse in Chattogram against Afghanistan, and also after he scored a brisk 72 on Sunday. Though he is usually aggressive, Afif also knows when to curb that instinct for his team.

Team news

Wayne Parnell has been ruled out of the match with the hamstring injury, which means Marco Jansen might take his place in the side. Captain Temba Bavuma, who injured his hand, is fit to play. South Africa: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Janneman Malan, 3 Temba Bavuma (capt), 4 Kyle Verreynne, 5 Rassie van der Dussen, 6 David Miller, 7 Keshav Maharaj, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Tabraiz ShamsiDespite the seven-wicket loss in Johannesburg, Bangladesh are unlikely to change their line-up.Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal (capt), 2 Litton Das, 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Yasir Ali, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Afif Hossain, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Pitch and conditions

Only two out of 12 times have teams lost scoring after 300-plus runs batting first at SuperSport Park in Centurion. The third ODI promises to be a run fest. The forecast says there will be no rain on Wednesday.

Stats and trivia

• Both of Kagiso Rabada’s five-wicket hauls in ODIs have come against Bangladesh.
• Bangladesh’s 314 against South Africa in the first ODI was the first time they scored 300-plus in an ODI when only five bowlers were used by the opposition.

Quotes

“If we can handle the first ten overs well, [and] if we don’t give them too many wickets, we can definitely score runs against them in the middle overs.”

Will Rhodes makes 99 as Northants fail to capitalise on scoreboard pressure

ECB Reporters Network14-May-2022Batters continue to make hay at Edgbaston as Warwickshire replied to Northamptonshire’s 597 for six with 394 for four on the third day of their LV=Insurance County Championship match.Warwickshire began the day under pressure, on 80 for two needing 448 to avoid the follow on, but responded with the requisite resilience as Sam Hain (140 not out, 337 balls) and Will Rhodes (99, 173) added 201 for the fourth wicket.Hain, whose career-best 208 arrived against Northamptonshire in 2014, played barely a false shot in seven hours at the crease and his reassuring presence helped Rhodes to relocate some form and fluency. The captain’s six previous innings this season had yielded just 73 runs.As an excellent batting track refused to deteriorate, all the bowlers could do was persevere in the sunshine. They did so commendably, led by Jack White who kept going manfully for 26-6-84-2 – very worthy figures in these conditions.Warwickshire resumed on the third morning on 80 for two, 368 from the follow-on. They needed a day of serious batting and delivered it. Only one wicket fell in the first two sessions when, midway through the morning, Dom Sibley (52, 170 balls) edged a fine ball from Luke Procter behind.Rhodes looked a little uncertain early on and was reprieved on 22 when he chipped Rob Keogh to mid-on but Simon Kerrigan was on his heels and the ball fell just in front of him. The Warwickshire skipper gained fluency from that point – the straight-driven four off Matt Kelly which took him to 50 was exquisite.Hain was at his implacable best. He went to the crease armed with a first-class average of 76 against Northamptonshire, but ensured its improvement by mid-afternoon and reached his 12th first-class century (239 balls) just before tea.Rhodes was a single away from his ton when the impressive White, plugging away on a hot afternoon, induced an edge and Lewis McManus took another catch. The captain was afforded the warmest of ovations back to the pavilion.At 314 for four, the Bears still had work to do to reach the follow-on figure and officially consign the match to stalemate. Hain and Matt Lamb ensured there was no late collapse with an unbroken stand of 80 in the last 23 overs of the day. Hain’s concentration remained absolute while Lamb continued his sparkling form this season with a perky unbeaten 47 from 77 balls.

Fifties from Gaikwad and Kishan also play a part in hosts’ dismantling of South Africa in Vizag

Firdose Moonda14-Jun-20224:18

Jaffer: Wristspinners need to be brave and Chahal was

India needed their players to step up and put in a big performance to stay alive in the five-match T20I series and Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Yuzvendra Chahal and Harshal Patel did just that. Gaikwad and Kishan shared 97 – India’s highest opening stand against South Africa in T20Is, with each scoring half-centuries. Gaikwad posted a career-best 57 to set India up for a strong total before Chahal and Harshal took three wickets apiece to give India a comprehensive win.South Africa’s defeat was only their second in the last 15 T20Is and their first in the previous eight matches while chasing. They needed a strong start and someone to bat through, but were 38 for 2 in the powerplay and no-one scored more than Heinrich Klaasen’s 29.India’s spinners applied significant pressure for the first time in the series, on the slowest surface so far. Chahal and Axar Patel gave away only 45 runs between them for seven wickets to give Rishabh Pant his first win as captain.Five, four(s)…
 
India were off to a solid but unspectacular start until Anrich Nortje came on to bowl the fifth over and Gaikwad got hold of him. Nortje started in signature fashion – short – but also bowled it wide and Gaikwad only had to stand and cut to find the boundary. Nortje delivered the next ball on a length, and Gaikwad charged down and lofted him over mid-on, prompting Nortje to default back to the bouncer. His third ball came in viciously from outside off and took the grille of Gaikwad’s helmet and raced to the third-man rope. Gaikwad was given the runs, but later taken away as leg-byes, even as he had to have a concussion test.4:15

Steyn: Gaikwad bats pretty much like KL Rahul

He was cleared to continue, and seemed just fine, as he flicked away Nortje’s follow-up, a full ball, through midwicket. Nortje moved his line closer to the stumps for the fifth ball but Gaikwad made room and opened the face of the bat late to steer the ball to short third man. Tabraiz Shamsi was stationed there and although he would have had to make good ground to take the catch, he should have stopped the ball going through his hands and to the boundary. Gaikwad swung and missed the sixth ball as Nortje saved some face. Gaikwad went on to bring up his fifty off 30 balls.Shamsi v Shreyas

Shreyas Iyer has yet to look entirely convincing in this series and scored his first runs in this innings with a top edge off Nortje that went for six. Shreyas was much more in control of his next runs, when he skipped down the track to launch Shamsi over mid-off. The spinner had already been hit for 23 runs in his first two overs and was not having as good a time as he would have liked to celebrate his 50th T20I. But he thought he had turned things around when three balls later, Shreyas was given out lbw as he tried to sweep. Shreyas reviewed immediately, with replays indicating that he had gloved the ball. Just when Shamsi may have thought his night wouldn’t improve, Shreyas swept again, but didn’t keep it down and Nortje timed his jump perfectly at square leg to take the catch.Two drops and some damage
It’s not like South Africa to put down chances and it’s even less like Miller and Rassie van der Dussen but they were both guilty of mistakes. Miller’s was the simpler of the two, when Hardilk Pandya, on 1, sliced Shamsi on the off side and he only had to hold on, but couldn’t. van der Dussen’s required running in from deep backward point when Pant, on 4, slashed at a wide Dwaine Pretorius delivery. He got to the ball but it popped out of his hands. van der Dussen’s drop only cost two runs when, later in Pretorius’ over, Pant again lofted the seamer over the offside. Bavuma ran back from mid-off to take the catch. Pandya’s let-off was more costly. He went on to score 31 runs and help India take 41 off the last five, to push the total over 175.Harshal Patel rattled South Africa’s chase with a four-wicket haul•Associated Press

Poor in the powerplay
Without Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram, the spotlight was always going to shine brightly on South Africa’s opening pair and their strike rates. Temba Bavuma and Reeza Hendricks’ career strike-rates sit at 121.75 and 121.44 respectively and both struggled to get going against a classic Bhuvneshwar Kumar opening spell. He swung the ball both ways to deliver two overs for seven runs but was taken off by Pant, who has developed a habit of replacing bowlers who are applying pressure. Bhuvneshwar’s squeeze worked – Bavuma was caught at mid-on as he tried to clear the in field off Axar. Hendricks edged Chahal, but the chance didn’t carry to slip, before he swung at a Harshal slower ball and was caught at mid-off to end the powerplay on 38 for 2.No middle-order hero this time
van der Dussen was dismissed for 1 when he was caught behind off a Chahal delivery that turned away from him as he tried to cut and two overs later Pretorius went in a similar way but it was only when Miller was done in by a slower ball from Harshal that South Africa’s middle order was opened up for the first time in the series.Wayne Parnell came in at No.7, with South Africa needing 109 runs from nine overs. He had Klaasen at the other end but Chahal had the final say. In his final over, Chahal tossed it up, inviting Klaasen to go big but he could only get the ball as far as Axar at extra cover, to all but end South Africa’s chase in the 15th over. India proceeded to secure their biggest victory (in terms of runs) over South Africa in T20Is.

Ben Green hits 17 off six balls and then takes 2 for 13 in seven-over thrash

ECB Reporters Network24-Jun-2022Somerset put themselves one step closer to qualification for the Vitality Blast quarter-finals with a 16-run win over Glamorgan in Cardiff.Persistent rain reduced the match to a seven-over contest with Glamorgan putting Somerset into bat. Early wickets pegged the visitors back but some powerful blows from Tom Abell and Ben Green took Somerset to 75 for 6.Just as was the case with the Somerset innings, Glamorgan suffered early losses as they got the chase underway. Unlike Somerset they did not have the late acceleration to get them to their target with Colin Ingram playing a lone hand to finish on 37 not out.Victory takes Somerset to 16 points, and while a quarter-final isn’t a mathematical certainty they are extremely well placed.Once the match got underway Michael Neser gave Glamorgan the perfect start with the ball. Somerset lost the wickets of Tom Banton and Rilee Rossouw from consecutive balls, both batters dismissed for golden ducks. Banton attempted to scoop a length ball to the boundary and it crashed into his stumps. Rossouw pulled a shorter ball into the hands Sam Northeast at midwicket.Somerset’s batting efforts received another blow in the second over, Will Smeed chipped a ball from Michael Hogan to Andrew Salter at mid-off for 3. His wicket meant that Somerset were 7 for 3 inside the first two overs.Prem Sissodya’s first over also brought a wicket, Lewis Gregory edging behind to wicket-keeper Alex Horton for 7 to leave his side 15 for 4. The second over from Sissodya contained two boundaries before he bowled Tom Lammonby for 18 to leave Somerset at 41 for 5 with two overs to go.Michael Hogan almost claimed his second wicket of the night when he came back into the attack when Abell hit a drive high into the Cardiff sky. Kiran Carlson was the fielder and he couldn’t hold on to what would have been a very impressive catch.Abel and Green were impressive in the final two overs, putting on 34 runs in 13 balls at the end of the Somerset innings.Glamorgan’s pursuit of the 76 run target got off to a poor start, Northeast becoming the third player to be dismissed first ball when he edged Craig Overton through to Banton. David Lloyd fell the following over, bowled by Peter Siddle for just 1 to reduced Glamorgan to 17 for 2.Dan Douthwaite, promoted up the order in this shortened game, lasted four balls before be holed out on the boundary edge for just 3 with Green picking up the wicket. Green’s impressive all-round performance continued in his second over when Kiran Carlson edged him through to Banton for 7.Ingram and Eddie Byrom where left with 38 runs required from just 12 balls. That equation became 32 from 11 when Byrom smashed Josh Davey for six but the Glamorgan batter was trapped lbw the very next ball.Ingram swung manfully in the final over but there was too much left to do with Somerset claiming their eighth win of this Blast campaign.

England fast bowler stands up for his colleague after handing over world record baton

Vithushan Ehantharajah02-Jul-2022James Anderson came out in defence of Stuart Broad after his opening partner was on the receiving end of history against India at Edgbaston.Broad experienced the ignominy of conceding a record 35 runs from his 18th over, as India’s tail rallied on day two of this fifth Test to lift their team to a first innings total of 416. His misery was compounded by the fact the batter causing the carnage was India’s No. 10, Jasprit Bumrah.The stand-in India captain teed off to smash four fours and a two sixes, swinging himself off his feet at one point, as Broad persisted with short-pitched deliveries, as per the fields set. As well as a no-ball, Broad contributed five wides himself. The over finished with a scampered single, resulting in Broad attempting to run out Mohammed Siraj in his follow-through, decimating the stumps but missing out on the dismissal.Related

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It was particularly unedifying given Broad had become only the sixth bowler – and third quick – to take 550 Test wickets when he had Mohammed Shami caught at deep third man. Broad has now conceded the most runs in an over in two formats, having been struck for six sixes by Yuvraj Singh during the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007.Anderson, who took 5 for 60, was philosophical about Broad’s plight. He was speaking from a position of empathy, too, given he jointly held the previous Test record of 28, conceded against George Bailey during the 2013-14 Ashes.”Yeah, [it is] just one of those things,” Anderson said at stumps. “On another day one of those top edges goes straight to hand. If that gets taken nobody talks about the over.”I thought it was pretty unlucky. There’s plenty of top edges, a couple of good shots but that’s the plan Ben [Stokes] wanted Broady to go with. Broady stuck to it and on another day when the luck was with Stuart an edge probably would have gone to hand.”It capped off a loose morning for England, who looked to be losing the thread of the innings by persisting with a short-ball tactic against India’s lower order. The tourists began on 338 for 7, before Ravindra Jadeja went to his third Test century. The left-hander was the ninth wicket to fall on 375, only for the final pair – led by Bumrah’s 31 not out – to clatter 41 more.Though England took the new ball, they kept to their predominantly leg-side field in the hope of a catch to close out the innings. By the time it came, with Broad holding on to Siraj down the ground off Anderson, India had clearly gained the initiative. Anderson, who now has 656 wickets and 32 five-wicket hauls, said there were no regrets over the tactics.”Sometimes it can be easier to bowl at top-order bats to be honest,” he said. “I do remember a few balls to Siraj: he tried to hit two out of the ground and the next one played a perfect forward defence. It can be tricky to get into a rhythm against them. You’ve just got to try and back yourself that your best ball will get them out eventually.”

Hosts end Day 3 323 ahead after Pakistan fell 147 behind in the first innings, although they fought back with the ball

Andrew Fidel Fernando26-Jul-2022Stumps Pakistan removed Sri Lanka’s top five in a little over a session, but had given up so much ground in the first innings that they remain in a desperate situation. They are 323 runs back at the end of day three, with five Sri Lanka wickets still remaining.On a day curtailed by bad light, the hosts took the visitors’ last four wickets for 40 runs, obtaining a 147-run first innings lead thanks to Ramesh Mendis’ five-wicket haul. Pakistan’s bowlers then did their best to keep Sri Lanka in check by having the hosts 117 for 5 in the second innings, before a 59-run unbeaten stand between Dhananjaya de Silva and Dimuth Karunaratne re-established Sri Lanka’s dominance.Karunaratne was clearly struggling with a lower-back injury that had kept him off the field for much of Pakistan’s first innings and prevented him from coming in any earlier than at No. 6, where he was unbeaten – with de Silva at the other end – before the teams went off for bad light.Pakistan had begun the day well, though perhaps unambitiously. Yasir Shah and Hasan Ali batted out almost 14 overs, but struck only one boundary when Hasan came down the track to launch Prabath Jayasuriya over midwicket, and made just 30 runs together for the eighth wicket.Sri Lanka’s spinners had occasionally threatened with the old ball, but when they took the new one – just before the first hour of play was up – they were consistently menacing.Jayasuriya broke the stand, as Hasan could only get an under-edge on to the stumps as he tried to sweep. Soon after, Nauman Ali had his outside edge taken by a big-turning Ramesh delivery, before Yasir was trapped in front by the same bowler to wrap the innings up for 231. Ramesh got 5 for 47 – his third five-wicket haul in Tests – while Jayasuriya took 3 for 80.Agha Salman was intent on reviewing a decision against Angelo Mathews, and eventually had his way•AFP/Getty Images

As Karunaratne could no earlier than 2.20pm local time since he had been off the field too long, Niroshan Dickwella opened the innings for Sri Lanka, but without substantial success. He survived the five overs he and fellow opener Oshada Fernando faced before lunch, but was out in the first over of the afternoon, nicking a Naseem Shah ball that was angled across him on 15.Three other Pakistan bowlers took the three remaining wickets to fall in that session. Yasir had Oshada lbw less than five overs after Dickwella’s dismissal. Mohammad Nawaz got Kusal Mendis lbw trying to sweep very soon after that.Then came perhaps the most controversial decision of the day. Angelo Mathews, playing his 100th Test, was given not out edging a ball that ricocheted off the keeper’s gloves to slip. But the bowler Agha Salman was intent on reviewing that decision, and third umpire Marais Erasmus ruled Mathews out, despite Snicko having showed only the merest tremor. Mathews left the field shaking his head, having made 35.After tea, Naseem struck again. Dinesh Chandimal attempted a booming drive to a full, wide delivery, and ended up only edging it behind for 27 – his lowest score in his last three Tests.De Silva then made his presence felt with some early boundaries, and set about establishing a partnership with Karunaratne, who was clearly hampered in both his batting and his running between the wickets, by his back injury.De Silva was especially effective on the back foot – as he often is – pulling Naseem in front of square for four, while also cutting Yasir for three boundaries behind point. Karunaratne hit two boundaries in his 51-ball stay – a reverse sweep off Yasir, and a conventional sweep off Nawaz. He went to stumps on 27; de Silva on 30.