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The pair added an unbeaten 91 for the third wicket before the entire third session was called off due to bad light

Danyal Rasool04-Dec-2021Stumps Pakistan saw off a tricky period just before lunch to end the first day, curtailed by rain and bad light, on top. Babar Azam and Azhar Ali steadied a ship that had been rocked by Taijul Islam before lunch, batting through either side of a brief rain delay to deny the hosts any further wickets before tea. The Pakistan captain brought up a fluid half-century while Azhar’s innings was more of a battling knock as he shuffled on to 36 in 112 balls. With the light fading, no further play was possible, meaning Pakistan had managed to get up to 161 for the loss of just the openers, and the chance to put together an impregnable first innings score.The morning session was one of two halves as Pakistan made steady progress in the first hour, only for Bangladesh’s spinners to strike back in the second. On an overcast day in Dhaka, where Pakistan opted to bat first, openers Abid Ali and Abdullah Shafique eased to their third successive fifty partnership. This time, however, they could not convert it to three figures, thanks to probing spells from Taijul Islam and Shakib Al Hasan. Taijul was the man to take both wickets, knocking back the openers’ stumps as Pakistan, who had been going along at almost four runs per over for much of the first hour, scratched their way to 78 for 2 at lunch.Pakistan had appeared untroubled against the fast bowlers to start off, with the overcast conditions not accompanied by the sideways movement Bangladesh’s pacers might have hoped those weather conditions brought. Unlike in Chattogram, where Abid and Shafique were perhaps guilty of being too passive in terms of the scoring rate, the pair pushed ahead more forcefully, regularly putting away poor deliveries, refusing to let Ebadot Hossain and Khaled Ahmed settle.It was unsurprising to see Taijul introduced after just ten overs, but even with spin operating, Pakistan’s openers refused to be bogged down initially. Shafique pulled Taijul away over square leg off just his fourth delivery, while Abid clipped Shakib through the leg side next over. The shot of the morning was when Shafique skipped down the ground to gracefully deposit Taijul over long-off for a glorious six to bring up the fifty partnership, but around that time, the momentum was subtly beginning to shift.The next 25 balls saw only six runs scored, and off the 26th, Bangladesh had their man. Taijul landed one on a length that lured Shafique into the forward press to play for the spin, but the ball carried on with the arm and pierced through the gap and into the stumps. The first ball to Azhar Ali tested him similarly, even if it didn’t get his wicket, and Bangladesh were suddenly prowling.With the spinners stifling Pakistan and every run a battle, Abid saw his defences breached, too. As with Shafique, he failed to read the arm ball, bringing his bat down on one a shade too late, to find he had chopped it on.The skies remained dark and overcast after lunch, and the second session began with real optimism for the home side. With Azhar Ali struggling to cope with the bounce and turn, and Babar in a relatively indifferent patch of red-ball form by his standards, Bangladesh will have sniffed a chance to expose a suddenly fragile middle order.It wasn’t to be, though. After Azhar and Babar steeled out the best part of an hour, the rains arrived. The 25-minute break appeared to sap momentum from the home side, and Babar’s fluency was on full display thereafter. Khaled Ahmed had the chance to hold on to a difficult chance on the boundary when Babar took the aerial route, but that was spurned and the batter followed up with a more authoritative pull towards midwicket.Azhar Ali swept Mehidy for a boundary next over, and a little clip to fine leg brought Babar Azam his half-century thereafter. Bangladesh continued to probe, Shakib in particular flighting the ball in search of grip, but Pakistan had begun to take over by now.But so had the clouds after tea. The umpires deemed it too dark for play to continue, meaning no further play was possible. The next four days will have early starts, though with rain expected to be a factor over much of the weekend, how much play is possible remains to be seen.

Georgia Wareham pegs back South Africa after good start to leave hosts’ fortunes in balance

Srinidhi Ramanujam18-Feb-2023Tahlia McGrath’s 33-ball 57 propelled Australia to a commanding six-wicket victory in a low chase against the hosts South Africa in Gqeberha, and helped the team qualify for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup.It was Australia’s fourth successive win in the competition and their sixth victory against South Africa in as many matches at T20 World Cups. South Africa have now endured their second defeat in three matches and sit third in Group 1 behind Sri Lanka. They will have to win their next game against Bangladesh and hope Sri Lanka lose to New Zealand on Sunday to qualify for the semi-finals.

Brits-ering start for SA

After being put into bat, South Africa made a brisk start, courtesy Tazmin Brits. Laura Wolvaardt was dropped on 13 and struggled to get going as Brits played the role of an aggressor. The duo stitched together a 54-run partnership for the opening wicket, South Africa’s highest for the first wicket at this World Cup.Brits made good use of the field setting in the powerplay and used her feet well to come down the track and hit boundaries to keep ticking. After Ellyse Perry removed Wolvaardt in the ninth over for a 28-ball 19, she punished Annabel Sutherland in the next over for a six and four to ensure South Africa didn’t slow down. Brits eventually was out five short a half-century – her best score of the tournament – hitting six fours and a six.

Wareham, pacers pull things back

Australia fought back after the ten-over mark with regular wickets to keep South Africa at bay. After scoring 65 runs in the first ten for the loss of one wicket, South Africa could muster only 59 in the final ten, losing the plot as well as five wickets.Legspinner Georgia Wareham’s first over shifted momentum toward Australia as she removed both Brits and Chole Tryon in the space of five balls. Sune Luus and Nadine de Klerk chipped in with 20 and an unbeaten 14 respectively, but the knocks weren’t enough to lift the hosts to a competitive total after a good platform laid by Brits.Ashleigh Gardner picked up her 50th T20I wicket when she bowled Luus out in the final over. Darcie Brown, and Megan Schutt also accounted for a wicket each for Australia.

Kapp, Mlaba strike early blowsMarizanne Kapp, playing her international first match at her home ground, struck as early as the fifth over to dismiss Perry, who replaced Alyssa Healy at the top. Healy was ruled out of the game “with some left quad awareness following a high workload on return to play from a significant calf injury,” according to CA. Perry hit two clean fours before being caught at first slip by Tryon.Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba, who opened with the ball, then bowled Meg Lanning the next over when she tried to scoop a length ball over fine leg and missed badly. Kapp came back in the next over to trap Beth Mooney lbw with a full inswinger. At the end of the seventh over, Australia’s top order was back in the pavilion for 40 runs.

McGrath blitz takes Australia home

Gardner and McGrath then put on a match-winning 81-run partnership for the fourth wicket to blunt South Africa’s attack. McGrath was the more proactive among the two, counterattacking from the word go. She started with two fours against Nadine de Klerk in the 10th over to eventually race to a 29-ball half-century, which was also McGrath’s first fifty in this T20 World Cup.

Duo put on 98-run stand after Dattani’s four wickets keep target modest

ECB Reporters Network11-Jul-2023Naomi Dattani starred with bat and ball as Thunder registered their first win of this season’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy with a six-wicket victory over Northern Diamonds in York.Dattani claimed four wickets to help bowl Diamonds out for 167 and played a crucial innings of 46, sharing a 98-run stand with Deandra Dottin – who made 54 not out – as Thunder completed their run chase with 12.2 overs to spare.Lauren Winfield-Hill top-scored for Diamonds with 33, but their total never appeared enough as the defending champions slipped to their fourth defeat of the competition.The Diamonds’ innings was a story of wickets falling at regular intervals as Thunder produced an excellent display with the ball and in the field.Openers Winfield-Hill and Sterre Kalis began patiently but solidly, reaching 37 without loss after 10 overs having been asked to bat first.Winfield-Hill looked set for her fifth half-century of the competition as she began to move through the gears, but she was the first wicket to fall – superbly caught behind by Ellie Threlkeld to hand Dattani her first wicket.Kalis departed six balls later, bowled by Laura Jackson for 21, to leave Diamonds 58 for 2 after 14.1 overs.From there, the hosts struggled to build any momentum as Thunder kept things under control with regular breakthroughs.Hollie Armitage fell for 6, bowled by Dattani, before Emma Marlow was well run out for 9 by Liberty Heap to make it 88 for 4.Diamonds reached the halfway stage on 102 for 4 and Bess Heath and Chloe Tryon both began positively.But Thunder were impressive in the field and Dottin ran Heath out as she attempted a second run to fall for 17 before Tryon was bowled by Fi Morris for 14.Leah Dobson also started brightly, launching a couple of excellent boundaries, but Heap struck twice in the 36th over to dismiss her for 13 and Lizzie Scott for 6 to leave Diamonds struggling on 136 for 8.Morris bowled 10 excellent overs on the bounce, taking 1 for 27.Katie Levick tried to offer late impetus with two boundaries off Dottin, but Dattani returned to wrap the innings up, having Levick caught by Morris for 11 before Grace Hall edged behind for 13 as Diamonds were all out in the 44th over.Thunder began their chase of a modest target with intent, reaching 32 for one after five overs – Seren Smale perishing a ball earlier, bowled by Scott for a brisk 15.Diamonds were sloppy with the ball, conceding 13 extras in the first seven overs and that allowed Thunder to take charge at 52 for after 10.England opener Emma Lamb, omitted from the ODI Ashes squad named on Monday, was key to Thunder’s hopes and she looked in good touch. But the introduction of spinner Levick turned the tide in Diamonds’ favour. First Lamb was trapped lbw for 21 and Morris went for a duck three balls later as Thunder were suddenly 58 for 3.Thunder’s pair of Dattani and Dottin found runs hard to come by but had ticked their side on to 85 for 3 after 20 overs, before there was a 12-minute rain interruption. At the halfway mark, Thunder were 93 for 3, needing another 75.Dattani and Dottin appeared to have assessed their low required run rate and a tricky pitch, batting with great patience to edge towards their target.Dottin reached her half-century from 88 balls in the 37th over before Dattani was trapped lbw by Tryon to end their decisive stand with just 12 more needed.Ellie Threlkeld hit the winning run as Thunder ended their wait for a win.

Hosts turn the tables in thrilling late burst as Birmingham are left stunned at Taunton

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay06-Sep-2025Sean Dickson hammered a magnificent 71 off 26 balls to see Somerset through to Vitality Blast Finals Day with a nerve-tingling four-wicket victory over Birmingham Bears at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.The visitors posted 190 for six after winning the toss, Alex Davies top-scoring with 71 off just 39 balls, with 13 fours. Rob Yates provided a lightning start with 25 off ten deliveries, but Ben Green’s two for 30 enabled Somerset to peg their opponents back.Even so, it took a stupendous knock from Dickson, who blasted 5 fours and 6 sixes, to see the home side to victory with just one ball to spare. Tom Abell made 51, while Oliver Hannon-Dalby claimed three for 24.Bears looked set for a mammoth total when scoring 82 off the six-over power play. Yates hit every ball of Riley Meredith’s first over, the second of the match, for four, while Davies took five boundaries off the fifth over, sent down by Craig Overton.Overton had broken the partnership with the score on 39, having Yates caught at fine leg. Davies then dominated a half-century stand with Dan Mousley, who fell for 12, bowled by Somerset captain Lewis Gregory.At the halfway stage of their innings, Bears had 119 on the board, Davies having reached a 24-ball half-century after being dropped in the deep on 44 by Will Smeed off Jake Ball. But when he fell in the 12th over, bowled by Green attempting a ramp shot, which had served him well, it signalled a turning point.Alex Davies attempts a ramp during his 71 from 39 balls•Getty Images

Green and Gregory bowled economically, along with left-arm spinner Lewis Goldsworthy, as three more wickets fell and the innings ended without a single six having been hit. Kai Smith finished unbeaten on 28, but after the blistering start the Bears final total looked no more than par on a typically bat-friendly Taunton pitch.The first maximum of the game was struck by Tom Kohler-Cadmore off George Garton over mid-wicket in the third over of Somerset’s reply. The next over, bowled by Richard Gleeson, saw the dangerous Will Smeed caught off a top-edged pull with the score on 28.The power play ended with Somerset 49 for one. That became 64 for two when Kohler-Cadmore, on 32, drove a straightforward catch to long-on off Oliver Hannon-Dalby and at the halfway stage of their innings the hosts were 73 for two, needing more than 11 an over.James Rew was dropped at short fine leg off Garton, but departed for 11, caught off the very next ball, before Abell brought the hundred up in the 13th over with a six over mid-wicket off Ed Barnard. Dickson followed up by clearing the ropes off Briggs and Garton to raise Somerset hopes.Abell went to fifty off 39 balls, with 5 fours and six, but perished soon afterwards, caught at long-off skying a ball from Briggs. Dickson replied with a six in the same over before another skyer accounted for Gregory off Hannon-Dalby, who then sent back Green in what seemed a decisive 18th over.Despite Dickson’s 19-ball fifty, Somerset required 19 off the final over, bowled by Barnard. But he was far from finished, clearing the ropes twice and smashing a straight four to cap a memorable innings and win the game for his side.

Leg-spinner’s 4 for 23 proves decisive after Ami Campbell’s fifty

ECB Reporters Network09-Jul-2022Sarah Glenn played a starring role as Central Sparks inflicted a 22-run defeat upon Western Storm in a sun-drenched Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy encounter at Bristol’s Seat Unique Stadium.Chasing a target of 207, Storm came up short at 184 for 9, their cause fatally undermined by the 22-year-old leg-spinner from Derby, who took 4 for 23 from 10 overs. New ball bowler Grace Potts weighed in with 2 for 33 and seamer Elizabeth Russell took 2 for 48 as the top and middle order were blown away. Only tailenders Lauren Filer and Sophia Smale offered any kind of resistance, these two contributing 58 not out and 32 respectively, and staging a defiant ninth wicket stand of 73 by way of consolation.Ami Campbell proved the mainstay of Sparks’ innings, top-scoring with 50 from 75 balls, while captain Evelyn Jones and wicketkeeper Abi Freeborn grafted their way to 44 and 35 respectively in a total of 206 all out from 50 overs after the visitors had won the toss.Impressive with the new ball and again at the death, Lauren Filer claimed 3 for 36 from 10 overs and was ably supported by Niamh Holland, who took key wickets during the middle overs to return figures of 2 for 17.But Storm lacked the application required with the bat on a typically slow and low Bristol pitch to follow up last week’s opening win over Lightning, handing their opponents the opportunity to atone for defeat at the hands of Southern Vipers in their first game.The game was all but over as a contest when Storm lurched to 48 for 6 inside 14 overs, the victims of poor shot selection and some outstanding bowling.Potts set the tone, having Georgia Hennessy caught at the wicket without scoring and then inducing Alex Griffiths to hole out to mid-off as the hosts forfeited both openers inside seven overs with 17 runs on the board. Fran Wilson was next to go cheaply, bowled playing back to Elizabeth Russell and missing a straight one, at which point Storm were 31 for 3 in the tenth over.A difficult situation became positively parlous when Sophie Luff and big-hitting Dani Gibson succumbed to the first and sixth balls of Glenn’s opening over from the Ashley Down Road End. Caught in two minds, Luff was pinned lbw, while Gibson played across the line and was bowled. When Nat Wraith edged a catch behind off Russell in the next over, Storm were in dire straits.There followed 18 dot balls, a passage of austerity that culminated in Glenn having Holland held at slip. Katie George was then bowled by Glenn, terminating any fanciful notion Storm supporters might have harboured of an against-the-odds triumph.Understanding the risks associated with pushing too hard on a worn surface, Sparks’ top-order batters had earlier demonstrated a willingness to graft for their runs, a quality that set them apart from their opponents.Filer served early notice that this was far from a batting paradise, mustering impressive rhythm and pace from the Bristol Pavilion End to remove Davina Perrin and Thea Brookes while the fielding restrictions were still in place.Campbell rode her luck against Storm’s main strike bowler, cutting hard to backward point and being put down by Wilson before she had scored. She certainly made good her escape, the left-hander surviving a sticky start to match Jones blow for blow in a stand of 64 for the third wicket as the visitors reasserted themselves.Prepared to wait for the bad ball, these two were severe on anything short or wide, advancing the score to 109 for 2 at the halfway stage of the innings. Just when a half-century appeared to be hers for the asking, Jones blotted her copybook, playing across the line to a straight delivery from off spinner Chloe Skelton and departing bowled for 44.Skelton’s clever variations on pace and flight almost produced another wicket, but she was unable to hold onto a hard return catch offered up by the fortuitous Campbell, who went on to raise 50 from 74 balls, with eight fours.Dropped catches looked likely to cost Storm dear when George fumbled at deep square leg to allow Freeborn a life on three, much to the chagrin of the returning Filer. Yet partial salvation was at hand for the home side in the form of Holland, who claimed two wickets in the space of 13 deliveries after being introduced in the 34th over. Campbell clipped a swinging ball to Skelton at short fine leg, while Glenn was bowled for two as Sparks were reduced to 156 for 5. Ria Fackrell contributed 16 in a partnership of 32 in seven overs with Freeborn before being bowled by Gibson as Storm turned the screw.As Sparks attempted to accelerate, so Filer struck to remove Freeborn, caught at the wicket by Wraith having hewn 35 from 58 balls. Gibson ran out Georgia Davis and then bowled Potts, while Wraith ran out Hannah Baker off the final ball of the innings.Campbell’s demise in the 35th over proved a turning point, Sparks adding a mere 63 runs for the loss of six wickets in their final 15 overs thereafter. Yet once Glenn went to work, it proved more than enough.

They will tour Pakistan over the Christmas and New Year season, as well as during the IPL next year

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Oct-2022After not touring Pakistan for 19 years, New Zealand are all set to visit the country twice in the space of five months to play two Tests, eight ODIs and five T20Is. It means New Zealand will not play home fixtures over the Christmas and New Year’s season this year, and will have to deal with a clash with the IPL during the second leg of the Pakistan tour in April and May next year.The two Tests are part of the ICC World Test Championship and will be played in Karachi (December 27-31) and Multan (January 4-8). The teams will return to Karachi to play three ODIs that are part of the ICC Super League on January 11, 13 and 15.New Zealand then go back to Pakistan in April and May to play five more ODIs, which are not part of the Super League, and five T20Is. The first four T20Is will be played in Karachi on April 13, 15, 16 and 19, before the teams travel to Lahore for the fifth T20I and the first two ODIs on April 23, 26 and 28. The last three ODIs of the series are in Rawalpindi on May 1, 4 and 7.New Zealand’s first visit is a part of the Future Tours Programme, while the second was agreed to make up for the matches lost when they called off their limited-overs tour of Pakistan minutes before the start of the first ODI in September 2021, citing security concerns.”New Zealand is one of the high-performing sides and the more we will play against the top teams in our backyard, the better we will get as a unit, which is crucial to our objective of featuring inside the top three across all formats,” Zakir Khan, PCB director – international cricket, said in a statement. “The New Zealand matches will also provide opportunities to our youngsters to continue to watch and follow their favourite players in action, something they have missed when we were forced to play our international cricket offshore.New Zealand last toured Pakistan in November 2003, and their return follows the tours of Australia and England to the country this year after a gap of 24 and 17 years respectively.”I know our players can’t wait to arrive and savour the experience of playing in Karachi, Multan, Lahore and Rawalpindi – places that carry a great cricketing heritage,” NZC CEO David White said. “The recent tours from Australia and England have left us in no doubt regarding the quality of the Pakistan side across all formats, and the extent of the challenge that awaits us.”

England allrounder could return to action from injury against Gujarat Titans on April 13

Matt Roller06-Apr-2023Liam Livingstone will miss Punjab Kings’ fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday but could arrive in India in time to make his comeback from injury against Gujarat Titans on April 13.Livingstone has not played a competitive match since making his Test debut for England against Pakistan four months ago in Rawalpindi, when he jarred his knee in the outfield. In recent weeks, he has also suffered a flare-up of the ankle injury he sustained in the Hundred last year, which has kept him out of Kings’ opening fixtures.ESPNcricinfo understands that Kings are expecting Livingstone to arrive on April 10, the day after their fixture in Hyderabad, while Livingstone said on Thursday afternoon that he is hoping to get clearance to travel from the ECB “over the next 48 hours or so”.”[I’m] getting there, finally,” Livingstone said on LancsTV’s coverage of Lancashire’s opening County Championship fixture against Surrey. “It’s been a long road: three or four days a week at the gym over the last three or four months. Maybe towards the end of this week, or start of next week, I’ll fly out to India and get going again.”Feeling much better. I had some injections midway last week. It’s settled it down a lot, finally been able to get outside and do some running and get back to proper cricket stuff. That’s probably been about four or five days now, so just trying to build back up to match fitness now.”I got over my ankle to play in the World Cup, then my knee has been a bit of a niggly one. I finally sorted that out and my ankle flared up again. Hopefully they’re both under control now and it’ll be nice to get back playing finally. It’s been a difficult couple of months, but finally now I’m like a little kid wanting to get back playing cricket again.”