Report
Rickelton, Hendricks smash quick fifties to set up comfortable win for South Africa
Although Ireland scored their second-highest T20I total against South Africa, they did not have enough
Firdose Moonda
27-Sep-2024
South Africa 174 for 2 (Rickelton 76, Hendricks 51) beat Ireland 171 for 8 (Campher 49, Rock 37, Kruger 4-27) by eight wickets
South Africa completed the highest successful chase in Abu Dhabi and notched up a win in the first T20I to keep their unbeaten record against Ireland intact.
It was officially a home fixture for Ireland but was played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium to solve cost and infrastructure challenges in Ireland. Ironically, South Africa seemed to be more familiar with conditions. After spending last week playing Afghanistan on dry, slow pitches in Sharjah, South Africa had adapted to the demands of the heat, and unlike in Sharjah, where the bounce was low, there was good bounce and carry in Abu Dhabi. Full, slower balls proved to be best wicket-taking options and South Africa understood that while Ireland struggled with dew and moisture in the field.
Full postBrook, Livingstone, seamers square series in style with 186-run rout
Australia's bowlers were carted all over Lord's, before England's dominated under the floodlights
Andrew McGlashan
27-Sep-2024
England 312 for 5 (Brook 87, Duckett 63, Livingstone 62*) beat Australia 126 (Potts 4-38, Carse 3-36) by 186 runs
England produced an electric all-round display to set up a series decider at Bristol on Sunday, as they thrashed Australia by 186 runs at Lord's. Harry Brook's sublime 87 formed the backbone of the innings which was capped off by the thunderous hitting of Liam Livingstone in a ground-record 25-ball half-century. Jofra Archer then briefly rekindled memories of 2019 with the best spell of his latest comeback, while Matthew Potts bagged a career-best 4 for 38 in an overwhelming performance.
Harking back to last year's dramatic Ashes Test, there was also, briefly, a moment with an Australian wicketkeeper in the spotlight. On 17, Brook glanced Mitchell Starc down the leg side and was given out but queried whether the catch had carried to Josh Inglis, who had been recalled to the side after injury. The replays showed the ball pitching just before his gloves. The crowd booed as the pictures came on the big screen, accompanied by a few chants of 'same old Aussies, always cheating', but it was a tame interlude compared to 2023.
Full postMurphy spins a web as Victoria hold off Queensland in a thriller
Murphy claimed 3 for 38 after Usman Khawaja posted 57, as Victoria held on despite some late batting heroics from Michael Neser
Alex Malcolm
27-Sep-2024
Victoria 240 for 7 (Harris 63, Swepson 3-38) beat Queensland 234 (Khawaja 57, Murphy 3-38) by six runs
Three wickets to Test offspinner Todd Murphy and some nerveless catching from Victoria helped them to a thrilling six-run win at the Junction Oval after a brilliant cameo from Michael Neser almost stole the game for Queensland.
Murphy took 3 for 38 as Queensland collapsed from 106 for 1 in the 24th over to 205 for 9 in the 46th chasing a very gettable 241. Neser was left with No.11 Tom Straker to chase the last 36 required from 24 balls. That equation became 19 off six after three excellent overs from captain Will Sutherland, Fergus O'Neill and Peter Siddle gave up just 15 runs.
Full postMendises hit powerful centuries to put Sri Lanka in position of dominance
New Zealand ended the second day on 22 for 2, 580 runs behind, after Conway fell in controversial fashion
Andrew Fidel Fernando
27-Sep-2024
Stumps New Zealand 22 for 2 (Williamson 6*, Ajaz 0*, Jayasuriya 1-3) trail Sri Lanka 602 for 5 dec (Kamindu 182*, Chandimal 116, Kusal 106*, Mathews 88, Phillips 3-141) by 580 runs
For Sri Lanka, it was a day of big numbers. Kamindu Mendis became the fastest man to 1000 Test runs in 75 years when he struck 182 not out. He equalled Don Bradman's pace to the milestone, and sits third-equal alongside the greatest batter cricket has ever seen.
Kusal Mendis made a hundred too - the tenth in his career - as he and Kamindu put on an unbeaten stand of 200 for the sixth wicket. All up, Sri Lanka got to 602 for 5 before declaring the moment Kamindu had crossed the 1000-run mark. They had batted 163.4 overs.
Full postHeavy rain calls off first day after Bangladesh lose three
Mominul led the visitors' resistance with an unbeaten 40
Hemant Brar
27-Sep-2024
Bangladesh 107 for 3 (Mominul 40*, Shanto 31, Akash Deep 2-34) vs India
A combination of bad light and heavy rain meant only 35 overs were possible on the opening day of the second Test between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur, in which Bangladesh scored 107 for 3.
The toss itself was delayed by an hour because of a wet outfield caused by overnight rain. When the toss finally happened, the coin fell in India's favour. Under overcast skies, Rohit Sharma had no hesitation in opting to bowl first - the first time India had done so in a home Test since 2015.
Full postAbbott, Dawson make mark before Leach hits back for Somerset
Kohler-Cadmore makes fifty as home side bowled out for 136 but Hampshire slip to 62 for 5 in reply
ECB Reporters Network
26-Sep-2024
Hampshire 62 for 5 (Leach 3-9) trail Somerset 136 (Kohler-Cadmore 63, Dawson 4-28, Abbott 4-37) by 74 runs
Kyle Abbott and Liam Dawson claimed four wickets each as Hampshire boosted their bid for runners-up spot in the Vitality County Championship by skittling nearest rivals Somerset for 136 on the opening day of the final Division One match at Taunton.
Seamer Abbott returned 4 for 37 and left-arm spinner Dawson 4 for 28. Only Tom Kohler-Cadmore, with 63, offered much resistance after the hosts had won the toss and elected to bat first on a dry surface, expected to take spin.
Full postRelegation fears ripple around curtailed Notts-Warwickshire contest
Only 15.2 overs possible as attention turns to Lancashire's progress in Worcester
ECB Reporters Network
26-Sep-2024
Nottinghamshire 33 for 2 (Barnard 1-8) vs Warwickshire
The first day of a Vitality County Championship meeting at Trent Bridge between two sides still stalked by relegation was played by both with one ear cocked for developments 85 miles west, beside the Severn. Over in Worcester, Lancashire will escape if they can take 15 more points than Nottinghamshire can muster in this match, or 20 more than Warwickshire.
With only 15.2 overs possible in all, Warwickshire made the better of what progress there was by the Trent, after a 1.10pm start and a long frustrating wait without cricket shortly after. At the close Nottinhamshire, put in, were 33 for 2.
Full postBailey, Phillip bursts give Lancashire survival hopes a boost
Worcestershire reduced to 56 for 76, but Waite and van Beek rally before rain
ECB Reporters Network
26-Sep-2024
Worcestershire 119 for 7 (Waite 47*, Bailey 3-9, Phillip 3-44) vs Lancashire
Lancashire made up for lost time and maintained their Vitality County Championship Division One survival hopes after Tom Bailey and Anderson Phillip impressed with the new ball against Worcestershire at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
Bailey and Phillip fully justified Lancashire skipper Keaton Jennings decision to put the home side into bat in reducing them to 22 for 5 and then 56 for 7 in seamer-friendly conditions when play got underway after lunch. The duo both picked up three wickets to give Lancashire an ideal start to a game they have to win to keep alive their chances of remaining in the top flight for another season.
Full postElgar, Westley brings champions Surrey back down to earth
Century stand between second-wicket pair puts Essex on front foot before rain arrives
ECB Reporters Network
26-Sep-2024
Essex 116 for 1 (Elgar 54*, Westely 52*) vs Surrey
An unbeaten century second-wicket stand between Dean Elgar and Tom Westley before the rains came brought champions Surrey back down to earth after their week-long celebrations.
Surrey completed their third successive Vitality County Championship win in their last game against Durham but were on the back foot during the 28-and-a-half overs possible until persistent heavy rain drove the players off the pitch nine minutes before lunch. By that time, Essex, who won the toss, had reached 116 for 1 with Elgar and Westley hitting an under-strength Surrey attack to all corners of Chelmsford in a stand worth 112 in 26 overs.
Full postSussex, Yorkshire tighten grip after four-match washout in Division Two
No play possible at Headingley, Hove, Grace Road or Cardiff after persistent rain
ESPNcricinfo staff and ECB Reporters Network
26-Sep-2024
Sussex tightened their grip at the top of the table while Yorkshire edged closer to promotion at the expense of Middlesex, after a complete washout on the opening day of the final round of fixtures in Division Two of the County Championship.
With promotion already sealed and a 20-point cushion at the top, Sussex need only to avoid defeat against third-placed Middlesex to ensure they return to the top flight as champions. A haul of five bonus points from a possible eight would also suffice.
Though there was no chance to pick up any points at Hove, with persistent rain forcing an early abandonment, the lack of play was far more damaging to Middlesex. They now have just three days in which to force victory, without which they have no chance of closing their 15-point deficit on second-placed Yorkshire. Although Friday's forecast is slightly better, the outfield was saturated by the time of the abandonment at 1.05pm, and it will take a prolonged spell of dry weather to get the ground playable.
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