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Southern Brave roar back to life in their chase to secure six-wicket win

Cameron Ponsonby25-Aug-2022Alex Davies and Ross Whiteley orchestrated a remarkable turnaround as Southern Brave secured a six-wicket win to keep their slim qualification hopes alive heading into the closing rounds of the group stage.Brave won the toss and elected to bowl on what turned out to be an extremely difficult wicket to bat on. For long stretches of the chase, Dawid Malan’s innings 59 off 41 for Trent Rockets seeming likely to be the difference between the sides.At the halfway point, Rockets’ total of 138 for 6 was believed to be slightly under par, with allrounder Samit Patel wary in his optimism that it was defendable, even if he did speak with the knowing look of a player who had seen these types of pitches before and knew that a good start could see the game could turn quickly.And a good start is exactly what Rockets got, as their seamers combined to restrict Brave to just 15 for 2 off the powerplay – both Paul Stirling and James Vince bowled for ducks.As Brave’s chase went on, Malan’s earlier effort grew in stature, as only Quinton de Kock was able to find the boundary in the first 65 balls of the chase.With 66 off 30 required, Rockets looked to be heading for a victory that would have secured them a slot in the top three and a place in the eliminator at the very least.But three consecutive sets of five then went for double figures, as Rockets’ afterburners ran out, Brave aided by a series of wides and no-balls as the bowlers struggled with a wet ball. The result was 66 off 30 became 23 off 15 as Brave stole victory in the blink of an eye.Malan furthers his caseMalan became the first person in the competition to reach 300 runs as he scored his third half-century. The left-hander is the leading run-scorer in the Hundred this season, and a bonus for England ahead of the T20 World Cup – particularly with Jason Roy so out of form.Malan hit the ground running in his innings and appeared to be the only Rockets batter to gain a grasp of the pace of the pitch. After 50 balls of the innings, Malan was on 38 off 26 whilst his team-mates were 21 off 24.The innings wasn’t chanceless with Malan gaining a life on 37 when he skied a Sonny Baker delivery to point where Michael Hogan put down a relatively simple catch. Despite Baker being 22 years junior to Hogan, he still managed to master the disappointed fatherly stare.Seaming and swingingThat Rockets were in a position to let victory slip from their hands was the result of their own fantastic seam bowling at the start of Brave’s innings.Spin was expected to lead proceedings with the wicket sticking and pace-off proving hard to time. But Luke Wood, Daniel Sams and Sam Cook were able to exploit the conditions superbly as Brave managed just 15 runs from the first 25 balls.Wood’s impressive tournament continued as he bowled Vince via an inside edge for a golden duck, whilst Cook used his slower ball expertly to remove Stirling.Such was the dominance of seam that allrounder and captain Lewis Gregory, who is yet to bowl his full allocation in a match this season, brought himself on as a fourth seamer before turning to either of his experienced spinners in Tabraiz Shamsi and Samit Patel. Gregory’s 15 balls would go for just 14 runs as Rockets’ eased themselves seemingly into an unassailable position.Davies and Whiteley graft, David ices chaseBrave struggled to 52 for 2 at halfway and looked dead and buried when 71 were needed off the final 35 balls. Davies had just struck his first boundary, from his 30th ball faced, and Whiteley was new to the crease with six off seven.Rockets’ position seemed only to be getting stronger, but the turning point came when, with 55 required off 25 balls, Sams bowled an eight-ball set that went for 19 runs and included a wide and two no-balls (one of which was for a fielding infringement). Shamsi’s following set went for 13 as a game that had been all but over for Brave became theirs to lose.Whiteley departed for a vital 30 off 21 balls with 16 needed off 11, but any doubts over the result of the match were put to bed when Tim David struck consecutive sixes to send a raucous Southern Brave crowd home happy.

Rahul also hits a half-century, before Zimbabwe wilt in their chase of 187; India to face England in the semi-final

Andrew Fidel Fernando06-Nov-2022Suryakumar Yadav’s astonishing death-overs hitting launched India to a commanding 186 for 5 – Suryakumar’s share being 61 not out off 25. India’s quicks then shut the game down quickly, reducing Zimbabwe to 28 for 3 by the end of the powerplay, then 36 for 5 soon after.There were patches of Zimbabwe resistance. In India’s innings, Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza combined to take a wicket in each of the 12th, 13th and 14th overs. Then Raza and Ryan Burl put on 60 off 35 for the sixth wicket, though Zimbabwe’s run rate never really caught up to the requirement.But otherwise, India crushed it. KL Rahul hit his second successive fifty, making 51 off 35. Virat Kohli reclaimed his spot atop the tournament run-getters list with his 26 off 25.Then Arshdeep Singh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar used swing beautifully to take a wicket in each of their first overs, before Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya also got among the wickets. R Ashwin finished things off, taking 3 for 22 from his four overs. The result was a 71-run victory.Suryakumar’s spectacular fine-leg hits
Where do you bowl to Suryakumar? England will now have to try to figure this out before their semi-final on Thursday.There was a gorgeous six over extra cover off Tendai Chatara to close out the 18th over, but the more impressive shots came over fine leg. Zimbabwe stacked the off side and tried to go full and wide to Suryakumar. The batter, though, kept throwing his front leg away to the offside, sometimes as far as the wide markers on the crease. Then he swept two of those balls with such immense power as to almost defy physics, all the way over the fine-leg boundary.Last ball of the innings was another wide full toss, but because fine leg was back for this, Suryakumar went with more of a scoop, shovelling it over his left shoulder, the ball carrying just over the rope once again.Rahul gets India humming
It had been Rahul who did most to give Suryakumar the platform, though. Having batted out a maiden against Richard Ngarava first up, he hit a six way over deep square leg midway through Ngarava’s next over, and seemed in good touch from then on.There were two more sixes, both down the ground, the second of which brought up his half-century. But in between, plenty of smart running, particularly in the company of Virat Kohli.Ryan Burl and Sikandar Raza added 60 off 35 balls for the sixth wicket but never really threatened•Getty Images

Zimbabwe’s brief squeeze
Despite Rahul’s fifty, Zimbabwe did launch a fightback, between the 12th and 15th overs. Williams first got Kohli out, having him caught at long-off. Next over, Raza dismissed Rahul, slowing the ball up, and having him give a high catch to long-off again, when Rahul had tried to repeat the six that had taken him past fifty, previous ball.The third wicket was down to an outstanding running catch from Burl, who was at long-on to left-hander Rishabh Pant. Pant nailed one flat and hard off the bowling of Williams, but Burl sprinted full tilt along the boundary to get both hands to it, completing the catch with a dive.India’s quicks blast out Zimbabwe’s top order
After India had hit 83 runs off the last six overs of their innings, India’s seamers made a Zimbabwe win all but impossible inside the powerplay. A late-swinging Bhuvneshwar delivery was almost middled by Wessly Madhevere, but not far away from Kohli at short cover, who took a sharp catch diving low to his right.Next over, Arshdeep swung one through the defences of Regis Chakabva. Then late in the powerplay, Williams slashed one to deep third. When Hardik Pandya had Craig Ervine caught and bowled in the seventh over, and Shami nailed Tony Munyonga in front the over after that, the road was too steep.Even Burl and Raza’s excellent stand never really threatened.

Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry also slam fifties, while Gaby Lewis’ 83 proves insufficient for the visitors in Gros Islet

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jun-2023Captain Hayley Matthews’ all-round show where she scored 109 and followed it up with a three-wicket burst helped West Indies ease to a 58-run win over Ireland in the opening women’s ODI in Gros Islet.Batting first, the hosts lost debutant Zaida James cheaply, but Matthews and Stafanie Taylor brought out their experience to shepherd the innings after a slow start. The duo added a 156-run stand off 153 balls for the second wicket.Matthews was the aggressor as she reached her half-century off 53 balls and picked up the pace after reaching the landmark. It did not take her long to breach the three-figure mark, reaching there in 96 balls, with the help of nine fours and two sixes. Taylor reached her fifty off 62 balls but fell soon after for 55 to legspinner Cara Murray.Taylor’s wicket produced an opening for Ireland, with West Indies losing 3 for 6 in ten balls, but Chinelle Henry came in and slammed an unbeaten 37-ball 53, her innings laced with seven fours as West Indies reached a formidable 297 for 6. Murray was Ireland’s most successful bowler, picking up three wickets.Ireland were circumspect in the chase, only managing 35 runs in the powerplay. Opener Gaby Lewis held the innings together, adding a 67-run stand with Orla Prendergast (37) for the second wicket and following it up with a 71-run partnership with captain Laura Delany (40).Matthews then struck with the ball, too, taking out Lewis for 83 before removing Delany. None of the other batters could put up much of a fight as Ireland finished on 239 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs. Matthews finished with 3 for 53 in her ten overs, while Afy Fletcher and Qiana Joseph chipped in with two wickets apiece. Matthews was named Player of the Match for her all-round effort.

It is understood that Haider was arrested in Beckenham where the Shaheens were playing

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Aug-2025Haider Ali has been arrested by the Greater Manchester Police on suspicion of rape and bailed pending further enquiries. The Pakistan batter, who was with the Shaheens squad, the de facto ‘A’ team on a tour against of England, remains in the UK. A Shaheens squad, which includes a number of players on the England tour, has flown to Australia to take part in a multi-team T20 series. Haider was part of the squad due to go to Australia, and has been replaced by allrounder Mohammad Faiq”After receiving a report on Monday 4 August 2025 of a rape, we have arrested a 24-year-old man,” a statement from Greater Manchester Police confirmed to ESPNcricinfo. “It’s alleged that the incident occurred on Wednesday 23 July 2025 at a premises in Manchester. The man has since been bailed pending further enquiries. The victim is being supported by officers.”It is understood that Haider was arrested in Beckenham where the Shaheens were playing the last of their five games of the tour. Haider played each of the five games, including the first two on 22 and 25 July, between which the incident he was arrested for is alleged to have occurred in Manchester on 23 July. The offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment in the UK.Related

• Manchester police drop all charges against Haider Ali

• Haider Ali under criminal investigation in the UK, suspended by the PCB

On Thursday, the PCB issued a statement confirming Haider was under criminal investigation in the UK and suspended him pending the results of that investigation. It affirmed that the board “fully respects the legal procedures and processes of the UK” and were providing the player with legal support.Haider, 24, has played two ODIs and 35 T20Is for Pakistan. Initially feted as a destructive power hitter, his reputation burnished with standout performances in the PSL with Peshawar Zalmi in 2020, when he scored 239 runs at a strike rate of over 157. He was called up to the national side later that year, his international debut coming in a T20I game in Manchester, where he scored a 33-ball 54 as Pakistan won by five runs.Inconsistency has dogged him since, and he has repeatedly found himself in and out of the side. However, his talent and explosiveness have kept him in international contention, and the current Shaheens tour was widely viewed as an opportunity to reintegrate a player whose batting approach aligns with the aggressive style Pakistan’s current T20 set-up has made no secret they want to pursue.The PCB has said that they intend to make no further public comment until legal proceedings are complete.

Her mother and daughter will now stay at a hotel outside the CWG village

Umar Farooq12-May-2022Pakistan Women’s captain Bismah Maroof’s infant daughter, Fatima, has been denied accreditation to access the Commonwealth Games village. As a result, Maroof was deliberating over her participation in the event, which is to be held from July 25 to August 8 in Birmingham. But ESPNcricinfo understands she will travel for the games, with her daughter and mother, who will take care of Fatima, staying at a hotel outside the village.It has been learnt that the PCB had asked the CWG Federation for two extra accreditations to accommodate Maroof’s mother and daughter in the village. In response, the federation asked the PCB to remove two personnel from their allowed 22-member travelling contingent, which includes officials as well. But the PCB stated that it was in no position to omit any players or officials from the touring party.ESPNcricinfo has written to the Games’ media department for the official version of their parental policy but they were yet to respond at the time of this story being published.Related

• Bismah to lead unchanged squad for Ireland tri-series, Commonwealth Games

• The little big hit! Bismah Maroof's daughter steals the show after intense India-Pakistan contest

• PCB announce year-long calendar for women's cricket, revive U-19 domestic tournament

Maroof had recently travelled to New Zealand for the 2022 Women’s World Cup with her daughter and mother. The PCB’s maternity policy allows a mother “to travel with a support person of her choice to assist in caring for her infant child”, with travel and accommodation costs shared equally between the board and the player.The PCB has also confirmed that Maroof will continue to lead the national team for the 2022-23 season. Pakistan are set to play 25 matches this season, starting with the home series against Sri Lanka in Karachi, which gets underway from May 24. After that, the team will head for Belfast to play a triangular T20I series against Ireland and Australia from July 12 to 24. This will be immediately followed by the Commonwealth Games.”I want to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board for its immense support throughout my career and especially in helping me strike the right work-life balance after the birth of Fatima,” Maroof said. “There was a time when I contemplated giving up on my passion of playing cricket, but the PCB ensured it never came to that with the introduction of the maternity policy, which has made the game as inclusive as it can be for the women in our country. I also want to thank my family and especially my husband, Abrar, who has been a great support throughout my career and has provided me encouragement to continue to play for Pakistan.”Maroof was handed the T20I captaincy in 2016, replacing Sana Mir and was named the ODI captain after the 2017 World Cup. Last April, Maroof had taken an indefinite maternity leave, and the PCB’s new parental policy helped her return to cricket and captaincy earlier this year.On being retained as captain for the 2022-23 season, Maroof said: “It is truly an honour for any cricketer to captain their country and it is a great privilege for me to continue in this role. The 2022-23 cricket season is the busiest for Pakistan Women’s side and we are excited and geared up for the challenges it presents. Every match in the upcoming season is important for us as a team as bilateral ODIs will determine whether we qualify for the next ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and the T20Is provide us opportunities to prepare for the all-important T20 World Cup in February next year.”

Seamer moves north after building impressive record over four seasons in Canterbury

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jul-2022Yorkshire have made their first domestic signing under new management after Matt Milnes agreed a three-year deal which will see him join from Kent.A number of players will leave the club this year: Steven Patterson announced on Thursday evening that he had been told he would leave at the end of the season and stood down from the club captaincy, while David Willey and Tom Kohler-Cadmore have already confirmed moves to Northamptonshire and Somerset respectively.But the signing of Milnes, who has impressed across formats for Kent since his move from Nottinghamshire in 2018, serves as a vote of confidence in Yorkshire’s new regime. That has been led by Ottis Gibson, who was brought in as head coach ahead of this season after the mass staff sackings which followed Azeem Rafiq’s allegations of an institutionally racist culture at the club during his time as a player.”We are delighted to have signed a top-quality player in Matthew Milnes,” Darren Gough, Yorkshire’s interim director of cricket, said. “He’s a very skilful fast bowler who will add some great competition to the group of seamers that we have here at Yorkshire.”He’s shown what he can do with a red ball, and we are confident he will be a force within our Championship side, as well as offering another great option to our white-ball teams.”We have seen this year the importance of having a good group of fast bowlers, with the schedule meaning rest and rotation is required for them at times to keep everyone as fresh as possible and avoid injuries.”Milnes said: “I have had four happy and successful seasons with Kent, and I will always be grateful to Paul Downton, Matt Walker and my team-mates for their support over the years.”It was a tough decision, but this feels like the right time to embrace a new challenge. I am excited by the prospect of joining Yorkshire and working with Ottis and his coaching staff. Hopefully, this will help me improve and push on to higher levels.”

Their 232-run stand helped Saurashtra recover from 92 for 3 and go into day four trailing by just 43 runs

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Feb-2023A fourth-wicket partnership of 232 between centurions Sheldon Jackson (160) and captain Arpit Vasavada (112*) spearheaded Saurashtra’s charge in their Ranji Trophy semi-final against Karnataka in Bengaluru.After scoring 407, achieved mainly due to Mayank Agarwal’s marathon 248, Karnataka had Saurashtra wobbling at 92 for 3 half hour into play on the third day. Then, they ran into Jackson and Vasavada, who battled for a better part of the day to run them ragged. Saurashtra ended day three on 364 for 4, trailing by just 43 runs.Vasavada has Chirag Jani (19*) for company in their quest to take the lead. With just two days remaining, Saurashtra will fancy their chances of entering their second final in three seasons given they bat till No. 10. The pitch hasn’t deteriorated as much as Karnataka’s bowlers would’ve liked, and the swing and seam movement that was on offer for much of the first day has given way to easier batting conditions since.Harvik Desai fell in the fifth over of play when he was struck plumb in front by V Koushik for 33. That was the only bit of joy for Karnataka in the first two sessions as Jackson counterattacked at every available opportunity. At the other end, Vasavada, who was hit on the helmet on nought and then had to be cleared for concussion, took his time to get his eye in before opening up to play some wonderful shots, especially against spin.Particularly impressive was his ability to step out and hit against the turn off Gowtham. Jackson fell for 160 with an hour to go for stumps when he played back to a sharp-turner from Gowtham that kept low to strike him in front of middle.By then, he’d defied Karnataka’s attack, scoreboard pressure, serious sledging, a bump-catch appeal that the hosts celebrated and some cramps on a moderately hot day to put Saurashtra in a commanding position.

Worcestershire trail by 392 runs as Ben Raine adds 71 for hosts before showers force early close

ECB Reporters Network14-Apr-2023Worcestershire 96 for 2 (Pollock 41, Libby 19*, Potts 2-41) trail Durham 425 for 9 dec (Bedingham 118, Raine 71, Lees 70, Gibbon 4-92) by 329 runsTwo wickets from Matthew Potts allowed Durham to make inroads into the Worcestershire batting line-up before rain ended day two prematurely in their LV= Insurance County Championship Division Two clash at Seat Unique Riverside.The home side posted 425 for 9 declared in their first innings after Ben Raine scored an impressive 71 to build on David Bedingham’s century and Alex Lees’ knock of 70 from day one, securing four batting bonus points to the total.Ed Pollock got the Worcestershire reply off to a blistering start, scoring 41 from just 26 balls before he was bowled by Potts. The England seamer produced a timely peach to remove Azhar Ali just before the close, signalling that he is well prepared to fill the void of Chris Rushworth’s departure. The visitors will resume day three 329 runs behind with eight first-innings wickets in hand.Resuming on 363 for 7, Durham were in need of further runs to shore up their exploits from day one. Raine continued his rich vein of form against Worcestershire following on from his century in the contest between the two sides at the Riverside last season. He sent a cut through backward point to the boundary to register his 14th fifty in first-class cricket.Raine and Paul Coughlin tormented Worcestershire with a record-breaking stand of 213 last season, and proved to be a thorn in their side again by reaching their century stand, securing the fourth batting bonus point for Durham in the process. There was no repeat of their mammoth effort as Coughlin fell for 42 and Raine was caught on the fence before Scott Borthwick declared.Pollock displayed no appetite to see out play until lunch as he unleashed an assault against the new ball. The left-hander bludgeoned nine boundaries to bring up the visitors’ fifty in the sixth over. The ferocity of Pollock’s innings fired up Potts and the England seamer took delight in dismantling his stumps for an entertaining 26-ball knock of 41.Azhar and Jake Libby were more sedate in their approach as the sunshine was gradually replaced by cloud cover. The elements allowed Potts, Raine and Coughlin to control the run rate while beating the bat on several occasions. It appeared as though Durham’s search for a breakthrough would end in frustration as the rain closed in.Azhar was put down by Ollie Robinson for 29 down the leg-side in a rare error from the gloveman. However, his reprieve lasted only two balls before Potts pinned the former Pakistan international lbw just before rain ended the day’s proceedings early.

Statement from the Afghanistan board comes after Cricket Australia postponed a bilateral series for the third time

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Mar-2024The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has expressed its “disappointment” over Cricket Australia (CA) postponing yet another scheduled bilateral series between the two sides.”The ACB urges the Australian government not to impose its policies on cricket boards, and instead focus on supporting the development of cricket across regions”, the statement said. “ACB’s top management had previously engaged in negotiations with Cricket Australia, and proposed exploring alternative solutions instead of publicly announcing withdrawals.”The latest development came on Tuesday when, after consultations with the Australian government, CA announced that Australia wouldn’t be taking part in the three-match T20I series at a neutral venue because of “a marked deterioration in human rights for women and girls” in Afghanistan.Related

• 'Can cricket solve those issues?' – Rashid to reconsider playing BBL over CA stance on Afghanistan

• CA postpones T20I series over 'human rights' issues

• CA withdraws from scheduled ODIs against Afghanistan

• Cricket Australia confirms postponement of Afghanistan Test

This is the third time Australia have pulled out of bilateral engagements with Afghanistan, even though the series were inked into the ICC’s future tours programme.Australia’s reasons, like on previous occasions, had to do with human rights issues in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover of the country’s government: they had earlier postponed the first Test between the teams in 2021 and an ODI series in 2023.The ACB statement mentioned that the now-postponed T20I series “was approved by the ICC in the presence of the CA delegation, who had agreed to the fixtures at the time”. In the strongly worded statement, the ACB urged “Cricket Australia to respect and understand its position as a Full Member nation, and look for alternative solutions rather than succumbing to external pressures and/or political influences”.The board reiterated its stance “on neutral and politics-free cricket across the globe”, and said it was even open to negotiations to ensure cricket remained “free from political influence”.

Twin spinners undo resistance of Lammonby, Goldsworthy as Somerset face tough final day

ECB Reporters Network14-Apr-2024Half-centuries from Lewis Goldsworthy and Tom Lammonby could not prevent Surrey from squeezing Somerset into near-submission at the Kia Oval, where the champions will be pressing for a first win of the new Vitality County Championship season on the final day.Goldsworthy made 58 and Lammonby 51 to add to his first-day century, but at stumps Somerset were only 61 runs ahead at 204 for six in their second innings, with Dan Lawrence picking up three for 45. Surrey had earlier reached 428 in their first innings, after resuming already 73 runs to the good at 358 for six.It was the spin of Lawrence and Cameron Steel which did the initial damage for Surrey, with Lawrence having Sean Dickson well held behind his pads by keeper Ben Foakes for nought with just his second ball after being given the new ball alongside Jordan Clark in a three-over pre-lunch mini-session.Lawrence’s offspin also accounted for Matt Renshaw, leg-before for 16 as he aimed a sweep from well across in front of his stumps. And, after a 58-run third wicket stand between Lammonby and Goldsworthy, the legbreaks of Steel provided further breakthroughs for Surrey in a lengthy spell by the 28-year-old from the Pavilion End either side of tea.First he had Lammonby leg-before as he propped forward defensively and then Tom Banton, on 11, top-edged a cut to lob up a comfortable catch to Lawrence at backward point. Steel took two for 53 from his 21 overs.It was Lawrence again who claimed Somerset’s fifth wicket, turning one to take the edge of James Rew’s bat to have the young left-hander superbly-held at boot level by Jamie Overton at slip for 22.Goldsworthy’s 131-ball resistance was finally ended by Gus Atkinson’s pace and a thin edge through to Foakes and Somerset might have lost a seventh wicket when Kasey Aldridge, on nought, was dropped by Overton at slip off Lawrence despite a juggle with the ball after it had hit his wrist as he dived to his left.At stumps, however, Aldridge had moved on to 20 and Somerset captain Lewis Gregory was also still there on 23 not out. The seventh-wicket pair have put on a creditable 42 so far, although Surrey remain heavy favourites to wrap up victory.Surrey had earlier taken 24.2 overs to add a further 70 runs to their overnight score, with the whole-hearted Aldridge picking up three of the last four remaining wickets to finish with deserved figures of five for 64.Clark was unlucky to be strangled down the legside on 13, in the day’s sixth over, and Steel – who resumed on 35 – was brilliantly held by a leaping Lammonby at gully as he cut hard at paceman Aldridge.Overton and Atkinson added 40 for the ninth wicket before Atkinson (15) was caught off Migael Pretorius aiming something violent and Overton’s useful 35 came to an end when he under-edged a pull into his own stumps.