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Focusing fully on the cricket and not the external hype becomes all the more important for Pakistan, given they really need points on the board

Andrew Fidel Fernando22-Feb-20252:40

Aaqib: Naseem, Shaheen, Rauf remind me of troika from 90s

India vs Pakistan matches will always be passionate affairs. But for Pakistan’s players, this is just another opportunity to do the cricketing things they train to do as professionals. The hype, Pakistan’s coach Aaqib Javed feels, is external.”For the cricketers, this is a profession,” Aaqib said. “For them, it definitely is an honour. But, it is a profession. You try your best. In that, you sometimes lose as well. It is a match… one team will win, one will lose. How does it matter? Why so much pressure? Every game is different.”In a Pakistan-India game, the energy will remain high. And this is the beauty of this contest. What does the crowd do? When you play well, the crowd supports you, they clap their hands. When you play poorly, be it India or Pakistan, the home crowd will go against you. As a player, you shouldn’t keep the crowd in mind. We never kept it and neither should these players. What’s your focus? Ball, bat – that’s it.”Related

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Focusing fully on the cricket and not the external hype becomes all the more important for Pakistan, given, after their opening-day loss to New Zealand, they really need points on the board.There is also particular focus on this game, because although Pakistan are the official hosts, they have had to travel to Dubai, where India have set up camp, and have already played a match. There have been suggestions that it is India who are enjoying the closest thing to home advantage in this scenario. But Aaqib played those suggestions down.”There’s no advantage [for India] at all, because if you look at all the Pakistani players, they have been playing leagues here,” Aaqib said. “The PSL has been played here. So there’s nothing really – there’s no advantage or disadvantage.” Not to forget, nearly all of Pakistan’s home fixtures were played in the UAE between 2009 and 2019.The surface in Dubai is expected to play slower and lower than those in Pakistan, partly because the ILT20 was played here over the past six weeks. Very few of the strips on the square are fresh.”We also have to see the pitch and the ground here,” Aaqib said. “Are these similar to the one we have in Pakistan or are they different? We will play in accordance with the pitches, conditions and the opposition team.”

Nabi, 39, is Afghanistan’s highest capped ODI cricketer and has been a constant since their debut in the format in 2009

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Nov-2024Afghanistan allrounder Mohammad Nabi has said he wants to retire from the ODI format after the Champions Trophy 2025. Nabi revealed his plans at the end of the ODI series against Bangladesh in the UAE, while claiming his Player-of-the-Series award in Afghanistan’s 2-1 series victory.”In my mind, from the last World Cup, I was retired but then we qualified for the Champions Trophy and I felt if I could play that, it would be great,” Nabi told the host broadcaster after the third ODI.It is understood he has communicated the decision to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and will continue playing T20Is. To the ACB media team, he said: “We will see, but no, I will not play for long. God willing, after the Champions Trophy, we will say goodbye to the ODIs.”With 167 appearances in the format, Nabi is Afghanistan’s highest-capped ODI cricketer and the current World No. 1 ODI allrounder according to the ICC rankings.He has represented Afghanistan ever since their debut ODI against Scotland in 2009. With the bat, his 3600 ODI runs puts him at second on the list of Afghanistan’s highest run-getters. He has also hit 17 fifties and two centuries at 27.48. As an offspinner, he has 172 wickets, the second-highest for Afghanistan, at an average of 32.47.The 2025 Champions Trophy will be Afghanistan’s maiden appearance at the event. They made the cut by virtue of finishing sixth at the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. The eight-team Champions Trophy features the top seven teams from the latest ODI World Cup, along with hosts Pakistan.In both T20Is and ODIs, Nabi has been a constant in Afghanistan’s rise up the ranks that culminated in ODI, T20I and Test recognition. He was ODI captain in Afghanistan’s maiden 50-over World Cup appearance in 2015, and featured in the 2019 and 2023 editions too. He retired from Tests in 2019.

The India bowling coach also heaped praise on Akash Deep and why conditions in the UK suited his style

Sidharth Monga05-Jul-2025

Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep were the wreckers-in-chief•BCCI

India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel was full of praise for Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, who have taken 13 wickets between them to give India a great chance to level the five-match series 1-1.India need seven wickets on the final day after setting England 608 and taking three wickets in the 16 overs possible on the fourth evening. That India have done so in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah has pleased Morkel even more.”Very, very happy so far,” Morkel said. “We had a deep or good discussion after the last Test in terms of areas we want to improve on, and I think we’ve done that. So that’s a pleasing sign from a growing bowling attack, missing one of their most experienced players so they can react to those sort of things.”Related

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Siraj went the whole Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 on green surfaces without a five-for, but picked his first five-wicket haul in England on perhaps the flattest pitch India have encountered in the country this century. Morkel said it was just rewards for all the good bowling in the intervening matches between five-fors.”Siraj is a guy that I’ve got a lot of respect for,” Morkel said. “He’s a guy that always will push his body to the limits. I think sometimes the guilty part of him is trying too hard so for us. It’s about managing that sort of aggression and managing that intensity because he really bowls with his heart on his sleeve. I think sometimes those sort of things can give you that inconsistency.”In a match that he’s now the leader of the attack, he got the wickets, but for me in terms of effort and energy and with a sore body, he’s always done and will put his hand up, and he wants to bowl that over. I don’t think sometimes we give him enough credit for that.”Akash Deep’s line of attack, Morkel said, gave India the potency in brief windows of the new ball doing something. “He is an attacking bowler that asks questions, bowling at the stumps a lot,” Morkel said. “I think that’s one of the golden rules here in England: asking questions on the stumps. So for these sort of conditions in the UK, it suits his style. And coming back from injury and seeing him running in with high pace, it’s a nice sign for us.”That was a dream delivery… top quality player Joe Root and to dismiss him in that fashion just shows the quality of Akash, what he can do. I think he is also a guy like all of us. The more confidence you give him, almost like there’s a little bit more energy behind the ball and hopefully that delivery he will play over in his phone tonight, and then bring a couple more of those tomorrow.”Akash Deep left Ben Duckett’s stumps in a mess•Getty Images

However, Morkel did say it was not going to be easy as the pitch has responded only to the new ball, and the older ball has gone dramatically soft. “Your skill really gets tested on a surface like that,” Morkel said. “The margin for error is a lot smaller. Obviously, that’s nipping around a little bit now, but it’s going to be a challenge for us tomorrow.”In the first innings, India – having taken five wickets already – tried to buy a wicket with the short ball telegraphed, but Morkel felt this pitch was more about testing the stumps and going short only as a surprise.”For me personally on this sort of surface, you want to set a field where you can still have both options: using the short ball and try and nick a guy off,” Morkel said. “I think at times when you get too predictable, it can be a little bit easier to score because the surface is slow. But remember both those batters are attacking batters. They were going to take it on, and credit to Shubman, he took a gamble there for a couple of overs to potentially get a wicket. England at the time was 80 for 5. So to chase another wicket there, there’s no harm in that.”I thought we moved slightly away from our plans in the first innings, and in a way also with runs on the board you want to go take a couple of more risks but tomorrow for us it’s just going to be asking those questions on a good length because we know as the ball gets a little bit softer it is harder to strike.”The ease with which India were batting in the third innings and still scoring at five an over led India to what many might think is a conservative declaration. Morkel said it was more about how much time they wanted to bowl for rather than being spooked by England’s approach of late.

The opener made 155 out of a second innings total of 291 to leave Victoria a testing target

AAP10-Feb-2025Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield pacesetter Jake Weatherald blazed another big century to put the heat on Victoria ahead of a final-day run chase in Hobart.The hosts began their second innings 22 runs behind Victoria, but the former South Australian opener turned the tables with a blazing 155 off 212 balls on Monday as Tasmania made 291.Related

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Victoria, second on the Shield ladder with three rounds remaining, were 55 for 2 at stumps They need a further 215 to deny the last-placed Tasmania just their second win in the seventh match of the season.Weatherald found some support from Jake Doran and debutant No. 9 Raf MacMillan, whose bright innings came to an unfortunate end when he miscued a juicy Harry Dixon full toss.Weatherald clattered 20 boundaries in his innings, lathering drives through point and cover, and latching on to anything short with sweetly timed pull shots that sounded like cannons echoing around the Bellerive stands.He was the last man out, his crisp knock following 185 against Queensland in November to put him on top of the Shield run-scoring list this season.Opener Marcus Harris was an early casualty in the chase, trapped in front by Gabe Bell. Bell then dismissed Campbell Kellaway in similar fashion, Jon Merlo and Sam Elliott the unbeaten pair at stumps.

Midlands rivals complete the double with four-wicket win at Grace Road

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jul-2024Veteran allrounder Samit Patel tormented Leicestershire Foxes for the second time this Vitality Blast season as Derbyshire Falcons completed a double over their East Midlands neighbours in the North Group to lift their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals.The 39-year-old Falcons skipper, whose 64 was the difference when the sides met at Edgbaston at the start of the campaign, hit nine fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 67 as Derbyshire chased down 185 to win by four wickets with four balls to spare.Ben Cox hit four sixes in a 30-ball unbeaten 61 and Lewis Goldsworthy 48 from 41 as the Foxes finished strongly to post 184 for six. Former Leicestershire seamer Zak Chappell took three for 42 and Patel two for 27, with Pakistan left-arm quick Mohammad Amir wicketless on his Derbyshire debut.Derbyshire had been well ahead of the required rate by posting 64 in their batting powerplay but had lost three of their key batters. Luis Reece edged behind off Mike, who then held a good low catch in the deep to remove the dangerous Aneurin Donald. Tom Scriven marked his return from a six-week injury absence by bowling David Lloyd, each of the trio falling to the eighth ball they faced.Yet with fellow veteran Wayne Madsen (46) and Patel using their nous to find the gaps in the field, the Falcons were more than halfway to their target at 96 for three after 10.They put on 80 in nine and a half overs before Madsen smacked Hull straight to New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham on the cover boundary. When Mike had Ross Whiteley leg before for a golden duck in the next over, the outcome looked less certain with 52 still needed off 33 balls.Brooke Guest was caught off a top edge to give 19-year-old Sam Wood his first senior wicket but there was no pinning down Patel, who continued to find the rope as the last over arrived with the scores level, Chappell hitting the winning boundary.Earlier, Patel had seen a quick reward for deciding to field first as the Foxes lost three wickets for 45 in the powerplay, with early indications that taking the pace off would be an effective tactic.Chappell, hit for two fours and a six, responded by bowling Sol Budinger with a slower ball and held another one back a touch to similarly dismiss Rishi Patel, with Paul Stirling run out in between, his first innings for the Foxes ended by Madsen’s direct hit from midwicket.The home side slipped to 78 for five by the 11th over. Neesham’s first innings as a Leicestershire player encompassed a stumping chance survived off Alex Thomson before he was bowled by Patel, with Louis Kimber following a big six over the leg side by hitting the left-arm spinner’s next ball down straight to long off.But Goldsworthy and Cox sensibly gave themselves time to get the measure of the pitch and their 48 off four and a half overs until the former was caught on the cover boundary created an opportunity for Cox to attack in the last four overs.He had some luck on 10, his first attempt to clear the ropes dropped by Thomson, who lost the ball in the sun, but cashed in by hammering four sixes in the last four overs, scoring 44 of the 58 runs added.

Seven Derbyshire bowlers share the wickets around on turning Wantage Road pitch

ECB Reporters Network09-Sep-2024Saif Zaib hit a battling 90 off 144 balls to lead a Northamptonshire fightback after a top-order collapse on the opening day of this Vitality Championship match against Derbyshire at Wantage Road.Zaib found fine support from Justin Broad in a partnership of 73 in 19 overs which enabled the hosts to post 219, a score that had looked extremely unlikely at 89 for 6 soon after lunch.For only the second time in Derbyshire history all seven bowlers used took a wicket, Zak Chappell, Martin Andersson and Jack Morley taking two apiece. Luis Reece and Brooke Guest then saw the visitors through to 65 for 1 at the close, trailing by 154 runs, Broad taking the one wicket to fall.Playing on the same surface used for last Thursday’s Vitality Blast quarter-final and one expected to offer turn, the hosts opted to bat first in overcast conditions after winning the toss. Playing with a rejigged batting line-up, the gamble seemed not to have paid off as wickets tumbled although Northamptonshire’s spinners would have drawn encouragement from the turn found by their Derbyshire counterparts.India international Prithvi Shaw was first to go when he edged the second delivery of the day from Chappell to third slip, the bowler’s 50th first-class wicket for Derbyshire. Home skipper Luke Procter, who played two textbook drives through mid-off, was then trapped leg before wicket by Reece before Gus Miller, promoted to open, was undone by an Andersson delivery which swung back in to also pin him lbw.Rob Keogh’s stay was equally brief, Andersson moving one away and drawing the edge, keeper Guest taking an excellent diving catch.James Sales played some attacking shots, slapping Andersson through the covers and smashing Reece over the head of mid-off for another boundary. His was the fifth wicket to fall before lunch though when he drove loosely to Chappell and was caught low down at third slip by Aneurin Donald.Lewis McManus started positively after lunch, driving Chappell down the pitch for four but became teenage quick Harry Moore’s maiden first-class wicket on Championship debut, courtesy of a pull straight to fine leg.That brought together Zaib and Broad together who began to restore a measure of respectability to the hosts’ innings. Zaib worked Reece through square leg for four before lunch and eased into a glorious cover drive off Moore after the interval, while Broad drove Chappell down the ground and punched him through the covers as Northamptonshire passed 100 in the 37th over.As Derbyshire deployed spin from both ends, Alex Thomson immediately found some turn to pose Broad some challenges before the allrounder swept him to the ropes. Zaib meanwhile also found the sweep an increasingly lucrative bet against the spinners.The pair took Northamptonshire past 150 up in the 50th over before Morley spun one away from Broad, drawing the edge with David Lloyd taking a good low catch at second slip. Ben Sanderson fell quickly in the next over, offering short leg an easy catch when he prodded forward against Thomson.Zaib though progressed serenely to his half-century, reaching the milestone off 100 deliveries as he played Thomson through midwicket. He survived a strong shout for a catch at short leg off Morley when the umpires adjudged the ball had been hit into the ground first. Zaib responded by dispatching Morley imperiously over long-off for six and powering Thomson through extra cover.But Morley then picked up a second wicket when he turned one back in to hit Dom Leech’s leg stump as he attempted to sweep.With Northamptonshire nine wickets down, Zaib pressed the accelerator, clubbing Morley’s left-armers through mid-off and then sweeping him high over deep square for four and six. His downfall finally came was stumped coming down the pitch to Lloyd.When Derbyshire began their innings after tea, Sanderson bowled a typically miserly spell from one end, Broad making the initial breakthrough from the other. He found some additional bounce from back of a length, surprising Harry Came who was caught on the crease, fending fended the ball to Sales who took a good low catch at second slip.Reece meanwhile started to find the boundary, cutting Broad crisply to deep point, while he and Guest both pulled Yuzvendra Chahal fluently for boundaries as Derbyshire finished the session without further incident, despite some strong appeals from the hosts’ spin contingent.

Ben Cox makes defiant 70 on return to New Road but old team-mates have the final say

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Jul-2025Worcestershire Rapids delivered a complete performance with bat and ball to secure an impressive six-wicket victory over Leicestershire Foxes at Visit Worcestershire New Road, keeping their quarter-final hopes alive heading into the final round of fixtures.Chasing a target of 174, the Rapids timed their pursuit to perfection, anchored by a stunning, unbeaten 56 from Ethan Brookes, his clean ball-striking and composure under pressure proving the decisive factor.The all-rounder arrived with the match finely poised at 134 for 4 and accelerated superbly through the closing overs, hitting five sixes and four boundaries in just 28 balls to seal the win with 13 deliveries to spare.The chase was set up by a positive start from Isaac Mohammed and Brett D’Oliveira, who added 50 for the first wicket inside the power-play.Though both openers departed in quick succession, Gareth Roderick’s punchy 26 from 13 balls kept the tempo up and ensured the Rapids never lost control of the required rate.When Kashif Ali fell for 16 in the 15th over, there was a flicker of opportunity for the Foxes.But Brookes, alongside a composed Henry Cullen (18 not out off 12), ensured there would be no further stumble, launching a fearless assault on the Leicestershire attack.Earlier in the day, Worcestershire’s bowlers had combined well after the Foxes opted to bat first. Tom Taylor was the standout, picking up 3 for 25 in an outstanding spell that dismantled the top order and removed both openers inside two overs.The Foxes were reduced to 5 for 2, and when Rehan Ahmed was dismissed for 32, they had stumbled to 59 for 4 inside eight overs.Former Worcestershire wicketkeeper Ben Cox, however, produced a determined recovery.The Foxes wicketkeeper played with authority and placement en route to a defiant 70 not out off 44 balls, guiding his side to a competitive total.His partnerships with Louis Kimber (32) and Tom Scriven (9*) helped stabilise the innings, but the Rapids’ bowlers held their nerve well at the death. Ben Dwarshuis, Khurram Shahzad, and Adam Finch each picked up a wicket, and boundaries were largely kept in check after the 15th over.Despite Cox’s efforts, Leicestershire’s total of 173 for 6 always felt slightly under-par on a quick-scoring surface, and Worcestershire’s clinical response with the bat proved just that.The win keeps the Rapids back in the mix in the North Group standings ahead of the final round of fixtures, with one of their most complete performances of the campaign so far.

McSweeney is firmly in the mix and has a chance to make his Test debut, having made an excellent start to Sheffield Shield

Tristan Lavalette30-Oct-20241:00

Bailey: Bancroft’s consistency will count for something

Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney says he is confident of fronting up to the new ball and opening the batting in the first Test against India if the selectors go down the route of a non-specialist.The race to partner Usman Khawaja has seemingly come down to back-to-back four-day matches between Australia A and India A. Former Test openers Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris are set to open the batting in the first match in Mackay starting on Thursday, while teenaged prodigy Sam Konstas is also in the squad.Even though he bats at No. 3 for South Australia, McSweeney is firmly in the mix and has a chance to make his Test debut, having made an excellent start to the Sheffield Shield season with scores of 55, 127 not out, 37 and 72.Related

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McSweeney, 25, has built on his form from last season where he scored 762 runs at 40.10, including three centuries, in mostly tough batting conditions. Only three players in the competition scored more runs for the season.He has been touted as a future Test captain underlined by his appointment as Australian A skipper, a role he has fulfilled several times previously. McSweeney has also led the Prime Minister’s XI once, as well as captaining the Brisbane Heat to last season’s BBL title.McSweeney’s form and highly-regarded leadership credentials – his tactical nous has impressed observers in his debut season as South Australia captain – have proved compelling for the national selectors who are left pondering if he can step up into the unfamiliar role of opening.”I think I’m playing probably the best cricket I have, batting No. 3 for South Australia, and pretty much my whole career,” McSweeney told reporters in Mackay.”It’s not too dissimilar to opening. I feel like you can be in there the first over of the game. All my preparation is with the new ball, so I feel like my game’s ready.Nathan McSweeney is coming off scores of 55, 127 not out, 37 and 72•Getty Images

“Hopefully I can get an opportunity. If not, I’ll keep trying to get better. What will be, will be.”McSweeney was tight-lipped over his position in Australia A’s batting order, but he will likely stay in his customary role at No. 3.”I’m quite clear where I’m batting for this game. It’s a great honour to play for Australia and I’m happy to bat wherever,” he said. “Hopefully I can take my opportunity batting where I do. I’m not sure what’s going to happen in the next game, so the selectors will pick that.”I think being talked about playing for your country is a great honour….try and embrace the chat. All I can do is prepare as best I can and prepare the other boys.”There are so many guys that are playing well and hopefully we can all take it [the opportunities] and make it really hard for the selectors.”While the national focus has been absorbed with this so-called ‘bat-off’, set to reach almost fanatical levels in Mackay and the MCG, Australia A will be pitted against a talented India A line-up in a contest to be played in the humid conditions of northeast Queensland.India A boasts several Test squad members, including 21-year-old allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, looking to acclimatise to Australian conditions and start the tour strongly.”It will be nice to play those guys. We only see them on TV [in the IPL], for me personally,” McSweeney said. “The wicket looks great, I don’t think it will be too toss dependent. I think with the bat and the ball, they’ve got some great players.”We’ll need to be at our best and hopefully we can put in a good performance and get the win for Australia A.”

Seales picked up six wickets, Motie scored a fighting 45 but it was not enough for the hosts

Firdose Moonda17-Aug-2024South Africa secured a 10th successive Test series win against West Indies, and earned a vital second win in the World Test Championship 2023-25, with a hard-fought 40-run victory in Guyana. In the process, Keshav Maharaj became the most successful spinner in their Test history with 171 wickets, including five in this match and 13 in the series. His success eclipsed an exceptional effort from Jayden Seales, who took 12 wickets across the two matches and a career-best 6 for 61 in South Africa’s second innings in Guyana.Seales ensured West Indies were left with a gettable, but tough, target of 263 and their chase had all the makings of a classic. They slumped to 104 for 6, before a 77-run stand between hometown hero Gudakesh Motie and Joshua Da Silva put them within sight of a historic victory. Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada, South Africa’s two most reliable bowlers on the tour, denied the hosts despite a fighting effort from the tail.In a series that was tough for batters with no centuries across the two Tests, no West Indian got a second-innings half-century and they had only one partnership above fifty in the match. In contrast, two South African batters got fifties in the second innings and had three half-century stands in the match. The 63-run tenth-wicket stand between Dane Piedt and Nandre Burger in the first innings proved decisive too.Overall, it was a series for the bowlers, who benefitted from a surface that was tough for run-scoring in Trinidad and a venue with swing, seam movement and good bounce in Guyana. Shamar Joseph enjoyed his first home Test with 5 for 33 in the first innings but a collective effort from South Africa’s attack gave them the edge where it mattered the most.Wiaan Mulder and Kyle Verreynne forged a solid partnership•AFP/Getty Images

Wiaan Mulder, operating as the third seamer and sole seam-bowling allrounder, took six wickets in the Test, scored an important 34 in the second innings and shared in an 85-run sixth-wicket partnership with Kyle Verreynne to set up South Africa’s win. His contributions mitigated some of the questions over South Africa’s team composition. They were a bowler short in Trinidad and a batter short in Guyana but found a way to defend a total on a surface that was only three days old and improved for batting.Set 263, West Indies lost Mikyle Louis in the fifth over when he pressed forward and edged Rabada to Mulder at third slip. Three overs later, Rabada thought he had a second when Kraig Braithwaite, on 17, was given out lbw but the West Indian captain reviewed and replays confirmed the impact was outside off. West Indies went to lunch on 43 for 1.Braithwaite only added eight runs before Mulder beat his inside edge and hit him on the knee roll. He was given out again and reviewed again, unsuccessfully. Mulder could have had Keacy Carty, on 17, in his next over when he sliced a wide ball to point but Mulder had overstepped. Three balls later, South Africa reviewed a Burger appeal for lbw to Alick Athanaze which was also outside the line and their frustration reached boiling point. It cooled when Carty chopped Mulder on without adding to his score and South Africa were back in it.Kavem Hodge met fire with fire and took on the short ball. He pulled Mulder through mid-wicket and square leg and then scored two boundaries off three Rabada deliveries but played one shot too many when he inside-edged Rabada onto the stumps. By that stage, offspinner Piedt had been introduced into the attack for the first time in the match and tempted Athanaze with full, flighted deliveries. Athanaze struggled to turn the strike over, eventually went for a rash sweep and top-edged behind the keeper. Aiden Markram ran back from slip to take a good, high catch.Athanaze’s mistake could be blamed on inexperience but when Jason Holder, the best batter from West Indies’ first innings, holed out to long-on in Piedt’s next over, it was a sign South Africa’s strangle was working.Enter Motie, who had a disappointing series with the ball, but did his bit with the bat. Motie and Da Silva took the target to below 100. Motie was particularly severe on Piedt and took 18 runs off the 14 balls he faced from him but his attempts to take on Maharaj were not as successful. Motie was hit on the front pad as he moved back to hit the left-arm spinner away and was given out lbw. He reviewed but ball-tracking showed it was clipping leg stump. Da Silva went similarly in Maharaj’s next over, and also asked the third umpire to have a look, but the technology was in South Africa’s favour and Maharaj equalled Hugh Tayfield as South Africa’s leading spinner.Jayden Seales picked up his best figures in an innings in Test cricket – 6 for 61•AFP/Getty Images

With only two wickets left to get, and Rabada two away from 300, he was brought back on and threatened to produce the goods soon after. Jomel Warrican edged him wide of second slip and then Joseph offered a chance that went between second and third slip as both Markram and Mulder left the ball for each other. Rabada was livid but the annoyance did not last long. Four balls later, Joseph pulled him to mid-on where Temba Bavuma got hang-time with both feet off the floor and plucked the ball in his outstretched right hand to complete the catch of the series.Rabada was one wicket away from 300 but was unable to complete the feat in the match. Maharaj overtook Tayfield when Seales clipped him to David Bedingham at short leg and South Africa celebrated. Seales had been vocal with them throughout the match, so dismissing him to secure victory was even sweeter for South Africa. It would have stung Seales, who was instrumental in South Africa’s collapse. They lost their last five wickets for 22 runs in 65 balls, including the first three wickets for 8 runs in 15 balls.Warrican struck in the first over when Mulder chose to stay back in his crease and attempt a flick but missed an arm ball and was hit on the back pad. That early breakthrough prompted Kraig Braithwaite to call on Seales earlier than he may have planned, with the second new ball nine overs away. An under-pressure Maharaj chipped the second ball he faced to Motie at mid-wicket and registered a third successive duck on the tour.Seales’ next one was all skill as he beat Kyle Verreynne’s inside edge with a delivery that angled into him from wide of the crease. It also confirmed Seales’ second Test five-for. Piedt and Rabada took the lead over 250 but one over and one delivery before the second new ball was due, Rabada went forward to block Warrican and edged to Hodge at slip.West Indies took the second new ball as soon as it was available and Seales succeeded. Burger drove the fourth ball back to him and Seales reacted quickly to take the catch with both hands to his right to end South Africa’s innings 50 minutes into the third day. Burger’s duck was the third of the innings and seventh of the match for South Africa, their most since 1932.South Africa are now up to fifth on the WTC points table, with six matches left to play. West Indies remain ninth, with only one win.

Hurricanes player, who was found not guilty of rape, will likely return to play for Hobart in the BBL despite not telling the club about the charges.

AAP07-May-2024A player found not guilty of rape will likely return to play for the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL despite not informing the franchise about the criminal proceedings.In March, Nikhil Chaudhary was found not guilty by a jury of raping a 20-year-old woman in a car in Townsville in 2021. Cricket Tasmania says it was not informed of the charge or court action.Chaudhary, who joined the franchise in late 2023, had his deal extended to 2027 in February, the month before the trial.Related

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Cricket Tasmania’s high performance general manager Salliann Beams told reporters the organisation was still going through “internal processes” in relation to Chaudhary. She said he would likely play the upcoming season.”[There are] some legalities through that process,” Beams said on Tuesday.”It’s not so much the incident because we know that nothing happened … legally not guilty and everything.”It’s just the disclosure of information. We want to know where we sit on that because we were completely in the dark.”Beams said it was disappointing Chaudhary didn’t inform Cricket Tasmania about the charges or court proceedings.”You have to deal with the organisation’s point of view and the impact that it could potentially have on that,” she said.”Because you don’t really want to associate yourself with … that type of investigation.”But at the same time, you can understand from the players’ point of view is that, you know, they’ve done nothing wrong and it’s a scary place.”[You’re] legally advised not to say anything, so you’re always balancing different sides of the story.”Beams said she was proud of how Cricket Tasmania handled the scenario and made sure every person was managed the best way possible through the process.Chaudhary played nine games last BBL season, averaging 26 with the bat and taking five wickets in a Hurricanes side that missed the finals.