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Head coach says he found out about qualification process during latter stages of India defeat

Matt Roller29-Oct-2023Matthew Mott, England’s head coach, said that he only found out that his side’s place in the 2025 Champions Trophy was in jeopardy midway through the second innings of their 100-run defeat to India in Lucknow, after the ICC confirmed the qualification process earlier on Sunday.The ICC approved the qualification process at a board meeting in November 2021, determining that Pakistan would qualify automatically as hosts and be joined at the eight-team event by the seven other highest finishers at the 2023 World Cup in India. The news was not communicated publicly or to the media at the time.The process was confirmed to the media on Sunday afternoon in Lucknow and while some competing teams were aware of it – Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh’s captain, mentioned a goal of a top-eight finish after his side’s defeat to the Netherlands on Saturday night – others, including England, were not.Related

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After five defeats in six group games, England are bottom of the points table and may need two wins from their remaining three fixtures to qualify for the Champions Trophy. They play Australia in Ahmedabad on Saturday, before travelling to Pune to play the Netherlands then Kolkata to face Pakistan.There has been significant staff turnover at the ECB since that November 2021 board meeting, with changes to the chief executive, chair and managing director of men’s cricket, as well as coaches and captains across formats. They are unclear why the news was not communicated publicly.Immediately after England’s defeat, Mott confirmed at a press conference that he had only found out about the top-eight cut-off “about an hour and a half ago”. He said: “The ICC do change the rules quite a bit with qualification and to be honest, I don’t think it would affect, in any way, the way we’ve played in this tournament, so it’s not a big deal.”Jos Buttler, England’s captain, was asked at the post-match presentation whether he was aware of the qualification process, and whether it added any extra motivation to England’s final three games. “Yeah, I’m aware of that,” Buttler said. “Absolutely, it just proves we’ve got lots to play for.”Mott added: “We’ve got a fair bit to play for towards the back end of this tournament. [The qualification process] gives us a lot of focus that we need to make sure we can’t, you know, just turn up. We’ve got to turn up and play and win those games. And we’re obviously up against some good teams in those last few games as well. That’s plenty of motivation for us.”England’s fixture against Netherlands in Pune on November 8 looms large as a match that could have significant implications for both teams. Netherlands have not featured in a Champions Trophy since 2002, when they lost both their group games, while England have been part of all eight editions.

Alex Carey was unbeaten at stumps with a chance to build a substantial innings

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff30-Nov-2023Three late blows from Fergus O’Neill had Victoria on the verge of an important Sheffield Shield victory over South Australia at the Adelaide Oval.The Redbacks slumped to 49 for 3 at stumps on day three in pursuit of 258. After taking 5 for 28 in South Australia’s first innings, O’Neill stepped up again to continue his breakout season. The bustling quick dismissed openers Henry Hunt and Jake Carder, as well as captain Jake Lehmann to a sharp return catch, to have the hosts reeling at 29 for 3.Related

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Nathan McSweeney and Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey were able to guide South Australia to stumps and give them an outside chance of victory on Friday.Earlier, one-Test batter Will Pucovski carved out his best score of the Shield season with a patient 65 in Victoria’s second innings total of 231.After having a 26-run first-innings lead, Victoria recovered from a poor start at 27 for 3 to grind their way towards a competitive total.Campbell Kellaway (46) and Peter Handscomb (44) both made valuable contributions in the middle order to frustrate the Redbacks.SA pace bowler Wes Agar finished with match figures of 8 for 97 after adding to his five-wicket haul in the first innings including that of Pucovski to a delivery that nipped back. Nathan McAndrew was also dangerous for the Redbacks, claiming 4 for 50.The result will be a crucial one as the match is the last for two months due to the upcoming start of the Big Bash League.Both teams have managed two wins from their first five games, but a victory here would put them as high as third on the ladder.

Vipers wobble to 136 for 6 needing 207 after Seren Smale’s 99 puts Thunder in strong position

ECB Reporters Network01-May-2024Nancy Harman got Southern Vipers over the line in a tight three-wicket victory over Thunder to give the holders three wins in a row.Allrounder Harman, in her first appearance of the season, came to the crease with Vipers wobbling on 136 for 6 needing 207 – and behind the DLS with rain about. But she beat her previous best of 23 not out to guide her side to victory, and continue Vipers’ unbeaten record against Thunder.Earlier, England A batter Seren Smale beat her previous best of 94 – scored against Central Sparks last season – and bagged her third career Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy fifty but ended up heartbroken after being run out on 99.Vipers chose to bowl first and strangled Thunder in the opening 10-over Powerplay, with Shachi Pai bowled by Linsey Smith and only 16 runs coming.But Smale and Katie Mack got the innings into gear with a risk-free approach of singles and only eight boundaries making up their 94-run stand. The partnership underpinned the innings, albeit not coming at any great speed, as Smale reached her half-century in 84 balls.She earned lives on 53 and 65 – a caught and bowled spilled by Smith and a drop at deep midwicket – but showed great skill to pepper her innings with six fours, all coming in the V.Mack and Fi Morris both fell with the score on 111 within two balls of each other. The Australian was involved in a classic run-out mix-up before Morris skied a pull to give Alice Monaghan the Vipers’ first wicket to pace this season.Ellie Threlkeld was bowled trying to ramp Mary Taylor and Naomi Dattani drove straight back at Charli Knott, but Danni Collins joined with Smale to put some impetus into the back end of the innings.All eyes were on whether Smale could convert to three figures for the first time in her career. She had to contend with not getting a great deal of strike and wickets falling at the other end.Collins – after putting on 41 in a 21-ball 23 – and Tara Norris fell to Smith in consecutive balls. The left-arm spinner ended up with 3 for 19, and the most economical spell for a Vipers bowler for the second week in a row.Phoebe Graham was castled by Taylor as Smale needed five runs in the final two overs. But she only faced four balls before she was run out attempting to reach the landmark and she remained sprawled in her dived state for a while before dragging herself off.Vipers’ reply got off to a stuttering start as Norris hooped an in-swinger to bowl Ella McCaughan with the fifth ball of the innings before Knott ended her run of 41, 58 not out and 40 when she hit to short midwicket.With rain around, Vipers tried to match the DLS target – Georgia Adams crashing a series of straight boundaries with aplomb. But Abi Norgrove advancing and getting castled to make it 46 for 3, saw DLS rocket from 52 to 70.Adams and Georgia Elwiss put Vipers comfortably ahead of the rate with a partnership oozing in quality before Elwiss was strangled down the leg-side and Emily Windsor was beaten for pace by Graham.Adams reached her 50 in 62 balls – her 15th half-century – but top-edged Dattani behind to swing things back to the visitors. Then Rhianna Southby, Harman and Monaghan scored the last 72 runs to guide Vipers to victory with 39 balls to spare.

Falcons opener Fakhar Zaman returns home to participate in Champions One-day Cup

Deivarayan Muthu08-Sep-2024Sherfane Rutherford’s unavailability has added to St Kitts and Nevis Patriots’ troubles in CPL 2024. Midway through their last home game of the season against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, a CPL release stated that Rutherford had withdrawn from the rest of the tournament for personal reasons.A replacement for Rutherford will be announced in due course.Rutherford, 26, had played just four games for Patriots this season, scoring 35 runs at a strike rate of 194.44. In Rutherford’s absence, Patriots had Dominic Drakes, who is predominantly a bowling allrounder, batting at No.7 against Falcons on Sunday. They are currently rooted to the bottom of the CPL 2024 points table with a solitary win in six matches.Related

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Though Sri Lanka wristspinner Wanindu Hasaranga bagged four wickets for Patriots, they failed to defend 153 on a tacky surface on Sunday. Since winning CPL 2021 at home, Patriots have lost 11 completed games on the bounce at Basseterre.”I must say thanks, but we disappointed them [the St Kitts and Nevis crowd],” Patriots’ captain Andre Fletcher said after the game. “It’s hard and I would like to apologise as the leader as well, saying sorry for not giving them a win on home soil. But all is not lost, we still have four more games left. We still have to go out there play the cricket and play hard and we will try to win the next four.”Patriots allrounder Kyle Mayers is also an injury doubt after he left the field following a two-over spell with the ball, with the broadcasters suggesting that he had sustained a hamstring injury. South Africa batter Rilee Rossouw, however, returned to action for Patriots after having recovered from a calf injury.Prior to the start of the season, Patriots had lost Zimbabwe allrounder Sikandar Raza to injury and were depleted by the unavailability of Hasaranga and Tabraiz Shamsi at different points. Tristan Stubbs, meanwhile, has returned to South Africa for national duties.Fakhar Zaman’s absence is a significant blow for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons•CPL T20/Getty Images

Fakhar returns home for Champions Cup

Pakistan and Falcons opener Fakhar Zaman has left the CPL to participate in the Champions One-day Cup, Pakistan’s newer version of the domestic 50-over competition, which will run from September 12 to 29, clashing with the CPL. Fakhar is due to arrive in Pakistan on September 10 and will turn out for Wolves, who will be led by Mohammad Rizwan.Fakhar is currently Falcons’ highest run-getter this CPL with 159 runs in five innings at an average of 31.80 and strike rate of 133.61. Fakhar’s Falcons team-mates Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir, though, have made themselves unavailable for the Champions Cup and will instead continue to play in the CPL. Guyana Amazon Warriors’ wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan will also stay at the CPL.In Fakhar’s absence, Brandon King made his debut for Falcons and slotted in at the top after having recovered from the side injury he sustained during the 2024 T20 World Cup at home in June. King marked his return with 29 off 16 balls, which set up Falcons’ successful chase of 154.

England’s senior batter full of praise for team-mate after emphatic victory in Wellington

Vithushan Ehantharajah09-Dec-2024Joe Root has hailed Harry Brook as “far and away the best player in the world” after Brook powered England to their first series victory in New Zealand since 2008.Both Root and Brook registered centuries in an emphatic 323-run win in the second Test against the Black Caps that confirmed an unassailable 2-0 scoreline after just three days at the Basin Reserve. It was their 35th and eighth hundreds respectively, with Brook’s 123 in tough first-innings conditions earning him the player-of-the-match award.Brooks’ opening-day effort, reaching three figures in 91 deliveries (the second-fastest of his career), came in challenging conditions, dragging England to 280 inside just 54.5 overs, having at one stage been 26 for 3. The tourists were then able to dismiss New Zealand for 125, establishing a 155-run lead that Root’s 106 would eventually lift to a mammoth 582. In reply, New Zealand could only muster 259 in just 54.2 overs.Last week, Brook moved up to No.2 on the ICC Test rankings off the back of his 171 in the first Test at Christchurch, which set up an eight-wicket win. Root sits at No.1, but England’s all-time leading run-scorer believes his Yorkshire and England team-mate is currently at the top of the modern game.”Brooky is by far and away the best player in the world at the minute,” Root said, off the back of Brook’s exploits in New Zealand.”He can absorb pressure, he can apply it. He can whack you over your head for six. He can scoop you over his head for six. He can smack spin. He can smack seam.”He’s so hard to bowl to and dovetailed with someone like Pope [174 for the fifth wicket in the first innings], who’s extremely busy and scoring in awkward areas, [which] makes it very difficult to stop the flow of runs. I think they just played exceptionally well together.”Related

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Brook returned the compliment to Root, who has a chance to beat his previous calendar-year best of six centuries (2021) in this Saturday’s third and final Test at Hamilton.”I’m trying to catch him, but he’s too good, isn’t he?” Brook said, when asked if he fancied taking the No. 1 tag off Root. “[He] got another hundred this week. No, he’s obviously one of the best players, if not the best player, to have ever played the game.”Though only two years into his Test career, Brook’s average of 61.62 from 23 Tests is currently third on the all-time list. Having become England’s first triple-centurion in 34 years with 317 against Pakistan, his work in New Zealand over the last two weeks has moved his average away from home to a remarkable 89.35, though he has only played in those two countries.Brook, however, insists on keeping his feet on the ground and believes he has more work to do to improve all aspects of his game.”I’ve only played 23 games, so them stats could soon come soaring down!” he said. “So I’m just trying to keep on getting as good as I can and working hard in the nets and improving areas that are uncomfortable. Just keep on going really. You can always get better everywhere.”Meanwhile, Root has been announced on the shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The award, to be judged by the public on who they regard as most accomplished sportsperson in 2024, has only been won by a cricketer on five occasions. Ben Stokes was the most recent, in 2019, while Stuart Board finished runner-up last year.”I didn’t expect that at all, really,” Root said of Monday’s announcement. “I guess I’m honored to be involved in it. You know, it’s been a wonderful year of sports so to even be considered is is pretty humbling, to be honest.”I wasn’t expecting at all, but it’s something I’ve watched as a kid growing up. I don’t really know how to sum it up.”England will meet up in Hamilton on Wednesday ahead of the third Test. A number of players left Wellington on Monday to explore New Zealand’s North Island and will travel separately to the inland city.

SL scored 156 in rain-reduced game, with WI’s target revised to 195, and Sherfane Rutherford smashed 50* off 26 deliveries

Madushka Balasuriya26-Oct-2024(23 overs) After a series in which they consistently failed to get the rub of the green, the stars finally aligned for West Indies as they ended their tour of Sri Lanka with a morale-boosting win. Evin Lewis, playing his first ODI since 2021, struck an unbeaten 102 off 61 balls, as West Indies chased down a DLS-adjusted target of 195 in a rain-reduced game of 23 overs with eight wickets to spare. In fact, they got the required runs with an over to spare. It was their first ODI win in Sri Lanka following ten straight defeats, and their first win on this tour since the first T20I.Sri Lanka, for their part, had put up a valiant effort after their innings had been cut into less than half. The first 17.2 overs had come prior to the rain intervention, and upon resumption, they were given just a further 5.4 overs to set a competitive total.Enter Kusal Mendis, who bludgeoned an unbeaten 56 off 22 deliveries – he got the half-century off 19 balls – as Sri Lanka themselves struck 75 runs in those final 5.4 overs to end on 156 for 3, and gave themselves a fighting chance. In the end, though, a combination of a wet outfield, wet ball and a laser-focused Lewis proved too much to overcome.Brandon King (18 off 19 balls) and Shai Hope (22 off 27) had kept Lewis company for most of the chase, but it wasn’t until Sherfane Rutherford joined him in the middle that West Indies truly took control of proceedings.Rutherford’s brisk cameo saw him plunder 50 off just 26 deliveries, including four fours and three sixes, with his partnership with Lewis amounting to an unbeaten 88 from just 45 deliveries. It was a pivotal stand in the context of the game, as it came just as Sri Lanka might have been harbouring thoughts of a late heist.Kusal Mendis blasted a 19-ball fifty•AFP/Getty Images

With the required run rate at roughly 8.5 an over from the outset, West Indies had done well to just about keep up with it over the opening ten overs – there was at least one boundary in seven of the first 11 overs. But in such a short chase, even a couple of quiet overs can heighten the pressure – and so it proved to be.Between the 11th and 17th overs, Sri Lanka gave away just 40 runs as the required rate rose to above 11.50 runs an over. Skipper Charith Asalanka had done well in this period by shuffling his pack to sneak in some cheap overs from himself and Kamindu Mendis – both of whom made up the fifth-bowler quota after Wanindu Hasaranga had struggled with controlling a wet ball.Where Asalanka erred was in bowling himself for one over too many, which allowed Rutherford and Lewis to go after him. That 14-run over set the tone, after which the pair never looked back. The miserly Maheesh Theekshana was rinsed for 18 in the next over, while even the excellent Asitha Fernando was hounded for 26 off his final two. Dilshan Madushanka, playing his first ODI since March, went for 50 in five.Sri Lanka, though, will have positives to take away from this game, particularly in how aggressively they approached the post-rain period, knowing that they didn’t have much time to scrounge up a competitive total. The opening 17.2 overs had seen Sri Lanka stitch together a measured start, with openers Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando putting on 81.That, though, owed much to West Indies dropping three chances – two of Nissanka and one of Avishka – inside the opening ten overs. This poor catching did not get much better after the five-hour rain delay, with Kusal also dropped twice on the way to becoming the third-quickest Sri Lanka batter to 4000 ODI runs.Sherfane Rutherford hit four fours and three sixes•Associated Press

It all began with the four balls left in Roston Chase’s second over, as Kusal proceeded to clatter each of them for boundaries – two precise pulls, one stunning straight drive, and finally a fortunate inside edge down to fine leg. In all, Sri Lanka struck 12 boundaries in the final 34 deliveries they faced.The shortened game also had some knock-on effects on West Indies’ bowling plans, as the new provisos meant three bowlers were given a quota of five overs each, while two others were handed four apiece. Once Chase’s over, in which Kusal had struck four consecutive boundaries, was belatedly completed, and with Sri Lanka in raucous mood, West Indies were suddenly faced with the proposition of figuring out how Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales, and Alzarri Joseph – who had bowled four, four and three overs, respectively – would split the remains.And with the economical Matthew Forde already having bowled five overs prior to the rain break, it meant only two more bowlers could bowl five; so they needed to find one more over from somewhere.With Chase having been dispatched upon the resumption of play, it was left to Rutherford to roll his arm over, and he was duly taken for 17 runs courtesy two fours and a six. And as Kusal’s carefree innings continued in earnest, Sri Lanka eventually managed to muster up a competitive total – though it proved to be just not good enough on the day.

Josh Inglis has kept his spot in the middle order for the third Test while Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon return

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Dec-20250:44

Lyon: No point to prove in third Ashes Test

Usman Khawaja has been left out of the third Test in Adelaide, raising the prospect of him having played his final match for Australia, with Australia’s selectors backing the positive approach brought by the Jake Weatherald-Travis Head pairing.As expected, captain Pat Cummins and offspinner Nathan Lyon return to the side at the expense of Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett.Khawaja missed the second Test in Brisbane having not recovered from the back spasms he picked up in Perth that prevented him from opening in either innings.Earlier this week Khawaja said he was 100% fit and eager to retain his spot. The prospect of him taking a middle-order role had been raised but the selectors have opted to retain Josh Inglis with Weatherald and Head continuing their opening partnership.Usman Khawaja remains out of Australia’s XI•AFP/Getty Images

They came together in the second innings in Perth to add 75 in the run chase before combining for 77 in the first innings at the Gabba with selectors seeing the value in what it has done to the England attack.”I think the big thing that’s shifted on us is probably Trav opening after that first Test and how good that has looked with the Weathers, so we’re pretty happy with that batting line-up,” Cummins said ahead of his first Test of the series after a back injury. “It didn’t feel like it needed to change in the middle order.”So far it’s looked like they [Head and Weatherald] have been able to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Whatever has been thrown at them, they’ve had an answer to. It’s really set up the platform for our innings.”I think you’ve seen people like Marnus [Labuschagne] and Steve [Smith] walk in after that as well and really get on the back of that and start their innings well. I don’t know if it’s scrambled the opposition, but it’s certainly kind of got that momentum, kept that scoreboard ticking over and started our innings brilliantly.”Khawaja turns 39 during the Adelaide Test and has averaged 31.84 since the 2023 Ashes with one century in 45 innings.Pat Cummins prepares for his Test comeback•Getty Images

Asked whether there was a road back, Cummins said: “Yeah, potentially. I think the selectors have been quite adamant [that] we’re picking a side each week, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s got to be exactly the same team as the previous week. We do that with the bowlers this week.”Obviously, Nathan Lyon’s coming back in. One of Uzzie’s great strengths he’s scored runs at the top, he’s scored runs in the middle. If we didn’t think he’d be good enough to come straight in, then he wouldn’t be here in the squad. So, absolutely, I can see a path back at some point, if needed.”Cummins, meanwhile, lauded the fact Australia were 2-0 up despite being stretched by injury, including himself yet to feature and Josh Hazlewood being ruled out of the series.”Incredible, I think it shows just great depth in the Aussie cricket system at the moment with fast bowlers,” he said. “When I said it’s almost worked out perfectly…we’re halfway through a series, I’ve come back on line, you’ve got Ness and Doggy who are resting from this week, but they’ve obviously got themselves into the series and are available for the last two games.”You’ve seen Jhye Richardson out the back bowling. So it feels like everything’s come together and we’re not just hanging on to the end of a series like sometimes you are. We’re actually peaking and hopefully there are heaps of resources available.”But the guys who have stepped in have been fantastic and I think it’s a huge credit to those guys who have stepped in but also the coaches and Steve managing those guys throughout the day.”Steven Smith missed training on Monday due to illness but was first in the nets on Tuesday.Australia XI for third Ashes Test1 Jake Weatherald, 2 Travis Head, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Cameron Green, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Josh Inglis, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Scott Boland

Hampshire star’s 5 for 44 keeps visitors waiting in quest to squash last contenders Essex

ECB Reporters Network27-Sep-2023Liam Dawson moved to 45 LV= Insurance County Championship wickets with his fourth five-wicket haul of the season to delay Surrey’s title confirmation.Left-arm spinner Dawson has had his best batting season since 2015 and best-ever bowling campaign as his 5 for 44 kept Surrey waiting in their quest to squash last contenders Essex.Sai Sudharsan had led Surrey’s batting with an exceptional 73 before Jordan Clark came in and struck 50 not out.Surrey were eventually bowled out for 207, 93 runs short of winning the crown, and a 12-run deficit to Hampshire, which was increased by one in a truncated 20 balls before bad light ended proceedings for the day.Surrey needed to get to 300 in 110 overs to make sure they claimed the bonus points required to be confirmed champions for a second year in a row.They began the day on 47 for 2, replying to Hampshire’s 219, and by the time Ryan Patel had hoicked to deep midwicket off Dawson, they had only added 13 more runs in 53 minutes. It would be Patel’s last action of the match as Jamie Smith will come in for him for the third innings of the match.Getting to that 300 mark quickly was clearly not the priority – with winning the match and lifting the trophy on a high prominently mentioned by Tom Lawes the previous evening.Hampshire’s tidy bowling didn’t help the run rate, neither did Ben Foakes taking 36 balls to get off the mark and even then, it was only a misfield that helped him move from a blob. He never would look comfortable at the crease, although was perhaps unlucky to be given out lbw going back to Dawson.Sudharsan was by no means lucid in his batting, but his classical style was pleasant on the eyes and accumulated runs at a workmanlike tempo.Sai Sudharsan sets off for a run•Steve Paston/PA Photos/Getty Images

The 21-year-old is one to watch in world cricket having struck a stunning 96 in the IPL final early this year, to go with two centuries in nine previous first-class matches.His defence was solid, but his coup de gras was his varied shot-making, with proficiency shown on the drive, sweep and wristiness.Sudharsan reached his maiden Championship fifty in exactly 100 balls. He had been joined by Will Jacks – who had replaced five-wicket haul celebrator Lawes after returning from England duty – and the rate of scoring increased for a short period.Jacks twice took on Ian Holland’s medium pace and twice dispatched the ball over the ropes, which helped the morning scoring to 67 runs.Sudharsan was the victim of big bounce out of the footholds from Dawson, as the Indian gloved to short leg, with Jacks leg before to James Fuller in the following over.Dawson picked up his fourth when Cam Steel was lbw and Holland bowled a swinging Jamie Overton.Clark belligerently scored a 75-ball half-century, his 21st in first-class cricket, as he put in 32 with Kemar Roach before the West Indian was caught at first slip with the second new ball.Clark also scored all 15 runs with Dan Worrall at the other end, before the Australian-born seamer was bowled by Dawson – his 17th wicket in September.Surrey’s failure to reach 300 is not a huge problem in their pursuit of glory. Essex are stuttering against Northamptonshire and if they don’t reach 400, Surrey will automatically be champions.Despite 18 overs still remaining, only 20 balls were bowled and a single run scored as bad light prevented Hampshire from really getting their second innings moving under lights.

Record stand with Neesham turns tables on Originals after early slump to 34 for 5

Vithushan Ehantharajah27-Aug-2023Oval Invincibles 161 for 5 (Curran 67*, Neesham 57*) beat Manchester Originals 147 for 6 (Holden 37, Jacks 2-11) by 14 runsTom Curran brought men’s Hundred glory to south London with a virtuoso all-round performance as Oval Invincibles fought back from the brink to secure their first men’s Hundred title with a 14-run victory over Manchester Originals.Curran struck 67 not out off 34 balls – his highest score of the competition – as part of an innings-saving stand of 127 off 65 with Jimmy Neesham, who himself struck 57 off 33. The importance of their partnership, the biggest in the history of the men’s competition, could not be understated, coming as it did from 34 for 5 after Jos Buttler had inserted Invincibles upon winning the toss.Their exploits left Originals needing 162 to avenge their defeat in 2022’s final, and whatever regrets they might have had at the halfway stage would have been short-lived given their performance in Saturday night’s Eliminator. After toppling a far more daunting 197 by seven wickets with three balls to spare against Southern Brave, this was a more manageable peak to scale.Unfortunately for Originals, when their previous night’s heroes of Phil Salt (who had set up that chase with 47 from 17 balls) and Buttler (who had finished it with an unbeaten 82 from 46) managed just 25 and 11 respectively, the game was as good as done.Fittingly, it was Tom Curran who made the first breakthrough, extracting Salt at the end of the powerplay to cement his hold on the Match Hero award with figures of 1 for 25 from 20 deliveries. Barring a 22-ball stand of 42 between Jamie Overton and Max Holden, Invincibles rarely doubted thereafter that the trophy would be headed south of the river.It’s worth noting the oldest Curran had started the summer operating solely as a batter for Surrey in the Vitality Blast on account of injuries restricting his bowling. And while his average of 17.61 had been nothing to write home about, 229 runs at a strike-rate of 143.12 spoke of a promise that had grown into something tangible in the course of the Hundred prior this blitz. He finishes Invincibles’ campaign with 175 runs at a strike rate of 175.The scene when he arrived was one of top-order disarray. Ducks for Jason Roy and Sam Curran in consecutive deliveries (three and golden, respectively), a run-a-ball 5 from emergency overseas Paul Stirling, a leg-side strangle of skipper Sam Billings and then 15 off 15 from the usually devastating Will Jacks had the group-stage leaders reeling. Then came the outlandish fightback.Neesham set the pace, with a brace of fours in three deliveries off the slingy right-arm of Zaman Khan before evoking memories of his brutal strike in the World Cup Final Super Over when flicking left-arm spinner Tom Hartley into the stands under Old Father Time for his one and only six. Curran, however, was the Nitrous Oxide, accelerating this stand with five spaced-out sixes among nine boundaries.Related

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• Jos Buttler provides the pyrotechnics on night of scorching strokeplay

• Tom Curran, Jimmy Neesham turn the tables with record Hundred stand

He raced to 36 off 18, clearing the leg-side boundary three times off Paul Walter, Josh Little and Jamie Overton. His fourth six was the most extraordinary, off the 82nd delivery of the night, as he uppercut Little over deep third to bring up a 26-ball half-century. HIs last, off the final ball of the innings, sent Zaman back over his head as he missed his yorker by inches to provide the exclamation point on a match-winning knock.Knowing that the powerplay was Originals’ chance to get back ahead of the game, Salt was typically raucous out of the gate for his team, making 25 from 15 as the chasers found themselves on 33 for no loss, needing a further 129 from 80. Two balls later, however, Salt returned to the pavilion after skewing a length ball from Tom Curran to younger brother Sam, who tracked it from mid-off to complete the dismissal. Just 12 deliveries later, Buttler joined him after a subdued 11 off 15, leaving his side on 44 for 2.It was left-arm spinner Danny Briggs who snared the big fish – no mean feat on his first appearance in the tournament. A tempter from around the wicket was charged and missed, with Buttler turning around just in time to see the bails light up after his middle stump had been knocked back.Buttler was the first of three wickets to fall to spin in nine deliveries as Originals circled the drain. Wayne Madsen had just reversed Nathan Sowter for four when he under-edged onto his own stumps, and Sowter was then in the game at deep midwicket, relaying a catch back to himself as Laurie Evans attempted to deposit Will Jacks into the Tavern Stand. For a moment it looked as though Evans would survive as replays showed Sowter’s foot was in contact with the sponge, but not before he had already released the ball, which he then reclaimed with both feet on the right side of the boundary.At the other end, Max Holden was valiantly raging against the squeeze, taking Sam Curran over long-on for six, before swiping consecutive fours off Sowter to the leg side and through cover after the dangerous Paul Walter had been castled by Jacks. When 15 runs were taken off Gus Atkinson’s third set – Holden using his pace to edge over third and scoop over fine leg – the ask of 59 off 25 looked just about doable, particularly with Overton’s propensity to clear the ropes.But after Tom Curran had kept the pair to eight from balls 76 to 80, Sam struck the pads of a desperate Holden heaving across the line. Umpire Alex Wharf gave it not out, but Billings reviewed on the bowler’s insistence and was rewarded with an overturned decision and Holden departed for 37.With 44 required from 15, Overton and Hartley could only find three more boundaries. When Sam Curran, with 23 to defend from the final five, restricted Overton to twos from the first two deliveries, the celebrations could begin in earnest.The last delivery was a yorker, dug out by Hartley towards long-off. By the time he had reached the striker’s end for a cursory single, more meaningful celebrations had begun among those in turquoise on the field, in the dugout and dotted throughout the stands.Having missed out on the knockout stages in the first two season, Oval Invincibles are 2023’s men’s Hundred champions.

Finlay Bean adds 93, George Hill 51* as Glamorgan’s slim promotion hopes take another hit

ECB Reporters Network10-Sep-2023Glamorgan’s slim promotion hopes were further diminished as Yorkshire took control on day one of their LV= Division 2 County Championship clash at Sophia Gardens.After defeat at Worcester last week, the Welsh county have to win their penultimate match with a full set of bonus points and hope that other results go their way if they are to remain in the promotion picture.But that looks unlikely after Yorkshire closed on 330 for 3 at stumps with captain Shan Masood unbeaten on 113 and Finlay Bean hitting 11 fours on his way to 93 on a slow pitch that offered little assistance for the bowling side.The White Rose county, who beat Derbyshire at Scarborough last time out, are aiming for a second successive victory as they look to climb off the bottom of the table.The two sides drew at Headingley in May, with Yorkshire clinging on at nine down to frustrate the Welsh county.Adam Lyth hit 174 in that second innings, and, after a delayed start in Cardiff due to rain, he put on 98 for the opening wicket with Bean after Yorkshire won the toss and elected to bat first.Bean survived an lbw appeal from James Harris on 21, but there were few other scares for the visiting side as they made fairly rapid progress in the curtailed first session to walk off on 86 for 0 after 22 overs at lunch with Lyth on 45 and Bean 37.It was a seventh successive half-century stand for the opening pair in Division Two, but the partnership didn’t last long after the interval. Jamie McIlroy was unsuccessful in his appeal for lbw against Lyth in the first over after lunch, but he didn’t have to wait long for the breakthrough as Lyth chopped on and departed after hitting six fours in his 49 to leave Yorkshire on 98 for 1 in the 25th over.Yorkshire didn’t let that unfortunate dismissal disrupt their flow as Masood joined Bean in the middle and he picked up the baton from Lyth in fine style as he raced to his half-century in just 58 balls.Bean proceeded in a slightly more sedate fashion. He brought up the 200 in the 45th over and progressed to 88 from 117 balls as Yorkshire cruised to 217 for 1 at tea.The 21-year-old was denied a century as he was caught at slip by Colin Ingram off the bowling of Glamorgan skipper Kiran Carlson on 93 in the third over after tea, ending a stand of 127 with Masood.James Wharton didn’t last long as he was given out lbw for 3, with McIlroy picking up his second wicket of a frustrating day and earning his side their first bowling point.George Hill came in at No. 5 and played a supporting role as Masood closed in on his first century for Yorkshire.The pair secured a first batting point at 253 for 3 in the 59th over, before Masood made it to three figures off 132 balls in the 69th over.
And Hill completed his half-century off 76 balls just before 6pm, having danced down the pitch to attack Carlson’s bowling on several occasions, to cap a satisfying day for the visiting side.