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T20 Blast | Semi Final: Somerset bowlers do it with the bat, steal victory under Hampshire’s nose

“What an incredible game,” said Nasser Hussain in the commentary box and it was nothing short of incredible as Somerset scored 48 runs off the last 16 balls losing just one wicket on their way to a famous semi-finals win on the Finals day in the Vitality Blast 2021, England’s premier domestic T20 tournament. With all their top batting brass back in the hut and bowing all-rounders, lesser-known for their big-hitting abilities at the crease and 46 runs needed from the last three overs, nobody gave Somerset any chance to win, especially having lost their skipper and highest run-scorer in this innings, Tom Abell. The two bowlers left to ball the three overs and defend 45 runs had the figures of 1-10 from two overs (Bradley Wheal) and 2-8 from three overs (Chris Wood). The batters at the crease to face them were Ben Green (8 from 10 balls) and Craig Overton (1 from 1 ball). In such circumstances, no one in their right mind would think that Hampshire would lose the game and Somerset would win it. But what transpired in the next 16 balls was magical (if you ask a Somerset fan) and disastrous (if you ask a Hampshire fan) at the same time. After landing two good yorkers in the 18th over, Wheal was hit for four and two sixes, while there was a dropped catch on the fifth ball. The equation suddenly became 28 to get from 12 balls. Wood, who had been phenomenal up until then was called in. And as they say, pressure does its own tricks, the left-arm pacer bowled a full toss on the legs which Green deposited over the square leg boundary for a six, it was just over the boundary ropes though, but that’s all that was needed. Two doubles followed another harrowing six and the equation was suddenly just 12 runs needed from 8 balls. However, just as everyone thought that the game was done, Wood got rid of Green and gave Hampshire another chance to take their fairy tale comeback story to the finale. With another double on the last ball, the equation became 10 from the last six balls and death over specialist Wheal had the ball. The specialist, however, looked really under pressure and surprising to say, didn’t use even a single slower ball, after a good yorker and a lucky full toss going just for a single, the equation came down to 8 from four balls and with Josh Lavy, a bowler at the crease, it was hoped that the match would be really going down to the wire. However, Wheal delivered a ball, which was fuller than good length and Lavy with the old bowler’s hoik hit it hard enough to just get it over diving long on for a six. And that was it, with two to win from the last three balls, skipper James Vince called in the field and Wheal missed another yorker which was flicked over the in the field for a four. Somerset players joined their hero with the bat and ball on the ground to celebrate a win which never seemed a possibility when they were 105-7 at the end of the 17th over. Earlier in the day, after inviting Hamphsiret to bat, having won the toss, Somerset had the match under their control throughout the first innings as they reduced them to 26-3 in the first four overs and then kept chipping away at their wickets. Joe Weatherley was the only Hampshire batter under control of things as he scored 71 off 50 balls and put together crucial stands with Liam Dawson, Chris Wood and James Fuller. Riding on that end of the innings momentum, Hampshire started brilliantly with the ball and reduced the team from Taunton to 34-5 in seven overs. From there on, Abell, first with Lewis Gregory and then with Green tried his best to get as close to the target as possible up until he was removed after completing his eighth T20 fifty. Somerset now await the winners between the second semi-final between Sussex and Kent currently taking place at the same venue, Edgbaston.

This group has been brilliant: Veteran Jimmy Anderson praises young English bowling attack

England made a real quick work of the Indian innings on the fourth day of the third Test between the two sides at Headingley, Leeds. After the Indian batting unit had staged a dogged fight on day three losing just two wickets, it seemed like the English bowlers would have to sweat a lot to get to the win, however, it wasn’t the case. James Anderson, the leader of the England bowling pack being it was courtesy of great patience and discipline by his young group. The Burnley born made it a point of notice that England are playing without their regulars and are still able to produce such great performances. “We are missing quite a few bowlers. The likes of Stuart Broad, Jofra [Archer], Chris Wokes, guys who have done a fantastic job throughout the last few years weren’t available and then the guys coming in playing that well, yes it shows a great depth in our bowling group,’ Anderson told in a video uploaded by Sky Cricket on their official Twitter handle. “It’s that collective effort that helps you get those wickets. Building pressure at both ends. We were relentless with that yesterday and carried it on today,” added the 39-year-old. Praising his fellow bowlers, Anderson went to list how each of the bowlers has been brilliant. This group has been brilliant. Craig Overton has come back in and done a fantastic job for us. Sam Curran got a couple of wickets on the first day so we all are chipping in and I think it’s really important.” he said before lauding the Man of the Match Ollie Robinson, who took seven wickets in the match including a five-wicket haul in the second innings. “And obviously, Ollie Robinson today was absolutely unbelievable. He’s been brilliant since he has come into the side and got his rewards today with the five-wicket haul,” Anderson said. Anderson, who has 630 wickets in 165 Tests said that he wasn’t expecting such an early end to the game and had prepared for a hard toil on day four. But he was also somewhere sure that if the bowlers bowled in the right channel they were bound to be rewarded. “Obviously, India fought back and we expected them to do it. But we knew that if we kept hitting the right lengths and kept bowling in the right areas, there was enough for us to get wickets and we got our rewards this morning,” said the right-arm pacer. “We came in thinking that it would be a long day considering the quality of the Indian batting, but we also knew that if we bowled as well as we did yesterday, we will get our rewards for it and thankfully it happened before Lunch,” concluded Anderson, but not before converting that the English bowlers will be going for more wickets in the remaining two Test matches at Oval and Old Trafford respectively.

ENG vs IND | 3rd Test, Day 1: Disciplined Burns-Hameed, hurting Anderson demolish India's hubris

One could wonder which side of the beds both the England skipper Joe Root and the Indian skipper Virat Kohli would have woke up by the complete turnaround in fortunes of them and their side on the first day of the Third Test in Leeds. Whatever that could have gone wrong for the tourists did go horribly wrong while the hosts make merry on the back of a pumped-up bowling attack. India were down to nothing in the first session itself with the big four wickets back to the pavilion and any chance of resurgence as this Kohli-led side have been known for in the recent past, was thwarted by despicable shot selection by batsmen. England’s bowlers have been there and thereabouts so far in the series and it was their batting that was failing them for so long. However, on a day when nothing could have gone wrong for them, a rejuvenated opening pair of Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed put them in a commanding position from where they can dictate the flow and the terms of the game. Anderson’s box of tricks, India’s indiscipline James Anderson is a champion bowler, who has shoulder the burden of winning England uncountable number of games on home soil. He always was a genuine swing bowler but the advent of wobble seam deliveries have made him ever so lethal in the series. He has been masterful with the length whenever he has used the wobble seam ball and it was all on display in the first spell of bowling that produced a remarkable figure of 8-0-6-3. He started with a genuine outswinger to Rohit Sharma and followed it up with three in swingers to KL Rahul in order to lure him to playing at deliveries outside off stump. Rahul has been watchful across all the innings in the series and Anderson came determined to create doubts in Rahul’s mind. The first three balls bowled at him came towards him with some degree of movement in the air. Those deliveries were pitched at good length areas and allowed the right-hander to leave on the bounce. The pacer was not worried through and he adjusted to a fuller delivery around off stump that shaped to come into him significant that drew Rahul into driving and England were ecstatic to see the back of the batsman who has become a thorn in their flesh so far. Cheteshwar Pujara’s cluttered mind did not help him one bit and Anderson employed the same tactic he used against him in the first innings at Lord’s. The ball was angled in from wide of the crease and Pujara’s indecisiveness lured him into poking at one he could afford to leave at the last moment. With both Rahul and Pujara went even before Rohit could set his eyes in, the onus was on Kohli to lead from the front. He has been found out in the series around the off stump line in what analysts have termed “opening up of 2014 problems”. Anderson teased him with outswingers at the fourth or fifth stump line and the skipper showed early confidence by leaving them all alone. Anderson could not have been more precise in the morning session and he brought his line of attack back closer to off stump with each passing ball. Kohli was watchful to not have a drive against him until a full-pitched ball that straightened came on his fourth stump and he let a booming drive coming out of his blade. The edge went safely into Jos Buttler’s gloves, who were in with a fantasy ride behind the wicket in the next few hours of the day. Burns, Hameed’s dream run against off-colour pacers When things start to go downhill, it goes off pretty quickly and India must have got through the same embarrassment as their counterparts went through on the final day of the Lord’s Test. They were coming into the final day with a lot to do for competing against the hosts but they turned out to be winner in the end. The story changed quickly as India were wiped out for a mere 78 after heist at Lord’s and any chance of their revival in the game by thwarted by the new opening pair of Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed. Remember, it was the failure of the English top order that had put enormous pressure on Joe Root and ultimately his failure had cost hosts the last game. The script had changed completely as it was the turn of Indian bowlers to have a complete off the day with the ball, and they could not have picked the worst day for not turning up at their best. Indian pacers hardly challenged the openers around their off stump as their English counterparts had done to their teammates early on in the day. They made sure to capitalize on getting the opportunity to get their eyes on with a lot of deliveries they could leave outside off. They stitched an unbeaten partnership of more than 100 runs—England’s first 100-run partnership in the 24th innings to completely deflate India on the very first day of the third Test. Looking forward to the second day England have already taken a lead of 42 runs and have all their 10 wickets intact going into the second day. The delight on the faces of Root and coach Chris Silverwood and the reception they gave to the unbeaten openers emphasized the desperation of a good start to the Test match the hosts needed after a demoralising defeat at Lord’s. They would be looking forward to keeping India in the field for a long time, at least for the whole of the second day. If they will be able to do so, they might earn eh luxury of not needing to bat again. India, on the other hand, will have to accept that they were below par in every moment of the game on the first day. They would be looking forward to starting afresh and challenging the England batsmen from the scratch. India could also ponder not throwing everything they have in their body and may well play a hiding game. However, those tactics seem to be an impossible scenario for the Kohli-led side and four days is a lot of time to play the hiding game. If India won’t be able to get England all out around the 200 or 250-run mark, they would be all but out of the game and Kohli- Ravi Shastri duo needs to draw a tactical line of what their objectives will be for the second day.

ENG vs IND | 3rd Test, Day 1: Virat Kohli's men blown away for third-lowest total in England

India were blown away inside the first two sessions on the first day of the third Test against England in Leeds after the skipper Virat Kohli opted to bat first. They were wiped out for 78 as all almost all batsmen were guilty of throwing their wickets away. It was their third-lowest total in Tests in England and eighth-lowest in their overall history of the longest format of the game. The day started on a disastrous note as James Anderson ripped the heart out of their batting lineup by eliminating the trio of KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli. He bowled eight overs on the trot and broke the back of India’s batting group. Things went from bad to worse for the tourists as Ajinkya Rahane, who worked hard to get his eye in, poked at a widish delivery off Ollie Robinson to walk back on what turned out to be the last ball before Lunch. The onus was on Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant, but the wicketkeeper was guilty of playing a needless shot outside his off stump. India’s hopes were lying on the shoulders of Jadeja and Rohit, but the latter once again got out trying to pull a short delivery, this time off Craig Overton. There was no resistance from tailenders and India slipped from 67/5 to 67/9 and as soon as Sam Curran trapped Jadeja in front of his stumps, the writing was on the wall for India. The collapse of the batting order will come as a reality check for Virat Kohli’s India after a high at Lord’s. Anderson and Overton picked up three wickets each while Curran and Robinson divided equally among themselves from the remaining four.

Mayank Kumar ∙ 20 July 2021

The Hundred | Team Preview: Batting-heavy Southern Brave possess enough balance to lift the title

The newness of the format The Hundred tournament will bring to the game and the Southern Brave could not have had a more fitting squad for the format by having multiple stars who have been known just for the uniqueness that they bring to the table. The Brave will miss one of the biggest match-winner of the current generation in Andre Russell but they won’t have too much of a tough time making peace with what they have. They have one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman of this era, they have the most vaunted in international cricket and one of the newest heroes of world cricket. Southern Brave — Men's Squad Captain- Yet to be announced Big players: Jofra Archer, Devon Conway, Quinton de Kock, Chris Jordan Jofra Archer, Danny Briggs, Devon Conway, Alex Davies, Liam Dawson, Quinton de Kock, George Garton, Colin de Grandhomme, Chris Jordan, Jake Lintott, Tymal Mills, Craig Overton, Delray Rawlins, James Vince, Max Waller, Ross Whiteley Coach: Mahela Jayawardene Onus on de Kock, Conway and Vince The fortunes of the Brave will hinge heavily on the shoulders of these three batsmen, especially as they will lack the firepower of Andre Russell lower down the order. Conway has emerged as one of the most promising players on the world stage with big scores across formats but his initial limelight had come in the T20 format. He was at the top of his game against Australia and Bangladesh in the 20-over format before making it into the Test side. His exploit in the longest format turned out to be more spectacular than the short form performances but his command against the white ball did not decrease one bit. He has been in stellar form in the English summer and the Brave would bank on him to shine off his campaign in England on a much more remarkable level. Quinton de Kock has been a big-ticket player for almost a decade now and his exploit for the Mumbai Indians side have been exemplary. The Brave would back him to bring some attitudes of a champion after winning titles with the Mumbai Indians and also firepower at the top of the order. Another member of the big trio for the Brave would be James Vince, who too has been in superb form with the bat in the just-concluded series against Pakistan. He won England a game almost single-handedly in partnership with lower-order batsmen and the Brave would bank on him to form an oppression trio with de Kock and Conway to give bowlers ample amount of cushion. He too, like de Kock, was part of the side that won a big T20 tournament with the Sydney Sixers in the last edition of the Big Bash League and the Brave would hope their experiences will make them a stronger side in another big tournament. Mahela Jayawardena and the Mumbai Indians model Mahela Jayawardene took charge of the most successful IPL franchise before the 2017 edition and since then the side have become a model of success for other sides across the world. He has specifically asked his batsmen to throw all their might with the bat to check the depth and energy in the opposition. The model will come in handy for the Brave in an even shorter format of the game and they too have a bullish top order to inflict damages on the magnitude of the Mumbai Indians. A lot of that heavy-duty at the top has been done by de Kock and the Brave would hope a change in jersey would not affect his intent and impact. Brave need Jofra the ‘MVP’ Archer Jofra Archer rose to prominence in the T20 leagues before getting into the IPL where he has been awarded the title of the Most Valuable Player on numerous occasions. Among the bowlers who have bowled good enough part of their deliveries in IPL, he has been the most economical pacer. He was advanced into the England ODI side right before the big ICC World Cup in 2019 and he repaid the faith by putting one match-winning performance after another. He also has been a brutal hitter of the cricket ball in the last overs of T20 games and the Brave would need a lot of those from him, on the risk of repetition, especially in the absence of Russell. Bowling- A concern after Archer-Jordan Apart from the consistency and X-factor of Archer and the experience of bowling well in the last overs of Chris Jordan, the responsibility of the pace department will fall on the shoulders of Tymal Mills and Craig Overton. Mills has been a short form legend before repetitive injuries ruled him away from the game, to the extent of extinction. On the other hand, Overton has risen through the ranks for his height and the extra bounce he generates off the pitch. However, those sorts of skills don’t always help the bowling side as bowlers like him can find it tough to nail down yorkers and can open the run-leaking tap at one end. There is a lack of variety in the spin department led by the left ar spinners Danny Briggs and Liam Dawson. Briggs has been there in the England domestic circuit for a long time and is the leading wicket-taker in the history of the England domestic T20 competition—Vitality Blast, but lack of mystery and not so helpful pitches in the tournament might tie his one hand down against the high-class batsmen of this era. Chances of the shot at the title If the batting group can put their hands up to provide cushioning to the bowling group, the Brave could well be on their way to becoming the first champions of The Hundred. The Brave have enough big players to turn things around in a game and their firepower, even in the absence of Russell, would be a team to beat. Probable XI Devon Conway, Quinton de Kock, James Vince, Collin de Grandhomme, Delray Rawlins, Alex Davies, Danny Briggs, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan, Craig Overton Southern Brave — Women’s squad Captain: Yet to be announced Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Sophia Dunkley, Smriti Mandhana, Ella McCaughan, Fritha Morris, Tara Norris, Sonia Odedra, Carla Rudd, Paige Scholfield, Anya Shrubsole, Charlotte Taylor, Stafanie Taylor, Amanda-Jane Wellington, Danni Wyatt Big players: Sophia Dunkley, Smriti Mandhana, Anya Shrubsole, Stafanie Taylor, Dani Wyatt Coach: Charlotte Edwards Batting rich in class and firepower The onus of carrying the Southern Brave to some height in the tournament will fall on the shoulders of a star-studded batting lineup. The batting looks richer with the presence of Stafaine Taylor, who was in a terrific run of form with both bat and ball against England earlier last month, Smriti Mandhana, an explosive Indian women opener and Sophia Dunkley, who is stepping up the ladder with every appearance on the field. All of them have been in a dream run of form and the Brave women will bank on the trio to set up games for other players to step up. The Brave will also want the England Women trio of Dani Wyatt, Sophia Dunkley and Anya Shrubsole to put up brave performances and match with their men Brave partners in terms of intensity and promises. Chances of winning the title The Brave would rely on the explosive quarter comprising of Mandhana, Wyatt, Dunkley and Taylor to win a majority of games and the expectations don’t seem too untoward with the form they all have been batting with. If they can succeed with the bat, the Brave look a strong outfit and could well go all the way to become the first champion of The Hundred tournament. Probable XI Smriti Mandhana, Danni Wyatt, Stafanie Taylor, Sophia Dunkley, Maia Bouchier, Carla Rudd (wk), Anya Shrubsole, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tara Norris, Charlotte Taylor/Fi Morris, Lauren Bell

Surprised Ben Stokes commends 'talented' squad for 'incredible achievement' against Pakistan

England stand-in skipper Ben Stokes is delighted that the fringe players who have made their way into the ODI side only after the first-choice players were ruled due to the Covid-19 crisis have been absolutely unfazed by the occasion of international cricket. He said that players coming from county cricket have bought into the ideas of playing a certain brand f cricket and have not made it look like a different team at all apart from the change in personnel. "With how vocal we have been in the media about how we want to play, I think players see that, read that and come in and buy into the mindset we have as a white-ball group. Everyone who has come into this squad has lived up to the reputation and mindset we have as an England team. It's different personnel but everyone has tried to play in the way we want,” Stokes said ahead of the final ODI of the series against Pakistan. "It's so pleasing to have a group of young players coming from county cricket and straight into international cricket and not let the occasion faze them whatsoever. I think how vocal we have been has definitely rubbed off onto the guys that have come in." Stokes conceded that he has been pleasantly surprised by the level of performances the players have put in the two ODIs against India although he always knew the squad that was picked at the last moment for the series against Pakistan would be a ‘strong and talented’ squad. He said that the attitude of players have established that the fearless approach that the England side have employed in the last four or five years have been received well by the players in the county circuit. "When I looked at the squad I thought that even though it was a last-minute thing, it was still a seriously strong and talented squad. I knew that we would be able to compete against Pakistan - but it would be a lie to say I am not surprised at how easily we have managed to do it,” Stokes said. "I think it's a reflection of the mindset England has when it comes to white-ball cricket - the modern way of playing is to go out and express yourselves, not worry about the occasion and be fearless. He credited the players for an ‘incredible achievement’ against a ‘very experienced’ Pakistan side in only two matches and rated players’ performance to turn things around in quick time a real positive for the overall state of England cricket. “A great thing to come out of the series is inexperienced guys performing on the biggest stage against a very experienced Pakistan side. To take the series two games in is massive credit to the team. With such a tight turnaround to get a group of players together, to be able to put all that to one side and put in the performances have done, is an incredible achievement,” Stokes added. “When you have a re-jig, a whole new squad comes in and puts in such good performances, that only adds to the expectations that get put onto the main guys' shoulders when they come back." Ben Stokes had injured his hand in the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League and missed the Test series against New Zealand at the start of the summer. However, he was rushed to return to England side as the leader of the pack in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis in the camp.

ENG vs PAK | 2nd ODI: Left shell-shocked by English depth, Pakistan search for spark at Lord's

Two days time are a lot of time in Pakistan Cricket and the team in different eras have shown skills to go from one extreme to another in a matter of 48 hours. That’s what the team management led by the captain Babar Azam would be telling the side in mid of the ODI series against England. England came into the series with both hands tied with them in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis in the camp. They had to bring a completely new 18-man squad to face Pakistan and there were question marks if their rookie batsmen would be able to stand up against ever so impressive Pakistan bowlers. Turned out, Pakistan’s batsmen were found shell shocked against England bowling lineup comprising of players that establish nothing but the enormous depth of the England white-ball sides. Saqib Mahmood made sure that Ben Stokes, who otherwise wouldn’t have been rushed into leading the side after recovering for injury, did not the luxury of Chris Woakes and Mark Wood that the regular skipper Eoin Morgan enjoys. The likes of Lewis Gregory and Craig Overton also put their hands up with the new ball to keep Pakistan under check. With the bat in the hand, Zak Crawley, who has been struggling to put bat to the ball in the summer so far (apart from edging it) made a light work of the chase of 142 runs. He was fluent with his usual drives on the off side and along with Dawid Malan, who did not do his chances any harm with an unbeaten 68 to sink Pakistan on the very first day of the series. England vs Pakistan: Match Details Match No.- 2nd ODI Date and Time: July 10, 2021, 05:30 pm IST, 12:00 pm GMT, 01:00 pm Local Venue: Lord’s, London Broadcast and Livestream in India: Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV Pitch This will be the first ODI at the Lord’s after the iconic final of the ICC ODI World Cup 2019 and the pitch, with the help of the slope, and a possibility of some movement with this batch of Kookaburra ball will assist the bowlers more. The surface is not expected to be a green seamer or an absolute belter but there will some swing in the air on offer for both sides and Pakistan will be desperate to make good use of it after getting a proper hammering in the first ODI. Team News England There is no reportage of any injury or untoward incidents from the English camp and hence the hosts are unlikely to change their playing XI that walloped Pakistan at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Phil Salt was the lone Englishman to fall in the last game and he would be desperate to earn some reckoning after earring a fortuitous opportunity in the England side. Matt Parkinson has another chance to showcase what he brings to the table one more time with his wrist spin and establish himself in the position to be looked at as someone Morgan can call onto in the absence of Adil Rashid. Strongest playing XI Philip Salt, Dawid Malan, Zak Crawley, James Vince, Ben Stokes (c), John Simpson (wk), Lewis Gregory, Craig Overton, Brydon Carse, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson Pakistan None except Fakhar Zaman stood up tall against Saqib Mahmood in the last game and the left-hander has been going strength to strength with one knock over another in crucial games. He has come into the series on the back of a rollicking series with the bat in South Africa and it appears the momentum has not been lost from one country to another. While the batting was an abject failure, the bowling department too appeared toothless in the face of counterattacks from Malan and Crawley. Experienced-pro Hasan Ali could not build pressure from the other end while Shaheen Shah Afridi was testing the inside and outside edges of the batsmen and went for plenty of runs. Come Saturday at the Lord’s, Babar Azam would be looking to get his side back in the groove in all the departments, or else the hosts will walk over them way before they will realise their state of the game. Pakistan too should field an unchanged playing XI. Strongest playing XI Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Sohaib Maqsood, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf England vs Pakistan 2nd ODI: Dream XI/fantasy XI Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Dawid Malan, Zak Crawley, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Ben Stokes, Shadab Khan, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Matt Parkinson, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Craig Overton

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When life gives you second chance, grab it like Jamie Overton

ENG vs NZ | 3rd Test | England add Jamie Overton to 14-member squad