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COVID-19 compels Stars-Strikers duel to shelve

ADELAIDE: The 38th match of the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) postponed after returning Melbourne Stars’ players deemed unfit physically and mentally to play after completing the isolation period.

As many 13 Stars players contracted the virus in the past 10 days, the bulk of whom completed their mandatory seven-day isolation period today. However, marked themselves unfit for their side’s upcoming clash against Adelaide Strikers in their backyard.

The BBL will announce the revised schedule for the tomorrow night’s postponed fixture of the Stars and the Strikers soon.

On the other hand, Sydney Sixers became the seventh BBL franchise, out of eight, to hit by the widely spread virus. The four members of the Sixers became the victim of the outbreak; contracting the virus. The contracted will have to self isolate themselves for a mandatory seven days.

Having already had a game against the Scorchers postponed a week ago, the Stars will now have to catch up two games over the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, the CEO of Cricket Australia Nick Hockley, however, confirmed the relocation of the league to the Melbourne hub in order to keep the competition going.

READ: COVID-19 outbreak causes Heat-Sixers contest to postpone

Sangha goes hard as Thunder defeat Strikers in BBL

ADELAIDE: Sydney Thunder’s Jason Sangha played a blinder before the bowlers surrounded the Adelaide Strikers’ batting line-up; defeating the home side by 22 runs, on Friday.

Set to chase 188, in the 28th match of the ongoing tournament, the Strikers could only score 165 for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 20 overs; losing their sixth match of the season.

The Strikers had an average start to their run-chase; losing their first wicket for just 23 runs. Matthew Short was the batter, who dismissed after scoring 16. Jake Weatherald and Matt Renshaw then partnered strongly; adding 73 runs for the second wicket. The home side appeared to be in a comfortable position before Renshaw dismissed after scoring a quick 38. He faced just 26 balls and smacked five boundaries.

Following his dismissal, Weatherald was too soon dismissed after scoring 31(29). Following their departure, the Strikers ran into a collapse; slipping from 91/1 to 162/7. Jonathan Wells, who was fighting hard, also became a victim of the match-defining collapse. He top-scored with his 46; facing 26 deliveries, including five boundaries and a six.

For the Thunder, Daniel Sams starred; picking four wickets for 33, while Saqib Mahmood bagged two. Sangha, on the other hand, claimed one wicket.

Batting first, the Thunder started the proceedings decently, with their openers providing an important 37-runs opening stand. Matthew Gikes scored 13 before falling victim to Fawad Ahmed’s brilliant delivery.

Ben Cutting then joined Sangha and recorded a brief partnership of 25-runs, before Cutting fell short. He scored 37 off 32 balls, including three boundaries and two sixes.

The wicket-keeper batter – Sam Billings could not stay for long as well, as he departed after scoring 18(11). Following his dismissal, the Strikers slipped to 98/3 in the 14th over.

Sangha then launched an onslaught against the Strikers’ bowlers. The batter smoked six boundaries and as many sixes for his fiery 91; facing just 55 balls. Oliver Davies, too, was also handy at the death; scoring a quickfire 26 off just 12. He smoked one boundary and two sixes.

With the late heroics from the duo, the Thunder finished with 187/3 in the allotted 20 overs.

Following this victory, the Thunder have claimed the fourth position on the points table, while the Strikers remained the seventh.

READ: COVID-19 rocks Big Bash League’s ongoing edition

Quinton de Kock announces retirement from Test cricket

CENTURION: South Africa’s wicketkeeper batter – Quinton de Kock, announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect, Cricket South Africa (CSA) reported.

The left-handed batter; while announcing his retirement from the longest format of the game, citing his intentions to spend more time with his ‘growing family’.

Taking to Twitter, the CSA shared the announcement.

BREAKING: #Proteas wicket-keeper batsman, Quinton de Kock has announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect, citing his intentions to spend more time with his growing family.

Full statement: https://t.co/Tssys5FJMI pic.twitter.com/kVO8d1e0Ex

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 30, 2021

In Test cricket, de Kock scored 3300 runs at an average of 38.82; including six centuries and 22 half-centuries. He made his Test debut against Australia in 2014.

READ: Ross Taylor announces retirement from international cricket

Shadab Khan praises Saqlain Mushtaq on his birthday

KARACHI: Pakistan’s leg-spinner – Shadab Khan heaped praise on the interim head coach of Pakistan Cricket Team – Saqlain Mushtaq, on the latter’s birthday.

Taking to Twitter, the 23-years-old spinner, showed his admiration towards the current head coach, while wishing him a happy birthday. Pakistan’s T20I vice-captain also termed Mushtaq as his ‘growing up hero’.

“Happy birthday Saqlain Mushtaq bhai. My hero growing up, my inspiration and now my coach. Lots of love and prayers for you,” he wrote.

Happy birthday @Saqlain_Mushtaq bhai. My hero growing up, my inspiration and now my coach. Lots of love and prayers for u. pic.twitter.com/GWVxZjnfAj

— Shadab Khan (@76Shadabkhan) December 29, 2021

Mushtaq, who is celebrating his 45th birthday, coached Pakistan in the recent ICC WT20I 2021. The side had a successful run under his tenure so far.

READ: Shadab Khan joins Sydney Sixers for BBL 11 remainder

LPL: Gladiators, Giants share points as rain spoils play

COLOMBO: The eighth match of Lanka Premier League between Galle Gladiators and Dambulla Giants, returned no results as the heavens kept showering.

Gladiators and Giants have shared a point each as the match concluded no result.

Giants, batting first, scored 159/7 in 20 overs. Ramesh Mendis scored 33 off 23 balls, followed by their top scorer, Dasun Shanaka, who scored 37 off 32 balls.

For Gladiators, Nuwan Thushara and Noor Ahmed each claimed two wickets, while Samit Patel, Mohammad Hafeez and Dhananjaya Lakshan shared one wicket apiece.

In reply, Gladiators’ batters could only face eight balls, scoring 18 before rain spoiled the proceedings. The game could not resume as it kept raining and, in the end, no result could be concluded.

Gladiators have secured the top position on the table, while Giants are at the second.

READ: Avishka, Perrera lead Jaffna Kings to victory in Lanka Premier League

Root, Malan star to keep England in the hunt

BRISBANE: England’s batters, Joe Root and Dawid Malan partnered strongly to help their side back into the game on day three of the first Ashes Test, here on Friday.

Root and Malan showed valiant batting display, the pair put on an unbeaten 159 runs partnership to end the third day on a high.

In response to Australia’s 425, English openers again failed to provide a solid start to the side, losing the first wicket on just 23. Rory Burns failed to get going, dismissed on 13 by Pat Cummins.

Soon after, Haseeb Hameed also fell short and the batter got out on 27 by Mitchell Starc. English team appeared to be in trouble, losing two wickets for just 61. Root and Malan, however, took responsibility and showed grit. Both the batters scored unbeaten half-centuries before the stumps on day three.

Root scored 86 runs laced with 10 boundaries, while Malan, too, was impressive, scoring 80 runs including as many boundaries as his batting partner. The pair will now resume the innings for England at 220/2 on the fourth day.

During his valiant innings, Root has also achieved the record of scoring most runs (1,541*) scored by an English batter in a calendar year, breaking the record of Michael Vaughn who scored 1,481 runs in 2002.

Earlier, Australia resumed their innings at 343/7, kept the momentum, adding 48 runs before losing their eighth wicket. Starc was dismissed on a brilliant 35.

Australian centurion, Travis Head, however, kept going and went on to score 152 before being dismissed by Mark Wood. Head remained the top scorer for the Kangaroos in the first innings.

Australian batting tale also made small contributions to help their side amass a massive total of 425.

Wood and Ollie Robinson each got three wickets for England. Chris Woakes took two wickets in the first innings. Jack Leach and Root, on the other hand, both took one wicket.

READ: Head’s century puts Australia on top

Dhananjaya’s century puts Sri Lanka in control

GALLE: Sri Lankan middle-order batter, Dhananjaya de Silva scored a brilliant century on day-4 of their ongoing match against West Indies, here on Thursday.

Sri Lanka resumed with an overnight score of 46/2, led by batters Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka. The batters, however, struggled to add 27 runs to their overnight total before Asalanka was dismissed on 19 by Veerasammy Permaul.

The Lions appeared to be in trouble, but Nissanka and Dhananjaya de Silva batted sensibly and put on an important 78-run partnership before Nissanka was dismissed on a brave 66 by Roston Chase.

Dhananjaya, on the other hand, stood firm and kept the scoreboard ticking by himself, as no other batter stayed longer to contribute significantly to the team’s total. He scored a magnificent century to get his team out of trouble. He was the top scorer for the team, as the batter was not out on 153 at the time of the stumps.

On day 5, Lions’ batters Dhananjaya (153*) and Lasith Embuldeniya (25*) will resume the side’s proceedings. Sri Lanka currently holds a 279-run lead.

Permaul was the standout bowler for the Caribbeans, taking three wickets. Chase claimed two wickets, while Kraigg Brathwaite struck out one batter.

READ: National Stadium to host full crowd during Pak-Windies series

National Stadium to host full crowd during Pak-Windies series

KARACHI: National Command Operation Center (NCOC) allowed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to host full crowd during the upcoming Pakistan-West Indies ODIs and T20Is.

Only vaccinated spectators will be allowed in the stadium, according to NCOC guidelines provided to PCB. Spectators and organizers must wear masks and use sanitizers.

The Pakistan-West Indies T20I and ODI series will take place from December 13 to December 22. Both series matches are set to take place at Karachi’s National Stadium.

The decision regarding the attendance of spectators in PSL 7 will be taken in the third week of December.

READ: Seniors given rest as Pakistan announce squads against WI

No plans to apply for coaching job again: Misbah

LAHORE: Former Test cricketer Misbah-ul-Haq said he doesn’t have immediate plans to come again in the Pakistan team’s coaching.

In an interaction with reporters here on Thursday, Misbah said he put in his all efforts to do well in favour of the national team.

“I gave everything as a coach and there wasn’t anything that could have forced me to run away. Overall, the team played well during my tenure. If someone feels that after me the team played well, let’s accept that too. Pakistan’s performance is what matters to me and all of us. And, I am happy with the way Pakistan performed in T20 World Cup 2021,” Misbah said.

“For now, I don’t have any plans to apply for Pakistan team’s coaching. I think Saqlain Mushtaq and company did well,” he responded to a question.

Misbah also praised Babar Azam’s captaincy in T20 World Cup 2021. “Babar led the side too well in the tournament. I think he can be one of the strongest captains in the future,” he concluded.

READ: Will decide franchise for PSL 7 closer to the time of event: Shahid Afridi

PCB chairman Ramiz Raja unhappy with U19 team selection

Lahore: Chairman – Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Ramiz Raja is not happy with the U19 team selection for ICC Cricket World Cup, scheduled from 14th January to 5th February 2022 in West Indies.

According to the sources, the PCB chairman refused to sign on the selected probables for the mega event. Ramiz told the selection committee that he would see selected players himself.

In this regard, an important meeting has been called by the PCB chairman. Junior Selection committee members and coaches have been invited.

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