Tag: T20 Blast

Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali has secured a stint in county cricket after signing with Yorkshire County Cricket Club as an overseas player for the upcoming Vitality Blast.

The 31-year-old will replace Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq, who has been ruled out after suffering a stress fracture in his right shoulder.

Naveen had already missed the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year and will not recover in time to take up his contract at Headingley.

Yorkshire have moved swiftly to bring in Hasan, who arrives with a significant T20 pedigree. The right-arm quick has represented Pakistan in 57 T20 Internationals and has built a strong reputation across franchise leagues worldwide.

His previous county stint with Warwickshire further strengthens his credentials, having picked up 44 wickets at an impressive average of 14.93 across three Vitality Blast campaigns between 2023 and 2025.

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Hasan Ali is also carrying strong momentum into the competition, currently enjoying an excellent run in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, where he has claimed nine wickets in four matches for Karachi Kings at an average of just over 13.

The experienced pacer is expected to be available for Yorkshire throughout the Blast group stage and will also feature in two County Championship fixtures against Warwickshire and Leicestershire.

Yorkshire’s general manager of cricket, Gavin Hamilton, welcomed the signing, acknowledging the disappointment of losing Naveen but expressing confidence in Hasan’s ability to fill the void.

“Whilst we’re naturally disappointed to not see Naveen join us this year, in Hasan we have an exceptional replacement,” he said.

“He arrives with a wealth of experience and a skillset that we believe will be invaluable to the group. We’re delighted to have secured someone of Hasan’s quality at such short notice, and everyone at the club is looking forward to welcoming him to Headingley next month.”

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BIRMINGHAM: Will Smeed was the star as Somerset chased down a record-breaking 195 to beat Hampshire in English cricket’s T20 Blast final at Edgbaston on Saturday.

Smeed struck a superb 94 off 58 balls while Sean Dickson, dropped on eight, made a crucial 33 not out.

Smeed fell at the start of the 19th over with 18 still needed, but Somerset captain Lewis Gregory came in and struck two sixes to take Somerset to 195-4, the highest score in a T20 Blast final.

After Australia’s Chris Lynn’s blistering century in a semi-final win over Northamptonshire earlier in the day, Hampshire made 194-6 in the final as Toby Albert became the competition’s leading run-scorer this season with 85 off 48 balls

But Hampshire were denied what would have been a record fourth Blast trophy thanks mainly to Smeed’s inspired innings.

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“It’s unbelievable, you work hard all season and to get over the line,” Smeed told the BBC.

“The ball seems to fly here, especially under the lights, and the dew comes in, so we always knew we had a chance. It was some proper hitting from Lewis (Gregory) at the end there as well,” he added.

Somerset, beaten in last season’s final by Gloucestershire, joined Hampshire and Leicestershire with three titles, following their wins in 2005 and 2023.

Hampshire captain James Vince, out for 52 in the final, told Sky Sports: “Somerset have been quality throughout and were too good for us tonight.

“We played some really good cricket, but unfortunately, we came up just short.”

Hampshire, however, will have another chance to lift a trophy this season when they play Worcestershire in the 50-over One-Day Cup final at Trent Bridge a week on Saturday.

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Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has joined the Essex squad for the Vitality Blast T20, set to commence today. 

The arrival of the veteran pacer was announced via Essex’s social media handle in a video.

“Great to be back here. I am really happy and I am looking forward to seeing you all. I need your support,” Mohammad Amir said in the video shared on X.

The left-arm pacer first joined the club in 2017 and played in three seasons for the side.

The left-arm pacer has represented Essex in 21 games, scalping 24 wickets. Amir’s best season came in 2019, when he bagged 10 wickets at an impressive average of 20.10.

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In that year, Essex achieved the double by winning the Vitality Blast final after securing the county title.

It is worth mentioning that Mohammad Amir announced his retirement from international cricket last year. He has claimed 71 wickets at 21.64 in 62 T20Is for Pakistan. He was also a pivotal part of Pakistan’s 2009 ICC T20 World Cup-winning campaign.

The 33-year-old recently represented Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, claiming 13 wickets in nine matches. However, his team ended on the losing side in the nerve-wrecking PSL 10 final.

Lahore Qalandars lifted the PSL trophy for the third time after defeating Quetta Gladiators by six wickets.

Set to chase 202 for victory, Sikandar Raza and Kusal Perera staged an unbroken 59-run partnership to complete the highest chase in a PSL final.

LEEDS: Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood, in a bizarre turn of events, survived a hit-wicket and a run-out on the same delivery during a T20 Blast match between Yorkshire Vikings and Lancashire Lightning at Headingley here on Thursday.

Masood, who is also the captain of Yorkshire, played a swashbuckling innings of 61 runs from 41 deliveries to help his side post 173/8 while batting first.

The aforementioned incident occurred on the first ball of the 15th over, bowled by Jack Blatherwick when Masood was playing on 58. The left-hander stepped on his own stumps off a no-ball and was run out on the other end whilst in mid-pitch seemingly waiting for a dead-ball call.

Shan Masood steps on his stumps off a no ball, Lancashire take the bails off at the other end – but Masood remained not out under law 31.7 pic.twitter.com/yQG6gP6Rac

— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) June 20, 2024

However, on-field umpires James Middlebrook and Graham Lloyd ruled him not out under Law 31.7, which addresses a “batter leaving the wicket under a misapprehension”.

The law states, “An umpire shall intervene if satisfied that a batter, not having been given out, has left the wicket under a misapprehension of being out. The umpire intervening shall call and signal Dead ball to prevent any further action by the fielding side and shall recall the batter.”

Shan Masood was ultimately dismissed in the next over after adding three more runs to his tally as he got caught behind off Saqib Mahmood.

He struck eight boundaries, including three sixes during his 61-run knock, which earned him the man of the match award after his side registered a narrow seven-run victory.

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TAUNTON: Pakistan international Imad Wasim’s all-round exploits in the quarter-final of the ongoing T20 Blast 2023 went in vain as his side Nottinghamshire crashed out.

Imad Wasim lit up the third quarter-final of the T20 Blast between Nottinghamshire and Somerset with his all-round exploits, scoring an unbeaten 31 before following it up with two wickets.

Nottinghamshire, after opting to bat first, were reeling at 108/6 in 16 overs when Imad Wasim came to bat.

The left-handed batter baton charged Somerset bowlers with belligerent hitting and bolstered his side’s total at the backend.

He smashed two boundaries and a six on his way to an unbeaten 31 and faced just 15 deliveries.

His quickfire cameo lifted Nottinghamshire to finish at 157/6 in the allotted 20 overs.

Set to defend 158 to book their spot in the semi-final of the extravaganza, Nottinghamshire got off to a perfect start to the defence courtesy of a magnificent second over by Imad Wasim.

The left-arm spinner dominated Somerset batters in his first over of the spell and removed hard-hitting batters Tom Banton and Tom Kohler Cadmore and did not concede a run.

Imad Wasim, however, could not imitate the magic in his remaining overs and returned with decent figures of 2/33 in his four overs.

Despite his all-round performance, Nottinghamshire succumbed to a narrow five-wicket defeat against Somerset and crashed out of the title race.

Nottinghamshire had Somerset struggling at 62/5 in the 10th over but could not contain the former champions.

Somerset captain Lewis Gregory played a pivotal role in his side’s triumph by scoring a brilliant half-century in the crucial run chase.

He scored an unbeaten 57 off just 34 deliveries with the help of one boundary and five sixes.

Ben Green also supported Gregory well with his unbeaten 35 and put on a match-winning 96-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

Nottinghamshire’s defeat marked the end of Imad Wasim’s T20 Blast stint.

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Pakistan’s ace fast bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, etched his name in cricket history on Friday, becoming the first bowler to take four wickets in the first over of a T20 match.

During a T20 Blast match between Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire, the 23-year-old pacer became the first bowler ever to claim four wickets in the opening over of a T20 match.

Shaheen Shah Afridi’s incredible display unfolded as he took the wickets on the first, second, fifth, and sixth balls of his maiden over.

Shaheen Afridi, you cannot do that!! 💥 https://t.co/ehXxmtz6rX pic.twitter.com/wvibWa17zA

— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) June 30, 2023

He started by dismissing opener Alex Davies with a yorker, followed by bowling out Chris Benjamin. Dan Mousley then fell victim to a catch by Olly Stone after playing a shot straight into his hands. Shaheen Shah Afridi completed his four-wicket haul by bowling out Ed Barnard.

Despite his exceptional performance, Nottinghamshire faced defeat against Warwickshire by two wickets. The Bears successfully chased down the target of 169 runs in 19.1 overs, thanks to an impressive innings by opener Robert Yates, who scored 65 runs off 46 balls. Glenn Maxwell, Jacob Bethell, and Jake Lintott also contributed crucial runs to secure the victory.

As of now, Warwickshire sits at the top of the North Group points table, having won 10 out of 13 matches. Nottinghamshire, on the other hand, currently holds the fourth position with seven wins out of 13 matches.

Shaheen Shah Afridi joined Nottinghamshire Outlaws for this year’s Blast tournament, having previously represented Hampshire Hawks in the 2020 edition. In a match against Middlesex, he had also taken four wickets on four consecutive deliveries.

The T20 Blast, now in its 21st edition, was the first precision T20 league when it was inaugurated in June 2003 as the Twenty20 Cup.

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Nottinghamshire Outlaws on Wednesday signed Pakistan international all-rounder Imad Wasim for a brief two-match T20 Blast stint.

Imad Wasim, who previously represented the Outlaws in the 2019 and 2020 editions of the T20 Blast, will join fellow national pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi at the club.

According to the Outlaws, Imad will be available for the last two T20 Blast group fixtures and will provide a cover for Colin Munro and Samit Patel, who have been ruled out for at least the remaining two group-stage matches due to injury.

His further participation in the ongoing T20 Blast however depends on Outlaws’ qualification to the quarterfinals and the availability of Munro and Patel.

Notably, Imad Wasim was part of the Nottinghamshire Outlaws side which won the T20 Blast title in 2020.

“We’re delighted to welcome Imad back, particularly with the memories we have with him lifting the trophy at Edgbaston three years ago,” Peter Moores said.

“It helps that he’s been with us before. He knows how we operate and vice versa, and he has experience at the highest level which helps in big games. He can bowl across different periods of the game and is a strong middle-order batter.

“Both Colin and Samit are excellent players who have shown their class across the tournament this year, and we’ll miss what they bring to the side.

“However, we believe that by exercising the opportunity to recruit an overseas player of Imad’s quality, we can retain the balance of our side and continue to push for success.

“We have two big games at Trent Bridge with qualification in our own hands and an opportunity to still gain a home draw depending how other results go.

“The key will be to look no further than the game on Friday against the Bears as our first opportunity to qualify for the latter stages of the tournament.”

Imad Wasim has taken 18 wickets for Nottinghamshire Outlaws in 16 games during the course of his first two stints with the club at an economy of less than seven.

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CHELMSFORD: Dutch all-rounder Roelof van der Merwe showcased astounding courage in Somerset’s T20 Blast fixture against Essex when he dislocated his finger while stopping the ball.

The incident happened in the 16th over of the first innings of the match when Roelof van der Merwe bowled a low full toss to Matt Critchley on the third delivery of his last over.

The right-handed batter went to drive the ball straight and cannoned it straight towards Merwe who attempted to stop the ball but dislocated his right-hand index finger in the process.

Roelof van der Merwe jumped up in the air in excruciating pain and immediately called the physio, who put his dislocated finger back in place.

What followed, left the fans in disbelief as Roelof van der Merwe sprinted back to the pitch and completed his over immediately after.

Taking to Twitter, Vitality T20 Blast shared the video of the incident and captioned it as, “Roelof van der Merwe is an absolute trooper: dislocates his finger brilliantly stopping a ball, gets it put back in place, and sprints back to bowl! (Viewing not advised for the squeamish).”

Roelof van der Merwe is an absolute trooper: dislocates his finger brilliantly stopping a ball, gets it put back in place, and sprints back to bowl! 😎

(Viewing not advised for the squeamish)#Blast23 pic.twitter.com/Z7naGZV76p

— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) June 19, 2023

 

Meanwhile, Merwe’s Somerset outclassed Essex by seven wickets and 21 balls to spare at the back of brilliant knocks by their top-five batters in the run chase.

Put into bat first, Essex piled up a decent 186 before bundling out in the final over at the back of brilliant half-centuries by Robin Das and Paul Walter.

Das top-scored for Essex with a quickfire 72 off 39 deliveries, laced up with 11 boundaries and two sixes while Walter smashed two boundaries and five sixes on his way to a 27-ball 51.

Set to chase 187, Somerset batters put on a combined effort to chase down the total in the 17th over for the loss of three wickets.

Opener Tom Banton (40) top-scored for Somerset, followed by Tom Abell (40), Will Smeed (36) and Sean Dickson (30).

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Worcestershire Rapids has re-signed Pakistan international leg spinner Usama Mir, one of the stars of the recent Pakistan Super League, for the remainder of the T20 Blast.

Usama Mir impressed with both bat and ball during the opening three matches of the Blast as a replacement for New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner who was on IPL duty.

He will now take over the Rapids’ other overseas player slot from Michael Bracewell, who has been ruled out for six to eight months with an Achilles injury.

Worcestershire Cricket Steering Group Chairman, Paul Pridgeon, said: “Usama has signed for the remainder of the Blast and is available for the last seven (group) games.

“He really impressed during those first three games, and we are confident Usama will do a good job.

“It goes without saying that we are disappointed for Michael and hope he is back on the cricket field sooner rather than later.”

Usama Mir said: “It was my dream to play county cricket, I realised that earlier in the competition, and I am delighted to be available for the remainder of the tournament.

“The boys have played some good cricket, and I’m looking forward to helping them win some more games and keep challenging near the top of the table.”

Usama Mir also made his LV=Insurance County Championship debut for Worcestershire during the game with Sussex at the 1^st Central County Ground.

He claimed five wickets during his brief three-match stint with Worcestershire Rapids in the starting phase of the T20 Blast.

Usama Mir also proved his mettle with the bat as he accumulated 61 runs in as many matches including a quickfire cameo of 32 runs in his last T20 Blast fixture.

His all-round performance propelled Worcestershire Rapids to a comfortable 33-run victory, who now sits at the fourth position with eight points in the T20 Blast standings.

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DERBY: Pakistan’s ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi once again impressed with his all-round brilliance and powered Nottinghamshire to a three-wicket victory over Derbyshire in the ongoing T20 Blast.

Shaheen Shah Afridi has been a valuable asset for Nottinghamshire in the ongoing edition of the T20 Blast, not just with the ball but also with the bat.

In his side’s latest away fixture against Derbyshire, Shaheen Shah Afridi shone with the ball and took two wickets for just 37 runs in his quota of four overs.

After going wicketless in his first spell, the left-arm pacer returned to breathe fire and disrupted Derbyshire’s expedition for a commendable total and the home side could only accumulate 142/6 in 20 overs.

Shaheen Shah Afridi struck in each of his last two overs and removed Brook Guest (25) and Tom Wood (4).

Set to chase a modest 143, Nottinghamshire’s batting lineup struggled and slipped to 123/6 in 17 overs despite notable contributions by Alex Hales (35) and Samit Patel (28).

Coming out to bat at No.8 when his side needed a further 20 runs in three overs, Shaheen Shah Afridi seized the opportunity to showcase his batting abilities and played an important cameo of 14 runs off just seven deliveries.

He smashed two sixes in his brief yet clutch knock and made the task easier for Nottinghamshire before his Lahore Qalandars’ teammate Zaman Khan removed him.

Following his late fireworks, Nottinghamshire completed the pursuit with eight balls to spare and edged Derbyshire by three wickets.

The three-wicket victory over Derbyshire propelled Nottinghamshire to the top of the T20 Blast North Group standings with 12 points in nine matches.

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