cricket

Temba Bavuma, the South Africa limited-overs captain, has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing series in Sri Lanka after suffering a fracture in his right thumb during the first ODI. In his absence, Keshav Maharaj will lead the side for the second and third fixtures of the three-match ODI series. Bavuma, who will return to South Africa as soon as possible to consult a specialist, took a blow to the thumb during the 26th over of South Africa’s chase in the series opener on Thursday when, after pushing the ball to midwicket, he was attempting to avoid the fielder’s throw. He took his glove off immediately, which revealed some blood and swelling, and received on-field attention for several minutes and continued batting, but not for long.At that stage, Bavuma and Aiden Markram had shared in a 106-run second-wicket stand. Bavuma eventually …

Left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi was at his miserly best as South Africa claimed the five-match Twenty20 International series with a 25-run victory over the West INdias Read more at:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/sensational-tabraiz-shamsi-leads-south-africa-to-t20-series-win-against-west-indies/articleshow/84108946.cms Shamsi recorded figures of 1-11 in four overs to stall the West Indies victory charge as the hosts attempted to chase down South Africa’s score of 168 for four, but were restricted to 143 for nine as the tourists claimed the series 3-2. Shamsi has been excellent in all five games, conceding just 80 runs at an economy rate of only four per over against a powerful batting line-up. reporting; Times of India, read more

Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor played unbeaten knocks off 52 and 47 respectively as New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets to clinch the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) here at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton on Wednesday. A complete effort on the Reserve Day saw New Zealand edging India in a final which had its ebbs and flows in the first innings. The Kiwis made full use of the slender 32-run lead and the Kane Williamson-led side bundled out India cheaply in the second innings to get a target of just 139. The batsmen did not relent and in the end, the side walked away with a comfortable victory. Requiring 139 to win, New Zealand openers Latham and Conway batted till the tea break, ensuring that their side did not lose any wicket before the interval. In …

Hours after the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 was postponed, Cricket South Africa (CSA) said it has held talks with all IPL franchises to ensure the safe return of Proteas players and support staff. CSA also informed that the Proteas contingent will have to undergo home quarantine in line with the current World Health Organization recommendations when they return to South Africa. “CSA supports the decision to put the health and safety interests of all involved in the tournament first and foremost and has made contact with all of the relevant franchises to ensure the expedited travel of all South African players and support staff back to our shores,” CSA said in an official statement. “Those travelling back to South Africa will undergo home quarantine in line with the current World Health Organization recommendations,” it added.The apex body of cricket …

Pakistan survived a collapse from 92/1 chasing 144, to squeak through with a ball to spare and win the series 3-1. South Africa’s brand new team did well to keep in the matches, but ultimately inexperience showed in the bowling and their own middle-order collapse for the Pakistan cricket win. They made rough going of it, scoring 92 for 1 off the first 9 overs, 37 for 5 off the next 9 and 20 for 1 off the final two. Pakistan captain Babar Azam is now the No.1-ranked ODI batsman, ending India captain Virat Kohli‘s long reign at the top of the charts. Babar’s match-winning 82-ball 94 in the third ODI against South Africa helped him gain 13 rating points to reach career-best 865 points. fter playing an unbeaten knock of 122 in the third T20I against South Africa, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has said …

The Interim Board of Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Saturday welcomed the decision taken by the majority of the Members’ Council to accept the principle of a majority independent Board led by an independent Chairperson. This paves the way for the formal amendment of CSA’s Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI) and sets the cricket administration on a new governance path. Interim Board Chair, Stavros Nicolaou, in an official statement said: “This is a landmark moment for South African cricket administration. It lays a solid foundation for transparent and sound governance in the future. It is 9 years since the Nicholson Report recommended a majority independent Board and the moment has finally been seized to make a clean break with the past. It is a step in the direction of transparent, innovative and best practice governance for cricket. “A new Board, comprised …

Mohammad Rizwan continued his excellent form against the Proteas by recording yet another half-century as Pakistan scripted their highest-ever T20I run-chase to take a 1-0 lead in their four-match series with a four-wicket win in Johannesburg on Saturday. The right-hander crafted an unbeaten 74 off 50 balls (9 fours, 2 sixes) to help the tourists chase down a testing 189-run target with one delivery to spare. Stand-in captain Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram had earlier struck half-centuries in a strong batting display by South Africa – the former striking an aggressive 50 off 28 balls (2 fours, 4 sixes) and the latter a slightly slower 51 off 32 balls (8 fours, 1 six). Beuran Hendricks then grabbed three for 32 and Tabraiz Shamsi two for 29 to put the home side on the front foot during the chase, but destructive …

Mohammad Hafeez will become the second Pakistan player and sixth overall to feature in 100 T20Is when he takes the field against South Africa in the first of the four men’s Twenty20 Internationals at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday. Hafeez’ T20 form is solid at the moment, with the hosts having lost the ODIs. Hafeez, 40, is one shy of reaching the three-figure mark and all set to join the exclusive club of Shoaib Malik (116), Rohit Sharma (111), Martin Guptill, Eoin Morgan, and Ross Taylor (102) who have appeared in 100 or more T20Is since the inception of the shortest format of the game in February 2005. Hafeez featured in Pakistan’s first-ever T20I in August 2006 in Bristol and scored 46 in Pakistan’s five-wicket victory over England. Interestingly, Hafeez’s 50th appearance was also at the Wanderers Stadium …

All-rounder Wihan Lubbe and pacer Lizaad Williams, on Thursday received their maiden call-ups to the Proteas men’s squad. Lubbe has been included in the T20 squad while Williams has been named in both the ODI and T20 squads for the upcoming limited-overs series against Pakistan at the end of this month. The likes of Kagiso Rabada, David Miller, Faf du Plessis, Anrich Nortje, Imran Tahir and Chris Morris have been rested for the T20I series against Pakistan, beginning April 10 and as a result, all these players would be able to participate in the Indian Premier League from the start. The ODI series against Pakistan is set to get over on April 7, and depending on the quarantine protocols, the Proteas players won’t be missing much of the IPL. Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Thursday named the squads to be …