It was a low-scoring roller-coaster of a game to close out the T20I series, which Pakistan had already sealed

Danyal Rasool05-Dec-2024
On Tuesday, the Zimbabwean cricket team let Bulawayo’s exhilarating crowd down, but today, they picked them right back up. In a nerve-shredding encounter, Zimbabwe controlled, won, threw away and eventually stole a roller-coaster of a game off the penultimate delivery. A slap from Richard Ngarava that thudded into the stumps at the non-striker’s end, a hesitant jitter, and a scampered single was what it took to seal a two-wicket win that will feel much more significant than the mere consolation it will be recorded as in a 2-1 series defeat against Pakistan.In pursuit of 133 after a insipid batting performance from Pakistan, Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani appeared to have made this game routine when Zimbabwe blazed to 50 in five overs. But with a middle order as fragile as Zimbabwe’s no game is truly done, and even when the hosts sat pretty at 73 for 1 with more than half the overs the spare, Pakistan knew they were in with a shot, not least because of a Sufiyan Muqeem-shaped trump card who ran rampant through the middle overs once more. Within a five-over spell, 73 for 1 became 94 for 5, with Muqeem piling on the pressure as Abbas Afridi cleaned up from the other end. With four overs to go, the run rate was pushing 12.Pakistan believed Sikandar Raza stood between them and victory, and when Zimbabwe’s talisman miscued tamely to long-on off Jahandad Khan, the game looked as good as gone for Zimbabwe. Needing 12 off the final over with 21-year-old Tinotenda Maposa – on T20 debut – on strike, things appeared bleak. But a squirted boundary was followed up by a monstrous hoick over square leg for six that brought Zimbabwe to within two runs of victory. There was time for more drama when Tashinga Musekiwa went for a glory shot and miscued, but a Bulawayo crowd full of soulful singing was not to be denied this time.

Tidy Zimbabwe leave Pakistan in a mess

Stung by heavy criticism after an embarrassing collapse in the second T20I, Zimbabwe came out with a much greater intensity. Blessing Muzarabani had Omair Yousuf hole out for a duck, before Wellington Masakadza, who was accurate throughout, outwitted Sahibzada Farhan. A tentative little dab from Usman Khan off Muzarabani brought the third wicket, and Zimbabwe had the better of the powerplay by a distance.Qasim Akram made 20 off 15 to give Pakistan something to bowl at•Associated Press

Raza realized Pakistan were struggling against spin, and brought himself, Ryan Burl and Brian Bennett on at various stages through the middle overs. Pakistan were batting with a rather long tail, which necessitated a rebuild through the middle overs. Salman Agha struck up handy partnerships with Tayyab Tahir and Qasim Akram to keep the visitors ticking over, before useful cameos from Arafat Minhas and Abbas Afridi got Pakistan beyond three figures. It was only an untidy 13-run final over from Muzarabani that got Pakistan past 130 against a bowling attack that offered them very little throughout the innings. It was so very nearly enough.

Bennett and Marumani scorch Pakistan

Pakistan were defending a low total, and Zimbabwe’s openers essentially broke the back of it. The intent was clear when Bennett whipped Mohammad Hasnain to the square leg boundary off the first ball of the innings. Marumani, who has had the better of Jahandad for much of this series, whipped him through the offside for a pair of boundaries in the second over, and from thereon Zimbabwe were flying.But when Hasnain lined up for his second over, he was in for a flaying at Bennett’s hands. His line and length was all over the place and the batter was only too happy to take advantage with a pair of boundaries on each side of the wicket, plundering 19 off the errant over. Salman hastily brought himself into the attack, and Marumani insolently reverse swept him on the first-ball. It had taken them just 19 balls to get to 40, and the required rate was now under five.

Muqeem’s magic nearly derails Zimbabwe

There’s no better indicator of the start Muqeem has made in T20I cricket that Pakistan turned to him for a miracle when they needed wickets and a reining in of the run rate. No batter could truly pick out his wrong-un, and his figures of 4-1-19-1 did not do justice to the full breadth of his wizardry. There were multiple pokes that barely missed the outside edge, and a couple of top edges that might so easily have gone straight to slip. It culminated in a beguiling final over to Musekiwa, who desperately tried to see him off, willing to play out a maiden as the asking rate spiked after every ball.On any other day, Muqeem would have wrapped the game up before his spell ended, and on the evidence of this series, there will be many more such days.

Ismat remained unbeaten on 64 with rain forcing early stumps

Abhimanyu Bose04-Jan-2025Afghanistan dragged themselves to a position of advantage on an attritional third day, with Rahmat Shah’s gritty century, his third in Test cricket, headlining their much improved batting display from their first innings.On the second day where 13 wickets fell, Afghanistan conceded an 86-run first-innings lead to Zimbabwe and lost three wickets before wiping out even half the deficit.But on Saturday, Rahmat, with help from Shahidullah and debutant Ismat Aslam, stretched Afghanistan’s lead beyond 200 with three wickets still remaining, before rain forced early stumps.For Zimbabwe, Blessing Muzarabani added two wickets to his overnight tally of two, while Richard Ngarava struck twice, including the prized scalp of Rahmat, but they know with Ismat still at the crease along with Rashid Khan, who is capable of scoring some quick runs, they are going to be staring at a steep chase on a pitch where batting fourth is a daunting proposition.Afghanistan’s innings revolved around two partnerships. The first was a 67-run stand between Rahmat and Shahidullah that saw the visitors take a 50-run lead by the time it was broken.The pair got together after Afghanistan lost two wickets in the first hour of play while still 17 runs behind.From the way Rahmat started the day, it was evident he wanted to bat long for Afghanistan to get into a winning position. He played out 19 balls before scoring the first run off his bat on the day.Ngarava removed the nightwatcher Zia-ur-Rehman the very next ball, and dismissed Afsar Zazai soon after.This prompted Rahmat to take the initiative as he punished two consecutive bad balls from Muzarabani – a full toss and a half-volley – with drives down the ground for boundaries.There was a short rain delay that followed, after which the two dealt in singles till Afghanistan were in the lead in the 30th over.Rahmat and Shahidullah took on Sikandar Raza and Newman Nyamhuri for two boundaries off the next two overs before Rahmat brought up a half-century off 99 balls. The boundaries kept coming as the two trudged along to lunch with a 39-run lead.In the fourth over after tea, a smart piece of captaincy brought about Shahidullah’s downfall.Blessing Muzarabani accounted for two more wickets on Saturday•Zimbabwe Cricket

With Muzarabani testing him outside off from around the wicket, Craig Ervine brought on a silly point fielder and the next delivery, Shahidullah fended at a length ball in the corridor to offer the simplest of chances to Takudzwanashe Kaitano at silly point.Zimbabwe knew they had to capitalise on the opportunity, and put the screws on Afghanistan.Ismat, who was out without scoring in the first innings, copped a blow on the helmet trying to duck under a Muzarabani bouncer that stayed low and needed multiple check-ups from the physio over the next few overs.Rahmat survived an lbw chance when Raza, who toiled away for 23 wicketless overs in the day, got one to spin in sharply to strike his pad only for the umpire to turn it down. Rahmat responded by dancing down the track and lofting him down the ground for a boundary before he took a hit on the shoulder from an Ngarava short ball.But the two were unfazed and went about steadily increasing Afghanistan’s lead. Rahmat brought up his century with a single of Nyamhuri off 209 balls, following up on his double in the first Test.Ismat, who was on 16 off 46 at the point, then started to shift gears with two boundaries off Nyamhuri before tea.After tea, there were 11 consecutive overs of spin, but Raza and Bennett couldn’t break through or keep the scoring rate down to apply pressure.As soon as the new ball became available, Zimbabwe found some immediate chances. Ngarava drew the edge from Ismat but he was dropped by Ervine at first slip, when he was three runs short of his fifty. One over later, Ismat brought up a half-century.The set batters used the extra pace of the new ball to cash in on a few more boundaries before Muzarabani finally broke the stand on 132 – the highest for the seventh wicket for Afghanistan.Muzarabani got a length ball to seam in past Rahmat’s inside edge and hit his back pad. Rahmat wasn’t best pleased when the umpire ruled him out leg before, but with no DRS available in this series, he had to walk back after a marathon innings.Rashid then quickly moved to 12 off as many deliveries, hitting Nyamhuri through midwicket for a boundary off what proved to be the last ball of the day before the players were called off for rain.

Chittagong have moved up to second spot after a good run of results in Sylhet, but there is a muddle in the middle of the points table

Mohammad Isam14-Jan-2025Rangpur Riders have been in top form for a second week in a row in BPL 2024-25, stretching their winning run to seven out of seven to get to within striking distance of the playoffs. And they have made it fun – both their wins in the Sylhet leg over the past week have been last-over affairs, one of them a last-baller.Against Fortune Barishal, their captain Nurul Hasan smashed 30 runs in the last over off Kyle Mayers for a three-wicket win. Then it was the turn of their fielders and bowlers to make a late turnaround against Khulna Tigers, as they picked up three wickets in the last over, bowled by Mohammad Saifuddin, to win by eight runs.Like Rangpur, Chittagong Kings also won both their outings in Sylhet, beating Dhaka Capitals and Sylhet Strikers quite comfortably. Dhaka and Sylhet also opened their accounts in the competition, while Durbar Rajshahi also won one game in the Sylhet leg.

Best batter – Usman Khan

Nurul’s heist against Barishal was one of many batting highlights of the past week.Zakir Hasan and Usman Khan struck two half-centuries each. Litton Das scored a 73 and his maiden T20 century, a 125 not out, with Tanzid Hasan scoring 108 alongside Litton in that game against Rajshahi as the two put on 241 for the first wicket.Unfortunately for Litton, the sudden burst in form came a tad late as he was dropped from Bangladesh’s Champions Trophy squad – he scored the century in the evening after the squad had been announced in the afternoon.Usman Khan has been key to Chittagong Kings’ recent success•Chittagong Kings

Usman dominated the powerplay in both of Chittagong’s wins, putting together good partnerships as well in the process. Coming into the week after slamming 123 in 62 balls in Chittagong’s 105-run win over Rajshahi, Usman hit 55 in 33 balls against Dhaka and then 53 in 35 balls against Sylhet, when they won by 30 runs. Indeed, his form, and that of the other batters like Graham Clark and Haider Ali and Shamim Hossain has been central to Chittagong’s recent surge.

Best bowler – Mohammad Saifuddin

There were no big hauls by any of the bowlers this week, but plenty of them made telling contributions.Khaled Ahmed and Mohammad Wasim did well in Chittagong’s two wins. Akif Javed also bowled a match-winning spell, taking three wickets in Rangpur’s win over Khulna. Rahkeem Cornwall, meanwhile, was the only spinner to take a three-for this week, setting up Sylhet’s win over Dhaka.The performance that stood out, though, was Saifuddin’s superb last over against Khulna. Khulna needed 12 runs off the six balls, and though they were six down at the start of the over, were favourites to pull it off.Saifuddin stuck to yorkers, started the over with two dot balls, then bowled a wide, but then Rangpur got three wickets in three balls as panic set in the Khulna camp. Mohammad Nawaz and Nasum Ahmed were run out off consecutive balls, and Saifuddin then got rid of Abu Hider, before giving away one run off the final ball.Litton Das has found form, but not soon enough to get in the Champions Trophy squad•Dhaka Capitals

Unusual plays

Nurul became only the second batter to hit 30 runs in the last over of a T20 match, and the 30 runs Rangpur got ranked third in the list of most runs scored off the last over of a men’s T20 game.Sabbir Rahman, meanwhile, scored his first BPL half-century in five years, hitting 82 not out off 33 balls with nine sixes and three fours. But it wasn’t enough as Chittagong won that game against Dhaka.Litton scored his first T20 century in his 227th match in the format.

Tale of the table

Rangpur are the clear leaders. Chittagong have been the surprise package, now in second position with six points from four games. Barishal, who came into the tournament as one of the favourites, are in third place, also with six points but they have played one game more than Chittagong. Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi will have to battle hard for the fourth playoffs spot, but Dhaka, with one win in seven matches, will have to make a big, late charge to be in with a chance.

Ireland went toe-to-toe for most of the chase but lost the last four wickets in their last ten deliveries

Sreshth Shah14-Feb-2025Brian Bennett delivered a Valentine Day’s gift to all the cricket lovers at Harare Sports Club with a sublime 169 to set up Zimbabwe’s 49-run win in the first ODI against Ireland on Friday.Promoted to opener for the first time in ODI cricket, Bennett struck 56.52% of Zimbabwe’s total to give Ireland a target of 300 to chase. Along the way, he also became the fourth-youngest to score 150-plus in a men’s ODI and posted the fifth-highest ODI score by a Zimbabwe men’s batter.The target, though, on a docile surface, was quite gettable, and Ireland went toe-to-toe for most of the chase. But they ran out of wickets – including four dismissals in their last ten deliveries of their innings – to fold for 250. Blessing Muzarabani (4 for 51) and Richard Ngarava (3 for 56) shared seven wickets, and Zimbabwe arrested their four-match losing streak to take the hosts 1-0 up.A 9.30am start with rain in the air, and Harare historically favouring chasing sides, Ireland captain Paul Stirling made the logical call of bowling first. But Josh Little, the left-arm swing bowler, had a rough return to the ODI line-up as he conceded 35 runs in his first three overs. Bennett was the chief aggressor, pumping him for six fours in his first three overs, while Ben Curran carved another couple. He would eventually finish on 1 for 75 in nine overs with an economy of 8.33, conceding 11 fours and five wides in all.The prolific start, and the lack of incision from the Ireland new-ball bowlers, allowed the Zimbabwe opening partnership to grow. They put on 95 for the first wicket before offspinner Andy McBrine (1 for 53) broke the stand.There was no respite, though, as Bennett and the No. 3 Craig Ervine then added 136 in 134 balls in a second-wicket stand that was constructed masterfully. They were watchful through the middle overs with some turn in the pitch and the pair of Matthew Humphreys and McBrine appeared to strangle the pair.Craig Ervine and Brian Bennett added 136 off 134 balls•Zimbabwe Cricket

While Bennett took an affinity towards point, extra cover, deep midwicket and deep square leg with his 20 fours and three sixes, Ervine was more adventurous by moving across and trying to find empty pockets over fine leg. As the stand grew and Zimbabwe’s run-rate got a boost, Bennett too played with the Ireland bowlers by using the width of his crease to create boundary-scoring opportunities.The pair capitalised on three dropped catches and one missed stumping to bring up Zimbabwe’s 200 in the 38th over, and a big target was very much on before Ervine fell against the run of play to medium-pacer Graham Hume in the 41st over. Sikandar Raza and Wessly Madhevere, though, failed to keep the momentum up, and the big shots came from only Bennett’s end in the final ten. After batting for 216 minutes, Bennett perished in the final over trying to find a big shot, and his effort ensured Zimbabwe finished on 299 for 5.”I was pushing them for a while to get up [to open], and happy to get that opportunity,” Bennett said after the game. “I just wanted to watch the ball and hit the ball. It’s a very good sign, and I hope to do that again on Sunday. I wanted to take it deep as one of the set batters among the top four.”The chase began inauspiciously for Ireland as Andrew Balbirnie was caught behind off Ngarava in the first ball but the rest of Ireland’s batting unit showed enough promise that the chase could be pulled off, only to lose their wicket when the tide appeared to turn. Stirling was deceived by a Muzarabani short ball to fall for 32, Curtis Campher edged a wide ball from Raza to the keeper on 44, Harry Tector scooped Madhevere to fine leg on 39 and Lorcan Tucker inside-edged Muzarabani onto his stumps on 31.At 169 for 6 in 35.2 overs, Ireland’s chase appeared to lose its fizz, but an eighth-wicket stand of 73 in 9.1 overs between George Dockrell (34) and McBrine (36) brought life into the game and started to make the home crowd nervous.However, Ervine turned to Muzarabani for the 45th over, and he picked off both set batters in the space of four balls, and Ngarava wrapped up the tail in the 46th for a tame finish to a high-octane game.”We gave Bennett a chance or two and he made us pay,” Stirling said after the defeat. “We were rusty [in the field] when we shouldn’t have been. I felt 50 runs was the difference between the two sides and the result reflects that. [A target of] 300 was chaseable, and at 30 overs we were in the hunt. But we lost our way. We bat pretty deep and hopefully we do well with the bat next game.”

Perry strikes first-ball on debut for Hampshire but is unable to prevent 37-run defeat

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay04-Jul-2025The Blaze reasserted their Women’s Vitality Blast qualification charge with a rock-solid 37-run victory over Hampshire at Queen’s Park, Chesterfield.Kirstie Gordon’s side bounced back from their defeat to Warwickshire by recovering from a scrappy start to reach 188 for six thanks to Heather Graham (73, 47 balls) and Ella Claridge (51 not out, 36) who added 76 from 51 balls for the fifth wicket. Ellyse Perry, on her debut, took a wicket with her first ball for Hampshire on the way to two for 23.Hampshire replied with 151 all out, only Rhianna Southby’s classy T20-best 64 (42) defying for long against a Blaze attack led by Kathryn Bryce (four for 13). The Hawks’ defeat means they, or any other side, have a great deal to do in the remaining games to reel in top three Blaze, Surrey and Warwickshire.Put in, Blaze were given a brisk start by Marie Kelly (16 from seven balls) but then lost three wickets in nine balls. Kelly’s off-stump was uprooted by Freya Davies who two balls later took a simple catch at mid on, offered by Georgia Elwiss off Rebecca Tyson. Kathryn Bryce then edged Perry’s first ball to wicketkeeper Southby.Graham was immediately fluent and, though Davies returned to trap Sarah Bryce lbw with a yorker, Claridge supplied vital support. Claridge contributed only eight of the first 50 added by the fifth-wicket pair but was the perfect foil for the Australian who exploited a reprieve on six, when she was dropped at short third man by Tyson off Daisy Gibb, to reach 50 from 34 balls.Graham was threatening to take the game right away from Hampshire when she drove a low full toss from Perry back to the bowler. Michaela Kirk walked across one from Georgia Adams and was bowled but Claridge closed the innings with a flurry of fours to reach a 36-ball half-century and, with Sarah Glenn, plunder 37 from the last 14 balls of the innings.Perry launched Hampshire’s reply with three fours from her first nine balls but perished in pursuit of a fourth when she lifted Kathryn Bryce to mid on. Gordon accepted that catch and inflicted further damage with her first ball which she flighted past Freya Kemp’s charge to hit leg-stump.Adams clipped Kathryn Bryce to mid-wicket and, as the required rate climbed, Southby carried the fight to Blaze, passing a boundary-laden half-century from 36 balls. Southby and Abi Norgrove added 54 from 32 balls but fell in successive overs as the pressure grew.Both were bowled, Southby slogging at Graham and Norgrove beaten in the flight by Kathryn Bryce. Hampshire’s chase disintegrated with Megan Sturge suffering the rotten luck of being run out without facing a ball on her Hawks debut.

England assistant coach Trescothick feels KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant will be the two batters who could determine the third Test’s fate

Nagraj Gollapudi13-Jul-20251:20

Manjrekar: Lord’s Test 70-30 in England’s favour

Can England get early wickets and push their way past India in their quest to take a 2-1 lead in the series? Can India stay positive and get the 135 runs required to win consecutive Tests after losing the series opener?According to Marcus Trescothick, England’s assistant coach, both teams are “desperate” to win, which will only add to the excitement to this gripping Lord’s Test, which has been drama-filled over the weekend.”Well, if I knew that, I could probably relax a little bit easier coming into tomorrow,” Trescothick said at the post-match media briefing when asked which team had the edge going into day five. “But of course, both teams are desperate to win.Related

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“It’s going to be amazing, isn’t it? Already we’ve seen four good days of cricket and two games, which have been well supported, but that last sort of hour or half-an-hour, the support and the energy around the ground made it amazing really, didn’t it? Everybody was invested into it.”From an England point of view, obviously brilliant – we love those sorts of situations when the crowd is really up behind the team. Hopefully we can get a bit more of that tomorrow and we can sort of push forward to winning the game. So it will revolve around the first hour of the day tomorrow, how positive India can be, how dominant we can be with the ball, and how many earlier wickets we can get.”Lord’s has been a sellout over the weekend and the crowd had been on the edge of their seats for most of Sunday. which was bookended by a lot of drama. If the morning session started with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj delivering probing spells to strangle England, Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes took back control from India by picking three late wickets to leave them at 58 for 4.Still England will be wary of the remaining India batters. KL Rahul, who is unbeaten on 33, still has Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar left to come in. Trescothick agreed that Rahul and Pant were the two “dangerous” batters who could hurt England on Monday if they found their footing.Rahul, who scored his second century of this series on Saturday, has found success with his old-school approach to Test batting, which relies on defence, and Trescothick said dismissing him early would be key to prising open the India batting.”KL’s been classical old-school style of Test cricket and he’s left the ball really well. His judgment of the length is good, looked to bat for a long period of time and he’s done it well,” he said. “Obviously [Rahul got] a hundred in the first innings. Hopefully we can get him out early and we can start getting into the rest of the tail as they come along. But he’s been pretty dominant in a few of the games that he’s played and he’s pretty much got a score in most innings that he’s played.”2:02

Manjrekar: ‘Lion-hearted’ effort from Siraj

India remain confident of claiming another Lord’s win after their thrilling victory in 2021, which ended on the final hour of the fifth day. Washington, who enjoyed one of his “best” days in Test cricket after picking 4 for 22, said India were positive and it would be “amazing” to win a Test at Lord’s. The allrounder said there was no particular “approach” India would take in scaling the target, barring playing to the situation. “We know it’s going to go really well for us,” he said.All through, fans of both teams were completely immersed in the run of play, especially the India supporters who – based on the noise levels – seemed to have outnumbered those backing Stokes’ side. That the fans could be a catalyst was evident when Joe Root, standing in slips, started to bring his hands together asking the home fans to get behind England.Trescothick agreed the electric atmosphere was an important element and would once again play a role on Monday.”It might take a wicket [early on day five] to sort of get it going,” he said. “We might need Joe to wind them [the fans] up again. But the support has been brilliant throughout because obviously we know both teams are really well supported and it’s great that we have that. And of course, tomorrow will be no different, because everyone loves their cricket and we’ll get another full house where both sets of supporters will get to see a finale of amazing Test.”

Having last played for Zimbabwe in 2018, he recently returned to domestic cricket and could be in contention for the T20 World Cup Qualifiers

Firdose Moonda08-Aug-2025Former Zimbabwe captain and legspinner Graeme Cremer has returned to the country’s domestic cricket structure and is available for international selection. Cremer, who is 38 and led Zimbabwe between 2016 and 2018, gave up cricket for golf and then moved with his family to the UAE, where his wife Merna works as an airline pilot. He has now made his return in Zimbabwe’s National Premier League, the 45-over club competition.ESPNcricinfo has confirmed he is eligible for selection for the national side and could be in contention for September’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers, which will be played in Zimbabwe.Cremer last played international cricket in March 2018 and has been involved in coaching roles in Dubai, including with the Rajasthan Royals Academy. He is now playing for the defending champions, Takashinga Patriots 1 Cricket Club, and is the leading wicket-taker after two matches.Related

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“It’s amazing being back,” Cremer told about his return after the match against Queens Sports Club in Kwekwe. “Kwekwe was my home ground for many years, so it was great walking out and being part of Takashinga, which is such a prestigious club. They welcomed me into the team and it was an amazing team environment. I’m really happy with the start.”Cremer took 4 for 43 as Takashinga defended 263 for 6 and won by 134 runs. That match, played on August 3, also featured Brendan Taylor, who has subsequently made his return to the Test side after serving a three-and-a-half-year ban for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code. Taylor scored 61 in that match as he tuned up ahead of his international comeback.”We are close friends, myself and Brendan, so it was an amazing feeling being on the field with him again and nice to see him score some runs,” Cremer said. “It’s great watching him bat, and then walking out onto the field with him, just how we communicate because we have played so much cricket together. It really helps someone like that out with me.”Taylor and Cremer are two of Zimbabwe’s most experienced players, and their return to the set-up with two ICC tournaments (T20 World Cup 2026 and ODI World Cup 2027, which Zimbabwe will co-host) speaks to Zimbabwe Cricket’s seriousness to ensure they qualify. Zimbabwe missed out on the last T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean after losing to Uganda in qualifiers and have not played a 50-over World Cup since 2015 after missing out on both the 2019 and 2023 editions.Zimbabwe will host the Africa Regional Qualifier for the upcoming T20 World Cup from September 26 to October 4. The tournament consists of eight teams, and the top two will progress to the main event.

Victoria allrounder Will Sutherland will join the four-day squad for the second of the two matches in Lucknow

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-2025Allrounder Aaron Hardie has been ruled out of the Australia A tour of India due to a shoulder injury to add to the list of pace-bowling options to be sidelined.Hardie will be replaced by Victoria allrounder Will Sutherland, who was already part of the one-day squad for the tour and will fly out to India in time for the second four-day game in Lucknow. A replacement for Hardie in the one-day squad will be named at a later date.It is hoped that Hardie will be able to recover in time for the early rounds of Sheffield Shield matches – Western Australia’s opening game is against New South Wales at the WACA on October 4.Related

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Hardie featured in the recent T20I and ODI series against West Indies and South Africa but he struggled against the latter and had not been selected for the short New Zealand trip for three T20Is, instead being included in the A squad. Depending on how his recovery tracks, he may come into consideration for the white-ball series against India.Though an allrounder rather than a specialist bowler, Hardie’s injury adds to a growing list of players sidelined heading into the season. Pat Cummins is the most significant with question marks over whether he will recover from his back injury in time for the Ashes.Lance Morris, a team-mate of Hardie’s at WA, has been ruled out for 12 months having undergone back surgery, while promising quick Callum Vidler has been diagnosed with a stress fracture. Morris had been due to feature in the four-day leg of the A tour and Vidler the one-dayers. Brody Couch had initially been Morris’ replacement but he suffered a side injury during the Top End T20 final with South Australia’s Henry Thornton subsequently called up.The first four-day game against India A starts on September 16 followed by the second on September 23. The three one-dayers, which will all be in Kanpur, are on September 30, October 3 and 5.

Updated Australia A four-day squad

Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Oliver Peake, Josh Philippe, Corey Rocchiccioli, Liam Scott, Will Sutherland (second game only), Henry Thornton

Updated Australia A one-day squad

Cooper Connolly, Harry Dixon, Jack Edwards, Sam Elliott, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mackenzie Harvey, Todd Murphy, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachie Shaw, Tom Straker, Will Sutherland, Henry Thornton (one to be added)

Not quite a year on from the disappointing 2-1 reversal to Swansea City, Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal presided over an opening day victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

Barely a classic, the Old Trafford side ground out a victory, with a host of new signings making their Premier League bows. Morgan Schneiderlin, Matteo Darmain and Sergio Romero impressed during the game, with Bastian Schweinsteiger coming on to become the first German to play for the club.

It was £25million man Memphis Depay, latest incumbent of the famous Number 7, who was under most scrutiny during the game. Operating just behind Wayne Rooney in the ‘Number 10’ role, the man who scored 25 goals with PSV last season showed some of his famous skills, but lacked the know-how to break Tottenham’s stubborn defensive lines. Ashley Young and Juan Mata were deployed in the wide positions of a 4-2-3-1, with captain Rooney the spearhead in the attack.

Despite linking nicely to force a Kyle Walker own goal, the Red Devils front line looked somewhat disjointed.

[ffc-gal cat=”manchester-united” no=”5″]

Deploying Depay centrally, with Young and Mata either side, has been the plan for the majority of pre-season, but the system can actually prize the best away from both the Spaniard and the Flying Dutchman.

On his 64th birthday, Red Devils chief van Gaal appeared to blow out his candles and wish for a Gareth Bale-like-‘Number 10’ in his new signing. While at Spurs, Bale would utilise his pace and power into bulldozing teams, either running past defenders to slot past the opposition ‘keeper, or unleashing a trademark wonder strike from 25+ yards.

The new man may one day get to that level, he certainly has the attributes. Clearly, van Gaal is a huge fan of Bale, having been heavily linked with him all summer, so perhaps he is moulding Depay in a similar style. But to pay such a large fee for a prolific goal scorer from the wing, then move him centrally seems rather odd.

With Mata in the side, the £37.1m signing have one of the best Number 10’s in the world shunted to the wing. The former Chelsea man can of course perform well in the role, as shown by his performance at Anfield last year, but both players appear to be playing out of position.

What made Memphis such a sort-after property this summer was his ability to cut inside from the left wing and shoot. What makes Mata such a successful player is his vision, neat passes and quick thinking.

So, taking their best attributes into account, both men seem more suited to each other’s roles, rather than their own. With a single game gone it is unfair to label a tactic as a failure, and United ultimately won the contest – they must be doing something right.

Still, at times during the match, the Old Trafford side looked out of ideas after some neat passing in their own half. Dutch international Depay was slow in possession on occasion, where someone like Mata or substitute Ander Herrera may have upped the tempo.

With Wayne Rooney being the only notable striker likely to stay at the club this year, surely van Gaal will want to get the best out of the attacking unit behind his captain. Perhaps Memphis can be moulded into Gareth Bale mark II.

But as he beds in, selecting a World Cup and Champions League winning ‘Number 10’ in his favoured role may be beneficial.

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League leaders Manchester City were dismantled by an energetic Tottenham Hotspur, who came from behind to crush the travelling table toppers 4-1.Despite £55m man Kevin De Bruyne slotting home to put the visitors ahead, a long range Eric Dier effort levelled the scores on the stroke of half time.Spurs then raced to a 4-1 victory after Toby Alderweireld, Harry Kane and Erik Lamela completed the rout.The game was marred by a succession of controversial offside decisions, with only Alderweireld’s header not a contentious decision.However, Mauricio Pochettino’s side grew throughout the game, with their front line wreaking havoc to a City defence that looked slow and lumbering.With Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany and David Silva out of today’s clash, the Manchester side were without a strong core of usual first team players.Sergio Aguero was lively up front, but failed to regularly trouble Hugo Lloris in the Spurs goal.Here are three other things we learned during the clash.

Man City cannot handle pace

Granted, Vincent Kompany was unable to feature today with a reported illness. However, the remaining defenders looked helpless against the powerful running of the opposition

Argentine pair Nicolas Otamendi and Martin Demichelis really struggled to deal with the pace of Lamela, Kane and Son Heung-Min, as well as Clinton N’Jie when he appeared late in the second half.

The direct running and high pressing nature of Pochettino’s side seemed to have the City back line shaking in their boots whenever it was in full flow.

Kane is back

The hyperbole surrounding Harry Kane following his return to the scoresheet may be somewhat tongue in cheek, but the England man impressed today.

He ran himself into the ground, and deserved his goal – despite it clearly being offside. The 22-year old worked the channels, buzzed around the outside of the box and tested stand in ‘keeper Willy Caballero a few times.

The hitman possess the energy to cause real problems to opposing defenders.

He took his goal well, though the goal was gaping. Reacting first to a loose ball, he controlled an awkwardly bouncing ball and fired into the roof the net.

Dier & Alli for England

Tottenham’s young, English midfield partnership provided the defensive solidarity in order to allow the forward players to flourish.

The young midfielders stood strong against the likes Yaya Toure, Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne, calmly breaking up attacks in their half.

They acted with an assurance beyond their years, and have the technique to start attacks from the back.

Alli in particular looks like the kind of player Roy Hodgson requires, someone to sit back and scheme, allowing the faster players on the wings to push forward and hit teams on the counter.