Franchise Cricket

Image source, International League T20

Alex Hales smashed an unbeaten 77 off 42 balls as Desert Vipers eased to an eight-wicket victory over Sharjah Warriorz to consolidate their position at the top of the International League T20 table.

Warriorz had posted 151-8 from their allocation thanks to Jason Roy's 38-ball 55 and 42 from Tom Kohler-Cadmore as Khuzaima Tanveer took 4-22 for the Vipers.

Vipers had stuttered to 24-2 after the loss of Pakistan star Fakhar Zaman for eight and Dan Lawrence for a duck.

However, Hales plundered five sixes and seven fours in his knock as he and Sam Curran - 54 not out off 53 balls - got the Viperz home with 31 balls to spare.

Second-placed MI Emirates suffered back-to-back defeats after they lost by two wickets in a last-ball thriller against Gulf Giants.

Tom Banton's 56 off 39 balls helped Emirates reach 151-6 as Dan Worrall took 2-19 for the Giants.

Afghanistan left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi took 3-34 to peg back the Giants after Gerhard Erasmus top scored with 37.

With 11 needed by the Giants off the last over, bowled by Dan Mousley, the England all-rounder saw a no-ball full toss smacked for six by UAE teenager Aayan Afzal Khan.

Zuhaib Zubair then slog swept the final ball of the match for a single to seal the victory for the Giants.

ILT20 fixtures & table.

Image source, SA20

Joe Root hit 78 not out as his SA20 side Paarl Royals beat Pretoria Capitals by 11 runs.

Opening the batting, Root hit eight fours and two sixes in his 56-ball innings, anchoring the Royals to 140-4 in their full 20 overs.

He put on an unbeaten 59 stand with skipper David Miller after a run of early wickets.

The former England captain then also chipped in with two wickets for good measure as the Capitals were restricted to 129-7.

Root said: "Today was a case of being brave enough to take it deeper and you might have a better match-up down the line. I thought we did that pretty well.

"When I was bowling I tried to stay as low as I can. There was a lack of bounce, which makes it hard to get after.

"I didn't think it would spin as much as that. It was a great game of cricket. I've really enjoyed my time here and want to keep putting in winning performances."

Root is one of 14 England players taking part in the six-team tournament.

Scorecard, SA20 fixtures & table

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It is the Big Bash League final on Monday as Hobart Hurricanes host Sydney Thunder at Ninja Stadium (listen to commentary on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sport app from 08:15 GMT).

With the tournament heading towards its finale, let's have a look at the top performers in this year's BBL...

Top run-scorers

• 357 - David Warner, Sydney Thunder

• 351 - Cooper Connolly, Perth Scorchers

• 344 - Mitchell Owen, Hobart Hurricanes

• 325 - Glenn Maxwell, Melbourne Stars

• 311 - Marcus Stoinis, Melbourne Stars

Highest strike-rate (min. five innings)

• 191.11 - Mitchell Owen, Hobart Hurricanes

• 186.78 - Glenn Maxwell, Melbourne Stars

• 184.69 - Finn Allen, Perth Scorchers

• 177.62 - Tim David, Hobart Hurricanes

• 176.08 - James Bazley, Adelaide Strikers

Leading wicket-takers

Image source, Getty Images

• 17 - Jason Behrendorff, Perth Scorchers

• 16 - Tom Rogers, Melbourne Renegades

• 15 - Mark Steketee, Melbourne Stars

• 15 - Lance Morris, Perth Scorchers

• 15 - Lloyd Pope, Adelaide Strikers

Best economy rates (min. 15 overs)

• 5.83 - Ashton Agar, Perth Scorchers

• 6.45 - Tanveer Sangha, Sydney Thunder

• 6.59 - Joel Paris, Melbourne Stars

• 6.92 - Tom Andrews, Sydney Thunder

• 6.94 - Fergus O'Neill, Melbourne Renegades

Image source, SA20

Defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape picked up their fourth successive win with a 14-run victory over Joburg Super Kings in the SA20.

Sunrisers, who have won both editions of the tournament, lost their opening three games but are now up to second in the six-team table.

They posted 165-4 with captain Aiden Markram making 43 off 29 balls, David Bedingham 37 off 34 and Tristan Stubbs an unbeaten 35 off 22.

New-ball bowlers Marco Jansen and Richard Gleeson have played a key part in Sunrisers revival and they were again superb and pushed the required run-rate up.

Super Kings were reasonably set at 105-2 but with the run-rate pushing 11 an over the pressure told.

Devon Conway fell for 43 and then Jonny Bairstow (14) picked out deep mid-wicket in the next over.

They finished on 151-8 with Jansen (2-19), Gleeson (2-37) and Ottneil Baartman (2-32) sharing the wickets.

Sunrisers are one point behind leaders Paarl Royals, who have played a game less, while Super Kings sit fourth.

• SA20 fixtures & table

Image source, SA20

England's Joe Root was dismissed for a first-ball duck by Chris Woakes but Paarl Royals beat Durban's Super Giants by five wickets in the SA20.

Chashing 143 to win Root chased a wide delivery and was caught at slip in the first over.

Despite that Royals made a fast start with Lhuan-dre Pretorius (25 off 13) and Rubin Hermann (44 off 22) finding regular boundaries, but both were dismissed to leave Royals 77-3.

Mitchell van Buuren (41 off 41) and David Miller (24 off 21) shared 59 for the fourth wicket to take control of the game but both were dismissed with seven and two required respectively.

India legend Dinesh Karthik came to the crease and hit the winning runs as Royals won with 15 balls to spare.

Super Giants posted 142-7 with Quinton de Kock making 43 off 30 balls at the top of the order.

Afghanistan's Mujeeb Ur Rahman claimed 2-23, while Root dismissed New Zealand's Kane Williamson in taking 1-18 from four overs.

Royals are top of the six-team table with 20 points and Super Giants sit bottom on eight points.

• SA20 fixtures & table

Image source, International League T20

Jordan Cox's 70 was not enough to help Gulf Giants avoid a five-wicket defeat by Dubai Capitals in the International League T20.

England batter Cox hit four fours and one six but he was run out in the final over as Giants posted 153-5.

Capitals' chase was anchored by West Indies batter Shai Hope making 47 off 39 balls.

He was dismissed in the 17th over to leave Capitals 110-5, but Sri Lanka's Dasun Shanaka crashed an unbeaten 34 off 10 balls to see Capitals to victory with eight balls to spare.

The win moves Capitals to third in the table, while Giants are bottom with just one win from five games.

• ILT20 fixtures & table

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England internationals Sam Billings and Jamie Overton have been named in the Big Bash League's team of the tournament.

Billings, who has effected 11 dismissals and scored 209 runs for Sydney Thunder, is placed in the starting XI, while Overton is 12th man after scoring 191 runs and taking 11 wickets with Adelaide Strikers.

David Warner, who is playing in his first full BBL campaign after retiring from international duty, leads the side.

The 38-year-old, who has led the Thunder to the tournament's challenger match, has scored 346 runs in the tournament, just five less than leading run-scorer Cooper Connolly.

The 21-year-old Connolly and his Perth Scorers teammate Jason Behrendorff, who tops the wicket-taking charts with 17, both feature, as do uncapped Australians Mitchell Owen and Tom Rogers.

All the players selected, bar Stoinis, Maxwell, David, Rogers and Overton, are appearing in the team of the tournament for the first time.

Brisbane Heat, the 2023-24 champions who finished seventh this year, are the only side without a player in the line-up.

1. David Warner (Sydney Thunder, captain)

2. Mitchell Owen (Hobart Hurricanes)

3. Cooper Connolly (Perth Scorchers)

4. Marcus Stoinis (Melbourne Stars)

5. Sam Billings (Sydney Thunder, wicketkeeper)

6. Glenn Maxwell (Melbourne Stars)

7. Tim David (Hobart Hurricanes)

8. Ben Dwarshuis (Sydney Sixers)

9. Tom Rogers (Melbourne Renegades)

10. Jason Behrendorff (Perth Scorchers)

11. Lloyd Pope (Adelaide Strikers)

12. Jamie Overton (Adelaide Strikers)

Image source, SA20

England internationals Zak Crawley and Will Jacks both made ducks as Sunrisers Eastern Cape beat Pretoria Capitals by 52 runs in the SA20.

Crawley edged the second ball of the match behind off Jason Behrendorff but his Sunrisers side recovered from 14-3 and 53-5 to post 149-7.

That was largely thanks to an unbeaten 68 from 55 balls by Sunrisers and South Africa T20 captain Aiden Markram while Hampshire and England's Liam Dawson also made an important 25 from 11.

Jacks then hit the second ball of the chase to Dawson at mid-off and the Capitals were bowled out for 97 in 16.3 overs.

Left-arm spinner Dawson took 3-17, including the wickets of Marques Ackerman, Keagan Lion-Cachet and Jimmy Neesham.

Champions Sunrisers have now won three consecutive matches and sit third in the table behind MI Cape Town and leaders Paarl Royals.

The Capitals are fifth.

Scorecard, SA20 fixtures & table

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Sydney Thunder beat Melbourne Stars by 21 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in Sydney to progress to the Big Bash League's challenger match.

After setting the Stars 136 to win, the Thunder superbly defended the low target, with seamer Nathan McAndrew taking 5-16.

The 31-year-old removed openers Sam Harper and Tom Rogers to leave the visitors 15-2, before the Thunder's spinners took over, with Tanveer Sangha and Tom Andrews taking two wickets apiece and Chris Green removing Marcus Stoinis.

Glenn Maxwell had scored three consecutive half-centuries prior to this match, but Sangha dismissed the Stars' key man for 28 with a caught and bowled, then had Tom Curran caught by Andrews from the following delivery.

When Andrews trapped Usama Mir lbw the Stars were 73-7 in the 13th over, and McAndrew returned to take the final three wickets as the Thunder bowled their opponents out for 114.

They will now face rivals the Sydney Sixers in Friday's challenger match, with the winners to play the Hobart Hurricanes in Monday's final.

Veteran David Warner led the Thunder to a third-place finish in the group stage, one place ahead of their opponents, finishing as the phase's second-highest run-scorer.

However, he was dismissed for a two-ball duck opening the Thunder innings, caught by Stoinis off the bowling of Curran.

With each innings shortened by an over because of lightning, Ollie Davies top-scored for the home side with 36, while English wicketkeeper Sam Billings struck 24, as the Thunder reached 135-7

The Stars, who made the knock-out stage off the back of five consecutive victories, would have been confident of chasing down their target, but McAndrew and the spinners ensured it was the Sydney side who progress.

Image source, Getty Images

Hobart Hurricanes secured a place in the final of the 2025 Big Bash League by beating Sydney Sixers by 12 runs in the qualifier in Hobart.

After setting the Sixers 174 to win, the Hurricanes took wickets in each of the first three overs to reduce the visitors to 5-3.

Kurtis Patterson's 48 and 57 by Jordan Silk kept the Sixers in the chase but they were always behind the required run-rate.

They needed 41 from the final three overs and England seamer Chris Jordan conceded only eight from the 18th.

Australia quick Nathan Ellis then had Silk caught at long-on in the penultimate over and, despite being hit for six by Ben Dwarshuius, he left Jordan 21 to defend from the last.

Jordan conceded four from the first four balls as he expertly closed out the match with Dwarshuis only managing a boundary off the final ball when the game was gone.

The Hurricanes, who topped the table in the group stage, battled to 173-7 with Ben McDermott striking 42 from 31, Caleb Jewell making a 41-ball 40 and Tim David an important 25 from 10 balls late on.

Yorkshire leg-spinner Jafer Chohan impressed with figures of 2-28 for Sixers.

The Sixers are not out of the tournament. They will play the winner of Wednesday's eliminator between Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars on Friday.

The Hurricanes' victory means they will host Monday's final.

Big Bash fixtures

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After five weeks of group-stage action, the men's Big Bash League has reached the knockout stages.

Four sides and games remain before the 2025 champions will be crowned.

There will be ball-by-ball commentary on all four games available across BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be reports on BBC Sport's Franchise Cricket page.

Here's the schedule for the knockouts:

Tuesday, 21 January: Qualifier - Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers* (08:30 GMT)

Wednesday, 22 January: Knockout - Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars* (08:30 GMT)

Friday, 24 January: Challenger - loser of Qualifier v winner of Knockout* (08:15 GMT)

Monday, 27 January: Final - winner of Qualifier v winner of Challenger (08:15 GMT)

Commentary on games with an * will be available on the BBC Sport website and app only. Times are subject to change.

Image source, SA20

A 40-ball 60 from Jonny Bairstow was not enough as Joe Root's Paarl Royals beat Joburg Super Kings by six wickets in the SA20.

Bairstow hit three sixes and two fours as the Super Kings, who were 36-4 at one stage, posted 146-6.

Moeen Ali was one of those dismissed early - out caught at deep extra cover off England team-mate Root for one.

Root finished with 1-16 from four overs but was out for six in the fifth over of the Royals' chase.

The Royals still eased to victory, however, with David Miller finishing 40 not out.

With four runs needed at the start of the final over, Miller should have been out caught in the deep but seamer Lutho Sipamla overstepped.

The South Africa international hit the next ball for six to complete victory with five balls to spare.

Paarl go top of the table on 16 points at the competition's halfway stage. Joburg are third on 10 points.

Scorecard, SA20 fixtures & table

Image source, Getty Images

India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has been named Lucknow Super Giants captain for the 2025 Indian Premier League.

Pant, 27, became the most expensive player in IPL history when he was signed by LSG at last year's auction for 27 crore (£2.54m).

He had previously played for Delhi Capitals since 2016, including three seasons as captain.

"I see a born leader in Rishabh Pant. From my point of view he will be probably the best captain IPL has seen," said Sanjiv Goenka, the owner of Lucknow.

"Surely Rishabh Pant will play for at least 14-15 years for us, we hope at least five IPL titles in these years."

Pant returned to cricket in last year's IPL after a 14-month injury lay-off because of a serious car accident. He was also part of the India side that won the 2024 T20 World Cup.

The 2025 IPL is expected to begin in late March.

Image source, Getty Images

Melbourne Stars thrashed Hobart Hurricanes by 40 runs to seal their place in the Big Bash League knockouts.

Stars, who won their final five games after starting with five defeats, posted 219-5 with 76 not out of 32 balls and Beau Webster making 51 off 31 balls.

Hurricanes, who were already guaranteed top spot, were bowled out for 179 with Mark Steketee taking 4-24.

Stars will face Sydney Thunder in the Eliminator on Tuesday. The loser will be eliminated and the winner will progress to Qualifier 2 on 24 January.

The knockouts start with Hurricanes facing Sydney Sixers in the Qualifier 1. The winner progresses to the final on 27 January and the loser will get a second chance in Qualifier 2.

Image source, SA20

Joe Root made an unbeaten 92 off 60 balls as Paarl Royals chased a tournament-high 213 to beat Pretoria Capitals by eight wickets in the SA20.

Root hit 11 fours and two sixes and was supported by Rubin Hermann (56 off 33) and David Miller (48* off 24) as Paarl won with two balls to spare.

It beats the previous highest chase of 204 by Joburg Super Kings against Durban's Super Giants in 2024.

Root, who has not played a T20 for England since 2019, is the second highest run-scorer in this year's SA20 with 195 runs, at an average of 97.5 and strike-rate of 146.62.

Asked if he was enjoying the tournament, Root told Sky Sports: "I am. It is a great tournament, great to be a part of and great to play some T20 cricket."

Root will play in the majority of the group stage before joining England's 50-over squad for their tour of India and the Champions Trophy that follows.

Capitals had posted 212-5 with Will Smeed making 54 off 34 balls, but Will Jacks was out for nine off eight balls.

Saturday's other game saw MI Cape Town thrash Joburg Super Kings by seven wickets.

Ryan Rickelton crashed 89 off 39 balls as Cape Town chased 173 in 15.5 overs to secure a bonus-point win.

Joburg had posted 172-5 with Faf Du Plessis making 61 off 38 and Jonny Bairstow 43 not out off 27.

Cape Town lead the six-team table from Paarl and Joburg. Pretoria and Durban's Super Giants are fourth and fifth with two-time winners Sunrisers Eastern Cape bottom.

• SA20 fixtures & table

Image source, International League T20

England trio Dan Lawrence, Alex Hales and Sam Curran all made important contributions as Desert Vipers continued their 100% start with a 53-run win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the International League T20.

Hales made 58 off 36 balls, Lawrence 49 off 32 and Curran 35 off 29 as Vipers posted 193-5.

Curran is the second highest run-scorer in the tournament with 155, while Lawrence (124) and Hales (122) sit fourth and fifth on the list.

Vipers, who are now four from four, then bowled Knight Riders out for 140 with Nathan Sowter claiming 3-44 and Lawrence 1-15.

Saturday's other game saw Gulf Giants chase 166 against Dubai Capitals for their first win.

They were wobbling at 53-3 and 88-4 but Namibia's Gerhard Erasmus (50*) and West Indies' Shimron Hetmyer (41*) shared an unbroken 80 off 44 balls to seal the win with 11 balls to spare.

Capitals had posted 165-7 with Dasun Shanaka top-scoring with 33 not out.

• ILT20 fixtures & table

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Perth Scorchers kept their Big Bash League knockout hopes alive with a five-wicket win over Adelaide Strikers.

They needed to chase 162 in 18 overs or less to overtake Melbourne Renegades, who won earlier on Saturday, on net run-rate and move into fourth position.

The five-time winners got there in 16.2 overs with Cooper Connolly making an unbeaten 39 off 21 balls.

Their place in the knockouts will be decided by the outcome of Melbourne Stars' game against Hobart Hurricanes on Sunday (08:15 GMT). A win for Stars would see them claim fourth and the final knockout spot.

Strikers, who are now eliminated, were bowled out for 161 in 19.1 overs with Liam Scott top-scoring with 67.

The defeat also eliminates Renegades, while defending champions Brisbane Heat went out in Saturday's early game.

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Jake Fraser-McGurk hit a stunning 95 to keep Melbourne Renegades' Big Bash knockout hopes alive and eliminate defending champions Brisbane Heat.

Chasing 197, Fraser-McGurk smashed five fours and eight sixes in his 46-ball innings.

He was dismissed with 16 needed from 19 balls but Fergus O'Neill came in and hit 16 off six balls to seal a three-wicket win with 12 balls to spare.

Heat had posted 196-4 with Jack Wood making 45 and Sussex's Tom Alsop 42 not out off 26 balls.

The win moves Renegades into fourth - the final qualifying spot - but they could still be eliminated.

Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers, who play on Saturday, could both overtake them on net run-rate, while a win by any margin for Melbourne Stars over Hobart Hurricanes on Sunday would mean they finish fourth.

• Big Bash fixtures & table

Image source, SA20

Tom Abell made 57 as defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape beat Durban's Super Giants by 58 runs for their first win of the 2025 SA20.

Eastern Cape, who had lost their first three games, posted 165-5 with Abell's 57 supported by Zak Crawley's 38 off 29 balls and Marco Jansen's 36 not out.

Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad was superb in picking up 4-25.

Durban struggled throughout their chase falling to 54-4 and then losing their final six wickets for just 13 runs to be bowled out for 107 in 18.1 overs.

Richard Gleeson claimed 2-12, Ottneil Baartman 2-17 and Liam Dawson 2-18.

Eastern Cape remain bottom of the six-team table despite the bonus-point win while Durban are fifth.

Saturday sees a double-header between Pretoria Capitals and Joe Root's Paarl Royals (11:00 GMT) and MI Cape Town v Joburg Super Kings (15:30 GMT).

• SA20 fixtures & table