Root out tamely as Paarl lose to Cape Town in SA20published at 19:20 13 January
19:20 13 January
Image source, SA20
MI Cape Town comfortably beat Joe Root's Paarl Royals by 33 runs in the SA20, but were denied a bonus-point win by some resilient lower-order batting.
Cape Town posted 172-7 with Reeza Hendricks (59 off 37 balls) and Rassie van der Dussen (43 off 33) sharing 79 for the second wicket.
They were pegged back to 127-5 but Delano Potgieter gave the innings some late impetus with a spritely 29 off 18.
In reply, Root, who made a match-winning 62 on his debut, was dismissed tamely, flicking Kagiso Rabada to short fine leg for 26 off 14 balls.
Paarl were 81-8 but Afghanistan's Mujeeb ur Rahman (34) and Kwena Maphaka (22 not out) saw them to 139-9 - two runs above the total Cape Town needed to restrict them to for the bonus point.
Spinner George Linde took 3-15 while Rabada claimed 2-22 and Rashid Khan 2-28.
Tuesday is a double-header with Pretoria Capitals playing Sunrisers Eastern Cape (11:00 GMT) and Durban's Super Giants facing Joburg Super Kings.
Warner & Williamson earn PSL deals but Roy & Mills miss outpublished at 15:26 13 January
15:26 13 January
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David Warner and Kane Williamson will both play in the Pakistan Super League in 2025 after being drafted on Monday.
Former Australia opener Warner, 38, was signed by Karachi Kings and will be joined by New Zealand's Williamson, 34, who initially went undrafted before being selected in the supplementary round.
English trio Tom Kohler-Cadmore (Peshawar Zalmi), Tom Curran and Sam Billings (both supplementary - Lahore Qalandars) were also signed, but Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Tymal Mills and Alex Hales were among the players not selected.
Ireland's Josh Little will play for Multan Sultans, while New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell (Lahore Qalandars), West Indies' Jason Holder and South Africa's Rassie van der Dussen (both Islamabad United) also got picked up.
Australia's Usman Khawaja, South Africa's Tabraiz Shamsi and Afghanistan's Mujeeb ur Rahman failed to earn deals.
England's James Vince (Karachi Kings), Chris Jordan and David Willey (both Multan Sultans) had already been retained by their sides alongside Pakistan stars like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Muhammad Rizwan.
The 10th edition is set to take place between 8 April and 19 May and is expected to clash in part with the Indian Premier League.
Players signed in PSL draft
Islamabad United: Matthew Short, Jason Holder, Ben Dwarshuis, Salman Irshad, Mohammad Nawaz, Andries Goes, Saad Masood, Hunain Shah. Supplementary: Riley Meredith, Rassie van der Dussen
Karachi Kings: David Warner, Adam Milne, Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah, Aamir Jamal, Mir Hamza, Litton Das, Riazullah, Fawad Ali. Supplementary: Kane Williamson, Mohammad Nabi, Omair Bin Yousuf
Lahore Qalandars: Daryl Mitchell, Kusal Perera, Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Rishad Hossain, Mohammad Akhlaq, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Azab. Supplementary: Tom Curran, Sam Billings, Salman Ali Mirza
Multan Sultans: Michael Bracewell, Mohammad Hasnain, Kamran Ghulam, Akif Javed, Tayyab Tahir, Gudakesh Motie, Josh Little, Shahid Aziz, Ubaid Shah. Supplementary: Johnson Charles, Shai Hope, Yasir Khan
Peshawar Zalmi: Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Corbin Bosch, Mohammad Ali, Abdul Samad, Nahid Rana, Hussain Talat, Max Bryant, Najibullah Zadran, Maaz Sadaqat. Supplementary: Alzarri Joseph, Ahmed Daniyal
Quetta Gladiators: Mark Chapman, Faheem Ashraf, Finn Allen, Khurram Shahzad, Haseebullah Khan, Kyle Jamieson, Hassan Nawaz, Mohammad Zeeshan. Supplementary: Kusal Mendis, Sean Abbott, Shoaib Malik
Warner & Williamson among stars in PSL draft on Mondaypublished at 21:18 12 January
21:18 12 January
Image source, Getty Images
Australia opener David Warner and New Zealand batter Kane Williamson will be among the star names available in the Pakistan Super League draft on Monday.
There are 24 English-qualified players looking to secure deals in the auction, including World Cup winners Jason Roy and Dawid Malan.
Players are split across four different brackets and overseas batters in the top platinum bracket include Australia's Usman Khawaja, New Zealand's Finn Allen and Daryl Mitchell and South Africa's Rassie van der Dussen.
Bowlers include Afghanistan's Mujeeb ur Rahman, Australia's Sean Abbott, South Africa's Tabraiz Shamsi and West Indies' Alzarri Joseph.
Australia duo Cooper Connolly and Daniel Sams are among the all-rounders available.
Islamabad United are the defending champions.
England players in Pakistan Super League draft
Platinum: Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Joe Clarke, Laurie Evans, Sam Billings, Tom Curran, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tymal Mills.
Diamond: David Payne, Dawid Malan, Luke Wood, Richard Gleeson.
Gold: Benny Howell, Chris Wood, George Garton, Nathan Sowter, Ross Whiteley, Tom Moores, Will Smeed.
Silver: Feroze Khushi, George Scrimshaw, Harrison Ward, Jack Taylor, Jake Lintott.
Listen to Big Bash commentaries are group stage concludespublished at 21:17 12 January
21:17 12 January
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The group stage in the men's Big Bash League concludes this week and you can listen to commentary on every game on the BBC Sport website and app.
The schedule is:
Monday, 13 January: Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers (08:30 GMT)
Tuesday, 14 January: Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Renegades (08:30 GMT)
Wednesday, 15 January: Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers (08:30 GMT)
Thursday, 16 January: Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes (08:30 GMT)
Friday, 17 January: Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder (08:15 GMT)
Saturday, 18 January: Melbourne Renegades v Brisbane Heat (06:00 GMT) & Perth Scorchers v Adelaide Strikers (09:15 GMT)
Sunday, 19 January: Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes (08:15 GMT)
All times are match start times, and subject to change. All commentaries are available to UK users only.
Kohler-Cadmore's 83 gives Warriorz final-ball winpublished at 18:21 12 January
Stars were 75-7 but Maxwell shared 81 with Usama Mir for the eighth wicket. Remarkably Maxwell scored 79 of those runs, with the other two being extras.
He hit four fours and 10 sixes before being bowled in the final over as Stars were all out for 165.
Renegades lost regular wickets throughout their chase and were reduced to 44-4 and 80-7 before being bowled out for 123 in the final over.
England's Jacob Bethell made one from eight balls. The left-hander has scored 108 runs in seven innings, at an average of 15.42, in the tournament.
Stars have won their past four games, having lost their opening five, and climb to fourth in the table.
They likely need to win their final game and have other results go their way to reach the knockouts.
Renegades are bottom and likely need to both of their remaining games to stand any chance.
Root guides Paarl to win over Eastern Cape on SA20 debutpublished at 14:09 11 January
14:09 11 January
Image source, SA20
England's Joe Root made an unbeaten 62 on his SA20 debut to guide Paarl Royals to a nine-wicket win over Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
Root, who last played a T20 for England in 2019, hit four fours and one six as Paarl chased 176 with eight balls to spare.
He was happy to play a supporting role to fellow opener and 18-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who smashed a brilliant 97 off 51 balls on his debut.
The left-hander hit all round the wicket and smacked 10 fours and six sixes as Eastern Cape's bowlers strayed.
"Batting with Rooty just calmed me down, gave me some clarity and it was amazing. I'm lost for words," Pretorius told Sky Sports.
"A lot of credit has to go to Rooty for only conceding four dot balls. He allowed me to get into a rhythm. He helped me a lot and I'm grateful for that."
Defending champions Eastern Cape, who have now lost their opening two games, posted 175-5 with captain Aiden Markram making 82 off 49 balls.
Root will play in the majority of the tournament, but will leave for England's 50-over series in India from 6 February.
Smith's unbeaten 121 sets up Sixers win in Big Bashpublished at 09:19 11 January
09:19 11 January
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Steve Smith made an unbeaten 121 from 64 balls to set up Sydney Sixers' 14-run win over Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash.
Smith, who was playing his first game in this year's tournament, reached his century off 58 balls, before hitting three sixes in the final over as Sixers posted 220-3.
It is his third century in the Big Bash and the 35-year-old now averages nearly 100 in his past eight innings in the competition.
In reply Scorchers were reduced to 97-4 and 128-6 but an unbeaten 66 from captain Ashton Turner gave them some hope.
They were ultimately left with too much to do and finished on 206-7. They remain fifth, outside the knockout spots.
Sixers climb to the top of the table and one more win would secure their progression.
Chasing 210 to win, Super Giants were racing along at 154-0 off 12 overs.
However, Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad removed compatriot Rahmanullah Gurbaz (89) and England's Will Jacks (64) - who had shared the third-highest stand in the tournament's history - to leave Capitals 173-3.
They were still in control with 37 needed off 32 balls but Chris Woakes (2-42), Keshav Maharaj (1-39) and Naveen-ul-Haq (1-35) closed out a superb two-run win for Super Giants.
The previous record chase was Joburg Super Kings' 209-3 against Super Giants.
Capitals had posted 209-4 with New Zealand's Kane Williamson making 60 off 40 balls on his tournament debut.
Saturday sees the first double-header with Joe Root's Paarl Royals facing Sunrisers Eastern Cape (11:00 GMT) and Jonny Bairstow's Joburg Super Kings playing MI Cape Town (15:30 GMT).
The ILT20 returns – what is it and how does it work?published at 15:58 10 January
15:58 10 January
Image source, International League T20
The United Arab Emirates-based International League T20 returns for its third season on 11 January.
Despite clashes with Australia's Big Bash, South Africa's SA20 and international series, there a number of star names involved in the tournament.
There are six teams: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Desert Vipers, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates and Sharjah Warriorz. Some of those names may look familiar from the men's Indian Premier League and their women's equivalent the WPL.
The tournament starts with a rematch of the 2024 final where MI Emirates beat Dubai Capitals.
The teams will play each other twice in the 30-game group stage, before the knockouts begin on 5 February. They work as follows:
5 February: Qualifier 1 - first v second
6 February: Eliminator - third v fourth
7 February: Qualifier 2 - loser of Qualifier 1 v winner of Eliminator
9 February: Final - winner of Qualifier 1 v winner of Qualifier 2
Salt & Rashid among big English contingent at ILT20published at 15:57 10 January
15:57 10 January
Image source, Getty Images
A massive 33 England-qualified players will take part in the third edition of the International League T20.
Star names include opener Phil Salt and leg-spinners Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed, but their involvement is set to be limited by England's tour of India from 22 January.
Seamers Sam Curran and Olly Stone are set to be available throughout, while other players, including Chris Jordan, will juggle their availability around the Big Bash League in Australia.
England-qualified players featuring in the ILT20:
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Phil Salt, David Willey, Joe Clarke, Laurie Evans & Michael Pepper
Desert Vipers: Sam Curran, Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Max Holden, Adam Hose, Alex Hales, Luke Wood & Nathan Sowter
Dubai Capitals: Olly Stone, Sam Billings, Adam Rossington & Joe Weatherley
Gulf Giants: Chris Jordan, Jordon Cox, Rehan Ahmed, James Vince, Tymal Mills, Tom Curran, Ollie Robinson (batter) & Adam Lyth
MI Emirates: Dan Mousley, Tom Banton, Jordan Thompson & Ben Charlesworth
Sharjah Warriorz: Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Tom Kohler-Cadmore & Luke Wells
Scotland are also represented by Michael Jones and Brandon McMullen and Ireland by Mark Adair.
Warner & Russell among international stars in ILT20published at 15:57 10 January
15:57 10 January
Image source, Getty Images
Former Australia opener David Warner and West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell lead a host of star international names that will play in the International League T20.
Warner, 38, will play for Dubai Capitals again after the conclusion of Australia's Big Bash League, where he is captaining Sydney Thunder.
Russell will play for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and is among a large West Indies contingent in the tournament that includes T20 captain Rovman Powell (Capitals), their all-time leading T20 run-scorer Nicholas Pooran and all-rounder Kieron Pollard (both MI Emirates).
Sunil Narine (Knight Riders), Alzarri Joseph, Romario Shepherd (both MI Emirates) and Shai Hope (Capitals) are also set to feature.
Sri Lanka are also well represented with spinner Wanindu Hasaranga (Vipers), Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera (both Capitals) and Kusal Perera (MI Emirates) signed to the tournament.
Afghanistan seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi, who was the leading wicket-taker in the 2024 T20 World Cup, will play for MI Emirates, while New Zealand trio Tim Southee, Adam Milne (both Warriorz) and Lockie Ferguson (Knight Riders) will also take part.
Warner's 88* not enough as Hurricanes beat Thunderpublished at 11:44 10 January
11:44 10 January
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Warner's 88 not out made him the highest run-scorer in this year's Big Bash
Warner hit seven fours in his 66 balls to lift the Thunder to 164-6 in an innings that threatened to fall away throughout.
Sam Konstas, who recently made an eye-catching Australia debut, was out for four from nine balls while England wicketkeeper Sam Billings made 28 from 15.
Hurricanes were 59-3 in reply but Australia international Tim David struck 68 from 38 balls as they eased to victory with 3.1 overs to spare.
Hurricanes now sit two points clear at the top of the standings and will confirm a place in the knockouts with one win in their final three matches.
Thunder are third.
Arthur becomes director of cricket at Superchargerspublished at 10:49 10 January
10:49 10 January
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Mickey Arthur has replaced former Australia batter Marcus North as director of cricket at Hundred side Northern Superchargers.
Arthur, 56, will combine the role with his responsibilities as head of cricket at Derbyshire.
Former South Africa and Pakistan coach Arthur said: "I'm delighted to be taking on this role with Northern Superchargers and am very excited to get started ahead of the 2025 edition of The Hundred.
"Whilst the Northern Superchargers haven't lifted any silverware in the competition yet, both the men's and women's teams have put in some strong performances over the years and shown a lot of potential.
"I'm looking forward to working with both Freddie Flintoff and Lisa Keightley to build strong squads, and a culture that will see us enjoy success in 2025.
"I'd also like to thank Derbyshire for supporting me in taking on this role, in addition to the long-term project we are developing at The County Ground."
Superchargers finished fourth in both the men's and women's Hundred in 2024.
The dates for the 2025 tournament are yet to be announced, but it is expected to take place through most of August.
Holders Eastern Cape thrashed in opening SA20 gamepublished at 18:52 9 January
18:52 9 January
Image source, SA20
Defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape were thrashed by 97 runs by MI Cape Town in the opening game of the 2025 SA20.
Chasing 175 to win, Eastern Cape were all out for 77 in 15 overs as they suffered the fifth-heaviest defeat in terms of runs in the tournament's three-year history.
The total is second-lowest in the tournament and Eastern Cape's lowest, beating their 122-9 against Pretoria Capitals last year.
Delano Potgieter took 5-10, the second-best figures in the tournament, while Aiden Markram top-scored with 19.
English duo Zak Crawley (12) and Tom Abell (0) were dismissed in successive balls by Trent Boult (2-16).
Cape Town had earlier recovered from 42-3 inside the powerplay to post 174-7, with Dewald Brevis making 57. Richard Gleeson claimed 2-22 and Liam Dawson 1-32.
The margin of victory also sees Cape Town earn a bonus point, which winning sides claim if their run-rate is 1.25 times that of the opposition.
The likes of Chris Woakes and Liam Livingstone could be in action on Friday as Durban's Super Giants face Pretoria Capitals.
Maxwell, who was dropped on the boundary early in his innings, hammered five fours and three sixes to rescue his side from 60-4 to post 156-5 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Sixers, who were top of the table before this clash, were going well while England's James Vince was in typically good touch.
However, shortly after bringing up his half-century, the 33-year-old sent a Marcus Stoinis delivery high into the night sky and Maxwell steadied himself to take a brilliant catch which turned the tide.
From 96-2, Sixers lost four wickets for 16 runs and eventually fell short on 140-9, to lose by 16 runs.
Victory lifts Stars off the bottom of the table and is their third win in succession after they lost their opening five games.
They face the Renegades again on Sunday before hosting Hobart Hurricanes in their final match as they bid to sneak into the knockout stages.
Sixers face Perth Scorchers next before finishing up with a trip to face Adelaide Strikers.
Image source, SA20
