Franchise Cricket

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England's Jonny Bairstow hit an unbeaten 70 off 30 balls but could not prevent Team Abu Dhabi suffering a three-run defeat by Morrisville Samp Army in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

Bairstow hit five fours and six sixes, and reached his half-century off 23 balls, but Abu Dhabi fell short of their 110 target.

England opener Phil Salt made nine, while Essex's Michael Pepper added two and Surrey's Laurie Evans 15.

Surrey's Jordan Clark had earlier taken 4-6 off 1.4 overs as Samp Army were bowled out for 109 in 9.4 overs.

Elsewhere, Essex's Sam Cook took 3-18 and Hampshire's James Vince hit 30 off 15 balls as Delhi Bulls beat New York Strikers by five wickets.

Chennai Brave Jaguars beat UP Nawabs by 10 wickets, with South Africa's Rassie van der Dussen making an unbeaten 92 off 41 balls.

Northern Warriors chased 81 in 7.4 overs to beat Ajman Bolts by nine wickets and move into the final play-off spot.

The group stage of the competition concludes on Saturday, with the knockouts starting on Sunday.

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England bowler Jofra Archer's "explosive capability" made him a "very unique" option during the Indian Premier League auction, says Rajasthan Royals chief executive Jake Lush McCrum.

Archer, 29, won the player of the tournament with the Royals in the 2020-21 season and was signed for 12.5 crore (£1.18m).

"We're delighted. We were really happy to have him back in the set-up," Lush McCrum told BBC World Service's Stumped podcast.

"I spoke to him quickly afterwards and he's delighted, we're delighted and that explosive capability is something that is very unique. It's great to pick him up."

Archer was initially left off the list for the auction but was later added.

The tournament has strengthened its rules and will players could be banned for two years if they pull out for reasons that are not injury or medical related.

The dates for the 2025 competition are not yet known, but is likely to clash with a large chunk of red-ball cricket at the start of the English domestic season, limiting Archer's opportunities to impress ahead of potentially returning Test cricket in the summer and for the Ashes next winter.

"He has gone through a challenging few years, but he's well looked after now," added Lush McCrum.

"The England physio Craig is actually our physio in the IPL as well, so there's that continuity of management, which is really important.

"He can be managed well. From all of the reviews we got in before the auction, he's in a really good place and we will take great care in ensuring he remains in that good place."

Listen to the full interview with Jack Lush McCrum and Kolkata Knight Riders' team director Joy Bhattacharjya on the Stumped podcast on BBC Sounds.

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The Women's Big Bash League has named its inaugural team of the decade following 10 years of the competition.

All-rounder Ellyse Perry has been named captain of the side, having been the only player to lead her team, the Sydney Sixers, in all 10 WBBL campaigns. Perry has also won the competition twice.

All-time leading run-scorer Beth Mooney and Australia wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy open the batting. Sophie Devine and Grace Harris make up the top six.

Jess Jonassen, whose WBBL career has been with the Brisbane Heat, is at seven. South Africa's Marizanne Kapp, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Sarah Aley and Megan Schutt making up the bowling attack.

Molly Strano has been named as the 12th player.

The team was selected by a combination of an expert panel and public voting. Former England men's white-ball coach Matthew Mott was part of the expert panel.

"The WBBL team of the decade brings together the best of the best and the panel is proud to have overseen the process to select such a deserving team," said Clea Smith, Cricket Australia director and chair of the WBBL team of the decade selection panel.

WBBL team of the decade:

1. Beth Mooney (Brisbane Heat, Perth Scorchers)

2. Alyssa Healy (Wicketkeeper – Sydney Sixers)

3. Meg Lanning (Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers)

4. Ellyse Perry (Captain – Sydney Sixers)

5. Sophie Devine (Adelaide Strikers, Perth Scorchers)

6. Grace Harris (Brisbane Heat, Melbourne Renegades)

7. Jess Jonassen (Brisbane Heat)

8. Marizanne Kapp (Sydney Sixers, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Thunder, Melbourne Stars)

9. Amanda-Jade Wellington (Adelaide Strikers)

10. Sarah Aley (Sydney Sixers)

11. Megan Schutt (Adelaide Strikers)

12. Molly Strano (Melbourne Renegades, Hobart Hurricanes)

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England all-rounder Liam Livingstone hit an unbeaten 50 from 15 balls to take Bangla Tigers to a seven-wicket win over Delhi Bulls in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

Livingstone smashed three fours and five sixes to help the Tigers overhaul the Bulls 123-6 with two balls to spare.

Former England batter James Vince had top-scored for the Bulls with 27 from 15 balls but, having come in at 65-2 in the seventh over, Livingstone took over in the Tigers chase.

The 31-year-old thumped 25 of the 29 runs as seamer Naveen-ul-Haq was dismantled in the penultimate over and added another six over cover off Muhammad Rohid in the last before hitting the winning runs two balls later.

Earlier, Ravi Bopara's 56 from 21 balls helped Chennai Braves to an 18-run victory over Ajman Bolts.

Bopara put on 98 with Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib (55 from 24 balls) as the Braves recovered from 29-3 to post 142-6 before restricting the Bolts to 124-5.

In the first game of the day, England opener Phil Salt was dismissed for a two-ball duck and Jonny Bairstow made just one as Team Abu Dhabi were trashed by New York Strikers.

After Abu Dhabi were limited to 73-7, Kusal Perera's 56 not out from 26 balls took the Strikers to a 10-wicket win in just 6.2 overs.

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Former Australia batter Michael Klinger has been named head coach of Manchester Originals' women for 2025.

Klinger played three T20s for Australia and spent seven seasons with Gloucestershire before retiring in 2019.

He also coaches Gujarat Giants in the Women's Premier League in India, as well as stints with Melbourne Renegades in the men's Big Bash League and Sydney Thunder's women.

The contract is for one year with the Originals and he replaces former Lancashire player Stephen Parry after two years in the role.

Originals' women finished sixth in the 2024 edition of The Hundred, which was won by London Spirit.

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The Women's Big Bash group stage has finished and the knockout schedule is now confirmed.

Here's who plays who and when:

Wednesday, 27 November

Knockout: Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes (08:15 GMT)

Friday, 29 November

Challenger: Brisbane Heat v winner of Knockout (08:15 GMT)

Sunday, 1 December

Final: Melbourne Renegades v winner of Challenger (02:20 GMT)

Commentary on all three games is available on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website and online.

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Jemimah Rodrigues and Jess Jonassen both struck 39 as Brisbane Heat beat Sydney Sixers by five wickets to secure a place in the Women's Big Bash Challenger match.

In the final game of the competition's league stage, Heat bowled their opponents out for 140, with Jonassen and Lucy Hamilton taking three wickets apiece.

Heat then chased down their target in 17 overs, with Rodrigues striking her 39 from 22 balls before being caught by Mathilda Carmichael off the bowling of Melie Kerr.

Jonassen then put on 50 for the fifth wicket with opener Georgia Redmayne, and was there to wrap up the victory as she struck Kerr for four.

The pace of their win was not enough to overtake Melbourne Renegades' run-rate at the top of the table, as Heat joined them on 14 points.

The Brisbane side will now face the winner of Wednesday's knockout tie between Sydney Thunder and Hobart Hurricanes in the challenger match on Friday, with the victor of that game playing Renegades in the final on Sunday, 1 December.

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Scotland's Kathryn Bryce made an unbeaten 37 off 24 balls to guide Hobart Hurricanes to a three-wicket win over Perth Scorchers and closer to securing a Women's Big Bash knockout place.

Chasing 139 to win, Hurricanes were 51-0 but collapsed to 95-7, before Bryce and Lauren Smith shared 44 to see them over the line with 14 balls to spare.

Hurricanes move into fourth and can only be caught by Sydney Sixers, who must beat Brisbane Heat and drastically improve their net run-rate (24 November, 09:05 GMT).

Heat have already secured their knockout spot but could finish top, and automatically reach the final on 1 December, if they win and improve their net run-rate above Melbourne Renegades.

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Melbourne Renegades thrashed Sydney Thunder by nine wickets to go top of the Women's Big Bash (WBBL) table and close on an automatic place in the final.

The side that tops the 10-team table at the end of the group stage automatically reaches the final on 1 December.

Thunder have led the way for the majority of the tournament, but the defeat sees Renegades overtake them in the final round of fixtures.

Hayley Matthews hit an unbeaten 60 off 37 balls, and Sophie Molineux 42 off 29 balls, as Renegades chased 134 with 34 balls to spare.

Molineux had earlier taken 4-23 as Thunder were bowled out for 133, with Phoebe Litchfield top-scoring with 30.

Brisbane Heat can overtake Renegades if they beat Sydney Sixers on Sunday (09:05 GMT), with net run-rate deciding who tops the table.

Thunder are in the knockouts, but whether they play in the Knockout, between the third and fourth-placed team, or the Challenger, will depend on Heat's result.

• WBBL table

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England white-ball captain Jos Buttler hit an unbeaten 60 off just 22 balls to help Deccan Gladiators to a 20-run win over Ajman Bolts in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

Buttler, who hit three fours and six sixes, has now made successive half-centuries in his first two games and is the tournament's leading run-scorer.

The 34-year-old hit three sixes in a row to end the Gladiators innings and help them to 137-3, before Richard Gleeson took two wickets, including Alex Hales for a duck, as Bolts finished 117-3.

Friday's other games saw Ireland seamer Mark Adair take 4-11 before his Team Abu Dhabi side chased 52 in just 4.2 overs against UP Nawabs.

Faf du Plessis made 75 not out - the highest individual score in score in this year's competition - as Samp Army beat defending champions New York Strikers by 36 runs.

West Indies' Johnson Charles' half-century helped Northern Warriors beat a Delhi Bulls side that contained James Vince, Tom Banton and Adam Lyth.

More than 20 English players are playing in the competition, which runs until 2 December.

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Brisbane Heat secured their place in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) knockouts with a comfortable nine-wicket victory over struggling Melbourne Stars.

The match was reduced to seven overs a side because of rain, and Stars limped to 46-6, with Heat spinner Jess Jonassen claiming 3-8.

Heat reached the total for the loss of one wicket and with 10 balls to spare as Australian batter Grace Harris finished unbeaten on 21 from 16 balls.

The top four teams will progress from the group stage, with the team in first place progressing straight to the final on 1 December.

The third and fourth-placed teams will then play in the Knockout and the winner of that match will face the second-placed team in the Challenger to decide the other finalist.

Heat join Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades in guaranteeing a top-four finish and there is a tussle for fourth place between Hobart Hurricanes, Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers.

Stars are bottom of the table and out of contention.

There are four fixtures remaining in the Women's Big Bash group stage.

The top four teams progress with the group stage leaders going straight to the final on 1 December.

Third play fourth in the Knockout on 27 November, with the winner playing the second-placed team in the Challenger on 29 November for a place in the final.

Here are the remaining fixture sand what each of the eight teams needs to progress to the knockouts.

Remaining Women's Big Bash fixtures

Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Thunder (22 Nov, 23:00 GMT), Perth Scorchers v Hobart Hurricanes (23 Nov, 09:55 GMT), Melbourne Stars v Adelaide Strikers (23 Nov, 23:00 GMT) & Brisbane Heat v Sydney Sixers (24 Nov, 09:05 GMT)

What does each team need?

Sydney Thunder, Melbourne Renegades and Brisbane Heat are already secured their place in the knockouts.

If Thunder beat Renegades they will be guaranteed top and automatically reach the final. If Renegades win, they'll be in pole position, but could be caught by Heat with net run-rate deciding who finishes where.

The fourth knockout spot is between Hobart Hurricanes, Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers.

It is likely that the winner of Hurricanes v Scorchers will seal it, because Sixers need a big net run-rate swing too.

Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Stars are out of contention.

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England white-ball captain Jos Buttler walloped a 15-ball fifty as Deccan Gladiators beat Chennai Braves by seven wickets in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

Buttler came to the crease with Gladiators 37-2, in pursuit of 142, but made an unbeaten 62 off 24 balls to see the two-time champions home with two balls to spare.

He shared 100 with Somerset's Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who made 51 off 24 balls, for the third wicket.

Braves had earlier made 141-2, with Australia's Chris Lynn making 68 not out off 28 balls and South Africa's Rassie van der Dussen 62 off 29.

Buttler, who is playing in the tournament for the first time, is one of more than 20 English players to be featuring.

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England opener Phil Salt crashed an 18-ball half-century as Team Abu Dhabi beat Ajman Bolts in the opening game of the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

Salt, who is captaining Abu Dhabi, hit two fours and six sixes as he made an unbeaten 53 off 19 balls to help Abu Dhabi chase down 80 in just 5.4 overs.

Jonny Bairstow hit an unbeaten 22 off 14 balls at the other end, with the pair sharing 78 in 28 balls.

Ireland's Mark Adair took 2-14 for Abu Dhabi as Ajman Bolts struggled to 79-8 from their 10 overs.

The second match of the day brought contrasting fortunes for two Gloucestershire players as Jack Taylor hit an unbeaten 27 off 13 balls to see Samp Army to a six-wicket win over Bangla Tigers.

However, left-arm seamer David Payne conceded 29 from nine balls, including when trying to defend 12 off the final over.

More than 20 England players, including white-ball captain Jos Buttler, are playing in the tournament, that runs until 2 December.