Cricket

England Spinner Shoaib Bashir Concedes Record-Breaking 38-Run Over in County ChampionshipEngland spinner Shoaib Bashir endured a nightmare over in the County Championship match between Surrey and Worcestershire on Monday, conceding a staggering 38 runs. The over, which came after Dan Lawrence reached his century, saw the middle-order batter unleash a barrage of sixes on Bashir.Lawrence began the over with a charge down the wicket and a towering six over long-on. He followed it up with three consecutive sixes, including a straight drive, a pull shot, and a slog-sweep over mid-wicket. Bashir was left visibly perplexed as Lawrence's assault continued.Lawrence's fifth six was a slog-sweep over mid-wicket, bringing him within reach of joining the elite group of players who have hit six sixes in an over. However, Bashir's next delivery was wide down the leg side and missed by the wicketkeeper, resulting in five wides.To add insult to injury, Bashir then bowled a no ball, which in County Cricket incurs a penalty of two runs. Lawrence added a single before Bashir finally ended the forgetful over with a dot ball.Bashir's over is the most expensive in the history of the County Championship, surpassing the previous record of 36 runs conceded by Warwickshire's Keith Barker in 1995. It is also the first time a bowler has conceded five consecutive sixes in the competition.Lawrence's onslaught helped Worcestershire post a formidable total of 556/7 declared. Surrey, in reply, were bowled out for 280, with Bashir finishing with figures of 1/72.

Sussex's captain, John Simpson, continued his impressive form with a third century of the season, guiding his team to a commanding position against Leicestershire on the opening day of their Division Two County Championship match at Hove.Simpson, who has now scored over 500 runs in the competition, came to the crease with Sussex struggling at 34 for 3. However, he played a chanceless innings, hitting 29 fours from 251 deliveries to finish unbeaten on 180.Oli Carter also played a crucial role for Sussex, scoring 96 in an opening partnership of 156 with Simpson. Carter's innings included 15 fours and a six, and he was unlucky to miss out on a century when he was caught and bowled by Scott Currie.Leicestershire had won the toss and elected to field, but they were unable to make early inroads into the Sussex batting. Tom Haines was dropped on 0 by Currie, but Holland made amends by dismissing Haines and Tom Alsop in quick succession.James Coles was the third Sussex wicket to fall, but Simpson and Carter then took control of the innings. They put on 156 for the fourth wicket, and Sussex went on to score 197 runs in the afternoon session.Carter was eventually dismissed for 96, but Fynn Hudson-Prentice (26) and Jack Carson (25) made useful contributions. Nathan McAndrew finished unbeaten on 51 as Sussex closed on 431 for 7.Leicestershire's bowlers struggled throughout the day, with Holland the only one to take multiple wickets. The Foxes will need to improve their performance on day two if they are to have any chance of getting back into the match.

Essex County Cricket Club has bolstered its bowling attack with the acquisition of South African all-rounder Eathan Bosch on a short-term deal. The 26-year-old will feature in four Vitality County Championship matches as Essex aims to maintain its title challenge.Bosch, a right-arm fast bowler, has impressed in South Africa's domestic circuit, claiming 92 wickets in 38 first-class appearances. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace makes him a valuable addition to Essex's seam attack."I'm thrilled to be here," said Bosch. "It was an easy decision to make, and I'm eager to contribute to the Eagles' success. I'm excited to showcase my skills and learn from the experienced players in the team."Essex Head Coach Anthony McGrath welcomed Bosch's arrival, highlighting his experience and versatility. "Eathan is a fantastic addition to our squad," said McGrath. "His ability to bowl in different conditions will enhance our attack. He will also push our other bowlers to perform at their best."Bosch's batting prowess is another asset for Essex. He has scored a century and seven fifties in first-class cricket, averaging 22.89. His all-round abilities make him a valuable asset in the lower order.Bosch's signing comes as Essex loaned seamer Ben Allison to Worcestershire for two Championship fixtures. McGrath explained that this move will provide Allison with valuable game time. "This is an excellent opportunity for Ben to gain experience," said McGrath. "He is a talented cricketer, and we believe this loan will benefit his development."Essex currently sits two points behind leaders Surrey in the County Championship standings. Bosch's arrival is expected to strengthen their title bid as they face Durham at Chelmsford in their next fixture.

Wes Agar, the Australian fast bowler, has been forced to cut short his 2024 season with Kent County Cricket Club due to a shoulder injury. Agar sustained the injury during Kent's County Championship match against Worcestershire in May.Despite recovering enough to play against Essex at the end of June, Agar and Kent have mutually agreed that he will return to Australia to facilitate a full recovery. Agar was originally scheduled to stay at Canterbury until the end of July, playing in both the County Championship and the Vitality Blast. However, he will now depart without having featured in the latter this season.Kent have confirmed that Agar will return for the 2025 season on an all-format deal running from April to July, subject to regulatory approval. This news softens the blow of his early departure.Agar has taken 12 County Championship wickets at an average of 34.25 this season, adding to the 21 wickets he took at 28.33 during his first stint at the club in 2023. In 2023, he finished the campaign as Kent's joint-leading wicket-taker alongside Matt Quinn, despite playing only six matches."I'm thrilled to be coming back to my 'home away from home' again next year," Agar said in a statement. "I feel fully part of the Kent Cricket Family now. It's a great Club full of great people on and off the field, and the decision to sign on again for another English summer was an easy one to make. I can't wait to pull on that Kent shirt again and perform in front of our Members and supporters in 2025.""I'm gutted to be leaving the lads early this time, and I've absolutely loved my time in Canterbury this year. See you all in April!"Kent's Director of Cricket, Simon Cook, said: "Wes is a talented multi-format cricketer and a very popular member of our dressing room. We're extremely pleased that he will be joining us again next Summer.""His ethos and work ethic are great to have around the place, and we're looking forward to him being an important part of our attack at the front end of our 2025 season. It's sad to see him leave early with his shoulder injury, but we know that he will come back with the same enthusiasm to perform at his best in a Kent shirt next year."Agar's recovery will focus on ensuring he can play a full part in South Australia's Sheffield Shield campaign. He will then turn out for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League, having left Adelaide Strikers after eight seasons. Agar became the first player in the BBL to be traded as part of a pick exchange in the overseas draft.

Shoaib Bashir, the promising England Test offspinner, has joined Worcestershire on a short-term loan to bolster their Vitality Blast and County Championship campaigns. The 20-year-old will make his debut for the Pears in Friday's Blast clash with Northamptonshire and is also set to feature in the Championship match against Surrey.Bashir's loan move comes after a breakthrough winter with England, where he claimed 17 wickets in three Tests against India, including two five-wicket hauls. However, his selection had been hampered by limited playing time at Somerset, where he had taken just 10 wickets in six matches since his debut in 2023.With Jack Leach firmly established as Somerset's premier spinner, the club had been open to a loan move to enhance Bashir's playing opportunities. In March, head coach Jason Kerr stated that he would not "stand in the way of anyone's opportunity."Despite playing as Somerset's main spinner in three Championship matches in April due to Leach's knee injury, Bashir managed only four wickets at a high average of 74.75. He has since been playing alongside Leach in the county 2nd XI T20 competition.Worcestershire head coach Alan Richardson expressed his delight at Bashir's arrival: "Shoaib is a player of immense talent and potential, and we believe his presence will significantly strengthen our squad for the Vitality Blast and our next Championship fixture against Surrey.""We're confident that he will make a positive impact from tonight's game against Northamptonshire. We're excited to welcome him, and we are looking forward to seeing him in action."Worcestershire currently sit fifth in the Blast North Group on net run-rate, while they are yet to win any of their seven Division One Championship matches. Bashir's addition is expected to provide a much-needed boost to their bowling attack.

Northamptonshire and Yorkshire played out a thrilling draw in their Vitality County Championship match at Wantage Road, with Ricardo Vasconcelos' valiant century ultimately securing a share of the spoils for the hosts.Yorkshire set Northamptonshire a challenging target of 326 to win in just over two sessions, but Vasconcelos' unbeaten 129, featuring 17 boundaries, kept the home side in the hunt. However, a late fightback from Yorkshire's bowlers, led by Adam Lyth's career-best figures of 4-56, saw Northamptonshire lose eight wickets in quick succession.Vasconcelos, who had shared a rapid 63-run stand with Karun Nair (36), had to dig deep to ensure his side held out for the draw. The 33-year-old Portuguese batsman showed great character and maturity, guiding Northamptonshire to safety with eight wickets down.Earlier, Yorkshire captain Shan Masood declared his side's innings on 264 for 6 just before lunch, setting up an intriguing run chase. However, the loss of 17 overs due to rain interruptions ultimately proved too costly for Yorkshire.The draw leaves both sides winless after seven games, with Yorkshire taking 14 points and Northamptonshire 13.

Middlesex and Sussex, two of the frontrunners in the Vitality County Championship Division Two, played out a thrilling draw at Lord's. The match was a testament to the resilience and skill of both teams, with Middlesex posting a mammoth 613 for 9 declared in response to Sussex's 554 for 9 declared.Middlesex's batting performance was led by Nick Robson, who scored a brilliant 136, and Max Higgins, who contributed a valuable 106. Nathan Fernandes narrowly missed out on a century, falling nine runs short, while Jack Davies struck a career-best 68 and Henry Brookes registered his first half-century as a Middlesex player.Sussex's bowling attack was led by Jack Carson, who took 4 for 166. However, the Middlesex batsmen were able to withstand the pressure and build partnerships throughout the innings.Sussex's batting performance was anchored by John Simpson, who scored a magnificent 167, and Cheteshwar Pujara, who contributed a solid 129. The Sussex batsmen were able to build a strong foundation, which allowed them to declare their innings and set Middlesex a challenging target.The match ultimately ended in a draw, with both teams sharing the spoils. Sussex maintained their eight-point lead at the top of the table, while Middlesex remained in second place.

Middlesex's batting prowess was on full display on day three of their County Championship clash with Sussex at Lord's, as Sam Robson and Ryan Higgins notched up centuries to keep their team in the hunt.Robson, who has now amassed 35 first-class hundreds, anchored Middlesex's response to Sussex's mammoth 554 for 9 declared with a composed 136. The right-hander's innings was characterized by exquisite driving, particularly through the covers.Higgins, known for his aggressive style, added flair to the hosts' batting with a third century of the season, scoring 106. The Zimbabwean all-rounder's innings featured a reverse sweep for four and a six into the Grandstand.Despite dropping Robson twice and Higgins once, Sussex's bowlers struggled to contain the Middlesex batsmen. Jack Carson, who returned figures of 3 for 89, was particularly unlucky, with both Robson and Higgins surviving close calls off his bowling.Robson's dismissal to the new ball brought an end to a 79-run partnership with Higgins, but the latter continued to attack, reaching his century with successive boundaries off Jaden Seales. However, Higgins' luck ran out when he was stumped by John Simpson after missing a delivery from Carson.Tom Helm and Nathan Fernandes added valuable runs in the lower order, with Fernandes finishing unbeaten on 50 to leave Middlesex just two runs short of the follow-on figure at stumps.Sussex will be disappointed with their fielding lapses, which allowed Robson and Higgins to capitalize on their good fortune. The visitors will need to improve their catching and bowling accuracy if they are to force a result in this high-scoring encounter.

Yorkshire's Adam Lyth marked his 200th Championship match with a commanding century, guiding his team to a solid 312 for 7 on day one against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.Lyth, known for his elegant cover drive, played with authority throughout his innings of 109 (205 balls). His partnership of 116 with Shan Masood (60) provided Yorkshire with a strong foundation.Despite Northamptonshire's early advantage of winning the toss and bowling on a green top under lights, Yorkshire's batsmen held their own. Lyth's half-century came off 81 balls, and he survived several close lbw appeals.After lunch, Masood joined Lyth in a productive partnership. However, the hosts fought back after tea, with Luke Procter (3 for 63) and Siddharth Kaul (2 for 81) leading the charge. Yorkshire lost five wickets for 52 runs, including Lyth's dismissal for 109.Masood reached his half-century but was caught by a diving Emilio Gay at slip. George Hill and James Wharton also fell cheaply, leaving Yorkshire in a precarious position.However, Will Luxton and Jordan Thompson showed some resistance, taking the attack to the Northamptonshire bowlers. Luxton was eventually dismissed by Procter, while Tattersall edged to Gay at slip.Thompson remained unbeaten at the end of the day, giving Yorkshire hope of a strong total on day two.