Cricket

In a controversial turn of events, an lbw decision against Antigua And Barbuda Falcons batter Imad Wasim sparked chaos and a lengthy delay in the CPL match against Trinbago Knight Riders in Port of Spain.Umpire Christopher Taylor initially ruled Wasim not out, but a review by TKR captain Kieron Pollard showed the ball hitting leg stump. However, Wasim insisted he had edged the ball, and replays on the big screen seemed to support his claim.The third umpire reversed the decision to not out, prompting an animated discussion between Pollard and the on-field umpires. TKR coach Phil Simmons also expressed his displeasure from the dugout. The delay lasted nearly 12 minutes, with the TKR camp clearly unhappy with the outcome.Falcons coach Curtly Ambrose protested from the dugout, while Wasim himself appeared confident in his innocence. Despite the controversy, Wasim went on to hit the winning runs for the Falcons.TKR, despite the loss, remain second in the points table but have yet to secure a playoff berth. Pollard declined to comment on the incident, saying, "If I speak, I'll get into trouble."Falcons captain Chris Green was more vocal, describing the situation as "absolute chaos." He questioned the initial decision and the subsequent reversal, but ultimately expressed satisfaction with his team's victory.The incident highlights the complexities of umpiring decisions in cricket and the potential for controversy when technology is involved. It also underscores the importance of clear communication and consistency in decision-making.

Surrey's relentless pursuit of the 2024 County Championship title reached a crescendo at the Kia Oval, as they crushed Durham by ten wickets to move within touching distance of silverware.Under the golden rays of a sun-kissed London, Surrey's bowlers wreaked havoc on Durham's batting lineup, dismissing them for a paltry 177 in their second innings. Sam Curran led the charge with a devastating spell of 4 for 23, while Dan Worrall claimed 4 for 34.The victory was a testament to Surrey's resilience and determination, following a disappointing week that saw them suffer twin defeats to Somerset. However, the team rallied behind the leadership of Gareth Batty, Rory Burns, and Alec Stewart, who urged them to forget the past and focus on the task at hand.Ryan Patel, a bit-part player in the Surrey squad, played a pivotal role in the victory, scoring a face-saving century on day two. His innings provided a much-needed foundation for Surrey's eventual triumph.Durham's resistance was led by Emilio Gay, who scored a gritty 48, but his efforts were ultimately in vain. Colin Ackermann and Bas de Leede gave Durham a brief glimmer of hope, but Curran and Tom Lawes quickly extinguished it.With just one round remaining, Surrey now hold a 28-point lead over Somerset, who must chase down 393 against Lancashire to keep their title hopes alive. If Somerset fail, Surrey will be crowned champions on Friday.The victory was a fitting tribute to Alec Stewart, who is set to step down as Surrey's director of cricket after 11 years. Under his stewardship, Surrey have won three County Championships, including the 2022 title.

In a resounding victory, Stallions crushed Dolphins by a massive 174 runs in Faisalabad, extending Dolphins' losing streak to three consecutive matches. Babar Azam's unbeaten century and Jahandad Khan's early wickets proved decisive in the lopsided encounter.Stallions, electing to bat first, got off to a solid start with Shan Masood and Yasir Khan amassing 76 runs in the opening 13 overs. However, Faheem Ashraf's dismissal of Masood slowed the scoring pace. Yasir soon followed suit, but Babar Azam remained steadfast, anchoring the innings with a composed 104 off 100 deliveries.Babar's partnership with Tayyab Tahir yielded 57 runs, propelling Stallions to 150 in the 30th over. Dolphins employed six bowlers, each claiming a wicket, but Babar remained unyielding. By the 40th over, he had reached a half-century off 65 balls.In the final ten overs, Babar unleashed his power, smashing 54 runs off 35 deliveries, including three fours and three sixes. His blistering knock propelled Stallions to a formidable total of 271 for 7.Dolphins' hopes of breaking their losing streak were quickly dashed by Jahandad Khan's devastating opening spell. With the second ball of the innings, he dismissed Muhammad Hurraira for a duck. In his third over, he trapped Umar Amin lbw, leaving Dolphins reeling at 15 for 2.Sahibzada Farhan and Saud Shakeel briefly threatened with five fours in 20 balls, but Jahandad struck again, removing Shakeel. Haris Rauf then dealt Dolphins a double blow, dismissing Sarfaraz Ahmed and Qasim Akram in quick succession.From 60 for 5, Dolphins' resistance crumbled. The lower middle order offered little resistance against the spin duo of Abrar Ahmed and Mehran Mumtaz, who shared five wickets. Dolphins were eventually bowled out for a paltry 97, handing Stallions a comprehensive 174-run victory.

Worcestershire's hopes of salvaging a draw against Hampshire dwindled as Liam Dawson's all-round brilliance propelled the hosts towards victory in the Vitality County Championship clash.Dawson, a spinning all-rounder, reached a milestone of 50 wickets in a season for the first time, adding Kashif Ali and Adam Hose to his tally. His bowling exploits have been matched by his batting prowess, as he has scored eight fifties in Division One this year, the most by any player.In Hampshire's second innings, Dawson's 51 helped set Worcestershire a daunting target of 394 runs. However, the visitors' chase got off to a shaky start as Joe Leach's accurate bowling accounted for Hampshire's top three.Despite James Vince's 44, Hampshire's innings lacked fluency, with Amar Virdi claiming four wickets. However, Dawson and Tom Prest injected some momentum with a brisk 72-run partnership.Worcestershire's reply began poorly as Gareth Roderick was dismissed cheaply. Dawson continued his wicket-taking spree, trapping Ali lbw and inducing a slip catch from Rob Jones. Vince's second slip catch accounted for Hose, giving Dawson his 50th wicket of the season.Jake Libby has shown resilience, reaching 55 not out, but Worcestershire still face an uphill battle to avoid defeat. With 277 runs still required and only five wickets remaining, Hampshire are poised to secure victory.

Northamptonshire's relentless pursuit of victory culminated in a resounding nine-wicket triumph over Leicestershire at Wantage Road, marking their second consecutive first-class victory in five years.Despite Leicestershire's valiant fightback, spearheaded by Scott Currie's maiden first-class century, Northamptonshire's bowlers, led by Yuzvendra Chahal's five-wicket haul, proved too formidable.Resuming on 69 for four, Leicestershire faced an uphill battle. However, Currie's composed presence and Tom Scriven's aggressive approach ignited a remarkable turnaround. Their 101-run partnership shifted the momentum in Leicestershire's favor.Currie's century, spanning over four hours, was a testament to his resilience and determination. He found able support in Sam Wood, who smashed 57 off 91 balls. Together, they forged a 110-run stand, setting Northamptonshire a target of 137.Northamptonshire's chase began with a setback, but George Bartlett and Luke Procter steadied the ship. Their unbroken 120-run partnership, featuring half-centuries from both batters, sealed the victory.Earlier, Chahal's five-wicket haul and Ben Sanderson's 400th career first-class wicket had dismantled Leicestershire's batting lineup.

Yorkshire County Cricket Club has appointed Gavin Hamilton as their new general manager of cricket. Hamilton, a former allrounder who played a Test for England in 1999, will oversee both the men's and women's teams.Hamilton, 50, played his only Test match in November 1999 against New Zealand. He made a pair and bowled 15 wicketless overs. Despite his brief international career, Hamilton had a successful domestic career with Yorkshire and Durham. He scored over 2,000 first-class runs and took over 200 wickets for Yorkshire, helping them win the County Championship title in 2001.After retiring from playing, Hamilton worked for Caledonian Brewery, the Professional Cricketers' Association, and Pure Co. He will start his new role at Yorkshire on November 1 and will work closely with the club's new men's coach, who is expected to be Essex's Anthony McGrath."I am delighted to soon be starting my new role at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club, the club where I started my career and enjoyed over a decade playing with some great players," Hamilton said. "This is a fantastic opportunity and my ambition in this role is to support the club in achieving sustainable success and to encourage and improve the players and the teams both on and off the pitch."Yorkshire's interim chief executive, Sanjay Patel, said: "Through the interview process we were impressed by Gavin's cricket knowledge, business acumen, and ability to bring people together. We are confident that he will work with the excellent team here at the club to achieve that vision."Yorkshire's men are currently closing in on promotion to Division One of the County Championship, while their women's team will play in Tier 2 of the new domestic structure next year before their elevation to Tier 1 in 2026.

Australia's women's cricket team secured a thrilling five-wicket victory over New Zealand in Mackay, despite a pre-game injury scare involving Ashleigh Gardner. Gardner collided with teammate Georgia Wareham during warm-ups, resulting in her withdrawal as a precaution due to her history of concussions.Heather Graham replaced Gardner in the lineup, while Kim Garth and Grace Harris were ruled out of the series due to injuries. New Zealand also suffered a setback with skipper Sophie Devine sidelined by a foot issue.Australia's bowlers shared the spoils, with all six used claiming a wicket. Maddy Green and Suzie Bates passed 30 for New Zealand, but couldn't accelerate the innings. Australia's fielding was rusty, conceding 12 byes, but their bowling was frugal.In the chase, Phoebe Litchfield played a stunning unbeaten knock of 64 from 43 balls, guiding Australia to victory with eight balls to spare. She received excellent support from Wareham in a 50-run stand.Litchfield's innings showcased her skill and bravery, as she hit 11 boundaries on a two-paced surface. She reached her half-century in 32 balls and finished the match with a reverse sweep for four.Australia's variety in their bowling attack proved effective, with Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck, and Sophie Molineux making scoring difficult for New Zealand in the powerplay.Molly Penfold impressed for New Zealand with 2 for 24, but couldn't prevent Australia from securing the win. The victory extended New Zealand's losing streak in women's T20Is to eight matches.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has reaffirmed its commitment to bilateral fixtures with Afghanistan, despite criticism over the Taliban's repressive policies towards women. CSA believes that isolating the Afghan men's team would be ineffective and unjust, as it would punish innocent players for the actions of their government.CSA's stance aligns with the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has expressed concern over the lack of a women's team in Afghanistan but has not imposed a ban. The ICC recognizes the complexities of forcing the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) to field a women's team, given the potential risks to their safety.CSA argues that gender advocacy in cricket should not come at the expense of innocent administrators and players. It points to its own history of isolation during the Apartheid era, which did not effectively promote change. Instead, economic sanctions proved more effective in breaking the regime's resistance.CSA also acknowledges the progress made by the ACB in promoting women's cricket prior to the Taliban's takeover. In 2020, the ACB pledged contracts to 25 female players and organized a training camp. However, the Taliban's ban on female participation in sports has halted these efforts.The South African Cricketers' Association (SACA) supports CSA's position, calling for the promotion of women's rights while recognizing the challenges faced by the ACB. South Africa's ODI captain, Temba Bavuma, has also expressed his support for women's rights.CSA's decision to continue playing Afghanistan has drawn criticism from some quarters, including Lawyers for Human Rights, which argues that it tacitly endorses the Taliban regime. However, CSA believes that engagement and dialogue are more effective than isolation in promoting change.

Ravichandran Ashwin Rescues India on Day 1 of Chennai Test Against BangladeshLocal hero Ravichandran Ashwin played a pivotal role in rescuing India from a precarious position on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai.With India reeling at 144/6, Ashwin stepped up to the plate and showcased his exceptional batting skills. The crowd erupted in cheers as he made his way to the crease, and he did not disappoint.Ashwin played a series of stunning shots, leaving head coach Gautam Gambhir in awe. Among his impressive strokes was a sublime cut shot against Nahid Rana in the 44th over. The tall pacer delivered a short, wide ball at 144.2kph, but Ashwin seized the opportunity and executed a perfect cut shot that sent the ball racing to the sweeper cover boundary.Gambhir's reaction was one of pure delight, as he witnessed Ashwin's exceptional stroke play. The commentators were quick to label it the 'shot of the day'.Ashwin acknowledged Bangladesh's recent series victory against Pakistan, which has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. He praised their remarkable progress and recognized their increasing prowess on the field."The series victory has sent shockwaves through the cricketing community," Ashwin said. "I am one of those guys who loves to see the underdog come out and perform. You can't call them an underdog anymore; they have played some wonderful cricket.""They have put their hand up and said, 'Look, we are a team on the rise and we are playing wonderful cricket,'" Ashwin added.Ashwin's innings helped India recover from a difficult position and reach a respectable total of 252/10 at the end of the day. His performance was a testament to his skill and determination, and it will give India confidence as they look to take control of the match in the coming days.