Cricket

Nottinghamshire's Freddie McCann emerged as a beacon of hope for the relegation-threatened side, scoring a magnificent 130 to guide his team to a respectable 324 for 6 against Warwickshire at Trent Bridge. The match resumed after a day's abandonment due to rain, with 110 overs lost so far.McCann, a 19-year-old left-hander, showcased his exceptional talent, adding to his impressive scores of 51 and 154 in his brief seven-inning career. His innings helped Notts recover from a precarious 55 for 3, with Jack Haynes contributing a steady 47 and Kyle Verreynne an unbeaten 76.On a pitch that proved to be benign, Nottinghamshire secured two batting points, ensuring a draw would suffice for both sides to avoid relegation. The home team's batting performance was a stark contrast to their struggles on Thursday, when they managed only 33 for 2 on a seaming pitch.Warwickshire's Michael Booth struck early, dismissing Joe Clarke for 12, but McCann and Haynes steadied the innings with a 127-run partnership. Haynes's dismissal to Danny Briggs's spin brought Verreynne to the crease, who settled in quickly and accelerated the scoring rate.McCann's innings ended abruptly when he was yorked by Craig Miles, but Verreynne continued to flourish, reaching his half-century from 63 balls. Lyndon James's brief stay at the crease ended with an edge to slip, but Notts had already secured their second batting point.With Warwickshire needing to claim their final bowling point and pass 300 themselves to avoid relegation, the match remains finely poised. However, the weather remains a concern, with rain forecast for both Nottingham and Worcester, where Lancashire are also battling to avoid the drop.

Nottinghamshire's valiant effort to chase down Surrey's mammoth first-innings total of 525 was thwarted by a career-best performance from spinner Will Jacks, who claimed seven wickets for 129 runs. Despite a maiden century from 19-year-old Freddie McCann, Nottinghamshire fell short by 133 runs, leaving Surrey on the cusp of victory.McCann's innings of 154 was a testament to his talent and resilience. Batting at number three, he faced 268 deliveries and held the Nottinghamshire innings together. However, Jacks's off-spin proved too much for him, as he was caught at long-on after a slog-sweep.Jack Haynes also contributed with a valuable 68, but the follow-on target of 376 proved too daunting for Nottinghamshire. Kyle Verreynne, the South African wicketkeeper, remained unbeaten on 50, but his efforts were in vain as Surrey's bowlers tightened their grip.Surrey's pursuit of a third successive championship title was put on hold due to bad light, but they need just 13 runs to secure victory. Dom Sibley was dismissed for 10, but Rory Burns and Hashim Amla remain at the crease.The match was marred by an incident in the afternoon when Jacks threw the ball at McCann in an inappropriate manner. Umpires immediately penalized Surrey five runs and referred the matter to the county for further disciplinary action.

England Under-19s opener Freddie McCann narrowly missed out on a second century of the summer as Sri Lanka Under-19s captain Dinuru Kalupahana reached his maiden international ton in the rain-affected first Men's Youth Test at Wormsley.McCann, who had smashed a record-breaking 174 in the second Youth ODI last week, fell just eight runs short of a century after sharing a 160-run partnership with Keshana Fonseka. The duo's efforts helped England respond strongly to Sri Lanka's first-innings total of 324.Kalupahana, who celebrated his century with a leap into the air, had earlier anchored Sri Lanka's innings with a composed 101. Surrey Academy quick Alex French was the pick of the England bowlers, claiming 4 for 81.England lost three late wickets, with captain Hamza Shaikh and Noah Thain following McCann back to the pavilion. However, Fonseka remained unbeaten on 72, leaving England 131 runs behind at the close.Sri Lanka's innings was characterized by five batsmen being caught in the ring, including Abeywickramasingha, who became the first victim when he mistimed a drive to Flintoff. Leicestershire's Alex Green claimed the prized wicket of Kalupahana with the first ball of his new spell, trapping him lbw.Thain enticed Thewmika to drive to Flintoff at wide mid-on, while Caldera was the last man out, mis-hitting a drive that Shaikh held to give French his fourth wicket.With one day remaining in the match, England will need to work hard to overcome Sri Lanka's first-innings advantage and secure a positive result.

England Under-19s secured a thrilling 30-run victory over Sri Lanka in the second One-Day International (ODI) at Hove, leveling the three-match series at 1-1.Freddie McCann's magnificent 174-run knock propelled England to a formidable total of 360 for 7. The left-hander's innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, featuring 22 boundaries and three sixes. Noah Thain provided valuable support with a well-crafted 66.Sri Lanka's chase got off to a promising start, with Pulindu Perera and Gayana Weerasinghe forging a 110-run partnership. However, McCann's diving catch to dismiss Weerasinghe off Farhan Ahmed's bowling proved to be a turning point.Perera's dismissal for 64 left Sri Lanka in a precarious position. Despite a valiant effort from Luc Benkenstein, who claimed four wickets, the Sri Lankan batsmen struggled to keep up with the required run rate. They were eventually bowled out for 330 in 49.2 overs.England's innings had begun steadily, with McCann and Thain laying the foundation with a 127-run partnership. Thain's impressive 66 included eight fours and a six.After Thain's departure, McCann accelerated his scoring, reaching his century in 97 balls. He continued to dominate the Sri Lankan bowlers, hitting boundaries at will. Charlie Allison (46) and Dom Kelly (32 not out) provided valuable contributions in the latter stages of the innings.Dinura Kalupahana was the most successful Sri Lankan bowler, claiming five wickets for 81 runs. However, his efforts were not enough to prevent England from securing a crucial victory.