Cricket

Sydney Thunder emerged victorious in the first derby clash of the season, defeating Sydney Sixers by 18 runs at the SCG. The triumph was orchestrated by the impressive performances of Heather Knight and Samantha Bates.Knight, continuing her stellar form, anchored the Thunder's innings with a fluent 50 off 31 deliveries. Her knock, coupled with Chamari Athapaththu's solid foundation, propelled Thunder to a competitive total of 158 for 6.The Thunder's bowling attack proved equally formidable, restricting the Sixers to 140. Bates, in particular, was exceptional, claiming 3-22 and moving to the top of the season's wicket-taking charts. Shabnim Ismail, despite not taking any wickets, played a crucial role with her economical bowling and superb fielding, securing four catches.The Sixers' chase was hampered by a shaky start, with the team losing five wickets for 63 runs in the first 10 overs. Ash Gardner provided a glimmer of hope with a timely return to form, scoring 49. However, her dismissal by Bates with 28 runs required off 14 balls effectively ended the Sixers' hopes.The victory consolidates Thunder's position at the top of the table, while the Sixers remain in the hunt for a top-four finish. With five games remaining, the race for the home grand final intensifies.

Sydney Thunder's batting prowess and Sam Bates' exceptional bowling performance propelled them to a commanding 19-run victory over Brisbane Heat in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) at the WACA Ground.England captain Heather Knight led the Thunder's charge with an unbeaten 59, while Phoebe Litchfield (40) and Chamari Athapaththu (33) provided valuable contributions. The trio's efforts propelled Thunder to a formidable total of 170 for 5.In response, Brisbane Heat's Charli Knott (55) and Grace Harris (41) threatened to pull off a remarkable run chase. However, Bates' devastating spell of 4 for 25 proved too much for the Heat, who were eventually bowled out for 151.Thunder's innings got off to a solid start as Georgia Voll and Athapaththu put on a 52-run opening partnership. Athapaththu and Litchfield continued the momentum, striking seven boundaries each. Knight then took over, unleashing a flurry of shots to further bolster Thunder's total.Heat's Jess Jonassen emerged as the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 for 22. However, the rest of the bowling attack struggled to contain Thunder's star-studded batting lineup.Brisbane Heat's run chase began promisingly, but Harris' luck ran out when she was caught in the deep for 41. Knott kept the Heat's hopes alive with a maiden WBBL half-century, but her dismissal by Bates proved decisive.Bates' exceptional performance has seen her claim 12 wickets from just four games this season. "I'm not sure if there's a real secret behind [my form]," Bates said. "It's nice to be contributing finally. I had a pretty ordinary season last year, so I reflected quite a bit on that. I changed some little things and they're paying off, which is nice."

Sydney Thunder's impressive batting performance, led by Heather Knight and Chamari Athapaththu, and Hannah Darlington's effective bowling helped them avenge their earlier WBBL loss to Hobart Hurricanes.Despite a 31-run defeat in Hobart three days prior, Thunder emerged victorious in a rain-affected match at North Sydney Oval, winning by 33 runs. The match was reduced to 17 overs per side due to a 30-minute delay.Athapaththu (38 off 29) and Knight (48 off 28) played crucial roles in Thunder's total of 146 for 5. Hurricanes made a strong start, scoring 18 runs off the first seven balls, but their momentum was halted as they lost five wickets for just 13 runs in the final overs.Darlington claimed the key wickets of Lizelle Lee and Heather Graham, while Athapaththu contributed with the ball, taking 1 for 11 off three overs and dismissing England's Danni Wyatt-Hodge.Knight, who missed the first encounter between the teams, showcased her class with some elegant shots, particularly during the power surge over bowled by Molly Strano. She struck 14 runs off the last three balls, including a six over long off and two fours.Athapaththu, who had been dismissed for a first-ball duck in the previous match, was dropped at deep midwicket on 5. She went on to hit sixes over deep midwicket and long off before being caught by Strano off her own bowling.In response, Lee started aggressively, hitting boundaries off the first two balls of Hurricanes' chase. However, Thunder's bowlers fought back, with Athapaththu having Wyatt-Hodge caught at backward point. Nicola Carey, who had scored a half-century in the previous game, was dismissed by Shabnim Ismail.Lee was adjudged lbw after the mid-innings break, but replays showed she would have been reprieved if she had used DRS. A 43-run partnership between Graham and Elyse Villani gave Hurricanes hope, but their dismissals in successive overs triggered a collapse.

England Elects to Bat First Against Bangladesh in T20 World Cup OpenerIn their opening match of the T20 World Cup, England has opted to bat first after winning the toss at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Captain Heather Knight explained that the absence of dew and the ease of defending a total influenced their decision.England's lineup features a formidable four-woman spin attack, with Linsey Smith, Danielle Gibson, and Nat Sciver-Brunt joining Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone. Smith, who has been tipped as a potential opening bowler, was preferred over Lauren Bell.Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana acknowledged that her team would have made the same choice, having successfully batted first against Scotland in their tournament opener. They have made one change to their side, bringing in Dilara Akter at the top of the order in place of Murshida Khatun."We have a very good bowling attack and will look to restrict them to a total that we can chase," Sultana said.Bangladesh secured a 16-run victory over Scotland in the tournament's opening match, marking their first T20 World Cup win in a decade. However, they have a losing record against England in T20Is, having been defeated on all three previous occasions, including at the 2018 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.

Heather Knight, England's captain, is fully focused on leading her team to victory in the Women's T20 World Cup. She insists that the disciplinary measures taken against her for a historic "blackface" photograph have been addressed and are no longer a distraction.Knight, 33, was reprimanded and fined £1000 by the Cricket Discipline Commission after the photograph surfaced on social media. She has expressed regret for her actions and stated that she has "long regretted" the incident.Now, on the eve of England's T20 World Cup opener against Bangladesh, Knight is turning her attention to the task at hand. She is confident that her team can improve on their semi-final finish at the last event and land their first ICC global title since 2017."It was obviously something that has been ongoing the last couple of months, but it is something that has been addressed," Knight said. "The line has already been drawn, in my opinion, so I am really excited for what is to come."England had an unbeaten home summer, winning 13 out of 14 matches against New Zealand and Pakistan. They will face Bangladesh, Scotland, West Indies, and South Africa in the World Cup group stage.Knight believes that Australia, the defending champions, will be the favorites. However, she is confident that England can challenge them."We feel in a really good place," Knight said. "We've been playing some brilliant cricket, and while the first goal is to get out of the group stages, we're pretty confident in what we bring. We believe we can beat anyone on our best day."England has spent much of the summer honing a side that can compete in spinning conditions. Knight is confident that their spin contingent, led by Sophie Ecclestone, will thrive at the tournament."We feel very prepared for what we've got to come," Knight said. "We've obviously got the quality spin attack. It's been our big strength, particularly through those middle overs."England has opted to overlook Lauren Filer for this tournament, instead relying on Lauren Bell as a sole specialist seamer. Knight believes that they have a versatile squad that can adapt to different conditions."We've got really good options, which is the nice thing," Knight said. "The depth that we've got allows us to play based on the conditions that we face, and the team that we're playing against."Knight is confident that her all-rounders, including Freya Kemp and Nat Sciver-Brunt, are fit and ready to deliver for the team."The allrounders are the fittest in the team, because of the role they have to do," she said. "Freya, in particular, she's super impressive with how she's come back from that [second] stress fracture."

England Women's cricket captain Heather Knight has been reprimanded and fined £1000 by the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) for a photo of her in blackface from 2012. The photo, taken at a fancy-dress party, was deemed as racist and discriminatory conduct.Knight, who was 21 at the time, promptly accepted the charges and apologized for her conduct. She stated that she was not aware of the implications of her actions at the time and that she deeply regrets her mistake.The CDC accepted that Knight did not post the photo on social media herself and has no control over how it has been posted. However, the commission reiterated that the photo was "plainly prejudicial to the interests of cricket, brought the game and Ms Knight into disrepute, and undermined the ECB's strategic objective of eradicating discrimination from the sport."Knight's fine is suspended for two years pending her future conduct. The CDC stated that this is a specific case and is unlikely to set a precedent. The commission took into account Knight's lack of previous disciplinary issues, her unpaid ambassadorial work around diversity and inclusion, and her completion of the Professional Cricketers' Association's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training in 2021.Dave Lewis, interim director of the Cricket Regulator, said: "Cricket is working to become a more inclusive sport and the Cricket Regulator is committed to acting positively and impartially whenever racist behavior is reported to us.""In this case, Ms Knight's behavior was discriminatory and offensive, however the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) accepted there was no racist intent in her conduct. I welcome her acknowledgment of the potential impact of her behavior, and her unreserved apology."Knight has expressed her commitment to using her platform to promote inclusivity in cricket and ensure that underrepresented groups are afforded the same opportunities as others.

The Big Bash League (BBL) and Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) have released their initial batches of player nominations ahead of the upcoming drafts. Among the notable names is Shamar Joseph, who could return to the tournament where he made his triumphant Test debut.Joseph, who has been in impressive form for the West Indies, has nominated for the BBL draft. He could potentially join his former teammate Finn Allen, who has already signed with the Perth Scorchers.India captain Harmanpreet Kaur is among the first group of players confirmed for the WBBL draft. She could be retained by the Melbourne Renegades, who she has played for in the past. Other notable Indian players in the draft include Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma.England captain Heather Knight and left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone have also nominated for the WBBL draft. However, their availability for the entire tournament is uncertain due to England's tour of South Africa.Other notable retention options include Jamie Overton (Adelaide Strikers), Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder), James Vince (Sydney Sixers), Alice Capsey (Melbourne Stars), and Shabnim Ismail (Hobart Hurricanes).Players are drafted in either Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze categories, and clubs must select at least two during the draft. Those signed under pre-draft agreements are allocated a pick that matches their salary band.The BBL and WBBL drafts will take place on September 1.

Heather Knight, England's T20I captain, has hailed Dani Gibson's "bravery" and "clarity" as essential qualities for the team ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup. Gibson's explosive nine-ball innings of 22, featuring five boundaries, transformed the Hundred final at Lord's, propelling London Spirit to their maiden title.Knight praised Gibson's ability to impact the game in all facets, despite her recent struggles with the ball. "She's a great ball-striker with a clear understanding of her game plan," Knight said. "Her willingness to take risks and express her talent is exactly what we need in the England side."Gibson's innings came at a crucial juncture, with Spirit needing 60 runs off 44 balls after Knight's dismissal. She immediately hit her first five balls for boundaries, reducing the required run rate to a manageable level. "I was thinking yesterday that our middle order hadn't faced many balls recently," Knight explained. "Dani's innings was a standout example of bravery and taking the game on."Gibson's performance also highlighted the depth of England's batting lineup. "It's great to see the rest of the girls contributing," Knight said. "Nat [Sciver-Brunt] has been unbelievable, and I'm very excited to meet up again in a couple of weeks."With the T20 World Cup approaching, Knight believes that England's dominant performances in the Hundred have instilled confidence in the team. "I'm really pleased with how we've played," she said. "It's important to have players who can step up and take responsibility."However, there is uncertainty surrounding the tournament's location due to security concerns in Bangladesh. "It's out of our hands," Knight said. "Hopefully, there will be a decision soon so we can plan accordingly."

London Spirit's Heather Knight and Deepti Sharma orchestrated a commanding seven-wicket victory over Northern Superchargers at Headingley in the Hundred, propelling their team into contention for the play-off stages while eliminating their opponents.The Spirit's bowlers set the tone, dismantling the Superchargers' top order within the first 14 deliveries. Tara Norris, Eva Gray, and Dani Gibson each claimed a wicket, including the prized scalp of Phoebe Litchfield. Annabel Sutherland attempted to salvage the innings, but her dismissal off Deepti's bowling extinguished any hopes of a substantial total. Alice Davidson-Richards' 33 provided some respite, but the Superchargers' 99 for 7 felt inadequate.In the chase, Meg Lanning's early sixes propelled the Spirit ahead of the required run rate. Linsey Smith briefly raised Superchargers' hopes with three wickets, but Knight and Deepti's partnership proved unbreakable. Their patient approach transformed into an acceleration towards the end, securing the victory with relative ease.Deepti, the Meerkat Match Hero, attributed the triumph to the bowlers' execution and her own adaptability to challenging conditions. She emphasized the team's focus on their own performances and their anticipation of the upcoming fixtures that will determine the final play-off standings.