Cricket

Lancashire Cricket Club has secured the services of Australian all-rounder Chris Green for the next two seasons of the Vitality T20 Blast. Green, 31, played a pivotal role in Lancashire's successful Blast campaign this summer, emerging as their leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps. His contributions helped the club qualify for the knockout stages, although he was unavailable for their quarter-final defeat due to prior commitments in the Caribbean Premier League.Green's contract includes the option to participate in the County Championship and One-Day Cup, subject to availability. In 2024, he made six appearances in the One-Day Cup, scoring his maiden century, and one in the Championship for Lancashire.Expressing his excitement about returning to Lancashire, Green said, "I absolutely loved my first year with the club and I am even more excited to be coming back for the next two seasons. It is a really special group of players at Lancashire. I know that there are big things to come, and I am looking forward to playing my part in that during 2025 and 2026."Lancashire's director of cricket performance, Mark Chilton, hailed Green's impact on the team. "Chris made a huge impact for us on the field and had a number of options and offers to play around the world, but we are delighted that he has committed to being here at Emirates Old Trafford," Chilton said. "Not only did Chris' performances with bat and ball stand out this season, but he also really impressed us with his leadership and his personality had a huge influence on the dressing room."Meanwhile, Northamptonshire County Cricket Club has re-signed South African top-order batter Matthew Breetzke for the first half of the 2025 summer. Breetzke will be available for Northants' first eight games in the County Championship, as well as the whole of the Blast group stage.Breetzke, 25, was Northants' leading run-scorer in the 2024 Blast, amassing 460 runs at a strike rate of 153.84. His contributions helped the club reach the quarter-finals."I'm delighted to sign with Northamptonshire for the 2025 season," Breetzke said. "I really enjoyed my time at the club this year. I think the team has a lot of potential to push for promotion as well as go a few steps further in the Blast and win it. I'm looking forward to helping the team and hopefully achieving many more victories along the way."

Somerset's Vitality T20 Blast Finals Day hopes hang in the balance as star batsman Tom Banton faces an anxious wait to determine the severity of an ankle injury sustained during a pre-match football warm-up.Banton, who has been in scintillating form for Somerset this season, went over on his ankle on Wednesday morning, forcing him to miss the field during Surrey's first innings in the County Championship match at Taunton. An X-ray ruled out an ankle break, but an MRI scan on Thursday will provide a clearer picture of the damage.Despite the injury, Banton displayed his unwavering commitment to the team by hobbling out to bat at No. 11 with a runner. He remained unbeaten on 28 off 28 balls, showcasing his determination to contribute even in limited capacity.Somerset, the defending Blast champions, will face Surrey in the first semi-final on Saturday morning. Banton's absence would be a significant blow to their title defense, as he is their leading run-scorer in the tournament with 515 runs at an impressive strike rate of 151.02.Andy Hurry, Somerset's director of cricket, expressed concern over Banton's injury but praised his resilience. "We will get him scanned tomorrow and will have more information by the end of play," Hurry said. "His heroics in batting today show how passionate he is about the club."Hurry also defended the club's decision to include football in their warm-ups, emphasizing its benefits in terms of energy levels and mental preparation. "As director of cricket, I am keen to support it because I understand the value players get from it," he said.Somerset will anxiously await the results of Banton's MRI scan, hoping that their star batsman will be fit enough to play in the Blast Finals Day. His presence would undoubtedly boost their chances of retaining the title.

No-Balls in Cricket: A Comprehensive GuideIn cricket, a no-ball is an illegal delivery by the bowler, resulting in a free hit for the batsman in limited-overs matches. This rule is enforced by umpires to ensure fair play and safety.Common Reasons for No-Balls* Overstepping the Popping Crease: The bowler's front foot must remain behind the popping crease at the moment of delivery.* Bowling Above Waist Height: The ball must be delivered below the batsman's waist height in their normal stance.* Overextended Bowling Arm: The bowler's bowling arm must not be extended beyond 15 degrees at the elbow.* Illegal Bowling Actions: Certain bowling actions, such as chucking or throwing, are deemed illegal and result in a no-ball.* Dangerous Deliveries: Deliveries that pose a safety risk to the batsman, such as bouncers that are too high or wide, can also be called as no-balls.Consequences of a No-Ball* The batting side is awarded one run.* The next ball is a free hit, during which the batsman cannot be dismissed by any means except run out or stumping.Rare No-Ball Decision in Vitality T20 BlastDuring a 2024 Vitality T20 Blast match between Somerset and Northamptonshire, a rare no-ball decision was made. Upon reviewing a stumping appeal, the third umpire determined that the wicketkeeper's gloves were ahead of the stumps at the time of delivery, rendering the delivery illegal. This no-ball gave the batsman a free hit, which he capitalized on by hitting a six.Somerset's VictorySomerset, led by Lewis Gregory, posted a formidable 215/3 in their 20 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Tom Banton and Tom Kohler-Cadmore. In response, Northamptonshire managed 198/5, giving Somerset a 17-run victory. Somerset will now face Surrey in the semifinals on September 14 in Birmingham.

Northamptonshire Steelbacks emerged victorious in a thrilling Vitality T20 Blast encounter against Durham at Wantage Road, securing a five-wicket triumph in the final over.Chasing a modest target of 141, Northamptonshire faced an uphill battle, requiring 10 runs per over in the last five. However, Lewis McManus and Ashton Agar displayed nerves of steel to guide their team to victory.McManus, who has significantly improved his batting this season, contributed a crucial 25 off 16 balls. Agar, making his debut for the Steelbacks, played a pivotal role with a massive six in the final over, bringing his side to the brink of victory.Earlier, Ben Sanderson produced a career-best T20 bowling performance, claiming 4 for 15, including two wickets in three balls. Durham's top three batters were dismissed without scoring, leaving them reeling at 4 for 3.Colin Ackermann emerged as the mainstay for Durham, scoring a valiant 70 off 52 deliveries, including four fours and four sixes. Left-arm spinner Freddie Heldreich also impressed with three wickets.Durham's innings was characterized by regular wickets, but Ackermann's resilience kept them in the game. However, Northamptonshire's bowlers maintained the pressure, restricting Durham to 140 all out.Northamptonshire's chase began cautiously, with Durham's bowlers keeping them in check. Vasconcelos provided the early impetus with a six and four off de Leede, but the hosts lost their first wicket when Breetzke was caught off Raine.Vasconcelos continued to impress, reaching 41 before being dismissed lbw by Parkinson. Willey also contributed with two boundaries off Ackermann, but he fell soon after, chipping a return catch to Sowter.Northamptonshire lost a second wicket when Parkinson trapped Vasconcelos lbw, but McManus and Zaib formed a crucial partnership of 32 in 3.3 overs. Zaib was eventually dismissed by Raine, leaving McManus to guide his team home.McManus hit a six off Sowter and slapped Parkinson down the ground, keeping Northamptonshire in the hunt. He and Agar shared a vital stand, with Agar's six in the final over proving decisive.

Essex County Cricket Club has secured the services of South African all-rounder Eathan Bosch for the remainder of their Vitality T20 Blast campaign. This move comes after Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams was ruled out due to a knee injury.Sams, who was named the MVP of the Blast in 2023, suffered the injury during a match against Sussex. The injury requires surgery, forcing him to return home and miss the rest of the Blast."It's been great to come back here," Sams said. "My wife and I really enjoy coming back here, and we've made some really good friends with the guys and their partners.""It is what it is. I've been pretty lucky throughout my career with injuries, so I'll just have to go home now and recover as best as I can."Sams' absence is a significant blow to Essex, as he was a key contributor to their run to Finals Day last summer. He had taken seven wickets in six appearances this season.Bosch, 26, was initially brought in for four Championship games and has impressed with eight wickets at 24.12 from two appearances. He has experience playing in the SA20 for Pretoria Capitals.Essex are currently fourth in the South Group, with five wins from eight games. They will face defending champions Somerset at Chelmsford on Friday night.

Shan Masood's Bizarre Not-Out: A Tale of Misapprehension and No-BallsPakistan international batter Shan Masood found himself at the heart of a peculiar incident during a Vitality T20 Blast match between Yorkshire and Lancashire. Masood, batting on 58, became involved in a bizarre sequence of events that resulted in him remaining not-out despite being both hit-wicket and run-out.The incident unfolded in the 15th over when Masood attempted to play a backfoot shot off Lancashire's Jack Blatherwick. However, he inadvertently hit the stumps with his foot and wandered out of his crease, assuming he was out. The Lancashire players, unaware of the no-ball, dislodged the bails at the other end, attempting to run Masood out.Masood, unaware of the no-ball, made no attempt to reach the other end, believing he was already out. However, the situation took a dramatic turn when it was discovered that Blatherwick had overstepped, resulting in a no-ball.In such cases, rule 31.7 of the MCC Laws of Cricket comes into play. This rule states that if a batter leaves the wicket under a misapprehension of being out, the umpire shall intervene and call "Dead ball." The batter is then recalled to the crease.After extensive discussions, the umpires deemed Masood not-out for the run-out dismissal under Law 31.7. While Masood could not be given out hit-wicket due to the no-ball, he was also not out for the run-out because he had left the crease under the misapprehension of being out.Masood added three more runs to his total before being dismissed, finishing on 61. The incident highlights the importance of umpires being vigilant and ensuring that the correct decisions are made, even in unusual circumstances.

Surrey's explosive batting display, spearheaded by Jamie Smith's blistering 76, propelled them to a commanding 19-run victory over Glamorgan in the Vitality T20 Blast.Smith's innings, which included six towering sixes, laid the foundation for Surrey's imposing total of 200 for 8. The Glamorgan bowlers struggled to contain Smith's onslaught, with only Timm van der Gugten managing to dismiss him.Surrey's batting depth was evident as Laurie Evans (24 not out) and Sean Abbott (24 not out) provided valuable contributions in the latter stages of the innings. Glamorgan's fielding also proved costly, with several dropped catches allowing Surrey to post a formidable target.Glamorgan's chase began promisingly, with Marnus Labuschagne (58) and Colin Ingram (50) forging a 99-run partnership. However, Surrey's seam attack, led by Gus Atkinson and Jordan Clark, struck early blows to peg back the Glamorgan innings.Despite Labuschagne and Ingram's efforts, Glamorgan's middle order struggled to keep up with the required run rate. Ingram's run out, caused by a mix-up with Labuschagne, proved to be a turning point in the match.Chris Cooke's late flurry of runs briefly raised Glamorgan's hopes, but he was left with too much to do in the final over. Surrey's bowlers held their nerve to secure a comfortable victory and maintain their unbeaten start to the Blast campaign.

Somerset's title defense in the Vitality T20 Blast got off to a thrilling start with a four-wicket victory over Essex at the Cooper Associates Ground. Tom Abell and Lewis Gregory starred for the defending champions, guiding them to a successful chase of 194 with five balls to spare.Essex, led by Dean Elgar's 77, posted a competitive 193 for 6. Elgar shared crucial partnerships with Adam Rossington (32) and Jordan Cox (30) to lay the foundation for their innings. Gregory impressed with the ball, claiming 3 for 42.Somerset's chase began aggressively, with Tom Banton and Will Smeed hitting boundaries at will. Banton fell for 21, but Smeed continued his onslaught, smashing three sixes in one over. However, Essex fought back, dismissing Smeed and Tom Kohler-Cadmore to keep the contest alive.Abell and Dickson steadied the innings, but Dickson was dismissed for 26. Gregory then joined Abell and injected excitement into the chase. The pair smashed sixes and boundaries to bring the target within reach. Abell reached 55 before being caught, while Gregory remained unbeaten on 44, hitting four sixes and two fours.Somerset's victory was a testament to their batting depth and the match-winning contributions of Abell and Gregory. Essex, despite Elgar's heroics, will need to improve their bowling and fielding to challenge for the title.

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club has secured the services of South African top-order batter Matthew Breetzke for the upcoming Vitality T20 Blast. The 25-year-old, who has represented his country in three T20Is, will bolster the Steelbacks' batting lineup alongside Zimbabwean allrounder Sikandar Raza.Breetzke's impressive domestic T20 performances caught the attention of Northamptonshire head coach John Sadler. "Matt is a highly capable batter who will bring power, experience, and determination to our side," Sadler said. "He fits the profile of the player we were looking for as our second overseas signing."In the recently concluded SA20, Breetzke emerged as the third-highest run-scorer with 416 runs at a strike rate of 135.50 for the Durban Super Giants. He continued his prolific form in the CSA T20 Challenge, topping the run-scoring charts with 467 runs for the Warriors.Breetzke expressed his excitement about joining the Steelbacks. "I am very grateful for this opportunity," he said. "I hope to make a significant contribution both on and off the field during my time at the club."Northamptonshire's decision to sign Breetzke reflects the club's commitment to strengthening its squad for the Vitality T20 Blast. The tournament, which features some of the world's best T20 players, is a major focus for the Steelbacks.With Breetzke and Raza in their ranks, Northamptonshire will be hoping to make a deep run in the competition and challenge for the title. The Steelbacks will begin their Vitality T20 Blast campaign on May 26 against the Birmingham Bears.