Cricket

Yorkshire's hopes of Metro Bank One Day Cup qualification received a significant boost as they ended Warwickshire's unbeaten run with a convincing six-wicket victory at Rugby School.The triumph was orchestrated by George Hill's remarkable bowling performance, who claimed 6 for 28, the seventh-best List A figures for Yorkshire. His incisive spell restricted Warwickshire to a modest 242 for 9, with only Rob Yates (72) offering substantial resistance.Yorkshire's chase was spearheaded by Harry Duke's vibrant 60 off 51 balls, providing a solid foundation for the pursuit. William Luxton then anchored the innings with his maiden senior hundred, while Matthew Revis contributed an unbeaten 51. Their unbroken partnership of 129 in 25 overs guided Yorkshire to victory with 33 balls to spare.The win was particularly impressive considering the absence of Yorkshire's leading run-scorers, Shan Masood and James Wharton. It keeps their qualification hopes alive ahead of their final group game against Glamorgan.Warwickshire, despite the setback, remain strongly positioned in the Group B table. However, the defeat was a missed opportunity to solidify their position. They will face Nottinghamshire in their final match, seeking to secure their place in the knockout stages.

Warwickshire's Ed Barnard starred with both bat and ball as they extended their winning streak in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup to five matches with a six-wicket victory over Gloucestershire at Bristol's Seat Unique Stadium.Barnard's all-round brilliance was on full display as he claimed 3 for 16 to restrict Gloucestershire to 267 in 49.4 overs. The in-form allrounder then anchored Warwickshire's chase with a match-winning knock of 152 not out from 134 balls.Barnard's early wickets put Gloucestershire on the back foot, but Jack Taylor's unbeaten 139 kept them in the game. Taylor shared crucial partnerships with Ben Charlesworth and Graeme van Buuren to rescue Gloucestershire from a precarious 43 for 4.However, Barnard's irrepressible bowling and Tazeem Ali's career-best figures of 3 for 55 kept Gloucestershire in check. Warwickshire's spinners, including Ali, Jake Lintott, and Rob Yates, played a significant role in restricting the home side's scoring rate.In response, Warwickshire lost early wickets but Barnard and Hamza Shaikh steadied the ship with a 79-run stand. Shaikh's departure brought Chris Benjamin to the crease, and the duo added a crucial 135 runs for the fifth wicket.Benjamin's unbeaten 45 and Barnard's unwavering concentration saw Warwickshire chase down the target with 2.1 overs to spare. Barnard's second century in five innings broke Gloucestershire's resolve and secured a comfortable victory for the visitors.With this win, Warwickshire remains joint-leaders of Group B alongside Glamorgan. They can virtually guarantee a quarter-final berth by defeating Glamorgan at Edgbaston on Thursday. Gloucestershire, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages and will need to beat Sussex in their next game to keep their hopes alive.

Warwickshire's unbeaten run in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup continued as they edged out a depleted Surrey side by a thrilling three runs at Rugby School.Chris Benjamin's fluent 75 and Michael Burgess' classy 60 propelled Warwickshire to a competitive 311 for 9. James Taylor and Cameron Steel led the Surrey bowling attack, which was missing 15 players due to England and Hundred commitments.Surrey's response fell just short at 308 for 9, despite a brilliant 149 from Dom Sibley against his former team. Sibley's innings featured 12 fours and four sixes, but only Ben Geddes (62) provided significant support.Warwickshire's innings got off to a shaky start as Ed Barnard was dismissed early by Taylor. However, Rob Yates and Will Rhodes steadied the ship with a 58-run partnership. Yates departed after pulling a Geddes delivery to deep square leg, while Rhodes was bowled by Steel.Hamza Shaikh provided some entertainment with a six over midwicket, but he soon fell to Conor McKerr at long-on. Benjamin and Burgess then took control of the innings, adding 117 runs in 14 overs. Benjamin struck the ball with power and precision, reaching his half-century in just 38 balls. Burgess followed suit with his eighth List A half-century.Benjamin's innings came to an end when he was caught at mid-off, but Kai Smith's cameo of 26 lifted Warwickshire's total over 300.Surrey's reply began brightly as Sibley and Ryan Patel put on a 50-run opening partnership. However, Patel's dismissal triggered a collapse as Surrey lost four wickets in quick succession. Geddes, Rory Burns, Ben Foakes, and Steel all departed, leaving Sibley stranded on 124.Josh Blake's lively 26 gave Surrey hope, but he was dismissed by Oliver Hannon-Dalby. Sibley reached his century, but his hopes of guiding Surrey to victory were dashed when he edged Hannon-Dalby to Burgess.With 39 runs needed from three overs, Nathan Barnwell and Taylor gave it their all, but they fell just short in a thrilling finish.

Will Rhodes, the former Warwickshire captain who led the team to the County Championship title in 2021, has decided to leave the club at the end of the season. Rhodes, whose contract expires this year, was offered an extension but declined, citing a desire for a new challenge and a more competitive deal. He has since signed a long-term contract with Durham, where he will join an experienced batting lineup.Rhodes' departure was confirmed by Warwickshire on Saturday, while Durham has yet to announce his arrival. "It's not been an easy decision," Rhodes said. "I've spent most of my professional career here at Edgbaston, made life-long friends, and had success on the field. There are memories I will cherish for many, many years.""But I feel the time is right to move on and pick up a fresh challenge. Coming to the club as a 22-year-old, I never thought I'd get such an opportunity to captain a great club like Warwickshire. It's been an unbelievable honour… I'd like to think I've made a positive contribution and helped take the club forward."Rhodes intends to remain with Warwickshire for the rest of the season to help the team avoid relegation, rather than joining Durham on loan early. "It goes without saying that I will be giving my all to the club for the rest of the season," he said. "We've had a brilliant start in the One Day Cup. Who knows, it would be amazing to go out on a high by winning some silverware."After starting his career at Yorkshire, Rhodes has played 86 first-class matches for Warwickshire, averaging 35.85 with the bat and scoring 10 hundreds. He has also featured in 37 T20s and 36 List A games for the club. Rhodes was appointed club captain ahead of the 2020 season and led Warwickshire to their first Championship title since 2012 the following summer. He stepped down at the end of last year to focus on his own form.Mark Robinson, Warwickshire's coach, said: "When you work as a head coach with a captain for a number of years, you form a special bond which will always last. So personally, I would like to thank Will for all the support he has given me, as well as the wider club, both as a leader and a performer on the field."Durham recently announced the signing of New Zealand's Neil Wagner for the Championship run-in and the One-Day Cup.

Warwickshire continued their impressive start to the Metrobank One Day Cup with a dominant eight-wicket victory over Leicestershire at Grace Road. Skipper Ed Barnard starred with the ball, claiming four wickets, while teenager Hamza Shaikh anchored the chase with an unbeaten 34.After winning the toss, Barnard opted to field first and his decision proved inspired. He dismissed Harry Swindells and Sol Budinger in quick succession, before trapping India Test star Ajinkya Rahane leg before wicket. Craig Miles then joined the party, picking up three wickets as Leicestershire collapsed to 40 for 4.Ben Cox and Ben Mike briefly threatened a recovery, but their dismissals sparked another collapse. Leicestershire were eventually bowled out for a paltry 88 in just 25.4 overs.Warwickshire's reply began poorly as Chris Wright removed both openers cheaply. However, Rhodes and Shaikh steadied the ship with a composed partnership. Shaikh, in particular, impressed with his maturity and shot selection.The pair put on an unbeaten 85-run stand to guide Warwickshire to victory with 32.4 overs to spare. Rhodes finished on 48 not out, while Shaikh remained unbeaten on 34.Warwickshire's victory was their second in as many matches, while Leicestershire suffered their first defeat of the competition. The Bears will now face Derbyshire in their next match, while Leicestershire will take on Nottinghamshire.

Warwickshire's Ed Barnard continued his impressive form at Chelmsford's Cloud County Ground, smashing a career-best 173 not out to lead his team to a seven-wicket victory over Essex in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.Barnard's innings, his highest in List A cricket, anchored Warwickshire's chase of Essex's 324 for 7. He shared crucial partnerships with Rob Yates (42), Will Rhodes (41), and Michael Burgess (59 not out) to guide his team to victory with 14 balls to spare.Essex, who struggled throughout the 2023 campaign, were put into bat on a green-tinged wicket. Nick Browne top-scored with 75, while Charlie Allison contributed 69 and Luc Benkenstein added 44. Olly Hannon-Dalby was the pick of the Warwickshire bowlers, claiming three wickets for 69 runs.Chasing a target of 325, Warwickshire lost Yates early, but Barnard remained unyielding. He reached his century from 100 balls and continued to punish the Essex bowlers, hitting four sixes in total. Rhodes and Burgess provided valuable support, with Burgess hitting three sixes in his 42-ball half-century.Earlier, Essex had made a solid start thanks to Browne and Feroze Khushi's 51-run opening stand. However, Barnard and Tom Westley struck to remove Khushi and Westley, respectively. Robin Das and Browne then added 71 runs, but Rhodes dismissed Das to leave Essex at 142 for 3.Browne reached his half-century but was dismissed soon after, while Allison and Benkenstein provided some late fireworks. However, Hannon-Dalby's quickfire treble, including Benkenstein's wicket, put a dent in Essex's hopes.Warwickshire's victory was their second in the competition, while Essex remained winless. Barnard's heroics and the team's clinical batting performance will give them confidence as they look to improve their position in the standings.

Former Pakistan all-rounder Billy Ibadulla, who made history as the first Pakistani batter to score a century on Test debut, passed away on Friday at the age of 88.Ibadulla's Test debut was a memorable one, as he smashed 166 runs in the first innings against Australia in Karachi in 1964. He shared a record-breaking 249-run opening partnership with fellow debutant Abdul Kadir, which remains the highest partnership between two debutants for any wicket in Test cricket.Despite his impressive debut, Ibadulla played only three more Tests, with his highest score being 32. He also claimed one wicket with his offbreak bowling.In first-class cricket, Ibadulla was a prolific performer, amassing 17,078 runs at an average of 27.28 and taking 462 wickets at 30.96. He played over a decade for Warwickshire, making 377 appearances for the English county. Later, he moved to New Zealand and represented Otago for a couple of seasons.Ibadulla also had a successful career in List A cricket, scoring 829 runs and taking 84 wickets in 64 matches. He also officiated as an umpire in 20 first-class matches and 12 List A games.Beyond his playing and umpiring career, Ibadulla established a private coaching clinic in New Zealand. His son, Kassem Ibadulla, followed in his father's footsteps, playing 31 first-class and 19 List A games for Gloucestershire and Otago.Billy Ibadulla's legacy as a trailblazing Pakistani cricketer and a respected all-rounder will be remembered for generations to come.

Aamer Jamal's brief stint with Warwickshire has ended prematurely due to persistent fitness issues. The Pakistani pacer joined the English county in April but managed only three appearances across formats.Jamal's debut against Nottinghamshire was promising, but he struggled for rhythm and pace in subsequent outings. A back injury further sidelined him, limiting his involvement in the County Championship.In the Blast, Jamal played just one match, conceding 25 runs in a wicketless over and being dismissed for a first-ball duck. Warwickshire's director of cricket, Gavin Larsen, expressed disappointment that Jamal could not showcase his abilities.Jamal's compatriot Hasan Ali has also faced injury setbacks at Warwickshire, missing recent Blast matches due to an elbow problem. The county has been plagued by seam-bowling injuries this season, with Craig Miles, Liam Norwell, and Chris Rushworth all spending time on the sidelines.Despite their bowling woes, Warwickshire has performed well in the Blast, topping the North Group. However, they remain winless in Division One of the Championship.To bolster their bowling options, Warwickshire has signed former England Under-19 seamer Ethan Bamber from Middlesex. Bamber was highly sought after, and his acquisition is a significant boost for the county.

Somerset's Tom Abell orchestrated a remarkable run chase to guide his team to a thrilling five-wicket victory over Warwickshire in a captivating Vitality County Championship Division One encounter at Taunton.Chasing a daunting target of 410, Somerset's openers, Andy Umeed and Tom Kohler-Cadmore, provided a solid start. However, Umeed's dismissal for 30 triggered a mini-collapse, with Kohler-Cadmore (49) and Tom Lammonby (26) also falling.Undeterred, Abell and Tom Banton steadied the ship, forging a crucial 100-run partnership. Abell played with composure and determination, reaching his half-century off 92 balls. Banton, too, showed maturity, curbing his natural aggression to contribute 81.With the century stand broken, Somerset lost Banton and Migael Pretorius in quick succession. However, James Rew, who had struggled for form this season, stepped up with a crucial 57 not out.Abell, meanwhile, continued to anchor the innings, reaching his 150 off 207 balls. His chanceless knock included 14 fours and two sixes.As the tension mounted, Warwickshire delayed taking the new ball, hoping to make it harder for Somerset to score boundaries. However, Rew and Abell seized the opportunity, hitting a flurry of boundaries to seal the victory with 4.2 overs to spare.Somerset's triumph was their second-highest successful fourth innings run chase in their history. They earned 20 points from the game, moving up to second in the Division One table. Warwickshire, on the other hand, had to settle for seven points.