Cricket

Somerset's Tom Banton and Tom Abell rescued their team from a precarious position on the second day of their Vitality County Championship Division One match against Warwickshire at Taunton.Trailing by 355 runs after Warwickshire's first innings total of 412, Somerset found themselves in trouble at 57 for three. However, Banton and Abell combined for a patient and resilient partnership of 139, giving Somerset a glimmer of hope.Banton, who faced 143 balls, struck 77 runs, including five fours and a six. Abell, who remained unbeaten on 61, played a more cautious role, providing stability to the innings.Warwickshire's bowlers struggled to make inroads on a pitch that offered little assistance. Oliver Hannon-Dalby eventually broke the partnership, dismissing Banton with a delivery that found the outside edge of his bat.Hannon-Dalby then struck twice more in quick succession, removing nightwatchmen Josh Davey and Jack Leach, to leave Somerset on 208 for six at stumps.Earlier, Warwickshire had extended their overnight score from 373 for eight to 412 all out. Michael Burgess, who resumed on 147, fell for 147, while Migael Pretorius added the wicket of Michael Booth to his four first-day victims to finish with figures of five for 104.Somerset now trail by 204 runs and will need to bat with determination and resilience on the third day to avoid the prospect of being asked to follow on.

Warwickshire's Michael Burgess played a pivotal role in his team's spirited fightback against Somerset on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship Division One clash at Taunton.Burgess, batting at number eight, crafted an unbeaten 126 off 167 deliveries, adorned with 14 boundaries and three towering sixes. His innings provided the backbone for Warwickshire's recovery after they had stumbled to 40 for 4 following Somerset's decision to bowl first.Ed Barnard (92) and skipper Will Rhodes (63) had laid the foundation for Burgess's heroics. The duo shared a crucial 103-run partnership, helping Warwickshire recover from their early setbacks.Chris Woakes contributed a valuable 39 in an eighth-wicket stand of 110 with Burgess, enabling Warwickshire to post a respectable 373 for 8 at the close of play.Migael Pretorius emerged as the standout performer for Somerset's bowling attack, claiming 4 for 72 from 20 overs. However, Warwickshire's batsmen showed resilience and determination throughout the day.Josh Davey initiated the Somerset breakthrough, dismissing Alex Davies for 19 in the fifth over. Pretorius then struck three quick blows, removing Rob Yates (15), Sam Hain (0), and Dan Mousley (0) to leave Warwickshire reeling at 40 for 4.Rhodes and Barnard steadied the ship with a 57-run partnership before lunch. Rhodes went on to reach fifty, but his innings was cut short by Jack Leach, who induced him into a mistimed shot.Barnard remained a steadfast presence, reaching a half-century off 94 balls. He shared a 99-run stand with Burgess before falling to Leach for 92.Burgess continued to impress, reaching his fifty off 87 balls and his century off 146 deliveries. He launched Leach for two sixes over long-on, showcasing his attacking prowess.Woakes provided valuable support, bringing up 300 for Warwickshire with a glorious cover drive. He eventually fell for 39, but Burgess remained unbeaten, ensuring Warwickshire ended the day in a strong position.

Warwickshire's resolute batting display denied Hampshire a third consecutive victory in the Vitality Championship, as the match at Edgbaston ended in a tense draw. Chasing a daunting target of 498, Warwickshire resumed on the final morning on 40 for one and batted out the day for 321 for nine.The key to Warwickshire's resistance was a seventh-wicket partnership of 183 between Sam Hain (111 not out) and Michael Burgess (79). They came together with their side in deep trouble at 123 for six but batted with patience and technique to consume 55 overs and steer the match towards a draw.Hain, who reached his 18th first-class century, and Burgess, who passed 4,000 first-class runs, batted with determination and skill, frustrating Hampshire's bowlers. They weathered the storm in the morning session, which saw Warwickshire lose three wickets, and then consolidated their position in the afternoon.Hampshire pressed hard in the closing overs, but Warwickshire's resolve held firm. James Fuller rattled Chris Woakes' off stump and Craig Miles' off stump, but Olly Hannon-Dalby (0 not out) stood firm alongside Hain to see out the remaining overs and secure the draw.For Warwickshire, the draw was a welcome result after a difficult start to the season. They remain winless in Division One, but their fourth-day resolve showed that they have the character to compete. For Hampshire, it was a missed opportunity to extend their winning streak, but they can take solace in the fact that they largely outbowled their opponents.

Warwickshire's hopes of securing their first County Championship victory of the season hang in the balance after Hampshire piled on the pressure on day three at Edgbaston.James Vince and Liam Dawson plundered centuries to propel Hampshire to a formidable 453 for 6 declared, setting Warwickshire a daunting target of 498. The home side reached 40 for 1 at the close, leaving both teams with a chance of victory on the final day.Vince, who has been in prolific form this season, notched his 29th first-class century with an unbeaten 166 off 197 balls. Dawson, not to be outdone, contributed a resolute 120 (157 balls) as the pair forged a mammoth 255-run partnership for the sixth wicket.Hampshire's pragmatic approach, prioritizing steady accumulation over aggression, may have backfired. The pitch, which has been increasingly favorable for batters, could make it challenging for their bowlers to force a victory.Warwickshire's bowlers toiled valiantly but were unable to make significant inroads into Hampshire's batting lineup. Olly Hannon-Dalby claimed three wickets, while Danny Briggs and Jake Bethell picked up one each.The home side's hopes of chasing down the target were dealt a blow when Kyle Abbott trapped Alex Davies lbw in the ninth over of their innings. However, with favorable batting conditions expected on the final day, Warwickshire will fancy their chances of saving the match.

Warwickshire's bowlers put in a commendable performance on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship match against Hampshire at Edgbaston, restricting the visitors to 298 all out. Despite Hampshire's strong batting lineup, only Fletcha Middleton (74) managed to surpass 50 runs.Olly Hannon-Dalby led the Warwickshire attack with an impressive 3-35, including his 350th first-class wicket. Ed Barnard and Craig Miles also contributed with three wickets each. Hampshire's innings was characterized by a solid start but a collapse in the afternoon session.Middleton and Nick Gubbins put on a 102-run partnership, but Barnard's aggressive spell after lunch broke the partnership. Gubbins was caught at first slip, while Middleton was dismissed by a low delivery that uprooted his off-stump.James Vince's dismissal to Hannon-Dalby further weakened Hampshire's position. Ben Brown and Liam Dawson steadied the innings with a 61-run stand, but Miles struck twice in quick succession to remove both batsmen.Keith Barker and Felix Organ provided some resistance, but Barnard and Miles continued to chip away at the Hampshire batting order. Warwickshire's bowlers persisted despite the hot conditions, with Hannon-Dalby claiming his third wicket when Dawson played on.Warwickshire's reply began cautiously, with Will Rhodes and Alex Davies scoring streaky boundaries off Keith Barker. However, Kyle Abbott struck twice in the final over to remove both openers, leaving Warwickshire trailing by 247 runs.

Pakistani fast bowler Hasan Ali, known for his energetic "generator" celebration, has suffered a rib injury while performing his signature move during a T20 Blast 2024 match for Warwickshire against Nottinghamshire. This is not the first time Ali's celebration has led to an injury, as he previously sprained his shoulder in 2018 while celebrating a wicket against Zimbabwe.Ali, 29, has been struggling with injuries and form, which contributed to his exclusion from Pakistan's 15-man squad for the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. He has been participating in the T20 Blast 2024 for Warwickshire in an attempt to regain his place in the national T20 side.In the match against Nottinghamshire, Ali claimed two wickets, playing a key role in Warwickshire's victory. However, he injured himself while celebrating the dismissal of Olly Stones. A video on social media shows Ali grimacing in pain as he completes his celebration.The extent of Ali's rib injury is still unknown, but Warwickshire expects him to recover in time for their third T20 Blast match against Lancashire on June 7.Ali's injury is a setback for both Warwickshire and Pakistan. Warwickshire will be hoping to have him back in action soon, while Pakistan will be hoping he can regain his form and fitness ahead of the T20 World Cup.Pakistan, having lost the England series 0-2, will be hoping for a positive result when they take on the co-hosts USA to kick off their T20 World Cup campaign on Thursday.

Warwickshire's dominance continued on the third day of their Vitality County Championship Division One clash against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford. After posting a formidable 284 in their first innings, the visitors reduced Lancashire to a paltry 149 all out, thanks to career-best figures from Jacob Bethell (4-20) and Jake Lintott (3-10).Lancashire's batting woes continued as they collapsed from a promising 66 for 3 overnight. Bethell and Lintott wreaked havoc, claiming the last six wickets for just 36 runs. George Balderson was unlucky to be dismissed for 20 after a deflection off the wicketkeeper's thigh, while Keaton Jennings was adjudged lbw to a delivery that appeared to be sliding down leg.Warwickshire began their second innings with a 135-run lead, and despite losing Rob Yates and Alex Davies early on, they extended their advantage to 231 runs. Ed Barnard (40*) and Dan Mousey (18) steadied the ship, taking Warwickshire to 96 for 3 before rain halted play.Lancashire's hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow by Bethell's exceptional bowling. The slow left-armer's ability to extract turn and bounce proved too much for the Lancashire batsmen, who have now been dismissed for under 150 in their first innings three times this season.Warwickshire's bowlers, led by Bethell and Lintott, have been in impressive form throughout the match. Their ability to control the pace and trajectory of the ball has made it difficult for Lancashire's batsmen to score runs.With seven wickets in hand and a substantial lead, Warwickshire are in a strong position to secure a victory on the final day. Lancashire, on the other hand, will need to produce a remarkable performance to avoid defeat.

Warwickshire's hopes of ending their winless streak in the Vitality County Championship Division One were dealt a blow on day one of their clash against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford. Lancashire's Tom Bailey starred with the ball, claiming three wickets to leave the visitors struggling at 89 for three from 39 overs.After overnight rain delayed the start of play until 2.10pm, Warwickshire won the toss and elected to bat. Rob Yates and Alex Davies opened the innings, but Bailey struck in the 11th over to dismiss Yates for 19. Davies, playing against his former team, looked in good touch and reached 47 not out.However, Bailey continued to trouble the Warwickshire batsmen. He removed Will Rhodes for 14 and Ed Barnard for two, leaving the visitors in a precarious position. Dan Mousley joined Davies at the crease and helped guide Warwickshire to 89 for three before bad light and drizzle forced the players off the field at 5.09pm.Lancashire, who are looking to move off the bottom of the table after a victory over Durham, will be confident of securing a positive result against a Warwickshire side that has failed to win in six matches. The Red Rose will be buoyed by Bailey's performance, while Warwickshire will need to find a way to counter his threat if they are to avoid another defeat.

Hasan Ali's hopes of representing Pakistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup have suffered a setback after he was released from the squad for the ongoing series against England. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Wednesday that Ali would resume his stint with Warwickshire in county cricket.Ali's release comes as a surprise, as he was initially selected as an injury cover for Haris Rauf. However, after a disappointing performance in the series decider against Ireland, where he conceded 42 runs in three wicketless overs, Ali has been deemed surplus to requirements.Pakistan's provisional squad for the T20 World Cup is expected to be announced soon, and Ali's omission from the squad is a significant blow to his chances of making the final cut. The deadline for submitting the final list of 15 players to the ICC is Saturday.Warwickshire, who were initially caught off guard by Ali's international recall, will welcome his return ahead of their County Championship fixture against Lancashire on Friday. Ali is also expected to feature in the T20 Blast, which starts next week, and will remain with the club until the end of July.Meanwhile, Ali's compatriot Aamer Jamal has struggled to make an impact at Warwickshire, taking just one wicket in his first two appearances. He has lost his place in the side to Michael Rae, who has impressed with five wickets in his debut match.With several other bowlers injured, Warwickshire have also handed a first-class debut to Barbados-born Che Simmons, who recorded match figures of 5 for 71 against Essex.