Category: Pakistan Cricket

• Pakistan 212-8, Sri Lanka 207-6. Pakistan win by five runs

• New Zealand into semi-finals on net run-rate

Pakistan went out of the T20 World Cup despite a five-run victory against Sri Lanka in the Group Two Super 8s match in Pallekele on Saturday. Their inferior net run rate meant Pakistan had to win convincingly in order to pip New Zealand and join group winners England in the semi-finals.

“When I lost the toss, it was always going to be challenging [bowling second] because of the dew,” said the Pakistan captain, Salman Ali Agha. “Then it was a very good pitch and restricting them below 148 was going to be a challenge. But we tried. I think if I won the toss then it could have been a different story.”

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• Cricket board and eight franchises issue joint statement

• ECB sent email to teams warning against discrimination

The England and Wales Cricket Board and all eight of the Hundred teams have jointly insisted the competition is “inclusive and open to all” amid claims Pakistan players could be frozen out by the Indian-owned franchises.

It had been reported by the BBC that Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds would not consider any Pakistan cricketers at the Hundred auction in March.

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A brilliant century from Harry Brook helped England to a two-wicket win that qualified them for the semi-finals with a match to spare

Pakistan: 1 Sahibzada Farhan, 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Salman Ali Agha (capt), 4 Babar Azam, 5 Fakhar Zaman, 6 Shadab Khan, 7 Usman Khan (wk), 8 Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Shaheen Afridi, 10 Salman Mirza, 11 Usman Tariq.

England: 1 Phil Salt, 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Jacob Bethell, 4 Tom Banton, 5 Harry Brook (capt), 6 Sam Curran, 7 Will Jacks, 8 Liam Dawson, 9 Jamie Overton, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Adil Rashid.

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• Group A: India, 175-7, bt Pakistan, 114, by 61 runs

• Opener’s 77 proves decisive on tricky pitch

A day of no handshakes, and for Pakistan many head shakes. India coasted to victory in what became global cricket’s most lucrative mismatch after a superlative innings from the opener Ishan Kishan skewed it definitively in their favour.

In its second half a game that was dramatically off and then on again became one where a parade of Pakistan batters were dramatically in and then out again. Chasing a target of 176 they were seven down before they even got halfway, and were eventually skittled for 114 to lose by 61 runs.

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• Match to go ahead in Sri Lanka on Sunday

• Government made decision after negotiations

Pakistan are poised to fulfil their T20 World Cup fixture against India on Sunday, having pre­viously been instructed by their government to boycott the game in a move that could have cost the sport millions.

The crisis was triggered by ­Bangladesh withdrawing from the tournament last month – their place handed to Scotland – when a request to play their matches outside India on security grounds was rejected by the International Cricket Council.

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#Handshakegate between India and Pakistan reflects a sporting history dotted with moments when the clasp of palms stood for something

It is seen on village greens and in Test arenas alike. It is there at the start of the game, just after the coin toss, and it is there at the end when the final run is struck or wicket falls. According to research from the University of Dundee it should last between one-and-a-half and three seconds, just long enough to reassure both participants, but not so long as to feel overbearing.

In the tapestry of the sport it is less consequential than the colour of the captain’s socks or what the home team has laid out for tea. And yet its absence is instantly conspicuous, sometimes enough to spark controversy, fines or even diplomatic fallout.

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• Australian claims he and Gary Kirsten were undermined
• Javed’s interim role extended for tour of New Zealand

The former Pakistan Test coach Jason Gillespie labelled his successor Aaqib Javed a “clown” and accused the former fast bowler of undermining him and ex-white-ball coach Gary Kirsten in order to take charge of the national team across all formats.

Gillespie’s comments were in reply to a social media post containing quotes from Javed a few days after hosts Pakistan had crashed out of the Champions Trophy without a win. Javed told reporters on Tuesday that Pakistan had changed 16 coaches and 26 selectors in around two years, and that any side would struggle in such circumstances.

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• Pakistan 211 and 237; South Africa 301 and 150-8
• Mohammad Abbas takes 6-54 but denied famous win

Fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen turned batting heroes as South Africa edged out Pakistan by two wickets to win a thrilling first Test at Centurion and book themselves a place in next year’s World Test Championship final.

Rabada scored 31 and Jansen 16 in an unbeaten partnership of 51 off 50 balls to see South Africa over the line and deny Pakistan a dramatic comeback victory after Mohammed Abbas took six wickets as he shredded through the home batting order.

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• Pakistan 117; Australia 118 for three
• Glenn Maxwell limps off after pulling up in the field

A hamstring injury to Glenn Maxwell was the only dampener as Marcus Stoinis helped Australia thrash Pakistan by seven wickets to seal a clean sweep in their three-game Twenty20 series.

The all-rounder Maxwell limped off with a suspected low-grade issue in Hobart on Monday night after pulling up sore while fielding. He was not required to bat and will have almost a month to recover for the Melbourne Stars’ Big Bash League season opener against Perth on 15 December.

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• Second T20, SCG: Australia 147-9, Pakistan 134 all out
• Johnson’s 5-26 secures unassailable 2-0 series lead

Spencer Johnson produced the greatest-ever figures by an Australian quick in a men’s Twenty20 international to bowl his side to a 13-run win over Pakistan.

With Australia defending 9-147 at the SCG on Saturday night, Johnson bagged five for 26 with the ball to have Pakistan all out for 134 and help the hosts to an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

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A riotous opening partnership and Spencer Johnson’s maiden five-for gave Australia a series-clinching victory at the SCG

Haris Rauf comes into the attack. Short works him for two to bring up the fifty in just 3.1 overs, a record for Australia in T20 cricket. Pakistan are already in death-bowling mode, with lots of variations, and it has brought the first wicket.

Fraser-McGurk is hit in the gut by a slower ball, then swats a very short ball high over extra cover. Salman Agha backpedals to take an excellent catch; Fraser-McGurk goes for 20 from 9 balls.

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• Australia 93-4; Pakistan 64-9 (seven overs each)
• Game at the Gabba delayed after lightning and rain

Glenn Maxwell went wild with the bat, then Xavier Bartlett ripped apart Pakistan’s top order as Australia dominated a seven-over Gabba Twenty20 slog to win by 29 runs.

Lightning and heavy rain reduced Thursday’s series opener in Brisbane to a seven-overs-a-side contest, and it was one-way traffic as soon as Maxwell (43 off 19) strode to the crease. His brazen innings featured boundaries to all corners of the ground, before Marcus Stoinis chimed in with 21 off seven balls, including 10 off the final two balls of the innings as Australia finished on 93 for four. The visitors could only muster 64 for nine in their allotment as Australia took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

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• 3rd ODI: Pakistan, 143-2, beat Australia, 140-9, by 8 wkts
• Pakistan seal first series win over in Australia in 22 years

Cooper Connolly suffered what could be a fractured hand as Australia surrendered their one-day international series to Pakistan after another disastrous display with the bat.

Australia, missing Test stars Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, finished with a paltry 140 from 31.5 overs on Sunday, with Connolly unable to return after retiring hurt on seven. In reply, Pakistan reached the victory target with 139 balls to spare to wrap up an eight-wicket win and a 2-1 series triumph over the world champions. It marked Pakistan’s first series win over the Aussies in Australia in 22 years.

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• Pakistan 203; Australia 204-8
• Cummins key to haul hosts over the line at the MCG

Ultra-aggressive Australia almost fumbled a certain victory, but eventually steadied after a lightning quick spell from Haris Rauf to beat Pakistan by two wickets in the first ODI at the MCG.

Chasing just 204, Australia crumbled to 139 for six in the 21st over as Rauf skittled the middle-order when the hosts were trying to end the game as quickly as possible. But the captain Pat Cummins (32 not out), playing his first ODI since last year’s stunning World Cup final triumph, was again there at the end in a tight chase as Australia got home with 99 balls to spare. One of the best quicks of his generation, Cummins has quickly become a specialist run-chaser in the last 18 months after being involved in two close Test wins and three ODI victories.

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Top marks for Noman Ali and Sajid Khan who surprisingly impressed but a series to forget for Ben Stokes

By Gary Naylor for the 99.94 Cricket Blog

Ben Stokes (53 runs at 13.3; no wicket for 33 runs; three catches)

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