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Australia, India and Sri Lanka are also still in the race, with 10 Tests left in this cycle

S Rajesh09-Dec-2024South Africa
South Africa’s 2-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka has catapulted them to the top of the WTC table. To secure a place in the final, they only need to win one of their two Tests against Pakistan in the home series which will start later this month. A 1-1 result would leave them on 61.11%, with only one out of India or Australia in a position to overtake them.If both Tests are drawn, then South Africa would finish on 58.33. If India beat Australia 3-2 and Australia win both Tests in Sri Lanka, then both Australia (60.53) and India (58.77) can go past that mark. If South Africa were to lose the series 1-0, then they would have to hope that Australia win no more than two of their remaining five Tests, or India get no more than a win and a draw from their remaining three Tests in Australia.Sri Lanka
Even if Sri Lanka win both Tests against Australia, they would only finish on 53.85, which would then leave them at the mercy of other results, as South Africa and one of India or Australia can go past that score – India would need a win and a draw, while Australia would need two wins. For both teams to finish below 53.85, Australia would need to win the series 2-1, with two draws. For South Africa to finish below 53.85%, they would have to lose both Tests against Pakistan.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

India
To be certain of a place in the final, India need two wins and a draw from their three remaining Tests in Australia. That would take them to 60.53% and assure them of at least second place behind South Africa, as Australia can only finish on 57.02 even with a 2-0 win in Sri Lanka. If India were to win the series 3-2 they will finish on 58.77, and Australia could still finish below them if they beat Sri Lanka 1-0. In case of a 2-2 drawn series India will end up on 55.26; Australia will need to win one Test in Sri Lanka to go past that mark, while South Africa will need just a draw against Pakistan. If India were to lose 2-3, then they would finish on 53.51, in which case Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa can all surpass them. For them to qualify with that score, they would need South Africa to lose both Tests against Pakistan, and hope that Australia get at least a draw in Sri Lanka.Australia
Australia need two wins in their three remaining Tests against India to be assured of a place in the final. In that case (a 3-2 series win), even if they were to lose both Tests in Sri Lanka, they would finish on 55.26, higher than India’s 53.51 and Sri Lanka’s 53.85. That would secure them at least a second place, behind South Africa.However, if they were to lose 2-3, India would climb to 58.77, in which case Australia would need to win both Tests in Sri Lanka to surpass India. Else, they would have to hope that South Africa get no more than one draw against Pakistan, which would leave them on 55.56; Australia can go past that with a win and a draw in Sri Lanka.Pakistan
Pakistan only have a very remote, mathematical chance, which also depends on South Africa dropping an over-rate point. Even with four wins out of four, Pakistan would finish on 52.38, marginally below South Africa’s 52.78. If South Africa were to lose a point, they would drop to 52.08. Then, with several other results going in their favour, it’s still mathematically possible for Pakistan to finish second to either Australia or India. In all likelihood, though, Pakistan are out.New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and West Indies are out of the running for a place in the final.

Williams and Ervine ended the prospects of an Afghanisttan win by batting solidly after a rain break

Himanshu Agrawal30-Dec-2024There were three Boxing Day Tests going on simultaneously. The one in Bulawayo, between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, didn’t have the appeal of Melbourne. But for a brief while on the final evening, it did have some of the thrill from Centurion. Zimbabwe suffered a collapse of 4 for 15 in the second innings, and were still 25 runs behind Afghanistan, who had gone 113 ahead in the first.However, the prospect of any dramatic finish quickly vanished as Sean Williams and Craig Ervine not only wiped the deficit out, but also ensured no further damage. The game inevitably ended in a draw, but provided plenty of opportunities for players to fill their boots. Hashmatullah Shahidi scored a career-best 246, while Afsar Zazai hit his maiden Test hundred as Afghanistan piled up 699, their highest total in the format.Related

• Ervine urges Zimbabwe to improve their fielding: 'The outcome could've been different had we taken our chances'

• Stats – Zimbabwe (586), Afghanistan (699) reach record highs in Bulawayo run-fest

Afghanistan had themselves lost 6 for 20 to close their innings in search of quick runs. But on what was otherwise a lifeless pitch, Zimbabwe’s spinners Brian Bennett and Williams did get some turn. Bennett bagged five of the six wickets to fall – that followed a knock of 110* – and the fun began when he had Shahidi lbw.On the fifth ball of the 193rd over, Shahid went across the stumps to try and lap sweep, but was struck in front. Next ball, Azmatullah Omarzai skied one back to Bennett, who was left on a hat-trick. Bennett bowled the hat-trick ball to Shahidullah to start the 195th over, but the batter drove it to deep point.But Williams had Zia-ur-Rehman caught for 5 next over, as substitute fielder Tadiwanashe Marumani took a great catch while running forward from long-on. AM Ghazanfar then bashed Bennett for six, only for Bennett to be on a hat-trick again. Ghazanfar swung one to long-on, while Naveed Zadran bottom-edged on to the stumps. But Bennett was denied again, as Zahir Khan blocked one safely. Next ball, though, Bennett completed his five-for when he trapped Zahir to wrap the Afghanistan innings up.Zimbabwe’s second innings began in the afternoon session, when enough time was left for a surprise result. Perhaps seeing the Zimbabwe spinners get help from the surface, Afghanistan asked Ghazanfar to share the new ball with Naveed Zadran. But Ben Curran led Zimbabwe’s counterpunch, as they smashed 32 runs in the first five overs.That included four boundaries, including three off Ghazanfar. Curran slashed, swept and swung the offspinner for four each, even as Joylord Gumbie also hit a boundary in a much more patient start. Naveen, Zia-ur-Rehman, Omarzai and Zahir Khan checked Zimbabwe’s momentum thereafter, although Zimbabwe still went wicketless to tea.Zia and Zahir did find turn, though, and after multiple lbw appeals against Gumbie were turned down, Zahir finally had Gumbie edge one to slip. A length ball around sixth stump hinted to turn in, and Gumbie pushed forward only to get an outside edge. The opening partnership of 73 was broken, but just one ball later, the players were off due to rain.The break lasted nearly 40 minutes, but that didn’t affect Afghanistan. Third ball into the resumption, Curran was run out for 41 when he tapped Zia towards midwicket and set for a single. But his partner Takudzwanashe Kaitano seemed to have refused the single a little too late, and the throw from Shahidullah found Curran well short at the wicketkeeper’s end.Next over, Kaitano looked to paddle sweep Zahir, who was bowling from around the wicket. The ball landed on a full length on middle, and didn’t seem to turn, as Kaitano missed his attempted sweep, for which the length seemed a bit too full. But the most aesthetically pleasing dismissal came when Ghazanfar cleaned Dion Myers up in the 25th over.He drifted one in, and pitched it full on middle and off to draw the batter forward. Myers looked to defend the line of the ball, but it turned away to uproot the off stump. Zimbabwe were 88 for 4 at that stage, and still behind Afghanistan, who smelled a miracle. But the experienced Williams and Ervine took their side to safety by adding 54 in less than ten overs.They took Zimbabwe past Afghanistan at the start of the 30th over, as Ervine drilled Zahir through the covers, and the batters ran four. There were plenty of footmarks for the Afghanistan spinners to work with, but they couldn’t strike any further, as the game ended in a draw, and the two-match series remained locked at 0-0.

Lancashire secure India tie-up they desired in latest stage of the ECB’s Hundred equity sale

Matt Roller and Nagraj Gollapudi03-Feb-20251:42

Roller: Hundred equity sales a success for the ECB

Lancashire have secured the IPL partner they wanted to run Manchester Originals as a joint venture, with Sanjiv Goenka’s RPSG Group submitting the highest bid for a stake in the Hundred franchise on Monday.RPSG Group, who own Lucknow Super Giants, were the losing bidders in a three-hour auction for a stake in London Spirit on Friday, which was eventually won by a Silicon Valley tech consortium valuing the Lord’s-based franchise at £295 million. But RPSG Group have now secured a stake which values the Manchester-based Hundred team at above £100m, understood to be around £116m.The two parties will now enter into an eight-week period of exclusivity in which they will discuss the exact terms of the deal. Lancashire have previously suggested to members that they are open to a discussion about selling some of their 51% stake in Originals if the price is high enough that it enables them to pay down a significant proportion of their bank debt.Related

• Sun Group secures 100% stake in Northern Superchargers

• Brady stardust comes to cricket with Birmingham Phoenix acquisition

• Silicon Valley consortium values Spirit at £295m in Hundred coup

• Lancashire want IPL link for Manchester Originals

The club declined to confirm on Monday night* whether RPSG Group are buying anything more than the ECB’s 49% stake in the Originals, though ESPNcricinfo understands that Lancashire told prospective investors that they were willing to part with up to 70% of the overall shares during talks earlier in the sales process.Lancashire confirmed the news in a statement on Monday afternoon. “We have been very focused on securing a great partner – ideally from the IPL – and RPSG has been our preferred bidder for some time,” the club said.”We are delighted by the outcome and look forward to working together to create an exciting future. Together, we have a shared ambition to create a very special cricket team for the people of Manchester and the wider North West region.”ESPNcricinfo first revealed last August that officials from RPSG Group had visited Emirates Old Trafford, with Lancashire chief executive Daniel Gidney making clear in an interview his desire to work with an IPL franchise. Lancashire’s initial shortlist also included Mumbai Indians owners Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), who dropped out of the bidding for Originals after securing a stake in Oval Invincibles last week.Lancashire have actively grown their profile in India in recent years with a deliberate strategy that has included men’s and women’s pre-season tours and signing Indian internationals Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar and Venkatesh Iyer as overseas players. They are set to return to India next month as part of a pre-season tour.Sanjiv Goenka, pictured celebrating with Marcus Stoinis, is the chairman and founder of RPSG Group•Sportzpics

Goenka, the chairman and founder of business conglomerate RPSG Group, paid INR 7090 crore (£680m approx. at the time) to buy the Lucknow IPL franchise in 2021. He bought the Durban franchise in the SA20 the following year, and previously owned Rising Pune Supergiant. RPSG were involved in the 2016 and 2017 IPL seasons, while Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended.Lancashire will hold a members’ forum next Wednesday. “Key items on the agenda will include details of our partnership with the RPSG Group, the projected financial outcome for Lancashire Cricket and the potential use of the funds generated,” the club said. “The investment remains subject to a satisfactory conclusion of the final due diligence and legal processes and a further announcement will be made in due course.”The deal makes RPSG Group the second IPL owners to buy a stake in a Hundred team, after Reliance. Sun Group, the owners of Sunrisers Hyderabad, are understood to be interested in both Northern Superchargers and Trent Rockets, while GMR Group, the co-owners of Delhi Capitals, are widely expected to secure a stake in Southern Brave, having bought host county Hampshire outright last year.ESPNcricinfo understands that RPSG Group were pitted against two other competitors on Monday, prompting a live auction. One of these was an investor who has struck a partnership with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, while the identity of the third bidder could not be confirmed on Monday night.The sales processes for Superchargers and Rockets were initially scheduled for Monday but are understood to have been delayed slightly, with some losing bidders from previous sales considering entering the running for another team. The sale of a stake in Brave will round out the process.*2100 GMT – This story was updated to reflect Lancashire’s statement and to note the identity of one losing bidder

South Group leaders cruise to seventh win out of eight with room to spare in Cardiff

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay20-Jun-2025Somerset continued their remarkable form in the Vitality Blast, cruising to a six-wicket win against Glamorgan.After restricting Glamorgan to 130 for 9 courtesy of 4 for 21 from Australian overseas Riley Meredith, Somerset knocked off a sub-par total to remain top of the South Group and head into the mid-competition break with seven wins from eight while Glamorgan’s symmetrical win-loss record makes them likely to drop outside the all-important top four.Top-order contributions throughout the Somerset innings set up the run chase for the middle-order to wrap up risk-free. Dan Douthwaite caused trouble in taking 3 for 32 but it only gave the hosts a glimmer of hope.Somerset won the toss and opted to bowl after scoring in excess of 200 three times in their last four games. Kiran Carlson and Will Smale got off to an explosive start, bringing memories of their record-breaking win over Somerset in Cardiff last year, the captain scoring 135 on that occasion while Smale had a half-century of his own.On this occasion the flair was short-lived. Smale took Josh Davey’s first three balls for boundaries, which included a typical Smale ramp. However, 30 for no loss from 2.1 overs became 42 for 4 from seven with both openers outclassed by Matt Henry.Ben Kellaway fell for a duck after a T20 best last time out, slapping to Will Smeed at point, the extra pace of Meredith proving too much. Veterans Colin Ingram and Chris Cooke continued to struggle, undone by the ever-consistent Lewis Gregory, both falling attempting to glide to deep third; Ingram chopping on, Cooke only finding the wicketkeeper.In a familiar story, it fell to Asa Tribe and Douthwaite to drag Glamorgan back into a battle from 49 for 5. Tribe found a way to combine upping the rate with added stability, contributing 38 in a 49-run partnership before being bowled while attempting a ramp.Douthwaite then picked out the deep-midwicket fielder on the first ball of Merideth’s return.A couple of late boundaries from Imad Wasim and a top-edged six from Timm van der Gugten managed to avert total embarrassment for the hosts but at 130, they were still very much under-par.Somerset’s pursuit began briskly. Tom Banton and Will Smeed were watchful in the opening two overs before being proactive and typically brutal taking 41 from the next three. Smeed, the Blast’s second-highest run-scorer, hit a pick-up six over the leg side that was particularly eye-catching.While the chase wasn’t faultless, the visitors found their way with comfort – even though the entire top order made starts without kicking on. Smeed fel in the powerplay, Banton just after the restrictions were relaxed. Tom Abell was bogged down temporarily, scoring at just a-run-a-ball for his 10 before Douthwaite dismissed him in an impressive over conceding just one run.Somerset looked to get the job done quickly, Tom Kohler-Cadmore hitting five boundaries in 38 from 29 before being caught on the cover boundary, a third wicket for Douthwaite.Despite trickier spells from Douthwaite and former Somerset seamer Ned Leonard, who returned economical figures, the visitors knocked off victory in 16.4 overs.

With the series on the line, the hosts go in as favourites with their bowling attack firing as a unit

Danyal Rasool21-Jul-2025

Big picture: Bangladesh eye series win

Perhaps it will never be possible to conclusively establish which was worse – the Mirpur pitch or how Pakistan went about batting on it. But with the series on the line, Pakistan coach Mike Hesson will know his side can only control the latter. In the first T20I, on a somewhat two-paced surface where Fakhar Zaman got them off to a fast start, Pakistan would shoot themselves in the foot repeatedly, lacing the innings with three run-outs and several soft caught dismissals. It ground their innings down to a halt before the hosts pulled off a clinical, pressure-free chase with 27 balls to spare.Bangladesh have, seemingly out of nowhere, found their T20I groove in what was a dismal year in the format for them. A fortnight ago, their most recent T20I series had seen them get brushed aside by Pakistan 3-0, their only victory all year coming against the UAE in a series they would go on to lose 2-1. But with their injury and availability issues starting to ease, they effected a turnaround with a crushing win over Sri Lanka, turning that series around before Sunday’s dismantling of Pakistan helping them reel off three successive wins.Related

• Pakistan suffer rude awakening at the start of Bangladesh T20Is

• Hesson slams 'unacceptable' Mirpur pitch

While there were flashes of batting brilliance up top from Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain Emon even when the side was struggling for wins, it is the coming together of the bowling attack as a unit that has lit the touchpaper for Bangladesh’s form. It began with that 83-run trouncing of Sri Lanka eight days earlier, one where each of the five bowlers took wickets before they stifled the batters in the series decider. With Taskin Ahmed joining the fray, it was notable Bangladesh’s quicks took all but one of the Pakistan wickets that weren’t run-outs, indicating the potential blossoming of a more rounded bowling attack.Pakistan will have to demonstrate the first game was a bump in the road and not an indication their young fiery batting order will struggle on surfaces not attuned to their preferences. The Gaddafi Stadium, where they eased past Bangladesh so comfortably, were batting featherbeds, with a weakened bowling attack given well above par to defend. In lower-scoring games, though, those weaknesses will invariably be magnified and exploited; this series could well be a litmus test for the suitability of this approach in the medium term.

Form guide

Pakistan LWWWL Bangladesh WWWLL

In the spotlight – Emon and Mirza

Parvez Hossain Emon has been a bit feast or famine, but is perhaps Bangladesh’s most dynamic T20 batter. Cheap early dismissals in two of the three games in each of the series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka belie the sheer destructive power he possesses when he finds his rhythm. A 34-ball 66 in the final game against Pakistan last month was followed up by a similarly impactful cameo – 38 off 22 – against Sri Lanka. He would not score a run in that series afterwards, but showed no hesitancy after two early wickets fell in Sunday’s low chase, his unbeaten 39-ball 56 carrying Bangladesh home with ease. Alongside his more consistent but perhaps slightly less watchable opening partner Tanzid, Bangladesh appear stood on the precipice of a truly modern T20 opening pairing.Bangladesh outbowled Pakistan in the first game, with Pakistan’s lack of star bowling firepower painfully visible. Without Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah or Haris Rauf, it was Salman Mirza who spearheaded the attack. Shaheen and Rauf’s Lahore Qalandars team-mate was the only bowler to make any inroads while there was jeopardy in the game, reducing Bangladesh to 7 for 2 after his first eight balls. But if support from elsewhere is not forthcoming, Mirza needs to repeat – and potentially improve upon – his showing if Pakistan’s quick bowlers are to match Bangladesh’s as they scramble to keep the series alive.

Team news

Bangladesh are unlikely to tinker with the side which produced a comprehensive win. Expect the same eleven to try to wrap the series up.Bangladesh : 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Parvez Hossain Emon, 3 Litton Das (capt), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Jaker Ali (wk), 6 Shamim Hossain, 7 Mahedi Hasan 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Taskin AhmedNeither side trained so there’s little to reveal Pakistan’s thinking. The batting is unlikely to change with Salman Agha and Hesson promising to back their players. If Pakistan want another specialist spin option, though, Sufiyan Muqeem could find his way in.Pakistan: 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Mohammad Haris (wk), 4 Hasan Nawaz, 5 Salman Ali Agha (capt), 6 Mohammad Nawaz, 7 Khushdil Shah, 8 Abbas Afridi, 9 Faheem Ashraf, 10 Salman Mirza, 11 Abrar Ahmed

Pitch and conditions

There’s a strong chance of an evening shower as Bangladesh remains in the grip of the rainy season.

Stats and trivia

• Bangladesh’s victory over Pakistan was achieved with 4.3 overs to spare; it is their largest such victory over Pakistan, and their fifth largest overall
• Zaman is 107 runs away from becoming just the fifth Pakistani to 2000 T20I runs

Ahmed Daniyal, Salman Mirza, Sufiyan Muqeem, Hasan Nawaz and Abbas Afridi are the newcomers to the side led by Salman Agha

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2025Salman Agha will lead a side without a recovering Shadab Khan and an injured Haris Rauf for Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Mirpur, Dhaka, to be played between July 20 and 24.The squad has been trimmed by one from the time Pakistan played their last T20I series – also against Bangladesh – but at home in May-June, when Pakistan won 3-0.Shadab has recently undergone surgery on his right shoulder and is currently recovering. Rauf, meanwhile, picked up a hamstring injury at the MLC, which has ruled him out of San Francisco Unicorns’ playoff matches. Apart from them, Irfan Khan Niazi, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim and Naseem Shah have been left out. Hasan, who was the top wicket-taker when Bangladesh toured Pakistan earlier, has been allowed to continue playing in England while selectors try out other options. Naseem and Shaheen Shah Afridi – also absent – are being considered for ODIs by Pakistan for the moment.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The replacements don’t bring a lot of experience with them. Ahmed Daniyal, the medium pacer, and Salman Mirza, the left-arm quick, are uncapped in international cricket, while left-arm wristspinner Sufiyan Muqeem is just ten T20Is old. Top-order batter Hasan Nawaz made his international debut earlier this year and has played just eight T20Is, although he also did have a stellar PSL season. Abbas Afridi, the medium pacer, is relatively more experienced, having played 21 T20Is since making his debut early last year.Some of them were among the better performers at the PSL earlier this year. Abbas Afridi was the fourth-highest wicket-taker overall, with 17 wickets from 11 innings for Karachi Kings. Salman Mirza picked up nine wickets from just four games for Lahore Qalandars. Nawaz, meanwhile, was the third-highest run-scorer overall with 399 runs in ten innings for Quetta Gladiators, going at a strike rate of 162.19.This is the second T20I series Pakistan will be playing under new white-ball coach Mike Hesson, with the next T20 World Cup scheduled for early 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.The squad for the white-ball series against West Indies, to be played in Lauderhill (T20Is) and Tarouba (ODIs) in early August, “will be announced in due course,” the PCB said in a statement. The board’s COO Summer Syed said they were in negotiations with Cricket West Indies to turn the ODIs of that tour into more T20Is, given there is a T20 World Cup next year.

Pakistan squad for T20I series against Bangladesh

Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Sufiyan Muqeem

Uneven contest at The Oval as visitors coast home with whopping 30.5 overs to spare

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay18-Aug-2025Excellent bowling from veteran seamer James Fuller, inexperienced slow left-armer Andrew Neal and pacy 16-year-old Manny Lumsden proved too much for Surrey at the Kia Oval in what became an embarrassingly one-sided nine-wicket Hampshire victory.The Hawks dismissed Surrey for 160 in 46.3 overs before skipper Nick Gubbins anchored a buccaneering chase with 87 not out from 60 balls. Hampshire’s fourth win in five Group A matches, clinched with a massive 30.5 overs to spare, boosts their ambitions of qualification for the Metro Bank One-Day Cup knockout stages.Gubbins was initially joined in an opening stand of 54 with Ali Orr before Fletcha Middleton arrived to hit an unbeaten 35 from 24 balls in an unbroken second wicket stand of 108 in just 9.3 overs.Fast bowler Nathan Barnwell was thrashed for 50 from his three overs – Gubbins twice hoicking him for six in an opening over costing 21 – and left-arm spinner Yousuf Majid’s three overs went for 31 as Gubbins and Middleton accelerated brutally towards the finish line. Gubbins hit three sixes and 13 fours in all, while Middleton’s contribution was two sixes and four fours.Earlier 35-year-old Fuller finished with 4 for 34 after polishing off a Surrey innings that never got going and was in danger of complete implosion at 89 for 6 before keeper-batter Josh Blake and bowlers James Taylor, Barnwell and Majid provided at least some lower order resistance in front of a near-5,000 crowd.Blake was Surrey’s joint top-scorer with 22 alongside South Asian Cricket Academy graduate Nikhil Gorantla, who was Fuller’s first victim when he was excellently caught low down by Neal diving forward at mid-on in the 18th over.That left Surrey 68 for 3 and rookie tyro Lumsden had already made his mark by then, first forcing Rory Burns to miscue a pull to his fourth ball – to be caught and bowled for 20 – and then seeing Adam Thomas chop on to his stumps for 12 in his third over.At 16 years and 288 days, Lumsden bowled with genuine pace in just his second List A appearance and although there were a number of wild deliveries, including an intended bouncer that flew for four wides, he impressed across two spells in his 2 for 46 from 10 overs.Even more impressive was 25-year-old spinner Neal, who played two first-class matches for Leeds-Bradford MCCU in 2019 but only made the first of his previous four List A appearances earlier this month at the start of Hampshire’s One-Day Cup campaign.His 3 for 33 from 10 nicely-controlled overs now gives him nine wickets in the competition and here he numbered the Surrey middle-order of Ben Foakes, Ollie Sykes and Cameron Steel as his scalps. Foakes mishit to long on for 5, Sykes was brilliantly held by a diving Felix Organ at long on for 7 and Steel drove tamely to short extra cover to go for 5.Blake’s 22 was ended by a fatal nibble at Fuller, Taylor offered a few meaty blows before skying Scotland allrounder Brandon McMullen to long-on and Barnwell departed for 15 miscuing high to keeper Ben Mayes.Majid was left 13 not out when No. 11 Alex French fenced Fuller to slip to go for a fifth-ball duck and all that remained was to see how quickly Hampshire’s top order could knock off the runs. Thanks to Gubbins, Orr and Middleton the match was over by 4.10pm.

Group B is the group of death, and whoever loses on Saturday will ride a treacherous road to Super Four qualification

Andrew Fidel Fernando12-Sep-20252:32

Jaffer: Bangladesh favourites over SL

Big picture

So far in the Asia Cup, things have gone roughly as expected. India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan have all registered comfortable victories, and Pakistan have also avoided an early banana peel. But Saturday brings up a more even clash. Over the last few years, T20 matches between these teams have sometimes been explosive, but although the heat of the rivalry has died down a little, it is also clear that these are well-matched teams in this format. Over the last 10 years, Sri Lanka have won eight of their 16 encounters, and Bangladesh eight.Related

• Asalanka: We are T20 Asia Cup defending champions

• Hasaranga fit for Sri Lanka's Asia Cup campaign

• Why are Sri Lanka and Bangladesh so poor at T20I batting?

• Hridoy hits back at critics as Bangladesh opt for safety over speed

More recently Bangladesh have had the better run, winning 2-1 in Sri Lanka in July, having also beaten Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup last year in Dallas. In those matches, Bangladesh’s bowlers tended to strike early, and find wickets regularly. Sri Lanka hope their batting order is in a better place now. But it was less than two weeks ago that they collapsed to 80 all out against Zimbabwe.Bangladesh also have the advantage of having played a match at this venue already. Their crushing of Hong Kong on Thursday was a largely complete performance, with the seamers getting wickets and the top order unfussily taking the team home in a modest chase. There were also wickets for legspinner Rishad Hossain, who was excellent against Sri Lanka in their most recent series, going at only 5.47 an over in his 12 overs across three matches.This being the group of death – Afghanistan are the other top-10 team vying for a Super Four spot – whichever team loses here will ride a treacherous road to qualification.Wanindu Hasaranga is set to return after missing the tour of Zimbabwe with a hamstring injury•AFP/Getty Images

Form guide

Bangladesh: WWWLW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Sri Lanka: WLWLL

In the spotlight: Litton Das and Pathum Nissanka

Bangladesh captain Litton Das needs 56 more runs to become Bangladesh’s most prolific T20I batter. He is clearly one of Bangladesh’s key T20I batters at the moment, having hit 476 runs this year at a strike rate of 137.17. He also top-scored for Bangladesh in that series in Sri Lanka. Given his experience, he is the Bangladesh batter that will worry Sri Lanka’s bowlers the most.Pathum Nissanka is having a fine T20I year himself, having made 230 runs at a strike rate of 147.43 in 2025. That Sri Lanka have been a significantly improved team in the powerplay is down partly to Nissanka’s improvements. He has opened up new parts of his game, and has become particularly severe on errors of length. In Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka lost the only match in which he didn’t get to 30.

Pitch and conditions

The Abu Dhabi pitch tends to be batting-friendly, though occasionally it will have something for the slower bowlers as well. Rain is not forecast on Saturday.2:05

Jaffer: Hasaranga’s return big boost for SL

Team news: Hasaranga set to return

Bangladesh will likely keep the same XI that beat Hong Kong. That means they will likely play three frontline seamers.Bangladesh (possible): 1 Pervez Hossain Emon, 2 Tanzid Hasan, 3 Litton Das (capt & wk), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Jaker Ali, 6 Shamim Hossain, 7 Mahedi Hasan, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur Rahman.Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said Wanindu Hasaranga should be available to play on Saturday, after Hasaranga had missed the Zimbabwe series with a hamstring injury. He also suggested Sri Lanka could go in with three frontline seam options. If fit, Dushmantha Chameers seems a certainty, with Asalanka stating that Nuwan Thushara would also play. Binura Fernando may just have the edge over Matheesha Pathirana for the last spot.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kamil Mishara, 4 Kusal Perera, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Kamindu Mendis, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Binura Fernando, 11 Nuwan Thushara.

Stats and trivia

• Pathum Nissanka needs 50 more runs to complete a tally of 2000 in T20Is. He has played only 67 innings, which means he has eight innings in which to get those 50 runs and become the fastest Sri Lanka men’s batter to the milestone. Kusal Perera got there in his 76th innings.
• Litton Das has not been dismissed for less than 50 in his last four T20I innings, making 54*, 18*, 73, and 59, against Netherlands and Hong Kong.
• Even just in Asia Cups, these teams’ record is pretty even. Bangladesh won the first T20I Asia Cup match between them, in Mirpur in 2016. Sri Lanka won the next one, in Dubai in 2022.

Quotes

“It’s more of a rivalry for the fans. For us as players it’s just good challenging competition.”
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka on the rivalry between these teams

A new hero has arrived to light up Selhurst Park. In a surprising deadline day move, Crystal Palace managed to snap up Michy Batshuayi on loan from Chelsea. With Roy Hodgson surely frustrated by Christian Benteke’s lacklustre presence in front of goal, he’ll be relieved to see a mobile striker leading his line.

Batshuayi’s fellow compatriot has been quite disappointing in The Eagles attack, scuffing chances regularly and wasting the efforts of Wilfred Zaha and Andros Townsend. However, the opportunistic “Batman” can help fix that.

Batshuayi already made a great impression in his home debut for Palace and despite coming on for only eight minutes, made more an impact than Benteke.

The Belgian wiggled past multiple Fulham defenders, displaying impressive close control before his shot was parried away to Jeffrey Schlupp, who scored from close range. While technicality it doesn’t count as one, Batshuayi took that as an assist and why not?

He worked extremely hard for it and deserves all the applauds for it. With the kind of movement and hunger he displayed in the final third, he’s on course to become a fan-favourite. Batshuayi can not only deliver on the goal-scoring front but also create more opportunities for Zaha and Townsend, who’ve been forced to carry the creative burden all around.

An energetic presence in the Eagles attack, Batshuayi can get the best out of both of them and help Palace surge ahead in their quest for a top-half finish.

Tottenham Hotspur’s stronghold on Christian Eriksen seems to be loosening. The Danish midfielder only has 18 months left on his contract and is unwilling to sign a new deal, reportedly (via AS) wanting a big move up to Real Madrid. According to reports (via the Express), Spurs want to bring in Leicester City’s breakthrough star James Maddison as his replacement in the summer.

The former Norwich City man’s enjoyed life in the Premier League, having scored five goals and assisting four times. He’s formed a menacing partnership with Jamie Vardy and his impressive work has caught Mauricio Pochettino’s eye.

Maddison could be a valuable addition to the Spurs team, as he ticks all the boxes when it comes to creating, scoring and playing for the team. The home-grown quota also works in his favour and the prospect of watching him develop under Mauricio Pochettino’s stewardship is certainly exciting. However, when comparing with a creative genius like Eriksen, he could be under pressure to produce similar goods consistently.

Maddison’s lost form slightly after his amazing start to the season and isn’t as influential like Eriksen. The Dane controls much of Spurs attacking moves, stitching together majestic passes every now and then as well as scoring crucial winners for them. That’s the difference in the two right now.

Maddison’s lack of European experience can also hurt Spurs while bringing him will probably force Dele Alli to play deeper in midfield. However, knowing Spurs’ habit of elevating promising talents, the Leicester star could revel in North London. Replacing the experienced Eriksen with him is definitely a risk, but knowing Maddison’s talent, it’s one worth taking.