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Bbl 11 Ashton Turner Leads From The Front As Scorchers Thrash Sixers In Top Of The Table Clash

BBL 11 | Ashton Turner leads from the front as Scorchers thrash Sixers in top of the table clash

Perth Scorchers registered their ninth win in the Big Bash League after they defeated Sydney Sixers in a top of the table clash. With this win, Scorchers maintained their position at the top BBL 2021-22 points table. Ashton Turner, the skipper of the Scorchers was the hero with the bat for the team as he scored a brave 69 off just 41 balls to chase down 152 at the International Sports Stadium in Coffs Harbour.

Scorchers did not have an ideal start as they lost both their openers Kurtis Patterson and Cameron Bancroft in consecutive deliveries of the third over when the team score was only 17. It was then that Turner got together with Laurie Evans and tried to rescue the chasing act, but Evans perished quickly too.

At 42-3, Scorchers were staring down the barrel when Turner turned the leader mode on and put on a match-winning 91 run partnership with Aaron Hardie in just 58 balls. At 135-3, with just 17 runs needed off 18 balls, Turner however was removed by Jackson Bird, but not before Scorchers were well within the reach of their 10th win.

The formality was completed by Ashton Agar and Chris Sabburg as Hardie also followed in the footsteps of his captain scoring 35 off 31 balls.

Earlier in the evening, after winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Sixers got off to a decent start, reaching the 50 run mark without losing any wicket in the powerplay. However, that start wasn’t converted into anything big as after the departure of both openers Josh Philippe and Justin Avendano, the latter batters couldn’t capitalise.

It was only because of an unbeaten partnership of 50 runs off just 27 balls between Jordan Silk and Dan Christian that the Sixers managed to get past the 150 total.

With this loss, the Sydney based side remained at number three in the points table, still four points below cross-city rivals Thunder.

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Sri Lanka batter Avishka Fernando tests positive for Covid, doubtful for Zimbabwe series

Avishka Fernando, the man in form for Sri Lanka has tested positive for Covid-19 and hence would most likely miss the three-match ODI series against a touring Zimbabwe side. The series is set to begin from January 16 and the probable players for the Sri Lanka squad for that series have already entered the bubble, although the squad is still not announced. Zimbabwe however reached Sri Lanka on Sunday and would be stationed at Kandy, the place where the three-match series would be played at the Pallekele Stadium. According to Sri Lanka Cricket's medical staff, Fernando has received three vaccinations. The booster dose, however, was administered less than two weeks ago. Only Fernando has returned a positive test so far among all the players tested. Since the ban has been lifted from the trio of Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, and Danushka Gunathilaka, the absence of Fernando might not trouble the team as much as it would have otherwise. In his last two games in the LPL 2021, Fernando struck 100 off 64, and 63 off 41 balls. The three ODIs would be part of the CWC Super League and Sri Lanka currently are sixth on its points table after 15 games. Zimbabwe on the other hand are at the bottom in the 13 team league with only two wins from nine games. Hence the three matches are really important for both the teams. The top eight teams qualify directly for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. The other five would go into a qualifier where they will face five associate nations and the top two from there will make the World Cup.

WI vs IRE | 1st ODI: Shamarh Brooks stars on debut as West Indies beat Ireland

West Indies started the three-match ODI series against Ireland in a winning fashion as Shamarh Brooks registered his highest ODI score on debut to help his team overcome a jittery start and post a winning total on board. If it was not for his 89 ball 93, it would have been difficult for West Indies to 269. Ireland, while chasing the total had the worst possible start as it lost its experienced William Porterfield for nought. However, after that, skipper Andrew Balbirnie and Andy McBrine had a 61 run partnership before the latter was retired hurt. Balbirnie then built a 104 run partnership with Harry Tector and got the chase run. However, as the pressure of the required rate kept mounting, both the skipper and Tector couldn’t keep up with it and got out trying to accelerate the scoring rate. From 165-2, Ireland were suddenly 194-7, losing wickets in a flurry. George Dockrell and Mark Adair tried their level best to get on with the chase, but it was all too little too less as the entire green brigade was all out on 245 in the 49th over. They lost the game by 24 runs. For West Indies, Alzarri Joseph and Romario Shepherd picked two wickets each while Odean Smith took two wickets, including the last one of Dockrell. Earlier in the day, after West Indies lost their top four for a team score of just 64 runs, Brooks and skipper Kieron Pollard got together to stabilise the innings and added 155 for the fifth wicket. However Pollard was caught on the boundary in the 42nd over and that brought a halt to scoring as other players including Brooks fell even before the full quota of 50 overs was completed, with the team score at 269. Fast bowlers Mark Adair, Craig Young took three wickets each for Ireland, while spinner McBrine dismissed Nicholas Pooran and Roston Chase. The second ODI will be played at Sabina Park on Tuesday, January 11th.

The Ashes | England draw SCG Test in final ball drama

Intense drama was unveiled in the final five overs of the Sydney Test match as England escaped with a last wicket draw on Sunday, 9 January. With just two wickets in hand, Jack Leach and Stuart Broad saw through majority of the deliveries as the Australians threw everything at them in the last 5, even going as far as bowling Steve Smith for two overs. The former captain took it upon himself to shake things up with three overs remaining and removed the defiant Jack Leach with a peach which brought Australia a glimmer of hope. However, latest to the crease and England’s final batter James Anderson managed to defend the final six balls to finally earn England World Test Championship points in this campaign. Earlier in the day, after an entertaining knock from Zak Crawley, all England batters collectively put their hands up to try and save the Test match and saw through tough phases of play to the best of their abilities. Middle order batters built partnerships among themselves with the most significant one being between Ben Stokes and Joe Root that lasted nearly 30 overs. Stokes played through pain for the majority of his innings and secured another partnership with Jonny Bairstow, who once again played a big part in England’s rescue in the final day of the Test match. Just when it looked like England will see this through with easy, a double wicket maiden from Pat Cummins shook things up and gave the passionate SCG crowd hope. However, it was not to be, as the tailenders came to England’s rescue and save a Test match that was looking like a sure shot win for Australia. The series will now move onto Hobart for the second pink ball Test match of the series. England will lose the services of Jos Buttler, who will be flying back home after a finger injury. The future of Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow looks uncertain as well. Australia do have enough resources available in their arsenal if they want to chop and change in their attack and will hope to cap off a 4-0 drubbing with their famed pace attack in the seaming conditions in Hobart.

The Ashes | Jos Buttler to fly home post finger injury, debut opportunity for Sam Billings in Hobart

England wicketkeeper batter Jos Buttler has been ruled out of the Hobart Test after he suffered a finger injury in the fourth Test of the ongoing Ashes at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The 31-year-old was struck while keeping in the very first innings itself. England have added Sam Billings to their squad who was plying his trade for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League and was supposed to return back to England to be part of the side that would tour West Indies in late January. But post the Test call up, he made a 500-mile drive from the Gold Coast to Sydney in order to link up with the England squad. Captain Joe Root, while speaking about Buttler’s injury in the post-match interview after the dramatic draw at SCG, said, “For him to front up from the moment he took that knock shows how much he cares, how much it means to play in this team and play for England.” Though Buttler is ruled out, England might be facing more challenges as Ben Stokes and centurion from this Test, Jonny Bairstow is also nursing injuries. The Hobart Test, which will be last in the Ashes which is being led by Australia 3-0, will begin from next Friday, January 14th.