BBL 2021-22 Final: Perth Scorchers back in the hunt despite struggling start vs Sydney Sixers

WI vs ENG: Eoin Morgan ruled out of remaining fixtures of T20I series

England have suffered a blow ahead of the fourth T20I of the series against West Indies after captain Eoin Morgan was ruled out of the remaining two fixtures due to a low-grade quadriceps injury, the ECB said. The left-handed batsman had also missed the third T20I after feeling pain in his right quad in the warm-up. Moeen Ali led the side in his absence. “England men’s captain Eoin Morgan will miss the final two matches of the international Twenty20 series against the West Indies with a low-grade quadriceps injury," the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Thursday. “Morgan sat out the third T20 in Barbados on Wednesday night after he felt pain in his right quad during the warm-up." “Follow-up testing revealed he sustained a right thigh muscle injury which, whilst relatively minor, will prevent him from playing further games during the current tour." Talking about the series, the Caribbean side is leading 2-1 after they clinched a win in the high-scoring game in Barbados. West Indies rode on a century from Rovman Powell and a quick-fire 70 off 43 from Pooran to post 224/5 in 20 overs and then restricted the England side for 204/9 to win the match by 20 runs.

U19 World Cup: Afghanistan hold nerve in low-scoring thriller against Sri Lanka

In a massive turnaround, Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka in the quarter-final match of the U19 World Cup in Antigua and will now take on England in the semis. Afghanistan had a dismal start to the proceedings after they were bundled out for 134 in just over 47 overs. The Afghan side lost wickets at regular intervals and were reduced to 26/4 before Allah Noor and Abdul Hadi tried to provide some resistance and stitched a partnership of 47 runs for the fifth wicket. But Noor's departure for 25 off 58 once again pushed the side on the back foot as they lost another wicket to be left tottering at 84/6. Hadi was then joined by Noor Ahmad in the middle. The two batters once again tried to steady the ship with a 48-run partnership for the seventh wicket before Ahmed was undone for 30 off 33 leaving the side struggling at 132/7. Afghanistan couldn't really add much to the tally and lost three wickets in two runs. Vinuja Ranpul bagged a five-wicket haul while Wellalage had three scalps to his name. But the drama unleashed when Sri Lanka came out to bat and were on the back foot straight away after losing early wickets at quick intervals. The Lankan team was left struggling at 43/7 but it was Dunith Wellalage along with Raveen de Silva who tried to hold the fort as they put on a stand of 69 runs for the 8th wicket. Later, Wellalage's wicket broke the shackles as they lost a couple of wickets and were 116/9 in the 42nd over. Vinuja Ranpul brought the side back into the hunt once again as he scored 11 off 14 but a mix-up in the middle between him and Treveen Mathew at the end of the 46th over cost them the game. Mathew was one of the four batsmen to get run out in the innings as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 130.

BBL 2021-22 Final: Sydney Sixers in front after picking early wickets vs Perth Scorchers

Sydney Sixers had a brilliant start to the proceedings in the final of the BBL 2021-22 against Perth Scorchers after they got three early wickets. Jackson Bird first removed Kurtis Patterson for a 4-ball 1 and then Steve O Keefe got rid of Josh Inglis after he was stumped out by Lenton for 13 off 13. Later, off-spinner Nathan Lyon scalped the priced wicket of Mitchell Marsh who played a tossed-up delivery from the bowler straight to Christian at long-on region. The side was left tottering at 20/3. Earlier, the Perth Scorchers had defeated the Sydney Sixers in the Qualifier to register a berth in the final while Sydney defeated Adelaide Strikers in the Challenger to march ahead in the title clash. Perth Scorchers (Playing XI): Josh Inglis(w), Kurtis Patterson, Mitchell Marsh, Colin Munro, Ashton Turner(c), Laurie Evans, Ashton Agar, Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, Peter Hatzoglou Sydney Sixers (Playing XI): Hayden Kerr, Nicholas Bertus, Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques(c), Daniel Christian, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Jay Lenton(w), Jackson Bird, Nathan Lyon, Steve OKeefe

Board has decided to conduct Ranji Trophy in two phases: Jay Shah

The BCCI secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that the board is planning to conduct the Ranji Trophy which was earlier postponed due to the third wave of Covid-19 in two phases. The league matches will be played in the first phase while the second part will have the knockouts. "The Board has decided to conduct the Ranji Trophy this season in two phases. In the first phase, we plan to complete all matches of the league stage while the knockouts will be held in June," Shah told in a statement. "My team is working closely to mitigate any kind of health risk caused by the pandemic, while at the same time ensuring a highly competitive red-ball cricket contest." The statement further added that the Ranji Trophy is the most prestigious domestic tournament and has been providing Indian cricket with talented players. "Ranji Trophy is our most prestigious domestic competition, which has been providing Indian Cricket with an enviable talent pool every year. It is absolutely important that we take all necessary steps to safeguard the interest of this premier event."