Melbourne Derby: Stars snap comprehensive win against misfiring Renegades

First ever stumping for Jos Buttler in 48 Tests and that too is a lucky escape

England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler recorded his first-ever stumping in Test cricket after stumping Dilruwan Perera, Sri Lanka’s spin bowling all-rounder in the first Test of the ongoing two-match Test series between islanders and Joe Root’s men at Galle. The stumping was off a delivery of Jake Leach which went past the bat and caused the fielding team to appeal for a ‘caught behind’. However, while appealing, Butler had a shy at the stumps and appealed for stumpings after the catch appeal was turned down. Kumar Dharmasena, the on-field umpire referred it to the third umpire Lyndon Hannibal. After a lot of look at the stumping from almost all angles and even without conclusive evidence, Hannibal was heard saying, “The boot seems to be on the line, there is nothing over it, load ‘out’ on the big screen”. The commentators then deliberated over the decision and called it unfortunate. Both Perera and Sri Lankan coach Mickey Arthur were visibly disgusted with the decision. With the dismissal, Buttler is the only wicket-keeper in the entire world who has played more than 40 Tests and has only one stumping to his name. In the context of the game, it was a very important wicket given the fact that it was the last recognized pair that could handle the bat and the Sri Lankan team has gotten a handy lead of 66 runs. With the wicket turning and spinning the way it has been and with chances of rain on the fifth day, the wicket was extremely important for the hosts. Perera, 38, scored 24 and at the time of writing this news, the Lankan team had got all out for 359 and set a fourth inning target of 74 runs for England to chase.

SMAT 2021 Round up | Jan 17: Mumbai's dismal run continues

Mumbai’s dismal run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy continued as they lost fourth match in the tournament to remain at the bottom of the points table. Mumbai suffered the defeat against Pondicherry who won the match by 6 wickets. Nagaland vs Mizoram Nagaland won by 77 runs Nagaland- 178/6 (20) (Jonathan R- 51) Mizoram- 101 all out Chandigarh vs Sikkim Chandigarh won by 131 runs Chandigarh- 204/6 (20) (Shivam Bhambri- 75) Sikkim- 73/4 Meghalaya vs Arunachal Pradesh Meghalaya won by 9 wickets Arunachal Pradesh- 84/8 (20) Meghalaya- 88/1 Bihar vs Manipur Bihar won by 9 wickets Manipur- 105/8 (20) Bihar- 107/1 (Shasheem Rathour- 60*) Kerala vs Andhra Andhra won by 6 wickets Kerala- 112/4 (20) (Sachin Baby- 51*) Andhra- 113/4 Mumbai vs Puducherry Puducherry won by 6 wickets Mumbai- 94 all out Pondicherry- 95/4 Madhya Pradesh vs Saurashtra Madhya Pradesh won by 6 wickets Saurashtra- 180/4 (Samarth Vyas- 66*) Madhya Pradesh- 181/4 (Venkatesh Iyer- 88*) Rajasthan vs Goa Goa won by 37 runs Goa-154/7 Rajasthan- 117 all out

Hardik Pandya pens down emotional message for his father

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya penned down an emotional note for his father who passed away on Saturday due to a cardiac arrest. “To My Daddy and my Hero To lose you is one of the most difficult things to accept in life but you have left us so many great memories that we can only imagine you smiling! Your sons are standing where they are right now is only because of you, your hard work, your self belief and you were always happy. This house without you would be less entertaining! We love you and will always do Your name will always stay on top. But I know one thing, you are looking after us from above the same way you did here! You were proud of us but daddy we all are proud of the way you lived your life! As I said yesterday to you One last ride. Now rest in peace my king I will miss you everyday of my life 🙏🏾 Love you daddddy!” Pandya wrote on his Instagram. Hardik was with his father when he took the last breathe while brother Krunal was with the Baroda side for the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy. Krunal later left the bio bubble to return home. “Yes, Krunal Pandya has left the bubble. It is a personal tragedy, Baroda Cricket Association mourns this loss of Hardik and Krunal,” Baroda Cricket Association CEO Shishir Hattangadi told ANI. Hardik's father, in an interview had said that whenever he talks about his sons, he does get emotional. “Whenever I speak about Hardik and Krunal, I cannot control my tears and that they have done so well is God’s gift. Our intentions of letting them play cricket from a very young age was questioned and criticized by many relatives. But we were not willing to change our plans, and it is great to see what they have achieved now,” Himanshu Pandya had earlier told MI TV in an interview.

Match Preview: Hurricanes fight for survival against bruised Thunder in BBL 2020

Hobart Hurricanes would give it their all to fight for their hopes of reaching the playoffs when they face a Sydney Thunder which has had to face two continuous losses in their last two games. Hurricanes on the other hand have lost three on the trot and their Playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. This game is also important for the men in Purple as their main players in Matthew Wade and Tim Paine would return from national duties for the next game, so the team would like to be in the hunt till that happens. Thunder batting needs to own up responsibility It is the batting unit of the Thunder that has made its progress to the place that it has. But in the last two games, two collapses meant that they were not playing on their strength and that cost them the games. It is the business end of the tournament and the likes of Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, skipper Callum Ferguson and Sam Billings, the four people who hold the key to any match. They would be looking to raise their hands and own up the responsibilities before it gets too late to get back in form. The other big asset of Thunder is its spinners and with Chris Green injured in the last game, they were put in a spot of bother, But with confirmation that he is fit and available for selection, the team would really like to choose the run flow of teh opposition with Tanvir Sangha and Green. McDermott, Malan need to bring on their best There is a saying ‘If not now, then never’ and the situation for the Hurricanes is the same. They have to win because if they don’t win now they would be dependent on other team’s results and it is one zone where no team likes to be. Ben McDermott, the wicket-keeper batsman of the ‘Canes has been the best man for them with the bat. The number one ranked T20 batsman Dawid Malan is another person on whom the Hurricanes would be banking. It is now the time that these two bring on their best game because if they are unable to do so, like in the last few games, the only way for the Hurricanes would be down the barrel in the points table. Thus McDermott, one of the leading run-scorers in this season’s BBL has his task cut out and so has Malan. They also have a chance of becoming heroes if they win that game for their team at the Manuka Oval. An opportunity beckons, but can the two of them seize it! Thunder vs Hurricanes: Match Details Match Number-43 Date and Time: Jan 18, 2021, 1:45:00 pm IST, 06.40 pm Local, 08.15 am GMT Venue- Manuka Oval. Canberra Broadcast: Sony LIV, Sony Sports Network Pitch Report The wicket at the Manuka Oval has been one of the best for a T20 game. It has almost everything in it. It could be high scoring if batsmen apply themselves and have something for the bowlers with the ball nipping back in and the odd one keeping low as was seen in the game between Renegades and Heat. The wicket has gone dry and therefore a total of 160-170 is now a fighting total if the defending team has two quality spinners and fast bowlers who could bowl cutters well. Weather and Bat Flip The weather did play some tricks in the last Thunder game against the Sixers. For tomorrow the weather is supposed to be all sunny with clear skies. Thus on winning the bat flip, chances are that the captain would decide to bowl first although losing the toss on such a wicket wouldn’t really be a bad proposition. Thunder Strongest XI Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson (c), Sam Billings (wk), Alex Ross, Ben Cutting, Daniel Sams, Nathan McAndrew, Adam Milne, Chris Green, Tanveer Sangha Hurricanes Strongest XI D'Arcy Short, Ben McDermott (wk), Dawid Malan, Peter Handscomb (c), Colin Ingram, Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Nathan Ellis, Scott Boland, Riley Meredith, Sandeep Lamichhane