Ranji Trophy makes a comeback to India’s domestic season as BCCI announces 2021-22 calendar

T20 Blast: Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, Blake Cullen scalp hattricks

It was a bowlers day out in the T20 Blast on Friday after three players, Adam Milne, Lockie Ferguson and Blake Cullen picked up hat-tricks for their respective teams. Kent’s Milne vs Surrey Kent were up against Surrey when Adam Milne achieved the feat in Canterbury. Batting first, Kent rode on some fine batting from Jack Leaning and Jordon Cox as both the batsmen struck individual fifties during the course to take the total to 191/4 in 20 overs. Surrey in reply started off well as opener Will Jacks and Jamie Smith put 43 on the board for the first wicket in 4.1 overs before Smith departed for 9. Jacks then had stitched a 92-run stand for the second wicket but the opener’s departure for 87 off 54 pushed Surrey on the backfoot as they were reduced to 148/3. But Laurie Evans tried to steady the ship from one end as he notched up 57 off 42. Surrey needed 18 off the last over and it was Milne who had the ball in his hands. He scalped the wickets of Ollie Pope, Kyle Jamieson and Evans on the last three deliveries of the innings to claim the hat trick as Kent won by 11 runs. Yorkshire’s Lockie Ferguson vs Lancashire Yorkshire who batted first posted 180/4 in 20 overs against Lancashire, courtesy an unbeaten 91 off 50 deliveries from Harry Brook. Lancashire had a disappointing start to the chase and lost wickets at regular intervals to get reduced to 70/4 before Rob Jones and Steven Croft showed some resistance and put up a partnership of 85 runs for the fifth wicket before Croft was undone for 41 off 23. The equation was down to 32 off 12 and eventually came to 20 off 6. Ferguson got the ball to bowl the last over and the fast bowler bagged a hat trick on the last three deliveries of the innings. He first dismissed Luke Wells who took the aerial route but miscued his stroke to give a catch to Lyth in the deep and then cleaned up Luke Wood. Wood’s wicket was followed by Tom Hartley’s scalp who also mistimed a shot and Lyth completed a nice running catch as Ferguson completed his hat trick. Middlesex’s Blake Cullen vs Somerset Blake Cullen scalped a hat trick against Somerset in Taunton after dismissing Lewis Goldsworthy on the last ball of the 14th over and then returned in the 18th over to complete the hat trick. Cullen picked up the wickets of Ben Green and Marchant de Lange on consecutive deliveries at the start of the 18th over. Somerset were bundled out for 152 after Cullen returned with figures of 4/32 in 4 overs. Middlesex were then restricted to 114/6 in 16 overs and Somerset won the match by 5 runs (DLS method). Craig Overton picked up three wickets during the course.

Steve Smith ready to give up on playing World T20 to be fit for Ashes

Former Australia captain Steve Smith who is recovering from an elbow injury has said that playing Test cricket is his priority and could skip the World T20 which is now scheduled to take place in UAE and Oman later this year. “There’s still a bit of time between now and (the World Cup), and I’m tracking okay at the moment – it’s slow, but I’m going okay,” Smith told cricket.com.au on Friday. Australia will host England for Ashes later this year and Smith is focusing on playing the series. “I’d love to be part of the World Cup, for sure. But from my point of view, Test cricket, that’s my main goal – to be right for the Ashes and try to emulate what I’ve done in the last few Ashes series I’ve been involved in,” Smith said. “I want to put myself in a position where I can have that kind of impact,” he further said. “If that does mean not partaking in the World Cup, then we’ll have to go down that path, but hopefully we don’t have to go there,” Smith added. The right-handed batsman had earlier opted out of the West Indies tour where the Aussie team will play five T20Is and three ODIs against the Caribbean side.

WI W vs PAK W | 2nd T20I: Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation taken to hospital after collapsing

Two of the West Indies women’s players Chinelle Henry and Chedean Nation collapsed on the field during their second T20I match against Pakistan in Antigua. Both the cricketers were taken to hospital where they were "conscious and stable", according to a CWI spokesperson. "Chinelle Henry and Chedean Nation were taken to hospital for medical attention," said CWI in a statement. "Both Henry and Nation are conscious and stable at hospital and are being assessed." Head coach Courtney Walsh said that the conditions weren’t easy but also appreciated the team’s efforts after clinching a win in difficult situations. "It isn't very easy in those conditions and situations. I'm just happy that the team was able to go over the line for those two ladies who weren't with us, and we're just waiting on all the information that we can get," Courtney Walsh said. "They have our full support and we'll be riding with them as well." The home side who batted first scored 125/6 in 20 overs and then restricted Pakistan to 103/6 in 18 overs to win a rain-curtailed match by 7 runs (DLS method). West Indies took a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match series with the final T20I to take place on Sunday at the same venue.

ENG W vs IND W: With Mithali fit to go, Shikha Pandey backs fearless India to produce positive results

The Indian Women team would not be deprived of their skipper Mithali Raj in their attempt of attaining a consolation win in an already lost ODI series when they take the field in New Road Worcester. BCCI confirmed in a tweet that, Mithali, who did not take the field after injuring her shoulder while batting, is for the 3rd ODI which would also be her last game on the tour as the dynamic batter is not part of the T20I set-up. "Captain @M_Raj03 has recovered and is training with the girls as we prepare for the 3rd WODI tomorrow here at New Road, Worcester," the BCCI tweeted. The 38-year-old would also have another shot at becoming the highest run-scorer in international cricket by overtaking former England skipper Charlotte Edwards. Mithali, with 10,262 runs in all three formats combined is just 12 runs away from overtaking Edwards’ 10,273. The Indian team would be looking to go all out in the last game with nothing to lose scenario and fast bowler Shikha Pandey underscored the same point while speaking in the pre-match press conference. “We want to be going ahead and play a fearless brand of cricket, and we're working towards it. This is kind of a build-up to the World Cup next year, and in the games ahead we will have a positive attitude and we will look to score runs for the team to win,” said Pandey, who wicked two wickets in the second ODI and was one of the reasons as to why India fought deep in that game. People were expecting newcomer wicket-keeper Indrani Roy to get a game in the third ODI based on her batting abilities. But it seems that the team would prefer Taniya Bhatia’s wicket-keeping skills more. “Taniya standing up to the stumps made a huge difference. Taniya is doing a great job, and it is about responding to the situation on the field,” Shikha said about the Chandigarh born.