SCG to have 25 percent crowd capacity

Day 2: Masterful Kane Williamson and missed chances frustrate Pakistan

Pakistan must have felt very happy about their first innings score of 297 going into the second day of the second Test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. Now, it was up to their very capable bowlers to make that total count on a pitch that was providing decent help to seam bowlers. The start to New Zealand’s innings though, was not as per the visitors’ wishes. Openers Tom Latham and Tom Blundell got through the early overs without much trouble. Mohammad Abbas was once again his usual metronomic self while Shaheen Shah Afridi too didn’t err in line and length. But no harm came to New Zealand till the 20th over, and up to the score of 52. Then a brilliant review by captain Mohammad Rizwan for a lbw appeal against Blundell did the trick. The incoming delivery from Faheem Ashraf was found to have struck the Kiwi opener in line and was going on to hit the stumps fully. Pakistan finally had the breakthrough. Suddenly, things started to happen. In the very next over, Shaheen got a ball to straighten just a little bit and the edge of Latham’s bat flew into the second slip’s hand. Even though the fielder there couldn’t grasp the catch, the rebound was taken by Haris Sohail at first slip to give Pakistan their second wicket. It was a bit of déjà vu for the hosts as once again, they were relying on their two best batsmen – Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson – to get them out of trouble against a spirited Pakistan attack. Williamson, recently anointed the best Test batsman in the world, was once again playing with great control and patience, watching the ball closely and playing it as late as possible. Taylor, as is his wont, was looking busy. However, his innings came to an end in the 30th over as Abbas also got a ball to straighten just enough to get an edge and a much-deserved wicket. Now, New Zealand were under serious pressure at 71/3. Then came the most important moment of the day, possibly even the match. At the score of 74, Henry Nicholls got a beautiful delivery from Shaheen, who was bowling in a good rhythm now, and was out, leaving his team in the doldrums. Only that he was not! The on-field umpire soon received a communication from the third umpire that Shaheen had overstepped. Nicholls, who has been dropped by fielders five times in this season already, got another life. And then, he had another narrow escape in the same over when another edge flew between the slips for four. After these lucky escapes, the left-hander settled down and, along with his captain, started to steady the ship. Then, in the last half-hour before the tea break, a curious bowling change occurred. Part-timer Shan Masood was brought in to bowl gentle medium-pacers. This allowed Williamson and Nicholls to deepen their roots at the crease and get settled. By the time Tea was taken, the Kiwis had reached 145/3. The pressure was now firmly back on the visitors. In the final session, things started to flow in New Zealand’s favour. First, Williamson got into his stride fully and started playing those elegant shots that are a feature of his batting. Nicholls too became more positive and the scoreboard began moving at a faster pace. Both batsmen reached their fifties and for the home team’s captain, another hundred seemed set for the taking. There were only two close calls in his innings. First, a rising delivery from Shaheen, bowled from round the wicket, took the edge but went between second slip and gully. Then, when he was in the 80s, a healthy edge went over the slips for four. But apart from this, the no. 1 Test batsman stood as stoutly against Pakistan’s attempts to break through as he did in the first Test. He reached his century with a delicate glance down to the fine leg boundary for four. By this time, Pakistan were deflated and New Zealand were coasting. Williamson offered another chance, this time to the fielder at gully, only to be dropped. The icing on the cake, or the salt in the wound was another dropped catch, off the bowling of Shaheen, when he got Nicholls to edge the ball to the keeper. Rizwan went with the reverse cup technique and grassed the opportunity. There was just one more trouble for the hosts to negotiate before the stumps. It was the sudden difficulty that Nicholls had with his calf. He took a long time in getting treated but carried on till the end of the day. Even the new ball couldn’t disturb the two batsmen. So, New Zealand ended day 2 on 286/3, trailing by just 11 runs, and with two set batsmen at the crease. Williamson is batting on 112 while Nicholls is eyeing another hundred, at 89 not out. Day 3 promises more pain for Pakistan, unless they break this partnership and then get through the remainder of the batting without much more damage. Day 1 The opening day of the Test saw the home side win the toss and put Pakistan into bat on another wicket promising help to the seamers. The day belonged to Kyle Jamieson as he picked up another five-for in his brief career. But the damage was first done by Tim Southee when he got a very full inswinger to hit Shan Masood on the toe, to have him lbw. Abid Ali and Azhar Ali started forming a good partnership when Jamieson swung into action by removing Abid first and Haris Sohail and Fawad Ahmed a little later. The ball that got Fawad was a near-unplayable delivery that roared off a length to take the glove of the left-hander as he tried to sway away. At 4/83, captain Rizwan joined Azhar and the two showed great grit to form an 88-run partnership. The Pakistan captain’s resistance was also broken by Jamieson. Then, a 56-run stand between Azhar and Faheem also threatened Pakistan. The former captain was denied a much-deserved hundred when he edged an away-swinger from Matt Henry to slip, to be out on 93. Even the debutant Zafar Gohar showed great fight alongside Faheem. But once Faheem was dismissed, by Jamieson who got his fifth, there was little left for Pakistan to offer. The innings of the visitors ended on 297 just before the close of play.

Sourav Ganguly health update: Echocardiography to be done to check Ganguly's heart function

The Woodlands Hospital have said in their latest bulletin that an echocardiography will be done of Sourav Ganguly on Monday 4 January, to check his heart function. The BCCI President was hospitalised after complaining of chest pain on Saturday morning. Echocardiography will be done on Monday to check his heart function, the Woodlands Hospital said in its latest medical bulletin. Earlier, Ganguly was hospitalised at the Woodlands hospital in Kolkata with a heart issue. He later underwent angioplasty on Saturday. The hospital also conducted. COVID-19 test that came out to be negative. "He had an uneventful last night. Presently Afebrile. He is sleeping now [7:30 am]. Pulse-70/min, BP- 110/70mmHg, Spo2-98% in room air. Respiratory rate-16/min. Routine ECG to be done in the morning. Treating doctors are keeping constant vigil on his health situation and taking appropriate measures from time to time," read the statement. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also visited the hospital to see the former skipper. Interacting with the media while leaving the hospital, the chief minister had said, “He (Ganguly) is fine now, he even spoke to me. I thank the doctors and hospital authorities that they have taken the right decision of conducting an angioplasty.” “I did not have the idea that international sportspersons like him do not undergo check-ups. I asked Avishek Dalmiya to conduct medical check-ups of cricketers before games,” she had said.

Covid-19: Cricket activities in Zimbabwe put to halt

The cricket activities in Zimbabwe have been put to a halt after a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country. The Zimbabwean government has subsequently imposed lockdown restrictions. Zimbabwe have recorded 1342 positive cases and 29 deaths in a span of one week. "This is a very challenging situation, but ZC's aim is to reschedule all the affected events and fixtures - including the elite men's domestic T20 competition which was scheduled to begin this Monday - for them to be played as soon as it is deemed safe to do so," ESPNcricinfo quoted ZC as saying in a statement. The Zimbabwe team hasn’t featured in any international fixture since returning from Pakistan in November 2020. They were earlier scheduled to host Afghanistan and India last year but the series were called-off. The domestic T20 in Zimbabwe was also slated to begin from January 4 with the players already in quarantine but the event has been postponed for now. Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, who is also health minister has said that some tighter restrictions have to be imposed. “People must stay at home save for buying food and medicines or transporting sick relatives,” Chiwenga told a news conference. “Only essential services are to remain open such as hospitals, pharmacies and supermarkets, with only essential staff allowed to come to work,” Chiwenga added. Zimbabwe first introduced a tough lockdown in March. The country has recorded 14,084 cases and 369 deaths.

BBL: Buoyant Heat look to halt the Thunder express at Gabba

Brisbane Heat after a thrilling victory over the Sydney Sixers would look to halt another winning express, the across town neighbours of the Sixers, the Thunder. Thunder have looked supreme in the tournament so far, especially after the early defeat to Stars. But Heat are boxed to after a thrilling finish to their last fixture against the then table-toppers Sixers and would not mind beating another table topper. However, beating Thunder is anything but easy, especially with that long batting lineup consisting of some very diverse players who raise their hand at the time of trouble. The bowling line up is equally impressive with the likes of Chris Green and Daniel Sams leading a young but competitive attack. Boosted by Lynn's return, Heat would go for the kill The Brisbane franchise would finally have their captain in the mix as Chriss Lynn has now been allowed to play after he was disallowed to play the next three games, after the Heat’s second BBL 10 fixture against the Thunder. He was reprimanded for breaching the movement protocol and interacting with a member of the crowd. An already strong looking batting lineup which has the likes of Joe Denly, Joe Burns and Lewis Gregory along Jimmy Peirson would get a much needed quick scoring pro at the start of the innings. In his last match, Lynn, 30, had scored 69 and he would love to continue from where he had left against the Thunder at Manuka Oval. Along with Lynn the good form of Gregory, both with the bat and ball and that of Mujeeb too would be a pivotal factor in favour of the Heat ahead of this important contest. A victory here and the team from the land of the deserts would be up and running for the race to the Playoffs. Thunder would back batsmen to strike In all the games won, it has always been the batters who have worked extensively well for a Thunder victory, right from game two onwards. Be it by making huge totals or by standing tall in the face of tough challenges. The main aspect of batting is that it isn’t dependent on a single person. Be it the skipper Callum Ferguson, openers Alex Hales and Usman Khawaja or the new entrant Sam Billings. All of them have risen to the occasion as and when required. This time around too, they would be hoping that someone or the other takes up the responsibility. Ben Cutting would be in the line of course since it is his home ground where the match would be taking place and he himself would be itching to have a crack at the game. He could well turn out to be a game-changer for the Thunder. Heat vs Thunder: Match Details Venue: The Gabba, Brisbane Date and Time: January 4, 01:45 AM IST, 06:15 PM Local, 08:15 AM GMT Broadcaster: Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV Pitch Report Although on a slower side in previous games, prior to the last one, the Gabba pitch finally showed it’s true colour in the match between Heat and Sixers. A pitch that had something for everyone gave the audiences a great time in the game, which resulted in a last-over thriller. A similar wicket would be expected in this game too. Weather and Bat Flip Considering that there would be 87% cloud cover and 25% chance of a shower and also the last four matches, where Heat have chased, in this match too, teh team winning the toss would look to field first and chase down a target as the wicket gets a bit better to bat on. Heat Strongest XI Max Bryant, Joe Burns, Chris Lynn (c), Joe Denly, Jack Wildermuth, Lewis Gregory, Jimmy Peirson (wk), James Bazley, Mark Steketee, Xavier Bartlett, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Thunder Strongest XI Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson (c), Oliver Davies, Sam Billings (wk), Daniel Sams, Ben Cutting, Chris Green, Nathan McAndrew, Chris Tremain, Tanveer Sangha