SL vs SA | 2nd ODI: Janneman Malan, Shamsi take series into decider after thumping win

STAT ALERT: Rohit Sharma hits ninth ton in England, most by an Indian batsman

India opener Rohit Sharma etched his name in the record books after scoring a century in the fourth Test of the five-match series against England at Kennington Oval on Saturday. Sharma has now struck 9 tons, the most by an Indian batsman in England surpassing former India captain Rahul Dravid who had 8 centuries to his name in the country. The right-handed batsman achieved the feat during India’s second innings of the fourth Test. Apart from this, he has now become the only visiting batsman to have scored a hundred in all three formats in England. Sir Don Bradman holds the record for scoring most number of centuries (11) in England. The opener’s ton helped India stay in front in this encounter as the visitors nullified the first innings lead that they had conceded against the hosts. India were trailing by 99 runs at the start of the innings but a cautious start from Rohit and KL Rahul helped the visitors overcome the pressure. The two openers put 83 runs for the first wicket before Rahul departed for 46 but Sharma continued with his form and stitched another important stand of 153 runs for the second wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara. Pujara also notched up a half-century during the course. India were 270/3, leading by 171 runs with captain Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja still at the crease when the stumps were called on Day 3. The five-match series is presently levelled at 1-1. The first encounter at Nottingham ended in a draw after rain played spoilsport while the Kohli-led side clinched a comprehensive win by 151 runs in the second Test at Lord’s. England then made a fine comeback in the series and thumped India by an innings and 76 runs in the third clash to equalise the series.

CPL 2021: Bowlers, Hemraj guide Guyana Amazon Warriors to easy win over Barbados Royals

Guyana Amazon Warriors were back in form after they clinched a convincing win over Barbados Royals by 9 wickets after chasing down a target of 131 runs within 15 overs in St Kitts. Riding on an emphatic century from Chandrapaul Hemraj, the Warriors went over the line quite comfortably. The left-handed batsman remained unbeaten at 105 off 56 deliveries which included five maximums and 14 fours during the course. Nyeem Young was the only Royals bowler to scalp a wicket as he trapped Brandon King in front of the stumps for a 17-ball 19. Earlier, the Barbados side never really looked in control as they were left tottering at 112/6 to eventually get bowled out for 130 in 20 overs. Wicket-keeper batsman Azam Khan top-scored with 28 off 26, hitting two sixes and as many fours. Imran Tahir scalped a three-wicket haul for Guyana and returned with figures of 3/34 in 4 overs while Romario Shepherd bagged a couple of wickets. Motie and Odean Smith had a scalp each to their names. Barbados are presently struggling to get any form and are bottom-placed in the points table after suffering five defeats in the six matches that they have played. Guyana on the other side have won three and lost three games out of the six they have featured in. Guyana captain Nicholas Pooran expressed delight after the win and credited the batsmen for their efforts after the match. “Very pleased. I had a lot of headaches with the batting positions and we just told our guys to win games for us. Pleased with how we batted,” he said. Royals skipper Holder admitted that the side didn’t really get any momentum and further added that the batting has been a cause of concern for them in the tournament. “The first game was a high scoring game. We never got any momentum. In all the games we have struggled with the bat. Trying to defend 120-130 is a tough task and we need to find a way to put runs on the board,” he said. The two teams will now take on each other on Wednesday (September 8, 2021) at the same venue.

CPL 2021 | SLK vs SNKP: Du Plessis returns to form as Kings hand Patriots their first defeat

Saint Lucia Kings skipper Faf du Plessis who wasn’t really having a great run in the on-going Caribbean Premier League was back in form with a scintillating century against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on Saturday in St Kitts. Batting first, the Kings were off to a flying start after Andre Fletcher and du Plessis compiled a stand of 76 runs for the first wicket before Fletcher departed for 23 off 19 after he was undone by Fabian Allen. But Fletcher’s dismissal didn’t really have any impact on Du Plessis scoring rate as he went to score an unbeaten 120 off 60 deliveries that included five maximums and 13 fours during the course. While the South Africa notched up a ton, Roston chase who came in at number four also chipped in with an important 64* off 31. Chase hit three sixes and seven fours during the course of the innings as Saint Lucia posted 224/2 in 20 overs. In reply, the Patriots lost a couple of early wickets during the chase and were reduced to 22/2 with Chris Gayle back in the hut. But Evin Lewis tried to steady the ship for the side after he stitched a partnership of 60 runs with Ravi Bopara. But Bopara’s departure broke the shackles and the Patriots lost wickets in quick succession only to get bundled out for 124. Lewis though scored a half-century but his efforts went in vain as the Patriots lost the match by 100 runs. Alzarri Joseph and Keemo Paul picked up three wickets apiece while Wahab Riaz, Chase and Kesrick Williams had one scalp each to their names. The Patriots suffered their first defeat in six games in the competition but are still sitting at the helm of the points table. Fletcher lauded Faf’s knock after the match and said that it was a brilliant innings. “It was a brilliant innings. He was under pressure from the start of the tournament and he did well. We don't have great power at the back end,” he said. The two teams will now face each other on Sunday at the same venue.

ENG vs IND | 4th Test, Day 3: Robinson sparkles but Rohit - Pujara show make it India's day

Indian batting lineup that has faced a lot of scrutiny and criticism for lack of runs so far in the series turned up with all its might on the third day of the Oval Test against England and helped the tourists in getting a lead of 171 runs. The pair of Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma brought up a mammoth partnership to put the hosts on backfoot and although Ollie Robinson sparkled magic to remove both of them in one over, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja limited the damage. They were behind in the game by 99 runs at the start of the second innings and while KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma had trimmed it down to 52 runs by the end of the second day, the job was not accomplished. The openers have been India’s best batsmen on this tour and hence the onus was on them to get them over the line in terms of crossing the deficit. Rahul went with deficit well within the reach and Pujara took it upon himself to provide India impetus while Rohit was preparing for a long grind at the crease. Rohit’s dream ton, typical dismissal Rohit has shown remarkable composure and restraint for a stroke maker in this series, however, a big and defining score always eluded him. His 83 at Lord’s set the tone for India’s strong start but James Anderson’s unplayable delivery found him out. There was no such delivery on the third day of the Oval Test and the surface played true for the most part of the day. He waited for his opportunity to score runs instead of searching them desperately and as soon as he was offered those, there were no doubts in his mind on what to do. Crisp drive off Anderson and fluent punches of Moeen Ali and Overton kept him going in the afternoon session that India dominated with ease. The eagerness of getting his first hundred in overseas Tests was not visible in his methods as he went beyond his previous best score with ease. Moeen Ali flighted the ball to tempt him into a big shot with long-on stationed for a miscue but he could only see the ball sailing over the fence for a big six that carried the right-hander to his first ton on foreign soil. He was fluent and a bit more imposing on the bowling after getting past the 100 while England skipper Joe Root bowled himself and Moeen with the second new ball in sight. India would have hoped they would continue to bat with class against the new ball but in an anticlimatic development, Rohit half-heartedly pulled a gentle loosener from Robinson on the very first ball and a magnificent innings that could well have been marathon innings to bat England out of the game was cut short. Pujara’s second innings heroics The series has been a weird one for Pujara as a new faultline around off stump has been ripped open by Anderson but at the same time, all of those failures have come in the first innings of all the Tests. He has looked all at sea in the first innings of at least the last three Tests while his impeccable presence in the second innings has emboldened India. After succumbing to Anderson’s outswingers at Lord’s and Headingley, it was his resistance that laid down the platform for India’s win and then a chance of creating upset in the last Tests. The script did not go too differently at the Oval as his first innings frailties were nowhere to be found and the gifts he received from pacers, especially Overton resembled his second innings at Headingley. He was severe against short deliveries outside off stump and certainly batted with more freedom. He was willing to drive the ball down the ground and through cover early on in the innings albeit not on the up while the short deliveries around off stump were cut fiercely or glided masterfully over the slips for four. He was done in by Robinson’s delivery that jagged back sharply and bounced off good length area but his momentum at the crease made life easier for Rohit and provided India perfect tempo in building lead throughout the afternoon and last session. Looking forward to the fourth day India are leading by 171 runs with Kohli and Jadeja unbeaten at the crease and they would be looking forward to batting a bit freely with no sight on what they want to set England to chase. There are enough overs left in the game to enforce a result and Kohli and his teammates should be in no hurry early on the fourth day that could bring England in the game. They have Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant sitting in the dressing room and would be hoping for at least one more good batting performance from one of those four batsmen to bat England out of the game. England would feel the pressure if they won’t strike early in the morning session while at the same time a couple of wickets will drag the game back to equilibrium. If India will manage to bat one session without losing too many wickets, England would be in for a tough chase in the fourth innings while a collapse like on the fourth day of the Headingley Test would put India on the backfoot.