SL vs SA | 2nd ODI Preview: Hosts look to take unassailable lead, Proteas look for redemption

Ollie Pope hopeful of reseting 'stop-start career' after classy 81 against India

England batsman Ollie Pope was the pick of the batsmen on Day 2 of the fourth Test against India at Kennington Oval after he notched up a fine 81 to help his side take lead in the first innings. The visitors were in a spot of bother at one stage after they were reduced to 62/5 but an 89-run stand between Pope and Jonny Bairstow for the sixth wicket followed by a partnership of 71 between Pope and Moeen Ali helped them get back on track. Talking about his knock after the end of day’s play, Pope asserted that this innings can help him get the “good run” again. "I'm only 23 but I've got some good experience in the Test arena (20 Tests), so hopefully, I can build on today and start a good run again," Pope said at the press conference on Friday. Pope further talked about his career, his place in the side and how all this has been a learning curve for him. "It's been a stop-start career so far. I made my debut back probably nearly four years ago; I've been in and out and had shoulder operations. It's been a learning curve, to be honest,” he added. The right-handed batsman’s innings helped England take a substantial first innings lead in the match as they eventually put 290 on the board in reply to India’s 191. The visitors later finished the day at 43/0, trailing by 56 runs with Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul still unbeaten at the crease. The five-match series is presently levelled at 1-1. While the first match at Nottingham ended in a draw, India clinched a comprehensive win in the second clash at Lord’s. The home side then made a comeback in the third encounter in Leeds to level the series.

Joe Root or Ollie Robinson, Umesh Yadav emphasizes more on picking wickets for his team

Fast bowler Umesh Yadav found a place for himself in the playing XI for the fourth Test against England at Kennington Oval. The right-arm bowler scalped a three-wicket haul which included the priced wicket of captain Joe Root in the first innings. Root was cleaned up by Umesh for 21. Yadav talked about Root’s wicket after the end of second day’s play while interacting with the media and said that as a fast bowler, he is always focusing on picking up wickets for the side. "This is a very common question I face whenever I get a big wicket. As a fast bowler wickets are important for me be it Joe Root or Robinson. So, I think as a fast bowler picking up a wicket is more important be it any player. That is it for me," said Umesh. The pacer also talked about his preparations and how he was in rhythm despite not playing in the first three Tests. "You will always be a part of the team and you are always practising or training in the nets so the rhythm is always there. Moreover the trainers and physios know that you might get an opportunity anytime so they make sure to keep you in that particular zone,” he said. The hosts put 290 in India’s reply to 191 in the first innings on Day 2. Later, India openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul compiled 43/0 before the end of day’s play in the second innings. The visitors though, still trail by 56 runs.

CPL 2021 | SKNP vs SLK: Inconsistent Kings run into red-hot Patriots at halfway stage

The St Kits and Navis Patriots have been the team to beat in the ongoing edition of the Caribbean Premier League and they have always found a way to come back in the game and win it. No wonder they have had a 100 per cent win record this year from five matches and when all seemed to be over in the last game, it was Sheldon Cottrell of all people who smashed the ball over the fence to earn an unlikely win for the Patriots. On the other hand, their opponent in the next game, the St Lucia Kings have had an on and off-season having won just two games out of the four and losing as many as winning. Unlike Patriots, the Kings have not been clinical in their approach and have also missed the match-winning contributions to turn the tide in their favour. The Patriots will rely on Evin Lewis to provide a blitzkrieg start at the top of the order while the job of stopping the Kings batsmen will fall on the old and experienced shoulders of the skipper Dwayne Bravo. The men in form Sherfane Rutherford and Dominic Drakes will hope to continue their dream run of form they have found this season. The universe boss Chris Gayle has not come to the party yet and Bravo would bank on him to win some matches this year as well. If he gets going the unbeatne streak for the Patriots is more than likely to continue against the Kings. For the Kings, Roston Chase and Andre Fletcher will be the most experienced players going around and the team will expect a lot from them if they have to win more matches than losing this year. The presence of Faf du Plessis in the Kings camp enriches the side with a lot of experience but it has not translated into substantial performances and the side will be hoping to fix things from here on. St Kitts and Nevis Patriots vs Barbados Royals Match Number: 15 Date and Time: September 04, 2021, 07:30 PM IST, 2:30 pm GMT Venue: Warner Park, Basseterre Broadcast: Star Sports Live Stream: Fancode Pitch and weather All the matches of the CPL 2021 were scheduled to take place at the same venue Warner Park and the pitch has started to show signs of overuse. The pace in the pitch is starting to die down and it provided bowlers such as Bravo, who relies on variation in pace magnificent opportunity. The weather at Warner Park will be humid and will test players’ endurance. There is little to no chance of rain and it should be a cracker of a contest. Probable XI St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Devon Thomas (wk), Ravi Bopara, Sherfane Rutherford, Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo (c), Dominic Drakes, Paul van Meekeren, Naseem Shah/Fawad Ahmed, Sheldon Cottrell. St Lucia Kings Andre Fletcher (wk), Faf du Plessis (c), Roston Chase, Mark Deyal, Tim David, Samit Patel, Keron Cottoy/Rakheem Cornwall, Alzarri Joseph, Jeavor Royal, Obed McCoy, Kesrick Williams. Fantasy XI Andre Fletcher (WK), Roston Chase, Faf du Plessis, Sherfane Rutherford, Evin Lewis (C), DJ Bravo(VC), Fabian Allen, Obed McCoy, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Kesrick Williams

4th Test, Day 2: India fight hard to stay in contest after Pope, Woakes give hosts big advantage

It could have been a lot worse than it actually was for India at the end of the second day of the fourth Test at the Oval if not for first a penetrative bowling attack and then highly disciplined opening pair in Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Having dealt England a killer blow at the end of the first day and then starting brilliantly in the morning session, Indian pacers lost their way and conceded too many easy balls for England batsmen since the second hour of the day. However, between loose balls and inaccurate lengths, there were some wonderful deliveries and bad shots from England batsmen that never pushed them out of the game. For once, they were in a position to restrict England’s led below 50 runs but Chris Woakes thwarted that ambitions with an aggressive fifty filled with remarkable shots composure. Kohli’s frustration and lack of communication The days like the second day of the fourth Test exposes Virat Kohli’s rigidity in decision making while on the field. He should have been in Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj’s ears, especially as they are not experienced as the trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma when they were trying to search magic deliveries. The first half of the first session yielded just 25 runs and two wickets as Bumrah and Umesh tightened their length around the off stump. However, the next set of pacers in Siraj and Shardul opened the tap and allowed the batsmen some easy run-scoring opportunities. What could have frustrated Kohli more was that they leaked runs on both sides of the wicket while the field was set for them to bowl in the channel outside off stump. His frustrations would be justified but his inability to sense a moment where he could have a word with the bowler and reiterate where they are supposed might have helped them as well Later, when the last batting pair of Woakes and Anderson was there at the crease, and as Bumrah was bowling short of good length deliveries seeing no help from the pitch when bowled at full length, he should have been at least reactive to put a third man in position having seen England batsmen taking easy runs through that area playing on the backfoot. The tension and frustration on his face were quite evident when Woakes was tearing apart the bowling attack shot by shot and all the options of playing five bowlers including four pacers did not come to rescue him at that stage. He should consider himself lucky that the bowlers find inspiration from themselves to produce wicket-taking deliveries even on unsupportive pitches such as the Oval on the second day otherwise it would have been curtains for the tourists on the second day itself. Pope blesses England’s revival Ollie Pope is rated very highly by the England team management and his return was obvious as soon as Jonny Bairstow took the gloves in the absence of Jos Buttler. There are also talk that he could be the next Joe Root for England cricket and he could not have picked better moments and game to show some glimpses of those promises yet again. England were in uncharted territory as soon as Root was castled by Umesh on the first day and with the fall of Malan early on on the second day, all the batsmen who had a good run for form in the last game were back in the pavilion. He came very early to bat when Overton was sent back by Umesh and batted with immense elegance and flair to keep India at bay for the large part of the second day. For all the brilliance of the Indian attack, it was him who shifted the momentum back in England favour with three fours off Shardul Thakur in over right at the start of the second hour of the day. The next over by Siraj was met with the same treatment by him and Bairstow and all the pressure mounted in the first hour was settled within a space of 12 balls. He was batting with control around off stump and offered no chance to Indian bowlers. He was crouching low in defence and never allowed even sharp bounce on some of the Bumrah’s deliveries to catch the edge or splice of his bat and carried England past India’s first innings score of 191. He looked all set for a three-figure mark at his home ground but his stars were not brighter than Shardul Thakur, who has not done too much wrong in this Test match so far and went back for 81. Down to Rahul-Rohit once again India had to bat a period of 16 overs on the second day and the lead of 99 runs must have been in their mind, at least the openers, who have been the mainstay of India’s batting in the series. A period of 16 overs have been long enough in the series to leave a catastrophic effect on India’s batting but none of them made it to appear in their batting. Rohit offered a chance to Rory Burns in the slip which he could not see coming his way while Rahul was beaten by some deliveries that nipped back towards him off the seam. The first two overs presented them with their biggest challenge but they were looking to score runs whenever England pacers erred in their lengths by bowling short. They have taken India to almost half of the lead they have conceded and would be eager to make up for their failure in the first end. They have been India’s best batsmen so far in the series and although they would be willing to make a mark for themselves, they would also be hoping for a change in script and middle order to come to the party. Looking forward to the third day India have all their wicket intact with 56 runs behind England’s lead of 99 runs and the first session of the third day will set the tone for both the sides. India have been in this situation before in this series but have gone on to squander great starts in the series so far. They have suffered a repetitive collapse in the morning session in the series until now and the batting lineup will be banking on players to finally put their hands up in an all-important game. On the other hand, England would hope that the moisture on the pitch in the morning session will help the pacers get some seam movement which was almost missing for the most part of the second day. They would also be confident of challenging the Indian middle-order who has not turned up for big scores in a long-long time.