Cricket news round-up – December 21: Pakistan steady after Sri Lanka post 80-run lead

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are neck-and-neck in the Karachi Test ahead of the third day. Elsewhere, Glenn Maxwell returned to the field after his indefinite break in typically blistering fashion, and a bug took over the England camp in South Africa.

Pakistan recover after Sri Lanka post lead

Pakistan ended the second day of the Karachi Test at 57/0 in their second innings, 23 runs behind Sri Lanka after the visitors posted 271 in their first.

Sri Lanka resumed the day at 67/3, having bundled out Pakistan for 191 on the first day, and with Dinesh Chandimal holding things together with a composed 74, Sri Lanka managed to post a lead of 80.

However, any hopes they’d have had to take some late wickets were hampered as Shan Masood and Abid Ali put on a solid 57 for the opening wicket to take Pakistan to stumps.

Glenn Maxwell returns with a bang in BBL

Glenn Maxwell returned to the field with a typically exhilarating 39-ball 83 that helped Melbourne Stars beat Brisbane Heat by 22 runs in their BBL 9 clash.

Maxwell was playing his first match after taking an indefinite break from cricket a couple of months back, midway through Australia’s T20Is against Pakistan.

Maxwell’s knock helped Melbourne post 167/7, and despite Tom Banton’s 36-ball 64, Brisbane fell short of that score by 22 runs.

England players laid low by bug

England have had to call up Dom Bess and Craig Overton to their Test squad in South Africa after the visitors’ camp was affected by a bug that laid low a few players.

All of Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and Jack Leach have reportedly been affected, displaying flu-like symptoms, and will not be able to take part in the tour game against South Africa A, which has been downgraded from first-class status given the unavailability of a lot of the players.

The ECB, in their statement, said the match would be a “three-day friendly match with only 11 players batting or fielding at any point in time”.

Temba Bavuma out of Boxing Day Test

South Africa will be without their 29-year-old batsman Temba Bavuma for the Boxing Day Test against England after he picked up a Grade 1 hip flexor muscle strain.

Bavuma will, however, remain part of the squad, with the hope of “returning to play within seven to ten days”, Shuaib Manjra, Cricket South Africa’s chief medical officer, said in a statement. With 39 Tests under his belt, Bavuma is one of the more experienced players in the 16-man South Africa squad, which comprises six uncapped players.