Cricket news round-up – 24 June: Pakistan knock out South Africa, Netherlands go one up

Pakistan beat South Africa by 49 runs to knock the latter out of the 2019 World Cup; Netherlands went 1-0 up in the T20I series against Zimbabwe; Mehidy Hasan Miraz was hit on the head in a net session; and Alastair Cook scored 80 against Somerset.

Pakistan stay in hunt, not so South Africa

Pakistan beat South Africa by 49 runs as the World Cup finally arrived at Lord’s. Batting first, Pakistan were off to a brisk start thanks to Imam-ul-Haq (44 in 58 balls) and Fakhar Zaman (44 in 50), who added 81 in 89 balls for the third wicket.

Babar Azam got a delightful 80-ball 69, but the most impactful show came from Haris Sohail (89 in 59), finally drafted in as replacement for the out-of-form Shoaib Malik. Pakistan put up 308/7 even as Lungi Ngidi took 3/64 and Imran Tahir 2/41. Pakistan put up 308/7.

Quinton de Kock (47 in 60) and Faf du Plessis (63 in 79) took South Africa to 91/1 in the 20th over. The chase was on at that stage, but a triple blow derailed them soon afterwards. Mohammad Amir (2/49) and Shadab Khan (3/50) removed the top order, while Wahab Riaz (3/46) cleaned up three tail-enders with his yorkers.

Netherlands win at Rotterdam

Zimbabwe’s horror tour of Netherlands continued. After losing the ODI series 0-2, they now crashed to a 49-run defeat at Rotterdam. Netherlands first put up 199/6 thanks to Roelof van der Merwe’s 39-ball unbeaten 75 and Ben Cooper’s 28-ball 54.

Craig Ervine (59 in 37) was the only one to put up some resistance in response as Brandon Glover (4-0-20-3), Pieter Seelaar (4-0-28-3), and Fred Klaasen (3.5-0-36-3) bowled out Zimbabwe for 150.

Injure scare for Mehidy

Mehidy Hasan Miraz was hit on the head while giving an interview during a net session, as per an ESPNCricinfo report. The team is yet to receive any concussion reports. However, though the management did not allow Mehidy to bat in the nets, there is no imminent danger.

Mosaddek Hossain and Mohammad Saifuddin had missed the Australia match with injuries, while none of Mashrafe Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, and Mushfiqur Rahim is fully fit.

County Championship Division 1 roundup

Alastair Cook’s 80 at Chelmsford was not enough to rescue Essex on Day One at Chelmsford. None of his teammates crossed 36 as Essex collapsed to 216 against Jack Leach (3/30) and Jamie Overton (3/43). At stumps, Somerset were 32/1.

With 118 points from 7 matches – 26 more than anyone else – Somerset are closer to the Championship than they have been in recent past.

No Surrey batsman got more than 33 at The Oval as they were shot out for 194 by Toby Lester (4/41) and Craig Miles (3/58). Will Rhodes (51*) then guided Warwickshire to 89/1 by stumps.

County Championship Division 2 roundup

Only 49 overs were played at Bristol in the only match of Division 2. Miles Hammond (61) and Chris Dent (82*) added 127 for the opening stand before David Lloyd (1/14) of Glamorgan took the only wicket of the day.

Dent and James Bracey (21*) stayed unbeaten as Gloucestershire finished the day on 168/1.