Cricket news round-up – 31 May: Ben Stokes win World Cup opener for England, Hampshire stay on top

England won the first match of World Cup against South Africa; Rinku Singh has been suspended by BCCI for three months; South Africa Women will be playing a limited-over series with Australia in 2020; and Hampshire consolidated their position on top of the table. 

Engla started with a thumping win

Four half centuries from the top order helped England post 311/8 in the World Cup 2019 opener at The Oval. Although they lost Jonny Bairstow in the first over Jason Roy (54 off 53) and Joe Root (51 off 59) added 106 for the second wicket.

England never lost the momentum even after both fell in quick succession. Eoin Morgan made 57 in 60 balls and Ben Stokes 89 in 79.

Faf du Plessis had opened bowling with Imran Tahir, who got Bairstow in the first over. But except that move, nothing really worked for them. Lungi Ngidi took 3 wickets and Tahir and Kagiso Rabada scalped 2 each. 

South Africa struggled from the beginning. Hashim Amla, when on 5, was hit by a vicious bouncer from Jofra Archer and had to return to the pavilion. Quinton de Kock got 68 and Rassie van der Dussen 50, but the middle order mostly failed and South Africa lost by 104 runs. Archer finished with 3/27. Stokes and Liam Plunkett took 2 each.

Rinku Singh suspended

Rinku Singh has been suspended by the BCCI for taking part in an unauthorised T20 league in Abu Dhabi. Rinku led Deccan Gladiators to win the title in the Ramadan T20 Tournament, organized by Abu Dhabi Cricket earlier this month.

A BCCI statement revealed that Rinku had not sought permission for joining the same and hence the suspension for three months. He won’t be taking part in the remaining games of the ongoing series between India A and Sri Lanka A.

South Africa Women to host Australia

South Africa will be hosting Australia women after the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia. The Aussies will play 3 ODI and 3 T20Is, starting March 19, at Pietermaritzburg, East London, and Benoni.

The ODIs will be a part of the ICC Women’s Championship in top seven teams will directly qualify for the World Cup 2021.

County updates

Hampshire managed to draw against Yorkshire after struggling at 35/3 chasing 279. Openers Joe Weatherley (66) and Rilee Rossouw (54) added 102 as Hampshire ended with 158/5 to remain on the top of the table with a 7-point lead. Earlier, Gary Ballance had scored his 5th consecutive century for Yorkshire.

At Edgbaston, both Jeetan Patel and Gareth Batty both claimed their career-best figures. Batty also got a hat-trick in his spell of 8/64. Warwickshire declared at 166/9 after losing their last 3 wickets on the same score. Chasing 272, Surrey were bundled out for 141 as Patel finished with 31-18-36-8.

Off-spinner Simon Harmer took 8/98 to bowl out Kent for 224. Essex won by 113 runs.

Tim Murtagh took 6/51 to bowl out Worcestershire for 225 after Middlesex declared overnight. Middlesex won by 127 runs.

Leicestershire could only add 58 runs on the final day as they slumped to a 65-run loss against Derbyshire.

The rain-affected match between Gloucestershire and league topper Lancashire ended in a draw.

The Sussex-Glamorgan match also ended in a draw after Marnus Labuschagne scored his career-best 182.