Cricket news round-up – 5 August: Smith scores another ton as Australia gain edge

Steven Smith’s dream comeback to Test cricket continues unabated as he recorded his second century in the Edgbaston Test to put Australia in front. Elsewhere, India sealed their series win over West Indies in the T20Is, Brampton Wolves lose their first ever match, and another tied encounter in the Vitality Blast.  

Smith century sets England unenviable task

Steven Smith continued his remarkable comeback to Test cricket with his second century of the Edgbaston Test. It, along with a century from Matthew Wade, helped Australia set England an improbable 398 to win on the final day.

Australia resumed on the fourth morning at 124/3, but a run-fest ensued, with Travis Head (51), Wade (110), Tim Paine (34), James Pattinson (47*) and Pat Cummins (26*) getting amongst the runs to boost the visitors’ total.

Rory Burns and Jason Roy, the England openers, had to see off seven tricky overs on the fourth day after Australia declared their second innings at 487/4. With the pitch increasingly taking a liking to spin, Nathan Lyon is expected to be a prominent threat to England on the final day.

India seal series in Lauderhill

India took a 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against West Indies after a 22-run win on the DLS Method in the second T20I.

Rohit Sharma’s 51-ball 67 helped India post 167/5, before the Windies were kept to 98/4 in 15.3 overs in their chase. Thunderstorms then forced the players off the field.

Rohit’s 67, combined with starts from Shikhar Dhawan (23), Virat Kohli (28) and Kurnal Pandya (20*) helped India set up a decent total. West Indies were then reduced to 2 for 8 and then 85 for 4, including the scalp of Rovman Powell (54), but rain meant there was no late dash for the target.

GT20 Canada round-up

Brampton Wolves were subjected to their first ever defeat by Vancouver Knights on Sunday. The Knights sealed an eight-wicket win after bundling out Brampton for 138 in 19.5 overs. Tobias Visee (27), Chadwick Walton (53*) Shoaib Malik (41*) then helped wrap up the chase in 15.5 overs. Brampton still lead the table with a one-point lead over the Knights.

Toronto Nationals got their second win of the campaign with a four-wicket win over Montreal Tigers. Put in to bat, the Tigers were restricted to 136/9, with Kyle Coetzer’s 27-ball 26 their highest score of the innings. The Nationals stumbled in their chase, but Chirag Suri’s 37-ball 52 helped them past the line in 17.3 overs.

Vitality Blast round-up

AB de Villiers starred with a 35-ball 88* as Middlesex posted 215/4 and held off Somerset by 35 runs.

Sussex completed a thrilling three-wicket win over Gloucestershire, finishing a 160-run chase with two balls to spare.

There was another tied encounter as Birmingham Bears and Yorkshire cancelled each other out, with both sides scoring 177/4.

Leicestershire got their second win of the campaign, seeing off Worcestershire by 33 runs after posting 152 and bundling the Worcs out for 119.

Kent saw off Hampshire by four wickets in a low-scoring thriller, chasing down the 136-run target with a ball to spare.