Cricket news round-up – December 22: Masood, Abid make Sri Lanka toil, bushfire smoke stops play

Shan Masood and Abid Ali added 278 for the opening stand to turn the Karachi Test on its head; a BBL match at Canberra had to be called off due to bushfire smoke; the Marsh brothers fought out an intense battle at Perth; and Ollie Pope scored a hundred as Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, and Jofra Archer all returned to action.

Pakistan take control at Karachi

After conceding an 80-run lead, the Pakistan openers had added 57 by stumps on Day 2. They batted out almost two more sessions on Day 3. Abid Ali (174) became the first Pakistani to score hundreds in each of his first 2 Tests, while Shan Masood got 135.

Azhar Ali (57*) then showed signs of returning to form, and returned to the pavilion with Babar Azam (22*). Lahiru Kumara took both wickets, for 88. Pakistan, 395/2 at stumps, now lead by 315 with two days in hand.

Bushfire smoke stops play

The BBL match between Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers at Canberra had to be abandoned midway due to bushfire smoke. With 5 points from 3 matches, Thunder still lead the table, while this was the tournament opener for the Strikers.

Reduced to 8/2, the Strikers recovered to 161/5 thanks to Jake Weatherald (42 in 33 balls), Alex Carey (45 in 40), and Jonathan Wells (55* in 32). Daniel Sams had 4-1-21-2 and Chris Morris 4-0-31-2. In response, the Strikers were 40/1 in 4.2 overs (Callum Ferguson 27* in 14) when smoke prevented further play.

Mitchell pips Shaun at Perth

Mitchell Marsh got the better of elder brother Shaun in what was touted as the battle between the two, at Perth. Opting to bat, Mitchell slammed an unbeaten 22-ball 56 to lift Perth Scorchers to 196/7. This included a 6-ball phase, where he hit 5 sixes to score 32. Cameron Bancroft contributed with a 37-ball 51, while Kane Richardson returned 4-0-22-4.

Melbourne Renegades were then reduced to 64/3 before Shaun Marsh (55 in 38) and Beau Webster (67* in 37) added 92 in 53 balls. However, some canny death bowling from Fawad Ahmed (4-0-30-2) and Chris Jordan (4-0-22-2) resulted in the Renegades falling short by 11 runs.

The win got the Scorchers off the block. However, having lost both matches, the defending champions are now just above Brisbane Heat.

Pope gets a ton, England’s trio return

Ollie Pope scored a breezy 145-ball 132 on Day 2 of England’s tour match at Benoni. Joe Denly had got 103 on Day 1. England XI declared on 456/7 as Andile Phehlukwayo took 3/55. James Anderson and Ben Stokes then picked up a quick wicket apiece, but Keegan Petersen (60*) and Rudi Second (46*) added an unbroken 92 as South Africa A finished the day on 154/2.

England XI took field without Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, and Jofra Archer, all of whom went down with an infection. However, all three have now returned to the nets. The first Test will begin on Boxing Day, at Centurion.