Cricket news round-up – February 8: Bangladesh bowled out for 233, England Women win

Pakistan bowled out Bangladesh for 233 on Day 1 at Rawalpindi; the second ODI between South Africa and England met a premature end due to rain; England Women beat India in the Tri-Nation Women’s T20 tournament; India A managed to pick up only 5 wickets on Day 1 against New Zealand A; and Afghanistan have announced their squad for the T20Is against Ireland.

Bangladesh 233, Shaheen takes 4

Pakistan bowled out Bangladesh for 233 by stumps on Day after opting to bowl at Rawalpindi. Their seamers – Shaheen Shah Afridi (4/53) and Mohammad Abbas (2/19) – reduced Bangladesh to 3/2 inside 2 overs before Najmul Hossain Shanto (44) and Mominul Haque (30) added 59 to provide some respite.

The biggest innings came from Mohammad Mithun (63), who lifted his side from the doldrums of 107/5 with fifty-run stands with Liton Das and Taijul Islam. However, Pakistan took the last 4 wickets for 19 runs in 25 balls to round things off.

No result at Kingsmead

The second ODI between South Africa and England was called off after 11.2 overs of cricket. South Africa were 71/2 when play was halted, with Reeza Hendricks unbeaten on a 34-ball 35.

The last ODI of the series will be played at Johannesburg. Thanks to a win in the first ODI, South Africa cannot lose the series.

England Women beat India

Thanks to a 4-wicket win against India Women, England Women have as good as qualified for the final of the Tri-Nation T20 Series in Australia. Bowling first, they restricted India to 123/6 after Smriti Mandhana (45 in 40 balls) and Jemimah Rodrigues (23 in 20) had taken India to 123/6. Anya Shrubsole returned 4-0-31-3 and Katherine Brunt 4-0-23-2.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad (4-0-23-3) then led the Indian fightback, but Nat Sciver (50 in 38) ensured there were no hiccups. England won with 7 balls to spare.

New Zealand A reach 276/5

Thanks to Hamish Rutherford (40), Glenn Phillips (65), and Dane Cleaver (46*), New Zealand A finished Day 1 of the first unofficial “Test” at Lincoln on 276/5 against a strong Indian attack. Avesh Khan picked up 2/57 and Mohammed Siraj 2/58, but R Ashwin, who will be fighting with Ravindra Jadeja for a spot in the first Test, went wicketless.

Other than Ashwin, the India A side features several cricketers from the Test squad, like Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, and Shubman Gill.

Afghanistan announce squad

Afghanistan have announced their squad for the 3-T20I series against Ireland, to be played in Delhi in March. They have included two uncapped cricketers in seam-bowling all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai and leg-spinner Qais Ahmed (though Qais has played a Test). The squad reads:

Asghar Afghan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Karim Janat, Najib Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Naveen ul Haq, Shapoor Zadran, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Qais Ahmad, Azmatullah Omarzai, Samiullah Shinwari, Usman Ghani.