Cricket news round-up – February 9: India Women win but Men concede series, Sydney Sixers win BBL|09

Cricket news round-up – February 9: India Women win but Men concede series, Sydney Sixers win BBL|09

Sydney Sixers BBL 2019-20

Pakistan secured a 109-run lead over Bangladesh in the Rawalpindi Test; India Women kept their hopes alive with a win against Australia Women; New Zealand clinched the ODI series against India; Sydney Sixers won their second BBL title; and South Africa announced their squad for the T20Is against England.

Masood, Babar slam hundreds

Hundreds from Shan Masood (100) and Babar Azam (143*) took Pakistan to 342/3 at stumps on Day 2 in the Rawalpindi Test. They will now look to extend their lead of 109 runs as much as possible before a late declaration on Day 3.

Bangladesh began well, Abu Jayed (2/66) claiming Abid Ali for a duck in the second over. Azhar Ali (34) helped Masood put on 91, while Masood and Babar added another 112. Babar will resume batting with Asad Shafiq (60*).

India Women stay in the hunt

India Women beat Australia Women by 7 wickets to stay alive in the Tri-Nation T20 tournament. Asked to bat, Australia put up 173/5, largely due to a third-wicket stand of 79 in 42 balls between Ashleigh Gardner (93 in 57 balls) and Meg Lanning (37 in 22). Deepti Sharma returned 4-1-27-2.

Shafali Verma (49 in 28) launched a furious onslaught in response, helping India reach 70 in the Powerplay overs. Jemimah Rodrigues contributed with a 19-ball 30 and Smriti Mandhana anchored the innings with a 48-ball 55 before Harmanpreet Kaur and Sharma saw India home with 2 balls to spare.

New Zealand clinch series

New Zealand beat India by 22 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-match ODI series. With a 79-ball 79, Martin Guptill got New Zealand away to a breezy start before Yuzvendra Chahal (3/58) and Shardul Thakur (2/60) reduced them to 197/8.

But Ross Taylor (73* in 74) and debutant Kyle Jamieson (25* in 24) stayed put, adding 76 for the unbroken ninth wicket in just 51 balls. New Zealand set India 274.

The New Zealand seamers then ripped through the Indian top order, reducing them to 96/5. Shreyas Iyer contributed with 52, but the real resistance came from Ravindra Jadeja (55) and Navdeep Saini (45), who added 76 for the eighth wicket. They were eventually bowled out for 251.

Sydney Sixers win BBL|09

Sydney Sixers beat Melbourne Stars by 19 runs in a match reduced to 12 overs to win their second BBL title. Asked to bat, the Sixers were reduced to 68/4 before Josh Phillippe (52 in 29 balls) and Jordan Silk (27* in 15) took them to 116/5. Adam Zampa returned 3-0-24-2 and Daniel Worrall 2-0-14-1.

The Stars lost wickets at regular intervals in response, Nathan Lyon (2-0-19-2) and Steve O’Keefe (3-0-27-2) doing the most damage. The only resistance came from Nick Larkin (38* in 26).

Steyn back for England T20Is, no Rabada

Quinton de Kock, South Africa’s newly appointed ODI captain, will also lead them in the T20I series against England. The squad includes Dale Steyn, who is back after a hiatus of almost a year, but does not include Kagiso Rabada, who has announced his unavailability. The uncapped pair of Sisanda Magala and Pite van Biljon has also been summoned. The squad reads:

Quinton de Kock (c & wk), Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Dale Steyn, Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Pite van Biljon, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Jon-Jon Smuts, Beuran Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin.