Cricket news round-up – January 4: Labuschagne at it again, South African seamers own Day 1 at Newlands

Marnus Labuschagne continued with his tremendous form with a hundred against New Zealand at Sydney; South African pacers had an excellent day against England at Cape Town; the England team management banned football practice during warm-ups; and India and New Zealand won their first matches in the Under-19 Quadrangular Tournament in South Africa.

Another hundred for Labuschagne

After a brisk 45 from David Warner, New Zealand were thwarted by Marnus Labuschagne (120*) and Steven Smith (63) as Australia finished Day 1 in the third Test of the Trans-Tasman Series, at Sydney, on 283/3. Colin de Grandhomme played a part in all 3 wickets, finishing the day with 2/63 and taking a superb catch.

New Zealand made five changes to their side (this includes leaving out the injured Kane Williamson and Trent Boult) for the third Test for multiple reasons. Australia have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

South African fast bowlers dominate day

England finished Day 1 at Cape Town on 262/9 after being 221/5 at one point. While a collapse in the last hour (they lost 4 for 13) was responsible for this, the top order did not contribute either despite getting starts: while six of their batsmen went past 25, only one – Ollie Pope (56*) – went past fifty.

The South African fast bowlers – Vernon Philander (2/46 in his last Test on his home ground), Kagiso Rabada (2/63), Anrich Nortje (2/54), and Dwaine Pretorius (2/26) – all bowled well on a pitch that held firm throughout the day.

No football practice for England cricketers

The England team management has discontinued the practice of playing football as warm-up exercise before matches. The decision came in the aftermath of a ligament injury to Rory Burns, who has been ruled out of the series in South Africa.

Garg shines for India Under-19s

A hundred from captain Priyam Garg helped India Under-19s win their first match of the Quadrangular Under-19 Tournament in South Africa. Garg (110 in 103 balls) added 91 for the third wicket with Tilak Varma (42) and 104 for the fourth with Dhruv Jurel (65), helping India put up 264/5 even as Mondli Khumalo picked up 4/53.

Sushant Mishra (4/48) and Ravi Bishnoi (2/29) then helped restrict South Africa to 198/9 despite Bryce Parsons’ 50-ball 57.

New Zealand Under-19s pull off heist

New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by 2 runs on the same day. New Zealand put up 204/9 thanks to Nicholas Lidstone’s 56 and a last-wicket stand of 52 between David Hancock and William O’Rourke.

Wesley Madhevere (52) then took Zimbabwe to the brink of victory despite Jesse Tashkoff’s 3/45. At one point they needed 7 runs with 5 wickets (and almost 13 overs) in hand, but they were bowled out 4 runs later, David Hancock (3/32) doing most of the damage.