Cricket news round-up – January 6: Rain forces washout in Guwahati, six sixes in an over in Super Smash series

The first T20I between India and Sri Lanka in Guwahati was abandoned with a ball bowled. Elsewhere, there were six sixes in an over in the New Zealand Super Smash as Leon Carter pulverised Anton Devcich.

Rain forces abandonment in Guwahati

The first T20I between India and Sri Lanka in Guwahati was abandoned without a ball bowled after rain arrived shortly after toss.

It had rained for most of the afternoon, and the skies opened up again after India won the toss and opted to bowl.

The rain relented and the groundstaff set to work, with Super Soppers and, according to reports, even steam irons and hairdryers, but to no avail.

Sibley fifty helps England assume control at Newlands

Dom Sibley scored an unbeaten 85 as England ended the third day with a lead of 264 after posting 218/4 in their second innings.

The day began with South Africa resuming at 215/8, but it took Jimmy Anderson just 14 deliveries to add two wickets to complete a five-wicket haul. Thereafter, England played some attritional cricket, with Sibley holding things together.

He put on partnerships with all of Zack Crawley (25), Joe Denly (31) and Joe Root (61), although the wicket of Dom Bess late in the day meant England were four down as stumps were drawn.

Stoinis fined for alleged homophobic slur during BBL match

Marcus Stoinis, the Australia all-rounder, was fined for an alleged homophobic slur at paceman Kane Richardson during the Melbourne derby between the Stars and the Renegades.

Stoinis was reprimanded by Cricket Australia after he was found guilty of breaching Article 2.1.3 of the board’s Code of Conduct, ‘for personal abuse of a player,’ and was fined AUS$7,500.

“I got caught in the moment and took it too far,” Stoinis said. “I realised immediately I was in the wrong and I apologise to Kane and to the umpires. I did the wrong thing and accept responsibility for my actions. The standards are there for a reason and I accept the penalty.”

Carter carts six sixes in an over

Leo Carter, the Canterbury Kings batsman, hammered six sixes in an over against Northern Districts’ Anton Devcich in the Super Smash tournament to become the first New Zealander to achieve the feat.

Carter ended with 70* off 29 balls, and joins an elite club of players to have scored maximum from all six balls in an over. Yuvraj Singh, Sir Garry Sobers, Ravi Shastri, Herschelle Gibbs, Ross Whiteley and Hazratullah Zazai are the only others to have done so.

The knock was Carter’s maiden T20 half-century in 22 outings, and it helped the Kings chased down 220.