Cricket news round-up – October 11: India frustrate South Africa after Agarwal fires another ton

Cricket news round-up – October 11: India frustrate South Africa after Agarwal fires another ton

Mayank Agarwal India

Mayank Agarwal scored a second consecutive century – he scored a double-hundred in Vizag – as India piled on the runs in Pune against South Africa. Elsewhere, Nepal collapsed for 64 against Oman, new England coach Chris Silverwood made his intentions known, and future-proofing for New Zealand Cricket.

Agarwal scores another ton to put India in control

Mayank Agarwal was at it again. He scored his second three-figure score in consecutive games to help India reach 273/3 against South Africa by stumps on the first day in Pune.

It was Agarwal’s second century in as many Tests in India, and coupled with half-centuries from Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli, South Africa were on the backfoot for most of the day.

There were bright spots for the visitors in the performance of Kagiso Rabada. The pace ace returned a fine 3/48, dismissing India’s top three batsmen, but the lack of support from other bowlers, despite helpful conditions, meant South Africa are already in trouble in Pune.

Nepal bundled out for 64 by Oman

Oman surged to the top of the Oman Pentangular T20 Series after bundling out Nepal for 64 in just 11 overs in their clash on Thursday, 10 October.

Oman have now won all four of their matches, while Nepal have suffered two defeats in their four, and are at No.3 in the five-team table.

Aamir Kaleem was the star for Oman. He took 5/15, and ensured the highest score any Nepal batsman managed was the 13-ball 20 scored by Aarif Sheikh. Only one other batsman, Dipendra Singh Airee, reached two figures.

Oman suffered a collapse of their own in their chase, being reduced to 27/4, but Suraj Kumar scored a 30-ball 42 to ensure victory.

Regaining Ashes the priority for Chris Silverwood

Chris Silverwood, the new England head coach, has singled out winning the Ashes as the first objective of England’s new era.

Silverwood was appointed as Trevor Bayliss’ successor in the hot seat, and addressing the media for the time, he said the key to reviving England’s prospects in Tests was in supporting Joe Root. “Job number one is helping Joe,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of support around Joe, but to keep moving forward so that in two years’ time we can go to Australia and make a real impact.

“I think (there’s a good) relationship between myself and the two captains (Root and Eoin Morgan), and I’ve got a strong relationship with all the players and backroom staff.”

NZC breaks Sky deal, announces tie-up with streaming service

New Zealand Cricket have broken a relationship with Sky that dates back to 1995, and have announced a six-year deal with Spark Sport, a streaming service, for the rights to their home internationals.

Spark currently streams the ongoing Rugby World Cup, and will add New Zealand’s men’s and women’s internationals, the T20 Super Smash competition, and the domestic one-day final to their roster, following the end of the Sky dead in April 2020.

“This is a deal which future-proofs the whole of cricket in New Zealand,” David White, the NZC CEO, said. “Live streaming is the future. It allows viewers to free themselves from fixed linear schedules to watch live, delayed, highlighted or clipped content when and where they choose, and on a wide range of devices.”