Cricket news round-up October 13: Tridents win CPL 7, India on top at Pune despite Protean fightback

Barbados Tridents beat Guyana Amazon Warriors by 27 runs in the final to win the Caribbean Premier League for a second time; South Africa fought gamely in the second Test against India, at Pune, though the hosts still hold all the cards in the contest; Sanju Samson smashed the highest score in the history of the Vijay Hazare Trophy; and Andy Flower parted ways with ECB.

Tridents win, quintuple heartbreak for Guyana

Barbados Tridents beat Guyana Amazon Warriors – who had won all their 11 matches in the tournament till now – by 27 runs in the final of 2019 CPL to lift the trophy for a second time. Guyana, on the other hand, have reached the final five times in seven attempts and have lost every time.

Batting first at Tarouba, the Tridents were powered by Johnson Charles (39 in 22 balls) up the order. However, the Amazon Warriors pushed them back to 108/5 in the 15th over before Jonathan Carter (50* in 27) lifted them to 171/6. Imran Tahir had 4-0-24-1 and Ben Laughlin 4-0-28-1.

Brandon King (43 in 33) led the response for Guyana. Unfortunately, too many batsmen got out too cheaply, and Raymon Reifer (4-0-24-4) ran through the middle order. Ashley Nurse had 4-0-17-2 and Harry Gurney 4-0-24-2.

India secure 326-run lead at Pune

India bowled out South Africa for 275 at stumps, thus securing a 326-run lead in the second Test, at Pune. A win here will help India regain the Gandhi-Mandela Trophy and maintain their full-point streak in the ICC Test Championship.

Resuming at 36/3, South Africa were quickly reduced to 53/5 by Umesh Yadav (3/37) and Mohammed Shami (2/44). Faf du Plessis (64) and Quinton de Kock (31) then added 75 in quick time, but quick wickets left them reeling at 162/8.

At this stage Vernon Philander (44*) and Keshav Maharaj (72) got together to add 109 for the ninth wicket before R Ashwin (4/69) finished things off. India are likely to enforce the follow-on at this stage.

Samson smashes Vijay Hazare Trophy record

Playing at Alur, Sanju Samson slammed 212 not out in 129 balls to help Kerala post 377/3 against Goa. Samson added 338 with Sachin Baby (127 in 135), the highest third-wicket partnership and the fifth-highest stand for any wicket in List A cricket. Goa finished on 273/8.

Samson’s score is the highest in the history of Vijay Hazare Trophy (he went past Karn Kaushal’s 202) and the fourth-highest by an Indian in List A cricket. Only Rohit Sharma (264 for India), Shikhar Dhawan (248 for India A), and Virender Sehwag (219 for India) have scored more.

Flower, ECB part ways

Andy Flower, who had coached England from 2009 to 2014, has left ECB after a 12-year stint. During his stint, England had won
– the 2010 World T20, their maiden ICC trophy
– a Test series win in Australia, in 2010-11 (sandwiched between home Ashes wins in 2009 and 2013, this was England’s first win in Australia since 1986-87)
– a Test series win in India in, 2012-13 (England’s first since 1984-85).