Cricket news round-up – September 26: World record for Vanuatu, more India-Sri cricket, Essex inch closer to title

Vanuatu created a new List A world record by defending a target of 66 against Malaysia; Sri Lanka will replace Zimbabwe as the touring side to visit India in January; a washed-out day brought Essex closer to the County Championship title; and Guyana Amazon Warriors juggernaut kept rolling in the 2019 CPL.

World record for Vanuatu

After being bowled out for 65, Vanuatu shot out Malaysia for 52 at Kuala Lumpur to set a new List A record for defending the lowest target in a full-length List A match. The record was previously with Northamptonshire, who scored 76 but bowled out Middlesex for 41 in 1972.

Vanuatu were bowled out in 25.1 overs by Nazril Rahman (4/14) and Pavandeep Singh (4/16). In response, Malaysia recovered from 8/5 to 50/8 before getting bowled out for 52. Patrick Matautaava took 5/19 and Apolinaire Stephen 3/30.

Sri Lanka to tour India

Sri Lanka will tour India to play 3 T20Is, at Guwahati (on January 5), Indore (January 7), and Pune (January 10). Zimbabwe was originally supposed to tour India at the same time, also for 3 T20Is, which was replacement for a Test and 3 ODIs in the first place.

County Championship Division 1 roundup

No play was possible on Day 3 at Taunton. Table toppers Essex stayed on 25 without loss after bowling out runners-up Somerset for 203. Essex need a draw to win the 2019 Championship. With a day’s cricket left, they are as good as there.

There was no cricket at Edgbaston (Yorkshire 261/2 against Warwickshire) and Canterbury (Kent 147, Hampshire 80/3) either.

Surrey rode on Scott Borthwick’s 137 and Ollie Pope’s 106 to declare on 402/6 (Steven Mullaney 2/73) at The Oval. Nottinghamshire were 73/1 by stumps.

County Championship Division 2 roundup

A 151-run sixth-wicket stand between Ben Charlesworth (77*) and Graeme van Buuren (93) helped Gloucestershire recover from 67/6. They finished on 220/7 in the first innings of the match at Bristol. For Northamptonshire, Ben Sanderson took 2/33 and Gareth Berg 2/35.

Steven Croft (44) and Liam Hurt (38) added 60 for the eighth wicket to secure a 15-run lead for Lancashire at Grace Road (Ben Mike 3/41, Dieter Klein 3/65). Leicestershire finished the day on 40 without loss.

Luis Reece (4/61) and Fynn Hudson-Prentice (3/65) bowled out Middlesex for 260 at Lord’s. Derbyshire then reached 199/4 by stumps, Leus du Plooy batting on 55 and Harvey Hosein on 56. Ethan Bamber has taken 2/54.

No play was possible at Hove, which meant that Sussex’s score against Worcestershire stayed on 299/8.

Amazon Warriors’ streak continues

Guyana Amazon Warriors beat St Lucia Zouks by 8 wickets at Gros Islet to extend their run to 7 wins in as many matches. Batting first, the Zouks finished on 161/7 largely based on Colin de Grandhomme’s 37-ball 65. Ben Laughlin had 3-0-12-3 and Imran Tahir 4-1-23-2.

Brandon King (81* in 59) then saw the Amazon Warriors home in the 19th over with some assistance from Chanderpaul Hemraj (33 in 20) and Shoaib Malik (30* in 28).