Cricket news round-up – September 6: Rahmat, Thailand Women create history, Smith, Lanning march along

Cricket news round-up – September 6: Rahmat, Thailand Women create history, Smith, Lanning march along

Asghar Afghan Rahmat Shah Bangladesh Afghanistan

Steven Smith’s 211 helped Australia declare on 497/8 at Old Trafford; Rahmat Shah scored the first Test hundred in Afghanistan history to put the tourists on top at Chattogram; Thailand and Bangladesh qualified for the 2020 Women’s World T20; and Meg Lanning slammed yet another hundred as Australia Women crushed West Indies.

In T20 leagues, Nottinghamshire Outlaws flattened Middlesex to reach the semi-finals of the 2019 Vitality Blast, while in CPL, Guyana Amazon Warriors beat St Lucia Zouks.

Rahmat, Afghan drive Afghanistan

Both Bangladesh and Afghanistan fielded almost entirely spin-based attack at ZACS, Chattogram. Unfortunately for Bangladesh, Afghanistan won the toss, and reached 271/5 by stumps on Day 1. Rahmat Shah (102) scored Afghanistan’s first ever Test hundred, while Asghar Afghan remained not out on 88.

Afghanistan lost early wickets, and were reduced to 77/3 by lunch, mostly due to Taijul Islam (2/73). Rahmat and Afghan then added 120 to take control of the Test, but Nayeem Hasan (2/43) brought Bangladesh back by dismissing Rahmat and Mohammad Nabi in the space of 4 balls. Afghan and Afsar Zazai (35*) then played out till stumps.

589 runs for Smith in series

Steven Smith followed his 144, 142, and 92 in the ongoing Ashes with 211 –his third Ashes double hundred – at Old Trafford, thereby extending his series tally to 589 runs from 4 innings. Smith added 116 with Marnus Labuschagne (67) and 145 with captain Tim Paine (58) before Mitchell Starc (54*) took Australia to 497/8. Stuart Broad had 3/97.

England were left with 10 overs to bat, during the course of which Joe Denly was caught spectacularly by Matthew Wade at forward short leg off Pat Cummins. England finished on 23/1, still 474 behind.

Rahmat creates history

Rahmat Shah (102) scored the first ever Test hundred for Afghanistan as the tourists piled on 271/5 on a Chattogram pitch that yielded turn from the first session of the Test. Rahmat added 120 with Asghar Afghan, who was unbeaten on 88 at stumps along with Afsar Zazai.

Earlier in the day, Taijul Islam (2/73) got both Afghan openers to first reach his 100th wicket, then go past Mohammad Rafique and become Bangladesh’s second-highest wicket-taker. Nayeem Hasan had 2/43.

Bangladesh, Thailand qualify for Women’s World T20 2020

Bangladesh Women and, for the first time in their history, Thailand Women have qualified for the 2020 Women’s World T20, to be hosted in Australia. Before that, the teams will also meet in the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier.

At Forthill, Dundee, Fahima Khatun (4-0-18-3) and Salma Khatun (4-0-10-1) helped Bangladesh bowl out Ireland for 85. Laura Delany (25 in 39) and Eimear Richardson (25 in 17) were the only ones to resist. Sanjida Islam (32* in 37) then led the chase, and despite Orla Prendergast’s 3-0-11-2, Bangladesh won by 4 wickets with 9 balls to spare.

Later, again at Dundee, Chanida Sutthiruang (4-0-15-2) and Suleeporn Laomi (4-1-5-1) helped Thailand restrict Papua New Guinea to 67/7. Thailand won by 8 wickets with 15 balls in hand largely due to Naruemol Chaiwai’s 40-ball 32.

Lanning at it again, Australia Women win

Meg Lanning’s insatiable appetite for hundreds continued, this time at Coolidge. Lanning, already the leading century-maker in Women’s ODIs by some distance, now notched up her 13th ton in 76 innings, though her 146-ball 121 was really a second fiddle to Alyssa Healy’s 105-ball 122.

Lanning walked out after Shamilia Connell (2/53) got Rachael Haynes with the first ball of the match. Healy and Lanning then added 225 for the second wicket, setting up the platform. Australia Women finished on 308/4.

Megan Schutt (1/9) and Ellyse Perry (3/18) then reduced West Indies to 8/3 in the first 2 overs, all three batters falling for ducks. Stafanie Taylor (70*) batted through the innings, but apart from her, Chinelle Henry (14) was the only other one to reach double figures as West Indies Women crashed to 115.

Vitality Blast 2019

Nottinghamshire Outlaws blew Middlesex away in the second quarterfinal of the 2019 Vitality Blast, at Trent Bridge. They restricted Middlesex to 153/8, the only score of note coming from Eoin Morgan (53 in 31). Matthew Carter had 4-0-16-2 and Imad Wasim 4-0-31-2.

Chris Nash (74* in 53) and Alex Hales (83* in 47) then helped Middlesex romp to a 10-wicket win with 22 balls to spare.

CPL 2019

Guyana Amazon Warriors beat St Lucia Zouks by 13 runs at Providence. Asked to bat, the Warriors were reduced to 98/6 in the 16th over before Keemo Paul (38 in 22) and Chris Green (28 in 15) added 48 in 21 balls. Obed McCoy finished with 4-0-41-4 and Fawad Ahmed with 4-1-25-2.

Rahkeem Cornwall (36 in 14) began in cavalier fashion when the Zouks batted, but there was surprisingly little support after that. There was some hope at 84/3, but they lost wickets too frequently to make a match out of it. Shadab Khan had 4-0-16-3, Romario Shepherd 4-0-18-2, and Green 4-0-28-2.