Cricket news roundup – 30th March 2019: Samson century in vain, Australia go up 4-0

Sanju Samson scored the first century of IPL 2019, but went in vain on the face of David Warner and Jonny Bairstow’s assault as Sunrisers Hyderabad got their first points of the season.

Elsewhere, Australia face a happy selection dilemma, with Warner and Steve Smith set to return to the national fold ahead of the World Cup 2019.

Samson century in vain as Hyderabad get first win

A high-scoring thriller ensued in Hyderabad on Friday night as Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Rajasthan Royals by five wickets. Sanju Samson’s century – the first of IPL 2019 – helped Rajasthan post a 199-run target, but Hyderabad still completed the chase with an over to spare.

That was largely down to David Warner and his opening stand of 110 with Jonny Bairstow. Warner hammered a 37-ball 69 and in the 9.4 overs his association with Bairstow lasted, the Rajasthan bowlers had nowhere to turn to. They fought back with a few wickets to make things interesting in the death, but Rashid Khan and Yusuf Pathan saw the chase through.

The defeat left Rajasthan at the bottom of the table. Hyderabad moved up to fourth.

Australia go 4-0 against Pakistan

Australia beat Pakistan by six runs in the fourth ODI to go 4-0 up in the five-match series. Glenn Maxwell scored 98 to help revive the Australian innings from 140/5. He put on 134 with Alex Carey for the sixth wicket to help them post 277/7.

Abid Ali and Mohammad Rizwan scored centuries as Pakistan seemingly aced the chase, but after Ali was dismissed in the 42nd over, the home side encountered a collapse. They finished on 271/8.

Australia have a chance to sweep the ODI series 5-0 – the last time they won an ODI series 5-0 was against West Indies in 2013.  

‘Hundreds don’t mean much to me’ – Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell came in for a lot of praise after he fell attempting a risky run against Pakistan when he was just two short of a second ODI century.

Aaron Finch praised Maxwell’s ‘selflessness’ while Maxwell himself said he values team performances more than individual feats. “I’m not going to look back on my career when I’m done and think about all the hundreds I’ve missed,” he said. “I’m going to think about the wins we had.

“It would have been nice to get a hundred, but I was really happy with the way I played today. To put that partnership on with [Alex] Carey, to get us to a total we thought we could defend – I was really proud of the way I went about it. The hundred doesn’t really matter too much to me.”

‘Bloody hard’ to fit Warner, Smith into World Cup XI – Aaron Finch

Australia captain Aaron Finch has spoken of the selection headache Australia have ahead of the World Cup 2019.

Australia have hit a purple patch, securing a seventh straight ODI victory on Friday, and that has caused selection issues for the management, with David Warner and Steve Smith set to return to the side following the expiration of their 12-month bans.

But with the current team having settled down and going well, there are doubts surrounding Warner and Smith, and how their presence will affect the team.

“It is bloody hard. No matter who misses out on the squad. Especially when the side is playing so well, it’s going to be difficult. I will definitely have my views. Justin [Langer] and I, we talk all the time, every day, about selections and team make-ups, different scenarios and things like that.”