Tuesday, April 29
The SA20 third edition has seen impressive performances from established players like Aiden Markram and rising stars like 18-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius. Delano Potgieter's all-round prowess and Trent Boult's lethal bowling have also been the highlights. Despite a tough start for Sunrisers Eastern Cape, historical resilience inspires confidence. MI Cape Town lead the standings, reversing past underperformances.
AB de Villiers praises South Africa for reaching the WTC final, despite significant changes and criticism. He emphasizes the team's need for time and experience to regain consistency and commends Temba Bavuma's leadership. De Villiers believes in supporting young players and highlights the excitement surrounding the third edition of SA20.
Joburg Super Kings secured a narrow six-run win over MI Cape Town in a rain-affected SA20 match. Bowler Tabraiz Shamsi discussed the difficulties bowlers face, particularly on flat wickets with small boundaries, and expressed no sympathy for batters. Despite a challenging target of 140, JSK remained confident and emerged victorious through the DLS method.
Ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah may miss the Champions Trophy next month due to a back injury. The selectors, who have rested him for the upcoming T20I series against England, await his complete medical report. Bumrah’s absence could be a significant blow to the Indian team as they prepare for the tournament starting February 19.
Fast bowler Mohammed Shami returns to India's T20I squad for the five-match series against England starting January 22. Shami's comeback after a year-long hiatus due to heel surgery is crucial as India prepares for the ICC Champions Trophy. Concerns linger over Jasprit Bumrah's fitness, emphasising Shami's role in strengthening India's pace attack.
Gautam Gambhir's tenure as India's head coach is under scrutiny. While he has had success in T20 cricket, his results in Tests and ODIs have been inconsistent. Dinesh Karthik highlighted the challenges Gambhir faces, especially after Rahul Dravid's successful era. Gambhir's comments on senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have also drawn attention.
Dan Lawrence and Sam Curran's impressive half-centuries led Desert Vipers to a seven-wicket win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in their opening ILT20 match. Chasing 167, the Vipers reached the target with eight balls remaining. Phil Salt's unbeaten 71 and Andre Russell's quick 30 helped the Knight Riders set 166/5 despite early setbacks.
Ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah may miss the Champions Trophy next month due to a back injury. The selectors, who have rested him for the upcoming T20I series against England, await his complete medical report. Bumrah’s absence could be a significant blow to the Indian team as they prepare for the tournament starting February 19.
In a notable SA20 debut, 18-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius scored 97 off 51 balls, leading Paarl Royals to a dominant nine-wicket win against Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Pretorius, focusing on team success over personal milestones, received significant support from Joe Root. Despite a strong innings by Aiden Markram, Royals’ bowlers restricted Sunrisers to 175/5, ensuring a confident victory.
