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Offspinner picked for England tour of India after six first-class matches

Vithushan Ehantharajah14-Dec-2023Shoaib Bashir admitted he cried after receiving the call informing him of his selection for England men’s Test series against India.The Somerset offspinner was a shock inclusion in the 16-man squad just six months after making his professional debut. Bashir has just six first-class matches to his name, all for Somerset, with 10 wickets at an average of 67.He was selected on a Lions training camp in the UAE as one of seven spinners and impressed throughout on surfaces created to replicate what is likely to await England in India. He capped off the three weeks with 6 for 42 in a two-innings match against Afghanistan A, leaving an impression on Test coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key who travelled over to run the rule over potential spin options for the Test squad.”You (could) see that there’s something different there, or that looks special,” explained Key on the punt taken to select Bashir. It was McCullum who phoned the 20-year-old with the good news. While Bashir sensed he had performed well on the Lions tour in front of the right people, he was overcome with emotion when told he had made the cut for the five-match series in the New Year.”When I got the call, I let my emotions fall out,” Bashir told BBC Radio Somerset. “I was very numb inside – I cried. It’s just so special and I’m so grateful and thankful for the opportunity I’ve been given.”I’m very grateful. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do since I started playing cricket, since I started holding a bat, since I started bowling a ball – I wanted to represent my country. For this to happen at such an early part in my career is very special.Related

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“I think they were keeping a close eye on me since I made my debut. In Abu Dhabi they saw what I could do on a different surface to England, more for India. I felt like I showed a good representation of what I can do as well. I think that’s what caught the eye.”Bashir’s route to international recognition has not been straightforward or guaranteed. He had been part of the Surrey pathway since Under-9 level before being released almost a decade later, trialling briefly at Middlesex before stabilising himself at Berkshire.It was for Berkshire’s Under-18s that he first came up on Somerset’s radar, taking 5 for 26 in a 50-over semi-final against them. He was subsequently offered a two-match trial in their second team – the first locally against Surrey at Guildford, where he lives, taking 3 for 51 in a rain-affected game. He then took 4 for 44 against Warwickshire which led to his first professional contract.He came to prominence on his first-class debut against Essex this summer when his maiden over featured two deliveries that beat Sir Alastair Cook. Though he would only end up averaging a wicket an innings in Division One of the County Championship, there was clear promise. Watching on from afar, selectors were enticed by traits they sought for Indian pitches – specifically, Bashir’s high release-point from a 6’4″ frame, driving the ball into the surface without compromising on turn or flight.”My journey has been very special,” Bashir said. “Everyone has their own journeys but I feel like my journey is for me. My journey started from when I was in the Surrey pathway from U9s to U17s when I got released. It was probably the rock bottom of my career. I didn’t think I’d be playing at any kind of level at that point.”Thankfully I joined Berkshire, minor counties team, and actually really enjoyed my time there. I met some of my closest mates, to this day, and I think when you enjoy playing cricket, you put in performances.”Looking back now, it’s just so special. For any young kids out there, just work hard, and if you really want something, you put in the time, things will happen.”

A storm damaged the surface ahead of the final day of last week’s Prime Minister’s XI match

AAP11-Dec-2023Spin bowler Tanveer Sangha has dismissed concerns about the recently rain-soaked Manuka Oval pitch ahead of Sydney Thunder’s BBL opener.Last week’s Prime Minister’s XI match against Pakistan came to an abrupt end after 55kph winds blew the covers off the Manuka Oval pitch overnight Friday, when torrential rain fell in Canberra.On Saturday morning, play was deemed unsafe to continue on the drenched wicket and the game ended in a draw.Related

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Less than four days on from the downpour, Thunder are facing Brisbane Heat at Manuka Oval, which traditionally hosts the western Sydney team’s first home game of the BBL summer.Canberra has enjoyed mostly dry conditions since the downpour on Friday night and more of the same is forecast for game day on Tuesday.Thunder have trained at Manuka Oval in the lead-up to Tuesday’s match, which will be played on one of the wickets adjacent to that used for the ill-fated PM’s XI match. As of Monday afternoon, final preparations on the pitch were still being completed.Thunder will lean on intel from Cameron Bancroft and Nathan McAndrew, their team-mates who played for the PM’s XI last week, and have had the chance to inspect the wicket that will be used.”It didn’t look too bad. It looked fine,” Sangha said. “We expect a pretty true surface, a pretty nice wicket, but I think all the boys said it’s a nice batting wicket.Play was abandoned on the final of the PM’s XI match after a storm blew the covers off the pitch•Getty Images

“Red ball’s a completely different game from T20 Big Bash but I think it’ll turn out pretty good, Manuka’s usually a good ground, has really good crowds. I’m really looking forward to playing there.”The pitch discussion comes as Sunday’s clash between Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers was called off after the Geelong pitch was also saturated by rain in the lead-up.Sangha looked forward to welcoming English top-order batter Alex Hales back for his fifth tournament at the Thunder.”He’s huge for us,” Sangha said. “The batting he brings, how dominating he is, how scared our opponents are to bowl to him, I think that brings a lot of fear and brings us a lot of confidence.”

Foxes enter third day as favourites to complete second win of their campaign

ECB Reporters Network19-May-2023Worcestershire 83 (Wright 5-32, Davey 3-26) and 26 for 2 (Haynes 17*, Davey 2-19) need 245 runs to beat Leicestershire 173 and 180 (Hill 49, Leach 5-41, Waite 4-21)Leicestershire picked up two early wickets after setting Worcestershire a challenging 271 target on a still-bowler friendly pitch on day two of the LV=Insurance County Championship match at New Road.Loan signing Josh Davey from Somerset made the double breakthrough in dismissing openers Azhar Ali – for a pair – and Ed Pollock in his first over.Gareth Roderick and Jack Haynes managed to survive to the close at 26 for 2 but the untrustworthy nature of the pitch means the Foxes will be favourites tomorrow to complete a second win of the campaign.Leicestershire had earlier been bowled out for 180 after Joe Leach’s impressive five-wicket return and Matthew Waite’s Championship-best figures of 4 for 21.It was the 16th five-for of Leach’s distinguished career and Waite eclipsed his previous best of 4 for 35 in the corresponding fixture last season.Captain Lewis Hill’s patient 49 was largely responsible for the visitors being able to set a daunting target on a wicket of uneven bounce.After the dramas of day one, when 22 wickets fell, the game proceeded at a more sedate pace for the first half of the day as Leicestershire looked to capitalise on their first-innings lead of 90.There were two nightwatchers occupying the crease when play resumed – but both soon fell to Leach.Davey could only help a delivery which bounced on him to Pollock at first slip and Will Davis went lbw working to leg.There was more joy for Leach when Colin Ackerman fenced at a delivery outside the off stump and Pollock did the rest.Leach’s morning spell brought the excellent figures of 7-4-15-3 but then Hill and Peter Handscomb entrenched themselves during a partnership of 71 in 30 overs.The pair batted sensibly and took few risks in ensuring Leicestershire built a substantial lead on a pitch where the occasional ball still misbehaved.Handscomb, on 11, had to survive a delivery from Adam Finch which spat up off a length and flew onto the off side and then a confident appeal for lbw from Waite to the last ball before lunch.Play progressed at a serene pace but then Waite instigated a collapse which saw five wickets tumble for 20 runs.His first over back into the attack brought about the downfall of Hill, one short of a deserved half-century, when he inside edged onto his stumps.Waite then struck three times in an over and ended the resistance of Handscomb who battled away for 26 off 98 balls but then aimed a blow on the leg side and was caught off a leading edge by Brett D’Oliveira running back to deep mid off.Wiaan Mulder attempted to force Waite off the back foot and was taken at second slip by Haynes who then pulled off a fine low one-handed effort to the next delivery to dismiss Tom Scriven.Leach wrapped up the innings when Rehan Ahmed went for a big blow and was stumped.Worcestershire needed a solid start if they were to harbour realistic ambitions of chasing down their target but Azhar and Pollock quickly perished to undistinguished shots against Davey.Azhar completed a pair when he took a stride forward, tried to work the ball through midwicket and instead edged low to first slip. Pollock also aimed a blow on the leg side but instead the ball lobbed a gentle catch to cover at 2 for 2.Roderick and Haynes got their heads down but there were signs of the heavy roller wearing off and batting becoming more difficult before the premature close due to bad light and rain with 14 overs remaining.

Afridi, Naseem and Rauf restricted the hosts to 140 before Pakistan completed a smooth chase in the decider

Tristan Lavalette10-Nov-2024Completing a remarkable revival, having been engulfed in turmoil ahead of the tour, Pakistan claimed a rare series triumph in Australia after a comprehensive eight-wicket victory on a bouncy Optus Stadium surface in the third and final ODI.Having lost a heartbreaker in the opener at the MCG, Pakistan rebounded brilliantly with almost flawless performances in Adelaide and Perth to completely overwhelm world champions Australia, who have plenty of question marks ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.It was Pakistan’s first series victory in Australia since 2002 and a result made more incredible given white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten quit just a week before the tour amid well-worn Pakistani turmoil.But Pakistan appeared galvanised under Jason Gillespie, their Australian Test coach who is filling the shoes of Kirsten, and were ignited by a rampant four-pronged attack that routed a shorthanded Australia without their Test stars for 140 in just 31.5 overs.There were no infamous wobbles for Pakistan, who romped home in the 27th over.Australia capped a sluggish series with a sloppy performance in the field. Opener Saim Ayub had an early reprieve, while Adam Zampa spilt a sitter at deep square leg to reprieve Abdullah Shafique as Australia faced the humiliating prospect of a first ever 10-wicket ODI loss at home.But Lance Morris, who showcased his trademark pace by hitting speeds in the mid-140 kph, at least saved Australia from an unwanted place in the record books with the wickets of Shafique and Ayub in the 18th over.Lance Morris dismissed the two openers in one over•Getty Images

Interim captain Josh Inglis opted not to use Morris until the 15th over with allrounder Marcus Stoinis surprisingly given the new ball alongside Spencer Johnson.Skipper Mohammed Rizwan and Babar Azam, his predecessor, were nerveless with a flurry of boundaries to complete a match that finished two hours ahead of the scheduled close time.It completed a memorable first series in charge for Rizwan, who had no hesitation to bowl first and his decision was vindicated. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah claimed three wickets apiece, while in-form Haris Rauf finished with 2 for 24 as his sheer speed once again shook up the batters.Numerous batters succumbed to hostile short balls, while allrounder Cooper Connolly had to retire hurt on 7 after copping a blow to his left hand attempting to pull Mohammad Hasnain. He was taken for scans and did not field in Pakistan’s innings.Pakistan’s attack smartly did not get carried away with the bounce on offer as their quicks bowled unrelenting line and lengths to totally smother Australia, who once again would be disappointed with their shot selections on a surface that was not a minefield. No Australia batter scored a half-century across the series.Pakistan entered in the unfamiliar position of favourites in a country where they have endured so much misery over the years.Their optimism was heightened by Australia making five changes after skipper Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Marnus Labuschagne were rested as they start to prepare for the first Test against India.Australia had to rejig their batting-order, but openers Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk remained at the top of the order and desperate to fire having struggled across the opening two games.They appeared intent on backing their ultra-aggressive methods and scored 12 runs in the opening over. But things quickly went downhill with Fraser-McGurk caught at second slip after attempting to drive a good length delivery from Naseem.Josh Inglis gives the team talk on captaincy debut•Getty Images

He failed to move his feet in a dismissal that is common in Perth and his wicket brought to the crease allrounder Aaron Hardie, who was elevated to No. 3 in a role he fulfils with aplomb for Perth Scorchers in the BBL. Even though he was on his home ground, Hardie looked nervous and fell in a moment of indecisiveness and edged to second slip in a reward for Afridi, who conjured beautiful seam movement.The pressure was on Inglis, who was already amid a big day in his captaincy debut having been earlier selected in Australia’s 13-member squad for the Perth Test against India. Inglis has often performed a rescue role for Scorchers in the BBL, but he couldn’t get going and skied a short Naseem delivery to Rizwan.Short managed to get through the early barrage as he set his sights on furthering his bid to become Australia’s permanent ODI opener. But on 22 he picked out square leg to gift a wicket to Rauf, who was feeling giddy at his good fortune.Rauf ramped up his speed and claimed Glenn Maxwell for a duck as Australia stared down the barrel of being routed for under 100. The only momentary concern for Pakistan was Afridi grimacing in agony after being whacked on his left thumb taking a throw at the stumps.But he returned and was faced with a counterattack from Sean Abbott, who top-scored with 30. But Afridi ended Abbott’s resistance and then knocked over Morris to send the large contingent of Pakistan fans in the terraces into raptures and they continued to roar through the afternoon.

Mumbai captain hit 108 in Ranji Trophy quarter-final, following on from being the highest run-getter in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Rajan Raj11-Feb-2025Continuing his splendid form in domestic cricket this season, Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane struck a match-winning 108 in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Haryana to set up his side’s comfortable entry into the semi-finals. His returns in red-ball cricket have come as a solid follow-up to his performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) T20 competition, where he was the highest run-getter in the tournament.But Rahane, 36, brushed aside directly answering queries about his desire to return to the national side, instead opting to “leave selection matter to selectors”. However, he felt he had batted well enough in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia in June 2023, when he had top-scored for India with 89 in the first innings and followed that up with 46 in the second. On the West Indies tour that followed, Rahane fell for 3 and 8 in the two innings he batted, and hasn’t been picked for India since.Related

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“I am not thinking about the future at all,” Rahane said after Mumbai beat Haryana at Eden Gardens. “But I do know that I am batting well. I had a good performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This Ranji Trophy season is going well too. I batted nicely in the World Test Championship final in 2023 too. After that, I got dropped. Being selected or not selected is another matter, and the job of the selectors. But I thought I played well in that WTC final.”Rahane, though, said that his motivation hasn’t dropped, and he remains as hungry as ever for runs.”In all this, I feel I have a lot of cricket left in me,” he said. “That’s why I am playing domestic cricket consistently. I just have one goal right now, and that is to play cricket with a positive mindset, and whatever happens after that, happens.”This season, as Mumbai’s captain, Rahane has scored 437 runs at an average of 39.72 in the Ranji Trophy. In the SMAT, he smacked 469 runs at 58.62 with a strike rate of almost 165, which included three scores in the 90s.”Domestic cricket has given me everything,” he said. “I still have that (passion) within me. Before any match, I still have that desire and hunger that I possessed earlier. I don’t know about the future, but I do know I am far from done. That’s why I have been giving my 100% in domestic cricket.”Ajinkya Rahane enters IPL 2025 after finishing as the top-scorer in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy•PTI

‘Not told about KKR captaincy’

After the Ranji Trophy ends, Rahane will link up with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as their senior-most Indian cricketer. With Shreyas Iyer gone to Punjab Kings and no standout captaincy choice currently visible, Rahane remains a candidate to wear the armband. However, the former Rajasthan Royals captain has not had any conversations with the KKR management about it.”They have not chatted about KKR captaincy with me at all. If they’d have spoken, you journalists would’ve known about it and you guys would’ve been the ones informing me,” Rahane said jokingly. “Till then, I’ll not bother checking my phone.”But he wouldn’t be shying away from the opportunity either, if it was presented to him.”I have had to see a lot of different challenges,” Rahane said. “I have captained before, and I have found myself in a variety of situations over the years. I know how to handle any situation in front of me. That’s why I am always ready for whatever is thrown at me. That said, I have not got any news or any call. You guys will have to call and let me know if I am appointed captain. I will wait for that call [laughs].”

Durham pile on the runs as Leicestershire’s attack struggles to get a tune out of the Kookaburra ball

ECB Reporters Network25-Jun-2023Centuries from Ollie Robinson and Alex Lees put Division Two leaders Durham in a commanding position at 422 for four after the opening day of their LV= Insurance County Championship clash with third-placed Leicestershire.Robinson, who finished unbeaten on 113, posted the third century of what is turning into an outstanding season following his move from Kent last winter, sharing an unbroken 221-run fifth-wicket stand with Graham Clark, who is 15 away from a hundred of his own.Earlier, openers Lees and Michael Jones had laid the foundations with a first-wicket stand of 145 before Leicestershire, currently without a head coach after the shock announcement that Paul Nixon had been placed on “gardening leave”, were able to make any inroads with the Kookaburra ball.Wicketkeeper Robinson, who was completing back-to-back centuries after his second-inning 102 against Glamorgan earlier this month, moved from fifty to 100 in just 40 balls as a tiring home bowling attack was made to suffer on a flat pitch.Despite last week’s revelation that they would be playing for different counties next season, former captains Callum Parkinson and Colin Ackermann and veteran fast bowler Chris Wright were all selected by Leicestershire, even though the first-named pair will be wearing Durham colours next year.Indeed, Parkinson and Ackermann wrote what will be a curious footnote to the day’s play by combining to dismiss Lees, simultaneously offering their new side evidence of their ability while striking an important blow for their current one.Having won the toss and invited Leicestershire’s bowlers to explore the Kookaburra experiment, Durham could only have been more satisfied with the opening session had Lees and Jones been still together at lunch.As it was, they shared Durham’s best opening partnership of this season, before Jones, already with 14 fours and a six to his name and looking on course for a second century of the campaign, mistimed a ball from Ed Barnes that he flicked tamely to short mid-wicket, where Ackermann took a good catch.The pitch had a reasonable covering of grass, particularly on a full length, yet with a short boundary to one side Lees and Jones flew out of the traps with such purpose that, at 66 without loss after eight overs, spectators might have had pause to wonder if they were watching T20 rather than a four-day game.To their credit, by lunch a home attack lacking the injured Josh Hull and teenage leg spinner Rehan Ahmed – on England duty – had managed to drag the rate back to a more respectable three runs per over, with Jones the only casualty as Durham lunched on 150 for one. Parkinson’s left-arm spin was summoned as early as the eighth over, although the pitch would never offer him much help.Having snared the wicket of Jones just before lunch, Leicestershire made a second breakthrough soon afterwards, seamer Tom Scriven finding the edge as Durham skipper Scott Borthwick prodded at one outside off stump.Indeed, the middle session was a better one for the home side, who began the round just a point behind second-placed Sussex.At tea, they had Durham 263 for four, still well placed but 113 for three in the session. Sussex-bound Wright, playing in his 50th first-class match for Leicestershire, took his 160th wicket in that time, reacting quickly to grab a return catch in his follow-through as David Bedingham’s defensive push popped up.And Parkinson, who had bowled eight overs without success in the morning, dismissed Lees towards the end of his second spell. The Durham left-hander ultimately reached for a ball that turned just enough to find the edge, Ackermann taking the catch low down at slip.In energy-sapping conditions, the final session was hard work for the bowlers; Clark hitting Ackermann’s off-spin for three consecutive fours before a fourth took him to a 70-ball half-century, 24-year-old Robinson completing his from 103 deliveries just before the second new ball became available.Leicestershire took it, but the change served only to increase the speed at which the ball flew off the bat, seven of the 11 boundaries in Robinson’s hundred coming in the space of eight overs with the new Kookaburra, the right-hander driving and cutting Barnes for back-to-back boundaries to reach the milestone.

Smith’s fifty sets 186 target, Milne ends chase before it begins with devastating early burst

ECB Reporters Network24-Aug-2023Birmingham Phoenix blazed belatedly into form in the Men’s Hundred, signing off their campaign with a 77-run win over London Spirit at Edgbaston.Phoenix at last delivered the collective batting power display which has eluded them until the last game, piling up 185 for 5, led by Jamie Smith’s 52 off 31 balls and Ben Duckett with 47 from 33.Spirit were then sentenced to their fifth defeat of a disappointing campaign by a sensational opening burst from Adam Milne. The Black Caps quick took 3 for 2 with his first nine balls on his way to figures of 4 for 20 and Tanveer Sangha added 3 for 15 as Spirit folded for 108 all out in 89 balls.Phoenix’s victory prevented them ending up with the wooden spoon which now rests with Northern Superchargers.After choosing to field, Spirit took a wicket first ball when Will Smeed chopped Tim Southee to short third, but their next successes were long coming. Smith and Duckett added 94 in 54 balls and then Duckett and Moeen Ali crashed 51 in 21.Smith timed the ball beautifully in a 30-ball half-century while Moeen smote four sixes in a violent cameo before sending up a skier off the steady Southee. Moeen departed with just 88 runs in six innings in this year’s Hundred behind him.Four balls later, Duckett top-edged a simple catch to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade but less enjoyable for Southee, who ended with 3 for 23, was the sight of Benny Howell planting him miles over mid-wicket. Howell’s ten-ball 23 rounded off Phoenix’s best batting display of the tournament.Milne then delivered a brilliant opening burst in which he removed Zak Crawley, played on, Michael Pepper, caught behind, and Wade, bowled by a beauty. Nine balls into their reply, Spirit were broken.Milne added a fourth victim when Dan Lawrence chipped to mid on. Daniel Bell-Drummond made it into double figures, the only top-five batter to do so, but then charged at Sangha and missed.Daryl Mitchell averted total embarrassment for his side with a beefy 57 off 35 balls but the fact that nine Spirit batters scored 22 between them said everything about their feeble display.

Ingram, Carlson score half-centuries but Glamorgan heading for defeat

ECB Reporters Network24-Aug-2024Derbyshire are on the brink of ending a five year red ball drought after Jack Morley put Glamorgan in a spin on the third day of the Vitality County Championship match at Derby. The on-loan left arm spinner from Lancashire took 3 for 35 from 20 overs to put Derbyshire on course for a first Championship victory at the County Ground since August 2019.Glamorgan were fighting back at 226 for 4 but they lost three wickets in the space of six balls and closed on 236 for 7, still 25 behind. Colin Ingram and Kiran Carlson scored fifties but Morley and Pat Brown (2 for 50) bowled Derbyshire to the verge of a first Championship win anywhere for 25 months.After rain washed out the morning session, Brown and Zak Chappell started Glamorgan’s decline with three wickets in six overs. Billy Root did not profit from his escape the previous evening, scoring only 13 before he pushed at a ball from Brown he could have left and was caught behind.Brown tempted Ben Kellaway into a loose waft that gave Brooke Guest another victim before Chappell bagged the big wicket of Sam Northeast. The Glamorgan skipper had started purposefully but there was little he could do with a ball that was angled in and straightened enough to get through his defence and pluck out middle stump.A shower held up play for 20 minutes which would have helped keep the bowlers fresh and disrupt the batters concentration but both Carlson and Ingram settled in well after the restart. Carlson was more circumspect after he got away with a big drive early in his innings and Ingram, who scored a century on this ground last season, was quick to pounce on anything short or overpitched.With Anuj Dal off the field, Derbyshire were a bowler down and there was frustration for Brown when Carlson saw an edge loop just over third slip before Ingram was given a life on 25. Brown tempted him into a drive and the edge went low to Guest who could not hang on diving to his left.Ingram reached his 50 off 93 balls the over before tea which arrived with Glamorgan recovering well to get the deficit below three figures. But all the hard work was undone three overs into the final session when Ingram attempted a big slog-sweep at Morley and was bowled to end a stand of 110 from 179 balls.Colin Ingram made a fighting fifty for Glamorgan•Getty Images

Derbyshire thought they had Carlson in the next over, caught behind off David Lloyd, but the umpires ruled correctly that the ball had been played into the ground.Carlson completed his 50 off 125 balls before Derbyshire lost Brown who limped off with what appeared to be an ankle injury four overs into his second spell.Lloyd took over and struck when Chris Cooke tried to drive and was bowled, breaking a stand of 50 from 122 balls. Derbyshire moved a step closer to victory in the next over when Carlson inexplicably gave Morley the charge and was stumped.Timm van der Gugten was lbw first ball and although Mason Crane averted the hat-trick, Glamorgan will need something remarkable on the last day to deny Derbyshire that long-awaited home win.

Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer put on a 106-run partnership to take Amazon Warriors to a big total before Imran Tahir picked up his first five-wicket haul in the CPL

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Aug-2025Captain Imran Tahir turned back the clock with a sensational five-wicket haul as Guyana Amazon Warriors stormed to their second consecutive win in CPL 2025, dismantling Antigua and Barbuda Falcons by 83 runs in a rain-hit match in North Sound.Chasing a steep target of 212 for their third win, Falcons were not allowed to settle at any point after a flying start, thanks largely to Tahir’s spell of 5 for 21. Falcons raced to 58 runs in the first four overs but lost both openers – Rahkeem Cornwall and Jewel Andrew – in the process, both to Dwaine Pretorius.Related

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Karima Gore’s 31 off 14 balls kept the good work going, but once he was dismissed by Romario Shepherd in the fifth over, the run rate dipped sharply.Tahir, 46, made an immediate impact with a double-wicket maiden in his first over – the seventh of the chase – removing Shakib Al Hasan and captain Imad Wasim. His trademark googlies and flighted deliveries triggered a middle-order collapse as Falcons slipped from 77 for 3 to 116 for 8, losing five wickets for just 39 runs. Eventually, they folded for 128 in 15.2 overs. These were also Tahir’s best figures in the CPL.Earlier in the evening, Warriors had made a strong start before rain halted play for nearly an hour after 5.5 overs.Shai Hope top-scored with a clinical 82 in 54 balls at the top of the order. Having managed just 33 off his first 32 balls, Hope accelerated after the 11th over, smashing 49 off the next 22.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

He got big support from Shimron Hetmyer, who blazed 65 off just 26 balls, including five sixes and five fours, as the pair had a commanding 106-run partnership off just 44 balls for the third wicket.Even after Hope’s dismissal, the Amazon Warriors’ innings didn’t lose momentum, with a late flourish from Shepherd – an unbeaten 25 off just eight balls – pushing the total to an imposing 211 for 3.The last nine overs of the innings had Warriors accumulating 145 runs, 41 of which came from the last two, which proved more than enough in the end.The result took Amazon Warriors, with two wins in two games, to the second spot on the table, which is topped by Falcons, whose two wins have come from five outings.