Essex 156 (Westley 43, Pretorius 4-36) and 6 for 1 lead Somerset 128 (Porter 5-37, Cook 5-38) by 34 runs Twenty wickets fell, all to seam bowling, on an action-packed opening day of Somerset’s Vitality County Championship First Division match with Essex at Taunton. Migael Pretorius led the way for the hosts, claiming four for 36 as Essex were bowled out for 156, having lost the toss on an overcast…

Glamorgan 109 for 4 (B Root 51) vs Yorkshire Glamorgan opener Billy Root scored a half-century against a Yorkshire side including his older brother Joe during a weather-affected opening day of the Vitality County Championship clash at Headingley. Left-hander Billy, aged 31 and almost two years Joe’s junior, posted a measured 51 off 95 balls before lunch, with Glamorgan going on to close at 109 for four from 41 overs…

Derbyshire 189 for 8 (Reece 50, Donald 44) vs Sussex England fast bowler Ollie Robinson took two wickets as Sussex had the better of a gloomy first day against Derbyshire in the Vitality County Championship match at Derby. Although not at his best, Robinson bowled five consecutive maidens either side of lunch and claimed 2 for 48 after the visitors won the toss and put Derbyshire in. Aneurin Donald hit…

Kent 203 for 7 (Evison 50* Crawley 41, Balderson 3-62) vs Lancashire Kent’s Joey Evison made his third fifty of the season but could not prevent Lancashire having the best of the first day of their Vitality County Championship match against Kent at Emirates Old Trafford. Evison was helped by Grant Stewart, with whom he put on 69 for the seventh wicket, a stand in which both batsmen took the…

Somerset have played a blinder in appointing England captain Heather Knight to a board advisory role as it builds a team to compete in the top flight of the new domestic women’s competition next year. That is the stance of England Women’s head coach Jon Lewis, who said he had briefly discussed the post with Knight before Somerset announced this week that she would join their board to advise on…

Corey Anderson, who played the ODI World Cup (in 2015) and the T20 World Cup (in 2014 and 2016) for New Zealand, will now play the 2024 T20 World Cup, in June, for USA, co-hosts for the tournament along with the West Indies after being named in the squad of 15 on Friday. Ali Khan, who hasn’t played a T20I since July 2022, has been included too, while Shayan Jahangir…

Match details Royal Challengers Bengaluru (tenth, P10, W3, L7) vs Gujarat Titans (eighth, P10, W4, L6)Bengaluru, 1930 IST (1400 GMT) Big picture – Will Kohli boss Titans spinners again? Spin has been Virat Kohli’s nemesis in T20s for a few years now, but he produced a masterclass against one of the IPL’s best spin attacks in their last match to keep RCB’s hopes alive in the season, albeit barely so….

Shimron Hetmyer has been picked by West Indies in their 15-man squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Shamar Joseph, the 24-year-old fast bowler who has played only three T20s and is yet to make his international debut in the format, has also been given a surprise call-up. Hetmyer had quite literally missed his flight to the 2022 T20 World Cup, but has since returned to the fold for West…

England Women are using artificial intelligence (AI) to inform selection using a system head coach Jon Lewis says proved crucial in last year’s drawn Ashes series. Lewis was first exposed to the technology, provided by London-based company PSi, while coaching UP Warriorz in the inaugural WPL last year. He has since spoken with the likes of England Rugby Union coach Steve Borthwick about the system, also used by English rugby…

Bangladesh chose to bowl v Zimbabwe Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto chose to bowl in the first T20I against Zimbabwe in Chattogram. His counterpart Sikandar Raza, however, said his team was happy to bat. Joylord Gumbie made his T20I debut for Zimbabwe as the visitors made two changes. Tony Munyonga and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe played Zimbabwe’s last T20I against Sri Lanka, but they were replaced by Gumbie and Ryan Burl. Tanzid…