Warriors, Dolphins cruise to victories

File photo – JJ Smuts scored an unbeaten 49 and returned 2 for 13 in a comfortable Warriors win © CPL/Sportsfile The Warriors bowlers bundled Knights for 93 in Port Elizabeth for a dominant eight-wicket win, their third straight victory and fourth in five matches to stay second on the points table, behind Titans. Knights saw only the toss and a few early overs go in their favour before a…

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Jennings and Dawson carry the Flower stamp of approval

Play 01:06 England wrong to call up another spinner? The series can still be drawn and England could still leave India as the No. 2 rated Test side but, as they head for Mumbai (or Dubai, in a few cases), it doesn’t feel much like it. It’s not just the tour-ending injuries to Haseeb Hameed and Zafar Ansari, or the somewhat less threatening injuries to Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad….

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Somerset in good shape ahead of England debut

Somerset remain in robust health © Andrew Miller Somerset are preparing to stage their first England fixture next season buoyed by further proof that they are one of the most financially-stable counties in the country. The 2016 accounts show a pre-tax surplus of £596,700 for the last fiscal year. Earnings before taxes, interest and depreciation were £670,111, compared with £411,681 twelve months ago. Continued evidence that Somerset remains a hotbed…

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Maharashtra succumb to pace and variable bounce

Maharashtra’s Chirag Khurana highlighted the difficulties posed by the pitch, but conceded that it was not unplayable © ESPNcricinfo Ltd Odisha bowled out Maharashtra twice in 62.4 overs on the second day to wrap up an innings victory in Wayanad. This was the second two-day finish of the season; the first was in the seventh round when Baroda beat Bengal by 21 runs in Lahli, where the seamers took 38…

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Santner returns for 'unfinished business'

Mitchell Santner only bowled four overs in his first spell at New Road © Getty Images New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner will re-join Worcestershire next season with his director of cricket, Steve Rhodes, affirming that he has some “some unfinished business” at New Road. Santner will link up with Rapids for the revamped NatWest T20 Blast, which is now in a condensed midsummer slot, after the conclusion of the ICC…

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Marlon Samuels' 55* carries Comilla home

Comilla Victorians 125 for 2 (Samuels 55*, Shehzad 46) beat Rajshahi Kings 124 for 7 (Franklin 44*, Saifuddin 3-12) by eight wicketsScorecard and ball-by-ball details File photo – Marlon Samuels hit his second fifty of the competition to steer Comilla home © Raton Gomes/BCB Comilla Victorians dented Rajshahi Kings’ charge towards a last-four finish, beating them by eight wickets with eight balls to spare. Young allrounder Mohammad Saifuddin took three…

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Andhra poised for compelling chase

File photo – Ravi Teja might have an important role to play in Andhra’s chase of 233 against Goa © ESPNcricinfo Ltd Andhra lost three early wickets, but steadied to reach 99 for 3 in their chase of 233 at stumps against Goa in Dhanbad. Goa had overturned their 34-run deficit early in the day, but found themselves 60 for 3 in the 16th over. An 88-run stand between Snehal…

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Panchal pummels Punjab with 314*

File photo – Priyank Kirit Panchal hit 314 not out in Gujarat’s 624 for 6 declared © ESPNcricinfo Priyank Kirit Panchal hit 32 fours in his unbeaten 460-ball 314, propelling Gujarat to 624 for 6 declared against Punjab in Belagavi. The 26-year-old opener is in a rich vein of form, having scored 232 and 56* against Mumbai around a week earlier. Resuming on 281 for 2 on the second morning,…

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Sunny and Cooper reported for suspect actions in BPL

Arafat Sunny ran into bowling-action trouble during the 2016 World T20 too © AFP Kevon Cooper and Arafat Sunny have been reported by the umpires for suspected bowling actions in the BPL. In the case of Sunny, Rangpur Riders’ left-arm spinner, one delivery, the first ball of the 19th over in Rangpur’s match against Rajshahi Kings on November 28, raised suspicion. Video footage of Khulna Titan’s allrounder Cooper’s bowling has…

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