Hales and Morgan set up comfortable win

England XI 202 for 6 (Hales 78, Morgan 42, Parnell 3-26) beat South Africa A 158 for 8 (de Bruyn 56, Topley 3-29) by 44 runsScorecard Alex Hales continued his blistering form ahead of the T20 series © Getty Images Alex Hales continued his prolific limited-overs form with a sixth successive fifty-plus score, while captain Eoin Morgan club five sixes in a 13-ball onslaught, to push the England XI to…

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Siddle ruled out of Christchurch Test

Peter Siddle went off the field with a back problem on the third day of the Wellington Test © Getty Images Peter Siddle has been ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch due to back pain. Siddle bowled only eight overs during New Zealand’s second innings in Wellington before back spasms forced him from the field after tea on day three; he returned on the fourth…

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Edwards: World T20 preparation starts now

Skipper Charlotte Edwards wants England to use the Twenty20 series against South Africa to fine-tune their preparations for the World T20. The tourists face the Proteas, who they beat 2-1 in the one-day internationals, in the first of three T20s tomorrow in Paarl ahead of next month’s showpiece in India. “We have been a pretty successful T20 squad over the last few years so we are looking to build on…

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Jason Roy Video Diary: Part 3

[embedded content] Jason Roy and the rest of the England team took time away from the cricket field to take a trip down to Nyanga Township near Cape Town and join local kids in a game of football. The England opener, alongside Jos Buttler, swapped the cricket bats for football analysis as they gave their verdict on their team-mates during an 11-a-side match. With Chris Jordan likened to Manchester United…

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Domingo opens door for Parnell's international return

Russell Domingo – “The plan was for us to send Parnell back to domestic cricket and for him to perform well there there for a period of time before getting into the national side again” © AFP Wayne Parnell‘s 3 for 26 was the most incisive and economical contribution for South Africa A against the touring England XI in their warm-up match in Paarl, but he will still have to…

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Farrant thrilled with World T20 place

Tash Farrant could barely contain her excitement after earning a place in England women’s 15-strong squad for the upcoming ICC World T20 in India. The 19-year-old left-arm seamer has just linked up with the England women squad in South Africa as a replacement for the injured Katherine Brunt, but both players have been included for next month’s showpiece. And Farrant admits it was extra special to be called up for…

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Hodge heroics stuns Karachi Kings

Peshawar Zalmi 158 for 5 (Hodge 85*, Allenby 31) beat Karachi Kings 152 for 7 (Simmons 49, Bopara 23) by five wicketsScorecard and ball-by-ball details Brad Hodge hit six fours and as many sixes in his unbeaten 45-ball 85 © Cricket Australia Brad Hodge turned a chase that was headed nowhere into realms of possibility, and within the bat of an eyelid blasted the ball to all corners of the…

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McKenzie lands Proteas batting role

Former Hampshire and South Africa batsman Neil McKenzie has been appointed as the Proteas batting coach for their next three Twenty20 assignments. South Africa have called on the 40-year-old’s experience for the T20 international series against England and Australia as well as next month’s World T20 in India. McKenzie, who retired from first-class cricket last month with over 19,000 runs to his name, played 58 Tests, 64 one-day internationals and…

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Experience key as SA confirm McKenzie coaching role

JP Duminy was left out for the final ODI against England but “big things” are expected of him at the World T20 © Getty Images Neil McKenzie has been confirmed as South Africa’s batting coach for the upcoming T20 series against England and Australia followed by the World T20 with Russell Domingo, the head coach, pinpointing McKenzie’s vast experience around the world and his ability to explain his ideas clearly…

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Vitori suspended for illegal bowling action

Brian Vitori was reported during the third T20I against Bangladesh in Khulna last month © AFP Brian Vitori, the Zimbabwe left-arm seamer, has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect after an independent assessment found his bowling action to be illegal. Vitori, who was reported for a suspect action during the T20 series against Bangladesh in January, underwent assessment in Chennai, where all variations of his deliveries…

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