September 16, 2024

Zahid, Salman, and Iftikhar Lead Markhors to Dominate Stallions

The Markhors secured a dominant 126-run victory over the Stallions, thanks to Zahid Mahmood’s impressive 5-18 bowling figures. Chasing a modest target of 232, the Stallions crumbled from 79 for 2 to 105 all out, losing their last eight wickets for just 26 runs. Earlier, Iftikhar Ahmed (60) and Salman Agha (51) powered the Markhors past 200 with key middle-order contributions.

The Stallions looked strong early on, especially with Babar Azam, who smashed five boundaries off Shahnawaz Dahani in one over, helping the team reach 50 within nine overs. However, the momentum shifted when Shan Masood was bowled by Naseem Shah, leading to a rapid collapse that sealed their defeat.

Naseem Shah, fired up, gave Shan Masood a send-off after bowling him out, which Masood clearly didn’t appreciate. This wicket marked a turning point, as the momentum quickly shifted away from the Stallions. Tayyab Tahir and Babar Azam were dismissed around the 15th over, and from there, the spin duo of Zahid Mahmood and Salman Agha tightened their grip on the game. Stallions’ captain Mohammad Haris fell soon after, triggering a dramatic collapse. In just 53 balls, the last eight wickets tumbled, turning what seemed like a manageable chase into a crushing defeat.

Markhors Recover After Early Setbacks, Bowlers Seal Dominant Win

Before that, with every team winning by batting first, it was no surprise that Markhors’ captain Mohammad Rizwan chose to bat. However, early wickets hurt their progress, with Jahandad Khan (4-49) removing Fakhar Zaman for 20. Rizwan made a start but couldn’t push on, leaving the team struggling at 38 for 3. Three consecutive half-century stands helped them recover, but hopes of a strong finish faded when Mehran Mumtaz and Jahandad dismantled the lower-middle order, causing the last five wickets to fall for just 10 runs.

The Markhors seemed to have posted a slightly underwhelming total, but their bowlers quickly took control, leaving them with little to worry about in the end. While both teams suffered batting collapses, the Stallions’ dramatic slump of losing 8 wickets for just 26 runs was far too steep for them to recover from.

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Harry Brook to Captain England in ODI Series Against Australia as Jos Buttler is Ruled Out

Liam Livingstone has been recalled to England’s 50-over squad as cover, while left-arm pacer Josh Hull is sidelined due to a quad injury. Harry Brook will captain England for the first time in their upcoming five-match ODI series against Australia, as regular captain Jos Buttler remains out with a calf injury sustained in July. Livingstone, initially left out, gets another chance due to Buttler’s absence.

Brook, seen as a future leader for England, has captained at various levels, including the Under-19 World Cup in 2018 and leading Northern Superchargers in the Hundred, where he won five of six matches. He was also Ollie Pope’s vice-captain during England’s recent 2-1 Test series win over Sri Lanka. In the ongoing T20I series against Australia, Phil Salt has been captaining, with the series tied 1-1 ahead of the final match in Manchester.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity for Brooky to be the captain,” Buttler said. “He is a pretty laid-back character, but I think he has everything in line. He is a really good thinker about it… I’m sure he’ll do that his own way, and he’ll get a feel for those moments [in games]. That’s what we’re encouraging everyone as a side – whether that’s a player or a captain – is to try and identify those moments that you think can go a long way to you winning the game and going for it and committing to it.”

Recent Setbacks Delay Buttler’s Return”

Jos Buttler’s extended absence is worrying, especially given his history with calf injuries. In 2021, he missed most of a series against Sri Lanka due to a tear, and in 2022, a strain ruled him out of England’s T20I tour of Pakistan, nearly jeopardizing his participation in the World Cup that year.

Buttler hasn’t played any cricket since England’s T20 World Cup exit in June, where they lost to India in the semi-finals. Although he aimed to return for the T20 Blast quarter-finals, a setback during his rehab delayed his comeback. He has remained with England’s squad during the current T20I series against Australia and is now eyeing a return for the Caribbean tour in November.

Buttler Focuses on Recovery While Embracing Leadership Role

“It’s a bit slower than hoped,” Buttler said of his recovery. “I’m going to be missing the ODI series as well, so that’s a shame. But at my age, just got to make sure I get it right. It’s obviously a shame to miss some cricket and stuff, but I just want to get it right. There’s lots to look forward to in the future.”

“Injuries force you to stop and take a different perspective and it’s nice to be around the guys, getting to know some new faces and seeing what they’re all about; trying to share my ideas and listen to theirs and how they operate and building those relationships, which are obviously really important.”

Buttler revealed that even if he had been fit for the T20Is, he wouldn’t have taken up wicketkeeping duties. This decision came after discussions with England’s new head coach, Brendon McCullum. “Having spoken to Baz about it, he stumbled across it with injury preventing him from keeping wicket, but then he really enjoyed being next to the bowler at mid-off,” Buttler explained.

“I’ll see how the calf holds up to running around in the outfield, or we might have a slip in for a long time,” he joked. “But, yeah, I’m very open to those kind of things. I just want what’s best for the team: what’s best for the team is going to be me being the best captain I can be, and if I have to move from behind the wickets to do that then so be it.”

Liam Livingstone’s return to the ODI squad follows his standout performances in the first two T20Is. He took five wickets in just six overs with his leg-spin and scored 87 off 47 balls to help win Friday’s game in Cardiff. Despite initially being left out of the ODI squad, Livingstone admitted he was surprised, especially after top-scoring in England’s defeat at the Utilita Bowl.

England also confirmed that Josh Hull will miss the ODI series due to a minor quad injury sustained during his Test debut at The Oval last week. The team spokesperson described his absence as precautionary, with no concerns about his availability for October’s Test tour to Pakistan.

The five-match ODI series starts at Trent Bridge on Thursday and runs until September 29.
England ODI squad: Harry Brook (capt), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, John Turner.