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Champions Trophy: Rickelton Shines with Maiden ODI Century as Markram’s Late Surge Propels SA to 315/6 Against Afghanistan

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3 months ago

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In an impressive display, opener Ryan Rickelton notched his first ODI century, scoring 103 runs, while half-centuries from captain Temba Bavuma (58), Rassie van der Dussen (52), and Aiden Markram (52 not out) led South Africa to a total of 315/6 in their 50 overs against Afghanistan during the ICC Champions Trophy Group B match at the National Stadium.

South Africa’s squad for this game was without both Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs. Cricket South Africa (CSA) later announced that Klaasen was resting due to a soft tissue injury in his left elbow, while Stubbs was unlikely to have been part of the initial starting XI.

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Choosing to bat first, South Africa had a cautious start as Afghan bowlers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai extracted significant movement from the pitch. Tony de Zorzi struggled early and was dismissed by Mohammad Nabi for just 11 runs after miscuing a drive that landed in mid-on’s hands. With the early wicket, Bavuma joined Rickelton at the crease, and the pair worked diligently through the tricky conditions.

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Rickelton, coming off standout performances in the SA20 and the New Year’s Test against Pakistan, displayed excellent form. He effectively rotated the strike and punished loose balls, bringing up his half-century in just 48 balls. Bavuma, initially cautious, settled into his innings, keeping South Africa’s run rate steady. Together, they built a significant 129-run partnership, testing Afghanistan’s bowlers throughout.

The introduction of spin gave Afghanistan a brief reprieve, with Mohammad Nabi taking a key wicket as Bavuma, looking to accelerate, mistimed a shot to deep midwicket and was out for 58 off 76 balls. Despite this, Rickelton stayed steady, crafting a commanding innings. His hundred—his first in ODIs—was achieved stylishly, making him the first South African to score a century on his Champions Trophy debut, joining the ranks of Gary Kirsten, who scored 188* against the UAE in the 1996 World Cup.

However, Rickelton’s innings concluded dramatically; while fielding off his own bowling, Rashid Khan executed a direct hit, catching Rickelton short of his crease as Rahmanullah Gurbaz uprooted the bails. He returned to the pavilion after a magnificent 103 runs from 106 balls, hitting seven boundaries and a six.

With Rickelton’s exit, Afghanistan aimed to curb South Africa’s scoring, with Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi keeping things tight. Noor Ahmad struggled with his lengths, leading to a slowdown in the middle overs where South Africa could only manage 30 runs from overs 32 to 39.

At a crucial juncture in the innings, Rassie van der Dussen injected much-needed momentum. After a prolonged lean patch with just 104 runs in his previous six innings, he took full advantage of Klaasen’s absence. After a cautious start, he found his groove and launched an aggressive counterattack against Afghanistan’s leading spinner. Rashid Khan felt the brunt of Van der Dussen’s onslaught, conceding runs through powerful cuts and powerful slog shots into the midwicket. Just as it seemed he would score more, Noor Ahmad dismissed him for 52 runs off 46 balls, but he had already put South Africa back on track.

Aiden Markram, who had initially struggled for timing, switched gears in the death overs to finish strongly for South Africa. A crucial moment came in the 46th over when he hit Farooqi inside out, followed by back-to-back boundaries—one four and one six—off Noor Ahmad. He further dismantled Farooqi in the 48th over with three consecutive sixes.

Even though David Miller fell victim to an exceptional diving catch by Rahmat Shah at deep midwicket, Markram maintained South Africa’s momentum. Marco Jansen was bowled by Omarzai in the final moments, but by then, the Proteas had amassed a formidable total. Markram’s unbeaten 52 runs off 43 balls were crucial in the latter overs, as South Africa piled on essential runs in the closing stages.

Although Afghanistan’s bowlers had their moments, they struggled to control the scoring rate in the death overs. Mohammad Nabi was the standout bowler with figures of 2-51, while Farooqi, Omarzai, and Noor Ahmad each claimed a wicket. Rashid Khan, despite not taking any wickets, bowled economically.

Summary of scores: South Africa 315/6 in 50 overs (Ryan Rickelton 103, Temba Bavuma 58; Mohammad Nabi 2-51, Fazalhaq Farooqi 1-59) against Afghanistan.

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Jatinder Singh Excels in Super Over as Oman Narrowly Defeats USA in Exciting League 2 Showdown

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6 hours ago

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May 22, 2025

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Oman triumphed over the United States in an electrifying Super Over match on Wednesday at Lauderhill, as reported on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) official website. Captain Jatinder Singh was instrumental in securing the victory.

Jatinder played a pivotal role by scoring a century, bringing Oman to a total of 266, a score that the USA managed to match. He returned for the extra over to deliver the crucial hit that secured Oman third place in the League 2 rankings.

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The experienced right-hander led Oman’s innings after the USA skipper, Monank Patel, elected to bowl first. Jatinder scored 100 runs off 101 balls before being dismissed in the 41st over. Despite Oman appearing to have set a defendable target, Jasdeep Singh’s late effort of 17 runs from the final six balls forced a Super Over.

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In the Super Over, Jatinder hit 12 runs off the first three balls, leading Oman to victory, while the USA, represented by Harmeet Singh and Andries Gous, scored only 13 runs.

With this win, the USA remains in second place in the League 2 rankings, while Oman moves ahead of Scotland to secure third place.

Oman will next face Canada on Friday at the same venue in Lauderhill.

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Woakes Returns as Rocky Flintoff Joins 14-Member England Lions Squad to Challenge India A

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8 hours ago

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May 22, 2025

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The England Lions have unveiled a robust 14-member squad for their two upcoming four-day matches against India A, commencing May 30 in Canterbury. The selection boasts a blend of seasoned players, promising youth, and some intriguing picks.

Leading the announcement is the return of veteran pacer Chris Woakes and the maiden call-up for Rocky Flintoff, son of former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.

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Woakes, 36, who missed the one-off Test against Zimbabwe due to an ankle injury, aims to use the Lions fixtures to showcase his fitness and form ahead of the senior team’s Test series against India in June.

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Having excelled in last summer’s Ashes series with 19 wickets at an impressive average of 18.15—securing the Compton-Miller Medal—Woakes is a pivotal player under English conditions. However, with younger seamers like Essex’s Sam Cook making a push for selection, these matches could be essential for him to maintain his place in the senior team.

The Lions will be captained by Somerset’s James Rew, who is also part of the senior squad for the Zimbabwe Test starting May 22. Rew will lead a vibrant group, which includes legspinner Rehan Ahmed—available only for the first match before joining the T20I squad for the West Indies—and talented top-order batter Dan Mousley.

One of the standout selections is Rocky Flintoff, the son of Ashes 2005 hero Andrew Flintoff. The squad also features left-arm fast bowler Josh Hull, who made his England debut last summer against Sri Lanka, and opener Ben McKinney, a former England U-19 player looking to climb higher.

Another notable inclusion is Farhan Ahmed, younger brother of Rehan, who has earned his place thanks to impressive performances for Nottinghamshire with his off-spin bowling.

Jordan Cox is expected to return for the second match in Northampton after being sidelined for the Zimbabwe Test due to injury, while Jofra Archer will not be participating. Initially considered for the second match at Wantage Road, Archer is out due to a right-thumb injury sustained during the IPL.

England Lions Squad: James Rew (Captain), Farhan Ahmed, Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Jordan Cox, Rocky Flintoff, Emilio Gay, Tom Haines, George Hill, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben McKinney, Dan Mousley, Ajeet Singh Dale, Chris Woakes.

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Mukesh Kumar of DC Fined for Violating IPL Code of Conduct

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8 hours ago

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May 22, 2025

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Mukesh Kumar, a pace bowler for the Delhi Capitals, was fined 10% of his match earnings following his team’s loss to the Mumbai Indians, which officially ended their hopes of advancing to the IPL 2025 playoffs, according to ESPNcricinfo.

He was found guilty of a Level 1 breach under Article 2.2 of the IPL Code of Conduct, relating to the improper handling of cricketing equipment during the match. Kumar accepted the penalty imposed by match referee Daniel Manohar and acknowledged the charge.

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In Wednesday’s match, Kumar struggled with his bowling, giving away 48 runs in his four overs, which included three sixes and five boundaries. Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir scored a staggering 27 runs in his 19th over, playing a crucial role in setting Mumbai’s total to a strong 180. Kumar’s figures ended at 2/48, with that over going for 6, 1, 4, 6, 6, and 4.

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The Delhi batting lineup faltered, managing just 121 runs after Kumar was substituted for KL Rahul as the impact player during the chase. Only two uncapped players, Vipraj Nigam (20) and Sameer Rizvi (39), managed to cross the 20-run mark. Mumbai’s bowlers, particularly Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Santner, were impressive, combining to take three wickets while conceding just 23 runs in 44 deliveries.

Season-wise, Kumar has played in 11 of DC’s 13 matches, claiming 11 wickets. However, his performance has been costly, with an economy rate of 10.11 and an average of 32.63 runs. Following Mumbai’s victory, the playoff spots are locked in for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, and Punjab Kings, leaving the rankings of these four teams to be determined in their final group stage matches.

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