26/07/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | JULY 26, 2025

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Speed, stamina and skill Stokes the all rounder coming to the fore at right time for England G IVEN the injury setbacks, Ben Stokes was set to play a bit-part role with the ball against India, but having earned a first five Ben Stokes. – REUTERSPIC

NZ spinner Sodhi relishing T20 powerplay challenge ISH SODHI is enjoying the challenge of bowling in the pow erplay overs in Twenty20 Internationals, the New Zealand spinner said after registering a career-best 4-12 against Zimbabwe in the ongoing tri-series in Harare on Thursday. The 32-year-old became the second New Zealand bowler, after Tim Southee (164), to claim 150 wickets in T20 Internationals as his team registered their fourth consecutive win in a tournament also involving South Africa. “Well, that’s pretty nice to be able to achieve that mile stone and contribute to the win,” player of the match Sodhi said afterwards. Sodhi claimed three of his four wickets in the first six powerplay overs when batters tend to take advantage of fewer fielders outside the circle and bat aggressively. “It’s quite a new role for me,” the leg-spinner said. “I had not bowled in the powerplays a lot. This is a really strong New Zealand side nowadays, so to try and get into the side, you have to learn to be able to bowl in the power play. “Getting some wickets is quite pleasing. It shows, I sup pose, that I can do it and it’s something I want to keep doing.” New Zealand will take on South Africa in today’s final in Harare. They will stay back for a two-test series against hosts Zimbabwe. Batting all-rounder Michael Bracewell will replace the injured Glenn Phillips for the first test in Bulawayo, New Zealand Cricket said yesterday. “Glenn’s injury provided a gap in the Test squad and Michael is the closest like-for-like replacement,” said New Zealand coach Rob Walter. “Michael’s experience and skillset will be a great asset and allows us to keep the same balance of the team. “Given he’s here with the T20 squad and his availability aligned for the first test, we’re using the opportunity to include him in the squad.” Phillips was ruled out of the Zimbabwe tour with a groin injury suffered in the Major League Cricket in the United States earlier this month. – Reuters

bowled more overs than in any other series in his test career. While he remains without a Test century since July 2023, Stokes’ first five for in eight years to help put England in with a chance of victory in the fourth Test saw him join an elite group of all rounders. Stokes is now one of only four cricketers in Test history to have scored 10 or more centuries while also amassing five or more five-wicket hauls. The 34-year-old has also never taken more wickets in a test series, with potentially three innings still to play against India. “He is a phenomenal cricketer,” England opener Zak Crawley said after his score of 84 helped England close

wicket haul since 2017 in the fourth test, the England skipper is becoming the all rounder many hoped he would become. Stokes admitted ahead of the crucial India series – which England can clinch victory in with a win at Old Trafford this week – that just bowling pain free would be a start. “I can’t remember the last time I was able to work so hard on just technical stuff of bowling,” Stokes told reporters last month when asked about how he was feeling after his latest injury. “To be able to do some really good technical work and getting myself back to sort of where I feel like I was before I had my injuries is really good. There was naturally quite a few changes that crept into my action due to the injuries.” England’s talisman only returned to bowling in May after undergoing hamstring surgery for the second time in six months in January, having dubbed himself the “Bionic Man”. Despite frontline fast bowler Jofra Archer returning from injury, Stokes bowled more overs than anyone else in the third Test at Lord’s, before his efforts in Manchester this week ensured he has now

day two on 225-2, 133 runs behind India’s first innings total. “Apart from his skills with the bat and the ball it is just his attitude to keep coming and keep coming. “He is a fantastic bowler,

which goes under the radar. It is great to see him bowling this much again. He got his rewards today.” Stokes’ skills with the bat could make all the difference over the coming days, but having avoided further injury setbacks, his impact with the ball is giving England a much-needed boost. –Reuters

Crawley ‘owes’ himself more outstanding performances

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PACEMAN Salman Mirza grabbed three wickets and opener Sahibzada Farhan struck an aggressive fifty in Pakistan’s consolation 74-run win in the third T20 on Thursday as Bangladesh took the series 2 1. Mirza, playing only his third international, ENGLAND opener Zak Crawley said “I owe it to myself to have a few more good performances” following his sparkling 84 in the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford. Crawley has long been a polarising figure in English cricket given his modest average of 31.40 from 58 Tests, including a mere five hundreds – a poor return from a specialist batsman. But, significantly, England captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, have never lost faith in the 27-year-old for all Crawley’s critics, including former England skipper Farhan’s 41-ball 63 studded with five sixes and six fours got Pakistan off to a strong start and Hasan Nawaz clubbed 33 off 17 balls to help them to 178-7 after they were sent in to bat. Mirza struck with the second ball of the innings, dismissing Tanzid Hassan caught behind for nought which triggered a batting collapse. Only Mohammad Saifuddin demolished Bangladesh’s top order with figures of 3 19 as the home team was bowled out for 104 in 16.4 overs in Dhaka.

with the final two wickets. “I am very proud of my team,” said Pakistan captain Salman Agha. “This is what we talked about as a team, no matter what situation we are in, we want to show character.” Bangladesh skipper Litton Das praised his’s team effort in the series win. “We played some good cricket and it’s great to win a series against Pakistan,” said Litton, who also led the team to a T20 series win in Sri Lanka last week. Having already won their first ever T20 series against Pakistan with victories in the first two matches, Bangladesh rested five of their main players including spearhead Mustafizur Rahman. Pakistan had scored 110 and 125 in the first two matches – also in Dhaka – losing by seven wickets and eight runs respectively. – AFP Crawley and left-hander Duckett, also unable to reach three figures yesterday when falling for 94, delighted the Manchester crowd just a week after being caught up in a time wasting row in the third Test at Lord’s. Crawley was sworn at during the fracas by India captain Shubman Gill, saying: “At Lord’s, I loved that little passage. No one stepped over the line, it was just competitive cricket, I really enjoyed it.” – AFP think I’ve ever got out in my life and not been annoyed and I was certainly annoyed (after getting out on Thursday).”

Michael Vaughan, believe he is failing to do his talent justice. And the Kent right-hander repaid some of the England management’s confidence with 84 on yesterday at a ground where he made a stunning 189 during the 2023 Ashes. “I always want more from myself and I’ve certainly wanted more for myself than I’ve got in the last year or so,” said Crawley, whose elegant style has often, if perhaps unfairly, led to accusations of a cavalier attitude. He also told reporters: “I just feel like I owe it to myself to have a few more good performances. I don’t

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Mirza, Farhan star in Pakistan win

contributed a score of note as he made an unbeaten 35. Mohammad Naim (10) was the only other Bangladesh batsman to reach double figures.

Seamer Faheem Ashraf took 2 13 and Mohammad Nawaz wrapped up the w i n

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Sahibzada Farhan. – AFPPIC