Latest news with #JoshLittle
Irish Times
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Times
Rain halts play in Clontarf as West Indies come charging back
Sod's law dictates that rain was always going to have a say at some point in Ireland's summer calendar. With just nine days of men's international cricket pencilled in between May and September (the women have eight), fans already felt short changed. That the rain ruined any hopes of a result on Friday afternoon in Clontarf and with Sunday's forecast threatening the series finale, all involved are underwhelmed. With such a barren schedule to sell the top level of the sport to the Irish public, Cricket Ireland always ran the risk of rain ruining their already limited product. READ MORE West Indies did manage to bat for 50 overs before the heavens opened. After the visitor's head coach Darren Sammy called their Wednesday performance 'timid', many predicted a response. Still, nobody saw Matthew Forde's record performance coming, equalling 50-over cricket's fastest half-century at 16 balls. Josh Little bore the brunt of the Caribbean onslaught, Forde launching Ireland's left-armer for four maximums in one solitary over. Little went short, Forde went long over the Clontarf scoreboard and into the houses. Liam McCarthy suffered too, his attempted wide yorker ploy leading to a pair of lost balls. Tom Mayes didn't escape punishment either. In a way, the rain was Ireland's friend. They would have needed to break their record chase to haul in the West Indies' total of 352-8. With the odds not in their favour, they probably would have taken a rain-affected draw which leaves the West Indies needing a win on Sunday just to level the three-match series. Yet with the volume of cricket they had this summer, they probably wanted to get out as much as anyone. The good news from Ireland's effort with the ball was McCarthy – before Forde got hold of him. Pegged as a rare bowler with pace who can give Ireland something different in the middle overs, he took three wickets in the thankless part of the game, his first international scalps. West Indies captain Shai Hope nicked one which just left him after starting to look dangerous. Keacy Carty also nicked off after an impressive century. Forde's fun was ended by a searing McCarthy yorker at the death. Barry McCarthy stuck to his good new ball form when finding Brandon King's edge, adding a second later on, while George Dockrell continued his bowling renaissance with another dismissal. Most of this preceded Forde's ludicrous onslaught. Ireland were poor – they either bowled without an apparent plan or an inability to execute when tactics did become clear. Clontarf being a small ground certainly aided Forde's cause, but his display was still one of brutal beauty. The neighbours may well disagree. It's only a shame the West Indies didn't get back out to secure the win his performance deserved.
Express Tribune
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
WATCH: Ramiz Raja calls HBL PSL the ‘HBL IPL', gets trolled online
Multan Sultans secured their first win of HBL PSL 2025 in emphatic fashion, but the night's buzz came off-field when commentator Ramiz Raja mistakenly referred to the tournament as the 'HBL IPL' during the post-match presentation. Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja, now a familiar voice in cricket commentary, sparked an online frenzy on Tuesday after a slip of the tongue during the awards ceremony at Multan Cricket Stadium. As Ireland's Josh Little was being honoured for the catch of the match—dismissing Fakhar Zaman—Raja accidentally referred to the Pakistan Super League as the 'HBL IPL'. The moment was quickly picked up by fans, with video clips of the gaffe going viral across social media platforms. Memes and reactions flooded timelines, many poking fun at the mix-up and others calling it a moment of comic relief in an intense season. Time to retire from commentary as well — Sports syncs (@moiz_sports) April 23, 2025 Rameez Raja wants to be part of IPL — Anirban (@Anirban37699026) April 23, 2025 Ramiz Out of englis🤣 — Muhammad Muavia (@iamMK_46) April 22, 2025 It also prompted a debate between IPL and PSL fans with regards to which cricketing T20 league was better. We know IPL is bigger but PSL is better too — Numair Tariq (@NumairTariq2) April 23, 2025 HBL PSL ❌ HBL IPL ✅ Best Catch of the "HBL IPL" ~ Ramiz Raja does it again 😅 — Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) April 23, 2025 The incident followed a commanding performance by the Sultans, who bounced back from a slow start to the season by defeating Lahore Qalandars by 33 runs. Yasir Khan starred with the bat, smashing 87 off just 44 balls in an explosive innings that included six boundaries and six maximums. His opening stand of 89 runs with captain Mohammad Rizwan (32 off 17) propelled the hosts to 228/5—the highest team total at Multan in PSL history. In reply, the Qalandars mounted a strong chase, but despite brisk knocks from Fakhar Zaman (32), Sam Billings (43), and Sikandar Raza (50), they fell short at 195/9. Ubaid Shah impressed with three wickets, while Josh Little's highlight-reel catch provided the game's defining moment. Elsewhere, Islamabad United remain unbeaten atop the HBL PSL 2025 table with four wins, followed by Karachi Kings with six points. Lahore Qalandars sit third with four points from five matches.
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Ramiz Raja calls PSL 'IPL' during post-match presentation on live TV, doesn't bother correcting himself
Multan Sultans may have registered their first victory of PSL 2025 emphatically, but it was a slip of the tongue from commentator Ramiz Raja that ended up stealing some of the spotlight after the game. During the post-match presentation, as Ireland's Josh Little was being awarded for taking the best catch of the match – a sharp dismissal of Fakhar Zaman – Raja, a former Pakistan captain and seasoned voice of cricket, mistakenly referred to the tournament as the 'HBL IPL' instead of the PSL. The awkward moment drew immediate reactions from fans online, with video clips of the gaffe quickly going viral across social media. The blooper shortly after a high-octane contest at the Multan Cricket Stadium, where the hosts defeated Lahore Qalandars by 33 runs. Sultan's campaign had started on a shaky note, but Tuesday's win saw them roar back in style with an all-round show, led by a blistering innings from Yasir Khan and a disciplined bowling effort spearheaded by young pacer Ubaid Shah. Making his first appearance this season, Yasir lit up the evening with a 44-ball 87 that included six fours and as many sixes. The opener was on song from the get-go, punishing the Qalandars' bowling with clean hitting and confident strokeplay. He stitched an 89-run opening partnership with captain Mohammad Rizwan, who contributed a breezy 32 off 17 balls. The duo's explosive start laid the foundation for a mammoth total of 228/5 – the highest ever at the Multan venue in PSL history. The Qalandars, chasing 229, started with promise but fizzled out under pressure. Despite brief fireworks from Fakhar Zaman (32 off 14), Sam Billings (43 off 23), and Sikandar Raza (50 off 27), they could only manage to reach 195/9 in their 20 overs. Ubaid Shah was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Josh Little's highlight-reel catch turned the tide in Sultans' favour. Islamabad United stay at the top of the PSL table as the only unbeaten side in the season with four wins on the trot. Karachi Kings are second with six points from five matches, while the Qalandars are at the third position with four points.
BBC News
24-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ireland bowler Little to join Middlesex
Middlesex have agreed a deal to sign Ireland fast bowler Josh Little. The 25-year-old will feature mainly in the club's T20 Blast squad, but is available for other formats if needed. His move is subject to Cricket Ireland issuing a No Objection Certificate and his commitments with his national team. Little has played in the Indian Premier League for Gujarat Titans and has also had spells in T20 competitions in Sri Lanka, South Africa and the Caribbean He has also featured for both Manchester Originals and Welsh Fire in The has played 71 T20 matches for Ireland and 39 One Day Internationals, taking 139 wickets for his country in both formats - including 4-45 on his ODI debut against England. "To secure a player of Josh's T20 experience and proven ability is huge for us, as he has performed at the highest level of white-ball cricket around the world for the last few years, Middlesex director of cricket Alan Coleman told the club website, external. "He brings something different to our attack. He's got genuine pace, is a left-armer, which in itself poses problems for batters, has a fierce short ball, and has skills that make him perfect for bowling both at the top and in the death overs of an innings."
