Latest news with #RaviBopara
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Bopara inspires Northants, Foxes edge out Lightning
Ravi Bopara produced a T20 batting masterclass to inspire Northamptonshire Steelbacks to victory in an entertaining, high-scoring contest against Derbyshire ex-England batter hit an unbeaten 84 off 46 balls to help the hosts recover from 24-3 and set a target of 195, which Derbyshire fell just seven runs short in the the North Group, Leicestershire Foxes ended Lancashire Lightning's 100% winning start to the season with a five-wicket win in a hard-fought encounter at Old who were looking to make it four wins from four, set a target of 146 but the Foxes kept their composure to chase it down with nine balls to spare. Match scorecards Steelbacks remain unbeaten, Falcons still without a win Northamptonshire Steelbacks arrived at the County Ground in Derby having won their first two games to face a Falcons side who lost their was Derbyshire who took charge in the early stages as Northamptonshire lost three wickets inside the opening five overs to slip to skipper David Willey and Bopara steadied the ship with a quickfire 75 partnership as Willey hit three sixes on his way to 37 before he holed out to Pat Brown at deep mid-wicket off Martin Andersson's first Zaib fell for seven but Bopara stepped on the gas, ably supported by Lewis McManus who contributed a useful 29 from 17 Steelbacks racked up 67 runs from the final four overs, including 24 off the last of the innings from Zak Chappell in which Bopara hit three sixes and a left the Falcons with something of a mini mountain to climb, but one which they so nearly reply could not have got off to a worse start when Aneurin Donald spooned one up to Luke Procter off Willey to be dismissed after two balls for the second game in a 0-1 became 12-2, and then 33-3 as David Lloyd and Wayne Madsen both fell without really troubling the Samit Patel. An excellent partnership of 114 between Patel and opener Caleb Jewell gave the Falcons a sniff of pulling off an excellent chase until Jewell was caught by Justin Broad off Procter for 71 from 44 skipper Patel was not to be perturbed and battled on valiantly to try and drag his side over the line, smashing four sixes and nine fours as he made an unbeaten 83. Ross Whiteley came in at the end to hit 15 from 8 balls but Derbyshire were six runs shy of at least tying a thrilling contest. Ahmed outshines Anderson at Old Trafford James Anderson marked his first T20 game for 11 years in style on Sunday, taking 3-17 as Lancashire beat Durham by four wickets in a final-ball there was to be no such joy upon Anderson's first game in the competition at Old Trafford since his return to the T20 Keaton Jennings got the hosts off to a flyer - despite his opening partner Luke Wells going for five - as he smashed 39 from 19 did well to stem the flow though and took wickets at regular intervals throughout to ensure Lightning could not build any real Rehan Ahmed, who is due to join up with England for their T20I series against the West Indies later this week, bowled wonderfully for the took Michael Jones' off stump with a ripper, and then bamboozled Australian batter Ashton Turner with a fantastic googly on his way to 3-16 from his four Trevaskis also did some great work with the ball, taking Green hit 36 towards the end of the innings for Lightning, including running four off the final ball - a rarity in T20 matches - to leave the Foxes needing 146 to win. By the end of the powerplay in Leicestershire's chase, the game was in the balance at 52-3 - Anderson took another T20 wicket with Sol Budinger caught in the deep by Josh Bohannon, and skipper Louis Kimber was making a fist of it with the hit 40 from 22 balls, including three fours and three sixes, before he edged a dolly to Luke Wells at backward point off Tom then did his bit with bat in hand too as he and Ben Cox put on 59 runs for the fifth wicket to swing the tide in Leicestershire's left Trevaskis and Cox needing less than a run a ball in the final five overs after Ahmed was bowled by Charlie two saw it home fairly comfortably in the end as Cox ended on 38 not out and Trevaskis on 22. Lancashire stay top of the North Group on net run-rate ahead of Northamptonshire in second, while Leicestershire climb to third and Derbyshire remain in seventh.
Express Tribune
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Bopara confident of Karachi comeback
Karachi Kings Head Coach Ravi Bopara remains upbeat about the team's chances in the HBL PSL 10 playoffs, despite a tough loss in their final league match against Islamabad United. Speaking after the match, Bopara was clear: the team isn't letting one defeat define them. "It wasn't our best day, but it hasn't shaken our confidence," he said. "This team is a tight unit, we enjoy the good moments together, and we stand by each other in tough times. We're backing ourselves against Lahore Qalandars and aiming to go all the way." He acknowledged Islamabad United's strong showing but emphasized Karachi's own consistent run in the tournament. "We played excellent cricket throughout the group stage. For a long time, we were securely in second place. But Islamabad beat us twice - so they deserve that spot," he added. "They started the tournament on a high with five straight wins. We came close, but now we'll take the hard route, and sometimes that's the more rewarding one." Ravi Bopara also shared his views on the evolution of emerging players in Pakistan, particularly batters. "I've been impressed by the emerging batters this season. Usually, we see more fast bowlers, but this time some really strong hitters have come through. They're powerful, they can clear boundaries, which hasn't always been the case with Pakistan batters," he further stated. "But they're inexperienced. Next year, opponents will come with plans and target their weaknesses. That second season is always tough. We've got to support them, guide them, and help them adapt. That's how we turn them into world-class players." Karachi Kings now look to regroup quickly and come out firing in the do-or-die clash against Lahore Qalandars on 22 May at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
England cricketers in Pakistan look to flee country amid India conflict
English cricketers playing at the Pakistan Super League are seeking a route out of the country amid escalating military tension with India. Earlier this week India launched Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam terror attacks last month. Pakistan says 31 people have been killed and 57 injured by air strikes in the country and Pakistan-administered Kashmir since Wednesday morning. The PSL postponed Thursday's match between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings after a drone fell near the stadium in Rawalpindi. Pakistan said the drone was launched from India. At that point, there was uncertainty over the future of the tournament, which could be cancelled, postponed indefinitely, finished in one city in Pakistan, or even moved out of the country entirely (possibly to Dubai). The tournament's group stages are nearing their end, with the final due to played a week on Sunday. There are seven English players at the tournament – Chris Jordan, James Vince, Sam Billings, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Curran, Luke Wood and David Willey – as well as a number of coaches including Ravi Bopara and Alex Hartley. In all, the English contingent at the tournament is around 15-strong. They held an emergency call with the England and Wales Cricket Board's security adviser Reg Dickason and the Professional Cricketers' Association on Wednesday. At that point, players were divided over whether to leave the country but in the hours that followed feelings strengthened and by Thursday evening, there was agreement among overseas players that it was time to leave Pakistan. The question was how soon they could get out of the country with the hope being they could travel to Dubai on Friday. Overseas players from other counties – including Australia, New Zealand and the West Indies – were in a similar position. Across the border, there is also uncertainty around the remainder of the Indian Premier League season. Thursday's match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala – in Himchal Pradesh, which borders Kashmir – was dramatically postponed after 10.1 overs because of the sudden failure of three floodlights. Despite an official statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India saying the game was called off after 'a power outage in the area' resulting in the floodlight failure, the IPL chairman Arun Dhumal was quoted by IANS saying it was because of the reported explosions in Jammu in Kashmir. 'Yes, the match has been called off as a precautionary step, because there are some incidents which happened in Jammu, I believe,' Dhumal said. 'That's what we got to know, so we thought it's wise to call off the game.' The next match in Dharamsala, which was due to take place on Saturday, has already been moved to Ahmedabad. Reports suggested the BCCI was arranging 'special trains' to transport teams and staff out of Dharamsala, which is in the foothills of the Himalayas. A report in the Times of India said teams in the league were 'in a state of panic', adding that the IPL Governing Council would meet to discuss the situation. English cricketers playing at the Pakistan Super League are seeking a route out of the country amid escalating military tension with India.
Indian Express
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
WATCH: Lancashire player drops mobile phone while batting in County cricket, courts controversy and hilarious social media response
Things have been a little muggy at the start of the ongoing County Championship season at Old Trafford in Manchester for Lancashire. The home side has slumped to three defeats in as many outings before finding some footing in the latest fixture against Gloucestershire, but not without leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for some (probably) harmless fun on the field. Given all the marathon batting by his teammates in the top-order for over a day's play, Tom Bailey, perhaps, was a touch too absent-minded when he strode out to bat at No. 10, with the score having nudged past 400. In a video clip that has gone viral on social media, the 34-year-old seamer, a few scalps short of touching 400 in his First-Class career, is seen dropping his mobile phone (yes) while attempting his first runs off Gloucestershire pacer Josh Shaw in the 114th over. Reeling in the second run after a neat flick down towards fine-leg, Bailey dropped the phone at the non-striker's, a few feet away from the umpire. 'Something has dropped out of his pocket. I think it's his mobile phone!' observed one of the commentators. 'No way!' said the other. Though the commentators noticed that the bowler Shaw picked up the mobile, it is unclear whether it was handed over to the umpire. — No Context County Cricket (@NoContextCounty) May 3, 2025 'As much as it is hilarious and we are laughing about it, I almost wonder if that's going to have to be reported. The fact that he was out in the middle .. (chuckles) with a mobile phone in his pocket (more laughs),' wondered the commentator. Conspicuously, Bailey finished unbeaten on 22 off 31 balls, shoring up his side to 450 on day two of the contest. Facepalms, expletives and more Shared by the 'No Context County Cricket' on X (formerly Twitter), Bailey's 'caught-in-the-act' moment received a facepalm emoji response from former England seamer Alex Tudor. The King Langley Cricket Club opted for a subtler dig, tagging That's So Village, an account famous for its collection of unusual moments from the wide world of village cricket. Cleadon Cricket Club admin offered Bailey another role beyond the all-rounder's tag at Lancashire. 'He must run their social media accounts because admin has nearly walked out with phone in pocket a few times,' wrote the admin of the club part of the Durham North East Cricket League. I can't believe I just batted with my mobile phone in my left pocket accidentally. 🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈 — Ravi Bopara (@ravibopara) April 24, 2016 While a streak of other accounts laid out expletives and calls for lengthy suspensions, another user recalled this one time when former England bat Ravi Bopara wrote on Twitter: 'I can't believe I just batted with my mobile phone in my left pocket accidentally.' Perhaps the jitter get the better of the County bats, as Bopara's former teammate Owais Shah chimed in with a banter on the 2016 tweet. 'Let's be honest mate……. Does it REALLY surprise you!?? What do you reckon,' Shah wrote while tagging current ECB managing director Rob Key. 'I'm surprised Ravi remembers his bat.'
Express Tribune
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Ravi Bopara shares Karachi Kings' HBL PSL X goals, talks player development
New Karachi Kings head coach Ravi Bopara has outlined the franchise's objectives for the 10th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League, placing strong emphasis on player development and youth progression. Former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara, who previously played for Karachi Kings from 2016 to 2019, has officially stepped into the head coach role for HBL PSL 10. His promotion comes after Phil Simmons took over as Bangladesh men's team head coach through to the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. Bopara rejoined the Kings' coaching staff in 2023 as batting coach and was later promoted to assistant coach. Now at the helm, he's set to guide the franchise through a new chapter, one that prioritises growth and opportunity. 'The main goal of the PSL is to create players for the future of Pakistan cricket,' Bopara said. 'Especially those young players who are working their way up. If they're not in the national side yet, PSL is their platform to push back in.' He also praised the Kings' management and his journey with the team. 'From playing days to now being head coach, the support from the franchise has been immense,' he added. Discussing squad composition, Bopara highlighted a balance of youth and experience, led by overseas stars David Warner and Kane Williamson. 'We have a strong local core, and with senior overseas players guiding them, it makes for a well-rounded squad,' he said. 'Competitions aren't usually won by teams with only young players. It's the right mix of guidance and energy that drives success.' Bopara also stressed his desire to help players grow throughout the season. 'I'd love for every player to leave the tournament better than when they started,' he concluded. The Karachi Kings, former PSL champions, will be aiming to bounce back strongly in PSL 10 with their revamped leadership and renewed vision under Bopara.
