Latest news with #VitalityBlast
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ben Green helps Somerset to victory over rival Gloucestershire
Ben Green conjured up an incisive performance with bat and ball as Somerset beat arch rivals Gloucestershire by 16 runs in a hard-fought Vitality Blast encounter beneath the Cooper Associates Ground floodlights, writes Andrew Stockhausen, ECB Reporters' Network. So often an unsung hero in the short format, Green top-scored with 36 not out from 22 balls with 3 sixes and dominated a crucial unbeaten stand of 42 for the eighth wicket with Craig Overton as Somerset posted 164-7 on a turning pitch after winning the toss. He then returned figures of 1-27 from four overs as Gloucestershire, buoyed by another half century from overseas star D'Arcy Short, were restricted to 148-8, much to the delight of a sell-out Taunton crowd. Gloucestershire skipper Jack Taylor claimed 3-19 with his off breaks and his brother, Matt, 2-11 as the visitors made Somerset graft on a used surface. In the final analysis, Green's heroics at the death made the difference in an uncharacteristically low-scoring contest. Short finished unbeaten on 71 from 52 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes for Gloucestershire, while Jake Ball took 2-20 in four overs as Somerset finished their qualification campaign with 11 wins in 14 outings. Read more: Somerset suffer first away defeat in 2025 Vitality Blast competition Somerset clinch home Blast quarter final after five wicket win over Kent Somerset seal Blast quarter final berth with victory over Essex Accustomed to scoring freely in powerplays at Taunton, Somerset did not have things entirely their own way against the nagging accuracy of Gloucestershire's seamers. Tom Lammonby and Will Smeed came out breathing fire, only to fall to left armer Matt Taylor as the home side were reduced to 46-2 in the sixth. Lammonby mustered a six and a four in raising 15, only to drill a length ball straight to mid-wicket, while Smeed plundered 20 off a Josh Shaw over before losing off stump to a Taylor in-swinger and departing for 29. Making his final appearance for Gloucestershire before retirement, spinner Tom Smith lured James Rew into a trap, having the young left-hander held on the long-on boundary for 19 with the score 79-3 in the ninth. Trusting in pace off on a used pitch, the visitors introduced Ollie Price's off breaks at the River End in a bid to stifle Somerset's renowned firepower. He struck in his first over, Tom Kohler-Cadmore feathering a catch behind and falling for 21 as the cider county reached halfway on 91-4. Bowling leg spin, Jack Taylor then got in on the act, taking a looping return catch to remove Somerset skipper Lewis Gregory for six as the home side lurched to 105-5 in the 13th. Having scratched 14 runs, Sean Dickson then succumbed to Gloucestershire's captain in his next over from the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion end, playing across the line and missing a straight one with the score 114-6. On a roll by now, Taylor struck again in the 17th, persuading Lewis Goldsworthy to hit high to long-on as Somerset were further reduced to 122-7. When Green hoisted Jack Taylor over mid-wicket for six in the penultimate over, it was Somerset's first boundary for nine overs. He twice repeated the feat against David Payne at the death, 22 runs coming from the final over as Green and Craig Overton raised a valuable unbeaten eighth wicket alliance of 42 in 21 balls. Overton opened up with a maiden over, but Short and Miles Hammond both helped themselves to sixes in the second, bowled by Gregory, as Gloucestershire's reply received a welcome shot in the arm. Hammond then put Overton over the rope at deep mid-wicket, only to perish in the fourth over, bowled for 16 by a slower delivery from Jake Ball. Debutant Tommy Boorman got off the mark with a pulled six at the expense of Overton, who immediately avenged himself, having the youngster superbly held by Gregory at cover as the visitors slipped to 36-2. Spinner Goldsworthy was called into the attack to bowl the eighth and Short lifted him for six over long-on as the over yielded 11 runs. Jack Leach did rather better when replacing him at the River End, persuading Ben Charlesworth to hole out to mid-wicket for 16, while Jack Taylor was run out next ball without scoring as Gloucestershire subsided to 66-4 at halfway. With the required rate rising to 11 for the first time, Gloucestershire were in need of a big over. It came in the 14th, Ollie Price taking Leach for a six and a four to keep his side in the hunt. But when Price offered Green a return catch in the next over, last season's Blast champions were 102-5, requiring a further 63 from 35 balls. Short went to his fifth half century in six innings from 42 balls, but Gregory returned to remove James Bracey as Somerset took a vice-like grip on proceedings.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rain brings premature end to Somerset Women's match against The Blaze
Somerset spinners Olivia Barnes and Chloe Skelton produced a standout performance with the ball, only for rain to bring a premature end to an intriguing Vitality Blast contest against The Blaze at the Cooper Associates Ground, writes Andrew Stockhausen, ECB Reporters' Network. Barnes claimed 3-12 and Skelton 3-26 as The Blaze were bowled out for 138 in their 20 overs after being put in on a turning pitch. The visitors were indebted to Georgia Elwiss, who top-scored with 35, while Michaela Kirk and Lucy Higham hit 24 and 22 respectively at the death to hoist their side to a competitive total. Thereafter, low cloud and persistent light rain moved in from the West, making further play beneath the Taunton floodlights impossible and leaving umpires Ian Blackwell and Surendiran Shanmugam no option but to abandon the game with only one innings completed. Already qualified for Finals Day, The Blaze remain in second place behind Surrey, while Somerset continue to prop up the table with one win in 13 games. The teams were awarded two points apiece for a no-result. Somerset skipper Sophie Luff won the toss, inserted The Blaze on a used pitch and looked on approvingly as Skelton made early in-roads. The off spinner had Marie Kelly held at mid-wicket in the first over and then accounted for the Kathryn Bryce, stumped by Bex Odgers for 14 with 36 on the board in the fifth. Read more: Career-best figures for Mollie Robbins, but Somerset Women beaten by Bears 'Local girl' Niamh buzzing to lead Somerset Women to first Blast win Elwiss served notice that she was in good touch during a powerplay that yielded 43 runs, but East Midlands optimism sustained a further blow when Sarah Bryce, coming back for a second, was needlessly run out by Niamh Holland's throw from the deep with the score 51-3. Attempts to build meaningful partnerships continued to fall flat for The Blaze, Skelton returning at the River End to induce Heather Graham to chip to mid-off for 12 as the visitors lurched to 72-4 in the 11th. Somerset's spinners bowled a tight line, effectively cutting off the flow of boundaries as Elwiss and Ella Claridge came under intense pressure during the middle overs. That pressure told when Elwiss, having raised 35 from 34 balls, was bowled in the act of playing across the line to Ellie Anderson in the 15th. Things went from bad to worse for The Blaze thereafter, Barnes claiming three wickets in four balls in an eventful 16th over to further reduce the visitors to 93-8. The slow left armer bowled Claridge for 12, had Josie Groves caught at cover point off the next ball and then persuaded Sarah Glenn to feather a catch behind as Somerset tightened their grip. In urgent need of inspiration, the visitors were bolstered by the combative Kirk and Higham, these two launching a counter-attack that yielded 42 runs in the final three overs. Kirk hit Alex Griffiths for four consecutive boundaries on her way to a 17-ball 24, while Highan raised 22 from 12 deliveries at the death to haul The Blaze to a competitive score.
India Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Watch: England spinner's 17-year-old brother lights up T20 Blast with hat-trick
17-year-old Farhan Ahmed was on fire as he picked up a hat-trick in Nottinghamshire's T20 Blast match against Lancashire on Friday, July 18, at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. He dismissed Luke Wood, Tom Aspinwall, and Mitchell Stanley, finishing with impressive figures of 17 years and 147 days old, Farhan - the younger brother of England spinner Rehan Ahmed - became the second-youngest player to take a hat-trick in T20 in the match, Farhan also claimed the wickets of Lancashire captain Keaton Jennings and T20 veteran Chris Green. Thanks to his exceptional bowling, Nottinghamshire bowled Lancashire out for 126 runs in 20 overs. Here's the video of Farhan Ahmed's hat-trick in T20 BlastFARHAN AHMED HAS A VITALITY BLAST HAT-TRICK AT 17 YEARS OLD!!!!! Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) July 18, 2025Nottinghamshire went on to win by four wickets, although Tom Moores earned the Player of the Match award for his impressive 75-run innings. Despite their win and Farhan's outstanding performance, Nottinghamshire failed to qualify for the the ongoing T20 Blast, Farhan has taken eight wickets from six matches at an economy rate of Ahmed rising rapidly Last year, Farhan made headlines as Nottinghamshire's youngest first-class cricketer at just 16 years and 189 days old. On his debut, he took seven wickets for 140 runs against Surrey at Trent Bridge. He went on to become the youngest player in England's first-class cricket history to take 10 wickets in a match - also setting the record for the youngest player in County Championship history to achieve a 10-wicket 13 first-class matches and 21 innings so far, Farhan has taken 38 wickets, including two four-wicket hauls, one five-wicket haul, and one 10-wicket was also part of the England squad for the 2024 U19 World Cup, where he took five wickets in four games at an economy rate of 3.22.- Ends
News18
3 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Youngest Bowler In World To Pick 10 Wickets Bags Hat-trick At 17
Last Updated: Farhan Ahmed, 17, took a hat-trick and five-wicket haul for Nottinghamshire in Vitality Blast, leading them to a win against Lancashire. Star England spinner Rehan Ahmed's brother, Farhan, on Friday, was the star performer in the ongoing Vitality Blast, as he bagged a hat-trick and eventually a five-wicket haul to take Nottinghamshire to a four-wicket win over Lancashire at home, in a brilliant performance at just 17 years old. The hat-trick was the first-ever in Nottinghamshire's T20 history, and Farhan finished with figures of 5-0-25-5. Last year, Farhan had made his first-class debut for the team at 16 years old to be the club's youngest FC cricketer. He finished with figures of 7/140 on his debut. The hat-trick and a maiden white-ball five-for for Farhan, who last season became the youngest cricketer in FC cricket in Britain to have 10 wickets in a game, helped bowl out Lancashire for a paltry 126. Opting to bat first, Phil Salt and skipper Keaton Jennings built a 38-run opening partnership before the latter was dismissed by Farhan. Lancashire soon found themselves at 53/5 in the eighth over before Matty Hurst and Chris Green added 63 runs for the sixth wicket. After the former was run out by Olly Stone in the 17th over, Lancashire couldn't build any more partnerships. In the chase, Nottinghamshire found themselves at 14/4 in the third over before Lyndon James and wicketkeeper Tom Moores added 81 runs for the fifth wicket. After James was dismissed by Luke Wells, Moores and Daniel Sams added 31 runs for the sixth wicket. Nottinghamshire eventually chased down the target in the 16th over. 'I've always said that he's a role model. We live together, and we eat together and everything. He's already a role model that I'll always look up to," Farhan had told ESPNCricinfo about his brother Rehan earlier this year. Two years after Rehan became the youngest man to play Test for England against Pakistan and then the youngest to take a five-for on debut, in the second innings at Karachi, Farhan emulated the former with his pair of red-ball records. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'All good things come to an end ... incredible going out on his terms': Kane Williamson on Virat Kohli's retirement
Virat Kohli (L) and Kane Williamson (R). (Image: Instagram) in Manchester: Shubman Gill has led India in three Tests - losing two and winning one. The ongoing Test series versus England is the 25-year-old's first assignment as Test captain and he has impressed so far. He has been on fire with the bat, leading the pack well in the middle and the off-field vibe, too, has been relaxed. Many pointed fingers at BCCI's move to give him the captaincy armband but his former Gujarat Titans teammate Kane Williamson wasn't surprised with the decision. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! He always felt captaincy sits well on the youngster and believes it's just the start of bigger and better things for the future. Williamson is currently playing the Vitality Blast for Middlesex and was in attendance on Day 3 of the Lord's Test, which India lost by 22 runs. Bombay Sport Exchange Episode 3: Kane Williamson exclusive on NextGen cricketers to watch out for The former New Zealand captain feels the way the series has been played, any side could have won them all. In an exclusive chat with Williamson opens up on how Test batting has evolved, India's new Test captain, England under Brendon McCullum and his views on Virat Kohli 's decision to retire. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tennis takes over in July Tennis TV Watch Now Undo Excerpts: You were at the Lord's last week during the third Test between India and England. Do you think Test batting has evolved over the years and is certainly not what it used to be? Especially with the points system of the World Test Championship? It's certainly... I mean it has evolved. It's changed. Definitely the World Test Championship creating that bit of context, you know, the value. Everybody now just really pushes for a result and therefore you do see the majority of games now matches are decided within sort of four days generally. The wickets, however, have been quite sporting in this series. It's been quite good for the game. It's created a lot more results, a lot more entertaining cricket and then you see teams like England. The best recipe for their success is to go out and be nice and positive and play with that freedom to try and move the game forward as quickly as possible and operate in that fashion. I think every team still does it a little bit differently but on a whole it's absolutely changed direction a little bit and I think that's been important with the challenges that the longer format faces. And we talk about it so often. However, a lot of the Test cricket that we see on our TV sort of really draws you in and is really quite exciting to see. England's head coach Brendon McCullum during a nets session in Birmingham, England. (PA via AP) I'm sure you wouldn't be surprised that the man at the forefront of leading that revolution of sorts is former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum. I mean not not surprised. He always played with that freedom and then having sort of played under Brendon for a long time and how he promotes players to go out and express themselves and commit to it and have that full backing of you know, the people behind them, so they're able to do that day in and day out. That's what we're seeing with this England side and is very consistent with how he's looked to operate for a long period of time. It's been quite enthralling to watch Many Test matches and certainly this series that we've seen between England and India has been very exciting. Two strong teams with slightly different styles, but both looking to push the game forward has been great to follow. India vs England: India fall short at Lord's, England lead series 2-1 Were you surprised that India ended up on the wrong side especially after the kind of cricket they played and how they had England on the edge after getting them out cheaply in the second innings? Or you reckon the pitch played its part to make the scoreline 2-1 in England's favour? It was slightly more old-school wasn't it? The Test match at Lord's where players had to dig deep and work really hard for their runs and bowlers got some assistance and knew that they had to be patient as well to get rewards. We did see both teams operate and adjust in that fashion and any chase last on a wicket that has deteriorated is never easy. And there's been only a handful of chases above that score that have been successful at that ground. There were going to be some challenges there and having said that, India have been outstanding throughout the series and both teams could have won them all really. They've both had their opportunities which I think makes for great viewing and shows that the two very strong teams are going at it but I suppose at the start of that contest, there was that ability to see off the new ball and build some of those early partnerships. Then it goes a long way to knocking off a score like 190. India have been outstanding throughout the series and both teams could have won them all really. They've both had their opportunities Kane Williamson I think we have to be honest that the conditions at Lord's were significantly different to the other two Test matches. Teams were looking at chasing above 300 and there were elements of comfort and some of that because the wickets were so good and held together for the five days. So it was a lot more old-school which was quite nice to watch and follow as well. I think we haven't seen that for such a long period of time. We're gonna have some challenges but I think that the Indian team is playing brilliant cricket, turning up with a great opportunity every day against a strong English side and certainly, you know when the toss goes up you truly don't know who are favourites walking into each match. After three Tests, Shubman Gill is the leading run-scorer in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. (Image via Getty Images) You've seen Shubman Gill from close quarters at Gujarat Titans. What is your assessment of Shubman Gill the captain, the cricketer and how has he responded to the early challenges of Test cricket as a leader and as India's new No.4. He's responded beautifully, hasn't he? I always thought captaincy sits well with Shubman. I know happening in a franchise space is slightly different, you know it's a shorter sort of project versus captain in your country, which is you know it's a lot more consuming. Whilst you're in that role, you're never out of it. It's a much larger role sort of on and off the field. Watching Shubman operate and he's wise beyond his years and you know that responsibility is naturally something that he would look to take on. So hearing him get that opportunity was no surprise to me but you know the quality of the player is something that goes without saying. He's absolutely world-class. And all the other formats throughout... the IPL for a number of years and one day cricket I think he's top of the tree there. Test cricket really is a matter of time. To see him come over here and conditions that can be challenging with the Dukes from time to time, and dominate like he has, it's been amazing. There are going to be really valuable lessons for him and we're looking towards the leader that he will become but it's still early days. Kane Williamson on Shubman Gill And then I think goes a long way for him and his comfort in that role as well as a leader of the Indian team. The cricketer Shubman and the leadership qualities that he has... if he separates those then there is real quality in both departments and actually starting sort of embedding the things that you value, along with the head coach. Forming that really strong bond... it's really important and I think that's what we're seeing in these early stages. There are going to be really valuable lessons for him and we're looking towards the leader that he will become but it's still early days. Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket ahead of the series against England. (AP) When Roger Federer retired, Rafael Nadal got very emotional and said "a part of my life left with him". I know different sport but did you get that kind of feeling when Virat Kohli decided to say goodbye to Tests? Funny you mentioned that. You don't consider that whilst you're just right in the middle of it and then players that you've played alongside for so many years. Your careers have kind of married up from under 19s through to captaining or playing for your country. Then in the captain instance that we did that... were very similar times to the natural progression. Everybody finishes. When some of those decisions are made it does stop you and make you consider a lot of things but also appreciation and respect. Someone like Virat.. so many great moments throughout the international game but really the bond outside of the pitch is something that's you know far more special and those experiences that have been shared together. All good things come to an end and the way he's been able to make those decisions that feel comfortable to him... I think it's been incredible going out on his terms, etc. Although still involved in one of the formats. Lord's museum tour: Cricket's greatest artifacts and the stories behind them What are your thoughts on the Big Three discussions and how England, India and Australia regularly play five Tests but we see the likes of South Africa and New Zealand winning the WTC titles without playing the bigger series. What's your take on the situation? At the end of the day, you just focus on the things that you can control and you know playing five Test match series for countries like New Zealand and other ones that share a similar standing aren't realistic despite a real passion to do so. And like you mentioned, there are other teams out there where that's a more feasible option. You're just focusing on what it is you can do and the calendar that you have and trying to basically put out your best performances and grow as a side over the two-year blocks that you have for the World Championship. Just focus on the things that are in front of you and know that if you do that, you trust that, then it allows you to put out your best performances and ultimately give you a chance, but yeah, there are obviously a number of strong teams within there's and I think it's it's been helpful for the game. Tracing Moeen Ali's steps in Birmingham Playing T20s here in England, how has the experience been like hopping from one ground to another. Yeah I've really enjoyed playing in the Vitality Blast and you know as a family, it's been nice to be in the UK. We have some ties here. So It's been enjoyable and you get to play it, you know, such a variety of grounds and the standards are good so yeah, it's been fun and nice to be sort of playing in a new team as well as a new community. Which is always enjoyable when you get the opportunity to play cricket around the world. For an international professional like you, how is it like to interact with different individuals, part of different cultures, during your time playing for different teams in different leagues around the world? I do really enjoy that aspect. Little bit of flexibility and those opportunities to be exposed to different cultures in different parts of the world and playing good cricket and in the sport that I love. It's definitely an attractive part... at this stage of my career and also to have the family with me and they get to see some. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
