Warwickshire boosted their title challenge with an eight-wicket win over Essex in two days.
Warwickshire secured an eight-wicket win over Essex in two days to boost their County Championship title challenge. Sam Hain's unbeaten 88 helped the Bears to a first-innings lead of 57 before Manav Suthar took five for 75 as Essex were bowled out for 189 in their second innings. Zen Malik's 51 and Hain's unbeaten 22 took Warwickshire to their target of 133 for the loss of two wickets.
Brook and Buttler powered England to their second-highest T20I total at the venue before Sri Lanka collapsed in reply.
Harry Brook scored an unbeaten 114 off 49 balls as England defeated Sri Lanka by 119 runs in the first T20I at Southampton on Tuesday. Jos Buttler made 80 off 44 balls in a second-wicket stand of 128 from 60 deliveries that took England to 254 for 4.
Brook reached his hundred from 42 balls, his second T20I century. Sonny Baker took 3 for 12 on his white-ball debut, while Adil Rashid claimed 1 for 31. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 135 in 19 overs.
The match was England's first since Kevin Pietersen joined the white-ball coaching staff as a special mentor. The second T20I is in Cardiff on Thursday.
Samson and Abhishek Sharma's powerplay assault set up a comfortable chase after Reddy's three wickets restricted Afghanistan.
India defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets in the second T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Chasing 160, they reached 163 for 3 in 14.5 overs.
Sanju Samson scored 57 off 22 balls and Abhishek Sharma made 39 off 19 as the openers added 88 inside the powerplay. Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten on 38 off 23. Rashid Khan took 3 for 36 for Afghanistan.
Nitish Kumar Reddy claimed 3 for 24 and Arshdeep Singh took 2 for 35 as Afghanistan posted 159 for 8. Ibrahim Zadran top-scored with 37.
Somerset collapsed to 24 for four and finished day one at 86 for eight against Yorkshire in the County Championship.
Somerset lost their first four wickets for 24 runs on the opening day of their County Championship match against Yorkshire at Taunton. Ben Cliff took three of those wickets, including a hat-trick threat that was broken when Archie Vaughan survived the hat-trick ball.
Tom Abell fell first ball and Josh Thomas followed soon after as Yorkshire's seam attack exploited early movement. Vaughan hit a six before falling for 18 as Somerset reached stumps at 86 for eight.
The result leaves Somerset's title hopes under pressure while Yorkshire remain in contention with two rounds remaining in the season.
Nitish Kumar Reddy's 3 for 24 and Sanju Samson's 57 led India to a seven-wicket win that sealed the series 2-0.
Nitish Kumar Reddy took 3 for 24 in three overs as India restricted Afghanistan to 159 for eight before Sanju Samson struck 57 off 22 balls to seal a seven-wicket win in 14.5 overs at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Tuesday. The result gave India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Reddy dismissed Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib and Rashid Khan, taking a wicket with the first ball of each over he bowled. Samson and Abhishek Sharma added 82 in the powerplay, and India reached the target with 31 balls remaining after Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten on 38.
Reddy said he has worked on adding pace to become a better all-rounder. He credited the Centre of Excellence for his recovery from a recent quadriceps injury and described the performance as a matter of trusting his ability after a difficult first match.
Renshaw's 109 and Ellis's 5 for 62 sealed Australia's 1-0 series lead.
Matt Renshaw scored his first ODI century in a decade as Australia defeated Zimbabwe by 59 runs in the opening match of their three-game series in Harare on Tuesday. Renshaw made 109 off 94 balls in Australia's 294 for eight.
Nathan Ellis claimed five wickets for 62 to dismantle Zimbabwe's chase after Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza offered brief resistance. Zimbabwe finished on 235.
The second ODI takes place at the same venue on Friday.
Matt Renshaw scored a maiden one-day international century as Australia beat Zimbabwe by 59 runs in the opening ODI in Harare on Tuesday. Nathan Ellis took five wickets for 31 runs in 9.1 overs to restrict Zimbabwe to 235 after Australia posted 294 for eight.
Renshaw made 109 from 94 balls and added 72 runs with Alex Carey and 75 with Ollie Peake. Cooper Connolly scored 51 as Zimbabwe's Newman Nyamhuri finished with five for 62. Craig Ervine made 59 and Sikandar Raza 57 before Ellis and Spencer Johnson removed both.
Australia lead the three-match series 1-0. The second ODI is scheduled for Friday and the third for Sunday, all in Harare.
Players and officials have stated that former sports adviser Asif Nazrul was the sole decision-maker behind Bangladesh's withdrawal from the T20 World Cup. The three-member probe committee's findings contradict Nazrul's later claim that the decision was a joint sacrifice made by BCCI officials and players.
Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said Nazrul was the sole decision-maker and that players were not consulted. Former captain Tamim Iqbal stated that security concerns were used as an excuse to fulfil the sports adviser's ego.
The committee interviewed 12 people including Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, and BCB officials. The report concluded that the withdrawal did not originate from a collective decision by the BCB board or the highest level of government.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi again omitted as India seal series with seven-wicket win in Delhi.
Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left out of India's playing XI for the second consecutive T20I against Afghanistan on Tuesday. The left-hander has not featured in either of the first two matches despite being named in the squad.
India made one change to their XI, with Ravi Bishnoi replacing the injured Varun Chakravarthy. Sanju Samson retained his place at the top of the order alongside Abhishek Sharma and scored 57 off 22 balls in India's seven-wicket win.
Captain Shreyas Iyer said after the match that India would look to give opportunities to players sitting out in the third T20I on September 17. The final match of the series is a dead rubber with India already leading 2-0.
Shreyas Iyer won his 11th toss in 12 T20I matches as captain during the second match against Afghanistan in New Delhi. The India skipper surpassed Qatar's Mirza Baig and Philippines' Henry Tyler, who each won 10 of their first 12 tosses. Iyer has now led India to series wins in Zimbabwe and against Afghanistan after earlier losses to Ireland and England.
India won the toss and elected to bowl first against Afghanistan in the second T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Ravi Bishnoi replaced the injured Varun Chakaravarthy in the only change to India's playing XI.
Shreyas Iyer said the decision to bowl first was based on the expectation that the wicket would offer early assistance to the bowlers. He admitted India could have won the first match more convincingly and noted that the bowling unit could have taken more wickets in the middle overs.
Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran said his side would also have preferred to bowl first. Afghanistan named an unchanged XI from the opening match. India have already taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Nigar Sultana will step down as Bangladesh T20I captain to concentrate on her batting and keeping, while continuing to lead the ODI side.
Bangladesh keeper-batter Nigar Sultana is set to resign as T20I captain after the team's disappointing Asian Games campaign, Cricbuzz reported on Tuesday. She has led the side in the format since 2022 and recorded 32 wins in 80 matches.
Nigar informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board of her decision in a letter on Tuesday. Board president Tamim Iqbal accepted the resignation, which will allow her to focus on her batting and wicket-keeping. She intends to continue leading the ODI team.
Nigar led Bangladesh to its first T20 World Cup win in a decade when the side beat Scotland in 2024.
England's new red-ball coach Stephen Fleming will commentate for Sky New Zealand on India's upcoming tour. The ECB has given the green light for him to call the five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests that begin in Christchurch on October 22.
Four years ago Brendon McCullum had to drop his SENZ Breakfast Show gig when he took the same job. Fleming's deal carries no such clause. He left Chennai Super Kings after 17 seasons and replaced McCullum in July.
He flew into England on Monday for a ten-day visit to meet Joe Root and ECB managing director Rob Key. The three-Test tour of South Africa in December-January is first on the agenda.
Kris Srikkanth questioned India's decision to drop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying the inconsistent selection sends wrong signals to young players.
Kris Srikkanth criticised India's decision to leave out Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from the playing XI for the first T20I against Afghanistan. The 15-year-old, who was Player of the Series against Zimbabwe with 151 runs at a strike rate of 196.10, remained on the bench as Sanju Samson opened with Abhishek Sharma.
Srikkanth said his wife argued about the exclusion while watching the match and warned that the rotation sends wrong signals to young players. He noted that Sooryavanshi has performed at every level from Duleep Trophy to the IPL for Rajasthan Royals.
The former selector expressed concern about Samson's handling as well, saying the team management is playing around with both batters by giving them short runs rather than extended opportunities. Sooryavanshi has remained on the bench for the second consecutive T20I.
Gavaskar links Abhishek Sharma's full bat swing to a possible post-cricket career in golf.
Sunil Gavaskar said Abhishek Sharma's bat swing suggests he could take up golf after his cricket career ends. Gavaskar made the remark during a Sony Sports discussion after Abhishek's 39 off 19 balls helped India chase 160 against Afghanistan on Tuesday.
Gavaskar noted that Abhishek's follow-through extends fully behind him, indicating the timing and power in his shots. He added that Abhishek should look to convert starts into hundreds whenever possible.
Abhishek was caught at deep midwicket off Rashid Khan after striking two fours and four sixes in his innings.
England white-ball coach Brendon McCullum has urged players to make good decisions off the field after an off-field incident involving pacer Brydon Carse. McCullum said professionalism must extend beyond match days if players want to remain in national squads.
The message was reinforced by newly appointed white-ball mentor Kevin Pietersen on his first day with the team at the Utilita Bowl. Pietersen told players to challenge the environment while meeting higher standards.
Carse remains outside the current white-ball squads while the issue is addressed.
RCB pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar said players told Rajat Patidar to hold back an over of his own bowling during the IPL 2026 season.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar said several RCB players advised Rajat Patidar to save an over of his own bowling during the IPL 2026 season. The pacer spoke after the team's title win and described the captain's handling of the bowling attack as calm and clear. Kumar, who returned to the IPL last year, also said he hopes to earn another India call-up after nearly four years away from the side.
Pakistan Cricket Board expected to axe selection committee members after 3-0 series defeat in England.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is preparing to make sweeping changes to its national selection committee following the 0-3 Test series defeat against England. Chairperson Mohsin Naqvi is expected to remove several members of the current panel.
Former players Aaqib Javed and Wahab Riaz are among those reported to be at risk of losing their positions. The changes may extend to the women's team and coaching staff as the board reviews its structure.
The overhaul follows Pakistan's loss of 11 WTC points for a slow over-rate in the third Test at Edgbaston.
Marizanne Kapp withdraws from WBBL 2026 citing international commitments; Melbourne Stars re-sign Dani Gibson and Amy Jones.
South Africa all-rounder Marizanne Kapp has pulled out of the WBBL 2026 season with one year remaining on her Melbourne Stars contract. Kapp cited her international commitments as the reason for the withdrawal.
The Stars have re-signed Dani Gibson and Amy Jones as replacements for the upcoming season. Kapp had been a key overseas player for the franchise in previous campaigns.
Her departure leaves the Stars seeking additional overseas options ahead of the 2026-27 tournament window.
Josh Inglis ruled out of Australia's remaining ODIs against South Africa with a fractured finger sustained during the series opener in Durban.
Australia wicketkeeper Josh Inglis has been ruled out of the remaining two ODIs against South Africa after fracturing his finger during the series opener in Durban. Inglis suffered the injury while attempting a reverse sweep and will return to Australia for scans.
Alex Carey has been recalled to the squad and will resume wicketkeeping duties after playing as a specialist batter in Australia's recent series against Zimbabwe. Inglis's availability for the subsequent three-match Test series remains subject to further assessment.
The injury leaves Australia's middle order without several members from their 2023 World Cup final lineup. Matthew Renshaw scored a century from number six against Zimbabwe and will be expected to anchor the innings on South African pitches.
