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Andrew Flintoff’s debut tour as head coach of the England Lions ended in a crushing 284-run loss against a CSA Invitational XI in Cape Town. The Lions were bowled out for just 154 and 107 in their two innings, losing all 20 wickets in a total of 63 overs. The four-day match at Western Province […]
Andrew Flintoff’s debut tour as head coach of the England Lions ended in a crushing 284-run loss against a CSA Invitational XI in Cape Town. The Lions were bowled out for just 154 and 107 in their two innings, losing all 20 wickets in a total of 63 overs. The four-day match at Western Province Cricket Club marked the conclusion of a three-week tour focused on “individualised and high-quality training,” according to the ECB.
However, the Lions’ batters struggled against a South African attack led by Ruan de Swardt, the only bowler with prior international experience, having played two Tests against New Zealand in February. The Lions were asked to bowl first and dismissed their opponents for 289 early on the second day, with Tom Lawes (4 for 38) and Zaman Akhter (3 for 51) shining with the ball.
The Lions’ batting woes continued as Lawes and Akhter, who had impressed with the ball, were forced to dig in with the bat. The pair put together an eighth-wicket partnership of 78, but the Lions were already in a precarious position at 72 for 7 in their first innings.
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Codi Yusuf claimed three wickets, including that of Freddie McCann for a duck with his first delivery, while Rocky Flintoff, the coach’s 16-year-old son, was dismissed for 4 by Matthew Boast on just his third ball. Captain Dan Mousley, who recently debuted for England in white-ball cricket, showed resistance with a score of 24, before Tom Lawes (48 from 38) and Zaman Akhter (32 from 39) added valuable runs. However, the Lions lost their final three wickets for just four runs, leaving them with a first-innings deficit of 135.
In response, Jordan Hermann of CSA extended the lead with a solid 131 in the second innings, supported by Jean du Plessis (36) and Corbin Bosch (33), as the hosts posted 256. The Lions rotated their squad throughout the match, using eight bowlers in total, including recent England debutant John Turner, who failed to take a wicket. Derbyshire’s Pat Brown, however, was the standout, claiming 4 for 44 in 12 overs.
Set a daunting target of 392, the Lions’ batting once again faltered. Yusuf and Ruan de Swardt took two wickets each, leaving the visitors at a precarious 39 for 5. Farhan Ahmed offered brief resistance with a knock of 24 from 29 at No. 7, but Tsepo Ndwandwa sealed the victory for CSA, finishing with 3 for 23 in 6.5 overs as the Lions were bowled out.
G Trisha and Shabnam Shakil, both part of India’s U-19 World Cup-winning team in January 2023, have been named to India’s squad for the Women’s Under-19 Asia Cup in Malaysia later this month. Their inclusion marks a significant decision by the BCCI to allow players to compete in multiple Under-19 World Cups, fostering player development. This decision contrasts with the BCCI’s past stance in 2016, when Rahul Dravid announced a cap on U-19 World Cup appearances for men’s players to ensure fresh talent enters every two years.
The India squad for the Women’s Under-19 Asia Cup is led by Niki Prasad, who captained India B to a tri-series victory against South Africa Under-19s and India A in Pune. Prasad guided India B to a successful chase of 143 with an unbeaten 49, after a solid 79* from G Kamalini, who also plays for Tamil Nadu and is part of the India Under-19 squad. Kamalini is expected to open the batting and is among the 120 players listed for the WPL auction. India are in Group A with Pakistan and Nepal, with their campaign beginning against Pakistan on December 15. The final is scheduled for December 22.
Squad: Niki Prasad (Captain), Sanika Chalke (Vice-captain), G Trisha, Kamalini G (WK), Bhavika Ahire (WK), Ishawari Awasare, Mithila Vinod, Joshitha VJ, Sonam Yadav, Parunika Sisodiya, Kesari Drithi, Aayushi Shukla, Anandita Kishor, MD Shabnam, Nandhana S
Stand-by: Hurley Gala, Happy Kumari, G Kavya Sree, Gayatri Survase