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With his captaincy ban overturned, Warner has led a resurgent season for last season’s bottom-placed team

AAP25-Jan-2025In unpacking how Sydney Thunder transformed from BBL laughing stock to finals force, it is impossible to overstate the influence of the “ball of energy” that is David Warner.Thunder didn’t just collect the wooden spoon in the previous season, they snatched it with eagle-like precision in a miserable one-win campaign.On Monday night, they tackle Hobart Hurricanes with a golden chance to add to the club’s one title that was won by Jacques Kallis, Shane Watson and Michael Hussey in 2016.Related

• Powerful Hurricanes stand between Thunder's Warner and perfect captaincy comeback

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Warner was on Thunder’s books the past two seasons, memorably arriving for an SCG derby via helicopter after his brother’s wedding in the Hunter Valley, but a bit-part player because of national-team commitments. This summer, the 38-year-old has been the face of the franchise and the BBL.Warner has captained Thunder, after Cricket Australia overturned his leadership ban emanating from the ball-tampering scandal, scored a league-best 357 runs and looked a man on a mission at every turn.”He puts bums on seats and I’m convinced he is still the best player in the tournament by a country mile,” Thunder star Sam Billings said. “This is coming from an Englishman, but you can see why he’s been one of the best players in the last 15 years in this format. He is incredible.”Unbelievable talent. But the way he thinks about the game as well. And his attitude with getting in the game and that energy, it’s infectious … everyone who steps out onto the field with him, you’re a foot taller.”The return of Billings, who produced a match-winning knock in Friday night’s derby Challenger final, and other roster rejigs from new general manager Trent Copeland have helped fuel the turnaround.But Warner’s passion and words of wisdom, and the knock-on effects throughout Thunder’s squad, have been profound during an injury crisis.Jason Sangha, who captained Thunder when they were bowled out for a record low of 15 in 2022-23, is one example.Sangha first picked Warner’s brain while playing grade cricket together in 2018-19, when the latter had a full summer with Randwick Petersham during his year-long ban from international and domestic cricket. On Friday night, Sangha made a seamless return from injury in a 29-run opening stand with Warner.”Davey has been great with all the guys, he’s always helping us get better,” Sangha told AAP. “It’s pretty cool getting to go out there and bat with someone like him.”I remember I had a Kaboom when I was young, it was one of my first cricket bats. So it’s great seeing Davey go about his business and just learn a lot. He’s just a ball of energy.”Warner’s men have won consecutive knock-out finals, with different players stepping up at key moments in both matches.”He’s been encouraging everyone – whether it’s bat, ball or field – to always be brave,” Sangha said. “Take the game on and back yourself. And from a captaincy point of view, he’s tactically very intelligent. He does some different things and he’s quite aggressive, takes risks and it just rubs off on the rest of the group.”

Pakistan have their own top-order issues to iron out to bounce back

Danyal Rasool19-Aug-2021

Big picture

The agonisingly tense denouement to the first Test between these sides would be enough to inject life into any series, and the shot in the arm West Indies gained from that thrilling one-wicket win should serve them extremely well. Having struggled in the format over recent years, it felt like the sort of Test West Indies tend to end up on the wrong side of, and when Kemar Roach nudged one through the covers to send the Caribbean into raptures, you might be tempted to wonder if this was something of a new beginning.It helps that the victory was timed as sweetly as a Jason Holder extra-cover drive, coming as it does right at the start of this World Test Championship cycle. It catapults West Indies to second spot on the table, but against a dispirited Pakistan, the second Test represents an ideal opportunity for a perfect start to this two-year period.

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West Indies were by no means perfect, which of course indicates there’s room for improvement. But having outbowled Pakistan for significant periods of the Test, Phil Simmons’ side will be aware they have to keep up that quality when it comes to fast bowling, while working out how to put more runs on the board. The coach had been vocal about calling on his batters to improve, and after that first Test, it’s not hard to see why. There might not be too many changes in personnel, but with the home side’s top order capitulating in both innings, there remains the risk of a wounded Pakistan bowling unit looking to rip through an innings.There’s been an uneasy calm in the days that followed that Pakistan defeat, but likely little appetite for stomaching another one. Pakistan will feel disconsolate at the manner in which they let the game slip out of their grasp, given the multitude of opportunities they had to put distance between the sides on the first three days, and clear-cut opportunities to seal it on the last. Individual errors aside, Pakistan’s opening pair looks well short of the quality required at this level, with the extra burden that places on the middle order leaving the side looking unbalanced.The complete lack of influence spin bowling played in that first Test came as something of a surprise. With both sides opting to field a spinner, it’s clear that startled the teams, too, with all 39 wickets falling to the quick bowlers. With the second Test to be played at the same venue, under similar conditions, team selection around spin options might be something worth watching out for.

Form guide

West Indies WLLDD (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan LWWWW

In the spotlight

With all the drama around the climax of the first Test, Kemar Roach, Kraigg Brathwaite and Jayden Seales took the plaudits, but Jermaine Blackwood‘s role ended up being slightly underrated. On a treacherously difficult surface for batting, he came in on both occasions with his side in trouble, bravely looking to go after the bowlers. It translated into key partnerships, taking the pressure off his captain in the first innings by lifting the run rate. But it was the second innings where his contributions really shone, batting at perhaps the hardest time of the game. Shaheen Afridi was on fire and had just removed three top-order batters. Just before lunch, Blackwood lofted him for two leg-side fours, halting Pakistan’s momentum in a priceless 55-run knock. His role might have been overshadowed, but both sides recognise his quality, and importance to this side.Jermaine Blackwood scored a vital 55 in the second innings of the first Test•AFP/Getty Images

For much of his career, Yasir Shah was close to the first name on the Pakistan Test team sheet, but it’s difficult not to wonder whether those days might be gone for good. Returning from an injury that kept him out of the Zimbabwe Test series, the legspinner who took 10 more wickets than any other bowler the last time Pakistan toured the West Indies was conspicuous by his absence. He went wicketless through the game for just the third time in his career, struggling visibly with his length and failing to generate much spin. It was admittedly a game dominated by fast bowling, but in a low-scoring fourth-innings chase, Babar Azam turned to him for just three overs. With Nauman Ali in the squad, Shah might consider himself lucky to get picked for this game, and he certainly has a point to prove if he does.

Team news

Kieran Powell’s dual failure could bring Shai Hope into the picture, with Jomel Warrican’s place in the XI also under scrutiny. Chemar Holder, Alzarri Joseph, or even Rahkeem Cornwall are options should West Indies want a different kind of spinner.West Indies (probable): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 2 Kieron Powell/Shai Hope, 3 Nkrumah Bonner, 4 Jermaine Blackwood, 5 Roston Chase, 6 Kyle Mayers, 7 Jason Holder, 8 Joshua Da Silva (wk), 9 Alzarri Joseph/Chemar Holder, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Jayden SealesPakistan must also wrestle with the Yasir Shah conundrum, and determine whether his ineffectiveness in the first Test was a function of the pitch or his own lack of form and confidence.Pakistan (probable): 1 Abid Ali, 2 Imran Butt, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Babar Azam (capt), 5 Fawad Alam, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Faheem Ashraf, 8 Hasan Ali, 9 Yasir Shah/Nauman Ali, 10 Mohammad Abbas, 11 Shaheen Afridi

Pitch and conditions

Rain is forecast for part of this Test, but the first day is completely clear. There should be enough good weather around not to seriously spoilt the contest.

Stats and trivia

• The three overs Shah bowled in the fourth innings were the fewest he has ever bowled for Pakistan in the final innings of a Test other than Cape Town 2020. On that occasion, South Africa needed 41 for victory, and Shah didn’t bowl.
• Roston Chase needs 14 runs to reach 2000 in Test cricket.
• The last two two-match series between the two sides – in 2011 and 2005 – ended 1-1. On both occasions, West Indies won the first Test, with Pakistan rebounding to level things up.

Quotes

“Me and Monty [Desai] have been putting a lot of work in the nets behind the scenes. He’s just told me to be a little more patient, but he doesn’t want me to take away my aggression, but to choose the right shots and not lose focus.”

Finalising the playing XI for the second Test will be on Gambhir’s agenda once he is back with the touring party

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Dec-2024Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach, will rejoin the touring party in Australia on Tuesday, having flown out of India after having returned home because of “personal reasons”.Gambhir missed India’s two-day tour game – which was later reduced to a limited-overs contest following rain on the first day – against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, having flown back home at the conclusion of the first Test in Perth on November 25. Gambhir left on November 26, the scheduled final day of that Test.The second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a day-nighter in Adelaide, will start on December 6.Related

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In Gambhir’s absence, the support staff of Abhishek Nayar, Ryan ten Doeschate and Morne Morkel had overseen the team’s training, and were part of the Canberra fixture, which the Indians won by six wickets, with Harshit Rana (4 for 44) and Shubman Gill (50 in 62 balls) playing key roles.Now, Gambhir will have to be part of the tricky discussions around India’s playing XI, with Rohit Sharma, the full-time Test captain, having linked up with the team after skipping the first Test to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. Jasprit Bumrah had led India to the comprehensive 295-run win in the Perth Test in Rohit’s absence.Gill, who had also missed that Test after fracturing his right thumb during a training session, is also back in the reckoning.Even if India bring in Rohit and Gill for Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel, who were part of the XI in Perth, there is the question of the opening combination, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul having put on a double-century first-wicket stand in India’s second innings in Perth. Indications from the pink-ball tour game, though it wasn’t a full-fledged contest, are that Jaiswal and Rahul will continue to open with Gill replacing Padikkal at No. 3, and Rohit possibly going in the middle order behind Virat Kohli. Rishabh Pant is the other certain starter in the middle order.

Adil Rashid lost his spot as the leader in the bowling charts, while Jofra Archer dropped four places to tenth

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Feb-2025India batter Abhishek Sharma moved up a whopping 38 places to go second in the ICC rankings for men’s T20I batters after his blazing knock of 135 from just 54 balls in the fifth T20I against England in Mumbai. Abhishek’s knock saw him get to 829 rating points, as he replaced his team-mate Tilak Varma in the second spot.Abhishek had also started the series against England on a high, bashing 79 off only 34 balls to power India’s modest chase of 133 in Kolkata. Although he didn’t cross 29 in the next three innings, he lit up the stage in the fifth and final T20I. Abhishek smashed seven fours and 13 sixes during that record innings, thus setting the base for India’s 150-run victory.While Travis Head leads the T20I batting charts, Phil Salt and Suryakumar Yadav round off the top five batters in the rankings.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Meanwhile, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who finished as the highest wicket-taker in the series against England, moved up three spots to go joint-second in the T20I bowling charts. Varun’s 14 wickets in the five games came at an average of a meagre 9.85.Varun, whose performances in the T20Is saw him added to India’s ODI squad against England as well, bagged his second T20I five-wicket haul on the way. He is now level on rating points with England’s Adil Rashid, who had shot up to the top of the rankings during the series only to lose his top spot to Akeal Hosein after returning figures of 1 for 41 in Mumbai. Both Varun and Rashid are just two points below Hosein.

Full rankings tables

• Click here for the full team rankings

• Click here for the full player rankings

Another India spinner, Ravi Bishnoi, also took some big steps in the rankings, moving up four spots to go sixth. He got 1 for 9 from one over in Mumbai, and finished the series with five wickets. Jofra Archer, who conceded 55 runs from his four overs in the same match, dropped four spots to go tenth.

She holds a long-term view about returning to the South Africa national team, but as it stands, is not in consideration for the upcoming T20 World Cup

Firdose Moonda30-Jul-2024Former South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk will make her return to professional cricket this summer after signing for provincial side Western Province.While she has long-term hopes of making a return to international cricket, she told ESPNcricinfo she has “no timeline”. For now, she just wants to “play again and have fun.”That means van Niekerk is unlikely to be in consideration for South Africa’s squad, led by Laura Wolvaardt, at the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. Van Niekerk’s wife, Marizanne Kapp, will play a key role in that tournament which van Niekerk is unlikely to be at, as she participates in domestic games at home.She confirmed she will play “all the fixtures, if I am able,” and hopes to get back into contention for higher honours. “My No.1 priority is to play again,” she said. “I have no expectations other than that. What will be, will be. I miss representing my country and playing at the highest level. It has nothing to do with anything other than that.”Van Niekerk has not played any cricket since The Hundred in August last year, which she was forced to leave early after fracturing her right thumb. Before that, she captained Sunrisers in the Rachel Heyhoe-Flint Trophy, where they finished fourth, and had a stint in the first edition of the WPL, where she was part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru outfit. She has not played for South Africa since 2021 and retired from international cricket in March last year, shortly after she missed out on South Africa’s T20 World Cup 2023 squad because she was unable to meet Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) standards.At the time, South Africa required women’s national players to run a two-kilometre time trial in 9:30 and van Niekerk, who had recovered from a broken ankle, missed the mark by 18 seconds. CSA have since abandoned the rigid application of the time trial and skinfolds tests and left national selection to the coach’s discretion.Currently, South Africa do not have a confirmed permanent coach after Dillon du Preez took over in an interim capacity for the tour to India. Du Preez replaced Hilton Moreeng, who was in the role for almost 12 years. CSA are expected to announce a succession plan for the women’s coaching role ahead of October’s T20 World Cup but with no fixtures between now and then, and only two months, it is likely du Preez will continue, with a permanent appointment to be made ahead of the home season. South Africa host England this summer for an all-format tour including the first home Test in 22 years.

Raza, Muzarabani and Evans shared eight wickets among them to never give the visitors a sniff

Andrew Fidel Fernando06-Sep-2025Sri Lanka crashed to their second-lowest T20I total ever, going down for 80 inside 18 overs, as Sikandar Raza, Brad Evans, and Blessing Muzarabani shared eight wickets between them. At no point in their batting innings did Sri Lanka stage even a mild recovery. There was a 26-run partnership for sixth wicket, but even that appeared laboured, and had multiple close calls.Zimbabwe’s top partnership was also worth just 26, but they strung greater periods of batting competence together, even in the face of some penetrative bowling from Dushmantha Chameera. Tashinga Musekiwa’s assured 21 not out off 12 balls helped the hosts stroll to victory in the 15th over.

Muzarabani and Evans boss the powerplay

Muzarabani took 2 for 10 from two overs in the powerplay. Evans claimed 2 for 14 from his two. Sri Lanka were 37 for 4 by the end of it. It takes lower-middle order miracles to salvage good batting performances from there.The first wicket was off a poor ball, truth be told. Muzarabani had been expensive in the last match and bowled a wide bouncer that Kusal Mendis tried to punish, only to toe-end aerially to deep third. But then Muzarabani was back to bowling the tight, testing lines he had delivered in the ODI series. He’d have Nuwanidu Fernando caught at mid-off in the fifth over and concede only two boundaries in the powerplay.Blessing Muzarabani took two wickets in the powerplay•Zimbabwe Cricket

Evans, meanwhile, took the prize wicket of Pathum Nissanka with a shortish ball on the pads which Nissanka struck to deep square leg. Evans also sent Kamil Mishara’s stumps flying with a yorker. He later wrapped up Sri Lanka’s innings by having Maheesh Theekshana hole out to cover.Muzarabani took 2 for 14 in the end. Evans’ haul was 3 for 15.

Raza’s middle-overs rampage

The seamers delivered Sri Lanka’s middle order on a platter for Raza and he duly gobbled them up. With so many wickets having fallen, Sri Lanka’s batters were watchful, and Raza did not conceded a single boundary through his four overs.He got the dangerous Kamindu Mendis out for a fourth-ball duck. In his third over, he dismissed Charith Asalanka and Chameera in the space of three deliveries. He finished with 3 for 11 off four overs, and was player of the match for these efforts.

Chameera dents Zimbabwe’s small chase

It never seemed likely that Sri Lanka could defend this, but Chameera gave it a chance. He was too quick for Tadiwanashe Marumani and Sean Williams, who had his off stump knocked out of the ground. He then had Raza drag onto off stump. Chameera would have had a fourth wicket had Asalanka held a sharp chance offered by Musekiwa, at short midwicket.

Allrounder takes match tally of sixes to 15 as visitors close in on rare Edgbaston win

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay24-Jul-2025 Warwickshire 184 and 55 for 2 need a further 338 runs to beat Worcestershire 333 and 243 (Brookes 87, Roderick 50) Ethan Brookes climbed into Warwickshire’s bowlers again, in record-breaking fashion, to keep Worcestershire on course for a vital Rothesay County Championship victory at Edgbaston.Of his side’s second-innings total of 243, Brookes’ share was a violent 87 from 137 balls. He struck seven sixes which, added to his eight in the first innings, amounted to 15 in the match – a record for any individual at Edgbaston, surpassing the 12 by Ian Botham for Somerset in 1985 and Dean Jones for Australia in 1989.The former Warwickshire allrounder’s barrage left his old team needing 393 to win and they closed the third day on 55 for 2 after losing both openers in the first four overs.Worcestershire resumed on the third morning on 31 without loss, already 180 ahead, but were pegged back by disciplined bowling. The opening partnership reached 80 in 32 overs before three wickets fell for 12 runs in 51 balls. Gareth Roderick (50 off 110) edged an expansive drive at Beau Webster. Jake Libby’s 149 minutes of toil for 25 ended when he pulled Ed Barnard to midwicket. Kashif Ali collected a tortuous 29-ball duck when he pulled Corey Rocchiccioli to short fine leg.As Warwickshire went on the defensive, Rocchiccioli bowling on or outside leg stump, Worcestershire’s batters appeared unsure how to handle such a big advantage. That advantage began to diminish as Ethan Bamber bowled Adam Hose and had Tom Taylor caught at point and Rocchiccioli’s leg-stump probing was rewarded when Brett D’Oliviera tickled a leg-side catch to wicketkeeper Kai Smith and Ben Allison nudged to leg slip.Seven wickets fell for 52 runs in 22 overs but Brookes defended diligently as he awaited support. It arrived from Bertie Foreman, who got the scoreboard moving again before edging Webster to second slip, and then Adam Finch. Having added 88 in the first innings, this time Brookes and Finch put on 91.The cricket descended into farce after tea as Warwickshire went ultra-negative. Rocchiccioli wheeled away while Olly Hannon-Dalby bowled far outside off stump to deny Brookes scope to seek the short boundary. Warwickshire’s supporters bore it stoically though if an opposing team had resorted to such tactics some forthright views would have emanated from the stands. The grim spectacle concluded when Brookes hoisted Barnard to deep fine leg and Finch sliced Webster to second slip,Warwickshire faced a target of 393 in a day plus 26 overs, weather permitting, and in moderate light, soon lost their openers. Rob Yates was trapped in front by a rapid shooter from Khurram Shahzad; Alex Davies chipped to midwicket. Dan Mousley and Zen Malik batted assiduously to the close but Worcestershire would be gutted, from this position, not to bank their first Championship win at Edgbaston since 1993.

The Chennai pitch on which India played their first Test against Bangladesh was rated “very good”

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2024The outfield at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, which hosted the rain-affected second Test between India and Bangladesh from September 27 to October 1, has earned an “unsatisfactory” rating from the ICC. The rating comes with one demerit point for the venue.Only 35 overs of play were possible on day one of the Test match, and there was no play possible on days two and three – this was despite no rain falling during the scheduled playing hours on day three. In the lead-up to the Test match, the state’s public works department had deemed one of Green Park’s stands unsafe, and had instructed the stadium authorities to open up only a limited number of its upper-level seats to spectators.The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) uses the Green Park Stadium on the basis of an MoU it has signed with the UP government. The government owns the land but as per the MoU, the stadium and its upkeep are the responsibility of the UPCA.BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla, who hails from Kanpur, defended the venue after it came in for widespread criticism following the washout of day three but conceded that the ground, which has hosted Test cricket since 1952, was in need of refurbishment.After more than two-and-a-half days of the Test match were washed out, India put in a concerted effort to force a victory, picking up 20 Bangladesh wickets in the space of 121.2 overs, and scoring 383 runs in just 52 overs across two innings, at an unprecedented 7.36 per over.The pitch for this Test match, meanwhile, earned a “satisfactory” rating.The ICC rates pitches and outfields for all international games on a scale of very good to unfit: very good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory and unfit. One demerit point is awarded to venues for an unsatisfactory rating, and three for an unfit rating. If any ground receives five or more demerit points in a five-year rolling period, it is suspended from hosting any international cricket for 12 months.The rest of the venues that hosted India’s 2024-25 international season did not come in for any censure from the ICC. Of the pitches on which India played their five Tests, four – including all three that hosted the recently concluded series against New Zealand, in Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai – earned “satisfactory” ratings, while the surface at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, which hosted the first Test against Bangladesh, earned a “very good” tag.

Kulasuriya, Athapaththu and Nisansala had combined to restrict Ireland to 122, which Sri Lanka crossed in 23.1 overs

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Aug-2024Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama made it a canter for Sri Lanka in the tour-ending third and final ODI against Ireland in Belfast, but their job was made simple by a strong bowling performance led by Achini Kulasuriya. Kulasuriya took three as Ireland, who had already taken the series 2-0, collapsed to 10 for 3 inside five overs. That became 28 for 5 not long after, but they recovered somewhat to post 122. But it was never going to be enough, not with Athapaththu shooting off the blocks.Athapaththu won the toss on this occasion and opted to bowl, but Sri Lanka wouldn’t have expected the rewards they got early on. Indeed, when Sri Lanka had opted to field in the last game, Ireland rode on half-centuries from Amy Hunter (66), Leah Paul (81) and Rebecca Stokell (53*) to put up 255 for 5, enough for a 15-run win. This time, though, quick bowler Kulasuriya struck off the first two balls of the innings, sending back Sarah Forbes and Hunter for ducks. Orla Prendergast, the captain, fell next, also to Kulasuriya, for 3. Inoshi Priyadharshani and Amy Kanchana chipped in with a wicket apiece, and it was 28 for 5 in the 15th over.The fightback came courtesy Paul and Arlene Kelly. It was slow going, painfully so at times, but they added 36 runs between them in just under 15 overs. Kelly was starting to pick up speed, but Paul fell to Sachini Nisansala for 19 (in 53 balls), and then there was a rush of wickets again. Canning became Athapaththu’s first wicket, Kelly the second, and between them Athapaththu and Nisansala finished the innings off.Chamari Athapaththu had a great game with bat and ball•Cricket Ireland

Priyadharshini returned remarkable figures of 10-5-7-1 with an economy rate of 0.70, second on the list of most miserly ODI spells by a Sri Lanka woman cricketer, behind Rose Dovey’s 1 for 5 (with eight maidens) against Pakistan back in 2002.It had been a quiet ODI series for Athapaththu, as she recorded scores of 0 and 22 in the first two games. Her opening partner Vishmi Gunaratne and No. 3 Samarawickrama took charge in Athapaththu’s place in those two games, scoring centuries, but Ireland were the superior side on both occasions.This time, Athapaththu dominated the opening stand of 32 with Gunaratne, and then put on a 62-run stand for the second wicket with Samarawickrama in 11-and-a-half overs, taking Sri Lanka to 94 with 32 overs left in which to score 29 runs. Athapaththu’s 48 came off 49 balls and included ten fours.The win was just around the corner, and Samarawickrama took Sri Lanka there with an unbeaten 48 in 56 balls, hitting seven fours of her own, with Kavisha Dilhari on 10 off 15 balls with her at the end, which came in 23.1 overs.Ireland won the ODI series 2-1, after the two-match T20I series had ended 1-1.

Stoneman top-scores with 63 in low-scoring final-day nerve-shredder in Cardiff

ECB Reporters Network20-May-2024Middlesex secured a two-wicket victory over Glamorgan in their Vitality County Championship match in Cardiff with Mark Stoneman top-scoring in a win that came right down to the last few overs on the fourth day.Glamorgan were miles behind in this match before 48 runs and five wickets from Mason Crane took them close to victory in a thrilling finish on the final evening.Middlesex looked to be cruising to victory before a collapse of four for 15 put them in real danger of defeat but they managed to sneak home to claim the win thanks to a 52-run stand for the penultimate wicket between Tom Helm and Jack Davies. This win gives Middlesex 21 points from this game with Glamorgan securing just two bowling bonus points.As was the case in the first innings, runs from Zain-ul-Hassan and Crane kept Glamorgan in the hunt in this match. The pair had been the top-scorers in Glamorgan’s under-par batting efforts on day one, and here they put on a stand of 61 to take the lead past 200.Zain was the first to go when he turned a ball into the leg side for an easy catch for Ryan Higgins off the bowling of Ethan Bamber for 34, the same score he managed in the first innings.Crane looked to take the fight to Middlesex as he batted with Andy Gorvin. The pair had put on another 17 runs when Gorvin gave a catch to point off the bowling of Luke Hollman. It was also Hollman who claimed the final wicket when he dismissed Crane for 48 with a thick edge that was well taken by wicket-keeper, Davies.Middlesex started their chase brightly with Sam Robson and Stoneman putting on a stand worth 65. Robson was the first wicket to fall when he was dismissed by Andy Gorvin for 31. He chopped the ball on to his stumps, the sixth time this had happened in this match as the two-paced nature of this Cardiff surface continued to make an impact.Crane got the ball to turn big once he was introduced to the attack and he made the next breakthrough when he spun one past an attempted sweep from Max Holman to bowl him for 28.Crane had a huge shout for lbw against Leus du Plooy which was turned down, but Harris got him in the very next over when he struck his pads in front and the umpire gave the decision in the bowler’s favour.Crane had Higgins caught behind for 1 and as the game headed into the final session the match it was nicely poised with Glamorgan needing six wickets on a pitch that was getting increasingly hard to bat on and Middlesex still 93 runs short of their victory target.Crane made another breakthrough when he had Nathan Fernandes caught at slip but the moment that created this thrilling finish was when Gorvin got Stoneman caught by Cooke for 63.Two wickets in two balls from Crane to dismiss both Toby Roland-Jones and Luke Hollman without scoring left this game on a knife edge before the ninth wicket stand between Davies and Helm took Middlesex to victory with just five overs left in the match.