Cricket Highlights, 28 Dec: BBL 2021/22 (Match 24), SA vs IND (1st Test – Day 3)

The 24th match of the BBL 2021/22 between Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers and the 3rd day of the 1st Test between South Africa and India rolled on the field yesterday. 

BBL 2021/22 – Match 24 (Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers)

In the 24th match of BBL 2021/22, Sydney Thunder has got a great victory of 34 runs against Perth Scorchers at Manuka Oval in Canberra, who were unbeaten till yesterday. After losing the toss and opting to bat first, Thunder lost 7 wickets in 20 overs and collected a big score of 200 runs.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings played a devastating inning of 67 off 35 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes for the Thunder. Besides, Jason Sangha scored 56 runs off 46 balls. Matthew Kelly was the top wicket-taker for the Scorchers with scalping 3 wickets and Mitchell Marsh took 2 wickets.

Defending the huge target of 201, the Thunder bowlers took 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs and the Scorchers’ innings came to a halt at 166 runs. Colin Munro top-scored remaining unbeaten on 64 off 43 balls for the team. Andrew Tye played a stormy inning of 44 runs from 25 balls in the end. Nathan McAndrew took the maximum of 3 wickets for the Thunder. Besides, Chris Green and Saqib Mahmood took 2 wickets each.

After winning this match, Sydney Thunder has risen to 4th place in the points table. Despite losing, Perth Scorchers are still top of the points table.

Scoreboard

Sydney Thunder – 200/7 (20.0)

Perth Scorchers – 166/8 (20.0)

Result – Sydney Thunder won by 34 runs

Player of the match – Sam Billings

SA vs IND (1st Test – Day 3)

The Indian cricket team scored 272 runs for the loss of three wickets on the first day of the first Test match of the South Africa tour. They started again on the morning of the third day with KL Rahul (122) and Ajinkya Rahane (40) at the crease as the second day was washed away due to rain. From there, they lost 7 wickets and scored 49 runs. They got all out scoring 327 runs.

Playing an innings of 123 off 260 balls with 17 fours and 1 six, Rahul returned to the pavilion in the fourth over of the day with a great delivery by Kagiso Rabada. After two overs, another batsman Ajinkya Rahane (48) returned to the dressing room with the help of Lungi Ngidi’s stellar bowling. India then lost four wickets in four overs.

Ravichandran Ashwin (4), Rishabh Pant (8), Shardul Thakur (4), and Mohammed Shami (8) returned to the dressing room. Jasprit Bumrah was dismissed as the last batsman with 14 runs. Lungi Ngidi took the maximum number of 6 wickets, conceding 71 runs for the Proteas. Kagiso Rabada took 3 wickets and Marco Jansen took 1 wicket each.

Batting in the 1st innings, South Africa was bowled out for 197 runs due to Mohammed Shami’s outstanding bowling. Captain Temba Bavuma scored the highest 52 runs for the hosts. Quinton de Kock (34) and Rabada (25) also scored some runs for the Proteas. Shami took the highest number of 5 wickets for 44 runs for the Men in Blues. Besides, Jasprit Bumrah and Shardul Thakur took 2 wickets each, and Mohammed Siraj took 1 wicket.

Despite getting a big lead of 130 runs, India lost a wicket last afternoon and felt a bit uncomfortable. At the end of the third day, Virat Kohli’s team lost 1 wicket in 6 overs and collected 16 runs. Mayank Agarwal returned to the dressing room with 4 runs. Besides, KL Rahul is unbeaten on 5 and nightwatchman Shardul Thakur is unbeaten on 4 runs.

Scoreboard

India (1st Innings) – 327/10 (105.3)

South Africa (1st Innings) – 197/10 (62.3)

India (2nd Innings) – 16/1 (6.0)