Welcome to Monday’s live cricket blog.
The Sport360 team is in place bringing you the latest news from around the world as we follow and build up to some big matches.
We will be bringing you all the updates from the first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand as it nears its conclusion in Abu Dhabi. We will also be looking ahead to the three-match T20 series between Australia and India which gets underway on Wednesday.
As always, get in touch with us through Facebook and Twitter.
2:30pm – New Zealand beat Pakistan by four runs in first Test
What a Test match that was at Abu Dhabi! It is agony for Pakistan who fall just four runs short of the target with last man Azhar Ali dismissed by Ajaz Patel.
Pakistan were looking good for a comfortable win after a healthy stand between Azhar and Asad Shafiq but Neil Wagner and Patel struck back in fine fashion for the Kiwis who claimed a sensational win.
Read more on this match in our report here. Stay tuned for the player ratings.
Neil Wagner brought New Zealand back into the game.
10:30am – Pakistan rocked early on day four of Abu Dhabi Test
Play has gotten underway in day four of the opening Test between Pakistan and New Zealand and it has been an electric start. Resuming from their overnight score of 37-0, Pakistan lost three wickets inside two overs in the morning session as they attempt to chase down a target of 176 to win the match.
Do not miss the live action from Abu Dhabi by following our ball-by-ball coverage here.
Imam-ul-Haq fell to Ajaz Patel.
10:15am – Rishabh Pant among players to watch for in Australia-India T20 series
As Australia and India get ready to lock horns in a three-match T20 series, we take a look at the three players each from both sides who will be worth keeping an eye on.
Among them is India’s Rishabh Pant who has made a terrific start to life in international cricket. Read about him and the other players worth watching out for here.
Rishabh Pant is primed to shine for India.
10:00am – Sikandar Raza reveals delight at Zimbabwe comeback
It has been a tough year for Zimbabwe cricketers, and for Sikandar Raza. The talented batsman, along with teammates, suffered a heartbreak when his country failed to gain qualification for the 2019 World Cup following a three-run defeat to the UAE in the qualifiers in March.
But there was more to come. Following the pain of the Qualifiers, Raza had a fallout with Zimbabwe Cricket and lost his national contract.
The Zimbabwe star spoke to Sport360 at length about it all and his return to the Zimbabwe fold. Read what he had to say here.
Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza.
9:00am – Joyce era ends for Ireland Cricket
For the first time in over two decades, there will be no Joyce siblings representing either the men’s or women’s teams of Ireland.
On Sunday, the Joyce twins Isobel and Cecelia announced their retirement from international cricket following Ireland women’s loss to their New Zealand counterparts in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20.
Read more on what this means for Ireland Cricket here.
The Joyce sisters (first and second from right). Image – ICC/Twitter.
8:30am – Glenn Maxwell in awe of Rohit Sharma’s talent
Australia batsman Glenn Maxwell believes it will be a difficult task for the hosts to contain India‘s Rohit Sharma in the upcoming T20 series between the two sides.
The India deputy skipper comes into the series on the back of some outstanding form in limited-overs cricket which has seen him become the first batsman to register four international T20 tons.
Read what Maxwell had to say about the India star here.
Rohit Sharma is a man in form.
8:00am – Pakistan’s Asif Ali lights up Mzansi Super League
Pakistan batsman Asif Ali proved his hitting prowess in South Africa’s Mzansi Super League as he smashed 80 off just 33 balls for Cape Town Blitz on Sunday.
Ali hit seven fours and five sixes during his innings that helped Cape Town defeat Durban Heat by three wickets as they chased down the target of 158 with five balls to spare.
Read more on this special effort from Asif here.
Pakistan batsman Asif Ali.
7:00am – Pat Cummins not expecting a ‘quiet’ Kohli in Australia
Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins does not believe India skipper Virat Kohli will manage to avoid verbal battles during the Indians’ tour Down Under.
Before leaving for the full tour of Australia, Kohli had stated that he was not looking to get into confrontations.
However, Cummins said he would be surprised if Kohli managed to stay quiet. Read Cummins’ quotes in full here.
Virat Kohli.
