Winter Watch (w/e 17 Feb): Laurie Evans transfers superb form to Pakistan Super League
After a brief trip back to Hove, Laurie Evans embarked on the next leg of his winter wanders last week. He arrived in the UAE for the Pakistan Super League and hit the ground running with 49 off 39 balls batting at number three for Multan Sultans in their opening match against Karachi Kings on Friday. He was run out just short of his half-century as the Sultans fell seven runs short of their target of 184.
The Sultans opened their account on the very next day with a five-wicket win over reigning champions, Multan Sultans. Laurie took a catch as United were restricted to 125-7 from their 20 overs before contributing 15 runs to Multan’s successful chase.
Phil Salt was part of the Islamabad side in that match, making four batting at number five, something of an unfamiliar position for Sussex Sharks’ opener. Phil had made his PSL bow in the first match of this year’s tournament on Thursday night, where he took a superb catch to dismiss AB de Villiers during Lahore Qalandars innings of 171-8. Phil then made four, batting at number four, as the Sultans reached their target with five wickets and four balls to spare.
🇵🇰 @PhilSalt1 and @IsbUnited got off to a winning start in @thePSLt20 last night!
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) February 15, 2019
Salty took this brilliant catch to dismiss AB de Villiers and help his side beat the Qalandars by five wickets. 👏pic.twitter.com/OEXmD5IToF
Chris Jordan (Peshawar Zalmi) and David Wiese (Lahore Qalandars) are also over in the Middle East for the PSL but have yet to feature for their teams.
England Lions’ tour of India came to an end last week, with the side suffering a heavy defeat in the second and final unofficial Test against India A. Danny Briggs picked up three wickets in India A’s first innings of 392 and made six at number eleven as the Lions responded with 144 all out. Asked to follow on, the Lions were then dismissed for 180 in their second innings – Danny making two – handing India A victory by an innings and 68 runs. That meant a 1-0 series victory for the hosts.
Also in India, but at the start of their tour, are England Women. Earlier today, they took on an Indian Board President’s XI at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium in their only warm up match ahead of the ODI series that starts on Thursday. Georgia Elwiss picked up 2-20 from seven overs, while Sarah Taylor was on hand with two catches and a stumping as the hosts were bowled out for 154. Sarah made two batting at number three, Georgia thirteen at number seven and Danni Wyatt a crucial 22 from number seven as England snuck home by two wickets.
In Australia, the Big Bash League finally reached its conclusion on Sunday, with Melbourne Renegades defeating Melbourne Stars to take their maiden title. Jofra Archer made it to the semi-finals with table-topping Hobart Hurricanes but missed out at home against the Stars on Thursday. Batting at number eight, Jofra hit an unbeaten seven off four balls to help Hobart to 153-7 from their twenty overs. He picked up the wicket of Stars opener Ben Dunk on his way to figures of 1-33 from his four overs, but the visitors booked their place in the final with seven balls and six wickets to spare.
In what is likely to be his final innings of the Australian club cricket season, Luke Wells left his best ‘til last for Casey-South Melbourne as they batted first on day one of their two-day match against Essendon on Saturday. Skipper Luke made an unbeaten 197 from 258 balls at the top of the order as the home side racked up 396-4 in 91 overs before declaring. Essendon saw off two overs to finish on 0-0 at the end of the first day.
💫 @luke_wells07 continued his brilliant form overnight, finishing 197* for @CaseySthMelbCC!
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) February 16, 2019
Luke now holds the record for the season runs aggregate for the club (882 runs @ 73.50). 👏pic.twitter.com/EWW3pdjpor
Luke’s top-score of the season means he has scored 1,063 runs for Casey-South Melbourne in 20 innings, breaking the club record for the most runs in a season. His haul includes four centuries and four fifties.
Luke has captained the Swans into ninth place in Victoria’s Kookaburra Men’s Premier Firsts competition, one points behind Camberwell Magpies, with one game of the regular season remaining after next Saturday’s completion of the current round of matches. After that, the top eight teams will proceed to the quarter-finals.
George Garton is also approaching the end of his time with Northcote CC in the same competition. On Saturday, the left-arm quick tool 1-36 from nine overs and two catches – one of them off his own bowling - as Carlton made 298-8 in their 96 overs. Northcote sit in 15th place in the table with 20 points.
Over in the South Australian grade competition, Michael Burgess had two weekends off as a result of his Adelaide University side missing the previous round of matches. He was back in action on Saturday, however, as his side entertained East Torrens. Michael made 16 batting at number five as AUCC reached 379-9 declared batting first. East Torrens are 4-0 after four overs going into day two next Saturday. With 20 points for a win, Michael’s team are still in with a chance of making the semi-finals with this game and one more to come. They are currently in sixth place, ten points off fourth.
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