Winter Watch (w/e 27 Jan): Austerity Briggs impresses despite Lions' struggles

Danny Briggs confirmed his status as one of England’s best white-ball bowlers last week with three typically parsimonious performances in England Lions’ unofficial ODIs against India in Thiruvanathapuram. Despite the Lions losing all three games, the left-arm spinner’s extremely tidy bowling figures ensured he emerged with plenty of credit.

On Wednesday, Danny returned figures of 2-32 from eight overs as India chased down the Lions’ 285-7 with three wickets and five balls to spare. His economy rate of 3.87 runs per over was the best of any bowler in the match and one of his victims was Ajinkya Rahane, the Indian international with an ODI average of 35 and a Test average of 41.

Danny’s ten overs on Friday cost just 41 runs even as India A racked up 303-6 from their 50 overs. The next most economical Lions bowler was Leicestershire seamer, Zak Chappell (5.87 runs per over) who took 2-47 from eight overs. Batting at nine, Danny made 14 as the Lions were shot our for 165.

Danny was even better in a low-scoring affair on Sunday, bowling four maidens as he gave away 22 runs from his ten overs during India A’s 172 all out. He then made 15 and contributed to a 26-run eighth wicket partnership with Somerset’s Jamie Overton as the Lions were dismissed for 112.

In the Bangladesh Premier League, Laurie Evans followed his century on Monday with 74 off 56 balls for Rajshahi Kings against Chittagong Vikings in Dhaka on Wednesday. The Kings’ 157-5 wasn’t enough, however, with the Vikings knocking off the runs with six wickets and two balls to spare.

After making one during a 76-run defeat against Sylhet Sixers on Friday, Laurie bounced back with 36 off 29 balls to help the Kings take revenge against the Vikings on Saturday. The Kings made 198-5 from their 20 overs, before a catch from Laurie helped restrict the Vikings to 191-8 in reply.

With two matches left to play in the group stage, the Kings are fifth out of eight in the table, tied on ten points with the two teams above them.

Meanwhile, David Wiese continued his own good form for Khulna Titans during their six-wicket defeat against Rangpur Riders on Tuesday, smashing 35 off just 15 balls and bowling four overs for 31 runs. Against Sylhet Sixers on Wednesday, the South African made 38 off 25 balls and took 1-24 off four overs to earn himself the man of the match award as the Titans won by 21 runs.

On Saturday, in a rematch against Sylhet, David impressed with the ball, conceding only 32 runs from his allocation despite the Sixers making 195-4 from their 20 overs. In reply, the Titans were bowled out for 137, David making five. Two wins from ten matches mean that Khulna are propping up the table and are out of the reckoning for the knock-out stages.

There were two games each for our three representatives in this year’s Big Bash last week. It was Jofra Archer and the Hobart Hurricanes that came out on top against Rashid Khan and the Adelaide Strikers when the two teams met on Monday. Jofra was the pick of the bowlers from either side, taking 2-23 from his four overs as the Strikers made 154-5 batting first. The Hurricanes chased that down with more than three overs to spare and without losing a wicket to take the points.

The Hurricanes suffered just their second defeat of this year’s competition on Wednesday, going down by nine-wickets against Sydney Sixers at the SCG. Jofra’s four overs cost 34 runs as the home team chased down the ‘Canes’ 172-4 with 2.5 overs to spare.

In Rashid’s other game of the week against Melbourne Stars at Moe on Wednesday, the leg-spinner took the wicket of Marcus Stoinis and finished with 1-32 as the Stars made 167-2 having been put into bat. The Strikers were then bowled out for 123, with Rashid caught out for three batting at number six.

With four group games each left to play, the Hurricanes have a four-point lead at the top of the table, while the Strikers are hanging on in sixth place. Chris Jordan’s Sydney Thunder are three points ahead of the Strikers in fifth after winning one and losing one of their games last week.

On Tuesday, the Thunder welcomed Melbourne Renegades to the Showground Stadium. CJ took 1-35 from his four overs and a catch as the Renegades made 152-9. The Thunder fell 13 runs short in their chase, reaching 140-5.

They bounced back with a six-wicket win against Perth Scorchers on Thursday, however. CJ’s four overs went for 35 as the Scorchers scored 181-4, but Sydney reached that target with four balls to spare.

Saturday was the first day of the latest round of two-day matches in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition. Luke Wells bowled 15 tidy overs for Casey-South Melbourne as Melbourne University were bowled out for 332. Luke finished with 1-51 as well as taking a catch. George Garton, meanwhile, scored ten as Northcote were dismissed by Frankston Peninsula for 195. The left-arm quick then bowled seven overs for 17 runs with the new ball as the visitors made it to 34-2 at the close.

Over in South Australia, Saturday saw the conclusion a round of two-day matches. Michael Burgess made 27 for Adelaide University as they were bowled out for 249 and suffered a 67-run defeat to Adelaide.