September 22, 2024

Philippe’s Century Leads NSW to Victory Over WA Despite Richardson’s Five Wickets

Josh Philippe had a remarkable debut for New South Wales (NSW), scoring 139 runs off 119 balls against his former team, Western Australia (WA). His stunning performance was crucial in leading the Blues to a thrilling eight-run victory in the One-Day Cup. Philippe’s innings showcased his talent and determination, which perfectly started his new journey with NSW.

The 27-year-old made the off-season switch from WA to NSW to reignite his Sheffield Shield career, and his early impact with the white ball has been impressive. Philippe’s century helped NSW post 287 for 9 at Cricket Central in Sydney on Sunday, highlighting his ability to perform under pressure.

Philippe’s outstanding batting overshadowed the return to form of WA’s Jhye Richardson, who has faced his share of injury challenges. Richardson finished with impressive figures of 5 wickets for 63 runs, including two wickets in three balls during the sixth over. Despite Richardson’s efforts, Philippe’s exceptional performance ultimately secured NSW victory.

Salzmann’s Catch Seals Victory as WA Falls Short Against NSW

In response to NSW’s total, three-time defending champions Western Australia (WA) had a shot at victory, reaching 279 for 9 and needing just nine runs off the final eight balls. However, Will Salzmann dashed their hopes by taking a challenging catch at a deep point while running backward and looking into the sun, dismissing AJ Tye.

Although Salzmann had bowled an expensive 2 for 72 earlier, he ultimately had the last laugh with his match-winning catch. Cameron Bancroft was the top scorer for WA with 71 runs, supported by Ashton Agar (51), Ashton Turner (41), and Hilton Cartwright (41), all of whom made valuable contributions.

Philippe’s explosive innings featured 17 fours and three sixes, with the opener particularly dominant when driving the ball along the ground and over the top. Agar, WA’s sole spinner, struggled against Philippe, finishing with figures of 1 for 58 from eight overs. Philippe was eventually dismissed in the 38th over by a spectacular one-handed catch from Bancroft at mid-on. Still, by then, he had already done significant damage. Matthew Gilkes added 41 runs batting at No. 7, and tail-ender Tanveer Singh chipped in with a quick 26 not out off 14 balls to help NSW set a formidable total.

Arshdeep’s Six-Wicket Haul Secures Consolation Victory for India D

Vidarbha’s Aditya Thakare took 4 wickets for 59 runs. India B was bowled out for just 115 while chasing a target of 373 runs. In the final round of the Duleep Trophy 2024-25 held in Anantapur, Arshdeep Singh delivered an outstanding performance, claiming 6 wickets for 40 runs, leading India D to a consolation victory.

Set a challenging target with a little over two sessions to play, India B collapsed in just 22.2 overs. Arshdeep and Thakare shared all ten wickets, dominating the innings. Arshdeep’s impressive performance also included the key wicket of Suryakumar Yadav, who struggled with scores of only 5 and 16 in his first first-class match in over a year.

This was Arshdeep’s second five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, and he finished the match with 9 wickets for 90 runs. His exceptional bowling and Thakare’s contributions ensured a convincing win for India D in the tournament’s concluding round.

Nitish Kumar Reddy was the only batter from India B to put up a fight, finishing unbeaten on 40 as Arshdeep Singh took the final wicket to secure a 257-run victory for India D before tea on the fourth and final day. Although Arshdeep had a significant impact, Ricky Bhui was named Player of the Match. Bhui scored an impressive unbeaten 119 in the second innings, adding to his 56 in the first. This helped stabilize India D after they struggled at 18 for 3.

Bhui’s Century and Arshdeep’s Bowling Lead India D to Victory Over India B

Starting the day with 90 runs, Bhui quickly reached his 20th first-class century, contributing to India D’s total of 303 after resuming at 244 for 5. This was despite spin-bowling allrounder Saransh Jain not batting due to an unspecified injury. India B’s chase for the target fell apart early, losing three wickets within the first eight overs. Musheer Khan, who had started the tournament strongly with a remarkable 181, was dismissed for a duck, marking his second zero in four innings and ending a disappointing game.

Nitish, who hadn’t made the contributions he hoped for with the bat during the tournament, finished positively, even in defeat. He took two wickets throughout the competition, demonstrating his ability to bowl long spells and move the ball briskly.

Aside from Arshdeep Singh, left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar had a strong performance, taking five wickets in the first innings and helping India D secure a 67-run lead. Other highlights for India D included Shreyas Iyer, the team captain, who scored a quick 50 runs off just 40 balls in the second innings, and Sanju Samson, who scored a century in the first innings and contributed valuable runs in the second, setting a total that they could successfully defend.

For India B, Abhimanyu Easwaran stood out as a bright spot. After facing two uncharacteristic dismissals at the start of the tournament, he rebounded strongly with two centuries in his next matches. Unfortunately, a loss in the final game dashed India B’s hopes of winning the Duleep Trophy, as India A will likely secure three points from their ongoing match against India C.