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After a hectic period abroad, allrounder Cooper Connolly marked his return to the WACA with a half-century under pressure in the high stakes Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and Victoria.Connolly threatened to turn the game on its head before Victoria regrouped and dismissed WA for 186 in their first innings. Openers Campbell Kellaway and Marcus Harris blunted WA’s attack in the last hour as Victoria built a 43-run lead by stumps on day two.The match has been a see-saw throughout with both teams firmly in the race to play South Australia in the final starting on March 26. They are fighting for the outright victory needed to overtake Queensland and New South Wales, who are both in trouble in their respective matches.Connolly rescued WA’s first innings from ruins at 111 for 8 with a top score of 56 off 104 balls on a green surface that has heavily favoured the bowlers although the pitch did seem to flatten out towards the backend of the day.He had a tough time in foreign conditions during his Test debut in Sri Lanka and at the Champions Trophy, but continued to build an impressive record at Shield level with his fourth half-century from his first six innings.While Connolly played somewhat within himself given the circumstances and conditions, he showcased his class with eight fours and a six.The rest of the WA batters combined for just ten boundaries across 78.2 overs as they got strangled by a disciplined Victoria pace attack with captain Will Sutherland, Peter Siddle and David Moody nagging away and producing sharp seam movement.WA had earlier resumed at 10 for 1 having lost captain Sam Whiteman just before stumps on day one. After starring with a five-wicket haul, nightwatchman Corey Rocchiccioli hoped to be a nuisance for Victoria and he looked untroubled until he was caught behind down the legside for 16, off Sutherland – in a similar dismissal to Whiteman.It brought out Jayden Goodwin, who was perhaps fortunate to hold his spot in the team ahead of Sam Fanning having only passed 10 once in his last five Shield innings. Goodwin hadn’t yet scored when he had a nervous moment after a loud shout by Sutherland for a catch at short leg.But he survived and had some respite from offspinner Todd Murphy, who came into the attack in the ninth over but struggled to find his lengths. He bowled too short and did not produce the same type of threat as counterpart Rocchicccioli, who is taller and able to produce more bounce.Opener Cameron Bancroft hoped to stonewall like he did in the last match against NSW with a vital 86 off 277 balls in WA’s second innings. But Siddle was rewarded for his accuracy when he had Bancroft edging to second slip for 14 as WA slumped to 35 for 3.Hilton Cartwright came to the crease in fine form having made a first-class career high of 171 not out against NSW, continuing a stellar season where he is currently the Shield’s leading run-scorer.Cartwright’s confidence was evident when he skipped down the wicket at Murphy and he stroked a lovely cover drive to make a mockery of the conditions. But he was unable to refocus after lunch and tamely nicked off a back of a length delivery from Sutherland to trigger a collapse of 5 for 35.Siddle and Sutherland bowled superbly in tandem with their lengths perfectly suited to this tricky surface.The normally flamboyant Connolly started cautiously before opening his account on his ninth delivery when he cracked a boundary through point, a rare loose ball from Sutherland who had only leaked nine runs off 11.5 overs up to that point.Former WA quick Moody complemented Sutherland and Siddle well in his Victoria debut and first Shield match in two years. Proving a worthy replacement for spearhead Scott Boland, who did not make the trip to Perth due to knee soreness, Moody enjoyed a surface that had more pace than the previous day’s play as he unleashed off his very long run-up.Victoria looked set for a handy first-innings lead before being left frustrated by a 53-run ninth-wicket partnership between Connolly and Cameron Gannon, who is a more than capable lower-order batter.Connolly did not have many opportunities to counterattack, but he kept the runs ticking against Murphy and hit the only six of the innings by hooking Moody into the ground’s construction site. He received healthy applause after reaching his half-century off 97 balls and eyed an unexpected lead for WA.However, Connolly was left disappointed after he was adjudged caught behind off Siddle in a decision that he clearly disagreed with. The evergreen Siddle finished with superb figures of 3 for 10 off 13.2 overs as he did his part in keeping Victoria’s title hopes alive.

Key takeaways

There is already evidence that the 46th edition of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League will be the most open competition of the last 15 years. The top seven teams – all on four points each – have already dropped points in the first round that began on March 3. Defending champions Abahani Limited are among the top six teams, although many felt that they would have financial constraints in the 2024-25 season, given their political links with the Awami League.Prime Bank Cricket Club have begun the league spectacularly, becoming the first side to reach a 400-plus total in a List A game in Bangladesh. There have been two other 300-plus totals in the first three rounds, but there have been also been two sides getting bowled out for under 100 runs.Coming hot on the heels of Bangladesh’s disappointing Champions Trophy campaign, the spotlight will be on if the Dhaka Premier League, known as the country’s most important domestic competition, can provide some new performers.

Best batters

Mohammad Naim continues to be the standout batter of the season in domestic cricket. He struck a career-best 176 against Brothers Union in the game in which Prime Bank racked up 422 for 8 in 50 overs. Naim has limited his strokeplay, concentrating mainly on three or four shots to get him the runs. The most impressive factor is his growth as an accumulator, picking ones and twos regularly.

Best bowlers

Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam has taken three wickets in each of the first three matches for Legends of Rupganj. His 3 for 15 (against Shinepukur Cricket Club) and 3 for 23 (against Gazi Group Cricketers) were impressive spells. Tanvir couldn’t quite do well in the BPL, so he must be eager to bounce back in the Dhaka Premier League. Tanvir reached 150 List A wickets, and completed 100 matches in the format on March 10.

Best match

Prime Bank started the season with a tight contest, beating Rupganj Tigers by three wickets. Batting first, Rupganj were bowled out for 216 in 48.4 overs. Prime Bank, however, slipped to 23 for 4 in the third over. Openers Naim and Sabbir Hossain were dismissed for ducks, before Zakir Hasan fell in the second over. When captain Irfan Sukkur was run-out, Prime Bank were in big trouble.But Shamim Hossain held things together with an unbeaten 98 off 83 balls that included ten fours and four sixes. He added 110 runs for the unbroken eighth-wicket stand with Khaled Ahmed, who contributed with 28 from 37 deliveries. Shahadat Hossain also struck a quick fifty from No. 4.

Points to ponder

Apart from the top seven teams all reaching four points each, Gulshan Cricket Club, Partex Sporting Club, Shinepukur and Brothers Union have two points each. Rupganj Tigers remain the only team yet to open their account after three losses.

Players to watch

Brothers’ 21-year-old batter Mahfijul Islam struck a century and a half-century in the first three games to be the top-scorer at this stage of the competition. Parvez Hossain Emon, having returned from the Champions Trophy, also struck a century and a fifty.

It was a heist for the ages in Mount Maunganui as New Zealand secured an eight-run win in the first T20I, and with it took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. But more importantly it was a lesson in fight from the hosts, one the visitors would do well to take note of.For much of the game it had looked Sri Lanka’s to lose. The first instance was when New Zealand were reeling on 65 for 5 midway through their innings, and the second when Sri Lanka were cruising after a 121-run opening stand needing just 52 off 40 deliveries.On both occasions New Zealand fought back, and hard – initially through a 105-run stand between Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell to post a competitive 172 for 8, and then finally through a late strangle that saw Sri Lanka lose eight wickets for 38 runs after being in total control of proceedings.Jacob Duffy was at the heart of the collapse with a three-wicket 14th over, as he set the wheels in motion for a sterling New Zealand comeback – which also earned him the player of the match award. Sri Lanka though will be at a loss for words in attempting to explain how they let this game slip.A collapse for the agesSri Lanka thought they had done enough – and by all accounts they had. A 121-run opening stand in chase of 173 would in most cases have been more than enough. After all, when Kusal Mendis fell for a brisk 46, Sri Lanka needed only another 52 runs off 40 deliveries with nine wickets in hand.Sure, three balls later that equation changed to 52 needed with seven wickets in hand, after Duffy had made sure Kusal Perera and Kamindu Mendis followed Kusal to the dressing room. But, surely not?Nerves were eased a bit as Charith Asalanka joined Pathum Nissanka in the middle to chip away. But when he fell with 28 still required off 16, more doubts crept in. And then when Matt Henry removed Nissanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa in the span of a few deliveries, all doubt was removed. Sri Lanka needed 19 off 8, but only Wanindu Hasaranga could be counted on to strike the boundaries needed.Hasaranga being run out without facing a ball in the final over summed up Sri Lanka’s disastrous end to the game.Binura leads Sri Lanka’s early chargeMitchell Santner had been concerned about about a “green tinge” on the surface having been put in to bat, and after the first ten overs his concerns seemed warranted as New Zealand had stumbled to 65 for 5.Pathum Nissanka’s 90 from 60 balls seemed to have put Sri Lanka firmly in control•Getty Images

Binura Fernando, playing his first T20I in nine months, proved the most effective of Sri Lanka’s three seamers despite never clocking more than 130kph. He showed admirable control and found consistent movement in the air despite bowling mostly on a good length or slightly further back; the wickets of Tim Robinson and Rachin Ravindra were just rewards, and he might have had another had Charith Asalanka not spilled Mark Chapman at mid-off.Binura’s opening burst of three overs went for just 12 runs, before a Hasaranga double-strike in the 10th over really rammed home Sri Lanka’s early dominance.Mitchell and Bracewell counter brutallyIf the first half of the innings belonged to Sri Lanka, the second was well and truly New Zealand’s. After a couple of overs treading water, Bracewell signalled his intent to shift gears with a pair of boundaries off Maheesh Theekshana in the 14th, before unloading on an off-colour Matheesha Pathirana an over later – a flicked six into the grass banks and a monster loft over wide long-off the highlights in a 22-run over.Bracewell’s power was on total display from then on as Hasaranga and Binura were also both taken for maximums over the next few overs. And there would be no respite for Sri Lanka at the other end either, as Mitchell struck in lockstep with his partner, the pair even bringing up their respective fifties off consecutive deliveries.In total, 107 runs were struck between overs 10-20, with 85 of those coming off the six-over period from 13-19. Only an excellent final over from Theekshana, where three wickets fell for just three runs ensured New Zealand were kept below 180.Pathirana’s off dayFour overs for 60 runs and a solitary wicket marked a bad day at the office for Pathirana, but it’s the three no-balls (and subsequent free hits) that will no doubt have Sri Lanka’s coaching staff pulling their hair out. That one of those accounted for the wicket of Mitchell, when he was on eight, will be particularly grating.Pathirana also struggled with identifying an effective length, constantly bowling fuller than ideal – surprising considering the success Binura had had by hitting the deck harder, not to mention the success Pathirana himself has had with similar lengths in the past.

Mohammad Nazir, the former Pakistan offspinner and umpire, has died. Nazir jr, as he was also known, died in Lahore after a protracted illness. He was 78.He played 14 Tests and four ODIs for Pakistan. Although the Tests were spread across 14 years, he was best remembered for the impact in his very first Test, against New Zealand in October 1969.Playing in Karachi on a pitch which took spin from the start, Nazir picked up 7 for 99 in his very first innings. In addition, he scored a handy, unbeaten 29 with the bat, and was not out on 17 in the second innings as well. The Test was drawn, but proved to be a significant one, in that it was the great Hanif Mohammad’s last Test, and his younger brother Sadiq’s first.

Big picture – India look to continue WTC march

When they started their home season, India needed seven wins out of their ten remaining Tests to put beyond reasonable doubt their qualification for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. In certain scenarios, even five wins would be enough. With five of these Tests in Australia, India wanted to go there with the five minimum wins already in the bag.Rain and poor facilities in Kanpur threatened to deny them one of those wins, but an extraordinarily enterprising batting approach manufactured a win there. They face a similar scenario when they start the three-Test series against New Zealand in Bengaluru, where rain disrupted the teams’ preparation, and is threatening to significantly impact the Test.Related

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• Gambhir: 'If you play only one way, you don't grow'

Former world Test champions New Zealand will want to prove silly the assumption that rain threatens to cost India certain points as was the case with Bangladesh in Kanpur, but the fact is that not much separates New Zealand and Bangladesh on the WTC points table. They have won only 37.5% of the points they have contested, about half of what India have. What’s worse is that they are away from home comforts and are coming off a 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka, which is just a teaser of the challenges they can expect to face in India, who are on a six-match winning streak. New Zealand will have to start this challenge without the services of Kane Williamson, who is racing against time to be fit for the second Test.Then again, the rain does offer New Zealand a window of opportunity. In case it lets up and leaves the pitch sweating, there could be value in inserting the opposition an unprecedented three times in a row in India. If they manage to cash in on that window, they have a chance in the Test, but equally, India will back themselves in any conditions because they still might have a better pace attack even with Mohammed Shami missing. In fact, they might even relish seaming conditions because they also have one eye on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

Form guide

India WWWWW
New Zealand LLLLW

In the spotlight – Virat Kohli and Tim Southee

It can be difficult to judge where Virat Kohli‘s game is at because everything around him is always heightened – be it optimism or pessimism. India haven’t played a lot of Test cricket in the recent past, but Kohli does have two centuries in his last eight Tests. However, before that, he had endured a long dry patch. Now people are keen to know how he is faring given the big series in Australia at the end of the year. At his IPL home ground, at a venue where he led India to a rousing Test win against Australia in 2017, Kohli is bound to be the centre of attention.1:45

Manjrekar doesn’t feel Kuldeep should get game time ahead of Australia tour

Kohli’s rival from his Under-19 days, Tim Southee was New Zealand’s captain only about a fortnight ago. He stepped down with a record of 6-6-2, but on the back of the whitewash in Sri Lanka. Eighteen short of 400 wickets, Southee continues to remain a vital part of New Zealand’s attack, especially in India, where he can use his experience to remain effective even when the conditions aren’t helpful. He took five-wicket hauls on two of his three previous trips here – one of them in overcast Bengaluru in 2012, and another in dry Kanpur in 2021, which shows his versatility, something New Zealand will need desperately in order to remain competitive.

Pitch and conditions

Early intelligence suggests India might return to tracks that call for three spinners after the Bangladesh series, where they played three quicks in both Tests and the side winning the toss chose to field on either occasion. However, the inclement weather in the lead-up to the Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru could end up producing seam-friendly conditions. The weather is likely to play spoilsport through the game, with the first two days likely to be the worst affected. However, the drainage facilities in Bengaluru are as good as anywhere.

Team news – Three quicks or three spinners?

Shubman Gill has a stiff neck, which could unsettle a settled batting line-up. If he doesn’t wake up fit to play, Gill could be replaced by Sarfaraz Khan in the XI and KL Rahul at No. 3. The question for them is whether to field an extra spinner or a third quick. It is likely to eventually come down to how much rain there is in the lead-up to the toss and how the conditions are at the time.India (likely): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Shubman Gill/Sarfaraz Khan, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 KL Rahul, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Akash Deep/Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed Siraj3:36

Rohit: Bumrah has always been in our leadership group

Mark Chapman is Williamson’s cover in New Zealand’s squad, but the slot has gone to Will Young. Mitchell Santner will be under pressure to keep his place after averaging 197 and being outbowled by Glenn Phillips in Sri Lanka.New Zealand (possible): 1 Devon Conway, 2 Tom Latham (capt), 3 Will Young, 4 Rachin Ravindra, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Glenn Phillips, 8 Mitchell Santner/Michael Bracewell, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Ajaz Patel, 11 Will O’Rourke

Stats and trivia

• The last time New Zealand played in India, Ajaz Patel became the third man in Test history to take all ten wickets in an innings
• Kohli is 53 short of becoming the fourth Indian to 9000 Test runs
• India have already hit 97 sixes this year, going past the previous record, 89, which England had in 2022

Quotes

“No matter who the opposition is, what is important for us is to be an even better version of ourselves. So our focus will be on how we can do better than what we did in the previous series.”
“Obviously the wicket being under covers for a longer duration, and it not necessarily being as hot as what we would usually expect here, that potentially brings the fast bowlers into play. We’ve had a little bit of a look at the previous game that was played here maybe a month ago. And I think the seam took a lot of wickets.”

Luckless Australia and Melbourne Renegades fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck has been ruled out of the WBBL for the third consecutive season following the shoulder dislocation she suffered in the T20 World Cup.Vlaeminck, 25, dislocated her bowling shoulder just moments into Australia’s World Cup match against Pakistan which was her first at a major tournament since 2018.She was subsequently ruled out of the World Cup and Renegades confirmed on Friday that she would play no part in the WBBL that starts next Sunday.Related

• Vlaeminck dislocates shoulder on T20 World Cup return

Vlaeminck has not played in the WBBL since November 2021 when she was playing for Hobart Hurricanes. She signed with Renegades ahead of the 2022-23 season but has not managed to play a single game due to an extraordinary run of injuries.Vlaeminck has twice dislocated her left shoulder. The first came playing for Victoria in the 2017-18 season. Then, during the Australia A tour of England which coincided with last year’s Women’s Ashes, she dislocated the same shoulder again while bowling, which led to corrective surgery.Before she made her debut for Australia, in 2018, she had undergone two ACL reconstructions. Stress fractures in her foot also forced her to miss the 2020 home T20 World Cup as well as the 2022 ODI World Cup, the Commonwealth Games later that year and the 2023 T20 World Cup. Her foot injuries led her to spend time training with professional dancers at the Australian Ballet as part of her rehab work.

Lancashire made up for lost time and maintained their Vitality County Championship Division One survival hopes after Tom Bailey and Anderson Phillip impressed with the new ball against Worcestershire at Visit Worcestershire New Road.Bailey and Phillip fully justified Lancashire skipper Keaton Jennings decision to put the home side into bat in reducing them to 22 for 5 and then 56 for 7 in seamer-friendly conditions when play got underway after lunch. The duo both picked up three wickets to give Lancashire an ideal start to a game they have to win to keep alive their chances of remaining in the top flight for another season.Lancashire began the game 15 points adrift of third from bottom Nottinghamshire but last week’s win over Somerset at Emirates Old Trafford had kept them in contention.Bailey bowled eight overs on the trot and returned excellent figures of 3 for 9 while Phillip had 3 for 44 from seven overs.Worcestershire had already guaranteed their safety during a recent run of three wins in four matches and their eighth-wicket pair of Matthew Waite and Logan van Beek led a partial recovery. They plundered 63 in seven overs but the rain which had washed out the morning’s play returned after tea.Worcestershire made two changes from the side in action against Hampshire at the Utilita Bowl with the fit again Waite and Jack Home replacing the injured Tom Taylor and spinner Amar Virdi. Lancashire kept faith with the side which had defeated Somerset.Bailey’s second delivery of the opening over accounted for Gareth Roderick who drove at a ball of full length which was swinging away and he edged to Will Williams at fourth slip.Jake Libby square cut Phillip for four but then was stuck in the crease and nicked another ball which moved away to Harry Singh at third slip. Rob Jones was undone by an excellent full length swinging delivery from Phillip and was caught behind. Kashif Ali steered Bailey to first slip and then Brett D’Oliveira pushed at the same bowler and perished at second slip.Adam Hose off drove Bailey to the ropes to move into double figures but it became 39 for 6 when Ethan Brookes played forward and was bowled with a fullish-length delivery which did just enough to nip away.Phillip came back into the attack to replace Bailey after a superb opening spell of 8-4-9-3 and he soon claimed his third scalp when Hose tried to on drive a delivery slanted towards leg stump and ended up deflecting to Jennings at second slip.Waite decided attack was the best policy and pulled and on drove Williams for sixes in his first over which cost 15 runs. Van Beek also went on the attack and he struck Balderson and Williams for further maximums.By tea the eighth wicket pair had added 63 in just seven overs but the players were unable to return for the final session after a heavy downpour.

The Blaze 249 for 4 (K Bryce 87*, Beaumont 59) beat Sunrisers 245 (Griffith 65) by six wickets Double-chasers The Blaze kept alive their chance of qualifying for the knock-out stage of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy with a six-wicket win over Sunrisers at Derby, where they chased down a target of 246 with 39 balls to spare.Not for the first time, all-rounder Kathryn Bryce was their match-winner, top-scoring with 87 not out for the Charlotte Edwards Cup-holders to go with figures of four for 41 in the Sunrisers innings.England’s Tammy Beaumont (59) shared a 76-run first-wicket partnership with Kathryn’s sister, Sarah Bryce (41) to give the chase a strong platform, Ella Claridge helping Scotland skipper Bryce finish things off with an unbeaten 33 from 27 balls.Cordelia Griffith had been the Sunrisers’ star performer with the bat, making 65 with seven fours and a six, backed up by useful contributions from Eva Gray (37) and Jodi Grewcock (36) in the Sunrisers total.The result was a setback for Sunrisers, who started the day in third place in the group table, although the top-four finish they need to clinch their first semi-final appearance in the history of either of the women’s regional competitions remains in their hands with two matches left.The Blaze have momentum after winning six of their last eight completed matches but will still need other results to go in their favour even if they win their two remaining fixtures.Having opted to bat first on a green wicket after winning the toss, Sunrisers reached a solid 38 without loss before medium-pacer Bryce then removed Scrivens caught and bowled off a leading edge in the last over of the opening powerplay. Jo Gardner was then bowled off her front pad by Gordon as she sought to pull through midwicket.Griffith and 19-year-old Jodi Grewcock regained the initiative for Sunrisers, adding 89 for the third wicket, Griffith completing a 55-ball fifty after hitting Groves for six and four as the leg-spinner conceded 14 from her opening over.But Groves bounced back to have Grewcock leg before and picked up a second success as Mady Villiers top-edged to mid-on. Alice Macleod was run out thanks to Cassidy McCarthy’s smart work on the midwicket boundary.Sunrisers had slipped from 135 for two to 162 for six as Gordon claimed the vital wicket of Griffith when what must have been an optimistic appeal for leg before was upheld.Gray and Flo Miller bolstered the Sunrisers innings by adding an enterprising 60 in 11 overs before Miller (26) was bowled by Ballinger, her dismissal sparking a flurry of wickets in the final five overs as Gray, Kate Coppack and Amara Carr found fielders in the deep, all off Bryce.Beaumont and Scotland wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce provided a strong platform for The Blaze reply, putting 76 on the board before the latter was leg before playing back to off-spinner Villiers.With the Sunrisers attack unable to build sustained pressure, Beaumont and Sarah Bryce had doubled the Blaze total almost by the halfway stage of their innings, at which point another 100 runs were needed exactly.Beaumont departed lbw from 71 balls, having hit three fours and a six in a workmanlike performance, missing a pull shot against a ball from Gray that struck her very high on the left thigh.Nonetheless, with 88 needed from 20 overs and eight wickets in hand, The Blaze were in control, even with Gray and leg spinner Abtaha Maqsood, in her first appearance of this year’s competition, beginning to apply some pressure. They lost Kelly, trapped in front as Gray claimed a second success, but still had plenty of batting to come.Ireland’s Orla Prendergast was caught on the midwicket boundary but Claridge hurried things along with three fours in an over off Grewcock before Bryce, who had brought her skill and experience to bear in a superbly measured innings, hit the winning boundary.