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• Magnificent Matthews leads Melbourne Renegades Women to maiden WBBL title

  Hayley Matthews provided the latest example of her exploits as a big game player when she played a starring role to help the Melbourne Renegades Women defeat the Brisbane Heat Women by seven runs via the DLS method in the final of the 2024 Women’s Big Bash League at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

  Matthews first made a crucial 61-ball 69 at the top of the innings as the Renegades posted 141-9 from their 20 overs after being put in to bat by the Heat.

  

  Her innings included eight fours and was crucial as the Heat bowlers were picking up wickets in quick succession at the other end.

  In fact, the only other Renegades batters to reach double figures were Georgia Wareham with 21 and Naomi Stalenberg with 16.

  Charli Knott and Grace Parsons were the main threats with the ball with 3-28 and 2-29, respectively.

  The Heat, after a rain delay during their reply, were set a revised target of 98 off 12 overs.

  Despite the best efforts of captain Jess Jonassen who made 44* off 28 balls, the Heat fell just short of their target, reaching 90-6 off 12 overs.

  Matthews led the way with 2-24 from her maximum three overs and was named player of the match.

   

• Victoria go top after edging Rangpur Riders in Global Super League thriller

  Victoria moved to the top of the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) standings after a hard-fought 10-run victory over Rangpur Riders in Providence on Sunday. The Australian franchise now sits atop the table with two wins from as many games, while the Riders remain winless and anchored to the bottom.

  After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, Victoria’s openers, Blake McDonald and Joe Clarke, laid a solid foundation, propelling their side to 70 without loss by the ninth over. McDonald’s enterprising 40 off 29 deliveries and Clarke’s measured 32 had the scoreboard ticking, but their dismissals in quick succession triggered a middle-order slowdown. Rangpur’s bowlers, led by Mahedi Hasan and Rishad Hossain, clawed their way back, limiting Victoria to 151-6 after their explosive start.

  In response, Rangpur’s chase revolved around Soumya Sarkar, who anchored the innings with a gritty 51 off 42 balls. Sarkar’s dismissal, courtesy of Player of the Match Callum Stow, who finished with 3 for 23, left Rangpur at 108-4 with five overs remaining.

  Rishad Hossain reignited hopes with a towering six off Max Birthisel in the 18th over, but Victoria’s bowlers held their nerve. Dominic Drakes and Corey Anderson executed pinpoint death bowling to stifle the Riders in the final overs, sealing the victory for Victoria.

  Victoria’s unbeaten start to the tournament solidifies their position as early favorites, showcasing both their depth and composure under pressure. Meanwhile, the Riders face an uphill battle to salvage their campaign, with two losses leaving them desperate for points.

  As the GSL progresses, all eyes will be on Victoria to see if they can maintain their dominance and on the Riders to turn their fortunes around.

  Match Summary
  Victoria: 151-6 (McDonald 40, Clarke 32; Mahedi Hasan 2-27, Rishad Hossain 2-29)
  Rangpur Riders: 141-7 (Sarkar 51; Stow 3-23, Drakes 1-18)

• Shamar praise for Seales as duo put West Indies on top against Bangladesh

  Shamar Joseph heaped praise on team-mate Jayden Seales after the West Indies duo put Bangladesh to the sword on day two of the second Test in Kingston. 

  Seales (4-5) became only the sixth bowler to take four or more wickets in a Test innings while conceding five runs or fewer as the visitors were bundled out for 164 in 71.5 overs.

  The Windies then reached 70-1 at stumps - only 94 runs behind Bangladesh's first-innings total. 

  "We know the aggression [Seales] brings to the table," said Joseph. 

  "That is the best I have seen him bowl. I enjoyed his spell." 

  After a rain-affected first day, Bangladesh resumed on 69-2 and took the score to 83 without further damage. 

  But Joseph (3-49) castled Shahadat Hossain Dipu (22) to set in motion a Bangladesh collapse before picking up the wickets of Jaker Ali (one) and opener Shadman Islam (64) as the visitors fell to 98-6. 

  After Mehidy Hasan Miraz (36) and Taijul Islam (16) tried to steady the innings, it was Seales who wrapped up the Bangladesh batting with a remarkable performance. 

  The right-arm fast-bowler bowled 15.5 overs, of which 10 were maidens, and ended with four wickets by conceding just five runs.

  The 23-year-old's economy rate of 0.31 is also the lowest for any bowler in a Test innings since 1978. 

  Not conceding a single boundary in his spell, Seales' wickets included Litton Das (one), Miraz, Taskin Ahmed (eight) and Nahid Rana, who was dismissed for a duck. 

  "We always try to come out and do our best and stick to the basics. We had a few conversations with the bowling coach. He just said to stick to the basics," Joseph said. 

  "I just stuck to the plan. I wanted to bowl as fast as possible and make the batters uncomfortable."

  West Indies are 1-0 up in the two-match series, having won the first Test in Antigua by 201 runs.