D’s Abroad: Bancroft impresses again

Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield hopes took a huge hit with an innings defeat against New South Wales at Bankstown Oval – but not without an impressive outing from Cameron Bancroft.

The Warriors batsman made a classy unbeaten hundred on his return to first-class cricket, carrying his bat in scoring 138 in a first innings total of 279 all out.

It was the 14th instance of an opening carrying their bat for Western Australia & Bancroft’s second after making 76* against the same side last season.

A measured innings with only two other batsmen reaching double figures, Bancroft went to his ton off 276 balls & marshalled the tail superbly in adding 80 for the final three wickets, the highlight of the innings coming with back-to-back sixes off left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe.

His dogged resistance continued into the second innings after New South Wales racked up 477/8d, this time making a 86 off 263 balls before becoming the seventh wicket to fall.

Like the first time around, only three batsmen made double figures & Bancroft’s 224-run haul was more than half of his team’s entire total in the match.

Their next game comes against South Australia in Perth beginning this weekend.

England boys continue to impress

Jos Buttler’s sensational knock in the fourth ODI has captured the cricketing headlines, but England’s Durham duo have continued to impress as the Three Lions took a 2-1 series lead with one to play against West Indies.

Despite defeat in the second match at Barbados, Ben Stokes had England in a position of strength by notching his highest score since a century against Australia in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy.

Stokes scored 79 off 85 balls, including nine boundaries, but his wicket sparked a collapse as they fell to defeat.

Wood, who has enjoyed an excellent time of it so far, was England’s most miserly bowler in his 1/38 off ten & went on to make a huge impact in the fourth match.

The paceman nicked out John Campbell & Shai Hope at the start of their run-chase before returning in the middle overs to remove the dangerous Darren Bravo & Shimron Hetmyer, finishing with 4/60 in a run-fest.

His fellow Durham man had a huge hand in the victory, too, halting Chris Gayle’s remarkable innings on 162 & marking the turning point of the match just as the Windies looked on course for an incredible chase.

The final match of the series takes place in St Lucia on Saturday.