News Round-Up: Monday 3rd June 2024

Hosts get off to winning start in the Men's T20 World Cup

The USA and West Indies got off to winning starts at the T20 World Cup with victories over Canada and Papua New Guinea as the tournament kicked off in Dallas and Guyana.

Canada's 194/5 seemed to be enough when they restricted USA to 41/1 at the end of the Powerplay. However, a 40-ball unbeaten 94 from Aaron Jones ensured the hosts didn't just make their target but did so with 14 balls of the innings remaining.

In the second match, PNG struggled to 136/8 from their 20 overs - Sese Bau top scoring with 50 and Andre Russell and Alzarri Joseph taking two wickets apiece. West Indies chased it down with five wickets and one over remaining in the match. Roston Chase was the main contributor for the batting side with an innings of 42, which included two sixes.

The match between Namibia and Oman ended with the former claiming victory following the tournament's first Super Over. Mehran Khan had successfully defended five from the final over of the Namibia innings but was not asked to bowl in the Super Over. Namibia made 21 from their over and Oman responded with only 10 from their over.

Today's fixtures see the first clash between full members - South Africa and Sri Lanka - followed by Afghanistan against Uganda.

In Brief

Bryony Smith has become the first professional cricketer to sign for a county ahead of the revamped domestic structure which begins in 2025. She will represent her home county of Surrey and will be their captain.

In the Vitality Blast, Surrey have won their first three matches in the South Group having completed wins against Hampshire, Glamorgan and Somerset. Birmingham Bears are the only unbeaten team in the North Group after they won their first two matches.