Cricket News Highlights | Big Bash League 2022, Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers: Perth Scorchers win by 3 wickets

LIVE Cricket Latest Updates in India on December 26: Australia vs South Africa and Pakistan vs New Zealand Boxing Day Tests begin today and Big Bash League 2022-23 games between Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers.

December 26 is always known as ‘Boxing Day’ and we have two Test matches starting on this day, this year. Australia, the traditional hosts of the ‘Boxing Day Test’ at the Melbourne Cricket Ground are facing off against South Africa in the second Test while Babar Azam’s Pakistan are taking on Tim Southee-led New Zealand in the other part of the world.

The Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st Test will get underway at the National Stadium in Karachi on Monday (December 26). Pakistan will look to bounce back after a humiliating 3-0 whitewash in Test series against England while the Black Caps have a new captain in charged with Southee taking over from Kane Williamson.

Pat Cummins-led Australia are leading the Test series against South Africa 1-0 after their six-wicket win in the first Test match at the Gabba which ended in just 2 days. Dean Elgar’s side will look to draw level in the series with a win in the ‘Boxing Day Test’, which is also a tribute to the Late Shane Warne, who died earlier this year.

Monday will also witness a couple of Big Bash League 2022-23 with the Sydney Sixers hosting Melbourne Stars followed by Perth Scorchers facing off against the Adelaide Strikers. Check all Live Updates from an action packed Monday (December 26) here.

26 December 2022

21:48 IST

LIVE Big Bash League 2022: Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers

Perth Scorchers win by 3 wkts

The hosts would have anticipated a simple chase after holding their opponents to a score below average, but Adelaide had other plans. In the first three overs, the Scorchers lost their top three. Josh Inglis started off strong, but Ben Manenti ended his inning early. However, his knock made sure that his squad would never have a problem with the asking rate. Adelaide continued to take wickets, and in the tenth over, Perth was down to 72/6.

Jhye Richardson then joined the captain Turner. The pair batted wisely and put together a 43-run partnership. The opening ball of the penultimate over saw Richardson fall to Thornton, leaving them needing 19 runs off the final two overs. Turner, though, changed tack by hitting SIX, FOUR, and SIX! Tye made sure there were no more setbacks in the final over by scoring the winning runs despite being dropped off the very next ball.

LIVE Score ADS 133/7 (20) PRS 136/7 (19.1)

18:22 IST

LIVE PAK vs NZ 1st Test: Advantage Pakistan

Wow, what a turnaround. 196 runs over 56.3 overs. Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed batted nonstop for several innings! They nearly extended both sessions, which discouraged the Kiwis. Pakistan performed poorly for the first hour and a half, but after that, they expertly steady the ship. As the first team to have its first two players eliminated in a Test match, Pakistan made history when the day began. Imam-ul-Haq later lost his wicket by charging Bracewell without justification. Shaud Shakeel and Babar formed a relationship for the hosts, but just before lunch, the former pushed Southee the outside off. However, Pakistan completely dominated the following two sessions as the pitch became flat and Babar and Sarfaraz's combined experience was ineffective. Babar scored another Karachi century by smashing Bracewell over deep mid-wicket for a maximum, and Sarfaraz was headed for his century as well. But he was caught at slip by Ajaz Patel with the new ball, so it was not to be. Babar was also LBW by the left-arm, but he was saved by a review. The Pakistani captain is still going strong and will be aiming for a double from this point forward.

LIVE Score PAK 317/5 (90)  CRR: 3.52 Day 1: Stumps