England’s quicks rip through Pakistan, WCPL lands Lanning and Kapp — cricket digest 29 Aug 2026
England’s seamers blow Pakistan away again to seize control at Lord’s
England tightened their grip on the second Test at Lord’s after skittling Pakistan for 110 and building a 261-run lead by stumps. Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer led the damage, with Robinson taking 4 for 11 and Archer 3 for 26 as Pakistan’s latest collapse handed England a 180-run first-innings advantage before the home side moved on to 81 for 3.
Pakistan coach Sarfaraz Ahmed called the batting “a concern” across both Tests and urged greater application in difficult conditions, pointing to opener Azan Awais’ 46 from 102 balls as the template. Sarfaraz said Pakistan must spend more time at the crease and stressed the value of playing domestic first-class cricket, while still holding out hope of keeping England’s target to around 300-350 if they can strike early on the third morning.
PCB lodges complaint after Sky airs Imran Khan sons’ interview at Lord’s
The Pakistan Cricket Board has made a formal complaint to Sky Sports after the broadcaster showed an interview with Imran Khan’s sons, Suleiman and Kasim, during the lunch interval on the first day of the Lord’s Test. Cricinfo understands the PCB had considered instructing Pakistan’s players not to take the field after the break in protest, and that Sky delayed the broadcast following discussions before eventually running the 18-minute segment.
Imran, the former Pakistan captain and prime minister, has been jailed in Rawalpindi since August 2023 on corruption convictions, with his health under increasing scrutiny. Pakistan’s Supreme Court last week ordered he be admitted to Shifa Hospital in Islamabad, but he was taken to the state-run PIMS and returned to prison after a check-up; the government has rejected allegations of mistreatment and said he has received more than 900 visits since his imprisonment.
Cummins adds his voice to captains’ push for Imran Khan medical care
Pat Cummins has backed the campaign by former international captains calling for proper medical care for Imran Khan, saying he hoped Imran would be treated “with the dignity anyone deserves”. Cummins posted his support on X, referencing concerns raised by Greg Chappell and others and urging that a court-ordered medical assessment be allowed to run its course, with family visits continuing.
The intervention follows a letter sent last week by 22 former captains to Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, after a similar approach from 14 captains in February received no reply. Cummins is the first active captain to publicly support the call.
WCPL franchises unveil overseas signings as Jamaica Empress join the league
The Women’s Caribbean Premier League has confirmed a host of overseas recruits for the upcoming season, with Meg Lanning, Marizanne Kapp, Suzie Bates and Shabnim Ismail among the headline names. The fifth edition will add a fourth team, Jamaica Empress, who have signed Lanning along with Amy Hunter, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Syeda Aroob Shah and Rosemary Mair.
Four India players are set to feature: Shikha Pandey, Kiran Navgire, Yastika Bhatia and Pooja Vastrakar, with Vastrakar returning to official T20 cricket after a long injury layoff. Trinbago Knight Riders have Pandey and Bhatia plus Kapp, Laura Harris and Madeline Penna; Barbados Tridents have Maddy Green, Bates, Vastrakar and Navgire; Guyana Amazon Warriors have Ismail, Erin Burns, Chloe Tryon, Tazmin Brits and Nadine de Klerk.
Kirsten calls for Sri Lanka pitches that keep seamers in the game
Sri Lanka coach Gary Kirsten said he wants home surfaces that offer seamers a genuine chance to win matches, pointing to the recent Test series against India as the model. Across the two Tests, seamers took 24 of the 67 wickets to fall to bowlers, with both matches lasting into the fifth day on what Kirsten described as “hard-working Test wickets”.
Asitha Fernando led Sri Lanka’s attack with ten wickets at 20, earning particular praise from Kirsten, who said the side needs more support for him beyond spin. Kirsten also highlighted Sonal Dinusha’s fifth-day rearguard hundred at the SSC as an innings that would be remembered among Sri Lanka’s great Test saves.
In brief
- Sunil Narine’s 2 for 14 and a 55 helped Trinbago Knight Riders chase 128 for 3 to beat Barbados Tridents by seven wickets and end a three-match losing run in the CPL.
- Thailand began the Women’s T20 Asia Cup with a six-run win over Hong Kong after Nattaya Chaiwai made 43* and Onnicha Kamchomphu took 3 for 27, despite Marina Lamplough’s 4 for 11.
- Namibia stayed unbeaten against South Africa in T20Is, winning by 18 runs in Windhoek after Jan Frylinck’s 60 set up 163 for 9 and Ruben Trumpelmann (3-24) and JJ Smit (3-31) held off Dewald Brevis’ 75.
- Dean Elgar’s 113 put Essex on top against Surrey at The Oval, with Essex leading by 45 after Surrey slipped to 51 for 4 in their second innings.
- Joe Clarke’s unbeaten 146 took Nottinghamshire to 299 for 7 against Warwickshire in a rain-affected Division One clash at Edgbaston, making him the first to 1,000 Championship runs this season.
- Somerset moved 119 ahead of Sussex after Tom Lammonby’s 74* guided them to 167 for 2 in their second innings, responding to Sussex’s 250.
- Worcestershire bowled Lancashire out for 180 at New Road, with Beyers Swanepoel taking 4 for 37, before reaching 12 for 1 in reply.
- Kent’s 345, built around Zak Crawley’s 89 and Daniel Bell-Drummond’s 70, left Northamptonshire needing 271 more after they reached 74 without loss.
- David Bedingham’s 122 pushed Durham to 331 for 8 and a 194-run lead over Gloucestershire, who were dismissed for 137 on a shortened day.
- Yorkshire were bowled out for 263 against Leicestershire in a weather-hit game, with George Hill making 62 and Josh Hull taking 3 for 57, before Leicestershire reached 12 without loss.
- Just 19 overs were possible at Sophia Gardens as Glamorgan closed 149 for 9, trailing Hampshire’s 162 by 13 in a match repeatedly interrupted by rain.
- Ryan Higgins took 2 for 18 as Derbyshire reached 79 for 3 against Middlesex at Derby, but only 32.3 overs were possible across the day after further rain.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo