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The Supreme Court has put off passing a final order concerning the BCCI’s implementation of the Lodha Committee recommendations until its next working day, which is October 17 because the court breaks for holidays for a week.The court had initially given the board one day to provide an undertaking that it would accept the recommendations “unconditionally” by October 7, but the delay was because the entire three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justices AM Khanvilkar and DY Chandrachud, which had heard the matter on Thursday, was not available after lunch on Friday.The matter had been listed for the “end of board,” which meant the order would be announced after all other cases for the day were heard, but Justice Chandrachud, who was presiding on a different bench on Friday, had left for the day before the other matters in the Chief Justice’s courtroom were concluded.As a result, the court passed an interim order in which it noted that the BCCI had been “non-cooperative in its attitude” based on the status report submitted by the Lodha Committee and also the arguments raised by amicus curiae Gopal Subramanium on Thursday.”The sequence of events that have taken place since 18th July, 2016 and referred to in the status report prima facie give an impression that BCCI has far from lending its fullest cooperation to the Committee adopted an obstructionist and at times a defiant attitude which the Committee has taken note of and described as an impediment undermining not only the Committee but even the dignity of this Court with several statements and actions which according to the Committee are grossly out of order and may even constitute contempt,” the order stated.The court said it would leave a final decision for a future date, but reminded the BCCI about its attitude. “All that we need mention is that in the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee, the BCCI appears to be non-cooperative in its attitude.”Chief Justice Thakur also said in court that BCCI president Anurag Thakur must file a personal affidavit to respond to whether he had approached the ICC asking for a letter that may have aided the board in not implementing the Lodha Committee’s recommendations.The Chief Justice was referencing a story in on September 12 that quoted ICC chief executive David Richardson as saying that Anurag Thakur had asked the ICC to address a letter to the BCCI, asking it to clarify whether the recommendations of the Lodha Committee did not amount to government interference in the board. As per ICC regulations, member boards cannot have government interference in their functioning. ICC chairman Shashank Manohar, Richardson said, had been reluctant to get involved in the matter unless “formally” requested to.The Supreme Court has asked BCCI president Anurag Thakur for a personal affidavit•Hindustan Times via Getty Images

“Mr. Anurag Thakur, President of the BCCI shall file a personal affidavit whether he had asked the CEO of the ICC to state that the appointment of Justice Lodha Committee was tantamount to Government interference in the working of the BCCI,” the court said in the order.A BCCI official ESPNcricinfo spoke to, however, said the board would continue to stick to its stance that it will not give the undertaking asked by the court to “unconditionally” implement the recommendations of the Lodha Committee. When asked whether the postponement of the hearing to October 17 would give the BCCI time to reach out to the state associations and form a response, the official said the absence of the top brass of the board would be a hurdle.The official said both BCCI president Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke would be in Cape Town to attend ICC board meetings between October 10 and 14. They would return by October 16.On Thursday, the court had given the BCCI one day to return with such an undertaking, but a board official had indicated later that evening that it was not in a position to do so in such a short time frame. The court had set the deadline while hearing the BCCI’s response to the Lodha Committee’s status report, which had been filed in the Supreme Court on September 28 and recommended that the court “supersede” the board’s office bearers with “immediate effect” because they were hindering the implementation of the recommendations.

Chris Woakes battled his way through to a vital 46 on the second afternoon in Mirpur to give England a priceless first-innings lead. However, he might have been dismissed half an hour before his eventual departure, after being given a controversial reprieve off a waist-high full toss.Facing up to the legspin of Sabbir Rahman, Woakes had made 38 when he pulled fiercely across the line and straight into the hands of midwicket, and began walking off the field.However, the umpires opted to check the height of the delivery before upholding the decision, and after assessing several replays, the third umpire Chris Gaffaney ruled that the ball had been above waist-height and therefore a no-ball was called.Law 42.6.2, relating to bowling of high-pitched full toss, in the ICC playing conditions states: “Any delivery, which passes or would have passed on the full above waist height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease is deemed unfair, whether or not it is likely to inflict physical injury on the striker.”This playing condition supersedes the MCC Law, 42.6(b) which makes a distinction between the pace of delivery. “(i) Any delivery, other than a slow paced one, which passes or would have passed on the full above waist height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease is to be deemed dangerous and unfair, whether or not it is likely to inflict physical injury on the striker.”(ii) A slow delivery which passes or would have passed on the full above shoulder height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease is to be deemed dangerous and unfair, whether or not it is likely to inflict physical injury on the striker.”This, however, was an extremely marginal decision. The ball had looped high above Woakes’ eyeline and was clearly dipping sharply when the batsman made contact several feet in front of his crease. In fact, subsequent HawkEye replays showed that the ball was hitting for the base of the stumps.What is more, Sabbir had opened his spell with two further full-tosses, the first of which was much higher than the wicket-taking delivery, neither of which was called for no-ball. The incident was reminiscent of Rohit Sharma’s reprieve against Bangladesh in the World Cup quarter-final at Melbourne last year, on that occasion for a delivery that was clearly below waist-height.Not even Woakes’ own family felt that his recall was justified. “Have to say, I wouldn’t have given no ball for that one,” said his brother, David, on Twitter. “But the others in Sabbir 1st over were. Keep going boys, great effort.”England were eventually bowled out for 244, a lead of 24.

ScorecardFile photo – Nicole Bolton’s second ODI century included eight fours and a six•Getty Images

Opener Nicole Bolton’s second ODI century set up Australia Women’s 4-0 sweep of Sri Lanka Women in Colombo on Sunday. Bolton hit 113 off 146 balls, and added 140 runs with Ellyse Perry, who struck a run-a-ball 77, for the third wicket to form the bulwark of Australia’s 268 for 3 after electing to bat at the Khettarama Stadium.”The first one (century) was a bit of a blur because it was my debut. But this one, there has been a lot of hard work going into the pre-season, and I guess in Sri Lankan conditions, it’s always nice to contribute as well,” Bolton said after the match. “I think it’s been a long time between hundreds, so it’s been really nice to get it off today.”I think I was disappointed to not go on when I made 60 the other day (she scored 64 in the second ODI). As an opener, you want to make those innings count. I got another opportunity today, so, yeah, really pleased with it. I had a really good partnership with Pez (Perry) and Meg as well. And I haven’t really played a lot of cricket in the subcontinent, so it was really nice to come out today and get the job done.”Bolton had stitched together partnerships of 48 and 72 with Elyse Vilani and captain Meg Lanning respectively. Vilani chipped in with 22 off 31, including two fours and a six before she was trapped lbw by medium-pacer Chamari Atapattu.Lanning ensured the innings didn’t lose momentum with a brisk 43 off 44 balls, before she too was dismissed by Atapattu. Bolton and Perry then capitalised on 23.4 wicketless overs. Bolton was dismissed with four deliveries remaining in the innings, and had cracked eight fours and a six.”Elyse and I got off to a pretty good start, and then obviously, when Meg comes out, it’s pretty easy from the non-striker’s end just watching someone like her come out and make it look pretty easy,” Bolton said. “Pez and I were probably a little slow to start off, but once we sort of kicked in to our partnership, she really stepped it up a notch. I think we just found it a lot easier to score and I think we ended up going at nine an over in the last 10, which is unbelievable on a pitch like that.”Sri Lanka used seven bowlers but apart from Atapattu, only one of them – Ama Kanchana, the right-arm pacer – was among the wickets. Kanchana accounted for Bolton, but leaked 52 runs in eight overs.In the chase, Sri Lanka were shot out for 131 in 45.5 overs, primarily through the efforts of legspinner Kirsten Beams, and right-arm pacers Rene Farrell and Holly Ferling, who shared the wickets to secure a 137-run win.Only three Sri Lanka batsmen registered double figures. Hasini Perera was caught early off Ferling for 2 at the end of the third over. Wicketkepper Prasadani Weerakkody and captain Atapattu rebuilt with a 63-run second-wicket stand. Beams broke the partnership by trapping Atapattu in front, before she dismissed Weerakkody a few overs later. When Weerakkody fell for 33, the highest score of the innings, Sri Lanka were 87 for 3. Thereafter, only Chamari Polgampola got to double figures, consuming 60 deliveries for her 19.Beams returned 4 for 26, while Ferling, who opened the bowling, took 3 for 30 in 7.5 overs. Farrell finished with career-best figures of 3 for 17 in eight overs.

ScorecardSam Curran showed his skills with bat and ball•Getty Images

As the evening shadows lengthened at Lord’s, so ended a riveting day’s cricket. It had contained eleven wickets, and dramatic collapses from both sides, yet was ultimately defined by a partnership that occupied almost half the day.Sam Curran and Ben Foakes are two young players whose futures are brimming with possibility. Yet while they have been noticed more for their other skills – Foakes by his adroit keeping, Curran by his alluring left-arm pace bowling – their batting aptitude is palpable too.They had to summon all their skill after Surrey had stumbled from 47 without to 108 for 6 – at one point losing 4 for 0 – albeit still with a lead of 230, against high-quality bowling. Curran and Foakes recognised the dangers of the situation, and responded assiduously: their first 49 runs took 22.3 overs, and were marked by impeccable defence.But as Surrey’s lead begun to approach, and then cleared, 300, the stand gained impetuous. Foakes pulled a six off Ollie Rayner’s offspin, and added some efficient flicks of his hips; Curran unfurled some sumptuous late cuts and then a reverse sweep. If their batting strengths differ a little – Foakes favours the on-side, Curran the off – the two were united by their sagacious judgement of sharp runs, and haring between the wickets.By the time they walked off, their alliance still unbroken, the two had added 126 in 274 balls, and reshaped the match to Surrey’s will. That Foakes now has a first-class average of just over 40, and Curran one just under, gives notice of the resolve in Surrey’s lower-middle order.How Surrey needed it. After lunch the game seemed to be drifting inexorably away from Middlesex: Surrey’s lead had moved to 169, with all their second innings wickets intact. In such positions prospective champions must show their worth, and Toby Roland-Jones had the look of one here.Bounding in down the slope from the Pavilion End, he forced Rory Burns to play on, attempting to cut. Four balls later Zafar Ansari was caught leaden-footed and snared lbw. In James Harris’ next over, Dominic Sibley’s rather inert innings, 7 from 51 balls, was ended by flashing the ball behind; and then, from the very next delivery, Roland-Jones removed Aaron Finch, playing across the line, lbw. And so in 13 deliveries Middlesex had claimed four Surrey wickets for no run, and Roland-Jones had claimed three of them, enhancing his reputation as a man who can bring chaos out of order.Jason Roy is not the sort to be perturbed by such a situation. He promptly thrashed his first delivery, from Harris, through the covers for four, and then did the same from his third and fourth balls: a distillation of the virtues of a counter-attacking No. 5. But Roy’s dismissal, bowled round his legs attempting to sweep Rayner, just after Steven Davies had chipped the offspinner to cover, showed the risks of such an approach, too.When the day was eventually done – it had been elongated by a sedate over rate, one downside of Roland-Jones bowling with such vim – Surrey could reflect on how, with stealth and skill, they had manoeuvred themselves into a dominant position. In Foakes’ judgement, the wicket is keeping low and showing signs of variable bounce and turn. While his partnership with Curran showed that the pitch to be far from devilish, it is one on which Surrey, with their high-quality pair of spinners, will expect themselves to take ten wickets in a day.A declaration within half an hour in the morning, with a lead of 400, seems probable. How far away such a position looked when, at 108 for 6, Surrey had a lead of 230, and Middlesex had designs of chasing well under 300 to extend their lead at the top of the County Championship.But as grateful as Gareth Batty was to Curran with the bat, he had equal cause to marvel at his dexterity with the second new ball, which earned Surrey a 122-run first innings lead. Curran not only swung the ball considerably from over the wicket, but did so viciously late. The upshot was 4 for 20 from 5.3 overs, and, ably assisted by his brother Tom, a spell that changed the complexion of the match.As Sam ended the day with his highest first-class score, still scampering twos that suggested that his vigour will be undiminished when it comes to bowling at Middlesex again, it seemed remarkable to reflect that he only turned 18 two months ago. Never mind potential; what a cricketer he already is.

ScorecardMark Pettini contributed to a formidable Foxes score [file picture]•Getty Images

Leicestershire’s record T20 score at Grace Road proved only just enough to beat Lancashire Lightning, despite Alviro Petersen’s superb unbeaten century for the champions.So the holders, Lancashire, are eliminated, leaving their director of cricket, Ashley Giles, to bemoan: “We almost got there thanks to a brilliant century from Alviro, but we were always behind the eight ball, and most of it was our own doing.”We’re out of the competition now, and it’s not just down to this game, we haven’t got it right in a lot of games. When you don’t string two wins together, you’re always going to struggle to qualify.”We’ve consistently lost our way in games. Their score was above par, and that Alviro played so well, and it still wasn’t enough, is a pretty big indication they got too much.”Leicestershire’s total, after being put in by Lancashire, was built on a brutal partnership of 140 between Pettini and Delport for the second wicket, compiled in just 12.1 overs.Mark Cosgrove had gone early, chipping a simple catch to Jordan Clark at mid-on off the bowling of former Leicestershire seamer Nathan Buck, but the South African Delport, whose form had been inconsistent since he joined the Foxes for the second half of the T20 season, quickly showed he was determined to make an impression in Leicestershire’s final home group game.George Edwards was the first to suffer, with the last two balls of his first over hit high over wide mid-wicket and then long-on. Jordan Clark, dropping short, was pulled high over square leg and across Milligan Road.Pettini, wristier and rather less elegant , was nonetheless almost as effective, depositing Stephen Parry’s left-arm spin into the Bennett End car park, one of four sixes hit by the former Essex batsman. Delport had hit six maximums in going to 68 off just 35 balls when he top-edged the 36th high to extra cover off Edwards.Pettini followed, leg before to Clark for 76 from 51 balls, but Farhaan Behardien and Lewis Hill ensured Leicestershire reached their record T20 score at the Fischer County Ground, Grace Road.Lancashire quickly lost Luis Reece, bowled hitting across the line at Richard Jones, and when they lost Karl Brown, who sliced off-spinner Rob Sayer’s first ball high to long-off, and then Liam Livingstone, who nicked a Jones out-swinger to wicket-keeper Hill to leave them on 59 for 3, it looked as though the chase might peter out quickly.Petersen, however, found solid support from captain Steven Croft, and though always slightly behind the required rate, the pair kept Lightning in the hunt in compiling a partnership of 66.Croft smeared a Sayer full toss to midwicket, and Leicestershire seamer Clint McKay – who bowls the best slower ball in T20 cricket, conceded just ten runs from his final two overs, the 17th and 19th of the Lancashire innings, leaving Petersen just too much to do, though he hit the final ball of the innings for four to go his century, his first in T20 cricket.

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has been granted a UK visa and will travel with the team on June 18 for their tour of England and Ireland, the PCB announced on Thursday.Amir was picked in Pakistan’s 17-member squad for a four-Test series, which starts at Lord’s from July 14. But there had been concerns whether he would be granted a UK visa after his involvement in the 2010 spot-fixing case, for which he was given a six-month jail sentence in England and a five-year suspension from the ICC.The PCB had filed an application for Amir’s visa on May 20 and was confident of an approval, which eventually came after 21 days; his application was also supported by the ECB. Amir had earlier applied for a UK visa in a personal capacity in 2014, but his request was rejected.Amir is likely to make his Test comeback in the first match at Lord’s, where the spot-fixing scandal occurred in August 2010. The bowler, on his first tour of England at the time, was the highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in the four-Test series, with 19 wickets at an average of 18.36. He also shared the Player-of-the-Series award with Jonathan Trott. In the preceding MCC Spirit of Cricket Series, Amir took 11 wickets in two matches against Australia.Both England captain Alastair Cook and fast bowler Stuart Broad said they had no issues with Amir’s selection in the Pakistan Test team. “Amir has served his time, he was punished for what he did and quite rightly so because we have to protect the integrity of the game,” Cook said. “But I have no problems in playing against him at all.Broad praised the skill Amir had shown in 2010. “I think he’s served his time and the ICC have got their guidelines to what the punishments are for certain crimes and people have their opinion on that,” he said. “At the end of the day as an England team to win a Test series like that is a brilliant feeling and you want to play against the best possible team you can and for quality of bowler I don’t think there is much doubt that he is up there with anyone.”I’ve not played him for six years but in 2010 he was a constant threat and he was Man of the Series I think. It swung round corners for him.”