COLUMBUS, Ind. — A solid opening act to the season has 15-year-old Brenham Crouch looking forward to a diverse set of opportunities ahead of him.

Crouch kicked off a campaign — expected to feature more than 100 races — earlier this month with a USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series doubleheader at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla., the first two races of a quest for rookie-of-the-year honors with Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports.

Respectable runs of 15th and 16th in the two 30-lappers at the three-eighths-mile dirt oval came as Crouch battled the likes of reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott, defending USAC midget titlist Chris Windom and many of his KKM teammates, including opening-day winner Buddy Kofoid.

The teenager ranks 13th in USAC midget points, and third among series rookies, with a long season ahead. Crouch admitted his results at Ocala weren’t a reflection of the speed his team had.

“We ran a few USAC and POWRi races last year, just getting our feet wet and I think we got rid of most of the hiccups that we had,” said Crouch, who advanced into midgets from micro sprints. “There’s just a lot to learn as a rookie on this tour. I think we can really be competitive and build on where we started out if we just keep our minds to it and work together.

“I was in karts for five or six years before a year-and-a-half of micro experience, so I’m really new to everything, it feels like … but KKM is the best team out there to help me with the learning curve.”

Crouch, who will also compete with KKM in selected POWRi National Midget League events as scheduling permits, feels the head start he got with the team last season will pay dividends down the road.

“Being in the car a whole lot was definitely a big help,” Crouch said. “Getting through qualifying and the heat races is something I learned is the most crucial part of the entire night. The way the USAC format is set up, it’s really what makes or breaks your entire race. It’s something we know we have to work on, but we’re pushing to get better in that regard.

“The midget and the micro (sprint) are completely different cars, and that has been an adjustment. After running some midget stuff, I’ve found that it’s pretty easy to go back and forth. Just getting used to everything has been the biggest thing, but it’s aggressiveness that makes the difference. The midget has taught me so much more than the micro did. It’s unreal.

“After I was comfortable with the car and started driving it harder, everything started to click.”

Aside from his midget endeavors, Crouch’s ambitious schedule includes a mix of ASCS national sprint car races, 410 sprint car races, several prestigious micro sprint events and a handful of asphalt late model starts — all as Crouch eyes a progression up the racing ladder with Toyota Racing Development.

“It’s really fun mixing it up, you know?” said Crouch of his diverse calendar. “I enjoy the midget stuff. I really enjoy the sprint car stuff. I feel like once I get comfortable and everything, and do more than just get my feet wet, that we have a chance to be really good across the board. It, obviously, takes time, and I know I have a lot of proving to do, but I feel like I have it in me to make it to a high level.

“I’m excited just for the chance to race more this year,” he added. “I probably would’ve laughed if you’d told me last year that we’d put together this big of a schedule. We had a big schedule planned out in the micro ranks last year, but a lot changed since the beginning of last year … with the (COVID-19) pandemic and everything that happened, a lot is different not. But this is all a great opportunity for me.

“I know I have to make the very best I can with Keith Kunz, TRD and all our partners every time I’m on the race track and I feel like we’re in a position to do that all season.”

Crouch views his upcoming sprint car experiences as “important” to his development, especially because he’ll have past World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion Daryn Pittman overseeing his sprint car program.

“Daryn, obviously, is one of the best and it’s a big deal to be able to learn from him,” Crouch noted. “I’m glad to have him in my corner and looking forward to being able to put our sprint car on track this season with his guidance.”

As for the late model side, Crouch hopes to be the latest young gun to use the opportunity to begin racing on pavement as a springboard to NASCAR, much like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell — who picked up his first Cup Series win on the Daytona road course Sunday — have done before him.

“I think that anyone who comes into TRD, their main goal is to try and get to NASCAR like Christopher and Kyle did … but we do have things lined out in case that doesn’t work out, where we can go sprint car racing in 2022 or 2023,” Crouch explained. “Toyota has done so much for me the last year, though, and I’d like to be a part of their program as long as I can.

“I have a whole lot to learn. Obviously, I’m still pretty much a rookie at this level, so there are a lot of things I can improve on, but I feel like there were a lot of things that I faced and a lot of mistakes I got rid of last year,” he added. “I feel like this year, if I put it all together and focus on my mentality, we can do big things.”

INDIANAPOLIS – A 17-race schedule for USAC’s Midwest Regional Midget Series has been set, made up of eight different dirt tracks throughout Indiana and Illinois.

The series kicks off on April 24 at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Ind., the first of two trips for the series to the five-sixteenths-mile dirt oval.

The tour’s Lincoln Park return comes July 3 as part of the Bill Gardner Sprintacular, a doubleheader with the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series.

Three visits are marked for the series at Gas City (Ind.) I-69 Speedway on May 7, July 9 and the season finale on Oct. 22, with a trio of events also being staged at the newly refurbished Circle City Raceway near Indianapolis on June 30, July 22 and Aug. 19.

Four more tracks will host two events apiece, including Bloomington (Ind.) Speedway on June 25 and Sept. 17. The lone ventures to the Land of Lincoln bring the series to Wayne County Speedway in Wayne City, Ill., on June 26 and July 10.

Circus City Speedway in Peru, Ind., will host a pair of races on Aug. 14 and Oct. 2, while the series will race twice at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway, first during the final night of Sprint Car Smackdown on Aug. 28 and again in the series’ penultimate round on Oct. 15 at the Kokomo Klash.

Paragon (Ind.) Speedway is the home for one event on July 1.

Each event will utilize an open format, allowing both current national and D-2 engines. All features on the schedule will pay $1,200 to win and $125 to start, along with tow money for non-qualifiers.

All events on the schedule will pay points toward the USAC Midwest Regional Midget standings and a champion will be crowned at the conclusion of the season.

Furthermore, USAC Speed2 licensed competitors will be eligible for bonuses and will earn points toward the USAC Midwest Thunder Speed2 Midwest Thunder Midget championship.

The reigning USAC Midwest Regional Midget titlist is Chett Gehrke of Broken Arrow, Okla.

Features last season were won by Emerson Axsom (twice); Daison Pursley; Adam Taylor; Chase McDermand; and Thomas Meseraull.

2021 USAC Midwest Thunder Regional Midget Series Schedule

April 24 – Lincoln Park Speedway – Putnamville, Ind.
May 7 – Gas City I-69 Speedway – Gas City, Ind.
June 25 – Bloomington Speedway – Bloomington, Ind.
June 26 – Wayne County Speedway – Wayne City, Ill.
June 30 – Circle City Raceway – Indianapolis, Ind.
July 1 – Paragon Speedway – Paragon, Ind.
July 3 – Lincoln Park Speedway – Putnamville, Ind.
July 9 – Gas City I-69 Speedway – Gas City, Ind.
July 10 – Wayne County Speedway – Wayne City, Ill.
July 22 – Circle City Raceway – Indianapolis, Ind.
Aug. 14 – Circus City Speedway – Peru, Ind.
Aug. 19 – Circle City Raceway – Indianapolis, Ind.
Aug. 28 – Kokomo Speedway – Kokomo, Ind.
Sept. 17 – Bloomington Speedway – Bloomington, Ind.
Oct. 2 – Circus City Speedway – Peru, Ind.
Oct. 15 – Kokomo Speedway – Kokomo, Ind.
Oct. 22 – Gas City I-69 Speedway – Gas City, Ind.

AKRON, Ohio — The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. announced the companies have entered into an agreement for Goodyear to acquire Cooper in a transaction with a total value of approximately $2.5 billion.

The transaction will expand Goodyear’s product offering by combining two portfolios of complementary brands. It will also create a stronger U.S.-based manufacturer with increased presence in distribution and retail channels while combining both companies’ strengths in the highly profitable light truck and SUV product segments. The combined company will have approximately $17.5 billion in pro forma 2019 sales.

Founded in 1914, Cooper is the fifth-largest tire manufacturer in North America by revenue with approximately 10,000 employees working in 15 countries worldwide. Cooper products are manufactured in 10 facilities around the globe, including wholly-owned and joint venture plants. The company’s portfolio of brands includes Cooper, Mastercraft, Roadmaster and Mickey Thompson.

“This is an exciting and transformational day for our companies,” said Richard J. Kramer, Goodyear chairman, chief executive officer and president. “The addition of Cooper’s complementary tire product portfolio and highly capable manufacturing assets, coupled with Goodyear’s technology and industry leading distribution, provides the combined company with opportunities for improved cost efficiency and a broader offering for both companies’ retailer networks. We are confident this combination will enable us to provide enhanced service for our customers and consumers while delivering value for shareholders.

“We have a great deal of respect for Cooper’s team and share a commitment to integrity, quality, agility and teamwork. We look forward to welcoming Cooper to the Goodyear family.”

Both brands are heavily involved in motorsports. Goodyear is the official tire of NASCAR and the NHRA while Cooper Tires has been active in off-road racing as well as the Road to Indy ladder as a tire supplier and sponsor of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship, Indy Pro 2000 presented by Cooper Tires and Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires.

“Cooper has transformed into a dynamic, consumer-driven organization that has balanced traditional and emerging channels to increase demand for our products, while updating and effectively leveraging our global manufacturing footprint,” said Brad Hughes, Cooper president & chief executive officer. “I am extremely proud of what our team has accomplished over the past 107 years and am grateful to our talented employees for their contributions and commitment. This transaction marks the start of a new chapter for Cooper, which we are entering from a position of strength. We believe that it represents an attractive opportunity to maximize value for our shareholders, who will receive a meaningful premium as well as the opportunity to participate in the upside of the combined company. We look forward to the opportunity to combine Cooper’s considerable talents with Goodyear’s, and to be part of a bigger, stronger organization that will be competitively well-positioned to win in the global tire industry.”

Under the terms of the transaction, which has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, Cooper shareholders will receive $41.75 per share in cash and a fixed exchange ratio of .907 shares of Goodyear common stock per Cooper share for a total equity value of approximately $2.8 billion.

Based on Goodyear’s closing stock price on Feb. 19, the last trading day prior to the announcement, the implied cash and stock consideration to be received by Cooper shareholders is $54.36 per share, representing a premium of 24 percent to Cooper’s closing stock price on Feb. 19, and a premium of 36 percent to Cooper’s 30-day volume weighted average price as of the close on Feb. 19. Upon closing of the transaction, Goodyear shareholders will own approximately 84 percent of the combined company, and Cooper shareholders will own approximately 16 percent.

ANGOLA, Ind. — After a strong rookie season on the All Star Circuit of Champions tour with Sam McGhee Motorsports, Zeb Wise is striking out on his own this year.

Wise has joined forces with respected crew chief Wayne Priddy to form Wise-Priddy Racing, which will compete full time with the All Stars as Wise pursues his first series championship.

Wise and Priddy will serve as co-owners of the new operation, which will utilize XXX chassis and Rider Racing Engines. The team’s All Star debut will be April 9-10 at Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park.

Wise hopes to be able to race in Pennsylvania in the weeks leading up to the All Star opener.

In regard to his new opportunity, however, Wise looked at it as a chance he couldn’t pass up.

“After I left the McGhee deal, I didn’t really have anything set in stone. I don’t want to say that I was a free agent, but I was definitely open to new things and to look around and see what opportunities were out there,” Wise told Sprint Car & Midget. “It wasn’t that I didn’t have any opportunities, but I kind of wanted to explore and try something different. I knew that running sprint cars on the All Star tour was definitely the way I wanted to go; I really like what the All Stars are doing and I think they have a really, really strong schedule.

“Wayne and my dad talking after the end of the All Star season last year, and my dad told him and I that, ‘We need to take a risk because it’s time to bet on ourselves,’ and this is the first step toward that goal.”

Wise will carry the No. 10 aboard his sprint cars this season, a reversal of the familiar No. 01 that he utilized while growing up in quarter midgets and micro sprints.

“When it came around to brainstorming … I didn’t want to have the (No.) 01 on the car, because this is Wayne’s deal too and it’s a fresh start,” Wise noted. “When we were tossing around numbers and he suggested the (No.) 10, because his favorite driver growing up was Dave Blaney, I realized, ‘Hey, it’s the 01, just backwards,’ and that was what we ended up going with.”

Priddy is a veteran of more than two decades in the sport, having worked with established racers, including Tony Bruce Jr., Josh Baughman and the late Jason Johnson.

Though he has had success as a crew chief, being both a mechanic and a co-owner this season will be a new and unique position for the 39-year-old.

“I’m humbled for the opportunity to team up with Zeb and his family in 2021. This is by far the most unique opportunity I’ve been presented and I decided it is time to bet on myself,” said Priddy. “I’m looking forward to, first and foremost, serving as the crew chief, but also the added involvement of being a co-owner. Zeb’s incredibly talented behind the wheel, so I’m confident we will find success both on and off the track.”

Wise is eager to return to the All Star tour after earning rookie-of-the-year honors and a third-place finish in points last season, with three top-five and 19 top-10 finishes in 39 features.

The 18-year-old hopes to showcase some of the lessons he learned during his rookie year as he works to further his still-young career.

“Because of my age, I haven’t been on tour anywhere very long, but the All Stars were my favorite series that I’ve run with yet,” Wise noted. “I think they do a really good job with how they operate things and it’s a really good series for me to learn in. The World of Outlaws is everyone’s goal and where they want to be, but with this being our first year, the All Stars is a really good launching point for us.

“I don’t want to say it’s preparing us, because it’s a tough tour with a lot of really, really good guys in the field each week, but it’s more economical for us as a new team to get going in the 410 sprint car world.”

Sponsors of the new team include Sundollar Restoration, which will be back with Wise for a third consecutive season this year; QuikPits, a new sponsor of Wise’s racing efforts based in Plymouth, Mich.; and Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales, a longtime supporter of grassroots racing in the Midwestern United States.

Above all, Wise hopes he and Priddy can leave their mark together as a team, building a place for themselves among the powerhouse teams in winged sprint car racing such as Rudeen Racing, Buch Motorsports and Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing.

“Wayne and I are going into this with a mindset that we can make some noise and I believe we’ll do that,” Wise said. “As with any new team, sometimes it takes a little while to jell and get things to go smoothly, but I think we can get up to speed and contend at the front relatively quickly this season.”

The world No. 1 is the betting favorite for yet another week as the PGA Tour heads to Florida for the WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida.

Dustin Johnson is listed by PointsBet Sportsbook at +600 odds to win the year’s first WGC event, which was relocated from Mexico City, where Patrick Reed won a year ago, because of the pandemic. Johnson is coming off a T-8 finish at the Genesis Invitational, though he closed in 72 at Riviera. In his last 11 worldwide starts, however, Johnson has won three times and not finished worse than T-12.

No player in the field has any professional experience on the Tom Fazio design, though Bryson DeChambeau won the 2015 NCAA individual title at Concession. Jon Rahm, who is listed at +900 odds, also played that NCAA Championship, tying for 22^nd, as did Xander Schauffele (+1400), who shared 45^th. Scottie Scheffler (+4000) is the only other player with +4000 odds or better to play in that NCAAs. He tied for 33^rd.

Here is a look at the notable odds to win this week’s WGC-Workday Championship:

• +600: Dustin Johnson
• +900: Jon Rahm
• +1400: Xander Schauffele
• +1600: Rory McIlroy
• +1800: Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Bryson DeChambeau
• +2000: Tyrrell Hatton, Tony Finau
• +2200: Viktor Hovland
• +2500: Brooks Koepka, Daniel Berger
• +2800: Webb Simpson
• +3000: Patrick Reed
• +3300: Sungjae Im
• +4000: Tommy Fleetwood, Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, Joaquin Niemann

For full and updated odds, click here.

Tony Finau might not have ended his win drought Sunday at Riviera, but his playoff loss and runner-up showing at the Genesis Invitational was good enough to move him into automatic position in the U.S. Ryder Cup point standings.

Finau, who made his Ryder Cup debut back in 2018, jumped from No. 11 in No. 6 while bumping Collin Morikawa from the top six. While Finau has not won since the 2016 Puerto Rico Open, he does have 10 runner-up finishes worldwide since that victory, including in each of his last three consecutive events.

Genesis winner Max Homa also made a huge leap, climbing 20 spots to No. 14, as did Sam Burns, who placed third at Riviera and is now No. 31 in points. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods, who provided little optimism about his health and potential return in the CBS booth on Sunday in Los Angeles, dropped another spot, to No. 24.

Here is a look at the current U.S. Ryder Cup picture:

• 1. Dustin Johnson
• 2. Bryson DeChambeau
• 3. Brooks Koepka
• 4. Xander Schauffele
• 5. Justin Thomas
• 6. Tony Finau
• 7. Collin Morikawa
• 8. Patrick Reed
• 9. Daniel Berger
• 10. Webb Simpson
• 11. Patrick Cantlay
• 12. Harris English
• 13. Matt Wolff
• 14. Max Homa
• 15. Kevin Kisner

The top six players after the BMW Championship will make the U.S. team. Six captain’s picks will be made after the Tour Championship.

The MCC has announced a global consultation on the place of short-pitched bowling in the game. Cricket recently introduced allowances for concussion substitutions to be made, but now the guardians of the Laws will examine whether regulations governing bouncers should also be updated.

The process will begin with an initial survey, to be distributed in March 2021, after which the data will be debated within the MCC. Any move to change the Laws would have to pass through the MCC Laws sub-committee, and be ratified by the MCC Cricket committee. The final proposal would likely be debated by the MCC committee in December, with any changes not coming into effect until 2022.

Under the current MCC Laws, short-pitched deliveries over head height are called as no-balls. Certain playing conditions, such as those for Test or limited-overs international cricket, also limit the number of balls over shoulder height allowed per over.

The focus on bouncers has increased in recent years. Australia's Phillip Hughes died after being hit in the neck by a short-pitched ball in 2014, while the links between concussion and degenerative brain conditions have become a live topic in many contact sports. India's recent tour of Australia saw several players removed from action after injuries sustained facing short bowling.

The MCC said that it had a "duty to ensure that the Laws are applied in a safe manner", and referenced the rising number of "helmet-strikes" within the game.

The press release continued: "There are important aspects to consider in the consultation, namely the balance between bat and ball; whether or not concussion should be recognised as a different injury to any other sustained; changes which are specific to particular sectors of the game - e.g. junior cricket; and whether or not lower-order batsmen should be given further protection than the Laws currently allow."

MCC's world cricket committee, which recently met via teleconference, discussed the possibility of changes to the Laws, but its members "were unanimous that short-pitched bowling is a core part of the game, particularly at elite level". The committee, which is chaired by former England batsman Mike Gatting, agreed to provide feedback during the consultation.

Any changes to the MCC Laws would likely trigger a similar discussion at ICC level about how to implement them within its playing conditions.

The MCC's World Cricket Committee will send the ICC a mixed bag of opinions on the ongoing debate about the umpire's call aspect of the DRS, which was in the spotlight once again after Joe Root was not given out on review off an Axar Patel delivery during the second India-England Test in Chennai last week. In the first meeting of the MCC Committee - made up of former international captains, match officials and coaches - this year, some members thought the umpire's call was "confusing to the watching public". Others, however, said they were satisfied with it and these opinions will now be passed on to the ICC's Cricket Committee for further discussion.

The committee also deliberated imposing a permanent ban on rubbing saliva on the ball in the virtual meeting, a safety measure introduced into the game as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.

There remain a range of opinions on the umpire's call within the committee and in and around the game. That much was evident when Root was adjudged not out. On the fourth and final day of the Test, Root survived a close lbw decision against Patel. On-field umpire Nitin Menon, who is on the ICC's Elite Panel, ruled the impact was not in line. Hawkeye validated the umpire's call, but India remained far from convinced.

India's dissatisfaction is not an isolated stance, mirrored by members of the MCC Cricket Committee. "The committee debated the use of 'Umpire's Call' for LBW decisions made via the Decision Review System, which some members felt was confusing to the watching public, particularly when the same ball could either be Out or Not out depending on the on-field umpire's original decision," the MCC said in a media release on Monday. "They felt it would be simpler if the original decision was disregarded on review, and that there was a simple Out or Not out, with no Umpire's Call."

What is the umpire's call?
The protocols around the umpire's call have undergone several tweaks, and currently allow for teams to not lose their reviews in case of an umpire's call, though they are no longer able to top up their reviews after 80 overs in Test cricket. Currently, under the interim playing conditions during the pandemic, teams are allowed three reviews per innings.

The umpire's call is used in cases of the ball's impact with pad and then the stumps, reliant on ball-tracking technology and as a concept is rooted, essentially, in the on-field umpire's original decision retaining the benefit of doubt. Under the current protocols, according to the ICC, for "a Not Out decision to be overturned more than half the ball now has to be impacting the pad within a zone bordered by the outside of off and leg stumps (formerly the centre of off and leg stumps), and the ball needs to be hitting the stumps within a zone bordered by the outside of off and leg stumps and the bottom of the bails (formerly the centre of off and leg stumps, and the bottom of the bails)."

Those members of the committee who argued for change "felt it would be simpler if the original decision was disregarded on review, and that there was a simple Out or Not out, with no Umpire's Call," the release said. "The 'hitting zone' of the stumps would still be retained, which had to be hit by at least 50% of the ball for an Out decision. If such a protocol was introduced, they felt it should also include a reduction to one unsuccessful review per team, or for the relevant review to be lost irrespective of its outcome.

Other members of MCC's cricket committee) were "satisfied" with the umpire's call, feeling it was important to retain the human element of the on-field umpire's decision, which takes into account the 'benefit of the doubt' that has existed in umpires' decisions for many years. They felt that supporters did understand the concept of 'Umpire's Call'."

The MCC said it would "share the various opinions" with the ICC Cricket Committee. The MCC Cricket Committee once again reiterated that the ICC should take complete ownership of the DRS system, which currently is paid for by the host country.

Another recommendation was for the on-field umpires to make an "unsighted" signal while making a decision on inconclusive catches in the outfield, "The committee felt that the soft-signal system worked well for catches within the 30-yard fielding circle, but that catches near the boundary often left the umpires unsighted. It was proposed that, for such catches, the on-field umpires could give an 'unsighted' instruction to the TV umpire, rather than the more explicit soft-signal of Out or Not out.

Permanent ban on use of saliva on the ball
The MCC cricket committee also discussed whether to make the interim ban on using saliva to shine the ball a permanent one. The measure has been in place since last year, after the ICC's medical advisory board recommended it due to the "elevated risk" it posed in transmitting Covid-19.

Consequently, the ICC approved the Cricket Committee's recommendation of using only sweat to polish the ball, a move that that the fast bowling fraternity accepted grudgingly. Now, some of the members of the MCC's Cricket Committee want to make it a permanent change.

"The committee debated prohibiting the use of saliva on the ball on a permanent basis and whilst there was a significant level of support for such a recommendation, some members felt that eliminating the use of saliva on a permanent basis is premature, and that it may be possible to allow its use once again in a post-Covid world," the MCC release said.

The MCC has said it would consult "current" players on the no-saliva ruling before making a Law at a "later stage".

"Such a Law change would have the dual benefit of being more hygienic whilst also eliminating the grey area of players using sweets and chewing gum to make their saliva more sugary."

Lahore Qalandars 179 for 1 (Zaman 82*, Hafeez 73*) beat Quetta Gladiators 178 for 6 (Gayle 68, Sarfaraz 40, Rauf 3-38) by nine wickets

This might only have been a T20 game, but it felt like an epic by the time Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez chased Quetta Gladiators out of the contest. Ages ago, or so it seemed, Chris Gayle struck his highest PSL score, 68 off 40 balls - aided by several dropped catches along the way - to help Quetta post 178, the highest first innings score this tournament. It looked a match-winning total then, but a stunning onslaught from Hafeez and Zaman helped Lahore Qalandars make short work of the target, and they got there with more than an over to spare.

Hafeez was particularly destructive, grabbing a game that had looked like drifting by the scruff, forcing an asking rate that had soared above 11 back below a run-a-ball within the space of three overs. It was like stick cricket by the end; the sixes and fours Hafeez was striking appeared to come as easily as buttons being pushed on a keyboard, with Quetta skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed's apoplectic rage visible to the world's cameras. The unbeaten 115-run second wicket partnership came off just 58 balls, with Hafeez responsible for scoring 73 off them in the 33 deliveries he faced.

After being put in to bat, Quetta rejigged the batting line-up even if they didn't make any changes. Banton and Saim Ayub fell early once more, with Lahore Qalandars permitting them just 38 runs in the Powerplay, but Gayle and Sarfaraz would accumulate a 101-run partnership that put Quetta back on track. Sarfaraz appeared to be timing the ball more sweetly than has been in evidence for quite some time, and while Gayle wasn't at his fluent best, it didn't stop him from bludgeoning five fours and as many sixes on his way to top-scoring for his side. Mohammad Nawaz put in a cameo at the end and Quetta had all the momentum then, but Hafeez and Fakhar had other ideas.

Star of the day

There was some spice in the contest after a terse recent exchange between Hafeez and Sarfaraz on social media. When Hafeez was called upon to bowl with the Quetta captain at the crease, there was added jeopardy in the game. While Sarfaraz got him away for a couple of boundaries off his second over, the 40-year-old would more than get him back with the bat.

Hafeez would later tell Gayle he didn't have the muscles to bat like him, but what Hafeez does possess in his repertoire most could only lust after. With barely a shot looked like it was played in anger, he caressed - that word is used advisedly - his way to his fastest PSL half-century, off just 24 balls, capitalising on some wayward bowling and a fairly straightforward drop on the boundary by the young Saim Ayub. With the asking rate coming down so quickly it might have needed a parachute, he sped up even further, finishing with another 23 off just nine deliveries, the winning sot a disdainful drive over extra cover off the young Mohammad Hasnain.

It goes on to illustrate why Hafeez keeps backing himself to be a part of Pakistan's World T20 plans, and if he's in this sort of touch, he'll be pivotal to his franchise's hopes of finally landing a PSL title.

Miss of the day

In a game that was perhaps defined as much by errors as individual brilliance, there were several who vied for this role. Agha Salman was the early frontrunner, dropping Gayle twice at cow corner in what looked like decisive moments, while Tom Banton and Saim Ayub fell early once more and each put Fakhar and Hafeez down once. But Usman Shinwari's third over, which leaked 19 at a time Lahore needed in excess of 11 an over to seal the win, marked the moment the game finally turned as Quetta capitulated in spectacular fashion.

Sarfaraz, perhaps fuelled by the personal ambition to get one over Hafeez, would go on to rebuke Shinwari publicly after that over, and as the fours and sixes rained down, his mood would only grow fouler. The negativity around the fielding side appeared to have doomed them well before the winning runs were struck, and it already seems like Quetta might have an uphill task if they are to turn this campaign around.

Honourable mention

Zaman was Man of the Match, by the way, and with 82 off 52, it's an innings that deserves more than to be overshadowed by Hafeez's brilliance. He would relieve the pressure superbly as Sohail Akhtar at the other end struggled to get going, ensuring the required rate wouldn't get out of hand early on. And when Hafeez joined him, he wasn't second fiddle by any means, continuing to showcase why, even as his international form remains patchy, he remains one of the most sought-after players in the PSL.

Relief and cautious optimism appear to be the dominant reactions from around the English game, after Boris Johnson announced the UK's intended roadmap out of lockdown.

With Prime Minister Johnson outlining his intention to lift all restrictions on social contact from June 21, English cricket can look forward to the realistic prospect of full-house crowds for the Test series against India (which starts in August) and the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan (which get underway on June 23). Recreational cricket should also be able to resume from March 29, boosting hopes of an uninterrupted season for club and school cricket.

There are various caveats in place should a new wave of Covid-19 take hold. However, it currently seems likely that grounds will be able to welcome crowds to the inaugural season of The Hundred (which starts in mid-July) and the majority of The T20 Blast (which starts in mid-June).

"It seems like good news for cricket fans," Surrey's chief executive, Richard Gould, said.

The changes would appear to come too late to allow full houses for England's Test series against New Zealand, however. The first Test gets underway at Lord's on June 2 with the second Test following at Edgbaston on June 10. Government guidelines currently state that outdoor seated events will be able to operate with 25 percent capacity from May 17. There will also be constraints on indoor hospitality, which is generally a crucial source of revenue at such events.

It is possible, however, that Lord's and Edgbaston will argue their Tests should be viewed as pilot events for the return of full crowds and, as such, request that 50 percent capacity is permitted. It is likely that discussion on the subject will take place between the game's representatives and The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) in the coming weeks.

There could be a similar request in regard to County Championship spectators. Although the competition generally attracts a modest number of spectators - a maximum of 3,000 might be expected for a typical day's play at an early-season match - attendance is probably disproportionately important to many county members, whose fees continue to play a crucial part in the survival of some clubs. News that they will not, at present, be able to attend matches before May 17 will therefore result in frustration.

At present, shops, outdoor zoos and theme parks will be permitted to open from April 12. Cricket is sure to argue that it seems illogical to allow shoppers indoors but prevent a modest number of county cricket spectators watching a match while sitting outdoors. As a result, the ECB may request permission to hold trial events during this period which could result in a limited number of spectators attending Championship games before May 17. The County Championship season is scheduled to start on April 8.

"With outdoor leisure attractions like Thorpe Park, London Zoo and pub beer gardens all allowed to reopen on Monday April 12th, we very much hope that we will be permitted to open up the Kia Oval to some Surrey Members for our first home game of the season, three days later," Gould said.

"After this, we will continue with a phased reopening of the ground, working towards the government's subsequent key dates of Monday May 17th and Monday June 21st, when we host a T20 match against Essex."

The chances of a major reworking of the schedule have diminished, however. There had been talk, in recent weeks, that the counties might seek to amend the domestic schedule to increase the chances of welcoming spectators to the T20 Blast competition which plays such a key role in their cashflow. But with the Blast starting on June 9, less than two weeks ahead of the proposed date for the lifting of regulations, the initial reaction to Johnson's announcement was that most want to stick to the domestic schedule which has already been published.

There is, however, one other option. It could be that the two rounds of Championship cricket scheduled for the weeks beginning July 4 and July 11 are swapped with rounds of T20 fixtures planned for the weeks starting June 7 and June 14 respectively to optimise the number of spectators at T20 games. This option will be discussed in the coming days.

"The ECB welcomes the Government's decision to permit grassroots cricket to return across England in time for the start of the 2021 season," the ECB said in a statement. "We will continue to work closely with the Welsh Government on the return of recreational cricket in Wales.

"We are also very pleased to see the return of spectators to grounds from mid-May. Our leading venues strongly believe they have the technology and know-how to return capacity crowds and we look forward to working in close partnership with the Government to identify ways in which this can be achieved in a safe and controlled manner this season."

There was also relief around the counties at the prospect of being able to renew the conferencing and events strands of their businesses which make up such an important part of the finances at many of the first-class counties. There will, however, be hopes that the government furlough scheme is extended until June 21, at least, so that staff costs can be minimised until clubs are able to open fully again.

So, there are complications and there is room for improvement. But, after a grim few months, the game can look to the future with more optimism than for some time.