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Leicestershire lose three cheap wickets in response to visitors’ first-innings 348

ECB Reporters Network08-Apr-2022An unbeaten century by Brett D’Oliveira in his first match as club captain put Worcestershire in a strong position after two days of their opening LV= County Championship match against Leicestershire.The 30-year-old allrounder, handed the job after Joe Leach stepped down at the end of last season, compiled a fine, measured innings to finish on 118 not out as the visitors to the Uptonsteel County Ground posted a first-innings total of 348. At the close, Leicestershire were 42 for 3 in reply, having been six for three after Leach and Charlie Morris took early wickets with the new ball.D’Oliveira had survived a difficult chance at third slip on 3 on the first evening but otherwise played superbly, backed up by half-centuries from Leach (70) and Ed Barnard (57). His innings spanned almost six hours.He is the first member of a distinguished cricketing dynasty to be officially appointed captain, an honour bestowed on neither his grandfather, the celebrated England batter and first-team coach Basil, nor his late father, the allrounder and former academy director Damian.He led the side when Leach was injured during the 2018 season and was skipper in place of Moeen Ali when Worcestershire Rapids won the Vitality Blast the same season and finished as runners-up the following year. But he described being given the role in his own name as the fulfilment of a boyhood dream and looked to the heavens in an emotional celebration on reaching his hundred, the ninth of his career in first-class matches.It came after he had punished a short, wide ball from the South African pace bowler Beuran Hendricks with the 14th of his 16 fours, having also lofted a six off left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson.After Worcestershire resumed at 118 for 4 following a rain-disrupted opening day, D’Oliveira played the anchor role in a stand of 94 with Barnard, who struck nine fours in a 65-ball half-century before falling leg before to Ed Barnes, who followed up quickly by having Ben Cox caught behind.At 155 for 6, Worcestershire’s innings looked vulnerable, but Leach found the offside boundary off his third ball and the alliance of captain and former captain prospered for 31 overs either side of lunch, adding 127. Leach passed fifty with his ninth boundary off 71 balls but when he tried to sweep Ackermann to the long boundary on the Milligan Road side he miscued his stroke and Barnes, at deep square leg, ran forward to take the catch.Barnes had Josh Baker leg before to join Wright in taking three wickets in the innings before Ben Mike wrapped up by bowling Morris middle stump and having Dillon Pennington caught behind.Leicestershire made a calamitous start to their reply, left rocking at 6 for 3 with Sam Evans bowled by Leach not offering a stroke and both George Rhodes and Hassan Azad falling to spectacular catches.Wicketkeeper Cox completed the first, one-handed diving to his right, on the rebound, after Barnard had failed to hold an edge by Rhodes off Morris to third slip, and Baker the second, a low grab to his left at fourth slip, as Azad edged Leach.Lewis Hill survived a chance to second slip off Morris on 15 before rain ended an extended day 20.4 overs early.

Sam Curran shone with the ball before England chased down their target with four balls to spare

George Dobell27-Nov-2020Jonny Bairstow’s highest T20I score carried England to a final-over victory over South Africa in the first T20I in Cape Town.Most players perform at their best when they feel valued and secure. But others – notably Kevin Pietersen in 2012 – seem to be at their best when they have a point to prove.Bairstow appears to fit into this second category. Having forged an excellent reputation as an opener in ODI cricket, he would have been understandably disappointed to be demoted to No. 4 in the T20I team as England preferred Jason Roy and Jos Buttler at the top of the order. Having already seen his Test career falter after he was asked to move up the order and relinquish the gloves, he could be forgiven wondering if history might be repeating itself.But from his first delivery – when he quite beautifully threaded the field with a dab to the third man boundary – he looked in imperious touch. And if there were times he hit the ball murderously hard – a heaved six over long-on off the back foot from deep inside the crease off Tabraiz Shamsi – there were also moments, such as when he guided the ball behind point with precision, when he demonstrated his touch and timing.England were in some trouble during Bairstow’s early moments at the crease. While South Africa made 57 for 1 in their six-over Powerplay, England were restricted to just 34 for 3, with all those promoted above Bairstow dismissed.For a while, as Bairstow and Ben Stokes thrashed the ball around Cape Town, memories were revived of their vast stand of 399 in the New Year Test of 2016. On this occasion they added 85 off 8.4 overs, until Stokes heaved a long-hop down the throat of long-on and England’s innings stalled. With 25 balls remaining, they still required 55.But a nine-ball over from Beuran Hendricks – the 17th of the innings – was taken for 28 runs by Bairstow to put England back on track. And while Lungi Ngidi conceded just five and took the wicket of Eoin Morgan from the 18th, the nerveless Sam Curran thrashed his second ball for six off the faultless Kagiso Rabada to keep England in the hunt.Even then there were seven required from the final over. But with Bairstow pulling the first ball of the over for four and carting the second for six over mid-on, England clinched a five-wicket victory with four deliveries remaining.Whether this proves Bairstow’s point – that he belongs at the top of the order – or the team management’s – that he can play an important role in the middle-order – is debatable. But by producing a high-class innings and also seeing his side home, Bairstow must have gone a long way towards making his place in the side safe.Linde’s fine startGiven the pace options available to South Africa, you wonder how much time England gave to thinking about the left-arm spin of George Linde ahead of this match. As it happened, though, Anrich Nortje – the quickest bowler at the IPL – was omitted so South Africa could include two spinners in Linde and Shamsi.Linde, on T20I debut, enjoyed a particularly impressive day. Bowling two overs in the Powerplay, including the first of the innings, he gained a surprising amount of turn and, having dismissed Jason Roy, edging an attempted cut, from the second ball of the innings, had the world’s top-rated T20I batsman, Dawid Malan (brilliantly) caught sweeping a few minutes later. In all, he conceded just 20 runs from his four overs – the most economical return in the match – and contributed with that bat, too, hitting 12 from six deliveries at the death.Tom Curran fails to take chanceAt the start of this year, Mark Wood bowled with such pace and hostility in South Africa – albeit in Test cricket – that it seemed hard to imagine a scenario where England would leave him out. Since then, however, he’s spent more time carrying drinks than charging in and was recently given just a limited-overs central contract. Sometimes it seems England don’t appreciate quite what a gem they have in Wood.Sure enough, he was left out again here. But, in a funny way, his case for selection might have been made for him by the struggles of the man who won the nod ahead of him. For Tom Curran conceded 55 here – his worst T20I figures – including four sixes. None of his colleagues conceded more than one six and there were only seven in the South African innings.Curran started well enough. His first ove in the Powerplay cost only three. But his second was plundered for 24 – the most expensive of his T20I career – as Faf du Plessis appeared to target him.It wasn’t that he bowled especially poorly. It was more that, without the extra pace offered by the likes of Wood, his control of length has to be immaculate. But here he bowled either short or on a length and, without much variation from his cutters, was carted for each of those sixes over the leg side. With England using this series in the hope of settling upon a T20 World Cup line-up, it may have proved an expensive evening for Tom Curran.Sam Curran shinesIt was a much better day for Sam Curran. After winning the race for selection against Moeen Ali – in truth, after the impressive IPL Curran enjoyed, he was always going to play – he took the new ball and took a wicket in the first over. His two Powerplay overs cost a respectable 13, with four of those runs coming from an edge just wide of slip.But it was his bowling when he returned for the 14th over that was most impressive. Going round wicket, cramping the batsmen for room and demanding they attempt to hit to the longest boundary, he claimed two more wickets – his 3 for 28 was the best return of his brief T20I career – with an accurate and surprisingly sharp bouncer complemented by cutters that left the batsmen struggling to settle against him. Later, his six from the penultimate over calmed England’s nerves just as it appeared South Africa could hold on.Afterwards Curran reasoned that the regular cricket he had enjoyed at the IPL going into this series had given him something of an advantage in terms of rhythm. But it was another remarkably mature performance from a 22-year-old who already seems to have been around for years.

Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen and Lutho Sipamla ran through the hosts’ line-up, reducing them to 161 for 3 to 178 for 9, picking three wickets each

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Sep-201925 overs a sideShikhar Dhawan showcased his fluency with a 52 off 43, but that was not enough for India A as they lost to South Africa A by four runs after failing to chase a DLS-adjusted target of 193 in the fourth one-dayer in Thiruvananthapuram. South Africa A quicks Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen and Lutho Sipamla ran through the hosts’ line-up, reducing them to 161 for 3 to 178 for 9, picking three wickets each.Resuming from 57 for 1 on the reserve day, needing 136 from 104 balls, India’s second-wicket pair of Dhawan and Prashant Chopra added a 79-run stand before Sipamla struck to remove the latter. Dhawan, who had scored more freely the previous day, played with more caution but fell shortly after bringing up his fifty to Jansen.With the asking rate climbing, Shivam Dube joined captain Shreyas Iyer, and the duo went for some big hits, including scoring 23 runs off a Sipamla over in their 51-run stand. But in the very next over, they both lost their wickets within a space of three balls to Nortje.Shikhar Dhawan steers one into the leg side•Getty Images

A collapse ensued as the next four batsmen fell in the space of 20 balls. Rahul Chahar at No. 9 battled alone, but couldn’t take India over the line as they finished at 188 for 9 at the end of 25 overs.Earlier, the visitors rode on Reeza Hendricks’ unbeaten 60 off 70 to post 137 for 1 in 25 overs.Opener Matthew Breetzke was the only one dismissed, for a 31-ball 25 that included two sixes and a four, legspinner Chahar accounting for him. Heinrich Klaasen blasted a 12-ball 21 that included three sixes to provide a late impetus. Klaasen arrived after captain Temba Bavuma retired hurt on 28.So far all four matches of the series, in which India A already have an unassailable lead, have been rain-affected.

ESPNcricinfo previews the teams in the South Group for the Vitality T20 Blast

David Hopps02-Jul-2018

Essex Eagles

T20 best: SF 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013
2017: 8th, South Group; Run rate 8.70; Economy rate 8.58
Captain: Ryan ten Doeschate
Coach: Anthony McGrath
Overseas Players: Neil Wagner (NZ), Adam Zampa (Aus), Peter Siddle (Aus)Essex, perpetually nearly men, had qualified from the group stages five times in a row until last season’s blip and the addition to the coaching staff of Dimitri Mascarenhas, recently coach to the Melbourne Renegades, aims to recover that reputation. They also field a legspinner they have long yearned for – Australian Adam Zampa is available throughout. One fact not widely appreciated is that Varun Chopra was in the top three six hitters last season, quite a feat for an orthodox batsman not known for brutish strength. With their Championship defence misfiring, some raucous nights at Fortress Chelmsford could come at a good time.One to watch: Zampa was described in one Australian newspaper as “a deep-thinking vegan warrior” which might come as a shock on a raucous Friday night at Fortress Chelmsford. His primary task is to take wickets in the middle overs and he comes with a wealth of T20 experience. Eager to prove his worth, he has been warming up with a month’s club cricket in the Essex League for Brentwood.In a word: Unfulfilledbet365: 12

Glamorgan

T20 best: SF 2004, 2017
2017: SF; RR 8.82; ER 8.50
Captain: Colin Ingram
Coach: Robert Croft
Overseas Players: Usman Khawaja (Aus), Shaun Marsh (Aus)Which Glamorgan are we about to see? Will it be the county which reached the semi-finals in 2017 and, powered by Colin Ingram, were championed as the most dangerous white-ball side in the county’s history, or will it be the county that has had a nightmarish season in both Championship and 50-over cricket as efforts to build a team with a strong Welsh flavour have proved such a difficult challenge? Ingram’s 59 sixes last season won recognition as the PCA’s T20 Blast Player of the Year and attracted interest from Australia and Pakistan. Now captain and white-ball specialist, his task is to build a Glamorgan side in his own image.One to watch: Andrew Salter has long regarded as a natural successor to Robert Croft, his county coach, as a run-making offspinner and some useful overs would be of great benefit to a Glamorgan side that convinces more in batting than bowling.In a word:Yearningbet365: 18Michael Klinger flicks into the leg side•Getty Images

Gloucestershire

T20 best: BF 2007
2017: 9th, South Group; RR 7.53; ER 7.87
Captain: Michael Klinger
Coach: Richard Dawson
Overseas Players: Michael Klinger (Aus), Andrew Tye (Aus)Michael Klinger retired entirely from first-class cricket in Australia earlier this year, but he has two more seasons as a T20 cricketer with Gloucestershire, where he has been one of the most productive and popular overseas cricketers of recent years. He faces a considerable task to rally a Gloucestershire side that finished bottom last year and which looks short on star quality. Ryan Higgins, a shrewd acquisition from Middlesex, has proved himself more than just a batsman who makes things happen by improving his medium-paced swing bowling so much that he finds himself top of the county’s Championship averages: Gloucestershire need some exciting nights from him.One to watch: Benny Howell is one of English cricket’s most underrated T20 cricketers and that frustrates him so much that he even took to the pages of magazine to present himself as worthy of an international cap. Howell, who learned his change-ups by studying baseball pitchers, is likely again to prove himself one of the most skilful and economical T20 bowlers around.In a word: Resourcefulbet365: 20

ESPNcricinfo top four prediction

Surrey
Hampshire
Essex
Sussex

Hampshire

T20 best: Winners 2010, 2012
2017: SF; RR 8.44; ER 8.17
Captain: James Vince
Coach: Craig White
Overseas Players: Colin Munro (NZ), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afg), Dale Steyn (SA)Hampshire have made seven Finals Day appearances, more than any other county, and disposed of Kent over 50 overs in the Royal London Cup final on Saturday. It would be no surprise to see them follow up with the Blast. The Ageas Bowl should fairly be bouncing, such is the talent on show. The replacement of George Bailey and Shahid Afridi with Colin Munro and Mujeeb Ur Rahman gives the squad a more youthful feel and Sam Northeast brings more vigour to the middle order. James Vince has been in dreamlike batting form since his England omission and Reece Topley is desperate to reassert himself with the ball. Mason Crane’s fitness is a worry.One to watch: Discovering how Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, only 17, copes with a summer of T20 in England will be one of the great delights. No spinner with more than 10 wickets had a better average at the IPL this year and his ability to bowl off and leg spin identifies him as the most exciting teenager around.In a word: Eminentbet365: 8Darren Stevens bowls against Essex•Getty Images

Kent Spitfires

T20 best: Winners 2007
2017: 6th South Group; RR 8.63; ER 8.88
Captain: Sam Billings
Coach: Matt Walker
Overseas Players: Adam Milne (NZ), Carlos Brathwaite (WI), Marcus Stoinis (AUS)Canterbury is one of the sleepier T20 venues with indifferent advance ticket sales. They deserve a rush of enthusiasm because they have one of the most exciting batting line-ups in the country even without Northeast, who upped sticks to join Hampshire with a few sideswipes at what he regarded as old-fashioned committee ways. It has to be said that Kent have responded to his absence in positive fashion, on and off the field. The batting form of Heino Kuhn and Joe Denly swept Kent to the Royal London Cup final, and the skipper Sam Billings is back from IPL and England duties, but the seam attack is vulnerable and James Tredwell’s long-term shoulder injury puts a lot of spin bowling responsibility on Imran Qayyum.One to watch: Darren Stevens, at 42, fills every club cricketer with hope as they imagine if only they could match his guile and control then, at between 65 and 70mph, they to could become one of the stalwarts of the county circuit. Add his 3,128 runs at a strike rate of 141.92 and it is little wonder that Stevens is held in such regard. If this really is his final season, he deserves a great send-off on every ground he plays on.In a word:Unbalancedbet365: 16

Middlesex

T20 best: Winners 2008
2017: 7th South Group; RR 8.34; ER 8.41
Captain: Dawid Malan
Coach: Daniel Vettori
Overseas Players: Ashton Agar (Aus), Dwayne Bravo (WI)Much was made last season about the recruitment of Daniel Vettori as coach and Brendon McCullum as part-time captain, but the outcome was much as ever as Middlesex, often disappointing in the decade since they won the trophy, finished seventh. Vettori, who has also overseen some modest seasons at Royal Challengers Bangalore, is back again, this time overseas recruitment consisting of Dwayne Bravo and an Australian version of Vettori himself, if somewhat less hirsute – Ashton Agar. Middlesex will hope to be in contention when Eoin Morgan returns from England duties: his record last season of one fifty in 14 goes (average below 23, strike rate below 130) lacked the inspiration Middlesex need from an England captain and questioned his ability to mentally attune to the county game.One to watch: Ireland’s uncomplicated strokemaker Paul Stirling had a brilliant 50-over competition, making three hundreds in eight innings and averaging 73.57 at strike rate of 89.25. His impact at the top of the order will be crucial.In a word: Disappointingbet365: 14Corey Anderson gave Surrey a scare•Getty Images

Somerset

T20 best: Winners 2005
2017: QF; RR 9.04; ER 8.75
Captain: Lewis Gregory
Coach: Andy Hurry
Overseas Players: Corey Anderson (NZ)Somerset only field one overseas player and Corey Anderson, the New Zealand allrounder, is back to complete his “unfinished business” after his 2017 season was interrupted by a back injury while bowling his first over of the campaign, against Surrey at Kia Oval: he worked off his frustration by slamming 81 from 45 balls and managed four matches. Somerset’s impressive young Championship skipper, Tom Abell, steps down for Lewis Gregory in T20 which is not ideal with Gregory’s future still in doubt. Some high-scoring matches are in store at Taunton, but Somerset might be pushed to repeat last season’s quarter-final. Legspinner Max Waller is a homegrown T20 specialist.One to watch: Quite which of Somerset’s young batsmen will get opportunities in the Blast is uncertain, but if George Bartlett finds himself on the team sheet ahead of Fin Tremouth and Tom Banton he will not be overawed. Bartlett, who struck the highest overseas score by an England U-19 batsman last year – 179 against India in Nagpur – has followed up this season with a maiden Championship hundred and has shown flashes of great promise as a top-order batsman.In a word: Entertainingbet365: 12

Surrey

T20 best: Winners 2003
2017: QF; RR 8.49; ER 8.65
Captain: Jade Dernbach
Coach: Michael Di Venuto
Overseas Players: Aaron Finch (Aus), Nic Maddinson (Aus)Surrey should once again have bragging rights among the two London counties and packed crowds at Kia Oval should be rewarded with a last-eight place. The presence of Morne Morkel on a two-year Kolpak deal has allowed Surrey to major on two overseas batsmen: the Australians Aaron Finch and Nic Maddinson, who headed Sydney Sixers’ run charts in last season’s Big Bash. Youngster Will Jacks might also force his way in. Jade Dernbach, quite the trusted old pro these days, skippers an attack based on the two Curran brothers, England calls notwithstanding. Gareth Batty, overshadowed in the Championship these days by Amar Virdi, will be hankering for a scrap or two.One to watch: Ollie Pope’s invention created a favourable impression when he broke into Surrey’s T20 side last summer and since then his reputation has leapt ahead with three centuries and an average of 93 in the Championship. England is drowning in talented batsman-keepers and Pope’s exuberance has already won him a host of admirers.In a word: Exhilaratingbet365: 7Jofra Archer shows off his athleticism as he puts out a sliding stop•BCCI

Sussex Sharks

T20 best: Winners 2009
2017: 5th; RR 8.63; ER 8.31
Captain: Luke Wright
Coach: Jason Gillespie
Overseas Players: Rashid Khan (Afg), Tom Bruce (NZ)No county possesses a more talented bowling attack than Sussex – indeed, if they all stay fit, fitting them all in the side might be the biggest challenge for the coach, Jason Gillespie. The IPL-tested trio of Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan and Tymal Mills, the parsimonious left-arm spin of Danny Briggs and the teenaged Afghan leg-break bowler Rashid Khan (who might limit opportunities for Will Beer) are just for starters. Sussex’s major task will be to make enough runs which makes the New Zealander Tom Bruce, who replaces the injured Stiaan van Zyl, the most vital player of all in an XI that will need to bat deep and has the capacity to do so.One to watch: Laurie Evans is likely to take over the top-order role that Chris Nash, now at Nottinghamshire, performed so successfully for many years. Evans topped the batting averages in the 50-over competition and he will also be crucial to Sussex’s chances.In a word: Panachebet365: 7

Guyana, Leeward Islands and Barbados completed thumping wins in the seventh round of the WICB Regional 4-day tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Mar-2017Veerasammy Permaul’s 7 for 48 in the second innings, his 21st five-wicket haul, helped Guyana defeat Trinidad & Tobago by ten wickets and climb to the top of the table at Queen’s Park Oval. Guyana’s win was set up by their bowlers, who first negated T&T’s winning the toss and electing to bat, by bowling them out for 202, and then fifties from no. 7 Raymon Reifer and no. 10 Romario Shepherd helped them take a 128-run lead. That translated to an eventual target of 56, which Guyana bashed through in 13 overs on the fourth morning.Only three T&T batsmen managed to get past 30, as they collapsed from 172 for 4 in the first innings. Reifer took 3 for 48, while Permaul, Shepherd and Devendra Bishoo chipped in with two wickets each.Guyana’s response also saw a collapse. A third-wicket stand of 89 between nightwatchman Bishoo(39) and Assad Fudadin (57) had taken them to 136 for 2 before Marlon Richards (4-57) and Bryan Charles (4-91) struck regularly to reduce them to 201 for 7. But Reifer made 55 as he took them into the lead along with Permaul (24), before Shepherd (53) made his first half-century and guided a 57-run stand for the final wicket with debutant Keemo Paul (27*) to take them to 330.T&T’s second innings began with captain Kyle Hope’s dismissal for a second-ball duck, and barely took off after. A 48-run stand for the second wicket was the only substantial partnership. Once it was broken by Bishoo (2-68) in the 13th over, Permaul started chipping away, taking seven of the remaining eight wickets and pinning the hosts for 183. Isaiah Rajah, who made 41 in the first innings, was once again T&T’s top-scorer with 40 in the second.After a washed out first day, 25 wickets fell on the second and 15 on the third before Leeward Islands completed a 34-run win over Jamaica at Sabina Park. Leeward Islands dismissed Jamaica for 56 after themselves being bowled out for 71, and finished the second day at 31 for 5. They were bowled out for 133 by Jamaica on the third day but only after Jahmar Hamilton struck a crucial 45, assisted by Jeremiah Louis (23). Setting Jamaica a target of 149, Alzarri Joseph took 5 for 43 while Louis took four wickets to bundle the home side out for 114 to take the win.The match started on the second day, and Leeward Islands were skittled out for 71 after Jerome Taylor’s five wickets lit up the morning session. The joy for Jamaica was short lived, though, as four wickets each for Gavin Tonge and Louis saw the hosts dismissed for an even smaller total, giving the visitors a slender 15-run lead. By the time the second day ended, Leeward Islands were five wickets down as the game saw a wicket fall nearly every 4 overs. But Jamaica’s chase started as poorly as their first innings, and the home side fell to 15 for 3, and were soon 67 for 7 before they were all out 62.1 overs into the third day.Roston Chase produced career-best figures of 7 for 22 to help Barbados register a resounding nine-wicket win against Windward Islands at the Kensington Oval. The result meant Barbados overtook Guyana at the top of the points table.After Barbados secured a 31-run first-innings lead, Chase ripped through Windward Islands to bowl them out for just 71 in 25.1 overs. Fast bowler Miguel Cummins claimed the other three wickets to fall. Shane Shillingford, batting at No. 9, top-scored with 16 as only three batsmen reached double figures. Barbados required just four overs to chase down their target of 41.The only session in which Windward Islands dominated was the period before lunch on the first morning. Openers Devon Smith and Tyrone Theophile added a 121-run stand. Kemar Roach dismissed Theophile for 44 in the 35th over and had Taryck Gabriel caught behind off the next ball. Keddy Lesporis (59) and Smith staved off the Barbados bowlers, but a clump of wickets in the final session of the first day meant Windward Islands were bowled out for 293, despite Smith’s 103. Roach and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican picked up four wickets each.Although only one batsman struck a half-century for Barbados – Kevin Stoute with 61 – plenty of contributions pushed Barbados past Windward Islands’ first-innings score. Barbados were bowled out for 324 as Shillingford and Sherman Lewis picked three wickets apiece.

Afghanistan kissed the World T20 goodbye by beating table-toppers West Indies by six runs in a low-scoring thriller

The Report by Mohammad Isam27-Mar-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details2:38

Chappell: Afghanistan showed WI’s weakness against leg spin

Afghanistan kissed the World T20 goodbye by beating table-toppers West Indies by six runs in a low-scoring thriller. Asghar Stanikzai had shown his hand when he said they would use spin to restrict West Indies’ big hitters on the eve of the match. Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan backed up their captain’s confidence with figures of 2 for 26 each and kept West Indies to 117 in their chase of 124.West Indies finished as the No. 1 team in Group 1 and will take on either India or Australia in the semi-final, but they will go to Mumbai with a sobering defeat. They became Afghanistan’s second Full Member scalp in the tournament, after Zimbabwe, and the match was another strong reminder that cricket needed to be more inclusive.West Indies required 40 runs from the last five overs, but Rashid had Denesh Ramdin stumped at the end of the 16th to tip the game off balance. Then it was Afghanistan who had to deal with a blow as fast bowler Hamid Hassan was pulled out of the attack. He was deemed to have bowled a second hip-high full toss by the square leg umpire, but Andre Russell, the batsman who had been struck by that ball, was rubbing his body below the waist.Gulbadin Naib finished the over with two dot balls and in the next one, Russell was run out. West Indies needed 25 runs from 12 balls when Carlos Brathwaite thumped Naib for a six over long-off but a ball later, Darren Sammy was caught at deep cover. Brathwaite freed his arms again and found another six over midwicket and wisely nudged the last ball of the 19th over for a single to retain strike. At the time, West Indies needed 10 runs off six balls.Nabi began the final over with two dots before Najibullah Zadran, who got them to a competitive score with his unbeaten 48, ran about 20 yards to his left from deep midwicket to complete a superb diving catch to get rid of Brathwaite, West Indies’ last dangerman. With the equation demanding 10 runs off three balls, Andre Fletcher, who left the field at the start of seventh over with a tweaked hamstring, came out again and could only hobble across for three singles as Afghanistan completed a historic win.West Indies had, however, begun the chase on the right note. Johnson Charles blasted Mohammad Nabi for two massive sixes in the second over. But Evin Lewis, on T20I debut, was tied down and dismissed by Amir Hamza, when the batsman slogged one down Rashid’s throat at deep midwicket.Fletcher struck Hamid and Hamza for fours through cover but Charles, on 22, was beaten by Hamid’s pace and chopped the ball onto his stumps. That’s when West Indies’ troubles began. First Fletcher left the ground with what looked like a hamstring strain and a ball later Rashid removed Samuels with a big-spinning googly.Ramdin and Dwayne Bravo added 41 runs for the fourth wicket, and seemed set to produce the one partnership a chasing team needs in the face of a low total. They took plenty of singles and Bravo crashed the legspinners Samiullah Shenwari and Rashid for a pulled four and six each in the 10th and 13th overs. It was Nabi again who brought Afghanistan back, trapping Bravo lbw in the 14th over, and took them home from there. For a spinner to bowl the last over, with only nine runs to defend, it was a spectacular effort.Things hadn’t looked particularly promising for Afghanistan when they batted. Samuel Badree and West Indies had them at 56 for 5 in the 12th over, but Najibullah persevered. Given a promotion to No. 6, he was unbeaten on 48 off 40 balls with five boundaries that included a six over long-on. His last two fours, in the final over, came via a switch hit and a crash through the covers.Najibullah added 34 runs for the sixth wicket with Nabi, who was unlucky to be caught by Marlon Samuels at mid-off after a rebound from Sammy at cover. That the ball even carried that far indicated how hard Nabi had hit his drive.Such scrapping was made necessary by Badree’s skillful spell. The legspinner, who took 3 for 14 off his four overs, bamboozled Usman Ghani with a googly, kept Mohammad Shahzad quiet and then dismissed him when the release shot – a big hoick down the ground – was taken by mid-off. Shahzad finished as second-highest scorer behind Tamim Iqbal and by the end of the night, he had even more to celebrate.

Younis Khan rated the quality of Zimbabwe’s bowlers so highly that he regards the two-Test series in Harare as ideal preparation for Pakistan’s next challenge against the No.1 ranked Test team

Firdose Moonda in Harare05-Sep-2013Younis Khan rated the quality of Zimbabwe’s bowlers so highly that he regards the two-Test series in Harare as ideal preparation for Pakistan’s next challenge against the No.1 ranked Test team. Pakistan take on South Africa in the UAE after the Zimbabwe leg wraps up and Younis hopes the experience gained here can be put to good use on that assignment.”The Zimbabweans bowled so well, they made it difficult for us, it’s definitely good practice for us when we get back to Dubai,” Younis said. “Also, the wicket is very good so we can really get some time but they are making it tough for us to score runs.”Although Zimbabwe’s attack did not profit as much as they did on the first day, when there was still something in the surface, as they tied Pakistan down to a scoring rate of 2.4. Hamilton Masakadza, the Zimbabwe captain, was pleased with the effort on a pitch that was at its best for batting. “The guys bowled really well, they applied themselves, they stuck at it and that was good to see,” he said.Having had Pakistan at 23 for 3, Zimbabwe may have hoped to limit them even further but Masakadza said Younis, in particular, made that tough. “He put us under pressure because he was not just looking to be there, he was also looking for run-scoring opportunities,” Masakadza said. “We had to set more defensive fields as well.”Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq shared a fourth-wicket stand of 116 to get Pakistan out of trouble but the old hands’ rescue act was not simply a cause for celebration. Their ongoing efforts to steady Pakistan points to an over-reliance on seniors and raises concerns about the next generation. Younis is hopeful they will improve with time.”Test cricket is all about patience and the young guys, sometimes they come from ODIs and Twenty20s so they need to learn,” Younis said. “It’s for the senior players like myself and Misbah and [Mohammad] Hafeez to help them and we are here to do that. The other thing is that we are not playing Test cricket regularly, the last time was almost six months ago. You need to play regularly to learn.”Pakistan’s call for more Test cricket has been made on numerous occasions, especially by Misbah in South Africa in March. Younis has not played international cricket since then and most of the squad has been occupied with one-day competitions. That’s why, according to Younis, the trip to Zimbabwe is so important for them. “This is what we need and we are enjoying playing here,” he said.As much as the experience of it is worthwhile for Pakistan, getting the expected results is also important and Younis is confident they can beat Zimbabwe in the longest format as well as they did in the shorter ones. Asked what he thought was a defendable total, he said, “Anything,” before qualifying that to, “something like 200 or 300. Anything.”Younis believes the pitch will take more turn, “especially towards the end,” but Masakadza remains hopeful it will not be much more. He said the cracks have only opened a touch, with “nothing too frightening at this stage,” and thinks Zimbabwe could chase something “around 250.”Still, he is wary of Saeed Ajmal, after the spinner took seven wickets in the first innings. “We know he is going to be their main threat and the guys have their plans,” Masakadza said. “Some will be looking to use the sweep and others to play as straight as possible. But I’m feeling pretty confident.”

Gloucestershire’s weather-affected Championship Division Two game against Kent at Bristol petered out into a draw

18-Aug-2012
ScorecardGloucestershire’s weather-affected Championship Division Two game against Kent at Bristol petered out into a draw, despite finishing in blazing sunshine.The visitors finished the fourth day on 300 for 9 declared before the hosts opted to declare their own first innings with just one run on the board. It was an unsatisfactory conclusion for both sides, who finished with six points each.With almost three days of the game washed-out by downpours, Kent resumed their first innings on 29 for 1 from the 11.2 overs that had been possible on the second morning. The visitors soon lost Sam Northeast, who had added only one run to his overnight total when he departed for 13, snapped up by Rob Nicol’s brilliant slip catch off left-armer David Payne.New batsman Brendan Nash survived a confident appeal for a catch behind from the first delivery he faced, but went on to share a partnership of 95 for the third wicket with Alex Blake. Nash was four runs short of his half-century when he edged a ball from Liam Norwell to slip, this time presenting Nicol with a straightforward chance to pouch his second catch of the morning.Soon after lunch Kent lost Mike Powell, when Norwell clipped the top of his off stump, and Blake then perished for 73 as he attempted to crash a delivery from Will Gidman through the off side but edged to wicketkeeper Jonathan Batty.Darren Stevens and Geraint Jones pushed Kent past 200 to collect their first bonus point, but Gloucestershire bagged their second when Stevens became the sixth wicket to fall, caught on the boundary by James Fuller off Nicol’s bowling for 45.Simon Cook edged to Ian Cockbain at second slip for 15 to give Gidman his second scalp, and he quickly picked up a third when Mark Davies also edged to slip, but former England keeper Jones made an unbeaten 65 to help steer Kent to their third bonus point.

Yuvraj Singh is expected to travel to London tomorrow to show his injured left hand to a specialist

Nagraj Gollapudi at Trent Bridge02-Aug-2011Yuvraj Singh is expected to travel to London tomorrow to show his injured left hand to a specialist. Yuvraj was hit on his left hand, trying to defend a short-pitched delivery from Tim Bresnan in the second session of play on Monday. Yuvraj was at the receiving end of quite a few short balls from the pair of Bresnan and Stuart Broad and he never could thwart them convincingly.After India lost the second Test by a demoralising 319 runs yesterday, Yuvraj went to a hospital in neighbouring Derby. Based on the scans a decision was taken to show him to a hand specialist in London. Meanwhile Harbhajan Singh, who was suffering from stomach injury also went to the same hospital on Tuesday morning and is reportedly fit.Yuvraj, who scored a resolute 62 in the first innings in the heavy defeat in the second Test, was never allowed to settle down on Monday as Andrew Strauss set attacking fields to supplement the fiery pace and lengths of his fast bowlers. India were an abysmal 37 for 4 when Yuvraj came to the crease. With only MS Dhoni left among the specialists, India needed stability from the Sachin Tendulkar-Yuvraj combination. The accuracy and the fierceness of the England fast bowlers, however, nipped such aspirations in the bud.Bresnan banged in Yuvraj’s eleventh delivery short of a length, and it climbed fast towards the batsman’s neck but he skipped and tried to tap the ball safely towards the leg side. The ball hit him on the index finger of the left hand and Yuvraj threw the bat away, immediately wincing in pain.A few overs later Strauss placed Alastair Cook in an area that could best be described as silly slip, yards away from Yuvraj’s off stump. Bresnan this time came up with a spitting bouncer which Yuvraj tried fending in an awkward fashion only to loop a catch to Cook.It is unclear if Yuvraj will be back to join the rest of the team in Northampton where the Indians play a two-day tour match starting this Friday. India would be hoping Yuvraj is fit for selection ahead of the third Test that begins at Edgbaston on August 10.

Former captain Gavin Hamilton has been recalled to Scotland’s strong 14-member squad to face Bangladesh in the one-off ODI in Glasgow on July 19

Cricinfo staff15-Jul-2010Former captain Gavin Hamilton has been recalled to Scotland’s strong 14-member squad to face Bangladesh in the one-off ODI in Glasgow on July 19. Hamilton, who stepped down from his post last month, didn’t participate in the ICC World Cricket League Division One in Netherlands recently.Two players who were busy with county commitments, Kyle Coetzer and Josh Davey, have also been included. The squad includes the core group of players from the WCL, where the team won five out of seven games.”We are looking forward to playing another Test-playing nation at home,” head coach Peter Steindl said. “We aim to continue the fighting spirit that we have demonstrated so far this season and look forward to the challenge that Bangladesh will provide us.”The teams last met in Scottish soil during the 1999 World Cup. The ground will also host the one-off match between Netherlands and Bangladesh on July 20.Squad: Gordon Drummond (capt), Richie Berrington, Kyle Coetzer, Josh Davey, Gordon Goudie, Gavin Hamilton, Majid Haq, Moneeb Iqbal, Dougie Lockhart (wk), Ross Lyons, Neil McCallum, Preston Mommsen, Matthew Parker, Fraser Watts