Shahid Afridi has expressed relief after playing a key role with both bat and ball in Pakistan’s win against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup final

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Mar-2012Shahid Afridi has expressed relief after playing a key role with both bat and ball in Pakistan’s win against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup final. Afridi scored a critical 32 runs when Pakistan were in trouble and then bowled his 10 overs for just 28 runs to stifle Bangladesh’s batsmen.”It lifted a lot of pressure off my shoulders but more importantly it helped Pakistan win the title,” Afridi told Pakistani daily the .Before the final, Afridi had only managed two wickets in the Asia Cup, against Bangladesh, having failed to make an impression against India and Sri Lanka. He had similar problems against England in the UAE where he took three wickets in four ODIs. His poor batting form has not helped either, with only one score above 50 in his previous 11 innings. Consequently, he has attracted criticism. Prior to the present slump, Afridi had picked up 23 scalps in nine games against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.”To my critics, I will say just one thing: haven’t you heard of players going through a lean patch?” Afridi said. “It happens to even the greatest sportsmen then why is that I cannot be spared during my bad patch?”Questions have been asked about his fitness in the media. However, Afridi refuted such doubts by saying that he has been fortunate to be injury-free for most of his playing career. “I’m fully fit at the moment and plan to continue working hard to make sure that I give my 100% for Pakistan each time I represent the country.”He said he would quit one-day internationals the day he was not able to give his best to the national side and concentrate on Twenty20 cricket. This season, Afridi has played Twenty20 matches for local franchises in Australia and in Bangladesh. However, he has opted out of the ongoing Faysal Bank Super Eight Twenty20 Cup in which he represented Karachi Dolphins for the past six seasons.Edited by Devashish Fuloria

Alex Wakely and Niall O’Brien both hit half-centuries as Northamptonshire made a solid reply to Derbyshire’s first-innings 286

06-Apr-2012
ScorecardAlex Wakely stood in the way of Derbyshire’s bowlers for the second season in a row to keep Northamptonshire in their County Championship match at Derby. The 23-year-old scored two half centuries against Derbyshire at Chesterfield last summer and he frustrated them with another fifty on a hard-fought second day at the County Ground.Wakely scored 62 in four hours and with Niall O’Brien, who also made 62, rescued the visitors after they had slipped to 69 for 4 replying to Derbyshire’s 286. James Middlebrook continued the fightback with an unbeaten 40 before bad light forced an early close with Northants on 241 for 7, leaving the game in the balance.Northants had started another chilly day in a precarious position on 28 for 3, 258 behind, and Wakely and David Sales concentrated on blunting the Derbyshire seam attack, which tended to bowl too wide in the first hour.Sales was on 15 from 38 balls before he finally lost concentration and edged a drive at Ross Whiteley low to third slip where Dan Redfern took a fine catch. But that was the home side’s last success for 35 overs as Wakely and O’Brien dug in to add 78 in gloomy conditions that forced the umpires to call for the floodlights to be switched on.It was the brightest part of the game for much of the afternoon session although Wakely did loft Wes Durston’s offspin down the ground in a rare show of aggression to bring up his half century from 185 balls.His vigil was ended when he misjudged the length and was lbw playing back to David Wainwright, who then spilled a catch at deep midwicket when O’Brien top-edged a pull on 38. That proved costly in runs and overs as Northants accelerated after tea against the new ball, with Middlebrook pulling Mark Footitt for six and driving him through the covers for two fours.A top-edged pull over the slips gave O’Brien a fifty which came off 144 balls but after batting for 200 minutes, he was lbw playing across the line at Whiteley.David Willey stayed with Middlebrook for seven overs before he was lbw to a full-length delivery from Footitt but shortly afterwards the umpires decided that, even with the floodlights on, the light was not good enough to continue and play was abandoned seven overs early with Northants 45 runs behind.

The preview of the match between Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Feroz Shah Kotla

The Preview by George Binoy16-May-2012

Match facts

Thursday, May 17, Delhi
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)AB de Villiers’ 64 off 42 balls was a match-winning performance for Royal Challengers in their first match against Daredevils•Associated Press

Big Picture

How rapidly prospects change in the IPL. Two days ago, Royal Challengers Bangalore were on a three-match winning streak, with healthy chances of making the playoffs. Then they lost to Mumbai Indians, one of their competitors for a top-four finish, and later that day another competitor, Chennai Super Kings, beat Kolkata Knight Riders, whose position is far healthier than that of Royal Challengers. Now Royal Challengers need to win their last two games, both away from home, to have a realistic chance of qualifying, but even that may not be enough if it comes down to net run-rates.It gets harder. The first of Royal Challengers’ two must-win games is against Delhi Daredevils, league leaders and the first team to secure a playoff berth. It’s at the Feroz Shah Kotla, where the pitch and conditions seem customised for the home side’s hard-hitting batsmen and battery of fast bowlers. Daredevils also have two games remaining and one victory will guarantee a top spot, which will give them a second chance of making the grand final should they slip up in the first.

Form guide

(most recent first, completed games)
Delhi Daredevils: WLWLW
Royal Challengers Bangalore: LWWWL

Watch out for

Daredevils’ team composition: There are several voices asking for Andre Russell to be included at Ross Taylor’s expense. But Daredevils don’t need a seam bowling allrounder because they already have Irfan Pathan and the strongest pace attack in the IPL. What they need is an in-form overseas batsman to act as ballast in a top-heavy batting line-up, which is why they are persisting with Taylor, desperate for him to shun the form that has brought only 107 runs at a strike rate of 87 in nine innings. Taylor made a duck in his previous innings, against Kings XI Punjab, and Daredevils have to decide between persisting with him and giving Aaron Finch, the only overseas batsman on the bench, a run before the playoffs.Royal Challengers’ misfiring bowlers: They have the longest tail in the IPL because they play five specialist bowlers – Vinay Kumar batted at No. 7 in the previous game. Yet their bowling attack, despite having Zaheer Khan and Muttiah Muralitharan, is the second most expensive of the tournament, after Deccan Chargers who are at the bottom of the league. That is largely because Royal Challengers’ home venue, the Chinnaswamy Stadium, has the best batting surfaces and some of the smaller boundaries in the tournament. However, even away from home, Royal Challengers have conceded 8.19 runs per over. Again, only Chargers fare worse. Perhaps the more helpful pitches at the Kotla will strengthen Royal Challengers’ weakest link.

Stats and trivia

• In 13 matches, Royal Challengers have taken only 12 wickets in the first six overs, when the fielding restrictions are in place. Their average of 50 per wicket and economy rate of 7.69 during this period both the worst in the tournament. Daredevils, on the other hand, have taken 21 at an average of 29 and economy of 7.33.
• Daredevils’ batsmen have the best run-rate in the first six overs this season – 664 runs at 7.90. Royal Challengers score at 7.00 in this period, but Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers have usually made up for that later in the innings.
• The head to head between these sides after nine matches is 5-4 in Daredevils’ favour. They lost the first match this season, in Bangalore, by 20 runs.

Quotes

“Obviously before playing RCB, we will make our strategies and plans. We need to get him [Gayle] out early. Our plan would be to restrict their scoring and bowl them out as soon as possible … Pressure would be slightly less but we will look for wins in remaining fixtures.”
“It gives me immense pleasure to announce that RCB is the first sports team in the world to officially become carbon neutral, without the purchase of carbon credits but through fan driven initiatives.”

Hampshire hold a big advantage at the end of day two at Headingley

Myles Hodgson at Headingley17-May-2012
ScorecardSimon Katich progressed to 196 before being dismissed by Adil Rashid•PA Photos

Sunshine may not be regarded as a common currency at Headingley but it remains an influential factor in conditions when in residence and, during another weather-interrupted day’s play, it was Hampshire that profited most from its absence.At their own admission, they enjoyed the better of the conditions on the opening day and settled down to bat with the sun on their backs after overcoming an early collapse. But it was an entirely different proposition for both sides once rain relented by early afternoon of the second day with consistent cloud cover providing new challenges for all concerned.Already in a strong position on 352 for 5 when play resumed, Hampshire did their best to make hard work of passing 400 and claiming maximum batting points, losing three wickets in eight overs to ensure an unnecessary scramble to reach their target and were dismissed for 427. Yorkshire found equal difficulty in handling the conditions and lost three early wickets before finding a measure of stability through an unbroken 68-run stand between Phil Jaques and Gary Ballance.The sudden change from boundaries to regular dismissals was begun by a lack of concentration from Michael Bates, who had brought up his maiden championship hundred two overs earlier but was slow to switch on when he was called for a quick single by Simon Katich.Australian batsman Katich had pushed Steve Patterson, Yorkshire’s whole-hearted seamer, back down the ground and set off for an easy single, but Bates was slow to react and finished several feet out of his ground by the time Andrew Gale threw from deep mid-on to wicketkeeper Gerard Brophy, ending a Hampshire record-equalling 170-run sixth wicket stand against Yorkshire.From a position of relative comfort, that breakthrough changed the impetus quickly with Yorkshire turning to the legspin of Adil Rashid and earning immediate success. Now in his sixth season as a county player and two years since he was last considered as a legspinning allrounder of international class, Rashid has not developed as quickly as either Yorkshire or England would have liked.Out-bowled by the offspin of Joe Root during the opening day, Rashid still provided the occasional delivery that almost begged to be hit yet improved considerably on his first day efforts. He will have been proud of the ball that ended Katich’s six-hour innings four short of a double century, beating him in the flight as he attempted to sweep and inducing a leading edge to mid-on.His other two wickets were the result of Hampshire, who only reached maximum batting points with seven deliveries of the 110 overs remaining, attempting to score quick runs from their lower order. Yet figures of 3 for 86 represent a considerable improvement after claiming only five wickets in his five previous matches.Yorkshire’s reply could not have had much worse a start with Adam Lyth, desperate for runs after struggling throughout last season, falling lbw to Kabir Ali shouldering arms to the fifth ball of the innings. Root chose defensive defiance as a strategy and edged to slip after taking 63 minutes to score eight runs.Gale, a key figure in Bates’ run out earlier in the day, suffered the same fate with Jacques pushing to cover and setting off for a single, only for Michael Carberry to pounce superbly and throw down the stumps with the Yorkshire captain short of his ground. At 32 for 2, it may not have been the best judgement of a single, but it should not detract from Carberry’s athleticism to engineer the breakthrough, which was celebrated by a football-style celebration as his team-mates mobbed him.Jaques and Ballance, whose 203-run partnership at Bristol enabled Yorkshire to chase down 400 at Bristol last week, halted the slide, but with 178 runs still needed to avoid the follow-on, they will hope for bright sunshine when play starts on the third morning.

Former Derbyshire all-rounder Wayne White condemned his ex-team mates to a fifth Friends Life t20 defeat as Leicestershire won a thrilling North Group match by four wickets off the last ball at Derby.

30-Jun-2012
ScorecardFormer Derbyshire all-rounder Wayne White condemned his ex-team mates to a fifth Friends Life t20 defeat as Leicestershire won a thrilling North Group match by four wickets off the last ball at Derby.White hit the final ball from Rana Naved-ul-Hasan to the fine leg boundary to clinch victory and overhaul Derbyshire’s 171 for 3 which was built around Wes Durston, who batted through the innings for an unbeaten 55 from 50 balls.Leicestershire looked out of it needing 37 from the last three overs but after 23 came from the penultimate over from Alex Hughes, White and Robert Taylor saw their side home. It was a jolt for Derbyshire who had amassed their biggest total in this season’s competition.Leicestershire sped off from the outset as Josh Cobb and Abdul Razzaq took 66 from the first five overs. Cobb pulled Jon Clare for six in an over that cost 20 and Razzaq drove Hughes for three fours before he carved the spinner into the hands of cover.Cobb hoisted Durston for another six but Rana beat him with a slower ball that he chipped to midwicket and after 10 overs, the Foxes needed another 82 with a lot resting on the West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan. With the pressure building, he was run out by a direct hit for 22.The game appeared to be in Derbyshire’s grasp but when Chesney Hughes dropped White at short fine leg off the fourth ball of the last over, White made them pay by clipping Rana for four to clinch a dramatic victory.

Ireland will host a Test nation for the first time in an international Twenty20 when Bangladesh arrive for a three-match series. The matches on July 18, 20, starting at 5pm, and 21, at 4pm, will all be played at Stormont in Belfast.

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jul-2012Ireland will host a Test nation for the first time in an international Twenty20 when Bangladesh arrive for a three-match series. The matches on July 18 and 20, starting at 5pm, and 21, at 4pm, will all be played at Stormont in Belfast.Ireland are stepping up their preparations for the World T20 in Sri Lanka in September and their coach Phil Simmons is keen to play more T20, believing his squad can find success in the shortest format.”We have a number of players ideally suited to the short form of the game,” Simmons said. “There are still a few slots up for grabs and it’s an ideal opportunity for the players to make a case for themselves to be included in the World T20 squad.”Kevin O’Brien struck the winning runs in Ireland’s victory over Bangladesh at the 2009 World T20 in England and is hoping for more success in this series. “We’re currently ninth in the world rankings and a series win would help us in our quest to get extra points to get up the ICC Rankings,” O’Brien said. “We’ve just beaten Afghanistan and we’ll be looking to keep that winning momentum going. I’m sure the Irish public will flock to what is always a great evening out.”Cricket Ireland have promised to lay on an extravaganza of entertainment and ticket holders for the abandoned ODI against Australia can gain free entry to one match of the series.

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.

Michael Hussey has said his team is ready to face Harbhajan Singh, who has had confrontations with Australians in the past, when they take on India in the Super Eights in Colombo

Daniel Brettig26-Sep-2012No Australian Twenty20 team has been as aggressive in word or deed as the one about to face India in a critical Super Eights match at the World T20. So there is understandable anticipation about the rejoining of an old battle with Harbhajan Singh, famously provocative in the past but so far this tournament doing more with the ball than with his choice of words.Australia showed plenty of intent in the field in their opening match against Ireland, David Warner and Shane Watson particularly active in their efforts to rile the opposition. Watson later said this was part of how the team “gets up” for a serious contest. Any attempts at a similar approach against the West Indies were momentarily silenced by the blazing bats of Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels before George Bailey’s team notched a rain-assisted victory.Harbhajan’s recall was always likely to tempt another encounter with Australia, a team with which he has a history of confrontation and controversy, not least the 2008 Sydney Test match and its aftermath. While his striking display against England suggested a Harbhajan more focused on his bowling than anything else, the sight of the green and gold may stir that old familiar feeling.Michael Hussey, a witness to much of the aforementioned history, said he expected Harbhajan to resume his famously provocative ways, and counselled his younger teammates to remain true to themselves in dealing with any verbal confrontations.”I prefer to walk away and not worry about it,” Hussey said. “If he [Harbhajan] wants to use his energy up sledging and carrying on, that’s fine. Some other guys really thrive on it. Davey Warner, he likes a little bit of interaction out there and it gets him going.”So I don’t think there is a right way or wrong way to handle it but I think it’s up to the individual to know he’s going to try these tactics so you’ve got to be ready for it, and be sure it doesn’t affect your concentration but handle it in your own way. I just think let him [Warner] go, let him play his way. That’s what has given him success so far.”The match against India is the first of a testy trio that also features South Africa and Pakistan, leaving Hussey to reason that a first-up victory would ease a great deal of pressure from the team’s shoulders.”If we can win that first one in the Super Eights, it does give you that confidence and that little buffer that you know you just need one out of the last two to get through,” Hussey said. “It’s pretty much an early grand final really in the context of the tournament. But that relaxed attitude is important as well. We need to make sure we’re not too tense.”All the [batsmen] are playing well in the nets and they’ve got a lot of confidence, and that’s a big part of Twenty20. You need to have no doubts in your mind or fears, you’ve got to trust yourself and let your instincts take over.”The coach Mickey Arthur treated Australia’s player to two days off after their qualification for the next phase, though he then extracted a measure of recompense by pushing the players through a decidedly rigorous Tuesday training session.”We have had a few relaxing days but I expect that’s all about to end,” Hussey said. “Training yesterday [Tuesday] was very long and pretty intense and a welcome back to reality really. The pressure and tension are only going to rise as we get closer to that India match because it’s a huge game.”

Ross Taylor’s whirlwind half-century went in vain as New Zealand lost to South Africa by nine runs in their second warm-up match in Colombo

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Sep-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsRoss Taylor blasted seven sixes in his 75•Associated Press

Ross Taylor’s whirlwind half-century went in vain as New Zealand lost to South Africa by nine runs in their second warm-up match in Colombo. Besides a big target, New Zealand also had to contend with several of their players falling ill* due to queasy stomachs. New Zealand weren’t able to field 11 fit men in the warm-up game, with bowling coach Damien Wright having to step in as a fielder.When Taylor arrived at the crease after the fall of Brendon McCullum, 160 runs were still required. Taylor immediately set the pace with a boundary off Dale Steyn and a four and a six off Morne Morkel to race to 17 off 7 balls. He then went into consolidation mode for the next eight overs before exploding as the pressure of the chase mounted. Taylor shared a 94-run stand with Rob Nicol and hit seven sixes in his 42-ball 75, which left New Zealand with 44 runs to get in the last 4.3 overs with six wickets in hand. However, the contest was closed by Steyn’s triple-strike in the penultimate over.New Zealand opened the bowling with two spinners after the start was delayed due to rain. But South Africa’s openers – Richard Levi and Faf du Plessis – took 19 runs off Ronnie Hira’s second over to inject momentum into the innings. New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne then removed both batsmen in consecutive overs and when Nicol took Hashim Amla’s wicket, South Africa were in danger of ceding the early advantage.But AB de Villiers scored a 30-ball 54 and raised 62 runs in partnership with JP Duminy. A late assault by de Villiers, Farhaan Behardien and Albie Morkel shocked New Zealand as South Africa took 51 runs off the last three overs to end up with 186.* September 18, 0400 GMT This story has been updated with the news of New Zealand players’ illness

ESPNcricinfo previews the women’s World Twenty20 final, which brings together two great rivals, Australia and England

The Preview by Alan Gardner06-Oct-2012

Match Facts

October 7, 2012
Start time 2.30pm local (0900 GMT/1000 BST)Will it be Charlotte Edwards or Jodie Fields holding the trophy after the final?•ICC/Getty

The Big Picture

Considering their status in the women’s game and the fact the countries contested the finals of the first four Women’s World Cups, it seems strange that this will be the first meeting between England and Australia in a global final since 1988. But that will be the case on Sunday, when the holders, Australia, attempt to defend their title against England, winners of the inaugural Women’s World Twenty20 in 2009.New Zealand have been the third wheel in recent times, losing to Australia in the Caribbean in 2010 and England at Lord’s a year earlier, but they fell at the semi-final stage at this tournament, denied the shot at an inglorious hat-trick. They became England’s fourth scalp in a row, with Charlotte Edwards’ team having already beaten Australia in their dead-rubber group game.England arrived at the World T20 on the back of their first 20-over defeat in 20 completed matches. The run that began after losing to Australia in January 2011 was ended by West Indies last month but, since then, England’s sense of invincibility has been reinvigorated. Katherine Brunt’s thrifty new-ball spells and England’s four spinners – with 16 wickets between them – have thrived on slow Sri Lankan pitches. Their batting is lead by three of the five leading run-scorers in the tournament in Edwards, Sarah Taylor and Laura Marsh.Australia are not without good form or star players either. Their record of played 14, won 11 in 2012 is second only to England’s (who have won 17 out of 18) and the likes of Lisa Sthalekar, ranked the No. 1 bowler in the world, Julie Hunter, the leading wicket-taker in Sri Lanka, and Ellyse Perry form part of a formidable attack. The batting may not have fired in quite the same way but you can be sure that Jodie Fields’ side will be all stoked up for a clash with the old enemy.Any fixture between these two countries comes with the obligatory Ashes tag, which will add spice to a showpiece that is also a scene setter, ahead of the men’s final between Sri Lanka and West Indies. After a gap of 24 years, this one should offer compelling viewing all on its own.

Form guide

(Most recent first, completed matches)
England WWWWL
Australia WLWWL

Watch out for…

Charlotte Edwards may get fewer headlines these days, thanks to the impish brilliance of Sarah Taylor with bat and gloves, but her presence at the top of the order is still of immeasurable importance for England. The all-time leading run-scorer in the format, she also heads the standings at the 2012 World T20 and her ability to hit down the ground against spin gives her one up on most of England’s male batsmen. Her battle with Ellyse Perry could set the tone.Julie Hunter may have torn up West Indies with a five-for during Australia’s semi-final win but it was Lisa Sthalekar who presented them gift-wrapped and ready for destruction, opening the bowling with her offspin and conceding just six runs from four overs. Australia’s No. 4, she is also a good enough batsman to be ranked in the world’s top ten. At 33, Sthalekar is four months older than Edwards and further proof that T20 isn’t just for the kids.

Team news

After convincing semi-final victories for both sides there would seem little need to change barring injury or illness.Australia (probable) 1 Meg Lanning, 2 Alyssa Healy, 3 Jess Cameron, 4 Lisa Sthalekar, 5 Alex Blackwell, 6 Jodie Fields (capt & wk), 7 Rachael Haynes, 8 Julie Hunter, 9 Ellyse Perry, 10 Jess Jonassen, 11 Erin OsborneEngland (probable) 1 Charlotte Edwards (capt), 2 Laura Marsh, 3 Sarah Taylor (wk), 4 Lydia Greenway, 5 Arran Brindle, 6 Danni Wyatt, 7 Jenny Gunn, 8 Katherine Brunt, 9 Anya Shurbsole, 10 Danielle Hazell, 11 Holly Colvin

Pitch and conditions

The pitch was looking similar to one prepared for the second semi-final, which did hold together better than the surface on Thursday. Spin will still play a key part but don’t rule out Katherine Brunt or Ellyse Perry enjoying some success. They are the outstanding pace bowlers in the women’s game. This semi-final will be played in the scorching heat of the afternoon although both sides are now acclimatised.

Stats and trivia

• Lisa Sthalekar four-over spell for six runs in the semi-final was the second most economical by an Australian in Twenty20 behind Sarah Coyte’s 4 for 5 from four overs against India at Billericay in 2011.
• The head-to-head between the two teams in T20s stands at 8-4 in England’s favour, although it is strictly 8-5 because Australia won the one tied game between the sides in a Super Over, which came in the previous World Twenty20.
• When these sides last met in a global final, at the 1988 World Cup, England made 127 in 60 overs batting first. That’s the sort of score whoever bats first in this final will like to reach in 20.

Quotes

“It’s never an easy feat to come through semi-finals, we had to play West Indies who have improved immensely. It was a really good team performance. So we are really excited to get another chance to play England.”
Lisa Sthalekar“Two years ago, it was a really disappointing tournament for us. I’m really proud of the way the girls have come back. We’re peaking at the right time.”