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Dhruv Shorey’s run-a-ball hundred in vain for Vidarbha

Shashank Kishore18-Jan-2025
In a high-scoring contest that produced over 650 runs and two superb hundreds from R Smaran and Dhruv Shorey, it was a 42-ball 79 from Abhinav Manohar that made the difference as Karnataka edged Vidarbha in a thriller to clinch the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Vadodara.That it became a thriller was down to Harsh Dubey’s 63 off 30 balls after Karun Nair’s dream run in the tournament ended. Nair was dismissed for only the second time in eight innings in the tournament when Prasidh Krishna knocked him over for 27. Nair finished with a chart-topping 779 runs at an eye-popping average of 389.50.Dubey built on Shorey’s third successive century, by hitting a 25-ball half-century lower down the order, to bring the equation down to 37 off 12 balls. In the end, Dubey ran out of partners and was the last man dismissed when he heaved left-arm seamer Abhilash Shetty to deep midwicket as Karnataka sealed victory to break a five-year trophy drought.The game was fought on an even keel for most parts. Karnataka, who were put in to bat, lost the in-form Devdutt Padikkal in the sixth over, before KV Aneesh and Mayank Agarwal steadied the innings.Seamer Nachiket Bhute then struck twice in two overs to remove both batters; Agarwal fell for 32 to finish the tournament as the second-highest run-getter with 651 runs. At 67 for 3, Karnataka needed a rescue act, and two relatively inexperienced players stepped up.Smaran and KL Shrijith, both of whom are in their first full seasons, put together 160 for the fourth wicket. The pair slowly built a platform before picking up pace. They took 26 off the 27th and 28th overs as Karnataka went on the offensive. Shrijith was superb in his footwork against spin, quickly bringing up a half-cegntury off 54 balls, Smaran followed suit in the same over when he brought his off 47 balls with an exquisite pull in front of square off the nippy Yash Thakur.Shrijith’s dismissal in the 38th over brought Manohar out to the middle, and he enhanced his reputation of being a finisher with some pristine hitting, not once giving the impression that he was slogging. On 24 off 25 at the end of the 44th over, Manohar began the surge by hitting Bhute for a sequence of 4, 4, 6 to begin the 45th.When Bhute bowled length into the pitch, Manohar used the angle to pick a boundary behind point. When Bhute bowled a wide yorker, he scythed it to the deep-cover fence, and when he missed a yorker, Manohar stayed deep inside the crease and shovelled it to clear long-off.Thakur bore the brunt of Manohar’s fury in the following over when he was picked away for two fours in the 46th, and three back-to-back fours in the 48th, as the wheels started to come off Vidarbha’s attack. The last seven overs fetched Karnataka 83 as they got the perfect finish.Vidarbha started the chase briskly but lost the centurion of the previous game, Yash Rathod, for 22 when he got a leading edge to Padikkal at slip. Nair and Shorey were then involved in a half-century stand to lift Vidarbha’s hopes.Nair was particularly sparkling in his short stay, punching and pulling Prasidh Krishna through covers and midwicket, and then going after legspinner Shreyas Gopal at the first sign of spin being introduced. But he fell for 27 off 31 balls when he failed to cover the line of a Prasidh inducker that kept slightly low.Vidarbha then chugged along with Jitesh Sharma giving Shorey company in a half-century stand before holing out to long-on. That wicket not only galvanised Karnataka but also freed up Vidarbha to go for broke, like Dubey did. With some support, he may have yet been able to pull off a heist, but it wasn’t to be.

Dawid Malan says team have “hell of a lot to play for” in remaining group games

Matt Roller31-Oct-2023England have arrived in Ahmedabad knowing that they must win at least one of their next three games – not only to restore pride but to ensure that they are spared the ignominy of missing the cut for the next global men’s 50-over event in 2025. Failing to mount a challenge for the World Cup is one thing; failing to qualify for the Champions Trophy would be quite another.The England set-up were blindsided when the ICC confirmed on Sunday that a change in the qualification process had been ratified – but not announced publicly – in November 2021. Pakistan, the hosts, will be joined by the other seven highest finishers at the World Cup, with England dead last after five defeats in six matches.There has been significant institutional change at the ECB in the two years since, with a new chief executive, chair and managing director in place. But realistically, after a seven-year era of unprecedented white-ball success since 2015, the prospect of finishing outside the top eight would not have registered with England’s management.Related

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England play Australia on Saturday before fixtures against Netherlands and Pakistan on November 8 and 11 respectively, and the Netherlands game in Pune already looks like a potential qualification decider. The Dutch have a proud history against England, beating them in the 2009 and 2014 World T20s, and will be desperate to turn them over once more.It is not lost on England’s players that they need to finish this World Cup strongly – even if, with 11 out of 15 squad members aged 30-plus, many of them will not be involved in two years’ time. “People’s jobs are being scrutinised and players’ careers are being scrutinised,” Dawid Malan said on Tuesday. “We have a hell of a lot to play for in the last three.”The last thing you want – if the decision gets made to move on from players – is that we haven’t done well enough to give other players the opportunity in future to play in big tournaments. That’s what you play the game for: you want to be in the Champions Trophy and the World Cup, things like that.”Dawid Malan is England’s leading run-scorer at the World Cup•Getty Images

England are not mathematically out of the World Cup, but their players are realistic about their semi-final prospects. “It’s definitely not going to be a situation where we just go through the motions because we’re potentially out of this World Cup,” Malan said. “We have a lot at stake and a lot of pride for England to be in that Champions Trophy in two years’ time.”Malan told the BBC that, at 36, he is “pretty sure I’ll be done” as an England player before the 2025 Champions Trophy. “It feels a long way away,” he said. “Two years feels a long way away. I am playing as well as I’ve played, but whether that decision is mine or someone else’s, we’ll find out.”Criticism of England has grown with every defeat and Malan found himself playing down various perceived issues: he denied that central contracts had been a major distraction, said that it was “fair” for Eoin Morgan to lay into their underperformance, and suggested it was up to the players to take the heat off head coach Matthew Mott.Malan is England’s leading run-scorer at this tournament with 236 at 39.33, 140 of which came in their only win, against Bangladesh in Dharamshala. “I feel like I am playing well, but just finding ways of getting out,” he said. “We just can’t get anything going with the bat and get a score on the board. I can’t put my finger on it.”He also confirmed recent reports that he will not play in the County Championship for Yorkshire next year. “I’ll probably try and play as much white-ball cricket as I can for the rest of my career,” Malan said. “It’s prioritising spending a bit more time at home because my winters are so busy with internationals or franchise tournaments.”

Baker’s half-dozen makes defeat a little easier to digest

ECB Reporters Network10-Aug-2022A sensational Ben Green century when the position seemed hopeless and Sonny Baker’s career-best six-wicket haul failed to save Somerset from a third defeat in as many Royal London Cup group matches as Durham gained a thrilling nine-run victory at Taunton.Durham posted 342 all out after losing the toss, Scott Borthwick making 88 from 67 balls, including 3 sixes and 11 fours, and Graham Clark a more measured 86. Nineteen-year-old seamer Baker claimed a career-best six for 46 from 10 overs as he tried to halt the one-way traffic.Somerset plunged to 195 for eight in reply before Green – with little support – launched an incredible onslaught in the face of well-nigh impossible odds, crashing 12 sixes and 10 fours in an unforgettable inning of 157 off 84 balls.It was only enough to boost the score to 333 all out, but provided rich entertainment for a crowd of 3,000 on one of the hottest days of the year.Green said: “If only we could have found ten more runs out there. I have never struck the ball better and that’s why I went for another six in the final over. I didn’t quite connect right and the bottom line is that we have lost the game.”Earlier, Jonathan Bushnell, making his List A debut, contributed a composed 24 to a Durham opening stand of 60 in 13 overs with Clark before becoming Baker’s first victim, miscuing a catch to fine leg.Borthwick hit the first six of the match off Lewis Goldsworthy before Clark moved to a sold half-century, from 77 balls, with 6 fours.Borthwick’s fluent fifty occupied just 42 deliveries as Durham laid the foundation for a challenging score, reaching 124 for one at the halfway point of their innings.Clark cleared the ropes off Green and Goldsworthy before falling with the total on 191, bowled having a swing at Green. He had faced 101 balls and hit 2 sixes and 10 fours.Nic Maddinson kept the momentum going with 24 off 13 balls before being bowled attempting a big hit off Baker. The Somerset youngster removed Borthwick in the same over, the 36th of the innings, then pinned Sean Dixon lbw for 11.The hosts had given a debut to 19-year-old left-arm seamer Alfie Ogborne, from Yeovil, who bowled four tidy overs for 21 and ran out Paul Coughlin with a throw to the bowler’s end from deep mid-wicket to make it 260 for six.Liam Trevaskis averted any thoughts of a Durham collapse with a rapid 44, including a six and 6 fours, while Tomas Mackintosh weighed in with 28 before driving a catch to long-on to give Baker his fifth wicket.Oliver Gibson was yorked by Baker, whose previous best List A figures had been three for 46, and Durham’s innings was wrapped up by another run out in the final over.
Somerset’s reply had reached 26 in the sixth over when Steve Davies’ was caught behind for nine, chasing a wide delivery from Gibson.Matt Renshaw survived a chance to Coughlin at mid-on off Chris Rushworth, but perished in the same over for 23, driving a catch to mid-off to make it 36 for two.Playing in what may well prove the last competition of his illustrious Somerset career, James Hildreth was soon troubled by a muscle injury and made only 12 before being caught at deep cover off 18-year-old seamer Stanley McAlindon.Goldsworthy (27) and George Bartlett (34) shared a stand of 56. But they fell in quick succession, Bartlett driving Gibson in the air to mid-off and Goldsworthy caught and bowled above his head by Borthwick to make it 120 for five.Green and James Rew added 46 before the latter pulled a catch to deep square off Trevaskis. Kasey Aldridge fell leg before to Rushworth and Jack Brooks followed, but if Durham thought the job was done, Green had other ideas.Having reached a 45-ball fifty, his maiden List A hundred occupied only 14 more deliveries as he blasted four sixes in an over off Borthwick and four more off successive balls from Gibson.They were massive blows from the inspired captain, who continued to put Durham’s bowlers to the sword in a frenetic finale, dominating stands with Ogborne and Baker.Somerset needed 11 off the final over, sent down by Gibson. There was visible relief among the Durham players when the second ball saw Green well caught by Trevaskis diving forward at long-on.

IPL contracted players not named in T20 squad

Firdose Moonda18-Mar-2021Allrounder Wihan Lubbe and fast bowler Lizaad Williams have received their first call-ups to a South African squad, with Lubbe included in the T20 squad to face Pakistan next month, and Williams in both the T20 and ODI squads. Sisanda Magala, who was part of South Africa’s limited-overs squads to play England and Australia last summer but could not get a game because of fitness concerns, is in both squads.Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder have both been recalled to the ODI squad after last playing in 2019, while Migael Pretorius, who was part of the Test squad against Sri Lanka but did not play, has been selected for the T20s. Kyle Verreynne is also part of the T20 squad for the first time. Daryn Dupavillon is back in the ODI squad after debuting in March 2020.The teams will be captained by Temba Bavuma, who has taken over from Quinton de Kock as South Africa’s white-ball captain for the next two years. De Kock, who was on a mental health break until this week, has been named in the squad but, along with the rest of the IPL contracted players will be released early. De Kock, Kagiso Rabada, David Miller, Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi are the five players who will leave early. Faf du Plessis, who retired from Test cricket last month but remains available in white-ball formats, has not been selected.”We’re very excited about these two squads that we have selected for our home tour against Pakistan. The ODI squad boasts the calibre of talent we have in South African Cricket and I’m really excited to see how they go about the series. We have enough experience within that squad to provide a good challenge to Pakistan when they arrive on our shores,” Victor Mpitsang, selection convenor said.”The T20 squad is also a good indication of our depth as a cricket nation with the loss of some of the senior players to the IPL. We have a massive 18 months of T20 cricket coming up, with two ICC T20 World Cups for players to contest. We as a selection panel are looking forward to seeing what the new additions to the team will contribute to the Proteas’ system.”All eyes will be on Magala who topped both the domestic one-day and T20 cup wicket-takers’ lists and has established himself as one of the best death-bowlers in the South African game. Keshav Maharaj was the leading spinner in the T20 cup and though he has only been included in the fifty-over group, he has an opportunity to make a case for a long run in white-ball cricket. Maharaj is one of three spinners in the ODI squad, including Tabraiz Shamsi and allrounder Jon-Jon Smuts, who are both in the T20 squad along with George Linde and Bjorn Fortuin. Dwaine Pretorius is the only first-choice seam-bowling allrounder in the T20 squad, leaving no room for Andile Phehlukwayo in the shortest format.The series will be played in a biosecure environment between Johannesburg and Centurion, and starts on April 2.ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Beuran Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Janneman Malan, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jon-Jon Smuts, Rassie van der Dussen, Junior Dala, Lutho Sipamla, Wiaan Mulder, Sisanda Magala, Kyle Verreynne, Daryn Dupavillon, Lizaad WilliamsT20 squad: Temba Bavuma (captain) Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Rassie van der Dussen, Janneman Malan, Sisanda Magala, Dwaine Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Pite van Biljon, Migael Pretorius, Lizaad Williams, Wihan Lubbe

Assistant coach says England are building a batting unit to succeed on 2021-22 Ashes trip

George Dobell in Hamilton28-Nov-2019Paul Collingwood has backed Zak Crawley to succeed if he wins his chance in the second Test in Hamilton. Kent batsman Crawley was taken on tour largely to gain experience and so the England management could take a closer look at him, but an injury to Jos Buttler the day before the second Test might well have created an early opportunity for an unexpected debut against New Zealand.”Technically he looks very strong,” Collingwood, who is one of England’s assistant coaches, said of Crawley. “He’s willing to learn all the time. He’s been brilliant in the conversations that we’ve had in the nets. He’s always questioning things and that’s what you want.”He’s good fun, he’s a good athlete in the field as well, so he ticks a lot of the right boxes. He looks very good. But you never know until you get in the pressure of a Test match situation. The signs are really good, though.”ALSO READ: NZ depth ‘definitely the best’ it’s been in my career – TaylorCrawley has impressed the England management on this tour. As well as scoring a century in his one opportunity to bat in a match situation, he has also looked comfortable in the nets and impressed with his agility and fitness in fielding sessions.Notably, the two centuries Crawley scored during the 2019 County Championship season were against attacks containing fast bowlers. He made 111 against a Nottinghamshire side which included James Pattinson – nobody else in Kent’s top six made it to double-figures – and 108 against a Warwickshire side containing Ryan Sidebottom and Henry Brookes. And it is ability to play the short ball which is one of the areas that has impressed Collingwood.”Certainly, anything from waist height upwards he looks to be able to handle,” Collingwood said. “And playing short pitched bowling is crucial in these conditions. He times the ball really well, too; he hits the ball hard for a big lad.”By a “big lad” Collingwood certainly does not mean that Crawley is carrying an excess weight. Far from it. Instead he stands at 6ft 5in and looks as fit as anyone in the squad, with the possible exception of Ben Stokes. At training on Wednesday, it appeared as if he deliberately slowed down not to embarrass his captain, Joe Root, who had joined him on multiple circuits of the boundary.Zak Crawley could be in line to make his England debut•Getty Images

Crawley is still very much at the developmental stage of his career, though. He is just 21 and, as his first-class batting average of 31.27 illustrates, he is still learning his game. Having played a great deal on the seamer-friendly surfaces at Canterbury, however, those figures are not, perhaps, quite as modest as they seem.Collingwood is equally optimistic about the prospects for the rest of this side’s batsmen. As a member of the team that won the Ashes in Australia in 2010-11, he thinks he knows what it would take to repeat that result, saying that scoreboard pressure is a vital ingredient.”I’m very confident that this batting unit, over time, is going to score a lot of runs,” Collingwood said. “I think the mentality of it, the way the guys are working, it feels as though we’ve got the right kind of personnel to score big runs.”We know what Australia are going to do to us. They’re going to batter us with 90mph bowlers and make us feel uncomfortable with a spinner at the other end who will dry us up. But when we won there in 2010-11, we scored a lot of runs and then you’ve got scoreboard pressure.”The other challenge is to get those 20 wickets. And that seems to be increasingly difficult. Sides now generally have longer batting orders and the Kookaburra ball can prove difficult to take wickets with. The old school top-of-off with a Dukes ball back in the England doesn’t necessarily work over here. We’ve found ways at times but if you look at history we haven’t really consistently found a formula or a solution.”But we have to find a way. You can see that New Zealand have a strategy that has worked over time: you’re going to get swing bowlers up front, then Colin de Grandhomme and then Wagner to bounce the living daylights out of you. It’s a system that works for them and it’s our challenge to produce the skills out of our bowlers that work on in these conditions with this ball.”You look back and see what we were doing well [in 2010-11], and everyone refers back to pace, but we didn’t have much pace actually. It was more down to accuracy – ‘bowling dry’ as we called it – and it was almost playing on their ego, because they wanted to score runs, because it was the Australian way.”But teams, even Australia, don’t really play with ego any more. They’re very patient. Steve Smith shows that. So you might need a different type of bowler with some extra pace.”

On his return to ODI cricket, Steyn top-scored with 60 then took two wickets, before Tahir cleaned up with 6 for 24 to seal the series for South Africa

The Report by Liam Brickhill in Bloemfontein03-Oct-2018Imran Tahir is overjoyed after becoming the fourth South African to take an ODI hat-trick•AFP

Imran Tahir became the fourth South African bowler to take a one-day international hat-trick as Zimbabwe folded for just 78 in the second ODI in Bloemfontein. Tahir removed Sean Williams, Peter Moor and Brandon Mavuta with successive deliveries over two overs to derail Zimbabwe’s chase and finished with a 6 for 24, taking full advantage of a batting line-up softened up by the alarmingly variable bounce extracted by Dale Steyn and Lungi Ngidi earlier in the evening. Steyn provided a particular fearsome challenge, bowling well above 140kph to rattle the top order. He picked up 2 for 19 on his return to ODI cricket, capping a day in which he also top scored with a career-best 60 to boost South Africa to a total of 198.That already looked like it could be enough when Tahir was brought on in the 14th over, thanks in large part to a pitch that misbehaved all day and became particularly capricious when Dale Steyn opened the bowling under lights. The Willow End, in particular, exhibited variable bounce that made the prospect of chasing look very difficult.Craig Ervine was struck on the glove and the grille by consecutive deliveries from Steyn, while both Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza were made to fend at brutal lifters that reared off a length. With Solomon Mire undone third ball by a full one from Steyn, none of the rest of the top were able to build partnerships and Zimbabwe entered the Powerplay teetering at 28 for 2. The visitors’ last hopes evaporated when Masakadza fell for 27, indecision sewn by the irregular bounce bringing a flat-footed poke to slip off Ngidi.Tahir had, by this point, already started to weave his magic at the other end. Taylor swept a four but then misread a googly to be lbw for 10, Tahir setting off in celebration even as he turned to appeal the wicket. From then on, although the pitch levelled out, Tahir’s variations simply proved too much for Zimbabwe. Williams was drawn out of his crease by one that spun away from him to be stumped off the last ball of Tahir’s third over, while Moor played outside a slider to be lbw to the first of his fourth. The next ball zipped in off a length, right between Mavuta’s bat and pad to spark Tahir’s trademark celebration.Zimbabwe slumped to 59 for 8 with the hat-trick, and the result was now a foregone conclusion. Jarvis slogged across the line at another googly to be bowled for 1, and fittingly it was Steyn who held the final catch to bring the game to an end when Chatara heaved a slider into the deep.The catch completed an almost perfect comeback for Steyn, whose two wickets came after his maiden ODI fifty had carried South Africa out of the depths of 101 for 7. South Africa picked him to bowl, but in his first one-day international in almost two years Steyn’s plucky batting rescued his team. Thirteen years since his ODI debut, and batting for the 48th time in the format, Steyn put on 75 with Andile Phehlukwayo, a new South African record for the eighth wicket against Zimbabwe.South Africa were tottering when Steyn got to the crease, but the mantra being drilled into them is to play positive cricket regardless of the situation and the shots kept coming. Steyn was off the mark with an edge through the vacant second slip, and while he swung merrily Phehlukwayo shrugged off a strong lbw shout to drill Williams over long on for six.An outside edge over slip took Steyn to his highest score in ODIs, and he motored into the 40s with a heave to midwicket – his seventh four. He had scored the bulk of the eighth-wicket stand that rebuilt South Africa’s innings when Zimbabwe finally broke through, Chatara strangling Phehlukwayo down the leg side.Steyn brought up his fifty with a crisp strike down the ground for six off Donald Tiripano, becoming the fourth South African after Lance Klusener, Andrew Hall and Richard Snell to score an ODI half century from no. 9. It was an effort that was desperately needed after three of the top five fell for single figures.Zimbabwe, too, had had some assistance from a pitch that captain Masakadza described as “up and down”, but they had also been rewarded for disciplined application with the ball. The wickets were shared around by their seamers and spinners and Jarvis was particularly probing in his opening spell. Once again, South Africa’s unproven top order stumbled under pressure, and it was left to the two of the oldest men on the field – Steyn and Tahir – to secure the match and the series.

Shiv Chanderpaul, who seems to have been scoring runs since the invention of electricity, dominated the first day of pink-ball Championship cricket here with the 76th century of a remarkable first-class career

George Dobell at Edgbaston26-Jun-2017
ScorecardThis series of games was meant to be about the future but, at Edgbaston at least, it was a couple of faces from the past that made the greatest impression.Shiv Chanderpaul, who seems to have been scoring runs since the invention of electricity, dominated the first day of pink-ball Championship cricket here with the 76th century of a remarkable first-class career.Lancashire were 55 for 4 not long after he reached the crease. Haseeb Hameed, a year younger than Chanderpaul’s son, Tagenarine, had already fallen – a torturous innings ended by an uppish drive to a short, straight mid-of – and Jos Buttler had gone, too, a 20-ball 2 ended by an attempted pull against a delivery too full for the stroke.But Chanderpaul reacted with the same imperturbable calm that has characterised so much of his career. It wasn’t especially pretty – of course it wasn’t – but it wasn’t slow (his century took only 129 balls) and it was, in its way, a masterful demonstration of how to compile runs on a slow wicket against an accurate attack. This was his third Championship century of the season and, aged 42 and averaging 76.42, he has proved himself a successful short-term signing.He survived, perhaps, one chance to Tim Ambrose off Jeetan Patel on 47. But while others poked and prodded (Steven Croft poked at Boyd Rankin’s first ball and was outstandingly well caught by Rikki Clarke in the slips), Chanderpaul was compact but severe on anything short or over-pitched and showed more patience than Buttler and co. could manage. Liam Livingstone, who is due to join the Lions on Wednesday, was given a couple of days off.A glance at the scoreboard might convince the casual observer that the pink ball provided copious assistance, but it isn’t really so. The new pink ball moved for Keith Barker, but so does the new red one. The older ball moved for him a little, too. But so does the red one. The rest of the Warwickshire bowlers found it harder to gain any lateral assistance and most of the wickets that fell owed more to admirable control from the bowlers and a little lack of patience from the batsmen.There was little sign that the experiment with day-night cricket attracted more spectators. Quite the opposite, really. While about 1,300 attended during the day, most had departed long before stumps at 9.30pm. Sales for the Test here are very strong, though, with a sell-out predicted for the first three days. Without the novelty of the day-night factor, it is hard to imagine that would have been replicated.There was another familiar face at Edgbaston on Monday. Dermot Reeve, not so long ago captain of a side here that won six trophies in little more than 24 months, was also back. He was invited to work with the Warwickshire squad on Sunday and (to address the club’s members on Monday) made a strong impression on the squad with a presentation on the benefits of a positive mental approach. He returns to Australia and Grade coaching duties later this week, but he may well be back next year. He declined the club’s offer to buy his personalised copy of Wisden, instead preferring to take his chance on the open market.One man who was not at Edgbaston was Ian Westwood. He had been due to play (William Porterfield was the man to come into the side in his place; Andy Umeed is being given a chance to establish himself), but went to see Ashley Giles a day or so ahead of the game and said there was simply nothing left in the tank. Years of forcing himself through the uneven battle against the new ball have taken their toll and he decided he simply didn’t have the requisite hunger to force himself through it once more.Good enough to have played a part in two Championship-winning sides, selfless enough to have captained Warwickshire through some tough years and to have dropped himself before a Lord’s final, he was also good enough to have scored more than 8,000 first-class runs against some fine attacks, including memorable centuries against Surrey and Yorkshire. He has served Warwickshire well.There will be another new face at Warwickshire shortly. A batting allrounder who is currently struggling for first team opportunities at his strong county, had his medical on Monday. His signing is likely to be announced on Tuesday.Warwickshire supporters might also be encouraged by the first-team debut of 19-year-old George Panayi. A seam bowling allrounder, Panayi developed through Shrewsbury School and has played for England U19. While he didn’t gain a lot of movement, he bowled at a decent pace – just above 80 mph, you’d think – and was admirably tight in his lines and lengths.Having helped earn the wicket of Hameed – fortunate to survive a leg before appeal on 0 and perilously close to being bowled by two deliveries he left – who struggled over 63 balls for his 17 (he now averages 19.10 for the campaign), Panayi was rewarded with the second new ball and claimed the wickets of Tom Bailey and James Anderson with successive, full deliveries.Dane Villas helped Chanderpaul add 96 for the fifth-wicket but, once he was caught off the shoulder of the bat as he attempted to turn one into the leg side – reward for Rankin’s bounce – Barker swung his way through the middle-order. Lancashire’s total is probably some way short of par on a true surface which also saw action in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final.In reply, Anderson bowled immaculately. He produced a beauty that swung in late to account for Porterfield and later hit Jonathan Trott a crashing blow on the helmet with a fine short ball. But there was no extreme movement or obvious vision problems. Indeed, for most of the day, as Chanderpaul manoeuvred the ball around the field, it was as if nothing had changed.

Sherwin Campbell and Philo Wallace have always approached batting with contrasting yet equally efficient methods

Haydn Gill29-May-2016Sherwin Campbell and Philo Wallace have always approached batting with contrasting yet equally efficient methods.And yesterday was no exception.Compact Campbell and walloping Wallace launched a splendid Barbados response to a challenging Bangladesh ‘A’ first innings total on Day 2 of the fifth-round bottom-of-the-table Busta Series clash.At stumps, captain Campbell was five away from his 22nd first-class century, his unbeaten 95 compiled off 210 balls with due care and application.By then, the rampaging Wallace had long departed, his awesome aggression giving Barbados a flying start. He, however, would have been angry with himself when he gifted his wicket for 81 off 100 balls on an afternoon in which Barbados’ batsmen were seldom troubled.Young Kurt Wilkinson joined Campbell for the evening session and finally overcame his habit of succumbing in the 20s or 30s. By the close, he was unbeaten on 52, having reached his half-century with an impressive lofted drive that was preceded by a couple of sweet boundaries.The efforts of the trio in maintaining a decent scoring rate of almost three-and-a half-runs an over carried Barbados within 50 runs of their first points since the opening round. They also put the hosts in a position to build a commanding lead against what appears to be the weakest bowling attack in the competition.The Saturday Kensington Oval crowd would have especially welcomed the contribution of Campbell, who looked a touch above what we had seen from him recently, but he still feels his timing, movement of the feet and confidence could be improved.It’s not as perfect as I would like it, but I am getting there, said the 31-year-old former West Indies vice-captain.Sometimes, maybe the bat is a little heavy, but I am trying to get an innings together, take my time and try not to force it too much.He was also not too perturbed that he did not complete his century yesterday.I would have loved that, but that’s how it goes sometimes. I feel very good and relaxed and I am confident that I will definitely get a hundred tomorrow, he said.Campbell, recalled to the West Indies team for the first time in more than a year on the recent tour of Sharjah where a fractured little finger prematurely ended his participation, knows the importance of a big innings.I am definitely looking towards a West Indies pick, he said. A good innings here and then maybe in the next two games may give me a chance to play against India.He and Wallace put on 135 for the first wicket in fewer than 33 overs and he and Wilkinson spent the next 38 overs adding 109.Wallace might have gone off after a few balls before he settled at the start, but once he was into his stride, the Bangladishis found it difficult to contain him.There were a couple of powerful pulls and drives on the way to his half-century, but he exploded when the 18-year-old fast bowler Tareq Aziz was recalled for a second spell.The first ball was contemptuously lifted over long-on and onto the Garfield Sobers Pavilion. Before the buzz around the ground could subside, the next ball was lifted straight down the ground, prompting some to scamper for cover.The beefy Wallace seemed headed for an 11th first-class hundred before one of the most innocuous balls of the match caused his demise 20 minutes before tea.It was a long-hop from off-spinner Naimur Rahman and Wallace pulled it down the throat of deep mid-wicket to end his third half-century of the season, which included nine fours in two hours’ batting.As usual, Campbell was the quiet partner in his association with Wallace. When Wallace departed, he was 45, and he used the remainder of the day to diligently accumulate his highest score at this level since 2000.One can usually tell when Campbell will score heavily and it was on the cards from the time he opened his account with one of his trademark cuts.During the four-and-half-hours he was firmly entrenched, the ball constantly hit the middle of his broad bat and there was no hint of the scratchy footwork that has troubled him in recent times.Earlier, Barbados enjoyed a fine morning session, spearheaded by left-arm pacer Pedro Collins who grabbed the last four wickets after Bangladesh ‘A’ resumed on 263 for six.Using the second new ball with telling effect, he bowled mainly a fullish length and Bangladesh ‘A’ were unable to score a run in the first 25 minutes. He induced Mushfiqur Raham into gloving a catch to third slip and then troubled the stumps of the next two batsmen.Mosadek Hossain, playing with a huge gap between bat and bad, was bowled off-stump, while Alamgir Khan was undone by a fullish delivery a few balls after he had swung Collins over mid-wicket when only one fielder was positioned on the leg-side.Collins duly wrapped up the innings and finished with five for 56 from 27.2 overs, but it left Ian Bradshaw without a deserved maiden five-wicket haul. His four for 89 represented his fifth such haul this season in which he has taken 28 wickets.

Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s T20 captain, has said the addition of experienced players in their line-up has made the Twenty20 side better than the ODI side

Mohammad Isam23-Apr-2015Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s T20 captain, said the addition of experienced players in their line-up has made the Twenty20 side slightly more formidable than the current ODI side. He also admitted that his own performance in the one-off game against Bangladesh on Friday will be crucial.Pakistan are the most successful international T20 side, with 50 wins in 85 matches and their players also dominate T20 records. The top three wicket-takers in T20Is are Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul and Afridi, and, of the three of the Pakistan batsmen to score more than 1000 runs in the format, two – Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez – are in the current squad”At the moment, I am saying yes, the T20 team is better than the ODI side,” Afridi said. “Tomorrow will be a good game. I am not saying we will win one-sided. It will be a good game. T20 is all about opportunities, if you get one, don’t miss it.”It is a new format now. Myself, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez are all back. It was good to see Hafeez bowling again. We have a very good combination in T20. I am very positive and confident that we will do well. I have to perform very well because my performance has always helped Pakistan. Everyone doesn’t need to give a lot of performance but if 11 players can give enough performances, it will help us win.”Afridi, who arrived in Dhaka with the T20 specialists last Monday, said it was hard to prepare for tours that had only one or two T20 games but said the time was right for Pakistan to start preparing for next year’s World T20.”It is hard, to be honest. You have just one match in the tour, you have to get the boys together,” he said. “But since cricket has become so professional, players can now adjust very quickly between formats. We are playing T20s against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.”The World T20 is also coming up, so we have to build a unit. Hopefully we can play a similar line-up in the World Cup and not make last-minute changes. As a captain, I will try to prepare a new captain for the future too.”Afridi was happy with the discipline within the team but echoed the opinions of ODI captain Azhar Ali and bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed by stating that the current group of youngsters need more time to adjust to international cricket.”The dressing room atmosphere is very positive. No doubt Bangladesh are playing very well at the moment. With our team, obviously if you don’t have three-four seniors and you are going with new talent – new guys with a new captain – it takes time to have a rebuilding process. I am hopeful that in a few months they will do well as a unit.”Bangladesh have been using the same unit for a long time. There are many new players in this team so of course there is disappointment with the series loss, but your expectation has to be adjusted according to the current team,” he said. “This is the not the era of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Inzamam-ul-Haq. In 6-8 months, the more cricket they will play, the better they will become.”Afridi said that despite their 7-0 win record against Bangladesh in T20s, they expect a hard game on Friday: “You don’t think about the past. If you look at it at the moment, the combination with which Bangladesh are playing, they are doing very well. We have to come hard at them tomorrow.”

England’s defence of their World Twenty20 title ended with a 19-run defeat against Sri Lanka

The Report by Andrew McGlashan01-Oct-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsIt was the turn of Lasith Malinga to be Sri Lanka’s matchwinner with five wickets•AFP

England’s defence of their World Twenty20 title ended with a 19-run defeat against Sri Lanka, as the home side were cheered on amid a raucous atmosphere generated by a vibrant home crowd. Lasith Malinga ripped out the top order with three wickets in four balls, to immediately set back a tough chase of 170, then returned to finish with 5 for 31 just when Samit Patel offered England a glimmer.Malinga had been relatively quiet in the tournament until today, taking three wickets in five matches, but doubled his tally in the blink of an eye when he was brought on for the third over. Luke Wright, promoted to open after Craig Kieswetter was dropped, unleashed a fierce square cut but sent it straight to backward point, Jonny Bairstow was done by a slower ball to end a difficult tournament and next ball Alex Hales was pinned by an inswinging yorker, although replays suggested it was sliding down leg.There were low expectations from outside the England squad before the tournament and they have never looked like being capable of defending their crown. Patel, at least, could hold his head high with a powerful 67 off 48 balls to show he has been underused whereas others, like Jos Buttler, who gave Malinga his fourth when he hooked to long leg, often appeared out of their depth. Graeme Swann swung strongly, making the highest score by a No. 9 in T20s, and the fifty stand with Patel came from 26 balls but, as against West Indies – whose progression was secured by England’s defeat – it always needed a miracle of Medinah proportions.The top order has cost England throughout the tournament and reshuffling did them no good. From 18 for 3, their hopes were lifted by Patel, who before this innings had not faced a ball in the tournament. Sent in a No. 4, in a failed attempt to keep Eoin Morgan away from the first six overs, he drove a straight six before adding five fours – including three of Ajantha Mendis’ first over – in his first 20 deliveries. For all the talk of spin, Sri Lanka bowled one over of it in the first eight.

Smart stats

• Sri Lanka became only the second team after Pakistan to reach the semi-final stage of the World Twenty20 in three tournaments. They were runners-up to Pakistan in 2009 and lost in the semi-final to England in 2010.

• Sri Lanka’s win was their third in four matches against England. Their only loss came in the 2010 World Twenty20 game. It is also Sri Lanka’s sixth win in home Twenty20 internationals and their fifth batting first (home games).

• Lasith Malinga became the eighth bowler to pick up a five-for in a Twenty20 international. His 5 for 31 is the third-best performance by a Sri Lankan bowler after Ajantha Mendis’ 6 for 8 and 6 for 16.

• Samit Patel’s 67 is the second-highest score by an England batsman against Sri Lanka after Marcus Trescothick’s 72 in 2006. Patel’s previous best in ten innings was just 25.

• The 51-run stand between Patel and Graeme Swann is the highest for eighth-wicket stand for England in Twenty20 internationals. Overall, it is the fifth-highest eighth-wicket stand and the second-highest eight-wicket partnership in World Twenty20 matches.

• Sri Lanka’s total of 169 is their fifth-highest in home Twenty20 internationals and their seventh-highest in the World Twenty20.

Mendis continued to prove expensive when Patel collected two more off-side boundaries and it was his 18-year-old team-mate, Akila Dananjaya, who struck the blow that hurt England the most when Morgan missed a reverse sweep. Ravi Bopara, surprisingly recalled as Kieswetter’s replacement, has looked a tortured soul with the bat of late and it was no surprise when he basically missed a straight delivery from Jeevan Mendis. It may be a while until he is back in an England shirt.Unlike most of the strong totals at this tournament, Sri Lanka’s effort was not underpinned by one substantial effort but was forged by free-scoring throughout the line-up, which quietened the concerns about the middle order. Not that the top three, the big three, failed to lay the foundations and it was Mahela Jayawardene, curiously not officially listed as captain at the toss, who marshalled the first half of the innings with a classy display.England’s bowling attack could be split in half. The combined eight overs of the three players brought into the attack who didn’t face New Zealand – Dernbach, Patel and Bopara – went for 81 while the established trio of Broad, Swann and Steven Finn produced 6 for 82 from 12.Swann evened the contest when he had Jayawardene caught at deep midwicket and next ball Kumar Sangakkara was given caught behind, although he did not appear pleased with the decision, before a counterattacking response from the middle order. It was a fantastic response by Angelo Mathews and Jeevan Mendis to the loss of two key batsmen. Neither took a backward step – Mendis opening his innings with two boundaries off Swann – and Mathews showed elegant clean striking as the fifty stand came from 29 balls.Again England hit back with Broad this time taking two in two balls when Mendis spliced to midwicket and Mathews dragged a pull on to his stumps. Still Sri Lanka kept on swinging and the 18th over, bowled by Dernbach, included a six apiece for Thisara Perera and Lahriu Thirimanne. The sixth-wicket pair added 35 in 19 deliveries to ensure the home side remained ahead of the game. When England’s chase reached the 13th over they were guaranteed a semi-final spot but by then an overwhelming victory was also in the bag. It will take a very good performance to stop them.