All posts by n8rngtd.top

Spinners put England in sight of huge lead

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

India trail by 134 runs in the first innings with only three wickets in hand

Valkerie Baynes24-Feb-2024Shoaib Bashir spun India into the danger zone with a four-wicket haul that ensured England ended the second day of the fourth Test still 134 runs ahead and needing only three more wickets to secure a crucial first-innings lead on a deteriorating pitch in Ranchi.Bashir, the 20-year-old offspinner playing only his second Test after making his debut in Visakhapatnam, snared 4 for 84 during a marathon unbroken spell of 31 overs that began before lunch and ended after tea. It was broken only to change ends in the fading light of the evening to squeeze out one more over. His haul included the wicket of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, whose half-century was India’s only score of over 40. At the close, Dhruv Jurel was unbeaten on 30, joined by Kuldeep Yadav on 17.James Anderson had Rohit Sharma caught behind for just 2 in the third over of India’s first innings. With the pitch behaving better than its appearance suggested it might early on, before keeping increasingly low as the day wore on, Jaiswal settled in as expected of a player who had scored double-centuries in his previous two Tests.Jaiswal and Shubman Gill started to find their groove after lunch. Gill brought up the 50 partnership with a couple of fours in one Anderson over before Jaiswal lifted Bashir over mid-on for six. England thought they’d broken their flow when Jaiswal, on 40, edged a wide delivery from Ollie Robinson low towards a diving Ben Foakes, who thought he’d taken the catch, but the third umpire ruled that it was grounded.Bashir returned to the England side after missing the third Test, replacing Rehan Ahmed, and doubled his wicket tally, his latest efforts putting England in position to level the series 2-2 with three days remaining.He had Gill lbw after an 82-run stand with Jaiswal, which allowed India to recover from 4 for 1 to 86 for 2, with one that turned sharply to beat the inside edge. He then rapped Rajat Patidar on the pad with one that skidded on from outside off stump and would have gone on to ping leg.Ravindra Jadeja crashed back-to-back sixes over the leg side off Tom Hartley after surviving England’s lbw review the previous ball, but he was Bashir’s third wicket, defending a top-spinner from a good length which hooped into Ollie Pope’s hands at short leg.Yashasvi Jaiswal top-scored for India once again•AFP/Getty Images

But it was Bashir’s fourth wicket that was the most crucial. Jaiswal was the steadying influence after Rohit’s early exit, reaching 73 off 116 balls with eight fours and a six, moving down the wicket and thrashing Bashir over long-on. But when he moved back to a length ball that stayed low and crashed into middle stump, India were well and truly in trouble.Bashir’s performance signalled the arrival of a player for whom the journey hadn’t been smooth. Plucked from relative obscurity with a first-class average of 67 ahead of the tour, he returned home from England’s pre-series training camp in the UAE while a visa delay was ironed out and missed the first Test. On Saturday, all that seemed a long way behind him.Left-armer Tom Hartley, the third prong in England’s young spin brigade, chimed in with the wickets of Sarfaraz Khan, who ground through 53 balls for 14 before he was well caught by a diving Root at slip, and R Aswhin, lbw to one that stayed low and struck the batter just above the boot. Ashwin tried in vain to overturn the decision, the third umpire’s call in England’s favour after the furore of the previous match.England had added 51 in the morning session but lost their last three wickets for six runs in the space of 17 balls. The end began after Robinson raised his maiden Test fifty, moving swiftly from an overnight 31 with five boundaries. He fell for 58, the ball brushing his glove through to the wicketkeeper while trying to reverse-sweep Jadeja. Bashir followed three balls later with a loose leading edge that was snaffled by Patidar at backward point, and Jadeja sealed his fourth wicket when he pinned a sweeping Anderson lbw.Root remained unbeaten on 122, having resumed on 106 and shared century stands with Ben Foakes to rescue England from 112 for 5 on the opening day, and Robinson, which crucially pushed England’s total beyond the 300-mark.

Essex battle back with Sam Cook hat-trick after Joe Clarke ton

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Notts lose last six wickets for 34 runs as visitors regain advantage

ECB Reporters Network06-Apr-2024A Joe Clarke century was the highlight as Nottinghamshire secured a 40-run first-innings lead on day two of their Vitality County Championship match against Essex, although they may regret not building a bigger advantage after a late collapse saw them lose their last six wickets for 34, which included a Sam Cook hat-trick.Essex had their noses in front again by the close, although they lost Feroze Khushi to a catch at first slip, finishing on 65 for 1. A further twist to an eventful final session may follow if what appeared to be Khushi’s bat is confirmed to have exceeded the regulation size after an on-field check by the umpires required it to be changed.Clarke made 104, sharing a partnership of 159 with Nottinghamshire debutant Jack Haynes, who hit 77. But Clarke’s dismissal prompted a collapse from 259 for 4 to 293 all out, Cook dismissing Lyndon James, Brett Hutton and Dillon Pennington with consecutive deliveries in his first over with the second new ball to finish with figures of 4 for 59.It was the 26-year-old seamer’s second senior hat-trick – his first came against Kent in the Vitality Blast last summer – and the first by an Essex bowler in first-class cricket since Danish Kaneria achieved the feat against Derbyshire in 2009.Essex had earlier been dismissed for 253 in their first innings as Nottinghamshire needed only 13 deliveries at the start of the morning to pick up the one wicket needed overnight, although Jamie Porter was able to secure a first batting point of the season before he was caught at first slip as Pennington grabbed a second debut wicket.Essex, who had themselves suffered a collapse from 170 for 2, recovered to have the home side three down at lunch in reply. Nottinghamshire openers Haseeb Hameed and Ben Duckett looked comfortable initially, but when Shane Snater relieved Porter at the Radcliffe Road he dismissed Duckett with his first delivery, which did enough to pass the edge of the England left-hander’s defensive bat and clip off stump.Cook followed up with a leg before against Ben Slater before Hameed, dropped at first slip off Porter on 28, perished in Porter’s next over, caught behind for 32.From 93 for 3 at lunch, Nottinghamshire were 100 for 4 soon afterwards, losing Matt Montgomery to a catch by Simon Harmer at second slip as Snater found enough movement away to claim a second wicket. The Netherlands international’s career-best 7 for 98 came on this ground in 2021.Yet Essex could make no further inroads in the afternoon session as Clarke and Haynes took control. Clarke, who enjoyed his best season as a Nottinghamshire batter in 2023, seemed to reach a turning point with his match-saving marathon 229 not out against Warwickshire in June. Since then he has looked like a batter with more clarity in his process without compromising his ability to inflict damage on opponents.For four hours it looked like something similar might be on the cards again, his focus rarely drifting as he passed fifty with a pull for six off Paul Walter and completed his 21st career hundred by sweeping and cutting Harmer for consecutive fours, moments of aggression in the context of well-judged progress. Little wonder that his shoulders slumped after a rare loose shot saw him caught at mid-on.It had been a fine innings, nonetheless, with 16 fours and that one six, as was that of his young partner, another former Worcestershire batter, albeit one whose senior debut came after Clarke had left New Road. Haynes played shots that were pleasing on the eye, any debut nerves seemingly calmed by Clarke’s assuredness at the other end.Their partnership added 159 in a little over 44 overs, putting Nottinghamshire in a seemingly strong position, six runs in front. Yet the breaking of it by offspinner Harmer’s first wicket of the season let Essex back in, with Haynes soon falling to another tame dismissal, a full toss spooned to mid-on, caught by sub fielder Ben Allison, on briefly for Cook.It left the home side with two new batters and the new ball due, one with which Cook promptly took a hat-trick, trapping James and Pennington leg before, with Hutton bowled by a corker in between. Porter wrapped things up by bowling Dane Paterson.

Derbyshire rue missed opportunities as Marcus Harris digs in

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Dropped catches outnumber wickets taken as Leicestershire prosper between showers

ECB Reporters Network19-Apr-2024Leicestershire 168 for 2 (Harris 77*) vs DerbyshireAustralian opener Marcus Harris underpinned Leicestershire on a day when Derbyshire fluffed their lines in the Vitality County Championship match at Derby.Harris kept his concentration through lengthy rain delays to score an unbeaten 77 from 147 balls but was dropped twice after Derbyshire elected to bowl first on a chilly opening day at the County Ground. Derbyshire also put down Rishi Patel who made 36 before he was bowled by New Zealand fast bowler Blair Tickner, who was the pick of the attack.Although 50 overs were lost, Leicestershire made good progress and closed on 168 for 2 with skipper Lewis Hill not out 34.Derbyshire’s previous home game against Gloucestershire had been a complete washout with no play possible on any of the four days and there was more frustration despite the match starting in bright sunshine.That proved to be deceptive as steely grey clouds rolled in with only 18 overs bowled in the morning session after Derbyshire put Leicestershire in on a green-tinged pitch.Derbyshire brought in fast bowler Pat Brown for only the ninth Championship game of his career with Ben Green making his Leicestershire debut following his loan move from Somerset.Sam Conners and Tickner shared the new ball and should have had both openers in the first half-hour of the day. Harris had made only 1 when he edged Tickner to second slip in the fourth over but Wayne Madsen put down a shoulder high chance.It was the sort of catch Madsen usually takes and there was more frustration for the home side when Patel was given a life on nine two overs later. Conners found the right-hander’s outside edge only to see Aneurin Donald spill the ball diving to his right at third slip.After electing to bowl, those chances had to be taken and Patel and Harris took advantage to guide Leicestershire past 50 before rain halted play shortly after midday.When play resumed at 2.05pm, there was more there for the bowlers but Derbyshire put down a third chance three overs into the afternoon session. Harris, who early on did not look entirely convincing, was on 26 when he edged Anuj Dal low to Madsen, who again failed to cling on.But the stand was broken in the next over when Tickner, who had posed questions for the batters with his disciplined line, found enough away movement to beat Patel’s forward defensive push and knock out off stump.Harris was six short of his fifty when the rain returned and kept the players off the field until 5.30pm. When the game restarted, Derbyshire quickly claimed a second wicket. Louis Kimber played at a good length ball from Conners without any foot movement and edged to third slip where Donald this time made no mistake.But the rest of a truncated day belonged to Harris and Hill who scored freely in the closing overs to take Leicestershire in two down.

Rain scuppers thrilling finish at Emirates Old Trafford

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Warwickshire declared overnight to set Lancashire 232 in 44 overs before the weather intervened

ECB Reporters Network27-May-2024Any hope of an exciting climax to the last day of the Vitality County Championship encounter between Lancashire and Warwickshire was dashed by the rain after only 75 minutes of play was possible at Emirates Old Trafford as the game finished in a draw.Poor weather had dominated proceedings throughout the encounter. But with the visitors 96 for 3 overnight, leading by 231, all results were still possible in Manchester given Lancashire’s brittle batting order this season and Warwickshire’s desire to chase a first win of the campaign.But as heavy showers swept across the ground throughout the morning both sets of players were thwarted with repeated pitch inspections coming and going without any chance of play.Eventually, a break in the weather saw the game resume at 3:15pm with a generous Warwickshire declaration giving Lancashire the opportunity to embark on a desperate run chase with 44 overs still scheduled.Luke Wells quickly departed in the second over, pulling Michael Rae straight to Jake Lintott on the square leg boundary. But then, for a brief time, the hosts looked as if they could pull off something special.Keaton Jennings slapped three boundaries but was bowled comprehensively by Jacob Bethell when attempting a reverse sweep that ended with the Lancashire skipper lying on his backside and out for 18. Josh Bohannon upper cut Rae for six before he skied the same bowler to Alex Davies at mid on for a ten-ball 15.An almost identical shot saw George Bell hand Rae his third wicket leaving Tom Bruce and Matty Hurst at the crease. The pair put on 43 runs before the rain came for a final decisive time at 4:30pm, leaving the New Zealander unbeaten on 31 and the young wicketkeeper 15 not out as Lancashire closed on 89 for 4 off the 15 overs possible.Lancashire claimed 11 points from the game, taking them off the bottom of Division One, while Warwickshire took 12, leaving them seventh.

Hayden expects short-of-runs Kohli to 'work out what to do' in the Caribbean

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Ian Bishop on Jasprit Bumrah: “He has developed variations and knows better than most bowlers when to use his variations”

Shashank Kishore19-Jun-20240:54

Should Kohli continue to open for India?

Matthew Hayden feels that Virat Kohli’s experience of assessing surfaces and adjusting to the variables in the Caribbean – India play at three different venues in the Super Eight – are more crucial than his lack of runs so far at the T20 World Cup 2024.Kohli has so far made scores of 1, 4 and 0 in his three innings in the group stage. However, his form prior to that was fantastic – he was the leading run-getter at IPL 2024 with 741 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 154.69, his highest in an IPL season.”Kohli in any conditions is a world-class batter,” Hayden said on . “These [Caribbean] are venues where you have to construct an innings and think about the kind of realistic totals that are possible in these different venues.Related

  • Afghanistan's bowlers will ask questions, and India's batters must answer them

  • Six-hitter Dube awaits his moment to unleash

  • Stats – It's been a bowlers' World Cup, but that might change now

“Outside of St Lucia, par scores are in the range of 160-170 and Virat, with all his experience, will be able to work out what to do, like hitting spin towards the windward side, depending on how significant it is.”Look, conditions in the USA were extremely tough, no one likes that. Everyone wants to see these great champions playing freely. But it’s not necessarily going to be the case. That’s why experience counts.”Hayden was also firm in his assessment that opening alongside Rohit Sharma was Kohli’s best option in T20s even though teams have turned to spin early against him.”I said it during the IPL as well, if Kohli was going to be in the team, he needs to open,” Hayden said. “Virat at three, I don’t think we’ll get the best out of him. You can’t just turn up and blast 250 on these wickets, you need thinking cricketers.”You look back at David Warner’s performance this World Cup – in Barbados on a sluggish wicket, he made 30-odd [39 in 16 balls vs England]. It was a really well-constructed thirty. It depends on what your benchmark is. Are you looking at 100s, 50s, strike rate?”The way Warner came out on a pretty [tough] wicket and blew the game away, that’s what Kohli is going to be challenged with in the Caribbean. Just leave him alone. He will show you why the Indian selectors have had faith in him at that position.”But Hayden also had a word of caution for Kohli.”He needs to continue to have a great strike rate,” Hayden said. “We’ve clearly seen a pattern emerge here at the World Cup where those six overs [powerplay], you have to be in front of the game. It’s too hard to catch up. If you’re looking at the back-half of the game, it’s trouble. You must be clinical in the first ten.”

Bishop on Bumrah: ‘This guy is a generational bowler’

Unlike Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah has had a tournament to remember so far. After missing the 2022 edition in Australia because of a back injury, Bumrah has made a big mark at this T20 World Cup with back-to-back Player-of-the-Match awards against Ireland and Pakistan.Against Pakistan, in particular, his late spell with the game on a knife’s edge was special. With Pakistan needing 40 off 36, he cracked open the game by dismissing Mohammad Rizwan, and then had Iftikhar Ahmed off the final ball in the penultimate over. Bumrah finished with 3 for 14.5:43

Irfan Pathan on what makes Jasprit Bumrah special

Ian Bishop believes that teams have become wary of taking the attack to Bumrah, mainly because of what he can do, but also because of his reputation.”Jasprit is smart, a good communicator who thinks about the game,” Bishop said. “It starts from the foundation, but he has also developed variations and knows better than most bowlers when to use his variations.”You hear him say, ‘it’s not every day I go hunting for wickets – there are days I bowl my yorker at the stumps, days I bowl a wide yorker; there are days when I assess conditions and bowl my slower ball into the pitch or use my bouncer’. In addition to that, he has other ingredients.”He has a unique action where the ball gets on to you a lot quicker than batters anticipate, the full toss [that got Iftikhar, for example] is because of that. Sometimes they don’t get smashed because they get on to you. Of course, when you develop that reputation… when I bowled with Curtly Ambrose, Matthew [Hayden] never put a foot wrong against Curtly because of his reputation, but he’d look to smash me. This guy is a generational bowler.”

CPL 2024 draft: St Lucia Kings sign USA star Aaron Jones as teams finalise squads

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Kyle Mayers, Veerasammy Permaul, Isai Thorne, Raymon Reifer among the prominent names to be picked up by teams at the draft

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jul-2024Aaron Jones’ success for USA at the T20 World Cup 2024 has earned him a contract in the CPL. Jones, who qualifies as a local player through his Barbados passport, was signed by St Lucia Kings in Monday’s draft for the 2024 season, which runs from August 29 to October 4.Jones hit 94 not out against Canada on the opening night of the World Cup, and also made a vital 36 not out in USA’s tie against Pakistan, which they later won in the Super Over. He has previously played in West Indies’ regional set-up for Barbados and Combined Campuses and Colleges, and was an unused member of the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots squad in CPL 2019.The six CPL 2024 franchises had already done most of their recruiting through retentions and pre-signings, and Kyle Mayers was the first to be signed in Monday’s draft, joining Patriots. Mikyle Louis, who made his Test debut at Lord’s last week, will also play for Patriots, along with Ryan John and Veerasammy Permaul.Related

  • CPL 2024 FAQs: New team, new players, new intrigues

  • Amazon Warriors sign Rahmanullah Gurbaz for CPL 2024

  • Amir, Fakhar, Imad signed up by Antigua & Barbuda Falcons

  • Knight Riders sign Tim David and Jason Roy for CPL 2024

  • Royals bring back Theekshana, Patriots sign Hasaranga

Isai Thorne, the fast bowler who has played for West Indies at the last two Under-19 World Cups, has earned a contract with Barbados Royals. He is currently in the UK with West Indies’ Test squad as a net bowler and “development player”. Royals have also drafted Kadeem Alleyne and Nathan Sealy.Raymon Reifer, who played T20I cricket for West Indies as recently as last year, joined Guyana Amazon Warriors along with Ronaldo Alimohamed and Matthew Nandu, while Khari Campbell, Johann Jeremiah, Mikkel Govia and Akeem Auguste are part of the Kings’ squad along with Jones.Antigua and Barbuda Falcons – who will replace Jamaica Tallawahs in CPL 2024 – have signed Roshon Primus, Justin Greaves, Jahmar Hamilton, Teddy Bishop and Kofi James, while Trinbago Knight Riders have brought in Nathan Edward and Shaquere Parris to fill their emerging player spots.

CPL 2024 squads

Barbados Royals: Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, David Miller, Quinton de Kock, Maheesh Theekshana, Alick Athanaze, Naveen-ul-Haq, Obed McCoy, Kevin Wickham, Keshav Maharaj, Kadeem Alleyne, Rahkeem Cornwall, Isai Thorne, Nathan Sealy, Nyeem Young, Rivaldo Clarke, Ramon SimmondsGuyana Amazon Warriors: Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer, Saim Ayub, Shai Hope, Romario Shepherd, Azam Khan, Gudakesh Motie, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Keemo Paul, Dwaine Pretorius, Kevin Sinclair, Raymon Reifer, Ronaldo Alimohamed, Shamar Joseph, Kevlon Anderson, Matthew Nandu, Junior SinclairAntigua and Barbuda Falcons: Imad Wasim, Brandon King, Fabian Allen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Amir, Chris Green, Fakhar Zaman, Roshon Primus, Justin Greaves, Hayden Walsh, Jahmar Hamilton, Teddy Bishop, Kofi James, Shamar Springer, Kelvin Pitman, Jewel Andrew, Joshua JamesSt Kitts and Nevis Patriots: Kyle Mayers, Wanindu Hasaranga, Rilee Rossouw, Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford, Sikandar Raza, Nuwan Thushara, Andre Fletcher, Tristan Stubbs, Dominic Drakes, Mikyle Louis, Odean Smith, Joshua da Silva, Veerasammy Permaul, Ryan John, Ashmead Nedd, Johann LayneSt Lucia Kings: Heinrich Klaasen, Faf du Plessis, Alzarri Joseph, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Noor Ahmad, David Wiese, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Matthew Forde, Aaron Jones, Khary Pierre, Khari Campbell, Johann Jeremiah, Shadrack Descarte, Mikkel Govia, McKenny Clarke, Akeem AugusteTrinbago Knight Riders: Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Tim David, Akeal Hosein, Jason Roy, Dwayne Bravo, Josh Little, Waqar Salamkheil, Jayden Seales, Ali Khan, Mark Deyal, Keacy Carty, Terrence Hinds, Nathan Edward, Shaquere Parris

Sterre Kalis, Phoebe Turner power Diamonds to 86-run win

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Century and six-wicket haul respectively prove ample to see off Thunder

ECB Reporters Network01-Sep-2024Northern Diamonds 290 for 6 (Kalis 100, Langston 58, Winfield-Hill 50) beat Lancashire Thunder 204 (Jones 57, Turner 6-20) by 86 runsSterre Kalis hit a thrilling maiden List A century and Phoebe Turner claimed a first five-wicket haul as Northern Diamonds defeated Lancashire Thunder by 86 runs to go top of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy table.The Diamonds are on the verge of qualifying for the semi-finals with 37 points, 14 points ahead of fifth placed The Blaze who have three games left. The defeat leaves Lancashire Thunder struggling to make the knockout stages.After Lauren Winfield-Hill and Emma Marlow posted a 95-run opening stand, a century partnership between Kalis and Beth Langston for the fifth wicket took the Diamonds to 290 for six and that proved to be too many for the Thunder despite a century stand between Eve Jones and Seren Smale with the Thunder 204 all out.Alice Clarke and Emma Lamb started the Thunder run chase brightly taking 38 from the opening five overs before Rachel Slater removed both Clarke lbw for 14 and bowled Lamb for 19.Eve Jones and Seren Smale rebuilt steadily to take the Thunder to the 25-over halfway point on 130 for two, needing a further 161 runs. But the Diamonds attack plugged away and were rewarded moments after the Thunder duo had reached their century partnership off 115 balls.
Turner returned to bowl Smale for 48 and Langston produced a double-wicket maiden having Eve Jones caught at extra cover for 57 and then bowling skipper Ellie Threlkeld second ball.Suddenly game had swung dramatically the way of the visitors with Thunder 166 for five in the 31st over and the Diamonds pressed home their advantage as Turner ran through the rest of the Thunder line-up with a superb second spell to finish with six for 20 and clinch a five point victory for the Diamonds.Winfield-Hill and Marlow made an excellent start after the Diamonds had been put in to bat taking 48 runs from the powerplay and building a good platform of 95 runs by the 20th over before the Thunder hit back by taking two wickets in four balls.Winfield-Hill, dropped on 14, posted an otherwise flawless fifty from 59 balls that included 6 fours but was bowled off the next delivery from left arm spinner Hannah Jones. And the Diamonds suffered a big blow four balls later when captain Hollie Armitage was bowled by Naomi Dattani for 0.Phoebe Graham kept up the pressure by having Marlow caught for 45 from the first ball after the 25 over drinks break while overseas all-rounder Erin Burns, returning from her stint in the Caribbean Premier League, perished for 10 to leave the Diamonds on 136 for four after 30 overs.A 111-run partnership across inside 17 overs between Stere Kalis and Beth Langston revived a faltering innings with Kalis reaching her fifty off 64 balls and, having been dropped from the following delivery, the Netherlands international moved on relentlessly to reach her maiden List A century off 94 balls before driving Naomi Dattani to Seren Smale at cover.Langston hit out to good effect over the closing overs, driving Graham for the only six of the innings, in a damaging 53-ball innings of 58 to take the Diamonds to 290 for six and that proved to be sufficient.

Magnificent Musheer revives India B from 94 for 7

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

He put on an unbroken 108 with Navdeep Saini after India A’s pace trio had run through the top order

Shashank Kishore05-Sep-2024From the characteristic crouch in his stance to the backlift and manner of defending, it’s hard to miss Musheer Khan’s uncanny resemblance to older brother Sarfaraz. And the similarities don’t end there. Both have a penchant for big scores, even if their modus operandi are entirely different.Sarfaraz is all about gung-ho aggression and there’s an enterprise to his game that’s hard to miss. On Thursday, the opening day of the Duleep Trophy game between India A and India B in Bengaluru, he arched back to ramp his fifth delivery over the close-in cordon off a rip-roaring Khaleel Ahmed, soon after the openers had departed in quick succession.Musheer is the opposite, even if he can appear crabby and unorthodox at times, and he has been proving to be just as effective. Earlier this year, he finished second on the run charts at the Under-19 World Cup and backed it up with a double-ton, a clutch half-century and a match-winning hundred in the knockout rounds of Mumbai’s victorious Ranji Trophy campaign.India B desperately needed Musheer’s pluck when they were cut to size by the pace trio of Khaleel, Akash Deep and Avesh Khan. And he delivered: batting for over five hours to eke out an unbeaten 105 that helped lift India B from 94 for 7 to 202 for 7 at stumps.Having come in at No. 3, Musheer quickly saw the superstars – Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz and Rishabh Pant – fall in a heap post-lunch. While batting was difficult, the wickets largely came from shots induced by the pressure the fast bowlers exerted early on.Abhimanyu Easwaran chased a delivery on the seventh or eighth stump. Jaiswal was caught somewhere in between attempting a drive and a cut, and wafted to point. Sarfaraz was trapped lbw playing around his front pad. Pant was out to a brilliant running catch from Shubman Gill at mid-off, to a leading edge off a ball that bounced more than he may have anticipated. Except for Nitish Reddy, who was out to an unplayable Akash delivery that straightened off the seam to hit the top of off, the top order was largely responsible for their own undoing.Musheer soaked all of this in from the other end. The fast-bowling trio repeatedly tested his edges; he could have been out caught in the slips off Akash, off the second ball he faced. During his first half hour at the crease, he struggled to gauge the zip off a green-tinged surface where there was exaggerated seam movement.In a bid to counter it, Musheer tried to walk down the pitch to the fast bowlers.”It was based on the wicket and the conditions,” he later explained. “The ball was cutting off the wicket and swinging too, so I was trying to get as close to the [pitch of] the ball as possible, not give it the chance to swing.”While this wasn’t a bad ploy in principle, he struggled with his execution early on, especially with Khaleel and Akash darting the ball both ways. Even Shivam Dube’s length balls ducked in faster than Musheer anticipated and hit him on the pad while he was on the move. He survived a close lbw shout on impact.Having been on 6 off 52 balls at one stage, Musheer opened up once the spinners came on•PTI

At lunch, he was on 6 off 52 balls, seemingly unsure of where his runs would come. But where others fell looking to force the pace, Musheer fought through passages even when fluency deserted him and survival seemed his only option.Musheer explained his thinking at the end of the day’s play: “I was looking to collect whatever runs were coming my way, and not going searching for runs.”Every now and then, Akash turned into a wrecking ball of energy, doing unexpected things off the pitch. The ball to Nitish in his second spell was one such example. On another day, Akash could have easily had three wickets in his new-ball spell, but on this day he ended it with figures of 8-3-7-0.There was more of the same energy from Avesh, introduced as first change, as he built on that early pressure by hitting the deck and getting appreciable movement off the seam. And this relentless pressure was thrust on the batters for a better part of the first two sessions.It wasn’t until the first sign of spin that Musheer looked in his comfort zone. He welcomed his Mumbai teammate Tanush Kotian with a delicate paddle. Every now and then, Musheer sensed warning signs to rein himself in, like when a loose drive off Kuldeep Yadav’s first delivery flew wide of slip. And he quickly dusted himself off to refocus and bat time. And as he did, the fluency returned. Out came the full-blooded sweeps and the steps out to loft Kotian with the spin as he charged towards his century.At one point in the final session, with Musheer and Navdeep Saini having batted for over 20 overs, Avesh decided to take the short-ball route with two men back on the leg side for the pull. The same fast bowlers who had dictated terms earlier in the day now resigned themselves to a ploy that Musheer made look futile at the end of a long day. There couldn’t have been a bigger validation for his efforts.As Musheer whipped his helmet off and looked skywards, releasing his pent-up emotions and waving his bat to the dressing room after bringing up his third first-class century, Sarfaraz was among the first to jump out of his seat in applause. It was a poignant moment, too; for the better part of the last four seasons, Musheer has done all the applauding. It was now time for the big brother to return the favour, and he was more than happy to oblige.Musheer is only 19 and has bigger challenges ahead of him. But so far, he’s proved, whether at Mumbai or to the national selectors who handed him a Duleep Trophy debut, that he’s entirely at home at the deep end.

Mlaba and Wolvaardt-Brits secure effortless opening win for South Africa

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Nonkululeko Mlaba devastated West Indies’ batters before South Africa’s openers coasted home

Andrew Fidel Fernando04-Oct-20244:48

Takeaways: Mlaba too quick, South Africa too good for West Indies

South Africa reeled off an effortless opening win against West Indies, as the left-arm spin of Nonkululeko Mlaba devastated West Indies’ top order, before Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits produced fuss-free unbeaten fifties. The openers walked South Africa home with 13 balls to spare, in the Dubai curtain-raiser for this women’s T20 World Cup.West Indies couldn’t really get out of the blocks, with bat or ball. Stafanie Taylor was their top scorer, with 44 not out off 41. But they never seemed like putting up a huge total, and South Africa never seemed at risk of failing to chase it down.

Mlaba takes out the middle

Mlaba struck once in the powerplay, firing a flatter delivery into Qiana Joseph’s off stump to end a pained innings (4 off 14 balls). But she did the majority of her damage through the middle, by which stage West Indies were already battling to put up a decent score.She was tight with her lines, and that quicker ball was dangerous. She bowled Shemaine Campbelle off her thigh pad in the 12th over, before slowing it down and getting Chinelle Henry caught behind next ball.Nonkululeko Mlaba struck twice in two balls in the 12th over•ICC/Getty Images

In her final over – the 16th of the innings – she had Aaliyah Alleyne failing to keep an off-side slash down, before Brits took a spectacular diving catch at cover. Mlaba finished with 4 for 29 from her four overs, having only conceded two boundaries – a four to Deandra Dottin and a six to Taylor – though she did also bowl five wides down the leg side off her hat-trick ball.

South Africa’s openers boss it

Both Wolvaardt and Brits struck authoritative boundaries in the first over, bowled by Henry. Brits was quieter through the rest of the powerplay, but Wolvaardt was on the charge, hitting especially memorable boundaries through the leg side to move to 29 off 20 by the time the fielding restrictions ended. Brits, in the same period, collected 12 off 16.With the required rate whittled down to about 5.5 an over, the pair set about accumulating through the middle overs, playing largely risk-free cricket. Wolvaardt was dropped on 33 by Karishma Ramharack, who couldn’t hold on to a difficult return chance. But otherwise, South Africa’s progress was smooth.Laura Wolvaardt struck some memorable boundaries through the leg side•ICC/Getty Images

They got to 100 off the first ball of the 15th over, as Wovaardt reached her half-century off the 45th ball she faced. Brits got there next over, also off her 45th ball, having struck four further boundaries since that powerplay. West Indies were never able to put either batter under serious pressure for long.

Taylor plays valiantly

With Hayley Matthews out in the third over, Joseph bowled soon after, and Dottin out for 13 in the seventh over, Taylor’s innings always needed to be a battling one. Aside from smashing one Annerie Dercksen half-volley down the ground in the ninth over, Taylor was largely unambitious through the first half of West Indies’ innings, as she attempted to rebuild.She tried some bigger shots through the back end of the innings, but didn’t find a lot of timing. Still, without her, West Indies could have collapsed to a double-digit score.

Kapp’s vital strikes

Marizanne Kapp was not needed for her foremost suit today, but she still had plenty of impact on the game, removing two of West Indies’ most dangerous top-order batters. She first had Matthews caught behind, the batter scarcely believing that she had edged that ball. Then Kapp had Dottin holing out to extra cover, attempting a big shot over the off side.She bowled three of the first seven overs, taking 2 for 11 in the process, before coming back at the death where she gave away just three runs.

Eighteen-team Quaid-e-Azam trophy to start from October 26

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Pakistan’s premier domestic first-class competition has undergone major overhaul

Danyal Rasool22-Oct-2024Days after the 2024-25 Quaid-e-Azam trophy was delayed, the PCB have announced the final schedule for Pakistan’s premier domestic first-class competition. The tournament will begin on October 26, with the final on December 19.In a major overhaul, the days of parsimony when it came to the number of teams have flown out of the window. This year’s QeA will see 18 teams spread out into 16 regions take part; Lahore and Karachi have two teams each. Last year, just eight teams played the tournament, with the four years prior seeing just six participants. Karachi Whites are the defending champions.”Quaid-e-Azam Trophy is the pinnacle of domestic cricket in Pakistan as it is not just a tournament but also an event that showcases the immense talent across the country and prepares them for the challenges of international cricket,” Abdullah Niazi, the director of domestic operations, said in a statement. “As always, we will continue to provide the best possible platform for players to excel and show their capabilities on the biggest stage in domestic cricket as they will be rubbing their shoulders with the best players of the country.Related

  • It's October 19, and there's still no clarity on Quaid-e-Azam 2024-25 schedule

“Earlier we demonstrated a successful Champions One-Day Cup, and are fully committed to strengthening our domestic structure. The successful execution of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy remains at the heart of this commitment.”Just days ago, though, the fate of this year’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy was uncertain. ESPNcricinfo understands the tournament was delayed, with the domestic cricket department awaiting the chairman’s sign-off for the tournament. The QeA was tentatively scheduled to start on October 20.The start date of October 26 is considerably later than usual. Just two of the last 15 years have seen the tournament begin after this date. The PCB opted to host the Champions One-Day Cup in September, Pakistan’s only meaningfully empty window until May, pushing the first-class competition deeper into the season.This means the Quaid-e-Azam trophy starts while Pakistan’s Test season – it’s busiest this century – will already be well into the fifth of seven home games. The final begins on December 19, a week out from the first Test in South Africa on December 26. Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan vice-captain Saud Shakeel suggested the first-class competition could be used to prepare for the tour of South Africa by attempting to replicate those conditions.”If you want to prepare for SENA [series in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia], you can do it during practice and first class cricket,” Shakeel said. “If there’s first-class cricket before South Africa, we could prepare those kinds of pitches there. But we should prepare pitches and conditions series-by-series, and according to the opposition.”