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Patel a class apart as Warwickshire's gameplan pays off

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Jeetan Patel was hailed as ‘one of the best overseas players Warwickshire have ever had’ by Ian Bell a match-winning five-wicket haul

George Dobell at Edgbaston29-Aug-2016
ScorecardJeetan Patel claimed a five-wicket haul – all lbw – as Warwickshire earned a trip to Lord’s•Getty Images

Jeetan Patel was hailed as “one of the best overseas players Warwickshire have ever had” by Ian Bell after his career-best one-day bowling performance guided his side to the final of the Royal London Cup.Patel, with the first five-wicket haul of a limited-overs career that stretches back to the previous century, expertly applied pressure on a Somerset batting order chasing a testing target on a slow, used surface. With some balls turning and some skidding on, Patel claimed all his dismissals with leg before shouts, punishing Somerset’s habit of playing across the line. Warwickshire will play Surrey in the final at Lord’s on September 17.When Patel signed for Warwickshire in 2009, he looked a modest addition. He was not the sort of star name that increased the gate and did not have the sort of record – he had a first-class bowling average above 40 – that suggested he would prove a match-winner.But a star he has been. He has taken at least 50 wickets in each of the last five first-class county seasons – he is the leading wicket-taker in Division One of the County Championship this year – improved his batting to the point where he averages 26.69 for Warwickshire in first-class cricket (with two centuries and 11 half-centuries) and proved himself indispensable. He deserves to be rated, alongside Allan Donald, Brian Lara, Rohan Kanhai and the rest, as the best Warwickshire have had.He has already agreed to return in 2017 and, if the club ask, will sign for 2018 as well. He insists he has not thought about qualifying for England (“wouldn’t I just be holding back a young fella?” was his typically no nonsense response to that question) but admitted it was an intriguing idea. Nobody in England bowls spin anywhere near this standard.Or New Zealand for that matter. But Patel turned down the last approach for a recall a couple of years ago reasoning that leaving in the middle of a county season may compromise his relatively secure day job with Warwickshire for two weeks of modestly-paid international cricket. He is, though, a far better bowler – and batsman, actually – than the man who last played international cricket in January 2013.He did not play a lone hand here, though. Oliver Hannon-Dalby, bowling with control and skill, produced his best Warwickshire performance of the season and gained movement off the seam that was largely absent to other seamers, while Warwickshire’s top three all batted with maturity and skill. Both teams felt their final total – 284 – was about 20 above par on this surface.The Warwickshire method is not fashionable. Whereas conventional wisdom insists that modern batsmen must blast the ball into the stands, Warwickshire have several accumulators who are more adept at finding gaps, rotating the strike and playing the percentages.Perhaps, on the perfect batting tracks that currently prevail in ODIs, such a tactic might be passé, but on county surfaces (this pitch had been used on T20 Finals Day) it is highly effective. You pretty much know what you’re going to get from them: they scored 283 in both their previous List A games and 284 here.Sam Hain, now the leading run-scorer in the competition this season, set the tone in an opening stand of 90 with Jonathan Trott. While Trott, who looks in sublime form, was deceived by a fine slower ball from Roelof van der Merwe, Bell judged the conditions expertly and produced his highest score in any format since the second week of April in ensuring they set a testing target. “You’re going to see a lot of Hain in the future,” Bell said afterwards.Warwickshire only managed one boundary from the end of the 33rd over to mid-way through the 45th (and only hit three fours in their last 10 overs) and, from a base of 149 for 1` after 30 overs, may have felt they finished 20 or so short of the total they wanted.But Bell provided some late acceleration. He took 16 off van der Merwe’s final three balls, rather denting his figures in the process, with one of the two sixes driven into the third tier of Warwickshire’s new pavilion. It is hard to recall a bigger hit since the redevelopment.With Tim Ambrose injured while batting – he appears to pull a hamstring, though Warwickshire say they are confident that he will be fit for their Championship match against Middlesex in mid-week – Somerset sportingly allowed Warwickshire to bring in Alex Mellor as a specialist substitute with the gloves.Mellor, who has been on loan with Derbyshire and had never before kept for Warwickshire in first team cricket, was just settling down for an afternoon in the sun of his Staffordshire garden when the phone went demanding his presence at Edgbaston, but he made good time and took the gloves a few overs into the Somerset reply.He took a key catch, too. Tom Abell, had batted beautifully in adding 75 with Peter Trego and appeared to have put Somerset on track. But with Hannon-Dalby’s tight first spell increasing the pressure, Abell attempted to hit one from Chris Wright through mid-on and somehow edged a high catch to young Mellor.When Trego missed an attempted pull off Patel, it precipitated a decline that saw four wickets fall – all to Patel and all leg before – for the addition of just 16 runs. Warwickshire supporters started booking their trains and hotels.But Ryan Davies, hitting the ball with a crispness that belied a previous List A best of just 14, had other ideas. He added 71 in 10 overs with James Hildreth, who survived a missed stumping off Josh Poysden when he had 17 and, even after the latter drove to mid-off and Davies became Patel’s final victim, Tom Groenewald and Max Waller continued the charge.But Hannon-Dalby wasn’t going to allow 16 required off the final over and it was Warwickshire who progressed to Lord’s.It is to be hoped it raises spirits around Edgbaston. There have been faces as long as Livery Street – as they say locally – round here of late with a disappointing T20 campaign followed by a decline in the Championship. This cup run does not make everything better – there were only three locally developed players in this Warwickshire side (Somerset fielded six) that remains uncomfortably reliant upon cricketers in their mid-30s – but it will perhaps prove enough of a boost to end talk of a clear-out.”We showed some character,” Matt Maynard, the Somerset coach said afterwards. “We looked dead and buried a few times there. But we let the rate get up when we batted and we let them score 20 too many when we bowled. It was only the second game we have lost all competition, but it’s in a semi-final.””Our fielding standards can improve,” Bell said. “But I’m very proud of the way we’ve played. Jeetan goes under the radar a bit, but he is one of the best overseas players Warwickshire have ever had. We’re lucky to have him.”

'They've got 11 and we've only got 10' – Clarke

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Michael Clarke has put the onus on himself to turnaround the performances of Australia’s under performing middle order

Daniel Brettig at Edgbaston31-Jul-2015Australia’s embattled captain Michael Clarke will consider moving down the order ahead of the fourth Test against England, but has emphatically declared he still believes he is worth his place in the team following another grim display in his side’s humiliating defeat at Edgbaston.Clarke made a tortured 10 and 3 and dropped a straightforward slips catch as England rumbled to an eight-wicket victory, prompting the most pointed questions yet about his future in the XI. While conceding that right now “they’ve got 11 and we’ve only got 10″ players due to his dreadful run of scoring, Clarke was bullish about his own place in the team and that he had the ability to regain touch.”I think it’s always going to be hard to beat any opposition when they’ve got 11 and we’ve only 10,” he said. “At the moment that’s how it feels. With my performances so far I certainly haven’t led from the front like i’d like to do as captain. I’ve always made that very clear, that’s a big part of my role as leader of this team that I’m scoring plenty of runs and leading by example.”It’s always going to be difficult … No.4 is such a critical position. You need to make sure you’re scoring a lot more runs than I have been so far. My self belief is still there and that’s because I continued to work as hard as I have throughout my career. For me to have success, it’s always been about my preparation and working hard. That gives me my best chance. At the end of the day, you can only do your best. While I keep doing the preparation I’m doing, I believe I can have success out in the middle.”One of the issues being created by Clarke’s poor form is that England’s avenue into an inexperienced Australian middle order is becoming wider with each match. The No. 5 batsman Adam Voges started this series in strong shape but has declined at least partly because he is continually being asked to come in after the fall of two quick wickets – the second invariably the captain’s. Clarke will ponder moving down the order depending on the side chosen for Trent Bridge, which may yet feature Shaun Marsh in place of Voges.”I will wait and see what XI the selectors give me,” Clarke said. “It’s never bothered me, statistically it shows that I have performed a lot better at No. 5 than No. 4 but it’s not like I have walked in at 2 for 10 throughout this series, I think our whole top order has done a really good job. The number is irrelevant, it is about what’s best for the team. If the team need me to bat at four if the team needs me to bat at five I will bat at five.”Clarke has been a habitually hard trainer over his 11 years in the Test side, and said he now needed to work out what was his best preparation for the pivotal fourth match of the series, taking into account his lack of runs but also the wages of a long tour that also included a month in the Caribbean before arriving in England. He looked a tired man by the end of the game, fielding at mid-off to protect his fingers after the chance dropped off Ian Bell.”It’s a tough balance,” Clarke said. “A lot of players it helps them to have time away, I think of someone like Ricky Ponting who used to go and play a week of golf then walk on to the field and make a 100 without picking up a bat at training. That’s never really been me and that was the reason I played at Derby.”The selectors asked me if I wanted to have that game off but I wanted to go to make sure I could do my training and have a bat as well. The next few days will be about balance when I am not training, trying to get away from the game and clear my head but training is still a big part. That’s what’s given me the success I have had throughout my career I have stuck to it to date and don’t think I will change now.”As for the result, Clarke said it was undeniable that the team had dropped off after their strong display at Lord’s. “It’s another kick up the backside, there’s no doubt about it,” he said. “We showed at Lord’s how we can play and I made it very clear after that game that it was only one Test. We have to perform like that if we want to win over here. It’s no coincidence it’s been really hard to have success in England.”You need to play like that every Test match if you want to win and we need to turn things around and just keep believing. It was only a few days ago that we played some wonderful cricket. So we know we’ve got it in us , we just have to turn up and be ready in Nottingham.”

Thirimanne pushes Sri Lanka to 294

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Lahiru Thirimanne and Mahela Jayawardene helped Sri Lanka to a total of 294 when they were dismissed late on the first day in Sydney

The Report by Brydon Coverdale02-Jan-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsJackson Bird picked up 4 for 41•AFP

Six days ago, while the Sri Lankans were capitulating to lose the Boxing Day Test, Lahiru Thirimanne was back home in Sri Lanka enjoying a day off in between one-day commitments for Ragama. He must have been as surprised as anyone to find himself batting on the opening day of a Test match at the SCG less than a week later. Thirimanne acclimatised to his new role quickly and although he narrowly missed out on a maiden Test century, he ensured Sri Lanka were able to bat until stumps. Just.At the close of play, the Sri Lankans had just been dismissed for 294. It could have been better had Thirimanne or Mahela Jayawardene, who both made half-centuries, gone on to triple figures. But it could also have been much worse after the Sri Lankans were sent in by Michael Clarke, who had chosen four fast bowlers on a pitch tinged with green grass. Jackson Bird finished with 4 for 41 and Mitchell Starc bounced back from his rest over the Christmas period with 3 for 71, and while it took until nearly 6pm, Clarke would have been pleased to end the day with the Sri Lankans all out.For a while, that appeared unlikely as Thirimanne and Jayawardene steered Sri Lanka to 2 for 134, and later the score was 4 for 222. But once Australia’s bowlers found their way into the tail, the end came quickly. The final five wickets fell for 44 and a briefly entertaining last-wicket stand of 21 between Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep had the unexpected benefit for Australia of allowing Ed Cowan and David Warner to start their innings on the second morning instead of late on the first evening.Pradeep finished on 17 not out, his highest first-class score, and Lakmal was the last man out when he edged to slip for 5 off the bowling of Bird. It was the third catch of the day for the retiring Michael Hussey, who also put one down early in Jayawardene’s innings. Bird had also picked up the wicket of Rangana Herath, who skied a catch to mid-off for 5, shortly after the last of the recognised batsmen, Dinesh Chandimal, was superbly yorked by Starc for 24.Starc had been involved in the previous wicket as well, when he took a diving catch at mid-on to get rid of Dhammika Prasad, whose heaving pull off Peter Siddle was a shot deserving of a dismissal. Another fine catch had brought Prasad to the crease, when Thirimanne, on 91, was deceived by Nathan Lyon. Thirimanne drove hard at a ball that was wider than he expected, and his edge lobbed up towards point and was brilliantly taken by a diving David Warner.It was a disappointing end for Thirimanne, who was initially scratchy and struggled to rotate the strike, but found his touch as the innings wore on. Thirimanne would not have played this match but for Sri Lanka suffering two injuries to their top seven. Chandimal, the backup batsman in the squad, came in for Kumar Sangakkara and when Prasanna Jayawardene was also ruled out due to his broken thumb, it allowed Thirimanne to play his eighth Test.He was impressive in his 151-ball innings and scored 13 fours and one six. He drove with authority and used his feet to Lyon, also pulling strongly against the fast bowling. Thirimanne had been fortunate to make it that far; he was given out lbw for a golden duck when Bird bowled full and straight, but after some consideration Thirimanne asked for a review and was reprieved as replays indicated the ball had pitched a fraction outside leg stump.Jaywardene also had a lucky break early. On 4, he edged Siddle to second slip and Hussey was slow to react to a chance he should have taken, and managed only to get his left hand to the ball, which then ran away to the boundary. It was a very similar shot that brought Jayawardene his half-century, another edge that this time bounced just in front of Hussey before running to third man for four. It ended a three-year drought for Jayawardene, who had last made a Test fifty away from home in November 2009.He was fluent in his 110-ball innings, which featured 12 fours and a six. He was strong through point and when flicking through the leg side, and he also used his feet Lyon. However, on 72 Jayawardene was caught at slip driving hard at a Starc delivery angled across him and after the third umpire checked for a no-ball and found Starc’s heel had landed legally and then slid forward, it was the end of an encouraging 62-run stand for Sri Lanka.Thilan Samaraweera (12) and Angelo Mathews (15) both made starts but failed to go on; Samaraweera was plumb lbw to Siddle and Mathews edged Starc to Hussey at second slip. It was a busy day in the field for Hussey, who had brought about the first wicket of the day when Dimuth Karunaratne (5) went for a pull from just outside off stump and top-edged Bird high and over the slips cordon and was taken by Hussey, running back with the flight of the ball from second slip.Bird, the best of Australia’s bowlers, also got rid of Karunaratne’s opening partner, Tillakaratne Dilshan, who occupied the crease for 100 minutes before he was caught behind for 34. They were the only two wickets the Australians picked up in the first session, but by stumps the bowlers had done what Clarke wanted. Now, it’s up to Australia’s shortened batting line-up.

Karachi Whites subdue Karachi Blues in thrilling first ODTA semi final

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Karachi Whites overcame a tough challenge posed by Karachi Blues, clinching a narrow 7-run win in the thrilling first semi-final of the One-day tournament (Associations), played at Karachi’s National Stadium

Mahmood Ahmad10-Dec-2011Karachi Whites overcame a tough challenge posed by Karachi Blues, clinching a narrow 7-run win in the thrilling first semi-final of the One-day tournament (Associations), played at Karachi’s National Stadium.Defending a modest 216, Karachi Whites saw the opposition reaching 135 for 2 in 29 overs, after Tariq Haroon, maintaining his excellent form, had compiled 65 off 92 balls. However, after his departure in the 30th over, Karachi Blues’ innings just collapsed against some fine bowling by Whites’ spinners.Tabish Nawab, bowling gentle off breakd, and Adnan Malik, slow left-arm orthodox, spun their magic as the Karachi Blues’ middle order just crumbled under pressure. Tabish bagged four wickets for 28 (8.1 overs) and Adnan got three for 46, as Blues were all out for 209 in 48.1 overs.Apart from Tariq Haroon, Mansoor Baig also played well for Blues getting 41 off 74 balls. Their last pair, comprising Rajesh Ramesh and Irfanullah, showed some grit by adding 30 runs for the tenth wicket, but they just could not steer past the opposition’s total.Earlier, Karachi Whites were helped by a 113-run second wicket partnership between skipper Shadab Kabir (61 off 78) and Naumanullah (54 off 101), after Shahid Afridi was dismissed for a duck.After reaching 120 for 1 by the 28th over, Whites were expected to post something bigger than what they managed in the end. However, the fate their middle order met was not much different from that of their counterparts.Saeed Bin Nasir (30 off43) was the only other batsman, apart from Shadab and Naumanullah, who could enjoy a comparatively long stay at the crease. Otherwise, their just capitulation in front of some fine bowling by Irfanuddin (3 for 33), Mansoor Khan (2 for 39) and Haaris Ayaz (2 for 43).Karachi Whites now meet Sheikhupura, who beat in Rawalpindi in the second semi-final, in the Final to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on May 13.

ICC asks suspended trio's lawyers to return evidence

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The ICC has asked the lawyers of the Pakistan players suspended in the spot-fixing case to return evidence that had been given to them last month

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Nov-2010The ICC has asked the lawyers of the Pakistan players suspended in the spot-fixing case to return evidence that had been given to them during the appeal hearing held in Dubai last month.ESPNcricinfo understands that the ICC is unhappy with information from the evidence being leaked to television channels in Pakistan; a leading channel recently broadcast text messages allegedly exchanged between Salman Butt, one of the suspended players, and Mazhar Majeed, the players’ agent who is at the centre of the scandal.The request has been made to the legal representatives of Butt and Mohammad Amir, the two players who appealed against their suspensions; Amir is being represented by Shahid Karim, while Butt’s legal team includes Khalid Ranjha and Aftab Gul, the former Test cricketer. Gul had stepped down from the case recently, but is believed to be back. Mohammad Asif, also suspended, withdrew his appeal and the three are currently waiting to appear before an independent anti-corruption tribunal that will look into the actual charges in Doha, Qatar from January 6-11.One of the lawyers confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that the ICC had asked for documents to be returned, suggesting that the leaking of information had prompted the move. Replies to the ICC’s request are in the process of being drafted.The development comes after ESPNcricinfo reported last week that there were concerns among observers familiar with the case over the attitude of some of the lawyers and how it might affect the workings of the hearing.In some instances, sources involved in the case claimed, views expressed inside the provisional suspension hearing were different to those expressed subsequently as public statements. One source also told ESPNcricinfo that there was an informal agreement made during the Dubai hearing between lawyers and Beloff to not speak to the media about the case. One of the lawyers involved denied any such agreement.

Auckland complete successive wins in State Championship

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Tim McIntosh: top State Championship run scorer

Tama Canning: top State Championship wicket-taker

Auckland have won the State Championship for 2002/03, a successful defence, a feat they last achieved in 1994/95 and

Lynn McConnell25-Dec-2009

Tim McIntosh: top State Championship run scorer

Tama Canning: top State Championship wicket-taker

Auckland have won the State Championship for 2002/03, a successful defence, a feat they last achieved in 1994/95 and 1995/96.In the following two years, Canterbury also managed successive titles.Since then the series has been won by Central Districts, Northern Districts and Wellington, leaving Otago as the only side not to have won the country’s premier first-class competition since 1996. Otago last won the series in 1987/88.Auckland sealed the title today when Wellington, the only team who could challenge them, finished with a loss at Otago’s hands in Alexandra.The final points were: Auckland 34, Wellington 31, Otago 26, Northern Districts 22, Central Districts 22, Canterbury 16.A late run of consistent weather has resulted in some outstanding batting during the last few rounds of the series.The most notable individual feat of the summer was the triple century scored by Canterbury’s Peter Fulton. It was the first time a triple century had been scored in this country since the summer of 1952/53 when Bert Sutcliffe scored 385 for Otago against Canterbury.The only double century of the summer was completed by Matthew Hart today who scored 201 not out for Northern Districts against Auckland.What was interesting about Auckland’s success was its dominance of the run-scoring list for the summer. Clearly the key ingredient to success is runs. They had three players in the top six scoring list during the summer, yet only one of their bowlers, Tama Canning, who was the highest wicket-taker in the competition with 46, was in the top six of the bowling list for most wickets.Tim McIntosh scored most runs in the competition with 820, Matt Horne hit 671 and Rob Nicol 664.The advantage Auckland enjoyed over Wellington this year was probably in its run scoring. Richard Jones was easily the pick of Wellington’s batsmen with 726 runs.But there was a significant gap back to Chris Nevin, who hit 532, and Matthew Bell, 499, which left Wellington lacking the greater consistency of the Aucklanders.In their bowling, Wellington relied on the medium pace of Matthew Walker, who took 45 wickets, and the medium-fast bowling of Iain O’Brien 34 and Andrew Penn 29.Otago proved the big improver of the year, finishing in third place. Their achievement was based around the batting in their top-order of Craig Cumming, 751 runs, and Mohammad Wasim, 651, and the bowling of Shayne O’Connor, 42, Kerry Walmsley, 37, and Warren McSkimming, 26.How best then to measure the showpiece domestic competition, when 15 of the country’s top players were taking part in the World Cup?That is the conundrum when looking at the State Championship.However, it is a fact of modern cricket life, that the international players will only take part in a lowly percentage of the domestic cricket programme in any given year so it can be safely said that this year has been little different.At the time of the summer when the World Cup was contested, New Zealand would normally be involved in a Test series, which would mean only 12 players would still be out of the competition at any one time anyway.Do three less players available for the domestic programme represent a significant dropping in standard? Probably not.With that in mind it comes back to the view that no matter who is taking part, the runs still have to be scored, the wickets taken and the catches held.Thirty-six centuries were scored over the Championship this summer while last year 33 centuries were scored and, in the first summer of the return to two rounds of the domestic championship, in 2000/01, there were 39 centuries.At the same time there have been 22 five-wicket bags taken by bowlers this year, compared with 31 last summer and 28 in the season before.The fact that games are tending to last longer suggests that players are learning to pace themselves more in the four-day game and there is greater benefit from exposure to so much cricket over the two rounds.The most pleasing thing about this year’s batting is the sight of young players, Jamie How, Fulton, Nicol and Nick Horsley among the top 10 runs scorers, with another cluster of younger players just behind them.That is a sign of developing health and a significant factor in boosting the standards of the competition in the future.

Fanning misses maiden ton but helps keep Western Australia on top

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Michael Neser did his best to keep Queensland in the match but the home side lost a late wicket

AAP19-Feb-2025Opener Sam Fanning fell just short of a century but put Western Australia in a powerful position against Queensland on day two of their Sheffield Shield game.Fanning made 95 as WA posted 312 all out on Wednesday at The Gabba in reply to Queensland’s first innings of 147. At stumps, Queensland were 39 for 1 in their second innings, still 126 runs behind the visitors.Related

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Fanning was within reach of his maiden first-class century when he launched at an off-side drive at a Michael Neser delivery but chopped onto his stumps.The New Zealand-born left hander struck five fours and two sixes in his 229-ball knock and featured in two telling partnerships. He put on 108 with his opening partner Sam Whiteman, who was dismissed for 67 late on Tuesday. Fanning also combined with Jayden Goodwin for a 103-run partnership for the third wicket.Goodwin made 40 before missing an attempted sweep from legspinner Mitch Swepson. Goodwin’s dismissal triggered a slide of 5 for 27 as Queensland stalwart Neser ripped through the middle order.Neser finished with 4 for 34 from 21 overs. He had nightwatchman Corey Rocchiccioli caught at mid-off for 2 early on the second day’s play and later removed Fanning, Ashton Turner and Keaton Critchell, with fellow quick Xavier Bartlett dismissing Joel Curtis as WA lost five wickets in a 10-over span.WA allrounder Hilton Cartwright then rallied his side with a handy 48 not out, steering the visitors to a 165-run innings lead.WA then achieved a key breakthrough when Rocchiccioli snared his eighth wicket in the match. The offspinner, who claimed a career-best 7 for 52 in the first innings, removed Matt Renshaw for 10 in his first over of the innings.

Paul van Meekeren spearheads rout of Bangladesh

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Earlier, Scott Edwards dragged Netherlands out of trouble yet again with a half-century

Madushka Balasuriya28-Oct-20231:38

Pujara: Netherlands are a ‘unit’, Bangladesh are not

Scott Edwards once more dragged his team from the abyss, but it was the bowlers who led the victory charge as the Netherlands held firm in their defence of a middling total of 229 to record an emphatic 87-run win over Bangladesh. The result sees Bangladesh all but eliminated from the semi-final contention, while the Dutch have yet another famous victory to add to their collection – one that, aside from its impact on this tournament, in the grand scheme of cricket as a sport in the Netherlands will be yet another rung on an ever more impressive ladder of growth.The victory was arguably made sweeter by virtue of it coming in Kolkata, where Bangladesh had support as close to home backing as they are likely to get this World Cup, with the short flight in from Dhaka offering many fans easy access.But in the end, it would be a journey ending in frustration – many were seen leaving the stadium early – as a well-drilled Dutch outfit trumped their much more experienced counterparts in nearly all facets of the game.Related

  • BCB chief asks players to be 'courageous' in aftermath of Netherlands loss

This was primarily a victory built on the now customary rearguard heroics of captain Edwards – his entire clan in attendance at the stadium to cheer him on – as he stitched together his second fifty of the tournament, an 89-ball 68.What will particularly hurt Bangladesh is that they could have seen the back of him before he even got going – twice dropped on zero – but that in a microcosm was the difference between the two sides. While both teams struggled with the bat, the Dutch persevered to get to a fighting total, and while both sets of bowlers kept things tight to create chances through pressure, it was the Dutch who capitalised on them with ferocity; Bangladesh, on the other hand, were left to rue their missed opportunities.Such fortune though would be for nought without proper backing and, like they had done so impressively against South Africa, the bowlers and fielders once more ensured that their skipper’s efforts did not go in vain.Scott Edwards brought up his second fifty in this World Cup•AFP/Getty Images

Paul van Meekeren was excellent picking up figures of 4 for 23, including that of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim; Bas de Leede, fresh off his World Cup record hounding at the hands of Australia, took out the only two Bangladesh batters who threatened the Dutch total – Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahmudullah, for 35 and 20, respectively; and then there was the ever reliable Aryan Dutt, who despite picking up just one wicket was wily as ever, starting off the Dutch defence by dismissing Litton Das, reeling of two consecutive maidens inside the first powerplay, and generally affording the batters with rarely a moment’s rest with his guile and variation.In the face of this Dutch exuberance, Bangladesh floundered in their chase, unable to match their opponents’ energy. They lost wickets at regular intervals, unable to string together partnerships of any reasonable length – 38 was their highest – as a middling chase fast became a daunting and, eventually, impossible one.That hardly seemed the case midway through the Dutch innings, though, when having won the toss and elected to bat, they suffered yet another top-order collapse. Only a late surge at the death where they scored 74 in the last ten overs, including 36 in the final three, got them to their eventually winning total.That Bangladesh were able to keep them to 229 even after that was a testament to the work put in by their bowlers. The early damage had been caused by Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam, who picked up openers Vikramjit Singh and Max O’Dowd inside the first three overs to leave the Dutch reeling at 4 for 2.While there was a brief counter courtesy Wesley Barresi, his run-a-ball 41 was the only instance of a Netherlands batter showing any degree of dominance over a disciplined Bangladeshi attack. In fact, Netherlands would have to wait until the penultimate over of the innings to register their first six.Mustafizur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan and Co had reduced Netherlands to 194 for 8 at one stage•Associated Press

But another pair of wickets once more set Netherlands back as the two set batters, Barresi and Colin Ackermann, fell in quick succession to Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib, respectively. It was at that point the spinners began their slow strangle, as none of Shakib, Mehidy or Mahedi Hasan conceded more than four an over across the middle overs. Indeed, it was only in the final over of the innings that Netherlands showed any sort of aggression against spin, taking Mahedi for 17.And so it was that Edwards was once more tasked to patch his side up, first with de Leede and then Sybrand Engelbrecht. With de Leede, he scrounged 44 off 74, and with Engelbrecht, a slightly quicker 78 off 105.Throughout those stands there was hardly a highlight that could be extracted or stroke played in anger, with the intent simply to knock it around and bat as deep as possible. An understandable endeavour considering Edwards had entered the fray with his side on a perilous 63 for 3, which soon became 63 for 4.But when he departed 30 overs later, he had dragged them to a slightly more respectable 185 for 6, before the late hitting took them to a fighting total.At the time that seemed below par, especially with many expecting the surface to favour the batters. However, with the ball starting to stick in the pitch and take some turn, it was Netherlands who adapted better and showed the wherewithal to come through victorious in the end.

Babar Azam 110*, Mohammad Rizwan 88* as Pakistan cruise to ten-wicket win

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World record opening stand makes light of steep chase as hosts level series at 1-1

Danyal Rasool22-Sep-2022A world record unbeaten 203-run partnership that was devastating in its brutality and yet delectable in its beauty saw Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam chase down 200 against England with three balls to spare, and without the loss of a single wicket. Babar scored his second T20I hundred, taking 62 balls to get there, while Rizwan’s unbeaten 51-ball 88 was a more than adequate supporting act.The wicket seemed to play especially slow in the first innings, so the 199 England put up looked well above par at the time. That came thanks to two contrasting innings from the England middle order, with Ben Duckett’s pragmatic shot-making setting a platform, before Moeen Ali’s furious elegance saw him caress an undefeated 55 off 23. Given Babar had said at the toss 160 would be the upper limit of what Pakistan wanted to chase, England looked invulnerable.But for all of Pakistan’s strike rate issues up the order, there has never been any evidence Babar and Rizwan aren’t at their best when chasing a total, no matter what that total might be. They did, after all, gun down 204 against South Africa in April 2021 with a 197-run partnership, and they were more than up for the relentlessly attacking cricket they would have to subject England’s bowling to. Fifty-nine came off the powerplay, and the openers simply continued in the same vein as the visitors ran out of ideas. Alex Hales grassing Rizwan in the powerplay was a sliding doors moment, as a virtually chanceless opening pairing timed the chase to perfection to seal a stunning 10-wicket win.The devastating duo
There’s really little point talking about much else. England have the better power hitters, the better middle order, and significantly more batting weapons in their arsenal, and don’t Babar and Rizwan know it. These two put together a solid opening stand in the first game, only to see their team-mates crumble under pressure, and so it appeared they recognised solid wasn’t going to cut it. They might have to do it all themselves.A couple of boundaries either side of square from Rizwan in the first over set the tone. Rizwan led the charge early on as the captain took his time bedding in, though a couple of clobbered boundaries off Sam Curran suggested Babar, too, was beginning to whirr back into form. With the pace bowlers seen to, Moeen turned to Liam Dawson’s spin, but 13 runs off the sixth over suggested Pakistan would allow the visitors no hiding place.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

A brief quiet spell following the powerplay saw the asking rate creep up, but when Moeen put himself on in the 13th over, the tide turned decisively. Twenty-one from the over, including three muscled sixes, put the openers in a zone few others in world cricket can reach. From thereon, they were unstoppable, England’s bowlers no impediment in the inexorable march to the target. A flurry of boundaries followed and by the time Babar brought up his century, the victory was almost a formality. It was, fittingly, a cover drive that sealed the win, a signature shot from a man who showed an ephemeral dip in form was little more than that.Duckett and Moeen’s contrasting styles
It would be hard to imagine what kind of surface you’d need to produce to ensure both Moeen and Duckett might excel, but this Karachi strip appears to be one of them. A slow surface made it difficult to play down the ground, and so Duckett resorted to playing the paddle and reverse sweep almost exclusively to great effect. A quickfire 50-run stand with Phil Salt allowed England to edge ahead, and by the time Duckett was cleaned up by Mohammad Nawaz, he had scored what looked an extremely handy 22-ball 43 in an innings where England otherwise struggled.But Moeen took over the reins thereafter, punishing every error in line and length – of which there were plenty on an off-colour day for Pakistan’s bowlers – making a mockery of the idea this pitch might not be suitable to conventional shot-making. He didn’t discriminate between spin and pace, Usman Qadir and Mohammad Hasnain both seeing the final two deliveries of their last overs sent sailing over the ropes. It was a breathtaking mix of timing, power and beauty, an all-round treat for the eyes that looked, at that time, as if it might be the point of difference.

PCB approaches Emirates Cricket Board to host remainder of PSL 2021 in the UAE

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The franchises had requested the PCB to shift the games out of Karachi because of the pandemic

Umar Farooq07-May-2021The PCB has approached the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to host the remaining games of the rescheduled 2021 edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the UAE. The original plan had been to play the matches in Karachi, but the PCB has decided against it following a request from the six franchises as well as advice from the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC), which asked the board to avoid playing in Karachi because of the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country.Upon the franchises’ request to move the matches out of Pakistan, the PCB met with all the teams via video conference to discuss the financial implications of postponing the tournament. The PCB has agreed to look beyond Karachi, with UAE as a preferred venue for the games. The UAE was where the PSL began, its inaugural edition in 2016 held there while international cricket was not taking place in Pakistan.Karachi had originally been announced as the venue for the tournament and even till last week, the PCB was proceeding on the basis that tournament would be held there, with the board making arrangements for a hotel. But earlier this week, the PCB met with the NCOC, whose forecast of the Covid situation in Pakistan over the next 20 days wasn’t reassuring. The NCOC informed the PCB there might be a rise in cases post-Eid, and that the government might subsequently enforce a stricter lockdown in the country. Already a nationwide lockdown has begun from today, to be in place until May 15.”We had an interactive and productive meeting in which we considered a number of factors,” Wasim Khan, the PCB chief executive, said. “While the UAE has emerged as a preferred venue, a number of challenges remain, which will be worked through over the coming days. We remain committed to doing everything possible to complete the HBL PSL 6.”The tournament was initially slated to start from June, but with the change of venue, the PCB will work on a revised schedule. The window to host the tournament is unlikely to alter too much though, as Pakistan are scheduled to begin a tour of England from June 23. Though the PCB and PSL have both agreed to playing in UAE, a final confirmation will be made only when the franchises give their approval upon seeing the revised opportunity costs of playing abroad.”The PCB will carry out a detailed financial and risk assessment as well as cost analysis before reporting back to the franchises, who will then review before a decision on the event venue is confirmed,” the PCB said.As reported by ESPNcricinfo, the franchises had written a letter to the board last week, asking for the tournament to be played in the Emirates.The 2021 edition of the PSL was suspended after 14 games – played between February 20 and March 3, all in Karachi – following an outbreak of cases among players and support staff. After a date for resumption was finalised – June 2 to June 20 – the franchises took part in a replacement draft to plug holes in their line-ups because a number of overseas players would not be able to take part in the games on the new dates.The changed situation with the pandemic, however, made franchises nervous about the situation, which led to them approaching the PCB.Pakistan, meanwhile, has announced a decision to curtail inbound flights to the country from May 5 to May 20.A move to the UAE would not be without its own logistical and operational issues, though. Flights to the country from Pakistan are currently operating at a severely reduced frequency. And June is not a month in which top-level cricket is often played in the UAE, because of the oppressive heat at that time of the year.