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The opener’s 14-ball half-century led Kings XI Punjab to a six-wicket win in Mohali

The Report by Akshay Gopalakrishnan08-Apr-20182:27

Agarkar: Rahul has the game to adapt to all formats

KL Rahul blasted the IPL’s fastest half-century to give Kings XI Punjab a rousing start to their 2018 IPL campaign. Rahul razed the Daredevils attack in a brutal performance, getting to the landmark inside three overs and off just 14 balls.Incongruously, though, Kings XI ended up huffing and puffing to their target of 167. After Rahul’s dismissal, Kings XI only managed 103 runs in 84 balls. But such had been the damage inflicted by Rahul that they still ended up winning with seven balls to spare.All that after Gautam Gambhir, the Daredevils captain, celebrated his return to his hometown franchise with a fighting half-century. But Kings XI’s spin duo of R Ashwin and the 17-year old debutant Mujeeb Ur Rahman led a strong bowling performance to restrict Daredevils to a total that was just about par.Mujeeb’s instant rewardAt 17 years and 11 days, Mujeeb became the IPL’s youngest-ever player. Mujeeb has all the qualities that underline an effective limited-overs spinner: his variations keep the batsmen guessing, he can be deceptive with his trajectory, and his unusual action makes it difficult to pick him out of the hand.Colin Munro tends to struggle against spin in the Powerplay: he has fallen to them four times in 17 innings during this phase in T20s. After opening with himself, Ashwin introduced Mujeeb in the third over. Munro took zero time to try and suss out the newcomer, getting down for a switch hit to the first ball he faced from him. Mujeeb’s drift from around the stumps got Munro into a tangle, and trapped him plumb in front. Daredevils were 12 for 1 in the third over.1:47

Coach’s Diary: Kings XI need not worry about Yuvraj

Gambhir’s counter-offensiveUntil Sunday, Gambhir had faced 42 balls from Axar Patel in all T20s. His numbers against him: 36 runs at 5.14 an over. And that included just two fours. On Sunday, he doubled the tally off the first two balls he faced from the left-arm spinner, first with a flowing inside-out drive through cover, and then with a crunching sweep. He followed that up with a superbly timed chip over long-off.A typically fluent Gambhir against spin was on display. He made brilliant use of his feet and especially favoured the inside-out shot to counter the drift. In his first match back with his hometown franchise, Gambhir notched up a half-century – the 36th of his IPL career – and kept Daredevils on course for a strong total.Walking the talkAshwin followed up on his pre-season declaration of trying to be as unpredictable as possible, both with his own bowling and the manner in which he rotated his other bowlers. He began by using five different bowlers inside the Powerplay.Kings XI stacked their attack with three spinners, and each of them contributed to pulling the team back. Axar removed Shreyas Iyer to end a 42-run second-wicket stand – the best of Daredevils’ innings. Rishabh Pant’s cameo briefly swung the momentum back, before Mujeeb had him with a googly, thanks to a brilliant catch by Andrew Tye, running backwards from extra cover. Mujeeb then nailed a direct hit to account for Gambhir, run out for the 16th time – an IPL record.Ashwin tantalised with offbreaks, legbreaks, carrom balls and flippers: all of them delivered with superb control. He had Rahul Tewatia lbw on an attempted switch hit, and it looked as though Daredevils would have to settle for a below-par total.But Daredevils still had Chris Morris, a man with a smart strike rate of 241 at the death. Since the 2015 IPL, he has also been striking at 157 in the first 10 balls he faces. His unbeaten 16-ball 27, after coming in at the start of the 16th over, was just what Daredevils needed at the finish.Rampaging Rahul seals the dealThe skiddy nature of this Mohali surface meant the odd ball could keep low, and lbw was always a looming threat. The key was to stick to a fullish length and a stump-to-stump line, and you were in with a chance to pick up quick wickets.Rahul, however, came out swinging, and a wayward Daredevils attack fed him by bowling all over the place. One bowler after the other was left stunned by the ease with which Rahul played off either foot. Bowl it full, and he’d meet them with a solid stride and drive imperiously; drop it short, and he’d shift back with ease and hack them through the leg side. Each delivery was a gift that came tied with a ribbon.After Rahul fell, hometown hero Yuvraj Singh scratched and struggled, Karun Nair struck a fifty that largely went unnoticed despite coming at a strike rate of 151.51, and David Miller and Marcus Stoinis coasted to the target with an unbroken stand of 29.

Stand-in captain Alyssa Healy’s 77 was the backbone of the Sydney Sixers’ match-winning total of 169, with supporting roles from Sara McGlashan, Marizanne Kapp and Ashleigh Gardner

The Report by Will Macpherson at the Gabba25-Jan-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details2:15

Macpherson: Sixers have amazing depth in line-up

Like they did in the first edition of the Women’s Big Bash League, the Sydney Sixers thrashed the Hobart Hurricanes to book their spot in the final. Last year, the margin was ten wickets (Duckworth-Lewis method) and this time, under the scorching Brisbane sun, it was equally emphatic: 103 runs.Alyssa Healy’s 77 provided the backbone of a charge to 169, before the Hurricanes were bowled out for just 66. The Sixers will travel to Perth to face the Scorchers on Sunday and, if their male counterparts beat the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba, only two clubs will compete the finals.A Healy hurricane
Healy has reveled as captain since she took over from an injured Ellyse Perry. In her first game as stand-in captain, she made 84 off 56 against the Melbourne Renegades. Here, she was even more belligerent, making a magnificent 77 off 45 balls before cutting Hayley Matthews to point in the 13th over.Having opted to bat first, Healy thumped Amy Satterthwaite over long-on for six in the second over and by the time Ashleigh Gardner became the second batsman to be dismissed, caught brilliantly at point, Healy had scored 41 of the Sixers’ 49 runs. In the following over, she brought up her half-century with a pull over midwicket for six, and went on to play a cover drive, late cut and reverse sweeps for boundaries. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of her innings, however, was her running between the wickets and the ability to turn ones into twos.She was dismissed with the Sixers on 108, and resourceful knocks from Sara McGlashan (38), who was carrying a hamstring injury, and Marizanne Kapp (36 not out), left the Hurricanes with a stiff target of 170.In her two matches as stand-in captain, Alyssa Healy has scored 161 runs•Getty Images

Sixers’ fabulous fielding
Gardner has been the competition’s break-out star this season, largely due to the three half-centuries that have underpinned her brilliant batting efforts. But her bowling – she took her ninth and tenth wickets of the season, including the vital one of Hayley Matthews for a duck – and fielding have been excellent, too. It was a moment of magic from Gardner that nipped a solid start from the Hurricanes in the bud. She lobbed an off-break up at Erin Burns and it was drilled hard back at her, but barely a foot off the ground. She dropped low in her follow-through and took a fine catch, which was so tight that it had to be reviewed.That was not the last of the Sixers’ superb interventions in the field. Each of the seam bowlers hammered away with a consistent line and length, while the spinners were tough to get away. Angela Reakes took an excellent catch in the deep to get rid of Emma Thompson, but it was the run-outs of Heather Knight and Amy Satterthwaite – with sharp throws from Kim Garth and Dane van Niekerk (the latter a direct hit) – that guaranteed the Hurricanes would fall short.And yet… Hobart self-destruct
Hobart were out-classed but they also contributed to their own downfall. Healy was dropped on 18 by Brooke Hepburn at mid-on, and on 60 by Thompson at short third man, while Kapp was given a life on 13. With the bat, Satterthwaite was responsible for the run-outs of Knight and herself. They are the Hurricanes’ most reliable batsmen and once they fell, there was no way back for the side.The best two teams in the final
This was a complete performance from the Sixers and showed the intimidating depth in the squad. Amy Jones, the England international, could not make the side for this, while Lisa Sthalekar’s experience was not required either. Perry has been ruled out of the final but, given the Sixers’ dominance in the league stages and their performance today, the final against the Scorchers could serve up a humdinger.

Usman Khawaja, who returns to the Australia ODI squad after three years, is hopeful of becoming an all-format player and not just a Test specialist

Brydon Coverdale13-Jan-20161:23

‘Matador Cup form worked in my favour’ – Khawaja

At a time when Australia’s ODI fast-bowling depth is being tested, they seem to have no shortage of quality batsmen to call on. Centuries to George Bailey and Steven Smith won Australia the first ODI against India in Perth on Tuesday, and for the second game they will likely bring in a bloke with a List A batting average of 72.86 in the past three years. And one of the most in-form batsmen in the country probably still won’t get a game.The former is Shaun Marsh, the back-up batsman in the squad and the likely beneficiary of David Warner’s absence for paternity leave over the next two games. The latter is Usman Khawaja, who is joining the squad for the Brisbane and Melbourne ODIs, and is enjoying a remarkable run of form whatever the colour of the ball: not since October has Khawaja been dismissed below 50 in any format.Yet it is hard to argue with the probable batting line-up Australia will use in Brisbane, where Marsh is expected to open with Aaron Finch. After all, Marsh was second only to Smith on the Matador Cup run tally in October, with 390 at 65.00, and the last time he played for Australia he plundered 182 in the Hobart Test against West Indies. Khawaja’s return from injury bumped Marsh from the Test side; now Marsh looks set to keep Khawaja out of the ODIs.It is nearly three years since Khawaja last played ODI cricket for Australia, and even then he played only three games without reaching double figures. However, since his most recent ODI appearance Khawaja has thrived in one-day cricket, averaging 56.88 in List A matches, although he played only three Matador Cup games this summer due to a hamstring injury. Khawaja hopes his selection is the first step towards becoming an ODI regular.”The hunger is to play as many forms of the game as possible,” he said on Wednesday. “I’ve made it clear that I’ve always wanted to play one-dayers. But sometimes it’s about timing. If I’m going to get my opportunity, I don’t know, but when I do get it hopefully I can take it and be more than just a Test cricketer. At this moment I’m really happy with how I’m hitting the white ball.”Already 2015-16 has been a breakout summer for Khawaja in the Test team – he scored centuries in all three Tests in which he batted, in Brisbane, Perth, and Melbourne. His last two BBL innings, an unbeaten 109 before Christmas and 62 on Monday, suggest his white-ball form is indeed strong.”I’m really happy with how the Test stuff went,” Khawaja said. “There’s a lot of one-day cricket coming up in the next year. I’d love to be a part of it. Hopefully I can contribute moving forward.”However, Khawaja knows he will likely be warming the bench for the second ODI in Brisbane on Friday. “I haven’t been told anything,” he said. “I’m just using common sense – SOS [Marsh] is already there so I’d assume he’d slot into Davey’s spot and I’ll be the spare batsman. That’s what I’m expecting.”Australia will be aiming to secure a 2-0 lead in the five-match series in Brisbane, after their win in the high-scoring opener in Perth on Tuesday. India managed 3 for 309 against a new-look Australia attack featuring debutant fast bowlers Scott Boland and Joel Paris, whose combined figures read 0 for 127 from 18 overs, but Australia’s batsmen chased down the target with four balls to spare.

Essex’s successful run chase on a thrilling day in Cardiff took them second in Division Two and stilled talk of crisis

18-May-2013
ScorecardTom Westley (pictured) and Jake Mickleburgh set up Essex’s successful run chase at SWALEC Stadium•Getty Images

Mark Pettini kept his cool to see Essex to their second LV= County Championship Division Two victory of the season by beating Glamorgan by five wickets with seven balls to spare at Cardiff.In an enthralling final day Essex chased down 275 for victory with openers Tom Westley and Jaik Mickleburgh hitting half centuries to give their side a good foundation and still the talk of crisis which clouded a poor start to the seasonAfter a couple of scares Pettini (47 not out) and Greg Smith helped to see Essex past the winning post at the end of the penultimate over. Essex took 22 points from the contest to Glamorgan’s four.Earlier in the day Glamorgan, thanks to 101 from skipper Mark Wallace – Glamorgan’s first Championship century of the season – left Essex 275 to win in 70 overs.Essex were given a fine start by Westley and Mickleburgh as the openers put on 143 for the first wicket before the latter fell lbw to Jim Allenby for 66.But though Essex were favourites to win they did suffer their setbacks on the way. Westley was run out for 88 by Michael Hogan coming back for a second run.And with 64 needed in fewer than 11 overs Ravi Bopara went for the big hit off slow left armer Dean Cosker only to be caught at long on by Stewart Walters.Significantly, Essex sent in the big-hitting Graham Napier as they required 58 from the final 10 overs. Napier also tried to hit Cosker out of the ground only to be caught at long off
by Will Bragg leaving Essex still needing 45 from 7.5 overs.With seven runs required and 13 balls remaining skipper James Foster holed out, but Pettini and Smith saw them home.Glamorgan had resumed the final day on 303 for 6 – a lead of 189. The seventh-wicket pair of Wallace and Graham Wagg took the lead beyond 200. Wagg completed his half-century from 67 balls but his innings was ended by Reece Topley who had the Glamorgan bowler caught behind leaving them 343 for 7.Wallace went into the 90s as the lead also went beyond 250, but with the score on 375 Napier had Cosker caught behind. Hogan stayed around long enough for Wallace to become Glamorgan’s first century-maker of the summer.Wallace’s 15th first-class century came up off 171 balls with seven fours, but his fine innings ended in the next over when he was bowled playing forward to Bopara, departing for 101.Five balls later slow left armer Tim Phillips bowled Hogan as Glamorgan were dismissed leaving the visitors their 3.92 runs an over target in the final two sessions.

Colin Graves, whose uncompromising approach to leadership was made abundantly clear this week when he told Ajmal Shahzad that his Yorkshire career was over, is strengthening his day-to-day involvement with Yorkshire.

David Hopps04-May-2012Colin Graves, whose uncompromising approach to leadership was made abundantly clear this week when he told Ajmal Shahzad that his Yorkshire career was over, is strengthening his day-to-day involvement with Yorkshire.Graves will take up the role of executive chairman, an amalgamation of his existing role as chairman and the vacant chief executive post which will now not be advertised as planned. A county that takes pride in its preference for straight talking will now get a lot more of it.Yorkshire’s financial survival has been largely dependent upon the generosity of Graves, who sold the last of his shares in Costcutter in November last year, a business he grew from scratch in 1986 into a national chain of supermarkets.He was offered the role of non-executive chairman at Costcutter, but has opted instead to become more hands on at Headingley. A more driven and demanding management style is now inevitable and Yorkshire, mired in debt and short off on-field success, needs as much energy and focus as it can get.Graves has been a board director at Yorkshire since 2002 when, as a member of the so-called Gang of Four, he assumed control of the club’s finances, which were in a dire position. Since then the ground has been upgraded, although in the case of the new pavilion controversially, and international cricket has been secured in a long-term deal.He will now work in a full-time capacity at Headingley in a salaried position and also retains his position on the ECB management board..Graves said: “I’m excited about taking on the joint role of chief executive and chairman at the Club. I’ve resigned as chairman of Costcutter and sold my shares and it was time to leave that business and look for pastures new. I’ve been more involved over the last few months and really enjoyed it.”There are ups and downs, as in any business, but we’ve now got a solid base and platform with international cricket at Headingley under our staging agreement with the ECB until 2019. Consequently we’ve got a robust business model to take forward, but there are some areas we can improve in and I’m looking forward to working hard to steer the club forward.”Under Graves, Yorkshire are unlikely to indulge in too much soft focus and his uncompromising management style will be depicted in some quarters as a throwback. But strong, day-to-day leadership in Yorkshire cricket has often been lacking as the county has repeatedly failed to punch its worth and will benefit from a clear sense of where the real authority lies.

Mohsin Khan, Pakistan’s chief selector, and the PCB have reached a resolution over their differences, and the former has decided not to resign from his post

ESPNcricinfo staff05-May-2011Mohsin Khan, Pakistan’s chief selector, and the PCB have reached a resolution over their differences, and the former has decided not to resign from his post. Mohsin met with board chairman Ijaz Butt in Lahore on Thursday and said “now there’s no issue at all.”Mohsin had earlier said he would step down on Wednesday if some of his player choices were not included in the 15-member Test squad for the series against the West Indies, which starts in Guyana on May 12.But after the board contacted him, he cancelled a press conference where he was expected to speak on the subject. In a statement on Wednesday the board first said that any such conference would be a violation of the code of conduct governing selectors, and then issued a statement that said Mohsin had been summoned to a meeting with the chairman on Thursday.Neither Mohsin nor Butt took any questions after the meeting, with the chairman reading from a written statement saying that the matter had been resolved.”Mohsin and I had a fruitful meeting today and we discussed a number of matters. We also discussed some of the issues that are appearing in the media for last couple of days. Without going into the details of the matters discussed, I am pleased to inform that there are currently no unresolved issues between PCB and Mohsin Hasan Khan.”No details were given of who the disputed players were, though ESPNcricinfo understands Adnan Akmal’s exclusion was one issue. Though it is thought Mohsin had issues with another selector, some local reports suggested it may have been with Butt, the final authority on selections, or even the on-tour selection committee.The statement hinted that the problems may have been over the full ambit of the selection committee. “We have today discussed the importance of bringing in clarity in the role and functions of the national selection committee and I have advised Mohsin that the selection committee has independence of taking selection decisions.”To clarify our stance on some speculations that have appeared in a section of media, after having Mohsin’s point of view, PCB has decided that no further action in this matter is required.”

Lancashire did not make any attempt to chase down 336 from 85 overs on the
final day of their County Championship Division One match against Essex,
instead settling for a draw at Old Trafford

27-May-2010

ScorecardLancashire did not make any attempt to chase down 336 from 85 overs on the
final day of their County Championship Division One match against Essex,
instead settling for a draw at Old Trafford.The home side had been offered the target by Mark Pettini when he declared
Essex’s second innings on 212 for 5 after Ryan ten Doeschate and Matthew
Walker both completed half-centuries during the morning session.It was soon obvious from the way opening batsman Luke Sutton set about his
innings that the Red Rose were happy with six points. Sutton finished with a painstaking 26 off 155 balls, his innings spanning just over three hours.Despite opening bowlers David Masters and Maurice Chambers bowling tight
spells, Essex struggled to take wickets as they searched for victory on a dead
track. Chris Wright had both Paul Horton and Steven Croft caught behind by James
Foster within three balls in the 66th over but it was too little, too late.Horton top scored for Lancashire with 64 off 179 balls and his side had reached
177 for 5 from 83.4 overs when the players shook hands on the draw. Essex, who travel to face Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on Saturday, took eight points from the fixture.Masters had given the visitors an early glimmer when he had Stephen Moore
caught behind by Foster for five in the ninth over of Lancashire’s chase. Sutton and Horton then shared a second-wicket partnership of 93 in 40 overs which effectively killed the contest.Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was expected to be a major threat with the
ball but he only took one wicket for 49 runs from 33 overs. Ten Doeschate claimed Essex’s second wicket in the latter stages of the afternoon when Sutton edged behind to Foster.Lancashire’s reluctance to even attempt to chase down the runs was somewhat
surprising, given their coach Peter Moores had said after day three: “The way
the points are structured this year encourages sides to be aggressive with 16
for a win.”Ashwell Prince hit three fours and a six in a brisk 29 before he was caught at
short leg by Billy Godleman off Kaneria and Wright’s double strike meant Essex
had taken three wickets in 10 balls.But Mark Chilton and Glen Chapple batted through to close for Lancashire, who
face Yorkshire at Headingley on Saturday. Simon Kerrigan had earlier claimed the only wicket to fall in Essex’s second innings when Ten Doeschate holed out to Croft at long off for 56 off 57 balls – his second half-century of the match. Essex added 57 runs from 9.4 overs with Walker finishing unbeaten on 53 off 108 balls.

Four centuries were scored in the game, and it came down to the last ball, where Pooja Vastrakar sealed the deal and gave India the series win

Srinidhi Ramanujam19-Jun-2024Four centuries, a first in women’s ODIs. A total of 646 runs. The spectators in Bengaluru were treated to as entertaining a game of 50-over cricket as they could have imagined, and the result went their way too: India clinched a last-ball win over South Africa to secure the series 2-0 with a match in hand.It came down to Pooja Vastrakar’s final over where she had to defend 10 runs after India had posted 325 for 3. After conceding five off the first two balls, both full tosses, her next two deliveries fetched her two wickets with Laura Wolvaardt, one of four century-makers in the game, stranded at the non-striker’s end. The equation became five off the final delivery, and Wolvaardt, finally on strike, was beaten by Vastrakar’s back-of-the-hand slower delivery.Related

• Despite defeat, Kapp focuses on learnings with ODI World Cup in India next year

• Wolvaardt, Vastrakar and a six-ball emotional rollercoaster like no other

• Stats – Mandhana, Harmanpreet, Wolvaardt, Kapp combine to break ODI records

Earlier, after being asked to bat first, India scored their third-highest ODI total with Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur smashing 136 and 103 not out respectively. While it looked out of reach after South Africa were reduced to 67 for 3 in the chase, Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp’s 184-run partnership took the game deep.Not long ago, South Africa were at the receiving end of the highest successful ODI run-chase of 302 by Sri Lanka. On Wednesday, they came close to breaking that record but fell short of it.

SA start brilliantly with the ball

The way South Africa started with the ball, one would have expected India to stop at around 230-240.The second ODI was played on a different strip to the series opener, with a patch of grass and visible cracks on it. The new-ball pair of Ayabonga Khaka and Masabata Klaas extracted everything they could from it, exerting pressure on Shafali Verma and Mandhana with a lot of movement. A bit of variable bounce also meant runs were hard to get initially. Mandhana, in fact, got off the mark after 18 deliveries.As for Shafali, she showed glimpses of patience in her 38-ball innings but it was short-lived. After smashing a four straight down the ground off left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba, she tried to go across the line next ball and holed out to Klaas at mid-on.After 15 overs, India had huffed and puffed to 47 for 1, hitting just five fours. In this period, they had faced 72 dot balls.Harmanpreet Kaur celebrates after scoring a blistering century•BCCI

The game-changing partnership

Along with D Hemalatha, the No. 3, Mandhana stitched a steady 62 runs off 68 balls. Hemalatha fell for a 41-ball 24, and it was only after Harmanpreet walked out that runs started flowing.The pitch had also eased out by then, and Harmanpreet and Mandhana put on a huge partnership – 171 runs off 136 balls. Their centuries not only helped India overcome their sedate start but also batted South Africa into a corner (though not out of the game, as it emerged).Mandhana oozed class and Harmanpreet showed what power and deft touch can do.Mandhana picked up pace, getting herself from 31 off the first 48 balls to her seventh ODI hundred in 103 balls, and went on to add 36 more. When the bowlers varied their lines, she moved around the crease and either slashed it to deep point or pulled to the square-leg area. Along the way, Mandhana also became the first Indian to score back-to-back centuries in women’s ODIs.Harmanpreet didn’t have to start slow, unlike her deputy. After racing to a run-a-ball 24, she got quicker as her innings progressed. Unlike Mandhana, who scored on both sides of the wicket, Harmanpreet scored predominantly on the leg side. A total of 70 of her runs came on that side, with four of her nine fours and two out of three sixes hit in the midwicket region.Meike de Ridder, who played in place of South Africa’s first-choice wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta after she suffered a mild concussion on the eve of the match, missed a stumping chance when Harmanpreet was on 88, off the second delivery off the final over. It gave Harmanpreet a chance to complete her sixth ODI century, the first in almost two years, and she smoked 4, 6 and 4 to get to three figures.South Africa ran out of steam, with Wolvaardt even bringing on legspinning-allrounder Sune Luus – who was bowling in ODIs after a gap of two years – into the attack. However, they couldn’t contain India, who scored 118 runs in the last ten overs.At the other end, Richa Ghosh, batting at No. 5, plundered a 13-ball unbeaten 25, comprising three fours and a six, and was key in the unbroken 54-run stand with Harmanpreet.Marizanne Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt almost won the game for South Africa•Getty Images

Kapp and Wolvaardt fight back

Kapp and Wolvaardt, the senior pros, were resolute and unwavering in their focus.This being South Africa’s second-last series in the 2022-25 Women’s Championship cycle, they need a couple of wins out of six to ensure automatic qualification for the World Cup next year in India. They had already lost the opening game, and needed points here. They play England next at home.South Africa didn’t get off to an ideal start, losing three wickets for 67 inside 15 overs. However, unlike on Sunday, the pitch was helping the batters during the chase with the Indian spinners not getting enough grip and turn under lights. That helped Wolvaardt and Kapp settle in and then go big in the last 15 or so overs.Initially, they kept the scoreboard ticking over, putting away the loose deliveries and taking singles off good ones. That clarity and patience saw both the set batters converting their starts and getting to half-centuries.Kapp, playing as a pure batter with her workload being managed following a back injury, thrived under pressure and hit 11 fours and three sixes in her 94-ball 114. Wolvaardt, who became the first South Africa batter to score 4000 runs in women’s ODIs on the night, took calculated risks and paced her innings well to stay till the end. Her knock had 12 fours and three sixes.With 148 runs needed from the last 15 overs, the pair accelerated. Even after Kapp was dismissed in the 43rd, courtesy a superb catch from Vastrakar at long-off, Wolvaardt kept going hard, striking the ball effortlessly.Nadine de Klerk’s cameo of 28 also helped South Africa get closer. Till, in the end, they fell just short.

Coach Chandika Hathurusingha wants his players to bat like they do in the BPL

Mohammad Isam08-Mar-2023On the eve of the first T20 international against England, several Bangladesh batters were gathered around one of the centre wickets at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. There was laughter, shouting, and balls flying in different directions. The acoustics of the Chattogram venue lets you hear what is being said in the middle from the sidelines, and it became apparent the players were taking part in a game where the batter had to keep hitting sixes to continue batting.As Shakib Al Hasan hit one towards the long-on boundary at the media centre end, the rest of the group comprising Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Towhid Hridoy and Rony Talukdar burst into laughter and rushed towards their captain. They were saying that Shakib had failed to clear the boundary and so had to let the next batter have a go. Shakib was having none of it, waving them back and smiling sheepishly. You can’t really win against Shakib on a cricket field, can you?That fun exercise was part of Bangladesh’s larger endeavour to become a more proactive and big-hitting T20 unit. They haven’t succeeded yet, but with the next T20 World Cup a little more than a year away, they have the time to do it. Their new coach Chandika Hathurusingha joined in the action in the middle for a while to observe what was happening, and said later that he wants the players to bring what they do in the BPL to the international stage.”I am very open to see what we can do,” Hathurusingha said. “I expect players to do the same thing that got them selected. So go and show in the international level against the world champions, for them to understand where they are at, and for us to understand whether we are better than them in our conditions or they are better than us. Good opportunity for us to see our skillset in T20s.”Towhid Hridoy and Rony Talukdar were among those who impressed Hathurusingha in the nets, but he wants to see what they do in match situations.”I have seen Rony before. I remember he played one game against South Africa. I can’t remember if he got injured or some other people started doing well,” Hathurusingha said. “I am actually very interested to see what he can do.”Hathurusingha, who re-joined Bangladesh as head coach last month after a six-year gap, , said he had observed an overall improvement in the team, despite losing the ODI series to England 2-1.”It is a good start. I was impressed with certain areas. The fast bowlers did well in not so helpful conditions. Their discipline and understanding of the game, especially Taskin and Ebadot, stood out. I was happy with the fielding effort. I think we out-fielded England. I have observed a few things that we can get better at in batting.”We have to be the best fielding side in Asia. We can’t compare with others, but we know where we need to get to. Young legs on the field definitely helps fielding. They are faster, energetic. Hridoy is one of the really exciting fielders.”Still, T20 cricket is mostly about runs, and Bangladesh are still a long way from being a legit big-hitting side. Hathurusingha believes a lot depends on physical power – an area Bangladesh have traditionally struggled with – but batters can develop a good swing and base to improve their hitting ability.”Power is a big factor,” Hathurusingha said. “But you need to have good mechanism like good swing, good base. You can get little better but if you have power, it gives you a head start more than others.”Bangladesh play England in the first T20I in Chattogram on Thursday, followed by two game in Mirpur on March 12 and 14.

All of Australia’s away tours in the current WTC cycle are in the subcontinent

Andrew McGlashan02-Jan-2022Nathan Lyon is excited about the prospect of forming a spin partnership with Mitchell Swepson, but the weather forecast and recent history at the SCG may count against it happening this week against England in the fourth Ashes Test.With the Ashes secured and England providing weak opposition there is a school of thought that the upcoming Test is a prime opportunity to blood Swepson, the Queensland legspinner, ahead of Australia’s overseas campaigns in Pakistan and Sri Lanka later in the year.The emergence of Cameron Green as a viable option for a third quick, having had a major impact with the ball this series, would allow Australia to field a balanced attack. But showers are forecast throughout the contest while the SCG has not been a happy hunting ground for spinners of late.Lyon bagged a 10-wicket match haul against New Zealand in 2019-2020 but averages 40.94 on the ground while over the last decade spinners have averaged 48.17 – the third highest of all Australia’s men’s Test venues.However, Swepson is as ready as he’ll ever be for his chance at Test cricket. With all three of Australia’s World Test Championship away series in the current cycle on the subcontinent, he could have a big say in how the side builds on their Ashes success.”I think Swepo has been Queensland’s best player for a number of years,” Lyon said. “Obviously I’m a big fan of spin bowlers so probably watch him a lot closer than what I watch Marnus [Labuschagne] or Uzzie [Khawaja]. He’s been around our group for a long period of time now and when he gets his opportunity, no doubt he will take it and run.”I’m excited about our relationship, our friendship is fantastic already, but really excited about the opportunity to bowl in tandem with Swepo whenever that may come, whether that’s here in a couple of days or in Hobart or in Pakistan.””I love bowling in partnership with spinners for sure. I’ve done it a lot in subcontinent conditions so if the opportunity does come to play two spinners I know we’ll really enjoy building that partnership. We’ve been doing it in the nets but it’s a lot different.”Usman Khawaja is likely to replace Travis Head in Sydney•Getty Images

Lyon did not believe a dodgy forecast (not entirely unusual for a Sydney Test) had to spell the end of Swepson’s hopes although it strengthens the likelihood that Australia will retain their usual balance. Josh Hazlewood is expected to train fully on Monday as he continues his recovery from the side strain he picked up in Brisbane and it could yet be that Scott Boland does not retain his place despite the 6 for 7 he claimed in Melbourne.”It seems to be every time we put stumps in the ground here it brings the rain which is unfortunate,” Lyon said. “Does it become a bit challenging for spinners? Yeah, it can if the ball gets wet, but we are pretty lucky these days with the quality of the groundskeepers who make the surface pretty dry and the ground drains pretty quickly.”Swepson will only be selected if he is genuinely part of Australia’s best attack to win the match with World Test Championship points available and the hunger to take the series with a whitewash to extend England’s barren streak in Australia that dates back to 2010-11.”There’s no more dead rubbers – and I’ve never considered them when you wear a baggy green – firstly because there’s the World Test Championship and we want to go 5-0 up,” Lyon said. “If the conditions suit then we pick the best team to win that Test to make sure we keep moving forward. The Ashes for me is the pinnacle but I’d love to be part of a Test Championship final to state our case for the No. 1 team in the world.”Australia’s squad will be bolstered on Monday by Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis who were driving up from Melbourne on Sunday – to avoid the risk of a commercial flight – having been added to as cover following Travis Head’s positive Covid-19 result which has ruled him out. Usman Khawaja is expected to come into the XI.Marcus Harris is also driving himself to Sydney having not joined the team’s charter flight as an extra precaution after he dined with Head. Nic Maddinson will remain in Melbourne for now but continues to be a stand-by player. All Australian squad members, staff and families returned negative results in the latest round of testing.This will again be the traditional Pink Test at the SCG which has become a central part of the Australian cricket calendar to raise funds for the Jane McGrath foundation. But Glenn McGrath will be unable to take part in the lead-up activities and at least the first two days having tested positive for Covid-19. It is hoped he may be able to attend by day three on January 7 which is the official Jane McGrath Day.