Indian seamers strike on truncated day

Scorecard

Simon Katich scored 32 on an unsatisfactory day for Australia© AFP
 

India A’s seamers, led by Dhawal Kulkarni, made steady inroads to leave Australia A at an unsatisfactory 82 for 3 in a truncated day in Hyderabad. Poor weather continued to take the sheen off the series as play started five hours late due to a wet outfield. The umpires played it by the hour, and after periodic inspections, tried to get in three hours of play. Though the rain stayed away, bad light forced the players off the field with an hour of play still left.A grassy pitch – unaffected by the weather – didn’t deter Simon Katich from opting to bat but his choice wasn’t entirely surprising. Australia’s batsmen recovered well after being asked to follow-on in Bangalore and his decision was probably intended to carry on the momentum.Australia’s opening pair added 88 in the second innings in Bangalore but failed to replicate that effort. Phillip Hughes and Katich saw off the first few overs comfortably, but a lapse in concentration cost Hughes his wicket. Kulkarni, who opened the bowling ahead of Sudeep Tyagi, preferred bowling over the wicket to the left-handers and an away swinger induced an outside edge into the safe hands of Mohammad Kaif at second slip.Kulkarni, however, failed to trouble Katich and was guilty of feeding too many deliveries close to his pads. Katich, a strong on side player, regularly shuffled across his stumps and flicked and glanced Kulkarni for four boundaries down to the region between fine leg and deep square-leg. The Indians continued to attack, packing the inner ring with fielders.Katich’s partner Adam Voges looked to get on top of the seamers, dispatching two half-volleys over square leg. He failed to push on as Kulkarni got one to kick up off a good length, feathering a thick edge to Parthiv Patel. The wicket went against the run of play, just as the Australians were progressing smoothly with a stand of 44. Tyagi, the UP seamer then opened his tally when Katich slashed at a delivery close to his body, with Mohnish Parmar at gully taking a sharp catch. Marcus North and George Bailey were at the crease for a short while before the light deteriorated.The forecast is for more rains in the evenings, thereby diminishing any chance of a result after the draw in Bangalore.

South Africa women punish Ireland


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Isobel Joyce, the Ireland captain, had warned earlier this week that her country’s cricket was going backwards and their opening match against South Africa, when they were bowled out for 63 at Crowthorne, has done little to dispel the myth. Ireland’s summer continued in miserable fashion with a ten-wicket thumping at the hands of South Africa, though they have a chance to make amends in the Twenty20 on Friday.For the visitors, who are set to meet England next week, the win was a timely boost and a good way to start their European tour.Trisha Chetty, the wicketkeeper-batsman, had an outstanding match. She took three catches, made a lightning stumping off a wide, and then scored a belligerent 45 not out off 46, ably supported by Olivia Anderson who scored a quiet 13 not out in her first international away from South African soil.Isobel Joyce, who was seeking her first win as Ireland’s captain after a disappointing series against West Indies, and her twin sister Cecelia, both disappointed with the bat after Cri-Zelda Brits asked them to bat. Only one Irish batsman, Eimear Richardson (19) got to double figures.Despite being a bit rusty after a four month break from cricket, the South Africa bowlers were soon on target. Ashlyn Kilowan, who headed here after a victorious domestic Twenty20 competition, took 3 for 6 with her left-armers, and there were also three wickets for Charlize van der Westhuizen. Sunette Loubser, with 2 for 10, also helped dismiss Ireland for 63.Noor Rhode, who has now clocked up 15 wins from 17 matches as coach was happy with the performance despite a spell during Ireland’s innings when South Africa’s fielding was poor, including a host of overthrows.

Australia snatch win in final-ball thriller


Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out

Andrew Symonds top scored with 87 at better than a run a ball © AFP
 

Australia snatched a victory that should never have been theirs as Shane Watson delivered a superb final over that consigned West Indies to a devastating one-run defeat. Chris Gayle’s 92 had set up what appeared certain to be a successful chase as West Indies pursued 283, but a string of late wickets ensured Michael Clarke tasted success in his first ODI as Australia’s captain.Clarke found out just how tough it is juggling bowlers at the end of a tense match as he used up his main men Brett Lee and Nathan Bracken in the 48th and 49th, leaving Watson as the only realistic option to send down the 50th. But crucially the final overs of Bracken and Lee contained a wicket each and when Shivnarine Chanderpaul (53) was bowled trying to turn Bracken through leg it left eight required from six balls.Darren Sammy and Denesh Ramdin could only manage six singles as Watson pitched the ball up magnificently. Three were needed from the final delivery, which Sammy drove to mid off, where Clarke collected it cleanly to keep them to one and give himself a perfect, if stressful start to his one-day captaincy career.He probably could not believe the result after West Indies were cruising through most of the innings. With eight overs remaining, they had seven wickets in hand and needed just 41 with Dwayne Bravo and Chanderpaul at the crease. Bravo was bowled by James Hopes for 31 but the momentum didn’t really start to shift until a cracking late spell from Brett Lee, who tied down the debutant Shawn Findlay and took 1 for 10 from his final three overs.Lee picked up Findlay through a stunning catch from Michael Hussey, who dived at full stretch to his left at midwicket. Four dot balls to Ramdin followed and West Indies could sense something was going wrong. Disappointment is a feeling that has been common for them in this series, but to throw away such a promising start would have been heartbreaking.Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan had set them off to a terrific start with a 137-run second-wicket stand that was a welcome change in a series where they have cried out for contributions from their senior batsmen. After battling a groin injury and a dip in form, Gayle was back to his best in an innings that featured some powerful strikes, including a ferocious six over long on from a Lee half-volley.Gayle also took a particular liking to Hopes, whom he clubbed flat and straight for six before clipping him for four through the leg side in an over that cost 14. His half-century came in 45 deliveries but his frustrating exit just short of triple-figures – he skied Watson to point, where Hopes took a terrific catch – turned out to be a key moment.Already Sarwan had departed for a well made 63, edging behind off Lee having just dispatched him for a pair of fours. Sarwan pounded the part-time offspinner David Hussey straight over his head for six having started superbly with his first two deliveries driven straight and through cover for boundaries off Lee.The Gayle-Sarwan union seemed to confirm what most observers thought: Australia’s 282 for 8 was unlikely to be enough on a ground with a lightning fast outfield and tiny boundaries. In their three previous one-day internationals at Warner Park, all at last year’s World Cup, the lowest total Australia had reached was 334. On this occasion, despite an excellent 87 from Andrew Symonds and a promising 50 from the debutant David Hussey, it was a string of unfulfilled starts from the top-order players that limited the team’s score.Daren Powell nipped the new ball around dangerously and removed both Shaun Marsh and Watson after they made starts, and when Clarke and Michael Hussey fell in the 30s, Australia were 129 for 4 and in a bit of a hole. But Symonds, the Man of the Match, paced his innings well, starting with singles and twos before launching a late attack that featured a massive six straight down the ground off Powell. It was Symonds’ 101st six in ODIs after he brought up his 100th with a controlled drive over long on against the first-gamer Nikita Miller.Symonds also showed off his version of the reverse sweep, an unconventional take on an already unusual stroke. When Miller pitched the ball on his pads, Symonds shaped as if to play a normal sweep, then ran the ball off the back of his bat down to the third-man boundary. It was nowhere near as gobsmacking as Kevin Pietersen’s switch-hitting but it was innovative all the same.When his 78-ball 87 ended with a drive caught at mid off, it was the finish of a 127-run partnership with Hussey, whose 50 from 51 deliveries included a six slogged over midwicket off Bravo and another driven viciously over long off against Powell. To their credit, West Indies’ bowlers pegged back the rate in the dying overs when they picked up 4 for 23.It was enough to limit Australia to a gettable total. As West Indies know only too well, they should have got it. Instead they will return to the same venue on Sunday for the final match, desperate to prove a point to their critics, including their own disgruntled board president.

Sidebottom wraps up series victory

England 364 (Pietersen 115, Ambrose 67, Broad 64) beat New Zealand 123 (Anderson 7-43) and 232 (McCullum 71, Oram 50*, Sidebottom 6-67) by an innings and nine runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Ryan Sidebottom make swift work of New Zealand’s lower order to wrap up the series for England© Getty Images
 

Given the fine line England have trodden between success and failure over the last few months, during their elongated head-to-head with New Zealand, they wrapped up the series with deceptive ease on the fourth day at Trent Bridge. Ryan Sidebottom, on his home ground, responded to a slightly below-par display on the previous two days with a six-wicket haul to seal an innings-and-nine-run victory after just an hour’s play.Sidebottom has been a frustrated, and often angry, participant during this Test as he watched James Anderson and Stuart Broad claim the bowling honours. He hasn’t quite been at full pace – the back spasm on the first day may have played a part – but, with conditions better for batting than at any stage during the game, Sidebottom showed why he has taken on the mantle of England’s premier bowler.Gareth Hopkins fought hard on his debut in both innings, showing a better technique than many of the top order against the moving ball. But he was the first to depart when Sidebottom found his outside edge with one pushed across the batsman. In his next over, Sidebottom removed the last major obstacle to a swift finish for England, when Daniel Vettori lofted a skewed drive to Kevin Pietersen at point. From then on it was only a matter of time.The lower-order showed little desire to hang around as they flayed at Sidebottom’s probing line. Kyle Mills edged to Andrew Strauss at first slip, then Iain O’Brien was smartly taken by Paul Collingwood at second slip, diving sharply to his left. Collingwood’s batting is in a slump, his bowling is hindered by a sore shoulder, but he can still catch.Jacob Oram offered the lone resistance, finally coming out of his shell and showing what a threat he will be in the forthcoming one-dayers. Instead of ducking the short ball on a slow pitch he took it on, launching a couple of huge sixes over deep midwicket, once off Broad and then a repeat off Anderson.He reached an entertaining half-century off 39 balls, but in the process exposed Chris Martin to four balls of Anderson’s over. It took just one, a thick edge to second slip where Collingwood pouched another neat catch. Anderson deserved to wrap up the match, claiming his ninth wicket, after putting England in such a strong position with his memorable burst on Friday.Anderson also helped spark England’s resurgence in New Zealand, when he took a five-wicket haul in Wellington, as the team recovered from their embarrassments in Hamilton. The bowling attack was changed, freshened up by youth, and in four of the last five Tests they have responded for Michael Vaughan. There is a long way to go for this England team, and some tough questions still to answer, but they at least have the winning feeling to build on ahead of greater challenges.

Morgan hopes other formats will also be welcomed

David Morgan: “IPL has got widespread appeal and has attracted new audiences to the game” © Getty Images
 

David Morgan, the ICC president-elect, has said he hopes new spectators, drawn to the game by Twenty20, will come to love the other formats as well.”I’m proud that Twenty20, a format first developed by the England and Wales Cricket Board, had such a widespread appeal, bringing in new, wider and young audience, which ICC welcomes,” Morgan said at the closing ceremony for the Indian Premier League.Morgan felt cricket was fortunate to possess three formats. “[That is] Twenty20, which thrilled so many people, one-day cricket which is equally thrilling and Test cricket, the pinnacle. In fact, last week all three formats were evident with two great Test matches in Kingston and Manchester.”Congratulating the Indian board and Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, for the tournament’s success, Morgan said it had changed the face of domestic cricket around the world. “It has provided opportunities for other cricket playing nations [to take it forward]. It has got widespread appeal and has attracted new audiences to the game.”There are plans to organise a Champions League – a tournament involving the top two domestic Twenty20 teams from various countries – in England in October this year, following the Champions Trophy.

Nicholson injured, Harvey call-up

THE Western Australian Cricket Association selectors have made one change to the Western Warriors team to play Tasmania in a Pura Cup match at the WACA Ground from December 8-11.Fast bowler Matthew Nicholson has been ruled out because of injury.All-rounder Kade Harvey will replace Nicholson in the Warriors 12.Harvey, 27, has played 11 Pura Cup/Sheffield Shield games.The Warriors team is:Jo Angel (captain), Murray Goodwin (vice-captain), Beau Casson, Michael Clark, Geoff Cullen, Kade Harvey, Scott Meuleman, Marcus North, Chris Rogers, Luke Ronchi, Adam Voges and Paul Wilson.Nicholson, 28, injured ligaments in his right forearm while bowling during Friday night’s ING Cup limited-overs victory over Tasmania.The extent of his injury will be known following an examination by a specialist on Saturday morning.

  • Sunday is Family Day at the Warriors opening day of the match against the Tigers. Loads of fun activities, including Bouncy Castle, Animal Farm, Fastball and Face Painting is on offer for the kids.
Gates open at 10am. Play starts at 11am.

Somerset celebrate the opening of the Playing for Success Study Support Centre

Somerset County Cricket Club claimed another first when the Playing for Success Study Support Centre that is based at the County Ground was officially opened by Mr Michael Phipps, Divisional Manager from the Department of Education and Skills.In his opening speech Mr Phipps told the large group of representatives from the education and sporting world who gathered in the Centre of Execellence for the occasion that whilst three other first class counties, Durham, Leicestershire and Northants also have Playing for Success Centres, Somerset were the first Centre to be officially opened.The state-of-the-art ICT centre, which wasinitially launched at the ground in June, has already provided learning opportunities in literacy, numeracy and ICT for more than 100 young people.The students, aged from ten to 14 years, also benefit from the development of their personal and social education.A summer school was held during the summer holidays and regular sessions are held for up to 20 students at the end of the school day. The star pupil on each course is rewarded by a free membership to Somerset Cricket Club.Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson told those present: “It’s very pleasing that we have been able to put these facilities to good community use, and it is a delight to see the young people here at the County Ground.”The Somerset boss also paid tribute to Simon Lowe who is the Playing for Success Study Support Centre Manager. He said: “With all good ideas you need someone to put them into practice and Simon Lowe has done a superb job. He is very enthusiatic and a great ambassador for the Centre.”.Simon Lowe, a lifelong cricket enthusiast who taught PE and maths at Ladymead School in Taunton for 12 years before taking on his new job told me: “The centre is a fantastic place for young people to come and learn. The County Ground is a great setting for a classroom. Having the players as an integral part of the young people’s learning experiences and the environment of a professional sports club inspires them to attain higher levels than perhaps they are used to at school.”The Playing for Success Study Support Centre is open on four evenings a week, and at present is attended by students from four primary and four secondary schools in the Taunton area.

Afif Hossain credits Mahmudullah's advice with helping his rescue mission

On a difficult, sticky and turning Mirpur deck, 21-year old Afif Hossain hit an unbeaten 31-ball 37 to drag Bangladesh out of a bit of a mess, helping rescue the hosts from 67 for 5 to winning with eight balls to spare. After the victory, Afif said he knew all along that as long as he was not dismissed, Bangladesh would emerge victorious. However, he said that a useful piece of advice from Mahmudullah, the T20I captain, went a long way in achieving that outcome.”When I went out to bat, Riyad bhai just told me one thing. To take two-three overs to settle in,” the 21-year old said. “And personally, my ambition was to return after finishing the game. First thing I did was to assess the wicket and to understand what needs to be done on this surface.”I was aware that if I stay late, I can finish the match. The plan for both Nurul Hasan and me was to just score without losing a wicket because the run-rate was under check.”Afif Hossain is pumped after taking Bangladesh to victory•AFP/Getty Images

After the match, Mahmudullah said that Afif and Nurul showed “maturity” in their partnership. He said that their half-century stand brought “relief” to a “tensed” camp that was downcast after sliding into a losing position after a terrific bowling show.The T20I captain also praised Shakib Al Hasan. Shakib blitzed his way to a 17-ball 26 to keep Bangladesh ahead of the required run-rate early on after returning 1 for 22 in his four overs. Mahmudullah said that “Shakib once again showed how important a player” he is for the Bangladesh team. Shakib’s momentum-building innings, in a low-total run-chase, allowed Afif and Nurul to play risk-free cricket when the pressure was high.Henriques praises Mustafizur’s skillsThat Afif had to take Bangladesh only past 122, however, was courtesy of the bowling effort in the first innings. Left-arm seamers Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam shared five wickets for 50 runs in their combined eight overs, and Afif said their returns had equal impact on the match result that now sees Bangladesh lead Australia 2-0 in the five-match series.”Our pace bowlers made full use of the home advantage we have,” Afif said. “It was natural that our bowlers would bowl to a plan that is successful on these decks. But it needed backing up from the fielders too, which we received.”Mustafizur – who finished with an economy of 5.75 and the wickets of Josh Philippe, Matthew Wade and Ashton Agar – was also the beneficiary of praise from the opposite camp. Moises Henriques, who has played both with and against Mustafizur in the IPL, said that for Australia to put up better totals, it would be paramount to combat the sort of skill Mustafizur brings to games on slower surfaces.”Today Mustafizur showed how quickly he adapts,” Henriques said after the match. “He bowled 24 slower balls (laughs) and did not bowl anything pace on. He just summed up the conditions really well tonight.”The amount of revolutions he gets on the slower ball even on a good wicket is hard to play anyway, let alone on a surface like that. We need to find a way to combat that, and try and get as many runs as possible. It’s quite clear it’s not a 160 to 200 wicket, but we need to find a way to get to 140 or 150 whatever that might be.”

Mushfiqur Rahim's break in doubt due to Australia series quarantine rules

Mushfiqur Rahim could be one of two players asked to stay back with the Bangladesh contingent after their ODI series against Zimbabwe, to avoid a longer quarantine period ahead of their T20I series against Australia next month. Rahim had been granted a leave by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after he had requested to skip the T20Is against Zimbabwe.The BCB and Cricket Australia (CA) had agreed on the condition that both sets of players must be in quarantine ten days before entering the tour’s bio-bubble in Dhaka. Being in the Harare bio-bubble counts as being in this quarantine, which means Rahim’s personal break – which was supposed to be from July 22 – wouldn’t allow him to enter the Bangladesh-Australia bio-bubble until the day of the first T20I between the two sides, proposed to be in the first week of August.Related

  • Mushfiqur Rahim out of Australia T20Is after missing quarantine deadline

  • Mushfiqur Rahim to miss remainder of Zimbabwe tour

  • BCB to enforce strict measures for Australia's visit

  • Rahim to opt out of playing T20Is on Zim tour

Chief selector Minhajul Abedin said that they have to keep the Australia series quarantine in mind, but said a final decision will be taken after discussions with the team management in Harare. Any player on the current Zimbabwe tour who wants to be available for the full Australia series has to remain in Zimbabwe till July 27.”Everyone has to be in quarantine for ten plays to play in the Australia series,” Abedin told ESPNcricinfo. “We have planned to keep two players from the ODI side that’s playing against Zimbabwe, with the T20I side, just in case. We are not taking any chances because there is always the chance of someone getting sick.”After discussion with the team management, we will finalise on July 15 about whether Mushfiq will remain in Zimbabwe. Mushfiq wanted a break from the bio-bubble which is completely understandable. It is very difficult to live inside a bio-bubble. Even we have got tired staying at home, and imagine how the players feel being in hotels for such long periods.”Bangladesh play the ODI series against Zimbabwe from July 16 to 20. The T20Is are from July 23 to 27, and the return flight will bring them home on July 29. Australia, currently in the West Indies, are likely to arrive in Dhaka on July 27 after their last match on that tour on July 25.Apart from the ten-day quarantine, the BCB have already agreed to other requests from, CA including the visitors avoiding the airport hallrooms, stricter control in the team hotel, and playing all five T20Is in Dhaka.

BBL executive Nick Cummins quits Thunder for Tasmania

Nick Cummins has become the first Big Bash League executive to graduate to a role of shepherding one of Australia’s state associations, moving from the Sydney Thunder to succeed the longtime Tasmania chief executive David Johnston.In a significant generational change to cricket administration in the Apple Isle, Cummins will commence at Bellerive Oval in April after four years at the Thunder, where he oversaw its evolution from the BBL’s major basket case to the dual men’s and women’s champions last season and now a respected organisation in the burgeoning league.He will take over from Johnston, who indicated in October that he would retire at the end of the season after holding the role for no fewer than 19 years.”Cricket Tasmania undertook an extensive recruitment and interview process though national employment consultants and Mr Cummins was the successful candidate in what was a very strong field of local, interstate and international applicants” The Cricket Tasmania chairman Andrew Gaggin said.”Nick will bring to Cricket Tasmania extensive experience in a wide variety of areas and also has an intricate knowledge of the Big Bash. Everyone at Cricket Tasmania looks forward to working with Nick into the future. At the same time we also recognise the outstanding service and commitment over 19 years of departing chief executive David Johnston.”Cummins said he was very happy to have graduated from the Thunder general manager position. “I was attracted to the role by the energy and optimism around the organisation, it’s an exciting time to be involved in cricket with the growth of the Big Bash, women and girls’ cricket and junior participation,” he said.”I’d like to thank Cricket NSW CEO Andrew Jones, chairman John Warn and the Board of Cricket New South Wales for their support during my time at Sydney Thunder. I’m very proud of what we have achieved at the club, none of which would have been possible without their guidance and encouragement.”I’d also like to recognise the contribution of my staff, coaches and playing group in building Thunder into the club it is today – a club with passionate support, packed houses and great standing within our community. Finally, I would like to thank the fans for the energy and positivity they bring to every game, win or lose.”Jones said Cummins had been a major player in the growth of the Thunder over the past four years. “Nick has made an enormous contribution to NSW cricket by taking the Thunder from cellar dwellers who lost 19 games in a row, to a highly respected club that won both the men’s and women’s Big Bash titles last season,” he said.”The Thunder is also now strong off the field, with 6000+ members, a full book of sponsors and every home game sold out at Spotless Stadium this season. The Thunder was also the highest-rating club team in NSW in any sport in 2016. Nick has also built a fantastic community foundation for the Thunder.”We are delighted for Nick that his performance has been recognised by Cricket Tasmania. Like our players, we want our staff to achieve their potential in the game, and Nick has well and truly earned the opportunity to take this next step. We will now advertise inside and outside cricket for a worthy successor.”One of Cummins’ first items of business is likely to be work on solidifying Tasmania’s claims to a regular Test match. Ironically it is NSW, the state from which he is moving, that has made no secret of wanting additional Test fixtures in the nation’s most populous state, either at Canberra’s Manuka Oval in the ACT or a second day/night Test for the SCG.Cricket NSW are expected to advertise the role of Thunder general manager next week.