All posts by h716a5.icu

Tillakaratne Dilshan crashed the farewell party of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara with a spectacular all-round show, but the departing pair would leave the crowd with one final jewel

Andrew Fidel Fernando16-Dec-2014In characteristic Sri Lankan style, Colombo was a little late catching on to the bit of history about to transpire on Tuesday. Only after the hill country had welled up to farewell its cricketing king did the buzz come slowly alive in three-wheeler stands and bus halts on the coast.”, it’s these buggers’ last match, no? Do you think there will be tickets left?”There were, of course, tickets left. Like political crossovers in election season, sold out matches materialise spontaneously in Sri Lanka. Leave applications were filed late on Monday evening. Tuition classes were bunked. Colombo geared up for a party, and must have had little trouble locating the flags, face-paint and , so blessed have they been with the frequency of cricket celebrations this year.The buggers, though, did not have their greatest outing with the bat. Mahela Jayawardene lit the fire beneath Sri Lanka’s innings, making a shimmering 28, before being torched by his own blaze. The crowd, in characteristic Sri Lankan style, had not by that stage fully arrived. But it quickly overcame its stunned silence and rang out in chants of “Maiya, Maiya”, before transitioning seamlessly to “Sanga, Sanga” as the next bugger arrived at the crease.There was talk, on social media and in the stands, of dual hundreds for the pair, or at least a century-stand, like they had had in their last Test outing together. Instead each gave renditions of their most frustrating innings. Jayawardene had fallen attacking too lavishly after having looked like he would hit a million runs in the innings. Kumar Sangakkara revived a classic from a bygone era of his career. He began slowly on a good batting track, set himself to go big, then promptly got out to a mediocre delivery, finishing with a strike rate of 66.Stage now ceded, Tillakaratne Dilshan took well to the limelight, as is his wont. The Khettarama hordes had come wanting runs from others, but they are not that choosy really, and no strangers to disappointment. The party sped over those speed bumps and rolled right on into the evening; the stands gyrating in Mexican waves amongst all the two-step dancing, trumpet playing and arm flailing.Dilshan looking to play on post World Cup

Tillakaratne Dilshan said he has no plans to retire from limited overs cricket, even as the team’s other senior batsmen, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, have confirmed they will not play ODIs beyond next year’s World Cup. Dilshan has been in form with the bat in the past two years, and also finished as Sri Lanka’s top wicket-taker in the seven-match series against England.
“I haven’t made any decisions on my future yet,” Dilshan said, “but I am performing well in all three departments and that’s satisfying. I want to continue for one or two years. When I feel that I have had enough I will go, but I haven’t decided to quit T20s or ODIs.”
Dilshan has had four different batting partners over Sri Lanka’s two most recent series, but said he has no preference on who should open with him. “I am not going to change my style so who my partner is doesn’t really affect me. Kusal Janith is a really good player, and he can serve our cricket well if he scores some runs. I hope I will get a good partner before too long.”

Chris Jordan’s routine threats to throw down the stumps brought repeated rounds of hooting, but he’s among the luckier hootees in the stadium’s recent history. When politicians from any party have shown up, the hooting can last for minutes. The president’s last appearance at the ground, during the World T20 final, brought such a reaction, and he hasn’t been seen since. Set deep inside one of Colombo’s workingest-class neighbourhoods, in which Muslim calls to prayer and Buddhist sometimes drift in and interlock on Friday evenings, the ground at Khettarama is the people’s domain. No bigwigs are tolerated. No cheap political points to be scored on this turf, only runs.So on Dilshan went, signing up a rejuvenated Dinesh Chandimal for a sidekick, while the clouds glowed orange overhead and peels of thunder added bass to the music pouring out of the stands. It would only rain boundaries today. Dilshan cracked two consecutive fours off Harry Gurney to move in the eighties, before he reached triple figures soon after, and went on a long celebratory run, which featured two kisses blown in the direction of the dressing room. One each for Sanga and Mahela? “No, that was for my wife,” Dilshan said afterwards. He knows the bromance doesn’t need a third wheel.There would be more from Dilshan, after Thisara Perera made brutal use of England’s apparent yorker embargo in the death overs. He’d open the bowling and remove Moeen Ali for the fourth time in the series, then scalp Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan too. Jayawardene and Sangakkara did not seem to mind. Dilshan was crashing their party, but he’d also brought all the food and booze. A few fully-flung stops at backward point put the finishing touches on the Dilshan show.”Always I try to keep things light and enjoy myself on the field,” Dilshan later said. “I would like all 300 balls come to me. You can contribute a lot on the field. You can’t be lazy and you have to look forward for each ball to come towards you. Then fielding becomes enjoyable.”He would earn the Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards for his fielding, the 12 wickets at 24.75, and 357 runs at 51, but the night would end on the best possible note for the Khettarama crowd. If Sangakkara and Jayawardene could not strike batting gold, they would at least leave the crowd with a jewel. Jayawardene took the ball in the 44th over, and the party rose quickly to its crescendo, then broke into an unreal dimension of noise and joy when he and Sangakkara combined for the first time in the field, to clinch the win.A thrilling day, a handsome win, rarely perfect, but the cricket keeps drawing the people in – days like this is what Colombars and Sri Lankans dream about.

Plays of the day from the first ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Christchurch

Andrew Fidel Fernando11-Jan-2015The change-up
Pushing a batsman back with a bouncer then nailing him with a yorker has been a fast-bowling strategy for many decades, but Mitchell McClenaghan ended up being struck for two fours attempting that most reliable of tricks. His first four balls of the match were dots, then banged in the fifth one for Mahela Jayawardene to climb into an upper cut, which flew over the slips. The next one was full and fast and was punched crisply to the cover fence.The slip
A nervy runner at the best of times, Angelo Mathews knocked a ball into the leg-side in-field in the 23rd over and took off immediately, adamant there was a run. Jayawardene disagreed, however, given the man swooping on the ball was Brendon McCullum. Mathews was a third of the way down the pitch when he registered that Jayawardene was sending him back, but slipped and fell in his haste to change direction. McCullum had pulled off the perfect pick-up-and-throw from short midwicket though, and Mathews was still on his knees when the bails were whipped off.The comeback
McCullum had terrorised a Sri Lankan offspinner at Hagley Oval as recently as last month, and when he began to wallop another today, the match was at risk of ending quickly. He slammed Sachithra Senanayake over wide long-off as soon as he came into the attack, and the first ball of the bowler’s second over went even further, over long-on. Undaunted, though, Senanayake kept flighting the ball, and extracted enough turn from the pitch to beat an advancing McCullum, leaving Kumar Sangakkara with a simple stumping.The catch
Sri Lanka had dropped several simple chances in the Test series, but the arrival of their most prolific catcher and best fielder for the ODIs, prompted some improvement. Kane Williamson had been Sri Lanka’s chief tormentor in the Tests, and it took a special catch from Jayawardene to dismiss him in this match. From around the wicket, Senanayake pushed a ball across the right-hander, who got an edge to it, and though Jayawardene was unsighted by both Williamson and wicketkeeper, he dived low to his left to collect the ball on the third juggle.

New Zealand have lost their last five World Cup games against Sri Lanka, but the last time they beat them was in New Zealand, in 1992

S Rajesh13-Feb-20151:27

Christchurch proud to be back

15-7 New Zealand’s win-loss record in the last year (since the beginning of 2014). Their win-loss ratio of 2.14 is third during this period, next only to Australia (3.40) and South Africa (2.28). Sri Lanka are fourth, with a ratio of 2.14.5 Number of consecutive World Cup games in which Sri Lanka have beaten New Zealand: once in 2003, and twice each in 2007 and 2011, including the semi-finals of both years. The last time New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in a World Cup game was in the 1992 tournament in New Zealand, when the hosts won by six wickets in Hamilton. Overall, Sri Lanka have a 6-3 advantage in World Cup games against New Zealand.21-11 New Zealand’s win-loss record in home ODIs against Sri Lanka. However, that’s largely because New Zealand won the first nine matches, in the 1980s and early 1990s. Since then, the record is a more even 12-11. The overall advantage is also negligible: 41-40 in New Zealand’s favour.8.82 New Zealand’s batting run rate between the 41st and 50th overs of an ODI innings since the beginning of 2013, which is the best by far among all teams. It is almost a run ahead of India, who are in second place with 7.88, while Australia are third at 7.87. Sri Lanka are in seventh place with a run rate of 7.55.Angelo Mathews has scored 1298 ODI runs at an average of 59 and a strike rate of 88 over the last year•Getty Images180 Luke Ronchi’s strike rate in the last ten overs in the last two years: he has scored 323 runs in 179 balls.21.69 New Zealand’s average opening partnership in ODIs since the beginning of 2013, which is by far the worst among all teams; West Indies are next with an average of 28.57. New Zealand have only one century partnership in 43 innings during this period, and their last five opening stands read as follows: 43, 31, 0, 0, 0.4 The number of Sri Lanka batsmen who’ve scored more than 1000 ODI runs since the beginning of 2014: Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews and Mahela Jayawardene. Three of them – Sangakkara, Dilshan and Mathews – have averaged more than 45 in doing so, with Mathews scoring 1298 runs at an average of 59 and a strike rate of 88.1 Number of New Zealand batsmen who’ve scored 1000-plus ODI runs during this period: Kane Williamson has made 1177 runs at an average of 69 and a strike rate touching 90. Ross Taylor is almost there too, with 995 runs at an average of 62 and strike rate of 87.463 Number of ODI runs Brendon McCullum has scored during this period, at an average of 27.23 and a strike rate of 117.21.25.50 The combined average for Sri Lanka’s batsmen in ODIs outside Asia since the beginning of 2013, the worst among the top eight teams.38 Wickets for Ajantha Mendis in ODIs since the beginning of 2014; however, he is not a part of Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad. Among those who are in the squad, their leading wicket-taker is Sachithra Senanayake, with 31 at 29.54. Mendis took his wickets at an average of 21.63.

Stats highlights from Pakistan’s stunning win against South Africa in Auckland

S Rajesh07-Mar-20159-14 South Africa’s win-loss record when they’ve batted second in ODIs since the beginning of 2013; among the top eight teams, their win-loss ratio of 0.642 is worse than all teams except Pakistan, who have a 10-18 record. When batting first, South Africa have a 24-8 win-loss record, which is easily the best among all teams during this period.6 Number of dismissals for Sarfraz Ahmed, which equals the ODI record. It’s happened 15 times in all one-day internationals, but it was only the second such instance in a World Cup game. The previous one was by Adam Gilchrist against Namibia in 2003.1 The number of times Pakistan have beaten South Africa in a World Cup game. Before today’s match, they had lost all three World Cup games against them. South Africa have thus lost their first World Cup match against both India and Pakistan in this tournament, after beating each team on the three previous instances.9 The number of wickets for Pakistan’s fast bowlers in the South African innings – Mohammad Irfan, Rahat Ali and Wahab Riaz all took three wickets each. It’s only the second instance of left-arm fast bowlers taking nine wickets in an innings in an ODI game – the previous occasion was also by Pakistan, and also in this World Cup: against Zimbabwe in Brisbane a week ago, Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz took four each, while Rahat Ali took one.42 Half-centuries for Misbah-ul-Haq in ODIs, without a single century. The next highest in terms of ODI fifties without a century is 25, by New Zealand’s Andrew Jones.124 AB de Villiers’ strike rate in his last 31 ODI innings: he has six hundreds and 10 fifties during this period, and averages 78.41.1423 Runs in ODIs for de Villiers against Pakistan in 30 innings, at an average of almost 62 and a strike-rate of 91. It’s the most runs he has scored against any opposition.21 The runs scored by Pakistan in the 16th over of their innings, bowled by JP Duminy. It’s equals the most runs they’ve scored in an over in the last five World Cups. They’ve had two other instances of 21 runs in an over in World Cup games during this period: against England off a Craig White over in 2003, and against Kenya in 2011 off a Jimmy Kamande over.6 The number of times, in 23 ODIs since the beginning of 2014, that Pakistan reached 100 within the first 20 overs.350 Sixes for Shahid Afridi, which makes him the first to get to that mark in ODIs. Sanath Jayasuriya is next with 270. (Click here for the list of leading six-hitters in ODIs.)

It can be hard to remember individual strokes from Alastair Cook, but the accumulative effect over the years has been a reassuring presence at the top of England’s order and there is still much more to come

George Dobell at Headingley30-May-20152:01

I’ve never been nervous in the twenties before’ – Cook

When architects know they cannot get away with the word “beautiful” to describe their latest creation, they often use the word “iconic” instead.The Gherkin in London is iconic. So is The Shard and The Bullring in Birmingham. Almost every building in Dubai might be described the same way.It is an expression that may also be applied to Alastair Cook. Cook is the producer of iconic innings. Rarely could you describe his batting as elegant or beautiful. Rarely do spectators purr with joy while watching him or kids go home and practice his nudge off the hips in the mirror.Instead, Cook provides a sense of reassurance. Like home insurance and breakdown cover, it might not be exciting, but you are glad it’s there.When people talk of Cook’s batting they tend not to talk of strokes or individual memories. Think of his highest score: the monumental innings – let’s call it iconic – of 294 against India at Edgbaston. It is hard to recall a single individual stroke.Instead they talk of the statistics. And eventually the weight of the runs scored, the records broken and the games shaped, overwhelm and admiration follows. He is now the top run scorer for England in Test history and the top century-maker for England in Test history. And he is just 30. Given decent fitness – and he remains as fit as anyone in this Test squad – he has a chance of surpassing even Sachin Tendulkar’s Test run-scoring record.Indeed, it is revealing to recall that, after that 294 it was not a celebratory Cook that spoke to the media. It was a Cook that regretted falling six short of a triple century. His hunger for runs will not easily be abated.It is one of the myths of modern cricket that batsmen – even in Test cricket – have to be positive. Yes, they have to put away the poor ball. And yes, they have to have to be positive in defence and attack. But just as there was a place for the likes of Geoff Boycott or Chris Tavare, there is still a place for the man who forces bowlers into second and third spells, who sees the shine off the ball, who accumulates rather than dominates and attempts to suffocate rather than destroy. Who plays, in short, old-fashioned Test cricket.There were two things to note at the moment Cook passed Graham Gooch’s record to become England’s most prolific run-scorer in Test history. The first was that he did it with a cover drive; a shot that was almost completely absent from his repertoire through the “lost weekend” of the second-half of 2013 and most of 2014. And yes, that is a long weekend.

He is benefiting from the space provide by his omission from England’s ODI side – a decision which may well prove to have been the making of him as he rises again as a Test batsman

It was another sign that his form has returned to something approaching its best. He is not simply plundering runs against an ordinary attack – far from it – or enjoying some improved fortune. He is benefiting from the space provide by his omission from England’s ODI side – a decision which may well prove to have been the making of him as he rises again as a Test batsman – and the technical work carried out in the nets with Gooch that has reminded him where his off stump is and allowed him to leave and defend with far greater certainty.The second was the reaction from the crowd. For the second time this summer, Cook received an unusually prolonged ovation which spoke not just of admiration for his batting but affection for his character, too.It was a similar story at the Ageas Bowl last summer. When Cook, hideously out of touch but fighting for his future, made it to lunch, the Southampton crowd greeted him with a warmth that reminded him that, for all the criticism in the media, he remains popular with the constituency he is meant to represent: the general public. London, Leeds and Southampton have all delivered the same message. As we learned at the General Election, it pays not to gauge the mood of the nation by Twitter.The depth of Cook’s resurgence will be probably measured on his success in this summer’s Ashes. His heroics in 2010-11 – when he averaged 127.66 in the five Tests – sometimes mask the fact that, in his other four series against Australia, he has never averaged more than 27.70. This summer may even define his reputation. Not many batsmen can endure five modest Ashes series and claim to be greats of the game.But while Cook remains a fine leader with the bat, he showed in the first half-hour of the day that he remains less impressive in the field. England conceded 53 runs in the first seven overs of the morning against New Zealand’s tailenders as they abandoned many of the basic principles of bowling with tactics that were too clever by half. In a situation crying out for slower-balls and yorkers, England’s bowlers instead persisted with a barrage of short balls and a ring of fielders on the leg side boundary. Those 53 extra runs could yet prove crucial.The portrayal as Cook-the-clueless-captain v Brendon McCullum-the-magnificent-captain is also simplistic. They are just different, with their own strengths and weaknesses. And while McCullum could no doubt teach Cook a thing or two about tactics, Cook could teach him plenty about the temperament required to prosper in Test cricket. Sometimes – as in the first innings here when he drove to mid-off – McCullum’s desperation to stamp his positive impression upon the game becomes a flaw.That is not to demean McCullum. His record as leader is excellent – New Zealand have not lost a Test series since they were last in England in 2013 and recently enjoyed a fine World Cup campaign – and the cricketing world would be a lesser place without his undiluted aggression. He has made the case for New Zealand’s approach often and well and nobody is suggesting abandoning it. Individually, he also has a Test triple hundred, a monumental match-saving innings against India, to his name.But it could, at times, be tempered with realism. It could, at times, be a little more sophisticated. And just as Jean van de Velde should have been happy with a conservative second shot on the 18th at Carnoustie in 1999, so McCullum might reflect that there is nothing wrong, in a five-day game, in letting the odd ball go outside the off stump. Both literally and figuratively.This Test – this series – has made for fascinating viewing and could yet go either way. But it is not just Cook who is learning about leadership and not just McCullum who has the leadership qualities to admire.

At one-drop in the former Australia captain’s Ashes XI: a gritty left-hand batsman who was a handy opener

Ricky Ponting08-Jul-20151:36

Justin Langer

“He typifies the baggy green cap and what it means to play for Australia. He is a winner and he always tried to help his team-mates out on the field. Not one ball went by without him encouraging the bowlers”

StatsOVERALL: Matches 105 Innings 182 Runs 7696 Average 45.27 100s/50s 23/30
ASHES: Matches 21 Innings 38 Runs 1658 Average 50.24 100s/50s 5/5Best performance250 in Melbourne, 2002
Australia had already sealed the 2002-03 Ashes at home, and Justin Langer set them up for a potential third consecutive innings win in the fourth Test in Melbourne with a career-best 250. Langer put on 195 for the first wicket with Matthew Hayden, and ended up unbeaten on 146 as Australia closed the first day on 356 for 3. The next day it was more runs for Langer: he eventually got 250 before Australia declared on 551 for 6. Langer’s innings included 30 fours and one six which he hit off offspinner Richard Dawson – who finally got him out – to bring up his century.TriviaJustin Langer’s 250 is the second-highest score by a left-hand batsman in the Ashes, after Bob Cowper’s 307, which was also scored at the MCG.

Runs did not flow in the Ashes, but Jos Buttler has dazzled this season in his two T20 outings for Lancashire which have helped the county to another Finals Day

Tanya Aldred27-Aug-2015Standing behind a small table, just inside the foyer of the Central Manchester branch of NatWest, is a man in full-length Lancashire-red nylon pyjamas. He’s tall for a bank clerk, and his hair is immaculate; he has a certain, quiet, presence, yet, remarkably, a handful of people have approached to ask about mortgages.But Jos Buttler is too nice to scoff, even if less than a week ago he was standing at The Oval as Alastair Cook lifted the Ashes, a vital cog in the surprise sporting hit of the summer, and enjoying the most fun he has ever had on a cricket field.He’s back up north now, preparing for Lancashire’s trip to Edgbaston on Saturday for T20 finals day, where they will play Hampshire in the second semi-final. It is another big stage and a chance, perhaps, for his batting to click back, for although his performances behind the stumps were quietly excellent during the Ashes, his batting, so admired since he first walloped a tennis ball as a little boy in Somerset, faltered – he finished with 122 runs at an average of 15.25.”I didn’t score the runs I’d like to, but that can happen,” he says, seemingly sanguine.” I guess that’s the beauty of being an allrounder.”I still feel very confident with my batting, and I feel like I’ve learnt a lot, mentally. I’ve learnt about the intensity of an Ashes series, the media interest and not getting caught up in that and what it takes to score runs. I’ve really enjoyed watching Joe Root, who obviously had a fantastic year, 18 months, forever really!”The biggest thing is, hard as it is, is to worry less. I have to try and look at what can I do as opposed to what people perceive I can’t do.”Lancashire know very well what he can do, even though he has only played two T20 games for them all season. He made 71 off 35 balls as Lancashire beat Yorkshire off the last ball at a heaving Headingley in June and hit another half century off Kent in the quarter-final.Buttler is no stranger to Finals Day. This will be his fifth – he went three times with Somerset (and lost every time) before returning again with Lancashire last summer where Andrew Flintoff narrowly missed carrying them to the title. It was Lancashire’s fifth loss in five attempts. With that history, Buttler and Lancashire can hardly be regarded as a lucky combinationBut he can’t wait.”It’s a great day out. It has become the biggest day of the calendar for the domestic diary, in a way it has taken over from the Lord’s finals. It is such a big thing to get to. It’s pretty much an international environment, with a huge crowd and partisan support. At the start of the year it’s the one every county cricketer pencils in, in the hope that they’ll be there.”Finals day attracts record sales

NatWest Blast Finals Day is set to be bigger than ever at Edgbaston with record ticket sales confirmed for the biggest day in domestic cricket.
For the third consecutive year, Edgbaston will set a record attendance for the tournament, with 24,300 spectators expected on Saturday with the temporary stand used at the third Investec Ashes Test Match in July swelling the numbers.

And then, in the always polite but slightly steely way of a man who knows his own mind, he hints at a frustration with England’s domestic format, strongly shared by other players, as Wednesday’s PCA survey revealed.”I think that there is such a big opportunity in England to create a T20 competition that really reaches out to kids and the wider audience who might not necessarily be massive cricket fans but can really get into Twenty20. It is such a great format and if we can have a product that works, especially on the back of this summer which has been so exciting, it could be really a good way of getting kids into the game.”You know what it’s like, when you’re that age and you go and watch something with loud music and fireworks and acrobats and cheerleaders and it’s a bit of a show and it’s not just about the cricket, they’ll go home and tell their parents all about it, which is how you get people really involved.”That innings at Headingley – playing for Lancashire against Yorkshire in a Roses match – gives you an idea of what you can have in English Twenty20, a bit of rivalry, a packed house and a really close game.”Joining Lancashire for the 2014 season was a gamble for Buttler who left his beloved Somerset behind to try and further his career hundreds of miles away in a northern city. The coach who recruited him, Peter Moores, left to join England a few weeks into Buttler’s first season, and it was a tough first year. He felt homesick at times, but things have settled down with his girlfriend moving to Manchester and his old England coach Ashley Giles getting the Lancashire job.”It was great that Ashley got the Lancashire job so I wasn’t having to build a new relationship with a new coach from afar. He knows my game from working with me before, which is almost a safety blanket, and makes it a lot easier.”There are a great group of guys at Lancashire who make you feel very welcome even though I’ve not been around much this summer. You feel like you want to do really well for the club and your team-mates because you feel like you’ve missed out and you want to be part of that side.”It really feels like home now. And now when I finish a match I come back to Manchester, which makes a huge difference, as does the passage of time. I took a leap into the unknown to try and get the rewards of what I really wanted from a cricket career and I guess winning an Ashes series means leaving Somerset has really been justified, which makes you feel a lot more at ease with the decision.”And so he returns to Edgbaston in the scarlet pyjamas on Saturday, more familiar, more confident, and determined to win that prize for Lancashire at last.

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Nov-2015Zimbabwe then hit back with regular wickets, as both openers were stumped for 73, leaving the hosts at 173 for 2 in the 35th over•Associated PressMushfiqur Rahim promoted himself to no. 3 and was also dismissed in the same fashion, the first time in ODIs that the top three batsmen were stumped•Associated PressBangladesh then stumbled to 236 for 6 before Mahmudullah survived a controversial run-out call amid lots of drama in the 45th over•Associated PressMahmudullah then combined with Mashrafe Mortaza in a 37-run partnership to lift Bangladesh to a total of 276•AFPZimbabwe were off to a rocky start once again as Chamu Chibhabha was bowled off the second delivery of the innings by Mustafizur Rahman•Associated PressCraig Erwine then joined Regis Chakabva and just as they seemed to foster a partnership that Zimbabwe could build their chase on, both batsmen were dismissed within a span of two overs•AFPSean Williams then took control of the chase…•AFP…sharing a 80-run stand and 59-run with Elton Chigumbura and Malcolm Waller respectively•AFPSabbir Rahman broke the threatening Chigumbura-Williams stand with his part-time spin, dismissing Chigumbura for 45•AFPWaller and Williams were dismissed in successive overs with the score at 188 for 6 at the fall of Williams’ wicket•Associated PressMustafizur then came in and ended Zimbabwe’s chase at 215, completing his third five-wicket haul in nine ODIs, handing Bangladesh an ODI series sweep•AFP

Stats highlights from a run-fest on the third day at the WACA

S Rajesh15-Nov-2015235* Ross Taylor’s score, the highest by a New Zealand batsman in Tests against Australia – he went past Martin Crowe’s 188 at the Gabba in 1985. Kane Williamson’s 166 is the third-highest. Five of the nine highest scores for New Zealand against Australia have been in Perth. Taylor’s current score is also the joint fifth-best by an overseas batsman in Australia.1 Double-centuries scored by an overseas batsman in a Perth Test – Taylor is the first to achieve this feat. The previous-best was 196, by Hashim Amla in 2012. Australian batsmen have scored five double-hundreds in Tests here. This is also the first instance of two double-centuries being scored in a Test match in Perth, and the first instance of three 150-plus scores in a Test in Australia.265 The partnership between Williamson and Taylor, the highest for New Zealand against Australia. The previous-best was also in Perth, in 2001, when Nathan Astle and Adam Parore added 253 for the eighth wicket. It’s New Zealand’s second-highest for the third wicket in all Tests, and the fifth-best for this wicket by any pair against Australia.262 Runs scored by Taylor in ten previous Test innings in Australia, with a highest of 75 and an average of 26.20.105.12 Williamson’s Test average in 2015 – he has scored 841 runs in nine innings, including four hundreds. Among all New Zealand batsmen who have scored 750-plus runs in any calendar year, Williamson’s average is the best.6 Instances of two 250-plus stands in the same Test – David Warner and Usman Khawaja had added 302 in Australia’s first innings. All of these six instances have happened since 2005, and three of those Tests have been in Australia – the other two instances were against India in Sydney in 2012, and against England at the Gabba in 2010.4 Pairs who have put together two or more 250-plus stands for the third wicket*. Before this partnership of 265, Williamson and Taylor had also added 262 against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2012. The other pairs to achieve this are Hashim Amla-Jacques Kallis (three times), Mahela Jayawardene-Kumar Sangakkara, and Mohammad Yousuf-Younis Khan (twice each).5 Tests in Australia where both teams have topped 500 in their first innings. This is the first such instance at the WACA. Three of those five games have been in Adelaide, and all three in the period between 2003 and 2008.3 Instances of two New Zealand batsmen making 150-plus scores in the same Test innings of an away game (including neutral venues). The two previous instances were in 1972, in Georgetown, and last year in Sharjah. Also, the number of New Zealand batsmen who have more than one Test century in Australia: Martin Crowe, Andrew Jones, and Williamson (two each).1 New Zealand batsman who has scored hundreds in successive Tests against Australia – Williamson is the first. Glenn Turner, though, has scored a century in each innings of a Test against Australia, in Christchurch in 1974.2302 International runs for Williamson in 2015, the highest ever in a calendar year by a New Zealand batsman; the next-best also belongs to Williamson – 1933 in 2014.5030 Test runs for Taylor – he is the fifth New Zealander to top 5000 runs in Tests.38.17 The average runs per wicket in Tests in Australia since the beginning of 2012. Among all countries, it’s second-highest, after the average in Bangladesh (41.29).* Nov 16, 0400GMT: This has been edited to include partnerships for the third wicket only.

India Women’s confidence and authority is down to their batting transformation, especially upfront, and it was on display against Bangladesh Women in the World T20 opener

Shashank Kishore in Bangalore15-Mar-2016The first summer downpour descended on Bangalore soon after India Women wrapped up a comprehensive win over Bangladesh Women. Mithali Raj looked up to the heavens and closed her eyes, soaking in the cool air and smell of rain. Then she had a hearty laugh with her team-mates, posed for the pictures and the selfie. Finally, she walked back to the dressing room for a small celebration. The wide grin on Raj’s face was unmistakable as she made her way to the post-match press conference.The pressure of playing at home, seeing themselves on billboards, and trying to live up to the hype around them for the first time at a global event should have been draining enough to put India in a cocoon. But the team responded well and intimidated the opposition, something that hasn’t always been associated with India.The expression of confidence and authority is to do with their batting transformation, particularly upfront. The Powerplay witnessed even the composed Raj deviate from her natural game as she tried to hit her way out. And more often than not, it’s the first six overs that have sealed India’s fate, whether they have been batting first or chasing.Something about the Powerplay has resulted either in a meltdown or a circumspect start. It certainly was that way in 2012 and 2014 World T20s, when India crashed out of the group stages. Invariably, India would struggle to break the opening deadlock to set the tempo, for the strategy was always about preserving wickets at the start to ensure they are afloat halfway through. There has been an air of hesitancy. The belligerence was missing not because batsmen were not capable, but because of the fear of playing one shot too many and perishing.But the calming influence of Smriti Mandhana, who is old school in many ways, has given the openers the cushion and confidence to go out and play the way they want to. On Tuesday, all those niggling thoughts were thrown out of the window as India raced to 50 by the sixth over.While Raj’s game was about using her steely wrists and timing, which most batsmen from Hyderabad seemed to be gifted with, Vellaswamy Vanitha’s gung-ho approach displayed a fine cocktail of fineness and explosive power at the top. The approach has worked for England and Australia, and Raj sees no reason why it shouldn’t for India.”If you are going to have batters who are going to go after the bowling in the Powerplay, there is an amount of risk involved,” Raj explained, when asked about the shift from a circumspect to an aggressive approach. “Vanitha has done well in Australia. We tried to use her in that role against Sri Lanka, and she has done well. With this plan, even if you lose a wicket, we know we have a proper stable batsman in Smriti coming in at No. 3. That is why we have certain roles for all our top order batters, so that they can go out there with a clear picture in mind and know what is expected of them.”Sitting next to Raj with a chuckle was Harmanpreet Kaur, the vice-captain, who is in rich form, with scores of 40, 36, 41 and 50 in her last four international innings. Last month, she made a nerveless 46 in Adelaide as India pulled off their highest-ever T20I chase, against Australia, to pave the way for their first series win against the three-time World T20 champions.Kaur, along with Veda Krishnamurthy and Vanitha, symbolise India’s modern approach – cautious but aggressive – which has become the hallmark of their game. Kaur, like her captain, has a method to her madness. The calmness that she exudes even while attempting the big shots stems from her experience of playing top-flight cricket for over seven years. Most noticeable was her temperament – not one shot was played in desperation even when there were pockets of tight bowling, as momentum seamlessly switched over from one batsman to another. Like Raj, she underlined Mandhana’s importance.”Two years back, we were missing an opener. Vanitha and Smriti’s performance has not only given the middle order confidence, but also reduced our dependency on Mithali, which wasn’t the case before,” Kaur reasoned. “With the start we had today, it was easy for one of us to attack, while the other hangs around.”When asked about her six hitting, Kaur played it down. Clearing the long ropes was a part of their pre-match drill; they spent a sizable amount of time at it on the eve of the match. As much as it may have helped, Raj believes the confidence stems from winning.”More than training [in a specific way], the way the girls have done against Australia have given them confidence and self-belief,” she said. “Harman and Veda (Krishnamurthy) have done well, the way Vani (Vanitha) has come out and given the kind of performance the team requires is fantastic. When you have the self-belief and rhythm which the whole team finds, it’s just a matter of momentum and how you take it forward on a particular day. That’s how it worked for us today.”It’s fair to say India weren’t stretched a great deal on Tuesday. There will be a time in the tournament where they will be made to draw on their reserve power. While the true test will come then, a changed approach has given the batting a liberated feeling, one that could be the key if they are to mount a challenge for the title.