ECB Reporters Network04-Jun-2018
ScorecardWarwickshire maintained their challenge for Royal London Cup qualification by cruising to a nine-wicket win over Leicestershire at Edgbaston.Jonathan Trott (102 not out, 121 balls) and Sam Hain (69 not out, 87 balls) eased the Bears to victory and handed the visitors a sixth successive defeat.The Foxes were punished for wasting first use of an excellent batting track. After winning the toss, Leicestershire reached a relatively promising 135 for 3 in the 24th over but collapsed to 207 all out.While Mark Cosgrove and Colin Ackermann were together, a strong total looked achievable but after Olly Stone dismissed Cosgrove the last seven wickets fell for 72 runs in 19 overs.Stone took 3 for 44 and Aaron Thomason 3 for 45 before limping off with a side strain during his final over.Warwickshire made light work of their small target. Ed Pollock smashed 33 from 18 balls before Trott and Sam Hain added an unbroken 159 in 31 overs.On a good pitch, Leicestershire hit early trouble at seven for two after captain Paul Horton steered Keith Barker to second slip and Neil Dexter sent a return catch to Stone. Cameron Delport hit four successive fours off Stone but then skied a pull at Barker to leave the Foxes 31 for three.Cosgrove and Ackermann got the innings going with a stand of 104 in 17 overs, Cosgrove passing 50 for the fourth successive match before miscuing Stone to mid-off. Thereafter the innings tailed off dramatically.Ackerman lifted Thomason for six over long on then tried to repeat the blow next ball and found only the hands of mid on. Thomason dismissed Lewis Hill lbw, Tom Wells was trapped in front by Jeetan Patel and Zak Chappell spliced a pull at Thomason to short mid-wicket.After Stone rattled Dieter Klein’s stumps with a yorker, last pair Callum Parkinson and Gavin Griffiths had 66 balls at their disposal. They used 24 of them before Parkinson’s off-stump was knocked out by Henry Brookes.When Warwickshire replied, Pollock and Trott put 50 on the board in 38 balls, the half-century brought up by six off Chappell for Pollock over fine leg. Chappell soon got his revenge with a yorker into Pollock’s stumps but Trott and Hain were utterly untroubled.Trott’s second century in successive List A games was greeted by a standing ovation from the big crowd and he went on to escort his side all the way to a win which sets up a mouth-watering group finale against old rivals Worcestershire at Edgbaston on Thursday.

James Anderson has cast doubt on Virat Kohli’s claim that team success in England means more to him than scoring runs

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jul-20182:00

ESPNshorts: Virat Kohli

Responding to Virat Kohli’s claim that team success was more important than his own performances in England, James Anderson has suggested the India captain will be “desperate to score runs” during the upcoming five-match Test series. Anderson, England’s attack leader and the world’s No. 2-ranked Test bowler, is once again ready to duel with the world’s No. 2-ranked Test batsman, Kohli – a contest Anderson termed “exciting”.On July 2, speaking in Manchester on the eve of the T20 series against England, in the only media conference he has given so far on tour (which started late June), Kohli said he had set no targets for himself. He just wanted to have a good time. “It doesn’t matter whether I get runs or don’t get runs, what I want is the team to play well and the team to win,” Kohli said.When Kohli’s comment was put to Anderson, he laughed and playfully suggested that the India captain was telling “lies”. “It doesn’t matter if he gets runs or not? I think he is telling lies there,” Anderson told PTI in a chat conducted during the ODI series. “For India to win here, of course it matters. Virat will be desperate to score runs for his team, as you would expect from the captain and one of the best players in the world.”In 2014, Anderson exposed Kohli’s mindset and technique, getting him out four times in 10 innings. But today Kohli is recognised as one of the best batsman across the three formats. Anderson, who has spent several weeks recuperating from a shoulder problem, acknowledged that point and said that Kohli would by now be better equipped. “I am sure he is practising hard at certain aspects of his game and that will make the battle between him and not just myself, but him and the rest of our bowlers, a really exciting one.”Graphic: Virat Kohli’s six nicks in England, 2014•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Asked whether he would prefer trying to get an upper hand over Kohli with the red or white ball, Anderson suggested neither would be easy. He said that players like Kohli, along with other top-ranked batsmen like Joe Root, Kane Williamson and Steve Smith, had more time and their best quality was they could adapt quickly to any format or condition.”You would think that the red ball swings more or does more off the seam but it doesn’t work like that,” Anderson said. “When the players you mention, and not just Virat, they play the ball so late that they have got so much time and they make you feel slow as a bowler. It is hard with white or red ball. Sometimes when batsmen are trying to be more attacking in white ball cricket than red ball, you might create more chances, but overall it is hard to say.”One big factor that played a huge role in India losing the 2014 Test series 3-1 was the weather. Four years ago it was a genuine English summer: overcast, seaming, swinging conditions. In contrast this summer has seen a prolonged “heat wave”, with the mercury hovering around the 30-degree mark. Anderson said the conditions certainly favoured India on pitches that would be drier, but he was hopeful of some rain before the series begins.

More players could withdraw from the tri-series against Australia and Pakistan following an ongoing player-board fracas over non-payment of salaries

Firdose Moonda25-Jun-2018Zimbabwe have named a squad sans Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza, Graeme Cremer, Sean Williams for their upcoming T20 triangular series at home against Australia and Pakistan next month. While Raza will be playing in the Global T20 in Canada, Taylor, Cremer, Williams and Craig Ervine were omitted following an ongoing player-board fracas over non-payment of salaries. All five players were also left out of the training squad, named last week, and a practice match against a touring Kenyan side.

Zimbabwe squad for T20I tri-series

Cephas Zhuwao, Chamu Chibhabha, Brian Chari, Tarisai Musakanda, Malcolm Waller, PJ Moor, Tendai Chisoro, Kyle Jarvis, Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Mpofu, Ryan Burl, Solomon Mire, Hamilton Masakadza, Wellington Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Ryan Murray

Collectively, Zimbabwe’s players, through their newly-reformed association, have demanded that Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) provides them with a payment plan for two months’ outstanding salaries and their match fees dating back to their tour of Sri Lanka in 2017, by June 25, or they would review their availability for the tri-series. Only the five players named above have made themselves unavailable but ESPNcricinfo understands that up to nine players may pull out of the squad.However, several other senior players were included in the 16-man squad including Kyle Jarvis, Hamilton Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Chris Mpofu and Solomon Mire. Blessing Muzarabani, the fast bowler who made his international debut in a Test against South Africa last year, also found a place in the squad, despite not playing in any of the warm-up matches against a touring Kenyan side. Zimbabwe are yet to name a captain after Cremer was sacked following the failed World Cup qualifier campaign in March.More players could pull out over the next few days, despite assertion from the officials the tri-series will go ahead unaffected. Asked whether he believed the players have fully committed themselves to the tournament, selection convener Walter Chawaguta said: “I believe so. We based our selection on the players that are available. My assumption is that everyone is available and I have no reason to believe otherwise.”Chawaguta left the door open for Taylor and co. to return to the fold and said they would be considered for selection if they make themselves available. “I don’t think there is any doubt in terms of the quality that we have that has been left out of the squad,” he said. “There are some players that have proven themselves over time and there’s been a massive investment in those players. Our hope is that they avail themselves, and if they do avail themselves then the selectors will have to sit down and see where they fit in in the greater scheme of things. Our hope is that things resolve themselves and those players avail themselves.”He also confirmed all five players had withdrawn themselves and called on Taylor, who was lauded by former convener Tatenda Taibu last week, to “set the record straight,” by making a statement on “Twitter or whatever means he chooses,” to explain the players’ grievances.”I’ve personally spoken to everyone one of those players and they didn’t make themselves available,” Chawaguta said. “We started off with four squads originally (for the warm-up competition) because our intention was to have a local quadrangular. When Kenya came into the picture we chose two squads of 30. Those players were contacted but made themselves unavailable. They didn’t play in the tri-series. Towards the end of the tri-series I personally got hold of every single one of those players and every one of them made themselves unavailable until their issues are sorted out. I had a word with Brendan Taylor yesterday and told him it was time he set the record straight. Hopefully that happens soon.”None of the players have made any public comments and have directed questions to their representative, Gerald Mlotchwa, who has been in discussions with ZC over payments and indicated players remained unhappy with the board’s attempts to resolve their debt.On June 14, ZC sent a letter to the players signed by their newly-appointed consultant Vince van der Bijl informing players to expect match fees from the Sri Lanka tour by the end of June and salaries by July 25, a month later than the deadline set by the players.A source told ESPNcricinfo that the players want written confirmation from ZC officials – and in the absence of an MD after Faisal Hasnain’s departure that would mean communication from the chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani – detailing a payment plan for the monies owed.Meanwhile, interim coach Lalchand Rajput, who had coached India Under-19s and was the senior team’s manager when they won the inaugural World T20 in 2007, has taken the depleted squad in his stride. Moreover, he has set them a target of reaching the final of the tri-series, along with a focus on learning how to compete against stronger sides.”I just looked at the players who were available and the best 17, we have picked. My job is to get the best 17,” Rajput said. “I am not interested in who is not available. I want to get the people who are available to perform in the tri-series. As a coach, you like challenges and its a challenge for me. I am looking forward to it. My main concern is to prepare them well to play against the top teams in the world. It’s important that we prepare them well. In T20, there are no favourites. If you play well on a particular day, you win.”

Loughborough marched onto their fifth win in sixth matches as their overseas stars took command of a stiff run-chase

ECB Reporters Network04-Aug-2018Loughborough Lightning 174 for 7 (Villani 61*, Haynes 53) beat Southern Vipers 172 for 6 (McGlashan 55*) by three wickets

ScorecardAussie stars Rachael Haynes and Elyse Villani powered Loughborough Lightning to a fifth win in six matches to stretch their lead at the top of the Women’s Kia Super League and make their qualification for Finals Day look almost a formality.Haynes posted her second half-century of the competition before, in a dramatic finish, Villani crashed four and six off New Zealand all-rounder Suzie Bates after Lightning, chasing a challenging 173 to win, had gone into the last over still needing 11 more runs.Lightning had lost two wickets in the penultimate over as Jenny Gunn holed out to long-off and Lucy Higham was run out, but Villani kept her nerve to finish unbeaten on 61 after lofting Bates for a towering maximum backward of square to complete victory with two balls to spare.It was tough luck on Vipers, last year’s runners-up and the 2016 champions, who produced their best batting performance of the series in a bid to end a run of four straight defeats and keep alive their hopes of reviving their season.Vipers veteran Sara McGlashan posted her highest KSL score with some powerful striking in an unbeaten 55 off just 28 deliveries, including six fours and three sixes, with England’s Danni Wyatt weighing in with 34 as Vipers justified skipper Bates’s decision to bat first by recording their biggest score of the season.Lightning’s hopes of limiting their opponents to a much lower total were high after Vipers lost their two most dangerous batters for single-figure scores inside the powerplay were dismissed both Bates and Tammy Beaumont for single-figure scores inside the powerplay overs.Bates was caught on the mid-wicket boundary when she tried to go after Gunn, then Beaumont, back in the Vipers side after missing two matches because of a concussion injury, top-edged a pull-shot against Sophie Devine, Sarah Glenn safely pouching the catch.Wyatt and Mignon du Preez added 39 for the third wicket yet after Wyatt had holed out off a Glenn full toss in the 10th over and Du Preez had pulled a short ball from Georgia Elwiss straight to mid-wicket in the 13th, Vipers had lost their top-four batters for 83.But McGlashan took charge immediately, punishing former teammate Linsey Smith with four boundaries in an over as the left-arm spinner’s customary control deserted her.A nightmare over from Gunn cost 16 runs as the England seamer conceded 11 in wides, including five from each of two consecutive deliveries.Smith was on the receiving end again as Arran Brindle struck three fours in an over and though Elwiss broke the partnership when she trapped Brindle in front for 26 in the penultimate over, the pair had added 71 in 7.2 overs.McGlashan, the former New Zealand batter and wicket-keeper who retired from international cricket in 2016, finished with a flourish, smiting three huge sixes and a four off the last seven balls she faced, her second maximum off Devine’s last over completing her half-century from the final ball of the innings.Devine was an early casualty as Lightning began their reply but Haynes out on a display of high quality strokeplay and controlled power at the top of the innings.Haynes made 53 off 34 balls and shared a partnership with Amy Jones that helped Lightning to 55 for 1 in the powerplay, laying the foundation for victory.Jones fell for 31 from 18 balls, after which the onus rested on Villani’s shoulders to put her experience to good use.But she was well supported by her partners, who thwarted Vipers’ best efforts to keep Villani off strike and in the end her aggressive hitting, which brought her seven fours and two sixes, made sure her compatriot Haynes’ efforts did not go to waste as Lightning celebrated a third win in five days at the Haslegrave Ground.

The former captain smashed 144, including a last-wicket stand with Tamim Iqbal who came out to bat with a broken hand, to lift Bangladesh to a winning total

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando15-Sep-2018
1:01

Maharoof: SL need specialist batsmen, not allrounders

Mushfiqur Rahim’s sublime 144 hauled Bangladesh kicking and screaming to 261, then a fired-up Mashrafe Mortaza set in motion a Sri Lanka collapse, and the first match of the Asia Cup soon turned into a thrashing – Bangladesh claiming victory by 137 runs, after Sri Lanka crashed to 69 for 7, then 124 all out.A third Bangladesh senior had also played an impressive role in the victory. Tamim Iqbal faced only four deliveries in all, but he had crucially come out to bat again with a broken wrist – which he had sustained in the second over – with nine wickets down. Mushfiqur made spectacular use of his teammate’s bravery, hitting a further three fours and three sixes, as 32 runs were added to the team total, lifting Bangladesh from a modest score to a competitive one.Though his contribution was eventually drowned out by those of Bangladesh’s experienced players, one Sri Lanka old-timer also had an outstanding outing. Lasith Malinga, playing his first international in a year, shook off the rust, struck twice in his first over, and finished with 4 for 23 from 10 overs, to suggest that his one-day career was far from done yet. Had his teammates held all their catches, Malinga might have wreaked even more damage. He should have had Mohammad Mithun – who went on to make 63 in a 131-run stand with Mushfiqur – caught at mid on for one, if Angelo Mathews had held the catch while diving forward. In general, Sri Lanka were woeful in the field, spilling no fewer than four catches, including two off Mushfiqur, who was reprieved on 10 and 85. For the umpteenth time in the last three years, their catching can be said to have cost Sri Lanka a one-dayer.Though perhaps it is their batting that was the worse suit on this evening (it’s often difficult to work out which discipline was the worst with this Sri Lanka ODI team). Kusal Mendis – opening in place of Danushka Gunathilaka – was Bangladesh’s first victim, when he got himself trapped in front of the stumps the first ball he faced. Upul Tharanga had been storming away at the other end, and looked good for a big innings, until, typically, he suddenly played a poor shot. Attempting to steer a Mashrafe delivery to third man, Tharanga only managed to play it on to his stumps. Mashrafe would have a second important wicket soon after – nailing Dhananjaya de Silva in front of the stumps for a duck, with de Silva going on to waste Sri Lanka’s review. The review could potentially have saved Kusal Perera later on.Mushfiqur Rahim celebrates after reaching his sixth ODI century•ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images

In general, this was not an evening of good decision-making from Sri Lanka’s batsmen. Kusal Perera’s lbw (he had actually got a thin inside edge to that ball from Mehidy Hasan) left the team 38 for 4, not long before Angelo Mathews compounded Sri Lanka’s woes by running out Dasun Shanaka as the pair attempted a painstaking recovery. Thisara Perera holed out soon enough, and Mathews was himself dismissed for 16 off 34 balls – trapped lbw by Rubel Hossain. That Sri Lanka even survived into the 36th over and made as many as 124 was down to a plucky tail, who hung around, despite the target being clearly out of their reach. Even the tail’s efforts were not enough to prevent a record though – this victory was Bangladesh’s biggest in terms of runs, away from home.Although Mushfiqur had a little luck early on – having been dropped in the 10th over – his was nevertheless a terrific innings. He had begun slowly, playing out a maiden against the red-hot Malinga, before later producing Bangladesh’s first boundary of the match, off the last ball of the eighth over. He built steadily alongside Mithun, taking an especial liking to Sri Lanka’s finger-spinners, often venturing down the track to them, sometimes to hit boundaries.Although after Mithun fell, Mahmudullah and Mosaddek Hossain followed in quick succession, Mushfiqur batted efficiently with the tail, looking for boundaries at the start of each over, and singles towards the end. Despite his best efforts, the lower order batsmen continued to perish, however, and Bangladesh found themselves nine down in the 47th over, which should have been the end of their innings given one of their batsmen had suffered a fractured wrist earlier in the innings.Tamim, though, made the courageous decision to bat again, with his bottom hand in a cast. He hid that injured left hand behind his body, and rode out a Suranga Lakmal ball at his ribs, to hand the strike over to Mushfiqur, who didn’t disappoint. Mushfiqur moved expertly around the crease to smoke a spate of valuable late boundaries, moving past his previous best ODI score of 117, while twice making sure to take a single off the last ball of the over, to ensure Tamim did not have to face another ball. Mushfiqur had hit successive sixes off the first two balls of the final over, bowled by Thisara Perera, before he holed out attempting a third six. His valiant hand would turn out to be more than enough for Bangladesh to claim an important first victory in the tournament.

He will turn 40 two months before South Africa pack their bags for the 2019 World Cup. Any thoughts of retirement, however, are far from his mind

Liam Brickhill02-Oct-2018Imran Tahir will turn 40 two months before South Africa pack their bags for the 2019 World Cup. Any thoughts of retirement, however, are far from his mind as he focuses on staying at his best for what could be a career-defining event. When he does go, he wants to make sure it’s with his head held high.”I’m trying to go as long as I can,” Tahir said as South Africa prepared for the second ODI of their series against Zimbabwe in Bloemfontein. “Make sure I enjoy my game and I give what the team requires of me. I wouldn’t want to overstay in the team for too long. I want to leave with respect.”It’s also clear just how much it would mean to Tahir to leave the international game a World Cup winner, and he said if South Africa did win the tournament, he’d probably “call it”.”It’s a bit early for me to say anything [about retirement],” he said. “I’m loving the game at the moment. One thing I can say, if we win the world cup then I’ll definitely probably call it. It’s early for me, and I’m enjoying every opportunity I get to play for South Africa.”Tahir had been left out of South Africa’s squad for their trip to Sri Lanka so that the coach and selectors could have a look at some of the team’s other spin options – namely Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj. As a result, Tahir hadn’t played an ODI since February before he returned against Zimbabwe on Sunday, but there was no rust on his wrong ‘un as Tahir – ever the journeyman – spent his time ‘off’ playing T20 cricket in the Vitality Blast and the Caribbean Premier League. “I’ve been playing the game, which is very good for me,” he said, “I’d rather be playing than having a rest.”Tahir picked up a Vitality Blast contract with Durham (astonishingly, the seventh county he has represented), and quickly allayed any fears over his sharpness in cricket’s shortest, youngest format with 15 miserly dismissals, reviving his team’s campaign. He then went on to play a crucial role in Guyana Amazon Warriors’ run to the CPL final. He was the third-highest wicket taker at the CPL, with 16 scalps at an average of 17.75 and an economy rate of under a run a ball.While his short format bowling rhythm is certainly in working order, maintaining fitness is particularly important for Tahir as he tries to stay in peak bowling condition, and he admitted that South Africa’s training standards set the bar high. “I’ve been working really hard on my fitness,” he said. “We’ve got so many fit guys in our team, so if you want to keep the standards up, a guy like me, I need to be really up from a fitness point of view and make an impact. It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m the kind of guy who loves challenges.AFP

“I’m trying to focus my training and take that into the World Cup. I’m developing some bowling and fielding plans and things like that. And preparing for some difficult times when I might need to bowl, and I need to be really up for it whenever the captain needs me to bowl.”In many ways, Tahir’s situation is similar to that of Dale Steyn. Both are in the twilight of their international careers, vital cogs in South Africa’s World Cup plans, and happy to fill a double role of mentoring and guiding the young players around them. Tahir is particularly excited by the prospect of potentially playing in the same starting XI as Shamsi, who he labelled a “mystery bowler”.”It’s a really exciting time that we have another mystery bowler, Shamsi, and I’m really looking forward to playing with him if we play both together in any game. We do talk a lot about the game and make plans well in advance in any series or any game. And from my point of view I’m more than happy to help anyone who wants to talk about spin.”It’s nice to see the spinners coming up. I’m really looking forward to sharing my knowledge with him, and with all the spinners I play with, even at franchise level for Dolphins.”Indeed, Tahir’s value to any team comes not just in the form of his nagging legspin variations, but in his immense, almost unparalleled experience in having represented no less than 37 professional cricket teams. He’s picked up wisdom and dispensed advice virtually the world over.”I always try to help spinners as much as I can wherever I go and play, anywhere in the world. I love to talk about bowling, and whoever comes for help I’m always there. Even in IPL, PSL, I try to help the youngsters as much as I can.”Tahir’s epic cricket pilgrimage has taken him from age group to county, franchise to province, around the world and finally onto the international stage. The journey has made him the quintessential team man.”I want to take as many wickets as I can for South Africa,” he said. “But it’s not always your personal performance. It’s always nice when you do perform, but it’s more important what the team requires from you.”

Shane Warne has lashed out at Victoria’s likely move to bat Finch in the middle order in his one Shield game before the India Test series

Alex Malcolm25-Nov-2018Victoria captain Peter Handscomb has all but confirmed that Aaron Finch will not open the batting in this week’s Sheffield Shield clash against Queensland at the Gabba, despite Finch looking set to open for Australia in the first Test against India.Handscomb, who himself has been named in Australia’s 14-man squad for Adelaide, said a final decision had not yet been made but following Victoria coach Andrew McDonald’s comments last week, suggesting Finch was better suited to the middle order, Handscomb reiterated that Victoria were unlikely to break up their opening combination of Marcus Harris and Travis Dean, despite the fact that Harris and Finch could well be the opening combination for Australia in the first Test in Adelaide.”Obviously Harry has got the call up [to the Australia squad] and Deany has been making runs for us for years, so it’s hard to knock those two out of the opening positions for us,” Handscomb said. “Finchy averages 50 batting at No.5 and 6 for us so it’s also hard to change that as well.”Finch’s average over the last two Sheffield Shield seasons at No.5 and 6 for Victoria is 46.41, from 13 innings only, and includes two centuries and three fifties. His career average for Victoria in those two spots is 32.89 from 29 innings.He has not opened for Victoria since 2013-14 where he averaged just 18.50 at the top of the order in eight innings Shield innings, that did include 97 against South Australia at the MCG.The situation involving Finch’s revolving position has not pleased Shane Warne who came out strongly on Twitter calling it a “disgrace” and that Victoria should be doing what is right for Australia.Finch’s overall first-class average at the top of the order is actually better than his career first-class record. He averages 46 from 24 innings, that includes games for Australia A, the Cricket Australia XI and Australia, with two centuries and six half-centuries.He made 122 in a match for Australia A against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2011, sharing in a 289-run opening stand with David Warner. He also scored 288 not out for the CA XI against New Zealand in a bizarre tour game at Blacktown in Sydney in 2015. He and former New South Wales batsman Ryan Carters put on 503 for the first wicket in 121 overs before the match was abandoned due to an unsatisfactory pitch.Finch made scores of 62, 49, 39 and 31 in the Test series against Pakistan in the UAE after being picked as a makeshift opener for the tour. He had batted no higher than No.4 in his previous 44 first-class innings over nearly three years prior to that tour.He has been opening in T20 and ODI cricket for Australia since the UAE tour but has been struggling for runs. Handscomb believes batting in the middle order in the Shield game would not affect Finch’s preparation for the Test match.”I wouldn’t be worried at all,” Handscomb said. “Finchy has been opening the batting in white-ball cricket. He’s been facing a new swinging ball. And batting No.5 and 6 you also get the opportunity to face the second new ball, hopefully, if we’ve done our job right. He’ll be fine. He’ll get what he needs. If he does open the batting for Australia he’s ready to go.”Handscomb said his own call up to the Australia Test squad had come as a surprise after his omission from the Test tour in the UAE.”It’s a weird one,” Handscomb said. “I was hoping that I was going to get the call but I wasn’t entirely sure what was going to happen and what direction the selectors were going, but obviously I was very happy that they’ve gone with me.”He has not received any indication as to whether he will play in Adelaide but he has been in contact with Australia coach Justin Langer.”He just messaged once the side got announced and just said congratulations and good work on getting yourself back in,” Handscomb said. “But I’ve got another Shield game to go and he just said go out there and showcase what you’ve got.”

While the opener smote his 14th ODI hundred, the allrounder made an impactful return with both bat and ball

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando03-Jan-2019

Malinga earns 20% fine for slow over rate

Lasith Malinga has copped an over-rate fine in his first match as full-time captain, after Sri Lanka were found to be one over short of their target. Malinga will be fined 20% of his match fee, and his teammates 10% of theirs. More importantly, Malinga will face suspension if his team commits another over-rate offence over the next 12 months.
“Malinga pleaded guilty to the offence after the end of the match and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing,” the ICC release said.
Sri Lanka captains have repeatedly fallen afoul of over rates over the last few years, with Upul Tharanga, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal all having suffered fines and demerit points.

Martin Guptill smote a 14th career ton, Kane Williamson cruised to 76 off 74, and James Neesham clubbed 47 not out off 13 – hitting five sixes in an over – to launch New Zealand to a monstrous total, which despite a valiant Kusal Perera hundred, Sri Lanka fell short of by 45 runs.Thanks to the start provided by Niroshan Dickwella, who made 76 off 50, and Danushka Gunathilaka, who joined him in a 119-run opening stand, Sri Lanka had the foundation to pull off an epic chase. Apart from Kusal Perera, however, no other batsmen responded. All four batsmen from Nos. 4-6 fell for less than 20, and struck at less than run-a-ball. In the end, too much was left to Kusal Perera, who despite an incredible hand, was battling an asking rate of over 15 when he got out in the 46th over. With him went all realistic chances of a successful chase, though hopes had been dwindling well before that.Although Guptill made by far the game’s biggest score, hitting 138 off 139 balls, it was Neesham – playing for New Zealand for the first time in over a year – who made the more impactful contributions. Having arrived late in the innings with the bat, he tonked Thisara Perera in the arc between the sightscreen and midwicket five times in one over – the bowler so emphatically rattled by Neesham’s hitting that he even bowled a waist-high full-toss halfway through. With 33 runs having been scored off the first five balls of his over, Thisara was at risk of bowling the most expensive ODI over ever. But the last ball, a low full toss, was only struck to long-on by Neesham.

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He did hit another six to finish the innings though, and then would come back and strike with the ball. He claimed the vital wicket of Dickwella, moving a wide length ball back off the seam slightly to draw an inside edge – the ball then ricocheting back into the stumps. He had earlier had Gunathilaka caught down the legside, and would later bounce Dinesh Chandimal out as well. In a game in which no other frontline bowler went at less than five an over, Neesham took three wickets and maintained an economy rate of 4.75 across his eight overs.Almost as good was legspinner Ish Sodhi, who took 2 for 53 from his 10 overs, and was instrumental in sucking the momentum out of the Sri Lanka innings, just as they were looking to accelerate into the death overs. This, despite struggling for control of his legbreak in the early overs, and battling a leg injury of some description, for which he spent some time off the field.Jimmy Neesham launches one over cow corner•Getty Images

Earlier, both Guptill and Williamson’s innings had been smooth from the outset, and it was their 163-run second-wicket stand that formed the spine of New Zealand’s innings. The boundaries came rapidly for Guptill through the Powerplay, and he was particularly severe when the Sri Lanka bowlers pitched wide, which they did too often.He practically skated through the middle overs, happily working Sri Lanka’s spinners into the outfield on a surface that was offering little turn. Whenever they offered him the chance to free his arms, he did so gleefully. There was an especially memorable six over extra cover off the legspin of Seekkuge Prasanna to bring up his fifty, then a swept six off Lakshan Sandakan a few overs later. As Guptill and Williamson’s scores swelled, the Sri Lanka spinners appeared more and more toothless. Neither created any clear-cut wicket chances.Williamson played another one of his effortless innings, scoring heavily behind square on the offside to begin with, before runs began to come for him right around the ground. He used his feet to the spinners, and had even less trouble turning the strike over than his partner. He had looked good for a century until Pradeep bowled an off-cutter that Williamson was slightly late on – the ball bouncing back on to the stumps. He made 76 off 74 balls.After Sri Lanka had been set their mammoth target, Dickwellla began to attack it in characteristic fashion, getting down on one knee to scoop the quicks over his head; slinking around the crease to make room to hit through the offside. He led the charge in the Powerplay, at the end of which Sri Lanka were 70 for no loss.For Kusal Perera, there were early signs he was in excellent touch. He crashed his sixth ball – a short one from Neesham – to the deep square leg boundary, and clubbed four more fours from his next 15 balls. On errors of length, he was brutal, flicking overpitched deliveries over midwicket, and slamming the short, misdirected ones past square leg.New Zealand were careful not to feed his punishing cut, though, which meant that he only occasionally scored through the offside. He raised his fourth – and perhaps best – ODI hundred by drilling Matt Henry through the covers, but by the end of his innings had scored over 75% of his runs to leg.In fact, it was a ball way outside off stump – one that he perhaps should have cracked past cover point – that was his undoing. Batting on 102 off 85 balls, he reached out to hit an angled delivery from Boult, and wound up only sending a top edge high into the gloves of debutant Tim Seifert, who had run towards point to complete the catch.Sri Lanka may be content with the fight they showed with the bat, but familiar woes have led to another ODI loss. Perhaps chief among those is lack of penetration through the middle overs. Neither Sandakan nor Prasanna could claim a wicket, allowing that giant Guptill-Williamson stand to flourish. New Zealand meanwhile, kept finding wickets through the middle overs, and ultimately claimed a comfortable victory.

Senior paceman was forced to shoulder additional responsibility following the injury to Lahiru Kumara

Andrew McGlashan in Brisbane25-Jan-2019Suranga Lakmal rated his 5 for 75 at the Gabba above his recent career-best figures in Christchurch as it allowed him to achieve the dream of a five-wicket haul in Australia on a day when he had to shoulder additional burden with Sri Lanka losing the services of Lahiru Kumara to a hamstring injury.Kumara, Sri Lanka’s fastest bowler, struck in the opening over of the day to remove Marcus Harris but spent the entire last session off the field. He will be sent for scans to reveal the extent of the injury, but bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake feared it could be a tear, which would rule him out of the remainder of the Brisbane Test as well as the second Test in Canberra.Sri Lanka have already lost Nuwan Pradeep to a hamstring injury on this tour, and have called up Vishwa Fernando as a replacement.When Dushmantha Chameera also briefly left the field, it meant Lakmal was the lone seamer available. He removed Travis Head and Tim Paine in consecutive balls to lift Sri Lanka, who had seen the match go away from them by the 166-run stand between Head and Marnus Labuschagne. Six overs later, he trapped Kurtis Patterson lbw to make it five-wicket hauls in consecutive Tests after his 5 for 54 against New Zealand.”I treasure the Australian five-wicket haul much more than anything else,” Lakmal said. “I always wanted to take a five-wicket haul in Australia and it’s a dream come true. On wickets that help, I try to do my best and I am pretty pleased with my effort.”For a while, it seemed like Lakmal would surpass Ratnayake’s 6 for 66 as Sri Lanka’s best Test figures in Australia, and the bowling coach gave him a little pep talk when he briefly left the field feeling the effects of the workload.”When he came in after his fourth wicket to the dressing room for a break, I told him that he shouldn’t be in the dressing room but out in the middle,” Ratnayake said. “I told him that I saw seven wickets for him in the innings. I told him not to miss the opportunity. Records are there to be broken and I really wanted him to break my record tonight.”Had he done that, we would have kept them down by 40 runs or so, but all in all I am pretty pleased for him. He really felt that the loss of Lahiru is a huge one for us. So he took the onus on him to finish it off.”In the end, Chameera removed Pat Cummins and Dilruwan Perera claimed last man Jhye Richardson, so Lakmal’s figures slotted in at No. 3 for a Sri Lankan in Australia behind Ratnayake’s six-for and Chaminda Vaas’ 5 for 31 in Darwin in 2004.

Ameen scored 52 to guide the chase after Baig and Sandhu took three-fors to dismiss West Indies for 159 in the series decider

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Feb-2019Sidra Ameen’s half-century and three-fors from Diana Baig and Nashra Sandhu led Pakistan to a four-wicket win against West Indies in the third ODI, giving the home team a historic 2-1 series victory – their first against West Indies.The win gave Pakistan two points, lifting them above West Indies to fourth place in the ICC Women’s Championship table. Pakistan now have 12 points, the same as India, but with a much inferior net run rate. West Indies remain on 11 points.The Pakistan bowlers continued their fine show from the second ODI, in which they had bowled out West Indies for 206. This time, the visitors managed only 159. Captain Stafanie Taylor opted to bat, scored 52, and even took 2 for 17, but her all-round show wasn’t enough to take West Indies through.Taylor had to walk out in the first over, Kycia Knight having been bowled by Baig off the third ball of the innings, and she stayed till the 37th over as wickets fell around her. West Indies were in a good position early on till Taylor and Deandra Dottin were batting together but Dottin’s aggressive 28 off 20 came to an end when she was run-out by Nida Dar in the eighth over.Shemaine Campbelle then joined Taylor for a 52-run stand as West Indies consolidated, but once Campbelle was caught behind off Sandhu, the innings stuttered. They slipped from 87 for 2 in the 20th over to 159 all out, losing their last eight wickets for only 72 runs. Only one other batsman – Afy Fletcher – reached double figures after that and she remained unbeaten on 21. The 21-year-old Sandhu built a stranglehold in the middle overs, taking 3 for 21 in ten overs. Baig returned to end Taylor’s 95-ball stay with a return catch, before adding one more wicket to end with 3 for 42 in eight overs.The trio of Sana Mir, Dar, and Kainat Imtiaz were also parsimonious, conceding at less than three runs per over each.Pakistan’s reply was steady, with opener Ameen’s second straight half-century guiding the chase early on. She shared useful stands with fellow opener Nahida Khan, Javeria Khan, and Dar, before falling for 52 off 107 in the 39th over. Ameen’s wicket induced a mini-wobble, as Pakistan went from 128 for 3 to 139 for 6 in the space of 22 balls, but the experienced Mir came in at No. 8 and guided the team home, hitting a boundary with the scores level to seal victory in 47.2 overs.Shakera Selman took 2 for 24 in ten overs while Taylor had a fruitful seven-over stint too. But the other bowlers couldn’t sustain the pressure as much to defend the sub-par total.