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A thrilling last-wicket partnership between Surrey’s Andre Nel and Jade Dernbach helped drag their side back into their County Championship Division Two contest against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road

26-May-2010

ScorecardA thrilling last-wicket partnership between Surrey’s Andre Nel and Jade Dernbach helped drag their side back into their County Championship Division Two contest against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. The pair smashed 118 runs off 147 balls to help the visitors from 268 for 9 to 386 all out, with both making their highest scores in all forms of the game.Former South African paceman Nel hammered 96 off 125 balls, while Dernbach’s knock of 56 not out from 67 balls included two huge sixes. Nel then took two wickets and Dernbach one as Northants moved to 154 for 4 at the close of day three, with wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien top-scoring with 44 and all three results still possible.Surrey began the day on 210 for 7, 187 runs behind Northants’ total of 397, with Matthew Spriegel resuming on 25 and Nel yet to score. Former Sri Lanka seamer Chaminda Vaas broke through in the 14th over of the day when Spriegel’s (43) attempted pull was edged to O’Brien.Tim Linley, who took his maiden first-class five-wicket haul on day two, faced 10 balls without scoring before edging Lee Daggett to O’Brien, who took his fourth catch of the innings.But Nel smashed an explosive half-century, his first for Surrey, off 63 balls before tailender Dernbach surpassed his previous best first-class score of 19, made against Northants last year. Nel then went past his highest total, 56 for South Africa versus Bangladesh A at Worcester in 2008, as the last pair piled on the runs to guide their side to 352 for 9 at lunch.Dernbach reached his first ever half-century off just 56 balls before Nel was trapped lbw just four runs short of an improbable century by former international team-mate Nicky Boje.With their lead cut to 11 runs, Northants were haunted by Nel again in the ninth over of their second innings when his delivery brushed Stephen Peters’ (9) pad before hitting his leg stump. The hosts then lost O’Brien, who made 44 off 55 balls before edging Dernbach to Surrey wicketkeeper Steven Davies with the last ball before tea.Mal Loye, who smashed 164 in his first innings, made it to just 20 this time before being caught leg before by Chris Schofield in the first full over after the interval.Rob White made a patient 29 as part of a 50-run partnership with Boje before throwing his wicket away by needlessly launching Nel straight to Linley at fine leg. Northants captain Andrew Hall and ex-skipper Boje then guided the hosts to the close, which came five overs early because of bad light.

Eoin Morgan hit an unbeaten 79 off 34 balls as Middlesex thrashed Glamorgan by 84 runs to claim their third successive victory

15-Jun-2010
ScorecardMorgan’s onslaught included five sixes and seven fours•Getty Images

Eoin Morgan hit an unbeaten 79 off 34 balls as Middlesex thrashed Glamorgan by 84 runs to claim their third successive victory and move into a challenging position in the Friends Provident t20 South division. Morgan’s onslaught, which included five sixes and seven fours, took Middlesex to a total of 213 for 4 – their highest in this form of cricket.However, the success was set up by Adam Gilchrist, who has taken over the captaincy from Shaun Udal on his return to Richmond – the club where he played as a 17-year-old. Gilchrist had made 29 out of 50 in five overs by the time David Brown gave Glamorgan some respite by taking two wickets in three balls. He bowled David Warner for 13 and then had Neil Dexter smartly stumped by Mark Wallace.There seemed to be no stopping him as he raced to 50 off 29 balls with three sixes, two off James Harris and one off Shaun Tait, and six fours – but then he tried to turn Robert Croft on the legside and was leg before wicket for 51.That only brought in Morgan – who was soon displaying his array of improvised shots, including a carve for six off Tait and a scoop for four off Jim Allenby, as well as more conventional strokes which brought him a six and four fours in one over from Brown. Morgan and Owais Shah had put on 88 in eight overs when Shah was caught by Brown at midwicket off James Harris for 30 and Morgan went on to add another 43 off the last three overs with Dawid Malan.To make it harder for Glamorgan to bear, Malan was badly dropped at mid-off by Dean Cosker off Allenby in the penultimate over and he made them pay by hitting Tait for two sixes and four fours to finish unbeaten on 27.Glamorgan made a brisk enough start but once Mark Cosgrove had been well caught by Dexter, running in from deep square leg, wickets fell regularly against Middlesex’s slow bowlers.Dexter picked up two in four balls when he bowled Allenby and had Tom Maynard stumped, Tom Smith took four for 23 with his left arm spin and Udal showed he still has plenty to offer as an off-spinner by claiming 3 for 24 as Glamorgan slumped to 129 all out in 17 overs.

Ireland’s returnees from the county circuit, William Porterfield and Boyd Rankin, combined to inflict a big defeat on Bangladesh in the first ODI in Belfast

Cricinfo staff15-Jul-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Junaid Siddique’s maiden ODI ton was in vain•Grameenphone

Ireland’s returnees from the county circuit, William Porterfield and Boyd Rankin, combined to inflict a comprehensive defeat on Bangladesh in the first ODI in Belfast. Rankin shone with his seam bowling, helping Ireland restrict the visitors, and Porterfield struck a century to extend his team’s unbeaten run since the start of the ICC World Cricket League Division One in the Netherlands. The effort undermined a maiden ODI century from Junaid Siddique, who had led Bangladesh’s recovery after a poor start.The signs were ominous for Bangladesh in the second over in the chase. Syed Rasel’s gentle left-arm seamers were punished by opener Paul Stirling, who struck three fours, dispatching two short balls and driving one through the covers. Stirling gave the innings impetus, and allowed Porterfield time to settle in at the other end. Stirling didn’t hesistate to go over the top against the seamers and collected boundaries towards long off, and by consistently piercing the in-field on the off side.Porterfield opened up against spin, driving Shakib Al Hasan straight and lofting him over long-off for a six. The pair had no difficulty pinching singles either during the Powerplay, and any possibility of an extended period of quiet was thwarted by an aggressive shot, like Porterfield’s pulled six off Rubel Hossain in the 15th over.By the time Bangladesh struck, in the 20th over, the openers had added 118, giving the batsmen to follow an ideal foundation from which to finish things off. And they did, with Porterfield reaching his fifth ODI century. Alex Cusack stayed till the end, finishing with an unbeaten 45, and sealed the chase with five overs to spare.The comfort with which Ireland cruised to victory rendered an impressive performance from Siddique hopelessly inadequate. He had, together with Shakib, put on a century stand to overcome the early loss of the openers, including the in-form Tamim Iqbal, who had been dismissed by Rankin and Trent Johnston inside the first three overs.Siddique, however, appeared confident from the outset. He opened his account with a straight drive off Johnston and followed it up by easing Rankin elegantly through the covers. There were occasional moments of uncertainty, with him edging to the slips on the bounce, but he saw off a tense phase following the early dismissals with patience. Though the fours were few and far between, the pair had little difficulty in rotating the strike and gradually pushing their team’s score towards respectability. The 107-run partnership came to an end when Stirling induced Shakib to take a risk, and had him caught at long-off.Siddique continued unperturbed and was supported by the middle and lower-order batsmen towards the three-figure mark. The score Bangladesh managed in the end appeared competitive, but Ireland’s domination with the bat meant it was far from it.

Worcestershire seamer Alan Richardson took two wickets against Northamptonshire on a rain-affected first day of the County Championship Division Two clash at Wantage Road

Cricinfo staff25-Aug-2010Stumps
Scorecard
Worcestershire seamer Alan Richardson took two wickets against Northamptonshire on a rain-affected first day of the County Championship Division Two clash at Wantage Road. Only 34 overs were possible due to the persistent rain that was sweeping the country in the afternoon, with Northamptonshire closing on 96 for 3 and Alex Wakely top-scoring with 48.Richardson took the wickets of Ben Howgego and Wakely in claiming figures of 2 for 21, with the home side losing two quick wickets after lunch before the heavens opened. Northamptonshire won the toss and chose to bat in overcast conditions and they survived an early scare when Worcestershire wicketkeeper Ben Cox thought he had caught Howgego off Richardson in the first over – but his appeal was turned down.It was slow going for the hosts at the start with only 21 runs being scored in the first 13 overs.
Howgego in particular found it hard to get going and he made just four off 35 balls before his frustration got the better of him when he slapped Richardson straight to Gareth Andrew at gully.The arrival of Alex Wakely allowed Northamptonshire to free themselves from their early malaise and the runs began to flow more freely with Wakely not taking long to get into his stride. He and Stephen Peters added 70 runs together in the morning as the home side recovered from their shaky start to make it to 91 for 1 at lunch.Peters had batted sensibly all morning and showed more poise than his fellow opener Howgego – and knew when to play his shots or defend. But Wakely, who was just two short of a half-century, perished in the second over of the afternoon session when he edged Richardson to former Worcestershire captain Vikram Solanki at first slip.Solanki then took a second catch in the following over when he snared David Sales in the same position off the bowling of Jack Shantry. Rob Newton came out to replace Sales but he did not get the chance to score before rain stopped play midway through the 35th over, soon after 2pm.Eventually the umpires, Mark Benson and Nick Cook, made the decision to abandon
play for the day an hour and a half later, meaning 61 overs were lost. Peters and 20-year-old Newton will resume at the crease tomorrow, weather permitting, with Peters looking to push on from 38 not out and Newton looking to get off the mark.

Daniel Vettori believes the tours of Bangladesh and India will give his team an advantage over other overseas sides during the World Cup in the subcontinent early next year

Cricinfo staff17-Sep-2010Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain, believes the tours of Bangladesh and India in October and November will give his team an advantage over other overseas sides during the World Cup in the subcontinent early next year.”We are going to get the best possible warm-up and any game time in the subcontinent is going to make a huge difference to our chances in the World Cup,” Vettori was quoted as saying in the ICC’s audio show.New Zealand have not made a World Cup final but have been semi-finalists five times. Vettori, however, was optimistic about his team’s chances in 2011. “There is some growing confidence within the team that we can win it but we know there is a lot of work to do between saying we can win it and actually doing it.”For the New Zealand team, to win the World Cup would be the ultimate achievement. I know the preparations are going pretty well. The fact we have been to Sri Lanka, we’re going to Bangladesh soon and then we play some one-dayers in India gives us the best preparation leading into such an important tournament.”New Zealand play five ODIs against Bangladesh in Mirpur with the first one on October 5. They then play three Tests and five ODIs in India. The first Test begins on November 4 in Ahmedabad.The last time the World Cup was held in the subcontinent in 1996, New Zealand reached the quarterfinal, which they lost to Australia. But Vettori said the balance of the current side will make them challenging opponents. “I think we have some world-class players from the top of our order with Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor. We have some real experience with Scott Styris, and hopefully Kyle Mills and myself can lead a bowling attack that has a little bit of experience and some real talent.New Zealand play five of their six World Cup league games in India, and the other in Sri Lanka.

The details may be uncertain, but Worcestershire will face a demanding run chase on the final day of the championship season if they are to achieve promotion

George Dobell at New Road15-Sep-2010
ScorecardThe details may be uncertain, but Worcestershire will face a demanding run chase on the final day of the championship season if they are to achieve promotion. A brave first innings declaration underlined Worcestershire’s desire to pursue any fourth-innings target but, after a day in which they dropped three chances and squandered a good platform with the bat, they may reflect that their best chance of success has already gone.Sussex already lead by 138. On a pitch of variable bounce, a target of anything over 250 could prove very challenging.Whatever happens, however, both these sides can look back with satisfaction on their campaigns. Sussex, who were presented with the Division Two trophy and a cheque for £135,000 at the end of play, have looked a class above all season, while Worcestershire have bounced back admirably from a terrible 2009.It’s worth dwelling on how last year ended for Worcestershire. They finished, remember, without a single first-class victory in the season for the first time since 1928 and were then hit by the loss of five senior players (Kabir Ali, Steve Davies, Stephen Moore, Gareth Batty and Simon Jones). Director of cricket, Steve Rhodes, was also obliged to cut his cricket budget by £300,000 as the club struggled to negotiate the recession. Some feared that the wooden spoon loomed this year.Instead, however, the nucleus of a decent team has emerged. In Moeen Ali and Alexei Kervezee, Worcestershire have two of the best young batsmen in the land, while seamer Richard Jones and keeper Ben Cox have shown glimpses of form to suggest they could prosper at this level. In Alan Richardson, Rhodes recruited a hardworking and skillful seamer, while the arrival of allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has significantly strengthened them.Most pleasingly, the second team also contains several players – mostly batsmen – who should go on to enjoy decent careers in the game. Whatever happens on the final day, they can look to the future with optimism.They’ve not made life easy for themselves on the last day, however. By squandering three chances in the field, two of them quite straightforward, they have already allowed Sussex to pull further ahead than might have been the case. An unbroken third-wicket stand of 73 between the impressive Ben Brown, who pulls unusually well, and the typically pugnacious Murray Goodwin may prove to be the killer blow.Crucially, Goodwin has been reprieved twice: first, on 12, when Solanki, at slip, missed one off the deserving Richardson and then again, on 21, when Shakib missed a simple chance, off Moeen, at midwicket. Daryl Mitchell also put down a sharp chance offered by Luke Wells, off Andrew, before Sussex had scored a run.Worcestershire also squandered an opportunity to bat themselves into an impregnable position earlier in the day. At 132 for 2, they retained hopes of gaining an imposing first innings lead. A second-wicket stand of 77 between James Cameron and the elegant Vikram Solanki had earned them a good platform, while Moeen Ali also settled in nicely in a stand of 51 with Solanki.Sadly, from a Worcestershire perspective, they were unable to capitalise. Cameron, in attempting the quick single that would have brought up his well-deserved fifty, was run-out by a direct hit by Wells, before Moeen – not for the first time – left a straight one that hit his off stump. Solanki was hit on the boot by a full toss in Will Beer’s first over.Legspinner Beer, in just his fourth first-class game, claimed career-best figures of 3 for 31. Though he found little turn, he demonstrated admirable control and Luke Wright also bowled pretty well. He exploited Kervezee’s habit of reaching half-forward by claiming an early leg-before verdict, while Andrew was lured into poking at one he could have left outside off stump.Earlier, it took Worcestershire just 14 balls to polish off Sussex’s first innings. Gareth Andrew, bowling with some pace, claimed three wickets in five deliveries to finish with his best haul of the season. Hodd’s innings was ended when he left a straight one, before Lewis Hatchett and Monty Panesar steered to point.Monty didn’t enjoy the best of days. Though he took one wicket, that of Matt Mason with an awful long-hop that the batsmen charitably steered to point, Monty’s bowling was generally negated with ease. Moeen pulled him for one dismissive six, while Cameron skipped down the pitch and thumped two fours and a towering straight six.The nadir came when Monty, fielding at fine leg, scooped the ball up but, instead of throwing it back to the keeper, somehow manged to drop it over the rope. He may have rediscovered something of his magic with the ball, but his fielding remains a work in progress.

South Australia’s new leadership team of Michael Klinger and Callum Ferguson begin their summer this weekend knowing that the only way is up

Brydon Coverdale08-Oct-2010South Australia’s new leadership team of Michael Klinger and Callum Ferguson begin their summer this weekend knowing that the only way is up. The Redbacks finished on the bottom of the Sheffield Shield and Ford Ranger Cup tables last season and they have been the nation’s underachievers in recent decades, having won no titles since 1995-96.There was one glimmer of hope, when they made the final of the KFC Big Bash, and although they lost to Victoria it was enough to earn them a place at last month’s Champions League. Klinger, who has taken over as captain from Graham Manou, said the team would take heart from their fine efforts at the Champions League, where they reached the semi-finals.”Two games to go in both formats [last season] we were in contention to play the final and just fell away in our last few games,” Klinger told ESPNcricinfo. “We know we can play some really good cricket and we come into the season full of confidence after a good Champions League, so we’re hoping to kick-start our season well. Last year we had to play a bit of catch-up after starting the season quite poorly.”In a considerable shake-up to their playing list, the former internationals Mark Cosgrove and Dan Cullen were axed, Mark Cleary headed to Victoria and several fringe players were cut. Replacements were sought interstate, and the Redbacks have pulled together a squad that they believe can lift the team’s fortunes.The powerful limited-overs batsman Aiden Blizzard was signed up from Victoria, and with him came the fast bowler Rob Cassell. They had lost pace-bowling experience through the departure of Cleary and the retirement of Paul Rofe, so the fast man Ben Edmondson was enticed from Western Australia.It continued South Australia’s trend of acquiring players from other states – Klinger, Daniel Christian, Tom Cooper, Aaron O’Brien and Tim Ludeman have all arrived by that path in recent years. Ferguson, the new vice-captain, is happy with the recruits, while home-grown talents like James Smith and Jake Haberfield will also be watched with interest.”We’re thrilled with the list that we’ve got together at the moment,” Ferguson said. “To be able to bring some quality quicks in like Ben Edmondson and Rob Cassell, they’re fantastic inclusions for us and it gives our bowling some depth. Cossie [Mark Cosgrove] is a loss but we feel like our young players have really taken some good steps forward in the last 12 months. We’re really confident going in to this summer.”South Australia begin their Ryobi Cup campaign against New South Wales at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, before they follow with a Sheffield Shield match two days later. Blizzard and Edmondson are in line to make their first appearances for their new state in the one-day game.Ryobi Cup squad Michael Klinger (capt), Daniel Harris, Tom Cooper, Aiden Blizzard, Callum Ferguson, Cameron Borgas, Graham Manou (wk), Daniel Christian, Aaron O’Brien, Kane Richardson, Chris Duval, Ben Edmondson, Gary Putland.

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has moved Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy game against Assam from the Wankhede stadium to the Bandra Kurla Complex ground

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-2010A delay in construction has forced the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to move Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy game against Assam, which starts on November 24, from the Wankhede stadium to the association’s Bandra Kurla Complex ground. The Wankhede is being renovated ahead of next year’s World Cup, when it is scheduled to host three matches, including the final on April 2. The first World Cup match at the venue is on March 18.”Most of the work at the ground level is done, 70% of outfield area is ready but the debris, big pipes and other materials, need some time to be removed from the stadium, MCA joint-secretary Hemant Waingankar told the . “It can’t be done in few days so it was decided to hold the game at the BKC ground.”The delay also affects the association’s plans to use Ranji Trophy matches to test the remodelled venue. “The Ranji Trophy team has been informed about the change in plans,” Waingankar said. “The MCA now hopes to host junior cricket matches to see how the pitch behaves.”

Zimbabwe have named uncapped batsman Ryan Butterworth in their ODI squad for the tour of Bangladesh, while Grant Flower has been left out

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Nov-2010Zimbabwe have included the uncapped Ryan Butterworth in their ODI squad for the tour to Bangladesh, after his impressive performances in the recent Stanbic Bank 20 Series. The 29-year-old Butterworth scored 165 runs at an average of 82.50 and a strike rate of 181.31, and also took six wickets with his part-time medium pace to help Mashonaland Eagles claim the Twenty20 trophy.Grant Flower, who made a surprising return to international cricket for the recent ODI series in South Africa, is not in the squad, having possibly played his last competitive first class match. Flower, however, will continue in his role as Zimbabwe batting coach for the series, which will see five ODIs played between December 1 and December 12. Sean Williams also missed out on the tour after sustaining a hamstring injury during the Stanbic Bank 20 Series.Zimbabwe have recalled medium-pacer Keegan Meth, who has not played for the national side since 2006, while spinner Ray Price returns after missing the tour of South Africa for personal reasons. Regis Chakabva, a 23-year-old wicketkeeper with just one ODI under his belt, is also in the side.Butterworth also performed well during his stint in England last summer, where he scored more than 1000 runs and took more than 40 wickets for Whitehaven in the North Lancashire league.Zimbabwe will go into the series looking for their first ODI victory since they beat Ireland in September, but will face a Bangladesh side buoyant after their recent 4-0 drubbing of New Zealand.Zimbabwe Squad: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Tatenda Taibu (wk), Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Shingi Masakadza, Regis Chakabva, Chamu Chibhabha, Raymond Price, Ryan Butterworth, Craig Ervine, Prosper Utseya, Graeme Cremer, Keith Dabengwa, Chris Mpofu, Keegan Meth

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who was rested for the Twenty20 series against Pakistan, picked up three wickets on the second day of the tour game between New Zealand Cricket XI and the Pakistanis at Cobham Oval (New) in Whangarei

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jan-2011Pakistanis 234 for 8 (Misbah 99*, Vettori 3-26, Marin 3-52) trail NZC XI 384 all out (McCullum 206, Tanvir 4-63, Gul 3-61) by 150 runs

ScorecardMisbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, defied the New Zealand bowlers with an unbeaten 99•Getty Images

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who was rested for the Twenty20 series against Pakistan, picked up three wickets on the second day of the tour game against the Pakistanis, who were struggling in Whangarei despite captain Misbah-ul-Haq’s unbeaten 99. New Zealand, who ended the first day on a comfortable 342 for 4, collapsed to 384 all out on the second morning. Fast bowlers Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir, who shared seven wickets between them, ran through the New Zealand middle and lower order as New Zealand lost 6 for 42.The Pakistani innings got off to a disastrous start as Chris Martin’s early burst left them reeling at 22 for 3 after seven overs. Mohammad Hafeez was the first to go, caught behind off Martin in the first over before Taufeeq Umar was dismissed similarly in Martin’s next over. Younis Khan soon followed, also caught behind for 7.At 39 for 4, when Azhar Ali was trapped lbw by Trent Boult, a familiar Pakistani batting collapse looked imminent but it was avoided through Misbah’s efforts. He had a solid first Test series as captain, scoring three-half-centuries in two matches against South Africa and he continued to be in good touch. He and Asad Shafiq steadied the innings with a 52-run fourth-wicket partnership before Shafiq was dismissed by Vettori.That brought wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal to the crease, who played positively, hitting seven boundaries in his 31-ball 35. His partnership of 57 with Misbah carried Pakistan to 148 before he was dismissed by James Franklin. Misbah also received good support from Abdur Rehman (20) and Umar Gul (24), as the Pakistani lower order showed some fight. Vettori dismissed both Rehman and Gul and Pakistan ended the day on 234 for 8, still trailing New Zealand by 150 runs with Misbah unbeaten on 99.The first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand begins in Hamilton on January 7 and while the visitors will be pleased at how their bowlers bounced back on the second day, the indifferent form of their batting will be a worry.