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Sathvik and Esakkimuthu were the other key players in the game as Dindigul went down by 118 runs

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jul-2025A stellar TNPL season for Tushar Raheja ended with the opening batter leading IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans to their maiden title. The 24-year-old made 77 off 46 balls to propel his team to a total of 220 for 5 against Dindigul Dragons, who simply crumbled in the chase, getting bowled out for 102.Raheja finished the Tamil Nadu Premier League as its highest scorer with 488 runs at a strike rate of 186. His aggression at the top of the order helped Tiruppur dictate terms after they were put in to bat. Raheja hit six fours and four sixes and by the time he was dismissed in the 16th over, his team had 160 on the board.Amit Sathvik caused just as much damage, striking his fourth half-century in five T20s and taking him to third place (340) on the season’s highest run-getters list. The 22-year-old clattered eight fours and three sixes on his way to 65 off 34 balls as the Dragons bowlers were left scratching their heads. Four of the six they used had economy rates in the double-digits and even Ashwin (9) and Varun Chakravarthy (9.75) weren’t spared. With the platform set by the top-order, Tiruppur scored 60 runs off the last 4.5 overs to finish with 220 for 5.Dindigul were never in the chase, losing four wickets by the end of the powerplay. They were barely hanging on at the halfway stage, with eight of their batters already back in the pavilion. Raghupathy Silambarasan (2-12), T Natarajan (1-19), Mohan Prasath (2-18) and A Esakkimuthu (2-27) made significant impacts with the ball. The 23-year-old Esakkimuthu in his first professional T20 tournament ended up as its second-highest wicket-taker with 14 strikes at an economy rate of 7.46. Dindigul were bowled out in 14.4 overs as Sai Kishore and his men lifted the title.

Wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne has been recalled to the Test team

Firdose Moonda04-Dec-2023South Africa’s ODI captain Temba Bavuma and fast bowler Kagiso Rabada have been rested from their white-ball series against India later this month in order to prepare for the two Tests which follow. Bavuma captained South Africa to the semi-final at the recently completed ODI World Cup and remains the appointed 50-over captain but T20 skipper Aiden Markram will lead in his absence against India.Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi will only play the first two T20Is for the same reason. All of Bavuma, Rabada, Coetzee, Jansen and Ngidi will then play a round of domestic first-class matches from December 14 to 17 to prepare for the Tests. “We agreed that the Test side is the priority,” Shukri Conrad, South Africa’s Test coach, said at a press conference. “We are prioritising readiness for the Test matches given its the start of the World Test Championship (WTC).” His white-ball counterpart Rob Walter agreed.South Africa open their WTC campaign with the series against India and will then take a second-string side to New Zealand to play two Tests in February next year, when the majority of first-choice players will be involved in the SA20.Related

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With that in mind, batter David Bedingham, who has played as a local on an ancestral visa for Durham but has shelved plans to play for England and does not have an SA20 deal, has been included in the playing group. Also in line for a Test debut is batter Tristan Stubbs, who was South Africa A’s leading run-scorer on their winter tour to Sri Lanka, and left-arm seamer Nandre Burger. Wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne and seamer Lungi Ngidi both make a return after being dropped last summer, with Heinrich Klaasen left out of the Test squad, though Conrad insisted it is “not the end of the road” for him.Anrich Nortje, who was ruled out of the World Cup with a lower back stress fracture, is unavailable across all formats. Nortje has not had surgery and is being monitored on a monthly basis. Cricket South Africa is hopeful he will be ready to play around February or March next year. He has been retained by his IPL franchise, the Delhi Capitals.There is also no space for Ryan Rickelton in any of the squads despite being given a central contract earlier this year and playing in their last Test series. Conrad explained he has fallen down the pecking order. “The guys that have come in – Stubbs and Bedingham – are ahead of him,” Conrad said. “I don’t think he challenges Kyle Verreynne as the wicket-keeper. At the time (that Rickelton played) there was no news on David’s availability and desire to play for South Africa and since then Stubbo has also showed so much.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Overall, Conrad is confident he has selected a squad that “can beat India,” while also looking ahead to the rest of the WTC, including away tours to New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh next year. “We might see a few changes for those tours as well. We will see the return of guys who, in those conditions, can help us win those series. It’s where the global game is at. You’ve got to be quite flexible in your selections and ensure guys are nice and fresh when they are called up.”A similar philosophy has been applied to the white-ball squads, where South Africa are looking ahead to the T20 World Cup and rebuilding post the ODI tournament. Reeza Hendricks is expected to get an extended run at the top of the order in both T20Is and ODIs, with Quinton de Kock out of the former to play in the BBL and retired from the latter. Matthew Breetzke will open the batting with Hendricks in the T20Is. Fast bowlers Burger and Ottniel Baartman are the only other uncapped players in the T20I group.South Africa only have this three match series against India before they leave for the World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA next year – where they will play West Indies immediately before the tournament – but have cautioned against viewing this squad as a replica of the T20 World Cup playing group because of the amount of franchise T20 cricket still to be played.”Given that some of our frontline bowlers are missing out and there are guys – let me throw it out there just to create some media hype – like Faf (du Plessis) and Rilee (Rossouw) as well as Quinny that could well be considered for a T20 World Cup and then also the SA20 that happens next year – 80% of the side picks itself but there is definitely a space for other guys to get themselves into the conversation,” Walter said. “The SA20 will be a very important competition as far as the World Cup goes. The household guys will most likely be there but it’s an exciting time for the guys that sit on the fringes.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The ODI squad is the most experimental, as is to be expected at the end of a World Cup cycle. South Africa have named one new cap, bowling allrounder Mihlali Mpongwana, who will form part of a young pace pack. Mpongwana was part of the recent South Africa A series against West Indies A and the joint second highest wicket-taker in the domestic one-day cup. Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo and Lizaad Williams (albeit conditional on the progress of a groin injury) will all get the chance to play as Rabada, Ngidi and Jansen are rested. Keshav Maharaj – who has been named in all three squads – and Tabraiz Shamsi form the spin attack, with no space for Bjorn Fortuin.South Africa have stuck with a fairly experienced batting line-up including Markram, Klaasen, Rassie van der Dussen (who did not get a Test recall) and David Miller but will also look to give an opportunity to Tony de Zorzi. Dewald Brevis, who was the third highest run-scorer in the domestic one-day cup, has not been included. “The better the player that’s getting left out, the better our system is,” Walter said. “There isn’t space for all of the young batters all the time. He will definitely play again.”South Africa’s ODI outfit have no fixtures other than the matches against India this season, with the focus to move back to 50-over cricket before the next World Cup. Having reached the final four, Walter assessed the tournament as a success for the team as they move towards a home World Cup in 2027. “The general sense after the tournament was really positive. It was disappointing to miss out (on the final) and it knocks you hard. But the guys were proud and I was proud of the way we played.”South Africa T20I squad: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottniel Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee (1st and 2nd T20Is), Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen (1st and 2nd T20Is), Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi (1st and 2nd T20Is), Andile Phehlukwayo , Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Lizaad WilliamsSouth Africa ODI squad: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottniel Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Mihlali Mpongwana, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad WilliamsSouth Africa Test squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne

Although conditions in Perth should suit the quicks, Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga looms as a threat

Tristan Lavalette24-Oct-20224:41

What makes the SL spinners a threat even in Australia?

Allrounder Mitchell Marsh has declared himself fit to bowl in a much-needed confidence boost for Australia, whose T20 World Cup title defence is on the line against Sri Lanka at Optus Stadium on Tuesday.While fellow favourites India and England started their campaigns with statement wins, albeit in contrasting fashion, hosts Australia are on the back foot after a thumping 89-run opening defeat to New Zealand at the SCG.It has meant Australia’s net run rate is already an eyesore and winning their remaining four games might not be enough to get into the semi-finals given the cut-throat nature of the tournament.Having finally recovered from a lingering ankle injury, Marsh should add much-needed versatility for an Australian attack still reeling from a pummeling by rampant openers Finn Allen and Devon Conway.Related

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He has not bowled since the Zimbabwe ODI series in August, playing as a specialist No. 3 batter in the lead up matches and against New Zealand.”I’m available to bowl. I love preparing as an allrounder and making sure I’m in the game the whole time,” Marsh told reporters in Perth on Monday.His seam bowling will provide another option for skipper Aaron Finch in the powerplay after Australia leaked 65 runs against New Zealand. To balance the attack, Finch prefers utilising an allrounder – either Marsh, Marcus Stoinis or offspinner Glenn Maxwell – in the opening six overs.Against New Zealand, Stoinis, who himself had only recently returned from a side strain, conceded 10 runs in the fourth over as Finch only used five bowlers with Maxwell strangely overlooked on an SCG pitch that gripped as the game wore on.”I think with me bowling, it gives us that added flexibility of myself, Maxi or Stoin can get four overs out. And we can bowl anywhere,” Marsh said.After such a disastrous start to their title defence, question marks continue to hover over Australia with Steven Smith and young allrounder Cameron Green, who replaced the injury Josh Inglis, on the outside looking in.Mitchell Marsh would be a valuable bowling option for Aaron Finch•AFP

But Australia are expected to back the same line-up, packed with big-hitters, as they attempt to lift off the canvas much like they spectacularly did 12 months ago in the UAE.In the aftermath of Saturday’s defeat, spinner Adam Zampa said Marsh attempted an ice breaker in the team’s dejected changing rooms by saying: “Perfect, this is right where we wanted to be – backs against the wall”.While a smiling Marsh doesn’t recall the quip, jokingly saying he was “thrown under the bus” by Zampa, he did believe it was an approach worth adopting.”We don’t really have a choice,” he said. “The nature of the tournament…you lose one game, your back is up against the wall and we know what’s in front of us. It’s just really important to stick together.”Even though Perth has experienced inclement weather in recent days, fortunately not impacting the tournament, there is no forecast for rain on Tuesday with the Optus Stadium pitch expected to again be bouncy and fast.England speedster Mark Wood bowled the fastest spell recorded in T20Is during Saturday’s game against Afghanistan, whose batters consistently holed out on the deep square boundaries on a ground with the same dimensions as the MCG.Marsh tipped Australia quicks Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to bowl rapidly. “We’ll certainly have an aggressive approach. We know that the three big bowlers when they get going, theý’re very hard to stop,” he said. I think certainly after the other night we’ll see a big response from them.”Even though Optus Stadium, which essentially mimics the WACA’s iconic pitch, has characteristics perfectly suited for quicks, spinners can be effective in the middle overs by bowling back of a length, stymying batters on the vast square boundaries.England’s high-octane batting order was tied down by Afghanistan’s spin-heavy attack as they made hard work of chasing 113, which they reached with 11 balls to spare.After being stunned by Namibia in their opener in Geelong, Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka have steadily improved with three straight wins led by legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga who has taken nine wickets at an average of just 9.78 in the tournament.”He’s obviously a very good bowler and someone we’ll have to counteract,” Marsh said of Hasaranga, who has taken 10 T20I wickets at 16.40 this year against Australia in five matches over two series in Australia and Sri Lanka.”Hopefully spin doesn’t play a huge factor at Perth Stadium and we can really attack them [Sri Lanka’s spinners]. We play spin very well in Australian conditions.”After Sri Lanka, Australia face England at the MCG which is still probably heaving after last night’s epic game between India and Pakistan.England allrounder Sam Curran has lit fuel to the high stakes contest by saying he wants to put Australia in a “tricky position”.Marsh, however, said Australia’s focus was solely on Sri Lanka. “That’s all that matters to us,” he said of the clash expected to attract around 25,000 fans to the 60,000-seat stadium.”Hopefully we play well, get past that and then move on to England.”

Dockrell is averaging 101.28 since Ireland’s inter-provincial competition gained List A status in 2017

Matt Roller01-Jun-2021George Dockrell’s Instagram bio reads: “If I were right-handed, I probably wouldn’t have a job.” There is some logic amid the self-deprecation: left-handers are hugely over-represented in international cricket compared to the wider population on account of their scarcity value and, in the case of left-arm fingerspinners like Dockrell, their ability to spin the ball away from right-hand batters.It is a good line, but one he is on track to delete from his profile. While his bowling returns have tailed off, he has been a revelation with the bat. A No. 10 or 11 for the first five years of his international career, Dockrell has become the most consistent batter in Irish limited-overs cricket, winning a recall to the ODI squad to face Netherlands in three World Cup Super League fixtures this week as a batting allrounder. Since Ireland’s inter-provincial competition gained List A status in 2017, he has scored 709 runs for Leinster Lightning in 17 innings while averaging 101.28.

Tector back after eye surgery

Wednesday’s first ODI will be Harry Tector’s first international appearance since undergoing laser eye surgery six weeks ago.
“My surgeon told me that if I didn’t have the job done in April, it wouldn’t be possible to get it done until the end of the year,” Tector, Ireland’s most promising young batter, told the .
“He told me the recovery time was four to six weeks and I trusted his judgment.
“I’d say I’m probably at 90% of where I will get to but already I’m very happy with the results.”

“It’s not something I would ever have realised was a possibility,” he told ESPNcricinfo before leaving for Utrecht. “It feels absolutely fantastic, and like a real appreciation for the work I’ve put in. I was an opening batter for the Irish Under-13s and that was my first skill – through underage stuff, I’d have considered myself an allrounder. But once I made my debut, I didn’t give it much focus for a few years.”In my last couple of years playing county cricket at Somerset, it was really tough getting into the side and I realised that I needed to have a bit more about me in terms of my batting and my fielding.Related

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“My bowling hasn’t exactly kicked on the way I’d have liked from my early career, but I’ve been able to keep putting my hand up with the bat. I got a couple of ODI fifties against Afghanistan, and this season, with the restructuring as to how the squads are selected domestically [several of Leinster’s top batters have moved to other provinces] that’s allowed me to get up into one of those batting spots at No. 5.”Dockrell, Ireland’s third-highest wicket-taker in ODIs, was the ICC’s associate player of the year in 2012 and is perhaps best known for trapping Sachin Tendulkar lbw in the 2011 World Cup when just 18. But his performances with the ball have stagnated in recent years to the extent that he lost both his spot in the Ireland team and, at the end of last year, his central contract.Having also been dropped for the tour to the UAE in January and then declining the opportunity to tour Bangladesh in the spring with the Wolves – which is the Ireland A side – due to concerns about travelling mid-pandemic, Dockrell has had a flying start to the season with four fifties and an unbeaten hundred in five Inter-Pro innings.His form led Andy Balbirnie, Ireland’s captain, to mention him in the same sentence as Steven Smith while commentating on a Wolves fixture earlier this month, and while Dockrell laughs off the comparison, he sees it as vindication on his investment.”I’d be pretty happy with that [comparison],” he said. “Coming through at Somerset I used to live with Lewis Gregory for four or five years. He came in as a batter and is now a bowler, really, but you can see he’s incredibly talented and has that foundation. There are lots of people who can make that transition.”This is my 11th year as a professional and that has allowed me so much time working on my batting. I’ve been lucky that I’ve been involved for that long and that I’ve been able to keep chipping away – and that coaches have helped me even when I was batting at No. 9 or 10 and adding very little value. I guess it proves it’s worth it down the line.”Dockrell also attributes his form this season with the fact that he is now balancing cricket with work commitments, allowing him to throw his energy into the limited opportunities he has to train and play. While he is on a retainer contract with Cricket Ireland after losing his central contract at the end of last year, he has also been interning as a technology consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the third year of his data science degree at Dublin City University.”They’ve been fantastic in supporting me through it,” Dockrell said. “In terms of timing, it wasn’t the worst: there’s obviously more of a focus on that now and a little less time on the cricket. That’s maybe taken a bit of the weight away from my cricket and means that when I’m there, I’m fully enjoying it – and maybe a little bit more driven when I do get the opportunity to play.”I’ve done a lot of work on my batting with Pete Johnston [the Wolves coach] and Nigel Jones [the Lightning coach] at Leinster Lightning, but a huge part of it is the mental side of my game: being more prepared and being incredibly clear about what I want to do when I’m batting. When you’re working through the week and you know you have your one day off to play, you’re absolutely going to make the most of that as best you can.”In the series against Netherlands, who are without several first-choice players due to county commitments, Dockrell is set to balance the side as a batting allrounder at No. 5, with both Curtis Campher and Gareth Delany ruled out through injury.”Having that ability to turn the ball away from the right-handers is always useful,” he said. “I’m still working away at my bowling and I quite enjoy the balance now of less pressure on it, and seeing it as something I can add to the team. I’d like to put my hand up for a batting spot, but I’ve never been fussy: I think I’ve batted every position from No. 6-11 for Ireland and if there’s an opportunity to go a little bit higher, I’d be delighted.”And as for his Instagram bio? “I might have to delete that if things go well this year. That’d be a lovely place to get to. Maybe this time next year I can get rid of it.”

Quick who helped SA get their T20 series against Australia back on track reveals the importance of music in his life

Firdose Moonda24-Feb-2020When Kagiso Rabada earned his fourth active demerit point in a 24-month period and was suspended from the final Test against England last month, his father sent him a little something to make him feel better and it’s not what you might expect.”I sent him a song about the ICC. To cheer him up,” Dr Mpho Rabada said, at the launch of his new track, , a collaboration with family friend and music student Motswedi Modiba at the Red Bull Studios in Cape Town.The song was inspired by the idea of being able to take flight and its message of positivity is quite unlike the one Rabada senior composed on the fly when he heard that his son had fallen foul of the game’s governing body again. Neither of the Rabadas would share the content but Mpho Rabada said it was “quite hilarious,” and hoped that “maybe one day,” his son would release it. Judging by the look on Kagiso Rabada’s face it will be a long time before that happens. But, asked if he could sing something to the ICC, Rabada brightened up and offered a few chords. “Please don’t judge me,” he started, before the room gave way to giggles.At least everyone could see the lighter side of what has been a tough summer for South African cricket and Kagiso Rabada, who, at 24 years old, is already five years into his international career. In that time, injuries to more experienced quicks meant that he was quickly elevated to leader of the pack while he was trying to find a level of aggression that intimidated opposition but did not tip him over the ICC’s code of conduct edge.Kagiso Rabada roars in celebration after bowling Joe Root•Marco Longari/AFP/Getty

It’s little wonder he needs an outlet off the field and he has found it on the turntables. “Music has always been a part of me and my family. It’s something to get away and just think about something else,” Rabada Jnr said.His father shares a passion for the beat and the pair spend time together experimenting with sounds, mixing tracks and seeing what happens. That’s where Modiba comes in. She is the daughter of Mpho Rabada’s best friend and an aspiring singer, who is influenced by gospel music. While Modiba and Mpho have taken the step up and released a single, Kagiso has been working with DJ Da Capo on some house music, which the pair have yet to put the finishing touches on, given their busy schedules.So for now, music remains a hobby for Kagiso Rabada, and a motivator as he goes about trying to get the South African team and his own performances back on track. Like many sportsmen, he can be spotted with headphones on when he gets off the team bus; most of the time, he is listening to traditional tunes. “For me to get inspiration, that comes from tribal music, African tribal. That gets me going, the different sounds, the chants, it’s like I am bonding with my ancestors,” he said.With music such an important part of his process, it’s not a surprise that he bonds with the crowd at St George’s Park, famed for their brass band. Last Sunday, when South Africa beat Australia in a tense T20 to square the series and Rabada bowled a decisive penultimate over, he could feel the fans acting as a 12th man.”The atmosphere was really electric. That was the first time in a while where I actually felt the crowd, other than being at the Wanderers,” he said. “The Wanderers is my favourite ground because of the electrical atmosphere. Yesterday was similar to what I felt at the Wanderers, it was a sell-out and the band came out and we were in it together.”Singer Motswedi Modiba, Kagiso Rabada and his father, Dr Mpho Rabada, at the launch of a new music track by Modiba and Rabada Snr•Firdose Moonda/ESPNcricinfo Ltd

That is a rarity in South Africa, especially this season, when most of the spectators were traveling English supporters. During the white-ball games that changed, with capacity crowds of mostly local supporters and it is set to stay that way for the deciding T20 against Australia on Wednesday and the three ODIs that follow.Generally, though, South Africans don’t fill out cricket grounds and Kagiso Rabada thinks the team’s performances have something to do with it. “We have to win and we have to entertain the crowd,” he said “People need to feel an interest towards the game, even more of an interest than they feel already, to want to go the stadium and witness international cricket. If they realise that the skill level is going up, the professionalism is going up and they are going to be entertained, they might come.”Though South Africa’s results have been poor of late, even when they were No.1 in the world Test crowds were thin, which could be attributed to anything from lack of interest to lack of time to lack of marketing. Cricket South Africa has been embroiled in various crises since the failed T20 Global League almost three years ago and has lost major sponsors. At best, they have appeared out of touch with their audience, at worst, uninterested.Kagiso Rabada spent time last week experiencing the opposite when he traveled to the NBA All-Star game. While his highlight was seeing LeBron James because he “admires watching other sportsmen doing well in their craft,” he also saw first-hand how a sport can speak the same language as its supporters.”What fascinated me the most was how it’s marketed and how it’s really fresh and they keep with the times,” he said. “It’s got everybody talking about it. It doesn’t have an age barrier. If you are older, you can go there and feel young because that energy is electrifying. Music and sport go together in America, the in-thing is trap music and the hip culture. It just feels as if the culture is so inviting and they are always staying on top of it. There is tradition, yes but they keep with the times.”Sounds like a message to cricket to get the DJs in and they know the Rabada household has a few they can start with.

A disciplined bowling effort followed by a middle-overs run surge helped Melbourne Renegades upset Perth Scorchers at the Marvel Stadium

The Report by Sam Perry20-Dec-2018 103 all out (Klinger 28, Christian 3-22) by four wickets A disciplined bowling effort followed by a middle-overs run surge helped Melbourne Renegades upset Perth Scorchers in a low-scoring affair at the Marvel Stadium.After winning the flip and electing to bowl, the home side exploited the difficult wicket better than their opponents, who were bowled out for 103 thanks to Usman Shinwari, Daniel Christian and Kane Richardson’s bowling.While Renegades’ chase began nervously – at one point slumping to 4 for 17 – both Sam Harper and Mohammad Nabi profited from uncharacteristically loose bowling from the visitors, who are otherwise known for their tight defensive prowess. They put Renegades within reach, before Christian and Will Sutherland saw them home. Swing King ShinwariOn his BBL debut, the Pakistan international shone with the new ball, setting up Renegades’ bowling with four dominant overs that will be remembered throughout the competition. Shinwari’s first twelve deliveries kept the Scorchers largely quiet and allowed his team-mates to benefit from the pressure.He exploited the wicket’s underlying moisture through consistent length bowling, and he made the most of his whippy action that effects an acute swing away from the right-hander. He claimed 2 for 17 from his four overs, and looked a threat whenever he had the ball in hand.Scorchers splutter on tricky wicketThe fifth ball of the match told a key story. Michael Klinger, the only Scorchers batsman who made a significant contribution, came forward to a ball that zipped away from his bat. The camera quickly caught the Scorchers stalwart cocking his head, offering a wry grimace in response to a wicket that offered minimal pace and maximum seam, in T20 terms.From there, it was a procession of dot ball aggregation, followed by big shots that paid a big price. The wicket appeared very tacky, and Klinger aside, nobody seemed willing to make runs. Cameron Boyce was particularly difficult to get away, bowling with great control and giving away just 13 runs in his allotted four.Mohammad Nabi slugs one down the ground•Getty Images

Scorchers’ early surge A characteristically potent start saw Scorchers surge immediately back into the contest. First, Tim Ludeman feathered a soft glide through to Whiteman from Behrendorff’s bowling, before Wildermuth chopped on from Coulter-Nile in the second over. Even at 2 for 7, it looked salvageable enough for the hosts, before disaster struck again. Both bowlers were making the ball talk, but it was the former producing the most serious hoop. Behrendorff enticed Cameron White into an expansive cover drive, before the ball zeroed back very late to pin him in front.Coulter-Nile responded with a wicket of his own the following over. Tom Cooper, who to that point had looked relatively assured at the crease, first hooked Coulter-Nile for four, momentarily allowing Renegades fans to breathe. It was short-lived, however, as the stand-in skipper then spooned an easy catch to point. That made it 4 for 17, and 103 was starting to look uncomfortably distant for the home side.Harper and Nabi take the game awayAfter nearly 24 consecutive overs of disciplined, successful length bowling from both sides, Scorchers were the first to deviate from the plan. After new batsmen Sam Harper and Mohammad Nabi dealt blows to Andrew Tye’s opening over, they fully exploited the loose offerings of both David Willey and Usman Qadir. It was Willey who first suffered, presenting rare width to Nabi, who cut via third man for four. Two balls later the Afghanistan all-rounder was back smashing him over deep cover for six.It represented a turning of the tide, and it was amplified after Usman Qadir’s first over, which was one to forget. He dished up a number of drag-downs which were dispatched with ease, first conceding three, then four, then six, among assorted singles. After such a strong start, it meant Scorchers had leaked 38 runs in the next three overs, undoing their advantage.From there, Renegades cruised, eventually reaching the total in the 16th over with 28 balls to spare. Harper and Nabi’s partnership broke the arm-wrestle, before Christian and Sutherland guided the Renegades to a win.

Pakistan reasserted their dominance in the UAE with a crushing win in Dubai over a Sri Lanka side that has seen ODI wins excruciatingly hard to come by in 2017

The Report by Danyal Rasool13-Oct-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details AFP

Pakistan reasserted their dominance in the UAE with a crushing win in Dubai over a Sri Lanka side that has seen ODI wins excruciatingly hard to come by in 2017. A century from Babar Azam – back playing his most favoured format – and a blistering 81 from Shoaib Malik saw Pakistan set Sri Lanka a stiff target of 293. They were never really in the chase, losing half the side for 67, with Rumman Raees and Hasan Ali leading the 83-run rout and handing them their eighth consecutive loss in the format.Upul Tharanga won the toss and opted to bowl when most – Sarfraz included – considered fielding under the scorching Dubai an unappealing prospect. But Sri Lanka’s opening bowlers Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Gamage backed up their captain with a stellar opening spell, characterised by subtle swing and consistent line and lengths that deprived Pakistan of scoring opportunities. Ahmed Shehzad fell in what is becoming increasingly predictable fashion, getting bogged down by 11 dot balls, before coming down the wicket to Gamage and gifting midwicket a simple catch.It wasn’t until Babar, who had managed to hang in despite struggling for rhythm, and the street-smart Malik came together, that the momentum took a clear shift in Pakistan’s favour. The running between the wickets was excellent, and Malik was destructive when he decided to take the aerial route, with even the tricky Dhananjaya rendered ineffective towards the close of the innings.The bowling looked particularly toothless as Babar and Malik set themselves up for the finish, even if they were unable to come up with the sort of power-hitting the innings required at that stage. For their part, Sri Lanka were superb in the field, in stark contrast to the series against India, with fielders in the infield throwing themselves around and saving several runs. It wasn’t until the last six overs that the big runs really began to leak, but along with it came regular wickets that stymied Pakistan’s charge in the slog overs. Where once 300 looked a formality, Pakistan ended up scrambling to reach 292.Even so, the target was a formidable one, and Sri Lanka began with a clear, positive intent. Upul Tharanga and Niroshan Dickwella sought to take advantage of the Powerplay in a way Pakistan had not, hitting five fours in the first 19 balls. But from the moment the first wicket fell, Dickwella poking at a ball from Raees that nipped away from him, the rot set in. The run rate began to drop sharply; just five runs were scored off the next 24 deliveries. Raees was the most menacing and accounted for Dinesh Chandimal’s wicket too, the ball swinging back into the right-hander and trapping him plumb in front.Tharanga looked thoroughly unconvincing once Mohammad Hafeez came on, surviving numerous lbw appeals in a phase when the middle of his bat completely disappeared from the game. After being worked over for a couple of overs, the Sri Lanka captain was put out of his misery by Hafeez with a ball that skidded on and thudded into his off stump. Two overs later, Hasan Ali dismissed Kusal Mendis and Milinda Siriwardana off successive deliveries, effectively putting the game to bed.The lower order hung around long enough to seriously frustrate Pakistan, without really having a hope of winning. Thisara Perera provided brief entertainment before top-edging Shadab Khan and holing out, substitute fielder Faheem Ashraf taking an excellent catch. Raees came back into the attack and ended the resistance of the last recognised batsman Lahiru Thirimanne, who top-scored with 53.Where Pakistan might have expected to skittle the tail out cheaply, Dananjaya and Jeffrey Vandersay, the Nos. 8 and 9, viewed the situation as an opportunity to get batting practice. While they never showed any intent of even trying to reach the target, they grittily hung around for a 68-run partnership, ensuring Sri Lanka batted out their full fifty overs.Dananjaya ended up with an unbeaten fifty as the game meandered along for a full two hours. Pakistan seemed content to bowl out the overs than look to finish with a flourish. Even so, by the time Pakistan inevitably took a 1-0 lead, all Dananjaya and Vandersay had done was sprinkle some respectability onto another abject white-ball performance from Sri Lanka.

Miguel Cummins, the West Indies fast bowler, has signed as Worcestershire’s overseas player for the final three rounds of the Championship

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Aug-2016Miguel Cummins, the West Indies fast bowler, has signed as Worcestershire’s overseas player for the final three rounds of the Championship. Cummins, who made his Test debut against India last month, replaces South Africa’s Kyle Abbott as Worcestershire aim to maintain their pursuit of the one promotion spot available in Division Two this season.Abbott was called up for South Africa’s Test series with New Zealand and, after two defeats in their last three matches followed by conceding 551 against Northamptonshire, Worcestershire have decided to strengthen their attack by bringing in Cummins.With one day of their ongoing match at New Road to go, Worcestershire sit fourth in the Division Two table, 56 points behind leaders Essex after they secured a three-day win against Leicestershire.Steve Rhodes, Worcestershire’s director of cricket, said: “We have signed Miguel for the last three games of the season. I am delighted not only to be getting someone who has been playing recently but also someone who has recently been playing international cricket and that says a lot for his quality.”He played in the West Indies-India series and was successful in the penultimate Test of that series. He is a young guy with no experience of county cricket or English conditions but he is hungry to do well, try and impress and make an impact and he has got this opportunity in the last three games and we are looking forward to having him on board.”He is a little bit quicker than any of our bowlers, with a bit of bounce, and he is well thought of by Ottis Gibson. I spoke to him and he gave a very good recommendation for him and when you look to give someone an opportunity, you want someone with a point to prove.”There is a lot of unavailability [of overseas players] towards the end of the season and we are very lucky to get Miguel.”Cummins, who took 6 for 48 in the St Lucia Test against India, has a career record of 125 first-class wickets at 22.44. He was the most successful pace bowler in this year’s WICB Professional Cricket League, with 33 at 20.69. He is expected to arrive at the club on Monday and be available to play Essex at Chelmsford, starting on Wednesday, followed by games against Sussex and Derbyshire.”I am relishing the chance to play county cricket for the first time,” Cummins said. “I am always keen to learn and broaden my cricketing knowledge and experiences and this is an ideal opportunity for me. Several West Indian players have played for the county and I hope I can make a significant impact and help the club towards its goal of trying to achieve promotion.”

Persistent rain forced the match between Namibia and Nepal to be abandoned after only 7.4 overs of play in Bready in the World T20 Qualifier

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jul-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsStephan Baard struck a 26-ball 39*•ICC/Sportsfile

Persistent rain forced the match between Namibia and Nepal to be abandoned after only 7.4 overs of play in Bready in the World T20 Qualifier. The start to the game was delayed to the weather and the match was first reduced to 17 overs a side. The weather relented for a brief period as Namibia, who were inserted in to bat before the interruption, kicked into gear immediately.Stephan Baard and Gerrie Synman hit five fours and two sixes together and added 36 runs in 29 balls before Synman was caught off the bowling of Paras Khadka. Baard and Raymond van Schoor took Namibia to 54 for 1 in seven overs as rain forced another break in play. They managed to get on for another four balls, but unrelenting rain finally forced the game to be called off.

Kane Williamson struck a brilliant unbeaten 145 to carry New Zealand to a competitive 279 for 8 in Kimberley

The Report by Alex Winter22-Jan-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsNathan McCullum was inspired in the field and took the crucial wicket of Colin Ingram•Associated Press

South Africa have so often been the makers of their own downfall and five run outs scuppered their chase in Kimberley as New Zealand secured their first series win in any format in South Africa. One of the lights that can lead them out of this tough period – Kane Williamson – produced a magnificent unbeaten century that deserved to win a series. New Zealand’s tenacity in the field ensured it did.Graeme Smith, Faf du Plessis, David Miller, Rory Kleinveldt and Farhaan Behardien were all run out as South Africa’s chase crumbled from a comfortable position of 167 for 1 in the 31st over. It equalled the record for the most run outs in an ODI innings and contributed to a calamitous collapse of 9 for 85.It was unimaginable that the current New Zealand team could be the group to win the country’s first series in South Africa, but after being humiliated in the Test series they have a remarkable achievement to take home.This second win was set up by the best batting performance of the tour: a career-best international score by Williamson. His unbeaten 145 not out was superbly paced. He negotiated a nervous opening having come to the crease in the third over at 0 for 1, then accelerated in a hundred partnership with Grant Elliott, rebuilt after New Zealand had endured a collapse of their own, before providing a final punch that produced a competitive target.But competitive is all the target appeared on a balmy evening with a flat, hard, grassless wicket. South Africa were on course as Graeme Smith and Colin Ingram added 129 in 22 overs.New Zealand craved a breakthrough, wishing for any of the several chances they spurned in the first ODI, and were suddenly gifted a path back into the match. It was James Franklin – who brought New Zealand home in Paarl – that began the feast of run-outs with a slide to save Ingram’s back cut at third man. His return was pint-point over the bails and a sluggish Smith was short diving in for a third run.Faf du Plessis – standing in as captain with AB de Villiers suspended – then defended Franklin into the off side and eagerly considered a single. He was rightly sent back by Ingram and was a little slow to turn, allowing enough time for Nathan McCullum to swoop in from cover and hit direct with a dive.It was part of a fine display in the field from McCullum. He held Robin Peterson with a diving catch at extra cover after he had squeezed the run rate with his off spin, forcing Ingram to try to hit over the top and find mid-off. It was a far cry from his first over which had been taken for 17.Further run outs came as Kleinveldt got his bat stuck in the ground a foot short of the popping crease as Martin Guptill threw down the stumps from midwicket. More lethargic running saw Behardien – on his ODI debut – beaten from the midwicket boundary. A little earlier, David Miller – a dangerous threat even as the required rate surged – was short of his ground backing up.New Zealand had seized their chance in the field and backed up an outstanding innings from Williamson. Quality of timing is paramount for him, a diminutive figure with a limited range of strokes, but he found his touch. He shuffled across his stumps to work length balls on off stump through the leg side, put away almost anything overpitched and played the spinners well – getting deep in his crease to pull boundaries against du Plessis and using his feet well too.Twice he skipped down to lift Peterson wide of long-on, the second occasion taking him to 99; a single backward of point brought up his third ODI hundred and the first against major opposition. He added 127 in 128 balls with Grant Elliott to earn New Zealand’s first century stand of the tour. It was born out of a careful opening as just 19 came off the first ten overs; a cautious attitude understandable given previous premature collapses.But having played watchfully, New Zealand progressed. Williamson was the chief instigator of the 62 runs that were scored in the first 10 overs outside the Powerplay. The innings had been running to plan with a platform in place and Brendon McCullum arriving at No. 5 with a short period to explode. But he only managed to do so three times, the best of which a straight six over Morne Morkel’s head having run down the wicket. But doing so again, McCullum swung and missed and lost his leg stump. It was a waste with 12 overs of the innings left.Colin Munro and Franklin then fell within eight balls and New Zealand looked out of power and likely to fail to take full advantage of their position. But Williamson continued to steer the innings and his efforts were ultimately rewarded.