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Birmingham Bears made it back-to-back wins in the Vitality Blast as they beat Derbyshire Falcons by 49 runs in front of 7,500 at Edgbaston

ECB Reporters Network24-Jul-2019Birmingham Bears made it back-to-back wins in the Vitality Blast as they beat Derbyshire Falcons by 49 runs in front of 7,500 at Edgbaston.Chasing a hefty 205 for 5, the Falcons faltered early with the loss of two wickets in the first nine balls and never threatened from there. They finished on 156 for 9.The Bears’ daunting total owed most to a classy third-wicket partnership of 113 in 65 balls from Sam Hain (85, 61 balls) and Adam Hose (69, 35 balls). Ashton Agar added a violent 26 (15 balls) as only Ravi Rampaul (three for 21) withstood the onslaught.The Falcons’ pursuit was then undone by the loss of early wickets, including two careless run-outs. Leus du Plooy defied with a brilliant 70 (43 balls) but was alone in his resistance as nobody else in the top seven reached 15.The Falcons’ defeat, following their victory over Yorkshire in their opening game, means that no team in the North Group won their first two games, though the Bears are the early pace-setters after a washout and two wins.The Falcons chose to bowl and started well by removing openers Ed Pollock and Michael Burgess in the first 23 balls. Rampaul opened up with two overs for just four runs and the Bears ended the powerplay on only 36 for 2 but but Hain and Hose first rebuilt carefully then climbed into counter-attack.They reached their half-centuries, Hain from 42 balls, Hose from 26 in the same over from leg-spinner Matt Critchley and Hose smote 69 with three sixes and nine fours before edging Logan Van Beek behind.Agar hit two of his first six balls into the crowd and helped Hain to add 63 in 27 balls before both fell in Rampaul’s final over. The Falcons’ fans might have wondered why the paceman wasn’t brought back earlier when the Bears’ batsmen began to escape control.The Falcons soon lost Luis Reece, bowled second-ball by Fidel Edwards, and Wayne Madsen, brilliantly run out by Alex Thompson. du Plooy was immediately on the offensive but, having done for his partner Madsen with a dodgy call, captain Billy Godelman was then run out himself by smart work from Jeetan Patel.That was 58 for three and, while Du Plooy galloped to 50 from 33 balls, the rest buckled under the pressure of a steepling run-rate required and accurate bowling led by spinners Patel (4-0-17-1) and Agar (4-0-22-1).

Both MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina, who are recovering from injuries, trained on the eve of the match against Rajasthan Royals and could be fit to play on Friday

The Preview by Akshay Gopalakrishnan19-Apr-20184:31

Agarkar: Royals missing the X-factor

Big Picture

Much has changed since Chennai Super Kings last played Rajasthan Royals in 2015. Shane Watson has switched camps. Suresh Raina has missed an IPL game in yellow jersey. Ajinkya Rahane hasn’t conformed to the hold-my-end-up-and-let-the-rest-hit-around-me norm. And the MA Chidambaram Stadium will not host CSK’s home matches this season.

Form guide (most recent matches first)

Chennai Super Kings: lost to Kings XI Punjab by four runs, beat Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets, beat Mumbai Indians by one wicket
Rajasthan Royals: lost to Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets, beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 19 runs, beat Delhi Daredevils by 10 runs (D/L method)

It’s the last two of those that have the most bearing presently. This new-found aggression of Rahane has been abrupt. T20 logic dictates that your most effective batsmen get the maximum opportunities to score. With a smart strike-rate of 109, Rahane didn’t fit that bill. But with 72 runs off the last 39 balls he has faced, Rahane has understood the need of the hour better. It is a significant shift in strategy, which could have a ripple effect on the rest of the batting line-up.This isn’t the first time that CSK have had to move to a new home – MS Dhoni’s hometown of Ranchi hosted them in 2014 and 2015. But with 34 wins in 48 IPL matches, the MA Chidambaram Stadium has for long been a stronghold, and how they adapt to a forced change of venue will be key to the remainder of their season. With a run rate of 13.22 in the last five overs so far, CSK have redefined death-overs batting, with each of their innings being characterised by manic late surges. But it is their bowling – they have conceded an average total of 188 so far – and fielding that will worry them the most.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

In the news

• MS Dhoni batted through a back injury in their previous match against Kings XI Punjab, but he trained with the team on the eve of the game against Royals. Raina, who had missed CSK’s previous match because of a calf injury, also resumed training and could return to the team on Friday.
• David Willey, who was Kedar Jadhav’s replacement player for CSK, was seen bowling extensively in the nets on match eve. Does that mean an IPL debut for the England allrounder?
• Ben Laughlin has fared poorly, going at 10.39 an over. Royals have a potential replacement in Jofra Archer, although it isn’t clear yet if he has recovered from the side strain that kept him out of much of the Pakistan Super League and the start of the Indian Premier League.

The likely XIs

Chennai Super Kings: 1 Shane Watson, 2 Ambati Rayudu, 3 M Vijay/Suresh Raina, 4 Sam Billings (wk), 5 MS Dhoni/Dhruv Shorey, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Dwayne Bravo, 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Shardul Thakur, 11 Imran TahirRajasthan Royals: 1 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 2 D’Arcy Short/Heinrich Klassen, 3 Sanju Samson, 4 Rahul Tripathi, 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 K Gowtham, 8 Shreyas Gopal, 9 Dhawal Kulkarni, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Ben Laughlin/Joffra Archer

Strategy punt

• While opening with spin has become a common theme this season, CSK will want to have enough overs of spin left when Ben Stokes arrives. In four innings this season, Stokes has fallen twice to spin, and has managed only 22 runs off the 25 balls from spinners.
• Royals have steered away from using their spinners in the slog overs so far, but they may be forced to change that. Laughlin and Jaydev Unadkat, their two strike bowlers, have fared poorly in this phase. While Laughlin has conceded 46 runs off 3.5 overs and doesn’t have a single wicket, Unadkat has fared worse, going at 16.5 an over while also being wicketless.

ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Stats that matter

• Both teams have had an equal level of success and failure in Pune. While CSK have won one and lost one, Rajasthan Royals have won and lost two games each.
• While CSK have an overall record of 11 wins and six defeats against Royals, the last five matches between these two teams have been more closely fought, with CSK winning three and Royals winning two.
• Ben Laughlin has dismissed Dwayne Bravo on each of the three occasions he has bowled to the batsman in T20s. Off the nine balls he has faced from Laughlin, Bravo has seven runs.
• Sanju Samson needs 66 more runs to become the fifth batsman to score 1000 runs for Royals in the IPL.
• Imran Tahir has an excellent record in Pune, averaging two wickets per match, with an average of 15.1 and economy rate of 7.8.
• Both Sanju Samson and Ben Stokes’ only T20 centuries have come in Pune.

ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Fantasy picks

• Big hitter, electric fielder, and a bowler who can give you four overs: Ben Stokes is an excellent T20 package. Even if he does fare badly in one of those areas, there are plenty of other ways he can help you recover those points.
• Sanju Samson has a good record at Pune, where he scored his only T20 century. That, coupled with his current form – he has scores of 49, 37 and 92* in four innings – should make him a tempting pick.

Quote

“It looks a good pitch to me. Nice covering of grass, more grass than probably what we are used to seeing on an Indian pitch.”

ESPNcricinfo’s wrap of the fourth day’s play between Victoria and Western Australia in Alice Springs

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Mar-2017
Scorecard File photo – James Pattinson finished with match figures of 6 for 93•Getty Images

Victoria will have the chance to win a third consecutive Sheffield Shield title after winning through to the final thanks to their victory over Western Australia in Alice Springs.The Warriors began the final day on 7 for 238, hoping to build a defendable lead, but managed to add only 20 to their total for the loss of their last three wickets. James Pattinson finished with 5 for 58, his first five-wicket haul in a first-class match since December 2015.That left Victoria chasing 83 and they did it comfortably, losing only two wickets along the way. Opener Marcus Harris top scored with 43 and Marcus Stoinis, who is about to join Australia’s Test squad in India, finished unbeaten on 25.The result means Victoria are guaranteed a place in the Shield final, although their opponent is yet to be decided. Depending on results in the final round of matches, any of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia or even Western Australia could yet make the decider.

Bangladesh will be keen to carry on their form from the tournament into the semi-finals against a resurgent West Indies outfit

The Preview by Vishal Dikshit10-Feb-2016

Match facts

Thursday, February 11, 2016
Start time 0900 local (0300 GMT)Bangladesh will bank on their middle order, led by the in-form Nazmul Hossain Shanto, on a slow pitch•ICC

Big picture

West Indies’ ability to surprise made sure that it wasn’t going to be an all-Asian last four at the Under-19 World Cup. While Bangladesh reaching the semi-finals wasn’t unexpected after they started the tournament with a resounding win against the defending champions, West Indies’ journey has been more topical.Unlike the hosts, West Indies started their campaign with a loss and then showed their batting firepower against Fiji. They entered the knockouts in controversial circumstances and jolted the Pakistan line-up with impressive fast bowling. Alzarri Joseph’s ability with the ball will be vital to a start that could prove to be decisive.Challenging Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla Stadium is going to be a tough task. Bangladesh are unbeaten but have faced only one Full Member so far – South Africa. They have put up strong totals batting first, strangled oppositions with their spin attack, and also chased a 200-plus target against Nepal under pressure. However, their pace attack is not as menacing, and they would also be under pressure on Thursday while playing their first World Cup semi-final. They will have an edge over West Indies, though, having beaten them 3-0 in a bilateral series just before the World Cup began.

Form guide

Bangladesh WWWWW
West Indies WWWLL

Strengths

Bangladesh’s power lies in their middle-order batting. It shone against South Africa to post a stiff 240, scored 256 against Scotland and rescued the team in the quarter-final against Nepal. The West Indies bowlers’ biggest challenge will be to find a way to curb the batsmen in the middle overs.West Indies, too, were led by their batsmen – opener Gidron Pope’s attacking mindset at the top and Shamar Springer producing scores in the middle order – until pace bowler Chemar Holder arrived. But now the new-ball pair of Alzarri Joseph and Holder have given their team a new dimension to topple any opposition by taking the pitch out of the equation.

Star performers

Nazmul Hossain Shanto has been the hosts’ middle-order mainstay. He has fallen for only one single-digit score so far in the competition and is their leading run-scorer with an average of 104. If the top order crumbled, Shanto is the player the middle order revolved around as he rotates strike with ease and doesn’t rely on the big shots.With his pace and troubling lengths, Alzarri Joseph has always struck with the new ball in the World Cup so far. He showed against Zimbabwe that he can be a force in his second spell too and West Indies will come to Mirpur depending on him quite a bit.

Key players

Mehedi Hasan Miraz, the Bangladesh captain, has struck two quick fifties so far and is one of the main players in the middle order. What is also key is his offspin. Once the opposition builds their platform for a strong finish, Miraz brings himself on to thwart their plans. He hasn’t failed so far, picking up seven wickets with an economy rate of 3.47. He will hope to do the same against a team that is not the best against spin bowling.Holder flew to Bangladesh as a replacement after his team had already reached the knockouts. He was drafted into the XI on recent form and lived up to expectations with a stellar new-ball show against Pakistan. West Indies will hope for him to be the X-factor on Thursday too.

Underperformers

Saif Hassan has already been criticised for his defensive approach, although that is the role given to him. Since Joseph and Holder will come out all guns blazing with the new balls, Saif’s ability to soak up the pressure and play them out will be crucial.Shimron Hetmyer, the West Indies captain, is the only player in their squad who played the previous Under-19 World Cup. He has enough experience behind him, but not as many runs. He started the tournament with low scores but showed good signs in the chase against Pakistan. He scored a positive fifty and will look to stretch his form against the hosts’ spin attack.

Pitch and conditions

The Mirpur pitch has helped the pace bowlers a lot so far in the morning. It might be overcast on Thursday too, but don’t expect another pace-friendly track in the second semi-finals. It won’t come as a surprise if a much slower and spinner-friendly pitch is on offer with more than 10,000 fans expected to cheer for the Bangladesh.

Quotes

“We are playing them at home so it’s going to be a tough game for us. And possibly I would say a grudge match for us.”
“If we are happy already, we will have to end our tournament here and now. We are not entirely satisfied with our performance. We are taking it one game at a time. We are not taking it as a semi-final, rather a match that we have to win.”
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Mohit Sharma revelled in a “dream” debut after he helped skittle Zimbabwe for just 144 in the fourth ODI in Bulawayo

Liam Brickhill at Queens Sports Club01-Aug-2013Mohit Sharma revelled in a “dream” debut after he helped skittle Zimbabwe for just 144 in the fourth ODI in Bulawayo. Entrusted with the new ball, as he had been through most of the IPL by MS Dhoni, Mohit made the first incision for India with the wicket of Sikandar Raza and then returned to remove Malcolm Waller in the batting Powerplay to snap a stubborn middle-order stand.”Yeah, it all feels like a dream,” Mohit said. “But I have worked on my bowling and it is showing. I am ready to do well in whatever opportunity I am going to get. I was just focusing on keeping things simple and sticking to basics. I did not want to try too many things and it worked for me today.”It was that same formula that first brought Mohit success in the Ranji Trophy with Haryana and it also worked a treat at this year’s IPL, where he emerged as one of the most miserly and effective new-ball bowlers of the tournament. It was also noticeable that, during every Indian nets session on this tour, Mohit consistently impressed with his ability to hit a length on or around off stump with almost every delivery.A correct call at the toss by Virat Kohli supplied Mohit with almost ideal conditions this morning and, apart from a single wide probably brought about by nervous excitement, his first over in international cricket was exemplary. He beat Vusi Sibanda’s bat four times in that first over, and it wasn’t until his third that a run was scored off the bat.It was his stock outswinger that brought his maiden wicket, with Raza feathering one behind, and Mohit’s opening six-over spell yielded just 13 runs. After a brief turn in the middle overs, Kohli brought him back for the Powerplay, with a well-set Waller and Elton Chigumbura having taken 11 runs from the first over under the fielding restrictions. Sharma responded to his captain’s call with Waller’s dismissal, also via the outside edge. A battling 80-run stand was broken, and Zimbabwe quickly subsided.”It is difficult to bowl in Powerplays but we work hard in practice sessions,” Mohit explained. “We create match situations during training and bowl a lot and that has helped in matches. And that is why we don’t feel much pressure in matches. Playing under Mahi [Dhoni] and in pressure conditions has taught me a lot. I am just carrying that experience into the international level.”Everyone already knew that Mohit could do a job with the new ball, and such was the ineptitude of Zimbabwe’s batting that his ability to vary his bowling with slower balls – which, again was on prime display in the IPL – and yorkers has not yet been tested. He’s in no rush to add new strings to his bow, however, and given his successes so far that’s understandable.”After coming into the Indian team I have learnt a lot from bowling coach Joe Dawes. It’s just about sticking to the basics and working on your strengths and improving on that. As far as learning new things in bowling, I can do that later and not in match situations. Now I want to focus on the next game and doing well in that as well.”

South Africa will start their two-day tour match against Somerset on Monday with two members of the squad carrying injuries

Firdose Moonda08-Jul-2012South Africa will start their two-day tour match against Somerset on Monday with two members of the squad carrying injuries. Opening batsman Alviro Petersen has an inflamed toe on his left foot, an injury sustained while jogging, and fast bowler Marchant de Lange has not fully recovered from lower-back spasms picked up in the Twenty20 tri-series in Zimbabwe last month. However, both could feature in the match at a later stage as the teams will be allowed to field more than 11 players.”We don’t want to risk either Alviro or Marchant but we will see how they feel as the match goes on,” Mohammed Moosajee, South Africa’s team manager, told ESPNcricinfo. Both are expected to play in the second fixture of the tour against Kent, which starts on Friday.With only five days of match time before the first Test, Gary Kirsten, South Africa’s head coach, was unperturbed by the lack of cricket before his team starts their quest to dethrone England as world No. 1. Kirsten said the hours of practice required before a series is not an “exact science”, adding that South Africa’s players believe the time they will get “should be sufficient”, if the weather holds. The team were forced to have an indoor session at Taunton after arriving on Saturday but trained outside in the sun – which the locals claimed showed itself for the first time in two weeks – on Sunday.”We know we have got to get our intensity up as soon as we can,” Kirsten said. “We’ve got a really experienced team and a good side that has been here and had success before. It’s about who can win those big moments; that’s how the series will be decided. Where we might lose out on match intensity, we will pick up on mental freshness.”Kirsten’s emphasis on training the mind was emphasised by the squad’s recent camp in Switzerland, conducted under the guidance of adventurer Mike Horn. Graeme Smith described it as a mentally challenging experience and said that for some players it had been the “toughest three days of their careers”. The squad engaged in activities such as climbing mountains and Kirsten said it helped them learn about each other.”It’s something we wanted to work hard on as a team. We can put ourselves through some challenges, not necessarily cricket challenges, just to test us a little bit as a unit,” he said. “Everyone pulled together and the stronger guys pulled the weaker guys through. We feel that when you pull a team together and tighten a unit and go through those challenges it will help in those pressure moments where it counts.”Thinking outside the box is what Kirsten hopes will give South Africa that “10% tweak that will take us to the top of the pile”. Having already got India there in Tests, Kirsten is hoping to replicate his success with his home country and feels that the preparation they have done will stand them in good stead to achieve that. “I am very happy with where we are at the moment,” Kirsten said. “The guys aren’t letting up, they want more.”

Chris Gayle will still remain in the stands, and West Indies deprived of their best player against the world’s No.1 ranked Test team

The Preview by Siddhartha Talya19-Jun-2011

Match facts

Monday, June 20, Jamaica

Start time 1000 (1500 GMT, 2030 IST)Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been India’s chief West Indian tormentor in Tests•AFP

Big Picture

He played no part in the ODI series, but Chris Gayle couldn’t be missed in the stands and was all anyone could talk about. He was there at the Queen’s Park Oval, braids, shades and a cap that said ‘captain’, and at home at Sabina Park, those braids redesigned as an Afro. He lived it up in the crowd and, deliberately or not, reminded every one about the mess over his non-selection.Who is to blame? Is there an end to this impasse, this battle of egos? There are no clear answers. That meeting between Gayle and the WICB held hope for many West Indies fans, but it resulted in more disillusionment amid reports of gloves almost coming off, literally. The details of the discussion were bared and the outcome was inconclusive. The upshot was that Gayle will still remain in the stands, and West Indies will still be deprived of their best player against the world’s No.1 ranked Test team.West Indies made another significant decision in leaving out Dwayne Bravo, who had sought, and was granted, rest after only two ODIs, following a six-game IPL stint. He hoped to return for the Test series after having time to “reflect, refocus” on his game. That break has now been extended. The return of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who will have another meeting with the WICB prior to the Test, and Adrian Barath to the top of the order are welcome developments. However, replicating what West Indies managed against Pakistan, after back-to-back wins in the ODI series, will be harder against a stronger, though depleted, Indian outfit.India are without their formidable openers – Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir – as well as Sachin Tendulkar, but are strengthened by the return of their captain MS Dhoni and veterans Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. With several new players getting a chance to showcase their Test skills, the series is an opportunity to compete for spots on the tour of England, for which the resting and injured regulars are certain to return. The weakened bowling attack, though, is a worry on a pitch expected to favour movement and bounce, and not much turn. For India, the focus of the ODI series was on how their younger players would step up away from home and face the pressure of living up to expectations after the World Cup victory. The pressures will be similar in the Tests, though there are a few more seasoned, experienced hands to guide them.

Form guide (most recent first)

India: DWLWD
West Indies: LWDDD

The spotlight

Abhinav Mukund: He did not play the previous time he was picked in the Indian squad but will almost certainly make his debut in Kingston. Mukund, 21, has been a prolific run-scorer for Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket, and was deservedly rewarded for his consistency with a Test call-up. He was Tamil Nadu’s second-highest run-getter in the Ranji Trophy, scored a century in each innings for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final and is part of a successful opening partnership with M Vijay, who is also part of the Test squad. Mukund’s temperament, ability to bat long and score big – he has a triple-ton to his name – and reputation as one of India’s most promising young talents will be a source of both nerves and confidence in his first international game.Shivnarine Chanderpaul: Ahead of his previous Test, Chanderpaul, in one of his most outspoken interviews, slammed the West Indies management for interfering with his batting, subjecting him to unreasonable questioning and even asking him to retire, which he refused to do. In the end, he played a crucial role in his team’s second innings to help beat Pakistan in Guyana. His build-up to this Test has been relatively low key but he’ll still have to meet with the management, which will “outline to Chanderpaul the WICB’s expectations of him and his future participation in the West Indies team as a player.” What that meeting will produce, we don’t know, but he’s been India’s chief West Indian tormentor, averaging 71.86 in 18 Tests. Both he and the management will know that.

Team news

Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth aren’t in the Caribbean because of injuries, Abhimanyu Mithun will only arrive on June 20 while Munaf Patel has an elbow problem that has put him in doubt for the first Test. If Munaf misses out, Ishant Sharma will open the bowling with Praveen Kumar, a Test debutant. Swinging the ball both ways is Praveen’s strength, though his effectiveness with the older ball will be tested in the event he plays. Without Munaf, India will not have a third seamer, a scenario they would want to avoid on a pitch expected to have pace and bounce.India have a batting concern as well. M Vijay hurt his left forefinger and went for an x-ray, the result of which is not yet known. If he can’t play, Parthiv Patel could open with Mukund. Virat Kohli could be in line for a Test debut as well. Kohli, S Badrinath and Suresh Raina will be competing for two places in the XI.India (possible): 1 Abhinav Mukund, 2 M Vijay/Parthiv Patel, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 and 6 Virat Kohli, S Badrinath, Suresh Raina, 5 VVS Laxman, 7 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Ishant Sharma, 10 Praveen Kumar, 11 9 Amit Mishra/Munaf Patel.Barath replaced Kraigg Brathwaite in the squad and will open with Lendl Simmons. Chanderpaul’s return – he missed the second Test against Pakistan due to injury – means Marlon Samuels, who scored a half-century in that second Test and played important knocks against India in the ODIs, may have to sit out.West Indies (possible): 1 Adrian Barath, 2 Lendl Simmons, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Brendan Nash, 7 Carlton Baugh (wk), 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Ravi Rampaul, 11 Devendra Bishoo.

Pitch and conditions

“Indians like slow pitch,” said Charles Josephs, who’s been the curator at Sabina Park since 1962. He’s, therefore, made a hard one, as is custom in Kingston, favouring pace and bounce. He reckoned the ball would come on to the bat well after a point, but unlike the slow pitches in Trinidad and Antigua, this one wouldn’t turn much or keep low.

Stats and trivia

• India have lost six and won one of the ten Tests they played at Sabina Park. In 2002 they were beaten in the series decider by 156 runs, a game featuring Laxman, Dravid and Harbhajan Singh. In 2006, Dravid won India the Test and series on a tough pitch with a half-century in each innings.
• This will be Dravid’s 150th Test for India. He will become the second Indian after Tendulkar to reach that landmark, and the fifth to go past 150 overall.
• Harbhajan has bowled 557 balls to Chanderpaul in Tests and never dismissed him.
• For a comprehensive stats preview, please click here.

Quotes

“They have bowlers who can bowl fast, and if they can bowl at the right areas they can cause problems to the batsmen. That’s what Test cricket is all about, you have to negotiate good bowlers and balls, and as a batsman you need to push the bowlers to bowl into your zone.”


“I am bowling far better, in more consistent areas and swinging a lot more than before. I am training a lot harder, gym a lot, strengthening my back, my legs, my muscles, my weak areas a lot.”

Lancashire produced a county-record run chase success in the Friends Provident t20 at Old Trafford to claim bragging rights over Roses rivals Yorkshire

Cricinfo staff09-Jul-2010
Scorecard
Stephen Moore launched Lancashire’s chase with 59 from just 32 balls•Getty Images

Lancashire produced a county-record run chase success in the Friends Provident t20 at Old Trafford to claim bragging rights over Roses rivals Yorkshire. Backed by a sell-out crowd, Stephen Moore blasted a rapid half-century as the Red Rose chased down 163 to claim a five-wicket win. Earlier, new England Lions spinner Stephen Parry claimed 3 for 19. The victory consolidates Lancashire’s top-three position in the North Division and keeps them on course for the quarter-finals.Herschelle Gibbs passed 50 for the third time this season and with Adam Lyth’s rapid 36, Yorkshire looked at one stage set to reach 200 having won the toss. But Parry, who accounted for Lyth thanks to a great catch from Simon Kerrigan at mid-on, led the Lancashire recovery with wickets at key times.Sajid Mahmood also bounced back from conceding 21 off his first over to finish with 3 for 30 as Yorkshire lost five wickets for 32 runs. Gibbs became the first batsman to pass 400 runs in this group, blasting his half-century from 34 balls.But he was caught well for 51 by Nathan McCullum in Parry’s first over, bringing an end to a 50-run partnership with Jacques Rudolph. Rudolph followed in the same manner six overs later as he went for 16 – again caught well by the New Zealander.At that stage Yorkshire were 119 for 3 after 13 overs and still going well. However Parry, Kerrigan and Tom Smith began to make runs hard to come by, backed up with some good fielding.And once dangerman Gibbs had gone, Yorkshire fell apart with Anthony McGrath soon following him as he was caught by Mahmood off Kerrigan for 10. In the final over McCullum pulled off his third catch of the innings as Jonathan Bairstow holed out for 13 and then, two balls later, Adil Rashid went for 13 as he chipped one to Steven Croft at mid-on.Mahmood then ran out Clint McKay as Yorkshire finished on 162 for 8. Moore made a powerful start in Lancashire’s reply, smashing 14 from Steven Patterson’s first over including a huge six into the pavilion, and then hitting three consecutive boundaries off Rich Pyrah.Fellow opener Smith had a rare failure as he fell to Pyrah for just four. But Moore and Croft continued the onslaught with the former Worcestershire opener racing to his fifty in just 24 balls with nine boundaries.They had put on 49 when Moore went for 59 in the ninth over, caught by Andrew Gale off Pyrah, who finished with 3 for 33. Croft then took over and, after guiding Lancashire safely to three figures, belted a straight six back of Rashid’s head.He fell to the next ball though when trying to repeat the trick and was caught by Rudolph for a 28-ball 36 with Lightning still needing 46 off 36. And although McCullum and Gareth Cross were both dismissed before the end, Paul Horton saw Lancashire home with an unbeaten 37 from 30 balls.

Opening the batting may not be ideal berth, but after 17 Tests on sidelines, any role will suffice

Vithushan Ehantharajah19-Aug-20240:53

Dan Lawrence: Ollie Pope doesn’t need to try to be Ben Stokes

“I’d bat No.11, if I had to.”It’s a line Dan Lawrence has used before, which is as much a reflection of three years spent largely carrying drinks as his 11 caps spent ticking off every slot between No.3 and 7. But its airing on Monday in the press conference room at Emirates Old Trafford had an altogether different twist.Lawrence will not be batting at No.11 in the first Test against Sri Lanka – he will be in at No.1. As a designated replacement for Zak Crawley, he is due to face the first ball this week when he walks out to the middle with Ben Duckett. And while batting last comes with a specific kind of bitterness that Lawrence says he would have been willing to swallow, going in first may not be all that much sweeter. Like the ends of a horseshoe, they are closer together when it comes, say, to the kind of reticence a middle-order batter might have for such an unfamiliar position. Not that Lawrence has articulated any of that.”I was just waiting for an opportunity,” he said, having spent 17 Tests on the outside looking in, instead carrying drinks, bowling his tidy home-spun offies in the nets and, ironically, often batting first in pre-match sessions.”And wherever that was, in the order, I was going to snap their hands off for it,” he added. “So I’m just going to enjoy these few weeks and hopefully score some runs and put my name in the hat for future selection.”A month captaining London Spirit has clearly given Lawrence a professional level of diplomacy. Then again, when your last Test appearance came on a depressing tour of West Indies, months before the breakout Bazball summer of 2022, why wouldn’t you be appreciative of an invite to the party? Even the recently retired James Anderson, fresh from a month commentating on the Hundred, was donning keeping gloves on the Emirates Old Trafford turf during Monday’s training session as the quicks tore in on a practice strip from the end bearing his name. He was eventually relieved of those duties once Jamie Smith had finished batting in the nets.That’s not to say Lawrence is anything but sincere in his desire for an opportunity, or that England are simply rewarding his perfect attendance over the past two years. Truth be told, everything that this team has been since 2022, even in a summer where they are veering away from their previous brat ways, is very Lawrence. Outlandish strokeplay wedded with bloody-mindedness. A ruthless take on carefree abandon. Everything in moderation, including moderation.Dan Lawrence has been recalled to England’s Test team in Old Trafford•Getty Images

Even earlier this year, Lawrence was hustling for a hit. Out for the full tour of India, he was granted permission by the ECB to turn out for Desert Vipers in the ILT20 during England’s break in Abu Dhabi between the second and third Test. His switch to Surrey has seen him operate as a spin-bowling allrounder, a role that England often threatened to replicate during the India tour last winter but never quite settled upon. At a time when English cricketers seem to be able to have their cake and eat it too, Lawrence has had to choose.It is easy to forget that when he first arrived on the Test scene in Sri Lanka at the start of 2021, he was the new radical. Wristy beyond belief, yet with an appreciation of the grind. He was reared on spicy Chelmsford decks – initially as an opener, which is where operated for most of his brief second-team career – before emerging as a vital cog in a County Championship title-hoovering beast.That did not quite translate to his first stanza with England, in part because Lawrence was trying to make his way during the dregs of Joe Root’s era, most of which was levelled in the great rebuild. That he has four half-centuries and five ducks speaks appropriately to that indifferent start. It also explains why, despite only operating as an opener in seven out of his 203 red-ball innings, he views this week as a new beginning.”I think in my first stint, I showed glimpses of what I can do. I was certainly fairly inconsistent. There were definitely some glimpses of what I can do. And there was some low scores as well in there, but I think that all came with being quite young. I wasn’t completely sure of my game at that time.”And, yeah, I look back on it, and I’ve got some really good memories, and I’ve got some memories where I thought it was really challenging. So I’m treating this as a bit of a fresh start.”It is not a stretch to suggest that, had Sri Lanka won more than three of their last 11 away Tests since the start of 2021 – all those against Bangladesh, too – Lawrence’s wait for a starting berth may have gone on. And it is not unthinkable that this all ends in pretty unedifying fashion. Sri Lanka’s seamers operate with full, attacking lines by default and are likely to have conditions in their favour with a bleak summer set to peter out in dank fashion, starting in Manchester (of course). And, well, there’s the very real fact that Lawrence just isn’t an opener.In a recent column in the , Michael Vaughan articulated his justified reservations over the selection, while highlighting Lawrence’s strengths. “Well, thankfully it’s not up to me to make those decisions,” came Lawrence’s understandable response when the former England captain’s thoughts were put to him. “I got asked to open the batting, and I’m definitely going to say yes. So obviously people are going to have their opinions, but I’m obviously chuffed to get the opportunity.”Shoaib Bashir and Dan Lawrence during a training session•PA Images via Getty Images

At this juncture, that, ultimately, is all that matters, especially at a time when Lawrence’s opening partner, Duckett, has thrived by not leaving anything outside off stump. It has also been made cleaner by the decision to replace Stokes with Matthew Potts. It would have been awkward to select Jordan Cox, the uncapped Essex batter – who was signed from Kent to cover for Lawrence’s departure to the Kia Oval – as he would have likely slotted in at No.6. Lawrence would have been within his rights to feel aggrieved if that had come to pass, as if he had braved a long queue for the hottest restaurant in town, settled for a cramped seat at the bar, only for the person behind him to bag a recently vacated booth.Nevertheless, Lawrence is finally through the door for his first taste of Test cricket under the jurisdiction of Brendon McCullum and Stokes, albeit in a stand-in capacity as Ollie Pope takes the reins. And he is glad for it.”I think ultimately, the best thing about this environment is allowing players – or new players – to go out there and be as free as possible,” Lawrence said at the end of his media engagements. “Whereas, necessarily, in the past, it might not have been like that.”But watching all the boys go out there and debut and take five-fors and score loads of runs, it’s quite evident that boys are going out there and just relaxing and having a good time. And that’s what I’m going to try and do.”

Home side begin final day needing 33 runs with two wickets remaining

David Hopps13-May-2023Durham 227 and 213 for 8 (Jones 56, Lees 38, Fisher 4-56, Thompson 3-40) require 33 runs to beat Yorkshire 254 and 218 (Raine 4-36, Potts 4-61)Yorkshire have not won a Championship match for 17 matches. The 18th is in abeyance after they claimed the extra half-hour, but failed to force victory against the leaders Durham at Chester-le-Street. Durham begin the final day needing 33 runs with two wickets remaining. A riveting match remains in the balance.This sounds appallingly like hindsight, but Yorkshire would have been better leaving the last two wickets until the morning when the weather is overcast and the ball might swing. Their impatience to finish the job was understandable, but their seam attack (or at least those seamers the skipper Shan Masood entirely trusted) was weary, the sun was shining (no, really, it was) and their impetus was already on the wane.Durham added another 18 in nine overs as Ben Raine and Matthew Potts resisted gamely. Durham need a win to stay top of Division Two and their supporters talk proudly of a side in good shape; Yorkshire need a win to help them block out the perpetual grumbling from the outer and convince themselves that promotion is a realisable objective. Both sides have been a credit to Division Two.To add to the uncertainty, Brydon Carse will walk out at No.11, if needed, after having scans on a “trunk injury” that restricted him to only five overs in Yorkshire’s second innings. The results of those are not yet known. Carse, fully fit, would be a danger. Carse, severely restricted, might be impotent. Nobody really knows.Matthew Fisher, who holds four wickets overnight, said: “We chucked everything at them, we just needed one to roll. As much as it’s stressful and you’re knackered, we know that we need to go again in the morning. I didn’t really want the extra half hour because it would have been nice to get off and freshen up.”Durham’s target was 246, a tall order that had sizeable chips removed from it during a new-ball assault by Alex Lees who made 38 from 37 balls, driving in carefree fashion as Fisher and Jordan Thompson began timidly and inaccurately as if a long run without success had crept into their consciousness. A failed to attempt to change the ball after 3.5 overs summed up their state of mind as there was little swing to be had.Masood dealt with the situation shrewdly, withdrawing Fisher from the attack after two overs, giving him time to reflect and reintroducing him at the Lumley Castle End. If the ball was not swinging, there was soon further confirmation that it would occasionally keep low as Fisher seamed one through Lees’ gaping gap.Lees dealt with, Durham abruptly slowed as Michael Jones took the long view. Scott Borthwick clipped Thompson to short midwicket, but Jones gradually expanded his range, Mickey Edwards looked too leaky for such a tight match on a surface where accuracy was essential and, at 126 for 2, Durham were edging the match as a series of borderline lbw shouts did not fall Yorkshire’s way.Then came a random moment to shift the emphasis. Bess’ career has stalled at Yorkshire, not helped by the county’s appetite for internecine strife. Runs have eluded him and his bowling average is in the mid-40s. Unsurprisingly, he had struggled to hide his disfavour as several lbw decisions did not fall his way. Then he was clunked on the knee when Graham Clark pulled Matthew Revis fiercely into the ground and limped off with four overs to his name, returning later to sound effect.Masood was forced to return to Hill, who was carrying an onerous responsibility on his slender frame. It immediately paid dividends as David Bedingham was held by Jonny Bairstow, an excellent one-handed scoop as the ball died in front of him.Fisher’s return came with a sense that the game could be turned. So it was as he took wickets in three successive overs: Ollie Robinson’s flashing drive flying to first slip, Jones falling lbw by virtue of the totting-up procedure, and Bas de Leede joining the growing list of bowlers to chop on.If there was ever a time for Jordan Thompson to live up to his somewhat optimistic nickname of “the man who makes things happen” it had arrived and he added two in two as Graham Clark also dragged on and Axar Patel, who had tormented Yorkshire in the first innings with some last-man tomfoolery, losing his magic upon his promotion to No.9 and immediately falling lbw.Bess deserves credit for returning later, ice and painkillers applied, and maintaining an excellent holding operation against admittedly obsessive Durham defending. Against tiring bowlers, in bright sunshine, Durham might have been better giving it a go. But they will ridicule that notion if they steal the game in the morning. A new ball is only 10 overs away and they will surely want to wrap things up by then.Yorkshire had been evenly placed at the start of the day – their closure at 91 for 3 giving them a lead of 118. With Malan and Bairstow at the crease – a rare Championship alliance between two England internationals – they had a chance to kill the game. Just as it seemed they might, Ben Raine dismissed both in successive overs courtesy of excellent catches by Ollie Robinson.Ollie Robinson is quite an upgrade for Durham, released by Kent because the presence of Sam Billings and Jordan Cox meant limited opportunities. He sprang a long way to his left when Malan chased a wide one and then even further to his right when Bairstow edged an attempted drive. Both had scrapped for around two-and-a-half hours, but the first half-century of the match was still awaited.That fell to Hill, who continued an excellent all-round match with 51 from 52 balls until Potts had him caught at second slip with a wide outswinger on the stroke of lunch. A more graceful player than when he first appeared in the side, he made light of the introduction of spin, in the shape of Patel, and played Potts in an assured fashion as anybody.Whatever the outcome, Yorkshire could recognise his growing importance by immediately capping him. They can’t afford it, but then they can’t afford to turn the lights on.