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The Preview by Sidharth Monga18-Jan-2017

Match facts

Thursday, January 19, 2017
Start time 1330 local (0800 GMT)

Big picture

With so much cricket happening these days, you don’t get to savour incredible performances for long. Two days later, you are again staring at the prospect of a gruelling ODI. They are gruelling on the players because so much is packed into those 100 overs. Teams are mentally stronger than they used to be, and hardly carry negative momentum from defeats, but England have got to wonder after Pune what more they need to do. They scored 350, had India at 63 for 4, and didn’t really bowl awfully, but still lost with 11 balls to spare.India will enjoy that England might be worried now. Remember Virat Kohli’s statement after Pune? He said he told Kedar Jadhav that England would panic if India reached 150 for 4. Part of England will be doubting themselves, but another part will be telling them that the kind of chase India put up is not as repeatable as England’s performance in the first innings. England had almost everybody performing for them; India relied on individual brilliance, that too batsmen stretching themselves. Kohli had to play a game he doesn’t like: take risks early by stepping out and premeditating. England will tell themselves they at least made India play low-percentage cricket.Both sides will have identified areas of improvement. India will want more from the other batsmen. England wanted to start their final surge around 36th over, but Hardik Pandya bowled a good spell, taking the wicket of Jos Buttler, and India conceded just 40 in the next seven overs. Both batting units will be looking to iron out these kinks, and bowlers will have to find new ways to stay in the game.

Form guide

India WWLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
England LWLWL

In the spotlight

Since last February, in the 14 limited-overs matches that he has played, R Ashwin has not been called upon to complete his allotment on eight occasions, including in Pune where he went for 63 runs in eight overs, his economy rate of 7.88 his worst when he has bowled five overs or more. Ashwin had decided to bowl defensively, and never veered off that plan. These are important matches: at a time when finger spinners are generally struggling to stay relevant in limited-overs cricket, Ashwin has to figure out what he wants to do to buck the trend. India need wickets in the middle order, and Ashwin took the place of a man who took five wickets in the last ODI India played. Of course the pitch was different when Amit Mishra took five, but generally wrist spinners are more effective in current limited-overs cricket. It will be interesting to see how Ashwin approaches the rest of the series. Does he still look to just contain or go for wickets proactively?This might be the era of wrist spinners in limited-overs cricket, but India’s turnaround began when they took 26 runs off Adil Rashid‘s first three overs. It was just the time England needed magic from their legspinner, their highest wicket-taker by some distance in 2016, and also second-highest overall. Rashid had a bad night, which can raise self-doubt after a disappointing Test series. How well Rashid bounces back could determine if England come back into the series.After conceding 0 for 63 in Pune, will R Ashwin still look to just contain or go for wickets proactively?•Associated Press

Team news

India generally aren’t fickle with their batsmen. All four who failed should retain their spots. It’s with the ball that India will debate whether Amit Mishra should replace Ashwin.India (probable): 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Virat Kohli (capt.), 4 MS Dhoni (wk), 5 Yuvraj Singh, 6 Kedar Jadhav, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 R Ashwin/ Amit Mishra, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Jasprit BumrahDid England play one spinner too many considering the flat pitch and the psychological hold the India batsmen have on them after the Test series? Should they go for the tall Liam Plunkett instead of Rashid? The answer will be in whether Rashid feels confident of bouncing back. England (probable): 1 Jason Roy, 2 Alex Hales, 3 Joe Root, 4 Jos Buttler (wk), 5 Eoin Morgan (capt.), 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 David Willey, 10 Adil Rashid/Liam Plunkett, 11 Jake Ball

Pitch and conditions

Another high-scoring match will not be a surprise, considering the small boundaries at the Barabati Stadium. There was a thin layer of grass on the pitch on the eve of the match; there are chances it could be trimmed further. Dew could be a factor too, and the toss could play a decisive role.

Stats and trivia

• India have achieved three of the seven successful chases of 350 or more.
• Kohli has scored centuries in six of India’s nine successful chases of 300 or more since his debut.
• Ben Stokes’ 33-ball fifty in Pune was the fastest by an England batsman against India.
• In the last match in Cuttack, the venue for the next ODI, India scored 363 against Sri Lanka.

Quotes

“As a batsman I wouldn’t complain if both teams are getting runs. We try to put a great show for the crowd.”
“He’s probably one of the first revolutionary players for England and that probably shows in the group, in the way the people look to him, the way he’s taking his career forward and the way he champions guys to play.”

A fractured left thumb has ruled Bhuvneshwar Kumar out of the T20 series against Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jan-2016A fractured left thumb has ruled Bhuvneshwar Kumar out of the T20 series against Australia. Rishi Dhawan, who is part of India’s ODI squad, will stay on in Australia as Bhuvneshwar’s replacement.Bhuvneshwar picked up the injury while trying to stop a David Warner straight drive off his own bowling during the fourth ODI in Canberra. The injury forced him out of the fifth ODI in Sydney, with India picking the debutant Jasprit Bumrah in his place.Ajinkya Rahane also sat out the Sydney ODI with an injury, having split his webbing while fielding in Canberra. Gurkeerat Singh has been named as cover for Rahane in the T20 squad.The three-match T20 series will begin on Tuesday in Adelaide.

South Africa captain AB de Villiers has said there is a “good chance” Dale Steyn will be in the playing XI for their semi-final against England on Wednesday

Firdose Moonda at The Oval18-Jun-2013South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn’s participation in the Champions Trophy semi-final against England is in some doubt due to fitness concerns. The team management will take a late call on his inclusion on the morning of the match on Wednesday.The fast bowler missed a day’s training and did a lighter than usual load on subsequent days because of “stiffness in the groin area” according to team manager Mohammed Moosajee. However, South Africa captain, AB de Villiers, was confident of Steyn’s inclusion in the playing XI on Wednesday.”It looks like we’ve got a good chance [of playing him tomorrow],” de Villiers said. “He’s taking another day off just to make sure we rest him really well. I said before that I don’t believe we’re lost without him. We can definitely beat England without him.”De Villiers conceded they are managing his workload as they have been playing a lot of cricket of late.”He’s got a few niggles around, which is very worrying, but we’re going to do all we can to get him on the park tomorrow,” he said. “He’s close to 100%, he’s running around. We didn’t want to run him too much today because we knew he’s one of the best in the world and he’s got the skill to just rock up and do the business. He’s working on his rehab making sure we give him the best chance to play tomorrow.”De Villiers discounted the fact that Steyn’s absence would be a big psychological factor and said the team has enough to do well without him, which they have in the past.”I don’t think it’s got anything to do with mental games, anything like that,” he said. “He’s good against any team in any format. We’re still a very good ODI unit. We’ve won games without him and with him. It’s a big knock-out game, and there will be a lot of pressure around, a lot of hype. Not having him on the side will be big for us, but then again, like I said, we’re playing good cricket.”In case Steyn is declared unfit on Wednesday morning, South Africa will have the option of bringing in an extra batsman and play with a seven-four combination for the first time in this Champions Trophy, or give another chance to left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso. They may also consider playing four seamers with one spinner.If Steyn is unavailable and South Africa still want to field four seamers, Rory Kleinveldt will be recalled to the starting XI. The other option would be to include Aaron Phangiso to give South Africa an additional tweaker or to bring in an extra batsman in Farhaan Behardien.Steyn was said to be struggling a little after their last league game against West Indies on Friday. Moosajee also confirmed that the new concern for Steyn’s fitness is not related to the side strain which kept him out of the first two matches against India and Pakistan.Steyn bowled six overs in a rain-affected match and finished with 2 for 33 from six overs in a tied game which secured South Africa’s place in the semi-final from Group B along with India. He has been under the careful watch of physiotherapist Brandon Jackson as South Africa hope to do all they can to ensure he plays.

Luke Wells withstood gale-force winds and all Surrey had to offer on his way to 127 that set up a sizeable first-innings lead for Sussex at Horsham

Sahil Dutta at Horsham08-Jun-2012
ScorecardLuke Wells withstood gale-force winds and all Surrey had to offer on his way to 127 that set up a sizeable first-innings lead for Sussex at Horsham. In the six overs of play possible on day two the home side lost four wickets, yet Surrey needed the best part of 93 more overs to prise out the final four as Sussex wrestled firm control of the match.The leaden skies and swirling winds made for grim conditions that were at odds with the cheery efficiency of Sussex’s innings. It was led by Wells, whose 277-ball knock spanned three days, and supported stoutly by the tail. For a batting side that has struggled of late, 87 for 6 to 351 all out was some comeback.The recovery pivoted on Wells’ second hundred of the season. That first also came against Surrey, but in defeat in the opening match of the summer. Since then his form had tailed off badly and he was dropped when Luke Wright returned. His recall for this game came in place of Murray Goodwin. It is a sizeable role to fill but with his fifth first-class century, he looked perfectly capable of doing so.Wells is everything Surrey’s youthful batsmen are not and, while he may not stir the Twenty20 scouts any time soon, he gives off an air of permanence Surrey’s top-order could never establish. He is still willowy but his height and calm demeanour will draw regular comparisons to Alastair Cook.Despite his lengthy stay at the crease it is difficult to recall him even playing and missing. There was one chance, though, when on 88 he edged Murali Kartik to slip but Gareth Batty couldn’t hold on and that was as close as Surrey got until he was finally dismissed.Meaker, so destructive amid showers on the second day, strained and was pacey throughout but could not find a regular length between pitch-up yorkers and pound-down short balls. Jade Dernbach was off-colour and irritable, yelling at himself on more than one occasion. Rory Hamilton-Brown looked the part – chest puffed out as always – but could not find a combination to nullify Wells and the Sussex tail. The pitch was no help, lacking both pace and the seam movement of the opening two days. But he did not try himself or Zander de Bruyn at any stage.After Wells fell, edging an expansive drive behind to give Kartik a fourth wicket, Surrey’s thoughts would have turned to batting. Instead they were subjected to an unexpected, but wholly delightful, 80-run stand for the last wicket. The sun even came out and together, James Anyon and Monty Panesar finally brought some festival lightness to the game. Anyon slugged the ball sweetly for his highest first-class score – an unbeaten 64 – while Panesar attracted cheers from everyone, including Kartik after one six down the ground in boundary-filled 31. It was not the first time this season Surrey have burst through the opposition’s top order only to be thwarted by the tail.A tough, all-day spell in the field was hardly the preparation Mark Ramprakash needed in his attempt to regain form. He struggled manfully – making 3 from 24 balls – but at least remained intact. Jason Roy was fluent, as he often is, but on 35 received a lifter from Steve Magoffin that he could only fend off to point.Panesar, sufficiently buoyed by his fun with bat in hand, threatened with turn, bounce and fielders around the bat during his three overs before the close. With the forecast promising for Saturday, Sussex have every chance of forcing a result.

Mark Wallace became Glamorgan’s first century-maker of the first-class season as the Welsh county beat Kent by an innings and eight runs with a day to spare

12-May-2011
Scorecard
Mark Wallace became Glamorgan’s first century-maker of the first-class season as the Welsh county beat Kent by an innings and eight runs with a day to spare of their County Championship Division Two clash at Cardiff.The wicketkeeper made 107 out of 434 all out – a first-innings lead of 192 over Kent, and in reply the visitors could only make 184 as they were bowled out in the penultimate over of the day. Glamorgan, who have not beaten Kent at Cardiff in a Championship game since 1967, took a maximum 24 points from the win to Kent’s three.At the start of the day Glamorgan had resumed on 366 for seven – a lead of 124 – and wicketkeeper Wallace soon scored the 10 runs he needed to pass 7,000 first-class runs for the hosts. James Harris, who was omitted from the England Lions squad, chipped in with his second-successive fifty – the sixth of his career – which came in 106 balls with six fours.Wallace and Harris followed up their individual milestones by then setting the record eighth-wicket partnership for Glamorgan against Kent, passing the 116-run stand between John Derrick and Rodney Ontong in Cardiff in 1988.Wallace hit James Tredwell for a straight six before pushing the single which brought up the 400 in the first innings – the first time the county had secured maximum batting bonus points for 15 matches since the visit of Gloucestershire last May.Rain caused the loss of 28 overs either side of lunch, and when play resumed at 2.40pm Harris soon fell to give Neil Saker (5 for 112) his fifth wicket and end a superb stand of 169 with Wallace. But the gloveman continued unperturbed and duly went to his hundred from 169 balls with seven fours and two sixes in two minutes short of four hours.He eventually departed after being trapped in front by Tredwell, with Will Owen the last man out just a few minutes later.Kent began their second innings unconvincingly by sinking to 32 for 3. Seamer Harris (3 for 43) trapped Sam Northeast lbw, and 20 for 1 became 28 for 2 when Graham Wagg struck at the other end as Rob Key edged to James Allenby at first slip.Harris then picked up his second wicket as he had Geraint Jones leg before to leave the visitors in trouble. At that stage Kent still had hope of taking the game into the fourth day until Owen took two wickets in as many balls, trapping Martin van Jaarsveld leg before and having Darren Stevens first ball, caught at first slip.There were some cavalier hitting from both Alex Blake and Matt Coles, who both scored half-centuries, but wickets fell regularly until Harris wrapped up Glamorgan’s second Division Two victory by yorking Dewald Nel.

In the end England’s eight-wicket victory came with ease on the final afternoon at Lord’s as they comfortably chased down 160 following Steven Finn’s first five-wicket haul in Test cricket

The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan31-May-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Steven Finn continued his outstanding match to secure a five-wicket haul on his home grund•Getty Images

In the end England’s eight-wicket victory came with ease on the final afternoon at Lord’s as they comfortably chased down 160 following Steven Finn’s first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Andrew Strauss guided the pursuit with a confident 82 after the visitors’ last five wickets fell for 35 under cloudy skies against Finn and Tim Bresnan, yet they have done much to enhance their standing over the last five days.With the ball new and the morning overcast the odds were always against Bangladesh delaying England long enough to put the result in serious doubt. It took ten overs to make the breakthrough but they then chipped away regularly to wrap up the innings on the stroke of lunch. Strauss and Alastair Cook were gifted a 60-run start by some woeful bowling and negative fielding settings. The only tension was to see whether the win would come before tea. Despite Kevin Pietersen playing out a maiden from Shakib Al Hasan some scurrying from the umpires ensured it did.However, without Finn England would have had serious problems dismissing Bangladesh twice in this match. The 21-year-old has led the bowling effort in both innings, impressing with his maturity, accuracy and stamina. Strauss gave him an eight-over spell on the final morning and he responded with three further wickets to earn a place on the honours board in his first Test on his home ground.Junaid Siddique and Shakib fought hard to survive and, as often happens when pressure builds, it was one of worst deliveries that made the breakthrough when Shakib cut a wide ball straight to Eoin Morgan at point. Siddique had again resisted stubbornly while England tried to pepper him with the short ball and the tactic could well have played a part in his demise as he tried to drive with his feet planted in the crease and popped a catch to mid off.That gave Finn his fourth and this time he wasn’t going to be denied a place on the board when he produced a beauty that climbed and took Mushfiqur Rahim’s outside edge. However, he couldn’t quite claim the scalp that would have made him the first since Ian Botham in 1978 to claim a 10-wicket match haul at Lord’s.James Anderson endured a frustrating morning as his rhythm continued to improve but was unable to add to his collection. He produced a testing nine-over burst and regularly beat the outside edge, but the closest he came to a breakthrough was when Bresnan spilled a tough chance at third slip off Mahmudullah.Mahmudullah, who is batting far too low even taking into account the nightwatchman, continued the defiance shown by many of his team-mates. He and Rubel Hossain resisted for 10 overs until Bresnan found Rubel’s edge as the No. 10 tried to leave the ball. It’s been a difficult match for Bresnan, and he came in for some guarded criticism from Andy Flower on the fourth evening, but he closed the innings when Mahmudullah had a wild heave in the last over before lunch and ended with 3 for 93.While Bangladesh’s batting is making huge strides, there progress will be held back by the weak pace bowling. Shahadat Hossain’s opening over went for 11 as he sprayed the ball wide at Strauss, while Rubel and Robiul were given an over apiece before spin came on from both ends.Mahmudullah removed Cook as the left hander was given out lbw on the front foot and replays showed the ball would have gone over the stumps for the second time in the game. Strauss, though, eased to his second fifty of the match from 50 balls – nothing more than a gentle net for the captain – while Jonathan Trott eked along at his own sedate pace before Strauss was caught behind cutting with 13 needed.The final result was as expected, yet Bangladesh can take great heart from the way they took the game five days and made England dig deep. Strauss and Flower will expect their side to be far more commanding in the second, at Old Trafford, on Friday but the visitors will have ambitions to make a mark of their own.

Fast bowler marks return from injury in style to set up four-wicket win

ECB Reporters Network10-Jul-2024Northern Diamonds 111 for 6 (Burns 35*, Coppack 3-35) beat Sunrisers 109 (Langston 6-24) by four wicketsSix-time England fast bowler Beth Langston made a dream return from her injury nightmare with a stunning six for 24 as Northern Diamonds continued their march towards the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy semi-finals with an enthralling four-wicket win over Sunrisers at York.Langston had – prior to this fixture – only played once for the Diamonds since the end of July 2022 and hadn’t take a 50-over wicket since the previous September following a ruptured ACL (knee) and resulting complications.However, she returned at Clifton Park to put the skids under the Sunrisers, who were bowled out for 109 inside 31 overs to pave the way for a home victory which saw Diamonds slip to 32 for four chasing. Australian overseas Erin Burns sealed the win with an unbeaten 35.Diamonds leap-frogged their fellow contenders into second place in the table with a seventh win in nine to all but seal a semi-final place with five games still to play.Sunrisers lost their third game in nine but remain handily placed inside the top four.Langston, 31, was part of England’s triumphant World Cup-winning squad on home soil in 2017 without actually playing in that campaign.She ruptured her right ACL during the 2022 Hundred (Northern Superchargers) and has struggled for fitness since.She played only one T20 match last season. But this was a seamless return, with her wickets spread across spells of six overs and four overs from the Pavilion End.After Hollie Armitage elected to bowl on a muggy, wicket-ladened Minster City day, Langston made the most of helpful conditions – sideways movement was obvious – to set her team up for their fifth straight 50-over win.After fellow pacer Lizzie Scott bowled visiting captain Grace Scrivens in the second over, Langston came into the attack to bowl the fifth.She was quickly into her stride and had opener Jo Gardner caught behind in the ninth for 21 and Jodi Grewcock lbw in the 11th, leaving Sunrisers at 43 for three.Mady Villiers was run out following a mix-up with Lissy MacLeod as they thought about three out to deep cover before MacLeod was caught behind off Phoebe Turner’s seam.And then Langston really turned the screw en-route to the best figures by any bowler in regional cricket this summer.Late away swing did for Flo Miller caught behind before Amara Carr was bowled next ball offering no shot – 54 for seven in the 15th over, the last of Langston’s first six-over spell, which yielded four for nine.But she wasn’t out of the attack – or the wickets – for long.Armitage brought her back to bowl the 23rd, by which time Sunrisers were 85 for seven.She bowled Eva Gray, offering no stroke, and then Amu Surenkumar, leaving the Sunrisers at 90 for nine in the 25th.Sunrisers limped beyond 100, with only opener Gardner passing 20. Along with seamers Scott and Turner, off-spinning all-rounder Burns also struck once as the Diamonds sparkled.But spirited Sunrisers weren’t done. Like Langston, their seamer Kate Coppack impressed.She claimed three of four wickets as Diamonds fell to 32 for four inside nine overs of their chase, removing openers Lauren Winfield-Hill and Emma Marlow, added to Rebecca Duckworth’s scalp.Armitage and Burns settled the ship by sharing 43, the former making 33 before clubbing Sophie Munro’s seam to mid-on – 75 for five.Langston also fell for eight, but the presence of experienced Burns was telling. She completed victory with 25.2 overs remaining.

“Huge difference in a right-armer and a left-armer bowling a couple of inches outside the wide line to a right-hand batter,” argues the RCB quick

Nagraj Gollapudi28-Mar-2023Royal Challengers Bangalore strike bowler Harshal Patel is not convinced the use of DRS to review wides and over-the-waist no balls this IPL will increase the accuracy of decisions. While he admits he will use a review for a tight umpiring call, especially in the death overs, Harshal argues that technology might not be definitive in determining a wide or an over-the-waist no-ball, and suspects those calls will fall in a “grey” area.”Technology can definitely be helpful in situations where you can separate black and white. But these balls are always going to be grey, especially wide-ball lines. Because you can’t really judge how much the batter has moved, whether the ball was within his reach, the angle of the delivery…,” Harshal said in a chat with ESPNcricinfo before joining the Royal Challengers camp for the IPL.”There’s going to be a huge difference in where the ball finishes between a right-hander bowling the same [ball] a couple of inches outside the wide line and a left-hander bowling from over the stumps a couple of inches outside the wide line. When the [right-hand] batter tries to reach, it’s always going to be wider when he plays the left-hander, [and] it’s always going to be closer when he plays the right-hander.Related

• Harshal Patel: 'I'm always thinking about how I can offer my team more value'

• 'Home-and-away is what makes the IPL what it is'

• Why has BCCI allowed teams to use DRS for wides and no-balls?

• WPL and IPL: Players can use DRS for wides and no-balls

“I don’t know how many of these factors will be taken into account when making decisions. Obviously, they can’t take a lot of these factors into account because that will consume a lot of time. In my humble opinion, this doesn’t solve the problem. You have to call it the human factor in the game and move on.”Harshal’s fears came to the fore last Sunday in the final of the inaugural WPL, for which the BCCI had trialled the new playing condition of using DRS for wides and over-the-waist no-balls. The WPL final, between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, witnessed high drama early in the match when Shafali Verma was given out caught off an Issy Wong full toss which fell in that “grey” area Harshal described. Wong was celebrating with her Mumbai team-mates when on-field umpire Vrinda Rathi sent the matter to the TV umpire Pashchim Pathak, who took a few looks at the replay before ruling Shafali out.Such reviews will be a part of the two unsuccessful reviews each team will have per innings in the IPL, just like it was in the WPL. So, while it might not always go the way of your team, the option is there for the teams, but to use it smartly.”The other thing is you get only two reviews, right? Do you really want to use a review on a marginal call, which may or may not go in your favour, as opposed to use it in a situation where you can get the batter out,” Harshal said in response to that question. But if you have a review in hand and you are bowling at the death, a phase where fast bowlers tend to bowl wide yorkers outside the off stump?”For sure – 100%,” Harshal said, that in such a scenario he will press his captain to use the review.Incidentally, Harshal’s thoughts match that of former ICC Elite Panel umpire Simon Taufel, who last year told ESPNcricinfo why he disagreed with having wides and height no-balls being reviewed by technology.”With wides, for example, and here we’re going to, potentially according to you, or according to the player or the debate, take a wide call and throw that back to the third umpire for them to judge on something that might be marginal and is still a judgement call,” Taufel had said. “Are you going to be able to over-rule as a third umpire what a leg-side wide might look like? That’s a really interesting proposition to throw to a third umpire and say: I definitely think you got that wide wrong.”If you look at a ball that cuts across a right-hander from a left-armer [fast bowler], that cuts the wide guideline – that’s a pretty big call to over-rule. Can you clearly define for me what conclusive evidence is to overturn a wide both leg side, off side and height? And where do you then draw the line as to what a wide is? Because with wides, for example, you still got this opinion around: either could the batsman have played a shot? Has the batsman brought the ball sufficiently within reach? And you are putting them [under] a lot more stress and pressure around those definitions. Of course, if the ball has flicked the bat or the pad, and an umpire’s called a wide – yeah, that’s quite clearly an error. [But] I worry about where this is going to end up. Is everything that an umpire does likely to fall under the Decision Review System?”

Shadab seals United’s 43-run victory with five-for as they move up to second

Danyal Rasool03-Feb-2022
Before this week, Islamabad United had won just 10 of 33 matches batting first, and lost only 6 of 33 while chasing. But the team that most famously goes by the numbers have turned them on their head over the last two games. After they failed to chase 218 against Multan Sultans on Tuesday, they went on to defend a 200-plus total on Thursday, thrashing Quetta Gladiators by 43 runs after a devastating batting performance.Paul Stirling (58), Colin Munro (72*) and Azam Khan (65) all registered whirlwind half-centuries as United racked up 229, the fourth-highest score in PSL history. Shadab Khan then cleaned up with the ball, taking five wickets for 28 to bundle Sarfaraz Ahmed’s side out for 186.United’s all-out attack got them to within 20 runs of an unlikely chase on Tuesday, but batting first here, there went even harder, if possible. Stirling whacking Mohammad Nawaz over cow corner off the second ball was an omen, and with Alex Hales and Munro joining the onslaught, United plundered 81 off the powerplay. They barely seemed to notice that the field had spread out, though, with the scoring continuing unabated across the next eight overs. By this time, Azam, playing against his former side and the one coached by his father, Moin Khan, had joined the attack, and singled Shahid Afridi out for particular punishment.After United had raced along to 173 in 14 overs, Gladiators somehow found a way to rein them back in, thanks to some brilliant variations by Sohail Tanvir and Naseem Shah. Only 36 came off the next five overs, but with Sarfaraz’s side playing just five bowlers, they were just putting off the final Afridi over; he had already conceded 47 in three. Azam bludgeoned him for three more sixes before Afridi finally yorked him, but by then he’d gone for 67. It’s the most expensive anyone has ever been in the PSL, and the second-most expensive figures for a T20 spinner in any competition.Gladiators had for some reason left the free-scoring Will Smeed out of the line-up, opting to play with just three overseas players, and pairing emerging cricketer Abdul Bangalzai with Ahsan Ali up top. The youngster struggled and fell early, and while Ahsan Ali clubbed eight fours and a six en route to a 26-ball fifty, Shadab snared him the very next ball. Despite Ahsan’s best efforts, his side were way behind the monstrous asking rate at that point, and the scoreboard pressure saw the United captain run riot. Ben Duckett was undone by a slider before Iftikhar Ahmed, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Afridi all fell to the legspinner, leaving Gladiators reeling at 110 for 7.It was left to Nawaz and James Faulkner to keep the scoreline respectable, something they managed through an entertaining 76-run partnership off 32 balls. But while it prevented an absolute bloodbath, United returned to have the last laugh, cleaning up the final three in four balls to condemn Gladiators to a comprehensive defeat.

Scans showed the allrounder suffered “a moderate to high grade” injury to his right ankle

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Oct-2020Mitchell Marsh will have to wait until later this month to find out whether he will require surgery on the ankle problem he suffered at the IPL after scans showed “a moderate to high grade” injury.Marsh is unable to see a specialist under he completes his 14-day quarantine period on October 10. Speaking earlier this week he was hopeful he would be able to avoid surgery and had his sights set on pushing for a return late in the opening stages of the Sheffield Shield which will be played in an Adelaide hub.ALSO READ: Injury, illness, selection: the ups and downs of Mitchell Marsh“Scans have revealed that Mitch Marsh has suffered a moderate to high grade syndesmosis injury to his right ankle, which he sustained in the Sunrisers Hyderabad’s opening match in the United Arab Emirates early last week,” a WACA statement said.”A specialist will further assess Mitch’s ankle once he is out of hotel quarantine next Saturday 10 October to determine if surgery or non-surgical management is required. Return to play timelines will be mapped out once he has completed quarantine and met with the specialist.”Meanwhile, Western Australia have named a 17-man squad for the Sheffield Shield hub. Players will take part in Premier cricket over the weekend before self-isolating from Monday prior to heading to Adelaide later next week. Their first match is against South Australia from October 10.Ashton Agar, who was part of the limited-overs tour of England and has been quarantining in Adelaide, will link up with the squad when they arrive in the city.Off-season signing Cameron Gannon, the former Queensland quick, is in line for his Western Australia debut while uncapped pair Corey Rocchiccioli and Lance Morris have been included.”We’re ready to go and can’t wait to get over to Adelaide and begin the season,” head coach Adam Voges said. “It’s a tight knit group, the commitment of the players during the pre-season has been excellent and this will hold us in good stead as we enter the hub.”This will be a season like no other, we are well prepared to tackle the challenges that present throughout the year.”Western Australia squad Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright, Cameron Gannon, Cameron Green, Liam Guthrie, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Matt Kelly, Shaun Marsh, David Moody, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, Corey Rocchiccioli, D’Arcy Short, Ashton Turner, Sam Whiteman