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Derbyshire openers frustrate Durham, bad weather frustrates fans

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Derbyshire’s openers denied Durham’s bowlers on a rain-shortened opening day of the LV=Insurance County Championship match at Derby. Billy Godleman and Brooke Guest negotiated 17 overs in difficult conditions to reach 48 without loss before play was called off at 4.30pm.England fast bowler Mark Wood was unlucky not to take a wicket in his seven overs after Durham won the toss but the weather made it a test for players and umpires.On a day borrowed from winter, Durham’s bowlers had to contend with a buffeting wind that forced Wood to abort his run-up in his brief opening spell from the Racecourse End. The conditions were a challenge for everyone, not least the hundred or so Derbyshire members who braved the unseasonable weather on the first day spectators were allowed back to the Incora County Ground.For Godleman and Guest, who moved up to open in the absence of Luis Reece, it was a question of resisting Durham’s pace attack under slate grey skies with the floodlights on from the start although it was not just about survival for the openers.Godleman moved into one-day mode several times, advancing down the pitch to smack Ben Raines down the ground while Rushworth was dispatched through the covers. Rushworth was close to having Godleman caught behind before rain forced the players off after 35 minutes and although the match resumed after an early lunch, bad light and more rain had the last word.There was bad news for Derbyshire who announced Australian fast bowler Billy Stanlake will not play again this season because of a back injury. The 26-year-old made his debut in the defeat against Essex at Chelmsford last week but a scan has revealed a stress fracture.

Asif Ali 75, Muhammad Musa's three-for help Islamabad United complete come-from-behind win

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At first, Islamabad United’s historic decision to bat at the toss – for the first time in PSL history – seemed like a bad idea. Their top five were each out for single-digit scores against the Lahore Qalandars and they were reeling at 20 for 5.However, a 123-run partnership for the sixth wicket changed the game around. Asif Ali counterattacked with six fours and five sixes in his 75 off 43, and Iftikhar Ahmed played Asif’s sidekick with 49. Together they neutralised Rashid Khan and posted a total big enough to give their bowlers something to defend.That was successfully pulled off as Muhammad Musa, Shadab Khan and Fawad Ahmed produced a period of play where the Qalandars lost seven wickets for 14 runs. Musa collected three wickets, and both Shadab and Fawad took two each to seal a win that was eventually very comfortable.The win took United to the top of the PSL points table, tied on points with their opponents of the night, and helped them achieve victory in a manner they had never done previously. And all that without Hasan Ali’s services.Faulkner, pacers breathe fire
It was meant to be a long, hot afternoon for the Qalandars unit after United chose to bat – more so as Colin Munro and Usman Khawaja came in on the back of a ten-over partnership of 137 runs against the Quetta Gladiators. But that wasn’t to be, as Shaheen Afridi had Khawaja caught behind for a duck on the third ball of the match after getting a full ball to move away that made the opener flick down the wrong line. Next ball, Rohail Nazir was pinned lbw with a yorker, only to survive as Afridi had overstepped.However, Nazir could not make the most of his reprieve. He was trapped lbw by a James Faulkner delivery that moved into him in the second over. Two overs later, Faulkner earned another wicket through an lbw, when Munro did not pick a cutter and looked to defend down the wrong line.With Faulkner’s military medium still getting sideways movement, he was given a third over where Hussain Talat’s flick went straight to deep midwicket. Haris Rauf, Afridi’s replacement at first change in the seventh over, then struck first ball when a quick delivery that was angling in had Shadab edging behind. After 6.1 overs, Faulkner had three, Afridi and Rauf had one each, and the Qalandars were 20 for 5. In the last match, the Qalandars had posted their highest ever powerplay score; in this game, they posted their lowest ever.The counterattack
The early blows aside, it remained a batting-friendly track, and that was proved when Ifthikar and Asif had their backs against the wall after Shadab’s wicket, but they clawed their way back with every passing over.Asif struck two fours off Faulkner to bring the Australian’s spell to a close and then used Rauf’s pace to hit back-to-back boundaries. Ahmed Daniyal then bore the brunt of Asif’s onslaught as the batter cleared long-on for six, after which he deposited a flighted Rashid Khan ball for another six on his way to a 28-ball fifty in the 13th over.Iftikhar was scoring at under run a ball until now but he changed gears in the 15th over. After striking Daniyal for a four, he brought up United’s hundred before depositing a full-toss and a slower ball off Rauf for consecutive fours. Together, Rashid and Daniyal conceded 82 runs in eight overs for no wickets, and with two overs to go, United had reached 135 for 5.The 19th over from Afridi began with the bowler being hit for a six by Asif, but a few balls later he was hit-wicket after going too deep in his crease while expecting a yorker, thus ending their 76-ball stand of 123. But his knock, together with Iftikhar’s 49, ensured United reached a respectable 152 for 7.Muhammad Musa took 3 for 18, as the Lahore Qalandars collapsed•PSL

Qalandars crumble after Akhtar departs
Sohail Akhtar took the early charge in the powerplay during the Qalandars’ chase of 153 as he helped take 11 runs off Mohammad Wasim’s first over. He then walked across his crease multiple times to explore the fine-leg region with boundaries off Ali Khan and Wasim. However, Shadab introduced Fawad for the final over of the powerplay, and he struck off the last ball of the over when Akhtar failed to pick a googly. His 19-ball 34 had helped the Qalandars raze down 55 runs, but his dismissal started a massive collapse that the Qalandars could not arrest.A run-out of No. 3 Zeeshan Ashraf in the seventh over didn’t help them when they just needed to settle into another partnership after Akhtar’s wicket. But a brilliant piece of fielding near cover from Shadab sent Ashraf back.Musa, usually expensive but with the habit of taking crucial wickets, then took two – of Mohammad Hafeez pulling to deep midwicket and Dunk caught behind – to tilt the balance United’s way. Musa then added a third as Fakhar Zaman fell for a laboured 37-ball 44, top-edging one to third man.Then came the spin onslaught. Tim David was out trying to clear long-on off Shadab, while Rashid failed to pick Shadab’s googly. From the other end, Fawad’s quick thinking had Afridi run-out before he bowled Faulkner through his defenses. At 100 for 9, the Qalandars had truly lost the plot, and despite an entertaining tenth-wicket stand, they fell 28 runs short. Apart from the openers and the No. 11 Rauf, no other Qalandars batter reached double digits.

South Africa look for Super League points against Ireland

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Big Picture

“You could say it’s David and Goliath, but David beat Goliath and hopefully that can work for us.”Andy Balbirnie has probably rehearsed that line hundreds of times and knows he will need to bring it out hundreds more but showed no sign of being worn down by the inevitable question of whether the match-up between Ireland and South Africa is a foregone conclusion. One of the intentions of the World Cup Super League is that there aren’t supposed to be any dead-rubbers because teams are always playing for points. And in South Africa’s case, they need plenty.South Africa lie in last place on the league table but, along with Zimbabwe, have played the fewest number of games. That is set to change over the next few months. After these Ireland matches, South Africa are due to make up postponed fixtures against Sri Lanka later in the year and hope to have both India and England in the calendar, after matches have been pushed back. For them, Ireland is a chance to start climbing the points’ ladder and setting on combinations under a relatively new captain in Temba Bavuma.Since taking over as white-ball captain in March, Bavuma has only led in one ODI series, against Pakistan, which came almost a year after South Africa last played the format, against Australia in March 2020. South Africa swept that series 3-0 and until their recent tour of the Caribbean, it was the format where they had enjoyed the most success under Mark Boucher and arguably, the format on which they are placing the most importance. Boucher and Bavuma have both been appointed until the 2023 World Cup.Ireland also put a lot of emphasis on the fifty-over game but did themselves no favours when they were beaten by Netherlands. They know they have much more in the tank though, and began their World Cup Super League campaign by taking points off England. They will have to summon that spirit to avoid falling into the stereotype of being the weaker team against South Africa. At least, they will have a small home crowd to cheer them on. Cricket Ireland have approved a limited number of fans – 560 – to be in attendance in Malahide.

Form guide

Ireland LWLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa LWLWWCurtis Campher leaps into his delivery stride•Getty Images

In the spotlight

South Africa run into former countrymen against several countries but this will be their first meeting with Curtis Campher, who is also among their most recent leavers. Campher played for the South African under-19 team as recently as 2018 and made his debut for Ireland two years later. In eight ODIs, he has scored three half-centuries, batting at No.7, bowled a full quota of 10 overs twice and is playing the role of a lower-order allrounder that South Africa currently lacks. But there’s unlikely to be any time or inclinations for what could have been from Campher’s side. He will be concentrating on making the best comeback he can, after undergoing ankle surgery in May and missing the series against Netherlands as a result.Temba Bavuma made his ODI debut against Ireland five years ago and scored a century to defy perceptions that he was a long-format specialist. He had to wait almost a year to play a second match and then two-and-half more years before getting a regular in the team and has since had two scores in the 90s in seven innings, as well as been named permanent captain. Bavuma has yet to make a definitive score as skipper after a middling tour of the Caribbean and may see an opportunity to do so in this Ireland series.

Team news

Ireland will make at least one change from their last outing, with Balbirnie confirming that William Porterfield will return to open the batting after being dropped for the third ODI in the Netherlands for Kevin O’Brien, who has since retired from 50-over cricket. Porterfield sustained an injury to his finger on match eve, prompting the selectors to add Jeremy Lawlor to the squad, but late in the evening, the veteran was deemed fit enough to take the field on the morrow. Conditions may demand an extra seamer but offspinning allrounders Simi Singh and Andy McBrine have been successful throughout the year bowling in the middle overs, meaning Mark Adair may start the series on the bench. Campher is expected to replace George Dockrell as the batting allrounder in the middle order.Ireland: (possible) 1 Paul Stirling, 2 William Porterfield, 3 Andy Balbirnie (capt), 4 Harry Tector, 5 Curtis Campher, 6 Lorcan Tucker (wk), 7 Simi Singh, 8 Andy McBrine, 9 Barry McCarthy, 10 Josh Little, 11 Craig YoungThe XI that last won an ODI for South Africa are all in the squad and if they play, that will mean a first appearance for Andile Phehlukwayo on this tour. He did not feature in the T20Is in the Caribbean as South Africa dispensed with the seam-bowling allrounder in favour of a spin-bowling one, but are likely to return to more pace-friendly conditions. South Africa may also want to start strongly by returning to their first-choice pack back in action after Anrich Nortje missed the final T20I in Grenada as a precaution after being hit on the knee.South Africa (possible): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Aiden Markram, 3 Temba Bavuma (capt), 4 Rassie van der Dussen, 5 David Miller, 6 Heinrich Klaasen, 7 Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Kagiso Rabada, 9 Anrich Nortje, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi

Pitch and conditions

South Africa are expecting run-scoring to be more free-flowing than it was in the Caribbean, although they will be wary of the moving ball in the early stages of their innings. There is some grass on the surface which should aid seam movement, but if the top-order batters can negotiate that and get in, there’s every chance of a score in excess of 300 on a ground with small boundaries. That’s if they get much opportunity to bat at all. There’s a more than 70% chance of rain expected throughout the day on Sunday.

Stats and trivia

  • Ireland and South Africa have played five ODIs against each other, three at World Cups, and South Africa have won all five.
  • Paul Stirling is Ireland’s highest-ranked ODI batter, at No.20 on the ICC’s ODI rankings. Only two South Africans, Faf du Plessis (8), and Quinton de Kock (11) are ranked above him and of those, only de Kock will be playing in this series.

Quotes

“The ODIs are hugely important, more so maybe than the T20Is because of what the points carry, as opposed to the T20Is. But all games you play for Ireland are important but certainly a lot of our focus for the last two or three weeks – albeit we’ve had those festivals – has been on one-day cricket and how we can get the best out of these three games and the three following. The T20s are a good chance to express ourselves and go out all guns blazing against them, and try to produce results.””There are similarities. The style, the philosophy and the thinking is generally quite the same. We would like to continue that same type language and feel throughout both formats. We are quite fortunate that we have a majority of guys that play fifty-over as well as T20 so when you talk about a culture, it becomes easier to allow that to flow. It allows us to speak the same type of language through the different formats.”Temba Bavuma hopes for continuity in the white-ball formats for South Africa. *This preview was amended at 4.30pm GMT to reflect that William Porterfield was back with the squad despite his finger injury.

Muthusamy ton, Jansen 93 put South Africa in dominant position

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A maiden hundred for Senuran Muthusamy and a career-best 93 from Marco Jansen went a long way to take South Africa close to batting India out of the Guwahati Test and the two-match series. No team has lost a Test in India after scoring as many as South Africa’s 489. If South Africa can keep that record intact, they will have pushed India to a second home-series loss in 12 months after they went 12 years without any.At the start of the second day, 489 looked like a million miles away. And while Muthusamy and Kyle Verreynne steadied the ship from the overnight 247 for 6, if South Africa had continued at that scoring rate, they would have barely crossed 400 in the 151.1 overs that they batted.Related

  • India confront the steepest of challenges

  • Muthusamy comes out of the wilderness and stuns India

However, Jansen’s 93 off 91, including a record seven sixes against India in India, knocked the wind out of India’s sails when they would still have been hopeful despite having bowled 120.1 overs for seven wickets. With Jansen, Muthusamy also upped the intent as the two put together the highest partnership of the series: 97 in 17.4 overs. Muthusamy became the ninth centurion for South Africa this year, but Jansen fell seven short of equalling the world record of ten different centurions in one year.Even before Jansen, Muthusamy and Verreynne had done enough to frustrate India. The pitch, which had kept the bowlers interested on day one, was flatter because the early moisture had completely dried off. Even then, South Africa lost wickets on day one only when they tried to force the pace. On day two, now six down, they seemed to have decided to take time out of the game, not necessarily for a draw in mind but to deny India batting when the pitch was still good.Marco Jansen didn’t let scoring opportunities go•AFP/Getty Images

For nearly 40 overs on the second morning, India weren’t able to build any wicket-taking threat. When they thought they had Muthuswamy lbw on the sweep against Ravindra Jadeja, a faint murmur on UltraEdge reversed the decision. Muthusamy especially looked in complete control, playing only 13 false shots in his 205-ball stay at the wicket. Eventually, it was Verreynne charging at Jadeja too early that allowed India a wicket.Still, it was only mid-afternoon, and South Africa were only 334 for 7. If India could bowl them out for under 400, they were still in with a good chance to force their way back into the match.Out came Jansen and hit a no-look six off Jadeja. Then he slog-swept him for a four and a six. India tried Kuldeep Yadav to look to beat him in the air, but he stepped out of the crease and lofted him nonchalantly over long-on. Muthusamy also grew bold and began to slog-sweep whenever he got a chance.Muthusamy was 67 off 160 when Verreynne got out, but added 43 off 47 after that. India’s frustration grew as they now tried to bounce these batters. Jasprit Bumrah drew a top edge that fell just short of fine leg, resulting in a dirty look from Bumrah to Mohammed Siraj, who was asked to bend his back after Bumrah had done so.It was a tiring and frustrating day for Mohammed Siraj and the other India bowlers•AFP/Getty Images

First ball after tea, Siraj induced the top edge to get rid of Muthusamy, but the strategy didn’t work against Jansen, who lobbed him over mid-on with a pull shot and then hooked him for a six. That the pitch was still good to bat on showed in how Rishabh Pant now asked both his fast bowlers to bowl in tandem. Bumrah hit the top of off of Simon Harmer, but even that didn’t bring much respite.Jansen and Keshav Maharaj added 27 for the last wicket. Jansen’s reach remained the feature of his innings, messing up the idea of a good length, but he batted with the mindset of a specialist batter even though his strike rate of over 100 might suggest a cavalier approach. Finally, he was dismissed as he followed a Kuldeep wrong’un and chopped on, disgusted with himself for getting out so close to a hundred.Kuldeep ended up with four wickets, but this was his first on day two. Jadeja, Bumrah and Siraj got two each. This was only the fourth time since the end of 2016 that India had been kept on the field for 150 overs.Tired bodies and minds were now looking at a long and adventurous route to save the series, but first they had to survive the awkward half an hour before stumps in fading light. While they had to face only 4.1 overs before bad light ended the day’s play, this trend of having time only for 80 overs or so in India’s eastern-most venue only strengthened South Africa’s chances of holding onto the series lead.

Paul Walter puts Essex on front foot after Gloucestershire skittled for 76

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Paul Walter hit his fourth LV= Insurance Championship half-century of the season as Essex eked out a painstaking 74-run lead on a sun-baked Chelmsford day when 15 wickets fell.The tall left-hander was the only batsmen to get to grips with a worn pitch on which Gloucestershire were bowled out for a paltry 76 in 28 overs before lunch. Gloucestershire were undone in double-quick time as seamer Jamie Porter marked his 100th first-class appearance with 4 for 32, supported in a blistering opening spell by Sam Cook, who claimed 3 for 27.Division Two leaders Essex started in similar downbeat mode until Walter stepped in. By the close of the first day he had reached 71 not out from 189 balls.Gloucestershire, put in, were soon in trouble. Porter had Miles Hammond and Ben Charlesworth pinned lbw in successive overs. Cook then removed James Beacey and Tom Lace with consecutive balls, Bracey edging an outswinger and Lace misjudging one and losing his off stump.A third wicket in nine balls fell without addition when Chris Dent edged to second slip. He was soon followed by Graeme van Buuren, who left one from Cook that jagged back and removed his off stump.Ryan Higgins adopted an aggressive approach, but lost seventh-wicket partner Ollie Price, who slashed wildly to fourth slip for Porter’s fourth scalp. Simon Harmer took just three overs to wrap up the Gloucestershire innings taking the final three wickets for just two runs. Zafar Khan swept to square leg, Higgins was snaffled at short leg to end a 60-ball 25, and David Payne was bowled pushing forward.The procession of wickets continued at the start of Essex’s reply: it took 30 overs to post their first 50, by which time they were four wickets down.Nick Browne wafted at Payne in the third over while Alastair Cook went seven overs later when trapped in front by Higgins for 15. Tom Westley departed lbw for a 38-ball 2 and Michael Pepper tickled a lifter from Payne.Walter and Josh Rymell steadied the ship for 16 overs before tea, but four balls after the break Zafar turned one sharply and found the edge of Rymell’s bat.Walter had taken 20 balls to get off the mark, but quietly eased Essex into the lead He was joined by Adam Wheater (30 not out) in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 75 that threatened to take the game away from the visitors.

Wahab cameo knocks out Balochistan; eliminated Southern Punjab end campaign with 11-run win

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Eliminated Southern Punjab (SP) closed out their campaign with a win over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) thanks to a 48-ball 78 from Tayyab Tahir, and several high-impact cameos lower down the order.After being put in to bat, Tahir got SP off to a brisk start at his end, but with Sharoon Siraj and Agha Salman struggling to get going, KP kept the innings in check through to the midway period. But then a combined 49 off 26 balls from Azam Khan and Aamer Yamin helped lift SP, racking up 98 in the last 51 balls. Niaz Khan and Maaz Khan came in for particular punishment, going for a combined 74 in seven overs.KP got off to a wretched start in the chase, losing three quick wickets and managing just 29 in the powerplay. It left them with nearly two runs a ball to fetch from the last 14 overs, and they might have crumbled completely if it wasn’t for a 79-run stand between Kamran Ghulam and Nabi Gul, who scored 46 and 54 respectively.Needing 63 off the last five, the required rate was just about manageable, with Iftikhar Ahmed giving it a good go towards the end by whacking an unbeaten 33 in 21. But with the crucial wicket of Gul at the hands of Mohammad Ilyas, SP were a bit too far ahead in the game and saw off KP with 11 runs to spare.Wahab Riaz looks to scoop over short fine leg•Getty Images

A late cameo from Wahab Riaz broke Balochistan hearts to eliminate them from the tournament, with Central Punjab going top of the table after a thrilling three-wicket win.Wahab’s side, who opted to field first, looked to have the game effectively wrapped up in the first ten overs, with Sameen Gul and Mohammad Faizan ripping through the Balochistan top order. Five of the top six failed to reach double figures but opener Abdullah Shafique hung on, his key sixth wicket partnership with Amad Butt, who smacked an unbeaten 43 off 27 balls, ensuring Balochistan would have at least something to defend. Shafique top scored with 60, while Umaid Asif added late fireworks with a five-ball 15. General sloppiness hampered Central Punjab’s cause, 11 wides allowing Balochistan to finish with 162.Balochistan kept chipping away at Central Punjab, picking up regular wickets and ensuring they remained behind the asking rate slightly. Muhammad Akhlaq, Hussain Talat and Faheem Ashraf all contributed cameos, but with each of them falling just as Central Punjab established control, there were worries they’d run out of batsmen. But with Central Punjab needed 29 off 18, a spectacular 18th over which saw Butt belted for four sixes – three at Wahab’s hands – broke Balochistan spirits and hearts. Central Punjab cruised to victory with 11 deliveries to spare, and, alongside Southern Punjab, Balochistan, too saw their campaign come to an end.

Harshal, openers sparkle as India pocket T20I series

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A 117-run stand between KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma topped off a superb team effort with the ball in dewy conditions as India wrapped up victory in the T20I series against New Zealand with one match still remaining. Both openers made half-centuries during which their calculated risks came off at just the right times to ensure that a potentially tricky chase proved more or less straightforward, even if there was a minor blip towards the end with three wickets falling for the addition of 20 runs.

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Having won their second straight toss – Rohit has so far proven markedly better at this skill than his predecessor Virat Kohli – India didn’t get off to the best of starts, with Martin Guptill clattering 31 off 15 as New Zealand dominated their powerplay. But the bowlers, led by R Ashwin and the debutant Harshal Patel, pulled things back magnificently, and the openers laid the perfect platform for a chase that India eventually wrapped up with 16 balls to spare.Guptill tees off
Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a terrific first over by most measures, going full, finding swing, and causing Guptill all sorts of bother. But it ended with Bhuvneshwar wicketless and Guptill on 14 off 6, having hit three fours – none of which came off the true middle of the bat – and having been dropped once, by Rahul running back from mid-on.The swing dissipated, and the runs kept flowing, with the dew – which set in even before the match began – seemingly causing the ball to hurry onto the bat and allow both openers to hit fluently through the line. Guptill did the bulk of the hitting, and had already hit two vintage straight sixes before Deepak Chahar dismissed him with a well-directed short ball in the fifth over. For the second match in a row, he had dismissed Guptill immediately after being hit for six. New Zealand at that point were 48 for 1 in 4.2 overs.The slowdown
Mark Chapman found the boundary twice before the powerplay ended, and at 64 for 1, New Zealand looked on course for 180 or more. But a combination of superb bowling, a pitch that turned out to be less of a belter than it had initially seemed, and a batting line-up that couldn’t quite come to grips with either ensured they ended up well short.As he has been in every match since his comeback to India’s white-ball set-up, Ashwin was imperious, varying pace, trajectory, line and release expertly to ensure the ball never quite arrived where the batter wanted it, or in the way that he wanted it to. And once again, his range of angles and variations allowed him to make a mockery of theoretical match-ups. By the end of his four overs – which he ended with figures of 1 for 19 – he had bowled 71 balls to right-hand batters since his T20I comeback, while conceding just 51 runs and zero boundaries.Harshal’s slower ball, meanwhile, proved just as effective on international debut as it had done through his record-breaking 2021 IPL season, in conjunction with the long boundaries at the JSCA Stadium. He conceded just 25 in his four overs, and took the wickets of Mitchell and Glenn Phillips, both caught in the deep.Post-powerplay, New Zealand only scored 89 at 6.36 per over, with Mitchell, Chapman, Tim Seifert and James Neesham combining to score 36 off 51 after the fields spread out. That New Zealand ended up with 153 was largely down to the fast hands of Phillips, who hit three sixes in scoring 34 off 21.Harshal Patel picked up the key wickets of Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips•BCCI

The calm, the storm
The target didn’t demand that India explode off the blocks, and that allowed Rahul and Rohit to ease their way into their innings. Rahul took the bulk of the strike in the powerplay – 26 balls to Rohit’s 10 – and moved smoothly to 32 in that time, timing the ball quite exquisitely on occasion – a drive past mid-off and a flat six over extra-cover, both off Trent Boult, were particularly easy on the eye.At the 6-over mark, India were 45 for no loss, and the next three overs – bowled by Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner – brought no boundaries. In the first T20I, Suryakumar Yadav had taken control of his match-up against Todd Astle’s legspin, allowing Rohit to bat at a relaxed tempo against spin after a rollicking start against the quicks; now, with neither Rohit nor Rahul particularly renowned for going after spin in the middle overs, there was potential for anxiety to creep into India’s innings despite the required rate being under control.Rohit put any such anxiety to bed by taking on Santner in the 10th over. Premeditating for Santner’s stock ball – sliding in from back of a length with the angle from left-arm around – Rohit made a massive amount of hitting room and pulled his first ball for six.Then he cleared his front leg and hit another flat slider for a six over long-on. Santner nearly had his revenge next ball when he slowed down his pace, got the ball to turn and bounce a little more than usual, and got Rohit to miscue a slog-sweep, but Boult put down a difficult chance running in from long-on.Rahul and Rohit then took 26 off the next two overs, off Adam Milne and Boult, and India were 105 for no loss with the required rate down to nearly a run a ball.Southee triggers a wobble
Much like it did for Harshal, the slower ball into the pitch began to bring Tim Southee rewards. On 65, Rahul looked to whip him over the leg side boundary but failed to clear the boundary rider. In his next over, Southee got a slower ball to hold on the pitch and climb awkwardly at Rohit, who popped a catch to short cover. When Suryakumar bottom-edged another slower cutter into his stumps at the end of that over, India had two new batters at the crease with 17 required from 24.A vaguely similar situation had led to an unexpectedly close finish in Jaipur, but India didn’t let it go that deep here. Venkatesh Iyer – promoted to No. 3 after not being needed with the ball yet again – looked nervy but picked up a pair of edged fours, before Rishabh Pant completed the job, smacking Neesham for back-to-back sixes at the start of the 18th over, ending the game with a trademark one-handed hit.

Covid-19: Scorchers vs Hurricanes game moved to Tasmania because of border issues

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Perth Scorchers will spend the rest of the BBL season on the road with their December 20 home fixture against Hobart Hurricanes moved from Perth Stadium.Cricket Australia was left scrambling on Wednesday to reschedule the fixture after the Western Australian government tightened its border with New South Wales, which has a surge of Covid-19 cases amid the Omicron variant. Under a reclassified “extreme risk” category, travel from New South Wales to Western Australia will not be permitted effective from December 18 unless approved under the strictest of conditions. Victoria is already classified as “extreme risk” by the WA government.Scorchers and Hurricanes both played matches in Sydney in recent days meaning they would not be allowed entry into Western Australia. It was confirmed on Thursday that the December 20 fixture had moved to Tasmania with the teams, currently in Hobart, having played each other on Tuesday night at Bellerive Oval.Having played their season opener against Brisbane Heat at home, Scorchers will be locked out of Western Australia until the state’s hard border comes down on February 5 with players and coaching staff planning to spend the remainder of the BBL interstate. Their second match of the season against Adelaide Strikers was moved from Perth Stadium to Sydney Showgrounds and played behind closed doors after Strikers weren’t allowed into Western Australia because they had played their season opener in Melbourne.Scorchers’ home fixtures against Melbourne Renegades on December 26 and Melbourne Stars on December 30 have been moved to Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. Scorchers’ home games against Sydney Thunder on January 5 and Sydney Sixers on January 6 are also likely to be played in Sydney.But the upheaval has not affected the unbeaten Scorchers, who can take heed of last season’s runners-up finish after playing only four games at Optus Stadium.”We are accepting the challenge and look forward to embracing it,” Scorchers batter Cameron Bancroft told ESPNcricinfo earlier in the week. “We have to enjoy this time together and just try to have fun with it.”The fifth Ashes Test, which was originally scheduled to be played in Perth, was recently shifted to Hobart, while the ODI between Australia and New Zealand on January 30 at Optus Stadium remains in doubt.

India A face South Africa A in second four-day game amid threat of new Covid-19 variant

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Cooped up in a bio-bubble while a new Covid-19 variant causes panic, the India A team will take on South Africa A in the second unofficial Test from Tuesday in Bloemfontein with some senior side aspirants hoping to make an impression.The first four-day game ended in a draw due to inclement weather on Friday last week even as the detection of the B.1.1.529 Covid-19 variant, which was named Omicron by the WHO, forced many countries to impose international travel restrictions on South Africa.The uncertain situation also led to the Netherlands abandoning their last two ODIs against South Africa which were scheduled in Johannesburg.However, India A have stayed put in Bloemfontein inside a bio-bubble. The matches are being played without spectators and the India senior team is also due to arrive in the country by December 9 for a nearly seven-week assignment starting December 17.If the situation deteriorates, it can jeopardise the tour which involves three Tests, three ODIs and four T20Is across four venues — Johannesburg, Centurion, Paarl, and Cape Town.However, the India A players will need to keep the thoughts of the new variant at bay and focus on the task at hand as they revive their battle with South Africa A here.In the first game, India A batters produced a good show with Abhimanyu Easwaran hitting a solid hundred and captain Priyank Panchal scoring 96 to take them to 308 for 4 in response to South Africa’s 509 for 7 declared when rain washed out the final day.Opener Prithvi Shaw also scored a fine 48 and he would look to make the most of the good batting conditions.Hanuma Vihari, who was not picked for the two home Tests against New Zealand, could manage just 25 at No. 4 and would be eager to make up for it in the second game.However, the visiting team’s bowling is an area of concern as it allowed the hosts to pile up a mountain of runs at the Mangaung Oval.While Navdeep Saini, who has lost his place in the Indian team, and his pace partner Arzan Nagwaswalla took two wickets each, Umran Malik, who was picked in the A squad after impressing with his extra pace in the IPL, also snapped one.Among the three spinners, Rahul Chahar, who was part of the recent home T20I series against New Zealand, conceded 125 runs for his one wicket, while K Gowtham and Baba Aparajith failed to cause any damage.For the hosts, Pieter Malan (163) and Tony de Zorzi (117) shone bright with respective tons, while three other batters – Jason Smith, Sinethemba Qeshile and George Linde – further piled on the agony on the Indian bowlers with half-centuries.In the bowling department, fast bowler Lutho Sipamla and left-arm spinner Linde scalped a couple of wickets each but the others were not very effective.India A: Priyank Panchal (capt), Prithvi Shaw, Hanuma Vihari, Arzan Nagwaswalla, Devdutt Padikkal, Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Navdeep Saini, K Gowtham, Baba Aparajith, Rahul Chahar, Ishan Porel, Saurabh Kumar, Umran Malik, Upendra Yadav (wk).South Africa A: Peter Malan (capt), Dominic Hendricks, Raynard van Tonder, Jason Smith, Tony de Zorzi, Sarel Erwee, Senuran Muthusamy, George Linde, Marco Jansen, Migael Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), Beuran Hendricks, Lutho Sipamla, Glenton Stuurman.

Sri Lanka seal the series 2-1 as Zimbabwe crumble to 70 all out

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Sri Lanka’s bowlers ran rampant in the early overs of Zimbabwe’s chase reducing the opposition to 20 for 3, then 31 for 5, and eventually 70 all out, decimating their hopes of chasing down 255 and claiming a series victory.Dushmantha Chameera blasted out the first two wickets, before the spinners claimed the limelight – Maheesh Theekshana squeezing one between Sean Williams’ bat and pad, Jeffrey Vandersay taking four of his own, before Ramesh Mendis also took two. Somewhere in that cascade of wickets, seamer Chamika Karunaratne struck too, to remove the dangerous Sikandar Raza.After 15 overs, Zimbabwe were 37 for 5, the required rate had crept above six, and the chase was essentially buried. Ryan Burl and Tendai Chatara fought briefly to put up 18 for the ninth wicket – the best stand of the innings. But it was all over by the 25th over, with Vandersay scything through the lower order.The collapse was particularly disappointing for Zimbabwe, because their attack had operated with such discipline to keep Sri Lanka to a manageable total. Where Zimbabwe’s own batters had put up totals in the 300 range batting first in the two previous matches, Sri Lanka lurched only to 254 for 9, with each of their top eight getting to double-figures, but only Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka managing half-centuries.Zimbabwe’s had been a collective bowling effort. Richard Ngarava claimed 2 for 46 from his nine overs while Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani, Wellington Masakadza, Ryan Burl, and Sean Williams all claimed one wicket apiece. Aside from an 80-run opening stand between Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, Zimbabwe never let another pair prosper for long, the next-best partnership coming much later in the innings, when Karunaratne and Ramesh Mendis put on 48 together.It was Chameera who precipitated Zimbabwe’s rapid downfall, in the third over. He bowled a shortish ball outside off stump to right-hander Regis Chakabva, who edged it to slip. Then, next ball, he angled one across captain Ervine, who nicked it to the keeper. When Theekshana sent a straighter one through Williams’ defences in the eighth over, Zimbabwe had lost their three best top-order batters in the series.Pathum Nissanka struck his second successive ODI half-century•AFP/Getty Images

After the first powerplay, Kaitano was given out stumped off the bowling of Vandersay, although the evidence that his back foot was in the air when keeper Kusal Mendis took the bails off did not seem totally conclusive. Next over, Raza spooned a catch to cover, and all of Zimbabwe’s serious batting hopes had departed.Vandersay then took three of the five remaining wickets, and Ramesh Mendis claimed the other two. There was no substantial turn in the pitch – Sri Lanka were menacing, but not unplayable. Zimbabwe will feel they let themselves down.In the first innings, Sri Lanka had begun steadily with the bat – Nissanka and Kusal Mendis hitting only five boundaries in the powerplay, as they strode to 43 for 0 in ten overs. As has been the case right through the series, Zimbabwe’s quicks were disciplined and sharp, though they didn’t find the early wickets they had managed in the first two games.Perhaps sensing that he needed to raise the tempo if Sri Lanka were to near the 300 mark, Kusal Mendis was the first to depart, lofting the left-arm spin of Masakadza to long off. He was out for 36 off 51 balls. Nissanka brought up his second successive half-century of the series with a four through backward point, but was run out not long after that, thanks to an excellent direct hit from Zimbabwe’s substitute fielder.Asalanka struck a four through third man first ball, and provided Sri Lanka’s main thrust of the middle overs even as wickets fell around him. He was strong square of the wicket as usual, and hit five fours in his 56-ball 52. It was his second fifty of the series.Sri Lanka’s 2-1 victory pushes them up to fourth in the ODI Super League table, though they have played 18 out of their 24 games, and all other sides aside from Ireland (also 18) have played fewer. Zimbabwe are down at No. 11, on 35 points after 12 games. Only teams finishing in the top eight, effectively, gain direct qualification to next year’s ODI World Cup.