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Fifties to Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews were the sparks in a Sri Lanka score of 248 for 9, but gloom ultimately defined the day, after rain washed out play four overs into the reply

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando26-Jun-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:36

By the Numbers – 50 wickets in 10 years

Fifties to Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews were the sparks in a Sri Lanka score of 248 for 9, but gloom ultimately defined the day, after rain washed out play four overs into the reply. The back end of Sri Lanka’s innings had been played in drizzle, which persisted through the lunch break and for some time afterwards. Although the weather relented to allow the teams to resume play, it returned at about 4pm and play was called off by 5.30pm. England had lost Alex Hales, for a golden duck, and were 16 for 1.As at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston, Sri Lanka batted first on a pitch that provided bowlers with only modest assistance. And in Bristol, just like in the first two games, partnerships were severed by canny quicks whenever the visitors threatened to assume control of the match. In the ten overs following the 35th, Sri Lanka lost four wickets for 40 runs, and squandered the base their half-centurions had provided.England’s bowlers were disciplined, rather than dominant, but they were supported athletically in the field. More than one Sri Lanka batsman was provoked to frustration. Liam Plunkett and Chris Woakes claimed three scalps apiece, the former more effective with the new ball, the latter quite good with the old.The early wicket of Danushka Gunathilaka weighted down Sri Lanka’s start, as England bowled four overs for eight runs inside the Powerplay. This was to the particular frustration of Kusal Perera, whose more ambitious strokes failed to pierce a lively England infield. Mendis kept the score moving at one end, as he creamed the ball square on the off side and maintained a strike rate of almost a run a ball, but overall progress was nevertheless laboured. In the ninth over, when Perera aimed an expansive hoick over the leg side off Plunkett, only to send the ball high and into the wicketkeeper’s gloves, Sri Lanka were scoring at less than four an over. The score at the Powerplay’s end was 34 for 2.So began the rebuild, while England’s bowlers pulled back their lengths slightly on what was turning out to be a slower-than-expected surface. Mendis batted as he has through the tour, eyes glinting and wrists whipping quickly as soon as a poor ball was glimpsed. He bludgeoned two Chris Jordan short balls for four and six at the end of the 18th over. The four just cleared a climbing mid-on. The six sailed comfortably over the deep midwicket rope. Next over, Mendis completed a second ODI fifty with the 78th run of the innings, but then his panache forged his downfall. Attempting to repeat his pulled six against a taller, faster Plunkett, Mendis managed only to put the ball in the palms of deep square leg.Chandimal, who had massaged the ball around the infield while Mendis was in, assumed a more positive outlook as he and Mathews manoeuvred Sri Lanka away from 88 for 3. Mathews ventured a low, straight six off Plunkett in the 26th over, but Adil Rashid’s legspin was the more frequent victim of the pair’s belligerence. Rashid’s seventh over went for seven, and his next for 10, before Morgan took him out of the attack. The seamers returned the pair to a more measured approach, though they did continue to score smartly enough, relative to the situation: their 80-run stand was the heftiest in Sri Lanka’s innings, and came off 87 balls.Having set themselves up at a reasonable 165 for 3 after 35 overs, the following ten overs were a period of significant decline. Chandimal, then Seekkuge Prasanna, were out in consecutive overs, both caught aiming swipes across the line. Mathews moved to his second half-century in three games in the company of Upul Tharanga, but top-edged a leg-side heave off Jordan to depart for 56 off 67 in the 44th over. Though the match situation was well-poised for Dasun Shanaka to showcase his hitting range, yet he attempted a non-existent single to short third man, and found himself run out cheaply again, by a sharp Joe Root. On this occasion, though, a case could be made that Shanaka’s bat was actually back inside the crease when the bail was out of its groove.Tharanga then made the best of having to bat with the tail. The four he struck through midwicket at the beginning of the 46th over would be the last of the innings. He cobbled together a 33-ball 40, while Woakes in particular bowled expertly to his field, at the death. He took out the top of Tharanga’s middle stump with his final ball, before Sri Lanka’s last-wicket pair swung optimistically through the final over.

Mitchell Starc and Michael Clarke impressed for the Australians although it was another uneven display against Essex

Daniel Brettig in Chelmsford03-Jul-2015
Scorecard1:08

Clarke leads Australia on low-scoring day

If day three in Chelmsford produced more mixed fortunes for the Australians, the forward strides made by two of their most spinal contributors was enough to obscure other more ambiguous outcomes against an Essex side that is far from the most threatening combination in county ranks.Mitchell Starc, indifferent in his initial spells, returned to the sort of rhythm and swing that made him the player of the World Cup, as his six wickets hurried Essex from 291 for 1 late on the second evening to 414 all out on the stroke of lunch. Then the captain Michael Clarke played his most substantial innings since braving a bad back, torn hamstring and the emotional weight of Phillip Hughes’ death to compile a memorable hundred in Adelaide last December.These two performances provided a reminder of Starc’s danger and Clarke’s value, while also ensuring the pair will be feeling confident and settled entering into the first Investec Ashes Test against England in Cardiff, with wickets and runs behind them. Clarke’s crisp knock was especially timely, going some way to proving he will be capable of something more than the flashy cameos he has indulged in since returning from hamstring surgery.Michael Clarke made his first substantial score of the tour•Getty Images

Regular wickets at the other end meant that the tourists needed Clarke to stand up, on a very good Chelmsford pitch that was showing welcome signs of deterioration late on day three, as all good first-class surfaces should but few enough contrive to do. Chris Rogers, Adam Voges and Shane Watson all completed matches without major scores, while David Warner and Mitchell Marsh were unable to follow-up their first-innings success.It is fair to assume Rogers, Voges and Watson have all done just enough to maintain their spots in the Test team, leaving Shaun and Mitchell Marsh as the unfortunate men to miss out. That being said, the final day of this fixture will provide the opportunity for Watson and the younger Marsh to again match wits as bowlers, leaving the selection chairman Rod Marsh and the coach Darren Lehmann to deliberate on who best to choose.Essex’s vim in the field ensured that Clarke’s men could not skate away to an unassailable lead, meaning the final day should provide decent entertainment on a July Saturday as Tom Westley and Ravi Bopara attempt to reprise their first-innings heroics against a touring team now eager to get to Cardiff. None more so than Starc.At one point on the first evening, Starc’s figures of 11-3-26-0 were flattering, for he had barely made the batsmen play and more often challenged the reserve gloveman Peter Nevill to limit a mounting tally of byes. But a move around the wicket had him swerving through Westley and the nightwatchman Jamie Porter, and there was more the following morning.Swung around to the River End by Clarke after Bopara had taken further toll on the finger spin of Nathan Lyon, Starc zoomed through the final four wickets of the innings in the space of 20 balls at a cost of five runs. Thus did 0 for 26 become 6 for 51, a turnaround reminiscent of a tour match two years ago in Taunton, but also the sort of damage once wrought by Wasim Akram for Pakistan and Lancashire. The need for Starc to find his best with regularity during the Ashes grows with every minute team medical staff fret over the state of Ryan Harris’ right knee.Batting a second time, Australia’s batsmen looked a little hazy in focus, something reflected by Warner’s drag on to the stumps, Rogers being dropped on nought before edging behind at 32, then Voges and Watson both missing straight balls – the latter’s a full toss he would have expected to make solid contact with. Clarke’s gaze looked rather more fixed, and in the company of Marsh he ensured the avoidance of embarrassment.As the close of play drew near, Clarke appeared good for a century, only to be done in when a flatter delivery from Aron Nijjar skidded through low to disturb the stumps. Frustration passed understandably across Clarke’s face, but it was doubtless leavened by the thought that he was now tracing towards a three figure score in the matches that matter most of all.

Lions’ left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso and all-rounder Chris Morris are expected to receive their first call-up to South Africa’s Twenty20 squad

Firdose Moonda12-Dec-2012Lions left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso and allrounder Chris Morris are expected to receive their first call-up to South Africa’s Twenty20 squad, with the pugnacious Roelof van der Merwe tipped for a recall. Those are just three of the changes that could be made, as a new-look outfit has been promised for the three-match series against New Zealand.South Africa last played in the shortest format at the World T20 in Sri Lanka in September, where they were knocked out in the group stage, and have since resolved to overhaul their T20 structures. The extent of that will be known tomorrow, when the squad is announced.The first act of refurbishment was performed last week. National assistant coach Russell Domingo was promoted to the main job of the T20 side. Although Gary Kirsten will retain overall control, Domingo will take charge of the team for their five T20s this summer. It is his maiden voyage as an international coach and he will embark on it during a time of change.”We are probably going to see a whole different look in the side. We are going to try a few youngsters here and there and there will definitely be a few new names. That’s the way we want to go,” AB de Villiers, the T20 captain said.”We want to give youngsters performing at the domestic level a chance to showcase their talents. We might see a different side against New Zealand coming through. We’ll follow the same kind of strategies but with new players, they will bring in different talents and skills, which is exciting. I am not going to change my captaincy too much. I am still learning but I will still follow the same kinds of game plans. Russell is there, he might have a few new ideas. It’s always good to change a bit, get something fresh in and am looking forward to it.”South Africa will go into the series without some of their heavyweights. Graeme Smith has not played international T20 cricket this year and is unlikely to be selected. Jacques Kallis made a comeback for the World T20 but is nursing a hamstring strain and will focus on preparing for the Tests. JP Duminy is recovering from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon and Dale Steyn may also be rested. Johan Botha, who has relocated to Australia, remains available for South Africa but will probably not be considered.That will provide an opportunity and a stepping stone for the likes of Morris, who was identified after last season’s domestic one-day cup in which he was the leading wicket-taker. He travelled with the squad to the unofficial T20 series in Zimbabwe in June and played three matches. Morris also performed well in the Champions League T20 in October and has been reaching speeds in the upper 140kph consistently this season. His big-hitting makes him an allrounder in the 1990s-mould, which South Africa have been searching for as the understanding of Kallis’ cricketing mortality hits them.Phangiso also found prominence through the CLT20. He finished joint-second on the wicket-takers list with ten scalps, and had an economy of under six runs an over. The Lions have called him their banker for the last three seasons because of his ability to dry up an end, and he could partner Robin Peterson in that role.Van der Merwe can do a similar job and has done so in the past. He last played for South Africa on the tour of West Indies in 2010 but has fought his way back into contention. He finished as the second-highest on the bowling charts in the one-day competition with 22 wickets at an average of 19.95 and an economy of 4.69. Also known for his tenacious batting, van der Merwe could help harden up a soft middle-order.South Africa also have concerns at the top of the order where Hashim Amla, Richard Levi and Faf du Plessis will compete for two spots. Levi was dropped in the latter stages of the World Twenty20 due to a struggle for form following his record-breaking hundred in Hamilton. Levi is the leading run-scorer in the ongoing one-day cup and convenor of selectors Andrew Hudson indicated the blistering batsman may be ready for a second coming.”For a lot of players like Richard, it’s all about building knowledge, building your skills and the ability to perform in any environment,” Hudson said. “There is no reason to discard him or any of the youngsters at this stage, it’s more about understanding where he is with his game, what he is working on and what his potential is.”Other players who could come into contention are Gulam Bodi, who followed up a stellar CLT20 campaign with runs in the one-day competition, and young wicketkeeper batsman Quinton de Kock. The 19-year-old de Kock has been talked up as a future star and is described as an “awesome talent” by his franchise coach Geoffrey Toyana, but has been inconsistent. He scored a hundred in the one-day cup campaign but all the rest of his scores have been below 40. Titans’ opening batsman Henry Davids, who is the second-highest run-scorer in the one-day cup could also get a chance while left-arm seamers Wayne Parnell and Lonwabo Tsotsobe may find themselves back playing for their country.

Michael Clarke has labelled the shot selection from Australia’s batsmen as “disgraceful” on a day when they narrowly avoided being dismissed for the lowest Test total of all time

Brydon Coverdale at Newlands10-Nov-2011Michael Clarke has labelled the shot selection from Australia’s batsmen as “disgraceful” on a day when they narrowly avoided being dismissed for the lowest Test total of all time. His predecessor Ricky Ponting faced some tough days at the office but Clarke was left hoping he never endures a worse one than this, his 16th as full-time Test captain, when Australia were dismissed for 47.On one of the most remarkable days in modern Test history, Australia skittled South Africa for 96 and then suffered a horrendous collapse, falling to 21 for 9 on a pitch that was not as bad as the figures suggest. The lowest total in Test history was New Zealand’s 26 against England in Auckland in 1955, and only some late fight from Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon pushed Australia past that humiliation.Even Australia’s most experienced batsman was guilty of poor shot selection•AFP

Clarke cut a slightly despondent figure as he faced the media at the end of the day, but there was a glimmer of hope, with South Africa needing the second-highest successful chase at Newlands to secure victory. All the same, he was at a loss to explain Australia’s capitulation, especially after his own first-innings century.”All I can say is the top seven of us, as a batting unit, have to take responsibility for what just occurred,” Clarke said after play. “It’s certainly not good enough and me as the leader, especially after coming off a good first-innings total, certainly need to take the blame.”There was enough in the wicket when it was overcast, but our shot selection was disgraceful, we nicked everything in sight, any half lbw was given out, I can make a million excuses – the facts are we should not have been all out for 47. The top seven, we did not execute our skills well.”A lot of times in my career, as I just said to the boys in the change-rooms, the bowlers seemed to get criticised for us losing games of cricket, but I can guarantee you we have done nothing but put ourselves under pressure because of our batting performance in this second innings.”On the first day, Dale Steyn attacked Clarke with bouncers in an effort to “cut off the head” of Australia’s batting. On the second day, the batsmen behaved like headless chickens, but they had done the lopping themselves.Brad Haddin and Michael Hussey were especially guilty of throwing their wickets away with reckless flashes outside off stump, while Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson were lbw to straight balls they should not have missed. Of the top-order men, Clarke and Phillip Hughes fell to the best deliveries, while the injured Shaun Marsh, who batted at No.10, was unlucky to be lbw to one that stayed low.”The batters are disappointed,” Clarke said. “We’ve just had a ten-minute chat as a team in regards to every single one of us putting our hands up and trying to explain the errors we made, to face the music, to accept the reality that we are responsible. There’s nobody else to blame. Our top seven batters are as good as any top seven batters in the world, in my opinion. So today is … unbelievable.”The way Clarke trailed off in that response betrayed how shattered he was, while for the rest of the post-match press conference he appeared composed. It was not a day he will forget, nor one he hopes to repeat.

Charles Coventry secured an honourable end to Matabeleland Tuskers’ Twenty20 campaign as his boundary-laden half-century took them to a nine-wicket win over Southern Rocks at Harare Sports Club

The Bulletin by Liam Brickhill21-Nov-2010
Scorecard
Charles Coventry lines up a big shot during his 67 0ff 40 balls•Zimbabwe Cricket

Charles Coventry secured an honourable end to Matabeleland Tuskers’ Twenty20 campaign as his boundary-laden half-century took them to a nine-wicket win over Southern Rocks at Harare Sports Club and third place in the final standings. Entering after Neil Carter had been removed early in pursuit of Rocks’ 154 for 8, Coventry shared in an unbroken 126-run partnership with Paul Horton, who hit an unbeaten fifty of his own, as victory was achieved with 10 balls to spare.Carrying a niggling injury that has curtailed his bowling in this tournament, Carter has been used as a top-order pinch-hitter and launched Tuskers’ innings with three successive boundaries in left-arm seamer Tendai Chisoro’s second over. Elton Chigumbura struck back for Rocks with his very first ball as Carter gave himself room and slashed out to deep cover where Tendai Chitongo held a superb catch, diving to his left.Coventry got off to a fluent start, collecting boundaries off his national team-mates Chigumbura and Chamu Chibhabha. But where Coventry might often have been accused of throwing away his wicket too quickly, today he played himself in carefully as seven overs of careful accumulation passed before he broke free.When the charge did finally come, it was explosive, and successive sixes helped plunder 22 off Chigumbura’s final over. With Tuskers hurrying towards their target, former Zimbabwe Under-19 legspinner Chitongo was crunched for six over the cover boundary and offspinner Keith Kulinga’s second over was dismissed for 11. After Horton went to his fifty, Coventry finished the job two balls into the 19th over, slapping Chitongo to midwicket to seal the win and third place for Tuskers.It was a disappointing end for Rocks, who had a nightmare season in 2009-10 but came back strongly this time round and appeared to be the form team of this tournament. Their batting had been their most impressive facet, but today it was the batsmen that let the side down. With Sikandar Raza and Chigumbura both falling early, it was left to Tatenda Taibu to repair the innings with a typically enterprising half-century. But he found precious little support, with the middle order being skittled cheaply as medium-pacers Keegan Meth and Bradley Staddon picking up two wickets apiece.

Robbie Joseph and Darren Stevens have both signed new contracts with Kent

Cricinfo staff16-Dec-2009Robbie Joseph and Darren Stevens have both signed new contracts with Kent.Joseph, a fast bowler, and Stevens, an allrounder, have extended their stay with the county until 2011.Paul Farbrace, Kent’s team director, said: “We are delighted that Darren and Robbie have extended their contracts with the club. Both are quality players and, with Rob Key, Martin van Jaarsveld and Geraint Jones recently extending their deals, the nucleus of the team is now taking shape.”As a club, it’s great for us to know that the players want to commit themselves moving forward. It’s also exciting from the team point of view because it puts us in a strong position, going into the 2010 season.”

Beth Mooney made 97 for Perth Scorchers but Voll matched her score to seal a superb run chase at the MCG

AAP15-Nov-2024Georgia Voll produced a blistering knock to give Sydney Thunder a thrilling seven-wicket win over Perth Scorchers that lifted them back to the top of the WBBL table.Thunder dropped five catches at the MCG on Friday and Beth Mooney cashed in, hammering 97 from 64 balls. But Voll wouldn’t be outdone by the competition’s all-time leading run-scorer, responding with an unbeaten 97 from 56 deliveries to steer the to victory with one over remaining. It was the first time in three attempts this season Thunder have mounted a successful run-chase.Voll hit 13 fours and a six in her career-best innings, surpassing the 92 she made against Adelaide Strikers earlier this month.”It sits pretty high,” Voll said of her player-of-the-match performance. “To be chasing sort of a biggish total and to have the backing from the coaches to just go out there and play my way and for it to come off like this is pretty special.”Voll’s 64-run partnership with Heather Knight was crucial for Thunder. The 21-year-old revealed she took inspiration from Hobart Hurricanes opener Lizelle Lee’s record-breaking feats with the bat this month.”I actually watched Lizelle Lee bat the other day and noticed that I’ve been trying to go a little bit hard too early,” Voll said. “I sort of just took my time a little bit more and took the strike off Atha [Chamari Athapaththu] at the start there as well. It was just sort of lucky to come off.”Mooney had looked like she would be the match-winner with the bat when she made the most of Thunder’s dropped catches. She was put down three times before reaching 20 and again soon after ticking off another half-century.Sophie Devine was also given an early life by Thunder and the experienced pair put on a 112-run partnership for Scorchers’ third wicket. Devine fell to Taneale Peschel and Mooney was out lbw to Shabnim Ismail in the final over, falling narrowly short of what would have been her fourth WBBL century.Amy Edgar removed Knight and Scorchers looked headed for victory when Thunder’s required run rate climbed above 10. But Voll took charge with support from Anika Learoyd to guide Thunder home.

Eskinazi fifty ignites run chase; Fire will reach Eliminator if Originals beat Brave on Wednesday

ECB Reporters Network22-Aug-2023Harry Brook smashed the fastest Hundred century but it proved in vain as Welsh Fire kept alive their hopes of making Saturday’s eliminator with an eight-wicket win over Northern Superchargers at Headingley.Brook reached his ton off 41 balls while crashing a scintillating 105 not out off 42 but found little support as the Superchargers posted 158 for 7. Stephen Eskinazi’s fifty set Fire on their way, before Jonny Bairstow hit 44 and Joe Clarke 42 to lift the visitors to victory.Fire will reach the eliminator if Manchester Originals beat Southern Brave on Wednesday. Superchargers were eliminated with defeat, while the result also ended Trent Rockets and London Spirit’s hopes of finishing in the top three.