For the first time in their Twenty20 history, Middlesex failed to reach three figures as they crashed to an 86-run defeat against local rivals Surrey

Vithushan Ehantharajah at Lord's25-Jul-2013
ScorecardKevin O’Brien’s power helped taken advantage of a short boundary•Getty Images

It was over so quickly that people didn’t really know what to do with themselves. Some stayed in their seats, others meandered – all finishing off the food, drink and conversations that would have lasted them 20 minutes more. The rest sidled out into the streets of North-West London, muttering about one of the worst Middlesex performances in recent memory.For the first time in their Twenty20 history, Middlesex failed to reach three figures. It was rather uneasy to watch; Dawid Malan, Joe Denly, Adam Voges and Paul Stirling managing to face only 21 deliveries between them, amassing 25 runs. Eoin Morgan hit the hardest nine runs you’ll ever hear, before Jason Roy took a superb catch at backward point. He would drop one later, eliciting the second biggest sarcastic cheer of the night – first coming in the games’ aftermath when St John’s Wood station was deemed open, just minutes after the PA announced it was closed.But if Middlesex were bereft of ideas, it was because Surrey weren’t giving them any clues. Their in-fielding was top notch, backing up some impressive bowling, particularly from Chris Tremlett who looked as quick as he has done this season.Essentially, the game was settled on who utilised the boundary away to the Tavern and Mound Stand best. “Barely 45 yards,” according to Kevin O’Brien, who pillaged 54 in just 24 balls. However, it was his Irish counterpart Stirling on the opposition who made the most emphatic use of the abbreviated edge when he hooked Tremlett out of the ground. It was the only maximum Middlesex could muster.O’Brien will join Ricky Ponting – kept out of today with a groin complaint – in the Caribbean Twenty20, which he sets off for on Sunday. As such, he will be unavailable for the knockout stages of the FLt20, but he has helped Surrey get closer to them with this win seeing them leapfrog Middlesex into third via run rate, with two games left to play.It was a shame that Middlesex’s home campaign in the competition ended in such a disappointing manner in front of a bumper crowd of 28,000. Is it a London thing? Surrey have also boasted sell outs at The Oval this season, and it will again be the case tomorrow when Kent visit.The capital’s two grounds are 45 minutes and two trains apart, and there may indeed be a crossover of neutrals, but they are shining advertisements that Twenty20 cricket is a good thing. The vitality it brings to the domestic game cannot be understated, not least when it comes to carrying through a new generation of fans – one that was probably lost in the time before free hits. Just ask Roy who was mobbed like the boy band member he resembles when he stepped out of the Pavilion to head home, by a crowd of kids baying for his signature on programmes, mini bats and boundary signs.As the crowds settled in, Surrey were flustering to 17 for 2. But it was the promotion of O’Brien to No. 4 that proved to be the making of Surrey’s innings, as he made use of 11 of the remaining Powerplay deliveries available to him to score 29.At the other end, Vikram Solanki was proving a contrasting foil for O’Brien, as they put on 90 – Surrey’s highest partnership for any wicket in the competition this season. They batted with such polarising ways and means that you could imagine them flat sharing in the lower east side of Manhattan; Solanki, the city slicker, all class and convention, and O’Brien, the small town biffer, with larger than life personality and tree trunks for arms. Cue your conventional sitcom capers.The difference in their methods was perhaps most evident when it came to their approach to the short boundary. While Solanki danced and flicked Ravi Patel to midwicket for six, O’Brien clubbed and muscled. Both fell in Patel’s final over, as the left-arm spinner finished with the impressive figures of 3 for 28 in his four, the only Middlesex player to leave Lord’s with anything to celebrate, albeit sheepishly.Gareth Berg might have been another when he quelled a last over blitz with some fine yorkers to concede only four runs by taking two wickets. It turned out to be rather pointless in the end, as Middlesex flopped in London’s dusk and all but quashed their FLt20 dreams.

Shane Watson took the highest score of his Test career off a reshaped and none-too-convincing England attack as Australia reached 307 for 4 at the close of day one

The Report by David Hopps21-Aug-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsShane Watson, back up the order at No. 3, made his highest score in 46 Tests•AFP

For Australia, the series is lost, the intensity is not what it was and expectations could not be much lower. Shane Watson’s bountiful form has come far too late to challenge the outcome of the series, but there was no denying the gentle brutality of his strokeplay as he took the highest score of his Test career off a reshaped and none-too-convincing England attack in the final Test at The Oval.Watson’s move to No. 3 had not delighted all observers but, at the end of a series in which Australia’s pick-and-mix batting order has left them 3-0 down, he produced the most domineering top-order batting of the summer. There were no devils in the situation or in a depressingly slow Oval pitch and Watson responded to an unpressurised situation by registering only his third hundred in 46 Tests in a manner which simultaneously stated his ability and questioned his record.When he even reviewed successfully after being adjudged lbw to Chris Woakes on 166 eight overs from the close, it looked as if he was fated to survive into the second morning. Woakes thought he had achieved his first Test wicket when he defeated Watson’s pull shot but the decision of umpire Kumar Dharmasena was reversed when replays showed the ball was too high.But Stuart Broad, who had felled Watson with a well-directed short ball on 91 and bowled defiantly throughout, removed him three overs before the close. Watson’s full-blooded pull at Broad was expertly intercepted by a diving Kevin Pietersen at deep backward square, moved there from long leg by his captain, Alastair Cook, a few minutes before.Watson never quite discovered the same mastery after Broad struck him behind the ear, a sickening blow which brought him to his knees for a prolonged period and caused brief alarm – and left him munching pain-killing tablets – but he summoned the resolution that has not always been a feature of his Test career.It was his pre-lunch assault that set the tone. England fielded two Ashes debutants in Woakes and Simon Kerrigan and Watson feasted upon their vulnerability, amassing 80 from 77 balls by lunch as between them as the new pair leaked 58 runs in seven overs.If Woakes’ contribution was just about adequate, Kerrigan, the Lancashire left-arm spinner called up after Monty Panesar became persona non grata, had a humbling experience. As his confidence deserted him and full tosses vied for attention with a liberal supply of long hops, the tacit invitation to Panesar to find the sort of late-season form to regain his place as England’s back-up spinner could not have been clearer.Kerrigan had been treated dismissively by Watson in the Lions match against Northamptonshire last week and, as he won his first Test cap in his 50th first-class match, nothing had changed. He conceded 28 in his first two overs with Watson helping himself to six boundaries. The first four ball, a low full toss, revealed his uncertainty and he repeatedly dropped short in his second over as Watson overawed him.If the assault subsided, anxiety never left him. He returned for two distinctly nervy overs before tea, his faltering belief exaggerating an unanimated approach to the crease, and although he improved a little after the interval, his lack of conviction was such that every dot ball became a building brick in a desperate battle for survival. It was one of the most nervous England debuts for many years.The series was already settled and as much as Cook had spoken of their desire to set new standards by winning an Ashes series 4-0, the sense of experimentation was apparent. The inclusion of Woakes and Kerrigan also markedly changed the balance of the side as England switched from a four-man attack to five and fielded two spinners in a home Test for the first time since the Ashes Test against Australia in Cardiff four years ago.Such a balance was forced upon England by a slow, dry pitch, the sort of conditions in which England have repeatedly dominated in this sun-drenched summer, but as Watson dismissed the debutants from his presence, the five-man attack seemed by mid-afternoon to have been reduced to three as Cook retreated to his trusted trio of Broad, James Anderson and Graeme Swann.Broad apart, only in the first hour did England possess much threat. There was a hint of swing for the new ball and even a semblance of turn for Swann, but Watson bestrode the morning. It was a powerful display of Test batting, but this was not high-quality, tension-ridden Ashes cricket.Broad, at least, is finishing the series full of vigour, but after his 11 wickets in the previous Test, conditions were no longer as encouraging. That reality dawned in his first over when he found the edge of Rogers’ bat but the ball died well short of Cook at first slip. At the fag-end of the day, though, his threat remained and he was inches away from bowling Steven Smith, whose lofted blows had been a feature of his unbeaten 66.England, who dismissed David Warner in the fifth over of the day – a simple catch for the wicketkeeper, Matt Prior, as he fenced at Anderson – followed up with the wickets of Chris Rogers and Michael Clarke in the middle session. Rogers’ laborious stay – 23 from 100 balls – ended when he nicked Swann to first slip, so ending a lengthy stalemate between the pair. Anderson accounted for Clarke, bringing one back to bowl him off the top of his pad to pass Bob Willis and go second in England’s all-time list of Test wicket-takers.Broad’s combative post-lunch spell disturbed Australia’s equilibrium. Watson was felled and, not for the first time in this series, Clarke also seemed to have problems picking up Broad’s short ball. If Anderson dismissed Clarke, Broad deserved an assist.It was a careful cover drive off Anderson which brought Watson his first hundred since he took a century off India in Mohali in 2010, and the third Australian hundred of the series to follow those made by Clarke and Rogers. He was dropped on 104 off Anderson at first slip, an inviting chance, knee high to Cook’s right, off the shoulder of the bat.

Offspinner Malolan Rangarajan and Abhinav Mukund picked up five wickets between them to put South Zone firmly on top in their Duleep Trophy quarter-final clash against West Zone in Chennai

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Oct-2013
ScorecardMalolan Rangarajan struck 58, before picking up three wickets for 50 runs•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Offspinner Malolan Rangarajan and Abhinav Mukund picked up five wickets between them to put South Zone firmly on top in their Duleep Trophy quarter-final clash against West Zone in Chennai.Double centuries from B Aparajith and Manish Pandey on Friday had propelled South Zone to a mammoth 553 for 7 at stumps, and Malolan added to the flurry of runs on day three with a 132-ball 58 that included four fours, as the hosts eventually declared on 600 for 9.West Zone began their innings slowly, as the openers Wasim Jaffer and Aditya Waghmode added just 32 in the first 18 overs, before Malolan made the breakthrough, dismissing Jaffer for 11. West Zone stabilised with an 82-run second-wicket stand between Waghmode and Ankit Bawne, but three wickets in seven balls helped South Zone seize the advantage.First, Abhinav dismissed Waghmode for a patient 57 of the second ball of the 55th over, and in his next delivery, he bowled Manpreet Juneja for a golden duck. Yusuf Pathan went in at No.5 to salvage a recovery, but was caught by Rohan Prem off left-arm spinner Aushik Srinivas in the next over, leaving West Zone precariously placed at 115 for 4.Bawne carried on, making an unbeaten 62 with six fours, but West Zone were dealt two more late blows, as Malolan trapped both Hiken Shah and Rohit Motwani for lbw in the 74th over to finish the day with 3 for 50, and give South Zone the edge heading into the final day.

Few sights in sport are more intoxicating than an irresistible talent emerging. Those at the Oval were privileged that, at 17, Daniel Lawrence looked just that as he became the third youngest century-maker in Championship history

Tim Wigmore28-Apr-2015Few sights in sport are more intoxicating than that of an irresistible talent emerging. Those at the Oval were privileged that Daniel Lawrence provided them with such a sensation as he became the third youngest batsman to make a Championship century.Ludicrous as it seems, Lawrence was born midway through the Ashes defeat of 1997. Already it is easy – much too easy – to hope that he might be the harbinger of rather better times for England. But at the age of 17 years and 290 days he compiled a chanceless century that was brimming with panache and self-assurance.In doing so he compiled records – and lots of them: youngest ever Essex first-class centurion, youngest centurion at The Oval, and that third youngest Championship centurion of all time.But this was not a performance to be measured in statistics. More than anything, its abiding memory was of Lawrence’s staggering control – of his innings, of the bowling and of himself. With every languid straight drive, and every fine late cut, Lawrence was saying that he could not only survive at this level – in itself a not inconsiderable feat for one so young – but he could thrive.It was apt that his historic moment was reached so emphatically. Four runs away from a century, Lawrence dreamily lent into an extra cover drive off Zafar Ansari, beating the man at cover so vigorously that there was no need to run.

Youngest Championship century makers

Godfrey Bryan (Kent), 17 years and 245 days, vs Notts, Trent Bridge, 1920
Dipak Patel (Worcs), 17 years and 270 days, vs Surrey, Worcester,1976
Daniel Lawrence (Essex) 17 years and 290 days, vs Surrey, Kia Oval, 2015

Except of course there was: Lawrence needed to celebrate reaching his century. He galloped down the pitch, punching the air a couple of times and acknowledged the crowd’s warm applause. But there were no real histrionics: Lawrence did not even raise his helmet. He had less the air of a history boy than a gnarled county pro expecting to score runs.Lawrence left last year after doing his AS levels and suggested that his old school friends were rather envious. “I have spoken to a few of them already,” he said. “They said ‘I’m at school and you’re at The Oval scoring runs’ so I was loving it. The one year at sixth form I wasn’t massively into purely because I wanted to play cricket and I sort of put all my eggs in one basket.”The lightness on his feet Lawrence displayed against spin – he followed a lofted straight six against Ansari on day two with another one today – was testament to the fact that he does not lack for audacity. “He’s a confident lad so he’ll back himself to the hilt,” Nick Browne, Essex’s day two centurion, had said overnight. “You’ve just got to keep reining him back sometimes.”Lawrence did not look in the mood to be reined in. Having reached his century in 146 balls, and with Surrey a bowler short due to the absence of Jade Dernbach, he spied an opportunity to plunder the attack. But, even while scoring at a-run-a-ball after reaching his century, Lawrence never lost his timing or placement; consecutive late cuts off Matt Dunn – each teasing the man at deep point before advancing over the ropes – were wonderful cases in point. The effect was to overshadow a Jesse Ryder half-century that bristled with intent.Born and raised in Essex – he plays for Chingford Cricket Club, the same club who reared Doug Insole – perhaps Lawrence was made in part in Australia. He spent last winter playing for the Newtown and Chilwell Cricket Club in Geelong in Victoria; the club hosts an Essex player on a scholarship each year. It was not a stint that began well. Lawrence’s flight was delayed and he missed a steepling catch at the start of his debut for the club.But Lawrence is not the sort to get overwhelmed. By the end of the season, he had scored more first team runs than anyone else – 556 at 42.77 apiece – and won the player of the season award. He also made quite the impression on the club.After the second day, when Lawrence was 47 not out, this correspondent received a message from the president of Newton and Chilwell saying: “On behalf of the Two Blues, and particularly the ones who sit up half the night getting the scores off the Internet, I want to congratulate Daniel.” There is now cause for plenty more congratulations, not least Essex.In recent years the club have been exasperated as so many talents have found fulfillment elsewhere, including Varun Chopra, the previous holder of the club record for the youngest Championship century. They will hope that this time is different, and, having nurtured Lawrence, they can enjoy the extent of his batting talent.Paul Grayson, the coach, and company have not been shy to show faith in him and thrust into the side because of the IPL commitments of Ravi Bopara and Ryan ten Doeschate, Lawrence made only ten and three against Kent in the opening game. When Tom Westley suffered a broken thumb, it was quite an endorsement of Lawrence not merely to keep him in the side but promote him to No 3.He provided stunning vindication. Indeed, until he edged Ansari behind attempting to run the ball to third man, on 161, Lawrence was cruising past WG Grace’s record for the youngest man to score a double century in England. In an age when England cricket risks flirting with national irrelevance, the game is in need of an antidote to the gloom. And today Daniel Lawrence provided it.

Jamie Overton’s call up for the England squad alongside brother Craig has raised hopes that England could be about to see the first twins ever play together in the international side

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jun-20153:06

Dobell: Overton twins’ selection not a huge surprise

England have called up Somerset fast bowler Jamie Overton to their ODI squad for the remaining two ODIs against New Zealand. Jamie joins his brother Craig in the squad and presents the prospect of England fielding twins in the same match for the first time.Jamie Overton, the 21-year-old from Devon, replaces Liam Plunkett who has been ruled out of the series with a thigh strain having played the first two matches of the series. Craig Overton replaced Chris Jordan who was also injured after the second ODI.These are selections based on future potential rather than performance, exciting in the recognition of might one day be achieved, but it would be possible to advance a case that they are illogical and lacking credibility if county statistics are to be given any credence. Perhaps England are just taking a development check. After all, building for the 2019 World Cup is the mantra.Somerset have rarely seen them in the same side together, partly because of injuries, partly because they remain inconsistent performers, although they did combine to devastating effect for the first time this season against Yorkshire last month. Even so, for them both to be called up by England in the same match before their county careers are barely established would be startling.Jamie is a bowler of genuine pace and imposing height at six-foot-five. He was first called up to the England squad against Australia in August 2013 but was not handed a debut. That winter he was picked for England Lions but was forced to pull out of the tour because of a knee injury.Jamie’s 2014 was also hampered by injury and when he did return could not win a place back in Somerset’s first XI and ended up back playing club cricket in Devon but he did spent time during the winter with the England Performance Programme and made a promising start to this season. But after a series of impressive spells, picked up another problem during the Middlesex Championship match at the end of April and was forced back on the sidelines.His ability with the white ball is less obvious. He has played only 14 List A matches and has taken 20 wickets at 27.00 with an economy rate of 6.27. He began the season with six wickets in three County Championship matches but with the white ball has proved expensive, conceding 128 runs in 12 overs from four matches.With Jamie missing from Somerset’s County Championship side, Craig, with better all-round ability, was brought in and played a key role in his side’s first victory of the season at Nottinghamshire, scoring a vital half-century and taking six wickets. But when both twins appeared against Yorkshire at the end of May they sent the cider pumps buzzing with a stand of 76 runs from only 5.5 overs – one of the few times they have both played together for Somerset.Craig himself has struggled with injuries, missing almost all of 2013 but bounced back to win a place on the England Lions tour to South Africa in January this year, only to have to come home early because of an ankle injury that eventually required surgery – something he says was actually a blessing in disguise. He has only appeared in the County Championship this summer yet could be in line for a one-day international debut this week, possibly alongside his twin.Their father Mark has played cricket for many years for North Devon CC, where they first knocked up on the outfield at Instow. When they began to play, it was Jamie who became the threatening fast bowler while Craig’s qualities seemed more rounded with both bat and ball. They were educated at West Buckland School, where one of the most iconic West Country cricketers, Harold Gimblett was also educated.If they ever play together, they might even one day outrank the Bedsers in English folkore. But only one of the Bedsers made it an international level, a reminder that sometimes achievement falls unevenly on twins. it was Alec who became one of England’s great bowling stalwarts in the post-war years, with his brother Eric only playing for England in a practice game against Tasmania on England’s 1950-51 tour of Australia.

MS Dhoni might have combatively said he is ready to step aside if that guarantees success, but his reign as India’s limited-overs captain appears to be under no real immediate threat

Gaurav Kalra22-Jun-20151:19

‘It doesn’t matter who the captain is’ – Dhoni

MS Dhoni might have combatively said he is ready to step aside as India’s captain if that guarantees success, but his reign as India’s limited-overs captain appears to be under no real immediate threat.Dhoni was speaking in the aftermath of India’s first-ever bilateral series defeat to Bangladesh when he responded in an uncharacteristic manner, seeking to suggest he is blamed for everything that is wrong with Indian cricket and that “if you remove me and the Indian cricket will start doing really well, and if I am the reason for all the bad that is happening to Indian cricket, definitely I would love to step away and play as a player”.However, according to an informed source, for the moment at least, Dhoni’s position is secure though the situation will be “reconsidered” after the World T20 in India in March next year.That seems consistent with the decision deadline Dhoni had set himself. After India’s defeat in the World Cup semi-final, Dhoni had said he will take a call on his long-term future after the World T20 while not ruling out his chances of playing the 2019 World Cup. ESPNcricinfo has learnt the World T20 has been identified as a “cut-off point” of sorts after which Dhoni’s fitness, form and performances will be assessed keeping in mind the team’s next major assignment: the 2017 Champions Trophy.At any rate, with India scheduled to play only Test cricket between next month’s highly unlikely tour of Zimbabwe and the home ODIs against South Africa in October, the selectors do not have to make a decision right away. And even if India go to Zimbabwe, the selectors are highly unlikely to pick a full-strength squad.As of now, India look committed to playing limited-overs cricket under Dhoni until the World T20, but the process of identifying players to step into his shoes has already begun. For instance, Robin Uthappa was asked to keep wicket and bat in the lower middle order in the two games against Sri Lanka last year although he prefers to open the innings. Others being looked at to play a “similar role” to Dhoni’s are Test keeper Wriddhiman Saha, Naman Ojha, Kerala’s young wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson, and Pathiv Patel.Dhoni’s assertion that he will be happy to play just “as a player” if removed as captain also hasn’t come as much of a surprise. Describing Dhoni as a “different sort of character” a source in the know said that Dhoni will take stock of his future based on his “fitness” and “ability to contribute” as a player. Dhoni’s decision to bat up the order at No. 4 – a move he said was made so he could bat “more freely” – is also being seen as a positive step from the captain.It is felt that heavy defeats in the first two games against an “emerging power” in Bangladesh can be put down to the players being “mentally jaded” at the fag end of a long season. If the Zimbabwe tour goes ahead, it will mark a new season, but Dhoni is likely to be rested, unless of course India lose the third ODI too and there is a fear of further embarrassment in Zimbabwe.As for Dhoni, he will want to make sure India win the last game of the season, because while his captaincy might be safe as of now, there is no telling what greater scrutiny a whitewash at the hands of Bangladesh might bring.

Taskin Ahmed could be out for at least three weeks after suffering a tear on his left side

Mohammad Isam25-Jun-2015Taskin Ahmed could be out for at least three weeks after suffering a tear on his left side. He missed the third ODI against India on Wednesday, but the fast bowler is hopeful he can be fit in time for the South Africa series.The two T20s against South Africa are on July 5 and 7 while the three ODIs will be played on July 10, 12 and 15. It is likely that Taskin will miss the T20 series but could still make the ODIs provided he recovers quicker than usual for side tears.”I felt a bit of tightness on my left side while bowling in the second game [against India] and I hurt myself in the training session before the third game,” Taskin said. “The physio sent me to do an MRI immediately but I am hoping I will be fit within a short time for the South Africa series.”Taskin was replaced by Arafat Sunny in the third ODI against India, which Bangladesh lost by 77 runs. Taskin took two wickets in the first ODI, of Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, and went wicketless in the second game, conceding 24 runs in four overs.Taskin said that he, like all his team-mates, wanted to carry the momentum from the 2-1 ODI series win over India into the South Africa series.”I am getting newer experiences day by day. We are doing well as a team. I am personally happy to win the series and I hope we do well against South Africa.”

Australia A needed just 51 minutes on the fourth day to complete a dominant 10-wicket win in Chennai and wrap up a 1-0 series win

The Report by Deivarayan Muthu in Chennai01-Aug-2015
ScorecardGurinder Sandhu cleaned up India A’s lower order to finish with 4 for 76•K Sivaraman

The senior Australian team faltered against England in the third Investec Test at Edgbaston but the Australia A team romped to a ten-wicket win to complete a 1-0 series victory at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Chasing 61, openers Cameron Bancroft and Usman Khawaja ran down the target in 6.1 overs.

Khawaja lauds bowlers

Australia A captain Usman Khawaja toasted the team’s success, which was built on a collective effort.
“Very happy. I haven’t been part of a team here that had come to India, won a four-day game,” Khawaja said. “It was really good win. Credit to all the guys for doing well in Chennai in the heat.”
While Cameron Bancroft’s 150 led the batting charge, Steve O’Keefe and Ashton Agar took nine wickets overall. Gurinder Sandhu also impressed with his offbreaks: each of his four wickets in the second innings came through spin. Khawaja also lauded the seamers for disciplined bowling, which had allowed the spinners to make the incisions.
“Bancroft batted beautifully, that kind of stuff wins games for you,” Khawaja said. “The bowlers have been excellent throughout both games. The fast bowlers have put pressure, the spinners have taken a lot of wickets, but without the fast bowlers doing hard work, I don’t think that would have been possible.”
Motivated by the slow pitch, Khawaja said he had started with spin from both ends on the final day. Sandhu then ripped through the tail with three wickets in a decisive spell that read 3-2-2-3.
“I know the wicket was turning and it was tough work yesterday [for the batsmen] and we would get out wickets with spin. G [Sandhu] bowled well and at the other end Steve O’Keefe bowled really well too. Fortunately, it worked out and we got the wickets quickly.”

At the end of the third day, Australia A captain Usman Khawaja had said: “It is pretty simple from my point of view.” It turned out to be simple, so much so that the visitors needed only 51 minutes to wrap the game up with over two sessions to spare.India A, who had begun the day at 267 for 6, added only seven runs to their overnight total before being wiped out for 274 in 88.3 overs. Gurinder Sandhu, who opened the attack on the final day, bowled three overs of offspin and took as many wickets to run through the tail.Shreyas Gopal was the first to depart as Sandhu generated alarming bounce with his fifth ball, having the batsman lob the ball to Bancroft at forward short leg for a duck. Varun Aaron raced down the track and was stumped for 1 before Baba Aparajith was also foxed by the extra bounce.Aparajith had received a lifeline when he was dropped on 29 at forward short leg off left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe but could not convert his start into a substantial contribution. He was caught by Khawaja at backward short leg after adding one more run.India A’s innings ended when O’Keefe had Shardul Thakur tamely chipping to mid-off. Each of Sandhu’s wickets in the second innings came through offspin while O’Keefe finished with four of his own.Khawaja and Bancroft batted with purpose and intent, again. Khawaja laid down the marker when he ventured down the track and whipped Pragyan Ojha’s fifth ball over mid-on for six. The next ball was firmly reverse-swept to the third-man boundary. Khawaja also banished Pragyan Ojha to deep midwicket with a powerful slog-sweep while Bancroft showed off his adept footwork like he did during his 150 in the first innings, which had set the game up.Bancroft put the seal on a thumping win when he came down and launched Pragyan Ojha over long-off, which summed up Australia A’s domination throughout the second unofficial Test.

Zimbabwe Cricket has signed an eight-year deal with Total Sports Marketing (TSM), a Bangladesh sports marketing agency, to obtain the marketing rights and live television coverage of all of Zimbabwe’s home international matches

Enock Muchinjo19-Aug-2015Zimbabwe Cricket has signed an eight-year deal with Total Sports Marketing (TSM), a Bangladesh sports marketing agency, for the marketing rights and live television coverage of all of Zimbabwe’s home international matches.The agreement, which both parties claim to be a “zero-cost deal” as of now, was signed in July and could conceivably end ZC’s partnership with Indian firm Ten Sports, whose parent company Taj Television holds the television rights for Asia and the Middle East. Due to their association with Essel Group, an Indian conglomerate company said to be eyeing an extraordinary takeover of world cricket, Ten Sports have fallen out of favour with cricket authorities.Only last month, India’s tour of Zimbabwe was initially called off due to the unresolved issues between the BCCI and Ten Sports, though the tour eventually took place after crunch talks after the two boards worked out a deal.Moinul Chowdury, the TSM’s chief executive, told ESPNcricinfo that his company was ready to operate at a loss until Zimbabwe started attracting significant corporate interest. Chowdury claims that ZC saved at least $2.5 million in television production costs when the country hosted India and New Zealand over the last two months. He added that the board retained the $3.8 million in revenue generated from the India series alone.”The ZC leadership convinced me to invest and I’m confident that around 2016-2017 we will start operating at a profit,” Chowdury said. “Zimbabwe was the only Test nation that was meeting its own television production costs and it took a huge toll on the board. They’ve shown us a good blueprint, and we are happy to be in business with them.”ZC interim chairman Wilson Manase said under the deal, Zimbabwe are guaranteed at least 50 days of home international cricket in all three versions of the game until the 2023 World Cup.”Under the FTP, we were supposed to play just 58 ODIs outside the ICC tournaments. That was going to decrease our chances of improving rankings. The onus is now on us to make ourselves marketable and repay the confidence and faith shown in us by TSM,” Manase said.

Mashrafe Mortaza’s planned return to first-class cricket has been delayed after he was admitted to hospital on Friday morning with dengue fever

Mohammad Isam09-Oct-2015Mashrafe Mortaza’s planned return to first-class cricket has been delayed after he was admitted to a Dhaka hospital on Friday morning with dengue fever.Mashrafe was supposed to travel to Khulna on Friday to play the division side’s third round match in the National Cricket League against Rangpur Division but at around 2:30am, he was taken to Apollo Hospital in Dhaka with high fever. His son Sahel has also been suffering from fever over the last few days.Mashrafe, whose previous international game was in mid-July, has been training hard to get back into competitive cricket and has also expressed optimism about a return to Test cricket, a format he last played in 2009. He would have had to wait till the Bangladesh Premier League in mid-November for his next assignment but decided to play at least two matches in the NCL this season. His previous first-class appearance was in January 2014.