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Dale Steyn bowled it full, Shahid Afridi hit it cleanly, the boundary was in sight but there was something in the way

The Report by Firdose Moonda 15-Nov-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details Wayne Parnell’s three wickets turned the match South Africa’s way•AFPDale Steyn bowled it full, Shahid Afridi hit it cleanly, the boundary was in sight but there was something in the way. Faf du Plessis moved to his left, cupped his hands and snatched the ball out of the sky. In that moment, the match and the series was won.It ended a period in which Pakistan lost six wickets for 38 runs in the space of 32 balls, which included a South African team hat-trick, to collapse one final time in the limited-overs leg of the tour. They squandered a good start and a resilient effort by Sohaib Maqsood, surrendered to a South African attack which has been exceptional throughout the series and left themselves with a lot of questions ahead of the return leg in South Africa.For du Plessis, there are no such worries. His team has jumped to No. 2 in the Twenty20 rankings, behind India by one hundreth of a decimal point, showed composure and confidence with bat in hand and defended with venom.Although South Africa’s bowling won them the match, their foundation for victory was set-up by a batting line-up which has progressed through their visit to the UAE. They had an explosive start from Quinton de Kock followed by a hard-hitting fifty from du Plessis and both contributed to an above-par total.De Kock took on both Irfan and Abdul Razzaq, whose medium pace was ineffective upfront. Irfan left the field with what looked like a hip injury in his second over, leaving Pakistan without their most imposing player but Sohail Tanvir assumed the responsibility. He bowled a tight opening over before spin was introduced and Pakistan clawed their way back.Saeed Ajmal tempted de Kock with flight and had him caught in the deep slog-sweeping. That wicket made Ajmal T20’s highest wicket-taker, going past his compatriot Umar Gul and kept South Africa quiet for a little while.Hashim Amla had quietly watched de Kock, without scoring many, but targeted Afridi. Amla took a risk when he hit him inside-out over extra cover and then tried to launch it back over Afridi’s head. Instead, he presented a catchable chance but Afridi spilled it. Dropping Amla often proved costly in the next over when he hit Mohammad Hafeez over long-on for six.At the halfway stage, South Africa were 67 for 1 and du Plessis decided to up the ante. He also took on Afridi, finding good placement down the ground and brought up South Africa’s 100 with a premeditated slog-sweep off Ajmal. Amla played one more big shot, off Shoaib Malik, before holing out off Ajmal.Sohail Tanvir fined

The Pakistan fast bowler was fined 10 per cent of his match fee after being found guilty of breaching the ICC code of conduct. Tanvir, in the 18th over, dismissed AB de Villiers and gestured towards the pavilion.

Pakistan used that as an opportunity to drag South Africa back. They gave away just 35 runs in the last five overs and punctured the middle order, leaving du Plessis to muscle his way to the end. Tanvir made good use of the slower ball while Ajmal ensured questions over David Miller’s ability against spin will continue to be questioned as he trapped him lbw.In between that, du Plessis reached his fourth T20 half-century, much-needed runs in what has been a lean tour for him. He may remember his innings a little less than the catch that sealed the match which came after Pakistan’s opening pair posed 39 in the first five overs.Both Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad took on Lonwabo Tsotsobe before Wayne Parnell undid their start. He had Shehzad caught at fine leg, as he went on the pull, and Hafeez lbw for a first-ball duck. Hafeez was the victim of a poor decision but with no technology available to contest it, Pakistan had to focus on rebuilding rather than being wronged.When Jamshed became the third wicket to fall in nine balls, Pakistan could have unraveled but Maqsood and Malik found a good balance between attack and defence. They went after anything short while treating Imran Tahir with respect as he found sharp turn.Malik had his innings interrupted when he had to retire with a finger injury which brought Umar Akmal to the crease. He batted with his usual aggression but started the collapse when he hooked a Ryan McLaren short ball straight to Tahir. When he departed, Pakistan needed 50 runs off 39 balls and were still in control.Malik returned, only to chop Tahir onto his stumps before Razzaq left a googly and was bowled. When Maqsood was caught behind, brilliantly as de Kock dived to his right, the equation had tipped. Pakistan needed 39 off 29 balls but had only three wickets in hand.Tanvir and Afridi could still get them over the line but Tanvir was bowled by Steyn – who turned the pace up as his spell came to an end – and then there was catch. Game, set, catch, match. Pakistan’s fight was over.

A round-up of President’s Trophy matches that ended on December 16, 2013

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Dec-2013Pacer Sarfraz Ahmed’s nine-wicket match haul helped Water and Power Development Authority rout Pakistan Television by an innings and 137 runs.Ahmed picked up 4 for 20 to bundle out PTV for 69 in the first innings and followed that up with a five-for in the second innings, after WAPDA enforced the follow-on. Adnan Raees’ 13th first-class century, and fifties from Rafatullah Mohmand, Aamer Sajjad and Ayaz Tasawwar had earlier helped WAPDA post a commanding 475 for 7 declared. In reply, PTV were dismissed for 69 and although they managed a better batting performance in the second innings – half-centuries from Fahad-ul-Haq and Yasim Murtaza took them to 269 – it wasn’t enough to avoid an innings defeat. The win gave WAPDA 10 points, helping them move up to the fourth place on the points table.Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited opened up a 16-point lead at the top of the league with a 109-run win over State Bank of Pakistan.Chasing a target of 326, the State Bank batsmen failed to convert their starts into substantial scores, falling to the SNGPL attack led by pacer Samiullah Khan, who took four wickets in each innings.Earlier, a second successive first-class hundred from Azhar Ali had led SNGPL to 403 for 9, in spite of the efforts of Tabish Khan, who picked up 5 for 132, and Rizwan Haider. In reply, State Bank were struggling at 59 for 6 before a lower-order rally helped them post 204. With a lead of 199, SNGPL batted for a little more than 27 overs in their second innings, declaring their innings at 126 for 5 to set their opponents a target of 326.Khan Research Laboratories took away three points from a draw against National Bank of Pakistan, after failing to build on Sadaf Hussain’s first-innings haul of 8 for 50. Hussain had reduced NBP to 25 for 4 before Kamran Akmal’s 71 guided the batting side to 158.In reply, KRL, anchored by Shoaib Ahmed’s 92, were on track to posting a big score but Wahab Riaz thwarted the opposition, picking up three of the last five wickets. KRL lost their last five wickets for 18 runs, going from 254 for 5 to 272 all out. At 56 for 4, National Bank’s second innings seemed to be heading the same way as their first, but Fawad Alam stepped up, scoring an unbeaten 112 to help National Bank reach 235 for 5 before the match was called off.

A win for West Indies will give them an unassailable 2-0 lead so the pressure increases on New Zealand to win the next three games to seal the series

The Preview by Kanishkaa Balachandran31-Dec-2013Match factsWednesday, January 1, 2014
1100 (2200 GMT previous day)Tim Southee is likely to return earlier than expected•Associated PressBig PictureThe washout at Napier has effectively consigned this to a four-match series. A win for West Indies will give them an unassailable 2-0 lead so the pressure increases on New Zealand to win the next three games to seal the series. New Zealand may not have made rapid strides as a Test side in 2013 but, as a one-day unit, surprised the likes of South Africa and England in their own backyard. They were comfortable in conditions replicating home, like the two previously stated countries, but fell woefully short in Bangladesh. After dominating the Tests against West Indies, they took their eye off the ball at Eden Park. Though their bowlers made West Indies huff and puff, their batsmen know they can’t get complacent.West Indies endured a woeful 2013 in comparison, having won only nine ODIs out of 24, losing 13. The jury’s still out on the split-captaincy policy with Dwayne Bravo not delivering the results expected, even at home. Their opening bowlers finally hit their straps at Eden Park but the batsmen have continued to blow hot and cold. They are without Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo (who flew back home for personal reasons), which makes their job harder. It might also leave them depending more on their bowling attack to win them matches. Their batsmen will hope for more batting friendly conditions in Queenstown, preferably a pitch as flat as the airport runway at one end of the ground, to get some confidence back. A good start in probably the most picturesque holiday destination in the country is not a bad way to usher in the new year.Form guideNew Zealand LLWLL(last five completed matches)
West Indies WLWLL
In the spotlightIt has been a modest start for Luke Ronchi in his second coming as an international cricketer, this time for New Zealand. He is yet to score a fifty and averages under 16 in 11 games. With Brendon McCullum not keeping wicket, Ronchi’s main competitor in one-dayers is BJ Watling. Ronchi had a chance to play a rescue-effort type knock after New Zealand were wobbling at 57 for 5 at Eden Park but failed, falling for 7. Ronchi, however, isn’t worrying yet about retaining his place in the World Cup squad next year. “I haven’t played enough international cricket to think if I look a year in advance where I could be,” Ronchi was quoted in . “I want to make the most of every opportunity and if I think too far ahead it’s all going to go horrendously wrong.”Kieran Powell scored two half-centuries in the ODI series in India, but he hasn’t carried his form into New Zealand. His Test series was nothing short of a disappointment, with a highest score of 36. Starting out as a Test opener, Gayle’s absence has given him an opportunity in the shorter formats too. He failed in Auckland, scoring 4. The next three games will be a chance for Powell to make a bid to retain his place even when West Indies return to a full strength line-up.Team newsTim Southee is back in the squad after recovering from a toe surgery, and though the coach Mike Hesson initially marked him to return for the fourth ODI in Nelson, he didn’t rule out a comeback for Queenstown. Hesson was impressed with Southee’s progress at the nets, leaving the door open for selection. Should Southee return, Adam Milne might have to wait longer for his first appearance in an ODI on home soil, having been denied by the weather in Napier.New Zealand (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Jesse Ryder, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Brendon McCullum (capt), 6 Corey Anderson, 7 Luke Ronchi, (wk), 8 James Neesham/Tim Southee/Adam Milne, 9 Nathan McCullum, 10 Mitchell McClenaghan, 11 Kyle MillsWest Indies will have one forced change, with Darren Bravo returning home. Kirk Edwards, who was in fine form with the A side in India, could get an opportunity.West Indies (probable) 1 Johnson Charles, 2 Kieran Powell, 3 Kirk Edwards, 4 Lendl Simmons, 5 Dwayne Bravo (capt), 6 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 7 Narsingh Deonarine, 8 Darren Sammy, 9 Sunil Narine, 10 Jason Holder 11 Ravi RampaulStats and trivia Rain had the final say in the last two games in Queenstown, one of which was a New Zealand-West Indies clash Of the six completed games at the venue, New Zealand won five. In their most recent win, they bundled out Bangladesh for 93 and chased it down in just six overs Kyle Mills is the leading wicket-taker for New Zealand in this squad with 230 wickets. The next highest is Nathan McCullum with 43 Quotes”We’ll see what the wicket’s like in Queenstown, and if it looks like it’s got a bit of pace and bounce in it, then he’s a really good option of us.”

A round-up of the Victory Day T20 Cup matches that took place on December 26

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Dec-2013UCB-BCB XI beat Prime Bank Cricket Club by five wickets to stay in contention for a place in the final. Both teams, as well as Mohammedan Sporting Club, have won three matches each, injecting interest into tomorrow’s matches as all three teams have a shot for the last two places.Imrul Kayes was the star with the bat, hammering an unbeaten 82 off 54 balls with eight fours and four sixes. Muktar Ali also made a crucial contribution during the chase, as his two fours in the last three balls of the final over ensured the victory for UCB-BCB XI.Mithun Ali chipped in with 44 off 28 balls while Marshall Ayub made 25 off 14 during a crucial stage.For Prime Bank, Sabbir Rahman made a 45-ball 57- his third fifty in the tournament. He struck six fours during his innings, but it was Saikat Ali’s quickfire 41 that gave Prime Bank the impetus. Saikat smashed four sixes while Mehrab Hossain jnr struck 39 off 24 balls later in the innings to propel the team to 173 for 8.Al-Amin Hossain, who took five wickets in one over in the previous match, picked up 3 for 45..Nurul Hasan’s unbeaten 79 helped Mohammedan Sporting Club to an eight-wicket win over Abahani. Abahani’s fourth loss means that they are out of the running for a place in the final, while Mohammedan strengthened their position with a third win.Nurul struck ten fours and two sixes in his 47-ball 79, after he came to the crease in the sixth over following the fall of the first wicket. He and Junaid Siddique added 78 runs for the second wicket, with Siddique chipping in with 41 off 31 balls. His dismissal at the end of the 13th over didn’t deter the 172-run chase, as Mominul Haque ensured that the team won with an over to spare.Abahani’s 171 for 6 in 20 overs was built around Soumya Sarkar’s half-century and Mizanur Rahman’s 41. For Mohammedan, seamer Dewan Sabbir took three wickets.

Holly Huddleston, playing only her second international match, picked up a five-wicket haul to set up another resounding win for New Zealand Women against West Indies Women in Lincoln

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Feb-2014
ScorecardHolly Huddleston came into the attack late but did the most damage•Getty ImagesHolly Huddleston, playing only her second international match, picked up a five-wicket haul to set up another resounding win for New Zealand Women in the three-match ODI series against West Indies Women in Lincoln. New Zealand lead the series 2-0.West Indies made a steady start in their chase of 275 and despite the loss of their openers, they were 88 for 2 in the 21st over. Huddleston ran through the middle order, accounting for five of the next six wickets. West Indies’ collapse started with the fall of the captain Merissa Aguilleira, who became Huddleston’s first international victim when she was trapped in front for 14. The chase stumbled further as Huddleston had Stacy-Ann King caught behind in her next over.The critical wicket, though, was of Shemaine Campbelle, who fell five short of her half-century in the 33rd over. West Indies’ last five wickets lasted until the 49th over but could only manage 49 runs between them, suffering another heavy loss after the nine-wicket mauling in the first ODI.”She [Huddleston] thought she was picked as an opening bowler for the series, but with the way Sophie bowled the other day, I wanted to give her a crack,” Suzie Bates said. “So to come on second [fourth] change when the ball was older and the wicket wasn’t giving her much assistance, it was awesome to see her get a five-wicket haul in only her second game, the best figures against West Indies for a New Zealander.”West Indies had won the toss again, but chose to bowl this time. Stafanie Taylor gave them a good start too, picking up the wicket of Bates in the sixth over. However, Sara McGlashan, who scored her second consecutive half-century, and Sam Curtis added 98 for the second wicket to set up the platform for a strong total. Both batsmen were dismissed in quick succession, but Sophie Devine and Katie Perkins added a further 62 in 46 balls to power New Zealand’s late charge. Rachel Priest provided the final thrust to the innings, scoring 40 off 19 deliveries, as 78 came off the last eight overs to take New Zealand to 274 for 5.”We were under pressure with the bat, but Sara McGlashan and Sam Curtis put on a 98-run partnership, I think that really set the game up for us,” Bates said. “It just shows with the batting line-up that we have got, what we can do with a good platform.”We haven’t been consistent in one-day cricket and we have talked about [building] partnerships this series. Knowing that we can get to the 35th over with wickets in hand, we can really launch into an attack. We surprised ourselves a bit with the total we got.”

A round-up of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches played on April 10, 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Apr-2014Group AGuntashveer Singh struck seven sixes in his match-winning half-century for Haryana•BCCIMukul Dagar’s second consecutive half-century helped Uttar Pradesh beat Goa by 48 runs in Rajkot. The defeat was Goa’s first in this year’s tournament, after they had qualified from the first round with a perfect record. Dagar blasted eight fours and a six during his 38-ball 55, and added 100 for the opening wicket with Prashant Gupta (46) as the team scored at more than nine an over. Goa fought back with two quick wickets, but Eklavya Dwivedi and Rinku Singh added a late surge- 67 off just 35 balls- to lift Uttar Pradesh to 186 for 3. Goa lost wickets right from the off, and were unable to string together any significant partnership to trouble Uttar Pradesh. Amogh Sunil Desai, Rohit Asnodkar and Harshad Hanumant Gadekar all made starts, but none of them could convert it into a fifty, as the Uttar Pradesh bowlers restricted Goa to 138 for 6.A belligerent half-century Guntashveer Singh underlined Kuldeep Hooda’s 5 for 31 to usher Haryana to a six-wicket victory over Jharkhand and clinch second place in the group. Guntashveer mauled seven sixes and was unbeaten on 65 off 44 balls to ensure the bowlers had no chance despite having had a reasonable 147 to defend.The Haryana openers blazed to 30 in the fourth over and when Jharkhand broke that partnership they might have hoped to strangle the scoring. But Guntashveer spearheaded a fourth-wicket stand of 51 off 32 balls all but sealed victory.Jharkhand had been invited to bat and their captain Ishank Jaggi raced to 57 off 38 balls, with three fours and three sixes. The top-order rallied around him and a half-century stand for the second wicket built a promising foundation. They were 116 for 3 in the 16th over when Hooda rewrote the script. The middle and lower orders were brushed aside – six wickets for 28 runs – to leave Jharkhand with three losses from three games.Group BA 36-ball 75 from the Rajasthan captain Rajesh Bishnoi- his highest Twenty20 score- helped the team chase down 173 against Kerala with one ball remaining to secure a three-wicket win. Rajasthan were precariously placed at 94 for 5 before Bishnoi, coming in at No.7, swung the momentum by striking five fours and six sixes, and added 70 for the sixth wicket with Divya Pratap Singh. Bishnoi fell in the penultimate over, but Divya Pratap held his nerve to take Rajasthan home. Kerala had earlier made 172 for 3 on the back of a 102-run stand for the third wicket between Sanju Samson (68) and Rohan Prem (48).An incisive bowling performance from Delhi helped set up a seven-wicket win against Bengal at the Wankhade Stadium. Bengal put in to bat, could only muster 119 from their 20 overs as two wickets apiece from Sumit Narwal (2-13, including a maiden), Javed Khan and Varun Sood prevented them from gathering any momentum. Shreevats Goswami top-scored with 45, but none of the other batsmen made more than 16. Delhi lost Puneet Bisht in the second over of their chase, but a 76-run association for the second wicket between Mohit Sharma (41) and Samarth Singh (39) took them closer. Both batsmen fell off consecutive deliveries in the 15th over, but Yogesh Nagar and Jagrit Anand held their nerve to seal the victory with one over remaining.

Captain Daryl Mitchell scored his second century of the match as Worcestershire continued to stamp their authority on proceedings at Cardiff

Press Association06-May-2014
ScorecardDaryl Mitchell’s impressive form continued (file photo)•Getty ImagesCaptain Daryl Mitchell scored his second century of the match as Worcestershire continued to stamp their authority on proceedings at Cardiff. Mitchell was unbeaten on 151 as the visitors declared their second innings on 296 for 6, a lead of 381 over Glamorgan in their Championship Division Two clash.Their declaration bore fruit when Gareth Andrew bowled Jacques Rudolph to leave the hosts on 14 for 1 at the close, still 367 runs adrift and facing a major battle to save the game on the final day.Worcestershire began the day on 20 without loss but Matthew Pardoe and Tom Kohler-Cadmore fell cheaply. That brought on-loan Nottinghamshire and England batsman Alex Hales to the crease and he and Mitchell really took the game away from Glamorgan.They batted together for 35 overs, putting on 134 runs before Hales was stumped by Mark Wallace off the bowling of Dean Cosker for 63. Mitchell would not budge, though, and soon reached his second century. It is the second time Mitchell has scored two tons in a match, with the first coming at Cheltenham in 2010.Alexei Kervezee proved an able accomplice and reached 32 before Cosker claimed a second wicket of the innings and seventh of the match. Two hours were then lost to rain directly after tea, with play resuming at 6.05pm.Two more Cosker wickets followed as Ross Whiteley and Andrew also fell but Mitchell, who was the final man out in the first innings, passed his 150 and the declaration soon followed. That left Glamorgan having to face five overs but they lasted only two and a half before Rudolph’s stumps were sent flying.

Ottis Gibson, the West Indies coach, is hopeful Chris Gayle will be fit for the first Test against New Zealand, which starts on June 8 in Kingston

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jun-2014Ottis Gibson, the West Indies coach, is hopeful Chris Gayle will be fit for the first Test against New Zealand, which starts on June 8 in Kingston. Gayle had suffered a back injury after the World T20 in Bangladesh and missed a few games for his franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2014. After his team’s run in the T20 league ended, he travelled to Germany to consult a specialist for his injury.”He’s here. He was told he had to be at the camp on June 1,” Gibson said. “He went to Germany to see a specialist so over there, he had some injections for his back. The specialist said he would need to take a couple of days rest and after which he should be able to take full part in cricket. The first Test match starts on June 8, so he has enough time to get enough cricket. He had a couple of hits in the nets today and he did some catching on the field, so he has enough time, once we get to Jamaica, to get himself settled down.”Apart from Gayle, the squad for the first Test also has fit-again pacers Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach and a spinner Sulieman Benn. Taylor and Roach returned from long injury layoffs, while Benn has not played a Test since December 2010.Shane Shillingford, who was cleared for an international return after rectifying his bowling action, is likely to play his first Test since the suspension. With Sunil Narine absent from the squad, the spin-bowling department comprises Shillingford and Benn but Gibson was reluctant to commit to a two-spinner strategy in Jamaica.”We have to get there first. What we do is we tend to get there first and see the conditions and then think of the make-up of the team,” Gibson said. “We have three quality fast bowlers who have done well this week and two world-class spinners, with Benn coming back into the team after a long absence and Shane, who’s had his issues with his bowling action and stuff. We are very happy we have two of those guys in our midst. If the wicket suits two spinners, then I guess two spinners can play. If not, we have three quality seamers that will take the field.”Gibson was pleased with the form of the batsmen and bowlers during the practice matches against local opposition, held as part of the preparatory camp in Barbados.”Darren Bravo got a hundred in the first game, Kraigg [Brathwaite] came in and he got some runs yesterday. Shiv [Chanderpaul] spent some good time in the middle,” he said. “The reason why we come here and prepare ourselves physically and then we do a lot of technical work is to make sure that when we get to Jamaica it is just about performing. In Jamaica, we will have a look at the conditions, the pitch we are likely to play on we pick the best possible team from the 13 guys we have and we work really hard and try and win the first Test match.”

Kevin Pietersen played his most significant hand to date with an assured cameo to ensure Surrey were on the right side of the fine margins of T20. They are now within touching distance of the knock-out stages.

Ryan Bailey at The Oval16-Jul-2014
ScorecardKevin Pietersen at last delivered in the NatWest Blast•Getty ImagesThe scrimmage for the quarter-final berths in the ultra-competitive South Group is becoming increasingly fraught. Having coasted into a position of influence, Surrey’s hopes of advancing had suffered a setback of late but Kevin Pietersen played his most significant hand to date with an assured cameo to ensure his side were on the right side of the fine margins this time around. They are now within touching distance of the knock-out stages.If things had been different, Pietersen would have been across the other side of the capital resting up on the eve of a Test match. As it was, he – for the first time this season – showed why many regard the ECB’s decision to discard him as risible. Two trademark cover drives had the crowd purring and Surrey motoring in pursuit of Somerset’s 136 for 9.But his dismissal, succumbing to spin on a surface conducive to slow, take-all-the-pace-off bowling for 39, opened a window of opportunity for the visitors. But, unlike Surrey’s astute operators, Somerset weren’t able to apply the stranglehold to induce a middle-order wobble.Pietersen powerfully cut Max Waller to the boundary first ball of the tenth over but fell next delivery, attempting to replicate the stroke. When Robin Peterson haphazardly ran himself out in comical circumstances after a mix-up with Azhar Mahmood, a tense silence engulfed a sold-out Oval as another edgy finale loomed.But, with the equation set at ten required off two overs, Somerset were up against it and a couple of lusty blows from Chris Tremlett was enough. Had Marcus Trescothick – playing as a makeshift wicketkeeper in the absence of Craig Kieswetter – been able to throw down middle stump or Colin Ingram manage to scamper around from long-on to snaffle Mahmood in the final overs, things may have finished differently – but such are the fine margins in the shortest format.A two-wicket victory with a couple of deliveries to spare all but ends Somerset’s hopes of finishing in the top four but ensures there is a realistic chance of another sell-out crowd at The Oval this season. True, there was no Jason Roy fireworks – he fell for just 4 in the first over – and a two-paced surface didn’t allow flamboyant strokeplay but that suited the hosts.Gary Wilson hardly had to affirm the inevitable when the coin landed in his favour but that alone doesn’t guarantee his bowlers will execute the gameplan. Successive defeats hinted that their dependable strategy was unravelling.Glamorgan’s thrilling victory here five days ago apart, the team chasing at The Oval in the last ten domestic Twenty20 games had come away with the points and the hosts ensured Friday’s blip in the trend was just that. True, they were aided by a surface fabricated to suit their strengths but isn’t that what home advantage is about?While it would be easy for Wilson to turn to his slower bowlers to roll their fingers over the ball on a two-paced surface for all 20 overs, he placed just as much faith in his battery of seamers. Matthew Dunn is another promising cab off the Surrey ranks and highlights that there is more to the club that meets the eye of many. An inspired spell of 3 for 8 proved decisive and enough for him to earn the plaudits.Having being crashed to the fence first ball by Nick Compton, he stuck to his guns, bowling fast and full and was duly rewarded. Just as the visitors were beginning to motor, Compton played an atypically ugly heave to be caught at point. It was a needless shot as Somerset raced along at close to ten an over during the Powerplay.To that point, he had crunched and punched four boundaries in quick succession as he took Tillakartne Dilshan for 13 in the first over; that was the last we saw of the Sri Lankan with the ball. But, Somerset were unable to attune themselves to the pitch and Surrey’s astute methods. Their innings became stagnant fairly quickly after a brisk start.By the time Dunn returned to bowl the penultimate over, the wheels had come off the innings. He The quashed any hopes of a late burst as James Hildreth was caught by Zafar Ansari and next delivery, he exhibited his unerringly accurate yorker – it was far too good for Tim Groenewald. Alas, the hat trick ball was safely negotiated by Waller. but Dunn had already inflicted the damage.

A five-for from pacer Kane Richardson set up a 28-run win for Australia A against India A in the opening game of the quadrangular A-team one-day series

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jul-2014
ScorecardMitchell Marsh scored 63 off 62 balls and took 3 for 41•Getty ImagesA five-for from pacer Kane Richardson set up a 28-run win for Australia A against India A in the opening game of the quadrangular A-team one-day series. Earlier, a 116-run, fifth-wicket stand between Alex Doolan and Mitchell Marsh lifted a struggling Australia A innings to 7 for 252. Doolan missed his maiden List A hundred by four runs, while Marsh scored a brisk 63.Richardson got the first breakthrough for Australia A, breaking an opening stand of 39 between Unmukt Chand and Robin Uthappa. However, the game turned in Australia A’s favour during an eight-over period between the 12th and 20th overs, when India A lost five wickets for 19 runs. Marsh accounted for Manish Pandey in the 12th over and in the next one, Richardson dismissed Uthappa and Manoj Tiwary off successive balls. India A had limped to 4 for 84 in the 20th over, when Marsh got the wickets of Ambati Rayudu and Akshar Patel. He eventually finished with figures of 3 for 41.India A looked to be slipping away but Sanju Samson’s fighting half-century and his stands with the lower order kept the chase alive. Samson added a quick 45 with Parvez Rasool but Australia A managed to peg the scoring rate back after Rasool fell. The eighth-wicket partnership between Dhawal Kulkarni and Samson yielded 45 runs in 12.5 overs. India A went into the last five overs needing 48 off 30 with five overs and one wicket in hand. Samson took 17 runs off Marsh in one over, but his departure in the next brought the innings to a close at 224.Australia A faced similar struggles after being put in to bat. Mohit Sharma, who joined the India A squad for the quadrangular series, and Kulkarni reduced Australia A to 3 for 41 within two overs. Phillip Hughes was caught behind off Mohit , while Kulkarni got rid of Cameron White for 15 and Chris Lynn for a duck. Doolan then shepherded the side’s rebuilding effort, sharing an 80-run stand with Calum Ferguson. His rapid century stand with Marsh ensured that the innings did not lose momentum as the overs progressed. The two kept turning the strike over between the boundaries and then stitched together some big overs towards the end of the innings.Richardson said the pitch at the Marrara Oval aided bowlers from both sides more than the track for the four-day games in Brisbane.”The last two four-day games in Brisbane were quite tough on the bowlers and it was good to get up here and see some grass on the wicket,” he said. “As their bowlers showed upfront, it was going to be tough work for the batsmen. We started pretty slow with the ball but once we got into it, I think the bounce helped us with a bit of movement.”