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The Strikers’ slim playoff chances take further beating while the Sixers moved to the top of the ladder

Tristan Lavalette15-Jan-2025Steven Smith produced another blistering BBL innings before Hayden Kerr and Sean Abbott kept their cool at the death as Sydney Sixers completed a nerve-jangling chase that has almost ended Adelaide Strikers’ slim finals prospects.Chasing 183 at the Adelaide Oval, Smith’s red-hot form continued with a rapid half-century but his dismissal sparked a collapse. Sixers slumped to 92 for 5, but they rallied through their batting depth.They still needed 16 off the last seven deliveries before Kerr smashed a tossed up delivery from legspinner Lloyd Pope over the rope. He then hit quick Henry Thornton for a boundary off the second ball of the final over before Abbott hit the winning run off the penultimate delivery.Sixers moved to the top of the ladder, while Strikers need a miracle to progress into the finals.

Smith dominates early, Kerr steps up late

All eyes were on Smith after his blistering ton against Perth Scorchers in his BBL return. With three centuries in his last seven BBL matches, he clearly enjoys letting his hair down for Sixers, who he captained to the title in the competition’s first season.Smith’s unbelievable BBL record continued with 52 off 31 balls and he started with a third ball six after launching quick Brendan Doggett over the legside. He smashed four sixes with the loud whack coming off the bat music to the ears of the Sixers.Smith’s best shot might have been a back-foot smoke off Thornton that sped to the boundary like a tracer bullet. He scored 34 of the 47 runs in the powerplay before shifting gears with the field spread around.But Smith’s dismissal to Jamie Overton just before drinks triggered a collapse with Jordan Silk falling later in the 10th over lbw after an unsuccessful review. Skipper Moises Henriques, who had called for the review, then was adjudged lbw to spinner Lloyd Pope, but he was livid with the decision having inside edged onto his pads.Sixers slumped to 92 for 5 before Ben Dwarshuis and Lachlan Shaw produced a brisk half-century partnership. They were unable to see Sixers home but Kerr stepped against Strikers, once again, having memorably lifted them home in the Challenger final of BBL 11.His six off Pope – who was brought on in a gamble by skipper Matthew Short – was perhaps the game-changing moment.
Overton finishes season on a highStrikers’ season appeared in ruins under an avalanche from Smith, who reached his half-century off just 27 balls. But Overton had other ideas in his last BBL match before linking up with his England teammates for the white-ball tour of India,He entered the attack just before drinks and produced a thick edge off Smith that flew to short third. Overton then trapped Silk lbw later in a game-changing over.Strikers were not able to get over the line, but Overton can be well pleased with his season. The firebrand has become a fan favourite for Strikers but a villain for opposition supporters to be of the characters of this BBL season.Lloyd Pope celebrates a wicket•Getty Images

Chohan unleashed, Shaw sparkles in field

Sixers, in trademark style, were a well oiled machine in the first 10 overs after electing to bowl. Henriques brilliantly rang the changes as he rotated his four quicks during the powerplay.He then threw the ball to offspinner Todd Murphy, who claimed D’Arcy Short and Alex Carey in – curiously – his only over of the innings.Jafer Chohan, the Yorkshire legspinner, finally made his BBL debut after being a surprise selection in the draft. He varied his speeds nicely and finished with 0-30 from 4 overs.Sixers weren’t quite as slick after drinks, with their quicks unable to execute. For the second straight game, Abbott struggled badly at the death to cap a forgettable performance.But 22-year-old Shaw did provide some cheer in the field. In just his fourth BBL game, Shaw produced an outstanding piece of fielding on the legside rope where he acrobatically flicked the ball back into play to prevent a boundary.Shaw, who is normally a wicketkeeper, produced another spectacular effort in the outfield after a diving catch – having misjudged initially – amid very windy conditions to dismiss Alex Ross.

Strikers recover well after top-order collapse

In Strikers’ last match, they flayed Brisbane Heat and racked up the second highest score in BBL history. Matthew Short starred with a belligerent century, but he was confronted by a surface that wasn’t as rock hard and he walked to the crease without opening partner Chris Lynn, who suffered a hamstring injury in that match.Short looked to continue where he left off with a boundary straight down the ground off Jack Edwards, who earlier in the day was named the new Australia A captain.But Short could not replicate the shot, merely hitting Edwards straight up in the air in the first of three reckless dismissals.Carey missed out on the run glut against Heat and he appeared keen to make up for it with three early boundaries. But Carey fell tamely after the powerplay, picking out deep midwicket two balls after D’Arcy Short was clean bowled by Murphy having failed to execute a reverse sweep.It was left to Ross and Ollie Pope, who made their move after taking the power surge in the 12th over.Ross nailed several drives through the offside, but Pope was more fluent and reached his half-century off 35 balls before Overton provided a late flurry in the death overs.Harry Manenti hit a six in his debut to complete an impressive Strikers recovery. Manenti, who has represented Italy in international cricket, was presented his cap by his brother Ben – a Sixers squad member.

Alastair’s unbeaten half-century builds on Sam’s three wickets as hosts begin reply unscathed

ECB Reporters Network19-Jul-2023Essex 106 for 0 (A Cook 64*, Browne 31*) trail Kent 207 (Compton 47, S Cook 3-19) by 101 runsSir Alastair Cook notched the 123rd half-century of his bejewelled career as he steered Essex into a commanding position on the first day of their LV= Insurance County Championship match against Kent.Cook, still there at the close on 64, was joined in an unbeaten first-wicket stand of 106 by Nick Browne, who was painstakingly attempting to rebuild his flagging form after a run of three successive ducks. He was on the path to redempton with 31 from 117 balls.Earlier, Kent elected to bat on a green-tinged pitch under heavy grey clouds that required the use of floodlights after an hour. Their innings lasted just short of two sessions for 207 as the lower-order threw away their wickets with some abandon.Only a sedate 58-run fourth-wicket partnership between Ben Compton, who recorded an 81-ball 47, and captain Jack Leaning interrupted a regular clatter of wickets with nagging seamers Sam Cook and Jamie Porter sharing six of them equally.Twanda Muyeye survived a decent chance to Matt Critchley at third slip before he was beaten for pace to present Sam Cook with the first of three wickets for 19 in 11 overs.Next ball Joe Denly’s miserable season continued when he played down the wrong line and was caught behind for his fourth duck of this campaign.To compound Kent’s problems, Harry Finch faced 15 deliveries without scoring when he set off for a non-existent single to gully where Paul Walter swooped and hit the single stump he could see.Compton and Leaning settled in for a stand that needed 17 overs to put on fifty, and that despite Compton hitting Doug Bracewell for three successive boundaries, two through the covers, the other a flick off his legs.However, to the last ball before lunch Compton attempted to dig out a fuller delivery from Simon Harmer and only succeeded in chipping the ball back tamely to the bowler.Leaning followed soon after the break when he got a thick edge to one from Sam Cook that went away from him and wicketkeeper Adam Rossington took a fine diving catch to his right. Joey Evison went shouldering arms to one that came back late from Bracewell.Grant Stewart smashed Harmer for two straight sixes in a brisk, seven-over stand of 43 with Jordan Cox before Porter found a peach of a ball to remove Cox.Porter then set a short-ball honey-trap for Stewart who hooked straight to one of an army on the boundary, and two balls later Matt Quinn skied rashly to midwicket. Arshdeep Singh swept Critchley for a huge six and wafted lazily at the next ball and was stumped without bothering to look back.When Essex replied in the evening session, Alastair Cook slipped into imperious mode after a watchful start, showing an array of shots around the wicket in depositing Stewart for three successive fours, though he was put down off the same bowler to a sharp chance in the gully.Of the fifty partnership in 17 overs, hecontributed 38 with Browne playing second fiddle with a dozen; of the century partnership Browne had 27 and Cook 63, passing fifty for the fifth time this season when he swept Hamid Qadri for his 10th boundary.Essex, incidentally, will be reinforced with the inclusion of Dan Lawrence in their batting line-up on day two as he returns south after being the spare man in the England XII for the concurrent fourth Test at Old Trafford. He will replace Robin Das.

Opening stand of 148 provides platform for crushing win over bottom side Leicestershire

ECB Reporters Network30-Jun-2023Derbyshire 231 for 4 (Wood 110*, Came 56) beat Leicestershire 160 for 9 (Handscomb 61, Zaman 3-27) by 71 runsAn explosive maiden T20 century by Tom Wood fired Derbyshire Falcons to a 71-run win over Leicestershire Foxes at Derby and kept alive their Vitality Blast hopes.Wood smashed an unbeaten 110 which included 12 fours and four sixes off 57 balls as the Falcons posted 231 for 4, their highest total in T20 cricket.Harry Came with 56 off 36 balls shared an opening stand with Wood of 148 from 81 balls, another Derbyshire record in the competition, before late cameos from Leus du Plooy and Haider Ali piled on the misery for the Foxes.Peter Handscomb replied with 61 from 43 balls but the Foxes came up well short on 160 for 9 with Zaman Khan taking 3 for 27 to leave the Falcons needing to beat Worcestershire in the last game on Sunday to have a chance of making the quarter-finals.Derbyshire began sedately, failing to find the ropes in the first three overs, but Wood served up a taste of what was to come by hitting Ed Barnes for two boundaries in the fourth before launching into Michael Finan. He pulled the pace bowler for the first six of the innings and swatted three more fours to take 19 from the over and lift the Falcons to 55 at the end of the powerplay.When Barnes, who injured his right hand stopping a drive from Wood, returned at the Racecourse end, Came ramped him over third man for six before a misfield gave Woods his seventh four and his 50 which came off 28 balls.The Foxes were struggling to stem the run flow and Woods hoisted Colin Ackermann high over long-off for his second six to take the Falcons to 100 without loss at the halfway stage.Louis Kimber’s first ball in T20 cricket was dispatched over long-off for six by Wood who pulled the last ball of the over for another maximum. Came pulled Tom Scriven for six on his way to 50 from 34 balls and drove the seamer over the ropes as 20 came from the over.Wood was given a life on 86 when Kimber dropped him at long-on but the stand ended in the 14th over when Came drilled Ackermann to long-off. But there was no respite for the Foxes as Wood smashed Barnes over mid-off for his 11th four to reach his century off only 51 balls.Callum Parkinson had Wayne Madsen caught behind off a top edge but that only brought in du Plooy who smashed Finan for consecutive sixes as the Falcons sailed past 200.After du Plooy was caught behind off Tom Scriven, Haider hammered two sixes to take the Falcons past their previous highest T20 score of 222 and leave the Foxes facing a daunting chase.They set off well with 61 coming from the powerplay before Wiaan Mulder was bowled for 35 aiming a big drive at Mattie McKiernan.Rishi Patel pulled Wood over long-on for six and dispatched McKiernan on to the top tier of the media centre to keep the Foxes in the hunt but they still needed 131 from the last 10 overs.Patel went in the 11th when he skied a big drive at George Scrimshaw and the soaring asking rate claimed Ackermann when he swept Alex Thomson to deep square in the next over.Nick Welch hoisted McKiernan over long-off for six before he was cleaned up by Zaman and Kimber’s attempt to hit Scrimshaw out of the ground only ended in the hands of Haider running back from mid-on.Zaman claimed the big wicket of Handscomb and yorked Scriven before Zak Chappell removed Finan to seal victory with Barnes unable to bat.

Both Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka will look to arrest their middle-order woes when they face-off in Bulawayo on Monday

The Preview by Liam Brickhill in Bulawayo20-Nov-2016

Match facts

Monday, 21 November
Start time 0930 local (0730 GMT)Upul Tharanga and Sri Lanka’s middle order need to step up on Monday•Associated Press

Big Picture

In cricket, ‘momentum’ is a lot like religious faith. Some people believe in it, and some don’t, but either way it seems to be part of the general milieu. Another way of putting it could be: whether you believe you can, or you believe you can’t, you’re probably right. Sri Lanka’s momentum will have been dented slightly by their unravelling against West Indies in Harare, and Zimbabwe will believe in themselves a little more after their stunning comeback.Neither team is without its worries: Sri Lanka’s inexperienced middle order has not quite clicked yet, while Zimbabwe slipped from 190 for 3 to 257 all-out against West Indies. Their performance in the field was also not quite up to scratch, and in that department coach Heath Streak has said: “we know we’re better than what we showed.” The result of this game will depend on which team plays to potential and seizes the momentum, and who has more belief on the day. With Zimbabwe currently at the bottom of the points table, with two points from their tie, this is a must-win game for them.The background hum outside of the cricket in Zimbabwe is somewhat depressed, and an upturn in the cricket team’s fortunes would help to brighten what could be a somber festive season. The country is on the brink of introducing ‘Bond notes’, a form of currency meant to ease the crippling cash liquidity crisis, but not everyone is for it. While the cricket has been going on, activists have been arrested and allegedly assaulted by security forces in Harare, and some fans entering Queens Sports Club on Saturday weren’t allowed to bring Zimbabwe flags into the ground, as the flag has recently been used as a symbol of protest. Zimbabwe could do with a little cheering up.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Zimbabwe: TLLLL
Sri Lanka: LWLLLElton Chigumbura has managed only nine runs in two matches in the tri-series•Associated Press

In the spotlight

Zimbabwe’s top order helped to set up an almost defendable total against West Indies, while the bowlers showed grit.Yet their fielding left much to be desired. Three chances to dismiss eventual centurion Shai Hope were missed, and sloppiness in the field dissipated pressure. Heath Streak will want a cleaner effort from his men in the field.The match between Zimbabwe and West Indies on Saturday showed that, on a slow, gripping surface, the best time for batting is between overs 10 to 35. That will make the contribution of Sri Lanka’s middle order vital to their final result. Untested in their series opener against Zimbabwe, the Sri Lankan middle order then stumbled against West Indies, with Nos. 1 to 6 contributing just 69 runs.

Teams news

Elton Chigumbura’s form with the bat will be a worry for Zimbabwe. He has managed only nine runs from two innings, but his level head and more than 200 ODIs worth of experience will continue to add value, and Zimbabwe might not want to upset the XI that clicked on Saturday.Zimbabwe (possible): 1 Chamu Chibhabha, 2 Brian Chari, 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Sikandar Raza, 5 Sean Williams, 6 Elton Chigumbura, 7 PJ Moor (wk), 8 Graeme Cremer(c), 9 Donald Tiripano, 10 Tendai Chisoro, 11 Chris Mpofu.Of the three squads, Sri Lanka have the most depth in the spin department and they may look to swap one of their seamers for a spinner. Lakshan Sandakan is a left-arm wristspinner, and the sort of bowler the Zimbabweans will very rarely have faced. With the ability to turn the ball both ways, as well as skid it in to the pads, he would be a handful on a traditional Bulawayo track.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Dhananjaya de Silva, 2 Kusal Perera, 3 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Upul Tharanga (c), 6 Asela Gunaratne, 7 Shehan Jayasuriya, 8 Sachith Pathirana, 9 Nuwan Kulasekara, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Suranga Lakmal.

Pitch and conditions

Monday’s pitch should play much the same as Saturday’s, without much lateral movement for the quicks while slowing up and offering something for the spinners later on. While there is cloud around, Monday should be mostly warm and dry. Late afternoon storms are always a possibility at this time of the year.

Stats and trivia

• Craig Ervine played his 50th ODI on Saturday, passing 1,500 runs in the format during his 92. Ervine has had a good year with the bat – in seven international matches in 2016 (four Tests and three ODIs), he has scored 497 runs at 45.18.
• Sri Lanka have played six ODIs at Queens Sports Club, and have only lost once, to India, in 2010

Quotes

“It’s a big game on Monday, but we’ve just got to take it one over at a time, one ball at a time.”

Hobart Hurricanes’ playoffs hopes hang by a thread after yet another poor show by their batters

Tristan Lavalette23-Jan-2023Steven Smith’s purple patch with the bat continued as Sydney Sixers seriously dented Hobart Hurricanes’ BBL playoffs hopes with a 24-run victory at Blundstone Arena. Sixers, meanwhile, tuned up for the playoffs with their sixth straight win.After being sent in, Sixers were led by an imperious Smith, who thrashed 66 off 33 balls marked by half a dozen sixes. Chasing 181, Hurricanes lost regular wickets to never seriously threaten despite a classy 49 from Zak Crawley.Seventh-placed Hurricanes are two points behind fifth-placed Sydney Thunder and play their final match on Wednesday against Brisbane Heat in Launceston. Sixers had already locked the second spot on the ladder and meet Perth Scorchers in a blockbuster qualifying final at Optus Stadium.

Steven Smith keeps up red-hot form

Smith entered the match with consecutive centuries after lighting a fuse under the BBL since his much-anticipated return. There were concerns a back niggle might rule him out of this contest, but Smith seemed unaffected at the crease.Amid an absolute onslaught, Smith appeared well on course to become the first player to hit three tons in a row in T20 history. He fell short of the record books, but once again provided a stunning exhibition of power-hitting.Smith started with a six off seamer Joel Paris on his fourth delivery, and took on spin, too, by smashing left-armer Patrick Dooley over square leg.There was nothing Hurricanes’ bowlers could do against a rampaging Smith, who clubbed Tim David’s part-time spin on to the roof over deep midwicket. Another boundary brought up Smith’s half-century in just 22 deliveries with almost every delivery zinging off the sweet spot of his bat.Hurricanes were out of answers as every Smith blow was putting their season further on the brink. But Smith fell rather tamely, lbw, when he missed a knee-height full-toss from seamer Nathan Ellis.Smith reviewed, and was crestfallen to have been dismissed in such tame fashion. But he once again proved a point to critics in his mission to regain a permanent position in Australia’s T20I team.Remarkably, Smith has hit 24 sixes in just four innings – six ahead of next best Tim David and Matthew Short, who have both batted in 13 innings.Patrick Dooley picked up three wickets•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

Patrick Dooley’s knack for key wickets continues

Hurricanes were staring down the barrel of an enormous chase but fought back after Smith’s dismissal in the ninth over.Not for the first time this season, it was Dooley chipping away with key wickets starting with snaring pinch-hitter Hayden Kerr after a brilliant diving catch on the boundary from Ben McDermott. He then dismissed Jordan Silk and Ben Dwarshuis to finish with a three-wicket haul in his return from a groin injury.Dooley, a lawyer in his day job, has become something of a talisman for the attack, but an expensive 18th over paved the way for a sloppy finish by Hurricanes’ bowlers.

Jackson Bird justifies inclusion as Sixers’ quicks dominate

On a surface offering movement, veteran quick Jackson Bird found early swing and finished with 2 for 26 from three overs.It was a solid audition for him ahead of Sixers’ trip to Perth’s pace-friendly Optus Stadium, but he was left annoyed after claiming a forward dividing catch on the first ball faced by Faheem Ashraf that was eventually deemed not out.It failed to dampen Sixers, with quicks Kerr and Sean Abbott also bowling well under pressure to finish with two wickets apiece. Abbott’s dismissal of Faheem made him the first bowler to claim 150 BBL wickets.Sean Abbott picked up two wickets in a solid spell for the Sixers quicks•Getty Images

Hobart Hurricanes’ batting fails to fire again

It seems unfathomable that Hurricanes will miss the playoffs considering the batting firepower at their disposal. But it has mostly proven fool’s gold in a disappointing season and that proved the case again against an experienced Sixers attack.Such a powerhouse in previous years, McDermott has been off the boil this season and came into the match with four straight single-digit failures. But he quickly reached double-figures this time with three boundaries in his first eight deliveries before falling shortly after for 13.When skipper Matthew Wade fell for 14 in the eighth over, Hurricanes’ fortunes again fell on in-form Tim David, who has been a shining light this season. David cracked three boundaries in his first four deliveries before his dismissal in the 12th over.Crawley ended a form slump, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

CSA has announce eight marquee international players to be drafted to the franchises in its new T20 tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Apr-2017Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum and Kevin Pietersen are among the marquee international players who have been signed up by Cricket South Africa (CSA) for its new T20 tournament, scheduled to begin in 2017-18.CSA has announced that the eight players – Gayle, McCullum, Pietersen, Dwayne Bravo, Lasith Malinga, Eoin Morgan, Kieron Pollard and Jason Roy – have agreed to two-year contracts and will go into a mini-draft, with the franchises each bidding to be allocated one. Franchise owners will be asked to consider which cities certain players already have links to before making their picks.”We are thrilled by the calibre of the top eight international players we have lined up to participate in our new T20 League,” CSA chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, said. “They are all stars in their own right and will add great value to the franchise teams they will represent.”This top quality list of players will set a high standard for our tournament. With each one of them [being] a household name in the world of cricket, we can certainly look forward to some enthralling contests that will grip the imagination of fans in South Africa and around the globe.”The high level of interest from players and sponsors to participate in our league is proof of the great attraction of South Africa as a global destination. This is indeed very exciting for the country.”CSA is hoping to completely overhaul its domestic T20 offering, creating a competition similar to the IPL and Big Bash, with private ownership, foreign investment and a roster of international names. The eight franchise teams will also be allocated a marquee South Africa player.The threat of Kolpak departures to England was also behind CSA’s planning for the league, which is expected to run in November-December this year.

Tillakaratne Dilshan cast aspersions on the conduct of former and present team-mates -particularly Angelo Mathews – soon after his final ODI, against Australia on Sunday

Andrew Fidel Fernando29-Aug-2016Tillakaratne Dilshan cast aspersions on the conduct of former and present team-mates -particularly Angelo Mathews – soon after his final ODI, against Australia on Sunday. Prompted to speak on the challenges faced in his 10-month stint as Sri Lanka captain between April 2011 and January 2012, Dilshan suggested he did not have the support of some team-mates. He also said he had been hurt by his sudden removal as captain, following the year-end tour of South Africa, in which Sri Lanka lost both series, but won a Test in South Africa for the first time.Dilshan had been named captain after Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene had both resigned from that post. It was Jayawardene who eventually replaced him after the South Africa tour.”I didn’t actually plan to take the captaincy, but the SLC president asked me to take over for six months until we find someone else,” Dilshan said. “Unfortunately, we had also lost two bowlers. Murali [Muttiah Muralitharan] had retired. Nuwan Kulasekara was injured. Ajantha Mendis was injured. I didn’t have great resources.”Angelo Mathews had a calf injury for a year that stopped him from bowling. That must be because of my misfortune, because after I had stepped down, we went to Australia after a week. In that week, Mathews started bowling. That must be because of Mahela’s good fortune.”Mathews did bowl during Dilshan’s captaincy, but had a reduced workload. He did not bowl in nine of the 20 ODIs under Dilshan, and never delivered more than five overs in a match. This workload did see a substantial increase when Jayawardene resumed captaincy.In Tests, Mathews did not bowl in 12 of the 16 innings under Dilshan, though at the time, he was not an integral part of the Test attack. Mathews had also suffered leg injuries even prior to Dilshan’s captaincy, most notably when he missed the 2011 World Cup final due to a quad strain, and has managed his own bowling load carefully since he became captain.Though Dilshan said the manner of his ousting did cause hurt, he insisted he did not let “personal issues” affect his cricket. Sri Lanka’s first assignment after the South Africa tour was the 2012 tri-series in Australia. Dilshan top-scored in that tournament, hitting 513 runs at an average of 51.30.”At the end of that South Africa series, I put everything aside. I went to Australia, scored 500 runs, and became Man of the Series. It didn’t matter to me who was captain. I wasn’t concerned about who ousted me as captain. I always play for my country. I didn’t worry about those personal things, but I was hurt.”Dilshan’s own first assignment as captain had been Sri Lanka’s tour of England, but broke his finger during his 193 at Lord’s in the second Test. He suggested it had been with some reluctance that Sangakkara took on the captaincy for one Test, after that injury ruled Dilshan out for the game at Southampton.”There actually wasn’t anyone who was willing to be captain. Everyone resigned after the 2011 World Cup. In England a ball hit my hand and I broke my finger, and the former captains were asked to lead, and they said no. After that only when it was talked about that someone like Sanath Jayasuriya or Thilina Kandamby be made captain that someone presented himself to be captain. But I guess there’s no point talking about those past things anymore.”But I am proud that it is players that I brought into the team at the time who are winning matches now. About six or seven of the players today are cricketers who I’d given a chance to. At the time it was a problem for me, because people asked me why I was giving young players so many opportunities. But today, we should look at players like Dinesh Chandimal.”Dilshan still has two more T20 matches to play before he becomes an ex-cricketer across formats. He said the decision to retire had been spontaneous.”I hadn’t planned to retire, before the series,” he said. “Whether someone tells me to keep playing or stop playing, that’s not what’s important. What is important is what I feel. I started the series thinking that I’ll play for another year – at least in T20 cricket. But when I woke up on the 25th I felt that it was time to go.”To be honest I could easily play for another year or two. But we have to look to the future. If I play for another two years and leave, there’s only 18 months before the next World Cup and that’s unfair to the team. A young player could be blooded in that time. Since I started opening six years ago, we haven’t found a permanent partner for me. I’ve opened with about 10 people – so that’s a problematic area for us. If I keep playing we won’t be able to get two batsmen settled in that place. I’ll be able to get some rest.”

Scotland’s openers Coetzer and Cross finished the game with 280 balls to spare

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Feb-2019Oman slumped to the fourth-lowest List-A score in cricket history, after they were bowled out by Scotland for only 24 runs in Al Amerat.Playing the first of three one-dayers, the hosts were all out inside 18 overs as Scotland’s Adrian Neill and Ruaidhri Smith shared four wickets each.In response, Scotland chased the target down in the fourth over, winning with 280 balls to spare. In all, only 20.3 overs were bowled in the match.Six Oman batsmen were out for ducks, while No. 3 Khawar Ali top-scored with 15. His boundary off Neill in the 12th over was the only four of Oman’s innings.It was Smith who did the early damage, taking three of Oman’s first six wickets to reduce them to 17 for 6. Thereafter, Neill took over, taking the last three wickets, without Oman adding a run as they slid from 24 for 7 to 24 all out. Oman’s eight-run partnership between Ajay Lalcheta (2) and Khawar – for the fifth wicket – was their highest.Kyle Coetzer and Matthew Cross hit four boundaries in Scotland’s innings – including a four to finish the match – which lasted only 20 deliveries. The teams face off again on Wednesday for the second one-dayer, while the final match is scheduled for Friday at the same venue.

Mustafizur Rahman has been named in a 22-member preparatory squad that will train in Australia next month before Bangladesh embark on their tour of New Zealand

Mohammad Isam04-Nov-2016Mustafizur Rahman has been named in a 22-member preparatory squad that will train in Australia next month before Bangladesh embark on their tour of New Zealand. The left-arm pace bowler is recovering after undergoing shoulder surgery in August after sustaining an injury playing for Sussex last season.Mustafizur’s last international match was at the World T20 earlier this year. On December 10, the day after the final of the Bangladesh Premier League, Bangladesh will fly to Australia, where they will train and play matches in Sydney during a ten-day camp, before leaving for New Zealand for three ODIs, three T20s and two Tests in December and January.There was no place in the preparatory squad for Rubel Hossain, Nasir Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain, Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Mosharraf Hossain, who are among the nine standbys. Rabbi is the only member of Bangladesh’s XI in the second Test against England to not feature in the squad.Apart from Mustafizur, the selectors have included the uncapped Tanveer Haider, Ebadot Hossain and Nazmul Hossain Shanto, and Subashis Roy, who was in the senior squad for the second Test against England last month.Tanveer is a batting allrounder who bowls legspin, Ebadot is a pace bowler who emerged from a fast-bowling hunt, Shanto is a young batsman who was part of Bangladesh’s squad during the 2016 Under-19 World Cup, and Subashis is a fast bowler with plenty of first-class experience.Meanwhile, Mohammad Shahid has also been included in the preparation squad though he missed out on the two Tests against England due to injury.Bangladesh’s preparatory squad for New Zealand tour: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Mosaddek Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Mehedi Hasan, Shuvagata Hom, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Taijul Islam, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shafiul Islam, Subashis Roy, Mohammad Shahid, Ebadot Hossain, Tanveer Haider.

Whether Alex Hales remains England’s opener for all formats will not be decided until May when the next Test team is selected, but he has given himself every chance of a second crack after his prolific one-day series against South Africa

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2016Whether Alex Hales remains England’s opener for all formats will not be decided until May when the next Test team is selected, but he has given himself every chance of a second crack after his prolific one-day series against South Africa. For now, though, the focus turns to the version of the game where he first grabbed the attention at international level, with two T20s to conclude this tour ahead of the World T20 in India.Hales enters the T20s against South Africa after becoming only the third batsman in history to make five 50+ scores in a five-match ODI series. It took him a little while to crack the code in ODIs – his first half-century came in his 11th innings – but runs had flowed earlier in his T20 career. He struck an unbeaten 62 in his second match against West Indies, in 2011, which was followed by a 99 against the same opposition in 2012.Regular contributions followed – including an unbeaten 80 in Wellington and 94 against Australia in Durham – but it was in Chittagong when the world really took notice as he hammered an undefeated 116 against Sri Lanka, England’s first (and still only) T20 international hundred.His returns in 2015 were a little slim – scores of 27, 3, 8 and 11 in four matches – but he could not wish to be entering the format in better form.”I feel in good enough touch,” he said. “The pitches we play on out here should lead to some high-scoring games so if I get myself in, I hope I can go big.”And Hales believes he is part of a T20 side that has the ability to repeat England’s success at the 2010 World T20 in West Indies where they secured what remains their only piece of global silverware.”It’s definitely the best side I’ve been involved with in Twenty20, with a hell of lot of young ball-strikers and a good bowling attack as well,” he said. “I think it’s a really exciting time with the talent and firepower we have in our squad, people who can hit sixes all the way down to No. 11. I think we’ve got a good chance.”Reflecting on the one-day series which got away from England despite their 2-0 lead, Hales admitted there were some “sloppy” mistakes at times but that it should not make the team change the style of play they have produced since last year’s World Cup.”The way we’ve played in the last year, we’re going to have to take the rough with the smooth. Sometimes, we are going to make sloppy mistakes like we did but I still think we’ve done some pretty good stuff over the last year, and we’ve got to stick to our basics.”If you look at the guys you’ve got in your squad, it’s everyone’s natural game to play that way. Sometimes we are going to make mistakes and people will point fingers – but we’ve still got to stay true to ourselves.”And with T20 the next port of call, there will not be any holding back.