All posts by n8rngtd.top

Pune Warriors recovered from two successive defeats to beat the form team in this IPL thus far, thanks to an impressive all-round effort

The Report by Siddhartha Talya21-Apr-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Jesse Ryder was involved in a 93-run stand with Sourav Ganguly•Associated Press

Pune Warriors recovered from two successive defeats to beat the form team in this IPL thus far, thanks to an impressive all-round effort. Sourav Ganguly, their captain, played a significant role with bat and ball, and some exciting shot-making from Jesse Ryder and Steven Smith helped post a total that proved beyond the might of Delhi Daredevils’ power-packed batting line-up. At the Ferozshah Kotla, the hosts were well on track when Virender Sehwag and Kevin Pietersen were going strong in a threatening partnership, but the chase ran out of steam when a couple of bowling changes proved decisive by accounting for both.Daredevils were up against the Warriors’ highest total of the season and needed a blistering start, but were hit with the early loss of Mahela Jayawardene. That brought two of their most destructive batsmen together, and the tempo of the innings from there on was a contrast to a sedate first four overs bowled by Alfonso Thomas and Ashish Nehra. Murali Kartik came on in the fifth, and Sehwag charged out to launch him for a straight six followed by a cut through point. Pietersen looked in command, targeting Angelo Mathews in the next over, slapping him disdainfully for a straight six then carving him over extra cover and long-on to make it three in four balls.Sehwag then took over, gradually building the pressure on his Warriors counterpart by making a mockery of each of his bowling changes. Ryder was carted for consecutive sixes over extra cover and Rahul Sharma was blasted into the second tier. The pair had added 71 in five overs, the bowling changes had failed and the Warriors captain tried another option, bringing himself on.Pietersen had made up his mind and swung hard but Ganguly’s first ball kept low, beat the bat and hit the stumps, prompting wild celebrations. An animated Ganguly sprinted across the field, his hair clinging for dear life on to his head, as the importance of that wicket began to sink in. In his next over, he was struck over midwicket for six by Irfan Pathan but had his man when an attempt at a similar shot produced a catch in the deep. Daredevils were still in the game with Sehwag batting, but Ganguly’s decision to bring back Kartik paid off. Kartik tossed it up, bowled it slow, Sehwag struck one straight back at him and the bowler kept his cool to pluck a decisive catch.Ross Taylor struggled to get going in the company of a relatively inexperienced lower-middle order, and his run-out, in a Ganguly over, virtually shut Daredevils out of the game. Nehra and Thomas returned to complete what was, in the end, a comfortable win.The highlights of the Warriors innings were a 93-run stand between Ryder and Ganguly, and late onslaught from Smith. Ryder and Ganguly threw Sehwag’s plans off track by going after the most successful bowler this IPL season, Morne Morkel, and forced some debatable bowling changes that helped the batsmen settle in further. Eager to open up after a quiet start, Ryder targeted Morkel and was lucky, his first two boundaries – a six over third man and then a four past fine leg – coming off edges.The approach unsettled Morkel, who Ryder struck – convincingly this time – for two more fours, before he was taken out of the attack, having conceded 31 in two overs. Sehwag had the option of using Yadav then, or left-arm spinner Pawan Negi, who replaced Ajit Agarkar for this match. Instead, he had a bowl himself and was swept for fours by Ryder and Ganguly, before Pietersen was smashed over extra cover and long-off for a four and a six respectively. Twenty-six came off overs eight and nine, and the pair was well prepared by the time the regulars returned.Both faltered in their running, failing to convert several singles into twos, but the boundaries compensated for that lethargy. Ganguly scooped Nadeem over short fine before hammering him down the ground, and Ryder stepped up when he was joined by Smith once Ganguly went. He cracked Irfan over extra cover and swung Yadav over square leg and midwicket for sixes.As the seamers struggled with their lengths, either bowling too short or on a length, the otherwise miserly Nadeem too came in for some punishment. Smith launched him for sixes over his head and midwicket, and dispatched him for two fours, one off a reverse-sweep, to pick 23 in the 18th over. Sixty-seven came off the last five, giving Warriors an excellent shot at getting their campaign back on track. They did so, with their captain leading the way.

Rohit Sharma and Herschelle Gibbs, playing his first game this season, set up Mumbai Indians with a 167-run stand that ended Kolkata Knight Riders’ unbeaten run of seven games

The Report by Siddhartha Talya12-May-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Rohit Sharma and Herschelle Gibbs added 167 for the second wicket•AFP

Rohit Sharma and Herschelle Gibbs, playing his first game this season, set up Mumbai Indians with a 167-run stand that helped end Kolkata Knight Riders’ unbeaten run of seven games. Rohit, who made his maiden IPL ton, was in complete command and Gibbs settled in quickly despite having watched the bulk of the season from the dug out; the pair justified their captain’s decision to bat, piled on a formidable total that proved beyond the hosts’ reach and preserved Mumbai Indians’ place in the top four.For a team that had been among the most consistent in this IPL, Knight Riders’ bowling line-up slipped up considerably. Batsmen were given a generous dose of short-pitched deliveries together with width that gave them several opportunities to open up. Both Rohit and Gibbs displayed a ruthlessness that ensured Knight Riders were made to pay. The only highlight for the hosts was the early fall of Sachin Tendulkar; from there on, it was one-way traffic.Rohit relished the short ball and seemed to have the time to rock back and dispatch it with ease. He pulled Brett Lee for a six over square leg before slashing Shakib Al Hasan twice through point, even as the left-arm spinner pushed one through quicker the second time round. Sunil Narine, difficult to pick, beat the bat on occasion but there was plenty of release available at the other end to deal with him cautiously. Rohit slog-swept Shakib for six and then targeted Jacques Kallis.Kallis was taken for 18 in the 11th over, Rohit sending him over deep square leg and bringing up his half-century with a flick past short fine leg. Rajat Bhatia’s dibbly-dobblies weren’t spared either, Rohit even sweeping him for four in an over that fetched 19. Returning for a new spell, Lee struggled for the right length – Rohit launched him over long-on, cracked him through point, clipped him over midwicket and brought up his century – the eighth Indian to score a ton in the IPL – in the same over.Gibbs was comfortable playing second-fiddle but, even then, showed how destructive he could be in his own right. He nonchalantly charged out to Lee to hammer him over extra cover three times in one over, stepped out to Bhatia and Narine to collect more boundaries and marched along to a half-century, giving Mumbai Indians an opening combination they could stick to for the remainder of their campaign.Knight Riders were dealt a severe blow when they lost their captain Gautam Gambhir – who scored five fifties in his previous nine games – in the first over, bowled while trying to cut. His opening partner Manvinder Bisla top-edged a catch next over, and despite an attempted revival from Kallis, Knight Riders couldn’t get far enough.On a slowish track, the Mumbai Indians bowlers varied their pace and didn’t dole out too many freebies. Even though Knight Riders bat deep and had Kallis and Yusuf Pathan together for almost half the innings, they struggled to keep up with the required-rate. Kallis, though, managed to reach his first half-century this season and Yusuf, who’d had a forgettable season with the bat before this, found some form during his unbeaten 40. The defeat was a blip Knight Riders could afford, given their place at No.2, but they have stiff competition.

Paul Best claimed 3 for 19 on only his second Friends Life t20 appearance to help Warwickshire to a comfortable seven-wicket success over Gloucestershire at Bristol

27-Jun-2012
ScorecardVarun Chopra’s unbeaten half-century helped Warwickshire to victory•PA Photos

Paul Best claimed 3 for 19 on only his second Friends Life t20 appearance to help Warwickshire to a comfortable seven-wicket success over Gloucestershire at Bristol.The home side could post only 122 for 7 after winning the toss, Dan Housego top-scoring with an unbeaten 59 off 61 balls and left-arm spinner Best proving the most penetrating of the Warwickshire bowlers.The result was never in serious doubt when the visitors replied as Varun Chopra (56 not out) and skipper Jim Troughton shared a second-wicket stand of 69 in 12 overs and victory was sealed with 11 balls to spare.Muttiah Muralitharan was not surprisingly the pick of the home attack, conceding only 19 from his four overs – despite being hit for six by Chopra – and taking a wicket on a slow pitch that ensured scant entertainment.Gloucestershire never recovered from a bad start to their innings. Benny Howell was run out for a duck after playing the second ball of the match to Best at point, who scored a direct hit at the bowler’s end.Housego was the only home player to adjust to a difficult pitch, accumulating his runs steadily before reaching his fifty with a six over midwicket off Jeetan Patel. By then he had faced 57 balls and struck three fours.The next highest score was Ian Cockbain’s 13 as the Warwickshire bowlers exerted a stranglehold, helped in no small measure by the lack of pace in the wicket.Steffan Piolet, Chris Woakes and Keith Barker, who conceded 26 runs, all bowled economically in support of 21-year-old Best, whose victims were Alex Gidman, James Fuller and Ed Young.Warwickshire lost Rikki Clarke for 9 to a brilliant boundary catch by Howell diving forward at deep square-leg off the bowling of James Fuller. But Chopra and Troughton were then able to bat without taking risks to put their side in a winning position.By the time Troughton was caught and bowled by Muralitharan only 38 runs were needed in more than six overs.Darren Maddy did not last long and was seen off by Ed Young, but Chopra continued his good form in the competition, reaching his fifty off 47 balls, with 4 fours and a six, and he struck thumped Fuller to the boundary to seal an ultimately comfortable win.

Richard Johnson’s maiden one-day half century spearheaded a Derbyshire recovery and a three-wicket victory over Yorkshire with 14 balls to spare in the CB40 at Chesterfield.

23-Jul-2012
ScorecardRichard Johnson’s maiden one-day half century spearheaded an impressive Derbyshire recovery that carried them to a three-wicket victory over Yorkshire with 14 balls to spare in the Clydesdale Bank 40 at Chesterfield.Johnson, a wicketkeeper on loan from Warwickshire, survived two dropped catches to score 79 from 74 balls after Derbyshire had been 56 for 4 chasing Yorkshire’s 238 for 7.Itr was a disappointing comeback from a hip complaint for Yorkshire’s captain, Andrew Gale, who made 51 on his return as he tuned up for the Friends Life t20 quarter-finals.Yorkshire looked favourites when Derbyshire lost early wickets but Johnson shared a stand of 80 in 11 overs with 20-year-old Alex Hughes, whose unbeaten 37 guided Derbyshire home.The teams observed a minute’s silence in front of the pavilion before the game in memory of Don Wilson, the former Yorkshire and England left-arm spinner, who died in a York hospital on Saturday at the age of 74.Gale was given out hit wicket after he trod on his stumps trying to work Durston through midwicket. The former Yorkshire slow left-armer David Wainwright also restricted Yorkshire, although Jonny Bairstow launched him over the hospitality tent for six and then drove Chesney Hughes back over the sightscreen.Just when the England batsman was threatening to take the bowling apart, Mark Turner plucked out his middle stump with a fast and full delivery at the start of the 31st over.Gary Ballance, with 47 from 42 balls, took Yorkshire past 200 but it was Richard Pyrah who did the damage by smashing Jon Clare for three consecutive sixes at the starty pof the penultimate over before holding out at long on.Yorkshire’s total looked even better when Usman Khawaja was caught behind for a duck off the third ball of Derbyshire’s reply. Mitchell Starc then cut one back to bowl Chesney Hughes for 20 and in the next over Durston top-edged Iain Wardlaw to short fine leg.When Starc cleaned up Dan Redfern in the eighth over, Derbyshire were struggling but two dropped catches by Azeem Rafiq before Johnson reached double figures allowed them to recover.
They added 67 in 12 overs before Wayne Madsen chipped back a return catch to Adil Rashid but Johnson kept Derbyshire on track.He drove Wardlaw for six and dispatched Pyrah into the crowd before he carved Wardlaw to Pyrah at cover with 18 needed, but Alex Hughes showed composure in only his seventh senior game and drove Starc for the winning boundary.

Is there a cleaner striker of a ball in English cricket than Craig Kieswetter? Those who watched him make 112 not out on the second day of the England Lions game against Australia A at Edgbaston might find it hard to believe so.

Paul Edwards at Edgbaston16-Aug-2012
ScorecardCraig Kieswetter, seen here in his Somerset colours, brightened up the day with a marvellous century to rescue England Lions•PA Photos

Is there a cleaner striker of a ball in English cricket than Craig Kieswetter? Those who watched him make 112 not out on the second day of the England Lions game against Australia A at Edgbaston might find it hard to believe so. Others, of course, might advance the claims of Matt Prior, but that is merely where Kieswetter’s problems start if he wants to break into the Test side. Prior’s keeping and his ability to bat in the longest format make him something of a mighty oak door barring Kieswetter’s way into the dining-room where the world’s best cricketers enjoy five-day feasts.In the meantime, all he can do is bat in the gloriously dominant style he displayed to the pathetically small Birmingham crowd on Thursday afternoon. In company with the redoubtable Chris Woakes he shared an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 141 in 23 overs as Eoin Morgan’s side recovered from 99 for 5 at four o’clock to finish just 68 runs shy of Australia A’s first innings score when bad light ended play over an hour early. Indeed, rain and poor light meant that only 57 overs were possible on Thursday but the quality of the cricket on view made the reduction seem almost insignificant.The excellence of Kieswetter’s century was enhanced by the quality of the bowlers whom he ultimately took apart and by the situation of the game when he went in to bat. Replying to Australia’s declaration on their overnight 308 for 9, England Lions were 46 for 3 as Kieswetter strode out to join Morgan. When the captain lost his off bail to Nathan Coulter-Nile seven runs later the home side were imperilled by embarrassment, even in a badly rain-affected game.For the morning session was dominated by the tourists, although it comes as almost a disappointment to discover that Coulter-Nile is merely a Western Australian seamer. He sounds like the sort of character who wrestles tigers for a living and writes books with titles such as Twenty Years Down the Limpopo. In any event, he certainly explored the defensive techniques of some Lions yesterday morning and found them in distinctly under-developed territory. Of no one was this truer than Morgan, whose airy push into the off side was well beaten by Coulter-Nile’s nip back off the seam.he had also begun the clatter of wickets when he induced debutant Varun Chopra to top edge a pull to square leg, where Liam Davis caught the simplest of catches. The only player to bat with much poise in the first session was Joe Root, who hit three felicitous fours before he was caught down the leg side for 24 by wicketkeeper Tim Paine off Mitchell Johnson. That, though, was the second time in three innings that Root has fallen to Johnson in this fashion and it suggests a technical deficiency he must address if he is to make the most of his many talents.Root’s departure with the total on 30 was followed 25 minutes later by that of Samit Patel who was lbw for 2 when pushing half forward to Jackson Bird. All of which left the Lions’ looking distinctly woebegone at lunch. It was probably fortuitous for the home side that heavy lunchtime rain delayed the restart by 80 minutes.Initially, at least, Kieswetter was cautious as the three Australia A seamers continued to pose a threat in the afternoon session. His 46-run stand with Ben Stokes occupied nearly 17 overs, during which Stokes nearly ran himself out and the tourists made increasingly expert use of reverse swing. This latter stratagem was unintentionally kyboshed by Kieswetter straight driving a ball from offspinner Nathan Lyon into a puddle over the rope. The replacement ball did not help the trio of seamers half as much, even though Bird claimed Stokes’ wicket when he was caught at the wicket pulling too early.The rest of the day belonged to Kieswetter and also to Woakes, who once again made a valuable contribution to this short series. By the close, though, even his stylish 47 not out had been overshadowed by the Kieswetter’s explosion of strokeplay after he had reached a relatively circumspect fifty off 80 balls. Unbeaten on 71 at tea, Kieswetter drove Bird for two fours and smote him over midwicket for six in the over after the resumption, all off the front foot. Then Coulter-Nile was driven for two boundaries off successive balls, before a flat-batted pull off Bird brought up Kieswetter’s century off 116 balls, the second fifty coming up in 36 alarmingly violent deliveries.The Australian attack’s figures, which had looked so impressive at lunch, had taken on a more dismal aspect by the end of the day. Coulter-Nile’s 19 overs cost 70 runs while Bird went for 65 in 16. Special treatment was reserved for Lyon on whom the pair of England Lions feasted, taking 47 runs off his eight overs. Some might label such behaviour nothing more than cricketing cannibalism, but it was still magnificent entertainment.

Gary Keedy may have been displaced as Lancashire’s No. 1 spinner this summer but it has not stopped him remaining an influential member of their squad and his pre-match pep talk allowed Simon Kerrigan to play a key role in establishing a crucial first inn

Myles Hodgson at Aigburth02-Aug-2012
ScorecardSimon Kerrigan took three wickets as Lancashire fought back on day two•Getty Images

Gary Keedy may have been displaced as Lancashire’s No. 1 spinner this summer but it has not stopped him remaining an influential member of their squad and his pre-match pep talk allowed Simon Kerrigan to play a key role in establishing a crucial first innings lead over Somerset.The emergence of Kerrigan, who is just 23, has restricted Keedy to just two championship matches this summer while Lancashire have battled to preserve their first division status less than 12 months after winning the championship. Far from become bitter by the experience, however, Keedy is helping with the development of his younger rival.Having enjoyed some success against Somerset himself in the past, Keedy passed on his advice before the start of the second day and Kerrigan responded by claiming 3 for 47 to help secure a crucial 36-run lead. After the disappointment of being dismissed for only 185 earlier in the day, it was just the tonic Lancashire needed in a match which may prove key towards preserving their first division status.”We work really well together and we bowl every day with each other in the nets, so you know how each other works,” explained Kerrigan. “He was talking about how the Somerset players are likely to play and how he’s got them out in the past.”It’s really good for him to pass on that sort of experience and secrets about opposition players. I think the last couple of times he’s played against them he has got wickets at Taunton, so he knows how to bowl at them. They are quite aggressive players and it’s quite useful get a few tips on that.”Keedy’s advice came to the fore during the afternoon session after Lancashire’s tail crumbled against the accurate seam bowling of Alfonso Thomas. Their last five wickets fell for 56 runs in only 17.1 overs, with Thomas grabbing 3 for 16 in 30 balls, and but for a mature innings of 24 from Andrea Agathangelou on his championship debut, their prospects would have been even bleaker.Having watched Thomas cause so many problems under cloudy skies, Lancashire turned to their own expert in such conditions and Glen Chapple, their veteran captain, delivered. Arul Suppiah was bowled off an inside edge to the sixth ball of Somerset’s reply and Marcus Trescothick, playing his first championship innings since April 13 following an ankle injury, made only one before giving a leading edge to gully.Perhaps the crucial breakthrough of the session was made by Kerrigan, however, when he halted Nick Compton’s innings. He unwisely attempted to sweep and fell lbw to end a productive 48-run stand with James Hildreth. It was also a notable dismissal for another landmark – he was Kerrigan’s 100th first class victim in only his 31st match.Switching to the River End, Kerrigan found some turn just outside off-stump, which aided in the demise of Craig Kieswetter when he sliced to point while Thomas became another lbw victim shuffling across his stumps. At the other end, Lancashire’s seamers were equally effective with Ajmal Shahzad benefitting from a break in Hildreth’s concentration after a delay in changing a mis-shaped ball to knock back his off-stump.He also ended a potentially dangerous quickfire 17 from Peter Trego, who hit successive balls before also giving leading edge two balls later, while Kyle Hogg exploited the first signs of uneven bounce to bowl Gemaal Hussain with a full-length ball that kept low. By the time Chapple shattered last man Steve Kirby’s stumps in the final over of the day, Lancashire had secured a narrow first innings lead that may prove crucial.”It was nice to get a lead and it could be pivotal,” said Kerrigan.
“There have been a couple of times this year when we’ve let things slip away from us, so it was good to build the pressure on them like we did. Getting bowled out for 185, we knew we had to bowl well and we have now given ourselves a chance.”

Northamptonshire have decided not to renew Chaminda Vaas’ contract for 2013, citing the 38-year-old’s troubles with fitness last season

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-2012Northamptonshire have decided not to renew Chaminda Vaas’ contract for 2013, citing the 38-year-old’s troubles with fitness last season. A variety of injuries saw the former Sri Lanka seam bowler play in only six of Northants’ 16 Division Two Championship matches and he also missed much of the Clydesdale Bank 40.Vaas had been a key player in his first two seasons with Northants but it was felt his fitness was not worth gambling on for another year. “I have felt for Chaminda as he has strived for fitness but has just not been able to beat the injuries this year,” Northants coach David Ripley said. “A real gentleman of cricket, we wish him all the very best in his future.””He has contributed a great deal to Northants cricket during his time here, but I would also pay tribute to his standing in the international list of greats.”Vaas was named the Most Valuable Player in the Friends Life t20 competition in 2010, his first season with the county, and was Northamptonshire’s highest wicket-taker in 2011, with 70 Championship scalps at 21.11. He has also played for Middlesex, Hampshire and Worcestershire in county cricket.Vaas is Sri Lanka’s most successful seam bowler, having taken 355 wickets in Tests, and 399 in ODIs.

James Pattinson bowled Victoria back into the match with a fiery spell late in the afternoon at the MCG, where Western Australia had taken first-innings points earlier in the day

Brydon Coverdale at the MCG02-Nov-2012
ScorecardJason Behrendorff picked up 4 for 29•Getty Images

James Pattinson bowled Victoria back into the match with a fiery spell late in the afternoon at the MCG, where Western Australia had taken first-innings points earlier in the day. At stumps, the Warriors were 5 for 76 in their second innings with Tom Triffitt on 20 and Adam Voges on 8 and their lead had moved along to 105.Pattinson bowled with outstanding pace and moved the ball around, an excellent sign ahead of the first Test against South Africa, and picked up 2 for 19 from his 10 overs. He got rid of Marcus North, who on 13 edged a quick, rising delivery to slip, and the new batsman Mitchell Marsh was immediately uncomfortable, beaten by the pace and playing late.Marsh was bowled for a third-ball duck when Pattinson nipped the ball in through the gate and Marsh was much too slow to react. Clint McKay had started things off well for Victoria when he had Sam Whiteman caught at slip in the second over, and he followed soon after with Michael Hussey, who edged behind for three a day after he made a fighting half-century in the first innings.Jayde Herrick was the other wicket taker for Victoria, removing Marcus Harris, who was taken at slip for 29. Peter Siddle bowled well without luck in conditions that were again favourable for the bowlers, as the Warriors showed by dismissing the Bushrangers for 219 earlier in the day.The left-armer Jason Behrendorff picked up 4 for 29, including both openers during a stop-start first session as rain delayed play several times. Chris Rogers was lbw for 43 and Peter Handscomb was taken at slip for 13, and Behrendorff also trapped Cameron White lbw for a golden duck. He also got rid of Australia’s Test wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, who edged to slip for 8, continuing what became a very disappointing day for Australia’s Test batsmen all around the country.Aaron Finch showed some fight with 34 but was one of two lbw wickets for Marsh, while Mitchell Johnson bowled better than his 2 for 56 suggested, sending down some quick, hostile deliveries. Towards the end of the innings the Warriors struggled to contain McKay, who made a career-best 65. McKay threw the bat at everything and managed six fours and two sixes before he skied a catch to mid-off, and his efforts weren’t enough for Victoria to take the lead.