All posts by n8rngtd.top

Mullaney’s century keeps Nottinghamshire ahead of Essex before dire Saturday weather forecast

David Hopps07-May-2021When Alastair Cook finally retires for good, and let’s hope in county cricket it will be a good while yet, he might well look upon Trent Bridge without too many pangs of regret.Cook only managed three half-centuries for England on this ground in 24 attempts, although he might find consolation that his only Test half-century came against Australia in 2013 in a thrilling Ashes encounter which fell to England by only 14 runs. Memory jog: Ian Bell’s sumptuous century, Jimmy Anderson’s 10-wicket match and, after a last-wicket partnership of 65, Brad Haddin given out after the thinnest of inside edges. Cue pandemonium.His record against Nottinghamshire, not a long list because of his international success, is nevertheless even less rewarding: he has never passed 50. In farming terms, which is how much of his life now plays out, every time he comes to Nottingham he must feel as forlorn as Tess of the d’Urbervilles, hacking at swedes at Flintcomb Ash.Cook has made 3 and 35 for Essex here, bowled by his old mucker, Stuart Broad in the first innings, and lbw to Lyndon James second time around. It looked plumb, although did he hint at the possibility that there might have been the slightest inside edge?If he was aggrieved then a brief cross-legged pause at the crease, followed by the tiniest glance at his bat, was a response of the utmost decorum. It was not about to bring demands for him to relinquish his knighthood in disgrace. There again, Sir Alastair, no need to worry about that, nobody resigns for anything these days.Two days into this match, Nottinghamshire are well enough ahead to be able to survive a potential third-day washout before pushing for victory on the final day that is forecast to be dry but cloudy. Essex followed up their 99 all out in the first innings with a painstaking 129 for 3 from 59 overs, and clearly have draw points on their mind, but they still trail by 95. Notts need a good Sunday morning.Steven Mullaney’s 117 was the ballast behind Notts’ first-innings lead of 224, and he passed 8,000 first-class runs in the process. All that he said could not be faulted: “I thought we bowled really well. The scoreboard’s not really gone anywhere. After two days we couldn’t hope to be in a better position against arguably the best side in the country.”After three days, though, their advantage won’t feel quite as good. The forecast looks terminal around the country, and local clubs would be wondering whether to skip pitch preparation even as they fielded premature drop-outs from players who suddenly realised they had to be in all day for a vital delivery from Amazon.Nottinghamshire captain Steven Mullaney made a century•Getty Images

Mullaney’s century had two moods. He had feasted on some ordinary Essex bowling in reaching 63 overnight, but the loss of James and Tom Moores to Shane Snater in successive balls persuaded him that he must adopt a more watchful approach. He did just that against the seamers, although he had a couple of risky moments against Simon Harmer, not least the shot that brough up his hundred, an under-edged slog sweep which whistled to long leg. He fell to a good nip-backer from Siddle which so impressed him he depicted its course to the bowler like a budding artist before departing.Snater, a Zimbabwe-born Netherlands seamer, took a career-best 7 for 98 in only his sixth first-class appearance, as he removed James and Tom Moores in successive balls before adding two late wickets. His fast-medium possessed impressive energy and he has been the best Essex pace bowler on show.But Mullaney, who offered a difficult chance to gully before adding to his overnight 63, completed a stand of 123 with James, a home-produced allrounder of promise, and 66 with Broad, who Leicestershire supporters will forever insist is not homegrown, even though he was born in Nottingham, and whose 41 from 42 balls was a recognisable stand-and-deliver affair which climaxed with a step-away six over midwicket against Snater and an emphatic pull in the same direction against the veteran Australian Siddle in the following over; Siddle was collared so easily he must have felt his age. It’s 36.Nottinghamshire had to labour for their wickets in Essex’s second innings, with Luke Fletcher bowling well enough without reward, after his first-innings 6 for 24, to reflect that fortune had soon deserted him. The removal of Tom Westley (who might have left it) and Dan Lawrence (who played down the wrong line) left Notts in the ascendancy but Nick Browne, who has played solidly throughout, found an ally in Paul Walter as Essex batted out the last 24 overs, pining for rain.

Opening batter is part of a squad due to play three matches against Afghanistan starting June 2

Andrew Fidel Fernando30-May-2023Opening batter Dimuth Karunaratne has been recalled to Sri Lanka’s ODI squad, more than two years after he last played a 50-over game in international cricket. Also returning is fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera, who had missed the New Zealand tour in March 2023 after undergoing ankle surgery.Legspinning allrounder Dushan Hemantha is the only uncapped player in the 16-man squad to face Afghanistan in three ODIs, starting on Friday. There was no room for left-arm spinning allrounder Dunith Wellalage however, while wicketkeeper Kusal Perera is out with a hamstring injury.Karunaratne’s presence is an indication that the selectors are once again set to fall back on his experience in a World Cup year, after he’d led Sri Lanka in the 2019 edition. They had also recalled Angelo Mathews earlier in the year, and have consistently had Dhananjaya de Silva in the middle order as well. Karunaratne may be poised to open alongside Pathum Nissanka. Nuwanidu Fernando, who had opened the batting in New Zealand, was not picked for this series.Related

• The Pathirana question, Afghanistan's rustiness, the spin battle, and more

• Malinga on Pathirana: 'I somehow want to make this guy even better than me'

Hemantha, 29, is something of a surprise selection. He had not been especially impressive with the bat in this year’s National Super League – Sri Lanka’s most competitive List A tournament. But he had been good with the ball, taking 13 wickets at an average of 23.61 across eight matches. It is possible he is there as cover for Wanindu Hasaranga, who is “currently undergoing rehabilitation for a foot injury” according the Sri Lanka Criket release. The only other frontline spinner in the squad is Maheesh Theekshana.The seam attack appears especially strong after the return of Chameera, with Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, and Matheesha Pathirana in the squad. Pathirana is fresh from a strong showing as an impact player in the IPL, but has never played an ODI. Allrounder Chamika Karunaratne is another seam-bowling option.The batting line-up is fairly predictable. Kusal Mendis likely to take the gloves and bat at No. 3, with the likes of Charith Asalanka, Mathews, and de Silva to make up the middle order. Sadeera Samarawickrama, who recently made a maiden Test hundred against Ireland, has been picked for these matches as well, though he’s not played an ODI since 2019.Each of the three matches will be played at Hambantota. For Afghanistan, it will be part of their lead-up to the World Cup, having already qualified for the marquee event. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are yet to seal their place. They must play the qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe next month; these matches will serve as preparation.Sri Lanka ODI squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Kusal Mendis (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushan Hemantha, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana

Mitchell Marsh fell cheaply on the final and Victoria were sensing victory after early inroads

Alex Malcolm10-Dec-2018Marcus Stoinis resisted for Western Australia•Getty Images

Fighting half-centuries from Marcus Stoinis and Ashton Turner have helped Western Australia secure a draw against Victoria at the MCG.Defeat looked a distinct possibility halfway through the final day. Victoria’s second declaration of the match left WA needing 337 to win from 72 overs. Their chase got off to a disastrous start as they slumped to 2 for 7 after just 15 balls with D’Arcy Short and Hilton Cartwright falling to Scott Boland and Chris Tremain respectively.Things got worse for the visitors not long after lunch when Jonathan Wells and Mitchell Marsh also fell cheaply. Wells edged James Pattinson to second slip in the midst of a very quick spell and Marsh missed a straight one from Jon Holland to be trapped in front for 11.Boland returned to knock over Will Bosisto to leave the Warriors teetering at 5 for 57. But Stoinis and Turner steadied with a 119-run stand to guide the team to safety. Stoinis survived an early barrage from Pattinson as the pair got into an animated duel. He then played expansively to make 85 from 130 balls, his third score of 80 plus for the Shield season and second in consecutive games, but he is yet to reach three figures.Turner was patient and kept going beyond the loss of Stoinis, who fell to the part-time spin of Matt Short. He made 63 not out, his second half-century of the match, and along with wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, was able to see WA through to a draw.Earlier, Travis Dean and Will Pucovski were unable to pass 70 despite both reaching their half-centuries on the third evening as they pushed to set up a declaration. Glenn Maxwell made a brisk 34 not out from 36 balls before the close came at 5 for 208. Matt Kelly took the wickets of Dean, Pucovski and Short to finish with 3 for 65.

With his focus firmly on a reboot, Nair found ways to make up for lost chances, making a carefully constructed 92 not out against India Blue in Alur

Shashank Kishore in Alur23-Aug-2019Having fallen behind in the race to be in the middle order of the Test team, Karun Nair served a timely reminder of his ability to dig in and make it count, and in the process be in sight of his first first-class century since December 2017. His 92 not out for India Red, a carefully constructed knock full of restraint and self-discipline, left India Blue wondering if they had misread the surface. On a day in which only 68 overs were possible, India Red put up 163 for 2, Nair putting together an unbroken 120-run stand with Ankit Kalsi, who ended the day unbeaten on 48.The make up of the Duleep Trophy is such that the focus is largely on individuals rather than teams – made up of fringe players and domestic performers – and the platform was Nair’s to do what he could with after his side lost openers Priyank Panchal and Abhimanyu Easwaran – both in the frame to be India’s third opener – inside the first hour. Abhimanyu was out in the day’s first over, lbw to a full-inswinging delivery from left-arm pacer Aniket Choudhary. Panchal fought through the first hour and then fell shortly after drinks when he wafted at one from Diwesh Pathania that left him.From there on, Nair reconstructed the innings with a stoic display, going through long periods where he left the ball repeatedly even as the bowlers asked questions of him. The restraint also involved leaving alone full deliveries around the fifth stump, despite cover left open. He wasn’t in the mood to oblige invitations to drive.Against left-arm seamers, after being troubled early on by late inswing, he resorted to shuffling from outside leg, and found his groove immediately with a delightful on-drive to get going. The only lofted hit through the day was the chip over mid-off to bring up his half-century off left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar, off the 101st delivery he had faced. It was a shot that drew applause from his father, who for most parts of his knock was unmoved from his vantage point up in the grass banks.His temperament and approach stood out in his 189-ball knock. Nair didn’t play a single shot in anger and completely shelved the cut and sweep. Yet, he found ways to make up for the lost scoring opportunities. As the afternoon progressed and the field spread, he milked the singles without much hassle, and offered words of encouragement to his younger batting partner, who made 511 runs in seven Ranji Trophy innings last season.”I had to grind my way early on, it wasn’t easy,” Nair said afterwards. “The ball was moving around early, and we needed stability at that stage. As a batsman, you have to first play to the situation. I was happy to have been able to fight my way through. It’s not as if I made a conscious effort to cut down on some of the shots, but when you show discipline and it pays off at the end of the day on the scoreboard, it feels nice.”This has come about because of my hard work. I’ve realised you can’t keep throwing away starts, so I wanted to focus that much more. Starting the season well was important.”The last one year or so has been a testing one for Nair, who was dropped from the Test side after the England tour without being given an opportunity. Then he saw his replacement Hanuma Vihari make the XI and score a fighting half-century on debut. Then a string of low scores led to him being left out of the India A squad, of which he was captain until November 2018. Then an underwhelming Ranji Trophy season – 224 runs in ten innings – even led to the coaching staff contemplating resting the Test triple centurion. On to the IPL, where he was signed by Kings XI Punjab for INR 5.6 crore in 2018, he was largely forced to carry drinks. These led him to introspection, before he finally decided it was time to look ahead to the future “without any baggage”.This could have dented the confidence of most. It most certainly hurt Nair, something he made apparent in a rare blow-over of inner thoughts, which he likes to keep to himself at the best of times. He stated firmly that no one from the team management or the selection committee had spoken to him – an India A captain, a domestic regular for Karnataka. For Nair, recently engaged and in a phase he describes as “very happy”, it’s all in the past. The focus is on a reboot.”I needed the break [after the IPL] mentally,” he said. “I had time to go away and think about my cricket and where I’m at. I thought about the mistakes and worked towards rectifying it. I realised that I needed to just keep batting, even if it meant doing double sessions at times. The time lost can’t come back. The best way to overcome confidence issues is if you can keep batting and spend long periods. So the last two months gave me that time and chance to work on my game and improve. Hoping it will pay off.”

‘It’s been tough but, you know, I think I needed a break if that makes sense. It’s obviously come under some ordinary circumstances but I was really mentally fatigued after the Ashes’

Daniel Brettig29-Jun-20183:28

Playing in Global T20 Canada part of my rehab – Smith

A renewed Steven Smith has reflected on how mental fatigue led him to making “horrible decisions” in the aftermath of last summer’s Ashes series, culminating in the Newlands ball-tampering scandal that saw him banned from the game for a year.On his return to competitive cricket in Global T20 Canada, Smith said he had been on a journey of many emotions since he was stripped of the Australian captaincy and banned for a year by Cricket Australia. After contributing a quickfire half century to the Toronto National’s successful chase in the opening match, Smith said that while he had been hurt by his inability to help Australian teammates on their losing tour of England, the Canadian sojourn formed part of his “rehab” from the brokenness he experienced in the wake of Cape Town.”I’ve been up and down with my emotions if I’m being honest,” Smith said in Toronto. “I’ve had times, particularly watching the boys play in England, and not play as well as they could have and England play extremely well, it was hurting me that I couldn’t go out and help them, help them win games.”And when they hopped on the plane to go over there I had some emotions that were a bit down. It’s been tough but, you know, I think I needed a break if that makes sense. It’s obviously come under some ordinary circumstances but I was really mentally fatigued after the Ashes. I put so much work into the Ashes, and I think back to the one-day games after the Ashes and I don’t think I’ve ever hit the ball that bad in my life.”I was making horrible decisions and I just felt horrible at the crease. I think it all comes down to the mental part of the game and I put so much into the Ashes that it took so much out of me. A bit of a break perhaps isn’t the worst thing. Hopefully I’ll be able to come back and perform at a really high level gain, but we’ll see what happens.”The first innings back showed signs of some rough edges, but by the end Smith was contributing fruitfully to his team’s victory while returning to the batting crease he described as a “haven”, away from all other distractions. “I normally don’t get real nervous before I play but I’ll be real honest, I was a bit nervous today,” he said.”You know, three months off and I haven’t hit that many balls back home, I’ve had a couple of nets but I haven’t had a hit on turf. A hit indoors yesterday and it felt pretty good and had a bit of luck today and I didn’t feel as good as I probably ever had, but it’s nice to score some runs when you’re not feeling good. Hopefully some positive signs.”Smith credited his manager Warren Craig, his fiancée Dani Willis, his father Peter and a close circle of friends for helping him through the past three months. “That’s made a big difference to me,” Smith said. “They know I absolutely love this game, and all I’ve ever wanted to be is a cricketer and I think they’d just be happy to see me back playing the game and it was fortunate to score some runs in my first game back, I didn’t feel as good as I would’ve liked, but it’s nice to score runs when you’re not feeling good.”I know all the people back home would be really proud of me playing here for the reasons I’m here as well. So it’s nice to be out in the middle. The last couple of months having some time off, I’ve been fortunate to do some really good work with Gotcha For Life and Gus Worland, talking about the mental health space and manning up and being vulnerable. Sometimes it’s okay to not be okay and things like that.”It’s been quite therapeutic for myself, but also I think a lot of the kids at the schools that I’ve gone to, I know we’ve made a big difference so far and that’s made me feel good in a way, and I’m going to do a lot more of that work when I get back home. I’ve been fortunate I’ve had the close people to me to get through what was a pretty difficult time in my life.”As for Smith’s plans between now and the end of his ban in March next year, he emphasised a desire to spend time at his home cricket club Sutherland in Sydney’s grade competition, and also looked forward to marrying Danni. “People have asked me if I’m going to play a lot of tournaments around the world while I’m suspended from international cricket and I’m going to play this one and go from there,” Smith said.”I know I’m going to go back and I want to try to make a difference at Sutherland, Shane Watson’s going to be playing there so it’ll be great to reunite with him. I’m getting married back home as well, so I do have a lot to look forward to, but we’ll see. If I’m playing in other tournaments there’s every chance it’ll be later on, probably next year.”I’m not going to lie, it’s been a difficult time in my life there’s no doubt about that. But I’ve accepted my punishment, accepted what I’ve gone through and I’m moving forward. Part of my rehab is playing cricket as well. That’s what I love doing and I want to help Toronto Nationals win this tournament, and most importantly have a good time. That’s what [Toronto captain] Darren Sammy’s been relaying to us, let’s go out and enjoy it and have fun and play some good solid cricket.”

Uttarakhand opener made 202 against Sikkim, eclipsing the 187 Ajinkya Rahane had made in 2007-08

Saurabh Somani06-Oct-2018Uttarakhand opener Karn Veer Kaushal became the first batsman to score a double-century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, hitting 202 off 135 balls in a Plate Group match against Sikkim on Saturday. The previous highest score in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was Ajinkya Rahane’s 187 for Mumbai against Maharashtra in Pune in 2007-08.Kaushal accelerated steadily during his innings, reaching 50 off 38 balls, a century off 71 balls, 150 off 101 balls and his double-century off 132 balls. He put on 296 for the first wicket with Vineet Saxena, who made 100 off 133 deliveries, the highest opening stand in List A cricket in India. The previous highest was the unbeaten 277 that Shikhar Dhawan and Aakash Chopra had put on for Delhi against Punjab in 2007-08.”I never thought or expected I’d get a double-century,” Kaushal told ESPNcricinfo. “I just played as the innings went on. Only when about 30 runs were left did I think that, ‘Okay, I can try for a double-century’. I felt very nice when I completed it, but I didn’t know then that it was a record. I got to know that I was the first one to score a double-century after I came back to the dressing room.”I didn’t know it was Ajinkya Rahane’s record that I broke till you told me now. I didn’t even know our opening partnership was a record till you told me.”Kaushal’s innings drove Uttarakhand to 366 for 2 in 50 overs at the GS Patel Stadium in Nadiad, and he fell only in the 47th over.

Kaushal had been trying, unsuccessfully, to get into the Uttar Pradesh team since a number of years, but the doors to senior-level cricket in India for him opened only when Uttarakhand became among the nine new teams allowed to participate in BCCI’s domestic competitions. “I had been trying to get into the Uttar Pradesh team for the past eight to ten years without success,” he said. “In the last two years, I attended some camps they held also, but never got selected. I attended their T20 camp, and also their Vijay Hazare camp. This is the first time that I’m playing at this level. This year I didn’t try there, because Uttarakhand got a team. I knew that there is very tough competition in the Uttar Pradesh team, and being from Dehradun this (Uttarakhand) is my state so I knew that there will be more support here and people have seen me play cricket here.”This is the third century for Kaushal, 27, in the tournament, during which he made his List A debut. He had made 101 against Puducherry, and 118 against Mizoram. Kaushal now has 467 runs in seven matches at an average of 77.83 and strike-rate of 122.25, second to Punit Bisht, the Meghalaya professional, who has 488 runs. Kaushal’s three hundreds are the most for a batsman in the tournament so far.The doors opening for Uttarakhand, and his own good performances, have meant that his pursuit of cricket has finally paid off. “This is my profession and my passion. I used to earn some money playing local cricket, and managed with that,” he said. “Both my parents are in the police, my father in Uttar Pradesh and my mother in Dehradun. They have both supported me a lot too, telling me to not worry about finances and leaving me free to concentrate on the game.”Yes, with both being in the police, they did think I might follow them. But from the start, cricket was my passion. In fact, till last year, my mother would tell me that, ‘What is this silliness you’ve got yourself entangled in, if you had studied hard, you’d be in the IPS [Indian Police Service] by now.’ But now there is some peace at home and I don’t get chided as much’.”In the Plate Group, Uttarakhand are battling Bihar for the top spot. They have 24 points, just two behind Bihar’s 26 with both teams having one match each remaining. The team that tops the group will qualify for the quarterfinals. Uttarakhand will play Arunachal Pradesh, and Bihar will take on Mizoram, on October 8.

Glenn Maxwell also misses opening game against England while Cameron Green stays with the squad

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Oct-2022Australia’s frontline attack have all been rested for the first T20I against England in Perth on Sunday as the selectors continue to juggle their resources ahead of the World Cup.Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa, along with Glenn Maxwell, will not make the cross-country trip to Perth and instead remain in the east and rejoin the squad the two games in Canberra.Marcus Stoinis, Kane Richardson and Ashton Agar officially return to the squad for the England series having been managed through side injuries over the last few weeks.Related

• Cummins wary of burning Green but 'huge demand' inevitable as IPL question looms

• Australia's balance rests on bowling fitness of Marsh and Stoinis

• Finch batting at No. 4 leaves Australia with more questions than answers

Cameron Green has been retained for the England matches while Mitchell Swepson and Nathan Ellis have been added for the first game.”We have a World Cup to win and that is what we have got to peak for,” Cummins said after the opening game against West Indies. “There is no point in burning out in these five games. We’ve been over in India for three games as well.”You might see some people having a rest and in some different roles to make sure we give ourselves the best chance not only for the start of the tournament but the back end if we are there.”Richardson and Mitchell Marsh, who played as a batter only in the first T20I against West Indies as he returns from an ankle injury, have travelled to Perth on Thursday so will therefore miss the second match in Brisbane on Friday.The selectors have taken a cautious approach with players ahead of the World Cup, particularly around flying them to and from Perth in quick succession. Stoinis was left in Perth rather than heading to Queensland while Australia’s main bowlers have avoided two lengthy journeys either side of a match day.”The high-performance team and selectors have planned these matches to ensure our squad get to the World Cup fresh and ready to perform,” national selector George Bailey said.”Some squad members travelled to Perth early to begin preparations slightly earlier than the main squad and a handful of others will not make the trip to Perth. With some players remaining on the east coast, it provides further opportunity for Nathan Ellis and Daniel Sams who both performed well in India.”Likewise Mitchell Swepson was a part of last year’s World Cup squad and continues to provide good depth in our T20 spin bowling department.”After the opening game against West Indies, captain Aaron Finch said they would be using the upcoming matches to try out players in various positions and combinations ahead of the World Cup”We’re going to keep tinkering with things just to try and make sure that we’ve got all bases covered.”Australia squad for England in Perth Aaron Finch, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Steven Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Josh Inglis, Matthew Wade, Daniel Sams, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Swepson, Nathan Ellis, Kane RichardsonAustralia squad for England in Canberra Aaron Finch, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Josh Inglis, Matthew Wade, Daniel Sams, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson

Shoriful Islam has made a comeback, while Afif Hossain, Tanvir Islam and Rejaur Rahman Raja have been dropped

Mohammad Isam22-Mar-2023The uncapped pair of Rishad Hossain and Jaker Ali have earned national call-ups for the first time, for Bangladesh’s T20I series against Ireland – the three-match series starts on March 27. Shoriful Islam has come back, making it three changes from the side that beat England 3-0 earlier this month. Afif Hossain, Tanvir Islam and Rejaur Rahman Raja have been left out.Getty Images

The inclusion of legspinner Rishad is the most interesting call. He has been around the senior setup for the last few years but has hardly had any opportunities – even in the domestic circuit, like many legspinners in the country. The last time he played regularly in a domestic tournament was nearly two years ago in the Dhaka Premier League T20s. This season, Rishad has only bowled 5.1 overs in the first-class competition.It’s likely that Chandika Hathurusingha, the head coach, wanted to have a look at him in competitive cricket. During his first stint as Bangladesh coach, too, Hathurusingha had drafted in legspinner Jubair Hossain after seeing him bowl in the Bangladesh nets in 2014.

Bangladesh T20I squad changes

IN: Rishad Hossain, Jaker Ali, Shoriful Islam
OUT: Afif Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Rejaur Rahman Raja

Jaker is an in-form batter, who scored three consecutive centuries in the Bangladesh Cricket League – he was the top-scorer in the tournament with 492 runs from six innings. He was also part of Comilla Victorians’ BPL triumph this season.Shoriful came back in place of Rejaur, who hasn’t played an international match despite being in several Bangladesh squads since late 2021.Afif’s exclusion counts as a major setback for the young left-hand batter. His unbroken string of 61 T20I appearances ended when he was dropped for the third T20I against England, and till recently a shoo-in for both white-ball formats, Afif now finds himself on the sidelines.The three T20Is will be played in Chattogram on March 27, 29 and 31.Bangladesh T20I squad for Ireland series: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Litton Das (wk), Rony Talukdar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Rishad Hossain, Jaker Ali

Both Sri Lanka captain Karunaratne and South Africa captain du Plessis shower the Durban hero with effusive praise

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-20190:57

First Lara, then Perera – all the records Sri lanka broke to beat South Africa

“I’m a little tired now, I don’t know what to say.”But for 309 minutes, Kusal Perera knew exactly what to do. Sri Lanka were rank underdogs in this fight. They were pummeled 2-0 in Australia, never even getting close to putting up a total of 250. Their captain was sacked. Their team stripped for parts. Rookies few had heard off were put on the plane to South Africa and now, after four days of outrageous cricket in Durban, they have emerged the victors, chasing down 304 with one wicket to spare.And it was all down to the man who didn’t know what to say.”Especially great effort as a team,” Perera finally managed. “Especially lower-order batsmen, they gave me good support. And because of that I believed in myself.”I did something … I did my part. But we won as a team. The partnerships in the whole innings were great – that’s why we were able to chase 304. You can’t just mention one person or partnership. Even if you scored one run, that counted to the win. All XI of us had to bat. It’s the best Test I’ve played for Sri Lanka.Perera was breathtaking with bat in hand. He barely flapped an eyelid when Sri Lanka lost their ninth man with the target still 78 runs away. He defended with unreal calm. ran like there were ants in his pants, took body blows – 150kph deliveries kept thudding into him – and brushed them off like they were mosquito bites.”In places like these [South Africa], it’s never going to be easy, like [it is] in Sri Lanka. These bowlers are all top five in the world. You never know what kinds of balls they are going to send at you. They don’t give you any room, and they have so much experience. There were very few loose balls.”In these couple of matches, I think I’ve copped six or seven blows to the head. In these tracks, if you’re not willing to wear balls on the body, you might as well not be batting. I don’t know how many times I got hit – honestly I’ve lost count. But you can’t think about those things while you are batting. In Sri Lanka the fastest you get is 130-140kph. Here you get balls that are 150kph. When you come to a country like this, if someone tells you you can bat without getting hit, that’s a lie. We have to be smart about it. That happened to me. That’s what cricket is about.”Highest tenth-wicket partnerships in successful chases•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

At the other end, the most No. 11 of No. 11s, Vishwa Fernando hung on. He made only six runs – four of those from overthrows. There were five extras in that time as well. But the rest of the 67 that Sri Lanka needed to record only their second Test win in South Africa came off Perera’s magic bat. And it spared no one.Dale Steyn was muscled for six over midwicket. Multiple times. One of the world’s greatest fast bowlers was reduced to shaking his head and scratching his chin. Faf du Plessis took the new ball hoping that would help them take the wicket but Perera farmed the strike so beautifully that Fernando faced only seven deliveries in this period.”I didn’t even look at the scoreboard when Vishwa came in and we had a lot of runs to get. I just tried to play it over by over and get us close, little by little. Vishwa told me: “I’ll hit the ball with my body, if nothing else. You do what you can, Kusal .” I took a lot of strength from that. Without any fear I took the single and gave the strike to him. He did a huge job. If he had got out, there wouldn’t have been a point, because we would ahve been all out. I don’t know how many balls he faced. Those are valuable, valuable balls. What he faced was worth more than my runs.”Eventually, in the 86th over, Perera glided a short and wide delivery to the third-man boundary and almost as soon as he made contact he let out a cathartic scream, holding his hands aloft and savouring that “special” feeling.”That was really awesome,” newly appointed captain Dimuth Karunaratne said. “We knew coming into this game that we had a chance. Earlier in 2012, we won a match here in Durban. We had a tough series in Australia but we learnt lots of things so I thought the boys will give their best in South Africa.”We lost lots of matches last few years. Even the Sri Lankan fans, who all are looking to see when we were going to win. So I think it’s a proud moment for us as a team, as a captain, and as a country as well. Winning in South Africa is a real proud moment.”It showed in the Sri Lankan dressing room, which flew into chaos upon seeing the winning shot. Coach Chandika Hathurusingha was leaping about, punching the air. The other players around him were on their seats, roaring in delight. Each of them went over to get a piece of their match-winner, so much so that Perera didn’t even have time to collect a stump as a souvenir. Someone else had to do it for him.Kusal Perera and Vishwa Fernando celebrate a sensational Sri Lanka win•Getty Images

In December 2015, Perera went through the ordeal of a false positive drug test. He faced a four-year ban from cricket, but Sri Lanka Cricket helped him fight the charge and eventually win the case in court. In December 2016, he toured South Africa for the first time but with the team in flux, he was made to bat out of position at No. 3 and discarded after one Test. Perera finally came back to the Test side in June 2018 and now stands as a hero. There might perhaps be only one other man who knows how he feels right now. Brian Lara, who too made an epic unbeaten 153 to win a see-sawing Test match against superior opposition in the company of a No. 11 batsman.No wonder that even the opposition captain couldn’t hold back his praise. “Perera was obviously unbelievable,” du Plessis said. “To get 160-170 out of that score will take a Superman effort. So he deserves all the accolades that come to him after this game.”I thought 300 was enough on this wicket. I’d be lying if there wasn’t emotions going through me on the inside. Difficult for a captain to tactically… you want to try and protect the lead and then you want to bowl at the tail-ender and he played that beautifully. Whatever we tried, we brought the field up, he still managed to get a one away or a boundary away. Just kept knocking away every over. Towards the end, we got a few balls at the tail-ender but unfortunately there were a few plays an misses. Would’ve been nice if there’d been a nick.”

England summon fightback through Ben Stokes but face significant first-innings deficit

Alan Gardner18-Aug-2022South Africa had refused to believe the hype around England in the build-up to this Test, and they found contributors from all quarters while maintaining the ascendency on day two at Lord’s – defying a typically talismanic display from Ben Stokes as the home side attempted to Baz-brawl their way back into contention.The tourists had assumed the dominant position as Sarel Erwee’s composed half-century built on the efforts of the visiting attack. Kagiso Rabada claimed a spot on the Lord’s honours board while wrapping up England’s innings inside the first hour, and South Africa were just two wickets down and approaching parity when play resumed after tea.But Stokes orchestrated a response during the evening session, taking three of the five wickets to fall and once again leading from the front with a display of physical intensity. Erwee was dislodged by a ferocious bouncer, and Rassie van der Dussen pinned in front hanging back in expectation of the short ball; Stokes then returned at the end of the day with England flagging to break a 72-run stand for the seventh wicket.Related

• South Africa pace quartet give reason for tempered excitement

• Ollie Pope's penchant for a shot pays off against Proteas' thunderbolts

• Welcome to Bouchball, a work in progress

• Ben Stokes rouses slumbering Lord's to keep England believing

South Africa had gone from 160 for 2 to 210 for 6, just 45 runs in front, before the late counterpunch from Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj consolidated their advantage. Maharaj was caught hooking at Stokes but Jansen showed his all-round ability with a volley of boundaries as the shadows lengthened at Lord’s.The England fightback began with Jack Leach, whose first ball following the tea interval found Aiden Markram’s outside edge. Stokes then brought himself on for a spell of short-pitched bowling, a tactic England have employed with increasing regularity, and it did not take long to produce the desired result as Erwee, who had been unflappable for much of the day, was on the receiving end of a head-hunting bouncer that he could only glove through to the keeper.The threat of the short ball did for van der Dussen, who was trapped on the crease by a fuller delivery and wasted a review in confirming it would have crashed into leg stump. A few overs later, Stuart Broad found Kyle Verreyne’s outside edge to record his 100th dismissal at Lord’s.Responding to an England total that looked meagre even when placed in the context of being asked to bat in the toughest conditions of the match so far, South Africa set about their innings with a discipline that was in keeping with captain Dean Elgar’s preferred method. That did not necessarily mean playing attritionally, though, their scoring rate of 3.75 an over comfortably quicker than England’s far-flightier batting effort.Elgar is a character with little time for frippery and there was a business-like air to his 85-run opening stand with Erwee. The pair set about blunting England’s new-ball attack before lunch, with Elgar successfully reviewing after being given out caught behind off Broad, and then became more expansive during the afternoon session. So comfortable was their progress, as early morning cloud gave way to bright sunshine, that it was a surprise when a stroke of bad luck contributed to Elgar’s downfall just shy of fifty.James Anderson had begun his second spell with an unplayable delivery on off stump that left Elgar groping blindly. But it was a much less-threatening line of attack that brought the breakthrough for England, as Elgar attempted to work away a leg-side delivery, which deflected off his thigh pad and then into his top arm before spinning back to bowl him behind his legs – a dismissal as unusual as any in the career of Anderson, who claimed his 658th Test wicket, and first as a 40-year-old.Kagiso Rabada booked his place on the honours board with five first-innings wickets•Getty Images

Erwee continued in unruffled fashion, picking off drives and whips through midwicket on the way to his second 50-plus score in Tests. The most dramatic incident before his dismissal came when Keegan Petersen went looking for a single that wasn’t there and had to be sent back, only for Broad to hurl wide of the stumps at the non-striker’s end just as Stokes raced in to try and pull off a run-out.Petersen looked far less comfortable, barely surviving Anderson’s spell, but he lasted long enough to notch South Africa’s second successive fifty stand before being lured into flashing an edge to the cordon by Matthew Potts.Watching England this summer had seeded the expectation that they would attempt to “Bazball” their way out of trouble on the second morning, but there was little in the way of lower-order fightback to derail South Africa.Rabada capped a consummate display with three of the last four wickets to fall, claiming his 12th five-for in Tests and enhancing his status as one of the most-penetrative fast bowlers of all time. Jansen was also in business, as the quicks carried out Elgar’s bidding with alacrity after England had been inserted in favourable conditions on Wednesday.The home side’s best hope of getting to a score above 200 lay with Ollie Pope, resuming on 61 not out overnight. He received another let-off in the first over of the morning, as Erwee unsuccessfully juggled a straightforward chance at first slip off the bowling of Rabada. But with Broad setting his stall out to swing at every other ball, South Africa gained the breakthrough they were after at the other end, Pope venturing a drive against Rabada only to see the ball cannon flush into leg stump. His 73 from 102 balls was 53 runs clear of England’s next-best.The tail eked out a few more, with Broad crashing Anrich Nortje through the covers before miscuing a Rabada slower ball gently to point. Leach then played all around a full one from Jansen to lose his off stump, and Anderson was pinned lbw first ball as Rabada finished England off.