The two bowlers claimed four wickets each to consign Hong Kong to a 58-run loss and the last spot in the World Cup qualifier

The Report by Liam Brickhill at Old Hararians17-Mar-2018
Getty Images

Papua New Guinea surged to a 58-run win over Hong Kong in their ninth place playoff match against at Old Hararians, with fast bowler Norman Vanua and legspinning allrounder Charles Amini taking four wickets apiece. Tony Ura’s 49 and Chad Soper’s 40 helped Papua New Guinea to battle to 200, which didn’t look like nearly enough when Hong Kong cruised through the Powerplay at eight an over. However, Amini tore through the middle order to turn the match on its head, and was named Player of the match for his career-best 4 for 27.Hong Kong had set about the chase as though in a rush to finish the game, but their top order’s strokeplay also created chances for PNG. Nizakat Khan cracked two boundaries off Assad Vala’s opening over, and then laced seamer Vanua up and over the covers. But he got himself into a tangle to Vanua’s follow-up bouncer, and spliced a shot to John Reva, running in from mid-off.Hong Kong captain Babar Hayat arrived at the crease like a man determined to leave his mark on this tournament, and on ODI cricket. Mixing audacious attack with studied defence and accurate placement, he hit a flurry of boundaries. Hayat took 17 runs from Damien Ravu’s first over, including a top-edged pull for six off a free-hit and a mighty strike over the hospitality tents at long-on.Where Hayat had relied mainly on raw power, Anshuman Rath utilised finesse to find the boundary, and together they kept Hong Kong motoring along at better than eight an over. It seemed Hong Kong would race to victory, but the complexion of the match changed entirely in the space of 15 minutes when Amini was brought into the attack.Spearing flat and fast legbreaks, Amini nevertheless found significant grip in the surface, and against the run of play he removed Rath in his very first over, Vala holding on to a low catch at midwicket. Hayat then charged at him and ran past one that dipped on him, the ball crashing into his middle stump. In his next over, he trapped Simandeep Singh lbw, and his figures read 3-0-5-3, while Hong Kong had slipped from 68 for 1 to 85 for 4.From then on, every time Hong Kong started to rebuild, a wicket fell and PNG soon took control, captain Vala cycling through his attack and using no less than eight bowlers. Vanua had Tanwir Afzal caught behind and McKechnie caught in the covers to take his tally to three, and when Ehsan Nawaz was needlessly run out for a duck, it seemed Hong Kong were raising the white flag.Amini returned, and all but assured the result with his fourth wicket. It was a classic legspinner’s set-up – drawing the batsman forward, the ball dipping and gripping, and the edge landing in slip’s lap. When Vanua returned once again to slip a quick yorker under Nadeem Ahmed’s bat, PNG had secured their fourth win over Hong Kong in ODIs, and their first of the tournament.That result looked a long way off when PNG frittered away a 68-run opening stand by repeatedly losing wickets in clumps. Nadeem Ahmed took two wickets in an over, having Vala caught behind and bowling Sese Bau, and when Ura was trapped lbw by Ehsan Khan, PNG had slipped to 72 for 3. Particularly vexing was Ura’s dismissal – he had looked comfortable against both pace and spin, and had just hit Ehsan for a massive six when he fell for 49.Hong Kong heaped on the pressure with close-in catchers, prompting a counterattack from Amini, who hit Nadeem straight back over his head for a six. PNG began to rebuild, with Amini adding 37 with Soper. After he was caught behind, Soper found an able partner in Mahuru Dai, and together they added a further 59 before Soper, who had just started to come out of his shell, was trapped lbw by Kinchit Shah’s offspin. Once again, wickets fell in a clump, and Shah finished with 4 for 11, PNG having lost 6 for 32 to be all out for 200. Eventually, that would prove to be more than enough.This was the 4000th ODI to be played since the format came into existence more than 47 years ago. It was the 18th PNG had played since they gained ODI status after the last World Cup qualifying tournament in 2014, and it was the 24th Hong Kong had been part of since their Asia Cup debut in 2004. It was also the last either team would play for the next four years. PNG and Hong Kong both lost ODI status after this match. But PNG rallied to ensure they would leave cricket’s top table on a high.

Michael Burgess made a century against his former club and Ishant Sharma was able to raise his bat for the first time in his career

ECB Reporters Network21-Apr-20182:11

Mixed fortunes for India duo

ScorecardA fine century from Michael Burgess, the second of his career, helped Sussex to a formidable first innings score at the Fischer County Ground before Colin Ackermann, with an unbeaten half-century, led a spirited Leicestershire reply.Burgess and Ishant Sharma compiled a partnership of 153 for Sussex’s eighth wicket, batting through the morning session without being parted.Burgess, who began his career at Leicestershire, was first to his 50, twice hitting left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson over midwicket for six as he sought to accelerate the scoring rate.India Test bowler Ishant was equally positive as he registered a maiden first-class half-century, leaving his previous career best score of 31 well behind and he would later follow it with two wickets.Ishant, who has played 81 Tests and 80 ODIs, clearly relished his battle with Leicestershire’s own international bowler Mohammad Abbas. Abbas was convinced he had Ishant leg before on 34, but other than that neither batsman gave a chance as the partnership passed three figures.Sharma was finally dismissed for 66, attempting to loft offspinner Ateeq Javid for a straight six, but failing to clear Gavin Griffiths at long-off.”I think I got my highest previous score in a Test match, so I’m pretty happy – I wanted to do as well as I could for the team. Every bowler loves to have a bat, and in internationals you don’t get that many opportunities, especially for India, so I was looking forward to having an opportunity.”I’ve been nightwatchman for India for four years now, so I’m used to the role. Michael [Burgess] and I just batted. I didn’t get nervous when I got close to 50, I wasn’t really thinking about it, just staying in my space.”My main job is to take wickets, so I was probably more pleased about that. The wicket is a bit on the slow side, with more bounce from the top end. It’s good to get used to the conditions, and the soft grounds, I’m getting a lot of benefit from that.”Burgess had a fortunate escape on 98, pulling a delivery from Parkinson to midwicket, where Michael Carberry got both hands to the ball above his head but could not hold the chance. He went to his century off 146 balls, hitting five fours as well as the two sixes, before Sussex captain Ben Brown declared.Buoyed by his success with the bat, Ishant then made an early breakthrough with the ball when he trapped Leicestershire opener Paul Horton leg before with a full delivery. Carberry, defending with purpose and real determination, and the in-form Ackermann saw off the new ball, but Ishant returned to have Carberry adjudged leg before, half-forward to an in-swinger.Sussex should have had a third wicket when Ackermann turned a David Wiese delivery straight to midwicket, only for Luke Wright, looking into the sun, to fail to hold a straightforward chance.

Rilee Rossouw secured his first Hampshire century and as the pitch flattened out it all looked remarkably unhurried

ECB Reporters Network23-May-2018
ScorecardRilee Rossouw ended his Ageas Bowl hoodoo by scoring his first home century for Hampshire as they beat Essex Eagles by six wickets in the Royal London One-Day Cup.Batsman Rossouw scored 99 on his debut for Hampshire and 90 during Monday night’s victory over Surrey, but his only hundred had come on the road, at Somerset last year.But he collected 111 against the Eagles to send Hampshire top of the South Group as they kept up their 100 per cent record in the competition.Hampshire, who had lost five of their last six List A matches against Essex, had been set 304 to win after Adam Wheater, Tom Westley, Ravi Bopara and Ashar Zaidi had all plundered half centuries.Sam Cook managed to strike early to dismiss Hashim Amla, the South African flicking around the corner to Dutch debutant Shane Snater at short fine leg.But Rossouw and James Vince comfortably compiled no-risk runs as the pitch flattened.Both scored half centuries, Rossouw in an uncharacteristically restrained 62 balls while Vince only needed 41 balls, in a stand of 126 of the second wicket.Vince tickled behind to end on 66 and Joe Weatherley was bowled, both by Ravi Bopara, however Rossouw, who passed his 5,000 List A run, wasn’t to be stopped as easily.The South African did have one minor scare on his way to three figures when he required medical attention after diving into the crease while taking a quick single on 92. But composed himself after a ten minute delay to reach the milestone.Rossouw was eventually bowled by Bopara, who ended with figures of three for 49, for 110 but Jimmy Adams, striking an effortless run-a-ball 51, and Brad Taylor scored the remaining 51 runs.Earlier, Hampshire captain Vince won the toss and inserted Essex on a used track, which slowed throughout Monday night’s game with Surrey.Varun Chopra and Wheater negotiated the power-play comfortably, but leg spinner Mason Crane’s introduction to the attack in the 11th over broke the 67-run opening partnership when he deceived the former with a googly.Wheater appeared in fine fettle for a brisk 70, his half century coming off 49 balls, as he used a lightening quick outfield to his advantage.But after a 76-run stand with Westley he failed to hook a Brad Wheal bouncer away from the prying hands of Vince at mid-on.The loss of Dan Lawrence, run out by Brad Taylor’s direct hit at point, two overs later saw Essex stick to an almost regiment six runs an over for the remainder of the innings.Westley clocked his fifty in 48 deliveries, brought up with slog-sweep maximum, before he was bowled by off-spinner Taylor.Skipper Ryan ten Doeschate edged Gareth Berg behind, to start an 84-run collective between Bopara and Zaidi.Both attempted to push the run-rate up, Zaidi cleanly striking a pair of maximums with Bopara bring up his half century, from 58-balls.But despite Zaidi, who ended up 57 not out from 43 balls, Essex seemed below par as they posted 303 for six – Bopara the last wicket to fall in the innings as he ballooned to Vince at long-on.And so it proved as Rossouw’s century made sure Hampshire chased them down with 16 balls to spare.

‘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.”

Sussex appeared to be in course for their first home win in this season’s tournament when they reduced Somerset to 134 for 7 in the 17th over chasing 170

ECB Reporters Network05-Aug-2018
ScorecardSomerset strengthened their position at the top of the South Group after claiming their seventh win in ten games in the Vitality Blast with three balls to spare against Sussex Sharks at Hove.Sussex appeared to be in course for their first home win in this season’s tournament when they reduced Somerset to 134 for 7 in the 17th over chasing 170.But David Wiese, whose four overs were hit for 52, conceded 16 in the 18th as Roelof van der Merwe hit him for two boundaries before depositing a full toss into the pavilion. Five were needed off the final over by Chris Jordan and van der Merwe edged the second ball to the fence before hitting the winning runs to backward point off the next to seal a three-wicket win.Somerset had been well placed at 112 for 3 from 12 overs before Sussex took three wickets in successive overs which looked to have turned the tide in their favour.Jofra Archer’s yorker proved too good for Tom Abell, whose stand of 56 in 6.1 overs with James Hildreth had put his side in a good position. Danny Briggs claimed Hildreth in the next over when he was stumped trying to clear the leg-side boundary for the third time before the irrepressible Rashid Khan, who had earlier claimed Peter Trego with his first ball, bowled Lewis Gregory with a fizzing leg break.Khan had figures of 3 for 29 when Corey Anderson was superbly caught by Chris Jordan at long on. Sussex appeared to be in control but van der Merwe’s unbeaten 33 off 18 balls, with three fours and two sixes, proved decisive.Earlier, Laurie Evans had top scored with 96 in Sussex’s 169 for 5 after they had been put in. Evans fell off the penultimate ball of the innings trying to clear midwicket for the boundary that would have brought him his hundred.Instead, he had to settle for a career-best which included ten boundaries and two leg-side sixes, off Overton and Jamie Gregory, as he dominated a Sussex card where the next best score was Tom Bruce’s 21. As well as some powerful blows on both sides of the wicket he also ramped successive deliveries from Abell to the rope. Evans now has 343 runs in this season’s competition.Somerset’s spinners Max Waller and van der Merwe were the pick of their attack. Waller bowled Phil Salt in the first over and also had Delray Rawlins stumped when he too came down the pitch to the legspinner.Somerset’s quicks liberally used the short ball on a pitch offering decent pace and carry, often to good effect. Luke Wright pulled Gregory’s bumper to deep midwicket and Jamie Overton was successful when he dropped short and Bruce was held at deep cover after making his highest score in this season’s Blast.

After a month-long heat wave across the UK, the weather gods decided to play a prank on a pair of Associate nation guests making their long-awaited return to Lord’s

Peter Della Penna at Lord's29-Jul-2018
ScorecardAfter a month-long heat wave across the UK, the weather gods decided to play a prank on a pair of Associate nation guests making their long-awaited return to Lord’s. In the T20 tri-series played by hosts MCC, Nepal and Netherlands, rain was the ultimate winner as a pair of scheduled 20-over matches between the MCC and each Associate were reduced to six-over affairs before the finale between Nepal and Netherlands ended with a no result after 16.4 overs.For Netherlands, this was their first T20I at Lord’s since the 2009 World T20, where they pulled off one of their greatest triumphs against England. Two years ago, Nepal had made their 50-over Lord’s debut against the MCC in front of more than 5000 fans. Despite it being on a weekend, just over 2000 fans turned up to Lord’s on this day as the majority of fans around the UK were scared off by damp weather, a scarce occurrence all July.Fans who did show up were treated to an impressive Dutch batting display through much of the afternoon. Making use of the short east side boundary on offer thanks to a pitch chosen near the end of the Lord’s square, Wesley Barresi powered the Netherlands with an impressive 44 off 24 balls after entering at No. 3. His innings included six fours as well as an exquisitely timed six driven over cover off medium pacer Sompal Kami.Barresi added 54 for the third wicket with Ryan ten Doeschate and when Barresi departed near the end of the ninth over, it was ten Doeschate who dazzled with a series of elegant flicks over mid on. Playing his first T20I in more than eight years, the ageless wonder spent his day off from Essex captaincy showing he hasn’t lost his touch at international level one bit as he cruised to 38 off 27 balls.A rain break after 12 overs broke Netherlands’ momentum. They resumed at 112 for 3 with two overs shaved off the match and two balls later ten Doeschate was run out thanks to a brilliant charge, scoop and fire by Dipendra Singh Airee from backward point.Michael Rippon showed how much he was missed at the World Cup Qualifier by dismantling Nepal’s spinners on his way to 38 not out off 22 balls. Shane Edwards was just as relentless, swatting an unbeaten 34 off 14 that included three fours and back-to-back sixes off star legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane in the 16th. He was the most expensive bowler on the day, finishing with 0 for 43 in three overs.Captain Paras Khadka vigorously dried the ball with a towel after nearly every delivery in a vain attempt to make it easier for Lamichhane and the other spinners to grip in the midst of a steady drizzle. A short time later, the drizzle turned into a thick shower and it became clear that play would be difficult to continue. When Rippon backed out of a delivery with the wind and rain blowing in his face midway through the 17th over, that became the final signal and the umpires took everyone off one ball later with Netherlands’ innings declared finished at 174 for 4.Despite hopes of a restart, officials called off play more than an hour before the official cutoff time as the forecast for the rest of the evening remained bleak. Nepal’s players shook hands with the Dutch, then continued on to the edge of the stands to show thanks to their supporters. With many having traveled from as far as the USA and even Nepal to take in the occasion, a selfie with Khadka, Lamichhane and the rest was just as good as a six.

Tim Murtagh took four wickets as Middlesex finished their final day at Lord’s this season with victory

ECB Reporters Network21-Sep-2018
ScorecardTim Murtagh finished with 4 for 55 as Middlesex ran through the Derbyshire batting to secure a 117-run victory in their final home County Championship match of the season.Murtagh – who passed 750 first-class career wickets in the process – finished the visitors off in the seventh over after tea, despite an unbeaten century from Derbyshire skipper Billy Godleman.Although Godleman carried his bat for 105 from 147 balls at Lord’s, it was not enough to deny his former county a victory that enabled them to leapfrog Derbyshire into fourth place in the Division Two table.Middlesex declared on their overnight total of 199-7, setting the visitors a fourth-day target of 328, and they might easily have made deep inroads during the early overs.Godleman played and missed, as well as surviving three appeals, but he gradually settled down and looked particularly strong on the off-side as he advanced towards his half-century.

Toss rule not working – Malan

Middlesex’s captain Dawid Malan welcomed a calmer Lord’s pitch which allowed his batsmen to set up victory.
“It was probably back to an old-school Lord’s wicket and that suits the way we play,” he said. “It’s nice for guys to play on a wicket where they can trust their defences and get runs.
Middlesex’s batsmen have made only four Championship hundreds all season, despite most of them being pushed at some time or other for England recognition.
“It showed that if we do play as well as we can in conditions that suit us, we can get big scores and win games,” Malan said. “A lot of good players have struggled this year when the conditions were really tough.
“I think we’ve got to make up our minds whether we want to have a heavy roller or a toss rule. The toss rule was brought in to aid spinners and we haven’t played a spinner in several games at Lord’s this year. So if the rule was brought in to help spinners, it isn’t working.”

It was Murtagh who made the breakthrough for Middlesex, tempting Luis Reece (12) into the hook shot and Ethan Bamber held a tricky catch at deep square leg.The home side continued to take wickets at regular intervals, with James Harris trapping Wayne Madsen leg before and Martin Andersson finding the outside edge of Alex Hughes before lunch.Although a brief downpour delayed the resumption, Murtagh struck again with his first ball of the afternoon, having Harvey Hosein caught behind as Derbyshire’s scoring rate slowed dramatically.At the other end, Bamber bowled a tight, consistent spell, and deservedly collected the wicket of first-innings centurion Matt Critchley, pinned in front of his stumps for eight as the visitors slid to 123 for 5.Gary Wilson proved slightly harder to dislodge, sharing a sixth-wicket partnership of exactly 50 with Godleman before Harris sent his off stump flying with the next delivery.With Derbyshire 189 for 6 at tea, every result remained possible heading into the final session – but Middlesex soon cemented their advantage by capturing the remaining four wickets inside half an hour.Murtagh’s first delivery of the session proved lethal once again, with Anuj Dal leg before for 14, and Bamber (3-35) then removed Hardus Viljoen and Tony Palladino in rapid succession.Godleman did manage to complete the 12th century of his Derbyshire career in style, advancing down the wicket to drive Murtagh for a six over long-off.But Derbyshire’s cause was well and truly lost by then and Murtagh sealed the result by bowling last man Lockie Ferguson.

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.

For West Indies, meanwhile, Keemo Paul is likely to replace the suspended Shannon Gabriel

The Preview by Mohammad Isam29-Nov-2018

Big Picture

‘Spin it to win it’ seems to be the watchword in the Bangladesh-West Indies Test series. The Dhaka pitch for the second game is likely to be as helpful to the spinners as the Chattogram surface was, although the home side will tell you that curator Gamini Silva’s work is often unpredictable.Bangladesh’s spin attack, led by captain Shakib Al Hasan, wouldn’t mind another spin-friendly pitch after they handed Bangladesh a maiden win at home against West Indies.Taijul Islam, Shakib, Nayeem Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz formed a useful quartet in the first Test, taking all 20 West Indies wickets. Taijul was the pick of the bowlers in both innings, but it was his 6 for 33 in the decisive fourth innings that made the big difference. Shakib was at his accurate best, teasing and dragging batsmen out of their crease or getting them to go back to full balls with his variations in flight.Nayeem and Mehidy, both offspinners, were crucial too. Nayeem became the youngest ever bowler to take a five-wicket haul on debut. Delivering offspin from a height is his advantage, and he is also quite accurate. Mehidy, meanwhile, snared Shimron Hetmyer, West Indies’ most aggressive batsman in Chittagong, twice.Bangladesh’s batting, however, remains a worry. Mominul Haque struck 120 in the first innings but Mushfiqur Rahim didn’t have a good Test with the bat while Mahmudullah and Imrul Kayes struggled for their runs. Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Mithun failed to apply themselves deftly on a spin-friendly wicket.The same can be said about the West Indies batsmen, in particular Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell, Shai Hope and Roston Chase, who had double failures in Chittagong. Going back to sharply turning deliveries was their fault, a trap Hetmyer and Shane Dowrich, who made fifties in the first innings, didn’t fall into too often.Sunil Ambris showed a bit of resistance in the second innings, but unless the top order contributes, winning a Test match will be difficult. West Indies, however, will be happy with how Jomel Warrican and Devendra Bishoo bowled while Kemar Roach is likely to get Keemo Paul as his new-ball partner after Shannon Gabriel was suspended for barging into Imrul.

Form guide

Bangladesh WWLLL (Last five completed matches, most recent first)
West Indies LLLWWShane Dowrich acknowledges the applause•AFP

In the spotlight

Shane Dowrich was mostly safe behind the stumps in the first Test, while also contributing with the bat. His unbeaten 63 in the first innings was the type of resistance mixed with proactive batting that West Indies badly need in Dhaka.The spotlight is always on Shakib Al Hasan, who claimed his first Test win at home under his captaincy in the last game. He also bowled and batted well enough to be confident of a proper recovery from his finger injury.

Team news

Following Mushfiqur Rahim’s finger injury two days before the match, Bangladesh have enlisted Liton Das on stand-by, should Mushfiqur not be deemed match-ready. There is a chance Mushfiqur could play as a specialist batsman with Liton slotting in as keeper and replacing Mohammad Mithun. Shadman Islam, meanwhile, is likely to make his Test debut in place of Imrul Kayes, who has a shoulder injury.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Shadman Islam, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Mohammad Mithun, 5 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 6 Mushfiqur Rahim/Liton Das (wk), 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Nayeem Hasan, 11 Mustafizur RahmanWest Indies’ first headache would be to replace the suspended Shannon Gabriel. Fast bowlers Keemo Paul and Shermon Lewis and pace-bowling allrounder Raymon Reifer are the candidates vying for the spot.West Indies (probable): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 2 Kieran Powell, 3 Shai Hope, 4 Shimron Hetmyer, 5 Sunil Ambris, 6 Roston Chase, 7 Shane Dowrich (wk), 8 Keemo Paul, 9 Devendra Bishoo, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Jomel Warrican

Pitch and conditions

Dhaka served up a predominantly batting-friendly pitch in its previous Test but it is unlikely to go that way in the second Test. The weather remains mild.

Stats and trivia

• Mushfiqur Rahim needs eight runs to become the second Bangladesh batsman to reach 4000 Test runs. Tamim Iqbal has scored 4049 so far.
• Taijul Islam is six wickets short of becoming the third Bangladesh bowler to take 100 Test wickets. He would also be the fastest if he completes the feat in his next five matches.
• The Chattogram Test was the first time in the last 10 years that the West Indies lost all 20 wickets to spin bowling

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.