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Neil Dexter has joined Leicestershire on a three-year contract in search of the security that Middlesex felt unable to provide

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Sep-2015Leicestershire have signed Middlesex batsman Neil Dexter on a three-year contract.Dexter has had a solid Championship season for Middlesex as they push for runners-up spot in Division One of the Championship, although his impact in one-day cricket has been less apparent. He joins Leicestershire in search of the security of a long-term deal that Middlesex could not offer..Angus Fraser, Middlesex’s managing director of cricket, said: “I am delighted that Neil has secured a long term contract with a club that will guarantee him regular first eleven cricket. Neil is at an age and stage in his career where he needs to play regular first eleven cricket and have a prominent role in that side. Unfortunately Middlesex could not guarantee this moving forward, so I fully understand and respect Neil’s decision to look for a fresh challenge elsewhere.”Neil has been a much liked and respected member of the Middlesex CCC playing staff since his arrival from Kent in late 2008, and has produced many valuable performances for the club on the field. He also led us to Second Division success in 2011, something he should be extremely proud of.”Dexter, 31, started his county career at Kent and has scored 5,977 first-class runs at an average of 35.79 with a career best score of 163 not out. He has 1,913 List A career runs at 31.88 and has 1,497 runs in T20 cricket at a strike rate of 109.91.Wasim Khan, Leicestershire’s chief executive, said: “With a number of sides interested in securing Neil, we are delighted that he has decided to join us. He will give us both quality and experience with his proven track record in county cricket. Neil is also a good bowler and fielder who can fit into our side in all three formats.”

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the West Indies batsman, has rated his unbeaten 116 against India in Dominica as one of his finest Test innings

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jul-2011Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the West Indies batsman, has rated his unbeaten 116 against India in Dominica as one of his finest Test innings. In a match in which he became West Indies’ most-capped player, and in a new-look line-up where the other five specialist batsmen had a combined experience of 49 Tests, Chanderpaul battled for more than eight hours to help secure a draw.Coming in with the team struggling at 40 for 3 in the second innings soon after lunch on the fourth day, and still trailing by more than a 100 runs, Chanderpaul defied India almost till tea on the final day.”I would say this was one my best because of the situation of the team when I went in to bat and the way the game was going,” Chanderpaul said. “To be batting on a fifth day pitch and the way the ball was bouncing and turning – some would grip and bounce and you weren’t always sure which way the ball would go. You had to be very patient and very watchful and careful.”You couldn’t play as freely as you would have liked to so I had to use all my skills, and it took a lot of mental effort as well. Also, [MS] Dhoni blocked up all the areas where you had scoring opportunities and it was a lot of hard work. It was really tough out there.”It was Chanderpaul’s first Test century in more than a year, during which he had made starts in most innings without converting them to a big score. His partner in the resistance was debutant Kirk Edwards, who also made a hundred during a 161-run stand for the fourth wicket.”He [Kirk Edwards] was positive and had the right mindset. He was not afraid. He played it his way and did what he knows and what he does best.”It was a great effort for someone to come in under so much pressure and play the way he did. I had a discussion with Kirk and we were talking about the 20s and the 30s. He told me to put that behind and we worked towards the team goals which was building big partnerships and pulling the team out of the trouble we were in.”During his innings, Chanderpaul was also awarded Dominican citizenship recognising his contribution to cricket and for playing his record-breaking 133rd Test. “I’m extremely pleased to reach this milestone. I believe it is a really big occasion,” he said. “High point? I’m still looking for it. There is still more to come. Whatever knowledge and experience I have gained I would like to pass it on and help the other members of the team with their game.”

Phillip Hughes’ final-day blast allowed Australia to finish off New Zealand and gain a 1-0 lead heading into the final Test in Hamilton

The Bulletin by Peter English22-Mar-2010Australia 459 for 5 dec & 106 for 0 (Hughes 86*) beat New Zealand 157 & 407 (McCullum 104, McIntosh 83, Vettori 77) by 10 wickets

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Phillip Hughes raced Australia to victory with 86 not out, but he will probably have to make way for Shane Watson in the second Test•Getty Images

It took Australia longer than they expected, but Phillip Hughes’ final-day blast allowed them to finish off New Zealand and gain a 1-0 lead heading into the final Test in Hamilton on Saturday. Brendon McCullum’s inspired 104 forced the visitors to chase 106, a target they achieved without loss before lunch thanks to Hughes’ aggressive 86 off 75 balls.After spending time in the field over four days, Ryan Harris, the debutant, sealed a quick finish of New Zealand’s second innings, taking 4 for 77 as the hosts were dismissed for 407. Hughes, who grabbed 12 fours and a six, was then in a hurry to end the game and sped to the 10-wicket victory in 23 overs. It was left to Simon Katich, who played the anchor with 18, to take the winning single on the final ball before lunch.The upbeat display will give Hughes confidence for the next Test he plays, but he will probably have to wait as he is seat-warming for the injured Shane Watson in this game. Daniel Vettori came on and his first delivery was hit by Hughes through cover for four and his fourth effort went for six to midwicket. Hughes charged down the wicket, wasn’t put off by not being near the pitch of the ball, and swiped it flat and so hard that it came back damaged after hitting the bitumen in the car park.Hughes had collected 10 from the opening over of the innings from Chris Martin and added another 10 from Vettori’s first six offerings. He followed that with a trio of boundaries off Martin – an on-drive, a glide through the cordon and a straight drive – and was dropped at second slip by Tim McIntosh off Brent Arnel.The chance didn’t concern Hughes, who was playing his seventh Test, and in the same over he brought up his half-century from 43 balls. Cut boundaries continued to come easily in his best five-day performance since his debut tour of South Africa last year.New Zealand used up both their umpiring reviews in two overs early in the innings, but neither Martin’s appeal against Hughes nor Arnel’s shout against Katich were overturned by the third umpire. Katich’s was closer, with the ball tracking showing it hitting the top of the bails, but it was not decisive enough to change Asad Rauf’s not-out call.Following their courageous fight on the fourth day, New Zealand were unable to repeat their resistance. McCullum, the main obstacle, was removed in the fourth over after bringing up his fifth Test century almost instantly. He sliced behind point from the second ball of the morning to go to 98 and gained a thick edge to third man from Bollinger’s next effort for another boundary.The celebration included ripping off his helmet and raising his arms to the dressing room, but it wasn’t long before he pushed on to the back foot and edged Harris to Michael Clarke. There weren’t many people at the ground but they were all appreciative of McCullum’s performance, which included 13 fours and one six from his 187 balls. The innings showed McCullum’s ability to mix long periods of defence with bouts of attacking brilliance and gave his side some short-lived hopeNew Zealand began on 369 for 6, holding a lead of 67, and after losing their last specialist batsman the job was left to Daryl Tuffey and his bowling team-mates. Tim Southee gave Harris his third wicket when nicking to Clarke without scoring and Brent Arnel (3) was lbw in Harris’ next over.Harris had a chance for a five-wicket haul when Tuffey drove hard back at him but the ball went down in his follow-through. Mitchell Johnson ended the innings by bowling Martin, leaving Tuffey stranded after contributing a valuable 47, as the hosts lost 4 for 38 in less than an hour. Tuffey’s effort was even more admirable considering he was carrying a fractured hand – he was hit by Johnson – that is likely to keep him out for at least a month.Harris collected six wickets for the game while Nathan Hauritz had 3 for 119 from 49 overs in the second innings after spending most of yesterday bowling into the gale-force wind. After the awful weather on Sunday, the conditions were clear and sunny, which was a shame for the hosts who wanted some more rain. New Zealand were forced to follow-on after scoring 157 on Saturday and produced a strong performance to get so far ahead, but they will need two solid innings if they are to trouble the tourists in Hamilton.

Prospect of Atkinson and Wood in same XI is early indication of attack England want for Ashes

Vithushan Ehantharajah17-Jul-2024From Thursday, James Anderson will be perched up on the England balcony in the Trent Bridge pavilion, at the side of the ground that is due to be renamed “The Stuart Broad End” before the start of the first day’s play. Broad himself will be at the other end, on the ones-and-twos as part of the Sky commentary team.Meanwhile, out in the middle, sandwiched by the gaze of 355 caps and 1,308 Test dismissals, a new era of English Test fast bowling will get underway. No pressure, lads.And yet, despite this being the first time in 12 years on home soil that England have put out a Broad-and-Anderson-less XI, a familiarity remains. Chris Woakes will earn his 50th cap. Mark Wood will return to Trent Bridge, nine years on from taking the decisive wicket here to secure England’s most recent Ashes success. Fresh from 18 overs in the first Test, Ben Stokes is on his way back to being the allrounder he once was.The biggest change is England’s shiniest new thing, Gus Atkinson, taking the new ball. Indeed, this promotion might also be the biggest indicator of what is to come. Not since a Test against New Zealand in 2021, when Olly Stone lined up alongside Wood, have England picked two genuine quicks in their attack.This was always going to be the direction of travel as soon as the 2025-26 Ashes were put at the top of the in-tray, leading to Anderson’s pensioning-off. Despite the deserved eulogies and celebrations of a remarkable career, it is in this second Test – only days after his Lord’s farewell – that England have truly shown their hand. And while it is no overt criticism of Anderson, the England captain made no secret that speed was at the top of England’s agenda.”You ask any batter in the world, whether it be Joe Root, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, pace is a massive weapon that makes you do different things,” Stokes said.”It makes you think differently. But also there has got to be skill attached to your pace. Gus showed that last week, that he’s more than just an out-and-out quick bowler, he’s incredibly skilful. As is Mark Wood. The ability for him to be able to bowl as quickly as he does but have the control and swing as well is something that’s very rare in someone who bowls that fast.Gus Atkinson will take over new-ball duties from the retired James Anderson•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

“It’s an added bonus having people who you can select who can bowl at 90mph and above, but you still have to be very skilful with what you’ve got.”Trending towards a quicker attack tallies with the make-up of October’s central contract list. Quicks populated every tier, from Wood on his three-year deal, down to the three development contracts, all of which were handed to fast bowlers: Matthew Fisher, Saqib Mahmood (both capped at Test level on the Broad-and-Anderson-less tour of the Caribbean in 2022) and, most intriguingly of all, John Turner.Despite not featuring in four-day cricket since July 2023, Turner was plucked off the Hampshire bench to play for the County Select XI against West Indies at the start of the month and impressed with five in the match, including 4 for 60 in the first innings. It would be a rogue shout to elevate a 23-year-old with just three first-class appearances to his name this summer. But is it that much more bold than, say, parking Anderson?Jofra Archer, meanwhile, is the biggest indicator of England’s caution. An encouraging return at the T20 World Cup, with 10 dismissals across eight matches, does not mean a revision to the management’s initial plans to reintroduce him to red-ball cricket in 2025.”For us, it’s about not getting too giddy with it,” Stokes said on Archer’s progression from his 18-month nightmare of elbow and back injuries. “If we don’t see him until next summer, for example, because we’re just making sure… if we don’t have him for a year, let’s say, but it prolongs his career for another two, three years, that’s what we are looking at trying to do.Related

• Anderson takes up the mitt as England seamers pick up the gauntlet

• WI coach Coley wants team to channel Gabba recovery for second Test against England

• Mark Wood returns to England Test attack in place of retired James Anderson

• Joshua Da Silva: England Ashes focus offers West Indies route back into series

• England go back to the future as post-Anderson era begins at Trent Bridge

“We’re not looking to rush Jof back. For me, as a huge Jofra Archer fan, it’s just great seeing him back in an England shirt.”Moving the seam attack along won’t be, erm, seamless. Atkinson has only opened the bowling three times in competitive first-class cricket. Wood, while not in need of overs under his belt to fire at full throttle, is making his first Test appearance after a chastening tour of India.Woakes, too, is emerging out of a tough period following the loss of his father. Following a break from the game, he returned to action for Warwickshire in June, ending a four-month absence from competitive action.His one wicket from 18 overs in the first Test showcased a lack of the snap and zip that earned him the Player-of-the-series gong for last summer’s Ashes, despite only being parachuted into the series from the third Test at Headingley.Woakes admitted a return to Test whites was his way of moving forward after his father’s death., and it promises to be an emotional cap presentation for his half-century of appearances on Thursday, after a journey which began in August 2013. Stokes, who lost his father in 2020, empathises with his desire to use the game to process his grief.”I’m probably guilty of that as well,” Stokes said. “But we had a chat before the game started. Coming into his first game back for England, when you look at the grand scheme of things with what Woakesy went through, that was his first game back without his dad there. There was a lot more emotion attached to that game for him.”I still think, even though he did not quite hit his straps like we’re used to seeing from Woakesy, it was a good run-out – if that makes sense – coming into this week. He’s played a game, obviously took some time out of the game because of an emotional time, but now he’s back out on the field doing what he wants to be doing. There was a lot of emotion last week attached to Woakesy.”Meanwhile, Anderson’s guidance in his new mentoring role was evident on Wednesday as he spent time coaching Stokes through developing a wobble-seam delivery. “I wish I had it last week when it was swinging,” Stokes said. “I could have nipped one back in. Everything he said to me made complete and utter sense and made it sound like the easiest thing in the world to do … but it’s not.”For all the wisdom that will sit watching on from that balcony – and critiquing from the other end – this new iteration of the England pace attack must apply it out on the field. All while staying true to their own attributes that have them front and centre of this new era. A daunting ask, but one Stokes implores all incumbents – present and future – to relish.”I think it’s a great opportunity for someone like Woakesy and even myself to take on a bit more responsibility in terms of speaking to the bowlers.”Jimmy has taken the new ball and will always see what is best to do; swing it, if not, go to his wobble ball. That burden and responsibility now falls on Gus and Woakesy this week and then whoever is lucky enough to take that new ball going forward.”

“I told our physio and doctor, ‘if this was a World Cup final, how would I react’?”

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Sep-20222:44

Philips 10 on 10 performer of the day: Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav was laid low by a sick bug on the morning of the deciding T20I against Australia in Hyderabad on Sunday. But he didn’t let the illness come in the way of his participation in the match.”We were travelling and there was a change in weather too. I had a stomach ache in the morning and also had fever,” Suryakumar told BCCI.tv. “But it was also a decider. I told our physio and doctor, if this was a World Cup final, how would I react?”I won’t just sit out saying it’s an illness. So do whatever, give me whatever pills or injection you want, but just get me ready for the game in the evening. Once you go into the match and wear that India jersey, the emotions are totally different.”Eventually, Suryakumar not only took the field, but made a vital contribution in India’s series-clinching victory. His 36-ball 69 in a century stand with Virat Kohli helped India overcome a wobble at the top to chase down 187 in the final over.Suryakumar hit five fours and as many sixes and his trademark 360-degree game was on display. During the course of his knock, he surpassed Mohammad Rizwan to become the highest scorer in T20Is so far in 2022.Related

• India thrive on the Kohli-Suryakumar show

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So far, he has made 682 runs in 20 innings at a strike rate of 182.84 this year. The tally includes four half-centuries and a hundred, against England at Trent Bridge. His impressive run of form vaulted him to third among all T20I batters, behind Pakistan’s Rizwan and South Africa’s Aiden Markram, on the ICC’s rankings.Suryakumar couldn’t help but exude self-belief when asked of his success mantra. “I practice the same way as I want to bat in the match,” he said. “I believe in just one thing: go and express yourself. If my success rate is above 75%, why not? I just think when I walk out, if I’m batting well, then I try to carry that phase on and try and finish off games.”On Sunday, while Suryakumar didn’t finish off the game, he had taken India to the doorstep of victory. Having slapped Josh Hazlewood for six and a four earlier in the 14th over, he holed out to long-on. By the time he was dismissed, India’s ask was a manageable 53 off six overs with seven wickets remaining.At the press conference, India captain Rohit Sharma was effusive in his praise for his colleague. “When it comes to Surya, we all know the quality he has,” Rohit said. “He can play shots all over the ground. And that is what makes him special. He has been very consistent with the bat. Every time he has gotten an opportunity, he has played an important innings for us.”Every time I see him, he has taken his game a notch higher which is a good sign as a player. Whenever you see that you can raise the level of your skills of what the team expects from you, it’s always a good sign. I can see that in Surya, every game that I see of him, every game that he plays, he seems to be getting better and better every time. And today was an exceptional innings.”To come out and play the innings that he played, we were two down in the powerplay. And to take the game away, literally, from the opposition was a fantastic effort. And not to forget Virat on the other side as well, what a crucial, crucial partnership, 100 partnership. From the team’s perspective it was a good sign.”

In a small chase, they stumbled to 65 for 6 before Agar’s calm helped seal the deal

Andrew McGlashan07-Aug-2021It may not rank particularly high in Australia’s sporting achievements today as the Olympics draws to a finish, but the cricketers avoided a series whitewash against Bangladesh with a three-wicket win in a low-scoring scrap on a devilishly tricky surface.The home side made them sweat for it, too, and when the chase subsided to 65 for 6 – with 30 of those runs having come when Dan Christian took Shakib Al Hasan for five sixes in an over – it looked like they could pull off an extraordinary victory. However, Ashton Agar produced a calm and clever innings to take Australia to the brink of the target alongside Ashton Turner.This entire series has been hard work for batters, and this match took it to another level. Bangladesh were set back by the excellent Josh Hazlewood, stumbled against the recalled Mitchell Swepson and only crossed three figures in the final over when Mahedi Hasan struck an enterprising 23 off 16 balls.Christian’s promotionWhen Matthew Wade fell in the first over the chase, missing an arm-ball from Mahedi that went between bat and pad, Australia signalled a change of intent. Christian walked in at No. 3 and it was clear from ball one that he was going to play his strokes. He thumped his second ball for four and then the fourth over against Shakib, he unleashed with five sixes in the arc from long-on to deep midwicket. Only the fourth ball of the over did not go over the rope when Shakib manage to toss one wider that spun to beat the bat. At 45 for 1 after four overs the chase was almost half done, but things had changed before the Powerplay was over with Ben McDermott lbw to Nasum Ahmed and then Christian carving Mustafizur Rahman to point as the left-arm started with a wicket maiden.Surely not, AustraliaThe tension started to grow, Bangladesh sensed Australia were vulnerable and it felt like Australia knew it themselves. Except for a thumping inside-out drive by Mitchell Marsh, he and Moises Henriques were cautious. There was no rush, of course, given the required rate but it did not feel convincing. Then a moment of fortune for Bangladesh when Marsh’s firm drive clipped Shakib’s fingers and went onto the stumps with Henriques short of his crease. Alex Carey was kept quiet by Mahedi and then pinned lbw by another superb cutter from Mustafizur. Five balls later, Marsh played inside one from Mahedi and Bangladesh were favourites before Turner and Agar combined. The tension was broken somewhat when Agar slog-swept Nasum with just enough power to clear deep midwicket in what became a little gem of an innings under pressure.Shakib’s tough nightAside from the finger-tip run out, it was not a night that Shakib will remember too fondly but it can happen to the best of them. Like most batters he could not get going, labouring to 15 off 26 balls after Bangladesh had made a relatively and deceptively brisk start. He was kept quiet by Agar, Turner and Andrew Tye before eventually falling when he tried to cut Hazlewood. With the ball, he responded well from going for 30 in one over but figures of 4-0-50-0 in a low-scoring match certainly stood out.Swepson grabs his chanceThis was just Swepson’s second outing of the twin tours to West Indies and Bangladesh but he took his chance to make a mark with his best figures of a short T20I career. He trapped Mahmudullah lbw sweeping then pinned Nurul Hasan first ball with a googly although couldn’t join Nathan Ellis with a hat-trick. But he did claim a third when Mohammad Naim, who top scored with 28 off 36 balls, top-edged a slog sweep. If a third frontline spinner is needed for the World Cup he should be locked in.

Hamid Hassan, Waqar Salamkheil and Azmatullah Omarzai are also yet to join Afghanistan’s squad

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Mar-2021Five Afghanistan players including mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, fast bowler Hamid Hassan and allrounder Gulbadin Naib await the resolution of a “visa issue”, according to an ACB release, before they can join their team-mates for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe in the UAE. The two other players on the wait list are left-arm wristspinner Waqar Salamkheil and the allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai.A 15-member squad, led by Asghar Afghan, is already in the UAE ahead of the series, which begins on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. A number of these players were involved in the two-match Test series, which ended on Sunday, with the teams winning one Test apiece.Afghanistan squad for T20I series: Asghar Afghan (capt), Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Afsar Zazai (wk), Usman Ghani, Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Amir Hamza, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Farid Malik.
Players awaiting visas: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hamid Hassan, Gulbadin Naib, Waqar Salamkheil, Azmatullah Omarzai.

The two quicks picked up three wickets each before fifties from Reeza Hendricks and Heinrich Klaasen steered South Africa home

The Report by Liam Brickhill06-Oct-2018AFP

Reeza Hendricks added to his debut hundred with an assured 66 and Heinrich Klaasen registered his maiden ODI fifty as South Africa chased down Zimbabwe’s 228 with four overs to spare in Paarl. On the best pitch so far seen in the series, South Africa’s frontline bowlers shared the spoils to bowl Zimbabwe out three balls short of a full innings. An inexperienced batting line-up then put in their best performance of the series as South Africa strolled to a four-wicket win.Dale Steyn’s successful return to ODI cricket continued and he led the charge with 3 for 29 in the afternoon, once again bowling with menacing pace. South Africa’s opening pair of Hendricks and Aiden Markram then shared in an opening stand of 75, setting the platform for Klaasen’s 59 and the unbeaten 25 from Khaya Zondo that guided South Africa to a 3-0 series victory.While Klaasen marshalled the latter end of South Africa’s chase, Hendricks and Markram were in complete control throughout the Powerplay, aided by erratic lines from Zimbabwe with the new ball. Tendai Chatara fed Markram’s whips through the leg side and then overcorrected on the off to leak five boundaries in his first two overs.Hamilton Masakadza cycled through his seamers and then turned to his spinners as early as the eighth over. But on a benign pitch the visiting attack lost their bite. There was accuracy, but not deception from Sean Williams and Brandon Mavuta tried to do a little too much with his variations of legspin, losing control of his length. Hendricks swatted boundaries whenever the young legspinner erred, while Markram skipped out to hit Williams twice down the ground before he was unluckily given out lbw for 42 – there is no DRS in this series, and Umpire Chris Gaffaney missed an inside edge.Faf du Plessis, returning to action after recovering from the shoulder injury he picked up in the field against Sri Lanka in August, eased himself in with a couple of confident strokes off the front foot but then picked out Craig Ervine at midwicket, pulling at a Mavuta half-tracker.The dismissal of the South African captain in the 20th over allowed Zimbabwe to build a little pressure in the field, and they might have had an opening when Hendricks was trapped in front of his stumps by Donald Tiripano for 66. Klaasen made sure they didn’t. Playing the pull with particular power, he raced to fifty from 59 balls and added 66 with Zondo to put South Africa within a couple of shots of victory.Klaasen laced two of fours off Kyle Jarvis, but fell attempting a third. Phehlukwayo then fell for a nine-ball duck as Zimbabwe delayed the inevitable, only for Steyn to arrive at the crease and thump the third ball he faced down the ground to end the match. On a pitch not dissimilar from those South Africa might expect to find at the World Cup in England next year, the hosts had finally flexed their batting bench strength a little.They also got the chance to try out an exciting combination with the ball, with Steyn and Imran Tahir sharing the new ball duties. While there was very little turn for Tahir, his variations of wrist and pace kept the Zimbabwean openers guessing, and soon did for Solomon Mire.When Craig Ervine feathered his third ball, from Steyn, through to Klaasen and Rabada set Masakadza up with a reverse three-card trick that went yorker, yorker, bouncer Zimbabwe were once again three down in close proximity to the Powerplay. Another low total loomed, but Williams and Taylor went on the counterattack in style.They added 73 for the fourth wicket, Taylor reaching a significant milestone in the process as he became the third Zimbabwean to reach 6,000 runs in ODIs, after the Flower brothers. Some brilliantly sharp keeping from Klaasen had Taylor stumped for 40, but Williams continued to attack and raced past his previous best of 55 against South Africa.He eventually played too early to be caught and bowled by Rabada for 69, and with Peter Moor and Elton Chigumbura falling cheaply it was left to Donald Tiripano and Mavuta to boost the score beyond 200. Zimbabwe didn’t have quite enough left in the tank to bat through their innings, Tiripano falling for 29 in the pursuit of quick runs with three balls to go. They did at least offer South Africa a reasonable target to chase under lights, and the hosts’ top order responded with their most compelling performance of a 3-0 whitewash.

Ben Stokes is preparing to play his first game of competitive cricket since he was arrested in September following a street brawl in Bristol

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Dec-2017The Mainpower Oval in Rangiora, on the outskirts of Christchurch, is braced for the highest-profile contest in its history on Sunday, as Ben Stokes prepares to play his first game of competitive cricket since he was arrested in September following a street brawl in Bristol.Stokes, who caused a sensation last week when he was spotted at Heathrow Airport with his full cricket kit, has agreed terms to represent Canterbury in their domestic competitions, starting with a 50-over game against Otago in the Ford Trophy.He was granted a No Objection Certificate by the ECB on November 24, leading to speculation that he was being primed for an England recall as soon as the third Ashes Test at Perth, starting on December 14.However, Avon and Somerset Police last week confirmed that they had passed their completed file over to the Crown Prosecution Service, to seek advice as to whether Stokes should be charged for his actions on September 25 – a development that has made his prospects of featuring in the Ashes ever more remote.Nevertheless, he has settled in with his new team-mates at Canterbury, and spoke briefly to reporters at a nets session at Rangiora on Saturday morning, hours before his England team-mates embarked on the second Test against Australia at Adelaide.”I’d been working hard back home as well so it’ll be good to put that into practice,” Stokes told the Daily Telegraph. “I think it’ll be good for the club as well, so I’m looking forward to getting out there and hopefully winning.”It’s the first time I’ve met quite a few of them [Canterbury team-mates] today,” he added. “I knew a few of the younger guys because they’d been coming over to Durham on an exchange programme, so it’s nice to know a few faces because it is always hard coming into a new team when you’re meeting them for the first time. So it was nice to see a few friendly faces.””Ben is just desperate to play cricket,” said Gary Stead, Canterbury’s director of cricket. “He really reminded me of a young kid just wanting to get out there and play.”I can’t remember a time where there’s been more interest in any match I’ve ever played in or been involved with in New Zealand,” Stead added. “There’s been interest from all over the world.”Some have questioned Stokes’ signing in the circumstances, including Peter Fulton, Canterbury’s former captain. However, for Brendan Donkers, the club’s one-day coach, his arrival comes with spin-off benefits.”We’re a young group with an average age of 23 or 24, so to have a guy of Ben’s experience and quality is really going to lift our standards,” said Donkers. “Some people are saying we’d be foolish if we didn’t play him and some say we’d be foolish to play him – but from a cricket perspective it is fantastic.”This is the first time I have been standing with four microphones in front of me,” Donkers added. “If our guys have got international aspirations, this is the norm so this is a good experience for them.”

A 113-run partnership between Pakistan veterans Shoaib Malik – who scored his ninth ODI century with a six to seal victory – and Mohammad Hafeez saw Pakistan canter to a six-wicket win and clinch the three-match series 2-1

The Report by Danyal Rasool11-Apr-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsShoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez put on a century stand to set up victory•AFP

A commanding performance to secure a vice-like grip on eighth place doesn’t sound like an especially formidable achievement, but it was a much-needed boost off the back of a troubling few months for Pakistan cricket. A 113-run partnership between veterans Shoaib Malik – who reached his ninth ODI century with the six to seal victory – and Mohammad Hafeez enabled Pakistan to canter to a six-wicket win and clinch the three-match series 2-1.Pakistan’s chase of 234 got off to an eventful start, with a first-ball wicket, a nasty collision between Ahmed Shehzad and Babar Azam, a dropped catch at mid-on and a brilliant grab by wicketkeeper Shai Hope all crammed into a lively first six overs. Babar edged Shannon Gabriel into his stumps less than three overs later, and the upshot from a frenetic opening Powerplay was Pakistan had lost three wickets for 45 and, for the umpteenth time, were looking wobbly.The one positive Pakistan could glean from the situation was that Hafeez and Malik were at the crease together, and with 430 ODIs between them, they represented vast experience, if nothing else. It showed, too, with the pair ensuring they made survival their main priority for the next hour or so amid some testing spin bowling by Devendra Bishoo and Ashley Nurse, and they slowly began to turn the game in Pakistan’s favour.By the time Hafeez holed out to deep square leg, the visitors needed less than 100 to win. Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed then joined Malik at the crease, the pair picking off the poor deliveries with consummate ease in a stroll towards their target. Towards the end, Malik was playing with such ease that he gave himself the chance of a century, which he completed in style with a straight six off Jason Holder. It might not always have been smooth sailing, but in the end, it was unquestionably clinical.West Indies will rue a failure to take proper advantage of the review system for the second game running. When Hafeez was on 39, Nurse, arguably the most consistent performer for his side all series, spun one sharply back into him, the ball striking the top of his front pad. Hawk-Eye showed it would have been given out on review, but Holder decided against going to the third umpire. It was one among a series of errors West Indies committed in the field – dropped catches playing a starring role once again – and by the time Hafeez was finally dismissed, the telling blows had long since been struck.West Indies had managed to scrap to 233 despite being squeezed for runs during much of the first half of their innings. Having slipped to 68 for 3 with a run rate well under four, Hope and Jason Mohammed combined for a 101-run partnership – the first three-figure partnership for West Indies this year – to set their team on course for what was at least a competitive total.The heart of West Indies’ innings was stifled by a sustained spell of pressure from Pakistan’s spinners, a spell that, in hindsight proved decisive. Imad Wasim was the pick of the bowlers, bolstering his credentials as a genuine ODI allrounder following on from his impressive batting performance in the previous match. He was the major reason for West Indies’ sluggishness during the middle overs, consistently bowling on a good line and getting the ball to spin away from the right-handers. Hafeez provided him able support, and their combined bowling figures of 17-1-45-1 aptly told the story of the middle overs.But even when their run rate slipped to as low as 3.34 runs per over, West Indies had one metric in their favour: seven wickets in hand. Inch by inch, Mohammed and Hope began to climb their way back into the contest, Mohammed launching Hasan Ali for sixes in consecutive overs and setting his team up for the final push.However, just as the hosts looked like they were eyeing 250, Mohammad Amir and Junaid Khan took over from Shadab Khan, who had an indifferent day with the ball – despite picking up the wickets of Hope and Jonathan Carter – conceding 57 runs in his eight overs. The quality of Pakistan’s quicks shone through with a splendid bowling performance during the death overs, the two left-armers regularly landing yorkers with surgical precision that the batsmen struggled to get underneath. Only 29 runs came off the last five overs as the momentum West Indies had threatened to build up was punctured severely. Runs in short supply was a familiar theme for the hosts all evening, culminating in a result they – and their fans – have become all too familiar with of late.