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Heather Knight and Georgia Elwiss produced a pair of composed innings to guide England to a series-clinching five-wicket victory at the Wanderers after their chase had been in considerable early trouble

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2016
ScorecardGeorgia Elwiss and Heather Knight scored vital fifties•Gallo Images

Heather Knight and Georgia Elwiss produced a pair of composed innings to guide England to a series-clinching five-wicket victory at the Wanderers – as well as important points in the Women’s Championship – after their chase had been in considerable early trouble.South Africa battled impressively to post 196 for 9 after being 85 for 6 – Lizelle Lee making 74 off 77 deliveries – and in response England slipped to 38 for 3 in the 10th over when Chloe Tryon removed Sarah Taylor.Fresh from the memories of chasing down 263 in the second match – their first victory over England since 2004 – South Africa sensed a chance, but were thwarted by the middle order. Firstly, Charlotte Edwards helped steady the chase as she and Knight added 53 before Edwards fell to Ayabonga Khaka.Then Knight, who earlier claimed 2 for 36 in nine overs, and Elwiss took charge, forming a stand of 97 in 20 overs. Elwiss played the more aggressive role with 61 off 67 deliveries – her maiden international fifty – which included an early six off Dane van Niekerk to help relieve some pressure.Elwiss’ fifty came off 53 balls while Knight’s arrived from 84; Elwiss could not quite see England over the line but Knight remained unbeaten.England had set a good early tone after winning the toss when Anya Shrubsole struck fourth ball, but a second-wicket stand of 57 between Trisha Chetty and captain Mignon du Preez laid a solid foundation. However, they were stunted by two quick wickets – Elwiss making her first impression of the day when she bowled du Preez and then Danielle Hazell removing Marizanne Kapp for a duck – and the collapse reached 5 for 28 when Shrubsole returned to strike two further blows.The innings was revived by a seventh-wicket stand of 80 between Lee and Sune Luus. Lee’s fifty came off 79 balls and although she was eighth out, the last-wicket pair ensured South Africa batted out their 50 overs.At 30 without loss inside five overs, England were off to a brisk start in the chase but the openers – Lauren Winfield and Amy Jones – fell in the space of three deliveries and when Taylor fell for 2 the pressure was on, but England found a response. Victory drew them level with South Africa in fourth, with 13 points, in the Women’s Championship.Edwards said: “We are obviously disappointed not to have secured the full six points available for this series, but to come away with four points against a strong South African side away from home is still a pleasing result for us.”The last three matches have ebbed and flowed for us performance-wise. We have shown glimpses of what we are capable of with both bat and ball, but to be competitive with the best teams in the world we still need to be more consistent.”We are starting to show signs of the positive, proactive and fearless cricket that we want to play, and I hope we can take this into the T20I series starting in Paarl on Thursday, and then the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in India next month.”

Michael Carberry blazed and blasted Lancashire for his first Twenty20 century but the tenacious Red Rose refused to be bullied and gave Hampshire the shock of their live

Alex Winter at the Ageas Bowl07-Aug-2013
ScorecardMichael Carberry’s hundred came from the last ball of the innings•Getty Images

Michael Carberry blazed and blasted Lancashire for his first Twenty20 century but the tenacious Red Rose refused to be bullied and gave Hampshire, the defending champions, the shock of their lives before falling a run short in a remarkable chase.Carberry’s 66-ball century was the defining innings of the match but first Karl Brown, then Steven Croft and Gareth Cross threatened to upstage him. It would have been some upset and Lancashire’s highest chase in T20s but they failed by the narrowest margin. Hampshire were back at Finals Day.Chasing 10-an-over Lancashire stayed in touch with a brave effort. They regularly found the necessary boundaries and ran just as well as Carberry and his partners had done. Hampshire thought two wickets in two balls for Danny Briggs had killed the reply but Lancashire almost pulled off the miraculous.With 42 needed from three overs, Sohail Tanvir – who was in the Caribbean with Pakistan and missed Hampshire’s final three group matches – criminally bowled a no-ball and was sent to the long-off boundary as 11 runs from the over kept Lancashire alive.Chris Wood, who held his nerve to close out victory in the Clydesdale Bank 40 final last season, looked to be doing so again with block-hole deliveries but his final two balls were slightly overpitched and Cross went down to ramp the first to long leg for four and then slapped the sixth, a full toss, over long-on.That meant 17 were needed from the final over and Tanvir was given the task. Another no-ball preceded two well-directed yorkers. But in striving for another, Croft lined up the length and blasted it over extra cover. A single and a scrambled two from a ball which went no more than a yard from the bowler’s stumps meant four were needed from the final delivery. A low full-toss was swung down the ground, they could only get two and Hampshire breathed a mighty sigh of relief.To get that close was a tremendous attempt considering the pummelling they had taken in the field albeit on a pristine batting surface. Although Carberry took the headlines, the onslaught had actually been started by James Vince who stroked a 30-ball 60 during an opening stand of 110 in 10 overs.

Bransgrove’s rock ‘n roll

When you pump an eight-figure sum into a company, you would be forgiven for wanting some recognition but playing guitar at the company’s home is among the more outlandish activities of a chairman.

But Rod Bransgrove probably deserves it having transformed Hampshire with his investment. He’s allowed some fun. As such, his band, the ironically named , provided the post-match entertainment with a cheery mix of old classic rock and pop.

Bransgrove is a keen music fan and enjoys the company of Sir Mick Jagger among other famous musical names. His band, featuring some well-known local talent, made their Ageas Bowl debut last season with a charity gig. This one was just for the hell of it.

Carberry gave a chance to Stephen Moore at deep-backward square-leg when on 14. Glen Chapple thought he had bagged the prize wicket as Carberry hooked him into the deep. The Ageas Bowl fell silent as Moore ran in for the catch but he misjudged the flight, the ball carried over his left shoulder for four and the carnage began.A stocky figure with big muscles, Carberry has ballistic power. His cock of the wrists in the backlift allows the bat to flash through and even strokes not perfectly timed have sufficient projection to find the rope. And when he does find the meat of the bat he sends the ball a very long way.He found three such long balls. The first when Chapple wrongly decided a third over of his opening spell was a good idea during which a long hop was dispatched over midwicket. Kabir Ali was swung over long-on before Simon Kerrigan was hoisted into the sightscreen at the Northern End.But it was the carving drives and flicks square of the wicket where Carberry’s unconventional backlift benefitted him most. He placed the ball incredibly well and extracted plenty of twos. Lancashire were well and untruly given the run around.Lancashire had selected two specialist spinners in Kerrigan and offspinner Arron Lilley, playing just his seventh T20, but any hope that pace off the ball would trouble Hampshire’s power-hitters was quickly deadened. Neither bowler sent down his full allocation and conceded a combined 62 from six overs.In contrast Briggs, Hampshire’s leading wicket-taker in the competition, and Liam Dawson were far more economical. Briggs came up with two identical dismissals in the 12th over to seemingly swing the contest.Both Brown, one short of a half-century, and Simon Katich, went back to cut deliveries that slid on to their exposed stumps. But Brown appeared unlucky as replays suggested the ball may have missed the stumps and it was wicketkeeper Adam Wheater’s gloves that dislodged the bails.Briggs then had Moore caught and bowled after a more patient innings that required some acceleration to become a match-winning knock. That impetus was provided by Croft and Cross and they nearly brought a glorious conclusion.

Australia’s Usman Khawaja scored his maiden one-day century for Derbyshire as they recorded a CB40 double over the Unicorns with a 35-run victory

15-Jul-2012
ScorecardAustralia’s Usman Khawaja scored his maiden one-day century for Derbyshire as they recorded a Clydesdale Bank 40 double over the Unicorns with a 35-run victory at Chesterfield.Khawaja made 104 from 109 balls and shared a century opening stand with Chesney Hughes who made 66 out of Derbyshire’s 235 for 7.Luis Reece led the chase with 59 from 63 balls but his dismissal in the 35th over ended the Unicorns’ slim hopes and they were bowled out for 200, with Mark Turner taking four for 54.Derbyshire’s only previous victory in the competition was against the Unicorns in early May and Khawaja and Hughes put them in a strong position to repeat that success with an opening stand of 138 in 26 overs.Not surprisingly after so much rain, the pitch was slow but both batsmen reeled off some handsome strokes on a rare day of sunshine and blue skies.Hughes scattered spectators behind the long on boundary by driving Bradley Wadlan’s slow left-arm spin for the first six of the innings and Khawaja matched his partner when he swept Luke Beaven over midwicket in the next over.Khawaja’s cover driving was a highlight of Derbyshire’s innings and after reaching his fifty from 66 balls, he pulled a second six off Reece who put down a sharp return chance when Hughes was on 55.Hughes sliced a drive to cover three overs later but Khawaja moved smoothly to his hundred before he was bowled trying to reverse sweep and that sparked off a collapse which saw six wickets fall in 25 balls.Wayne Madsen miscued a drive, Dan Redfern failed to clear long on and Garry Park, playing against his younger brother Craig, went first ball when he chipped a catch to cover.Jon Clare got off the mark with a six that flew into a row of portable toilets but Glen Querl struck twice in the final over as the Falcons fell well short of the total Khawaja and Hughes put them on course for.But it was still a demanding target for a team that had not previously scored 200 in the CB40 this season although they got off to a flier as James Ord and Wadlan plundered 30 from Turner’s opening three overs.Ord unleashed one of the shots of the day when he straight drove Turner into the timber-framed pavilion but Clare cut short what was developing into a dangerous partnership when he trapped him lbw in his first over.Wadlan skied a sweep at Durston to mid-on but former Leicestershire wicketkeeper Tom New kept the Unicorns in the hunt against the county he played for on loan with 31 before he was caught behind in the 21st over.When ex-Somerset stalwart Keith Parsons was run out for a duck in the same over, the Unicorns chase was faltering and Craig Park narrowly avoided matching his brother’s first ball dismissal when he was dropped by Richard Johnson, who was making his debut on loan from Warwickshire.Reece swept David Wainwright for six to reach 50 but when he sliced Turner to cover, the game was up and the fast bowler wrapped up victory with his fourth victim in the 39th over.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Mustafa Kamal has revealed that it was South Africa’s stand that swung the ICC presidency rotation system issue in Bangladesh’s favour during the annual conference in Hong Kong last week

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jul-2011Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Mustafa Kamal has revealed that it was South Africa’s stand that swung the ICC presidency rotation issue during the annual conference in Hong Kong last week. South Africa, defying the line set by India and others, provided unexpected and late support to Bangladesh and Pakistan to convince the ICC executive board to delay any decision over replacing the existing setup with an open candidature method.Under the current system Pakistan and Bangladesh are next in line to nominate the ICC president and vice-president once Alan Isaac of New Zealand ends his term as ICC chief in 2014. The two countries were also helped by Sri Lanka, who stuck to the stand it had taken during the “circular resolution” by the executive board on May 31 seeking an amendment in the ICC constitution over the appointment procedure of its president.”I went in with only one supporter [Pakistan],” Kamal said during a press conference at the BCB headquarters on Sunday. “Sri Lanka didn’t vote from the first instance but while I was defending my case, South Africa came to my support. They were the fourth vote that really helped to bring it in our favour.”South Africa’s stand convinced the ICC’s executive board to not take the matter to the ICC full council, which could have ratified the move if eight Full Members and 38 of the 50 Members had voted in favour.Between now and its next meeting in October, the executive board will discuss the matter and it will once again be brought to vote if necessary. By then the Governance Review Committee would have completed its look at all related matters – including the possibility of appointing independent directors.Kamal also said that during their discussion this October, the ICC would only amend the rotation system and not end it. “In October, certain clauses will be amended so that bottlenecks – like the John Howard situation – can be tackled. But in no way will the rotation be scrapped.”The grouse in the local media was whether Bangladesh let go of the presidency too easily but Kamal clarified that he did not “sell the country” as was suggested, but did it only to buy time. “I also read that we have sold out to a certain board but that is not the case,” he said. “I wouldn’t have fought if I had given up the place already. I always maintained that I voted giving the condition that the rotation must not be scrapped until the cycle ends.”Apart from Kamal’s clarification that he did indeed vote in favour initially, he also confirmed that it wasn’t done to bargain with the Indian board but as a measure to bring the ICC presidency, ultimately, to Bangladesh. “When the resolution via circular came up, it didn’t sit well with me. It was a strategic move to vote in favour at first,” he explained.Kamal was also asked why he didn’t discuss the matter with the board. One director (Dewan Shafiul Arefin) confirmed to Dhaka-based Daily Star that nothing was talked about but Kamal said that the “resolution via circular” wasn’t the end of the story. “Why didn’t I discuss it with my board? Well there wasn’t much time and I also knew that it would be discussed in Hong Kong.”

Sussex strengthened their grip at the top of the table as they beat nearest rivals Essex by 17 runs in their Friends Provident Twenty20 battle at Chelmsford

29-Jun-2010

ScorecardGrant Flower is bowled during Essex’s collapse as their run chase fell apart•Getty Images

Sussex strengthened their grip at the top of the table as they beat nearest rivals Essex by 17 runs in their Friends Provident Twenty20 battle at Chelmsford.After posting a total of 174 for 5 on the back of a superb half-century from Matt Prior, Sussex restricted their opponents to 157 for 9. Prior dominated an opening partnership with Ed Joyce to such an extent that he scored 50 out of 65 runs before he drove David Masters to extra cover where Mark Pettini took a fine catch.Those runs came from only 27 balls and contained four sixes and four boundaries. Joyce, Murray Goodwin, Dwayne Smith and Andrew Hodd all reached the 20s to ensure Sussex set their opponents a testing target.Left-arm spinner Tim Phillips was the pick of the bowlers, conceding 22 runs in his four overs during which he claimed the wicket of Joyce. It looked as though Prior’s efforts would go unrewarded when Essex replied.With Pettini, who was restored to the side after a loss of form lead to him being dropped a fortnight ago, finding his touch without the burden of captaincy, Essex reached the halfway stage on 82 without loss.It was not until two overs and eight runs later that Pettini’s innings came to an end after he contributed 59 from 38 deliveries with the help of five fours and three sixes. But Essex’s hopes of recording a sixth successive win quickly evaporated as they lost their way.Pettini’s departure signalled a collapse that saw nine wickets go down in as many overs for 49 runs. Among them was young opener Jaik Mickleburgh who was run out for 32, but he struggled so much that he needed 42 balls to gather those runs while striking just two boundaries.A late flourish from John Maunders, who struck two sixes in an unbeaten 25 from 16 balls, gave the Essex reply an air of respectability but never threatened to prevent Sussex getting back on the winning trail.Their win came after two defeats and was backed up by some disciplined bowling and fine work in the field. Chad Keegan bowled with commendable accuracy while conceding just 19 in four overs, during which he gathered the wicket of Pettini, while Smith was also a model of accuracy while picking up one for 23.

Promising allround display comes after promotion to No.4 for series against Australia

Matt Roller12-Sep-2024Liam Livingstone believes he can use promotion in England’s T20I team to pitch his case for a recall to their ODI set-up. England have used Livingstone as a finisher in each of the last three T20 World Cups but he top-scored with 37 from No. 4 in their defeat to Australia at the Utilita Bowl on Wednesday night, having earlier taken 3 for 22 with his legbreaks.Along with Sam Curran, Livingstone was one of two headline omissions from England’s squad for the five-match ODI series which starts next Thursday, effectively losing his spot to Jacob Bethell. Livingstone said he was told he had been dropped by Rob Key – “the old good news, bad news” – in a brief phone call, and is unclear how he can win his place back.England’s top white-ball players no longer feature in their domestic 50-over competition, which clashes with the Hundred, and Livingstone has not played in the County Championship for two years. While he could feature in November’s ODI series in the Caribbean, with Test players unlikely to be available, his chances of featuring in February’s Champions Trophy likely rest on his T20 form.”I don’t really know – that’s one of my challenges,” Livingstone said. “That’s why I’m happy that I’ve got an opportunity to bat up the order [in the T20Is]. I feel like I’ve shown over the last couple of weeks, maybe a month, that the longer I get to bat in games, the more of a chance I have to affect games.”I feel like I’ve done that in 50-over cricket as well: if you take away the World Cup, I feel like I’d done that further down the order. But it is what it is: I’m 31, I’m not going to sit here and cry about not being picked. There’s plenty of cricket to be played around the world, and if I’m not involved in the ODI stuff then there’s plenty more opportunities.Related

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“I want to play as much cricket for England as I possibly can. Unfortunately, I won’t be playing in the ODIs but it’s still not something I’m giving up on. I’ve had a difficult couple of years. My body has probably let me down a little bit, and maybe I haven’t been up to scratch physically, with a couple of niggles here and there.”Livingstone’s breakthrough as an international cricketer was remarkable. Recalled to the T20I side after a four-year absence, he was the undisputed star of the 2021 English summer, hitting a 42-ball century against Pakistan and launching Haris Rauf for a 117-metre straight six at Headingley. He was also the inaugural Hundred MVP, and impressed at the 2022 IPL.But since then he has faded, and is playing for his international future this week. If England’s Test batters had been available for this series – including Ben Duckett, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith – then Livingstone’s spot in the side would have been at risk. Instead, he has been promoted to No. 4 and was their best performer on Wednesday night.Livingstone blames regular injuries for his drop-off, having rushed back from an ankle injury to be fit for the 2022 T20 World Cup and injuring his knee on Test debut weeks after the final. He is now fully fit: “I can run around at 100 percent in the field and I can bowl and bat to the best of my ability, which is something I probably haven’t been able to do for two-and-a-half years.”He has been told that he will get a run at No. 4 in this series, a role he prefers to being a finisher. “It’s up to me to make sure I try to do as well as I can and give them a bit of a headache for the next series,” he said. “I don’t think you’ll see anybody that wants to bat lower down the order.”I want that responsibility. I want to try to win games of cricket for England, and the higher up the order, the more chance you have of doing that. There’s less people that can play that role [at No. 6] and sometimes you’ve got to take it on the chin… [but] this is a chance for me to stake my claim.”At 31, Livingstone is the second-oldest player in England’s squad for this series behind Adil Rashid. “It feels weird, but I feel really old in this team,” he said. “I’ve got to give the younger boys a steer and take a bit of pressure off them. I enjoyed the responsibility.”There’s a bit of a fresh look, a fresh environment,” he added. “Things are going to change. That naturally happens when you bring in new players, but especially when you bring in new coaches as well. Things have felt different: it’s like a new beginning.”

Spinner claims his best figures at the Ageas Bowl and sixth first-class five-for

ECB Reporters Network20-May-2023Hampshire 367 (Vince 95, Dawson 63, White 4-80) beat Northamptonshire 56 (Barker 4-13) and 176 (Zaib 57*, Whiteman 45, Dawson 6-61) by an innings and 135 runsNorthamptonshire succumbed to their third straight innings LV= Insurance County Championship defeat to bogey side Hampshire led by Liam Dawson’s five-wicket haul.Dawson claimed 6 for 61 for his sixth first-class five-for and his best figures at the Ageas Bowl to reignite Hampshire’s title hopes after two winless matches with victory by an innings and 135 runs coming inside three days.Northamptonshire, who have one win and a solitary batting bonus point so far this season, only claimed three points from the match as they sit rock bottom of Division One.Hampshire have dominated Northamptonshire in their three Championship clashes – starting at the Ageas Bowl last September and continuing in home and away drubbings this term.Their three innings have resulted in 1,249 runs – in response, Northamptonshire have only cobbled together 840 in six innings. This thrashing was fashioned on the first two days.Hampshire grafted hard to score 367 runs in just over a day, thanks to James Vince’s 95, Dawson’s 63, and forties for Fletcha Middleton and Ben Brown.Northamptonshire were bowled out for a new Ageas Bowl low of 56 in 30.2 overs and were already two down in their second innings by the close.Their head coach John Sadler called for “fight, graft and resilience” and promoted the idea of classic red ball batting going forward. Sam Whiteman and Rob Keogh took that to heart. The duo batted out 39 of the first 42 balls of the day as dots and took few risks, while starting to nibble away at the deficit.Whiteman would face 93 balls and Keogh 113, but after an hour of occupation under stunning blue skies, a collapse wasn’t far away.Dawson’s second over of the day was long enough to see Australian Whiteman attempt a drive out of the rough, only to get bowled through the gate.Ricardo Vasconcelos also took the attacking route out but missed his slog sweep by a distance to leave his stumps exposed.Keogh had been dropped earlier in the morning by Dawson before the left-arm spinner had him leg before with an arm ball and Northamptonshire were now 150 for 5, having been 89 for 2 little more than 10 overs earlier.Mohammad Abbas had James Sales lbw with the first ball after lunch to begin a post-interval collapse of 33 for 5.Dawson returned to pin Tom Taylor in front for a pair – joining Hassan Azad in the scoreless corner – before Jordan Buckingham went back to another one which went on with the arm.Saif Zaib – who had been the only Northamptonshire batter to reach double figures in the first innings – again impressed with a 78-ball fifty. He showed application, mixed with some attractive shot-making to end up unbeaten on 57.But Dawson kissed the top of Jack White’s off stump with a ragging delivery and Mason Crane – on his first appearance of the season – got Alex Russell to edge to first slip to end Northamptonshire’s miserable trip to the south coast at 2:40pm. The last eight wickets had been lost for just 87 runs.

Opening batter expresses pleasure at “added responsibility” of being chosen by Gujarat Titans

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Mar-2022As an opener over the last two seasons of the IPL, Shubman Gill has struck at only 118.45. This, despite the fact that he comes out to bat in the powerplay, where only two fielders man the boundary. Whether Gill goes at too slow a pace and ends up putting pressure on the batter at the other end has often been a topic of debate, but the man himself says every situation requires a different “mindset”.”It differs from situation to situation, and when you go in to bat, there are different targets. Your mindset can’t be the same in every innings,” Gill, who will be representing Gujarat Titans this season, said. “The wicket might be different. So you have to plan accordingly. As a player, that is the challenge, and you know that if you play with the same mindset and game plan, then it becomes very easy for the opposition to plan tactically.Related

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“And it is all about experience when it comes to adapting to different situations. That is what helps you grow. This year, I’ll be working with Gary Kirsten, who is our mentor [and batting coach], and hopefully, I get to learn some new tricks to put up my sleeve.”Despite playing 52 of the 70 innings in his T20 career as opener, Gill says he will be happy to contribute in any way his team needs. The last time he batted at any spot other than the top was against Sunrisers Hyderabad back in 2019, a season when he kept floating around the batting order – from No. 1 to No. 7 – for Kolkata Knight Riders.”I am looking forward to whatever the team demands from me,” he said. “I am sure the captain and the coaching staff have a particular thing in mind… hopefully, we all can work together and help the team.”Having so far played only Tests and ODIs for India, Gill, who is only 22, has aspirations of making the national squad for the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.”If any player does very well in the IPL, then obviously there are chances that he is considered [for India]. And a World Cup is a very big tournament for everyone, and everyone wants to play it,” he said. “And if I do well in this IPL and get that opportunity, then I’ll be very thankful.”Titans, being new to the IPL, were allowed to pick three players from the auction pool before the mega event even took place. They chose Gill, Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan and the young opener is eager to repay the faith that has been placed in him by the franchise.”Unfortunately, I didn’t get retained by KKR… but it felt great when I when I got to know that Gujarat Titans were interested in retaining me,” he said. “If any team retains and trusts you so much, then you gain a lot of confidence.”This is also a very good and a big opportunity for me at Gujarat. Ashu [Ashish Nehra, head coach] and Hardik showed a lot of trust by retaining me. This brings an added responsibility, and I like taking responsibilities.”Apart from fulfilling his role, Gill also wants to ensure that Titans build a good head of steam and then keep it going through the long season, where each team plays 14 matches before entering the playoffs.”IPL is a tournament where you can’t take any team lightly because T20 is the shortest format, where chances of making a comeback are a lot higher, no matter whichever team you play,” he said.”Most importantly, being such a long tournament means it is very important to carry forward the momentum you have gained after winning your first few matches. The matches are held one after the other, and so likewise, you could even lose two or three matches [in a row]. And the team that is able to break their run of losses turns out to be having the best chance.”

Zimbabwe might rue not getting over the line in the first game against an off-colour opposition

Danyal Rasool31-Oct-2020

Big picture

The first ODI was an exciting one for the neutrals, and everyone looking for a competitive series, but it’s best to a bit cautious if anyone feels that the close finish has set a template of sorts for the remaining two games. The difference was 26 runs in that game, and what will gut Zimbabwe the most about not getting over the line was that they had in front of them an off-colour Pakistan for much of the game. It’s hard to believe Pakistan won’t alter their approach, particularly with the bat, and while Babar Azam’s side have a few more gears to go through, it isn’t quite clear if Zimbabwe do, too.While Chamu Chibhabha’s men ran Pakistan close and, at one stage, were arguably favourites to come up trumps, that they failed to do so is emblematic of one of the challenges they face. Success breeds success, and Zimbabwe have had so little of it lately, they might have lacked the self-belief to see themselves over the finish line. That happens to Zimbabwe not infrequently, and while pushing Pakistan hard away from home deserves nothing but plaudits, in the World Super League, results matter, and yesterday’s did not take Zimbabwe any closer to automatic world Cup qualification.For Pakistan, the signs in the first ODI weren’t too promising. Shaheen Afridi looks like a generational talent, but that was already known. The problem is that, as they start the next four-year cycle in ODI cricket, there is no evidence they are being coached, or indeed captained, to adopt the sort of approach the elite ODI teams look for. There was the same caution that Misbah-ul-Haq has favoured over anything resembling bold or innovative. It is not the way to move into the future, and as Zimbabwe nearly showed, barely the way to eke out results in the present.

Form guide

Pakistan WWWWW
Zimbabwe LLLLL
Brendan Taylor drives on the up•PCB

In the spotlight

Pakistan’s top order was far too cautious in the first powerplay, and that sluggishness seemed to set the tempo. Captain Babar Azam has promised more positivity, and whether Abid Ali opens alongside Imam-ul-Haq, or the more enterprising Fakhar Zaman does, would be interesting to see. It sets up a fascinating contest between a group of batsmen under pressure to break out of their conservative shell, and a bowling line-up well aware they may be challenged more seriously next time. Don’t be surprised if we all look back on it later as the decisive passage of the game.Sean Williams was in the form of his life last year, with two of his three career hundreds coming in a 13-ODI spell that saw him average a shade under 70, and he was going strong even as Brendan Taylor’s form faded. On Friday, however, he looked distinctly uncomfortable during his short, troubled stay at the crease, perhaps the weakest link of the Zimbabwean batting order on the day. Williams doesn’t have the best record against Pakistan; he last made a half-century against this opposition 12 years and 11 matches ago, in Multan in 2008. For a man who has been something of a rock in that Zimbabwean middle order for the best part of a decade and a half, that shouldn’t continue, and if his side are to continue pushing Pakistan hard, it can’t.

Team news

If Shadab Khan is fit, he should come back into the side. And if, as Babar Azam said, Pakistan intend to go hard at the top, that bodes well for Fakhar Zaman’s chances of getting back into the side. With Pakistan looking at the future, Khushdil Shah might get a look-in, too.Pakistan (possible): 1 Fakhar Zaman/Abid Ali, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Babar Azam (capt), 4 Haris Sohail, 5 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 6 Iftikhar Ahmed/Shadab Khan, 7 Khushdil Shah 8 Imad Wasim/Faheem Ashraf, 9 Haris Rauf, 10 Wahab Riaz, 11 Shaheen AfridiTendai Chisoro was batting a spot too high at No. 8, and Zimbabwe might opt for a more established batsman instead. That could bring Elton Chigumbura or Ryan Burl into the mix, while Brian Chari could find himself battling competition from Tinashe Kamunhukamwe.Zimbawe (possible): 1 Brian Chari/Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 2 Chamu Chibhabha 3 Craig Ervine 4 Brendan Taylor (wk) 5 Sean Williams 6 Wesley Madhevere 7 Sikandar Raza 8 Elton Chigumbura/Ryan Burl 9 Carl Mumba 10 Richard Ngarava 11 Blessing Muzarabani

Pitch and conditions

A different surface in Rawalpindi is likely to be used, and light grass is expected on the pitch again. As the first game demonstrated, the early start means dew doesn’t become a factor in the chase, while there should be no trouble from the skies.

Stats and trivia

• Brendan Taylor’s 11th century in the first ODI means he now has four ODI hundreds more than any Zimbabwean – Alistair Campbell is second with seven – while, among current players, Craig Ervine, Williams and Sikandar Raza have three each.
• Pakistan’s 26-run win in the first ODI was the narrowest margin of victory in a match between the two sides played in Pakistan.

No replacement named, BCCI says the opening batsman will stay with the team and be under observation for the time being

Nagraj Gollapudi11-Jun-20191:43

Hussey: Dhawan injury destabilises India’s top order

Shikhar Dhawan is likely to miss India’s next two matches, against New Zealand and Pakistan, after picking up a hairline fracture on his left thumb. ESPNcricinfo understands that Dhawan – who scored a century in the last match, against Australia – had travelled to Leeds to undergo scans and returned to Nottingham, where the team is stationed, later in the day. In a late afternoon update, a BCCI spokesperson said that Dhawan would stay on in the UK under observation, “and his progress will be monitored”.It is understood that the BCCI wants to wait for an update on Dhawan’s likely recovery time before they take a decision on whether to retain him or ask for a replacement. At least three Indian selectors – MSK Prasad (chairman) along with Sarandeep Singh and Devang Gandhi – are travelling with the Indian squad. If a replacement is named, Dhawan can only come back to the squad if another player is injured and the tournament technical committee is satisfied with that replacement.Dhawan was hit on the left thumb by a Pat Cummins delivery early in his innings of 117 on Sunday. For a while after being hit, he kept taking his bottom hand off the bat when striking the ball, indicating that he was in pain. As the innings progressed, he seemed to have settled down, and played his shots without apparent discomfort. However, he didn’t come out to field during Australia’s innings and was seen with an ice pack on his left hand in the dressing room.In Dhawan’s absence, India are expected to push KL Rahul up the order to partner Rohit Sharma, and a middle-order batsman – one of Dinesh Karthik and Vijay Shankar, most likely – to slot in lower down.Whatever happens, Dhawan’s loss is a significant blow to India, given his prolific form, particularly in ICC tournaments. In 20 matches across the World Cup and the Champions Trophy, he has 1238 runs with six hundreds and four fifties, averaging 65.15 with a strike rate of 98.25.In ten World Cup matches, he has scored 537 runs at an average of 53.70 and a strike rate of 94.21. In India’s two matches so far in this World Cup, he has made 8 and 117.Dhawan’s absence will also mean India have to go without his very successful partnership with Rohit at the top. The two have put on 4681 runs together in 103 innings, averaging 45.89, the fourth highest by an opening pair in ODI history.