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England think they might have found a new fast bowler in Boyd Rankin; now the task is to keep him on the field

David Hopps09-Sep-2013England think they might have found a new fast bowler in Boyd Rankin; now the task is to keep him on the field. On a day when another Australia quick, Mitchell Starc, looked likely to miss the return Ashes series because of back trouble, Rankin revealed the lengths that England have gone to in order to build up his fitness.Starc and Rankin are at different stages of their careers. Starc, like several young Australian quicks before him, is still at the age when stress fractures of his back are the likeliest danger of a heavy international programme. Rankin’s England career has begun at the relatively ripe age of 29, when back trouble is less common, but various ailments have necessitated that England put much thought into his individual training regime.A succession of injuries over the past few years threatened to render his debate over whether he should make the switch from Ireland to England pretty meaningless, but after a foot injury early this season he has remained injury free and two strong performances in his first two England ODIs, against Ireland in Malahide and against Australia at Old Trafford, have raised the possibility that he will squeeze out the likes of Graham Onions and Chris Tremlett for a place in the Ashes Test party.Before then, and a source of excitement, is a first England appearance on his home ground when the NatWest Series resumes at Edgbaston with Australia 1-0 up with three to play.”I have been set back over the last couple of years having picked up a few injuries which has set me back from where I wanted to be,” he said. “I have got over those injury worries now and it has enabled me to get a full season under my belt.”That helps in terms of my fitness and my bowling form as well. It has all come together pretty well. I had that time off in the winter to get my body right. It has helped me to push on and hopefully I can keep going.Watch England’s budding young fast bowlers get put through their paces at the national performance centre at Loughborough and gym work is never far away. For Rankin, the individual programme drawn up in conjunction with England’s strength and conditioning coach, Huw Bevan, is rather different. Rankin’s gym bunny days have come and gone.”It has been smarter in terms of the things that I do,” he said. “It is probably the stuff that I have cut out that has helped me stay on the park. I was doing a lot of running, squatting and lunges and stuff like that – all on my feet. I have cut out a lot of that and doing more cycling and swimming and trying to take the force off my body.”For a big lad I ought to be a quicker swimmer. Swimming is more for recovery and a bit of cardio-vascular as well: short, sharp, sprint stuff. I think in the past I have enjoyed going to the gym too much and that hasn’t helped me.”At the start of the season, a foot injury struck him down, a stress response of the second metatarsal, potentially disruptive for longer periods. “But it feels good at the minute and I have pretty much played the full season,” he said. “That is one of the things that the ECB have really helped with – getting the right bits for myself like a special insole and changing my boots.”It is not to denigrate Ireland to remark that the back-up Rankin gains from England’s backroom staff is at a level he could never have imagined over the water. He does not regret for a moment his change of allegiance.”It was a difficult decision,” he said. “I had played quite a lot with Ireland over the last few years including in World Cups but for myself I always wanted to play for England and push myself and play Test cricket which is the main reason why I have done it.”Everyone wants to play at this level and test themselves and I’m no different. I had got to the stage where I had to stop playing for Ireland and concentrate on playing for Warwickshire then force my way in to the England set up with good performances for them.”No sooner has he broken into England’s one-day side, he finds himself one of the more experienced hands in an experimental and so far vulnerable attack. England’s one-day coach, Ashley Giles, who made Rankin one of his first signings, from Derbyshire, when he took over as Warwickshire coach, will have observed his solidity and been grateful for that move six years ago.”I have had quite a bit of experience with Ireland in terms of World Cup which helps whenever you come into this environment, so I suppose with myself and Steve Finn in terms of the new bowlers it puts a bit of responsibility on me,” he said. “But I think I react well to that. When I was in Ireland I was the leader of their attack and I have done quite well when given the extra responsibility.”I would hope to have the chance to push myself into Ashes contention. These ODIs are a great chance to show what I can do. I am just trying to put a good show on and hopefully that would put me in good stead for the winter. I haven’t played in Australia before but I have heard really good things in terms of the pitches which should suit me.”

Kyle Coetzer struck a brilliant unbeaten century as Northamptonshire thrashed Worcestershire by seven wickets to win their fifth Yorkshire Bank 40 game in arow.

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jun-2013Northamptonshire 188-3 (Coetzer 105*) beat Worcestershire 187-8 (Fell 55, Azharullah 4-38) by four wickets
ScorecardKyle Coetzer continued Northants’ fine season with an unbeaten century•Northamptonshire CCCKyle Coetzer struck a brilliant unbeaten century as Northamptonshire thrashed Worcestershire by seven wickets to win their fifth Yorkshire Bank 40 game in arow.The Royals’ innings never got going as they were restricted to 187 for 8 from their 40 overs with 19-year-old Tom Fell top-scoring with 55 off 71 balls as Mohammad Azharullah took 4 for 37.Unsurprisingly, the in-form Steelbacks chased down their target with 37 balls to spare with Coetzer hammering 105 not out from 110 deliveries to move the hosts up to second in Group A – three points behind Nottinghamshire.Fell completed the first half-century of his senior career off 63 ballsbut his innings came to an end when Azharullah’s yorker crashed into his offstump.Chasing 188, Northamptonshire lost Australia international Cameron White, who made 24 in the first game of his second spell with the county before he was caught and bowled.Kyle Coetzer then went on to reach 50 off 63 deliveries as his third-wicket partnership of 121 with captain Alex Wakely took the game away from the visitors.Coetzer completed his third century in domestic one-day cricket off 107 ballsbefore Wakely holed out at long on 43, leaving Matt Spriegel to nudge the winning run and complete a comfortable victory.

ESPNcricinfo previews the first Investec Test between England and New Zealand at Lord’s

The Preview by Alex Winter15-May-2013Match FactsMay 16-20, Lord’s
Start time 11am (1000GMT)Joe Root comes into the first Test of the summer in outstanding form•Getty ImagesThe Big PictureEngland versus New Zealand; the world’s second best team against the eighth best; walkover. Those who said the same thing ahead of the series in New Zealand were left feeling sheepish by the fight New Zealand showed. They came oh-so-close to a momentous upset that was utterly inconceivable given the shambles of a side that was destroyed in their previous Test series in South Africa at the turn of the year.The fact New Zealand recovered from such embarrassment to nearly beat England suggests coach Mike Hesson has been able to quickly restore stability and create an environment where their capable squad have a chance of putting in competitive performances. They come into the first Test at Lord’s in healthy shape and if their batsman can find some runs, they have a bowling attack capable of causing England problems.New Zealand’s batsmen will have to fight harder in more bowler-friendly conditions than what they encountered in March. The Dukes ball will swing more and for longer, and England’s attack, far better prepared for this series with some county cricket behind them, will be eager to assert the dominance that was expected of them in New Zealand. They can be deadly on home soil, and the Kiwis’ batting remains brittle.For that reason, and given a firm kick up the backside, it is still a value bet that England will win comfortably. Their batting cannot be as lethargic as it was in New Zealand – a series they did not want after the main business was done in India. Most of the order have found form in county cricket and they are comfortable against the swinging ball, shown in the sizable totals England have racked up in Test matches in May in recent years.The challenge is there for New Zealand to upset the odds again, and if they show as much desire as was on show in March, they will ask England to produce their best cricket to beat them. But England had a sharp reminder of what happens when they are not fully focussed and know they are playing for places in the Ashes. If England do find their best form, they should be too much for plucky New Zealand.Form guide (Most recent first)
England DDDDWNew Zealand DDDLL
Watch out forAfter impressing on debut in Nagpur, Joe Root proved he is worthy of the hype surrounding him with eye-catching displays in the ODIs in India and New Zealand. He didn’t dazzle in the Tests that followed, but a blazing start to the county season, with scores of 182 and 236 for Yorkshire, and 179 for England Lions against New Zealanders, he will be primed to make his mark in the Test arena.If New Zealand are to cause another surprise, their seam-bowling will have to thrive. Early-season in England couldn’t be better conditions for Tim Southee, a good, old-fashioned pitch-it-up-and-swing-it operator. At only 24, he is the most experienced of the New Zealand attack, and the only one to have played a Test in England.Team newsThere were question marks over all the England bowlers after they failed to trouble New Zealand away from home, where many expected them to prosper. But the selectors have kept faith with Stuart Broad, and Steven Finn is likely to retain his place too, given his good record in Tests at Lord’s. Tim Bresnan is back from elbow surgery and could come into the attack. Graeme Swann is fit again, also after elbow surgery.England 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Nick Compton, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Ian Bell, 5 Joe Root, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Steven Finn/Tim BresnanNew Zealand also have to decide on the makeup of the bowling attack with Neil Wagner, after 12 wickets against England in New Zealand, set to retain his place after impressing in the warm-up matches. Doug Bracewell is vying for a recall having recovered from the foot injury which kept him out of the series in March. He will play if New Zealand decide to go with a four-man seam attack and leave out left-arm spinner Bruce Martin.New Zealand 1 Peter Fulton, 2 Hamish Rutherford, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Dean Brownlie, 6 Brendon McCullum (capt), 7 BJ Watling (wk), 8 Tim Southee, 9 Doug Bracewell/Bruce Martin, 10 Neil Wagner, 11 Trent BoultPitch and conditionsOn the whole it’s been a fairly dry spring in the UK, and the Lord’s wicket is dry and not set to offer too much bounce. The previous match played at Lord’s, between Middlesex and Surrey, yielded plenty of runs. Overhead conditions will be key. The weather forecast is largely fair with a chance of showers into the weekend.Stats and trivia England’s defeat by South Africa last year ended a 13-Test unbeaten run at Lord’s. They had won six and drawn seven of the preceding Tests at the venue. England cricketer of the year, Matt Prior, needs five catches to reach 100 Test catches in England. Only Alan Knott, with 158, and Alec Stewart, 172, have reached this landmark. New Zealand have won only one of their 15 visits to Lord’s, the victory coming by nine wickets in 1999, but have only lost one of their last six matches at the home of cricket. Tim Southee needs two wickets to become the 12th New Zealander to reach 200 wickets in international cricket.Quotes”We didn’t move the ball as much as we wanted to in New Zealand on what were slow, placid wickets. But if it doesn’t swing for us, and if we don’t move it off the straight this week, we might be having a few panic meetings.”
“Hamish is pretty aggressive and plays a lot of shots, hits the ball in different areas and puts the bowlers off their line and length. I like to occupy the crease and wear the bowlers down.”

Ireland dominated the opening day of their Intercontinental Cup match against United Arab Emirates in Sharjah

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Mar-2013
Scorecard
Ireland dominated the opening day of their Intercontinental Cup match against United Arab Emirates in Sharjah thanks to an unbeaten 99 from Ed Joyce and half-centuries from the openers, William Porterfield and Paul Stirling.The openers were cautious against a spin-heavy attack after they were put in to bat by the home side. It was a return to form for the captain Porterfield who had three ducks in his previous five innings across formats. He and Stirling put on a patient 126 in 46.5 overs before Stirling fell lbw for 61. Porterfield missed out on a century as he edged quick bowler Mohammad Naveed onto the stumps when on 82.Joyce then took charge of the innings. His previous century for Ireland came against the same opponents back in 2005, and he could have completed his hundred on the first day if he had managed a single off the final delivery.Joyce has 28 first-class tons, and said he wasn’t too concerned over being 99* overnight. “I’m not nervous at all. I’ve never been 99 not out overnight before, but I’m just happy to have scored 99 – if I was to get that score every time I would take it,” he said. “It’s a slow and low wicket so if you stay in your crease it can be difficult to score. The lads had given us a great start so I made the conscious decision to try and score about a strike rate of 70, use my feet a bit and maybe take a few more risks than the others. I was a bit more attacking and that helped on that wicket.”

Preview of the match between Pune Warriors and Chennai Super Kings in Pune

The Preview by Nikita Bastian29-Apr-2013Match factsApril 30, 2013
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)Pune Warriors have already proved to be a stumbling block for Chennai Super Kings this season•BCCIBig PicturePune Warriors are at the bottom of the points table. Chennai Super Kings are at the top after nine games. Warriors have lost their last four matches, Super Kings have five wins in a row. On current form, this is possibly the biggest mismatch in the IPL. But then, the previous time Super Kings lost in this tournament was when they played Warriors. That upset came at Chepauk, and the game wasn’t even close, Warriors winning by 24 runs.Since then, Super Kings have been unstoppable. They have won even when it seemed like they wouldn’t; their strategy of accelerating a chase late has often appeared a folly, only for someone to deliver and take them over the line. At Eden Gardens it was Ravindra Jadeja; against Rajasthan Royals, Dwayne Bravo got a six away with 10 needed off 4; and then there was an MS Dhoni special against Sunrisers Hyderabad.For Warriors, it has been just the opposite. Time and again they’ve looked to be in control of the game, only to end up losing. Chasing 120 against Sunrisers, they went from 101 for 4 to 108 all out; they were not able to defend 185 against Kings XI Punjab, and on Sunday they just could not get the big hits away against Daredevils, finishing 15 short in a chase of 165 despite being only four down. They have four points from nine games, and while the permutations are not firmed up as yet, it seems likely that Warriors will have to win all their remaining seven games and hope for other results to go in their favour to progress to the playoffs.Form guidePune Warriors LLLLW (most recent first)
Chennai Super Kings WWWWWIn the spotlightFor Chennai Super Kings, the fourth overseas player slot has been like a game of musical chairs. Dirk Nannes, Ben Laughlin, Jason Holder and Albie Morkel have all come in, gone out and then, in some cases, come right back in again. It appears Super Kings, in sticking to type, would prefer to play allrounder Ablie but he has been having fitness issues. Which of the overseas quicks will play in Pune? That’s anyone’s guess. Once Faf du Plessis is fit, provided the team doesn’t run into a bad patch of form, they might also be tempted to allow Michael Hussey a bit of a rest and give themselves the extra overseas batting option, should they need it going into the business end of the tournament.Pune Warriors’ death bowling has been the worst among all teams in the tournament. Their economy rate at the death (overs 16 to 20) so far this season is 11.17, almost two runs more expensive than the second team on the list, Kolkata Knight Riders. Death bowling has been something Warriors have been focusing on improving. After the IPL auction in February coach Allan Donald had said they aggressively pursued Australian quick Kane Richardson and paid big bucks for him – he was the third most expensive buy at US$700,000 – specifically because of his “exciting death-bowling skills”. Richardson played his first game against Delhi Daredevils on Sunday and, after conceding 17 runs in three overs, produced length balls in the 19th to be dispatched for three sixes. Might have just been the nerves of an IPL debut, but given Warriors position on the points table are they out of time to find a viable solution?Stats and Trivia Robin Uthappa and Aaron Finch have four half-century opening stands in seven innings this season, the most by any pair During his innings against Knight Riders, Suresh Raina became only the second player to tally 100 sixes in the IPL, behind Chris Gayle Quotes”The way he has played against different teams has been quite dynamic. I cannot speak more highly of Hussey, on the influence he has and the way he conducts himself. He leads by example, not only the runs he scores but the way he trains and conducts himself.”
“Cricket is a funny game, especially T20, where even a single over can change the game. So we’ve learnt that until it’s over, don’t raise your hopes.”

A clinical bowling performance from Mid West Rhinos, dismissing Mashonaland Eagles under 200 in both innings, set up their nine-wicket victory

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jan-2013A clinical bowling performance from Mid West Rhinos, dismissing Mashonaland Eagles under 200 in both innings, set up their nine-wicket victory on the third day at the Kwekwe Sports Club.Graeme Cremer’s five-wicket haul in the second innings sealed Mid West Rhinos’ victory•Freeman ChigoveraVusi Sibanda put Eagles in and the Rhinos bowlers made best use of the first-day conditions, dismissing them for 166 in 62.4 overs. Chamu Chibhabha’s 32 was the top score as wickets fell regularly. All five Rhinos bowlers took wickets with medium-pacer Neville Madziva taking 3 for 24.Rhinos were solid in their reply, with three of their top four batsman making half-centuries. Sibanda made 56, Mark Vermeulen 67 and Malcolm Waller scored 73 to lead their team to 207 for 3. They collapsed after that though, and Waller stayed firm at one end as wickets tumbled at the other. Rhinos lost seven wickets for 72 runs and were dismissed for 279.Facing a deficit of 113, Eagles lost half their side before they drew level with Rhinos, with legspinner Graeme Cremer cutting through the top order. The slide continued and they were eventually dismissed for 170 in 57.1 overs. Cremer finished with 5 for 64. Rhinos had to chase a target of 58 and they achieved it with nine wickets in hand.

New Zealand will grasp any consolation after suffering the indignity of being bundled out for 45 in their first innings and avoiding defeat in two days will do for a start

The Report by David Hopps03-Jan-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Martin Guptill fell before New Zealand could open their account in the second innings•AFPNew Zealand will grasp any consolation after suffering the indignity of being bundled out for 45 in their first innings and avoiding defeat in two days will do for a start. They will resume the third day 133 runs behind with six wickets remaining after South Africa’s quick bowlers failed to repeat the havoc of the opening day.Their chief source of resistance came from Dean Brownlie, who struck a 44-ball half-century to be 69 not out at the close and collected a few bruises to show for his labours after goading Dale Steyn into a hostile conclusion to the second day. The bulk of Brownlie’s cricket until three years ago was played in Perth and it showed, too, as he prospered on the back foot, square of the wicket on the off side, in an enterprising post-tea innings.South Africa were architects of their own frustration as they dropped Brownlie, twice, and Brendon McCullum in the final session. Brownlie escaped twice at gully on 23, Dean Elgar and Alviro Petersen spurning opportunities presented by Steyn and Vernon Philander respectively. Jacques Kallis’ attempt to catch McCullum off Steyn at second slip was a worthier effort, but it all contributed to New Zealand adding 133 in the final session.New Zealand had batted doggedly up to tea, but they had lost Martin Guptill for nought, when he clipped Steyn to midwicket, and Kane Williamson, who looked in the mood for some prolonged blocking until a tempting short delivery from Jacques Kallis jagged off a crack to have him caught at second slip.New Zealand had lasted only 19.2 overs in the first innings and, if nobody seriously expected a repeat of that, they were vulnerable on a pitch showing signs of unreliable bounce. The strong winds which closed Table Mountain in the build-up to the game and cracked and crusted this Newlands surface threatened to have the final say.Only when Brownlie began to hit about him did McCullum’s mood lighten. For him to bear his responsibilities so heavily was unusual, but he was a new Test captain appointed in controversial circumstances, criticised in some quarters for an overly-optimistic attitude in batting first and then for placing excessively attacking fields in return. If he was ever going to begin a Test innings strokelessly, this was it.He fell lbw to Robin Petersen, his decision to review the decision owing more to his status and New Zealand’s plight than any realistic hope of overturning it. Daniel Flynn’s colourless innings ended with extra bounce from Kallis and an inside edge to the wicketkeeper.If South Africa were not hampering themselves by dropping catches, they were also making a hash of DRS. They failed to challenge umpire Ian Gould’s “not out” ruling when to have done so would have won an lbw decision while Williamson was on 4. They then wasted a review when Gould refused a catch at the wicket with Williamson on 9, the ball having brushed the batsman’s pocket.What followed almost brought DRS into disrepute. There was a delay of nearly five minutes before the third umpire, Kumar Dharmasena, gave his decision. In the background at square leg, as endless Hot Spot replays were studied, Hashim Amla’s long beard was shown as pure white and made him look like an ancient. There again, as we waited inexplicably for Dharmasena, none of us felt any younger.Final-session frustrations or not, South Africa must feel the Test is almost won. It was difficult on a summer’s day like this, with the Test entirely in command, for a South African player not to feel content, but Dean Elgar would not be happy with his world.All Elgar had to show for South Africa’s series-winning victory against Australia in Perth last month was a pair on Test debut. It was a tough ask, summoned to the tour late and expected to contribute to a series in the balance, and it proved beyond him.At Newlands, he resumed his Test career in rather gentler circumstances, but he could not take the opportunity. Five minutes before lunch, Trent Boult made one climb outside off stump and he edged it to the wicketkeeper. He walked off shaking his head, his prototype moustache accentuating a mournful countenance.Elgar got off the mark against his first ball, from Chris Martin, jabbing through square leg, but progression never really came. Two boundaries off Franklin in successive overs flew through slips and gully, one of them with only one hand on the bat. When he was 18, New Zealand could have overturned Rod Tucker’s refusal of Boult’s lbw appeal, but they failed to review.New Zealand’s seam attack had been on the short side on the first day and their ground-fielding had at times been deplorable. It would not take much to improve such standards and they did. Boult needed only one delivery to account for Alviro Petersen – the first ball of the second over. He had added three to his overnight 103 when he dragged on.At 38 years old and after 71 Tests, Martin is aware that not too many more top-order batsmen will fall his way before he calls time on his Test career. His long service was rewarded with three more good wickets. Faf du Plessis was caught at gully, searching for one, and he bowled AB de Villiers and Peterson in successive overs immediately after lunch before Smith’s declaration.Bare head glistening with sweat and thick white headband across his forehead, Martin bounded into the crease in the happy manner of a tennis coach at a private club, intent upon communicating enthusiasm before having a knock-up with the members. As far as New Zealand are concerned, the day amounted to more than a knock-up, it was one heck of a rally.

Daniel Brettig at Kensington Oval10-Apr-2012Surprise rippled around the Kensington Oval when the West Indies captain Darren Sammy, not Fidel Edwards, took the ball alongside Kemar Roach to begin the third morning. That surprise turned to admiration in the space of 10 overs of the shrewdest fast medium from Sammy, which returned the figures of 2 for 14 and set the hosts on the path to a commanding position with two days remaining.Not the fastest bowler, nor the most prominent exponent of swing, Sammy instead relies on unrelenting accuracy and subtle use of angles at the crease for his wickets. Ed Cowan was asked to play at only one of his first eight deliveries, but the ninth was delivered from closer to the stumps and on a line the opener could only nibble at for an edge behind. David Warner fell in similar fashion, pushing firmly at a ball of precise line and “in between” length and offering a catch to Darren Bravo in the slips. Shane Watson, also, could easily have been given out lbw to Sammy, who said his team had planned well.”I think the batsmen really underestimate me,” Sammy said. “They get through the quick men and see me and say ‘ah he’s not so quick’. But what I rely on is accuracy: frustrate them, frustrate them, take the ball away from them, then get a little closer, just in that little channel to play or leave. That’s what I did today and what I’ve been doing throughout my career, just putting the ball on one spot.”Warner is new to Test cricket. So is Cowan, and Watto [Watson] has just come back after not playing Test cricket for the last Australian summer. We all knew what to expect from [Michael] Hussey as we saw today, they call him Mr Cricket, he always gets Australia out from crucial positions. We stuck to our plans.”We noticed [Michael] Clarke and [Ricky] Ponting love the ball closer to them … we had our plans for bowling to them. Last night we didn’t execute properly but the plan to Warner and Cowan was to be a little fuller with the ball slanting across, and once we did that we got the results. So we did plan well for their batsmen and bowlers – we were prepared for this series.”Sammy’s decision to take the ball straight away on the third morning was also driven by the pragmatism that has characterised his captaincy. By keeping the runs tight at one end, he allowed Edwards or Roach to attack from the other, while also leaving them fresher if the visitors did not lose early wickets.”We had the two quick men, and it could have been a longer day,” Sammy said. “We don’t want both of them going at full steam, then we’ve got to make a change to myself and then the spinner, so the plan was to rotate the two early in the morning and see how it goes, and it worked well for us. [Economy] was considered as well, because they were going at four plus an over and you needed someone to pull it back.”I understand my job in the team and I just go out there and do it. Everyone will have their opinions but as a unit going forward, I know I’m a crucial member in this bowling unit. If you look at Fidel and Roach they go at around four an over in Test cricket, Bishoo goes at three and I go at two. So my contribution is crucial in the team set-up and I go out and try to do that every day.”Having top scored for his side on a third consecutive day of struggle, Clarke admitted his batsmen would need to learn to adjust their attitude and expectations to adapt to Caribbean conditions, which are slower and more awkward than they seem to have catered for. As in the tour match at the Three Ws Oval, the tourists found batting a struggle.”I think we, as a batting group, need to accept it’s going to take a long time to score runs,” Clarke said. “It’s a lot different to Australia where you can go out there and cream the ball and hit plenty of boundaries. As we’ve seen today, once the wicket does get a little bit up and down you have to be willing to bat for long periods.”Though Watson’s involvement in run-outs has become an unhappy pattern, Clarke denied it was a matter that the vice-captain needed to address as a matter of urgency, saying the run-out of Ponting was unfortunate. “It’s something we’d prefer not to talk about,” Clarke said. “It is a part of the game and it is unfortunate, you never mean to run anybody out. It was a big wicket, losing Ricky, but it’s no one’s fault. It’s a part of the game, you’ve just got to try your best not to have it in any form of the game. It’s hard enough for all the batters, especially chasing a total like that.”Every player’s different, everybody runs at different speeds and sees the game in a different light. I don’t think [Watson needs to look at it], it’s just unfortunate it happened today and that it was a good player in Punter [Ponting] who’s had a really good summer and is in pretty good nick. His runs would’ve been handy out there in the first innings but what it means is, he’s going to get a second chance.”

Kent captain Rob Key and opening partner Sam Northeast each scored centuries as Hampshire’s bowlers were on the wrong end of a drubbing

28-Jul-2012
ScorecardKent captain Rob Key and opening partner Sam Northeast each scored centuries as Hampshire’s bowlers were on the wrong end of a drubbing before fighting back with a flurry of late wickets on day two of the County Championship Division Two clash at Southampton.Key and Northeast compiled an opening stand of 252 as Hampshire struggled to cope on an easy-paced wicket. 22-year-old Northeast, who impressed against South Africa a couple of weeks ago, made 140 and 33-year-old Key scored 119 before falling in the last over of the day as Kent, in response to Hampshire’s first innings total of 292, closed on 291 for five. In a game that could have a bearing on the promotion places, it could prove to have been a pivotal day for both sides.Hampshire were 292 for nine overnight but their innings lasted only two balls before Danny Briggs edged Mark Davies into the slips where James Tredwell completed the catch. Davies finished with three for 36 and new ball partner Charlie Shreck took three for 85.Key and Northeast soon made Hampshire’s total look inadequate as they remained together until the 77th over before Kent finally lost their first wicket. Northeast had faced 259 balls for his fifth career century and hit 14 fours before being caught behind by wicketkeeper Michael Bates off Sean Ervine.At that stage Kent were only 40 behind and had nine wickets in hand but in the evening session Hampshire fought back. Ben Harmison was the next to go with the total on 273, snapped up at first slip by Liam Dawson off David Balcombe as the prelude to a minor collapse in which four wickets fell for 18 runs.Brendan Nash made only five before James Tomlinson found a way through his defences and the left-arm pace bowler struck twice more before the close. Mike Powell was caught behind for two and then with only four balls remaining before stumps, Key’s day-long vigil at last came to an end.Former England batsman Key, whose century was his 46th in first-class matches, had looked secure throughout until he followed Tomlinson’s out-swinger and Bates again clutched the catch. Key’s century occupied 234 balls and he hit 16 fours but was the junior partner to Northeast as Kent looked set to build a formidable total.Tomlinson, who had little luck earlier in the day, finished with figures of three for 45 as Hampshire struck back to give them fresh hope of limiting Kent’s lead.

A round-up of matches from the seventh match-day of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Mar-2012Group AUSA captain Aditya Mishra led his side to victory with 62, but Scotland still progressed on run-rate•ICC/Ian JacobsNepal’s romantic run in the tournament is over after they lost to Canada in a match in Sharjah that decided third place in Group A. Nepal looked in with a big chance after they kept Canada to 101 but needed to chase the target in 12.2 overs to lift their net run-rate above Canada’s and seal a berth in the knockouts. At 21 for 0 after three overs in the chase, that looked possible, but two strikes from Junaid Siddiqui changed the course of the game and Nepal, who knew they had to keep playing their shots, ended up being bowled out for 83.Nepal’s openers Anil Mandal and Prithu Baskota were both dismissed attempting heaves over midwicket in the fourth over leaving Nepal in trouble. They still had their leading run-getter in the tournament, Paras Khadka, but when he was bowled trying to loft Zahid Hussain’s left-arm spin in the fifth over, Nepal’s hopes diminished. The batsmen, knowing they had to get to the target in just over 12 overs, kept going for their shots and kept getting out, and Canada completed their fifth win of the group stages.The bowlers had given Nepal a chance, restricting Canada to 101 for 8. Khadka had kept things tight for Nepal in the middle overs, taking 2 for 15 in four overs, after Shakti Gauchan and Chandra Sawad had struck up front.An aggressive half-century from Mohammad Shahzad and three wickets from medium-pacer Aftab Alam ensured Afghanistan beat Bermuda in Dubai and finished the group stage with a perfect record. Afghanistan had already qualified for the knockouts, but have gained a significant advantage by finishing top. They are potentially just one match, a preliminary final against Namibia, the first-placed team in Group B, away from qualifying for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka this October. It also means that even if they lose that game they will have another chance to get to the final.It was a fairly comfortable victory for Afghanistan, with Shahzad’s unbeaten 64 helping them reach 177 for 5 and Bermuda never really threatening the target apart from a brief but violent cameo from Janeiro Tucker. The required-rate in the chase never dropped below 9, and Bermuda fell 15 runs short.Afghanistan got off to a rollicking start, with Karim Sadiq hitting Kamau Leverock for three fours off the first four balls of the match. They were pegged back when both openers were dismissed in the space of eight balls, but Mohammad Shahzad picked his moments to attack, and rotated the strike the rest of the time, to put Afghanistan on course for a big score. Shahzad preferred clearing the ropes to finding the gaps, and hit five sixes in his 64 off 38 balls. Asghar Stanikzai gave Shahzad support in a 56-run third-wicket stand, before Gulbodin Naib went beserk in the end, hitting three sixes and a four in an eight-ball 26 not out. Afghanistan looted a scarcely believable 72 runs off the last four overs to reach 177.Bermuda’s chase never really got going, with regular wickets preventing them from accelerating. The required-rate was nearing 12 after 12 overs, before Janeiro Tucker slammed four consecutive sixes off Samiullah Shenwari’s legspin in the 13th. Tucker exited for 37 off 16 balls off the last ball of that over, and Bermuda’s challenge faded. The require-rate kept rising, and only a 16-run final over reduced the margin of what was in actuality an easy win for Afghanistan.

A dashing innings from Stephan Myburgh led a big win for Netherlands over Hong Kong in Sharjah that ensured Netherlands finished second in Group A. Myburgh and opening partner Michael Swart smashed 23 runs off the fifth over of the game, and Netherlands never let go of their stranglehold from then on. They pushed on to reach 201 for 5 and kept Hong Kong to 118 in the chase to record the second-largest margin of victory in the tournament so far: 83 runs.The sixth over went for 17 runs, with Myburgh hitting the second off his five sixes, the seventh for 14 runs and the eighth for 15. Swart’s dismissal for 38 off 22 balls did not stall the scoring-rate, as Tom Cooper hit the second and third balls he faced for boundaries. Myburgh scored 68 off 36 balls, and once he departed Cooper kept hitting the big shots, finishing with 42 off 25 balls.Jamie Atkinson’s 64 off 45 balls in the chase had a few flourishes: he hit two fours and six in the sixth over, and two sixes and a four in the seventh. But with no one else contributing Hong Kong were never in the game and slumped to a fifth defeat. Tom Cooper followed up his innings with a spell of 4-1-8-2.

Papua New Guinea managed a 14-run victory over Denmark in Abu Dhabi despite a six-wicket haul from medium-pacer Aftab Ahmed. Late strikes from Aftab, who finished with 6 for 22, kept PNG to 148 after they were 116 for 3 in 14.5 overs. Denmark, though, did not have the batting strength to chase the target, and were restricted to 134 for 8.Aggressive innings from Mahuru Dai and Geraint Jones had given PNG a solid platform but Aftab’s wickets meant they could not launch in the way they would have wanted to and they were bowled out in exactly 20 overs. Denmark slipped to 24 for 2 in the chase but three fours from Freddie Klokker in the sixth over lifted them. In the same over, though, quick Willie Gavera took his third wicket, dismissing Rizwan Mahmood and Denmark were never able to recover.

Group BKenya’s 48-run victory over Uganda in Dubai did not lift their net run-rate enough for them to go above Scotland in the Group B table. Scotland lost to USA later but their net run-rate stayed above Kenya’s by the slimmest of margins, to get them through to the knockout rounds as the third-place team from Group B.After scoring 167 for 3, Kenya ran through Uganda’s line-up, restricting them to 119 for 8. Shem Ngoche struck two early blows and the chase meandered after that. Ngoche picked up another wicket to finish with 3 for 20 and his brother James took 2 for 15 in his four.Kenya had measured their innings well. The strategy from openers Duncan Allan and Alex Obanda was to get a boundary an over to maintain a brisk run-rate. Obanda went on to get 46 off 42 balls, and lent support to his captain Collins Obuya, whose 57 off 35 balls included three sixes. A 19-run final over boosted Kenya’s total to 167, but even a big win was not enough to get them through to the knockouts.

Aditya Mishra’s 62 helped United States of America upset Scotland in a tense finish in Dubai. Mishra’s dismissal in the final over meant USA had to wait till the penultimate ball to finish the match, leaving Scotland’s net run-rate 0.007 ahead of Kenya’s, sealing third place in Group B for them. If USA had finished the match a few balls earlier, which they seemed on course to do when they needed 11 off the last two overs, they would have denied Scotland entry into the next round of the tournament.Nevertheless, USA would be pleased with the way they managed a challenging chase of 162. Steven Taylor was aggressive early, scoring 40 off 30 balls and allowing Mishra to play second fiddle in the 78-run opening partnership. Mishra paced his innings well, and when USA took 11 runs off the 17th over, to leave them needing 20 to win off three overs, Kenya would have had their hopes up. The 19th over went for just seven runs, though, and Mishra was run out off the first ball of the 20th, leaving Orlando Baker to keep his cool and score the winning runs.Scotland had reached 161 thanks to Jan Stander’s 58 off 31 balls that included five sixes. A steady flow of wickets – they lost eight – meant they fell a few runs short of a winning total. Luckily for them, though, the total was just enough to ensure qualification for the knockouts.

Gerrie Snyman and Raymond van Schoor scored 70s to help make it seven wins out of seven games for Namibia in the group stages, as they beat Italy by 27 runs in Dubai. Namibia finish top of the group and will face Afghanistan in a match whose winner will automatically qualify for the final, and the World Twenty20.van Schoor was the aggressor in the early part of the 144-run opening partnership, but Snyman soon caught up with a string of sixes between the 12th and 15th overs. Snyman was dismissed for 78 off 49 balls but van Schoor stayed till the end, reaching 73 not out and helping Namibia reach 194 for 2.Italy’s openers got the chase off to a swift start, but they lost wickets in the middle overs, and ended up well short. Alessandro Bonora provided some entertainment with a few big hits down the order, but the required-rate was always on the rise.

Ireland completed their Group A programme with a comfortable 44-run win over Oman in the Sheikh Zayeed Stadium. The result meant Oman ended the tournament as the only side without a win. Read the full report here.

The first stage of the knockouts are on March 22, with Ireland playing Canada and Netherlands taking on Scotland. The winners of those two games will play each other on March 23, with the victor taking on the loser of the March 22 game between Afghanistan and Namibia on March 24. The team that wins that match will have to play the final on the same day, against the winner of Afghanistan v Namibia. Both finalists will feature in the World Twenty20 later this year.