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Both teams still seeking first win after final-ball drama

ECB Media30-Jul-2024Northern Superchargers 100 for 7 (Davidson-Richard’s 27, Bell 4-11) tied with Southern Brave 100 for 8 (Tryon 25, Smith 2-24)Kate Cross scrambled two runs off the final ball to level the scores and secure a tie between Northern Superchargers and Southern Brave in the Hundred.On a slow and used wicket, boundary-hitting never looked easy and Superchargers’ chase of 100 was a nervous and fraught affair throughout, off the back of a first-innings batting effort from Southern Brave that was equally scrappy.Brave – well marshalled by captain Georgia Adams – used the conditions and kept the stumps in play to maintain the pressure in the chase, and were thankful to England seamer Lauren Bell whose 4 for 11 was the standout performance of the game.Both Phoebe Litchfield and Alice Davidson-Richards looked to have the chase in hand for Hollie Armitage’s side, but on a nip-and-tuck day that saw momentum swing this way and that, both players were dismissed just as they seemed to be putting their team’s nose in front.Only Maia Bouchier and Chloe Tryon passed 20 for Southern Brave, but Rhianna Southby and Bell played a hugely important role with bat in hand to inch their team up to the psychologically important three-figure total.As it was, Southern Brave’s total was just enough to not be surpassed by Superchargers, but both sides will feel they missed the opportunity to get their first win of the Hundred on the board.Meerkat Match Hero Lauren Bell said: “The emotions were up and down! In that last set of five I had a lot of adrenaline. It was cool, that’s what we play cricket for.”You just go ball by ball at the death, and see what player you’re bowling at. Pace-off was working on this pitch, and pace-on was a good variation, so it was ball by ball.”The ideal final ball was a straight yorker and I don’t think I was too far away from executing. Maybe we should have just looked at the field a bit but what can you do, hindsight is lovely.”

Motie dismissed both the set batters as the hosts slipped from 248 for 2 to 311 for 7

Deivarayan Muthu08-Mar-2023Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi fell short of their hundreds as West Indies roared back into the game through Gudakesh Motie, Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers after tea on an atypically dry Wanderers pitch. Motie, the left-arm fingerspinner, dismissed both the set batters to weaken the strong foundation they had laid earlier in the day. From 248 for 2, South Africa suddenly slid to 311 for 7 at stumps.When Markram was in supreme control, South Africa were rattling along at over four runs an over. Motie, who was working his way back from a lower-back injury, shook off the rust in the last session and combined well with Holder to apply the brakes on South Africa. Roston Chase, the other spinner, also found grip, turn, and bounce, which could pique the interest of South Africa’s own spinners.The hosts had also picked two specialist spinners – Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer – in a rare instance. It was so rare that the last time South Africa played two spinners in Johannesburg was way back in 1965.For Markram, it was business as usual, after South Africa had opted to take first strike. He unfurled a variety of picture-perfect drives, both off the front foot and back, in the front of square. When West Indies shortened their length, Markram was also quickly in position to pull them away. When he was on the verge of his hundred, though, he tried to manufacture a sweep behind the wicket and ended up lobbing it to slip off the toe end. It snapped a breezy 116-run second-wicket partnership with de Zorzi.Gudakesh Motie took three wickets on the first day•AFP/Getty Images

De Zorzi reached his maiden Test half-century and continued to score freely until the final session of the day. He managed only ten runs off 31 balls after tea as Motie and Holder tightened up their lines and lengths.Motie bowled de Zorzi with delightful turn and drift from over the wicket while Holder had Temba Bavuma offering no shot to an inducker after having plugged away outside off. Alzarri Joseph then had Ryan Rickleton slashing behind to Joshua Da Silva for 22 off 49 balls. Then, just before stumps, Mayers got rid of both Wiaan Mulder and Harmer with the second new ball.The clatter of wickets in the last session – five in all – starkly contrasted with the passage of play in the morning session, when West Indies struck just once. West Indies’ fast bowlers had looked to pepper Dean Elgar with the new ball, but every time they dug the ball into the pitch, it sat up, allowing the batter more time to put them away. Motie then dropped one just short of a sweeping length and had Elgar caught at short fine leg for 42.Markram, who scored 115 and 47 in the Centurion Test, looked good for back-to-back hundreds, but he fell agonisingly short of the mark. De Zorzi was also denied a ton and was part of a late collapse that dragged West Indies closer to parity. However, with the surface expected to slow down and deteriorate as the match wears on, South Africa might feel like they already have a healthy score on the board.

Century stand between Joe Root and Dawid Malan raised English hopes, only for hosts to end up 237 ahead in first innings

Alan Gardner18-Dec-2021Australia opted to turn the screw on England after taking a huge first-innings lead in the second Test of the series in Adelaide. Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon shared seven wickets as the tourists were unceremoniously bundled out following a century stand between Joe Root and Dawid Malan that had briefly raised English hopes, with Australia extending their lead to 282 after braving a half-session of batting against the pink ball under lights.Steven Smith’s decision not to enforce the follow-on meant the Test continued to follow the template set in the day-night game at the same ground in 2017-18 – on that occasion, England had been dismissed for 227 in response to 8 for 442 declared. But at this point the course diverged, as England’s seamers were unable to make any inroads with the new ball. Their only success came via a run-out, and that after David Warner and Marcus Harris had put on 41, Australia’s highest Ashes opening stand since the 2017 Boxing Day Test.With two full days left in the game, the potential to put England’s beleaguered batters through further floodlit examinations and the likelihood that Lyon’s spin will carry even greater threat in the fourth innings, Australia were already in prime position to press for a 2-0 lead in the series.It marked a remarkable – though not totally unexpected – turnaround, with the performances of Root and Malan during a third-wicket association that eventually realised 138 suggesting that Australia would not have it all their own way. But after Cameron Green provided the breakthrough, taking the key wicket of Root for the second week in succession, Lyon and Starc seized the moment. From 150 for 2, England lost their last eight wickets for 86 runs – a painful echo of shipping 8 for 74 after a similar stand between Root and Malan in Brisbane last week.Starc struck twice in a seven-over spell with the old ball, and at 6 for 169 there seemed a very real possibility that England would be batting again later in the night. Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes steadied the innings through to tea but there was very little batting to come; Lyon ended the stand at 41, finding appreciable turn to bowl Woakes off an inside edge, and although Stokes briefly threatened a counterattack, he dragged Green on to his stumps to be the ninth man out.Joe Root and Dawid Malan put on 138 before England lost 8 for 86•AFP/Getty Images

There may have been a degree of relish as Australia took the fresh pink pill with the lights beginning to take effect, ready to dole out some medicine to the last-wicket pair of Stuart Broad and James Anderson. Starc finished the innings with 4 for 37, the wicket of Broad his 50th in day-night Tests – at a cool average of 18.10 – while Lyon reinforced his status a week after becoming the third Australian to reach 400 Test wickets, his 3 for 58 leaving him two shy of equalling Shane Warne’s aggregate of 56 as the most prolific bowler at Adelaide Oval.The workloads of his bowlers was probably the key concern for Smith, even though the control provided by Lyon – who wheeled away through a spell of 19-10-30-3 – meant he did not have to ask much of Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser, the two enforced replacements to the attack from Brisbane.After a wicketless afternoon session – the first time a visiting team had achieved that in a day-night Test in Australia, when facing a minimum of 15 overs – the reversal in fortunes following the dinner break was swift. Root took his tally of half-centuries without converting in Australia to eight, his departure precipitating a slide of 4 for 19 during what was supposedly the most benign time of the day for batting.Green, held back by Smith until the 38th over, was the man to disturb England’s tranquility, luring Root into playing needlessly outside off stump once again. Root punched his bat before walking off, fully aware that this was the sort of day on which England needed someone to go big. Australia immediately cranked up the pressure, with Green and Lyon stringing together four maidens before the return of Starc brought about Malan’s downfall for 80, slashing profligately for another catch in the slips to Smith.With Lyon finding his groove having switched ends, England entered a familiar spiral. Ollie Pope’s struggles against spin continued as he was caught twice at short leg in the space of three balls from Lyon. He successfully reviewed the first, Rod Tucker’s decision overturned after replays showed the ball had deflected off Pope’s forearm, but then fell trying to use his feet as a thickish inside edge squirted to the lurking Marnus Labuschagne, waiting eagerly for another chance.Stokes took a dogged approach to starting his innings, waiting until his 24th delivery to get off the mark, but there was little support forthcoming, Jos Buttler’s miserable Test continuing as he threw the hands through an ambitious drive at Starc to be caught in the slips for a 15-ball duck. Out of a clear blue sky, Australia had grabbed the game by its scruff.

ESPNcricinfo understands that he chose to leave his post following a heated board meeting

Firdose Moonda17-Aug-2020Dr. Jacques Faul has resigned as acting CEO of Cricket South Africa, on the same day that the organisation revealed Chris Nenzani had stepped down as president over the weekend and COO Naasei Appiah had been fired. Faul, who was seconded from the Titans in December 2019, was due to return to his role with the franchise on September 15, but has opted to leave his post four weeks early.While Faul was not available for comment on Monday evening, ESPNcricinfo understands that he chose to leave his post following a heated board meeting in which his position became untenable. An acting CEO is expected to be named imminently, with Appiah, who is fighting his dismissal in court making himself “available” on a radio show minutes after news of Faul’s resignation was made public. Company secretary Welsh Gwaza, who was at the board meeting and was unable to divulge any information, is one of the names being mentioned for the acting role.The search for a permanent CEO can only get underway once the case of suspended CEO Thabang Moroe has been clarified. Moroe was suspended in December and has been on full pay since then while CSA waited for a forensic audit in order to charge Moroe for alleged wrongdoing. Last week, Moroe met with CSA but they were unable to reach a conclusion. He is expected to return to meet CSA this week with several sources anticipating he will be fired. Moroe’s lawyers have expressed an intention to take CSA to court if that is the case. Only then, and if Moroe does not return to his job, can CSA be able to begin the process of appointing someone for the job full-time.In the meantime, CSA will elect a new president on September 15 with the board under increasing pressure to step down. South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), issued a statement on Monday demanding that Nenzani appear before parliament to answer questions over his role in the administrative meltdown that led to Moroe’s suspension. The DA has also called vice-president Beresford Williams and “the rest of the CSA Board to follow suit and tender their resignations as well.”Similar calls have been made in the past by the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) and several sponsors who were concerned about corporate governance at CSA under Moroe. That led to Faul taking over as acting CEO as part of an overhaul at the top level of South African cricket, with influential former players Graeme Smith and Mark Boucher brought in as director of cricket and head coach respectively.Smith had previously declined the role under Moroe but has since confirmed he is willing to continue in his role even if the executive changed. “My commitment is still there to want to go good in South African cricket and to move forward with whoever the leadership is going to be,” Smith said on August 1. There are now worries that Smith may walk away as well, with infighting at board level increasing. Ultimately, it was the inability to see eye-to-eye with the board that ended Faul’s second stint as acting CEO. He had earlier taken over following the suspension of Gerald Majola in March 2012, and had remained in the role until his resignation in July 2012.

With the fast bowler suffering a flare-up to his right shoulder, Cricket South Africa are putting measures in place in an attempt to get him ready for the World Cup

Liam Brickhill25-Apr-2019A shoulder injury to Dale Steyn has thrown South Africa’s World Cup preparations off track, with the 35-year-old fast bowler cutting his time with Royal Challengers Bangalore at the IPL short after only two games.Steyn will return to South Africa after his right shoulder – which had previously been seriously injured – flared up. He will be assessed by a shoulder specialist, with Cricket South Africa putting measures in place in an attempt to get him ready for the World Cup next month.

South Africa’s other injury concerns

• Having recovered from knee ligament damage picked up in the field during South Africa’s trip to Australia, Lungi Ngidi sustained a Grade II muscle strain in his side while bowling against Sri Lanka in the fifth ODI last month. The strain will require four weeks of rest followed by a rehab programme in the lead-up to the World Cup.

• Anrich Nortje also played in that fifth ODI, but he picked up an injury in his bowling shoulder that requires six weeks on the sidelines. That ruled him out of the ongoing IPL season, where he would have been part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad, and his timeline for achieving fitness before the start of the World Cup is quite slim. Nortje is currently seeing a specialist in Cape Town, and CSA say he is on course for his recovery process. He will join the national academy at CSA’s High Performance Centre this week – along with Ngidi – and continue to work under high-performance coaches Shukrie Conrad and Vincent Barnes.

• JP Duminy missed most of the home season after aggravating a long-standing shoulder injury during Zimbabwe’s visit in September. His recovery required surgery, and though Duminy returned to competitive cricket with Cape Cobras in March before slotting back into the South Africa side, he has not yet played a game in the CSA T20 Challenge. He has missed games in the T20 Challenge to allow him to continue his physiotherapy and conditioning regime for his shoulder. Duminy will also join the national academy, and is expected to play against the visiting Afghanistan Academy next week.

• Tabraiz Shamsi has not played competitive cricket for almost a month after experiencing slight discomfort in his lower back while playing for Titans in the last two games of their triumphant One-Day Cup tournament campaign. As a precaution, he was withdrawn from the CSA T20 Challenge and is undergoing physiotherapy and rehab. He is expected to be fully fit when the team assembles for their camp on May 12.

• Andile Phehlukwayo picked up an injury in his right foot, but it was minor and he has since recovered and has turned out for Dolphins in the ongoing CSA T20 Challenge.

“Dale felt discomfort after playing his second match at the tournament,” explained South Africa team manager, Dr Mohammed Moosajee. “Upon assessment and subsequent investigations, a flare-up of his right shoulder was confirmed. With the World Cup around the corner, it is our priority to get him back to full fitness before the squad departs on May 19. He will consult with a shoulder specialist upon his return and a recovery plan will be put in place.”Having gone unsold at the IPL 2019 auction, Steyn was a late addition to Royal Challengers’ roster. He jetted in as a replacement for Nathan Coulter-Nile, who pulled out of the tournament with a stiff back. Royal Challengers won both the matches Steyn played in, with the fast bowler taking 2 for 40 against Kolkata Knight Riders and following that up with 2 for 29 in the one-run win over Chennai Super Kings.”Dale Steyn has been prescribed ample rest due to inflammation in his shoulder,” said Royal Challengers chairman Sanjeev Churiwala. “On account of state of his health, Dale will not be available to take part further in the ongoing season of IPL.”His presence has helped the team immensely and we are very thankful for the inspiration and passion that he brought to the squad. The team will deeply miss his energy and presence around. We wish him a speedy recovery and all the luck for all future endeavours.”Steyn has been named in South Africa’s 15-man squad for the World Cup, but it is unclear yet how much time he will take to recover. South Africa’s squad will assemble for their week-long camp on May 12, prior to their departure for the tournament.Worryingly, Steyn’s current injury has flared up in the same shoulder in which he snapped a coracoid bone during South Africa’s tour of Australia in November 2016. That injury almost ended his career, and required surgery and 13 months in recovery. During the Wanderers Test match against Pakistan earlier this year, Steyn left the field early on the second day clutching the same shoulder, causing worries in the South Africa camp, but that injury scare did not prove to be serious, and he later returned to the field to help wrap up a 107-run win.The full extent of the latest flare-up remains to be seen, but if Steyn is unable to recover in time to play in the World Cup, it could signal the end of his white-ball career. Steyn has hinted that he would retire from ODI cricket after the tournament, but has made clear his intentions to keep playing Test cricket.The World Cup squad named by South Africa can be amended until 23 May, one week before their tournament opener against England at The Oval.

Defiant ninth-wicket stand between Josh Inglis and Matt helps Western Australia stretch game into the fourth day

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Feb-2018BCCI

A stunning century from Aaron Finch and a fine display of fast bowling from the quicks has put the Victoria Bushrangers on the brink of a comprehensive victory over Western Australia at the WACA.Victoria began the day 160 runs ahead and started briskly in the morning session with Marcus Harris reaching a half-century.Western Australia fought back briefly by picking four wickets later in the session, but were denied by Finch, who exploded in the afternoon to make 151 not out off just 122 balls. This included 16 fours and seven sixes. Cameron White provided good support adding 41. Finch declared with a lead of 468.Then the bowlers ripped through Western Australia with Chris Tremain taking three wickets to complete his first Sheffield Shield 10-wicket haul. Scott Boland (three) and Peter Siddle (two) also shared in the spoils.As Western Australia slumped to 8 for 99, Victoria took the extra half-hour to try and wrap up the match on the third night. But a defiant 62-run stand between Josh Inglis and Matt Kelly ensured the game would reach the fourth day.

David Graveney, the former chairman of selectors, could be among those leaving the ECB after a fresh round of redundancies

George Dobell09-Jan-2017David Graveney, the former chairman of selectors, could be among those leaving the ECB after a fresh round of redundancies.ESPNcricinfo understands that Graveney, the former Gloucestershire and Durham captain, has been informed that his current position as National Performance Manager has been made redundant. He has been invited to apply for the new role, which will be entitled National Talent Manager.Graveney’s current role encompasses assessing the county academies and age-group cricket, as well being one of the selectors of the England Under-19 side. As such, he plays an important role in spotting emerging talent and ensuring the best coaching and opportunities are provided to help young players fulfil their potential.Others affected by the redundancies in recent times include Tim Boon, the England Development Programme coach, Iain Brunnschweiler, Rob Ahmun and Mike Mustoe. Gordon Lord, previously the Head of Elite Coach Development, is also leaving the ECB to take up a similar position with the RFU.It is understood the changes – most of which come in the area of talent development – are not so much about cutting costs as improving the effectiveness of the talent pathway and come after a review of the current set-up by Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket, and Matt Dwyer, the director of Participation and Growth. With such minor title changes to the roles, it is hard to avoid the suspicion that individuals are being removed to make way for fresh blood.Graveney was chairman of selectors between 1997 and 2008, a period that was characterised by greater continuity of selection. He was also asked to reapply for that job in 2008 but lost out to Geoff Miller.Now aged 64, this latest episode could end a career that has included a long spell as a player (his career stretched from 1972 to 1994 and saw him become Durham’s first captain upon their elevation to first-class status), a time as CEO of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, the role of team manager on the rebel tour of South Africa in 1989-90, and his 11-year stint as selector.

The ICC has admitted that third umpire Nigel Llong made “an incorrect judgement” while deciding on New Zealand’s review of the appeal for catch against Nathan Lyon

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Dec-20155:08

Chappell: The decision unsettled NZ

The ICC has admitted that third umpire Nigel Llong made “an incorrect judgement” while using technology to decide on New Zealand’s review of the appeal for catch against Nathan Lyon, which had been given not out on the field on the second day of the day-night Test in Adelaide.”ICC has reviewed the decision and acknowledged that it was incorrect,” it said on Twitter, adding that it had replied to New Zealand Cricket’s questioning of the decision. “ICC confirms the umpire followed the correct protocol, but made an incorrect judgement.”The decision was hotly debated and criticised by television commentators and the media at the time, and drew unhappy but guarded reactions from New Zealand players Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum, and the coach Mike Hesson because it had a significant impact on the Test.Australia were 8 for 118 in reply to New Zealand’s 202 on the second day when Lyon top-edged an attempted sweep off left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner into his shoulder and up to slip. New Zealand’s appeal was denied on field by umpire S Ravi, and McCullum asked for a review.After five minutes of replays, Llong upheld Ravi’s decision though there was a clear Hot Spot on the top edge of Lyon’s bat, and the batsman had walked halfway to the dressing room. There also seemed to be a deviation in the ball’s course, but nothing showed up on Snicko, which also failed to read the impact of the ball on Lyon’s shoulder.Lyon had not scored at the time of his reprieve, and he eventually went on to make 34. Australia’s last two wickets added 108 runs in all, and earned a first-innings lead of 22. New Zealand were dismissed for 208 in their second innings, and Australia chased down the target of 187 with only three wickets in hand.

Pakistan have appointed the Australian Trent Woodhill as their batting coach for the Champions Trophy

Umar Farooq30-Apr-2013Pakistan have appointed the Australian Trent Woodhill as their batting coach for the Champions Trophy. He will join the squad directly in England and will be on probation for three weeks with the national side in June.Woodhill, 42, is currently part of the support staff with Delhi Daredevils in the ongoing IPL. He was New Zealand’s assistant coach till last year and has also been involved with Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League in Australia.”He was offered a short-term role as batting coach and he has accepted it,” Intikhab Alam, PCB Director international cricket, told reporters. “His services will be on trial and if the management is happy with his work his contract will be extended.”The decision to appoint Woodhill followed serious concerns over Pakistan’s fragile batting, which flopped during their 3-0 rout in the Tests in South Africa earlier this year. The team also lost the five-match one-day series 3-2. Pakistan had been hunting for a batting coach for the last year and a half but never settled on one candidate.In response to a PCB advertisement last year, several former players, including Zaheer Abbas and Saleem Malik, applied for the role but the PCB had insisted on hiring a candidate with at least a Level 3 coaching accreditation and a minimum of five years’ experience working with top cricketers. Pakistan appointed the former captain Inzamam-ul Haq ahead of the India tour last year but he wasn’t retained.”He (Woodhill) was preferred over the former players in our country only because of his qualification,” Alam said. “These days, coaching qualifications have become very necessary. He is an experienced coach and has worked with various teams, but if the experiment goes wrong, it’s a three-week contract, not a lengthy one.”

A round-up of the games from the Quandrangular Under-19 series in Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Apr-2012Kurtis Patterson scored 99, and Travis Head and Meyrick Buchanan made half-centuries, to lead Australia Under-19 to a four-wicket victory in the final over against India Under-19 at the Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville. Chasing a target of 261, Australia lost two early wickets before they were steadied by a 103-run stand between Head and Patterson. They then took control of the game through a 98-run partnership between Patterson and Buchanan for the fourth wicket. After Patterson was stumped one short of a century, Australia lost two more wickets in quick time, but had done enough to ensure victory with five balls to spare. None of the Indian batsmen made a half-century in their innings but they were well placed for a formidable score at 191 for 4 in the 39th over. However, they lost four wickets for six runs, before No. 10 Kamal Passi hit 41 off 30 deliveries to boost the visitors to 261. Gurinder Sandhu and Ashton Agar took three wickets each for Australia.England Under-19 beat New Zealand Under-19 comprehensively, easing home by nine wickets at the Endeavour Park Ground in Townsville. The pace-bowling duo of Aneesh Kapil and Adam Ball shared seven wickets to bowl out New Zealand for 78 in under 33 overs. Only four batsmen reached double-figures, the openers being among them. A steady start of 34 for 0 was in vain, as 10 wickets fell for 44. Kapil took 4 for 6 in five overs and Ball chipped in with three. England reached their target in just over 18 overs, opener Daniel Bell-Drummond remaining unbeaten on 41.