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United knocked out in the second eliminator after producing PSL’s best-ever league stage performance

Danyal Rasool22-Jun-2021The league stage suggested that Islamabad United were red-hot favourites for their third PSL title, but a comprehensive Peshawar Zalmi performance guaranteed that they wouldn’t even make it to the final.A ruthless bowling performance from Zalmi was followed up by a clinical chase, spearheaded by the irrepressible Hazratullah Zazai and debutant Jonathan Wells. Their 126-run partnership led to an eight-wicket rout of Shadab Khan’s side, with the chase of 176 was achieved with more than three overs to spare.Zalmi were on top from start to finish, aside from a four-over spell at the back-end of the first innings, where a spirited Hasan Ali knock ensured that United would at least remain competitive in the contest. The match began with an unfortunate run-out of Usman Khawaja when Shoaib Malik was controversially deemed to have got his foot to a ball that went on to clatter into the non-striker’s stumps. Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz kept a lid on things, even if Colin Munro cut loose from time to time, ending up as United’s most potent hope in the first half of the innings.But it was the middle stages where Zalmi pulled clear. Amad Butt and Umaid Asif came back in strongly to pick up regular wickets, with Shadab, Iftikhar Ahmed and Brandon King all falling cheaply. There was a danger that United would end up being bowled out under 120 before Hasan’s brutal onslaught gave his side hope.In reply, United kept Zazai on a leash for the most part, bowling away from his hitting arc. But the failure to get more wickets up top meant there was always the fear that Zalmi had enough firepower at the end to catch up with a climbing run rate. Wells and Zazai saw off the pressure without throwing their wickets away, the Australian doing particularly well in his first game to adjust to conditions and pace his innings accordingly. It was in Shadab’s third over that they cut loose, smashing the United captain for three sixes in four balls on a forgettable day for Shadab; he would go on to concede 55 in his four. He has never been as expensive in PSL history, and his team was on the ropes.Zazai and Wells seemed to mirror each other for most of the stand, which was finally broken after 126 hard-fought runs when Zazai chopped on to Mohammad Wasim. The asking rate was almost run-a-ball by then, and a Shoaib Malik blitz – 32 off 10 balls – made light work of the last rites.The Hasan Ali cameo Is it really a cameo if a player ends up being their side’s top-scorer? United looked like they had blown their chances at a spot in the final spectacularly after a listless display from the top and middle-order saw them reduced to 110 for 8. Crucially, though, Hasan was still out there, and he wasn’t in the mood to simply bat out 20 overs. Two fours and two sixes off Asif’s 17th over just whet his appetite as the 26-year old let loose in a blur of monstrous shot-making. Zalmi were guilty of being one-paced to him, and Ali loved the ball coming onto the bat; Riaz was tonked for 19 in the penultimate over as the two-time champions plundered 64 off the final four.Wasim offered fantastic support at the other end, thumping a pair of sixes on his own as the frontal assault continued from both sides. Hasan, meanwhile, was heroically run out trying to get back on strike for the final delivery, having raced to a sizzling 45 off 16. No player deserved a half-century more, but the knock had given his side more than a fair chance.Mohammad Irfan’s eventful dayPlenty went on with Irfan today, but one thing it really shouldn’t detract everyone from is the veteran’s unerring consistency of performance. For the third consecutive game, Irfan conceded exactly 21 runs in his four overs, astonishing figures as bowlers around him have found themselves clubbed to all parts. The pace and length variations continue to remain unpredictable, as batters as diverse as power hitters and anchors struggle to settle against the giant Zalmi bowler.He also doubled up with the priceless wicket of Munro at a time when the New Zealander had helped United off to a flying start and looked exceptionally threatening. He was unfortunate not to have had him a few balls earlier, coaxing an outside edge that Kamran Akmal spilled. Off the final ball of the over, though, Munro played at one down leg side, and this time, Irfan had the wicket he deserved.It wasn’t – as we now know – what will dominate Irfan-related chat in the game’s aftermath. He pulled up with an injury at the end of his spell umpire Aleem Dar deemed less than convincing, refusing to allow a substitute fielder in his place. That meant Zalmi were forced to play with just ten players for a brief period before Khalid Usman was permitted to come on as a cover. But Irfan’s most salient contribution to the contest had already been made.Where they stand United are eliminated despite boasting the best ever group stage performance in the PSL. Zalmi go through to face Multan Sultans in Thursday’s final.

The month of June, however, is usually one of the wettest in Bangladesh. A June Test against India in 2015 was met with rain on most days

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Mar-2020The BCB has announced the dates for Australia’s tour of Bangladesh in June. The visitors will play the first Test from June 11 in Chattogram, while the second Test is from June 19 in Dhaka.The board, however, did not mention the exact arrival dates for Australia, or the four-day practice match but with Bangladesh only departing the UK – after their T20Is against Ireland – on May 30, it must be between June 1 and 8.June is one of the wettest months in Bangladesh, with the BCB having hosted one Test in 2015, a rainy draw against India in Fatullah. Considering the 120 points at stake – at 60 points for a win per Test match – the wet conditions put Bangladesh and Australia’s ability to earn maximum points at risk.This will be Australia’s third Test tour of Bangladesh, having played Tests here in 2006 and 2017. Bangladesh, however, have not played Test in Australia since 2003.

The fast bowler, who has made a comeback from major back problems this season, picked up the injury against Melbourne Renegades

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jan-2019Fast bowler James Pattinson has suffered another injury setback after a side strain ruled him out of the remainder of the Big Bash.Pattinson, who plays for Brisbane Heat, picked up the injury against Melbourne Renegades on Thursday. He had bowled with eye-catching pace during the tournament, collecting four wickets in five matches with an economy rate of 6.76.The Heat are currently second-bottom of the table with two wins from six matches as the tournament reaches the halfway mark.This season has marked Pattinson’s return from major back surgery in late 2017 and his workload was carefully managed during the first part of the Sheffield Shield season with Victoria where he claimed nine wickets in four matches.He has been talked about as a potential for the Ashes tour later this year if his body holds up to the demands of first-class cricket so he will hope he can recover for the end-of-season Sheffield Shield stint when it resumes after the Big Bash in late February.Early in the Big Bash, Pattinson was involved on a controversial incident when he was given run out by the third umpire against Adelaide Strikers even though his bat was clearly across the line. The Strikers withdrew their appeal to allow Pattinson to continue his innings.

Tim Seifert’s century set up a massive first-innings score of 456 before Ish Sodhi chipped away at Otago to return a match haul of nine wickets, including a five-for on the final day

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2017A century from opener Brad Wilson and fifties from Shawn Hicks and Anaru Kitchen were in vain as Otago suffered a 25-run defeat against Northern Districts in their pursuit of 344. The key performer for Northern Districts, in their first win of the tournament this season, was legspinner Ish Sodhi, who finished with nine wickets in the match, including a five-for in the second innings.Otago had resumed on the fourth morning at 15 for 0, and two early strikes by Sodhi reduced them to 47 for 3. A 142-run fourth-wicket partnership between Wilson and Hicks revived Otago but Sodhi and Anton Devcich quashed any chances Otago may have had with a series of quick wickets. The batting side went from 189 for 3 to 205 for 7, with Devcich claiming the big wickets of Hicks and Wilson, who had compiled 111 off 228 balls. The remaining 139 runs were too much for Otago’s tail-enders, despite a 62-run partnership between Kitchen (69 not out off 91 balls) and Nathan Smith.Earlier in the match, Sodhi’s 4 for 75 had complemented fast bowler Brent Arnel’s 5 for 76, as Northern Districts dismissed Otago for 248 to take a 208-run first-innings lead. Otago batsmen got starts, with Hamish Rutherford (67) and Derek de Boorder (55) going on to make fifties, but Northern Districts kept the pressure by not allowing partnerships to flourish.The 208-run lead meant that Northern Districts held an edge in the match, despite a second-innings batting collapse that saw them declare their innings at 135 for 9. Only three batsmen made a score in excess of 20, while the nine wickets were picked up by fast bowler Jacob Duffy (5-49) and left-arm wristspinner Michael Rippon (4-30).Northern Districts’ first-innings batting display was far more dominant, despite a middle-order stutter. Their score of 456 was underpinned by wicketkeeper Tim Seifert’s third first-class hundred – an unbeaten 167 that lifted the side from 198 for 5. Seifert had support from Daryl Mitchell (60) and shared a seventh-wicket stand of 116 with Ish Sodhi (48), before he took the lead in a tenth-wicket stand of 57 that took the side past 450.

Adam Wheater’s second century of the season helped Hampshire pick up three batting points in their crucial Specsavers County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge

ECB Reporters Network13-Aug-2016
ScorecardAdam Wheater made his second hundred of the season (file photo)•Getty Images

Adam Wheater’s second century of the season helped Hampshire pick up three batting points in their crucial Specsavers County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. The 26-year old scored 102, getting his runs from 147 balls, with 12 fours and a six as his side reached 319 before bowled out in 83 overs.Half-centuries from Lewis McManus and Liam Dawson backed up Wheater’s fine effort, with Luke Wood taking 3 for 53 for the hosts. Nottinghamshire responded with 39 for 1 in the final 11 overs of the day.With the two county sides entering this round of matches occupying the bottom two places in the Division One table, the opening stages were inevitably important after Hampshire had won the toss and opted to bat first.Wood, playing his first Championship match of the season, led Nottinghamshire’s charge by nipping out both openers and then returned to the attack to dismiss Liam Dawson just before lunch. The 21-year old struck early, capturing the wicket of Jimmy Adams in his second over. The batsman caressed his second boundary through the covers off the young left-arm seamer but then lost his off bail to a perfectly-pitched away-swinger.Will Smith, skippering Hants against his former county, made 12 but was then pinned on the crease by Wood and was given out lbw. Dawson dominated the third-wicket stand of 65 but lost his partner as the first session drew towards a close. Tom Alsop, who had battled for 92 minutes in making 17, fell lbw whilst trying to sweep in Samit Patel’s first over.Notts skipper Chris Read brought back Wood and his first delivery prompted Dawson to pop up a simple catch to Michael Lumb at short midwicket.Harry Gurney took the only wicket to fall during the middle session, pinning Ryan McLaren lbw for 16 but the sixth-wicket pair of Wheater and McManus steadied the ship during a stand of 123. McManus, who reached his fifty from 101 balls, was superbly caught for 56 by Chris Read after being surprised by a short-pitched ball from Steven Mullaney.Wheater’s fine knock ended shortly after he had reach three figures, tamely chipping Imran Tahir to midwicket. Hampshire’s last four wickets fell for 15 as Mason Crane and Brad Wheal departed without scoring, before Andy Carter, on his Hampshire debut, was mopped up by Ball for 4.When Notts batted, Jake Libby became the fifth batsmen to be dismissed lbw when he was pinned by McLaren for 11. Jake Ball, sent in as nightwatchman, was put down by Adams at second slip, leaving the first day honours just about even.

Worcestershire won a final-over thriller against Lancashire at Old Trafford by two wickets to claim a fourth NatWest T20 Blast win from six matches, with Ben Cox the match-winner.

ECB/PA18-Jun-2015
ScorecardBen Cox proved the match-winner for Worcestershire•Getty Images

Worcestershire won a final-over thriller against Lancashire at Old Trafford by two wickets to claim a fourth NatWest T20 Blast win from six matches, with Ben Cox the match-winner. Lancashire failed to defend 164 with a ball to spare in a clash which saw both teams struggle at times with the bat and only one half-century scored by visitors’ captain Daryl Mitchell – 53 off 40 balls.Lancashire looked favourites to win after making 163 for 5, with Worcester needing 44 off 26 balls when they slipped to 120 for 5 on the back of offspinner Arron Lilley’s impressive 1 for 19.But Cox hit Saqib Mahmood for a six and four late in the 17th over to change things. Two wickets fell in the last over, brilliantly bowled by James Faulkner, as seven off six balls became six off two, only for the wicketkeeper to smash the Australian over wide long-on for six. He and Brett D’Oliveira, 22 off 14, shared a crucial 37 in 3.2 overs for the sixth wicket. Cox made 22 not out off 13.

Insights

Worcestershire had ten double-figure overs, and although Lancashire scored 21 off one over–the largest over of the match, and 18 off another, the second largest over of the match, they managed just four double figure overs in their innings. Lancashire posted the total with sporadic and concentrated attack; Worcestershire reached it with sustained attack. Lancashire may well look back on the final five overs of their innings and reflect that some harder running or a boundary here or there could’ve made the difference. Lancashire scored 45 from their final five, while Worcestershire managed 53 from 4.5.
Freddie Wilde

Despite the early loss of Liam Livingstone to Joe Leach, Lancashire got off to a flyer as second-wicket pair Ashwell Prince and Karl Brown, who top-scored with 42 off 24 balls, shared 71 in 7.1 overs. The hosts reached 50 after 4.4 overs having taken 39 off the third and fourth overs from Jack Shantry and Leach.But after Brown’s dismissal, slog-sweeping Saeed Ajmal to deep mid-wicket – 73 for two after 8.3 overs – the hosts’ innings stalled in the face of spin from Ajmal, Moeen Ali and D’Oliveira. They failed to score a boundary for seven overs from the start of the eighth to the start of the 15th as Prince also fell top-edging a sweep off Moeen. Steven Croft and Faulkner added 49 in 6.3 overs to give this innings impetus before falling late on to Ajmal and Shantry.Mitchell hit three boundaries off Faulkner in the sixth over as the visitors, who lost Moeen caught at midwicket off Jordan Clark, moved to 52 for 1 in reply. Lilley trapped Tom Kohler-Cadmore lbw sweeping with his second ball, leaving the score at 63 for 2 in the eighth, before Worcestershire also struggled through the middle overs.Lancashire cut off the twos and prevented a boundary between midway through the seventh over and five balls into the 13th. Fifteen came off the 13th from Clark, taking the score to 96 for 2, before Mitchell brought up a 32-ball fifty in the next, only to see Colin Munro run out going for two to deep cover.When Mahmood trapped Mitchell lbw with the first ball of the 15th, Worcestershire had lost two in two balls and were 108 for 4. Croft took a fine running catch at long-off to help Tom Bailey get rid of Ross Whiteley in the next as the target became 44 off 26 balls, but the visitors prevailed in a helter-skelter finish which saw D’Oliveira, Leach and Ed Barnard fall in the last seven balls.

Brendon McCullum has said he is concerned for his predecessor as well as the team as it tries to pull itself together ahead of a tough tour of South Africa

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2012Brendon McCullum, who took over as New Zealand captain under controversial circumstances after Ross Taylor refused an offer to remain as the leader of the Test team in a split-captaincy scenario, has said he is concerned for his predecessor as well as the team ahead of a tough tour of South Africa. Taylor has asked for a break and will not be travelling to South Africa.”I’m more concerned now with how the team is handling the situation and where we go from here – how we try and galvanise the unit, rather than my own individual accolade of picking up the captaincy,” McCullum told reporters at a press conference in Lincoln. “I’m obviously worried for Ross and how he is dealing with things at the moment, and obviously how we try and ensure that we pull together this team inside a very short space of time for what is going to be an incredibly tough tour.”McCullum said he had been in touch with Taylor, who said on Friday he felt he never had the support of New Zealand coach Mike Hesson. “I’ve spoken to him a couple of times – two days ago and then left a message with him again this morning – but he obviously needs a little bit of space at the moment as well, and I thought he did a really good job yesterday with the media of being able to deal with some tough circumstances,” McCullum said. “Ross is an integral member of this team and he’s vitally important to us in terms of how we’re going to try and increase our performances. He’s also a very popular member of the team as well and there’s a lot of guys that will be feeling for him at the moment – we will welcome him back when he’s good and ready.”I know it hasn’t been a great process with the way it’s unfolded and I know there is a lot of anger towards it.”I guess from our point of view, we now need to try and move forward and get some faith back into this team and build some rapport with the public because that’s obviously taken a hit over the last seven days.”McCullum was upset at speculation that he may have had a role to play in the entire episode. “That’s probably the thing that has come out through this week that’s annoyed me the most. I guess that cuts right to the bone that someone would question your integrity and your character like that.”I guess it’s been mentioned on a number of occasions and to be totally honest, it is highly insulting, for people to cast aspersions when they certainly don’t know the full circumstances.”From my point of view, I had absolutely no involvement in that recommendation whatsoever. I was asked if I would lead the one-day and Twenty20 teams two days ago, and then yesterday I was asked if I would lead the Test team, after Ross turned it down so about as much involvement I’ve had in this situation.”Relations between Taylor and himself, McCullum said, were very good. “It’s only really been media hype and fiction over the last 16 months, since the captaincy selection of Ross, which tried to drive a wedge between Ross and I.”In terms of the public profile, we’ve got a very good and respectful relationship. We know each other, we’ve played with each other for a very long time and we know each others families.”McCullum hoped to welcome Taylor back to the New Zealand side and sympathised with Taylor for the situation he finds himself in. “I don’t want to sit here and talk about how hard it’s been on me, because it’s certainly been a lot harder on other people, but you know that as long as, through your dealings, that you are honest and you maintain your integrity throughout, then you can look yourself in the eye and know that you’re doing the right thing.”Now Ross is going through some tough times and my thoughts are with him.”When he is good and ready to come back, then we’ll certainly welcome him back, and I’ll be looking to help him as much as I possibly can to reach the standards he wants to reach in this game, to be an integral member of this team and play a vital part in that.”

Michael Clarke has conceded that Shaun Marsh is in doubt for the second Test in Johannesburg after he struggled with a stiff back on the first two days in Cape Town

Brydon Coverdale at Newlands10-Nov-2011Michael Clarke has conceded that Shaun Marsh is in doubt for the second Test in Johannesburg after he struggled with a stiff back on the first two days in Cape Town. Marsh did not field on the second day and batted at No.10, clearly hampered as he walked to the crease and faced his only two deliveries, including a delivery that kept low and trapped him lbw.The problem arose on Wednesday during the latter stages of Marsh’s first-innings 44, and the issue worsened on Thursday. The Wanderers Test starts in a week and Clarke, as a man who has suffered serious back problems himself over the years, said the most important thing was to ensure Marsh was not forced to play if he was not quite right.”I’m a little nervous, no doubt,” Clarke said after play on Thursday. “I know the feeling when you do your back, it’s always a couple of days of mending time and treatment to try and get it right. I’m confident if he does get it right in this period before the second Test then he’ll be fine to play.”But I need to trust the judgment of Alex Kountouris, our physio, who has had a lot of experience on backs, unfortunately. Shaun knows his body pretty well. He’s a big player for us, he’s in all three forms of the game. He’s a wonderful guy with a lot of talent, so I want to make sure we make the right decision.”Should Marsh be unavailable for the Johannesburg Test, it would mean a call-up for Usman Khawaja, the back-up batsman in the squad. While Khawaja is a fine prospect, Marsh has been one of the shining lights for Australia during their past three Tests.He scored a century on debut in Pallekele in September and made 81 in his second Test, before starting his South African trip with a pair of half-centuries in the tour match in Potchefstroom last week. In the first innings in Cape Town, he was the only one of Australia’s specialist batsmen who showed the centurion Clarke any support.Marsh has had ongoing back issues throughout his career. He was ruled out of the third ODI against Sri Lanka last November and the Australia A game against England that followed due to back trouble, and a similar problem also ruled him out of the tour of New Zealand early last year.

Peter George helped South Australia keep Tasmania to 251 on the opening day at Bellerive Oval, but the Redbacks would not have been too comfortable by the close, having lost two quick wickets

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Nov-2010
ScorecardAlex Doolan top scored for Tasmania with 68•Getty Images

Peter George helped South Australia keep Tasmania to 251 on the opening day at Bellerive Oval, but the Redbacks would not have been too comfortable by the close, having lost two quick wickets. At stumps, the visitors were 2 for 10, with James Smith on 7 and Callum Ferguson yet to score.They still trailed by 241, which started look a better total when Daniel Harris was caught at slip for 1 off the bowling of Adam Maher, and Michael Klinger was bowled for a duck, offering no shot to Luke Butterworth. Their lapses undid some of the good work set up by George and Daniel Christian with the ball.George finished with 4 for 65 and Christian collected 3 for 52 as the Tigers lost wickets on a regular basis. The major source of resistance came from Alex Doolan, whose innings of 68 came to an end when he was bowled by Christian.The 29-year-old former New South Wales fast man Tim Lang picked up his maiden first-class wicket when he had Ed Cowan caught behind early in the innings, but George was the main worry for Tasmania. A week after having little impact at the same venue against England, George collected the first and last wickets, and also removed the dangerous Mark Cosgrove for 40.