All posts by n8rngtd.top

Afghanistan to look for new head coach after Thorpe illness

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

In Thorpe’s absence, Afghanistan have operated with local coach Raees Khan Ahmadzai at the helm on an interim basis

Umar Farooq08-Jul-2022The Afghanistan Cricket Board is seeking a replacement for their head coach Graham Thorpe, who remains seriously ill and is not expected to return to work in the short term. ACB has opened a recruitment process, and it is understood the team will have a new head coach for the upcoming season.In his absence, Afghanistan have operated with local coach Raees Khan Ahmadzai at the helm on an interim basis. Thorpe – who signed up in March this year – was supposed to join the team in the last week of April but was unable to. He had a decade-long involvement within England’s coaching set-up, which came to an end after this winter’s 4-0 Ashes loss in Australia. He had replaced full-time Afghanistan head coach Lance Klusener, who stood down in November last year after a two-year tenure.Meanwhile, ACB has roped in former West Indies fielding coach Ryan Maron as their national fielding coach for six months, a contract that can be extended subject to performance. He has returned to take up the job after brief stints with the Afghan team in 2015 and 2017. He is 47 and was the former opening batsman for Western Province in South Africa, playing 18 first-class matches. He has previously worked as a fielding coach with the Dolphins in South African domestic cricket.This was Afghanistan’s second hiring in the last two months. Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul was signed as their bowling coach until December 2022. In the absence of Thorpe, Afghanistan played three ODIs and T20Is each against Zimbabwe winning all with Ahmadzai as acting head coach and former captain Nawroz Khan Mangal working as batting coach.The team is set to tour Ireland in the first week of August for five T20Is. The tour was initially set to comprise a one-off Test and three ODIs, but the calendar has since been reworked keeping in mind the T20 World Cup which is to be held in Australia this October. The side is also featuring in this year’s Asia Cup in Colombo and the T20 World Cup. There is also a three-match ODI series pending against Pakistan likely to be played at a neutral venue, with Afghanistan currently an unviable destination for international cricket tours.

'Going to keep seniors on toes' – Moeen cherishes pressure of intense competition

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Birmingham Phoenix captain set to lead again in second season of Hundred, after taking them to the final in 2021

Osman Samiuddin02-Aug-2022After a summer of indifferent white-ball performances from the men’s senior side, arrives the Hundred, as exactly the whiff of fresh air the national team might be in need of. England began this season well, with a comfortable sweep of the ODI series against Netherlands, but have since faltered, losing seven of their last 11 completed white-ball internationals.The Hundred comes amidst a change of captain and coach for England, a few losses, an air of general transition, and also, according to Moeen Ali, an opportunity for younger guys to make a name for themselves, and to audition for a spot in a side looking ahead imminently to the T20 World Cup.As he did last year in taking them to the final, Moeen will lead Birmingham Pheonix, and start their campaign on Saturday against Trent Rockets. And while Moeen has adapted creditably under the new England regime, he recognises that the pressure on others in the national fold from players outside is not only inevitable but also healthy.Related

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“It is a great thing [having that competition for places], and [there is] a lot more competition now than there was before,” Moeen said, speaking ahead of the launch of KP Snacks’ summer cricket roadshow at The Black Prince Trust in Oval. “When you don’t play well – or you’re losing – there’s always going to be changes, and I do think it’s a great thing.”With the change of coach and captain, there’s always a chance of new faces coming in, just like when Morgs [Eoin Morgan] and Trevs [Trevor Bayliss] took over in 2015. There was a lot of fresh faces. They give you a lot more energy.”It’s going to keep all the senior players on their toes because there are some fantastic players coming through. Everybody under pressure is really good because it’s going to benefit us in the long term.”Moeen knows well how the tournament can throw a little-known youngster into the mix, having overseen the emergence of Will Smeed at Birmingham last season. Smeed impressed in the Blast, earned a deal at the Hundred as an injury replacement, and ended as the team’s third-highest run-scorer behind Liam Livingstone and Moeen himself; he had the second highest strike rate (172.91) among the top 20 run-scorers in the competition.”Harry Brook will be somebody people will keep an eye on; it’s a great platform”, Moeen on the Hundred helping youngsters•Getty Images

“The Hundred is great for younger players; you can kind of pluck players out of the blue a little which is really good. A few of the teams have got some really young players this year who have been around a little bit, but [the Hundred] is a great platform for them to really shine and do well and be on that big stage,” Moeen said.”Especially now, as England haven’t played so well this summer and if somebody has been absolutely outstanding, he’s put his hand up trying to get into that team. Someone like Harry Brook is in contention to do that; I know he’s played a couple of games but he’s a brilliant player in my opinion.”He’d be somebody I am sure people will keep an eye on. It’s a great platform for players to do well in, to put their hands up, and do something that can catch the eye of the captain and the coach because everybody will be watching.”That’s important for the younger players, that there is a sort of window for players now. In the past it was quite difficult for players to get picked for England because the side was doing well. But I think there are a couple of spots – or at least a chance – for players to do really well.”Moeen may be a World Cup winner, with experience of captaining England; he may be 17 years into his professional career; he may even have led Birmingham to last year’s final, but the format feels fresh enough for him to feel the need to cram in some last-minute revision ahead of Saturday.”The death bowling is the tricky one because it’s five balls, and you stay at the same end,” he said. “You kind of need three death bowlers in the end – one just in case – because [it is] more than likely they will bowl in the last 15 balls. There’s little things like that and I’ll need to remind myself again of the exact rules again.”The whole over-rate thing is a brilliant rule, with the one fielder coming up. We’ve got to go through the rules again. It’s obviously been a while since we played it.”

'I believe I can do it' – Patidar continues steady rise with big century against New Zealand A

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The middle-order batter finished day 3 just 30 runs shy of what could be his first first-class double-century

Himanshu Agrawal03-Sep-2022Rajat Patidar’s scores in his last few innings, across formats and tournaments, suggests that he is in the middle of a dream run. An unbeaten 170, with the promise of more to come, for India A against New Zealand A in Bengaluru is just the latest.The plan, now, is not to get too far ahead of himself.”It’s all a mental thing and is different for every individual. If you have the ability to play all three formats, then you can play it,” Patidar said after pushing India A 92 runs ahead of the visitors’ first-innings score of 400. “I believe I can do it. You must know how to switch between red- and white-ball cricket. So if I have to do well in red-ball cricket, I need to understand its parameters – like the change in bat speed, which is pretty high in T20 cricket. So, overall, it’s a mental thing. Depends on how you look at it.”Related

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  • Six stars from Madhya Pradesh's Ranji Trophy winning season

  • Mohsin and Patidar make it an IPL to remember

He came into focus when he scored 112 not out for Royal Challengers Bangalore in a must-win IPL Eliminator, followed by 58 in the second Qualifier. Then came the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy. He hit 85 in the quarter-final against Punjab, 7 and 79 in the semi-final, and 122 and 30* in the final against Mumbai as Madhya Pradesh won the tournament for the first time.Switching between formats isn’t easy. This year, for example, players have had to move from the first leg of the Ranji Trophy in February-March to the IPL in April-May, and to the second leg of Ranji Trophy in June. Patidar has managed to maintain his touch.Before he packed his bags for IPL 2022, Patidar had scored 335 runs at an average of 83.75 in the group stage of the Ranji Trophy. He then cracked 333 runs at 55.50, including a century and two fifties, in the IPL. On his return to Ranji Trophy, he got another 323 runs in five innings. Just over two months later, he stands just 30 short of what could be a first first-class double hundred.With the long-form games arriving rather quickly after the T20s, Patidar too made slight adjustments to suit the “situation and the scenario”.”Technique matters a lot in red-ball cricket. For example, when facing fast bowling, you need to avoid playing on the rise,” he said. “I usually go for an on-the-rise cover drive, like it is done in white-ball cricket. But you need to realise which shots you need to play and which ones to avoid in red-ball cricket, which is played with a straight bat.”One of my strengths is the straight drive, and so I try and play with a straight bat and from close to my body in red-ball cricket.”Rajat Patidar finished the Ranji Trophy this season as the tournament’s second-highest run-getter•PTI

He has had a bit of luck along the way too.A few days after the IPL got underway, Luvnith Sisodia picked up an injury, which led to Royal Challengers signing Patidar; and not long after that, Anuj Rawat’s dip in form paved way for Patidar’s inclusion in the playing XI.On Saturday, Robert O’Donnell dropped Patidar when he was on 13, and he batted on, and on.Patidar displayed a wide array of shots throughout the third day’s play in Bengaluru. He was especially comfortable against pace, with his strike rate against quick bowlers nearly 78. Patidar added 104 runs with Abhimanyu Easwaran for the third wicket and has already posted an undefeated 167 runs with Tilak Varma for the fifth.Chetan Sharma has been in the stands but Patidar insisted that a national call-up was not on his mind.”I don’t think about the future a lot as to what I must do in the coming seasons, or that I may get a chance to bat higher up, etc,” he said. “These have never crossed my mind – and never will either – as I just enjoy my batting and my shots. I don’t think about what is not in my hands.”

Unbeaten India slight favourites in Round 2 against Pakistan

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Shahnawaz Dahani is out with a “suspected side strain”; India don’t have the services of Ravindra Jadeja anymore

Danyal Rasool03-Sep-20228:34

Should Rishabh Pant replace KL Rahul at the top of the order?

Big picture

It wasn’t until Friday night that this fixture was officially confirmed, but make no mistake, the second instalment of India versus Pakistan had long been pencilled-in in the minds of supporters, organisers and players for this Sunday. Its proximity to the sides’ most recent contest, just a week ago, gives it that added layer of intrigue and context, with the sides not quite as unfamiliar with each other as they usually are. This will be the first time since the 2018 Asia Cup that the two face each other in such quick succession.That this game is the first for both teams in the Super 4 stage allows it to be stripped of context in the bigger picture. But this is another opportunity for them to work each other out ahead of their men’s T20 World Cup game in Australia in just under two months’ time. Not to forget, any insight gleaned into the opposition’s methods might be particularly handy in a week’s time, if there is to be a Part 3 of this story in the final next Sunday.Related

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There isn’t too much to separate these sides, especially in these conditions, as was evident in their tight contest a week ago, but by dint of India pulling the result out, they do go in as slight favourites. Their bowlers fared admirably in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel, using the short ball to devastating effect in a way Babar Azam’s men could neither cope with nor replicate. In the middle order, India have the luxury of a two-in-one player in Hardik Pandya, whom they were able to rest against Hong Kong. Virat Kohli, meanwhile, seems to be creaking back to form, taking advantage of an early reprieve against Pakistan to score a vital 35, followed up by an unbeaten half-century against Hong Kong.Pakistan’s dominant, record-breaking win over Hong Kong allayed any fears that they might stumble at the group stage. Mohammad Rizwan played his way back into form with an unbeaten 78 off 57, while Khushdil Shah warmed up nicely with an unbeaten 15-ball 35. The bowling, Pakistan’s stronger suit by a distance, was in top form, with Shadab Khan taking career-best figures of 4 for 8, and Mohammad Nawaz taking 3 for 5. Dubai might not allow the spinners as big a role, but a well-rounded bowling attack remains Pakistan’s most reliable avenue to victory.And, of course, there are Super 4 points on offer. Even if that feels like a bit of an afterthought for now, they will become increasingly prized as these two jostle with Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in a bid to reach the final.3:30

Jaffer: India won’t miss Jadeja’s batting because of Axar’s form

Form guide

India WWWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Pakistan WLLWW

In the spotlight

Kohli might have begun this tournament with the vultures circling, but it is Rohit Sharma whose recent form represents something of a top-order vulnerability for India. There’s only one half-century peppered amongst a swathe of low-to-medium scores over his last dozen T20Is or so. Against Pakistan, that effect is even more exaggerated, his average dropping to 13.66 from a career average of 32. His strike rate takes a similar dive from 139.84 to 112.32. When the sides met last week in Dubai, a scratchy 12 off 18 balls was all Rohit managed. If he, too, can shake off this indifferent spell, India’s top order suddenly poses more challenging questions for Pakistan.It looked like Iftikhar Ahmed was doing the rebuilding work for Pakistan against India through the middle order when the sides met last week, even if he eventually fell at an inopportune moment. With the value of Pakistan’s middle order becoming clearer by the day, he should have a more noteworthy role to play on Sunday. As one of the few Pakistan middle-order batters who can perform the dual role of consolidation and power-hitting, he should be key to Pakistan’s hopes, particularly if they are thrust in to bat first again. Against Hong Kong on Friday, Babar Azam brought him on inside the powerplay, suggesting he might play more of an all-round role against India.

Pitch and conditions

The temperature is expected to hit 40°C in the afternoon, and though it’s supposed to drop down a few degrees by the time the game starts, oppressive heat will continue to be a factor.2:34

Mickey Arthur on what Pakistan have learnt so far at the Asia Cup

Team news

Avesh Khan is doubtful for the match because of fever. Meanwhile, Hardik should return, and Axar Patel should come in for Ravindra Jadeja, who has been ruled out of the tournament and the T20 World Cup with a knee injury. The Dinesh Karthik vs Rishabh Pant question remains there.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 KL Rahul, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Rishabh Pant/Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Avesh Khan/R Ashwin, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalPakistan have been hit with an injury to another fast bowler, with Shahnawaz Dahani ruled out of Sunday’s game with a “suspected side strain”. Hasan Ali or Mohammad Hasnain will take his place.Pakistan (probable): 1 Babar Azam (capt), 2 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 3 Fakhar Zaman, 4 Iftikhar Ahmed, 5 Khushdil Shah, 6 Shadab Khan, 7 Asif Ali, 8 Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Hasan Ali/Mohammad Hasnain

Stats and trivia

  • Three of Rohit’s eight T20I innings against Pakistan have seen him dismissed within the first two balls.
  • Pakistan have lost their last four Asia Cup matches, across formats, to India. On each of those four occasions, India batted second.
  • Of 14 completed games between the two sides in the tournament, India have won nine.

Quotes

“Any game against India feels like a final, but the more normal you can feel in such a match, the better it is. I don’t follow the hype around that game much, but out in the middle, the ball has to play the bat.”
Mohammad Rizwan tries to downplay the hype of another India-Pakistan match

Lauren Winfield-Hill, Linsey Smith to the fore as Northern Diamonds break duck in thrilling final

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Vipers beaten by two runs in gripping finish, 24 hours after dramatic finish to Lord’s ODI

ECB Reporters Network25-Sep-2022Northern Diamonds 215 for 9 (Winfield-Hill 65, Heath 44, Adams 3-34) beat Southern Vipers 213 for 9 (Adams 70, Bouchier 48) by two runsLauren Winfield-Hill and Linsey Smith made it third time lucky for Northern Diamonds as they finally beat Southern Vipers by two runs in a thriller at Lord’s to get their hands on the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.Diamonds had come up short against Vipers in the two previous finals, but Winfield-Hill hit 65 and Smith 27 in an opening stand of 83 to form the basis of their total of 215 for 9, Bess Heath later adding 44 while Georgia Adams returned figures of three for 34 and Paige Scholfield two for 36.Adams then made 70 with the bat, while Maia Bouchier weighed in with a spectacular 48, but the spin wizardry of Smith (two for 24) and three victims behind the stumps for Winfield-Hill saw Vipers come up just short in a breathless finish.The day also saw Charlie Dean playfully pretend to run Smith out at the non-striker’s end during the Diamonds innings, evoking thoughts of her run-out by that means at the hands of India’s Deepti Sharma in the ODI 24 hours earlier.Winfield-Hill, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, towered over the opening stages of the final. The England international drove the ball exquisitely, mainly through the off-side, one back-foot punch through cover a thing of beauty.Fellow opener Smith should have been stumped by Chloe Hill after dancing the pitch to Charlotte Taylor, but the chance went begging. Taylor though would soon extract revenge, Smith chipping one back to the spinner.Winfield-Hill pressed on to an elegant 50 with seven fours, but Hollie Armitage, like Smith, struggled to time the ball. Nevertheless, the score reached 114 for 1 before Armitage took an ugly swipe at Scholfield and was bowled.A dramatic collapse was triggered as Sterre Kalis fell first ball, Scholfield finding movement off the pitch to take the ball between bat and pad and uproot the off-stump once more. Phoebe Turner survived the hat-trick ball only to miss a straight one from Taylor in the following over and disaster followed as Winfield-Hill’s serene innings ended on 65, run out by Georgia Elwiss’ return from cover. Four wickets had fallen for five runs in 17 balls and Diamonds were teetering on the brink.Heath and Leah Dobson stopped the bleeding, slowly at first before acceleration came late in a stand of 85. Heath struck Georgia Adams for three boundaries in quick succession before becoming the first of a trio of late wickets for the Vipers’ skipper, two coming off successive balls in the final over.Chasing 216, Vipers lost Ella McCaughan to the miserly Smith and Elwiss was castled by a huge in-swinger from Lizzie Scott.Bouchier led the fightback, hitting first Katy Levick back over her head for four before taking heavy toll of the spin of Leigh Kasperek as a 50 partnership with Adams rattled up in a hurry.Diamonds needed inspiration but instead got a large slice of luck when Bouchier belted an Armitage full toss straight to Smith at cover.That brought Windsor to the crease, who signalled her intent with a dreamy cover-drive for four, but Armitage would account for her too as she nicked one through to Winfield-Hill.Dean though picked up where she left off with England 24 hours earlier as 13 came from Armitage’s penultimate over and the pendulum appeared to swing back towards Vipers once again.She was given a life on 26 in Armitage’s next over when Levick grassed the chance at point. Fortunately, it wasn’t costly as she would clout a Kaseperek long-hop down the throat of short mid-wicket with 53 still needed.Adams remained having gone almost unnoticed to 50 with only one four, but when she was stumped by Winfield-Hill from the bowling of Levick 20 were needed from the final two overs.Smith bowled Scholfield amid rising tension and 13 from the final over proved just too many.

Kotak, Cooley and Dilip put in charge of India A in Bangladesh

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Current India A coach VVS Laxman – as well as Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Sairaj Bahutule – are with senior side in New Zealand

Shashank Kishore28-Nov-2022Sitanshu Kotak, the former Saurashtra captain and one of the batting coaches at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), will continue to helm the India A squad, which is currently on tour in Bangladesh for two four-day fixtures. Kotak will be assisted by Troy Cooley, the Australian bowling coach at the NCA, and T Dilip, the national team’s fielding coach.Dilip had been given a short break following India’s T20 World Cup campaign, and will now travel with the India A team and then join the national side for the Tests in Bangladesh; the shadow ‘A’ tour overlaps with the three-ODI series beginning on December 4. Rahul Dravid and the rested senior players are all set to return after being given a break for the limited-overs series in New Zealand.Related

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The ‘A’ squad, led by Abhimanyu Easwaran, touched down in Dhaka on Saturday, and underwent their first training session in the beach town of Cox’s Bazar, which will host the first four-day fixture from November 29. The second four-dayer will be played from December 6-9 in Sylhet.The tour has been scheduled in such a manner that most of the India A players, barring those selected to stay back for the two-match Test series, would return home in time to be part of their state teams’ preparations for the Ranji Trophy beginning on December 13.Saurabh Kumar is a candidate to be called up for the Bangladesh Tests if Ravindra Jadeja doesn’t make it•Manoj Bookanakere/KSCA

Among those who have been sounded out for a potential call-up for the Bangladesh Tests is left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar, who could fill in if Ravindra Jadeja is deemed unfit for the Test leg too. Jadeja is recovering from a knee surgery, and had been included in the tour party only subject to fitness.Last week, he was withdrawn from the ODI squad and replaced by allrounder Shahbaz Ahmed after the NCA medical staff felt Jadeja needed more time to recover.Saurabh has been on the fringes of the national team since February last year, following excellent returns since the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy. He was more recently part of the India A squad against New Zealand, where he picked up nine wickets in the series to help the Indians to a 1-0 win.Prior to that, he played a key part in Uttar Pradesh’s run to the Ranji Trophy semi-final. In all, across 12 Ranji Trophy games from two completed seasons, Saurabh has an impressive tally of 58 wickets.

Cricket West Indies announces Headley-Weekes series, a domestic red-ball competition

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The three-team three-match series will be played at the end of the West Indies Championship

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Dec-2022Cricket West Indies has announced a new domestic red-ball tri-series, the Headley-Weekes series, which will be played at the end of the West Indies Championship, the regional four-day tournament.The series will feature three four-day matches and will be played from April 18 to 6 May at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. Team Headley and Team Weekes (named in honour of George Headley and Everton Weekes) will be selected from the best performers in the 2023 West Indies Championship and players outside the starting West Indies Test XI. The new West Indies Academy will provide the third team.The 2023 edition of the West Indies Championship, which begins on February 1, will be played across five rounds of four-day games featuring six regional franchise teams.Johnny Grave, the CEO of CWI, said: “We are delighted to unveil the Headley-Weekes series, which is a new idea that will extend the four-day season, create more opportunities for our players to showcase their skills and will be a huge incentive for them to strive towards selection into our ‘A’ team, and ultimately our Test team. It will also provide some strong competitive red-ball cricket for our new West Indies Academy players as we continue to try to ensure that the next generation of players is being prepared along the pathway to international cricket.”Whilst the West Indies Championship is once again going to be played on a one-round, five-match basis, with the plans we have for our ‘A’ team and Academy, to go on overseas tours after the Headley-Weekes series, we expect our best players in the region will still play at least ten four-day games in the first half of next year.”The first two rounds of the championship will be played from February 1 to February 11 in Grenada and Antigua. The tournament will then have a break and resume on March 15 and run until April 1 for the final three rounds, which will be played in Trinidad.

South Africa storm back into contention as hapless NZ face meek elimination

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Mlaba and Tryon star with ball and bat to keep hosts on track for semi-final spot

Valkerie Baynes & Firdose Moonda13-Feb-2023South Africa 132 for 6 (Tryon 40, de Klerk 28, Carson 2-23, Tahuhu 2-27) beat New Zealand 67 (Devine 16, Jess 11, Mlaba 3-10, Tryon 2-12) by 65 runsA fired-up South Africa reignited their home World Cup campaign with a 65-run win over New Zealand in front of a boisterous Boland Park crowd.After their shock defeat to Sri Lanka in the tournament opener and with six of the playing XI including captain Sune Luus going unsold in the WPL auction, South Africa responded with a determined batting and disciplined on-fielding performance, to defend successfully against New Zealand for the first time. It was also only their third victory over New Zealand from 13 previous meetings and it has left New Zealand on the brink of elimination.New Zealand will be disappointed with the way they let things slip after they had South Africa 78 for 5 in the 13th over, but then lost their control. They were messy in the field and put down four catches, all in the last five overs, which South Africa entered on 97 for 5. The hosts scored 35 runs and lost only one wicket in that time to post what seemed a slightly under-par score.They made it look worth much more, though, with a stunning new-ball performance on a spin-friendly pitch. Nonkululeko Mlaba took two wickets in her first two overs and finished with a career-best 3 for 10. Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka claimed one apiece and New Zealand finished the Powerplay on 19 for 4, with little chance of clawing their way back. Chloe Tryon accounted for Maddy Green and Sophie Devine, who batted at No.5, before Shabnim Ismail and Kapp finished thing off. New Zealand were dismissed for their second-lowest total in T20Is.

Tahuhu causes trouble

Kapp, who was picked by Delhi Capitals at the WPL auction earlier in the day, was in to bat early after Tazmin Brits was dismissed in the first over but she did not live up to her US$183,000 tagline. After slicing Jess Kerr over point and flicking Lea Tahuhu off her pads for four, Kapp tried to hit New Zealand’s most experienced bowler over mid-off but top-edged and sent the ball straight to Jess at mid-off to leave South Africa’s middle-order exposed again.And Tahuhu wasn’t done either. She was brought back on in the ninth over as South Africa were rebuilding and started with a pinpoint yorker to Laura Wolvaardt. She pulled her length back for the next ball, and the next one, and an impatient Wolvaardt tried to heave across the line but missed as Tahuhu hit middle and off stumps. South Africa were 56 for 4 after nine overs, with their top four all back in the dug-out.

Tryon turns up

Tryon has established herself as South Africa’s finisher but had a lot longer to bat as South Africa’s top order gave way. She was in in the seventh over and immediately showed positive intent when she flicked Hayley Jensen to fine leg. As wickets fell around her, Tryon found boundaries in every second over or so to keep the scoreboard ticking over.She was strong in the V and behind square, hitting the ball hard down the ground and on the pull, but then she also got lucky. She was dropped when she tried to cut Tahuhu and toe-edged to the right of Bernadine Bezuidenhout, who moved too late to get her hands to it. Tryon went on to make 40 off 34 balls, and shared in a 47-run sixth-wicket stand with Nadine de Klerk, which gave South Africa much needed lower-order runs.Ayabonga Khaka ran out Hayley Jensen as South Africa closed in•ICC/Getty Images

Mlaba finds her magic

Mlaba was tipped for big things in this tournament after recently moving to No. 2 on the ICC Women’s T20 bowling rankings and had opened the bowling 18 times in 27 matches since her debut. Still, South Africa opted to use seamers Shabnim Ismail and Kapp at Newlands before returning to Mlaba for this match, and she stormed back.She struck with the second ball of New Zealand’s reply to remove Bezuidenhout with a full, flighted delivery on fifth stump outside off that enticed an attempted push towards cover. Instead, the ball spun past the edge and into the waiting gloves of Sinalo Jafta, who whipped off the bails. With the first ball of her next over, Mlaba bowled Suzie Bates for a second consecutive duck with one that skidded on to beat the opener’s attempted pull and crash into middle stump. She returned in the 15th over and had Tahuhu trapped lbw as she tried to flick across the line and missed.

New Zealand batters stumble again

This was the second match in a row that New Zealand’s batting line-up had failed to fire. Having opened with Bates and Devine, who also made a duck, they had been 26 for 3 against Australia, winners by a whopping 97 runs.On Monday, Devine came in with her side 13 for 3 and things failed to improve from there as Jafta took three catches to reduce them to 31 for 5. At 51 for 8, New Zealand looked in danger of being bowled out for their lowest total in T20Is. As it happened, their 67 all out was instead their second-lowest, and came just two days after their fourth-lowest of 76.

Records galore as Chanderpaul slams 207* and Brathwaite 182 in West Indies' domination

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Brandon Mavuta claimed his maiden five-wicket haul, but Zimbabwe ended day three 333 runs behind

Ashish Pant06-Feb-2023The name Chanderpaul has a rich presence in West Indies cricket history, and Tagenarine Chanderpaul carried the legacy forward by becoming just the tenth player from the region to convert his maiden Test hundred into a double-ton. The opener was a study in concentration during his unbeaten 207 off 467 balls, helping the visitors declare on 447 for 6 on day three of the first Test against Zimbabwe.Kraigg Brathwaite and Chanderpaul together racked up multiple records as Bulawayo finally saw a full day’s play with the sun shining brightly after two rain-hit days. In reply, Innocent Kaia led the way with an unbeaten fifty on debut and Zimbabwe moved to 114 for 3, still trailing West Indies by 333 runs.With 99 overs lost to rain and West Indies managing to score just 221 runs in 89 overs across the first two days, they needed to up the rate to have any chance of forcing a result, and Brathwaite took on the challenge. He was proactive from the get-go and brought out a number of shots that were at odds with his naturally defensive style of play.He struck Richard Ngarava for three successive fours in the third over of the day before slamming Victor Nyauchi for two more. Brathwaite hit six fours in his first 16 balls of the day, and soon brought up a third score in excess of 150 in Test cricket. He was rather agricultural in his shot-making, often moving in his crease and looking for gaps on the on side, a method probably inspired by Zimbabwe’s seven-two off-side heavy field.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Chanderpaul was more measured in his approach and collected a four only in the 21st over of the day. But he rotated the strike at every chance possible.Zimbabwe also had their moments in the extended first session. There were a couple of close run-out appeals against Chanderpaul, while debutant wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga missed a stumping chance when Brathwaite was on 159. Soon after, Brad Evans failed to hold on to a tough chance to his right in his follow-through with Brathwaite on 167.As a result, it did not take long for the pair to go past Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes’ 33-year-old record for the highest opening stand in Tests for West Indies. They also became the first opening pair to bat more than 100 overs in a Test innings since Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya against Pakistan 23 years ago.Zimbabwe finally struck through Wellington Masakadza, who trapped Brathwaite in front for 182, ending a mammoth 336-run stand – the ninth-highest Test opening partnership. Soon after, Chanderpaul reached 150, the first instance of both West Indies openers scoring in excess of 150 in the same Test innings.Kyle Mayers struck a couple of sixes before falling to Brandon Mavuta, as West Indies went into lunch on 374 for 2, having scored 153 runs in 36 overs in the first session.Brandon Mavuta claimed his maiden Test five-wicket haul•Associated Press

Chanderpaul got a life when he was dropped first ball after the break, with Tsiga again failing to latch on. However, Mavuta continued to keep the ball in good areas and was rewarded with the wickets of Raymon Reifer and Jermaine Blackwood in quick succession.Chanderpaul went after Masakadza, smashing him for a four and a six in an over to move swiftly through the 180s even as Mavuta continued to pick up wickets at the other end. The legspinner had Roston Chase edging for 7 before removing Jason Holder to claim his maiden five-wicket haul.It then took Chanderpaul a while to reach his double-ton, but he got there in style by lofting Masakadza over mid-off for a six. That also took him past his father Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s highest Test score of 203 not out, and West Indies soon declared. The Zimbabwe openers, Kaia and Tanunurwa Makoni, both on Test debut, then survived the ten overs before tea to give their side a steady start.With the sun baking down on the Bulawayo surface, batting on the third evening became a touch easier, and the openers made it count. Kaia was the aggressor, often bringing out expansive cuts and pulls, while Makoni was committed to the front foot. The opposition captain Brathwaite rang in the changes, but there was little on offer for the bowlers as the pair raised the 50-run stand in 22 overs.It was Alzarri Joseph who eventually struck for West Indies, inducing a thick edge off Makoni’s blade with Mayers at first slip hanging on to an excellent catch. New batter Chamu Chibhabha struck a four off his second ball, but Gudakesh Motie soon snapped him up for 9.Kaia continued playing his strokes, and brought up his maiden Test fifty with a hard sweep through midwicket off Motie. Just when Zimbabwe would have harboured hopes of going into stumps two down, Brathwaite brought himself on and cleaned up his opposite number Craig Ervine off what turned out to be the last ball of the day.

Lamichhane's fate for Dubai tri-series to be decided on Friday

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Nepal have named a 15-member squad without the legspinner for the series featuring UAE and PNG

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Feb-2023Legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane is not in Nepal’s provisional 15-member squad for the Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series be played in Dubai because of travel restrictions. That situation may change as efforts are believed to be underway to secure court permission for Lamichhane to travel – a decision of that is due on Friday, which is also the last day Nepal can make changes to their squad.Lamichhane is currently out on bail, facing charges of the sexual coercion of another person, and current bail conditions restrict him from travel outside the country.Nepal’s participation in the tri-series, featuring UAE and PNG, begins on Monday when they take on the latter in Dubai. Lamichhane’s importance to the Nepal team was underlined last week, as he picked up 13 wickets in four matches of the tri-series featuring Namibia and Scotland. That performance helped Nepal win all four games, albeit all of them were ultimately close finishes. He returned three wickets in each of the first three games before picking up four in the final against Scotland.His participation in that series was met with some protest by fans as well as opponents. Scotland refused to shake hands with Lamichhane post-game, while Namibia decided to bump fists rather than shake hands after one of their games. The boards of both teams also issued statements ahead of the series, condemning gender-based violence.Left-arm spinner Surya Tamang, who was part of the 14-member squad for that tri-series at home, is not in this provisional squad, seen by ESPNcricinfo. Aarif Sheikh, Pratish GC and Shyam Dhakal – all part of reserves for the series at home – have been included for the series in Dubai where each team will play the other twice. The caravan then moves back to Nepal where the three teams play each other twice each from March 9.Nepal are placed sixth in the seven-team World Cup League 2. Lamichhane has picked up 55 wickets in the competition – the most for Nepal – and is third in the list of wicket-takers.Squad: Rohit Paudel (capt), Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Bhurtel, Gyanendra Malla, Bhim Sharki, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Aasif Sheikh, Aarif Sheikh, Gulshan Jha, Sundeep Jora, Lalit Rajbanshi, Kushal Malla, Pratis GC, Shyam Dhakal