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Alfonso Thomas took three wickets for the sixth successive Friends Provident t20 match as Somerset beat Glamorgan by six wickets at Taunton

29-Jun-2010
ScorecardAlfonso Thomas took three wickets for the sixth successive Friends Provident t20 match as Somerset beat Glamorgan by six wickets at Taunton. The most successful bowler in the competition claimed 3 for 11 from four overs as the visitors were bowled out for 138, Mark Cosgrove (75) playing virtually a lone hand with the bat as Murali Kartik took 3 for 18.Somerset reached their target with eight balls to spare, James Hildreth making 45 and Nick Compton 40. Robert Croft was the pick of the Dragons bowlers with 1 for 17 from his four overs. The pivotal over of the game was the 15th of the Somerset innings bowled by Chris Ashling, who had Compton stumped and then Zander de Bruyn badly dropped by wicketkeeper Mark Wallace off a skyer.A single was taken while the ball was in the air and Kieron Pollard then hit Ashling for three mighty sixes off successive deliveries. Although Pollard fell in the next over for 19 off eight balls, his assault had helped reduce the required rate to a run a ball and the pressure which had been growing on Somerset was released.Earlier, Cosgrove had struggled to time the ball throughout his innings but still hit nine fours and two sixes in remaining at the crease until the final over. He had absolutely no support, wickets tumbling regularly at the other end from the fourth ball of the match which saw Jim Allenby miscue a pull shot off Thomas to Mark Turner at mid-on.Tom Maynard flattered to deceive with three fours in his 14, while skipper Jamie Dalrymple was the only other Dragons player to reach double figures in good batting conditions. Kartik destroyed the middle order, sending back David Brown, Gareth Rees and Mark Wallace, who between them scored seven runs. The Indian left-arm spinner employed good variation and got the odd ball to turn.Cosgrove was unusually content to dab and push a lot of his runs, taking 41 balls over his half-century and finally cutting loose in the 18th over with four and six off successive deliveries from Pollard. He eventually holed out at long-on off the West Indian all-rounder. Thomas’ wickets took his tally in the competition to 22 at an average of 10.09.

Unlike Essex, conquerors of the Durham attack at Chester-le-Street, Kent’s introduction to Division One cricket has been painful

Jon Culley at Trent Bridge16-Apr-2010
ScorecardAndre Adams caused Kent a host of problems as they were forced to follow on•PA Photos

Unlike Essex, conquerors of the Durham attack at Chester-le-Street, Kent’s introduction to Division One cricket has been painful. If day three goes as badly for them as days one and two they can cancel their Saturday night out in Nottingham.By close of play here, last season’s Division Two champions were into their second innings, having been asked to follow on some 256 runs behind. They had at least managed to secure a batting point, off a misfield the ball before their 10th wicket fell, but it was hardly consolation.The difference has been in the quality of the bowling. With a good covering of grass and little pace, the pitch has not been one to make a batsman feel comfortable. Yet only one of the Kent seamers conceded fewer than 3.58 runs per over. To their captain, the others must have been unacceptably expensive. At no stage were they able to offer him control.By contrast, Nottinghamshire’s attack, spearheaded by a Ryan Sidebottom clearly enthused by his selection for the World Twenty20, rarely had their hand off the tiller. Like Rob Key, Nottinghamshire captain Chris Read would have chosen to bowl first. His bowlers, hostile and generally accurate, demonstrated why.Nottinghamshire began the day in a commanding position, four runs away from a batting maximum. Nonetheless, they were eight wickets down after Andre Adams’s give-away wicket to the last ball of the opening day and Kent would have expected not to be too much longer in the field. Yet Nottinghamshire continued pretty much without restraint, almost for another 17 overs, adding another 60 runs.Paul Franks did much of the extra damage. The 31-year-old, who might have made a career as an England all-rounder had he not been bedevilled by injuries, has found a little bit of the old form lately. He scored a century against Durham UCCE last week, his first in a first-class match for five years. Here, hitting the ball cleanly and with power through the off side, he advanced to 73 before playing around a ball from Matt Coles. The score was his best in the Championship since May 2007.The wicket was a second in five overs for 19-year-old Coles, who saved his best spell until last, having dismissed Luke Fletcher via a catch at second slip with his third delivery. It is the senior bowlers from whom Key will want more. Had Stuart Clark been able to come their prospects would look a lot stronger but with Amjad Khan and Azhar Mahmood they should at least be competitive.Nottinghamshire, on the other hand, could assemble several different sets of bowlers were their full complement fit and available. Here they have no Darren Pattinson (injured) nor Charlie Shreck (rehabilitating after surgery), while it goes almost without saying that neither Stuart Broad nor Graeme Swann is available.Yet with Sidebottom fiercely motivated, the powerful Fletcher eager to build on the promise of last season, Adams developing his skills with the ball and Franks a usefully canny back-up, they still fielded a seam quartet to which most counties would doff their caps.Sidebottom made the first incisions as Kent began their reply, bowling Joe Denly and trapping Key leg before with a couple of tasty inswingers. From 13 for 2, Kent staggered to 58 for 5 as Adams claimed the next three wickets.He had some help. Geraint Jones, who had looked capable of organising a recovery, made a complete misjudgment of what would be the last ball of the morning – bowled offering no stroke. Then Martin van Jaarsveld tickled one down the leg side, although it took a super diving catch from Chris Read to make him pay for it. It was a better ball that accounted for Darren Stevens, on the back foot, giving Neil Edwards the first of five catches at second slip, handing the debutant the distinction of being the first Nottinghamshire outfielder to claim five victims since Derek Randall in 1987.The one that removed the dangerous Sam Northeast, over his right shoulder off Fletcher, was the best of the lot. The others were routine, enabling Adams to make James Tredwell his fourth victim, Sidebottom to add Coles and Franks to claim his second after first slip Ali Brown had pouched Mahmood, without whose lusty nine-four 52 Kent would have been in even worse shape.When Kent began their follow-on, with Tredwell a nightwatchman from the start, neither Sidebottom nor Fletcher was as tight as before. But then two wickets in as many overs – Fletcher bowling Key and Tredwell falling to Adams – left Kent staring at a three-day defeat, still 205 behind.

The fifth-wicket pair hammered 58 runs in the last two overs of India’s innings, a new record in T20Is

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jan-202418.1: Azmatullah to Rinku Singh, 1 run
Full, outside off, single to deep cover18.2: Azmatullah to Rohit Sharma, SIX runs
RGS into the 90s. An on-pace ball right in his slot. Rohit clears the front leg, and slogs him effortlessly over midwicket. This is meat and drink for himRelated

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18.3: Azmatullah to Rohit Sharma, FOUR runs
One short of another hundred. Makes room early, Omarzai goes for the slower short ball, but Rohit manages to beat short fine with the pull. Rolls his wrists on it18.4: Azmatullah to Rohit Sharma, FOUR runs
There it is. A special hundred. A fifth in T20Is. That’s massive. Makes room again, Omarzai tries to slip one wide, but Rohit gets under it and clears the man at point. They came to see Kohli mainly, but Rohit has provided Chinnaswamy a bonus. Incidentally, Kohli also turned around his form with a century against Afghanistan in a dead rubber two years ago. Rohit is not out of form but his T20 numbers haven’t been great last few years. So hopefully this is the start of something special18.5: Azmatullah to Rohit Sharma, 1 run
Misses out on a thigh-high full toss, gets just the single to long-off18.6: Azmatullah to Rinku Singh, SIX runs
Now Rinku brings up his fifty. Omarzai misses the yorker again, and you just can’t bowl slot balls to these batters. Over long-off it goes19.1: Karim Janat to Rohit Sharma, FOUR runs
Rohit predicts a wide ball with the field given to him, shimmies across and laps a wide full toss over square leg for four more19.2: Karim Janat to Rohit Sharma, (no ball) SIX runs
Call the police. Rohit is stealing the show. Juicy full toss. And also a front-foot no-ball. Rohit has sent this into orbit. These balls he can hit eyes closed. especially when he is 108 not out19.2: Karim Janat to Rohit Sharma, SIX runs
Rohit’s highest T20I score now. Short of a length, slower ball, just what you should be doing on this pitch, but Rohit has deposited it over wide long-on for another six19.3: Karim Janat to Rohit Sharma, 1 run
Lands the yorker, Rohit opens the face, but can’t get it past short third19.4: Karim Janat to Rinku Singh, SIX runs
Slower ball, 111ks, but right in the slot. Rinku creates the power with his bat speed in the slog. Clears deep midwicket. Carnage19.5: Karim Janat to Rinku Singh, SIX runs
Absolute mayhem. Janat misses his length again. Another juicy full toss, and Rinku has flicked it ways into the stands. What power in his wrists19.6: Karim Janat to Rinku Singh, SIX runs
36 off the over including five sixes, a four and a no-ball. Rinku has ended it with 6, 6, 6. Janat goes short this time, but he is hitting everything clean now. Manages to clear deep square leg with the pull

The T20 World Cup champions were humbled in Dhaka

Mohammad Isam12-Mar-2023The optimistic Bangladesh fan would have predicted exactly the opposite of what happened in this England tour. Shakib Al Hasan’s men won the T20I series, convincingly in the second game in Dhaka, after conceding the ODI series 1-2 last week. Bangladesh are usually at their best when they play ODI cricket, but who could tell after this tour?Mehidy Hasan Miraz had a great all-round hand in this win. He first took 4-12 in his four overs, an economically effective spell that sparked England’s second collapse in the innings. He put the exclamation point in when, promoted to No 5, he knocked a couple of sixes in a 16-ball 20.Najmul Hossain Shanto ensured Bangladesh didn’t have too much of a wobble in the end, remaining unbeaten on 46 off 47 balls. Taskin Ahmed hit the winning runs with two fours in the penultimate over, as they ran off in delight.This was Bangladesh’s first bilateral T20I series against England, and having emerged winners, they ticked off another little stat. A first series victory (min of three matches played) after two-and-a-half years. It also ended England’s long run of success in this format, having won the T20 World Cup, and bilateral series against Australia and Pakistan last year.

England’s strong start slips into collapse

The last thing England wanted with limited batting options was a collapse but that’s exactly what happened to them in the middle overs. They raced to 50 for 1 in seven overs when Shakib removed Phil Salt, who continued his get-set-get-out theme on this tour. Salt struck one back at Shakib, a delivery that he should have smashed through either side of the pitch with ease, and it became the catalyst for an England collapse.Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed four wickets in his four overs•AFP/Getty Images

The impressive Hasan Mahmud broke through Jos Buttler in the next over, a turning point for the home side. Buttler made a quickfire 67 in the first game, and was expected to be a major threat. But he was undone by a yorker length delivery that swerved back into his stumps prompting Hasan to leap in delight. Hasan had given up just five runs in two overs in the death in the first game, rapidly growing in reputation as a white-ball bowler. Then it was Mehidy’s turn to shine, as Moeen Ali hit one down deep midwicket’s throat in the next over. England were 57 for 4, having lost three wickets in the space of 16 balls.

Mehidy sparks second England collapse

Sam Curran and Ben Duckett added 34 runs for the fifth wicket, before Mehidy’s triple-strike sent the visitors into free fall. Litton stumped Curran and Chris Woakes in the space of three balls. Both tricky deliveries but handled smoothly by the gloveman. As soon as England reached three-figures, Mehidy landed his maiden four-wicket haul when Chris Jordan hit one to deep midwicket. England slipped from 91 for 4 to 100 for 7 in 17 balls.The remaining three wickets fell in the last over. Duckett, the only one who looked remotely close to giving England a good finish, was caught superbly by Shanto, before Rehan Ahmed and Jofra Archer were run out off the last two balls of the innings.

Shanto calms nerves

Bangladesh didn’t have the smoothest chase. Curran removed Litton for yet another soft dismissal, caught at deep square leg, the only deep fielder on the leg-side at the time. Rony Talukdar couldn’t quite get Archer away, falling for 9 in the sixth over. Legspinner Rehan then took his first T20I wicket, when Towhid Hridoy, playing his second T20I, toe-ended the ball to Woakes at point. It was a rank half-tracker from Rehan, but he’d nonetheless take the wicket.Shanto held his own at the other end, adding 41 runs in 5.2 overs with Mehidy. But Bangladesh slipped again, this time losing Mehidy, Shakib and Afif Hossain in the space of two overs. Shakib threw away his wicket, while Archer blew away Afif’s off bail, which landed at fine leg. Shanto and Taskin scored the remaining 15 runs, with the former providing the calming influence in that final partnership.

Blast’s all-time leading scorer quits captaincy after seven seasons in charge

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Mar-2022Luke Wright, the leading run-scorer in T20 Blast history, has stepped down as Sussex’s T20 captain after seven seasons in the role.Sussex have been one of the leading T20 sides in the country under Wright’s leadership but have not managed to convert a strong win/loss record into a trophy, and lost to eventual champions Kent in last season’s semi-finals.They have lost several key players – most recently Chris Jordan and Phil Salt – in recent seasons, and Wright spoke out against the talent drain on the eve of Finals Day last year, saying: “It’s absolutely not impossible to keep your best players.””It’s something from the club’s point of view that we need to look at because we can’t be losing our best players all the time,” he added. “Our recruitment process has got to be really strong and it’s something that probably hasn’t been as good as it should be at this moment in time.”Sussex said in a statement that they were “naturally disappointed” that Wright had asked to step down as captain but that they “respect his decision after 104 T20 games in charge.”Related

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“It has been a huge honour to captain Sussex, the club I love so much,” Wright said. “However, I feel it is the right time to step down. I will continue to give my all to help Sussex as I have over so many years.”Rob Andrew, their chief executive, said: “We respect Luke’s decision to step down as captain and we will work with him to move forward and focus on the future with his successor at the helm.”Luke has been a fantastic captain, leading the team to the knockout stages of the T20 Blast in five of his seven seasons as captain, including two Finals Day appearances in 2018 and 2021. The experience and knowledge he will be able to share with his successor will be invaluable.”Wright has been preparing for his career after cricket of late, completing a Masters of Sport Directorship at Manchester Metropolitan University this winter, but is under contract at Sussex until the end of the 2023 season.He was released by his Hundred team, Trent Rockets, after spending the inaugural season of the competition on the bench but is expected to be signed in April’s draft.Sussex have recruited a handful of new signings for this season’s Blast, with Rashid Khan due to be available throughout the group stages with Mohammad Rizwan and Josh Philippe splitting the second overseas spot. Steven Finn and Fynn Hudson-Prentice were also recruited at the end of last season.

Allrounder Kainat Imtiaz was recalled in the touring party of 17 for the three ODIs and T20Is each

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Dec-2020Pakistan have named Javeria Khan as the stand-in captain for the South Africa tour next month after regular captain Bismah Maroof pulled out for “family reasons”. A 17-women squad was announced for the three ODIs and as many T20Is, as Pakistan prepare for the Women’s World Cup Qualifier in July 2021 for the main event in early 2022 in New Zealand.Twenty-eight-year-old allrounder Kainat Imtiaz, who has been in an out of the team since 2010, was recalled after an impressive show in the domestic circuit. She averaged 111 from four games with a half-century and also picked up three wickets with her medium pace. Iram Javed, who was part of the squad for the T20 World Cup earlier this year, was dropped as the selectors recalled Ayesha Zafar, Kainat, Nahida Khan and Nashra Sandhu.As many as 27 players had been training for the tour in a biosecure bubble in Karachi in the lead up to the tour. The upcoming series will be Pakistan Women’s first after a gap of 10 months.The selections were broadly based on the performances in the recent National Triangular T20 Women’s Championship, played from November 22 to December 1 in Rawalpindi, and also took into account the form and fitness of the players in the recent camp. Nahida, 34, finished the Women’s Cricket Championship as the leading run-scorer with 154 runs at an average of 51, and Zafar was the fourth-best batter with a tally of 111. Muneeba Ali (with two hundreds and a fifty) and Omaima Sohail (one hundred) were retained in the squad because of their current form.”We have seen significant improvement over the last three months in the intent and mindset of the players and the team is shaping up well for the upcoming series,” chief selector Urooj Mumtaz said. “The squad is well balanced and possesses a good blend of youth and experience for what promises to be an exciting tour.”Javeria Khan is an experienced campaigner and has the desired understanding of the game which is necessary to lead the national women’s team. She has undertaken this responsibility in the past and I am certain she will rise to the occasion and inspire the players. Our last tour to South Africa in 2018 produced high-quality cricket and we are looking forward to yet another competitive tour, which will be instrumental for the new head coach David Hemp as well as in our preparations for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers.”The selected squad will continue to stay in Karachi and depart for Durban on 11 January. They will start training and play intra-squad matches from January 13 before the ODIs begin on January 20, followed by the T20Is, with the tour finishing on February 3.Squad for ODIs and T20Is: Javeria Khan (capt), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Nahida Khan, Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Nawaz (wk) and Syeda Aroob Shah

Allrounder left out after enduring tough outing at Edgbaston, with Somerset left-armer set to take over spin duties

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Aug-2019England have dropped Moeen Ali from their squad to face Australia in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, with Somerset’s left-arm spinner Jack Leach called up in his place. James Anderson and Olly Stone also miss out on the 12-man group through injury, as England attempt to fight back from 1-0 down in the series.Moeen endured a difficult time in the opening Test at Edgbaston, taking three wickets at a cost of 172 runs to go with scores of 0 and 4; he was dismissed by Nathan Lyon in both innings, extending the offspinner’s mastery over him to nine of his last 11 dismissals against Australia.England seem set to hand a Test debut to Jofra Archer, who was included in the squad for the first Test but left out as a precaution while he continued to work back to full fitness after a side strain suffered during the World Cup. He played for Sussex 2nd XI in a three-day game this week, taking 7 for 106 and scoring a century to prove his readiness.The other option to replace Anderson, who suffered a recurrence of his calf injury after bowling four overs at Edgbaston, is Sam Curran. The left-armer has played 10 Test, most recently for Ireland’s visit to Lord’s last month.Despite coming into the Ashes as the leading Test wicket-taker in the world over the last year, Moeen’s form had suffered a dip at the World Cup, where he lost his place in the starting XI after defeat to Australia in the group stage. His place is likely to be taken by Leach, who was England’s spinner for the four-day Test against Ireland – winning Man of the Match for his 92 as nightwatchman, having only been required to bowl three overs.While Moeen has been a valuable contributor for England since his debut in 2014, his career has not been without its ups and downs. He suffered a chastening Ashes in Australia two winters ago, losing his place on the New Zealand leg of England’s tour – with Leach handed a debut in Christchurch.He returned in style against India at the Ageas Bowl last summer, claiming nine wickets in the match, and was then England’s leading wicket-taker on their tours of Sri Lanka and the West Indies, though his returns with the bat remained light.However, presented with a turning Edgbaston pitch – on with Lyon claimed a nine-wicket haul – Moeen was unable to provide either control or wicket-taking threat. On the fourth day, with England hoping to limit Australia’s lead, Moeen was ruthlessly milked as Steven Smith went on to record his second century in the match.England’s problems in the opening Test extended to negligible contributions with the bat from Jason Roy, Joe Deny, Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow, but the selectors, headed by Ed Smith, have shied away from making any major changes. Rory Burns did enjoy success, scoring his maiden Test ton, while Joe Root made 57 and 28 after moving up the order to No. 3.England squad: Joe Root (capt), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes

The left-arm spinner admitted that it was about discipline and not luck, when asked about the chances West Indies missed on the first day

Mohammad Isam in Chattogram22-Nov-2018Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican credited his team-mate Shannon Gabriel for bringing West Indies back into the game on the first day in Chattogram after Bangladesh had reached a “commanding” position earlier. The hosts were cruising on 222 for 3 after opting to bat, but Gabriel’s third spell broke the back of Bangladesh’s innings with four quick wickets.Gabriel dismissed Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan single-handedly to reduce them to 235 for 7 before Bangladesh’s lower order “put the momentum back” in their innings.”Obviously Bangladesh were in the commanding seat from the morning until the tea break,” Warrican said. “I think Shannon bowled very well to get those four quick wickets. He brought us back in the game. But unfortunately they finished well as a team and put the momentum back in Bangladesh’s hands.”Warrican had an eventful outing on the first day, finishing with 2 for 62 from 21 overs, but it could have been better. He dismissed Imrul Kayes for 44 at the stroke of lunch but he could have removed the batsman earlier for 16, had he not overstepped when Imrul swept a catch to deep square leg earlier in the morning session.West Indies dropped two clear chances too. The first came in the fifth over when Imrul was on 3 and Roston Chase dropped him at second slip. Later, wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich put down centurion Mominul Haque on 67 off Devendra Bishoo.”I won’t say we were unlucky. I think we create our own luck,” Warrican said. “As a team you don’t want to drop catches or get wickets off no-balls. I don’t think it is luck. It comes down to discipline and doing the right things.”Amid all this, Gabriel produced a brilliant spell at the start of the third session, in which he took 4 for 26, sparking the middle-order collapse. Warrican said that Gabriel’s advantage is his pace that he extracts from his height, that adds to his discipline.”I think Shannon’s pace really works for him. He is very tall, so pace with height is very crucial,” Warrican said. “He bowls good areas as well. He is just not someone who bowls quick, but he is also very disciplined. It is very important as a fast bowler.”Warrican said that West Indies were aware of the dangers of the Chattogram pitch as it already started to turn, adding that the batsmen must be wholly alert.”It is very good for batting but assists the spinners,” he said. “I think the spinners can get something out of it if they bowl in the right areas. Also, the ball is coming on well for the batsmen but the bounce is inconsistent. You have to watch it closely.”

Sylhet Sixers, the newest team in the Bangladesh Premier League, announced their arrival with a nine-wicket thumping of the defending champions Dhaka Dynamites in a packed 18,000-capacity Sylhet International Cricket Stadium

The Report by Mohammad Isam in Sylhet04-Nov-2017
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsBoth Upul Tharanga and Andre Fletcher scored fifties•Raton Gomes

Sylhet Sixers, the newest team in the Bangladesh Premier League, announced their arrival with a nine-wicket thumping of the defending champions Dhaka Dynamites in a packed 18,000-capacity Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.Sylhet captain Nasir Hossain backed up his decision to field with a tidy spell of 2 for 21 in four overs that helped restrict Dhaka to 136 for 7. Abul Hasan, the only local presence in Sylhet, effectively changed his pace up to pick up two wickets, and alongside Liam Plunkett (2 for 20), reined in Dhaka in the slog overs. Sylhet’s bowlers held their own against the firepower of Kieron Pollard and Shakib Al Hasan to limit Dhaka’s scoring to 36 runs in the last five overs.Andre Fletcher and Upul Tharanga then flattened Dhaka with a 125-run opening stand that shut the doors on the visiting team. The pair struck ten fours and five sixes between them to lead Sylhet past the finishing line with 19 deliveries to spare.Nasir’s early footholdNasir may have been late for the toss by five minutes, but he had much of the early say. He first removed Mehedi Maruf, in the very first over of the game. Evin Lewis and Kumar Sangakkara then mixed patience with the odd boundary as they offset the early loss, before Nasir broke the 54-run stand. Lewis, who was looking dangerous, having struck three fours and a six, spliced Nasir to long-off, where Abul Hasan completed a straightforward catch.Experience neutralisedFour down and going at under seven an over, any hopes Dhaka may have had of a late surge were severely hit with the departures of Kieron Pollard, the world’s most experienced T20 cricketer, and Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh’s most experienced, in quick succession. Pollard tried to force Abul Hasan over mid-off but was undone by the local boy’s slower ball, resulting in an easy catch for Nasir at long-off. Eleven deliveries later, Shakib gave Liam Plunkett the charge, but could barely get his stroke over the in-field, hitting it straight into the hands of Sabbir Rahman at mid-off.Yes and noFletcher had just belted the first ball of the sixth over from Abu Hider for a six when he and Upul Tharanga were caught in a big mix-up. Fletcher meandered out of the crease after trying to muscle one through the leg side and getting hit on the thigh instead. With the batsmen having considered a run, Tharanga ran over halfway down the pitch. Hider did the hard work and got to the ball well in time, but couldn’t effect a direct hit that could have made a big difference.Fletcher redeems himselfHaving made just 92 runs in six matches last year and being subsequently let go by Khulna Titans, Fletcher strode out on Saturday with a point to prove. And he proved his worth in emphatic fashion, powering his way to a 38-ball half-century. It was a typically aggressive knock, studded with five fours and three sixes. Fletcher perished after doing all the hardwork, though, holing out with Sylhet requiring 12 more runs. But with Tharanga holding sway with an unbeaten 69 off 48 balls, Sylhet hardly broke a sweat in finishing with two points.What they said“The wicket was good. There was nothing wrong in it. We had a bad day.”
“I think our bowlers were outstanding to keep them under 140, given their team and the size of this ground.”

With a host of New Zealand’s key players still at the IPL, the start of the tri-series offers a chance for some new – and recalled – faces to impress the selectors

The Preview by Nikhil Kalro13-May-2017

Match facts

May 14, 2017
Start time 10.45am local (0945 GMT)Neil Wagner has excelled in whites and now could get his chance in coloured clothes•AFP

Big picture

New Zealand have faced Ireland just twice in their 721 ODIs. The last time was nine years ago, in 2008, in Aberdeen. Back then, Brendon McCullum strutted with blonde hair, James Marshall was his opening partner and Daniel Vettori was in charge of New Zealand. McCullum and Marshall’s massive tons led New Zealand to 402 for 2, their only 400-plus score to date. The only surviving member of that team in this squad is Ross Taylor.New Zealand will be without key personnel at least for the start of this series with Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill, Corey Anderson, Mitchell McClenaghan, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Adam Milne and Colin de Grandhomme on duty at the IPL although some may filter over to Ireland as their IPL campaigns conclude. That means New Zealand have the opportunity to test the depth of their reserves in all departments.Bowling allrounders Seth Rance and Scott Kuggeleijn haven’t played an ODI. George Worker has played just two games. Stand-in captain Tom Latham, Neil Broom, James Neesham, Colin Munro and Henry Nicholls have all struggled for fluency in the format. What better way to show your mettle than perform in tough batting conditions.Ireland began the tri-series with discipline and accuracy, before rain scuppered their chances of springing an upset on Bangladesh. As has often been the case, Ireland didn’t find the penetration they needed to sustain pressure over a considerable period, letting Bangladesh recover from 70 for 4. Still, they’ll find that the experience of having played games like those against international teams will hold them in good stead.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)Ireland LLLWW
New Zealand LWLWL

In the spotlight

Paul Stirling is in the midst of a productive run in ODIs: his last eight innings have been 48, 20, 51, 28, 99, 95, 68 and 41. With an impressive strike rate in excess of 90, Stirling, more often than not, gets Ireland off to strong starts with the field restrictions. Against a relatively inexperienced bowling attack, Stirling’s attacking approach could put Ireland ahead of the game early.Ross Taylor found form in New Zealand’s home summer against Australia and South Africa. He struck two hundreds and a fifty in taxing batting conditions. Dublin’s overhead and underfoot conditions won’t suit batting much either. After recovering from the calf strain which kept him out of the last two Tests against South Africa, will he tune-up for the Champions Trophy by continuing to score tough runs?

Team news

The signs from Ireland’s bowlers were promising in the 31.1 overs possible in the first ODI. Their seamers were accurate and had Bangladesh stuttering at 70 for 4 at one point. That means Ireland are unlikely to tinker with their bowling combination. If Ed Joyce recovers from the back problem that kept him out of the series opener, he’ll slot back in for Stuart Thompson.Ireland (probable) 1 Ed Joyce/Stuart Thompson, 2 Paul Stirling, 3 William Porterfield (capt), 4 Andy Balbirnie, 5 Niall O’Brien (wk), 6 Gary Wilson, 7 Kevin O’Brien, 8 George Dockrell, 9 Barry McCarthy, 10 Tim Murtagh, 11 Peter ChaseThe New Zealand selectors have shown faith not just in Tom Latham’s sound technique, but also his leadership. He will be able to turn to Taylor for experience but elsewhere there will be a new-look to the side. Neil Wagner could make his ODI debut after 32 Test appearances and Hamish Bennett is in line for his first appearance since 2014. The pitch was very green for the Bangladesh game which could mean legspinner Ish Sodhi misses out. Luke Ronchi is set for another chance as openerNew Zealand (probable) 1 Tom Latham (capt), 2 Luke Ronchi (wk), 3 George Worker, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Neil Broom, 6 James Neesham, 7 Colin Munro, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Neil Wagner, 10 Seth Rance, 11 Hamish Bennett

Pitch and conditions

The series opener was played on a seamer-friendly, green pitch, under cloudy skies with a high chance of rain. Those conditions are unlikely to change. Rain is forecast at 2pm, around the turn of the innings.

Stats and trivia

• Only three players who were part of the previous encounter between these two sides are in either squad – Ross Taylor, Paul Stirling and Gary Wilson
• Kevin O’Brien is still three wickets away from becoming the first Ireland bowler to take 100 ODI scalps.