Harbhajan Singh and Jasprit Bumrah bowled accurate and misery spells on a typically high-scoring ground to condemn Sunrisers Hyderabad to their first defeat in six matches

The Report by Deivarayan Muthu12-Apr-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
3:20

Hogg: Rana has done enough to keep Rayudu out

Harbhajan Singh and Jasprit Bumrah bowled accurate and miserly spells on a typically high-scoring ground to condemn Sunrisers Hyderabad to their first defeat in six matches. Harbhajan did not find much turn, but maintained a constricting line, while Bumrah showcased his variations to limit Sunrisers to a modest 158 for 8.Sunrisers, having Mustafizur Rahman and Rashid Khan in their ranks, might have still felt they were in with a chance, but the lack of grip and turn off a dew-slicked pitch doused it. That Mustafizur conceded 34 runs in 2.4 overs summed up the impact of the dew. Parthiv Patel had made early headway in the chase with a slap-happy 39 off 24 balls. By the time he fell, Mumbai Indians needed 74 off 60 balls. Nitish Rana then worked his way through the middle overs with Krunal Pandya, but it was Harbhajan who fittingly sewed up the win. The chasing team has now won each of the last six IPL games at the Wankhede Stadium.The strangle I
Harbhajan and Lasith Malinga got the ball to skid into Shikhar Dhawan and cramped him for room. The only real loose ball to Dhawan in the Powerplay was a waist-high full toss, which he punched straight to cover point. He eked out only seven runs at strike rate of 46.66 – his second lowest in the first six overs in the IPL, when he has played at least 10 balls.Dhawan and Warner break free
Mitchell McClenaghan, introduced after the Powerplay, let Dhawan off the hook with a brace of length balls. Dhawan opened up his hips and powerfully swatted one over the midwicket boundary. He then manufactured his own length by jumping down the track, taking a half-volley and belting it to the cover boundary.Warner had looked fidgety against the new ball as well, but found fluency against the old one with four boundaries off five balls in the middle overs.The strangle II
At 81 for 0 in 10.1 overs, Sunrisers might have set their sights on a rousing finish, but they were in for a rude shock: they lost 7 for 72, including four in the last three overs. It was Harbhajan who set the collapse in motion, dismissing Warner for 49 and Deepak Hooda for nine in successive overs. He finished with 2 for 23 and ceded the stage to Bumrah who throttled Sunrisers further with his yorkers and slower dippers. Bumrah capped the innings with better figures of 3 for 24 but much of the strangle was down to Harbhajan’s accuracy.Parthiv and Rana go bang
In stark contrast to Sunrisers, Mumbai Indians held nothing back in the Powerplay. Despite the early loss of Jos Buttler and Rohit Sharma, Parthiv scythed full balls through the covers and pulled shorter ones over midwicket. His blows at the top perhaps freed up Rana, who began with an shovelled six off Mustafizur over fine leg. Rana also smartly saw off Rashid, who conceded just 19 despite the dew. The match was all but over when Rashid was done in the 15th; Krunal made sure of things with a flurry of boundaries over the next couple of overs.

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.

Rahul Dravid’s former team-mates, part of the Cricket Advisory Committee, will decide on whether or not to extent his contract as coach of India’s Under-19 and ‘A’ teams in the next “two or three days”

Arun Venugopal17-Jun-2017The BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) consisting of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman is likely to make a decision on whether or not to extend Rahul Dravid’s contract as the coach of India’s Under-19 and ‘A’ teams in the next few days. According to a BCCI official, there will be no need to invite fresh applications for the job if the CAC decides to renew Dravid’s two-year contract that ended in March.This is different to the protocol BCCI has followed in appointing a head coach of the senior team, where interested and qualified candidates were invited to apply even as Anil Kumble, the incumbent, was handed a direct entry. The different approach in Dravid’s case, the official said, is because his contract had an extension clause.”Dravid has a clause in the contract which facilitates extension by mutual consent,” the official told ESPNcricinfo. “If Rahul doesn’t want to renew his contract, then you have to pick someone else. But, if the CAC likes to retain him and if he is also willing, then you don’t have to call outside applications. But, that’s [going to be] a CAC decision.”The official felt the CAC would be predisposed to extending Dravid’s contract in a “day or two” given his good track record. Under Dravid, the India Under-19 team made the final of the junior World Cup last year and won a series against England recently. Dravid has also tasted considerable success with the India A team.”It is not that hard for CAC to take a decision on Dravid,” the official said. “Given his performance and his stature, I don’t think the CAC will have any problem with Rahul continuing as coach. So you don’t have to interview any other candidate.”The negotiations of the contractual terms might take a bit longer. I don’t know whether the BCCI has formulated the contract: how much he gets paid, I don’t think all that has been finalised.”Under the BCCI’s current arrangement, coaches and support staff of India’s senior and junior teams are given a ten-month contract that runs till the end of March. They are also free to sign a two-month deal in the IPL. However, according to the official, Dravid’s terms of reference – should he receive a new contract – would have to conform to the recommendations of the Lodha Committee.”It will mean that he won’t be able to coach both the national team and mentor the Delhi Daredevils franchise,” the official said. “He won’t get a 10-month contract. It will be a minimum two-year contract of 12 months each, but it will be a continuous one with no break.”Last week, Dravid had asserted that he wasn’t in a conflict of interest under the prevailing regulations, and called for greater clarity in the event of change in rules. He was recently invited by the BCCI to a meeting of the junior selection committee to pick the India Under-19 side to tour England. But Dravid declined because he didn’t have a coaching contract. The official, however, defended the board’s decision to invite him.”There is nothing that prevents him from being invited because he is not going to make the decision. He will only be asked to give his input,” he said. “Look, at the end of the day, he’s a senior member associated with a junior team. It has to be looked at holistically and not in isolation.”He has done a good job and I am pretty sure the CAC has no reason for them to say he shouldn’t be extended. So, in those circumstances, why not invite him when the team is being picked?”

The state of Lanning’s shoulder is a considerable worry for Australia given her pivotal role in the team, and there is no certainty that she will only be missing from the Pakistan fixture

Daniel Brettig05-Jul-2017A shoulder problem has forced Australia’s captain Meg Lanning out of at least the Word Cup match against Pakistan in Leicester later on Wednesday. Rachael Haynes will be included to lead the side in her absence.Lanning aggravated a long-running shoulder complaint at training ahead of the match, with the selectors recommending to the Cricket Australia board that Haynes, 30, take over while Alex Blackwell remains vice-captain.The state of Lanning’s shoulder is a considerable worry for Australia given her pivotal role in the team, and there is no certainty that she will only be missing from the Pakistan fixture.”Meg has been undergoing rehabilitation on her right shoulder, following a chronic injury,” the team physio, Kate Mahony, said. “The decision for Meg to miss today’s match will enable her to focus on some rehabilitation and we’ll continue to monitor her ahead of taking part in any further matches in the tournament.”Haynes, meanwhile, has played 34 ODIs for Australia with a solid batting record to her credit, but has not been part of the first-choice team at that tournament so far. “Rachael has a wealth of leadership experience including successfully guiding Victoria to back-to-back national Twenty20 titles,” the national selector, Shawn Flegler, said, “and alongside Alex, will ensure the team is led to continue their current form.”We know that Rachael is capable of coming in and doing the job that is asked of her as she demonstrated in New Zealand earlier this year when she scored a half-century after a lengthy absence from the national side.”

This is the first instance of the India team getting a full-time, professional manager

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jul-2017Former Tamil Nadu captain Sunil Subramaniam has been named India’s administrative manager on a one-year contract. This is the first instance of the India team getting a full-time, professional manager, marking a departure from the system of ad-hoc appointments made by the BCCI on a tour-to-tour basis. Subramaniam will join the team before the second Test that begins on August 3 in Colombo.Subramaniam, 50, was picked by a committee comprising BCCI acting president CK Khanna, acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary, CEO Rahul Johri and Committee of Administrators (CoA) member Diana Edulji, in accordance with the Lodha Committee’s recommendation approved by the Supreme Court. The committee, according to reports, had shortlisted more than 10 candidates before interviewing them. Subramanian said he would meet with Johri on Monday when he would be apprised of his duties. “It feels good to be a part of the team,” Subramaniam told ESPNcricinfo.During his playing days, Subramaniam, a left-arm spinner, picked up 285 wickets from 74 first-class matches. An NCA-certified coach, Subramaniam has acquired renown for having worked extensively with India offspinner R Ashwin in the past. Over the years, he has also coached teams in the Duleep Trophy and has been associated with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association Academy.On his appointment, a BCCI press release said: “He has a rich vein of experience when it comes to management and administrative capabilities, having served both public and private sector organisations for over 16 years.”

The Bangladesh coach wants to build on the team’s impressive performances since the 2015 World Cup and maintains his focus on winning matches abroad with the South Africa tour coming up

Mohammad Isam02-Aug-2017Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha believes that the positive results over the past season will be the base on which the team will look to build their progress in the upcoming international season. The steady rise since the 2015 World Cup which culminated in the 2017 Champions Trophy semi-final appearance was the starting point for the upcoming season in which Bangladesh are going to face varied challenges over eight months, Hathurusingha said.Even as they target a series win over Australia, the coach said winning abroad remains their main challenge, particularly in South Africa where Bangladesh haven’t toured since 2008.”Success will be to win away from home and beating teams above us,” he said. “The progress for us is to maintain this success. We made it to the World Cup quarter-final and then Champions Trophy semi-final. We have started winning in the subcontinent. We have lot of areas to improve, so we are looking at consistency.”We have made some progress in Test cricket. Now we have the game plan of winning in the subcontinent. We want to win the two Tests against Australia. The challenge is to adapt to South African conditions, and then adjust the game plan. The first two weeks in South Africa before the first Test are very crucial.”Their first call of duty will be against Australia at home and notwithstanding the uncertainty that lurks over the tour scheduled for later this month, Bangladesh have steadily raised their training intensity over the last four weeks. The new batting consultant, Mark O’Neill, for instance, is now regularly seen speaking to bowlers about their basics with the bat. Courtney Walsh has already held a bowling clinic with the fast bowlers while the BCB is close to hiring a spin-bowling coach.The training camp that started in Mirpur on July 10 first focused on fitness before moving to the skills part of the game towards the end of the month. The group will move to Chittagong on Friday, where they have three training sessions before a three-day practice match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, the venue for the second Test.Hathurusingha said that developing a stronger unit for the next World Cup is their main goal, and by bringing in uncapped players into the training camp, they are leaving the door open for a rookie to stand up and be counted, after being drilled with proper fitness and training methods.”We are looking at the bigger picture so we have involved 20-odd players. Our main focus is up to 2019 World Cup, at least for me,” Hathurusingha said. “All these guys have to get used to playing and training in high intensity.”By training with the national players, they can see what the challenges ahead are to break into the team. It is about expanding our pool if we need, or someone puts his hand up and says ‘pick me, I am good enough’. We don’t want anyone to take their place for granted.”

Two new faces named in 15-man squad to take on Pakistan in the UAE later this month

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-2017Uncapped batsmen Sadeera Samarawickrama and Roshen Silva have earned call-ups to the Sri Lanka Test squad touring the UAE.Back in the fray, meanwhile, are two relatively experienced hands. Lahiru Thirimanne, who last played a Test in June 2016, has been recalled, as vice-captain no less. Opener Kaushal Silva, whose most recent Test was in South Africa in January, is also in the squad.Among those absent are Asela Gunaratne and Kusal Perera , who remain unavailable through injury, and Upul Tharanga, who has ruled himself out of contention from Test cricket for six months. Angelo Mathews will also miss the first Test, at least, due to a calf injury.On the bowling front, Sri Lanka have opted to omit the pace of Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara, and will instead rely on seam movement and control. Leading the quicks will be Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal, who had both performed creditably on Sri Lanka’s most recent tour to the UAE, in 2013-14. Left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando, and Lahiru Gamage – who is uncapped in Tests – are the other frontline seam options.Sadeera Samarawickrama bats for Sri Lanka Under-19s•ICC

A familiar trio form the slow-bowling contingent: left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan has been picked alongside fingerspinners Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera. There is no place, however, for Malinda Pushpakumara, the left-arm spinner who debuted during Sri Lanka’s home series against India in August.Samarawickrama’s call-up was somewhat expected, given his returns in the Premier League Tournament this year. He topped the Tier A run-charts, hitting 1016 runs at an average of 59.76, while also keeping wicket for Colts Cricket Club. In February, he had also made 185 against an England Lion’s attack featuring Toby Roland-Jones and Tom Curran, in Dambulla. Even if Niroshan Dickwella – the other wicketkeeper-batsman in the squad – takes the gloves, Samarawickrama could be in line for a middle-order position.While this is Samarawickrama’s first entry into the national squad, Roshen Silva had been in a Sri Lanka Test squad last year, though without breaking into the XI. He has also been selected on the basis of solid first-class performance. He scored 614 runs at 55.81 in this year’s Premier League tournament, and has maintained an average of 48.19 over 156 first-class innings, typically batting in the middle order.Places for these two batsmen means Dhananjaya de Silva – who had been so impressive in 2016 – no longer even finds a place in the main squad. He is among five players who are on standby – the others being spinners Akila Dananjaya and Jeffrey Vandersay, allrounder Dasun Shanaka, and fast bowler Kumara.Sri Lanka are set to depart for the tour on Sunday, and will begin their first Test in Abu Dhabi from September 28. The second Test, in Dubai, will be a day-night encounter.Sri Lanka squad: Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne (vice-capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Lakshan Sandakan, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Gamage

Hayley Matthews, Afy Fletcher and Stafanie Taylor led the charge for West Indies as Sri Lanka collapsed from 63 for 1 to 136 all out

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Oct-2017WICB Media

The spin combination of Hayley Matthews, Afy Fletcher and Stafanie Taylor worked through Sri Lanka’s batting order to set up a six-wicket victory for West Indies in the first match between the two – which counts for points in the ICC Women’s Championship – in Tarouba. Sri Lanka’s batting floundered against the three, who picked three apiece, as they collapsed from 63 for 1 to 136 all out.Sri Lanka lost their first wicket in the 12th over after opener Nipuni Hansika was struck on the pads by legspinner Fletcher. Yasoda Mendis and Chamari Atapattu set up a 41-run second-wicket partnership, with the latter becoming the first Sri Lanka batswoman to score 2000 runs in ODI. Matthews’ charge, however, removed both the batsmen before they could build on their starts. She also dismissed the No. 5 Prasadani Weerakkody for 8.Taylor and Fletcher scythed through the rest of the order as Sri Lanka fell away quickly.West Indies were off to a shaky start as they lost Kycia Knight and Taylor inside the first five overs. With 49 for 2 on the scoreboard, Matthews retired hurt on 22 and had to be stretchered off after the third ball of the 20th over. Having pulled the ball to short square leg, she dropped on her knees, clutching her right thigh. Earlier, following the third ball of the 14th over, she had received medical assistance for what seemed to be slight unease with her left hamstring. However, later she confirmed to ESPNcricinfo: “It was just bad cramp, but I’m all good”.After Matthews departed, Chedean Nation and Deandra Dottin kept the chase ticking along before slow left-armer Inoka Ranaweera removed both of them and reached the 50th-wicket milestone in ODIs. However, Merissa Aguilleira (32 of 48 balls) and Kyshona Knight (21 off 36 balls) finished the job over the next ten overs.Matthews was named the Player of the Match for her spell of 10-2-18-3.

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.”

Tabraiz Shamsi’s best haul in the tournament limited Warriors to 143 before Aiden Markram and AB de Villiers helped themselves to half-centuries and eased Titans to a win

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Dec-2017Gallo Images/Getty Images

Tabraiz Shamsi produced his best performance of the tournament so far to bowl Titans’ into the Ram Slam final, which they will host at SuperSport Park. Titans beat Warriors comprehensively by eight wickets to re-affirm their dominance in the tournament, which began with six victories in their first eight matches (with two wash-outs) but started to wane when they emptied their bench in the final week of the league stage before coming full circle on Wednesday night.Titans held the upper hand despite going into the knockout without Dale Steyn or Morne Morkel and lost senior batsman Henry Davids to injury four minutes before toss.
Their attack dismissed Warriors for a below-par score of 143 before AB de Villiers and Aiden Markram helped themselves to a half-century apiece to wipe out the target inside 16 overs.Warriors were not able to give coach Malibongwe Maketa, who will now join the national team as Ottis Gibson’s assistant, a festive farewell, and could not repeat their heroics of last season, when they reached the final. They were on the back foot early, at 17 for 2 after two overs, but then rallied through Colin Ingram and Colin Ackermann, before Shamsi dismantled them, and de Villiers and Markram finished off the chase.Wayne Parnell, on loan from Cobras, returned to Warriors’ top two but was bowled by Albie Morkel for 4. Jon-Jon Smuts followed in the next over, caught by Morkel at cover point off Lungi Ngidi. Ingram and Ackermann shared a third-wicket stand of 63 but were separated in the 10th over when Markram had Ingram caught at point, again by Morkel.Enter Shamsi, who took two wickets each in his third and fourth overs. Though he was the one holding an imaginary phone to his ear, it was Warriors who should have called for help. Shamsi later explained his signature celebration as a “bit of fun because sometimes they phone the third umpire to check.”The only thing Shamsi needs to check is how far he is ahead of the chasing pack in the wicket-takers’ list. He has 16 scalps at 13.68, four more than his nearest challenger, Dane Paterson.Warriors did not last their full 20 overs and were dismissed with 11 balls remaining in their innings. They would have known the total was far from enough but had some early hope when Quinton de Kock’s lean run continued and Davids’ replacement, Heinrich Klaasen, managed 24. Titans were 44 for 2 after five overs but there was no stopping them after that. De Villiers and Markram put on an unbeaten 101-run stand and treated the sizeable crowd to some sensational shots to win with 4.4 overs to spare.The final, on December 16, will be played between Titans and the winner of the Dolphins versus Cape Cobras semi-final, to be held on Thursday.