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A superb unbeaten 87 off 70 balls from Shivnarine Chanderpaul took Derbyshire to a thrilling seven-wicket victory over Lancashire

02-Jul-2013
ScorecardA superb unbeaten 87 off 70 balls from Shivnarine Chanderpaul took Derbyshireto a thrilling seven-wicket victory in the Friends Life T20 match againstLancashire under the Derby floodlights. The West Indian shared a fourth-wicket stand of 58 off 33 balls with AlbieMorkel to take Derbyshire past Lancashire’s total of 151 with 3 balls tospare to put the Falcons top of the North Group with three wins.Tim Groenewald took four for 21, his best figures in the competition, andalthough Karl Brown scored 50 off 39 balls, a target of 152 was not enoughagainst Chanderpaul who equalled his highest T20 score.Groenewald put Lancashire under pressure from the start by having Stephen Moorecaught behind off the fourth ball and then removed Steven Croft for a duck off atop edged pull in his next over.When Ashwell Prince dragged a drive at Groenewald to midwicket, Lancashire were19 for three but former Derbyshire skipper Simon Katich responded by taking 20from a Mark Footitt over before he played across the line at Jon Clare and waslbw for 28.At 48 for 4, Derbyshire were on top but Brown and Smith put the Lightningback in the game with astute placement and big hitting with Brown pulling DavidWainwright for six and launching Footitt high over long-on for another maximum. The 50 stand came off 41 balls and there was a sense of relief among the homecrowd when Smith hoisted Dan Redfern into the hands of long off in the 17thover.Brown also fell to a catch in the deep in the next over from Durston which costonly three runs but Gareth Cross lifted Lancashire by twice hoisting Redfernonto the roof of a hospitality marquee as the visitors passed 150.Derbyshire made an even worse start with Chesney Hughes caught at slip off thefirst ball from Kabir Ali but Chanderpaul and Durston put the Falcons back ontrack with 50 from 35 balls before Glen Chapple bowled Durston for 20 off 12balls. But Chanderpaul, who had flicked Kabir over fine leg for six, was looking likeholding the key as Derbyshire reached the halfway point needing 80 from 60balls.By now, the rain was swirling across the County Ground, bringingDuckworth-Lewis into the equation, and Chanderpaul and Wayne Madsen battedsensibly by working the ball around for singles and two’s without putting theirwickets at risk.When the umpires took the players off in the 13th over, Derbyshire were fourruns ahead of the rate at 90 for two but when they came back 10 minutes later,Moore took a leaping catch at cover to remove Madsen for 23.With 52 needed off 30 balls, Lancashire were back in it but Chanderpaul sweptand pulled Stephen Parry for two fours and a six in the 16th over and finishedin style by driving Kabir for two fours as Derbyshire enjoyed their best everstart to a Twenty20 campaign.

Half-centuries from Andre Fletcher, Keddy Lesporis and Devon Smith set up a five-wicket win for Windwards Islands over Jamaica in the Regional Super50 semi-final in Bridgetown

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Apr-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsWindward Islands captain Liam Sebastien exults after beating Jamaica by five wickets•WICB Media/Randy Brooks PhotoHalf-centuries from Andre Fletcher, Keddy Lesporis and Devon Smith set up a five-wicket win for Windwards Islands over Jamaica in the Regional Super50 semi-final in Bridgetown. Windwards will play Combined Campuses and Colleges in the final on April 21.Set a target of 243, Windwards lost a wicket in the second over, but consolidated with a 78-run second-wicket stand between Smith and Tyrone Theophile. Smith contributed a 44-ball 59 to the partnership, hitting ten fours in his innings. The Windwards innings slowed down once Smith was dismissed but picked up once again when Fletcher and Lesporis came together at the crease. The pair added 91 runs for the fourth wicket in 131 balls and by the time Fletcher was dismissed for 68 in the 42nd over, Windwards needed 48 off the last eight overs. Lesporis and captain Liam Sebastien shared a brisk 41-run stand before Sebastien steered the side to a win in the 49th over. Fletcher’s 81-ball 68 included five fours, while Lesporis scored 61 off 91 balls, with four fours and a six.Jamaica, who chose to bat first, failed to capitalise on a 166-run second-wicket partnership between Brenton Parchment and Nkrumah Bonner. The pair took Jamaica from 3 for 1 to 169 for 1, before Bonner was out in the37th over. Their half-centuries had given Jamaica a launching pad for a big score but the rest of the batting line-up failed to contribute as Jamaica lost seven wickets for 63 runs. David Bernard struck an unbeaten 32 off 29 balls but lacked the support needed to push Jamaica towards a large total.

A round-up of matches played in the President’s One-Day Cup tournament 2012-13 played on April 11, 2013

Umar Farooq11-Apr-2013Mohammad Nawaz’s all-round performance helped National Bank of Pakistan beat Khan Research Laboratories by 12 runs at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. This was KRL’s third straight defeat, and NBP’s third consecutive win. NBP, after being asked to bat, started poorly, with Nasir Jamshed (4) and Sami Aslam (1) back in the hut in quick time. Kamran Akmal (40) and captain Fawad Alam (57) had to do the repair work. NBP, though, then slipped to 95 for 5. Alam hit his 18th List A fifty before being dismissed by Mohammad Irfan. Alam helped add 54 with Nawaz to take his team towards 206.In reply, KRL openers Mohammad Yasin (34) and Tayab Riaz (47) laid a solid foundation with an 82-run stand but three wickets in quick succession put KRL on the back foot. Saeed Anwar Junior was the only batsman who offered some resistance. His 55 was in vain, as Raza Hasan (4-36), Nawaz (2-36) and Imran Khan (31-2) ripped though the line-up to bowl out KRL for 194 in 49.1 overs.Hussain Talat’s hundred and Harris Sohail’s brisk was too much for Port Qasim Authority, as Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited won by 8 wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Asked to bat, PQA were off to a good start, with opener Khurram Manzoor scoring his second hundred of the tournament. Shahzaib Hasan (37), Umar Amin (42), and Tanvir Ahmed (36) chipped in with cameos to power PQA to 297 for 6 in 50 overs.The ZTBL reply was strong, with the openers adding 169. ZTBL lost Sharjeel Khan (81) and Babar Azam (10) in relatively quick time, but Talat (141*) and Sohail (56*) remained unbeaten to take their side home. ZTBL chased down 298 in just 42.2 overs.Water and Power Development Authority, spearheaded by Rafatullah Mohmand’s hundred, defeated Habib Bank Limited by five wickets at the National Stadium Karachi. WAPDA chased down a commanding total of 287 with Rafatullah (102), Saad Nasim (84) and Sohaib Maqsood (66) helping complete the chase with 15 balls to spare.WAPDA had put HBL in to bat. Imran Farhat (11) and Younis Khan (25) fell without making a significant contribution. Two young batsmen, Ahmed Shahzad (112) and Asad Shafiq (79), boosted HBL to a good total. Shahid Afridi scored just 5 while Junaid Khan was the key wicket-taker for WAPDA, taking 4 for 42.Abid Ali’s 91 and Kashif Bhatti’s 4 for 38 helped United Bank Limited beat Pakistan International Airlines by nine runs at Shaheed Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto International Cricket Stadium, Ghari Khuda Bakhsh. Put in to bat, PIA reduced UBL to 53 for 4 at one stage. But the middle and lower orders chipped in. Itmad-ul-Haq (28), Shabbir Ahmed (22), Kasif Bhatti (20) and Mohammad Irshad (23*) guided their team to 222 for 8.PIA, in their reply, began poorly. Agha Sabir (40) and Sheharyar Ghani (52) then tried to resist but Bhatti, along with Mohammad Zubair, shared seven wickets to bowl out PIA in 48.3 overs.

After the uncertainty surrounding their participation in the tournament and the venue of their matches, Pakistan began their Women’s World Cup campaign promisingly, but it did not last

Amol Karhadkar01-Feb-2013After the uncertainty surrounding their participation in the tournament and the venue of their matches, Pakistan began their Women’s World Cup campaign promisingly, but it did not last. They restricted Australia to 175 at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, but their batsmen did not make it even halfway to the target.Despite the World Cup being held in India, the favourites to win are defending champions England, New Zealand and Australia. While India have the underdog billing, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are rank outsiders. While Sri Lanka upset England to state they are not here to make up the numbers, Pakistan started positively but their challenge fizzled out against Australia’s experience and tactics.Neither captain expected a high-scoring affair on a low and slow wicket, and when Pakistan had reduced Australia to 99 for 6 in the 29th over, they would have been hoping for a win against the odds. The tail, however, came to Australia’s rescue, as it does consistently. Sarah Coyte’s unbeaten 35 at No. 9 ensured Australia made it past 170.”Our team bats from 1 to 11. We are quite confident about that,” Jodie Fields, Australia’s captain, said. “As Sarah came out and had a partnership lower down the order, just proves that our batting depth is great. I knew that if we got closer to 175, we could bowl to it.”Once they got to the desired total, Australia’s all-round bowling performance helped them win without much difficulty. While the Australian bowlers stuck to their plan of”bowling straight”, Pakistan’s batters played too many rash strokes.”It was a case of poor shot selection from our batters,” the Pakistan captain Sana Mir said. “After we lost early wickets, I would say when I got out, I think that was the turningpoint. We have to be more disciplined, we have to be responsible, because we couldn’t capitalise on all the hard work done by the bowlers.”The pitch was keeping low, no doubt about that. But there is no excuse for this kind of performance [with the bat]. I hold myself responsible.”Mir, however, took positives from her team’s bowling and fielding effort, which produced in four run-outs. “I think this has been our best bowling performance till date against a top opponent like Australia,” she said. “The performance we produced with the ball and in the field is really encouraging. If we can restrict Australia, we can restrict anyteam … be it New Zealand or any other.”While Australia will need to improve their batting against South Africa at the DRIEMS Ground on Sunday, Pakistan will hope to challenge New Zealand at the Barabati. And it being a Sunday, the Odisha Cricket Association will hope the security personnel don’t outnumber the spectators in the stands, like they did today.

Pakistan have offered a lucrative insurance policy of $2 million and tax-free income for foreign cricketers who are thinking of participating in the Pakistan Super League

Umar Farooq24-Jan-2013Pakistan have offered an insurance policy of $2 million and tax-free income for foreign cricketers who are thinking of participating in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).Pakistan have not hosted international cricket since terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009. Since then they have had to play their “home” matches at offshore venues such as England and the UAE. The idea of having a PSL in the country is a strategic move by the PCB to win back the confidence of cricketing nations.But the world professional cricketers’ union FICA has raised its concerns over the security situation in Pakistan and warned players against taking part in the PSL, citing it an unmanageable risk. “We understand their concerns and we can’t blame them,” Zaka Ashraf, PCB chairman, told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s the negative perception about Pakistan that has to be changed and people should understand that things are not so bad.”But for their sense of security we are offering an optional insurance policy worth $2 million for the satisfaction of their families. They will be our special guests and we are ensuring every possible step to give them security at a higher level and if they think this isn’t enough they can take the insurance option as well.”Cricket operations in Pakistan aren’t tax exempted but the PCB is offering residential and non-residential players tax-free income from the PSL. Apart from the “emerging” players, they stand to earn between $25,000 and $100,000 for taking part in a 10-day tournament. The base price for the top category diamond player starts at $100,000.”Government is ready to grant us the exemption on income of the PSL and it’s an added advantage of our product for the players to earn tax free income,” Ashraf said. “We are offering the most money compared to the other leagues in the world. In ten days you can get the most out of it before going to the IPL starting in April.”

The Ireland-Afghanistan Intercontinental Cup match in Dublin, which lost two days to rain, ended in a draw

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jul-2012
ScorecardJaved Ahmadi top scored for Afghanistan•ICC/Rob O’ConnorThe Ireland-Afghanistan Intercontinental Cup match in Dublin, which lost two days to rain, ended in a draw. Afghanistan, facing the possibility of an innings defeat, batted out 67 overs on the final day for the loss of seven wickets – a commendable effort after they were routed for 84 in the first innings – to ensure the draw.Ireland had begun the day on 126 for 2 in their first innings, already 42 ahead of Afghanistan. Alex Cusack was out early, but Gary Wilson pushed on to get to a half-century. He made 73 at a good clip, and was supported by Andrew White, who scored an unbeaten 62. The pair stretched Ireland’s lead to 167, before captain Kevin O’Brien declared the innings closed on 251 for 4.Afghanistan were strong in reply. The openers, captain Karim Sadiq and Javed Ahmadi, put on 106. Sadiq fell just short of a half-century, but Ahmadi – who was recently named Afghanistan’s Under-19 captain for August’s World Cup – got to his third first-class 50. The No. 3 batsman, Asghar Stanikzai, also came good. He saw Afghanistan past the mark required to avoid an innings defeat and on to the close of play, remaining unbeaten on 51. After the early resistance, Ireland struck with regularity, but there still wasn’t enough time to force a result.

Durham have signed South African batsman Johan Myburgh as their second overseas player for the Friends Life t20

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jun-2012Durham have signed South African batsman Johann Myburgh as their second overseas player for the Friends Life t20. Myburgh impressed during a trial for the club, hitting 30 and 48 not out against Lancashire second XI and taking two wickets with his part-time offspin.Myburgh, who has previously played for Hampshire, could make his Durham debut on Friday against Yorkshire, after being included in a 13-man squad for the match at Headingley. The 31-year-old has a Twenty20 average of 29.55, with a top score of 80 in 36 matches, and will provide cover for the injured Paul Collingwood.”It’s been a great few days with Durham already and I’m looking forward to getting started in the T20,” Myburgh said. “I felt in good shape in the warm-up games and scored a few runs so hopefully I can continue to perform well and post some good scores for the team. I know Durham have big aspirations in the competition after reaching the quarter-finals last year and I want to be contributing to more success.”Geoff Cook, Durham’s head coach, added: “It’s great to have Johann join us for the duration of the T20 competition. He has a great attitude and I was impressed by his performance for us this week, not just with the bat but in the field too. With Paul Collingwood injured he is an experienced batsmen to add that extra dimension to our batting line up and also offers us an extra bowling option.”Herschelle Gibbs, Durham’s other overseas player, is also in line to make his first appearance for the county at Yorkshire, while fast bowler Graham Onions will be available after returning from England duty in the third Test against West Indies.

Murray Goodwin rediscovered his form with an unbeaten half-century to carry Sussex to 177 for 4 – a lead of 58 – going into the final day at Hove

Sahil Dutta at Hove27-May-2012
ScorecardMurray Goodwin returned to form at a crucial time to help guide Sussex’s second innings•Getty ImagesWith both his team in trouble and his career at a crossroads Murray Goodwin rediscovered his form with an unbeaten half-century to carry Sussex to 177 for 4 – a lead of 58 – going into the final day at Hove.The older you get, the fewer chances you are granted to prove your worth in first-class cricket. Just ask Mark Ramprakash. Goodwin, at 39 and with just 39 Championship runs in eight hits this season, can’t have had many more opportunities. He pipped Luke Wells – a player at the opposite end of his career arc – into the side and after a first-innings failure desperately needed a score.When Goodwin lost two partners to leave Sussex still 22 behind with only six wickets remaining, both man and team were under pressure. The Sussex faithful clearly thought so, almost giving Goodwin a standing ovation for his first boundary, cut square, as so many have been in his 11-year career at Hove.The support they showed was matched by Sussex’s coach Mark Robinson. “When you have champions like that you want to give him time,” he said. “He is our best player so deserved a chance to come good.”While Goodwin fought tooth and claw at one end, Luke Wright was at his carefree best at the other and the pair shared a crucial, unbeaten 78-run stand. With two centuries in his previous two innings Wright is clearly in fine form and he responded to his team’s precarious position with a flurry of positive drives early on. A few disappeared to the boundary but one – when he was on 31 – went straight back at the bowler Ben Phillips who, despite a two-handed grab at the ball, saw it plop to the floor. It might well have been the match.That was as close as Nottinghamshire got to breaking the partnership. Goodwin again received warm applause from the locals when he passed fifty from 124 balls while Wright dialled down his scoring rate to see the day through safely.Sussex have not lost in any form of the game since the opening match of the season at The Oval but have been up against it here since donating too many their wickets on the first day. With the pitch beginning to wear they would have been wary of Andre Adam’s understated hostility. Yet he was unable to bowl because of a shoulder injury that left Andy Carter – in just his 10th first-class game – to carry the attack.In a burst either side of tea Carter hit perfect rhythm to snare three wickets and leave the home side rocking. Carter is an octopus-like figure with limbs flailing about through his action but when in sync he generated real pace and accuracy. Using the low bounce to his favour he pinned Chris Nash and Michael Yardy lbw and sent Joe Gatting’s off stump cartwheeling. He has had a stop-start first-class career, which has included an England Lions outing and a spell on loan with Essex, and was back into the side for the first time since Nottinghamshire’s opening game of the season. He comfortably outbowled Harry Gurney and should expect more opportunities this season.The day began with disappointment for Riki Wessels and damage limitation for Sussex. Wessels needed 16 more for his maiden first-class double-hundred but fell for 199. Having started well, firing a couple of drives down the ground he got a good delivery from the deserving Steve Magoffin and was caught behind. James Anyon’s pounded the middle of the pitch at the other to good effect. He had Adam Voges caught at mid-on, Phillips late on a pull and Adams out swishing to fine leg.All the while Chris Read held strong and together with an uncomfortable-looking Carter added 39 for the ninth wicket. It was enough to give Nottinghamshire a 122-lead which looked decisive until Goodwin and Wright got together. There is time yet for the visitors to stir trouble on the final day but the home side had reason once more to look to Goodwin for inspiration.

Lance Gibbs has suggested a more vigorous follow through after delivery as an area in which Australia’s offspinner Nathan Lyon should develop

Daniel Brettig in Port of Spain14-Apr-2012Lance Gibbs, the West Indies offspinner who once held the world record for Test wickets, has suggested a more vigorous follow-through after delivery as an area in which Australia’s offspinner Nathan Lyon should develop after watching him in action during the first Test against the West Indies at Bridgetown.Lyon and Gibbs spoke in St Lucia earlier in the tour, but at that point Gibbs had not yet seen the younger man ply his trade in a Test. Having observed the five days of the match at Kensington Oval, won so dramatically by Australia on the final afternoon, Gibbs told ESPNcricinfo a certain snap was missing from the conclusion of Lyon’s action.”In the finish of his action he needs to cut his body in half as much as he can, give it everything with each delivery,” Gibbs said. “His line and length is quite good, I could not judge too much about how he varies his pace, but in the finish of his action he seemed to be lacking something.”On the fifth day of the game you should see something as far as spin is concerned, but he didn’t really beat the bat, though he should have been spinning the ball away from the left-handers. If you’re really giving it everything with your whole body, then you’re going to see more spin.”Lyon managed figures of 1 for 113 in 42 overs at Bridgetown, returning only the wicket of Kemar Roach for his efforts. However, his analysis was no worse than that of the West Indies legspinner Devendra Bishoo, who also claimed only one wicket for the match and was hit out of the attack on the final day, as the part-time finger spin of Narsingh Deonarine was preferred.Mindful of Trinidad’s tendency for sharp turn and variable bounce, the West Indies selectors have bolstered their spin options by recalling the offspin of Shane Shillingford, who Gibbs said would spin the ball harder than Lyon while also varying his pace. Australia must also consider the option of playing the left-arm orthodox Michael Beer as a second spinner, a ploy not resorted to even on the dustbowl of Galle against Sri Lanka last year when Lyon debuted.At times in Barbados Lyon’s front arm did not seem to be leading off his action as strongly as it has on earlier occasions, while other observers have wondered whether his approach to the wicket is too straight. Earlier in the summer, Arthur had said he was working with Lyon on bringing his point of delivery a little closer to the stumps, to accentuate his drift away from the bat.Nevertheless, Arthur and the national selector John Inverarity have both expressed happiness about how Lyon is developing. Arthur said that there remain areas for Lyon to improve, but all would follow given time, offering the reminder that the Adelaide-based offspinner is still a novice in terms of first-class experience.”I’m really happy with where Nathan’s at, he’s worked extremely hard,” Arthur said. “There’s little facets of his game he needs to keep developing, and like any player in our side they’ve all got little facets that we’re continually working on. He needs to do that, but he’s a very good finger spinner.”We must also realise he’s only played 20 first-class games and I think 12 of them have been Test matches, so he’s still learning his art in the toughest form of the game. He’s going to be a very good spinner. We just have to keep monitoring Nathan, but I’m very happy with where he’s at.”Edited by Kanishkaa Balachandran

Sachithra Senanayake will replace the injured Ajantha Mendis in Sri Lanka’s squad for the remainder of the ODI series in South Africa

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jan-2012Offspinner Sachithra Senanayake will replace the injured Ajantha Mendis in Sri Lanka’s squad for the remainder of the ODI series in South Africa. Mendis had a recurrence of his back problem ahead of the second match in East London.”Ajantha Mendis will return to Sri Lanka from South Africa due to injury and will not be available for the remainder of the series. Sachitra Senanayaka will leave for South Africa immediately,” Sri Lanka Cricket said.Senanayake, 26, has been playing on Sri Lanka’s domestic circuit for more than five years. He has represented Ruhuna and Sinhalese Sports Club, and picked up 297 wickets in 59 games at an average of 20.50 in the first-class format. In List A cricket, he has 107 wickets in 66 matches at 18.73.In Tier A of the Premier League Tournament, Sri Lanka’s first-class competition, Senanayake was the fourth-highest wicket-taker last year, with 45 in eight matches at 15.17. He topped the wicket charts in the Premier Limited Over Tournament, the domestic List A competition, taking 16 wickets in six matches at 11.18.Senanayake is likely to be available for the third ODI on January 17.