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Paul van Meekeren took 4 for 11 as Netherlands ended their World T20 with victory over Ireland in a six-over match

The Report by David Hopps13-Mar-2016
Scorecards and ball-by-ball detailsPaul van Meekeren is ecstatic after dismissing Max Sorensen•ICC/Getty ImagesIreland’s faith in themselves as the leading nation among cricket’s cold-shouldered fraternity was dented when they lost to the Netherlands in Sylhet in the 2014 World Twenty20. Two years on, their sense of well-being has been further eroded in a six-over thrash on a cold and grouchy day in Dharamsala that fell Netherlands’ way by 12 runsThere was snow on the mountain tops in Himachal Pradesh, if the drizzle had cleared the temperatures were plunging and Ireland felt the chill as once they were again tormented by the side in orange.Sainsbury’s supermarket was once forced to ditch its orange branding when the elderly citizens of Frinton-on-Sea, England’s staidest seaside resort, complained it was too garish, and increasingly Ireland will look upon the Netherlands and know how they feel.The orange flash at deep midwicket that sparkled most brightly of all came 14 balls into Ireland’s pursuit of 60 and belonged to Pieter Seelaar as he sprinted along the midwicket boundary before clinging to a slick diving catch. There will be few better in the tournament proper. Paul van Meekeren banged the ball in back of a length, Kevin O’Brien’s pull was middled, but the shot that might have broken the run chase (had it gone for six Ireland would have been 34 for 1 after 14 balls) was instead the harbinger of Ireland’s growing despondency.As for van Meekeren, a return of 4 for 11 will awaken a little interest, one suspects, in English county cricket. By the time he began the final over, Ireland were still 20 short, and he demolished the stumps of Max Sorensen and George Dockrell to ensure there was no monkey business.Whatever occurred, both countries knew at the start of this match that they were already eliminated. There was no mountain left to climb – just the Himalayas to look at as they headed to the airport, but Netherlands headed there much the happier.Twas a game, of sorts, and there was a passion to win it. Only one Ireland player was allowed to bowl two overs and Dockrell’s left-arm spin proved to be a wise choice, registering 3 for 7, and producing catching opportunities from three of his first five balls, two of which were taken. Seven dot balls out of 12, including an over in the Powerplay, was an astounding effort that might have brought victory.The Dharamsala pitch offered up its usual plasticine consistency, but Dockrell found turn all the same as Netherlands’ batsmen floundered against him. Tom Cooper slogged his third ball to mid-on, affording the opportunity to prey upon Roelof van der Merwe who was promoted to No. 3.It did not work out for van der Merwe. Twice, he slogged Dockrell’s left-arm spin to the legside. Kevin O’Brien spilled the first – a slice to long-off and a grimace from O’Brien as he landed heavily, but van der Merwe’s next attempt was entirely bungled and he fell off the cue end at short third man.The coup de grace came in Dockrell’s second over when his turn outdid Wesley Barresi as he came down the pitch, leaving Niall O’Brien with a simple stumping.Memories of Sylhet in 2014 meant that Ireland were particularly wary of Stephan Myburgh. When Netherlands chased down 190 in 13.5 overs in the World T20 two years ago, the muscular Myburgh got 63 – his 50, in 17 balls standing as the equal third fastest in T20Is.On this occasion he was dropped on 9 by Paul Stirling at deep midwicket but was still restricted to 27 from 18 balls before he was run out against the penultimate ball. Dockrell bowled only one ball at him – the first ball of his spell – and got away with a leg bye off his waist.Stirling was quick to address Ireland’s chase. He twice walked across his stumps in Timm van der Gugten’s first over to flick him over fine leg for six. But Seelaar’s thrilling intervention changed the complexion of the game and Stirling fell to the next ball, his ramp shot collected at third man.At 28 for 3 off 2.3, Ireland had opportunity even in a six-over game for a settling period, but their plight worsened when Gary Wilson and Andrew Poynter departed against van der Merwe within three balls – Wilson falling to a reverse sweep, Poynter skying a rustic slog.With 25 needed from two, and only five wickets remaining, Netherlands were suddenly favourites. A fine penultimate over from Mudassar Bukhari meant 20 were needed off the last. They never got close.And that, for Ireland and Netherlands, was that. A dead rubber in a qualifying tournament disrupted by rain and in a state where most attention has been drawn by a grandstanding chief minister, was a cruel end for both sides to their stay in Himachal Pradesh.But they remained as driven as ever by the need to advertise their worth, propelled by an entrenched sense of anger towards a sport that limits their appearances to occasional token appearances and a lack of expansionist philosophy in the higher echelons of the ICC. Even in a match reduced to 72 balls, their passion insisted that they deserve better.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has admitted that his team will need to get rid of AB de Villiers early if they are to triumph against South Africa in Auckland

Firdose Moonda06-Mar-2015Distill cricket into its simplest part and it is a game about runs. Not Powerplays or fielding restrictions or the size of the field, but runs. Plain and simple.So what do you do if you can’t get the runs you need?”If we have deficiencies in the batting line-up, we can cover it up with some really good fielding and support our bowling line-up that has been doing really well for us,” Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s captain said.Pakistan are not the only team who have chased unsuccessfully in the competition so far. Neither are they the only outfit without a centurion, but something about their line-up just isn’t clicking. The opening pair lacks gravitas, the middle-order is almost entirely dependent on Misbah, and the finishers don’t often have anything to finish off.Although they have managed three totals over 300 in their last 10 ODIs, the rest makes for grim reading. In the other seven innings, they have only got over 250 once. But Pakistan are coming off the back of their highest score in eight innings and have “gained some confidence,” and by implication “determination,” which Dale Steyn has taken note of.”They’ll come out guns blazing, I don’t mean guns blazing like swinging the bat, but they’ll come out looking to pull off a win,” Steyn said.If Pakistan have any hope of overcoming South Africa, getting past the 250 mark is their first challenge. If they can achieve it, Misbah believes they have the arsenal to finish the match off. “We know that we’ve got a bowling attack where if we cross 250, no team in the world could relax chasing that 250,” he said.What about a team that has managed two successive totals of 400? The consensus among most sides is that the only way to stop South Africa is to stop their leader, AB de Villiers. Misbah shares that sentiment.”AB, no doubt, at the moment you could he’s say the best batsman in the world in limited-over cricket. Obviously we’ve got some plans, and we have good bowlers who can really just put him under pressure but the only way of stopping AB is just try to get him out. If he’s there, it’s not easy to stop him. I think the only way is to get him out.”Steyn, though, has warned that will not be easy. “I’d trip him on his way out of the hotel tomorrow morning and hope that he breaks his ankle. I don’t know how you stop him,” Steyn joked. “He’s a serious player and seeing the ball like no other player is seeing a cricket ball before, and he’s playing shots that I don’t think most people have seen before. The only way you can get him is if he gets himself out.”Or if you’re able to produce something spectacular, which is what Pakistan have been working on, although the results have yet to show. They’ve put down catches including Virat Kohl in Adelaide, who was 76 at the time and went on to make 107, Marlon Samuels twice and Lendl Simmons in Christchurch although neither were too costly, and Craig Ervine and Elton Chigumbura in Brisbane.The fluffed chances have cancelled out the incisive bowling but if they take their chances, Misbah is hopeful they can make up for even a batting collapse.”We’ve got some weaknesses in the field. When it comes to Pakistan, we don’t have that sort of athleticism which South Africa, New Zealand or Australia do, but the guys are working hard and trying their best,” Misbah said.As the captain himself has implied, against top teams, only the best will do.

The newly-crowned league champions are the main force in the best XI this season, with Tottenham Hotspur well represented as well

Few people will be surprised to see Manchester City dominate the PFA Premier League Team of the Year by having five players named.

Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Nicolas Otamendi and Kyle Walker are the five newly-crowned English champions included in the XI due to their impressive performances for a side sitting 16 points clear at the top of the table with four games to go.

Despite Pep Guardiola's team's dominance of the league, there are more star-studded names throughout the squad.

Tottenham Hotspur are the next best represented side as star striker Harry Kane takes the centre-forward role, with Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen also included. 

Although still sitting second and third in the league, Manchester United and Liverpool only have one star each in the squad, with David de Gea taking his place between the posts and 30-goal hero and PFA Player of the Year Mohamed Salah adding to a mouth-watering attack.

Amid their poor title defence, Chelsea also saw one player named in the side, with Marcos Alonso earning praise for his impressive work on the left side.

David de Gea | Manchester UnitedThe Spanish goalkeeper has been pivotal in keeping the Red Devils in the fight for second place, with some of his individual displays being enough to justify his inclusion in the squad alone.AdvertisementGettyKyle Walker | Manchester CityThe right-back has looked worth the £50 million investment City parted with to lure the England international from Tottenham Hotspur. He has been a big presence for Pep Guardiola's side and is expected to be even more important for his country at the World Cup.GettyJan Vertonghen | Tottenham HotspurThe Belgian centre-back remains a fan favourite at Spurs and a huge asset for Mauricio Pochettino's men. Christian Eriksen is the only other Tottenham player to have started as many Premier League games this term.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty ImagesNicolas Otamendi | Manchester CityThe Argentine's development under Pep Guardiola has earned him a great deal of praise recently and his progress has been recognised with a place alongside Vertonghen.

England star Mary Earps is driving her Manchester United team-mate Phallon Tullis-Joyce to get even better, Red Devils boss Marc Skinner believes.

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Earps and Tullis-Joyce both praised by SkinnerEngland's No.1 firmly first-choice at Man UtdBut is also driving her team-mate to new levelsWHAT HAPPENED?

Tullis-Joyce joined the club in September after shining in the NWSL with the Seattle Reign but has found it difficult to usurp the Lionesses' No.1 for opportunities. The American did start all four of United's Continental Cup games but Earps was preferred for the clash with second-tier Southampton in the FA Cup last week, a game many thought she would be rested for.

AdvertisementWHAT SKINNER SAID

Asked about the competition between the two goalkeepers on Thursday, Skinner praised both – Earps for the standards she sets and Tullis-Joyce for her desire to meet them. "I recently had a meeting with with Phallon, just to catch up really and just to reiterate the quality she has. She's a fantastic goalkeeper – but she's also behind the world's number one goalkeeper. That's the level," Skinner said.

"The beauty of Phallon is that she wants to raise her game to try and get to Mary's standard. Mary's difference is in the mind, the way she thinks, the way she moves, the way she prepares. She almost sees the danger before it comes. I'm in that fortunate but unfortunate position of having to not play one of them but Mary is at the highest of levels and Phallon wants to get there. I think she understands the journey, I think she understands what she has to do."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Tullis-Joyce could well inherit the first-choice role at United later this year as Earps is out of contract at the club and is attracting interest from several parties. There is still a chance that the England star could stay and sign a new deal, though.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Only Manchester City teenager Khiara Keating (6) has kept more clean sheets in the Women's Super League this season than Earps (5).

The Portuguese striker's petulance is overshadowing his form at Al-Nassr, and setting a poor example for the next generation

“There are people out there who hate me and who say I’m arrogant, vain and whatever. That’s all part of my success. I am made to be the best,” Cristiano Ronaldo said in 2016 interview with Spanish outlet . “We cannot live being obsessed with what other people think about us. It’s impossible to live like that. Not even God managed to please the entire world.”

Portugal's favourite son has never been one for humility. No one really read that much into his attitude back then, though, as he was still at the peak of his powers in a Real Madrid team sweeping aside all-comers in the Champions League.

But eight years on, there is no question that Ronaldo's character flaws are outweighing his impact on the pitch. He said his "work in Europe is done" when signing a record-breaking contract at Al-Nassr in January last year, but really had nowhere else to turn after an acrimonious end to his second spell at Manchester United.

Since then Ronaldo has gone to great lengths to try and prove he remains relevant, completely contradicting his past comments in the process. It seems that, now, nothing is more important to the 39-year-old than how he is perceived by the public, and that narcissistic mindset is threatening to ruin the final chapter of his illustrious career.

Getty ImagesMissing the bigger picture

Ronaldo has been scoring for fun at Al-Nassr, and no one bettered his haul of 54 goals for club and country in 2023. The Portuguese took delight in outdoing "young animals" like Manchester City's Erling Haaland, and insisted he could still play on for another 10 years, but he's missing the bigger picture.

The Saudi Pro League is still a long way from being one of the top divisions in world football, despite the influx of European talent to the Middle East over the past year. Ronaldo's prolific output in the final third counts for little among the purists, who just see a once-great player stat-padding while pocketing obscene wages.

There would be nothing wrong with that, if he was still being a role model to the millions of youngsters that look up to him and could admit that Al-Nassr is just a place for him to wind down towards retirement. But Ronaldo seems to still genuinely believe he is the number one player in the game, and construes any suggestion otherwise as a personal attack.

AdvertisementGetty Images – Goal ARCourting controversy

Ronaldo netted his 22nd goal of the 2023-24 Pro League season from the penalty spot last Sunday, setting Al-Nassr on their way to a crucial 3-2 victory over Al-Shabab that keeps them within sight of Al-Hilal at the top of the table. However, after the final whistle, Ronaldo was too distracted by the home crowd to focus on celebrating the three points with his team-mates.

Al-Shabab supporters attempted to rile Ronaldo up with chants for his long-time rival Lionel Messi, and got what they wanted, with footage on social media showing the striker cupping his hand to his ear before making a lewd fist-pumping gesture in front of his genital area.

There appeared to be little doubt Ronaldo was motioning in the direction of the fans, and the Saudi FA subsequently launched an investigation, amid a fierce public backlash. Ronaldo was eventually punished with a one-game ban and 30,000 Saudi Riyals (£6,300) fine by an ethics and disciplinary committee.

The final verdict came after remarks from popular Saudi journalist Waleed Al-Farraj, who had urged the FA to make an example of Ronaldo – as reports. “Everything has limits, no matter how (much of a) star you are,” Al-Farraj said.

Getty'Used to it in Europe'

According to , Ronaldo explained his actions in an official statement. He is reported to have said: "I respect all clubs and the action in the shot expresses strength and victory and is not disgraceful, and we are used to it in Europe."

The sheer ignorance of that statement cannot be overlooked. Ronaldo is not in Europe anymore, and it is his duty to be aware of Saudi Arabia's conservative customs as a foreign national.

has reported that Ronaldo's gesture was seen as "immoral" by a country known for its strong religious beliefs, and he should consider himself lucky that he's not facing a much longer suspension. And to make matters even worse, it's not the first time that the former Real Madrid and Manchester United superstar has exhibited such childish behaviour in his first year in the Middle East.

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Previous escapes

Ronaldo was faced with more Messi taunts during Al-Nassr's 2-0 defeat to Al-Hilal in the Riyadh Season Cup final on February 8, and allowed his frustration to get the better of him again when making his way down the tunnel.

Al-Hilal supporters threw a team scarf at Ronaldo, which he then appeared to rub near his crotch before hurling it back in the direction it came from. There were no sanctions imposed after that incident, with the Portugal international getting the benefit of the doubt despite similar controversy in April last year.

After another loss to Al-Hilal, this time in the final weeks of the 2022-23 Pro League season, Ronaldo grabbed his crotch when trudging off the pitch, much to the outrage of Saudi lawyer Nouf Bint Ahmad. She described the gesture as a "crime that requires detention and deportation" in a post on social media, and Ronaldo was subjected to another investigation, before ultimately being cleared of any wrongdoing.

Al-Nassr even came out to defend their prized asset, saying in a quite frankly absurd official statement: "Ronaldo suffers from an injury. His challenge with Gustavo Cuellar, the Al-Hilal player, started with a blow in a very sensitive area. This is confirmed information. As for the fans’ explanations, they are free to think whatever they want.”

Mohammad Hafeez animatedly defended everyone in the Pakistan setup, specifically the coach Dav Whatmore, with even more gusto than he celebrated their 95-run victory

Firdose Moonda in Centurion03-Mar-2013Unless it is the World Twenty20 final, winning a match in the shortest format is seldom the cause for massive celebration. Today, it was.For Mohammed Hafeez, Pakistan’s thumping of South Africa was as much an individual triumph as it was a team one. It showed that he has not lost his touch even after the Test series brought that up for debate. It showed that the team is not incapable of competing with and beating an opposition that continues to be talked up as better than them. And it showed those who have called for heads to roll, their words came too early.Hafeez animatedly defended everyone in the Pakistan setup, specifically the coach Dav Whatmore, with even more gusto than he celebrated their victory. He thought it proved the criticism they have copped from home was unreasonable and this would put an end to some of that.”It was unfair. If the results of one format do not come in your favour, it does not mean the boys are not working hard or the coach is not good enough. Those are all premature statements from people sitting I don’t know where,” he said.”And it does not mean that if we win the coach is working harder. He was working the same way with us throughout. We are all behind him and we’ve all been working hard.”Although it was not specifically mentioned, Hafeez’s comments were an obvious rebuttal to former captain Moin Khan’s call for Whatmore to be sacked. Moin called Whatmore “overrated” and said he was “fighting for survival.” Hafeez scoffed at all of that.Instead, he said his team had simply shown what he always knew they were capable of. He also asked for people to remain patient with them because of the difficulties of their circumstances, which includes not playing at home “for the last four years but still doing good things for Pakistan cricket.”A trophy from South Africa is one of those achievements. Even though it came from a format that is brushed aside as a small boys’ game and a contest in which one match was washed out, it means something. “We really wanted to do something good in this format because of the ODIs coming up. We knew the importance of this game,” Hafeez said. “Tests require a different discipline but here everyone just played without fear.”Hafeez led by example in that regard. His 86 was a fluent innings, punctuated with classy strokes and calculated risk-taking. After a lean Test series, it will go a long way to boost his confidence. “I knew that I was playing very well in the nets, it’s just that I was getting good balls in the Test series and that was disappointing,” he said. “But I stayed positive, the coaches kept me positive and worked hard with me.”The move to No. 3 also seems to have worked and Hafeez will likely stay there. With the youngsters Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad upfront, he was required to drop down to provide experience and although it is not his first choice, he can see the benefit in doing it. “I always prefer to come as an opener but this is the requirement of the team. We are looking to the future and Ahmed Shehzad has been doing well domestically and we wanted to give him a chance. I will do whatever I have to for the team.”For the first time on this tour, the team Hafeez so passionately talks about have a reason to smile. It is largely because of him and Umar Gul, who Hafeez said was “outstanding,” and is “always good in this format.”They also have a reason to be hopeful ahead of their five-match ODI series in South Africa and Hafeez hopes they continue in this vein. “We’ve got a great feeling in the dressing room now. It’s a feeling that has been missing for 42 days and it’s great to have it now.”

Alex Hales,a batsman who is beginning to warrant the attention of the England selectors, hauled Nottinghamshire back into the match

Jon Culley at Trent Bridge12-Jul-2011
Scorecard
Steve Kirby made early breakthroughts but Nottinghamshire closed in on Somerset’s total•PA PhotosStuart Broad did what was necessary to remain the centre of attention here by picking up the 13th five-wicket haul of his career. His performance was rightly put in its place though, as a sub-plot to the bigger story, as Alex Hales, 22, a batsman who is beginning to warrant the attention of the England selectors, hauled Nottinghamshire back into the match with the second century of his first-class career.It was a moment he greeted with a measure of relief as well as pleasure, having developed a tendency to lay the foundations of good scores without making them count. When he reached 50 it was the 14th time he had done so in 46 first-class innings, which is a measure of how often he has been frustrated.There is always the danger, in such circumstances, for mental barriers to emerge, which is probably why he celebrated with a clenched fist rather than any more exuberant display of elation. It signalled determination and the feeling that he had proved something to himself.Then again, a little impetuosity is forgivable in a batsman of relative youth, particularly from a natural stroke-maker, endowed with the advantage of height and strength. And pitches at Trent Bridge in the three seasons since he made his Championship debut have hardly been the ideal surface on which to build confidence.A broken jaw inflicted by a ball from Yorkshire’s Ajmal Shahzad early in May this year, moreover, has hardly been conducive to uninhibited progress. Yet he has scores of fifty or above in six of his last eight first-class innings either side of the injury, and has outshone David Hussey and Adam Voges, Nottinghamshire’s two Australians, in their successful Twenty20 campaign.This innings was not without errors. A leading edge on 59 just eluded the fingertips of Chris Jones at mid-off, while James Hildreth got both hands to a difficult chance at backward point when he was on 68.He went to 50 with a four and celebrated with a six off Murali Kartik, but mindful of having been out six times in the 80s and 90s, he negotiated the last 15 runs of the century with due care, which was just as well given that Steve Kirby was bowling particularly well at the time. But finally he was presented with an opportunity to cut Kartik for four to move to 102.His century followed a fluent 57 from Voges in a stand of 101 for the fourth wicket, which looked to have the legs to go further had the Australian not left a ball from Adam Dibble that cut back and took his off stump. It was young seamer Dibble’s first Championship wicket.Steven Mullaney, dropped at second slip by Marcus Trescothick on 29, played some pleasing shots as he and Hales added 87 for the fifth wicket before Mullaney was caught behind off Kartik, one short of a half-century. Hales is still there on 130, having given Nottinghamshire the substance they needed in response to Somerset’s 386, after Neil Edwards, Riki Wessels and Samit Patel had all gone cheaply.Somerset, who had been 341 for 5 overnight after Broad’s dismissal of Hildreth shortly before stumps, were bowled out for 386, having lost their last six wickets for 48 in a way that emphasised how well Hildreth and Craig Kieswetter had played in their 290-run partnership.Kieswetter passed his previous career-best when he pushed Broad away for two off the back foot to move to 154 in the first over of the day, but Broad claimed his third wicket when his appeal for lbw against Steve Kirby was granted by umpire Neil Mallender to the visible annoyance of the batsman.Kirby’s thumping of the turf with his bat after the finger had gone up will not have pleased Marcus Trescothick, who is already facing a possible ban because of his side’s poor disciplinary record. Trescothick is due to face an ECB tribunal on Friday because five of his players have had disciplinary issues in the last 12 months, which may explain why he has been ‘rested’ from Somerset’s three-day match against India this weekend, in which the England captain, Andrew Strauss, is playing as a guest.Kieswetter fell nibbling a perfect away swinger by Andre Adams, who claimed his fourth wicket when Peter Trego skied one to backward point. Broad, whose bowling so far has probably encouraged national selector Geoff Miller without removing all doubts from his mind, completed the 13th five-wicket haul of his first-class career and his first for a year by dismissing the debutant, Adam Dibble, and Murali Kartik.He has an impressive record for Nottinghamshire, for whom he has taken 53 wickets in only 10 matches. As a press box colleague pointed out, though, his victims here are hardly or the calibre of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid.However, his captain, Chris Read, who as wicketkeeper is ideally placed to offer an assessment, was impressed enough to offer only compliments. “From my point of view, he bowled with good pace, moved the ball off the pitch and through the air, and to get five wickets was a fine return,” he said, adding that he did not believe the selectors were about to lose faith in him.”He has been among the leaders of the England attack in the last couple of years. He is still a young bowler who bowls at 90 mph and we all know what he can do with his height and the bounce he can generate.”

John Hastings derailed the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI chase with a hat-trick to spur the visiting Australians to a comprehensive victory in their only warm-up game ahead of the three-match ODI series

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Apr-2011
Scorecard
John Hastings rattled the hosts with a hat-trick•Associated PressJohn Hastings, the medium-pacer, derailed the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI chase with a hat-trick to spur the visiting Australians to a comprehensive victory in their only warm-up game ahead of the three-match ODI series.Raqibul Hasan and Maisuqur Rahman had built a solid century stand in the BCB XI’s response to 308, though the hosts were well behind the required rate. But that partnership was put to an end by Hastings, who bowled Raqibul for 65 and trapped Alok Kapali and Shuvagoto Hom off successive deliveries to claim a hat-trick in the 36th over. He wasn’t done, as he returned in the 38th over to dislodge Maisuqur. The tail offered some resistance as BCB XI limped to 218 for 7.Australia’s strong performance with the bat centered around half-centuries from four of their batsmen – Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey. Ponting, having relinquished his post as captain, played a fluent innings, striking 10 fours and a six in his 69. Clarke, his successor, made 55 in 56 balls and Hussey made a quickfire 69.At 236 for 3 at the end of 41 overs, Australia would have hoped to pile up more than what they eventually got, but it proved more than sufficient. The first of three ODIs begins on April 9 in Dhaka.

Sri Lanka’s captain Tillakaratne Dilshan has demanded more from his batsmen following their first-innings surrender for 174 in the second Test against Australia in Pallekele

Daniel Brettig in Pallekele08-Sep-2011Sri Lanka’s captain Tillakaratne Dilshan has demanded more from his batsmen following their first-innings surrender for 174 in the second Test against Australia in Pallekele. He threatened numerous changes to the team if performances did not improve.Dilshan was one of a series of batsmen dismissed cheaply as Sri Lanka lurched to 76 for 5 at lunch on the first day, a position from which they never recovered despite an excellent batting pitch. The start seemed to reflect the chaotic nature of the hosts’ lead-in to the Test, with Rangana Herath (finger) and Ajantha Mendis (back) ruled out on the morning of the match due to injuries.”Definitely there is something wrong in the batting,” Dilshan said. “We are talking, discussing, we are doing a lot of hard work in the training and we are discussing a lot of things, but now is the time to deliver.”We can’t say the wicket is bad. They’ve bowled really well but we’ve played the last series in England, where there was a better attack, and on a difficult wicket we batted really well. Now the players should put their hands up and deliver, they have to deliver, now is the time, we can’t wait anymore.”This is the third time we’ve got out cheaply [including 82 on the final day against England in Cardiff]. They bowled really well in the start but our batsmen didn’t bat well, that is why we got out. It is a good wicket, we are playing seven batsmen, we can’t expect 174 all out.”Several ideas have been tossed about in Sri Lanka’s dressing room, including the employment of the sports psychologist Rudi Webster at the conclusion of the series. Dilshan also said the older batsmen, including himself and Thilan Samaraweera, had to take more responsibility or risk being dropped. Their struggles contrasted with the success of Angelo Mathews, who followed a second-innings 95 in Galle with 58 here.”He’s batted really well in the No. 7 position,” Dilshan said. “We have problems with the middle order and the top order. We don’t want to change someone batting really well at No. 7, but we have to think about the second innings. Maybe change the batting line-up and send someone in top.”Dilshan described the changes to the side minutes before play as “unfortunate”. They necessitated the inclusion of the offspinner Suraj Randiv, who was going to be dropped, and the legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna, making his debut.Herath was struck on the finger during a fielding drill on the eve of the Test, while Mendis had a back problem that worsened in the lead-up to the game. “We thought he [Herath] would be okay but today he tried to grip the ball and he couldn’t, his finger was very sore,” Dilshan said. “Ajantha had a back injury in last one-dayer but he managed to play, but today morning he talked to the physio, he was worse than the last few weeks. I don’t want to take a chance and play him, so that is why we gave a youngster a chance. Unfortunately we had to make two changes in the morning.”

For the second time in four days, India and West Indies showed that big hits aren’t crucial ingredients in absorbing cricket

The Report by Siddarth Ravindran29-Nov-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Nos. 10 and 11, Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav, managed to string together the 11 runs India required to take a 1-0 lead in the series•AFPFor the second time in four days, India and West Indies showed that big hits aren’t crucial ingredients in absorbing cricket. As in the Mumbai Test, the final delivery of the match was punched to long-on, but this time there were no tears for the home fans as last man Umesh Yadav’s drive went for four to end a pulsating match.It wasn’t the highest quality of cricket, but there was no shortage of entertainment for a voluble Cuttack crowd watching its first international match in two years. Rohit Sharma seemed to have sealed the game with a mostly level-headed half-century after India slipped to 59 for 5, but his dismissal 11 runs short of the target provided an extra dollop of suspense to an already tumultuous match.Watching tailenders bat ranks high among the enjoyable sidelights in cricket, and watching a panicky No. 10 Varun Aaron and Umesh, with all of 10 ODI caps between them, negotiate the final passage was a heart-warmer. The two came together after Vinay Kumar, a relatively more skilled batsman, lost his head and his wicket by charging out and holing out to mid-off, and that five deliveries after Rohit’s dismissal.Eleven runs were needed from the final pair, off 23 deliveries. It was to be expected that the predominant mood in the middle wouldn’t be calm-and-collected, but it was still hard to explain the thinking behind Aaron declining a single off the fifth delivery of the 47th, so that he could take strike in the next over. A visibly stricken Rohit couldn’t believe that decision, and substitute Ajinkya Rahane muttered under his breath.A spell of 15 dot balls was finally ended by Aaron thumping the ball to long-off for a single. More headless-chicken stuff followed as Umesh nurdled the fifth ball of the 48th, with Aaron this time desperately wanting a non-existent second in another attempt to face the start of the next over.In Aaron’s defence, Umesh wasn’t exactly the most confidence-inspiring of batsmen, regularly planting his front foot across the stumps and poking at the ball. Umesh managed to sneak a single towards square leg off the first delivery of the penultimate over, for which the pacy Andre Russell might have been a better choice than the innocuous Darren Sammy. An on-target yorker at Russell’s pace could have been the game, but Sammy perhaps feared the edged boundary to third man or fine leg.In any case, Sammy’s second delivery was a hit-me short-and-wide delivery that was dispatched for four by Aaron, to bring India within four of victory. He guided the next ball towards point for a single, and in his enthusiasm to look for yet another unlikely second, he slipped and had to settle for one. Umesh coolly shouldered arms to the next delivery, before punching a length ball past mid-on for the boundary that extended India’s winning streak in home ODIs to ten. It also ended Aaron’s mad scramble for the second run, something he famously did, without delivering victory, off the final delivery in the Mumbai Test.At the other extreme when it comes to taking the second is R Ashwin, who was mildly criticised after delaying setting off for the potentially winning-run in Mumbai. This time he will receive a lot more criticism, after staying put for too long though his senior partner Rohit was running to the danger end, and was confident of making it.Before that run-out, India were 54 away with plenty of overs to go, with Rohit and Ashwin – fresh from a Test century – in the middle. A fairly comfortable state, which India reached due to a 83-run stand for the sixth wicket between Rohit and Ravindra Jadeja. That stand administered CPR to a chase that was fast fading at 59 for 5.Rohit played the more expansive strokes – a stylish six over the bowler, a textbook cover drive for four off Russell, followed by a controlled pull for another boundary. Jadeja was more content playing the no-frills role, picking up several of his boundaries through glides behind point. It was crucial innings for both players – Rohit, returning after several months out due to a finger injury, is looking to secure a spot in the crowded middle order, while Jadeja is still to emphatically prove he deserves a spot as high as No. 7.All the drama seemed unlikely when India’s openers galloped to 37 four overs into the chase. The dew was expected to play a huge role in the evening, and a chock-a-block crowd was probably one of the biggest many of the West Indians had played in front of. Kemar Roach didn’t let any of that affect him as he pulled West Indies back into the match by removing Parthiv Patel and Gautam Gambhir in the fifth over, and adding the scalp of Virat Kohli soon after.When Russell snuck one past Virender Sehwag’s bat, and Suresh Raina chipped a catch to mid-off, it was West Indies who were in control, particularly as India’s most reliable middle-order finishers, MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, were absent.Rohit and the bowlers clinched it for India at the end, but the inexperienced attack had been hugely impressively in the afternoon as well. India had none of the regular members of their World Cup-winning line-up but that didn’t prevent them from limiting the visitors to a small total. Umesh and Varun showed off the pace for which they have made a name, Vinay ‘s patented away-swinger was on display, and the spinners continued to give the selectors no reason to think of Harbhajan Singh.West Indies’ batting had had a reviving stand of its own between Darren Bravo and Danza Hyatt after the top-order stumbled. Bravo doled out his usual share of easy-on-the-eyes boundaries as he extended his rich form from the Tests to make 60, while Hyatt was more controlled after starting problems, due to which he has reached double-digits only twice in six ODI-innings so far.Some amateurish running from Hyatt took away any semblance of momentum from the West Indian batting, and the dismissals of Bravo and Kieron Pollard within a short span, meant the final third of the innings was slow going.The 211 they posted seemed far from substantial, especially as the pitch wasn’t playing too many tricks – the curator had boldly predicted 300-plus ahead of the match – but they again showed an encouraging ability to fight. That may not have translated into results on this trip so far, but it has resulted in the home side being forced to dig very deep in most of the matches.