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Visitors post sub-par total despite punchy Bairstow-Smith opening stand

ECB Media07-Aug-2025Zak Crawley shone under the lights at Headingley to make an unbeaten 67 and lead Andrew Flintoff’s Northern Superchargers to an assured eight-wicket win over Welsh Fire.The England man hit five fours and four sixes across his enterprising 37-ball stay at the crease to see the Superchargers to a brace of home wins on their opening matchday of the Hundred, following the women’s team’s win earlier in the day.Crawley was accompanied by captain and fellow England star Harry Brook to hit the winning runs at the end, book-ending a game that started with Jonny Bairstow and Steve Smith putting on 62 for the opening wicket for Welsh Fire.The pair were booed on their way to the crease but they looked as if they’d get their own back on their crowd, before Smith was bowled by Matthew Potts and the Fire innings began to lose its heat.Fire fought their way to 143 for 9 from their 100 balls but Crawley, David Malan (41) and Brook (25*) made light work of the chase – knocking off the runs with 11 balls to spare.Brook signalled his arrival at the crease with a first-ball six over mid-off and his innings brought plenty of cheer to the Headingley crowd, who on this performance may have plenty to celebrate across the Hundred this season.Crawley said: “I loved it. The boys are great, and coming here with Freddie [Flintoff] – the guy’s a legend. It’s a great place to play your cricket and an awesome wicket to bat on, so I loved it.”It felt a really good wicket for us to bat on and the outfield was rapid so the game-plan for us was to play strong shots, and it came off. The boys kept them to a really good total with the ball, and we felt like we could chase that and it was a good performance.”I felt like me and Dawid complemented each other quite nicely, we hit in different areas, so that was good. And obviously the skipper came in and does what he does. He’s a proper player so that made it easy for me at the end.”The bowlers got us off to a great start. They’ve got a couple of top players at the top for them but we managed to take regular wickets, which is what we talked about before the game, and the boys did brilliantly to keep them to 140-odd and that was very chaseable.”

RCB are 10th and in desperate need of a win, but is there any stopping Travis Head and co at the moment?

Sruthi Ravindranath24-Apr-20242:23

Aaron: ‘In-form Siraj perfect bowler to get Head and Abhishek out’

Match details

Sunrisers Hyderabad (3rd) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (10th)
Hyderabad, 1930 IST (1400 GMT)

Big picture – Can RCB out-SRH SRH?

If Travis Head doesn’t get you, Abhishek Sharma will. If Abhishek doesn’t get you, Heinrich Klaasen will. If neither gets you, one of the middle-order batters will.Or they will all come at you together, just like they did against Royal Challengers Bengaluru about ten days ago.There were doubts about the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers being able to support their star batting line-up. There have been a few noteworthy performances, even though their bowlers have been taken for runs. But in their most recent match, against Delhi Capitals, T Natarajan had an effect in the end overs, and their captain Pat Cummins has been instrumental in slowing the pace down in the middle overs. Mayank Markande has also shown promise.Related

• Du Plessis on RCB's bowling: 'We don't have as many weapons'

• Maxwell takes a break to refresh after asking to be rested by RCB

• It's too many runs, somebody make it stop

• The good man Pattie and the scoundrel Cummins

In a way, SRH and RCB operate similarly: their batters have done the heavy lifting to compensate for their bowling deficiencies. SRH, though, have been more fearless and consistent with the bat. RCB, meanwhile, have had to toil harder. Their captain, Faf du Plessis, had even acknowledged that his bowlers did not have “as many weapons” to restrict the flow of runs.One positive for RCB is that they have fought hard with the bat despite two consecutive losses in their last two games while chasing large totals. They scored 262 in a record 288-run chase against SRH and fell one run short in the 223 chase against Kolkata Knight Riders. They have had some great individual performers too. But they are missing a key player who, on his best day, is capable of SRH-ing the living daylights out of SRH. Is out-of-form Glenn Maxwell feeling rejuvenated enough to return? RCB can only hope, as that will be critical if they don’t want to give up their slim chance of staying alive this season.

Form guide

Royal Challengers Bengaluru LLLLL
Sunrisers Hyderabad LWWWW

Previous meeting

SRH bested RCB on an evening that produced the highest IPL total and the highest match aggregate in all T20s. They posted a record 287 for 3 on the back of Head’s 102 and Klaasen’s 31-ball 67. RCB then finished on 262 for 7, Dinesh Karthik leading the way with 83 off 35 balls as they eventually fell 25 runs short at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.1:40

‘Shahbaz, Samad have given SRH top order confidence’

Team news and impact player strategy

Sunrisers HyderabadSRH are unlikely to change their XI barring any injuries. Head has been the player subbed out when they have batted first and subbed in while chasing. In their last game, against Delhi Capitals, they brought in Washington Sundar as the Impact Player.Sunrisers Hyderabad (probable XII): 1 Travis Head, 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Aiden Markram, 4 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 5 Abdul Samad, 6 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 7 Shahbaz Ahmed, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Pat Cummins (capt), 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 Mayank Markande, 12 T NatarajanRoyal Challengers BengaluruRCB brought back Mohammed Siraj, Cameron Green and Karn Sharma for the previous match in place of Vyshak Vijaykumar, Reece Topley and Saurav Chauhan. If Maxwell is good to go, he might slot in for Green. They got Suyash Prabhudessai in as the Impact sub in their second innings, swapping out Yash Dayal.Royal Challengers Bangalore (probable XII): 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Faf du Plessis (capt), 3 Will Jacks, 4 Rajat Patidar, 5 Cameron Green/Glenn Maxwell, 6 Suyash Prabhudessai, 7 Mahipal Lomror, 8 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 9 Karn Sharma, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Mohammed Siraj, 12 Yash Dayal/ Vyshak Vijaykumar

In the spotlight

Abhishek Sharma has been making heads turn. His explosive starts have been crucial in SRH setting up massive totals, his strike rate of 215.96 the second-best for a batter who has faced over 100 balls this season. He’s scored 257 in seven matches so far, but has only one half-century. He will be keen on converting those starts and putting up big scores to strengthen his case with the national selectors.RCB have not been able to get the best out of Rajat Patidar, having used him as a floater in the first few matches of the season. In the last three matches, though, he has played at his usual No. 4 position and has scored two quick fifties, including a 23-ball 52 against KKR in the last match. Patidar has showcased his big-hitting abilities in the past for RCB, his best being a match-winning effort of 112* off 54 against LSG in the 2022 eliminator. RCB’s Nos. 3 to 5 have the lowest collective average of the season (15.7) among all teams, but Patidar’s continued good form in the No. 4 position may help them turn it around.1:29

McClenaghan: Important for RCB to get their angles right

Pitch and conditions

The match will be played on the same pitch as the first game of the season at this ground, where SRH plundered a record 277 for 3 batting first against Mumbai Indians, who in turn made 246 for 5, so expect a high-scoring game. It is expected to be hot on Thursday evening in Hyderabad.

Stats that matter

• Virat Kohli scored 100 off 63 balls at this venue last season and has registered 50-plus scores in each of his last three T20 appearances here. Overall in T20s, he averages 59.20 at this venue.
• How can Sunrisers stop Kohli? Call Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He has dismissed Kohli four times in 15 meetings in T20s.
• Sunrisers batters have struck at 177.79 this season. This is the first time the combined strike rate of batters from a single team has breached the 170 mark in the IPL.

Quotes

“I think the quality of Travis and Abhishek at the top and their their fearless attitude [has been the reason for aggressive batting style]. And I think once the openers do it, it’s pretty contagious. So those two in particular have been fantastic and then we’ve had some players have been really complementary to that style.”
“I think as a batting group, we may have lost the last two games but we scored 262 in a tough chase and then the other night 220 again. We know we’ve got the high scores in us. We’ve been playing with the freedom of chasing a high score. You know you have no option but to go after. We’ll be looking to continue that and play with the same freedom as if we were chasing a 220-plus score.”

Queensland quicks combined for nine wickets before Neser made a composed 30 not out to guide the hosts to stumps at 6 for 130 on a very seamer-friendly pitch

AAP10-Nov-2022Mark Steketee and Michael Neser have helped reduce Victoria to a 95-year low before Neser chimed in with the bat to leave Queensland well on top in their Sheffield Shield clash at Allan Border Field.Victoria were skittled for 63, their lowest Shield total since 1927, as the Bulls pace duo Neser and wreaked havoc. Queensland went to stumps 6 for 130 with a lead of 67, mainly thanks to Neser’s unbeaten 30 off 43 balls.The fringe Test hopeful put on 42 with Jimmy Peirson after the Bulls had fallen to 5 for 79 and in danger of spoiling their barnstorming start. Neser and Steketee entered the clash as the leading wicket-takers this season and their reputations were further enhanced following a magical few hours in Brisbane on Thursday.Steketee finished with 5 for 18 off 11 overs while Neser returned figures of 4 for 22 off 12.4 overs. Only three of Victoria’s batters reached double figures in what was their fourth-lowest total on record.Neser started the carnage by bowling Travis Dean for a duck with the third ball of the day. The in-form Marcus Harris followed soon after, closing the face too soon and ballooning a leading edge to Marnus Labuschagne at cover.Peter Handscomb entered the match with 518 runs to his name this season at an average of 172.7. But he was out for 5 when trapped lbw by Neser, leaving Victoria rocking at 3 for 5. Alarm bells rang ever louder when Nic Maddinson and Sam Harper fell cheaply to leave Victoria at 5 for 13 after nine overs.Wickets continued to tumble with only 20-year-old Ashley Chandrasinghe able to offer any semblance of resistance in what became a painful fight for survival.Amazingly, the damage could have been even worse for Victoria. Harper was lucky to survive a strong lbw shout when he shouldered arms to a Steketee delivery that seamed back sharply in line.The Bulls also dropped two catches during the morning session – both off the bowling of Neser.Neser would have had figures of 4 for 4 had Usman Khawaja held onto a sharp chance at third slip when Will Sutherland was yet to score. The star paceman then watched on in agony as another chance went begging – this time when Khawaja and Joe Burns clattered at slip to drop a Mitchell Perry edge.Queensland moved to 0 for 39 in their reply before losing Burns and Matt Renshaw in consecutive overs shortly before tea. Labuschagne’s indifferent start to the summer continued and when Khawaja edged Cameron McClure behind the visitors were back in the contest.

The confusion was because the umpires wanted to ensure Irfan’s injury was genuine

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jun-2021A strange passage of play briefly left the Peshawar Zalmi fielding with ten men during the second PSL 2021 eliminator against the Islamabad United on Tuesday, after their pacer Mohammad Irfan left the field because of an injury.Haider Ali, the substitute sent out by the Zalmi, was asked to leave the field by the umpires, who were apparently not convinced that Irfan was injured, leaving Zalmi down by a man.In the 11th over of the United innings, Irfan, who was bowling the final over of his spell, went down after his penultimate delivery. Following a delay, he got back up to complete the over, but fell to the ground again. During the 12th over, Irfan was taken outside the boundary for treatment, with Ali coming on to replace him.However, at the end of the 12th over, bowled by Amad Butt, Aleem Dar, the onfield umpire, signalled that Ali should not be allowed to field, causing another lengthy delay.After a break in play, with Irfan still receiving treatment, Ali also stepped out of the field, meaning the Zalmi had to bowl the 14th and 15th overs without Irfan or a substitute fielder.Eventually, at the start of the 16th over, after a conversation between Dar, the Zalmi captain Wahab Riaz, and Shoaib Malik, also of the Zalmi, the team was allowed to bring in another substitute, Khalid Usman taking the field.ESPNcricinfo understands that the delay was caused because the umpires wanted to ensure Irfan’s injury was genuine, and when they got a confirmation of the same from the paramedics at the ground, they allowed the substitution.During a timeout in United’s innings, Irfan’s team-mate Butt suggested that the pacer’s injury was only a case of cramps.

With Kolpak deals set to be nullified at the end of the year, South Africa could have many new (old) players to choose from

Firdose Moonda06-Feb-2020

Those we’d pick, just like that

Kyle AbbottIt’s a no-brainer – given his 182 wickets in three seasons in the Championship at an average of 18.62, the retirement of Vernon Philander and the current bowling stocks – that Abbott would walk his way back into the national team in all formats. South Africa have quick bowlers in Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi but need someone with the skill to move the ball at will. Abbott can do that, through the air and off the seam, and his experience would be a welcome addition to an outfit in transition.Kyle Abbott appeals for a wicket•Getty Images

Duanne OlivierWith Nortje doing the job Olivier did in his breakthrough summer, it may not be as easy for Olivier to saunter back into the side but he would definitely cause a healthy selection dilemma. Olivier’s nous for striking regularly, his pace and the bounce he generates are reminiscent of the role Morne Morkel (another Kolpak, but at 35, we’ll leave him be) played and though Olivier may not be able to displace Nortje immediately, he would provide more-than-handy back-up and allow for workload rotation.Duanne Olivier takes a return catch•Getty Images

The ones we’d grudgingly welcome back

Simon HarmerHaving argued with many prominent figures in the current system (Ashwell Prince is the latest – again), and called himself the best offspinner in the world (what say you to that, R Ashwin or Nathon Lyon?) Simon Harmer is not everybody’s cup of tea, but his 212 wickets at 20.25 in three county summers simply cannot be ignored. South Africa tend to anoint only one spinner per generation and this time it’s Keshav Maharaj, who could use someone of real quality nipping at his heels. Harmer initially left with the intention to improve and come back, so now that he has done the former, South Africans may not be opposed to him trying out the latter.Simon Harmer completed a tenth Championship five-for of the season•Getty Images

Rilee RossouwThat’s Rilee with one l, just so we’re clear. Like Harmer, Rossouw rubbed some people (most notably Russell Domingo, whose name Rossouw spelt with only one l in a goodbye email to his then-national coach) up the wrong way but his precocious talent could come in handy at a time when South Africa need more free-flowing batsmen. Rossouw was being primed to step into the gap left by AB de Villiers, who may yet return for the T20 World Cup but can’t lengthen his comeback forever, and although he seems a limited-overs shoe-in, his early red-ball career suggests he may also be a contender in the longer format.Rilee Rossouw reaches his century•Getty Images

The one who would strengthen the domestic game

Dane VilasWhile it was difficult to choose just one of the former domestic veterans – which include Heino Kuhn, Farhaan Behardien, David Wiese and Hardus Viljoen – to strengthen a system desperate for old hands, Vilas, the captain of the inaugural Mzansi Super League champions, the Jozi Stars, and a son of the Johannesburg soil, stands out. Not only does he have consistent batting form over several seasons but Vilas has the personality for mentorship. This may be a tough one to swing though, because Vilas has planted roots in the UK and is building a home there, but with family still heavily involved in the game in South Africa – his mother Anne has had a long-term relationship with the Gauteng Cricket Board and in sports equipment – perhaps he could be persuaded.Dane Vilas leads a team talk during the Vitality Blast•Getty Images

The ones who can coach

Hashim AmlaHis reluctance to captain does not mean Hashim Amla has a similar feeling about coaching as roles with the Cape Town Blitz and now, the Peshawar Zalmi, prove. Amla’s ability to inspire is a must in the current South African set-up, which would also benefit from his level-headed and thoughtful approach to his game. No-one begrudges recent retirees their late-career Kolpak cash-ins but in Cricket South Africa’s new push to involve former players, securing Amla’s involvement would be a major coup.Hashim Amla at a training session during the World Cup•Getty Images

Vernon PhilanderThe same would apply to Vernon Philander, who called time on his career last month, and has already been spoken about by acting director of cricket Graeme Smith as someone CSA need to find a role for in the set-up. While the current national bowling coach, Charl Langeveldt, has done a good job in upskilling the likes of Lungi Ngidi (for whom slower balls and cutters are now a regular feature of his game), there needs to be someone who can work with aspirant internationals and Philander would be a perfect candidate.Vernon Philander played five games as an overseas player for Somerset in 2012•Getty Images

The hosts have spent 167.2 overs on the field but their batsmen still have to dig deep and show character if they are to survive in Sydney

Alagappan Muthu03-Jan-2019
4:44

Martyn: Pujara’s centuries take the pressure off Kohli

Sydney offered runs to India and misery to Australia as Cheteshwar Pujara amassed 193, Rishabh Pant cruised to 159*, Nathan Lyon complained about his team’s tactics and the three 140 kph quicks were bowled into the ground.So complete was India’s hold over the final Test match – and by extension the Border-Gavaskar Trophy – that they had Usman Khawaja – a man who’d only ever bowled one over in his life as an Australian cricketer – lobbing his harmless offspin soon after the tea break.Mitchell Starc was stuck on 199 Test wickets. Pat Cummins was down on pace. Josh Hazlewood was left waiting for the third new ball. And Australia suffered an 11th instance of being out on the field for 100 overs or more since January 2018. That is not a nice stat. The key stats on the day, anyway, seemed reserved for India, from Pujara facing 1258 deliveries – the fourth-highest by any batsman in a series not longer than four Tests – to Pant becoming the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a century down under.Rishabh Pant congratulates Cheteshwar Pujara after the latter’s 193•Getty Images

Even the man who didn’t trouble the number crunchers did well. Hanuma Vihari looks a safe bet at No. 6 for India, scoring 42 off 96 balls, and was only dislodged from the crease after a slightly contentious catch at short leg. He was judged out on the field. His review was immediate. He indicated the ball had gone off the forearm. The bowler Lyon too appeared to agree as he joined his team-mates to wait on DRS but snicko suggested a spike as the ball passed the top edge of the sweeping bat.Those kinds of shots were more the norm on the second day of the New Year’s Test. Even the phlegmatic Pujara began with an expansive cover drive and later went past 150 with a down-the-track lash through the same region. India’s No. 3 made 51 runs in 82 deliveries this morning and looked set to make his third double-century against Australia but Lyon managed to hoodwink him as he came out of his crease to secure a return catch.That left the stage open to the antics of a 21-year old in his first year of Test cricket. Pant has found stardom with his stump mic cameos. He may also be the most famous babysitter in the world – without actually doing any babysitting. And the day job’s going pretty well too. India already had 329 runs on the board when he came to the crease. He could easily have started throwing his bat around for some quick runs. No one would have blamed him; they might even have celebrated it as the perfect kind of innings from a No. 7.But that only applies to wicketkeepers for whom batting is their second string. Pant doesn’t belong in that box. He has all the shots. Too many shots. There have been times in the past when he indulges once too often and gets out. Remember the two 92s against West Indies last year? So – as if his resolution for 2019 was to show more responsibility – he played like Pujara with Pujara at the other end. Sure, the runs came at rapid pace, but there weren’t too many risks. In fact, through the first 100 deliveries that he faced, there were only five shots hit in the air.That restraint has served Pant well. He now has 350 runs in this series – which is more than Virat Kohli’s tally. It is more than MS Dhoni’s tally combining all three of his tours to Australia.There was plenty of merry-making in the last session of the day with Ravindra Jadeja participating in a seventh-wicket stand that produced 204 runs in only 224 balls, the peak of which was an over when the left-hander crashed Cummins – bowling at 130 kph – to the boundary four times in a single over. His dismissal for 81 off 114 deliveries triggered India’s declaration. With 622 on the board, their bowlers had 10 overs to further torture Australia before the safety of stumps. They would have struck in the third over, with Mohammed Shami drawing Khawaja’s outside edge, but Pant dropped a straightforward catch.Australia managed to keep all their wickets but very little is well with them. Simon Katich said the system was setting players up to fail, pointing to the case of Aaron Finch having to open the batting at Test level when he doesn’t do so for his state. Shane Warne rubbished the team they had picked to play the one-day series against India. Discontent appears to be brewing even within the team with Lyon questioning why the team had to bowl bouncers soon after drinks on the first day when the pitch – at least back then – had enough moisture to keep pitching it up.There are still three days left in the Sydney Test. Conditions are glorious for batting. Australia’s batsmen have to stand up and show their character and earn a draw. Only a draw won’t be enough for them. It would still mean they’d lose their first Test series at home to India.

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Oct-2017Piyush Chawla’s nine-for gave Gujarat a bonus-point win as they beat Jammu and Kashmir by an innings and 64 runs in Surat. Sixteen wickets fell on the day where the hosts bundled J&K out for 130 in their second innings, with contributions from Hardik Patel (5-49) and Chawla (4-38), after getting bowled out for 455 earlier in the day.In the morning, Manprit Juneja converted his overnight score of 66 to bring up his seventh first-class century. He led the charge with his 150-run fifth-wicket stand with Chirag Gandhi (86) and lifted Gujarat to a 400-plus score post lunch.In reply to Gujarat’s first-innings lead of 194 runs, J&K had a shaky start as they lost their openers Ahmed Bandy (5) and Shubham Khajuria (17) within the first eight overs. With minimal resistance from the lower middle-order trio of captain Parvez Rasool (24), Bandeep Singh (24) and Ram Dayal (29), J&K failed to recover as Harshal and Chawla ran through the line-up to bundle them out in 34.4 overs. The win was Gujarat’s second in a row.Jalaj Saxena’s all-round show gave Kerala a 309-run lead over Rajasthan in Thiruvananthapuram. His eight-for trounced the visitors as they were bowled out for 243 in their first innings, and later in the day, brought up his 12th first-class century, along with an unbeaten third-wicket partnership with Sanju Samson (72*). Saxena became only the third man in Ranji history to take eight wickets in an innings and score a ton in the same match.Kerala lost Vishnu Vinod (8) and Rohan Prem (24) early in their second innings, but the century-stand between Saxena and Samson took them from 58 for 2 to 217 at stumps.Haryana face the prospect of an innings defeat against Jharkhand in Ranchi, after they finished the day trailing by 76 with only six wickets in hand. Jharkhand had declared on 425 for 9 earlier in the day after Ishank Jaggi’s 135 and a lower-order charge from Shahbaz Nadeem (70).In their second innings, Haryana suffered a top-order collapse as they lost their first three batsmen within nine overs, with Nadeem picking the wickets of Shubham Rohilla (0) and Chaitanya Bishnoi (11). Rajat Paliwal (44*) and Rahul Dagar (64) led the middle-order resistance as they took Haryana from 31 for 3 to 141 for 4. Dagar gave away his wicket shortly before stumps.

Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican has been included in West Indies’ Test squad for the series against Pakistan in the UAE

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Sep-20160:47

Warrican named as part of 15-man West Indies Test squad

Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican has been included in West Indies’ Test squad for the series against Pakistan in the UAE. Warrican was the only addition to the 14 players who constituted the squad for the third and fourth Tests of the home series against India in August.The 15-man squad featured seven batsmen (including wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich), three allrounders (Jason Holder, Carlos Brathwaite and Roston Chase) and five bowlers – three right-arm pacers, a legspinner and a left-arm spinner.West Indies lost 2-0 to India in their recently concluded four-Test home series. They saved the second Test thanks to a gutsy rearguard century from Chase and fighting fifties from Dowrich and Holder. The fourth Test was washed out, with no play possible after the first session on day one.Batsmen Leon Johnson and Shai Hope, and fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, had been added to West Indies’ squad for the third and fourth Tests of that series. Only Johnson and Joseph featured in the playing XI, but neither had any standout performances.West Indies play three Tests in the UAE, the first in Dubai from October 13 being the maiden day-night fixture for both teams. The second Test is in Abu Dhabi from October 21, and the third in Sharjah from October 30.Squad Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite (vice captain), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Leon Johnson, Alzarri Joseph, Marlon Samuels, Jomel Warrican

After being dropped by England Gary Ballance had vowed that he would have the confidence not to remodel his game. He has remained true to his word and, in an era of stultifying over-analysis, that shows a certain courage

Tim Wigmore at Hove21-Aug-2015
ScorecardChris Jordan demonstrated his outstanding reflexes to remove Jack Leaning•Getty Images

A year ago Gary Ballance and Chris Jordan were toasting the crowd after the Oval Test. Both had been integral in the turnaround series victory against India: Ballance with his adhesiveness and bottom-handed accumulation; Jordan with his sprightly pace bowling and vivacious presence in the field.They have not had much cause to cheer in the 12 months since. A side strain rendered Jordan unavailable for the Ashes, though he had already lost his Test place after underwhelming performances in the Caribbean. Ballance’s descent, from phlegmatic No.3 to Ashes discard after two Test, was altogether more surprising; his only part in the celebrations after the urn was regained was speaking to the squad on FaceTime.Less than four months ago, Ballance scored 331 runs in six Test innings in the Caribbean. But the pace and late swing of Australia and New Zealand combined to slice and dice his technique open; a compact and well-organised Test match game gave way to porous defence and ponderous foot movement.The upshot was a return to Yorkshire – not at 3, but in his old county position at No. 5. In the month since trudging off at Lord’s, Ballance has made two half-centuries in the Royal London One Day Cup, but his return to first-class cricket against Durham at Scarborough brought only 11 runs across two innings.So it would have been cathartic had Ballance reached his 26th first-class century in the final over of the day at Hove. It looked as if he would have five balls to do so, but a routine misfield at mid-off allowed Tim Bresnan to return for two, and deprived Ballance of a chance to add the two runs he needed to bring up his first century in any cricket since making 122 at Antigua in April.No matter. If Ballance’s was an imperfect innings with rather jittery beginnings, it was also testament to the resilience and tenacity of this cricketer. After being dropped by England he had vowed that he would have the confidence not to remodel his game. He has remained true to his word and, in an era of stultifying over-analysis, that shows a certain courage.It was an innings defined by the usual Ballance trademarks: leaving diligently outside off stump, and shuffling across his stumps to chisel anything straight through the leg side. His drive was kept hidden away, like a very expensive wine, but was uncorked as his confidence grew in the evening sunshine.Ballance had earned the right to showcase his more expansive side after withstanding a ferocious spell from Jordan at the start of his innings. When England completed their victory over India at The Oval last year, Ballance scored 64, and Jordan took 7 for 50 in the game. Now both were attempting to remind the selectors of their merits ahead of the trip to the UAE.Jordan resolved to remind Ballance of his travails against Antipodean opposition, harassing him outside off stump and throwing in bouncers and several yorkers in an attempt to disturb his equilibrium. Several times Ballance was late on the ball, but just about managed to protect his stumps from harm. With his feet stubbornly refusing to move, Ballance did not resemble a man who should be playing a higher level of the game.Yet what mattered is that, somehow, he survived. After taking an hour to score his first boundary, a shovel through the covers off Steve Magoffin, Ballance surreptitiously gained fluency. And Yorkshire, too, highlighted why they are sauntering to the title: reduced to 22 for 2 after Jordan’s athletic caught-and-bowled off Jack Leaning and later 134 for 4, they ended the day with Ballance and Tim Bresnan looking utterly unperturbed.While Jordan posed a regular threat, albeit a wayward one – a ten-ball over included Adil Rashid edging an away-swinger behind – Oli Robinson was no less testing. He bowled with hostility, bounce and swing up the slope, and managed to eschew Jordan’s erraticism: the two both returned figures of 3 for 67, but Robinson bowled nine more overs. He even had time to showcase two overs of very passable offspin. More importantly, Robinson earned the respect of his old team.”He can bowl this fella. He’s got some pace I tell you,” Yorkshire President Dickie Bird purred watching Robinson in action. “Why did we let him go?”
A year ago Robinson, the stepson of Paul Farbrace, was sacked by Yorkshire on account of “a number of unprofessional actions”. He was reckoned to have a slack attitude: he had missed too many training sessions and been too slapdash in his timekeeping. Once, selected for a T20 game at Chesterfield, he turned up at Derby instead.Evidently the geography of the South coast has proved less of a challenge. Like Chris Jordan, James Anyon and Mushtaq Ahmed before him, Robinson has been reinvigorated at Sussex: 44 Championship wickets at just under 25 apiece have emphatically vindicated Sussex’s faith.

A wrap of the second day of the ninth round of Ranji Trophy matches in Group A

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Dec-2012
ScorecardDefending champions Rajasthan avoided relegation narrowly as they recovered from the cameos from Ashish Reddy and Amol Shinde just in time. Hyderabad fought hard against the relegation, but came short by 35 runs.However, beginning the day at 160 for 5, they stood a much less chance than they gave themselves. Parth Jhala dropped anchor as Ashish Reddy and Shinde scored 62 off 84 and 33 off 36. Those two stands with Jhala took Hyderabad to 321 for 8, but they had left themselves too much to do. Jhala remained unbeaten on 75.
ScorecardRailways began the match with an outside chance of making it to the quarters, and they kept that outright chance alive by building on their first-innings lead and declaring just before stumps on the third day. In the six overs possible, Railways took one Bengal wicket.Railways need to win outright, which will take them to 21 points and then hope that Gujarat lose outright and the match in Rajkot ends in a draw. Even then they will need a better run quotient than Gujarat’s.
ScorecardSaurashtra had been 23 for 3 in the morning. Cheteshwar Pujara’s dominating double-century crushed whatever pressure that scoreline suggested, reducing it to an entry on the card. By lunch, Saurashtra were 128 for 3. By tea, they had bolted to 303 for 4 and declared to set Madhya Pradesh a target of 411. The stunned visitors gifted two wickets to Saurashtra, leaving them with eight more to take on the final day to reach the quarter-finals.Click here for the full report.
ScorecardDuring tea time on the third day of their last Group A game against Mumbai, a couple of the Gujarat support-staff members were keeping a close watch on the proceedings in Rajkot. And it was quite understandable. With an outright loss hovering over their heads at the Dr DY Patil Sports Stadium, Gujarat will be keeping their fingers crossed for Madhya Pradesh to draw the game against Saurashtra in Rajkot …Click here for the full report.