Keaton Jennings’ first Championship half-century for Durham took his side a good way towards parity against Lancashire

Myles Hodgson at Aigburth30-Aug-2012
ScorecardGraham Onions took another five-wicket haul to hit Lancashire’s chances of a big total•Getty Images

After their experiences over the last few weeks, the selectors may not welcome another South Africa-born player intent on qualifying to play international cricket for England. Yet, by the time the dust has settled on the Kevin Pietersen affair, they may find themselves drawn to another talented young batsman happy to serve out his qualification period in county cricket.Keaton Jennings is a tall left-hander, still only 20, and has adapted impressively to county cricket with Durham, marking only his third Championship appearance with an assured 70 against Lancashire. He is also a former South Africa Under-19 captain, the son of former South Africa coach Ray Jennings, and is keen to serve out his qualification period, which will be a minimum of four years, to follow in Pietersen’s footsteps and play for England.For the time being that is to Durham’s benefit. He is eligible to play county cricket through his Sunderland-born mother and has forced his way into the side after scoring two double hundreds for the second team. Promoted to open against the champions, he passed his latest challenge with great assurance, relishing the battle with Glen Chapple before falling to a bat-pad catch facing Gary Keedy, Lancashire’s left-arm spinner.”Even from a young age my Dad has tested me and put me under pressure and always taught me never to back down, so if you can test yourself against someone like Chapple, someone who is at the top of his game, and succeed then you grow as a person,” Jennings said. “To have him bowl at me and to test myself against him was a privilege.”Jennings was given the platform for his assured display by another masterful performance from Graham Onions, which all but ended Lancashire’s hopes of taking control of a match that has been heavily disrupted by rain. Taking the new ball from the River End, Onions ensured Lancashire lost their last four wickets for 22 runs, by claiming 3 for 12 in 21 balls.Having resumed on 221 for 6, Lancashire’s only hope of a positive result was through weight of runs and they were instead dismissed for 262, with Onions taking his tally for the summer to 62 Championship wickets. In 26.1 outstanding overs at Aigburth, he was only hit for five boundaries, should England’s selectors want to take note.Lancashire’s collapse allowed Jennings the time to build an innings. He saw off the new ball without any great difficulties and although he edged Tom Smith twice through the slips, deserved his maiden Championship half-century.He had more difficulty coping with Simon Kerrigan and Keedy, Lancashire’s pair of left-arm spinners, and it was little surprise he gave a catch just one over after he should have departed when he advanced down the wicket to Kerrigan and Gareth Cross fumbled the stumping.Jennings was clearly frustrated at being unable to complete his century but has no doubt that, like Pietersen before him, he has made the right decision in turning his back on South Africa to try and qualify for England.”There are a lot of reasons why I have come over here, but you get a good opportunity in the county system,” Jennings said. “I am all for fairness and if you’re not good enough you can hold your hands up and accept you are not good enough. It was a difficult choice, but in terms of my career I think it was the right one and my Dad is backing me 100%.”Kerrigan and Keedy continued to make inroads but by the close Durham had progressed to within 75 runs of parity. Unless the two sides contrive a result, having lost over a day and a half to the weather, the match looks destined for a draw to leave Lancashire possibly needing victory in their final two matches to avoid relegation.”Everyone is frustrated by the weather,” Keedy admitted. “This is looking like a draw, but we can only go into the next two games pushing for two wins and seeing where it gets us.”Durham have won the last four, so a draw would probably see them safe. The first aim is to get as many bowling points as we can. If we bowl them out, we will try and smack a few and then bowl them out in 30 overs. Crazy things happen.””We will go for the bonus points first and see what happens. Every point is one step closer to staying up. We have to win the last two games, even though that wouldn’t guarantee us staying up, but that has to be our focus – last year we needed to win our last two games to win the title, so we know it is possible.”

Perth Scorchers success in CLT20 could be the drought-breaker for Western Australia, but with a bowling line-up lacking international experience, the task will be hard one

Brydon Coverdale12-Oct-2012Western Australia was the powerhouse of Australian domestic cricket during the 1980s and 1990s but the state has had a lean past decade, having not won a title in any format since 2003-04. The only time they have made a final since then was in the 2007-08 Big Bash, when they lost to Victoria. Reaching the decider was enough to qualify them for the inaugural Champions League Twenty20, which was cancelled due to the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Finally, four years later the state has regained its place at the Champions League, although now the team is called the Perth Scorchers and they have on their books players from all over Australia, as well as abroad. Still, success at this tournament would be considered a drought-breaker for the state of Western Australia. But they will enter the Champions League as the less-fancied of the two Australian teams.The Scorchers are captained by Marcus North and they are a side with plenty of experience – Simon Katich, Paul Collingwood, Herschelle Gibbs and Brad Hogg have all spent a decade or so playing at international level. They could also have had Michael Hussey, who was part of their squad for the Big Bash League but instead is playing with the Chennai Super Kings at this tournament, and Mitchell Johnson, who is with the Mumbai Indians. But, throw in the Marsh brothers, Shaun and Mitchell, and the wicketkeeper-batsman Luke Ronchi and there is plenty of batting depth on the Scorchers roster. They had three of the top six run scorers in the BBL last season: Mitchell Marsh, Gibbs and North.The challenge will be restricting their opponents. Their two main spinners, Hogg and Michael Beer, both have international experience, but none of their fast bowlers have played for their country. Nathan Coulter-Nile is a fine young prospect who played for Australia A this year and has been earmarked for higher honours by the national selectors, but otherwise the pace stocks are made up of journeymen – Ben Edmondson and Nathan Rimmington – and newer faces – Joe Mennie and Ryan Duffield. They are solid enough domestic performers but containing some of the world’s best batsmen will require a major step up in class.How they qualifiedThe Scorchers finished on top of the table after the BBL qualifying matches and beat the Melbourne Stars in the semi-final. It meant they were favourites in the decider, playing at home to the Sydney Sixers, but Moises Henriques and Brett Lee led a strong Sixers outfit to deny the Scorchers, who had to settle for being the runners-up and qualifying for the Champions League.Key PlayerMitchell Marsh is only 20, but already he has established a reputation as a damaging T20 player. He was the second leading run scorer in the BBL with 309 runs at 51.50 and also provides a useful bowling option. His clean hitting and ability to clear the boundary will make him a very important man for the Scorchers, who have several other batsmen – North, Katich and Collingwood, for example – who are likely to score their runs more conventionally.Surprise packageBrad Hogg was 40 when he was enticed out of retirement by the Scorchers for the BBL and his enthusiasm and hard to read wrong’un made him one of their major weapons. He finished equal third on the wicket tally and even earned a recall to Australia’s team and a place at the World T20, where he was solid without really having a major impact. At least he should be well warmed up for this event.WeaknessThe two question-marks around the Scorchers concern their fast bowling and their middle order. It is not that they do not have quality fast men – Ben Edmondson was the BBL’s second leading wicket taker, for example – but that they have not been tested at international level. Edmondson, Duffield, Rimmington, Coulter-Nile and Mennie will need to find ways to contain some of the world’s best batsmen. And the middle order lacks the kind of explosive hitters that the best T20 sides usually possess. They will need plenty of boundaries from Mitchell Marsh and Ronchi.

ESPNcricinfo previews the fifth ODI between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Hambantota

The Preview by Andrew Fernando11-Nov-2012

Big picture

New Zealand continue to slide in the rain•Associated Press

Amid monsoon torrents, relocated matches and stomach bugs, New Zealand have so far only sunk further into their rut in Sri Lanka. The second ODI was stopped by rain just as it was building to a climax, but in the following matches, the visitors have been thoroughly outclassed. They have not been helped by the toss, which has fallen against them in two of the three matches, forcing them to contend with a wet ball after the evening rains arrived. But given their poor record in the recent past, the team will be sick of excuses.New Zealand’s batting has been competent at times, and their fast bowlers found decent movement in the fourth ODI in Hambantota, but they are yet to put on a complete performance in the series. New Zealand have also spoken of the soft middle order of Sri Lanka, but have not taken more than three wickets in an innings. They will hope for better luck and more consistency for their quicks if they are to put Sri Lanka’s less experienced batsmen under pressure.Having secured the series, Sri Lanka don’t have much to gain from the final ODI apart from momentum and form ahead of the Test series. Each of Sri Lanka’s big three batsmen have been among the runs, and Test bowlers Nuwan Kulasekara and Rangana Herath have also enjoyed the series. They are likely to rotate a few of the fringe members in the squad for some game time.

Form guide

(Completed matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka: WWWLL
New Zealand: LLLLL

Players to watch

Dinesh Chandimal played and missed plenty of times in his 43 on Saturday, but there were also sparkling strokes amid the nervy ones. He is in the Test squad, but does not have a place in the middle order. If he opens the batting again in the fifth ODI, and is successful, he could put pressure on Test opener Tharanga Paranavitana who has the least secure spot in the batting order.Tim Southee got the ball to move so far in the air and off the seam in the last match, Sri Lanka’s top order had no hope of edging it. If Southee is luckier, he could be the bowler to bare the hosts’ middle order by dismissing the top four quickly.

Pitch and conditions

The forecast predicts rain in the evening, and if the series so far is anything to go by, the teams can expect the final match to be interrupted at some point. In that scenario, the toss is important once again, and the team who wins it will likely want to bowl first. However, as New Zealand proved on Saturday, there is still plenty for the fast bowlers in the Hambantota pitch at night.

Team news

Sri Lanka will be keen to give their youngsters a pressure-free dead rubber in which to hone their skills, meaning Akila Dananjaya could be in line for an ODI debut. Expect Shaminda Eranga to get a match as well.Sri Lanka (probable): 1. Upul Tharanga, 2. Dinesh Chandimal, 3. Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4. Mahela Jayawardene (c), 5. Angelo Mathews, 6. Lahiru Thirimanne, 7. Jeevan Mendis, 8. Thisara Perera, 9. Shaminda Eranga, 10. Akila Dananjaya, 11. Lasith MalingaAdam Milne could not produce the kind of pace he is capable of in the last ODI, and he may get another chance to impress on Monday. There is a small chance Tom Latham will return to the top order as well.New Zealand (probable): 1. Rob Nicol/ Tom Latham, 2. BJ Watling (wk), 3. Brendon McCullum, 4. Ross Taylor (c), 5. Kane Williamson, 6. James Franklin, 7. Nathan McCullum, 8. Andrew Ellis, 9. Tim Southee, 10. Trent Boult, 11. Adam Milne

Stats and trivia

– Dinesh Chandimal averages 53.39 outside Asia from 25 matches, but only 17.05 in it, from 21 games.- New Zealand have not won an ODI series against top eight opposition since November 2009.

Quotes

“One day cricket, especially with the rule changes, suits allrounders better. We bat deep, and guys like Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera and Angelo Mathews aren’t just half-bowlers. They are actually very good bowlers to have in your side.””We’re getting pretty used to staying switched on through rain breaks. It seems to happen three or four times every game.”

The Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad is likely to host its second Test of the season if the BCCI decides to move the fourth Test against Australia from Kanpur

Amol Karhadkar17-Dec-2012The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad is likely to host its second Test of the season if the BCCI decides to move the fourth Test between India and Australia from Green Park in Kanpur. The decision is expected to be made before the year-end, after Cricket Australia expressed dissatisfaction over facilities in Kanpur.ESPNcricinfo understands that CA’s venue inspection team, which visited Kanpur on December 12, expressed concerns over not only the in-stadia facilities but also about hospitality. “The dressing room is not suitable to accommodate a modern-day entourage of a cricket team. Besides, they were not impressed with the facilities at the only five-star hotel in the town,” a source said.The BCCI asked the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA), the host association, to get things in order within a fortnight but if the board’s recce team, which had inspected the facilities on December 1, finds the venue unsuitable, then Kanpur “will have to be replaced”. The beneficiary will be the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), which had hosted the first Test of the home season, against New Zealand in August.The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium became India’s 10th active Test venue when it hosted its first Test two years ago. The BCCI awards Tests to each venue by rotation and since India have 10 home games this season, Hyderabad will have first right of hosting the fourth Test against Australia, if Kanpur is ruled out.The UPCA, however, is making a late attempt to not lose the Test. Green Park is the only Test centre in India that is not owned by the cricket body. “Since it’s owned by the state government, maintaining it and renovating it becomes too difficult,” a UPCA official said. “Hopefully, we will be able to erase all doubts raised and be able to put up a good show.”Green Park has not hosted an international since the Sri Lanka Test in November 2009 primarily due to the UPCA’s administrative tussle with the state government. Though the UPCA office bearers were in talks with the government officials last year for leasing the stadium, the attempts haven’t reaped any rewards.

India overcame Mohammad Hafeez’s masterclass to win by 11 runs and level the two-match series

The Report by Siddhartha Talya28-Dec-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Ashok Dinda’s second spell swung the game India’s way•BCCI

India overcame a Mohammad Hafeez masterclass to win by 11 runs and level the two-match series. His wristwork and effortless clearing of the ropes would have inspired admiration from those he tormented today. But Ashok Dinda bowled an excellent second spell at a time when Pakistan, led by Hafeez, were on track to chase down 193, a target set up by a dominating innings by Yuvraj Singh, who treated a packed house in Ahmedabad to an airshow that included seven sixes.Dinda was at the receiving end of a last-ball six that sealed victory for England in their T20 against India less than a week ago, but he came back well despite being put under pressure early in each of his two spells. He conceded 13 in his first over, during a promising opening stand of 74 between Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad, and was struck for two consecutive fours by Mohammad Hafeez in the 15th over that began with Pakistan needing 68 to win off 36 balls.The conditions in Ahmedabad were pitted against the seamers, with no movement on offer and thereby forcing them to rely on variations to contain the batsmen. Dinda not only did that, he was largely accurate and picked up three wickets, including Hafeez, in a three over spell that yielded 23 when Pakistan still had wickets in hand and the target appeared within reach. A slower ball that bowled Umar Akmal ended a 62-run stand with Hafeez that had given Pakistan the edge in the chase, and Dinda got Hafeez and Kamran Akmal to hole out in the penultimate over at the start of which Pakistan required 26.India’s spinners, R Ashwin, part-timer Suresh Raina and Yuvraj, slowed down Pakistan’s openers between overs six to 11, resulting in their wickets at the cost of just two boundaries. The required rate had climbed to more than 12 in the 12th over, when Hafeez began his charge with a scoop for four that highlighted the feature of his innings, swift but skilful and interspersed with some wonderful touch-play, but little brute force.

Smart stats

• India’s score of 192 is their third-highest total in T20 internationals, and their highest against Pakistan. Pakistan’s 181 is also their highest against India.

• Yuvraj Singh’s 72 is his fifth half-century, and his highest score, in T20 internationals. It’s also his first against Pakistan. Among Indians, only Gautam Gambhir has more fifty-plus scores.

• Yuvraj’s seven sixes is the joint sixth-highest in a T20I innings, and the highest by an Indian. It’s the second time he has struck seven sixes in an innings. His tally of 54 sixes is the fourth-highest in T20Is.

• Mohammad Hafeez’s 26-ball 55 (strike rate 211.53) is the fastest 50-plus score by a Pakistan batsman. He reached his half-century in 23 balls, the second-fastest for Pakistan.

• Umar Gul picked up his fifth haul of four or more wickets in T20Is, which equals Ajantha Mendis’ record. Saeed Ajmal has four.

Hafeez deftly guided Yuvraj past point, then proceeded to dispatch Ashwin for two straight sixes over midwicket before driving and paddling Dinda for two consecutive boundaries, all in successive overs. A flat six over extra cover off Ishant Sharma showed the confidence he was playing with, but Dinda’s comeback was vital in preventing Pakistan from pushing on. Two wickets in the penultimate over brought the equation to 20 required off the last, too much for Umar Gul and Shoaib Malik against Ishant.India’s middle order played a prominent role in the win, after having squandered an excellent foundation laid by openers Gautam Gambhir and Ajinkya Rahane in the opening encounter in Bangalore. The openers did their job again, and Yuvraj and MS Dhoni, in a stand of 97 off 44 balls, ensured their work wasn’t laid to waste.Yuvraj , who was struck a painful blow to the toe off a Mohammad Irfan yorker early in his innings, recovered well and seemed to be in his element, striking the ball cleanly, with a lovely flourish. Afridi and Saeed Ajmal were deposited towards cow corner, and two successive short balls were pulled over the square-leg boundary. Ajmal was targeted in the penultimate over, as Yuvraj took him for three consecutive sixes, the last of them smacked over long-on.The last five overs yielded 74 and though Dhoni played the supporting role, he wasn’t left far behind. He ran well between wickets, and pulled and drove Umar Gul for two straight fours. Though Gul picked up four wickets, accounting for India’s openers and the pair that took them towards 192, he was short of support from the rest of his attack and bowled a no-ball in the final over that yielded a boundary off the free-hit. Tanvir, Ajmal and Afridi each went for over 10 an over, leaving their batsmen too much to compensate for.

Preview of the Caribbean T20 final between Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago in St Lucia

The Preview by Nagraj Gollapudi20-Jan-2013

Match facts

January 20, 2013
Start time 2000 (0000GMT)Christopher Barnwell helped power Guyana into the final with a six-wicket win over Chris Gayle’s Jamaica•WICB Media

Big Picture

Fittingly, the final of the last edition of the Caribbean T20 (due to be replaced by a franchise-based Caribbean Premier League) will be played by Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana, the two teams who have shared the title on the previous five occasions. They contested the 2006 final of the Stanford 20/20 (as the tournament was called in the first two years), with Guyana winning with a ball to spare. Guyana then regained the crown in 2010. T&T won the title for the first time in 2008 and have been the defending champions for the last two years.Yet both teams have taken contrasting paths to success over the years. Guyana have always surprised the form sheet with cavalier displays, like the determined effort from Christopher Barnwell against Jamaica on Saturday in the play-off. In contrast, T&T have subdued their opponents convincingly through consistent performances.T&T were the only team not to lose a single match during the preliminary round, which they topped with 21 points, to book a final berth about a week in advance. In contrast, Guyana had to sweat late into Saturday night. That only reveals their desperation right through, including two last-ball victories.T&T have looked more assured on both the batting and bowling fronts, with more than one match-winner in their ranks. Darren Bravo has been the tournament’s leading scorer, including three consecutive fifties, and has looked more dominant with every match. Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin and Kieron Pollard have played around him to consolidate later. Sunil Narine and Samuel Badree have posed many difficult questions to the opposition batsmen, bowling aggressive lines throughout to maintain the pressure built by the batsmen. For Guyana, barring Barnwell and Steven Jacobs, the rest have remained inconsistent.A big factor that could give T&T an upper hand is the fact that they enter the final on the back of a four-day break. Expect them to be more fresh and agile. In comparison, the final will be Guyana’s fifth straight match in six days but, having won their last three games, they may fancy momentum being on their side.

Form guide

(most recent first, completed matches only)Guyana WWWLL
Trinidad & Tobago WWWWW

In the spotlight

Darren Bravo might be the tournament’s leading scorer but “young” Bravo, as he is popularly known, understands that he needs to show his spark in the biggest match, the final. He has spoken about the team management giving him the responsibility of playing until the end, so look out for him to play the finisher’s role. Bravo failed to accomplish the same for West Indies during the one-day series in Bangladesh and would like to play a more dominant role during the forthcoming ODI series in Australia.After Christopher Barnwell‘s match-winning innings in the play-off, he galloped to No. 2 on the run charts, behind Darren Bravo. Powerful wrists allied to smart thinking have allowed Barnwell to throw opposition plans into disarray at important moments and he can be expected to stand up to a stiff challenge once again on Sunday. Even with the ball in hand, Barnwell has shown good presence of mind: he has been accurate without feeding the batsman’s strengths as he showed against Chris Gayle on Saturday.

Team news

Shivnarine Chanderpaul ran on to the field joyously to hug his team-mates after Guyana’s spirited victory against Jamaica to make the final. Does that mean Chanderpaul, who had pulled a leg muscle and had to abort his batting in the victory against Windward Islands on Friday, is fit for Sunday’s summit clash? If he is not Trevon Griffith, who shared a match-turning partnership with Barnwell should retain his spot.Guyana (probable) 1 Derwin Christian (wk), 2 Shivnarine Chanderpaul/Trevon Griffith, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Christopher Barnwell, 5 Narsingh Deonarine, 6 Leon Johnson, 7 Royston Crandon, 8 Steven Jacobs, 9 Veerasammy Permaul (capt), 10 Devendra Bishoo, 11 Ronsford BeatonT&T are likely to play the same team as in their final league match, barring any injuries.Trinidad & Tobago (probable) 1 Lendl Simmons, 2 Evin Lewis, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Dwayne Bravo, 5 Denesh Ramdin, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Yannick Ottley, 8 Rayad Emrit, 9 Sunil Narine, 10 Samuel Badree, 11 Shannon Gabriel

Stats and trivia

George Bailey’s maiden international century set up a 54-run victory for Australia in the second ODI against West Indies in Perth, where they took a 2-0 series lead

The Report by Brydon Coverdale03-Feb-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsGeorge Bailey finished unbeaten on 125•Getty Images

On Friday, West Indies batted first and were bowled out at the WACA for 70. Two days later, Australia were sent in at the same ground and were 6 for 98. Another short day’s play loomed. But George Bailey’s maiden international century changed all of that and drove Australia to a scarcely believable 7 for 266 – after the match he said he had considered anything more than 200 a bonus – and Mitchell Starc’s second consecutive five-wicket haul confirmed Australia’s 54-run victory.The Perth fans who returned after seeing only 33.1 overs in the first match were certainly rewarded for their dedication. Not only did they see Bailey’s remarkable unbeaten 125, they were also treated to some dazzling fielding from West Indies and some powerful striking in their unsuccessful chase. Kieran Powell and Dwayne Bravo struck two sixes each as they kept West Indies in the contest, but just as entertaining were the four sixes Sunil Narine took off the first four balls of a Glenn Maxwell over late in the game.Maxwell had his revenge later in the over when Narine was stumped for 24 off six balls. If he hadn’t already found out during the day, Maxwell would also have been greeted when he left the field by the news that he had sold for a $1 million price tag in the IPL auction that unfolded while the Australians were playing. It was quite a way to cap off a match in which he took 4 for 63, his first wickets at ODI level. Among them were Bravo, caught behind for 45, and the dangerous Kieron Pollard and Darren Sammy cheaply.When the final wicket fell, Jason Holder run out in the 39th over, West Indies had reached 212, still well short of their goal. The damage had mostly been done at the top of the order by Starc, who found plenty of swing in his first spell and pitched the ball full and straight. Chris Gayle (4) was the first to fall, missing a ball that slanted in towards the off stump, and continued his poor run of form.