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Sri Lanka inflicted a number of statistical wounds on India during their bonus-point victory at Sabina Park, a result Virat Kohli called a “reality check” for his side

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jul-2013Sri Lanka inflicted a number of unsightly statistical wounds on India during their bonus-point victory at Sabina Park, a performance Virat Kohli called a “reality check” for a team that had suffered two defeats in the Caribbean after winning the Champions Trophy in England. India’s chances of making the tri-series final are now diminished, because they need to win both remaining matches and hope West Indies beat Sri Lanka to avoid needing a bonus point.*”We have to analyse what we did wrong. We have two more games to go,” said Kohli, who was standing in for MS Dhoni in his first ODI as captain, after the 161-run defeat. “This is going to hurt the guys a little bit.”India’s bowlers did not challenge the Sri Lankan openers after Kohli had won the toss; the upshot was a 213-run opening stand and the first time that a team batted 50 overs in the first innings of an ODI without losing more than one wicket.”It was a tough day at the office. We were not up to the mark with the ball,” Kohli said. “The Sri Lankans batted really well, and we did not. To chase down 349, you need a quick start, we were not able to do that, that did not give us momentum.”India were dismissed for 187 in the 45th over, managing only 13 more than Upul Tharanga’s individual contribution to Sri Lanka’s 348, with Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten 49 being the top score.Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews had been dismayed at losing the toss but was thrilled with how the match played out. “We needed that, especially after losing the toss, we were on the back foot. Mahela showed his class. Upul struggled a bit initially but batted through and was brilliant later.”We needed to get that 250, bowlers never let us down if we score 250. Hats off to Mahela and Upul. I am doing my bit the way I can.”The unbeaten 174 was important to Tharanga because not only was it his best ODI score, but it had come after he was recalled to the squad due to an injury to Tillakaratne Dilshan. Tharanga had been sidelined since January.”We needed to get a start because we lost the toss on a sticky wicket,” Tharanga said. “The first ten overs were crucial. They [India] bowled well upfront. So we had to ride that, and then we put the pressure back on them.”*0650 GMT The sentence had said that India needed to win at least one of their remaining games with a bonus point. This has been amended.

Nottinghamshire secured a comfortable seven-wicket win after their bowlers combined to stifle Durham

17-Jun-2012
ScorecardNottinghamshire breezed to a seven-wicket victory over Durham in their Friends Life Twenty20 clash. Set a paltry 115 to win, the Outlaws reached their target with 3.4 overs to spare for their second win in the North Group. Their other game, against Derbyshire, was washed out on Friday.Openers Alex Hales and Michael Lumb took them more than halfway there, putting on 62 for the first wicket before Hales came down the pitch to Scott Borthwick and was stumped when the legspinner beat the bat. Hales made a run-a-ball 30, Lumb 46 off 39 balls – the latter punching his bat in frustration when a Mitchell Claydon delivery slipped off the face of his bat and he was caught on the cover boundary.But at 94 for 3 in the 14th over, the job was almost done. The batsman having crossed, Adam Voges drove the next ball for four and then pulled Liam Plunkett – one of seven Durham bowlers used – to the boundary to seal victory.Durham were indebted to Johann Myburgh for making it to three figures after a dreadful start. The 31-year-old former Hampshire player joined on Thursday for the duration of the tournament. He top-scored for the Dynamos with 45 from 41 deliveries.Durham only hit seven boundaries in their innings, and Myburgh contributed five of them. That included their only six, from a lovely pick-up off his pads off Harry Gurney. Myburgh put on 60 with Gordon Muchall for the fifth wicket as Durham recovered from 30 for 4.The Nottinghamshire attack made good use of a sluggish pitch after winning the toss and bowing. Their most expensive bowler, Gurney, went for a respectable seven-an-over, taking 2 for 28. Phil Mustard pulled the game’s first ball behind square for four but it would be the final delivery of the sixth over before there was another. Herschelle Gibbs, Mustard, Ben Stokes and Dale Benkenstein all picked out fielders perfectly.Darren Pattinson did not have to move much either when Myburgh top-edged a pull to him on the long-on boundary. Muchall and Borthwick struggled to find the rope but ran well between the wickets, to extend the score to 114 for 5 in the last 20 balls.

Glamorgan Dragons opened their Friends Life t20 campaign with a comprehensive victory over Middlesex Panthers in Cardiff

03-Jun-2011
ScorecardGlamorgan Dragons opened their Friends Life t20 campaign with a comprehensive victory over Middlesex Panthers in Cardiff but not before the match was thrown into disarray by floodlight failure.The Dragons won the toss and proceeded to score 199 for 4 – their highest ever t20 score at the ground – with skipper Alviro Petersen leading the way with 72 from 48 balls. In reply the Panthers made a good start but lost wickets at regular intervals to reach 121 for 6 after 14.5 overs when three of the four floodlights went out.After a delay of nearly 40 minutes, the players and umpires – Nigel Cowley and John Steele – appeared to have shaken hands. But the floodlights came back on and play resumed at 10.40pm with the Panthers requiring another 62 for victory from 3.1 overs.They only managed 16 of them as they were bowled out for 137 handing Glamorgan the victory by 45 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis Method.The Dragons got off to a solid start in front of a crowd of around 5,000 as opening pair Mark Cosgrove and Alviro Petersen putting on 63 for the opening wicket in 7.1 overs. The Panthers hit back when offspinner Paul Stirling had Cosgrove stumped from his first ball.But despite the loss of Cosgrove, Petersen and Jim Allenby kept the scoring rate up. Petersen struck his first T20 half-century for Glamorgan from 37 balls and with Allenby put on 82 from 55 balls before the latter holed out to long-off.Petersen also holed out to cover in the next over, but the big hitting continued apace with Chris Cooke, a 25-year-old debutant, striking three straight sixes off Steven Crook as 23 came off the penultimate over.Glamorgan then gambled by giving offspinner Robert Croft the opening over, but it failed to come off as the veteran was struck for 16 – Stirling plundering 15 of them. But Stirling went for one big shot too many and was caught at mid-on by Allenby attempting to clear the rope.The Panthers continued to keep up with the asking rate and had reached 60-0 after six overs, but the Dragons hit back with a brilliant one-handed catch by Croft removing Scott Newman (23).That set the tone for Glamorgan as the home side took wickets at regular intervals and Middlesex slipped from 87 for 3 to 116 for 6. The sixth wicket saw Graham Wagg take a brilliant catch at long-on to send Glamorgan towards the win before the floodlights went out.On their return from the light failure, Wagg and Alex Jones took two wickets each to complete a comprehensive win.

Kent cruised to a 36-run Friends Provident t20 victory over Gloucestershire at Gloucester after posting an imposing 217 all out – their highest Twenty20 score

13-Jun-2010

ScorecardKent cruised to a 36-run Friends Provident t20 victory over Gloucestershire at Gloucester after posting an imposing 217 all out – their highest Twenty20 score.The Spitfires made the most of the short boundaries at Archdeacon Meadow to hammer the highest score in the South Division this season, with Rob Key (44), Joe Denly (48) and Alex Blake (33) the main contributors. Will Porterfield’s bright 43 gave Gloucestershire hope, but they collapsed from 62 for 1 to 94 for 6 as Simon Cook took three wickets for 22 runs. The hosts were eventually bowled out for 181, despite Chris Taylor’s defiant 67 off 36 balls.Kent were given the perfect start by Key and Denly, who plundered 65 off the six-over powerplay against bowling that erred on the short side. There were 87 runs on the board in the ninth over when Key was bowled off stump attempting to pull a James Franklin delivery.The Spitfires skipper had hit eight fours in facing 25 balls, but Denly lost nothing by comparison and had smacked seven fours and a six when he was stumped advancing to drive the part-time off-spin of Kadeer Ali. By then it was 101 for 2 and Kent were going along at more than 10 an over. Martin van Jaarsveld added a breezy 26, but the most impressive hitting of their innings came from 21-year-old Blake, who twice profited from missed stumpings by Steve Snell.The left-hander blasted four sixes in his 17-ball innings, one of them cut over point off Jon Lewis, before being yorked by Franklin. At 168 for 5 in the 15th over, Kent looked capable of an even bigger score. But a brilliant boundary catch by Hamish Marshall and a couple of run-outs prevented them becoming the highest scorers in the competition this season.Gloucestershire overcame the early loss of Franklin to score 58 from their powerplay overs. But Cook then instigated a collapse and, although Taylor reached a half-century with two sixes in an over from Matt Coles, Kent always had things under control.Ian Butler also used the long handle to good effect in his 28, but the Gladiators needed 86 off the last five overs and, for all Taylor’s heroics in hitting four sixes and six fours, it proved too much.

The two sides have not met since their respective season openers in March, which KKR won by four runs

Deivarayan Muthu20-May-20242:03

‘SRH shouldn’t forget planning for Gurbaz while thinking of Narine’

Match details

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Qualifier 1
Ahmedabad, 1930 IST (1400 GMT)

Big picture: Two batting powerhouses collide

Two of the quickest-scoring teams in this IPL could produce another run-fest in the first qualifier in Ahmedabad, especially if it serves up a bouncy, red-soil track. Phil Salt has left the IPL but Kolkata Knight Riders still have enough power in the form of Sunil Narine, Andre Russell and Rinku Singh. Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen can certainly match up to that power or even overpower KKR.Sunrisers Hyderabad have also figured out an aggressive No.3 option in Rahul Tripathi to strengthen their top order. But can they dial down their aggression and still find a way, if Ahmedabad throws up a slow, black-soil turner? In March, which seems ages go, SRH managed only 162 for 8 on a black-soil surface that suited Gujarat Titans’ spinners.Regardless of the colour and nature of the surface, Narine and Varun Chakravarthy have the pedigree to take wickets or restrict the opposition. But KKR will have to rock up cold on Tuesday, having endured washouts in their last two league matches, including one in Ahmedabad. Especially, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Salt’s like-for-like replacement, who has not featured in IPL 2024 and last played cricket in mid-March.Related

• Tactics board: Bhuvneshwar vs Narine, Russell vs Klaasen, and the Head-Abhishek threat

• Tripathi the link at No. 3 that SRH had been missing

• Buttler, Livingstone, other England cricketers leave IPL early for T20 World Cup duty

• T Natarajan: 'If you do well as a bowler this IPL season, you will have the confidence you can succeed anywhere'

It was back on May 11 that KKR had confirmed their place in the playoffs after beating Mumbai Indians in a truncated game at home. They haven’t been in action since and it might not be easy to hit the ground running after a ten-day break, table-toppers or otherwise.

Form guide

Kolkata Knight Riders WWWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Sunrisers Hyderabad WWLWL

Previous meeting

Head didn’t even play the last time these two sides met, with SRH picking Marco Jansen ahead of him. Harshit Rana stopped Klaasen and SRH in the last over, earning a four-run victory for KKR at Eden Gardens. In the early half of the season, chasing was a concern for KKR, but they’ve remedied that heading into the playoffs.

Team news and Impact Player strategy

Kolkata Knight Riders
Nitish Rana is fit again and could stay in the team as an Impact Player option, in place of one of the specialist bowlers, having scored 33 off 23 balls against MI in Kolkata. KKR, though, might have to choose between left-arm fingerspinner Anukul Roy and right-arm seamer Vaibhav Arora.Probable XII: 1 Sunil Narine, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Venkatesh Iyer, 5 0:46

Did the experts get their playoffs predictions right?

Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH have been fairly consistent with their Impact Player strategy with one of the batters slotting in for T Natarajan. Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, the young legspinner from Jaffna, has done fairly well in his two IPL outings and could keep his place unless SRH want to bring back Aiden Markram for his steady batting and offspin against a potentially left-hander heavy KKR middle order. Jaydav Unadkat for his change-ups is another option.Probable XII: 1 , 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 Shahbaz Ahmed, 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Sanvir Singh, 9 Pat Cummins (capt), 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, 12

In the spotlight: Rinku Singh and T Natarajan

After torching IPL 2023 with his finishing skills, Rinku Singh hasn’t had many opportunities to do that in IPL 2024. He also could not find a place in India’s main squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. He has faced only 113 balls in 11 innings this season at a healthy strike rate of 148.67. That might pale in comparison to some of the heavy hitters that will be on display on Tuesday, but count Rinku out at your own peril.T Natarajan was taken to the cleaners by Ayush Badoni, but he bounced back against Punjab Kings, coming away with 2 for 33 in his four overs, in a 215 vs 214 game. His bowling isn’t just about the yorker anymore – he has also developed a deceptive slower bouncer to handcuff batters in the middle and death overs. Natarajan, though, will have to be wary of Russell, who has taken him for 43 off 26 balls for just one wicket at a strike rate of 165.38 in the IPL.

Stats that matter

• Bhuvneshwar Kumar has a favourable match-up against Narine, dismissing him twice in 25 balls while keeping him to just 28 runs in the IPL.
• No spinner has taken more wickets than Varun’s 38 in 26 IPL innings since the 2023 season started.
• Narine is four hits away from 100 IPL sixes. Thirty-two of those have come this season. His opponent Abhishek is the top six-hitter this IPL with 41.
• According to ESPNcricinfo’s logs, Bhuvneshwar has bowled 31 yorkers in IPL 2024. Only Jasprit Bumrah (56) has bowled more yorkers this season. Avesh Khan has also hit the blockhole 31 times, with Natarajan (27) slotting not too far behind.

Pitch and conditions

Red soil or black soil? The answer to this question could determine the composition of the teams. The previous game in Ahmedabad was a washout, but the weather is expected to be hot and dry for Tuesday.

RCB are on a four-game losing streak, while Capitals are on par with Mumbai Indians at the top with six points

S Sudarshanan12-Mar-2023

RCB look to get off the mark

Royal Challengers Bangalore cannot go lower in position in the points table. Delhi Capitals are soaring and are one of the teams to beat. As the second half of the Women’s Premier League starts, Royal Challengers would look to start afresh.The last time the two teams met was the start of a special opening partnership for Capitals between Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning. Capitals opted to play Laura Harris in their previous game against Gujarat Giants in place of Alice Capsey but the ten-wicket win denied her a chance to bat. A plethora of bowling options in the XI – with even Minnu Mani chipping in against Giants – allows for a cushion of comfort.On the other hand, Royal Challengers’ powerplay run-rate of 8.91 in the WPL is only behind Capitals’ 9.79. But their middle and lower middle order have failed to build on the starts and that has meant they have fallen short on most occasions. Sophie Devine has slowly found her touch at the top of the order and along with Ellyse Perry has been among the top-scorers in the competition.

Players to watch

Laura Harris is one of the cleanest strikers of the ball in T20s. Her strike rate of 157.01 across 83 innings in the Women’s Big Bash League is the best among those who batted in at least ten innings in the competition. Capitals’ lower middle order is bolstered by her presence in the XI.Smriti Mandhana has had a horrid run so far. In each of the four innings, she has been dismissed by spinners – three of them against offspin. It will be the first time she will return to DY Patil Stadium, where her 79-run knock helped India tie the second T20I against Australia and then win it via a Super Over. Will that help her turn her form around?6:07

Kappital performance by Delhi in WPL

Playing XIs

Delhi Capitals (possible): 1 Meg Lanning (capt), 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Jemimah Rodrigues, 4 Marizanne Kapp, 5 Laura Harris, 6 Jess Jonassen, 7 Minnu Mani, 8 Taniya Bhatia (wk), 9 Shikha Pandey, 10 Radha Yadav, 11 Tara NorrisRoyal Challengers Bangalore (possible): 1 Smriti Mandhaa (capt), 2 Sophie Devine, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Heather Knight, 5 Erin Burns/Dane van Niekerk, 6 Richa Ghosh (wk), 7 Kanika Ahuja, 8 Shreyanka Patil, 9 Renuka Singh, 10 Komal Zanzad, 11 Sahana Pawar

Stats and trivia

The series is still alive, but only just, with England making four changes as they look to hit back

Andrew McGlashan25-Dec-2021

Big Picture

The Ashes is alive heading to Melbourne…thanks to the schedule. In the last two series Australia have had things tied up before Christmas, but with two Tests in the New Year this iconic fixture was always going to have plenty riding on it regardless of what happened in the first two games.And what has happened is that England have been steamrollered. Sydney, the venue for the fourth Test, has not had an Ashes Test without the urn retained since 1994-95 and it would be a brave person to think it will come the first week of January.Things have gone almost perfectly for Australia barring the lack of runs for Marcus Harris. And it’s still possible to say that when their captain, Pat Cummins, was ruled out on the morning of a Test as a Covid close contact. The way they won the second Test with half their first-choice attack missing and a stand-in skipper (albeit an experienced one) was an encouraging sign for the way this team is developing.England, however, have barely challenged them so far. When there was a glimpse of the batting wobbling in Brisbane Travis Head slammed the door shut with a thrilling century. When England briefly fought back on the second day in Adelaide, Alex Carey’s maiden Test fifty helped repel them. When Joe Root and Dawid Malan threatened a counterattack on the third day, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Cameron Green sucked the life out of the innings.Related

• Scott Boland handed Boxing Day debut with Australia cautious over Jhye Richardson

• Are England enjoying themselves? Or has cricket turned into an obligation for them?

• No Hazlewood, no worries with Green cherry-ripe

• Joe Root might need to set new record to make sure England don't

It is perhaps worth noting that in their last two Ashes drubbings, Melbourne has produced some of England’s better cricket. In 2013-14 they actually claimed a first-innings lead before being unable to make the most of it and slumping to defeat while four years ago Alastair Cook’s unbeaten 244 put them on top but a dour pitch had the final say. Even that, however, is slim pickings.What they need this time is something akin to the spirit of 1998-99 when they arrived 2-0 down (Australia had retained the Ashes) and having been humiliated by Australia A but through the performances of Alec Stewart, Darren Gough and Dean Headley among others conjured a remarkable 12-run victory. Anything less than a win and the Ashes are gone with jobs perhaps to follow.

Form guide

(most recent first)
Australia WWLDL
England LLLWL

In the spotlight

When the two parts of Cameron Green‘s game come together he could be a world beater. But it hasn’t quite happened yet. Last season against India his batting impressed as he worked his way back to bowling after injuries. In this series, the bowling has taken centre stage while the batting has been less convincing. It remains early days in what should be a long career, but England’s success against Green has been one of their few plus points (the second-innings runs in Adelaide were largely freebies). At the Gabba he shouldered arms first ball and lost off stump then in Adelaide he was beaten by a terrific delivery from Ben Stokes that did the same damage. Things are not quite in sync. However, he’s still had a major say by removing Joe Root twice. That would be a handy skill to continue.England’s entire top order is under the scanner, even those who have made runs. In lower-scoring games back home a brace of 80s might be enough on occasions, but that will rarely be the case in Australia. Techniques are being picked apart as well, especially with the opening pair of Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed. The former has lost his place to Zak Crawley. Jos Buttler was a missed chance away from having his series – and maybe Test career – ended after Adelaide. It is not just this contest that has shown up the batting failings, but unless they find some answers it could be a particularly gruesome few weeks.Pat Cummins is back to lead Australia (barring late drama) as they look to wrap up the Ashes•Getty Images

Team news

Australia have juggled their fast-bowling pack again. Cummins’ is back after his enforced absence in place of Michael Neser while Scott Boland will make his debut in place of Jhye Richardson who has a leg injury. Josh Hazlewood has not recovered from his side strain.Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Marcus Harris, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Scott Boland, 11 Nathan LyonAs expected, England have made a number of changes. Rory Burns, Ollie Pope, Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad have all been left out in favour of Crawley, Jonny Bairstow, Mark Wood and Jack Leach. It means that England have what looks a more balanced attack with the extra pace of Wood and left-arm spin of Leach, although he is sure to be targeted by the Australia batters as he was in Brisbane.England 1 Haseeb Hameed, 2 Zak Crawley, 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 Ollie Robinson, 9 Mark Wood, 10 Jack Leach, 11 James Anderson

Pitch and conditions

The MCG surface has been through a facelift since the last Ashes and everything points to a pitch that should offer something for everyone. There was a decent covering of grass two days out although some of that may be trimmed off. In recent seasons bounce and carry has also returned. The weather is set fair through with temperatures ranging from the low teens to mid-20s so heat should not be a factor.

Stats and trivia

• Joe Root needs 159 runs to set a new record for a Test batter in a calendar year
• Steven Smith needs 46 runs to go past the tally of current coach Justin Langer while David Warner needs 13 to go past Mark Taylor
• England are five ducks away from equalling their duck-est year of 54 in 1998

Quotes

“I love that just about every player from our team has got into the series and had a real big impact.”
“The only thing I’m worried about is winning this week. Start well and get that first hour right.”

Ed Barnard and Dillon Pennington share six wickets as Somerset limited to 251

ECB Reporters Network06-Sep-2020Somerset skipper Tom Abell continued his fine form in the Bob Willis Trophy by top-scoring on the opening day of a see-saw crucial Central Group clash with Worcestershire at Blackfinch New Road.Abell showed his class in striking 59 to help ensure his side posted a challenging total on a green-tinged pitch offering encouragement to the seamers. It followed on from his 119 against Glamorgan and an unbeaten 101 versus Gloucestershire earlier in the competition as Somerset totalled 251 all out in 83.1 overs.Worcestershire continued to probe away, despite the absence of paceman Josh Tongue with a back spasm for the second half of the day, with Dillon Pennington and Ed Barnard picking up three wickets.A spell of five wickets for 41 runs in 18 overs tipped the game in Worcestershire’s favour as Somerset collapsed to 134 for 6. But steady lower-order contributions from Lewis Gregory, Josh Davey and Jack Leach steered the visitors to two batting points.Worcestershire openers Daryl Mitchell and Jake Libby then survived five probing overs from Craig Overton and Josh Davey in reaching 14 for 0.Worcestershire made one change from the side which drew with Warwickshire with Pennington replacing fellow paceman Charlie Morris.The visitors made two changes from the team victorious over Gloucestershire – both of them enforced – with Ben Green and Jack Leach in for the injured James Hildreth (hamstring) and Jamie Overton who has joined Surrey on loan prior to a permanent move.The initial breakthrough for Worcestershire was self-inflicted by Somerset with Green run out for 8 with 18 on the board. Tom Lammonby played Tongue into the covers and set off instantly for what looked a risky single – and Green was unable to beat Barnard’s direct hit.There was plenty of playing and missing during the morning session but also some fine stroke play from Abell who dominated a partnership of 75 in 26 overs with the resolute Lammonby. The opener, on 12, had a let off when Riki Wessels at first slip failed to hold onto a low chance low to his left off Pennington.The second-wicket pair continued to prosper and Abell reached his half century off 89 balls with eight fours just after lunch. But Pennington, who delivered an excellent eight-over post-interval spell, broke the stand when Lammonby chopped a delivery on to his stumps.George Bartlett departed in similar fashion to a ball from Tongue and then Pennington picked up the prized wicket of Abell. He found the edge of his bat and keeper Ben Cox pulled off a fine low catch away to his right.Spinner D’Oliveira came into the attack and struck in his first over when bowling former Worcestershire wicketkeeper batsman Steve Davies through the gate.It became 134-6 when Craig Overton edged Barnard and perished to a low catch by Daryl Mitchell at second slip. But Gregory then went on the offensive with a trio of sixes – including two in an over from Barnard – and he and Eddie Byrom added 61 in 15 overs.Gregory became tied down by D’Oliveira after tea and the spinner was rewarded when he sliced his attempted drive into the hands of Pennington at short third man.Pennington struck with the ball for the third time when Byrom attempted a cut shot and Barnard pulled off a magnificent catch low down at point. Davey holed out to square leg off Barnard – his 200th first class wicket – and the same bowler trapped Jack Leach lbw to wrap up the innings.

England’s newest fast bowler believes he’s got the game to excel in 50 overs after earning late squad place

ESPNcricinfo staff21-May-20193:10

Archer brings special things to a cricket field – Smith

Jofra Archer believes that his experience of performing under pressure at the IPL will help him to deal with the spotlight of his maiden World Cup, after he was named in England’s final World Cup squad only weeks after making his international debut.Archer, 24, has played just three ODIs and a T20I since his first appearance for England in Malahide earlier this month. But he has impressed with his 90mph pace and versatility as both a new-ball and death-overs bowler, and was named in the final 15 this morning ahead of David Willey.”I got a call from Ed Smith yesterday, maybe at about six o’clock or so,” Archer told Sky Sports News. “I was actually driving at the time and I just felt the phone vibrate and I answered it without looking at it, then that to stop myself and say “good evening”. “But it was really, really exciting to be a part of a big summer for English cricket.”ALSO READ: Archer, Vince, Dawson included in England’s World Cup squadArcher’s rise to international recognition has been dramatic. Late last year, he had still been reconciled to spending a full seven years completing his residency qualification, which would have made him available to England by 2021-22. But when the ECB reduced that period to three years, he suddenly became available in March this year”I had got it in my head that I’d have to wait seven years,” he said. “Then back in December, they obviously changed it a little bit, but I was prepared to wait however long it would take.”In between spending the obligatory 210 days a year in the UK to fulfil his residency obligations, Archer had been making his name on the T20 circuit with notable spells in numerous domestic competitions, notably with Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Prior to his England call-up, he had played just 14 50-over matches in his professional career, but insisted he was not worried by this lack of specific experience.”I think I’m ready,” he added. “I’ve played a lot of cricket outside of 50 overs. And I know to deal with the pressure of crowds. Obviously because I was playing franchise cricket, that was the reason why it wasn’t able to play much List A cricket for Sussex, but you don’t forget how to bowl. And I think you get more opportunities to bowl than in T20s, you get another six extra overs there to take more wickets.”Furthermore, Archer’s regular encounters with some of the best players in the world on the T20 circuit mean that he is arguably better prepared for dealing with the talent in the World Cup than many more experienced international bowlers.”I think I probably have a bigger advantage over some of the other guys in our team,” he said. “We play [these guys] twice a [season] in the IPL, so you know their weaknesses, you know their strengths, you know if they can’t run between the wickets … it gets you an extra bit of inside information.Jofra Archer in his followthrough•Getty Images

“To be honest, I think international cricket is probably the same intensity as the IPL,” he added. “‘I think the only thing that changes is the amount of overs but, ever since I’ve started, the pressure is really intense. It’s different, but it still isn’t different.”Despite some outspoken comments in the media from his rivals for World Cup selection – not least David Willey, the man whom he pipped to the final spot – Archer insisted he could not have been made more welcome by his new team-mates.”Everyone welcomed me with open arms from the moment I got in,” he said. “It’s a really good team to be a part of, with great players, a great captain, great support staff and coaches. It’s probably one of the better teams have played in.”Asked whether England were ready to live up to their billing as the No.1 ODI team in the world, and pre-tournament favourites, Archer said there would be pressure in a home tournament regardless of the team’s merit. However, he felt that the experience of grinding out results in a long county season would play into the squad’s hands as they embark on a tough six-week campaign.”This is what the county season prepared us for,” he said. “The county season is about five or six months long, just relentless. I don’t think it should feel any different for any of our guys because we usually play from March to September anyway. For a lot of the teams, this isn’t their summer, they are not usually playing cricket at this time of year. So these are the little things that can work in our favour.”Asked who he was most looking forward to dismissing during the World Cup, Archer namechecked India’s captain, Virat Kohli. But he also added that the best player that he had bowled to during the IPL was his own England team-mate, Jos Buttler, in the nets with Rajasthan.”I’d quite like to get Virat out, because I wasn’t able to get him in the IPL because I think a leggie got him in every game he played. I also wanted to bowl at AB [de Villiers] as well, but don’t think he’s playing for South Africa. And probably Chris Gayle again.”But Buttler, he’s amazing, he’s a 360 cricketer, he can hit you straight down the ground and can paddle you right behind the keeper’s head… I don’t think anywhere’s safe as a bowler.”I’ve not really had a chance to speak to him about batting, but I spoke to Ben [Stokes] when we batted in the middle a few times in the IPL. If the opportunity to bat does come in the World Cup, having a familiar face at the other end should help calm the nerves.”Further afield, there is also the prospect of Archer making his England Test debut with the Ashes looming in August.”If they do [pick me], I’d be over the moon,” he said. “But for right now I’ve got a World Cup to think about. I don’t expect to waltz in to the Test team either so, if selected, I’ll work my butt off. But, if not, I’ll go back to Sussex and keeping putting in performances.”

The Afghanistan legspinner is poised to smash the record currently held by Mitchell Starc by a huge margin

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Mar-2018Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan is on the verge of smashing the record for being the fastest to take 100 ODI wickets. Rashid has 99 wickets after 43 ODIs, following his 3 for 40 against Ireland in Harare on Friday, and is closing in on Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who took his 100th wicket in his 52nd ODI.If Afghanistan beat Ireland in their ongoing World Cup Qualifier fixture, Rashid, who is only 19 years old, will have the opportunity to break the record in the tournament final against West Indies on Sunday.Rashid’s rise to the top of the charts is remarkable because he was only the joint eighth quickest to 50 ODI wickets, which he reached in his 26th match. So in his next 17 ODIs, he has taken 46 wickets to get to 99.Rashid’s average of 14.12 per wicket and strike rate of 21.4 balls per wicket are the best among all bowlers who have delivered at least 1000 balls in ODIs. Given the fact that Afghanistan do not play top-flight opposition frequently, Rashid has 40 wickets against Zimbabwe and 33 against Ireland; his career-best figures of 7 for 18 came against West Indies in St Lucia in June 2017.