When you are getting hammered all over and missing a talismanic bowler who has been both your stock bowler and your spearhead, there are no easy decisions

Sidharth Monga in Delhi02-Dec-2017When you are getting hammered all over and missing a talismanic bowler who has been both your stock bowler and your spearhead, there are no easy decisions. Sri Lanka had a big one to make coming into the Delhi Test: do they pick an extra batsman and give a debut to Roshen Silva or play an extra bowler in Vishwa Fernando?In the first two Tests, they had picked the extra seam-bowling allrounder, but the indications leading into the Test were clear: they wanted batting cover. A difficult decision to play Silva was made, but Sri Lanka bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake admitted it was a defensive move and ended up overworking their bowlers.”We had to decide whether to go with the extra bowler or with an extra batsman,” Ratnayake said. “Since we hadn’t done well in our batting we wanted to make a better statement establishing a better score. If we were going to bat the first day we had to have those seven batsmen. That was the decision we had to take. It certainly taxes the opening bowlers because they are the ones who bowled the most in the last game also. Even today, I would say, they are heavily taxed.”Rangana Herath’s absence didn’t help nor did an absence of flexible plans. Lakshan Sandakan, the left-arm wristspinner replacing Herath took too long to start using hid wrong’un, which got him two wickets in the final session. Ratnayake was left wishing he had done that earlier. The major blame, though, laid at the doorsteps on the batsmen. Sri Lanka have now failed to score 300 in the first innings in all their five Tests against India this year.”We’ve been talking about that too, and the top five know they have to deliver,” Ratnayake said. “It’s just that when [they do so] is the issue, and we had to take that decision because we went with six-five combination [in the earlier Tests]. We thought that we should try something different and go with seven-four. Hope it works.”The big problem for Sri Lanka is that Angelo Mathews doesn’t bowl anymore. There is some good news, though, that his return to ODI bowling – he bowled 17 overs in the five-match series against India – is likely to continue even though he missed the UAE tour because of a fresh injury.”If he is chosen for the ODIs… he is practising to bowl in ODIs,” Ratnayake said. “Because he has got a very acute injury – it’s not only the thighs now, it’s gone to the calves – we are very cautious of what he does and how he does things. He is managed carefully. Yesterday he bowled six overs in the nets and he looked good.”If Sri Lanka had won the toss and decided to bat, Mathews would have continued his bowling work in the nets at some point. However, the bowling comeback – at the moment at least – is restricted to shorter versions. As is the solution to their selection conundrum of playing the extra batsman or bowler.

Seamer Akash Parkar’s triple strike set up Mumbai’s seven-wicket win over Maharashtra in Rajkot

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jan-2018Dinesh Karthik struck his third successive half-century as Tamil Nadu brushed aside Goa by 25 runs in Vishakapatnam. Karthik followed up his 57 and 71 against Andhra and Kerala respectively with a 43-ball 56 to hoist Tamil Nadu’s total to 155 for 5. The spinners then took over as offspinner Washington Sundar (2 for 20) and legspinner M Ashwin (2 for 22) put the skids on Goa’s chase. Only captain Sagun Kamat made a substantial contribution with 41 off 42 balls as Goa managed only 130 for 7. With three wins from three games, Tamil Nadu are now on top of the South Zone standings with 12 points.Seamer Akash Parkar’s triple strike set up Mumbai‘s seven-wicket win over Maharashtra in Rajkot. Parkar’s 3 for 22 in four overs helped his side skittle Maharashtra for 89 in 15 overs. He was supported by legspinner Parikshit Valsangkar (2 for 22) and seamer Shivam Dubey (2 for 7). Captain Aditya Tare then struck an unbeaten 26-ball 42, ensuring Mumbai chased down the target with more than 10 overs to spare. This was Mumbai’s second win in four matches.

From 83 for 5, West Indies recovered to set Ireland a target of 258, and proceeded to win by 52 runs with Kemar Roach picking up four vital wickets

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Mar-2018Getty Images

West Indies, looking to finish top of their World Cup Qualifier group and carry maximum points into the Super six stage, ran into some trouble against Ireland, falling to 83 for 5 after being sent in to bat. Enter Rovman Powell. After a cautious and at times edgy beginning – he was 9 off 34 balls at one stage and enjoyed some luck – he exploded to compile a run-a-ball hundred and lift his side to 257 for 8.That proved beyond Ireland’s reach, despite a controlled half-century from Ed Joyce, who put on useful stands with the O’Brien brothers and kept them in the game for a significant period.There was a sense of Ireland building up a proper head of steam too. The stand of 64 between Joyce and Niall O’Brien came at a run rate of 4.46, as the fourth-wicket pair rebuilt after their team had slipped to 32 for 3; Joyce and Kevin O’Brien then added 70 off 69 balls. At one stage, Ireland needed 92 off 83 balls with six wickets in hand.Kemar Roach, however, dismissed both Joyce and the younger O’Brien in the same over, dealing a body blow to Ireland’s hopes. They were eventually bowled out for 205 in the 47th over of their innings. Roach, who also took the key wickets of Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie early on, finished with figures of 4 for 27. There were four wickets for Kesrick Williams as well, and two for the captain Jason Holder.Powell’s was the first instance of a century coming from No. 7 or lower for West Indies in ODIs. He was ably assisted by his captain Jason Holder, who made his second-successive 50-plus score of the tournament.Ireland made excellent use of bowling first in conditions that suited their fast bowlers early on. There had been overnight rain in Harare and the pitch retained a tinge of green when the West Indian openers walked out to bat. Chris Gayle was repeatedly beaten on the outside edge before it was eventually taken. Evin Lewis was surprised by extra bounce, spooning a catch to point. Marlon Samuels got a jaffa that angled into him and straightened to flick his glove through to the keeper.The man doing much of the damage was Tim Murtagh, the 36-year-old seamer whose control more than made up for his lack of pace. And, in any case, it was Boyd Rankin’s job to hustle the batsmen, his 6’7″ frame coming in more than handy as he banged the ball into the pitch.The spinners Andy McBrine and George Dockrell took over in the middle overs, assisted by a pitch that revealed itself to be a slow turner once the early moisture dissipated. Holder and Powell battled hard to keep West Indies afloat; their 86-run partnership almost exclusively comprised of singles between the 18th and 26th overs before the West Indies captain began dictating terms.Holder finished with 54 off 71 balls, the landmark achieved with a monstrous six over wide long-on. He could, however, have been dismissed for 17 if Paul Stirling had held on to a return catch generated by his part-time offbreaks. Eleven runs later, he survived a run-out chance with his partner indulging in a last-minute change of mind about a single to square leg.Powell enjoyed a couple of lives as well: he was on 18 when a leading edge off the bowling of Dockrell was shelled by Gary Wilson running back and to his left from mid-off. On 39, he top-edged a pull that went straight up but the keeper was unable to catch up with the ball, which landed harmlessly near the middle of the pitch.Powell needed to take such risks, though, with time running out. He pulled Rankin down the ground with stinging disdain and later hit him over the top. West Indies lost a lot of firepower when Carlos Brathwaite ran himself out in the 45th over but Powell persisted until the end, doing exactly what his team needed off him.

The former leaders and Cameron Bancroft continue to deliberate on whether or not to take up the option of formal hearings under the board’s code of conduct

Daniel Brettig01-Apr-20183:25

The sandpaper saga that changed Australian cricket

Banished Australian leaders Steven Smith and David Warner are expected to push for a relaxation of their Cricket Australia bans to allow them to play domestic cricket both at home and abroad, as they and Cameron Bancroft continue to deliberate on whether or not to take up the option of formal hearings under the board’s code of conduct.When announcing the bans being offered to the players, CA had specified that they covered “international and domestic cricket”. They were additional to the one-Test ban already imposed on Smith by the ICC, in addition to a fine for Bancroft.The chief executive James Sutherland stated the penalties were devised to “balance between the need to protect the integrity and reputation of the game and the need to maintain the possibility of redemption for the individuals involved”. However, the advisors to Smith, Warner and Bancroft – all three have retained legal counsel in addition to their respective managers Warren Craig, James Henderson and Trent Ovens – are believed to be determined that the scope of the bans is too wide, given that the offences took place when playing for Australia, and that two players had already been penalised by the ICC.Additionally, they believe that not being able to play first-class cricket over the next 12 months is likely to hamper the trio’s ability to press for Australian selection when their bans lapse. Smith and Warner would not be eligible until the end of next year’s Sheffield Shield competition, while Bancroft would be ruled out until after Christmas 2018.There is a precedent for banned Australian players being permitted to play first-class cricket while stood down from international duty. Members of Kim Hughes’ rebel Australian team who toured apartheid-era South Africa in 1985-86 and 1986-87 were banned from playing for Australia for a year on their return, but were able to play domestic matches. With the benefit of that ruling, the swing bowler Terry Alderman, paceman Carl Rackemann and the legspinner Trevor Hohns – now the chairman of selectors – were all able to make returns to the Test team from the 1988-89 season onwards.International implications for the ban are also a significant factor. While the code of conduct ban only applies specifically to Australian cricket, all players were swiftly cast out of overseas contracts on the day their sanctions were announced. Smith and Warner were kicked out of this year’s IPL and Bancroft from a contract to play the English county season with Somerset.At the time the bans were announced, Sutherland said CA did not have jurisdiction over whether the players would be allowed to play overseas. “Under the code we didn’t have any clear authority over domestic matches played overseas,” he said. “It was talked about but we ascertained based on the legal advice that we didn’t have that clear authority.”What we’ve done is we’ve dealt with the matters within our control. We have made an assessment and I think we all know here that there are extreme views around this in terms of what the penalties are. And not only extreme one end to the other but up and down the line as well. What we have done is try to over a number of meeting, the directors have gone into great detail to consider all of the evidence at hand and try to find the right balance for the circumstances.”It was a really significant offence, it’s done immeasurable damage to the game and the reputation to the game in Australia and perhaps more broadly. And we believe in difficult circumstances we’ve found a landing spot that is fair after offering a proper process of investigation.”In arriving at these sanctions, CA stated that the players would be permitted only to play club cricket. “All three players will be permitted to play club cricket and will be encouraged to do so to maintain links with the cricket community,” the board said in a statement. “In addition, all three players will be required to undertake 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket.”Uncertainty has also arisen about the time Smith, Warner and Bancroft have to decide whether or not to take their matters to hearings. While CA advised that Smith, Warner and Bancroft had seven days from the moment of formally receiving their charges to respond, the charge notes sent to all three players specified April 11 in Melbourne as the date and location for any hearing or hearings. Under the code, no specific requirement is given as to when a player must tell the head of integrity Iain Roy of their response to the notice of charge, other than “prior to the commencement of the hearing”.

Heath Streak robustly defended himself against allegations of racism as the fallout from the World Cup Qualifier continues

Danyal Rasool08-Apr-2018The fallout from Zimbabwe Cricket’s decision to sack Heath Streak, along with the entire coaching staff, in response to the side’s failure to qualify for next year’s World Cup escalated with Streak hitting back against accusations that he was racist. Days after removing the coaching staff – a decision that provoked strong opinion in Zimbabwe – the chairman of ZC Tavengwa Mukuhlani had implied that some of Streak’s decisions were based on racism.”Streak was the coach and selector, he was entitled to change the team as he found fit but the question is: why did he change the team in the manner that he did?” Mukuhlani told . “The white players knew PJ Moor was going to play [against UAE] but none of the black players knew about it. Cephas Zhuwao was only informed [that he wouldn’t play] in the warm-up. Why didn’t Streak inform the entire team?”Streak had dismissed those allegations in the immediate aftermath of them being made, accusing the ZC chairman of “clutching at straws”. He also said “anyone close to me knows I’m the least racist person ever.”On Sunday, as the divisions over the sackings and accusations continued to brew, Streak took to social media to once again reject allegations of racism, as well as accusing ZC of being unethical, treating people badly and lacking any cricketing experience.”I’ve been accused by the chairman of ZC of being a racist, I find this preposterous and laughable and even to respond to them for people who know me, is lowering my standards,” Streak said, speaking in Ndebele, an indigenous Zimbabwean language. “But I just want to make a few things notable. Our selection panel consisted of myself, Tatenda Taibu and Douglas Hondo. They are always consulted, and we always reached consensus on our teams.”Graeme Cremer was not a selector, but he gave advice, and we also spoke to other guys outside, including the franchise coaches at times, to give us some of their thoughts. The allegations that during the WCQ, I dropped black players for white players is also ludicrous. When I dropped people like Kyle Jarvis for Tendai Chisoro nothing was said, but when I dropped Cephas Zhwao for PJ Moor, then I’m a racist.”Those who are around me and who know me and are most important to me as in the players can vouch for that [I’m not a racist]. Why do all these people that the chairman claims are accusing me of racism, why do they not come out in public and say that themselves? Let’s see that. This is not about Heath Streak and Tatenda Taibu being fired, this is a bigger thing. If you look at the collective time all the coaches who were fired have put into playing for Zimbabwe and the time we’ve spent coaching, it amounts to decades.”I think the way we’ve been treated, the way we were fired, it just isn’t right, and it’s not ethical that you can treat people like that. Am I’m just really sad that five of eight Level 3 coaches have been fired like Zimbabwe Cricket. We have people like physiotherapists and trainers who have nothing to do with how the team performs. They are not technical staff, they are there to get people fit and on the park, and they can’t be fired. I think that’s ludicrous and just wrong.”Streak also highlighted the beleaguered financial state Zimbabwean cricket found itself in, saying most of the staff had only been paid 40% of their salaries, including himself and batting coach Lance Klusener. He said they still hadn’t been paid their salaries for the month of February, and that salary delays and non-payment of match fees were part of the “huge debt” ZC had to service. The cash crunch has meant Zimbabwe did not complete the current season of the Logan Cup, their premier domestic competition, as Zimbabwe looked to upgrade facilities at several venues ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers last month.Graeme Cremer and Sikandar Raza discuss in the middle•IDI via Getty Images

“These are things the ICC, as a Full Member country require us to complete as part of our membership and as part of getting our disbursements from ICC,” Streak said. “So by not doing this we risk some of these things, and I think the ZC need to have a long hard look at themselves.”Streak concluded by pointing out the lack of cricketing experience on the board of ZC. “How many cricketers are there on the ZC board, I ask? Every other board in the world has a number of cricketers, ex-cricketers and people who’ve played at a decent level. We don’t even have one cap of domestic cricket on the current board. So how do they make decisions, cricket-based decisions, affect people whose livelihoods and finances are dependent on that?”Former Zimbabwean spinner Ray Price, who played under Streak’s captaincy, told ESPNcricinfo that Streak “didn’t have a racist bone in his body”, and accused ZC of deflecting attention from the real issues the country’s cricket faced.Price, who promoted a protest on his Facebook page against the sacking of Streak and his staff at the ZC headquarters on April 3, told ESPNcricinfo: “The statement that Heath is a racist is just laughable. Also, if he was racist all his staff would have been white, when instead it consists of three white members and four black members. Why can’t ZC just stick to the cricket issues with Heath and his support staff? Calling Heath a racist is just a way for them to get away from talking about the real cricket issues in our beloved country.”We need a new board. The board needs to be made up of people who have played cricket for our country, black or white. Racism is not the problem in Zimbabwean cricket. Bad cricket management is the problem. The people in Zimbabwe have seen enough of ZC making excuses, we want to see cricket moving forward.”Zimbabwe’s next international assignment comes at home against Australia in July, followed by Pakistan visiting in August.

If Jos Buttler can turn IPL brilliance into a Test place, perhaps Tom Kohler-Cadmore can make enough white-ball runs to make Yorkshire think again in the Championship

ECB Reporters Network and ESPNcricinfo staff18-May-2018
ScorecardYorkshire were in a ruthless mood on the day when Durham unveiled the Paul Collingwood Pavilion at Emirates Riverside, crushing them by 142 runs in their opening match in the Royal London One-Day Cup.Tom Kohler-Cadmore made his first start for Yorkshire in the 50-over format one to remember as he scored a career-best 164, dominating the Durham bowlers with a number of impressive shots to the boundary.Yorkshire’s total of 328 put Durham under pressure and their batting line-up was not able to rise to the occasion. Adil Rashid ripped through the lower order claiming figures of 4 for 47 to guide his team to a comfortable victoryKohler-Cadmore, who averages 31 in first-class cricket, has rarely seemed in Yorkshire;s plane for the longer format but if Jos Buttler can use IPL to force his way back into England’s Test side, anything is possible.He made his intentions known from the off, dispatching early boundaries off Natham Rimmington and James Weighell beginning the innings with momentum. Adam Lyth offered support in the early stages, with the opening duo reaching their fifty partnership in the eighth over. Yorkshire pressed forward, but Lyth was out going for on big strike too many for 30 when he was caught by Stuart Poynter off the bowling of Matthew Potts.His opener partner continued his assault as he reached his fifty from 50 balls, while the visitors brought the 100 up in the 17th over. Cheteshwar Pujara provided a solid foil for Kohler-Cadmore at the other end of the crease. Kohler-Cadmore took centre stage continuing his brilliant knock by reaching his third one-day century off 114 deliveries, which included 10 fours and two sixes.He stepped on the accelerator after notching his hundred. dominating his partnership with Pujara, which passed the 100-run mark when the opener smashed a huge six off the bowling of Weighell.However, he was then dismissed for a career-best 164 when he was caught on the boundary by Smith off George Harding. Pujara passed fifty to guide Yorkshire beyond 300, with Yorkshire posting 328 for 4 in their 50 overs, although he and Harry Brook were dismissed in back-to-back balls by Potts.Collingwood opted to open the batting for the first time in his Durham career since 2000 with Graham Clark. However, both were dismissed cheaply as Ben Coad and Tim Bresnan made early inroads into the home side’s line-up. Tom Latham failed to fire on his first appearance of the campaign loosely driving a Stephen Patterson delivery to Brook.A suicidal run-out saw the end of Will Smith before Rashid snagged the wicket of Ryan Pringle. Michael Richardson offered resistance in the middle order until he fell lbw to Rashid for 43, while the leg-spinner then removed James Weighell. Potts and Poynter made late runs, but Yorkshire were able to wrap the win with ease.

Test cricket’s newest entrants will almost exclusively play only one-off Tests, while Zimbabwe will face India after 14 years

Sreshth Shah21-Jun-20181:33

The new ICC FTP: an explainer

England v Ireland in July 2019, Australia v Afghanistan in November 2021 and an India v Zimbabwe Test after 14 years – these are just some of the fascinating contests lined up in the next five-year cycle for Test cricket’s three bottom-ranked teams, two of whom are just one Test old. In all, Afghanistan and Ireland have been allotted 13 Tests each according to the new FTP while Zimbabwe have 21.Afghanistan and Ireland have been assigned only one-off Tests for the next five years, barring a two-match series between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe in 2021. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, have a wide range of Test series scheduled: eight one-off Tests, five two-Test contests and one three-Test series.Afghanistan’s biggest Test encounter will be against Australia, who they face both at home (September 2022) and away (November 2021). Their next Test is at home against Ireland in February 2019, after which they travel to Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Afghanistan then host West Indies for a Test in December 2019 before playing Ireland again in March 2020. For the rest of the cycle, Afghanistan play more Tests against Zimbabwe and Ireland.Ireland have not been scheduled a Test against Australia, but play a lot more teams than Afghanistan – even though they’re all solitary games. They play Tests against England (July 2019), Sri Lanka (February 2020) and New Zealand (June 2022) apart from fixtures against West Indies, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.Graphic: Afghanistan and Ireland will play 13 Tests each over the next FTP cycle•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Zimbabwe’s Test fixtures include multiple encounters against Afghanistan and Ireland, but they will also travel for a three-Test tour of Bangladesh (January 2019), an away Test against India (March 2019) and home Tests against West Indies, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. But Zimbabwe have no Tests scheduled against Australia and South Africa, and no bilateral series against New Zealand and England.The way the FTP has been scheduled, it’s also likely that the teams’ Tests against Ireland and Afghanistan could be used as preparatory matches ahead of tours of England and India.On the limited-overs front, Ireland will play 64 ODIs and 65 T20Is, Zimbabwe will play 59 ODIs and 50 T20Is, and Afghanistan will play 51 ODIs and 45 T20Is. These include Afghanistan’s three ODIs against India (March 2021), Ireland’s six-match tour of New Zealand (June 2020) and South Africa (June 2021), and Zimbabwe’s three-match ODI series against Australia, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan from June-November 2020. Each of these teams also have multiple white-ball contests against West Indies and Bangladesh.While results from these Tests will not affect the ICC Test Championship, all three teams will keep a keen eye on the 13-team ODI Championship that begins from 2022. Only the top seven teams (plus hosts India) qualify directly from that tournament into the 2023 World Cup. For the rest, it’s a much tougher route.

Sri Lanka decided not to enforce the follow-on after taking a 214-run first-innings lead, which they stretched to 338 by stumps with both openers scoring fifties again

The Report by Firdose Moonda21-Jul-2018Dilruwan Perera celebrates a wicket•Associated Press

Think Galle, and now think of how things could have become more galling for South Africa. That’s what happened on the second day at the SSC, where Sri Lanka took significant strides towards a series win.South Africa succumbed to their second-lowest total in Sri Lanka, a mere seven days after they had slumped to their lowest on the island, to concede a first-innings lead of 214 runs. Sri Lanka’s spinners ripped through them for a third time, with Akila Dananjaya picking up his second five-wicket haul in his third Test. Akila had a day to remember, after also notching up a career-best undefeated 43 to help Sri Lanka swell their first-innings total to 338.Already that seems like enough, but with three days left in the match, Sri Lanka will look to pile it on, having chosen not to enforce the follow-on, against a wearing attack. Dale Steyn remains a wicket away from overtaking Shaun Pollock as South Africa’s leading Test bowler, but delivered four overs without success, bowling third change. Lungi Ngidi, who left the field in Sri Lanka’s first innings after being pinged on the shin when he dropped a return catch offered by Akila in his follow-through, returned during the second innings but only bowled fourth change, forcing Faf du Plessis to use part-timers Aiden Markram and Theunis de Bruyn. Kagiso Rabada shared the new ball with Keshav Maharaj, the only bowler to make some incisions.Maharaj’s first innings nine-for surpassed Allan Donald’s 8 for 71 in Harare in 1995 as the best figures by a South African bowler away from home and second-best figures by a South African in an innings, anywhere. He picked up two second-innings wickets, putting him just two behind Makhaya Ntini’s 13 scalps, the most in a match by a South African, but his efforts are unlikely to save South Africa.So far in this series, the visiting batsmen have lasted 54.3, 28.5 and 34.5 overs – a total of 118.1 overs – the equivalent of under four sessions in three innings. They have scored fewer runs in total, 323 in three innings, than Sri Lanka’s top-scorer Dimuth Karunaratne, who is unbeaten on 59, with 329 runs in the series and counting.South Africa’s approach against spin continues to be muddled and they have failed to answer the most pressing questions about batting on the subcontinent. Should they play for the turn, or not? Should they sweep, or not? Should they defend, or not?Some of them, clearly, cannot trust their defence. Like Dean Elgar. He blocked the first three balls he faced, from Dilruwan Perera, and then went forward to dead-bat a fourth but Akila got the ball to dip, spin away and take the edge. Dhananjaya de Silva took a good, low catch at second slip.Others are unsure what the ball is doing out of the hand. Like Theunis de Bruyn, who was included as a seventh specialist batsman and moved to No.3. He played for turn to an Akila ball that went on straight and was caught behind. Or Aiden Markram. He was trapped lbw, also playing for turn against Rangana Herath.Sri Lanka’s veteran only took one wicket in South Africa’s first innings, though he could have had two, Hashim Amla dropped off him when he drove to short cover only for Danushka Gunathilaka to fluff the chance. Instead, Amla became only the third South African to reach 9,000 Test runs. That number will receive its dues in years to come. For now, South Africa need him to play like a man with 9,000 runs to his name and that did not happen.Amla showed some signs of regaining form in a 55-run stand with du Plessis which was also the second-highest partnership South Africa have posted all series, but it was du Plessis who looked in control. The captain showed intent immediately after lunch when he struck five boundaries in six balls, and needed support. Amla could not provide it when he inside-edged onto his pad to offer short leg a catch and start the procession.Then the sweep came into play. Du Plessis prospered and perished by the shot, eventually bottom-edging a Dilruwan delivery that was confirmed to have made contact with the bat on review. Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock were both confident on the sweep, but by then, South Africa’s troubles were too deep.Bavuma chipped a catch to short leg, Maharaj top-edged a sweep to square leg and de Kock was pinned on the front pad to give Akila his fifth.After all that, South Africa had to take the field again and looked as though they wanted to be anywhere but in Colombo. A flat first 18 overs allowed Sri Lanka’s openers to race to 91 without loss, with Gunathilaka scoring a second half-century in the Test before holing out to deep midwicket. In his next over, Maharaj successfully reviewed an lbw appeal against de Silva and the only other wicket fell when Kusal Mendis was run out. Karunaratne remains in control and with Elgar extracting sharp turn in the final over of the day, it seems only one result can be achieved.

The result was tough on England allrounder Nat Sciver who made 95 off 57 balls then claimed 2 for 26

ECB Reporters Network31-Jul-2018
ScorecardIndia’s Harmanpreet Kaur held her nerve to secure a third successive Kia Super League win for Lancashire Thunder as they squeezed past Surrey Stars by five wickets with one ball to spare at The Oval.In front of a crowd of 2257, Surrey looked favourites when the last over began with Thunder needing 11 to win, especially when Laura Marsh ran out Ellie Threlkeld off the second ball. But Harmanpreet was now on strike and after taking two from the third delivery she hammered the fourth ball back over Marsh’s head to the boundary before launching the next delivery over the midwicket rope for six.Harmanpreet finished on 34 not out from 21 balls but Thunder’s win owed much to Australian left-hander Nicole Bolton who scored a superb 87 before she was dismissed in the 19th over when Surrey captain Nat Sciver also bowled Emma Lamb to drag her side back into contention.Bolton, who was dropped on 69, was leg before to a full toss before Lamb fell reverse-sweeping, but Harmanpreet’s power in her debut innings eventually got Thunder over the line.Sciver certainly didn’t deserve to finish on the losing side. Having earlier made an unbeaten 95 from 57 balls with two sixes and nine fours in Surrey’s 148 for 5 she took 2 for 26.She led an impressive fightback by the Stars who were 7 for 2 when she came in during the second over and quickly slumped to 17 for 3.The England allrounder enhanced her reputation as one of the most powerful hitters in the women’s game, striking nine fours and two sixes only to finish tantalisingly short of a deserved century.She wasn’t fazed by a sluggish pitch or some accurate spin bowling by Thunder, sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 74 in 11.2 overs with Dane van Niekerk before accelerating towards the end of the innings, putting on 41 off just 20 balls with Sophie Dunkley for the fifth wicket, of which her partner contributed five.It was just the response Surrey needed after their top three all went cheaply. Lizelle Lee edged the fourth ball of the innings from Kate Cross to wicketkeeper Threlkeld before offspinner Lamb picked up wickets in successive overs. Sarah Taylor came down the pitch looking to hit over the top only to send a leading edge to cover while Bryony Smith mis-hit to mid-on. Thereafter Sciver dominate, twice hitting Danni Hazell over mid-wicket during the 18th over.But Surrey’s total looked no more than competitive and Bolton and Eve Jones gave Thunder a solid platform in their chase by adding 62 in ten overs for the first wicket. Jones, dropped earlier in the over on 20, fell to legspinner Dunkley’s fourth ball without addition after she mis-timed a drive to mid-off.When Amy Satterthwaite holed out to long on off van Niekerk, Lancashire needed 79 off 8.3 overs.But Bolton was well and truly into her stride by now, reaching 50 from 42 balls before accelerating, although the outcome could have been different had Eva Gray held onto an easy chance at short third-man when Bolton was on 69. She hit 13 fours in 61 balls faced and also picked up the player of the match award.

Sri Lanka’s captain was impressed with his lead spinner’s ability to bounce back from tough outings in the fifth ODI

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Colombo12-Aug-2018He conceded 81 runs in the third ODI, went at 10 and over in the next one, and yet, claimed 6 for 29 in the fifth ODI, in Sri Lanka’s 178-run victory over South Africa. So emphatically did Akila Dananjaya bounce back from those Pallekele pastings, that Angelo Mathews has declared him to be “made of steel”. Not only did Akila finish the series in possession of the best match figures for a Sri Lanka bowler against South Africa, he was also the series’ best bowler, having taken 14 wickets at an average of 17.85. Despite the expensive outings at Pallekele, his economy rate also finished at a respectable 5.95.

Quinton de Kock

On Akila
“We’ve picked him really well through the whole series, but tonight it was really difficult to pick him initially, in the night. He performed really well and bamboozled us.”
On SL’s batting improvement through the series:
“In the first two games we didn’t have the biggest targets to chase. In the last two matches the Sri Lankan batting lineup batted with a lot of freedom. They put a lot of pressure on us. They set us big, challenging totals. In the fourth ODI we batted really well but didn’t manage to finish it. Tonight, Akila just bowled really well.”

“Akila’s made of steel – going for runs in the last couple of games and coming back with a six-for in this game was fantastic,” Mathews said. “He has been bowling so well for us over the past year and a half. You can have a couple of off days but he has been consistent with his performances over the past year and a half. He showed once again what he’s capable of.”At Khettarama, it was the googly that was Akila’s most destructive delivery, claiming the wickets of Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks in consecutive balls, before dismissing Heinrich Klaasen and Quinton de Kock as well. It is, of course, unusual that someone who primarily bowls offbreaks has a googly and a legbreak in his repertoire, but an unusual bowler is what Akila has always been. It was on the basis of that unorthodoxy that he made his debut for Sri Lanka way back in 2012, as a 17-year-old. Though largely ignored by the selectors between early 2013 and the middle of last year, Dananjaya has become a more refined bowler over the past six years, and Mathews – who is also a teammate at Colts Cricket Club – has watched him grow.”There is a big difference when you consider his debut, and you look at him now,” he said. “He bowls with a lot of confidence. He’s not afraid to bowl his variations. And those variations are now also bowled with a lot of control. So those add up to a big difference.”As Sri Lanka attempt to nail down their World Cup combination, Akila is imposing himself as the team’s lead spinner – a position Sri Lanka have struggled to fill in limited-overs cricket since the declines of Sachithra Senanayake and Ajantha Mendis. Despite some expensive outings, Akila has at least been reliably penetrative, claiming at least one wicket in each of his last six matches. Though the offbreak has always been his stock ball, the wristspin deliveries are proving effective for him, he said.”I got most of my recent caught-and-bowled wickets with the googly, and I’ve got a lot of wickets with the legbreak as well. In this series I’ve also been trying to turn the legbreak as much as I can. The googly and the legbreak need to get better, so I’ll keep working on those.”