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Sidra Ameen’s maiden ODI century in vain as Pakistan’s losing streak at World Cups extends to 18

S Sudarshanan13-Mar-2022Bangladesh posted their highest total in ODIs. Pakistan got their best opening partnership in over two years, and Sidra Ameen scored her first ODI century. The match between the Asian neighbours was full of drama, not just records, and ended with Pakistan extending their losing streak in World Cups to 18, and debutants Bangladesh notched up their first win.Chasing 234, Pakistan needed 94 off the last 15 overs with the set Ameen and Bismah Maroof in the middle. The pair had added 50 by that point in under 12 overs. They had assistance from the Bangladesh fielders, who were sloppy and dropped catches, which helped Ameen get the highest score by a Pakistan batter in Women’s World Cups when she got to 80.But an over later, Maroof miscued a heave off Jahanara Alam to midwicket to end the 64-run second-wicket stand. That set the cat among the pigeons, as Pakistan lost eight wickets for just 70 runs, including a phase where five wickets fell for just five runs. It was all thanks to the legspinning duo of Rumana Ahmed and Fahima Khatun who ran through the Pakistan middle- and lower-middle order. The experienced duo of Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz, in fact, were among three batters to fall for first-ball ducks.As long as Sidra Ameen was around, Pakistan had a chance; once she fell, it was all over•ICC via Getty

Pakistan’s hopes rested on Ameen, who went on to score her century, her first in ODIs. But her run-out for 104 with Pakistan on 215 signalled the end.Even though Pakistan’s batting has been their undoing for some time now – they have crossed 200 in ODIs only on seven out of 17 occasions from the start of 2021 – openers Ameen and Nahida Khan helped set a strong platform for the chase with a 91-run partnership, Pakistan’s best for the first wicket and second-best overall in Women’s World Cups.Nahida and Ameen were helped by some wayward new-ball bowling from Alam and Fariha Trisna, and stayed strong as the spinners came on. However, Rumana broke through when she had Nahida playing on. Ameen and Maroof then kept Pakistan on course, rotating the strike when boundaries were hard to come by, before the frenetic action towards the end.Earlier, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana added 96 for the third wicket with Fargana Hoque, which provided the base to post 234 for 7.The openers Shamima Sultana and Sharmin Akhter got off to a positive start against seamers Diana Baig and Fatima Sana. But it took just five balls from Dar to dismiss Shamima and apply the brakes on Bangladesh, who had raced to 51 for 1 in the powerplay.The stand between Nigar Sultana and Fargana Hoque put Bangladesh on course for their highest ODI total•ICC via Getty Images

On cue, Pakistan captain Maroof, who had opted to bowl after winning the toss, brought on spinners from both ends and Nashra Sandhu and Ghulam Fatima strung together the dots. Omaima Sohail reaped the rewards of sustained pressure as she picked up a wicket off her first ball in the game, having Akhter sweeping one on to the stumps for 44.It was then, at 79 for 2 in the 20th over, that Hoque and Nigar got together. With spinners in operation, they struggled to rotate the strike. But Fargana, having been in the middle for over ten overs at that stage, opened up. She first pulled Sana to the midwicket fence before sweeping Sohail. Sana was then hit for back-to-back fours as Hoque and Nigar brought up their fifty-run stand.Nigar was more reliant on singles, and she hit her only four off legspinner Ghulam. But Sana then returned to break the partnership, the best for Bangladesh in Women’s World Cup, trapping Nigar lbw on 46.Sandhu then struck twice in two balls, including Hoque for 71, slowing down the Bangladesh scoring at the death overs. They still managed to have enough on the board to set off the celebrations by the end of the day.

He departs as Australia’s leading men’s run-scorer in the format and led them to the 2021 T20 World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Feb-2023Aaron Finch has announced his retirement from T20Is, bringing an end to his Australia career, meaning there will be a new captain when the team next take the field later this year.The move had been expected following Finch’s decision to quit ODIs late last year and a significant gap until Australia’s next T20Is following the home World Cup where they failed to make the semi-finals.After that tournament, where Finch missed the final game against Afghanistan due to injury, he said he would take to assess his future during the BBL. He enjoyed a successful tournament for Melbourne Renegades, where he made 428 runs at 38.90, but has decided he won’t push through to August when Australia next play T20Is in South Africa.Finch captained the team to their first T20 World Cup title when they defeated New Zealand in Dubai during 2021.Related

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“Realising that I won’t be playing on until the next T20 World Cup in 2024, now is the right moment step down and give the team time to plan and build towards that event,” Finch said.”I’d like to thank my family, especially my wife Amy, my team-mates, Cricket Victoria, Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association for their support to allow me to play the game I love at the highest level. I also want to say a huge thank you to all the fans who have supported me throughout my international career.”Team success is what you play the game for and the maiden T20 World Cup win in 2021 and lifting the ODI World Cup on home soil in 2015 will be the two memories I cherish the most.”To be able to represent Australia for 12 years and play with and against some of the greatest players of all time has been an incredible honour.”Finch leaves as Australia’s leading men’s run-scorer in the format with 3120 at 34.28 and a strike-rate of 142.53. His high score of 172, made against Zimbabwe in 2018, is the highest T20I innings of all-time – a record he also held with his 156 against England in 2013.Aaron Finch led Australia to the 2021 T20 World Cup•AFP/Getty Images

Although Finch was not the force of old by last year’s World Cup his T20I form did not slide away in the same way as his ODI returns although there was a notable reduction in his strike-rate over the final two years of his career.He will continue to play with Renegades and said he would take up other domestic T20 opportunities if they were offered.”As one of only four men’s players to captain Australia to a World Cup victory, Aaron will always have a special place in Australian Cricket’s history,” Cricket Australia chair, Dr Lachlan Henderson, said. “Playing at the highest level for over a decade requires incredible determination and dedication, so we thank Aaron for his enormous contribution and wish him all the best in the next phase of his career.”There is no rush for Australia to appoint a new T20I captain with the men’s team next in action on a tour to South Africa in late August. There is no obvious standout candidate with Pat Cummins unlikely to be considered for all three roles. Matthew Wade led the side in the final World Cup game against Afghanistan when Finch was injured but his career may also have finished if Australia opt to look to the future.Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa, two of the leading white-ball bowlers in the world, offer intriguing options while Steven Smith, whose recent BBL form showed he should still command a place in the team, could be in the frame.A further left-field candidate could be Ashton Turner, the hugely successful Perth Scorchers captain, who had an outstanding BBL with bat and as a leader this season albeit his stop-start international career is underwhelming.

On a day when British thoughts were largely centred around Andy Murray’s first Wimbledon title, Middlesex served up a demolition of Kent at Uxbridge with Adam Rossington’s domineering 74 from 37 balls to the fore.

Tim Wigmore07-Jul-2013
ScorecardAdam Rossington gave the Uxbridge crowd a demonstration of his prowess•Matt Bright

On a day when British thoughts were largely centred around Andy Murray’s first Wimbledon title, Middlesex served up a demolition of Kent at Uxbridge. Adam Rossington’s domineering 74, taking advantage of a scorching day, flat track and unthreatening bowling, exposed the inadequacy of Kent’s 140.Kent’s day was rather summed up when Rossington was caught at midwicket by Sam Northeast, only for Northeast to touch the rope and concede a six. Rossington hardly required such assistance.A few days ago, he was seen briefly on Sky TV strolling out with a broad grin on his face to face a couple of balls and win a last-over finish against Essex in front of 20,000 at Lord’s. Not remotely as many witnessed a more extensive display of his powers.On this occasion, It was an innings marked by powerful driving and a relish for hitting the ball in the air; at one stage Darren Stevens was lashed for four boundaries in five balls. Rossington described opening as “the best time to bat” but said that he expects to slip back down the order when Paul Stirling returns from Ireland duty.But this was a victory set-up in Kent’s innings – their total always felt at least 40 runs below par. It was little wonder that there were no shortage of iPads and smart phones on display during Kent’s meandering effort, as spectators were understandably distracted by Murray’s efforts at Wimbledon.And even the 140 they recorded owed much to the generosity of Middlesex’s fielders: four catches were spilled as players struggled to pick up the ball against the backdrop of the afternoon sun.Kyle Mills, the Zealand seamer, alone had three catches spilled of his bowling, but, despite a couple of no balls, he was quick and canny in claiming 2-28, bowling at either end of the innings. His opening partner, Toby Roland-Jones, has struggled to replicate his outstanding first-class form in the shortest format. Not today: four parsimonious overs included the scalp of Rob Key to a crafty slower ball.Much of Kent’s batting had a harebrained feel. They are over-reliant on Darren Stevens. After he fell for a belligerent 25, the innings lacked a sense of impetus. Kent have the feeling of a side that badly needs renewal: Adam Blake and Sam Billings, who both hit enterprising cameos, need to become consistent scorers.Amid the hype about the start of the Ashes at Trent Bridge, Geraint Jones, who made 85 in 2005 there, hit a sparkly 22 to provide a little nostalgia. It was his first T20 game of the season, and seemingly an appearance he had not expected: on Thursday Jones had used his Twitter account to say that “The only positive to come out of not playing the T20’s is I can now enjoy guilt free beer day before game!”Vernon Philander’s pace was Kent’s last chance of making a contest of the game. Rossington ensured otherwise, driving with panache on both side of the wicket.Implausible as it sounds of a 37-ball 74, Rossington didn’t thrash from ball one, taking nine deliveries over his first two runs. The game was over long before he was bowled attempting to swing a fifth six. It was a deserved scalp for Tredwell, parsimonious amid the pandemonium unleashed at the other end.That left just enough time for a final flourish from Tredwell’s former teammate. Joe Denly’s six off Philander – launching him over mid-wicket after shimmying down the wicket – was a reminder of the qualities that briefly seduced England’s limited overs selectors. He is a way off an England recall, but how Kent would love him back. They have now lost their first four Twenty20 games: the shortest format is proving no relief in their grim season.

India’s premier first-class competition returns – in two phases, split by the IPL – after a year’s gap, and features Pujara and Rahane on the first day itself

Himanshu Agrawal15-Feb-2022When does the tournament begin? And why is it in two phases?
The 2021-22 Ranji Trophy will be held in two phases, with the IPL in between. The first phase, which consists of league matches and one pre-quarter-final, starts on February 17 and ends on March 15. The IPL is expected to start on March 27. Before the Ranji pre-quarter-final, there will be three rounds of matches held: the first from February 17 to 20, then February 24 to 27, and finally, from March 3 to 6. The second phase, of the knockouts, is likely to begin on May 30 – after the IPL has concluded – and run up to June 26.Related

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Who are the big-ticket players in the mix? And who are missing?
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane will turn out for Saurashtra and Mumbai, respectively. In fact, they will be up against each other on the very first day of the tournament, in Ahmedabad.Also available for their respective sides will be Hanuma Vihari (Hyderabad), Navdeep Saini and Nitish Rana (Delhi), Mayank Agarwal and Prasidh Krishna (Karnataka), Sreesanth (Kerala), Prithvi Shaw (Mumbai), Jaydev Unadkat (Saurashtra), Krunal Pandya (Baroda), Umesh Yadav (Vidarbha) and Vijay Shankar (Tamil Nadu).Among players who are expected to be free and available in that window, Hardik Pandya, Ishant Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha have all opted out. Hardik will be continuing his rehabilitation for a long-standing back injury and focus on his comeback in white-ball cricket, Saha and Ishant have made themselves unavailable.Kerala’s Robin Uthappa and Sanju Samson will also be absent. Uthappa is recovering from a hamstring injury, while Samson is undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.Are any of India’s Under-19 World Cup winners in the Ranji squads?
Yes. Batter Yash Dhull, who led India to their fifth Under-19 world title, is a part of Delhi’s squad. Quick bowler Ravi Kumar has been named in the Bengal side. Batter Harnoor Singh and allrounder Raj Angad Bawa are in the Chandigarh squad. Wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Bana and allrounder Nishant Sindhu have been picked by Haryana. And offspinners Vicky Ostwal and Kaushal Tambe will play for Maharashtra.What happened in the last Ranji Trophy?
The last time the tournament was conducted was during the 2019-20 season, when Saurashtra won the final against Bengal. But the Ranji Trophy had to be shelved during the following season because of pandemic. It was the first time the tournament, India’s premier first-class competition, had not featured in the calendar since its inception in the 1934-35 season.Saurashtra are the defending Ranji Trophy champions•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

How many teams are participating? And what’s the format for the league phase?
A total of 38 teams will be participating this season, and they have been divided into nine groups: eight Elite and one Plate. While the Elite groups have four teams each, the Plate Group has six sides in it.A total of 57 matches will be played in the league phase, as each team plays three matches. While the Elite teams face all other sides in their group once, the Plate teams will play only against three sides in their group. That will be followed by the pre-quarter-final and the knockouts: the quarter-finals, the semi-finals and the final. That’s a total of 65 matches.What is the points structure?
The ranking order of the teams will be decided by points. Should teams be level on points, then the number of outright wins becomes the deciding factor. If it’s still not conclusive, the quotient rule comes into play. This will be determined by dividing the team’s batting average by their bowling average.How will the pre-quarter-final and quarter-finals play out?
Of the eight Elite-Group toppers, the seven with the best numbers qualify directly for the quarter-finals. For the final quarter-finalist, the Elite-group topper with the fewest points gets into a pre-quarter-final with the Plate-group topper. The pre-quarter-final will be played just after the league phase, and will end before the start of the IPL.Where will the Ranji matches be played?
The Elite matches will all be held across eight states, all neutral to the teams in action. Rajkot, Cuttack, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Thumba, Delhi, Rohtak, Gurugram, Sultanpur and Guwahati will be the cities where matches will be played. All the Plate matches will be conducted in Kolkata. The venue for the pre-quarter-final and the knockouts will be decided later.What happens if a player tests positive for Covid-19?
In case a player tests positive for Covid-19 or shows symptoms which prevents his participation in a match as per public health guidance norms, the match referee can allow his team to field a Covid-19 replacement after getting the necessary confirmations. However, the player coming in should only be a like-for-like replacement so as to prevent the side from getting any undue advantage.

The opening match of the Under-19 tri-nation tournament between Bangladesh and Pakistan was abandoned due to rain, with both teams sharing a point each

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Aug-2013Match abandoned
ScorecardIncessant showers put a premature end to the opening match of the Under-19 tri-nation tournament between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Haslegrave Ground in Loughborough. The teams shared a point each, after rain arrived in the afternoon after 17 overs of Pakistan’s innings, and refused to let off.The rain might have just come in time for Pakistan, who were struggling at 38 for 4, chasing Bangladesh’s modest 145. Medium-pacer Rifat Pradhan and offspinner Mehedy Hasan picked up two wickets each, but Hussain Talat and Kamran Ghulam held on for six overs, before the match was called off.Bangladesh, put in to bat, struggled against left-arm pace bowler Mohammad Aftab and Talat, who took two wickets each. Nazmul Hossain Shanto top-scored with a 63-ball 30, but Bangladesh’s next major source of runs came from the 29 extras which inclued 17 wides and seven no-balls. Their innings included three ducks and three run-outs.The second match of the series will be played on Tuesday when Pakistan square off against England at Sleaford.

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has said that MS Dhoni should take a lot of credit for Chennai Super Kings’ success in the IPL in his role as the captain

ESPNcricinfo staff03-May-2013England batsman Kevin Pietersen has said that MS Dhoni should take a lot of credit for Chennai Super Kings’ success in the IPL in his role as the captain. Super Kings have already featured in four finals, winning two and losing two (in addition to winning a Champions League title), and are almost certain to qualify for the playoffs in the current season as well.Pietersen, part of Delhi Daredevils, couldn’t take part in the IPL this year due to a knee injury. Pietersen has been off the braces for the last ten days and hopes to be fit for the Ashes.”The reason why CSK are so successful is because MS is such a clever skipper in Indian conditions,” Pietersen said at an event in New Delhi. “Besides him (Dhoni) making a huge impact with the bat, CSK have also got quality spinners for the tracks on which they are playing. Their overseas recruits including Michael Hussey and even coach Stephen Fleming, have made significant contributions.”Daredevils have struggled in the tournament, currently second from last in the points table, but Pietersen felt his absence wasn’t the only reason for their slump.”It’s flattering to hear that but I don’t think that’s the only reason. We also didn’t have Viru [Sehwag] for the initial matches, Morne [Morkel] and Roelof [van der Merwe] had domestic commitments. Also what happened to Jesse [Ryder] made us slow starters. But the boys are gaining confidence and mathematically, we can still make it.”Looking ahead to the Champions Trophy in England in June, which he will also miss, Pietersen backed his Daredevils team-mates Umesh Yadav and Irfan Pathan to shine, if selected.”In England, the Indian bowlers will have a good time as the ball swings a bit more. Whatever I have seen, Umesh has developed a good slower delivery which will be helpful in limited-overs cricket. Irfan, being a left-armer is a valuable asset with the angles he can produce.”

Kumar Sangakkara, the Sunrisers Hyderabad captain, has said the decision to exclude Sri Lankan players from the IPL matches in Chennai will not “curtail” the spirit of cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Apr-2013Kumar Sangakkara, the Sunrisers Hyderabad captain, has said the decision to exclude Sri Lankan players from the IPL matches in Chennai will not “curtail” the spirit of cricket. The players, he said, continue to feel “very welcome” in other parts of India.”Politics in this case has restricted our presence, our belief to play in every part of India. But I don’t think sports and spirit of cricket is ever going to be curtailed by such prejudice,” Sangakkara told . “The build-up has been different and difficult for Sri Lankan players. But at the end of the day they are here to play IPL.””The Sri Lankan Cricket Board has made it clear that no Sri Lankan players will be [playing] in Chennai. [But] India is much more than Chennai and Tamil Nadu, and I think the rest of India has been very welcoming of us.”The IPL’s governing council decided that the matches in Chennai will not feature any Sri Lankan cricketers or match officials, following growing political tensions, stemming from the treatment of certain ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka.Responding to comments from former players stating that the Sri Lankans should boycott the IPL due to the restrictions, Sangakkara said: “It has been a divisive issue back home as well. But this is not a nation versus nation issue. It’s only a state… and I don’t think it is the entire state [Tamil Nadu].”So, we’ve got to put it in the right perspective. Foreign policies are not going to be dictated by that and had it been a nation versus nation issue then Sri Lankan players would not have been here.”

Travis Head and Alex Carey look set to miss most of the tournament

Tristan Lavalette06-Dec-2021Captain Travis Head
Coach Jason GillespieSquad

Wes Agar, Fawad Ahmed, Alex Carey, Harry Conway, George Garton (England), Ryan Gibson, Travis Head, Spencer Johnson, Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Harry Nielsen, Liam O’Connor, Matt Renshaw, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Peter Siddle, Jake Weatherald, Jon Wells, Daniel Worrall, Daniel Drew (replacement), Thomas Kelly (replacement)In Fawad Ahmed (Scorchers), George Garton
Out Danny Briggs, Michael Neser (Heat), Phil Salt, Cameron ValenteLast season Fifth
The BBL07 champions endured an inconsistent season marked by several perplexing home defeats and they were fortunate to qualify for the playoffs after results went their way. There was hope a strong top-order of Alex Carey, Jake Weatherald and Travis Head could click into gear at the pointy end but the Strikers’ disappointing season ended at the hands of Brisbane Heat in the eliminator. They showed occasional signs of being a force, but lapses proved costly – none more so than during a disastrous home loss to struggling Melbourne Renegades. Their middle-order constantly struggled to fire, while the absence of brilliant spinner Rashid Khan in the latter stages considerably weakened Strikers’ attack.Related

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International impact
The final Ashes selection calls have left Strikers significantly shorthanded at the top of the order. Alex Carey has won the race to be Tim Paine’s replacement while Head has been preferred over Usman Khawaja to bat No. 5. Matt Renshaw is also with the Australia A squad so will miss the early matches. Rashid should be available for the entire tournament.Player to watch
Rashid Khan has proven to be Strikers’ talisman for many years and brings a concoction of high skill and showmanship to the team. When he’s in his groove, Strikers are tough to beat and his absence late last season due to international duties magnified Rashid’s importance. The 23-year-old arrives in Australia in form following a typically brilliant showing at the T20 World Cup, where he snared eight wickets in five games. Rashid has had to shrug off the disappointment of Afghanistan’s historic Test in Australia being postponed, but helping inspire the Strikers back up the ladder would provide some solace.Key stat (Gaurav Sundararaman)
Strikers have been the most economical bowling unit over the last two seasons. In 2019-20 they went at 7.80 while in 2020 they went at 7.60. Although Rashid is a big contributor to that stat the support provided by the pace bowlers is also very valuable. Their quicks go only at 7.83 which is the second best in the competition

Worcestershire have signed Sri Lanka middle-order batsman Thilan Samaraweera for the 2013 county season

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2013Worcestershire have signed Sri Lanka middle-order batsman Thilan Samaraweera for the 2013 county season. Since his Test debut in 2001, he has gone on to play 81 Tests for Sri Lanka, the latest being the New Year’s Test at the SCG. He has an impressive average of 48.76, though he was less consistent last year than the four years before that.”Playing county cricket has been one of my long term career ambitions,” Samaraweera said in a release issued by the county. “I am extremely grateful to Steve Rhodes and Worcestershire CCC for giving me the opportunity to fulfill this ambition and I look forward to repaying this faith by making significant contributions on the field this season. I can’t wait to arrive in April and get started with the boys and pull on the Worcestershire shirt for the first time.”Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: “We have been searching for an overseas batsman once we realised that Phil Hughes was not going to be available. Thilan’s record of a batting average of 48 in Test cricket speaks volumes for his ability with the bat. His wealth of experience is a big boost for the squad in general, but particularly our young talented batsmen who will benefit from his wily words of wisdom.”

Majority of the previous set of office bearers were voted in uncontested, will hold positions for two years

Andrew Fidel Fernando20-May-2021Shammi Silva has been elected Sri Lanka Cricket president again, after he and the majority of the previous set of office bearers were voted in uncontested. They will hold these positions for two years.Silva’s faction, which includes vice-presidents Ravin Wickramaratne and Jayantha Dharmadasa, and secretary Mohan de Silva, did not face any challenges in this election, after an opposing faction withdrew on Tuesday. That faction had comprised Sri Lanka’s first Test captain Bandula Warnapura, Nishantha Ranatunga, and K Mathivanan, and had cited the “lack of a level playing field” in the elections process in the letter indicating their withdrawal. Both Ranatunga and Mathivanan, however, had held elected positions within SLC over the last 10 years.

SLC’s office bearers until May 2023

• Shammi Silva – President

• Ravin Wickaramaratne-Vice-president

• Jayantha Dharmadasa-Vice-president

• Mohan de Silva-Secretary

• Krishantha Kapuwatta-Assistant-secretary

• Lasantha Wickramasinghe-Treasurer

• Sujeewa Godaliyadda-Deputy treasurer

Although Silva’s faction regained their offices, they will now face increased scrutiny after the parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprise (COPE) publicly questioned several financial and administrative lapses within SLC, earlier this year. There is also the matter of the previous board led by Silva having failed to hold elections in time, which led to the sports minister intervening to dissolve the board, and appoint a management committee to run SLC for several weeks until fresh elections were held.The re-election of Silva and his committee also means that initiatives they had begun in their previous tenure – such as the Lanka Premier League – will likely continue through this next tenure. Silva was first elected president in 2019, and had been vice-president before that.