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He produced an all-round performance, notching up 67 at No.7 and then taking two wickets in a tied game

Andrew Fidel Fernando03-Aug-2024Dunith Wellalage, all of 21, produced an exemplary all-round performance on a tough pitch at Khettarama. Batting at No. 7, he played Sri Lanka’s best innings, hitting 67 not out off 65, in a total of 230 for 8 in the first ODI.When defending, the left-arm spinner took 2 for 39 off nine overs, taking the crucial wicket of Rohit Sharma, who was India’s best batter on the evening, and Sri Lanka went on to tie the game.On the batting front, Wellalage had started watchfully after coming in at 101 for 5 in the 27th over, but on a surface on which no one truly looked set, he seemed the most comfortable batter across both teams, even striking powerful boundaries at the close. For this innings, he took inspiration from a Sri Lanka team-mate, he said.Related

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Pathum Nissanka, who hit another fifty on Friday, has been the hosts’ best batter of the tour so far, having also made runs in the T20Is.”They have a lot of experienced bowlers, so the more we can limit our mistakes, the more we can put pressure on them,” Wellalage said of his thinking during his innings. “I was watching Pathum Nissanka bat quite a lot. I put his batting in my mind as I came up with a plan. If you take the pitch, it was one that supported spin bowling. I tried to put as much pressure on the bowler and build partnerships.”With the ball, he perhaps struck the most important blow of the night. Rohit was threatening to make easy work of the target when he galloped to his fifty off 33 balls. But in the 15th over, Wellalage beat him in flight, and struck Rohit in front of the stumps as he attempted a sweep shot, cutting that innings short for 58 off 47.This is after he’d also dismissed Shubman Gill, again with a nicely flighted delivery that Gill top edged high enough for the keeper to track it down. Wellalage had been the first spinner to be introduced, inside the powerplay.”We knew that the wicket was spinning. So Charith Asalanka had told me that I would be bowling in the powerplay. I had good support from the wicket too.”With Rohit at the time, I was trying just to bowl wicket-to-wicket, because I knew how much assistance there was from the pitch.”The middle to late overs, were all Wanindu Hasaranga and Asalanka, said Wellalage. Those two bowlers took three wickets apiece, with Asalanka providing the final touches, taking two wickets in the 48th over when India had already tied the game. Having Axar Patel caught behind was his other wicket.Earlier, Hasaranga had removed Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Kuldeep Yadav.”When we bowled, the game changed with the wickets that Wanindu and Charith took. They took wickets at very difficult times, and that’s how we were able to at least keep it to this score. If you take Axar Patel and KL Rahul, these are batters who have finished a lot of matches.”At that time we needed to get the bowlers in, and when Charith got Axar out and Wanindu got KL Rahul out. It was important to stay calm at that stage, and the match turned our way.”

Franchise leagues are attracting all the top talent so cricket boards are having to adjust their parameters for selection

Firdose Moonda08-Dec-2023Welcome to the future of South African bilateral cricket.This is a place where players who don’t feature in international series will still remain available for the national side at major tournaments. And where players who grind it out in the bilaterals might just be placeholders for the superstars.Does this sound revolutionary? It might not, because it’s been done before. Kind of. West Indies have long selected from their T20 franchise superstars for World Cups, even if they had not played for the national side. Trent Boult gave up his New Zealand central contract in 2022 but was part of the 50-over ODI World Cup this year. And Jofra Archer last played international cricket in March and was ruled out for the entire summer but remained a traveling reserve for this World Cup.Related

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Now, having conceded defeat to the financial clout of T20 leagues, that’s how South Africa will treat Quinton de Kock (and maybe even Faf du Plessis), who are currently playing cricket – just not for them. They’re both at the Abu Dhabi T10, where de Kock is opening the batting for the Delhi Bulls, which clashes with his other commitment to play for the Melbourne Renegades at the BBL, which also clashes with South Africa’s white-ball series against India. In that order, that’s his priority list.That means de Kock will not play any international cricket for at least six months but he remains nationally contracted and is still expected to be named in the T20 World Cup squad. Du Plessis’ name has popped up again after white-ball coach Rob Walter mentioned him in a press conference earlier in the week and he subsequently confirmed his interest in a World Cup comeback. In the meantime, the show must go on.It will from this weekend, where South Africa’s short international summer begins with an all-format visit from India in what would normally be a headline series. Instead, the white-ball games – three T20Is and three ODIs – will be played without several frontline players on both sides as workloads are managed, a fifty-over World Cup cycle ends, and the priorities of the global game shift.The upshot of all this is that there is opportunity for players to establish themselves in the national side, whether or not they are able to sustain that through to a World Cup spot.Take Matthew Breetzke. He made his debut in the third T20 against Australia in September – a series South Africa lost 0-3 – and scored five runs batting at No. 3. Given that de Kock and David Miller had been given a break for that series, and both are certainties in South Africa’s T20 XI, that could have been that for Breetzke and he knew it. “I only got one shot at it, in the last game of that series,” he said from Durban, where the series starts on Sunday. “This time, hopefully I will get all the shots. It frees me up to be the best that I can be.”He doesn’t have to hope. Walter named Breetkze as the designated opener alongside Reeza Hendricks, after Breetkze impressed him with his work ethic and temperament against Australia. While it is only a sample size of one, Walter said Breetke’s approach in the innings, where he made room and tried and to hit Marcus Stoinis over the mid-on early in the innings showed “the courage to make a play in that situation is sometimes worth more than the actual result.”And Breetkze intends to continue in that vein. “I like to play positive cricket,” he said. “I will be looking to play the conditions but if it’s a good wicket, I will be out there trying to put the first foot forward.”Donovan Ferreira is another experimental pick in the South African side•Gallo Images/Getty Images

So far this summer, Breetzke has not managed to do that. He has played five List A games with a total of 57 runs and a top-score of 36 and two first-class matches, while only crossing 40 once. “The runs haven’t been where I’ve wanted them to be and I have been getting out in silly ways,” he said. “But I have been hitting the ball really nicely. In terms of form I have been feeling good.”He also has the pedigree to back that up. After finishing the 2018 Under-19 World Cup as South Africa’s second-highest run-scorer, Breetzke was also the second-highest run-scorer in the 2021 domestic T20 Cup and the highest run-scorer in the 2022-23 first-class competition and is regularly in the conversation when it comes to the next crop of South Africa’s batters. So much so that he was picked up by Durban’s Super Giants in the SA20, where he batted as a floater and rubbed shoulders with some of the game’s greats, including the player he is now replacing, de Kock. He described the experience as “awesome,” because of the “crowds and the way we got treated on and off the field. It gets you used to international cricket in terms of media and crowds. I feel a bit more relaxed than if I had come in two or three years ago.”And that’s really what sums up the way South Africa (and likely other countries) aim to develop their T20 game going forward: through their own league structure and then by having more high-profile players like de Kock in overseas leagues. Like most others, their schedule of international T20 fixtures is limited – South Africa play these matches and a three-match series in West Indies just before next year’s World Cup – so choosing a squad is based as much on performances in bilaterals as on league stats.Another example is allrounder Donovan Ferreira, who earned an international call-up on the back of his SA20 performances and will also have the three-match series against India to make a case for future selections. South Africa’s other experimental picks are Ottniel Baartman, a medium-pacer who has been playing professionally for almost a decade and earns a call-up as Kagiso Rabada is rested, and Nandre Burger, a left-arm quick who is seen as a replacement for Anrich Nortje in this squad. Those are shoes for both to fill, as are Breetzke’s in de Kock’s spot and it will be important for the players to remember that’s not really the point.As Breetzke said, facing India is a “special opportunity,” and even though the sparkle of bilateral white-ball games has been dimmed by leagues, there’s still a lot to play for.

“It’s sad actually that we haven’t toured England again after doing so well, especially in white-ball cricket”

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Mar-2023Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh’s ODI captain, has expressed his frustration that his side are not given the opportunity to tour England and Australia more often.Bangladesh have not toured England for a bilateral series since 2010, when they played two Tests and three ODIs. Tamim, then aged 21, hit hundreds at Lord’s and Old Trafford, and while Bangladesh were heavily beaten in both Tests, they took the ODI series to a decider thanks to a memorable win in Bristol.Related

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Their most recent bilateral tour to Australia was even longer ago, a three-match ODI series back in 2008. They are due to travel there for two Tests in March 2027, according to the ICC’s Future Tours Programme, but are not due to play an away series against England in this edition of the FTP.”That’s a long way away now, 2010,” Tamim told the UK’s . “But those innings I will always remember. Scoring a hundred in England is not easy, especially for a team like us. The memories are something that, when I’ve finished cricket, I will take forever in my heart.”Those two are really close to my heart, but the most important thing is you guys need to invite us more often. That was the last time we played there, which is unfortunate. Bangladesh is in a situation now where we should tour Australia and England more often and I don’t know why that doesn’t happen.”It’s been 13 years now and we haven’t been back to England. It’s sad actually that we haven’t toured again after doing so well, especially in white-ball cricket.”There are more than 600,000 people in England and Wales who registered as Bangladeshi in the 2021 census, and Bangladesh’s fixtures at the 2017 Champions Trophy and 2019 World Cup attracted substantial crowds.And Tamim believes that would be repeated if Bangladesh were invited for a bilateral tour. “I can guarantee you, it will be less England fans and more Bangladeshi fans, for sure,” he said.”If you remember the 2017 Champions Trophy, we actually outnumbered the English fans… whatever format we play, if we get invited to play in England, it will be a full house.”Bangladesh are due to tour England later this year, but their opponents will be Ireland. The teams are due to play three ODIs in the final fixtures of the ICC’s Super League, which are expected to be staged at Chelmsford in the second week of May. The fixtures have not yet been confirmed.

Last week, head coach Misbah-ul-Haq accused Amir of making up the circumstances around which he announced his retirement

Danyal Rasool18-Jan-2021Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has left the door ajar for a possible return to international cricket, but reiterated he would “only be available once this management leaves”. Amir, who last month retired from international cricket alleging he was being “mentally tortured”, has seen his relationship with the current PCB board and management deteriorate steadily over time, with the war of words showing no signs of simmering down since Amir walked away from the national side.Last week, Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq accused Amir of “making up” the circumstances around which he announced his retirement, claiming the bowler had missed out on selection for a number of series previously because his performance hadn’t been good enough. He dismissed suggestions Amir’s omission came about as a result of a personal feud between the 28-year old and bowling coach Waqar Younis, saying “nobody supported his selection” among the six association coaches, Misbah himself, and the Pakistan captain Babar Azam.Upon missing out on selection for the series against New Zealand, Amir had tweeted that “only Misbah” could explain why he hadn’t been included, before criticising bowling coach Waqar Younis for talking about his workload. That, coupled by Amir’s frequent praise of former Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur, at one point saying he would “love to play under Arthur for any side in the world”, offered insight into how he viewed his relations with the current coaching staff.The PCB told ESPNcricinfo they had no further comment on Amir’s latest remarks, insisting they would not issue statements through the media on matters pertaining to a retired cricketer.

Among all Indian fast bowlers who’ve taken at least 10 wickets in home Tests, Shami and Umesh have the best strike rates

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Ranchi22-Oct-20194:32

India’s consistent pressure made us weak in every Test – du Plessis

Among all Indian fast bowlers who’ve taken at least 10 wickets in home Tests, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav have the best strike rates. It’s a fact Virat Kohli is well aware of – he brought it up himself in his post-match press conference after India wrapped up a 3-0 Test series victory over South Africa in Ranchi.What makes Shami and Umesh so dangerous in Indian conditions? According to Kohli, it stems from the attacking lines they bowl, and their fitness, which allows them to bowl relentlessly in those areas.”If you look at these two guys, their strike rate is probably the best in Indian conditions in history, which tells you that these guys hit the stumps and the pads more than anyone else before them.” Kohli said. “It’s again a great sign of the kind of intent that the bowlers are running in with now. The fitness levels obviously have gone up, so your brain is obviously supporting what you want to do, because your body also will support that workload.”You bowl three good overs and if you’re tired, then the other two [overs in the spell] are not as effective, and you lose the opportunity to take a wicket after creating pressure. But these guys are relentless, they’re running in to just take wickets, bowl in areas that make batsmen uncomfortable.Virat Kohli runs in to celebrate a wicket with Umesh Yadav•BCCI

“The focus was on spin [in the lead-up to the series], but the pacers have done the damage. We’ve become a multi-dimensional team now, and it’s not [just] one thing that you need to counter when you’re playing against us.”India’s fast bowlers ended the series with a collective bowling average of 17.50. South Africa’s quicks, in comparison, averaged 70.20.After the first Test in Visakhapatnam, where Shami had run through South Africa in the fourth innings, Kohli had said Shami was capable of getting more help out of Indian pitches than anyone else he had seen. Asked how he and Umesh were able to get that sort of help while their South African counterparts could not, Kohli said it was mindset that set India’s fast bowlers apart.”We speak of doing things differently,” Kohli said. “On a green pitch, say the openers walk into bat and feel like, ‘well, the opposition hasn’t gotten many runs, so we might not either’, then you’re not going to get runs. If you believe we can score runs on green wickets, you will get a hundred when the others don’t. So it’s about mindset.”As fast bowlers, if you feel like there’s nothing in the pitch but we can make something happen, you will make it happen, because that’s the kind of effort you want to bowl with. If you look at a pitch and you just give up, then you’re getting nothing out of it, so it’s the mindset. They want to make things happen, they don’t want easy cricket, they don’t want easy situations, they want to have things which are challenging, and then they try to come on top, because it’s going to do the team a lot of good if you do well in difficult scenarios.”It’s all about the mindset. They run in to bowl, they ask – even if the ball is doing a little bit – after the spinners have bowled, they immediately want the ball back, so they want to make an impact, they want to make breakthroughs, and I think it’s about the positive mindset they’ve created for themselves.”When India went to South Africa last year and played on green, seaming pitches, they lost the first two Tests despite putting the hosts under pressure at various points, but came back to win the third in Johannesburg. The return tour didn’t have anything like the same degree of competitiveness.”Yeah, look, when we went to South Africa, we know that we competed in every game, and eventually ended up winning the last Test as well,” Kohli said. “It was all about one session or maybe an hour of bad cricket that cost us games, so we understand that, to compete in conditions which are not yours, you need to be positive every single minute of every day on the field. If you let five minutes of negativity creep in, it’s a downward slide from there.”We understand that it can get difficult, but we have also applied a lot of pressure on the opposition, especially in our conditions, so it’s difficult to keep up when the [other] team is playing so well, but yeah, focusing on the positives of our team, I don’t think we allowed the opposition to get into any game, at any stage at all.”Shahbaz Nadeem celebrates a wicket•BCCI

India handed a debut to Shahbaz Nadeem in the third Test, after he came into the squad as a late replacement for Kuldeep Yadav. Close to 15 years after his first-class debut, the left-arm spinner enjoyed an excellent Test debut, picking up four wickets and finishing the match with two in two balls. Kohli said India had always been aware of Nadeem’s quality as a bowler.”I’ve played with Nadeem before as well, Under-19 as well, and we’ve always known he’s quite a skilful bowler, the kind of skill he has with his conventional left-arm spin,” Kohli said. “He puts revolutions on the ball, his seam position is really good, bowls at a good pace, and when you’ve taken 420 wickets in first-class cricket, you can come and bowl four maidens straight up in a Test match [like Nadeem did]. He’s capable of bowling in one area.”I think he’s made a very good start. He bowled with a lot of composure. It’s amazing how things can change dramatically in life. Two days before the Test, he was in Kolkata, and from there he came here and played. He was not out with the bat, he pulled off an excellent run-out, and in both innings he bowled well, so I’m quite happy for him. I’ve known him for a long time. He’s obviously a quality bowler, and for us to bring him in on this kind of track as a replacement, we already knew he has the quality. From here, he’ll only keep building.”

Chamari Atapattu, Eshani Lokusuriyage and Dilani Manodara return to Sri Lanka’s T20I squad for the five-match series against India, starting September 19

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Sep-2018The inclusion of 17-year-old allrounder Kavisha Dilhari, and the returns of Eshani Lokusuriyage and Dilani Manodara, are among seven changes Sri Lanka have made to the squad that will face India for the five-match T20I series starting on September 19. Chamari Atapattu, who had missed the Asia Cup T20 – Sri Lanka’s last T20 assignment – with dengue, but captained the ODI series last week, will lead the side in the T20Is as well.

Sri Lanka squad for T20I series

Chamari Attapattu (captain), Yasoda Mendis, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Eshani Lokusuriyage, Hasini Perera, Dilani Manodara (wk), Shashikala Siriwardena, Nilakshi De Silva, Imalka Mendis, Sripalee Weerakkodi, Sugandika Kumari, Rebeca Vandort, Udeshika Prabodhini, Ama Kanchana, Kavisha Dilhari
Out: Oshadi Ranasinghe, Nipuni Hansika, Malsha Shehani, Achini Kulasooriya, Harshitha Madavi, Inoshi Fernando, and Inoka Ranaweera

Dilhari, who has long been dubbed by the Sri Lanka management as future star, made her international debut against Pakistan in March this year. On Sunday, in the third ODI against India, she picked Harmanpreet Kaur’s wicket and scored a vital 12 not-out in Sri Lanka’s successful chase of 254 – their highest in ODIs – off the penultimate ball of the game. The winning hit came off Dilhari’s bat.The inclusions of Lokusuriyage and Manodara, however, come as a surprise. Lokusuriyage, 34, last played for Sri Lanka in the the 2017 World Cup and hasn’t played in the shortest format since 2016, while 35-year old wicketkeeper-batsman Manodara played all the ODIs against India but scored just 21 runs across the three games. She didn’t keep wickets in any of those matches.Allrounder Ama Kanchana, who had also been ruled out with dengue alongside her captain for the Asia Cup, returned to the side, while 24-year-old batsman Imalka Mendis has also found a place. Mendis’ inexperience had cost her a spot during the Asia Cup, but her cause has been aided by the management deciding to take a long-term view. Sripali Weerakkody also returns on the back of some promising displays in the ODIs against India. The 32-year old allrounder last played a T20I in October 2017.Katunayake will host the first T20I on September 19, before the action moves to Colombo for the next three games on September 21, 22 and 24. The teams will return to Katunayake for the tour ender on September 25.

The threat of a final-day defeat at Kia Oval, plus signs of a Somerset revival in the west, have put Yorkshire’s top-flight status in jeopardy

Alan Gardner at The Kia Oval14-Sep-20171:31

County Championship Round-up: Yorkshire in strife

Yorkshire were left facing a battle to avoid defeat after three days at The Oval, with their Division One status becoming increasingly imperilled. They were made to follow on for the third time this season after being dismissed for 396 by Surrey, for whom Gareth Batty and Freddie van den Bergh shared six wickets, and reached the close still 139 in arrears.On a surface that has worn slowly but steadily, Surrey’s pair of spinners likely hold the key to victory. Batty soon brought himself on again and, although he could not add to Sam Curran’s initial breakthrough, Yorkshire have a job on their hands if they are to emulate their escape against Hampshire earlier this season, when Gary Ballance’s unbeaten double-hundred secured a draw after following on at the Ageas Bowl.They did at least begin steadily, losing just the wicket of Tom Kohler-Cadmore in the 23 overs remaining of the evening session, as Shaun Marsh and Alex Lees reached stumps unbeaten. With Somerset closing in on victory over Lancashire and Middlesex seeking bonus points from their severely rain-affected fixture at Uxbridge, defeat here would likely leave Yorkshire in the bottom two.Kohler-Cadmore had described the pitch as one he would “love to bat on every week” after play on the second evening and he was quickly given another chance as Yorkshire failed to reach the 443 they required to avert the follow-on. He could only manage 11 this time around before falling lbw and it remains to be seen whether he will keep his place in the side for the visit of bottom club Warwickshire to Headingley next week, with Adam Lyth likely to return and West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite set for a debut.For a Yorkshire side that claimed the Championship trophy in 2014 and 2015, before narrowly missing out on three in a row this time last year, this has been a difficult campaign – the first under Andrew Gale as coach. Depleted by England call-ups (they are currently missing Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett and David Willey due to the limited-overs series with West Indies), they must now summon some of the grit Gale was famous for as a player if they are to see out the final day.The morning began with van den Bergh, on his Championship debut, picking up where he left off – his spell from the Pavilion End eventually lasting 32 overs before the arrival of the second new ball allowed him a break. Aged 25, van den Burgh has played nine games of senior cricket going back to 2011, but a muscle injury for Amir Virdi meant he won a chance against Yorkshire. He should expect plenty more opportunities to impress on the final day.Van den Bergh certainly made an impact, as he had a hand in each of the first four wickets to fall. Kohler-Cadmore had spooned a catch to point in the final overs of the second day, after an opening stand of 162, and Marsh also failed to go on, stumped for an identical 78 after being lured forward by the slow left-armer.That was in the sixth over of the day, enough to send the first shiver through Yorkshire supporters. The captain, Ballance, then joined Lees, whose unproductive season has seen him drop down to No. 3, in a stand worth 53 but van den Bergh struck again an hour into the session. Lees had accumulated steadily but on 46 connected with a firm sweep that Ryan Patel, at square leg, dived to snatch up one-handed.The loss of Ballance, who had been averaging 91.89 in the Championship coming into this match, was a more debilitating blow. He set off for an ambitious single having pushed towards cover and then could not get back in time as the bowler hared after it and relayed the throw to Ben Foakes behind the stumps. At 243 for 4, the good ship Yorkshire had struck an ice (van den) Bergh.Although the rest of the innings fell away in slow motion, there was a sense of inevitability about it. Jack Leaning helped add another 59 with Andrew Hodd before edging a Curran delivery with the second new ball to Foakes; Hodd and Tim Bresnan then buckled down for 18 overs to put on 41. But with Yorkshire still 100 from the follow-on target, Batty crowbarred out two more: Bresnan taken at slip, then Azeem Rafiq lbw for a three-ball duck.Hodd went on to a fourth fifty of the season but he could not carry Yorkshire as far as they needed. Stuart Meaker made a mess of Steve Patterson’s stumps and Foakes claimed a fourth victim with an excellent diving grab as Curran found Jack Brooks’ outside edge, before Hodd was last out trying to swing Batty into the stands and only finding cover.

The fast-bowling allrounder has said he was “deeply embarrassed” about the incident

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Apr-2017New Zealand fast-bowling allrounder Doug Bracewell has pleaded guilty in the Hastings District Council for a case of drink driving. Bracewell said he was “deeply embarrassed” about the incident.Bracewell was stopped while driving in Hastings on March 18 and recorded breath-alcohol reading of 783 micrograms per litre of breath while the legal limit is 250mcg.”I made a massive mistake by driving that evening and apologise unreservedly for my actions,” Bracewell said on Thursday. “This was no-one’s fault but my own; I take full responsibility, and I’m deeply embarrassed to have let down so many people – be they family, friends, or cricket lovers.”Bracewell will be sentenced under the provisions for offenders who have two or more previous drink-drive convictions. New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said the board had not yet decided on imposing a penalty on Bracewell since the judicial proceedings had not completed yet.”As such it would it be premature to comment on that particular matter,” White said.”As an organisation, we’re committed to promoting safe and responsible behaviours on our roads and take a very dim view of drink-driving.”Driving responsibly and considerately is a key part of creating safer communities, and, as Doug has said himself, he should have known better.”

Hamish Marshall and Michael Klinger produced an opening stand of 156 as Gloucestershire thrashed arch-rivals Somerset by eight wickets

ECB/PA03-Jul-2015
ScorecardHamish Marshall clubbed 93 from 53 balls as Gloucestershire strolled to victory•Getty Images

Hamish Marshall and Michael Klinger produced an opening stand of 156 as Gloucestershire thrashed arch-rivals Somerset by eight wickets in the NatWest T20 Blast at a packed Taunton.The hosts posted 174 for 6 having won the toss, recent overseas signing Luke Ronchi top-scoring with 49 off 23 balls, with five sixes, while Johann Myburgh and Tom Cooper both made 38. Craig Miles and Tom Smith were the most economical bowlers.Despite fading light, Gloucestershire cruised to victory with four deliveries to spare as Marshall plundered 93 off 53 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes, and Klinger 58, taking his run tally in nine South Group matches to 578.A poor Somerset bowling and fielding performance saw Marshall survive a stumping chance to Ronchi on 30 and Klinger dropped on 48 by Abdur Rehman at third man off Jamie Overton, the only moments of concern for either batsman.

Insights

There is not just one dashing Kiwi opener on show in this competition. Hamish Marshall’s 93 – in cahoots with the tournament’s leading run-scorer Michael Klinger – was an example of a chase perfectly executed. The target wasn’t vast so they didn’t rush out of the blocks, and took just three from the second over, before climbing way ahead of the rate by taking 51 from the next four overs, three of which saw new bowlers targeted. From there, they could canter home with ease.

Marshall, in his benefit season, timed the ball particularly sweetly to outscore his captain with a barrage of attacking shots until one of them saw him caught at deep midwicket. Klinger lost little by comparison, scoring his runs off 51 balls, with five fours and a six. By the time he fell lbw to Alfonso Thomas in the 18th over only nine runs were needed and Ian Cockbain and Peter Handscomb finished the job.At the start of the game, Somerset openers Jim Allenby and Myburgh took the total to 44 in the fifth over before Allenby was bowled by Benny Howell for 22.Smith then claimed his 21st wicket in the competition as Peter Trego skied to deep cover, while James Hildreth also fell cheaply, leg before attempting to reverse sweep Jack Taylor.At the halfway stage of their innings Somerset were 73 for 3. Cooper was dropped by Kieran Noema-Barnett at short third man trying to reverse sweep Taylor in the 11th over and it looked like proving a costly error. After Myburgh, who required treatment when hit by a short ball from Miles, had been caught at long-off to give Howell a second wicket, Cooper and Ronchi added 81 in 7.4 overs.Ronchi hit two sixes in an over from Taylor and repeated the feat off Howell before falling one short of a half-century when caught at point in the 19th over.The following ball from James Fuller accounted for Cooper, brilliantly caught at full stretch by wicketkeeper Geraint Jones. But the partnership with Ronchi had ensured Somerset of a competitive score, which their bowlers failed miserably to defend.

Glamorgan rounded off the County Championship season with a convincing eight-wicket win over Gloucestershire on the final day of their Division Two encounter at Cardiff.

27-Sep-2013Glamorgan 306 (Allenby 85, Cooke 50, Gidman 4-64) and 102 for 2 (Goodwin 50*) beat Gloucestershire 275 (Dent 84) and 132 (Allenby 4-16) by eight wickets
ScorecardMurray Goodwin’s unbeaten 50 guided the run chase to cap a successful first season with Glamorgan•Getty Images

Glamorgan rounded off the County Championship season with a convincing eight-wicket win over Gloucestershire on the final day of their Division Two encounter at Cardiff.With only 102 required for victory, Murray Goodwin helped to guide Glamorgan home with an unbeaten 50 a day when 12 wickets fell. That was after Gloucestershire had been skittled for only 132 in their second innings.Jim Allenby claimed 4 for 16 to go with his 85 in the first innings as Glamorgan, who took 22 points to Gloucestershire’s five, registered their third fourth-day win of the campaign.After day three had been a complete washout, Glamorgan had resumed their first innings on 271 for 9 – four runs behind Gloucestershire. But last pair Michael Hogan and Dean Cosker ended up putting on 62 for the final wicket to leave Glamorgan 306 all out – a lead of 31.Any hopes of Gloucestershire saving the game, however, evaporated as they were bowled out in their second innings in 44.3 overs. The visitors managed to wipe out the arrears but then lost their first wicket with the score on 35 when Chris Dent edged Hogan.Gloucestershire accelerated to 73 for 1 but then came a dramatic pre-lunch collapse when they lost 4 for 5 in 13 balls, with Ruaidhri Smith and Allenby doing the damage. It started when Graham Wagg took a good catch at extra cover to dismiss Gareth Roderick from Allenby.Smith took two wickets in an over. He bowled Alex Gidman and then had Ian Cockbain caught behind. And in the next over Allenby trapped Will Gidman leg before. It left Gloucestershire reeling at 78 for 5 at lunch – just 47 runs ahead.After the interval, Cameron Herring was caught behind, and, while Hamish Marshall completed 1,000 runs for the season, he lost Benny Howell, who was bowled by Hogan. Allenby made further inroads when he had Smith caught behind as Gloucestershire lost their eighth wicket on 118.Wagg found Marshall’s edge with the busy Allenby holding onto the catch at slip to leave Gloucestershire on 122 for 9. Graeme McCarter was last man out, caught and bowled by Allenby shortly before tea.In reply, Glamorgan lost Gareth Rees to the second ball of the innings and then Ben Wright for 17 in the 11th over. But Goodwin, 50 from 106 balls, and Chris Cooke steered Glamorgan to the winning post with 11.3 overs to spare.