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.

Sri Lanka Cricket’s interim committee has taken steps to build indoor nets and a swimming pool at the R Premadasa Stadium in Khettarama, where the national side conducts much of its training

Andrew Fidel Fernando28-Apr-2015Sri Lanka Cricket’s interim committee has taken steps to build indoor nets and a swimming pool at the R Premadasa Stadium in Khettarama, where the national side conducts much of its training. Khettarama currently has 18 practice pitches, and also houses Sri Lanka’s Max Cricket Academy, but many of these facilities are out of use during the monsoon months.”We’re thinking we would like to start work on the indoor nets and swimming pool by June,” interim chairman Sidath Wettimuny said. “At the moment we don’t have facilities for cricketers who need to train on rainy days, early in the morning or late at night, so an indoor facility is vital. Modern training methods also demand a swimming pool for rehabilitation exercises.”We also think it is essential to have indoor facilities in Pallekele, Dambulla, Hambantota, and to repair the Galle facilities as well, finance permitting. That’s a priority for us.”The interim committee will also take steps to grant pay-rises to first-class cricketers, Wettimuny said. SLC currently pays a daily wage of around 2500 rupees (approx USD $19), but the committee plans to triple this sum. “The idea is to make cricket a livelihood for these players,” Wettimuny said.The reshaping of Sri Lanka’s domestic cricket structure has also been a focus for the committee, with Mahela Jayawardene among those making recommendations to revive a provincial cricket tournament. Wettimuny said any serious restructuring of the domestic system would require significant consultation with SLC’s member clubs and associations, but was necessary for Sri Lanka to remain competitive at the international level.

England and Sussex wicketkeeper Matt Prior has announced his retirement due to the Achilles injury which required surgery last year

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jun-20152:21

‘Turbo-charged’ Prior set the trend for attacking English cricket – Butcher

England and Sussex wicketkeeper Matt Prior has announced his retirement due to the Achilles injury which required surgery last year.Following the second Test against India, at Lord’s, Prior had an operation which ruled him out of the remainder of the 2014 season but retained hopes of resuming his career. However, he recently told ESPNcricinfo that his recovery was like “two steps forward and four steps back” and has been forced to concede he will not return.”Today is a very sad day for me as I am forced to announce my retirement from the game I love,” he said. “I had been hoping and expecting to be fit for the start of the 2015 season. Unfortunately, this has proved impossible, and I have now had to reach this decision.”I feel honoured to have played for Sussex and England as many times as I have and shared so many great times with both teams. I also feel privileged to have been involved in an era of such success for English cricket.”I would like to thank my family, team-mates, coaches and the people behind the scenes that have supported me throughout the years. I have created friendships that will last forever. It would also be remiss of me not to thank the fantastic support I have had from cricket fans both at home and abroad.”I have always tried to play with pride and passion and have a deep belief that the team will always come first. A value that will never leave me whatever I go on to do. Although I haven’t achieved all the goals I had set out to, I feel immensely proud of what I have done in my career. Sadly it is now time to move on.”Prior, 33, played 79 Tests, scoring 4099 runs and claiming 256 dismissals which left him second behind Alan Knott in the list of England’s wicketkeepers. He was part of three Ashes series victories and was also part of the England team which reached No. 1 in the Test rankings in 2011.He made a century on his Test debut against West Indies, at Lord’s, in 2007 and his top score of 131 not out came in Port of Spain in early 2009 following a recall to the side late the previous year after a gap of a year. That was one of seven Test hundreds – the last of which was the monumental rearguard against New Zealand in Auckland.Although he did not find the same success in white-ball cricket at international level, he played 68 ODIs and 10 T20s.Overall he played 249 first-class matches and scored 13,228 runs at 39.25 while claiming 683 dismissals.Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket, said: “Matt has had a wonderful career as a wicketkeeper batsman for both Sussex and England. During a period where the Test team won three Ashes series and achieved the world No.1 ranking, Matt’s contribution, both on and off the field, was immense.”It is a huge shame that his career has come to an end in this way, although his athletic wicket-keeping and counter attacking batting will live long in the memories of both his team mates and England supporters.”Mark Robinson, the Sussex director of cricket, said: “It is a sad day when a cricketer of such talent and character and who has achieved so much, and has the ability to achieve so much more, is forced to retire through injury.”Matt has done great things for the club but more importantly, has done what we all dream of, which is play for his country with honour and distinction. On behalf of all the current playing side of the club, but also on behalf of all those who have played with him in the past, we thank him for the memories and wish him all the luck for the next stage of his life.”

Trevor Bayliss has been confirmed as England’s new coach the day after it emerged that he had become the ECB’s preferred choice ahead of Jason Gillpesie.

ESPNcricinfo staff26-May-20150:31

‘An Aussie in the ranks is a brilliant idea’ – Prior

Trevor Bayliss has been confirmed as England’s new coach the day after it emerged that he had become the ECB’s preferred choice ahead of Jason Gillespie. He will join the ECB next month ahead of the Ashes series which begins in July.Bayliss, 52, a former Sri Lanka coach who led them to the World Cup final in 2011 and No. 2 in the Test rankings, is currently coach of New South Wales where he has won two Sheffield Shield titles in separate stints, Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. He briefly coached Australia last year during a Twenty20 series against South Africa and his appointment will see him reunited with Paul Farbrace who was his assistant with Sri Lanka. Both men were in the team bus that was attacked by terrorists in Lahore in 2009.His pedigree in limited-overs cricket was a key factor in his favour ahead of Gillespie as England look to overturn their horrendous white-ball form in time for next year’s World T20 in India followed by the 2017 Champions Trophy and 2019 World Cup – both of which will be held in England.

Bayliss can be ‘strict’ – Jayawardene

Mahela Jayawardene, who was Sri Lanka captain for part of the Trevor Bayliss was coach, has said Bayliss could be “strict” and “doesn’t like the limelight” but thought he would help the captain and players and a new-look England side.

“Trevor is a good, old-fashioned coach who likes to work behind the scenes,” he told the . “He doesn’t like the limelight very much and just lets the players get on with it most of the time.

“If he sees something wrong he is very strict about it and will keep a firm line around the team, putting his foot down to make sure certain things do not happen.

“He will give the team a clear game plan but then he will let them play. He will try to help the captain in his decision-making and is very sharp on tactics, although he is not a huge guy for statistics.”

Jayawardene dismissed the suggestion that Bayliss’ lack of international playing experience was a issue.

“I don’t think it is a problem that he never had international playing experience. A lot of good coaches around the world are in the same position and you just need to look at Trevor’s record. He has been very consistent in all forms of the game.

“I am sure he knows what needs to be done and that he will give it a good try. It is a great time for him to take the job, because this is a young England side with a lot of talented players.”

“It’s an honour to be appointed England coach,” Bayliss said. “There’s a great opportunity to help Alastair Cook and Eoin Morgan shape the direction and development of their respective teams. I am also looking forward to working alongside Paul Farbrace once again as we have a similar outlook on the game, get on well after two years working together and have kept in touch.”What particularly excites me about the role is the chance to work with a very talented group of players. I firmly believe that the team has a bright future and I’ll be doing everything I can to help them realise their potential and achieve success on a consistent basis.”Bayliss was the only non-Englishman interviewed just over a year ago when England searched for a replacement for Andy Flower before they eventually settled on returning to Peter Moores – an appointment that lasted barely 12 months. Bayliss was told, at the time, that he had interviewed well but that the preference was for an English coach. While England have used specialist Australian coaches in the past – the likes of David Saker, who was bowling coach – and have had two head coaches from Zimbabwe, they have never previously employed an Australian as head coach.Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket, said: “Trevor has an outstanding record as coach, has global experience and is very highly regarded in the game. He has proved himself in both domestic and international cricket, has a strong reputation for man-management and has shown how to build winning teams in all three formats.”His expertise in the shorter forms of the game will be vital as we build towards three major ICC events over the next four years”Trevor will also work well with Paul Farbrace, an exceptional coach who will continue as assistant coach after helping us to an outstanding victory over New Zealand in the first Investec Test of the summer. This has been a very competitive recruitment process and we’re grateful to all of the candidates who showed their interest in this role. I’m excited to have him on board.”Meanwhile, the current Australia coach Darren Lehmann looked forward to locking horns in the Ashes. “Trevor has been a great servant of the game in Australia and has had great success with NSW in both long and short format, as well as with the Sydney Sixers and Kolkata Knight Riders in T20s,” he said. “He did a great job for us when he took the reins in the International T20s against South Africa last year.”A trademark of Trevor’s teams is that they are well prepared and this just serves as another reminder to us that this Ashes will be a tough contest. I congratulate him on his appointment and wish him all the best.”Andrew Jones, the New South Wales chief executive, said: “Trevor has been an outstanding coach for NSW and internationally. He has a wonderful ability to get the best out of sides with his firm but low key approach. And his attacking attitude as a batsman develops a belief in proactive and entertaining players and teams.”His appointment as England coach is another feather in the cap for NSW cricket, which continues to produce players and coaches of outstanding quality. The highly anticipated Ashes series will now have an extra dimension, with Trevor coming up against nine NSW players he helped mentor who make up the bulk of Australia’s squad.In the short term, Farbrace will remain in charge for the second Test against New Zealand at Headingley and the limited-overs games that follow it.

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.

Gerrie Snyman’s 43-ball 82 and Stephan Baard’s unbeaten 61 guided Namibia to a nine-wicket win in their World T20 Qualifier Group A game against Jersey in Dublin

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jul-2015
Scorecard and ball by ball detailsFile Photo – Gerrie Snyman got to his fifty off 24 balls•Peter Della Penna

Gerrie Snyman’s 43-ball 82 and Stephan Baard’s unbeaten 61 guided Namibia to a nine-wicket win in their World T20 Qualifier Group A game against Jersey in Dublin. The opening pair added 121 runs to set the foundation for Namibia’s 162-run chase.Namibia got off to a blazing start, racing to 67 in 6 overs. Snyman was largely responsible, taking 17 runs off Rhys Palmer and Nat Watkins in the fourth and sixth overs, and had raced to his fifty by the end of the sixth over, getting there with a six off 24 balls. The partnership motored along to 118 in 12 overs, before Snyman was dismissed for 82 by Anthony Kay, after striking five sixes and eight fours . Namibia’s second-wicket pair of Baard and Raymond van Schoor kept the chase on track and Baard, who reached his fifty off 39 deliveries, closed the game out with a couple of boundaries.That Jersey were able to post a score of 161 for 4 after being put in to bat was largely due to Jonty Jenner’s unbeaten 52-ball 90. Their openers were dismissed by the fourth over with the score on 25 and they were soon struggling at 85 for 4 in the 13th over. Jenner and Watkins then lifted Jersey with an unbeaten 76-run partnership for the fifth wicket, helping the side accumulate 58 runs off the last five overs. Jenner was the dominant partner – he was batting on 42 off 28 deliveries when Ben Stevens was dismissed in the 13th over. Jenner scored his next 48 runs off 24 deliveries, to finish with eight fours and four sixes in his 90, while Watkins was unbeaten on 27 off 24 balls.

South Africa have not lost successive ODI series in five years; a score higher than 271 has never been successfully chased at Kingsmead and neither of those records changed as the hosts sealed the series in the decider

The Report by Firdose Moonda26-Aug-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
AB de Villiers struck a fifty and became the fastest player to 8000 ODI runs•Getty Images

South Africa have not lost successive ODI series in five years; a score higher than 271 has never been successfully chased at Kingsmead and neither of those records changed as the hosts sealed the series in the decider with a 62-run margin. In the process, AB de Villiers became the fastest batsman to 8000 ODI runs, reaching the milestone in 182 innings, 18 fewer than Sourav Ganguly; South Africa posted their highest opening stand in 17 ODIs, of 89; Morne van Wyk scored his first innings of substance since his recall; Farhaan Behardien’s cameo showed his ability to finish and Imran Tahir underlined why he is being regarded one of the best limited-overs spinner in operation at the moment.That’s not to say New Zealand did not turn up. Their attack adapted fairly well to a surface that did not offer the seamers as much as was expected. Adam Milne and Doug Bracewell bowled tight lines and Grant Elliott’s taking pace off the ball proved effective, but their fielding – they put down four chances compared to South Africa’s three – let them down and their effort with the bat fizzled out once they lost the men they usually rely on. Martin Guptill went early and Kane Williamson was dismissed seven balls before the halfway stage of their innings and it proved a loss from which New Zealand could not recover.After taking Tuesday off to rub shoulders with the national rugby squad instead of training to save the series, South Africa’s intent was questioned but they began answering with bat in hand. Van Wyk’s reign saw no need in his natural aggression and found his first runs with a flat-batted pull. Amla played the foil and rotated strike while van Wyk beat the ball to the boundary. He almost paid for that approach when he was on 17 and top-edged a pull off Milne that should have been caught at fine leg but Bracewell spilled an easy chance.Bracewell had salt rubbed into the wound when van Wyk took 10 runs off his next over to see South Africa through the Powerplay unscathed. He went on to survive New Zealand’s squeeze, which accounted for Amla, who sent a leading edge back to Grant Elliott, and Rilee Rossouw, who was caught at slip, and brought up a half-century off 79 balls. That score may be too late to save his international career but it played an important part in setting South Africa up.De Villiers and David Miller built on that with a fourth-wicket partnership of 86, which came in just 10 overs. Miller found some of the touch he has been missing, perhaps because he had de Villiers at the other end launching most of the attack. The South African captain reached 8,000 runs with a swipe to midwicket and upped the ante when he dispatched an Ish Sodhi long-hop over midwicket, took three fours of Milne’s seventh over and looked in the mood for a big one, particularly with time left in the innings. But he could not negotiate a Bracewell slower ball which found his off stump and left it to Miller to take over.Miller lasted less than three overs before loosely offering a catch to Luke Ronchi but Behardien was on hand to accelerate. He timed and placed the ball well for a quickfire 40 off 28 balls to ensure South Africa scored 44 runs in the last six overs and finished strongly.Behardien’s effort proved to be the major difference between the two sides, after New Zealand’s innings started in similar fashion. Guptill fell to a rejuvenated Dale Steyn, who invited the drive with a full delivery that moved away and found the edge but Tom Latham and Williamson provided stability.They did not take any risks against Kagiso Rabada, who bowled with pace and control, beat the bat and found steep bounce, but waited for lapses from Kyle Abbott and David Wiese – two bowlers who have still not become as consistent as South Africa might like. Williamson could have been out for 24 when he pulled to Miller at deep midwicket but was let off, and then again on 37 when Rabada raced in from deep cover and dived needlessly instead of being on his feet and collecting, and New Zealand looked like they were laying the platform for a victory push.Tahir changed all that with a googly that snuck under Williamson’s bat as he came down the track. Although Latham brought up his fifty three balls later, New Zealand’s fight seemed faded.Latham was run-out to bring Elliott to the crease but he could not pull off his World Cup semi-final heroics. New Zealand lost their last eight wickets for 107 runs, with South Africa’s attack including a still-wayward Wiese sharing spoils, and after their first two fell with the score on 102, it was obvious why an innings of two halves would not win them the series.

Anam Amin, the 23-year old left-arm spinner, engineered a batting collapse that sealed Pakistan Women’s 2-0 series victory over Bangladesh Women in Karachi

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Oct-2015
ScorecardBangladesh could score only 123 after batting out 50 overs•AFP

Anam Amin, the 23-year old left-arm spinner, engineered a batting collapse that sealed Pakistan Women’s 2-0 series victory over Bangladesh Women in Karachi. Her spell of 10-5-7-4 earned her the Player-of-the-Match award.Having opted to bat, only three of the visitors’ batsmen could reach double-figures. The early damage was done by seamer Asmavia Iqbal, who finished with 3 for 28. Opener Ayasha Rahman made 39 off 56 balls and No. 8 Nigar Sultana battled hard for an unbeaten 30 off 109, but the Bangladesh slide could not be averted.Amin’s double-strike in the 17th over left the score at 53 for 6 and by then the emphasis was playing out their full quota. Bangladesh gathered only 14 runs in the next 13 overs and lost their captain Salma Khatun along the way to languish at 67 for 7. Finally they finished at 123 for 9 after 50 overs.Pakistan began the chase positively with Marina Iqbal (31 off 67) and Bismah Maroof (41 off 66) setting the tone for a comfortable victory. Fifteen-year old left-arm spinner Nahida Akter did her best to pose a challenge, taking 2 for 22 in eight overs but the target was too soft and was achieved in 38.3 overs.

Chris Read became the first wicketkeeper since Jack Russell in 1997 to reach the landmark of 1,000 first class dismissals as Notts turned ther tables on Durham with a sterling victory

ECB/PA11-Sep-2015
ScorecardChris Read keeps wicket against Durham earlier this month•Getty Images

Chris Read reached an historic milestone on a day of high emotion at Trent Bridge as Nottinghamshire pulled off an astonishing 52-run victory over Durham.The 37-year old became the first wicketkeeper since Jack Russell in 1997 to reach the landmark of 1,000 first class dismissals and his big moment came during a passage of play where Durham threw away their overall dominance in a contest that they had bossed since winning the toss.Set to score 215 to win, thanks to a feisty hundred from Samit Patel, Durham had been well set at 57 for 1 before losing four wickets within the space of just 5.4 overs. One of those to depart was Paul Collingwood, who nicked through to the Nottinghamshire glove man to herald scenes of great jubilation, both on and off the field.”It was an absolutely extraordinary day’s cricket,” Read said. “When I woke up this morning I didn’t think I’d be stood here tonight celebrating a victory. I’d like to think we could havebatted really well in our second innings but in my wildest dreams to see us bowl as well as we have done and get the win is absolutely phenomenal.”It was a big wicket, wasn’t it? Given that Collingwood was the captain and given the run that we were on at the time, it was a big wicket, so I did chuck it a little higher than normal and the reaction of my team-mates was brilliant. They all came and gave me a big hug, which was nice.”Russell urged him to take some more. “”I’d just like to congratulate him on all that he’s achieved and urge him to keep going for as long as he can,” he said.Brett Hutton was the main thorn in the side of the Durham batsmen, completing his second five-wicket haul within the space of 24 hours, in taking five for 29, so completing match figures of 10 for 106.Earlier, after beginning the day 30 runs adrift, Patel and Riki Wessels gave the hosts a life-line with a fifth wicket stand of 153, before Wessels fell just before lunch for 85.Ryan Pringle chipped away at the Nottinghamshire middle order, on his way to figures of three for 93 but Patel held firm, reaching his second century of the summer from 154 balls, having hit 12 fours and a six.His enthusiastic celebrations were understandable but short-lived as he proceeded to help Rushworth’s next delivery into the hands of Onions at long leg.Brett Hutton and Luke Wood, who followed his unbeaten first innings score of 65, with another 35, added a valuable 53 for the eighth wicket to stretch the lead beyond 200.Jack Burnham was bowled for a golden duck in the opening over of the chase, shouldering arms to Jake Ball.
Harry Gurney removed Scott Borthwick and Michael Stoneman in his opening over to arrest Durham’s charge towards the finishing line and Hutton backed him with the wickets of Michael Richardson, Collingwood and Pringle.Ball returned to the attack to remove Jamie Harrison and Gordon Muchall, sufficient wounds for the umpires to accede to Read’s request for an extra half hour. Hutton quickly polished things off, with the scalps of Rushworh and Onions.The victory was Nottinghamshire’s fourth in a row, the first time they have achieved that since 2010. Conversely, this was the seventh match that Durham have gone without a Championship win, six of those games having finished in a defeat.

With the manner in which this series has progressed one couldn’t ask for a more fitting finale. Both teams know what is at stake, but the momentum lies with the hosts

The Preview by Firdose Moonda24-Oct-2015

Match facts

Sunday, October 25, 2015
Start time 1330 local (0800GMT)4:32

Agarkar: Don’t expect India to tinker with their XI

Big picture

It could not have been set up any better. On the eve of the most anticipated Test series in the 2015-16 season, the entrees have proven as appetising as anyone would have wanted to. The ODI series locked at 2-2 and Wankhede Stadium to host the decider. A bilateral series can never claim to command the attention of a major tournament but if there is a situation where it can hold its own, this is it.The drama has ebbed and flowed but unlike a World Cup, where teams take on different opposition, this narrative is about the same teams and their journey against each other. South Africa started strongly when they won the T20 series and the third ODI and threatened to pull the carpet from under India’s feet but the hosts finally showed they would not be tripped up. They tweaked their team composition and dominated in their own conditions to mount a comeback. The momentum now lies with them.As a result, India have reason to believe they hold the advantage but South Africa will not want their early success to be squandered. Like many touring teams, they have hit the speedbumps – they have been hit by their first injuries, had to search for replacements and try to play to the same standard as the one they showed off when they started. If they can get up to that level again, they could pull off a coup and India know that. They will be wary of being outgunned on their own turf and have reason to throw their full arsenal at South Africa to ensure the visitors don’t walk away with all the loot on offer so far.

Form guide

(last five completed games, most recent first)India WLWLW
South Africa LWLWW

In the spotlight

Both India and South Africa are led by inspirational leaders and the captains can be expected to take centre stage in the finale. MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers have both already made big statements in the series; de Villiers’ bigger in numbers terms. His century in the series opener anchored the only total over 300 and his heroic hundred in the fourth match reminded India that it’s never over while he is around. Dhoni’s unbeaten 92 was a warning. It added late impetus to a total that was going nowhere and uplifted a team headed the same way. Whatever the pair bring to the party next will be worth keeping an eye on, especially if either is batting at the end of the innings.But the last ten overs have not been as raucous as we have previously known them to be and that will only make for more intriguing viewing. The new playing conditions allow for a fifth fielder outside the circle which has demanded caution and more careful placement and changed the end of the innings from a gratuitous slog-fest into a period that demands more of a strategic approach and both batsmen and bowlers are still trying to figure out the most effective way forward.

Team news

The three-spinner approach is working for India and they are likely to stick with it which means any changes to their attack will be in the seam department. Left-armer S Aravind could come in for Mohit Sharma. Shikhar Dhawan’s struggles may make room for Ambati Rayudu and a shuffle in the line-up.India: (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Ajinkya Rahane, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 6 Suresh Raina, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Amit Mishra, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 Mohit Sharma/S AravindForced changes because of injuries to JP Duminy and Morne Morkel threw South Africa off balance but they do not have too many options to put that right. Hashim Amla was not too enthused about Morkel’s chances. “I don’t think he’s fit enough,” Amla said. “He bowled in the nets today but we’ll take a call tomorrow.”In case Morkel recovers from his quad strain, he will likely play in place of either allrounder Chris Morris or second spinner Aaron Phangiso, who could be dispensed with if Duminy’s replacement Dean Elgar is ready to play. Elgar will provide a part-time spin option and could also replace out-of-form David Miller, which could mean uncapped Khaya Zondo and reserve seamer Kyle Abbott do not get a game in the series.South Africa: (probable) 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 AB de Villiers (capt), 5 Farhaan Behardien, 6 Dean Elgar/David Miller, 7 Chris Morris, 8 Dale Steyn, 9 Morne Morkel/Aaron Phangiso, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Imran Tahir

Pitch and conditions

The weather is going to be as hot as it has been throughout the series with temperatures at around 36 degrees and high humidity.

Stats and Trivia

• This is South Africa’s fifth bilateral series in India. They have lost three of the previous four and drew one, a decade ago in 2005. South Africa have won six out of 15 matches in those previous four series
• The last time India lost a bilateral ODI series at home was almost three years ago, when they were defeated 2-1 by Pakistan. They have since won five successive home series against England, Australia, West Indies (2) and Sri Lanka

Quotes

“I can’t really comment on the whole situation but as far as I am concerned, I think it’s going to be the heat. We’ve played in Rajkot, we’ve played in Chennai and now we’ve come to Mumbai, which is not getting better.”.”He (JP Duminy) adds great balance to the team with his offspin as well so it has changed things a bit in the team, but that’s what you have a squad for. No big series is ever won on 11 players so we have about 15 players who are going to be there at different times. This is one of those times for us.”