Mashrafe Mortaza: “I think we have good balance at the death with Shakib and myself also there.” © AFP Mashrafe Mortaza has conceded that Bangladesh’s effort was scratchy, but said that his side will draw confidence from sealing their second-highest chase in T20s. Despite some hiccups, Bangladesh reached the target of 164 in 18.4 overs, after having overhauled West Indies’ 164 in the World T20 in 2007. “We were not…
Taijul five-for spins North Zone to victory
File photo: Taijul Islam’s sixth first-class five-for sealed North Zone’s victory in Rajshahi © AFP Taijul Islam‘s five-wicket haul helped North Zone to a 74-run victory in the first round of the Bangladesh Cricket League. South Zone‘s own left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak ended the game with an 11-wicket haul, but it was Taijul’s performance that had greater effect on the result of the match. South Zone were set 231 to…
Zimbabwe at least 15 runs short – Masakadza
Hamilton Masakadza – “I thought if we were defending 180 it would have made a big difference” © AFP Zimbabwe batsman Hamilton Masakadza has said that his bowlers needed a cushion of around 180 runs, instead of the 163 for 7 they ended up getting after batting first. The combined efforts of an inexperienced bowling attack, led by the legspinner Graeme Cremer, almost snuck one past Bangladesh, who needed cameos…
Slightly difficult for Rishi Dhawan to be picked – Dhoni
MS Dhoni on Rishi Dhawan: “He may bowl well, but I am saying it will be slightly difficult for him to be successful.” © AFP The Himachal Pradesh allrounder Rishi Dhawan is likely to accumulate a lot of frequent flyer points and bowl a lot in the nets, but the India cap looks as far as it did before he was selected for the Australia tour. On pitches where Australia…
Parnell in South Africa A side for England tour match
Wayne Parnell has not played an international match since July 2015 © Associated Press Wayne Parnell has not played an international match in six months since South Africa’s tour to Bangladesh, but remains a part of the senior side’s plans. He was named in the South African A side that will play against England in the one-day match in Kimberly on January 30. The fixture is a warm-up for the…
Pakistan win on Amir's return
Mohammad Amir made a low-key return to international cricket as Pakistan began their Twenty20 series against New Zealand with a 16-run win in Auckland. Amir was playing for the first time since his five-year ban for spot-fixing and claimed a wicket as the Black Caps were bowled out for 155. Wahab Riaz was the pick of the Pakistan attack, claiming 3-34, while Amir removed eighth man out Matt Henry as…
Root and Stokes counterattack after England slip
Tea England 162 for 4 (Root 60*, Stokes 38*) trail South Africa 313 (Elgar 46, Stokes 3-53) by 151 runsScorecard and ball-by-ball details Play 01:01 Viljoen enjoys dream start South Africa’s quartet of fast bowlers put England under considerable pressure on the second afternoon at The Wanderers in a riveting Test packed with good-quality, combative cricket. If England were to clinch the series with victory in Johannesburg, it was abundantly…
Lancashire sign up Wagner
Lancashire have announced New Zealand paceman Neil Wagner as their overseas signing for the 2016 season. The left-armer will be available from the start of the season and will be primarily used in the County Championship following Lancashire’s promotion to the top-tier. Wagner, 29, will add experience and a whole-hearted attitude to the Red Rose attack having played 18 Tests and taken 67 wickets for New Zealand. “We are delighted…
Shakib cameo seals tense Bangladesh win
Bangladesh 166 for 6 (Sabbir 46, Shakib 20*, Cremer 2-32) beat Zimbabwe 163 for 7 (Masakadza 79, Mustafizur 2-18) by four wicketsScorecard and ball-by-ball details Bangladesh outdid Zimbabwe in Khulna by being the scrappier of the two sides, winning the first T20 by four wickets. Zimbabwe suffered a middle-order collapse which left them with a much lower score than they had hoped for, and Bangladesh eventually gunned down their target…
West Indies cricket standout Powell eyes switch
Miami – Kieran Powell, a 25-year-old West Indies cricketer, has worked out before a host of Major League Baseball scouts in hopes of switching sports. Kieran Powell of the West Indies warms up in Queenstown on January 1, 2014 © AFP/File Marty Melville In 2012 Powell, a left-handed opener, became the first West Indies player to hit two centuries in a Test since Brian Lara, scoring 117 & 110 against…