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Shahriar Nafees and Shakib Al Hasan batted for almost two sessions to rescue Bangladesh from what had looked set to be yet another low total, after Aizaz Cheema had reduced them to 43 for 4 in helpful morning conditions

The Report by Abhishek Purohit17-Dec-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsShahriar Nafees led by example at the top, after being put in to bat•AFPShakib Al Hasan and Shahriar Nafees showed that it was possible for Bangladesh batsmen to play shots without throwing their wickets away, with the country’s first century partnership in Tests since June 2010. The duo batted for almost two sessions to rescue Bangladesh from what had looked set to be yet another low total, after Aizaz Cheema had reduced them to 43 for 4 in helpful morning conditions.At no stage in their partnership were Shakib and Nafees subdued, and without doing anything reckless, put on 180 at more than three-and-a-half runs an over. Though the Mirpur track eased out completely after seaming around in the first session, Bangladesh had caved in for 135 on a flat Chittagong surface a week ago. With their Test status being called into question by some, they had everything to prove. Shakib and Nafees showed that there was more to Bangladesh cricket than a large and fanatical fan following.Fog and dew had delayed the start by 75 minutes but also encouraged Misbah-ul-Haq to ask the under-pressure Bangladesh batsmen to face his fast bowlers – although Pakistan went in with only two of them as against Bangladesh’s three. Cheema’s morning spell read 8-2-18-3 but Shakib ensured he was kept out of the attack for most of the second session, hitting him for three fours in four deliveries soon after lunch.Shakib’s aggression forced Misbah to turn to his spinners but there was not much help for them from a pitch that had now revealed itself to be a typical flat first-day subcontinent pitch. Shakib continued to play positively against Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman, working them on the leg side, and driving and punching through extra cover. A back-foot punch off Ajmal brought up his 50 and he stepped out next ball to caress a flighted delivery to the extra-cover boundary to bring up the century partnership – Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes were involved in the previous one in Manchester, against England in June 2010.Nafees had earlier showed his team-mates the way to play the fast bowlers on a surface that was aiding seam in the morning. Wary of edging angled deliveries to the four slips, Nafees aimed to play straight as much as he could. Though that meant letting go of a few scoring opportunities, he went hard when he was given width and pulled with panache. Nafees hammered Umar Gul’s first delivery of his second spell through extra cover to reach his third 50 after his return to the Test side in August.Going against the propensity of Bangladesh batsmen to implode after reaching half-centuries, both batsmen continued in the same vein after getting to their landmarks. With the light fading in the Dhaka winter, Shakib cut Gul for two boundaries in an over to move to 99 and brought the appreciative crowd to its feet with a characteristic chop through point to reach his second Test hundred. Nafees clattered Ajmal through extra cover to move to 97 but Gul sent down an accurate bouncer in his next over to have him gloving it to the wicketkeeper. By then, though, Bangladesh had restored their pride, and Pakistan had looked clueless for the first time in three weeks on this tour.Things had looked almost predictably bleak for Bangladesh in the morning after Cheema, especially, and Gul were relentless in exposing the hosts’ frailties. Getting sharp seam movement, Cheema had Nazimuddin padding up in his first over, though everyone except umpire Shavir Tarapore thought that the bounce would have taken the ball over the stumps.Gul did not get the kind of movement off the pitch that Cheema managed, and in the absence of swing, he had to rely on his accuracy and the element of surprise. After Tamim Iqbal had tentatively survived against several pitched-up deliveries, Gul dug in the bouncer in his fourth over. Tamim did what Tamim does, and the top-edged hook was taken safely by Cheema at fine leg.With Bangladesh bringing in a fast bowler at the expense of Mohammad Ashraful, Mahmudullah was given a promotion in the batting order to No. 4. It didn’t work, as Cheema rattled Mahmudullah’s stumps first ball with one that nipped in between bat and pad.Nasir Hossain, who had batted as low as No. 8 in the first innings in Chittagong, was sent in at 21 for 3. He looked thoroughly uncomfortable initially, stabbing and getting beaten as the ball jagged around. Another prod at an away-going Cheema delivery produced the edge and ended in the gloves of Adnan Akmal to make it 43 for 4. Another Test involving Bangladesh could have been decided by the first innings, but for Nafees and Shakib.

ESPNcricinfo previews the first Test between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Chittagong

The Preview by Siddhartha Talya08-Dec-2011Match factsFriday, December 9
Start time 0930 (0330 GMT)What does Mohammad Ashraful have in store this time?•PA PhotosBig PictureIt’s been 11 years since Bangladesh made their Test debut and 71 games later their status as a Test-playing nation continues to divide opinion. There have been those who’ve been dismissive of their ability, others have been more generous and patient about their progress. There have been some highs, though very rare. They challenged Pakistan in Multan and Australia in Fatullah, and beat a severely-depleted, strike-ridden West Indies in 2009, but 61 defeats, and most of them by a comprehensive margin – 34 by an innings – is a bitter, embarrassing fact to digest.Their fast bowlers aren’t express but their spinners have been quite effective, and remain their biggest strength. It’s in the batting that the team has been found most wanting. While their batsmen have promised much and even earned some success in limited-overs cricket, and won a few sessions in Tests, batting time, preserving their wickets and proving their durability are areas in which they’ve failed consistently.They’ve, once again, found the going difficult in recent weeks, struggling against Pakistan’s slow bowlers on pitches keeping low and taking turn, and face an even more testing challenge in the five-day format. If the results in the recently-concluded ODI series are anything to go by, Bangladesh don’t stand much of a chance but how hard they make Pakistan’s bowlers work for their wickets will be the focus.Form guideBangladesh: LDLLL (most recent first)
Pakistan: DWDWWIn the spotlight…Mohammad Ashraful is back in the Bangladesh squad. Again. Once their best batsman, his form underwent a serious slump and he was relegated to the fringes of the national team. He was dropped for the Tests against West Indies in the series before this, and Stuart Law, the Bangladesh coach, said he’d have to perform in domestic cricket to warrant selection. In his last three innings on the domestic circuit, Ashraful scored two half-centuries and a ton to win his place back. Some say his call-up is a backward step; that it’s time for other youngsters to take Bangladesh’s batting forward. He’s still only 27, and has plenty to offer. How desperate and determined he is to ensure his selection this time is one for some time to come remains to be seen.One of the best slow bowlers in the world currently, Saeed Ajmal, who is on top of the ODI bowling rankings, has had plenty of success in Tests as well. He’s well acclimatised with the tracks in the Middle East, where Pakistan play England early next year, and can be potentially lethal with his variations on even slower pitches in Bangladesh. At 34, recognition has taken time to come to Ajmal but in Pakistan’s post-spot-fixing revival, Ajmal has been a key performer. The Bangladesh batsmen didn’t have too many answers against him in the ODIs and it doesn’t bode well for the Tests either.Team newsBangladesh have left out opener Imrul Kayes and Raqibul Hasan from their Test squad. Mahmudullah, who missed the Test series against West Indies due to dengue fever, makes his way back and so does Ashraful. Bangladesh have also selected batsman Nazimuddin, and medium-pacer Robiul Islam in the squad. Allrounder Naeem Islam has been withdrawn from the Bangladesh squad for the first Test after failing to recover from sinusitis and flu-like symptoms.Bangladesh (possible) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Shahriar Nafees, 3 Mohammad Ashraful, 4 Nazimuddin, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 7 Mahumudullah, 8 Nasir Hossain, 9 Elias Sunny, 10 Rubel Hossain, 11 Shahadat Hossain.Pakistan are without Junaid Khan and should they choose to go in with two seamers, Aizaz Cheema could open the bowling with Umar Gul.Pakistan (possible) 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Taufeeq Umar, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Adnan Akmal (wk), 8 Abdur Rehman, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal, Aizaz Cheema.Pitch and conditionsIt rained in Chittagong during the Test against West Indies but the weather forecast is encouraging for this game, with plenty of sun for the next few days. The pitch is usually slow with adequate assistance for spinners, calling for graft and patience from batsmen which is something Bangladesh have rarely shown.Stats and trivia Both of Pakistan’s wins in Bangladesh, in 2002 which was the last time they played a bilateral series in this country, were innings victories. Taufeeq Umar, Younis Khan and Mohammad Ashraful were part of that series. Younis Khan is 60 away from reaching 6000 runs in Tests.Quotes”It’s actually time for the batsmen to show something because our bowling and fielding was not bad in the series. Bangladesh always bounce back strongly when they fell in dire state.”
Shahriar Nafees
“If they stick to their goals, they will give us tough competition. It will not be easy for us since Bangladesh are playing in home conditions.”
Younis Khan

Pakistan Under-19s registered their third win in as many matches in the Tri-Nation Under-19 tournament, beating Zimbabwe Under-19s by 90 runs in Franschhoek

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jan-2012
ScorecardPakistan Under-19s registered their third win in as many matches in the Tri-Nation Under-19 tournament, beating Zimbabwe Under-19s by 90 runs in Franschhoek.Pakistan chose to bat, and piled up 305 for 5 in their 50. The total was set up by a fine opening stand between Sami Aslam and Babar Azam: they both made scores in the 70s and strung together a 148-run stand in 26 overs. Umar Waheed built on the start, hitting 68 not out of 55 balls at the death.Three of Zimbabwe’s top five got starts in the chase, but could not carry on to make significant contributions – Ryan Burl was the top scorer with 40. Despite maintaining a brisk-scoring rate all through, the regular loss of wickets resulted in Zimbabwe being bowled out for 215 in the 41st over. Quick Ehsan Adil was the most economical and incisive of Pakistan’s bowlers, taking 3 for 29. Waheed was named the Man of the Match.

A round-up of the fourth day of the fourth round of Pentangular Cup matches

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Feb-2012Raza Hasan completed a five-wicket haul to dismiss Sind for 331 in their second innings, setting Punjab a small target, which they chased with seven wickets in hand at the Gaddafi Stadium.Sind began the fourth day on 227 for 5, leading by only 26 runs. Saeed Bin Nasir, who was unbeaten on 55, was dismissed for 82, and Sarfraz Ahmed made 64. The tail did not contribute much and Raza Hasan took the two wickets he needed to finish with 5 for 73. Punjab were left facing a target of 131 with the better part of the day remaining.They got off to a rocky start, losing both openers early, and were reduced to 17 for 2. Mohammad Yasin, however, scored an unbeaten 70 and held the chase together. His partnership of 64 for the third wicket with Mohammad Saad, who made 30, ensured victory for Punjab.

West Indies and Australia must quickly adjust from the 50-over format to T20s ahead of their two-match series

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale26-Mar-2012Match factsJames Pattinson is back in Australia’s line-up•Getty ImagesMarch 27, Beausejour Cricket Ground
Start time 1400 (1800 GMT)Big PictureTwo days on from the Australian victory that secured a drawn ODI series, the teams must adjust quickly with a Twenty20 series up for grabs. Little has changed in the Australia squad’s personnel but the major difference is that George Bailey takes over the captaincy for the shortest format from Shane Watson, who was filling in for the injured Michael Clarke in the one-dayers. This will be Bailey’s third match in charge and every game is vital, not only for itself but for Australia’s plans ahead of the ICC World Twenty20, to be held in September. They have these two games and now, it appears, three Twenty20s against Pakistan in Sri Lanka in August to prepare.West Indies are also in the preparation phase for the world tournament. They have not played a T20 international for five months and after these two games they are also likely to have three matches before the World T20 in Sri Lanka. West Indies have brought in some specialists for this version but having not played for some time, they must first evaluate their best side – seven of the men who played in their most recent T20 are not in this squad. But they have plenty of powerful hitters and will be a force to be reckoned with on the small Beausejour Cricket Ground.Form guide(Most recent first)
West Indies LWLLW
Australia LWLWLIn the spotlightDarren Sammy showed in the fifth ODI the damage he can do at a ground with small boundaries like Beausejour. If he gets some time in the middle he could take the Australian attack apart again, but the likelihood is he could be batting as low as ninth in this West Indies line-up.James Pattinson has been sitting in the rooms throughout the one-day series, wondering when his chance would come. It has arrived in the first Twenty20 and as much as his bowling will be an asset to Australia in this game, he will also be keen for as much game time as possible ahead of the Tests, given he is almost certain to be part of Australia’s starting line-up.Team newsWest Indies have named a 14-man squad but having not played a Twenty20 international for so long, their starting line-up is far from certain.West Indies (possible) 1 Johnson Charles, 2 Dwayne Smith, 3 Marlon Samuels, 4 Darren Bravo, 5 Dwayne Bravo, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Carlton Baugh (wk), 8 Andre Russell, 9 Darren Sammy (capt), 10 Sunil Narine, 11 Fidel Edwards.Australia have confirmed their starting line-up and there will be two changes from the side that played the final ODI. The fast bowler James Pattinson will play his first match of the tour and the allrounder Daniel Christian has also been included, while Peter Forrest and Ben Hilfenhaus have been left out.Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Matthew Wade (wk), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 David Hussey, 6 George Bailey (capt), 7 Daniel Christian, 8 Brett Lee, 9 James Pattinson, 10 Clint McKay, 11 Xavier Doherty.Pitch and conditionsThe St Lucia pitch provided 280-plus first-innings scores in both the ODIs and there is no reason runs shouldn’t flow in the first Twenty20 as well.Stats and trivia David Hussey will become Australia’s most-capped Twenty20 international player in this game, surpassing Michael Clarke’s record of 34 matches There is no clear advantage at the toss: in the 11 T20 internationals held in St Lucia the team batting first has won five and lost six Should Australia lose both of these matches, they could finish the tour ranked as low as eighth on the ICC’s T20 international rankingsQuotes”These matches will give us a gauge as to where we are. The belief is there. It was clear during the last two weeks. We are getting stronger.”
“It’s a nice change for us to have a T20 group that has been together for a little while. Normally with T20 you get thrown together for a week and that’s it, so to spent the last ten days together, albeit playing one-day cricket, is hopefully going to hold us in pretty good stead.”

Aleem Dar has joined the chorus for the mandatory use of the Hot Spot technology for all series to minimise umpiring errors.

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Apr-2012Aleem Dar, the ICC Elite umpire, has joined the chorus for the mandatory use of the Hot Spot technology for all series to minimise umpiring errors. Dar said he was fully supportive of the Decision Review System (DRS), and wanted consistency in the use of various technology.”In the recent Sri Lanka-England series the Hot Spot technology was not being used. To have the use of consistent elements of technology at each match would make it easier for players, spectators and umpires alike,” Dar told . “DRS ensures that most decisions can be corrected.”The two Tests in Sri Lanka had its share of controversies, most recently involving Tillakaratne Dilshan’s dismissal on the fourth day at the P Sara Oval. Dilshan was adjudged caught at slip off Graeme Swann by Bruce Oxenford and immediately signalled for a review. The third umpire, Rod Tucker, took an age looking at the images but without the infra-red cameras he ruled that there was no conclusive evidence to advise the on-field umpire if he had made an error.On the first day, England thought they had Thilan Samaraweera caught at short leg and asked for review, but it remained a not out decision. Following that, Steven Finn, who was the bowler involved, said he would like to see Hot Spot available all the time.Series involving India are usually free of DRS, given India’s vocal stance against the system since its inception in 2008. But cash-strapped members like Sri Lanka find it difficult to afford it because the high cost of the cameras has to be shared by the host country and broadcaster.Dar said on-field umpires should view the DRS as a tool to assist them, and not be ashamed to reverse a wrong decision.”I am human, I know I will make mistakes, but I just concentrate on the next delivery. I would say to any umpires out there that if you have made a mistake just concentrate on the next delivery and don’t let that earlier mistake affect your confidence,” Dar said.”I’m fully supportive of the DRS and other technology and don’t see it as interfering with my umpiring or detrimental to my performance. Even the best umpires will make mistakes and if technology highlights those mistakes and gets the right decision made, then that is good for the game of cricket.”Dar said he had made some recommendations to the PCB to improve the standard of umpiring in Pakistan, including using television footage in domestic matches as a review-tool for the officials.”I’ve said that regular fitness tests need to be done for all umpires in Pakistan,” he said. “At the moment the ICC carries out regular eye tests and hearing tests and that should also be done in Pakistan particularly before any major tournament.”I suggested to the PCB that if domestic matches or tournaments aren’t televised then at least get some video coverage of those matches so that umpires can watch the footage and also it will help the selectors and players too. Once you have that recording, it can help everyone including the umpires.”Another suggestion I have made is to ensure that they use the Kookaburra ball in domestic cricket, as whenever our cricketers use this ball in other countries they struggle to cope with it.”Edited by Kanishkaa Balachandran

Having emulated his technique, Darren Bravo has now sought to channel Brian Lara’s mental approach to building a major innings against Australia

Daniel Brettig in Port-of-Spain13-Apr-2012Having emulated his technique, Darren Bravo has now sought to channel Brian Lara’s mental approach to building a major innings against Australia. Bravo spoke with Lara ahead of the second Test between West Indies and Australia in Trinidad, after regathering confidence in his batting with a pair of starts in the Bridgetown match.Lara and Bravo met at a reception for the West Indian and Australian teams at the home of Australia’s high commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago on Friday evening. Bravo, 23, has also been in contact with his half-brother Dwayne, currently preoccupied by the IPL, and said he had been seeking further advice on how to go on from the middling scores he managed at the Kensington Oval.Following a stretch of poor form that spanned the limited-overs matches against Australia and a regional four-day fixture for T&T against Barbados, Bravo hinted at a return to his best while compiling 51 and 32. He hopes that promise can bloom into a major contribution in his first Test match on his home ground.”I’m quietly confident in my form at the moment, and felt good with my timing in the last two innings I’ve had,” Bravo said at the Queen’s Park Oval. “I’ve had some advice from Brian and my brother as well, so I’m taking it one step at a time and hopefully sooner or later something special is around the corner.”[The advice was] just a matter of the way I go about building an innings, it’s something I’ve been working on and hopefully I can reap the rewards in this Test match. We know what the Australians are going to come with in this Test for sure and we’re going to come together as one big team and try our best, come up with the best plan, so we can execute it and come out victorious.”We want to level the series here and make it much more exciting for the third Test in Dominica.”Bravo’s second innings in Bridgetown had the potential to grow into a significant innings, holding up the tourists after they had cut their way past the hosts’ top order. However, he pushed at Peter Siddle and edged a catch behind in the closing overs of day four, admonishing himself as he left the field for giving up a valuable start.”To be quite honest that’s the way the game goes,” Bravo said. “One bad session or a few overs of bad cricket can cause you to lose the game, and I think that is what happened. But at the same time the guys gave a good account of themselves.”I was very disappointed that I got out in the second innings being when I was there already set, and I was trying to get my team to a respectable total. It was unfortunate but hopefully I can do better in the next Test.”In acknowledging the pattern of the first Test was a reprise of several earlier matches against India in 2011, Bravo said his team had to remain positive and not be consumed by doubt about whether they can sustain their efforts over five days. The Queen’s Park Oval pitch offers the possibility of sharp spin and variable bounce, making a result likely if Trinidad’s weather is kind.”Very important that we stay positive as much as possible,” Bravo said. “We went wrong in the first Test and it is something we need to rectify as soon as possible because we don’t want it to happen again. Hopefully we can come together as a team and find the best possible way to correct what happened in the first Test and get it right in this game.”I don’t know how the pitch looks at the moment, but we all know on the Oval that on the fourth and fifth day that spin is going to have a major part. This year hopefully we can set up the game in the first three days so it is much easier for us at the end.”West Indies were able to take advantage of fine morning conditions on Friday to train fully, before afternoon rain robbed the Australians of the chance to do likewise. The visitors made a brief observation of the pitch before returning to their hotel for work in the gym and the pool.

Mark Davies dismissed Alastair Cook for 1 after Darren Stevens and Geraint Jones had rescued Kent’s first innings

Charles Randall at Chelmsford11-May-2012
ScorecardEngland’s opening pair, Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss, remain desperately short of runs ahead of the first Test against West Indies•AFPThe county bowling cohorts have done England’s opening partnership no favours in the build-up to the West Indies series. Alastair Cook was undone lbw for a single at Chelmsford today to follow innings of 9 and 5 at Cardiff last week — not much to build on before next Thursday’s Test at Lord’s.With Andrew Strauss having a torrid time at Middlesex, Kent’s new signing Mark Davies ensured Cook drew a near blank by straightening a lovely seamer into the left-hander’s pads. The next ball drew Tom Westley forward, kicked off the seam and found a thin edge safely pouched behind the wicket. With Essex faltering at 3 for 2, Kent were ready to cash in on Darren Stevens’s top-rate century, especially as there was no sign of Ravi Bopara, Cook’s England colleague.Bopara spent the afternoon resting his leg rather waiting for a go at the crease. He was due to visit Broomfield Hospital immediately after play for a precautionary scan on an apparently minor thigh strain suffered in his over before lunch when Essex were trying to break a long sixth-wicket stand between Stevens and Geraint Jones.Only after Davies had been rested — his first spell was 7-3-5-2 — did Essex begin to make progress through some dashing strokeplay by Mark Pettini. He cut and drove the ball so crisply over the lush outfield and scampered so well that it was hard to believe that his first class average was 32. His winter in Zimbabwe domestic cricket, based in the beautiful mountainous Mutare district, appeared to have refreshed his game. He batted well in Zimbabwe for the Mountaineers.Kent’s debutant Ivan Thomas, replacing Davies at the Hayes Close end, bowled steadily with an upright action, a languid build-up producing deceptive whip off the pitch, but Pettini and Billy Godleman stuck to their task. Godleman, never a thing of cricket beauty, scuffed and deflected 27 his way through Essex’s 39 overs, but at least he hung around until stumps. Cook would have loved such an extensive sight of the ball.Stevens and Jones performed wonders to dig Kent out of 9 for 5, putting on 194 together. Stevens finished with a high-quality 119 off only 170 balls and Jones made a worthy 88, no one else mustering more than six. Essex’s bowlers toiled, even the first-day destroyer Charl Willoughby, and the fielding substitutes were given a busy day rotating in the absence of Bopara and Alviro Petersen, who was still nursing a sore ankle.When Stevens top-edged Greg Smith for six over fine-leg to advance to 91, it was clear that Kent had regained the initiative. Their grip was eventually broken when Stevens sliced a drive to cover. Jones perished at long-off attempting to farm the bowling after off-spinner Westley had picked up three wickets in eight balls.After losing virtually two days to rain, this excellent fluctuating match deserves a finish.

Even with Chris Gayle back in the side, and in the runs, England cantered to victory by eight wickets at The Oval to seal the series

The Report by Andrew McGlashan19-Jun-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAlastair Cook continued the prolific form of England’s openers in one-day cricket•Getty ImagesSo much for West Indies providing tougher opposition in the one-day format. Even with Chris Gayle back in the side, and in the runs, England cantered to victory by eight wickets at The Oval to seal the series. Alastair Cook struck his third ODI hundred in six matches, adding 122 for the first wicket with Ian Bell, after another collective bowling effort kept the lid on West Indies after a brief onslaught by Gayle.On a day overshadowed by the death of Surrey batsman Tom Maynard on Monday it was a largely subdued affair. The match was preceded by a minute’s silence and the players wore black armbands while a book of condolence was opened in the pavilion. England had wanted to secure victory in memory of Maynard – a player tipped to graduate to the top level – and once they had ended Gayle’s innings the home side never lost control despite a hundred stand between Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard.Cook’s hundred – his fourth as captain – was a superbly controlled innings and came off 114 balls to continue the prolific run of England openers in the one-day game. This innings takes it to six on the trot which is new record for any team in ODIs. Cook’s full range of shots were on display and not just the cut, drive and pull that prove so prolific in Tests. He brought out the slog-sweep against Sunil Narine, upper-cut Darren Sammy down to third man and, with the target closing in, pulled a six over long-on off the front foot before top edging a slower ball next delivery.The West Indies bowling attack offered barely any concerns for them. The recalled Tino Best was quick but erratic as he conceded 31 in his opening four overs while Narine still could not trouble England as he has other opposition.Bell drove elegantly off the back foot through the off side while Cook picked off his favourite cut shot while also driving through cover and past mid-off – a sign that his game is in good work working order. Narine was introduced straight after the first set of fielding restrictions but England were already well ahead of the rate and only needed to milk him. Not that they spurned boundary opportunities, though, with Cook collecting consecutive fours.Smart stats

This is only the third time that England have beaten West Indies by a margin of eight or more wickets. The last time they did so was in Barbados in 2009.

The number of deliveries remaining after England’s win (30) is the second-highest for a successful chase by England against West Indies (200-plus score).

England have now won their last six home series. Their last home series defeat came against Australia in 2009 when they lost 6-1.

Alastair Cook’s century is his fifth in ODIs and his first against West Indies. Three of his centuries have come in his last six innings.

The 122-run stand between Cook and Ian Bell is the sixth-highest opening stand for England against West Indies and the fourth-highest for England at The Oval.

The number of sixes hit by Chris Gayle during his 53 (5) is level second on the list of most sixes hit in an innings by a West Indian batsman against England. Gayle is on top with eight sixes in Barbados in 2009.

Bell’s fifty came off 60 deliveries as he continued his resurgent return to the one-day team following the hundred he made in the opening match of the series. However, he could not close in on back-to-back hundreds (to follow the feats of Cook and Kevin Pietersen against Pakistan) as he pushed firmly at a Sammy delivery which he indicated stopped in the surface.West Indies had threatened a more daunting target when Gayle peppered the stands during a 41-ball fifty with five sixes in 11 deliveries including three in a row in Tim Bresnan’s first over after the innings had made a sedate start. An emerging trait of this England one-day team, though, is that they do not panic under pressure and Cook was rewarded for some smart captaincy when he introduced Graeme Swann ahead of Stuart Broad.Swann’s first over cost three, then, with the third ball of his second, he won an lbw decision from Tony Hill who ruled the ball had struck pad fractionally before the inside edge. Gayle reviewed the decision immediately and third umpire, Kumar Dharmasena, had a long look before ruling that there was not sufficient evidence to overturn the decision, much to Gayle’s frustration as he lingered at the crease.Despite Gayle’s innings the scoring rate had not escaped from England, largely because they had kept Lendl Simmons very quiet at the other end. It was a painful innings from Simmons who struggled for timing as he laboured for 50 deliveries before chancing a single to mid-off where he was beaten by a direct hit from Cook.Either side of that West Indies had lost two of their in-form batsmen. Dwayne Smith, who opened in the first match in Gayle’s absence and this time was at No. 3 in place of the injured Darren Bravo, flashed at a wide delivery in Broad’s first over. It was crucial Marlon Samuels steadied the innings but four balls after Simmons’ run out he lazily picked out deep midwicket with a top-edged pull.The visitors were threatening to completely lose their way but Bravo, with a display of class strokeplay, and Pollard, with a little more brute strength, played sensibly to at least ensure the total passed 200, as West Indies faded again at the end. A rare mistake from England came when Pollard was given a life on 28 with Craig Kieswetter missing a stumping chance the ball before the batting Powerplay was taken, and the fielding restrictions brought 47 runs – only for the final five overs of the innings to bring just 19. The momentum was England’s and it never left them.

Max Sorensen and Alex Cusack each took four wickets to help Ireland skittle Afghanistan for 84, as their rain-hit Intercontinental Cup match got underway on day three

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jul-2012
ScorecardMax Sorensen celebrates taking one of his four wickets•ICC/Rob O’ConnorMax Sorensen and Alex Cusack each took four wickets to help Ireland skittle Afghanistan for 84, as their rain-hit Intercontinental Cup match finally got underway on day three. By the close, Ireland had built a 42-run lead with eight wickets in hand, giving them the opportunity to try and press for victory on the final day.Trent Johnston also impressed with the ball, taking 2 for 7 off eight overs, as the Afghanistan batsmen struggled against the seaming ball. Only three players reached double figures – Afsar Khan, Samiullah Shenwari and Gulbodin Naib all scoring 13 – as the innings lasted just 29.1 overs.”Once the conditions dried up and it allowed us to get out on the field, I think the bowlers set us off on the right foot,” Ireland captain Kevin O’Brien said. “It was a good all-round performance”It was always going to be if you win the toss you’re going to bowl, I think that was probably the only way we were going to get a win. With the bowlers putting in a performance and now the top four putting us in a hugely strong position, it certainly is on the cards tomorrow. If we can get a full day in, maybe 60 or 70 overs at Afghanistan, we certainly would fancy our chances.”Ireland showed how to play in the conditions, with Cusack adding an unbeaten 34 batting at No. 3, to go with his 4 for 31. Naib and Karim Sadiq made the breakthroughs for Afghanistan but after Paul Stirling fell for 42, Cusack and Surrey’s Gary Wilson added a further 61 runs.