Category Uncategorized

West Indies need 71 runs with six wickets in hand to wrap up their Test series against New Zealand 2-0, but they will hope that the tropical storm Ernesto gives them enough time to knock off those runs

Subash Jayaraman in Jamaica05-Aug-2012West Indies need 71 runs with six wickets in hand and two full days to go to wrap up their Test series against New Zealand 2-0, but they will hope that the tropical storm Ernesto, expected to hit Jamaica on Sunday, gives them enough time to knock off those runs. After lashing the Windward Islands over the past few days, affecting Barbados, Dominica, St Lucia, St Vincent, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and the Grenadines, Ernesto is making its way towards Jamaica, and is expected to bring rains and heavy gusts of wind on days four and five.As Ernesto moves towards the western Caribbean, “a region with lower wind shear and warmer water temperatures”, it is expected to strengthen further. High winds, rain and thunderstorms are predicted for the Kingston area for Sunday and Monday. Some locals say there haven’t been elaborate emergency procedures put in place, which could suggest they are not expecting the full fury of a hurricane, but it is still likely to bring rains, putting play in serious doubt.The weather was perhaps at the back of Chris Gayle’s mind when he started the chase of 206 with a first-over six. West Indies took 19 off the first two overs, but Trent Boult and Tim Southee sent back the openers to slow the charge. Although Marlon Samuels, centurion from the first innings and the one batsman who seemed to be at ease on this pitch, got another rapid start, New Zealand were able to apply the brakes on the scoring again with two further wickets.Only 79 came off 31 overs in the last session of the day. If the weather does deny West Indies a win, they will be left wondering whether they could have been more urgent in that phase, coming close enough to the target by stumps on day three so as to be able to ask for the extra half hour to finish the game.

Sri Lanka and Australia are likely to have the DRS only for the Test-leg of the upcoming tour because of a shortage of cameras required for the minimum technology standards

Sa'adi Thawfeeq24-Jul-2011Sri Lanka and Australia are likely to have the DRS only for the Test-leg of the upcoming tour because of a shortage of cameras required for the minimum technology standards. Only one of five necessary cameras are available as the other four are being used in the ongoing Test series between England and India.”We are in touch with the ICC and the Australian company that is handling the equipment to try and make the technology available from the Twenty20 International, but the hitch is that they don’t have sufficient cameras,” said Upali Dharmadasa, Sri Lanka Cricket’s interim chairman.It was initially reported that SLC were not going to use the DRS because of financial constraints but Dharmadasa cleared up that confusion. “We were made to understand that the DRS became mandatory from October 1, 2011, but when I spoke to ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat, he told me that the DRS was mandatory at the end of the ICC meeting in Hong Kong on June 30. So we decided to go ahead with it.”We told him that SLC had not budgeted for the use of DRS for the series, and if the ICC could help us in some way to cut down the costs, it would be helpful. Mr Lorgat promised to assist us in whatever way he could.”Dharmadasa said Sri Lanka were keen to have ball-tracking technology also included in the DRS, a technology that is not being used in the ongoing England-India Test series.Australia begin their tour of Sri Lanka with a Twenty20 international in Pallekele on August 6.
The Test series between England and India ends on August 22, when the Sri Lanka-Australia five-ODI series also concludes. The three-Test series starts in Galle on August 31.

Allrounder Julia Chibhabha, sister of Zimbabwe batsman Chamu Chibhabha, returns to the women’s national squad for the Women’s World Cup Regional Qualifiers to be held in Kenya in December

Cricinfo staff11-Aug-2010Allrounder Julia Chibhabha, sister of Zimbabwe batsman Chamu Chibhabha, returns to the national squad for the Women’s World Cup Regional Qualifiers to be held in Kenya in December. The tournament will include the hosts and Zimbabwe along with Uganda, South Africa and Tanzania.”There have been no major changes in the line-up, apart from the return of Julia Chibhabha into the squad,” Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) Women’s Cricket Coordinator, Caroline Nyamande, said. “The franchises have done well working with the players, the ladies have played more cricket in the last eight months and selectors had a tougher time choosing the squad not only because of increased number of candidates but the swell of competitive players.”ZC introduced the country’s first inter-franchise women’s age-group competitions in March, starting with the Under-13 category to the senior levels.Squad: Sinikiwe Mpofu, Nonhlanhla Nyathi, Ashley Burdett, Chipo
Mugeri, Pellagia Mujaji, Julia Chibhabha, Christabel Chatonzwa, Monalisa Chimutashu, Sharyce Saili, Nyasha Gauzeni, Precious Marange, Ashley Ndiraya, Sarah Dambanevana, Thandolwenkosi Mlilo, Sharne Mayers.

Both teams are out of the running for the WTC final but would want to end the Test series on a high

Mohammad Isam29-Nov-2024

Big picture: Contest between two good pace attacks

The Sabina Park will host its first Test in more than three years, but it’s a favourite venue of the hosts, and they play there regularly in one format or the other. Which gives them a great chance to put together another strong performance to send Bangladesh back with a 2-0 defeat. If it happens, it will be West Indies’ first Test series sweep since July 2022, and Bangladesh were the opponents then too.Given how fragile their batting has been of late, West Indies will be particularly pleased with the way they batted in the first innings in the North Sound Test. They had two big – 140 runs, each time – partnerships, the first involving Alick Athanaze and Mikyle Louis, who both got out in the 90s. Even though they missed their maiden Test centuries, they batted with responsibility and showed discipline. The same was the case with Justin Greaves, who did get to his first Test century. What was also heartening was the way Kemar Roach supported Greaves in their stand for the eighth wicket.Related

• Alzarri wraps WI's win with twin strikes on fifth morning

West Indies also bowled with discipline, the four-man pace attack not giving Bangladesh that odd spell when run-scoring becomes easy. Jayden Seales is the attack leader. Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph bowl in fiery bursts. Roach banks on his huge experience, and the years of dominance over Bangladesh helps.Pace bowling was Bangladesh’s only positive in the first Test, too. And it could well be the only thing that they can bank on in the second Test.Taskin Ahmed led the way with eight wickets in the match, including a six-for in the second innings, where West Indies scored 152 in 46.1 overs. It was Taskin’s first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. The performance, coupled with Hasan Mahmud and Shoriful Islam showing consistency, kept Bangladesh going in the Test. In Jamaica, Nahid Rana could get a look-in too, making the attack that much more potent.But what about Bangladesh’s batting? It has been one collapse after another, wherever they have played, for a while now – the main reason they have now lost their last five Tests after the big 2-0 win in Pakistan. They showed a bit of patience in their first innings at North Sound, lasting 98 overs – Jaker Ali and Mominul Haque got fifties, while Litton Das made 40. There was little more on offer from the group outside of that, except a bit of fight from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Jaker in the second innings.One thing that both teams need to improve is their catching. There were plenty of dropped catches right through the match. Mominul dropped two in a short span before West Indies dropped four during Shamar’s first spell on the fourth day. It was a blot on an otherwise good game.Taskin Ahmed picked up his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket in North Sound•BCB

Form guide

West Indies WLDLL
Bangladesh LLLLL
Both West Indies and Bangladesh are out of the running for a spot in the World Test Championship final.

In the spotlight – Justin Greaves and Jaker Ali

It took Justin Greaves ten years to become a Test cricketer since his first-class debut, but after the debut series in Australia earlier this year, he was dropped. Then it took him another ten months to return to the Test side, but this time, he made it count. He showed restraint and enterprise, especially when batting with Roach late in the script. West Indies will expect a similar showing with the bat from Greaves in Jamaica.Jaker Ali showed character under pressure, unlike most of his team-mates. Jaker now has fifties in his first two Tests, which is rare for a Bangladesh batter. He is a fighter, and constantly encourages his batting partners, particularly the lower-order batters. Jaker himself is slowly opening up as a batter, and can expect a bit more responsibility in the Bangladesh batting line-up in Jamaica.

Team news – Expect changes in Bangladesh XI

West Indies are unlikely to change their playing XI barring any injuries.West Indies (probable): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 2 Mikyle Louis, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Alick Athanaze, 5 Kavem Hodge, 6 Justin Greaves, 7 Joshua Da Silva (wk), 8 Kemar Roach, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Jayden Seales, 11 Shamar JosephJustin Greaves batted for over six hours as he scored a century in the first Test•Cricket West Indies

One or both of Shadman Islam and Mahidul Islam could expect a call-up for the second Test after Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Zakir Hasan failed in the first. Nahid could also feature as Bangladesh tend to rotate their fast bowlers.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Mahmudul Hasan Joy/Shadman Islam, 2 Zakir Hasan/Mahidul Islam, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Shahadat Hossain, 5 Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), 6 Litton Das (wk), 7 Jaker Ali, 8 Taijul Islam, 9 Hasan Mahmud, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Shoriful Islam/Nahid Rana

Pitch and conditions

Sabina Park has seen big scores in T20Is this year, but it has also traditionally been a good pitch for both fast bowlers and spinners in Tests. Weather, however, could play a part as rain is in the forecast for all five days in Kingston.

Stats and trivia – Brathwaite set to go past Sobers

• Kraigg Brathwaite is currently equal with Garfield Sobers on 85 Tests, the most consecutive appearances for West Indies. Sobers played non-stop from 1955 to 1972, while Brathwaite has been a West Indies constant from 2014.
• Bangladesh have now played 18 Tests without drawing one. Their previous record is 21, between 2001 and 2004.
• At North Sound, Mominul struck his first half-century in the West Indies since 2014. He aggregated only 20 runs across three matches in the two Test series there in 2018 and 2022.
• The last time West Indies played a Test match in Jamaica, in 2021, Phil Simmons was their head coach. Now he is Bangladesh’s head coach.

Gus Atkinson claims best figures by England T20I debutant as tourists slide to crushing defeat

Alan Gardner01-Sep-2023Harry Brook ensured the conversation about his 50-over World Cup omission would continue to bubble under, as he and Jonny Bairstow dismantled New Zealand’s attack during a century stand at Old Trafford. Gus Atkinson then confirmed his arrival as a fast man of international pedigree with the best figures by an Englishman on T20I debut as New Zealand were brutally dispatched in the second T20I.Bairstow batted through the England innings for 86 off 60 balls but it was Brook’s audacious strokeplay that had the crowd off their feet while adding 67 from 36, with five fours and as many sixes, as England powered to a commanding score after choosing to bat first.Atkinson, clocked at 95mph/152kph during the Hundred last month, claimed a wicket with his fourth ball in international cricket before returning to blast out the final three in the space of an over. Atkinson finished with 4 for 20, New Zealand plummeting from 72 for 3 to 103 all out – only three batters managing double-figures – as England consigned them to their third-heaviest defeat in T20s, and a 2-0 series deficit.Atkinson quick off the mark
“He’s got extra pace, and pace can create wickets,” Jos Buttler said at the toss, when asked about England’s newest quick bowler, Atkinson of Surrey (or Oval Invincibles in new money). Few outside the county borders knew much about the 25-year-old at the start of the season, even though he had been on the club’s books since 2017, but impressive returns and, more importantly, a propensity to push the speed gun well above 90mph, had seen him rocket up the pecking order and into England’s 50-over World Cup squad despite being uncapped in any format.The first cap duly came, having been given an extra couple of days to recover from his exertions in the Hundred final, and it didn’t take long for pace to create a maiden international wicket. His start was tight, the wheels in evidence – second ball, 92mph/148kph – and Devon Conway duly attempted to hit his way out of trouble, only to flick another 90mph/145kph delivery down the throat of deep backward square leg.New Zealand crumble in steep chase
With both openers gone for single-figure scores and Glenn Phillips hitting an Adil Rashid full toss straight to long-on – Brook again on the scene with a precisely judged leap – New Zealand were 44 for 3 and struggling to keep up with a required rate of almost 10 an over. Mark Chapman crashed Liam Livingstone’s first two balls for six and four but fell in the same over, and when Brydon Carse’s deck-hitting approach had Daryl Mitchell caught behind first ball, the jig was as good as up.It was still a tame ending, as Will Jacks bowled Mitchell Santner for a maiden T20I wicket, Adam Milne reversed Rashid straight to slip – a fine reaction catch from Moeen Ali – and Atkinson returned to end it in the space of five balls. Tim Seifert, who battled gamely for 39 off 31, top-edged a bouncer straight up, before Tim Southee was lbw attempting to scoop and Atkinson’s yorker thudded into the base of middle and off stumps to dismiss Lockie Ferguson first ball. As at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday, the game was done with six overs to spare.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Bat first, bat steady
After Buttler had opted to bat at the toss, England’s powerplay effort of 40 for 1 suggested that conditions might not be conducive for outright carnage. Bairstow ticked along at just under a run a ball, and although Jacks fetched Ferguson for two fours and a six in the space of three balls, not everything was coming out of the middle – as evidenced by a flaccid pull off Southee that looped to mid-on in the following over.Dawid Malan, a T20I banker for England but coping uneasily with scrutiny over his 50-over World Cup spot, soon departed for a four-ball duck, done by Santner looping one up in the old style, to make it 43 for 2. Bairstow bludgeoned Santner into the crowd for his first six, before Brook twice smoked Ish Sodhi over deep extra cover from consecutive balls – the latter despite barely reaching the pitch – but a score of 76 for 2 at halfway would not have daunted New Zealand.Bairstow, Brook go big
A pair of Yorkshiremen on Lancashire’s home ground, Bairstow and Brook took a while to feel comfortable. England’s third-wicket pair were prepared to put in the groundwork, easing to a fifty partnership from 30 balls – and then came the signal to unleash. Bairstow, having notched a 40-ball half-century, slog-swept Southee over the ropes before hitting him down the ground for four and then six – the latter a huge straight hit into the pavilion – before Brook latched on to another wide slower ball and flogged six more over long-on, as the over went for 23.Bairstow made it three sixes in five balls by tucking into Sodhi, Brook adding another boundary with an impudent reverse-slap. Milne briefly put a break on the scoring with a boundary-free 15th, but Brook showed his touch by dabbing and driving Ferguson for another brace of fours, then went after Southee again with 6-4-6 from consecutive balls. A baseball slap down the ground took him to fifty off 31 balls, before whipping a full toss through midwicket, then picking the wide legcutter again and ploughing it over long-on.By the time Brook departed in the 18th, advancing to mistime Sodhi to long-on, the partnership had realised 131 from 65 balls – the highest stand in T20Is at Old Trafford. Although only 24 runs came from the last 16 balls, Milne completing an excellent showing to finish with figures of 4-0-23-0, England were as good as out of sight already.

Meanwhile, Oshada Fernando, Ramesh Mendis, and fast bowlers Kasun Rajitha and Asitha Fernando have returned to the Test side

Madushka Balasuriya04-May-2022The inclusions of uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Kamil Mishara, spin-bowling allrounder Kamindu Mendis, left-arm quick Dilshan Madushanka and legspinner Suminda Lakshan are among eight changes to Sri Lanka’s Test squad for their tour of Bangladesh this month.Returning to the Test fold alongside them are batter Oshada Fernando, allrounder Ramesh Mendis, and fast bowlers Kasun Rajitha and Asitha Fernando.Suranga Lakmal, who ended his international career following the tour of India earlier this year, makes way, as do fellow quicks Lahiru Kumara and Dushmantha Chameera, who is being rested from red-ball cricket until the T20 World Cup later this year.Related

• Nawaz expects his presence in Sri Lanka camp to spur on former Bangladesh Under-19 trainees

• Chris Silverwood named Sri Lanka's new head coach

• Shakib back for first Test against SL; Shadman, Jayed dropped

There is also no room for legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, nor batters Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka and Lahiru Thirimanne. Nissanka is still recovering from the back injury that he suffered during the tour of India, while Asalanka has been asked to focus more on white-ball cricket.Thirimanne, meanwhile, is understood to have been selected in the initial squad, but had requested for three months of paternity leave to be with his wife and newborn in Australia. The 32-year-old had an underwhelming tour of India, but had been among Sri Lanka’s in-form red-ball batters before that.Another player who was initially selected but requested to be omitted was Roshen Silva. The 33-year-old, who hasn’t played a Test since 2019, is understood to have travelled to play in the UK without an NOC from SLC. He has been replaced by Kamindu Mendis.Even with those exclusions, the batting group remains heavy on experience, with the playing XI likely to consist of most – if not all – of Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva. Mishara, Oshada, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis and Kamindu add further heft.However, Sri Lanka might find themselves a little light in the bowling department. Their fast-bowling load will now be shared by Vishwa Fernando and Asitha Fernando, the uncapped Madushanka, allrounder Karunaratne and the returning Rajitha, who hasn’t played a Test since picking up in groin injury at the tail-end of 2020 – a contingent with a combined 29 international caps among them.Sri Lanka’s spinners hardly fare any better, with the uncapped Lakshan part of three frontline spinners on tour; the left-arm pairing of Lasith Embuldeniya and Praveen Jayawickrama boast 19 Tests between them – the latter having only made his debut in 2021. However, the offspin of De Silva, and Ramesh and Kamindu, offer more options.Sri Lanka will play two Tests against Bangladesh, the first of which will begin in Chattogram on May 15. The action will then move to Mirpur for the second Test from May 23.Full squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Suminda Lakshan, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya

Mooney also took the T20I player of the year title while Rachael Haynes took the ODI title

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Feb-2021Beth Mooney, who was player of the tournament at the T20 World Cup last year, has been named the Belinda Clark Medalist at the Australia Cricket Awards.Mooney (60 votes) narrowly pipped captain Meg Lanning (58 votes) to the top award and it is the first time since 2013 that the medal has not gone to one of Lanning, Alyssa Healy, or Ellyse Perry.”We’ve certainly got some players in the Australia side at the moment that will be remembered for a long time as some of the best we’ve ever produced,” she said. “To be playing alongside them let alone being up on an honour roll next to them, winning this award, is a pretty surreal thing.”It’s named after Belinda Clark who is an absolute pioneer of our game and women’s sport in this country, so think it will take a bit of time to sink in. It’s definitely something that’s crossed my mind, I feel like just an ordinary human who has picked up a bat and got a few runs here and there.”To be able sit at the end of the season and win this award, which has been voted [on] by my peers, some of the [best] players in the world, is certainly something I won’t take for granted and something I’m very grateful for.”Mooney, who was the leading run-scorer at the T20 World Cup with 259 at 64.75 and top-scored in the final against India, was the runaway winner of the T20 player of the year title having also made an unbeaten 71 in the tri-series final against India before the World Cup.At the start of this season, Mooney reflected on the work she had put into the mental side of her game but believes there is more to come.”Think there’s always room for environment, but over the last couple of years I certainly feel a lot more relaxed when I’m out there and I can except that sometimes it’s your day and sometimes it’s not,” she said. “Fortunately enough in the last 12-18 months I’ve had a few days when I’ve felt I’ve been able to contribute to a winning side, whether it’s with Australia or Perth Scorchers or Queensland.”I certainly think there’s still scope for me to get better and evolve as a player and a human and that’s something I’m always looking to do. The next 12 months will be a really exciting challenge for the Australian team and for me to keep getting better and continually contribute to winning matches.”Overall in the voting period, which included last season’s tri-series, the T20 World Cup and the series against New Zealand earlier this season, Mooney made 555 runs – 99 more than he closest rival Rachael Haynes.The leading wicket-takers were Jess Jonassen and Megan Schutt with 27 apiece although it was legspinning allrounder Georgia Wareham who came in third in the Belinda Clarke Medal voting.Due to the Covid-19 pandemic only three ODIs were played in the voting period, the series against New Zealand last October, with Haynes taking the award by one vote from Lanning.

Flower had overseen the England Lions since leaving the head coach job in 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Oct-2019Andy Flower has left the ECB after 12 years at the organisation.Flower, who led England to their first men’s ICC tournament win in 2010 and their first away Ashes win since 1986-87 later in that year, was first employed as Peter Moores’ assistant coach in 2007. He became head coach in 2009, and after stepping down following the disastrous 2013-14 Ashes campaign, took up a role as ‘technical director of elite cricket’, giving him responsibility for the England Lions team.An ECB statement said that Flower had left “to pursue other opportunities”, and he said that he would still be based in England.Flower described his time at the ECB as “a real privilege”, and picked out the World T20 win in 2010, the away Ashes win, and victory in the 2012-13 series in India as three highlights.Flower also gave his backing to new England coach Chris Silverwood.”I’m really happy for Chris that he’s getting the chance to lead England and I think he’s going to do a great job,” he said. “I also want to wish Mo Bobat, the new performance director, all the best in his new role.”Flower hinted that he was more likely to return to the game with a coaching role at a T20 franchise than in the international game.”I haven’t had a sustained break for quite a long time,” he said. “I will still be based in England and I will continue to watch English cricket very keenly – it has a very bright future.”Andy Flower had a successful stint as England coach across formats•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Flower’s departure completes a major overhaul in the ECB’s structure since the start of the year.Andrew Strauss stepped down from the team director role due to family reasons, and has become head of the cricket committee, while Ashley Giles has moved into his old role. Trevor Bayliss vacated the head coach role, which was filled by Silverwood, while David Parsons left his performance director role to be replaced by Bobat.Mark Ramprakash left his position as a batting coach, and reports have suggested that Kevin Shine (fast-bowling coach) and Peter Such (spin coach) are expected to leave their roles. Silverwood’s backroom staff has yet to be announced, though it is expected that continuity, rather than upheaval, will be the order of the day.

The Worcestershire captain withdrew a run out appeal following a collision between batsman and bowler

ECB Reporters Network27-Jun-20181:57

Kent go top of Division Two

ScorecardWorcestershire face a tough challenge on the final day if they are to avoid defeat against Nottinghamshire in their day-night pink ball Specsavers County Championship match at Trent Bridge.Set to score an improbable 462, from a minimum of 113 overs, they reached the close of the third day unscathed on 43 without loss.They have been set a challenging target after Jake Libby had fluently progressed to the fifth century of his career. The 25-year old opener reached the landmark from 144 deliveries, with six fours, at which point the hosts declared their second innings closed on 249 for 4.Samit Patel, who made 76 in the first innings, scored 71 and shared in a second wicket stand of 121 with Libby.Earlier, Worcestershire’s first innings closed on 287 all out, with Ross Whiteley having made 76.At the start of the day, the home attack needed only 70 minutes to pick up the final three wickets but elected not to enforce the follow-on despite securing a first innings advantage of 212 runs.Harry Gurney took the first wicket to fall, thereby securing figures of 4 for 97. Chris Nash, with his first two wickets for the county, ended with 2 for 4.Whiteley took the early plaudits, clubbing two huge sixes in a 42-ball half century. The pugnacious left-hander eventually fell for 74, his highest first-class score for three years.Dillon Pennington, a 19-year old seamer on debut, dismissed Nash, who made a hundred on the first day and later added the scalp of Billy Root.During Patel’s innings he was reprieved by a great show of sportsmanship from the visiting captain, who threw down the stumps with the batsman stranded short of his ground.Patel had accidentally collided with bowler Whiteley and had his progress baulked. The umpires began conferring but Brett D’Oliveira quickly intervened and withdrew the appeal.An apparent rib injury to Ben Cox forced the Worcestershire keeper to hand over the gloves to Joe Clarke and leave the field.
Patel hit the spin of Ben Twohig into the hands of cover and then Ross Taylor, playing his final innings for Notts, was bowled by Daryl Mitchell for just one.Riki Wessels applied the necessary firepower to extend the lead over 450 and was unbeaten on 57 at the time of the declaration.Mitchell and Martin Guptill safely negotiated the tricky twilight stage at the end of the day and will begin anew in more favourable conditions on the final afternoon.

Hamish Bennett said being patient and waiting for the Bangladesh batsmen to make mistakes worked for him, on his return to ODI cricket after three years

ESPNcricinfo staff18-May-20171:16

‘Didn’t expect another game after Hamilton 2014 – Bennett

It has been almost seven years since fast bowler Hamish Bennett made his ODI debut for New Zealand. In that series, he played two ODIs, against Bangladesh in Bangladesh, and New Zealand were humbled 4-0. Bennett remembers that series clearly, and was especially pleased that, on Wednesday, when he made his return to international cricket after three years – his previous ODI appearance was in January 2014 – New Zealand got the better of them.”It was a really good feeling,” Bennett said after New Zealand’s four-wicket win in the Ireland tri-series. “To be honest, I didn’t think I was going to get another game after Hamilton in 2014. But, especially good to win against Bangladesh after losing there 4-0, good to get one over them.”Bennett made his debut when he was 23, but had never managed to cement his place in the New Zealand first XI. Now, with a few first-choice players away at the IPL, Bennett slotted in and was simply happy to play with some of the friends he has made on the domestic circuit. “It was good to get out there. I’ve always wanted to play international cricket with Neil Broom, Tommy Latham and Ross [Taylor] as well,” he said. “So it was good to play a game for New Zealand with a couple of good mates.”That New Zealand had to chase only 258 was courtesy Bennett’s final two overs, where he conceded only three runs off the bat and took three wickets. His short-pitched deliveries against the Bangladesh middle and lower-order paid rich dividends, and he said that his plan to be patient and force his opponents to make mistakes held him in good stead.”You get lucky at the death sometimes – it goes one way or the another,” Bennett said. “It went my way today but my main job was to attack on that slower surface, it was just about trying to put the balls in the good areas. It was just about trying to contain them and get them to do something silly.”I think, in one-day cricket, you can afford to be a little bit patient with the ball because eventually the batting team will have to come at you. My mentality was just about trying to be patient and wait for them to make the play. I didn’t want to go searching too much, just wanted to keep building pressure.”Bennett, who was described by half-centurion James Neesham after the game as “one of the best death bowlers in New Zealand”, finished with figures of 3 for 31 and Bangladesh were kept to 257 for 9. But both players felt their team’s fielding effort was not up to scratch – the Bangladesh innings featured several misfields with players letting balls through or diving over them, overthrows that went to the boundary, and dropped chances – which left them chasing more than they should have been.”The target could easily have been a little bit less, we were a little sloppy, in the field,” Bennett said. “We should’ve kept them to about 230, but we never really had any run-rate pressure [in the chase], so it’s a fair reflection that 250-odd was a good score to chase.”Man-of-the-Match Neesham, whose 48-ball 52 shepherded New Zealand home with 15 balls to spare, said: “We bowled a bit better than 260-odd. If we’re honest with ourselves, our fielding let us down a bit, and 20-30 runs went abegging. You’ve got to chase the target you’re set and doing it with 12 balls to spare or whatever was ideal.”