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Matt Henry leads gutsy defence of 145 as Essex fall short despite Daniel Sams’ defiance

Alan Gardner15-Jul-2023Somerset ended an 18-year wait for a second T20 title as they put their Finals Day heartache behind them, concluding a record-breaking season with another ruthless bowling performance under the Edgbaston lights. Somerset had won 14 games out of 16 going into the final against Essex but made no mistake with the pressure on beneath the spectre of seven previous failures in English T20’s showpiece event.Put in for the second match running, Somerset were indebted to Sean Dickson’s well-crafted half-century as they scraped up to 145 all out from their 20 overs. Matt Henry then ripped the head off the Essex reply with a spell of 3 for 18 and the New Zealander returned to end Daniel Sams’ heroic attempts to win the match on his own, with the help of a flying, one-handed catch from Tom Kohler-Cadmore. In the process they equalled Leicestershire’s 2011 mark for the lowest score successfully defended in the final. The losers on that occasion? Somerset.The final of cricket’s longest day – which had survived an appalling forecast for the loss of just a handful of overs across two semi-finals – pitted Somerset’s winning machine against the South Group rabble-rousers, who only scraped through to the knockouts with a six from the final ball of their campaign. Essex were also bidding for a second title but fell short despite the efforts of Sams, whose belligerent hitting kept the result in the balance even as the ninth wicket fell with 29 still needed.Somerset, for whom Ish Sodhi claimed 3 for 22, had finished runners-up in this competition four times, as well as departing Edgbaston empty-handed in each of the past two seasons. They did it the hard way here, too, batting first in both semi and final. But as Kohler-Cadmore threw the ball aloft and Player of the Match Henry was embraced by his captain, Lewis Gregory, the choruses of “Somerset, la-la-la!” could finally begin.Powerplay blows tradedEssex had been the fastest-scoring side in the powerplay this season but also prone to spectacular collapses. Somerset, meanwhile, had already taken the most wickets in a Blast season coming into Finals Day and continued their potent form by bowling out Surrey with 13 balls to spare in their semi. Clearly, the start to Essex’s chase was going to be a right old dust-up.It was exhilarating stuff from the outset, as Essex raced to 27 from the first 11 balls and then lost four wickets from the next 17. Adam Rossington crunched four fours before belting a tracer bullet to Kasey Aldridge at point, who did well to avoid injury never mind cling on. Henry picked up two more in his next over, producing a peach to bowl Michael Pepper for a duck and trapping Dan Lawrence on the crease, before Robin Das’ attempt to hit Craig Overton over the top plopped tamely into the hands of mid-on.Sams spoke before the game about Essex attempting to demolish the old T20 axiom that losing three wickets in the powerplay meant losing the game – and they had managed three such wins in the group stage. But with Henry and Overton bowling unchanged for combined figures of 4 for 46, Essex had their work cut out for them.Slim chance rests with SamsA wicket for Gregory in his first over put Essex further behind the eight ball as they limped to 71 for 5 at halfway. Paul Walter was then defeated by a tossed-up delivery from Sodhi to be bowled for 26, but the lurking threat of Sams became clear when he mowed Aldridge over the shorter leg-side boundary from the City End to keep them clinging to the coat-tails of the asking rate.Simon Harmer was the next to go, with the requirement 40 from 32, but although Sams kept Somerset fans on edge there was to be no dramatic heist. His eventual dismissal for 45 off 26 confirmed Somerset’s first T20 success since 2005. It also meant that Somerset became the first team to bowl out both of their opponents on Finals Day, and took their record-breaking tally of wickets for the season to 151 from 17 games.Somerset’s big three kept quietHaving opted to chase, Essex needed to contain a powerful Somerset line-up. Their top three coming into Finals Day had all scored more than 400 runs with strike rates in the region of 150-180 but, despite Tom Banton being dropped off the first ball of the innings, Essex managed to see them off without too much damage.Lawrence was the man who failed to hang on to a sharp chance above his head at backward point, and the bowler, Sams, was then twice dispatched through the off-side arc by Will Smeed in the same over. Banton audaciously scooped Sam Cook’s fifth ball over the keeper’s head for six, but Somerset’s early momentum was checked when Smeed dragged on against Shane Snater in the third over.Two more boundaries off Aaron Beard were followed by Kohler-Cadmore slugging Cook into the Hollies for another emphatic six as Somerset reached the end of the powerplay on 46 for 1. But Banton then fell miscuing a reverse-slap off Snater to short third and when Kohler-Cadmore chopped on against Matt Critchley the score had slipped to 54 for 3. Between them, Banton, Smeed and Kohler-Cadmore had managed 48 off 44.Critch catch turns match?
Somerset’s innings hinged around the non-dismissal of Gregory for what would have been a golden duck in the 12th over. Critchley thought he had got fingers under the ball when stooping for a low return catch, but third umpire Nigel Llong ruled it had not been taken cleanly. Had it been given, Somerset would have been 69 for 5, but Gregory and Dickson subsequently combined for a stand of 45 in 28 balls to lift their side back into contention.Dickson, whose unheralded 30 off 22 had proved vital against Surrey, set about playing another shrewd knock in the middle order. He was 12 off 13 before hitting his first boundary, then picked up a brace of fours in Harmer’s solitary over and two more off consecutive balls in the next from Critchley.However, Snater’s return to bowl out brought another key breakthrough as Gregory top-edged a short ball to be caught and bowled, and Essex squeezed again to dismiss Ben Green and Overton cheaply – the latter via Beard’s direct hit from deep square leg. Dickson brought up 33-ball fifty in the penultimate over but then gloved Walter’s short ball behind as the Somerset innings dribbled to a conclusion. But with runs on the board, Somerset’s attack were more than in the game.

Defending champions respond grudgingly after realising their standing is in doubt

David Hopps21-May-2022There have been days in many a Championship summer when the reigning champions get a shiver of realisation that they are not going to successfully defend their title. Perhaps this was the day when Warwickshire recognised that their standing is in doubt. They could not have responded more grudgingly.It is not often that the loss of Dom Sibley’s wicket causes the scoring rate to plummet, but it did at Headingley on a day that finished in the grimmest of fashions. Three down for 25 in the 13th over, Warwickshire responded with a display of strokeless defiance that communicated they will not concede their title lightly. Mark Robinson, Warwickshire’s coach, talked about calming things down after a bit of craziness which was true enough, even if it did sound a bit like a prescription for anxiety from an over-pressed GP.Sam Hain and Will Rhodes had added 32 in 28 overs when light rain brought a welcome end with 7.4 overs remaining. Yorkshire, still 148 runs ahead, will expect to take seven wickets to claim victory on the final day, and there is more encouragement in the surface for the bowlers than has been apparent when Yorkshire have failed to force home winning positions on the final day, but in a season of stalemates, nothing can be taken for granted.Considering that the Championship is a great democracy, with nine of the counties (exactly half) having won the title since the turn of the century, successful title defences are surprisingly common: Surrey (1999/2000), Sussex (2006/2007), Durham (2008/2009) and Yorkshire (2014/2015) have all managed it in that period.Related

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But barring something extraordinary, Warwickshire will reach the mid-point of the season with only one victory. Apart from Essex at Edgbaston in April, they have struggled to bowl sides out twice this summer. In 2021, Liam Norwell and Craig Miles shared 86 wickets. This year their tally is nine. They have been unable to cover the shortfall.Their batting has also lacked the consistency of last year. Jordan Thompson took advantage of that with three new-ball wickets either side of tea, Alex Davies, a close-season signing from Lancashire who is yet to fire at the top of the order, chipped to Will Fraine at midwicket and Yates’ bat had twisted a full 90 degrees in his hands when he chipped back to Tom Loten, diving towards short mid-off. Thompson then found a bit of bounce from a good length as Sibley fell off the shoulder of the bat at point.Yorkshire extended their overnight 269 for 4 by another 180 runs which represented the top end of their ambitions. Adam Lyth was the mainstay of their innings taking his second-day century to 145. He had batted for a touch under seven hours when he sought out his favoured region, square on the off-side, and was caught at the wicket, cutting a ball from Nathan McAndrew.The afternoon, though, belonged to Matthew Revis, whose second first-class fifty, allied to his development as a seam bowler, again identified him as Yorkshire’s breakthrough player of the season. A last-wicket stand of 58 in seven overs with Steve Patterson removed what little hope Warwickshire had of turning the game.With licence to attack, he has surely never struck the ball as crisply, so often, in his county career. Oliver Hannon-Dalby was pulled and lofted straight, and Danny Briggs stylishly despatched inside-out to the extra cover boundary, but the best shot of all was a slog-sweep for six against Briggs that brought up his half-century.Revis, an imposing 20-year-old, is fast developing into a cricketer to be reckoned with. Like team-mates Harry Brook and George Hill, he is a product of Sedbergh School under their director of cricket Martin Speight. He debuted in the Championship at the end of 2019 as an opening batter, aged 17. But he has been playing this season as more of a specialist hit-the-pitch-hard seam bowler batting at No. 9.When the skipper, Steve Patterson, emerged at No 11, he implored Revis to be positive. “That’s when I play at my best, when I’m looking to score,” he said. “I would like to bat higher up in the future, hopefully. But the job I’m doing now, I’m really enjoying it.”Warwickshire’s only consolation was some fine catching – Rhodes held a screamer at mid-on to dismiss Thompson – and the manner in which Dom Bess had gifted them a bowling bonus point when he advanced down the wicket at Briggs and sliced high into the off side. This time last year, the extra point might have been a case of Every Little Helps, all part of their methodical progress towards a Championship title. This summer, with the season at its mid-point, it appears to be a point that will be irrelevant, one way or another, by the time September ends.

The pace bowler has been ruled out of Melbourne Stars’ campaign for up to six weeks

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Dec-2020Pakistan fast bowler Dilbar Hussain has been ruled out of the Melbourne Stars’ BBL campaign for four-to-six weeks with a moderate hamstring strain, leaving him unavailable until late January.Hussain suffered the injury while bowling his second over in the Stars’ comfortable win over the Sydney Thunder in Canberra on Saturday.He winced in pain after his delivery stride and grabbed at his left hamstring before limping off the ground with Hilton Cartwright required to complete the over.Hussain had taken 2 for 25 in the opening match of the tournament against the Brisbane Heat.The injury further stretches the Stars’ list. They have re-signed Pakistan quick Haris Rauf but he is unavailable until after Pakistan’s Test series against New Zealand, with the second and final Test finishing on January 7.West Indies batsman Nicholas Pooran is set to be available for the Stars shortly after playing for West Indies A in a two-match series against New Zealand A in New Zealand.

The fast bowler, who is set to play his first ever Test match in India, speaks about his most memorable moment and the art of remaining calm on the field

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Sep-2019Jasprit Bumrah’s steep rise in international cricket across formats has been marked by the speed, versatility and nous, but he showed in India’s Test series sweep in West Indies that he still had room to add more weapons to his bowling, unveiling the outswinger. Virat Kohli’s “complete bowler” said it was a delivery he had, but needed honing to unleash in a match.”I have always had the outswingers, I have not used it much,” Bumrah said at an event in Mumbai on Friday. “But playing in England gave me a lot of confidence with the Dukes ball swinging for a long period of time. I got more and more confident as I played more and more Test cricket.”ALSO READ: Jasprit Bumrah’s game sense is his most striking feature – Andy Roberts“In white ball cricket, the ball doesn’t swing for a long period so you have to assess what kind of delivery works every time,” he said. “I was working on it [the outswinger] for a long period. I used it in England as well when we were playing against county teams. You can’t use everything in one match. You just try to assess the conditions on the given day and see what could work.”Bumrah started off being looked at as white-ball specialist, but in the years leading up to his Test debut and after, he always maintained that doing well in the longest format was one of his most cherished goals, which is reflected in the moment he picked as the ‘most memorable’ one of his career.”Getting my first Test fifer, which I got in Johannesburg. Playing in my first [Test] series, when I got the fifth wicket, that was the moment – ‘now I’ve got a Test fifer, nobody can take it away from me’.”As a domestic player, I have played a lot of Ranji Trophy cricket, so you always wanted to make a mark in Test cricket. I always had the belief that if I have done well in first-class cricket, I can replicate that in Tests as well. I have played only 12 matches, but finally after I made my debut after playing for two years of international cricket in South Africa, it was a good experience, a dream come true. I was really happy, just being there and playing in a white jersey was a great feeling. And then slowly, slowly starting to contribute towards the team’s success gave me a lot of satisfaction.”I just didn’t want to be a cricketer who played one-day and T20,” he said. “So the journey has been good. It’s just started, hopefully a long way to go. I’m learning from the experience that I’ve gained by playing in South Africa, England, Australia and the West Indies. India will be a different challenge, which I’m looking forward to.”ALSO READ: Rabada ‘not too worried’ with Archer, Bumrah snatching spotlightOne of the things Bumrah stresses on is self-belief.”For me, even if things don’t go well, the only opinion that matters, in my opinion, is your [own] opinion. It doesn’t matter what others think of you. That’s the philosophy I follow,” he said. “Whatever people think, whatever everybody’s opinion is, that is not important. If they give you love, that’s good. If they don’t, that’s good. Ultimately, it’s what’s inside your head, you’re there, you should have that belief. If you have the belief, everything will fall in place.”So far, all of Bumrah’s Test appearances have been overseas, away from the subcontinent: four in Australia, three each in South Africa and England, and two in the Caribbean. He has picked up five-fors in each of those countries, becoming the quickest (in terms of number of Tests) to record five-wicket hauls in four different countries. Now, he is set to play a Test in India for the first time in the series against South Africa, with three Tests scheduled in Visakhapatnam, Pune and Ranchi, which will form a new challenge.”I have played all my life in Ranji Trophy cricket in India. These are not alien conditions for me,” Bumrah said. “For me, a lot of preparation goes in before any match or tournament. I assess the conditions, we will discuss with the team management and the senior players, who have played a lot of cricket over here, as to what works, what doesn’t work, so will take everything into consideration and see how it goes.”All these things I listen to, and filter them, and figure out what I can do and cannot. I try to asses all this and make my plans.”That mindset, and the self-belief, also helps Bumrah ‘stay calm’ when things don’t go his way on the field. “If you get angry and show unnecessary emotion, it doesn’t really help. It’s a waste of energy. During that time, I like to stay calm, I try to smile, then I tell myself, ‘see, you are playing international cricket, you are playing at the highest level, which you always wanted to do as a child, so why are you getting frustrated’,” he said.”So few people in the world get such an opportunity. At that moment I feel grateful, I feel happy that I am playing at this level, small frustrations here and there will happen, but just be happy with the opportunity.”

A dropped catch allowed Jonny Bairstow to streak away to a potentially decisive 82 from 67 balls, as another 16 wickets fell in the day at Old Trafford

Paul Edwards at Old Trafford23-Jul-2018Lancashire 109 and 194 for 6 (Buttler 59) need a further 129 to beat Yorkshire 192 and 239 (Bairstow 82, Brook 55, Onions 3-44)

ScorecardWhen Kane Williamson was caught behind by Dane Vilas off Graham Onions half an hour into the second day of this fast-forward Roses match 22 wickets had fallen in less than four sessions and the game was in the hazard. Fifteen of those wickets belonged to Test cricketers, with Williamson, Adam Lyth and Joe Root having twice signed their names in the register of fallibility. But by the time Jonny Bairstow became the 16th Test batsman to depart, 15 minutes into a sultry afternoon, he had played the innings – and Lancashire had dropped the catch – which will surely decide this game in Yorkshire’s favour.Bairstow’s 82 runs had been scored off 67 balls and they had seen his side progress from 21 for 3 to 160 for 5. Steve Patterson then swept and drove his way to an unbeaten 45 to leave Lancashire needing 323 to win. And even the fact that this would be by far the highest total of the game does not give an accurate reflection of the severity of the home side’s task on a pitch which has offered the seamers movement and bounce. For Lancashire began their innings knowing their captain, Liam Livingstone, will almost certainly be prevented from batting by the broken thumb he sustained on the first day.It was therefore no particular shock that the Red Rose struggled. By the close they were 194 for 6 and even the solace of fond hope had been removed from their supporters seven balls before the close when Jos Buttler attempted to sweep Root but only gave a catch to Williamson at leg slip. That ended a colossal 48-over post tea session, one filled with modest partnerships and false summits. The most beguiling was the enterprising sixth-wicket stand of 80 between Buttler and Tom Bailey. Now that hope is all but gone and Yorkshire’s bowlers have a clear sight of a deserved victory in one of their most important fixtures.

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Lancashire fought hard. Keaton Jennings and Alex Davies put on 54 before Davies was leg before to Tim Bresnan and further stands toyed with supporters’ dreams. Jennings was leg before on the front foot to Ben Coad for 30 and Vilas gave the Warwickshire loanee Josh Poysden his first wicket for Yorkshire when he, too, was hit on the front leg in the next over.Perhaps the most encouraging innings was played by Haseeeb Hameed, whose 31 included clear signs of the player he was when he made a hundred in each innings of this fixture two years ago. But Hameed was caught behind by Bairstow off a ball from Patterson which lifted malevolently and from that moment it seemed a question of whether this match would end inside two days. Buttler and Bailey ensured that it would not but as we entered the third hour of the evening session, the significance of Bairstow’s 82 became even clearer.As usual, Bairstow died as he had prospered: by taking the battle to the bowlers. Only balls of the high merit were defended; only deliveries of no possible use were ignored. Onions’ full-length ball outside the off stump just after lunch did not fall into either of these categories and Bairstow slashed it with his customary savagery to backward point where Buttler took an easy catch at about chin height. However, by then his 133-run stand with Harry Brook had done much to give Yorkshire a match-winning lead.One was left to pity Matt Parkinson, who had dropped a straightforward chance off Bairstow when the batsman had made only 22 and Yorkshire were 57 for 3. After Parkinson had fumbled the opportunity Gateshead-born Onions sank to his haunches and pondered the probable significance of the error. Those diehards who believe you need to hail from one of the participating counties to appreciate the significance of the Roses match might have adjusted their opinions had they seen him

Boyd Rankin has been ruled out of Ireland’s two one-day internationals against England next month but Kevin O’Brien and Paul Stirling have recovered from their recent injuries

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Apr-2017Pace bowler Boyd Rankin has been ruled out of Ireland’s two one-day internationals against England next month but Kevin O’Brien and Paul Stirling have recovered from their recent injuries.Rankin, who played one Test, seven ODIs and two T20Is for England between 2013 and 2014 before resuming his career with Ireland, is suffering from a back problem which kept him out of the recent matches against Afghanistan. Ireland will also be missing 21-year-old legspinner Jacob Mulder due to a back problem.

Ireland squad for England ODIs

William Porterfield (capt), Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young

Kevin O’Brien injured his hamstring during the one-day series against Afghanistan but is now able to resume his spot in the middle order, while Stirling has recovered from a finger injury which kept him out of the Intercontinental Cup match against the same opponents.The series marks Ireland’s first one-day internationals on English soil, with matches at Bristol and Lord’s, and begins a busy month for Ireland who then take part in a tri-series involving Bangladesh and New Zealand in Dublin.”There’s no doubt that the games against England will be tough but we’ve got some hard cricket under our belts this past few months and that will stand us in good stead for the challenges that await,” Porterfield said. “We’re all determined to do well, and while we’ll certainly respect England, there’s absolutely no fear factor there.”

A calmly compiled 56-ball 83 from Tillakaratne Dilshan steered Sri Lanka to a heart-rate-steadying six-wicket win in their opening match of the World T20, but not before Afghanistan reminded them and the rest of Group 1 that they belonged in the Super 10s

The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy in Kolkata17-Mar-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details2:01

Chappell: Afghanistan made SL fight all the way

A calmly compiled 56-ball 83 from Tillakaratne Dilshan steered Sri Lanka to a heart-rate-steadying six-wicket win in their opening match of the World T20, but not before Afghanistan reminded them and the rest of Group 1 that they belonged in the Super 10s.With the bat, Afghanistan recovered brilliantly from a poor start, scoring 106 runs in their last ten overs to set a challenging target of 154. They bowled with skill and intelligence to claw back into the match after Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal had given Sri Lanka a bright start: 41 for 0 in five overs.In the end, it was only Afghanistan’s fielding that proved to be of less-than-elite standard, with three basic errors in the deep giving a jittery Sri Lankan batting unit valuable breathing room.First, in the 14th over, Karim Sadiq failed to get his body behind a regulation stop at deep midwicket. Then, in the 16th, Dawlat Zadran made the same mistake at deep backward square leg. The third misfield came from the substitute fielder Gulbadin Naib, who dived to his left at third man, got a meaty hand to the ball, and only ended up pushing it past the rope. Sri Lanka should have only got three runs from those three balls; they ended up getting 12.Sri Lanka would have appreciated the help, for barring Dilshan, their top order showed itself to be decidedly wobbly.Mohammad Nabi’s introduction in the sixth over exposed the wobbliness. Sri Lanka were going along comfortably when Chandimal stepped out and aimed a heave over the leg side. The ball turned a little further than expected and popped off the inside half of his bat straight to midwicket. Lahiru Thirimanne, back in Sri Lanka’s T20 side for the first time since May 2014, showed why he may have been out of the side for so long, playing only three scoring shots in 12 balls before inside-edging an attempted cover drive off the legspinner Rashid Khan onto his stumps.At the other end, like Mahela Jayawardene did during the two sides’ 50-over World Cup meeting last year, Dilshan provided the experienced head that guided Sri Lanka through this troubled period. He had started in his usual manner, hitting consecutive sixes off Dawlat Zadran – the second with a trademark scoop over his own head – and swatting Hamid Hassan for successive fours over midwicket, but did not take too many chances against the spinners. But he still scored freely against them, taking the singles on offer, putting away the bad ball, and running faster than every other 39-year-old on the planet to pick up a couple of twos to the leg-side gaps.There were a couple more nervy moments, courtesy the run-outs of Thisara Perera and Chamara Kapugedera, but the cool heads of Dilshan and Angelo Mathews, helped along by Afghanistan’s sloppy fielding, took Sri Lanka home with seven balls remaining.Having only faced Scotland, Hong Kong and Zimbabwe so far, it took Afghanistan a while to come to terms with the quality of Sri Lanka’s attack. Mohammad Shahzad, unusually subdued early on, tried to break free of the shackles in the third over and clouted Angelo Mathews to the straight boundary before top-edging a pull to mid-on the next ball. Apart from a couple of sweetly-timed leg-side flicks, Noor Ali Zadran struggled for tempo, and was bowled around his legs by Rangana Herath after adding 32 off 32 balls with Asghar Stanikzai.Herath settled into a beautiful rhythm, mixing his pace and trajectory cleverly, and the run rate plummeted as Sadiq and Nabi soon followed Noor to the pavilion.Stanikzai had moved to 18 off 23 balls when he made an abrupt change of gear against Milinda Siriwardana’s left-arm spin, launching him for successive sixes in the 13th over, before slog-sweeping Herath for another six in the 15th over, with a helping hand from a butter-fingered Thirimanne in the deep. At the other end, Samiullah Shenwari hit two fours and a six – including a reverse-swat off Perera that left the batsman on his backside – in successive overs before holing out to long-off.Stanikzai and Shenwari, the heroes of Afghanistan’s ODI win over Bangladesh in 2014, had put on 61 in 33 balls. It clearly rattled Sri Lanka, and Mathews dropped Stanikzai at cover immediately after Shenwari’s dismissal. It was a sitter, and Stanikzai, at 44 at that point, struck two more fours and a six to move to his highest T20I score before falling at the end of the 19th over.Afghanistan were by no means done. Najibullah Zadran, a specialist batsman, had only batted once in the tournament so far, and was slotted to come in at No, 8, but found his namesake Dawlat promoted above him instead. When Najibullah finally did come out, there were only three balls left in Afghanistan’s innings. No problem. Swinging freely through the line like a young Yuvraj Singh, Najibullah lofted Nuwan Kulasekara for a six over extra cover first ball, and then flat-batted him in the same direction for a four next ball.

Durham’s hopes of reaching the Yorkshire Bank 40 semi-finals were all but ended when Derbyshire skipper Wayne Madsen inspired his team to a crushing 107-run victory

15-Aug-2013
ScorecardWayne Madsen made 37 before taking three wickets•PA Photos

Durham’s hopes of reaching the Yorkshire Bank 40 semi-finals were all but ended when Derbyshire skipper Wayne Madsen inspired his team to a crushing 107-run victory in Group B under the County Ground floodlights.Madsen made 37 and shared a century stand with Richard Johnson as Derbyshire made 217 for 8 before he ambushed Durham with his off-spin to take 3 for 27 – his best figures in any form of cricket – as the visitors collapsed on a slow, turning Derby pitch.Durham never recovered after Madsen reduced them to 62 for 4 and David Wainwright took a limited-overs career-best 4 for 11 to send the visitors crashing to 110 all out in the 29th over as Derbyshire ended a run of four defeats to Durham this season.Durham had to win and started well against a weakened Derbyshire team missing Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Wes Durston, leaving their hosts in trouble on 36 for 3 in the ninth over. Mark Wood nibbled one away to have Ben Slater caught behind for six in the fourth over and after Chesney Hughes pulled Wood for six, he tried to repeat the shot against Chris Rushworth and holed out to deep midwicket for 24.Derbyshire were struggling when Wood had Paul Borrington caught at gully but Madsen joined Johnson in a stand that put the Falcons back in the match. Johnson had a lucky escape when he was caught behind for 17 with the total on 61 but Ben Stokes had overstepped and that proved costly as the fourth-wicket pair worked the ball around to add 103 from 114 balls.Madsen straight drove Gareth Breese for six and Johnson hit four fours in a 58-ball 50 before Paul Collingwood switched ends to remove them both in the 27th over. Madsen mistimed a pull and was caught at mid-on and three balls later, Collingwood cut one back to bowl Johnson but 22 from 15 balls by Tony Palladino and 25 extras lifted Derbyshire to a challenging total on a slow pitch.It looked an even better when Madsen surprisingly opened with his occasional off-breaks and struck twice in a five-over spell that cost only 13 runs. Phil Mustard tried to cut a straight one and was bowled for a duck and Scott Borthwick pulled to deep-midwicket to put Durham on the back foot at 14 for 2.Collingwood and Mark Stoneman added 46 in nine overs but it was not easy to force the pace and when Madsen returned at the Grandstand End, Stoneman was caught at long off for 25 when he tried to hit down the ground. It was impossible to keep Madsen out of the game and he took a simple catch in the next over when Collingwood pushed Tom Knight’s left-arm spin to short extra-cover.Knight struck another huge blow when he bowled the dangerous Stokes for nine and celebrated his best List A figures of 3 for 36 before Wainwright sealed victory with 11.4 overs remaining.

Shahriar Nafees is set to return to the Bangladesh A team for the four-day match against the West Indies’ High Performance Centre side from September 22

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-2012Shahriar Nafees is set to return to the Bangladesh A team for the four-day match against the West Indies’ High Performance Centre side from September 22, after the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s disciplinary committee lifted restrictions on his selection. The left-hand opener was sent home last month before the third and final four-day match in the Shafi Darashah competition in Bangalore after his reaction to an umpiring decision during the A team’s second match.He continued to show his frustration in the dressing-room and was later warned by the match referee. But the team management found the bad behaviour enough for the Bangladesh A captain to be jettisoned before the tour ended.The selectors kept him out of a 19-member training team for the series against the Caribbean side and almost three weeks after the incident, Nafees was referred to the disciplinary committee that heard his account.”The national selectors can select him, there’s no longer any embargo on that,” BCB’s disciplinary committee chairman Sirajuddin Mohammad Alamgir said. “We have spoken to [Shahriar] Nafees and all members of the team management. We will put together our recommendations and submit it to the board president today.”After the hearing at the BCB headquarters in Mirpur, Nafees admitted it was an overreaction on his part, which he could have avoided at the time.”I gave my version of the events to the disciplinary committee, so I hope the confusion regarding this matter goes away,” Nafees said. “I could have behaved better, and if I had controlled myself, the situation wouldn’t have escalated; had the dressing room been closed off to the public and not been so open, it wouldn’t have created so much trouble.””If I wasn’t the captain, it wouldn’t have looked so bad. My behaviour had an adverse effect on my team-mates, so I could have been a lot more responsible. If I had kept my cool, the incident wouldn’t have stretched for a month,” he said.When he was sent back, some board officials pointed out to Nafees leading a dissension in the training camp in Khulna before they headed to India. It was a small group of players who had allegedly clashed with coach Stuart Barnes and trainer Tushar Kanti Howlader, but neither did the team management inform the board, nor punish anyone.But Nafees believed that the incidence in Bangalore wasn’t related to what took place during the camp in Khulna. “The two are separate incidents. We trained for two months (prior to the tour) and there wasn’t anything wrong in the relation between players and management. I personally don’t want to see the two incidents being related. Whatever has happened though is unfortunate,” he said.