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Nida Dar’s half-century in vain as defeat now sets up crucial clash against India

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jul-2022
Half-centuries from Hayley Matthews and Kycia Knight helped Barbados open their Commonwealth Games campaign against Pakistan with a 15-run win in Birmingham on Friday.Having been asked to bat, Barbados scored 144 for 4, riding on the duo’s 107-run partnership for the second wicket after they had lost explosive opener Deandra Dottin for 8 off 5 balls. Kycia, Barbados’ wicketkeeper-batter, top-scored with an unbeaten on 62 off 56 balls, hitting nine fours in her second T20I half-century. Matthews played cautiously, scoring 51 off 50 balls, which included four fours and a six. It was her fifth T20I fifty.Related

• Hayley Matthews-led Barbados show they're not just in Birmingham to make up numbers

Pakistan medium pacer Fatima Sana broke the century stand by having Matthews caught behind in the 18th over. Sana also removed Kyshona Knight in the final over of the innings to end with the figures of 2 for 41.Chasing a target of 145, Pakistan lost a first wicket off the first ball of the chase, when Iram Javed was caught behind off Shamilia Connell. Pakistan went on to lose opener Muneeba Ali and Omaima Sohail inside the nine overs, and captain Bismah Maroof’s laboured innings of 12 off 28 balls came to an end when she was run out in the 11th over.Coming in at 40 for 3 in the ninth over with Pakistan desperately needing momentum, experienced allrounder Nida Dar raised the tempo with an unbeaten 50 off 31 deliveries, her fifth T20I half-century. However, with Aliya Riaz struggling at the other end – she made 14 off 24 – Pakistan couldn’t keep up with the required run rate and eventually fell short by 15 runs. Connell, Aaliyah Alleyne, Matthews and Dottin took a wicket each for Barbados.Pakistan play India next on Friday, while Barbados will face Australia on Sunday.

“For me, it’s about how can I learn, how can I grow, and focusing on trying to do the job for the team at that time”

Deivarayan Muthu19-Feb-20213:28

Have RCB sorted their batting out?

Kyle Jamieson had originally planned to sleep through the IPL auction, like Jimmy Neesham, but then woke up at around midnight in Christchurch to watch the Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Delhi Capitals and the Punjab Kings bid furiously for him. The 6’8″ quick ended up attracting the day’s second-highest winning bid, with Mike Hesson’s Royal Challengers signing him up for INR 15 crore (USD 2 million approx).”It was pretty surreal, really, and it’s such a unique experience to watch yourself go through an auction like that in the early hours of the morning,” Jamieson said. “And I think it’s probably still trying to sink in a little bit and try to take in…Related

• Kane Williamson admits missing England Tests for IPL 'not the preferred thing'

• Could Kyle Jamieson's stellar home summer spark IPL interest?

• Royals land Morris for INR 16.25 crore; RCB spend big on Maxwell and Jamieson

• Six talking points from the auction (besides the millionaires)

• Why teams broke the bank for Morris, Jamieson, Gowtham and Meredith

“Yeah, it was weird, there’s no textbook to say how to approach that sort of stuff – that’s probably how I’ve tried to take it. It’s such a unique experience and it’s trying to embrace the whole situation of it all as just try to, I guess, enjoy the moment.”Having watched the madness unfold, Jamieson first called up his partner and then his parents.”I actually called my partner and actually woke her up,” Jamieson said. “She was asleep, and that was a pretty cool moment. Kind of sit back and there wasn’t a whole lot of words to be spoken to be fair, but then called mum and dad – they were up as well. Did that and then turned the phone off and tried to get some sleep.”Jamieson was also pleased to share the moment with former New Zealand quick Shane Bond who incidentally will plot against Jamieson in the Mumbai Indians backroom in the forthcoming IPL.”I had a message from Shane Bond as it [auction] was going and he was sort of saying, ‘How good is this!’ I didn’t actually know what the amount of money was and how that translated to New Zealand dollars,” Jamieson said. “It was quite cool to share that moment with him and sort of ride that two or three minutes with him.”Having become the highest-paid New Zealander at an IPL auction – his senior fast-bowling partner Trent Boult had previously attracted a bid of INR 5 crore from the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2017 – Jamieson is now preparing to buy coffee and beer for his team-mates and also cop some friendly banter from them.”Yeah, I think there will be a bit [of banter] from Boult, [Tim] Southee etc. So, no, it’s all part of it, and there’s a lot of banter thrown around in this group anyway and it’s such an enjoyable place to be. It’s all harmless and just good fun.”‘I accept that there will be expectations but that’s been the case the whole time I’ve played’•Getty Images

Jamieson was looking forward to linking up with a star-studded RCB contingent, which also includes Australia allrounder Glenn Maxwell who was signed for INR 14.25 crore (USD 1.95 million approx).”I think it’s such a special experience and I think [I’m] so fortunate to go to a team with superstars of the game like that,” Jamieson said. “They’ve had success for such a long period of time – those guys…Just to rub shoulders with them and try to learn and grow as a cricketer is something that I’m relishing.”Jamieson has never played competitive cricket in India previously, and the hefty price tag could invite pressure, but he downplayed it and hoped to pick up new tricks. His maiden IPL stint could potentially tune him up for the T20 World Cup, which is also slated to be held in India later this year.”To be fair, I don’t think a whole lot changes to me,” Jamieson said. “I accept that there will be expectations but that’s been the case the whole time I’ve played. When you play your first one-day game, first Test, and different series, there’s always expectation, but it’s probably more externally than it is with me. For me, it’s about how can I learn, how can I grow, and focusing on trying to do the job for the team at that time.”Shane Jurgensen, the New Zealand bowling coach, also believed Jamieson wouldn’t be distracted by the price tag and backed him to succeed in India with his pace and bounce.”He won’t change,” Jurgensen said. “He will still do his thing, his preparation, and he works hard. Like all our guys, he will do what he does. I think he will take it and he’s a very level young man – he’s worked hard on a lot of areas in his game and as I said it’s [a] reward for all he’s done.”After Jamieson bagged 6 for 7 – the best figures by a New Zealander and the fifth-best overall in T20 cricket – in the Super Smash on New Year’s Day in 2019, Hesson had tweeted: “An impressive bowler who at 6ft 8in can swing it… another one to add to the @BLACKCAPS stable.” Jamieson has since broken into New Zealand’s side across formats, most notably playing a crucial hand in their run to the WTC final, and now Hesson has added Jamieson to the RCB stable as well.

Porterfield captained Ireland 253 times, spanning two 50-over World Cups and five World T20s

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Nov-2019William Porterfield has stepped down as Ireland’s captain after 11 years in the role. Andrew Balbirnie, the middle-order batsman, will replace him as Test and 50-over captain, while Gary Wilson will continue in the T20 job.Porterfield led Ireland in 253 games after taking over from Trent Johnston in 2008, captaining in two 50-over World Cups – which saw memorable wins over England and West Indies – and five World T20s, as well as their first-ever Test match, against Pakistan at Malahide in 2018. He intends to continue playing international cricket.”It has been an incredible journey, and a fantastic honour to have captained my country over the past 11-and-a-half years,” Porterfield said. “There have been many highs, along with a few lows along the way, but I can honestly say that it has been thoroughly enjoyable. To have been able to lead Ireland out at various World Cups, through to our first Test against Pakistan, and again at Lord’s in the summer, have been but a few of these highlights. I feel incredibly lucky and privileged to have done so.”I feel, and in consultation with Cricket Ireland, that now is the right time to hand over that mantle. With the ODI league starting in the summer it will allow ‘Balbo’ [Balbirnie] time to get into the swing of things. I feel that the selectors have made a great choice in appointing ‘Balbo’ and that it has come at a great time for him personally being on top of his game, and with more to come. Having spoken to him, I know how honoured and excited he is to get going. I’m looking forward to helping and supporting Balbo in any way I can, and seeing him lead Ireland forward.”Balbirnie, 28, becomes Ireland’s second Test captain and fifth ODI skipper. He has been capped 123 times since his debut in 2010, and has led the A team and Ireland Under-19s in the past.”To be asked to captain my country is an absolute honour and one that I am very excited about as we move into a busy new year,” Balbirnie said. “It’s a proud moment not just for me but also for my family and everyone who has been there on my cricket journey so far – especially my coaches, team-mates and friends at Pembroke Cricket Club.”Since 2008, William has been an amazing leader on and off the field, not just to me but anyone who has been lucky to represent Ireland. Taking over from our greatest captain will certainly be a hard act to follow but one I’m looking forward to getting into. William still has a huge role to play in this team going forward and I look forward to working with him over the next couple of years.”We are very lucky that we are entering arguably the most exciting period to be an Irish cricketer, so to be able to lead the guys into this will be a great honour and challenge, and one that I’m looking forward to immensely.”Andrew White, the chair of national men’s selectors, said: “William has been a remarkable captain, and we have been fortunate over such a long period to have his skills and experience to draw on. His leadership abilities on the field have been clear for all to see, but what is, and always has been, his greatest quality is his off-field leadership and support that has benefitted numerous coaches and players over a long period of time.”‘Porty’ has also been integral to the development of the national pathway system in Ireland, helping to shape and advise on what is now a comprehensive programme that is starting to bring through local talent and mould that next generation of Irish cricketer.””However, there comes a time when that baton is handed over, and in the Test and ODI formats we had identified the leadership potential in Andrew early on. Succession planning in international sport is so important these days, and Andrew has certainly developed and grown in confidence and stature over recent years. It is often said that the weight of captaincy can weigh heavy on some players, but we believe Andrew is someone who has the instincts and resolve to carry that weight and excel.”Over the past two years we have been on a process of transition, and with our new Test member status, entry into the Future Tours Programme, and combined with being on the cusp of entering the new ICC Cricket World Cup Super League in 2020, we believe this is a good time to for Andrew to begin his captaincy journey and we wish him well.”Balbirnie’s first outing as captain will come in the Caribbean, where Ireland play three ODIs and three T20Is at the start of next year.

Reports suggest prosecutors in South Africa will re-examine the circumstances of Peter Roebuck’s supposed suicide in 2011

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Oct-2018South African prosecutors are reportedly set to reopen the inquest into the death of Peter Roebuck, the former Somerset captain turned journalist who died in 2011. Roebuck fell to his death from a hotel room in Cape Town, with local police saying he had committed suicide.Roebuck’s family have previously expressed concern that they were not invited to be present at a closed hearing in 2013. Roebuck, who was in South Africa covering Australia’s Test tour, had been confronted by police while staying at the Southern Sun Hotel over allegations of sexual assault.South Africa’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Western Province, has been reviewing the case for a number of years. In 2016, the original inquest “docket” on the incident, which was believed to have been lost, was discovered and passed on to the DPP.Now, the has reported that the case will be re-examined “in the interests of justice”, although no date has been set for the inquest.David Hood, an English barrister representing the Roebuck family, said in a statement to the newspaper: “From the outset, the family and supporters of the late Peter Roebuck have put their faith in the legal system of South Africa. It is important to all internationally recognised systems of justice that justice is not only done, but is seen to be done.”That could never have been with the death of Peter Roebuck, unless and until the circumstances of his death were examined at a legally convened hearing held in public with witnesses called and questioned under oath.”The inquest is expected to examine a number of questions around Roebuck’s death, including the nature of the injuries he sustained after falling from the sixth floor and how he was able to jump through a window while a police office was supposedly present in the room.

The mother of South Africa coach Russell Domingo passed away overnight on Sunday following a car accident last month

Firdose Moonda09-Jul-2017The mother of South Africa coach Russell Domingo passed away overnight on Sunday following a car accident last month, shortly after Domingo had left the tour of England for a second time to return home.Domingo went home at the time of the incident – during the T20 series against England late last month – then traveled back to the UK during the tour-match in Worcester when his mother was discharged but he left again before the end of the first Test at Lord’s when her condition worsened again.Cricket South Africa confirmed her passing on Twitter. “Our deepest condolences go out to Russell Domingo and his family following the untimely passing of his mother late last night. #RIP.”CSA has not put a timeline on Domingo’s return and will allow the coach as much time as he needs with his family. It is likely he will not return for the start of the second Test at Trent Bridge on Friday.Earlier this week, Domingo confirmed he had reapplied for his post as South Africa’s head coach following weeks of uncertainty over whether he wanted to continue in the role. Domingo was interviewed by the five-man panel appointed to recommend a candidate for the coaching position to CSA’s board, which includes former national coaches Gary Kirsten and Eric Simons. The committee will meet with CSA’s board on July 21 and a decision on the new coach will be made shortly thereafter.South Africa’s backroom staff includes assistant coach Adrian Birrell, batting consultant Neil McKenzie, bowling coach Charl Langeveldt and spin bowling consultant Claude Henderson. The team will travel to Nottingham to prepare for the second Test on Tuesday.

The BCCI’s technical committee has recommended that all Ranji Trophy matches in 2016-17 be played at neutral venues to make domestic cricket more competitive

Arun Venugopal29-May-20163:42

Agarkar: Should be good enough to play at opposition’s home

The BCCI’s technical committee has recommended that all Ranji Trophy matches in 2016-17 be played at neutral venues to make domestic cricket more competitive. The committee’s recommendations, according to the BCCI, seek to “rule out the issues related to preparing specific wickets for home teams, as well as to expose players to play in different conditions.” These recommendations will have to be ratified by the board’s working committee. A similar recommendation, to play all Ranji matches at neutral venues, was made before the 2012-13 season but was later turned down.The pitches used in the Ranji Trophy last season came under scrutiny after nine matches finished inside two days. Former India captain Rahul Dravid was critical of the “poor” pitches that stunted the development of young cricketers. He had also said state associations had to be forced to prepare good surfaces.

India A’s tour to Australia approved

The BCCI’s technical committee has approved India A’s tour of Australia in August for two four-day matches and a tri-series. India A had last toured Australia in July 2014 where they played two unofficial Tests against Australia A before playing a quadrangular series that also featured South Africa A and Australia’s National Performance Squad. Australia A had returned the visit with a tour to India in August last year, where it played two Tests against the home side before playing a tri-series that comprised South Africa A as well.

“A lot of people criticise and say Ranji Trophy [knockout] matches should be held in home venues of teams,” he said. “But if teams resort to doing these kind of things, then I think it is better the knockout matches are staged in neutral venues.”While Karnataka coach J Arun Kumar welcomed the panel’s recommendation, his Assam counterpart Sanath Kumar disagreed with the idea.”Apart from not having the home-crowd advantage and the home-pitch advantage, I don’t see anything wrong in that,” Arun Kumar told ESPNcricinfo. “There have been a lot of problems in the past with home-team advantage [resulting in] very bad wickets. Not having crowd support is the only setback but otherwise I think it’s a very fair move.”Sanath Kumar said the existing system, where a team played four games at home and four away, was fair. “I don’t think anybody will now come and watch. [Playing games at home meant] at least a few fans will come and support the team,” he said. “It will be like a knockout match where hardly anybody is watching the game. Instead of this recommendation, they could have had a [neutral] curator to prepare the pitches. That would have been an easier solution.”The technical committee has also recommended that the Duleep Trophy be played entirely as a day-night tournament, with four teams, picked by the selectors, playing in a round-robin format. In January, the BCCI tours and fixtures committee had asked the technical committee to explore the possibility of trialing the pink ball in the tournament. This move is significant considering the board’s keenness to host a day-night Test during India’s long home season where they will play series against New Zealand, England and Australia.Sanath Kumar said there had been discussions about changes in the zonal format of the Duleep Trophy since last season. “[In the coaches and captains enclave last year] we told the BCCI that the zonal system didn’t make much sense,” he said. “In the past we used to play Ranji Trophy at the zonal level and then we go to the knockouts. That time Duleep Trophy had a lot of relevance whereas now Ranji Trophy itself has become an all-India tournament and so Duleep doesn’t have a lot of recognition. Even the players don’t take it seriously.”We suggested that if the selectors select four teams like they do for the Challenger Trophy, it would be a better way of going about things.”

For the first time in in 21 years, West Indian fans must consider a Chanderpaul-less future.
And their first engagement of that future is against Australia, a team West Indies have not beaten in a Test for 12 years, and in a series for 23 years

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale02-Jun-2015

Match facts

June 3-7, 2015
Start time 10am local (1400 GMT)

Big Picture

In the cricket world, March 1994 seems like an epoch ago. Cricinfo was only a year old. Cigarette sponsorship was still a thing. West Indies remained a dominant force, with Desmond Haynes, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Richie Richardson and Brian Lara all in the line-up. It was the month of Allan Border’s last Test, and of Kapil Dev’s as well.Three players made their Test debuts in March 1994, all left-handers who would enjoy long and decorated careers: Matthew Hayden, Stephen Fleming and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Fleming lasted until 2008, Hayden until 2009. Chanderpaul kept going, and going, and going. And now he’s gone, dumped by the selectors at the age of 40. For the first time in in 21 years, West Indian fans must consider a Chanderpaul-less future.And their first engagement of that future is against Australia, a team West Indies have not beaten in a Test for 12 years, and in a series for 23 years. Since then, the Frank Worrell Trophy has been tightly held by Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, and Clarke will expect his men to be able to retain it during their two-Test battle in Dominica and Jamaica.Australia will certainly be glad to see a Shiv-shaped hole in their opponents’ batting order: in nine home Tests against Australia, Chanderpaul made five centuries and averaged 80.38. But, as Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood showed in the recent series against England, there are things to like about the young West Indies batsmen coming through.Australia will hope not to be too rusty after a couple of months away from international cricket, and having not played a Test since January. They will be without Chris Rogers, who will be rested after being struck on the helmet at training, and that will necessitate some juggling of the batting order. There is also a question over the make-up of their attack, with Fawad Ahmed a chance of making his debut if the pitch looks like it will suit two spinners.

Form guide

(last five matches, most recent first)
West Indies WLDLD
Australia DDWWL

In the spotlight

The leading West Indian run scorer in their recent series against England, Jermaine Blackwood will hope to continue his form against the Australians. A talented middle-order batsman who was key to West Indies winning the Barbados Test and thus drawing the England series, Blackwood faces the challenge of being the go-to man in a lower middle order now without the experience of Chanderpaul.Australia will likely have one debutant in this Test, and after training on Tuesday it looked certain to be Adam Voges. His is the story of an interminable but ultimately fruitful wait for the opportunity, after he was first called into a Test squad during the 2006-07 Ashes in Australia. Now 35 years old, his time is now.

Team news

West Indies have a middle-order place to fill. Shane Dowrich impressed with half-centuries in each innings of the tour match against Australia, and could come in for his debut. They also have the option of two spinners, with Devendra Bishoo in the squad alongside Veerasammy Permaul.West Indies (possible) 1 Kraigg Brathwaite, 2 Shai Hope, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Jermaine Blackwood, 6 Shane Dowrich, 7 Denesh Ramdin (capt & wk), 8 Jason Holder, 9 Jerome Taylor, 10 Shannon Gabriel, 11 Veerasammy PermaulAdam Voges shook hands with selectors Mark Waugh and Darren Lehmann at Australia’s final training session and appears sure to debut. Steven Smith has been given the job as Australia’s latest No.3 batsman, while Shaun Marsh will open with David Warner. Mitchell Starc seems likely to be preferred as third quick ahead of a second spinner in Fawad Ahmed.Australia (possible) 1 David Warner, 2 Shaun Marsh, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Adam Voges, 6 Shane Watson, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Nathan Lyon, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Josh Hazlewood

Pitch and conditions

“It feels like raging turner or green seamer. So, we’ll wait and see what they give us in the middle and then we’ll make a plan from there,” Michael Clarke said two days out from the match. The weather is expected to be fine throughout most of the Test.

Stats and trivia

• Since January 1, 2000, West Indies have played 25 Tests without Shivnarine Chanderpaul. They have won just one of them, against Sri Lanka in Kingston in 2003
• That was also the same year – 2003 – that West Indies last beat Australia in a Test, with their world-record chase of 418 in Antigua
• Steven Smith will be the 13th player to bat at No. 3 for Australia in a Test – including nightwatchmen – since Ricky Ponting last did so in 2011

Quotes

“We played well in the three Test matches [against England]. We need to improve because it’s Australia – no disrespect to England – and we’re trying to do that as much as possible.””

The former Kent batsman Tony Pawson, who became the Observer cricket correspondent, has died at the age of 91.

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Oct-2012The former Kent batsman Tony Pawson, who became the Observer cricket correspondent, has died at the age of 91.Pawson played 69 first-class matches, mostly for Kent and Oxford University, scoring seven hundreds as he made 3807 runs at 37.32. He was Kent’s oldest surviving capped player.As a 15-year-old, in 1937, he scored 237 at Lord’s when playing for a Lord’s XI against a CF Tufnell’s XI and in 1947 he represented MCC against the South Africans playing in a team alongside Denis ComptonCricket was not the only sport where he made his name. He won a blue at Oxford, represented England at football and at the 1948 London Olympics as well as playing two football league matches for Charlton Athletic. In 1982 he was a member of the England fly fishing team that won the World Championship and in 1988 was awarded on OBE for services to angling.Kent’s honorary curator, David Robertson, said: “Tony Pawson enjoyed his cricket, and set out to make sure spectators shared that enjoyment. I have many happy boyhood memories of his batting and fielding at Canterbury. His running between the wickets, especially with Godfrey Evans as his partner, was always an eagerly awaited feature of the game.”Jamie Clifford, the Kent chief executive, added: “The club is saddened to learn news of Tony Pawson’s passing and our thoughts are with his family and friends. Tony made a great contribution to Kent Cricket and many of our members have fond memories of watching him play at the St Lawrence Ground.”During his time as a cricket correspondent he was also chairman of the Cricket Writers’ Club in 1980 and 1981.

Leicestershire ended day two of their County Championship Division Two clash against Middlesex facing the prospect of an innings defeat

31-Aug-2011
ScorecardLeicestershire ended day two of their County Championship Division Two clash against Middlesex facing the prospect of an innings defeat after England captain Andrew Strauss claimed his maiden first-class double century at Lord’s.The visitors were dismissed shortly before the scheduled close for 193 in reply to Middlesex’s 496 for 2 declared, the highlight of which was Strauss’ unbeaten 241 off 344 balls. Led by Steven Crook with 4 for 45 and Tim Murtagh (3 for 41), the Middlesex attack made life extremely difficult for Leicestershire, who seem certain to be asked to follow on in the morning.The visitors began hesitantly, with Will Jefferson in particular struggling against the moving ball. Matthew Boyce cover drove Corey Collymore for four before despatching Murtagh to the fence at extra cover. However in the 15th over, having just driven Murtagh for four, Jefferson edged behind to make it 42 for 1.It took Greg Smith 33 balls to find the boundary. But in Ollie Rayner’s second over the 22-year-old sought to take advantage of the short distance to the Mound Stand, only to chip the ball up to Dawid Malan at mid-wicket.The visitors were 86 for 2 at tea, but that became 101 for 5 when Steven Crook picked up three wickets in 10 balls. James Taylor was bowled before, two overs later, Josh Cobb was trapped leg before. In Crook’s next over Boyce, who made 46 in 122 deliveries, had his bails trimmed by the 28- year-old allrounder to leave Leicestershire reeling.Ned Eckersley (28) and Wayne White (37) then added 50 in nine overs for the sixth wicket before Eckersley was caught behind off Toby Roland-Jones. Ten overs later White, falling away to the off side, went lbw to Collymore to spark another collapse, which saw Rob Taylor slap Murtagh straight to short extra cover, Nathan Buck edge to third slip and Matthew Hoggard lose his off stump.Earlier in the day, Strauss registered the highest score by a Middlesex batsman at Lord’s for 12 years as the home side bumped their first-innings total up to 496 for two, before declaring at lunch.Strauss took 40 minutes converting his unbeaten 184 overnight into a maiden double century, as Hoggard beat the outside edge of the England captain’s bat on a number of occasions. But in the 10th over of the day Strauss brought up the landmark with a crisply pulled four off Buck. His double hundred had come from 282 balls and it included 21 fours and two sixes.Malan played some attractive shots to move into the 40s, but, on 47, fell to a catch at slip off a skied pull. That ushered in Chris Rogers, who deposited both White and Cobb in the Mound Stand for sixes on his way to a run-a-ball 33.

Skipper Andrew Gale rushed Yorkshire to a four-wicket win against Durham this morning, scoring 34 of the 54 runs they required at the outset
standing they should stay in contention for the County Championship Division
One title

19-Aug-2010
ScorecardSkipper Andrew Gale rushed Yorkshire to a four-wicket win against Durham this morning, scoring 34 of the 54 runs they required at the outset. Adil Rashid scored 15 of the final 24 as victory was achieved in 50 minutes at Chester-le-Street.Resuming on 36, Gale was in no mood to hang around, even going down the pitch twice to strike the pacy Mitch Claydon for two of the 12 fours in his unbeaten 70. Gale made a streaky start, driving wide of off-stump in the opening over of the day and edging Claydon just over first slip to the unguarded third-man boundary.His only other scare came on 54 when he tried to pull a ball from Claydon which kept low but survived the confident lbw appeal. In Steve Harmison’s opening over he had four balls at Steve Patterson, none of which the nightwatchman needed to play at. But with the target down to 26, the ex-England paceman struck twice.He had Patterson lbw without adding to his overnight three, then Gerard Brophy steered a short, innocuous ball straight to Ben Stokes at point. Liam Plunkett replaced Claydon and contributed a wide as Gale and Rashid collected the remaining runs in surprisingly frenzied fashion.Rashid had already failed to connect with a drive when, with 17 needed, he flashed well wide of off-stump and got a thick edge just over gully. Gale then went down the pitch again to Plunkett and miscued to mid-on before turning the same bowler to fine-leg for four.Chris Rushworth replaced Harmison with five needed and Rashid drove him through mid-on for four and one.Yorkshire are six points behind LV= County Championship leaders Nottinghamshire, who have a game in hand. The sides meet at Trent Bridge on September 7 and Yorkshire are also relying on Lancashire to do them a favour as the Red Rose men still have to play Nottinghamshire twice.Given that Jacques Rudolph and Adam Lyth have both passed 1,200 championship runs this season with averages above 50 and Anthony McGrath is just behind, Yorkshire are more deserving of a title challenge than champions Durham.Their highest runscorers are Michael Di Venuto with 862 and Ben Stokes with 740 and as eight bowling bonus points have been dropped this season, compared with one in the last two years, they look destined for a mid-table finish.But they can still have a hand in deciding their successors as they have to play Nottinghamshire at home and Somerset home and away.