All posts by n8rngtd.top

NZ allrounder is set to undergo surgery in the UK and will be out of action for six to eight months

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jun-2023New Zealand spin-bowling allrounder Michael Bracewell is expected to be out of action for six to eight months after rupturing his right achilles while batting for Worcestershire in the T20 Blast. He is set to undergo surgery in the UK on Thursday before starting a lengthy rehab which means he will also miss the 50-over World Cup in India in October-November.Bracewell was batting on 11 against Yorkshire on June 9 when he collapsed mid-pitch clutching his right leg and retired hurt in the 225 chase. His injury leaves New Zealand searching for batting options especially considering their captain Kane Williamson, who underwent surgery for a ruptured ACL, is in a race against time to make the World Cup.”Firstly, you always feel for the player when injury strikes and especially when it means they will have to miss a world event,” New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said. “Michael’s a great team man and has had a fantastic 15 months for the BlackCaps since his international debut. We’ve seen his exceptional skills in all three facets of the game and he was shaping as an important player for us at the world cup in India.”Michael’s naturally pretty disappointed, but also pragmatic in acknowledging that injuries are a part of sport and he’s now turning his focus to his rehabilitation.”Bracewell, 32, is equally handy with bat and ball, and has played eight Tests, 19 ODIs and 16 T20Is for New Zealand since his debut last year. He also played in the IPL this season, coming in as replacement for Will Jacks at Royal Challengers Bangalore, picking up six wickets in five matches. One of four from his family to represent New Zealand, including his uncle John and his cousin Doug, Bracewell shot to prominence during New Zealand’s tour of Europe in 2022. He did even better on a tour of India, smashing 140 off 77 to pull his team up from 131 for 6. New Zealand appreciated his ability to score quick runs in the middle-order and contribute with some handy offspin by naming him their ODI Player of the Year.Bracewell has been away from New Zealand since April after being called up to the IPL and won’t be able to fly home for a couple of weeks following surgery.A New Zealand Cricket release also said that the national team will be part of two winter training camps at Lincoln and Tauranga from July 26 to 28 and August 9 to 11.

Floyd Reifer and James Franklin will also join the coaching staff ahead of the ODIs against UAE and the World Cup Qualifier

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jun-2023Former West Indies captains Carl Hooper and Floyd Reifer have been appointed as assistants to new white-ball head coach Daren Sammy ahead of West Indies’ three-match ODI series against UAE and the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe. Former New Zealand allrounder James Franklin has also joined the staff as an assistant coach.Hooper, who played 102 Tests and 227 ODIs, has worked at various levels of coaching in the Caribbean and Australia, where he is now settled. He was assistant coach of Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL) during the 2022-23 Australian summer, and has previously worked with Antigua Hawksbills and Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He has also served as a mentor at the West Indies High-Performance Centre in Barbados.Related

• Sammy appointed white-ball coach; Coley takes charge of Test team

“When I was initially approached by Daren about the potential opportunity, I immediately confirmed my interest, as I really want to help with the challenge and make a meaningful impact,” Hooper said. “I firmly believe that it is time for West Indies Cricket to ascend, and I am confident in my ability, knowledge, and experience to aid in this endeavour.”Reifer, who played six Tests, eight ODIs and one T20I, has also served as West Indies’ interim head coach during the 2019 World Cup. He has held coaching roles with the West Indies A team and the senior men’s side, and was head coach of the men’s Under-19 team in 2021 and Jamaica Tallawahs in the CPL.Franklin, an allrounder who played 31 Tests, 110 ODIs and 38 T20Is for New Zealand, has served stints as head coach of the English county side Durham, assistant coach at Birmingham Phoenix in the Men’s Hundred, and fielding coach at MI Emirates in the ILT20.Meanwhile, former West Indies players Kenny Benjamin and Stuart Williams and the former Guyana fast bowler Rayon Griffith will be assistant coaches working alongside Test-match head coach Andre Coley. Benjamin and Griffith were part of the coaching staff for the tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa earlier this year, while Williams had previously worked as an assistant coach on various tours.CWI have said all new assistant coaches have been appointed on a short-term basis and will be “reviewed after the India series in August 2023”.West Indies are currently in Sharjah for the three-match ODI series against UAE, which is scheduled to begin on June 4, as they build up towards the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.For the ten-team Qualifier, West Indies have been drawn in Group A, which also includes Netherlands, Nepal, Zimbabwe and USA, against whom they kick off their campaign on June 18.

Brain-melting 122* puts contest that was close for three-and-a-half days beyond doubt

Vithushan Ehantharajah16-Apr-2023Surrey 270 (Pope 91, Abbas 6-64) and 247 for 1 (Pope 122*, Sibley 79*) beat Hampshire 254 (Brown 95, Lawes 4-58) and 258 (Gubbins 84, Worrall 5-40) by nine wicketsSometimes, scorecards can lie. This one for the first meeting of Surrey and Hampshire in the 2023 County Championship is doing just that.Because this was a close game. No, really. At least for the most part. For the first three-and-a-half days, the back-and-forth between these two elite foes was straight out of a Tarantino flick. Unfortunately, so was the finish – a one-way slaughter inflicted by a sole protagonist.Neither had given much away, but Hampshire arrived at the Kia Oval on Sunday in possession of the better hand. Even when their lead of 182 was eventually capped at 242, Surrey’s task of knocking those off was far from certain against an international calibre attack on a pitch now scarred with indentations.And then Ollie Pope happened.There’s no wrong place to start with Pope’s brain-melting 122 not out, but we might as well go straight to the beginning of the evening session. Because, really, that’s what you’re here for – the brutality.That was when this suddenly became a one-sided, nine-wicket pasting. Maybe it’s unfair on Hampshire to describe it as such, but to see their XI powerless to stop an assault that saw the remaining 145 runs ticked off in 20.2 overs underlined the tectonic shift in proceedings. Pope was responsible for 100 of them in 70 deliveries, and who knows how many scars.Perhaps the most damaging offshoot of Pope’s innings was it made you forget how difficult cricket really is.He straight drove Mohammad Abbas for four, then cut him backwards of point the following over. With that, a thought – why don’t more batters try that against a bowler who averages 23 in Test cricket and 18.31 in the Championship?A single after that second boundary took him to 39, level with Dom Sibley’s score but from 54 fewer balls. And though you knew Sibley’s calmness was vital, particularly in an opening stand of 54 with Rory Burns, whose dismissal brought Pope to the crease with 189 left to get, there was a sense he didn’t need to grind so much. Dom, mate, just hit the ball hard in the areas where there aren’t any fielders. The opener did at least win the race to fifty, off 106 deliveries – his first of this homecoming after leaving for Warwickshire in 2017. Pope’s came from 60.Related

• Sam Whiteman's unbeaten half-century seals victory for Northamptonshire

• Warwickshire overcome superb Kent rearguard to claim thriller

• Dane Paterson five-for secures win in time for Forest kick-off, to Stuart Broad's delight

• Tom Westley digs in to deny Lancashire

Faced with a bouncer from James Fuller, Pope stepped out of the way and helped it over the keeper’s head, like it was a roll of toilet paper and he was trying to teepee the Pavilion. Given the risk associated with the pull shot – not least to your physical health – why don’t more players do that? This way looks easier and more fun, too.Even those in the stands, hooting and hollering throughout this 11th first-class century at the Oval like it was his first, started taking it for granted. In the last 15 minutes, a botched reverse paddle drew loud sighs from Surrey supporters now drunk on boundaries, as if it were a call for last orders. Pope sorted them out with ones for the road, finishing the match with back-to-back sixes off Felix Organ into the Vauxhall End.It’s important to note this was far more than England’s No.3 indulging in a rascal hand for the sake of it. There was as much application here as in his first innings of 91 in tough conditions across days two and three. The acceleration from a chilled start of 22 off 32 going into the tea break was very much governed by the light. When he and Sibley walked back out at 4pm, it did not look like it would hold until 6pm, which would have left around 16 overs unbowled. Both sides were shaking hands by 5:20pm.Sibley was far more than just a stagehand in Pope’s one-man show, by the way. He offered a useful counter-point for the 63 runs he provided to the match-sealing stand of 193, and a very different right-hander to bowl to. He riffed off Pope with some outrageous shots of his own, at least relative to the tucks to midwicket he had subsisted on before that final break. Beyond more intent with his shots, there was a bit of innovation when he pulled out a switch of feet but not of hands to sweep a rare boundary on the off side. The last 43 of his 79 runs came off 52 deliveries.The manner of the finish belies the situation hours earlier, when it really felt Surrey would need more of the 72 overs left in the day to chase their target of 243. That they had that many to work with was a testament to their bowlers, who polished off Hampshire’s second innings early enough for Burns and Sibley to have a 20-minute taster before lunch.Surrey needed just 22 overs to take the remaining five wickets, and did so with such control that only 45 was added to the overnight lead. That was ultimately achieved with the first dismissal of the day when Tom Lawes had Nick Gubbins caught by Sibley at first slip.Gubbins began Sunday with 79 from the night before, and was understandably watchful, leaving plenty of deliveries Lawes was angling across him. Rather than snare the left-hander with one that came back in, Lawes simply tweaked his line straighter. It was enough for Gubbins to offer the bat – and in turn, the edge – as the 20-year-old found enough seam movement with the old ball.After keeping tabs on the scoring until the new ball, Kemar Roach struck twice, removing the dangerous James Fuller and then knocking back Kyle Abbott’s off stump. At the other end, Dan Worrall rounded out a third five-wicket haul for the club, bouncing out Keith Barker and then finishing off Hampshire by claiming Abbas lbw.Those seamers spent the rest of the day with their feet up, getting on them to salute Pope’s century, which he got to with a four clipped through square leg off his 93rd delivery. They remained standing until the final blows confirmed a win achieved by more than just one man, even if he’s the only one we’re going to rave about.With that sizeable red ink, not only does Pope now average 99.62 for Surrey at his home ground, but he is also averaging 125.88 against Hampshire across 12 knocks. This was a sixth hundred at their expense.More importantly, Surrey are up and running in their title defence. Victory after last week’s stalemate at Lancashire takes them second and is a sizeable blow to a Hampshire outfit gunning for the crown after starting their own campaign with a comprehensive victory over Nottinghamshire.These two will meet again in the season’s final round, which was earmarked as a potential winner-takes-all encounter before the season began. This match does not change that on paper, but the manner of the result will test Hampshire’s resolve. As will the fact that, with Test cricket done by August and international white ball set-up strong enough to not need him, Pope will be back looking to lay it on them again.

Clubs who missed out on staging agreements could be given opportunities in tournament’s second year

George Dobell11-Dec-2018Some games in The Hundred could be played away from their host cities as the ECB bid to appease smaller counties.While the ECB have recently declined requests from some counties – notably Gloucestershire – to increase the number of hosting teams from eight to nine or 10, there does appear to be increased hope from some of those who missed out staging agreements that, in the competition’s second year, they will be given the opportunity to host games.So Durham remain hopeful of hosting one of the games given to Yorkshire in 2021 – it seems there is no such expectation in the tournament’s first year – while Somerset hope for a similar reciprocal agreement with the team based in Cardiff.With only four home games scheduled for the group stages of the competition, however, it seems there will be few opportunities for such agreements. The likes of Somerset and Gloucestershire, therefore, may be looking at hosting a game each every other year at best and it remains possible that such talk will come to nothing and is simply designed to pacify the counties.Disagreement is also likely over the branding and, perhaps, the naming of the new teams. While it was initially announced that crossovers between new identities and county brands would be avoided to ensure no cannibalism of existing brands, there is a concern from some within the game that the teams based in Cardiff, Lord’s and Leeds, in particular, will lean pretty heavily on recognisable images in an attempt to appeal to existing supporters.

He hit nine sixes in his 47-ball 72, but found little support from his colleagues as Sylhet now have two losses in three matches

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jan-2019How the game played out

Dhaka Dynamites are now unbeaten after four games. The last of these wins came against Sylhet Sixers, who were beaten by 32 runs despite a spell of sensational six-hitting from the West Indies batsman Nicholas Pooran. He hit nine sixes in his 47-ball 72, adding more than a dash of entertainment quotient to the evening. Yet, the result was never in doubt.Dhaka’s 173 for 7 was built around a second-wicket stand of 67 between Sunil Narine and Rony Talukdar, who made 58. Then they collapsed from 117 for 3 to 125 for 7 in the space of 18 balls. They found saviours in Nurul Hasan and Mohammad Naim, who struck two fours and a six between them in the last five overs to give the Dhaka a strong finish. With the ball, Taskin Ahmed took three wickets in an over to derail the chase.Turning points

Taskin removed big guns Andre Russell and Kieron Pollard and allrounder Shuvagata Hom in the 15th over, just as the Dhaka were entering the slog overs.Nurul Hasan and Mohammad Naim, both unbeaten on 18 and 25 respectively, revived Dhaka with their 48-run unbroken eighth wicket stand.David Warner and Liton Das fell inside four overs of the chase.Star of the day
Pooran preferred the straight boundaru, striking his West Indies team-mates Russell and Narine for big sixes. He also attacked Rubel, among Bangladesh’s best bowlers, while hitting Shakib twice over the square leg fence. The best hit was reversed for Shuvagata, who was reverse slog-swept into the second tier.The big miss

During the 17th over of the Dynamites innings, the ball slipped out of Sohail Tanvir’s grip and went flying high over both the batsman Naim and wicketkeeper Liton, bouncing a few times to the boundary as he conceded five runs in no-balls.Where the teams stand

Dhaka have made it four wins out of four while the Sixers have work to do, having lost two out of three games now.

Former batter doesn’t pick KL Rahul in first-choice ODI XI: “Probably he’ll be a back-up wicketkeeper and a back-up batter”

Shashank Kishore30-Dec-20223:49

Gautam Gambhir: Can’t look beyond Ishan Kishan as opener in ODIs

Gautam Gambhir, the former India batter, is clear Ishan Kishan, and no one else, should be India’s first-choice opener alongside Rohit Sharma in ODIs for the foreseeable future.Kishan converted his maiden ODI century into a career-best 210 in his most recent outing in Bangladesh earlier this month. Now, with Shikhar Dhawan out of the ODI squad, Gambhir believes Kishan should be persisted with.”I’m amazed we’re discussing this, because someone’s got a double-hundred in the previous innings,” Gambhir said when asked who he would like to see as Rohit’s opening partner. “The discussion is over. It has to be Ishan Kishan. Someone who can get a double-hundred in those conditions against a reasonable attack – especially at [their] home – should play.Related

• Prithvi Shaw slams career-best score at rapid pace

• Gambhir unsure if Kohli, Rohit and Rahul fit in 2024 T20 WC plans

• 'Everything came to a standstill for a split second' – Shivam Mavi on his maiden India call-up

• Hardik to lead in T20Is against SL; Rohit returns for ODIs

• Bumrah fit but selectors cautious, Pant sent to NCA before Aus Tests

“He got what 200 by the 35th over mark? You can’t look at anyone beyond Ishan Kishan. He has to be given a longer run. He can also keep wickets as well, so he can do two jobs for you. So for me, that discussion shouldn’t be there. If someone else had got a double-hundred, I think we would’ve gone gung-ho over that individual, but it’s not the case with Ishan Kishan. Because we still continue to talk about other players. For me, that debate is over.”Gambhir also believes Suryakumar Yadav can be an asset at No. 4, despite his 50-overs record so far not having been as prolific as his T20 numbers. In 16 ODIs, Suryakumar has made 384 runs with just two half-centuries. In his most recent outing in New Zealand, two of his three knocks ended up being scores of 4 and 6.His Mumbai compatriot Shreyas Iyer has all along been superb in the 50-overs format. In 15 innings this year, Iyer has scored 724 runs at an average of 55.69 and a strike rate of 91.52. His strike rotation and maneuvering spin in the middle overs have been a standout feature of his batting.”It’s very difficult to look beyond Rohit and Ishan Kishan to open the batting, Virat at three, Surya at four, [and] Shreyas at five, because he’s been incredible in the last one-and-a-half years,” Gambhir said of his ideal India XI. “Yes, he’s had issues against the short ball, but he’s been able to manage it. You can’t be the best against everything but if you’re able to manage it and got the numbers going for you, you can’t look beyond Shreyas at No. 5 and Hardik [Pandya] at 6.”Gambhir sees no place for KL Rahul in India’s first XI: “Probably he’ll be a back-up wicketkeeper and a back-up batter”•AFP via Getty Images

Does this mean he won’t pick KL Rahul in his first XI?”Probably he’ll be a back-up wicketkeeper and a back-up batter,” Gambhir said. “See, if you haven’t been able to grab the opportunity and someone else has, you have to wait for your turn. I don’t think you can look beyond Surya at No. 4.”Yes, he hasn’t got the same numbers what he has in T20Is, but we all know how destructive he can be; especially when you have five fielders inside the ring, he can win you games at No. 4. Shreyas [with] the kind of form he’s in and Hardik at six, I think this will be my core. Shubman Gill will have to wait for his opportunity.”“Prithvi Shaw needs to be looked after”
Gambhir was also unequivocal in his support for Mumbai batter Prithvi Shaw, who finds himself in the cold yet again. Shaw hasn’t played for India since July last year.Over the course of his short career, Shaw has had to cope with more than just a loss of form. Ever since he was suspended for a doping violation in 2019, his fitness and lifestyle issues have been under scrutiny.In March this year, Shaw was reported to have failed a yo-yo test. His score of less than 15 was far from BCCI’s prescribed minimum score of 16.5 for men. So far this season, he has largely remained injury-free, and has been a constant presence in the Mumbai line-up.He was the second-highest run-getter at the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, with 336 runs in ten innings at a strike rate of 181.42. His 50-overs numbers were less impactful in comparison. He has begun the ongoing Ranji Trophy slowly, with scores of 13, 6 and 19 in his first two matches.Asked if the perception that Shaw was hard to manage may have gone against him, Gambhir put the onus on the coaches and selectors to give him guidance and keep him in their plans.”Someone like a Prithvi Shaw, we all know the kind of talent he has. Probably the coaches should get him on the right track”•PTI

“What are coaches there for? What are selectors there for?” Gambhir asked. “Not to just select the squad or probably to do those throw downs or make them ready for the game. Ultimately it’s the selectors and coaches and management who should try and help these guys. Someone like a Prithvi Shaw, we all know the kind of talent he has. Probably they should get him on the right track and that is what one of the jobs of the management is.”I feel that if that’s the case [fitness and lifestyle issues], someone – whether it’s Rahul Dravid or the chairman of selectors – should actually have a word with him, give him clarity and keep him around the group. People who should be on the right path should be around the group, so that they are monitored better. Because the moment you leave them apart, they can go all over the place.”Someone like a Prithvi Shaw, the kind of start he had to his international career and the kind of talent he has, you back a player on talent. Yes, you have to look at the upbringing as well – where he comes from and the challenges he’s had as well. It makes even more sense for the management and the selectors to keep him around the mix, and help him get on the right track.”Shouldn’t there be onus on the player too?”One-hundred percent,” Gambhir said. “If you’re dedicated and passionate enough to play for the country, you’ve got to be able to get all the parameters right, whether it’s the fitness or discipline as well. It’s got to be both ways. You’ve got to give a young boy at least one chance or a couple of chances, and if he still doesn’t do that, then he’s not passionate enough to play for the country and probably you can look beyond him.”But if he’s willing to put in the hard yards – and I know how destructive he can be; if he can go on to win games for you, whether it’s trainers, management, head coach or chairman of selectors, all these guys should take the onus to try and get these young boys walk on the right path.”

Paceman Joel Paris and spinner Todd Murphy have claimed three wickets each for the PM’s XI to reduce the West Indies to 234 for 7 in the four-day tour match

AAP24-Nov-2022Son of a gun Tagenarine Chanderpaul has boosted his chances of a Test debut against Australia by producing a hard-fought century against the Prime Minister’s XI.Chanderpaul, the son of West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul, scored 119 off 293 balls on Thursday to lift his side to 234 for 7 at stumps on day two of the pink-ball match in Canberra.Victoria offspinner Todd Murphy also pushed his case for a spot on Australia’s tour of India next year claiming 3 for 27 in an impressive display, while Western Australia left-arm paceman Joel Paris also claimed three scalps.The PM’s XI made 322 in their first innings, leaving the four-day clash delicately balanced.Chanderpaul was the second-highest run-scorer in West Indies first-class cricket this year, averaging 73.16 while also starring for the country’s A team.The 26-year-old’s knock against the PM’s XI has put his name up in lights ahead of the first Test against Australia at Perth’s Optus Stadium, starting November 30. Even before the tour match began, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite backed Chanderpaul to succeed at Test level.Chanderpaul’s dad carved out a decorated 164-Test career in which he averaged 51.4 and scored 30 centuries. His son now wants to make a name for himself.”I try and be myself,” Tagenarine said. “I can’t be him, so I can only be myself. Fingers crossed [I get picked for the first Test]. I’ll try to get some runs if I’m selected.”The PM’s XI added a further 25 runs to their overnight score of 297 for 9 before Mark Steketee was last man out for 15. Paceman Alzarri Joseph was the pick of the touring bowlers with 4 for 65, while spinner Roston Chase finished with 2 for 72.The tourists made a bright start to their innings, moving to 94 without loss following strong efforts from Chanderpaul and Brathwaite. But when Brathwaite chopped on a Steketee delivery, it sparked a collapse of 4 for 44 as West Indies began to wobble.WA paceman Joel Paris found the edge of Nkrumah Bonner’s bat to send him packing for a duck before spinner Todd Murphy bowled Devon Thomas and then trapped Kyle Mayers eight overs later. Chanderpaul held the innings together, striking 13 fours and one six on the way to posting triple figures.

Glamorgan cantered past that modest target in only 12.5 overs to complete their third straight victory and strengthen their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals

ECB Reporters Network05-Aug-2018
ScorecardBirthday boy Ruaidhri Smith recorded the best-ever economy rate by a Glamorgan bowler in T20 cricket as his side demolished Middlesex by seven wickets at Richmond.Smith celebrated turning 24 with the remarkable figures of 4 for 6 from four overs as the home side were rolled over for just 131 – and slid to their eighth Vitality Blast defeat in nine games.Glamorgan cantered past that modest target in only 12.5 overs to complete their third straight victory and strengthen their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals.Glamorgan elected to bowl first after winning the toss and that decision was proved resoundingly correct as Smith immediately blew away the hosts’ top order.Nick Gubbins was the first to go, neatly caught by Graham Wagg at short cover, and Stevie Eskinazi chopped on for a fifth-ball duck at the end of the same over.Eoin Morgan also played on and, when Smith uprooted the off stump of Paul Stirling, Middlesex were already sinking fast at a wretched 20 for 4.There was no sign of the carnage abating as Timm Van der Gugten removed James Franklin and Robbie White, both lbw in the space of three deliveries.James Fuller led a mini-recovery, hitting Craig Meschede for three boundaries in an over as he and George Scott put together a partnership of 40.Fuller’s undefeated knock of 46 from 30 balls at least dragged Middlesex’s total in the direction of respectability as they posted 131 all out which was aided by six penalty runs awarded for a slow over-rate.Glamorgan suffered an early casualty in their run chase as Meschede flicked the second ball of the innings into the hands of Gubbins at deep square leg.Aneurin Donald also perished, swinging at Steven Finn and missing but any whiff of hope for Middlesex was extinguished by Kiran Carlson, who set out to dominate from the off.He crashed Fuller through the covers for four, following that up with a leg-side six, and had reached 40 from 22 balls when he fell to an impressive catch by Eskinazi, diving forward at deep midwicket.Colin Ingram took up the baton, smashing an unbeaten 46 off 30 deliveries while Chris Cooke clubbed Stirling for successive sixes to finish on 25 not out and complete a comfortable win.

The squad contains two players who won the Hundred with Oval Invincibles this year in Ryana MacDonald-Gay and Sophia Smale

Matt Roller18-Oct-2022England have left Alice Capsey and Freya Kemp out of their squad for January’s inaugural Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup in South Africa.Capsey, 18, and Kemp, 17, broke into England’s full international set-up earlier this year and have both established themselves in the T20I side. They are both likely to be named in the squad for the T20 World Cup which takes place in February, also in South Africa, and England’s selectors have opted against picking them in both tournaments, with England also due to play West Indies in the Caribbean in December.The squad contains two players who won the Hundred with Oval Invincibles this year in Ryana MacDonald-Gay and Sophia Smale, while Hannah Baker (Welsh Fire) and Grace Scrivens (London Spirit) also featured in the tournament.Richard Bedbrook, the head of England’s women’s pathways, chaired the selection panel. “It’s hugely exciting to name this squad and to think ahead to the opportunity that awaits the players,” he said.”They’re a tremendous group of young cricketers with great potential at the beginning of their journeys in the game. They’ll all benefit hugely from this experience – on and off the field. It’s important to compete at this age-group and it’s equally important to continue the process of learning what it takes to progress to the next level. I’m sure we’ll take a lot away from the tournament.”We have the ambition for the next few months to be a significant life moment for all the players and ensure they use it as a springboard towards making an impact in senior regional cricket, and hopefully beyond in years to come.”The ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup will provide an exciting platform for the best young players around the world and it will be really exciting to see our players compete against their peers in a global event.”Chris Guest, the Lightning head coach, will lead the squad in South Africa and throughout the preparation period before the tournament, with former England offspinner Laura Marsh (Sunrisers) and Darren Franklin (Central Sparks) acting as assistants.England will play group games against Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Rwanda from January 15-19, with the top three teams then qualifying for the Super Six stage.England U19 T20 World Cup squad: Ellie Anderson, Hannah Baker, Josie Groves, Liberty Heap, Niamh Holland, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Emma Marlow, Charis Pavely, Davina Perrin, Lizzie Scott, Grace Scrivens Sophia Smale, Seren Smale, Alexa Stonehouse, Maddie Ward.Non-travelling reserves: Emily Churms, Charlotte Lambert, Bethan Miles, Jemima Spence, Mary Taylor.

Nida Dar’s fifty in vain as Ireland secure just their third win over Pakistan in 16 T20Is

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Nov-2022An all-round show from Orla Prendergast backed up by a measured half-century from Gaby Lewis helped Ireland get past Pakistan by six wickets in the first T20I in Lahore.The hosts, choosing to bat, started their innings on the wrong foot as Prendergast cut a swathe through the Pakistan top order, striking three times in the first seven overs. Muneeba Ali fell off the third ball of the innings, caught behind for a duck, while captain Bismah Maroof departed for 17. Javeria Khan fell just after the powerplay, for a labourious 4 off 16 balls.It needed the experience of Nida Dar, who struck a 43-ball 61, to dig Pakistan out of their hole. She got good support from Aliya Riaz with the duo adding 57 runs for the fifth wicket. Riaz and Ayesha Naseem then provided the finish, helping Pakistan post 135 for 5.Ireland’s chase too did not have the best of starts with Dar doing the damage with the ball too to send back Amy Hunter in the second over but Lewis kept the visitors chugging along. The opener struck an unbeaten 69 off 54 balls to steer her side home.She added 55 for the second wicket with Prendergast, who made 39 off just 25 balls, and then 44 runs for the fourth wicket with Eimear Richardson. Ireland lost a couple of quick wickets in the middle phase, but Lewis held her end up all through. She ensured the required rate never got out of hand and found the boundary at regular intervals.Lewis hit the winning runs in the 19th over, as Ireland finished the job with eight balls to spare. Prendergast was named Player of the Match for her all-round efforts. This was just the third win for Ireland over Pakistan in T20Is, in 16 attempts.