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This is both a cricket match and a poignant reunion. Four Surrey players once sported the pears sable on their shirts

Paul Edwards at New Road10-Sep-2014
ScorecardJason Roy sweeps during his 103•Getty ImagesThis is both a cricket match and a poignant reunion. Four Surrey players once sported the pears sable on their shirts and three of them, Vikram Solanki, Steven Davies and Aneesh Kapil are graduates of Worcestershire’s academy. The trio therefore came under the tutelage of Damian D’Oliveira, a distinction they share with seven of their current opponents.The game is thus a most fitting tribute to the ability and influence of D’Oliveira, who died, aged a mere 53, in late June. Probably the last time some of the Surrey cricketers visited New Road was for their former coach’s thanksgiving service, which was held on the outfield and included a rousing rendition of the team song.D’Oliveira would probably have found much to applaud on the second day of this game but also plenty to criticise. For a few players, the importance of the contest in resolving promotion issues seemed to be a trifle inhibiting.A couple of cricketers who rose to the moment, however, were Jason Roy, whose third Division Two century of the season helped Surrey’s establish what may yet be a match-winning lead of 134, and Jack Shantry, who took 6 for 87, thereby collecting his 50th Championship wicket of the season in the process.Shantry’s wickets, the last five of them taken in 30 balls for 15 runs, prevented Gary Wilson’s side establishing what had seemed likely to be a match-defining advantage when they were 373 for 4. But the removal of Wilson himself, caught and bowled for 77 off a sharp drive, began an almighty collapse which saw the last six batsmen depart in ten overs for 33 runs.Rather than going out tomorrow thinking that they might have to bat five sessions to save the game, Worcestershire batsmen will see 12 for 0 on the board and they know they have a chance of building a respectable lead in advance of the final day. Surrey may still hold the whip here but Shantry’s spell has changed this contest markedly. It also, incidentally, ensured that Worcestershire gathered a full haul of bowling bonus points for the 27th successive match.Four Surrey batsmen reached fifty but no one batted more fluently than Roy whose 105-ball innings included 14 boundary fours, most of them cleanly struck, and a magisterial six off Moeen Ali which disappeared over long-off at the New Road End of the ground and might have taken out a few Tour of Britain cyclists had it been struck only a little harder and a few hours earlier. (As it was, the lycra’d horde had passed in a pleasing blur.)Arriving at the crease after Davies had been caught at slip by Tom Kohler-Cadmore for 69, the 24-year-old Roy batted with the easy assurance and command that has caught the notice of the England selectors. Regarded as a short-form specialist, Roy now needs 58 runs reach a thousand in the Championship; he is an exciting work in progress.It would, though, be an error to think that there was anything inevitable about the establishment of Surrey’s modest supremacy. They had lost the stabilising influence of Zafar Ansari in the fourth over of the morning when the opener’s uncharacteristically sloppy drive only edged Mitchell McClenaghan to Ben Cox behind the stumps.Vikram Solanki then stroked four boundaries in an hour-long innings of 28 but his innings was more a than the substantial sonata his team required, and his slash at Joe Leach’s first ball of the day only nicked a catch to Kohler-Cadmore at slip.Having added 127 runs in the morning session – this remains a wicket on which careful stroke-makers can flourish – Surrey lost Rory Burns for 91 three overs after the resumption when the opener shaped a drive at a wideish ball but only gave Cox another victim. Nevertheless, the opener could be comforted with the knowledge that he had reached a thousand first-class runs in a season for the first time in his career.Forty minutes later Davies had gone, too, and Wilson was joined by Roy in the 151-run fifth-wicket stand which offered the many travelling Surrey supporters their very best watching of the day. Both batsmen played with fluent control on a pitch which had completely lost its early morning devil. Roy hit two commanding boundaries off Moeen, who had Wilson badly dropped by Kohler-Cadmore at midwicket when the Surrey captain had made only 21.Ten overs after tea and the taking of the second new ball, that spill appeared more expensive than it was to prove. But Shantry’s removal of Kapil and Gareth Batty with successive deliveries sparked a measure of panic among the Surrey lower order with Stuart Meaker following his colleagues to the pavilion and Matt Dunn being taken at slip by Mitchell off Moeen.Yet the limitations of Worcestershire’s top order had been exposed by their first-innings total of 272 when batting first on a good pitch. Equally worrying may be the likelihood that Moeen will be on England duty for most of next summer. It is these considerations that have prompted the New Road hierarchy to sign Gloucestershire batsman Alex Gidman on a two-year contract. In the short term Daryl Mitchell’s side must also cope with the absence of McClenaghan, who is returning home to New Zealand at the end of this game following his father’s death on Tuesday.

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has urged the ICC to consider raising the permissible limit of a bowler’s elbow extension from the current limit of 15 degrees to “18 to 20 degrees.”

Gaurav Kalra04-Oct-2014Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has urged the ICC to consider raising the permissible limit of a bowler’s elbow extension from the current limit of 15 degrees to “18 to 20 degrees.” Speaking exclusively to ESPNcricinfo, Ramiz said something had to be done to “safeguard this phenomena called the doosra.”In recent months a number of offspinners, including Saeed Ajmal and Sunil Narine, have been reported for suspect bowling actions, and Ajmal was also banned after tests showed his action was illegal. Ramiz feared that if “unorthodoxy” was penalised, cricket would soon become a “robotic sport.””I have always felt that the most exciting delivery that has taken the playing fields is the doosra,” Ramiz said. “You have got to make room somehow to legalise it, even if you have to tweak the limit to 18 or 20 degrees because: a) it is not threatening the batsman physically, b) it is a great ball to describe and you need skills to play it.”Ramiz also disagreed strongly with claims that the doosra was a form of cheating equating it with reverse swing that he said could only be achieved with “tinkering with the ball.””I’ve played with some of the greats who reversed it and I can vouch for the fact that you possibly can’t get a natural reverse swing, you have to tinker with the ball,” he said. “That’s been looked at as a great art and we look the other way. Even though we have laws in place to detect a roughed-up delivery, we know in commentary that this can’t happen without somebody playing foul.”Ramiz, who opened the batting for Pakistan in most of his 57 Tests and 197 ODIs, said bowlers need tricks such as the doosra to survive in the modern game that is heavily skewed in favour of batsmen.”Batsmen can stand wherever in the crease, they can even stand in the danger area and not be called by the umpire with the spikes on, whereas if the poor bowler gets on that danger zone he is called and then taken off,” he said. “The switch hit is controversial yet nothing has been done about it. So because of the lopsidedness of the laws, we have seen the bowlers tweak the limits. Had the laws been 50-50, I think everyone would have been within the parameters and the game would have advanced smoothly.”Ramiz Raja said it would be difficult for Saeed Ajmal to mend his action before the 2015 World Cup•AFPAccording to Ramiz, it would be extremely difficult for Ajmal, who was banned from bowling last month after being reported during Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka, to remodel his action in time for the World Cup.”Can you redeem a bowler who straightens his arm? I don’t think so. I think we will lose them,” Ramiz warned. “I don’t think a guy who has an indifferent bowling action can make a comeback. From 40 degrees flex you ask him to bowl at 15 degrees or lesser, it just can’t happen. From 37 to 15 degrees in a matter of couple of months, I don’t see that happening.”Tests at Brisbane’s National Cricket Centre had shown that Ajmal flexed his elbow up to an average of 42 degrees while bowling. Ramiz expressed skepticism about these findings, contending that the “process” followed wasn’t very clear.”We were told from 15 degrees to 17 degrees (in Ajmal’s case) it was just a minor fault and now it has gone up to 100% more,” Ramiz said. “I need to know how the process has been conducted; they have got to make it public. In case of a 40-degree flex, the home board needs to know why and how and what’s the process? Who has designed this machine and why has it been accredited by the ICC?”Ramiz also suggested that the ICC had to understand how street and club-level cricket was played in countries such as Pakistan and Sri Lanka before imposing bans on bowlers with suspect actions.”You have allowed them to play for 10 years, the next generation has looked up to these bowlers,” he said. “Every bowler at the domestic level in Pakistan wants to replicate Ajmal. Saqlain [Mushtaq] was the hero earlier and Ajmal has modeled his action on him. Saqlain was given a clean chit. [Muttiah] Muralitharan is probably a great role model for the Sri Lankan young bowlers probably because he was allowed to bowl for so many years with an indifferent action. I think it’s important that, before imposing bans or fines, you have got to visit these countries because our street cricket, our club and domestic cricket is viewed differently.”The world body needs to understand the structure of Pakistan cricket. How the spinners are brought up, how are unorthodox actions are legalised because there has been a history. To stop it, I think it’s imperative that you understand how street and club cricket is being played. Are players being screened or are they being allowed to go ahead and be another Saeed Ajmal?”

Scott Boland began the season with a career-best performance, his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket restricting New South Wales on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield at the MCG

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Oct-2014
ScorecardScott Boland took his maiden five-for in first-class cricket•Getty Images and Cricket AustraliaVictoria fast bowler Scott Boland began the season with a career-best performance, his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket restricting New South Wales on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield at the MCG.Having won the toss, Victoria were able to keep NSW quiet, and Boland made the first two breakthroughs despite being brought on second change. His dismissal of the openers reduced NSW to 2 for 30 in the 22nd over.NSW recovered through three half-centuries, from Scott Henry, Kurtis Patterson and Ben Rohrer, but none of them were able to kick on to make an innings-defining score.Legspinner Fawad Ahmed dismissed Henry and Patterson before Boland returned to pick up Rohrer for 70, the innings top score.Boland then took three quick lower-order wickets to reduce NSW to 8 for 266 and end the day with figures of 6 for 49. The visitors had lost their last four wickets for 18 runs.

After 10 months of losses, failures, suspensions, resignations and sackings, they have completed a 3-0 Test series win over Zimbabwe with a 186-run win in Chittagong

The Report by Mohammad Isam16-Nov-20141:13

Isam: Bangladesh have gained confidence ahead of World Cup

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
The year 2014 has just become a whole lot nicer for Bangladesh. After 10 months of losses, failures, suspensions, resignations and sackings, they have completed a 3-0 Test series win over Zimbabwe with a 186-run margin in Chittagong.The final wicket fell in the 85th over when Natsai M’shangwe was trapped lbw by Shafiul Islam. Craig Ervine, Richmond Mutumbami and Tinashe Panyangara also fell the same way while Shingi Masakadza had his off stump pegged back.File photo: Shuvagata Hom removed the two overnight batsmen before lunch•WICB MediaRegis Chakabva was the sole source of resistance, making 89 off 181 balls with seven fours and a six. He hardly played a false shot despite several leg-before appeals, surviving through two reviews, and a chance on 21 when Mushfiqur Rahim dropped a sharp chance.For Bangladesh, there were two wickets each for Shafiul, Rubel Hossain, Jubair Hossain and Shuvagata Hom.Zimbabwe’s eccentric start to the day gave Bangladesh early inroads. Through loud appeals and inside edges, Hamilton Masakadza and Sikandar Raza, having added 67 last evening, looked to play all sorts of shots against spin from both ends. In the fourth over, Raza completed his second fifty of the match with a four that he could easily have dragged on to his stumps. In the next over, Taijul Islam had a review denied after replays showed the ball was hitting him outside off stump. It was the ninth time in the series that Bangladesh had their review denied.Masakadza, having added just 12 runs in the morning and constricted with his drives, played a reverse sweep which was neither attempted nor executed correctly. He did not go down on his knees enough to lay into the shot as the delivery from Shuvagata took his glove and popped up for Mushfiqur Rahim. Soon after the 93-run second-wicket stand ended, Shuvagata got his second wicket. This time Raza hammered a full toss down Taijul’s throat at deep midwicket, ending his innings on 65 off 75 balls with nine fours and two sixes.Brendan Taylor also gave away his wicket, playing a loose drive to Jubair, getting out to him for the third time in the series, all to drives. This time he was caught at point for 24, ending a mediocre series for himself. Seven minutes before lunch, Jubair took his second wicket when Elton Chigumbura, who had top-scored with 88 in the first innings, cut a ball low to slip where Imrul Kayes took a sharp catch to his right.Almost everything went to plan for Bangladesh. Mushfiqur has had very little to worry about with Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal doing well and the bowling attack able to pick up 20 wickets in each of the three Tests. Zimbabwe’s lack of form also played into their hands, but ultimately the win will count. And for Bangladesh, it would count with much effect.

Nasir Hossain has been dropped while teenaged legspinner Jubair Hossain has been picked for the first two Bangladesh ODIs against Zimbabwe this month

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Nov-2014Bangladesh middle-order batsman Nasir Hossain has been dropped while the unacapped pair of legspinner Jubair Hossain and allrounder Sabbir Rahman has been picked for the first two ODIs against Zimbabwe this month. The selectors also handed a comeback to left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny.Shakib Al Hasan was the other player to return, though he is an automatic choice. Jubair’s superb Test form has brought him to the ODI squad while Sabbir was not even among the top 40 scorers in List A cricket last year. In this season’s Dhaka Premier League, he has so far scored 36 and a first-ball duck on the day of selection, though he has played five T20s for Bangladesh earlier this year.From Bangladesh’s last ODI series against West Indies in August, Nasir, Shamsur Rahman and Mohammad Mithun have been dropped while injuries to Abdur Razzak (hamstring) and Taskin Ahmed (side strain) kept them out. Sohag Gazi is undergoing remedial work on his bowling action after it was deemed illegal by the ICC in October.Nasir made only 225 runs at an average of 20.45 without a 50-plus score this year. Shamsur’s batting average is 18.12 with one fifty and a total of 145 runs, and for both batsmen their patchy Test form was possibly taken into account.Mithun, on the other hand, can consider himself unlucky as he hasn’t had enough opportunities, having played no matches in West Indies, and have started well in the 2014-15 Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League.The series will be the first in which Mashrafe Mortaza will lead Bangladesh after being re-appointed ODI captain in place of Mushfiqur Rahim. The first of five ODIs is on November 21.ODI squad: Masrafe Mortaza (capt), Shakib Al Hasan (vice-capt), Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Shabbir Rahman, Imrul Kayes, Al-Amin Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Jubair Hossain

Australia coach Darren Lehmann has panned his side’s fielding during the Boxing Day Test match as “shoddy at best”

Daniel Brettig31-Dec-2014Australia coach Darren Lehmann has panned his side’s fielding during the Boxing Day Test match as “shoddy at best,” and believes the butterfingers that contributed greatly to India’s escape with a drawn third Test were a result of slipping confidence rather than insufficient practice.Fielding has been arguably the surest indicator of a slight tailing off in Australia’s intensity since last summer’s 5-0 sweep of England and 2-1 series success in South Africa, where in both cases the team led by Michael Clarke caught near enough to everything that flew into their vicinity.Numerous chances went down at critical times during the heavy loss of two Tests to Pakistan in the UAE. Though the standard improved slightly in Adelaide and Brisbane, a series of drops was a greater factor in the first drawn Melbourne Test for 17 years than any matters of weather, pitch or defensive cricket on the part of either team.”Shoddy at best,” Lehmann responded when asked for his assessment. “We’ve done a lot of work and I can’t complain about the work ethic from the lads, but the big one’s that cost us were the first innings. We dropped Kohli and Rahane and they made 169 and 147. That cost us dearly in the back end of the game. Catches win matches.”It’s not volume or practice, they’re very good at that. It’s probably more confidence to be honest, I’ve been really pleased with the work ethic. We made a conscious effort in the UAE and then after that series that we had to work harder on it and they’ve been excellent with it. They’re catching brilliantly in practice so it’s probably more confidence.”The dropped catches in Melbourne took on various forms. Brad Haddin spilled a straightforward chance from Cheteshwar Pujara on the second evening. The following day issues in slips placement between Haddin and Shane Watson saw the wicketkeeper take a pair of spectacular diving catches at the start and end of play, but in the meantime he did not go for a chance from Kohli that appeared closer than the others – a startled Watson dived too late to get both hands to his left.Peter Siddle turfed an eminently catchable chance from the blade of KL Rahul when briefly on as a substitute fielder, though the batsman’s departure moments later softened the blow. And Chris Rogers had a Rahane cut shot burst through his fingers on the final afternoon when a clean catch might have given Australia enough time to seal the win. A strong chance to run out Kohli had also been missed.These spurned opportunities were substantial, and a significant drop in standard from this time last summer, when England’s batsmen were harried by the thought that even half-chances were being snaffled. While the stand-in captain Steven Smith has maintained an exceptional personal level, notably his diving effort at the Gabba to remove Rohit Sharma on the second morning, others have not.Brad Haddin took a couple of sensational catches in Melbourne, but he also let go more straightforward ones•Getty ImagesIt is instructive that the fielding post has been the least settled of all Australian coaching positions since Lehmann replaced Mickey Arthur on the eve of the Ashes in England 18 months ago. Steve Rixon held the role when Lehmann arrived, and then at Lehmann’s request his drills were augmented by the encouragement and advice of American baseball coach and ground-fielding expert Mike Young at the start of the home summer.But Rixon departed following the home Ashes success, and Young’s consulting contract was not renewed following the South Africa tour. Lehmann’s mention of confidence as part of fielding was significant in that context, for Young was known as much for his ability to make the players feel strong and confident in their ability as for the rigours of his training patterns.The backslaps and exhortations of Young have been replaced by the more laid-back visage of Lehmann’s former South Australia team-mate Greg Blewett, who was with the team in the UAE and has worked consistently with them since.”Hopefully he keeps enjoying it,” Lehmann said of Blewett. “He’s done a really good job, Michael [Clarke] said it well on TV the other day, he’s worked the boys as hard as we’ve ever seen anyone work them before. The volume’s not the issue, it’s the confidence of the players and having that ability to take those chances.”Whoever is in charge of Australia’s fielding, they know that a repeat of the Melbourne display will result in more draws and losses than the wins that not only enhance the team’s standing but also fatten their wallets. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be worth a win bonus of around $20,000 to each player – another incentive, perhaps, for closing out the series with a draw.

A round-up of the Ranji Trophy 2014-15 Group C games played on January 29, 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jan-2015
ScorecardParas Dogra (106*) struck his third hundred of the season to guide Himachal Pradesh to a solid 314 for 4 on the opening day against Tripura in Agartala. Ankit Kalsi (63) and Rishi Dhawan chipped in with fifties, with the latter’s 64 not out contributing to an unbroken 117- run, fifth-wicket partnership with Dogra. Himachal lost opener Karanveer Singh in the fifth over of the day before the rest of the line-up managed to stitch significant stands, with four fifty-plus partnerships. Dogra, who had scored 230* and 166 earlier in the season, added 56 and 75 with Kalsi and Rashmi Parida respectively before his century stand with Dhawan. Dogra’s 145-ball stay at the crease had 10 fours and three sixes, while Dhawan struck 10 fours and a six.
ScorecardSaurabh Tiwary’s second hundred on the trot and his unbeaten 159-run third-wicket partnership with Shiv Gautam led Jharkhand to a promising 229 for 2 against Goa in Porvorim. Jharkhand opted to bat first and had lost both their openers with the score at 70 in the 26th over. Tiwary and Gautam then thwarted the Goa bowlers, patiently consolidating the innings. Tiwary hit nine fours and three sixes on his way to 100 not out off 168 deliveries, his third century of the season. Gautam – playing his first first-class match since November 2013 – was unbeaten on 72 off 269 balls with eight fours.
ScorecardMedium-pacer Arup Das’ four-wicket haul and offspinner Swarupam Purkayastha’s 3 for 35 helped Assam bundle Andhra out for 137 on the first day in Guwahati. Andhra captain Mohammad Kaif was the only batsman in his side to cross an individual score of 20 and his 60 propped up the innings. Das – who finished with 4 for 24 in 17 overs – struck early after Assam opted to bowl, reducing Andhra to 24 for 3 and the rest of the bowlers built on his efforts. Assam lost opener Pallavkumar Das in their reply and reached 32 for 1 by close of play.Kerala v Services: Samson century anchors Kerala

Australia’s captain Michael Clarke hinted at some confusion within the team over Shane Watson’s omission and rapid recall from the World Cup team across games against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka

Daniel Brettig at the SCG08-Mar-20151:55

‘Our attitude was to take wickets’ – Clarke

Australia’s captain Michael Clarke hinted at some confusion within the team over Shane Watson’s omission and rapid recall from the World Cup team across games against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, and said a squad mentality would be critical should the national selectors continue to shuffle their deck according to the prevailing conditions.Watson was left out against Afghanistan and appeared likely to be on the sidelines for some time when his prime No. 3 spot in the batting order was handed over to Steven Smith. But a dry SCG surface and the decision to choose Xavier Doherty instead of a third seamer pitched him back into the team in the recently unfamiliar role of a No. 6 batsman, where he prospered alongside Glenn Maxwell.Clarke has long avoided commenting on selection, ever since he excused himself from a formal role on the panel in the first half of 2013, but his rueful laugh and long sigh at the start of a response to questions about the Watson shuffle said as much as any words could about the sequence of the past few days. The coach Darren Lehmann and the selector on duty Mark Waugh waited until match day to conclude that Watson and Doherty would play.”I’m not going there,” Clarke said before making a fishing gesture. “The selectors pick the players, and my job is to try to get the best out of the 11 players. So no chance am I getting hold of that hook. I thought the selectors made it pretty clear that they were horses for courses in regard to selection today, they went for the extra experience with Watto in the bowling department only playing two frontline fast bowlers, so that was a big part of why they made that call … but good question.”I thought Shane played really well. His batting was how we know Watto can bat. He’s got amazing power and I think he played a big part in helping set the game up, that partnership with Maxy and him. Then he held his nerve under pressure with the ball as well. That was a real test for us out there, as games continue to move forward we’re going to be under pressure and I felt the way all the bowlers held their nerve today was exceptional.”Consultation between a captain and the selectors has long been a point of discussion in Australian cricket. Ricky Ponting had no formal selection role but seldom got a team he did not prefer, but since he stepped down from the panel Clarke has been at odds with Lehmann, Waugh, Trevor Hohns and the chairman Rod Marsh more than once. Asked whether he needed a more open line, Clarke answered carefully.”I think it’s exactly how it’s been since I stood down from being a selector,” he said. “It’s been very consistent the whole way through. I think when I was a selector there was a lot more stuff over email and the phone in regard to communication but since I’ve stood down it’s been exactly the same.”It’s the squad that wins you tournaments, not just the 11 players. We had a completely different team in Perth and we made a world record score. So whatever 11 players the selectors decide to pick for the conditions and against the opposition, everyone will be ready to play.”The summer has been a vexing one for Clarke, and having made his first substantial score since suffering the hamstring injury that required surgery after the first Test against India in early December, he also spoke at some length about his dealings with the media. It was in response to a broader question about how he managed to handle the stress of this season.”I don’t feel stress from what people write or say,” he said. “It might have taken me a few years but I think I’ve slowly learned to ignore a lot of it and laugh at a lot of it, and I think that’s probably the only reason I’m still playing this game at the highest level. When I was a lot younger I probably took a lot more to heart. I think I’m pretty honest with a lot of the journalist who I feel are out of line or criticise me for something that’s not true.”I’ll generally front the journalist and ask why it’s been said and voice my opinion, as I’m sure a few of the journos in this room have experienced. But I also understand that people have jobs to do, they have to sell newspapers, there’s channels on TV that are fighting for viewers. So I understand and respect that’s part and parcel of sport at the highest level, and I think if you cannot take it personally that’s been the best thing for me. Sometimes it’s hard but you’ve got to do your best.”

Already dubbed “the biggest game we’ve ever had” by Ed Joyce, the match between Ireland and Pakistan will be a virtual knockout, with the winner sealing a place in the quarter-finals

The Preview by George Dobell14-Mar-2015Match factsSunday, March 15, 2015
Start time 14.00 local (03.30 GMT)2:17

‘Ireland have something to lose for the first time’

Big PictureThis has already dubbed been “the biggest game we’ve ever had” by Ireland’s key batsman, Ed Joyce.The winner of this game is assured of a quarter-final place. The loser could qualify, too, but that would depend on the unlikely scenario of West Indies losing to UAE. Ireland, with their relatively poor run-rate, almost certainly need to win, while if Pakistan lose, their qualification will depend on the NRR comparison with West Indies.An abandonment would also send both Ireland and Pakistan into the next round.The further context is that Ireland are both fighting to develop cricket in their own country and for the reputation of Associate cricket. Much has already been said about the rights and wrongs of the ICC’s decision to reduce the 2019 World Cup to 10 teams, but if Ireland can progress while two Full Member nations exit, they will have made their point more eloquently, more powerfully, more persuasively than any words.In the grand scheme of things, Ireland might take credit for going so far whether they win or lose. They might take credit for overcoming their poor form in the warm-up games – they lost to a grade side in Sydney and Scotland in Blacktown – and a modest seam-bowling attack acutely lacking in pace.But such is their ambition, such is their determination, that anything less than a quarter-final place at this stage would be considered a disappointment.They have a tough task. After a poor start to the tournament, Pakistan have won three games in succession and look far stronger in the field and with the bat, for the inclusion of Sarfraz Ahmed and Younis Khan. Their seam attack includes the trio of left-arm pacemen Wahab Riaz who has bowled the quickest delivery in the tournament, Rahat Ali, who is conceding his runs at an average of only 3.82 an over, and the towering Mohammad Irfan. It might be best described as daunting.In the long-term, Pakistan might worry about who replaces Younis at No. 3, who replaces Misbah at No. 4 – and as captain – and who replaces Shahid Afridi, who seems to have been playing for Pakistan since the dawn of time.But the long-term can wait. This is a World Cup. This is the ODI tournament that defines careers. And this is the game that might define the tournament for both sides.Form guide(last five matches, most recent first)

Ireland:LWLWWPakistan:WWWLL
Pakistan will once again be heavily banking on their left-arm pace trio of Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan and Rahat Ali•Getty ImagesIn the spotlightThe reason confusion continues to surround the exact height of Mohammad Irfan is that he is simply too tall to measure. Some say he eats three James Taylors in a bun each breakfast and brushes his teeth with a fir tree plucked from a mountainside. He could, he says, write a book on the difficulties of fitting into hotel beds and airplane seats. Quite a dull book, perhaps, and one he would keep on an impossibly high shelf. While it remains a struggle to keep him fit – his buttocks are currently causing him some discomfort – his pace, his height and his left-arm angle create significant difficulties for any batsman. While teams in the early stages were happy to simply see him off, the decision to include an extra bowler in the Pakistan side has forced batsmen to take a more aggressive approach against him. They rarely succeed.While Ed Joyce remains the key batsman, the form of Andy Balbirnie has been hugely encouraging. A year ago Balbirnie, an elegant 24-year-old batsman, would barely have warranted mention in Ireland’s top 20 players. But he flourished on the acclimatisation tour of Australia and New Zealand before Christmas and has continued his development in this tournament with impressive innings against South Africa – when he made 58 – and Zimbabwe – when he made 97.Teams newsPakistan report a fully fit squad, but there seems a good chance they will go into the game unchanged. There is talk of them recalling spin bowling all-rounder Haris Sohail, but it is not easy to see where he would fit in. There may also be a temptation to play the legspinner, Yasir Shah, with a view to exploiting Ireland’s perceived weakness against spin, but Misbah played down both possibilities. He said the seamers were “bowling really well” and “just taking wickets” while also claiming Ireland are “really good against spin.”Pakistan(probable): 1 Sarfraz Ahmed (wkt), 2 Ahmed Shehzad 3 Younis Khan, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Sohaib Maqsood, 6 Umar Akmal, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Sohail Khan, 10 Rahat Ali, 11 Mohammad Irfan.Ireland continue to compensate for their weakness in bowling – particularly seam bowling – with their impressive batting. There does seem a strong chance they will recall their highly impressive young offspinner Andy McBrine in place of one of the seamers, but generally they have a settled line-up that is unlikely to change much at this stage. How they could do with Tim Murtagh, who missed the tournament through injury, or Boyd Rankin, who misses through his decision to pursue a career with England, in such situations.Ireland (probable): 1 William Porterfield (capt), 2 Paul Stirling, 3 Ed Joyce, 4 Niall O’Brien, 5Andy Balbirnie, 6 Gary Wilson (wkt), 7 Kevin O’Brien, 8 Stuart Thompson/Andy McBrine, 9 John Mooney, 10 George Dockrell, 11 Alex Cusack.Pitch and conditionsThe pitch for this game is on the opposite side of the square to that was used for the match between Bangladesh and England, so the square boundaries will not be quite so short. While the pitch is, by Australian standards, lacking just a bit of pace, it is true and offers the bowlers little. William Porterfield reasoned that 290 might be a par score, though no team has made more than 300 in an ODI here in the last decade. While there is an outside chance of a shower on the morning of the game, the weather is expected to be partly cloudy but generally sunny and dry.Stats and trivia Ireland have conceded more runs – 1,579 – than all teams in the competition other than Sri Lanka – 1,703 – who have played a game more. Nobody has passed 50 in the tournament more times than Misbah-ul-Haq, who has on four occasions. The only time a team has reached 300 in an ODI in Adelaide since January 1995 came on February 15 when India scored 300 for 7 against Pakistan. With 5,049 runs, Misbah has the most ODI runs in history without a century. The next closest is Wasim Akram, also of Pakistan, with 3,717. Ireland’s NRR (-1.014) is the worst of any team with a hope of qualification. Only UAE, Scotland and Afganistan have a worse rate.Quotes”It’s really disappointing that we could be on the verge of Ireland’s last World Cup game for a long time. We have a cause that we fight for. We are trying to grow the game at home and show the ICC the folly of keeping the next World Cup to 10 teams, not allowing nations like us ourselves a fair chance to get in. The chance to break into the quarter-finals of a World Cup definitely makes it the biggest game we’ve ever had.”
“The pacers are really bowling well. All of them are wicket-takers. All of them are aggressive bowlers. And that’s what we need if we are not batting well. We need some really good backing by the bowling, and all the pacers are really doing their job getting wickets and putting pressure on the opposition.”

Lizelle Lee’s fifth ODI half-century helped South Africa Women clinch the series 2-1 with a five-wicket victory against Pakistan Women in Sharjah

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Mar-2015
ScorecardFile photo: Lizelle Lee was named Player of the Match for her 54•PCBLizelle Lee’s fifth ODI half-century helped South Africa Women clinch the series 2-1 with a five-wicket victory against Pakistan Women in Sharjah. Set 154 for the win, South Africa were struggling at 35 for 3 – thanks to two early blows from Sumaiya Siddiqi – but recovered through a 79-run stand for the fourth wicket between Lee and Mignon du Preez.Lee stroked five fours and a six during her 54, while du Preez’s 43 featured four fours. Both players were dismissed in quick succession by Anam Amin, but by then, South Africa needed just 23 more runs. Dane van Niekerk duly knocked off that total by hitting an unbeaten 27, as the team was home with more than three overs to spare.Earlier, Pakistan, opting to bat, had been kept to 153 for 9, as they lost wickets at regular intervals right from the off. Their captain Sana Mir top-scored with 52, but received little by way of support from her team-mates, as only three other batsmen reached double-digit scores. South Africa’s bowlers all went at under four runs an over, contributing at least a wicket each.