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Essex launched a fine recovery to leave themselves slight favourites to beat Kent in their County Championship Division Two duel at Chelmsford

Press Association20-Apr-2015
ScorecardGraham Napier counter-attacked to get Essex back into the match•Getty ImagesEssex launched a fine recovery to leave themselves slight favourites to beat Kent in their County Championship Division Two duel at Chelmsford. After being left a target of 193, they reached the close on 66 for 3, a position of promise that seemed highly unlikely after they had resumed the second day on 67 for 6 in reply to their opponents first innings total of 193.When Essex lost another wicket with only two runs added, it seemed they would finish well adrift. But they were revived by Graham Napier’s contribution of 57 from 40 deliveries. All those runs came during a stand of 80 in 12 overs before he sliced a shot to third man where Sam Northeast took a fine diving catch.Napier struck seven fours and a six and keeping him company was Jaik Mickleburgh who was to make 46 before he was ninth out. Darren Stevens and Matt Coles finished with four wickets each as Essex closed 29 runs adrift of their opponents on 163.On a pitch which again favoured swing and seam, Kent lost both openers within the first five overs of their second innings. Joe Denly fell without a run on the board, to Jamie Porter, before Daniel-Bell Drummond gave James Foster the first of his four catches in the innings.The visitors were indebted to Northeast for their second-innings effort of 163. While wickets fell around him at regular intervals, he produced some punishing drives to anchor the innings. He struck ten boundaries before Greg Smith trapped him lbw on the stroke of tea. Northeast’s main support came from Darren Stevens whose 36 from as many deliveries came during a fifth-wicket half-century partnership after the pair had started their liaison with their side 49 for 4.David Masters, who was responsible for Kent’s early troubles, finished with 4 for 45 while Smith returned 3 for 22.When they set off in pursuit of victory, Essex quickly lost Tom Westley for a duck, bowled by Ivan Thomas, before Nick Browne and Mickleburgh raised the 50. Having added 57 in 13 overs for the second wicket, both were to depart shortly before the close. A magnificent catch by Sam Billings accounted for Browne after he had made 25 while a slip catch by Matt Coles saw off Mickleburgh for 23 to end his hour’s stay at the crease.Mitch Claydon was the successful bowler on both occasions but Essex were to steer clear of further trouble in the remaining four overs to leave a tense third day in prospect.”Those two wicket towards the close has put us right back in it and the game is very evenly poised,” Claydon said. “It’s up to us to put the ball in the right areas more consistently to go on and win the match and I think we can do that if we nick a couple of early wickets in the morning. One thing is for certain and that is that batsmen will have to battle hard for every run – it’s that sort of pitch.”Napier said: “We have ended the day with our noses in front and that’s a position we would have settled for considering how we started the day. It’s a pitch where runs are not easy to come by but I decided to adopt a positive approach and it worked to help us get near their total. But we still face plenty of hard work ahead if we are to get a victory.”

ESPNcricinfo previews the playoff matches between Afghanistan and Hong Kong, and Namibia and Netherlands

Peter Della Penna in Malahide20-Jul-2015Afghanistan vs Hong KongAfghanistan waltzed into first place after the group stages in each of their first three appearances in the World T20 qualifier. They were undefeated in 2010 and 2012 and suffered only one loss in 2013 before moving on. This year, playing outside their operational base in the UAE for the first time, Afghanistan ended up at third.They did beat the teams sitting ahead of them – Scotland and Netherlands – and thumped UAE as well, but a banana peel loss to Oman sandwiched by two washouts against Canada and Kenya have proven costly. It means Afghanistan have to better Asian rivals Hong Kong to secure a berth in India next year.Meek top order displays in the 50-over World Cup led to Mohammad Shahzad’s recall. So far it seems a good move, he has muscled 74 off 37 and 75 off 36 in back-to-back games against UAE and Scotland. Pertinently, in five T20 matches against Hong Kong, he averages 68.33 with two half-centuries.On the bowling front, Afghanistan’s quicks have been upstaged by the offspin of Mohammad Nabi. With eight wickets so far, the former captain has been their most successful bowler. The pitch in Malahide has been conducive to spin and he will remain a threat. But more support is needed from Hamid Hassan and Dawlat Zadran to keep Hong Kong’s batting in check.Hong Kong are trying to recover from upsets themselves – they slipped up against Jersey and USA. That they still managed to finish in second place is a testament to team’s resilience. And they will require lots of it on Wednesday considering they have lost all six T20s played against Afghanistan. Besides one eight-run defeat, the others were by big margins: 120 runs in 2009, eight wickets, nine wickets, and seven wickets twice. The most recent of those was at last year’s World T20 in Bangladesh, where Afghanistan chased down 154 with ease.As far as key players are concerned, Irfan Ahmed has turned in two Man of the Match performances against Namibia and Ireland. But his record against Afghanistan is bleak. He averages 13.50 and only once has he made it to double-figures. His 98 against Namibia on Sunday was a good sign though, and it helped that he had a former captain in Jamie Atkinson as his opening partner. Anshuman Rath, the 17-year old, was demoted after struggling to take advantage of the Powerplay. Hong Kong’s best chance of a first win over Afghanistan in T20 cricket will rely on a solid foundation from the new opening pair.Namibia v NetherlandsBen Cooper has been one of the most consistent batsmen of the tournament•ICC/Donald MacLeodHad Netherlands completed their ferocious chase against Kenya on Saturday three balls quicker, they would have sealed passage to the World T20 and rested up for an entire week before the semi-finals here. That they still scored 98 in 8.3 overs is a reminder of how explosive they can be when pushed into a corner. It is hard to forget what they did to Ireland in the World T20 last year.Four of their batsmen – Ben Cooper, Wesley Barresi, Peter Borren and Stephan Myburgh – have tallied more than 100 runs from the group stages. Only Scotland, with five, are better off.Ahsan Malik has been suspended from bowling for the rest of the tournament due to a suspect action, but Timm van der Gugten has picked up the slack, picking up four wickets in his last two games. Spinners Roelof van der Merwe and Michael Rippon have taken nine and seven wickets respectively and will like the conditions in Malahide.Namibia, meanwhile, are aiming to qualify for their first World T20 after a disappointing exit from the qualifier tournament in 2012. They had been undefeated in the league phase and had two chances to confirm a spot in the World T20 in Sri Lanka. But they lost both times. Playing against Ireland and Afghanistan, they failed to reach a total of 100 in either game, after having been the most prolific batting line-up in the group stages.Namibia have two cracks at the prize this year as well courtesy openers Stephan Baard and Gerrie Snyman, who have led them into the playoffs. Baard is the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 243 runs at an average of 60.75 and Snyman is in fourth place with 192 runs at 32.00. They have two half-centuries each, but no one else has been consistent enough.Namibia possess one of the tournament’s most effective slow bowlers in Bernard Scholtz. He is tied for most wickets – 10 – by a spinner with USA’s Timil Patel and third overall behind John Mooney and Alisdair Evans. Snyman’s offspin has also claimed seven, but their pace-bowlers have not produced performances of substance. Namibia have already conceded 161 to Jersey and 197 to Hong Kong and a similar total against Netherlands is likely to leave them in trouble. But If Namibia lose, they will have one final chance, on Thursday, to secure that elusive berth in a World T20.

The Angel Gabriel is a hard-working, versatile, big game player who can answer the Gunners' prayers…

Arsenal are set to land four-time Premier League winner Gabriel Jesus after agreeing a £45 million ($55m) deal with Manchester City.

The Brazilian was Mikel Arteta's priority attacking target and there is, quite rightly, plenty of excitement around his imminent arrival at the Emirates.

So, below, GOAL looks at what can the Gunners expect from a player that became a sensation when he joined City as a teenager and then dazzled, but occasionally frustrated, in the intervening years…

GettyFlexibility

Jesus has been deployed all across the front three during his time at the Etihad Stadium because of his excellent all-round game.

Whether tasked with being a ball-carrier, a battler or a box of tricks, Jesus has nearly always delivered exactly what Pep Guardiola has asked of him.

Even as a No.9 there was a malleability to his game, whether he was charged with primarily playing as a six-yard box predator, a spearhead against teams trying to press high or dropping deep as a false nine, creating space for midfielders.

Similarly, he has been effective in different roles when playing wide. He has delivered as an old-school winger, hugging the touchline, an inside forward playing off a central striker or as an attacker charged with supplementing the midfield.

His time at City can be characterised by an unselfishness that has always put the team ahead of any personal glory.

AdvertisementGettyWork-rate

Ever since his first start in a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace in January 2017, Jesus' hard work has stood out as a key attribute.

Guardiola has wanted his team to press opponents high up the pitch and that starts with the striker putting central defenders under pressure.

Jesus, to his credit, instinctively knew what was required and that immediately put the place of legendary striker Sergio Aguero under threat.

The Argentinian came alive when City had the ball, but he was not always the most effective when the opponents were controlling possession.

Aguero learned from his young team-mate, though, and his increased work-rate, coupled with his incredible strike rate, meant that he remained City's first-choice centre forward, although Jesus still got the call when hard graft was essential, as in the stunning Champions League win over Real Madrid in 2020.

Getty ImagesBig-game player

Guardiola has often turned to Jesus for big games and has been rewarded with important performances and goals.

The victory over Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu was a landmark moment for City's rise in the Champions League, beating one of the elite on their own patch, with Jesus instrumental, scoring an equaliser in a breathless performance.

Last season, he started the early double-header against Chelsea and Liverpool, scoring at Stamford Bridge and providing an assist for Phil Foden at Anfield.

Jesus didn't start a Premier League game for three months after New Year, partly because of injury, but was recalled for the crucial Premier League clash with Liverpool in April and scored the opener.

It's also telling that as City continued their pursuit of their Champions League dream, he started both semi-final legs against Real, scoring at the Etihad and leading the line in Spain.

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Getty ImagesPotential

Still only 25, Jesus is moving into his prime years and can get even better.

At City, he was always fighting to be in the starting line-up and was never able to truly convince fans that he belonged in the strongest XI.

The move to Arsenal could give him more freedom and the close attention of a coach like Arteta, who knows him well from his time at the Etihad as Guardiola's assistant, could make him feel even more loved.

Technically, Jesus has everything in his game to be a star: quick feet, pace, strength, good movement and the ability to play either side.

On top of that, he has the experience of working in a winning environment and he can bring some of that mentality to the Emirates and thrive in a hungry, young squad.

The presence of popstar Harry Styles at the match between Luton and Manchester United sparked a funny argument between Jamie Redknapp and David Jones.

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Harry Styles attended Premier League matchTook selfie with pundit Jamie RedknappStar's presence sparked jibes from presenterWHAT HAPPENED?

The famous singer was at Kenilworth Road to watch the Premier League clash and he paid a visit to the Sky Sports team, where ex-Tottenham star Redknapp was given the honour of having his picture taken with him. The excitement caused by Styles' arrival started some good-natured ribbing between the former England international and presenter Jones.

AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPGettyWHAT REDKNAPP & JONES SAID ABOUT STYLES

"I've never seen Jamie Redknapp move so fast out of his chair to get his selfie," Jones said.

Redknapp replied: "Yeah, watch you here now. Look how thirsty you get when he walks past you."

The pundit then put on a high pitched voice to mock Jones, saying: "'Oh can I have some tickets please?' Yeah, do one mate."

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THE BIGGER PICTURE

Styles is a known Manchester United supporter. He was in attendance to see his favourite team secure three important points to boost their hopes of breaking into the Premier League top four. United made it four wins on the bounce by beating Luton 2-1, thanks to a first-half brace from Rasmus Hojlund.

Chelsea have announced that they will take part in a pre-season tour of the United States in the summer, joining many of their Premier League rivals.

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Chelsea confirm US tour in summerAlready set to face Man City in JulyArsenal, Liverpool & Man Utd also goingWHAT HAPPENED?

Chelsea announced on Friday that they will embark on a tour of the United States for the third year in a row as part of their preparations for the 2024-25 campaign. The dates, venues and the opposition they will face while on tour are yet to be confirmed.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

One of the teams they are expected to come up against is Premier League rivals Manchester City. It was reported recently that the two English giants have agreed to play a match in Columbus, Ohio, while City will go on to pay visits to North Carolina, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Maryland and Chicago.

DID YOU KNOW?

Those two will not be the only English top-flight teams to travel around the North American nation during the summer period. Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are all set to play matches there, too, with the Gunners coming up against the Red Devils at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on July 27. Arsenal and Liverpool will then meet on July 31 in Philadelphia before the Reds meet United in South Carolina in August.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

Before they embark on their trip across the Atlantic Ocean, Chelsea will hope for a strong finish to the Premier League campaign. Mauricio Pochettino's team are currently 11th in the table and come up against Brentford in the league this weekend.

Essex came crashing down to earth after a run of four consecutive Yorkshire Bank 40 victories as Derbyshire romped to a 63-run win with 41 balls to spare in a record-breaking Group B match at Leek.

09-Jun-2013
ScorecardShivnarine Chanderpaul provided a solid foundation for Derbyshire•Getty ImagesEssex came crashing down to earth after a run of four consecutive YorkshireBank 40 victories as Derbyshire romped to a 63-run win with 41 balls to spare ina record-breaking Group B match at Leek.Derbyshire’s total of 321 for 5 was their best ever in a 40-over game and wasthe highest score Essex had conceded in one-day cricket.Shivnarine Chanderpaul made an unbeaten 85, Wes Durston hammered 71 from 46balls and 21-year-old Staffordshire-born allrounder Alex Hughes made his firstsenior half century with 59 not out from 36 balls.Mark Pettini replied with 88 from 68 balls but Essex came up well short whenthey were bowled out for 258 in a game which contained 20 sixes with Hughestaking 3 for 56.Derbyshire’s batsmen turned up the heat in the Staffordshire sunshine from thestart with Chesney Hughes hitting the opening three deliveries from TimPhillips for four. Although David Masters trapped him lbw in the third over, Durston drove theseamer for two sixes and pulled Sajid Mahmood for another six as he raced to a34 ball fifty which also contained seven fours.The 100 came up in the 12th over and, although Durston was bowled trying topull Mahmood, Chanderpaul and Wayne Madsen kept Derbyshire on course for a bigtotal by adding 78 in 10 overs.Chanderpaul straight drove Phillips for six and pulled a Tom Westley full tossfor another and although Madsen got a leading edge to mid-off after a run a ball33, Hughes launched an explosive assault on the Essex bowlers in the last 10overs.He pulled and drove Masters for two sixes and two fours in an over which cost21 on his way to a 32 ball half-century and he ended the innings by drivingGraham Napier over long-off and into the trees for his third six.It left Napier with bruised figures of 1 for 76 from eight overs, his mostexpensive for Essex, five days after his 7 for 32 and four wickets in fourballs against Surrey.It was an impressive display of controlled hitting from Hughes whose stand withChanderpaul was worth 102 in 10 overs and left Essex chasing a formidable target,even on a small ground. Hamish Rutherford launched the chase by driving Durston for six but the New Zealand opener was caught behind trying to cut Mark Turner and Westley chipped the paceman to midwicket in his next over.Pettini was dropped by wicketkeeper Richard Johnson on 18 and he and OwaisShah took the score to 101 before Tim Groenewald had Shah lbw for 24 in the 15thover.He struck an even bigger blow in his next over when Ryan ten Doeschate playedacross the line and was lbw for 6 and when James Foster was caught a long leg,Essex were 130 for 5.Napier threatened to turn the game with four sixes in his 16 ball 38 until hecarved Mark Footitt to mid-off and after, Pettini drove Alex Hughes to mid-off as well,it was left to Phillips to strike some defiant blows before Hughes rounded off amemorable day by claiming the last wicket.

Phillip Hughes is determined to play his own way against Sri Lanka, having learnt that even the best-intentioned coaching advice can lead to muddled thoughts and meagre scores

Daniel Brettig in Colombo24-Aug-2011Phillip Hughes is determined to play his own way against Sri Lanka, having learnt that even the best-intentioned coaching advice can lead to muddled thoughts and meagre scores.As he prepares to partner Shane Watson following the traumatic removal of Simon Katich from the list of Cricket Australia contracts, Hughes is honing more or less the same technique he took into his debut against South Africa in early 2009.That series, in which Hughes topped the Australian aggregates and blazed two centuries to help a young side to an unexpected series win, did not dissuade observers from tinkering with the idiosyncratic technique that reaped those rewards.He has cut a more orthodox but less-convincing figure at the international batting crease ever since, starting with the Ashes series later that year in which a couple of hot spells from Andrew Flintoff were enough to see Hughes jettisoned after only two Tests.”Through that time there were a lot of people who came in to try to give advice, but I just had to go back to my game and play the way I’ve always played,” Hughes said. “I might’ve gone off it a little bit, but that’s all part of learning and the experience of it all. There are things I’m going to have to tinker with, with my technique, but as a whole I’ll keep it how I’ve always played.”During the last Ashes series Hughes was chosen to replace the injured Katich, and retained for three Tests, when clearly short of runs and confidence. Picked when he should have been dropped, and dropped when he should have been picked, Hughes sought solace in the advice of his first mentor, Neil D’Costa, who is now employed at a cricket academy in Nagpur.”I worked even harder in the nets – the Ashes series was disappointing, so I went back and just worked harder and Neil D’Costa flew from India back to Australia and we spent time together,” Hughes said. “We got down to the nets basically every day for two weeks, a couple hours a day, worked as hard as I’ve ever worked, and things turned around.”I hadn’t seen Neil for a fair few months – he’d been in India – and it was just good to have someone there who’s been there [for me] the whole way; [and for me to] to come back to Australia and work as hard as possible with Neil. He knows my game quite well now and he’s been coach/mentor the last five or six years for me, so getting back was good and beneficial.”The balance seems finally to have been redressed ahead of the Test series between Australia and Sri Lanka, for Hughes enters the tour having carved out a handsome tally of runs for New South Wales and Australia A since the Ashes. Reflecting on the last summer, Hughes agreed he might have been helped by more runs behind him when he walked out to bat in the third Test in Perth.”It would’ve been better, but I was excited when I did get selected, and to play the last three Ashes Tests was a huge thrill, but also disappointing … it would’ve been nice to get more runs, no doubt about that,” Hughes said. “I wasn’t in the best form then, I was in better form towards the back-end of the season, but that’s cricket; especially opening the batting you knick off a few times and you get a few starts and you want to make those into big scores. It wasn’t to be in the Ashes series.”While extremely angry about the manner of his exit, Katich bore no ill-will towards Hughes, and the pair remain on good terms in a relationship that began when the younger batsman was a teenager in the NSW squad.”My debut game for Australia [in South Africa] was with Simon, and I’ll always remember the time Simon gave me back in NSW when I was only 17-18, going into the squad and what he did personally for me,” Hughes said. “I did [feel sorry for him], that was a while ago now, decisions that people have got to make, and I’m not one of those, I’ve just got to control what I can control, but it was disappointing and I was feeling for Simon at the time.”Sorrow for Katich had been preceded by some shock, for Hughes had fully expected Katich to regain his place at the top of the batting order following an Achilles injury. He publicly stated that his goal was to be the reserve batsman on tour.”I’ve said that for the last couple of years when I got dropped,” Hughes said. “I’ve always wanted to be that spare batsman on tour and be that next guy in. I’ve been lucky enough the last couple of years on tour to be that spare batsman, and now comes the opportunity I’ve always wanted. [After] getting dropped I’d get itchier and more keen to get back in there, knowing I’ve had a taste of Test cricket.”That hunger will now be sated, although in conditions far removed from anything Hughes has encountered at Test level before. He has spoken a lot to Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and the assistant coach Justin Langer about handling spin, seeking out the kind of advice that will help, not hinder, his latest tilt at international batsmanship.”I’ve played on the subcontinent before but not for Australia. I’ve been to India a lot but it’s different – it’s Test cricket, and it’s going to be tough, we all know that,” Hughes said. “But that’s why we’ve got guys like Pup [Clarke] and Punter [Ponting] in our team.”They faced spin bowling beautifully in the one-day games so I’ve spoken to them as much as possible … but it’s about getting out there and doing the work. I’m a huge fan of Justin, he’s a great coach, so I’ll just go out and do as much work as possible, and hopefully it pays off.”

Ireland captain Will Porterfield carried reigning north group champions Warwickshire to a five-wicket win

02-Jun-2011
ScorecardIreland captain Will Porterfield carried reigning north group champions Warwickshire to a five-wicket win in their opening Friends Life t20 match against Durham at Chester-le-Street.On a glorious evening the left-hander repeated his demolition of the Durham attack in a Clydesdale Bank 40 league match at Edgbaston 12 days ago. He scored 80 in that match as Warwickshire cruised past a total of 286 for 3 and this time he made 83 off 53 balls before being run out with the scores level on 151 and two overs left.Warwickshire’s other star was 22-year-old medium pacer Steffan Piolet, who took 2 for 19 in four overs. He put the brake on Durham after they were put in and Phil Mustard and Gordon Muchall had 55 on the board after six overs. In the end the hosts were indebted to Ian Blackwell’s unbeaten 46 off 32 balls for a total of 151 for 3.Paul Collingwood faced three successive dot balls from Piolet and made only 7 off 10 balls before driving Darren Maddy to long-on on his return following his knee operation. Piolet kept the ball well up and had Muchall caught at long-off for 35 off 27 balls before Mustard skied a catch to mid-off. The wicketkeeper had been unable to accelerate in making 38 off 39 balls.Blackwell hit two sixes but he was also kept in check at the end of the innings, with Neil Carter conceding only three runs off the 19th over.Porterfield had the luxury of going to the crease in the second over after Carter had already hit two sixes in his first appearance of the season. He made 18 off eight balls before lobbing a reverse paddle to short third man. Although he received little support, Porterfield kept Warwickshire ahead of the clock as he raced to 50 off 30 balls, driving sixes off Mitchell Claydon and Collingwood.Collingwood’s first over cost only five and judging by the time it took the third umpire to decide Porterfield had not been stumped on 35 it must have been close. But there was no further tension, even when the third umpire was called upon again to decide that Porterfield had been run out when he set off for the winning single and Rikki Clarke sent him back. Clarke made sure of victory by driving the next ball for four past mid-off.

Against Zimbabwe, he had played a tremendous innings before falling at the final hurdle; but in Mirpur, he finished things off with a thumping six

Mohammad Isam11-Oct-2011Very few men get a shot at redemption within just two months of a disappointment. Virender Sehwag needed four years and 175 runs to restore his pride against Bangladesh while Jason Gillespie had to wait a year and look to his batting to provide salvation. Sehwag had been dismissed for 2 in India’s loss to Bangladesh in the 2007 World Cup, which ended up eliminating them from the tournament, so his swashbuckling hundred in Mirpur in the 2011 edition was revenge of sorts. Gillespie had been hit for a six in the last over of Australia’s embarrassing loss to Bangladesh in Cardiff, in 2005, so he would have felt glad that his first double-century, which came in his last Test, in Chittagong, was against the same opponents.It is hard to find cases where a Bangladesh player has achieved similar redemption. There are very few shots at glory and the propensity of the board to drop those who flounder under pressure means comeback-stories are a rarity.Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh’s new captain, was lucky to be presented with a similar situation to the one he bungled up in Harare in August. This time, he finished the job in style, hammering the penultimate delivery of the Twenty20 international against West Indies high into the stands at midwicket.In Harare, Mushfiqur had fallen at the final hurdle after playing a tremendous knock. Not many Bangladesh batsman can guide the side through a stuttering innings with the ease with which Mushfiqur did in that game. He knocked around the ones and twos and pulled out the big hits when necessary during his 101, and could have kept Bangladesh alive in the series against Zimbabwe. However, with six runs needed off five balls, he skied one to long-on and was the last man dismissed, giving Zimbabwe the win.At the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday evening, it was a similar situation though the conditions were warmer and the crowd larger. Mushfiqur walked in after Bangladesh had lost three wickets for three runs after a brisk start to their chase of 133. The added burden of being captain must have weighed heavily on the 23-year-old, who is known to take personal failure very seriously.He hammered the ones and twos this time, given that it was a Twenty20, and only launched into a big hit after he found confidence in Nasir Hossain as an able partner. With 13 to win off nine balls, Mushfiqur guided one between short third-man and the wicketkeeper for four. The calmness with which he played that shot bore no shadow of the ghastly form he endured during this year’s World Cup. There were calls for his head, especially when one of his competitors for the wicketkeeper’s slot, Dhiman Ghosh, struck a few hundreds in first-class cricket, but Mushfiqur was persisted with.His latest resurrection began against Australia, when he hit 81 not out in the second ODI but his effort was overshadowed by Shane Watson’s 185 off 96 balls later that afternoon. This time though, no giant could eclipse the Mighty Atom who started celebrating the victory even before the ball had crossed the rope.Mushfiqur’s 26-ball 41 was the key to Bangladesh’s second Twenty20 win over West Indies but what was also significant was that the recently sacked captain Shakib Al Hasan and vice-captain Tamim Iqbal both remained heavily involved in Bangladesh’s performance. Shakib and Tamim combined to give Bangladesh their first dismissal of the match, that of Adrian Barath. Shakib continued to impress as a Twenty20 bowler while Tamim was energetic in the outfield.With Shakib’s every move being cheered by the capacity crowd, Mushfiqur used his key bowler cleverly, spacing out his four overs. Mushfiqur remained busy in the field and only looked slightly flustered when Marlon Samuels started attacking the bowlers, pounding sixes at will. The short spells Mushfiqur used his best bowlers in suggested he had a plan despite Bangladesh’s lack of Twenty20 experience. And after his bowlers had done half the job, he completed it himself.

Mohammad Ashraful has been dropped from the Bangladesh squad for the second Test against Pakistan, which begins on December 17

Mohammad Isam15-Dec-2011Mohammad Ashraful has been dropped from the Bangladesh squad for the second Test against Pakistan, which begins on December 17. The decision follows Ashraful’s poor showing in the Chittagong Test, where he lasted fourteen balls in two innings.Shafiul Islam, meanwhile, returns to the national setup, after being ignored for the first Test. He had missed out on the West Indies Tests in October-November, because of a foot injury.There was confusion surrounding Bangladesh’s squad for the second Test, with regards to the status of Ashraful. He had checked into the team hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday and was among the fourteen players who practiced at the Shere Bangla Stadium on Thursday morning. Also, coach Stuart Law had said Ashraful was, to his knowledge, part of the squad.However, the selection panel’s list, which was yet to be approved by BCB president AHM Mustafa Kamal as is mandatory, did not include Ashraful’s name. Eventually, Kamal approved the squad on returning to Dhaka after the ACC meeting in Singapore late on Thursday evening, but the delay raised questions of professionalism.The amount of time the coaching staff spent working on Ashraful during the training session, and Law’s statements, served to add to the confusion. “As far as I know, he [Ashraful] is in the squad,” Law said. “That’s why he’s here at practice. We haven’t been told anything different. Maybe it is speculation, that sort of thing goes on in this part of the world.”Later on Thursday, the BCB’s cricket operations committee asked Ashraful to leave the hotel while he was signing up with a new club for the Dhaka Premier League on the last day of the inter-club transfers. Shafiul Islam arrived at the hotel in the evening from Bogra, his hometown. The coaching staff wasn’t informed of the switch and got to know of it only after it was reported on television channels and news websites.Squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), Mahmudullah (vice-capt), Tamim Iqbal, Nazimuddin, Shahriar Nafees, Shakib Al Hasan, Naeem Islam, Nasir Hossain, Elias Sunny, Shahadat Hossain, Sohrawardi Shuvo, Robiul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Shafiul Islam.