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Ramesh Saxena, the former India batsman, has died of a brain haemorrhage, in Jamshedpur at the age of 66

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Aug-2011Ramesh Saxena, the former India batsman, has died of a brain haemorrhage, in Jamshedpur at the age of 66. Saxena, who played one Test for India, in 1967, was serving as the secretary of the Bihar Jharkhand Cricket Association.A teenage prodigy, Saxena began his first-class career with a century for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy at the age of just 16. He was a stalwart for Delhi for many years, and earned a call-up to the India side for the 1967 tour of England. He scored 238 runs on the tour but got scores of 16 and 9 in the only Test he played, at Headingley. He also toured Australia and New Zealand in 1967-68 but never played another Test.He played 149 first-class matches, scoring 8155 runs with 17 centuries.Former India cricketer Abbas Ali Baig described Saxena as an “an extremely elegant stroke player”. “He played only one Test,” Baig told the , “and that does not really reflect the quality of his batsmanship.”Bihar state-mate Daljit Singh said Saxena knew “almost instinctively when to step out and when to stay back in the crease”. “Players from smaller Ranji sides hardly got a look-in then,” Singh said. “If he had turned out for a bigger team, he might have played for at least 10 years for India.”

Cayman Islands completed a five-wicket win against Argentina on the reserve day in Pianoro

Cricinfo staff16-Aug-2010Cayman Islands completed a five-wicket win against Argentina in Pianoro on the reserve day, following an abandonment on Sunday because of rain.Lucas Paterlini was bowled by Marlon Bryan•International Cricket Council

Argentina’s batsmen struggled to get going after they were sent in and wickets fell at regular intervals. Opener Pablo Ferguson, who toiled for 121 balls for 37, was one of only two batsmen to pass 30. The other was Gary Savage, whose 33 was brisker, coming off 45 balls. The others failed to contribute substantially and Argentina were restricted to 160 for 8 in 50 overs. Conroy Wright and Ryan Bovell took two wickets each for Cayman Islands but it was Marlon Bryan who had best figures of 3 for 32.Cayman Islands’ chase of a modest target got off to a horrific start with both openers falling for first-ball ducks. The innings was floundering at 4 for 2 when Pearson Best launched a brazen counterattack, clobbering 55 off 32 balls, an innings that included three sixes and seven fours. By the time he fell, bowled by Diego Lord, Cayman Islands had scored 64 in ten overs and the chase was back on track. Two more wickets fell, reducing the innings to 95 for 5, but Bovell chipped in with the bat as well, scoring an unbeaten 53. He was supported by Ronald Ebanks, who made 30 not out, as Cayman Islands reached the target with 102 balls to spare.”It was great to secure our first win today and against a side we know well in the form of Argentina. We played them in the ICC Americas tournament in Bermuda recently and lost so it was good to be victorious on this occasion,” said Bovell. “I think we played good disciplined cricket and stayed focused on our game plan and ended up executing it well. We now need to maintain the momentum of today’s win into tomorrow’s fixture against the USA.”

Jake Lehmann’s 11th first-class century wasn’t enough to get New South Wales to bat again

AAP16-Nov-2024Former Test quick Jackson Bird has dismantled South Australia with 11 wickets to power New South Wales to a thumping Sheffield Shield win by an innings and one run.After claiming seven first-innings wickets to skittle the hosts for 110, Bird was a handful again with a four-wicket haul in the second innings at the Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide.Despite the best efforts of Jake Lehmann, who scored his 11th first-class century, South Australia were unable to do enough to make NSW bat again.Allrounder Jack Edwards (4-41) helped Bird clean up the tail as SA were dismissed for 283 in their second innings on Saturday. NSW only needed to take nine wickets, with South Australia quick Nathan McAndrew hurt and unable to bat a second time.It was the sixth 10-wicket match haul for Bird in a long and winding first-class career.Bird’s previous five-wicket haul before he rocked South Australia on Thursday was back in March 2021, when he bagged 7-18 against the Blues while playing for Tasmania.South Australia entered the match after beating NSW in the one-day cup match on Tuesday, and were previously undefeated in the Shield. But without Test keeper Alex Carey, who is preparing for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, SA suffered a major reality check in losing inside three days to a team on the rise.Former Test batter Kurtis Patterson struck 71 for NSW as they made 394 to claim a first-innings lead of 284.Dropped from NSW’s Sheffield Shield side for most of last summer and fearing his career could be over, Patterson made it three straight half-centuries.

Trent Boult had reduced hosts to 8 for 3, before Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali and Sam Curran also joined the rescue act

Matt Roller10-Sep-2023Liam Livingstone’s 95 not out rescued England and set up a series-squaring victory over New Zealand at the Ageas Bowl. His highest ODI score enabled England to set New Zealand 227 to win in a match reduced to 34 overs a side by rain. And despite Daryl Mitchell’s 57, the visitors fell a long way short after a lower-order implosion.Trent Boult marked his return to New Zealand colours by taking three early wickets in eight balls in his 100th ODI to leave England 8 for 3 in helpful bowling conditions. And by the time Livingstone walked out at No. 7, they had further slipped to 55 for 5 and were facing a fourth consecutive white-ball defeat.But in partnerships with Moeen Ali and Sam Curran – worth 48 and 112, respectively – Livingstone dragged England up to a competitive total. He started steadily before isolating Tim Southee as the weak link in New Zealand’s attack: Livingstone carted him for six boundaries in 17 balls, and the only surprise was that he could not jump from 91 to three figures off the final two.”I haven’t had the greatest couple of months,” Livingstone reflected. “Unfortunately, there’s a reason why there’s not many lower-order hitters that have mastered the art of the game: it’s a pretty difficult role to do. If you get on a roll, it’s pretty nice, but if you get yourself in a bit of a rut, it’s quite hard to get out of. It’s probably the first time in my career where I’ve had two months of struggling so I’ve put in a lot of work behind the scenes to try and go back to knowing what I can do – and that’s win games for England.”Despite his patchy form this summer, Livingstone’s all-round ability and superb IPL record means there has never been any real doubt of his spot in England’s World Cup squad. With two contrasting half-centuries in three days, he has emphatically proved why. This was his longest innings in international cricket, and his highest in a win.New Zealand lost Finn Allen to the second ball of their chase, castled by David Willey, but looked on course at 111 for 3, with Mitchell in dominant mood. But Reece Topley took three wickets in eight balls in his second spell to finish with 3 for 27, as New Zealand imploded, losing their last seven wickets for 36.Sam Curran added 112 with Liam Livingstone•Getty Images

Boult, playing international cricket for the first time since last year’s T20 World Cup, did the early damage. His New Zealand career has been on hold since late last year after he negotiated a release from his central contract in order to maximise his availability for franchise leagues around the world, but New Zealand were always likely to welcome him back ahead of next month’s World Cup, and his new-ball spell demonstrated why.He struck with his seventh ball, as Jonny Bairstow’s leading edge spooned up towards cover where Mitchell Santner took a spectacular catch, nailing the timing of his leap. Joe Root lasted two balls, smashed on the knee roll by an inswinger, and Ben Stokes gave Boult the charge only to loft to mid-off.In the absence of Jason Roy (back spasm) and Dawid Malan (paternity leave), Harry Brook was again given the opportunity to open the batting, but he fell immediately after a shortened powerplay. Brook looked to swing Matt Henry over the infield, but his leading edge looped up to the back-pedalling mid-on fielder.Jos Buttler then led the counterpunch, flaying Boult down the ground for three boundaries in four balls, but fell for 30 off 25 when he chopped Santner’s drag-down onto his own stumps. As with Bairstow and Brook, Buttler’s dismissal hinted at a slowish surface, with several balls sticking in the pitch.When Livingstone walked out at No. 7 to join Moeen, England had more than 20 overs left to bat. The pair added 48 in 50 balls, starting watchfully before occasionally freeing their arms when New Zealand offered width. Moeen fell for 33 to a brilliant diving catch at point by Glenn Phillips, at which point Livingstone decided it was time to shift gears.Daryl Mitchell kept New Zealand ticking, before giving Moeen Ali his 100th ODI wicket•AFP/Getty Images

Livingstone targeted Southee, hitting 17 runs off an over – including three boundaries in four balls; by the time he brought up a 47-ball half-century, his second in three days, he had already played his longest innings for England. At the far end, Curran, playing his first game since the Hundred final, belted both left-arm spinners – Santner and Rachin Ravindra – for sixes.The pair brought up a 100-run partnership at the end of the 32nd over when Livingstone swiped Henry’s slower ball into the stands for his first six. Curran fell shovelling Southee to short third, and after Mitchell trod on the boundary toblerone while attempting a catch off Willey at long-off, Livingstone could only heave the final two balls for a brace of twos.Allen, who will not feature in the provisional World Cup squad that New Zealand name tomorrow, survived an lbw review off the first ball of the chase but was castled on the second by Willey, even as Gus Atkinson bowled a bright first spell to keep England ahead of the game. He had Devon Conway caught behind, before Will Young was lazily run-out as Willey pounced at mid-off.Mitchell kept New Zealand ticking, adding 56 with Tom Latham, but Topley’s second spell changed the game. Latham chased a wide one before Phillips fell to a stunning caught-and-bowled, and Ravindra edged his second ball to slip. From 123 for 6, it was Mitchell or bust.Having hoisted Moeen over long-off for six, Mitchell miscued a full toss to mid-off to give Moeen his 100th ODI wicket; he soon had his 101st too, as Santner sliced to point. Willey mopped up the tail to finish with three wickets of his own, to leave England basking in the early-evening sunshine.

Record opening stand between James Vince and Ben McDermott sets platform for victory

ECB Reporters Network04-Jun-2022.James Vince and Ben McDermott captured a new club record as Hampshire Hawks beat Sussex Sharks by 22 runs to finally taste victory in this season’s Vitality Blast.Vince and McDermott, who smashed 65 and 60 respectively, put on 124 together to break Hawks’ best T20 opening stand and set up a mammoth total of 199 for 6. Tim Seifert hit a sublime 100 not out, and put on 69 with Delray Rawlins, in an otherwise slack Sharks chase as they never controlled the required rate.Hawks had lost their first four matches but jump off the bottom of the South Group, while Sussex remain fourth after three wins and three defeats.A switch appeared to have flicked with Hampshire after their poor start to the tournament, with aggression channeled into ground strikes rather than chasing sixes. Vince showcased this by beautifully caressing the first ball of the match through the covers, having been put in.It was just one of a range of classic Vince strokeplay which gave the hosts a rocket of a start. At the other end, McDermott got off the mark with a huge straight six with his more brutal style. That was the first of five maximums from the Australian, with a scoop the outlier from straight and midwicket hits.Vince, who moved up the order having batted at No. 3 previously in the Blast this year, reached his first half-century of the season off his 33rd delivery, before McDermott followed him four balls quicker.Their stand passed Hampshire’s previous best opening stand of 122 – set by Michael Carberry and Mitchell Stokes against Middlesex in 2006 – but two runs later it was ended when Henry Crocombe bowled Vince. It was the young fast bowler’s first of three wickets in an impressive outing.That started Sharks’ middle-order fightback as Hampshire lost four wickets for 23 runs. Sussex’s brilliant catching was a key reason for the momentum shift; a boundary juggle from Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Obed McCoy’s spectacular flying catch made up for some otherwise below-par ground fielding.Hampshire accelerated towards the end thanks to Toby Albert’s inventiveness and Liam Dawson’s late swinging to reach their highest Ageas Bowl total since they smashed 202 in 2013.Sussex’s chase never got going. Hawks were patient before they made their breakthrough in the fourth over when Luke Wright spliced to mid-on before Ali Orr skied to keeper McDermott in the following over.Hudson-Prentice laboured to eight from 14 balls before he top-edged James Fuller. As a point of comparison, Hampshire were 98 without loss at the 10 over stage, the Sharks were 59 for 3 and statistically given a 1% chance of winning.Ravi Bopara holed out but Seifert and Rawlins had fun with their 50-stand coming in 24 balls, with the New Zealander plundering a personal half-century in 36 deliveries. Rawlins was run out and Harrison Ward castled either side of a short rain delay. With the game already lost, Seifert plundered three straight sixes in the final over to collect his second T20 century off 55 balls.

Allrounder declares himself ready to play his first Test in 18 months after waiting ‘long enough’

Valkerie Baynes30-Jan-2021Eighteen months since playing his last Test, Moeen Ali feels he has so much more to achieve, including passing the 200-wicket milestone.Back in Chennai, where he scored the last of his five Test centuries with 146 in England’s innings defeat as India won their series 4-0 in 2016, Moeen said that a sense of unfinished business with the red ball was now a driving force.”That is my biggest motivation really,” said Moeen, who has 181 Test wickets. “I still feel I’ve got wickets and runs in me and match-winning performances within me. I have little targets I want to achieve first. I am not too far away from getting 200 wickets. I know people say they don’t look at these things but it would be something I would look at. Then I would set another target after that.”Related

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So much has happened since Moeen was dropped after one Test in the 2019 Ashes. Some of it he would have imagined when it sparked his decision to take an extended break from the long-form game, some of it he never would have seen coming, like becoming infected with Covid-19 and spending 13 days in isolation in Sri Lanka, watching England win both Tests from the sidelines.But perhaps what he did envisage, if opting out was to have the desired effect, was returning with no regrets and a renewed appetite for Test cricket.”At the time I felt I needed it,” Moeen said via Zoom. “I wanted to see if I missed it and if I yearned to play it again. At the time I was playing so much cricket – and I’d been dropped – I thought it was a chance to take a step back. And I enjoyed it, played a few leagues around the world – but ultimately it was Test cricket that I missed and I felt like I could still do quite well in.”The one thing I did learn is that when you’re playing Test cricket, you’re on top of your game in terms of your batting and bowling, your technique. I don’t think it’s great when you’re just playing white-ball, red-ball is very important for staying on top of your game.”Moeen emerged from isolation midway through England’s first Test in Sri Lanka and, after an initial period of easing back into physical activity under close monitoring, he has returned to full training. According to Chris Silverwood, England’s head coach, he is under consideration to earn a recall for the first Test against India, starting on Friday.Dom Bess and Jack Leach, England’s spinners in Sri Lanka, both claimed five-wicket hauls in the first Test without bowling at their best and took four wickets apiece in the second Test after going wicketless in the first innings. Moeen believed he would have completed a three-pronged spin attack in Sri Lanka had he not fallen ill and he has declared himself ready to go if called upon in India.”I think I’m fine,” said Moeen. “Whether or not I get picked is another matter. Bessy and Leachy I thought did quite well in Sri Lanka and are coming off some good performances. In terms of being ready to play, I think I’ll be fine to play, I’ll be ready. I’ve waited long enough.”During his long wait, Moeen has spent time on his batting and, having scored another century on that 2016 tour of India with a Player-of-the-Match performance in the drawn first Test, he has some fond memories to reprise.”I’ve been working hard with the guys in Sri Lanka and prior to that I was training quite a bit to improve my batting and tweak a few things technically,” he said. “It is usually a good wicket to bat and bowl on, even though they got 700 last time. I feel quite good and I’m just ready to go out and perform.”Returning for India will be Virat Kohli, their captain and Moeen’s IPL team-mate at Royal Challengers Bangalore, who missed the last three Tests of India’s triumphant tour of Australia.”How do we get him out? He’s obviously an amazing player, world class, he’s very motivated to do well and I’m sure he’ll be even more motivated after they did well in Australia and he had to leave for the birth of his child,” Moeen said. “I don’t know how we’re going to get him out [specifically] because I don’t think he has any sort of weakness but we have a good bowling attack, some pace in the line-up.”He’s a great guy and a good friend of mine – we don’t talk too much about cricket. We do a little bit but not too much.”Moeen would have been scheduled to be rested for part of the India series under the ECB’s policy of resting multi-format players over the winter. Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes missed the Sri Lanka leg of their Asian tour and Jonny Bairstow, Mark Wood and Sam Curran will miss the first two India Tests, with Jos Buttler heading home after the first Test. Talks are ongoing between Moeen and team management about whether he will be rested at some stage during the India tour, given the length of time he will have spent away from home and the fact that he missed the Sri Lanka series through illness.” I’ve been speaking to the selectors and the coaches,” Moeen said. “They’ve picked the squad for the first two games and it all depends where I’m at really. I think I’m due to go home at some stage during the 3rd and 4th (Tests) but we’re not 100 percent sure yet. If I’m playing and doing well, then things could change.”It has felt like a long tour already so far but once you start playing and things gets better and you’re in a better frame of mind then we’ll see. At the moment I’m here for the first two games and depending on how things go, there’s a chance I’ll be going home after that.”Archer, Stokes and Rory Burns arrived in India while England were still in Sri Lanka and so were the first to complete their stints in quarantine, training outdoors together for the first time on Saturday.

The 16-year-old is one of the most highly-rated young players in Australia. She showed why on the WBBL’s opening night

Andrew McGlashan19-Oct-2019The past, present and most definitely the future of the Australian cricket team was on display at North Sydney Oval on Friday.Alex Blackwell, who was capped 251 times by her country, padded up for another WBBL season and struck 56 off 38 balls. Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy, two stars of the current world-beating Australia side, did what they often do and sent the ball to all parts.And then there was a 16-year-old on debut who will, probably sooner rather than later, be part of that Australia team.Phoebe Litchfield only lasted 22 balls, but played out in front of a worldwide TV audience the innings went to reinforce why she has been talked about as one of the most talented players of the next generation.Earlier this year, a video posted on Twitter by New South Wales of Litchfield batting the nets went around the world. “I sort of didn’t know at the time,” Litchfield told ESPNcricinfo. “I thought they were just videoing our whole squad and then my friend was like ‘nice video’ and I was confused at the start, but it’s got a lot of views which puts on a bit of pressure on.”There was only a few days to get her head around a WBBL contract. “The nerves sort of climbed from there to the first ball,” she said.Pressure, and expectation, it appears are things Litchfield is able to take in her stride. On Friday, against a star-studded Sydney Sixers side, and walking in with her team 3 for 25, key internationals Rachel Priest and Rachael Haynes dismissed, she showed her range of strokes with a flick over midwicket followed by a deft scoop over fine leg. “I guess I go where there’s no fielders. It was on, so I went for it,” was her matter-of-fact response.It was an attempt at a repeat that saw her go lbw, but even the dismissal was significant as the wicket-taker was fellow 16-year-old Hayley Silver-Holmes.”To see such class from a 16-year-old is really impressive,” Alyssa Healy said. “That’s what’s so great about this competition, these young girls are getting opportunities.”Litchfield has already had plenty of representative honours, selected for a Governer’s General XI, touring with Australia U-19s, and a few weeks ago playing for a Cricket Australia XI against the Sri Lankans. Her WBBL debut, on a landmark night for the competition, was another milestone.”I aspired to be in the Big Bash and now I’m playing in it, so it’s a great experienced and I’m just happy to be here,” she said. “It was crazy and felt like a dream. It was a great experience, having [Alex Blackwell] out there made me a bit more calm which was nice. It’s a very good spot to watch, at the other end, Alex go at it.”There is both excitement and a degree of caution within the Thunder camp – not wanting to overwhelm Litchfield early in her career – but also an acknowledgement that her maturity stands her in good stead.There are more shots in the locker, too, with Litchfield having a 360-degree game with parts of hockey, the other sport she plays at representative level, playing a part.”I have to play hockey right-handed so it took me a while to get good at that. I didn’t do a reverse sweep today, but the reverse comes out and that’s sort of a hockey shot,” she said.She is part of the Australia Under-16 hockey side and at the moment is pleased to be able to split her focus between two sports. She knows a decision looms at some point in the future but it is not something that has been discussed yet and the Thunder coach Trevor Griffin sees it as strength that Litchfield has another focus in her life to retain a balance.”I like having the off-season to get my head off cricket, it’s a nice fitness booster and I think if played cricket all year I’d probably get sick of it, so it’s nice to switch over,” Litchfield said. “Most likely [I will have to choose] because the season is getting bigger and bigger and there’s lots of competitions around the world, but I’m not thinking about that soon. If cricket asks me to stop, I’ll stop, but for now I’ll keep playing both.”

No date set for his return; uncapped legspinner Shaun von Berg could be in the mix for a debut in the second Test starting Friday

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jul-2018Tabraiz Shamsi, the left-arm wristspinner, has left South Africa’s tour of Sri Lanka for family reasons. No date has been set for his return.Shamsi took four wickets in his first red-ball Test in Galle last week, which South Africa lost by 278 runs. In the first innings, Shamsi outbowled Keshav Maharaj, the left-arm orthodox, who had been ill in the build up to the Test and subsequently went wicketless. Maharaj found his rhythm as the match progressed and picked up four second-innings wickets.Galle was the first time since their tour of India in November 2015 that South Africa played two specialist spinners in their XI. With conditions likely to remain spinner-friendly, there is a likelihood that they could keep a similar combination for the second Test starting Friday.Should Shamsi not return in time, uncapped legspinner Shaun von Berg could make his Test debut at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.

Karn Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah picked up their best T20 bowling figures, combining to take 7 for 23 in seven overs to lift Mumbai Indians into their fourth IPL final

The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy19-May-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details4:11

Tait: Bumrah is consistent and unstoppable

Legspinner Karn Sharma and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah picked up their best T20 bowling figures on the same day, combining to take 7 for 23 in seven overs to lift Mumbai Indians into their fourth IPL final with a six-wicket win against Kolkata Knight Riders.Sent in to bat on another difficult Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch, Knight Riders succumbed against excellent bowling plans to slump to 31 for 5 in seven overs. A 56-run sixth-wicket partnership between Suryakumar Yadav and Ishank Jaggi ensured they would get past their lowest total – 67, against the same opponents in 2008 – but their total of 107 was never going to present Mumbai a genuine challenge.Mumbai lost three wickets inside their Powerplay, before Krunal Pandya and Rohit Sharma steadied the chase with a 54-run stand. Krunal was unbeaten on 45 off 30 balls as Mumbai got home with 33 balls to spare.Bumrah, Karn demolish top order
Mumbai are among the best teams in the IPL at drawing up strategies against individual players. They proved this in the Powerplay.Bumrah had not taken the new ball this season, but he did so today. There seemed to be a reason for this – his exaggerated angle into the right-hander and the bit of extra bounce off his high-arm action can make it hard to hit down the ground. Down the ground is Chris Lynn’s go-to area, and even the presence of a fielder at long-on did not deter him – he only managed to pick him out, though, making contact with the ball off the high part of his bat.The exaggerated inward angle also did for Robin Uthappa, who has a pronounced tendency to plant his front leg across and play around his front pad. Bumrah, bowling a second over inside the Powerplay for only the third time this season, slipped one in nice and full, beat his inside edge, and pinged his front pad.In between those wickets, Karn took out Sunil Narine. Before this match, Narine had scored the bulk of his runs through mid-off, at a blistering pace: 78 – 36.45% of his 214 this season – off 24 balls. Mumbai had made note of this even in the previous meeting between these sides at Eden Gardens, stationing a man at long-off and getting their quicks to deny him the drive. He fell for a four-ball duck in that game, lofting a back-of-a-length offcutter from Tim Southee to extra-cover.This time, following broadly similar plans, Mitchell Johnson, Bumrah and Lasith Malinga gave him only 10 from seven balls – with six coming off one hit over square leg – before Karn came on to bowl the fifth over. The legspinner made a conscious effort to deny Narine swinging room, bowling at pads instead, and gave up only a leg-bye off two balls before he came back on strike. Frustrated, he ran down the pitch and was stumped slogging at the perfectly-pitched googly.Two more fell in Karn’s next over, the seventh of Knight Riders’ innings. Gambhir picked out deep midwicket and Colin de Grandhomme, camped in his crease to a googly he didn’t pick, was rapped on the back pad. Knight Riders were 31 for 5.A brief and inadequate fightback
Suryakumar and Jaggi stemmed the fall of wickets, but runs continued to trickle. By the end of the 12th over, Knight Riders were only 61 for 5. Then Suryakumar swept Krunal to the square-leg boundary and followed up by lifting him inside-out over extra-cover. Jaggi, who had been scoring at well below a run a ball till that point, also got into the act, whipping Malinga for two leg-side fours in the next over. Knight Riders made 22 off the 13th and 14th overs, but they were taking risks in order to score that quickly. Karn came back to bowl the 15th over, and Jaggi, getting too close to the pitch of the ball, whipped him straight to long-on.There was no real batting to follow, and Knight Riders only added 19 while losing their four remaining wickets, leaving seven balls unused. Johnson picked up two in the 17th over, Bumrah got his third in the 18th, and Malinga finished off the innings with a trademark dipping slower ball in the 19th.Krunal aces Mumbai’s chase
Mumbai only needed one partnership, and they got that courtesy Krunal and Rohit. They lost three wickets before that, though, two to Piyush Chawla. Like Karn, Chawla enjoyed the amount of grip he was getting off the surface; he foxed Lendl Simmons with a googly in the second over, and then bowled Ambati Rayudu after spinning a legbreak past his outside edge. In between, Parthiv Patel, who had hit three fours in racing to 14, top-edged Umesh Yadav to the keeper.Right from the time he walked in, there was a sense of awareness about Krunal’s batting. His first four was a paddle-sweep through the vacant short fine-leg area – Narine had moved that fielder to slip in a bid for wickets. Krunal showed ample signs that he was picking Narine’s variations out of his hand, scoring two fours in the 12th over – a dab to fine third man and a chip over the covers.Rohit pulled Nathan Coulter-Nile straight to deep square leg in the 13th over, but by then Mumbai only needed 20, off 46 balls. They would only need 13 to set up a summit clash against Rising Pune Supergiant.

Test bowlers Peter Siddle and James Pattinson were both among the wickets for Victoria as they restricted Tasmania to 241 despite a maiden first-class century from Beau Webster on the rain-affected opening day of the Sheffield Shield match at the MCG

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Feb-2016
ScorecardPeter Siddle picked up a couple of wickets in the lead up to the Trans Tasman Trophy•Getty Images

Test bowlers Peter Siddle and James Pattinson were both among the wickets for Victoria as they restricted Tasmania to 241 despite a maiden first-class century from Beau Webster on the rain-affected opening day of the Sheffield Shield match at the MCG.Siddle and Pattinson were each playing their first matches since some niggles ruled them out of the Big Bash League and ODI matches that followed the Tests against West Indies, and returns of two wickets each allowed them to regain some rhythm ahead of the looming series in New Zealand.Morning showers meant only 70.3 overs were possible on the day, enough time for the Bushrangers to work their way steadily through the Tigers’ batting order in conditions that afforded some assistance to bowlers.It might have been worse for the visitors if not for strong contributions from 22-year old Webster and 21-year old Ben McDermott. They came to the crease at 4 for 67 and batted with good sense to put on a hundred partnership after their captain Alex Doolan was dismissed in the 22nd over.McDermott stayed on to guide the tail to somewhere near 250 as the day faded out. Victoria’s openers survived two overs before the close for the addition of 10 runs.