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Says she “wasn’t that excited” about the upcoming cricket and is happy to finish off with a Commonwealth gold medal

Andrew McGlashan15-Sep-2022As she called time on her international career, Rachael Haynes reflected on the “sliding doors” moment where her prolific second phase with Australia nearly didn’t happen.After being dropped in 2013 Haynes was struggling to combine playing at domestic level and working and in 2016 seriously considered walking away from the sport. However, less than a year later she was recalled to the Australia side for a tour of New Zealand – with two days’ notice – and the rest his history.Related

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Though she had scored 98 on Test debut against England in 2009 and had enjoyed moments of success in the ODI side – most notably the 2013 World Cup where she made 273 runs at 45.50 – during the first stage of her career she averaged 31.28 compared to 45.07 following the 2017 recall.In T20Is the rise was even more significant, going from an average of 17.15 and strike rate of 99.11 to 33.00 with a strike rate of 126.15.”I honestly thought that perhaps I was going to walk away from the game at that time,” Haynes said speaking outside the SCG. “But I had a lot of people get behind me and support me through that period and give me another chance and it’s changed my life and I’m very grateful.”It’s always tough being dropped from any side as an athlete, because you’re getting told you’re no longer required to do something that you love, so it definitely takes the wind out of your sails. But somewhere along the way, I found my love for the game again and I wanted to give it one last crack.”It was one of those sliding doors moments where there was a couple of injuries at the time in the team and I was in the right place at the right time. And the thing that I was proud of was that I stayed ready for that moment too. I was able to step into it when it did come.”While Haynes believes she could have pushed through to next year’s T20 World Cup in South Africa where Australia will defend the title, it was a feeling that she had lost a little of the drive that typified her comeback tale that made her feel it was the right time to retire.”I had the opportunity to pause and reflect after Commonwealth Games. Looking ahead, knowing it’s a lot of cricket coming up and probably the thing that stood out for me was that I wasn’t that excited about getting ready and that’s probably the first time in my career that I felt like that,” she said.Rachael Haynes won the ODI World Cup and the Commonwealth gold in her farewell year•ICC via Getty

“I recognised that maybe it was a sign to step away. Perhaps I could have gone on and made it through to the T20 World Cup, but I suppose knowing how I was feeling, I didn’t think it was the right thing to do. In a lot of ways, it’s nice to walk away on my own terms with the experiences of success that I have. I’m very fortunate and to finish off with a gold medal is very special.”When asked to single out her best innings Haynes went for the half-century against Sri Lanka, in Perth, during the 2020 T20 World Cup when Australia were 10 for 3 with their tournament hanging by a thread following the defeat to India in Sydney. It was a performance that summed up Haynes: being there as a cool head in the toughest moments.”It probably wasn’t as clean as I hit the ball or anything like that, but it was probably the most important innings that I played,” she said. “I suppose as a player you always want to stand up when your team needs you. I’ve been fortunate at different stages I’ve been able to pull off some crucial innings for the team. That’ll definitely hold a place in my memories. But the most amazing thing is the success I’ve been able to enjoy over a long period of time with this group of players and the Australian team, and also with New South Wales too. It’s tough in some respects to walk away but I also know it’s the right time.”With uncertainty over when Meg Lanning will return, as vice-captain Haynes could have had the chance to captain Australia again. However, she is confident in the depth of leadership options available for whatever positions need to be filled in the coming months. Australia are not in action again until December when they tour India before facing Pakistan at home in January.”I don’t want to throw names out there, I don’t want to put anyone under too much pressure or anything,” she said. “One thing I will say, behind the scenes they have been preparing for this moment for a little while now so I think they’ve got plenty of options they can draw on. Comes down to whether they’re thinking short or long term. There are some fantastic leaders within that group who don’t necessarily have the titles at the moment. But I’m looking forward to seeing who that might be.”On a personal level, Haynes will play a final season for Sydney Thunder – she missed the previous tournament due to injury and border restrictions – then indicated she would take some time away but was hopeful of remaining involved in the sport.”I’ve been preparing for this moment for a long time,” she said. “I finished my MBA last year so I feel like I’m ready for that next chapter and what that looks like I’m not too sure. But I’m sure I’ll stay involved in cricket in some capacity.”I feel very fortunate I’ve been able to play through the professionalisation of the game and I can only see it continue to grow. And I’m looking forward to perhaps sitting in the stands now and watching the game.”

Hasnain and Rauf picked up three early wickets but the target was too modest

Andrew Fidel Fernando09-Sep-2022Yes, it was another chasing side winning in Dubai, the venue now having seen 17 victories for chasing sides in the last 20 T20Is. But this time, Sri Lanka’s bowlers had arguably put the legwork in for the victory, before the second innings could even begin.Pakistan’s innings could never quite achieve lift-off, and when the middle overs came, Wanindu Hasaranga put in his first big performance of the tournament, taking 3 for 21. After his strikes, Pakistan’s horizons contracted substantially, despite the best efforts of Mohammad Nawaz, who seemed to be striking well in the 26 he made off 18, before he was run out. Eventually, Pakistan succumbed to 121.Sri Lanka were rattled by Pakistan’s pace in the powerplay, slipping to 29 for 3 at one stage. But so modest was the target, they could afford to take it slow. Pathum Nissanka anchored the chase, hitting an unbeaten 55 off 48. Thanks to less substantial but more aggressive innings from Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka ambled home with 18 balls and five wickets to spare.Hasaranga’s googly dominates the middle overs
Perhaps it is because Pakistan had not played Hasaranga since 2019 (he has been a much-improved bowler since then), that they appeared especially powerless against his primary weapon – the ball that turns into the right-hander. He conceded just six runs in his first two overs. When Babar Azam, who had moved to 30 off 28, finally came down the track and took a chance, he was beaten comprehensively – Hasaranga slipping a straighter one beneath his bat, and onto the wickets.Iftikhar Ahmed hit a six off the fourth ball of Hasaranga’s last over, but the bowler made a roaring comeback. Not only did he bowl Iftikhar with a googly, he also got Asif Ali out first ball as the batter attempted nothing more ambitious than a defensive shot, and still managed to play inside the line of a googly that clipped off stump. Pakistan were 91 for 6.Babar Azam was cleaned up for a 29-ball 30•AFP/Getty Images

Sri Lanka control the early overs
That spell had been set up by Sri Lanka’s tight bowling in the powerplay. On a worn track, Sri Lanka conceded only a single boundary off the bat in the first five overs – seamers Pramod Madushan (on debut) and Dilshan Madushanka, largely keeping things tight, while fingerspinners Maheesh Theekshana and Dhananjaya de Silva also contributed decent overs. The sixth over went for 12 runs, but thanks in part to Hasaranga, Sri Lanka kept a tight lid on the scoring.In fact, from balls 5.5 to 14.3 (a stretch of 53 deliveries) Pakistan did not hit a boundary off the bat – five wides the only occasion on which the ball crossed the rope. This put huge pressure on the second half of the innings, and batters got out trying to hit big. Pakistan lost their last nine wickets for 58 runs.Hasnain and Rauf rip out three wickets
Pakistan’s bowlers had an even better powerplay than Sri Lanka’s, thanks largely to Mohammad Hasnain and Haris Rauf who picked up three early wickets, and provided hope. Hasnain got one to bounce on Kusal Mendis second ball, the batter edging that to slip. Extra bounce also helped Rauf take Danushka Gunathilaka’s outside edge next over, with Mohammad Rizwan diving acrobatically to his right to pouch the chance.Hasnain could have had Dhananjaya in his next over had he held a tough return chance, but Rauf got him before long anyway, beating him for pace with a ball on the stumps, which de Silva mis-hit to mid-off.Nissanka and Co settle things
That was as good as it got for Pakistan, though. Rajapaksa hit a couple of sixes off Usman Qadir early in the middle overs to get Sri Lanka well ahead of the required rate. Nissanka accumulated safely at the other end. They hit occasional boundaries, and though Rajapaksa got out with 42 still to get, they had 51 balls to get them in.Nissanka completed the seventh fifty of his T20I career and helped massage the chase home, with Hasaranga hitting the winning runs.

“It’s so bad for their cricket. They’ve got too much talent in that team”

Andrew McGlashan22-Oct-2022Ricky Ponting has called West Indies’ early exit from the T20 World Cup a “disgrace” after their heavy defeat to Ireland meant the two-time champions lasted just three matches in this tournament.After an opening loss against Scotland in Hobart, West Indies gave themselves a chance with victory over Zimbabwe which left their final group game as a winner-takes-all contest. In the end, they could only muster 146 for 5 which Ireland hunted down for the loss of just one wicket.Related

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The reaction was swift with CWI president Ricky Skerritt blaming the batters and promising that a “thorough post mortem” would be carried out.The build-up to the tournament had included the much-debated omission of Andre Russell from the squad then the axing of Shimron Hetmyer after he missed his flight to Australia.”It’s a disgrace,” Ponting said at the SCG ahead of the opening Super 12s match between Australia and New Zealand. “It’s so bad for their cricket. They’ve got too much talent in that team and in West Indies cricket not to be able to make it through to the next stage of a World Cup.”And even one of their main players not making it to the flight to get over here for a World Cup… To me this sort of sums up probably how little these events mean to the West Indies players and if you look at the way that they played you’d say the same thing. [Nicholas] Pooran and these guys, they’re much better players than what we’ve seen over the last couple of weeks so no doubt there’ll be some soul-searching done when they get back.”They’ll be as disappointed as anyone, it’s easy for me to stand here and say that it’s a disgrace that they haven’t made it, but they’ll be hurting as much as anybody. They would have had big thoughts and dreams coming here and they haven’t played anywhere near well enough to even progress. So they have got some work to do.”West Indies return to Australia next month for a two-Test series with what will be a very different-looking side. Ponting was already concerned about how competitive those matches in Perth and Adelaide may be although he did note West Indies have been more competitive at home. But in Australia, where they last played a Test series in 2015-16, they have not won in the format since 1997.”I didn’t need to see that to make me more worried about the first couple of Test matches,” Ponting said. “But what’s interesting with that, they’ve actually found a way, mainly at home I guess, in the last few years to be reasonably competitive on the Test front with Brathwaite… and Holder, he’s done a really good job in Test cricket for them.”But they’re going to have to find a few lengths if they’re going to compete against the Aussies with the current group that the Australians have got. If you just line them up on paper, there’s no way you think that they could compete. Cricket’s a funny game, but they’re going to have to play out of their skins I think to make the first two Tests entertaining.”

Gautam Gambhir’s 54 went in vain for Maharajas, as Sohail Tanvir took three wickets in Lions’ defense

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Mar-2023Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq rolled back the years with a splendid 73 off 50 balls that laid the foundation for Asia Lions’ nine-run victory against India Maharajas in the first match of the Legends League Cricket Masters this season. His innings was countered masterfully by Gautam Gambhir’s 54 – the only other 50-plus score of the match – but that proved insufficient, as Lions opened with a tight win in Doha.Defending 165, Sohail Tanvir came to the fore for Lions with figures of 3 for 27, which included a maiden in the first over of the chase. Tanvir angled his first two deliveries away from Robin Uthappa’s hitting arc, before the third was pitched short and defended with an angled bat. That set-up from Tanvir paid dividends in the very next delivery, as Uthappa attempted to hit Tanvir through cover but found Abdul Razzaq, who took a sharp, low catch.But Gambhir found his rhythm quickly. His range of strokes included typical step-out shots against the spinners, including a drive through cover with the spin off part-timer Tillakaratne Dilshan. Gambhir was ably accompanied by former India opener M Vijay, who got a cameo of 25 runs off 19 deliveries laced with three boundaries and a six. However, following the dismissals of Gambhir and Vijay, Maharajas collapsed in the death overs in the face of an increasing asking rate.Earlier, Maharajas’ Irfan Pathan had initially set the tone for the first innings with a nostalgic spell of swing bowling. Each of his first few deliveries with the new ball displayed some lateral movement. His new-ball partner Ashok Dinda got the first breakthrough in the form of Dilshan.Dilshan, with his footwork not quite at his best, ended up edging a full delivery outside off stump to Uthappa, who completed a juggling catch in the third attempt.But Misbah quickly brought momentum into Lions’ innings. He looked at ease, either when stepping out against the spinners or even the pacers, as evident from his six off fast bowler Parvinder Awana in the ninth over. Misbah’s knock of 73 included two fours and four sixes, before he was dismissed in the 18th over off Stuart Binny’s medium pace.His former Pakistan team-mate Shahid Afridi displayed his typical aggressive intent from the outset. He successfully ramped one in the 18th over to fine leg, albeit off a top edge. Off the next delivery, he tried the same shot but miscued it straight to Harbhajan Singh at short fine leg.Little else was new to the new T20 norm as Lions held their nerve, barring Harbhajan accidentally applying saliva to the ball, something which was banned post the advent of Covid-19.

Usman Khawaja replaces Travis Head as the one change for Australia at the SCG

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jan-2022Scott Boland has retained his place in the Australia side for the fourth Test at the SCG after it was decided against risking either Josh Hazlewood or Jhye Richardson.Hazlewood, who misses out on his home ground, has not quite recovered from the side strain he picked up at the Gabba and will now target a comeback in the final Test in Hobart.Australia are also continuing to manage Richardson who reported some leg soreness after the Adelaide Test which kept him out of Melbourne.”Joshy had a few bowls and Jhye a bit similar, just not quite up to 100%,” Pat Cummins said. “We gave Joshy every chance we could, just felt like he couldn’t quite bowl at full tilt yesterday.”Cummins confirmed Hazlewood would have played if fit but any difficult conversation with Boland has been delayed by at least a week after his stunning 6 for 7 secured the Ashes at the MCG.”It would have been a shame to see Scotty not to play this week after his efforts last week so it’s unfortunate for Josh, I feel for him, but really glad he gets another crack at it,” Cummins said. “I doubt it will be 6 for 7 but I did say nothing more than last week, don’t try any harder.”On a surface that Cummins did not believe would offer much help for the quicks, despite a decent covering of grass that may provide some early assistance, Boland’s skillset could be important.”There’s not a lot of swing, not a lot of bounce, you need that bulldozer bowler who will give you 50 overs if you need it of economical, challenging fast bowling that will challenge the knee roll of the batter,” Cummins said. “That suits him to a tee.”It is the first time in the series that Australia have named an unchanged attack from one match to the next having cycled through six fast bowlers in the first three games due to Covid and injury issues. Michael Neser has not been able to earn a second cap after his debut in Adelaide.The only change for Australia is Usman Khawaja replacing Travis Head who was ruled out of the match after testing positive for Covid-19. It will be Khawaja’s first Test since he was dropped midway through the 2019 Ashes, but it is likely to be one-off comeback with Head set to return for the final Test.Cummins also said there was never a realistic chance of legspinner Mitchell Swepson making a debut adding that currently he did not see any conditions around Australia that would warrant two spinners.”I don’t think anywhere in Australia that I’ve played on in the last few years has dictated a two spinner,” he said. “We’d love to have that option, he’s a class bowler, itching to get him in the side one day…we think he will debut one day, probably most likely with the amount of subcontinent tours coming up that will be his opportunity.”Australia XI 1 David Warner, 2 Marcus Harris, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Usman Khawaja, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Scott Boland

Captain becomes first player in 45 years of Youth ODIs to hit a century and take a five-for in the same game

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Feb-2022
Riding on captain Qasim Akram’s all-round heroics, Pakistan thrashed Sri Lanka by 238 runs to win fifth place at the Under-19 World Cup. The 19-year old became the first player in the 45-year history of Youth ODIs to hit a century and pick up a five-wicket haul in the same gamePakistan posted a massive 365 for 3, courtesy Qasim’s 80-ball 135, opener Haseebullah Khan’s 151-ball 136 and Muhammad Shehzad’s 69-ball 73.Coming in at No. 3, the captain shared a 229-run stand with Haseebullah after the 134-run opening stand was broken by Raveen de Silva.With his offspin, Qasim (5 for 37) broke through the Sri Lanka line-up to leave them reeling at 41 for 5 and they never recovered. Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 127 with No. 9 Vinuja Ranpul top-scoring with an unbeaten 53 off 58 balls.Qasim’s talent is well known in Pakistan circles. The teenager generated a lot of interest among not one but two champion teams at the PSL. Islamabad United had him on their wish list but in the end, he went to Karachi Kings, where he will be joining the senior national captain Babar Azam.Dewald Brevis has had a stunning Under-19 World Cup•ICC via Getty

Brevis ton powers SA to win

In the other match of the day, Dewald Brevis continued his fine form to help South Africa chase down Bangladesh’s 293 for 8 with two wickets in hand in the seventh-place Playoff in Coolidge.With a tally of 506 in six matches, Brevis now holds the record for most runs scored in an Under-19 World Cup, overtaking India’s Shikhar Dhawan. His 130-ball 138 was instrumental in South Africa pulling off the second-highest chase in Youth World Cup history. The innings consisted of 11 fours and seven sixes. South Africa still needed a little help from somewhere else to get across the line and that came from Matthew Boast as he hit 41 off 22 to seal a narrow win.Meanwhile, batting first, Ariful Islam notched up his second straight ton for Bangladesh, scoring an almost run-a-ball 102 to propel Bangladesh to a competitive total. As was the case in their last match too, Ariful’s ton went in vain. For South Africa, left-arm pacer Kwena Maphaka took 3 for 55 while left-arm spinner Liam Alder took 2 for 46.

Surrey opener leads from front in testing conditions with first substantial score of summer

Matt Roller05-May-2022The clock is ticking. England’s first Test under new leadership – in the form of a managing director, a coach, a captain, support staff and possibly a selector – is four weeks away and their opponents New Zealand have already named their touring party. With a squad expected to be announced within the next two weeks, there are only a few days of cricket left for hopefuls to impress.When Rob Key scrolls through the County Championship scores on his phone on Thursday night from his hotel room in north London ahead of the first round of interviews for the coaching vacancies at Lord’s next week, he will see several familiar names. For all the appetite for bolters from the shires, the most notable centurions were Dom Sibley at Emirates Old Trafford and his former opening partner Rory Burns at the Kia Oval.Burns’ innings was a grind, with 107 hard-fought runs spread across the best part of six hours. Asked to bat first by Northamptonshire on a green pitch – albeit one a long way across the square, with an unusually short boundary to one side – Burns played-and-missed several times early on as Ben Sanderson nibbled the ball around on a length but by the close, Surrey’s 261 for 6 put his innings into context.They also had to make do without Ollie Pope, who was due to play but ran straight from the warm-ups to the dressing-room toilets and went home “unwell”, and Jamie Smith, who suffered a hamstring injury during his unbeaten double-hundred in Bristol last week, though Ben Foakes returned to the side after missing the Gloucestershire draw with a minor back complaint.”Putting bums on seats, that probably wouldn’t have done it – but I was very happy with doing it,” Burns said of his innings. “That’s pretty vintage in terms of how I go about it [batting] and I thought the discipline I played with was up there. It’s something I pride myself on, so I’m pretty happy.”They’ve put us in to bat for good reason and we’d have done the same thing and it’s offered something all day. Sometimes you’ve got to be disciplined and earn the right. Even with the older ball, it kept the bowlers interested. The pitch was slowish and the ball carried on doing things throughout the day, swinging for periods and it nipped around pretty consistently so it’s tough graft.”Tough graft, in keeping with Burns’ season so far. Before this innings he had made only 119 runs, spread across six innings at an average of 23.8. His Surrey side are the Championship’s early leaders but his own form was clearly a source of frustration. When he reached three figures off 245 balls thanks to a thick edge through gully, his primary emotion was relief rather than joy.Burns’ idiosyncratic technique has been a source of fascination for pundits and analysts throughout his Test career, scrutinised in minute detail. He appeared to cut down on his movements before release at the start of the season but they were more pronounced in this hundred, with his trademark lean towards midwicket – to align his dominant left eye with the ball – more obvious. He admitted that he had “been tinkering a little bit” at the start of the season but was reluctant to give much more away: “I don’t know. I got a hundred, so who cares?”The answer is that England might – though it should be acknowledged that Northants’ attack is significantly different in style to the ones they will face across seven Tests this summer. Burns lost his place for the tour of the Caribbean last month and his route into the side is not obvious, not least after Alex Lees’ bright start to the season and with Key’s admiration for Zak Crawley well-known.But Burns has a central contract, and while his Test average of 30.32 is not as high as he might like, it is the highest of any specialist batter to debut under Joe Root’s captaincy. Besides, timing matters. “Well, it’s nice to get a hundred,” Burns said when asked about his hopes for a recall. “That’s the thing, isn’t it?”One of Burns’ charges may well come into contention for the first Test too, though it remains to be seen if Sam Curran is fit enough to be considered as a genuine allrounder after only 10 overs to date this season following the stress fracture which ruled him out of the winter. His unbeaten 71 was the day’s only fluent innings and included a towering straight six off Simon Kerrigan; he has the chance to put right the fact that he has never scored a professional hundred in the morning.Northants have battled hard for three consecutive draws at the start of this season and their seamers plugged away, with Luke Procter’s nibbly medium pace proving particularly effective. He removed the in-form Ryan Patel early on, chipping to cover, then had two in two balls, going wide on the crease to bowl Hashim Amla then trapping Will Jacks lbw.Their main concern was that Ricardo Vasconcelos – who has been tasked with captaining and opening the batting this season – went off feeling ill inside the first hour. “He started to feel nauseous after going out onto the field and he was sick in the dressing room when he came off,” John Sadler, their head coach, said. “Hopefully he will be okay after he’s had a night’s sleep and some more rest.”

Rajasthan scored the first 200-plus total in the IPL in Jaipur to beat CSK for the second time this season

Hemant Brar27-Apr-20232:35

The change in technique that has unlocked Jaiswal

After losing their previous two games, Rajasthan Royals not only returned to winning ways but also the top of the IPL points table with a thumping 32-run win over Chennai Super Kings.After Royals opted to bat, Yashasvi Jaiswal attacked his way to 77 off 43 balls. Super Kings did stage a brief comeback in the middle overs but late hitting from Dhruv Jurel (34 off 15) and Devdutt Padikkal (27* off 13) lifted Royals to 202 for 5, the first 200-plus total by an IPL team in Jaipur.Matheesha Pathirana, despite nailing his yorkers at express pace, was unlucky to concede 48 in his four overs, as 28 of those runs came when batters were not in control of their shots.Super Kings didn’t get the start they were after. Adam Zampa and R Ashwin further stifled them while sharing five wickets. Shivam Dube was the only one to offer resistance but it was too little, too late.

Jaiswal leads the way for Royals

Even if it was an away game for Super Kings, they seemed to have more supporters in the stands than Royals had. It didn’t have any effect on Jaiswal and Jos Buttler, though, as they gave Royals yet another flying start. Jaiswal kicked things off by hitting Akash Singh for two fours off the first two balls of the match, followed by one more in the over. He was even more severe in the seamer’s next over, picking up three fours and a six. In between, Buttler hit Tushar Deshpande for two fours.With seamers going for plenty, MS Dhoni turned to spin, and Maheesh Theekshana bowled a three-run over. Buttler, though, took the spinner for two fours – both times hitting length balls off the back foot over his head – in the sixth over to take Royals to 64 for no loss.Ravindra Jadeja broke the opening stand with Buttler’s wicket but Jaiswal kept marching on. Coming into this game, Jaiswal had scored 81 off 70 in the middle overs. Tonight, there was no slowdown; he smashed 37 off 22 after the field restrictions were lifted.Yashasvi Jaiswal once again took a liking to the Chennai Super Kings bowling•Getty Images

Jurel and Padikkal pick up after a brief lull

Deshpande removed Sanju Samson and Jaiswal in the 14th over to briefly put the brakes on the scoring rate. From overs 14 to 17, Royals managed only 28 runs and lost three wickets along the way. It was starting to look like Super Kings might restrict them under 200 but Jurel and Padikkal, who came in at No. 6, threw their bat around. They didn’t always find the middle but the runs came thick and fast. Super Kings’ sloppy fielding also helped Royals, and left Dhoni visibly angry on more than once occasion, as they ransacked 56 in the last four overs.

Zampa, Ashwin keep Super Kings on back foot

With Trent Boult picking up a niggle, Zampa got an opportunity. And the legspinner made an impact in his very first over. Bowling the last over of the powerplay, he had Devon Conway hitting one to mid-off.Ruturaj Gaikwad was trying to make up for Super Kings’ slow start. He had moved to 47 off 28 balls when he tried to attack Zampa only to be caught at long-on. R Ashwin dragged Super Kings further back in the next over, the 11th of the innings, by dismissing Ajinkya Rahane and Ambati Rayudu.

Dube, Moeen fight back

With 130 needed from nine overs, Dube and Moeen threatened a fightback. The pair hit four sixes and a four in the next three overs, reducing the equation to 90 needed from the last five. Samson once again turned to Zampa, and he didn’t disappoint his captain. Dube launched him into the stands, and Moeen too picked up a boundary, but with his fifth ball of the over, Zampa had Moeen under-edging one to Samson.Dube, however, kept the fight on. He hit Jason Holder for a six and two fours in the 17th over. In the next, Jadeja took Sandeep Sharma for two fours but scoring 46 in the last two overs was too much of an uphill task.

Scheduling has been a cause of concern and a change of venue is currently not a practical option

Danyal Rasool15-Mar-2024

What’s going on with PSL crowds in Karachi?

When Usman Khan punched a single down to mid-off to seal Multan Sultans’ place in their fourth successive PSL final, it was met by deathly silence at the National Stadium Karachi. It wasn’t because the crowd wanted a different outcome, but because there was barely a crowd for the game at all. The two best teams in the tournament so far – Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi – shook hands in front of a nearly empty stadium, uncomfortable surroundings for a league that has branded itself as the second best in the world.The lack of crowds in Karachi, in stark contrast to the other three venues, has been a point of focus this tournament, but it’s been thrown into even sharper relief since Ramzan began earlier this week. It meant the games began at 9pm local time, finishing well past midnight to ensure there was enough of a gap following iftar at sunset.With all remaining games scheduled in Karachi, the possibility of knockout games – as well as the final – playing out in front of a largely empty stadium has worried those involved in the PSL, given how damaging it would be for the prestige of the tournament.

No question of shifting remaining knockouts elsewhere

ESPNcricinfo spoke to a number of officials involved with the PSL who justified the playoffs being held in Karachi. “We have moved to a home and away format,” a senior official told ESPNcricinfo “and Karachi is home to the [Karachi] Kings and the [Quetta] Gladiators.”While Kings have been eliminated from the tournament, it is understood any possibility of moving any remaining games out of Karachi has been categorically ruled out. The logistical challenges of such a move have been deemed to be insurmountable. While changes to venues at short notice have been made in the past, most notably in 2019 when a flare-up in tensions between India and Pakistan resulted in the final tranche of games shifting from Lahore to Karachi, the PCB do not believe such a move is practical at given the tight window.

Why haven’t more people shown up?

An official acknowledged turnout was surprisingly low, but told ESPNcricinfo they expected a higher turnout at the remaining three games. Citing the popularity of Ramzan cricket in Karachi, they said “observing the first few fasts in Ramzan is tough”, and as spectators settle into a routine, they are likelier to be able to attend in larger numbers. However, it is unclear how significant a difference that makes given the next two games are on the consecutive days which immediately marked the first qualifier, and still very much within the first week of Ramzan. That they fall on the weekend, though, may make some difference.

Is a Monday final the issue for PSL?

But the most puzzling issue, and one about which official explanations have proved in short supply, concerns the day of the PSL final. Breaking with all previous tradition and standard procedure to ensure finals fall on the weekend, the PSL has a rest day this Sunday, with the final taking place on the following Monday – a working day – instead.Sources within the PSL’s organisation insisted there were multiple reasons for the unconventional scheduling. They cited a desire to accommodate maximum home games for all teams “without breaking momentum”, while also attempting to avoid back-to-back fixtures for one of the sides playing the final. There is a confident assumption within the PCB that interest in the PSL final can be taken for granted, regardless of the day, time, or city it is held in.The next three days will reveal how well-placed that confidence is.

Mumbai’s innings looked like it was going smoothly but some sensational defensive bowling helped CSK seal the game

Sidharth Monga14-Apr-20242:45

‘Dhoni may be surprising even himself’

Sensational defensive bowling from Chennai Super Kings did what might have seemed unthinkable: successfully defend a total in the night at Wankhede Stadium. And it was not a huge total: pushed just over 200 by a MS Dhoni cameo of 20 off the last four balls of the innings after Shivam Dube had continued his dream season with an unbeaten 66 off 38.For large parts it was a contest that fit the billing: between the two most successful teams in the IPL and two of the three most popular teams. For large parts, it seemed the defending champions CSK would be outgunned. Jasprit Bumrah restricted them with four overs for just 27 and the Mumbai innings looked like it was going smoothly, but Matheesha Pathirana started the comeback with two wickets in his first over.Still, Mumbai were favourites going into the last seven, needing 83 with eight wickets in hand, but their fast bowlers led by Pathirana executed their plans of making batters hit into the bigger part perfectly, eventually winning by 20 runs. Rohit Sharma scored a century but it was only to Mumbai’s detriment: he scored just 14 off 14 between overs 13 to 18 and then found another wind when the task had become mathematically impossible.1:38

Is Shivam Dube booking his ticket to the T20 World Cup?

Cat and mouse for startersThis match was also a tactical classic from both sides. CSK promoted Ajinkya Rahane to open because he was carrying a niggle and thought it was better if he just batted in the powerplay. In a way it worked tactically too: Ruturaj Gaikwad hasn’t been going at a million miles an hour in the powerplay and could also be there for when Bumrah bowled. Either way, Rahane didn’t last, and Gaikwad had to come out in the second over. Mumbai then started to bowl cheap overs of spin before Dube got a chance to bat.When Dube came in, that was it for spin, and Bumrah came back to bowl a second over inside the first ten for only the second time this IPL. Except that Mumbai did have to bowl overs of less-than-express pace. Dube took a toll of Hardik Pandya and Romario Shepherd as Gaikwad slowed down from his starts of 24 off 12 to offer a catch on 39 off 31. Rohit dropped him, and Gaikwad took 29 off nine before he got out.Bumrah stifles but Hardik blinksHardik started reining CSK back in with clever use of a wide slower ball to get Gaikwad. Then Bumrah just bowled two ruthless overs full of attempted yorkers. Only one boundary came off the 17th and 19th, leaving CSK at 180 for 3. The problem for Mumbai was, that they had to now go to Hardik, Shepherd or spin for the last over.The captain took the challenge on, but came a distant second to Dhoni, offering him the length to hit a hat-trick of sixes. Dhoni’s IPL this year: 25 balls, 59 runs, no dismissal.2:06

Was Pathirana’s spell among the best-ever at Wankhede?

Pathirana has to interveneYet again Mumbai started like they would make short work of a target around 200 after gunning RCB’s 196 down in 15.3 overs. Rohit and Ishan Kishan looked smooth and brutal. Seven overs, 70 runs, not a sweat broken.Enter Pathirana, coming back from an injury break. The first ball was a loose one on the pads, and Kishan found midwicket with precision. Six feet on either side and it would have left a hole in the boundary boards. However, following that lucky break, Pathirana was sensational. He welcomed Suryakumar Yadav with a 151.2kmph wide yorker and followed it up with a wide bouncer with the deep third placed fine just for the ramp. The assist came from Mustafizur Rahman, who took it overhead, flicked it back up, stepped outside, and came back to take the catch.The middle oversRavindra Jadeja bowled four overs on the trot for 37, which is commendable in dewy conditions on a Mumbai night. Rohit, though, seemed to have overcome his recent threat of left-arm spin by taking 22 off 13 Jadeja deliveries. Runs kept coming from the other end until Pathirana came back.2:54

Was Hardik Pandya’s decision to bowl the final over sound?

A defensive masterclassIt was all in Pathirana’s basket now. Three overs to bowl out of seven with Mumbai needing just 83 with all the firepower in the dugout. Pathirana began with a dot to push it over two a ball for the first time. Then a subtle slower ball got the fluent Tilak Varma out. Then both former and current captains of Mumbai froze.Shardul Thakur followed that over with wide-line slower balls. Both Rohit and Hardik faced three each for a single each. A frustrated Hardik even wasted a review on a wide. Tushar Deshpande followed it up with a boundary-less over and the wicket of Hardik. Rohit seemed to have run out of gas and timing.Tim David raised some hope with successive sixes off Mustafizur but he again went wide and out of David’s reach to get the wicket. Pathirana provided the finishing touch by rattling Shepherd’s stumps with a quick, straight delivery, the license for which he got because he had the bigger leg-side boundary to play with.However, it was the slower balls from the other end that complemented Pathirana. At one point, they had bowled 13 for just four runs. They ended up with 27 slower balls for 36 runs, which was still way better than Mumbai’s execution of the delivery.