New ODI rules and faulty bowling shackle Dhoni The rule of having only four fielders in the deep to protect a less than incisive bowling line-up has placed limits on MS Dhoni's captaincy The issue with Ishant The fact that his wrist is not behind the ball and the seam doesn't come out upright speak volumes Kohli's costly drop Plays of the day from the fourth ODI between India and Australia in Ranchi Irfan finds the right length Not too many tall fast bowlers can pitch it up to good effect. Pakistan now have one, and he has the makings of a skilful customer Australia's latest ODI batting star George Bailey has played only 31 ODI innings, but during this period he has racked up astonishing numbers
Showing posts with label Hafeez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hafeez. Show all posts
Monday, 28 October 2013
Monday, 2 September 2013
Hafeez, Hales top ICC rankings
Russell's sixes, Shakib's 6 for 6 ESPNcricinfo presents the top five moments from the inaugural Caribbean Premier League Australia's era of decline Fundamental issues remain with how the game is run in Australia, although the country's sporting problems are not restricted to cricket Signs of development but much to do Australia's Ashes performance wasn't far off what was expected: a wholehearted, often impressive, bowling attack but an inconsistent batting order, although there are signs of promise Swann's swag, and Smiths' success Also, Bradman's nemesis, most runs in a Test without a century, hundreds in final ODIs, and double-oh partners Not their best, but good enough from England ESPNcricinfo assesses the performances of the England players who appeared in the Ashes series
Hafeez helps Pakistan draw level
Pakistan 299 for 4 (Hafeez 136*, Amin 59) beat Zimbabwe 209 (Taylor 79, Waller 40, Junaid 4-15) by 90 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details With the series at stake, Pakistan hit back strongly by posting a total well beyond Zimbabwe's reach, thereby giving the final match greater context. Mohammad Hafeez led the way with an attacking, unbeaten 136 to lift Pakistan to 299, and although Zimbabwe had their moments in the chase, they failed to stretch Pakistan over a sustained period. A clump of wickets towards the end widened the gap between the two sides, as the margin of victory suggested. Both sides, while batting, were removed from their comfort zones. Pakistan didn't have the safety net of a steady Misbah-ul-Haq innings for the other batsmen to bat around. A rare failure from Misbah gave Hafeez the chance to step up and guide the innings. Zimbabwe, for a change didn't have the luxury of a solid opening stand in the face of a daunting total, and the middle order couldn't cover the slack. Pakistan, though, responded better to the challenge. Put in to bat, Pakistan had a better idea of the kind the score needed to intimidate a confident Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe were guilty of dropping catches in the first ODI but those let-offs, fortunately, didn't cost them in the end. While they were relatively better today, one lapse cost them plenty of runs. When on 30, Hafeez went for the slog sweep but as the ball dipped towards deep square leg, Brian Vitori was a touch too late on the dive. He couldn't hang on and Zimbabwe were made to rue the missed chance. Hafeez's driving, flicking and defense against the seamers was solid and he used his feet against Prosper Utseya, lofting two sixes over long-on. He launched Elton Chigumbura over the same region as he progressed to his fifty off 65 balls. Following Misbah's departure - he limped to 3 off 23 balls - Pakistan had lost all their experienced batsmen, but Umar Amin stepped up to give Hafeez the support he needed. Amin looked busy at the crease, trying to push the singles and attempting the odd slog, looking on nervously at his senior partner who urged him to play straighter. Amin opened up at the start of the batting Powerplay, taken in the 36th over, clipping Utseya wide of midwicket and then launching him over cover the next ball. He found the gaps with ease through the off side and reached his maiden fifty in ODIs off just 61 balls. Pakistan smashed 43 in the Powerplay without losing a wicket, setting the platform for their late-innings acceleration. Amin was eventually run-out from a direct hit by Tendai Chatara, but not before adding a valuable 129 with Hafeez. Hafeez made sure his side didn't lose the initiative, like they did on Tuesday with a collapse, batting positively and finding the gaps. He had all but bettered his highest ODI score (139*), made on the same ground two years ago. A blazing cameo from Shahid Afridi took Pakistan to the doorstep of 300. Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda had, until this game, produced opening stands of 53, 50 and 107 so it was a relief for Pakistan that the openers disbanded early in the third over. Masakadza found early momentum with some powerful boundaries off Mohammad Irfan before he was beaten for pace by Junaid Khan, losing his off stump. Much depended on Brendan Taylor to lead the way. He and Sean Williams weren't afraid to take on the spinners, reverse sweeping them regularly. They targeted Pakistan's main bowler, Saeed Ajmal, in his first over, playing the conventional and reverse sweeps to give the chase some momentum. Taylor kept Zimbabwe's hopes alive with a positive fifty - his first in 13 innings - and it got to the stage where Pakistan were in need of a breakthrough. Ajmal provided that when he beat an advancing Williams, getting him stumped. Taylor had added 70 with Williams and 65 with Malcolm Waller, but all along they failed to keep with the rising asking rate. The slide started towards the end of the batting Powerplay - taken after 35 overs - when Taylor top-edged a sweep off Ajmal, only to be caught one-handed by the 7ft 1" Irfan. Any other fielder, it would have been a boundary. Zimbabwe lost three wickets for one run, as Junaid ran through the lower order. Zimbabwe were rolled over with more than seven overs to spare. The lack of a match-turning partnership hurt them in the end. *1651 GMT, August 29: The article had said "Pakistan lost three wickets for one run, as Junaid ran through the lower order". This has been corrected. Kanishkaa Balachandran is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
Feeds: Kanishkaa Balachandran © ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details With the series at stake, Pakistan hit back strongly by posting a total well beyond Zimbabwe's reach, thereby giving the final match greater context. Mohammad Hafeez led the way with an attacking, unbeaten 136 to lift Pakistan to 299, and although Zimbabwe had their moments in the chase, they failed to stretch Pakistan over a sustained period. A clump of wickets towards the end widened the gap between the two sides, as the margin of victory suggested. Both sides, while batting, were removed from their comfort zones. Pakistan didn't have the safety net of a steady Misbah-ul-Haq innings for the other batsmen to bat around. A rare failure from Misbah gave Hafeez the chance to step up and guide the innings. Zimbabwe, for a change didn't have the luxury of a solid opening stand in the face of a daunting total, and the middle order couldn't cover the slack. Pakistan, though, responded better to the challenge. Put in to bat, Pakistan had a better idea of the kind the score needed to intimidate a confident Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe were guilty of dropping catches in the first ODI but those let-offs, fortunately, didn't cost them in the end. While they were relatively better today, one lapse cost them plenty of runs. When on 30, Hafeez went for the slog sweep but as the ball dipped towards deep square leg, Brian Vitori was a touch too late on the dive. He couldn't hang on and Zimbabwe were made to rue the missed chance. Hafeez's driving, flicking and defense against the seamers was solid and he used his feet against Prosper Utseya, lofting two sixes over long-on. He launched Elton Chigumbura over the same region as he progressed to his fifty off 65 balls. Following Misbah's departure - he limped to 3 off 23 balls - Pakistan had lost all their experienced batsmen, but Umar Amin stepped up to give Hafeez the support he needed. Amin looked busy at the crease, trying to push the singles and attempting the odd slog, looking on nervously at his senior partner who urged him to play straighter. Amin opened up at the start of the batting Powerplay, taken in the 36th over, clipping Utseya wide of midwicket and then launching him over cover the next ball. He found the gaps with ease through the off side and reached his maiden fifty in ODIs off just 61 balls. Pakistan smashed 43 in the Powerplay without losing a wicket, setting the platform for their late-innings acceleration. Amin was eventually run-out from a direct hit by Tendai Chatara, but not before adding a valuable 129 with Hafeez. Hafeez made sure his side didn't lose the initiative, like they did on Tuesday with a collapse, batting positively and finding the gaps. He had all but bettered his highest ODI score (139*), made on the same ground two years ago. A blazing cameo from Shahid Afridi took Pakistan to the doorstep of 300. Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda had, until this game, produced opening stands of 53, 50 and 107 so it was a relief for Pakistan that the openers disbanded early in the third over. Masakadza found early momentum with some powerful boundaries off Mohammad Irfan before he was beaten for pace by Junaid Khan, losing his off stump. Much depended on Brendan Taylor to lead the way. He and Sean Williams weren't afraid to take on the spinners, reverse sweeping them regularly. They targeted Pakistan's main bowler, Saeed Ajmal, in his first over, playing the conventional and reverse sweeps to give the chase some momentum. Taylor kept Zimbabwe's hopes alive with a positive fifty - his first in 13 innings - and it got to the stage where Pakistan were in need of a breakthrough. Ajmal provided that when he beat an advancing Williams, getting him stumped. Taylor had added 70 with Williams and 65 with Malcolm Waller, but all along they failed to keep with the rising asking rate. The slide started towards the end of the batting Powerplay - taken after 35 overs - when Taylor top-edged a sweep off Ajmal, only to be caught one-handed by the 7ft 1" Irfan. Any other fielder, it would have been a boundary. Zimbabwe lost three wickets for one run, as Junaid ran through the lower order. Zimbabwe were rolled over with more than seven overs to spare. The lack of a match-turning partnership hurt them in the end. *1651 GMT, August 29: The article had said "Pakistan lost three wickets for one run, as Junaid ran through the lower order". This has been corrected. Kanishkaa Balachandran is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
Feeds: Kanishkaa Balachandran © ESPN Sports Media Ltd.Hafeez, Hales top ICC rankings
Russell's sixes, Shakib's 6 for 6 ESPNcricinfo presents the top five moments from the inaugural Caribbean Premier League Australia's era of decline Fundamental issues remain with how the game is run in Australia, although the country's sporting problems are not restricted to cricket Signs of development but much to do Australia's Ashes performance wasn't far off what was expected: a wholehearted, often impressive, bowling attack but an inconsistent batting order, although there are signs of promise Swann's swag, and Smiths' success Also, Bradman's nemesis, most runs in a Test without a century, hundreds in final ODIs, and double-oh partners Not their best, but good enough from England ESPNcricinfo assesses the performances of the England players who appeared in the Ashes series
Saturday, 31 August 2013
Pakistan lose three but Hafeez solid
Russell's sixes, Shakib's 6 for 6 ESPNcricinfo presents the top five moments from the inaugural Caribbean Premier League Australia's era of decline Fundamental issues remain with how the game is run in Australia, although the country's sporting problems are not restricted to cricket Signs of development but much to do Australia's Ashes performance wasn't far off what was expected: a wholehearted, often impressive, bowling attack but an inconsistent batting order, although there are signs of promise Light fades on Oval party It was a celebration of England. A celebration for Test cricket. It was loud. It was fun. It was nonsensical. Swann's swag, and Smiths' success Also, Bradman's nemesis, most runs in a Test without a century, hundreds in final ODIs, and double-oh partners
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