Australia’s captain Michael Clarke has conceded the actions of David Warner and other team-mates in Birmingham have constituted a serious blow to his leadership

Daniel Brettig15-Jun-2013Australia’s captain Michael Clarke has conceded the actions of David Warner and other team-mates in Birmingham have constituted a serious blow to his leadership. And the coach Mickey Arthur has said that Shane Watson remains to some extent at odds with the team’s management, despite the camp’s furious denials it was the allrounder who pushed for Warner’s punishment after the matter at first appeared likely to be kept in-house.The lack of strong examples and leaders around the team, both in England and earlier this year in India when four players were suspended for failing to follow team instructions, have pushed the Australian tourists into an embarrassing corner as they teeter on the edge of Champions Trophy elimination and also creep closer to the Ashes. Clarke, who was absent from the team in its important early days on tour due to another flair in his chronic back condition, admitted his captaincy had been damaged by the episodes.”It certainly has an impact on the leadership. There’s no doubt about it,” Clarke told AAP. “I think we as a leadership group need to continue to try and improve. I do believe we have come a long way in regards to the culture of this team and setting up our behaviour standards and what we feel is acceptable and non-acceptable. As captain of this team I don’t shy away from any accountability.”No less an authority on captaincy than the former England leader Michael Atherton has observed that Clarke’s absence from the early days of the tour were particularly ruinous to a young team, whatever the circumstances, for it left them without the man tasked with setting markers for what he expects on tour. The vacuum was illustrated by the fact that Warner was arguably the most senior of the group of players – also including Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade, Phillip Hughes and Clint McKay – who found themselves out drinking at Birmingham’s Walkabout pub at 2.30am following their loss to England.”To be out at that hour … carrying on like we were celebrating [after a loss] – especially with the opposition – is not the right time or place to be having a few drinks,” Clarke said. “I know that I need to continue to work on my leadership and make sure I’m doing everything I can in my power for things like this not to happen.”Because it not only has an impact on Dave, it has an impact on the team, it has an impact on our supporters. The people that come and watch and support our great game. We don’t want to be letting anyone down. We’ve got enough to focus on on the field to become the best team we can be. And we definitely don’t need these distractions off the field.”Arthur, meanwhile, has said the former vice-captain Watson still had some way to go to regain the full trust of the team’s leaders. Nonetheless, he reiterated Clarke’s denials of a television report that suggested Watson had protested at the initial lack of action over Warner’s misadventures after the suspensions of four players in India for nothing quite so outlandish as punching an opposition player in a pub.”We are continually working at that. And Shane is unbelievably professional and gets on with his business in a very professional way,” Arthur said. “I don’t see it as anything particularly bad or anything that’s not fixable. Shane obviously lost a little bit of trust after India and we work on that every day.”And Shane has been fantastic in the way he’s come back into the environment and approached that. I chat to Shane every day and we’ve been through it all. Guys know exactly what the punishments are. And like I said, we have a very solid process in place now.”Australia must defeat Sri Lanka at The Oval on Monday to have any chance of reaching the Champions Trophy semi-finals.

Sean Willis’ unbeaten century led Australia to a 144-run victory over Papua New Guinea

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jul-201319 ) beat -19
ScorecardSean Willis’ unbeaten century led Australia to a 144-run victory over Papua New Guinea in their exhibition match in Darwin. Australia, whose batsmen suffered a collapse in Tuesday’s defeat to India U-19, got off to a bad start again as their top order struggled to make a platform, leaving them at 71 for 4This brought Willis to the crease, and along with Alex Gregory, helped consolidate Australia’s indifferent start by putting on 51 runs for the fifth wicket. Once Gregory fell, Jack Doran came in next and the pair put on a sixth-wicket stand of 112. This helped Australia recover to a respectable 234 for 6, with some late hitting helping the team reach 256 for 6. Willis finished unbeaten on 110, a knock which included 12 fours and 6 sixes. Kabua Morea was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 27.PNG began their chase cautiously. Openers Kiplin Doriga and Anthony Vare struggled to settle in and were dismissed off consecutive deliveries in the seventh over by medium-pacer Matthew Kelly. Wickets continued to fall regularly for PNG, as the efforts of Kelly, Riley Ayre and Matthew Short ensured Australia were able to defend their total. PNG were ultimately dismissed for 112 in 39 overs, with Kelly finishing with best figures of 4 for 18 in his 8 overs.The result of this friendly match has no bearing on the current standings of the ongoing U-19 tri-series, where an unbeaten India remain on top. Australia are second, with one win and one loss. New Zealand, who are yet to register a victory, are third. Australia next play New Zealand at Marrara Oval on July 6.

Gareth Roderick justified his promotion in Gloucestershire’s batting order by scoring 71 as the hosts gained a first innings lead of 144 over Worcestershire at Cheltenham

18-Jul-2013
ScorecardGareth Roderick’s composed innings helped built Gloucestershire’s lead•PA Photos

Gareth Roderick justified his promotion in Gloucestershire’s batting order by scoring 71 as the hosts gained a first innings lead of 144 over Worcestershire at Cheltenham.Starting the second day on 83 without loss in reply to 182, Gloucestershire were bowled out for 326, Chris Dent making 79 and Alex Gidman 62. Gareth Andrew was the most successful bowler with 3 for 56. By the close Worcestershire had progressed to 31 without loss in their second innings and trailed by 113.Roderick, who earned a Gloucestershire contract by scoring more than 1,000 runs in a season for Cheltenham Cricket Club in the West of England Premier League, relished being back in the town.The 21-year-old South African wicketkeeper-batsman was given a chance at No. 3, rather than his customary middle-order position, when skipper Michael Klinger fell for 36, caught at point off a delivery that seemed to stop on him, with the total on 101.Dent, unbeaten on 56 overnight, looked aggrieved to be judged stumped trying to sweep Moeen Ali, having hit 13 fours in his 114-ball innings. At 129 for 2, Gloucestershire were still 53 runs adrift.But Roderick was set by then and found a reliable partner in Gidman as the home side moved into the lead before lunch, which was taken on 193 for 2. Gidman was first to his half-century in the afternoon session, off 76 balls, with seven fours, but his young partner lost nothing by comparison.Roderick hit seven boundaries of his own in progressing to fifty off 107 deliveries and it was Gidman who went after a stand of 105, caught behind by Ben Cox, diving to his right, off Alan Richardson.That was 234 for 3 and 28 more runs were added before Roderick was taken at slip by Daryl Mitchell, edging a ball from off-spinner Ali. The crestfallen batsman had to drag himself off, having set his sights on a Cheltenham century.Before a run was added Benny Howell was run out by Alexei Kervezee’s throw, attempting a single as Hamish Marshall played a delivery to backward point. Marshall contributed 20, but when he was bowled to give seamer Graeme Cessford his first Championship wicket Gloucestershire went on to lose their last four wickets for 25, Andrew claiming all but one of them in a spell of 3 for 15 from College Lawn End. Gidman was left unbeaten on 37.Worcestershire openers Mitchell and Matthew Pardoe survived 18 overs to the close with few alarms.

Tim Bresnan has been ruled out of the remainder of the international season with a stress fracture in his lower back.

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Aug-2013Tim Bresnan has been ruled out of the remainder of the international season with a stress fracture in his lower back. His absence creates a space in England’s bowling attack for the fifth Investec Ashes Test, which begins on August 21.Bresnan was preferred to Steven Finn for the second Test at Lord’s and has performed well in the series with 10 wickets and two crucial contributions in the closely-fought fourth Test at Chester-le-Street.Bresnan made 45 in England’s second-innings to boost his side’s lead before making a breakthrough with the wicket of David Warner when Australia were on course to chase 299 for victory. England went on to win comfortably and clinch the series.But now Bresnan will be unable to help England attempt to win their fourth Test of the series at The Oval. Bresnan will begin a recovery and rehabilitation programme and a date for his return to cricket will be determined in due course.The injury is the latest setback for Bresnan who needed elbow surgery for the second time in February which ruled him out of England’s tour of New Zealand.His absence is a blow to England’s one-day plans. He has been a feature in limited-overs cricket and helped England reach the final of the Champions Trophy in June. England take on Australia in two T20s on August 29 and 31 before a five-match ODI series starting on September 6.Before then, England will need to draft another bowler into their attack for The Oval Test match. Finn was selected for the first Test at Trent Bridge but, having been left out for the Lord’s Test, has not featured in England’s squad for the third or fourth Tests. Chris Tremlett was included in the 13 for Old Trafford and Durham without being included in the XI but could get an opportunity on his home ground.

Nick Compton may not have much idea what the future holds for him as far as England is concerned but he has finally pledged his domestic future to Somerset for the next three years

Paul Edwards at Edgbaston22-Aug-2013
ScorecardNick Compton looked far more relaxed after signing a new Somerset deal•Getty Images

There can be few more obvious ways of demonstrating your loyalty to a county than by signing a new contract when they are threatened by relegation and then scoring important runs which may help avert that indignity.Nick Compton may not have much idea what the future holds for him as far as England is concerned but he has finally pledged his domestic future to Somerset for the next three years. And on a blissful late summer evening in Edgbaston, the opener put his bat where his pen was by making an unbeaten 83 as Somerset fought back on the third day of their Division One game against Warwickshire.By the close of play Compton’s innings, which had included ten crisp, confident boundaries, had helped Somerset establish a 66-run lead going into the final day of this match. A draw is now favourite and those three points may be vital in helping Marcus Trescothick’s team avoid relegation; but wherever the game is heading, it has at last become clear that Compton is moving nowhere.Opting to stay at Taunton may not have been a straightforward decision for the opener. He had been courted by richer and rather more fashionable counties, Warwickshire included. However, he has finally decided to stay at the county where he has produced his best cricket and his play on Thursday evening was both carefree and conscientious, as if he could finally apply himself to the business of scoring runs.Yet batting was not easy on the third evening. Jeetan Patel carried a continual threat and had a confident lbw shout against Compton turned down when the opener had made 63. By then the offspinner had dismissed Trescothick for the second time in the match when the Somerset captain edged him to Rikki Clarke. Nor could the Taunton hierarchy have been too ecstatic to see Chris Jones run himself out for 16 when attempting a third run to Clarke’s arm in the penultimate over of the day.But Compton remained steadfast and secure, and while he does so it is hard to see how Warwickshire will achieve the win they need to further their ambitions. A game may be “set up” of course, but it is surely unlikely that Somerset will risk three hard-won points unless the terms offered were judged to be very favourable to them.By contrast to Compton’s careful approach, Warwickshire’s batting on the third day was rather profligate. Having lost their first three wickets for 38 runs on the second morning, they proceeded to lose their last seven for exactly 100 runs, leaving Laurie Evans and Ateeq Javid’s 269-run stand as a monument amid much rubble.Evans was the first to depart on Thursday, trapped on the crease by Peter Trego when he had added only eight to his overnight 130. Tim Ambrose was then beaten by an Alfonso Thomas delivery which nipped back off the seam and the dangerous Clarke was run out three balls later when Thomas got a touch to a drive from Javid.That left Warwickshire on 327 for 6 but the 39-year-old Darren Maddy then batted with the good judgement of twenty summers, and if his colleagues had been able to support him, the home side may well have gained the 100-run or more advantage they craved instead of the 67-run lead for which they had to settle.Indeed, Varun Chopra’s team lost their last four wickets in 14 overs after lunch, the first of them when Javid pushed tentatively at George Dockrell and was caught behind for a career-best 133. Things got worse for them when both Keith Barker and last man Patel were stumped by Craig Kieswetter off Dockrell, dismissals which sandwiched No. 10 Tom Milnes holing out at mid-on, also off the spinner.All three wickets were, to some degree at least, given away by the home side in a manner unbefitting champions. Dockrell, who had maintained a tight line for virtually the whole of his 43.4-over spell, collected 6 for 96 – nice figures if you can get ’em. Maddy, who had scarcely made an error, was left stranded on 40 and could have been excused for wondering if it was, after all, time to hang up his boots and take to coaching.

Mumbai Indians didn’t have too much trouble as they chased down 141 and kept their campaign alive, and virtually eliminated Lions

The Report by Siddarth Ravindran27-Sep-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Dwayne Smith’s half-century steered Mumbai Indians’ chase•BCCI

Mumbai Indians were huge favourites going into two previous encounters with Lions in the Champions League, and on both occasions they had come up short. This time, there was the added pressure of it being a must-win encounter and the challenge of a juicy pitch with pace that reminded the Lions captain, Alviro Petersen, of the track at his home ground in Johannesburg. Mumbai didn’t buckle this time, though, coasting to a seven-wicket victory on the back of a typically power-packed half-century from Dwayne Smith and a superb spell from Harbhajan Singh.The match had been shifted out from Ahmedabad due to the persistent rains there, and while the skies were clearer in Jaipur, there was still an early interruption as the floodlights failed, holding up play for over 20 minutes.Before that, there had been a glimpse of the bounce in the surface as Mitchell Johnson got a short delivery to lift off, flying for a one-bounce four with no intervention from the batsman. Still, the early help in the track which had both captains eager to bowl first didn’t bother Lions too much as they reached 40 for 1 after five overs.Mumbai then wrestled the advantage in a passage that began with a Rishi Dhawan maiden. Harbhajan’s straighter one – which he used frequently – foxed Quinton de Kock. Neil McKenzie, Lions’ hero in both their previous matches against Mumbai, showed glimpses of his ability with a deft reverse-sweep and a supremely-timed six over long-on. He, however, misread Dhawan’s incutter to be bowled for 15, and with Pragan Ojha striking in his first two overs, Lions were soon stumbling at 81 for 5.Ojha’s third over was taken for two sixes – including a 103m hit by Dwaine Pretorius – as he and Petersen struck a 59-run unbeaten partnership that took Lions to a reasonable total of 140. With the new ball jagging around, beating the bat consistently, Lions still had a chance of defending the total.Their hopes were raised as the wait for a big score from Sachin Tendulkar continued when he was baffled by a slower one from Sohail Tanvir, and Dinesh Karthik also departed early.A muscular innings from Smith, though, dashed Lions’ chances. It was not the most fluent knock, as there were several edges, and he missed the ball repeatedly, but when he connected properly, the ball rocketed to the boundary. His runs came almost exclusively on the leg-side as he used the short-arm pull and the launch over long-on quite effectively.The asking-rate was never out of hand, and even though Kieron Pollard took some time to settle after Rohit Sharma’s dismissal, the chase was completed with nine deliveries to spare. Pollard made up for lost time with three big sixes, and Smith stayed till the end to leave Lions hoping for something of a miracle to make it to the semi-finals.

X-rays have revealed that Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim has suffered a sprain on his injured right ring finger on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan

Mohammad Isam in Khulna29-Apr-2015X-rays have revealed that Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim has sprained his right ring finger on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan. Imrul Kayes kept wicket in his place from the final drinks break till stumps.”The X-rays didn’t show anything serious like a fracture,” Bangladesh media manager Rabeed Imam said. “He will now be taking medicine and applying ice. Whether he will take the field on the third day will depend on how the pain is managed tonight.”The incident occurred in the 35th over when Azhar Ali edged debutant seamer Mohammad Shahid. Mushfiqur dived full length to his right but the ball struck low on his hand and popped out, giving the batsman a third life. Immediately afterwards though, Mushfiqur needed medical attention from Bangladesh physio Bayjedul Islam.Mushfiqur kept wicket for another eleven balls before he left for the dressing room at 3.55pm as the drinks trolley rolled out. Tamim Iqbal, the vice-captain, led the side till the end of the day’s play.

After spending nearly a year out of the national side, Sohag Gazi is keen on approaching his comeback as a newcomer

Mohammad Isam01-Jul-2015Sohag Gazi was among the bowlers wearing a different t-shirt in Bangladesh’s nets at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday.The colour, design or logo of the t-shirt isn’t of much consequence since usually only the current Bangladesh squad members get issued the practice uniform. In his first net session with the senior side since last August however, Gazi felt the disparity between him and the Bangladesh players.”I have learned a lot from the outside in these months,” Gazi said. “I am bowling in the national team’s nets after a long time but I am wearing this [South Zone] t-shirt. It felt awkward bowling in the nets without wearing a national team jersey. Everyone else was wearing one. It is quite natural to feel this way and any player would tell you this. I would like to wear the national team’s jersey once again.”His wish would be granted a couple of hours later when the selectors picked him in Bangladesh’s T20 squad for the two-match series against South Africa. This was his first call-up since he was reported for a suspect bowling action after the second ODI against West Indies last year.After testing in Cardiff soon after being reported, he was suspended from bowling on October 8. As part of the remedial work, he was allowed to play in the domestic one-day competition from November 17. But with the second testing of his bowling action still months away, Gazi was not considered in Bangladesh’s World Cup preliminary squad and was later omitted from the central contract list.Later in the same month, he went to Chennai to test his reworked action and was cleared to bowl by the ICC this year.Gazi said in those ten months since he was first reported in West Indies he was supported by his family members and a handful of friends as he tackled life outside the limelight of being an international cricketer.”It was a tough situation. I started quite well as an international player but it suddenly got stopped. I am back now. My family encouraged me, unlike many others. Whoever supports you in tough times is your genuine friend.”I am thankful to my family for helping me. The Bangladesh team is in such a shape that you have to work very hard to get a place,” he said.Gazi famously was given the first over a Test match in November 2012, the first for an off-spinner on Test debut. He was tasked with stopping Chris Gayle which he did after getting smashed for a six off the first ball, getting him caught at long-off in this third over. Three weeks later, he took 4-29 in his ODI debut. But his wicket-tally dried up while his bowling average steadily rose. When he was sidelined after his action was reported, Gazi was not a regular member in Bangladesh’s playing XI. He has only taken four wickets in nine T20s till now, so that too is a concern.”The team is doing so well now that nobody is going to give away their spots. I will try to bowl according to the situation wherever I get a chance. I have played in the World T20s, so I have some idea about the format,” he said.’I will think this is another debut for me. There is no alternative to performing because the competition is stiff’ – Gazi•AFP

Gazi is talking about a new start because a lot has happened since his last international match. Bangladesh had won just two T20s in 2014 till that point but went through a complete change in fortunes since the Zimbabwe series last year. The likes of Taijul Islam and Jubair Hossain have also started well as specialist Test spinners while Arafat Sunny is now a fixture in the ODI side.He understands that he would be facing a lot more competition. “This is really a turning point in my career. The team is doing well, and so are the new guys. It is tough to get into the side competing with them. In a way I am also a new player now.”If I play, I will try to cement my place like I did when I made my international debut. I will think this is another debut for me. There is no alternative to performing because the competition is stiff within the team,” he said.Gazi had undergone slight changes in his foot position while landing on his front foot. He had be more side-on, rather than his original front-on action, with which he has played since his first-class debut in 2010. With his modified action, he has bowled reasonably well for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in the Dhaka Premier League, Barisal Division in the National Cricket League and for South Zone in the Bangladesh Cricket League. He has taken 37 first-class wickets at an average of 37.94 while in List-A cricket, he has picked up 17 wickets.”I think coming back with the new action was the difficult part. I am bowling with a relatively new action. I bowled with the previous action for quite a long time. Maybe because I had little [things] to correct in my action, it took me less time to come back. It was tough nonetheless.”I just wanted to perform regardless of whether I get picked now or not. When the team is doing well, there are very few changes in the squad. I kept trying through my performance,” said Gazi.When he was cleared by the ICC in February this year, Gazi felt like 500kg was lifted from his body, such was his relief. When he was bowling to Mominul Haque after the main nets session was over, Gazi looked more relaxed, and so did his bowling action. Now, in his career’s second coming, he is in for a real test less than three years after his debut.

The odds against Yorkshire retaining the title may be shortening every day but Middlesex ought not to be discounted as contenders just yet, even though Andrew Gale’s team clearly have some momentum.

Jon Culley at Trent Bridge06-Jul-2015Nottinghamshire 180 for 4 (Taylor 77, Franklin 3-26) trail Middlesex 374 (Malan 182*, Harris 73) by 194 runs
ScorecardBrendan Taylor led a steady Notts reply•Getty Images

The odds against Yorkshire retaining the title may be shortening every day but Middlesex ought not to be discounted as contenders just yet, even though Andrew Gale’s team clearly have some momentum. A win for Middlesex here would take them above Durham into second place, albeit having played a game more than the leaders.Yorkshire, moreover, would have a comfortable lead (assuming they go on to beat Warwickshire at Edgbaston). Yet if Middlesex can stay in touch there is the possibility that Yorkshire’s visit to Lord’s in the penultimate round in September could be a title decider. Yorkshire won by four wickets at Headingley in June but it was a close contest in which the champions needed another outstanding performance from Jonny Bairstow to give them the edge.Middlesex strengthened their first-day position by adding 62 runs before Nottinghamshire could claim the final three wickets. The eighth-wicket partnership that turned Sunday in Middlesex’s favour was broken in the eighth over of the morning by a Brett Hutton inswinger. Toby Roland-Jones fell to another swinging ball from Hutton to which he offered no shot but his runs and those of Tim Murtagh were valuable in helping Dawid Malan extended his career-best to 182 not out as Middlesex claimed a fourth batting point for only the second time this season.Nottinghamshire announced the highest membership numbers in the county’s 174-year history, revealing a 15 per cent increase to 8342 for 2015, during the afternoon. Those members need to show some forbearance at the moment, as their team struggles to recover from a poor couple of months in Championship cricket and Twenty20, which has clearly been a key driver in their popularity boom. The win over Worcestershire last week was a step in the right direction in their bid to avoid relegation in the Championship, which would clearly have negative consequences for membership next year. Yet the shortcomings that have undermined them in the last couple of months remain.Alex Hales, whose compelling start to the season brought him 639 runs from his first eight first-class innings, has only 90 from his last seven, the latest ending on 18 when he went to cut a ball from Harris but succeeded only in chopping it down on to his stumps. Michael Lumb, still feeling his way back after missing the first two months of the season following an arm operation, pushed tentatively at a ball from James Franklin and was caught behind.Franklin, the veteran former New Zealand left-armer, was the only Middlesex bowler who managed to make the ball swing to any noteworthy degree. It was the first over of his second spell, from the Pavilion End, that undermined Nottinghamshire’s progress towards a more substantial reply after Brendan Taylor and Steven Mullaney had added 71 for the third wicket. He bowled Taylor with an inswinger that the former Zimbabwean captain played all round and, two balls later, took a return catch in his follow-through as Riki Wessels tried to flick the ball away on the leg side.Taylor made 77, his second half-century in as many matches and his fifth all told in the Championship, three of which he has converted to hundreds. He has 742 runs for the season so far, which is a fair return given that his signing brought Nottinghamshire more criticism for importing another batsman at the expense of home grown talent, although with Jake Libby injured after his impressive introduction last season there were extenuating circumstances. Only Jonny Bairstow and James Hildreth have scored more Division One runs than Taylor.Speaking afterwards, Taylor said he felt he owed his team-mates some runs after putting down two chances in the slips on the first day. “I’ve been fairly consistent in the slips over the years but I’ve dropped a few too many this season,” he said. “It’s been a little different catching Duke balls to Kookaburra ones but they’ve been very catchable chances I’ve put down. There’s no excuses.”Samit Patel cannot cite unfamiliarity with the make of ball as an explanation for his two misses at point on Sunday, which between them cost 162 runs, nine to Harris and 153 to Malan. He had carefully cleared 12 of his personal deficit by the close, with Mullaney, who batted impressively under some pressure, unbeaten on 57, his second half-century of the season, although with 45 more needed to reach Nottinghamshire’s first target, of avoiding the follow-on, the two will need to work with equal diligence on the third morning.

After winning 21 straight matches at the World T20 Qualifier, Ireland’s batting funk has now led to two straight defeats, as Hong Kong stunned the hosts by defending 129 for a five-run win

The Report by Peter Della Penna in Malahide17-Jul-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAfter winning 21 straight matches at the World T20 Qualifier, Ireland’s batting funk has now led to two straight defeats, as Hong Kong stunned the hosts by defending 129 for a five-run win. Mark Chapman’s gritty 30 in Hong Kong’s innings was backed up by an inspired bowling unit spearheaded by captain Tanwir Afzal’s opening four-over spell of 0 for 9 to hold Ireland down to 124 for 8.After rain delayed the start of the second innings, Hong Kong’s pace bowlers also benefitted from intermittent bursts of showers that were never enough to take the players off the field but added moisture to the pitch and made batting difficult as the chase wore on.While Afzal was stingy from one end, he struggled to find a bowling partner to keep the pressure up at the other, and Ireland appeared on course for victory after Paul Stirling torched Aizaz Khan for 20 runs to move the score to 43 for 1. But the introduction of Irfan Ahmed in the ninth over turned the tide Hong Kong’s way as he got Stirling pulling to deep midwicket for 34 and Ireland’s innings sputtered from there.Kevin O’Brien fell three overs later with only 11 more added to the total, run-out for 5 after hesitating for a second on Irfan’s arm from long on, as Nizakat Khan’s tight spell of legspin generated pressure on the field. Gary Wilson and William Porterfield added 30 for the fourth wicket but Wilson fell at a critical stage for 16, caught behind off Aizaz .Porterfield was bowled for 28 by Haseeb Amjad as Hong Kong continued to surge in the field, and Stuart Thompson was run out on the following ball by a direct hit from the captain Afzal at mid off to leave Ireland needing 25 off two overs with four wickets in hand. Irfan bowled a magnificent two-run 19th over to cap off figures of 4-0-11-3, claiming Stuart Poynter with a thin edge behind and George Dockrell caught in the deep for a duck.With 23 needed off the final over, John Mooney hit a boundary back down the ground off the first ball from Haseeb, but a dot was followed by a two and wide to bring it to 16 off three balls. A yorker on the fourth legal delivery clinched the win, Mooney’s six and four off the last two balls only making the final margin closer than it actually was.Ireland badly missed the experience of Niall O’Brien, who was out after twisting a knee in the loss to Papua New Guinea. His status for the rest of the tournament is unknown.The hosts inserted Hong Kong after winning the toss but could not capitalise on some early chances that turned out to be costly in the end, none more so than when Nizakat was dropped on 0 after Porterfield’s brilliant one-handed effort at backward point failed to stick. Nizakat made 25 off 21 balls, serving as the aggressor in a 44-run stand with Anshuman Rath who made 22 off 35 balls before he was bowled around his legs by Dockrell.Nizakat fell to an excellent leg-side stumping off Kevin O’Brien with Wilson standing up, and Babar Hayat missed a sweep to give Dockrell his second wicket in the 13th over making it 74 for 4. It was left to Chapman to give Hong Kong a fighting chance and he dug in until the final ball, hitting five fours along the way.Crucially, Chapman hit three of those boundaries off the final seven balls of the innings – working his way around the leg side with a drive over mid on, a slog over midwicket and a scoop over fine leg – before falling in the deep off the last ball. While the bowlers received most of the plaudits in the end, it was the 21-year-old vice-captain whose unsung efforts gave the bowlers a platform to defend.The win gives Hong Kong a chance of finishing as high as second in the group if they can secure wins over USA and Namibia in their final two Group A matches. Ireland’s second loss in Group A now means that Papua New Guinea need to win just one of their final two games against Namibia or USA to clinch first place and force Ireland into playing at least one extra match to secure a spot in next year’s World T20.