Coach Chris Silverwood invoked memories of a victory following on against Hampshire when Essex last won the title 25 years ago – and they did it again

ECB Reporters Network22-Sep-20171:29

County Championship Round-up: Essex’s stunning comeback

Sam Cook took a maiden first class five wicket haul as champions Essex pulled off an extraordinary 108-run victory despite earlier being forced to follow-on against Hampshire.Fast bowler Cook blasted through Hampshire’s top order to end with figures of five for 18, and leave the relegation threatened home side with their lowest total since 1984 – as they were bowled out for 76.It was the first time since 1999, when they beat Nottinghamshire, that Essex managed to win a Specsavers County Championship match after being asked to follow-on.Incidentally, the previous occasion, the second of three in their history, was also against Hampshire, at Bournemouth’s Dean Park, in their last Championship winning campaign 25 years ago.Cook revealed that coach Chris Silverwood had invoked the spirit of that victory when Essex were at their lowest.”It is an amazing environment to thrive in with everyone so happy after winning the Championship,” he said.”Silvers talked about the 1992 following on win against Hampshire in the dressing room a few days ago when we were a few wickets down and looking down in the dumps.”He said ‘this happened 25 years ago, why can’t it happen again?’ and it just sums up our season as a whole that history has repeated itself.”Hampshire, who had bowled Essex out for 76 in the first innings, had been set 185 runs to win – after Neil Wagner and James Foster’s 82 run partnership for the eighth wicket put the wheels in motion for the remarkable win.Hampshire’s pursuit started poorly as Joe Weatherley was pinned lbw as he walked across his stumps by Sam Cook in his first over. It got worse five overs later as Tom Alsop edged Jamie Porter behind.Cook then deceived Jimmy Adams by coming around the wicket and wide of the crease to clatter a delivery into the left-hander’s off stump.The 20 year old, making just his third Championship appearance as he prepares for the final year of his history degree, then produced a wicked inswinger to bowl George Bailey.
Hampshire had lost three wickets without scoring a run as they were stuck on 12.Sean Ervine was lbw to Porter, his 70th scalp of the season, leaving the hosts 25 for 5.
Vince, one of three batsmen to depart for 10, was next to fall as he was lbw to the rampant Cook.Off spinner Simon Harmer entered the attack in the 21st over and struck with his first delivery as he bowled Liam Dawson with a vicious spinner – Hampshire now 37 for 7.Wagner then grabbed two wickets as Gareth Berg edged to first slip and Kyle Abbott guided to cover point.Cook completed the innings as Fidel Edwards edged behind, with Ian Holland unbeaten on an innings-high 16.Starting the day just 69 runs ahead, Essex saw skipper Ryan ten Doeschate depart just six balls into the day as Edwards continued where he had left off on the previous evening by striking him on the pads.Three balls into the next over Abbott produced an inswinging yorker to cartwheel nightwatchman Porter’s middle stump.Ian Holland grabbed the eighth Essex wicket by finding the edge of Harmer’s dangling bat but Foster and Wagner then put on their useful stand to swing the game in Essex’s favour for the first time.New Zealander Wagner in particular swung his bat with gusto to find himself reaching an entertaining 44 – before one shot too many saw him caught on the midwicket boundary.Foster was the last man to fall after a match-aware 47 before he was leg before to Abbott – his eighth wicket of the match.But Hampshire’s incredible collapse, which leaves them within touching distance above the relegation zone, made sure Essex remained unbeaten with the most unlikely of their nine wins this season.Hampshire’s head coach Craig White said: “We were hoping to chase a few less, maybe around 120-130 and it could have been difference, although that would have been tough the way they bowled.”Everyone needs to take a look at themselves in the mirror and find out why we keep losing clumps of wickets. It needs addressing.”

The eighth-wicket pair blunt West Indies for 48.4 overs on final day after Raza heroics; visitors clinch series 1-0

The Report by Liam Brickhill in Bulawayo02-Nov-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
AFP

Zimbabwe’s battling rearguard secured a draw in the second Test at Queens Sports Club, but West Indies still took the series 1-0, their first Test series win under Jason Holder. Sikandar Raza’s 89 and Regis Chakabva’s 71 not out formed the backbone of their effort on the final day. Their obduracy was matched by Graeme Cremer, the captain, who blunted 150 deliveries for his 28 not out when both sides shook hands and settled for a draw at the start of the mandatory overs.Raza, who also scored 80 in the first innings, became the second player in history after Jacques Kallis to pass 80 twice and take five wickets in a Test, was named Man of the Match. Devendra Bishoo, with 13 wickets across two Tests, was named Man of the Series.While the match ended very tamely in the afternoon, West Indies had been probing with both seam and spin for much of the day, with wickets shared around. But neither the old ball nor the new could prise a limpet-like Chakabva from the crease, and he added an unbroken 91 with Cremer to stall West Indies’ push for victory.Chakabva played and missed several deliveries during the day and even ducked into a Holder bouncer that never got above waist height, but his defence held firm when it really mattered and bad balls were met with confident strokes. It had been eight innings – and almost three years – since he last passed fifty in a Test match, and this knock, which stretched on for almost 64 overs, will go some way towards securing his place in the side for their next Test against South Africa.The hosts were also buoyed by Raza’s gritty innings, which stretched for more than five hours and 203 deliveries before he inside edged a Holder inswinger onto his stumps. During a brave, battling knock Raza survived an lbw decision given against him and a withering blow to the knee, cobbling together stands of 98 with PJ Moor, 28 with Malcolm Waller and 38 with Chakabva.Much of his work with Moor came on Wednesday, and the pair had had added just four runs to their partnership when West Indies broke through almost first thing this morning. Holder positioned Shai Hope at gully, having noticed the angled bat that Moor was playing with. The plan worked to perfection, Moor guiding a length delivery straight to the fielder to depart for 42, Zimbabwe 144 for 5.A nervous starter, Waller settled in against the quicks, but the introduction of spin quickly brought another wicket. Coming around the stumps and landing a ball in the rough outside leg, Bishoo ripped one across him and a tame poke presented an easy catch to Jermaine Blackwood at slip.Zimbabwe were 172 for 6 when Waller fell an hour or so before lunch and the new ball was available, but as was the case in Zimbabwe’s first innings West Indies decided not to take it straight away. There was still significant movement and inconsistent bounce for the quicks, and the softening old ball also ensured that neither Raza nor Chakabva could get full value for all their shots.Raza, who had survived a West Indies review in the morning, used a review of his own to reverse an lbw decision against him five overs into his partnership with Chakabva. Roach was by this time getting the old ball to reverse alarmingly, and hooped one past Raza’s hopping glance to strike him on the left knee roll. Roach bellowed an appeal, and Dharmasena gave it out almost immediately, but the review showed the ball missing leg stump. In the same over Roach snaked a waspish delivery in viciously to strike Raza on the inner knee. He was able to continue batting, but hobbled his way through to lunch.At the other end, Chakabva opened his account from his 14th delivery, and swiped a brace of boundaries when Bishoo dropped short. He showed some uncertainty outside off stump against the genuine pace of Gabriel, but did enough to survive and keep stretching out Zimbabwe’s lead.West Indies did finally take the new ball in the over before lunch, and Holder used it to break breach Raza’s defences just after the interval. Playing the wrong line to one that jagged in to him, Raza had his off stump disturbed. A window had opened for West Indies with Zimbabwe tottering at 210 for 7, with the better part of two sessions remaining.But West Indies had used up all their reviews trying to get rid of Raza, and this detail gained crucial importance as the afternoon wore on. First, Cremer gloved a bouncer from Holder onto his shoulder, the chance being pouched by a leaping Dowrich, but the appeal was turned down.Then, ten minutes before tea, Roston Chase zipped one in to Cremer’s pads, but the appeal lacked conviction and umpire Kumar Dharmasena wasn’t convinced. Replays showed three reds on the ball tracker. Moments before the tea interval, Chase once again struck Cremer on the pad, but again it was given not out and West Indies could do nothing about the decision.Cremer made the most of the chances, soaking up well over 100 deliveries, and after tea it soon became apparent that the match was drifting inexorably towards a draw. Kraigg Brathwaite, Blackwood and Kieran Powell took over bowling duties from a tired attack, and with shadows lengthening the captains got together and decided to bring a hard-fought Test to an end.

Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud is likely to step into Chandika Hathurusingha’s position as the national head coach, at least on an interim basis if the BCB is unable to find a foreign coach

George Dobell and Mohammad Isam21-Nov-2017Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud is likely to step into Chandika Hathurusingha’s position as the national head coach, at least on an interim basis if the BCB is unable to find a foreign coach. BCB president Nazmul Hassan said the chances of Mahmud taking over were the “highest” even as they continued to look for a foreign coach. It is understood former England coach Andy Flower has turned down an approach to take over, while another potential target, the former Australia opener Justin Langer, has also been ruled out.”If we don’t get a foreign coach before the Sri Lanka series, then we will look at a local coach,” Hassan said on Monday. “We have Khaled Mahmud Shujon; the possibilities of him taking over are highest.” Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are scheduled to play an ODI tri-series in January.Flower is understood to have informed the BCB he was happy with his current role coaching England Lions. Long term, however, the ECB may face a fight to retain Flower’s services. It is understood he has been in demand from domestic and international teams in recent months and there may well come a time when he decides it is time to move on. He is understood to have told the Bangladesh board that he was flattered but the time was not right. He declined to comment. Flower was recently coach for a World XI side that traveled to Pakistan on a path-breaking tour, and has held a coaching role in the recent past with Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League as well.Langer, meanwhile, signed a three-year deal with Western Australia as head coach at the start of this season and has often been touted as a future Australia coach.The position of the Bangladesh head coach became vacant when Hathurusingha stepped down during the South Africa tour last month and the news became public in November. The exact reasons behind Hathurusingha’s resignation remain unclear – Hassan said they were still waiting to hear the reasons from him – he is already in line to take over as Sri Lanka’s head coach soon.

Mumbai’s landmark 500th game continued to turn sour as the visitors took a substantial lead with six wickets still in hand

The Report by Annesha Ghosh in Mumbai10-Nov-2017
Scorecard
Aditya Waghmode raises his bat after reaching a hundred•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

A hundred, coupled with two century stands, bore the hallmark of Mumbai’s fabled school of cricket one would have expected to witness in the side’s 500th Ranji Trophy appearance. Only it came from the opposition, Baroda, led by opener Aditya Waghmode and captain Deepak Hooda, who set-up a 205-run lead with six wickets in hand at the end of the second day.Waghmode, unbeaten on 15 overnight, was watchful and scratchy in equal measure for the greater part of the opening hour. His first assured stroke fetched him his second four in the morning session as he drove Shardul Thakur through the covers. An over later, he edged past a diving Ajinkya Rahane at gully and brought up the team’s hundred.His focus, however, was best exemplified through the 112 dots he played out of 134 balls to reach his half-century; the cover drive that took him to the mark a testament to the flair he exhibited through the remainder of his 309-ball 138. By the time an edge off Shreyas Iyer found Rahane at first-slip less than an hour before stumps, Waghmode had hit 13 fours and a six.Keeping him company for nearly 40 overs was Hooda who traded his natural flamboyance for watchfulness for the better half of his innings. His relief shot was an inside-out six that took Baroda into the lead, before he was dropped on 38 by wicketkeeper Aditya Tare off an attempted pull that he gloved down leg. A flick off Thakur brought up his seventh fifty and 2000th run in first-class cricket.Two vociferous caught-behind appeals – the second when he was on 56 – and a missed stumping followed, before two big hits took his sixes tally against spinner Vijay Gohil to five. Hooda’s charmed stay, however, ended shortly after Baroda notched up 250. Gohil got him to pull one to deep-midwicket when he was on 75.Waghmode’s vigil at the crease was also aided by No. 3 batman Vishnu Solanki and No. 5 Swapnil Singh, who compounded Mumbai’s woes with knocks of 54 and an unbeaten 63 repsectively. While Solanki added 85 for the second wicket with Waghmode, Singh stitched together 105 for the fourth.Gohil’s unconvincing left-arm sliders leaked 115 runs for a solitary scalp in 26 overs, whereas frontline quicks Dhawal Kulkarni and Abhishek Nayar remained wicketless through their combined 34.1 overs on day two. Thakur, who was introduced into the 35th over, however troubled the batsmen routinely with his relentlessly accurate lines. Of the three spells – amounting to 21 overs – he fired, the second spewed most venom as he unleashed a barrage of short balls that copped the helmet and shoulders of Hooda and Waghmode occasionally.Mumbai’s luckless day with the ball, however, began with Royston Dias, their only wicket-taker from the previous evening, pulling out of his run-up into the fifth ball of his opening spell. After he walked off the field, clutching his right thigh, Kulkarni completed the over and bowled in tandem with Nayar for the major part of the first hour. A Waghmode outside-edge that fell between second and wide-third-slip was first of at least seven other that flew towards the slip cordon, but never quite into their hands.With a five-four field in favour of the legside, and Baroda at 145 for 2, Kulkarni set up Hooda for a pull that fell inches short of a diving Siddesh Lad at deep square-leg. The following ball, a bouncer knocked Waghmode down, with the ball ballooning off the splice of the bat, onlt to fall short of Rahane at gully. The next one pinged him on the front foot but missed leg only slightly. Waghmode, who was then on 57 off 155 went on to score his sixth first-class hundred, and Kulkarni’s anguished fist punch encapsulated Mumbai’s oscillation between hope and despair.

They have now become the country’s most successful first-class team having eclipsed five-time champions Rajshahi Divison

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Dec-2017Tier 1Khulna Division completed a hat-trick of National Cricket League titles after crushing Dhaka Division by an innings and 49 runs. They have now become the country’s most successful first-class team having eclipsed five-time champions Rajshahi Divison.Mehidy Hasan set up the victory at the BKSP-3 ground with a seven-wicket haul in the first innings as Dhaka were bowled out for 113 in 38.4 overs. Mehidy’s 7 for 24 was his best bowling figures, and he finished the game with his third 10-for in first-class cricket.Khulna replied with 459 for 8 in only 91 overs with Anamul Haque making his second first-class double-hundred while Mahedi Hasan blasted 177. Anamul struck 23 fours and four sixes in his 251-ball 202. Mahedi hammered 21 fours and two sixes in his 160-ball effort. The pair added 295 runs for the second wicket.Later, Mehidy and Rubel Hossain took three wickets each as Dhaka were bowled out for 297 in their second innings on the fourth morning.Nasir Hossain fell five runs short of a triple-century during Rangpur Division‘s drawn game against Barisal Division in Chittagong. Nasir’s 295, spanning ten hours and 510 balls and including 32 fours and three sixes, is now the second-highest score by a Bangladeshi in a first-class match.His 368-run fifth wicket stand with Ariful Haque, who made 162, is now the fifth highest stand in Bangladesh’s first-class history. Ariful struck 10 fours and two sixes in his 290-ball effort. Their partnership was the cornerstone of Rangpur’s mammoth 614 for 7 in reply to Barisal’s first=innings 335. Sohag Gazi had top-scored for Barisal with 99.Barisal reached 217 for four on the final day and were relegated to Tier 2 alongside Dhaka Division.Milton Ahmed

Tier 2Rajshahi Division were one of two teams to earn promotion for next season’s NCL after they drew their last Tier-2 game against Dhaka Metropolis.Batting first, Dhaka Metro posted 328 with Shadman Islam and Marshall Ayub hitting fifties. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam took 5 for 105.Rajshahi’s reply was massive, as they posted 668 in 152.4 overs. Nazmul Hossain Shanto made 194 with 21 fours in seven hours and 42 minutes. He was involved in a record 341-run opening partnership with Mizanur Rahman, who made 175 off 210 balls, which included 30 fours and two sixes. Their partnership is a new high for opening stands in Bangladesh’s domestic cricket.Later, Farhad Reza also chipped in with 106 off 151 balls, an innings included 12 fours and five sixes.The game meandered to a draw as Dhaka Metro reached 118 for five on the final day. Shafiul Islam took three wickets.Sylhet Division also gained promotion to next year’s Tier 1 after a drawn game against Chittagong Division.Chittagong were bowled out for 215 with Abul Hasan and Enamul Haque jnr taking three wickets each. Yasir Ali top-scored with 81.Offspinner Iftekhar Sajjad then took a five-wicket haul as Sylhet were shot out for just 137. Left-arm quick Mehedi Hasan Rana took three wickets.Chittagong then stretched their lead to 458 thanks to more good form from Yasir, who struck an unbeaten century. His 102 came off 176 balls and contained seven fours and a six.Rajin Saleh then played a typical backs-to-the-wall innings to save Sylhet from defeat, his 104 coming in five hours and 36 minutes on the final day. Sylhet reached 309 for 7 in 126 overs. Iftekhar and Rana took three wickets each.

They stand one win away from making the tri-nation series final, but to achieve that on Tuesday, against the in-form Bangladesh side, their batsmen need to step up

The Preview by Mohammad Isam22-Jan-2018

Big Picture

A confirmed place in the final of a tournament is something new for Bangladesh, especially when they still have two group matches left to play. However, they should not be complacent taking on a side that is one win away from making it to the final.But Zimbabwe do need to fix a few things. As was clear in Sunday’s loss to Sri Lanka, their batting tends to fizzle out after a good start. Hamilton Masakadza and Solomon Mire may hold the key once again. They will have to find a way to counter Bangladesh’s spinners, but a little bit of support might help. In the middle order, Craig Ervine has made four runs in three innings. Brendan Taylor still appears to be easing back into international cricket again. Malcolm Waller and Peter Moor have been under par too.A different kind of challenge awaits the Bangladesh batsmen. Blessing Muzarabani and Kyle Jarvis will want to test them with pace and bounce and, as such, the in-form Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan will want to mix aggression with discretion. The home side would also want bigger contributions from Anamul Haque and Sunzamul Islam, given how there are other players vying for their spots.

Form guide

Bangladesh: WWLLL
Zimbabwe: LWLWWShakib Al Hasan attempts a cut shot•AFP

In the spotlight

Shakib Al Hasan has already made the No. 3 position his own, looking assured while chasing or while building on a good start when batting first. His bowling too has been good, having picked up three wickets in each of the two matches. He will want to keep his form going, going into the final.Craig Ervine has scores of 0, 2 and 2 in the series so far. He has scored only one fifty in his last 10 innings and would want to put in a big performance soon.

Team news

Zimbabwe’s trouble against left-arm spin means that Sunzamul Islam is likely to return to the playing XI. Mohammad Saifuddin could be benched as a result.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Anamul Haque, 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Nasir Hossain, 7 Sabbir Rahman, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 9 Sunzamul Islam, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Rubel HossainZimbabwe could be switching wicketkeepers to give Taylor some relief from back trouble. Craig Ervine’s form may raise eyebrows but he is a long-term No. 3 and is likely to be given another chance.Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Solomon Mire, 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Brendon Taylor, 5 Sikandar Raza, 6 Malcolm Waller, 7 Peter Moor (wk), 8 Graeme Cremer (capt), 9 Kyle Jarvis, 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Tendai Chatara

Pitch and conditions

The Mirpur pitches have been a bit hard to bat on early in the afternoon, but batsmen who have decided to grind it out for at least 20 overs have found reward later on in the innings. The weather remains great, with low temperatures and a cool breeze.

Stats and trivia

• Shakib Al Hasan’s six wickets in the first two matches this year is equal to how many he took in 14 ODIs in 2017
• Sikandar Raza is 14 runs short of scoring 2,000 ODI runs

Quotes

“All the players from this group are hungry to achieve something in the series. It’s a very good sign.”

The hosts need to figure out their team balance and find a way to match India in every department if they are to keep the series alive

The Preview by Firdose Moonda20-Feb-2018

BCCI

Big picture

South Africa are less than 24 hours away from what could become groundhog day. After having conceded the ODI series, South Africa will lose the T20I series too if they don’t win at SuperSport Park, and they will be no closer to the answers to their questions about team balance and candidates for the future tournaments. And they will have to wait until mid-year to find out.Their next limited-overs assignment will come in Sri Lanka, when South Africa hope to have put most of their World Cup puzzle together. Though the T20s have very little to do with that, they will have the more immediate effect that could spill over into what remains of a big summer. South Africa cannot afford to go into a series against Australia low on morale and probably shouldn’t because they won the Test series against India, but these defeats – their magnitude and their manner, will sting.India have dominated since winning the Wanderers Test with a formula that just works. Their top three keep piling the runs on, Bhuvneshwar Kumar continues to impress and the spinners do the rest. They’ve even become adept at defending a total.For South Africa to have any say in the series, they have to find a way of matching India in each of the areas. The experienced batsmen have to score runs, the inexperienced bowlers have to channel their discipline and whichever spinner plays has to become less of a target. But it is difficult to see all of that coming together in the space of a few days, especially given how hangdog South Africa appear to be. Perhaps all they’re doing is counting down, not to avoid groundhog day, but until this series is over.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa: LWWLW
India: WWWWW

In the spotlight

With the Test series against Australia looming, Chris Morris will want to make a statement in an otherwise quiet summer if he wants to force himself into contention. Morris has neither batted nor bowled with the impact a player of his reputation should and in a sea of underperforming players, he will want to stand out. Morris scored 39 in the ODI series opener and his numbers have dwindled since. His bowling form isn’t encouraging either: he has only taken three wickets in the six limited-overs matches he’s played against India this summer.Suresh Raina had the shots of a man who wants to play in the 2019 World Cup but was dismissed in a way that suggested he may not get there unless there is some focus behind his intent. He smacked two fours and a six off seven balls and then cleared his front leg aiming for the rope again but sent a leading edge back to the bowler. Raina will want more time in the middle as he looks to make his case for the World Cup.

Team news

The only changes South Africa could make to the batting line-up is the inclusion of uncapped batsman Christiaan Jonker, but it will have to be at the expense of one of their experienced players, so they might save him for Cape Town. Aaron Phangiso could get a look-in instead of Tabraiz Shamsi.South Africa (probable): 1 Reeza Hendricks 2 Jon-Jon Smuts 3 JP Duminy (capt), 4 David Miller, 5 Farhaan Behardien, 6 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 7 Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Chris Morris, 9 Dane Paterson, 10 Junior Dala, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi/Aaron PhangisoWith India looking to close out the series after a strong performance in the opener, they are unlikely to make any changes.India: (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Virat Kohli (capt), 5 Manish Pandey, 6 MS Dhoni (wk), 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Jaydev Unadkat, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal

Pitch and conditions

It’s SuperSport Park groundsman Bryan Bloy’s last chance this summer to prepare a pitch the South African team are satisfied with. Despite winning the Test at this venue, South Africa complained about the slowness and turn in the surface and then went on to lose by nine wickets and eight wickets in the second and sixth ODI respectively. India’s spinners took 11 wickets in those two matches, so Bloy’s main challenge will be to create a surface that does not spin. South Africa will want a high-scoring surface with no turn if Bloy is to get into their good books by next summer. There is an 80% chance of afternoon thundershowers, which could delay the start of the match.

Stats and trivia

• The only time India have lost a T20 against South Africa in South Africa was in March 2012, in Johannesburg.
• David Miller has scored exactly 1000 T20 runs for South Africa.

Quotes

“You are going to go through periods in your career, where you go through slumps, be it a senior player or a new player and unfortunately, throughout the series quite a few senior players have come up short, including myself.”

Matt Renshaw subbed out under the concussion rule following a head knock during warm-ups; move made as a precaution, despite the blow not being too severe

Alex Malcolm16-Mar-2018Marnus Labuschagne works the ball to leg•Getty Images

Marnus Labuschagne and Charlie Hemphrey have combined to steer Queensland out of trouble on day three of the Sheffield Shield match in Wollongong.The day started poorly for the Bulls with in form opener Matt Renshaw subbed out of the game under the concussion rule following a head knock during warm-ups. He was substituted as a precaution despite the blow not being too severe.Renshaw’s replacement, Lachlan Pfeffer, and Joe Burns fell early to Trent Copeland to leave the Bulls 2 for 53 in their second innings, needing a further 102 runs to make New South Wales bat again.Labuschagne and Hemphrey then combined for a 246-run partnership that steered the Bulls to safety. Labuschagne posted his fourth first-class century and his highest score of 134 before he became Copeland’s third victim in the 81st over.Hemphrey moved to 95 not out at stumps to give the Bulls a lead of 156 runs with seven wickets in hand heading into the final day.Earlier, Michael Neser and Mark Steketee ensure the Blues lead did not blow out beyond 200. They took the last three wickets of the Blues first innings at a cost of just 20 runs. Sean Abbott failed to add to his overnight score of 79 while Peter Nevill managed just five before he was bowled by Steketee for 57.

Joe Burns makes 97 on his return from a serious groin injury

Alex Malcolm14-Mar-2018Getty Images

Trent Copeland’s second straight five wicket-haul has given New South Wales the honours on day one of the Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland in Wollongong.Copeland ran through the Bulls’ top order, taking five of the first six wickets to leave the visitors struggling at 6 for 117. But Joe Burns stood firm on his return from a serious groin injury.Burns and Michael Neser combined to lift the Bulls out of the mire. Burns was out for 97 while Neser made 55 to help post a first-innings total of 243.Blues openers Nick Larkin and Daniel Hughes took the home side safely through to stumps, giving them a chance to post a big first-innings lead on day two.

Virat Kohli’s team could possibly face elimination if they lose to table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday

The Preview by Sruthi Ravindranath06-May-20185:44

Dasgupta: Parthiv, Kohli opening could bail out RCB

Form guide (most recent matches first)

Sunrisers Hyderabad: beat Daredevils by seven wickets, beat Royals by 11 runs, beat Kings XI by 13 runs
RCB: lost to CSK by six wickets, beat Mumbai by 14 runs, lost to KKR by six wickets

Big picture

Virat Kohli could probably sympathise with every fantasy league player. He’s not sure about who is going to perform, and there is no single player he can look at and say he’s my first pick. Royal Challengers Bangalore’s two most economical bowlers in their previous match against Mumbai Indians – Tim Southee and Yuzvendra Chahal – went for over 9.5 against Chennai Super Kings. Even the most reliable batsmen in his arsenal – himself included – were all dismissed for single-digit scores. He also cannot risk dropping many of them because of their unpredictability. What combination does he go with – a dilemma shared by many a fantasy league player.Even after only three wins in nine games, Kohli appears optimistic, perhaps because RCB overcame a bleak win-loss record in 2016 to make it to the final. He will have to sort out the bowling though. RCB have conceded 12.7 runs an over in the death, and now they have started to doze off in the other areas too. RCB were among the best fielding sides two weeks into the season. However, in their last four games, they have dropped eight of 21 attempted catches, which has caused their catch conversion rate to fall from 90% to 61%.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Sunrisers, meanwhile, are comfortably perched on top of the table. They are undisputed masters of defending a total. And in their previous match against Delhi Daredevils, the Sunrisers batsmen pulled off their best chase of the season. Shikhar Dhawan seemed to be finding form, which is good news for them.

Previous meeting

This is the first time these two teams will be meeting this season.

Likely XIs

Sunrisers Hyderabad 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Alex Hales, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Yusuf Pathan, 7 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Sandeep Sharma, 11 Siddarth KaulRoyal Challengers Bangalore 1 Manan Vohra/Parthiv Patel (wk), 2 Brendon McCullum 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 AB de Villiers, 5 Mandeep Singh, 6 Colin de Grandhomme, 7 M Ashwin, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Umesh Yadav, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Mohammed Siraj

Strategy punt

Dhawan has lost his wicket to spinners four times this IPL, and averages only 12 against them. Since 2015, he has been dismissed by legspinners six times in 18 matches, and twice in four matches this season. M Ashwin, who dismissed the in-form Ambati Rayudu and created pressure in the middle overs against CSK, could be used against Dhawan.

Stats that matter

Rashid Khan has arguably been Sunrisers biggest asset. In the seven matches they have won, he has picked up 10 wickets at a barely believable economy-rate of 5.4. He has been especially good in the middle overs, giving away only 130 runs off 120 balls, eight of which resulted in wickets.Umesh Yadav has played under seven captains, but has been reaching new heights with Virat Kohli, averaging 21.2 and striking every 15.7 balls for RCB. Even when he led the KKR bowling attack for 51 matches, he averaged only 28.4 and struck every 20 balls.

Fantasy picks

Rashid undoubtedly makes the list. Kane Williamson’s knocks have been resulting in wins, so he could be another pick. Yusuf Pathan has a particularly good record in Hyderabad – an average of 43 and a strike-rate of 141.9 – and his exploits in the previous match makes him a favourite. From the visitors’ unit, Kohli or AB de Villiers would be the safest options.