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Daniel Vettori embellished his record against his favourite opponent with a fine to lift New Zealand to 356, before Pakistan’s top order put up a determined reply to leave the game evenly balanced

The Bulletin by Nitin Sundar16-Jan-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDanie Vettori’s innings took New Zealand from a dodgy position to one of comfort•Getty Images

Daniel Vettori embellished his record against his favourite opponent with a century that was exemplary for the smoothness of its gear-shifts and guided New Zealand from their dodgy overnight position to a score of 356. New Zealand’s progress centred around the 138-run stand between Vettori and Reece Young, who made his maiden half-century, as Pakistan’s attack played into the home side’s hands with an unimaginative approach during the morning session. Their batsmen, however, showed more enterprise, with Taufeeq Umar and Azhar Ali making half-centuries to lead a strong response. Taufeeq’s late exit left Pakistan at 134 for 2, and the game evenly balanced going into the third day.New Zealand’s seamers came out with purpose after Vettori’s heroics, and plugged away on a length outside off despite not getting much help from the wicket. Bowling into the wind, Tim Southee got one to nip away from Mohammad Hafeez, who hit his pad with the bat as he shaped to drive. Umpire Rod Tucker upheld the appeal, triggering another round of debate around the inconsistency in the implementation of the UDRS.Having found his bearings in the session leading up to tea, Taufeeq checked in with two delectable shots in Southee’s first over of the final session, driving square when he was offered width, and straight when he wasn’t. When the seamers angled into his pads, he made them pay almost every time, while also leaving well throughout his innings, both on line and length.Azhar was more subdued and survived a couple of outside edges, the second of which carried low to a late-reacting Ross Taylor, standing wide at first slip. Despite the odd stutter, Azhar showed glimpses of the determination that marked him out in the tours of England and South Africa. The highlight of his effort was a back-foot square drive off Southee, so delicate that it wasn’t noticed by an unfortunate pigeon in the deep-point area that had its feathers ruffled.With the fast bowlers struggling for impact, New Zealand turned to their captain for inspiration once again, and he nearly intervened in his first over, the 26th of the innings. Young appealed without conviction after juggling a thin inside edge from Taufeeq, which no one else seemed to have noticed. Unperturbed by the reversal, Vettori settled into a searching spell, getting the ball to misbehave occasionally from the rough outside Taufeeq’s off stump. Without the aid of the bowlers’ foot marks, he set up a fascinating tussle with Azhar, testing him with flight and drift, and it was down to the batsman’s fortune that he managed to survive Vettori’s best.When Vettori threatened to tie him up with his variations, Azhar stepped out to launch him inside-out over long-off for his first six in Test cricket. The respite was temporary, and Vettori nearly accounted for him twice, beating him through the air with subtle variations in flight, inducing a couple of miscues that landed safely. Taufeeq was easily the more assured of the two, but succumbed with stumps in sight, jabbing Vettori into the slips for 70. His dismissal reignited New Zealand’s hopes, which had flagged a touch after a dominant morning.Pakistan’s early woes were exemplified by Gul, who showed little of the craft and presence of mind he had displayed on the first day. Then, he had used the wind behind him to hustle the batsmen, while getting the ball to deviate disconcertingly from a length. Today, his average length was at least a foot shorter, and he wasted the new ball with a slew of bouncers and wide deliveries. Vettori and Young were happy to stay back in the crease and pick gaps in the field when they were forced to play. With Wahab Riaz indisposed, Abdur Rehman took over duties at the Scoreboard End and got several deliveries to drift prodigiously into Vettori, but did not have enough spin to work with.Vettori mastered the conditions and the one-dimensional line of attack, to set himself up for a rich harvest. He steered one of Gul’s many harmless, short deliveries for four through the off side, and off the next ball, brought up his first half-century in nearly 10 months, shuffling across to off stump and turning round the corner. When Gul made way for Tanvir at the Vance End, Vettori welcomed him with a crisp on-drive for four more.At the other end, Young showed enough poise to promise a long stint in the national side. He survived his only error in the first hour, top-edging a pull off a Tanvir bouncer behind the wicketkeeper’s head, and brought up his fifty with a thick edge through gully for four more. His dismissal, with lunch round the corner, gave Pakistan an opening, but Vettori was not done with them yet. He seamlessly shifted from the initial brief of crease occupation and produced a raft of innovative strokes to swell New Zealand’s score.Tanvir followed up the ball that dismissed Young with a sharp bouncer that rattled Southee’s helmet, and there were a couple more bumpers from Gul after lunch. Southee did not last long, falling to a fuller one, but Vettori’s innovation earned New Zealand 34 from their last two wickets. He moved across to off stump to nudge Gul’s lifters to the leg side, trotted out of the crease to launch Rehman straight for six, and later reverse-swept him against the spin. Vettori had reached 96 when Gul snaked an incutter through Brent Arnel’s defences. Martin survived four deliveries in fortuitous fashion, working the home crowd into a frenzy of applause, and they soon repeated the routine for Vettori’s well-deserved ton. His batting put New Zealand on top in the morning, and his bowling refused to allow Pakistan to dictate terms thereafter.

Mithali Raj’s determined 91 was in vain as England held their nerve to clinch a thrilling three-run win over India in Bangalore level the five-match series 1-1

Cricinfo staff21-Feb-2010
Scorecard
Jenny Gunn starred in a superb all-round display•Getty Images

Mithali Raj’s determined 91 was in vain as England held their nerve to clinch a thrilling three-run win over India in Bangalore level the five-match series 1-1. Jenny Gunn and Katherine Brunt were the stars for England in a game that went down to the last over. Gunn’s 64, which included eight boundaries, took England to 183, a total that just about proved adequate. That was made possible by Brunt’s five-wicket haul, her career-best figures, and, crucially, Gunn’s own resolve at the death, as she bagged two wickets and effected a run-out to deprive India after a spirited fightback led by Raj.Brunt made early inroads into India’s reply to leave them reeling at 16 for 4 at one stage. Thirush Kamini, who had been injured while fielding, came to bat with a runner but she was forced to retire hurt after she fell trying to duck a short ball by Brunt. However a win that looked improbable at one stage was made to look likely after Raj and Amita Sharma, who chipped in with 40, added 106 for the fifth wicket. Raj’s batting seemed unaffected by the early collapse and she timed and placed her shots beautifully. Isa Guha broke that stand, though Raj received support from captain Jhulan Goswami who took India within 10 runs of England’s score.At 173 for 6, with 11 needed in 19 balls, India looked good to take a 2-0 lead but were thwarted by Gunn, who orchestrated a twist by dismissing Goswami, stumped off a wide.England had looked lethargic during Raj and Goswami’s stand, even fumbling in their fielding, but once Goswami was dismissed they seemed to smell a chance and came back harder.Nooshin Al Khadeer consumed five balls for one run before Gunn struck again to leave India needing nine in two overs with two wickets to come. Brunt returned to bowl Preeti Dimri first ball as Raj was helplessly left to see the game slipping away from India’s grasp. Three wickets had fallen for two runs.India needed five off the last over. Raj took a single off the first. Gouher Sultana defended the second and then hit the third to cover and tried to scramble a single but was run out by Caroline Atkins. There was a brief moment while England waited to see if Kamini would return and broke into excited shrieks when the Indians indicated she wouldn’t. Raj was unbeaten on 91 off 138 balls.While India were hit by Kamini’s injury, England had lost fast bowler Nicky Shaw (feeling under the weather) and keeper Sarah Taylor (injury) shortly before the start of the game. Isa Guha came in place of Shaw and 18-year-old Tammy Beaumont made her debut in, replacing Taylor behind the stumps.Atkins came up the order to open alongside the in-form Ebony Rainford-Brent. However Goswami and Rumeli Dhar bowled full and straight and strangled the batsmen. Atkins was bowled in the 15th over trying to sweep Dimri. It took England 19.3 overs to get 50. Sultana was brought in to the attack in the 23rd over and she struck in her third over as Rainford-Brent (27) was bowled trying to make room to cut.After that Gunn took charge of the England innings. She tried to scoop to scoop the spinners behind the wicket and lofted Sultana and Dhar to midwicket boundary. At the end of 40 overs, England were 119 for 3. Gunn and Edwards started clearing the boundary more often after that and when Gunn fell in the 43rd over for a 92-ball 64, the two had added 46 at nearly five an over.Sultana hit back late in the innings with the wickets of Edwards and Laura Marsh but tailenders Brunt and Guha picked up 25 runs from the last two overs.

Matt Henry went up three spots among Test bowlers to be ranked fourth after his nine-wicket haul against Zimbabwe

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Aug-20253:22

Bangar: ‘Jaiswal’s Sehwag-esque impact makes it easier for batters to follow’

India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has broken into the top five of the ICC Test batters’ rankings. Jaiswal scored 118 at The Oval in the fifth Test – his second century of the series – that helped him finish the series with a tally of 411 runs at an average of 41.10 that took him up three places to fifth behind Joe Root, Harry Brook, Kane Williamson and Steven Smith.Fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna achieved their career-best ratings of 674 and 368 points respectively after the fifth Test. Siraj went up 12 places to 15th spot whereas Prasidh moved up 25 spots to be ranked 59th. These are also the best Test rankings for both the bowlers.Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue similarly also attained their career-best positions after sharing eight wickets at The Oval. Atkinson’s rise helped him break into the top ten for the first time – joint tenth with Mitchell Starc – whereas Tongue rose 14 places to 46th.From the two-Test series going in Zimbabwe, Daryl Mitchell went up four places to ninth among batters while his team-mate Matt Henry went up to fourth spot among bowlers. Henry was the Player of the Match in the first Test after he finished with figures of 6 for 39 and 3 for 51 in New Zealand’s nine-wicket win.

It was their first Shield win at the WACA since 2012 and keeps them in the hunt for the final

AAP06-Feb-2024New South Wales captain Moises Henriques heaped praise on Chris Green after the offspinner played a starring role in his side’s four-wicket Sheffield Shield win over Western Australia.Chasing 182 for victory, the Blues were cruising at 117 for 1 before suffering a collapse of 5 for 36 to put the game on a knife’s edge. Fearless knocks from Oliver Davies (24 not out off 23 balls) and Green (16no off 11) got the visitors over the line just after lunch on day four, handing them their first Shield victory at the WACA Ground since 2012.Related

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NSW’s second success on the trot has lifted them to within a win of second spot, and they are also now neck-and-neck with defending champions WA.Green was named player of the match after returning figures of 3 for 33 and 6 for 83 to go with his handy knocks in the low-scoring affair.”I think these conditions and this wicket kind of suits him. He does rely on bounce a lot,” Henriques said. “In the second innings I thought he found his length beautifully. I felt like he dominated that whole innings.”NSW resumed play on day four at 77 for 1 and victory looked a mere formality as Daniel Hughes and Blake Nikitaras dug in.But Charlie Stobo’s dismissal of Nikitaras opened the door for WA as NSW’s middle order crumbled.Spinner Corey Rocchiccioli snared Hughes and Matthew Gilkes, while Henriques was left in disbelief when he was given out caught behind down leg side for five. Replays suggested Henriques didn’t get any bat to the Joel Paris delivery.NSW endured another piece of misfortune just before lunch when Jack Edwards shouldered arms to Paris and was given out lbw, despite the ball appearing to be too high. That left them needing another 29 runs for victory, but Davies and Green came out swinging after the break to quickly put the contest to bed.”A big part of what we tried to do today was to hang in there,” Paris said. “I’m sure we gave NSW a bit of a scare in the change room. I’m really proud of the effort, but it’s a disappointing result.”WA are sweating on the fitness of paceman Matt Kelly, who tore a pectoral muscle during the match. It comes on the back of a frustrating run of soft tissue injuries for the 29-year-old.”He’s a bit sore at the moment,” Paris said. “He’s had a rough 10, 12 months after being so durable for such a long time. We’ll get around him as best as we can.”

Stokes, Brook and Curran in the runs as Pakistan are beaten by six wickets at Gabba

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2022England 163 for 4 (Brook 45*, Stokes 36) beat Pakistan 160 for 8 (Masood 39) by six wicketsLiam Livingstone signalled his World Cup readiness with a comeback cameo of 28 from 16 balls – including one massive six that sailed clean out of the stadium – as England capped their tournament build-up by thrashing Pakistan by six wickets at the Gabba.Livingstone sat out each of England’s preceding 10 T20Is against Pakistan and Australia as he nursed an ankle injury sustained during the Hundred. But in a contest that was reduced to 19 overs a side by rain, he slotted into a middle-order that blazed 12 sixes to Pakistan’s one, to romp to victory with 26 balls to spare.Despite the inconvenience of the fixture – described by David Willey as one they “could have done without”, given they now face a five-and-a-half hour flight to Perth ahead of their tournament opener against Afghanistan on Saturday – England made optimal use of the game-time, not least Ben Stokes, who struggled with the bat against Australia but found his range on this occasion with 36 from 18.Chasing 161 for victory, the contest was sealed in comprehensive fashion by Harry Brook (45 not out from 24 balls) and Sam Curran (33 not out from 14). With Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali both opting not to bat after featuring in the field, the only first-choice batter to miss out was Alex Hales, who made 9 from 13 balls, but Phil Salt, the alternative opening partner to Buttler, managed only 1 from 3 alongside him.For Pakistan, only Shan Masood could match England’s explosive approach with the bat, as he opened the innings in the absence of both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, and responded with a hard-hitting knock of 39 from 22 balls.However, from a comfortable 67 for 1 after 6.2 overs, Pakistan lost their next five wickets for 57 to slump to 124 for 6 after 14.4, whereupon only Mohammad Wasim’s 26 from 16 could revive their hopes of a competitive total. England rang the changes in the field with as many as eight bowling options, including a three-over burst from Mark Wood, and two wickets for Willey.Pakistan’s fielding endured an off day, with several dropped chances undermining their prospects, as England completed (albeit in an unofficial capacity) their fifth win in as many completed T20Is, following back-to-back wins to defeat Pakistan 4-3 on their recent tour of the country, and last week’s consecutive eight-run wins over Australia.”I think everything we wanted to get out of today, we did,” Buttler told Sky Sports after the match. “It’s great to see Liam Livingstone back on the field as well after a significant injury, and getting some overs into Chris Jordan as well. He’s coming back from broken finger. Brook and Curran getting some time in the middle as well … we tried a few different things that guys were wanting to experiment with. And this is the perfect time to try to do that.”

“They have tremendous amount of potential, but they have to deliver big time” – ODI captain on Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar

Mohammad Isam21-May-2021Tamim Iqbal has backed Mushfiqur Rahim to continue as Bangladesh’s No. 1 wicketkeeper for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, beginning Sunday in Dhaka.Despite sloppy work from Rahim behind the stumps in recent times, Iqbal feels that his experience and overall record of having kept in 347 international matches – the fifth-highest overall – makes him the top choice for the job.”I am very happy with his wicketkeeping. (Half) chances and dropped catches are part of the game. I know how hard he works, so I have no complaints,” Iqbal, the Bangladesh ODI captain, said on Friday. “The team management, coach (Russell Domingo) and I definitely want him to keep wickets in the three ODIs. You are talking about some dropped catches but he has done a wonderful job as a wicketkeeper over the last 13-14 years.”I have complete trust in him and give him my full support. I think he should continue to keep wickets for Bangladesh.”Related

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• Shakib, Mustafizur join Bangladesh bubble after quarantine

Rahim’s wicketkeeping came into sharp focus during the ODI series against New Zealand in March when he dropped two chances. He had also dropped one during the West Indies ODIs in January. The veteran wicketkeeper has spilt a total of ten catches in the last three years in white-ball cricket internationally.Iqbal also put his weight behind Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar, two batters with a lot of potential who have gone through a rough patch this year. In ODIs, Das has made only 76 runs in six innings in 2021, while Sarkar has scored 40 runs in four innings.”I hope they take the lead. They have tremendous amount of potential, but they have to deliver big time. We have seen glimpses from Liton and Soumya but if they do well now, it will help the team,” Iqbal said. “They understand they should be more consistent – like Mushfiqur Rahim, for example. If they become consistent, we will be a better ODI team at home and away.”Bangladesh have dropped Najmul Hossain Shanto, who was given the No. 3 role for two series last year and against West Indies this year, and with Shakib Al Hasan returning to international cricket after a three-month break, that spot will become his again.”There will be expectations but we also have to remember what Shakib did at the 2019 World Cup, scoring 606 runs in nine matches, third highest in the tournament,” Iqbal pointed out. “But it is not always possible. I would love Shakib to bat like that in every series but it is a very rare performance. If it doesn’t happen, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. I won’t panic in that case. I am sure he will do well at No 3.”The return of Shakib and Mustafizur Rahman has added some muscle to Bangladesh’s bowling too. “Mustafiz is a great weapon for us,” Iqbal said. “What he did at the IPL was pleasing to see, and we want him to bowl at that level all the time. But we have to note that he got assistance from the wicket. He bowled extremely well there, and I hope he continues to do that for Bangladesh as well.”

James Anderson and Jonny Bairstow are rested but Jack Leach is passed fit to tour

Alan Gardner11-Feb-2020England have recalled Ben Foakes and Keaton Jennings for next month’s Test tour of Sri Lanka, with Jonny Bairstow omitted from the party that went to South Africa. Moeen Ali remains unavailable for Test selection, while James Anderson has been left at home to continue his rehabilitation from a rib injury ahead of the English summer.Also missing from the 16-man squad were the injured Jofra Archer and Rory Burns, but England have included Mark Wood and Stuart Broad, despite some expectations the latter could be rested. Jack Leach is fit to assume the mantle of senior spinner, having left the South Africa tour early due to sickness, and he will be joined by Dom Bess and Matt Parkinson in conditions where slow-bowling will be key.Foakes was Player of the Series as England won 3-0 in Sri Lanka two years ago, but lost his place as wicketkeeper on the subsequent tour of the Caribbean. He is considered one of the best glovemen in the world – as well as making a century on debut in Galle, he did not concede a single bye. However, it is understood that he will travel initially as back-up to Jos Buttler, the current incumbent. Buttler has averaged 17.55 this winter, after replacing Bairstow as keeper in New Zealand, but played a key role with the bat in Sri Lanka in 2018-19.Bairstow, who was dropped for the New Zealand tour, then returned in South Africa and played in the first Test after Ollie Pope was struck down by the sickness bug that ran through England during the build-up, has been given the opportunity to rest, according to Ed Smith, the ECB’s national selector.The return of Jennings, who also made a hundred in Galle, was signposted last year when he was sent on an England training camp to Mumbai. He has an excellent record against spin, averaging 44.44 on the subcontinent, and also impressed by taking a number of catches at short leg on the previous Sri Lanka tour. His last appearance came in St Lucia a year ago, since when his highest first-class score is 97 for Lancashire.Keaton Jennings has been recalled after a year out of the Test side•Getty Images

Moeen’s continued absence, despite indications from Joe Root and Chris Silverwood that they were keen to have him involved, seems reflective of the breakdown in relations with the allrounder, who lost his central contract at the end of last summer. Moeen claimed 18 wickets in Sri Lanka last time out, forming an effective spin triumvirate alongside Leach and Adil Rashid, but has not been persuaded he is ready to return. Instead, he will fulfill his contract at the Pakistan Super League.Rashid has not played first-class cricket since being dropped during the West Indies series a year ago, and said at the weekend it would be “unfair” to make himself available for Sri Lanka. That could lead to a Test debut for Parkinson, alongside the Somerset pair of Leach and Bess, if England stick with fielding three spinners. Parkinson has been with the Test set-up over the winter but saw himself overtaken in South Africa by Bess, who was initially called up on standby when Leach went down ill.Smith said England had decided to stick with the “very exciting group of young players” who helped them to a 3-1 success in South Africa. Root’s side will head out in early March for two warm-up games before Tests in Galle and Colombo, with 120 World Test Championship points at stake.”The selection panel has supported continuity after a successful series victory in South Africa,” Smith said. “The South Africa tour marked the emergence of a very exciting group of young players, creating a nice balance with an experienced core of senior players. That squad is mostly retained, with some tweaks to the squad relevant to injury, rest and the challenges of playing in subcontinent conditions.”Somerset spinner Jack Leach has recovered from his illness he picked up in South Africa and is now healthy and keen to resume his Test career.”Jonny Bairstow has been in England squads across the three formats without a significant break. This two-Test tour presents a good opportunity for Jonny to be rested. Jimmy Anderson will continue to work with Lancashire and the ECB so that he is ready for the start of the County Championship season leading into the Test series against the West Indies in June.”Moeen Ali is still unavailable for Test selection. The selectors are in consistent dialogue with Moeen and he remains a valued player in England cricket.”England squad: Joe Root (capt), Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Keaton Jennings, Jack Leach, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Paul Stirling put Khulna Titans in a strong position with his 61, but Carlos Brathwaite and Jahurul Islam couldn’t quite finish off the chase

The Report by Mohammad Isam06-Jan-2019How the game played outRangpur Riders picked up their first win in the BPL, after beating Khulna Titans by eight runs in a contest that was alive until the penultimate ball of the match. Farhad Reza defended 20 runs in the last over, keeping Carlos Brathwaite quiet.Paul Stirling’s 61 off 46 balls had put the Titans in a strong position chasing 170, but his dismissal in the 14th over, and captain Mahmudullah’s in the 18th over, put them under pressure in the last two overs.The Riders, after being bowled out for 98 in the first game, corrected their batting strategy significantly, despite losing Mehedi Maruf in the fourth over. They lost two more wickets by the tenth over before Rossouw and Bopara put on the game’s most important partnership, adding an unbroken 104 for the fourth wicket.Rossouw struck eight fours and two sixes, both off Ali Khan in the 16th over, while Bopara, who made 44 in the first game, struck three fours and a six in his unbeaten 40 off 29 balls.Turning points

• Rossouw and Bopara blast 67 off the last five overs, including 21 off Carlos Brathwaite’s 18th.
• Stirling and Junaid Siddique propel Titans to 85 for no loss in 10 overs.
• Stirling falls to Mashrafe Mortaza in the 14th over with his side still needing 62 off 41 balls.
• Mahmudullah falls with Titans needing 30 off the last 14 balls.

Star of the dayRossouw exacted revenge on the Titans, for whom he had made 187 runs in nine innings in last season’s BPL. This was his first fifty in the competition too – he paced himself initially before launching into the big shots in the last few overs.The big missAfter removing Ariful Haque off the first ball of the penultimate over of the Titans innings, Shafiul Islam conceded 10 runs off the rest of the over, including three consecutive wides.Where the teams standRangpur’s first win, especially after a poor performance in the first game, comes as a significant confidence builder.

Chhattisgarh recover despite Umesh Yadav’s three for, Nikhil Gangta and Ankush Bains rescue Himachal

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Oct-2017Centuries from Amandeep Khare and Ashutosh Singh helped Chhattisgarh recover from Umesh Yadav’s twin-strikes upfront to end the day at a comfortable 246 for 3 against Vidarbha in Nagpur. The pair added 227 for the third wicket before Umesh dismissed Ashutosh for 113 in the day’s final over. Karn Sharma, the legspinner, who impressed for India A and has 31 wickets in four first-class games so far this season, finished with none for 65 off 24 overs in his first game for Vidarbha.Punjab, searching for points after conceding a lead and losing outright in their first two games, racked up 396 for 3 against Goa in Poorvorim. Jiwanjot Singh, the opener, struck 215 of those and was still going strong when stumps were drawn.Jiwanjot struck an unbroken 236-run fourth-wicket stand with Anmolpreet Singh, 103 not out, when play ended. Anmolpreet, promoted No. 4 in the absence of Yuvraj Singh, struck 11 fours and two sixes. Uday Kaul missed out converting a start into three figures, falling for 66, while Manan Vohra was out for a three-ball duck in the first over.Half-centuries from Nikhil Gangta (89*) and Ankush Bains (68) spared Himachal the blushes against Services in New Delhi. They recovered from a precarious 92 for 4 to finish on 273 for 5 at stumps. Prashant Chopra, the opener who struck a triple century in the tournament opener, failed to convert, falling for 55. Bains and Gangta, chasing his second century of the season, batted for a better part of the day to add 159 and help the side stage a remarkable recovery.

Mohammad Nawaz picked up two wickets and defended ten runs off the final over to hand Karachi Blues the title

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Sep-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo – Mohammad Nawaz struck twice in the final over•Chris Whiteoak

Karachi Whites threatened to chase down 183 with a rapid 61-run opening stand and late blows from Tariq Haroon and Sohail Khan, but Mohammad Nawaz defended ten runs off the final over to give Karachi Blues the National T20 Cup title.With Whites needing 11 off the last over with four wickets in hand, Mohammad Hasan reverse-swept Nawaz’s first ball for four. Nawaz came back with a dot and then an arm-ball that took Hasan’s middle stump. Azam Hussain sliced a couple over the covers before falling lbw off the next ball. It ultimately boiled down to five off the last ball. Mir Hamza heaved at it, and could only manage a double.Nawaz, playing only his second game of the tournament, finished with figures of 4 for 26. He had taken the first two wickets of the Whites’ innings as well. He bowled Asif Zakir for 32, and in his next over removed Asad Shafiq for 6. The two wickets dragged Whites back after they had raced to 60 in the first seven overs.Nawaz was helped by his fellow spinners – Saeed Ajmal, who capped the tournament as the leading wicket-taker with 20 scalps, and Mohammad Asghar. They picked up two wickets each. Karachi Whites eventually got to 179 for 8 thanks to late cameos from Tariq and Sohail. Haroon hit 38 off 17 balls, while Sohail 24 off 11 balls.Blues’ win was set up by half-centuries from Khurram Manzoor and Fawad Alam. Alam set about reviving the innings after the early loss of the openers, with a brace of pulled fours. Manzoor, becalmed till then, struck three fours in four balls, and motored to his half-century in 36 balls, bringing it up in the 15th over. By then, Blues were 118 for 2.Manzoor kicked into a higher gear when he crashed back-to-back sixes off Azam in the 17th over. But he fell next ball, skewing a catch to gully. Alam then reached his own half-century off 35 balls, and was assisted by Mohammad Sami’s unbeaten 20 off 10 balls. Blues took 64 off the last five overs, and it proved just enough to deny Whites.