The best team at ICC events since 2010 marched into its fourth final in seven tournaments to set up a summit clash against Pakistan, pitting the tournament’s best bowling sides against each other

The Report by Sidharth Monga15-Jun-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Kiss of death: Kedar Jadhav gives Tamim Iqbal’s leg stump a peck•Getty Images

The best team at ICC events since 2010 marched into its fourth final in seven tournaments to set up a summit clash against Pakistan, pitting the tournament’s best bowling sides against each other.Like they did in the 2015 World Cup quarter-final, first time semi-finalists Bangladesh went toe to toe with India for about 30 overs – even inched ahead perhaps – but came apart against the non-turning, part-time, extremely slow offspin of Kedar Jadhav. They slipped from 142 for 2 in 25 overs to only 264 on a fresh pitch at Edgbaston. While Jadhav brought down the total from the realms of 320, Jasprit Bumrah’s final spell of 5-0-27-1 shaved a further 20 off what Bangladesh looked good for.In response, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan put up an exhibition, picking apart Bangladesh’s bowling with delectable stroke-play. Rohit brought up his first hundred of this tournament and moved to No. 2 on the run-scoring charts; Dhawan reclaimed the lead from Tamim Iqbal; and Kohli – who had been scoring runs despite not looking at his best – signalled a return to sublime form while becoming the fastest to 8000 ODI runs. It was an ominous sign for India’s opponents in what will be their third final appearance in the last four 50-over ICC events; in the other event they lost in the semi-final.There was a calm to how India chased down the target, the slickness of a team used to such situations. This was their sixth semi-final in ICC events in seven years. Veterans of big matches, they prefer to sit back while their oppositions work themselves into a frenzy; when they make a mistake, India swoop in.It looked like they had done that in the seventh over when Bhuvneshwar Kumar out-thought the aggressive Sabbir Rahman after he had raced away to 19 off 12. Having seen him chip down twice to clear mid-off, Bhuvneshwar started to mix bouncers and length balls. Bumrah did his bit by cramping Tamim Iqbal up at the other end. Thirteen straight dot balls brought the expected loose shot, and the wicket, to the sucker ball, reducing Bangladesh to 31 for 2.Mushfiqur Rahim kept attacking, dropping Bhuvneshwar over mid-off, but settled down soon, carrying the struggling Tamim. Signs were ominous for India – reminiscent of the World T20 semi-final last year – when Hardik Pandya overstepped when castling Tamim, who would have been out for 12 off 36 then.Instead Tamim and Mushfiqur batted perfectly against the India spinners. Mushfiqur is a hard man to bowl to for a spinner because his height means that good length balls end up getting cut or pulled. And he has the various sweeps to unsettle them when they start pitching it up. Tamim grew in confidence, too. Every time India strung together dot balls, either of them would hit a boundary. By the 25th over, they had added 111 in 19.1 overs. They had negated the main spinners, and had also taken 28 off Pandya’s three overs, which meant India now had a fifth-bowler problem.That fifth-bowler problem turned out to be their blessing in disguise. Bangladesh believed they should have hit four of the first 11 Jadhav deliveries for boundaries. They were short and they were juicy, but because Jadhav’s pace is off, they played with batsmen’s rhythm. Three of those were hit straight to fielders, and the fourth was rescued by a diving Bhuvneshwar at cover-point. Had any of these balls reached the fence, you can be pretty sure the 12th ball would have gone differently. Now, though, Tamim went for the slog sweep but the ball never arrived, and when it did it clipped the leg bail. India could sigh in relief: Tamim had taken 58 off the last 46 balls he faced.Jadhav and Ravindra Jadeja – 25 in his first four overs – now began to rush through the overs. Shakib Al Hasan slowed them down a touch with a cut boundary off Jadeja, but when he went to repeat it in Jadeja’s next over, he chose a ball not short enough, and MS Dhoni produced a sensational catch. The coup de grâce of this death by slowness came in the 36th over, when Mushfiqur chipped a dipping full toss from Jadhav straight to short midwicket. Bangladesh since Jadhav’s introduction: 10.2 overs, 37 runs, and three wickets to rip the heart out of the batting.Of the core Bangladesh batting, only Mahmudullah was left. With Mosaddek Hossain, he took Bangladesh to the final 10 overs with five wickets in hand and 207 on the board, but in the final 10 came Bumrah. He had had an ordinary start to this tournament, but, like in the South Africa match, he bowled quick, he bowled smartly, and he cramped Mosaddek for a return catch and then hit the base of Mahmudullah’s off stump with what looked like a laser-guided yorker.The bowlers had done their job once again in what has arguably been their best tournament in adverse conditions. The ball hasn’t swung, but you can see – for the first time arguably – that India bowlers have had defensive plans in place, and have executed them, especially Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah. Now it was up to the batsmen to make sure this good work didn’t go to waste.Bangladesh’s only chance lay in accessing India’s suspect lower middle order early, but on a flat pitch with no deviation off the straight, India’s top order took them to school. Every shot hit with ease was a message to the Bangladesh batsmen who had ended at least 50 short. If Dhawan went deep to punch them square, Rohit stood tall and played punch-on drives; if Rohit cut with ease, Kohli unleashed some vintage cover drives that had not quite been coming off in the league stages. It was as if there was a contest within a contest: who will play the most glorious shots. It all worked for India, who ended the chase in 40.1 overs.

Nathan Ake has thanked Pep Guardiola for the way the Man City boss dealt with the death of the defender's father.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Ake praises Guardiola for supportDefender's father died in 2021Ake has turned City career aroundWHAT HAPPENED?

Ake's father tragically passed away aged 63 after a 13-year fight with prostate cancer. After the Dutchman scored in City's 6-3 Champions League win against RB Leipzig in September 2021, he learned that his dad had died during the match. Two years on, Ake has praised Guardiola for the emotional support he gave him.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Nobody can deny that Guardiola is one of the greatest managers of all time. However, critics argue that the Catalan lacks emotional connection with his players and is therefore not a good man manager. Ake's form for City has improved significantly since his father's passing, and he believes that Guardiola played a role in that.

WHAT AKE SAID

As reported by the Mirror, Ake said: "I’m grateful to Pep [Guardiola] for all he means to me on and off the pitch. When my father passed away, he was fantastic. If I needed things or wanted time off, I just had to tell him. He gave me all the time and space I needed."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR AKE?

The arrival of Josko Gvardiol means that Ake is no longer the sure starter in defence he became last season. However, after penning a new four-year contract following City's treble success, he looks set to stay at the Etihad Stadium for the foreseeable future.

Arsenal seem set to continue their free-spending summer, having set their sights on a new target…

What's the latest on Benjamin Henrichs to Arsenal?

That comes from German writer Florian Plettenberg, who details Mikel Arteta's interest in German international Benjamin Henrichs.

The RB Leipzig star is described as a merely backup option for the Gunners, but remains a fine asset who would certainly bolster a squad searching for more squad depth.

Writing on Twitter, the Sky Sports man noted: "Talks between Arsenal and the player's management took place. Gunners considering Benjamin Henrichs as a backup target. Arteta, with a very good opinion about the German national. Contract at Leipzig until 2025; important player for coach Rose."

The 26-year-old still has two years left on his £63k-per-week deal.

Who is Benjamin Henrichs?

Having spent time in both his homeland and France in various stints, the defender has now settled as an important cog for a strong Leipzig outfit.

Although once regarded as a top attacking full-back as a youngster, he has swiftly grown into a mature, solid asset, who can often be relied upon.

As such, when compared to others in his position across Europe, he ranks in the top 16% for interceptions, 8% for tackles and 2% for blocks per 90, via FBref.

Such imperious defensive work could even be said to surpass Ben White's, who made a big impact last term whilst deputising on the flank.

In those three aforementioned attributes, he instead sits at the lower end of the spectrum, having made 0.68 interceptions, 1.77 tackles and 1.36 blocks per 90. The latter is supposedly his most impressive statistic, and yet he only ranks in the top 29% for it, via FBref.

However, that is not to suggest that Henrichs does not offer some potent attacking threat too.

Although a staunch stalwart, he does have the facilities to push on, which Arteta would likely develop even further to help him realise the potential he once had. Back in 2017, journalist Stefan Bienkowski even wrote: "Benjamin Henrichs is every young, talented, attacking full-back you've ever seen."

After all, just last season in the Bundesliga he would maintain a 61% dribble success rate, 78% pass accuracy and 0.7 key passes per game, via Sofascore. Whilst not outstanding figures, they paint the picture of a consistent performer who will seldom let his side down.

The all-around nature of his game would make him a fine asset to balance Oleksandr Zinchenko on the opposite flank and allow their system to continue flourishing.

The Ukraine international excelled stepping into midfield as the north London outfit pushed for the Premier League title, with his 88% pass accuracy, 80.3 touches and 0.7 key passes per game (via Sofascore) given the platform to succeed from White's defending.

He would maintain the joint third-highest pass completion rate of anyone within his squad too, to emphasise his importance in dictating the play.

Given Henrichs outperforms the England international in these defensive situations, plus has some creativity to push forward should a low-block be frustrating Arteta, he would mark an instant upgrade to allow even more freedom for his potential new 26-year-old teammate.

Manchester United supporters have revealed how they had to put up with a ticket farce, disgusting puddles and missing the last train in Turkey.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Red Devils enduring tough time in Europe
• Difficult conditions in Istanbul
• Clinging to hope of reaching the last-16

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Devils faced Galatasaray in their latest Champions League fixture. More mistakes from Andre Onana on the field ended up costing Erik ten Hag’s side dear, with the Premier League heavyweights throwing away a commanding lead on two occasions to end up drawing 3-3.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  United are now in serious danger of missing out on a place in the last-16 – or even the consolation prize of a spot in the Europa League – with few positive experiences being enjoyed in European competition. That was certainly the case for their fans when another trip to Istanbul was taken in.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  One United fan has detailed the hellish ordeal that travelling supporters had to contend up with before, during and after a meeting with Galatasaray. There was chaos at the turnstiles during the entry process, leading to many missing kick-off, while conditions inside were not up to much on a rain-soaked evening. Fans were then kept behind for well over an hour afterwards, forcing them to seek alternative transport back to their respective accommodation.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  United have one more fixture to take in during their Group A campaign – against Harry Kane and Bundesliga title holders Bayern Munich – with the Red Devils needing a win in that contest and a draw between Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen in order to snatch an unlikely place in the knockout rounds.

Liverpool are expected to make an offer for highly-rated Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, according to an update from talkSPORT.

Who is signing Romeo Lavia?

The future of the 19-year-old has been a big talking point of late, with an exit from Saints widely expected after their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship.

Lavia has been constantly linked with a move to Liverpool, as the Reds look to do major surgery to their midfield, having already acquired the services of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, now seeking their next addition.

The Merseysiders are far from alone from expressing an interest in signing the young Belgium international however, with fellow Premier League powerhouses such as Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all thought to be eyeing him up.

It looks as though Liverpool could be in pole position to sign Lavia, though, following a positive update that emerged on Monday morning.

What's the latest on Lavia to Liverpool?

According to talkSPORT, Liverpool are now ready to table an offer for the Southampton starlet, as they look to snap him up during the summer transfer window:

"Liverpool are preparing an opening offer for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, talkSPORT understands. The Reds have moved ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign Lavia, whom Saints have valued at £50million.

"Chelsea’s co-director of recruitment Joe Shields has recommended Lavia to new manager Mauricio Pochettino. But the Blues are thought to be exploring alternative targets for now."

This is a hugely exciting update for Liverpool, with Lavia such a talented footballer who could develop into one of the best defensive midfielders in the world over time, proving to be the perfect long-term replacement for Fabinho.

He is already a senior Belgium international, winning one cap for his country, as well as making 29 Premier League appearances. Not only has he not looked out of his depth, but he has even stood out as possibly Saints' best player over the past 12 months or so, being lauded as "ridiculous" by Southampton reporter Jacob Tanswell for his courage to take the ball from deep and beat the opposition press.

Alongside Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, Lavia could complete a major rebuild of Liverpool's midfield that last well into the future – bringing in Nice star Khephren Thuram would arguably make it a perfect summer at Anfield – and beating big six rivals to his signature would also feel significant.

Assuming he avoids serious injury, the sky is the limit for the Belgian, and the hope is that he would jump at the opportunity to working under Jurgen Klopp.

Ellyse Perry was satisfied after Australia’s win over New Zealand in a warm-up match in Southampton, but outlined some clear areas that needed improvement before the Women’s World Cup begins later this month

Daniel Brettig15-Jun-2017Allrounder Ellyse Perry has declared Australia’s women need to find the right tempo with the bat in the closing overs of their innings, in order to finish off in the sort of manner that will enable them to lift the World Cup next month.Batting at No. 3 in the absence of the rested captain Meg Lanning, Perry struck a century in a warm-up win over New Zealand at Southampton on Wednesday, but was concerned by how the lower order fell away when a total of more than 300 looked there for the taking.”It was really great to put on those partnerships with Bolts [Nicole Bolton] at the start and then Elyse Villani as well,” Perry said. “It was just disappointing for me personally but also the lower order, we just fell off again. We were set up to score over 300 and we didn’t get there. That’s something to work on but it was nice to get that time in the middle.”In the next couple days it’ll be a real focus for us in training, just making the right decisions on balls to hit and where to score our runs. We don’t have the right tempo at the moment, we’re either going for big shots or defending, I think there needs to be a little more in between where we pick gaps and not letting bowlers settle and putting pressure on ourselves.”After Megan Schutt pinned Suzie Bates lbw with her very first ball of New Zealand’s reply, three wickets for wristspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington and breakthroughs for Perry helped Australia close out the match. They won by a comfortable 46 runs in a game where both sides could use all 15 members of their squads. Overall, Perry felt that it was a step in the right direction toward the level of polish required in the tournament proper.”Everyone got a good chance out in the middle, which is probably what we’ve needed after a really good prep back home and not as much official games,” Perry said. “A bit of rust, but that’s ok, we’ve got a bit of time before the first proper match.”There were lots of positives with both bat and ball but probably just lacking that polish, probably bowled too many four-balls, and a few loose shots and not really finishing our innings off, which was quite disappointing, but they’re solid opposition and it was good to play some good cricket in patches.”The Australians have a morning gym session on Thursday followed by an afternoon off, ahead of another internal practice match on Friday. They have further practice matches against South Africa and Pakistan before a tournament opener against the West Indies at Taunton on June 26.

The BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) consisting of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman is likely to make a decision on whether or not to extend Rahul Dravid’s contract as the coach of India’s Under-19 and ‘A’ teams in the next few days. According to a BCCI official, there will be no need to invite fresh applications for the job if the CAC decides to renew Dravid’s two-year contract that ended in March.This is different to the protocol BCCI has followed in appointing a head coach of the senior team, where interested and qualified candidates were invited to apply even as Anil Kumble, the incumbent, was handed a direct entry. The different approach in Dravid’s case, the official said, is because his contract had an extension clause.”Dravid has a clause in the contract which facilitates extension by mutual consent,” the official told ESPNcricinfo. “If Rahul doesn’t want to renew his contract, then you have to pick someone else. But, if the CAC likes to retain him and if he is also willing, then you don’t have to call outside applications. But, that’s [going to be] a CAC decision.”The official felt the CAC would be predisposed to extending Dravid’s contract in a “day or two” given his good track record. Under Dravid, the India Under-19 team made the final of the junior World Cup last year and won a series against England recently. Dravid has also tasted considerable success with the India A team.”It is not that hard for CAC to take a decision on Dravid,” the official said. “Given his performance and his stature, I don’t think the CAC will have any problem with Rahul continuing as coach. So you don’t have to interview any other candidate.”The negotiations of the contractual terms might take a bit longer. I don’t know whether the BCCI has formulated the contract: how much he gets paid, I don’t think all that has been finalised.”Under the BCCI’s current arrangement, coaches and support staff of India’s senior and junior teams are given a ten-month contract that runs till the end of March. They are also free to sign a two-month deal in the IPL. However, according to the official, Dravid’s terms of reference – should he receive a new contract – would have to conform to the recommendations of the Lodha Committee.”It will mean that he won’t be able to coach both the national team and mentor the Delhi Daredevils franchise,” the official said. “He won’t get a 10-month contract. It will be a minimum two-year contract of 12 months each, but it will be a continuous one with no break.”Last week, Dravid had asserted that he wasn’t in a conflict of interest under the prevailing regulations, and called for greater clarity in the event of change in rules. He was recently invited by the BCCI to a meeting of the junior selection committee to pick the India Under-19 side to tour England. But Dravid declined because he didn’t have a coaching contract. The official, however, defended the board’s decision to invite him.”There is nothing that prevents him from being invited because he is not going to make the decision. He will only be asked to give his input,” he said. “Look, at the end of the day, he’s a senior member associated with a junior team. It has to be looked at holistically and not in isolation.”He has done a good job and I am pretty sure the CAC has no reason for them to say he shouldn’t be extended. So, in those circumstances, why not invite him when the team is being picked?”

MLS has always been an attractive destination for stars entering the end of their careers. We've seen David Beckham and Steven Gerrard both play for LA Galaxy; Frank Lampard and David Villa play for New York City FC; and now, in the biggest move in MLS history, we're about to see Lionel Messi turn out for Inter Miami every week.

Given Miami's current form, however – failing to win in their last eight games – the European equivalent of this move would be if the Argentine decided to move to Everton. Yet, here Messi is, and here Miami are, ready to build around one of the best players of all time, if not the very best.

David Beckham is not messing around, either, reportedly targeting some big names, some of which you can see below. And so, Football FanCast has put together a dream XI for the club.

Jesse Lingard

To say that Jesse Lingard's move to Nottingham Forest didn't work out would be an understatement. The midfielder didn't score or assist a single Premier League goal as the newly-promoted side managed to secure survival.

Now a free agent after his deal came to an end, the former Manchester United man is on the hunt for a new club, and is reportedly training with Inter Miami.

Still only 30, Lingard has plenty to offer, and would be a significant upgrade in a struggling Miami side.

Jordi Alba

Like Lingard, Jordi Alba is a free agent this summer, and could make the move to Inter Miami to join former Barcelona teammate Messi. During his time at the Spanish giants, Alba wrote himself into the history books as arguably one of the club's greatest full-backs, winning La Liga six times, as well as numerous other trophies.

Now 34, the left-back has the chance to make the MLS move. According to Marca, Alba is already in contact with Inter Miami amid a potential summer switch.

He would be the second Barcelona player to make the move during this transfer window following in Sergio Busquets' footsteps.

Sergio Ramos

After getting a glimpse of Messi's ability up close as a teammate for the first time at Paris Saint-Germain, Sergio Ramos could link up with the Barcelona legend once again, this time at Inter Miami – as per Sport.

The former Real Madrid captain continues the trend of free agents on Beckham's list of transfer targets, after his contract in the French capital came to an end this summer.

If Inter Miami are looking for leaders, then they needn't look any further than Ramos in the current transfer window.

Luis Suarez

Getting Luis Suarez and Messi back together on the same pitch would arguably be a better reunion than any famous band in history. The duo would still cause chaos against some big European sides, let alone MLS teams.

If Inter Miami can secure a deal for Suarez from Gremio, in particular, then they will undoubtedly rise up the rankings in America, and rapidly.

Speaking about transfer targets, Beckham said, via GiveMeSport: “Two or three more players will come.

"We spoke with Jordi Alba— while Luis Suarez has a contract and a release clause. I don't know if that will happen or not. All the announcements will be made before July 15.”

How Inter Miami could line-up: Callender; Taylor; Ramos; Kryvstov; Alba; Busquets; Lingard; Gregore; Messi; Martinez; Suarez

India’s lower order propelled them to 600 before their bowlers left Sri Lanka five down and 247 short of the follow-on mark at stumps on day two

The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy27-Jul-20171:38

Maharoof: Disappointed by Gunathilaka and Mendis dismissals

Swing, seam, pace and bounce. Dip, drift, turn and bounce. Ingredients that seemed largely absent when India piled on 600, their second-highest total in Sri Lanka, haunted the home side in their reply, as they ended the second day of the Galle Test five down with the follow-on mark still 247 runs away.Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami took the top order apart, even as Upul Tharanga hurtled along with a profusion of silken off-side boundaries. Then came R Ashwin, going around the wicket to left and right-handers alike, harnessing the sea breeze and testing both edges with drift, swinging arm balls, and the occasional instance of sharp turn. Over the course of an unbroken spell of 18 overs, he gradually discovered the ideal pace and angle of seam to extract the maximum possible help from the Galle pitch, and could have easily ended the day with more than one wicket.Umesh gave India their first breakthrough, in the second over of Sri Lanka’s innings. Swing did Dimuth Karunaratne in, a full ball curling back into the left-hander from over the wicket and forcing him to play around his front pad. He missed and reviewed Bruce Oxenford’s lbw decision, a wasted referral given there was no inside edge, and that the ball had pitched on middle stump and had straightened down that line.R Ashwin got drift and dip to be a constant threat•AFP

For a time, Danushka Gunathilaka, making his Test debut, matched Tharanga shot for shot, as the two left-handers drove repeatedly on the up during a second-wicket partnership of 61 at just under five an over. But he played one shot too many, feet rooted to the crease as he flashed at, and edged, a Shami delivery angled across him.Kusal Mendis, in at No. 4, had the misfortune of getting a Shami special when he was still to get off the mark. It hit the seam in the corridor, seamed away slightly with some extra bounce, and all he could do was nick it. Two times in five balls, Shikhar Dhawan was the catcher at first slip.The next two wickets fell during Ashwin’s long and endlessly tormenting spell. The first began with his drift and dip beating Tharanga in the air. Having jumped out of his crease and inside-edged into his pad, he turned and hurried back as the ball rolled towards Abhinav Mukund at silly point. Abhinav flicked the ball to the keeper, and when the bails came off, Tharanga’s bat, after a momentary grounding on the dive, had bounced up. A cruel end to an innings of 64 and a 57-run fourth-wicket stand with Mathews.Then came the wicket of another left-hander, Niroshan Dickwella, who pressed forward but found himself nowhere near the pitch of the ball, thanks to Ashwin’s dip. Extra bounce grabbed the shoulder of his jabbing defensive bat, and Mukund, diving right at silly point, took a superb, low one-hander.Mathews struggled initially against Ashwin, and on 32 survived an lbw decision reviewed by India when ball-tracking returned an umpire’s call verdict. He slowly grew in assurance, and ended the day batting on 54 with Dilruwan Perera for company. With Asela Gunaratne, who fractured his left thumb on the first day, unlikely to bat, Sri Lanka have quite a task ahead of them.An improved bowling display from Sri Lanka, led by Nuwan Pradeep, who finished with 6 for 132, threatened at various points to limit India’s total. But the lower order, led by Ashwin and the debutant Hardik Pandya, kept counter-punching.India lost both their overnight batsmen, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, inside 12 overs of the morning, both out to seam. Away-seam and extra bounce from Nuwan Pradeep found Pujara’s edge on 153, while Rahane, driving away from his body at a rare full ball from Lahiru Kumara, edged to slip.Despite the selection of Pandya, India stuck with Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha at Nos. 6 and 7, trusting their experience and proven firefighting abilities ahead of the debutant’s promise. Ashwin and Saha had put on three fifty partnerships and one double-century stand, and averaged 47.50 as a pair since the start of 2016. They combined once again to stall Sri Lanka’s momentum, adding 59 for the sixth wicket.Not for the first time in his career, Ashwin began finding the gaps almost as soon as he walked in, and took three fours from successive Herath overs, twice driving him through the off side and once stepping out to clip him between midwicket and mid-on. In all, he would hit seven fours in a 60-ball 47.Both fell in the space of six balls, with lunch imminent, and when Pradeep took his sixth wicket after the break, cleaning up Ravindra Jadeja with the bouncer-yorker double, Sri Lanka may have hoped for a quick end to the innings.As it turned out, India’s last two wickets added 83 in 71 balls in a burst of six-hitting. The quicks leaked runs in an effort to pepper the lower order with the short ball, and Herath kept get hitting back over his head, notably by Mohammed Shami who hit him for three sixes. Pandya hit three sixes too, all off Pradeep, two hooked over backward square leg and one whipped over midwicket.The dismissal of Shami, caught on the square-leg boundary off Kumara, ended a ninth-wicket stand of 62, but Sri Lanka’s ordeal wasn’t yet over. Umesh Yadav, India’s No. 11, also joined in the hitting spree, taking Kumara for a big six down the ground and Herath for the lofted four that brought up India’s 600.Pandya, who had brought up his half-century, off 48 balls, in the same Herath over, fell soon after, finding deep square leg while going after another short ball from Kumara.

Tim Bresnan finished with 6 for 19 to close out victory for Yorkshire in front of a capacity Headingley crowd as the rain fell at the end of a must-win Roses clash

David Hopps11-Aug-2017Winning always matters in a Roses match and this extraordinary contest in front of a sellout Headingley crowd mattered more than most. Qualification for the quarter-finals of the NatWest Blast felt at stake and it was Yorkshire who prospered in a remarkable climax played out in pouring rain which turned into one of the greatest nights in Tim Bresnan’s life.Four wickets in Bresnan’s last over – three to the bowler – represented quite a finale to a match taken by Yorkshire by 19 runs. Two fine catches in the deep to dismiss Dane Vilas and Jordan Clark in conditions which have traditionally been termed impossible, a run out of Steven Parry courtesy of Bresnan’s direct hit at the bowler’s end and, finally, the wrecking of Junaid Khan’s stumps left him beaming in disbelief.Tim Bresnan claimed career-best figures of 6 for 19•Getty Images

It all added up to figures of 6 for 19 – his best return in 15 years of professional cricket. When he first began as an 18-year-old he would not have imagined it would take place on a night like this.Blast comes out for LGBT cause

Rainbow stumps were the order of the day at all NatWest Blast matches as cricket joined Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign in the biggest show of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people that the English game has ever staged.
Stonewall’s research suggests that half of all sports fans have heard homophobic abuse in sport in the past five years, although the figure drops to only one in six at live cricket matches.
Robbie De Santos, Head of Campaigns at Stonewall, said: “It’s great that cricket has joined our campaign. We know from our research that across all sports there are LGBT people who don’t feel welcome or able to be themselves. Our campaign is aimed at making sport, whatever sport that is, everyone’s game.”

A wet outfield even tempted him into a football-style celebratory knee-slide across the turf. “Why am I knee sliding? I am 32 years old,” he said afterwards. “On nights like this, it feels as good as an international. You need to test yourself when the pressure is on.”The weather has been abominable in this year’s Blast and so it was that Bresnan stood at the end of his run, running the ball desperately with a cloth, with Lancashire needing 23 off the last over. Cricket has often termed such conditions unplayable, but positive attitudes from players, umpires and fans alike have kept the tournament’s head above water.When David Willey grimaced and limped off after taking a catch in the final over, it warned of the dangers, but replays suggested the condition of the outfield was immaterial as he landed heavily on his knee.Yorkshire had other heroes in Adam Lyth and Tom Kohler-Cadmore, whose uninhibited opening stand of 95 in eight overs was an emphatic rejection of Yorkshire’s recent poor form. But on another night, in another place, Matt Parkinson, Lancashire’s 20-year-old legspinner, would have been hailed the matchwinner for his nerveless 4 for 23.As it was, the 40th anniversary of one of Yorkshire’s greatest outpourings of national pride – Geoffrey Boycott’s 100th hundred, reached with perfect timing during a Test against Australia at Headingley – was marked by a presentation in mid-innings by the Yorkshire chairman Steve Denison.Yorkshire and Lancashire began the night locked in equal fifth (Yorkshire will point out they were ahead on run rate) and with only three matches left it felt as if there would be no way back for the losers. For both Yorkshire, who had briefly led the table before losing their last three games, and Lancashire who had won only one of their last five, the decline in fortunes had been abrupt. Other results went Lancashire’s way so they have not entirely lost hope.Perhaps it was the sense of now-or-never that stung Yorkshires openers into action, or perhaps it was just the urging on of a raucous capacity crowd. Lyth and Kohler-Cadmore tore into the match with a vengeance. Their assault included seven sixes and only one of them, when Lyth struck Junaid Khan down the ground, needed a prayer to clear the field.Yorkshire never remotely matched the same standards again as Lancashire, initially under the cosh, conceded only 87 from the next 12 overs and dragged themselves back into the match.Lyth and Kohler-Cadmore offer a good blend. Lyth has the dash of D’Artagnan, hitting through the line, favouring flourishes square of the wicket and slog sweeps. Kohler-Cadmore, whose move from Worcestershire has not brought instant rewards, is an imposing figure who prefers to bully the bowlers; his 45 was his best return of the season.By the time Parkinson took to the stage, Yorkshire were 85 off seven overs and the crowd were lapping it up. Parkinson’s T20 experience amounted to only eight wickets in six games, and as rain began to fall steadily, he must have been struggling to grip the ball. But he flighted and landed it throughout and only with his last ball, an overpitched delivery that Shaun Marsh pummelled to the boundary, did his accuracy err.Adam Lyth swung four sixes in his 50 from 29 balls•Getty Images

Lyth fell for 50 from 29 balls at the end of Parkinson’s first over, his slog-sweep falling short, the signal for a break for rain. When the match resumed, Parkinson was still on song: Kohler-Cadmore’s straight hit at the end of his second over lacked the legs and was held by Steven Croft despite Arron Lilley being in disturbingly close proximity.Willey briefly threatened havoc, but the first time he tried to go big against Parkinson, he was picked up at long-on. That left Sarfraz Ahmed, a short-term overseas replacement who, like many short-term overseas replacements, did not seem attuned to the task and soon mishit to long-on, a fine diving catch by Croft.Yorkshire were never the same again. Parry added to the spinners’ tally when Marsh toed one into the leg side, Junaid produced impressive sleight of hand at the death and apart from a burst of three boundaries in eight balls by Jack Leaning, Yorkshire managed only one in the last nine overs.The lack of power hitting in the second half of the order remains a weaknesses that will cost them dear if a solution is not found.Yorkshire’s response in the field was a good one: openers Karl Brown and Liam Livingstone removed in the space of three balls in Bresnan’s second over. He had 2 for 4 in two overs, including nine dot balls and a dropped catch, while Willey went for 27. Lilley followed courtesy of a wonderful catch by Leaning, who would have filled his father Andy, a former professional goalkeeper, with pride as he leapt and held on above his head on the cover boundary. On such a mucky night, the catching was exceptional, and this was one was about to go viral.That brought in Jos Buttler, at 72 for 3 from nine overs, a street behind what Yorkshire were at the same stage, not that it mattered. Headingley felt his matchwinning 71 not out from 35 balls two years earlier and knew the danger he possessed. Steve Patterson prevented a repeat, holding a return catch as Buttler failed to work into the leg side.Amid it all, Croft, built a half-century in 38 balls, slog-sweeps to the fore, but Yorkshire’s spinners were also hard to counter. Adil Rashid’s legspin accounted for Croft in his last over, thrown flat and wide for Sarfraz to complete the stumping to end his innings of 52 from 46 balls. Between them, Rafiq and Rashid bowled eight overs for 53.Rain returned with three overs remaining. Wet ball in his hands, rain splattering his face, Bresnan yorked Ryan McLaren. That all but settled it, although even 53 from three overs seemed possible as the rain fell. Then came Bresnan’s final flourish. Yorkshire are still alive. Lancashire will fear the worst.