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There could have been a hundred for Markram, a ground record for Amla, a debut fifty for Hamza. None of these came to pass, and Pakistan came roaring back into the contest

Liam Brickhill at the Wanderers11-Jan-2019The first day at the Wanderers was supposed to be all about milestones. South Africa were blooding their 100th player since readmission in Zubayr Hamza, while at the other end of the spectrum Hashim Amla (Protea no. 60, who handed Hamza his cap) might have had one eye on becoming the leading Test run-scorer at this ground: at the start of play, he needed 117 runs to overtake Jacques Kallis’ monumental record at this ground.Aiden Markram will have had both eyes on the target of a fifth Test hundred when he sprinted through the first two sessions in a flurry of chanceless boundaries, but he too fell short, out for his third Test score in the 90s. Dean Elgar came into this match harbouring thoughts of scoring a Test win as captain to make up for the “chaotic” build-up and eventual defeat in his last stand-in performance against England in 2017. South Africa may yet win this game under Elgar’s leadership, but such a result looked a long way off when he left the field with an audible f-bomb after being caught behind for 5 this morning.It got a bit better after that, and things actually seemed to be going to plan for South Africa when Markram cracked 14 fours before lunch to bring up the team 100 on cruise control. In the midst of Markram’s 126-run second wicket stand with Amla, with Pakistan’s seamers having made a tepid start on a track that seemed to be playing flat and true, it appeared three milestones – Amla’s, Markram’s and Elgar’s – could follow according to the script, and that Hamza could ease past one, or perhaps even two, in his debut innings.Clearly, Pakistan hadn’t read it. Markram tickled one down the leg side to add another Test 90 to his 94 against India and his 97 against Bangladesh, putting him ahead of Virat Kohli in the Test 90s stakes, which is, one supposes, a sort of milestone too.Amla was out 76 short of surpassing Kallis’ mark at this ground, flashing Shadab Khan to slip, and Hamza’s rally alongside Theunis de Bruyn offered a brief, but suggestive, look at his qualities as a player. Hamza squeezed his first boundary past gully, smoked Shadab over midwicket for six to make light of any debut nerves, and showed that his hook was in good working order to the quicks. De Bruyn too exhibited a range of attacking strokes, looking especially silky through the covers, but he was out one run short of a steadying fifty, and Hamza nine short of joining this listAt the end of the day’s play, Markram was left reflecting on all the missed milestones, which played some part in South Africa slipping from 229 for 3 to 262 all out against the reverse-swinging ball.”We would have liked a batter to get to the three-figure mark,” Markram admitted. “I think it’s quite an important thing for us, and it’s something we really strive for. There were a couple of us who had the chance today and we didn’t make it count, which is a disappointing side of it, but it’s something we can try to rectify in the second innings.”Of course, one of the great things about Test matches are the second chances they afford, and the scope for both failure and redemption within the course of a single twisting, turning game. Markram may get his ton in the second dig, Amla the Wanderers record, Hamza a fifty (or more) on debut, and Elgar a Test win as captain. Don’t discount the chance that Vernon Philander might even get another crack at a Test hat-trick, after he had Shan Masood and Azhar Ali caught behind with successive deliveries before Imam-ul-Haq denied him late in the day.There were a couple of milestones off the pitch too. South African journalist and press-box stalwart Ken Borland celebrated his birthday today (49 not out, and in sight of that maiden fifty), while veteran Pakistani scribe Qamar Ahmed today began coverage of his 450th and final Test match before his retirement. That’s almost 20% of all the Test matches ever played, which is one heck of a landmark.

Stats highlights from the third ODI between Australia and Pakistan in Perth

Gaurav Sundararaman19-Jan-20175 Batsmen from Australia to score more than fifty in their debut Test and ODI. Peter Handscomb scored 82 on his ODI debut in addition to 54 he made against South Africa in Adelaide on Test debut. He joined Phil Hughes, Shaun Marsh, Michael Slater and Kepler Wessels to achieve this rare double.2 Batsmen to have made higher scores than Peter Handscomb on debut at No. 4 in ODIs. Mark Chapman and Stephen Fleming are the others.183 Runs added by Steven Smith and Peter Handscomb for the third wicket. This is the third-highest partnership for any wicket for Australia against Pakistan.79 Innings taken by Steven Smith to score 3000 ODI runs. He is the fastest Australian to this feat overtaking George Bailey and Micheal Bevan, who got there in 80 innings.21 Innings taken by Babar Azam to score 1000 ODI runs. He is the joint fastest to this feat equaling Viv Richards, Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Quinton De Kock. He is the quickest from Pakistan to get to 1000 runs going past Azhar Ali, who got there in 23 innings.Babar Azam became the fastest batsman from Pakistan to 1000 ODI runs•ESPNcricinfo Ltd84.2 Average of Steven Smith in Perth. He has now made two consecutive hundreds at this venue. He scored 149 against India last year and an unbeaten 108 against Pakistan. Australia won both matches.50 Runs scored by Pakistan between overs 41 and 50. When batting first, this is their third lowest in the last fifteen years when they have batted out an innings. Previously, they scored 45 runs against England in Dubai in 2012.4 Scores higher than 263 that Pakistan have made against Australia in Australia. Incidentally three out of their top-five scores have come in Perth.

The batsmen have been asked to score extra runs and their best way to do so is to think of overs 30 and 40, when there are only four men on the boundary, as one big Powerplay

Sidharth Monga17-Jan-20165:04

Agarkar: India bowlers not learning quickly enough

Around the time it became certain Australia were going to seal the series in Melbourne, a brilliantly funny tweet was retweeted 67 times. It showed a very young Rohit Sharma on a motorbike, Virat Kohli was riding pillion and the caption said: ” [Brother, we can’t do anymore, let’s go back to India.]” All it needed was a sidecar with Ajinkya Rahane.India have been on this treadmill of putting on 300 and failing to defend it, and every time the captain and the critics have asked the batsmen for more runs. In the absence of Mohammed Shami, their best ODI quick over the last two years, and with their throwing arms exposed ruthlessly by the Australian batsmen and their large outfields, India’s helplessness has never been more obvious than when MS Dhoni asked for 30 more runs from the batsmen instead of improvement from his bowlers.On a slower and drier MCG pitch the batsmen gave them 295, and India made a fist of it, but their fielding and bowling let them down at crucial moments again.The scrutiny, however, was on the dot balls Rohit Sharma faced, when he has been the one batsman making up for slow starts like a fiend. The big hitting of Ajinkya Rahane was dissected and the absence of Suresh Raina was rued. Everybody has sort of given up on the bowlers.And India’s batsmen are like the elder ones among quarrelling brothers and they are being told, ” [Son, you are the elder one, you please understand.]” You are among the best in the world, so please score 20 more. The question is, where do the batsmen get them from? It is extra pressure, Dhoni has made that clear, but it is not impossible.The onus is on India’s batsmen to score extra, and there is a way to do so between overs 30 and 40•Getty ImagesLet’s examine the options. Rahane came in to bat with the score at 134 for 2 in the 27th over. Eleven months ago, at the same venue, Rahane walked in at 136 for 2 in the 28th over against a far more threatening South African attack in the World Cup. He batted till the 46th over, struck 79 off 60 and fell with India’s score at 278. In this match he got out in the 45th over, having made 50 off 55, with India at just 243. Back then India reached 307 despite a stutter in the end; here they were kept to 295 despite a powerful kick from Dhoni’s nine-ball 23.The big difference was the Powerplay. It was still a thing at the World Cup and India took 44 runs from five overs heading into the final 10.But since the Powerplay has been abolished from ODI cricket, India have struggled to stay abreast with other teams. Dhoni had himself brought up the issue when, despite Rohit Sharma’s 150, India failed to chase 304 in Kanpur. In that game, India scored just 20 runs between the 35th and 40th overs, when batting Powerplay would have normally been on.With the change in rules, the last 10 overs, especially batting first, are not as critical as they used to be. Five fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle and teams can’t bank on getting 120 runs every time. Batsmen now need to look at overs 30 to 40 to accelerate.This is the time when there is one less boundary rider to worry about. It is some time in these overs that India need to create a Powerplay in their head. If a wicket falls, they should send a hitter in because, as Dhoni said, there is no need for one in the last 10 overs. Especially on these vast Australian outfields, where 80 runs can be scored by just knocking the ball around and the odd boundary, which is precisely what Dhoni can do.So when India’s captain asked for extra runs, you would have expected the batsmen to look for them between overs 30 and 40. In Melbourne, only 60 runs were added in these overs. In Brisbane and in Perth, an identical 67.India have been playing the first block of each game perfectly, especially with a shaky lower-middle order to follow. Their scores of 149 for 1, 166 for 2 and 147 for 2 at the end of 30 overs are testament to their quick scoring without losing wickets and under the pressure of knowing there isn’t much to follow. If, at some point before the 40th over, they can manufacture a Powerplay in their minds, possibly pick on a particular bowler, they may be able to get those extra 20 runs before going into the final overs.Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh did just that a couple of days ago and Australia went from 93 to 135 in three overs. It is not how India batsmen – more traditional and correct, who like to eliminate risk by following a method – like to bat, but their bowling and their fielding demand those extra runs be scored.

ESPNcricinfo marks the South African players out of 10 following their series win against Sri Lanka

Firdose Moonda29-Jul-2014

9

Dale Steyn
13 wickets at 17.46, 1 five-forA match-winning performance in Galle, which ended up being a series-winning effort, gave Steyn close to full marks for this tour. He combined pace, short ball attacks, yorkers and reverse swing in a display which proved that stand-out bowlers will be stand-out bowlers no matter the conditions. Steyn did not need the surface to play to his strengths. He registered the best figures by a foreign fast bowler in Galle and made crucial breakthroughs in Colombo – which included getting Kumar Sangakkara out for just his fifth first-baller in Test cricket – to lead South Africa’s charge.Morne Morkel
12 wickets at 16.00Often overlooked as just a support bowler, Morkel was nipping at Steyn’s heels, statistically speaking, throughout this series. He adjusted his game to bowl fuller in Galle when he needed to and maintained the miserliness which allowed South Africa to keep the pressure on even after the change bowlers had begun operating. In Colombo, Morkel earned his 200th Test scalp and became the fifth-fastest South African to the milestone. Always the lion-heart, he was padded up and ready to save the series with bat too but Hashim Amla admitted relief at not needing him for that purpose.

8

Hashim Amla
197 runs at 65.66, 1 centuryHashim Amla led from the front even before the Tests started. He was in scintillating form in the ODIs and hoped that would translate to the Tests. The examination began in Galle where he was not among the major contributors with the bat but had an excellent tactical game. Amla’s declaration, which offered Sri Lanka a chase of 370 at three runs an over was considered risky but he managed his bowlers in a way that made it seem anything but. At the SSC, Amla batted for more than eight hours to record his first century as captain and blunt the Sri Lankan challenge and he did his bit to secure the series with his 170-minute vigil in the second dig.

6.5

Vernon Philander
2 wickets at 76.00, 63 runs at 31.50Philander made memories in the first Test but not for his bowling where he went wicket-less. He featured in a 75-run eighth wicket stand and was at JP Duminy’s side when the No.7 brought up his century but was also caught tampering with the ball and fined half his match fee. In typical Philander fashion, he responded to the critics as only he can – bullishly. At the SSC, his disciplines were impeccable, length was fuller and line more attacking. His claim to the allrounder position was fueled by his batting efforts. Philander spent 105 minutes at the crease in the second innings, marshaling the tail to the draw.JP Duminy
114 runs at 57.00, 1 hundred, 5 wickets at 33.40After runs in Australasia and at home, the place Duminy really needed to prove himself as a Test batsman was the subcontinent, especially given his history against spin. His century with the tail in Galle did it. Duminy swept and reverse-swept with confidence and helped South Africa set up a match-winning total. The old issues returned in Colombo where he looked fragile against turn but he showed good temperament to record some of the slowest innings in Tests. Although he was classed as South Africa’s back-up spinner, Duminy actually took centre stage in that department and kept run-rates down. Two of his wickets came off a long hop and half volley but sometimes that is how an under-rated but effective bowler gets them.Imran Tahir lacked control and sent down too many full tosses•AFPDean Elgar
129 runs at 32.25, 1 centuryIf buffalos wore shoes, it would be their size Elgar was asked to fill when he was given Graeme Smith’s position at the top of the order. In his first outing as the new opener, Elgar showed a Biff-like determination to score runs despite any technical deficiencies – and Elgar’s seemed to be footwork against spin – and muscled his way to what may turn out to be a career-defining century. His trouble with turn was evident in Colombo but now that it has been exposed, he will know what he needs to work on in future.Quinton de Kock
124 runs at 31.00, 1 fifty, 14 catches, 1 stumpingThe 21-year-old was entrusted with a big responsibility when this series kicked off, which only grew as it went on. AB de Villiers’ hamstring niggle meant de Kock was asked to take the gloves and bat at No.6. He scored his maiden Test fifty, took 14 catches including a stunner to dismiss Kaushal Silva in the second innings, put down only one and effected a stumping to restart his Test career on an impressive note. In Colombo, de Kock was promoted to No.3 after South Africa crawled in the first eight overs of their innings and asked to infuse some energy into the cause. He showed his attacking instincts with a gritty 37 to suggest South Africa may have found their next permanent Test gloveman.

6

AB de Villiers
121 runs at 30.25, 1 fiftyNiggles to his hamstring and back prevented de Villiers from participating as fully as he may have liked to in the series. He scored a half-century in Galle in quick time and accompanied Amla in holding the line at the SSC where he displayed remarkable restraint. De Villiers is a naturally creative player but curbed those instincts and concentrated on blocking South Africa to glory.

5.5

Faf du Plessis
163 runs at 40.75, 1 fiftyA fairly quiet series for du Plessis, who has been promoted to No.3 in the batting line-up, started brightly with 80 in the first innings in Galle to build on the solid start South Africa had. He formed part of the resistance in both innings in Colombo but all that was overshadowed by the catch he took to give Morkel his 200th Test wicket. Running backwards from point, du Plessis had to dive amid two other converging fielders to catch Kithuruwan Vithanage’s wild swing.

4

Alviro Petersen
68 runs at 17.00After promising starts in both innings in Galle, Petersen was victim to uncertainty against offspin. He reviewed both decisions but was proved incorrect both times as he was beaten by deliveries that straightened from Dilruwan Perera. Things got worse in the second Test where he threw his wicket away against the other spinner, Rangana Herath, to extend his run of century-less innings to 21.

3

Imran Tahir
4 wickets at 84.00This was supposed to be Tahir’s watershed tour. He would be able to play in conditions where spinners thrive, where seamers have to play second fiddle and where he had proved his worth to the limited-overs’ teams a year before. But all he managed to deliver was disappointment. Tahir lacked control as he rushed through overs and was inconsistent. He sent down too many full tosses and failed to find enough flight to be considered one of South Africa’s premier spinners. His hour at the crease in the first innings at the SSC and 27 minutes to save the Test later on may be the only things that kept his place in the Test squad to Zimbabwe.

He may have played just four Tests but Robin Jackman was an ever-present stalwart for his county through the 1970s

Steven Lynch12-Dec-2012I spent a lot of time at The Oval while growing up – too much time, some said, when they looked at my exam results. As a junior Surrey member it was exciting to be able to swan into the pavilion, even into the Long Room bar, although back then I was confined to the end presided over by the impressively buxom woman whose unchanging cry was, “I only do tea and coffee – no drinks.”Outside it always seemed to be overcast, and if Surrey were in the field either Intikhab Alam or Pat Pocock would be bowling from the pavilion end. Inti, a whirl of rubbery arms as he delivered another puzzling legbreak or googly, seemed always to be smiling; but Pocock wasn’t far behind in the laughter stakes. His own action seemed impossibly dainty, back leg flicking outwards as he bowled.And, in my memory, puttering away almost unchanged from the Vauxhall End was Robin Jackman. He was just below top pace, his legs seemingly shorter than the rest of his body suggested they should be. He trundled in, sent down a ball that tested the batsman’s technique… and probably appealed. I reckon Jackman probably holds the career record for most appeals per over: about 2.5 per six balls.It wasn’t just me who was impressed by these whole-hearted displays. Alan Gibson, the whimsical writer whose reports for the Times were often more about his battles with train services than the match he was supposed to be watching, tagged Jackman the “Shoreditch Sparrow”, mainly on account of those chirping appeals. It was a good name, although it suggested a Cockney background, which was some way from the truth: Jackman was born in India, while his father was serving in the Army there, and his relatives included the suave comedy actor Patrick Cargill. Around the time Jackman’s county career started in earnest, his uncle was starring in the TV sitcom Father, Dear Father, as the absent-minded dad of two high-spirited blonde daughters: one imagines Robin’s popularity in the dressing room would have been cemented if he ever persuaded them to visit The Oval. Jackman once told Cargill he wanted to be an actor too, only to be firmly advised “Don’t.”For years it seemed that Jackers would be nothing more than a consistent county performer: England recognition seemed a step too far. By 1978, he had never taken 100 wickets in a season, but the following year he managed 93 at an average of 17, then in 1980 – in his mid-thirties – sailed into three figures for the first time, ending up with 121 at 15.40. The selectors could ignore him no longer, and Jackman was included in the XII for the showpiece Centenary Test against Australia at Lord’s at the end of the season. It is hard to imagine a selection more popular on the county circuit (or in the Oval Long Room bar).However, being in the squad is no guarantee of playing… as Jackman found out when he reported to the team hotel. Back then the 12th man would stay with the Test team for the first two days before returning home for his county’s match on the Saturday. And when he booked in, Jackman was understandably deflated when the receptionist said: “Ah yes, you’re only with us for three nights, aren’t you?” He knew then he wouldn’t be playing, although he wasn’t officially told until just before the start. It would have been nice, he wrote later with characteristic humour, to “have been informed by someone a little closer to the cricketing network, albeit not nearly so attractive”.

He was just below top pace, his legs seemingly shorter than the rest of his body suggested they should be. He trundled in, sent down a ball that tested the batsman’s technique… and probably appealed

Jackman was not initially required for that winter’s tour of the West Indies either, but was called up when Bob Willis was injured. He arrived at Lord’s to get his instructions on a bitterly cold day in February 1981, only to be buttonholed by photographers wanting a snap of England’s new (or new-ish: he was 35 by then) recruit. I was working at Lord’s then, and when he wanted some cricket gear to lend authenticity to the photos, handed over some of mine, which was kept in the office for winter nets. I proudly informed my club colleagues next day that our sweater was in the Daily Mail, probably the nearest any of us would ever get to an official England tour.That minor kerfuffle was followed by a much bigger one when he got to the Caribbean. Jackman had strong links with South Africa – he had played a lot there, and his wife was from Cape Town – and the hard-line government in Guyana objected to his presence. The Test there was called off, and only high-level diplomatic discussion rescued the whole tour.Jackman finally did make his Test debut shortly afterwards, in Barbados. He made a fine start, with the wickets of Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes, and later added Clive Lloyd. There were three more Test caps, a tour of Australia in 1982-83, and 15 ODI appearances too. He probably really wasn’t quite quick enough for Test cricket, but few could have tried harder: no one (except possibly the odd man on the Georgetown omnibus) begrudged him those belated moments in the international sun.After retirement, Jackman settled back in South Africa and became an amiable TV commentator. A month or two ago came the news that he was battling cancer – completing an unpleasant treble with Tony Greig, another hero of mine from the 1970s, and a later favourite, Martin Crowe. Good wishes go to all of them: it goes without saying that Jackers will fight with all the energy he displayed during those long spells for Surrey. “If anybody could find a way of bottling Jackman’s energy, zest and full-hearted commitment,” wrote Pat Pocock, “then the future of cricket would be safe for the next century.”

JP Duminy and Colin Ingram’s recovery from 117 for five against Ireland, which followed South Africa’s bowlers’ recovery against India, show the side are learning to bounce back when under the cosh

Firdose Moonda at Eden Gardens15-Mar-2011A win over Ireland, however clinical it may be, is probably not one of the items you will see on a list of things to do to learn how to deal with pressure. As respectable and feisty as they are, if it’s not their day, it’s not their day, and playing against them can become like an extended practice session.It could turn passionate men into robots, methodically going through the motions until the inevitable conclusion is reached. It could mean that some of their senses are dulled, their reactions are less sharp and their effort is being saved for later on. It could result in them being caught off guard, letting it slip somewhere and turning what should be training into a tense contest, unnecessarily.For the first 27 overs of the match, that was South Africa. Hashim Amla was dismissed after a well-judged catch by George Dockrell, attempting to upper-cut and not hitting the ball hard enough. Morne van Wyk was dropped twice and that must have ruffled him, because he called for a single that ran out Graeme Smith. In an attempt at redemption, van Wyk blazed for a while and then was then defeated by a good ball that kept low. Jacques Kallis was caught dawdling and Faf du Plessis re-enacted the perfect way to be caught at slip.South Africa were in a precarious position at 117 for 5 that could easily have become 170 all out. Only a delicate toasting of a middle order that was as soft as a marshmallow in the match against England and an entire ODI series against India could prevent it. It was a situation that a team unprepared for a brush with tension would have let get out of control. South Africa are desperate to show that they are no longer that team.”Even though we were under pressure, we still managed to keep the run-rate up and I thought Colin [Ingram] did fantastically well coming in,” Smith, the South Africa captain, said. Ingram and JP Duminy, who is considered the marshal of the middle order, put on 87 for the sixth wicket at more than a run a ball, and knocked the wind out of the Ireland bowlers’ sails.What was particularly impressive was the way Ingram handled the pressure despite the fact it was his first outing in this tournament. Drafted into the side because of an injury to AB de Villiers, Ingram had to slot into a position, the No. 7 slot, that he had been in only once for the national side before the game. Ingram has most often been used at No. 3, in the absence of Jacques Kallis, and there had been looming question marks over his ability to change roles.Ingram had a lot to prove, and having not had an opportunity in the tournament yet, his hunger was evident, and, to an extent, all-consuming. It overtook the pressure of the situation because Ingram made it more about his own contest with the bowlers. It was a battle all the way, but one that Ingram can walk away from knowing he gave his all. “He was feeling a bit down with a stomach bug, so it was good to see him fight as well as he did,” Duminy said.Duminy too had a score to settle with critics wanting more from him as a senior player in the middle order. His two one-day centuries have come against Zimbabwe, and even though his 99 on Tuesday was also against a smaller team, the circumstances meant that, had he got the extra run, the ton would have been higher ranked than the previous two.Perhaps the calls for Duminy to play an innings of authority stemmed from the fact that he has not been tested enough in tough situations, but he showed that when the occasion arises for him to do so, he is capable.He fell short of a century playing a glory shot, but said that the hundred wasn’t on his mind as much as the wellbeing of the team was. “I was thinking of getting as many as we could. You never quite know what’s a good enough score and one or two runs can make a difference.” Nonetheless he rates the innings as “one of the better ones” of his career thus far.While Ingram and Duminy were involved in their personal combats, the pressure dissipated and the two had played South Africa into a comfortable position. It was the second time that the middle order had come through for the team, the first being against India last Saturday, and it’s all part of how the squad is learning to cope with pressure. The match against India also saw them put out a massive fire, that time with the ball. With India looking set for a score in excess of 350, it was up to the likes of Johan Botha, Robin Peterson and Dale Steyn to come through under pressure.South African cricket and pressure will always be linked until they win a major trophy, but the strides they are taking towards ensuring they are ready to do that cannot go unnoticed. In each of their last two matches, they’ve been faced with a potential pressure cooker and both times, they’ve let out the stopper and been in control of the situation. It’s all part of a plan that South Africa hope to be able to execute in the knockout stages, which is why it’s not important who they manage to achieve it against now; what’s vital is that they do manage, and so far, they have.

The crucial difference between India and Pakistan in Kanpur was how they used and played against spinners

Sidharth Monga in Kanpur11-Nov-2007

Pakistan chose to bring in Shahid Afridi early, rather than have him and try and hit out later on the spin-friendly wicket of Kanpur © AFP
Déjà vu hung in the air, much like the Kanpur haze, but nothing really repeated itself in totality. Shahid Afridi threatened an encore of his feats here two years ago, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh launched an attack on their favourite whipping boys, the Pakistan bowlers, and Salman Butt was back to scoring big against India, but no one went the distance.Much more significantly, the Pakistan chase started in similar blazing fashion to Mohali, and then slowed down in the middle overs where they ensured they had enough wickets in hand going in for the final assault. But there was one crucial change: the wicket, where the ball gripped and turned, would have made it difficult for someone like Afridi to come in and start hitting from the word go. That was probably why Pakistan gambled by sending Afridi to open the innings.The crucial difference, though, was in how the teams used and played against the spinners. Dhoni had the confidence in his spinners, while Shoaib Malik tried to hide Abdur Rehman, Pakistan’s only specialist spinner, as soon as the batsmen went after him. His first three overs, in which he got the ball to stay low at times but also rise sharply, gave him figures of 3-0-5-1, the wicket being Gautam Gambhir’s wicket with a snorter. In his fourth over Yuvraj Singh hit Rehman for two sixes and Malik, in panic, took him off and brought him back on only after all the others had been bowled out. When he returned, to bowl over nos. 45, 47 and 49, his bowling wasn’t special but, his final figures of 2 for 58 in seven overs were perhaps a trifle unfair to him.India, when they were bowling, were always aware of the assistance the wicket held for the spinners; it seemed the faster bowlers, who between them took three wickets for 108 runs in the first 20 overs, were setting up the game for Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik and ensuring India did better in the middle overs here than in Mohali. The spinners responded by attacking – Harbhajan bowled his first spell with at least one slip, and sometimes two – and in the process dried the runs up.The difference between the sides also lay in the way they batted against the spinners. The Indian batsmen struggled at the start, with the ball jumping, shooting and turning, but went on the offensive before they were done with the spinners. Yuvraj forced Malik to take Rehman off and Mahendra Dhoni, with two sixes in the next over, sent Malik packing as well.The attack came without any warning. For five overs, both the batsmen had found themselves stuck at the wrong ends – Yuvraj struggling against the off breaks of Malik and Dhoni uncomfortable facing Rehman’s left-arm spin. In those five overs – 29 to 33 – Yuvraj was dropped once and India managed only 13 runs. The next two overs cost 29 and off went Rehman.In hindsight Pakistan probably erred in sticking to their plan – successful in Mohali – of blocking during the middle overs to launch an assault later. Yet again, this was perhaps a good toss for India to lose. Or maybe it wasn’t, for had Kamran Akmal not dropped a sitter right at the start, and with the ball darting around in the first half hour, things could have been way different. Add the poor fielding standards and a wicket that broke to the list and examining the ifs and buts of this match is simply hair-splitting, for most of those factors evened themselves out. The use of spinners, however, did not.

Nottinghamshire on top as seamer takes his third five-wicket haul of the season

ECB Reporters Network12-May-2023Nottinghamshire seamer Brett Hutton took his third five-wicket haul of the season to compound his former county’s ongoing batting woes on the second day of this LV= Insurance County Championship match at Wantage Road.Hutton found plenty of movement under floodlights, cloudy skies and light rain to entice the batters into playing at balls outside off-stump and precipitate a Northamptonshire collapse as the Steelbacks lost seven wickets for 17 runs inside 12 overs before lunch, four batters falling without scoring.When Nottinghamshire batted, a typically aggressive Ben Duckett looked a different class as he made 39 despite the bowler friendly conditions, taking seven boundaries off his former county as Nottinghamshire raced to 50 off nine overs.Tom Taylor’s introduction into the attack threatened to cause an upset when the all-rounder removed both Duckett and Haseeb Hameed in his first over. Any hopes of making short work of the visitors were dashed thanks to a fluent fourth wicket stand of 68 between Joe Clarke (41 not out) and Matthew Montgomery (34).Earlier Northamptonshire opener Ricardo Vasconcelos impressed with 62, registering his second successive half-century of the season and sharing a third wicket partnership worth 77 with Saif Zaib. After the clatter of wickets, a spirited last-wicket partnership of 28 between Gareth Berg and Jack White, the second highest of the innings, took the hosts past 150.Northamptonshire had resumed on 86 for two after heavy rain restricted the opening day’s play to a single session. Despite Vasconcelos surviving two dropped catches on day one, he and Zaib looked solid early on.Vasconcelos reached his half-century with a clip off his legs which reached the boundary thanks to a miss field in the deep and survived another dropped catch when he was put down at short cover on 57.But while Vansconcelos enjoyed his luck, there was a procession of wickets at the other end against a disciplined Nottinghamshire seam attack.Zaib was the first to go, nicking Lyndon James to Duckett, the first of three slip catches for the England opener. Four balls later Hutton claimed his first scalp when he had Rob Keogh caught behind off the outside edge for 0. Steven Mullaney then got into the action, finding some late shape to trap James Sales lbw.Hutton found some more away movement to tempt Harry Gouldstone into prodding at one outside off-stump with Duckett taking a good low catch. He then saw off Taylor, also without scoring, Duckett again doing the honours.Vasconcelos’ near four-hour vigil finally came to an end when he too steered Hutton into the slips. Then, just before rain forced an early lunch, Jordan Buckingham was trapped lbw by Dane Paterson for 0. Berg hit a couple of lusty blows including a six over square leg before he was bowled to give Hutton his fifth wicket.When Nottinghamshire batted, Duckett was severe on anything loose, taking three leg-side boundaries off Berg’s opening two overs and punching him down the ground for four more, forcing the veteran seamer out of the attack.Northamptonshire missed a chance to remove Duckett on 27 when he nicked White at catchable height between keeper and first slip. Taylor made sure the miss was not too costly, getting his second delivery to angle back in and trap Duckett lbw. Hameed’s downfall came four balls later when Vasconcelos took a good low catch to give Taylor two wickets in his opening over. Jordan Buckingham was bowling a probing line and length from the opposite end and got his reward in the next over when Vasconcelos pouched another sharp slip catch.In a testing spell after tea, the increasingly unlucky White had two strong appeals for caught behind denied against Joe Clarke and saw the Nottinghamshire batter twice edge just wide of the slip cordon. Montgomery was harsh on Sales, cutting and pulling him for two boundaries in his opening over but the bowler got his man caught behind to break a dangerous partnership.

Weah stood by his comments about criticism from ex-USMNT players, and discussed his decision to join Marseille

• Weah doesn't regret comments on in documentary
• Says he's focused on the USMNT goals
• Discusses what he calls "fun" move to Marseille 

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  In a recent episode of the "PULISIC" docuseries, U.S. international Tim Weah called former USMNT stars "evil" for calling out Christian Pulisic after skipping the Gold Cup. At this week's USMNT camp, Weah stood by the comments.

  "One hundred percent don't regret anything I said," Weah said to reporters.

  Weah and teammate Pulisic were referencing criticism from ex-U.S. stars such as Tim Howard, Alexi Lalas and Landon Donovan.

  “I think those guys are chasing checks,” Weah said in the docuseries “And for me, I just feel like they're really evil, honestly, because they've been players and they know it's like when you're getting bashed and those are the same guys, that'll turn around and shake your hand and try to be friendly with you at the end of the day.”

  Despite essentially doubling down on his comments, Weah said he was ready to move on.

  "I'm fully focused on the positive," he said. "Now I'm leaving all that negative energy out there, and then I think right now, it's important to kind of shift the focus to what we're doing as a group and what this team is doing. How we can execute performances, and kind of take our game to that next level in order to be prepared for the World Cup? One hundred percent focused on that. 

  "And if that means blocking out all the noise, that's what we're gonna have to do. And yeah, we're just focused on what our main goal is. And you know, we're here at each camp, trying to try to build it. Yeah, I'm so happy to be back with the boys."

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Weah explained his decision to join Olympique de Marseille after spending two seasons with Juventus. 

  "First off, the move to Marseille was a fun one, obviously," he said. "With my family history, my dad played six months there. So, you know, joining the club for me was a no-brainer. I know the history of Marseille, how passionate that city is, and how the fans are., and how you know the team is. I knew it was the right place for me to be before the World Cup and building up to one of the biggest tournaments of our lives."

  While several USMNT players are out of the September camp as they adjust to their new European clubs, the winger insisted it wasn't an option for him. 

  "I never thought about not coming into camp," he said. "Marseille is a priority, [but] the national team is also a priority to me as well. So coming here and being with a group and kind of building up on what we already have, and fine-tuning a lot of things for me is important. Because at the end of the day, the goal is nine months.

  "We have to perform and be on top of our game. So any chance I get to come in and kind of build with these guys, I'm 100 percent for it."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Weah wasn't on the USMNT Gold Cup roster due to Juventus' participation at the Club World Cup.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR USMNT?

  The U.S. will take on South Korea on Saturday in New Jersey, and will face Japan three days later in Columbus, Ohio.

MatériaMais Notícias

Quando entrarem em campo às 21h30 (de Brasília) de quinta-feira no Morumbi, São Paulo e Portuguesa farão mais que uma mera partida da quarta rodada do Campeonato Paulista. O jogo marca o retorno da Rubro-Verde aos duelos com os rivais tradicionais após sete anos de calvário na segunda divisão estadual. E não poderia haver adversário mais sintomático à Lusa que o Tricolor.

A começar pelas origens. Se a Portuguesa escancara suas origens lusitanas, o São Paulo, mais comedido, foi repleto de descendentes do país europeu que colonizou o Brasil em sua diretoria ao logo dos anos.

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Nos anos 1940 e 1950, essa ligação entre São Paulo e colônia portuguesa foi escancarada no processo em que o clube vendeu o terreno que mantinha no Canindé para iniciar as obras do Morumbi. Por um certo dedo do destino, o espaço acabou ficando com a Portuguesa, que ergueu ali o seu estádio.

Mas dentro de campo, onde a rivalidade de fato se aflorou, depois de uma década de 1960 morna, com são-paulinos e lusitanos mais preocupados com a construção de seus estádios, iniciaram os anos 1970 aspirando ao posto de protagonistas do futebol paulista.

O Tricolor conquistou o bi no Paulistão em 1970 e 1971. A Lusa assegurou o troféu em 1973, dividido com o Santos. Era questão de tempo até se enfrentarem de forma decisiva. Aconteceu em 1975, quando já somavam 12 empates nos 13 jogos anteriores.

Era a ascensão de uma geração de ouro no Morumbi, palco dos dois jogos da final. Waldir Peres, Muricy Ramalho (na época ainda Murici) e Serginho Chulapa se firmavam no time titular são-paulino, capitaneados por Pedro Rocha. No banco, José Poy, o maior goleiro da história tricolor até então.

Teriam pela frente uma das maiores Portuguesa da história. Muitos remanescentes do título de dois anos antes, caso de Wilsinho, Tatá, Badeco, Zecão e o ídolo-mor lusitano, Enéas, reforçados com Dicá, maior jogador da história da Ponte Preta.

No dia 14 de agosto, o São Paulo venceu o primeiro jogo por 1 a 0, gol de Pedro Rocha aos 43 minutos do primeiro tempo. A vantagem pouco valeu na volta, três dias depois, quando Enéas marcou aos 31, também da etapa inicial, e deixou tudo igual.

Depois de uma prorrogação de 30 minutos, não teve jeito, a decisão foi para os pênaltis. E aí brilhou a estrela de Waldir Peres, que mostrou uma de suas principais características: a de desconcentrar batedores antes das cobranças. Catimbando muito, o goleiro são-paulino defendeu duas cobranças (de Tatá e Dicá), viu Wilsinho mandar por cima da meta e garantiu o tranquilo 3 a 0.

NÃO SE REPRIMA

O tempo passou. E exatos dez anos depois a dupla voltou a se enfrentar em uma final do Estadual. Desta vez, não teve jeito. O São Paulo tinha os chamados ‘Menudos’, uma alusão à banda que fazia sucesso na época: Silas, Muller e Sidney, reforçados com nomes como Careca, Gilmar e Falcão.

Novamente com dois jogos no Morumbi, o Tricolor venceu a Lusa, que contava com nomes como Luís Pereira e Edu Marangon, por 3 a 0 no primeiro jogo. No segundo, um 2 a 1 selou a conquista.

São Paulo e Portuguesa voltariam a se cruzar em jogo decisivo em 2011. Nas quartas de final, em jogo único disputado na Arena Barueri, mais uma vez o Tricolor levou a melhor, vencendo por 2 a 0 e se classificando.

Nesse meio-tempo, os lusitanos guardam no coração uma das maiores exibições da história do clube, a histórica goleada por 7 a 2 sobre o São Paulo, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro de 1998, com direito a gol do meio de campo.

Em 2005, mais uma vitória heroica da Rubro-Verde. Em campeonato de turno único, o São Paulo iria se sagrar campeão paulista invicto, mas acabou tombando para a Lusa por 2 a 1 em pleno Pacaembu lotado.

O clássico marca os lusitanos agora pela tristeza. Isso porque no último confronto entre ambos com os times principais, no mesmo Morumbi de quinta, o São Paulo venceu por 3 a 0 e rebaixou o clube do Canindé para a segunda divisão estadual, posição que ela só deixou nesta temporada.

-Os últimos vinte anos fizeram com que muita gente se esquecesse de épicos duelos travados entre São Paulo e Portuguesa nas sete décadas anteriores, mas é um jogo que sempre foi considerado um clássico que já teve momentos bastante acirrados – destacou AlexandreGiesbrecht, historiador são-paulino e autor da página ‘Anotações Tricolores‘.

RAIO-X
SÃO PAULO X PORTUGUESA

GERAL
246 jogos
119 vitórias do São Paulo
64 empates
63 vitórias da Portuguesa

NO MORUMBI
67 jogos
35 vitórias do São Paulo
17 empates
15 vitórias da Portuguesa

PELO PAULISTÃO
154 jogos
78 vitórias do São Paulo
45 empates
31 vitórias da Portuguesa

Fonte: AlexandreGiesbrecht, do ‘Anotações Tricolores’

> Confira jogos, classificação e simule os resultados do Paulistão-23