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South Africa women’s captain Dane van Niekerk has been declared fit for the World Cup in June, when she is expected to have fully recovered from a foot injury

Firdose Moonda23-May-2017South Africa women’s captain Dane van Niekerk has been declared fit for the World Cup in June, when she is expected to have fully recovered from a foot injury. Van Niekerk was prescribed six weeks’ rest after sustaining the injury earlier this month. She sat out of the recent quadrangular series, South Africa’s last preparatory event before the World Cup, but should be ready for their opening match on June 25.

South Africa women’s squad

Dane van Niekerk (capt), Lizelle Lee, Trisha Chetty, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Mignon du Preez, Shabnim Ismail, Andrie Steyn, Masabata Klaas, Laura Wolvaardt, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Moseline Daniels, Nadine de Klerk, Sune Luus, Ayabonga Khaka

Van Niekerk will be the only member short of match practice. The rest of the squad consists entirely of players who took part in the four-team tournament, including Nadine de Klerk and Raisibe Ntozakhe, who both debuted in the series. South Africa won five out of six matches in the round-robin stage and reached the final, where they lost to India.Their most notable performance was an eight-run victory over India in the ninth match. They also had a selection of individual moments to savour. Eighteen-year-old Laura Wolvaardt scored one of South Africa’s two centuries in the competition – Andrie Steyn hit the other – as South Africa racked up 337 for 5, their highest ODI total, against Ireland . On the bowling front, Shabnim Ismail topped the tournament charts.South Africa go into the event on the back of a two-and-a-half year period that coach Hilton Moreeng believes stands them in good stead. “I believe that we finally have the winning formula. The balance in the side is just right,” he said.Since October 2014, South Africa have won series in Sri Lanka, India, the UAE against Pakistan, Ireland and Bangladesh. But they have not been able to overcome New Zealand, Australia, England or West Indies – although they won isolated matches against all teams except Australia.Being able to overhaul some of the better teams in the women’s game will be foremost on the agenda in England, but so will adapting to unfamiliar conditions. The last time a South Africa women’s side toured England for ODIs was in 2008, although they played a three-match T20 series in the country in 2014. Some players, including van Niekerk, Marizanne Kapp, Lizelle Lee and Ismail, were part of the Women’s Super League last year, which they believe will help with the adjustments. “With a few of us having a bit of experience of English conditions, we are confident going into the tournament that we are going to give it our very best and leave it all on the field by the time it ends,” van Niekerk said.South Africa’s best finish at a Women’s World Cup was in 2000, when they lost to Australia in the semi-final. They have not finished in the top four since, but their structures have become professional, national contracts have been awarded and they have high-profile sponsorship.CSA CEO Haroon Lorgat praised the team for achieving the goal they set three years ago – of qualifying for the World Cup – but Danie van den Bergh, head of their title backer Momentum, backed them to go all the way. “It has been exciting to see the team grow in world rankings and again earn their spot and in the World Cup,” he said. “This shows what can be achieved when we invest in the sport and developing the player. We wish the team the very best and hope their representation inspires and encourages young women and girls, or any young South Africans, to get involved and to dream those big dreams. Bring it home ladies.”

In some ways, every day is Marcus Trescothick Day at the county ground in Taunton, so greatly does his spirit seem to animate the place

Alan Gardner at Taunton04-May-2016
ScorecardMarcus Trescothick’s hundred took Somerset to a draw•Getty Images

It is Somerset Day next week. May 11, if you should like to mark the date. It officially commemorates the day King Alfred gathered the West Saxons together before the Battle of Edington in 878, although it has only been in place for a year and some might be inclined to think of it as a marketing gimmick by the local tourist board.There is a Yorkshire Day and a Lancashire Day, of course, probably one or two others as well, so who is to begrudge them? People will come together next Wednesday to talk about their Somerset heroes over a pint of scrumpy and, depending on how Somerset’s game against Warwickshire at Edgbaston is going, there might be discussion of the cricket. Marcus Trescothick’s name is bound to get a mention.In some ways, every day is Marcus Trescothick Day at the county ground in Taunton, so greatly does his spirit seem to animate the place. There is the Marcus Trescothick Stand over by the river and, in time, there might well be a Marcus Trescothick Pavilion (they do like a pavilion here). There can’t be many sportsmen who have experienced the feeling of playing in front of a section of the ground with their name already on it – the renaming of the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand at Old Trafford a few years ago is the only comparison that springs immediately to mind – but it is a regular occurrence for Trescothick.There was a 60th first-class hundred to salute on this occasion, his second in as many weeks, as Somerset fought their way to a third successive draw in the Championship. For the last two or three seasons, Somerset have ended up grappling at the wrong end of the table – it took successive scores of 153, 210 not out and 87 from Trescothick last year to help ease fears of relegation – but they can take something from managing to remain unbeaten at the start of this one, despite having yet to play their best cricket.It was not a vintage innings but Trescothick’s unbeaten 129 had value far beyond its technical merit. Somerset had begun the day following on 180 runs in arrears but their former captain batted through until the teams shook hands, spending most of it in the company of his successor, Chris Rogers, who added a second half-century of the match. For the Somerset members basking in the uninterrupted sunshine, there was plenty of Banger for your Buck.The way Trescothick moves forward to leave these days is like a man setting himself against the back of a grand piano, ready to heft it up another flight of stairs. His cut may not emit the same sonic boom as it did a decade ago but the ball still flies off the blade; he sweeps as if trying to chop down a tree with one fell swing of the axe. The hands are still soft enough to cover for what the eyes – now peering out from behind spectacles – occasionally miss.He has agreed a contract to play red-ball cricket only and he may have some heavy lifting to do if Somerset’s start to the Championship is anything to go by. But he still has the appetite for it and, at 40, he is a couple of years younger than, for instance, Mark Ramprakash was when he finally hung up his bat. If the trend for flatter pitches continues and Trescothick remains fit, Harold Gimblett’s first-class runs record for Somerset – some 4000 in the distance – might creep into view.Things could well have been different in this match if Lancashire had experienced a little more fortune but – on Star Wars Day, appropriately – the force was with Trescothick. An edge down the leg side did not quite carry to wicketkeeper Alex Davies on 7 and plenty of his early runs came from nicks and nudges behind square; later in the morning session, on 42, a forward defensive bounced back towards the stumps, necessitating a hasty flick away (with the bat, of course). He survived a direct hit from midwicket on 85, legs pumping after being called through for a single by Rogers.Twice during an over after lunch, James Anderson threw his head back in disgust as controlled outside edges flew low through the cordon. There were no observations forthcoming from the bowler, just a look to the ground and a slow walk to retrieve his sweater from the umpire. “Anderson doesn’t look happy,” was the succinct view up in the Marcus Trescothick Stand. Their man was not going to be budged.At the other end, meanwhile, was a batsman with 73 first-class hundreds to his name. Together, Trescothick and Rogers have amassed more than 48,000 first-class runs and they formed the perfect old (rear)guard for Somerset, putting on an unbroken 168 before everyone agreed to call it quits. Not that Trescothick will be going anywhere else anytime soon.

Ben Brown’s unbeaten 78 held up Yorkshire after the visiting seam attack had made good use of winning the tossing and bowling first

Paul Edwards at Hove11-Sep-2013
ScorecardBen Brown’s innings saved Sussex from complete disaster•Getty Images

There was a curious atmosphere of immediacy and timelessness at Hove on the first day of this game: immediacy because Yorkshire now lie second in the Division One table and clearly need a win this week; timelessness because this is the penultimate first-class match of the season at this ground and the pull of Hove’s rich history and famously varied architecture is made even more powerful by the arrival of autumn.The contrast remained in one’s mind throughout the day. Yorkshire’s attack mastered the conditions in the late morning and one was reminded that a brisk, skittish breeze and the ground’s slope to the sea were problems over which bowlers like Maurice Tate and Tony Buss also triumphed. Their successes, though, did not take Sussex to the title; that moment in time did not arrive until 2003. Yorkshire, meanwhile, had won their first County Championship in 1893 and hope to celebrate their sesquicentennial anniversary with their 31st outright crown.By close of play, Andrew Gale’s men had made good progress towards winning this game. An attack which, in professional parlance, is “always at you” had limited Sussex to 276 for 9, a very decent effort on a flat pitch. Weather permitting, Yorkshire’s powerful batting line-up will hope to build a significant first-innings lead on the next two days of this game.The main obstacle towards Yorkshire claiming an even more decisive advantage came in the shape of Ben Brown, whose sparkling 93 had been a highlight of his side’s innings win at Headingley back in April. Here, Brown combined with Steve Magoffin to add 74 runs for the eighth wicket, as Adam Lyth’s failure to take a straightforward slip catch off Steve Patterson’s bowling when the Sussex wicketkeeper-batsman had 14 to his name assumed greater importance with every over that passed.After a first hour of play in which the conditions had caused Gale’s attack to struggle, Yorkshire ended the morning session in a dominant position with Sussex on 117 for 5. That was remarkable given that the home side were 58 for 1 after 14.3 overs with both Chris Nash and Michael Yardy going well. But Liam Plunkett, the third bowler to be tried from the troublesome Sea End in the first hour, produced the ball of the day to account for Nash, who could be forgiven for not being able to cope with the movement and lift the former Durham seamer generated.From that point on Sussex’s batsmen contributed a little to their side’s demise, Yardy chopping a ball from Plunkett on to the stumps and Ed Joyce being bowled behind his legs by Sidebottom for just 3. Rory Hamilton-Brown, his attacking shots invariably more impressive than his defensive efforts, then whacked Kane Williamson’s gentle and deceptive offspin for two leg-side sixes before the last ball of the same over defeated him with oh-so-gentle turn.Conditions eased a little for bowling in the afternoon. The wind dropped, the atmosphere became a little heavier and the Yorkshire attack bowled rather straighter. Patterson tore out Matt Prior’s off pole two overs after the resumption, with a ball that defeated what looked a copybook forward defensive shot. Sussex debutant Ashar Zaidi, a well-travelled league professional who scored 192 not out and took six wickets for Sussex’s second team against Durham just last week, batted coolly, albeit for just 17, before being pinned on the crease by Sidebottom.That left the home side on 164 for 7 but Lyth’s lapse at slip and the good sense shown by Brown and Magoffin shifted the balance of the day quite markedly, as the weather closed in and September’s less-benevolent aspect enveloped the ground. Brown looked a good player in making 78 not out while Magoffin exhibited admirable good sense: if the ball was pitched up, he drove it; if it was short, he kept it out.Only when the Australian seamer chased a wide-ish one from Sidebottom two overs after tea did his technique let him down. By then, though, he had made 25 and helped to change the complexion of the day’s cricket. The last significant action took place in gathering gloom, when James Anyon was bowled by Williamson. Mark Benson and Steve O’Shaughnessy took the players off soon afterwards. We shall see how good Sussex’s eventual total is over the next couple of days, hoping the forecast rain escapes this tiny portion of the coast. For it can be on such matters of meteorology that titles are decided.

Leicestershire beat promotion hopefuls Hampshire by 126 runs despite a swashbuckling last-wicket stand of 168

24-Aug-2012
ScorecardLeicestershire secured their second win of the season, beating promotion hopefuls Hampshire by 126 runs despite a swashbuckling last-wicket stand of 168 between Chris Wood and David Balcombe.Wood smashed a maiden first-class century off 80 balls and finished unbeaten on 105 as Balcombe was finally bowled by Nathan Buck for 73 off 70 balls. Leicestershire opener and part-time legspinner Will Jones took three wickets, with Matthew Hoggard and Wayne White claiming two apiece. The win lifted Leicestershire off the bottom of the table.Hampshire resumed at 77 for 4, still 363 runs behind, and negotiated the first ten overs of the morning with very few alarms, moving the score on to 109. Then, in the space of four balls, the game dramatically changed as three wickets fell for one run.Leicestershire captain Hoggard called up Jones for a spell at the Pavilion End and the 22-year-old responded by taking two wickets with the final two balls of his second over. Nightwatchman James Tomlinson popped up a catch to Matt Boyce at short leg and Sean Ervine was bowled as he tried to cut a delivery that kept low.Michael Bates then bagged his second duck of the match when he was bowled by White in the next over as Hampshire collapsed to 110 for 7. Their woes continued, with Jones claiming his third wicket – and career-best figures – when Liam Dawson charged down the pitch at him and was stumped one run short of his half-century.A direct hit on the stumps by Hoggard from mid-wicket ran out Kabir Ali but Leicestershire’s victory charge was spectacularly halted by the last-wicket pair of Wood and Balcombe, who suddenly unleashed a barrage of boundaries in an astonishing partnership.Wood raced to 50 off 37 balls and Balcombe, dropped at slip by Michael Thornely on 6, reached his half-century off 47 balls. The blitz continued, with the shell-shocked hosts appearing to have little idea of how to end the carnage, and the next landmark was Wood’s century off 80 balls with two sixes and 15 fours.Another six by Balcombe off Hoggard sent the sides into a delayed lunch with Hampshire on 305 for 9 and the stand worth 159 in just 20 overs. But Leicestershire finally clinched the win in the third over after lunch, Buck bowling Balcombe for 73 as Hampshire were dismissed for 314.The 23 points the Foxes collected takes them off the bottom of the table above Glamorgan and Gloucestershire, who both have a game in hand.

Brad Haddin has joined a growing list of New South Wales and Australia players to sign with the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jul-2011Brad Haddin and Steve O’Keefe have joined a growing list of New South Wales and Australia players to sign with the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League. The SCG-based side has now locked in 13 players, seven of whom have played for Australia, and all but one of whom are current New South Wales players.”Brad is a quality player and someone who will play a big part in our squad as a senior player,” Stuart Clark, the general manager of the Sixers, said. “He brings a competitive edge and a winner’s outlook to our group of players, as well as dangerous hitting ability at the top of the order. I think he is a great fit for the Sixers.”Haddin’s signing came a day after the Sixers also secured the services of Shane Watson, but both men are likely to be busy with international commitments for much of the BBL campaign. However, Haddin said he was keen to be part of a successful Sixers outfit whenever Australia’s schedule allowed.”I have known Stuart a long time and I think that he has assembled a very talented squad,” Haddin said. “I look forward to being part of that group of players and helping to develop a winning culture. With the freshness of the competition and the high level of interest I think it will generate, I can’t wait to be part of what I think will be a strong team.”O’Keefe played for Kochi Tuskers Kerala during the Indian Premier League, and spent time learning from the Sri Lankan spin maestro Muttiah Muralitharan.”I think the BBL is a great concept and becoming part of the Sydney Sixers is a real honour,” O’Keefe said. “You only have to look at the list of names that have been recruited, to understand that the squad has a stack of quality, and great depth.”Playing cricket for the Sixers at the Sydney Cricket Ground, was a real drawcard, and I can’t wait to join a highly talented group of players. I think the squad has a great combination of youth and experience, and I look forward to getting together with the guys”.The Sixers are the only side not to have yet signed an overseas player, instead focusing on local talent. Watson said the lack of international stars available during December and January had made it difficult to find an overseas player, but the Sixers could still succeed with a heavily Sydney-based roster.”The hardest thing for getting imports is finding the right person who’s not playing international cricket around that period,” Watson said on on Tuesday. “It’s been a little bit of a headache for Stuart Clark and the team to get the right overseas players but in the end we’re lucky in Australia and at the Sydney Sixers to have the strength and quality of the Australian players we do have. We don’t necessarily need a big star overseas signing.”Of the 13 Sixers players so far confirmed, Watson, Haddin, O’Keefe, Steven Smith, Brett Lee, Mitchell Starc, Moises Henriques and Josh Hazlewood have all played for Australia. The only non-New South Wales man in their group is the opener Ed Cowan, who played for the Blues before moving to Tasmania two years ago.

The plays of the day as the action continues apace between Pakistan and Australia at Lord’s

Brydon Coverdale at Lord's14-Jul-2010Afridi not afraid-i
Shahid Afridi walked to the crease for his first Test innings in nearly four years with Shane Watson sitting on the imposing figures of 2 for 0 from seven deliveries. But instead of going block-block, Boom Boom went bang-bang. Second ball, Afridi nonchalantly flicked a boundary over midwicket and followed with another four and a six. It was much the same in the next over, including a six over long-off, but Watson had the last laugh when Afridi was caught at mid-on trying to clear the infield again. It left Watson with the Twenty20-like figures of 3 for 30 from three overs, including a maiden, while Afridi departed with 31 from 15 balls in a 15-minute cameo. “That’s probably the only way he knows how to play,” Watson said. “That’s the reason people love him but also people can get a little bit frustrated with him at times. I had no answers for a couple of overs. Every time I bowled a ball that I felt came out well he just hit it for four or six.”Able Tasmanians
This is the first time three Tasmanians have played in the Test team together, and they were in the thick of the action early on the second day. Ben Hilfenhaus started from the Pavilion End but was soon swung around to the Nursery End, and with his first delivery from that side he drew an edge behind from Imran Farhat. Tim Paine comfortably pouched the ball to register his first Test catch. Oh, and it was Ricky Ponting who switched Hilfenhaus to the Nursery End, where the slope worked in his favour.Don’t come in, spinner
There was considerable interest in how Steven Smith would bowl at Test level, but we’ll have to wait until the second innings to find out. Such was the swing in the air and the success of Australia’s pace attack that Ponting didn’t require a single over of spin, as Pakistan were bundled out in the 41st over of their innings. Smith did manage a contribution in the field, though, when he stood at third slip and snaffled his first Test catch. It was the final wicket of the innings, which handed Watson a five-wicket haul.Bollinger bubbles with enthusiasm
Doug Bollinger always charges in at full speed during his run-up, but he took his commitment to new levels with a chase off his own bowling. Danish Kaneria clipped the ball wide of the short-leg Simon Katich but there was nobody else in the vicinity, so Bollinger hared off (or should that be haired?) to haul the ball in himself. There’s never a dull moment with Doug, and his ungraceful and unnecessary slide several metres inside the boundary, which the ball wouldn’t have reached anyway, brought cheers from the crowd. He was left red-faced and puffing, but the tea break soon arrived and he had a chance to cool down.Johnson banishes Lord’s hoodoo
Lord’s was the venue where Mitchell Johnson suffered an Ashes meltdown last year, at times struggling to land the ball on the pitch, but he exorcised some of those demons today. Johnson finished with figures of 1 for 31, but it didn’t reflect his accuracy and the danger he posed to the batsmen. “He bowled beautifully today,” Watson said. “You could see him working over the batsmen every single over. To see the control that he showed today, it was pretty special. He swung a few balls as well, when he got it absolutely perfectly. Just the way he was able to work over the batsmen with his bouncers, with his control of length and line, was pretty special to see. I got one of the best seats in the house fielding at first slip.”

Mahmudullah’s 98 went in vain as Bangladesh were unable to defend 244 in Sharjah

Himanshu Agrawal11-Nov-2024Before Monday evening, Rahmanullah Gurbaz averaged 16.73 in 20 innings in run chases in ODIs. But against Bangladesh in Sharjah, he hit 101 – his second century while batting second – with 42 of those runs coming in sixes alone. That took Afghanistan to victory in their pursuit of 245, and gave them their third successive series win.It was also the first instance of a score getting successfully chased in this series, after totals of 235 and 252 were defended in the previous two games.But it didn’t come all that smoothly for Afghanistan. When Gurbaz was caught off Bangladesh’s stand-in captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the 39th over, and Gulbadin Naib departed in the 41st, Bangladesh sniffed a comeback. Afghanistan were another 57 runs away from victory, with 58 balls and five wickets remaining. However, Azmatullah Omarzai, who had fallen without scoring in both matches this series, got an unbeaten 70 off 77 deliveries to calmly lead Afghanistan to a five-wicket win in the company of Mohammad Nabi, who smashed a quick 34*.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Omarzai clubbed five sixes, the last of which went over long-on to seal the win for his side. The victory was set up by Gurbaz’s eighth ODI hundred, and his fourth-wicket partnership of 100 with Omarzai, after Afghanistan were 84 for 3 in the 21st over. Such had been Gurbaz’s dominance that he had already reached his half-century by that point. All four of his sixes until then had been flung over the leg side, although he did have his share of luck.When on 24, Gurbaz was dropped by substitute fielder Rishad Hossain at point, and on 48, Towhid Hridoy’s throw from mid-off went wide of the stumps at the non-striker’s end despite Gurbaz having given up after a mix-up with Hashmatullah Shahidi.Gurbaz kept himself busy by ticking the singles and finding the boundary, and when on 56, Jaker Ali missed stumping him out off Mehidy, when one turned down the leg side – although Jaker might have been blinded by Gurbaz skipping down the pitch. Those bits of fortune taken into account, the ball seemed to fly off Gurbaz’s bat, with the most impressive shot being a hard and flat six over deep backward square leg off Mustafizur Rahman.Gurbaz and Omarzai ensured the chase remained in Afghanistan’s control for much of the innings. The century came up for Gurbaz in the 38th over, by the end of which, Afghanistan required only another 63 runs off the remaining 72 balls. That was when Afghanistan lost Gurbaz and Naib back-to-back, but Omarzai brought up his half-century just after that, following up a haul of 4 for 37 with the ball to earn himself the Player-of-the-Match award.Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahmudullah put on a huge stand to lift Bangladesh•ACB

Afghanistan had started the game erratically, dropping Tanzid Hasan twice and giving away extras with the ball. But bowling his second over – and the ninth of the innings – Omarzai had Soumya Sarkar chopping on for 24 at just better than a run a ball to break a 53-run opening stand.That seemed to flick a switch. Nabi, bowling the tenth over, had Tanzid slicing to cover point for 19 off a slow and dipping ball; Mehidy, in the 11th, sent Zakir Hasan back after calling for a run, only to result in Zakir’s dismissal on 4; and Rashid Khan, in the 15th, had Hridoy caught at slip for 7. Bangladesh lost 4 for 19 in a period of six overs, when Mehidy, who scored a patient 66, and Mahmudullah, who got a run-a-ball 98, joined hands to add 145 runs for the fifth wicket.But they took their time to settle, as they managed to add only 49 runs off the first 74 balls of their partnership. Three boundaries came during that period, with two off the outside edge of Mehidy’s bat.While Mehidy struggled to get even the singles or find the gap, Mahmudullah looked a lot steadier. With Afghanistan keeping a lid on Bangladesh, Mahmudullah hit the first six of the innings when he deposited Nabi over midwicket to end the 35th over. Those hits remained sporadic as Nabi even bowled a maiden over in the 39th.The last ten overs, however, brought Bangladesh 78 runs. It all started when Mahmudullah ended Nabi’s spell ended with another six. In the next over, the 42nd, Mahmudullah carved AM Ghazanfar for four through extra cover. He started the 44th with another boundary – this time over Ghazanfar’s head – before nailing a sweep off Rashid to propel Bangladesh forward.Seeing that, Mehidy had a change of heart too. With five overs left, he lapped and reverse scooped Omarzai for consecutive boundaries, although perished in the same over when he skied one to extra cover. With Bangladesh at 217 and only 24 balls left, it was down to Mahmudullah to provide the finishing touches; and the double dose of fortune he enjoyed in the 47th over was just what Bangladesh needed for a competitive total.Mahmudullah was given out lbw off Rashid to start the over, but used DRS to overturn the decision. Two legal balls later, he drove back hard at Rashid, who dropped a difficult catch, his hands stung by the blow. Mahmudullah ended with another six over midwicket – this one off Farooqi. He was on 97 with one ball remaining. Omarzai swung one into off, which Mahmudullah could only clip behind square to be run-out while attempting a second.

On-loan legspinner shines as Durham chip away on rain-shortened day

ECB Reporters Network10-Jul-2023Gloucestershire 280 for 6 (Dent 85, Hammond 52, Parkinson 3-45) vs DurhamMatt Parkinson claimed three wickets to halt Gloucestershire’s progress on day one of their LV= Insurance County Championship Division Two clash against Durham at Seat Unique Riverside.Chris Dent impressed at the top of the order with a resolute knock of 85, while Miles Hammond offered a change of pace with a blistering fifty to steer the visitors to 170 for 2 before Parkinson led the Durham fightback.The legspinner removed Hammond, Grant Roelofson and James Bracey and Matthew Potts added the scalp of Dent to reduce Gloucestershire to 280 for 6 before rain brought a premature end to day one.Gloucestershire won the toss and elected to bat under the sun at Seat Unique Riverside. Potts and Ben Raine were on their mettle with the Kookaburra ball from the off against the visitors’ opening partnership of Dent and Ben Charlesworth, beating the bat on several occasions without reward in the first half hour. Potts’ persistence earned him the breakthrough with the wicket of Charlesworth, who clipped a tame drive straight to Parkinson at mid-on.The morning session belonged to Gloucestershire as Dent showed his class at the crease to fend off dangerous spells from Durham’s potent attack, featuring new signing Migael Pretorius. Dent and Ollie Price put on 66 and looked primed to take the visitors into lunch one down, but a lapse in Price’s concentration handed Pretorius his first Durham wicket.Dent had to wait until after the interval to score the single required to bring up his second fifty of the season, and his knock continued to provide a valuable foundation for the Gloucestershire innings. Whereas Dent was reserved in his approach, Hammond took the attack to the Durham bowlers after lunch. The right-hander launched back-to-back sixes into the leg-side boundary against Parkinson as he raced to fifty from 43 balls.But, Parkinson would halt his charge for 52 as Scott Borthwick claimed a brilliant catch over his head at cover, which changed the momentum of the session. Dent had frustrated Potts in the morning session and their duel continued into the afternoon before the England seamer produced a beauty to find his outside edge for an impressive 85.Roelofsen and Bracey pressed Gloucestershire to their first batting point, although both were then bowled by Parkinson to open up the tail for the home side. Zafar Gohar and Josh Shaw were left to rebuild the innings before rain ended the day with the visitors 20 runs shy of a second batting bonus point.

Video analyst Sherullah Afghan and physio Dr. Sifatullah Wardak have returned to Afghanistan, and are set to be reemployed by the board

Umar Farooq16-May-2022Two out of four Afghanistan team members from the 2022 Under-19 World Cup touring party returned to the country three months after staying back in England with a view to seeking asylum in the wake of the Taliban takeover of the country. ESPNcricinfo understands both have been accepted back by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and are likely to be reemployed by the board.Afghanistan finished fourth at the Under-19 World Cup in the Caribbean, three places higher than in 2020. While returning from Antigua, the team had a scheduled stopover in London. While the rest of the Afghanistan squad, including the coaching and support staff, boarded their flight from London, four members of the travelling party decided to stay on at Heathrow with a view to seeking asylum.”There were three officials and one player [who stayed on in London], with video analyst Sherullah Afghan and physio Dr. Sifatullah Wardak among them, but those two have decided to return to Kabul,” ACB chief executive Naseeb Khan told ESPNcricinfo. “It was not the first time that people in our country stayed in other countries in various ways or were smuggled out of the country. I am pleased that our technical staff has returned to the ACB, and I warmly welcome them.”Their presence shows that security in Afghanistan is improving day by day and that the ACB has overcome the challenges it faced in the early days of the regime change. I hope those young people who have left the country return, as there are several possibilities for them to serve their country on various occasions. The doors are open for all Afghans.”Both officials met with the ACB’s top brass at the board headquarters in Kabul as the duo admitted that they preferred to return to serve their cricket. “Afghanistan needs manpower in technical aspects, so we decided to return back and work in our very own country because there is peace and prosperity in the country, so the priority must be given to Afghanistan,” Wardak said in a statement.ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf confirmed that both will be given employment. “The game has spread to all parts of the country,” said Ashraf. “The country is in need of technical staff and capacities, so everyone must strive hard to work for the country.”Immediately after Taliban took over the country last August, hundreds of Afghans including at least one former president, bureaucrats, sportspersons and civilians left. Since the takeover, the cricket board has been reshuffled extensively, and the working structure was revamped. Former allrounder Ashraf was brought in as the new chairman.Despite being a Full Member country, availing visas has become progressively tougher for Afghan cricketers and support staff, especially in the aftermath of the Taliban establishing a government. To alleviate the problem and expedite visas, the ACB has decided to procure UAE residency visas for nearly two dozen players and officials. The residence visas will allow the players and officials to stay in the UAE for longer periods of time while also ensuring they are able to apply for visas without physically needing to be present in Afghanistan.Afghanistan’s next tour is against Ireland in Belfast in August, with the ACB in the process of procuring UK visas.