Allenby, Overton keep Philander at arms length

Half-centuries from Jim Allenby and Craig Overton helped Somerset to a total of 312 on the first day at Trent Bridge.

ECB/PA17-May-2015
ScorecardJim Allenby, seen here for Glamorgan last year, made his highest score for his new county Somerset•PA PhotosHalf-centuries from Jim Allenby and Craig Overton helped Somerset to a total of 312 on the first day at Trent Bridge. The experienced Allenby, short of runs so far this season, made 64, his highest score since moving from Glamorgan in the winter.His efforts laid the foundation for Overton to replace him at the crease and plunder 55 runs from only 31 balls as Somerset collected three batting points. Nottinghamshire replied with 57 for 2 from the closing 24 overs of the day.Vernon Philander enjoyed his best day with the ball for the home side, returning 4 for 56 against the side that he made a handful of appearances for in 2012. The South African pace bowler seemed to relish the opportunity of playing against former team-mates, under cloudy skies, after Chris Read had won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first.Marcus Trescothick has seldom enjoyed his previous visits to this famous old ground, having failed to register a century in 20 first-class matches. His 33rd innings on the ground was typically brief, castled for 0 by a wonderful swinging delivery from Philander.Somerset also lost Tom Abell during the early exchanges but approached lunch in better order before losing three wickets to the final 11 balls of the opening session. Two of those were taken by Steven Mullaney, including Johannes Myburgh for 49, as the bowler enhanced his reputation as a partnership-breaker.That reputation, real or imaginary, prompted Read to turn to him again in mid-afternoon and again the allrounder delivered, bowling Peter Trego to end a stand of 85 in only 15 overs with Allenby. Overton made the most of some wayward bowling to plunder 11 boundaries in a quickfire 50 before being cleaned up by Harry Gurney.Seven of Somerset’s batsmen were bowled as Luke Wood collected two late scalps. The 19-year-old left-arm quick dumped Lewis Gregory on his backside with a well-directed bouncer before bowling him next ball, then wrapped up the innings by yorking Tim Groenewald.When Nottinghamshire batted they lost the wickets of Mullaney, to Gregory for 19, and Greg Smith, on his county debut, who failed to make the most of his opportunity to step in for the absent Alex Hales by falling lbw to Groenewald for 8. Hales’ weekend dash to join the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League went unrewarded when he was left out of their final qualifying match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.Somerset’s Allenby, who scored 64 was pleased with his side’s performance, saying: “Having got 300-odd, we felt that was over par – especially after we’d had a bit of a wobble in our last few games, so it was nice to get it right today in difficult conditions.”While – on his stand of 85 with Trego – he added: “Peter has been done it for years and I’ve found myself in similar situations so we just used our experience to make sure we kept scoring and we kept trying to capitalise whenever Philander wasn’t bowling because it was a bit tricky out there. We dragged it back and obviously to finish up with Craig Overton getting 60 off just 30 balls finished our innings really well.”While Philander was delighted with his four wickets for the hosts, he said: “It’s obviously started pretty well for me this morning but we’d have liked to roll them out for cheaper than that but bowling them out for 300 on day one, we’d have taken that.”On his swinging delivery to bowl Trescothick out, he added: “It’s always good when you’ve played with guys like that to be able to get them out. Myself and Marcus have a good relationship, so it’s always good to get your mates out.”After lunch we bowled a little bit too short and Treego, Allenby and Overton played nicely but getting full bowling points we’d have taken that. We just need to bat well tomorrow.”

SLC seeks to clear air with ICC over interim committee

An interim committee to run Sri Lanka cricket that came into power yesterday is under scrutiny for breaching the ICC constitution

Sa'adi Thawfeeq02-Apr-2015An interim committee to run Sri Lanka cricket that came into power yesterday is under scrutiny for breaching the ICC constitution. A nine-man team led by former Test opener Sidath Wettimuny, appointed by sports minister Navin Dissanayake, could run foul of the ICC’s stance on government interference in cricketing affairs, the penalties for which include suspension of the board in question.The committee was established because the posts held by the existing office-bearers, led by president Jayantha Dharmadasa, had become null and void. The laws governing all sports bodies in the country require annual elections to be held on or before March 31. SLC’s elections, however, were postponed until the end of April due to the World Cup, which ended on March 29.Dissanayake said he was in talks with the ICC to explain his stance after SLC received a letter from chief executive David Richardson that stated “such action [sports minister appointing an interim committee] could put Sri Lanka Cricket in breach of Article 2.9 (B) of ICC’s Articles of Association which states as follows: “Where a government interferes in the administration of cricket by a Member, including but not limited to interference in operational matters, the selection and management of teams, the appoint of coaches or support personnel, the Executive Board shall have the power to suspend or refuse to recognise that Member….””The ICC is not happy with interim committees, but we as a sovereign country have the power under the legislation to appoint one,” Dissanayake said “We will justify our stand with the ICC as we have grounds to appoint such a committee. Questions of suspension and all that are not serious issues, but we are addressing that. We are waiting to have talks with the chairman N Srinivasan.”We have already spoken to CEO David Richardson and we will be speaking to N Srinivasan today or tomorrow. After that myself, Sidath and a member of the interim committee will go and meet Srinivasan personally. We have a desire to go forward without any problems. We’ve had cordial relations with ICC. We have not got into confrontation with them at any time and whatever issues that have come up have been dealt through discussions.Dissanayake was confident an amicable resolution can be found. “We have laws governing our country and according to the laws of the country I have appointed an interim committee,” he said. “We are prepared to have discussions with the ICC and if they have any issues with it we are prepared to talk it out. As far as we are concerned I don’t see that we have a problem.”He said that more than half of Sri Lanka cricket’s history has been under interim committees. “It’s not something new, the appointing of interim committees,” he said. SLC was run by a series of nine government-appointed interim committees between 2004 and 2012. Though the board’s recent history has been characterised by government intervention, the ICC has not formally penalised the board so far, nor officially threatened suspension.

Ghana-Nigeria Combined XI: Essien vs Mikel

Which of these Chelsea greats would make our Super Eagles-Black Stars combined XI?

Goal/GettyGhana-Nigeria Combined XI

Ahead of this week’s World Cup qualifying double header between Nigeria and Ghana, GOAL Africa are picking our dream combined XI between these two West African heavyweights.

Both the Super Eagles and the Black Stars have storied histories in continental and global competition, and our shortlist for this combined Dream Team was overflowing with elite African talent.

However, only eleven stars can make the cut between these two West African giants, which of these two Chelsea greats would make the cut?

AdvertisementLefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty ImagesInternational Career

Despite being a part of an excellent Ghanaian generation, Essien only featured in three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments—largely a consequence of the injury problems that undermined his career.

While he reached the final in 2010, the Black Stars ultimately fell short at the hands of Egypt. Mikel went one further as part of Stephen Keshi’s fine side, and got his hands on the big one in 2013.

The Nigerian also went on to reach four Afcon semis during his international career, most recently finishing third in 2019.

He missed out on three editions between 2012 and 2017, but did feature in three World Cups, reaching the Last 16 at Brazil 2014.

While Essien was present for Ghana’s debut display and their run to the Last 16 in 2006, injury denied him a place in the team that reached the quarters four years later.

Winner: Mikel

GettyClub Career

These two are immensely decorated at club level, with the majority of their silverware coming ast part of Chelsea’s magnificent flurry of successes under the likes of Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Di Matteo.

Essien won two Premier League winner’s medals at Chelsea, and was an unused substitute in the 2012 Champions League final, where Mikel did feature in the victory over Bayern Munich.

The pair each won three FA Cups with Chelsea, although while the Nigerian was still around for the Europa League triumph of 2013—by which point Essien had departed—The Bison did win two Ligue 1 titles as part of a magnificent Olympique Lyonnais side.

Winner: Essien

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Getty ImagesIndividual Accolades

Essien comfortably outclasses Mikel here, probably testament to him being seen as a far more dynamic and impactful player during his peak years.

The midfield powerhouse never won Caf’s African Footballer of the Year award—among the finest continental stars not to do so—although he did clinch the BBC version of the prize.

He did make Caf’s podium on five occasions though, and indeed, no one has finished in third place more times than the Ghana star.

The midfielder was Ligue 1 Player of the Year for 2005, only the third African player after Ali Benarbia and Didier Drogba to win the award, and was named in Caf’s Team of the Year on four occasions.

Mikel was never really in contention for these kinds of honours during his senior career, having won plenty of individual accolades as a youngster, for both Chelsea and at the Fifa World Youth Championship.

He twice made the Nations Cup Team of the Tournament, once finished runner-up in the African Player of the Year award, and twice made Caf’s Team of the Year.

Did Mikel deserve more individual accolades during his career?

Winner: Essien

USMNT star Matt Turner’s wife Ash Herron – who is an ex-NFL cheerleader – shockingly reveals she broke her nose during Nottingham Forest warm up as she names culprit

Ash Herron, the wife of Nottingham Forest and USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner, has revealed which player broke her nose during a warmup.

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Turner moves to Premier LeagueWife, Ash, breaks nose in warm upShe reveals which player did itGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Herron has revealed she suffered a broken nose during one of the pre-game warmups while watching her husband in action. Ash is one of many wives set to feature in the new Amazon Prime Video documentary called 'Married to the Game' which will showcase the lives of significant others who are with Premier League footballers.

AdvertisementNottingham Forest TwitterWHAT HERRON SAID

“I’ve got a broken nose right now because I went to a game and got hit in the nose,” Ash Turner told talkSPORT. “It happened during the warm up. It was [Gonzalo] Montiel. I don’t think it’s glitz and glamour.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Turner and his family made the switch from the MLS to the Premier League back in 2022, when he sealed a move to join North London giants Arsenal.

Speaking on the difference between the MLS and the Premier League, Turner's wife added: “I don’t think I was necessarily prepared for the intensity of the Premier League. We came from MLS and obviously that’s not as high profile. This league is just developed in people’s blood and it’s a beautiful thing. The pressure for the players and their families is something I don’t think you can prepare for. You have to just go through the journey and experience it and that’s where you really learn the ins and outs of everything."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR TURNER?

Turner and his Forest teammates are looking to get back to winning ways this weekend after suffering a disappointing 3-2 loss to Newcastle United last weekend. Nuno Espirito Santo's men will host West Ham United in their next clash at the City Ground on Saturday.

Antony handed Man Utd lifeline as Erik ten Hag bizarrely claims 'no defender can stop' £85m winger despite his awful output in the final third

Erik ten Hag has launched a staunch defence of Antony despite repeatedly leaving the Manchester United winger out of his starting XI in recent weeks.

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Antony defended by Ten HagBrazilian hasn't started PL game in 2024Forson preferred to Brazilian against FulhamWHAT HAPPENED?

Ten Hag, who signed Antony from former club Ajax for £85m ($108m) in the summer of 2022, has not given the Brazilian a start since playing fourth division Newport County in the FA Cup in late January. Antony has not started a league game since his dire performance against Nottingham Forest on December 30, and it has been reported that United could cut their losses on the winger in the summer transfer window.

AdvertisementWHAT TEN HAG SAID

"I know from the past he is unstoppable, no defender can stop him because he's one of the quickest in the first 10 yards, when he plays that game I'm sure he will perform, he is resilient, he is a character," Ten Hag told a press conference on Tuesday.

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Antony has scored just one goal this season and has only one assist, both of which came against Newport. His greatest humiliation, however, came when he was left out of the starting line-up against Fulham – on his 24th birthday – in favour of 19-year-old Omari Forson, who had never previously started for United. Antony was brought on in the 98th minute of the 2-1 defeat, which dealt a huge blow to United's top-four ambitions.

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(C)Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?

Just last week Ten Hag admitted that Antony had not shown his potential lately when asked whether the Brazilian could get a chance while Rasmus Hojlund recovers from injury.

Hughes' savage ton lifts Derbyshire

In contrasting styles Chesney Hughes and Wayne Madsen combined to give Derbyshire the best of the day at Headingley

Les Smith at Headingley29-Apr-2013
ScorecardChesney Hughes helped Derbyshire to their best day of the Championship season so far•Getty ImagesIn contrasting styles Chesney Hughes and Wayne Madsen combined to give Derbyshire the best of the day at Headingley. Hughes dominated with power to make his highest first-class score, while Madsen manipulated the ball with the wrists of the international hockey player he is, and together they put on 258 for the second wicket.This after Andrew Gale had won the toss and, to no one’s great surprise, put Derbyshire in to bat on a damp morning and a greenish pitch. Early morning rain and bad light delayed the start of play by 45 minutes, and the prospects for batting looked grim.There was optimism among the crowd as Yorkshire returned home after a thrilling victory over Durham, whereas Derbyshire had drawn their opening fixture against Warwickshire and then lost to Middlesex But Madsen and Hughes spent most of the morning and all of the afternoon causing consternation among the locals in the stands and, at times, those on the field.Hughes is just 22 but played with the authority of a more experienced cricketer. When signed by Derbyshire he became the third player from Anguilla to enter county cricket following Cardigan Connor and Omari Banks. A powerfully built left hander, Hughes plays very straight and is an excellent judge of when to leave the ball. He looks sound temperamentally, too. Approaching his fifth first-class century, rather than shrink into his shell he bludgeoned two big sixes although the shot of the day was an extra cover drive to the boundary off the first ball after tea.Hughes and Madsen came together in the seventh over after Tim Bresnan, Yorkshire’s most threatening bowler on the day, found the edge of Billy Godleman’s bat and Joe Root, celebrating his selection as captain of the England Lions, took a sharp catch to his right at third slip.For the next 70 overs almost nothing went right for Yorkshire. A strong westerly wind got to work on the ground, and on the poor souls in the eastern stand, and the green tinge on the pitch perceptibly faded. The second time Bresnan induced an edge, when Hughes was on 70, Jonny Bairstow was unable to cling on to a difficult chance behind the stumps just a few days after spilling a chance against Durham.When Madsen was eventually caught seven short of a century off Steven Patterson there was a sense of surprise in the crowd, as if something inevitable had just been prevented. A few minutes earlier a cheery soul in the eastern stand had observed to his friend, “They’ve over 250 and we haven’t even see Chanderpaul yet”. He needn’t have worried; Chanderpaul fell to Adil Rashid and Adam Lyth’s second catch of the day after just ten balls.There was one further cheap wicket when Liam Plunkett dismissed Wes Durston, but at the close Hughes was still standing tall – in every sense.April 30, 10.15am: This story was corrected to amend Derbyshire’s results

Nottinghamshire recover after Hogg burst

Lancashire wound up with more to do than they anticipated on a day in which Kyle Hogg demonstrated for the second time in five days that he may be entering his peak years as a bowler

Jon Culley at Southport26-Jul-2011
ScorecardKyle Hogg ran through Nottinghamshire but they fought back impressively•PA PhotosLancashire wound up with more to do than they anticipated on a day in which Kyle Hogg demonstrated for the second time in five days that he may be entering his peak years as a bowler after a decade bedevilled by injuries and frustration.Hogg, who played the starring role in the Roses victory last week that put Lancashire on the heels of Division One leaders Durham, maintained his form here, completing his third five-wicket haul of the summer and raising his overall wickets tally to 36, the best of his career.At the height of his powers, he took three wickets in the same over without conceding a run, first getting lift and movement to defeat Alex Hales, caught behind off an outside edge at just the moment he was hoping to celebrate his call-up for the England Lions side to face Sri Lanka A next week.He then had Adam Voges leg before, on the front foot but not forward enough, two balls before seeming to surprise Steven Mullaney with a ball that the former Lancashire player edged on to his stumps. Hogg does not have lightning pace but his line here was immaculate.At that point, Nottinghamshire were 27 for 5, which was not what they had in mind when Chris Read won the toss and chose to bat first. In fact, after limping to 27 for the loss of Neil Edwards, who had nibbled one to the wicketkeeper in Hogg’s fourth over, Nottinghamshire had surrendered four wickets for no runs in the space of nine deliveries, Riki Wessels having played across one from Tom Smith.Before lunch arrived they were seven down, Read having played back to one from Glen Chapple to be leg before and Samit Patel, another in the Lions squad, having suffered a rush of blood against Gary Keedy. Lancashire’s principal left-arm spinner had bowled only two balls when Patel attempted to hit him out of the ground over mid-wicket. The ball instead soared into the sky off a leading edge, with Smith safely under it at mid-off.Yet Nottinghamshire did fashion a recovery. Graeme White was also tempted to test Keedy’s equilibrium and succeeded, twice hitting him for six, the second of which crashed on to a roof in Harrod Drive, which borders the south end of the ground, and had to be retrieved from the guttering.But Andre Adams was the real revelation. The New Zealander normally adopts the Patel approach from the off but this time was a model of restraint, with 33 off 54 balls, as he and White added 65 for the eighth wicket, even if the manner of his dismissal, caught at long on, was familiar in the end.Yet, for unexpectedness, Adams was trumped by Darren Pattinson, a man with only two scores above 30 in 67 previous first-class innings. The ball had lost its hardness and the Lancashire bowling a little of its venom, while neither Keedy nor Simon Kerrigan were getting much turn, but Pattinson played admirably straight and collected six boundaries before Chapple had Luke Fletcher caught at second slip, the last wicket pair having added a further 55 runs to claim a batting point, and Pattinson top scorer with 35 not out.Lancashire’s three bowling points cut Durham’s lead to two, enabling Paul Horton and Stephen Moore to lead the reply with confidence high. As they reached 67 without loss, Nottinghamshire will have wondered if the moment was right to bring their two spinners, Patel and White, into the action.But then their perspective changed rapidly as Adams at last made the breakthrough, trapping Moore with an inswinging delivery. When he then dismissed Horton and Mark Chilton to catches at the wicket in his next over, the former nibbling but the latter wafting at a wider ball, Lancashire were suddenly 68 for 3. Pattinson soon bowled Karl Brown and there is work to do on the second morning if the result – almost certain to be positive here, one way or another, unless the weather has some say – is not to go against them.Results have been plentiful for Lancashire this season, which is why few Lancashire members will have many complaints that not one Championship match will now be staged at Old Trafford this year.It had been planned, after the realignment of the square, that the last game of the season, against Hampshire, would serve as a small consolation to Old Trafford members disappointed with this season’s switch to Liverpool but Mike Watkinson, Lancashire’s director of cricket, explained that with only five pitches to pick from, none of which would be in ideal condition, it had been decided to give a sixth match to Liverpool.As it happens, all four Championship matches at the Aigburth ground so far this season have produced results, three going to Lancashire, and there has not been a draw there in 10 matches since 2004. Little wonder it has become a popular venue, although not as popular, it seems, as Southport, where the first day of Championship cricket since 1999 attracted 2,606 paying spectators, the largest number for a Lancashire home Championship day this season.

Chanderpaul, Edwards in Test squad

Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been confirmed as part of West Indies’ squad for the first Test against Pakistan, starting in Guyana on Thursday

ESPNcricinfo staff10-May-2011Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been confirmed as part of West Indies’ squad for the first Test against Pakistan, starting in Guyana on Thursday. The 13-man group also includes the legspinner Devendra Bishoo, who is expected to make his Test debut, along with the fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who hasn’t played for his country in two years due to a serious back injury.The batsman Marlon Samuels is also in the line-up, and if selected he will play his first Test for more than three years, having served his ban for alleged involvement with illegal bookmakers. Of the 15 men chosen for a practice game in Guyana earlier this week, the opener Kraigg Brathwaite and the allrounder Andre Russell missed out on the final Test squad.Brathwaite will remain in Guyana to work with the batting consultant Desmond Haynes, and his absence means Devon Smith’s likely opening partner will be Lendl Simmons, whose only three Tests so far came in early 2009. Brendan Nash will be vice-captain to Darren Sammy, who is hoping to lead West Indies to their first Test victory in 18 Tests.At least he will have at his disposal the experience of Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, whose international careers appeared to be in doubt when, along with Chris Gayle, they were left out of the squad for the opening one-dayers against Pakistan. Chanderpaul was upset at being dropped and at some of the comments from the WICB chief executive Ernest Hilaire, but has been welcomed back in to the side.At the other end of the experience scale is Bishoo, who was the leading wicket-taker in the five-match ODI series, with 11 victims at 17.18. He will be keen to make his debut in his home country, and his rise has meant there was no place for Sulieman Benn, who has been West Indies’ preferred spinner for most of the past two years.West Indies are seventh on the Test rankings table, but they will move up to sixth if they win the two-match series against Pakistan. The first Test starts on Thursday in Providence and the second Test begins the following Friday in St Kitts.Test Squad: Devon Smith, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brendan Nash, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Carlton Baugh (wk), Darren Sammy (capt), Fidel Edwards, Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul.

Snell gets Champions League call

Less than a month ago Steve Snell was playing Minor Counties cricket for Hertfordshire but on Sunday he will fly to the Champions League Twenty20

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Sep-2011Less than a month ago Steve Snell, the former Gloucestershire wicketkeeper, was playing Minor Counties cricket for Hertfordshire but on Sunday he will fly with Somerset to the Champions League Twenty20 qualifier in Hyderabad.Somerset have been given a headache over their wicketkeeping position due to the likely England call-ups of Craig Kieswetter and Jos Buttler for the two Twenty20 internationals against West Indies next week. The matches coincide with the qualifying event in Hyderabad from where three teams will join the main Champions League event.Somerset went through a similar scenario at the end of August when Kieswetter and Buttler were both in the Twenty20 squad to face India and called up Snell, 28, for the final CB40 group match against Essex – which they needed to win to qualify for the semi-finals – where he made an unbeaten 18 and took two catches. He then played the following Championship match against Hampshire, but the feeling was that Somerset would gamble on using 19-year-old Alex Barrow behind the stumps.”I think we might have been made to look ridiculous had we not taken a specialist keeper,” Brian Rose, Somerset’s director of cricket, told the club website. “Alex Barrow could have done it at a pinch, but it wouldn’t have been fair on him. Steve Snell did a good job for us in the CB40 game with Essex and on the opening day of the Championship game with Hampshire so he was the obvious choice.”Snell, though, will not be needed if Somerset qualify for the next stage of the tournament because Kieswetter and Buttler will be able to come into the squad providing they get clearance from England. The same applies for George Dockrell, the Ireland left-arm spinner, who isn’t available for the early matches due to international commitments. Lewis Gregory and Max Waller would be the other two players to drop out if all the internationals became available.Somerset’s problems haven’t been confined to their wicketkeeper. Gemaal Hussain, the pace bowler, is having problems obtaining a visa for India and if it doesn’t come through in time his place will be taken by Chris Jones. However, they have been boosted by the return of Roelof van der Merwe, the South Africa left-arm spinner, who will be the second overseas player alongside Murali Kartik in a potent spin attack. Alfonso Thomas will captain the team in the absence of Marcus Trescothick who no longer travels overseas.The odds are stacked against Somerset heading into the qualifiers because of a congested schedule which has them flying out on Sunday evening having played the CB40 final at Lord’s on Saturday. They arrive in Hyderabad less than 24 hours before their opening match against Auckland on September 20.”We shall see how the players are on Tuesday morning after their long journey before making practice plans and, of course, our first game is that evening, starting at 8 p.m. Hyderabad time,” Rose said. “It’s far from ideal, but we are going to give it our best shot and in Twenty20 cricket you just never know. It only takes a couple of big individual performances to swing a game.”Somerset Squad: Alex Barrow, Nick Compton, Adam Dibble, James Hildreth, Gemaal Hussain, Murali Kartik, Steve Kirby, Craig Meschede, Arul Suppiah, Alfonso Thomas (capt), Peter Trego. Roelof van der Merwe, Steve Snell (wk), Lewis Gregory, Max Waller

Gayle heroics in vain as Renegades prevail

A typically blistering half-century by Chris Gayle went in vain for Sydney Thunder as they fell short by six runs to Melbourne Renegades at Stadium Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Dec-2011
ScorecardA typically blistering half-century by Chris Gayle went in vain for Sydney Thunder as they fell short by six runs to Melbourne Renegades at Stadium Australia. The Renegades posted a middling total of 140, but a three-wicket haul by Shahid Afridi and some good death bowling stopped Thunder on their tracks.The Renegades promised a bigger score after their openers, Aaron Finch and Brad Hodge, added 82. Luke Doran, the left-arm spinner, claimed both wickets in three balls. The quick strikes put the skids on the scoring rate. Shahid Afridi managed one four in his 16 before he was dismissed by Luke Butterworth in the 18th over.Debutant Tim Cruickshank and Gayle got off to a sound start chasing 141, adding 59 in close to eight overs. Cruickshank perished for 15 when he tried to loft Afridi over long-on. Gayle carried on attacking, hitting five sixes and three fours en route to 75. However, he didn’t have the support he would have liked as wickets kept falling at the other end. The Renegades pulled it back thanks to the discipline shown by their bowlers, Dirk Nannes (0-10) and Afridi (3-21). When Gayle fell in the penultimate over, caught at midwicket, the Renegades had all but sealed their first win against Thunder.

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