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“Our bench strength has been as strong as it has ever been. That’s a great sign for Indian cricket”

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Mar-2021The 3-1 victory against England was Virat Kohli’s 10th series win in a row at home as India captain. It extended India’s dominance at home to 13 straight series wins with their last home defeat coming against Alastair Cook’s England in 2012.The manner in which India dominated England, especially in the last three Tests – they won the pink-ball ball Test in two days and the fourth Test in three days – no doubt pleased Kohli. According to him, the biggest strength India showed was their “comeback” after losing the series opener in Chennai by massive margin of 227 runs. Following are the key men and points Kohli pointed out during the presentation that played a key role in India winning the series and booking a berth in the World Test Championship final.On the two key match-winners: R Ashwin and Rohit Sharma
“Ashwin has obviously been a banker for us in the past six-seven years in Test cricket. His numbers speak volumes of what he has done in the last few years.Related

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“Rohit’s knock was the defining moment in us coming back into the series. Getting 160 (161) on that pitch is as good as getting 250 on any good batting wicket. It is definitely one of his best Test knocks, if not the best. That gave us the kind of momentum we needed as a side and it really got us into the contest. So, yeah, it was an outstanding innings.”He batted really well at the top of the order throughout the series, he gave us important knocks, important partnerships as well which is unnoticed when you don’t get those three figures.”On what pleased him the most after the first Test defeat
“The comeback pleased me the most. The first game was a bit of an aberration in the way that we play as a team – that was just a hiccup. England outplayed us. The toss became very crucial because of the way the pitch played on the first two days; I don’t think the bowlers were in the contest at all.3:22

What made Axar Patel so effective?

“From the next game onwards it was more exciting cricket and we got into the game early. Even in the second innings (of the first Test) in Chennai we bowled and fielded with a lot more intensity. So for me the comeback was way more pleasing and the way we batted in the second Test match in Chennai.”On Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar making an impact when it mattered
“Our bench strength has been as strong as it has ever been. That’s a great sign for Indian cricket. The idea was exactly this: to have youngsters who come in and perform with fearlessness, take the situations on so that when the transition happens eventually it is not difficult for Indian cricket and the standard does not fall below what we have set in the last few years.”It is up to the individuals as well, like taking the situation on, like Rishabh and Washy did with that game-changing partnership and then Axar as well – a 100-run partnership. These are the kind of situations where individuals stand up and say: ‘okay, I’m going to make a mark and be that player who can be counted on.’ That is what exactly what they have done.”On India’s 13-series winning streak at home
“You obviously are happy when you are winning so many series but there are always things to improve. Like, after the first game in Chennai, we had to pick up our body language. We spoke about the fact that nothing is a given whether you are playing at home or away because every team at international level is a quality side and we need to be at our A game to be able to beat them. And that is exactly what our mindset is. I know in the future as well we’ll have hiccups, we’ll have a few things that will be a concern, but we will have to keep ironing them out and that’s been the hallmark of our team.”

Investigating law firm says it is keen to hear from “anyone who has relevant information” about alleged racism

George Dobell09-Apr-2021Doubts have been raised over the value of Yorkshire’s investigation into allegations of racism made last year by former player Azeem Rafiq after witnesses complained they hadn’t been contacted.As part of the investigation, commissioned by Yorkshire in September and overseen by law firm Squire Patton Boggs, Rafiq’s legal team provided a bundle of evidence at the start of November. It contained the testimonies and contact details of around a dozen witnesses who claimed they had seen racist behaviour while working within the Yorkshire cricket environment.It now appears the majority of those witnesses have not heard back from the investigating team. Among those potential witnesses are two former Yorkshire players, two former county age-group coaches (one of whom says he was told not to select “too many Pakis” in Yorkshire age-group teams), a league umpire and a grassroots coach.Related

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A representative of Squire Patton Boggs told ESPNcricinfo: “The panel is very concerned to hear the allegation that several people came forward to offer evidence but ‘never heard back from the investigating team’.”We believe that we have taken all reasonable steps to ensure that we have spoken to everyone who has come forward, and we are certainly not aware that we have failed to respond to any such person.”The panel would welcome the opportunity to hear any further relevant evidence, including from anyone who has relevant information for the investigation but feels they have not been accorded the opportunity to present it.”Anyone with information that could help the investigation is urged to email [email protected] as a matter of urgency. The panel had originally hoped to report before the end of 2020.It has previously emerged that Roger Hutton, Yorkshire’s chair, used to work at Squire Patton Boggs.Earlier in the week Ajmal Shahzad, who played for Yorkshire alongside Rafiq, told the Press Association that his own experiences at the club “were always good.” Rafiq has claimed Shahzad was with him when a senior player said “there’s too many of your lot” in the team as they ran out at the start of a match.”I want to believe in this investigation,” Rafiq told ESPNcricinfo. “But when it seems your evidence is being ignored, it’s hard to retain confidence.”I don’t understand how this can have happened. If they are really serious about getting to the bottom of this problem, surely they would take the time to talk to all the witnesses?”The strain of the episode appears to be taking its toll on Rafiq. He was rushed to hospital last week after experiencing chest pains and is currently undergoing tests to ascertain the cause of the issue.

Rest of India completed a comfortable innings-and-79 run victory on the fourth day at the Chinnaswamy Stadium

The Report by Siddarth Ravindran in Bangalore24-Sep-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
The margins of defeat for the Ranji champions in five of the previous six years in the Irani Cup: 404 runs, 361 runs, 187 runs, nine wickets and nine wickets. This season was just as comprehensive, as Rest of India completed a comfortable innings-and-79-run victory on the fourth day at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.Rajasthan’s batting and bowling were both not at the level of Rest of India’s, but what really hurt them as they tried to at least take the match to the fifth day was their appalling running between the wickets.There was an early alarm when Hrishkesh Kanitkar and Vineet Saxena had a communication breakdown, but both had the time to return to their creases. That wasn’t the case in the 26th over when Saxena nudged the ball towards square leg and took off, but Kanitkar didn’t respond and a sprawling Ishant Sharma fired in the throw to end the overnight partnership.Till then they had been largely untroubled by the pace of Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav, and a wicket had looked unlikely. Kanitkar and the batsman who had his reputation most enhanced in this the game, Robin Bist, were then comfortable against everything Rest of India threw at them. A few overs before lunch, Rest of India had resorted to having three men deep on the leg side when the left-arm spinners were operating, allowing Kanitkar to push the ball around and accumulate. Bist was more aggressive, unleashing some powerful drives and the partnership swelled towards a hundred.That stand also ended through a mix-up. Kanitkar pushed the ball towards point and wanted the single, but Bist didn’t. Though the return from Badrinath was a tough take for wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik, there was enough time for the bails to be taken off and two of Rajasthan’s most adhesive batsmen had given away their wickets recklessly.Bist wasn’t as solid as in the first innings, edging several past the keeper in the middle of some crisp striking. With Pragyan Ojha getting the odd ball to turn and bounce, much depended on Bist if Rajasthan were to avoid an innings defeat. His footwork had been precise in much of the match, but on 67, he was caught on the crease to a delivery from Ojha that neither jumped nor turned dramatically, but still managed to sneak between bat and pad.That brought together the last pair of recognised batsmen, RR Parida and Dishant Yagnik. That pair, too, was separated by a run-out. Parida played the ball out towards sweeper cover; Yagnik ambled through the first run, assuming there was only an easy two to be taken before Umesh Yadav fielded; Parida pushed for the third but Umesh, who unlike most Indian fast bowlers has a strong arm, rifled in a throw that caught Yagnik short.Rajasthan were soon down to 226 for 8, on a track which was still not spiteful, against an attack which was not exactly fearsome. Ishant was disciplined, keeping the ball around off but wasn’t able to regularly clock above 130kph, Umesh continued to bowl too wide to worry batsmen consistently and the spinners were steady though not menacing.Even without Rest of India’s bowlers being at their best, Rajasthan were overwhelmed in the match, again highlighting the vast difference in between the two sides.

In his last six Tests, Ashwin has taken 36 wickets to jump from 365 wickets into the 400-club.

Varun Shetty25-Feb-20212:37

Gambhir: Amazes me that R Ashwin doesn’t play white-ball cricket for India

R Ashwin described the last few months in Test cricket as a fairytale after becoming the fourth Indian to 400 wickets, and the fourth-fastest overall (in terms of balls) to the mark in Tests. Speaking in the aftermath of India’s 10-wicket win against England in Ahmedabad, Ashwin spoke of not being sure of even having a spot in the XI before India’s Test tour of Australia began in December. Since then, in six Tests, Ashwin has taken 36 wickets to jump from 365 wickets into the 400-club.”It feels amazing, the way the board was flashing 400 wickets, the entire stadium stood up and clapped for me,” Ashwin said in a post-match interview with broadcaster . “It’s quite pleasant that it happened in a winning cause because in the middle when we collapsed for about 145, I thought we might not have enough of a lead on the board and the game could be in the balance.”I can’t really get a grip of what’s happened in the last 2-3 months. If I look back, I must say it’s been sort of a dreamy ride, it’s been a fairytale. When I started the Aussie tour, I didn’t expect to be playing in the XI because Jadeja was looking like he was going to start. And he got a hamstring tear and since then things have just looked upwards.”Related

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Ashwin spoke of a conversation he had had with captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri at the start of the Australian series, where it was hinted to him that he would need to work on his batting to be in the scheme for selection, as they’d seen something “special” in his bowling.”When I landed in Australia, the first session of practice in Sydney was quite interesting,” he said. “I thought I was bowling really well during the IPL as well – and when I reached Australia, both Virat and Ravi were having a chat with me about how I should get my batting going, because both of them thought they had seen something happening in my bowling which looked really special.”I don’t know what they thought or what they saw or what they felt, but they thought I was bowling really well. And you know, during the lockdown as well, I worked a lot on my fitness. On wanting to get my body ready for the so-called “next couple of years” or the next 3-4 years. Because you know this body is ageing by the moment, as we’re talking…so all those things started to pay rewards, I lost about 7-8 kilos through the lockdown. I just think from Australia onwards things have looked upwards for me.”Since then, Ashwin has been one of the foremost performers for India with ball and, at least on two occasions, with the bat. The recent stretch towards 400 has included getting the better of Steven Smith regularly at the start of the series in Australia, a first England Test of bowling more than 72 overs, and a complete domination over them in the last few innings of this series. The 34-year-old, when asked if he is at his best, said he is confident there is more to come.”This question has been asked quite a few times in my career,” he said. “In 2015-16 people were asking me the same thing when I went through that lovely phase in 15-16-17. And now people are asking the same. One thing’s for sure – I’ve always looked to improve and every time I’ve thought I’ve bowled well, I’ve always found another gear. So I’ll not be surprised if I surpass myself in the future as well.”“Gonna call him legend”
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were effusive in their praise of Ashwin after the match ended, with Kohli saying Ashwin was a modern-day legend.”It’s unbelievable,” Kohli said. “We all need to stand up and take notice of Ashwin’s contribution to Indian cricket. I told him that from now on, I’ll call him ledge [for legend]. Getting 400 is an outstanding achievement, and still so many games and years to go for India. In Test match cricket, he is surely a modern legend and we’re just lucky to have him in our team. As a captain I am so pleased he plays for us.”At the post-match press conference, Rohit suggested that the offspinner might be India’s greatest match-winner.”Ashwin is probably one of our matchwinners, if not  matchwinner of Indian cricket history. He has won so many games for us. So getting to that milestone, big, big congratulations to him. To do that in his 77th Test match, which is second fastest to 400, is a great feat.”

Hashim Amla is wary of a Sri Lankan backlash, and expects South Africa to show the same dogged intent as they did in Paarl in East London

Firdose Moonda in East London13-Jan-2012There comes a point in a series when there is nothing but pride to play for. That is usually when a team has disintegrated as much as is possible, or when the games are dead rubbers. Neither of those situations actually exist in the ongoing contest between South Africa and Sri Lanka, but already it feels like pride is all Sri Lanka have to lean on as they enter the second match.Paarl is a place Sri Lanka would like to strike off the map. The number between 42 and 44 will become an unmentionable for them. Humiliation is an easy word to write or say, but a painful one to experience.South Africa know all about being embarrassed and although they are now the ones inflicting the blushes, there is a sense of pathos about the way Hashim Amla spoke of Sri Lanka’s woes. “If a similar thing had happened to us, we would be quite motivated to put in a better performance,” Amla said at Boland Park, ahead of the second ODI. “So taking that into account, we know that Sri Lanka will come back firing – as they did in the Test matches. They are a proud team with a lot of heritage, so we’re not going to take them lightly.”For a team to bounce back from a thrashing is to be expected, especially when there is hardly any room for them to get worse. For a team to keep the momentum going after handing out a thrashing is tricky.Historically, this is the juncture at which South Africa tend to slack off. Only recently have they started admitting to it, and captain AB de Villiers had previously stressed that it is something they will address seriously in this series. “The most important thing will be the attitude that we bring to the game,” Amla said. “With a very convincing victory, the mood in the camp is good and we hope to continue that [winning].”Amla was central to the victory, as his century set South Africa up for a total of over 300. His three-figure knock also showed that he probably performs better without the extra burden of leadership. Amla captained in de Villiers’ absence in the previous series against Australia and had scored 24, 0 and 52. “Not being captain, there is a lot less on your plate,” he said. “I just tried to take things simply and when you get a partnership going, it’s always easier to score.”Jacques Kallis was the dominant partner in a 144-run second-wicket stand with Amla. As Kallis accumulated with ease, Amla was allowed to take his time to build his innings. “In situations like that, it is important to put emphasis on the partnership rather than on personal runs,” Amla said. “As the partnership progressed, I found my feet and started scoring more freely.”By the time Kallis was dismissed, in the Powerplay, Amla had hit a good rhythm. With de Villiers, he took 91 runs off the next 12 overs, to take the game away from a weary Sri Lankan attack. “AB is a phenomenal player, he reads the situation very well,” Amla said. “He took the game to the opposition. Sometimes, it becomes a tendency not to score as quickly when you lose a wicket but his awesomeness came through.”On a pitch that had some uneven bounce and started off slow and low, South Africa batted like they were walking on a velvet carpet. Their intent did not subside with the ball and the bowlers battered the Paarl strip to create extra bounce. Amla expects the same in East London, which is also known to be a placid surface. “We’ll still bowl with a lot of intent but you have to be adaptable to these kinds of games.”The team may have to do without Amla soon, as he is awaits the birth of his first child. His wife, Sumayya, is due “any day now”, and he has made arrangements to take a break from the series when the baby arrives. Amla is due to play in East London but may not make it to Bloemfontein, which will leave South Africa in a tricky position at the top.Amla is the in-form opener with Graeme Smith struggling. The former captain has not scored an ODI hundred since 2009 and has only made one half-century in his last 14 innings. Robin Peterson may be used in a makeshift role or the selectors could use the opportunity to blood a youngster like Richard Levi. The only other concern for South Africa is in the reserves.Rory Kleinveldt, who has not played for the national team since a World T20 match in 2010, will have to wait to make his comeback. A quadricep injury has ruled him out of the rest of the series.

Glen Chapple provided a masterclass in the art of transforming his team’s fortunes against Warwickshire

Myles Hodgson at Aigburth20-Apr-2012
ScorecardSimon Kerrigan struck late to remove Jim Troughton•Getty Images

If any further evidence were needed of Lancashire’s ability to prosper
in difficult situations, captain Glen Chapple provided a masterclass
in the art of transforming his team’s fortunes with an impressive
all-round display against Warwickshire.Having consistently fought back from dire positions last summer to pip
Warwickshire for the title against all expectations, it was perhaps
fitting that Lancashire chose the same opponents to deliver a
determined performance every bit as good as those last summer in cold
conditions by the Mersey.Facing the prospect of a second successive match without batting
points, Chapple’s aggressive innings guided them to a competitive 250
in bowler-friendly conditions before contributing two late wickets –
including Ian Bell – as Warwickshire lost five quick wickets before
the close.It continued Chapple’s great record against Warwickshire, against whom
he has scored two of his six first-class centuries while his 78
wickets against them represents his best return against any side other
than Durham. In delivering another superb all-round display, he has
also transformed the momentum of a match that looked to be heading
firmly away from Lancashire.”It’s a good day from where we were overnight,” Chapple said. “We
grafted a lot yesterday but obviously lost a couple of wickets that we
didn’t want to and that can change the face of the game. Today we
worked really hard and came out on top.”Arriving at the crease with Lancashire struggling on 170 for 7,
having battled their way through an attritional morning when they
added only 47 runs in 32 overs, Chapple chose to play aggressively and
dominated a crucial 60-run eighth-wicket stand with Luke Procter:
Lancashire’s emerging allrounder.While Proctor reined in any attacking instincts to battle for three
and a half hours for his 46 runs, Chapple raced to 44 from 49 balls
and by the time he became one of four victims for Darren Maddy,
Lancashire were in sight of a second batting point.”It’s risky playing aggressively but batting lower down the order
sometimes you can say you haven’t got the tools to deal with it for a
long time so you get a bit of a licence,” explained Chapple. “It’s the
way I play best, if I show a bit of intent, but you need a bit of luck
when you do it.”If Chapple was fortunate with bat in hand, there was nothing lucky
about his immediate impact with the ball. Tempting Varun Chopra into
edging an outswinger behind with his fourth ball was a classic Chapple
dismissal that has occurred consistently during his 21 seasons with
Lancashire.Perhaps trying to mimic Chapple’s earlier aggression, Warwickshire
chose to open with Neil Carter for the second successive match and he
responded by breaking the windscreen of the refreshment van with a
pulled six off Kyle Hogg. Revenge was swift, however, when he also
edged behind during an impressive opening spell from the River End.Chapple was forced to take painkillers after jarring his ankle in the
footmarks from the Pavilion End during his opening spell, and his
absence from the attack allowed Bell to make tentative progress in
his first innings of the season. No batsman, even one of Bell’s
obvious class, can ever feel too secure in such bowler-friendly
conditions, however, and he also fell in Chapple’s first over back
into the attack to another catch behind.Fearing the day would end prematurely for bad light, Chapple quickly
turned to his two spinners, Simon Kerrigan and Gary Keedy, who
responded by claiming a wicket apiece before the close to suggest they
may also have an increasing influence in the second half of the match.

The preview of the third ODI between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo

The Preview by Siddarth Ravindran12-Jun-2012

Match facts

Wednesday, June 13
Start time 1430 (0900 GMT)Kumar Sangakkara hasn’t been at his best so far in this series•AFP

Big Picture

After the Twenty20s in Hambantota and two ODIs in Pallekele, the series now shifts to Sri Lanka’s third World Cup venue – the R Premadasa Stadium. It’s hard to predict how the third ODI will pan out: almost nothing seemed to go Sri Lanka’s way in the first one-dayer when they limped to 135 for 8, but two days later, and on the same pitch, their batting was back to near its best and they piled up a match-winning score.One thing that didn’t change for Pakistan over the two matches was the abysmal fielding. Catches were generously put down in the first ODI and a number of run-out opportunities were spurned in the second. While Pakistan were largely unpunished by the mistakes in the field in the first game, Tillakaratne Dilshan made the most of his reprieve in the second game, going on to make an unbeaten century.After Dilshan pushed Sri Lanka to a big total, the lack of depth in Pakistan’s batting was shown up. Younis Khan has been out of sorts in recent matches, and the unpredictable Shahid Afridi comes in at No. 6 – one position higher than his usual slot in recent years – putting plenty of pressure on the remaining four batsmen. Sarfraz Ahmed played a crucial hand in the Asia Cup final, but is yet to convince as a long-term No. 7. In the absence of allrounders such as Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik, Pakistan may consider playing an extra batsman in an attempt to shorten the tail.For Sri Lanka, the thinktank will be pleased Dilshan shrugged off a run of low scores. One difference from his century on Saturday to previous recent innings was that he took his time early on to gauge the conditions, instead of going on an all-out assault right from the start. The decision to shift Mahela Jayawardene down the order also worked as he struck an innovative half-century to pilot Sri Lanka’s late charge.The one thing the home board will be worried about is that heavy rain is predicted for Wednesday afternoon and evening in Colombo.

Form guide

Pakistan LWWLW (Most recent first)
Sri Lanka WLLLL

Watch out for…

Azhar Ali has often been pegged as a Test specialist given his leisurely rate of scoring (slowest in Tests among all current cricketers with more than 1000 runs), but showed in the second ODI that he could adjust to the demands of the limited-over formats. Thrust in as an opener, he scored at a run-a-ball early on.Kumar Sangakkara is the second-highest run-getter in ODIs this year, but hasn’t been at his best in this series, and was off-colour during the IPL as well. Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, though, wasn’t concerned about the lack of runs. “I don’t worry about Kumar’s form for a second,” he said. “He’s a kind of batsman who needs to spend just half an hour in the middle and you will see what difference he makes.”

Team news

Pakistan are still waiting on the fitness of fast bowler Mohammad Sami, who is recovering from a thumb injury but not yet 100%. If he is deemed fit, he will take the place of he listless Rahat Ali. Shahid Afridi was down with a stomach bug, but is expected to recover in time to play.Pakistan (likely) 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Azhar Ali, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Shahid Afridi, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Mohammad Sami/Rahat AliSri Lanka have already made one change to their squad, bringing in 34-year-old left-arm-spinner Sajeewa Weerakoon in place of Rangana Herath, who has been rested ahead of the Tests. They have to decide which of the three spinners in the squad to pick: Weerakoon, Jeevan Mendis or Sachithra Senanayake.Sri Lanka (likely) 1 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 2 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Dinesh Chandimal, 5 Upul Tharanga, 6 Lahiru Thirimanne, 7 Angelo Mathews, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Nuwan Kulasekara, 10 Sachithra Senanayake, 11 Lasith Malinga

Stats and trivia

• Pakistan have won eight of their previous nine ODIs at the R Premadasa stadium.
• Left-arm spinner Weerakoon, who is yet to make his international debut, has 693 first-class wickets
• Dinesh Chandimal averages 15.50 in his eight ODI innings against Pakistan, but averages 45.04 in 29 ODIs against other opposition

Quotes

“Our fielding has been an on and off problem for us for a long time now. We have not been consistent in this department. In the last few days everybody has been practicing hard on their fielding.”

“I think I have done enough to convince them that I deserve a place in the Sri Lanka team.”

International cricket could next year be held in Australia in April for the first time since 1877, with the possibility of Canberra hosting the national team for the first time

Brydon Coverdale29-Mar-2012International cricket could next year be held in Australia in April for the first time since 1877, with the possibility of Canberra hosting the national team for the first time. The has reported that Australia are likely to host New Zealand in two limited-overs matches in the first week of April 2013, as part of the city’s centenary celebrations.Canberra’s Manuka Oval has been the venue of two one-day internationals, between South Africa and Zimbabwe in the 1992 World Cup, and between India and Sri Lanka in 2007-08. It is also the site of the annual Prime Minister’s XI game, but it is the only state or territory capital yet to host the Australia team in a full international match.”We’re looking at the centenary year as not just a one-off big party, it’s about setting the groundwork for longer-term legacies,” Andrew Barr, the Australian Capital Territory’s sports minister, told the paper. “There certainly was interest from Cricket Australia as a longer-term goal to look at having more international cricket in Canberra and they’re seeing the centenary year as a great opportunity.”This is obviously a big thing for Canberra, we’ve never had the national team in the national capital so Cricket Australia, the Australian government, the ACT government were all very keen for that to occur and have worked very hard behind the scenes to get us to this point.”Should the plan go ahead, it will be the first occasion international cricket has been held in Australia in April since the second Test of all, which started at the MCG on March 31, 1877. A Cricket Australia spokesman confirmed that CA was keen to hold cricket in Canberra next year as part of the centenary celebrations, but said details were yet to be finalised.

Middlesex batsman misses maiden century by one run before Denly leads Kent reply

ECB Reporters Network17-Aug-2020West Indies paceman Miguel Cummins bagged three wickets as Kent were made to work hard for their first-innings runs on day three of their Bob Willis Trophy clash with Middlesex in Canterbury.Joe Denly top-scored for the hosts with an excellent unbeaten 70 as he and nightwatchman Matt Milnes made it through to stumps on 146 for 5 to trail the visitors by 123 runs going into the fourth and final day.Kent lost makeshift opener Marcus O’Riordan and his partner Daniel Bell-Drummond within 13 overs as they started their response to Middlesex’s workmanlike total of 269 all out.Bell-Drummond fended at a lifter from Cummins to glove a catch through to the keeper, then, steaming down the Nackington Road slope, Cummins drew O’Riordan outside off, fencing away from his body at another short one to be caught at fourth slip.Soon after tea, and with the score on 57, last week’s double-century maker Jack Leaning blotted his copybook by reaching on the drive at a wide one from Ethan Bamber to be caught at point.Denly, back in the Kent side after his exclusion from England’s Test squad, teamed up with Sam Billings to cash in on several loose deliveries from James Harris and Bamber in an attractive fourth-wicket stand worth 39.Billings added 20 to the partnership before his loose back-foot waft against the extra pace of Cummins – one of the few overseas players on show this season – flew to the keeper to make it 96 for 4.Denly maintained a cool head down the other end to reach an attractive fifty in two hours with a clipped four through midwicket against dangerman Cummins. The right-hander faced 83 balls and hit nine fours.Denly combined with Oli Robinson to help see off Cummins after the Bajan claimed 3 for 41 from his three excellent spells but his replacement, Martin Andersson moved one late off the seam to have Robinson held at slip by Stevie Eskinazi at the second attempt.At the day’s start, reduced cloud cover and the softer, older ball, ensured seventh-wicket partners Robbie White and Harris found batting conditions far more favourable than their counterparts had during the opening two days.The pair frustrated Kent for much of the opening session adding 93 useful runs as White posted a 151-ball 50 with eight fours scored in a shade over three hours and soon moved past his first-class career-best of 69, scored for Loughborough MCCU against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road in 2017.His near five-hour vigil spread over 220 balls was ended on 99 by the 11th delivery with the second new ball and an agonising juggled catch in the cordon. Prodding half-forward to a Darren Stevens away-swinger, White turned to watch as the outside edge flew to second slip where Leaming clung on to the chance at the third attempt.Harris, the former Kent loanee, had reached a patient 41 from 128 balls when he too was out-foxed by Stevens. Prodding forward to a legcutter, Harris pushed inside the line to have his off stump plucked out.Fred Klaassen came up with a near identical delivery to clip off stump and account for left-handed Cummins and give Kent their third bowling bonus point.Stevens duly wrapped up his 28th five-wicket first-class haul by trapping last man Thilan Walallawita lbw low on the front pad with an inswinger to end the innings after 108 overs. Klaassen, with 4 for 44, recorded career-best first-class figures.

Warwickshire retained their outside chance of qualifying for the Royal London Cup quarter-finals with a four-wicket win over Sussex at Rugby School.

ECB/PA17-Aug-2015
ScorecardWilliam Porterfield ensured Warwickshire overcame a stutter in their chase•Getty Images

Warwickshire retained their outside chance of qualifying for the Royal London Cup quarter-finals with a four-wicket win over Sussex at Rugby School.Knowing they needed to beat Sussex, and then Kent at Edgbaston on Wednesday (and also hope that other results go their way), the Bears fulfilled the first part of the equation by extending Sussex’s nightmare Group B campaign.Put in on a good pitch in the elegant, tree-lined setting of Rugby School, Sussex, without a win in the competition, compiled a meagre 217. Only George Bailey built an innings of substance against an accurate attack led by Jeetan Patel and Oliver Hannon-Dalby.Warwickshire then suffered a couple of wobbles but William Porterfield’s skilful 100, his ninth List A century, saw them comfortably home.Sussex’s innings started well enough. Ed Joyce soon lifted Keith Barker to mid-off but Luke Wright and Matt Machan added 50 from 45 balls before the former edged Hannon-Dalby to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose.Machan lifted Barker over long off for six on his way to 39 but fell lbw attempting to reverse-sweep Ateeq Javid and thereafter only Bailey made much progress against the spinners.Craig Cachopa top-edged a pull at Patel who then took a simple return catch to end a promising innings by 20-year-old Harry Finch, playing only his third List A game.Chris Jordan lifted his back foot and was stumped off Javid and when Luke Wells fell lbw to Patel, the spinners had shared five middle-order wickets for 71 runs to leave Sussex 193 for 7.Boyd Rankin returned to end Bailey’s resistance lbw, Will Beer edged Hannon-Dalby and when Patel took a well-judged boundary catch to remove Chris Liddle off the former Yorkshire seamer, Sussex looked well below par at 217.Warwickshire started badly when Jordan forced Varun Chopra and Jonathan Trott to play on in his first nine balls but Porterfield and Ambrose added 79 to steady the ship. Ambrose fell lbw to Wells and when spinners Wells and Beer removed Laurie Evans and Clarke in five balls, the Bears were awkwardly perched on 130 for 5.But Porterfield found a resolute partner in Javid and their measured sixth-wicket stand of 81 in 105 balls kept Warwickshire’s hopes of a quarter-final place very much alive.