Preview of the fourth ODI between India and England in Mohali

The Preview by Siddarth Ravindran22-Jan-2013

Match facts

January 23, 2013
Start time 1200 (0630 GMT)Ravindra Jadeja has played an important role in both of India’s wins•BCCI

Big Picture

How quickly this series has turned. In the first ODI in Rajkot, India were beaten in conditions that they usually prosper in, and coming on the heels of the series defeat to Pakistan, India’s home one-day prowess was under the scanner. Alastair Cook and Ian Bell had looked masterful as they put on 158, England’s highest opening partnership against India. In the next match, 158 was all what the entire England team managed. In the third ODI, England couldn’t even muster that, keeling over for 155 and were looking more and more like the hapless outfits that suffered 5-0 reverses in their previous two visits.There is talk of this being an inexperienced England side, though their biggest concern this series is the faltering top order which is packed with players who have been around for years. The only significant batting absentee is Jonathan Trott, whose un-flamboyant batting has typically split opinion over his place in the one-day side despite an unimpeachable average nearing 50. In his absence, his value is continuing to grow.India, on the other hand, are now atop the world rankings, and what is traditionally their weaker department – the bowling – has flourished in the previous two matches. The much-derided Ravindra Jadeja has turned in influential performances in both victories, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar has compensated for his lack of pace with movement to trouble the top order. Virat Kohli, the ICC’s ODI Player of the Year, also shrugged aside his indifferent recent form to pocket his first Man-of-the-Match award of 2013 in the last match. One more win will wrap up the series and give some relief to a side that has weathered plenty of criticism in recent times.

Form guide

(Most recent first)
India WWLWL
England LLWLW

In the spotlight

Ajinkya Rahane spent much of the past year carrying drinks, having been part of the Indian squad in all three formats without getting too many matches. Finally, in this series, he has got chances, but has been bowled through the gate early by Steven Finn in the last two ODIs. He will have fond memories of Mohali, though, winning his only ODI Man-of-the-Match award the last time these two sides played here.While not the flashiest of batsman, Joe Root has shown his ability to stabilise the innings when his more experienced colleagues have come up short. On the flat track in Rajkot, he was shunted down the order to allow more expansive batsmen time in the middle, but with the team struggling in the next two games, he took over the steadying role that Trott has perfected.

Team news

England are considering a couple of changes to their XI. They are toying with the idea of bringing in Jos Buttler as wicketkeeper-batsman for Craig Kieswetter, and Jade Dernbach, who now has the unwanted record of being the most expensive among ODI bowlers who have sent down 1000 deliveries, could make way for Stuart Meaker. Steven Finn injured his finger during a fielding drill but is expected to be fit in time for the match.England (probable) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Ian Bell,3 Kevin Pietersen, 4 Joe Root, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Samit Patel, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 James Tredwell, 10 Steven Finn, 11 Stuart MeakerIndia are likely to go in with the same XI that served them so well in the previous two victories.India (probable) 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Ajinkya Rahane, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Suresh Raina, 6 MS Dhoni (capt &wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Shami Ahmed, 11 Ishant Sharma

Pitch and conditions

England are now left needing to win both the remaining matches in the series, but one consolation is that the next match will be in Mohali, where the track traditionally favours the quick bowlers and the temperatures will be in the mid-teens – conditions which Ian Bell termed as ‘English’.

• In 96 ODIs, Virat Kohli already has 13 Man-of-the-Match awards, which is more than Michael Bevan (232 matches) and Michael Clarke (223 games)
• There have been six ODI hundreds scored in Mohali, but none of them have been made by an Indian

Quotes

“It was a bit annoying for me as I was not getting out making too many mistakes. I got a few good balls in the last series and made a few mistakes in this series. But, I was pretty calm at that point of time. You just got to be composed. “”We have a point to prove, absolutely. We spoke about it. It can be quite easy in this part of the world that if you get on a bad trot, you can let your heads drop and we can’t allow that to creep in.”

A preview of the second India-Pakistan ODI in Kolkata

The Preview by Siddhartha Talya02-Jan-2013

Match facts

January 3, 2012

Start time 1200 (0630 GMT)

Big Picture

India are again left needing to come from behind, third time in their last four series. A superb display of swing bowling by Junaid Khan crippled India’s batting line-up on an overcast Chennai morning before MS Dhoni rescued his team with a fighting century. Such a procession of batsmen to the pavilion appears unlikely in Kolkata, where overhead conditions haven’t been as bowler-friendly and the curator Prabir Mukherjee has promised a “typical one-day wicket with lots of runs” with the side batting first having an early advantage. But the visitors have been practicing hard to seal their team’s first bilateral ODI series win over India since 2005.Pakistan’s seamers bowled extended spells at the nets on Tuesday, with Umar Gul, Junaid and Mohammad Irfan aiming at one stump. India, on the other hand, missed a session on Tuesday and have an optional one on the eve of the game. They may be short of adequate preparation for a game they cannot afford to lose.

Form guide (Completed games, most recent first)

India: LWWWL
Pakistan: WLWLL

Players to watch

Shoaib Malik was initially picked only for the T20s but has been retained for the ODIs and played a good supporting hand in Chennai. He’s had a good tour so far, guiding Pakistan to victory in the first T20 before giving Nasir Jamshed company in his team’s successful chase on Sunday. A former Pakistan captain, Malik has struggled to keep his place in the side for a while but his experience has come in handy in this limited-overs series.After his century in the first Test against England in Ahmedabad, Virender Sehwag has failed to fire. He was not picked in March last year for the Asia Cup, and could be under pressure to perform, given he’s had just one half-century in his last 10 innings in ODI cricket.

Team news

Rohit Sharma’s poor run of scores in ODIs continued in Chennai and India could consider replacing him with Ajinkya Rahane. However, there is uncertainty over Virat Kohli’s availability, as he limped off the field after slipping while bowling in Chennai. MRI scans revealed no serious damage, but his condition continues to be monitored.India (possible): 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Virender Sehwag, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Rohit Sharma/Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Suresh Raina, 7 MS Dhoni (capt and wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Ashok Dinda.It seems unlikely Pakistan will make changes, even though Mohammad Irfan proved expensive in Chennai.Pakistan (possible): 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Nasir Jamshed, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Kamran Akmal (wk), 8 Junaid Khan, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Mohammad Irfan.

Stats and Trivia

• Rohit Sharma is 22 short of reaching 2000 runs in ODIs.
• Kamran Akmal is 70 short of scoring 3000 in ODIs.

Quotes

“If he keeps on doing that then we will find another great left arm fast-bowler of Wasim Akram’s type.”

“We are used to playing with part-timers. Now it’s difficult for them to bowl 10 overs with five players inside the circle. So you’ve to assess whether six batsmen are enough or seven [are needed].”

ESPNcricinfo previews the deciding Twenty20 between New Zealand and England

The Preview by Andrew McGlashan14-Feb-2013

Match Facts

February 15, 2012
Start time 7pm (0600GMT)Mitchell McClenaghan, the aggressive left-armer, has bowled impressively in both matches•Getty Images

The Big Picture

Victories of a convincing nature for either side mean it is difficult to really assess how England and New Zealand compare in this format. However, the home side have a spring in their step after bouncing back from the hammering in Auckland.The fact the two matches have been shared is not much of a surprise, but the margins of victory have been large by Twenty20 standards. Both teams have struggled to chase considerable targets but, if the Wellington groundsman’s advice is to be heeded, then batting second should be the approach in this final match, where history suggests the dew is a hindrance to the bowlers.In Hamilton, New Zealand’s seamers made excellent use of the extra zip on offer under the lights to dismantle England’s top order which, three days previously, had gone on a boundary rampage. At 47 for 5 the game was done and dusted. However, what Brendon McCullum and, even in defeat, Jos Buttler showed is how much damage can be done in the last few overs of an innings.

Form guide

(Most recent first, completed matches)
New Zealand WLLWL
England LWWLL

In the spotlight

Alex Hales arrived for the series with a growing reputation in Twenty20 after a consistent 2012 for England plus his fly-in fly-out success at the Big Bash League. He has not quite been able to continue that form in New Zealand, missing out twice in the warm-ups and in Hamilton. As with the rest of England’s T20 top three, he is not part of the one-day squad so this is likely to be his last chance to impress on the international stage until the return T20 series against New Zealand in England later in the year.Mitchell McClenaghan is fitting nicely into the mould of ‘feisty fast bowler’. There was a little confrontation with Jade Dernbach at the end of the opening game, then a lively over in Hamilton knocked the top off the England run chase. He is eager for a similarly spicy battle in this deciding match. “I absolutely loved it,” he said. “I love getting in those kinds of tussles and showing some fight when things are lost and a bit of Kiwi spirit that we’re not going to get knocked down and stay down.”

Team news

New Zealand may consider recalling Ronnie Hira, the left-arm spinner, and if that is the case Trent Boult, who has been expensive in both matches, would be the likely bowler to make way.New Zealand (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Hamish Rutherford, 3 Brendon McCullum (capt & wk), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Colin Munro, 6 Grant Elliott, 7 James Franklin, 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Ian Butler, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Mitchell McClenaghanEngland appear reasonably settled on the balance of their Twenty20 side so it is likely that Chris Woakes will remain on the sidelines alongside James Harris, Stuart Meaker and Joe Root.England 1 Michael Lumb, 2 Alex Hales, 3 Luke Wright, 4 Jonny Bairstow, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Samit Patel, 8 Stuart Broad (capt), 9 James Tredwell, 10 Steven Finn, 11 Jade Dernbach

Pitch and conditions

There is the chance of a few showers on match day but nothing that should prove too disruptive. The groundsman says dew will be an issue so both captains will need to factor that in at the toss. The Westpac Stadium is known as the “Cake Tin” and the boundaries are again not the largest – although they are more equal all around the pitch.

Stats and trivia

• All four T20s at the Westpac Stadium have been won by the side chasing, with the highest innings total being New Zealand’s 162 for 8 against Sri Lanka in the first game on the ground in 2006.
• In last year’s T20 against South Africa on this ground, Martin Guptill hit 78 off 55 balls to lead New Zealand’s successful chase.

Quotes

“I’m only a couple of boundaries away and then the confidence goes up. You try not to think about it too much and get into it. I didn’t drop a catch in the last game so that was a positive.”
“If they want to be more aggressive, that’s not something that fazes us … we concentrate on what we want to do.”

Durham are in talks with South Africa batsman Jacques Rudolph with a view to him joining the club for the 2013 season.

George Dobell14-Mar-2013Durham are in talks with South Africa batsman Jacques Rudolph with a view to him joining the club for the 2013 season.Rudolph has lost his national contract with Cricket South Africa and an improvement in Durham’s financial situation has raised the possibility of Rudolph coming to the Riverside for the new season.Geoff Cook, Durham’s head coach, had said earlier this month that Durham’s “financial situation prohibits any signings” but news of a new funding arrangement with the local council appears to have precipitated a rethink.Rudolph would prove an experienced signing having played 48 Tests and enjoyed several seasons in county cricket, chiefly with Yorkshire for whom he has scored 5,429 first-class runs at 52.20. He also played five matches for Surrey at the beginning of last season.Durham have just agreed a funding deal with Durham County Council which will see them lent £2.8 million – an investment the council have been forced to defend after announcing budget cuts of £200m and 1,600 job losses.The council have cited an independent report which revealed internationals at Durham could add £40m to the local economy over three years. The investment will be used to develop the ground with a view to securing regular international cricket.

Blackwell retires

Ian Blackwell, the former England allrounder, has announced his retirement after a third operation on his left shoulder failed to correct his injury. ESPNcricinfo revealed that Blackwell’s career looked over after he was released by Durham a year early.

“For a number of years, the club has been investing and investing, building and building,” Clive Leach, the club’s chairman, said. “This has been essential and has allowed us to secure international cricket at Durham, culminating in last year’s announcement that we will be holding an Ashes Test Match here this summer. This really was a massive achievement.”Our work has also played a significant part in us winning two championships and attracting the stadium’s Emirates sponsorship, which was a huge deal for us.”However, we need to demonstrate local stakeholder support to ensure we have the wherewithal to build upon the work we have undertaken already, make international cricket a permanent fixture here in Durham and leverage that status to bring investment into the club.”We believe that, with the financial support we have been afforded, we can do just that and, as a result, develop the club into a profitable, community focused business and realise the benefits of the ‘long game’ we have been playing.”Cook had previously welcomed the club’s decision not to bring in new players. “I don’t think that is a bad thing,” he said. “The last thing we want is for short-term signings to prevent development. There is nothing more de-motivating for young players than new people to be brought in ahead of them in the queue. I’m confident the young payers we have given responsibility will really prosper.”

Second innings half-centuries by Stephan Baard and Craig Williams helped Namibia post a strong 336 after conceding a narrow lead of 17 runs against Netherlands in Windhoek

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Apr-2013
ScorecardSecond innings half-centuries by Stephan Baard and Craig Williams helped Namibia post a strong 336 after conceding a narrow lead of 17 runs against Netherlands in Windhoek, setting up a target of 320 runs on the last day. Namibia picked up the last Netherlands batsman in the fourth over of the morning and made slow progress to 2 for 56 in the 21st over. But Baard and Williams added 128 for the third wicket in less than 28 overs to help build the lead. Both were out in quick succession and Netherlands seemed to be taking control when they added another wicket with the lead still less than 200. But handy lower-order contributions from Namibian batsmen not only added frustrating runs, but they did so at a good rate, setting up a challenging total by the time they were bowled out towards the end of the day.

Jacques Kallis’ decision to skip next month’s Champions Trophy for “personal reasons” was a short-term one and he still aspired to play Tests and ODIs for South Africa, his manager David Rundle has said

ESPNcricinfo staff03-May-2013Jacques Kallis’ decision to skip next month’s Champions Trophy for “personal reasons” was a short-term one and he still aspired to play Tests and ODIs for South Africa, his manager Dave Rundle has said. Rundle’s statement is a bid to clear the air on Kallis’ decision, which was explained only in brief in the official team announcement on Thursday.”Jacques feels he needs some time out (of the game) … in that time, we are planning the next two years,” Rundle said to . “He still wants to continue playing for the Proteas, especially in Tests, and his dream at the moment to go to the World Cup is still there. The decision taken now has no effect on his ongoing commitments to South Africa – this is short-term, and should be viewed as such.”Kallis last played an ODI for South Africa in February last year and had made himself unavailable for selection citing personal reasons. In his column in the , Kallis, who is playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, said he needed time to plan and organise to play his best cricket.”At my age and stage of career, there are many things to consider outside the game and off the field, and I need to plan and be organised in order to play my best cricket,” Kallis wrote. “I simply cannot go through the motions or take up a place in a squad unless it has my full attention. So it would have been unfair of me to accept a place in the Proteas squad for the Champions Trophy next month. I certainly have not given up my ambition of playing in the 2015 World Cup but, right now, my priority is to finish strongly for KKR and then take some time to reconsider my priorities and consolidate.”South Africa’s selection convenor Andrew Hudson said the decision was taken at Kallis’ request. “It was at Jacques’ request and we are respectful of that,” Hudson said.Coach Gary Kirsten said that while Kallis’ absence was a big loss, the team was capable of coping. “He’s a big player but this team has progressed to a level where we feel comfortable with whoever we pick,” Kirsten said. “Obviously, he is two players in one so it does affect our combinations but that’s the way it is. He’s been a great player and ambassador for this country. If he feels personally he is not up for the tournament we have to respect that.”

Preview of the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Ranchi

The Preview by Siddhartha Talya11-May-2013

Match facts

May 12, 2013
Start time 1600 (1030 GMT)Moises Henriques has lived up to his reputation•BCCI

Big Picture

It is likely that Chennai Super Kings will find more support in Ranchi than Kolkata Knight Riders. The last time the JSCA International Stadium Complex hosted a game, the hometown boy MS Dhoni hit the winning runs in an ODI against England in front of a packed house in a city where his popularity possibly rivals Sourav Ganguly’s in Kolkata. Dhoni’s IPL team, however, won’t be playing in Ranchi this year. Instead, the Ranchi crowd, on paper, should be backing a side on a ventilator this season; it won’t be a surprise if they end up supporting Royal Challengers Bangalore, a team with greater star power and in the running for a spot in the play-offs, or perhaps they will end up backing both.Knight Riders won comfortably against Pune Warriors in their previous game, and Royal Challengers beat Delhi Daredevils narrowly. A win for Royal Challengers will take their tally to nine and them to No.2, though having played one game more than the rest in the top four.

Form guide

Kolkata Knight Riders: WLWLL
Royal Challengers Bangalore: WLWLL

Players to watch

Moises Henriques was bought for US$300,000 by Royal Challengers, and he’s repaid them with impressive all-round performances this season. Each time Royal Challengers have posted a score in their last few games, Henriques has played an important role in the death overs with cameos. He has also picked up seven wickets at 22.28.Ryan ten Doeschate had an impact in his first IPL game this season, prompting questions over why Knight Riders hadn’t picked him earlier. Though he doesn’t rate his own bowling very highly, he remains among the more experienced Twenty20 players, having played in more than 10 countries, and is good enough to qualify as a specialist T20 batsman.

Stats and trivia

• Sunil Narine has an excellent economy-rate in T20 cricket, but one batsman who’s dominated him is Suresh Raina, scoring 47 off 23 balls. Michael Hussey has scored the most runs off him, 54, but that’s come off 61 deliveries.
• Virat Kohli became the 11th batsman to score 99 in a T20 innings. Raina is the other Indian on the list. There’s also Salman Butt, who made an unbeaten 99 for Lahore Lions against Quetta Bears in 2008.

Quotes

“At the moment, the competition is pretty open. We still have a fair chance of reaching the play-offs. For me what matters is the remaining three games and we face RCB on Sunday, which is a must-win game for us. Hopefully, we can try and deliver.”
.

Gurunath Meiyappan, a top official of the Chennai Super Kings franchise, has landed in Mumbai in response to a summons by the Mumbai Police

ESPNcricinfo staff24-May-2013Gurunath Meiyappan, a top official of the Chennai Super Kings franchise and the son-in-law of BCCI president N Srinivasan, has landed in Mumbai in response to a summons by the Mumbai Police. Police officials said the summons was needed for questioning in connection with betting.Meiyappan’s status in the Super Kings franchise has become the subject of some debate. He was known so far – among senior officials in other franchises and the public at large – as the team principal and referred to as “team owner” in articles on the franchise website, but on Friday evening India Cements, the company that owns the Super Kings, issued a statement to the contrary.”India Cements clarifies that Mr. Gurunath Meiyappan is neither the Owner, nor CEO /Team Principal of Chennai Super Kings,” an Indian Cements release said. “Mr. Gurunath is only one of the Members (Honorary) of the Management Team of Chennai Super Kings.”India Cements follows zero tolerance policy and if anyone is proved guilty, strict action will be taken immediately. India Cements assures full co-operation with BCCI and the Law Enforcement authorities.”Meiyappan, however, was a frequent presence in the Super Kings dug-out and was also at the franchise’s table at IPL auctions. During the auctions it was Meiyappan who used to raise the paddle in order to place a bid, a privilege only allowed to the owners of the franchises, according to the auction rules. The bio on his verified Twitter account read ‘Team Principal Chennai Super Kings’ till it was changed, half an hour after the India Cements press release, to remove the CSK reference.It is reliably learnt that Meiyappan had a gold accreditation card for the IPL, reserved for team owners. He also represented the franchise at team owners’ meetings organised by the IPL and was said to be the point of contact for other franchises for any discussions over player trades and similar issues from the start of the IPL.The police issued summons to Meiyappan on Friday to “verify certain issues raised and claims made by” Virender “Vindoo” Dara Singh, who was arrested on Tuesday in Mumbai for links with bookies.There were reports circulating in the media since Tuesday on the proximity of Vindoo to the Super Kings franchise. Those reports, which included pictures of Vindoo watching IPL matches in the company of Super Kings captain MS Dhoni’s wife, have not been denied since.

Gloucestershire produced an impressive all-round performance to beat Yorkshire by 36 runs in a rain-shortened fixture at Bristol and maintain
pressure on arch rivals Somerset at the top of Group C.

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jun-2013
ScorecardIan Cockbain played a good hand in Gloucestershire’s very competitive total•Getty Images

Gloucestershire produced an impressive all-round performance to beat Yorkshire
by 36 runs in a rain-shortened fixture at Bristol and maintain
pressure on arch rivals Somerset at the top of Group C.Chris Dent top-scored with 56 and there were useful contributions from Michael
Klinger and Ian Cockbain as the home side posted an imposing 229 for 6 in 27 overs after being put in.Dan Hodgson registered a competition-best score of 76 as Yorkshire made a
decent fist of chasing, but 17-year-old off break bowler Miles Hammond accounted
for him and finished with 2 for 29 in only his third senior appearance as
Gloucestershire turned the screw.Left arm seamer David Payne weighed in with 4 for 44 from five overs as
Group C strugglers Yorkshire were dismissed for 193 in 26.3 overs.Opening pair Klinger and Hamish Marshall have made a habit of providing
Gloucestershire with a solid base in the 40-over competition this season and
this game proved no exception as the first wicket yielded 52 runs in seven
overs. Both took the aerial route during the Powerplay, Marshall striking a quartet
of fours in contributing 27 at a run a ball before giving slow left-armer Adil
Rashid the charge and being stumped by Andrew Hodd.Klinger took an inexperienced attack to task, greeting Ben Coad with sixes over
long-on and square leg in the space of four balls, helping himself to three
maximums in all and four fours in a high-class innings of 45 from 30 balls.The visitors breathed a collective sigh of relief when Gloucestershire’s
captain was bowled by a yorker from Iain Wardlaw with the score on 110 in the
14th over.Back in action after recovering from a back injury, Dent was especially strong
on the leg side, demonstrating admirable timing and invention to plunder 56,
including four fours and four sixes, in a high-octane innings spanning 40
balls.Looking dangerous, he succumbed to a soft dismissal, hoisting a full toss from
Liam Plunkett straight to Richard Pyrah at deep midwicket, having dominated a
partnership of 49 in five overs with Ian Cockbain for the third wicket.Although Gloucestershire failed to fully maximise their excellent start in the
face of some hostile bowling from Wardlaw, who took 3 for 44, Benny Howell
and Cockbain refused to panic, kept the scoreboard moving and raised 50 in seven
overs to put the home side in a position of strength.Required to score at nine an over, Yorkshire were heavily dependent upon
big-hitting Andrew Gale, but made the worst possible start when their skipper
played around the corner and hooked a leg-side delivery from Will Gidman to
Payne at short fine leg for 2.Fellow left-hander Adam Lyth and new batsman Hodgson nevertheless set about repairing the damage in a second wicket alliance of 60 in five overs and Yorkshire were up with the rate when the partnership was brilliantly terminated by Gareth Roderick. Lyth pulled a short ball from Payne and Gloucestershire’s young wicketkeeper taking off to his right to complete a quite brilliant airborne catch.Undeterred, Hodgson continued to attack, mustering his maiden List-A 50 from 29
balls in his eighth appearance, eclipsing his previous highest score of 24 and
raising 61 for the third wicket with Joe Sayers. Having made 76 from 55 balls and struck nine fours and two sixes, he fell to rookie off spinner Miles Hammond, who lured him into front foot indiscretion and had him smartly stumped by Roderick.Sayers was held by Alex Gidman at short third man, at which point Yorkshire
required nearly 11 an over and were reliant upon in-form Rashid. Hammond had him caught by a diving Dent at mid-off to reduce the visitors to 145 for 5 in the 21st over. Plunkett (7), Hodd (2), Rhodes (1) all struggled before Pyrah went for 34 and Wardlaw for 8 as Yorkshire fell short.

David Sales’ magnificent double-century helped Northamptonshire to a massive total on a rain-affected third day their Championship match against Gloucestershire

04-Aug-2013
ScorecardDavid Sales turned his overnight century into an unbeaten 255•Getty Images

David Sales’ magnificent double-century helped Northamptonshire to a massive total on a rain-affected third day their Championship match against Gloucestershire. Sales’ sensational knock of 255 not out off 279 balls was the third-highest score of his career as Northants eventually declared on 567 for 4, giving them a first-innings lead of 209.Andrew Hall also contributed an unbeaten 55 off 106 deliveries and Gloucestershire then closed on 31 without loss, but with a flat wicket and a poor weather forecast for tomorrow, a draw now looks to be inevitable.Northants began the day on 369 for 3, 11 runs ahead of their opponents, with Sales resuming on 126 and Australia international Cameron White on 6. However, rain began to fall 10 minutes before the players were due out, which led to the entire morning session being wiped out and 33 overs being lost as play finally started at 2.15pm.White was to then add 10 runs to his overnight total before he smashed Craig Miles to Benny Howell at deep midwicket in the fifth over of the day. But Sales hung around to reach 150 for the 17th time in his first-class career off 172 balls as he and Hall piled on another 170 for Northants’ fifth wicket.The 35-year-old club stalwart was to then complete the eighth double-ton of his career off 232 deliveries by hammering a four through point off the bowling of Miles. It was the first time he had struck 200 since August 2007, when he made 219 against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay, and it helped the hosts to 493 for 4 at tea, with their lead now 135.Gloucestershire still could not break apart the partnership in the evening as Sales reached 250 off 270 balls just before Hall completed his half-century off 102 deliveries. Northants captain Stephen Peters then waved his players off halfway through the 143rd over, leaving Gloucestershire to face 16 overs before the close of play.Only two were possible before the umpires stopped play for bad light but thankfully the players were back out 10 minutes later with two more overs lost. Within three balls of the restart, Chris Dent was given a reprieve as he was dropped on 2 by James Middlebrook at third slip off the bowling of David Willey. He was to then last until stumps alongside his captain Michael Klinger and they will resume on Monday on 10 and 21 respectively.