Archive for England
Onions burst sets up eight-wicket victory
Posted by: | CommentsEngland seamer Graham Onions ran through Warwickshire’s lower order to pave the way for Durham to complete an eight-wicket success over Warwickshire on the final day at Chester-le-Street. Onions, making only his second appearance since missing 16 months after surgery on his back, claimed 4-28 as Warwickshire were dismissed for 137 in their second innings.
Resuming at 52-4 in the morning, only Tim Ambrose with 50 made any impression as Durham took regular wickets to leave themselves a target of 102 in just under two sessions.
Scott Borthwick followed his 4-25 haul – adding the scalp of Paul Best to his three victims the previous day – with an unbeaten 48 to see Durham home in the 11th over after tea.
Borthwick, opening in place of first-innings centurion Michael Di Venuto who has an injured leg muscle, was well supported by Gordon Muchall (30) in a second-wicket stand of 55.
Muchall fell with 19 still required but Ben Stokes (6no) joined Borthwick to finish the job.
Teenage keeper Gibson aiming high for Yorkshire and England place in the future
Posted by: | CommentsYorkshire’s history-making young wicketkeeper Barney Gibson has his sights set right at the very top as he targets a future place in the England team. The 15-year-old became the youngest first-class cricketer in county history when he was picked for Yorkshire’s game against Durham University.
Aged just 15 years and 27 days, Gibson has his future stretching right out in front of him, but already knows he wants to go right to the pinnacle of the sport. He acquitted himself well behind the stumps, conceding just five byes in 81.2 overs and taking two catches, one a fine diving effort off Oliver Hannon-Dalby.
He followed up with his first visit to the crease on Thursday, finishing one not out after being sent in at number 11 and was thrilled with his first-class outing, and says he wants to make it all the way into England colours.
Asked about which players inspired him to take up the game, he looked to Australia for his answer.
“Adam Gilchrist, ” he said. “As a wicketkeeper-batsman he is a great role model.”
Trescothick unbeaten on 193 after batting through second day
Posted by: | CommentsMarcus Trescothick sparked his season into life with an unbeaten 193 as Somerset gained the upper hand against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl. The visitors ended on 405-5 in reply to Hampshire’s first innings total of 285 with Trescothick, who has endured a poor start to the season, batting through from the start of play to stumps.
The home side was given some hope when Arul Suppiah (19) was caught at the wicket but Trescothick took control with stands of 70 and 80 with Nick Compton (22) and James Hildreth (31) respectively.
South African Friedel de Wet caught and bowled both Hildreth and Craig Kieswetter, who added 58 to the total as he shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 131 alongside his skipper.
Debutant Alex Barrow made only 14 before being the last wicket to fall, with Trescothick taking his tally to 28 fours and two sixes as the closed on his double century at stumps.
Dutchman Kervezee hits three figures in Pears first win
Posted by: | CommentsAlexei Kervezee hit a fine century on Thursday as Worcestershire battled to break Nottinghamshire’s grip on their County Championship match and claim what would be a first win of the season. The champions had earlier pushed on from their overnight 291-8 to post 382 for a lead of 67, with all-rounder Paul Franks top-scoring with 82 as he guided the tail to earn two further batting points.
Alan Richardson claimed figures of 5-98, but Worcestershire’s spirits were further dampened after lunch when they lost their first four wickets for 56. At that stage, Worcestershire still needed 11 more runs to make Notts bat again. However, Kervezee showed real class to compile his fourth first-class hundred and they closed on 256-5 with a lead of 189.
The Dutch international finished the day on 123 not out from 176 balls, having hit 18 fours and a magnificent straight six to bring up three figures, while partner Gareth Andrew was unbeaten on 56.
Andrew himself hit eight fours and a six, and if Worcestershire can extend their lead past 250 then Nottinghamshire will face a difficult chase on the final day.
Young left-hander completes maiden century to help secure win for Sussex
Posted by: | CommentsSussex stumbled against Durham on Saturday but survived nonetheless to score a two-wicket County Championship victory at Chester-le-Street. Resuming on 237-4, the visitors needed 72 to win and their mainstay was Luke Wells, who rode his luck somewhat but still completed a maiden century.
The 20-year-old left-hander put together a fifth-wicket stand of 128 with Ben Brown as Sussex moved to within 32 of victory.
But they then lost four wickets for 17 runs, all to Ruel Brathwaite (5-56). Having earlier been troubled by Mitch Claydon, Wells was himself one of the victims.
He made 103 runs in all and his was the sixth wicket to fall – Sussex still needing 21 to win at the time.
However, they steadied themselves to reach their target and celebrate a win which had appeared unlikely at the start of day three, when Durham were 265 runs in front with five wickets in hand.
Day Three
An unbroken stand of 88 between youngsters Luke Wells and Ben Brown has left Sussex in sight of victory over Durham at Chester-le-Street. The duo steered the visitors to 237-4 by the close of day three after they had bowled out their opponents for 210, leaving them requiring 309 in the final innings of the Division One contest.
Wells – the son of ex-Sussex captain Alan Wells bettered the 62 he made on his debut at the end of last season as he reached stumps with 74 to his name. Brown contributing 39 to the partnership after Sussex, who had at one stage been 98-1, lost veteran Murray Goodwin to slip to 149-4 in their run chase.
Durham had begun Good Friday’s action with a 166-run advantage but lost their remaining five wickets in the first hour for the addition of only 44 runs.
Dale Benkenstein, on 38 overnight, did complete his 50 off 65 balls before falling to Monty Panesar, who then bowled Mitch Claydon to wrap up the innings. Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (4-43) claimed the other three wickets.
Visitors win at New Road as Chopra posts first-class best of 228
Posted by: | CommentsWarwickshire made it two wins from two at the start of the new LV County Championship season with an 88-run triumph over Worcestershire. Set 278 in 75 overs, the hosts were bowled out for 199 with time to spare at New Road thanks to another fine display from Chris Woakes.
The talented seamer furthered his England claims by knocking over the top three in the order on his way to figures of 6-49, meaning he has now taken 16 first-class wickets already this season.
However it was Ant Botha who claimed the crucial scalp of Alexei Kervezee, who had threatened the Bears’ victory push with a fine 65 from 91 balls.
Gareth Andrew (26) supported Kervezee in a stand of 66, but Woakes then returned to claim three more victims in the space of 14 deliveries.
Warwickshire themselves had suffered a batting collapse in the morning session, having resumed on the final day of the Division One fixture on 411-3.
They lost five wickets in a hurry, Varun Chopra amongst them for a career-best 228, his second double ton already in 2011 – but Botha’s unbeaten 28 allowed skipper Jim Troughton to declare at 461-8.
Tykes looking forward to a uphill task
Posted by: | CommentsA knock of 150 by acting captain Dale Benkenstein has put Durham in a strong position to push for victory on the final day against Yorkshire.
After being set a monumental target of 490 in four full sessions, the hosts reached the close on 83-2 at Headingley from 32 overs.
Young opener Joe Root will resume again on 38 not out having shared a 64-run stand for the first wicket with Adam Lyth (26). Anthony McGrath was the other batsman to be dismissed, falling to Ian Blackwell for just seven.
The Tykes still have a lot of work to do if they are to escape unscathed, though, after Benkenstein, filling in as skipper due to an injury to Phil Mustard, had registered his third ton against the county in four-day cricket.
The veteran batsman shared a record sixth-wicket stand of 187 with Michael Richardson, who followed up his 67 in the first innings with an unbeaten 73.
The duo had come together with Durham in a spot of bother at 124-5 but proceeded to bat their opponents out of the game. Benkenstein’s departure on the stroke of tea led to a declaration at 311-6.
Broad speaks positive about Strauss
Posted by: | CommentsPace bowler Stuart thinks that the batsman should stay as one-day captain. England bowler Stuart Broad supports that Andrew Strauss reamian as the one-day international captain for England.
Former skipper Michael Vaughan has tipped Broad to take over the role if Strauss decides to step down in the wake of the World Cup.
But although the 24-year-old is proud that he has been mentioned as a potential captain, he still thinks Strauss should continue to lead the 50-over team.
Cook blames Schedule for World Cup flop
Posted by: | CommentsAlastair Cook believes international scheduling”madness” and it ultimately cost England a chance of World Cup glory.
Cook the Essex opener watched on as many of his Test team-mates stuttered into the quarter-finals of the sub-continent showpiece before suffering a crushing 10-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka.
Throughout the campaign England looked lethargic, not least during shock defeats to Ireland and co-hosts Bangladesh.And Cook, who returned home straight after inspiring England to a historic Ashes victory Down Under, believes a serious World Cup tilt was scuppered by the ICC schedule.
Seamer Finn knows competition for places will be fierce
Posted by: | CommentsThe Middlesex seamer, Steven Finn has acknowledged that it could take some time before he is bowling for England again. He made a huge contribution to the Ashes victory during the winter, taking 14 wickets in the first three Tests. However, Tim Bresnan was promoted to the line-up in Melbourne and retained his place for the final match in Sydney.
Finn is aware that competition for places this summer will be fierce and with Chris Tremlett also impressing at international level following the recent injuries to Stuart Broad.
