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Durham battled to 273 thanks to a partnership between captain Cameron Bancroft and 21-year-old Jack Burnham

Jon Culley at New Road14-May-2019As curators of the county circuit’s most aesthetically appealing backdrop, Worcestershire have an onerous responsibility. Having upset enough traditionalists by allowing a monstrous (to some critics) four-storey hotel to be built in one corner of the New Road ground, the decision to erect a new electronic scoreboard next to it cannot have been taken lightly.The one it replaces was so small as to be barely visible, particularly now that the banks of seats obscure half of it anyway. Make it too large, though, and there is danger of encroaching on The View. Happily, the chosen dimensions have avoided that, although the grey open metalwork surrounding it is not a masterstroke of urban minimalism: it just isn’t finished yet.The numbers on the scorecard showed both sides in the ascendancy at different times on a sunblessed day of the kind that shows off the cathedral at its best, set against a crisp blue backcloth, framed by vibrant spring green.Durham rejected the chance to bowl first and won the right to bat, which did not seem too smart as openers Alex Lees and Cameron Steel were being dismissed with just 10 on the board. Lees drove ambitiously at a ball from Charlie Morris and a thick inside edge clattered into his stumps, then Steel followed one outside off stump and Riki Wessels took a sharp low catch at first slip. It was a wicket for Joe Leach, the captain, significant because he had not played competitive senior cricket for 11 months after suffering a stress fracture in the back.Leach struck another blow in his next over as Gareth Harte was leg before and at 14 for 3 Durham were in a spot of early bother. Leach finished his opening spell with 2 for 12 from six overs.Once the shine began to wear off the new ball, however, the story began to change. Cameron Bancroft, the Durham captain, applied himself judiciously, as too did Jack Burnham, the former England Under-19 batsman. They negotiated a steady and for the most part untroubled path to lunch at 77 for 3.The day became a significant one for Burnham, too, as he seeks to rebuild his career after a year of enforced absence, the consequence of three failed tests for recreational drug use. There are some who advocate life bans for any form of drug abuse but 12 months is a long time for a 21-year-old for whom it must have once seemed he had the world at his feet.He took himself off to labour on a road gang for part of his time away, reacquainting himself with a world in which money is too sparse to throw away on the empty self-gratification that tempted him before. Durham, who need talented young players more than ever, will hope it is all in the past.When Burnham passed fifty off 109 balls it was his first since July 2017. He and Bancroft added 149 in 46 overs.But then the balance of the day shifted again as both fell in consecutive overs towards the end of the middle session. Josh Tongue, with the second ball of a new spell, removed Bancroft, trapped in front for 70 trying to work to leg, then Morris, who was to be the bowler of the day, had Burnham caught behind for 76. When Leach then bowled Liam Trevaskis, Durham had slipped from 163 for 3 to 177 for 6.More rebuilding followed as Ben Raine and Ned Eckersley, reprising old Leicestershire partnerships, added 60 for the seventh wicket, but then, with the new ball taken, it became a Morris dance through the tail, the right-arm seamer dismissing both in consecutive overs and taking the last four wickets in the space of five overs as Durham were out for 273.Morris spent much of last season away from the first team remodelling a once-suspect action. His 6 for 53 followed his 7 for 45 in Worcestershire’s opening win over Leicestershire, so whatever remedial work he undertook seems to have worked.Chris Rushworth’s action could hardly be better honed. As if to demonstrate that fact, as Worcestershire began their reply, the Durham stalwart struck with his second ball to remove Daryl Mitchell.

Several England players have moved teams ahead of the 2018 Kia Super League

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2018Several England players have moved teams ahead of the 2018 Kia Super League (KSL). Sarah Taylor has left Lancashire Lightning for Surrey Stars, with Alex Hartley going the other way, while Tammy Beaumont moves to Southern Vipers from Surrey.There has also been a straight swap between Loughborough Lightning and Yorkshire Diamonds of Jenny Gunn for Beth Langston.The changes are overseen by the ECB and aimed at keeping a balance between the six sides, ahead of the third edition of the T20 competition. Each of the teams will still be able to recruit their own overseas players.”The latest player movements are to ensure the best balance between the six sides and to maintain a fair and competitive competition with the over-arching principle of trying to ensure a best versus best competition,” KSL general manager Jo Kirk said.”We want the KSL to continue to go from strength to strength in its third year. Attendances rose by 44% last year and we’re looking forward to even more fans attending games this summer, hopefully culminating in a sold-out Finals Day down in Hove.”This year’s KSL begins on July 22 and features an expanded group stage, with the teams now playing each other twice. The top three will then go on to Finals Day at Hove on Bank Holiday Monday, August 27.

Firdose Moonda24-Dec-20161:52

‘As a left-arm spinner, you want to model yourself on Herath and Vettori’

While most of the South African squad will try to exploit Sri Lanka’s weaknesses in the upcoming three-Test series, at least one of them will be concentrating on the opposition’s biggest strength. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj is keen to learn as much as he can from his counterpart, Rangana Herath, a man he lists among his heroes.”I have always looked up to him. He is one of the left-arm spinners along with Daniel Vettori that you will try and model yourself on, in terms of variations,” Maharaj, who is yet to meet Herath, said. “I am looking forward to rubbing shoulders with him and hopefully learning from him. I am still new to the international scene and he has been around for a while so hopefully he can impart some of his knowledge and skill onto me.”The two are yet to meet, but Herath has already cast his eye over Maharaj and the early verdict is positive. “I have only seen him play against Australia, but from what I’ve seen, he’s a very accurate bowler,” Herath said. “He’s got all the essentials – with his accuracy, his line and his lengths. If he improves his variations he’ll go far.”For now, Maharaj has been in consultation with another senior, Paul Harris, who he contacted ahead of his maiden series in Australia. Back then, Harris spoke to Maharaj about “dealing with (foreign) conditions”. This time, Harris’ advice is about how to play at home and the primary focus is on patience. I’ve just got to hit my length for as long as I can,” Maharaj said.That kind of strategy suggests South Africa may have gone back to seeing their spinner as being a container rather than a wicket-taker, although conditions at St George’s Park could demand otherwise. It is likely to be the slowest and driest of the three surfaces and may bring Maharaj into the game a little more.He can’t be too sure though, because his only long-form experience at this ground came eight years ago in a provincial three-day match for Kwa-Zulu Natal. Maharaj took thee wickets in each innings in the drawn fixture and admitted that he doesn’t really know what to expect from a surface that will be as foreign to him as the ones in Australia were.In Perth, particularly, he showed he could adapt easily and that there is more to him than just his bowling. Maharaj is a handy batsmen and hopes he can use this series to show his value to the side in other disciplines. “In my earlier days I took my batting for granted. I always knew I could bat but I was just a hit-and-run type of player. I want to become a complete allrounder,” he said. “It helps you get selected a lot easier. I’ve taken my batting quite seriously in the last year or two and I’m looking forward to contributing with some runs.”Maharaj has identified the correct gap to try and take. South Africa are still searching for someone who can play a consistent two-in-one role. Vernon Philander has emerged as one option but South Africa won’t complain about having another. If Maharaj can do that, he may make the spin spot his own.Already, the selectors have showed they are thinking along those lines. Maharaj is the only spinner in the squad for the first two Tests, having edged out Tabraiz Shamsi, who he continues to share a close relationship with. “We are team-mates at the end of the day, whether he plays or I play, we will be supporting each other,” Maharaj said. “We played a lot of cricket together at the Dolphins and we always want each other to do well.”Shamsi will likely come into contention in special circumstances, such as as the day-night Test where he made his debut when South Africa want to include more than one spinner. But Maharaj is a long-term option and this will be his chance to show it. Whatever he learns from Herath will no doubt be a bonus.”I’d like to play a home series first before I know my future in terms of cementing my place,” he said. “I will take it one ball at a time and one game at a time. It’s nice to have that backing from the selectors. I’ve got to grab the opportunity with both hands.”

A round-up of the Regional 4 Day Tournament matches that ended on November 9, 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-2015Four wickets each from offspinner Steven Jacobs and left-arm pacer Raymon Reifer helped Guyana bowl out Windward Islands for 125 in their chase of 230, for a 104-run win at the Providence Stadium. After Guyana were all out for 95 on the third day, Windwards had the entire last day to bat but lasted 46.1 overs as the hosts took 18 points compared to Windwards’ three.Guyana built on their decision to bat by posting 362 with the help of opener Rajendra Chandrika’s maiden first-class hundred (146). Several other batsmen reached double-figures but could not build on starts as Shane Shillingford troubled the middle and lower order to finish with 6 for 107. Windwards’ batting was led at the top by Devon Smith’s 52 and 46 runs from opener Tyrone Thephile before Jacobs took four in the first innings to restrict the visitors to 228, for a lead of 134 runs.Guyana were then skittled for only 95 as Shillingford ran through their lower order again, with 5 for 36, and Windwards were set a target of 230. Only four of their batsmen reached double-figures because Jacobs claimed four more to finish with career-best match figures of 8 for 91. Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored 34 in each of the innings.Barbados‘ bowling attack combined with a first-innings century from Kraigg Brathwaite to lead them to a 10-wicket win after making Jamaica follow-on to claim 17 points in the first round of the Regional 4 Day Tournament. After posting 373 in the first innings, Barbados dismissed Jamaica for 189 and 187 to chase a target of only four runs.Put in to bat, Barbados were led by Brathwaite’s 14th first-class hundred (119), followed by a 77 from No. 3 Shai Hope and useful contributions from Sharmarh Brooks (49) and Roston Chase (48). The lower order didn’t contribute much and Nikita Miller’s 4 for 100 meant they were restricted to under 400.Jamaica’s top order also fared better than their lower order, but not better than Barbados’ top order. Opener John Campbell scored 49 and Kirk Edwards chipped in with a fifty (58) before four wickets from Kevin Stoute (4 for 21) and three from left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican bowled Jamaica out for 189, to make them bat again. The second time, Campbell top-scored with 35 and only five more batsmen scored in double-digits. Miguel Cummins and Ashley Nurse took three wickets each to dismiss Jamaica again and the Barbados openers took three overs to register the win.

Preview of the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab in Kolkata

The Preview by Sidharth Monga25-Apr-2013

Match facts

Friday, April 26, 2013
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)Will Manoj Tiwary and Yusuf Pathan get more bouncers from Kings XI Punjab bowlers?•BCCI

Big Picture

Kolkata Knight Riders have to be smarting from their last match against Kings XI Punjab. They had the game done and dusted when the Kings XI bowlers began to bounce Yusuf Pathan and Manoj Tiwary, and pulled off a heist. The pitch for the return match, in Kolkata, will not afford that kind of bounce, and Knight Riders will be keen to get their own back.However, this is no longer about just revenge. The defending champions are fading fast. After losing their last three matches, Knight Riders are languishing with just four points from seven games. Only Pune Warriors and Delhi Daredevils have been worse than them. The crown is slipping fast, and Knight Riders need to get a grip on it.Unlike Kings XI, for whom lesser names like Mandeep Singh and Manpreet Gony have been making contributions, Knight Riders haven’t had much of note from their non-internationals. Forget their choice of overseas players, forget Jacques Kallis’ strike rate of 106, forget whether Brendon McCullum should play or not, Knight Riders need contributions from Yusuf, Tiwary, L Balaji and others.Kings XI, on the other hand, have started to build momentum, with David Miller providing them that X-factor. Now for Adam Gilchrist to fire …

Form guide

Kolkata Knight Riders LLLWL (most recent first)
Kings XI Punjab WWLWL

Players to watch

Rest assured Yusuf Pathan won’t get to face much spin from Kings XI. Mumbai Indians gave him Harbhajan Singh in the last match and he feasted. Then he got out to the first ball of pace. Once called a “magical player” by his captain Gautam Gambhir, Yusuf last scored an IPL fifty in 2010, and his fielding against Mumbai cost his side crucial runs in a tight chase.Adam Gilchrist would have seen his Test captain Ricky Ponting sit himself out in the last match in Kolkata. It is not outlandish to think Gilchrist himself will be grappling with similar questions. He has scored just 67 runs in seven matches, and has even managed to drop a sitter, which would have cost them a match if it hadn’t been for one of the young batsmen, David Miller, who missed out on the first few matches possibly because Gilchrist had taken up one overseas slot. If Shaun Marsh is available, it will be a tough call to make for Gilchrist.

Stats and trivia

• Among bowlers who have bowled a minimum of 250 balls in the IPL, Sunil Narine is the only one to have an economy rate of under six: 5.54.
• Playing for Knight Riders against Kings XI, David Hussey averaged 32.33, but when playing for his new team against the old one he has managed an average of only 17.25. More significantly, the strike rate falls from 144.77 to 86.25.

Quotes

“Now we have got three of the most fancied teams in the competition in KKR, Mumbai and Chennai in a row. It’s a nice way to start this trip. We have made a step in the right direction.”

The Indian government has recommended Sachin Tendulkar’s name for nomination to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament

Nagraj Gollapudi26-Apr-2012The Indian president has approved Sachin Tendulkar’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament. Tendulkar met the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday and was offered a seat in the upper house’s nominated category. He accepted the offer and his name went from the prime minister’s office to the home ministry, and then the office of the President, who formally approved the candidature.Tendulkar will fill one of 12 seats in the Rajya Sabha that are reserved for those persons “having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as literature, science, art and social service.” Tendulkar is the first sportsman to be nominated in this category, which has no election process. (Former Indian hockey captain Dilip Tirkey, who took oath as a Rajya Sabha yesterday, was elected.) Previous nominated MPs, who serve a six-year term, include the musician Ravi Shankar, the singer Lata Mangeshkar and the artist MF Husain.Tendulkar’s nomination had not been expected to meet with much opposition, given his stature in India. The nomination came from the ruling Congress party, which is currently fighting political battles on various fronts. Before meeting the prime minister, Tendulkar and his wife Anjali met the Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who reportedly congratulated him on his hundred international centuries.The reaction from the main opposition party, the BJP, was swift and unambiguous. The party’s chief spokesperson, Ravi Shankar Prasad, said: “Sachin is a great player. We are proud of him. If Sachin is being nominated surely he will devote some time to Parliament.”The BCCI also welcomed the move. “We are happy that Tendulkar’s services as a sportsperson has been recognised,” the Indian board’s chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty told . “He’s been a true ambassador for the country and he deserves it.”However, commentators on the game were less enthusiastic in their response. Sanjay Manjrekar, a former team-mate of Tendulkar’s and now a media analyst, said he was shocked at the news, because he could never have imagined this to be how Tendulkar wound down his career. “My only fear is that this man is not suited for the kind of role he is being given. Until now, I’ve seen no sign of that. Even when the contracts dispute was on, when a players’ association was being formed, it was Anil Kumble in the forefront.” Manjrekar also wondered how Tendulkar would balance his cricket and commitments as an MP.Harsha Bhogle had a similar opinion*. “If the nomination is an honour, I am all for it,” he said. “But if it is an attempt at improving governance in India, then he doesn’t have the experience.”*02:59, April 27: Harsha Bhogle’s quote has been updated.

Shahid Afridi and Darren Sammy called on their batsmen to step up, though the concerns for West Indies are greater

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Apr-2011Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan captain, while elated with the series win over West Indies, has stressed the need for his batsmen to step up. Pakistan took an unassailable 3-0 lead over West Indies in Barbados by chasing down 172, but they had to survive a top-order wobble as the first three wickets fell for 12. Misbah-ul-Haq, the Man of the Match, stabilised the innings and with support from Umar Akmal, Hammad Azam and Wahab Riaz sealed a three-wicket win with 29 balls to spare.”There are still some problems, and I’m sure the management and coaches will come at us hard in the meetings,” Afridi said with a chuckle. “The way the boys delivered in the series was good.”The batsmen need to spend some time [in the middle]. We all know we made mistakes.”
Pakistan’s batting, however, had come good in the first two ODIs where they chased down targets of 221 and 222 with considerable ease.For West Indies, who are rebuilding after three of their senior-most players were left out, the problems with the bat were far more serious. In each of the first two games their batsmen were unable to build on starts, while in the third the middle and lower orders fell apart with the last six wickets falling for 21. The hosts fought hard with the ball, seamer Ravi Rampaul and legspinner Devendra Bishoo sharing seven wickets, but the runs on the board were inadequate.”We as a batting unit, myself included, have to take more responsibility like Bishoo does with the ball,” their captain Darren Sammy said. “It’s about getting the formula right; we have had good starts but we haven’t capitalised on it.”The way forward is to gain experience. This group is not short on talent, we need to play and get more consistency. The selectors will meet now, maybe the team will stay the same [for the remaining matches in the series] but whatever happens we need to do well in the middle phase.”Misbah displayed lots of patience while steering his team out of trouble with an unbeaten 62 off 109 balls. At 148 for 7, the game was still wide open but Riaz, who had picked up three wickets, supported him well, finishing the game with two sixes.”The pitch wasn’t easy for us as there was bit more bounce and pace. I thought I have to bat till the end and we can win,” Misbah said. “The ball gets soft as it gets old and you can handle it easily.”I was telling Wahab to play his normal game. When just 10 runs were required, I told him, you can now go for one or two big hits.”Pakistan are currently ranked No. 6 in the ICC ODI team rankings, and will remain there even if they complete a whitewash. The system offers little rewards for wins against lower-ranked teams, and Afridi was critical of the concept. “I can’t understand this system. There should be some advantage for the visiting sides as winning a series is never easy for them no matter who they’re playing against,” Afridi told before the third ODI got underway. “It’s really difficult to prosper under the current ranking system. I have little clue what it is based on.”

The World Twenty20 kicks off with two teams that look good on paper but haven’t quite hit their straps in the format

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale30-Apr-2010

Match Facts

Friday, April 30, Providence

Start time 1300 (1700 GMT)In conditions expected to favour slow bowlers, Nathan McCullum’s offspin could play a key role•Associated Press

The Big Picture

The World Twenty20 kicks off with two teams that look good on paper but haven’t quite hit their straps in the format. Sri Lanka have the potential to be one of the most dangerous Twenty20 sides in the world, yet have lost five of their last six games. New Zealand boast several match-winners, but lose more than they win. Daniel Vettori’s men have the advantage of recent form, having succeeded in both their warm-up games while Sri Lanka lost to South Africa.Whatever happens, don’t be surprised if the scores are low in Providence, where the slow surface has been difficult to score on during the practice matches. Adding to the challenge for the batsmen, both teams have high-quality spinners who will relish the conditions. Nathan McCullum has opened in both New Zealand’s warm-ups and will be a handy ally for Vettori, while Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan need no introduction. Although it is a pleasant change seeing batsmen forced to work hard, the one disappointment about the lack of speed and potential dominance of spin is it reduces the chances of a Dilscoop v McScoop battle.

Form guide (most recent first)

New Zealand TLWLL

Sri Lanka LWLLL

Watch out for…

At 40, Sanath Jayasuriya is easily the oldest player in the tournament (Murali, 37, is next) and he’s also the only parliamentarian. Twenty20 might be a young man’s game but Jayasuriya put his stamp on the World Twenty20 in 2007 and again last year, and only a fool would write off a cameo this time around, especially on the small Caribbean grounds.Nathan McCullum could be an important player for New Zealand in this competition. No, that’s not a misprint. We do mean Nathan, although as the leading all-time run scorer in Twenty20 internationals Brendon is clearly pretty useful as well. But on the slow Guyana pitch, opening the bowling with Nathan’s offspin could make or break New Zealand. A couple of clean strikes from Sri Lanka’s openers and plan B might be implemented, but a few early wickets and he could help New Zealand progress.

Team news

Sri Lanka’s line-up is anyone’s guess; they haven’t played a Twenty20 international since December last year and have had only one practice game in the Caribbean. Mendis, Murali and Lasith Malinga did not take part in the warm-up and the uncapped Dinesh Chandimal was tested. One certainty is that Mahela Jayawardene will open for the first time in a Twenty20 international for his country, after the captain Kumar Sangakkara confirmed the move this week.Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 2 Mahela Jayawardene, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (capt, wk), 4 Dinesh Chandimal, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Sanath Jayasuriya, 7 Chamara Kapugedera, 8 Nuwan Kulasekara, 9 Ajantha Mendis, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan.All the New Zealand players were given an opportunity during the two warm-ups but it’s hard to see Rob Nicol, Aaron Redmond or Ian Butler finding a place in the starting line-up. The return of Kyle Mills after a long-term injury could spell trouble for Tim Southee, despite Southee’s wonderful bowling in the one-over eliminator against Australia when New Zealand last played a Twenty20 international.New Zealand (possible) 1 Brendon McCullum, 2 Jesse Ryder, 3 Martin Guptill, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Scott Styris, 6 Jacob Oram, 7 Gareth Hopkins (wk), 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 Nathan McCullum, 10 Kyle Mills/Tim Southee, 11 Shane Bond.

Pitch and conditions

Sri Lanka’s only warm-up was in Barbados, while New Zealand have had two games to get used to the Guyana conditions. The fast bowlers will have to work hard, while batsmen will need to concentrate against slower medium pacers like Scott Styris and the spinners. “The pitches are really difficult to bat on, are very different to back home, and nothing like the other tours I’ve been on here,” Styris said. “It’s going to be tough going.”

Stats and trivia

• These two teams have met twice in the Caribbean, both times during the 50-over World Cup in 2007, when Sri Lanka won in the Super Eights and again in the semi-final
• Sri Lanka and New Zealand have played each other six times in Twenty20s, for three wins each
• Ajantha Mendis has a phenomenal Twenty20 international record of 25 wickets at 9.76 with an economy rate of 5.30.
  

  Quotes

  “They’ve got a good team and everyone talks about the unorthodox nature of some of their bowlers. Fortunately for us we’ve played them a number of times, and the fact we’ve played a couple of games here while they haven’t, hopefully that’s an advantage.”
  
  Daniel Vettori

Eve Jones seals 11-over chase with nerveless 26 not out to make it three from three

ECB Reporters Network27-May-2024Central Sparks made it three wins from three in the Charlotte Edwards Cup with a three-wicket victory from the final ball over winless Northern Diamonds in a rain-reduced match at Headingley.Despite losing wickets with regularity, Diamonds posted a competitive target of 81 from 11 overs thanks largely to Erin Burns’ impressive 30.And the hosts looked set to clinch their first win but Sparks captain Eve Jones’ nerveless unbeaten 26 saw her side home, with Georgia Davis striking two from the final delivery to clinch the victory.Heavy rain in the morning followed by frequent short showers delayed the start from the scheduled 2.30pm, with play eventually getting under way at 4.45pm and the match reduced to 11 overs-a-side.After winning the toss, Sparks were straight into their stride with the ball, taking wickets in each of the first four overs.Leah Dobson and Lauren Winfield-Hill were caught for a duck and five respectively looking for early momentum before Em Arlott claimed her second wicket by having Hollie Armitage caught behind for nought.Katie George bowled Bess Heath for three to leave Diamonds 23 for four in the fourth over.Erin Burns injected life into the innings with three early boundaries and Sterre Kalis started well to lift Diamonds to 44 for four after six overs.Davis had Kalis stumped for 17 and bowled Emma Marlow for seven but Burns continued to be aggressive in playing a lone hand for Diamonds.Her dismissal on 30, well held by Arlott running in from the deep off the bowling of Grace Potts, was key for Sparks.Grace Hall and Katie Levick came and went quickly but Katherine Fraser delivered late momentum with a four and a six from the final two balls to post 80 for nine. Davis claimed three for 23.Sparks started their chase strongly, easing to 16 without loss after two overs.Levick’s introduction brought the breakthrough as Chloe Brewer was trapped lbw for 14.Rachel Slater then piled the pressure on Sparks with two wickets in the fourth over, bowling Perrin for five and having Abbey Freeborn stumped for six to leave Sparks 26 for three.Courtney Webb’s dismissal by Burns for two in the next over had Diamonds on top and then Dobson claimed a brilliant boundary catch off Hall to remove George for nine, leaving Sparks 44 for five, needing another 37 from four overs.Sparks captain Eve Jones, who was dropped on four by Grace Hall, set about eating into that target as 13 runs came from the ninth over, leaving 15 required from the final two.Burns caught and bowled Charis Pavely for five and Sparks needed five from the final over, bowled by Levick.Arlott fell and new batter Davis needed two from the final ball, which she achieved with a chip down the ground to make it three wins from three for Sparks.

Mike O’Farrell due to step down in April after eight-year tenure

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Feb-2023Middlesex have reopened their search for a successor to Mike O’Farrell, the club’s outgoing chair, after failing to identity a suitable replacement during the original recruitment process.The situation was discussed at a board meeting this week, with the expectation that an interim chair will be appointed at the club’s forthcoming AGM, with O’Farrell due to step down from the role on April 4.”The nominations committee will begin the recruitment process again, with immediate effect, as the search to find the right chair for the club moving forwards continues,” Middlesex said in a statement.”The importance of ensuring that Mike’s successor is the right person for the role, who understands the unique challenges of everything it presents, is a critical factor in their appointment.”The challenges at Middlesex differ from those at the other first-class counties, in that the club does not own its home ground, Lord’s, and instead has to manage an ongoing relationship with their landlords, MCC.O’Farrell, who took over from Ian Lovett in 2015, attracted criticism last year when – during the DCMS select committee hearings into racism in cricket – he appeared to defend the lack of diversity in Middlesex’s pathway programme by suggesting that Black people prefer football to cricket, and that Asians are more interested in furthering their education.And it was perhaps with that issue in mind that Ed Warner, the former chair of UK Athletics who put himself forward as one of the original seven candidates for the role, recently wrote in about a process that he described as being “at turns fascinating, frustrating, farcical and fun”.”It was clear that questions about equality, diversity and inclusion would be front and centre,” Warner wrote. “But more surprising was the lack of emphasis at interview on sporting success, especially for the men’s elite squad.”Middlesex were promoted back to Division One of the County Championship last summer, having won the title back in 2016. The playing side of the club is a complex arrangement, and currently comprises Richard Johnson as first-team coach, Alan Coleman as director of cricket and Mark Lane as player pathway head coach, all of whom report into Andrew Cornish as chief executive.Cornish could be a candidate to step up as interim chair, with the club adding that the appointment, “should it be required, will be from the club’s board or executive management group”.