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Chittagong responds to BPL The arrival of the League in Bangladesh’s second-largest city completely changed the complexion of the Twenty20 tournament. The first match at the venue, between the home side (Chittagong Kings) and Sylhet Royals, was played in front of a packed house and nearly all matches over the next five days saw full houses. The chief reason is the central location of the MA Aziz Stadium, which is seeing some cricketing action after hosting football for most of the last eight years. International cricket is played at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in the western corner of Chittagong. Though certain roads leading up to the venue were cordoned off, the spectators lined up two hours before the game. There were also rumours of slashed ticket prices, which attracted a sizeable amount of students from nearby educational institutions. On the final day, when the Kings took on Dhaka Gladiators, there was barely any room to stand in the general galleries.Tamim Iqbal, who lives just across the street from the stadium, alsoentertained on a couple of nights, once trying to hit one into his house, though it ended up being a six over deep midwicket.Kings still struggleThe Kings, however, didn’t warm up to the BPL even in the second week. In their first home game, they went down to Sylhet and then lost to Barisal Burners. Captaincy changed hands for the next two games with Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor replacing Mahmudullah, who wasn’t enjoying the role and had apparently given it away.Big-ticket T20 players like Ravi Bopara, Jacob Oram and Shaun Tait didn’t quite contribute, and neither did most of the local players. The squad looks thin in specialist T20 batsmen, while the left-arm spinners haven’t done a particularly good job of bowling to the fields they set.Most of the headlines they have made in the BPL this season have been due to Brian Lara, their brand ambassador, who has participated in several events to keep the marketing wheel rolling.The Zimbabwean connectionBrendan Taylor isn’t the only Zimbabwean player to be contributing to his side. The rest of his compatriots have also been chipping in with the bat.Elton Chigumbura saw the Sylhet Royals through a tight finish, while Charles Coventry won a game for Duronto Rajshahi with a 25-ball 62, possibly the most breathtaking innings in the tournament till date. Sean Ervine has also kept Rajshahi’s hopes alive by batting at a strike rate of 140 but his bowling hasn’t been up to the mark.Hamilton Masakadza’s batting tapered off slightly after an impressive show in the first few games, but it has been a tournament which would encourage BPL team selectors to keep an eye on more Zimbabwean players, with their local knowledge.Nasir’s tricksThe Rangpur Riders were losing their way in a chase against the home side, Khulna Royal Bengals. But Nasir Hossain, in spectacular form, had other ideas as he led the Khulna chase of 151. Against Afghan left-arm bowler Shapoor Zadran, who was bowling around the wicket, Nasir became a left-hander, then took a front-on stance before settling as a right-hander and smashing the flustered bowler back over his head.He tried the trick a few times but it wasn’t successful and his inability to take strike in the final over didn’t help matters either. Nasir’s excellent 2012-13 season continues into the BPL and much of Riders’ success would depend on him.

Despite beating five-time world champions Australia for the first time in an ODI, and qualifying for their maiden World Cup final, West Indies captain Merissa Aguilleira said her team hadn’t produced its best performance yet. And West Indies had just defended 164 to win their last Super Six match in Mumbai, knocking out England and New Zealand.”Since we have come to this World Cup, we haven’t brought forth our A game,” Aguilleira said. “The final is definitely the place to bring our A game. Yes, we had a few misfields and there is lot of room for improvement, not just on the field, but batting wise as well.”After choosing to bat, West Indies were dismissed in 47 overs by a disciplined Australian attack. They were 59 for 5 at one stage and could have been out for a lower score had Deandra Dottin not scored 60 at No. 7. Aguilleira said the difference between Dottin and the others was her natural ability to hit the ball hard. “That’s a god-given talent and I think she is using it well. She is not using it enough, but she is using it.”Australia lost wickets regularly too, but they also had steady partnerships that kept swinging the match in their favour. However, when three important middle-order batsmen fell in quick succession, Aguilleira said she could sense panic in Australia’s players.”I felt some panic happening in their camp and that’s the time we started to attack even more. We realised that as long as we bowl in the right areas, we can get wickets and that’s exactly what happened. You really need bowlers to bowl as tight as possible. The bowlers made it easier for me by doing exactly what they are supposed to do.”West Indies had to win this match to qualify for the final, because the gap between their net run rate and that of the other contenders was marginal. “The atmosphere in the dressing room was high because we knew how important this match was, not just for us but for the people of the Carribbean and our fans as well,” Aguilleira said. “We have a lot of people supporting us. We knew that we could make it to the final and that’s exactly what we did.”Amid all the questions after the match, she admitted with a beaming smile that she was overjoyed. “I’m overwhelmed right now. Words can’t express the way I’m feeling right now. We got to thank god for it, we had been through a lot as a team and hope his blessings continue to shine on us.”Aguilleira said West Indies now had a better idea of Australia’s game, which would help them prepare for the final. “We understand them much better having seen them and I think they understand us as well. We made mistakes in some areas and those are the things we need to work on. Since we have a few days, we will work on areas such as not giving their batsmen much width because they are strong whenever they get a chance to free their arms.”Australia’s captain Jodie Fields gave the credit to the West Indies players. “Their bowling was very disciplined and they put the ball in good areas,” she said. “Their spinners took it to our batsmen and that helped them win the game today. They bowled with disciplined, tight lines and fielded very well today. The pitch was a bit slow and also turning a lot, so it was hard to score.”West Indies complemented their bowling with sharp fielding, which resulted in three catches and three run-outs. The run-outs occurred not just because of good fielding, but also because of poor running. “We had to score runs and sometimes you have to take those risks and to West Indies’ credit they got a few run-outs. They are great fielders, Deandra Dottin was really good at point today and Daley and others backed each other up.”Australia had been undefeated in the World Cup until now and that’s how they wanted the record to be. After losing to West Indies, who they will meet again in the finals, Fields said they have time to prepare and work on their shortcomings.”I don’t think it’s ever good to have a loss. We definitely came out today to win the match and wanted to go through the tournament undefeated. We have to go and focus on our training. Since we are going to play them in the final, at least we got a chance to look at their game and hopefully we can bring it back on Sunday.”

The backdrop to the Basin Reserve, one of the most picturesque cricket venues in the world, will change significantly if the go-ahead is given to build a flyover close to one corner of the ground.The project, part of a nation-wide road-improvement scheme, will see an elevated section of road about nine meters high skirt the north of the ground in order to alleviate traffic congestion around the Basin. It is expected to be rubber-stamped later this year although there is strong opposition from those who feel it will ruin the viewing experience while there are also worries over noise and pollution.Most vocal among these is Save the Basin who are lobbying to have the plan shelved. They argue that a tunnel would be a better option or a modification to the current roundabout network around the Basin while they are also worried about the impact on the heritage listed buildings in the area, not just at the cricket ground.”The Transport Agencies own ratings found the development would have negative impacts in seven of the nine categories, particularly the heritage of the area,” Tim Jones, from the Save the Basin campaign, said. “Cities around the world are deciding against flyovers for a host of reasons. We feel there are viable alternatives.”However, if the roadway is constructed it will not impact the ground itself. Cricket Wellington, who have been in long talks about the proposal with the New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA), have given their support on the basis that suitable shielding be provided to hide the flyover.To that end, the ground is negotiating for a new stand to the left of the current pavilion. It will not be used for spectators – Cricket Wellington say they do not want extra capacity – instead it will provided enhanced player facilities to replace the current dressing rooms that have become outdated.Peter Clinton, the chief executive of Cricket Wellington, said: “The proposed plans for the flyover have always been that any structure would not impact the actual physical boundaries of the Basin. The plans are that it would skirt 20 metres north of the boundary of the ground.”Obviously there are some concerns around the visual impact and noise impact on any sport going on in the ground. The Trust has been very robust in its view on this, and has been from the start, that it won’t necessarily object to the building of the bridge – as it is known – as long as the environment inside the Basin isn’t compromised.”The other current key issue for cricket in Wellington is the allocation of World Cup matches for 2015 event that will be jointly held between New Zealand and Australia. The city have put in a joint bid between the Westpac Stadium, where one-day internationals and Twenty20s are held, and the Basin Reserve who hope to be chosen as a warm-up venue.Although, aesthetically, it would be ideal to have tournament matches at the Basin there is an acceptance that the Westpac is the more suitable location for limited-overs cricket with a larger capacity and floodlights. The construction schedule for the flyover would also have it being built during the World Cup.However, there are some scheduling issues to overcome before the Westpac is guaranteed matches as they are due to host the Rugby 7s during what would be the ICC blackout period around the World Cup and the venue is also used for the Wellington Phoenix football team.

Ishant Sharma has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct on the third day of the Delhi Test, won by India who completed a sweep of the four-match series. Ishant, who admitted to the charge and accepted the penalty, was found to have breached Level, Article 2.1.6 of the ICC Code of Conduct, “which relates to pointing or gesturing towards the pavilion by a bowler or a fielder upon the dismissal of a batsman in an International Match.”The incident occurred in the 45th over, immediately after Ishant dismissed James Pattinson. Ishant “repeatedly gestured towards the pavilion while in his follow through,” an ICC release stated. “Ishant’s reaction after dismissing James Pattinson was inappropriate and clearly in breach of the Code. I’m sure Ishant will learn from this incident and ensure such actions are not be repeated in the future,” the ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle said.Player behaviour has been under scrutiny in this Test match. On the second day, Australia opener David Warner was involved in a verbal altercation with Ravindra Jadeja, who asked the umpires to intervene and they subsequently called on captain Shane Watson to speak to Warner. Warner had reacted, seemingly, in response to the Indian batsmen running through the middle of the pitch while going for a couple. MS Dhoni was also batting at the time, the incident having occurred after the second ball of the 51st over in India’s innings.Dhoni, at the end of the game, said the issue was dealt with well by the umpires, but added, “The schoolboys [younger players] just graduated into college for a while.”One thing I always tell the match referee is that whichever team starts it, I think the other team has an equal right to give it back to them. And then you should stop it, saying, “no more, now both sides need to be disciplined.””If the umpires stopped one side from retaliating “at that point in time”, he said, “the individuals in that side just keep it on, keep it on…and sometimes, just blow it out on the opposition, that’s the time when people get fined and disciplinary action gets taken.”

ScorecardDaniel Bell-Drummond, who failed for England Under-19s last year, has enjoyed a good start to the season for Kent•Getty Images

After choosing to bat, Kent managed no more than respectability in front of their first home crowd of the season. Daniel Bell-Drummond, who made his first Championship fifty, was the day’s most enchanting Canterbury tale as Kent became the first team to secure a batting point against Northamptonshire in four attempts. They managed two but, after losing their last seven wickets for 67, finished well short of a third.All of the Kent top-six were dismissed in double figures, which suggests an element of waste. A partnership worth 149 between Michael Powell and Bell-Drummond, as Northamptonshire went wicketless through the middle session, represented Kent making hay but although the sun shone almost unbroken, the visiting seamers were equally unflagging in their nagging. Trent Copeland hurried through the tail like a man left with a pile of photocopying on a Friday afternoon to finish with 5 for 71, his first five-wicket haul for Northants.Despite Kent’s collapse against the second new ball, it was the sight of Bell-Drummond, 19 years old and playing his ninth first-class match, crouched low before springing up on his toes to cut and drive through the off side that lingered in the memory. He scored 80 on debut in 2011 and impressed with 42 and 48 not out against the touring South Africans last summer but his form at the Under-19 World Cup, where much was expected of England, was abysmal, with 57 runs from six innings.Having played most of his cricket as an opener, a discussion with Kent’s coach, Jimmy Adams, at the start of this season led to him being shifted down the order and Bell-Drummond began life at No. 5 with his maiden first-class century in Kent’s opener against Cardiff MCCU last month.A slight figure with quick feet, Bell-Drummond hails from Lewisham, near the Docklands area of southeast London. His build would probably disqualify him from a career as a stevedore – the breeze tugging at his sweater at times threatened to blow him completely off course – but in the more genteel surroundings of the St Lawrence Ground he looks perfectly at home. At the other end, Powell, an altogether burlier presence at the crease, crunched the ball monotonously to the boundary.This may notionally have been the Division Two leaders against second-bottom but Kent are a solid, if unspectacular side, who would expect to win more games than they lose this year. That will not inflame the romantics, who can look around the St Lawrence Ground and see stands named after Cowdrey, Woolley, Underwood and Knott, but Adams has built a side that were in contention for promotion throughout most of last season and would hope to muscle their way close again.If so, it will be under a new captain, with James Tredwell succeeding Rob Key over the winter. A healthy number of spectators were ranged around the ground by 11am, windcheaters and sunhats fighting for ascendency, to check on the team’s progress after draws against Leicestershire and Lancashire but, after Tredwell had chosen to bat, the morning session was delayed for around ten minutes by the forgetfulness of one.Kent extends the privilege of parking within the ground to members but forgetting to cover the windscreen with a tartan blanket is frowned upon. The hold-up was the result of sunlight reflected behind the bowler’s arm – the car’s number plate was duly read out over the public address – and the owner may have had to suffer one or two glares himself, as Kent slipped to 55 for 3 shortly after. Copeland, David Willey and Steven Crook made the breakthroughs but Kent’s fourth-wicket pair prevented any broken windshields before lunch.When Bell-Drummond did fall, it was by hook by Crook. Having watched Kyle Coetzer fudge the simplest of catches off a top-edge at square leg when on 32, Bell-Drummond obligingly lobbed the same bowler to midwicket after tea. Crook has been the ringleader of the tormenters for Northamptonshire (he now has 21 wickets at 14.90) and he also removed Powell with the old ball to enhance his surprise status as one of the signings of the season.

ScorecardJames Anyon helped put Sussex on the path to victory•Getty Images

Derbyshire are facing a fourth consecutive defeat after they closed the third day against Sussex only 11 runs ahead with three second-innings wickets standing. Derbyshire avoided an innings-defeat but Monty Panesar, Steve Magoffin and James Anyon all claimed two wickets to take Sussex to the verge of victory.Derbyshire’s bowling had let them down on the second day and it did not improve on the third morning allowing Sussex to cash in and take maximum batting points. The home side were then left on 189 for 7 at stumps with the top score coming from 39 extras.Michael Yardy made 153 as Sussex took their first-innings total to 401 and a lead of 178, with Derbyshire fast bowler Mark Footitt claiming a career-best 6 for 120.The home side’s spirits would not have been lifted by the sight of Sussex captain Ed Joyce padded up and waiting to come in at number 11 following his return home yesterday for personal reasons. Joyce watched Panesar drive Footitt down the ground for four before trying to hook the next ball and was caught off his glove for 10.Derbyshire took the new ball but the runs continued to flow and Yardy reached his 150 with his 18th four, which also took the visitors past 400, before Tim Groenewald then beat his attempted drive two balls later. But by then, Yardy and Joyce had added 60 from 56 balls and, although Footitt had taken six wickets, Derbyshire’s poor performance was highlighted by the fact there were only four maiden overs in the innings.They needed to show more discipline with the bat but Billy Godleman fell to a loose drive at Anyon in the third over and was lbw with only 7 on the board. Wayne Madsen and Chesney Hughes, who was batting with a fractured finger, provided the required application and dug in for 24 overs to take the score to 80 before Panesar drew Madsen forward and bowled him for 32.Hughes resisted for nearly two and a half hours before he miscued a pull at Steve Magoffin to mid-on and although Dan Redfern was dropped by Joyce at second slip on 15, he gifted Sussex his wicket with a firm-footed slash at Anyon fourth ball after tea.Although the floodlights were on, there was a short stoppage for bad light before Derbyshire lost a fifth wicket when Chris Jordan had Ross Whiteley caught at third slip off a lifter.Much now rested on Chanderpaul and he dropped anchor for 155 minutes until Magoffin had him caught at second slip for a 119-ball 23 from one that moved away.The light meant Sussex had to bowl spin at both ends and Panesar had Jonathan Clare caught at short-leg off bat and pad with Derbyshire only six runs ahead, but Richard Johnson and Groenewald held on to take the match into a fourth day.

What could have been a painfully long six months for JP Duminy actually turned into a pleasantly productive period. He spent the time recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, which forced him out of the game but into other pursuits – like voice training and adopting abandoned dogs.”It’s been a long road but I’ve learnt a lot about myself,” Duminy told ESPNcricinfo before the South African squad departed for a training camp in Amsterdam. “When you’re out of the game for so long, you find out new things about yourself because you are focusing outside of cricket.”On his return from Australia, where the injury occurred, Duminy had no choice but to take some time off while his foot was enclosed in a boot. He could barely walk so exercise was out of the question. He and his wife Sue went away on weekends, exploring the South African coastline and bush and spending time with their family.After meeting up with an animal rescue organisation that seeks to find new homes for dogs that have been mistreated, they decided to adopt Dimples. They have since added a second hound to the brood. The pets played their own role in Duminy’s recovery, with walks on the beach a regular activity once the boot came off.Activities like boxing, swimming and upper-body training kept Duminy fit and it was only in the last month that he was able to resume cricketing activity. With Gary Kirsten also Cape Town based, Duminy had a personalised session with the coach to get his eye back in.And that was not the only way Duminy stayed connected to cricket. He also made sure he was up to speed with the team’s goings on and was a guest commentator for SABC during the home series against Pakistan. He enjoyed that so much, he signed up at the Voice Clinic to improve his delivery and presentation skills.Now the dalliances behind the scenes are over and Duminy is ready to make his comeback in a global tournament with high expectations. In the absence of Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith, Duminy is likely to slot straight back in to the XI, ahead of the likes of Farhaan Behardien or David Miller, even though those two have been playing cricket more recently than he has. Duminy, however, is not too concerned about going in cold.”It’s hard to say [if] I’m worried about form because I’ve got nothing to go by. I’ve got to go out there, thinking best when fresh [at the crease],” he said. “I am confident I can produce the goods I have in the past. I’ve played my role pretty well over the last few years so it’s just about slotting back in there.”Duminy is also ready mentally, in that he has managed to banish the fear that a freak accident could happen at any time, as it did, to the back of his mind. “I’ve had some very good people looking after me, an outstanding medical team and fitness trainer. If they say I am ready to play again, I’ve got every confidence in them that they know what they are talking about.”He had his first net session on Tuesday and told the team’s channel it went well. “I was a little bit nervy at first, but it was great to be out there again spending time with the guys and facing competitive bowlers,” he said. “That was the key thing for me and it was a really good first net. After a six-month lay-off you’re worried about how it’s going to go and whether you are going to time the ball well. So I was pretty pleased with the way it went.”South Africa play two matches before the tournament starts, against the Netherlands on Friday and Pakistan next Monday, so Duminy will have two more opportunities at the crease before the competition really starts. Then, he knows the pressure will be massive and he will be one of South Africa’s key figures in their bid for major tournament silverware.”The expectation on us is similar to what it has always been and we want to win,” he said. “But there are no guarantees that we will win. We want to do our best and hopefully that best is that we will come back with the trophy.”According to Duminy, it will be important for the squad not to be haunted by their failings in the past. “It’s tough to say [that] we’ve accepted those defeats better because there is no easy way to do that. What we have to make sure is that our self-belief is not stamped on. We still believe in ourselves as people and as a team and we know we will get there at some stage. Eventually the hard work will pay off.”And if it doesn’t pay off this time? “If things don’t go well, the sun will still rise, life will still go on.” After his injury layoff, Duminy knows that better than most.

ScorecardPhil Mustard struck 11 fours and three sixes•Getty Images

Phil Mustard hammered Durham’s highest individual Twenty20 score of 91 in a76-run home victory against Yorkshire at Chester-le-Street.Mustard struck 11 fours and three sixes in scoring his runs off 52balls as Durham amassed 215 for 6, their joint second highest T20 total.Without their England men and injured skipper Andrew Gale, Yorkshire quicklyslipped to 22 for 3 in reply and finished on 139 for 8. Gary Ballance made 68 and the second-highest scorer was acting captain AzeemRafiq with 15 not out.Durham completed the double over Yorkshire but have lost their otherthree games and both teams are struggling to progress in the competition.Durham’s previous best was 83 not out, scored by Herschelle Gibbs againstDerbyshire last year, and their first century looked certain until Mustard triedto run Rich Pyrah to third man and chopped the ball into his stumps in the 14thover.Rafiq put Durham in and after they took only 18 off the first three oversMustard hammered 27 off the fourth, with the help of a no-ball from JackBrooks. Sixes over long-on and midwicket were followed by fours to fine leg, long-onand backward point.The score had reached 62 in the sixth over when Mark Stoneman clipped Pyrah toshort fine leg to depart for 12.Liam Plunkett proved hard to get away in his first two overs until Mustardhooked his 12th ball behind square for his eighth four to reach 50 off 26balls. Scott Borthwick helped to maintain the tempo, hitting Rafiq over midwicket forsix and the stand was worth 83 in eight overs when Mustard was out.Borthwick holed out for 35, off 18 balls, then Ben Stokes hit four successiveballs from Plunkett to the boundary. He fell for 23, but Gordon Muchall kept the runs flowing, his unbeaten 27coming off 16 balls after 17 came off the final over from Plunkett.Yorkshire’s top three totalled five between them as Chris Rushworth persuadedPhil Jacques to clip to midwicket and Dan Hodgson to drive to mid-off, whileJoe Sayers was bowled by Stokes.Ballance reached 50 off 31 balls but finally skied a catch to extra cover offGareth Breese and Yorkshire could do little more than play out the overs.

Match facts

Sunday, July 21, 2013
Start time 0900 local (1830 GMT)Will West Indies shuffle their batting order and promote Lendl Simmons?•WICB

Big Picture

Attribute it to the impact of Twenty20 if you may, but with the recent trend in one-dayers, even a cushion of 15 runs to defend off the final over may not be enough for fielding sides to feel safe. Ask Pakistan. In the last two months, they have choked while defending the exact number, first against Ireland and yesterday against West Indies. Both ended in ties. More recently, Sri Lanka too cracked under pressure against last-minute specialist MS Dhoni, the only difference being they conceded the match and the tri-series trophy to India. Such is the standard of death bowling these days that it is possible for Nos 9 and 11 to finish off improbable chases.Friday’s game was Pakistan’s to lose with West Indies needing 39 off the last three with two wickets remaining. A combination of poor field placings and equally poor bowling cost them. Even with 15 to defend off six, Pakistan were better off saving boundaries than cutting off singles. Wahab Riaz bowled length instead of firing in yorkers, that Junaid Khan did so effectively. One of the commentators suggested that Mohammad Hafeez would have been a better choice.Despite the choke, Pakistan had positives to draw from the game, most notably their fielding. Excluding a couple of blunders that cost boundaries – a misfield from Shahid Afridi at the start of the chase and Riaz moving the wrong way at long-on during the climax – the commitment was pleasing. Ahmed Shehzad and Hafeez took a couple of sharp catches and the number of sliding stops inches from the rope only made West Indies’ task harder. In the batting, Umar Akmal and Riaz played positively in the slog overs to take 52 off the last 4.2 overs. Misbah-ul-Haq laid the platform with 75, but it was another laborious knock that consumed too many balls.One thing the two sides have in common is an undependable top order. A spectator held a placard asking for Chris Gayle to be demoted down the order, given his lackluster form. Gayle has been struggling against two new balls and a quality seam attack, so it may not be a bad idea for him to swap places with an in-form Lendl Simmons. West Indies have also put more pressure on themselves by not rotating the strike enough. Pakistan don’t really have a weak fifth bowler, so the batsmen can’t expect too many boundary balls. As the captain Dwayne Bravo said after the match, the tie was not a satisfactory result for the hosts because the batsmen had no business leaving the dirty work to the tailenders.

Form guide

(most recent first, last five completed matches)
West Indies TWLLL
Pakistan TLWLL

In the spotlight

A glance at the scorecard shows that Marlon Samuels‘ 46 was the second-highest score of the match. A closer look reveals an unpalatable strike rate of 43.39, that of a painful 106-ball stint that really slowed West Indies down. He hasn’t been himself in these three matches, facing 246 balls for 92 runs. Something’s been bothering him. It could be the nature of the pitches or a quality bowling attack, or both. West Indies might still place their faith in him to rediscover his touch, but will the short turnaround time between matches be enough?Pakistan experimented with a one-dimensional left-arm seam attack and among the three, Mohammad Irfan was the most probing, with his steep bounce and angle that made the likes of Gayle and Samuels think twice about going for their shots. He has the pace as well to go with those attributes, making him a handful in the bowler-friendly conditions.

Team news

The teams could go in with unchanged line-ups.West Indies: (probable) 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Johnson Charles (wk), 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Lendl Simmons, 5 Marlon Samuels, 6 Dwayne Bravo (capt), 7 Kieron Pollard, 8 Darren Sammy, 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Sunil Narine, 11 Jason HolderPakistan: (probable) 1 Nasir Jamshed, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Haris Sohail, 6 Umar Akmal (wk), 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Junaid Khan, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Mohammad Irfan

Stats and trivia

• Kieron Pollard has six ducks in 2013. The record-holder for the most ducks in a calendar year is Herschelle Gibbs, who had eight in 2002
• Misbah-ul-Haq is currently the leading run-scorer in 2013 with 692 runs at 53.23
• Pakistan and West Indies have been involved in three tied one-dayers, the first two coming in Lahore and Guyana
• Since making a comeback in September 2010, Mohammad Hafeez has played 125 consecutive internationals for Pakistan

Quotes

“At this level, the number of dot balls in our innings was unacceptable. We need to come up with a plan to cut down on that, go back to the drawing board.”

ScorecardLuke Fletcher has a vital part to play in the rest of Nottinghamshire’s season•Getty Images

Five weeks to go and one or two at the wrong end of the table are starting to get twitchy, including now Nottinghamshire, whose director of cricket, Mick Newell, took the opportunity on the eve of this match to warn his players that if they think that relegation cannot sneak up they would be foolish.Their season is in danger of ending poorly. Beaten in the quarter-finals of the FLt20 and stuttering a little in the YB40, in which they have lost their last two matches, they are not yet secure in the LV= Championship. Newell made a point, it seems, of highlighting the need to buck up ideas, mentioning in particular his side’s failure to take 20 wickets in a match since early in the season and stressing that with fitness issues an ongoing concern for Andre Adams, someone else among the bowlers would have to make an impact.Newell fears that Adams, who turned 38 last month, will have to be nursed through the remaining five matches after recurring problems with calf and hamstring injuries, so it will have come as a relief to him that Luke Fletcher was able to pick up his first five-wicket haul for two years, even if the pleasure was tempered somewhat by watching the big seamer flat on his back being treated for cramp two balls into his 25th over, ending his involvement in the day.He should recover with rest overnight, which is just as well for Nottinghamshire after a performance that brought some balance after Yorkshire, asked to bat first, on a hard pitch with some grass left on it, batted with adventure. The match is important for them, at the other end of the table, with a 10-point lead over Sussex ripe to be extended.That Yorkshire should have a chance of marking their 150th year with the title is all the more worthy for having managed so often without Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow. Bairstow drove up the M1 to join this match after being released by England at The Oval and Yorkshire’s closing position after day one is strengthened by the fact that he will begin day two at the crease, his entrance having been delayed. It might be enough to secure an extra batting point.Bairstow’s return is countered by the absence of Gary Ballance with England Lions, although in anticipation of that Yorkshire moved last week to recruit the New Zealand batsman, Kane Williamson, for the remainder of the season. Williamson, who had not batted in a first-class match since the second Test against England in May, steered his first ball to third slip in succumbing for a duck and Yorkshire will hope the rustiness does not last long.His dismissal put Fletcher on a hat-trick after a beautiful delivery had accounted for Andrew Gale, who was looking in ominously good order before he was caught behind for 33.Yet Gale will look on the day’s work as a respectably good one by his side. There were frustrations for Adam Lyth and Adil Rashid, both of whom might have made hundreds, but any total above 300 after being put in can be seen as a success.Lyth went closest to a century and will curse himself, given that he was only five away from his second of the season. Dropped on 33 – a difficult chance to Patel at third slip off Adams – he had played fluently for the most part, revelling in the licence to drive, when he became Fletcher’s fourth victim, playing needlessly outside off stump and getting himself caught behind. He had hit 14 boundaries and, at that point, might have been wise to be more circumspect.The catch enabled Chris Read to draw level with Bruce French’s tally of 737 victims from catches as the county’s most successful post-war wicketkeeper. The two more he pouched later to improve Harry Gurney’s figures provides the statistical evidence to support claims that Read is Nottinghamshire’s finest gloveman of all time, although there is some evidence, apparently not verified beyond all doubt, that Tom Oates, who kept from 1897 to 1925, finished his career with 744.Rashid, who survived Fletcher’s hat-trick ball before producing a typically elegant innings of sometimes deliciously timed shots, added 78 before Fletcher had him leg before on the back foot, after which Liam Plunkett’s bold 41 secured a third point and an air of satisfaction in the Yorkshire dressing room that will not have been matches in the one above them.