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Dawid Malan and James Harris put on an unbroken 147-run stand for the eighth wicket to lift Middlesex from trouble to a position of strength

Jon Culley at Trent Bridge05-Jul-2015
ScorecardDawid Malan made his highest first-class score during an eighth-wicket stand that rescued Middlesex•Getty ImagesPeter Moores looked a man at ease in his new environment, watching play from the upper balcony in the Trent Bridge pavilion, chatting and laughing with the sundry players, coaches and support staff who emerged from the home dressing room to join him.You suspect he will take up permanent residence, given the upbeat welcome the former England coach was afforded when Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire’s director of cricket, introduced him during the county’s win over Worcestershire last week. Newell has shouldered responsibility for Nottinghamshire’s fortunes since he became first-team coach in 2002 and feels the time is right for someone to approach the challenge with a fresh perspective.What it means for his future remains to be seen. His willingness to put the county’s fortunes first, with the threat of relegation likely to colour the remainder of the season, can only be admired. Moores, in his consultancy role, will share the burden until a decision about what happens next is made in September.Among his many qualities, Moores has reputation for bringing on young players. That experience will be useful immediately, given the current profile of Nottinghamshire’s bowling attack. Brett Hutton, Luke Wood and Jake Ball have 29 first-class matches between them but all played here. Both Luke Fletcher and Andy Carter, injured in their last match, are sidelined for the immediate future. Meanwhile, Ben Hilfenhaus, the overseas player, took so much on in bowling their overs that Nottinghamshire decided he had to have a rest.When Middlesex were 165 for 7, the view from Moores’ perch will have looked pretty pleasing. With the ball swinging under an overcast sky, a batting line-up including two former England openers and the current one-day captain had found the going tough.However, the 41.2 overs that remained in a day interrupted by only one heavy downpour yielded no further wickets. Dawid Malan and James Harris instead added 147 more runs, the partnership itself chanceless until late in the evening, even though Malan had been given a let-off on 29 when Samit Patel spilled a low chance at point.Malan walked off with a career-best 159 not out, having batted for five and three-quarter hours. That he did not offer another chance in that part of the field alone was perhaps surprising, given that he scored 60% of his runs either square of the wicket or behind square on the off side, which Moores will note when he studies the data.There were other chances, though. Two were spilled by Brendan Taylor in the slips (Nick Compton on 19 and Eoin Morgan on 0), although the Zimbabwean atoned with a stunner at short extra cover to see off Ollie Rayner. Patel dropped his second of the day, again at point, as Harris had a life on 64.It has been a stop-start season for Malan, who had a poor time in 2013 but recovered his red-ball form impressively last season. He suffered a broken hand in the opening Championship match, also against Nottinghamshire, and has missed further cricket with a groin injury. This is only his third first-class match.On a pitch with plenty of grass left on, Middlesex lost their openers within the first eight overs, one each to Wood, who ripped out Joe Burns’s middle stump, and Ball, who dismissed Sam Robson leg before, both batsmen succumbing to inswing.Compton’s let-off cost nothing, with Hutton finding a little extra bounce with his next delivery and Chris Read taking the edge. That made it Nottinghamshire’s morning, although it should have been better still.Morgan and James Franklin were both dismissed soon after lunch. Morgan, caught at second slip off a Gurney no-ball, had not added to his 15 when he followed left-armer Wood’s away swing and nudged the ball into the gloves of wicketkeeper Read; Franklin was give out leg before by umpire Russell Evans, who judged that an inswinger from Gurney struck him on the pad before he got a bat on it.Nottinghamshire’s bowlers continued to exploit the conditions to good effect. John Simpson, driving, was caught by Hutton at third slip off Gurney, then Taylor redeemed himself by taking a blinder at short extra cover, diving to his right, as Steven Mullaney became the fifth seamer to take a wicket.Thereafter, though, the day was transformed, with Malan punishing Nottinghamshire heavily for allowing him a life and Harris, who is having a fine season with the ball, proving not for the first time that he is more than competent with the bat. Nottinghamshire have some work to do to get something out of this match, which Middlesex will see as a chance to reinforce their challenge for the title. You suspect that Moores, who professes to love a challenge, has a sizeable one.

South Africa wept. Together, separately, on camera, off camera, with 40,000 people chanting or in the complete silence inside themselves, they wept. They wept because that was all they had left to do.

Firdose Moonda in Auckland24-Mar-2015Dale Steyn went down on the Eden Park pitch. AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis and Morne Morkel all went down on the outfield around him. When de Villiers got up, the other three stayed down. Even when their team-mates and then members of the South African support staff came to lift them to their feet, they would not move. Only when staying down became too painful too, they stood up.Then, with Morkel in Wayne Parnell’s arms, du Plessis in Amla’s, they wept. Together, separately, on camera, off camera, with 40,000 people chanting or in the complete silence inside themselves, they wept. They wept because that was all they had left to do.”We left it out on the field tonight,” de Villiers said. All of it. Every last drop of themselves. “That’s all I can ask of the guys. It’s obviously painful. It’s hurting quite a bit. We’re gutted.”South Africa did not hide the pain behind any bravado. They let their tears flow. Even the usually cool Amla allowed the ice to break. There was no shame in this defeat. There was tension, there was fight, there was honour but none of that means anything to South Africa now.”It doesn’t make me feel better at all, not at all, no,” de Villiers said when asked if he could take consolation in the epic competition of what has been this tournament’s best game. “We play this game to win games of cricket, to take glory home and make a difference to the nation, and we didn’t do that. We didn’t achieve that.”Was this the worst he had ever felt on a cricket field? “Yes,” he said. “But I don’t have any regrets about this campaign.”The actual analysis of what went right and what went wrong will be left for another day, or maybe even not at all given that many of the members of this squad will not play another fifty-over World Cup, but in the end, it came down to small moments. “You need a little luck. You need things to go for you. You need to take your opportunities. There is such a small margin between winning and losing,” Domingo said. That is what Domingo will have to remind his team more than anyone else.This time they were not knocked out because they conjured up a defeat from the cauldrons of certain victory but they fell into that tiniest of gulfs where the difference between winning and losing lies. Already Domingo has provided a steadying hand through a tournament of ups and downs, in which South Africa have surfed the full swell. They’ve been through the expectation, the success, the failure, the success and now the end. “The sun will come up again tomorrow like our coach said numerous times in this tournament,” de Villiers said.Domingo tried to say it again, by putting the emphasis on de Villiers and highlighting the character of the side. “I’m extremely proud of the way the captain has led the side. He’s done an outstanding job throughout this campaign. He’s backed up his talk with outstanding leadership and outstanding performances,” Domingo said. “And I’m so very proud of the effort they put in and the emotions that they left on the field. It’s testament to how much it means playing and how much trying to win a World Cup means for them. So if there’s any question on commitment, I think that can all be thrown out the window, because that is 15 men committed to cricket there.”But Domingo had to admit that those 15 men “are broken, there’s no doubt about it,” and that it was a “really, really tough loss for us”. De Villiers even took on the heartache of a nation, saying the team felt the pain of the people back home. “We so badly wanted to take that trophy back home, but I guess life moves on.” But right now he does not know where the road to recovery even starts.”I have absolutely no idea what to do from here on in. I don’t even know when we’re going home. It’s going to take some time to get over this,” de Villiers said. “As a captain, I’ll be there for the guys as much as I can, but there is nothing you can do about it now.” Nothing, because everything has been done. And this time even everything was not enough.

The Indomitable Lions continue with their push for a sixth Afcon title when they tackle the tournament debutants

Cameroon will be aiming to reach the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals when they take on Comoros in a Round of 16 match at Paul Biya Stadium on Monday.

This is how coach Toni Conceicao has lined up his team.

BackpagePix.Goalkeeper: Andre Onana

The 25-year-old has not kept a clean sheet in his last three Afcon games.

AdvertisementBackpagepix.Left-back – Nouhou Tolo

The Seattle Sounders defender has been a consistent figure in Cameroon's team and his inclusion was a sure bet.

Backpagepix.Centre-back – Michael Ngadeu

The defender played in all the group games without being substituted and starts in this crucial Comoros encounter.

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GettyCentre-back – Jean-Charles Castelletto

The 26-year-old former France junior international returns to start his second match of the tournament in place of Harold Moukoudi who is on the bench.

Dan Ashworth has already decided on his first signing after being appointed as Manchester United sporting director.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Man Utd set to raid ChelseaAshworth decided on first signing at Man UtdSet to join Red Devils from NewcastleWHAT HAPPENED?

Earlier this week, it was reported that United are planning to hire Ashworth as the club's new sporting director from Newcastle United. Ashworth has reportedly informed the Magpies – where he has been working as a sporting director for the past two years – that he has received a formal offer from the Red Devils.

Now reports that the 52-year-old has already decided on his first signing once he formally joins the club.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The report suggests that Ashworth wants to bring in Chelsea's chief analyst Kyle Macaulay to the club whom he considers to be a valuable addition to his staff. Macaulay joined the Blues last season when they hired former Brighton boss Graham Potter as their manager. Manchester United are also plotting a move to hire Ipswich technical director Sam Williams.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ashworth's recruitment comes as another significant development at the Manchester-based club since Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS bought a 25 per cent stake in late December. Right after Ratcliffe arrived, they announced the signing of Omar Berrada as the CEO of the club from Manchester City.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

Erik ten Hag's side, who are on a four-match winning streak, will be next seen in action against Luton Town in a Premier League clash on Sunday.

The England midfielder scored another two goals to ensure Pep Guardiola's side came from behind to see off their local rivals

Manchester City might not be playing at their scintillating best at present, but they remain just one point off Premier League leaders Liverpool after Phil Foden inspired the defending champions to come from behind and beat local rivals Manchester United 3-1 on Sunday.

City dominated the early proceedings, but found themselves behind at half-time after Marcus Rashford's stunning eighth-minute strike was followed by an impressive rearguard from the visitors, as well as an incredible close-range miss from Erling Haaland.

But just as he has so many times already this season, it was Foden to the rescue, as he first cut inside to lash a left-footed drive into the top corner from 20 yards, before netting the winner after trading passes with Julian Alvarez. Haaland then added gloss to the scoreline in stoppage-time after United gave the ball away on the edge of their own penalty area.

The win keeps Pep Guardiola's side within touching distance of Liverpool, whom they visit next Sunday in what may now prove to be a title-decider at Anfield.

GOAL rates City's players from the Etihad Stadium…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Ederson (6/10):

Had no chance with Rashford's stunning strike. Largely a spectator thereafter, but did rush out to challenge Garnacho well shortly before Foden made it 2-1.

Kyle Walker (7/10):

Did well to track back against Rashford and snuff out counter-attacks on a couple of occasions. Otherwise offered himself as the spare man in attacks on numerous occasions.

Ruben Dias (5/10):

Potentially could have done better up against Fernandes in the build-up to Rashford's goal, but otherwise his game was limited to keeping the ball ticking over as City built from the back.

Nathan Ake (4/10):

Played Fernandes onside for the opening goal and never looked wholly comfortable from a defensive point of view.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

John Stones (6/10):

Took up his now usual position in central midfield and kept City ticking over while getting involved physically on the rare occasion the ball was turned over.

Rodri (7/10):

At the heart of City's best attacks, with Stones' positioning meaning the Spaniard could move further up the pitch for the most part. Tested Onana with a volleyed effort in the first half and got the assist for Haaland's late goal.

Bernardo Silva (5/10):

Couldn't control the game in the same way he did at Old Trafford earlier in the season. Lacked any real cutting edge to his passing on the edge of the box.

Kevin De Bruyne (4/10):

Probably his most disappointing performance since returning from injury. United crowded him out for the most part, while to say his finishing was wayward would be kind.

Getty ImagesAttack

Phil Foden (10/10):

City's best player throughout, and by some distance. Always dangerous in attack, and after twice being denied by Onana in the first half, found the equaliser with a stunning strike after the break. Superb give-and-go with Alvarez then settled it. In the form of his career right now.

Erling Haaland (5/10):

Not for the first time in recent weeks, the Norwegian missed the target when it looked easier to score from Foden's headed cross late in the first half. Struggled to get fully into the game throughout, but did get his goal in stoppage-time with a well-taken finish.

Jeremy Doku (4/10):

A box of tricks as usual, but the Belgium winger's final product left a lot to be desired. Replaced by Alvarez before the hour-mark.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Julian Alvarez (7/10):

Gave City's attack a different dimension after replacing Doku, and provided the all-important assist for Foden's winner.

Oscar Bobb (N/A):

On for Foden in stoppage-time.

Pep Guardiola (7/10):

Can't be blamed for some of the missed chances in the first half, and the introduction of Alvarez meant Bernardo and Foden could then switch flanks and cause confusion. It was Foden popping up on the left that ended up settling the game.

Chris Rogers and Sam Robson set a new record for the highest ever first-wicket stand for Middlesex against Surrey

Vithushan Ehantharajah at Lord's04-May-2013
ScorecardSam Robson’s impressive start to the season continued•Getty ImagesChris Rogers and Sam Robson set a new record for the highest ever first-wicket stand for Middlesex against Surrey on a day that saw the home side wrestle back the initiative from their south of the river rivals. It was in the 69th over that the record set by Pelham Warner and James Douglas in 1907 at The Oval was passed, and owed as much to the openers’ pro-active start as it did to a pitch that became much easier to bat on.In an elongated afternoon session, Rogers and Robson compiled 161 runs in 48 overs, in a determined yet comfortable manner. They continued on their merry way in the evening with such nonchalance that the passing of Surrey’s total was met with nothing more than a cursory glance at the scorecard from the spectators. While their hundreds were reached at the same pace – both took 185 balls – the nature of their innings bore the imprint of their respective personalities.Robson displayed his aptitude for driving before bringing out his dabs behind square on both sides of the wicket. If you’ll allow the typecasting, he is the evolving opener; growing into his innings through a well-rounded attacking game rather than bitty accumulation. Obviously that comes with its own pitfalls – his conversion rate of fifties to hundreds may never get above the one-third it stands at now – but he is an exciting prospect who should be encouraged to play his game. His decision to try and hook Zander de Bruyn cost him his wicket, but he had played a fine hand.”Been there – done that – did it again” would be the pithy 1990s subtext to Rogers’ first century for Middlesex against Surrey. The majority of his runs against the seamers came through third-man with a deliberateness that Jade Dernbach couldn’t quite believe; anything on his legs was greatly received. Even when he was driving crisply yet straight to the fielders at the end of the day, he would wryly walk away from his crease, before returning to push the next ball around the corner for a couple. It was his career in a nutshell; trial and error – hold the error.The day started with Surrey taking the one remaining wicket before Tim Murtagh and Corey Collymore could add the 28 runs needed to avoid the follow-on. Unsurprisingly, with his bowlers well rested and rain predicted for Sunday, Graeme Smith put Middlesex back in. There was rain in the air; a light drizzle greeted spectators upon their arrival before the start of play and a bigger, longer downpour came with Middlesex 29 without loss.A 40-minute delay and an early lunch later, in muggier conditions, Dernbach drew the first false shot with Rogers edging a difficult chance to Wilson at second slip, which had the Irishman diving to his right and slightly forward, but failing to hold on.At the other end, Chris Tremlett looked strong and quick, bringing his length forward and hitting the bat hard. Watching him the previous day from square of the wicket, the 6ft 7 inch bowler had a notable stop after delivery; an unusual hop, seemingly dissipating any kind of forward momentum. Today he bustled through the crease with greater fluency – the hop making way for a couple of ferocious strides. However, Rogers used this extra pace to slap a couple of fours behind point as he and Robson took Middlesex past fifty with minimal fuss.The springiness of the surface on the opening was a faint memory as the pitch played with more conventional bounce which Robson in particular thrived on. He didn’t have to force the issue, instead timing the ball well on the front foot and, as he moved into the 30s, working the ball through cover-point and in front of square leg off Tim Linley and Dernbach.He moved past fifty for the fourth time this season with his ninth boundary and Rogers soon joined him in the fifties, though not before a little scare when he edged again to second slip, this time well short, off the bowling of Linley. Save that moment, Linley was ineffectual and at times looked like he was returning a favour to Robson.As both players motored on in the evening session, Smith got creative in the field. When Robson was startled by a short-ball from Dernbach, Smith encouraged his bowler to persist and supported him with five men on the leg-side; a wide mid-on, midwicket, deep square leg and two behind square – one of whom was a leg-slip.Considering the circumstances and the protagonists – an Australian batsman in the process of qualifying for England and a South African-born English bowler obeying the orders of his pugnacious yet affable skipper – it was very much Bodyline-lite, and when Dernbach was slightly wide with his short-ball, Robson gleefully moved to 96, and past 3,000 first-class runs.Rogers was not keen to play the short ball, choosing to duck and dive, which only infuriated Dernbach further; he thought he might have had Robson caught off an inside edge but it wasn’t given. The 200 partnership came up with both batsmen on 98 and the only question was who would get there first. In the end it was Rogers with a punch through cover, before Robson followed with a scampered single to midwicket.With an overnight lead of 111, Middlesex’s middle order have the chance to make amends for their earlier misdemeanours and give their bowlers enough runs and – importantly – time to push for a win. The corresponding fixture, albeit on a less accommodating pitch, produced a thrilling finish in Middlesex’s favour, and history suggests it may not just dribble to a draw.If the Sunday of a long weekend has you at a loose end, look no further than Lord’s – where adult tickets £5 and it’s free for over-65s and under-16s – for the finale of what has been a compelling encounter.

For one more day this is very much Alastair Cook’s England team and regardless of the result in the deciding one-day international there has been enough evidence to suggest he can make a success of his role.

Andrew McGlashan at Old Trafford08-Jul-2011Andrew Strauss was at Old Trafford on Friday for some work with Graham Gooch as he prepares to return to the helm ahead of the Test series against India. However, for one more day this is very much Alastair Cook’s England team and regardless of the result in the deciding one-day international, there has been enough evidence to suggest he can make a success of his role.In terms of the one-day side as a whole, there is much work to be done to turn them from a team that wins when conditions are in their favour into a major world force, but at the beginning of these five matches there was huge pressure on Cook, both as captain and batsman. Would the transition back into the ODI side start to unpick all the hard work that has made him a record-breaking Test batsman?His hundred at Lord’s, albeit not the most fluent innings, showed the form was still there and then his rollicking 95 off 75 balls at Trent Bridge hinted that the evolution into a batsman for more than one format was well underway. Four matches, 267 runs at an average of 89 and strike-rate of 97.80 is hard to argue with. As with his Test form, now the challenge is to maintain the success and Cook only needs to think back to last summer to know how fickle cricket can be.How long can this run last? “Forever hopefully,” he said with a laugh. “If anyone knew why form comes and goes, he’d be a very rich man. If I keep doing what I can in how I practice and how I prepare and my mindset, I cannot see any reason why I can’t continue.”A captain’s job is always easier when he’s scoring runs, and in terms of a head-to-head Cook has far outdone his counterpart, Tillakaratne Dilshan, who has 13 runs in four innings. Cook knows he couldn’t have been in a better state of mind to take on the captaincy.”Sometimes you do need that bit of luck; I was in good form,” he said. “There were question marks over my batting but I knew in myself it wasn’t a big worry. I could concentrate on the captaincy as well and the batting was not a big thing in my mind. It did help that I was in good touch.”I’ve enjoyed the captaincy in this series but it helps if you win. I see this as a long process of where we want to go and what we want to achieve. I’ve been very happy with those little steps we’ve made in the last couple of weeks in terms of how we play our cricket.”Cook will hope to lift the NatWest Series trophy, which would be his second piece of one-day silverware as England captain following the series in Bangladesh last year, before returning to the ranks as a foot soldier until September’s one-dayers against India. He admits the demands of captaincy are tough and believes England’s three-way split can keep the team fresh.”It’s very clear how we will do it. It’s really good,” he said. “I can concentrate hard on the captaincy and then go back into the ranks. It takes a lot out of you and having shorter periods gives the chance to refresh nicely. I’m sure Straussy is raring to go.”

Mohammad Ashraful shone with both ball and bat to lead his Bangladesh A side to a six-wicket victory against South Africa A at Buffalo Park in East London, in the first of five unofficial ODIs

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Apr-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMohammad Ashraful took three wickets and scored 118 not out in an all-round performance•Getty ImagesMohammad Ashraful shone with both ball and bat to lead his Bangladesh A side to a six-wicket victory against South Africa A at Buffalo Park in East London, in the first of five unofficial ODIs. Only 10 days ago South Africa had been battering Bangladesh in a four-day match, and in their home conditions were firm favourites to dominate the 50-over matches as well. However, the experienced Ashraful, who has alone played more one-day internationals than the entire South Africa A side combined, took 3 for 27 with his part-time spin to restrict South Africa to 226, and then scored an unbeaten century to help his side chase the target in 43.3 overs.Ashraful put South Africa in to bat, and after his frontline bowlers couldn’t get an early wicket, it fell to him to come on in the 10th over and dismiss his opposing captain Jacques Rudolph. Ashraful struck twice more in a seven-over spell, leaving South Africa reeling at 52 for 3. Things got worse for the hosts as Farhaan Behardien was bowled by left-arm spinner Elias Sunny, Vaughn van Jaarsveld was run out, and Heino Kuhn was caught trying to drive 19-year-old offspinner Nasir Hossain. At 73 for 6, South Africa looked like they would struggle to get 150.There was a recovery though; Dean Elgar, fresh from his 169 not out in the rain-affected second four-day game between the two sides, put together a 121-run partnership with allrounder Vernon Philander. The two batted until the 49th over, when Elgar fell for 76. Philander then hit three consecutive sixes off Farhad Reza in the same over, and South Africa took another 11 runs off the 50th to finish with a fighting total of 226 for 8. Philander finished 79 not out.The target started looking steep for Bangladesh when they found themselves 40 for 3 in the 12th over. Ashraful, coming in at No 5, was watchful early on, taking 28 balls before striking his first boundary. He had reached 21 off 44 before he suddenly exploded with Bangladesh at 84 for 3 in the 23rd over. Ashraful hit the next six balls he faced for boundaries, and Bangladesh seized control of the chase. Ashraful continued to attack in bursts, with Junaid Siddique rotating the strike at the other end.The two put together 149 before Siddique fell for 60, but by then the game was Bangladesh’s to lose. Ashraful reached his century soon after Siddique’s dismissal, and then ended the game with two consecutive boundaries in the 44th over, finishing 118 not out off 99 balls. It was a significant performance from a man who was once considered the future of Bangladesh cricket, but has now found himself relegated to the A team.

A patient, unbeaten 97 form Haris Sohail carried Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) to 287 for 6 against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), on the first day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy division one final in Karachi

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Dec-2011
ScorecardA patient, unbeaten 97 form Haris Sohail carried Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) to 287 for 6 against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), on the first day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy division one final in Karachi.PIA chose to field and enjoyed success straightaway, with ZTBL opener Imran Nazir falling for a duck. Yasir Hameed, batting at No. 3, put on a half-century stand with the other opener, Sharjeel Khan, and continued to steer the innings even after the partnership was broken. He was eventually dismissed for a fluent 80 – that included 15 fours and a six – and with none of the other top order batmen making sizeable contributions, ZTBL slipped to 141 for 4.However, Sohail compiled a dogged innings to ensure the team didn’t collapse. His 97 came from 236 balls, and he went to stumps three short of what would be his sixth first-class ton.New-ball bowler Anwar Ali was the most effective for PIA on day one, claiming 2 for 50.

Kolkata Knight Riders edged out Champions League debutants Auckland Aces, successfully defending 121 in the sides’ first qualifier

The Report by Sidharth Monga19-Sep-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were outManvinder Bisla was Kolkata’s top-scorer with 45•AFPKolkata Knight Riders edged out Champions League debutants Auckland Aces, successfully defending 121 in the sides’ first qualifier. Kolkata ran away with 72 for 0 in the first nine overs before the tenacious Auckland side pulled the game back, conceding just 49 runs in the remaining 11. Lou Vincent then scored 30 of his 40 runs in boundaries, even threatening a huge net run-rate advantage, but his run-out was followed by two wickets in three balls from Yusuf Pathan. The squeeze by Kolkata’s slower bowlers, who went for 66 in their 14 overs, left Auckland 22 to get off the last two. Andre Adams hit Jacques Kallis for a straight six to get 11 off the 19th, but Brett Lee’s yorkers proved too good for him and Kyle Mills.The game was full of turnarounds. The first one came after Manvinder Bisla and Kallis got Kolkata’s campaign off to a smashing start. The inside-out shot over extra cover was a favourite for both, and Bisla was especially harsh on Chris Martin who bowled Test lengths to begin with. Bisla found them easy to pull and drive on the up. The left-arm seamer Michael Bates brought some control with his angle and extra bounce, and in his second over he produced a leading edge from Bisla.Left-arm spinner Ronnie Hira and Martin then choked the runs a bit, and Kolkata started playing imprudent shots. Kallis would later say they had over-aimed. Yusuf was the first to show frustration, slogging all around a straight Adams delivery. Kallis fell next when he followed a spell of nine balls for seven runs with a heave straight to deep square leg. Two balls later, Manoj Tiwary slogged too, and the stumps lay splayed again. A couple of run-outs followed, and Kolkata never managed a final charge. Bates finished with figures of 4-0-13-1.The run-out virus carried forward into the chase as Martin Guptill ran himself out without even facing a delivery. The decisive one, though, was yet to come. Before that, Vincent drove, cut and pulled with aplomb to take Auckland to 48 in six, bringing the asking-rate down to 5.28. Rajat Bhatia, now famous in Indian domestic Twenty20 competitions for his slow, rolling legcutters, and Yusuf bowled the next three overs for 12 runs. The last ball of those three featured impatience from Vincent, who charged off after hitting straight to cover, and couldn’t make it back from eight yards.Yusuf then bowled two full deliveries on the pads that hardly turned, but Jimmy Adams and Rob Quiney somehow managed two leading edges, and Yusuf had two caught-and-bowled dismissals in the space of three balls. Another left-hand batsman, Colin Munro, scratched around for 19 off 29 before leaving Auckland an improbable task in the last two.The pitch was slow, the bowlers were steady, but neither of them or the combination thereof was unplayable. Somehow, though, faced with accurate bowling and alert fielding, Auckland allowed themselves to be pushed into a corner until the required-rate reached 11 for the last two. Kallis then bowled his first over, removing Munro first ball and watching the second sail over the straight boundary. Mills and Adams ran hard, but Lee produced a good last over to give Kolkata a crucial win on a day when they didn’t play exceptional cricket.