Hamilton Masakadza leads by example in emergency role

The uncertainty that prevailed before this Test threatened to drag Zimbabwe down. But Hamilton Masakadza's shrewd moves played no small part in ensuring they were capable of stretching Pakistan

Brendan Taylor only had three hours of sleep last night after spending the day in hospital waiting for his new-born son, Mason, to arrive. He may have had a bit more rest today but the time he would finally have woken up and turned on his television, he could easily have thought he was still dreaming.

The same Zimbabwe who have not managed to bowl a team out in their last ten matches, came closer to doing that than they have in months. The nine wickets they claimed is the most they have taken in a day's play in the last two series and Taylor need not have rubbed his eyes in wonder. It had really happened: there was discipline, determination and drive and the first day of a Test series that was in danger of not even happening went Zimbabwe's way.

As far as troubling build-ups go, this has been one of the most concerning. The week before the Test was filled with uncertainty. Would payments come through? Would the strike really happen? Would the captain be able to take the field to lead his men? With so many unanswered questions, Zimbabwe would have been forgiven if their performance was as scattered as their minds.

But, after Hamilton Masakadza - who found out he was captaining only when he arrived at the ground - took a gamble and decided to bowl first on a pitch that is known to flatten out as the day grows longer, the bowlers responded with clear plans and tight lines, while the fielders showed commitment that has been lacking. They heeded Taylor's call for character.

Tendai Chatara and Tinashe Panyangara opened the bowling with real threat - they swung the ball and beat the bat to show Zimbabwe would not be pushed over. They made up for the absence of the retired Kyle Jarvis with aplomb. They both found extra bounce, which they used to good effect, as the ball reared up for a length. Chatara got the ball to move away even though it often looked as though he would be bringing it in. He got Mohammad Hafeez to edge in that fashion and almost had Misbah-ul-Haq doing the same. With first Panyangara and then Shingi Masakadza keeping a consistent line outside off, Zimbabwe were able to limit run-scoring for much of the first session.

They conceded some control when an uncharacteristically hurried Misbah partnered Azhar Ali with some urgency and Elton Chigumbura bowled two loose overs but the break came soon after to allow for a regroup. What was most impressive about Zimbabwe today was that they actually managed to do that.

Second-session pressure was always going to be their biggest challenge. An older ball, a surface which became easier for batting and arguably Pakistan's best pair at the crease. Hamilton Masakadza gave his strike bowlers ten overs to make something happen and when he could see they were having difficulties, overpitching and allowing Azhar to demonstrate some of his shots, he brought on the spinner, Prosper Utseya and the workhorse, his younger brother.

They allowed only 16 runs in eight overs and the pressure they built paid off. Misbah tried to lash out and was caught at short midwicket and Asad Shafiq fell shortly after. With an opening created, Hamilton Masakadza brought back his strike bowlers at timely intervals when he thought they could have an impact.

Having never captained in a Test match before and having last led four years ago, in 2009, Hamilton Masakadza proved a shrewd leader. His field placings were aggressive, with men close to the bat and in positions where they could stop singles, as he encouraged his team to create pressure through presence. He could not do that all day.

Luckily, he had others to call on. There is a joke that Zimbabwe often captain by committee and there were examples today of how they did. Vusi Sibanda was outstanding in the slips and the outfield. He took three catches and acted as a sounding board for his opening partner. Utseya led the strangle from around the wicket and motivated in the field. And Shingi Masakadza led by example.

He barely erred from his line and was eventually rewarded with two wickets. The only blip on a satisfying day was the way it ended. Desperation and drift set in as the second new ball was called for. Chatara tried the short ball but Saeed Ajmal was quick to read the length.

"If we had been given 250 for 9 at the start of the day, we would have taken it," Hamilton Masakadza said. "I suppose the ninth-wicket partnership went on for a little longer than we would have wanted. I wouldn't say much went wrong at the end: we were a little bit unlucky, a couple of balls went past the edge and we did give one or two balls to Saeed Ajmal to hit, but nothing really went wrong."

He believed he had used his bowlers as best he could and singled out strike bowler Chatara's efforts. "I wanted to make sure they didn't bowl spells that were too long and I was happy to change them around," he said. "Tendai has just come on in leaps and bounds from where he really started for us in the West Indies. He is a good asset for us and promised a lot for our future."

The captain remains confident, as he was at the toss, that the spin threat will be negated by the conditions. "The wicket won't deteriorate that much so hopefully spin won't be too much of a factor."

Zimbabwe will hope, with fresh legs, they can end things quickly in the morning and then will have to demonstrate the same temperament with bat in hand.

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Ireland past highlights future problems

The performances of Eoin Morgan and Boyd Rankin were reasons for Irish pride but defeat highlighted shortcomings in the team

For centuries, the Irish nation has exported its young men and women, casting them far and wide in search of a living, and occasionally fortune. They are not forgotten, however, and a tradition has grown of cherishing the diaspora. An eternal flame burns a candle in the window of the president's mansion to signify this and 2013 was proclaimed as the year the emigrant should return, labelled the year of "The Gathering".

The president of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, came to watch this ODI at Malahide but even a veteran politician would have been shocked at the ingratitude of two of the nation's sons. Eoin Morgan and Boyd Rankin both came up through the Irish ranks as fresh-faced schoolboys, their talent brought out and nurtured by largely volunteer coaches and mentors. They left it as steely eyed professionals, changing allegiances to further their careers. Few in Ireland actually begrudge them doing this, recognising the flawed system that forces them to do so and damning instead the game's administrators who fail to prevent it.

William Porterfield pointed this out after the pair had both recorded their best ODI performances (Morgan 124 not out, Rankin 4 for 35) to spearhead England's victory.

"It's a credit to Irish cricket that we can produce players like Eoin and Boyd. We have an Irish cricket culture now and it's growing by the day", he said. "There were nearly 10,000 through the gates today and I hope the youngsters will be inspired by them."

Whatever the long-term rewards accruing from the biggest game ever held in Ireland - the attendance was a whisker under 10,000 - there are short- and medium-term problems with the team that were harshly exposed by Morgan and Ravi Bopara during a record, matchwinning fifth-wicket stand.

With Rankin gone and Trent Johnston playing his last ODI on Sunday, there's a worryingly hollow echo in the seam bowling cupboard. Tim Murtagh was excellent but, at 32, he and his allrounder team-mates Alex Cusack (32), John Mooney (31) and Kevin O'Brien (29) are getting on. All lack the pace to excel at the most demanding level.

Max Sorensen is brisk and has done well for Ireland, although his ODI debut here was unremarkable with the ball. After that you have Eddie Richardson, a fine club and provincial player but as yet uncapped and a clutch of promising, injury-prone youngsters such as Graeme McCarter (Gloucestershire), Craig Young (Sussex) and Peter Chase (Malahide).

Ireland's spin twins, George Dockrell and Paul Stirling, also looked like men who had spent most of the season bowling to county 2nd XI batsmen and couldn't raise their game.

For Porterfield himself, it was a startling return to form after a dismal season with Warwickshire. Even with Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell away with England last week, the county dropped him after a run of 35 innings with just two 50s. For Ireland, If you take away games against Bangladesh, Porterfield has only made one fifty in 38 innings against Full Members.

So his 112 - extending his Ireland record to ten centuries - was important to him. "It was nice to lead from the front and get a few runs," he said. "We thought 270 was a competitive total but we didn't expect the wicket to slow down.

"What was pleasing for the team was that we were able to put ourselves in a winning position, just as we did in the two ODIs against Pakistan earlier in the summer. But it's frustrating not to build the pressure and see it through."

One positive for Cricket Ireland was the astonishing transformation of a village field into a major international venue. With every seat brought in, plus dressing rooms, corporate areas and media centre, it was cricket's first pop-up venue.

And when the sun beat down like a mid-summer heatwave, and the beaming Higgins and ICC president Alan Isaac looked out over the arena, Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom's Field of Dreams was complete. It was only on the field that expectations fell short, and that was largely due to the brilliant batting of a man who played his club cricket on this very ground a decade ago.

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'Pakistan in reasonably good position' - Azhar

Despite an unimpressive performance by the top order, leading to Pakistan finishing the opening day nine wickets down, batsman Azhar Ali felt his side was in a reasonably good position. Zimbabwe's bowlers held control in the opening session, reducing Pakistan to 27 for 3, before Azhar and captain Misbah-ul-Haq saved their side from further embarrassment with a stand of 93 for the fourth wicket.

Azhar top-scored with 78 and it was a typical workmanlike innings from him, coming off 185 balls. He admitted though that Pakistan should have respected the conditions better in the morning session, as the seamers managed movement and awkward bounce. A ninth-wicket stand of 67 between Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan took Pakistan close to the 250-mark.

"It was a hardworking innings on a slow track," Azhar said. "I had to work hard for my runs because they bowled in the good areas. And I think we ended up in a reasonably good position.

"With some moisture on the pitch, we had a plan to get through to lunch. But we lost three early wickets which didn't help. We could have done a bit better."

Pakistan batted positively after lunch as the pitch started to settle. Azhar, who batted cautiously as he approached his fifty, said that Misbah's calming influence was helpful. After Misbah fell against the run of play, the responsibility grew on Azhar. He looked set for his fifth Test century but fell chasing a wide, away-swinging delivery from Shingi Masakadza and edged to slip. Azhar didn't hide his annoyance, swinging his bat at thin air as he walked off with Pakistan at 182 for 8 with an hour left in the final session.

"I was looking for some runs and they tried to bowl away from me," Azhar said. "I should have kept my cool a little to get the hundred. It would have been nice to get another hundred. "

Since his debut in 2010, Azhar has played 15 of his 28 Tests (including the ongoing Test) in venues outside the subcontinent and the UAE. He credited coach Dav Whatmore for helping him adjust to conditions where batsmen are challenged.

"The coach has really helped me with my technique, especially with teaching me how to handle things in different places we play in," Azhar said. "In international cricket, you have to improve day by day, you have to come up with new plans and you have to keep thinking."

Having described the pitch as "slow" on day one, with the seamers collecting seven wickets, Azhar expects the pitch to take more turn as the game goes on, bringing Ajmal and Abdur Rehman into play.

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India-West Indies two-Test series confirmed

West Indies will travel to India in November for two Tests and three one-day internationals, the WICB confirmed on Tuesday night. The dates and venues of the matches are yet to be announced. The second Test is set to be Sachin Tendulkar's landmark 200th Test.

More to follow

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Death bowling not up to the mark - Taylor

Brendan Taylor has put Zimbabwe's loss to Pakistan in the second one-dayer primarily down to not having a "clear enough" death-bowling plan. In their historic win on Tuesday, when they restricted Pakistan to a much more gettable 244, Taylor said the bowlers had executed better at the end of the innings, whereas on Thursday they "missed their lengths".

"We started well, the first 20 overs were good [with Pakistan going] at three and a half an over, but we let them get 230 in the last 30 overs, so we weren't good enough today. They came back with a much better performance and we expected that. With them building sizeable partnerships, though, it was difficult at the death, with not a lot of margin for error. I think our bowlers missed our lengths and probably didn't have a clear enough plan like we had on Tuesday."

Chasing 300 against an attack of Pakistan's quality is never easy, Taylor said, but the previous victory had boosted Zimbabwe's confidence enough so that they always thought they were in with a chance. "With their bowling attack, 300 was going to be difficult. It's always a challenge playing a world-class team, chasing 300 runs. But at one stage we were 200 for 4. We had wickets in hand, needing eight an over, with Elton [Chigumbura] still to come, anything was possible.

"It's important to have that self-belief that we can chase down any total and we've done that in the past against New Zealand, chasing 330. And the game we won on Tuesday certainly helped us believe in ourselves."

Pakistan's win means the third ODI, on Saturday, will be a series decider. Taylor said he'll back his team to play with freedom in that game, though they might need to tweak the line-up for it. "New game on Saturday, we have to leave all this behind and find our best performers if we have to win. A change or two might work but we'll find that out tomorrow.

"It's important to instill confidence in the players, [have them] playing with freedom. If you go out there and you are uptight and nervous, you are freezing up at the crease, you're not going to be competitive. You need to take a few calculated risks in order to post a good total or chase down a total. It's about believing in your team-mates and instilling that confidence in them to go out there and do it because if they do play their best cricket, everyone can contribute to a winning performance."

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'Keeping it simple' works for Amin and Pakistan

Umar Amin, the Pakistan middle-order batsman, has said his team had a simple plan coming into Thursday's game against Zimbabwe: "play to potential to win the game". Pakistan entered the contest one match down and were in a do-or-die situation. Their 90-run win means the series goes to a decider on Saturday.

Pakistan lost the opening one-dayer on Tuesday by seven wickets, their first defeat in the past 15 years to Zimbabwe. They came back strongly, though, with Mohammad Hafeez leading the way with a dominating, unbeaten 136 and Umar Amin playing the supporting act with a pivotal half-century to lift Pakistan to 299.

"After losing the first game there was some pressure on us but the way we bounced back today shows that we are a great team," Amin said. "Everybody was focused on today's game and wanted to win. The plan was simple, to play to our potential. Sometime it does get little bit difficult, because such defeats are remembered for long. So it was crucial, and also we had to win to keep the series alive.

"We knew they would come strong at us and we would need to play at our best. The game plan was simply to stick to the basics though, and do the best we could to win."

Pakistan were in some trouble at one point, at 84 for 3, with both openers as well as captain Misbah-ul-Haq dismissed. Amin thereafter produced a 129-run fourth-wicket partnership with Mohammad Hafeez to give Pakistan a strong total. For Amin, who debuted in 2010, this was his first half-century in his eighth ODI, his 59 coming off 71 balls with six boundaries including a six before he was run out.

"If you talk about my batting, the situation demanded me to stick in there and get used to the conditions," Amin said. "They are not as pacey as our bowlers, but still they stuck with the basics, hit the right areas and utilised the conditions well. They didn't give us easy balls to hit boundaries, but you always have a game plan against any bowling and for me it was simple - to stay there and make the best out of my good start. In the end I got my first international fifty and it's a great feeling."

Pakistan were wary of Zimbabwe after their successful chase on Tuesday, and with the openers repeatedly doing well in the limited-overs matches so far on the tour, Pakistan were keen for early breakthroughs. "Of course the target was to get the openers out as quickly as we could because we knew they are the ones in form," Amin said. "So it was crucial to get the wickets of Masakadza and Sibanda, that was what was required at the time."

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Edwards hails her finest moment

Charlotte Edwards has achieved a huge amount in her career but she put regaining the Ashes as among her finest moments after England secured the multi-format series with a match to spare.

It has not been an easy few years for Edwards with England's standing having slip from their 2009 high point of being Ashes holders, World Twenty20 champions and World Cup winners. They relinquished the Ashes in 2011 and have since suffered narrow losses in the World Cup and World T20 at the hands of Australia.

Now they have an unassailable 10-4 lead in this summer's series having drawn the Test and bounced back emphatically from defeat in the first ODI at Lord's when there could have been a danger of the recent reversals overwhelming them.

"It's possibly one of my proudest moments in cricket," Edwards said. "After the winter we had, a disappointing winter, to come back in the way we have done and beat the world champions on home soil as convincing as we have done is really pleasing for us. I'm incredibly proud of all of the team and the way that they have bounced back."

Edwards insisted there had been no magical formula for this Ashes success which has come under new head coach Paul Shaw after Mark Lane stood down earlier his year

"The first thing is not to panic and that's one thing our new coaching staff have instilled in us," Edwards said. "We went away and worked on a few things and changed the order up a bit. The players bought into that and trained hard. We always believed we could beat this Australian team and that has been the biggest thing for us. We had complete belief in one another and everyone has contributed."

Their five-wicket victory at the Ageas Bowl was orchestrated by Lydia Greenway's unbeaten 80 - the highest score for England in Twenty20 - an innings which Edwards lauded as the greatest she had seen.

"This innings today was outstanding from her," she said. "I've seen many innings, Sarah Taylor included, and this was the best innings I've seen certainly in T20 cricket under the circumstances."

Greenway acknowledged she had not played better: "As Charlotte said, under the circumstances - the Ashes were there to be won and we didn't want to leave it until Durham. It's great to have contributed."

And, like the men, there were plans in place for a hefty celebrations although perhaps not in quite the way Alastair Cook's team finished at The Oval on Sunday evening. But the party, would have to start on the team bus as they headed to Gatwick for their flight up to the North East ahead of the final Twenty20 at Chester-le-Street on Saturday.

"I've just seen a load of Budweiser. It could be a good trip to Gatwick. It's important we celebrate. We've got a big game at Durham but you don't win the Ashes every day. Watch out the M3."

Such revelry was far from Jodie Fields's mind as another Australian captain was left to reflect on leaving an Ashes series empty-handed. "I'm pretty gutted to sit here and have lost the Ashes particularly after the men lost," Fields said. "We saw it as our responsibility to work hard to bring it home and now both Australian teams will go home without the Ashes."

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Richardson hat-trick edges Worcs ahead

Worcestershire 265 for 5 (Samaraweera 99, Fell 84) trail Leicestershire 274 (Richardson 5-75) by nine runs
Scorecard

Alan Richardson and Thilan Samaraweera were the stars as Worcestershire gained the edge against Leicestershire at Grace Road. Veteran seamer Richardson claimed the first hat-trick of his career and Sri Lankan Samaraweera hit an unbeaten 99 as Worcestershire closed the second day nine runs ahead of the hosts.

With 38-year-old Richardson taking their last three wickets in three balls, Leicestershire were bowled out for 274, having added only four runs to their overnight score. Then, despite losing their first three wickets for 55 runs, Worcestershire recovered to close the second day on 265 for 5, with Samaraweera one run away from completing his second century against Leicestershire this season.

There was another excellent innings as well from 19-year-old Tom Fell, who earlier this month signed a two-year professional contract with Worcestershire. He was out for 84, just 11 runs short of posting his Championship-best score.

Fell and Samaraweera shared a fourth wicket stand of 181 in 56 overs and, at 236 for 3, Worcestershire looked to have a stranglehold on the game. But Shiv Thakor, the seventh bowler used by Leicestershire, brought them back into the match with two wickets in two overs. Fell, having faced 167 balls and hit 14 fours, edged behind to wicketkeeper, Niall O'Brien, and Joe Leach was brilliantly caught at slip by Greg Smith when Thakor again found the edge.

It meant the day started and ended with a flurry of wickets. Richardson, who had already picked up two wickets on the first day to take his total for the season past 50, struck with the last ball of his 24th over and then the first two of his next, to bag the first hat-trick of his long and successful career. He had Ollie Freckingham caught at slip and then nailed both Matthew Hoggard and Alex Wyatt lbw to finish with figures of 5 for 57.

Three more wickets fell before lunch - all of them lbw decisions. Openers Daryl Mitchell and Matthew Pardoe were Hoggard victims and Moeen Ali was trapped in front by Ben Raine. But Samaraweera and Fell dominated for the next three-and-a-half hours as the home attack toiled on a slow pitch.

Samaraweera reached his 50 off 98 balls with eight fours and Fell brought up his half-century off 97 balls with seven boundaries. Then Thakor's two late wickets gave Leicestershire a glimmer of hope again.

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Smith best makes Gloucs pay

Essex 333 for 7 (Smith 149*) v Gloucestershire
Scorecard

Greg Smith's first County Championship century for Essex guided the visitors into a strong position on the opening day against Gloucestershire at Bristol.

Smith, the 30-year-old South African, hit an unbeaten 149 as his side ran up 333 for 7 after losing the toss. Owais Shah contributed 34 and Ben Foakes 32, while Will Gidman and David Payne claimed two wickets apiece.

Former Derbyshire batsman Smith was dropped on 19 by Michael Klinger at third slip off Payne and went on to face 274 balls, hitting 17 fours and a six.

With the skies overcast, Gloucestershire skipper Klinger elected to field first and saw his seamers bowl without much luck in the morning session. Gidman went past the bat on a number of occasions, but did have the satisfaction of bowling India Test player Gautam Gambhir off an inside edge for a duck with the total on 9.

It was 46 for 2 in the 15th over when Jaik Mickleburgh, on 26, was well caught by wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick, having got an inside edge to a delivery from Graeme McCarter, who had received a late call into Gloucestershire's team when Liam Norwell withdrew because of a groin injury.

Smith survived his second chance on 41 when Gidman failed to hold a tough one-handed catch at gully off Craig Miles and went on to a half-century off 98 balls, with four fours, having spent 21 deliveries on 48.

Shah looked in confident form as the pair added 80 either side of lunch. But with the score on 126 he played down the wrong line to Miles and was pinned lbw, having hit seven fours in a fluent 72-ball knock. Ryan ten Doeschate helped Smith add a further 45 in nine overs, contributing 24 to the stand, before edging Benny Howell to Roderick attempting to drive.

Smith moved relentlessly towards his ton and reached it with a sweet cover-driven four off McCarter, having faced 207 balls and extended his boundary count to 10 fours and a six. In his second season with Essex, Smith's previous best Championship score for the county was 42 against Hampshire last season. He played with increasing sureness and began to cut loose after reaching three figures.

Gloucestershire took the new ball in the 81st over with Essex 259 for 4 and Gidman struck with it as Foakes edged to Chris Dent in the slips. Foakes had ridden his luck at times, facing 84 balls and striking four fours in a stand of 94 with Smith. James Foster looked more assured, but on 26 edged Payne up in the air and Klinger took the catch running back from gully. Graham Napier fell to what proved the last ball of the day, caught by Dent off Payne for 10.

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Leics reliance on Eckersley shown again

Leicestershire 270 for 7 (Eckersley 106) v Worcestershire
Scorecard

Ned Eckersley hit his third Championship century of the season as Leicestershire recovered from a shaky start to reach 270 for 7 at stumps on the first day against Worcestershire at Grace Road.

Leicestershire, rooted to the bottom of the table without a win, have relied heavily on Eckersley throughout a disappointing season, and would have been in a poor way without his 106 off 249 balls.

The next highest scorer was captain John Cobb, who contributed 44 to a fifth-wicket stand of 92 with Eckersley. Then a brisk unbeaten 22 from Ollie Freckingham in the final few overs, helped the home side a second batting point.

After winning the toss Leicestershire found it tough going against some tidy seam bowling from Alan Richardson, Joe Leach and Jack Shantry. Greg Smith was caught at slip off Richardson for 1 in the fifth over of the morning, while Niall O'Brien led a charmed life making 31 off 59 balls.

He played and missed outside off stump on several occasions, survived two big lbw shouts and edged one delivery from Leach between wicket-keeper Michael Johnson and first slip Moeen Ali, who both left the catch to each other. Leach gained his revenge when he finally had O'Brien caught at second slip by Daryl Mitchell.

Eckersley survived a sharp chance to gully when he had made 16 and was also dropped by Moeen Ali on 29. But when Shiv Thakor and Tom Wells fell lbw to Shaaiq Choudhry and Shantry respectively, Leicestershire were in trouble at 94 for 4.

The Eckersley- Cobb partnership turned things round, with 24-year-old Eckersley reaching his half century and 1,000 Championship runs for the season as well. He looks like being the only Leicestershire player to do so. O'Brien, with 595 runs, is the next highest scorer in the averages.

Moeen broke the stand when he had Cobb caught at mid-off for 44 off 93 balls. But Eckersley brought up his century with a back foot four followed by a quick single off Graeme Cessford. It came off 222 balls and contained 14 fours. But he was sixth out at 226 chopping on against Richardson with the new ball.

James Sykes chipped a catch to short midwicket three overs later but Ben Raine, unbeaten on 16, and Freckingham, took Leicestershire to a second batting point and were still together at the close.

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