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Notts batsman will begin county comeback as England team-mates begin their one-off ODI against Ireland in Dublin

ESPNcricinfo staff01-May-2019Alex Hales has been given a clear warning about his future as he prepares to make his return to action for Nottinghamshire against Durham in Grantham on Friday, following the 21-day drugs ban that led to his axing from the England World Cup squad.Fitness permitting, Hales – who was said to be “devastated” after being stood down from England’s 15-man preliminary squad for the World Cup – will begin his comeback in the Royal London Cup at the same time that his former team-mates begin their one-off ODI against Ireland in Dublin.He will do so with an unequivocal warning from his county ringing in his ears, after the club said in a statement that his actions, which include two failed tests for recreational drugs as well as his role in the fracas outside a Bristol nightclub in September 20117, “have, at times, fallen way short of the behaviours the club expects from any of its staff”.Hales, who is on a white-ball-only contract at Nottinghamshire after making himself unavailable for four-day cricket last season, has missed the entirety of the club’s Royal London campaign to date. He is out of contract at the club at the end of the season, making the remaining two group matches, as well as the knock-out phases for which the club is well placed to progress, especially crucial to the rebuilding of his career.”The recent events in relation to Alex Hales have been difficult for everyone involved with Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club,” said the club on its website. “Alex’s off-field actions have, at times, fallen way short of the behaviours the club expects from any of its staff.”Hales attended an England squad get-together in Cardiff over the weekend, but was removed from the squad on Monday morning, reportedly with the blessing of the team hierarchy, who believe his behavioural issues, and his lack of repentance, are an unwelcome distraction on the eve of the team’s biggest challenge.And, having met with Nottinghamshire’s management to assess his readiness for a comeback, Hales would appear now to have recognised that the situation he is in is one of his own making, having initially accused the ECB of reneging on a commitment to back him in spite of his ban.”Following his withdrawal from all England squads this week, we have met with Alex to express our concerns and to re-iterate that such actions cannot continue,” said the club.”The meeting was open, honest and constructive and a way forward was agreed between both parties. Alex has expressed a great deal of regret and contrition for his actions and he has ultimately paid a heavy price.”He accepts that the position he finds himself in is of his own making. He knows he has a long road back to redeem himself in the eyes of many people, but that now has to be his aim.”After much deliberation, we believe it’s in the best interests of all concerned for him to get back to playing cricket for Nottinghamshire as quickly as possible.”With his suspension now served, he is available for selection for all white-ball cricket for the remainder of the 2019 season, starting with the fixture against Durham on Friday.”As Alex’s County Club, we will work with him, the PCA and the ECB to look after his welfare and to ensure he receives the support and guidance he needs to work through this experience and to prevent any re-occurrences.”

Can South Africa end New Zealand’s unbeaten run at the 2019 World Cup? Follow ESPNcricinfo’s Live Report to stay tuned in on all the action

Liam Brickhill19-Jun-2019

Waugh will link up with the tour ahead of the first Test at Edgbaston on August 1 as Australia seek to win their first away Ashes since 2001

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jul-2019Australia will continue to dip into their deep supply of former greats with former captain Steve Waugh joining the Ashes squad as a mentor.Waugh will link up with the tour ahead of the first Test at Edgbaston on August 1 as Australia seek to win their first away Ashes since 2001.Waugh played in nine Ashes series, losing just his first in 1986-87, and piled up 3173 runs in the contests at an average of 58.75. He captained two of the series, including 2001 on English soil.Head coach Justin Langer has been keen to integrate the knowledge and experience of former players. Ricky Ponting has been an assistant coach during the World Cup while Matthew Hayden and Mitchell Johnson worked with the squad on the tour of India earlier this year.”I know it is something that JL [Langer] and myself have been quite big on, that is to try and get some of our past legends in and around the team,” Test captain Tim Paine told . “I think to have someone like him around during a Test series is going to be great for our whole group.””I know I will be trying to bounce off him as much as I can. As I said, coming to England at times, particularly with the pressure and scrutiny that is around the team at the moment, I think he is someone who is regarded for handling that sort of stuff really well.”

Head coach leaves after almost fours years in the role, having overseen 2017 World Cup success

George Dobell20-Aug-2019Mark Robinson is to leave his role as head coach of England women’s team. Robinson oversaw England’s victory in the 2017 World Cup but has subsequently seen his side overwhelmed by Australia in the Ashes amid criticism that few young players have established themselves in the side.Appointed in late 2015, Robinson created waves with his decision to drop Charlotte Edwards, his side’s captain and senior player, after a disappointing showing in the 2016 World T20. But when his new appointment, Heather Knight, led the side to victory at Lord’s in 2017, it seemed English cricket could be at the start of a bright new era.It was not to be. A lack of depth in the game and improvements in the development programmes of other nations saw England’s results falter, with a 12-4 defeat to Australia this summer suggesting a chasm had grown between the sides. Like many coaches before him, Robinson has found that Ashes failure will not be tolerated. England are currently third in the ODI rankings and second in the T20I rankings.”Mark can reflect on his time as England coach with a great deal of pride,” Clare Connor, the ECB’s managing director of women’s cricket, said. “Winning the Women’s World Cup in 2017 in front of a packed Lord’s was a landmark moment for the whole game and his leadership and professionalism were an integral part of our success.”He drove high standards across young players to become the best team in the world as well as coaching them to understand the demands of professional sport.”Mark passionately championed the development of the women’s game during his time in this role and we thank him for all he has contributed to England women’s cricket during such an exciting stage of our journey. However, after discussions with Mark, we have agreed that now is the right time for him to step down as England Women’s Head Coach.”It is important that we give Mark’s successor time to shape the team’s future direction and to begin to develop strong relationships with the players as we plan for the next phase of our international calendar.”Assistant coach, Alastair Maiden, will take temporary charge of the team, whose next commitment is an ICC Women’s Championship series against Pakistan in December. The first task for Robinson’s successor will be to oversee England’s campaign at the 2020 Women’s World T20, taking place in Australia early next year.”Although the recent Ashes was a difficult series, a few hard weeks doesn’t take anything away from what has been a wonderful four years,” Robinson said. “I’ve had so many highlights and memorable moments with the team.”Nothing could ever surpass winning the Women’s World Cup on home soil, but from a pure coaching perspective, reaching the T20 final last November – with a depleted team, three non-contracted players and three players twenty years old or younger – is a huge personal highlight.”It’s been exciting to watch so many players grow and to watch so many records broken, but it feels the right time for me to take on a new challenge and to allow a different voice to come in before the next T20 World Cup in Australia. We have put a lot of groundwork in place, and this, coupled with the new investment into the women’s game will make a huge difference in time.”I would like to thank everyone associated with England Women for all the kindness and support they have shown me and wish Heather and the team all the best for the future.”

Gunathilaka and Sandakan make ODI comebacks after missing Bangladesh series; Rajapaksa and Banuka uncapped members in tour party

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-2019Lahiru Thirimanne and Dasun Shanaka have named Sri Lanka’s ODI and T20I captains respectively for the limited-overs tour of Pakistan.The announcement comes two days after Dimuth Karunaratne and Lasith Malinga, the incumbents, informed the Sri Lanka Cricket of their unwillingness to tour Pakistan, along with eight others, citing security concerns.Minod Banuka, the 24-year old wicketkeeper-batsman, is the only uncapped member in the 15-man ODI squad. Banuka along with Bhanuka Rajapaksa are the two uncapped names in the T20I squad. Banuka has been part of Sri Lanka’s Emerging squad while Rajapaksa was on Sri Lanka A’s tour of India in June.Danushka Gunathilaka, who was dropped for the home ODIs against Bangladesh along with left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan have also been included in both squads.Thanks in part to the withdrawals, batsman Oshada Fernando also finds himself back in the ODI squad, following an encouraging start to his career in South Africa earlier this year. He’s been picked for the T20s as well.The attacks will ostensibly be led by Nuwan Pradeep, as well as left-armer Isuru Udana, who is missing the Caribbean Premier League to be available for this tour. Younger quicks Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha are also in both squads.Sri Lanka and Pakistan are scheduled to play three ODIs in Karachi on September 27, 29 and October 3 before they move to Lahore for the T20I leg that concludes on October 9.By hosting the limited-overs series first, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hoped to convince Sri Lanka Cricket that the nation was secure enough to host Test cricket, starting with the teams’ World Test Championship matches, presently scheduled for December.ODI squad: Lahiru Thirimanne (capt), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru KumaraT20I squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Angelo Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Minod Bhanuka, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara

First Championship win for four months in sight after a day of dominance at New Road

ECB Reporters Network11-Sep-2019 Worcestershire 205 (Hogan 4-53) and 153 for 2 (Rutherford 52, Mitchell 52*) lead Glamorgan 193 (Morris 5-73) by 165 runs
Paceman Charlie Morris and openers Hamish Rutherford and Daryl Mitchell have left Worcestershire daring to dream of a first Specsavers County Championship win for four months after a day of dominance against Glamorgan at Blackfinch New Road.Paceman Morris earned Worcestershire a narrow first innings lead with his third five wicket haul of the season. He finished with figures of 5 for 73 from 17.5 overs as the visitors were dismissed for 193 in 65.5 overs to give Worcestershire a 12-run advantage.Rutherford then raced to a 51-ball half century and, with Mitchell digging in for an unbeaten 52, Worcestershire closed day two on 153 for 2.It was a rare day of success for the home side who began the campaign as one of the favourites for promotion but who went into this game just five points ahead of bottom-placed Leicestershire.Glamorgan will be hoping to make significant inroads tomorrow morning otherwise they could be facing a major fourth-innings target on a wicket still offering some assistance to the bowlers.Morris struck in successive overs after Glamorgan resumed on 44 for 2 when West Indian opener Kraigg Brathwaite (19) was caught behind and Billy Root (8) drove a wide delivery to cover.Samit Patel (5), on loan from Nottinghamshire, pulled a short ball from Adam Finch straight to deep backward square, before Moeen Ali held onto a sharp head high return catch offered by David Lloyd (35). Captain Chris Cooke (24) then fell victim to a low first slip catch by Riki Wessels off Joe Leach.Morris returned after lunch to bowl Ruaidhri Smith (18) and completed his five-for by having Michael Hogan (15) caught at deep fine leg while in between Lukas Carey (16) drilled Moeen straight to cover.Rutherford (52) ensured Worcestershire built on their narrow first innings advantage in quickfire fashion. He reeled off a series of impressive drives and raced to a 51-ball half century with nine boundaries out of an opening stand of 70 with Mitchell.The New Zealander eventually edged Smith to second slip but Moeen kept the momentum going for the home side. He swept Patel for four and twice cover drove Smith to the ropes as the Worcestershire 100 came up in the 26th over.But after making 26 the England all-rounder aimed a big shot through mid-wicket off Patel and holed out to Hogan at mid off.Mitchell completed his first half century since an unbeaten 64 against Glamorgan at Cardiff in early July shortly before the close with a cover drive for four off Smith. It was his sixth boundary and came from 143 balls.Jack Haynes also batted with great maturity and patience on his home Championship debut and was unbeaten on 22 at the close after surviving an early chance.

As Hayden Walsh Jr. prepares to play for West Indies, a look at other players who have appeared for both an Associate and Full Member

Peter Della Penna16-Oct-2019Hayden Walsh Jr.’s call-up to the West Indies ODI and T20I squads is a reminder of one of the quirks in the ICC eligibility policy with regards to players representing two countries. A player who has played for a Full Member at senior level must wait three years after their last appearance before they can represent an Associate Member.However, someone who has played for an Associate Member on Monday can make an immediate switch and play for a Full Member on Tuesday if called up. Here’s a rundown of some players who have made a very quick move.Mark Chapman: Hong Kong to New ZealandThe left-arm spinning allrounder was born in Hong Kong to a mother from mainland China and a father from New Zealand. Chapman was raised in Hong Kong though he did his higher education in New Zealand. After playing as a 15-year-old for Hong Kong at the 2010 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, Chapman made his Hong Kong debut in January 2011 as a 16-year-old against USA at ICC WCL Division Three. His last match for Hong Kong came at the 2016 T20 World Cup in India against Scotland. Consistent performances for Auckland in New Zealand’s domestic competition finally earned him a New Zealand call-up in February 2018 for a T20I series at home against England.Dirk Nannes: Netherlands to AustraliaBorn in Victoria, Nannes made his debut for the state in February 2006 and over the next three years he played 17 first-class and 15 List A matches them. But he carved out a much more prominent niche in T20 cricket, first for Victoria in the pre-franchise era of the Big Bash League, then for Middlesex in England’s domestic T20 tournament before being taken by Delhi Daredevils in the 2009 IPL.Two weeks after the end of the 2009 IPL, Nannes utilised his Dutch passport – through his lineage – to make his Netherlands debut in the 2009 T20 World Cup in England taking the new ball in their famous win at Lord’s. He played against Pakistan four days later for his final match for Netherlands on June 9. Less than three months later, he was called up to make his Australia debut in an ODI against Scotland in Edinburgh before making his Australia T20I debut two days later against England at Old Trafford.Eoin Morgan: Ireland to EnglandFrom Dublin, Morgan made his Ireland international debut in a 50-over match against Denmark five days short of his 17th birthday in September 2003. He went on to play in Ireland’s first ever World Cup appearance as a 20-year-old in 2007, then helped them qualify for the 2011 World Cup with solid performances at the 2009 Qualifier in South Africa.By that stage he had been playing for Middlesex long enough to qualify for England on residency. His final innings for Ireland was 76 off 62 balls in a six-wicket win over Netherlands in South Africa on April 15, 2009, a match which helped Ireland secure a spot in the 2011 World Cup. Just over a month later, he made his England debut in an ODI against West Indies.Ed Joyce: Ireland to EnglandAnother Dublin boy, he first played for Ireland as an 18-year-old against Scotland in 1997. But it was Joyce who blazed a trail for Morgan at Middlesex when he joined the county in 1999. He played in the final of the 2005 ICC Trophy (World Cup Qualifier) in Dublin, a tournament in which he scored two centuries and two fifties in his five innings to help Ireland qualify for their maiden World Cup, but 11 months later he was in an England shirt making an ODI debut for his new country in Belfast against his old Ireland team-mates. When his England career faded his focus returned to Ireland and in 2011 he made his first ODI appearance for them at the World Cup in India.Boyd Rankin: Ireland to EnglandThe towering Londonderry fast bowler made his Ireland debut in August 2006 against Italy and stayed in an Ireland shirt for the next six years, making his final appearance during his first stint in September 2012 against Australia in the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. Rankin had been on the books at Derbyshire and Warwickshire since 2006, who were grooming him for England colours. The switch finally happened nine months after that last appearance for Ireland – in his first go-around at least – when he suited up for England in an T20I against New Zealand in June 2013.Gavin Hamilton: Scotland to EnglandThe allrounder made his Scotland international debut as an 18-year-old against Ireland in a three-day match at Eglinton in June 1993. He impressed enough for Scotland at the 1999 World Cup to catch England’s attention. After playing his last World Cup match for Scotland against New Zealand on May 31, 1999, he suited up in whites for England just six months later against South Africa in a Test at the Wanderers in November 1999. He’s the only Associate player to play a Test as his debut match for a Full Member nation rather than a T20I or ODI. It wound up being his only match for England before resuming his Scotland career in February 2004.Hayden Walsh Jr.: USA to West IndiesBorn in St. Croix of the US Virgin Islands, Walsh moved to his parents’ native Antigua when he was just a few months old and is a dual national of both the USA and Antigua. After playing first-class cricket for both Leeward Islands and Barbados, he utilized his US passport to gain selection for USA in November 2018 as part of their squad for World Cricket League Division Three in Oman.Walsh made his USA T20I debut against UAE in March, then his ODI debut – which wound up being his lone ODI – against Papua New Guinea in Namibia this past April after they secured ODI status through a top-four finish at WCL Division Two. As recently as August 25, he was playing in a T20I for USA against Canada as part of the 2020 T20 World Cup qualifying process. But after a Player of the Tournament performance in the 2019 CPL for the champions Barbados Tridents, Walsh was called up into West Indies’ ODI and T20I squads for a November series against Afghanistan in India.

Jordan insists focus is on New Zealand series, not next year’s T20 World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Oct-2019Chris Jordan hopes that England’s fringe players can give the selectors as many “headaches” as possible during their five-match T20I series against New Zealand.With Jofra Archer, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali among the bowling options rested from the series, there are opportunities for young seamers Saqib Mahmood, Pat Brown and Sam Curran, as well as legspinner Matt Parkinson, to prove their worth in international colours.Anything that makes English cricket stronger makes the team stronger and it keeps everyone on top of their game,” Jordan told PA. “The more guys that we can have pushing for selection, the more headaches we can give selectors.”We’ve added a wealth of young talent to the squad which brings in some good energy. It’s an opportunity for everyone. I’ll have to continue to improve myself and stay on top of my game.”Jordan has underwhelmed in T20s this year, conceding more than nine runs per over in the Pakistan Super League, the Blast and the Caribbean Premier League, and insisted he is not getting ahead of himself.”I might be considered a senior player with my experience,” he said, “but I’m always looking to learn off any player whether they’re old or young.”I try to keep my standards as high as possible and try to give my all every day, whether it be in training or a game, so that won’t change.”It’s nice [to be in the squad] but nothing that’s taken for granted at all.”The upcoming series is the first step for England on the road towards the T20 World Cup in Australia next year, but Jordan said the tournament was far enough away that it was not in his thoughts.”Obviously the World Cup is a nice little carrot at the end of that few months but it will be one game at a time,” he said.”If you get too far ahead of yourself, you’re not actually concentrating on what’s in front of you on the day. You can’t build those good habits and that momentum.”Jordan took 1 for 22 from his three overs in England’s first warm-up game on Sunday, though found himself in an unfamiliar role. While Jordan is generally used as a death bowler, captain Eoin Morgan preferred Mahmood, Brown and Adil Rashid in the final four overs.

Club rules out appeal after concluding “it is in the best interest of all parties to move forward”

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Dec-2019Somerset have confirmed that they will not be appealing against the decision to dock them 12 points for preparing a substandard pitch for the 2019 Championship title decider against Essex.The ECB’s Cricket Disciplinary Committee (CDC) imposed the deduction last month after rating the Taunton surface as ‘poor’, noting its “excessive unevenness of bounce”. While Somerset accepted the charge, they disputed the suggestion that the pitch was not the best they could have produced.However, after reviewing the CDC’s full report and relevant procedures, the club has decided not to appeal because of the “heavy burden of proof” required to overturn the original verdict.”This conclusion has been reached because it is clear that, in order to overturn the decision, the club would have to demonstrate conclusively to the Panel who originally implemented the sanctions that they had come to the wrong decision,” a Somerset statement said. “Such a heavy burden of proof is extremely difficult for any appellant to discharge.”The club are very disappointed with the panel’s decision but has concluded that it is in the best interest of all parties to move forward.”We can now focus on preparing the team and the venue for the demands of the season ahead, with a specific focus on performing successfully, with a highly talented and competitive group of players and a clear focus on developing broader strategies to support this objective through our teams off the field. The club notes the strong message the panel ruling sends to all first-class counties.”Somerset finished the 2019 season second in Division One, 11 points behind Essex, after drawing a rain-affected final game – extending the club’s wait for a maiden Championship title. They will begin 2020 on minus-12 points, with a further, suspended 12-point deduction hanging over them.Somerset’s captain, Tom Abell, denied that the club had set out to produce an up-and-down pitch, but said they would have to deal with the points penalty “as best we can”.”It’s a big blow, nobody wants to start the season 12 points adrift, but we know what we’ve got to do,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “The particularly disappointing thing was that we accepted the charge of it being a poor pitch, however, we were also found guilty of not producing the best wicket possible. That was disappointing because we wanted a pitch to spin, we wanted to win the game, but we felt like we were playing on the best pitch available to us.”It’s still obviously pretty raw… but the issue wasn’t the spin, apparently. The reason we got deducted points was because of the surface and the inconsistent bounce… But I can assure you there was no intent to produce a wicket that was going to go up and down. But obviously the punishment’s been handed out, and we’ve got to deal with that as best we can.”

All of Pakistan’s top four scored centuries before Naseem Shah took a three-for to put the hosts three wickets shy of victory

The Report by Danyal Rasool22-Dec-2019If yesterday was the most magnificent day of Test cricket Pakistan have enjoyed this year, it was swiftly topped by the proceedings today. All the while Abid Ali and Shan Masood piled up that record partnership and Azhar Ali got in amongst the runs on Saturday, there remained the nagging doubt the pitch was so docile it would be difficult for Pakistan’s bowlers to force a result.But in front of a Sunday crowd that was the biggest of the series, Pakistan rubber-stamped that batting dominance with control in the field, too, and despite a 100-run stand that Pakistan only breached in the final half hour, the hosts are just three wickets away from what looks a routine win. It didn’t mean there were no heroics with the bat, though; Azhar and Babar Azam brought up their hundreds, this becoming only the second instance of the top four all getting to three-figures in Test cricket. Sri Lanka were set an academic 476 to win, Pakistan having amassed an eye-watering 555 for 3.ALSO READ: Tons for top four – Pakistan’s rare feat in KarachiIf the centuries Abid and Masood compiled yesterday were essential, Azhar and Babar’s offerings were simply joyous. There was no scoreboard pressure; with Sri Lanka’s bowlers rendered toothless, the only question was when Pakistan would put the visitors back in to bat. Azhar would end a drought of over a year without a hundred, and having been recently handed the captaincy, he will know how pivotal it may prove to extending his tenure.The half-century yesterday would have both calmed Azhar’s nerves and whetted his appetite. The rut he’s been in extends, in truth, to well beyond this recent patch, with the right-hander averaging a mere 25 since Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan retired in 2017. Three consecutive boundaries off Vishwa Fernando took him to within two runs of three-figures, and when a cut off Lasith Embuldeniya finally got him over the line, the radiant glow on Azhar’s face spoke volumes of the importance he placed on the innings. He would lock Babar into a tight embrace, Pakistan’s Test captain and vice-captain celebrating a partnership that well and truly took the game out of Sri Lanka’s reach.Oshada Fernando gets down for a paddle sweep•AFP

It wasn’t so much the stand between the two as the rate the runs came that allowed Pakistan to bring their declaration forward. Babar was chiefly responsible for that, and once he’d had an lbw call overturned early on, and then trotting to a half-century, he would spare no bowler from an onslaught that saw him racing towards three-figures himself. Ninety-five came off the first 19 overs before drinks were taken, and when Azhar was stumped dancing down the crease and missing the line, Babar would only press down on the accelerator harder.Lahiru Kumara was tonked for three fours in an over, and as the lead crossed 450, it appeared Babar’s hundred was the only thing keeping Pakistan from calling the batsmen back in. It was a matter of time, and very little time at that. In the final over before lunch, he would cut one away to point and bring up his third century in four Test matches, having taken little over a session to get there.When Sri Lanka batted, the pitch suddenly didn’t look as flat anymore. After a solid first 45 minutes, the visitors lost two wickets in quick succession. Captain Dimuth Karunaratne nicked off to Mohammad Abbas – who was suddenly back to that nagging fourth-stump line from around the wicket – with Mohammad Rizwan taking an excellent catch. The next over, Mendis edged one for Babar at third slip to gobble it up. That put to bed any suggestions Pakistan would be condemned to toiling in the same way as Sri Lanka, and when Angelo Mathews nicked off to Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sri Lanka were staring down the possibility of the game ending with a full day to spare.What will hearten Pakistan is the vastly improved showing from Naseem Shah, perhaps a touch unlucky to finish the first innings wicketless. His pace remained high and he would repeatedly threaten the outside edge, accurate both with the shorter delivery and the fuller one, with the batsmen regularly struggling with their footwork off the teenager.Naseem thought he had Oshada Fernando’s wicket before replays showed there was a thin inside-edge, but DRS would come to his aid the next over, when the umpire turned down a close lbw shout that was revealed to be smashing into Dinesh Chandimal’s middle stump. When Yasir Shah had Dhananjaya de Silva chop on off a straighter one, Sri Lanka had lost half their side with only 97 on the board.In what has been a disastrous two days for Sri Lanka, Oshada’s unbeaten 102 stands out as a bright spot that may continue to benefit the visitors until after this tour is done. Thrust into the opener’s slot in place of an out-of-form Lahiru Thirimanne, the makeshift opener showed glimpses he belonged there in the first innings in Rawalpindi, and confirmed it with an unbeaten hundred even as his side crumbled around him.Oshada expertly got his front foot behind the line of the ball, rarely finding himself out of position, or particularly troubled during any part of the two sessions he was at the crease. With him at the stumps, you might have suspected Pakistan were still batting if it wasn’t for what happened at the other end.Niroshan Dickwella was the only one to give him solid support, his half-century coming in an entertaining partnership where the left-hander repeatedly took on an out-of-form Yasir with the reverse sweep, coming out on top each time. Yasir didn’t quite have an answer to that shot, and such was Dickwella’s control over it, he would find the gap no matter the field placement. Yasir’s figures, very quickly, began to look expensive.It was only when, ironically enough, Dickwella tried the reverse sweep on Haris Sohail, Pakistan’s part-time left-arm spinner, that the shot let him down, with the ball clattering into his stumps. Naseem would add Dilruwan Perera to the contingent already in the pavilion. Although the players will have to come out tomorrow, make no mistake, this game, and Sri Lanka, are done and dusted.