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Powell credited Robert Samuels for helping him expand his game against spin, which had been his weakness in the past

Deivarayan Muthu09-Sep-20221:59

Powell: CPL 2022 is more competitive and provides something different

Jamaica Tallawahs captain Rovman Powell has toasted his match-winning 38-ball 44 not out against Guyana Amazon Warriors, calling it one of his “better knocks” in the CPL.After rain and wet outfield delayed the start of the game and spiced up the St Kitts pitch, the spinners found sharp turn and bounce, even with the new ball. Amazon Warriors had a trio of spinners – Tabraiz Shamsi, Imran Tahir and Gudakesh Motie – in their ranks but Powell trusted his defence and calmly played them out. He managed all of 8 off 24 balls against spin but tore into the extra pace of Odean Smith and Romario Shepherd, smashing them for 36 off 14 balls to help Tallawahs chase down 143 with four wickets and four balls to spare.”To be honest, it’s one of my better knocks in the CPL,” Powell said. “I always have ambitions to finish games for my team and to do it in that match gave me a pleasing feeling. I stuck through the tough times – [it’s] something I wanted to do – and then you earn the right to dominate at the end. I think I did that well in that game. “Powell credited Robert Samuels, the elder brother of Marlon, for instilling in him the belief that he could expand his game against spin, which had been his weakness in the past. Lately, Powell has been more confident to sweep and use his feet against spin, which has opened up other options for him.”The good thing is Robert Samuels has known me from [since] I was a child,” Powell said. “He has been my coach for a very long time now. I realised at the international level that I had a little bit of problem with spin and all these days he sat down with me and gave me better options in playing spin. Just tells me to continue to trust myself and trust my defence because a lot of times that is our downfall.”When the spin gets on top of us, as big-hitters or as batters, we don’t trust our defence or technique. If we can do that long enough… and as I said, he gave me more options in dealing with spin and those options seem to be working so far. So, hopefully more conversations with Robert and working with him will provide [even] more options and help me during the course of my career.”‘I always have ambitions to finish games for my team and to do it that match gave me a pleasing feeling’•CPL T20/Getty Images

These are still early days in the CPL, but there are already signs that this could be a highly competitive season. All sides are on the board now and on Thursday defending champions St Kitts & Nevis Patriots stormed back into contention by becoming the first team to successfully chase down more than 20 runs in the last over of the CPL.”Yeah, definitely [this is a very competitive season]. When you look at all the teams – the composition of all the teams – they’re evenly matched,” Powell said. “It boils down to team performances on the day and that is what cricket is all about. [In the] years gone by in the CPL, we’ve had teams that are so much better than others, so people know the result of the game sometimes before you even play the game. This year provides something different not just for the players but also for the fans. So, it’s pretty good.”Powell also delivered a glowing appraisal of seamer Nicholson Gordon who has brought some zip and energy to Tallawahs’ attack with his hard lengths and celebrations. Gordon, 30, made his CPL debut this season and has emerged as an unlikely hero for Tallawahs after impressing in the 6ixty, where he was the joint-highest wicket-taker, with six strikes in three games.”It [Gordon’s progress] is very good,” Powell said. “That is why we sat down as a franchise and decided to get him in. He’s our wicket-taker; sometimes he will go for a little bit of runs, but he’s always one that is going to give you wickets. In T20 cricket, wickets are important. Over the years he has been consistent playing for Jamaica and when he gets his chance for A team cricket, he will do well also. It’s just due reward for the hard work that he has put in and coming to the Tallawahs now all that hard work is bearing fruit for him.”

The left hander has returned to opening and showed his powers of concentration

AAP19-Oct-2022Matt Renshaw dropped anchor with a statement innings for Queensland as New South Wales’ bowlers toiled on day two of their Sheffield Shield clash.The former Test opener reminded selectors of the patience and shot selection that rocketed the teenager into the Test frame in late 2016, batting through the day to be unbeaten on 86 off 276 balls at stumps.Renshaw, now 26, has been returned to the top of the order by captain Usman Khawaja, who is batting four for Queensland despite his own incumbency as Australia’s Test opener.Related

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Since losing his Test spot Renshaw has expanded his strokeplay, finding success in the middle-order after Khawaja had replaced him in a juggle designed to rekindle his own international prospects.The left-handed Renshaw played within himself all day, leaving well and leaning on anything too straight in an innings reflective of the type that first fired him into the Test arena.Wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson was energetic in the final hour in backing up his season-opening century.Khawaja was in excellent touch before a loose sweep off Nathan Lyon ended his innings early in the final session.Renshaw was perhaps lucky to survive the day, with the umpire’s benefit of the doubt saving him after replays suggested he should have been run-out at the bowler’s end by a firm Peirson straight drive.Sean Abbott had taken the scalps of Joe Burns and Marnus Labuschagne – the latter with a fine yorker – before lunch to give NSW a sniff. But there was little on offer beyond that.”It’s hard work for the bowlers,” Lyon said of the conditions. “[I’m] trying to think a bit more on my feet, but it’s challenging.”Joking that Thursday’s advice would be to bring a set of cards to serve them during likely rain delays, Lyon did save some praise for Renshaw.”His best position is up the top of the order, that’s just my opinion,” he said.  “It’s good to see him back up there and a good step forward for Matt.”Khawaja said he was happy with the day’s efforts considering the scoring difficulties.”You can’t get ahead of yourself; if you force it that’s when you get out,” he said I felt good, felt really good last week, and disappointed not to get more. It’s a tough grind, [Renshaw] played with discipline and played some beautiful shots.”

The pair echoed Rahul Dravid’s assessment that participating in these leagues would impact India’s domestic cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Nov-2022Zaheer Khan and Ravi Shastri have echoed Rahul Dravid’s views on there being no need for India players to feature in overseas leagues. They insist that with the robust domestic structure in place, “we should focus on our country rather than looking outside”.There is a sentiment that India players, who are not allowed to participate in overseas leagues such as the Big Bash League or the Hundred, are at a disadvantage compared to players from other countries, who experience the format in a greater range of conditions. The argument gained momentum after India’s ten-wicket defeat at the hands of England in the semi-final of the latest T20 World Cup.Related

• Shastri: 'No harm in identifying new T20I captain, and if his name is Hardik Pandya, so be it'

• Dravid: Difficult to let Indian players play overseas T20 leagues

• Jayawardene and Zaheer elevated to global roles with MI

Some of ESPNcricinfo’s experts for the tournament, Stephen Fleming, Anil Kumble and Tom Moody, were of the opinion that India needed to reconsider their stand on letting their players take part in overseas leagues.When the question was put to Dravid after the game, he agreed that some England players may have been able to gauge the ground dimensions in Adelaide, the venue of the semi-final, better thanks to their BBL experience. However, he also said it would be difficult for Indian players to participate in overseas leagues, since most of these T20 tournaments take place during India’s domestic season. And considering the popularity of Indian players globally, their participation could have a negative impact on domestic cricket.Zaheer, who has been part of Mumbai Indians’ coaching team for a while and was recently elevated to the role of global head of cricket development by the franchise, felt India had enough resources to produce good players suited to any conditions and level.”I feel there are a lot of processes in place. It’s not about playing only franchise cricket, it’s about going to different countries to learn things. That is something which is important, and you’ve seen with BCCI, with their shadow tours, I think those processes are well in place,” Zaheer said, in an interaction facilitated by ahead of India’s first T20I against New Zealand in Wellington on Friday.”They’re absolutely fine playing IPL cricket and focusing on domestic cricket. We need them to play domestic cricket in India as well” – Ravi Shastri•BCCI

“I don’t see any other reason right now for players to go and play in a particular tournament. What you have domestically right now is also a robust structure. So why depend on others? We have more than enough means for producing good players. And you look at our bench strength as well, you can virtually play three line-ups, and they will be able to compete at any level.”There has been an increase in the number of India A tours over the last few years, and Shastri was of the opinion that the players get enough exposure playing domestic cricket, the IPL, and on these tours.Watch the India tour of New Zealand live and exclusive on Prime Video from Nov 18- Nov 30. The T20Is on 18th, 20th and 22nd November begin 11am IST, and ODIs on 25th, 27th and 30th November begin 6am IST“There is enough domestic cricket for all these players to get absorbed in the system and get an opportunity,” Shastri said. “Plus, you get these India A tours, you get a lot of these other tours, where at one given time you might have two Indian teams playing in the future, where the opportunity will come for the other lot to go somewhere else whilst India is in another country – to go play and see what you know they can do.”So there’s no need [to play in overseas leagues], they’re absolutely fine playing IPL cricket and focusing on domestic cricket. We need them to play domestic cricket in India as well.”

She is the latest player ruled out through injury after Capsey returned home with a broken collarbone

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Dec-2022Freya Kemp, the 17-year-old allrounder who made her England debut in the summer, has been ruled out of the rest of the ongoing tour to the Caribbean.Related

• Alice Capsey suffers broken collarbone in fielding accident

Kemp was not involved in any of the three ODIs during England’s 3-0 clean sweep of the West Indies and has been suffering with back pain.”England Women’s all-rounder Freya Kemp has been ruled out of the rest of the West Indies series with back pain limiting her cricket,” an ECB statement said.”Kemp will now return to the UK for further exploratory scans.”She is the latest player ruled out of the tour through injury after Alice Capsey returned home with a broken collarbone.England and West Indies play the first of five T20Is in Antigua on Sunday night. The final four games take place in Barbados from December 14-22.

Strikes deal with ICC to get rights to global tournaments across men’s and women’s cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jan-2023Sky Sports will broadcast all World Cups in the UK and Ireland under an exclusive eight-year deal struck with the ICC for an undisclosed sum.The arrangement marks the first time the two organisations have shared a direct contractual relationship and forms part of the ICC’s drive to sell media rights individually in key markets.Last August, Disney Star* bagged the broadcast rights for the Indian market to show all ICC events between 2024 and 2027 in a massive deal. The ICC had put out a tender to sell those rights with multiple bidders participating in the walk-in bid. Subsequently ICC put the rights for the USA market up for sale but there has been no further update on that.There was no bidding process involved for the UK market, though. In a media release on Friday, the ICC said it had decided to engage directly with Sky, which has a long-term broadcast deal already in place with the ECB to show cricket – both men’s and women’s – within the UK.It is understood that rather than a tender process, the ICC factored in the ECB-Sky relationship and felt it would be beneficial to lock in a deal directly with Sky. The ICC believed that doing so would simplify things from a production and marketing perspective.Beginning in 2024, the partnership will see Sky and its NOW streaming service hold broadcast and digital rights for all men’s and women’s ICC events, including ODI and T20I World Cups through to the end of 2031.During the course of the partnership, Sky will broadcast 28 international events, including both men’s and women’s showcases every year as well as a World Test Championship Final every two years and Under-19 tournaments. Three of those events have already been confirmed to take place on UK soil – the 2025 World Test Championship final, the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2026 and the 2030 Men’s T20 World Cup.Geoff Allardice, the ICC chief executive, said the partnership presented “some exciting opportunities for innovative collaborations”.”I am confident this partnership can support our long-term ambition to attract more players and more fans to the game,” Allardice said.Jonathan Licht, Sky Sports MD, said more people in the market were watching top-level cricket following the successes of England Women at the 2017 World Cup, and the men’s team’s dual successes at the 50-over and T20 World Cups – they are current holders of both trophies.”This new direct partnership with the ICC means that Sky Sports viewers in the UK and Ireland will continue to enjoy every ball, run, wicket and catch from every international tournament for many years to come, and we’re all hugely excited to see what’s in store,” he said.The 2019 Men’s World Cup, hosted by England, recorded the highest average audience for a cricket tournament in the UK to date and drew the highest ever UK TV peak for cricket of 8.8m viewers as Sky shared the rights to the final with Channel 4. England’s victory over Pakistan in the Men’s T20 World Cup final last year in Australia was the highest-viewed T20 match in the UK ever following a similar partnership with the terrestrial broadcaster.

Bangladesh were earlier restricted to 126, thanks to precise bowling from Chamari Athapaththu and Inoka Ranaweera

Andrew Fidel Fernando12-Feb-2023Bangladesh had had an excellent batting powerplay, but Chamari Athapaththu and Inoka Ranaweera slowed them down, and helped force the wickets that saw Bangladesh slump to 126 for 8, on a straightforward Newland surface.

Sanjeewani fined 15% of her match fee

Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batter, Anushka Sanjeewani, was docked 15% of her match fee for breaching Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct during Sri Lanka’s encounter against Bangladesh.

The incident occurred in the 10th over of the Bangladesh innings, when she ran aggressively towards Sobhana Mostary after her dismissal and clenched her fists in celebration.

Sanjeewani admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction and there was no need for a formal hearing. In addition to the fine, she was also handed one demerit point, her first such offence is a 24-month period.

Although there was an early wobble, Sri Lanka’s batters orchestrated a methodical chase. Harshitha Samarawickrama struck 69 not out off 50 balls to complete Sri Lanka’s second successive victory in this tournament.Earlier, right-arm-seamer Marufa Akter had threatened to demolish Sri Lanka, as she dismissed three batters in her first two overs of the game, all inside the powerplay. She was the only bowler to take a wicket. None of Bangladesh’s batters, however, reached 30.Samarawickrama’s magicIn the powerplay, she faced only 13 balls, but her effect on this match soon became clear. Where Athapaththu took it upon herself to raise the run rate, Samarawickrama’s job was to man watch the wickets column.She did just that. At the end of the powerplay, she was 8 off 9 balls. By the halfway stage she was 22 off 22.Finding her rhythm was what Samarawickrama did, for a while. Until in the second half of the innings, she began to find the boundary. Her most profitable stretch came in the 16th over, when she crashed two sixes and a four in the space of four deliveries. That burst put her innings into high gear, and she never climbed down, whittling away at Sri Lanka’s required rate, as Nilakshi de Silva kept her company.The two put on a partnership worth 124 – de Silva making 41 of those runs. She had made a serious contribution too.Marufa’s burstIf there’s any Bangladesh player who should feel aggrieved at a comfortable Sri Lanka win, it’s Marufa. After her first two overs, Bangladesh may in fact have had huge hopes of defending their modest total. She moved two balls away from Sri Lanka’s star batter Athapaththu, before bringing one back in at the left-hander and having her caught at mid-on – a classic dismissal.Next over, she took two Sri Lanka wickets in two balls, and helped push the battle towards her side. In the end, she finished with 3 for 23 from her four overs.Sri Lanka’s spinners leash the oppositionBy this stage, it should be clear to opponents that some pitches are merely playing to type. But perhaps this was just good bowling.Bangladesh got to 48 for 2 after six overs, and as such, could have been primed to get past 150. Instead the Sri Lanka spinners began to choke them.Athapaththu was chief among the chokers, firing in accurate darts, as Ranaweera and Oshadi Ranasinghe tempted them into big shots. In the end, Athapatthu finished with 2 for 19 from her four overs. Which would have been the best figures, if not for Ranasinghe’s 3 for 23.

Karachi Kings needed more than a boundary a ball, and yet somehow, they found themselves in pole position with four deliveries to go

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Feb-202318.4
Mohammad Ilyas to Imad Wasim, SIX, slower delivery that sits up to be hit outside off stump. Imad winds up and smokes it over the bowler’s head for a maximum! Is it too little, too late, though?18.5
Mohammad Ilyas to Imad Wasim, SIX, six more! Oh well! Slower bumper outside off stump. Imad picks up the change in pace and the length early and slams it over long on18.6
Mohammad Ilyas to Imad Wasim, 1 wide, full delivery outside off stump. Imad swings and misses but then sees the umpire indulge in a bit of exercise. Now then….24 needed off 7 balls. Another six, and things will get very interesting!18.6
Mohammad Ilyas to Imad Wasim, 1 wide, Ilyas is cracking under pressure! Full toss speared way outside off stump. Left alone by Imad and called a wide by the umpire!18.6
Mohammad Ilyas to Imad Wasim, 1 run, dropped, oh dear! Low full toss wide outside off stump. Imad chalks it back to the bowler, who is surprised by how slow it comes back to him, grassing it eventuallyOkay then. 22 needed off 6 balls. On most days, you would back the fielding side to get the job done. But strange things happen in cricket. Imad on strike; Abbas to bowl the final over.19.1
Abbas Afridi to Imad Wasim, (no ball) SIX, chest-high full toss and that has been pumped over cow corner! The worst ball Abbas could have bowled at this stage, and Imad just waits in his crease before swatting it for six! Called a No ball too!Free hit coming up. 15 needed off 6 now.19.1
Abbas Afridi to Imad Wasim, 1 run, back of a elngth delivery outside off stump. Imad swings at it and clogs it down the ground for just a single.
14 off 5 now19.2
Abbas Afridi to Cutting, 1 wide, length delivery fired a mile outside off stump. Cutting lets it go and the umpire has no qualms in calling it a wide. Abbas is now feeling the pinch. 13 off 519.2
Abbas Afridi to Cutting, SIX, and smacked into oblivion! Slower delivery that lands right in the arc. Cutting clears his front leg and clatters it over deep mid wicket and into next week! That went a 107 metres!7 off 4, and this has suddenly become the Kings’ game to lose19.3
Abbas Afridi to Cutting, 1 wide, another wretched wide delivery outside off stump. Cutting shoulders arms as the umpire indulges in some more exercise6 off 4 now, and the wheels seem to have come off for the Sultans. Can Cutting finish it with one blow?19.3
Abbas Afridi to Cutting, no run, slower delivery on a length outside off stump. Cutting has a wild swipe at it and only connects with fresh air. More drama!19.4
Abbas Afridi to Cutting, OUT, drilled straight to long off! Oh my! Another twist in the tale! Slower delivery on a length outside off stump. Cutting looks to fetch it and smash it over long off but the lack of pace means that he can’t generate enough power. He arrows it straight down Pollard’s throat, who gobbles up the chance with minimal fuss!Irfan Khan is the new batter at the crease. 6 needed off 2 balls. Where is this game heading?19.5
Abbas Afridi to Irfan Khan, 1 run, slower delivery on a length outside off stump. Irfan fetches it and drags it down to long on for just a single
5 runs needed off the final ball. A boundary will ensure a Super Over. A six, and the Kings will win19.6
Abbas Afridi to Imad Wasim, 1 run, Sultans win! Back of a length delivery outside off stump. Imad backs away and powers it down the ground. Long off, though, can cut it off and that hands the Sultans their fourth successive victory! What an ending, what a game!

The Australian arrives this week for a three-match spell with Sussex ahead of the WTC final and Ashes

Andrew McGlashan01-May-2023In March they were facing each other in Ahmedabad and next month they will do so again at The Oval, but for the next few weeks Cheteshwar Pujara and Steven Smith will be team-mates at Sussex.Smith joins the county this week for his somewhat controversial pre-Ashes stint, which will see him play three County Championship matches in the build-up to the World Test Championship final against India and then the five-match series against England.Related

• Aussies in county cricket catch-up: Ashes back-ups make their mark

• India, Australia brace for the unknowns at the WTC final

• Pujara takes on captaincy with run-scoring prowess undimmed

During the Test series in India earlier this year, Smith helped conjure the dismissal of Pujara at a vital time in Indore, both with his field settings as he captained in the absence of Pat Cummins, and then the remarkable catch at leg slip.Now Pujara will be the captain as he leads Sussex and will form one of the more formidable No. 3 and 4 combinations county cricket could see with Smith, although the battle to come won’t be far from the mind.”We have spoken, but most of the time we have played against each other. It is never for the same team, so it will be exciting to have him in the same side,” Pujara told after the recent match against Gloucestershire. “I will try and get his thoughts, try and know him a little better.Cheteshwar Pujara has been in fine form

“We will be playing WTC final, so it will be mixed feelings. On the field we always have good battles, but off the field we are good friends.”While the signing of Smith has sparked a debate about whether the county game is being too accommodating to the Australians ahead of the Ashes, it has also been talked up as a great opportunity for Sussex’s young players to work alongside a great of the game.”He’s a great influence to have in the team,” Pujara, currently the leading run-scorer in Division Two, said. “Will be looking forward to having him in the dressing room and trying to have a chat with him, learn from him, see how he prepares because he has a lot of experience [and] the amount of runs he has scored in Test cricket.”All of us are looking forward to having him here and sharing his experience. He has a lot of knowledge about the game so it will be nice to have his inputs.”Smith’s three-match spell with Sussex is also set to bring him up against Marnus Labuschagne when they face Glamorgan.

Royals have made questionable decisions in the middle of late, while sterling individual performances have turned KKR’s season around

Hemant Brar10-May-2023

Big picture: Will Royals end their losing streak?

Rajasthan Royals had started IPL 2023 in an emphatic manner, winning four of their first five games. Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal were bossing the batting powerplay, Shimron Hetmyer was showing remarkable consistency as a finisher, and Trent Boult was wreaking havoc with the new ball. As a result, Royals were hovering near the top of the points table.But their fortunes nosedived since those dizzying heights – they have now suffered five losses in their last six games. While the openers are still going great, Hetmyer’s returns have dried up and Boult has missed a couple of games with a niggle. Some of their tactics, too, have been questionable. Like sending R Ashwin to bat ahead of Jason Holder in certain games. Or not making full use of the Impact Player rule at times. They have to start winning again before it is too late.Kolkata Knight Riders have five wins and six losses from 11 games, the same as Royals, but they are on their way up. Until recently, they were being seen more as party poopers than serious contenders for the playoffs. But back-to-back wins, with Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell and Rinku Singh playing lead roles, have taken them into the mid-table logjam. And if they beat Royals, they will be in the top four.Sunil Narine’s form, however, is a cause for concern for them. After taking six wickets in the first three games, Narine has picked up just one in the next eight, and his economy of 8.60 is the worst for him in an IPL season.

Form guide

Kolkata Knight Riders WWLWL
Rajasthan Royals LLLWLIn his last six innings, Shimron Hetmyer has managed just 35 runs at a strike rate of 68.62•BCCI

Team news: Trent Boult is available again

Boult missed Royals’ previous game, against Sunrisers Hyderabad, with a niggle. But he is available for Thursday’s game.

Impact Player strategy

KKR are likely to be unchanged. Jason Roy and Suyash Sharma should once again be their Impact options.Kolkata Knight Riders (probable XII): 1 , 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Venkatesh Iyer, 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Andre Russell, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Shardul Thakur, 8 Sunil Narine, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Vaibhav Arora, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Royals will have to decide on their fourth overseas player. Do they want to strengthen their batting with Joe Root, or their bowling with one of Adam Zampa or Obed McCoy, or a bit of both with Holder? Dhruv Jurel and Kuldip Yadav should ideally be their Impact pair.Rajasthan Royals (probable XII): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Jos Buttler, 3 Sanju Samson (capt, wk), 4 Joe Root, 5 Devdutt Padikkal, 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 , 8 R Ashwin, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Sandeep Sharma, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal, 12

The big question

Stats that matter: Chahal on the cusp of history

• Despite his poor returns this season, Narine could be KKR’s trump card against Buttler and Sanju Samson. Across all T20s, he has dismissed Buttler three times in 67 balls while conceding only 69 runs. Against Samson, he has fared even better: three dismissals in 78 balls for just 64 runs.
• Nitish Rana is one of those rare batters who perform better when the ball is spinning away from them than when it is spinning in. Against Ashwin, he has a strike rate of 190.38 (99 runs off 52 balls) without being dismissed even once. But against Yuzvendra Chahal, he scores at 117.39 (81 off 69) with five dismissals.
• Chahal’s economy rate of 5.14 at the death is easily the best among those who have bowled at least five overs in that phase in IPL 2023. Chahal (183) is also tied with Dwayne Bravo for the most wickets in IPL history.

Pitch and conditions: Another run-fest?

No venue has had a higher average first-innings total this IPL than Eden Gardens’ 205. Spinners have been more successful than fast bowlers here, picking up 31 wickets at an economy of 8.49. Fast bowlers have 29 wickets at 10.47.

Quotes

“I asked [MS Dhoni] what more I can add to my batting for the death overs. He told me, ‘No need to think too much. Let the bowler do what he wants to, and react accordingly.'”
“I have managed to get him [Russell] out a couple of times. But you got to be very, very precise with how you bowl to him. He is a big player for KKR. Rinku Singh obviously has helped him and become a good death-overs player as well.”

Robin Das, Paul Walter fifties no match for fireworks from Banton, Smeed and co.

ECB Reporters Network19-Jun-2023Somerset’s batting masterclass strengthened their position at the top of the Vitality Blast South Group with a seven-wicket crushing of Essex.Tom Banton (42), Will Smeed (36), Tom Kohler-Cadmore (28), Tom Abell (40 not out) and Sean Dickson (30 not out) struck 16 sixes between them in an almost perfect team batting performance.Paul Walter whacked 51 and Robin Das a career-best 72 in a 94-run stand after Essex slumped to 15 for 3. But Somerset ended Essex’s five-game winning streak by chasing down 186 with 21 balls to spare to move two points clear at the top of the group.Smeed and Banton took on the 187 target with the intent of finishing the match in a hurry, the pair smashing 64 in 5.2 overs.Somerset were only on 11 after two overs before Smeed took Shane Snater for three successive legside sixes in a 23-run over, and then Walter was taken for 15 with both batters helping themselves to maximums.Smeed’s 16-ball 36 salvo ended when he toed to mid-on, but that breakthrough didn’t pause the onslaught as Kohler-Cadmore peppered Hayes Close with three sixes and 21 off Matt Critchley.Kohler-Cadmore cleared the press box but Simon Harmer had him caught next ball and Banton – who had reversed an outrageous six – was leg-before to Sam Cook for 42.Snater was brought back for a second over, Dickson plonked him over the square leg boundary two more times – the Dutch international going for 42 in his two overs.Daniel Sams returned 2 for 22 in a rare break from cannon fodder, and could have had three had Das held onto Dickson, but Abell and Dickson eased over the line soon after.Essex had been stuck in and were three down inside three overs.Jack Brooks returned from his loan at Nottinghamshire for his first Somerset Blast appearance of the season and had Feroze Khushi caught at deep point and Dan Lawrence skying – boasting 2 for 8 after his first two overs.New Zealander Matt Henry took the first of his three wickets when Michael Pepper’s extravagant shot was touched behind.But Das and Walter got the hosts out of their hole with two differing ways to bat aggressively. Walter took the aerial route with five sixes – starting with a pair of pulls before towering over cover, slog sweeping Roelof van der Merwe and then reaching his 26-ball fifty by clubbing a full toss over cow corner. He chased to point next ball to fall for 51.Das showed off his touch play with some beautiful timing in his 11 fours, although he displayed some muscle too with two sixes over long on. His second T20 fifty came in came in 31 balls before unleashing to end up 72 off 39.He pinged Henry to long on which began Essex’s second collapse, losing their last five wickets for 43 runs in 31 balls.Van der Merwe bowled Sams – before very publicly dislocating and attempting to relocate his finger – Will Buttleman gave Henry 3 for 24, Simon Harmer was run out backing up, Shane Snater run out chasing a second and Matt Critchley caught at short third after an enterprising 30.