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Dom Bess, Somerset’s 19-year-old offspinner, took another five-wicket haul to bundle out Nottinghamshire and edge his side closer to a first-ever Championship title

Paul Edwards at Taunton21-Sep-2016
ScorecardDom Bess celebrates one of his five wickets•Getty Images

If you hope to make history, it is probably helpful not to be encumbered by the past.Dom Bess is too young to recall the years when Somerset nearly won things. That pain is for old cricketers. Fresh-faced and engaging, the offspinner only left Blundell’s School last year and does not even have a professional contract as yet. All he has is the present and it is glorious. For Bess is 19-years-old and he may be in the first Somerset team to win the County ChampionshipBowling with a high action and getting plenty of bounce albeit not much turn from this Taunton pitch, Bess took 5 for 43 as Chris Rogers’ team dismissed Nottinghamshire for 138. That gave them a first-innings lead of 227 runs, which they had extended to 332 by the close. It would now be a major surprise if they do not complete their sixth four-day win of the season and thereby earn the 23 points that would throw down a challenge to Middlesex and Yorkshire at Lord’s.For if Somerset win this game, they will, indeed, be the County Champions if Middlesex do not beat Yorkshire or if Yorkshire do not beat Middlesex and score 350 runs in their first innings. The prose of the issue may be strangled by conditionals and connectives but for Somerset votaries the poetry has often come first. This could be a wonderful autumn in the West Country.On this second evening, though, home supporters can look back with fondness on a day when the ball had only to hit the pad for all Somerset to appeal for justice. As Bess and Jack Leach probed Nottinghamshire’s batsmen like tyro barristers, they were joined in their merciless inquisition by most of the spectators in the County Ground. Those mighty entreaties could be heard by drinkers in The Ring of Bells and the good news was passed on to the stylish cafés in Bath Place. Cricket matters so much in this town.

Bess’ dream sequence

Dom Bess, Somerset spinner: “The last couple of weeks have been like a dream for me. To suddenly be involved in a team with a real chance of winning the County Championship has been fantastic. I really enjoy bowling in tandem with Jack Leach and he is always talking to me and offering advice.
“Our director of cricket Matt Maynard made it clear our batting collapse at the end of day one was unacceptable, but we remained positive because we were still in a good position in the game. Today my main focus while batting was to not nick off against Jake Ball and to try to spot Imran Tahir’s googly. I think it was a really important stand with Jack and it gave us a real lift
“With the ball it was a case of putting it in the right place as often as possible and I am looking forward to bowling again in the second innings.”

And as ever with Somerset the local pride was mixed with glorious eccentricity. Dom Bess, a Devonian, sounds more like a character out of than the skilful spinner and useful batsman whose 41 runs secured a fourth bonus point for his side in the first hour of the second day. Leach looks more like a Professor of Palaeography than the high-class left-arm spinner whose 3 for 42 left him with 61 Division One wickets this year.If Leach’s skills were not sufficient to earn him a place on England’s tour to Bangladesh – perhaps the selectors thought the trip would clash with the autumn term at Cambridge – they certainly offered too severe a test for Chris Read’s batsmen.Nottinghamshire’s trials had begun in mid-morning when Steven Mullaney drove Lewis Gregory straight to Tom Abell at backward point. Although Jake Libby and Tom Moores negotiated the remaining overs of the session, Bess’s excellent rhythm – he began with five maidens – boded well for Rogers, whose skilful handling of his attack never allowed the batsmen to settle.Five wickets fell in the afternoon session and the balance of the match shifted, probably for good. Moores was caught at slip by Gregory when driving at Bess and the spinner then had Libby caught off bat and pad by Abell at short leg for 42. None of the other Notts batsmen could match the opener’s concentration.Michael Lumb gave Bess a one-handed return catch off the leading edge and Samit Patel was smartly stumped by Ryan Davies off Leach for 12. By now Nottinghamshire’s resistance was crumbling and that process was accelerated when their skipper, Read, was run out for 4, by Max Waller’s smart throw from point. It might have been a tight call but this has been a month in which those such calls have gone Somerset’s way.Having gone into tea on a grim 120 for 6, the visitors lost their last four wickets in a little more than three overs after the resumption. In the modern fashion Somerset chose not to enforce the follow-on but it will now be a major surprise if that tactic does anything but postpone their victory.The significance of such a win may not become clear until perhaps Friday but the excellence of Somerset’s cricket and the memory of James Hildreth’s hundred on the first day will stay with their supporters far longer.One also knows that it will be a disappointment – yes, another one – if they do not win the title now. For even as Bess took his wickets, news from Lord’s was being passed round Taunton and its significance digested and analysed. “I wouldn’t mind but we’ve got to get through three more days of this stuff,” said a Somerset supporter, his addiction both helpless and endearing.And, in any case, he was only reflecting a widely held loyalty. On Friday evening, maybe sooner, the 2016 table will emerge in full clarity rather like the patchwork of the Quantocks emerging from the morning mist. And if Somerset are still best placed to win the title, you may expect the corpses in St James’s churchyard to be rattling their coffins in excitement.

A broken thumb has ruled David Warner out of the remainder of Australia’s five-match ODI series against England

Daniel Brettig05-Sep-2015Australia’s vice-captain David Warner is facing the tightest of schedules to make the October Test tour of Bangladesh after x-rays revealed he had suffered a fractured left thumb when struck by his first ball from Steven Finn in the second ODI against England at Lord’s.Warner’s injury is expected to keep him out of action for up to six weeks, meaning he will struggle to be available for at least the first of the two Tests on the subcontinent, leaving the Australian selectors needing to consider an all-new opening combination for the assignment following the retirement of Chris Rogers.Joe Burns and Cameron Bancroft are leading contenders to go to Bangladesh. Warner will be eager to tour as part of a new leadership combination alongside the recently-appointed captain, Steven Smith.”I’m not 100% sure if he’s out of the first Test yet, but he’s got a little fracture in his thumb,” Smith said of Warner. “It was disappointing to lose him in that fashion today, but I thought the boys stood up really well and got the job done. That was the most important thing at present, and I think looking forward got to find someone else to potentially fill the role that he won’t be able to do.”I’m really looking forward to it [Bangladesh] to be honest. I can’t wait to captain Australia in Test cricket, and hopefully I’ll be able to have a few senior players around to lean on.”Aaron Finch, who missed initial selection for this squad as a result of a broken foot sustained while playing for Yorkshire, is now fit again and has been called into the squad to replace Warner for the England ODIs. “It’s very exciting to be back,” Finch said. “It’s unfortunate for David Warner for me to come in under these circumstances, that’s not ideal, but these things happen in cricket and it’s great for me to be back.”Upon being struck by Finn in the day’s first over, Warner immediately retired hurt and did not bat again in the innings, though he did briefly test out the injury in the Nursery End nets after taking painkillers. Warner has played every Test for Australia – 24 in all – since his recall to the team for the third Test of the previous Ashes tour.Shane Watson also spent time off the field in the afternoon, having suffered what a Cricket Australia spokesperson described as a “minor right calf strain”. He will undergo scans once the team arrives in Manchester on Sunday to determine his availability for the rest of this series.

Sylhet Royals and Chittagong Kings will battle it out in the semi-final to decide the finalist who will play against Dhaka Gladiatiors

Mohammad Isam16-Feb-2013

Match facts

February 17, 2013
Start time 1800 (1200 GMT)Ryan ten Doeschate’s form will be crucial for Chittagong Kings•Bangladesh Cricket Board

Big Picture

Sylhet Royals would take heart from the gumption they have shown against Dhaka Gladiators. After Chris Gayle had flattened them with a century, it would have been easier to fade into the background of such a performance. Instead, they took the fight right till the end. It gave them the momentum to take on Chittagong Kings, who beat Duronto Rajshahi to make it to the second semifinal.The Royals would like to continue to play as the underdogs. It is a tag that has suited them so far, although a team that has Dwayne Smith and the marauding Mushfiqur Rahim alongside Elton Chigumbura has enough firepower to knock over a big total. They have some runs due from Paul Stirling, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Mominul Haque.The composition of their bowling attack would once again hover around who they pick between Dirk Nannes and Sajidul Islam. Common sense on a wicket like Mirpur would urge the Royals to pick all their overseas batsmen but leaving aside Nannes hardly makes sense even though Sajidul, his replacement, took three wickets.Kings’ win in the elimination match over Rajshahi would give them enough reason to believe they can knock out the Royals. But they were not tested enough to feel the need of Brendan Taylor, their in-form batsman who left for Zimbabwe. They are likely to pack the team with allrounders, but ultimately a lot will depend on Ryan ten Doeschate and Mahmudullah with the bat.

Form Guide

(Most recent first, completed matches)
Sylhet Royals LWWLW
Chittagong Kings WLWLW

In the spotlight

Mushfiqur Rahim will again be in the thick of things whether with the bat or behind the stumps for the Royals. His brilliant 86 against the Gladiators showed he usually has the measure when the team is chasing. His captaincy will be tested too, particularly after some of his bowling changes completely backfired against Gayle.
The knockout match would be a huge test for Kings’ pace bowler Rubel Hossain for whom bowling at the death has been quite a struggle. He has done well in one game out of three when they were defending a total, so if such a situation arises in this game, Rubel’s over could be the clinching factor.

Team news

Paul Stirling and Dwayne Smith have been passed fit for the game, Smith however will not be able to bowl. The Royals could still go with Sajidul as the left-arm seaming option, despite having Nannes around.
Sylhet Royals (probable): 1 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 2 Paul Stirling, 3 Dwayne Smith, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 5 Mominul Haque, 6 Elton Chigumbura, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Nazmul Hossain Milon, 9 Suhrawadi Shuvo, 10 Sohag Gazi, 11 Sajidul IslamShaun Tait has been ruled out of the match with a groin injury which means Kings are unlikely to break the winning combination from the previous game.Chittagong Kings (probable): 1 Jason Roy, 2 Nurul Hasan (wk), 3 Ravi Bopara, 4 Ryan ten Doeschate, 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Ariful Haque, 7 Jacob Oram, 8 Kevon Cooper, 9 Rubel Hossain, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Enamul Haque jnr

Pitch and conditions

A sudden cold spell in Dhaka could reduce the amount of dew during the second innings, though the wicket will still benefit the batsmen.

Stats and trivia

Sylhet captain Mushfiqur Rahim is the third batsman to score more than 400 runs in this edition of the BPL.

Quotes

“It is certain that the match will be highly challenging for both the sides but I’m confident that our boys would give their best effort in tomorrow’s match.”

“We have to be a lot more positive against Sylhet Royals, particularly with the bat. I think that’s the only change in approach we need to make.”

England Lions put in an impressive all-round show to seal a consolation win in the final one-dayer against Bangladesh A at Sylhet Stadium. Bangladesh A took the series 3-2

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jan-2012
ScorecardEngland Lions put in an impressive all-round show to seal a consolation win in the final one-dayer against Bangladesh A at Sylhet Stadium. Bangladesh A took the series 3-2.The day began well for the Lions after they won the toss and made quick incisions with the new ball. Jack Brooks struck three times in his first four overs to push Bangladesh A to 13 for 3. Left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan then came into the game with two blows as the score shuddered to 49 for 6. At that stage, even 100 seemed a far cry, but the hosts managed a recovery through the lower order led by No. 9 Noor Hossain (38 off 28 balls) to finish on 152.England Lions lost opener Joe Root for no score, but James Taylor and Alex Hales steadied the ship with a 52-run stand. Two quick wickets, within the space of seven balls, gave Bangladesh A an outside chance, but Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler supported Taylor well to ensure there were no further hiccups, until the winning runs were scored in the 38th over.

The murder of Punjab governor Salman Taseer in Islamabad led to the cancellation of the sixth day of the final

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jan-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsThe murder of Punjab governor Salman Taseer in Islamabad led to the cancellation of the sixth day of the final. The teams will meet again on January 6 to play out the extra day.

India’s selectors await fitness updates on key Test players, ahead of their meeting on Thursday to pick the squad for the two-Test home series against South Africa

Cricinfo staff27-Jan-2010India’s selectors await fitness updates on key Test players, ahead of their meeting on Thursday to pick the squad for the two-Test home series against South Africa. While Yuvraj Singh is almost ruled out of the first Test in Nagpur, the panel is not yet sure about the availability of Rahul Dravid (cheekbone fracture), VVS Laxman (injured left hand) and Sreesanth (strained hamstring). Fortunately, Sachin Tendulkar’s shoulder injury is not that serious. Given the long injury list, it’s plausible that they might name a team only for the first match.Accordingly, several middle-order batsmen will spend an anxious night if either Dravid or Laxman, or both, are indisposed. M Vijay, who replaced Laxman in the second Test against Bangladesh, should be slotted in Yuvraj’s place. S Badrinath may make it to the squad as cover, even if Dravid and Laxman are both picked. The next vacancy will interest Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina, who have both been a bit of a fixture in the ODI side of late. Mohammad Kaif, who has scored a double-century and a century in one week, in the ongoing Duleep Trophy, is also believed to have an outside chance.Other batsmen who have been doing well in domestic cricket – Cheteshwar Pujara, Manish Pandey and Ajinkya Rahane – will know that their performances in the Board President’s XI tour match against the South Africans might count for more than usual in these circumstances. The Board President’s side will also be decided on in the meeting on Thursday.If Sreesanth doesn’t recover in time, Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma should make the starting XI. Sudeep Tyagi, who was the fourth seamer for the Bangladesh Tests, should fill in as the back-up seamer. However, for the last home series, against Sri Lanka, India’s squad comprised three fast bowlers, so it’s unlikely that a replacement will be named should Sreesanth fail to recover. If they do name a replacement, Karnataka’s Abhimanyu Mithun, who led the wickets tally in the Ranji Trophy, could get a look-in.The selectors are likely to retain the spin trio of Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha – with two making the final XI. Dinesh Karthik might not be required as back-up wicketkeeper for a home series – unless MS Dhoni’s injury worries them still.

Nawaz took 5 for 19 – including a hat-trick – as Afghanistan chose the most important day of the series to put in their worst performance

Danyal Rasool07-Sep-2025A remarkable five-wicket haul from Mohammad Nawaz – including a hat-trick – on a surface that gripped on a dewy Sharjah night helped Pakistan steamroll to the tri-series title, scything though Afghanistan for 66 and securing a 75-run win. The 141 Pakistan put up in a spasmodic display after electing to bat first appeared inadequate halfway through, but an astonishing spell either side of the powerplay saw Afghanistan lose five wickets for four runs. It asphyxiated the chase before it began, giving Pakistan a handy boost ahead of the start of the Asia Cup next week.No side has lost a match after batting first throughout this tournament, and Salman Agha made no secret that was the reason he opted to set a target at the toss. Pakistan ran into early trouble when Sahibzada Farhan’s quiet series whimpered out as he fell for a first-over duck. Pakistan rebuilt cautiously but with Afghanistan’s spinners assisted by the deck, never truly breaking free. Several batters fell after starts, and by the end of the stuttering innings, none had crossed 30.But it didn’t matter once the chase rolled around. Shaheen Shah Afridi dispensed with Rahmanullah Gurbaz early to trigger a phase where the runs were strangled. It created the perfect conditions for Nawaz to come in and wrench the game from Afghanistan’s hands. It included four wickets in six balls before rounding the spell off with Rashid Khan’s scalp in front of a now-silenced Afghan-majority crowd that saw their team choose the most important day of the series to turn in their worst performance.Nawaz the matchwinnerOnly one place to start. Three years ago, Babar Azam famously referred to Mohammad Nawaz as a matchwinner, and over the past couple of months, the left-arm spinner has begun to fit that characterisation. Thrown the ball in the fifth over, he was slightly fortunate with an lbw shout he positively squeezed out of the umpire under duress with the strength of his appeal, before following up Darwesh Rasooli’s dismissal with an edge that got rid of Azmatullah first ball.Mohammad Nawaz hit a couple of sixes in his 21-ball 25•ACC

On a hat-trick, a lovely bit of flight drew Ibrahim Zadran out of his crease and Mohammad Haris whipped off the bails to catch him out stranded. Three balls later, an already incredible spell veered into the surreal with a fourth wicket to reduce Afghanistan to 32 for 6, trapping Karin Janat in front when he miscued a sweep. That kind of day would almost inevitably conclude with a five-wicket haul on a day Nawaz credibly looked like he might take a wicket off any delivery he wanted.Rashid Khan’s takedownPakistan’s display with the bat was little more than ordinary, but perhaps a now-forgotten over late in the first innings stood out as an exception to the trend. With the innings petering out, their run rate was just a smidge over six after 16 overs and five wickets down, Rashid Khan entered the attack for his final over to try and burrow into the tail.Salman Ali Agha was enduring a torrid time, having scratched his way to 12 off his first 23 balls. But when Rashid darted one in, he launched it towards square leg, clearing the fence before doubling up two deliveries later. Rashid did come back off the penultimate to get rid of the Pakistan captain, but Faheem smashed his first ball for four to bleed him for 17 in the over. In a game where spin found so much assistance, Pakistan’s ability to take 38 off one of the world’s best spinners was particularly impressive.

Allrounder resists temptation to make himself available for home campaign, amid stellar run of form

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Apr-2024Sunil Narine has ruled himself out of a recall to West Indies’ squad for the forthcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA, insisting that “that door is now closed” despite his stellar form for Kolkata Knight Riders at the IPL.Narine, 35, is currently leading the tournament’s MVP standings after a remarkable run of form, including a magnificent 109 not out from 56 balls against Rajasthan Royals last week, his maiden T20 century.He is also KKR’s joint-leading wicket-taker, taking nine at 22.11 with his offspin, at an economy rate of 7.10. That form led West Indies’ T20I captain, Rovman Powell, to admit he had been “whispering in [Narine’s] ears” over the previous 12 months, ahead of what will be West Indies’ first home World Cup campaign since 2007.Narine, however, retired from international cricket in November 2023, having not played for West Indies since 2019, and in a statement issued by KKR, he insisted he was not about to change his mind.”I’m truly flattered and humbled that my performances recently have moved many people to publicly express their wish for me to come out of retirement and play in the upcoming T20 World Cup,” Narine wrote.”I have made peace with that decision and whilst I never wish to disappoint, that door is now closed and I will be supporting the guys who take the field in June for West Indies.”Guys who have worked hard for the past few months and deserve to show our wonderful fans that they are capable of winning another title – I wish you all the best.”

Tim Southee will lead side in Pakistan, Williamson to remain white-ball skipper

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Dec-2022Kane Williamson has stepped down as New Zealand’s Test captain after six years in charge and will be replaced by Tim Southee for the upcoming tour of Pakistan.Williamson, who led New Zealand to victory in the inaugural World Test Championship final against India at the Ageas Bowl in 2021, will continue as ODI and T20I captain and also reiterated his desire to keep playing all three formats.”Captaining the BLACKCAPS in Test cricket has been an incredibly special honour,” Williamson said. “For me, Test cricket is the pinnacle of the game and I’ve enjoyed the challenges of leading the side in the format.”Captaincy comes with an increased workload on and off the field and at this stage of my career I feel the time is right for this decision. After discussions with NZC, we felt that continuing to captain the white-ball formats was preferable with two World Cups in the next two years.”Related

• Kane Williamson opts out of New Zealand central contract for 2024-25

• Tim Southee 'was right for our environment' – New Zealand coach Gary Stead

• Williamson wants to continue playing all three formats

• Ish Sodhi gets Test call for New Zealand's tour of Pakistan

After taking over from Brendon McCullum in 2016, Williamson led New Zealand in 40 Tests: winning 22, losing ten and drawing eight games. He averaged 57 and scored 11 hundreds as captain, both of which are records for New Zealand. He now hands over the leadership to Southee, who will become New Zealand’s 31st Test captain when they play the first Test against Pakistan in Karachi on December 26.”I’m excited to support Tim as captain and Tom [Latham] as vice-captain,” Williamson said. “Having played with both of them for most of my career, I’m confident they’ll do a great job. Playing for the BLACKCAPS and contributing in all three formats is my number one priority and I’m looking forward to the cricket we have ahead.”Southee, who has previously captained in 22 T20Is and one ODI, said: “It’s been a surreal few days and it’s just a massive honour to be appointed as Test captain. I love Test cricket, it’s the ultimate challenge and I’m really excited by the opportunity to lead the team in this format. Kane’s been an outstanding Test captain and I’m looking forward to working with [coach] Gary [Stead] on how we can build on that.”New Zealand coach Gary Stead hailed Williamson’s leadership and said that Southee would bring in a fresh perspective as a bowler-captain. “Kane’s guided the Test team through an immensely successful period which is testament to his ability to bring people together and work towards a common goal.”He’s certainly led from the front with his own performances and that was very much the case during our push to win the World Test Championship. We hope by lessening his workload we can continue to see the best of Kane Williamson for longer on the international stage, and we know he will remain a key leader in this group.”Tim’s a quality leader with a good cricket brain,” Stead said. “We’ve seen his captaincy skills on display with the T20 side and I’m sure he’ll continue to bring an aggressive style, whilst still maintaining the core fundamentals of how this BLACKCAPS team operates in the Test arena. He will also come from a slightly different perspective in being a bowler which I’m sure will also bring with it new ideas and fresh thinking.”

Middlesex thwarted by two runs on DLS despite Handscomb and White fifties

ECB Reporters Network27-Jul-2021Durham 288 for 8 (Borthwick 76) beat Middlesex 225 for 9 (Handscomb 75) by two runs (DLS method)Durham skipper Scott Borthwick top-scored with 76 and then delivered a crucial over to secure his side’s second straight Royal London Cup success as they edged a rain-affected clash with Middlesex at Radlett.Borthwick struck 76 in Durham’s total of 288 for 8, supported by half-centuries from Graham Clark and Luke Doneathy, only for Peter Handscomb and Robbie White to put Middlesex on track for victory with a fourth-wicket partnership of 130.But both fell in quick succession just before rain forced the players from the field at 173 for 5 from 32 overs – which was enough to push the home side behind under Duckworth-Lewis-Stern calculations.They returned for a further four-over thrash – with Borthwick conceding just four from his six balls and, despite a valiant flurry of boundaries by Thilan Walallawita, Middlesex fell just short of the revised target of 228.Clark – who had struck a career-best 141 against Kent two days earlier – continued his form when Durham won the toss and batted, hammering three boundaries from Tim Murtagh’s opening over.Despite the early loss of Alex Lees, well held by Sam Robson at midwicket, Clark and Borthwick scored freely in their partnership of 108, aided by some ragged Middlesex outfielding.Luke Hollman spilled a pull from Clark on the boundary and the opener progressed to 65 before he went after Robson’s long-hop and picked out the diving Handscomb in the deep.Hollman made amends for his earlier drop by removing Cameron Bancroft for a second-ball duck, but Borthwick found a willing ally in David Bedingham, who pummelled 41 from 31 deliveries to dominate their brisk stand of 66.At 193 for 3, Durham looked on course to post a daunting total, only for Borthwick to squander his opportunity of a maiden List A hundred by holing out off Murtagh and Bedingham departed in the next over, caught behind off James Harris.The visitors’ innings threatened to stall entirely, but a fearless knock by 20-year-old Doneathy – who clubbed five fours and a sweetly-struck straight six off Harris in his maiden 50 from 48 balls – gave them renewed impetus.Middlesex were soon floundering at 37 for 3 in reply, with Max Holden falling to Jack Campbell and Varun Chopra lbw shuffling across against Chris Rushworth, who then bowled Robson with one that nipped back to hit off stump.Handscomb and White undertook the reconstruction job, with the skipper employing the sweep shot to good effect and using his feet against spin in a knock of 75 from 71 balls.White opted for placement rather than power and picked the gaps consistently, reaching his first 50-over half-century with a leg-side boundary off Borthwick – but Campbell made the breakthrough, returning for a second spell to have him caught behind for 55.When Handscomb fell in the next over, Durham shot ahead under the DLS calculation – and that was how it remained when a downpour descended on the ground soon afterwards.