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Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
1:35

Tait: South Africa lacked someone with calmness when batting

Faf du Plessis scored 36 in the quarter-final of the 2011 World Cup. He scored 36 again in the virtual quarter-final of the 2017 Champions Trophy. On both those occasions, he was involved in the run-out of AB de Villiers. On both occasions the run-out proved to be the moment the match went away from them. Du Plessis went on to run David Miller out as well, and South Africa contrived to lose eight wickets for 51 runs from 140 for 2 in the 29th over.It will be all the more heartbreaking for South Africa that on a used pitch, slower than the ones The Oval has laid out, 275 might have turned out to be a pretty competitive total, but chasing 192, India could take their time when South Africa asked questions of them, and then Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli sealed their semi-final spot in style.India didn’t need to indulge in the mind games that New Zealand resorted to six years ago; they were just excellent with their defensive bowling in the first half, took the run-outs on offer, and then circled in for the kill with aggressive bowling changes. A measure of their discipline was how Quinton de Kock scored just five runs out of 53 square or behind square on the off side; one of them was a reverse sweep. India fell short of being magical in the field, but they showed they were not to be pushed around, reaching six run-outs, the highest in this tournament.Kohli was relieved when he won the toss and passed the onus of how hard to go in the middle overs when setting a target to South Africa. The ball refused to swing or seam once again, but India still thrived by bowling to contain. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah cramped de Kock up, giving him nothing outside off. Bhuvneshwar even brought the third man up to afford a deep point, which resulted in the batsman’s failed attempts to drag the ball to leg from just outside off. Hashim Amla struggled to time the ball, which was a sign the pitch was slow, and there was a need to recalibrate their total.By the time Amla walked across and took a risk to hit Hardik Pandya for a six – his first boundary in 25 balls – India had kept South Africa down to 52 in 14 overs. There were hardly any bad balls. Three of those 14 overs were bowled by R Ashwin, coming back into the side ahead of Umesh Yadav. Ashwin got Amla when he went back to hit a fullish ball square instead of hitting cover. MS Dhoni accepted the thick deflection coolly.Du Plessis made a fluent start to his innings, scoring off each of the first seven deliveries he faced. The energy rubbed on to de Kock, who showed remarkable patience in not playing low-percentage cricket. The run-rate gradually went up from 3.5 in 10 overs to 4.7 in 20 to 4.83 in 24. De Kock reached 50 for the sixth time against India – his previous five had been hundreds – and South Africa were back on course. Then Ravindra Jadeja, fresh from an ordinary game against Sri Lanka, began his fifth over. The room outside off remained elusive, and finally the low-percentage sweep arrived, claiming de Kock.De Villiers and du Plessis started promisingly, adding 24 off 23 without breaking a sweat. Then du Plessis hit to point, and de Villiers, coming off a hamstring niggle, didn’t shout no. The call here was the non-striker’s, de Villiers was well within his rights to send du Plessis back, but he didn’t. The big dive in the end did nothing for him.In the next over, du Plessis got a ball to the left of Jasprit Bumrah, India’s weakest fielder, at short third man. Du Plessis set off for the run, then stopped, then set off again, and by now David Miller just responded. Suddenly, though, du Plessis made a U-turn and beat Miller to the striker’s end. Bumrah’s throw was bad, but that worked in India’s favour as they completed an easy run-out at the non-striker’s.Du Plessis was on 27 off 31 when de Villiers was run out. He managed nine off the next 18 before chopping Pandya on in a manner identical to his dismissal against Pakistan. India could have easily set into template and bowled their spinners out. However, they bowled spin at one end and actively looked for wickets at the other. And the wickets arrived: Chris Morris and Andile Phehlukwayo to Bumrah, and Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel to successive Bhuvneshwar deliveries.Just to sum up how dysfunctional South Africa had been, last man in Imran Tahir was run-out too, not clear enough in his mind that it was his job to give the strike to JP Duminy, who was left unbeaten on 20. South Africa were bowled out with 33 balls unused.Run-outs seemed contagious as India got off the mark with a suicidal run. Miller missed the stumps, and Dhawan batted on. Rohit Sharma played a rare loose shot early in the innings to bring Kohli out in the sixth over. A string of 17 dots followed as Rabada and Morkel found some spongy bounce from the slow pitch. South Africa packed the region behind square with two slips and a gully for Kohli. A bigger chase might have brought about a big shot but Kohli just dropped one wide of cover and went to the other end. Dhawan took charge of the chase, and as is his habit, Kohli remained not out at the end.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq hopes his and Younis Khan’s impending retirement from international cricket can spur the team in its pursuit of a maiden Test series win against West Indies in the Caribbean. Both batsmen will make their last international appearance in the third Test at Roseau, and with the series tied 1-1, Misbah aims to remain focused on the demands of his role as a senior batsman amid the emotions that come with the occasion.Pakistan have drawn three of the previous seven Test series between the two countries in the West Indies, including their last two series in 2011 and 2005.”That has given us [Younis and Misbah] additional motivation and I hope that is the case with the team also,” he said. “Looking forward to it as a normal game and focusing on our jobs. As batsmen, contributions from Younis and me would be very important. Sometimes emotions can come into these sort of occasions but we will try our best to focus on our jobs.”Pakistan began the Test series well, beating the hosts by seven wickets in the first Test in Jamaica but a dramatic second-innings collapse in Barbados – Pakistan were bowled out for 81 in a chase of 188 – allowed West Indies to draw level. West Indies captain Jason Holder, stressed his side needed get over the Barbados win and play the perfect game of cricket, and highlighted that fielding remained an area West Indies needed to improve on quickly.”What’s happening in Barbados has gone already,” Holder said. “It’s important to put it behind us. We don’t have to forget the good things we have done there but we have to improve on a few areas – fielding is one, especially taking our chances and once we forget the last match as quickly as possible and move on to this, it’s better for us.”We are in a situation where we have played some good cricket in the series so far. We haven’t been perfect so we are striving to play a perfect cricket game. Once we can do that, or get to 99% of that, then we will be the better side in this game.”Looking back on the legacy he will leave behind as captain, Misbah stated that he had tried to show a young team the importance of being more disciplined and determined. Misbah took over as captain in the aftermath of the 2010 spot-fixing scandal and was proud of the manner in which the team had grown in the Test format. Under his leadership, the side briefly held the No.1 ranking in Tests last year, before poor results on the tours of New Zealand and Australia pushed them down the table.”It was a tough time, a lot of players at the time were retiring also,” Misbah said. “We had different issues with the match-fixing, etc, it was a pretty young team at the time and the way we emerged as an international team, especially in Test cricket, that was wonderful. No doubt, we are not performing like that in the last couple of series but still this team has potential. We know the way, we know the path and we have to follow that. As a senior, I have tried to show this young side the need to be more disciplined, determined and once you do that and work hard, you can achieve anything. That is what is really pleasing about this team, you are looking forward that this team can go along well.”

The Committee of Administrators (CoA) submitted its first status report to the Supreme Court on Saturday, saying the BCCI and the state associations have not yet complied with even one of the steps that had to be implemented to meet the timelines set by the Lodha Committee.The CoA, appointed by the Supreme Court in January, recorded in its report the two sets of timelines set by the Lodha Committee, the status for the same submitted by BCCI CEO Rahul Johri on February 10, and its own observations on the implementation of recommendations. Against each of the 15 steps set for the board, the CoA remarked, “Step not complied with”. The Supreme Court will hear the matter for these on Monday.The state associations have been asked to hold fresh elections, and among them, only Vidarbha, Tripura and Hyderabad have done so. On the status of other recommendations, Johri stated the appointment of an ethics officer and ombudsman could happen only once newly elected members from the state associations take part in a BCCI meeting to form an apex council. Johri stated that the appointment of the ethics officer and the scope of the ombudsman’s role will be an amendment to the BCCI constitution, which needs to be passed by a 3/4th majority resolution.The first set of timelines ranged from September 30, 2016 to October 15, 2016 and included recommendations on the adoption of a new memorandum and rules and regulations by the BCCI, the amendment of constitutions by state associations, amendments to certain IPL codes of conduct, and the implementation of the one-state-one-vote policy to be followed by Gujarat and Maharashtra, which have more than one state association.In the status for these submitted by Johri, the CEO said the new memorandum and rules and regulations were “not implemented” because the “BCCI members in their meeting need to accept this with 3/4th majority as per present rules”. Even though the state associations, barring Tripura and Vidarbha, had not amended their constitutions, Johri stated certain state units had declared they would do so and had communicated directly with the Lodha Committee.Regarding the amendments to IPL rules – including the code of conduct for players and team officials, the anti-corruption code, anti-racism code, and the operational rules – Johri said the amendments were agreed upon during the BCCI’s special general meeting in September last year, but the minutes of the meeting were yet to be approved. Amendments to certain rules in the IPL were also dependent on the appointment of a disciplinary committee by the ethics officer, ombudsman and CEO. Regarding the one-state-one-vote policy, the status merely said “yet to be formulated”, without any explanation. The deadline for each of the above steps was September 30, 2016.The second set of deadlines ranged from November 15 to December 30 and featured recommendations on elections for state associations, elections to the apex council of BCCI, the board’s annual general meeting, and appointments of the ethics officer and ombudsman, creation of IPL governing council and the appointment of the management under the new rules.Johri stated that elections to the apex council and the appointment of the ethics officer and ombudsman could happen only once state bodies had amended their constitutions and held fresh elections, after which elected members would represent their respective state associations in a BCCI meeting to then form the apex council.

Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman KL Rahul will miss IPL 2017 with a shoulder injury he sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. According to a source from within the team, he will soon be travelling to London to undergo surgery.It is understood that Royal Challengers had been looped in on Rahul’s situation and were prepared for his imminent injury-enforced exit from the tournament. The 24-year old had hurt his left shoulder five weeks ago, in the first Test against Australia, but continued to play through pain for the rest of the series.Royal Challengers did not name a replacement as they felt they had enough players who could step up to keep wicket. “His absence will be definitely felt by the team but both Kedar Jadhav and AB de Villiers are accomplished wicket keepers and we would look at one of them to take up the charge,” coach Daniel Vettori said.*During the second Test in Bengaluru, when he made two match-winning fifties, Rahul spoke about how the injury restricted him from playing extravagant strokes.Overall, with six half-centuries from seven innings, he finished the third-highest scorer on either side with a tally of 393. Along with Cheteshwar Pujara, Rahul was India’s batting mainstay, helping them win back the trophy. In fact, he struck the winning runs in Dharamsala that sealed the 2-1 result.Rahul is Royal Challengers’ second major injury setback after captain Virat Kohli had also been ruled out for at least a “few weeks” at the start of the IPL. He was the team’s third-highest run-getter in the last IPL, behind only Kohli and AB de Viliers, with a tally of 397 from 12 innings.*0930GMT April1: The story was updated after a statement from Royal Challengers Bangalore

The BCCI remains hopeful India’s Supreme Court will take a considered decision on the Lodha Committee’s latest proposal to disqualify all office bearers in the board and state associations if they fail to fulfill the eligibility criteria. A few of the BCCI’s top office bearers and officials said the board will not change its stance, but was happy to sit with the committee and have a dialogue to find a solution to the long-standing feud.The latest suggestions were a part of the committee’s third status report, which was submitted in the court on November 18. The committee has told the court that despite clear timelines in place to implement the recommendations that were approved by the court in its July 18 judgement, neither the BCCI nor the state associations have obeyed the order, and have continued to be negligent.One reason for the BCCI’s optimism was because the court had earlier “refrained” from approving a proposal of the committee to supersede the top brass of the board.In an order on October 21, the court noted that although it had found “substance in the status report”, it said “at this stage” it was refraining from approving the committee’s suggestion to supersede the office bearers because the board had said in a submission to the court that “it would make every genuine effort to persuade the state associations” to comply with the recommendations.The BCCI maintains it has done so in the interim. “The committee wants us to implement all the recommendations in toto or wants all the office bearers to go,” a senior board office bearer said. “But no one understands that the BCCI has already accepted nearly 75% of the recommendations, most of those being already put into practice.”The board, however, has consistently opposed certain key reforms such as the age cap of 70 years for board officials, the tenure cap of nine years with cooling-off periods in between, and the one-state-one-vote policy, among others.Thakur and Shirke had been asked to submit written undertakings to the court stating the board would unequivocally implement the order of October 21, and then meet with the Lodha Committee. The October 21 order had limited the financial freedom of the BCCI and had also directed the board not to disburse any funds to state associations until they complied unreservedly with the recommendations.In their affidavits, both Thakur and Shirke pointed out that board members had voted against adopting all the recommendations of the committee at the BCCI special general meeting on October 1. It is understood that committee did not feel it necessary to meet the BCCI’s top office bearers after that, considering they had already stated the board would not comply with the court order.However the BCCI’s reading of the situation is different. “To ensure that cricket runs smoothly, the court had asked the committee to appoint an auditor as soon as possible,” the office bearer said. “No auditor has been appointed so far. The committee was also asked to set a threshold limit for various financial transactions the BCCI gets into. No threshold limit has been given. All our major decisions have been put on hold.”The BCCI also questioned why the committee had proposed retired bureaucrat and former home secretary GK Pillai as an “observer” to look after the governance of the board. The committee suggested Pillai could also approve the various contractual obligations of the board in the future.”On the one hand the committee says there should not be any government officials [working as an office bearer or official]. On what basis did they then pick GK Pillai? Was there a process?” the office bearer said. Incidentally the committee has never imposed any restrictions on former civil servants, which Pillai is.A top BCCI official said that an adverse court decision against the board was not likely to affect the ongoing Test series between India and England. “Already the court has approved expenses for those Test matches till December 5. For the remaining matches, we will have to wait and see what the court says,” the official said.

ScorecardHong Kong captain Babar Hayat scored 49 off 31 to help his side to a score of 169•Hong Kong Cricket

Hong Kong kickstarted their two-match T20 international series against Ireland with a 40-run win, made possible by Nizakat Khan’s half-century and followed up by a collective effort from their medium pace attack.It’s Hong Kong’s second straight win in T20Is over Ireland, following up their dramatic five-run win defending 129 at Malahide in last summer’s World T20 Qualifier. Despite picking five debutants in a bid to rejuvenate their T20 lineup after a winless campaign at the 2016 World T20 in India, Ireland’s woes in the format continued again on Monday. Ireland has now gone five T20Is without a win, their last victory coming against UAE on February 14.Nizakat’s prior career-best in 19 T20Is entering Monday’s contest was 29 but given the opportunity to open the batting for the first time he responded in style with 62 off 43 balls. Six of his seven fours were struck through the off side while his two sixes were lofted over extra cover and long-on. He brought up his fifty in 35 balls when he took two runs from a dropped chance on 49 at long-on by Greg Thompson off of debutant legspinner Jacob Mulder, then punished the error by driving Mulder’s next ball for six back down the ground.Knocks of 49 off 31 balls from captain Babar Hayat and an unbeaten 29 from Ehsan Khan took Hong Kong to 169 for 5 after they elected to bat at Bready Cricket Club. Aizaz Khan, who opened the batting alongside Nizakat, then led the charge with the ball as his 3 for 10 in three overs helped bowl Ireland out for 129.Nizakat dominated an opening stand of 41 in 4.4 overs with Aizaz, the latter contributing just 5. He went on to add 56 more for the second wicket with Hayat before he was fooled by Mulder. Having committed to a premeditated shuffle away from leg stump, Nizakat continued with his shot to a ball pitched wide outside off by Mulder and produced a simple catch to cover. Babar made sure the tempo of the innings was maintained though, his 31-ball knock containing two fours and as many sixes, until his dismissal in the 17th over. Ehsan then ensured a strong finish to the innings with his 22-ball unbeaten knock that contained two fours and a six.Ireland’s bowlers shared the wickets equally with four different bowlers – Mulder, Andy McBrine, Craig Young and Kevin O’Brien – claiming one apiece while the fifth came courtesy of a runout in the field by Thompson. Mulder and McBrine were economical but Young and O’Brien were expensive, leaking 56 and 39 runs off their respective quotas. Four of Hong Kong’s five sixes in the innings came off of Young’s bowling.Ireland stuttered early in the chase and were reduced to 24 for 4 before the recovery started through a fifth-wicket stand of 59 between O’Brien (32) and Thompson, who top-scored with 44 on debut coming in at No. 6. They were the only two batsmen to make it past 15 in the Ireland innings, which was wrapped up in 19.3 overs.Aizaz found support from Hong Kong’s new-ball pair of Tanwir Afzal and Nadeem Ahmed. Former Hong Kong captain Afzal clean bowled Dave Rankin and Sean Terry in his opening spell while left-arm spinner Nadeem had Ireland captain William Porterfield caught at mid-off in the second over before coming back in a later spell to claim McBrine stumped for 10. Medium pacer Tanveer Ahmed also took two wickets while Ehsan’s offspin accounted for O’Brien.The second and final match in the series takes place on Tuesday at the same venue.

There are few things so certain in life as death, taxes and Misbah-ul-Haq facing questions about his future before the final match of a Pakistan Test series. While it is hardly unusual for an international captain to be grilled about their motivation to continue – even Alastair Cook, 11 years younger than his counterpart, was asked similar questions in his press conference – at 42, Misbah knows there are many more Tests behind him than there are ahead.And no matter the result of the match at The Oval, the topic will almost certainly be broached once more at its conclusion; such is the reality of professional cricket life after 40.Misbah’s captaincy of Pakistan is arguably one of the most impressive in the history of the game: that he has rebuilt a team in tatters after it was almost ruined by scandal, led them to become one of the world’s best sides despite never playing at home and helped them regain the respect of the international cricket community ensures his legacy will be monumental whenever he does decide to call time on his career.While winning the Investec Test series is now impossible, levelling the scoreline would still be an impressive feather in Misbah’s already distinguished cap given the current status quo, in which the disadvantages of playing away from home are so difficult to overcome.”Yes, of course, it is a crucial Test for us,” Misbah said. “A win will square the series and it will be really good for morale, also for the team, and it is very important for me also.”Obviously they have the momentum in their own conditions, they are confident but we believe we can come back from any position because this is a do or die Test match for us so we have to really play well.”Throughout the series, Pakistan have struggled with the balance of their side. They gaze at England’s allrounders with all the envious desire of a child at a sweet shop window. Their fast bowlers – unused to playing more than three Tests in a series, unfamiliar with the burden of extra overs required in seam-friendly conditions – have been worn down by a grinding England.Somehow, Misbah must find a way to pick up his bowlers and infuse them with the energy required to take 20 wickets and inspire his batsmen, both in-form and struggling, to give him something to defend. But, having banished thoughts of retirement after the series against England in the UAE last year, he maintained he isn’t afraid of any consequences for his captaincy should they fail to square the series.”I don’t have that sort of fear otherwise I would have retired long ago,” Misbah said. “I am always up for challenges and never thought of the results. I believe in just looking at the challenges and trying hard.”Another daunting Test tour looms in Pakistan’s near future. After returning to the UAE to host West Indies, they will head to New Zealand for two Tests and then Australia for a three-Test series where the experience of Misbah and Younis Khan, in particular, could be crucial. Misbah has been Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in England, with 267 at 44.50, but would not be drawn on how much longer he hopes to continue playing.”It’s really difficult for me to leave the team on these difficult tours,” Misbah said. “That’s why I’m here on this tough series. I’ll be looking forward to that [Australia tour], but let’s see how it goes after this series, and how I plan my future.”That could be really hard for someone young – even as a batsman to replace me in Australian conditions – and obviously it would be a challenge for a young captain.”Of course, there will always be challenging tours and series and, no matter when Misbah does decide to move on, he will leave an enormous crater for Pakistan to fill. But, in the meantime, there is The Oval, there is a chance to level the series and there is the possibility – albeit a slim one – that Pakistan could become the No. 1-ranked side in the world for the first time since the implementation of ICC rankings.”I will keep trying throughout this Test and if Pakistan needs me afterwards, that’s another point. I will think about that after the series but for the moment this is important for me and the Pakistan team. I will just go about this Test match.”

ScorecardBenny Howell’s sterling efforts could not see off Kent•Getty Images

Gloucestershire’s run of success in the NatWest T20 Blast South Group ended with a three-run defeat by Kent in a dramatic finish at Bristol.The visitors posted what seemed a moderate 148 for seven after losing the toss, having been given a decent start by openers Joe Denly (51) and Tom Latham. Benny Howell claimed three for 29, while Andrew Tye conceded only 19 from his four overs.In reply, Gloucestershire could manage only 145 for eight, despite 42 from Michael Klinger and Benny Howell’s rapid 37. Kagiso Rabada (1 for 19) and David Griffiths (2 for 22) were the pick of the Kent attack.The hosts needed 16 off the last over, begun by Mitchell Claydon, but finished by Griffiths after the Australian has been ordered out of the attack for a second no-ball full toss above waist height.Kent skipper Sam Northeast said: “Mitchell Claydon was supposed to pitch the ball halfway down the pitch in the final over so I’m not sure what went wrong. It was a greasy ball, which obviously slipped out of his hand, and these things happen.”Fortunately David Griffiths had a couple of overs left so we were able to turn to him. He has been a death bowler for us so he was a good guy to have up our sleeves.”As against Somerset last night, we were slightly disappointed with our score, but the bowlers have done the business for us. Now the aim is to win our last three group games and see where it takes us.”The start of the match saw Denly help himself to early sixes off Matt Taylor’s first and second over, but Gloucestershire bowled well in the powerplay, with Liam Norwell bowling three overs for 19, to restrict their visitors to 46 without loss after six overs.Even so, Kent looked to have laid the foundation for a decent total when with the total on 57 in the eighth over Latham was caught at deep mid-wicket off Howell.Denly went on to a 33-ball half-century, with four sixes and two fours, before getting an under-edge to Tye and being bowled with the score on 94 in the 12th over.It proved a turning point as Howell, Tye and left-arm spinner Tom Smith put the squeeze on Kent. Only 17 runs were added in the next four overs, which saw the demise of Sam Northeast and Alex Blake.A brief Darren Stevens cameo of 20 off ten balls was the best the visitors could manage and their total looked below par in good batting conditions.Gloucestershire made a poor start chasing the modest target when Hamish Marshall was run out for a single by a smart piece of fielding from Kagiso Rabada off his own bowling.Ian Cockbain was struck on the helmet by Rabada before being bowled for eight by a good delivery from Mitch Claydon. At the end of the powerplay Gloucestershire were 37 for 2, but Rabada had bowled three of the six overs, clearly in an attempt to remove danger-man Klinger.The Gloucestershire captain looked well set in the 12th over when a leg-side wide from James Treadwell saw him stumped by Sam Billings. At the end of that over the hosts were 74 for 3.Howell went straight on the attack, blasting a straight six and a four off the next over from Fabian Cowdrey. With Chris Dent already going well, it was the impetus Gloucestershire needed.Dent went for 28 to an injudicious scoop shot off Griffiths that saw him glove through to Billings and at 104 for 4 in the 15th over the game was still in the balance.Kent took control when Kieran Noema-Barnett was caught at mid-on off Claydon and Gareth Roderick was bowled by a full ball from Griffiths.Rabada returned to bowl Tye with the second ball of the penultimate over, but drama ensued when Claydon’s first delivery of the last over slipped and he had to hand over to Griffiths.That drama continued as Howell, was caught off another no-ball for height, only to be run out as he tried to claim a second run. Griffiths then held his nerve and the home side fell agonisingly short.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:24

Manjrekar: WI decision to bat first not pragmatic

Batting isn’t easy at Sabina Park. In 20 years, no ground has been quite as stingy in giving up Test match runs. Ask the local boy Marlon Samuels, who had to wait nearly 10 overs to get off the mark. Or the five Indian bowlers, who excelled after they were gifted first use of a pitch with live grass and considerable moisture. West Indies chose to bat and crumbled to 196 all out. Side note, R Ashwin secured his 18th five-wicket haul in 34 Tests.Batting is not impossible at Sabina Park. It is the venue that gave cricket the number 365, with a little help from Sir Garry Sobers. It was where Brian Lara proved he wasn’t just the Prince of Trinidad but King of the World. West Indies do not have players of that calibre willing to play Tests at the moment, but with a little more conviction, they could have been batting when the conditions were at their best for it. Instead, they were all out in 52.3 overs and the final-session bounty went to KL Rahul, who was unbeaten on a brisk 75 off 114 balls. A fine knock from India’s back-up opener, marking his return to Test cricket after nearly a year.The West Indian quicks pitched too full or too short or too wide. Their legspinner Devendra Bishoo began with three long hops. If there was a plan, its last step possibly read “execute at your own peril”. It didn’t help that when they did fool the batsman, luck wasn’t with them. Dhawan drove lazily outside off stump, twice, but neither carried to the fielders. Rahul, anxious to get the four runs he needed for a fifty, hit offspinner Roston Chase against the turn and was dropped by Darren Bravo at short midwicket. That both batsmen felt no need to temper themselves was perhaps an indication of what they thought of the opposition’s ability to pose a threat even on a helpful pitch.Virat Kohli had said it had been “damp” at the toss. The ball swung and seamed. It came to the batsman at a pace he couldn’t trust; it bounced inappropriately. All of that was the result of the moisture not entirely out of place in the first session of a Test match, especially at a ground where batsmen have only averaged 25-odd since 1996.The drive had to be stowed away in such conditions, but Ashwin, Ishant and Shami constantly put the ball at a fullish length on middle and off stump. Kohli had an even spread of close catchers – three for the outside edge and three for the inside edge. And West Indies were asked to play shots they knew could get them out.So Jermaine Blackwood began by leaving his second ball; it only barely bounced over off stump. Later, he lunged forward to defend Ashwin, but couldn’t reach it on the half-volley and was struck on the chest. Samuels was tempted into driving on the up by Ishant on 0, and was nearly done in when the ball leapt up at him. Shane Dowrich was caught behind trying to leave the ball. It seemed like West Indies were in a dark, cramped tunnel and even the light at the end of it was India celebrating around a bonfire.Ashwin was having fun once more. While his first wicket may have come in fortunate circumstances – an lbw against Blackwood shown by HawkEye to only graze the outside of leg stump – the next one exemplified the confidence he has in himself. Samuels had just torched a six straight down the ground. He was invited to do so again, this one tossed up even higher. When the ball was halfway down its path, however, Samuels realised he would never get close enough to its pitch. Ashwin’s dip had taken care of that. A hastily executed flick resulted in an inside edge that was safely caught at short leg. Ashwin had Dowrich caught behind, while Holder and Bishoo were beaten in flight; the five-for was rather academic.India had to grit their teeth through a few stages: the 62 balls that Blackwood batted for his half-century, the two balls that Bishoo nicked to the keeper and was not given by umpire Ian Gould, the 38 balls that debutant Miguel Cummins – playing in place of Carlos Brathwaite – and Shannon Gabriel swung around for, and the one that consumed Shikhar Dhawan to give Chase his first Test wicket with less than an hour to stumps.Everything else, however, went their way. Kraigg Brathwaite, stout of defence and temperament, fell to a simple trap. Two men were put under helmets at forward and backward short leg. Ishant bowled a short ball angled towards the batsman’s ribs – predictable considering the field placing – and Brathwaite promptly fended to Pujara in front of square.Darren Bravo fell to a simple trap too, but through no fault of his own. Ishant went around the stumps to make sure the left-hander would feel he has to play more than he could leave. India were aiming at his weakness outside off stump, with a bowler known for straightening the ball off the pitch. Ishant pitched it full on fifth stump, drew Bravo into a block, claimed the edge that was caught by second slip. Shami had Rajendra Chandrika nicking off to gully.Blackwood walked out with the score at 7 for 3. West Indies hadn’t seen such dire times against India since the Port-of-Spain Test in 1983. Blackwood was in the middle of dire times himself, having bagged a second pair in five Tests, and was a prime candidate to be dropped to accommodate an extra bowler. The selectors kept faith in him, however, and his counter-attacking half-century was the only high point for West Indies.

ScorecardJason Roy gave Surrey a bright start•Getty Images

On nights such as these, domestic T20 has the feel of being casino cricket. The house always wins. The London derby has become one of the most lucrative games in the county calendar and Surrey would have been tempted to give themselves a pat on the back before a ball was bowled at the Kia Oval. The threat of rain only materialised briefly beforehand, delaying the start time as well as possibly sending a few more people to the bar, and the ground was bouncing long before the chants to the tune of “Tom Hark” began as the home side closed in on victory.When Surrey were routed for 93 by visiting Glamorgan a few weeks ago, nobody booed; this time, there may have been a few involuntary yelps of excitement let out when Middlesex’s Brendon McCullum smashed his third ball into the crowd at deep midwicket. Surrey had looked vulnerable at 127 for 7 in the 17th over of their innings but somehow scrambled their way to setting a target of 174 and Middlesex were not equipped to sully the mood on this occasion.In front of Sky’s cameras, Jason Roy channelled the free spirit of England’s run to the World T20 final in mauling 35 from 19 deliveries, which included hitting his international team-mate Steven Finn for 6-4-4. No one on either side could match that until James Franklin biffed 39 to keep Middlesex’s faint hopes alive, which hinted at the skittish, adrenaline-fuelled nature of the contest. A 29-run win for Surrey was the cherry on top of a sizable cake.Surrey’s turnover on the night is estimated to be as high as £700,000, once ticketing, hospitality and catering are accounted for. By way of context, Leicestershire’s entire annual income in 2015 was £3.5m. Surrey have long advocated the “appointment to view” scheduling that currently sees much of the NatWest T20 Blast played on Friday nights – something that is due to change again next year – but beyond the financial argument, the club believe that they have brought more than 150,000 new fans into the ground over the last five years.This was English T20 scrubbed up and made to look its best – even if, in common with many of the Friday-night fun-seekers, it all ended up becoming a bit dishevelled by the end, as a streaker capered on the outfield with several off-guard stewards trailing in his wake. With more than 21,000 packed in on a clear evening, boozy roars reverberated around the great recumbent bowl of Kennington, the flamethrowers belched hazy orange plumes into the summer sky, and the stars took their turn to briefly sparkle.Surrey’s team sheet was arrayed with seven full internationals, including one of Test cricket’s greatest batsmen in Kumar Sangakkara and a reigning World T20 champion in Dwayne Bravo. Of the other four – Rory Burns, Ben Foakes, Tom and Sam Curran – it would not be a surprise if at least three went on to represent England at some stage. No wonder “The Rey” carry themselves like kings.Middlesex could not quite compete on paper but they were still able call upon England’s limited-overs captain, one of the country’s premier fast bowlers, and a man who runs Sangakkara close in the international-cricketer-cum-national-figurehead stakes in McCullum. That is before you consider Dawid Malan, Middlesex’s captain who was this week called into the England T20 squad. It was a night to forget for him, a foray with the ball in the 19th over in response to his side’s slow over rate leaking 19 runs before a stilted innings of 11 culminated in a catch to deep square leg.This was Surrey’s first Friday night match of the season and their biggest event outside of England internationals. It was announced as a sell-out several hours before the game started (the shortfall in attendance caused by those who had bought tickets not turning up), even though its Category A status meant that an adult ticket could cost as much as £29.The atmosphere provided by such a full house was a reminder of how T20 has both invigorated and jolted the game. There was a cup final feeling to the crowds thronging the Harleyford Road from Vauxhall, as city types jostled with groups of students, parents and children, young women, older couples. The windfall the format still promises is like that of a lottery winner whose life is sent spinning of its axis by previously unimagined riches.The on-field offerings were, in truth, slightly modest but Surrey’s innings was reinvigorated by Zafar Ansari and Tom Curran adding 46 from the final 22 balls to give their side a competitive total. McCullum was defeated by Ravi Rampaul’s slower ball and Eoin Morgan holed out off Gareth Batty as Middlesex slipped to 58 for 5. They needed 46 from 13 balls when a man clad in little more than his underpants ran across the middle of the pitch and was then tackled on the outfield; not quite the Las Vegas finale but, by that stage, everyone had cashed in their chips.