Australia’s first day of Test cricket on the new broadcasters, Seven and Fox Sports, recorded a combined average of fewer than 1 million viewers nationally at peak time in the final session

Daniel Brettig in Adelaide07-Dec-2018Australia’s first day of Test cricket on the new broadcasters, Seven and Fox Sports, was unable to break a wider trend of falling television audience numbers, recording a combined average of fewer than 1 million viewers nationally at peak time in the final session.In April, the two networks shelled out a combined A$1.18 billion to Cricket Australia for the broadcast rights over five years, based in part on the concept that live sport remains one of the few broad-based audience drivers for television. At the same time, the deal contained a sizeable digital component, for streaming rights to Foxtel through their new Kayo app and other existing platforms, but it remains unclear exactly how large that audience is.A move to two parallel broadcasts for Test cricket has been an enormously complicated exercise for CA, Fox Sports and Seven, based largely around the hope that a rising tide of coverage would lift all boats, whether free-to-air or on pay TV. The early signs from day one were that the combined audience would be no larger than that enjoyed exclusively by the Nine Network – typically around the 1 million mark in recent times – for the previous 40 years, with the creep away from traditional television broadcasts to streaming and other forms of entertainment continuing.Seven’s coverage was watched by an average 454,000 viewers nationally in the morning session, rising to 588,000 in the afternoon and peaking at 773,000 in the evening session leading into the national news. Fox Sports, meanwhile, returned an average of 137,000 before lunch, 162,000 in the afternoon and 214,000 in the evening. The combined average figure for the final session was thus 987,000.While comparisons with past broadcasts are affected by the aforementioned move away from television to digital entertainment, these figures ran reasonably close to the equivalent match last summer, the first Test of the Ashes in Brisbane in late November, and the corresponding Test four years ago when Australia played India in Adelaide after the match was rescheduled due to the death of Phillip Hughes. The 2017 third session average for the Gabba Test was 1.361 million.There is a far more significant drop-off, however, if the figures are measured in terms of the five city metropolitan audiences so often quoted by television networks and advertisers alike. According to OzTam figures, the comparison for evening session audiences in 2014, 2017 and 2018 show a major decline, from 874,000 four years ago, to 823,000 last year and a mere 544,000 on Thursday. Changes in metropolitan viewing habits have meant that regional audiences are now propping up overall numbers more significantly than in the past.Seven and Fox Sports were eager to push the “reach” figures tabulated from day one, which are based on the number of people tuning in for at least five minutes across the day, and their enthusiasm was echoed by the CA chief executive Kevin Roberts. “It was moving from the talk off the field to the action on the field and it just saw how cricket is just a positive and uniting force,” he told SEN Radio.”We reached 3.4 million Australians yesterday. The numbers are still being put together, but we do know we reached 3.4 million Australians through the day. The third session went particularly well. I’m sure there were many, many Indians tuning in in different parts of the world as well. I’m just really happy for the players. They deserved the success they had yesterday. It was a brilliant day of Test cricket. Walking that tight rope in recent times, how hard do they go? Our goal is always to win, but our expectation is that we compete with respect. The way they played made me feel proud.”What is not in doubt is that a day Test in Adelaide draws fewer spectators and eyeballs than the day-night fixtures played over each of the past three seasons. Roberts indicated that he was keen to ensure that, in future, the match returned to a floodlit form.”It was actually the second highest crowd we’ve had for a day one Test against India at the Adelaide Oval,” Roberts said of a day one attendance of 23,802. “What we saw was many of those 24,000 yesterday sitting in the shade which meant the stands on the eastern side were quite empty. No doubt we’ll see a far bigger crowd on the weekend. We think we would’ve had 15,000 or so interstate visitors if it was a day-night Test so there’s no doubting we’ve lost that group of fans.”You look at the way fans have embraced it. It matters what the fans think and they’ve voted with their feet. Those numbers are incredible so we’re really excited about getting back to that in the future. Part of that fabric of cricket both nationally and internationally is so rich so we embrace the fact that they’ve had a different view about this Test match. We hope that the sentiment from fans is something India can see.”Adelaide’s crowd on Friday grew to 25,693 in somewhat less hostile weather conditions. CA and broadcasters alike will hope that the television audience follows a similar upward trend.

Australia’s head coach suggested the opener had previously become sidetracked by thoughts of a berth in the team before it had come to fruition

Andrew McGlashan10-Jan-2019

Australia head coach Justin Langer has urged Matt Renshaw to maintain his focus ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka with a belief that the opening batsman has previously become sidetracked by thoughts of a berth in the team before it had come to fruition.Renshaw, the Queensland left-hander, was one of three batsmen brought into the squad for the Brisbane and Canberra matches as the selectors made sweeping changes following the series loss against India. It appears he is in a battle with Queensland team-mate Joe Burns and the uncapped Will Pucovski to take two batting slots for the day-night Test at the Gabba.All three have been named in the Cricket Australia XI to face the Sri Lankans in the pink-ball tour match in Hobart next week with that three-day fixture shaping as a play-off for who slots into the reshaped Test line-up.Renshaw’s Sheffield Shield numbers for the season are poor – 199 runs at 19.90 – which was the reason he was overlooked in favour of Marcus Harris to face India. Langer suggested Renshaw, who was set to play against Pakistan in the UAE before suffering concussion, had got too far ahead of himself before the India series and the 2017-18 Ashes when Cameron Bancroft was selected ahead of him.”Hopefully this last little bit for him is a brilliant lesson for a young player, who we know is very good,” Langer said. “In the lead-up to the Ashes he probably got a bit sidetracked about getting selected for the Ashes, in the lead-up to this India tour he probably got a bit sidetracked by getting selected and what happens. When you get sidetracked by the future or selection you forget to keep your eyes on the ball and be good at what you are which is a batsman.”We know Matt is a good player and a great lesson should be learned for young batsman, think about now and the future will look after itself. No different to that CA XI, it’s a great opportunity for guys to think about that game and selection will look after itself. If they are sidetracked by getting selected in the Test team then the chances of them performing are lessened. That’s mental toughness, the sort of thing we like to see – that the guys are learning lessons and performing when all different pressures come on.”Justin Langer has a discussion with left-handers in the Australia line-up•Getty Images

Langer was happy for the pressure around the Cricket Australia XI match to be ramped up to see how the players coped with the added scrutiny. On Wednesday, national selector Trevor Hohns lamented the lack of red-ball cricket this time of the year on which to judge form and a decision has been made to elevate the CA XI match to something more akin to a Test trial.”The more prestige we can put into that CA XI, you can see it’s more like a 2nd XI, it gives guys opportunities. It’s against Sri Lanka and under lights, you could say it’s a bat-off and that’s great,” Langer said. “If people think there’s pressure in that that’s great because when you get to Test cricket there’s a lot more pressure than batting for a spot in the team.”The place for 20-year-old Pucovski was the most eye-catching call in the Test squad. He has played just eight first-class matches but scored a double-century earlier this season before taking a break due to mental health issues. Langer said his name had been talked about for some time and it was his ability to bat time that stood out”A couple of years ago he played in an Under-19s tournament and he scored three or four hundreds on the trot and I kept hearing his name come up,” Langer said. “He’s got a very simple technique, from my understanding he’s got a great vision of what he wants to achieve in red-ball cricket which tells me he’s got some hunger. He’s got some ability and he’s got some performances on the board. We’re not bringing him in because he’s just a good young player, [he’s] a talented player who’s shown the ability to score hundreds at all different levels.”

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be handed a two-match suspension for elbowing an Al-Hilal player in Saudi Super Cup defeat.

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Ronaldo to be banned for two gamesElbowed Al-Hilal player in Saudi Super Cup semi-finalWill miss two important Saudi Pro League clashesWHAT HAPPENED?

According to , the Portuguese will be handed a two-match suspension for his violent conduct on the pitch during Al-Nassr's Saudi Super Cup semi-final against Al Hilal. During the clash, the 39-year-old threw his elbow at Ali Ali-Bulaihi which led to him being sent off.

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The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Football Federation sat with Ronaldo to interrogate him about the incident where the star footballer reportedly justified his action by claiming that he should not have been sent off in the first place. After the meeting, the committee has now decided to hand the player a two-game suspension which will see Ronaldo miss Al-Nassr's crucial Saudi Pro League clashes against Al-Feiha on Friday and Al-Khaleej on April 27.

DID YOU KNOW?

Al-Nassr have failed to live up to expectations in the current season as they have crashed out of the AFC Champions League, Saudi Super Cup and are presently trailing league leaders Al-Hilal by 12 points.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star could be back in action for his club in the King Cup of Champions semi-final as they face Al-Khaleef on May 1.

Antony has been savagely mocked by Neal Maupay after his embarrassing celebrations following Manchester United's FA Cup win over Coventry.

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Man Utd toiled to beat CoventryAntony goaded the Championship sideMaupay hit out at the Brazilian for his anticsWHAT HAPPENED?

Coventry staged a remarkable comeback in the FA Cup semifinals as they came back from 3-0 down to force extra-time against United, leaving Erik ten Hag's side clinging to victory by the narrowest of margins following a dramatic penalty shoot-out. After Rasmus Hojlund converted the decisive penalty, Antony was seen cupping his ears towards the Coventry players – and the Brazilian's actions have been widely condemned.

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Maupay, known for his provocative on-field behaviour, has earned a reputation for being a Premier League “sh*thouse” who usually thrives on riling up opposition players. The Brentford star, currently on loan from Everton, is infamous for imitating James Maddison's darts celebration and also got into a heated altercation with Manchester City's Kyle Walker after he allegedly commented on the defender's personal life. But even Maupay was stunned after watching Antony's antics and said on X: "Just for the record, not even I would do this 😭."

WHAT THE CLIPDID YOU KNOW?

Not only Maupay but several other pundits also hit out at Antony for his excessive celebrations after beating a Championship side on penalties. Former Coventry striker Clinton Morrison on BBC Radio 5 Live, said: “He needs to worry about his own job instead of Coventry because some of his performances this season show he could be playing in the Championship.”

Whereas, Gabriel Agbonlahor, wrote on X: "Antony cups his ears as he celebrates in front of Coventry players? Is this guy the most shameless flop ever to grace our beautiful league? Shame on you Antony, you wouldn't even start for Coventry you prat."

India captain becomes the highest run-getter in T20Is as India record their first win in the format in New Zealand

The Report by Shashank Kishore08-Feb-2019It wasn’t quite an edge-of-the-seat thriller, but a stream of India fans – upwards of 12,000 – who made Eden Park seem more like Eden Gardens went home happy as India levelled the T20I series in style, along the way recording their first T20I win in New Zealand.In what was a largely straightforward chase of New Zealand’s 158 for 8, made possible only because of a 77-run stand between Colin de Grandhomme and Ross Taylor, Rohit Sharma became the highest run-getter in T20Is during the course of his 29-ball 50. Then Rishabh Pant demonstrated brute force and a calm head in MS Dhoni’s company as India won by seven wickets with seven balls to spare.What did the Indian bowlers do differently in the second ODI?

Colin de Grandhomme: “It looked like they executed their plans really well and used the wind and the boundaries to their advantage. They bowled into the wind and away from our hitting lines.”

The redemption
That India now have a chance of completing their long summer in the southern hemisphere without a series loss was largely due to fine bowling efforts by Krunal Pandya and Khaleel Ahmed. Their eight overs in Wellington cost a combined 85 in exchange for two late scalps. On Friday in Auckland, the pair did more than just a bit to trigger a reversal; their combined figures reading five wickets for 55 runs in eight overs. This proved to be the difference as New Zealand posted 14 less than the T20I average of 172 at the oddly shaped Eden Park with short straight boundaries.With the new ball, Khaleel extracted zip off the pitch to deny Tim Seifert any room at the start, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar cashed in. Khaleel bowled four successive dot balls to the wicketkeeper-batsman in the second over, leaving him frustrated. And in the third over, Bhuvneshwar had him nick one to MS Dhoni off a wild slog.Then, brought in to bowl the final over, Khaleel varied his lengths and pace to concede just five to deny New Zealand a final flourish.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe other bowling star – the other Pandya – quickly left an imprint on the game with a double-strike in the sixth over. After having the dangerous Colin Munro smash one straight to cover, he had a controversial lbw call go his way when Daryl Mitchell appeared to have got a thin inside edge on to the pad. New Zealand’s problems compounded further when Kane Williamson missed a straight ball to be trapped plumb in front to leave them 50 for 4 after eight overs.De Grandhomme makes a splash
If he was on a mission to dispel notions of being a bad player of spin, de Grandhomme didn’t do too badly. Among the things he did right was reading Yuzvendra Chahal’s googlies and then pummeling him for a sequence of 6,4,6 in the 11th over.The straight hit to clear the short boundary was his best stroke, but the real sign of him being in top gear shone through as he lofted Chahal inside-out to clear deep extra cover.Seeing the batsman ready to tee off, Chahal tried to bowl wide, only to see de Grandhomme hold his shape and time one off the middle of the bat. Krunal wasn’t spared either; his figures of 3 for 28 could have been much better if not for the back-to-back sixes carted by de Grandhomme in the 12th over. He eventually fell after getting to a 27-ball 50, but gave Taylor a platform to set himself up for the final surge.The master and the apprentice finish the job
Supposedly auditioning for a World Cup middle-order berth by batting in the top order in T20Is, Pant didn’t do his credentials any harm. Of course it’s a far easier proposition having to walk in after the openers have made 79 in 9.2 overs. Pant’s timing wasn’t sublime and there were two mishits that could have gone to hand another day. But the ferocity of his shot-making wasn’t to be missed.Then, with Vijay Shankar gone and MS Dhoni walking in to a run-a-ball situation with a little over six overs to play, Pant traded big swipes for deft touches to milk runs and see India home.

Priyank Panchal’s fluent double-century and his 196-run stand with centurion KS Bharat tamed England Lions’ bowling attack on the third day

Sruthi Ravindranath in Wayanad09-Feb-2019

Priyank Panchal’s fluent double-century and his 196-run stand with centurion KS Bharat tamed England Lions’ bowling attack on the third day of the first unofficial Test in Wayanad, as the hosts declared on 540 for 6. While Panchal’s overnight partner KL Rahul fell short of a century by 11 runs earlier in the day, Panchal went on to score his third first-class double-century, going past 1000 first-class runs this season on the way, making the visiting bowlers toil on a pitch that flattened out through the course of the day.Coming into the match with scores of 8 and 3 he made during the Ranji Trophy quarter-finals at the same ground, Panchal, resuming on his overnight score of 89, started off cautiously against the Lions fast bowlers who pulled their lengths back in a bid to extract some movement off the pitch.Rahul added only one run to his overnight score of 88 and walked back just six minutes into the day’s play, falling to a sharp catch by substitute fielder Jamie Overton at backward point. Two quick wickets followed, and that was the only period Lions dominated in the day.With the pitch easing up and the ball coming on to the bat, the conditions were ideal for the hosts to post a big first-innings lead. Panchal soon brought up his century, and once Bharat joined him at the crease, it was India A that dominated throughout. The duo soldiered for nearly six hours. Panchal, without breaking a sweat throughout, scored slowly through the first few overs of the day and then sped through after his century, largely targeting the areas behind square to score his big runs.Bharat started off in brisk fashion, showing his ability to flick, pull and hook deliveries pitched a little short on his way to a stroke-filled 142 off 139 balls, which was dotted with 19 hits to the fence. He brought up his century with an upper cut that landed straight into the point boundary soon after tea. In the very next over, Panchal stepped out of his crease while on 199 to launch left-arm spinner Daniel Briggs to long-on, as he burst into celebration amid applause from the crowd.The vital breakthrough for Lions was not far away, as a widish delivery from fast bowler Zak Chappell made Panchal edge to the wicketkeeper. They had to wait for 10 more overs to remove Bharat. Jalaj Saxena and Shardul Thakur then batted for two more overs before India declared with a 200-run lead.Only five more overs were bowled as rain halted Lions’ reply, cutting the day’s play short by nearly an hour. Having scored 20 for 0, the visitors will go into the final day hoping the pitch remains flat.

Cristiano Ronaldo completed his suspension and returned to action in the win over Al-Khaleej and the Portuguese has sent out a motivational message.

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• Al-Nassr win 1-0 over Al-Khaleej
• Ronaldo returns after suspension
• Sends out motivational message

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was included in Luis Castro's starting lineup against Al-Khaleej after his two-match suspension for violent conduct during Al-Nassr's 2-1 loss to Al-Hilal in the Suadi Super Cup semi-final was reduced to a one-match ban. The match against Al-Khaleej was settled by Aymeric Laporte's winner in the 67th minute and Ronaldo had a message for fans after the win.

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• WHAT RONALDO SAID

  After the match, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward posted on Instagram and captioned his post: "Happy with the win, let’s keep it going!"

• Getty
  

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  In the Saudi Pro League, Al-Nassr have been stuck in a sort of limbo with their second-place spot very well secured over the last few matchdays. They sit nine points behind league leaders Al-Hilal and are also 19 points ahead of Al-Ahli in third place.

• WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

  Al-Nassr will play against Al-Khaleej yet again as they will take on Pedro Emanuel's side in the semi-finals of the King Cup of Champions on Wednesday, May 1.

Wiaan Mulder, meanwhile, struck a career-best 146 to keep Lions in close pursuit of the table-toppers

Liam Brickhill24-Jan-2019

Results summary

A career-best match haul of 13 for 141 from Cape Cobras captain Dane Piedt helped his team maintain a slim lead at the top of the points table after the penultimate round of the 4-Day Franchise Series in South Africa.Piedt was in the wickets with his offspin from the first innings of the match in Oudtshoorn, skittling the middle and lower order to pick up 6 for 75 as Titans reached 275 after choosing to bat. A 135-run opening stand between Simon Khomari and Pieter Malan helped the Cobras secure a 100-run first-innings lead, and Piedt pressed home the advantage in Titans’ second innings.Opening the bowling on a pitch offering generous help for the spinners, he collected 7 for 66 in 28.1 overs, while George Linde bowled 30 overs of left-arm spin and Andrea Agathangelou’s 84 provided the only resistance as Titans were bowled out for 151. That left Cobras needing 52, Zubayr Hamza’s unbeaten 26 seeing them to an eight-wicket win with a day to spare.That result opened up a significant lead of more than 25 points at the top for Cobras, but Lions narrowed it to just over three points with their sixth win of the competition. Lions’ eventual five-wicket win over Knights at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein was built on sterling performances with both bat and ball: Wiaan Mulder, Kagiso Rapulana and Nono Pongolo all achieved career-best performances with the bat, while left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin collected his best ever first-class figures.Fortuin’s 7 for 70 meant meant Knights could only reach 357 despite a strong start from their top order. Rapulana and Mulder’s centuries – their highest scores in franchise cricket – and Pongolo’s maiden franchise fifty opened up a 133-run lead, and Pongolo’s 4 for 49 in the second innings tipped the balance further. Lions made heavy weather of a second-innings target of 76, losing five wickets, but Dominic Hendricks’ 49 not out saw them home, and closed the gap on Cobras.Zubayr Hamza keeps his eyes on the ball•BCCI

Meanwhile, bad weather seems to be following Dolphins around. Last week, rain washed out much of their match against Knights in Pietermaritzburg, and inclement weather also forced a draw in their game against Warriors in East London.After captain Jon-Jon Smuts won the toss and opted to bat first, Warriors made a strong start thanks to centuries from Edward Moore and Yaseen Vallie, declaring their first innings at 436 for 7. Having conceded a first-innings lead of 118, Dolphins clawed back thanks to seamer Eathan Bosch, whose 4 for 36 reduced Warriors to 163 for 9 in their second innings.That was the score on which they declared for the second time in the game after play on the final day only got underway after the lunch break with bad light playing havoc with the day’s action. Set 275 to win, Dolphins were kept ticking by Marques Ackerman’s rapid 77 and had reached 171 for 5 in 30 overs, with a possible 22 overs left in the day, before the weather closed in once again to force a draw.

On the national radar

As South Africa continue to consider their all-round options in both the Test and limited-overs sides, Wiaan Mulder’s career-best 146 and cheap second-innings wickets will not go amiss. Temba Bavuma’s impact with the bat in the same match was modest – he managed 30 in the first innings and 6 in the second – while Zubayr Hamza returned to franchise cricket after his Test debut against Pakistan with scores of 28 and 26 not out in Cobras’ win.

Top performer

Dane Piedt now sits comfortably at the top of the competition bowling tables after his 13-wicket match haul took him to 52 in nine games this season.Piedt has led Cobras with aplomb this season, as well as recording both his best figures in an innings and his best-ever match haul. He also struck his maiden first-class century against Knights in Bloemfontein to kick off the new year, and if Cobras can maintain their slim lead over Lions, he will have some silverware to cap what has been a brilliant season.

Pat Cummins and Travis Head have been named joint vice-captains for the two Tests against Sri Lanka, replacing the dropped Mitchell Marsh and injured Josh Hazlewood.Australia went down the route of having two people in the position to support Tim Paine before the tour of the UAE to play Pakistan, but Marsh and Hazlewood have only played once together, in the Boxing Day Test against India in Melbourne.Marsh was then left out of the Test team and Hazlewood was ruled out of the two Tests against Sri Lanka with a back injury.Head has only played six Tests but is captain of South Australia, and Cummins has enjoyed an impressive season amid Australia’s Test struggles.Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc are the other players who may have been considered for the role given their seniority.”Travis was an impressive candidate when interviewed during the leadership identification process we conducted last year. He has also continued to develop his leadership qualities since joining the Australian men’s Test team,” national selector Trevor Hohns said.”Travis is a respected member of the dressing room, he consistently demonstrates care for his team-mates, provides valuable contributions in team meetings, and embodies the values of the team.ALSO READ: The contenders in Australia’s unsettled batting line-up“Pat is a fine young man who displays strong leadership though his actions on and off the cricket field. He is also a well-respected and popular member of the dressing room, who consistently lives and demonstrates the team’s values and standards. We also believe in having strong and even representation of both the batting and bowling groups, and Pat will provide important insights and knowledge when making decisions in the best interest of the team.”As Australia slumped to defeat against India, there was talk of Cummins being a future Test captain, but it was a suggestion the paceman had quickly dismissed.”I think it’s pretty ridiculous at the moment,” Cummins said before the Sydney Test. “We’ve obviously got Painey at the moment, who is doing a brilliant job, and I think it’s his for a long time now.”I feel like I’m too busy in the game bowling and when I’m batting putting all my effort into that. And when I’m not doing it I’m usually off with the fairies trying to recover. So, I don’t think I would make a very good captain at the moment.”The first Test between Australia and Sri Lanka will take place under lights at the Gabba from Thursday, with the second Test slotted for Canberra from February 1.

Hazmatullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, and Hashmatullah Shahidi made fifties for Afghanistan before rain stopped play towards the end of their innings

The Report by Varun Shetty02-Mar-2019

48.3 overs

A persistent drizzle held up play for nearly three hours before the second ODI in Dehradun was abandoned without the completion of an innings. The covers came off twice during the break, only to be back on within minutes as the rain barely allowed for the umpires’ scheduled inspections.Earlier, left-arm spinner George Dockrell, and offspinner Andy McBrine took five wickets between them as Ireland put a timely end to two substantial Afghanistan partnerships and limited them to 250 for 7 in 48.3 overs before the stoppage.Afghanistan had an opening stand of 90, and a third-wicket stand of 87, but lost two quick wickets after both of them to lose steam and be forced into more conservative batting towards the end. On both occasions, it was the combination of Dockrell and McBrine that brought the breakthroughs. As the pressure mounted, allrounder Simi Singh sneaked in 1 for 33 in his eight overs.For the third consecutive game on the tour, Afghanistan had a strong opening start. Not for the first time, it was dominated entirely by Hazratullah Zazai. The left-hander opened the scoring on the day by tonking Tim Murtagh over midwicket and out of the stadium off the second ball of the game after Asghar Afghan had elected to bat. Ireland had McBrine share the new ball with Murtagh, a gamble on his offbreak to upset Zazai’s rhythm. While it worked to some extent – Zazai had several come off the top, bottom, and leading edges against all bowlers – runs were still fairly easy to pick up for the batsman. His sixes – five of them – were exclusively on the leg side and aimed over long-on, the difference just being the distance he got on them.Debutant left-arm spinner, 28-year-old James Cameron-Dow, was given a taste of this off consecutive deliveries in his first over in international cricket. Having faced only pace and offbreaks until the 12th over, Zazai sized up the newcomer, drilling him over long-on to bring up fifty, and following it up with a bigger slog next ball.His adventures only lasted three overs from there. McBrine, brought back into the attack, slowed down a length ball that spun away from off stump and Zazai’s attempted slog sweep came off the top edge. For the first time, it was in touching distance of a fielder and Balbirnie grabbed it running back from first slip.In the next over, another bowling change brought a wicket. Dockrell lobbed one up to Javed Ahmadi, Afghanistan’s other opener on the day, and his first attempt at forcing the attack against spin ended up with him lobbing a simple catch to mid-on. It was emblematic of Ahmadi’s struggle all afternoon; his 53-ball 22 played into Ireland’s hands even during Zazai’s onslaught. When they’d both been dismissed off consecutive overs, Afghanistan were 92 for 2 in the 17th over: a reasonable run-rate given Zazai had got his 67 off just 43 deliveries.The screws could have been turned further, but Balbirnie dropped Rahmat Shah at gully off Boyd Rankin in the 25th over, and Hashmatullah Shahidi’s top-edged sweep was grassed at deep square by Murtagh in the 29th. What should have been McBrine’s second wicket at the time became the starting point of Afghanistan’s acceleration.Shah was by far the more fluid of the two batsmen, promptly on his toes when the seamers dropped it short, and unafraid to use his feet to alter the spinners’ lengths. But after making 54 off 66 balls, he fell playing the wrong line to Dockrell, and made way for Afghan, who proceeded to hit the spinner for two fours – one to wide long-on, and one wide of long-off. With just under 15 overs left when he came in, the Afghanistan captain’s intentions were clear, but couldn’t be matched with more than those two boundaries as he chopped McBrine on next over.Shahidi, who announced himself at the Asia Cup last year with three consecutive fifties, was still around. He completed his fourth fifty in six ODI innings, looking reasonably comfortable against spin, but completely at sea against Rankin’s short of a length test. Having previously been rapped on the thumb trying to fend one, Shahidi ended up slicing a pull out to deep square against the fast bowler. Where he’d struck at at least 85 against spin, he got only 4 off 17 against Rankin. And his wicket – shortly after Nabi’s 20-ball 24 ended with a miscue to long-on – was the centre of a collapse that took Afghanistan from 226 for 4 to 234 for 7. Rashid Khan’s fledgling cameo was cut short as soon as he swatted Murtagh over midwicket, with the clouds that had persisted throughout the day delivering on their unwanted promise.