England put their recent indignities behind them to steal a march in the first ODI at The Kia Oval

The Report by Andrew Miller13-Jun-20181:56

Social story: England take the series lead

England 218 for 7 (Morgan 69, Root 50) beat Australia 214 (Maxwell 62, Plunkett 3-42 Moeen 3-43) by three wickets

Live scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsThey were handing out sandpaper boundary placards on the way up from Vauxhall Tube Station, but in the end, nothing could smooth away the rough edges in Australia’s new-look batting line-up. Despite their rookie bowling attack mounting a spirited defence of a substandard target of 215, England overcame a double dose of jitters to seal a three-wicket victory in the first ODI at The Kia Oval.Most of the pre-series focus had, rightly, been on the absence of Australia’s finest two batsmen, David Warner and Steven Smith, and, as might have been expected, they struggled to mitigate for that void in class. After winning the toss on a bright afternoon in South London, Australia mustered 214 in 47 overs, the sort of slow-death innings that exposed their shortcomings more comprehensively than a full-on batting collapse could have done.Nevertheless, England aren’t without a few notable embarrassments in their (very) recent history, and only days after failing to close out a chase of 372 to hand Scotland a famous victory, they came improbably close to stumbling in pursuit of a target of barely half that height. The beanpole seamer Billy Stanlake was the catalyst for Australia’s defiance, bowling Jason Roy second-ball for a duck as England slipped to 38 for 3 at the top of their innings, before Andrew Tye and his illegible T20 variations came to the fore in the tense closing stages.In the end it was left to David Willey to haul England over the line with an improbably grindy knock of 35 from 41 balls, with Liam Plunkett unbowed for the second match running on 3. But even then, England still won with a handsome 36 deliveries to spare, which spoke to the gulf in batting quality more eloquently than the official margin of victory.That was largely a testament to the elder-statesman class of Joe Root and Eoin Morgan. Their fourth-wicket stand of 115 in 21 overs managed to combine defensive accumulation with calculated aggression in a manner that Australia’s own middle order had been unable to replicate. Without such knowhow to rescue their innings, England really would have been in the soup. But then again, that is the entire point of experience.Before the start of play, Tim Paine had seemed visibly excited at the prospect of ending all the talk of sledging and cheating, and getting back to the day job. But, by the innings break, the captain who had instigated a pre-match handshake with his opponents to mark the start of a new era for his team might have been wondering if he was really that keen to starting talking about actual cricket once again.The early exchanges of Australia’s innings amounted to a vivisection of the tourists’ anxieties in overseas conditions. Willey’s prodigious new-ball swing accounted for Travis Head via a flat-footed slash to slip from his second delivery, before Moeen Ali came whirling through the middle overs, putting his miserable winter behind him with single-spell figures of 10-1-43-3 that might have been lifted straight out of the 1997 Texaco Trophy.Four balls into Moeen’s spell, Aaron Finch gave himself room outside off to pick out short third man with an ambitious wipe. Two balls into his second over, Shaun Marsh stayed leg-side of a well-flighted tweaker, a la Ben Duckett in Bangladesh, and lost his off stump for 24. And when Paine himself, desperate to set a tempo, any tempo, offered catching practice to short third man with a muffed reverse sweep, Moeen’s figures were 3 for 11 in 4.1 overs.After that, it was a given that he’d bowl his spell straight through. Adil Rashid kept him company for a six-over burst of his own, in which time he scalped Marcus Stoinis for 22, before Glenn Maxwell rode to the rescue of his team’s dignity, if not the overall match situation. A restorative 84-run stand for the sixth wicket ended when Plunkett induced a top-edged a pull to deep square leg, and when Ashton Agar misread the length of a Rashid legbreak to be plumb lbw for 40, the tail were rounded up meekly.But there was nothing meek about the response of Stanlake in particular. In the absence of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, this was his chance to demonstrate the timeless virtues of hitting a good length at 90mph. Roy survived one ball before losing the top of his off stump to a beautiful nipbacker, and when the debutant Michael Neser made it two wicket-maidens in the space of four overs by pinning Alex Hales on leg stump, the game was officially afoot.Jonny Bairstow, with three ODI hundreds in as many innings, once again looked a different class in easing to 28 from 22 balls with six outstanding boundaries. But then he nailed a pull straight into the hands of the lone man at square leg to give Kane Richardson his breakthrough, and England faced a test of their ego at 38 for 3.But Root and Morgan swallowed their pride and ate up the overs with deft sweeps, well-placed drives and sharp judgement of the quick singles. By the 29th over, they were 153 for 3 and cruising; three overs later, they’d lost both of their set batsman plus the dangerous Jos Buttler as well, who may be in some of the best form of his life, but today read Tye’s knuckle ball as if it was a Jaipur railway timetable. He had already been dropped off Stanlake – a swirling chance to Paine behind the stumps, who spilled it as his elbows hit the ground – when he scuffed a drive to mid-off.Moeen, determined to carry on playing his way despite criticism of his dismissal at the Grange, looked to have the chase in hand when he holed out to deep midwicket to give Neser his second and ignite that debate all over again. But in the end, he’d already done enough with the ball to ensure that England’s wobbles would not be terminal.

The only double-centurions in women’s ODIs•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Seventeen-year-old Amelia Kerr smashed an unbeaten 232 off 145 balls – the highest individual score in women’s ODIs – going past Belinda Clark’s 229 that was made in 1997 against Denmark in Mumbai. Her record-breaking innings propelled New Zealand women to 440 for 3 – their third successive 400-plus score against Ireland women.Kerr wasn’t done yet. She followed it with career-best returns of 5 for 17 to lead her team to a 305-run win – the sixth biggest in women’s ODIs. New Zealand also hold the record for the biggest victory – by 408 runs against Pakistan in 1997 – and more recently they had secured wins by margins of over 300 runs in the first two ODIs of this series.Kerr was on 217 off 141 balls at the start of 50th over and needed 13 more to topple a 21-year record. She drove the second ball of the over to long-on for a single before hitting two fours and a six on the last three balls of the over to cap the innings to set the new record. She reached the landmark when she smacked seamer Amy Kenealy down the ground for a six off the last ball of the innings. All told, she hit 31 fours and two sixes.After New Zealand opted to bat again, new openers Kerr and Amy Satterthwaite, who scored 61 off 45 balls, set a strong platform by adding 113 runs. The partnership ended in the 15th over when Gaby Lewis had Satterthwaite holing out on the leg side. Kerr then combined with Leigh Kasperek, who was promoted to No. 3, to amass 295 runs at a run rate of nearly nine runs per over in 33.1 overs.Kasperek brought up her maiden ODI hundred off 97 balls when she ramped Lara Maritz over the keeper’s head for four in the 46th over. Martitz bowled Kasperek for 113 two overs later but Kerr was simply unstoppable. Conceding as many as 30 extras, including 18 wides, did not help Ireland’s cause either.Kerr then starred with her legspin to rip through the chase. She began with a maiden and then bowled top-scorer Una Raymond-Hoey (42) around her legs. Ireland were 91 for 4 at that point after 25 overs. They added only 44 more before being dismissed in 44 overs. Kerr made light work of the lower order and fittingly sealed victory when she bowled No. 11 Cara Murray for a duck to end with figures of 7-1-17-5.Kerr ended the three-match series as the highest scorer, with 342 runs at a strike rate of 156.88, and the highest wicket-taker with eight scalps, to be named the Player of the Series.

The Portland Timbers are in pursuit of Monterrey's superstar forward Germán Berterame.

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• Portland Timbers bid for Germán Berterame
• Argentine valued at $15m
• MLS side pushing for club-record deal

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Athletic reports that $15m rated Germán Berterame would be tied for the second-highest MLS transfer of all time, alongside Ezequiel Barco and Gonzalo Martinez – both formerly of Atlanta United. The Timbers have an open DP slot, and Phil Neville is looking to bolster his squad with a marquee signing.

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  The Timbers are in need of a goal-scoring striker, and it appears that they have honed in on their man. However, they do have a backup plan, with the same report sharing that they are a potential suitor for Club America's Jonathan Rodriguez.

  Berterame has 23 goals and nine assists in 61 appearances for Neville appears to believe that the Argentine can produce even better numbers in MLS and is ready to work with the Timbers to splash the cash if the two clubs can come to an agreement over the transfer.

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  The Five Stripes also own the most expensive incoming transfer in World Cup winner Thiago Almada, as well.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BERTERAME AND THE TIMBERS?

  Monterrey take on Pumas Sunday evening in Liga MX action, and with a win, they could move atop the league standings. Portland, meanwhile, takes on D.C. United late Saturday night.

Shoaib Malik’s unbeaten 49, coupled with Usman Khan’s two wickets propelled Pakistan towards a series win against Scotland, thumping the hosts by 84 runs in the second T20I

The Report by Danyal Rasool13-Jun-2018Leask 3-31) beat Scotland 82 (MacLeod 25, Faheem 3-5) by 84 runsAnother T20I masterclass from Pakistan veteran Shoaib Malik propelled Pakistan towards a series win against Scotland, thumping the hosts by 84 runs in the second T20I at the Grange. Under overcast conditions with a light drizzle threatening to interrupt the game for most of the match, Shoaib exploded – much like the first game – in the last few overs, smashing five sixes as he blitzed 49 off 22 to help Pakistan surge to 166.Unlike Tuesday, Scotland were never quite in the hunt for this one, losing George Munsey off the third ball, and never quite managing any momentum that might suggest a real contest could be on the cards. They were untidy with their running, rushed with their strokeplay and generally uncomfortable in the face of a sensational Pakistan in the field. It was a much improved bowling performance from the visitors, spearheaded by Usman Khan, who came in for Mohammad Amir, and registered figures of 2-0-4-2. Scotland began to fall away rather dramatically towards the end, with no less than three players run out as Kyle Coetzer’s men were bundled out for 82.There was some drama before the start, with Cricket Scotland officials and the television production team locked in an argument over using a fresh pitch for this game. The TV crew were concerned their cameras couldn’t be in line with the bowler at one end of the pitch, the result being a slightly askew broadcast angle from the Pavilion End. It’s the sort of drama people associate, sometimes patronisingly, with cricket on the Associate landscape.But Scotland wouldn’t have wanted the haphazardness to extend to their on-field performance. Pakistan got off to a flying start again, though Scotland were unfortunate not to have Fakhar Zaman out in the first over. Chris Sole extracted both an outside and an inside edge in the first six deliveries, the former put down in the slips, the latter narrowly missing the stumps. Both went for four. Sole had bowled an excellent first over, and conceded 12 runs.Shehzad and Zaman put on 60 for the first wicket, but Scotland, just as they had done in the first game, struck back in the middle overs. The runs were restricted right up until the last two overs, with batsmen unable to kick on from starts in the face of tight, disciplined bowling from Scotland’s bowlers, particularly Mark Watt and Michael Leask.Peter Della PennaBut Shoaib Malik came to Pakistan’s rescue once more, with a whirlwind last two overs, scoring 32 of Pakistan’s 34 runs as they turned a slightly below-par score into an imposing one of 166. He was put down at the end of the 19th over on the long-off boundary, a simple catch that Leask failed to hold on to. Just as Tuesday, the drops cost Scotland dear in the field as Shoaib went on to score 14 in the final over, leaving Scotland to ponder how to improve their fielding against a quality opposition like the one they faced today.The pitch looked no worse than the one used on Tuesday, where 200 seemed about par. But the change of pitch today meant the long-on/ midwicket boundary from one side of the ground was 10 meters larger, and shots that would have comfortably carried over the ropes on Tuesday were being caught inside the boundary on the field, including a spectacular tag-team catch and relay effort from Dylan Budge and Watt to claim Sarfraz at deep square leg. That restricted Pakistan to the relatively modest 166, and made it arguably a more searching chase than the previous one might have been.However, at no stage of the Scottish innings did their batsmen begin to establish any sort of relationship with the boundary rope. Pakistan circled around them in the infield, and the pitch looked a fair bit faster when the Pakistan bowlers were operating on it. Usman isn’t a regular starter for Pakistan, but when in form, almost always seems to make a match-winning difference. He hurried on to the batsmen, and as the rain began to get slightly heavier, the Scottish mood began to match the Edinburgh weather. They could do little more than shuffle around for ones and twos and get the odd boundary, but it was never nearly enough to challenge the ever-rising asking rate.It was unfortunate to see the home side losing their heads towards the end, with a couple of unnecessary run-outs easing Pakistan’s way to an inevitable win they didn’t need any help with. Calum MacLeod was the man at the other end for all three of Scotland’s run-outs, but you’d be hard-pressed to blame him for any of them, what with the Pakistan fielders prowling, looking to save every run as the asking rate bounded out of sight. Faheem Ashraf came back to polish off the last two wickets, giving his figures a shiny new look by the end, having taken three wickets for five runs.By the end, Pakistan’s dominance was so absolute, it was easy to forget the strides Scotland have made over the past few years. It would be harsh to focus on the manner of the defeat, and more prudent to reflect on the professionalism with which Pakistan have moved on from a Test series against England to a T20I series in Edinburgh, never letting their focus waver, and fielding a full-strength team when several others might have chosen to rest players. It was apt respect to pay to a side that has very much earned it over the last week.

Steven Davies top-scored against his former county as Somerset twice fought back from testing situations

ECB Reporters Network22-Jul-2018Somerset 324 for 9 (Davies 72, Hildreth 57) v Worcestershire
ScorecardSteven Davies top-scored against his former county as Somerset twice fought back from testing situations on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship Division One clash with bottom-placed Worcestershire at Blackfinch New Road.The wicketkeeper batsman hit a fluent 72 and there were also half centuries from Tom Abell and James Hildreth as Somerset recovered from 11 for 2 and then 115 for 4 to reach 324 for 9 from 96 overs by the close.England spinner Moeen Ali picked up three wickets on his return to Championship cricket.Worcestershire handed a Championship debut to wicket-keeper batsman Alex Milton, who was tidy and picked up three catches, and on loan Nottinghamshire paceman Luke Wood.Somerset’s new overseas player, Azhar Ali, made his first appearance for the County as the replacement for the injured Australian batsman Matt Renshaw.Brett D’Oliveira opted to put the visitors into bat after winning the toss and the new ball attack of Magoffin and Wood made a double breakthrough.Magoffin asked questions of both batsmen during an initial spell of 6-4-5-1 and he accounted for Edward Byrom (5) – caught behind by Milton who replaced broken-rib victim Ben Cox after 76 successive Championship appearances spanning five seasons.In the next over Wood trapped Marcus Trescothick lbw for 6 in his first appearance since May after recovering from a broken metatarsal with the total on 11.Azhar and Hildreth were initially watchful but then flourished during a third wicket stand of 99 in 28 overs.Hildreth, a century-maker at Taunton in the early season fixture between the sides, was the dominant partner and reached a 99 ball half century with 11 boundaries but Azhar provided a solid ally.The game edged back in Worcestershire favour with two wickets to Dillon Pennington during a fiery pre-lunch spell. Azhar (37) pushed forward and nicked through to Milton and then Hildreth (57) shouldered arms and was bowled at 115 for 4.A second Somerset period of recovery was instigated by Abell and Davies during a partnership of 126 in 33 overs.But it could have ended with the total on 140 as Abell (25) swept Moeen to backward square leg only for Joe Clarke, who was directly facing the sun, to allow the ball to slip through his hands and over the boundary rope.Davies straight drove Moeen for six and was first to his half century from 72 balls with also eight fours to his name.Abell followed his team-mate to fifty in more circumspect fashion from 107 balls. But Moeen broke the partnership when Davies (72) played back and nicked to Milton who held onto a sharp chance. He then claimed another wicket as Peter Trego (1) was leg before.Magoffin returned with the second new ball and picked up a deserved second wicket as Abell – 70 from 151 balls with 13 fours – was lbw.But then the Overton brothers, Craig (31) and Jamie (28), plundered 51 in eight overs before falling to Moeen and Ed Barnard respectively.

Newcastle United's home St. James' Park is the favourite to host the inaugural Over-35s World Cup.

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St. James' could host Over-35s World CupEight teams to take part in the inaugural editionCould be held in the first week of JuneWHAT HAPPENED?

The first-ever edition of the Over-35s World Cup is all set to be held in England in June with Newcastle United's home ground St. James' Park likely to host the matches, according to the Daily Mail. The Elite Player Group, who are organising the tournament, recently met representatives of the Magpies and the local council of Newcastle city.

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The tournament is all set to feature eight teams – England, Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Uruguay – all past champions of the FIFA World Cup. Players who are aged 35 or above capped by their country or with 100 top-flight appearances are eligible to participate in the competition.

DID YOU KNOW?

All eight teams have already revealed their respective captains for the tournament. The leaders will be Steve McManaman (England), Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina), Emerson (Brazil), Christian Karembeu (France), Kevin Kuranyi (Germany), Marco Materazzi (Italy), Michel Salgado (Spain) and Diego Lugano (Uruguay). Full 18-man final squads will be announced soon.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

While the dates of the competition are yet to be finalised, the tournament could be tentatively hosted in the first week of June with the final taking place on June 11 or June 12.

Alyssa Naeher was the undoubted hero for the USWNT in their W Gold Cup penalty shootout win over Canada, as she saved three and scored one herself.

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• Thrilling contest went all the way
• Crazy conditions in California
• Veteran keeper made the difference

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Chicago Red Stars custodian, who has become an international centurion after reaching 100 caps, appeared to have suffered spot-kick agony at the end of an epic encounter that saw Adriana Leon snatch a 127th-minute equaliser in a thrilling 2-2 draw.

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  Conditions at Snapdragon Stadium in California made life difficult for both sides, with torrential rain making the pitch almost unplayable. That worked in favour of the USWNT at times, especially when Jaedyn Shaw was assisted by a puddle when opening the scoring, but the game would ultimately be settled by a battle of nerves from 12 yards.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Naeher held hers to keep out three of Canada’s efforts – with Leon, Jordyn Huitema and Jessie Fleming all being repelled. Naeher even got in on the penalty-scoring act, as she calmly fired the USWNT’s third penalty low into the bottom corner.

Newcastle United will travel to Bramall Lane on Sunday to face Sheffield United in the Premier League before welcoming Burnley to Tyneside the following weekend.

Forthcoming fixtures against newly-promoted opposition; a chance – with victory clinched against Brentford last time out – to put together a three-match winning streak to fully restore the feel-good factor on Tyneside after a challenging start to the campaign that left Eddie Howe's side nursing three successive defeats after a 5-1 win over Aston Villa hinted at such promise.

That's not to say the Magpies are in the mud, far from it. A minor blip does not erase the remarkable feats of the past 18 months or so, with Howe lifting the club away from relegation danger and now fighting for silver-laden success, having defied expectations with a top-four finish last term, despite the lucrative PIF club takeover.

AC Milan presented United with their first continental test of the season, with the Premier League outfit emerging from the San Siro with a point to start off their group phase.

It was an impressive result, all things considered, but the performance itself left little to be admired from an attacking standpoint, with £63m club-record signing Alexander Isak flattering to deceive.

How did Alexander Isak play against AC Milan?

Newcastle, frankly, got battered for large portions of the affair in Italy earlier this week. Despite demonstrating their quality on the ball and definitely proving to be the more energetic and high-octane team, Milan unleashed 25 shots on Nick Pope's goal compared to just six strikes from Howe's men.

Isak led the line for all of 89 minutes but was not among those to test Mike Maignan between the sticks, nullified by a resolute and solid home defence, who left him "knackered" by the time of his withdrawal, according to presenter Kev Lawson.

Isak game vs AC Milan by numbers

Statistic (Sofascore)

Match score

6.5

Goals

0

Assists

0

Total shots taken

0

Key passes

1

Pass completion

89% (17/19)

Dribble success rate

20% (1/5)

Duels won

42% (5/12)

As clearly delineated by the 24-year-old's listed metrics on the night, he endured a forgettable affair and found very little success, effectively marshalled.

While he did drop deep and look to influence the play from the centre of the pitch, he failed to do anything of note with his possession – which is why his pass success rate, which looks impressive on face value, actually doesn't work in his favour given that he failed to carry the ball into positive openings and didn't strike on goal himself.

Should Eddie Howe start Alexander Isak?

Isak was impressive last season and tantalised a future of prolific success on Tyneside, and that's despite suffering an injury-hit campaign.

Indeed, the £120k-per-week phenom posted ten goals and two assists in the Premier League despite only starting 17 times, heralded for his "complete" attacking abilities by former Willem II coach Adrie Koster.

Blighted by issues that sidelined him for 16 matches, the 6 foot 3 machine looks to have found his full fitness this season, and while he scored twice on the opening day of the term, against Unai Emery's Villa, he has yet to net again, starting four times since.

Undoubtedly, the goals will come sooner rather than later, but it might be wise for Howe to remove him from the starting line-up and offer someone else a chance to impress.

The same could be said for £55m summer signing Sandro Tonali, with the Italian midfielder – who was signed from AC Milan – "struggling to impact" the contest against his former side in the Champions League, according to Craig Hope.

A talented playmaker – who ranks among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for assists per 90 – he has not quite hit the ground running despite scoring on his debut, and might also receive a relegation to the bench in the short-term.

Who could replace Alexander Isak?

Clearly, if Isak doesn't start as Newcastle's focal point up top then there is only one man tailor-made to lead the line and do so with a flourish.

Callum Wilson has been superb since joining Newcastle from Bournemouth for £20m in the summer of 2020, scoring 41 goals and supplying ten assists from just 81 matches since his arrival.

Last season, he scored no less than 18 goals from just 21 starting appearances in the Premier League, also registering five assists and earning praise for his "clinical edge" by editor Andrew Musgrove.

And after bagging three times in the Premier League already this term – despite only starting the recent win over Brentford, where his penalty proved decisive – the 31-year-old does indeed appear to have that sharpness to propel the Toon back into form.

As per FBref, Wilson – who just recently signed a contract extension with the St. James' Park side – ranks among the top 6% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals and the top 9% for assists per 90.

When comparing that with Isak, who ranks among the top 25% of forwards for goals and the bottom 21% for assists per 90, it's clear to see who offers the more clinical attacking edge.

Of course, the Swede is far more dynamic and boasts a higher ceiling, not just because of his youth but the range of his talents – also ranking among the top 16% for progressive passes, the top 11% for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90.

But given that Wilson has yet to receive successive starts in the Premier League this season and boasts an impressive record against both Burnley and the Blades – with eight goals and an assist from 16 matches against the two teams combined – Howe might be wise to offer him a shot as the star man up front.

Isak might be a formidable force but he has not quite clicked into gear this season, and with Wilson possessing that Midas touch in attack under Howe's stewardship, he must be provided with a starting berth going forward.

Nottinghamshire 210 and 37 for 1 trail Surrey 592 (Burns 153, Clarke 111, S Curran 70) by 325 runs
ScorecardFor an hour or so during the morning session, Nottinghamshire seemed to have it in them to put behind them their dismal showing on the opening day and battle their way back into this match. With Stuart Broad and Luke Fletcher at last able to apply sustained pressure, Surrey lost four wickets for 62 and their dominance looked at risk for the first time.In the end, though, it was an effort Nottinghamshire could not sustain as Surrey, with a relentlessness to match the heat of the afternoon, simply reimposed their superiority.Rory Burns consolidated his position as the Championship’s leading run-scorer with a superb 153, the rejuvenated Rikki Clarke made his first Championship hundred for six years, and with Morne Morkel and Jade Dernbach responding to Sam Curran’s 10 fours and a six by inflicting further pain on a wilting Nottinghamshire attack, Surrey comfortably exceeded the largest total of the season.Three Nottinghamshire bowlers went for 100 or more runs, the left-armer Harry Gurney conceding 119 off just 16 overs. He did claim the wicket of Ollie Pope, thus restricting the second-most prolific batsman in the Championship to only 30 runs, but his excitement as Pope carelessly flailed at a wide one to give him his 300th first-class wicket passed quickly. Collectively, the home attack did not help themselves by handing Surrey 30 runs in no-balls.Fletcher was the worst offender in that respect, overstepping six times, although by all other measures he was Nottinghamshire’s best bowler, going for only a little more than three an over when the collective went at almost six. He tested Burns time and again during that opening session to the extent that the Surrey captain not only had to draw deeply on his skill and patience but also needed a bit of luck as the ball several times almost found the edge of his bat. When Fletcher did get his reward, as Scott Borthwick nicked one, it was the most deserved wicket of the day.Burns, 97 overnight, needed 26 deliveries to complete his hundred, at last pushing one firmly towards the vacant long-off boundary off Broad and running three. It had been the most challenging passage of his innings by far.Broad, playing in this match to measure his fitness and sharpness ahead of the first Test against India, bowled with pace and hostility and picked up wickets in consecutive overs. Aaron Finch helpfully chipped straight to mid-on but Broad then produced a ball that was too good for Ben Foakes, taken at first slip at the second attempt by Riki Wessels.After Pope’s moment of instantly regretted rashness, Surrey were 297 for 5, their lead healthy at 77 runs but not yet grounds for thinking the match was in the bag.Rory Burns acknowledges his third hundred of the season•Getty Images

Burns moved to 153 by sweeping Samit Patel for his 23rd four soon after lunch but the sense that Nottinghamshire were not quite out of it returned with the next ball, when the left-arm spinner hurried one through and the Surrey captain, taken by surprise, edged it to slip. The feeling did not last. The fall of Burns merely introduced Clarke, a man of 16 first-class hundreds, one on this ground, coming in at No. 8. He was into his stride quickly, collecting five boundaries from his first 20 balls.He and Curran added 125 in 26 overs before the latter, whose 70 from 101 balls was a solidly accomplished effort, was leg before on the back foot to Patel. Clarke’s century, his first since his unbeaten 110 against Sussex for Warwickshire in July 2012, was one of joy and adventure, completed when he pulled Jake Ball behind square for his 19th four.For the second day running, there was a unexpected postscript as Billy Root, whose offspin has been employed in only six first-class matches so far, took three wickets for the second time, his first when Clarke’s attempt at a reverse-sweep went horribly wrong.Nottinghamshire faced 16 overs to the close. They lost Jake Libby, trapped in the crease when Morkel came up with a toe-crusher second ball, but young Will Fraine showed some bottle for the second time in the match to help skipper Steven Mullaney limit the damage. A lot more grit will be needed if this match is to need a fourth day.

The series was long-since won, but the most thrilling passage of play was left for the end as an incredible innings unfolded at Old Trafford

George Dobell at Old Trafford24-Jun-20182:03

Great to win games you might not deserve to – Buttler

Jos Buttler has been hailed as “the best white-ball wicketkeeper batsman in the world” in the aftermath of England’s dramatic victory at Old Trafford.Buttler helped England recover from an apparently hopeless position of 114 for 8 to secure a one-wicket victory and, with it, a first 5-0 whitewash over Australia in ODI cricket. He finished unbeaten on 110. Nobody else in the England side passed 20.He also completed a smart stumping to account for Shaun Marsh – pouncing when the batsman lifted his back foot for a moment – and running out Tim Paine with a wonderful direct hit from a lightening fast pick-up and throw.That left Australian captain – and fellow wicketkeeper batsman – Paine full of praise for Buttler and admitting his own side’s batsman could learn plenty from watching him.”He’s good; he’s very good,” Paine said of Buttler. “Right now, at the moment, he’d have to be the best white-ball wicket-keeper batsman in the world. I don’t think there’s too many guys to challenge him. MS Dhoni is pretty good, but right at this moment, Jos is at the absolute peak of his powers. He understands his one-day game so well and knows his strengths inside out and just doesn’t go away from him.”He’s someone for our batters to watch and see first hand. Those experiences are going to be really good for D’Arcy Short or Travis Head to see him and Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy at their best.”While Buttler has often provided example of his extravagant stroke-making ability in the past – he made a 46-ball century against Pakistan in 2015 – it was more his clear head and game awareness that impressed here. So while his 50 – which occupied 74 balls – was slower than four of his ODI centuries, it was so well-paced that he never allowed the run-rate to get out of control always seemed to be able to produce the shot required to release the pressure.He did make one miscalculation, however. Finally left with just Jake Ball – the only real tailender in the side – for company, Buttler told his new partner they would only run if they could be sure Buttler could get back on strike. “But then I smashed it to long-off,” Buttler said, “didn’t see the guy and just ran. It was a poor decision from me.”That left Ball to see out a nerve-wracking over from Ashton Agar – “He was fighting his instincts,” Buttler joked later, “I think he wanted to run down the pitch and smack it” – before Buttler, back on strike, was able to ease a Marcus Stoinis delivery to the cover boundary to seal the victory.”It was pure elation,” Buttler said of the moment that followed. “You’ll probably never match that. I knew I had to be there at the end. Then plucking it from nowhere with one wicket left when we didn’t really have the right to win the game… it was very enjoyable. Winning games when you didn’t deserve to, they’re almost the more enjoyable ones.”While accepting there were areas that needed attention in England’s batting display, in particular, England’s captain, Eoin Morgan felt the ability to win from an almost hopeless position would serve England well.”When he plays like that he creates a lot of belief in the changing room that rubs off,” Morgan said. “He’s used all his experience and he’s somehow managed to get us over the line. It’s outstanding.”Could anybody else in the side have done it? Probably not. But it shows the fight and the character we have in the locker when we need it.”