Owner Rob McElhenney issued an emotional statement after releasing Steven Fletcher and Mark Howard from Wrexham.

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• Fletcher and Howard leave Wrexham
• McElhenney issues statement
• Calls them "men of principle"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The pair are out of contract at the club and are not being offered new deals ahead of next season's Championship campaign. Both players posted farewell messages to fans on Instagram, while Hollywood actor and club co-owner McElhenney took to the social media platform to sing their praises.

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  WHAT MCELHENNEY SAID

  McElhenney said: "I cannot say enough about these two men. They are my friends and people I admire. They are men of ability and principle and commitment and compassion. They are men of character and fortitude who have achieved something beyond anyone’s imagination. I greatly admire everything about them and have so thoroughly enjoyed every moment I’ve had to see them play, or to just spend time with them. All I can say to these great men is THANK YOU."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Wrexham have won three consecutive promotions and are set to rebuild their squad again as they look to compete in the second tier next season. Reports state that they are aiming to sign Tom Cairney, a sign of their ambition.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM

  Wrexham have also been linked with an audacious move for Jamie Vardy, with the club seemingly not short of cash to spend.

“He has blown the house down,” says Bangladesh’s fast bowling coach, while praising his bowling group for their showing these past 12 months

Mohammad Isam22-Mar-2023

Allan Donald, the Bangladesh fast bowling coach, has said that Ebadot Hossain’s extra pace is making the difference in the team’s bowling line-up. Ebadot’s career-best figures in the first ODI against Ireland helped Bangladesh win by a record margin of 183 runs.The second game was a washout, which means Ebadot now has 17 wickets in his first seven ODIs. That is one wicket behind Mustafizur Rahman at the same stage of his career, in 2015.Related

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Shakib's genius of compartmentalising his life on and off the field

Taskin: 'Whether I break or I die, I'll wear the red and green jersey again'

Bangladesh's fast bowlers: from invisibles to match-winners

“He has blown the house down,” Donald said of Ebadot’s explosive start in ODIs. “From the moment I met him in Johannesburg exactly 12 months ago, he has been impressive. He is an athlete. He has a great engine on him. The ‘Syhet Rocket’.”We are working on small things which are more tactical. We are working on game intelligence in every game. I am still trying to find the area that he needs to work on.”What stands out for Ebadot is the stark difference in the way his Test and ODI careers got going. He had picked up seven wickets after his seventh Test, averaging 90.71 and with a strike rate of 139.70.But the turning point was his 6 for 46 against New Zealand in Bangladesh’s famous win in the Mount Maunganui Test in January 2022. His wicket counter went up and his bowling average and strike rate improved significantly. Ebadot became a much-improved bowler, making his ODI and T20I debut later in the year.”What has impressed me the most is that Ebadot is always in the game,” Donald said. “He will be in the wickets column in every single game. He bowls 145-148 [kph], so you know the pace factor will have a massive impact on the game. He showed it the other night [first ODI].”He is a wonderful talent; from a guy who won a fast-bowling competition to where he is now, he could consistently be a member of all three formats.”Mustafizur Rahman chats with Allan Donald at a training session•AFP/Getty Images

Donald praised the entire bowling group for their performances in the last 12 months, which has included two four-fors by Ebadot and one each from Shoriful Islam and Mustafizur. Taskin Ahmed’s 5 for 35 against South Africa last year gave Bangladesh a historic series win over the hosts.”It has been a terrific performance collectively. We have been speaking about this pack mentality for a while,” Donald exclaimed.”I just think great plaudits should go to the mindset of the group. It was wonderful to see how we bowled the other night [first ODI]. All three of them were very potent. All had an impact, asking questions and creating chances. Very happy to see that.”Donald also welcomed the addition of head coach Chandika Hathurusingha to the team for the second time. The former South Africa fast bowler said that his style matches with that of Hathurusingha’s and that is helping in the players’ development.”I have been here for 12 months. My work with that group and the stuff that I have done with them has never changed. Hathu [Hathurusingha] is an attacking, aggressive coach. It is my style as well. What he has told the whole group as well is to take the game on, not be afraid to win. I think it is a great message,” Donald said.”Hathu has been brilliant around the group. He has expressed his freedom to the group. I think they have unshackled themselves and played aggressive cricket. My mindset has never changed since I was 16-17. It is to be aggressive but someone has to give me an expansive role. It is exactly what I have done to the bowling group.”Mushfiqur Rahim cracked 100* off 60 balls, Bangladesh’s fastest in ODIs in the second game•AFP/Getty Images

Bangladesh’s aggressive intent has come to the fore in the ongoing series against Ireland where they have put up scores of 338 and 349 in the first two ODIs. Mushfiqur Rahim scored Bangladesh’s fastest century in the the format in the second ODI, while Shakib Al Hasan and Towhid Hridoy got quickfire nineties in the first game. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Litton Das also scored fifties in the second ODI.Donald added that Bangladesh are now looking to breach the elusive 400-plus mark in the third ODI, given their batting form and stocks.”It is definitely achievable. A couple of guys got nineties in the first game, couple of guys got seventies in the second game. Mushy [Mushfiqur] obviously converted it into a magnificent knock. We want to take those partnerships deeper, we want the hurt to feel even more. Take Ireland to the last ten overs with six or seven wickets in hand, so we can pile it on.”

Big Picture

Smriti Mandhana vs Jemimah Rodrigues. Ellyse Perry vs Meg Lanning. Dane van Niekerk vs Marizanne Kapp. Brace yourselves. And it will all happen in front of a sold-out crowd at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai as Royal Challengers Bangalore take on Delhi Capitals on Sunday.Both sides have superstar captains. Mandhana, the most expensive player at the inaugural auction at INR 3.4 crore, will be leading Royal Challengers, who look the most balanced side in the tournament. In Lanning, Capitals have a brilliant captain, who comes into the tournament a week after leading Australia to their sixth T20 World Cup title. Ahead of the WPL, she said she’s looking to inculcate that winning culture in this Capitals side.A number of international names linked up with their respective teams just a few days before the tournament following the T20 World Cup in South Africa. While Mandhana is looking to make use of her knowledge of the Indian domestic players to put a solid XI together, Lanning said she would be leaning on her team-mates Rodrigues and Shafali Varma to handle the younger and unknown players.Related

• Meg Lanning named Delhi Capitals captain at WPL

• Can the WPL make women's cricket in India mainstream?

• WPL stars to look out for – Mandhana, Shafali, Mooney and more

Players to Watch

Both teams have an enviable mix of overseas and Indian talent. Royal Challengers have Richa Ghosh and Renuka Singh, the two high-profile India internationals. Capitals, meanwhile, have the likes of Shafali, Poonam Yadav and Radha Yadav.Perry, van Niekerk, Heather Knight, Sophie Devine, Erin Burns and Megan Schutt are the overseas options in the Royal Challengers side, which means the team management will have some head-scratching to do over picking just four from this star-studded list. They have captain Mandhana to do the heavy lifting from the top, while Devine, Perry, Ghosh and van Niekerk will be expected to provide the firepower in the middle order. While Royal Challengers’ pace-bowling unit looks solid with Schutt, Renuka and Perry, they do not have an experienced Indian spinner in their ranks.Capitals’ strong top order has Shafali, Rodrigues and Lanning, with Kapp and Taniya Bhatia to follow. They will, however, be left to choose from a largely inexperienced pace-bowling unit, barring Shikha Pandey and Kapp. However, they have the option to bring in USA left-arm pacer Tara Norris, an Associate player who can be included as the fifth overseas player in the XI. Among the spin-bowling options, Capitals have Radha Yadav, Jess Jonassen and Poonam Yadav.

Playing XIs

Delhi Capitals (possible): 1 Shafali Verma, 2 Jemimah Rodrigues, 3 Meg Lanning (capt), 4 Marizanne Kapp, 5 Laura Harris, 6 Jasia Akhter, 7 Taniya Bhatia (wk), 8 Jess Jonassen, 9 Radha Yadav, 10 Shikha Pandey, 11 Tara NorrisRoyal Challengers Bangalore (possible): 1 Smriti Mandhana (capt), 2 Disha Kasat, 3 Sophie Devine, 4 Ellyse Perry, 5 Dane van Niekerk, 6 Richa Ghosh (wk), 7 Komal Zanzad/Asha Shobhana, 8 Preeti Bose, 9 Megan Schutt, 10 Renuka Singh, 10 Kanika Ahuja/Shreyanka Patil

Stats and trivia

• Perry had finished as the second-highest run-scorer during Australia’s T20I series tour of India in December 2022
• Mandhana has scored 831 runs, the most in women’s T20Is since January 2022
• This game will have three key players who were part of India’s U-19 winning World Cup squad: Shafali, Titas Sadhu and Ghosh.

Quotes

“I love winning, I’m very competitive and I’m coming here to try and help Delhi win as many games as possible. It would be great [to win], every team is probably thinking the same thing but we’re doing our best, and the biggest challenge is to bring everybody together and making sure we’re working as a team.”
“I just don’t like the kind of comparison because what he has achieved is amazing, and I hope that I can reach that level. But I’m nowhere near him. What he has achieved for this franchise, I’d like to try and do that.”
Royal Challengers captain Smriti Mandhana wants to emulate Virat Kohli’s success with the franchise

Derbyshire captain Leus du Plooy steered his side to safety with an unbeaten half-century on the final day of the LV=Insurance County Championship match against Gloucestershire at Derby.Gloucestershire were in with a chance of victory when Derbyshire slipped to 28 for 3 but du Plooy’s 61 off 77 balls guided Derbyshire to 166 for 5 to secure the draw.The visitors claimed their first batting points of the season before being bowled out for 383, a lead of 132, with Ben Charlesworth, Zafar Gohar and Matt Taylor scoring fifties. Gohar and Taylor shared a ninth-wicket stand of 99, a Gloucestershire record against Derbyshire, to set up the prospect of a tense finale but du Plooy stood firm.Any late drama looked unlikely at the start when Gloucestershire’s main objective was to secure batting points. Charlesworth was also eying a maiden first-class century and, with Tom Price, carried his side to within five runs of 250 when Derbyshire broke the partnership.Price had already been dropped twice, at short midwicket off Suranga Lakmal and a caught-and-bowled chance to Alex Thomson, before he went for a big swing at the offspinner and miscued to cover.The pair had put on 63 from 129 balls and Charlesworth, who had passed his previous best score of 77 not out, secured the first point when he cut Henry Brookes over the slips for four. Charlesworth was then caught behind off a short ball from Brookes and Marchant de Lange’s attempts to hit the ball out of the Incora County Ground resulted in a broken bat before he edged Lakmal to second slipBut that was the home side’s last success for 18 overs as Taylor and Gohar eclipsed Gloucestershire’s highest ninth-wicket stand against Derbyshire of 95 by Mark Hardinges and Carl Greenidge at Derby in 2007.Taylor drove Luis Reece for six to bring up 300 and dispatched Brookes for another maximum on his way to a 60-ball fifty. Gohar drove Lakmal for six to reach his fifty from 65 balls and set the new ninth-wicket record before he skied the Sri Lankan to mid-off.The innings ended in the next over but Gloucestershire now had a big enough lead and enough overs left to put the home side under pressure. Any chance of the game meandering quietly to a conclusion vanished when Derbyshire lost three wickets in the space of 17 balls with the arrears still in three figures.Harry Came held his team together in the first innings but this time he lasted only five overs before he got an edge onto his pad and was caught at gully.Price struck in the next over with a full length ball that hit Haider Ali in front and alarm bells were ringing when Wayne Madsen went without scoring. The veteran had his off stump knocked back by a ball from Price that straightened to leave Derbyshire in trouble.Du Plooy decided to be positive from the outset, dancing down the pitch to drive Taylor for six over long-off, but he was close to being run out just before tea, which was taken with Derbyshire 64 behind with 40 overs remaining.Brooke Guest stayed with his skipper for 13 overs before pulling Ajeet Singh Dale to midwicket the over after du Plooy was dropped on 33 by Miles Hammond at slip off Gohar.Mitch Wagstaff, in his second first-class innings, shared a stand of 43 from 70 balls although Gohar thought he had him caught and bowled on 7 only for the umpires to rule the ball had not quite carried. Wagstaff faced 48 balls before he fell cutting Gohar but Derbyshire were now in front and Luis Reece joined du Plooy to finally close the door on Gloucestershire.

Foxes lose by four runs despite unbeaten 83 from 50 balls by Wiaan Mulder

ECB Reporters Network02-Jul-2023

Injury-hit Notts Outlaws confirmed their place in the quarter-finals of the Vitality Blast after defending a total of 168 for 8 to beat Leicestershire Foxes by four runs despite a career-best unbeaten 83 from 50 balls for the visitors by South African Wiaan Mulder.Rishi Patel made 37 for the Foxes, who looked favourites after posting 70 for 2 in the powerplay but could not build well enough on that start as two wickets each from Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Matt Carter and Calvin Harrison restricted them to 164 for 8.Wicketkeeper Tom Moores top scored for the Outlaws for the second match in a row with 68 from 40 deliveries to earn his side an away tie with Somerset as they bid to clinch a place at finals day for the seventh time.Captaining for the first time after Steven Mullaney (side strain) was ruled out, Alex Hales won the toss and opted to bat first. As his first scoring shot sailed over the extra cover boundary for six he would have had hopes of leading from the front with a trademark Hales innings.With Colin Munro and Samit Patel also (still) sidelined, the Outlaws needed something of that nature, but after a start bristling with intent Hales fell on 26 when he drilled a Michael Finan full toss straight to extra cover. Joe Clarke had already gone and Matt Montgomery was bowled without scoring as Roman Walker struck in his first appearance of the season.A powerplay 52 for 3 became 58 for 4 in the seventh as Lyndon James was well caught at point. At 77 for 4 from 10, Moores got the scoreboard moving with four and six off Colin Ackermann but then Haseeb Hameed lost his middle stump to the excellent Tom Scriven (4-0-19-1).Moores continued in the vein of his stand-out innings in Friday’s defeat to Birmingham Bears as he and Imad Wasim added 52 for the sixth wicket but the ball after Moores was dropped on the boundary on 57, Imad slogged Finan straight to wide long-on. Afridi perished first ball going down the pitch and Moores holed out in the penultimate over.The Outlaws were again without Olly Stone as they sought to defend but though Afridi struck with his first ball as Foxes skipper Peter Handscomb chipped straight to mid-on he could not repeat Friday’s extraordinary four-wicket opening over and the Foxes were well placed at 70 for two from six, albeit with Patel gone, victim of a brilliant one-handed grab by Hales at wide mid-on.Mulder was dropped at backward point off Jake Ball on 39 but leg-spinner Harrison kept the Outlaws in the game with two wickets for just two runs in the 10th, watching Ackermann give an easy catch to cover before bowling Lewis Hill behind his legs as the Foxes touched halfway at 92 for four.Two wickets for Imad Wasim as the Outlaws spinners applied the brakes saw Louis Kimber and Nick Welch fall cheaply seeking to break the shackles and at 103 for 6, still 60 short and with 42 balls left, the Foxes were under pressure for the first time in the match, although a couple of good blows by Scriven and 15 in one over by Mulder off Harrison brought that down to 32 from the last 24 deliveries.Yet only 12 runs off the next three with Scriven top-edging Matt Carter to short fine leg and a third catch for Hales on the run to remove Walker left 20 to get off the final over bowled by Ball, which Mulder opened with a six over backward point but ultimately proved five too many.

The Argentine midfielder arrives at The Herons at 31 after spending four seasons with Atlético de Madrid.

Played 187 matches for the Spanish sideScored 14 goalsJoins initially on loan through the end of the yearGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Rodrigo De Paul’s arrival at Inter Miami is already making headlines – and not just in MLS circles. The Argentine midfielder, a key piece in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, has joined on loan from Atlético de Madrid, a move that has generated negative reactions in his home country just months before the 2026 World Cup.

"Does De Paul want to play with less pressure and in a second-tier league just to enjoy himself alongside Messi? Is he not concerned about joining a tournament with little prestige, where winning or losing doesn’t really matter to anyone? Is he thinking about leaving the national team, or does he simply feel he’s completed a cycle under the demanding Diego Simeone and now wants to play with less stress?" wrote Argentine journalist Alejandro Fabbri for

“De Paul’s departure from Atlético Madrid to play for Inter Miami, in a league considered to be of a lower level, surprised both insiders and outsiders alike, as he joins his friend Lionel Messi,” reads an article in the renowned Argentine outlet

News of De Paul’s departure didn’t sit well with Atlético de Madrid fans, either. The midfielder played 187 matches for the club over four seasons and was named to La Liga Team of the Year last season. After the club made the move official on social media, many users flooded the post with insults and backlash over his decision. Comments like “Thanks for leaving and never coming back,” and “Just go and don’t return,” were among the more common – and milder – reactions from Aleti supporters.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT RODRIGO DE PAUL SAID

“The excitement that brought me to Inter Miami is the desire to compete, to win titles, to help write this club’s history,” said Rodrigo De Paul in an official statement released by the team. “It’s a club that is being built to become great, to create a legacy, and for many people to follow this incredible team,” he added.

AFPDID YOU KNOW?

Rodrigo De Paul will become the third 2022 World Cup winner to play in MLS, following in the footsteps of Thiago Almada and, more recently, Lionel Messi. He will be the 18th World Cup champion in history to join MLS.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?

The Herons will host FC Cincinnati this Saturday in a match where they’ll be without Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba, both suspended after skipping the All-Star Game.

Zampa had been retained by Royals ahead of the last auction but his manager has confirmed that he will play no part in IPL 2024

Matt Roller21-Mar-2024Adam Zampa has pulled out of the IPL at short notice because of personal reasons.Zampa had been retained by Rajasthan Royals ahead of December’s auction in Dubai on a contract worth INR 1.5 crore (A$273,000 approx.), but his manager confirmed to ESPNcricinfo on Thursday that he will play no part in IPL 2024.He has a young family at home and has had a busy recent schedule, playing in the BBL as well as Australia’s white-ball series against India, West Indies and New Zealand since the end of last year’s ODI World Cup in India.Related

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Royals boast big Indian names, but lack of allrounders could prove costly

Royals have two of India’s best spinners in their squad in R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal but Zampa still made six appearances in the 2023 season. He took eight wickets at 23.50 with an economy rate of 8.54, including figures of 3 for 22 in a home victory over Chennai Super Kings.Zampa has previously represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru (then Royal Challengere Bangalore) and the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant at the IPL, taking 29 wickets in his 20 appearances in the tournament, spread across four different seasons.Royals have also lost Prasidh Krishna from their bowling attack in recent weeks, after he was ruled out for the season following a quadriceps surgery. Prasidh’s injury prompted Manoj Badale, the Royals’ co-owner, to suggest that the franchises could work more closely with the BCCI’s medical department this week.”There’s always areas you’d like to keep pushing [the BCCI] on,” Badale told the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast. “Clearly, the medical side of it is really important, given how much these players are being asked to play across formats.”We’re without Prasidh Krishna again this season and that’s tough as a franchise, when you’ve bet 7-8% of your entire player spend on a particular player and then that player is unavailable for the whole tournament, that hurts you. The medical side is an area where we’re trying to work much harder.”Royals are yet to announce a replacement player for either Prasidh or Zampa.

The world champions will compete in the last four once again after two second-half goals broke Switzerland hearts in an eventful quarter-final clash.

• Spain beat hosts Switzerland 2-0
• Del Castillo and Pina score
• Will face Germany or France in semis

• TELL ME MORE

  Spain marched on to the European Championship semi-finals with a comfortable 2-0 victory against hosts Switzerland, who battled hard for an hour and will bow out with their heads held high.

  Substitute Athenea del Castillo scored the opener just four minutes after her introduction, sliding home after an audacious back-heel by Ballon d'Or holder Aitana Bonmatí put her clean through on goal. With the Swiss resistance broken, Claudia Pina added a second goal five minutes later with a stunning strike into the top corner from outside the penalty area. Spain missed two penalties and could have been more ruthless in front of goal, while Switzerland saw Noelle Maritz sent off for a last-player foul late on.

  World champions Spain came into the match as favourites but the encounter was never going to be an easy task against hosts Switzerland. Despite the great home support it took just seven minutes for the Spaniards to earn a golden opportunity to take the lead, as Nadine Riesen took out Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey for an early penalty. Caldentey stepped up to take the responsibility herself but inexplicably slid the ball wide in a continuation of a difficult few days for penalty takers at this European Championship.

  Switzerland defended stoutly in a tight first half, as Spain huffed and puffed but created few clear-cut opportunities. Claudia Pina caught the eye with a series of impressive dribbles from the left, also seeing a 25-yard free-kick palmed away by goalkeeper Livia Peng. The Swiss defended and broke forward with an exuberance reflective of their first-ever Euros knock-out match, with an entire nation cheering them on each time they went on the attack. But it was Pina who would create the final big chance of the half, as her corner was headed onto the post by Irene Paredes.

  Switzerland's goal continued to lead a charmed life in the second half, as Spain struck both posts within a matter of seconds. First Patricia Guijarro headed the ball against the post from a corner, before an almighty scramble involving Riesen and Esther Gonzalez ensued and resulted in the ball rebounding off the woodwork once again.

  But Spain would be ahead in the 66th minute, Bonmatí at the heart of it and Del Castillo making an instant impact. Just five minutes later Pina scored a deserved second and the game looked over, though there was still time for another penalty miss by Alexia Putellas after Del Castillo was taken out by 18-year-old forward Iman Beney. Maritz was dismissed late on as her side finished with ten players, but the game was already won and Spain will take their place against France or Germany in the semi-finals on July 23.

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  THE MVP

  Barcelona winger Claudia Pina was outstanding throughout and stood out in a team full of Spanish stars. The 23-year-old caused havoc in the first half with her direct dribbling from the left and forced goalkeeper Peng into multiple saves before she eventually got her goal in the 71st minute. Her curling finish was top class and showed the difference between the two sides, which told in the end.

• THE BIG LOSER

  Switzerland played with heart and kept out the world champions for an hour, while attacking with energy at the other end. But ultimately, Spain's class shone through. Rare errors proved costly, while the hosts also conceded two penalties and could have been punished further on another day. Their defeat was compounded when Noelle Maritz was shown a straight-red card late on.

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• WHAT COMES NEXT?

  Spain will face one of France or Germany in their semi-final clash, with a spot against England or Italy in the final up for grabs. The world champions will be confident of their credentials to go all the way in this tournament.

  Switzerland see their European Championship journey end here but will be filled with immense pride as the host nation reached a major quarter-final for the first time in their history.

Skipper’s unbeaten 84 guides Tasmania to a four-wicket win over Queensland after an extraordinary Clayton century gave the hosts hope

AAP05-Feb-2024Jordan Silk has struck a classy unbeaten 84 to lead Tasmania to a four-wicket Sheffield Shield victory over Queensland inside three days at the Gabba.Chasing 224 for victory after Jack Clayton made an extraordinary 102 out of Queensland’s total of 160 in the second innings, Tasmania slumped to 13 for 2 and 99 for 4 on Monday, before Silk held the innings together with a match-winning captain’s knock.Silk was on track for his 12th first-class century, only for teammate Mitchell Owen (29 not out off 15 balls) to strike some lusty blows at the death to secure victory for Tasmania just before stumps on day three. The win keeps Tasmania on top of the Shield table, while Queensland are last with only one win and two draws from seven matches.Silk struck 13 fours in his unbeaten knock, but he paid special tribute to Tasmanian paceman Gabe Bell, who claimed player-of-the-match honours after returning figures of 4 for 40 and 6 for 39.”He’s going fantastic, career-best figures and a 10-wicket haul,” Silk said. “We don’t have that sort of [gettable] chase without his effort.”I’m really rapt with how everyone approached it. It was a good collective effort.”It’s not often we come here [to Brisbane] and get the points.”Queensland captain Jimmy Peirson was among the Bulls to struggle with sickness in the intense Brisbane heat. Clayton was physically ill during his epic 181-ball knock. Ben McDermott was the only other batter to reach double figures having fallen for 16 yesterday.”I’m feeling better today, but I was on my deathbed yesterday to be honest,” Peirson said.”It’s not fun, gastro. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the win today, but [if we can get] three wins in our last three games, we’ll give ourselves a chance.”Tasmanian opener Caleb Jewell was the first wicket to fall in Tasmania’s chase when his wild slash resulted in an edge through to the keeper. The Tigers were in early trouble at 2 for 13 when Tim Ward’s attempted hook off a rising Mark Steketee delivery gave Peirson his second catch.Charlie Wakim (36) and Silk helped steady the ship with a 60-run stand. But when Gurinder Sandhu trapped Wakim lbw before finding the edge of Jake Doran’s bat 10 overs later, Tasmania were looking wobbly at four down and still needing 125 more runs to win.Silk and Beau Webster (28 off 41 balls) led the counter-attack as Tasmania got their run chase back on track. Webster struck three fours and a six, but his bid to keep the runs flowing came undone when he inside-edged Liam Guthrie onto his stumps.Bradley Hope added some handy runs, before Owen struck three fours and a six to shut the door completely on Queensland.

Matt Henry has been a one-man band for New Zealand so far in this series. He is their leading wicket-taker (11) and leading run-scorer (85) and is single-handedly keeping the Black Caps’ hopes alive after another difficult day against Australia in Christchurch.He second-top-scored for New Zealand in the second Test running with an important 29 as they were bowled out for 162 having been sent into bat on a seam-friendly Hagley Oval pitch. Josh Hazlewood put on a supreme display of bowling to take 5 for 31Henry was then equally good during his turn, prising out three of Australia’s top four including the in-form Cameron Green to keep New Zealand in the contest. But despite bearing a heavy load, he refused to put any blame on New Zealand’s batters after they were bowled out for under 200 for the third successive innings.”It’s not a concern,” Henry said. “I think looking at our batting line-up we’ve got world-class players there. They’ve been fantastic for a number of years. I [haven’t] got any doubt that they’ll be great and they’ll be fine moving forward. It’s day one of a Test match. The ball is allowed to move around and guys are allowed to bowl well. That’s what happens when you come across world-class performers. They have their day sometimes.”Henry instead heaped praise on Hazlewood saying he provided the perfect example for the New Zealand bowling group to follow.New Zealand haven’t been able to get past 200 in any of their three innings this series•Getty Images

“Josh bowled exceptionally well,” he said. “Obviously watching him go about his work today, it was probably a bit of a blueprint for how we wanted to bowl out there as well. It was a matter of being accurate for a long period of time and creating pressure and he did that beautifully and thankfully we managed to do that in periods tonight as well and to get a few poles.”There were times though during Australia’s reply when it looked like tough Test cricket at one end and very comfortable batting at the other. Henry was nearly unplayable as he worked over Australia’s top-order with relentless pressure.He finally got the slice of luck he deserved when Usman Khawaja was bowled around his legs after the ball clipped the underside of his thigh pad and ricocheted onto leg stump. He later set up Green with a superb sequence. Green continued his Wellington plan of skipping down to Henry to disrupt his length. Henry kept dragging his length back and beat the edge multiple times. The first time Green stayed at home, Henry pushed fuller and seamed one in through the gate to hit the top of off via the pad.Related

• Matt Henry, New Zealand's man of steel, drags his team back into the contest

• Hazlewood's mastery floors NZ at Hadlee's hometown

• Hazlewood dismantles New Zealand but Henry gives home side hope

But in between times Green and Marnus Labuschagne profited from some very unthreatening bowling from Tim Southee and Scott Kuggeleijn. Labuschagne shook any concerns about his form, playing beautifully under pressure to finish 45 not out at stumps.The debutant Ben Sears showed some promise to help Henry out by dismissing Steven Smith, who made a horrible misjudgment padding up to a full delivery that was projected to be crashing into off stump.”It doesn’t get much better than that for a first wicket does it,” Henry said. “Searsy is a quiet man and he works really hard. Obviously being a young fast bowler for him to start his career like that was outstanding. I think he showed today so much control and excitement and he kind of got the ball rolling for us.”I think we were obviously bowling well and not much was happening and he was able to get that first breakthrough and we could build some momentum from there. Absolutely stoked for the way that he started.”Henry said it would be critical for New Zealand to bowl well at the start of day two as Australia have a chance of setting up a significant first-innings lead. “Tomorrow morning will be a big moment with the ball. We’ll make sure that we come out there and hopefully we can take some early wickets and put Australia under some pressure and then get back into some batting.”