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Despite Abhimanyu Easwaran’s half-century, Vidarbha’s bowlers put their side on top on the second day in the Irani Cup match against Rest of India. At stumps, Rest of India were 142 for 5, trailing Vidarbha’s first-innings total of 342 by 200. Rajat Patidar, batting on 42, will be the key going into the third day.Vidarbha resumed the day on 280 for 5 with Atharva Taide batting on 118. But their innings did not last long. Yash Thakur and Harsh Dubey fell in successive overs to leave them on 295 for 7.Darshan Nalkande hung around with Taide and the two added a crucial 37 to take the side to 332. Gurnoor Brar broke the stand by having Nalkande caught behind for 20. The end was swift as Saransh Jain picked the remaining two wickets in one over. He bowled Taide for 143 and, two balls later, had Aditya Thakare caught off Ruturaj Gaikwad.Abhimanyu and Aryan Juyal gave Rest of India a steady start of 52 before Nalkande trapped Juyal lbw. Yash Dhull came out with an attacking intent and hit two fours off Dubey, the second of those via an outside edge. But it was Dubey who had the last laugh when he had Dhull stumped for 11.Abhimanyu and Patidar took the side past 100. Abhimanyu brought up a half-century via an inside-edged four off Parth Rekhade before getting lbw in the same over. That triggered a mini-collapse. Gaikwad hit Thakur for back-to-back fours but was caught at deep-backward point off the following delivery. Ishan Kishan did not last long either, Rekhade having him lbw for 1.That left Rest of India at 124 for 5. Patidar and Manav Suthar, though, ensured there were no more setbacks till stumps.

Belief. That was the buzzword as Mushtaq Ahmed, Bangladesh’s spin consultant, addressed a press conference ahead of his team’s must-win Asia Cup fixture against Afghanistan.Bangladesh’s chastening defeat to Sri Lanka with 32 balls to spare dented a net run-rate that should’ve received a bigger fillip when they beat Hong Kong. That they took 17.4 overs to knock off 144 despite having a platform was criticised from several quarters.That means Bangladesh won’t be able to control their fate even if they win, since Afghanistan and Sri Lanka play the last group game of the pool.Related

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“You have to believe. The coaches and management keep telling the players that belief is very important,” Mushtaq said. “It’s difficult, of course, having to rely on ifs and buts, but you have to concentrate on winning the match first.”Asked of potential dangers to look out for, Mushtaq was clear it would come from Afghanistan’s spinners, led by their captain, Rashid Khan.”Their spin department is very good, especially in the middle overs,” he said. “If we can counter their spin well and put a decent score on the board, we can challenge them because our bowling unit is also strong. My main concern is the middle overs.”This middle phase is where Bangladesh revived their innings in their previous game, with Jaker Ali and Shamim Hossain reviving a floundering innings. From 59 for 5, they put together an unbroken 80-run stand to lift Bangladesh to 139.Mushtaq said despite their batting struggles, the messaging has been constant: to try and keep going for their shots, which he also said wasn’t something that can be ingrained instantly. But it’s something they’ve been trying to develop in trying to ramp up their batting methods – like their focus towards six-hitting.”Sometimes, early failures lead to losing four or five wickets quickly,” Mushtaq explained. “We tell our batsmen that such things happen, but they must move on fast. If they dwell on the past, their progress will be slow. As coaches, our duty is to prevent them from going into a shell, maintain their confidence, and keep giving them belief.Bangladesh suffered a heavy defeat to Sri Lanka•Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images

“As I’ve said in press conferences, I emphasise on belief. I played with legends like Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, and Wasim Akram. One lesson I learned from them is that if you don’t believe you belong at the international level, you start over-respecting the opposition and forget your strengths. Even failure while playing aggressively makes you a stronger player.”If coaches and management can instill that belief, the team can challenge any side. Players like Litton [Das], [Towhid] Hridoy, Tanzim [Hasan], Jaker and Shamim have shown that even when situations look tough, they can find momentum and score 170-180. With good fast bowlers and spinners, and if we get stronger as a team, we can challenge any team.”Mushtaq also called for some patience while dealing with a player like Rishad Hossain, the legspinner. It’s an art that hasn’t always been explored to its full potential in Bangladesh, primarily because of their battery of traditional left-arm spinners over the years.Rishad, though, has had an impressive initiation into international cricket, even though he hasn’t picked up wickets by the truckloads. His only over the other night against Sri Lanka went for 18.”Sometimes, as a young leg-spinner, you can overthink and try too many deliveries in one over,” Mushtaq assessed. “Especially in the first few overs, you risk losing your line and length. Funny enough, you asked this question [about his form].”I spoke to him today before we came to the nets. His strength is always to bowl the first three balls in good areas. That builds belief and confidence, after which he can use variations. He has to learn these little things quickly and also figure out, situation-wise, which deliveries to bowl more.”If a bowler, like Rishad, struggles in the first three balls, it doesn’t mean he loses rhythm for the rest of the spell. As a leg-spin bowling coach, I remind all spinners to focus on the process. Bowling good balls consistently builds confidence. He’s young and hasn’t played much red-ball cricket, so it’s my responsibility to ensure he remembers his process before worrying about outcomes.”Mushtaq was then asked what Afghanistan are doing in their development of wristspinners and cricketers in general that Bangladesh aren’t.”Afghanistan players have played lots of franchise cricket,” he explained. “You can buy a bed, but you can’t buy sleep. Bangladesh has been strong at home, but in ICC or ACC tournaments, we have to improve.”

New Zealand’s fast-bowling allrounder Nathan Smith has been ruled out of the second Test against Zimbabwe due to an abdominal strain. He has been replaced by pace bowling allrounder Zakary Foulkes, who gets his maiden call-up into the Test squad.Smith sustained the abdominal injury on the second day of the first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo while batting. A subsequent MRI confirmed the strain, which will require a recovery time of approximately two to four weeks.Meanwhile, left-arm fast bowler Ben Lister has also been added to the New Zealand squad as cover for Will O’Rourke, who experienced back stiffness on day three of the first Test. He is being monitored, according to a New Zealand Cricket (NZC) press release. O’Rourke bowled 13 and ten overs respectively in the two innings of the first Test, picking 3 for 28 in the second stint.Related

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Smith returned 3 for 20 in Zimbabwe’s first innings as the hosts were bowled out for 149. He retired hurt at the end of the 93rd over of New Zealand’s innings on 22 off 79 balls and did not return to the field for the remainder of the game.Smith’s replacement Foulkes has played 13 T20Is and a solitary ODI. He most recently turned out for New Zealand in the tri-series involving Zimbabwe and South Africa, which New Zealand won in a pulsating final. Foulkes, 24, has played 19 first-class games and has 57 wickets, along with 544 runs at 19.42.Lister has also not played a Test yet but has turned out in three ODIs and 12 T20Is for New Zealand. He last played an international game more than a year ago in Pakistan.New Zealand registered a comfortable win in Bulawayo by nine wickets, with Matt Henry returning figures of 9 for 90 for the Test. Regular captain Latham had missed the opening game due to a shoulder injury and it remains to be seen whether he gets fit in time for the second Test, which begins on August 7 in Bulawayo