It went down to the last ball at the National Stadium as Hasan Raza kept his cool under pressure to guide Sind Dolphins home by three wickets in a high-scorer against Baluchistan Bears

Cricinfo staff20-Apr-2010
ScorecardIt went down to the last ball at the National Stadium as Hasan Raza kept his cool under pressure to guide Sind Dolphins home by three wickets in a high-scorer against Baluchistan Bears. Chasing 304, the Dolphins were boosted by a strong opening stand, then lost their way, recovered again through a fifty-run stand between Raza and Sarfraz Ahmed and then fought against the asking rate. Raza however ensured he stayed right till the end with 78 to finish the job.The match had the makings of a high-scorer when the Bears duo of Taufeeq Umer and Abid Ali added a massive 147 for Baluchistan’s second wicket. Taufeeq hit five fours in his 74 but Abid was the more aggressive of the pair, hitting 11 fours in his 94. The Dolphins hit back to take three wickets for 11 runs, with Danish Kaneria picking up two of those. The lower order then rallied around Rameez Alam, who scored a quick 52 off 35 balls to take the score past 300. Anwar Ali took three wickets but was hammered for 72 off his ten overs.The Dolphins were given a boost by their openers, Shahzaib Hasan and Khurram Manzoor, who added 110 in just under 19 overs. Much like in the first innings, a century stand was followed by a wicket burst as the Dolphins lost three wickets for five runs. Sarfraz and Raza came together in the 26th over and added 71 to put them back on track. Lal Kumar eased the pressure off Raza with a breezy 27 off 14 balls after Sarfraz departed. But Dolphins were left to play catch-up in the final stages and when the last over began, they needed more than a run a ball. Raza levelled the scores off the penultimate ball and sealed the win with a boundary.

AB de Villiers will keep wicket for South Africa during the limited-overs leg of their tour of West Indies instead of Mark Boucher

Cricinfo staff19-May-2010AB de Villiers will keep wicket for South Africa during the limited-overs leg of their tour of West Indies instead of Mark Boucher, whose place in the team is now uncertain. Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, said the new selection panel led by Andrew Hudson was trying out new ideas ahead of the 2011 World Cup, and having de Villiers keep gave him more options.”AB will be starting with the gloves in the limited-overs matches,” Smith said ahead of the first Twenty20 international in Antigua. “There is a new selection committee and a few new ideas. We only have something like 15 ODIs before we get to India for the World Cup, so we have to make every one of them count.”Boucher, 33, has been a near permanent fixture in South Africa’s XI across formats since he made his debut in 1997 and has played 131 Tests, 291 ODIs and 25 Twenty20s. Smith said the absence of Boucher’s experience in the line-up would have to be made up by the rest of the players.”When a guy [like Boucher] has played over 300 ODIs you are always going to miss that experience. He has been a talisman of the side for a long period of time now. He has been part of a core group of senior players who have performed regularly,” Smith said. “The selectors have taken the decision now to look ahead at some new options, and certainly having AB keep allows you one or two extra options in the line-up. Andrew Hudson has arrived here today and we will sit down together and select the team for the game.”Smith also reflected on a “disappointing” World Twenty20 campaign – South Africa exited in the Super Eights – and said they would be “trying a few new things” to “examine the structure” of the team in Twenty20 and one-day internationals.”The team has taken a lot of flak back home and rightly so. We have got to take responsibility for that,” Smith said. “The team has really worked hard in the last few days we have had here in Antigua, and it is up to the team to perform well here and regain face with the public back home. We have got a few new players who have arrived here and they will provide fresh impetus and momentum. Confidence is an important thing and we need to start the West Indies tour strongly.”South Africa play back-to-back Twenty20 internationals against West Indies on May 19 and 20 before the five-ODI series begins on May 22.

Craig Kieswetter has been preferred as England’s wicketkeeper-batsman ahead of Matt Prior for the one-day internationals against Australia

Cricinfo staff10-Jun-2010Ian Bell has earned a one-day international recall while, as expected, Craig Kieswetter has been preferred as England’s wicketkeeper-batsman ahead of Matt Prior for the one-day internationals against Australia and the match against Scotland. There is also a surprising place for Tim Bresnan after he recently suffered a foot injury.Bresnan was ruled out of the second Test against Bangladesh, at Old Trafford, with a stress fracture but has clearly recovered quicker than expected. The 13-man squad includes Michael Yardy, a key part of the Twenty20 success in the Caribbean, as the selectors begin to make their final plans for next year’s World Cup.Bresnan’s fitness means there is no place for Ajmal Shahzad, the Yorkshire allrounder, who impressed on his Test debut in Manchester with his reverse-swing skills. However, both Shahzad and Prior, along with Ravi Bopara who didn’t make this squad, can expect to be included in the England Lions for their triangular series with India A and West Indies A which runs concurrently to the ODIs against Australia.”We are very pleased with the progress our one-day squad has made under the leadership of Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower over the past 18 months,” said Geoff Miller, the national selector. “The challenge facing the squad now is to maintain the form they showed over the winter against the world’s number one side in 50-over cricket.”We have named a slightly smaller squad for this summer’s NatWest Series than in previous years as our own programme closely mirrors the England Lions’ schedule for their triangular series against India A and West Indies A.”We will draw on additional players from the Lions squad if required and will also consider using the Lions programme to give non playing members of the one-day squad match practice where appropriate.”England have 21 ODIs between now and the beginning of the World Cup, starting with the June 19 fixture against Scotland, to formulate a squad that can amend the team’s disastrous recent form in 50-over tournaments. Following the Twenty20 triumph there were calls for that model to be immediately replicated in the longer format but Michael Lumb, who opened with Kieswetter, has been omitted.Kieswetter made his ODI debut against Bangladesh earlier this year having been drafted into the squad at the last minute following impressive performances for England Lions in the UAE. He responded with 107 in his third match at Chittagong, a game where he was also given the gloves, as the management hinted at the direction they would follow. The clincher, though, was Kieswetter’s form in the World Twenty20, where he was explosive at the top of the order and hit 63 off 49 balls in the final against Australia.”Craig Kieswetter made a century in only his third one-day International on the tour of Bangladesh and continued to impress during the World T20 tournament in the Caribbean,” said Miller. “He has been earmarked for a role at the top of the order and I am sure he will be relishing the opportunity to test himself against high quality opposition.”We are also pleased to welcome back Ian Bell to the one-day squad. He has performed well for Warwickshire this season in limited overs cricket and worked hard to add a more positive, attacking approach to his game.”Michael Yardy’s inclusion is a reward for performing consistently to a high level in the World T20 in the Caribbean and also reflects our longer term planning for a World Cup in the Indian sub-continent next year in which spin bowling will be a major feature.”Prior will feel hard done by once again as his ODI career is brought to another halt. After being tried at the top of the order, he went back to No. 6 during the Champions Trophy and the tour of South Africa where England won the one-day series 2-1. However, despite a couple of important innings, the emergence of Kieswetter has led to another change and there remains a feeling Prior’s batting is too orthodox for a middle-order role.Following England’s victory against Bangladesh at Old Trafford on Sunday there was some doubt over Andrew Strauss’s place in the squad after comments by Geoff Miller, the national selector, didn’t appear to offer complete support for the captain. But that was cleared up when Andy Flower confirmed Strauss would be in charge although he will need a productive one-day summer to ensure against calls for a change.England squad Andrew Strauss (capt), Craig Kieswetter, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Michael Yardy, Luke Wright, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Ryan Sidebottom, Ian Bell

The appeals lodged by former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan against their one-year bans by the Pakistan Cricket Board have been adjourned to a later date

Cricinfo staff22-May-2010The appeals lodged by former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan against their one-year bans by the Pakistan Cricket Board have been adjourned to a later date. The one-man tribunal, chaired by Irfan Qadir, announced that Malik’s hearing will now take place on May 29, while Naved’s is scheduled for June 19.”Malik’s lawyer completed his arguments and the lawyer for the Pakistan Cricket Board wanted time for some legal matters so the appeal has been adjourned for May 29,” Qadir told . He added that Naved’s appeal was adjourned until June 19 after his lawyer filed two more appeals and wanted to know constitutional points about the inquiry.Seven Pakistan players were penalised, for various reasons, by the PCB in the aftermath of a winless tour of Australia. Younis and Mohammad Yousuf, who has retired from international cricket, were banned indefinitely. Malik and Naved were banned for a year while the Akmal brothers and Shahid Afridi were fined and placed on a six-month probation. Each of the players, with the exception of Yousuf, have appealed against the punishments. Younis and Yousuf were accused of “infighting” and having a “negative influence” on the team.Younis’ appeal has been adjourned to Saturday May 29. Pakistan cricket is already under crisis with revelations of the infighting and discord within the team, after a video of the PCB’s inquiry committee was leaked to a television channel. Qadir said the hearings with the players were also being recorded in the interest of the players and PCB.”In my personal opinion the proceedings should be open but on the request of players and the PCB we have not made it open,” Qadir said. “For transparency we are keeping video recordings of the proceedings.”

The ICC has declared Pakistan women’s offspinner Javeria Khan’s action as illegal and suspended her from bowling in international cricket

Cricinfo staff06-Jul-2010The ICC has suspended Javeria Khan, the Pakistan offspinner, from bowling in international cricket after her action was found to be over the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted for bending of the elbow.Javeria had earlier been reported during a match against Sri Lanka in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in St Kitts.The independent test was performed by Bruce Elliott, a member of the ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists, at the University of Western Australia in Perth on June 16. The analysis showed the mean elbow extension in Javeria’s bowling action for the offbreak was 29.3 degrees, and increased to 40.7 degrees when she began to tire.She can apply for re-assessment of her action after she has modified it in accordance with clause 2.4 of the regulations for the review of bowlers reported with suspected illegal bowling actions. She also has the right to appeal against UWA’s conclusions to the Bowling Review Group. Should she choose to appeal, she must lodge written notification with the ICC within 14 days of receiving the report.The Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement that it would work on the matter internally by supervising the remedial work on her action.

Amjad Ali struck a fifty and a century as UAE beat Bermuda in the two Twenty20 matches at the National Stadium

Cricinfo staff13-Jul-2010
ScorecardUAE were stretched by a robust batting performance from Bermuda chasing 179, but prevailed by 21 runs in the first of two Twenty20 games in Hamilton. Amjad Ali was aggressive at the top after UAE elected to bat, and smashed three fours and as many sixes in his 53 to launch his side to a big total. Saqib Shah kept things rolling from the other end as the opening stand raised 67 in under eight overs. Offspinner Rodney Trott and seamer Kevin Tucker brought Bermuda back into the game during the end overs, but UAE had enough momentum to reach 178, with Saqib Ali and Arshad Ali making crucial contributions.Bermuda began their chase positively, with Chris Foggo striking a six before being stumped off Shadeep Silva. David Hemp and Steven Outerbridge gave their side a strong chance at victory, adding 57 in 53 balls before Arshad Ali brought UAE back in the game. He finished with 2 for 22, as Bermuda lost too many wickets and fell out of the reckoning. Outerbridge remained unbeaten on 43, and despite Jordan DeSilva’s 18 off 12 balls, UAE prevailed easily in the end.
ScorecardWhile UAE had to earn their win in the first game, the second match was a walk in the park once again masterminded by Amjad. He went one better than his fifty earlier in the day and finished with a fluent 105 off 61 balls with eleven fours and five sixes. The bulk of UAE’s runs came during Amjad’s second-wicket stand with Swapnil Patil – 117 runs in 12 overs. Bermuda recovered towards the end of the innings, with Outerbridge taking three wickets including that of Amjad’s to deny UAE a score in excess of 200, but sufficient damage had already been done.Bermuda were never in the hunt after losing Hemp in the first over. Fiqre Crockwell and Outerbridge kept attacking during their second-wicket stand of 53, but the innings unraveled once the left-arm spinning duo of Shadeep Silva and Ahmed Raza came on. Their seven overs yielded only 29 runs while accounting for five wickets as Bermuda suffered a resounding defeat.

Lalit Modi’s fight against the BCCI has hit another roadblock after his request to remove specific members of the board’s disciplinary committee was rejected

Cricinfo staff11-Aug-2010The BCCI has rejected a request by Lalit Modi, the suspended IPL chairman, for specific members of the board’s disciplinary committee, investigating charges against him, to recuse themselves from the proceedings. A brief statement by the board didn’t outline any reasons but stated that the next hearing of the committee will be on Wednesday, August 18, in New Delhi.Modi, the suspended IPL chairman, had sought the removal of interim IPL chairman Chirayu Amin and BCCI vice-president Arun Jaitley from the committee on grounds that they were biased against him. The committee met on August 1 to discuss the recusal issue but adjourned the meeting without a ruling. Modi did not attend the meeting via video conferencing despite saying he was willing to do so.This disciplinary committee has met thrice to investigate the allegations against Modi. The committee has until October 26 to submit its recommendations to the board. The BCCI suspended Modi immediately following the conclusion of IPL 3 in April and charged him with financial irregularities relating to the bidding process for IPL franchises, the mid-over ad sales and the sale of theatrical rights. He was also charged with colluding to set up a rebel league in England.Modi has repeatedly sought Amin’s recusal, claiming he was biased because Modi revealed he was part of a failed bid for one of the two new IPL franchises. Modi’s lawyers have also argued Jaitley should not be on the panel either because he had voted to ratify the charges against Modi at the board’s special general body meeting on July 3.

A responsible yet attacking 93 from Kuthethurshri Vasudevadas, and a surprise four-wicket haul from Hemang Badani gave India Cements a 25-run victory against Air India in the first semi-final of the Corporate Trophy

Cricinfo staff06-Sep-2010
ScorecardAn unbeaten century from Uttar Pradesh batsman Ravikant Shukla, a stunning lower-order assault from Amit Dani, and an all-round bowling effort helped Indian Oil Corporation overcome Income Tax to enter the final against India Cements. Ameya Shrikhande scored a run-a-ball 114 to keep Income Tax in the hunt, but his team-mates could not provide adequate support as they were bowled out 67 runs short.IOC’s decision to bat was vindicated by their openers who added 61 in 11.3 overs and set the stage for a big score. Wasim Jaffer was in an aggressive mood, striking seven fours and a six in his 38 off 35 balls, while Paresh Patel was watchful at the other end. Though both were guilty of not making their starts count, Shukla who came in at one-drop was determined to cash in. The young middle-order duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Harpreet Singh did the needful, turning the strike over as Shukla settled into a big innings.Harpreet departed at 211 for 4 in the 42nd over, but by then Shukla had worked himself into top gear. Dani who came in at No. 6 hit the ground running and Income Tax came in for some punishment. Shukla, who came into this game with a solitary first-class 100 and none at the List A level, smashed eight fours and three sixes as he finished with 123. Dani clouted four sixes and three fours, and finished one short of a fifty as the stand realized 93 in eight overs.Income Tax’s reply got off to a horror start when opener Hiken Shah fell for a duck in the first over. They tried to counter-attack, going after IOC’s opening bowlers, but the pressure of chasing a 300-plus score began to show on the running between the wickets. Amor Ubarhande and Jay Desai succumbed to run outs before Bhavik Thaker settled down with Shrikhande to rebuild the innings. During this phase, seamers Dani and Murtuza Hussain combined with left-arm spinner Rajesh Pawar to keep Income Tax quiet.Thaker could not reach the boundary during his 45 off 62 balls and when he fell in the 37th over, Income Tax needed 120 off 13.3 overs. Shrikhande kept fighting, but the lower order did not have the nous to stay with him. His innings was ended by Pawar who castled him from over-the-wickets for a run-a-ball 114. Thereafter it was only a matter of time, and Income Tax eventually folded for 241 in the 46th over.

Half-centuries from Ewaid Steenkamp, Craig Williams and Sarel Burger took Namibia to 320 for 4 on the second day of their ICC Intercontinental Shield match against Uganda in Windhoek

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-2010
ScorecardCraig Williams has turned in a fine allround performance for Namibia•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Half-centuries from Ewaid Steenkamp, Craig Williams and Sarel Burger took Namibia to 320 for 4 on the second day of their ICC Intercontinental Shield match against Uganda in Windhoek.Steenkamp and Raymond Van Schoor got Namibia off to a flying start, putting on 55 for the first wicket at a run-a-ball before Van Schoor was bowled by Emmanuel Isaneez for 31 off just 32 deliveries. Steenkamp and Burger then made sure the early momentum would not be squandered with a 124-run partnership. Steenkamp’s 87 came off 120 deliveries and contained 14 fours, while Burger played the anchor role, taking 161 balls for his 68, with nine fours.Williams continued to build on the foundation provided by the top three, finishing the day unbeaten on 78 from 193 deliveries, a day after picking up five wickets.Uganda got through 109 overs in the day, with offspinner Frank Nsubuga bearing the brunt of the load, bowling 35 overs and finishing with figures of 1 for 69.Wicketkeeper Lawrence Sematimba’s maiden first-class hundred lifted Uganda to a first-innings score of 329 on the first day.

Openers Tim McIntosh and Peter Ingram led New Zealand A to a comfortable nine-wicket win against Zimbabwe A on the third day of the final unofficial Test in Harare.

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Oct-2010
Scorecard
Openers Tim McIntosh and Peter Ingram led New Zealand A to a comfortable nine-wicket win against Zimbabwe A on the third day of the final unofficial Test in Harare. With this victory, New Zealand took the three-match series 2-0.Given the small target of 168, the only hope for Zimbabwe A was to try and get early wickets, but McIntosh and Ingram had other ideas. The pair shut Zimbabwe out of the game with a busy 122-run opening stand. Ingram, who has not been among the runs recently, finally found some form, hitting seven fours in his brisk 63. By the time he fell to medium-pacer Michael Chinouya, New Zealand needed only 46 more. Martin Guptill came in and smashed a quick 25 as New Zealand raced to the target. McIntosh remained unbeaten on 76, having hit 11 fours and a six.New Zealand fast bowler Chris Martin, who took 5 for 72, was named Player of the Match. Wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins was Player of the Series for top scoring with 292 runs in four innings, including one hundred and three half-centuries.