All posts by csb10.top

Scorecard

The New Zealanders beat a Victorian invitation team by 34 runs in a limited overs match at the Albert Reserve in Melbourne. The New Zealanders made 7 for 277 from 40 overs and then bowled out the Victorian Invitation XI for 243 in 38.3 overs. Ian Hewett was the star for Victoria with 82 off 52 balls. For New Zealand Kyle Mills and Ian Butler took three wickets each.The Kiwis organised the game as a warm-up for the three-match Chappell-Hadlee one-day trophy against Australia, which starts this Sunday at Telstra Dome.John Bracewell, New Zealand’s coach, said that the one-day game would help his side adjust after they the two Tests against Australia last month. He told the Melbourne’s newspaper. “The side in the past from touring hasn’t been great at transferring from one game to the next,” he said. “But we did that very well in England last year … we transferred quite quickly, but that `quickly’ was also three warm-up games.” In June and July this year New Zealand had adapted well enough to win the triangular tournament with England and West Indies after they had lost their Test series against England 3-0.

India clinched the five match India Zimbabwe oneday series with a fine nine wicket win at theGreen Park stadium in Kanpur on Monday. it was theallround display by their skipper Sourav Ganguly,who played the lead role to perfection, whichensured a thumping win for the hosts. It wasGanguly’s day. With a five wicket haul and aunbeaten 71 off 68 balls, there was no question asto who the man of the day was.Ganguly always tends to set an example on thefield. And today was no exception. Bowling a fullquota of ten overs, he tormented the Zimbabweanbatsmen to no end. With the pitch having lowbounce, any bowler would prove to be a handful.Deciding on bringing himself on, Ganguly struck agood line and before long sent back Andy Flower(20). Trying to force the pace the southpaw heavedGanguly only to be caught by Agarkar at midwicket.This gave Ganguly added confidence since it hasbeen quite some time since he bowled his fullquota of overs. Bringing himself back for anotherspell on the other side of the first drinks break,he packed off Grant Flower (6) and Stuart Carlisle(20). The Zimbabwean captain Heath Streak (3) alsodid not last long. At 141 for 6, the Zimbabweaninnings was going nowhere. It was just a matter oftime before the innings folded up. Ganguly thentrapped Travis Friend (6) giving him his secondfive wicket haul in international cricket. Thevisitors’ innings folded up in the 45th over whenAgarkar picked up the final wicket, that ofOlonga, who gave a return catch.Having reduced the visitors to 164, Ganguly andTendulkar went about their work with clinicalprecision. The way Ganguly dismissed Friend fromthe attack gave a glimpse of what was in store forthe 45,000 odd crowd. The two displayed utmostaggression while driving and pulling at will. Butthe most striking aspect is that the two batsmenforced the visitors into submission. They put upthe 100-run partnership on the board in the 15thover. The same over witnessed Tendulkar crossinghis fifty – incidentally his 50th half century ininternational career. The chase entered the lastphase with Ganguly also reaching his half centuryin the 20th over. Three overs later the Indiantotal crossed 150 as Ganguly launched into astraight drive over Nkala’s head.The stand came to a rather tame end, when withonly the formalities needed to be completed,Friend trapped Tendulkar leg before in the 25thover of the innings. Tendulkar faced 86 balls forhis 56. Ganguly needed just two scoring shotsafter his partner’s dismissal to clinch the seriesin favour of India.Earlier the Zimbabwean batsmen displayed abjectinability to face up to the Indian attack. Butcredit should be given to the openers AlisterCampbell and T Modondo, for battling it out in themiddle against some inspired bowling by ZaheerKhan. The Zimbabwean innings was pegged on theback foot early. On a pitch that offered littlebounce and with the ball not coming on to the bat,the Zimbabweans kept losing wickets in the middleovers. The innings folded up with the last batsmanOlonga offering a simple return catch to Agarkarin the 45th over.

They say artists have to be dead before they receive the public recognition they deserve. Sportsmen usually have to retire before they attract the universal adulation denied them during their playing days. However, every once in a while, there is a character who manages to transcend local partiality to become something of a national icon.Philip Clive Roderick Tufnell is one such player. The Middlesex slow left-armer has just reached a notable milestone in what might be termed a colourful career, in that he has just taken his 1,000th first-class wicket. Only 202 men had achieved that feat before in the entire history of the game. The significant wicket was, in his own words, “a bit of a grubber” but it did bowl the Australian contracted player Martin Love, Durham’s overseas player.The start of this long wicket-taking trail was back in 1986, but not until his third match. After wicket-less appearances against Worcestershire and Lancashire, he finally struck when Roland Butcher caught Surrey wicket-keeper Jack Richards at Uxbridge. It was much the same story in Test cricket. His debut came at Melbourne in the Second Test of the 1990/91 tour, during which he bowled 21 overs in the first innings and 24 in the second. The figures were respectable but the wickets column remained blank.A few days later, however, he played in the Fourth Test in Sydney and in the Australian first innings, with the score on 512 for 8, Greg Matthews’ knock of 128 came to an end with the help of a catch from Eddie Hemmings. The bowler was none other than P.C.R. Tufnell. In the second innings, he had figures of 37-18-61-5 and, as well as Terry Alderman, he claimed the scalps of David Boon, Allan Border, Dean Jones and Ian Healy. Not a bad bag.That should have been the start of a long and distinguished Test career, but if a relationship with the authorities can be described as both chequered and colourful at the same time, Phil Tufnell’s has been. You can understand the fact that he has not made as many appearances as he might have when you add his “attitude” to the type of player he is. He might be coming close to 2,000 first-class runs, and did once get a fifty to take his career average almost up to double figures, but there is not a decent team in the land where he would shorten the tail. His fielding does not really push back the boundaries of athleticism either. But as an English spin bowler he has few peers.So, in the decade he played for England, he made 41 appearances. There were times when inferior bowlers would be chosen on the basis that they would score a few more runs or slide about in the outfield, and there were times when, quite simply, his face did not fit. Apart, that is, until England needed to win the last match of a series at The Oval. Then the call for The Cat would go out and he invariably came up with the goods.It is this combination of being a match-winning bowler and something of a rebellious figure as far as the establishment is concerned that means he has found a way into the hearts of cricket fans across the country. As England’s fortunes have dipped in this series against Australia, the call for his return to a Test side for which he last appeared in Cape Town on the 1999/00 tour, has become almost deafening.Four years ago he came into the team at The Oval for the last Test against Australia. Match figures of 11 for 93 earned him the man of the match award and only served to add to the folklore of his exploits. He had done it earlier at The Oval, in 1991, taking 6 for 25 to bowl England to victory against the West Indies.England have looked at every conceivable way of beating the Australians this summer – except one. He is bowling as well as ever this season – possibly better than ever – and has 55 wickets at just over 22 apiece. Perhaps, even without many runs or much sliding, the time has come to give Tufnell his turn.

Durham’s victory over Second Division promotion contenders Warwickshire atBirmingham was hardly expected as it was only their third in the NationalLeague. Simon Katich (64) was top-scorer in a 198-6 total which was 50 runsmore than Warwickshire made in their third consecutive defeat at home.Neil Killeen and Ian Hunter decided the outcome effectively in an initial spellin which the hosts were 46-4. Trevor Penney and Dougie Brown (30) added 38runs in ten overs but both were out to John Wood. In a fine Durham fieldingperformance Paul Collingwood took three catches – that to dismiss Brownbeing outstanding.Earlier Katich and Collingwood (53) had made Durham’s batting comparatively secure on a slow pitch which had been used for the NatWest Series international match on Tuesday. With no pace on the ball their 118 runs in 25 overs contained only five boundaries. Katich went to his third consecutive League fifty off 70 deliveries and Collingwood needed 81 balls for his second half-century of the summer.Only a further 26 runs were scored after their partnership ended. Brown (3-45) and Allan Donald (2-28) kept a tight rein on the scoring on a dead pitch. Openers Jon Lewis and Michael Gough had been the only other Durham batsmen to attain double figures.

Recovering from a seemingly hopeless situation, North Zone defeatedCentral Zone by two wickets in a group B match of the inter-academycricket tournament for the Col. Hemu Adhikari Trophy in Bangalore onSaturday. North, Central and West, the three teams in the group allended with one win and one defeat each. But on better run rate, Westqualified to meet East in the final on Monday.Electing to bat, Central Zone scored 205 for eight in 47 overs. Rainin the morning shortened the duration of the game. Opener AV Mann wasthe mainstay with a valuable 85. He faced 126 balls and hit six fours.He was involved in two fruitful partnerships. First, with M Mishra(28) he added 59 runs for the second wicket off 16.4 overs. Then withwicketkeeper NV Ojha (33) he put on 61 runs for the sixth wicket off5.4 overs. Mann was seventh out at 199 in the 46th over while Ojha hittwo fours and a six in facing only 23 balls. Kunal Lal and AbishekSharma took three wickets each for 35 and 43 runs respectively.Medium pacer Devendra Singh pushed North Zone on to the backfoot witha fine spell. He took three wickets and at 12 for five, North Zonewere tottering. Then commenced the fightback. P Dogra (47) and skipperK Rawat (92) added 135 runs for the sixth wicket off 28 overs. Thenafter both batsmen fell in quick succession, wicketkeeper H Khullar(18) and Abhishek Sharma (26 not out) added 35 runs for the eighthwicket off five overs to take North Zone to the doorstep of victorywhich was finally achieved with 2.4 overs to spare.

The State Otago Volts selectors have named an unchanged squad for the third round State Championship match against the Auckland Aces, starting at Carisbrook next Tuesday.Otago’s season has started poorly with outright losses to the Northern Knights and Canterbury Wizards, while Auckland has beaten Central Districts and drawn with Wellington.The third round of the championship was split to accommodate Auckland’s match with the touring Bangladesh side.The Volts squad for next week’s match is: Lee Germon (captain), Martyn Croy, Craig Cumming, Chris Gaffaney, Andrew Hore, Robbie Lawson, Brendon McCullum, Evan Marshall, Craig Pryor, David Sewell, Robert Smith, Kerry Walmsley.Not considered because of injury were seam bowlers Shayne O’Connor, Warren McSkimming and James McMillan. McSkimming’s back is on the mend and he is making good progress, O’Connor is waiting for news on an MRI scan on his knee, while McMillan’s prospects of a return are more long-term. He has problems with both ankles.

A second full day’s play between Boland and the Highveld Strikers in theSupersport Series was lost on Saturday.The loss of two days has almost certainly doomed this match to a draw, whichis not the result the Strikers require. They desperately need to win to stay in the competition.Play is scheduled to get underway half an hour earlier on Sunday, but theweather forecast is for more rain.

Ben Stokes battled through pain as he came out to bat at No. 11 in England’s first innings after being diagnosed with a “collarbone joint injury” which will prevent him bowling or fielding again in the final Test.Stokes had some gentle throwdowns during the lunch interval and when James Anderson was dismissed he strode out to support Stuart Broad who tried to farm the strike. However, Stokes was on strike when Wahab Riaz was recalled to the attack and, unable to do anything other than block or leave, wore a short ball on the chest but survived the over.Next over, though, from Shoaib Malik, Broad took a single off the second ball – which both players seemed unsure over doing – and Stokes was bowled for a duck three balls later after a stand of 10.Stokes had been for a scan in Dubai yesterday and he will be reassessed in seven to 10 days after which a timetable for his return will be mapped out. The initial outlook appears more positive than was the case when he sustained the injury on the opening day, diving to try and take a catch at short fine leg when he then landed heavily on his right shoulder. Fears were of a dislocation, although that now appears not to have been the case.The exact details of the injury are yet to be confirmed, but if it involves the AC joint the full recovery time could be around six weeks. However, any type of shoulder injury can have serious implications for a bowler. England’s first tour match in South Africa, at Potchefstroom, begins in exactly six weeks with the first Test in Durban on Boxing Day.”Imaging confirms Stokes has a collarbone joint injury,” said the ECB in a press release. “It has already been decided he will be unable to bowl or field for the remainder of this Test match but if circumstances dictate he may bat. His injury will be reviewed in 7-10 days once it has had a chance to settle. A decision about his return to play will be taken at this time.”After the second day’s play in Sharjah, Ian Bell said it was down to the remaining 10 players to make up for Stokes’ absence. James Anderson and Stuart Broad were outstanding in the first innings with combined figure of 6 for 30 off 28.1 overs but will now have to carry the pace-bowling burden entirely by themselves, while there will be significant pressure on the spin trio of Moeen Ali, Samit Patel and Adil Rashid.”We’ve talked a little bit about having to step up as a batting unit, with one man down,” Bell said. “Losing someone like Stokesy, with all his attributes, is obviously tough. The bowlers are going to have to recognise that, and step up again in the next ‘dig’ – which I’m sure they will do.”Stokes had already been rested from the one-day and T20 legs of the UAE tour and was due to fly home after the third Test finishes.

Eighty-two players, including 19 overseas players, were allocated through a lottery during the BPL draft in Dhaka on Thursday. Out of the 63 local players, the selection of the six icons came at the end of the draft. Rangpur, which had the first pick, chose Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal was selected by Chittagong, Mashrafe Mortaza by Comilla, Mushfiqur Rahim by Sylhet, Mahmudullah by Barisal, and Nasir Hossain by Dhaka.According to BPL secretary Ismail Haider Mallick, the list of foreign cricketers signed outside the draft includes Shahid Afridi (Sylhet), Chris Gayle (Barisal) and Kumar Sangakkara (Dhaka) as well as Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir (Chittagong), who recently returned to cricket after serving out a suspension for spot-fixing. There is a dispute over Tillakaratne Dilshan after both the Rangpur and Chittagong franchises claimed they had signed him. Mallick said that the BPL governing council will investigate the documents from the two franchises before taking a decision on the matter.Chris Jordan was the first foreign player to be chosen in the draft, by Sylhet, while three other English players – Darren Stevens, Josh Cobb and Dawid Malan – were also picked. Jordan, however, is unlikely to be available for the entire duration of the BPL, which is scheduled between November 22 and December 15. The England fast bowler will be with the Test squad in the UAE until November 30 and is due to be a part of the Performance Camp training squad in Dubai. He may also be picked for England’s tour of South Africa, which starts with a tour match in Potchefstroom on December 15.Seven Pakistan players, including Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Sami, were selected, while five Sri Lanka players and a cricketer each from South Africa (Robin Peterson), West Indies (Andre Russell) and Afghanistan (Mohammad Nabi) were chosen in the draft.After the draft started at around 11.20am on Thursday, Rangpur got four first picks in all, including the icon pick. Chittagong and Comilla got two first picks, while Dhaka and Sylhet got one each in the normal round of the draft.Mahbubul Anam, the BCB vice-president, moderated the draft and had to explain the rules of the draft a number of times, but the process appeared to be a smarter way of allocating players compared to the auctions that had been held for the previous editions of the BPL. Those auctions had seen a lull in the middle and end periods, when franchises did not show an interest in the players lined up.There were no excess calls for players from the commissioner as many of the teams opted to quit calling after picking the minimum number of foreign and local players required. They have the option of calling up more players within the next seven days if needed.Barisal: Mahmudullah (icon), Chris Gayle, Brendan Taylor, Kevon Cooper, Evin Lewis, Seekkuge Prasanna, Mohammad Sami, Imad Wasim, Sabbir Rahman, Sohag Gazi, Taijul Islam, Rony Talukdar, Al-Amin Hossain, Shahriar Nafees, Mehedi Maruf, Nadif Chowdhury, Mohammad Sharifullah, Sajidul Islam.Chittagong: Tamim Iqbal (icon), Umar Akmal, Chamara Kapugedera, Mohammad Amir, Elton Chigumbura, Kamran Akmal, Robin Peterson, Saeed Ajmal, Jeevan Mendis, Anamul Haque, Taskin Ahmed, Ziaur Rahman, Naeem Islam, Enamul Haque jnr, Shafiul Islam, Nafees Iqbal, Elias Sunny, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Asif Ahmed.Comilla: Mashrafe Mortaza (icon), Sunil Narine, Shoaib Malik, Marlon Samuels, Ahmed Shehzad, Krishmar Santokie, Andre Russell, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lahiru Thirimanne, Darren Stevens, Liton Das, Imrul Kayes, Shuvagata Hom, Sanjamul Islam, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Ariful Haque, Mahmudul Hasan, Naeem Islam jnr, Abu Hider, Dhiman Ghosh.Dhaka: Nasir Hossain (icon), Kumar Sangakkara, Ryan ten Doeschate, Mohammad Irfan, Yasir Shah, Nasir Jamshed, Sohail Khan, Dawid Malan, Shahzaib Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Mosharraf Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Shamsur Rahman, Saikat Ali, Farhad Reza, Nabil Samad, Abul Hasan, Irfan Shukkur.Rangpur: Shakib Al Hasan (icon), Lendl Simmons, Darren Sammy, Thisara Perera, Wahab Riaz, Sachithra Senanayake, Mohammad Nabi, Soumya Sarkar, Arafat Sunny, Mohammad Mithun, Muktar Ali, Saqlain Sajib, Jahurul Islam, Abu Jayed Chowdhury, Murad Khan, Rasel Al Mamun.Sylhet: Mushfiqur Rahim (icon), Shahid Afridi, Ravi Bopara, Brad Hodge, Ajantha Mendis, Chris Jordan, Sohail Tanvir, Joshua Cobb, Rubel Hossain, Mominul Haque, Abdur Razzak, Nurul Hasan, Mohammad Shahid, Najmul Islam, Junaid Siddique, Nazmul Hossain Milon, Abu Sayem.

Bihar took a pincer grip of their Super League tie against Railways atthe MECON Sail stadium in Ranchi after opening bowler Mihir Diwakarhad devastated the visitors for 130 on the opening day today. With twoand a quarter hours of play lopped off due to rain and bad light,Bihar had made 14/0 from five overs at stumps.After being put in to bat, the Railways innings lasted just 41.1 overswith the top score being Abhay Sharma’s 27. Seventeen year old Diwakarran through the innings, taking 7-47 in 18.1 overs. Seven batsmenfailed to reach double figures. Diwakar was ably supported by his newball partner Dhiraj Kumar who finished with 3-64.In the brief time that Bihar batted, opener Ratan Kumar was forced toretire hurt for seven. N Ranjan and Aamir Hashmi were the not outbatsmen.