All posts by csb10.top

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMartin Guptill, despite his fifty, had a forgettable day•AFP

Pakistan continued to punch above their weight in Tests under a new captain, earning the opening-day honours by stifling New Zealand on a pitch that has plenty of runs. Their advantage was a result of their perseverance as well as New Zealand’s failure to build on a strong foundation laid by Brendon McCullum. Kane Williamson and Tim Southee, however, revived their team with a fighting stand, promising another tilt in the scales heading into the second day.Pakistan’s decision to bowl on a dry pitch appeared to be a mistake, and for good reason. There was virtually no swing, only slight movement off the track, and with the sun breaking out of an overcast sky, the prospects didn’t seem bright for the three-pronged seam attack. McCullum’s dominating approach, particularly after lunch, as he drove and pulled Umar Gul for sixes, temporarily served a chilling reminder of Pakistan’s apparent misjudgment. But his dismissal, the subsequent stagnation against Abdur Rehman’s left-arm spin and a stroke of luck vindicated Misbah-ul-Haq’s decision at the toss.New Zealand had themselves to blame for the slide. The batsmen didn’t take advantage of the opportunities given, through umpiring errors and lapses in the field, and slipped during a shift in momentum brought about by Martin Guptill’s self-imposed grind. Following the lunch break, Guptill played out five consecutive maidens against Rehman, who kept a tight line around middle and off. Despite the lack of turn, he was played respectfully with a straight bat that seemed devoid of intention to force the pace.McCullum’s wicket was the trigger. Since giving up wicketkeeping in Tests, he has enjoyed his role as opener and was on track for a big score this morning. He went after Gul in the first over, driving him over cover, and was particularly ruthless against the over-pitched deliveries, cracking Younis Khan and Wahab Riaz to the extra-cover boundary. He showed no inhibitions when attacking, even though Pakistan had plugged his favourite areas. They had a deep point for the cut, as well as two fielders square for the pull, and he beat both. He should have been out caught behind when he gloved Riaz in the 19th over but this carefree approach cost him his wicket after the break. He mowed Gul over midwicket and then slashed him straight to deep point the next ball.It was then that Rehman stepped in. Attacking with a slip and two close-in catchers on either side of the pitch, he bowled quicker through the air, and only managed to extract spin when he flighted the ball. He didn’t threaten but the nagging line sent Guptill into a shell that led to his dismissal.Guptill had looked assured against pace, leaving deliveries in the channel outside off when there was a bit of nip, and kicked things off with a couple of straight drives. But his misery against Rehman – he scored 4 off 44 balls against him – ended when the bowler gave him his best possible chance to score; the full toss, however, was gifted as a catch to cover.In the interim Taylor, who had a poor series in India, feathered one to the keeper as he tried to cut Rehman. Ryder, though, batted enterprisingly. Deliveries bowled on the pads were deftly glanced to the fine-leg boundary and when the opportunity came, Rehman was slog-swept for six. But a moment of ill luck robbed Ryder of his wicket; he was run-out backing up too far as Riaz deflected a straight drive onto the stumps. Despite his half-century, it was a day to forget for the man who played that drive, Guptill.Williamson, playing his first Test at home, batted with the composure that guided him to a century on debut against India and rescued his team from 177 for 7. Barring a dropped catch at slip, Williamson was solid and seized any chance to play his favoured back-foot punch through cover and point. While watchful against Rehman, Williamson freed up against pace, the standout shot being a straight drive off Gul bowling with the new ball.Williamson’s assured presence was complemented by a determined innings from Southee, who seemed gifted with timing. Several of his boundaries were firm pushes in front of square, or were guided the ball behind point. His second half-century, which included three consecutive fours off Gul, underlined what was possible on the pitch and what the frontline batsmen had missed out on. The unbeaten 83-run stand prevented Pakistan’s complete domination on a placid track.

Jim Troughton has been appointed as Warwickshire’s new captain following the resignation of Ian Westwood last week.Troughton, 31, played six one-day internationals for England in 2003 and has been at Edgbaston his entire career, making his first-class debut in 2001. Crucially he belongs in Warwickshire’s best XI for all formats of the game, something his predecessor did not and hastened Westwood’s decision to step down.Though part of the team that won the CB40 title last season Troughton struggled, like most of the Warwickshire top order, in the Championship, making 585 runs at 20.17 in 2010.He faces a challenge ensuring Warwickshire have better results in four-day cricket next season is eagerly anticipating the task. “It is a real honour for me to be asked to take over as Warwickshire captain and I look forward to continuing the great work started by Ian Westwood,” said Troughton.”Warwickshire cricket is in my blood and I will be working hard to uphold the great traditions of this club. I had a taste of the captaincy last season in the latter stages of the Twenty20 campaign, and I am thrilled to be taking on the position across all forms of the game.”Warwickshire director of cricket Ashley Giles feels Troughton’s experience at the club will stand him in good stead as the team looks to improve its fortunes.”We are delighted that Jim has agreed to take on this important position and I have every confidence that his experience and maturity will make the transition a smooth one,” said Giles.”Jim is Warwickshire ‘through and through’, is one of our home-grown talents, and for the past two seasons has been a key member of the squad in all forms of the game. I am looking forward to working with him during the crucial winter preparation period as well as the coming seasons.”

India opener Virender Sehwag has reaffirmed his support for the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS), asking for its implementation in all of India’s engagements leading upto, and including the World Cup.”I am a big fan of the UDRS,” Sehwag said. “I want it to be there for the India-New Zealand series, India-South Africa series and in the World Cup. But this is my personal opinion. I was given out two times when I was not out and in such a situation could have gone in for a referral that would have helped me continue to bat.”Sehwag’s stand is in contrast to that of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) and most of India’s top players, including MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar, while Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan are for its implementation. India were part of the first trial of the system during their tour of Sri Lanka in 2008. They struggled with their referrals, getting only one of them right, while Sri Lanka successfully challenged 11 decisions.Since then, the BCCI have ensured that India have not had to face the system in their series against South Africa, Sri Lanka and Australia. The upcoming Test series against New Zealand will also not feature it, while the ICC has asked the India and South Africa boards to decide on its implementation for the South Africa tour. Plans are afoot for the UDRS’ one-day debut during the World Cup.Sehwag’s next assignment is the home series against New Zealand, followed by the tour of South Africa in December. He was keen to play all the matches in the New Zealand series, though he is ready to go early to South Africa if the BCCI decides to send some of the senior players before the end of the one-day leg of the New Zealand series. “We would like to play a full team against New Zealand but the schedule is such that a break may be needed,” Sehwag said. “It’s up to the team management and the BCCI to decide on the matter. I would like to play as many ODIs as I can. But if the team management and the BCCI want us to go early to South Africa we will do it.”

Kuwait eased to their third resounding victory of the Division Eight tournament, crushing Bhutan by eight wickets in a match that lasted all of 20.4 overs. Kuwait’s opening bowlers, right-handed Saad Khalid and left-armer Mohammad Murad, combined to skittle Bhutan for just 31 as no batsman made it to double figures and extras, with 10, provided the bulk of the scoring. Kuwait lost both openers in their chase, but the score had already reached 20 by the time they departed, and Abid Chaudry and Mohammad Akhudzada had little trouble knocking off the remaining runs in time for an early lunch.Murad and Khalid had dished out the same treatment to Suriname in their opening match of the tournament, and are now sitting comfortably at the top of the wicket-takers’ tables with 22 victims between them. Their pace proved simply too much for Bhutan’s inexperienced batsmen as eight dismissals were either bowled or lbw. With Kuwait emerging as definite contenders to move up to Division Seven and beyond, Khalid and Murad – who, at 20, is the older of the two – will be vital to their future development.”Today was another easy match for us just like the first day of the tournament against Suriname,” said Khalid, who was Man of the Match for the second time this tournament. “My bowling just went right for me today, I’m not a selfish player I’m in it for the team and the fact I took so many wickets today is pleasing. We’ve only really been challenged by Vanuatu so I’m looking forward to our play-off game where hopefully we can be challenged a bit more.”Vanuatu scrapped to a four-wicket win over Suriname at the Doha Entertainment City Ground. Aby John’s medium pace did the bulk of the damage to Suriname’s top order after they had opted to bat first, his third wicket reducing them to 107 for 6. There was no lower-order fightback and Suriname crumbled for 139 in the 48th over.Vanuatu didn’t have it all their own way in their chase, however, as Suriname captain Shazam Ramjohn opened the bowling with Vishaul Singh’s offspin and he responded with the early dismissals of both Lenica Natapei and Andrew Mansale. After Carlton Baker broke a 36-run third-wicket stand by bowling Jonathon Dunn, and opener Damian Smith was run out for 46, Vanuatu were 81 for 4 and tottering uneasily. But Simpson Obed and Patrick Matautaava responded admirably, and when both fell to Singh victory was almost in Vanuatu’s grasp. It was left to Frederick Timakata and wicketkeeper Trevor Langa to finish the job, and Vanuatu now sit comfortably in second position behind Kuwait in Group A.”It’s always nice to come away with a victory and the team performed better today in the field and Patrick Matautaava was once again strong with bat and ball which is a positive thing,” said Vanuatu coach Mark Coles. “We can’t be complacent though, we face Germany on Thursday and they’ve proved to be very strong with the bat so we need make sure we keep out bowling tight and our fielding on target.”Suriname coach Kumar Rampat was disappointed but the loss but looked upon the positives. “We may not have won any of our group matches but as a team we have certainly improved since the first game of the tournament. We bowled well today and took some good catches,” he said. “We now need to focus on the play-offs on Thursday, which is something we very much want to do.”Ehsan Latif opened the bowling for Germany before Kashif Haider took centre stage•International Cricket Council

Germany’s batsmen, led by Milan Fernando and Asif Khan, had been the team’s strongest weapon in the tournament so far, but against Bahamas at the Unity Ground it was the turn of a bowler to shine. After solid contributions from both Fernando and Khan, and a half-century for Rishi Pillai, had set up Germany’s total of 258 Bahamas’ opening pair of Gregory and Marc Taylor responded with an opening stand that had passed 80 in the 16th over.But after Pillai removed the younger Taylor for 45, Kashif Haider, Germany’s Pakistan-born legspinner, was brought on as third change and soon had a devastating impact. He scythed through the batting line-up, dismissing Nos. 5, 6 and 7 for ducks and ended the innings by having Julio Jemison stumped to finish with the remarkable figures of 8 for 25. The victory cemented Germany’s position at the top of Group B, and they increasingly appear to be the only team capable of challenging Kuwait after the group stages.”I haven’t been taking too many wickets lately and to walk away with eight today and help my team to its third win is a great feeling,” said Haider. “I just hope our good form continues ahead of Thursday’s game against Vanuatu so that we can go onto qualify for Division 7 next year.”Christian Rocca’s 99 eased the pain of Gibraltar’s defeat to Germany on Sunday, and as the third round of matches brought a third defeat it was the turn of Kieron Ferrary to give Gibraltar’s innings some honour as they slipped to a 91-run defeat to Zambia at the Hubara Ground. The 21-year-old Ferrary went to the crease as early as the 12th over as Gladson Kandela once again made early inroads into the top order, and reached a fluent hundred before falling in the final over for 105. Kandela picked up his fourth wicket of the match in the same over, dismissing Matthew Hunter second ball, to finish with 4 for 25.Zambia’s win had been set up by a solid performance from their batsmen, openers Allan Nsensha and Ashraf Lulat putting 166 in just over 30 overs. After they were nipped out by offspinner Mark Bacarese, the middle order kept up the tempo as each batsman managed to score at a-run-a-ball or better to finish with a match-winning total of 286 for 6.”It’s obviously disappointing to have not won any of our games here in Kuwait but we’ve got to remain positive and make sure we finish on a positive note,” said Gibraltar captain Rocca. “I was particularly pleased with the performance of Kieron Ferrary today, he showed us he is definitely one for the future of Gibraltar cricket.”Tomorrow is a rest day with play resuming on Thursday with the play-offs.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has revealed that no England players or officials are implicated in the new spot-fixing allegations that emerged on Saturday and confirmed that Pakistan’s tour will continue for the final two one-day internationals.The ICC earlier announced it had launched an investigation into the third ODI between England and Pakistan at The Oval after receiving information from newspaper prior to the game alleging that bookies were aware of certain scoring patterns that occurred during the match. An emergency ECB board meeting was held at noon on Saturday and Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, has written to the ICC president Sharad Pawar for clarification of the information they hold.”Following a board meeting held at noon on September 18 the chairman of the ECB has written to the president of the ICC seeking assurances that the ICC does not have evidence which could result in either charges or suspension of players prior to the conclusion of the current NatWest Series,” the statement said. “No substantive evidence has been shared with the ECB or the PCB at this stage.””The ECB board noted the ICC is not stating as fact that anything untoward has occurred, nor has yet been proven in relation to the third ODI between England and Pakistan. The ECB has received confirmation that no England players nor member of management are involved in any allegation linked with ACSU activities.”The ECB Board reiterated its policy of zero tolerance and strongly supported a full investigation into such allegations. Until the ICC substantiates that any allegations are correct no further action can be taken.”Angus Porter, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, said the players would take their lead from the ECB. “We don’t have enough facts to make a judgement,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “The players will do what the ECB decide.”Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, said there was enough reason to launch an immediate investigation into the match. “A source informed newspaper that a certain scoring pattern would emerge during certain stages of the match and, broadly speaking, that information appeared to be correct.”We therefore feel it is incumbent upon us to launch a full enquiry into this particular game, although it is worth pointing out at this stage that we are not stating as fact that anything untoward has occurred. Only in the fullness of the investigation can that be established.”The latest allegations came three weeks after the News of the World broke the initial spot-fixing story during the Lord’s Test where Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif allegedly delivered no-balls on demand. The two bowlers, and Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt, were suspended by the ICC and are now back in Pakistan.Pakistan won the match at The Oval by 23 runs to pull the series back to 2-1. The final two matches will be played at Lord’s on Monday and the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.

Danish Kaneria, the Pakistan legspinner, has been released without charge by police after being arrested in connection with alleged spot-fixing during an English domestic Pro40 match last season. Kaneria was arrested in May, along with Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield, and released on bail without charge pending further inquiries.”Essex police can confirm that a 29-year-old man from Chelmsford has been released from bail in connection with an investigation into cricket-match irregularities. A 22-year-old man, also from Chelmsford, remains on bail until 15 September,” said a police statement.It is believed the investigation centred on a Pro40 win against Durham last September and spot-betting regarding wides and no-balls bowled in the match.Kaneria began the 2010 season as Essex’s overseas player before joining the Pakistan squad, but after he was dropped following the first Test against England, at Trent Bridge, he was resigned by the county and played in the Friends Provident t20 final. However, Westfield was released by Essex last month.Spot-fixing has hit the headlines again in recent weeks following the investigation against Pakistan which came to light during the final Test against England at Lord’s. It has led to Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir – the three players allegedly at the centre of the controversy – being suspended by ICC.

Sri Lanka have left out left-arm seamer Chanaka Welegedara, allrounder Farveez Maharoof and batsman Thilina Kandamby for the tri-series, which begins on August 10 in Dambulla. Chamara Silva, who last played in the tri-series also involving India and Zimbabwe in May and June, makes a return, as does fast bowler Dilhara Fernando. Sri Lanka have also picked allrounder Thisara Perera, who was the leading wicket-taker in the one-day games on the A tour of Australia in June and July.Muttiah Muralitharan, who recently retired from Tests, was rested, though he has made himself available for selection for the 2011 World Cup. Maharoof’s omission is surprising because the allrounder impressed in the Asia Cup, taking a hat-trick during a five-wicket haul in the league match against India.Silva, at one point, was a regular in Sri Lanka’s middle order until a series of low scores cost him his place in the Asia Cup. Fernando played in the second Test against India at the SSC, while Perera represented Sri Lanka in 10 ODIs and was also part of the Chennai Super Kings squad in the IPL. The other participating teams in the tri-series are India and New Zealand and all the matches will be held in Dambulla.Squad: Kumar Sangakkara (capt & wk), Mahela Jayawardene (vc), Chamara Silva, Thisara Perera, Dilhara Fernando, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Angelo Mathews, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath.

Kieron Pollard has reiterated his commitment to West Indies despite becoming a Twenty20 cricketer for hire as he travels the world playing the shortest format. However, the allrounder added that drastic changes were needed to the way the game was run in the Caribbean.Pollard drew an angry response from the West Indies Cricket Board after he declined a place on the A-team tour of England in favour of his Friends Provident t20 deal with Somerset, but he believes he was completely within his rights to make that decision because we wasn’t on a retainer contract with the WICB.”I don’t want go into that too much, it’s a fairly unique situation I found myself in,” he told Cricinfo. “Things haven’t gone smoothly in West Indies in recent times and a lot of things need to be fixed. But it was about me being a professional sportsman and I will always be committed to the West Indies team whenever I am called up.”It’s my dream to play Test cricket and that will never change,” he added. “At the moment it is Twenty20 which has presented itself as my opportunity, but if the chance comes to put the whites on that will be a dream. I’m still young and would love to play for West Indies in all formats.”Pollard has been a great success at Somerset with 248 runs at a strike-rate of 177.14 and has claimed 20 wickets at 12.45, but he added the results of his county stint have no bearing on how he feels about shunning West Indies A. “I would have stood by my decision even if I hadn’t performed well for Somerset. At the end of the day the decision has been made and I will stick by it.”He has certainly left a mark around the county scene. On his debut against Middlesex, at Lord’s, he hit 89 off 45 balls which included a mighty six onto the roof of the pavilion. “It was big,” he said. “I don’t know how many metres, but it was a great start.”Pollard has taken his Twenty20 skills around the world over the last year. He was an overseas player for South Australia, has an IPL contract with Mumbai Indians and now can also add Somerset to that list. In a few weeks the West Indian domestic Twenty20 begins and, depending on his county commitments, Pollard is due to appear for Trinidad and Tobago.”It’s just the way it has happened for me,” he said. “I’m not contracted by West Indies and the Twenty20 format is something that suits my game. I don’t know how many more will follow, but some players might think of it as an option.”Trinidad and Tobago are the leading Twenty20 side in the region and will be early favourites to reach the Champions League which will be staged during September in South Africa. That would leave Pollard having to chose between his IPL team and his home team having already told South Australia he won’t play for them.”I’m looking forward to playing for Trinidad and qualifying for the Champions League,” he said, “and if that situation arises then I’ll make the decision who to play for. I’m going to give my all for Trinidad and Tobago.”Kieron Pollard is playing for Somerset in the Friends Provident t20. For more information on Friends Provident’s pensions, protections and investment products visit www.friendsprovident.com

ScorecardThe new £21million Carnegie pavilion and media centre was in use for the first time at Headingley on Sunday but Yorkshire were unable to celebrate the occasion, going down by 34 runs to Warwickshire in a lacklustre display in the Friends Provident t20 North Division. Chasing 156 for victory, Yorkshire never looked like getting there once opener Adam Lyth had gone and they limped to a final total of 121 for 9, Ant Botha doing most of the damage with 3 for 16.It was a different story while Lyth was at the crease, however, because the young left-hander hit a flurry of boundaries off the opening overs from Boyd Rankin and Neil Carter as Yorkshire raced to 40 inside five overs. But after cracking 34 from 16 balls with six fours, Lyth drove at Steffan Piolet’s first delivery and was caught behind by Richard Johnson.Gerard Brophy was stumped off Darren Maddy and after being dropped twice off Piolet, Herschelle Gibbs was bowled by Imran Tahir. Yorkshire were missing Anthony McGrath with an injured thumb and when Jacques Rudolph fell to Botha they were 81 for 4 and sinking quickly, the last two wickets going down to consecutive balls from Keith Barker.After Warwickshire had won the toss, Neil Carter made sure they got off to a flying start with a typically aggressive 16-ball 21 that included three fours and a six but once he had been yorked by Tino Best – who sent down several deliveries at over 90mph – Yorkshire’s five-pronged bowling attack appeared to have gained the upper hand.Maddy had three fours and two sixes in his 19-ball 33 and Barker top-scored with a more sedate 35 from 31 deliveries but of the remaining batsmen only Botha made any impression with an unbeaten 26.Adil Rashid was once again Yorkshire’s most economical bowler with the wickets of Jamie Troughton and Ian Westwood at a cost of only 20 runs from his four overs but the top wicket-taker was Rich Pyrah who fully atoned for his last-ball 12 which resulted in a tie with Northamptonshire a couple of days earlier.Pyrah had Rikki Clarke caught behind by Brophy and in his final over before Piolet and Tahir succumbed to boundary catches to leave the allrounder with figures of 3 for 20.

Left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz, who received his maiden call-up to Pakistan’s Test squad for tour of England, and opening batsman Yasir Hameed, who was given a recall, are eager to translate their domestic form into success at the international level.Riaz was at home watching television when the news of his selection came through and he was overjoyed. “I just couldn’t believe my eyes when my name came up,” Riaz told the website . “I see this selection as a show of faith from the PCB and the selectors in my ability as a bowler. I’m in good form with the ball and I can only hope that I will carry this form onto the international stage with me.”Riaz made his ODI debut for Pakistan against Zimbabwe in 2008 and played five one-dayers and a Twenty20. He picked up two wickets on debut but, after a promising start, struggled in the Kitply Cup in Bangladesh in 2008, where he was taken out of the attack for bowling two beamers against India. Riaz last played an ODI for Pakistan in June 2008 but strong performances for the A team against England Lions in Abu Dhabi, and against Australia A and Sri Lanka A, brought him back into the reckoning. In six games during last season’s Qaid-e-Azam Trophy, Riaz picked up 14 wickets.Opening batsman Yasir Hameed was returning to the Test squad after a gap of nearly three years. Hameed’s last Test appearance was against India at Bangalore in 2007 where he made 19 and 39. Hameed made 513 runs at an average of 42.75 in the Qaid-e-Azam Trophy and he said he had ironed out the technical deficiencies in his batting.”You have to understand that the hardest part for a professional sportsman is to admit that he does have weaknesses and that there are flaws in his technique which need to be addressed,” Hameed told . “I’ve worked really hard on the problems I had against spin and I’ve done a lot of homework on this specific problem. As for my off-stump weakness, I’ve been using a tape ball to learn when to leave the ball and when to go for it. It’s all about patience and application and I’ve been working hard on both those things.”Pakistan play their first T20 game against Australia in Birmingham on July 5, and the first Test against Australia at Lord’s begins on July 13.