Ireland edge attritional second day

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Sean Williams’ unbeaten 88 formed the backbone of Zimbabwe XI’s 175 for 3 as they replied to Ireland’s first innings total of 465

Cricinfo staff21-Sep-2010
ScorecardSean Williams in action on his way to an unbeaten 88•Zimbabwe Cricket

Sean Williams’ unbeaten 88 formed the backbone of Zimbabwe XI’s 175 for 3 as they replied to Ireland’s first innings total of 465 on the second day of their Intercontinental Cup game at Harare Sports Club. John Mooney reached 87 – his second first-class half-century – to ensure that Ireland passed 400 after Andrew White’s century but both men eventually fell to Shingi Masakadza, who finished with 5 for 107.Masakadza didn’t receive much support from Zimbabwe XI’s other seamers as the hosts were made to toil by some gritty resistance from Ireland’s lower order with the last three wickets adding 112 runs after White was bowled shortly after reaching his ton, although young legspinner Natsai Mushangwe did contribute three scalps. After Mushangwe’s third strike ended Ireland’s innings, fast-medium seamer Trent Johnston put the Zimbabweans under immediate pressure by removing Stuart Matsikenyeri – pushed up the order to open – in the fourth over.Williams and the in-form Steve Marillier – who struck a first-class career-best 148 not out against Midwest Rhinos over the weekend – steadied Zimbabwe XI with a 100-run stand before Johnston returned to remove Marillier three runs short of his fifty. Johnston had captain Vusi Sibanda caught behind in his next over as Zimbabwe XI slipped to 111 for 3, but Williams then found an able partner in allrounder Keith Dabengwa.Together they added an unbeaten 64 runs for the fourth wicket, with Williams doing the bulk of the scoring as Dabengwa opted for all-out defence in a 61-ball 17. Their partnership ensured there were no further scares for the hosts, but there is plenty of work still to be done and the Zimbabwean lower order may well have to emulate Ireland’s stubborn resistance if they are to remain on a level-pegging in this match.

High stakes in battle of IPL heavyweights

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Defeats for Guyana and Mumbai tomorrow will knock them out, making the Bangalore-Lions game a sudden death. The opposite result, however, will, theoretically, keep all four teams in contention

The Preview by Siddhartha Talya18-Sep-2010

Match facts

Sunday, September 19
Start time 1730 (1530 GMT)

Big Picture

Will Jacques Kallis return?•AFP

The clash between these two IPL heavyweights is the biggest draw in Group A and the stakes have increased with South Australia Redbacks sealing their place in the semis after three straight wins. Mumbai Indians face a must-win clash while Royal Challengers Bangalore have a bit more breathing space, given they’ll be facing the Lions in their final league game after the results of Sunday’s fixtures will have either intensified or narrowed down the race for the final four. Defeats for Guyana and Mumbai tomorrow will knock them out, making the Bangalore-Lions game a sudden death. The opposite results, however, will theoretically keep all four teams in contention.Mumbai and Bangalore brushed aside Guyana and their defeats to South Australia were also similar. Both fielded terribly and were beaten by South Australia’s century-opening stands but the difference lay in the batting. While Mumbai’s innings was laced with several important contributions, a feat repeated against Guyana, Bangalore had just three batsmen reach double-figures en route to 154, which included 13 extras. Each of the front line Indian batsmen fell cheaply and though Bangalore were rescued by the counterattack led by Ross Taylor and Dillon du Preez, it’s a failure they can ill-afford to repeat against an equally power-packed Mumbai batting line-up. The loss of Jacques Kallis due to a sore back had its impact at the top of the order and with the ball. A return could prove a timely boost to a side slightly behind on momentum.

Team news

Bangalore may have a few tough calls to make in the event of Kallis’ return. du Preez was his replacement against South Australia and he smashed a 25-ball 46. Bangalore could be made to choose between him and Cameron White. They tried out Vinay Kumar in place of B Akhil but without much success; Abhimanyu Mithun remains an extra pace option.Royal Challengers Bangalore (possible): 1 Jacques Kallis/Manish Pandey, 2 Rahul Dravid, 3 Robin Uthappa, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Virat Kohli, 6 Dillon du Preez/Cameron White, 7 Praveen Kumar, 8 Abhimanyu Mithun/Vinay Kumar, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Anil Kumble, 11 Nayan Doshi.Mumbai got most things right against Guyana, and could go in with the same team. Abhishek Nayar, who came in as a replacement for Dhawal Kulkarni in the squad has himself been replaced due to a flu and respiratory infection. Assam seamer Abu Nechim takes his place.Mumbai Indians (possible): 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 Kieron Pollard, 4 Saurabh Tiwary, 5 Ambati Rayudu, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Dwayne Bravo, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Ali Murtaza.

Watch out for …

Rahul Dravid was far from comfortable against South Australia, scoring 4 off 11 and, not for the first time, got out trying to overcome his frustration by attempting the paddle. He took his time while chasing a paltry target against Guyana in Bangalore’s first game. Under pressure, however, his position in the batting order could be reconsidered given the presence of several explosive batsmen in the line-up.In each of this three appearances this tournament, Kieron Pollard has reaffirmed the reputation that won him a bumper bid at the IPL auction. He’s struck 14 sixes, entertained the crowd with his brute power and raised the price-bar for the next auction. And he’s enjoying it, jiving to the music on the pitch with Dwayne Bravo after he sent Shaun Tait over cow corner. In a do-or-die encounter, Mumbai have the game-changer they need to stay alive.

Key contests

Opening stands: Both teams possess plenty of ammunition in the middle order and solid batsmen making up the opening partnerships. Shikhar Dhawan and Sachin Tendulkar have been productive at the top while Bangalore’s results have been mixed thus far. In the battle of the bats, against pace bowlers who’re adept with their skills and variations, the start to each innings involves a keen contest.

Stats and trivia

  • Dwayne Bravo is one of seven bowlers to have grabbed a four-wicket haul in the Champions League Twenty20, but for Trinidad and Tobago against Somerset in 2009.
  • Kallis, with an average of 8.66 for his six wickets, has the best average for anyone who has bowled three overs or more in the competition.

Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan make it two in two

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A round-up of the seventh day of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Twenty20 tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Oct-2010

North Zone

Delhi made it two in two, beating Jammu and Kashmir by 19 runs at the Model Sports Complex. Opener Chetan Sharma top scored with 47, an innings laced with five fours and a six, and was supported by Rajat Bhatia in a 56-run stand for the third wicket. However, the J&K bowlers, led by medium-pacer Raman Dutta (3-28) and captain Abid Nabi (2-21), struck back to keep Delhi down to a chaseable 142. J&K appeared to begin in encouraging fashion, with the openers adding 25, but things soon began to worsen. Medium-pacer Kapil Yadav made inroads to reduce J&K to 35 for 5 at one stage and had it not been for Javed Ahmed’s 47, his team would have struggled to get past three-figures. They had to eventually settle for 123 for 9, with Yadav taking 4-15 in only his second Twenty20 game.Hemang Badani’s 42 off 30 deliveries took Haryana to a six-wicket victory against Services in Delhi•Hamish Blair/Getty Images

Punjab held their nerve to prevail over Himachal Pradesh in a thrilling finish at the Model Sports Complex in Delhi. Set a target of 129, they were bolstered by a strong opening stand of 41. However, Punjab experienced a scare when Karan Goel and Ravi Inder Singh fell in a space of three deliveries with the score on 77. When Rahul Sharma fell, the fourth wicket with 95 on the board, 34 were needed off four overs. It was Mandeep Singh who stepped up and guided his team to a nerve-wracking win, scoring a boundary off the final delivery of the game off which a single was needed. He remained unbeaten on 33 and was supported by Bipul Sharma, who made a run-a-ball 8. Earlier, VA Indulkar had provided some impetus to the Himachal innings with 41 but it proved inadequate.A half-century by Dhruv Singh who received support in a 68-run stand from Hemang Badani helped Haryana to a six-wicket win over Services at the Model Sports Complex in Delhi. In their chase of 133, Haryana were struggling at 32 for 3 but Badani, whose aggressive approach took the pressure off Dhruv, put his team back on track. He struck four fours and a six in his 42 while Dhruv held firm at the other end and eventually saw Haryana through. A three-wicket haul from left-arm seamer Sanjay Budhwar had restricted Services, though captain Yashpal Singh had set up a competitive score with 54.

Central Zone

Dishant Yagnik’s half-century and some disciplined bowling took Rajasthan to a 16-run win against Uttar Pradesh at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Yagnik hammered six fours and two sixes in his 54 off 40 deliveries after his opening partner Aakash Chopra was run out for 22. However, Sudeep Tyagi and Ali Murtuza struck to reduce Rajasthan to 100 for 5 from 97 for 1. Vineet Saxena slammed an unbeaten 39 off 27 to help his team to a competitive 155 for 7. Medium-pacer Afroz Khan then picked up 3 for 28 as none of the Uttar Pradesh batsmen could score quickly enough to pose a threat to Rajasthan. Uttar Pradesh finished on 139 for 6, Ravikant Shukla top scored with 35 off 32.Railways scraped to a one-wicket win off the last ball against Vidarbha at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Chasing Vidarbha’s 155, Railways were given a rollicking start by PM Madkaikar, who hammered 27 off 14 deliveries as his side raced to 51 without loss in the fifth over. However, Vidarbha led by offspinner Akshay Wakhare hit back to leave Railways tottering at 89 for 6. Karan Sharma slammed 30 off 15 to bring his side back on track, and captain Murali Kartik held his nerve as Railways scampered home. Himanshu Joshi’s 64 off 43 had earlier set up Vidarbha, but his dismissal off JP Yadav in the 19th over meant they managed only 13 off the last 10 deliveries, which made all the difference in the end. Yadav finished with 3 for 21.

East Zone

Orissa‘s bowlers led by offspinner Rakesh Mohanty defended a modest target of 130 at the Sunshine Ground in Cuttack, dismissing Assam for 107. Mohanty took 3 for 18 after medium-pacer Santosh Jena had struck twice in three balls to reduce Assam to 10 for 2. Gokul Sharma resisted with an unbeaten 31 off 20 deliveries, but ran out of partners as wickets fell regularly. Mohanty and Niranjan Behera had earlier helped Orissa to 129 for 7, after offspinner Gokul and fast bowler Dhiraj Goswami had taken two wickets apiece to reduce them to 69 for 6 in 12 overs.Legspinner Subal Chowdhury’s 3 for 19 set up a comfortable six-wicket victory for Tripura against Jharkhand at the Ravenshaw College Ground in Cuttack. Jharkhand were dismissed for a paltry 96, which Tripura chased down with 13 deliveries to spare. Put into bat, Jharkhand had begun well, reaching 40 without loss in the seventh over. However, Rameez Nemat’s run-out triggered a collapse, and Chowdhury snapped up three wickets to leave Jharkhand struggling at 48 for 5. Keshav Kumar and Shahbaz Nadeem took the score to 81, but Jharkhand again lost wickets in a heap to be dismissed for 96. Tripura’s batsmen knocked off the runs without much fuss.

West Zone

Abhishek Nayar’s half-century led Mumbai to a five-wicket victory against Gujarat at the Moti Bagh Stadium in Vadodara. Opening the innings, Nayar smashed four sixes and as many fours in his 57 off 43 deliveries, as Mumbai reached the target of 146 with an over to spare. Mumbai were in some trouble at one stage as they slid to 115 for 5, but Siddharth Chitnis came in at No. 7 and hammered three sixes in his unbeaten 27 off 11 to settle the matter in Mumbai’s favour. Niraj Patel’s unbeaten 41 had earlier helped Gujarat to post 145 for 5. Several Gujarat batsmen got starts but fell without making substantial contributions.Samad Fallah inspired Maharashtra to a 14-run win over Saurashtra in a low-scoring encounter at the Moti Bagh Stadium in Vadodara.Saurashtra, led by Jaidev Unadkat, skittled the defending champions for 81, but left-arm medium pacer Fallah struck early and often to reduce Saurashtra to 3 for 14 in the fifth over, taking the prize wicket of India Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, trapped leg before for one, in the process.Pratik Mehta led Saurashtra’s fightback, making 28 from 32, the highest score of the match, but it was not enough as he got no support from anyone else; only two other Saurashtra batsman got into double figures, while there were six scores of 2 or less. Fallah finished with sparkling figures of 3 for 7 from his four overs, and was ably backed up by the other Maharastra bowlers, all whom took at least one wicket.

Former member calls for CSA forensic audit

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Paul Harris, a former Cricket South Africa (CSA) board member has said that the body must undergo a forensic audit in order to fully exonerate chief executive Gerald Majola of financial impropriety

Firdose Moonda22-Nov-2010Paul Harris, a former Cricket South Africa (CSA) board member has said that the body must undergo a forensic audit in order to fully exonerate chief executive Gerald Majola of financial impropriety. “The auditors have been kept away from the process,” Harris, who is a former chair of the remunerations committee, told ESPNcricinfo. He also claims that CSA has lost money because of bonuses paid to Majola and 39 other staff members after last year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).Harris, together with Colin Beggs, former chairman of CSA’s audit committee and Professor Hentie van Wyk, former chairman of CSA’s finance committee, issued a statement disassociating themselves from the findings of the board’s internal commission of inquiry to look into bonus payments. The investigation, run by CSA vice-president AK Khan, was tasked with looking into R4.7 million (US$671,428) in bonuses paid to staff of which Majola received R1.8 million (US$257, 142).The commission made its findings public on Monday and cleared Majola of all charges of wrongdoing. They found that he made an “error of judgment” by not disclosing his bonus to remunerations committee (REMCO), but this was in line with precedents set in past non-CSA events and said they would put processes in place to make sure that all future payments are fully disclosed. They also instructed Majola to pay back R28,169 (US$4,024) for travel costs incurred by his children. Harris, Beggs and van Wyk were among the people who made submissions to the commission.The three claim that they “requested to the see the report before it was made public on several occasions,” according to Harris, but they were not provided with a copy. They have still not seen the report and said they have had to “rely on press reports in regard to the findings and board decisions.” The trio have still not seen the full report but are “dismayed at the press reports of the decision taken” and believe the board was too hasty is letting Majola off the hook.In their statement, the three claim that REMCO paid bonuses to staff, including Majola, in excess of the guidelines in 2009 and 2010 because the body had hosted the IPL and Champions Trophy. These bonuses went through the board and were considered to be CSA bonuses. The event bonuses which were paid independently and were paid by the IPL and International Cricket Council were not disclosed . Harris said this was a “duplication” of the money the board had already allocated to be paid as bonuses.He claims that the money from the IPL and ICC “belongs” to CSA and could have been used to “develop the game at grassroots level rather than … go into the pockets of executives who had already been adequately compensated.” Harris believes the board’s affiliates could have benefitted from the money and had the remunerations committee known the extent of the event bonuses, they would “never have authorised them”.CSA insisted that it distributed the bonuses according to precedents set during other ICC events, particularly the World Twenty20 in 2007. Harris said he was surprised to hear such a precedent existed. “I was always under the impression that bonuses were distributed from money that belonged to CSA and it was a complete surprise to me to hear that some money bypassed the system.” Harris, who is also the chief executive of First Rand Bank, believes that if needs be, the 2007 money should also be investigated.Both the 2007 and 2009 payments took place under the watch of Harris, Beggs and van Wyk, but they have only mentioned the 2009 payments in their statement, presumably because of the controversy surrounding it. They said that they consider themselves to be “legally accountable” for what happened and will consider their options once they have seen the report. Harris, Beggs and van Wyk were voted off the board at CSA’s annual general meeting in August.

Swann bowls England to innings victory

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England have one hand on the Ashes after Graeme Swann bowled them to victory with a five-wicket haul in Adelaide, where neither rain nor the lower order could save Australia on the fifth morning

The Bulletin by Brydon Coverdale07-Dec-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsJames Anderson and Steven Finn combined for the first breakthrough, the big wicket of Michael Hussey•Getty Images

England have one hand on the Ashes after Graeme Swann bowled them to victory with a five-wicket haul in Adelaide, where neither rain nor the lower order could save Australia on the fifth morning. The significance of the win cannot be underestimated, as it gives England a 1-0 advantage heading in to the third Test in Perth, which starts in a week and a half.The triumph came when Swann turned a ball through the gate to bowl Peter Siddle, completing his five-for and confirming the margin of an innings and 71 runs. It was a devastating morning for Australia, who began the day hopeful that they could survive for a draw with six wickets in hand, but it took England less than 90 minutes to skittle the remaining Australians.Last time England took a series lead in Australia, it was 1986-87, and they did not give it away. And as the holders of the urn, Andrew Strauss and his men will retain the Ashes unless Australia can win at least two of the remaining three Tests, a monumental task given that they have now gone five Tests without tasting victory, stretching back to the series against Pakistan in England.There will be changes for both teams at the WACA, with England forced to look to Chris Tremlett or Tim Bresnan, due to a series-ending abdominal injury to Stuart Broad. Australia will have to find a new opener as Simon Katich’s Achilles tendon problem has ruled him out of the rest of the series, while Xavier Doherty and Marcus North will also face a nervous wait to see if they keep their places.North could have saved his position by salvaging a draw for Australia on the final day, but he was one of the wickets to fall cheaply as England wrapped up the contest before lunch. The visitors knew a thunderstorm was expected later in the afternoon, and after they made the initial breakthrough by getting rid of the established Michael Hussey for 52, they tightened the noose on Australia’s lower order.Hussey and North resumed at 4 for 238 after the loss of Michael Clarke from the last ball of play on Monday, and it took only six overs for England to get a sniff of victory. Hussey was dropped by Matt Prior off the bowling of Swann but didn’t survive a second chance when he top-edged a pull off Steven Finn and was comfortably taken at midwicket by James Anderson.There was a roar from Anderson as soon as he had the ball safely in his hands, knowing that the in-form Hussey was big breakthrough England required. Brad Haddin followed soon afterwards for 12 when he edged behind off Anderson, and England were in to Australia’s long tail, with North carrying the home team’s slim hopes at the other end.Anderson quickly found himself on a hat-trick when Ryan Harris made unwanted history by completing a king pair, leaving a ball that swung back in and struck him in line with the stumps. Out of desperation more than belief, Harris asked for a review, but there was no way he was going to be saved, and neither were Australia.There was no hat-trick for Anderson when he began his next over but he didn’t really mind, as in the meantime Swann had removed North, the last of Australia’s specialist batsmen, for 22. This time the review system did overturn a decision; Tony Hill gave North not out as he came forward with bat and pad close together, Swann wanted a referral, and the replays showed it was pad first, hitting the stumps, and a potentially career-busting blow for North.Swann bowled outstandingly on the final day, and deserved his 5 for 91. In the absence of Broad for much of the innings, he sent down 41.1 overs, and collected the final two wickets when he sneaked the ball under the bat of Doherty for 5 and then finished off Siddle.And it all happened under the most perfect, sunny skies. If Australia were hoping for storms, their prayers were not answered. In truth, they never recovered from the hurricane that struck on the first morning when they were 3 for 2. And now, England need only one more victory to retain the Ashes.

Michael Beer waits on possible Boxing Day debut

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Michael Beer will have to wait until the morning of the Boxing Day Test to find out whether he’ll make his international debut in front of 91,000 people at the MCG

Andrew McGlashan in Melbourne25-Dec-2010Michael Beer will have to wait until the morning of the Boxing Day Test to find out whether he’ll make his international debut in front of 91,000 people at the MCG. Ricky Ponting, who will take his place in the side despite a broken little finger, wants to have a final look at Melbourne conditions before naming his side on a surface expected to aid seam, but be on the slow side.Australia used four frontline quicks at Perth with impressive results as they secured a 267-run victory to level the Ashes series. The main attack was so successful in removing England for 187 and 123 that the fill-in bowlers, Shane Watson and Steven Smith, weren’t even needed to turn their arm over. However, the surface at the MCG won’t offer the same bounce for the quicks and Australia will need to consider a balanced attack.”We’ll wait until the morning to do that, we’ll see what the weather’s like and see if the pitch has changed at all,” Ponting said about his line-up. “There was a bit of moisture in it today and it was bit different. We want to make sure we have all the bases covered. Speaking to a lot of the Victorian boys that’s how it’s been throughout the year.””We thought the four quicks in Perth worked really well,” he added. “The pitch didn’t offer our bowlers any more than it did England’s, it’s just that we used it better and were able to rotate the four quicks. They all executed their plans really well. Conditions here will offer some early help to the seam and swing bowlers, how long that lasts is the question. Will you need a spinner on day four or day five? As I said after Perth, it’s about picking the four best bowlers for the conditions.”Beer was a surprise call-up for the WACA Test before being left out on the first morning. Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said Beer’s local knowledge of playing for Western Australia was a key factor even though the he’d only moved to the state this season. Having grown up playing for St Kilda in Melbourne he’s probably more likely to know what to expect in this Test should a baggy green come his way.Prior to the Perth Test, Ponting’s Test future was hanging in the balance with England a victory away from retaining the Ashes and, despite success last week, it’s the same situation confronting the captain. “I was asked about it last week,” he said when questioned about whether this match was career-defining. “I guess if we lose it might be.”At least he’ll be fit to guide his own destiny after coming through two tough net sessions in two days without any reaction from his broken little finger. “I’ve been surprised by how well it has come on the last couple of days and how well I’ve been able to train,” he said. “I’ve batted a lot and done the fielding. Something quite strange will have to happen to keep me out.”Another challenge, though, for Ponting is to regain his own form which has seen him make 83 runs in six innings during the series and that included an unbeaten 51 as the Brisbane Test drifted to a draw. Ponting knows he can’t rest on past glories, but the MCG has been a happy hunting ground for him with four hundreds and an average of 62.42.”I’ve had enough fifties to suggest I should have had a hundred,” he said. “Coming back from India with three 70s was unlike me, so it has been a long time between drinks. At No.3 you are expected to be a consistent run-scorer and I haven’t done that. Hopefully I will in the next couple of weeks.”Andrew Strauss won’t be offering any festive spirit when Ponting strides in, and is focussed on maintaing his opposite number’s problems. “It’s not Christmas tomorrow,” he said.”

Bates destroys Pakistanis in tour opener

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Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand got off to a poor start after they lost their twelve-a-side Twenty20 match to Auckland at Colin Maiden Park. Michael Bates took 4 for 11 as the Pakistanis were bowled out for 91

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Dec-2010
ScorecardAbdul Razzaq couldn’t script a recovery for Pakistan as they slumped to 91 all out•Getty Images

Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand got off to a poor start after they lost their twelve-a-side Twenty20 match to Auckland at Colin Maiden Park. The hosts won with 40 balls to spare, easily chasing down the target of 92 after Pakistan were bowled out in 17.4 overs.Pakistan were put in to bat and were in immediate trouble, sinking to 7 for 3 inside the third over. Left-arm seamer Michael Bates did the early damage, getting Mohammad Hafeez out caught and bowled off the fourth ball of the match. Two balls later he got Ahmed Shehzad to nick to Lou Vincent and be dismissed for a duck. In Bates’ next over he got rid of the big fish – the captain Shahid Afridi, for 1. Afridi tried to pull Bates, but only got it as far as square leg, where Anaru Kitchen took a sharp catch.Pakistan never recovered from that rocky start. Umar Akmal provided them with a silver lining, showing some signs of form to get to 25 – Pakistan’s top score of the innings. Left-arm spinner Roneel Hira dismissed Younis Khan for 18 and then Umar in his next over, and Fawad Alam was run out for 0 in between, to leave the visitors reeling at 52 for 6. Umar was trying to power Hira through the off side off the back foot, but missed the ball and was bowled. Abdul Razzaq wasn’t able to pull off a recovery and fell to offspinner Bhupinder Singh for 16. Bates came back into the attack and dismissed Wahab Riaz to finish with figures of 4 for 11 in three overs.Auckland opener Colin de Grandhomme was in a hurry to knock off the required runs and raced to 20 off 12 before he was caught at gully by Shehzad off Shoaib Akhtar. Martin Guptill, the only member of the Auckland side who is in New Zealand’s squad for the Twenty20 series against Pakistan, played the sheet-anchor role, and batted through the innings, making 28. Shoaib managed another wicket, bowling Lou Vincent, but was expensive, going at 7.75 in his four overs.Saeed Ajmal did a good job of drying up the runs, giving away 20 in his four overs, and picked up the wickets of Anaru Kitchen and Colin Munro. Gareth Hopkins, who was dropped from New Zealand’s squad for the Twenty20 and Test series against Pakistan, made only 8 before falling to Wahab Riaz. But Auckland were always comfortable, and reached their target with plenty of overs to spare, helped by the 17 extras conceded by Pakistan’s bowlers.Pakistan will have two days to recover before the first Twenty20 match of the three-match series against New Zealand, in Auckland, on December 26.

Ponting satisfied with World Cup lead-up

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Ricky Ponting remains positive despite the numerous injury setbacks that have rocked Australia’s World Cup campaign even before its start

Nagraj Gollapudi in Bangalore11-Feb-2011Ricky Ponting remains positive despite the numerous injury setbacks that have rocked Australia’s World Cup campaign even before its start. A host of first- and second-choice players including Mike Hussey, Nathan Hauritz, Ryan Harris, Clint McKay, Shaun Marsh and Xavier Doherty have failed to make the 15-man squad due to either fresh injuries or ones that did not heal in time. Ponting, however, was not complaining and pointed out that he had no doubts about his team’s chances.”I don’t really care where we start the tournament. It is irrelevant, to tell the truth,” Ponting said, when asked if the injuries had robbed the defending champions of the favourites tag, before highlighting that the same apprehension had been expressed ahead of the 2007 tournament as well. “At the last World Cup, there was a fair bit of negativity about our team, about where we were heading as a one-day team. We’d lost the CB series in Australia, went to New Zealand and lost the series 3-0. You can understand that there were a few doubts about our team. And we know what happened there. We went through it undefeated.”Ponting, playing his fifth, and last, World Cup felt the 6-1 series victory against England had erased the Ashes misery, putting the players in the right frame of mind ahead of the big event. “Our lead-up couldn’t really be much better, having just beaten a pretty good English side 6-1 at home with quite a few of our more senior players not taking part,” he said. “We are in good shape. We’ve got some really good confidence and a bit of momentum around our team. We’ve got a couple of weeks before we need to be playing our absolute best.”Ponting did concede he would dearly miss Hussey, especially with the left-hander’s amazing ability to absorb pressure down the batting order and play the finisher’s act elegantly. But the Australian selectors were sceptical about pushing forward Hussey’s case even though the player himself said later he was expecting to be included. Hussey underwent surgery after picking a serious hamstring injury during the one-day series against England. “Losing Michael Hussey is a big loss to our setup. There is no doubt about it,” Ponting said. “His experience and his knowledge of the game in tournaments like this are almost second to none. We will miss him,” he said, but finished the sentence by saying the other Hussey (David) was now in good position to fill the shoes of his elder sibling. “He’s [David] played well in the last series at home and has started to learn what it takes to bat down in the middle order in a one-day setup,” Ponting said.Jason Krejza, who made his ODI debut in the last match of the England series, was another player Ponting had a lot of faith in. The offspinner found a World Cup berth only after Hauritz failed the fitness test on Tuesday, having bowled a dozen deliveries at what he termed “60 to 70%”, which was not enough to convince the selectors to go with him. Doherty, the original back-up for Hauritz, also suffered a back injury, giving Krejza the opportunity to return to India, where he had made his Test debut, picking a match haul of 12 wickets in Nagpur on the 2008 tour. “He’s a guy that can be a real match-winning bowler for you. He does put a lot of work on the ball and spins the ball a lot. He will appreciate bowling in these conditions here,” Ponting said of his fellow Tasmanian, who had good control over batsmen during the Big Bash where he picked up nine wickets in seven matches at 6.36 runs per over.Ponting said Krejza could play a crucial role if he bowled according to the situation on the slower pitches in the subcontinent, where slow bowlers have a wider say, especially in the crucial middle overs. “Any international bowler you have, you want them to be able to play both roles – attacking and defense,” Ponting said. “If we get the right mix of guys around him as well – [Brett] Lee, [Shaun] Tait, [Mithcell] Johnson, [John] Hastings, [Doug] Bollinger – all fairly attacking bowlers, there should not be any reason why we will not able to break partnerships in this tournament,” Ponting said. “It’s exciting to have someone like him in the group. He’s a noted wicket-taker and if he bowls his best in these conditions, he could have a really big impact on some of the games that we play.”

Dhoni angered by UDRS ruling

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India don’t like the UDRS and one moment during the thrilling World Cup group match against England in Bangalore will have given them even more reason to distrust the technology

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Feb-2011India don’t like the UDRS and one moment during the thrilling World Cup group match against England in Bangalore will have given them even more reason to distrust the technology when Ian Bell survived an lbw referral. It left MS Dhoni cursing the system as he called it an adulteration of human decision making and technlogy.At the start of the 25th over of their gargangtuan run-chase, England were coasting more than 20 ahead of India in comparison. Then Yuvraj Singh struck Bell, who was stretching foward attempting one of those adventurous paddle sweeps, on the pad but umpire Billy Bowden turned down the appeal. The Indians did what they have been avoiding doing for more than two years – turn to the decision review.The slow motion replay showed up on the giant screen and to the naked eye it met with most criteria: not a no ball, hitting in line of the stumps and striking the wicket. The crowd roared with delight expecting Bell to be on his way and he had already begun his dejected trek back, supposedly out for 17 to complete another unfullfilled one-day innings.Until, that is, his captain began to holler him to a halt halfway to the dressing room. The last criteria that was showing up on the screen indicated the distance that the ball would have to travel from point of impact to the stumps was more than 2.5 metres, a rule most on the ground did not know about. Not even England.The 2.5m rule has been put into place because it is from that point onwards that the precision of the ball tracking technology begins to reduce. That last piece of information was conveyed to Bowden by the third umpire and he stuck to his original decision. Not out. Too far down the pitch.Dhoni was far from amused, finding it difficult to accept that both technology and human intervention played a part in coming to the decision which allowed Bell to survive and make another 52 runs. “Adulteration is quite bad, whether it is natural or technology,” he said. “I think the adulteration of technology with human intention was the reason why we didn’t get that wicket. Hopefully next time, it will be [either] technology or human intention [in the UDRS].”The 2.5m ruling surprised most of the players, the England captain Andrew Strauss being informed about it during the review itself. “Apparently if you are that far down the pitch it needs to be hitting middle stump to be given out. I didn’t know that was part of the rules,” he said. “Obviously Belly was lucky to get away with it.”When he was asked whether he had known about the 2.5m rule Dhoni didn’t hide his frustration. “Well, if the Hawkeye says it is going to hit the stump, and it’s going to hit the middle stump, then [there is] no reason why the distance really matters,” he said.He went on to recall a dismissal of his own when he had stepped outside his crease and was given lbw after he was hit on the shin. “UDRS was not there…If I can be given out, why not other batsmen? So whether it is 2.5m or 2.4 or 2.6, it is pretty difficult for me. What I saw was the ball hitting the stump. After that, the rest of the rule book is rested with the third and the fourth umpire. Whatever they decided, we said, ‘Okay, whatever they decide, we get on with the game’.”The ICC playing conditions relating to this part of the system come under Process of Consultation No. 3.3 (i). It states that if a ‘not out’ decision is being reviewed and the distance from impact to the stumps is greater than 2.5m then the third umpire passes this information to the on-field official along with: the distance from the wickets of the point of impact with the batsman, the approximate distance from the point of pitching to the point of impact, and whether the ball is predicted to the hit the stumps.The playing condition goes onto state that: “In such a case the on-field umpire shall have regard to the normal cricketing principles concerning the level of certainty in making his decision as to whether to change his decision.”

Prior unfazed by opening issues

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Paul Collingwood will undergo knee surgery after the World Cup but remains available for the remainder of the tournament

Sidharth Monga in Colombo23-Mar-2011Matt Prior believes he is one good innings, and just needs “one or two things to click”, before he turns his form around at the top of England’s order. Prior had to take on the opener’s role after Kevin Pietersen, the original choice to partner Andrew Strauss, had to leave early for a hernia operation. His two digs at the top have been forgettable, a brain-freeze stumping against Bangladesh and a wasted start against West Indies when he was beaten for pace and movement by Andre Russell.Prior doesn’t know just yet if he will get another chance to set that record straight. “When I was told I would be opening when KP went down, it wasn’t a done decision for the whole tournament,” he said three days before the quarter-final against Sri Lanka. “There wasn’t a decision made that I would be opening for the rest of the competition.”Do I want to open? Of course I do,” he added. “I love opening the batting. It gives you the best opportunity to bat 50 overs and get a big score for your team. It hasn’t gone to play, and that’s a frustration for me, but I don’t feel far away. I know that if I do open, a big score is around the corner. I am hitting the ball well, one or two things going my way, and I will get a big score.”One of the reasons why Prior might not open again is that he himself is not sure if the opening slot is the best utilisation of his strengths as a batsman. “My stats would suggest not,” he said. “I haven’t scored the runs that I would have wanted, which is hugely frustrating for me. I know I can play that role really, really well. I seem to do the hard work, and then get out, which is hugely frustrating.”Over here, one of my key strengths is moving the ball around in the field, especially when the spinners are on, and that’s a part of my game that I back. Probably it has to be utilised as well. Whether that means I open or bat a little bit further down the order, I don’t really know. All I know is that wherever I am batting, there will be a reason for it.”Prior still believes he has the technique to do well when opening. “I have opened in county cricket,” he said. “Obviously it is a step up, we all know that. In Test cricket I have scored hundreds. When people mention technique and all that, it’s just not it at all. You don’t score hundreds in Test cricket if you have got a poor technique.”His opportunities at the top of England’s one-day order have been numerous, with 35 of his 67 appearances coming as an opener, dating back to the tour of Zimbabwe in 2004-05. However, he has managed just two half-centuries in those games, the most recent being a run-a-ball 67 against Australia at Adelaide back in January.”It’s just that something hasn’t clicked,” he said. “Early on in my one-day career, when I opened, I felt pressure to take that role on as a pinch-hitter. And that sort of gave me a poor start. I was getting to 20s and 30s, and then sort of carried on playing too many shots, and getting caught in the deep or whatever it might be. Going into this phase of my ODI career, I am trying to find a different tempo.”I have done that at times, but just not had a great run of luck,” he added. “Things like going back to the Australia series, the Sydney game, I do the hard work [18 from 23 balls] and then Mitchell Johnson bowls me an absolute beauty. Just little things like that, where you start thinking, ‘Hang on a minute, this is just not meant to be’.””But you are only one innings from turning it around. And it does turn around very very quickly,” he said. “The belief in my ability that I have and my team-mates have is still there. We know we are in the quarter-final, and that’s very exciting. If I do open, I have got an opportunity to put my hand up, play an innings that gets us into the semi-final of the world cup. What’s gone before is irrelevant. Certainly if you play that innings, people in this job have very short memories. I have got a huge amount of belief, and I just need one or two things to click. That big innings is around the corner.”Prior can expect to find out his batting position by Thursday’s practice session at the latest, but he said that would not pose a huge problem in the preparation side of things. “We have been on tour for a long time,” he said. “We have hit a lot of cricket balls, we have played a lot of cricket balls, bowled a lot of cricket balls over the last six months.”It’s not the netting, it’s more the mental side of the game. Who are you going to be facing? Who are you going to come out against? The situation of the game you might be confronted with. It’s obviously different from opening to batting in the middle order. You want to find that as soon as possible. The more time you have, the better. That’s a vital part of getting ready for the game, the mental side of it.”