All posts by csb10.top

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

A 73-ball hundred from Virender Sehwag and a tempered 97 from Dinesh Karthik opened up a few batting options as the Indians warmed up against ACT XI in Canberra. In a match consigned to a draw a sixth successive failure for Yuvraj Singh, chipping a full toss to the covers, all but sealed his fate for the rest of the series.Sehwag and Karthik added 158 for the opening stand, allowing the Indians to declare at 4 for 281 in the tea break. The hosts, chasing an improbable 315, batted for 17 overs in the final session before deciding to settle for a draw at the start of the mandatory overs.Sehwag hammered 18 fours and two sixes during the course of his 113, one where a wayward attack paid the price in the face of a murderous batsman. Unlike in the first dig, he wasn’t in a mood to wait. He smashed three fours off left-arm seamer Ash Perera’s first over, rocking on to the back foot and smattering the off side hoardings. He was lucky on 16, when Richard Sherlock was slow to take off for a regulation catch at square leg, but made the most of his chance with a string of crisply-struck boundaries.The left-armer’s angle was meat and drink for Sehwag, moving back and slashing wildly, but the right-arm medium pacers proved sitting ducks as well. Adam Ritchard was spanked for 10 runs in his first over, coming after the drinks break, and Ryan Bulger, the legspinner, struggled in the face of the assault. Sehwag, who brought up his fifty in 38 balls, lofted Bulger for a six over extra cover but was lucky again on 92 when he was let off by the fielder at mid-on.He brought up his century with a flick through square, shuffling across and tucking Ritchard for four, and went ballistic soon after – slashing one through point and mowing a massive six over wide long-on. He fell trying to glide Mark Higgs’ left-arm spin, angling the ball into the wicketkeeper’s gloves.Karthik was forced to play second fiddle amid the carnage but managed a few fine strokes of his own. He was let off on 19, when wicketkeeper James Crosthwaite missed a thick edge off Bulger, but was more confident after lunch. He wasn’t afraid to pull, a shot that got him out in the first innings, and reeled off a few straight-drives that suggested he was rediscovering his groove. He fell three short of a century, trying to turn a full one from Bulger to the leg side but being trapped in front instead.Bulger soon had Wasim Jaffer, sent in at No. 3, poking at a legbreak outside off but it was the wicket of Yuvraj that would have worried the Indians the most. Offered a full toss outside off, he chipped to the covers and saw Jonathan Dean pull off a sensational catch diving to his right. Barring injuries, it could probably be his last chance before the one-day series.The game petered into a draw in the final stages. Pankaj Singh picked up his first wicket of the tour, adding one more before stumps, while Irfan Pathan did his chances no harm with the wicket of Chris Rogers, a batsman he could encounter in the third Test in Perth that starts in three days’ time.

Herschelle Gibbs admitted that he would be sleeping soundly for the first time in months, after his 14th Test century had carried South Africa into a potent position on the third day’s play at the Wanderers. By the close, South Africa trailed by 105 runs, with four wickets remaining."There’s still a lot in that wicket," said Gibbs. "There’s some pace and bounce, and it’s been swinging for the entire Test. We’ve got a big task ahead of us tomorrow, and it’ll be nice to have someone who’s batted for the entire innings and knows the wicket. But I’ll be starting from scratch again, so I’ll still have to play myself in."Despite a classy innings, Gibbs was fortunate to survive the penultimate ball of the day, when Geraint Jones dropped a flying catch in front of first slip. "Even Bradman needed a bit of luck," he quipped afterwards. "I’m pretty tired now, because the altitude takes a lot out of you. We needed a good disciplined innings today, and fortunately today was my day." He added that he had taken his lead from Andrew Strauss’s 147 on the first day. "Strauss showed similar discipline, but when the ball was there, he still went after it."Gibbs is never one to fall shy of calling a spade a spade, and following the controversial dismissal of Boeta Dippenaar, who was caught low at first slip by Marcus Trescothick, he laid himself open to a rap on the knuckles from the ICC match refereee, Clive Lloyd for his comments on the subject. “I told him to wait, but the umpire stuck his finger up and he walked," said Gibbs. "I would have suggested that he stayed. The TV never lies.”Despite Gibbs’s efforts, South Africa were still in trouble at 184 for 5 when Mark Boucher came out to join him, but the pair added 120 for the sixth wicket to turn the innings around. "Bouch is the sort of player who, if the ball is there to hit, he’ll have a go, irrespective of the match situation," said Gibbs. "He’s a gutsy sort of player, and he bats with intensity. It was a crucial partnership and it’s gone a long way towards bringing us up to England’s total."Getting the balance between attack and defence is crucial to any opener," said Gibbs, when asked about his turnaround in form. "Today, my balance was the best it’s been for ages, and it’s not been that great since Sri Lanka. But I worked hard in our two practices before this Test, and it showed today. I haven’t slept well for the last few months, but I’ll sleep well tonight."

Derbyshire have signed Damien Wright, an allrounder from Tasmania, as their second overseas player for next season.Wright, 28, was recommended by Michael Di Venuto, the captain and fellow Tasmanian. To date, Wright has a batting average of 20.55, and has taken 120 wickets at 34.48 since his first-class debut in 1997. He has also represented Australia A, and played twice for Northants last season.David Houghton, Derbyshire’s director of cricket, said, “He is a talented pace bowler, and dangerous lower-order batsman, who really fits the bill for us.”Meanwhile, Wright added: “I’m really looking forward to a full season of county cricket with Derbyshire.”

Close Rockingham-Mandurah 52 for 3 (Voges 7*, Whisson 7*) trail Zimbabweans 149 by 97 runs
Scorecard
Sean Ervine saved his side’s blushes with a belligerent 41 and two early wickets, but Zimbabwe were made to struggle on the opening day of their tour match against the grade cricketers of Rockingham-Mandurah, whose ranks had been swelled by the presence of seven Western Australia state players.Andy Blignaut was the only major omission from a virtually full-strength team, but in gale-force winds and on a lively wicket, Zimbabwe were quickly reduced to 36 for 4, then 85 for 7 as the new-ball bowlers Darren Wates (4 for 22) and Tim Gilbert (3 for 35) exploited the conditions to perfection. But Ervine came in at No. 8 and with determined support from Ray Price, he pushed the total along to a moderately competitive 149.The absence of Grant Flower, who broke his right thumb in a Logan Cup match last month, was keenly felt by the Zimbabweans. Without his experience, there is nobody in the touring squad who averages more than 28 in Tests, and their batsmen have managed just two Test centuries between them – both against Bangladesh. The first Test begins at the WACA in Perth on Thursday week, and on this evidence it is unlikely to be much of a contest.The day did end on a brighter note for the Zimbabweans. Doug Hondo, who is playing in this match purely as a bowler, dismissed Rockingham-Mandurah’s captain Craig Simmons for a duck, before Ervine chipped in with two timely wickets, including Scott Meuleman for 29. Heath Streak, Zimbabwe’s captain and main source of experience for the Tests, was wicketless in his eight overs.Rockingham-Mandurah Craig Simmons (capt), Tim Gilbert, Steven Glew, Aaron Heal, Scott Meuleman, Luke Ronchi, Phillip Scott, John Taylor, Adam Voges, Darren Wates, Corey Whisson.Zimbabwe Heath Streak (capt), Tatenda Taibu, Andy Blignaut, Stuart Carlisle, Dion Ebrahim, Sean Ervine, Craig Evans, Trevor Gripper, Douglas Hondo, Raymond Price, Mark Vermeulen, Craig Wishart.

Ray Mali, the president of the South African cricket board, has indicated that Herschelle Gibbs and Nicky Boje will be available to tour India later this year. It had been speculated earlier that Gibbs and Boje would give the tour a miss following the worry that they could be questioned by the Indian police with regard to the match-fixing scandal that had erupted on South Africa’s last tour to India.Mali, speaking to the Pakistani newspaper, The News, said: “Both will certainly make the tour to India. We can not disclose at this juncture what we are negotiating with the Indian cricket board but I can guarantee you that both will be available for the tour.”It has reportedly been suggested that the two cricketers are sent a day prior to the Test accompanied by a high commissioner’s official, which would presumable bestow some kind of diplomatic immunity upon them. There are also likely to be private discussions between the South African and Indian boards, and between the Indian board and their sports ministry, aimed at sorting the matter out. It is, thus, fairly likely that Graeme Smith will not have to search for a new opening partner for this important series, which South Africa will be defending.

It wasn’t quite the semi-final match-up that the tournament organisers were expecting, but Pakistan’s supporters didn’t seem to mind one bit. They were there in significant numbers, with hooters, whistles, horns and flags in tow. Unlike Sunday’s game against India, though, there’s only one element in the mix this time around – the Indians aren’t around – and despite their significant presence, it only adds up to around 7000 in a stadium which can hold nearly 16,000.The Rose Bowl might not rank among the big grounds in international cricket, but it doesn’t lack atmosphere. The stands in some areas only go back around 12 rows, allowing the spectators – and the players – to feel the full force of a strong gusty wind that blows almost incessantly here. The lack of concrete around the stadium also means that there is an alternative – and cheaper – arrangement for watching the cricket: just sit on the hillocks outside the ground, stretch out, grab a beer, and enjoy the game for free. It might not provide the greatest view, but then freebies come at a price too.It isn’t often that the Rose Bowl gets international fixtures, and the authorities have gone the whole hog to ensure that the crowd enjoy their day out. There are food stalls of all types, and if wind-chill’s a factor, then you can just slip into Club Marquee – a cosy, tented enclosure – grab some tandoori chicken, samosas and beer, and watch the cricket through the windows in the tent. Cool, eh?It was all arranged with the huge subcontinental interest in the game in mind, admits Keith McRae, the Rose Bowl’s catering manager. “It would have been great if the Indians had been here,” he adds wistfully, obviously mindful of the extra business that would have come his way with a full house.Most of the Indian supporters did indeed stay away for this one, but there were a few intrepid ones who wouldn’t be denied. Khimji was among a group of five Indians – all draped in the national flag, and in excellent humour – who raced around the stands. They were heavily outnumbered by the Pakistani supporters, of course, but they took all the hooting and the catcalls in their stride.”I’ve been to all of India’s games this season,” explains Khimji, “to Amstelveen, to the NatWest Challenge, and then here.” Does India’s dismal run bother him? Hardly. “Someone’s gotta lose,” he replies, with eye-popping matter-of-factness. “We’re just here to have a good time.” And he’s certainly doing that: it’s only 11.30 in the morning, and he’s already into his eighth (or is it ninth) glass of beer. India’s early departure has had an adverse effect, though. “We’d booked a whole bus to bring more Indians to the game,” he says, “but they’ve all backed out now.” He offered me free tickets – he had 60 of them, apparently – but all I could do was curse myself for not having brought my cousins along.The Pakistanis are out in full strength, but a couple of hours into the game, most might have been wishing they hadn’t turned up either. Despite a poor start, the horns are blaring out full blast as Yasir Hameed plays a couple of exquisite cover-drives. The celebrations are short-lived, though, as first Hameed, then Yousuf Youhana, then Inzamam-ul-Haq, all make their exits. It isn’t going according to plan for Pakistan, and very quickly, the bugles and the horns die down as a West Indies v England final loomed.Meanwhile, in the media room, everyone’s trying to come up with reasons for Inzamam’s seemingly inexplicable decision to bat after winning the toss. “Perhaps Bob Woolmer will say that he expected it to rain later in the afternoon, forcing West Indies to bat in more seamer-friendly conditions tomorrow morning,” offers a colleague. Whatever the explanation, it certainly meant that Pakistan’s incredible record of not having lost a one-dayer to West Indies after winning the toss since October 1993 was in serious jeopardy.S Rajesh is assistant editor of Wisden Cricinfo.

A report in the Nairobi-based Daily Nation says that several Kenyan players have made themselves unavailable for this Friday’s Intercontinental Cup match against Namibia, as a result of a contractual dispute with the board (KCA).The squad, together with a new captain, is to be named shortly, but some players are likely to be omitted after clashing with the board over a decision by the KCA to extend their contracts only until the end of November.A source informed Wisden Cricinfo that he had been told that a number of mainly African players have made themselves unavailable for the game, allegedly including senior figures and youngsters, although most of the Asian cricketers have agreed to play. He added: “I hear the selectors are desperately trying to find adequate replacements who are willing to play.”There are separate reports that the selectors are scambling around to try to fill the side. Some people who have not previously come close to international selection are thought to have been approached, including a couple who live overseas.Steve Tikolo, who resigned as captain after Kenya’s exit from the Champions Trophy, said he would personally not sign a two-month contract. He was quoted as saying: “Giving us a contract until the end of November means that after that date, when Kenya has no international fixtures, we are discarded.”Sharad Ghai, the KCA’s chairman, said this position had been forced on the board due to lack of funds. “I had said before that unless we find a sponsor, it is going to be difficult to keep the players on contract and nothing has changed so far,” he explained. “The seniors said they want at least a year’s contract but we say no because we do not have the resources, they need to give us more time to get a sponsor.”If they do not play, too bad but I have faith in the younger players to do well against Namibia, I believe they have a point to prove and are more hungry,” he added. “I don’t mind losing, we must have the courage to lose today so we can win tomorrow.”

KwaZulu-Natal move to the top of the table, as Border rout Griqualand West in two days at East London.Super Sixes Day Two Reports
Western Province 311 v KwaZulu-Natal 300 for 8 (Watson 58,HM Amla 50, AM Amla 75, Benkenstein 75)
ScorecardDoug Watson and Hashim Amla both scored fifties to provide the ideal platform for Natal as they chased Western Province’s first-innings total of 311. Ahmed Amla, Hashim’s brother, and Dale Benkenstein continued the good work with another solid partnership before Ahmed was trapped lbw for 75. But Benkenstein also fell for 75 as Natal suffered a mini collapse, to close on 310 for 8.Free State 267 v North West 246 for 5 (Jacobs 131, van derWath 3-50)
ScorecardDavey Jacobs’ sixth first-class hundred improved North West’s hopes of a first-innings lead, before rain brought play to an early close. Jacobs and Dirkie de Vos nearly batted all the way through the first session, before De Vos was caught behind for 47. North West ended the day on 246, 21 runs in arrears. After performing well with the bat, Johannes van der Wath showed his allround ability by taking three of the five wickets to fall.Border 266 and 41 for 3 beat Griqualand West 169 and 134(Langeveldt 5-42, Zondeki 4-53) by seven wickets
ScorecardThirty-three wickets fell in two days at East London, as Border routed Griqualand West by seven wickets. After some early morning rain, Border were bowled out for 266, a lead of 97 runs. Charl Pietersen was unable to add to his overnight haul, finishing with 4 for 79. Griquas showed no resistance in their second innings as they were bowled out for 134, leaving Border a target of 38. Once again it was CharlLangeveldt who did the damage, taking another five-wicket haul to end the match with 10 for 84. Monde Zondeki weighed in with 4 for 53. Border suffered a scare for Border as theylost wickets in the first over, but they went past the target with seven wickets in hand.Shield Day One Reports
Northerns 250 (Petersen 57, Aronstam 116*, Dros 66) vBoland
ScorecardNortherns made a conservative start after being sent in to bat at Boland Park, losing two early wickets but consolidating through the efforts of Alviro Petersen, who made 57. Maurice Aronstam andGerald Dros then further consolidated the innings with a 100-run partnership of their own. Dros fell for 66 but Aronstam scored his maiden first-class hundred in only his second match. At the close Northerns had moved to 300 for 6 with Aronstam still at the crease.Gauteng 34 for 1 v Eastern Province
ScorecardOnly 29 minutes of play was possible at the Wanderers, as bad light andinclement weather had the players off the field for most of the day. Eastern Province had put Gauteng in to bat, and they crawled to 34 for 1 in what little time was available.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has rejected Cricket Australia’s (CA) request to reschedule the proposed Australian tour due to take place in February 2008 to August 2007. Australia are due to play three Tests and five one-day Internationals in Pakistan.”CA had sent us a request that they would like to undertake their scheduled tour,” a senior PCB official told . “But we’ve declined because the weather in August – specially in Punjab – is not conducive for international cricket.”Citing security reasons, the Australian team refused to play in Pakistan in 2002 and the series was shifted to two neutral venues – Colombo and Sharjah – with a subsequent tri-series in Nairobi.The PCB official also informed the board is currently chalking out the programme for the next four years. “We are presently sitting down and chalking out a schedule for the next four years so that itineraries can be finalised well in advance unlike the past when these things happened too late.”Pakistan recently finalised the itinerary for the England series, which gets underway on October 26 and includes three Tests and five one-dayers. Pakistan are also scheduled to host India – the itinerary for which is yet to be agreed – besides staging the Asia Cup from mid-February next year.Asked about India’s agreement to play a Test and a one-dayer in Karachi, the PCB official said: “India are certain to play a Test in Karachi but they’ve to get the itinerary formally approved from some of their ministries before making a final announcement.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked Daryl Foster, the Australian fast bowling coach, to analyse the bowling action of Shabbir Ahmed, after which the board would decide whether or not to send Shabbir to Australia.Saleem Altaf, the director of cricket operations, informed that he had spoken to Foster and that the board would be recording Shabbir’s action during a practice game later this week.Shabbir, who was reported for a suspect action for the third time in his career against West Indies in the first Test in Barbados this year, underwent tests in England under the supervision of a bio-mechanics specialist, after which Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, also worked on his action.However, the board is yet to send tapes of his bowling action to the ICC review committee to seek final clearance. Altaf also said that Shabbir’s inclusion for the home series against England in November-December wasn’t certain.”It is too early to say whether his action would be cleared by the ICC in time for the England series,” he added. “I might go myself to attend this meeting of the group to be held in Dubai to convince them that Shabbir’s action is okay.”