South Africa secure narrow win over Pakistan

South Africa won a rain interrupted first Twenty20 against Pakistan by four runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method at the Wanderers Stadium on Wednesday.

The visitors were chasing South Africa’s competitive total of 153-7 after their 20 overs, when heavy rain in Johannesburg halted Pakistan’s reply just short of halfway.

The two teams resumed hostilities less than a week after South Africa won both Twenty20 matches in the United Arab Emirates.

Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla gave South Africa a flying start, putting on 72 for the first wicket before Amla was bowled by Pakistan captain and off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez for 31 off 20 balls.

De Kock made 43 off 33 deliveries before he was well caught at long-on by Sohail Tanvir off Hafeez.

A third wicket fell to slow bowling in the space of 15 runs when Shahid Afridi bowled Henry Davids for three.

Hafeez and Afridi took three wickets between them for 39 in their combined eight overs as the South African innings lost momentum with JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis putting together a stand of 23.

Duminy’s mis-hit pull was brilliantly caught by the diving Hafeez at mid-wicket, before Du Plessis heaved Junaid Khan for four but chipped the next ball straight to mid-off.

Debutant Bilawal Bhatti’s difficult final over continued with a chest-high full toss to Wayne Parnell, who was run out next ball for six and a third excellent catch – this time from Abdur Rehman accounted for Dale Steyn but Morne Morkel hit back-to-back boundaries in the final over.

Heavy rain

Ahmed Shehzad fell for nine early in Pakistan’s reply, gloving a Lonwabo Tsotsobe delivery on to the stumps, but two boundaries from Nasir Jamshed in the sixth over got the tourists back on the right track at 40-1 following the power-play.

He then gave a return catch to Duminy, though, and Pakistan were 60-2 when heavy rain and nearby lightning stopped play with 9.1 overs bowled.

That left Pakistan four runs behind the Duckworth-Lewis par score, and with only a 10-minute window before a reduction in overs would be required.

With the rain still falling heavily and the outfield drenched, the two captains shook hands on the result well before the 10pm cut-off point.

The next game takes place in Cape Town on Friday, with three 50-over games to follow.

 

Gabba holds no fear for England

Skipper Alastair Cook accepts England will probably need to raise their game a notch or two to win a fourth straight Ashes series but almost scoffed at suggestions the tourists were running scared.

Despite the first Ashes series of the year having concluded so recently, the war of words before the second five-match encounter has been as intense as ever and Australia’s David Warner said this week that he detected fear in the tourists.

England have good reason to feel confident having dominated the home Ashes series 3-0 and Cook said his experienced side were taking all the pre-match hype in their stride.

“We certainly don’t fear anyone, that’s quite clear by the way we go about our business,” he told reporters at the Gabba, where the first test gets underway on Thursday.

“We’re a very competitive side and there’s no reason to fear any side out there. We don’t really concentrate on what people say about us, it’s about how we play in that first hour tomorrow.

“There’s been a lot of words said, but when it comes to 10 o’clock tomorrow morning, that’s all irrelevant.”

England’s one injury concern before the first test is the strained calf of wicketkeeper Matt Prior but Cook sounded reasonably confident that stand-in Jonny Bairstow would not be required.

“He’s (Prior) got the last part of his fitness to go now, yesterday he trained really well and came through all that we asked of him,” he said.

“With leg injuries, it’s usually about how you pull up the next day after a rigorous session. We’ll know pretty soon.”

Vice captain Prior, with his leg heavily strapped but clearly mobile, remained on the Gabba pitch training long after most of his team mates had packed up on Wednesday.

Prior and Cook were key members of the England line-up that contributed a torrent of runs three years ago when England won the Ashes in Australia for the first time in 24 years.

GOOD PLACE

Cook alone contributed a remarkable 766 runs at an average of 128 but was less spectacular in the first Ashes series of this year as England’s top order rarely caught fire on the slow pitches back home.

“That’s an area where we know we have to get better, we were 30 for three several times in that series and I was part of that,” he said.

“I’m happy with the way I’ve played in these warm-up games. Who knows what’s going to happen, but I feel in a good place right now.”

The feeling that England won on home soil with something to spare is one of the reasons for their confidence coming into this series and Cook suggested Australian conditions might suit their vaunted batsmen better.

“We know how important first innings runs are in Australia, if you want to set the game up, you have to score big,” he said.

“The wickets here are slightly easier to score runs on than in England, it’s the job of the batsmen to set the game up.”

Cook’s brilliant 235 not out at the Gabba in 2010 only contributed to a draw for the visitors as Australia maintained their record of not having lost to England at the ground since 1986.

Australia consider the Gabba their test match fortress and England can expect a less than welcoming reception from the Queensland public on Thursday.

That will be especially the case for paceman Stuart Broad, whose refusal to walk at Trent Bridge in the opening test of the first series infuriated many in Australia.

Cook, though, was confident the barracking would only spur on his team mate.

“He’s a very combative character, he’s an in-your-face kind of cricketer, I like that about him,” Cook said.

“Every time you give him a challenge… he’s stood up and delivered. He’s done that a number of times for England, a magic spell of bowling.

“He’s got the ability to change games. He looks in fine fettle with the ball and he’s raring to go.” 

 

Afridi handed two-game ban

Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi has been banned for two Twenty20 internationals after appearing to bite the ball during the fifth one-dayer against Australia.

pakistan all rounder Shahid Afridi

The all-rounder was caught by television cameras putting the ball in his mouth during a match that the tourists lost by two wickets at the WACA in Perth.

The third umpire reported the incident to the on-field officials Asoka de Silva and Paul Reiffel, who immediately ordered the ball be replaced.

In a hearing straight after the game, Afridi pleaded guilty to breaching article 2.2.9 of the International Cricket Council’s Code Of Conduct after being charged with “changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3 of the Laws of Cricket”.

Maximum penalty

Match referee Ranjan Madugalle decided to imposed two suspension points on the player, equating to two T20 matches for his country.

“I imposed the maximum penalty under the code to Shahid and reminded him of his responsibilities as a national captain which is to ensure that the match is played according to the laws of the game and in the spirit in which it is intended to be played,” Madugalle said.

“Shahid, when pleading guilty, apologised and regretted his actions.”

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam branded the behaviour of Afridi, who was captaining the side in the absence of Mohammad Yousuf, as “unacceptable”.

“It’s unacceptable,” said Alam. “It shouldn’t have happened but it happened and I feel sorry for him.

“Being a captain you should be above everything but unfortunately it’s happened and it’s up to the referee what sort of charges he’s going to level against him. I have no idea.”

Afridi will now miss the fixture against Australia on February 5, as well as the first of two matches against England in Dubai on February 19.

Spectator

The game was also overshadowed by an incident during the home side’s run chase when a fan ran onto the field and rugby tackled Pakistan’s Kalid Latif, who was not hurt in the incident.

Australia seamer Clint McKay, who took 4-35 to help bowl the tourists out for 212 earlier in the day, was outraged by the spectator’s intrusion.

“I thought it was disgraceful,” he said. “Something you don’t want to see ever.

“For someone to go out there and to touch one of their players is not on. Hopefully it all gets put to bed and he gets a right whack. It’s not something you want to happen.

“It’s probably the worst thing that can happen on a cricket field, so hopefully it gets stamped out and we don’t see it again.”

Preview:India look to wrap up series

A win away from clinching the series, India will bank on their explosive batting line-up as they battle history and injury in the fourth One-day international against Sri Lanka at the half-filled Eden Gardens here Thursday.

Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, left, and Virender Sehwag interact during a practice session

The rollicking form of seasoned campaigners Sachin Tendulkar (208 at 104 average) and stand-in-skipper Virender Sehwag (194 at 64.66 average) is a big plus for the hosts with the duo having amassed nearly 400 runs between them in the five-game series that India lead 2-1.

But more vital is the way they have scored the runs. While Tendulkar has a strike rate of 94.97, Sehwag’s is an enviable 144.97, and the Lankan bowlers must be burning the midnight oil to find a way out to check their tormentors on a ground which is hosting an ODI after 32 months.

Gautam Gambhir, the other vital cog in the Indian batting department, has so far failed to fire in the series and the hosts would be hoping that he gets into form on the morrow in the absence of regular skipper and aggressive bat Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is serving a two-game ban for India’s slow overrate in the second ODI at Nagpur.

India are also without the stylish left hander Yuvraj Singh, who has been ruled out of the remaining matches of the series with a finger injury.

In bowling, young left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja’s spectacular showing (4-32) in the third ODI at Cuttack has raised hopes of finding a suitable partner for experienced offie Harbhajan Singh, more so at Eden, where the spinners have often played a decisive role.

Having last staged an ODI in February 2007, one would have hoped to see a full house at the large Eden stadium, but the renovation of four galleries in preparation for the 2011 World Cup has reduced its capacity.

With only 53 percent of the seats in the 83,635-capacity stadium now available, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has done away with priced tickets for the match, which will be the fourth the two teams will play here. They have won one apiece while the other was a no-result.

For Sri Lanka, dashing opener Tillakratne Dilshan has been in superb form, cracking two back-to-back hundreds before a blitzy 18-ball 41 at Cuttack. Dilshan’s opening partner Upul Tharanga and skipper Kumar Sangakkara are also among runs, though Mahela Jayawardene is going through a lean patch.

Speaking to mediapersons on the match-eve, Sehwag said the Indians would aim to get Dilshan out quickly.

“It is difficult to stop him. It is better to try and get him out. If we can get his wicket, we can put pressure on the Sri Lankan middle order,” he said.

The visitors are also playing the series without several of their regulars, and the absence of the Muttiah Muralitharan — back home after the Test series following an injury — could hurt the Lankans the most Thursday.

The 40-year-old Sanath Jayasuriya, whose aggressive batting and part-time spin could come in handy for the Lankans, may make a comeback into the team after being dropped for two ODIs.

“There is always a chance for him to play. We haven’t finalised the 11,” said Sri Lankan coach Trevor Bayliss at the pre-match media meet.

Bayliss did not think Dhoni and Yuvraj’s unavailability would give a boost to his side. “They have only two players out of the team. We have five,” he pointed out.

The pitch appeared firm, but the extent of the wind and the dew could play a vital part in determining the course of Thursday’s game.

Sewhag said he would opt to field if he won the toss to avoid the problems the bowlers could face because of the evening dew.

Bayliss, however, said the wicket looked hard and good and full of runs.

Traditionally, the sprawling Eden Gardens has seen moderate scores, compared to the now-familiar scenes of teams belting 350 or even more in the 50-over games on other parks. Only once has a team scored 300 plus on this ground, and the credit goes to Sri Lanka who amassed 301 against Pakistan 12 years ago.

While India have emerged victorious in eight of their 15 limited over games at Eden, they lost three of their last four ties. One was rained out.

Sri Lanka have won three of their half-a-dozen games at Eden and lost two, while one was washed out.

Teams (from):

India: Virender Sehwag (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma and Sudeep Tyagi.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain-wicketkeeper), Tillakaratne Dilshan, SanathJayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera, Upul Tharanga, Chanaka Welegedara, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Suraj Randiv and Thissara Perera.

Umpires: Marais Erasmus (South Africa), Sanjay Hazare (India).

Third umpire: Shavir Tarapore.

Match starts at 2.30 p.m.

Pakistan team racially abused in N Zealand

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was Tuesday planning to lodge a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) claiming the national team was racially abused on the final day of the third and final Test against New Zealand in Napier.

Mohammad Yousuf (C) captain of Pakistan celebrates as Pakistan players walk from the field after their win during the Second Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Basin Reserve on December 6, 2009 in Wellington, New Zealand.

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said he is yet to receive any complaint from the team management regarding the ugly incident that marred what was an interesting final Test at McLean Park.

“I will only contact the ICC regarding the issue after getting a formal complaint from the team management,” Butt told Geo Super.

A brother of New Zealand MP Chris Tremain and his 17 friends chanted slogans of ‘Pakistani terrorists’ from a corporate box at the McLean Park, New Zealand media reports said.

A sign saying “no racist comments please” was displayed on the park’s scoreboard about 5 p.m.

However, Pakistan manager Abdul Raqeeb said that he and his players didn’t hear any racist remarks.

According to New Zealand media reports, a corporate box hired by a brother of National MP Chris Tremain was refused alcohol after racial abuse was hurled at Pakistani cricketers.

Mark Tremain, 38, younger brother of the Napier MP and son of rugby legend Kel Tremain, hired the family company Tremain Real Estate’s corporate box for themselves Saturday, the second day of the Pakistan-New Zealand test.

Spectator Bill Stacey, of Clive, said he was embarrassed by the group’s “drunken stupidity” and the racist comments, which included shouts of “Pakistani terrorists”.

Chris Tremain, who is a director and shareholder in Tremain Real Estate, said: “Clearly what happened is unacceptable.”

NZ Cricket public affairs manager Stephen Hill said staff took action as soon as they heard of racist insults. “Our security staff were on the ball and they took steps to resolve the situation, and got them to modify their comments.”

“Racist abuse was more common in other countries. It arises from time to time, but it’s not common here. We have messages to put on the board sometimes, or the speaker system. We want the sport to be free of abuse,” he said.

Pakistan is scheduled to leave for Australia Wednesday for a full series after ending its three-match Test series at 1-1.

Sehwag Powers India to Highest total

Virender Sehwag blazed to a career-best 146 to steer India to their highest one-day total of 414 for seven in the opening game against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag acknowledges the crowd after scoring a century during the first one-day international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka, in Rajkot, India, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009.

The opener hit his 12th one-day hundred off 66 deliveries and smashed 17 fours and six sixes to leave Sri Lanka gasping after skipper Kumar Sangakkara put India into bat hoping to exploit early life on the pitch.

Sehwag, 31, looked good to surpass the one-day record score of 194 until he edged a full toss from paceman Chanaka Welegedara to be caught at point in the 36th over.

He dominated a 153-run first wicket partnership with Sachin Tendulkar (69) and added 156 for the second with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to demoralise the bowling attack.

Dhoni hit 72 with seven fours and three sixes after promoting himself to number three but was caught in the next over after Sehwag’s dismissal to give the visitors some respite.

The total bettered India’s record of 413-5 set against Bermuda at Port of Spain in the 2007 World Cup. It is also the highest notched against Sri Lanka, surpassing the 373 India made in the 1999 World Cup. At 311 for three in the 37th over, India looked set to surpass Sri Lanka’s ODI record of 443, but were checked by some tighter bowling.

Sehwag, whose previous highest one-day score was 130, raced to 50 off just 34 deliveries before easing off slightly as Tendulkar took over with a flurry of shots.

The record-breaking batsman notched his 92nd one-day fifty until he missed the line to be bowled by Fernando. Pace bowlers Nuwan Kulasekara, Chanaka Welegedara and Dilhara Fernando took two wickets each.

Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh missed out due to finger injuries.

Yuvraj doubtful for Rajkot ODI

India batsman Yuvraj Singh is likely to miss the first one-day international of the series against Sri Lanka here Tuesday with a finger injury.

India's Yuvraj Singh's injured finger is seen as he talks to Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, right, during a practice session in Rajkot, India, Monday, Dec. 14, 2009. India will play the first one day international cricket match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Yuvraj fractured a finger on his left hand while fielding in the second Twenty20 international in Mohali, Saturday night. Yuvraj was the star of the match with his 25 ball 60 and also picked up three wickets to help India win.

Team sources told IANS that the injury could even rule out Yuvraj from the rest of the series.

An MRI scan was conducted Sunday at the team hotel here Sunday. And reports suggested that Yuvraj would need at least three weeks to recover.

Modi denies dumping reports

Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi pooh-poohed reports circulating in a section of the media that he is being eased out of the cricket’s biggest money-spinner.

Chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Lalit Modi gestures during a news conference of the Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 cricket tournament

Talking to IANS from Germany, Modi said there was no truth in “these planted stories” as he was appointed by the cricket board’s general body for five years to run the IPL.

“Also, there’s no truth in the report that the post of IPL commissioner is being abolished,” he insisted.

IPL vice-chairman Niranjan Shah, too, indignantly refuted the so-called move, saying that someone was trying to play a prank and the media fell hook, line and sinker for the bait. “How can anyone believe such trash without giving it a thought?” he shot back.

Another senior board official, not wanting to be dragged into the unsavoury controversy nor wishing to be identified, told IANS that there was not even discussion on the subject at any of the recent board meetings.

“Yes, some months ago, there was some loud thinking whether the chairman and commissioner’s posts be delinked but there was no serious discussion. One suggestion was that the board president should be the IPL chairman,” said the board insider.

The official said that someone tried to link the development with the recent Rajasthan Cricket Association election, in which Modi was defeated by union Rural Development Minister C.P.Joshi.

Modi worked out the modalities of IPL during the tenure of Sharad Pawar and it became a huge commercial success.

He is also the chairman of the Champions League that draws the best Twenty20 teams of the cricketing world.

Mallya Desired England As IPL Venue

Liquor baron and owner of the Bangalore Royal Challengers, Vijay Mallya, has said that he would have preferred England to host the second season of the Indian Premier League.

Vija Mallya and Lalit Modi

The Twenty20 competition was moved out of India because of a clash of dates with general elections and the IPL organisers sealed a deal to organise the event in South Africa.

“To be honest, I would have preferred England to South Africa,” the Daily Express quoted Mallya, as saying.

Mallya agreed that there is a huge possibility of rain disruptions; but he believed the tournament would have drawn bigger crowds in England.

“You could have taken just one flight from five or six cities in India to England and it would have been cheaper. Besides, an average Englishman loves his cricket and the stands there would have been full of spectators. But, I guess the weather conditions clinched the issue for South Africa,” he said.

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Indian Fans Disappointed

The change in venue for the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has brought disappointment to the Indians who were batting for the Twenty20 competition being played in India.

Fans Enjoying Cricket

“It is like imagining Wimbledon in England, Australian Open tennis, or the UFA cups being played abroad. The charm of an Indian event has gone. It has become a television event,” said Diana Edulji, former Indian women”s Test cricketer.

Jitender Kumar, a cricket coach, said: “It will send out a wrong message to the world that such a big country like ours could not provide security to a sporting event. I believe it would have been better if IPL would have been held in India.”

Disappointment was writ large on the faces of young cricket enthusiasts who felt that IPL should be hosted in India as very few matches are played on Indian soil.

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