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.

 

Vaughan to step down as NZ cricket chief

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive Justin Vaughan announced Wednesday that he would step down at the end of November, after more than four years in the job.

New Zealand Cricket

Vaughan said the NZC needed a chief executive who could commit to remaining in the position until the 2015 Cricket World Cup and his young family meant he was unable to do that.

He said the lead-up to the tournament, which will be co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia, would involve intense travel and he felt it was time to move on.

“Its been a hard decision to make but Im certain its the right time for me to explore new opportunities,” he said.

NZC chairman Chris Moller said that since his appointment in 2007, Vaughan had had overseen a 60 percent increase in the organisation’s revenues and helped restructure the Black Caps.

Moller said changes introduced by Vaughan include appointing former Test batsman John Wright as head coach and one-time Australia coach John Buchanan as director of cricket.

“Justin can be proud of his achievements,” he said.

The NZC said the search forVaughan’s replacement would begin immediately.

India On Top in Hamilton

Daniel Vettori and Jesse Ryder both struck centuries to lead a New Zealand fight back in the first test against India at Hamilton on Wednesday.

Vettori completed his third test hundred with a superb captain’s knock of 118 while Ryder registered his maiden test ton with 102 to rescue New Zealand from a disastrous start and post 279 on the opening day at Seddon Park.

daniel-vettori

India, in reply, were 29 without loss in their first innings at stumps at the
end of an absorbing day with Virender Sehwag unbeaten on 22 and Gautam
Gambhir not out six.

India have not won a test series in New Zealandfor more than 40 years but thrashed the Kiwis in the one-dayers and could hardly have made a better start to the first of three tests.

virender-sehwag

The tourists would have been in an even better position had Vettori and
Ryder not batted through the entire middle session, adding 186 for the
seventh wicket after India’s fast bowlers had demolished the New
Zealand top order.

Ishant Sharma captured three wickets in a devastating spell before lunch then polished off the innings when he dismissed last-man-out Ryder after tea.

Munaf Patel bagged three wickets, including Vettori then Kyle Mills for a golden duck to be on a hat-trick, while Zaheer Khan triggered the top-order collapse with two early wickets to vindicate Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s decision to field.

For complete News Visit : www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket-news/2198/India-On-Top-in-Hamilton-.htm

In Doubt – Future of Cricket in Asia

Is global terror shifting its campaign from suicide bombers to commando style operations? And is sports becoming the new endeavor of terror?

Sri Lankan players board helicopter at Gaddafi stadium

The events in Lahore have cast serious doubts after terrorists attacked international sportsmen.

A dozen gunmen remain still at large after opening fire on Sri Lanka cricket team, who were on their way to Gaddafi Stadium to start the third day’s play of second Test match against host Pakistan

The convoy was attacked with rifles, grenades, and rocket launchers. Seven members of Sri Lanka squad including a British assistant coach were injured. Eight Pakistanis died in the attack, which include; six police officers assigned to protect the team, and one of the drivers of the bus.

For Pakistan it may be a big wakeup call, as nation’s flamboyant cricketer, Shahid Afridi calls it a “golden moment” for his nation to unite and fight, before it’s too late.

For Complete Story Visit:www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket_info/275/In-Doubt-Future-of-Cricket-in-Asia.htm

IPL Rescheduled

India’s cricket board is looking to reschedule its popular Twenty20 league after the government, worried by Tuesday’s attack in Lahore, said the security forces would be preoccupied with general elections.

Rajasthan Royal

Six members of the Sri Lanka team and a coach were wounded when gunmen attacked their bus in Pakistan, heightening security concerns for the league involving many international players and due to be staged between April 10 and May 24.

The league had been looking to rework dates for some of the games because it would have clashed with the poll, a multi-phased affair to help deploy security forces for the massive exercise.

India goes to the polls between April 16 and May 13 with the votes to be counted three days later.

Indian Home (interior) Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said he had asked the senior-most bureaucrat to discuss the issue with cricket officials.

“I have spoken to the home secretary and asked him to get in touch with the (league) organisers to find out if the schedule can be adjusted,” Chidambaram told CNN-IBN channel.

He added: “Cricket in India will be safe. We will provide security. Only that (whether) the dates are adjusted so that our security forces are not stretched.”

The franchise league drew big crowds in its inaugural edition in 2008.

For Complete News Visit:www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket-news/1782/IPL-Rescheduled.htm

1st ODI Preview, India Vs New Zealand

Towering on back to back wins in twenty20 series, New Zealand will have the advantage when they meet India in Mclean Park, Napier to play the first of 5 ODIS on Tuesday (01:00 GMT.)

brendon-mccullum

But Black Caps coach, Andy Moles is trying to be humble as he fancies India as the predominant force in five match epic. “We must respect them but we mustn’t be scared of them,” Moles said to New Zealand Herlad, “The two results have given the guys the confidence that they can compete”.

“From an individual point of view, some of the younger players have found there’s nothing to be scared of and are looking forward to the next challenge.”

Moles felt Kiwis gave too much of a respect to Indian bowling as they chased 150 runs to win the two match series in Wellington and players should know the line which separates respect from getting bogged down.

Brendon McCullum’s recent twenty20 knocks of 61, 56, 49, and 69 has pleased the coach Moles but believes that other players also need to chip in if host are going to make an impact in the series.

For Complete Preview Visit:www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket_info/258/1st-ODI-Preview,-India-Vs-New-Zealand.htm

West Indies Magnificent

England face a quest for survival after West Indies made 749 for nine declared thanks to a masterful 261 run partnership between double centurion Ramnaresh Sarwan and Denesh Ramdin.

Ramnaresh Sarwan

Sarwan fell just nine runs short of a triple century, after batting from the evening of the second day, while wicketkeeper Ramdin made 166 before being bowled by five-wicket Graeme Swann.

The West Indies score, the ninth highest innings total in a test match, sets up an unexpectedly tricky final day for Andrew Strauss’s side after they made 600 for six declared in their first innings.

No team has ever lost a test match after making such a big first innings total but West Indies will take heart from the first test when they bowled a panicking England out for 51.

For Complete News Visit:www.octansports.com/Cricket/cricket-news/1702/West-Indies-Magnificent.htm

England Look For Changes

England will be without the likes of Andrew Flintoff and Matt Prior when they play West Indies in hope of leveling the series during the third Test in Barbados on Thursday.

Star all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been sidelined due to a strained hip muscle he sustained during the drawn third Test. Matt Prior will be on a maternity leave to England to see his wife and just born son.

andrew-flintoff

Flintoff’s presence at number six allowed England to add another bowler in all the three Tests – second Test was abandoned due to unplayable conditions at Sir Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua, but in just two days time another Test was added to the schedule and was played in the near by Antigua Recreation Ground, which turned out to be a belter – West Indies managed a draw in the final hour of match.

To replace the talent of Andrew Flintoff will impossible for Andrew Strauss but he has got substitutes to fill the big shoes in Barbados and the replacement will be either freshly arrived Ravi Bopara or Ian Bell.

England might go with Bopara who hasn’t played a Test match for England from last 14 months, but considering the form of Bell, Strauss might favor the all-rounder candidate.

For complete Feature And Latest Updates Visit: www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket-news/1619/England-Look-For-Changes.htm

New Zealand Beat India in First Twenty20

New Zealand won the first Twenty20 by seven wickets against India in Jade Stadium Christchurch on Wednesday.

After wining the toss, Black Caps put India to bat and tourists got to a flyer as opening batsman Virender Sehwag hit Tim Southee for three consecutive sixes in the first over, but after that tourists lost their way as wickets crumbled, reducing India to 162-8.

Brendon McCullum

Kiwis responded in a more methodological approach in which Brendon McCullum’s unbeaten half century guided them to victory while the rest of the team paced the innings.

For complete News visit: http://www.octansports.com/cricket/cricket-news/1592/New-Zealand-Beat-India-in-First-Twenty20.htm

Flintoff’s Fitness in Doubt

Concerns about Andrew Flintoff’s fitness are gaining fresh ground after  his friend and bowling partner Steve Harmison hinted a serious problem with English all-rounder.

Andrew Flintoff

Fears are that he may miss the fourth Test in Barbados starting on 26 of Feb are growing, after he just balled three uncomfortable overs on the fourth day of third Test and left the field.

English management initially denied anything wrong with the talismanic all-rounder, but when he left the field, they admitted that he had an anti-inflammatory injection in a hip, and Harmison said: “I am not going to lie to you and say that everything’s all right. Where he goes from here, nobody knows. We just hope he’ll be fit for the next Test in Barbados.”

Big lad of England cricket is struggling with a series of injuries in recent past. He has been off-field because of troubling knee injury and has also complained of a side strain which forced him to have a scanner in St Kitts, Jamaica just before the series.

The fourth Test is not the only concern, but team is worried that he may miss rest of the tour to make sure he fit for the two Test match series against West Indies at home and the all important Ashes.

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