Category Uncategorized

Australia 254 for 4 (Clarke 80*, Ponting 66, Symonds 42*) beat Bangladesh 250 for 8 (Shahriar 75, Mashud 71*) by six wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Ricky Ponting was in scratchy form, but made a vital 66 © Getty Images

In their final match of the NatWest Series, Bangladesh demonstrated all the lessons they have accumulated on an arduous tour, as Australia were forced to fight for every scrap in an unconvincing six-wicket victory at Canterbury. After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, Bangladesh recovered from a dreadful start to post an impressive total of 250 for 8, and it wasn’t until Andrew Symonds entered the fray in the final 15 overs of Australia’s run-chase that the gulf between the sides was finally exposed.In the end the margin of victory was comfortable enough, but for the departing Bangladeshis, it was very much their day. Their heroes were the young left-handed opener, Shahriar Nafees, who kept his head while the top-order crumbled to reach a career-best 75, and their veteran wicketkeeper-batsman and crisis-manager, Khaled Mashud, who consolidated at first, and then spanked 24 runs from the final two overs, bowled by Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie, to post his seventh and highest one-day half-century.In their previous encounters with Australia this summer, Bangladesh had won gloriously at Cardiff and lost emphatically at Old Trafford, and when they slumped to 19 for 3 in the seventh over, it seemed apparent which direction this particular match was headed. Javed Omar and Tushar Imran both fell for ducks in a hostile start from Lee and Gillespie, and Mohammad Ashraful was yorked by Lee one delivery after hoisting him, Gordon Greenidge-style, into the midwicket stands for six.Ashraful’s example suggested that Bangladesh were demob-happy, although with Shahriar entrenched and guarding his wicket for all he was worth, there was a solidity to their performance that had been absent during the Test series. Habibul, whose form has flickered only briefly on this tour, strode out with a purpose and clobbered 30 from 24 balls, including three fours in a row off Lee, and when he eventually fell to a leaping delivery from Shane Watson, Mashud was on hand to add 94 in 20 overs for the sixth wicket.Shahriar’s fifty came from 82 balls and was celebrated with a twirl of the bat to all corners of the ground. His vigil was finally ended by a fine offcutter from Watson, but Mashud had set himself up for an explosive finish, as Bangladesh helped themselves to 72 runs from the final ten overs. It was a shock to Australia’s system, but a tonic to a huge contingent of Bangladesh’s flag-waving fans, as their team equalled the total that they had successfully chased at Cardiff.

Mashrafe Mortaza removes Matthew Hayden as Bangladesh keep Australia in check © Getty Images

Bangladesh were aided by another ragged fielding display from the Aussies, which included 23 extras and a bad miss at slip from Matthew Hayden, whose day ended as badly as the rest of his week when he was caught behind for 1 in the run-chase. His dismissal brought Ricky Ponting to the crease, whose habit of falling across his front pad made him a candidate for lbw at every available opportunity, as Mashrafe Mortaza proved a particular handful.In the absence of any fluency from Ponting, it was left to Gilchrist to keep the score ticking over. He clobbered his first delivery, from Mortaza, for four, followed up with a six over long leg and had rattled along to 45 when his innings ended in bizarre fashion. Gilchrist aimed a full-blooded stroke through the covers off Tapash Baisya, only for the ball to lob into the hands of Khaled Mahmud at first slip. He walked off in bemusement, assuming that he had hit it, but replays showed that the ball had exploded out of a foothole at the same time as he had struck the ground with his bat.Bangladesh’s mood improved even further when Mahmud himself entered the attack. His previous outing in the series had not been auspicious – a first-ball duck and three overs for 39 against England – but with his 11th delivery he found the perfect length to draw Damien Martyn into his stroke and Mashud claimed his second catch of the innings. Australia went into the drinks break at 83 for 3, and with one or two troubling thoughts in their minds.But while Ponting was off-colour, Michael Clarke was merely keeping his head down, and together they added 85 vital runs for the fourth wicket. There was time for one more alarm, when Ponting holed out to Tushar Imran at deep midwicket off the persevering Mortaza, but Symonds’ arrival added a long-overdue sense of certainty to the proceedings. His unbeaten 42 included a massive six off the final ball of Mahmud’s spell, as he and Clarke sealed the win with 11 balls to spare.

Australia 340 for 5 (Harrison 91) beat Ireland 291 (Morgan 65) by 49 runs
ScorecardThe favourites, Australia, have reached the final of the Under-19 Plate Championship, after dispatching a brave but outclassed Irish team in their semi-final at Chittagong.Australia batted first and the result was never in doubt once they had rattled along to 340 for 5 from their 50 overs. But Ireland took their leave of the competition with their heads held high, as they compiled a fine total of 291 in reply. The openers William Porterfield and Gary Wilson made 48 and 44 respectively, while Eion Morgan capped a fine tournament with 65.The damage had already been done by that stage, however. Australia are a team on a mission after the humiliation of missing out on the Super League, and once they had won the toss their batsmen went on the rampage. The captain Tim Paine and Theo Doropoulos opened up with a first-wicket stand of 131 in 21 overs, before Matt Harrison took over with a hard-hitting 91 from No. 3.Ireland’s bowlers came in for some punishment, particularly Morgan and Kevin O’Brien, who both conceded more than 70 runs in their 10 overs. But they stuck to their task as well, and Greg Thompson deservedly picked up a couple of wickets.Australia’s total was daunting, but nobody told Wilson. His 48 came from just 36 balls, and with Will Porterfield keeping pace nicely, Ireland were at one stage 117 for 1 in the 20th over. But a mid-innings stutter ensued as Gary Putland bounced back from an early pasting to tear out a pair of quick wickets, including the important scalp of Morgan.Ireland slipped from 176 for 4 to 230 for 9, and a heavy beating was on the cards. But, in a appropriately resolute final act, Andrew Riddles and Allan Coulter hammered an unbeaten 61 for the tenth wicket in just under eight overs. Riddles made 29 from 33 balls and Coulter 38 from 30, as Ireland remained defiant to the last.”I am very satisfied with our performances,” said Ireland’s coach Adrian Birrell. “We did our best to chase the target and started off on course to comeclose, but we lost our way in the middle order. We hoped to beat at least one full-member country in the tournament but it wasn’t to be. It has been a good experience for our players.”Australia’s coach Bennett King praised Ireland for their batting. “Ireland played well to reach almost 300 but our bowling wasn’t goodenough,” said King. “I think we will play Bangladesh in the final and I expect that to be a competitive game.”Australia will now play the winner of tomorrow’s second semi-finalbetween Scotland and Bangladesh. The Plate Championship final will beheld at the Fatullah District Stadium on March 4.

One of English cricket’s leading marketing executives is to become the first chief executive of the Irish Cricket Union.Thirty two year-old Peter Thompson will take up the post in May after almost four years as head of marketing of Warwickshire County Cricket Club atEdgbaston in Birmingham.Mr. Thompson has been responsible for all commercial income at Warwickshire and it will be one of his priorities within the ICU.He said to-day : "I have been impressed by the forward-looking attitude of the Irish Cricket Union and as the first chief executive in its history, Iwill be very conscious of the many challenges which lie ahead."The future well being of the game in Ireland of course depends on what happenson the field at all levels of representative cricket and I hope my experience, not least in the commercial sector, will add a beneficial dimension."I am well aware of the success of the international sides at youth leveland, of course, the major challenge for the men’s senior side is to qualify for the next World Cup in the West Indies in 2007. The fact that the ICCqualifying competition is to be staged in Ireland in two years’ time is a tremendous bonus and I look forward to working with the ICU Executive and thenational coach, Adrian Birrell, to ensure its success."Mr. Thompson has spent most of his career at Warwickshire since taking an honours degree in leisure – including business management and IT – justover 10 years ago.He has specalised in administration and marketing and since his appointment as head of marketing in 1999 his responsibilities have included sponsorship,advertising rights at the Edgbaston Test ground, membership and a range of other commercial activities.Mr. Thompson has also been responsible for the operational management of international cricket at Edgbaston and was Warwickshire’s coordinator for the1999 World Cup in England. He’s also represented the club on the England and Wales Cricket Board as well as Birmingham City Council’s Events Advisory Committee.The appointment of a professional chief executive was part of a ICU development strategy led by the outgoing chairman of the Union, John Caldwell.Caldwell said to-day : "I’m delighted at Peter Thompson’s appointment, bringing as it does a professional business acumen to the Union’s activities. In to-day’s sporting world, success on the field needs a strong commercial and administrative backbone and I have no doubt Peter will providethat."The chairman of the ICU, Derek Brennan, described the appointment of a chief executive as "an historic step forward" for the Union.He added : "The ICU was recently nominated as the best administered body within the European Cricket Council and Peter’s appointment can only add to thatreputation. I look forward to working closely with him for the betterment of cricket throughout Ireland."

Trevor Ward proved the thorn in his former county Kent’s side as he struck his fourth CricInfo Championship century of the season to put Leicestershire in a commanding position at the end of the third day at Grace Road.The home side finished on 305 for six, giving them a lead of 340 on a still batsmen-friendly pitch. Darren Maddy is still there on 98 not out while the most exciting knock of the day came from Shahid Afridi.The 21-year-old Pakistan star who has already become a cult hero at Grace Road with his phenomenal hitting, did it again with a 22-ball blitz which brought him 42 runs.He smashed five fours and three huge sixes in stand of 53 with Maddy before holing out to Andrew Symonds off debutant spinner James Tredwell.His brief stay in the middle certainly accelerated the Leicestershire innings and opened the way for a definite result to the game. On this pitch Kent won’t feel they are out of it yet if they can take some early wickets.But it was Ward who was at the heart of Leicestershire’s effort as he continued the excellent form he has shown this season. He made 110 off 192 balls with 17 fours and a six, and clearly enjoyed doing it against the county with whom he had spent 13 years before joining Leicestershire last season.To add to his delight he was awarded his County Cap in the tea interval.Ward and Maddy shared a stand of 129 for the fourth wicket after Leicestershire had slipped to 54 for three having gained a first innings lead of 35.Ward finally fell to a catch at long on as he mistimed a hook against Martin Saggers. But Maddy went on to make his best score of the season and will now hope to complete his first century of the summer on the final day.Matthew Walker finished with an unbeaten 120 in Kent’s first innings of 390.

There’s more transfer news Leeds fans, so don’t leave the Transfer Tavern just yet. 

Marco Bielsa’s Leeds revolution is in full swing. He’s already brought in Chelsea’s Lewis Baker and is apparently close to sealing a deal for Derby County’s Matej Vydra. Next on the list of apparent targets is Bristol City’s, Joe Bryan.

The Breakdown

According to reports, interest in Joe Bryan has increased over the last few days. The Robins have already sold Bobby Reid and Aden Flint as they look to cash on their stars. According to the Mirror, Joe Brayn is next on the list of departures. Bryan only has one year left on his contract and is therefore attracting interest from Leeds, Burnley, Bournemouth and Middlesbrough.

Bielsa is keen to bring in a new left-back as he looks to reshape, and is ideally looking for one with Championship experience. According to Bristol Live, however, Bielsa is not interested in a move for Bryan.

Although the new Leeds boss is looking for a new fullback, he may already have one on his books who could do a job for the team.

Tom Pearce wasn’t on the radar for most Leeds fans at the beginning of last season. The highly-rated academy prospect made his debut against Sheffield United and in total played five games for the club. Such were his solid performances that he was called up to the England under-21 squad for the Toulon Tournament this summer.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Bielsa may want another fullback this summer but he could well already have one in his midst.

Is Tom Pearce the man to step in Leeds fans? 

Scorecard

	Alviro Peterson’s blistering 64 allowed the Lions to level scores in the Bloemfontein thriller © Getty Images

When the platteland dust cleared in Bloemfontein on Friday night, the Lions and the Eagles had tied their Standard Bank Pro20 match. And that despite a masterful blast from opener Alviro Petersen, who faced 48 balls for his 64 and spiked his innings with seven fours and a six.Petersen’s valiant effort was enough to nudge the Lions past the Eagles, who were bowled out for 152 in 19.4 overs. In reply, the Lions mustered 152 for 7.The Eagles, who won the toss and chose to bat, soared to 130 for 2 in the 15th over before sacrificing their last eight wickets for 22.Loots Bosman and Jacques Rudolph launched the innings in style with their 66-run stand for the first wicket. Bosman blitzed his 47 off 22 balls, while Rudolph clipped his 46 off 40 balls. Morne van Wyk (23) helped Rudolph add another 53 runs for the second wicket after Heinrich le Roux bowled Bosman in the seventh over.The Lions’ fightback began when Werner Coetsee dismissed Rudolph in the 15th over. Three overs later, Garnett Kruger grabbed the wickets – Ryan McLaren (4), Boeta Dippenaar (0) and Roger Telemachus (0) – in the space of six balls. Add the run-outs of Dillon du Preez (9) and Ryan Bailey (0), and it wasn’t difficult to see why the Eagles’ beaks drooped dramatically. Kruger finished with 3 for 22.The Lions started their reply solidly, with Petersen and Jean Symes adding 47 for the first wicket. But Telemachus bowled Symes for 19 in the sixth over, and six overs later the visitors slumped to 88 for 5.That was when Petersen and Heinrich le Roux stepped in with a 53-run stand that took the Lions all the way to the 18th over, and left them to score a run a ball off the last two overs. However, Petersen’s dismissal was followed by that of Coetsee (0), and that snapped the Lions’ momentum and saw them fall that single, crucial run short.
Scorecard
Charl Langeveldt was at it again as he steered the Western Cape Cobras to a five-run victory over the Eastern Cape Warriors in a Standard Bank Pro20 thriller at Buffalo Park in East London.The Warriors, chasing 146 for victory, were cruising on 110 for 4 after 16 overs when Langeveldt (3 for 13) staged a dramatic turnaround in the Cobras’ fortunes, taking three wickets in the 17th over as the home side ultimately closed on 140 for 8.There were other telling bowling performances from Tyron Henderson (2 for 28), spinner Con de Lange, who went for just 18 runs in his four overs and took the key wicket of Davey Jacobs, and Rory Kleinveldt, who finished with 2 for 32 and conceded just six runs in the final over.There were a few worried faces in the Cobras’ dugout as Jacobs and Zander de Bruyn added 58 for the fourth wicket in 7.3 overs, but Jacobs was caught and bowled by de Lange for a 24-ball 36, and de Bruyn was one of the three batsmen to fall in Langeveldt’s wonder over, for a run-a-ball 35.Offspinner Johan Botha had starred in the Cobras’ innings of 145 for 7, taking 3 for 19 and he was well-supported by 18-year-old left-armer Wayne Parnell (2 for 24). Young Richard Levi top-scored for the Cobras with 39 off 37 balls, but the visitors needed a few lusty blows in the closing overs from Vernon Philander (36 not out off 29 balls) and Rory Kleinveldt (22 off 9) for their matchwinning total.

Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Pts	Net RR	For	Against
Cape Cobras	3	3	0	0	0	13	+1.267	453/60.0	377/60.0
Eagles	4	2	1	1	0	12	+1.244	530/66.3	491/73.0
Titans	3	2	1	0	0	9	+0.571	421/56.0	389/56
Lions	3	1	1	1	0	7	+0.926	397/54.0	347/54.0
Warriors	4	1	3	0	0	4	-0.273	524/74.0	543/73.5
Dolphins	3	1	2	0	0	4	-0.941	390/59.2	402/53.3
Zimbabwe	4	1	3	0	0	4	-2.211	429/76.5	597/76.2

Simon Helmot has been named the Victorian Cricket Academy coach, a newly-created position as part of the state’s revamped high-performance structure. Helmot, a former club cricketer in Melbourne and coach of the ACT Comets, will be in charge of Victoria’s male and female elite pathway squads and will coach the men’s Under-19 team.Helmot’s coaching career began when he led two Melbourne grade sides, Hawthorn-Waverley and Fitzroy Doncaster, to premierships before moving to Canberra. He was handed the reins of the Prime Minister’s XI, which crushed England by 166 runs in the lead-up to the Ashes last November.Tony Dodemaide, Cricket Victoria’s chief executive, said Helmot was the ideal candidate for the new role despite not having first-class playing experience. “Simon has an excellent record as a coach and leader,” Dodemaide said. “He has proved to be extremely talented, innovative and enthusiastic.”Helmot said he was indebted to ACT Cricket for giving him the chance to develop his coaching skills but was keen to return to Victoria.

Nafees – guilty of ‘showing dissent at an umpire’s decision by action or verbal abuse’ © AFP

Shahriar Nafees, the Bangladesh opener, has been fined 20% of his match-fees for dissent during the third one-day international against Australia at Fatullah.Nafees was found guilty by Jeff Crowe, the match referee, for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct that relates to “Showing dissent at an umpire’s decision by action or verbal abuse”.After he was given out leg before to Mitchell Johnson, Nafees shook his head and gestured with his bat in the direction of the Bangladesh dressing-room as he walked back. He was reported by Ian Howell and Nadir Shah, the on-field umpires, and AFM Akhtaruddin, the third umpire.”The player admitted what he had done was wrong and I took this, together with his previously exemplary conduct, into account,” said Crowe. “However, it is important to show that dissent of any sort at an umpire’s decision is unacceptable and the player’s punishment for his actions illustrates that fact.”

Fleming will have to make do without Astle in the one-day triangular © AFP

Nathan Astle, one of the heroes of New Zealand’s fighting draw in the first Test against India, will be returning home immediately after the second Test in Mohali starting on Thursday. Astle is to have aggravations in his left knee assessed.The tour is Astle’s first since knee surgery after the World Cup earlier in the year. Despite his problems with the knee, and illness, he scored a century and an unbeaten half-century as New Zealand held out the Indian attack. Astle will be replaced for the one-day tri-series by Chris Nevin.Lindsay Crocker, the New Zealand team manager, said: “Nathan has had some aggravation in his left knee since early in the tour and he is returning home to have the injury examined by a medical specialist. It is difficult to ascertain the exact nature, or extent, of the injury. The Black Caps on-tour medical panel feel it is unlikely he will aggravate the injury further by playing in the second Test.”However, there would be a greater risk of aggravation of the injury during the triangular tournament because of the more strenuous fielding demands in one-day cricket. The aim of sending him home is to try to ensure he is fit for the home international series against Pakistan and South Africa.”Nevin flew out for India today with four other players who are joining the side for the tri-series, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Brendon McCullum and Kyle Mills.

Scorecard

Sajid Mahmood: five-wicket haul © Getty Images

England A were set a daunting target of 367 on the third day of their Duleep Trophy match against East Zone in Amritsar, after a day of hard toil for their bowlers. East Zone resumed in the morning on 65 for 3, and though they soon slipped to 132 for 5, the tail showed impressive resilience to hoist the total to a daunting 308.England’s bowling honours were shared by Sajid Mahmood, leading the attack since the departure of Simon Jones, and the captain James Tredwell, who added four more wickets to his first-innings 5 for 101, but conceded his runs at exactly five an over.East Zone, who had secured a first-innings lead of 58, took control once again in a sixth-wicket partnership of 106 between Laxmi Shukla (60) and Devang Gandhi (59). Tredwell eventually broke through, but England A’s prospects were dented by the sight of Shiv Sunder Das striding out at No. 9. Das, who has already played 23 Tests, made a century in the first innings and had decided to put his feet up in the second, but he eventually used his feet well to make 55, before Mahmood dismissed him to bring an end to the innings.England, who learned a thing or two about approaching tricky targets in their humiliating defeat against South Zone last week, made the worst possible start to their chase when Scott Newman was bowled by Shib Paul before for a fourth-ball duck. Michael Lumb then followed, lbw for 13 (25 for 2) and that victory seemed rather a distant prospect. But Ed Smith (33) and Kevin Pietersen (29) carried England safely through to the close without any further alarms, leaving them needing a further 288 on the final day for victory.