ScorecardA disciplined bowling effort enabled New Zealand to defeat South Africa by 21 runs in the opening match of the Emerging Players Twenty20 tournament in Brisbane.Chasing a target of 153, the South Africans were in control at 1 for 79 after 12 overs. However, left-arm spinner Luke Woodcock’s dismissal of opener JJ Smuts for 43 triggered a mini-collapse and three wickets fell for seven runs. The pace of scoring slowed down and the innings stuttered to 6 for 131 off 20 overs, with no New Zealand bowler conceding more than seven runs an over.The New Zealand total of 8 for 152 was possible due to Dean Brownlie and Shanan Stewart who shared a 62-run stand for the third wicket in 5.4 overs. Stewart hit three sixes in his 45 off 22 deliveries, while Brownlie hit five fours in 55 off 38. The rest of the batsmen struggled, with six of them dismissed in single digits. South African fast bowler Cornelius de Villiers took 3 for 25 in four overs. ScorecardIndia’s bowlers kept their nerve in a tense finish as the Australian Institute of Sports finished two runs short of the target of 169 despite two batsmen scoring half-centuries and having five wickets in hand.At 137 for 5, the Australians needed 32 runs off 28 deliveries and had the chase under control. However, they could score only 29 of those 32 runs as Ajinkya Rahane’s over went for just four. Earlier, Jaidev Unadkat had reduced the Australians to 44 for 3 but they recovered through a 72-run stand between Luke Pomersbach and James Faulkner that came in 7.5 overs. Pomersbach was run out by Manish Pandey after making 59 off 36 balls with six fours and three sixes. Faulkner finished on an unbeaten 52 off 42 with four sixes but failed to take his side to victory as they finished on 166 for 5.The Indian innings had a quick start with Shikhar Dhawan and captain Parthiv Patel putting on 90 in 9.2 overs. Dhawan made 58 off 37 balls with five fours and a six while Patel got 39 off 27 with four fours and a six. Allrounder James Pattinson was the best Australian bowler, taking 2 for 30 off his four overs. Pandey hit two sixes in his unbeaten 32 as India scored 168 for 4.
The England & Wales Cricket Board could be asked to help revive cricket in the Caribbean after moving ever closer to a lucrative tie-in with the Texan billionaire, Allen Stanford, following a further round of talks at Lord’s on Monday.Stanford, whose multimillion-dollar Twenty20 tournament has reinvigorated interest in cricket in the West Indies, has reportedly offered up to $100 million for a series of five 20-over matches between England and a West Indies All-star XI, the first of which could be played as early as November this year.In a press release, the ECB said that the latest meeting between Stanford and David Collier, the CEO, “further developed the constructive and positive discussions” of the previous week. “I would be happy to make a five-year commitment,” Stanford told The Times on Saturday. “I said it could be an annual event, maybe we could come to Lord’s in 2009 and then alternate. The money is real and I think we will get a game.”Also present at Lord’s were the president and chief executive of the West Indies Cricket Board, Dr Julian Hunte and Donald Peters, as proposals were discussed to help provide a legacy to the development and infrastructure of cricket in the Caribbean, in addition to a series of international matches.It was the second meeting in the space of three days between representatives of the English and West Indian boards. On Friday, Hunte, Peters and Collier all met with the chairman of the ECB, Giles Clarke, in Bangalore during the opening match of the IPL.During his trip to Lord’s, Stanford also attended the pre-season lunch of the Lord’s Taverners, which provides support for community cricket – in particular for children with disabilities. During the luncheon Stanford made a donation of £50,000 to the work of the charity which was received by the President of the Lord’s Taverners, Mr Bill Tidy.
The security situation in Glasgow after a car crashed into the main terminal of the city’s airport on July 1 has not worried the Indian board (BCCI) or the team, Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, said. India and Pakistan are to play a one-day game at Glasgow on Tuesday, the proceeds of the match going to the Prince of Wales charity trust.”We are not going to be worried by the situation in Glasgow,” Shah told . “We will leave it to the authorities over there to judge the situation and advise us.”Security is the responsibility of the home board and I’m sure they will take the necessary steps to ensure safety. The match will go on without any problem.”The Pakistan board (PCB) also confirmed that the security arrangements were satisfactory and that the match would go ahead as scheduled. “A match against India of any nature is always keenly anticipated and we are expecting a big crowd in for the match despite the security alert in Glasgow,” Zakir Khan, the PCB director of cricket operations, told cricketnext.com. “We are just keeping our fingers crossed the rains don’t hit the match.”The crash – suspected to be an attempted terrorist attack – has put Britain on its highest state of security alert and Glasgow airport remained closed overnight. But Shah said that the Indian team would fly into the city from Belfast, where they completed a series-win over South Africa on Monday, July 2.
Bangladesh A 214 for 4(Nazmus Sadat 90, Mehrab Hossain*) beat Zimbabwe A 211(Masakadza 45, Farhad Reza 3-29) by six wickets ScorecardOpener Nazmus Sadat was the hero again after his half-century inspired Bangladesh to a six wicket victory in the third one-day match against Zimbabwe played at Queens Sports Cub. The result means that Bangladesh have secured the five-match series 3-0.Sadat followed his hundred in the opening match with 90 today, sharing in a third-wicket stand of 106 with Mehrab Hossain, who scored an unbeaten 65, as the visitors reached their target for the loss of just four wickets in 46.3 overs after restricting Zimbabwe to 210 in 50 overs.Zimbabwe A made one change, bringing in pace bowler Trevor Garwe for fellow seamer Admire Manyumwa, while Bangladesh named an unchanged XI.Stuart Matsikenyeri won the toss for the second time in a row and again elected to bat.Zimbabwe were in trouble as early as the second over when they lost Chamu Chibhabha. After realising the success that slow bowlers have enjoyed in this series, Bangladesh brought left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak into attack in the second over and he struck with his first ball when Chibhabha shuffled across to be trapped leg before wicket for 5.Hamilton Masakadza joined Mawoyo and the two shared in a stand of 63 which was broken when Mawoyo fell to Farhad Reza, playing a wild hook to be taken at leg gullyby Enamul Haque.Matsikenyeri joined Masakadza and the two most experienced batsmen in the team contributed 51 runs for the third wicket, broken soon after the second drinks break whenMasakadza was given out leg before wicket to Haque for 45. Matsikenyeri made 42 before he was bowled by Tushar Imran and the remaining batsmen only added 62 runs.Bangladesh got off to a fine start with their openers Sadat and Nafees Iqbal putting 71 forthe first wicket. Sadat was give his first life on 28 when he lifted a delivery from Garwe but Sean Williams appeared to have had his vision blocked by the sun as he dropped the catch at backward point.Bangladesh A lost their first wicket when Iqbal was bowled by Matsikenyeri for 28 with the bowler first appealing for leg before wicket before realising that the bails were down.Sadat was again given a let off on 47 off Bradley Staddon, Williams putting down the catch at backward point and the left handed Sadat went on to reach the half century markafter facing up to 50 balls, stroking eight fours in 95 minutes.Williams was introduced into attack and made amends for his poor fielding with a wicket with the third ball of his first over when he had Imran brilliantly taken in the deepby Ryan Higgins for 19 runs. Saqibul Hassan lasted six minutes at the crease before hefell to Staddon, caught by Williams for 1.With the tourists needing two runs to win the match, Sadat lost his leg stump trying to reverse-sweep Staddon, but Hossain drove Garwe four a straight four in the next over to seal the match and the series.
Scotland’s 47-run win over Ireland today in the ICC Trophy final in Ireland confirms the groupings for the first stage of the 2007 World Cup. The fixtures schedule for 2007 can now be finalised and, along with the tournament dates, will be announced on July 19 in Trinidad.Scotland’s reward for winning the ICC Trophy is a place alongside Australia, Holland and South Africa in Pool 1 in St Kitts. Ireland will be in Pool 4 with the host West Indies, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.In Pool 2 Bermuda will take on Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh in Trinidad and Tobago while Canada will be in Pool 3 in St Lucia with New Zealand, England and Kenya.Confirmed World Cup PoolsPool 1 – St Kitts Australia, South Africa, Holland, Scotland Pool 2 – Trinidad Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Bermuda Pool 3 – St Lucia New Zealand, England, Kenya, Canada Pool 4 – Jamaica West Indies, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Ireland
ScorecardNew Zealand A swept to an innings victory on the fourth day against their Sri Lankan counterparts at Village Green in Christchurch, to wrap up a 2-0 series win. Sri Lanka had been up against it ever since a remarkable ninth-wicket stand of 209 between Paul Wiseman and Bruce Martin, but the end when it came was quick and to the point.Ian Daniel and Bathiya Perera could add just three runs between them to their overnight totals, before James Franklin and Kyle Milles tore through the middle order, with all five of the next batsmen recording ducks. Dinusha Fernando and Tharanga Lakshitha salvaged a modicum of pride from 94 for 9, adding 31 for the last wicket, but by then the game was well and truly up.
PAARL, Feb 25: Wasim Akram achieved another milestone in his distinguished career when he became the first bowler in one-day history to take 500 wickets in helping Pakistan earn four precious points against Holland on Tuesday.The victory keeps Pakistan’s faint hopes alive of advancing through to the Super Six stage in the World Cup.On a hot and humid day at Boland Park, Holland never threatened Pakistan’s 253 for nine and inevitably lost this Group ‘A’ fixture by 97 runs. The Dutch still remain without a point after four straight defeats.No one expected Holland to emulate Kenya’s stunning victory over Sri Lanka on Monday despite the fact that there is always a certain amount of expectancy of an upset when Pakistan play, regardless of the opposition’s strength.Pakistan’s four-pronged pace attack, backed up by off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, found Holland’s amateur batsmen easy prey. Holland crumbled for 156 in 39.3 overs.One surprise element was Pakistan’s attitude. They took things easy and never went for the kill against the ICC Trophy champions. Perhaps the heat got to them.Holland made a shaky start with Wasim, who had 499 wickets in 353 previous matches, dispatched opener Nick Statham for a duck with the first ball of his second over.Shoaib Akhtar, bowling within himself, skipper Waqar Younis, Saqlain and Abdul Razzaq proved a handful thereafter as only Daan van Bunge (31) showed some defiance to emerge as the top scorer for Holland.Shoaib (3-26) and Wasim (3-24) shared the bulk of wickets. Wasim now has claimed 12 wickets in the competition, second behind Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas who tops with 13 victims.Earlier, Pakistan once again wasted a golden chance of some useful batting practice. A total of 253 for nine was not convincing enough, especially just before the key clash against India at the Centurion Park on Saturday.Once again, none disappointed more so than Pakistan’s premier batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq, this time going for a second-ball duck when Indian umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan adjudged him lbw. It was a harsh decision as the TV replays suggested that the tall right-hander may have got a thin inside edge.Not for the first time, Pakistan continued to play musical chairs with their batting order as, for the fourth innings on the trot, a new opening pair was sent, followed by a different No 3.Due to injury to Younis Khan, who needed three stitches on a gash on his leg sustained during the nets, Pakistan were forced to make two changes. Saleem Elahi and Taufiq Umar replaced Younis and Shahid Afridi.Apart from Inzamam, all the top order batsmen scored but none played a big innings. Yousuf Youhana was the top scorer with a 59-ball 58 – only the second Pakistani to cross the fifty mark in the competition – with four boundaries. He was adjudged the Man-of-the-Match by match referee Clive Lloyd.After Saeed Anwar fell in the 20s for the third time in a row, Taufiq (48 off 71 balls, six fours) and Abdul Razzaq (47 off 63 balls, four fours) were out when well set. Taufiq was unluckily run out after a misunderstanding with Razzaq while the latter threw his wicket away to a lazy stroke.There were other useful contributions from Rashid Latif (24) and Shoaib Akhtar, who justified his promotion with an unbeaten 26 off 27 deliveries.Pakistan were on course for a score of around 280 had Youhana not ran out Wasim Akram.
He caught the attention of Bangladesh as a little batsman smashing the ball all around the ground, with batsmen like Akram Khan on the other side. The one-day match was against Commonwealth Bank Academy of Cricket (CBCA) and Ashraful ended up with an unbeaten century.Bangladesh already has good openers, and Ashraful faces tough competition. His international career initially showed a lot of promise. In Asian U-17, he won loud applause for his display. Though Bangladesh had to be content with the runners-up trophy, Ashraful’s 69 against India in the final was action-packed.Surprisingly, he began his career as a specialist leg-spinner who could bat a bit, focussing on his batting later on. His leg-spin does not look hostile at a glance but it is effective nevertheless. So this prodigy is now labelled as an all-rounder who will lead from the front in the future.In Zimbabwe, Ashraful played a single ODI, dispatching the fearsome Andy Flower with his leg-breaks. With the bat he showed courage after a shaky start. He smashed Bryan Strang twice over the fences but got out for nine attempting the third. He had to handle the hostile Zimbabwean pacemen at number four after two wickets had fallen early.His innate quality to go for his shots brings him quick runs, but at times costs his wicket too. In the nets Ashraful looks a bit impatient when he tends to play lofty shots at almost every ball.Javed Omar’s position is consolidated after his stunning performance in Zimbabwe. Mehrab Hossain bats well enough at the other end. So the openers for the Tests are almost certain. If one of them plays poorly or suffers an injury, Al-Sahariar is ready to replace him. Ashraful will only get the option to bat at number 1 or 2 when these are out of the team, which is improbable. So he has little chance of appearing in the Tests. As he is branded a one-day specialist, he will be considered for the ODI and he has to prove himself there.
Karachi, Nov 13: Karachi Whites overwhelmed Sheikhupura by an inningsand 13 runs to record their fifth victory in the Quaid-i-Azam TrophyNational Grade-I Cricket Championship at the UBL Sports Complex hereon Monday.Sheikhupura, who needed to bat throughout the fourth and final day,were bowled out for 218 in their second innings in the 11th mandatoryover.Earlier, Karachi Whites had declared their first innings at theirovernight score of 543 for four. The highlight being the mammothunfinished record fifth-wicket partnership of 361 between skipper AsifMujtaba (202) and Mohammad Masroor (171).Mujtaba’s timely declaration proved decisive in the end as the KarachiWhites bowlers stuck to their task to condemn Sheikhupura to theirfifth defeat in six matches.The only resistance offered was a stubborn stand of 78 in 103 minutesby the third-wicket pair of Mohammad Javed and Usman Akram.The left-handed Javed made exactly 50 off 129 balls in 134 minuteswith the help of 10 boundaries. His partner, Usman contributed 38 in103 minutes off 104 deliveries with four hits to the fence.At one stage, Sheikhupura looked like saving the match when they were137 for four in mid-afternoon. However, fine bowling by pace bowlerAthar Laeeq and the young spin duo of Tahir Khan and Adnan Malik putpaid to that notion.Athar drew the first blood when he clean bowled Majid Majeed, who made88 in the first innings, for a duck in the third over of the innings.Later he claimed two more wickets at crucial moments.Off-spinner Tahir Khan got rid of the other opener, Tahir Usman, withthe very first ball of his opening over.Adnan Malik, the slow left-armer, then dismissed Javed and Usman Akramin quick successions after lunch. The latter was out to a magnificentreturn catch.The last four wickets crashed in the final session after tea was takenwith Sheikhupura on 156 for six. Tahir was was responsible for abrilliant direct hit at the bowler’s end from square leg to run outMohammad Islam.In between, Tahir removed Asif Raza for 35, caught at backward shortleg by Athar Laeeq.The final wicket fell to Adnan Malik who had Sheikhupura captainJaffer Nazir caught behind for the innings’ third duck.Athar Laeeq finished with impressive analysis of three for 28 in 16overs while Tahir claimed three for 67 in 32 overs for a match haul ofseven for 160 in 69 overs.Adnan was at last rewarded for some excellent bowling with figures ofthree for 63 in 26.4 overs.The unbeaten Karachi Whites move out of the city for two matchesbefore the six-week Ramazan and Eid-ul-Fitr break with a tally of 63points. They face Lahore Blues in Lahore from Thursday (Nov 16) andthen take on Sargodha from Nov 22.
It’s an “English week” in the Bundesliga due to there being midweek fixtures in Germany’s top flight. There’s one game on Wednesday which is likely to receive all the attention though – Borussia Dortmund versus Bayern Munich.
Germany’s top two sides secured tight wins at the weekend to ensure there’s still only three points between the pair going into Wednesday night’s encounter. Both had to fight hard for their victories at the weekend but each side’s talisman came to the fore when it mattered most.
Augsburg travelled to the Allianz Arena as underdogs but such has been the way Jos Luhukay’s team has been playing lately, they couldn’t be discounted. Although when Mario Gomez netted Bayern’s first after just 24 seconds, you could have been forgiven for thinking another rout was about to take place in Munich.
However, the visitors displayed why prior to the game they’d only lost one of their nine last league games. After having an effort cleared off the line, Augsburg grabbed the equaliser through Ja-Cheol Koo’s strike midway through the first half.
The newly promoted side were unable to resist Bayern in the second period as Mario Gomez scored the winner after an hour. It was also his 25th in the Bundesliga this season as he leads Schalke’s Klaas-Jan Huntelaar by two goals at the top of the scoring charts.
Robert Lewandowski is Borussia Dortmund’s top scorer but he is still seven goals off Gomez. Nevertheless, Jürgen Klopp won’t mind too much as long his side continue to top the table. His Polish forward was the goal hero on Saturday for the Black and Yellows in their victory against Wolfsburg.
Like Augsburg, the Wolves have been playing well of late as Felix Magath’s team have even occupied a Europa League spot in the table. Despite running BVB close, they were eventually edged out at the VW arena. Lewandowski slid in the first after good work from Ivan Perisic on the left.
Borussia’s second saw some neat footwork by Ilkay Gündogan before the defensive midfielder unleashed a great curling effort from inside the box to double Dortmund’s lead. Mario Mandzukic pulled Wolfsburg back into the game before Alexander Madlung was sent off. The centre back’s dismissal was evident after a stray pass at the back saw Lewandowski go clear and nonchalantly flick the ball past Diego Benaglio.
Attention now turns to the game on Wednesday night. Dortmund’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has said BVB will win the title if they are victorious on Wednesday night whilst Bayern Munich’s President Uli Hoeness is convinced the Bavarians will be German champions if they win the game in the Ruhr.
“The moment of truth comes when we play in Dortmund,” declared Hoeness. Bayern’s run to the end of the season is more favourable than Dortmund’s but they also have to contend with being in the Champions League. Dortmund on the other hand now enter an eleven day period which will show whether they have the mettle to retain the Bundesliga. The Champions face the other members of the top four, including their arch-rivals Schalke who will be desperate to deny Borussia.
This season though could prove a seminal moment for German football. If Bayern win the title, the old order is restored as they would maintain their record of not going two years without a title since 1996. That year it was Borussia Dortmund who won back-to-back championships. If the Black and Yellows do retain the Bundesliga in 2012, it could usher in a new era in Germany where Bayern don’t rule supreme. Wednesday night might not prove definitive but it has the feeling of being a watershed moment nevertheless.
So call it what you want. The Bundeslásico, first versus second, Borussia Dortmund against Bayern Munich – there’s no escaping from the enormity of Wednesday night’s game at Signal Iduna Park which promises to be a fascinating encounter.
For more musings on the Bundesliga, follow @archiert1
Matchday 29 Results:
Bayern Munich 2-1 Augsburg
Cologne 1-1 Werder Bremen
Freiburg 2-2 Nuremberg
Kaiserslautern 1-2 Hoffenheim
Stuttgart 4-1 Mainz
Wolfsburg 1-3 Borussia Dortmund
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.