All posts by csb10.top

Scorecard

Led by captain Richard Jones’ brisk unbeaten 85, Auckland made light of a target of 243 in 50 overs and handed the Bangladeshis their second defeat in as many completed matches on their tour of New Zealand so far. The visitors opted to bat but bar Tamim Iqbal’s 104, the first hundred of the trip, there were few contributions to speak of and even more worryingly, the Bangladeshi bowlers managed just three Auckland wickets ahead of a full ODI and Test series.Paul Hitchcock, who earlier picked up 2 for 48, scored 35 in an opening stand of 81 with Martin Guptill to set the base for Auckland. After his departure, caught by Ferhad Reza off Nazmul Hossain, 21-year-old Guptill fell for 59 from 61 balls. Jones and Colin de Grandhomme (34) finished the match with ease, adding an unbroken partnership of 97. Jones hit eight fours and a six to finish on 85, and denied the Bangladeshis any entrance into the middle order. The target was overhauled with 24 deliveries to spare.With the bat, the Bangladeshis got starts but collapsed dramatically. Tamim stood firm, adding 86 for the second wicket with Aftab Ahmed (29), and 55 with captain Mohammad Ashraful (27). However, a complete mess down the order – the last seven wickets fell for 58 – saw Bangladesh bowled out in 48.5 overs. Tamim hit four sixes and ten fours in his 122-ball effort, but was the fourth batsman to fall, at 184 in the 35th over.Greg Moran, the rookie 21-year-old right-arm medium-fast bowler, took 3 for 33 off eight overs, Andy McKay and Roneel Hira two each, and there was a wicket for Daryl Tuffey in his first match for Auckland this season.Bangladesh’s tour continues with a Twenty20 match against a New Zealand Cricket XI in a World Vision Cyclone Relief match in Hamilton on Sunday.

Duncan Brede, a cricketer who represents the Australian Capital Territory, has been banned for two months under Cricket Australia’s Anti-Doping Policy after testing positive for prohibited substances. The positive test came from a sample taken from Brede after the game between ACT and the Queensland Academy of Sport at Allan Border Field on November 15, 2004.The prohibited substances that were present in Brede’s sample were the stimulants: amphetamine and methamphetamine. Brede also acknowledged committing a doping offence and waived his right to a hearing while the Australian board offered him help with counselling. The two month ban is effective from January 21.

Pentasoft ousted Canara Bank by two wickets to enter the semifinals of the Moin-ud-Dowlah Cup in Hyderabad on Friday. With ONGC having withdrawn from the tournament, this Group D encounter was a cut throat game at the ECIL ground, both protagonists having beaten Hyderabad Districts, the only other team in the group. Brothers S Ramesh and S Mahesh were the leading participants in the Pentasoft run-chase as the Chennai based software company reached their target of 200 with seven balls to spare.In the morning session, the bankmen after being put in to bat, made 199/9. This was a palpable recovery for they had been lost four wickets for 30 at one stage, including the important scalp of Vijay Bharadwaj for 11. But the lower order applied themselves to the task of batting out the full 50 overs. Sunil Joshi (29) and Somasekhar Shiraguppi (31) commenced the rearguard action. And it was completed with gusto by Srinivas Murthy who remained undefeated on 46 (53 balls, 4 fours) and skipper Venkatesh Prasad who revealed some hitherto unrevealed flair with the bat with a run-a-ball 24. S Mahesh and S Satish both had identical figures of 2/30.In reply, Openers M Arvind and S Ramesh added 62 for the first wicket and skipper Ramesh in the company of SS Das compiled another 58 for the second. At 134/2 Pentasoft were sitting pretty but the loss of three wickets (Ramesh, Kanitkar and Jaffer Ashiq) in the space of four overs left them slightly perturbed at 139/5. Ramesh’s 59 was a quickfire effort, coming off 71 balls and inclusive of eight boundaries. Although C Raghu (4/30) kept Pentasoft on their toes, Mahesh (43 not out, 60 balls, 4 fours) retained his composure to see Pentasoft home from the last ball of the penultimate over and round off a good match for him.

Jacob Oram, the 26-year old allrounder who departed for the tour of Bangladesh today, confirmed that he would reject any advances to play in England next summer.

At the moment New Zealand have a gap in their schedule between the home series against Australia in March and a tour to Zimbabwe provisionally earmarked for September. But Oram preferred to have a break than earning cash. “It is best for my body not to do it. We get so few breaks I should use it as rest. Financially, it is hard to look past it. But it is in the best interests of myself and playing for New Zealand to stay here and get my body right for the Zimbabwe and South Africa tours next season.”The grind of the county treadmill put him off. “Playing for county teams is not all it’s cracked up to be,” Oram said. “You’re playing five or six days a week: it’s pretty tough. I would go over there as an allrounder and would have to do everything.”Neil Perry, his coach at Manawatu, agreed. “It’s different when you’re up and coming trying to make a name for yourself. But for a quick bowler it’s a hard life; there’s a lot of overs to be bowled and not a lot of recovery time.” Perry, who had a brief career with Glamorgan, explained that this was one reason for the shortage of fast bowlers emerging from England.However, Andre Adams, who spent three productive months with Essex this summer, replaces Oram in the one-day series in Bangladesh. “It is purely a resting period [for me], from three one-dayers in six days,” Oram indicated. “It was basically a command – it came straight from the top, from the selectors. I think it’s good because we’ve got a huge series coming up [against Australia]. And you want to keep playing for your country.”

Hampshire look set to announce the signing of Chaminda Vaas as their overseas replacement for veteran Pakistani Wasim Akram who quit the county earlier in the month.Vaas, 29, who has taken 216 wickets in 68 Tests for Sri Lanka, held talks with Hampshire after Heath Streak, Zimbabwe’s captain, turned down an offer of a second spell with the county. Paul Terry, Hampshire’s manager, said that an official announcement will be made later in the week.Streak turned down Hampshire’s approaches as he wanted to spend more time with his family after Zimbabwe’s recent tour of England.Wasim Akram left Hampshire halfway through a one-year contract because of his continuing battle with diabetes which had restricted him to just five of their eight first-class matches.

How many players has Pakistan wasted over the years? How long is a piece of string? So many have come as quickly as they have gone, so many we have been bewitched by, and so many we have despaired of that we have become numb to the lost talent. For every Yasir Hameed, there is an Imran Nazir, a Mohammad Wasim or an Ali Naqvi, for every Mohammad Sami, a Mohammad Zahid or a Mohammad Akram. It doesn’t seem to matter any more, for someone will always emerge and perhaps that is the way of things. But sometimes, every now and again, you stop and wonder how we have become so blasé about them. And instead of trying to understand why they failed, you try to appreciate what they can bring to the game, no matter how sparingly.Shahid Afridi’s ebullient contribution to Pakistan’s win over India on Saturday was the latest in a series of one-offs. Not many players who have exasperated as much as him garner as much attention – even in disappointment there is eminence – but then Afridi has always had something about him, a sense of cricketing decadence in the gloriously neglected manner in which he has frittered his unique gifts. That he has done it so extravagantly, perversely, has enamoured him to some of us. The chances that he will suddenly discover the discipline and the judgment he has lacked for so long are slim. But should that overlook the allure – intermittent, as it is – that he possesses?There isn’t much that is tangible about it, certainly not his career figures; but at its essence his game is an unbridled, almost raw, joy. Much of the charm of Afridi is of a rustic sort, he provides the romance in the game, and all good ones are doomed to failure anyway. There is such a foolish abandon in the way he bats that you wonder whether he has progressed from batting on a potholed street, protecting not stumps but mango crates. He is, in local parlance, a lapaytoo – a street-slogger, but with less technique and discretion. In the gallis their job is to swing at almost every ball, and that Afridi does it still at international level is absurd. He has had so many comebacks that he qualifies as a fully paid-up resident of the last-chance saloon, living fastidiously by its fatalistic ground rules.He reacquainted himself with us on Saturday with a buoyant second-ball six, out of the ground for good measure. It could have been on any street in Karachi, and it could just as easily have been mishit to mid-on. There followed a couple of audacious boundaries and a diabolical dismissal – one that confirmed for most Pakistanis that he might never learn. But he came back, and picked up four wickets, taunting us and daring us to doubt him. Along with Shoaib Malik he turned the match, as if to the manner born. In the field, he was Pakistan’s chirpiest outfield presence since the days of Javed Miandad.But it isn’t even the bits ‘n’ pieces of his batting or bowling, it is instead the whole. He is blessed with a presence; he can make things happen, and around him, things happen. The problem is that he doesn’t know when and how it happens and neither do we. In that way, a comparison with Virender Sehwag – as there was in Pakistan earlier this year – while not obvious, is not entirely untenable. And watching Andrew Flintoff perform this summer can’t help but invoke a tinge of regret at what Afridi has squandered.Of course, his appeal lies partly in his failure to emulate these standards. Maybe there isn’t a permanent space for him in the modern game, reliant as it is not only on extravagant natural gifts, but on self-discipline and the ability to harness that talent as well. He seems out of place and out of touch with the work ethic of today’s players, as well as lacking their willingness to learn and improve. He will argue, as he has done, that the team has never used him properly, and he does it with some justification. Even before this tri-nation series, the team management was unsure as to how to utilise him most effectively. His critics will argue that he has simply refused to learn in over seven years with the national team.But surely there is room for an ephemeral rogue, if only because occasionally, and unexpectedly, he adds another dimension to any game. As he did against India at Peshawar earlier this year, he may very well embark on another disastrous run of failures after this latest encounter. But maybe that is OK; we know what we get with him, and if he deigns to provide it to us when he feels fit to – or is allowed to – then why not admire it for what it is? Why live in the hope that he will come round and start doing it all the time? It is only sporadic moments of beauty he provides, but it is beauty nonetheless and for that alone it should be treasured.

In the Logan Cup this weekend, Matabeleland travel to Harare to play what was once the major domestic fixture of the season against Mashonaland, while Midlands host Manicaland at Kwekwe Sports Club.Mashonaland again will be favourites to overcome their rivals, especially after the way they dispatched Manicaland last weekend. Matabeleland have not beaten the champions since 1995/96, which was actually the last time Mashonaland lost at first-class level at all. In 11 matches between the two teams since the Logan Cup was granted first-class status in 1993/94, Mashonaland have won seven and Matabeleland just that one. Both Andy and Grant Flower average over 100 in matches between the two provinces.Mashonaland still lack Douglas Hondo, whose strained shoulder has not yet healed, and have named the same team as last week. Matabeleland too expect to play an unchanged team.Manicaland and Midlands have met only twice at first-class level, excluding a washout at Mutare Sports Club two years back, and have recorded one victory each. Midlands will be favourites to win this match, especially on their home soil, where the bowling of Raymond Price, who took ten wickets in the drawn match at Queens Sports Club last weekend, is so often the vital factor. Midlands also have a strong pace attack and powerful batting line-up, and may well prove too powerful for the young Manicaland side.Manicaland are still without Guy Whittall, not yet fit, and have made four changes to their team, dropping the Soma brothers, Lance Malloch-Brown and Justin Lewis. In come Kingsley Went, who had a good innings for the B team last weekend; Paul Strang, grabbed from Matabeleland B; former Academy all-rounder Blessing Mahwire; and Harare off-spinning all-rounder Prosper Utseya. This gives them a long batting line-up, with captain Henry Olonga either having to bat at eleven himself or giving that post to one of the all-rounders. They will be putting their hopes on off-spinner Richie Sims to emulate Price and take advantage of a helpful pitch. Midlands expect to play the same team that drew with Matabeleland.The nominated teams are as follows:Mashonaland: Trevor Gripper, Stuart Carlisle, Dion Ebrahim, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Craig Evans, +Tatenda Taibu, Andy Blignaut, *Brian Murphy, Gus Mackay, Alfred Mbwembwe.Matabeleland: Gavin Rennie, Mark Vermeulen, Charles Coventry, Barney Rogers, Andre Hoffman, Mluleki Nkala, Gavin Ewing, +Wisdom Siziba, *Pommie Mbangwa, Keith Dabengwa, Jordane Nicolle.Manicaland: +Neil Ferreira, Kingsley Went, Alistair Campbell, Richie Sims, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Guy Croxford, Paul Strang, Blessing Mahwire, Gary Brent, Prosper Utseya, *Henry Olonga.Midlands: Terry Duffin, Vusi Sibanda, Doug Marillier, *Dirk Viljoen, Sean Ervine, Travis Friend, +Alester Maregwede, Don Campbell, Raymond Price, Innocent Chinyoka, Campbell Macmillan.B DIVISION TEAMSMatabeleland B play at home against Mashonaland B, while Masvingo make their debut, travelling to Mutare to play Manicaland B. Midlands B have a bye.Mashonaland B: Tafadzwa Mufambisi, +Glenn Goosen, *Darlington Matambanadzo, Ryan Butterworth, Conan Brewer, Tom Benade, Ishmael Senzere, Neeten Chouhan, Elton Chigumbura, Nyasha Chari, Stephen Zesengwa.Matabeleland B: *Ryan King, Clement Mahachi, Neil van Rensburg, Jason Hitz, Mark McKillop, +Romeo Kasawaya, Piet Rinke, Steven Brown, Michael Springer, Norman Mukondiwa, Tawanda Mupariwa.Manicaland B: Paxton Chatura, +Adiel Kugotsi, +Kudzai Taibu, Shepherd Makunura, *Glen Barrett, Paddy Obank, Sintu Khan, Guy Penford, Gerald Makota, Marvin Vogel, Keegan Taylor.Masvingo: No team list has yet been forthcoming from Masvingo.

Leicestershire have added two young players to their squad with the signings of Chris Liddle and Nick Ferraby. Liddle, 19, is a left-arm quick bowler, while Ferraby, 20, is a promising top-order batsman.”Both Chris and Nick are excellent prospects for the future,” James Whitaker, Leicestershire’s director of cricket, said. “Chris, formally of the Durham junior squads, is tall, athletic and already shows signs of continuous improvement."Nick has made a number of significant contributions for the 2nd XI over the past couple of seasons, and has signed a three-month summer contract. A former pupil at Oakham School, Nick is now studying at Loughborough University.”Leicestershire have also announced that Rupesh Amin, the 26-year-old left-arm spinner, has retired from first-class cricket in order to pursue a career in London.Whitaker said, “The club would like to thank Rupesh for his efforts in 2003 and wish him all the very best in the future.”

Scorecard

Venugopal Rao, who has distinguished himself for Andhra Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy, scored a fine century, and added 162 runs for the fifth wicket with Parthiv Patel as Rest of India consolidated their already considerable gains on the third day of the Irani Trophy match against Mumbai at Mohali. Rao’s 205-ball 113 left Mumbai pondering an improbably run chase over the final two days if they are to wrest back the trophy.Resuming at 84 for 2, Rest of India lost three wickets in the first session. Dinesh Mongia, one of those pushing for a place in the Indian squad, did himself no favours with a second low score in the match, caught behind off Aavishkar Salvi for just 12 (103 for 3). And fellow Test aspirant Aakash Chopra soon followed, caught and bowled by Sairaj Bahutule for 41 (126 for 4).When Joginder Sharma followed three balls later, caught by Ramesh Powar, Mumbai glimpsed an opening, but that was rudely shut in their faces as Rao and Patel dominated the second session, wearing down the bowlers. They batted on till after tea before Patel edged one from Salvi to Vinayak Mane. His 68 came from 150 balls, and having made 60 in the first innings, he is now virtually a certainty to keep his place behind the stumps for the first Test against Australia.Rao duly brought up his ninth first-class century before hitting a Powar delivery to Salvi (311 for 7), and Mumbai’s misery was complete when Zaheer Khan smacked an unbeaten 41-ball 46 in the final hour, including four big sixes. With both Zaheer and Shib Sankar Paul in excellent bowling form, Mumbai could be on a hiding to nothing tomorrow.

Scorecard

Damien Martyn stroked a wonderful 110 to take Western Australia to a five-wicket victory after some early hiccups against Victoria in their ING Cup match at Perth and then took the opportunity to attack the media for its “unfair” treatment of Australian players. WA finished on 5 for 224 after bowling out Victoria for 222 in just 47.3 overs.Martyn was dropped from the Australian side after averaging just 19.77 with the bat during the Ashes series and came in for some strong criticism in the press. Martyn insists he hasn’t made any changes to his batting since arriving back in Australia: “It’s the same as England. No different. Better bowlers in England. When I got 1200 runs in a season people asked what was different, but I was batting exactly the same way. It’s just cricket. I had a run out and two bad decisions in the Ashes, so anything could’ve happened. Guys don’t bat differently. The game’s not easy.”Martyn said he was still available if the selectors changed his mind, but when asked if Simon Katich’s poor form for Australia would open the door for his return, Martyn launched an attack on the media: “I feel sorry for [Katich], I’ve been there. I feel sorry for what the media do to those players. It’s unfair in a way. It’s a tough job what they do. They’ve been fantastic for four or five years doing what they do, so you should give them a break and let them play cricket.”All Western Australia needed were a couple of good partnerships but they got off to a disastrous start after Gerard Denton dismissed Adam Gilchrist in the first over and bowled Justin Langer in the sixth (3 for 27). Damien Martyn then put on 76 runs with Mike Hussey (35) and 112 runs with Adam Voges (48 not out) as Western Australia recovered superbly to shut Victoria out of the game.Victoria couldn’t get a decent partnership going, after Cameron White chose to bat, as they lost regular wickets at one end while Jonathan Moss hit a fluent 70 at the other. Moss smacked ten fours and a six during his 84-ball innings but was beaten by a change of pace from Peter Worthington and hit a full toss straight to Mike Hussey at cover. Adam Crosthwaite hit a plucky 52 and built handy partnerships with Graeme Rummans and Gerard Denton to take Victoria past 200 before Brad Williams, who finished with an impressive 3 for 36, mopped up the tail.