All posts by csb10.top

On Mahendra Dhoni
He played fantastically well, along with Virender Sehwag today. He is a big hitter of the ball but I don’t think we bowled well enough to him and generally in the first hour and a half today. We allowed him to get underneath the ball which you can’t do in ODI cricket and if we bowl like this to him again, then he will play fantastically well again.On where the game was lost
The key to losing the game was our bowling first thing this morning. Later, although we batted well, we lost wickets at crucial stages.On the reliance on part-time bowlers
In Australia, where the pitches are good, they also bowled well so I don’t think it is a question of a wrong strategy. I just think our skill levels haven’t been up to the mark in both the games we have played so far.On missing Younis Khan
I think we are missing him, he is very alive in the field and he keeps the team bubbling but he hasn’t been a big part of our ODI team for some time now so he doesn’t come in to the team that easily.On Inzamam’s anger at his run-out
He is a very cool person. His bat just slipped out of his hand as he walked back to the pavilion.On the weather
The weather wasn’t as much a factor today as it was in Cochin. I think we had the better conditions fielding in the morning and the Indians had it much worse in the afternoon.On shuffling the batting order
We shuffled it for obvious reasons with such a big target to chase and even though Afridi didn’t score we got it about right. We made nearly 300 with six overs to go so I think the batting worked well and our run-rate was about right throughout. The only problem was that we lost wickets at crucial junctures.On taking positives from the game
Yousuf Youhana batted really well today and I think in the field we were committed; we chased hard and were determined. Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan bowled fantastically well today as well.On why Danish Kaneria is not in the ODI team
I think we have enough variety in our attack. Shahid Afridi bowls his leg-spin and Mohammad Hafeez can bat. Arshad Khan has also done well since he has come in.On where to from here
The euphoria of Bangalore has been shelved and we need to improve now and win the next game if we want to win this series. We have to do all things well at the same time now. In Cochin, we bowled well but batted poorly – 282 was a gettable target. Here we batted well but bowled badly so we need to get it right for the next game. We have not played out ODI game well and we need to bounce back now. The one-day game is a lottery anyway but we just haven’t played well enough.

The Indian Premier League may have eased several restrictions on media coverage for the forthcoming event but the Editors Guild of India has condemned the clause that prevents news agencies from supplying pictures to cricket-specific websites.The Guild has also come down hard on the limitations imposed on television news channels, one that has prompted all the outlets to put their coverage on hold.”[The Guild] regrets that the news agencies have been barred from supplying pictures to one set of subscribers, namely standalone specialised websites, as the news agencies should have the total freedom to supply news and pictures to all their subscribers,” KS Sachidananda Murthy, the Guild secretary-general, said in a release. “The Guild notes that the news agencies are in negotiation with the IPL organisers to remove this clause also from the terms and conditions.”Similarly the sole telecast rights license has put new conditions on giving feed to news television channels. These are not acceptable, and the Guild fully supports the stand taken by the News Broadcasters Association.”Meanwhile the News Media Corporation, which reacted to the fresh guidelines on Tuesday, is set to discuss the issue on Wednesday evening. As of now, though, they feel the restrictions are unacceptable. “As the Guild has said, the terms remain unacceptable,” Barry Parker, the South Asia bureau chief of Agence France-Presse (AFP), said.

Min Patel took six wickets as Kent destroyed Warwickshire – and replaced them at the top of the table. The destructive Patel imparted plenty of flight and turn with his off-spin to demolish Warwickshire’s middle order and consign them to a crushing defeat by an innings and 64 runs. It was their third defeat of the season.Nick Knight fell first, without adding to his overnight total of 26 and Warwickshire, who had resumed some 272 runs behind, were immediately in trouble. It was the early breakthrough that Kent were hoping for and from there Patel promptly ran through their middle order with little mercy to pick up 6 for 53.Russell Warren was his first victim, edging through to Niall O’Brien. Jonathan Trott was next, Patel trapping him lbw for 12. Jim Troughton (11) was next in line. Amjad Khan picked up Dougie Brown (12) from the other end and, at 124 for 7, Warwickshire were in the mire.When Patel bowled Alex Loudon just four runs later, the writing was on the wall: Loudon was Warwickshire’s topscorer with 37, but he too succumbed to Patel’s guile after holding firm for 83 balls. And Patel wasn’t finished there – he added Heath Streak, also bowled, for 4.The final pair – Tony Frost and Neil Carter – put on 18 for the last wicket, but it was little more than a token gesture and Khan wrapped up proceedings by bowling Carter for 15 as Warwickshire collapsed to 153 all out. It was a far-from-impressive display of batting from the home side, who played too many shots on the backfoot. But Kent – who learned earlier in the match that they were to be docked eight points for a poor pitch against Gloucestershire – have taken a big stride forward.

As England prepare for the deciding game of the Ashes next week, Ian Bell, England’s No. 4, has said his side will not be concerned if Glenn McGrath returns from injury. McGrath, 35, has missed two of the four Ashes Tests this summer, including the last match at Trent Bridge. Such is England’s buoyant confidence after brilliant performances in the Tests since Lord’s that they are hoping to prove a point or two to their decade-long nemesis.”I believe that’s the feeling in the changing room,” Bell told . “It doesn’t matter what XI is on the park, and in a way it would be nice to see Glenn McGrath playing at The Oval.”Errol Alcott, the Australia physio, told the he was unable to predict whether McGrath’s injured elbow would last the Test even if he was passed fit. “It’s very hard to imitate those stresses,” he told the paper. “Unless you can put them into first-class cricket to play a game and subject them to similar forces out in the middle, it’s very hard to know with any certainty.”Alcott said McGrath’s condition was improving and he wasn’t feeling much pain in everyday activities. “Now we just need to step up to the next level of stress and that’s out in the middle,” he said.England sides of the 1990s might have wilted under pressure at the prospect of McGrath returning for such a crucial match, but Bell says this team will be inspired by his presence. “If we can regain the Ashes and their best team is on the park that’s the best thing for us. That would be fantastic. Whichever XI is out on the field we’ll go and out play good cricket like we have done all series.”The bullish talk is indicative of an England side who now expect to perform well against Australia. Bell, 23, said he has revelled in his first taste of Ashes cricket. “Playing in this Ashes has made me realise what I need to do to become a better player. I’ve enjoyed every minute of this and I’m looking forward to having a good game at The Oval to finish it off. You are testing [yourself] under pressure, more mentally really rather than technically.”Indeed, it was McGrath who reminded Bell of his brilliance at Lord’s, bowling him for just 6 in a remarkable spell which reduced England to 21 for 5. He struggled in England’s win at Edgbaston too, but two patient fifties in the third Test at Old Trafford boosted his confidence.”That’s what I’ve learnt in this series: every ball is going at 100mph and you’ve got to be switched on all the time. In future I hope – because of this experience – to play situations in a slightly better way.”Bell has been released by England to play in Warwickshire’s C&G final on Saturday against Hampshire at Lord’s as he and England gear themselves up for one final fling at Australia. “I wouldn’t argue if it rained all week but I’m pretty sure, the way these last three Test matches have gone, there’s something else in store,” said Bell. “I’m pretty sure it will be a nail-biter again.”

Northern Districts 281 for 8 (Wilson 96, Devcich 43*, Scott 2-38) trail Otago 321 by 40 runs
Scorecard
Otago had a good chance of taking the first-innnings lead against Northern Districts at close of play on the second day in Gisborne, but along the way they were given a fright by one of the five debut players in the ND team.Brad Wilson scored 96 in a dominating innings for his side which took 264 minutes and which assured ND of at least a competitive chance in the match. The loss of Alun Evans (4), Matt Hart (5) and Daniel Flynn (2) left ND in trouble at 53 for 4. But Mark Orchard with 28 helped restore some structure to the innings. Then Joseph Yovich (41), Paul McGlashan (33) and Anton Devcich, with an unbeaten 43, pulled the side through to 281 for 8.Otago ended the day slightly in front, but they struggled for a breakthrough after the initial onslaught and were required to use nine bowlers. Brad Scott fared the best with 2 for 38 off 23 over.Canterbury 346 and 46 for 1 (Papps 30*) lead Central Districts 281 (Thompson 77, Griggs 75, Martin 4-42, Wiseman 3-73) by 111 runs
Scorecard
Like Otago, Canterbury were unable to make a substantial addition to their overnight score and were all out for 346. Lance Hamilton ended with 3 for 42.Central Districts then struggled during the remainder of the morning session and at one stage were reeling in the face of the onslaught from Chris Martin and Hayden Shaw. The two had CD 80 for 5 before Bevan Griggs and Ewen Thompson combined in a 156-run stand for the sixth wicket. Thompson, who made his maiden first-class century in the previous round, made 77, while Griggs made 75.Andrew Schwass made an unbeaten 31, but CD fell 65 runs short of Canterbury’s first-innings total. Canterbury extended their lead to 111 runs by stumps with Michael Papps unbeaten on 30. The first-innings century-maker Peter Fulton was with him on 7.Wellington 361 for 7 (Parlane 181*, Ryder 66) v Auckland
ScorecardThe Auckland-Wellington match started a day later than the other two games, but followed a similar course with Wellington being asked to bat first. The game was played on the main oval at Eden Park and Wellington, befitting its status as defending champion, showed the value of maximising their opportunities and scored 361 for 7 in the day.That was largely thanks to a career-best, unbeaten 181 by Michael Parlane. His fourth century may yet provide him with a double-century. At 133 for 5, Wellington were far from comfortable but Parlane combined with Jesse Ryder, who scored 66 in a 120-run stand for the sixth-wicket that allowed Wellington to wrest back the initiative.Auckland were not helped by the loss of Tama Canning, who only bowled in the morning session. However, Brooke Walker, the captain, picked up the slack and he had three wickets for 65 by stumps. Mark Gillespie, who has a highest score of 76 not out, is still with Parlane, so there is still much work for Auckland to do.

Justin Langer has undergone scans in hospital after being struck on the head by Makhaya Ntini and suffering concussion during his 100th Test, but has been cleared of serious injury. He was hit with the first ball of Australia’s innings on the second day, at Johannesburg, and was helped from the field appearing unsteady.Langer received two stitches to a cut behind his right ear when he returned to the dressing and was then taken to hospital. With a history of blows to the head it was no surprise that the cautious route was taken but the scans showed no major damage.Philip Pope, Cricket Australia’s media manager, said Langer’s participation in the rest of the Test will be decided overnight and there is no decision as to whether he will bat again on the second day if required.He was hit on his Test debut, against West Indies at Adelaide, and also at The Oval in 2001, shortly after reaching a century in one of his comeback games. Langer’s season has been blighted by injuries and he missed three Tests during the Australian summer. A cracked rib kept him out of the first two matches against West Indies before a hamstring strain ruled him out of the Boxing Day Test.

Middlesex’s close-season recruitment drive continued with the announcement that they have signed Scott Styris and re-signed Nantie Hayward for next summer.”We needed to add depth to our batting and Scott gives us that,” John Emburey, Middlesex’s coach, told the BBC. “Added to that, he’s a more than useful bowler. He’s very strong in one-day cricket and will make a very good third of fourth seamer. As for Nantie, we believe he will become a match-winning bowler.”Hayward disappointed in 2004 with 31 wickets at 29.61 but Emburey said that he was a quality player. “He will become a match-winning bowler. The pitches didn’t help his style of bowling, and Lord’s is particularly flat. But we saw enough to snap him up for next season.”It will be Styris’s first crack at English domestic cricket and he replaces the South African Lance Klusener.Last week, Middlesex confirmed that they had signed Ed Smith on a two-year deal.

The Hong Kong women’s team will tour Bangladesh for eight days starting next week. Between 20 and 29 March the side will play four one-day matches against the Bangladesh women’s team.The Bangladesh Cricket Board has selected 14 players for the training camp ahead of the tour, while there will also be four reserves.Bangladesh women Shathira Zakir Jessy, Shukhtara, Ayesha Akhter, Salma Khatun, Irin Sultana, Chamily Khatun, Rumana Akhter, Panna Ghosh, Shamima Akhter Pinky, Jahanara Alam, Lily Rani, Tithi Rani, Papiya Haque Babu, Mina Khatun.Reserves Fatematuz Zahora, Rifat Ara, Mahmuda Khan, Lata Mondal.

Sourav Ganguly will cut short his stint with Glamorgan in the English County Championship and return to India next week after Greg Chappell, the new national coach, asked for him to be present at a conditioning camp for the players ahead of the new season. As things stand, Ganguly would miss India’s first assignment, a one-day tournament in Sri Lanka, as he still has to sit out four matches of a six-game suspension, but with the Indian board lobbying the ICC to lift the ban, he could yet be on the short flight across the Palk Straits.Ganguly scored one brilliant hundred for Glamorgan and has also worked on his bowling, without setting the county scene alight. Glamorgan officials are expected to allow him to return on July 12, though he may fly back to represent the Welsh side in a four-day game that starts on July 21.Chappell is currently overseeing India’s crop of fast bowlers at a camp in Bangalore, and has apparently insisted on Ganguly being present for the first team get-together of the season.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out

West Indies held their nerve superbly in a nail-biting finish to sneak a one-run win despite once again floundering with the bat. They managed only 198, even that thanks to a battling unbeaten 98 from Ramnaresh Sarwan. Yuvraj Singh responded with 93, but was bowled by a clever Dwayne Bravo slower ball with only two balls to go in the innings. If the first game was a win that almost wasn’t for India, the second was a loss that shouldn’t have been.Yuvraj has been the in-form batsman for India a few months now and even he struggled to score fluently early on, after India had slumped to 60 for 4 in pursuit of a total that should not have caused problems for a team that has won seventeen games on the trot chasing.The warning signs were there early on when Ian Bradshaw, accurate and probing, had Virender Sehwag brilliantly caught at point and Rahul Dravid nicking a delivery that slanted away from the bat. Irfan Pathan played an ambitious across-the-line heave and Marlon Samuels plucked the ball out of the air at midwicket. The West Indies were turning the heat on. And Mohammad Kaif, who has felt the heat more than most in recent times, his unbeaten half-century in the last ODI notwithstanding, negotiated a mere 12 balls before mis-hitting a pull and being caught at square-leg.Suresh Raina partnered Yuvraj, and suddenly batting became more about scampering singles than crunching cover drives. Brian Lara sensibly took the pace off the ball, ushering in the off-spinning duo of Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels, and suddenly the balls ticked over faster than the runs could come.Raina’s busy demeanour at the crease gave way to restlessness and a wanton charge down the wicket to Gayle, where Carlton Baugh fluffed a simple stumping chance, was followed by a similar premeditated waltz that only resulted in the ball being deposited down Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s throat at long-on. Raina had made 27, and India were 124 for 5.The presence of Mahendra Dhoni, and the relatively modest target, meant India could breathe just a shade easy, but that was soon to change. Dhoni, looking to get his eye in had not yet attempted a big shot, but an attempted drive through point found its way back to the leg stump via the inside edge. Soon Ajit Agarkar had scooped a return catch to Bradshaw, and India were seven down for 134, still 65 runs adrift.Yuvraj, at no stage bludgeoning the ball like he can, seemed to understand that India would get across the line if he held onto his wicket, and kept his head. Every now and then – as with an early crashing cover-drive against Taylor or a powerful pull off the same bowler for maximum towards the end – Yuvraj managed to release the pressure.Taking strike in the second ball of the final over with 10 needed for victory Yuvraj streaked an edge past the keeper for a boundary and followed it up with a supreme cover-drive that raced to the fence. Bravo, charged with bowling the pressure-packed last over, rose to the challenge magnificently, and sent down a slower ball that beat the bat, brushed pad and rolled back onto the stumps, setting off the biggest party Kingston has seen in some time as West Indies won a thriller. Yuvraj had done almost everything right, and the sight of him squatting on the pitch, looking back at his disturbed stumps told a tale.There was a time in this game when it seemed unlikely that the match would go down to the wire like it did, much less end in a West Indies win. Pathan and Agarkar began tremendously after Dravid won the toss and put West Indies in, cleaning up the openers, including the dangerous Chris Gayle, with just one run on the board.Then Agarkar could have had Lara twice – first when a close lbw shout was turned down, and soon after when Raina dropped a catch at second slip – and India looked right in control. Lara did not make it count, flashing Pathan to Dravid at slip. At 25 for 3 West Indies were in danger of being shot out extremely cheaply. But Ramnaresh Sarwan ensured that this did not happen.Sarwan began in characteristically low-key fashion, dabbing, flicking and pushing the ball into the gaps for ones and twos, but soon realised that there was great merit in taking on the bowlers when they erred in line. He carved boundaries over the covers with an angled bat, and after crossing fifty, with the West Indian innings gaining some momentum, he opened his shoulders and took on the leg-side field, hitting Pathan for two fours and a six in three balls. He ended on 98, and richly deserved a hundred for his effort. He won’t mind missing out on a hundred, though, for his was a matchwinning hand.

How they were out

West IndiesChris Gayle c Dhoni b Agarkar 0 (1 for 1)
Runako Morton lbw b Pathan 1 (1 for 2)
Brian Lara c Dravid b Pathan 14 (24 for 3)
Shivnarine Chanderpaul c Kaif b Harbhajan 10 (43 for 4)
Marlon Samuels c Dhoni b Yuvraj 19 (103 for 5)
Dwayne Bravo c Raina b Powar 0 (105 for 6)
Carlton Baugh c Pathan b Powar 21 (143 for 7)
Ian Bradshaw c Harbhajan b Pathan 12 (163 for 8)
Jerome Taylor c Dhoni b Agarkar 9 (197 for 9)
IndiaVirender Sehwag c Smith b Bradshaw 12 (25 for 1)
Rahul Dravid c Baugh b Bradshaw 11 (37 for 2)
Irfan Pathan c Samuels b Edwards 14 (51 for 3)
Mohammad Kaif c Smith b Taylor 4 (60 for 4)
Suresh Raina c Chanderpaul b Samuels 27 (124 for 5)
Mahendra Dhoni b Taylor 2 (130 for 6)
Ajit Agarkar c & b Bradshaw 2 (134 for 7)
Ramesh Powar c Taylor b Samuels 12 (177 for 8)
Harbhajan Singh c & b Gayle 1 (187 for 9)
Yuvraj Singh b Bravo 93 (197 for 10)