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Sahan Arachchige has been called up as replacement as Theekshana will go for rehabilitation work

S Sudarshanan16-Sep-20232:29

Can Sri Lanka cope without Theekshana in final?

Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana has been ruled out of the final of the men’s Asia Cup against India because of a hamstring injury, but he will “definitely be ready” for the World Cup starting next month. Theekshana injured himself in Sri Lanka’s last-ball win against Pakistan.While captain Dasun Shanaka said Theekshana had a grade three injury, the chair of SLC’s medical committee said the bowler did not have a big tear and could have even been risked for the final on Sunday had a World Cup not been around the corner. The Sri Lanka selectors have, meanwhile, added Sahan Arachchige into the squad in place of Theekshana, who will return to the high performance centre to commence rehabilitation work.”The MRI scan is showing a tear – not a big tear,” Professor Arjuna de Silva, chair of SLC medical committee said. “Clinically Theekshana is okay though. He’s moving around and not feeling too much pain. He’ll definitely be ready for the World Cup. Actually if we didn’t have a World Cup coming up, we would have somehow tried to get him ready for tomorrow’s match. But we don’t want to take that risk. “Theekshana had hurt his right hamstring while sliding near the boundary against Pakistan on Thursday and was tended to by the physio. He still continued to bowl three more overs, hobbling to his bowling mark and seemingly dragged his right leg to the bowling crease as he ran in.He dished out a few half-trackers but was unlucky when an lbw appeal against Iftikhar Ahmed was not given. While he was getting his right hamstring attended to beyond the rope thereafter, he slammed the turf as the big screen returned three reds in the replays with ball-tracker after Sri Lanka decided against the review. He returned to bowl two more overs before being helped off the field.Sri Lanka could look to bring legspinner Dushan Hemantha into the XI in place of Theekshana for the final. Hemantha has so far played only two ODIs but is also a decent option with the bat with three first-class centuries and one List A hundred.With 31 wickets in ODIs, Theekshana is Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler in 2023. He is level with India’s Kuldeep Yadav and Nepal’s Karan KC and only Sandeep Lamichhane has more. With Wanindu Hasaranga already out of the Asia Cup with injury, Theekshana was key for Sri Lanka, especially since he also bowls with the new ball.Theekshana is now the latest in a long line of injured players for Sri Lanka, with fast bowlers Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara and Dilshan Madushanka all missing the Asia Cup in addition to Hasaranga.

Down has taken time off to prioritise her well-being while Kerr’s foot injury needs more rehab before she can return

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jul-2022Middle-order batter Lauren Down and fast bowler Jess Kerr have been ruled out of New Zealand’s squad for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games which is scheduled to start later this month. Lea Tahuhu, who missed out on a central contract this season, and uncapped Claudia Green have been called-up as replacements.According to an NZC media release, Down has withdrawn from the squad to “prioritise her well-being”, while Kerr’s foot injury, picked during the Women’s World Cup 2022 match against Pakistan, needs more rehabilitation before she can return to play. Kerr is likely to return before New Zealand’s tour of West Indies in September.Down had come into her own during the bilateral series against India at home in February before a broken thumb ruled her out of the World Cup. She’s the third New Zealand player to take a mental-health break following Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr last season.”Our first and main priority is ensuring both Lauren and Jess are looked after – it’s never easy missing cricket tours.” Ben Sawyer, the new New Zealand head coach said. “We’ve ensured Lauren has the support she needs and hope she’ll be able to join us again soon.”We thought Jess would recover in time to take the field in Birmingham, and while this has not transpired, the signs are good for an international return for the West Indies tour in September.”Tahuhu picked up ten wickets in the World Cup earlier this year – joint-most for New Zealand – even though she was battling a stiff hamstring. Her omission from the 17-member contracts list was significant given the difference she can bring to the attack with her pace, but NZC had then said that a player can still be selected from outside the contracted group.”Lea is a familiar face so will be able to hit the ground running at training camp next week,” Sawyer said. “We’ve previously said it’s important not to confuse contracting with selection and this is a good example of why.”Lea offers genuine pace and bounce with the ball and her ability with the bat gives us options.”Green, on the other hand, is a swing bowler and is seen as a like-for-like for Kerr. She was part of the side that toured England last year and has been part of the various New Zealand camps.”Claudia has a similar skill-set to Jess so fits nicely into the squad make-up,” he said. “Her ability to swing the ball is an exciting aspect of her game and we look forward to having her on tour in England.”New Zealand will have a camp in Lincoln next week ahead of their departure to England on July 12.Updated squad: Sophie Devine (capt), Suzie Bates, Maddy Green, Amelia Kerr, Brooke Halliday, Rosemary Mair, Eden Carson, Hayley Jensen, Jess McFadyen, Fran Jonas, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Izzy Gaze, Lea Tahuhu, Claudia Green

South African players likely to miss start of season for white-ball series vs Pakistan

Nagraj Gollapudi and Gaurav Sundararaman16-Feb-2021England’s leading multi-format cricketers, including Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler, could be forced to miss the two-Test series against New Zealand in June, due to a clash with the knock-out phases of this year’s IPL.The trio, all of whom play for Rajasthan Royals, are the most prominent IPL players in England’s Test set-up, although Chris Woakes (Delhi Capitals), Sam Curran (Chennai Super Kings) and Jonny Bairstow (Sunrisers Hyderabad) could also be affected if their respective franchises reach the final four of the competition.Mark Wood is another potential absentee, if he gets picked up in Thursday’s IPL player auction, as is Moeen Ali, who was released by Royal Challengers Bangalore at the end of last season, and whose absence from the final two Tests of the ongoing India tour is due, in part, to the prospect of two further months away from home if he is signed by another franchise.Currently, the IPL has yet to announce either the dates for this year’s tournament, or the venue, but it is likely to be held in India, starting around April 10 through to the first week of June.That would have implications for England’s build-up to their two-Test series against New Zealand, which is scheduled between June 2-14 and is not a part of the World Test Championship, having been added to the ECB’s summer schedule in mitigation for their likely absence from the WTC final, which is scheduled for June 18-22.Related

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On Tuesday, the IPL sent out an email to the franchises, seen by ESPNcricinfo, listing out the availability of players from top countries. Along with those from Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland, England players were also listed to be fully available for the IPL, but with a caveat.”In the event of ECB Selectors wishing to select a player for the 1st Test v New Zealand whose franchise has made it through to the knockout stages of the Tournament, but who is not featuring in the starting XI, the relevant franchise is requested to release such player early so that they can participate in the Test Match,” the IPL email read.The ECB has adopted a more flexible attitude to the IPL in recent years, with the tournament’s high intensity and quality being credited as significant factors in England’s recent rise in white-ball standards, culminating in their World Cup victory in 2019.To date, no ECB centrally-contracted player has missed a Test match to take part in the IPL, despite frequent clashes with the English summer schedule in the early years of the tournament.However, the ECB’s rest-and-rotation policy for the ongoing tours of Sri Lanka and India has been designed to factor in the prospect of IPL involvement for their key players, particularly with the T20 World Cup due to be staged in India at the end of the year.Stokes and Archer both missed England’s two Tests in Sri Lanka in January, while Bairstow, Curran and Wood have been on leave in the UK during the Chennai leg of the India tour.South African players’ availability unclearSome of South Africa’s IPL players could also be impacted by the white-ball series against Pakistan at home in April. With the series scheduled between April 2-16, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, Delhi Capitals’ prominent pace partnership, are among those who are set to miss the opening few weeks of the tournament, along with Quinton de Kock (Mumbai Indians) and Faf du Plessis (Chennai Super Kings).Cricket South Africa is yet to confirm the window that South African players will be available for in the IPL. But that would not have an impact on the likes of allrounder Chris Morris, who is likely to be one of the players to ignite a bidding war once again. Morris was one of the most expensive buys at the 2020 auction, after being bought by the Royal Challengers for INR 10 crore ($1.4 million USD approximately), but does not hold a central contract with the national team.Lesser availability could impact Shakib, MustafizurThere are no such issues concerning Australia and New Zealand players. Cricket Australia has confirmed that it will issue No-Objection Certificates to all its players from April 1 for the entire IPL, including for those that would otherwise be playing in the Sheffield Shield, while New Zealand Cricket has also made its players available for the entire tournament.Players from South Africa, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, however, will not be fully available. While Sri Lanka Cricket are yet to confirm dates, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has said that “any players selected will be unavailable from May 19 or will leave before if any other series is scheduled during IPL window.”That could impact the prospects of the Bangladesh duo, Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman, who are understood to have attracted interest from a few franchises in the lead-up to the auction.

The 24-year old held his own even as South Australia’s Chadd Sayers picked up six wickets

Daniel Brettig01-Nov-2019Daniel Solway was forced to work harder than most for a Sheffield Shield debut. The habit he has developed for run-making served him well for New South Wales against South Australia as the 24-year old crafted an outstanding century in conditions friendly to seam bowling at Adelaide Oval to be the backbone of the Blues’ innings.There is no better exponent of moving the ball in Adelaide than Chadd Sayers, and figures of 6 for 55 demonstrated that this was a day ideally suited to his art, but Solway stood firm throughout, demonstrating a tight defence balanced with a strong range of shots, pouncing on anything wide of the off stump and also pulling and hooking the short ball with venom.It was further proof of the ability Solway had shown in piling up runs for the NSW second XI and also Bankstown in club cricket. In his past nine second XI innings, Solway has compiled 751 runs at 83.4, capped with 195 not out against Western Australia’s second XI at the start of this season. Within the prolific scoring lies another tale, of early promotion, failure and then learning, growth and finally success. Having played first grade for Bankstown as far back as 2013-14, Solway hammered 930 runs at 77.5 the following summer to gain a NSW rookie contract for 2015-16. But as bowlers figured him out and he was exposed to the NSW system, Solway struggled for anything like the same returns for the next two years and fell back in the queue.Not until 2017-18 did Solway find his way back to productivity, churning out 880 runs for Bankstown at 73.33 and duly returning to the Blues’ outer fringes. Nonetheless he was compelled to make far more runs for the second chance, and looks to have grown into a top order batsman of substance.Considerable skill was necessary to survive Sayers and company as Adelaide’s drop-in pitch offered generous movement off the seam. Daniel Hughes and Nick Larkin both had a stump sent cartwheeling when Sayers seamed the new ball between bat and pad.Moises Henriques formed a promising stand with Solway before lunch but was pinned lbw by a Sayers nip-backer in the first over after resumption. Neither Matthew Gilkes nor Nick Bertus could last for long, leaving the NSW captain Peter Nevill to provide Solway with vital assistance.They were able to add a studied 108 together, making the Redbacks pine for the second new ball, and allowing Solway to get to his century by bunting a quick single wide of midwicket from the bowling of Tom Andrews. Solway celebrated with great relief, but after Nevill was lbw and Trent Copeland bowled by the second new ball in Sayers’ hands, he knuckled down for another key stand with Nathan Lyon to take the Blues beyond 250.Selection had been a talking point for South Australia too prior to the match. Callum Ferguson was recalled at the expense of Jake Lehmann, who despite his own prolific scores in Adelaide grade cricket, has averaged 10.26 in 10 first-class matches since the start of 2019. Lehmann had made made just eight runs in three Shield innings for the Redbacks this season, albeit batting as high as No. 3 when he has customarily been at Nos. 4 or 5.

County Championship likely to have a top division of 10 teams and a second of eight from 2020

George Dobell26-Sep-2018There could be more conflict in county cricket after it emerged that the ECB executive is resisting calls from the first-class counties to increase the number of T20 Blast games played each season.ESPNcricinfo reported in August that several county chairmen were arguing for an increase in the number of matches from 14 to 16 from the start of the 2020 season.But with the ECB bringing in their new competition, The Hundred, that year and the schedule already groaning under the weight of fixtures, there is understood to be strong resistance to the move from the executive.The issue is one of those sure to be discussed at a meeting of all the county chairmen on Thursday. Other matters up for discussion will include an alteration to the County Championship programme which is likely to see a top division of 10 teams and a second of eight introduced in 2020.That would mean only one team would be relegated (and three promoted) at the end of 2019. With no plans to increase the number of Championship fixtures from 14 games, it would also mean that teams in the top division would no longer play all other teams home and away. Some counties are concerned this compromises the integrity of the competition.Some county chairmen are also understood to be looking for assurances from ECB chairman Colin Graves that he will not attempt to stand for re-election at this end of his term of office.While Graves vowed when he was appointed he would only serve one term, rumours persist that he is contemplating a longer stay in office.The meeting will also see county chairmen given a first opportunity to see an external report compiled by Good Governance Institute (GGI) following payments made to Glamorgan in return for their forfeiture of hosting Test cricket for the foreseeable future.The payments caused some unrest in the county game, with two ECB board members – Andy Nash and Richard Thompson – resigning in protest and some members of the ECB’s Audit, Risk and Governance committee expressing reservations.

Zimbabwe bowled with venom, fielded with pep and batted with intelligence to win the deciding fifth ODI in Hambantota and stun Sri Lanka 3-2 for their first away series win since 2009

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando10-Jul-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:46

Fernando: SL have lot of soul-searching to do

They came to Sri Lanka ranked 11th, having been defeated by Scotland in the previous month, and having lost a series to Afghanistan earlier in the year. But bowling with venom, fielding with pep, and batting with intelligence, helped Zimbabwe win the deciding fifth ODI by three wickets in Hambantota, and stun the hosts 3-2. It is their first away series victory since 2009, and one of Zimbabwe cricket’s finest moments ever.Though their quartet of miserly spinners had trussed Sri Lanka up for 203 in their 50 overs, and though their openers slammed 92 for the first wicket, victory still had to be prised from their opposition on a slowing, turning deck. Zimbabwe were 137 for 1, when a Sri Lanka surge, led by Akila Dananjaya, claimed six wickets for 38.But as long as Sikandar Raza was at the crease, Zimbabwe’s chances of victory remained good. He survived the last of Dananjaya’s overs, and alongside Graeme Cremer, saw out a burst of swinging Lasith Malinga yorkers. Having been such a high-impact player over the past nine days, perhaps it was also fitting that Raza made the series’ final play. With six to get, he ran down the pitch and deposited Wanindu Hasaranga over the straight boundary to spark elation in the dressing room. His 27 nerveless runs followed an excellent turn with the ball, with which he captured 3 for 27 – two of those wickets having come in the tone-setting first 10 overs.Hamilton Masakadza capped an outstanding series with an 86-ball 73, Solomon Mire and Tarisai Musakanda made useful batting contributions, and the other spinners – Cremer, Malcolm Waller and Sean Williams – all made important breakthroughs as well. So many in this Zimbawe outfit can take credit for the series triumph – almost every batsman has produced an impactful innings, Tendai Chatara has been reliable, and they have outfielded Sri Lanka too – though that is not the compliment it once was.Sri Lanka will be left to rue their timidity with the bat – which was brought into sharp relief by Zimbabwe’s openers – and their lack of ambition with the ball in the early overs. Where Raza had been immediately menacing, slowing the ball down, and tossing it tantalisingly up, Sri Lanka’s spinners bowled too quickly through the early overs, when Mire and Masakadza were mowing them down. Even Dananjaya, who later found rhythm and wound up with 4 for 47, went wicketless in his first four overs and conceded 25 runs. In their defence, three of the six main bowlers in this match had played less than 15 ODIs.For the third time in the series, Chatara took the first Sri Lanka wicket, but it was through Raza’s calculative first spell that Zimbabwe truly applied their tentacles to this innings. He got Kusal Mendis to chip a ball to short midwicket after drawing him down the pitch, then ripped a perfectly-pitched ball past Upul Tharanga’s forward defence to rattle off stump. Where in each of the previous two matches, Sri Lanka put up opening stands in excess of 200, they were 34 for three after 11 overs in this game. Raza had bowled six of those overs, and his two wickets had cost only 11 runs.No Sri Lanka batsman appeared fluent, but Danushka Gunathilaka was the best of them in the early overs, using his long stride to smother some of the spin that foxed his teammates. Even so, his 47-run fourth-wicket partnership with Angelo Mathews was stilted. Mathews had picked up what seemed to be a groin strain early in his innings, and was unable to take the tight singles and twos that are perhaps at a premium on a pitch such as this. When he was caught at slip for 24, playing a tired drive to Graeme Cremer, Sri Lanka were 78 for 4, and already in serious trouble.Gunathilaka passed fifty for the fourth time in the series, but then lost concentration, and his wicket. Before long, Sri Lanka were 126 for 7 in the 35th over, and it took an intelligent 59 not out from Asela Gunaratne to help them bat through to the 50th over and put up a serviceable score. He had gelled well with No. 10 batsman Dushmantha Chameera. Together, they mustered 34 off the last four overs – Gunaratne shuffling around the crease to hit square boundaries. Their unbeaten 50-run stand was the best of the innings.Each of Zimbabwe’s openers survived close calls early: a Lasith Malinga slower ball missing Hamilton Masakadza’s off stump by centimetres, before Solomon Mire successfully overturned an lbw decision against him off Nuwan Kulasekara. But if there were early nerves, they would soon be clobbered into submission.Sikandar Raza took three wickets before making a vital contribution with the bat to see Zimbabwe through in a tense chase•AFP

Mire biffed three fours and a six off the fourth over – bowled by Kulasekara – and once Zimbabwe were off, it was more or less a Powerplay boundary binge. The batsmen would hit one six apiece, and nine fours in total by the end of the 10th over, many of those hits coming down the ground. At that stage, Zimbabwe had knocked 62 off the total. Though Mire would soon lose his stumps, trying to paddle sweep Gunaratne, a further 40 would come off the next six overs, and Zimbabwe would be halfway to the winning score.Malinga’s dismissal of Masakadza in the 24th over seemed a mere bump at the time, with so much batting to come, but bowling to left-handers now, flight, dip and rip returned to Dananjaya’s game, and he threatened to derail the chase. He first had Craig Ervine lbw, had Williams caught at short midwicket soon after, had Musakanda holing out to long on, and in his final over, had Peter Moor caught at leg gully. Malinga supported him with a tight spell and the wicket of Waller at the other end, but Zimbabwe could almost taste victory by now.Raza and Cremer tiptoed onwards through the last of these bowlers’ spells, and saw the team through to a famous victory. Much will be made of Sri Lanka’s failures in the series, but Zimbabwe played some clever and courageous cricket to overturn their hosts.

Rob Key, the former England batsman, has announced his retirement from professional cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Apr-2016Rob Key, the former England batsman, has announced his retirement from professional cricket.Key, 36, played 15 Tests for England from 2002 to 2005 with a top score of 221 against West Indies at Lord’s in 2004. Overall in first-class cricket he scored 19,419 runs, alongside 6469 in List A and more than 2000 in T20sIn a statement, Key said: “The club and I have come to a mutual agreement, after a long and enjoyable career, to call it a day. It’s time for the younger players to have their chance, and it doesn’t feel right for me to stand in their way anymore.”I would like to say a massive thank you to all who have supported me throughout my career. It has been a great honour to represent Kent. I don’t know what the future holds but I look forward to what the next chapter has in store.”Key has already started to make a career for himself as a well-respected commentator and TV pundit.Key made his first-class debut in 1998 having been part of the England side which won the Under-19 World Cup earlier that year. He made his Test debut against India, at Trent Bridge, in 2002 and played in the 2002-03 Ashes. His final Test was against South Africa, at Centurion, in 2005 when England clinched the series and Key had played an important role in the previous Test when he made 83 in the first innings at the Wanderers.He was briefly recalled to the international fold in 2009 as part of England’s squad for the World T20 but his only outing in the competition was the opening defeat against Netherlands.Key passed 1000 runs in seven English seasons, his best return being 1896 in the 2004 summer which also brought his Test double century.He was appointed Kent captain in 2006 and led them for nine seasons in two spells, which included winning the 2007 T20 Cup.Kent chairman George Kennedy said: “Rob has been an outstanding servant of Kent and England throughout his career.”He is a club man and selfless captain whose records will stand as testament to his ability with the bat. Perhaps more importantly his leadership and loyalty to Kent in some turbulent times has helped lead the club to a much stronger place. The current crop of exciting talent has learned much from his time at the helm.”A Kent side without Rob at the top of the order will look very odd and everyone at the club wishes him all the best for the future.”

Bangladesh’s vice-captain, Mahmudullah is expected to get an extended run and retain his place in Bangladesh’s 14-man squad for the first Test against New Zealand, which starts on November 9 in Chittagong

Mohammad Isam02-Oct-2013Bangladesh’s vice-captain, Mahmudullah is expected to get an extended run and retain his place in Bangladesh’s 14-man squad for the first Test against New Zealand, which starts on October 9 in Chittagong. The allrounder has had a horrid run in the last two Test series and was dropped from the second Test against Zimbabwe in Harare.Paceman Al-Amin Hossain and batsman Marshall Ayub are also tipped to be in the squad, while opener Anamul Haque is likely to return after missing the Zimbabwe tour due to college exams.Mahmudullah’s place would have been in doubt after he scored 34 runs in his last six Test innings, but he has three factors working in his favour: his ODI form is relatively better, he provides assurance as a senior batsman at No. 8, and he can make up for the lack of experience created by the absence of Mohammad Ashraful. For a team that lacks international experience and will grasp any form it has available, a turnaround in Mahmudullah’s Test fortunes would come in handy.In six ODIs this year, Mahmudullah has scored 177 runs at an average of 44.25. In 2012, he averaged 70.66, and was instrumental in Bangladesh’s ODI series win over West Indies. In the ongoing Dhaka Premier Division, he has led Gazi Tank Cricketers, but has only scored 81 runs in three innings. In Test cricket, his unusual batting position at No. 8 has yielded surprising results – in 16 innings, he has scored a century and four fifties and averaged 42.21.At the top of the order, Anamul is likely to return and partner Tamim Iqbal at the cost of Jahurul Islam, who worked hard to get runs in Sri Lanka but couldn’t reach any milestones. Bangladesh would have benefited from Jahurul’s presence, because he complements Tamim’s aggression, but it is likely that Anamul will beat Jahurul to the second opener’s slot.There will also be a battle for Nos. 3 and 4 in the batting line-up and it is likely that the selectors and the team management will look to Marshall Ayub and Naeem Islam to fill these places. Both are right-handed batsmen, with Naeem having had success recently before being sidelined by injury.In the first Test against the West Indies last year, Naeem scored Bangladesh’s first century at No 4 since Aminul Islam’s 144 in the inaugural Test 12 years ago. But he picked up a groin injury during the Bangladesh Premier League in January and missed the tours to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Marshall, on the other hand, has been scoring plenty of runs in the domestic scene in the last 18 months. He has notched up six centuries at different levels and was a part of the Test squad in Sri Lanka, although he didn’t get a game.The next three batting positions, occupied by captain Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Nasir Hossain, are settled. The only other concern is the fitness of the pace bowlers Robiul Islam (hamstring injury) and Rubel Hossain (muscle stiffness); Al-Amin is a expected to be a back-up in the attack. Robiul, who was man-of-the-series in the Test series in Zimbabwe, and Rubel are expected to recover in time for the first Test.Offspinner Sohag Gazi, the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh in 2012-13, will once again be playing second fiddle to Shakib Al Hasan. He would be expected to take the bowling load, although there has been talk of Gazi taking it easy at training for his Dhaka Premier Division club, Prime Doleshwar SC. His form, however, remains encouraging and can test the visitors.

South Africa knocked England out of the Under-19 World Cup by overcoming some significant challenges to seal a comprehensive victory

The Report by George Binoy in Townsville19-Aug-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMan-of-the-Match Prenelan Subrayen triggered a collapse that brought nine wickets for 39 runs•ICC/Getty

South Africa knocked England out of the Under-19 World Cup by overcoming some significant challenges to seal a comprehensive victory: they were playing their first game in Townsville whereas England had prior knowledge of the conditions, and they were sent in to bat when it was hardest. Their batting unit, however, survived the new-ball examination to compile a competitive score through determined accumulation rather than flashy strokeplay.Defending 244, South Africa’s bowling unit did not let their disciplines slip, even though England had a century partnership for the second wicket and were thebetter-placed side after 25 overs. From 102 for 1, offspinner Prenelan Subrayen triggered a collapse that brought nine wickets for 39 runs. Two England batsmen accounted for 108 runs, extras for seven more, and they were dismissed for 141 in the 41st over.Townsville finally ran out of sunshine and there was an even cover of high cloud as Quinton de Kock and Chad Bowes took guard against Reece Topley and Jamie Overton. De Kock took most of the early strike before chasing at a wide ball from Jamie Overton and edging behind. Bowes was more fluent, moving forward to punch the fast bowlers and flicking through and over square leg whenever the ball was on his pads.Bowes and Gihahn Cloete steered South Africa past the new-ball danger and built a platform for the rest of the innings. They added 65 before both were dismissed in successive overs, in the 18th and 19th.At 82 for 3, Murray Coetzee and Theunis de Bruyn, two batsmen from Pretoria, were faced with a tricky situation but they fought through it. Coetzee, however, was lucky to survive an edge against Craig Overton in the 20th over, when Ben Foakes dived to his left but couldn’t hold on. That drop came while a convoy of numerous trucks were passing the Tony Ireland Stadium, with their horns blaring.Their partnership for the fourth wicket was worth 96 when de Bruyn was bowled for 54. South Africa were well placed for 270 when Coetzee and Shaylin Pillay were milking singles and finding the boundary but lost direction in the end. Pillay attempted a scoop that landed in the keeper’s hands and South Africa were eventually dismissed for 244 off the final ball.Their defence began on a promising note when Lizaad Williams bowled Daniel Bell-Drummond, who’s had a poor tournament, off the inside edge and celebrated in a manner similar to Shahid Afridi. He would celebrate like that once again, while England were imploding later in the innings.Ben Foakes and Alex Davies, however, gave England a superb chance. Their 100-run partnership was slow, but with nine wickets in hand, an asking rate of just over six for around 25 overs should not have been a problem. Foakes, however, was dismissed for 54 by Subrayen just when he had begun to accelerate. Jamie Overton was promoted ahead of his more accomplished twin to bring down the required rate but scored only four runs. He too fell to Subrayen. England were suddenly 112 for 3.Calvin Savage, who didn’t take a wicket until the end, created pressure through economical overs, and when he did pick up the eighth England wicket, his emotion was reminiscent of Dale Steyn’s.Only Davies, who was also out for 54, and Foakes made it to double figures for England. South Africa’s pressure in the field was relentless and their encouraging shouts to each other in the field grew louder with each step towards the next round of the Under-19 World Cup.

Pakistan’s senior players credited the bowlers for the team’s Test victory over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo

Firdose Moonda in Bulawayo05-Sep-2011Pakistan’s senior players credited the bowlers for the team’s Test victory over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. After conceding 412 runs in the first innings, Pakistan bowled their opposition out for 141 in the second, leaving their batsmen with only 88 runs needed to win the match.”After the first day, the management worked really hard with the youngsters and the way they came out on the morning of the second day was the major turning point,” Mohammad Hafeez, opening batsman and offspinner said. “The pressure was on the bowling, much more than the batting, and the hard work from our bowlers really made the difference.”Pakistan were made to toil by Tino Mawoyo, who carried his bat through the first innings in the course of scoring 163 in over ten hours. Although he struggled at times, particularly against the spin of Saeed Ajmal, Mawoyo’s marathon knock kept Pakistan on the back foot for most of the first two days and captain Misbah-ul-Haq was pleased to see the fight the team showed from that position. “After the way the match started, with them scoring over 400 runs, I thought it was good to see how we came back.”The comeback started with Hafeez’s quickfire 119, a wonderful package of strokeplay, after two days of placid prodding from Mawoyo. “It was my own plan to bat aggressively against them,” he said. “I feel I have some responsibility as a batsman and I wanted to show that.”After Hafeez departed, Younis Khan planted roots in the pitch, scoring 88 off 265 balls, and steered Pakistan to what turned out to be an important lead. “The pitch slowed down a lot and batting was more difficult,” Hafeez said as an explanation for Younis’ method. “But, it was a good Test pitch and we really enjoyed batting on it.” Younis made his comeback after missing out on the series against West Indies and Misbah said much more can be expected from Younis now that he has, “proved that he is the main man for us.”The rest of the batting, with the exception of Taufeeq Umar who was out in single figures in both innings, also gave a respectable account of themselves. Misbah said they have been working towards building such an innings for almost a year. “Since the series against South Africa last November, we have done well with the bat and we’ve have seen some real improvement,” he said. “Hopefully we will be able to continue to be consistent in future.”Their aims for continuity could be dented by the loss of their coach, Waqar Younis. The win marks Waqar’s last Test as Pakistan coach after 18 months in the job, and Misbah said the team was sorry to see him go. “We had just settle down as a team and started to understand each other, so this will definitely affect the team, but we will have to adjust.”Zimbabwe are in a similar situation, seeking fluency after making their return to Test cricket last month against Bangladesh, following five-year exile. Misbah had kind words for his opponents, praising their development as a Test team. “They played wonderful cricket,” he said. “They put us under pressure and made things difficult for us. Their discipline was good and they will do well in future.”