Pages

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Rain leaves West Indies & India second Test in balance

India 201 v West Indies 98-5


India fast bowler Ishant Sharma snared two wickets in four balls to leave the second Test against West Indies finely balanced after day two in Georgetown.

Exploiting all the pace and bounce on offer at a damp Kensington Oval, Sharma removed nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo and Ramnaresh Sarwan in the sixth over.

The hosts then rallied with an unbroken 41-run fifth-wicket stand to close on 98-5, 103 runs adrift of India's first innings total.

Foul weather then brought an early end.

The start of play was delayed by 45 minutes after early morning showers soaked the outfield, and was then suspended after less than 13 overs when rain returned just after lunch, with bad light later ensuring there was to be no resumption even after the rain had stopped.

Already 1-0 down in the three-match Test series, West Indies sought to improve on their precarious overnight score of 30-3.

But after reaching 13, Bishoo departed, fending a short-pitched ball from Sharma to Virat Kohli at gully.

A more cautious Sarwan had made 18 when he was deceived by a Sharma inswinger which trapped him lbw in the same over - the 15th wicket to fall in the first four sessions.

But Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels - who replaced sacked vice-captain Brendan Nash - shared an unbroken stand of 41 for the sixth wicket when their progress was halted by another downpour.

On day one, India's bowlers hit back well late on after their batsmen suffered two heavy collapses in their first innings.

Meanwhile, Australian umpire Daryl Harper withdrew from next week's final Test after complaints from India captain Mahendra Dhoni about his decision-making in the previous encounter which India won by 63 runs.

Harper, a 59-year-old with almost two decades of experience as an international umpire, was recently dropped from the ICC's elite panel.

"In the wake of some unfair criticism, Daryl informed us that he does not wish to stand in what would have been his final Test," said ICC general manager David Richardson. Englishman Richard Kettleborough will take Harper's place in Roseau.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Pakistan miss out on CL participation again

 LAHORE: Pakistan cricket was handed a blow after it was once again denied representation in the latest edition of the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) tournament to be held in India from September 23.

Pakistan have not had their team participating in the tournament ever since it started in 2008, making it the only Test-playing nation, other than Bangladesh to not have a representative in the league. Sialkot Stallions were invited to take part in the inaugural event, but the Mumbai attacks scuppered any chances of their inclusion.

Pakistan’s representation in Board of Control for Cricket in India-organised events has always remained uncertain, with the country’s players being ignored for the Indian Premier League auction in 2010, despite the team enjoying the status of world champions at the time. Discarded wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal expressed his disappointment at the latest development.

“As a player, I find it very unfortunate that out country will be missing from action in the Champions League,” said Akmal. “I’ve no idea why Pakistani teams aren’t included but it’s up to the board to deal with this issue and ensure that our top Twenty20 team takes part in the event.”

Pakistan Cricket Board officials remained reluctant to comment on the latest development.

Meanwhile, the
CLT20 will be featuring 10 teams and will follow the same format as last year’s event. Before the tournament kicks off, however, a six-team qualifying tournament will be played to decide the final three teams that qualify for the main event. With six sides in the qualifying tournament and another seven already confirmed as participants in the league, a record 13 teams will have a chance to claim the most prestigious prize in domestic Twenty20 cricket.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Tendulkar all for DRS but with Hot Spot and Snickometer

Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar is not against the controversial Decision Review System but wants it to be combined with technologies such as Snickometer and Hot Spot for consistency.

“I am not against DRS, but I feel it will be more effective with the support of the Snickometer and Hot Spot technology. This will give more consistent results,” Tendulkar told ESPN Cricinfo website.

However, neither Hot Spot nor the Snickometer, is part of the ICC’s list of minimum technology requirements for the DRS.

Ever since its inception, major cricket-playing nations have taken to the technology but the BCCI has always opposed it.

BCCI has irked many a counterparts by refusing to use the technology during bilateral series.

Recently, England players questioned BCCI’s wisdom in ignoring the technology for their upcoming series against India.

Even Gary Kirsten, who led India to the World Cup triumph, said yesterday that the technology was potent enough to minimise umpiring errors.

Indian players have been divided on DRS’ use with some in favour of it and seniors such as Tendulkar and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni expressing apprehensions.

During the World Cup, Dhoni had called the DRS, the “adulteration” of technology and human decision-making.

COCCI president Shashank Manohar also reacted and said, “I have even told the ICC that we have no problem with Hot Spot.

Our objection is to ball tracking. It becomes just a case of someone else’s imagination versus the umpire’s imagination.”

Friday, June 17, 2011

West Indies win final ODI as India take series 3-2

Fifth one-day international, Kingston:West Indies 255-3 (48.4 overs) beat India 251 (47.3 overs) by seven wickets

Scorecard
Darren Bravo Bravo's spectacular innings inspired West Indies

Darren Bravo hit a swashbuckling 86 to help West Indies to a seven-wicket win over India in the final match of the one-day international series.


Virat Kohli struck 10 fours in his 94 as India were bowled out for 251 after being asked to bat in Kingston.

The Windies needed 98 from the final 12 overs before left-hander Bravo hit six sixes and though he fell with 39 needed they got home with eight balls left.

It was a second successive win for West Indies but India took the series 3-2.

Ramnaresh Sarwan also played an important role in the home team's triumph, compiling an assured 75, his 38th one-day half century, before he was forced to retire hurt.

Sarwan, thought to be suffering from severe cramps, received treatment from the physio and had Lendl Simmons as a runner, but could not continue and headed back to the pavilion at the end of the 38th over.

Bravo made excellent use of the batting powerplays, but was deceived by a sharply turning delivery from Amit Mishra and stumped.

But Marlon Samuels and Keiron Pollard smashed Vinay Kumar for 20 runs in the 48th over to secure the victory.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Sri Lanka captain Dilshan ruled out of third test

LONDON (Reuters) - Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan has been ruled out of this week's third test against England with a thumb injury.

Dilshan was struck by a ball from England fast bowler Chris Tremlett during his innings of 193 in the second test at Lord's.

"He definitely won't be playing," Sri Lanka manager Anura Tennekoon told Sky Sports News. "As a precautionary measure we have kept him out."

Kumar Sangakkara will captain Sri Lanka in the third test at the Rose Bowl in Hampshire which starts on Thursday.

England lead the three-match series 1-0.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Sunday, June 12, 2011

India vs West Indies: Mishra destroys WI in 3rd ODI cricket match

India vs West Indies 3rd ODI cricket match seems to be poised for happy ending for India. Amit Mishra has destroyed WI batting in 3rd ODI cricket match

Port of Spain: Amit Mishra seems to have become a monster for West Indies cricket team. In the last match he scalped four wickets. The match is still not midway, but he has already scalped two wickets by breaking very important partnerships.

At one time the West Indies cricket team looked set for a big total as they were playing at 64 for the loss of just one wicket. Many had forgot as to when they had lost the first wicket. Munaf Patel had taken the first wicket of Edwards in his very first over. But then he gave away too many runs. He has bowled just six overs but has given away 39 runs.

But then Harbhajan got a breakthrough when one of his ball prompted a run out of Sarwan who was looking well set and playing at 28 runs.

After the breaking of the partnership Amit Mishra managed two quick wickets of Samuels and Hyatt.

Earlier Indian stand in captain Suresh Raina won the toss- second in a row- and invited West Indies cricket team to bat. The host have already lost two matches this way and Raina cannot want to experiment by batting first.

Meanwhile Simmons too has gone after scoring 45 runs. A report said, “The sad story gets sadder. Simmons pushed forward at a loopy legbreak, dipping on the batsman and pitching around middle and off. Simmons couldn't cover for the turn and the ball spun away, taking the edge towards Kohli at first slip”.

Mishra who has bowled seven overs has so far taken 3 wickets and given away just 18 runs. West Indies are struggling at 78 for 5 after 22.3 overs.