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After a four-day break for Vesak, Sri Lanka’s festival of lights, the Bank Alfalah Cup resumes on Sunday with all three teams still in the hunt for a place in the final.Sri Lanka, who were bowled out by Pakistan – the team they face again on Sunday – for a paltry 139 before winning unconvincingly against New Zealand, were the team in most need of a time-out. It remains to be seen, though, whether they’ve figured out and fixed the causes for their poor batting so far in the tournament.Sri Lanka have not lost a one-day series at home since July 1998, but they are in danger of doing so here – they are presently in third place, with just five points. New Zealand, thanks to Sri Lanka handing them a bonus point by failing to reach their target within 36.4 overs, top the table with seven points. Pakistan have six.This means that Sunday’s match against Pakistan is now crucial for Marvan Atapattu’s side. Even if they win, however, they will not be assured of a place in the final. Ideally, they must win with an extra point.Their best chance of doing that would be to win the toss. With theremaining four matches now being played in Dambulla because of the poorweather in Colombo, the toss has attained a vital significance. The pitch has offered immense assistance to the fast bowlers early on, and the luckiest tosser will probably lift the trophy.The daily pattern of morning cloud cover continues in Dambulla and thecharacter of the two new strips prepared is unlikely to change a great deal. Although the pitches are paler in colour – and perhaps slightly drier – Atapattu believes that Sri Lanka’s batsmen will still need to adapt their games slightly.”One conclusion that we have made is that on a wicket like this you arenever in – you can get an unplayable delivery at anytime,” said Atapattu. “Unlike normal Sri Lankan wickets, you cannot relax once you get to 20 or 30.”Sri Lanka will continue with Romesh Kaluwitharana opening the innings with Sanath Jayasuriya, a change that worked against New Zealand as the pair added 68 for the first wicket, laying the platform for the team’s victory. Atapattu will bat at No. 3, with Kumar Sangakkara coming in next.Sri Lanka’s only selection dilemma – assuming Muttiah Muralitharan shrugs off a slight groin niggle – is whether to play a third seamer, Dharshana Gamage or Kaushlya Weereratne, or a spinning allrounder. A final decision will be made after an inspection of the conditions in the morning.Pakistan, who spent much of the week practicing indoors in Colombo before traveling to Dambulla on Wednesday evening, are likely to play an unchanged side for the third game in a row.Javed Miandad, their coach, believes that his side hold the upper hand against Sri Lanka. “This is a crucial match for both sides” he said, “but we have the moral advantage after our earlier win. We have the bowlers to win easily but the toss will be important.”Pakistan’s key bowler in the conditions will certainly be Shoaib Akhtar, making a comeback into the national side. But is he under pressure to prove a point? Rashid Latif, Shoaib’s captain, said, “I don’t think he [Shoaib] is feeling any pressure in this series. Other players have taken the pressure off him. He has bowled impressively in both the matches and proved that he is still one of the best strike bowlers in the world. This tour could be the turning point of his career.”While Pakistan’s batsmen – especially their inexperienced openers – would find the going difficult if they batted first, it would also be good preparation for the NatWest Challenge in June. The lively wickets in Dambulla are similar to the ones Pakistan are likely to encounter in England.Probable teams
Sri Lanka 1 Romesh Kaluwitharana (wk), 2 Sanath Jayasuriya, 3 Marvan Atapattu (Capt), 4 Kumar Sangakkara, 5 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Kumar Dharmasena, 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Dharshana Gamage, 10 Prabath Nissanka, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan.Pakistan 1 Taufeeq Umar, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Yousuf Youhana, 5 Faisal Iqbal, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Rashid Latif (Capt and wk), 9 Umar Gul, 10 Shoaib Akhtar, 11 Mohammad Sami.

Chris Hassell, the Yorkshire Chief Executive, was not at Scarborough to seehis team clinch the CricInfo Championship. Confined to Headingleyheadquarters on administrative duties, he found time to comment on thecounty’s triumph.”Personally, I’m delighted for the team, because I do think it’s been a teameffort. We’ve used two dozen players in the first team this season and allof them have contributed. In addition, the coach and the captain havecontributed enormously, as have the coaches behind the scenes. They haveprepared the young players to come into the first team to counter thenumerous England calls and injuries that we’ve suffered.”He went on, “This has been a triumph for all Yorkshire cricket, from thegrass roots up to the first team which has actually won the title. TheAcademy side is going for the Premier League title, and the second team arefighting for that title as well, so there is success right through the club.All Yorkshire cricket will benefit, from marketing to cricket development.It’s just so good for cricket as a whole in Yorkshire.”Hassell has been in charge of Yorkshire for 11 years and, despite allhis tireless work behind the scenes, this is the first title he has beenable to celebrate and will be all the sweeter for that.

Bermuda Under-19s recorded a narrow 13-run win over Canada and, in doing so, have qualified for next year’s U-19 World Cup. Bermuda set Canada 195 to win from their 50 overs but they slipped to 181 for 9, with Malachi Jones picking up 3 for 37.After being asked to bat on a bright sunny day in Toronto, Bermuda got off to a solid start before Kevin James (3 for 23) and Arsalan Qadir (3 for 24) began to make inroads. From 35 without loss, Bermuda slumped to 57 for 4, and it was a fifth-wicket partnership of 46 between Khiry Furbert, the wicketkeeper, and Malachi Jones (33 from 49) which began their recovery.The real rescue hero though was Stefan Kelly, the allrounder, who ended unbeaten on 52 from 55, adding a crucial 79 for the seventh wicket with Furbert. With Canada boasting a powerful batting lineup, 195 was most gettable. Ruvindu Gunasekera began in sublime fashion with 31 off 42 balls, including five fours, and he was given good support by Chris Manohar (40 off 70), with whom he put on 55 in 13 overs.It was lucky 13 for Bermuda, as the partnership was broken in that over, and the combination of off Tamauri Tucker (2 for 17) and Jones (3 for 37), saw Canada stumble to 90 for 5, and suddenly Bermuda looked to be in control.Rustum Bhatti threatened to take the game away from Bermuda but he was left stranded on 64 to spark Bermudan celebrations.********The other match at the Maple Leaf South-West ground was another close affair as Cayman Islands Under-19s secured a narrow two-wicket win against Bahamas Under-19s.Chasing 213, Cayman Islands were coasting to victory with captain Ramon Sealy leading the chase with 66 off 77 balls, an innings which included 11 boundaries. However, they lost their way, losing four quick wickets for 15 runs and the score read 152 for 5. Robert Hewitt held the chase together with an unbeaten 25 and in the company of Corey Cato, the ninth wicket pair added 28 to attain the target. They had Mr Extras to thank as well as Bahamas conceded a whopping 42, including 31 wides.Earlier, Sealy won the toss and sent Bahamas in to bat and the openers responded with a stand of 66, with Jonathan Barry scoring 58. Jerry Jesubatham and captain Gregory Taylor then chipped in with 41 and 30 respectively to push the score to 212. Cayman Islands too struggled to contain the extras as the bowlers sent down 26 wides, conceding 38 extras in all.

Garfield Sobers, Everton Weekes and Brian Lara led a list of outstanding past and present Test players who paid their final respects to Clyde Walcott on Saturday. Walcott was one of the most famous and revered West Indian cricketers, and several of those he played with, managed, and gave advice to, attended the funeral service at St Mary’s Church.Sir Clifford Husbands, the governor general, and Owen Arthur, the prime minister, topped the dignitaries who also included cabinet ministers Anthony Wood and Jerome Walcott. The congregation also included knights, Sir Richard Cheltenham, Sir Douglas Lynch, Sir Carlyle Burton, and prominent businessmen Geoffrey Cave, David Bynoe, and David Deane.Predictably, though, cricketers, some of them carrying bats, and administrators took centre-stage and formed their own team. These included Desmond Haynes, Robin Bynoe, Cammie Smith, Wes Hall, Joel Garner, Wayne Daniel, Richard Prof Edwards, Seymour Nurse, Stephen Camacho, Peter Lashley, Rawle Brancker, Lance Gibbs and David Holford were all present. Captain Peter Short and Owen Estwick were on hand to ensure that the administration was in order.Walcott managed Barbados youth teams in the 1970s and the two high-scoring schoolboys of that period, Winslow Ashby and Ricky Craig, were in attendance along with Emmerson Trotman, who is wrapping up a three-week holiday here.Gibbs, the first spin bowler to take 300 Test wickets, said no praise could be too high for Walcott. “Sir Clyde and I go a long way back. He was the best man at my wedding. He completely destroyed the myth that great cricketers can’t be great administrators,” said Gibbs. “Jeff Stollmeyer, Allan Rae and Wes Hall have also proven that. I personally think that most of our top cricketers should be associated with the board, so that we would be able in inculcate some of the habits of the great players.”Gibbs noted that outside of the former Test players, the attendance was disappointing. “If something of this nature had happened in India, England, or Australia, if one of their top men had passed away, all of the young players would have been there. West Indians are not very supportive. I thought I would have seen more of the young cricketers because I am sure that Sir Clyde at Spartan must have passed on knowledge to some of the fellas. It was mostly former West Indies players in attendance.””For example, autograph seekers are always around in England, Australia, and on the subcontinent. They stay outside of your room for days just to get an autograph. You don’t see that happening in the Caribbean. People tend to forget you in the Caribbean when you have finished playing.”Walcott, who passed away last week at the age of 80, played 44 Tests and scored 15 centuries, a record five in a single series against Australia in the 1955 home series.

Troy Cooley, the England bowling coach, believes James Anderson can play an important part on the winter tour of Pakistan, after rediscovering his form during a season of county action. Anderson was called up to the squad for the final Test against Australia and Cooley says the time away from the international scene has helped him.He told the Press Association: “Watching Jimmy perform this year has been fantastic. He’s gone back and basically done everything England and Duncan [Fletcher] have asked of him – and that’s to become a complete bowler.”Anderson claimed 60 wickets for Lancashire in the County Championship, following a dispiriting tour of South Africa last winter, as his performances suffered from a lack of regular cricket. His rapid move into the England team during the 2002-03 tour of Australia and the World Cup meant that this was his first full season for Lancashire.He followed his stunning start to one-day cricket with a five-wicket haul against Zimbabwe on Test debut. With England’s attack suffering from injuries he rapidly became the leader, but his form began to tail off during the 2003 summer. Then on the following winter tours to Sri Lanka and West Indies he lost his place and became a bit-part player in the Test team.But with Simon Jones currently rated as only 50-50 to recover from his ankle injury in time for the Pakistan tour, Cooley says that Anderson is ready to step back up to the side.”He’s taken 60 wickets and watching him at the Oval, you just saw something different,” he said. “He’s come back a better bowler and if people like Simon don’t make it he will be ready to take the challenge. He’s been on this stage before, he likes the stage so there is a little support there if one of the others don’t make it.”However, Cooley is still confident that Jones can play a part in Pakistan, where the reverse-swing that was developed over the summer will be a key weapon for England. “The doctors are working hard to help him now and let’s hope he’s fit and raring to go because he’ll suit those conditions nicely.””He’s not started bowling again yet. He’s being earmarked to bowl again in a week or so and hopefully he’ll be alright for that – it’s one step at a time for him.”Meanwhile, there are also growing concerns about the fitness of Chris Tremlett, the Hampshire fast bowler, who has ongoing knee problems. Tremlett has had three painkilling injections since May and did not appear happy towards the end of the season. He is currently visiting a specialist in Stoke to try and cure the problem before the tour departs.Tim Tremlett, his father and Hampshire’s director of cricket, says now is the best time to get it sorted: “He’s had the problem since May but now there is time to work properly in the gym to strengthen it. Our physio has been in touch with the ECB doctor, who knows what’s going on.”

While Gerald Majola, chief executive of the South African board, may have revealed his confusion over South Africa’s tour itinerary of India, the Indian board (BCCI) has shown a much more relaxed attitude.Speaking exclusively to Wisden Cricinfo earlier today, SK Nair, the secretary of the BCCI, said that too much was being made of this issue, and that confusion over itineraries was not a new phenomenon. “There are always certain commitments that come in between,” said Nair. “This year we had the Pakistan tour that wasn’t initially part of the itinerary but finalised later, since the government permitted the tour to go ahead.”South Africa are scheduled to arrive in November and we are still in the month of June. There is still four to five months left and we have to decide the number of matches and the venues where they will be played. All this is part of a process which will involve negotiations between the boards.”He added, “It is a problem between the two boards, and this is something that usually happens while finalising a tour itinerary. The negotiations will happen soon and the final decision will be arrived at in about a week or so.”Nair also pointed out that there was no fixed time-frame for these decisions to be taken and made it very clear that the BCCI had no intention of rushing into any decision. Nair, though, wasn’t willing to comment on the possibility of the series being called off and only said, “Our president [Jagmohan Dalmiya] will be talking to the South African board president in the next few days and after that we will get a clearer picture.”There has also been widespread speculation about the BCCI wanting to get the South Africa series over quickly, with two back-to-back Test matches in order to squeeze in a short series against Pakistan, likely to include three one-dayers. But Nair was categorical in his denial, and said, “This is not related to the series against Pakistan. This is a regular series and that is something entirely different.”Yet, however cool an exterior the BCCI may portray, it is difficult to ignore the reports in the South African media regarding the whole issue. Colin Bryden, wrote in the Sunday Times, that the South African board is irked by the fact that, “The Indians appear to have pushed the tour low down on their list of priorities, even though the November date has been on the ICC Test calendar since a ten-year plan was approved by all participating countries three years ago.”Mark Smit of the Business Day was even more scathing, and wrote, “Clearly, the first prize for the Indians is the Australian tour. Everything else is ‘small potatoes’ as far as they are concerned … it is hardly surprising that the Indians are trying everything in the book to get their subcontinental rivals to their country. It’s all about money, money, money.”But Nair wasn’t prepared to react to these comments and just said, “We are not really bothered about what the media has to say. Unless we get anything in writing from the South African board, we are not willing to react to the media reports. As far as we are concerned, we are still negotiating.”

GOLD BOND
SUPER DRAWWeek 15 – 11/04/03

£2000 JackpotG.4388 I Pearson£500 C.4060 J Truscott£200 LL4546 Mrs Bowen£200 S.2898 R Stubbington£100 AC5821 Mrs Ward£100 C.1600 Mrs Carr£100 S.3107 P Kerr£100 AC6580 C Wright£100 BB0617 S Poole£100 V.0421 Mrs Smith£100 AN3409 W Soames£50 K.4354 C Armitage£50 HH6939 J Taylor£50 W.5613 M Napper£50 G.0951 A Burtbriggs£50 X.2425 S Morris£50 V.3915 R Wilkes£50 GG2306 K Atkinson

Powerhouses Piton Dover and the relative unknowns MTW will clash inthe final of the Barbados Fire & Commercial Shield cricket competitionnext week.The two sides booked their final date with hard-fought wins in thesemifinals, yesterday. Dover, the kings of lower division cricket,worked hard for a four-wicket victory over Combermere School, making144 for six after the original target of 175 was reduced due to rain.MTW, at home, reached their first final by restricting Central to 197to win by 12 runs.At Waterford: Experience got the better of youth as Dover’s middleorder chose the right ball and the right moments to launch theirattack.Man-Of-The-Match Jerry Kirton blasted three sixes in the space of fiveballs just when it was needed. Kirton’s 28 off 16 balls came with hisside still needing 52 runs off eight overs. Together with Wilbur Bruce(50 two fours and two sixes off 79 balls), he added 45 in six decisiveovers to which the students had no answer.This festival of power hitting came after rain had forced the umpiresto reduced the target from 175 in 40 overs to 144 in 33 overs. At thebreak the score was 76 for three in 22 overs with the game truly inthe balance.I’m an attacking player and I knew I had to be positive in order forus to win the game, said Kirton, who like Bruce is a former CarltonFirst Division captain.From the time I left the pavilion I was planning to attack. We arefull of confidence but not over-confident. Any team (MTW) which makesthe final must be good. We won’t be taking them lightly in the final.Kirton paid Combermere the ultimate compliment, saying they were thebest school side he had ever played against. The level of fitness, thebatting and the bowling was very good. They really made us fight, andfight hard.Kirton also starred with the ball, snatching four for 23 as theschoolboys lost their way at the end, losing the last five wickets for18 runs after Calvin Watson (49) and Rohan Nurse (34) both battedattractively.Maybe the boys could write this one down to experience.At Pine Basin: Cheers and shouts greeted MTW’s victory over theseasoned Central.Fortunes fluctuated all day and the margin of victory said it all. MTWhad to battle back from a difficult start but took control after thevisitors bowlers’ rocked them at the start.Led by their captain and Man-Of-The-Match Geoffrey Padmore with aflamboyant half century, they transformed a position of uncertainty toone of comfort.Padmore belted out seven fours and two sixes in a entertaining knockof 73 which took his team from 70 for five to a respectable total of212.Padmore enjoyed two good partnerships;the first was a seventh-wicketstand with Peter Blackman worth 69 and an eighth-wicket stand withWinston Gittens for 59 runs.The tail rallied around their captain until he was last out.Central started positively posting 50 in six overs with in-formopening batsman David Forde striking four sixes in a quickfire knockof 37.However, the introduction of left-arm spinner David Payne saw theinnings quickly slumping to 112 for six, before Arglye Catwell, with42, brought some glimmer of hope back to the Vaucluse men, but with 19needed in the last over, he only managed four before he was stumped bykeeper Peter Blackman.

Sussex have again questioned the viability of cricket festivals at Horsham and Arundel, suggesting that at least one of them could be dropped next season unless there are more indications of commercial and community interest.Most at risk over recent seasons has been Horsham, which looked under threat two years ago before a late influx of sponsorship gave it a stay of execution.Festivals have been in gradual decline for decades as counties have invested heavily in their main grounds, commercial support has wavered and players, the media and some spectators have come to expect better facilities.Zac Toumazi, Sussex’s chief executive, has told BBC Sussex about Sussex’s cricket festivals: “We all love it and all want it but very few want to pay for it. I am a massive supporter of it but the economics have to be considered.”Sussex’s chairman Jim May sounded even more pessimistic. “Our takings at Horsham and Arundel were considerably down last year on the prior year – gate money by over 30% while hospitality wasn’t good at all. It is the old cliché: ‘use it or lose it’. Unless we get significant sponsorship I find it highly likely we will only be playing at one festival ground in 2016.”Only part of that decline could be put down to a disappointing Sussex season that ended in relegation in the Championship, especially as crowds at Hove actually rose on the previous year.Horsham CC is one of oldest cricket clubs in the world. The first recorded game for a side based around the town was in 1771, the club dates back to 1806 and has been at its current ground at Cricketfield Road since 1851.”I’ve been clear I would like the festivals to continue,” Toumazi said. “We look at the model all of the time but I can’t guarantee what the outcome will be.”

Gloucestershire have signed Andrew Tye, one of the outstanding performers in the Big Bash League, as their second overseas player for the 2016 NatWest T20 Blast.Tye, a 29-year-old fast bowler and a team mate at Perth Scorchers of Gloucestershire’s profolic batsman Michael Klinger, was a key part of their victorious Big Bash League campaign in 2015.He took 14 wickets at an average of 18.3 and a strike rate of 16, prompting Australia T20 captain Aaron Finch to describe him as the “find of the tournament” on Twitter.Tye said: “I am delighted to have signed for Gloucestershire for the NatWest T20 Blast. I have heard great things about the club from many sources, including my Perth Scorchers team mate, Michael Klinger.”A specialist death bowler and clean-hitting lower order batsman, Tye’s form in 2014/15 saw him secure an IPL contract with the Chennai Super Kings.Despite hailing from Perth, Tye will be no stranger to English conditions, having played Second XI cricket for Somerset, Durham and Northants.He will be available for the duration of Gloucestershire’s NatWest Blast which kicks off under floodlights against Sussex Sharks in Bristol on May 20.Gloucestershire’s head coach Richard Dawson said: “I saw him last year in the Big Bash where he was very impressive in helping Perth Scorchers win the competition. We are looking to make improvements in T20 cricket this year and get through the group stages. Andrew will help us achieve that. He is a highly-skilled bowler who will significantly add to our T20 cricket.”A late bloomer, Tye only made his professional debut in 2013 at the age of 26, but he has gone on to cement his place in the team in all three formats of the game.