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As the possibility of a Test debut looms, the Cape Cobras batsman says time off during MSL helped channel his game better

Liam Brickhill09-Jan-2019Zubayr Hamza doesn’t want to get ahead of himself, but the possibility of making his debut in the current South Africa batting unit is “something you only dream of”.Hamza has been travelling as a reserve batsman in the Test squad, but Faf du Plessis’ suspension has opened up an opportunity for the 23-year-old to be South Africa’s 100th cap since readmission.”As a batting unit, It’s something you only dream of, batting with these guys, playing in the same side and representing your country,” said Hamza at the Wanderers on Wednesday. “I haven’t received confirmation if I am playing or not. If given the chance that would be great, I have really enjoyed my time so far, the training has been intense and everyone has been welcoming. I have felt comfortable within the team surrounding. If given the chance, I am looking forward to it. There is a lot of excitement at the moment.”Hamza is yet to score a first-class century this season (he has three fifties for Cape Cobras), but has enjoyed an otherwise fruitful run at franchise level over the last two years, averaging a shade over 49 with nine centuries, including an unbeaten double. Although he is lacking in match time after missing out on the Mzansi Super League and a round of CSA four-day matches since he has been with the squad, he remains confident about his preparation and form.”It was disappointing, but the month off [from the MSL] gave me perspective and I focused on working on myself and on my game,” he explained. “Yes I haven’t started off too well this season with franchise cricket but I don’t feel out of form. I still feel like I’m batting well and that I have a lot to offer. The runs and performances haven’t shown it but that is not how I feel, I have been batting well. I have been training well with the world-class coaching staff that we have here, and I have learnt a lot so far.”Born and bred in Cape Town, Hamza matriculated from Rondebosch Boys High School. It is an institution that has produced a notable cricketing alumni including Jonathan Trott, Gary Kirsten, HD Ackerman and Andrew Puttick, who also played an early role in guiding Hamza’s development before he blossomed under Cobras coach Ashwell Prince.While not many will have seen him bat before, Hamza’s promising first-class record speaks for itself. He is a batsman with the kind of grit that could help him slot easily into a squad that has thrived off fast bowling and braved batting in seam-friendly conditions, and professed a “willingness to battle” as what he will look to bring to the side if selected.Hamza described his style as “at times free-flowing, but also willing to graft. Never looking the prettiest, but I take pride out of the innings where there’s a bit of struggle in them.” He grew up idolising players such as Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla, but says he has been feeding off most of the players in the squad on what it takes to perform at international level.”When I look up to someone, it’s not necessarily the person they are, but a combination of a whole lot of people and what they bring to the game,” Hamza said. “Faf for example is very cool and calm at the crease. Then there’s Kallis’ technique, or Virat Kohli’s passion. Stuff like that, I pay attention to. I look up to those things.”I have learnt a lot from every individual in the team, whether it is on the field or off the field. For me, I’d like to stay true to myself and stick to the game plans that have got me to this position. I will try to be self-confident and have self-belief.”I have tucked under a few guys’ wings so far,” he admitted. “I’ve been leeching as much information as I can about what it takes to perform at this level, and then sort of combining it and finding my own mixture to try and perform as an individual.”

They have never won a Test series in the West Indies, and considering the hosts’ form, they have a good chance to break that duck now

Andrew Fidel Fernando05-Jun-20182:30

‘I want to break Brian Lara’s 400’

Big Picture

That we have got to the eve of this first Test with no changes to the schedule is a small miracle. Sri Lanka-West Indies matches are prone to postponement and cancellation. Broadcasters feel the markets too small, and the time difference too great to sustain long-format cricket between these teams. They would rather see them play T20 cricket, or perhaps ODIs. But somehow, this time, the series appears as if it will be played as planned. It is not melodramatic to suggest that this could be the last ever three-Test encounter between these sides, because that way goes the cricket schedule.Considering the Test series planned for 2013 was turned into an ODI tri-series, the last time West Indies and Sri Lanka met for Test cricket in the Caribbean was in 2008. Back then Ramnaresh Sarwan was still playing, Chaminda Vaas was a new-ball bowler, and Rangana Herath was just a… okay, he was already pretty old. Point is, things have changed. West Indies’ top order is more brittle now – Roston Chase sporting their best average, a tick over 38. Sri Lanka’s fast bowling stocks have been depleted – Lahiru Kumara, their second most-experienced seamer with only nine Tests to his name. Both teams also know what a struggle it can be to rebuild following great players’ exits.It is difficult to pin down form going into this Test, because it has been so long since either team has played. West Indies’ most-recent Test was all the way back in the first half of December. Sri Lanka’s had wrapped up in early February. The one fact to recommend the visitors in this series is that Tests are probably their best format now, with a settled top order in place, and an effective spin-department led by Herath. In their last three series, all of which were overseas, Sri Lanka won against Pakistan, drew two matches against India, and beat Bangladesh – all of which are creditable achievements. West Indies, meanwhile, have won only one series in their last 11 – against Zimbabwe.Sri Lanka, for all the greats that have played for them over the years, have never quite managed to win a series in the Caribbean. Strangely, although they had one of their worst years in 2017, they have arrived on the islands feeling as if they have a good chance on this attempt. But as England found out last year at Headingley, this West Indies side has the capacity to surprise.3:21

‘If you can keep wicket in Sri Lanka, you can keep anywhere’

Form guide

Sri LankaWDDLD (completed matches, most recent first)
West Indies LLDWL

In the spotlight

Don’t say it too loudly, but there is a little of the regality of the old West Indian batsmen in 21-year-old Guyanese, Shimron Hetmyer. He hasn’t cracked the top level. Not even close. But there are glimpses of a wonderful player in his imperious pull shots, and his dismissive drives. In New Zealand last December, he had faced down one of the best attacks around and hit a sparkling 66 to light up the Basin Reserve. The issue for Hetmyer is that there is no consistency yet. His other scores in that series were 13, 28 and 15. Perhaps, against a weaker Sri Lanka pace attack, he can put a few more good performances together, and kick his career into a higher gear.Dinesh Chandimal took over the captaincy at one of Sri Lanka’s lowest ebbs, and within a few series, he has begun to make something of this team. His own batting has been crucial to the cause. Once a producer of flashy fifties, he is now workman-like to a fault, batting slow, batting long, often bailing innings out, sometimes even grinding down the opposition bowlers for other batsmen to take advantage of their exhaustion. He has already overseen an important series victory over Pakistan, in the UAE, but the prospect of achieving a series win in West Indies – something no other Sri Lanka captain has done – may be special motivation.Roshen Silva and Niroshan Dickwella prepare for a hit in the nets•Getty Images

Team news

The two fresh entrants into the squad, opener Devon Smith and wicketkeeper-batsman Jahmar Hamilton, may be left out of the playing XI. Devendra Bishoo is the only specialist spinner in the squad, so in Trinidad, he is likely to have a place in the XI.West Indies (possible): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite, 2 Kieran Powell, 3 Shimron Hetmyer, 4 Shai Hope, 5 Roston Chase, 6 Shane Dowrich (wk), 7 Jason Holder (capt.), 8 Devendra Bishoo, 9 Miguel Cummins, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Shannon GabrielDhananjaya de Silva, who delayed his departure to the West Indies because of the murder of his father, may have arrived too late to be available for the first Test. If he doesn’t take his spot at No. 3, Kusal Perera could be deployed there. Uncapped Mahela Udawatte might take the injured Dimuth Karunaratne’s place at the top of the order. Sri Lanka also have a difficult decision to make on which of their offspinners they should field. Akila Dananjaya is the more attacking option, but Dilruwan Perera’s batting may earn him the spot.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Kusal Mendis, 2 Mahela Udawatte, 3 Kusal Perera, 4 Roshen Silva, 5 Dinesh Chandimal (capt.), 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Rangana Herath, 10 Suranga Lakmal, 11 Lahiru Gamage

Pitch and conditions

The weather in Port-of-Spain is expected to be good for the majority of the game, with the temperature in the low 30C range. The pitch generally takes a bit of turn.

Stats and trivia

• Chandimal has an average of 48.5 across his 10 Tests as captain, against an average of 42.33 when he is not leading.
• Sri Lanka have played only six Tests in the West Indies in total, winning only one of those games, in 2008. All their series before this one were restricted to two Tests only.
• West Indies, however, have won only two of their last 12 Tests at home.
  

The drawn inaugural day-night women’s Test meant the Women’s Ashes was in the balance ahead of the Twenty20 leg of the series

The Report by Daniel Brettig12-Nov-20170:52

‘We made sure they didn’t get a sniff’ – Knight

England’s captain Heather Knight held firm as the visitors scrounged a draw from the inaugural day-night women’s Test, leaving the Ashes in the balance ahead of the Twenty20 leg of the series.On a wearing pitch at North Sydney Oval, England were under pressure throughout the final day, particularly after Amanda Wellington’s reprise of Shane Warne’s epochal legbreak to Mike Gatting when she spun past Tammy Beaumont with a delivery that pitched outside leg stump before biting back to take the top of the off stump.It was a moment to savour, but Wellington’s inability to follow it up with a rush of wickets was largely down to Knight, the embodiment of calm temperament and sound technique in an innings that ensured England would not be overwhelmed following Ellyse Perry’s epic double-century on days two and three.Starting the day in considerable deficit, Beaumont and Lauren Winfield played soundly early on to avert the prospect of a collapse, but found life difficult against Wellington and her hard spun legbreaks.Getty Images

Beaumont’s exit was of the kind that can send shudders through a dressing room, and it was to the credit of Knight and Georgia Elwiss thst they were not dislodged once Winfield had been pinned lbw on the front toe by an inswerving yorker from Tahlia McGrath shortly after the start of the second session.So securely did Knight occupy the crease that Australia’s captain Rachael Haynes was compelled to accept the inevitability of a stalemate around an hour before the scheduled close of play, England having forged into a lead that made them safe from defeat.This in turn means that the series remains open ahead of the final three T20 fixtures, the first of which will take place at North Sydney on Friday. Perry was rightly named Player of the Match for her double-century.

Bottom side Durham enjoyed the upper hand over promotion-chasing Kent during a cut-and-thrust opening day to their Specsavers County Championship encounter in Canterbury

ECB Reporters Network08-Jun-2017Durham 318 for 5 (Collingwood 93*, Pringle 71) v Kent

ScorecardPaul Collingwood continued his fine form with an unbeaten 93•Getty Images

Bottom side Durham enjoyed the upper hand over promotion-chasing Kent during a cut-and-thrust opening day to their Specsavers County Championship encounter in Canterbury.With their veteran skipper Paul Collingwood leading from the front with an unbeaten 93, Durham rallied after losing a brace of wickets in each of the first two sessions to go in at stumps on 318 for 5 and three batting bonus points after Collingwood and fifth-wicket partner Ryan Pringle (71) had combined either side of tea to add 141 in 42.3 overs.Collingwood, one of only six players from both sides still surviving from the previous championship clash between these two counties in 2010, escaped a couple of concerted appeals for lbw, but otherwise appeared untroubled against a useful Kent attack that, for the first time, included Pakistan legspinner Yasir Shah.Batting first after winning the toss, Durham openers Stephen Cook and Keaton Jennings did well to survive tight, new-ball bursts by Matt Coles and Darren Stevens. Having posted a first-wicket stand of 79, both departed within seven deliveries.Jennings lost his off stump to Will Gidman’s sixth ball of the match, a skidding leg-cutter, to go for 43, then, in the next over, Stephen Cook, having mustered a patient 25, played across the line to a full delivery from Coles to exit lbw.Yasir came on at the Nackington Road End for the customary over before lunch, but was guilty of under-pitching in his maiden over in championship cricket. His 20 wicketless overs throughout the day cost 60 runs.The same could not be said of Stevens who, soon after the interval, drew Graham Clark (13) forward with an away-swinger that feathered the bat for a catch behind by Adam Rouse.The veteran Kent allrounder then bamboozled 21-year-old Cameron Steel (34) who pushed inside the line at one that nipped off the pitch to clip the top of off stump.Kent ought to have had a fifth victim when Pringle, on 8, edged an attempted drive against Coles into the cordon only for Will Gidman to down a regulation, waist-high chance at second slip.Four-down at tea but with a first batting bonus point in the bank, Collingwood must have been content with his side’s work over the first couple of sessions, but things improved immeasurably after tea.On a personal note, the 41-year-old went past 500 Championship runs for the season and 16,000 in his first-class career in posting his fourth fifty of the campaign from 84 balls and with eight fours. Then Pringle reached his fifty from 92 balls and with eight boundaries.Pringle finally went to the second new ball for a season’s best 71 after spending 158 minutes at the crease. Coles got one to dart down the St Lawrence slope and take the toe end of the bat for Rouse to pull off a tumbling catch behind the timbers.At the day’s start, Kent had accommodated Yasir by jettisoning James Tredwell, the county’s beneficiary for 2017, from their squad. The former England offspinner has bowled only 32.4 overs to date this summer for a modest return of 2 for 106.James Harris, the Middlesex loanee instrumental in wrapping up Kent’s latest win against Sussex in Tunbridge Wells last month, has since returned to his parent club.Durham, who have a host of injuries, gave a first-team debut to teenage all-rounder Matthew Potts, a graduate of the county academy system.

A number of county cricketers named in a list of players who could be called upon to travel to Pakistan for the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) remain unsure about whether they will go

Vithushan Ehantharajah22-Feb-2017A number of county cricketers named in a list of players who could be called upon to travel to Pakistan for the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) remain unsure about whether they will go. Earlier this week, the PSL decided to go ahead with staging its final in Lahore, despite a recent series of attacks across Pakistan that have claimed over 100 lives.The five franchises were presented with a list of 54 foreign players whom the PCB claim are willing to travel to Lahore for the final. Fifteen are contracted to counties, including former England internationals Jade Dernbach and Phil Mustard. Owais Shah, who played for Hampshire in 2015 and whose last competitive match came in February 2016 in the Masters Champions League, also features. Most of the overall list is made up of players who went unsold in the first auction held in October of last year. Only Middlesex’s Dawid Malan is currently playing in the competition, for Peshawar Zalmi.

County players on PCB list

Dawid Malan (Middlesex), Alex Wakely (Northamptonshire), Josh Cobb (Northamptonshire), Azeem Rafiq (Yorkshire), Phil Mustard (Gloucestershire), Fidel Edwards (Hampshire), Max Waller (Somerset), Darren Stevens (Kent), Peter Trego (Somerset), Richard Levi (Northamptonshire), Azharullah (Northamptonshire), Jade Dernbach (Surrey), Owais Shah (Unattached), Brendan Taylor (Nottinghamshire), Ryan ten Doeschate (Essex), Sean Ervine (Hampshire)

The PSL had previously considered holding another draft before the final, only for foreign players who are willing to travel to Lahore, in order to buffer against the absence of those who do not want to go. But that plan has been shelved as franchises first look to convince their own overseas players to make the trip, at least until closer to March 5, for when the final is scheduled.One such player – Kevin Pietersen, who is playing for Quetta Gladiators – has said he will wait to see if Quetta made the final before making a decision. But in the event that some or most refuse, teams will now be allowed to dip into a common pool of players, nominated by the franchises from the main list.However, despite the PCB’s claim that those on the list are ready to go, a number of the English contingent are noncommittal about travelling to Lahore if they are picked up to replace those overseas players who opt out. One player, approached for comment by ESPNcricinfo, was unaware he had even been named on the list.Even for the other would-be alternatives, the reservations over security are still great. Many say they put themselves forward under the proviso that security can be guaranteed in writing. After Tuesday morning’s suicide bombing outside a courthouse in northwestern Pakistan – the tenth incident of terrorist violence in little over a week across Pakistan, which includes a bombing in Lahore – one player contacted had all but ruled himself out.Both the PCA and FICA have advised players against making the trip to Pakistan ever since a Lahore final was mooted last year. This, in turn, led to a retaliatory PCB statement in January, which chastised FICA’s stance as being “careless and cavalier”.In an email sent to players and agents last week, and passed on to ESPNcricinfo, the PCB sought to allay fears of what is described as “the occasional incident across the massive expanse of Pakistan”. The email states that ECB president Giles Clarke, who visited Lahore in January as head of ICC Task Force for Pakistan, will send representatives from the ECB “to review preparations already in place”. Clarke gave an update to members at the ICC board meetings in Dubai recently in which he recommended that all members take the opportunity to send their own security experts to Pakistan to assess the current situation.However, the ECB, Clarke’s own board, denied the claim in the email and stated that they will not be sending anyone to review matters in Lahore. ESPNcricinfo understands that Reg Dickason, who advises the ECB on security matters on a consultancy basis, will visit Lahore ahead of the final, mostly likely on behalf of FICA, along with ICC security manager Sean Norris. The ECB also confirmed that they are not currently involved in any discussions about creating a “Commonwealth team” to tour Pakistan later in the year – another claim made in the email.Foreign players who do end up going will be paid separately for playing in the final, on top of business class travel and expenses, at four different rates: Platinum ($50,000 USD), Diamond ($25,000 USD), Gold ($15,000 USD) and Silver ($10,000 USD).The likes of Pietersen will find themselves in the Platinum category. Only six English players – Malan, Alex Wakely, Josh Cobb (both Northamptonshire), Darren Stevens (Kent), Dernbach and Shah are Gold, meaning they would make just over £12,000. Some classed as Silver have told ESPNcricinfo that they will require a higher grade if they are to commit. It is understood a number have stipulated that the money be paid upfront if they are to travel to Lahore.

Neil Harvey has remembered his fellow ‘Invincible’, Arthur Morris, as “a great team man” and one of the best players Australia has produced

Brydon Coverdale22-Aug-2015Neil Harvey has remembered his fellow ‘Invincible’, Arthur Morris, as “a great team man” and one of the best players Australia has produced.Morris has died at the age of 93, leaving Harvey as the sole surviving member of Don Bradman’s touring party that went through the 1948 tour of England undefeated and earned the Invincibles nickname. Harvey was 19 at the time and he said it was a great learning curve to watch Morris, a fellow left-hander, dismantle England’s attack in that Ashes series during which he was the leading run-scorer.”I learnt a lot off Arthur over the years,” Harvey told ESPNcricinfo. “I was on four or five tours with him. We got to know each other pretty well. You wouldn’t find a nicer bloke in the world: a great sense of humour, a great team man. Just one of those great fellas that you can spend a lot of time with and enjoy his company. A better bloke you couldn’t find.”He’s been one of the best players this country has produced, a left-hander of great ability. He and Sid Barnes in my opinion formed the best opening pair this country has produced, in my time anyway.”During the 1948 series, Morris was a key part of one of Test cricket’s highest successful run chases, when he scored 182 and Bradman made 173 not out in pursuing a target of 404 in Leeds. The task was made harder by the fact that the pitch was six days old (including the Sunday rest day), it had been rained on early in the match, and was providing plenty of turn for Jim Laker.”That’s probably the best partnership I’ve ever seen, the Bradman-Morris one,” Harvey said. “To go out there on the last day – not even a full day’s play, because we lost the first 15 minutes when England batted on – to get all those runs.”They didn’t really set out to win when play started on the last day. As soon as Hassett got out and Morris and Bradman got in, they pushed the runs along at a pretty fair rate. All of a sudden we guys in the dressing room said ‘we could win this’. And that’s what happened.”Harvey, now 86, also remembered the sacrifice made by Morris while they were batting together against South Africa at the MCG in 1953. Morris was run out for 99 in a mix-up with Harvey, who went on to score his fourth century of the series and finished with 205.”He sacrificed his innings for me,” Harvey said. “We had a bit of a mix-up, we could’ve been both left in the middle of the pitch. He said ‘come on’, he called me through and he went through and got run out. It was another one of his great acts as a gentleman. It was an act I appreciated so much because he didn’t have to do it. And it was my fault. He was just one of those nice guys.”Harvey was present at the SCG during this week when the Arthur Morris Gates were unveiled, although Morris himself was too ill to attend. Also at the opening was Alan Davidson, the fast-bowling allrounder who first met Morris in 1949-50 when Davidson moved to Sydney from the country to try his luck in grade cricket.”I can remember playing against him at St George,” Davidson said. “I arrived late, thank goodness, because he’d scored a hundred before I got to the ground. I got lost on a train and by the time I got to the ground, St George were about 1 for 180, Arthur Morris had made a hundred, and he got out as I was changing into my boots.”You had to see the bloke and his artistry, his ability was phenomenal. It didn’t matter if it was a fast bowler or a spin bowler. He’d go down the wicket to a spinner and pick them off. He was a magnificent back-foot player. His judgement of the length of a ball was incredible.”It was not only on the field that Morris had fine timing. Although he was naturally a quiet man, he had a remarkable sense of wit.”He had a charm about him,” Davidson said. “Everybody was endeared by him. He was not a demonstrative person, he was a quiet sort of person. But he was always good company no matter what the situation. He had incredible wit. He was once asked what did cricket give him, and he said ‘poverty’. He had a tremendous sense of timing.”

Iain O’Brien and Ajit Agarkar discuss some of the recommended changes to playing conditions in one-day cricket made by the ICC Cricket Committee

ESPNcricinfo staff20-May-201514:34

Iain O’Brien and Ajit Agarkar discuss the ICC cricket committee’s proposals

On allowing five fielders outside the 30-yard circle for the last ten overs and removing the batting Powerplay.
Iain O’Brien: The two catchers rule is interesting but I don’t have issues with it. I think attacking captains will still keep those men in. The five fielders in the last ten overs was always going to happen. The batting Powerplay was anyway mostly taken in the 36th over. So, it doesn’t change much. They all seem pretty obvious ones to me.On the last ten overs skewing the balance between bat and ball.
Ajit Agarkar: The World Cup was played in Australia and New Zealand where you expect help for the bowlers. Despite that, with the two new balls, the run rate in the last ten overs has gone up. Every captain has said that you need five fielders outside the ring. I would have wanted them do it for the other 40 overs as well. Now with four fielders outside the ring, those 30 middle overs are like a Powerplay. Reverse swing has gone out of the game and the big bats have hampered bowlers.On making it a more level playing field for the bowlers
O’Brien: We want a level playing field. The low-scoring games were some of the most interesting games in the World Cup where scores could be chased or teams at least had a chance of chasing scores. The games which had over a 100 runs scored in the last ten overs were not close games because such scores rarely get chased. Two new balls is a massive thing for me. I suggested a change where you have two new balls for 35 overs and use one of those two balls for the rest of the 15 overs. It gives the bowler a chance of reverse swing and evens out the contest.On free-hits for all no balls
Agarkar: It is silly to be honest. You can understand it for front-foot no-balls because it was brought in to increase discipline but to have it for all no-balls does not make sense as you’re expecting the bowler to be 100% accurate which is not possible. Even with high full tosses you get banned after two such deliveries, so it is a strange decision. No bowler tries to bowl a beamer intentionally. With the two new balls, the ball does not dip sometimes and you end up bowling a full toss. I don’t really like that rule.O’Brien: If a batsman makes a mistake and a catch is dropped, he is not penalised. So, why penalise the bowler for a small mistake? The front foot one is okay but what about no balls where an extra fielder is outside the circle or when you knock over the bails at the non-strikers end in your action. It is reducing the bowler to being a machine.On a more prominent seam on the white ball
Agarkar: Even if you alter the ball, you have to find one that lasts for the duration of the innings. It is very vague and I don’t think there is an issue with the existing balls. You don’t want a ball which is hooping all over the place.
O’Brien: I think it has got more to do with readdressing the balance between bat and ball.On the size of the bats and the boundaries
Agarkar: The size of the boundaries has to be the biggest they can possible be. You can also have a thicker outfield to slow down the outfield. At the moment, it is a boundary the moment the ball beats the fielder in the ring.
O’Brien: I have no issues with the size of the bat. I have an issue with bats that have two pieces of wood which are not supposed to be there. That has made a big difference.On playing Test cricket in ‘evening hours’
O’Brien: I’m not a fan of it, the pink ball is not up to it. It goes soft very quickly and does not bounce which stops the seam movement.
Agarkar: I played a Ranji trophy final under lights which was bizarre. We used two white balls with the option of taking a new ball every 40 overs and a compulsory change after 50 overs. The scores were 630 and 590. The ball is a big concern.

Kandurata Maroons fell six runs short of Uthura Yellows’ 158-run target in spite of a 54-ball 90 from Thilina Kandamby. However, the loss did not affect Kandurata’s place in the table and they will play Basnahira Greens in the final on August 17

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Aug-2013
Scorecard Dinesh Chandimal’s 54-ball 90 helped take Uthura Yellows to 158 for 5•AFP

Thilina Kandamby’s 54-ball 90 brought Kandurata Maroons to within touching distance of Uthura Yellows’ total, but a nerveless final over from Shaminda Eranga saw Kandurata fall short by six runs. Earlier, Dinesh Chandimal scored an unbeaten 93 from 57 to help Uthura post 158 for 5.The loss, however, did not have an effect on Kandurata’s standings in the table and their second-place finish has given them a place in the final against Basnahira Greens on August 17.Kandurata’s innings was shaped by Kandamby, who had some support from Pabasara Waduge in the early overs. However, none of the other batsmen could manage more than eight runs.Playing his first match of the tournament, Ramith Rambukwella snared Kumar Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne in the middle overs to hamper the chase, and finished with figures of 2 for 14 from his four overs.Chandimal had hit the competition’s only fifty in his previous match and, having had a lean few months in limited-overs cricket, his run in this tournament may signal a return to form. The busy cuts and dabs had returned to his game, as had strokes over the infield that he has struggled to play of late, and though he had two fortuitous top edges that fell into space, he drove the innings along smartly, rarely allowing bowlers to settle against him.He attacked the pacers to begin with, hitting consecutive fours off Dhammika Prasad in the fifth over, but became more assured against spin as the innings wore on. Ajantha Mendis was struck for successive boundaries, in the 16th over, just after Chandimal had launched legspinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi over long-on for six. Another six off Mendis finished off Uthura’s innings, and those runs would eventually prove crucial in the final tally.With two left-handers opening the batting for Kandurata, Chandimal opened the bowling with Rambukwella, and had two cheap overs out of the offspinner before Kandamby began his charge. Kandamby struck six fours off ten Chathura Peiris deliveries inside the Powerplay, but regular wickets at the other end prevented him from maintaining that frenetic pace.Sangakkara and Thirimanne had been Kandurata’s best batsmen so far in the tournament, and although Rambukwella made short work of both – taking a return catch off Sangakkara’s leading edge, and sliding a quick one underneath Thirimanne’s bat – Kandamby continued to progress smoothly.Kandurata needed only 30 from the last three overs, and though Kandamby made the equation easier with two fours in the 18th over, he was bowled in the next. With 12 runs needed from the final over, it ultimately proved too much for the Kandurata tail, as Eranga delivered six yorkers to seal the victory.

Nagenahira Nagas captain Angelo Mathews believed his side had a winning total in the SLPL final which they could have defended had weather not intervened to cut the second innings short

Andrew Fernando in Colombo01-Sep-2012Angelo Mathews, the Nagenahira Nagas captain, believed his side had a winning total in the SLPL final which they could have defended had weather not intervened to cut the second innings short, and make Uva Next champions via the Duckworth/Lewis method. Mathews’ dazzling 73 from 27 balls took Nagenahira to 134 for 4 from their 15 overs after his side had spluttered to 47 for 3 from 9 overs, following a first rain delay that shortened the game. Uva then hurtled to 63 for 1 from 5.1 overs, before a second heavy downpour stopped play and the D/L calculation deemed them victors by 19 runs.”Getting to [134] after losing a few wickets early on and being 40-odd after nine overs, it was a great effort by the whole batting unit,” Mathews said. “In the remaining six overs, we got the maximum number of runs you could hope for. The wicket was pretty slow, so [134] was a very good score, but unfortunately the rain gods had their say and that was that.”Uva opener Dilshan Munaweera blasted 44 from 23 balls to propel his side beyond the D/L par score. He struck five sixes and two fours in his innings, and with a promoted Seekkuge Prasanna also contributing two sixes, Uva hit a six in each over they faced.”The way Uva batted when they came out, they had nothing to lose, so they went for their shots and batted well.”The match may not have been completed had the two captains not agreed to continue playing on a sodden outfield. Three days of heavy rain had left parts of the ground muddy and the downpour that interrupted Nagenahira’s innings made those areas more slippery. Uva captain Thilina Kandamby commended Mathews on his willingness to play on, but Mathews said it was not a difficult decision to make, given they were playing in front of around 30,000 fans – by far the biggest crowd of the tournament.”I thought it [outfield] was pretty good apart from the boundary line. We couldn’t disappoint the crowds as well because it was a huge turnout today. After all it became and exciting game.”

Mathews also said despite the poor result in the final, he was proud of his side’s performance in the SLPL, particularly as they did not have the star players other teams had secured in the draft.”We never had big names, it’s just that we gelled quite well and we enjoyed each other’s company and success. I thought the team spirit was wonderful. Each time we walked into a game we just wanted to win and the whole unit was unbelievable.”

Having disappointed for most of the World Cup, India’s batting unit turned in a much-improved performance in the semi-final against New Zealand

The Report by George Binoy in Townsville23-Aug-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsIndia gave an all-round performance to book a place in the final against Australia•ICC/Getty

Having disappointed for most of the World Cup, India’s batting unit turned in a much-improved performance in the semi-final against New Zealand, while their bowlers continued their impressive form to set up a summit clash against Australia on Sunday. The top order set up a solid base, and despite a middle-order slump, India were able to get past 200, a total that has been difficult to chase at Tony Ireland Stadium.New Zealand fought hard, though, consolidating after losing top-order wickets in a clutch, and steered themselves to a position from where they could launch an assault at the end, much like they did in the quarterfinal against West Indies. They were not allowed to. All the Indian bowlers held their own. With no weak link to exploit, New Zealand lost wickets in the search for momentum, and the gap between runs needed and balls remaining stayed wide enough to see India through. New Zealand needed 18 off the last over in this game as well; they got eight.Like they did in the quarterfinal, India lost the toss and this time were sent in to bat by Will Young. The conditions weren’t that bad – a flatter pitch and a sunnier morning – and after surviving a few jitters, Unmukt Chand and Prashant Chopra gave their team a start.Chand was nervy in the first over, inside-edging past his stumps and playing and missing while trying to cover drive. He settled down soon, though, and began middling his drives when playing much closer to his body. Chopra was more confident at the start, getting behind the line to block out the new ball. However, as he struggled to find gaps to score, Chopra began to try innovations such as the ramp shot over the wicketkeeper. He missed four times and connected once and was 2 off 24 balls at one stage. He was also struck painfully on the box by Ed Nuttall and writhed in pain for a few minutes before getting back up to carry India forward.The opening stand was worth 51, India’s second best in the World Cup, when Chand was bowled by a slower ball from Connor Neynens, who had been driven to the straight and cover boundaries in his previous over, the 12th. Chopra carried on, forging another half-century partnership with Baba Aparajith, hitting the legspinner Ish Sodhi for a huge six over long-off.Aparajith batted sensibly for the second consecutive innings, focusing on pushing the ball into gaps in the sizeable outfield and running hard. He maintained a healthy strike-rate despite hitting only two boundaries, while Chopra made up for his slow start with firm blows. They added 81 for the second wicket, the first time India have had consecutive half-century stands in five matches.On 52, Chopra lofted Nuttall to wide mid-on only to see Young fly through the air with one hand outstretched and catch the ball. India were 132 for 2 and they lost ground after that, with the left-arm spinner Ben Horne taking 3 for 20 to help limit India to 209 for 9.There wasn’t as much swing for India’s new ball bowlers but that did not prevent Sandeep Sharma and Kamal Passi from bowling tight lines and lengths. New Zealand did not lose early wickets, though, with Joe Carter doing most of the scoring. Michael Davidson took 16 balls to get off the mark.After losing Davidson with the score on 29, New Zealand progressed to 53 for 1 when they lost three wickets in three overs and slipped to 63 for 4. They were always behind the chase after that. Harmeet Singh took two of those wickets with flighted deliveries that spun away from the right-hander. Horne closed the face and got the leading edge to point, and Young edged to slip. Between those dismissals, Ravikant Singh dismissed the well-set Carter for 30.Harmeet and Aparajith slowed New Zealand down tremendously: Harmeet bowling slower and turning the ball, while Aparajith was flatter and more economical. Between them they took 3 for 59 in 20 overs.There was a whiteboard in the New Zealand dug out that had the comparative scores for India and them for every five-over block. Harmeet and Aparajith bowled consecutive maidens and after the 35th, New Zealand were 115 for 4, needing 95 off 90 balls. India had been 136 for 2.Though India did not finish as strongly as they would have liked when they batted, their bowlers ensured New Zealand were simply unable to accelerate. Their challenge ended when Sandeep bowled Cam Fletcher, who had batted solidly once again for 53, in the 48th over.