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Lizaad Williams, Kyle Verreynne, Keegan Petersen, Sarel Erwee and Marco Jansen also part of Dean Elgar’s line-up

ESPNcricinfo staff18-May-2021Uncapped offspinning-allrounder Prenelan Subrayen and fast bowler Lizaad Williams, who recently made his T20I debut, have received maiden call-ups to the South Africa Test squad for the two-match series against West Indies in St Lucia in June. Kyle Verreynne, Keegan Petersen, Sarel Erwee and Marco Jansen are the other uncapped picks in the line-up of 19, to be led by Dean Elgar for the first time.

South Africa’s schedule

In West Indies
June 10: 1st Test
June 18: 2nd Test
June 26: 1st T20I
June 27: 2nd T20I
June 29: 3rd T20I
July 1: 4th T20I
July 3: 5th T20I

In Ireland
July 11: 1st ODI
July 13: 2nd ODI
July 16: 3rd ODI
July 20: 1st T20I
July 22: 2nd T20I
July 25: 3rd T20I

The white-ball squads, now led by Temba Bavuma, for the fixtures against West Indies and Ireland has also been announced, and included few surprises, with Sisanda Magala and Williams, who were blooded in the recent series against Pakistan, retained. A total of 19 players will travel for the series of five T20Is in the Caribbean, and Keshav Maharaj will join the squad for the games in Ireland afterwards.Subrayen, 27, finished third in the wicket-takers’ list at the 2020-21 CSA Franchise 4-Day Cup with 19 strikes in four matches at an average of 18.89, and best returns of 6 for 24. That helped him get into a spin-bowling pack that also includes Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi and George Linde as frontline spinners.Related

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“The Caribbean [South Africa are travelling there for a bilateral tour in 11 years] is well-known for its low and slow wickets and we have ensured that we have chosen the personnel needed for every eventuality on this very important excursion,” explained CSA convenor of selectors Victor Mpitsang in a press statement. “While there aren’t any (World Test Championship) points to play for, it is still of vital importance for South Africa to produce winning results through a steadily growing and high-performing cricket pipeline.While the tour of West Indies runs from June 10 to July 3 – two Test matches to start with, followed by five T20Is – the series of three ODIs and three T20Is in Ireland begin on July 11 and end on July 25.”The historic tour to Ireland is crucial for points towards our qualification for the 2023 Cricket World Cup and preparation for the T20 World Cup later this year,” Mpitsang added. “This is the start of our road to these trophies and every tour will see us field our absolute best sides.”The team has been in a rebuilding phase for a while now but we are satisfied that the return on investment is going to show itself sooner rather than later. We have to trust the process that has been put in place and support our team while they find themselves and their way. These are truly exciting times in South African cricket, with an exciting new leadership group that is determined to return the team back to its winning ways.”Squads
Test: Dean Elgar (capt), Temba Bavuma (vice-capt), Quinton de Kock (wk), Sarel Erwee, Beuran Hendricks, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Anrich Nortje, Keegan Peterson, Kagiso Rabada, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lizaad Williams, Prenelan Subrayen, Marco Jansen.
T20Is and ODIs: Temba Bavuma (capt), Quinton de Kock (wk), Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj (only for Ireland), Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams.

South Africa’s Richard Levi took home the ICC’s T20I Performance of the Year award for his knock of 117 not out off 51 balls against New Zealand, in Auckland, in February

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Sep-2012South Africa’s Richard Levi took home the ICC’s T20I Performance of the Year award for his innings of 117 not out off 51 balls against New Zealand, in Auckland in February. That effort broke Chris Gayle’s record for the fastest century in international T20s – Levi got to the mark in 45 balls.In that game Levi, playing only his second international match, also hit the most sixes in an international Twenty20 innings: 13.”I don’t remember much of the innings but I regularly get reminded of it,” Levi said after collecting his award. “With T20 cricket it either comes off or it doesn’t and for me it came off that day. I’m looking forward to playing Sri Lanka when the ICC World Twenty20 gets underway. It’s very humbling to get [this award].”It was the only award on the day for South Africa, with Hashim Amla and Vernon Philander missing out on a couple of top honours. Cricket South Africa congratulated Levi for his achievement. “It was a phenomenal performance and one that is going to be talked about for years to come,” CSA acting CEO Jacques Faul said. “To win the award he had to beat off serious competition.”Levi’s century was picked over Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan (nominated for his century against Australia last August) and Ajantha Mendis (for his six-for against Australia during the same series), and West Indies’ Chris Gayle (for his unbeaten 85 against New Zealand in Florida) in the category.

BCB also on lookout for shortened quarantine for Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman

Mohammad Isam08-May-2021BCB have to navigate through a delicate period in the coming two weeks to hold the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka ODI series later this month. Although the board officially announced the dates of the three matches, the country’s Covid-19 rules could influence a couple of crucial factors.From a cricketing point of view, it is not yet clear whether Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman will have to do a 14-day quarantine, which is the ongoing government directive for anyone arriving from India. They are currently in two separate hotels in Dhaka, having arrived on May 6. If they have do the two-week isolation, they will only have three days to prepare for the first ODI on May 23.So far, Shakib has cleared the first of multiple Covid-19 tests with a negative result while Rahman awaits his result. BCB’s chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said that they are working on shortening their quarantine, but it is a longer process for sportspersons.”We are working step by step,” Chowdhury said. “Those coming from India have a different, more difficult protocol. We are hopeful of hearing a good result. One has to keep in mind that we are not getting any special privilege. International cricket has a different protocol during these times. Generally a person who arrives in a passenger aircraft has to do one test and follow the government protocol. They don’t have to do another test.”Those taking part in sporting events have to follow a particular protocol, take those tests at the prescribed time. They can only take part when they are negative in those tests. It is not the same protocol for general people.”The other quarantine that might put them in an even bigger difficulty is for the broadcast crew. The BCB doesn’t have a permanent media rights holder since their agreement with Gazi TV expired last year. They have invited fresh bids for a two-year deal on April 28, for which the bidding process will take place on May 17The Bangladesh-Sri Lanka ODI series is part of the deal, which means whoever wins the bid, will technically have five days to bring the crew. Usually the BCB and Bangladeshi companies hire crew from India and South Africa. Individuals arriving from these countries have to go through 14-day quarantine, according to local health protocol.”This is definitely a challenge. We are trying to work with the government protocol to bring the crew. We are also looking at other options. We might bring crew from other countries where cricket is being currently played,” said Chowdhury.He however ruled out any possibility of the series being rescheduled. “There is no possibility of the series being rescheduled. Of course there are challenges,” he said.The good news is that the Bangladesh players who arrived from Sri Lanka on May 4, can take part in the training camp at the Shere Bangla National Stadium after a negative Covid-19 test.”We have the green signal about the cricketers from Sri Lanka. We are hopeful that they can join training within a day or two after testing negative,” said Chowdhury.

From 166 for 2 chasing 244, Pakistan disintegrated to 179 for 9 in less than four overs to go down by 44 runs

The Report by Abhishek Purohit16-Jun-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsIn 38 ODIs, Thisara Perera has been Man of the Match five times•AFP

Smart stats

• Thisara Perera’s hat-trick was the seventh by a Sri Lankan bowler and the first by a Sri Lankan against Pakistan. Lasith Malinga and Chaminda Vaas have taken three and two hat-tricks respectively.

• In the Pakistan innings, six batsmen were dismissed for a duck. This is the third such occurrence (six ducks in an innings) for Pakistan after Birmingham (1987) and Cape Town (1993).

• From a position of 169 for 3, Pakistan lost their next six wickets for ten runs. The partnership aggregate between the fourth and ninth wickets (13 runs) is the lowest ever for Pakistan and the third-lowest overall.

• Sri Lanka now have an even win-loss record (6-6) at the Premadasa stadium against Pakistan. Against India, they have won 15 matches, the most against a particular opposition at the venue.

• The 110-run stand between Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene for the fourth wicket is their 13th century partnership in ODIs. Among Sri Lankan pairs, only the Sanath Jayasuriya-Marvan Atapattu one is ahead (14 century stands).

• Sangakkara was dismissed in the nineties for the third time in ODIs. It is also the ninth time a Sri Lankan batsman has fallen in the nineties against Pakistan.

• Azhar Ali became only the ninth player overall and the second Pakistan batsman after Saeed Anwar to carry his bat through a completed innings.

• The 113-run stand between Azhar and Misbah-ul-Haq is joint-fifth on the list of top third-wicket stands for Pakistan against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan have been abysmal chasers in recent years in ODI cricket. Three hours of accumulation offered hope that tonight wouldn’t end in another failed pursuit. And then, as if all the accumulation had stretched their patience too taut, the dam broke. From 166 for 2 chasing 244, Pakistan disintegrated to 179 for 9. In less than four overs. Thisara Perera followed up his 6 for 44 in the second ODI with a hat-trick. Pakistan registered six ducks, and their 15th defeat in 18 chases of 240-plus in the last three years.In the end, the match was decided in the two batting Powerplays, with Sri Lanka surging in both. A cramping Azhar Ali, who became the first player to carry his bat in ODIs in more than a decade, and Misbah-ul-Haq had put on 113 for the third wicket, leaving Pakistan with 78 to get from 76 deliveries. In the 37th over, the second of the batting Powerplay, Misbah refused a tight single with Ali having run more than half way up the pitch. The effort required to get back worsened Ali’s cramp, making it harder for him to accelerate, like Kumar Sangakkara had earlier after a similar slow fifty.Three balls later, Misbah departed for an efficient 57, with Nuwan Kulasekara taking a sharp low catch at mid-off off Lasith Malinga’s bowling. Umar Gul had put down a much easier chance at long-on off Sangakkara, who went on to add 62 off 48. Malinga stepped it up after Misbah’s departure, pegging Umar Akmal back with three successive sharp bouncers. Akmal drove at and edged his fourth, off Kulasekara, to the wicketkeeper.The fight had gone out of Pakistan. Younis Khan, held back till No. 6, edged a rising Perera delivery to the keeper. Shahid Afridi either explodes or implodes. He did the latter, punching his first ball to extra cover. Sarfraz Ahmed obliged Perera with the hat-trick, guiding him to slip. The persevering Ali was reduced to a spectator, all his hard work undone in minutes of chaos.Like Sri Lanka, Pakistan hadn’t found run-scoring easy in the first half of their chase, but Ali and Misbah kept the visitors going, taking their team to 100 four overs earlier than Sri Lanka had.Pakistan’s top order continued its wobbly ways when Mohammad Hafeez collected his fifth duck in his last 12 international innings, pulling his fifth delivery from Malinga to long leg. Kulasekara kept Ali and Asad Shafiq under pressure with a probing opening spell of five overs for just 16 runs.Still, like Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan had for Sri Lanka, Ali and Shafiq ensured Pakistan weren’t bogged down completely. It was the left-arm spinner Sajeewa Weerakoon, bowling for the first time in international cricket in his second ODI, who got the breakthrough with his 10th delivery, trapping Shafiq in front on 25 with a slider. The combination of Ali and Misbah was never going to blaze away, but it made sure the asking-rate stayed below six, and under control, finding the boundary just when required. Little did they know of the pandemonium that was to ensue.Not remotely on the same scale, but Pakistan had fallen apart in the field too after being disciplined for more than three-fifths of Sri Lanka’s innings. Gul dropped Sangakkara off Afridi, when on 35 off 82 deliveries. Then came the batting Powerplay. Sangakkara carted 62 off his last 48 deliveries, and Sri Lanka reached the kind of total Pakistan have struggled to chase in recent years.Till Sangakkara was put down in the 31st over, Sri Lanka had been tied down, first by Pakistan’s fast bowlers, and then by their spinners. Sangakkara and Dilshan did add 55 for the second wicket, but they were hard-earned runs, and Dilshan’s departure immediately after the first drinks break meant Sri Lanka had to continue with their cautious approach. The absence of scoring opportunities consumed Dinesh Chandimal as well, after which the expected rain came down to force a 70-minute break.Pakistan’s spinners continued with the run-squeeze after the rain interruption. The next few overs were quiet, but Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene took complete charge in the batting Powerplay, which went for 49. Gul, who was feeling some pain in his right index finger, was to suffer the most. He had given just 16 off his first five overs; he disappeared for 26 in two overs in the batting Powerplay. Sangakkara stepped out to launch the first ball of Gul’s second spell for a straight six. When Gul overdid the bouncer in the next over, Sangakkara pulled him for six more over fine leg.Sangakkara dominated the 110-run fourth-wicket partnership with Jayawardene, who played some innovative strokes. He was quick to lap-sweep and sweep the spinners, and even reverse-pulled Saeed Ajmal for four over point. Pakistan managed to dismiss the duo in the 44th and 45th overs to limit the damage, but most of it had already been inflicted. Pakistan’s self-destruction later sealed the issue.

Experienced commissioner will lead appointment process for other members

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Mar-2021The ECB’s board have appointed Cindy Butts as chair of the newly-established Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, which was unveiled in November as part of the board’s measures to drive out discrimination and increase diversity across the game.Butts, whose other roles include serving on parliamentary committees and membership of Kick It Out’s board of trustees, will work with the ECB board to “finalise the terms of reference” for the commission, and will lead the appointment process for other roles within it.The commission “will independently gather and assess the evidence of inequalities and discrimination of all forms within cricket and identify the actions the ECB will need to take to tackle these issues”, according to an ECB statement.The creation of the commission was announced in late 2020 following claims of institutional racism within the English game by several high-profile figures, including former England international Michael Carberry, the former Yorkshire spinner Azeem Rafiq, and the former Test umpire John Holder. Only this week, the ECB was accused of ignoring the Rooney Rule when appointing a new elite performance pathway coach.Ian Watmore, the ECB’s chairman, said: “The creation of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket is an important step in our ambition to make cricket a game for everyone. Cindy is extremely well-qualified to lead this work and will bring empathy, rigour and practical experience to the deliberations and recommendations of the commission.”Butts said: “I’m excited to be bringing together my lifelong love of cricket with my passion for equity and inclusion, to lead this work for the ECB. Over the coming months we will be looking to hear from a wide range of people who share a love of cricket, whether as spectators, players, coaches or administrators both present and past.”While it’s important we preserve the best of cricket’s traditions, it is also important we identify ways it can evolve and innovate to attract and welcome diverse communities who can make an impact in all areas and at all levels of the game.”I am committed to ensuring that cricket has a bright future in this country.”Brenda Trenowden, the senior independent director of the ECB, will lead the board’s engagement with the commission. “Promoting equity, diversity and inclusion across the game is critical to the success of our game-wide strategy, Inspiring Generations, and our purpose of connecting communities through cricket,” Trenowden said.”Whilst we have taken a number of positive steps forward over recent years, we recognise that there is still a lot of work to do in this area. The commission will play a valuable role in helping us to really listen and understand the reality of the inclusion challenges in the game, so that we can focus our efforts to ensure that more people can say that cricket is a game for me.”

Adam Hollioake is unsure whether he will continue his cage-fighting career after his professional debut ended in a draw on Saturday

Peter English05-May-2012Adam Hollioake, the former England one-day captain, is unsure whether he will continue his cage-fighting career after his professional debut ended in a draw on Saturday.Hollioake, who played four Tests and 35 ODIs, was buzzing after his three-round mixed martial arts bout in Australia, claiming the high was greater than any moment in his 17-year cricket journey.However, he was left wishing he was fitter after running out of stamina towards the end of the nine-minute contest with Queensland’s Joel Miller.”In hindsight I would have taken a bit longer to prepare for this,” he said. “I made a silly mistake in the first round and that cost me. I won the second round and the third round was a non-event really.”The next combat steps depend on Hollioake’s wife Sherryn, who had a cage-side seat and wasn’t comfortable with the spectacle.”I’ll do what she says,” he said when asked if he’ll fight again.

Allrounder admits chances of playing are “quite slim” despite eagerness to fill Ben Stokes-shaped hole

Andrew Miller12-Jan-2021Had it not been for an ill-starred bout of car-pooling en route from Birmingham to Heathrow Airport, Chris Woakes might well have been sizing up a golden opportunity to extend his all-round credentials against Sri Lanka, and offer England the seam-bowling balance they will be so sorely lacking in the absence of Ben Stokes.Instead, having spent seven days in quarantine as a precautionary measure following Moeen Ali’s positive test for Covid-19, Woakes has effectively ruled himself out of contention for Thursday’s first Test at Galle. And while an adherence to social-distancing protocols during his minibus trip with Moeen ensured he avoided picking up the virus himself, he concedes that a surfeit of caution was understandable after finally being “let back out into the wild”.”I’ve had no symptoms for myself thankfully,” he said. “Once I started self-isolating you do start to worry, because you don’t know down the line at what point those symptoms are about to start. Every time I woke up in the morning I was double-checking myself to make sure I didn’t have any symptoms and thankfully I haven’t had any. Obviously I’ve had four negative tests in the last week. It’s become the norm now, but not having four tests a week would be ideal to be honest.”Woakes was released from his hotel room on Saturday, and had his first outing in the nets on Monday. However, given the oppressive, humid conditions that England are set to face in their two back-to-back contests in Galle, as well as the challenge of a four-Test campaign in India next month, he is prepared to accept that time is not on his side this week.”It was a tricky seven days,” Woakes said. “People are quarantining all around the world at the minute – I don’t know how the guys did it going to Australia and doing 14 days – but it’s good to be back amongst the group and obviously good to be back out on the training field, doing what I’m supposed to be doing, which is what I’m here for.”It is not as though Woakes needs to prove his credentials to the England management after a stellar 18 months – starting with his role in England’s World Cup victory, of course, but culminating in a series of telling displays with bat and ball across formats and conditions. He claimed a matchwinning five-wicket haul against West Indies at Old Trafford and a vital unbeaten 84 at the same venue against Pakistan, while he also showcased a new-found confidence overseas in his two appearances against New Zealand and South Africa last winter.And given the allrounder-laden methods that secured England a 3-0 series win on their last completed tour of Sri Lanka in 2018-19, Woakes would have been the obvious candidate to slot in at No. 7 in Stokes’ absence. Instead, he will have to settle for getting his training up to speed, and ensuring he is ready for the next opportunity, which could come quickly given the likely need to rotate England’s seamers in a tightly packed winter itinerary.Related

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“I only had my first bowl yesterday, when the guys have been bowling for nearly a week before I have,” Woakes said. “Which obviously frustrates my side of things. It puts me back a little bit and the chances of me playing are probably quite slim. I was certainly a little bit sore this morning but today’s session was much better and I felt better for it. So I’m getting there but probably need a little bit more in the tank.”We haven’t played much cricket leading into this either, so it would be a potential injury risk, definitely more so in these conditions,” he added. “It is hot, it is sweaty and it does take a little bit of time to get used to that. I suppose the only bonus we do have is in conditions like this we don’t bowl as much as fast bowlers – generally short spells – and I have that on my side a little bit.”I was turning up on tour hoping to push for a place in the starting XI. Whether that happened was obviously out of my control but with no Stokesy here, it emphasises that allrounder role which myself or Sam Curran could fill to balance the team, and I was looking forward to trying to push my case.”I am still obviously looking to do that. Whether this week comes too soon, that’s probably likely, but going forward I can hopefully force my way in. It’s a little frustrating that I can’t do that for this Test, but I have got my head round the situation.”Asked about the hardships that he and his fellow locked-down cricketers were facing in the current climate, Woakes responded: “Yeah, of course. We’re here to play cricket. Don’t get me wrong, there are times you start thinking ‘is this is a bit over the top?’ but everyone is going through the same: we’re all learning day by day. And the most important thing is we’re getting the opportunity to play cricket.”I think it is worth it, I think we’ve got no other choice at the moment as well. We’re very fortunate at the fact use can still travel and play international sport. There are lot of people desperate to see sport so we’re part of that entertainment business and we’ve got a job to do.”England are getting used to a lifestyle of cricket behind closed doors, but the coming week may feel particularly unusual given how ubiquitous the scene at Galle has become on previous England tours – with the Unesco-heritage Dutch fort providing one of the sport’s most iconic backdrops, and the stands habitually packed with England fans and flags.”It’s a lovely ground isn’t it?” Woakes said. “I was here on the last tour when we won 3-0, and I remember the Barmy Army travelled in high numbers. It’s a great place to play as an England cricketer because you get great support, the ground’s packed, there’s people sat on top of the fort and it’s just very picturesque.”It’s going to look a lot different this week with no one around and no crowd, which is a shame. But we know everyone will be supporting us from back home, which is great.”

Zimbabwe believe there is enough time in the game to win and are, hence, willing to forego the helpful early morning bowling conditions they might enjoy by declaring overnight

Firdose Moonda in Harare19-Apr-2013Zimbabwe believe there is enough time in the game to win and are, hence, willing to forego the helpful early morning bowling conditions they might enjoy by declaring overnight.They are holding out solely for Brendan Taylor’s second century of the match, which will put him level with Andy and Grant Flower as the only Zimbabweans to score a hundred in each innings of a Test. “There are still two days to go, so hopefully Brendan gets his milestone and then we can put them straight in,” Kyle Jarvis said.Although the first three days have proved batting is most difficult early on, Zimbabwe feel they need not rely on that to trigger a collapse similar to what they achieved in the first innings. Jarvis and Shingi Masakadza, who took four wickets each, are confident the surface will retain its “up-and-down,” tendencies, as Robiul Islam put it, and it will be up to them to exploit it.”Yesterday, we tried to do too much when the wicket could do it for us,” Jarvis said. “There wasn’t a huge change in the wicket, just a change in our lengths today.” Jarvis was guilty of bowling too full and the whole attack offered width to Bangladesh’s line-up, despite the knowledge that the opposition batsmen enjoy playing expansively.When they cut out the run-scoring opportunities and put pressure on Bangladesh, they had success. Masakadza said he “definitely,” felt as though it was just a waiting game and that he knew if Zimbabwe were willing to ride it out for longer than Bangladesh, wickets would fall. “You have to try and be patient, which we didn’t do so well last night,” Masakadza said. “They looked like they wanted to play their shots so when you get that jaffa, or that one with the extra bounce, it can take the edge.”By cramping Bangladesh’s batsmen for room, Zimbabwe’s bowlers forced them into errors, like Ashraful’s mistimed pull and Mahmudullah’s inside-edge. That left the tail for Jarvis, who has developed into a go-to man. “I have a lot more experience now than I had before,” Jarvis said. “I see myself as a bit of a leader of the bowling group, so I guess there’s a little bit more pressure on me as well.”That’s not nearly as much as the pressure on the Bangladesh batsmen, who will need to achieve a world-record chase to win the match and will need to bat for at least five sessions to draw. Robiul, who single-handedly brought them back into the game, found a way to see the positive side in that. “If we can get Zimbabwe out in the first hour and the lead will be something like 480, with one-and-a-half days of batting, it’s still possible,” Robiul said.It’s that length of time that Zimbabwe believe gives them the advantage, because even though it’s long enough for runs to be scored, the tale of the first innings suggests differently. Its evidence suggests that the bowlers, if they continue to frustrate their opposition, are likely to evoke a rash response which will result in wickets.When Zimbabwe did the same thing, they also wobbled in their second innings. The best way to approach batting on this pitch is the way Zimbabwe did in the first innings and the way Taylor, in particular, has gone about his work. He displayed the Test match temperament required to excel at this level. “He has survived, even though we bowled well, which our batsmen didn’t manage to do,” Robiul conceded. “It’s going to be difficult for us but it is still possible.”

A stunning 69 from Chamara Kapugedara propelled Uthura Rudras to a compelling first victory, as they overhauled Basnahira Cricket Dundee’s score of 150 with four wickets and four balls remaining

The Report by Andrew Fernando21-Aug-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Rilee Rossouw’s 44 for Basnahira Cricket Dundee was in vain•Shaun Roy/SPORTZPICS/SLPL

A stunning 69 from Chamara Kapugedara propelled Uthura Rudras to a compelling first victory, as they overhauled Basnahira Cricket Dundee’s score of 150 with four wickets and four balls remaining. The chase seemed kaput when Dillon du Preez walked to the crease at 86 for 6 in 13.4 overs but he helped keep the Rudras’ heads above the rising run rate, until Kapugedara launched the winning offensive. Rudras’ win means the bottom four teams of the competition are all still statistical possibilities for a semi-final berth.Kapugedara has been one of the mighty disappointments for Sri Lanka on the international stage, having impressed and been selected for Sri Lanka at a young age, but never having translated talent into results. At the domestic level though, innings like Tuesday’s will make him difficult for the selectors to ignore for the World Twenty20. He had ambled to 21 from 22 balls, perhaps because of the clutter of wickets at the other end that left the Rudras with 64 to win from 6 overs and only four wickets in hand. But in the company of du Preez, Kapugedara built quickly to the deluge of boundaries that would win the match. The pair scrambled ones and twos in the 15th over, before Kapugedara smote a four from the 16thand a six over midwicket in the 17th. Still, with 37 required from the last three overs, victory was still a distance away for the Rudras.The surge to the finish came in the next eight balls. Du Preez crashed a four over extra cover, before giving the strike to Kapugedara, who whittled down a daunting demand to a simple saunter to victory in three mighty blows. The first six off Dammika Prasad flew high and straight. Thilan Thushara then missed his length in the first ball of the penultimate over and Kapugedara blasted it over cover. The charging six over midwicket to bring the rate down to a run a ball was filled with the kind of audacity he has rarely shown at the top level. If he is selected for the World Twenty20 squad, perhaps Kapugedara should take further confidence in the fact that both the bowlers he mauled to turn the game have played for Sri Lanka. The final six to win the game, with one run required off five, was almost obnoxious.Despite their poor overall record at the tournament, the Rudras’ bowling has largely been encouraging. Muttiah Muralitharan has missed the last two matches due to a family wedding in India, but as in the loss to Uva Next on Sunday, the young attack performed creditably in his absence. Madushanka Ekanayake recovered from a poor first over to remove Tillakaratne Dilshan, just as the batsman had greased his innings into motion with a scooped six. Chathuranga Peiris turned in four tight overs of his own, while du Preez was the most economical of the group, going at only 4.25 an over.Thushara, Rangana Herath and Prasad had bowled well to get their side into a winning position, but Cricket Dundee could not resist the Kapugedara onslaught that now sees them fighting to stay alive in a tournament they had been one of the favourites to win.

Ricky Ponting is not afraid of failing in his attempt to go to England for a final tilt at the Ashes in 2013, and has made it clear that he will go on playing Test cricket for Australia for as long as he possibly can

Daniel Brettig21-Feb-2012Ricky Ponting is not afraid of failing in his attempt to go to England for a final tilt at the Ashes in 2013, and has made it clear that he will go on playing Test cricket for Australia for as long as he possibly can.A summary dismissal from the ODI team has provided Ponting, 37, with the sharp reminder that he will have to perform or perish. But he gave every indication he would go on in Test cricket for as long as possible, even if it meant the end may come in similar circumstances to those Ponting found himself in at the SCG, answering questions the day after the national selector John Inverarity’s phone call.”I’ve always been of the belief that I don’t mind people trying things and failing. That’s the way I’m looking at it as well,” Ponting said. “I tried my best over the last five games to be the best player I could be and to win games of cricket for Australia, unfortunately I couldn’t do that and I failed, and I’ve been dropped from the one-day side.”To tell the honest truth I didn’t really see this coming either, I had no communication from the selectors that it might’ve happened through this series, but it’s my job as an international batsman to score runs and I haven’t done that in the last few games.”Only if it ends badly [can I be too proud], but I’m backing myself to finish the game and finish my career on a high, I don’t want to finish on a low, and I’ll make the right decision at the right time, there’s no doubt about that.”It’d be great to get back to the Ashes. If I’m a good enough player to do that then it’d be great to go back there one more time and hopefully have a few better memories of England than what I’ve had the last couple of tours. Everybody is [after redemption], as far as Ashes cricket is concerned.”Ponting faced his first day as a Test-match-only concern with typical frankness and a level outlook. He said he had not considered retirement from the game upon losing his ODI place, but had pondered how he might manage his time now that he will not have the benefit of limited-overs series to keep him sharp between Test assignments.There is the chance that fewer international matches will keep Ponting fresher and more focused for those he does play, leaving him more time to spend with a young family, while also helping to mentor the next generation in the Sheffield Shield.”It could do that [prolong my Test career], there’s two ways you can look at that,” Ponting said. “Am I better off having momentum behind me with playing more cricket, and scoring runs on a consistent basis, or am I better off getting away for a long period of time, freshening up, training hard, getting my game in good shape and playing.”I won’t know that until the start of next summer if I make it that far. I won’t have a long break now as I have a couple of Shield games to play, there’ll be a week after the Shield final, hopefully Tasmania can make the Shield final then I’ll have a week at home, then the West Indies and we’re straight into a tour game and Test matches there. Post-West Indies when there’s a big break between then and November, that’ll be a test of how I manage my time.”The thing I thought about most yesterday was how I was going to manage my time and to be well prepared to play every Test match that I play for the remainder of my career. Obviously now with no more one day international cricket that becomes a little bit more difficult for me, but there are other players around Australia at the moment that play Test match cricket only. I’ve seen it in the past with Steve Waugh, Mark Taylor, David Boon and those guys when they retired from one day cricket, they managed to play Test match cricket only and play it well.”Though he had not been told explicitly by Inverarity that he was close to being dropped ahead of the event, Ponting said he bore no ill will towards the selectors for how they had handled his ODI exit, and praised the panel for its approach this summer.”I think the selectors are doing a great job around the team at the moment,” Ponting said. “They’ve brought in some younger, fresher faces which I think was needed. They’ve had the courage I guess to try some of those guys who might not necessarily have been the best performed players around state cricket as well. As far as selection is concerned, the players are always their only selector. If you’re a batsman and you’re scoring runs you’re going to be in the side, if you’re not scoring runs then you’re a chance to be left out.”As the only man to have played in more than 100 Test match victories, Ponting’s thirst for such moments is unrivalled. He will now spend time in Shield cricket before the West Indies tour, adding to the Tasmanian dressing room what has just been lost to Australia’s.”I’ve done my best to make sure that every young player that comes into the team has a great understanding of what it means to play cricket for Australia and what levels they have to get to physically and mentally to be good international players,” Ponting said. “I think a few of the guys we had come into the set-up in the one day series this year were quite shocked and surprised about how hard we work around the team and how fit you need to be to be a part of the Australian side. Now I’m not there, some of the more experienced guys have got to start passing those traditions down to the younger blokes.”I’ve always been a traditionalist, I’ve loved every opportunity I’ve had to play cricket for Australia, whether it be one day cricket, Twenty20 or Test cricket. All I’ve got left is Test cricket and I want to make every post a winner with that, and make sure that every time I have a chance to play for Australia I’m the best prepared I can be and I enjoy every moment.”