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Cricket Highlights : Australia V South Africa - 1St Test (Day 03) - 2/28/2009 9:15:10 PM
Debutant Phillip Hughes played a number of streaky shots but still led Australia to 51 for one and a lead of 297 at stumps on the third day of the first test against South Africa on Saturday. Bad light intervened 35 minutes after tea and ate up 31 overs of play putting an end to a day of Australian dominance. The 20-year-old Hughes, who made a duck in the first innings, showed aggressive intent and survived a few anxious moments at the crease, to reach 36 not out with seven fours. South Africa claimed the wicket of his fellow opener, Simon Katich, caught behind for 10 off a fine delivery from Morne Morkel, but could not make another telling breakthrough. Australia captain Ricky Ponting was the other unbeaten batsman, with a single to his name. Earlier, a top-class unbeaten century by AB de Villiers could not stop Australia taking a huge first-innings lead. South Africa were bowled out for just 220 runs 50 minutes before tea to concede a lead of 246. De Villiers, who resumed on his overnight score of 13, lasted to the end of the innings as he scored 104 not out in 285 minutes off 185 balls for his eighth century in his 50th test.
Opener Neil McKenzie was the next highest scorer with 36 and only three other batsmen reached double figures. Australia's left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson was the chief destroyer with top-class figures of four for 25 in 18.1 overs. Ponting declined to enforce the follow-on and forecast that rain showers will be South Africa's best hope of making the game safe. Johnson was well-supported by a fiery Peter Siddle, who took three for 76 in 21 overs. The two pacemen found top gear as they reduced South Africa to 158 for eight at lunch. The 25-year-old De Villiers was the last specialist batsman and had scored a defiant, level-headed 63 not out. He moved to his century in the company of last man Makhaya Ntini, powering a pull off Ben Hilfenhaus through mid-wicket for his eighth four, to go with a six off spinner Marcus North. Five balls later, Johnson blasted a delivery through Ntini to bowl him for a single and end the innings. De Villiers and Dale Steyn had produced stirring resistance to add 52 for the ninth wicket but Steyn could not reproduce his heroics of the series-clinching Melbourne test in December and Andrew McDonald had him caught at slip for 17.
Johnson struck twice in one over 45 minutes before lunch to derail the South African innings. JP Duminy, the 24-year-old playing his fourth test but first at home, was caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for 17 as a Johnson short ball got big on him, and Haddin then claimed an edge three balls later from Mark Boucher. The South African wicketkeeper appealed against the decision but third umpire Asad Rauf found no evidence to change Billy Bowden's verdict and Boucher was out for a duck to leave South Africa in tatters on 138 for six. De Villiers went to a three-hour half-century soon afterwards but, as the safety of lunch neared, South Africa lost two more quick wickets. Morkel scored just two before he mis-hit a pull shot and presented an easy return catch to Siddle, while off-spinner North won an lbw decision against Paul Harris (1).
McKenzie, who was threatening an innings of major resistance, having occupied the crease for 171 minutes and 125 balls in scoring 36, saw his defiance end when Siddle trapped him leg-before with a delivery that nipped back into him. McKenzie appealed his decision but was unsuccessful and, with Boucher using up South Africa's other referral, Harris could not get a second life even though the ball appeared to strike his toe on the full outside off stump.
Opener Neil McKenzie was the next highest scorer with 36 and only three other batsmen reached double figures. Australia's left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson was the chief destroyer with top-class figures of four for 25 in 18.1 overs. Ponting declined to enforce the follow-on and forecast that rain showers will be South Africa's best hope of making the game safe. Johnson was well-supported by a fiery Peter Siddle, who took three for 76 in 21 overs. The two pacemen found top gear as they reduced South Africa to 158 for eight at lunch. The 25-year-old De Villiers was the last specialist batsman and had scored a defiant, level-headed 63 not out. He moved to his century in the company of last man Makhaya Ntini, powering a pull off Ben Hilfenhaus through mid-wicket for his eighth four, to go with a six off spinner Marcus North. Five balls later, Johnson blasted a delivery through Ntini to bowl him for a single and end the innings. De Villiers and Dale Steyn had produced stirring resistance to add 52 for the ninth wicket but Steyn could not reproduce his heroics of the series-clinching Melbourne test in December and Andrew McDonald had him caught at slip for 17.
Johnson struck twice in one over 45 minutes before lunch to derail the South African innings. JP Duminy, the 24-year-old playing his fourth test but first at home, was caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for 17 as a Johnson short ball got big on him, and Haddin then claimed an edge three balls later from Mark Boucher. The South African wicketkeeper appealed against the decision but third umpire Asad Rauf found no evidence to change Billy Bowden's verdict and Boucher was out for a duck to leave South Africa in tatters on 138 for six. De Villiers went to a three-hour half-century soon afterwards but, as the safety of lunch neared, South Africa lost two more quick wickets. Morkel scored just two before he mis-hit a pull shot and presented an easy return catch to Siddle, while off-spinner North won an lbw decision against Paul Harris (1).
McKenzie, who was threatening an innings of major resistance, having occupied the crease for 171 minutes and 125 balls in scoring 36, saw his defiance end when Siddle trapped him leg-before with a delivery that nipped back into him. McKenzie appealed his decision but was unsuccessful and, with Boucher using up South Africa's other referral, Harris could not get a second life even though the ball appeared to strike his toe on the full outside off stump.
Cricket Highlights : England V West Indies - 4Th Test (Day 02) - 2/28/2009 9:15:07 PM
Ravi Bopara marked his first Test since 2007 with a maiden century as England posted 600-6 declared on day two of the fourth Test against West Indies. James Anderson removed Chris Gayle lbw after a TV referral but the hosts had reached 85-1 by stumps in Barbados.Bopara (104) shared stands of 149 with Collingwood (94) and Tim Ambrose (76no) before the tourists declared. They had resumed the day on 301-3 and, despite Kevin Pietersen falling early for 41, put on 299 in 63.2 overs. England captain Andrew Strauss will be happy with how the day panned out for his side, who made 600 for the first time since 2003 and only the second time ever in the Caribbean. They scored heavily and quickly to amass a huge total and then bowled with discipline and variety to make inroads into the West Indian batting line-up. Strauss must now hope for a steady stream of wickets on day three and will be buoyed by the knowledge that England, 1-0 down in the five-match series, have time and runs on their side. West Indies batsmen Devon Smith (37no) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (40no) need to continue laying a solid foundation from which their side can build if they are to remain in contention.
The hosts made a positive start on Friday morning when Edwards (3-152) trapped Pietersen plumb in front of his stumps and, despite a frivolous referral to the third umpire, the batsman was correctly given his marching orders. Pietersen, who was dropped on 20 by Jerome Taylor the previous evening, struggled for rhythm and had already edged Taylor just short of Gayle at first slip before he was ousted. Bopara looked class, seemed to have plenty of time whilst batting and looks like he's modelled himself on Tendulkar. It was important for England to negotiate their way through a venomous spell from Taylor and Edwards but things could have got worse when new man Bopara miscued Edwards to Taylor at square leg. Fortunately for Bopara - keen to justify his selection in place of the injured Andrew Flintoff - the catch was put down and he responded by pulling Taylor for successive fours and hooking Edwards for six.
Clearly riled by the treatment dished out to him, Edwards continued to send down some devilish bouncers, one of which smashed into Bopara's helmet and left him requiring treatment from the England physiotherapist. But West Indies failed to maintain the intensity and, aside from one extremely difficult half-chance - Collingwood was technically dropped at short-leg when he middled Sulieman Benn into the chest of Ryan Hinds - England began to make serene progress. Collingwood produced a superb on-drive to dispatch Edwards to the rope and Bopara ruthlessly cut Benn and on-drove Daren Powell to the same effect. Although Collingwood almost played on to Powell, he nudged the same bowler for three to record his 12th Test half-century as the tourists reached an impressive 405-4 at lunch. After the interval, the Durham all-rounder ruthlessly dispatched Powell, Benn and Brendan Nash, while Bopara brought up his first Test half-century with a nudged boundary.
The pair traded in ones and twos to guide their side past the 450 mark but just as Collingwood looked set to cap his classy innings with a century, he sliced an attempted slog off Edwards to Nash at deep point. West Indies could have had another wicket moments later when Ambrose was dropped by wicketkeeper Dinesh Ramdin as he tried to get off the mark by cutting Hinds. Part-time spinner Hinds struck up a determined partnership with Edwards and, for a short period, West Indies were able to frustrate England in their search for quick runs. But Ambrose grew in confidence, sweeping Hinds for two maximums and displaying the sort of strokemaking that could give the selectors a tough decision when first-choice wicketkeeper Matt Prior returns to the Caribbean in time for the final Test. Ambrose moved towards 50 with a couple of tremendous leg side boundaries off Taylor and passed it for the third time in Tests by paddling Sarwan for two.
England went in for tea on 553-5 and after the re-start Bopara clipped Edwards for two to bring up the 100-partnership off just 120 deliveries. The 23-year-old was soon to reach three figures himself, with a hooked single off Taylor, but three balls later he was on his way after pulling Edwards down Taylor's throat at fine leg. By this stage it was clear that England's declaration target was 600, which they achieved through the second of Stuart Broad's two boundaries, an eye-catching on-drive. West Indies would have been desperate to get through the 22 overs before stumps unscathed but it proved beyond them as Gayle was wrapped on the pads by Anderson in the fifth over. Umpire Russell Tiffin rejected England's appeal but, on referral to third umpire Daryl Harper, the Windies captain was given out. With Graeme Swann beginning to generate turn from the footmarks, Smith and Sarwan batted on watchfully with a scattering of elegant strokes for four.
The hosts made a positive start on Friday morning when Edwards (3-152) trapped Pietersen plumb in front of his stumps and, despite a frivolous referral to the third umpire, the batsman was correctly given his marching orders. Pietersen, who was dropped on 20 by Jerome Taylor the previous evening, struggled for rhythm and had already edged Taylor just short of Gayle at first slip before he was ousted. Bopara looked class, seemed to have plenty of time whilst batting and looks like he's modelled himself on Tendulkar. It was important for England to negotiate their way through a venomous spell from Taylor and Edwards but things could have got worse when new man Bopara miscued Edwards to Taylor at square leg. Fortunately for Bopara - keen to justify his selection in place of the injured Andrew Flintoff - the catch was put down and he responded by pulling Taylor for successive fours and hooking Edwards for six.
Clearly riled by the treatment dished out to him, Edwards continued to send down some devilish bouncers, one of which smashed into Bopara's helmet and left him requiring treatment from the England physiotherapist. But West Indies failed to maintain the intensity and, aside from one extremely difficult half-chance - Collingwood was technically dropped at short-leg when he middled Sulieman Benn into the chest of Ryan Hinds - England began to make serene progress. Collingwood produced a superb on-drive to dispatch Edwards to the rope and Bopara ruthlessly cut Benn and on-drove Daren Powell to the same effect. Although Collingwood almost played on to Powell, he nudged the same bowler for three to record his 12th Test half-century as the tourists reached an impressive 405-4 at lunch. After the interval, the Durham all-rounder ruthlessly dispatched Powell, Benn and Brendan Nash, while Bopara brought up his first Test half-century with a nudged boundary.
The pair traded in ones and twos to guide their side past the 450 mark but just as Collingwood looked set to cap his classy innings with a century, he sliced an attempted slog off Edwards to Nash at deep point. West Indies could have had another wicket moments later when Ambrose was dropped by wicketkeeper Dinesh Ramdin as he tried to get off the mark by cutting Hinds. Part-time spinner Hinds struck up a determined partnership with Edwards and, for a short period, West Indies were able to frustrate England in their search for quick runs. But Ambrose grew in confidence, sweeping Hinds for two maximums and displaying the sort of strokemaking that could give the selectors a tough decision when first-choice wicketkeeper Matt Prior returns to the Caribbean in time for the final Test. Ambrose moved towards 50 with a couple of tremendous leg side boundaries off Taylor and passed it for the third time in Tests by paddling Sarwan for two.
England went in for tea on 553-5 and after the re-start Bopara clipped Edwards for two to bring up the 100-partnership off just 120 deliveries. The 23-year-old was soon to reach three figures himself, with a hooked single off Taylor, but three balls later he was on his way after pulling Edwards down Taylor's throat at fine leg. By this stage it was clear that England's declaration target was 600, which they achieved through the second of Stuart Broad's two boundaries, an eye-catching on-drive. West Indies would have been desperate to get through the 22 overs before stumps unscathed but it proved beyond them as Gayle was wrapped on the pads by Anderson in the fifth over. Umpire Russell Tiffin rejected England's appeal but, on referral to third umpire Daryl Harper, the Windies captain was given out. With Graeme Swann beginning to generate turn from the footmarks, Smith and Sarwan batted on watchfully with a scattering of elegant strokes for four.
Cricket Highlights : Australia V South Africa - 1St Test (Day 02) - 2/28/2009 9:15:04 PM
Australia batted to a dominant position with a first-innings total of 466 in the first Test against South Africa on Friday, and then took two Proteas wickets in four balls to ram home the advantage. South Africa recovered some composure by reaching 85-3 at the close of the second day, but on 2-2 and with captain Graeme Smith out for a duck, the Proteas had been in dire straits at the start of their innings. In the first over, Mitchell Johnson had Smith caught behind when he found the outside edge of the skipper's bat. Three balls later Hashim Amla (one) was caught in the slips by Australia captain Ricky Ponting off debutant Ben Hilfenhaus' second ball of the match. Veteran South Africa batsman Jacques Kallis then became the eighth player to reach 10,000 Test runs when he got to 12, but he edged a catch to Michael Hussey in the gully on 27, with the score on 49-3. Kallis also reached 10,000 runs in one-day internationals in Australia last month. South Africa face an uphill battle to get back into the match and will need to be as patient as Australia was after their initial first-innings hiccup. Earlier on the second day, debutant Marcus North hit a powerful 117 to help guide Australia to an imposing 466 all out at tea. Australia, seeking to rebound from a 2-1 series defeat against the Proteas at home in December and January, showed admirable composure after stumbling to 38-3 on the first day. North and No. 9 batsman Johnson, who thrashed 96 not out off 131 balls including 10 fours and five sixes, added 117 for the eighth wicket.
The stand demoralized the hosts who had taken two wickets in the first five overs after taking the second new ball. The Australia duo had taken the total to 413 when North, who hit a dozen fours, was beaten by spinner Paul Harris and stumped by Mark Boucher. But there was more punishment to come for South Africa. Johnson, who had also proved a difficult batsman to dismiss in Australia, threw his bat at everything once North was out. He clubbed Harris for 26 runs - three sixes and two fours - in an over to move into the 80s, and took three fours off a Dale Steyn over to get into the 90s. However, he fell four runs short of a maiden Test century as he watched partners Peter Siddle (nine) and Hilfenhaus (0) caught in the slips off successive balls from Morne Morkel to bring the innings to a close. Siddle had also been caught off a no-ball one delivery earlier. As a result, Australia was firmly in control at tea, after ending the first day with a score of 254-5. Despite two dismissals in six deliveries with the second new ball earlier on Friday, the South Africa attack battled to dismiss the Australia tail.
Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini took his second wicket of the match in the fourth over, when wicketkeeper Brad Haddin pulled a delivery from wide outside off-stump to Harris at mid-on. That careless shot brought to an end the valuable sixth-wicket partnership of 113 runs between Haddin (63) and North. Five balls later, Andrew McDonald (0) edged Dale Steyn to second slip, and with the score on 296-7 the new ball seemed to have given the Proteas a chance to keep the Australia first-innings score below 350. But it was not to be. Australia added 97 runs in 33 overs in the pre-lunch session.
The inability of the South Africa attack to bowl out the tail cheaply is reminiscent of their experiences in the recent 2-1 Test series triumph in Australia. On that occasion South Africa's strong batting allowed the Proteas to triumph eventually, but spirited resistance from the Australian tail is a worrying trend they will want to eliminate. Steyn finished with 4-113, and Morkel's two wickets in two balls to end the innings saw him finish on 3-117.
The stand demoralized the hosts who had taken two wickets in the first five overs after taking the second new ball. The Australia duo had taken the total to 413 when North, who hit a dozen fours, was beaten by spinner Paul Harris and stumped by Mark Boucher. But there was more punishment to come for South Africa. Johnson, who had also proved a difficult batsman to dismiss in Australia, threw his bat at everything once North was out. He clubbed Harris for 26 runs - three sixes and two fours - in an over to move into the 80s, and took three fours off a Dale Steyn over to get into the 90s. However, he fell four runs short of a maiden Test century as he watched partners Peter Siddle (nine) and Hilfenhaus (0) caught in the slips off successive balls from Morne Morkel to bring the innings to a close. Siddle had also been caught off a no-ball one delivery earlier. As a result, Australia was firmly in control at tea, after ending the first day with a score of 254-5. Despite two dismissals in six deliveries with the second new ball earlier on Friday, the South Africa attack battled to dismiss the Australia tail.
Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini took his second wicket of the match in the fourth over, when wicketkeeper Brad Haddin pulled a delivery from wide outside off-stump to Harris at mid-on. That careless shot brought to an end the valuable sixth-wicket partnership of 113 runs between Haddin (63) and North. Five balls later, Andrew McDonald (0) edged Dale Steyn to second slip, and with the score on 296-7 the new ball seemed to have given the Proteas a chance to keep the Australia first-innings score below 350. But it was not to be. Australia added 97 runs in 33 overs in the pre-lunch session.
The inability of the South Africa attack to bowl out the tail cheaply is reminiscent of their experiences in the recent 2-1 Test series triumph in Australia. On that occasion South Africa's strong batting allowed the Proteas to triumph eventually, but spirited resistance from the Australian tail is a worrying trend they will want to eliminate. Steyn finished with 4-113, and Morkel's two wickets in two balls to end the innings saw him finish on 3-117.
Cricket Highlights : Australia V South Africa - 1St Test (Day 02) - 2/27/2009 8:46:37 PM
Australia batted to a dominant position with a first-innings total of 466 in the first Test against South Africa on Friday, and then took two Proteas wickets in four balls to ram home the advantage. South Africa recovered some composure by reaching 85-3 at the close of the second day, but on 2-2 and with captain Graeme Smith out for a duck, the Proteas had been in dire straits at the start of their innings. In the first over, Mitchell Johnson had Smith caught behind when he found the outside edge of the skipper's bat. Three balls later Hashim Amla (one) was caught in the slips by Australia captain Ricky Ponting off debutant Ben Hilfenhaus' second ball of the match. Veteran South Africa batsman Jacques Kallis then became the eighth player to reach 10,000 Test runs when he got to 12, but he edged a catch to Michael Hussey in the gully on 27, with the score on 49-3. Kallis also reached 10,000 runs in one-day internationals in Australia last month. South Africa face an uphill battle to get back into the match and will need to be as patient as Australia was after their initial first-innings hiccup. Earlier on the second day, debutant Marcus North hit a powerful 117 to help guide Australia to an imposing 466 all out at tea. Australia, seeking to rebound from a 2-1 series defeat against the Proteas at home in December and January, showed admirable composure after stumbling to 38-3 on the first day. North and No. 9 batsman Johnson, who thrashed 96 not out off 131 balls including 10 fours and five sixes, added 117 for the eighth wicket.
The stand demoralized the hosts who had taken two wickets in the first five overs after taking the second new ball. The Australia duo had taken the total to 413 when North, who hit a dozen fours, was beaten by spinner Paul Harris and stumped by Mark Boucher. But there was more punishment to come for South Africa. Johnson, who had also proved a difficult batsman to dismiss in Australia, threw his bat at everything once North was out. He clubbed Harris for 26 runs - three sixes and two fours - in an over to move into the 80s, and took three fours off a Dale Steyn over to get into the 90s. However, he fell four runs short of a maiden Test century as he watched partners Peter Siddle (nine) and Hilfenhaus (0) caught in the slips off successive balls from Morne Morkel to bring the innings to a close. Siddle had also been caught off a no-ball one delivery earlier. As a result, Australia was firmly in control at tea, after ending the first day with a score of 254-5. Despite two dismissals in six deliveries with the second new ball earlier on Friday, the South Africa attack battled to dismiss the Australia tail.
Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini took his second wicket of the match in the fourth over, when wicketkeeper Brad Haddin pulled a delivery from wide outside off-stump to Harris at mid-on. That careless shot brought to an end the valuable sixth-wicket partnership of 113 runs between Haddin (63) and North. Five balls later, Andrew McDonald (0) edged Dale Steyn to second slip, and with the score on 296-7 the new ball seemed to have given the Proteas a chance to keep the Australia first-innings score below 350. But it was not to be. Australia added 97 runs in 33 overs in the pre-lunch session.
The inability of the South Africa attack to bowl out the tail cheaply is reminiscent of their experiences in the recent 2-1 Test series triumph in Australia. On that occasion South Africa's strong batting allowed the Proteas to triumph eventually, but spirited resistance from the Australian tail is a worrying trend they will want to eliminate. Steyn finished with 4-113, and Morkel's two wickets in two balls to end the innings saw him finish on 3-117.
The stand demoralized the hosts who had taken two wickets in the first five overs after taking the second new ball. The Australia duo had taken the total to 413 when North, who hit a dozen fours, was beaten by spinner Paul Harris and stumped by Mark Boucher. But there was more punishment to come for South Africa. Johnson, who had also proved a difficult batsman to dismiss in Australia, threw his bat at everything once North was out. He clubbed Harris for 26 runs - three sixes and two fours - in an over to move into the 80s, and took three fours off a Dale Steyn over to get into the 90s. However, he fell four runs short of a maiden Test century as he watched partners Peter Siddle (nine) and Hilfenhaus (0) caught in the slips off successive balls from Morne Morkel to bring the innings to a close. Siddle had also been caught off a no-ball one delivery earlier. As a result, Australia was firmly in control at tea, after ending the first day with a score of 254-5. Despite two dismissals in six deliveries with the second new ball earlier on Friday, the South Africa attack battled to dismiss the Australia tail.
Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini took his second wicket of the match in the fourth over, when wicketkeeper Brad Haddin pulled a delivery from wide outside off-stump to Harris at mid-on. That careless shot brought to an end the valuable sixth-wicket partnership of 113 runs between Haddin (63) and North. Five balls later, Andrew McDonald (0) edged Dale Steyn to second slip, and with the score on 296-7 the new ball seemed to have given the Proteas a chance to keep the Australia first-innings score below 350. But it was not to be. Australia added 97 runs in 33 overs in the pre-lunch session.
The inability of the South Africa attack to bowl out the tail cheaply is reminiscent of their experiences in the recent 2-1 Test series triumph in Australia. On that occasion South Africa's strong batting allowed the Proteas to triumph eventually, but spirited resistance from the Australian tail is a worrying trend they will want to eliminate. Steyn finished with 4-113, and Morkel's two wickets in two balls to end the innings saw him finish on 3-117.
Cricket Highlights : India V New Zealand - 2Nd Twenty20 - 2/27/2009 8:46:34 PM
Brendon McCullum once again proved that he has born for twenty20 with his unbeaten sixty nine runs match winning knock. What a trilling game, it went till the last ball. Irfan Pathan is about to save the game in his over before his last one. He took two wickets, but again in his last over Brendon McCullum managed to steel the victory with two boundaries. A disciplined New Zealand bowling display contained India to a sub-par total of 149 for six in the second Twenty20 clash in Wellington. As in the opening game in Christchurch, which New Zealand won by seven wickets, India failed to master the pace of a slow wicket. Yuvraj Singh's eye-catching 50 off 34 balls was far and away the best effort, although he needed a couple of lives to get there. It was no surprise that New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, perhaps the world's best Twenty20 bowler, was again his side's biggest threat.
India innings Highlights
Starting the match encouragingly with just two runs given up from Tim Southee's opening over, New Zealand might have feared the full wrath of Virender Sehwag's bat again as he threatened to launch an early onslaught. Sehwag cracked O'Brien for 12 off the second over, then found Southee's leg-side line to his liking in peppering the square leg boundary in a style akin to Wednesday's three sixes in a row from the same bowler. New Zealand were thankful a tough spill from Vettori at mid-off from Southee didn't prove too costly as a full O'Brien ball was chipped to the same fielder to end Sehwag's 11-ball 24. Left-handers Suresh Raina and Gautam Gambhir followed quickly for a duck and 10 respectively, both dismissed by Ian Butler to see India fall to 47 for three. Two missed chances in an over, one a run-out by Vettori and a dropped chance by Neil Broom, allowed Yuvraj to get going and he didn't miss out.
New Zealand Innings Highlights
Smashing four huge sixes and three fours, the left-hander scored 50 off 34 balls as he completely overshadowed his captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Famed as a destructive middle-order batsman, Dhoni found it a struggle to locate the boundary and crawled through to an unbeaten 28 from 30 balls that included only two fours. It could be said that India got it wrong with the bat but New Zealand's bowlers deserved praise for hitting the right length more often than not. Vettori had one for 21 from his four overs while Jesse Ryder was even stingier with no wicket for 18 while O'Brien (two for 30) and Ian Butler (two for 42) both picked up vital scalps.
So the twenty20 series is over, New Zealand won it as 2-0. There will be five one day internationals and three test matches to come. New Zealand will go to the one day series keeping their heads high. And Indians will try hard with their best to take the revenge.
India innings Highlights
Starting the match encouragingly with just two runs given up from Tim Southee's opening over, New Zealand might have feared the full wrath of Virender Sehwag's bat again as he threatened to launch an early onslaught. Sehwag cracked O'Brien for 12 off the second over, then found Southee's leg-side line to his liking in peppering the square leg boundary in a style akin to Wednesday's three sixes in a row from the same bowler. New Zealand were thankful a tough spill from Vettori at mid-off from Southee didn't prove too costly as a full O'Brien ball was chipped to the same fielder to end Sehwag's 11-ball 24. Left-handers Suresh Raina and Gautam Gambhir followed quickly for a duck and 10 respectively, both dismissed by Ian Butler to see India fall to 47 for three. Two missed chances in an over, one a run-out by Vettori and a dropped chance by Neil Broom, allowed Yuvraj to get going and he didn't miss out.
New Zealand Innings Highlights
Smashing four huge sixes and three fours, the left-hander scored 50 off 34 balls as he completely overshadowed his captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Famed as a destructive middle-order batsman, Dhoni found it a struggle to locate the boundary and crawled through to an unbeaten 28 from 30 balls that included only two fours. It could be said that India got it wrong with the bat but New Zealand's bowlers deserved praise for hitting the right length more often than not. Vettori had one for 21 from his four overs while Jesse Ryder was even stingier with no wicket for 18 while O'Brien (two for 30) and Ian Butler (two for 42) both picked up vital scalps.
So the twenty20 series is over, New Zealand won it as 2-0. There will be five one day internationals and three test matches to come. New Zealand will go to the one day series keeping their heads high. And Indians will try hard with their best to take the revenge.
Cricket Highlights : England V West Indies - 4Th Test (Day 01) - 2/27/2009 8:46:30 PM
England finished the game in high in the first day of the fourth match between England and West Indies. The first wicket stand between two openers Andrew Strauss and Alistair Cook posted a solid start and then others carry that on and managed to post over three hundred runs in the board at the end of the day, just for three wickets.Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook forged England's record opening stand against West Indies as the tourists gained the upper hand in the fourth Test. Strauss (142) was dropped on 58 but made an eye-catching 16th Test century as he and Cook (94) put on 229. But West Indies fought hard and took the morale-boosting wickets of Strauss, Cook and Owais Shah (7) after tea. Kevin Pietersen was joined by Paul Collingwood and the pair led England to 301-3 at stumps on day one in Barbados. England should be pleased with their position going into day two but they must hope Pietersen (32no) and Collingwood (11no) can guide them towards a imposing total. Strauss and Cook, whose effort surpasses the 212 made by Reg Simpson and Cyril Washbrook at Trent Bridge in 1950, gave the tourists an ideal start and they still have batting to come in the form of Ravi Bopara, Tim Ambrose and Stuart Broad.
England Innings Highlights
They will, however, be mindful of how little the pitch is offering to the bowling side, which could determine how long they attempt to bat on for. The Kensington Oval wicket was expected to offer plenty of pace and bounce, prompting many to question England's decision to name Ryan Sidebottom ahead of Steve Harmison in a four-man attack including off-spinner Graeme Swann. But the toss was, nonetheless, a good one for England to win and captain Strauss wasted no time in choosing to bat first amid clear skies and glorious Bridgetown sunshine. After a cautious start, Strauss and Cook soon opened up with an array of fine strokes which continued through the morning session. The pair negated the effect of Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards before punishing an initially wayward Daren Powell. Strauss pulled, drove and cut the seamer for three emphatic boundaries and Cook smashed one of several terrible deliveries through the off side to the rope. Taylor and Edwards were able to find occasional swing and bounce, but the flat track gave the batsmen confidence to attack anything too short, full or wide.
Strauss carved Sulieman Benn through cover to notch his half-century and, although he could have been caught after edging the following delivery past Devon Smith at slip, Benn was then lifted over mid-on for four. The Middlesex left-hander should have been dismissed in the next over when he edged an Edwards delivery, but Windies captain Chris Gayle, falling to his right, dropped a simple catch at slip. That reprieve might have prompted the openers into adopting a more vigilant approach but they ploughed on confidently and Cook swept Benn over midwicket for only his second six in 40 Tests. The Essex man then drove the same bowler for an emphatic four to send the tourists in for lunch on 108-0 and the openers continued their charge after the interval with a flurry of boundaries off Powell. Cook was fortunate to survive as he flashed one delivery through the slip cordon but passed 50 for the 19th time in Tests by dabbing Benn down to third man. At the other end, Strauss moved to 94 with a glorious angled shot off Benn and then reached three figures for the second time in the series by clubbing the spinner over the leg side for a huge six.
It was Strauss' 16th ton in Tests and it capped a masterful knock which will be remembered as one of the 31-year-old's most glittering. There was no hint of a breakthrough for the toiling Windies attack before tea, which England reached on 221-0, but they seemed to return from the pavilion with fresh optimism and duly earned their reward. Just two overs had passed when Powell sent down a magnificent late-swinging yorker that bamboozled Strauss and split the captain's stumps. That ended England's first double-century stand since Strauss and Marcus Trescothick put on 273 against South Africa in 2004. Powell and Taylor were suddenly running in with a spring in their step and they should have had Cook when his mishit hook off Powell fell just short of an on-rushing Benn. The left-hander was given a further let-off when he feathered Taylor between wicketkeeper and first slip, but his luck ended when another miscued hook looped to a diving Ryan Hinds at midwicket.
Of the 26 occasions Cook has now passed fifty, he has only gone on to reach three figures seven times and his last Test ton came in December 2007. Aside from one well-timed four apiece, Shah and Pietersen struggled for fluency in the face of some highly disciplined bowling. They scored just 18 runs in 9.3 overs and it came as little surprise when Shah edged Benn to Devon Smith at slip. But the arrival of Collingwood, who made 113 in the first innings in Antigua, seemed to rejuvenate England and, importantly, the momentum had swung back in their direction by the close. One Edwards over went for 15 runs and England will hope the runs continue to flow on Friday. Today is the second day of play. Most probably England will post a very big target on board for West Indies batsmen. If they will be able to cope with that West Indies can still keep the series win. Lets see, that's cricket.
England Innings Highlights
They will, however, be mindful of how little the pitch is offering to the bowling side, which could determine how long they attempt to bat on for. The Kensington Oval wicket was expected to offer plenty of pace and bounce, prompting many to question England's decision to name Ryan Sidebottom ahead of Steve Harmison in a four-man attack including off-spinner Graeme Swann. But the toss was, nonetheless, a good one for England to win and captain Strauss wasted no time in choosing to bat first amid clear skies and glorious Bridgetown sunshine. After a cautious start, Strauss and Cook soon opened up with an array of fine strokes which continued through the morning session. The pair negated the effect of Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards before punishing an initially wayward Daren Powell. Strauss pulled, drove and cut the seamer for three emphatic boundaries and Cook smashed one of several terrible deliveries through the off side to the rope. Taylor and Edwards were able to find occasional swing and bounce, but the flat track gave the batsmen confidence to attack anything too short, full or wide.
Strauss carved Sulieman Benn through cover to notch his half-century and, although he could have been caught after edging the following delivery past Devon Smith at slip, Benn was then lifted over mid-on for four. The Middlesex left-hander should have been dismissed in the next over when he edged an Edwards delivery, but Windies captain Chris Gayle, falling to his right, dropped a simple catch at slip. That reprieve might have prompted the openers into adopting a more vigilant approach but they ploughed on confidently and Cook swept Benn over midwicket for only his second six in 40 Tests. The Essex man then drove the same bowler for an emphatic four to send the tourists in for lunch on 108-0 and the openers continued their charge after the interval with a flurry of boundaries off Powell. Cook was fortunate to survive as he flashed one delivery through the slip cordon but passed 50 for the 19th time in Tests by dabbing Benn down to third man. At the other end, Strauss moved to 94 with a glorious angled shot off Benn and then reached three figures for the second time in the series by clubbing the spinner over the leg side for a huge six.
It was Strauss' 16th ton in Tests and it capped a masterful knock which will be remembered as one of the 31-year-old's most glittering. There was no hint of a breakthrough for the toiling Windies attack before tea, which England reached on 221-0, but they seemed to return from the pavilion with fresh optimism and duly earned their reward. Just two overs had passed when Powell sent down a magnificent late-swinging yorker that bamboozled Strauss and split the captain's stumps. That ended England's first double-century stand since Strauss and Marcus Trescothick put on 273 against South Africa in 2004. Powell and Taylor were suddenly running in with a spring in their step and they should have had Cook when his mishit hook off Powell fell just short of an on-rushing Benn. The left-hander was given a further let-off when he feathered Taylor between wicketkeeper and first slip, but his luck ended when another miscued hook looped to a diving Ryan Hinds at midwicket.
Of the 26 occasions Cook has now passed fifty, he has only gone on to reach three figures seven times and his last Test ton came in December 2007. Aside from one well-timed four apiece, Shah and Pietersen struggled for fluency in the face of some highly disciplined bowling. They scored just 18 runs in 9.3 overs and it came as little surprise when Shah edged Benn to Devon Smith at slip. But the arrival of Collingwood, who made 113 in the first innings in Antigua, seemed to rejuvenate England and, importantly, the momentum had swung back in their direction by the close. One Edwards over went for 15 runs and England will hope the runs continue to flow on Friday. Today is the second day of play. Most probably England will post a very big target on board for West Indies batsmen. If they will be able to cope with that West Indies can still keep the series win. Lets see, that's cricket.
Cricket Highlights : Australia V South Africa - 1St Test - 2/26/2009 7:27:46 PM
It was South Africa's game from the beginning, but at the end of the day Australians managed to finish day one with balanced score, thanks to the partnership between Rickey Ponting and Michael Clerk. An unbroken 72-run partnership between Brad Haddin and debutant Marcus North helped Australia reach 254 for five when bad light and rain ended day one of the first Test against South Africa. Australia captain Ricky Ponting scored an impressive 83 to help his side fight back in the first Test. It capped a good fightback in Johannesburg from the tourists, who earlier had captain Ricky Ponting and his deputy Michael Clarke to thank for instigating the recovery. Half-centuries from Ponting and Clarke had helped the team recover from the loss of three early wickets, two of which came from the impressive Dale Steyn, to reach 151 for three.Australia were in more trouble after the pair departed within a short space of time, leaving them at 182 with half the team out shortly before tea, but North (47 not out) looked at home in his first match at the highest level and together with Haddin (37 not out) took the tourists team to the close without any further damage.
Australia Innings Highlights
Earlier, Steyn's burst set Australia on the back foot as he struck with the fourth delivery of the day to remove another debutant, Phil Hughes, for a duck, before a stunning catch from Neil McKenzie helped him dismiss Simon Katich for three in the ninth over. Ponting had won the toss and his side decided to go with the all-round ability of Andrew McDonald, while the team also featured three debutants in Hughes, North and Ben Hilfenhaus. That made it the first time since 1985 against India that three Australia players had been awarded their first caps in the same game. But Hughes found himself in a tangle when he tried to lift a rising Steyn delivery over the slips and only succeeded in under-edging a simple chance to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher. Ponting was in next and took the score to 18 with Katich, who was next to go when he tried to steer another Steyn delivery to third man and was snapped by a brilliant diving catch by McKenzie at gully.
Michael Hussey followed not long after when he edged Morne Morkel to Jacques Kallis at second slip for four, leaving the Australians reeling at 38 for three. It could have been four down at lunch, but in Steyn's final over home captain Graeme Smith could not hold a simple chance at first slip that would have had his opposite number Ponting out for 40. It was 78 for three at the interval and Ponting brought up his fifty in the second over after lunch. The experienced pair brought up their century stand in just under 25 overs but, just as Ponting was looking good for a century, he misjudged an inswinging Ntini delivery, which cut back in and brushed his pads en route to taking the stumps for 83. Clarke and North added 31 for the fourth wicket, before the former found it hard to resist a wide delivery from Steyn and edged an easy catch to Boucher for 68.
Morkel was the bowler delivering another sharp-moving delivery, there was a nick from somewhere and Boucher took the catch, but after being referred the ball was clearly shown to have brushed Ponting's thigh pad rather than his bat. The experienced pair then brought up their century stand in just under 25 overs, but just as Ponting was looking odds on for a century, he uncharacteristically misjudged an inswinging Ntini delivery, which cut back in and brushed his pads en route to taking the stumps for 83. North and Haddin remained firm though, taking the score to 194 at tea, and then negotiated the shortened 75-minute final session without further damage. Steyn was the pick of the bowlers, picking up three for 82 in 19 overs, while Morkel with one for 65 and Ntini with one for 53 claimed the other two wickets.
Australia Innings Highlights
Earlier, Steyn's burst set Australia on the back foot as he struck with the fourth delivery of the day to remove another debutant, Phil Hughes, for a duck, before a stunning catch from Neil McKenzie helped him dismiss Simon Katich for three in the ninth over. Ponting had won the toss and his side decided to go with the all-round ability of Andrew McDonald, while the team also featured three debutants in Hughes, North and Ben Hilfenhaus. That made it the first time since 1985 against India that three Australia players had been awarded their first caps in the same game. But Hughes found himself in a tangle when he tried to lift a rising Steyn delivery over the slips and only succeeded in under-edging a simple chance to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher. Ponting was in next and took the score to 18 with Katich, who was next to go when he tried to steer another Steyn delivery to third man and was snapped by a brilliant diving catch by McKenzie at gully.
Michael Hussey followed not long after when he edged Morne Morkel to Jacques Kallis at second slip for four, leaving the Australians reeling at 38 for three. It could have been four down at lunch, but in Steyn's final over home captain Graeme Smith could not hold a simple chance at first slip that would have had his opposite number Ponting out for 40. It was 78 for three at the interval and Ponting brought up his fifty in the second over after lunch. The experienced pair brought up their century stand in just under 25 overs but, just as Ponting was looking good for a century, he misjudged an inswinging Ntini delivery, which cut back in and brushed his pads en route to taking the stumps for 83. Clarke and North added 31 for the fourth wicket, before the former found it hard to resist a wide delivery from Steyn and edged an easy catch to Boucher for 68.
Morkel was the bowler delivering another sharp-moving delivery, there was a nick from somewhere and Boucher took the catch, but after being referred the ball was clearly shown to have brushed Ponting's thigh pad rather than his bat. The experienced pair then brought up their century stand in just under 25 overs, but just as Ponting was looking odds on for a century, he uncharacteristically misjudged an inswinging Ntini delivery, which cut back in and brushed his pads en route to taking the stumps for 83. North and Haddin remained firm though, taking the score to 194 at tea, and then negotiated the shortened 75-minute final session without further damage. Steyn was the pick of the bowlers, picking up three for 82 in 19 overs, while Morkel with one for 65 and Ntini with one for 53 claimed the other two wickets.
Cricket Highlights : Sri Lanka V Pakistan - 1St Test (Day 04) - 2/25/2009 7:21:06 PM
After four days of play the game is heading towards a draw thanks to great batting from batsmen from both teams. Yunus Khan who is still in wicket with triple century saved his team from the follow on and a possible defeat. When other captains are complained about burden and fail their batting when they get responsibilities, this man is gaining more form. Not only him but also the other captain Mahela also made a double century, so this is a record breaking game. Younis Khan posted an unbeaten 306 to steer Pakistan to 574 for five in reply to Sri Lanka's 644-7 declared as the first cricket Test meandered to a draw with only a day remaining. Skipper Khan, only the 20th batsman and third Pakistani to surpass 300 runs in a Test innings, guided the hosts past the follow-on target and within 70 runs of Sri Lanka's first innings total by stumps Tuesday on a lifeless wicket at National Stadium.
His patient innings over 12 hours and 11 minutes featured 27 fours and four sixes from 545 balls and a superb range of strokes on both sides of the wicket. "I dedicate this innings to my family, my friends and my teammates who have always supported me," Khan told reporters. "The team needed innings like that from someone and I was lucky I did it for my team." It was the first time in Test cricket's 132-year history that both captains have scored more than 200 in the same Test match. Mahela Jayawardene, who will step down from the Sri Lanka captaincy after the second Test at Lahore next month, made 240 and shared in a record fourth-wicket stand in the first innings.
Khan raised his triple-century in the last session Tuesday when he played a reverse sweep off star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and ran for three runs. Khan is now aiming for Pakistan's Test best of 337 made by Hanif Mohammad against the West Indies at Barbados in 1958. Inzamam-ul-Haq is the only other Pakistani triple century-maker. He scored 329 against New Zealand at Lahore in 2002. Khan featured in two century stands after Pakistan resumed its first innings at the overnight total of 296-3 and still needed 149 runs to avoid the follow-on. He put on 174 runs with Faisal Iqbal (57), nephew of former captain Javed Miandad, after adding 130 for the fourth wicket with Misbah-ul-Haq (42).
Khan, who came out to bat late on the second day in his 59th Test, frustrated the Sri Lanka bowlers on a flat wicket which has come under severe criticism with bowlers struggling to get any assistance. Muralitharan (1-165), Test cricket's most prolific wicket-taker, and Ajantha Mendis (1-135) have succeeded in getting just one wicket each as only 12 wickets have fallen in the game with just one day remaining. Khan, 149 overnight, raised his double-century in the afternoon session when he drove a delivery from fast bowler Dilhara Fernando through the covers for three runs. He also became the sixth Pakistani batsmen to complete 5,000 Test runs, joining Miandad, Inzamam, Khalid Ibadulla, Mohammad Yousuf, Salim Malik and Zaheer Abbas.
Sri Lanka managed only two wickets Tuesday. Fast bowler Fernando (1-107) trapped Misbah-ul-Haq (42) lbw shortly before lunch. Misbah hit three fours and a six in his 153-ball innings. As the wickets dried up for Sri Lanka's strike bowlers, Jaywardene bowled his gentle medium pace in the last session and got the only other breakthrough when he trapped Iqbal lbw. Iqbal hit six fours. Anyway this game will finish as a draw for sure, unless a miracle happened. So there will be one more test, some big games, India vs New Zealand Twenty20, Test and One Day Series ( ODI ) are coming. And also the series that select world test champion, the test series Australia vs South Africa is also coming. Stay tuned my friends.
His patient innings over 12 hours and 11 minutes featured 27 fours and four sixes from 545 balls and a superb range of strokes on both sides of the wicket. "I dedicate this innings to my family, my friends and my teammates who have always supported me," Khan told reporters. "The team needed innings like that from someone and I was lucky I did it for my team." It was the first time in Test cricket's 132-year history that both captains have scored more than 200 in the same Test match. Mahela Jayawardene, who will step down from the Sri Lanka captaincy after the second Test at Lahore next month, made 240 and shared in a record fourth-wicket stand in the first innings.
Khan raised his triple-century in the last session Tuesday when he played a reverse sweep off star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and ran for three runs. Khan is now aiming for Pakistan's Test best of 337 made by Hanif Mohammad against the West Indies at Barbados in 1958. Inzamam-ul-Haq is the only other Pakistani triple century-maker. He scored 329 against New Zealand at Lahore in 2002. Khan featured in two century stands after Pakistan resumed its first innings at the overnight total of 296-3 and still needed 149 runs to avoid the follow-on. He put on 174 runs with Faisal Iqbal (57), nephew of former captain Javed Miandad, after adding 130 for the fourth wicket with Misbah-ul-Haq (42).
Khan, who came out to bat late on the second day in his 59th Test, frustrated the Sri Lanka bowlers on a flat wicket which has come under severe criticism with bowlers struggling to get any assistance. Muralitharan (1-165), Test cricket's most prolific wicket-taker, and Ajantha Mendis (1-135) have succeeded in getting just one wicket each as only 12 wickets have fallen in the game with just one day remaining. Khan, 149 overnight, raised his double-century in the afternoon session when he drove a delivery from fast bowler Dilhara Fernando through the covers for three runs. He also became the sixth Pakistani batsmen to complete 5,000 Test runs, joining Miandad, Inzamam, Khalid Ibadulla, Mohammad Yousuf, Salim Malik and Zaheer Abbas.
Sri Lanka managed only two wickets Tuesday. Fast bowler Fernando (1-107) trapped Misbah-ul-Haq (42) lbw shortly before lunch. Misbah hit three fours and a six in his 153-ball innings. As the wickets dried up for Sri Lanka's strike bowlers, Jaywardene bowled his gentle medium pace in the last session and got the only other breakthrough when he trapped Iqbal lbw. Iqbal hit six fours. Anyway this game will finish as a draw for sure, unless a miracle happened. So there will be one more test, some big games, India vs New Zealand Twenty20, Test and One Day Series ( ODI ) are coming. And also the series that select world test champion, the test series Australia vs South Africa is also coming. Stay tuned my friends.
Cricket Highlights : India V New Zealand - 1St Twenty20 - 2/25/2009 7:21:11 PM
India get the first indication that this tour won't be an easy one as New Zealand managed to win the first twenty20 with seven balls left. The great batting from may be the best twenty20 batsman in the international cricket at the moment, Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill gave the winning start of the tour to New Zealand. There are not much successful new from Indian batting, the only good knock came from Suresh Raina. But he didn't get much help from others.India have scored 162 runs for eight wickets in their 20 overs after New Zealand won the toss and opted to field first in the first Twenty20 international in Christchurch tonight. New Zealand's batting has been bolstered by Ross Taylor, who returns to the side after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the fifth and final Chappell-Hadlee Trophy one-day match in Brisbane this month.
India Innings Highlights
Taylor passed a fitness test today while allrounder Jacob Oram and opening batsman Jesse Ryder also return from injury. New Zealand has omitted Grant Elliott and Neil Broom from their 11 while India has left out Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, Munaf Patel and Dinesh Kartik. The second and final match is in Wellington on Friday. The next game of the tour will be second twenty twenty game which will start two days later, on 27th of February. India will try to balance the series with victory, New Zealand will try hard to avoid the same fate they experienced in the Australian one day series, after winning first two games they lost rest. The New Zealand cricket team stands to gain 25 million New Zealand dollars if it come off with a win against India in the cricket series which starts with a Twenty20 international at AMI Stadium tonight.
New Zealand Innings Highlights
India Innings Highlights
Taylor passed a fitness test today while allrounder Jacob Oram and opening batsman Jesse Ryder also return from injury. New Zealand has omitted Grant Elliott and Neil Broom from their 11 while India has left out Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, Munaf Patel and Dinesh Kartik. The second and final match is in Wellington on Friday. The next game of the tour will be second twenty twenty game which will start two days later, on 27th of February. India will try to balance the series with victory, New Zealand will try hard to avoid the same fate they experienced in the Australian one day series, after winning first two games they lost rest. The New Zealand cricket team stands to gain 25 million New Zealand dollars if it come off with a win against India in the cricket series which starts with a Twenty20 international at AMI Stadium tonight.
New Zealand Innings Highlights
Apart from the two Twenty20 matches, both sides will compete in five one-day matches and three Tests, reports stuff.co.nz. The money will mainly come from television revenue. With the Future Tours Programme (FTP) schedule ending in 2012 and up for renegotiation it underlines the need for a creditable display. India is well documented as the game's powerhouse financially and of late its playing standards have lifted to match. New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori is conscious that if the Black Caps do not give a good account of themselves in this series, then it could place regular visits from India and other draw card teams in jeopardy.
The last time India came to New Zealand was six seasons ago and they are not scheduled to tour again until after the FTP programme is renegotiated. Vettori said expectations were always high when the team had the home advantage and could exploit that. Vettori said he believed New Zealand had the firepower to match India's master blasters Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Gautum Gambhir in the top order with Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni described it as a good lesson in Twenty20 batting. "That's where we failed as a team, there was nobody who took the responsibility to stay there in the middle," he said "Losing too many wickets, later you can't really capitalise on the start you have got. So it's very important to have wickets in hand so you can capitalise on maybe the last four or five overs." The most pleasing aspect for New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori was the way his bowlers responded to the heavy Indian hitting. "For our guys to respond to that and to restrict India to 160 after getting away so quickly and also with how small the boundaries are -- one side was just a toy hit -- so really happy with them."
Only Suresh Raina looked to have a game plan for India and his unbeaten 61, including five sixes, formed the backbone of the tourists' innings. Yusuf Pathan also found the boundary, hitting Nathan McCullum for three sixes in three balls but when he went for a fourth six he fell victim to an outstanding catch-of-the-match by Oram.
The tall New Zealander took the ball while off-balance just inside the boundary rope. As he was about to step across the line he flicked the ball in the air, righted himself and came back into the field of play to complete the catch. Pathan's 20 and a 21 at the end by Harbhajan Singh were the only other innings of note from India. While India took 19 off Tim Southee's opening over, New Zealand's big hitting openers Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum were slow out of the blocks.
Cricket Highlights : Sri Lanka V Pakistan - 1St Test (Day 05) - 2/25/2009 7:21:13 PM
Apart from the embarrassment Sri Lanka faced in the final few hours, both teams finished the game well. The first two days belongs to Sri Lanka and the last three days to Pakistan. Both captains leaded from the front and made very good example. Yunus Khan became the man of the match without no doubt and the sad point is he missed the chance to renew Brian Lara's record of 400 runs. And also Pakistan team could have gone in to the highest score in an innings by any team, unless they decided to declare their innings.Pakistan captain Younis Khan missed his opportunity to challenge Brian Lara's world record score of 400 and Sri Lanka held off an unlikely victory push by the hosts Wednesday to force a draw in the first cricket Test.Khan was out for 313 before declaring the first innings at 765-6 - a lead of 121 runs and also a record Pakistan total - an hour after lunch on the last day. Kamran Akmal remained unbeaten on a career-best 158.
Short Highlights
Full Highlights Will Be Added Later...
On a batsmen-friendly wicket, there appeared little chance of a result, but Pakistan claimed some quick early wickets to raise hopes of a win. At 45-3, Sri Lanka looked vulnerable, but Kumar Sangakkara's 65 held the innings together, and Thilan Samaraweera and Prasanna Jayawardene negotiated the last eight overs to finish at 144-5. "The last couple of hours was a bit disappointing for us in batting but overall I am very happy with our performance especially after scoring a big total in the first innings," said Mahela Jaywardene, who made 240 in the first innings, but only 22 in the second. Pakistan's previous highest Test score had came against England at The Oval when it scored 708 in 1987 and the giant total in this match also eclipsed the highest innings total in a Test in Pakistan - surpassing it's own 699-5 declared against India at Lahore in 1989.
With a draw always looming as the likely result, the main interest on the final day was how many runs Khan could get. Resuming on 306, he was aiming to break the record individual score set by former West Indies great Lara and other records along the way. However, he could add only seven runs before he was bowled by fast bowler Fernando. "It was a good team effort and I am happy with the way we fought in the first innings," said Khan.
His monumental innings of 12 hours 48 minutes began late on the second day. He hit 27 boundaries and four sixes during his composed and patient stand, facing 568 balls. Upon dismissal, Khan was congratulated by all the Sri Lanka players as he walked back to the dressing room after becoming only the third Pakistani to score a triple-century. Hanif Mohammad still holds the Pakistan record of 337 runs made against the West Indies at Barbados in 1958. Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq scored the other Pakistan triple-century when he made 329 against New Zealand at Lahore in 2002. After his dismissal, Akmal and Yasir Arafat (50 not out) added 169 runs for an unfinished seventh-wicket stand and scored at will on a placid National Stadium wicket which had come under severe criticism for being too beneficial to batsmen.
Akmal hit eight fours and five sixes and faced 184 balls. He surpassed his previous Test best of 154 against England at Lahore in 2005. Arafat hit two fours and two sixes in his 129-ball innings. Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene could have got both batsmen but Dilhara Fernando dropped Akmal at long off on 136 and, just before the declaration, Vaas floored a chance off Arafat in the deep. Sri Lanka bowlers toiled for well over two and a half days to get just six scalps. World's leading Test wicket-taker off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (1-172) bowled 65 overs but could not add a wicket on the final day. Unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis (1-57) also bowled 59 overs but could get little assistance from the wicket.
Fernando (2-124) was the most successful Sri Lanka bowler as Jayawardene used nine bowlers in Pakistan's first innings.Both teams might have learn some from this game and specially Pakistan players have gained much needed confidence. So the next game will be competitive than that and also I hope that there will be balanced pitch which give some kind of support to bowlers also. Otherwise that game also will end up without any results. The second and final test match will start next Sunday, 01st of March, but there are plenty of Cricket in between. Australia vs South Africa, England vs West Indies and also India v New Zealand. Be with us to watch all these game Live and Highlights.
Short Highlights
Full Highlights Will Be Added Later...
On a batsmen-friendly wicket, there appeared little chance of a result, but Pakistan claimed some quick early wickets to raise hopes of a win. At 45-3, Sri Lanka looked vulnerable, but Kumar Sangakkara's 65 held the innings together, and Thilan Samaraweera and Prasanna Jayawardene negotiated the last eight overs to finish at 144-5. "The last couple of hours was a bit disappointing for us in batting but overall I am very happy with our performance especially after scoring a big total in the first innings," said Mahela Jaywardene, who made 240 in the first innings, but only 22 in the second. Pakistan's previous highest Test score had came against England at The Oval when it scored 708 in 1987 and the giant total in this match also eclipsed the highest innings total in a Test in Pakistan - surpassing it's own 699-5 declared against India at Lahore in 1989.
With a draw always looming as the likely result, the main interest on the final day was how many runs Khan could get. Resuming on 306, he was aiming to break the record individual score set by former West Indies great Lara and other records along the way. However, he could add only seven runs before he was bowled by fast bowler Fernando. "It was a good team effort and I am happy with the way we fought in the first innings," said Khan.
His monumental innings of 12 hours 48 minutes began late on the second day. He hit 27 boundaries and four sixes during his composed and patient stand, facing 568 balls. Upon dismissal, Khan was congratulated by all the Sri Lanka players as he walked back to the dressing room after becoming only the third Pakistani to score a triple-century. Hanif Mohammad still holds the Pakistan record of 337 runs made against the West Indies at Barbados in 1958. Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq scored the other Pakistan triple-century when he made 329 against New Zealand at Lahore in 2002. After his dismissal, Akmal and Yasir Arafat (50 not out) added 169 runs for an unfinished seventh-wicket stand and scored at will on a placid National Stadium wicket which had come under severe criticism for being too beneficial to batsmen.
Akmal hit eight fours and five sixes and faced 184 balls. He surpassed his previous Test best of 154 against England at Lahore in 2005. Arafat hit two fours and two sixes in his 129-ball innings. Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene could have got both batsmen but Dilhara Fernando dropped Akmal at long off on 136 and, just before the declaration, Vaas floored a chance off Arafat in the deep. Sri Lanka bowlers toiled for well over two and a half days to get just six scalps. World's leading Test wicket-taker off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (1-172) bowled 65 overs but could not add a wicket on the final day. Unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis (1-57) also bowled 59 overs but could get little assistance from the wicket.
Fernando (2-124) was the most successful Sri Lanka bowler as Jayawardene used nine bowlers in Pakistan's first innings.Both teams might have learn some from this game and specially Pakistan players have gained much needed confidence. So the next game will be competitive than that and also I hope that there will be balanced pitch which give some kind of support to bowlers also. Otherwise that game also will end up without any results. The second and final test match will start next Sunday, 01st of March, but there are plenty of Cricket in between. Australia vs South Africa, England vs West Indies and also India v New Zealand. Be with us to watch all these game Live and Highlights.
Cricket Highlights : Sri Lanka V Pakistan - 1St Test (Day 03) - 2/25/2009 7:21:03 PM
Today is Pakistan's day. They did well through out the day to post good reply to Sri Lanka's mammoth total of six hundred nad forty four. The new captain Yunus Khan made example by leading from the font with his unbeaten century and Shoaib Malik gave him a good support before he went back due to runout. Yunus Khan is still in the wicket with one hundred and forty nine runs, and Misbah Ul-haq is with him. Sri Lankan bowlers not very effective today in this dead wicket. The only wicket taken by a bowler was taken by Ajantha Mendis and the other wicket lost today was run out of Shoaib Mali.Debutant captain Younus Khan completed a fighting hundred as Pakistan kept Sri Lanka at bay on the third day of the opening Test here on Monday.
Pakistan Innings highlights
Younus was unbeaten on 101 as the home team, replying to Sri Lanka's mammoth first innings total of 644-7, reached 213-2 at tea. The other not-out batsman was Shoaib Malik with 46. Younus, 31, pushed Sri Lankan paceman Dilhara towards third man for two to reach his 16th Test hundred after four hours and five minutes of defiant batting. Younus found an able ally in Malik, whom he replaced as captain last month, as they put on 125 for the third wicket after opener Khurram Manzoor fell for 27 in his first Test. Pakistan still need another 232 runs to avoid follow-on. Resuming at 44-1, Manzoor and Younus took the score to 78 when Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis got the breakthrough, forcing Manzoor to edge to wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene who took a straightforward catch.
Younus, who survived a confident leg-before appeal against Mendis when on 23, batted with responsibility to take the fight to Sri Lanka. Malik, who lost the captaincy to Younus after Pakistan's 2-1 one-day defeat to the tourists last month, has so far hit six boundaries duirng his 144-ball supportive innings. Just like the Pakistani bowlers, Sri Lanka's twin-pace and twin-spin attack toiled on an unresponsive National Stadium pitch. Younus was lucky not to be out when, on 92, Tillakaratne Dilshan failed to hold onto a diving catch at mid-wicket off Mendis. Both Younus and Malik occasionally jumped out to smother the little spin and hit over the top as Pakistan continued to fight hard in their first Test for 14 months.
Rows of empty seats and thousands of unsold tickets have provided a bleak backdrop to Pakistan's first Test in 14 months, with heavy-handed security blamed for keeping the usually raucous crowds away. Early on day three of the Test against Sri Lanka, barely 200 spectators rattled around the 34,000-capacity National Stadium, with even offers of free tickets failing to draw fans. Schoolchildren filled one stand on Saturday, and on Sunday, barely 2,000 people witnessed Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera's world record 437 partnership. "I think overwhelming security is to blame," said Ramiz Raja, a former Pakistan captain and ex-chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "It was not like this when we hosted India in 2004 -- the last time I saw stadiums packed before the start of the match." Security is a major concern in Karachi, a teeming port city with a reputation for attacks, especially after a series of incidents last year which ripped Pakistan's cricket schedule to shreds.
Tomorrow will be the deciding day. If Pakistan manage to pass the four hundred and forty four mark where they avoid follow up, the game has a very good chance to end up as a draw. But all depend on the way how tommorrow's play goes. You can't expect much from Sri Lankan bowlers. But anything can happen in this game, don't forget what happened to England team two weeks ago. Anyway first two days were Sri Lanka's days, today was Pakistan's day, then what about tomorrow ?
Pakistan Innings highlights
Younus was unbeaten on 101 as the home team, replying to Sri Lanka's mammoth first innings total of 644-7, reached 213-2 at tea. The other not-out batsman was Shoaib Malik with 46. Younus, 31, pushed Sri Lankan paceman Dilhara towards third man for two to reach his 16th Test hundred after four hours and five minutes of defiant batting. Younus found an able ally in Malik, whom he replaced as captain last month, as they put on 125 for the third wicket after opener Khurram Manzoor fell for 27 in his first Test. Pakistan still need another 232 runs to avoid follow-on. Resuming at 44-1, Manzoor and Younus took the score to 78 when Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis got the breakthrough, forcing Manzoor to edge to wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene who took a straightforward catch.
Younus, who survived a confident leg-before appeal against Mendis when on 23, batted with responsibility to take the fight to Sri Lanka. Malik, who lost the captaincy to Younus after Pakistan's 2-1 one-day defeat to the tourists last month, has so far hit six boundaries duirng his 144-ball supportive innings. Just like the Pakistani bowlers, Sri Lanka's twin-pace and twin-spin attack toiled on an unresponsive National Stadium pitch. Younus was lucky not to be out when, on 92, Tillakaratne Dilshan failed to hold onto a diving catch at mid-wicket off Mendis. Both Younus and Malik occasionally jumped out to smother the little spin and hit over the top as Pakistan continued to fight hard in their first Test for 14 months.
Rows of empty seats and thousands of unsold tickets have provided a bleak backdrop to Pakistan's first Test in 14 months, with heavy-handed security blamed for keeping the usually raucous crowds away. Early on day three of the Test against Sri Lanka, barely 200 spectators rattled around the 34,000-capacity National Stadium, with even offers of free tickets failing to draw fans. Schoolchildren filled one stand on Saturday, and on Sunday, barely 2,000 people witnessed Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera's world record 437 partnership. "I think overwhelming security is to blame," said Ramiz Raja, a former Pakistan captain and ex-chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "It was not like this when we hosted India in 2004 -- the last time I saw stadiums packed before the start of the match." Security is a major concern in Karachi, a teeming port city with a reputation for attacks, especially after a series of incidents last year which ripped Pakistan's cricket schedule to shreds.
Tomorrow will be the deciding day. If Pakistan manage to pass the four hundred and forty four mark where they avoid follow up, the game has a very good chance to end up as a draw. But all depend on the way how tommorrow's play goes. You can't expect much from Sri Lankan bowlers. But anything can happen in this game, don't forget what happened to England team two weeks ago. Anyway first two days were Sri Lanka's days, today was Pakistan's day, then what about tomorrow ?
Cricket Highlights : Sri Lanka V Pakistan - 1St Test (Day 04) - 2/25/2009 7:45:23 AM
After four days of play the game is heading towards a draw thanks to great batting from batsmen from both teams. Yunus Khan who is still in wicket with triple century saved his team from the follow on and a possible defeat. When other captains are complained about burden and fail their batting when they get responsibilities, this man is gaining more form. Not only him but also the other captain Mahela also made a double century, so this is a record breaking game. Younis Khan posted an unbeaten 306 to steer Pakistan to 574 for five in reply to Sri Lanka's 644-7 declared as the first cricket Test meandered to a draw with only a day remaining. Skipper Khan, only the 20th batsman and third Pakistani to surpass 300 runs in a Test innings, guided the hosts past the follow-on target and within 70 runs of Sri Lanka's first innings total by stumps Tuesday on a lifeless wicket at National Stadium.
His patient innings over 12 hours and 11 minutes featured 27 fours and four sixes from 545 balls and a superb range of strokes on both sides of the wicket. "I dedicate this innings to my family, my friends and my teammates who have always supported me," Khan told reporters. "The team needed innings like that from someone and I was lucky I did it for my team." It was the first time in Test cricket's 132-year history that both captains have scored more than 200 in the same Test match. Mahela Jayawardene, who will step down from the Sri Lanka captaincy after the second Test at Lahore next month, made 240 and shared in a record fourth-wicket stand in the first innings.
Khan raised his triple-century in the last session Tuesday when he played a reverse sweep off star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and ran for three runs. Khan is now aiming for Pakistan's Test best of 337 made by Hanif Mohammad against the West Indies at Barbados in 1958. Inzamam-ul-Haq is the only other Pakistani triple century-maker. He scored 329 against New Zealand at Lahore in 2002. Khan featured in two century stands after Pakistan resumed its first innings at the overnight total of 296-3 and still needed 149 runs to avoid the follow-on. He put on 174 runs with Faisal Iqbal (57), nephew of former captain Javed Miandad, after adding 130 for the fourth wicket with Misbah-ul-Haq (42).
Khan, who came out to bat late on the second day in his 59th Test, frustrated the Sri Lanka bowlers on a flat wicket which has come under severe criticism with bowlers struggling to get any assistance. Muralitharan (1-165), Test cricket's most prolific wicket-taker, and Ajantha Mendis (1-135) have succeeded in getting just one wicket each as only 12 wickets have fallen in the game with just one day remaining. Khan, 149 overnight, raised his double-century in the afternoon session when he drove a delivery from fast bowler Dilhara Fernando through the covers for three runs. He also became the sixth Pakistani batsmen to complete 5,000 Test runs, joining Miandad, Inzamam, Khalid Ibadulla, Mohammad Yousuf, Salim Malik and Zaheer Abbas.
Sri Lanka managed only two wickets Tuesday. Fast bowler Fernando (1-107) trapped Misbah-ul-Haq (42) lbw shortly before lunch. Misbah hit three fours and a six in his 153-ball innings. As the wickets dried up for Sri Lanka's strike bowlers, Jaywardene bowled his gentle medium pace in the last session and got the only other breakthrough when he trapped Iqbal lbw. Iqbal hit six fours. Anyway this game will finish as a draw for sure, unless a miracle happened. So there will be one more test, some big games, India vs New Zealand Twenty20, Test and One Day Series ( ODI ) are coming. And also the series that select world test champion, the test series Australia vs South Africa is also coming. Stay tuned my friends.
His patient innings over 12 hours and 11 minutes featured 27 fours and four sixes from 545 balls and a superb range of strokes on both sides of the wicket. "I dedicate this innings to my family, my friends and my teammates who have always supported me," Khan told reporters. "The team needed innings like that from someone and I was lucky I did it for my team." It was the first time in Test cricket's 132-year history that both captains have scored more than 200 in the same Test match. Mahela Jayawardene, who will step down from the Sri Lanka captaincy after the second Test at Lahore next month, made 240 and shared in a record fourth-wicket stand in the first innings.
Khan raised his triple-century in the last session Tuesday when he played a reverse sweep off star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and ran for three runs. Khan is now aiming for Pakistan's Test best of 337 made by Hanif Mohammad against the West Indies at Barbados in 1958. Inzamam-ul-Haq is the only other Pakistani triple century-maker. He scored 329 against New Zealand at Lahore in 2002. Khan featured in two century stands after Pakistan resumed its first innings at the overnight total of 296-3 and still needed 149 runs to avoid the follow-on. He put on 174 runs with Faisal Iqbal (57), nephew of former captain Javed Miandad, after adding 130 for the fourth wicket with Misbah-ul-Haq (42).
Khan, who came out to bat late on the second day in his 59th Test, frustrated the Sri Lanka bowlers on a flat wicket which has come under severe criticism with bowlers struggling to get any assistance. Muralitharan (1-165), Test cricket's most prolific wicket-taker, and Ajantha Mendis (1-135) have succeeded in getting just one wicket each as only 12 wickets have fallen in the game with just one day remaining. Khan, 149 overnight, raised his double-century in the afternoon session when he drove a delivery from fast bowler Dilhara Fernando through the covers for three runs. He also became the sixth Pakistani batsmen to complete 5,000 Test runs, joining Miandad, Inzamam, Khalid Ibadulla, Mohammad Yousuf, Salim Malik and Zaheer Abbas.
Sri Lanka managed only two wickets Tuesday. Fast bowler Fernando (1-107) trapped Misbah-ul-Haq (42) lbw shortly before lunch. Misbah hit three fours and a six in his 153-ball innings. As the wickets dried up for Sri Lanka's strike bowlers, Jaywardene bowled his gentle medium pace in the last session and got the only other breakthrough when he trapped Iqbal lbw. Iqbal hit six fours. Anyway this game will finish as a draw for sure, unless a miracle happened. So there will be one more test, some big games, India vs New Zealand Twenty20, Test and One Day Series ( ODI ) are coming. And also the series that select world test champion, the test series Australia vs South Africa is also coming. Stay tuned my friends.
Cricket Highlights : India V New Zealand - 1St Twenty20 - 2/25/2009 7:45:27 AM
India get the first indication that this tour won't be an easy one as New Zealand managed to win the first twenty20 with seven balls left. The great batting from may be the best twenty20 batsman in the international cricket at the moment, Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill gave the winning start of the tour to New Zealand. There are not much successful new from Indian batting, the only good knock came from Suresh Raina. But he didn't get much help from others.India have scored 162 runs for eight wickets in their 20 overs after New Zealand won the toss and opted to field first in the first Twenty20 international in Christchurch tonight. New Zealand's batting has been bolstered by Ross Taylor, who returns to the side after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the fifth and final Chappell-Hadlee Trophy one-day match in Brisbane this month.
India Innings Highlights
Taylor passed a fitness test today while allrounder Jacob Oram and opening batsman Jesse Ryder also return from injury. New Zealand has omitted Grant Elliott and Neil Broom from their 11 while India has left out Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, Munaf Patel and Dinesh Kartik. The second and final match is in Wellington on Friday. The next game of the tour will be second twenty twenty game which will start two days later, on 27th of February. India will try to balance the series with victory, New Zealand will try hard to avoid the same fate they experienced in the Australian one day series, after winning first two games they lost rest. The New Zealand cricket team stands to gain 25 million New Zealand dollars if it come off with a win against India in the cricket series which starts with a Twenty20 international at AMI Stadium tonight.
New Zealand Innings Highlights
India Innings Highlights
Taylor passed a fitness test today while allrounder Jacob Oram and opening batsman Jesse Ryder also return from injury. New Zealand has omitted Grant Elliott and Neil Broom from their 11 while India has left out Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, Munaf Patel and Dinesh Kartik. The second and final match is in Wellington on Friday. The next game of the tour will be second twenty twenty game which will start two days later, on 27th of February. India will try to balance the series with victory, New Zealand will try hard to avoid the same fate they experienced in the Australian one day series, after winning first two games they lost rest. The New Zealand cricket team stands to gain 25 million New Zealand dollars if it come off with a win against India in the cricket series which starts with a Twenty20 international at AMI Stadium tonight.
New Zealand Innings Highlights
Apart from the two Twenty20 matches, both sides will compete in five one-day matches and three Tests, reports stuff.co.nz. The money will mainly come from television revenue. With the Future Tours Programme (FTP) schedule ending in 2012 and up for renegotiation it underlines the need for a creditable display. India is well documented as the game's powerhouse financially and of late its playing standards have lifted to match. New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori is conscious that if the Black Caps do not give a good account of themselves in this series, then it could place regular visits from India and other draw card teams in jeopardy.
The last time India came to New Zealand was six seasons ago and they are not scheduled to tour again until after the FTP programme is renegotiated. Vettori said expectations were always high when the team had the home advantage and could exploit that. Vettori said he believed New Zealand had the firepower to match India's master blasters Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Gautum Gambhir in the top order with Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni described it as a good lesson in Twenty20 batting. "That's where we failed as a team, there was nobody who took the responsibility to stay there in the middle," he said "Losing too many wickets, later you can't really capitalise on the start you have got. So it's very important to have wickets in hand so you can capitalise on maybe the last four or five overs." The most pleasing aspect for New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori was the way his bowlers responded to the heavy Indian hitting. "For our guys to respond to that and to restrict India to 160 after getting away so quickly and also with how small the boundaries are -- one side was just a toy hit -- so really happy with them."
Only Suresh Raina looked to have a game plan for India and his unbeaten 61, including five sixes, formed the backbone of the tourists' innings. Yusuf Pathan also found the boundary, hitting Nathan McCullum for three sixes in three balls but when he went for a fourth six he fell victim to an outstanding catch-of-the-match by Oram.
The tall New Zealander took the ball while off-balance just inside the boundary rope. As he was about to step across the line he flicked the ball in the air, righted himself and came back into the field of play to complete the catch. Pathan's 20 and a 21 at the end by Harbhajan Singh were the only other innings of note from India. While India took 19 off Tim Southee's opening over, New Zealand's big hitting openers Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum were slow out of the blocks.
Cricket Highlights : Sri Lanka V Pakistan - 1St Test (Day 04) - 2/24/2009 7:36:18 PM
After four days of play the game is heading towards a draw thanks to great batting from batsmen from both teams. Yunus Khan who is still in wicket with triple century saved his team from the follow on and a possible defeat. When other captains are complained about burden and fail their batting when they get responsibilities, this man is gaining more form. Not only him but also the other captain Mahela also made a double century, so this is a record breaking game. Younis Khan posted an unbeaten 306 to steer Pakistan to 574 for five in reply to Sri Lanka's 644-7 declared as the first cricket Test meandered to a draw with only a day remaining. Skipper Khan, only the 20th batsman and third Pakistani to surpass 300 runs in a Test innings, guided the hosts past the follow-on target and within 70 runs of Sri Lanka's first innings total by stumps Tuesday on a lifeless wicket at National Stadium.
His patient innings over 12 hours and 11 minutes featured 27 fours and four sixes from 545 balls and a superb range of strokes on both sides of the wicket. "I dedicate this innings to my family, my friends and my teammates who have always supported me," Khan told reporters. "The team needed innings like that from someone and I was lucky I did it for my team." It was the first time in Test cricket's 132-year history that both captains have scored more than 200 in the same Test match. Mahela Jayawardene, who will step down from the Sri Lanka captaincy after the second Test at Lahore next month, made 240 and shared in a record fourth-wicket stand in the first innings.
Khan raised his triple-century in the last session Tuesday when he played a reverse sweep off star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and ran for three runs. Khan is now aiming for Pakistan's Test best of 337 made by Hanif Mohammad against the West Indies at Barbados in 1958. Inzamam-ul-Haq is the only other Pakistani triple century-maker. He scored 329 against New Zealand at Lahore in 2002. Khan featured in two century stands after Pakistan resumed its first innings at the overnight total of 296-3 and still needed 149 runs to avoid the follow-on. He put on 174 runs with Faisal Iqbal (57), nephew of former captain Javed Miandad, after adding 130 for the fourth wicket with Misbah-ul-Haq (42).
Khan, who came out to bat late on the second day in his 59th Test, frustrated the Sri Lanka bowlers on a flat wicket which has come under severe criticism with bowlers struggling to get any assistance. Muralitharan (1-165), Test cricket's most prolific wicket-taker, and Ajantha Mendis (1-135) have succeeded in getting just one wicket each as only 12 wickets have fallen in the game with just one day remaining. Khan, 149 overnight, raised his double-century in the afternoon session when he drove a delivery from fast bowler Dilhara Fernando through the covers for three runs. He also became the sixth Pakistani batsmen to complete 5,000 Test runs, joining Miandad, Inzamam, Khalid Ibadulla, Mohammad Yousuf, Salim Malik and Zaheer Abbas.
Sri Lanka managed only two wickets Tuesday. Fast bowler Fernando (1-107) trapped Misbah-ul-Haq (42) lbw shortly before lunch. Misbah hit three fours and a six in his 153-ball innings. As the wickets dried up for Sri Lanka's strike bowlers, Jaywardene bowled his gentle medium pace in the last session and got the only other breakthrough when he trapped Iqbal lbw. Iqbal hit six fours. Anyway this game will finish as a draw for sure, unless a miracle happened. So there will be one more test, some big games, India vs New Zealand Twenty20, Test and One Day Series ( ODI ) are coming. And also the series that select world test champion, the test series Australia vs South Africa is also coming. Stay tuned my friends.
His patient innings over 12 hours and 11 minutes featured 27 fours and four sixes from 545 balls and a superb range of strokes on both sides of the wicket. "I dedicate this innings to my family, my friends and my teammates who have always supported me," Khan told reporters. "The team needed innings like that from someone and I was lucky I did it for my team." It was the first time in Test cricket's 132-year history that both captains have scored more than 200 in the same Test match. Mahela Jayawardene, who will step down from the Sri Lanka captaincy after the second Test at Lahore next month, made 240 and shared in a record fourth-wicket stand in the first innings.
Khan raised his triple-century in the last session Tuesday when he played a reverse sweep off star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and ran for three runs. Khan is now aiming for Pakistan's Test best of 337 made by Hanif Mohammad against the West Indies at Barbados in 1958. Inzamam-ul-Haq is the only other Pakistani triple century-maker. He scored 329 against New Zealand at Lahore in 2002. Khan featured in two century stands after Pakistan resumed its first innings at the overnight total of 296-3 and still needed 149 runs to avoid the follow-on. He put on 174 runs with Faisal Iqbal (57), nephew of former captain Javed Miandad, after adding 130 for the fourth wicket with Misbah-ul-Haq (42).
Khan, who came out to bat late on the second day in his 59th Test, frustrated the Sri Lanka bowlers on a flat wicket which has come under severe criticism with bowlers struggling to get any assistance. Muralitharan (1-165), Test cricket's most prolific wicket-taker, and Ajantha Mendis (1-135) have succeeded in getting just one wicket each as only 12 wickets have fallen in the game with just one day remaining. Khan, 149 overnight, raised his double-century in the afternoon session when he drove a delivery from fast bowler Dilhara Fernando through the covers for three runs. He also became the sixth Pakistani batsmen to complete 5,000 Test runs, joining Miandad, Inzamam, Khalid Ibadulla, Mohammad Yousuf, Salim Malik and Zaheer Abbas.
Sri Lanka managed only two wickets Tuesday. Fast bowler Fernando (1-107) trapped Misbah-ul-Haq (42) lbw shortly before lunch. Misbah hit three fours and a six in his 153-ball innings. As the wickets dried up for Sri Lanka's strike bowlers, Jaywardene bowled his gentle medium pace in the last session and got the only other breakthrough when he trapped Iqbal lbw. Iqbal hit six fours. Anyway this game will finish as a draw for sure, unless a miracle happened. So there will be one more test, some big games, India vs New Zealand Twenty20, Test and One Day Series ( ODI ) are coming. And also the series that select world test champion, the test series Australia vs South Africa is also coming. Stay tuned my friends.
Cricket Highlights : Sri Lanka V Pakistan - 1St Test (Day 03) - 2/24/2009 7:36:15 PM
Today is Pakistan's day. They did well through out the day to post good reply to Sri Lanka's mammoth total of six hundred nad forty four. The new captain Yunus Khan made example by leading from the font with his unbeaten century and Shoaib Malik gave him a good support before he went back due to runout. Yunus Khan is still in the wicket with one hundred and forty nine runs, and Misbah Ul-haq is with him. Sri Lankan bowlers not very effective today in this dead wicket. The only wicket taken by a bowler was taken by Ajantha Mendis and the other wicket lost today was run out of Shoaib Mali.Debutant captain Younus Khan completed a fighting hundred as Pakistan kept Sri Lanka at bay on the third day of the opening Test here on Monday.
Pakistan Innings highlights
Younus was unbeaten on 101 as the home team, replying to Sri Lanka's mammoth first innings total of 644-7, reached 213-2 at tea. The other not-out batsman was Shoaib Malik with 46. Younus, 31, pushed Sri Lankan paceman Dilhara towards third man for two to reach his 16th Test hundred after four hours and five minutes of defiant batting. Younus found an able ally in Malik, whom he replaced as captain last month, as they put on 125 for the third wicket after opener Khurram Manzoor fell for 27 in his first Test. Pakistan still need another 232 runs to avoid follow-on. Resuming at 44-1, Manzoor and Younus took the score to 78 when Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis got the breakthrough, forcing Manzoor to edge to wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene who took a straightforward catch.
Younus, who survived a confident leg-before appeal against Mendis when on 23, batted with responsibility to take the fight to Sri Lanka. Malik, who lost the captaincy to Younus after Pakistan's 2-1 one-day defeat to the tourists last month, has so far hit six boundaries duirng his 144-ball supportive innings. Just like the Pakistani bowlers, Sri Lanka's twin-pace and twin-spin attack toiled on an unresponsive National Stadium pitch. Younus was lucky not to be out when, on 92, Tillakaratne Dilshan failed to hold onto a diving catch at mid-wicket off Mendis. Both Younus and Malik occasionally jumped out to smother the little spin and hit over the top as Pakistan continued to fight hard in their first Test for 14 months.
Rows of empty seats and thousands of unsold tickets have provided a bleak backdrop to Pakistan's first Test in 14 months, with heavy-handed security blamed for keeping the usually raucous crowds away. Early on day three of the Test against Sri Lanka, barely 200 spectators rattled around the 34,000-capacity National Stadium, with even offers of free tickets failing to draw fans. Schoolchildren filled one stand on Saturday, and on Sunday, barely 2,000 people witnessed Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera's world record 437 partnership. "I think overwhelming security is to blame," said Ramiz Raja, a former Pakistan captain and ex-chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "It was not like this when we hosted India in 2004 -- the last time I saw stadiums packed before the start of the match." Security is a major concern in Karachi, a teeming port city with a reputation for attacks, especially after a series of incidents last year which ripped Pakistan's cricket schedule to shreds.
Tomorrow will be the deciding day. If Pakistan manage to pass the four hundred and forty four mark where they avoid follow up, the game has a very good chance to end up as a draw. But all depend on the way how tommorrow's play goes. You can't expect much from Sri Lankan bowlers. But anything can happen in this game, don't forget what happened to England team two weeks ago. Anyway first two days were Sri Lanka's days, today was Pakistan's day, then what about tomorrow ?
Pakistan Innings highlights
Younus was unbeaten on 101 as the home team, replying to Sri Lanka's mammoth first innings total of 644-7, reached 213-2 at tea. The other not-out batsman was Shoaib Malik with 46. Younus, 31, pushed Sri Lankan paceman Dilhara towards third man for two to reach his 16th Test hundred after four hours and five minutes of defiant batting. Younus found an able ally in Malik, whom he replaced as captain last month, as they put on 125 for the third wicket after opener Khurram Manzoor fell for 27 in his first Test. Pakistan still need another 232 runs to avoid follow-on. Resuming at 44-1, Manzoor and Younus took the score to 78 when Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis got the breakthrough, forcing Manzoor to edge to wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene who took a straightforward catch.
Younus, who survived a confident leg-before appeal against Mendis when on 23, batted with responsibility to take the fight to Sri Lanka. Malik, who lost the captaincy to Younus after Pakistan's 2-1 one-day defeat to the tourists last month, has so far hit six boundaries duirng his 144-ball supportive innings. Just like the Pakistani bowlers, Sri Lanka's twin-pace and twin-spin attack toiled on an unresponsive National Stadium pitch. Younus was lucky not to be out when, on 92, Tillakaratne Dilshan failed to hold onto a diving catch at mid-wicket off Mendis. Both Younus and Malik occasionally jumped out to smother the little spin and hit over the top as Pakistan continued to fight hard in their first Test for 14 months.
Rows of empty seats and thousands of unsold tickets have provided a bleak backdrop to Pakistan's first Test in 14 months, with heavy-handed security blamed for keeping the usually raucous crowds away. Early on day three of the Test against Sri Lanka, barely 200 spectators rattled around the 34,000-capacity National Stadium, with even offers of free tickets failing to draw fans. Schoolchildren filled one stand on Saturday, and on Sunday, barely 2,000 people witnessed Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera's world record 437 partnership. "I think overwhelming security is to blame," said Ramiz Raja, a former Pakistan captain and ex-chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "It was not like this when we hosted India in 2004 -- the last time I saw stadiums packed before the start of the match." Security is a major concern in Karachi, a teeming port city with a reputation for attacks, especially after a series of incidents last year which ripped Pakistan's cricket schedule to shreds.
Tomorrow will be the deciding day. If Pakistan manage to pass the four hundred and forty four mark where they avoid follow up, the game has a very good chance to end up as a draw. But all depend on the way how tommorrow's play goes. You can't expect much from Sri Lankan bowlers. But anything can happen in this game, don't forget what happened to England team two weeks ago. Anyway first two days were Sri Lanka's days, today was Pakistan's day, then what about tomorrow ?
Cricket Highlights : Sri Lanka V Pakistan - 1St Test (Day 03) - 2/23/2009 7:56:29 PM
Today is Pakistan's day. They did well through out the day to post good reply to Sri Lanka's mammoth total of six hundred nad forty four. The new captain Yunus Khan made example by leading from the font with his unbeaten century and Shoaib Malik gave him a good support before he went back due to runout. Yunus Khan is still in the wicket with one hundred and forty nine runs, and Misbah Ul-haq is with him. Sri Lankan bowlers not very effective today in this dead wicket. The only wicket taken by a bowler was taken by Ajantha Mendis and the other wicket lost today was run out of Shoaib Mali.Debutant captain Younus Khan completed a fighting hundred as Pakistan kept Sri Lanka at bay on the third day of the opening Test here on Monday.
Pakistan Innings highlights
Younus was unbeaten on 101 as the home team, replying to Sri Lanka's mammoth first innings total of 644-7, reached 213-2 at tea. The other not-out batsman was Shoaib Malik with 46. Younus, 31, pushed Sri Lankan paceman Dilhara towards third man for two to reach his 16th Test hundred after four hours and five minutes of defiant batting. Younus found an able ally in Malik, whom he replaced as captain last month, as they put on 125 for the third wicket after opener Khurram Manzoor fell for 27 in his first Test. Pakistan still need another 232 runs to avoid follow-on. Resuming at 44-1, Manzoor and Younus took the score to 78 when Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis got the breakthrough, forcing Manzoor to edge to wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene who took a straightforward catch.
Younus, who survived a confident leg-before appeal against Mendis when on 23, batted with responsibility to take the fight to Sri Lanka. Malik, who lost the captaincy to Younus after Pakistan's 2-1 one-day defeat to the tourists last month, has so far hit six boundaries duirng his 144-ball supportive innings. Just like the Pakistani bowlers, Sri Lanka's twin-pace and twin-spin attack toiled on an unresponsive National Stadium pitch. Younus was lucky not to be out when, on 92, Tillakaratne Dilshan failed to hold onto a diving catch at mid-wicket off Mendis. Both Younus and Malik occasionally jumped out to smother the little spin and hit over the top as Pakistan continued to fight hard in their first Test for 14 months.
Rows of empty seats and thousands of unsold tickets have provided a bleak backdrop to Pakistan's first Test in 14 months, with heavy-handed security blamed for keeping the usually raucous crowds away. Early on day three of the Test against Sri Lanka, barely 200 spectators rattled around the 34,000-capacity National Stadium, with even offers of free tickets failing to draw fans. Schoolchildren filled one stand on Saturday, and on Sunday, barely 2,000 people witnessed Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera's world record 437 partnership. "I think overwhelming security is to blame," said Ramiz Raja, a former Pakistan captain and ex-chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "It was not like this when we hosted India in 2004 -- the last time I saw stadiums packed before the start of the match." Security is a major concern in Karachi, a teeming port city with a reputation for attacks, especially after a series of incidents last year which ripped Pakistan's cricket schedule to shreds.
Tomorrow will be the deciding day. If Pakistan manage to pass the four hundred and forty four mark where they avoid follow up, the game has a very good chance to end up as a draw. But all depend on the way how tommorrow's play goes. You can't expect much from Sri Lankan bowlers. But anything can happen in this game, don't forget what happened to England team two weeks ago. Anyway first two days were Sri Lanka's days, today was Pakistan's day, then what about tomorrow ?
Pakistan Innings highlights
Younus was unbeaten on 101 as the home team, replying to Sri Lanka's mammoth first innings total of 644-7, reached 213-2 at tea. The other not-out batsman was Shoaib Malik with 46. Younus, 31, pushed Sri Lankan paceman Dilhara towards third man for two to reach his 16th Test hundred after four hours and five minutes of defiant batting. Younus found an able ally in Malik, whom he replaced as captain last month, as they put on 125 for the third wicket after opener Khurram Manzoor fell for 27 in his first Test. Pakistan still need another 232 runs to avoid follow-on. Resuming at 44-1, Manzoor and Younus took the score to 78 when Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis got the breakthrough, forcing Manzoor to edge to wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene who took a straightforward catch.
Younus, who survived a confident leg-before appeal against Mendis when on 23, batted with responsibility to take the fight to Sri Lanka. Malik, who lost the captaincy to Younus after Pakistan's 2-1 one-day defeat to the tourists last month, has so far hit six boundaries duirng his 144-ball supportive innings. Just like the Pakistani bowlers, Sri Lanka's twin-pace and twin-spin attack toiled on an unresponsive National Stadium pitch. Younus was lucky not to be out when, on 92, Tillakaratne Dilshan failed to hold onto a diving catch at mid-wicket off Mendis. Both Younus and Malik occasionally jumped out to smother the little spin and hit over the top as Pakistan continued to fight hard in their first Test for 14 months.
Rows of empty seats and thousands of unsold tickets have provided a bleak backdrop to Pakistan's first Test in 14 months, with heavy-handed security blamed for keeping the usually raucous crowds away. Early on day three of the Test against Sri Lanka, barely 200 spectators rattled around the 34,000-capacity National Stadium, with even offers of free tickets failing to draw fans. Schoolchildren filled one stand on Saturday, and on Sunday, barely 2,000 people witnessed Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera's world record 437 partnership. "I think overwhelming security is to blame," said Ramiz Raja, a former Pakistan captain and ex-chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "It was not like this when we hosted India in 2004 -- the last time I saw stadiums packed before the start of the match." Security is a major concern in Karachi, a teeming port city with a reputation for attacks, especially after a series of incidents last year which ripped Pakistan's cricket schedule to shreds.
Tomorrow will be the deciding day. If Pakistan manage to pass the four hundred and forty four mark where they avoid follow up, the game has a very good chance to end up as a draw. But all depend on the way how tommorrow's play goes. You can't expect much from Sri Lankan bowlers. But anything can happen in this game, don't forget what happened to England team two weeks ago. Anyway first two days were Sri Lanka's days, today was Pakistan's day, then what about tomorrow ?
Cricket Highlights : Sri Lanka V Pakistan - 1St Test (Day 02) - 2/23/2009 7:56:25 PM
Sri Lanka is on top as the record breaking partnership between Thilan Samaraweera and utgoing captain Mahela Jayawardena take them to a very good score of six hundred and forty four. The world record forth wicket partnership in any test match, which is previously recorded by two English players in 1957 now owned by Jayawardena and Samaraweera. When the second days play is finished Pakistan was forty four for one wicket, six hundred runs behind Sri Lankans with nine wickets in hand. The wicket of Salman Butt was taken by Muttiah Muralitharan. Mahela Jayawardene (240) and Thilan Samaraweera (231) set a fourth-wicket test record stand of 437 runs as Sri Lanka piled up 644 for seven declared on the second day of the first test against Pakistan on Sunday. Pakistan were 44 for one in reply, opener Salman Butt (23) edging Muttiah Muralitharan to Jayawardene at first slip after Sri Lanka declared after tea.
Day 02 Highlights
The home side began to fight back on the stroke of tea, dismissing both the double centurions and Tillakaratne Dilshan in the space of 10 balls. Off-spinner Shoaib Malik and Danish Kaneria shared the three wickets after Jayawardene and Samaraweera had broken a 52-year old batting record with their stand. They surpassed the fourth wicket partnership of 411 between Peter May and Colin Cowdrey of England set in 1957 against West Indies at Edgbaston. The partnership of the two batsmen spanned 643 balls and came in 450 minutes. Jayawardene was the first to fall when he had a lapse of concentration.
Trying to sweep Malik at the total of 614, he was caught brilliantly by keeper Kamran Akmal down the leg side. His partner Samaraweera, who made his first double century and highest test score, fell seven balls later at the same score when he was bowled by a flipper from leg-spinner Kaneria. Pakistan got their third wicket at the same total of 614 when Dilshan was caught behind playing defensively at a doosra from Malik. Sri Lanka's total is their highest against Pakistan and also the highest by any team at the national stadium. The 437-run stand is also the highest for any wicket at the ground by any team. Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said the pitch had not been prepared to his team's liking. "We were not expecting this sort of track. We wanted a surface with some grass and bounce," Alam told a news conference. "I do not want to make excuses for our performance but let me made it clear we did not ask for this sort of pitch."
So it's too early to tell about the fate of the game. But definitly all will depend on how Pakistan players play tomorrow. If they manage to stay in the wicket whole day tomorrow, definitly they can put a good total on board. But Sri Lankan spin duo will try their best to share Pakistani wickets among them. Tested time for Pakistan batsmen and Sri Lankan bowlers.
Day 02 Highlights
The home side began to fight back on the stroke of tea, dismissing both the double centurions and Tillakaratne Dilshan in the space of 10 balls. Off-spinner Shoaib Malik and Danish Kaneria shared the three wickets after Jayawardene and Samaraweera had broken a 52-year old batting record with their stand. They surpassed the fourth wicket partnership of 411 between Peter May and Colin Cowdrey of England set in 1957 against West Indies at Edgbaston. The partnership of the two batsmen spanned 643 balls and came in 450 minutes. Jayawardene was the first to fall when he had a lapse of concentration.
Trying to sweep Malik at the total of 614, he was caught brilliantly by keeper Kamran Akmal down the leg side. His partner Samaraweera, who made his first double century and highest test score, fell seven balls later at the same score when he was bowled by a flipper from leg-spinner Kaneria. Pakistan got their third wicket at the same total of 614 when Dilshan was caught behind playing defensively at a doosra from Malik. Sri Lanka's total is their highest against Pakistan and also the highest by any team at the national stadium. The 437-run stand is also the highest for any wicket at the ground by any team. Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said the pitch had not been prepared to his team's liking. "We were not expecting this sort of track. We wanted a surface with some grass and bounce," Alam told a news conference. "I do not want to make excuses for our performance but let me made it clear we did not ask for this sort of pitch."
So it's too early to tell about the fate of the game. But definitly all will depend on how Pakistan players play tomorrow. If they manage to stay in the wicket whole day tomorrow, definitly they can put a good total on board. But Sri Lankan spin duo will try their best to share Pakistani wickets among them. Tested time for Pakistan batsmen and Sri Lankan bowlers.
Cricket Highlights : Sri Lanka V Pakistan - 1St Test (Day 02) - 2/22/2009 10:51:42 AM
Sri Lanka is on top as the record breaking partnership between Thilan Samaraweera and utgoing captain Mahela Jayawardena take them to a very good score of six hundred and forty four. The world record forth wicket partnership in any test match, which is previously recorded by two English players in 1957 now owned by Jayawardena and Samaraweera. When the second days play is finished Pakistan was forty four for one wicket, six hundred runs behind Sri Lankans with nine wickets in hand. The wicket of Salman Butt was taken by Muttiah Muralitharan. Mahela Jayawardene (240) and Thilan Samaraweera (231) set a fourth-wicket test record stand of 437 runs as Sri Lanka piled up 644 for seven declared on the second day of the first test against Pakistan on Sunday. Pakistan were 44 for one in reply, opener Salman Butt (23) edging Muttiah Muralitharan to Jayawardene at first slip after Sri Lanka declared after tea.
Day 02 Highlights
The home side began to fight back on the stroke of tea, dismissing both the double centurions and Tillakaratne Dilshan in the space of 10 balls. Off-spinner Shoaib Malik and Danish Kaneria shared the three wickets after Jayawardene and Samaraweera had broken a 52-year old batting record with their stand. They surpassed the fourth wicket partnership of 411 between Peter May and Colin Cowdrey of England set in 1957 against West Indies at Edgbaston. The partnership of the two batsmen spanned 643 balls and came in 450 minutes. Jayawardene was the first to fall when he had a lapse of concentration.
Trying to sweep Malik at the total of 614, he was caught brilliantly by keeper Kamran Akmal down the leg side. His partner Samaraweera, who made his first double century and highest test score, fell seven balls later at the same score when he was bowled by a flipper from leg-spinner Kaneria. Pakistan got their third wicket at the same total of 614 when Dilshan was caught behind playing defensively at a doosra from Malik. Sri Lanka's total is their highest against Pakistan and also the highest by any team at the national stadium. The 437-run stand is also the highest for any wicket at the ground by any team. Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said the pitch had not been prepared to his team's liking. "We were not expecting this sort of track. We wanted a surface with some grass and bounce," Alam told a news conference. "I do not want to make excuses for our performance but let me made it clear we did not ask for this sort of pitch."
So it's too early to tell about the fate of the game. But definitly all will depend on how Pakistan players play tomorrow. If they manage to stay in the wicket whole day tomorrow, definitly they can put a good total on board. But Sri Lankan spin duo will try their best to share Pakistani wickets among them. Tested time for Pakistan batsmen and Sri Lankan bowlers.
Day 02 Highlights
The home side began to fight back on the stroke of tea, dismissing both the double centurions and Tillakaratne Dilshan in the space of 10 balls. Off-spinner Shoaib Malik and Danish Kaneria shared the three wickets after Jayawardene and Samaraweera had broken a 52-year old batting record with their stand. They surpassed the fourth wicket partnership of 411 between Peter May and Colin Cowdrey of England set in 1957 against West Indies at Edgbaston. The partnership of the two batsmen spanned 643 balls and came in 450 minutes. Jayawardene was the first to fall when he had a lapse of concentration.
Trying to sweep Malik at the total of 614, he was caught brilliantly by keeper Kamran Akmal down the leg side. His partner Samaraweera, who made his first double century and highest test score, fell seven balls later at the same score when he was bowled by a flipper from leg-spinner Kaneria. Pakistan got their third wicket at the same total of 614 when Dilshan was caught behind playing defensively at a doosra from Malik. Sri Lanka's total is their highest against Pakistan and also the highest by any team at the national stadium. The 437-run stand is also the highest for any wicket at the ground by any team. Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said the pitch had not been prepared to his team's liking. "We were not expecting this sort of track. We wanted a surface with some grass and bounce," Alam told a news conference. "I do not want to make excuses for our performance but let me made it clear we did not ask for this sort of pitch."
So it's too early to tell about the fate of the game. But definitly all will depend on how Pakistan players play tomorrow. If they manage to stay in the wicket whole day tomorrow, definitly they can put a good total on board. But Sri Lankan spin duo will try their best to share Pakistani wickets among them. Tested time for Pakistan batsmen and Sri Lankan bowlers.
Cricket Highlights : Sri Lanka V Pakistan - 1St Test (Day 02) - 2/22/2009 10:51:27 AM
Sri Lanka is on top as the record breaking partnership between Thilan Samaraweera and utgoing captain Mahela Jayawardena take them to a very good score of six hundred and forty four. The world record forth wicket partnership in any test match, which is previously recorded by two English players in 1957 now owned by Jayawardena and Samaraweera. When the second days play is finished Pakistan was forty four for one wicket, six hundred runs behind Sri Lankans with nine wickets in hand. The wicket of Salman Butt was taken by Muttiah Muralitharan. Mahela Jayawardene (240) and Thilan Samaraweera (231) set a fourth-wicket test record stand of 437 runs as Sri Lanka piled up 644 for seven declared on the second day of the first test against Pakistan on Sunday. Pakistan were 44 for one in reply, opener Salman Butt (23) edging Muttiah Muralitharan to Jayawardene at first slip after Sri Lanka declared after tea.
Day 02 Highlights
The home side began to fight back on the stroke of tea, dismissing both the double centurions and Tillakaratne Dilshan in the space of 10 balls. Off-spinner Shoaib Malik and Danish Kaneria shared the three wickets after Jayawardene and Samaraweera had broken a 52-year old batting record with their stand. They surpassed the fourth wicket partnership of 411 between Peter May and Colin Cowdrey of England set in 1957 against West Indies at Edgbaston. The partnership of the two batsmen spanned 643 balls and came in 450 minutes. Jayawardene was the first to fall when he had a lapse of concentration.
Trying to sweep Malik at the total of 614, he was caught brilliantly by keeper Kamran Akmal down the leg side. His partner Samaraweera, who made his first double century and highest test score, fell seven balls later at the same score when he was bowled by a flipper from leg-spinner Kaneria. Pakistan got their third wicket at the same total of 614 when Dilshan was caught behind playing defensively at a doosra from Malik. Sri Lanka's total is their highest against Pakistan and also the highest by any team at the national stadium. The 437-run stand is also the highest for any wicket at the ground by any team. Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said the pitch had not been prepared to his team's liking. "We were not expecting this sort of track. We wanted a surface with some grass and bounce," Alam told a news conference. "I do not want to make excuses for our performance but let me made it clear we did not ask for this sort of pitch."
So it's too early to tell about the fate of the game. But definitly all will depend on how Pakistan players play tomorrow. If they manage to stay in the wicket whole day tomorrow, definitly they can put a good total on board. But Sri Lankan spin duo will try their best to share Pakistani wickets among them. Tested time for Pakistan batsmen and Sri Lankan bowlers.
Day 02 Highlights
The home side began to fight back on the stroke of tea, dismissing both the double centurions and Tillakaratne Dilshan in the space of 10 balls. Off-spinner Shoaib Malik and Danish Kaneria shared the three wickets after Jayawardene and Samaraweera had broken a 52-year old batting record with their stand. They surpassed the fourth wicket partnership of 411 between Peter May and Colin Cowdrey of England set in 1957 against West Indies at Edgbaston. The partnership of the two batsmen spanned 643 balls and came in 450 minutes. Jayawardene was the first to fall when he had a lapse of concentration.
Trying to sweep Malik at the total of 614, he was caught brilliantly by keeper Kamran Akmal down the leg side. His partner Samaraweera, who made his first double century and highest test score, fell seven balls later at the same score when he was bowled by a flipper from leg-spinner Kaneria. Pakistan got their third wicket at the same total of 614 when Dilshan was caught behind playing defensively at a doosra from Malik. Sri Lanka's total is their highest against Pakistan and also the highest by any team at the national stadium. The 437-run stand is also the highest for any wicket at the ground by any team. Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said the pitch had not been prepared to his team's liking. "We were not expecting this sort of track. We wanted a surface with some grass and bounce," Alam told a news conference. "I do not want to make excuses for our performance but let me made it clear we did not ask for this sort of pitch."
So it's too early to tell about the fate of the game. But definitly all will depend on how Pakistan players play tomorrow. If they manage to stay in the wicket whole day tomorrow, definitly they can put a good total on board. But Sri Lankan spin duo will try their best to share Pakistani wickets among them. Tested time for Pakistan batsmen and Sri Lankan bowlers.
Cricket Highlights : Sri Lanka V Pakistan - 1St Test (Day 01) - 2/21/2009 7:50:02 PM
The first day play belongs to Sri Lankans without any doubt. Even though Pakistan bowlers managed to have a good start with the wicket of debutant Tharanga Paranawithana who got duck in his first international appearance, they didn't managed to capitalize on it. Malinda Warnapura made good half century. Mahela Jayawardene scored his first test century against Pakistan in his farewell series as captain and guided Sri Lanka to a commanding 406-3 on the first day of the first cricket test Saturday. Jayawardene — criticized for his recent poor run of form in limited-overs cricket — produced an unbeaten 136 while Thilan Samaraweera also made the best of the ideal batting conditions with an aggressive unbeaten 130 off 155 balls. The two batsmen share a 229-run fourth wicket stand reached in just over three-and-a-half hours as the Pakistan bowlers struggled to separate the pair despite taking the second new ball.
Sri Lanka Innings Highlights
The Sri Lanka captain was thrice dropped by a team playing its first test in 14 months as the grassless wicket of the National Stadium gave little response to either seamers or the two spinners. "If you drop catches in this type of cricket it goes very hard for the bowlers," Samaraweera said. Pakistan last played a test match against India in Dec. 2007 in India and played its last home test against South Africa in Oct. 2007. "It's not an easy thing (to play after 14 months) and as a test specialist I know because I'm playing after three months," Samaraweera said. "I think the outfield is very fast, the wicket is flat and we punished every loose ball."
Paceman Umar Gul (1-82) could not hold on to a low return catch when Jayawardene was on 17. He got another chance when Misbah-ul-Haq, who took all three catches in the innings, dropped a regulation chance in slips just after Jayawardene had driven the debutante fast bowler Sohail Khan for a boundary to become the first Sri Lanka player to reach 8,000 test runs. Jayawardene, playing in his 101st test match, pounced on his opportunities and completed his 25th test century in the last session when he cut leg-spinner Danish Kaneria to the boundary. He struck 20 boundaries in his five-hour knock and faced 239 deliveries. Former captain Shoaib Malik dropped a two-handed catch of Jayawardene when he was on 123 late in the afternoon which could have earned Sohail his first test wicket.
"He's (Jayawardene) a class act and his record as a captain is excellent," Samaraweera said. "He has scored more hundreds as captain and we are looking forward to winning the series because it's Mahela's last series as a captain." Samaraweera hit 21 fours in his century and drove off-spinner Malik for a straight boundary to complete his seventh test century. He faced 155 balls. Pakistan managed only one wicket in the last two sessions as the Sri Lanka batsmen dominated play. Kumar Sangakkara (70) had added 90 runs for the third wicket with Jayawardene when he was caught at midwicket off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria (1-93) in the second session. Sangakkara cut and drove impressively as he hit nine fours in his 104-ball knock.
Sri Lanka dominated from the outset when Jayawardene won the toss and elected to bat first. Despite losing Tharanga Paranavitana, a 26-year-old debutante, to the first ball he faced, Sri Lanka recovered when Sangakkara and Malinda Warnapura struck half-centuries in the first session. Left-handed opener Warnapura scored an aggressive 59 off 48 balls with nine boundaries before Misbah took a one-handed catch at second slip off the bowling of Yasir Arafat (1-57), who returned Pakistan's best bowling figures. Pakistan handed test debuts to 22-year-old opening batsman Khurram Manzoor and the 24-year-old Sohail.
Sri Lanka Innings Highlights
The Sri Lanka captain was thrice dropped by a team playing its first test in 14 months as the grassless wicket of the National Stadium gave little response to either seamers or the two spinners. "If you drop catches in this type of cricket it goes very hard for the bowlers," Samaraweera said. Pakistan last played a test match against India in Dec. 2007 in India and played its last home test against South Africa in Oct. 2007. "It's not an easy thing (to play after 14 months) and as a test specialist I know because I'm playing after three months," Samaraweera said. "I think the outfield is very fast, the wicket is flat and we punished every loose ball."
Paceman Umar Gul (1-82) could not hold on to a low return catch when Jayawardene was on 17. He got another chance when Misbah-ul-Haq, who took all three catches in the innings, dropped a regulation chance in slips just after Jayawardene had driven the debutante fast bowler Sohail Khan for a boundary to become the first Sri Lanka player to reach 8,000 test runs. Jayawardene, playing in his 101st test match, pounced on his opportunities and completed his 25th test century in the last session when he cut leg-spinner Danish Kaneria to the boundary. He struck 20 boundaries in his five-hour knock and faced 239 deliveries. Former captain Shoaib Malik dropped a two-handed catch of Jayawardene when he was on 123 late in the afternoon which could have earned Sohail his first test wicket.
"He's (Jayawardene) a class act and his record as a captain is excellent," Samaraweera said. "He has scored more hundreds as captain and we are looking forward to winning the series because it's Mahela's last series as a captain." Samaraweera hit 21 fours in his century and drove off-spinner Malik for a straight boundary to complete his seventh test century. He faced 155 balls. Pakistan managed only one wicket in the last two sessions as the Sri Lanka batsmen dominated play. Kumar Sangakkara (70) had added 90 runs for the third wicket with Jayawardene when he was caught at midwicket off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria (1-93) in the second session. Sangakkara cut and drove impressively as he hit nine fours in his 104-ball knock.
Sri Lanka dominated from the outset when Jayawardene won the toss and elected to bat first. Despite losing Tharanga Paranavitana, a 26-year-old debutante, to the first ball he faced, Sri Lanka recovered when Sangakkara and Malinda Warnapura struck half-centuries in the first session. Left-handed opener Warnapura scored an aggressive 59 off 48 balls with nine boundaries before Misbah took a one-handed catch at second slip off the bowling of Yasir Arafat (1-57), who returned Pakistan's best bowling figures. Pakistan handed test debuts to 22-year-old opening batsman Khurram Manzoor and the 24-year-old Sohail.
1St Twenty20 (T20) Highlights - Australia V New Zealand At Sydney, Feb 15, 2009 - 2/20/2009 7:36:09 PM
New Zealand in Australia T20I Match - Scorecard
Australia v New Zealand 2008/09 season - Full Highlights
Played at Sydney Cricket Ground on 15 February 2009 - day/night (20-over match)
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