All posts by h716a5.icu

Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to clean up its cricket house has succeeded in pushing the threat of ICC sanctions off the table for now at least

Osman Samiuddin12-Nov-2010Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to clean up its cricket house has succeeded in pushing the threat of ICC sanctions off the table for now at least. The ICC had given the PCB a 30-day deadline – which finishes today – at its last board meeting to implement a series of anti-corruption measures, working in conjunction with the Pakistan Task Team (PTT). Two teleconferences between the PTT and the PCB since, however, have been enough to suggest that the PCB has taken the ICC’s initial warning in the right spirit.In the time since the warning, the PCB has considerably tightened up player code of conducts, appointed a full-time anti-corruption/security officer, set up an integrity committee and begun the process of the ICC’s anti-corruption code of conduct within its domestic set-up.The players’ code of conduct, which they sign before going on any tour, now includes specific references to not making cricket or match-related statements on social network websites such as Facebook and Twitter. Players have also been told to not register more than two SIMs for mobile phones in whichever country they are touring and each SIM must be registered with the touring management. Curfew timings are also likely to be enforced more strictly; three players were fined during the Pakistan-South Africa ODI series in the UAE for returning to the hotel only minutes after the curfew time.The new code of conduct was explained to the side in a detailed, interactive session given by the board’s legal advisor Taffazul Rizvi before it left for the UAE. During the session it was also stressed repeatedly that players must report any previous or future approaches by potentially suspicious characters to team management immediately.At some point in the near future, the PCB’s own anti-corruption code of conduct will come into implementation and will be applicable to all domestic and international cricket. The documentation for the code, which mirrors that of the ICC, is almost ready though understandably it has to be tweaked to ensure it fits in with the law of the land. The implementation, which will cover over 2000 first-class players, will take some more time. The process of educating younger players working at the National Cricket Academy in Gaddafi Stadium on anti-corruption measures is also continuing.Further unofficial confidence-building measures have come in the absence of Danish Kaneria and Kamran Akmal from the national side. Both players have been under corruption clouds this summer; Kaneria has been cleared by Essex police in a spot-fixing investigation in county cricket and Akmal was sent a notice by the ACSU after the World T20 in May.The board has said only that Kaneria wasn’t given clearance to tour the UAE by the new Integrity committee. Akmal, for official purposes, was unfit following an appendix operation before the South Africa series but has since been playing domestic cricket; tellingly, Zulqarnain Haider’s sudden departure earlier this week resulted in a call-up not for Kamran, but his younger brother Adnan Akmal. The ICC has denied having any say in these decisions, maintaining that they are internal matters of selection.The two teleconferences held so far between the two sides are believed to have been healthy, productive ones. Publicly, the ICC’s thoughts reveal progress in Pakistan. The first meeting with the PTT on October 23 resulted in the ICC giving a cautious nod of approval to the PCB’s efforts. By the second meeting, on November 7, the head of the PTT Giles Clarke and the ICC were more effusive in their praise.The original warning, it is believed, was also prompted by the PCB’s delay in recognising the original Pakistan Task Force, when it was set up in January 2009. Then, a reluctant and suspicious board had only agreed to work with the force after the terror attacks on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore in March that year. The intention this time was to ensure the PCB would be on-board as soon as possible, which now appears to have succeeded. Talk of sanctions, in light of increasing cooperation between the PCB and the PTT, has thus receded.The next teleconference is expected to be held on November 21, after which the PTT will eventually report to the ICC board on the measures Pakistan has taken, though that is not expected to happen until close to the 2011 World Cup.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Ridvan Yilmaz to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Turkish media outlet Turkiye Gazetesi (via Sport Witness), who claim that Fabio Paratici has submitted an €8m (£6.75m) offer for the Besiktas left-back, with the player himself thought to be extremely keen on a move to the Premier League side.

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The report goes on to state that the 20-year-old has asked his current team not to stand in the way of his proposed switch to Spurs, however, it is believed that the Super Lig outfit are hoping to receive an offer closer to €10m (£8.5m) before sanctioning the Turkey international’s sale this summer.

There’s no one “identical to him”

Considering how impressive Yilmaz has been since breaking into the Besiktas first team as a 17-year-old back in 2019, coupled with the fact that left wing-back has been something of a problem position for Antonio Conte this season, it is easy to see why Spurs would be interested in a move for the defender this summer.

Indeed, over his 25 Super Lig appearances this season, the £4.95m-rated full-back has been a constant threat for Valerien Ismael’s side, scoring three goals, registering four assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 0.8 shots and making 0.8 key passes per game.

The £3k-per-week dynamo has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, helping Besiktas keep four clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 1.3 interceptions, 1.7 tackles, 1.2 clearances and winning 3.9 duels – at a success rate of 56% – per fixture.

These returns have seen the player about whom was it was claimed in comments made to Breaking The Lines that “there isn’t really a well-known full-back that’s identical to him” average a SofaScore match rating of 6.89, ranking him as his club’s ninth-best player in the top flight of Turkish football.

And, with recent reports suggesting that Sergio Reguilon could be on his way out of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, as well as Ryan Sessegnon continuing to struggle with injuries, the signing of a new left-back could very much be one of Paratici’s priorities ahead of 2022/23.

As such, considering his tender age, undoubted ability and huge potential – not to mention his extremely reasonable asking price – it would indeed appear as if landing Yilmaz this summer would be a fantastic piece of business for the Tottenham sporting director to get over the line – as the 20-year-old’s unique abilities would certainly be put to extremely good use in Conte’s left wing-back role next season.

AND in other news: “From what I understand…”: Gold drops transfer claim that Spurs supporters will love

India know that all the hard work of the last two to three years could come to nought if they lose comprehensively in South Africa

Sidharth Monga in Centurion14-Dec-2010Andreas isn’t happy that our car doesn’t stop at his security check-point, instead driving right into the compound of the stunningly beautiful SuperSport Park in Centurion, the venue of the first Test. He looks like a security guard who has seen it all, one who’s kept various kinds of people from entering his ground. It has been overcast all day, and a slight drizzle has made it cold for a summer day. Not as cold as Andreas, though.”You didn’t ask for my permission before entering, now you are not allowed to go into the stadium” he says, pointing towards where the accreditation pass would have been – had there been one. “Okay,” we say, “let’s step out of the compound again, and then ask for your permission.” However, he can’t keep the act up for long, and starts laughing. And then he says, “We are going to beat you, boss,” pointing to a board featuring Dale Steyn and Ashwell Prince, saying. “Pure Protea. 100% South African.””Pure Protea,” repeats Andreas, and in the friendliest of manners, leads us on a tour of the ground. The ground itself is a pretty sight, with its grass banks, old-fashioned bars with wooden benches, the barbeques, the red benches in the press box, the old dressing room in the corner that is not used anymore, and the feel of the breeze going right across the open turf. South Africa cannot be inhospitable, else it wouldn’t be hosting so many top sporting events. Even Andreas has become a friend now, and he will be bought beers if – as he says – South Africa are going to beat India, boss. Warm hosts as they might be, the South Africans will bring a cold edge when they host the No. 1 side in the world.And India are not expecting anything less. The advertisements say the South Africans are waiting; the same can be said of the Indians. India know this tour will define how the team is seen. They know that as long as they are not swept 3-0 they will hang on to their No. 1 ranking. They also know how seriously their No. 1 ranking will be taken if they perform abysmally here. They know it has never been less about rankings.In an interview with ESPNcricinfo recently, Gary Kirsten, India’s coach, said his side didn’t need to justify its No. 1 position, but also that the “Test series [against South Africa] will be a defining moment” for the team. He said this team, if it won the series, could well become the greatest Test side to come out of the country. Without doubt, given Australia’s current form, beating South Africa in South Africa remains the biggest challenge for this Indian team.A measure of how big a challenge this Test series is can be made from how this is a personal challenge for almost every individual in the side, at least the batting unit. Gautam Gambhir has returned to form through the series against New Zealand, but this will be the truest test of his technique since his remarkable comeback to the Indian side. There will be seam movement, and there will be constant bouncers, the kind Morne Morkel bowled to him in Nagpur to get him out twice in one day.Rahul Dravid knows that every failure for him is as good as three for a younger batsman. Is he still the man for the situations that call for the most determined of efforts, mentally and technically? There won’t be a better time than an overcast morning and a bouncy pitch come Thursday morning to prove this.VVS Laxman has saved and won matches he had no business winning and saving, but he knows he hasn’t scored a century in South Africa and it’s a record that could do with some setting straight.The last time Suresh Raina came here for a full tour – albeit a long time ago, and he has succeeded in the IPL here – he was sent back mid-tour, ruthlessly exposed during ODIs played on testing tracks. That drop and a subsequent injury have been the lowest points of his career. He has come back a mentally stronger cricketer and, with a few months to go for the World Cup, he will badly want to conquer the country that effectively cost him a place in the previous World Cup.

India know this tour will define how the team is seen. They know that as long as they are not swept 3-0 they will hang on to their No. 1 ranking. They also know how seriously their No. 1 ranking will be taken if they perform abysmally here. They know it has never been less about rankings

The bowling unit, though, will be looking forward to this series. For close to two years they have been toiling in subcontinent conditions. The trio of Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Sreesanth in fact are the reason why just producing green-tops is not enough to assure South Africa of victory. Over the last five years, the Indian fast bowlers, along with their Pakistani counterparts have best exploited the helpful conditions here.The other troika, the coaching staff, will probably draw much more attention – not least because they are South Africans. Every player in the side swears by Kirsten’s methods – and it has shown in the results – but the same cannot be said of the bowling coach, Eric Simons. While Paddy Upton’s mental conditioning work is much more intangible, India’s bowling hasn’t quite gone from strength to strength under Simons. It is often said that he doesn’t quite know the subcontinent conditions well enough, and that spans the sample of his work with the bowlers. In South Africa, in conditions he should know better than most, the room for benefit of doubt will be minimal.That said, this is the most confident Indian side to have travelled to this side of the Indian Ocean. They know a lot can go wrong, but they also know a lot can go right. They are obviously feeling good as a team, and also as a unit that can do well in crisis situations. They have become better tourists over the years. South Africa is not that foreign either: they have played a World Twenty20 here since their last tour, and most of their players have played the IPL and the Champions League. And despite the individual challenges to the batsmen, they are perhaps the best Test batting unit going around right now. The bowlers cherish helpful conditions, which if delivered as promised, should be as lethal in their hands as in the South Africans’.Given the constraints of Indian cricket, with its commercial commitments, the team has also prepared the best that it could. It will help that they have stayed unbeaten through a home season for the second time in the last three years. This is not quite the Final Frontier as the admen would have it – they still have Australia to beat in Australia – but there is a sense that all the hard work of the last two to three years could come to nought if they lose comprehensively. The Indian team, however, evident at least from what Kirsten said, is not thinking about how to not lose, but how to win. While all of that pans out – we’re waiting.

New South Wales survived a massive scare in the form of Trinidadian Kieron Pollard to post their first win in the 2010-11 Big Bash, over South Australia in Adelaide

The Bulletin by Alex Malcolm04-Jan-2011ScorecardDavid Warner had to go against his natural instinct but his steady 73 may have been the difference between the two sides•Getty ImagesNew South Wales survived a massive scare in the form of Trinidadian Kieron Pollard to post their first win in the 2010-11 Big Bash, over South Australia in Adelaide. The Blues had the game on ice when the Redbacks slumped to 6 for 53 in pursuit of their target of 169.Left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe ripped through the hosts top order claiming 3 for 4 in his first two overs after captain Stuart Clark called on him in the fourth over because Doug Bollinger’s fist over had gone for 17.Pollard and Aaron O’Brien were left to salvage a sinking Redbacks ship, needing 115 from 66 deliveries with just four wickets in hand. Pollard began a typical pyrotechnics display, the kind of which has made him a Twenty20 gun for hire around the world. In the 12th over he ruined O’Keefe’s figures with two massive blows, one was miscued straight down the ground, the other caught in the crowd at long-off, beyond the longest boundary in Australia.When O’Brien was stumped from a wide two overs later, the last rites were expected to be delivered but Pollard launched a savage assault on allrounder Moises Henriques. The over cost 29, the West Indian responsible for 23 of them, reaching 50 in 22 balls and pulling the equation back to just 38 off 30.Henriques had the last laugh though. With Pollard looking to climb over long-on in the next over, he leapt high to claim an extraordinary catch, reminiscent of John Dyson, as Pollard fell metres short of his sixth six. Henriques also claimed the winning catch in Nathan Hauritz’s next over to seal the Blues win.Earlier NSW set a competitive total of 5 for 168 after winning the toss. The innings was anchored by an unusually subdued David Warner who made 73 not out from 58 balls with just one six and seven fours.He wrestled with his timing throughout and played second fiddle to his opening partner Daniel Smith who clubbed 45 at the top. NSW lost quick wickets in the middle as spinners O’Brien and debutant Nathan Lion tied things down but Warner’s effort to go against instinct and hang tough might have proved the difference in the end.

The Athletic journalist Kieran Devlin has delivered his verdict on how the return of Champions League football could impact Celtic from next season and beyond.

The Lowdown: CL place on the line

The Hoops currently find themselves sitting at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, six points clear of rivals Rangers in second place with just three games left to play.

UEFA have recently announced that should Ange Postecoglou’s outfit be able to clinch the title, then they would automatically be entered into the Champions League group stage, but what effects could that have on the club in the long term?

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The Latest: Positive impacts

In a Twitter post published by Devlin, he shared his article for The Athletic detailing how being back amongst Europe’s elite ‘might impact Celtic’.

Indeed, if the Glasgow outfit successfully managed to secure a European place, then they could be set to receive ‘around £40 million income’ in total, which has the potential to ‘effectively reverse’ all of the club’s Covid losses.

The ‘biggest’ on-pitch benefit, he says, will be being able to retain key players with new contract offers/fending off interest this summer.

The Verdict: Utilising transfer funds

There’s no doubt that if the Bhoys do get crowned Scottish champions and have the opportunity to compete on a world stage, there will always be more of a chance that clubs could start eyeing up some of their star players.

However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because with the potential tasty sum that might be coming their way, they could utilise these funds to not only offer their current pivotal players more enticing deals in future, but also go out there and attract some of the biggest names in football to replace any departing stars.

Despite Celtic probably not being viewed as serious contenders to go out and win the Champions League altogether, it is definitely another opportunity for them to make a serious run at success under fan favourite Postecoglou.

In other news… a player’s agent has ripped into the Hoops following some new transfer rumours.

A round-up of action from the World Cricket League Division Three tournament in Hong Kong

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jan-2011Hong Kong beat table-toppers Papua New Guinea by 93 runs at the Hong King Cricket Club to qualify for Friday’s final in the ICC World Cricket League Division Three, where they will play PNG again. Hong Kong’s win also mean they are guaranteed promotion to WCL Div. 2.PNG, who chose to field, had Hong Kong in trouble early on as Rarva Dikana and Hitolo Areni picked up three wickets to reduce Hong Kong to 39 for 3 in the 11th over. However, Hussain Butt, who top-scored with 68 was involved in two crucial 40-plus stands with Irfan Ahmed (25) and Nizakat Khan (36) to take Hong Kong past 100. Areni struck to dismiss Nizakat and Waqas Barkat in quick succession but Butt and captain Najeeb Amar put on 53 runs in just under 10 overs to get the Hong Kong innings back on track. Butt was dismissed with the score on 196 but Nadeem Ahmed hit some big shots to take Hong King to 221 before they were bowled out.Hong Kong’s bowlers then defended the total, bowling PNG out cheaply. Tony Ura and Kila Pala were the only two batsmen who managed to get past 20, as PNG failed to string together any substantial partnerships and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Nadeem picked up three wickets as PNG were bowled out for 128 in just under 48 overs.”We talked about how we could beat PNG today and knew if we batted first it would be important to make as many runs as possible before our bowlers could get to work on the PNG side,” said Hong Kong coach Charlie Burke.”The important thing for us was to remain focussed and we knew by putting PNG under pressure the side would become vulnerable which they did today. We beat them in a warm-up game without our full strength squad so we knew we had the ability today to beat them, and our ability and strength showed today.”There are plenty of quality sides in Division 2 but my focus since taking this role has been about securing promotion. We have the promotion but this league isn’t over and we want to win the entire tournament in front of our home crowd before we focus our attention to the new challenges and teams Division 2 will throw at us,” said Burke.”We’re obviously disappointed with our play and commitment in the loss to Hong Kong today,” added PNG captain Dikana. “Today was Hong Kong’s final as they battled for survival in the tournament and they were the better side on the day. Congratulations to a well prepared side that fought hard and showed strong spirit.”We have a rematch to see who will take home the title of Division Three champions and I know my team have the ability to take the trophy home to PNG as the best side in the tournament. Our complete focus is on tomorrow as we take one step at a time. Tomorrow is a new ball game.”

Two aggressive half-centuries from Hemin Desai and Vaibhav Wategaonkar carried Oman to a commanding four-wicket win over Denmark at the Kowloon Cricket Club, but it was not enough to allow Oman to qualify for the final.Denmark were sent in to bat and got off to a shaky start, losing their openers with just 38 runs on the board. Carsten Pedersen and Rizwan Mahmood steadied the innings with a 66-run partnership but once Mahmood was dismissed with the score on 104, Denmark suffered a collapse. Rajesh Kumar and Khalid Rashid picked up three wickets apiece as Denmark slumped from 104 for 3 to 181 all out in just under 48 overs.Oman needed to knock the runs off quickly if they were to keep their hopes of qualifying for the final alive. Desai and Zeeshan Siddiqui got them off to a rapid start, adding 34 runs in 2 overs before Siddiqui was dismissed. Desai and Wategaonkar then blasted 41 runs in 17 balls. Desai fell for 51 off just 17 balls with five fours and five sixes. Wategaonkar added another rapid 22 with Adnan Ilyas before Bashir Shah had Ilyas stumped. Oman seemed to lose momentum after his dismissal. Though they reached their target in just under 25 overs with Wategaonkar unbeaten on 54, Hong Kong went ahead of their run-rate by beating PNG to destroy Oman’s hopes of qualifying for the final.

USA’s hopes of qualifying for WCL Div. 2 were ended by Italy, who beat them by four wickets at the Mission Road Ground. Italy will now go on to play Oman in the third-place playoff while USA will play for fifth place against Denmark.Italy got off to a shaky start in their chase of 223, slumping to 52 for 4, but a 102-run partnership between Peter Petricola and wicketkeeper Hayden Patrizi got them back into the game. After Patrizi was out for 50, Michael Raso came in and smashed 38 off 29 deliveries, and Italy got home with 18 balls to spare. Petricola was unbeaten on 69.Petricola had also been Italy’s most successful bowler, taking four wickets as Italy restricted USA to 222 for 8. USA captain Steve Massiah scored 52 and opener Sushil Nadkarni scored 47, but USA didn’t get to a big enough total.”Along with the entire team, I am hugely disappointed to be relegated back to Division Four,” said Massiah. “We didn’t prepare for this tournament as well as we have done in other events and our performances here were nothing like what we know we are capable of when we play cricket.”Certain things didn’t go our way this tournament and we now need to go back to the USA and rethink our strategy and how we are going to bounce back from this and rebuild our team to climb back up the leagues.”

Hamish Bennett, the New Zealand fast-bowler, has insisted he’s happy to support Tim Southee and James Franklin despite being an obvious new-ball candidate after his heroics in New Zealand’s nine-wicket defeat of Pakistan in the first ODI

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jan-2011Hamish Bennett, the New Zealand fast-bowler, has insisted he’s happy to support Tim Southee and James Franklin despite being an obvious new-ball candidate after his heroics in New Zealand’s nine-wicket defeat of Pakistan in the first ODI.He and Southee were expected to open the bowling but allrounder Franklin took the new ball with Bennett second change. The formula clearly worked well as Southee finished with man-of-the-match figures of 5 for 33 and Bennett chipping in with three wickets of his own.New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said a horses-for-courses approach was being taken and with the history of bowler-friendly conditions Queenstown, Southee and Franklin’s ability to swing the new ball would likely see them open again in Wednesday’s second match.”I think we’ll look to use James, particularly in Queenstown where the wicket probably suits the swing and seam bowler,” Vettori said. “When we get to the likes of Hamilton and Napier, maybe we’ll revisit it on the flatter wickets.”Vettori felt that Bennett, who finished with 3 for 26 from eight overs in just his third one-day international, was better suited to first or second change.”I think that’s where he’s most comfortable, but if he keeps bowling as well as he did [on Saturday], there’s no reason why he can’t step up into that opening role. We just hope he keeps performing that way.”Bennett, 23, is by far the quickest bowler in the team and generated good pace and bounce throughout the opening ODI. He was happy to start with the older ball in the circumstances but hopes to get hold of the new ball in future and feels he can generate more pace as he settles into the team.”I think Franky and Timmy do a good job swinging the new ball so we’ve got to use that, especially with the conditions we had [on Saturday],” he said. “I probably rely more on bounce so if I can use that and bowl a heavy nut it’s going to help.””I’ve never bowled [at the stadium] before so it was quite funny, it always felt like you were bowling into [the wind], so I found that quite tough. Hopefully in Queenstown I have the wind at my back. I think in Bangladesh last year I got clocked just under 145kmh so if I can get the conditions going my way, hopefully a bit quicker but who knows? If it’s not in the right area it doesn’t really matter, does it?”New Zealand routed Pakistan with their batsmen chasing down the modest target of 125 in just 17.2 overs. The new opening partnership of Jesse Ryder and Martin Guptill surged with an 84-run stand in 10 overs as John Wright’s first move for the ODI team succeeded. Ryder returned to form after a difficult Test series with 55 from 34 balls, while Guptill ended 40 not out and Ross Taylor was unbeaten on 23.After an 11-match losing streak last year Vettori was pleased to return to winning ways but cautioned the conditions were nothing like what the side will face come the World Cup next month. “It’s a difficult one because we’re not going to play on any wickets like that at the World Cup but this series is about getting that winning feeling back.”

Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on a dream signing in Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Conte pushing for move…

The sensational Bundesliga forward, out of contract in 2023, has been at the centre of exit reports recently as his club still fail to agree terms over an extension.

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Bayern, as a result, are currently under some pressure and face the possibility of having to sell him for a profit in the next transfer window while they still can.

Gnabry has no shortage of Premier League suitors, including Spurs, with manager Antonio Conte personally holding a serious interest in the former Arsenal ace.

According to a report by The Daily Star, Conte is ‘pushing’ transfer chief Fabio Paratici and the north Londoners to ‘table a cut-price deal’ for Bayern’s star given his contract status.

The Star believe that Tottenham, as a result, are ‘plotting an ambitious swoop’ to appease the Italian with an update now emerging from Spain.

The Latest: Gnabry ‘most dreamed of’ at Spurs…

Indeed, according to Spanish sources, Gnabry is now the ‘most dreamed of’ signing for Spurs this summer amid reports Conte seriously wants it done.

However, despite his contractual situation, it is believed the Lilywhites ‘would still have to pay a large amount’ for the 26-year-old.

As Paratici and co eye a number of reinforcements in other key areas, this report claims a formal bid is fairly unlikely despite Conte’s affection for the player.

The Verdict: Perfect but uphill battle…

The serious competition for Gnabry’s signature could certainly drive up his price tag with interest also coming from European heavyweights Real Madrid, Liverpool and Juventus.

Regardless of the £63 million-rated Germany ace entering the final year of his deal, it may still be an uphill battle to seal and agreement at Spurs.

If Conte does get his alleged wish, though, and Spurs do attempt a cut-price move, there is little arguing he would be a serious upgrade.

Former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson has recently urged the Lilywhites to get a deal done, calling Gnabry a ‘world class’ player, and the fact he has hit double figures for goals in every single one of his Bundesliga seasons is real evidence of this (Transfermarkt).

While unlikely, it is little wonder the former West Brom winger is seen as a dream signing.

In other news: Fabrizio Romano says ‘monster’ Spurs player is now ‘expected to leave’ this summer! Find out more here.

A round-up of the action from the sixth round of the Regional Four-Day Competition

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Mar-2011Carlos Brathwaite led Combined Campuses and Colleges to a nail-biting win over Guyana at Three Ws Oval in Bridgetown. Brathwaite picked up 5 for 28 from 14 overs as Guyana were dismissed for 191 about seven minutes after tea. Guyana began the day on 30 for 1, needing another 170 for victory, but were in trouble at 69 for 4. Assad Fudadin, who top scored with 44, and Derwin, who made 32, then added 53 for the fifth wicket, and after Fudadin added 41 with Vishaul Singh, Guyana looked likely to complete their first victory of the season.Brathwaite, however, sparked a collapse when he trapped Fudadin lbw and then had Zaheer Mohamed caught behind for a duck. He sealed the win by dismissing Brandon Bess and Ronsford Beaton off successive deliveries in the first over after the tea break, as Guyana lost their last five wickets for 28 runs. Brathwaite finished with match figures of 9 for 61, while Ryan Austin ended with 7 for 151 to take his tally of wickets to a season-leading 29.The win gave CCC 12 points and took them to second place in the Championship with 45 points, while Guyana are bottom of the table with 16.Jamaica earned six points from their draw against Trinidad & Tobago at Sabina Park, but that wasn’t enough to keep them top of the Championship table. Jamaica declared their second innings on 226 for 5, with Tamar Lambert making an unbeaten 61, in a bid to force a result. Denesh Ramdin, however, scored an unbeaten 103 as T&T made a valiant attempt to chase 304 from 63 overs. They eventually ended up with 248 for 5, as both captains agreed to end the game when the run-rate climbed past 10 runs an over with five overs remaining. Jamaica are now joint second in the table with Combined Campuses and Colleges on 45 points.

Time may yet tell that Lancashire lack sufficient depth to be competitive all season but so far they have done nothing but bolster their confidence

Jon Culley in Liverpool20-Apr-2011Stumps
Scorecard
Time may yet tell that Lancashire lack sufficient depth to be competitive all season but so far they have done nothing but bolster their confidence. Victory by an innings over Sussex launched their season on the right note and they fought back well to clip Somerset’s wings here before Paul Horton and Stephen Moore laid the foundations for a challenging reply by negotiating 20 overs without loss, Moore reaching stumps unbeaten on 52.Somerset had gone to lunch at 129 for 2, which provides a measure of how Lancashire recovered. A good day will feel better still, moreover, for the fact that a psychological setback suffered before the start was overcome.That came when Glen Chapple, the captain, pulled out after feeling a twinge behind a knee. The veteran pace bowler, in his 20th Lancashire season at 37, delivers wickets so consistently that it is inevitable that there is a certain dependence on him and a sense of foreboding when he cries off injured. And his nine wickets in the Sussex match merely underlined his importance to Lancashire’s cause.In the morning session, though Saj Mahmood, elevated to senior bowler, produced an excellent spell, at times it did look as if Chapple was missed. Yet the response later, in particular from Tom Smith, Oliver Newby and an unlucky Farveez Maharoof, the Sri Lankan pace bowler making his debut, was positive and earned its just reward, with a little help from another reliable veteran, the left-arm spinner, Gary Keedy. Days such as this, therefore, can only enhance Lancashire’s self-belief.Liverpool is a good ground for cricket, in terms of a balanced contest between bat and ball. Marcus Trescothick’s decision to bat first looked sound enough and while he and opening partner Arul Suppiah were early casualties as the ball swung, Nick Compton and James Hildreth seemed to be well settled after putting on 98 in 21 overs, going to lunch with half-centuries under their belts and every indication that they would build on them substantially in the afternoon.But, four balls after lunch, Hildreth appeared to loose his balance after letting a ball from Keedy pass him on the leg side, allowing Gareth Cross something of a gift stumping. The Lancashire wicketkeeper, involved in the dismissals of both openers, went on to rack up six successes behind the stumps, including two stumpings.Somerset’s confidence may have been on the fragile side, after their calamitous opening defeat against Warwickshire, but Lancashire’s bowlers were no less deserving of credit for that.The pick was undoubtedly Mahmood, whose inconsistent career has brought frustration for his admirers but who can test any batsmen when everything clicks. The bounce in this pitch was perfect for his length and was a factor in seeing off both openers, Trescothick having cut the opening ball of the match for four before edging the second through to Cross, who then snaffled Suppiah down the leg side. Suppiah was clearly furious at the manner of his dismissal and swished his bat angrily as umpire Jeff Evans raised the finger.Keedy inflicted another vital blow when Craig Kieswetter, on 53, squandered an opportunity with an injudicious charge that allowed Cross his second stumping. Smith bowled with control, having Jos Buttler caught behind with one that found some extra lift and then seeing off Peter Trego via a top-edged pull, and Newby, who had struggled in the morning, returned to have Compton caught at backward point.The Sri Lankan Maharoof, Lancashire’s newest overseas player, who made his debut in place of Chapple, asked questions in most of his 11 overs but was wicketless, although he did take a fine catch, running backwards, to give Newby his second wicket.Somerset did not bowl as well, although conditions were better for batting by the time Lancashire were at the crease. Moore had a life of sorts on 13 when he edged hard against Charl Willoughby and a startled second slip took evasive action, but otherwise there were no alarms and a good first session on day two should give Lancashire the foundation for a lead.”It is a good cricket wicket where if you bowl in the right areas the swing and bounce will get you rewards,” Mahmood said afterwards. “We bowled well as a unit and proved we can do it, even without Chappie.”He is a top-class bowler who does it for us every year and it was a big blow for us when he was ruled out but the lads got their heads around the situation and responded really well.”