All posts by h716a5.icu

A round-up of the Georgie Pie Super Smash matches played on November 27, 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2014Auckland moved into third position on the points table with a five-wicket win over Canterbury in Christchurch. Donovan Grobbelaar’s four wickets restricted Canterbury to 118 after they chose to bat. Auckland lost wickets regularly in the chase but captain Rob Nicol steered them with an unbeaten 52 and Brad Cachopa hit fours off the two balls he faced to haul his side home with two deliveries remaining.Ronnie Hira made 53 off 39 for Canterbury at the top of the order but the next highest contribution was Aiden Blizzard’s 17. The rest managed single-digit scores. Grobbelaar had career-best figures of 3.1-0-10-4 while Tarun Nethula picked up two wickets.Hamish Bennett struck in successive overs at the start of the chase but Nicol kept the innings moving with his 52 off 54. Grobbelaar hit a six towards the finish before Cachopa’s blows sealed it for Auckland.

Players in the Caribbean Twenty20 Premier League draft have been divided into three groups, with a few players from each slated to form a squad of 15 for every participating franchise

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-2013Players in the Caribbean Twenty20 Premier League draft have been divided into three groups, with a few players from each slated to form a squad of 15 for every participating franchise. There are six teams in all – Antigua, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. Pool A features international cricketers- 14 from West Indies and 12 from overseas. Pool B includes six international and over 100 local players, a few of whom have represented West Indies. Under-23 players from across the country will make up Pool C. The draft will take place on June 5 in Jamaica.A head coach, assistant coach, one West Indian and one international player, designated as ‘franchise players’ (who will be among the 15), will make up each team’s selection committee, which will be in charge of all strategies for the draft. These franchise players are not classified under the pools and will be appointed to each team by the league.Ross Taylor, Muttiah Muralitharan, Herschelle Gibbs, Adam Gilchrist, Mohammad Hafeez and Ricky Ponting make up the international franchise players, while Marlon Samuels, Darren Sammy, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo and Chris Gayle form their West Indies counterparts.Apart from the two franchise players, each team can pick four players from Pool A, seven players from Pool B and two from Pool C. Players selected from Pool C have to be under 23 years of age before September 1, 2013. All teams are expected to work under a salary cap, which is yet to be specified. A total of 24 matches will be played in the competition that starts on 30 July and ends on August 24.The details were announced at a press conference in Barbados on May 24. Carlisle Powell, the league’s operations manager, was enthusiastic about the tournament’s progress so far. “I have had an opportunity to tour each venue to assess what each facility has to offer and what will be needed from a CPL standpoint to meet our goals and objectives for the tournament,” he said. “I feel confident now that all of the cricket boards are better informed and more aware of all our preparations. The foundation for a solid working relationship has been established and I know I can call on each of them to assist us with the operations and logistics in their respective countries.”Pool AWest Indies: Andre Russell, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Dwayne Smith, Fidel Edwards, Johnson Charles, Kemar Roach, Kieran Powell, Lendl Simmons, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Ravi Rampaul, Samuel Badree, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Tino Best.International: Aaron Finch (Australia), Albie Morkel (South Africa), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Dirk Nannes (Australia), Luke Pomersbach (Australia), Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh), Shaun Marsh (Australia), Shoaib Malik (Pakistan), Steven Smith (Australia), Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh), Umar Akmal (Pakistan) and Vernon Philander (South Africa).Pool BInternational: Elton Chigumbura (Zimbabwe), Davy Jacobs (South Africa), Justin Kemp (South Africa), James Franklin (New Zealand), Martin Guptill (New Zealand) and Kevin O’Brien (Ireland)West Indies: Zaheer Mohamed, Xavier Gabriel, Wavell Hinds, Vincent Lewis, Travis Dowlin, Ray Casimir, Nikolai Charles, Mervin Wells, Marlon Richards, Jason Haynes, Imran Khan, Alston Bobb, Alleyn Prosper, Alex Antoine, Yannick Elliott, Xavier Marshall, William Perkins, Wayne Morgan, Veerasammy Permaul, Tyrone Theophile, Tonito Willett, Tamar Lambert, Tade Carmichael, Sylvester Joseph, Sulieman Benn, Steven Jacobs, Steve Liburd, Simon Jackson, Sherwin Ganga, Sheldon Cotterrell, Shawn Eli Findlay, Shannon Gabriel, Shane Shillingford, Shane Jeffers, Sharmarh Brooks, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Ryan Alexander Wiggins, Ryan Hinds, Ryan Austin, Royston Crandon, Romel Currency, Richard Nixon Ramdeen, Rayad Emrit, Rajiv Ivan, Rajindra Chandrika, Pedro Collins, Paul Wintz, Orlando Peters, Omar Phillips, Odean Brown, Nkrumah Bonner, Nikita Miller, Nelon Pascal, Nekoli Parris, Navin Stewart, Narsingh Deonarine, Montcin Hodge, Miles Bascombe, Martin Nurse, Marlon Barclay, Lyndell Richardson, Lionel Baker, Lindon James, Liam Sebastien, Leon Johnson, Kyle Hope, Krishmar Santokie, Kjorn Ottley, Kirk Edwards, Kevin Andre Stoute, Kevin McClean, Kesrick Williams, Keron Cottoy, Kenroy Williams, Kenroy Peters, Keddy Lesporis, Kavesh Kantasingh, Justin Guillen, Justin Brathwaite, Justin Athanaze, Jonathan Carter, Jerome Taylor, Javon Searles, Javier Liburd, Jason Mohammed, Jason Holder, Jason Dawes, Jamie Merchant, Jaison Peters, Jacques Taylor, Horace Miller, Herman Henry, Gavin Williams, Gavin Tonge, Garey Mathurin, Donovan Pagon, Dillon Heyliger, Devon Thomas, Devon Smith, Derwin Christian, Delorn Johnson, Dawnley Grant, Dave Bernard Jr, Devendra Bishoo, Dave Mohammed, Daren Ganga, Danza Hyatt, Dale Richards, Christopher Jordan, Christopher Barnwell, Chadwick Walton, Carlton Baugh, Carlos Brathwaite, Carlo Morris, Brenton Parchment, Brandon Bess, Austin Richards, Assad Fudadin, Ashley Nurse, Anthony Martin, Andrew Richardson, Andre McCarthy, Andre Fletcher, Amit Jaggernauth, Alcindo Holder, Kevon Cooper, Adrian BarathPool C: Tarrick Gabriel, Roland Cato, Ricardo Adams, Nicholas Pooran, Nicholas Alexis, Jerlani Robinson, Clinton Pestano, Anthony Bramble, Anthony Adams, Yannick Ottley, Yannick Cariah, Trevon Griffith, Sunil Walford Ambris, Stephen Katwaroo, Shane Dowrich, Shane Burton, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Ronsford Beaton, Raymon Reifer, Rashidi Boucher, Rahkeem Cornwall, Quinton Boatswain, Nelson Bolan, Miguel Cummins, Marquino Mindley, Kyle Mayers, Kyle Corbin, Kristopher Ramsaran, Kraigg Brathwaite, Keon Joseph, Kennar Lewis, Kelbert Walters, Keiron Joseph, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Jonathan Foo, Jomel Warrican, John Campbell, Jerome Jones, Jermaine Blackwood, Jahmar Hamilton, Hayden Walsh, Evin Lewis, Derone Davis, Dalton Polius, Chesney Hughes, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Anthony Alleyne, Amir Khan, Aldane Thomas, Akeem Dewar, Akeal Hosein

MS Dhoni, who injured his hamstring during India’s first match of the Caribbean tri-series, could play in the tournament’s final if India make the top two, according to stand-in captain Virat Kohli

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jul-2013MS Dhoni, who injured his hamstring during India’s first match of the Caribbean tri-series, could play in the tournament’s final if India make the top two, according to stand-in captain Virat Kohli. Dhoni had done a bit of running during India’s warm-ups ahead of their match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday – a must-win game for India – and Kohli said at the toss that he could be ready to play the final should India make it.Dhoni injured his right hamstring during India’s one-wicket loss against West Indies on June 30, while running between the wickets. He had received treatment on the field during his innings of 27 and did not take the field in the second innings. He was subsequently replaced by Ambati Rayudu in the squad but, unlike in ICC tournaments where replacements require official sanctioning and are binding, there are no rules in this tournament to prevent him from playing the final.Dhoni is not part of India’s squad for the limited-overs tour to Zimbabwe that begins on July 24.The India-Sri Lanka game was the final of the league phase of the tri-series. Sri Lanka were already all but through to the final ahead of the game – they could only be eliminated if they lost the match by a whopping margin – but India needed to win to progress, while West Indies were depending on a Sri Lanka victory.

A round-up of sixth-round matches of the Regional Four Day Competition

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Apr-2013
ScorecardJamaica cemented their spot at the top of the table and entered the semi-finals of the Regional Four Day Competition with a 214-run win over Guyana. The win – their fifth consecutive in the tournament – gives Jamaica 60 points and they have a chance to widen that gap when they take on Combined Campuses and Colleges in the last league match on April 25.Wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh and fast bowler Sheldon Cotterrell were the pillars of Jamaica’s win over Guyana. Batting first, Jamaica had slumped to 12 for 4 after fast bowler Keon Joseph ran through the top order. They were a precarious 88 for 6 before Baugh and Nikita Miller added 89 runs for the seventh wicket, taking Jamaica towards the 200-run mark. The side was eventually all out for 208. Joseph picked up four wickets for 53 runs while Devendra Bishoo took 3 for 51.In reply, Guyana crumbled to 96 all out. They were 10 for 5 at one stage and the pace-bowling pair of Cotterrell and Andrew Richardson dismissed as many as five batsmen for ducks. Fast bowler David Bernard then dismissed the lower order, the only resistance coming from captain Veerasammy Permaul who played a lone hand of 49.Baugh narrowly missed out on his 13th first-class hundred, caught short of the crease on 99, as Jamaica went about extending their 112-run lead in the second innings. He shared a 138-run, sixth-wicket partnership with Blackwood before Jamaica declared their innings at 257 for 8, setting Guyana a target of 370.The Jamaican bowlers dismissed Guyana for 155 to set up their side’s fifth win of the tournament. Except for a 70 from Leon Johnson, Guyana put up another dismal batting display and finish the competition fifth on the points table, after losing four of their six matches.
ScorecardA nine-wicket win over Leeward Islands helped Windward Islands qualify for the semi-final. Put in to bat first, Leewards were a relatively safe 102 for 2 before they lost eight wickets for 27 runs. Shane Shillingford picked up six of those wickets to finish with figures of 7 for 45 off 17.5 overs. Kieran Powell was the only Leewards batsman to fire, scoring 51.In reply, Windwards recovered from a score of 58 for 5 to post 268. Captain Liam Sebastien led the recovery with an innings of 93 and received support from Lindon James (21) and Shillingford (42). Yannick Leonard was the most successful bowler for Leewards, picking up four wickets for 63 runs.With a lead of 139 to wipe out, the Leewards’ batsmen failed for the second time. Powell’s second fifty of the match was the only substantial innings, after the batsmen squandered their starts and the side were out for 158, narrowly avoiding an innings defeat. Sebastien followed up his half-century with a five-wicket haul, while Shillingford picked up three wickets to take his match haul to ten. Windwards strolled past their target of 20 for the loss of just one wicket.
ScorecardSplendid bowling efforts from Miguel Cummins and Sulieman Benn took Barbados to victory over Trinidad & Tobago in just two days at Port of Spain. Both teams have qualified for the semi-final. Barbados with 48 points are placed third in the league, while Trinidad and Tobago are fourth.T&T batted first, losing wickets at regular intervals. Cummins starred with the ball, taking 7 for 45, as T&T were scuttled out for 109 in 37 overs. The only real form of resistance came from batsman Imran Khan with his unbeaten 30.Barbados in reply posted 194 before being dismissed. Contributions from Kirk Edwards (29), Shane Dowrich (24), Benn (22) and an unbeaten 56 from Javon Searles ensured they had a slim 85-run lead going into the next innings.T&T in their second innings simply couldn’t muster enough runs as Benn, Searles and Cummins combined to blast them out for just 129. Imran Khan once again top-scored with 33, while contributions from Lendl Simmons (26) and Rayad Emrit (26) were not enough to create a significant advantage. Benn ran through the order with 5 for 49, with Searles complementing him with 3 for 26.This left just 45 runs for Barbados to chase for victory. The openers would see off the chase as Barbados won by 10 wickets. With this result they are tied on 48 points with Jamaica and Windward Islands, but Jamaica has played two less matches, while Windward has played one less. This means the points scenario could change in the next fixtures.

Brendan Taylor, the Zimbabwe captain, rued his team’s performance with the bat in the first Test in Barbados, where West Indies won comfortably by nine wickets

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Mar-2013Brendan Taylor, the Zimbabwe captain, rued his team’s performance with the bat in the first Test in Barbados, where West Indies won comfortably by nine wickets. Several Zimbabwe batsmen, including Taylor, squandered starts in the first innings to post just 211 on the first day, and then collapsed in the second innings to be bowled out for 107.”It was a tough Test, we let ourselves down in the first innings,” Taylor said at the post-match presentation. “Getting just 200 was disappointing, had we got 300 it could have been a different game. Not a lot of positives in the game apart from Kyle Jarvis’ bowling.”Five of the top six got starts in the first innings, but only three batsmen managed to reach double-figures in the second. Struggling at 41 for 3 at stumps at the end of the second day, Zimbabwe were bowled out in the morning session on the third. “We’ve got to find a way to combat their spin [Shane Shillingford] and three-pronged pace attack [Tino Best, Shannon Gabriel, and Kemar Roach].”Jarvis picked up a five-for in the first innings, this after he had just two wickets to his name in the limited-overs matches prior to the Test series. “I am pleased for him,” Taylor said. “It’s nice to see him swinging the ball again.”Taylor admitted it didn’t help that one of his strike bowlers, legspinner Graeme Cremer, proved expensive in the first innings, as Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, and Denesh Ramdin took him for runs. But he backed the bowler to fight back, and hoped for a better performance from the team in the next Test in Dominica. “We hear it spins more in Dominica, it’ll be challenging.”Sammy praised his team for winning five Tests in a row, their first such achievement since 1988. His quickfire knock was a game-changing one and he said he’d been working with his batting coach Toby Ratford, who suggested a slight change to his grip. But the Man of the Match was offspinner Shillingford, who picked up nine wickets in the game, including six in the second innings, in what was his Test comeback. He played his previous Test in England in May 2012.”I played a couple of games here during the first-class season and picked up wickets, I just gave it my all,” Shillingford said. He has had an impressive first-class season, collecting 24 wickets for Windward Islands in three games at 15.25. “I tried to bowl a consistent line first up and then tried to spin the ball as much as possible.”

West Indies’ resistance in the face of South Africa’s daunting first-innings total could not be faulted for determination but it went entirely unrewarded as they ended the day trailing by 275 runs after following on with eight wickets in hand

The Report by David Hopps19-Dec-2014
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:52

Moonda: Philander the man of the moment

Test cricket against the leading nations has long become a trial for West Indies. Faced by a daunting South Africa total, they initially stiffened sinews as best they could but by the end of the third day of the first Test in Centurion that resolve had been replaced by a familiar expectation of impending defeat.They followed on 351 runs behind shortly after tea and, although South Africa’s attack understandably lessened in intensity second-time around, they still lost Devon Smith and Kraigg Braithwaite in reducing the deficit to 275.South Africa’s protagonist was Vernon Philander, who bowled with great intelligence throughout, the only rider being that those qualities did not extend to his appetite for the review system. Twice his emphatic signals requested a review; twice his desire went unrewarded. Nevertheless, he finished with five wickets in the day, his first-innings 4 for 29 in 15 overs being the reward for some insistent, pitched-up seam bowling.A first-innings opening stand of 72 proved to be West Indies’ high point. The first four batsmen all fell in the 30s and a chance to put right a lacklustre and depleted display in the field was slowly relinquished on a Centurion pitch that treated batsmen more kindly than that prepared for Australia’s visit in February.Smith’s exit, for 35, will provide more fodder for DRS sceptics, but the decision was not as off-beam as some immediately suggested. The umpire Billy Bowden had rejected Philander’s appeal after the ball passed between Smith’s bat and hip as he sought to work it through square leg. Snicko, unhelpfully, showed a spike when the ball was between bat and trouser pocket.Superficially, there was no evidence to overturn Bowden’s decision but Paul Reiffel, the TV umpire, did just that. Two sound spikes did give some credence to his conclusion that the ball had touched both bat and hip on the way through to the stand-in wicketkeeper AB de Villiers. The ICC, too, has advised that sound spikes can potentially appear in the next frame, just after contact has been made.But, all in all, there were too many presumptions for an on-field decision to be overturned without discontent: DRS is not about educated guesses but clear proof that provides the basis for widespread agreement. Reiffel’s decision possessed logic, but Smith would count himself unfortunate.Brathwaite then followed in Philander’s next over. Earlier, he had edged him just short of second slip. This time a thinner edge flew to Hashim Amla at first. Leon Johnson and Marlon Samuels stabilised West Indies until lunch in a session extended to two-and-a-half hours because of the rain that washed out the final session on the second day.South Africa were depleted in the field, although unlike West Indies the mishaps had not affected their bowling attack. Quinton de Kock, the wicketkeeper, twisted an ankle and Faf du Plessis’ virus had been bad enough for him to visit hospital. There were niggles later for both Dale Steyn and Philander. But the pace attack was initially in rude health and the Test possessed an intensity sorely lacking on the previous day.The opening pair was almost split by what would have been an unfortunate run-out. After Smith pushed Morne Morkel to midwicket for a quick single, Brathwaite lost his footing approaching the crease, dropped his bat and was still short of his ground when Dale Steyn’s underarm throw narrowly missed the stumps.Leon Johnson was the one top-order West Indies batsman to depart wastefully, driving Kyle Abbott loosely to cover in the third over after lunch. When Philander rapped Samuels on the pads before he had scored, the bowler’s excitement at a perfectly-executed plan was apparent. Samuels’ weakness for being trapped on the crease early in an innings had been exposed, but replays revealed he was struck just outside the line.Instead, it was Morkel who removed Samuels, causing him to chop on as he brought one back sharply from around the wicket. Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s crooked resistance entertained for a while – one swing around from his open stance to work Abbott through point off an open face defied geometrical rules – but he was plucked by Alviro Petersen at slip off Philander. When Jermaine Blackwood fell on the stroke of tea, an excellent low catch by Petersen at second slip, legitimised only after numerous TV replays, it was undeniably South Africa’s session.West Indies capitulation after tea was swift. Denesh Ramdin succumbed to a solitary over of left-arm spin from Dean Elgar, Jerome Taylor pushed a return catch to Morkel next ball and with Kemar Roach unable to bat, it was all over when Morkel flattened Cottrell’s stumps.Imposing the follow-on put South Africa’s fast-bowling quartet under strain but the pattern was set. Smith was caught at slip while Philander roared initially for lbw – Smith failing with a review – and Petersen’s snaffling of Brathwaite at second slip – first the parry then the catch as he lay on his back – ensured a contented end to South Africa’s day.

The PCB has decided to to not send its senior board officials to the ICC awards ceremony in Colombo on Saturday as a protest over the exclusion of offspinner Saeed Ajmal from shortlists for two top awards

Umar Farooq14-Sep-2012The PCB has decided to not send its senior board officials to the ICC awards ceremony in Colombo on Saturday, as a protest over the exclusion of offspinner Saeed Ajmal from shortlists for two of the top awards. The Pakistan board, though, said it has, “decided not to [fully] boycott the awards ceremony and as a token send some squad members to the event”.Ajmal is the No. 1 ranked bowler in both one-dayers and T20Is, and the top-ranked spinner in Tests, but has been overlooked for the Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer of the Year nominations.A meeting of senior officials was held at the PCB headquarters, headed by PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, to decide whether to go for further ‘robust protest’. The board said it will take up the issue at the upcoming ICC chief executives committee meeting. “The ICC’s process of the short-listing needs to be reviewed and there should be a mechanism to correct errors,” the PCB said in a press release.The PCB earlier had lodged a written protest with the ICC after Ajmal was left off the awards shortlist last week and ICC refused to reconsider Ajmal’s case, saying that the voting results are final and binding on everyone.Ajmal was in the longlist this year but missed out when an independent 32-member jury that included former Pakistan captain Aamer Sohail and Pakistan journalist Majid Bhatti nominated Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara, South Africa fast bowler Vernon Philander, Australia captain Michael Clarke and South Africa opener Hashim Amla for Test Cricketer of the Year.The 34-year-old Ajmal, took 72 Test wickets between August 4, 2011 and August 6, 2012 – the qualifying period for the award. That haul included 24 at 14.70 against England, the then No. 1 side in the world, helping Pakistan sweep them 3-0 in January.The omission, according to the PCB “is an injustice to the talent and achievements” of Ajmal. “The PCB has strongly registered its protest with the ICC already and has conveyed them the sentiments of the people of Pakistan and fans and legends of cricket on this issue,” the release said.The Pakistan board also said it wanted changes to the process. “The matter will be raised in the upcoming CEC meeting of the ICC and a review of the process would be sought to avoid any such incidents in future. Corrective measures would be suggested.”The PCB will impress upon this issue at other forums of cricketing community and all necessary input will be sought to devise a mechanism which is performance based and is acceptable to a wider segment of cricket fans.”

Two West Indian bowlers spearheaded the successful defence of 264 in the fourth ODI in St Kitts, allowing the home side to clinch the series with a game to spare

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jul-2012Two West Indies bowlers spearheaded the successful defence of 264 in the fourth ODI in St Kitts, allowing the home side to clinch the series with a game to spare. Tino Best was playing his first game of the series and bowled with buster, hitting nearly 150 kph and taking four wickets. Sunil Narine was parsimonious, slowing down New Zealand’s run-rate, especially at the death, even though they had Ross Taylor batting on a hundred.”I love this feeling … winning feels good … really, really good,” Best said after the 24-run victory. “We were made to work hard for this win and I’m happy I played a crucial role in bowling the team to victory. I bowled quick and I got wickets. That’s the job of a fast bowler.”Best struck in the first over, beating Martin Guptill with pace to trap the batsman lbw, but his initial three-over spell cost 23 runs. Rob Nicol hit him for two sixes, a streaky slash over third man and a clean strike over long-on.”I went for a few [runs] in my opening spell and I knew I had to hit back second time around. I had a chat with captain Darren Sammy and he told me it’s better to bowl the ball ‘flat’ side rather than look to hit the seam. I took his advice and it worked,” Best said. “I was up on pace and I knew once I got the ball in the right areas I could make it quite difficult for the batsmen.”Best’s second spell was more economical, and included a maiden over to the well-set Taylor. His third and fourth contained the wickets of Nathan McCullum, Jacob Oram and Taylor, which ended hopes of a New Zealand victory. In his last six overs, Best conceded no boundaries. His figures of 4 for 46 were the second best of his 14-ODI career, spread over eight years.”I must say it was great the way the crowd got behind me and the team and urged us on,” Best said. “They came here today expecting us to win and we gave them something to celebrate.”The Man-of-the-Match award, however, did not go to Best, but to Narine for his spell of 10-1-20-2. New Zealand had reached 61 for 2 before Narine was introduced in the 10th over. The effect was immediate. During his first spell, Narine dismissed Kane Williamson and dragged New Zealand back. By the end of his first six overs, Narine had figures of 1 for 8 and the visitors were 85 for 4 after 20.”Normally, when I go onto the field I look at the scoreboard and see what is required of me,” Narine said. “Sometimes it requires me to be attacking, other times I just have to keep the pressure on. Today I tried to keep my composure and build the pressure. We got wickets at key stages and the pressure mounted on them.”Narine’s second and last spell was during the final ten overs, when Taylor was threatening to pull off a superb chase. When he came on in the 42nd over, New Zealand needed 76 with Taylor on 74 and Jacob Oram on 2. Narine conceded five in that over, and after Taylor took Andre Russell for 21 runs in the 43rd, Narine pulled it back again for West Indies by giving away only two in the 44th. Not even Taylor could score off Narine and the control he exerted in the final overs of the chase was a significant difference between the two attacks.”We wanted to win on Wednesday and seal the series, but we ended on the wrong end, so it was very important that we rebounded today and finish off the job,” Narine said. “There was a great deal of effort today. We had to dig deep to come up with this win, and that made it feel that much better. To win a series at home is special. Tino kept running in and I knew my job was to remain accurate and build the pressure on the batsmen.”We don’t want to stop here. We want to come back on Monday and look for another victory. Everyone knows that 4-1 would look a lot better than 3-2, so we will be going for that.”

Mohammad Irfan, the Pakistan fast bowler, has been ruled out for six weeks due to a hip fracture and is likely to miss the forthcoming Tests against Sri Lanka

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Dec-2013Mohammad Irfan, the Pakistan fast bowler, has been ruled out for six weeks due to a hairline fracture on his hip and is likely to miss the forthcoming Tests against Sri Lanka, which start from December 31.Irfan suffered the injury during the second T20 against South Africa in Dubai in November and was subsequently rested from the limited-overs tour to South Africa. The bowler was not a part of the T20 squad for the series against Sri Lanka, but was expected to join the squad for the Tests. Irfan, who made his ODI debut in September 2010, played his first Test in March this year and has since taken 10 wickets in the longest format, at an average of 38.90.Pakistan are scheduled to host Sri Lanka for two Twenty20s, five ODIs and three Tests in the UAE. The limited-overs leg of the tour starts with the first T20 on December 11 and ends with the fifth ODI on December 27. The first Test, to be held in Dubai, is scheduled for December 31, while the second and third Tests will begin on January 8 and January 20 respectively.

Australia are hopeful that their best batsman from the first innings, Ed Cowan, will be fit on the third day in Melbourne after he spent much of the second day in the rooms receiving treatment for a sore back

Brydon Coverdale at the MCG27-Dec-2011Australia are hopeful that their best batsman from the first innings, Ed Cowan, will be fit on the third day in Melbourne after he spent much of the second day in the rooms receiving treatment for a sore back. The debutant Cowan, who made 68 on Boxing Day, was on and off the field on Tuesday. His place was taken by the substitute Daniel Christian while the physio Alex Kountouris worked on Cowan.Cowan batted for nearly three hours in his first Test innings but that wasn’t the cause of his problem, according to Brad Haddin, the vice-captain. Haddin said Cowan had been a little over-enthusiastic in his warm-ups on the second morning.”Ed got a bit excited in the warm-up in his first Test, he was diving around too much,” Haddin said. “He twinged his back. Alex worked on him through the day and he came back all right.”That Cowan did return to the field during the day was encouraging for Australia, who conceded the advantage to India on a sunny afternoon that offered little assistance for the fast bowlers, after Australia pushed their way to 333 in the morning. India closed the afternoon at 3 for 214, with Rahul Dravid well set, and they could see the potential for a big first-innings lead.”If the sun is going to belt down like this and the wicket eases more and more, I think we’ll have to look at batting out as much time as possible and trying to get as much ahead in the game as possible,” the India offspinner R Ashwin said. “That is very important. I think it’s all about the first-innings lead, or the first-innings situation that both teams find themselves in.”Haddin said the focus for the Australians on the third morning would be to build on the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar, which was collected by Peter Siddle in the final over of the day. That was a major fillip for Australia, who spent much of the afternoon working hard for no reward, although VVS Laxman, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni still loom large.”I think it’s important tomorrow we shut that scoreboard down a bit,” Haddin said. “If we can do that we’ll create chances and give ourselves the best opportunity to get into that middle order. I think we’re about 15 overs to the new ball but if we can create some opportunities, building pressure with a few dots and putting some overs together, I think we can get into that middle order.”At the moment I think India might be a little bit in front of us in the game. But it’s evenly poised tomorrow if we start the first session well.”Haddin said he was especially impressed with the way Siddle responded after bowling Dravid off a no-ball, the decision only confirmed when the umpire Marais Erasmus asked for the third umpire to check the footage. Siddle did not let the incident faze him, and he hit the 150kph mark in the last over of the day.”It felt like he did come through 5ks quicker after that, which was good,” Haddin said. “I thought he showed a bit of character coming back after what happened, to get Tendulkar late in the day. He looked pretty good today, so that was a good effort to get him.”