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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Pakistan set for white wash against Bangladesh



DHAKA : Pakistan are looking in sight of second successive victory to make a clean sweep in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh when the play ended on the penultimate day of the second Test here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday.

Bangladesh were reeling at 114 for five at stumps and they need further 19 runs to make Pakistan bat again.

Bangladeshi left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan finished with 6-82 as Pakistan were bowled out for 470 in their first innings before tea in reply to the hosts' 338.

Shakib, who smashed a career-best 144 in the first innings, became the first Bangladeshi to score a century and take five or more wickets in a Test.

Ellyse Perry named in the squad to face New Zealand



The Australia Women's National Selection Panel (WNSP) has today announced a 14-player squad for the Women's International Series next month against the New Zealand White Ferns.

The squad was selected by the new WNSP, comprising new Chair Julie Savage (replacing the outgoing Christina Matthews), coach Richard McInnes, captain Jodie Fields and Julie Hayes.

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad is:





NAMESTATEAGE
Jodie Fields (c)QLD27
Alex Blackwell (vc)NSW28
Jess CameronVIC22
Sarah CoyteNSW20
Rachael HaynesNSW24
Alyssa HealyNSW21
Julie HunterVIC27
Jessica JonassenQLD19
Meg LanningVIC19
Erin OsborneNSW22
Ellyse PerryNSW21
Leah PoultonNSW27
Clea SmithVIC32
Lisa SthalekarNSW32


Commenting on the squad, new WNSP Chair Julie Savage said; "The WNSP has named a very strong squad to face the New Zealand White Ferns next month.

"Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry and Julie Hunter all return to the squad, while Shelley Nitschke, Sharon Millanta and Annie-Rose Maloney are the players out of the team.

"Ellyse returns after having football commitments last series, Julie returns from a shoulder injury and Alyssa is back in the squad as a batter after some good performances in the WT20.

"Shelley has retired from cricket while Annie-Rose and Sharon make way for the experienced combination of Ellyse and Julie."

2011-12 Women's International Series

DateMatchVenueTV/Scores
20 January1stT20I v New ZealandNorth Sydney OvalABC TV
21 January2ndT20I v New ZealandNorth Sydney OvalABC TV
22 January3rdT20I v New ZealandNorth Sydney OvalABC TV
25 January1stODI v New ZealandSydney Cricket GroundCricket.com.au
27 January2ndODI v New ZealandBlacktown International Sportspark 1Cricket.com.au
29 January3rdODI v New ZealandBlacktown International Sportspark 1Cricket.com.au
1 February4thT20I v New Zealand*Sydney Olympic ParkNINE
3 February5thT20I v New Zealand*Melbourne Cricket GroundNINE

* Double-header with men's T20I (Australia v India)

Kohli scores half-century for India as stars miss out



Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten half-century on Monday as India's batting stars failed on a rain-interrupted opening day of a three-day tour match against a Chairman's XI at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

The young right-hander finished the day unbeaten on 55 off 93 balls as the tourists reached 162 for four off 50 overs in their final match ahead of the opening Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne.

At stumps Rohit Sharma was 38 not out after being dropped on his first ball.

But while Kohli and Sharma shared an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 78 off 104 balls, India's front-line batsmen Virender Sehwag (12), Gautam Gambhir (24) and VVS Laxman (15) all missed out on a big score ahead of the MCG Test.

Sehwag smashed the highest score in one-day cricket with 219 off 139 balls earlier this month against the West Indies, but he only lasted 12 balls before falling in the day's fourth over.

He played back to paceman Peter George and was caught out in the gully.

Fellow opener Gambhir batted for 87 minutes before he was bowled out by Jason Behrendorff as he attempted to work the ball only to miss.

Laxman, who averages 55.58 in 25 Tests against Australia and has scored four centuries Down Under, was also out bowled after he tried to work a Jon Holland ball to the leg-side.

The incoming Sharma was dropped next ball in Holland's over as he pushed forward and edged to short leg.

Ajinkya Rahane was the fourth Indian wicket to fall for 15, caught by Australian Test batsman Usman Khawaja at slip off Josh Lalor for 15 off 35 balls.
India went into the final warm up game without key batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, while injured paceman Ishant Sharma was also missing.

George (1-42), Behrendorff (1-8), Lalor (1-9) and Holland (1-37) all kept things tight for the Chairman's team.

No play was possible before lunch after overnight and morning rain and there was another lengthy stoppage in the afternoon.

Pakistan take 1st innings lead over Bangladesh in 2nd Test


DHAKA : Pakistan were 386 runs for five wickets at lunch on the penultimate day of the second Test against Bangladesh here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday.

They have so far gained a lead of 48 runs with five wickets in hand during the first innings against Bangladesh who were 338 all out on second day.

Pakistan resumed their first innings on 292-3 with veteran batsman Younis Khan (48) and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (26) at the crease.

However, Younis could not get his fifty and was out, after adding just one run, off the second ball of the second over of the day. He was caught behind by captain Mushfiqur Rahim off Elias Sunny for 49.

Younis, who smashed an unbeaten double-century in the last Test, hit four boundaries in his 122-ball knock.

Then, Misbah joined by Asad Shafiq, succeeding not only in leveling the Bangladesh first innings total but also getting his 14th Test half-century.

Both added 66 runs for the fifth wicket stand before Misbah was caught by Mahmudullah off Shakib Al Hasan for 70.

Misbah played some attractive shots in his 123-ball knock, driving paceman Nazmul Hossain through the covers and then straight for two successive fours early in the morning.

He, however, was lucky to survive soon after completing his half-century as Robiul Islam dropped an easy catch at mid-on off left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan.

Misbah continued to play strokes, twice reverse-sweeping left-arm spinner Elias Sunny for fours before he was caught by Mohammad Mahmudullah in the slips while attempting to sweep Shakib.

Shafiq, who scored a century in the opening Test in Chittagong, began impressively, cutting and flicking fast bowler Shahadat Hossain for two boundaries in an over.

Sunny had a chance to take another wicket but Mahmudullah dropped Shafiq on 36 a few overs before the lunch break

At lunch, Asad was batting on 42 along with Adnan Akmal (seven not out).

Umar ton boosts Pakistan in second Test against Bangladesh


Taufeeq Umar cracked his seventh Test century to help Pakistan post 217-2 in their first innings at tea in reply to Bangladesh's 338 on the third day of the second and final Test in Dhaka on Monday.

The left-handed opener was unbeaten on 117 at the break with Younis Khan (14 not out) as the tourists added 130 runs to their overnight total of 87-1 after a delayed start due to fog.

The pair have so far put on 67 for the unbroken third-wicket stand.

Umar was also involved in a 127-run stand for the second wicket with Azhar Ali (57), who hit seven fours in his 12th half-century in 18 Tests before falling in the second session.

Umar, 44 overnight, completed his second Test hundred against Bangladesh when he cut off-spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah for a four.

He played some aggressive shots after reaching his century, driving left-arm spinner Elias Sunny through the covers for successive boundaries. He has so far hit 16 fours in his 220-ball knock.

Bangladesh had a chance to dismiss Umar on 56, but wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim did not even try to effect a stumping off left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan while confidently appealing for a catch down the leg-side.

Umar was lucky to survive on 66 when he cut the first delivery after the lunch break off paceman Robiul Islam, but Mohammed Nazimuddin dropped an easy catch at gully.

Bangladesh, who went wicketless in the opening session, got their first wicket in the fourth over after lunch when Shakib had Azhar caught behind with a delivery that turned away sharply.

Shakib was the most impressive bowler, conceding just 28 runs in his 18 tight overs.

Azhar, who hit fast bowler Shahadat Hossain for two fours in the opening over of the day, reached his half-century with a boundary off Sunny in the last over of the morning session.

Pakistan lead 1-0 in the series after winning the opening Test in Chittagong by an innings and 184 runs