Canada win by two wickets

Canada registered a narrow two-wickets win over Namibia in the first one-dayer of the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Championship at the Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek on Tuesday.

Batting first Namibia was bowled out for 183 in 47.1 overs. In its reply, Canada chased down the target to end at 184 for 8 in 48.5 overs.

Earlier Raymond van Schoor (90: 121b, 6x4) played a lone hand for Namibia. For Canada, Henry Osinde (2-46) and Durand Soraine (3-25) shared the wickets.

In the chase, Canada lost wickets at regular intervals. At 149 for 8, all appeared lost for Canada. But a stubborn ninth wicket stand of 35 between Rustam Bhatti (23 n.o.) and Durand Soraine (12 n.o.) changed the course of the game as Canada won with 7 balls to spare.

The second game will be played on 12 April.

Read More

Swann moves up five places to fourth in Test rankings

Graeme Swann's 10-wicket haul not only helped England to a Test victory in Colombo but also lifted him five places to fourth spot in the Reliance ICC Test Bowling Rankings - just one place behind team mate James Anderson.

Swann took 10-181 in England's eight wickets win, which squared the series 1-1, while Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath who took 6-133 and 1-37 in the match moved up to fifth with a career best rating of 769.

Despite losing the Test there was also a career-best rating for another Sri Lanka player, Angelo Mathews, who scored 57 and 46 to climb five places to 30th in the table and claim 586 ratings points. Mahela Jayawardena, the Man of the Series, with 354 runs at an average of 88.5, went up two places to 17th - one ahead of the man of the match Kevin Pietersen.

England's Pietersen, who hit 151 and an unbeaten 42, went up three places to joint 18th with Australia's Mike Hussey and ahead of team mate Ian Bell who drops to 20th.

But the biggest mover in the batting rankings was England's vice-captain Alastair Cook, who leapt a massive eight places to sixth spot. Cook scored 94 and then steered England to victory with an unbeaten 49 in the second innings at the P Sara Oval in Colombo. He is only two places behind Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, who drops one place to fifth, and is overtaken in fourth place by Pakistan's Younus Khan.

Read More

Whatmore favours separate teams for three formats

Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore said that he favours having separate players for the three different formats of the sport.

Whatmore also said in an interview given to Geo News channel that he was ready to face challenges in the coming days as the coach of the Pakistan team.

Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore said that he favours having separate players for the three different formats of the sport.

Whatmore also said in an interview given to that he was ready to face challenges in the coming days as the coach of the Pakistan team.

Whatmore made it clear that he enjoyed the full support of the PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf and said he had taken up the job because he saw it as a big challenge and was already enjoying working in Pakistan.

"The depth of talent in Pakistan cricket is amazing. I got a chance to see the talent while witnessing the recent domestic competitions in Lahore and Rawalpindi," he said.

The former Australian Test batsman, who joined the Pakistan team before the Asia Cup last month replacing Mohsin Khan in controversial circumstances, insisted that in order to produce quality cricketers it was necessary to tap into the immense cricket talent in Pakistan at the domestic and grassroot level.

"It will take time to make Pakistan a top cricket nation and we will also face many challenges and difficult times in future but it can be done," he said.

Whatmore said he and fielding coach, Julian Fountain had already prepared six month, 12 month and 18 month plans for individual players to further polish their talents.

Asked about reports that he was a hard person to get alongwith and that in the past he had faced problems while working with the Sri Lankan and Bangladesh teams, Whatmore said many things written about him were not true.

"A lot of the perception of me as a person and coach is wrong," he added.

Whatmore also insisted that he enjoyed a good relationship with the national selection committee as he believed in team work.

The Australian, who is the fourth foreign coach hired by the Pakistan board since 1999, said he had enjoyed his first experience with the team in the recent Asia Cup.

"Unfortunately we couldn't win all our matches in the tournament but we ended up bringing back the cup home and that gave me satisfaction. The defeat to India was a setback but they played well on that day," he said.

Read More

Cancer survivor Yuvraj 'positive' about comeback

India's World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh on Wednesday vowed to return to cricket after recovering from a cancerous tumour, but was unable to set a timeline for his comeback.

"I want to see the Team India logo on my cap again," Yuvraj, 30, told a media conference after his return from the United States where he underwent chemotherapy treatment for a rare germ-cell tumour between his lungs.

"It will be a big achievement if I can play for India again. But it won't be easy and will take time. I can't say when I will return to the field."

"At this stage, it is more important for me to focus on my priority, and that is to get fit and stay healthy. But I am positive that I will play cricket again."

Yuvraj, a left-handed all-rounder who was named the man of the tournament after India's World Cup triumph in April last year, said he found it tough to watch cricket on TV during his treatment.

"I tried not to watch," he said. "It was so frustrating to sit before the TV and watch India play. It was painful to see that I was not on the field."

"But my family and friends helped me overcome what has been most difficult period of my life. It was so hard to believe that I had cancer, that an athlete like me could have cancer."

"I felt breathless and even spat blood sometimes. But I thought it will go away. It really hit me hard when I was told that I was suffering from cancer."

Thousands of well-wishers, politicians, team-mates and other sports personalities, including US cycling great Lance Armstrong, had sent messages of support to Yuvraj during his treatment.

"People like Armstrong are such an inspiration," Yuvraj said of the cyclist who overcame testicular cancer to win the Tour de France seven times.

Delhi-based oncologist Nitesh Rohatgi, who was part of the medical team treating Yuvraj, said the chemotherapy treatment had been successful and there was only a "3-4 percent" chance of a relapse.

"I can confirm the response from the chemotherapy has been very good," Rohatgi said at the same media conference. "He should be able to do light training in a few weeks."

"A lot will depend on his physical and mental strength if he is to make a serious comeback."

Yuvraj, known for his hard and clean hitting and tidy spin bowling, scored 362 runs and bagged 15 wickets in nine World Cup matches to play a key role in India's triumph at the event.

The all-rounder has not played competitive cricket since taking part in two home Tests against the West Indies in November.

Yuvraj has scored 8,051 runs in 274 one-dayers and 1,775 in 37 Tests since making his international debut in 2000.

Read More

Shoaib Malik says he is motivated to return to Pak team

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has said he could be in contention for national selection after leading his sides to domestic one-day and Twenty20 titles.

He led Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to the National One-day Cup title while finishing it as the leading scorer and second on the list of wicket-takers. Two weeks later, he led Sialkot Stallions to the National Super Eight T-20 Cup.

Malik was called for a fitness assessment at the National Cricket Academy.

"I know I have a lot of cricket left. The PCB knows what I am capable of and how I can make a difference by being in the team. I am fit and in the best form. There is always a bad patch in every player's life but that doesn't mean he is done with his cricket - that's not the case," he said.

Malik last represented Pakistan in the ODI series against England in UAE, but was dropped for the Asia Cup, the Daily Times reports.

"I am very motivated to try and get back into the side. There is always a time in your life when you are tested but what's important is that you stand tall and look for the best out of the worst. I have played some great match-winning knocks for the country that earned me a great reputation both on and off the field," he said.

Malik's previous comeback attempts proved to be disappointing and he failed to impress against Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and England.

Read More

Harris and Hilfenhaus swing test back to Aussies

BRIDGETOWN: Some fine batting by Ryan Harris and an electrifying spell of bowling from Ben Hilfenhaus looked to have turned the first Test with the West Indies in Australia's favour on an engrossing fourth day here Tuesday.
West Indies finished the day on 71 for five in its' second innings, leading by just 114 runs after Australia's tail wagged and Hilfenhaus knocked over their top order.
Earlier captain Michael Clarke declared Australia's first innings at 406 for nine with his side still trailing by 43 runs.
It was an aggressive move allowing his bowlers to attack the West Indian batsmen either side of tea and Hilfenhaus took advantage in the 25 minutes leading up to the break removing the top three.
Harris - who had earlier hit an unbeaten 68 - added the important scalp of Shivnarine Chanderpaul shortly after tea.
"To get him out second innings for not many was a huge wicket because I think they batted around him a fair bit," said Harris.
He thought that the declaration had set the West Indies on the back foot.
"To declare and put them in straight away, it probably didn't give them a chance to get their head around batting.
"I think it showed, obviously, taking three or four quick wickets. I think it was a good declaration. We want to win the Test match."
West Indies' coach Otis Gibson thought that the 145 overs in the field had an impact on the top order.
"Hilfenhaus came out and bowled a great spell, some tired legs, batsmen didn't move their feet and so on and he got a couple of wickets.
"This is why it's called Test cricket. It's tough. It's tough on you mentally, it's tough on you physically. That three hour session this morning was tough on the guys but they hung in."
However; Gibson still believed his side could win.
"We believe if we get 200 on the board it'll be a very interesting run chase tomorrow (Wednesday)"
It was a remarkable turnaround in fortunes as the Australians had at one point been 199 runs behind with only three first innings wickets remaining.
The West Indies had looked like wrapping things up quickly when they took two early wickets in the morning session especially as one was the redoubtable veteran Mike Hussey.
However, Harris steadied the ship and played positively from the start of his innings as he and Matthew Wade added 35 runs for the eighth wicket.
Wade fell for 28 in his first Test innings when he took a wild drive at a wide Fidel Edwards ball that Darren Bravo took easily at second slip.
Harris and Hilfenhaus played gutsy innings as they gradually reduced the deficit with Harris passing his top score in Test cricket, made in his last innings against India in Adelaide.
The ninth wicket partnership of 44 was finally broken when Hilfenhaus, on 24, played an extravagant shot and Roach's delivery took out the middle stump.
The West Indies still had a 120 run lead when last man Nathan Lyon came to the crease but he and Harris played so well that Lyon hit his highest first class score of 40.
They had added 76 runs when Clarke decided to declare and Hillfenhaus took centre stage.
Barath was comprehensively bowled through the gate for two and two balls later Kraigg Brathwaite, who had played such a patient innings first time around, had an uncharacteristic go at a wide delivery and Wade took the catch.
Kirk Edwards was the next to go as he moved across his stumps to another Hilfenhaus delivery and was given out lbw.
Harris struck a major blow when he bowled the perfect line to Chanderpaul who edged to Wade to leave the West Indies reeling at 17 for four.
Darren Bravo and Narsingh Deonarine steadied things as they added fifty for
the fifth wicket.
A tight spell by Siddle eventually drew Bravo into a loose shot outside of the off stump when he'd scored 32 and he was caught behind

Read More

Mumbai Indians take on Rajasthan Royals today

MUMBAI: Mumbai Indians will log horns with Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL-2012) Twenty20 cricket match at the Wankhede Stadium today (Wednesday).
The match will start in the evening at 7.30 P.M. (Pakistan Time).
Both the teams with four points each are on top of the table. However Rajasthan Royals have played two, while Mumbai Indians three matches.
Pakistan’s first sports channel Geo Super is telecasting all the matches of the event live.

Read More

Cricket: Delhi crush Chennai by 8 wkts

DELHI: Delhi Daredevils recorded an easy eight-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings with 40 balls to spare in the second match of the Indian Premier League – V here at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground on Tuesday.
Chasing an easy target of 111 runs, Delhi lost only two wickets to complete their win - second in three matches.
Kevin Pietersen of England made 43 not out after captain Virender Sehwag hit a breezy 33 in 21 balls.
Pietersen struck two towering sixes and three fours during his 26-ball innings as he and Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene (20 not out) steered Delhi to victory with an unbeaten third wicket partnership of 61 runs.
Earlier, Chennai, put into bat by Delhi, were restricted to 110-8 in 20 overs.
Dwayne Bravo of the West Indies was the top scorer for Chennai with 22 while Morne Morkel took two wickets for 19 for Delhi to earn the man-of-the-match award.
Geo Super, the first sports TV channel of Pakistan, telecast this match live from Delhi.

Read More

Bangladesh set for first-ever Test in India

DHAKA: Bangladesh may play their maiden Test series in India later this year, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said on Tuesday.

India have not hosted Bangladesh for a Test match since the Tigers gained full status in 2000. Bangladesh's only visits to India have been for one-day internationals.

India have played seven Tests in Bangladesh, including the inaugural match in Dhaka in November 2000, but remain the only Test-playing nation yet to welcome the Bangladeshis at home.

Bangladesh cricket chief Mustafa Kamal informed his colleagues in the BCB that he had been assured by his Indian counterpart Narayanaswamy Srinivasan that India will host Bangladesh this year.

Kamal met Srinivasan on the sidelines of the Indian Premier League tournament and he had "received assurance that India will host Bangladesh for a full tour later this year", a BCB statement said.

There was no immediate comment from the Board Of Control For Cricket In India, and it remained unclear how India will accommodate Bangladesh in their crowded schedule.

India are due to host New Zealand in August-September for three Tests, take part in the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September-October, and then host England for four Tests in November-December.

Bangladesh have lost 63 of their 73 Tests so far, winning only three, but opener Tamim Iqbal hopes his country will get to play five-day matches on a regular basis.

"If we want to really improve in Test match cricket, we need to play the format a lot more," Tamim, who is in India for the IPL, was quoted as saying by the Cricinfo website.

Read More

Bangladesh cricket team to tour Pakistan this year

DHAKA: Bangladesh cricket team will visit Pakistan this year according to a statement by Mustafa Kamal, president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) here on Tuesday.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was waiting for Bangladesh's response to an invitation to play a limited-overs series later this month but Bangladesh were looking reluctant to come.
The news came after chairman Pakistan Cricket Board warned Tuesday sporting ties with Bangladesh could be threatened if Bangladesh refuses an invitation to tour the troubled country.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had invited Bangladesh to play a limited-overs series this month, but the tour is subject to clearance from the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

International cricket has been suspended in Pakistan since a deadly terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.

PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf said he was hopeful Bangladesh would come, but he warned them of consequences if they refused.

"I think we will have to reconsider our relationship with Bangladesh if they don't tour us, but I hope such a situation will not come," said Ashraf, who took over in October last year.

Bangladesh sent a delegation to Pakistan last month to assess the security situation after the Pakistani government gave safety assurances.

In a bid to encourage the series to go ahead, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has offered to appoint local umpires instead of neutral officials, should the security situation put them off coming to officiate matches.

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Mustafa Kamal, who headed the delegation to Pakistan, had promised to raise the matter in the ICC board meeting in Dubai which is scheduled from April 14-16.

Read More

Balaji destroys Bangalore in Kolkata’s first win in IPL

BANGALORE: Medium-pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji’s destructive bowling and opener Gautam Gambhir’s aggressive batting steered Kolkata Knight Riders to their first victory in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday.
After being sent into bat by Bangalore captain Daniel Vettori, Kolkat made 165-8 in the allotted 20 overs.
Captain Gautam Gambhir top scored with a brilliant 64 from 39 balls, hitting nine fours and a six while Manvinder Bisla made 46 off 29 balls with three sixes and two fours.
However, no other batsman except Jacques Kallis (22) could get into double figures..
For Bangalore, Vinay Kumar, Zaheer Khan and Muttiah Muralitharan claimed two wickets each.
Later, Bangalore batsmen could not resist against Balagi’s accurate bowling as he captured four wickets for just 18 runs. Besides, Kallis and Shakib Al Hasan took two wickets each.
Main scorers for Bangalore were Vinay Kumar (25) and Vettori (20).

Read More

Cricket ties to be reevaluated if Bangladesh does not tour Pakistan: PCB Chairman

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf expressed hope that Bangladesh would tour Pakistan but warned to review relations with the former if it refused to tour Pakistan.
“The board will review its relation with Bangladesh if they refuse to tour Pakistan” Ashraf said while speaking to reporters in Lahore on Tuesday.
Earlier an official from the Bangladesh Cricket Board had tweeted that the team will not be visiting Pakistan for any upcoming series.
Ashraf also spoke of cricketing ties with India and that the recent trip of President Zardari would have a positive impact on reviving them.
The PCB Chairman said the Pakistan Premier League would be organised soon.

Read More

Hussey stands firm as Australia struggle

BRIDGETOWN: West Indies held the upper hand at the end of the third day of the first Test here on Monday as they reduced Australia to 248 for 5, still trailing by 201 runs.
Only a solid 73 by captain Michael Clarke and a typically stubborn unbeaten 47 by veteran Mike Hussey at least all but ensured that the Aussies would avoid the follow-on.
The day started well for the home side and, in particular, for their captain Darren Sammy.
Following his positive batting display on Sunday, he brought himself on to open the bowling.
Having added only one run to his overnight score of 13, Ed Cowan was drawn into a shot to a ball just outside off stump and edged through to the keeper.
Shane Watson, batting for the first time in a Test at number three, was fortunate to survive twice when he had scored five.
He left a Sammy delivery alone that came back and hit his pad outside off stump but the DRS result went in favour of the batsman, but only just.
Next over Kemar Roach also appealed for an lbw decision that was turned down but replays showed that, on appeal, Watson would have been on his way.
Sammy's persevering line just outside off stump worked again when David Warner, having scored 42 off 55 balls, played at a ball without much foot movement and Darren Bravo took the catch at second slip.
After the early scares Watson had settled but when he turned a Fidel Edwards delivery to fine leg he was looking for a second run which would have been tight.
After running the first Ricky Ponting hadn't moved as Kraigg Brathwaite pounced on the ball and threw in one movement.
There was so much confusion between the two batsmen that Ponting was given out without a referral being necessary.
Devendra Bishoo's leg breaks were causing few problems but in the 36th over one stayed low and when Clarke, on 21, cut at the ball the West Indies went up for a catch behind.
Umpire Tony Hill gave it out but Clarke immediately called for the DRS.
There was quite a bit of surprise when TV Umpire Marais Erasmus over-turned the on-field decision as there didn't appear to be conclusive evidence in favour of Clarke.
The second ball after lunch, Watson played a loose drive at a Roach delivery outside off stump and got a thick edge through to Carlton Baugh.
The dismissal put the West Indies firmly in charge with Australia 133-4.
The West Indies knew how important Clarke's wicket would be and when Kemar Roach struck his pad when he'd scored 31 they were quick to use the review system.
It was a poor move as the ball was clearly missing the stumps and the home side had used both of their reviews.
Hussey was playing the perfect support role for Clarke.
Although batting wasn't easy there were no major causes for concern although a bump ball through to keeper Baugh was referred by the umpires to verify that it wasn't a catch after the West Indies had appealed.
By the time tea came Clarke and Hussey had batted through virtually the whole session and their unbeaten 67 run partnership for the fifth wicket was pulling Australia clear of a precarious situation.
West Indies mainly used the spin of Devendra Bishoo and Narsingh Deonarine and they combined to take the all important wicket of the Australian captain.
Clarke suddenly came down the wicket to Bishoo and he continued to go through with a shot in the air to long on despite not quite getting to the pitch of the ball - Deonarine came in off the boundary and caught the ball against his chest

Read More

Clarke leads from front in Aussie reply

BRIDGETOWN: Australian captain Michael Clarke scored a solid unbeaten 67 to lead some stubborn resistance from his side as they reached 200 for four in their first innings at tea on the third day of the first Test with the West Indies here Monday.
The tourists still trail the West Indies by 249 runs but Clarke's unbroken fifth wicket partnership of 67 with veteran Mike Hussey had at least taken them to within sight of avoiding the follow on.
The day started well for the home side and, in particular, for their captain Darren Sammy.
Following his positive batting display on Sunday, he brought himself on to open the bowling. Having added only one run to his overnight score of 13, Ed Cowan was drawn into a shot to a ball just outside off stump and edged through to the keeper.
Shane Watson, batting for the first time in a Test at number three, was fortunate to survive twice when he had scored five.
He left a Sammy delivery alone that came back and hit his pad outside off stump but the DRS result went in favour of the batsman, but only just.
Next over Kemar Roach also appealed for an lbw decision that was turned down but replays showed that, on appeal, Watson would have been on his way.
Sammy's persevering line just outside off stump worked again when David Warner, having scored 42 off 55 balls, played at a ball without much foot movement and Darren Bravo took the catch at second slip.
After the early scares Watson had settled but when he turned a Fidel Edwards delivery to fine leg he was looking for a second run which would have been tight.
After running the first Ricky Ponting hadn't moved as Kraigg Brathwaite pounced on the ball and threw in one movement.
There was so much confusion between the two batsmen that Ponting was given out without a referral being necessary.
Devendra Bishoo's leg breaks were causing few problems but in the 36th over one stayed low and when Clarke, on 21, cut at the ball the West Indies went up for a catch behind.
Umpire Tony Hill gave it out but Clarke immediately called for the DRS. There was quite a bit of surprise when TV Umpire Marais Erasmus over-turned the on-field decision as there didn't appear to be conclusive evidence in the favour of Clarke.
The second ball after lunch, Watson played a loose drive at a Roach delivery outside off stump and got a thick edge through to Carlton Baugh. The dismissal put the West Indies firmly in charge with Australia 133-4.
The West Indies knew how important Clarke's wicket would be and when Roach struck his pad when he'd scored 31 they were quick to use the review system.
It was a poor move as the ball was clearly missing the stumps and the home side had used both of their reviews.
Hussey was playing the perfect support role for Clarke.
Although batting wasn't easy there were no major causes for concern although a bump ball through to keeper Baugh was referred by the umpires to verify that it wasn't a catch after the West Indies had appealed.
By the time tea came Clarke and Hussey had batted through virtually the whole session and their unbeaten partnership was pulling Australia clear of a precarious situation.

Read More

Sharma’s last-ball six takes Mumbai to 5-wkt win

VISAKHAPATNAM: Rohit Sharma struck six off last ball of the innings to steer Mumbai Indians to an unbelievable five-wicket victory against Deccan Chargers in the ninth match of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament here on Monday.
Chasing 139, Mumbai Indians achieved the target when Sharma along with James Franklin of New Zealand smashed 21 runs in the final over.
Sharma hit an unbeaten 73 off 50 balls with five sixes and four boundaries while Franklin was seven not out.
For Deccan, South Africa’s fast bowler Dale Steyn took three wickets for just 12 runs.
Earlier, Deccan Chargers, batting first after winning the toss, made 138 for nine in the allotted 20 overs.
Their main scorers were Shikhar Dhawan (41 from 24 balls with four sixes and two fours), Daniel Christian (39 with two sixes) and Cameron White (30 with two sixes).
Paceman Munaf Patel captured four wickets for 20 runs and Sri Lanka’s pacer Lasith Malinga claimed three for 27.
This match was telecast live by Geo Super, Pakistan’s first sports tv channel.

Read More

Aussies fight back after Sammy removes openers

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: A fine opening spell from West Indies captain Darren Sammy and a terrible mix-up that saw Ricky Ponting run out has given the home side the edge on the third morning of the opening Test.
Australia were 133 for three at lunch on the third day of the first Test at the Kensington Oval on Monday.

Shane Watson was not out 39 and Michael Clarke on 27.

Following his positive batting display on Sunday, Darren Sammy brought himself on to open the bowling at the Joel Garner End at the start of the morning.

Having added only one run to his overnight score, Ed Cowan was drawn into a shot just outside off stump and edged through to the keeper.

Shane Watson, batting for the first time in a Test at number three, was fortunate to survive twice when he had scored 5.

He left a Sammy delivery alone that came back and hit his pad outside off stump but the DRS result went in favour of the batsman, but only just.

Next over Kemar Roach also appealed for an lbw decision that was turned down but replays showed that, on appeal, Watson would have been on his way.

Sammy's persevering line just outside off stump worked again when David Warner played at a ball without much foot movement and Darren Bravo took the catch at second slip. It set Sammy off on another major celebration with Warner having scored 42 off 55 balls.

After the early scares Shane Watson had settled but when he turned a Fidel Edwards delivery to fine leg he was looking for a second run which would have been tight.

After running the first Ricky Ponting hadn't moved as Kraigg Brathwaite pounced on the ball and threw in one movement. He'd thrown it to the wrong end but there was so much confusion between the two batsmen that Ponting didn't have time to turn back.

He showed his frustration as he started his walk back.

Devendra Bishoo's leg breaks were causing few problems but in the 36th over one stayed low and when Michael Clarke, on 21, cut at the ball the West Indies went up for a catch behind.

Umpire Tony Hill gave it out but Clarke immediately called for the DRS. There was quite a bit of surprise when TV Umpire Marais Erasmus overturned the on-field decision as there didn't appear to be conclusive evidence in the favour of Clarke.

With the Australian skipper having been in such good form in recent Tests, that decision could turn out to be a key moment in the match

Read More

Kaneria hires lawyers for ECB hearing

KARACHI: Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria said Monday he has hired a legal team for an English cricket board disciplinary hearing over a spot-fixing case that sent his former Essex team-mate to prison.

Mervyn Westfield was jailed for four months in February after admitting that he accepted money to under-perform during a Pro40 match between Essex and Durham in 2009.

The 23-year-old seamer named Kaneria -- arrested with him in 2010 but released without charge -- as the link between bookmakers and players.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said last week that Westfield and Kaneria would face a disciplinary hearing in May.

"Kaneria has hired three lawyers, two from the UK and one from Pakistan to represent him before the England and Wales Cricket Board," said a statement from the player's lawyer Farogh Naseem.

Naseem said Kaneria, who took 276 international wickets in 61 Tests and 18 one-day games for Pakistan, denied the allegations.

"Kaneria pleads not guilty to the charges... and also objects to any sanction being inflicted on him," the lawyer said.

Kaneria's legal team have asked the ECB to delay the hearing until at least May 10 to give them time to study a 400-page evidence bundle.

In February, London's Old Bailey court was told Westfield was paid nearly $10,000 to bowl so that a specific number of runs would be chalked up in the first over of a match between Durham and Essex in September 2009.

The 31-year-old Kaneria faces a life ban from the game if found guilty at the hearing, where a number of Essex players are expected to give evidence.

He has not played for Pakistan since the Nottingham Test against England in August 2010 -- the same tour that saw the infamous spot-fixing episode in the Lord's Test, which led to then-captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer being jailed on corruption charges.

Read More

Cricket: Chanderpaul ton puts Windies in charge

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit his 25th Test century as West Indies piled-up 449 for nine declared to take a firm grip on the first Test against Australia on Sunday.

At stumps on the second day at Kensington Oval, Australia had reached 44 without loss in reply with openers Ed Cowan on 27 and David Warner also unbeaten on 13.

Chanderpaul batted for 386 minutes for his unbeaten 103, becoming the leading run scorer in Tests at the Kensington Oval while skipper Darren Sammy thrilled the crowd with a quickfire 41.
In the morning, Australia took the new ball as soon as it became available but it didn't seem to provide any more movement than the old one.

Skipper Michael Clarke had a gully and a short backward point in place to Darren Bravo and the plan worked when he played a tentative shot to the slower pace of Shane Watson, the ball going straight to Mike Hussey in the gully.

Bravo's slow trudge off the field showed his clear disappointment after his innings of 51 had been brought to an end.

Narsingh Deonarine was playing his first Test for two years but, again, Australia had a clear plan. They served him up with the odd short ball and their preparation paid off.

On 22, he was caught in two minds to a shorter delivery from Ryan Harris and as he turned away, the ball came off the edge and went high to wicket-keeper Matthew Wade who took his second catch.

After lunch, Carlton Baugh had moved on to 22 when he started off for an impossible single after Chanderpaul had turned the ball to square leg.

But Harris swooped and his direct hit dismissed the West Indies keeper.

This brought in Sammy and the West Indian captain was intent on attack.

He had only been at the crease a few minutes when he smashed Nathan Lyon for three boundaries in four balls.

He then ducked into a Watson delivery and needed several minutes of attention.

Next ball, still not fully recovered from the blow, Sammy powered the ball back over Watson's head for six.

Both teams were showing aggression and the next few overs thrilled the crowd as the Australians goaded Sammy who hit back with another four and two more enormous sixes.

In the end, another short of a length ball from Ben Hilfenhaus saw him play uppishly to Cowan at square leg.

The West Indian skipper had hit 41 off just 36 balls; Chanderpaul only scored eight in their 53-run partnership.

Chanderpaul survived a close DRS decision on 85, the only one of the innings, when Lyon thought he'd trapped him lbw.

Two balls later Lyon had his first wicket when skipper Clarke took a sharp catch at first slip but it was Kemar Roach on 16 that gave the chance.

With Chanderpaul on 95, Fidel Edwards threw away his wicket when he holed out a David Warner long hop to Mike Hussey.

Fortunately for the veteran West Indian, Devendra Bishoo was good enough to put on 28 for the next wicket to allow Chanderpaul to celebrate another
century.

West Indies are aiming for their first Test win against Australia for nine years and for a first series win over the visitors in 19 years.

Read More

Mumbai Indians to take on Deccan Chargers today

The match would start at 7.30 in the evening (Pakistan Time).
Rajasthan Royals and Pune Warriors with four points each are on the top of the table.Pakistan’s first sports channel Geo Super is televising all the matches of the event live.

Read More