Australia win toss, bat against Windies in third Test

ROSEAU, Dominica: Australia won the toss and chose to bat against West Indies in the third and final Test match of the series at Windsor Park on Monday.

West Indies have made two changes to the side that played in Trinidad.

Ravi Rampaul has replaced Fidel Edwards, who has been suffering from a sore back. Rampaul had been out of the side since December 2011 having gone down with dengue fever and also a shoulder injury.

Assad Fudadin had been called up to the squad but was left out of the team.

The pitch has patches of grass on it and there was enough there for Australia to decide on using a three man pace attack.

James Pattinson and Peter Siddle both returned to Australia last week with back injuries.

This has given a chance to left-armer Mitchell Starc, who comes into the team replacing off-spinner Michael Beer.

Australia lead the series one-nil and have already retained the Frank Worrell Trophy.

Michael Clarke's team is focused on taking out the series with another win.

West Indies are still seeking their first Test win against Australia for nine years. If they can achieve it then they will be satisfied knowing that the visitors would head home having drawn the series in each format of the game.

The ground has only held one other Test and that was against India last year and the match was drawn.

In the few first class matches played at the venue, the bowlers have been on top in most cases.

This time around, though, it's thought that conditions could be more balanced.

Shane Shillingford becomes the first Dominican to play Test cricket in his home country.

Only four others have played for the West Indies and one stand is named after two of them, the Grayson Shillingford and Irving Shillingford Stand, two of Shane's distant cousins.

If the weather holds then a result can be expected as both captains have shown that they are intent on winning Test matches after bold moves in each of the first two Tests in the series.


Teams:
West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Kieran Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Shane Shillingford

Australia: Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson (vice-capt), Ed Cowan, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Hussey, Nathan Lyon, Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner

Umpires: Tony Hill (NZ), Marais Erasmus (SA), Third umpire: Ian Gould (ENG)
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ)

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No security concerns in Pakistan: Whatmore

LAHORE: Pakistan's Australian cricket coach Dav Whatmore Monday voiced disappointment at Bangladesh postponing their tour, saying he had felt no security concerns during his two months in the country.
Last week Bangladesh agreed to visit Pakistan for a one-day match and a Twenty20 international but the tour was delayed on Thursday by a Dhaka high court ruling over security fears.Pakistan had hoped the short tour would help revive international cricket in the country, suspended in the wake of deadly terror attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009."Like everyone else in Pakistan, I am also disappointed (with the postponement of the series)," Whatmore said. "We were close to choosing the team but now Bangladesh not coming everything is finished which is a bit disappointing."Whatmore, 57, played seven Tests for Australia and as coach guided Sri Lanka to their famous victory in the 1996 World Cup."From my personal view, having (been) born in Sri Lanka and lived through the civil war there, and now staying in Lahore I have faced no security problems," he said.He also coached Bangladesh to the Super Six Stages of the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies."I have not seen very many areas in Lahore and if I know some other areas I would like to go there, but I have faced no problems here," he said.Under Whatmore, Pakistan last month won the Asia Cup, also involving world champions India."It is very difficult for a nation so rich of cricket history to keep the game going without being able to host international teams," said Whatmore of Pakistan, who have been forced to play their "home" series on neutral venues, mostly in United Arab Emirates, since the Lahore attack.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) voiced hope on Monday that its Bangladeshi equivalent, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) would appeal against the court order."PCB is hopeful that BCB will leave no stones unturned to get the stay order vacated," said a statement from the Pakistan board.PCB said it has asked the BCB to send copies of the court orders and any appeal documents that are lodged

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Kolkata defeat winless Deccan by five wickets

CUTTACK: Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Deccaan Chargers by five wickets with six ball remaining in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League here at the Barabati Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing 127 to win, the Knight Riders reached the target with ease in 19 overs for the loss of five wickets.
Their main scorers were Manoj Tiwari (30 not out), captain Gautam Gambhir (30) and South African allrounder Jacques Kallis (23).
For the Chargers, South Africa’s fast bowler Dale Steyn claimed two wickets for 24.
Earlier, Deccan Chargers sent into bat by Kolkata captain Gambhir, were restricted to 126 for seven in the allotted 20 overs.
Shikhar Dhawan top scored with 50 whereas for Kolkata, medium-fast bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji and West Indies off-break bowler Sunil Narine captured two wickets apiece.
Geo Super, the first sports tv channel of Pakistan showed the match live from Cuttack.

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First Pak cricket team captain, Kardar being remembered today

KARACHI: Former captain of Pakistan’s national cricket team Abdul Hafeez Kardar is being remembered on his death anniversary today (Saturday).

Abdul Hafeez Kardar was born in Lahore Punjab in 1925. He is the first captain of the Pakistan cricket team. Commonly referred to as the father figure of Pakistan cricket, Kardar’s contribution toward cricket in Pakistan are numerous.

Under Kardar’s captaincy, Pakistan played 23 test matches against all the leading teams of that time and was victorious against all of them.

Pakistan got its test status in 1952 and toured India; there they lost the series 2-1 but Pakistan managed to win the second test at Lucknow comprehensively.

Pakistan’s greatest achievement under Kardar’s captaincy was the victory against England at Oval. Australia was also beaten by Pakistan in Karachi in 1957 by Kardar’s men.

Kardar was a dauntless left handed batsman known for cracking the ball right over the bowler’s head. As a left hand spin bowler, he was equally effective. Kardar was also associated with Warwickshire. In his career as a cricketer, Kardar score 6,832 runs and captured 344 wickets.

Kardar was a visionary who modernized Pakistan cricket and popularized the game. He was instrumental in putting Pakistan on the international cricket map.

Kardar was also a strong advocate of promoting the game of cricket in Asia. Kardar retired in 1958. He later served Pakistan cricket as the President of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Passionate about cricket and sincere, he never compromised on his principles.

Kardar later became Pakistan’s ambassador to Switzerland. This great cricketer passed away in his hometown Lahore in 1996. SAMAA

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Wagner given ICC clearance to represent New Zealand

DUBAI: South Africa-born pace bowler Neil Wagner has been declared eligible to play for New Zealand after the International Cricket Council ruled there were special circumstances why he did not meet residency regulations, NZ Cricket said on Thursday.

The ICC requires a player to spend at least 183 days in a country for four successive years to be considered for selection.

The 26-year-old Wagner, who moved to New Zealand in 2008, failed to achieve the minimum number of days on two occasions.

Once because he was playing a Twenty20 competition overseas with his New Zealand province Otago and the second time due to a family wedding.

NZC then sought dispensation from the world governing body to select the left-armer, who took a record five wickets in one over in a first class match in 2011.

"Approval was given for both occasions meaning the South African born player is now available for selection by New Zealand," NZC said in a statement on Thursday.

New Zealand, who were beaten by Wagner's native South Africa in their Twenty20, one-day and test series last month, tour the West Indies in July and August before a trip to India in late August and September.

If selected, Wagner would join a growing list of recently capped New Zealand players born in South Africa.

Wicketkeeper batsman BJ Watling and wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk both played tests earlier this year, while all rounder Grant Elliott played for New Zealand in 2008 and 2009.

Middle order batsman Dean Brownlie also spent most of his life in Western Australia and moved to Christchurch in 2009 but qualified for his adopted country through his New Zealand-born father. AGENCIES

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Cricket: Clarke vows to keep pressing for victory

PORT OF SPAIN: Australia captain Michael Clarke vowed to keep making ambitious declarations even if it meant risking seeing his plans come back to haunt him.

Clarke set the West Indies a 215-run target off 61 overs in the second Test on Thursday, after declaring on 160 for eight early in the afternoon, only for torrential rain to wash away any chance of a result.

His decision to tempt the West Indies to force a result had paid dividends in the first Test in Barbados, which his team won by three wickets, despite declaring his team's first innings 43 runs behind.

Thursday was also set for an intriguing finish when West Indies reached 53 for two off 11 overs before rain returned to end the weather-battered contest.

"My goal my whole career has been to help the Australian team win as many games as possible and I guess now that I am captain I have the opportunity to show that," said Clarke.

"At times with my declaration, when there is a chance for winning, you've got to have a go at it.

"There's going to be times that it might backfire and we might lose every now and then. But I enjoy the brand of cricket that we're playing at the moment.

"I know the guys are really focused on the team having success and trying to win as many games as we can. And I think it's bringing the best out of the team."

The draw meant that Australia retained their two-decade grip on the Frank Worrell Trophy with just the final Test to play starting in Dominica on Monday.

In an effort to win on Thursday, West Indies captain Darren Sammy switched his batting order, moving Kieran Powell to open and placing himself at number three.

But Australian seamer Ben Hilfenhaus soon had the West Indies rocking, trapping Powell lbw for just four in his second over which allowed Sammy, himself, to come to the crease.

Hilfenhaus had both openers back in the dressing room just two overs later when he produced a beautiful outswinger that took the edge of Adrian Barath's bat and the catch was taken by Clarke at first slip.

That left West Indies on 13 for two.

Sammy, though, still had his sights firmly set on an unlikely win and launched into an attack on Hilfenhaus, striking him for two boundaries and a six over long-off.

He reached 30 not out from 26 balls with his team still needing another 162 runs to win when the weather brought an end to the contest.

"Sixty overs was enough. We thought we could get the runs. Our plan was to see how far we could get by tea and then reassess after that," said Sammy, who believes his team are still capable of levelling the series.

"The guys believe now that we can not only compete but we can win matches against top opposition and we go into every game thinking we can."

Sammy's optimism was boosted by seeing fast bowler Kemar Roach bag another five wickets to become first West Indian sincde 2005 to take 10 wickets in a match.

"It was difficult. The wicket wasn't assisting fast bowlers much. You had to be accurate," said man-of-the-match Roach.

"I am very proud of the way we fought. Now we will practise hard for Dominica and on Monday we will be ready and raring to go."

Australia have injury worries ahead of the third Test after fast bowlers Peter Siddle and James Pattinson were forced to return home with back injuries.

But they do have two cover in the squad -- Ryan Harris, who played in the first Test, and left-armer Mitchell Starc, who last played in the Perth Test against India in January.

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Ganguly inspires Pune to beat Delhi by 20 runs

DELHI: Captain Sourav Ganguly’s allround performance guided Pune Warriors to beat Delhi Daredevils by 20 runs in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League here at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Saturday.
The former India captain first hit 41 and then grabbed two wickets to lead his team from the front while Australia’s Steven Smith also contributed 32..
But the star was New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder who smashed 86 from 58 balls with four sixes. He together with Ganguly added 93 for the second wicket stand which helped Pune plunder 192 for three in 20 overs.
However, Delhi accepted the challenge as captain Virender Sehwag blasted 57 off 32 balls with four sixes and five fours but as soon he got out other batsmen could not resist against Pune bowlers except England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who made 32 with three sixes.
South African pacer Alfonso Thomas captured three wickets for 22 runs besides Ganguly’s 2-27.
Pakistan’s first sports tv channel Geo Super televised the match live from Delhi.

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Windies coach Gibson fined for DRS outburst

PORT OF SPAIN: West Indies coach Ottis Gibson has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee after hitting out at the DRS review technology system during the drawn second Test against Australia.
The incident took place on Tuesday when, during the post-third day's play media briefing, Gibson challenged the DRS and its implementation by the match officials.
He was subsequently charged with breaching the ICC Code of Conduct.
"In the pre-series meetings it was agreed that players and coaches should not engage in negative media comments. Ottis accepts that he overstepped the mark during the game and has now accepted his sanction," said Jeff Crowe of the Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees.
Gibson had been frustrated by what he saw as inconsistencies in the system caused by the absence of Hot-Spot and Snicko technology.
"I can't say what I really want to say about the DRS because the ICC will sack me or ban me or whatever," Gibson had said.
"If the ICC is going to use DRS I think they should use all the technology and I think if we haven't got all the technology we shouldn't use it at all."
Australia won the first Test in Barbados before the rain-affected second Test here ended in a predictable draw.
The final match starts in Dominica on Monday.

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Plessis guides Chennai to down Rajasthan by seven wickets

CHENNAI: South African batsman Faf du Plessis hammered a brilliant 52-ball 73 to help Chennai Super Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier league here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk on Saturday.
Chasing 147, Chennai reached the target off the final ball when captain Mahinder Singh Dhoni flicked off Kevon Kooper on fine leg for a quick two.
Suraish Raina also made a useful contribution of 26 while medium-pacer Cooper claimed two wickets for Rajasthan.
Earlier, Rajasthan Royals made 146 for four in the allotted 20 overs batting first after captain Rahul Dravid won the toss.
England allrounder Owais Shah top scored with 52 with four fours and three sixes followed by Ashok Menaria (36) and Dravid (26).
Geo Super showed this match live from Chennai for cricket lovers in Pakistan.

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Gayle, de Villiers help Bangalore beat Punjab

MOHALI: The 131-run fourth wicket partnership between Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers paved the way for an easy five-wicket win for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Kings XI Punjab in the 25th match of the Indian Premier League – V here at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium on Friday.
Chasing 164, Bangalore completed their third victory in 19.3 overs after Gayle and de Villiers hit half-centuries.
Gayle made 87 off 56 balls with four sixes and eight fours while de Villiers scored 52 from 39 balls with six boundaries.
Their partnership was the fourth century stand and the highest for any wicket so far in the tournament.
For Punjab, medium-pacer Parvinder Awana captured four wickets for 34 runs.
Earlier, Bangalore captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and put Punjab into bat who scored 163 for six in the allotted 20 overs.
Main scorers were Australiann batsman David Hussey hit 41 and Pakistan-born English county allrounder Azhar Mahmood, who was playing his first match in the tournament, remained not out on 33.
Seamers Zaheer Khan and Andrew McDonald claimed two wickets each for Bangalore.
Pakistan’s first sports tv channel Geo Super televised this match live from Mohali

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Samuels lashes out at critics of his bowling action

NEW DELHI: West Indies spinner Marlon Samuels on Friday lashed out at critics of his bowling action in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), saying they were "evil".

"They are doing it because they can't play my bowling," the Pune Warriors all-rounder told the Times of India. "If I was hit into the galleries, my action would never have been questioned."

The off-spinner was reported last week by match officials for a suspect bowling action following his team's match against defending champions Chennai Super Kings.

According to IPL rules, Samuels, 31, will be suspended from bowling for the rest of the tournament if his action is reported again.

Samuels has faced problems with his action in the past, particularly when bowling his faster deliveries.

The West Indies star was suspended from bowling when reported for a suspect action after the third Test against South Africa in Durban in 2008.

He underwent remedial work and was cleared to bowl by the International Cricket Council last year.

Samuels, who has claimed 19 Test and 67 one-day international wickets, said the "faster ball" was a spinner's weapon.

"I have worked very hard on my bowling," he told the newspaper. "Slow bowlers these days need to have variations and the faster ball is surely a great weapon to have."

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who is leading the Pune Warriors, defended Samuels.

"I'm surprised that he has been warned," Ganguly told reporters. "If you look around the IPL, I'll be honest, there are worse actions going on."

Samuels lauded Ganguly for backing him. "He is a great captain and I am happy that he has so much faith in me," he said.

The 76-match Twenty20 IPL has nine teams playing each other on a home-and-away basis before the top-four sides qualify for the play-offs. The final will be played on May 27.

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Chennai emerge victorious in tight game against Pune

CHENNAI: Chennai Super Kings held their nerves to win by 13 runs against Pune Warriors to whom they had lost five days ago.
Chasing 165, Pune needed 21 off the last over but they could not manage due to some sharp catching and fierce bowling by Chennai and in the end they were restricted to 151 for seven in the allotted 20 overs.
Main contributors for Pune were Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews (27), West Indies’ Marlon Samuels (26), captain Sourav Ganguly (24) and Australia’s Steven Smith (23).
Sri Lankan Nuwan Kularasekara and West Indian Dwayne Bravo took two wickets each for 10 and 28, respectively.
Earlier, openers Faf du Plessis (58) of South Africa and Subramaniam Badrinath (57) provided a solid start of 116 runs in 15.3 overs to Chennai who batted first after being sent in by Pune. This was the first century opening stand of the tournament.
Captain Mahinder Singh Dhoni also blasted a 12-ball 28 with fours and a six.
For Pune, Marlon Samuels of the West Indies captured three wickets and India’s pacer Ashish Nehra claimed two.
The match was shown live by Geo Super, the first sports tv channel of Pakistan.

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NZ U19 CWC squad announced

New Zealand Cricket today announced a 15 player squad to travel to Australia for the ICC Under-19 World Cup in August this year.

The squad includes 13 members from the side which played in the Under 19 Quadrangular Series in Townsville last week.

Arnie Yugaraja of Canterbury and Robert O'Donnell from Auckland are the new inclusions in the team, while Will Young maintains his role as captain.

A further 15 players will be named to form cover for the side and fulfil the 30 man squad ICC requirements.

Sixteen teams will compete in the tournament, with New Zealand in Group B. They will play warm-up matches against South Africa and Nepal, before facing Pakistan, Scotland and Afghanistan in the pool stages.

The Under-19's first match in the world cup is on August 12th against Scotland.

Under-19 World Cup Squad

Will Young (captain)    Central Districts
Ben Horne    Auckland
Michael Davidson    Canterbury
Joe Carter    Northern Districts
Robert O'Donnell    Auckland
Henry Walsh    Wellington
Arnie Yugaraja    Canterbury
Connor Neynens    Central Districts
Cameron Fletcher    Auckland
Sean Davey    Northern Districts
Jacob Duffy    Otago
Matthew Quinn    Auckland
Edward Nuttall    Canterbury
Theo van Woerkom    Canterbury
Ish Sodhi    Auckland

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W. Indies vs. Australia second test drawn

PORT OF SPAIN: Rain ruined an intriguing final afternoon of the second Test between West Indies and Australia in Trinidad, meaning the tourists keep their 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The hosts had been set a target of 215 from 61 overs and were 53-2 after 11 when the weather, which had already caused delays, forced the close.

Earlier, Australia captain Michael Clarke declared with his side 160-8 in order to try and force a result.

The final Test begins on Monday.

Australia, who dramatically won the first Test by three wickets, had resumed the day on 73-3, but lost overnight batsmen Ricky Ponting (41) and Clarke (15) to Fidel Edwards and Darren Sammy respectively.

Kemar Roach then took over to complete his second five-wicket haul of the match for combined figures of 10-146, the first 10-wicket match haul by a Windies bowler since 2005.

Roach's two strikes after lunch came as the Australians look to attack and, after Nathan Lyon top-edged Shane Shillingford to Sammy, Clarke made his aggressive declaration.

Despite slipping to 13-2, West Indies were certainly looking in the mood to take on the challenge and record their first Test win against Australia since 2003.

Ben Hilfenhaus trapped Kieran Powell lbw then had Adrian Barath caught at slip before home skipper Sammy, moving himself up the order, went on the attack.

He was unbeaten on 30 from 42 balls when the elements intervened for a final time, meaning Australia retain the Frank Worrell Trophy.

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Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan cancelled: PCB

LAHORE: Bangladesh cricket team’s tour of Pakistan has been cancelled. According to the Pakistan Cricket Boards (PCB) chief operating officer, Bangladesh and informed the PCB of its decision to not tour Pakistan.

PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf also expressed his disappointment over the stay order issued by the Dhaka High Court.

“The boards of both countries should have resolved the matter on their own,” Ashraf said.

The Dhaka High Court on Thursday had ordered the national team's upcoming tour of Pakistan to be postponed for at least four weeks due to security fears.

Bangladesh were set to play a 50-over game and a Twenty20 international on April 29 and 30 in Lahore, the first international cricket matches in the country following the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus.

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Bangladesh court stops cricket team's tour of Pakistan

DHAKA: The Bangladesh high court on Thursday ordered the national team's upcoming tour of Pakistan to be postponed for at least four weeks due to security fears.

Bangladesh were set to play a 50-over game and a Twenty20 international on April 29 and 30 in Lahore, the first international cricket matches in the troubled country for three years.

But Additional Attorney General M.K. Rahman told AFP that the high court in Dhaka had ordered Bangladesh's cricket authorities to explain why the tour was scheduled to go ahead despite concerns over the team's safety.

"It asked the cricket board to explain in the next four weeks. During the four weeks, the court imposed an injunction on the cricket team's tour to Pakistan," he said.

Bangladesh would be the first team to visit Pakistan since a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus during the Lahore Test in 2009, when eight people died and seven visiting players and an assistant coach were injured.

The high court gave the order following a petition by a lawyer and a university teacher.

Pakistani political leaders, players and fans had welcomed the planned tour, but in Bangladesh concern over the visit has grown since it was announced on Sunday.

"We told the court that the Pakistan tour would risk the lives of our cricketers," Hassan Azim, lawyer for the two petitioners, told AFP.

"Pakistan is not a safe place for an international sports event. No other international teams are travelling to Pakistan. Why should Bangladesh go? The decision was imposed on the cricketers."

Anti-Pakistan feelings still run strong in Bangladesh, which was part of Pakistan until 1971 when it won independence in a bloody nine-month war in which Dhaka says an estimated three million people lost their lives.

Bangladesh's coach Stuart Law, from Australia, this week expressed fears about the team's schedule.

"It's got to be made sure by the two associating boards that everyone is 100 percent safe to go," he said. "I have spent time with the players and everyone is a bit concerned."

Law declined to confirm if he would go on the tour, while Bangladesh's cricket authorities said they were seeking clearance from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Foreign teams shunned Pakistan after the 2009 attacks, forcing them to play their home series on neutral venues, mostly in the United Arab Emirates.

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Worcestershire stumped over Ajmal return

WORCESTER: Worcestershire's hope of seeing Saeed Ajmal return for a second spell with the English county for their domestic Twenty20 campaign have been dashed by the Pakistan spinner's international commitments.

The Midlands club, whose other overseas player is Australia batsman Phil Hughes, had hoped to have Ajmal, England's tormentor-in-chief during Pakistan's recent 3-0 Test series win in the United Arab Emirates, back at New Road.

However, the confirmation of Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka has left the club looking for another overseas player.

"Following the recent announcement that Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka will proceed, Saeed Ajmal will be unavailable for Worcestershire's T20 campaign," the county said in a statement Thursday.

"Ajmal had signed a contract to appear in Worcestershire CCC's T20 run at a time when the Pakistan tour to Sri Lanka was not agreed in the ICC schedule.

"But it is now understood that it is likely to take place between late May and mid-July 2012, ruling Ajmal out of the county's T20 campaign."

Worcestershire director of cricket, Steve Rhodes, said: "Losing a player of Saeed's quality is a big disappointment.

"However, we are extremely active in finding a replacement for the Twenty20," the former England wicketkeeper added.

Ajmal took 24 wickets during Pakistan's Test rout of England.

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Australia still eyeing victory in rain-hit test

PORT OF SPAIN: Australia were confident they could still win the second test against West Indies despite losing most of the fourth day on Wednesday to rain.

Australia's hopes of pushing for a series-clinching victory were thwarted by a torrential storm at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad.

Most of the day was lost, leaving Australia 127 runs ahead with seven second innings wickets in hand.

With more showers forecast for Thursday, a draw was looming as the most likely result, which would be enough for Australia to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy after the tourists won last week's first test in Barbados.

But Australia opening batsman Ed Cowan said his team were not giving up hope of winning and may even be prepared to roll the dice and risk defeat to give themselves a chance of victory.

"I don't think there's any doubt about that," Cowan said.

"We'll open up the game at some point, probably willing to lose it for the chance to win it. It will depend on whether they're willing to risk the game, I guess."

If the weather stays fine, Australia's best chances of forcing a result would be to try and add another 100 runs before lunch then set up an early declaration that West Indies would be tempted to chase.

"I'm not the captain. I haven't spoken to (coach) Mickey (Arthur) or (captain) Michael (Clarke) but on that wicket we've seen scoring rates at a little over two for the game so 230, 240 runs even off 65, 70 overs (would be tough)," Cowan said.

"That's long enough for us to bowl them out if they're willing to have a go. We'll see. I don't quite know how the brains' trust is playing it. That's what I'd be thinking."

DIM PROSPECTS

West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach, who captured all three Australian second innings wickets to take his total to eight for the match, said the home team would also press for a victory but the prospects were dim.

"It's kind of dicey now but we'll see how it goes," he said.

"We'll devise a plan tonight for tomorrow and come out to look to compete as well.

"We look to win every game, that's our mentality. We're going to come out tomorrow and whatever we do, we're going to do it in a positive way."

Roach has been the standout bowler for West Indies and once again provided the breakthroughs when his team needed them.

He dismissed David Warner and Shane Watson in his first over, knocking Watson's off-stump out of the ground.

"It was a good sight," Roach said. "I really enjoyed that one obviously."

"Today would have been Malcolm Marshall's 54th birthday so it's a special day, I looked up to him as a bowler," said Roach.

"Hopefully I'll keep blasting through the top order."

Roach removed Cowan for 20 before the rain washed out the rest of the day, just when the Australian was starting to look dangerous.

In four of his last six test innings, Cowan has seen good starts only to be dismissed between 20 and 35.

"It's frustrating to get through what's the hardest time of batting and then to get out when the ball is getting softer," he said.

"To grind out 20 doesn't look but it still feels like you've given some contribution to the team, not just taken the shine off the ball for the other blokes.

"I feel like my game is in good order. There's a big difference between being out of runs and out of form and I feel a little bit out of runs." (Reuters)

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Kolkata Knight Riders thrash Kings XI Punjab by 8 wickets

MOHALI: Gautam Gambhir slammed an unbeaten 66 to power Kolkata Knight Riders to an emphatic 8-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab at the PCA stadium on Wednesday.

Riding on a disciplined bowling and fielding display, KKR first restricted Kings XI to 124 for seven after sent into bowl, and then skipper Gautam Gambhir led from the front with a fine unbeaten half century to overwhelm the target with 21 balls in hand.

Gambhir was ably supported by Jacques Kallis, who scored an unbetaen 30 off 23 balls. The duo stitched unconquered 53 runs for the third-wicket as KKR scored 127 for two in 16.3 overs.

Earlier, Kings XI batsmen lost wickets at regular intervals to be restricted to the modest total after opting to bat at the PCA stadium.

Captain Adam Gilchrist, who retired hurt in the sixth over with a right hamstring problem only to return later to drag his side out of trouble, top-scored with an unbeaten 40, while Shaun Marsh made a 30-ball 33 with the help of four boundaries.

Kings XI batsmen struggled from the onset against a determined KKR bowling line up and it could be gauged from the fact that only three of their batters could manage double figures.

Wily West Indian off-spinner Sunil Narine (2/24) and Brett Lee (2/26) starred with the ball for KKR, sharing four wickets between them. Laxmipathy Balaji (1/20) and Rajat Bhatia (1/23) also picked up a wicket each for the visitors.

KKR's started their run chase on a blistering pace, racing on to their fifty inside the sixth over.

Brendon McCullum (15) was the initial aggressor as he clobbered Praveen Kumar for two boundaries in the first over.

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Bangladesh tour will help revive cricket: PCB chief

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf Wednesday said Bangladesh's short tour will help revive the suspended sport in his country.

Bangladesh on Sunday confirmed it will play a one-day and a Twenty20 match in Lahore this month, matches which will reintroduce international cricket to Pakistan following its suspension in the wake of 2009 attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus.

"I am sure the Bangladesh tour will break the ice, and the breakthrough achieved during President Asif Ali Zardari's tour to India will also help in the revival of Indo-Pak cricket," Ashraf told a press conference.

Last week Zardari reportedly requested Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh to send his national team to Pakistan. Singh promised to talk to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the matter.

Ashraf said he wants to revive cricket ties with India, stalled in the wake of 2008 terrorists attacks on Mumbai.

"I had a good meeting with BCCI president (Narayanan) Srinivasan and this time he was more positive on the revival of the ties," said Ashraf of his talk on the sidelines of International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Dubai.

"I thank the ICC Board for the way they appreciated the revival of cricket and approved of it."

"The situation is not like it was in 2009. Since cricket was suspended in Pakistan our grounds were left deserted but things have improved and I hope more teams will come after the Bangladesh team's tour."

Ashraf said convincing Bangladesh to tour was a victory for fans of the game.

"Cricket is a passion in Pakistan and convincing Bangladesh to tour is a victory for all of us and now even a single policeman will do his best to give the visitors full security," he said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board said a comprehensive security plan will be approved by the federal government and will be forwarded to the ICC shortly.

The Bangladesh team is due to arrive on April 27. They play a 50-over game on April 29 and a Twenty20 the following day.

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