SA tour itinerary to be discussed at BCCI WC meet

SA tour itinerary to be discussed at BCCI WC meet

The itinerary for the upcoming tour of South Africa and a disciplinary panel report on sacked Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi are among the issues that would dominate discussions when the BCCI's working committee meets in Kolkata on Sunday. 
The Board of Control for Cricket in India is keen on playing two Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals during the series beginning November, while Cricket South Africa had announced the schedule with three Tests, seven ODIs and two T20Is. 
"We have not taken any final call on the tour as yet, hopefully we will send an alternative itinerary over to CSA after tomorrow's meeting," BCCI's acting President Dalmiya said. 
There is also a section in the BCCI which wants to curtail the series to protest the appointment of former International Cricket Council CEO Haroon Lorgat as the CSA's CEO. 
The Working Committee is also likely to discuss the findings of a Disciplinary Committee comprising Jyotiraditya Scindia and Arun Jaitley, who were appointed to investigate charges of financial bunglings against Modi. An exhaustive report of about 500 pages had been earlier submitted but it is unlikely that interim president Dalmiya would take a decision on Modi in tomorrow's meeting. 
There is also speculation that the two-member internal probe panel, comprising former judges T Jayaram Chouta and R Balasubramanian, has also submitted its report on the IPL spot-fixing scandal. The committee, according to some media reports, has cleared sidelined BCCI chief N Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan of betting charges but no BCCI official was willing to speak on the issue. But both Dalmiya and BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel have denied receiving the report. 
But insiders claim that the report was submitted on Thursday and the verdict would be read out absolving Meiyappan of the charges of betting in the last edition of the Indian Premier League. A verdict in favour of Meiyappan would pave way for Srinivasan into the BCCI fold as he had stepped aside from his post of president after the Mumbai Police had levelled charges against his son-in-law in the spot-fixing and betting scandal. 
Srinivasan's return would also mean that he will be technically eligible to contest in the Board's elections in September. Srinivasan, however, would not attend the meeting tomorrow and Kasi Viswanathan would represent the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. 
Among other things, there's likely to be a debate over the Board's move to cap the age limit for domestic-level match referees at 60 as that would mean that BCCI would lose out on some prominent names like Kalyan Sundaram, B Raghunath, Raju Mukherjee and Balbir Singh, who have all crossed the age limit. 
Former India captain and leg spinner Anil Kumble, now the president of the Karnataka Cricket Association, may raise the issue in the working committee meeting as no such cap had been placed by even the ICC. 

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4:32 AM

Fourth IND-ZIM ODI postponed due to elections

Fourth IND-ZIM ODI postponed due to elections

The fourth ODI of the ongoing series between India and Zimbabwe has been postponed by a day due to general elections in the African country.
The match will now be played at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, on August 1 instead of July 31. 
"The fourth ODI of the ongoing series between India and Zimbabwe has been postponed by a day on account of Elections in Zimbabwe," a BCCI release said. 

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5:02 PM

It was one of my lucky days: Dhawan

It was one of my lucky days: Dhawan

India managed to overcome a top-order collapse and a spirited futile reply from Zimbabwe, to emerge victorious by 58 runs in the second ODI at Harare to extend their lead in the five-match series. Riding on Shikhar Dhawan's fine 116 and a valuable 69 from Dinesh Karthik, the visitors managed to post a commanding 294/8 before restricting the hosts to 236/9. 
Speaking after the match, Virat Kohli said the batsmen found the going challenging, especially after losing early wickets. The Indian skipper praised Dhawan for his knock while mentioning that luck too had a role to play. 
"It was going to be a challenge for the batsmen. We lost a few early wickets, there were a few tricky calls as well. There are two sides of having luck. You could get bogged down or keep going. Dhawan kept going despite nicking a few. Dinesh as well, pity he did not get a 100. We ended up getting 294. Those two batted beautifully." 
Despite a good start from the Zimbabwe openers, India kept chipping away and managed to restrict the hosts in the end. Jaydev Unadkat was the star with the ball, picking up 4/41, which included the prized scalps of the openers and the bowler was praised by Kohli, who mentioned that the pitch suited the lanky left-armer. 
"The wicket suited Unadkat. He bowls a good length and has good change of pace as well. The others supported him well. We are a new side. We are going to be put under pressure. The guys responded beautifully today." 
Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor rued the missed chances, mentioning that they proved to be costly in the end. The home-team skipper also said his top-order had to take some responsibility for the loss as they failed to capitalize on a good start. 
"We gave them too many chances and they made us pay. That partnership (between Dhawan and Karthik) really killed us. It was a good wicket to bat on. The top order has to take responsibility for this failure. We were really slow on the field. There were penalties in place. In hindsight, we should have just slowed the game down a bit. Our seam attack is pretty strong. We have to tighten up in the middle overs." 
Dhawan, who registered his third ODI ton, was named the Man of the Match for his efforts with the bat and the left-handed opener thanked his luck while mentioning that the wicket was not easy to bat on. 
"It was one of my lucky days. You have some lucky days. I was playing well in the earlier matches but kept getting out. The wicket was not easy to bat on. But Dinesh and I batted well. That partnership got us through. I'm enjoying the moment. I'm in good form. We just wanted to play on the merit of the ball. We just wanted to stay. We knew we could recover later because both of us had a good range of shots."

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5:02 PM

Dhawan, Unadkat help India to comfortable win

Dhawan, Unadkat help India to comfortable win

Shikhar Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik starred with the bat while Jaydev Unadkat did well with the ball as India defeated Zimbabwe by 58 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series. Put in to bat, India suffered a top-order collapse before Dhawan (116) and Karthik (69) put on a 167 run stand for the 5th wicket to lift India to a commanding 294/8. In reply, Zimbabwe could only manage 236/9 in the available 50 overs, despite half-centuries from Vusi Sibanda (55) and Prosper Utseya (52*). Jaydev Unadkat was the top wicket-taker for the visiting team, picking up 4/41 while Amit Mishra (2/46) also did well. 
The hosts got off to a solid start in pursuit of the daunting target with Sibanda and Sikandar Raza batting positively. They added 45 runs for the opening wicket before Unadkat delivered the first blow in the 11th over by dismissing Raza for 20. The visitors though had to wait for a while before making their second breakthrough as Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza put on a good stand to keep the Indians at bay. 
Sibanda reached his fifty with a hit off Mishra over long-on for six and, in the process, also took his side's total past 100-run mark. However, Zimbabwe could not hold onto their strong position for long as Sibanda once again failed to covert his innings into a big score after dominating the Indian bowlers with his powerful hits. Sibanda, who had escaped with a missed stumping chance after jumping down the track to Mishra, fell to Unadkat in the 21st over. 
Zimbabwe's innings faded rapidly thereafter as Brendan Taylor (0) ran himself out while Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra accounted for Sean Williams and Malcolm Waller respectively. A defiant late-order resistance by Elton Chigumbara (46) and Utseya delayed the inevitable with the duo adding 88 runs for the seventh wicket to frustrate the tourists. However, the former fell to Mohammed Shami before Unadkat finished things off in style, dismissing Kyle Jarvis and Brian Vitori off back-to-back deliveries in the final over, to lead India to a comfortable victory in the end. 
Earlier, India had Dhawan, Karthik and Vinay Kumar to thank for getting them to a huge first innings score of 294. Dhawan and Kathik were involved in a massive 167 run stand to help India overcome their top-order setbacks while Vinay applied the finishing touches with a blitzy 12-ball 27 as India finished with a massive score. Dhawan smashed his 3rd ODI hundred in the process, but luck played its part as Zimbabwe put down as many as 3 chances the left-hander offered. The Delhi-lad, however, continued unperturbed as he led the Indian recovery in fine fashion. Karthik too played a fine hand in India getting back on track with his fine fifty. 
The duo were left to do all the hard-work after Zimambwe pacers struck regularly at the start to leave India struggling on a seaming wicket. Brian Vitori had struck off his very first ball in the match to send back Rohit Sharma for just 1. Virat Kohli too followed soon after, albeit in controversial circumstances. The India skipper looked good to survive after it seemed that the ball had not carried clearly to fielder Malcolm Waller but the umpires found no issue with it and he out. India's innings went from bad to worse as Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina too followed in quick succession to leave India reeling at 65/4 in the 17th over. 
With India in a precarious position, Dhawan and Karthik eased the pressure with some clever batting. The duo rotated the strike well and ensured India made progress at a steady rate. They soon brought up their hundred run stand and started to put pressure on the Zimbabweans with a few big shots. Both batsman used the reverse sweep to good effect as India started to eye a score in excess of 250. 
The left-hander soon opened up and started to carve up the Zimbabwe attack at will. Karthik too joined in the party smacking back-to-back boundaries in the 40th over to take India past 200 runs. Zimbabwe struck against the run of play, however, as Karthik was out run-out for 69. Dhawan too, who had notched up his 3rd ODI hundred, fell soon after to leave India with much work to do to ensure they have a strong finish. Kohli's men looked set to end with around 270, but Vinay Kumar gave India a big boost by helping smash 23 runs off the last over to give India 294. 

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5:01 PM

South Africa win to stay alive in Sri Lanka series

South Africa win to stay alive in Sri Lanka series

David Miller and Lonwabo Tsotsobe played key roles as South Africa stunned hosts Sri Lanka by 56 runs in the third one-dayer in Pallekele on Friday to stay afloat in the five-match series. 
Miller plundered a robust 85 not out off 72 balls to steer South Africa to 223-7 after unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis had reduced the tourists to 154-7 in the 42nd over. 
Tsotsobe then ripped through Sri Lanka's top order with three wickets in the space of six runs before finishing with 4-22 as the hosts were bundled out for 167 in the day-night game. 
The victory ended South Africa's 11-match losing streak in one-day cricket on Sri Lankan soil and gave AB de Villiers' tourists a badly-needed win in the current series. 
With Sri Lanka 2-1 ahead, South Africa must also win the fourth match at the same venue on Sunday to take the series into the decider in Colombo next Wednesday. 
Thisara Perera lit up the gloomy evening for the hosts by smashing five sixes and a boundary in the 33rd over sent down by left-arm spinner Robin Peterson. 
With the second ball declared a wide, the 35 runs taken in the over fell just one run short of the world record of six sixes hit by South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs off Dutch bowler Daan van Bunge during the 2007 World Cup. 
Perera's run sequence in the over was six, a wide, six, six, six, four and a six, but his sensational hitting came too late for the hosts to deliver an unlikely win. 
"It's hard to explain how proud I am of the boys," de Villiers said. "It was not easy and we were under pressure through the game. 
"It was a really good performance. But we did not have enough partnerships going." 
Left-handed Perera made 65 off 49 balls with five sixes and as many boundaries, before he was caught in the deep off Farhaan Behardien, who finished with three for 19. 
Sri Lanka paid the penalty for a shoddy batting display in which six batsmen failed to reach double figures and only two others entered their 20s. 
Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews, returning to the side after serving a two-match suspension due to his team's slow over-rates in the tri-series in the West Indies, paid rich tributes to Perera. 
"He is turning out to be a good all-rounder," said Mathews. "The pitch was not easy to bat on, but it looked as if Thisara was batting on a different wicket. 
"With Thisara playing so well, I should probably have stayed there with him. We need to get everything together on Sunday." 
Earlier, Miller hit five sixes and four boundaries to boost the total from 100-5 after South Africa had won the toss and elected to take first strike. 
Skipper de Villiers led the recovery with 47, before left-handed Miller pushed the scoring with his fifth one-day half-century, the first by a South African in the series. 
Miller put on 69 for the eighth wicket with Ryan McLaren, who remained unbeaten on 14. 

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4:59 PM

Don't know where the power comes from: Miller

 Don't know where the power comes from: Miller

David Miller came up with a blistering knock while Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Farhaan Behardien came up with fine efforts with the ball as South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by 56 runs in the third ODI at Pallekele. Opting to bat, the visitors were reeling at 154/7 in the 42nd over before Miller's quick-fire 85 off 72 balls lifted them to a competitive 223/7. In reply, a fighting 65 from Thisara Perera went in vain as Sri Lanka were bowled out 167 with Tsotsobe (4/22) and Behardien (3/19) doing the bulk of the damage. 

The victory was South Africa's first against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka since September 2nd, 1993 and skipper AB de Villiers was pleased that the visiting team were finally able to end their losing streak. Speaking after the match, de Villiers said: "It's hard to explain how proud I'm of the guys. It wasn't an easy game. We've made a big step forward after today." 
While praising Miller for his fine knock, de Villiers was also happy with the performances of Tsotsobe and Morne Morkel. The South African captain though mentioned that his team played irresponsibly at times and have to improve going forward. "Lopsy (Tsotsobe) is a class performer and bowled exceptionally well today. Morne was quite aggressive today, he is the leader of the attack and set the standards upfront. Very irresponsible cricket at times from us, a run-out and I take responsibility for that. I cost Faf (du Plessis) his wicket." 
Home team captain Angelo Mathews, who was back in the side after missing the first two games due to a suspension, said Sri Lanka did a good job with the ball but failed to deliver in the end overs. The Lankan skipper also praised Thisara Perera for his breezy knock while asking for the rest of the batters to step up. 
"Our bowlers did a brilliant job, except for the last three overs we did well. The batters have to step up. Thisara was batting on a different strip, in the end it was too much for him. I got out at the wrong time, with Thisara at the other end I should have hung out, but it was unfortunate. Unfortunately, we kept losing wickets at the wrong time." 
Man of the Match Miller said it was a tough track to bat on with the ball not coming on to the bat. He also mentioned that they could not accelerate a lot earlier as they did not have wickets in hand. 
"It was tough upfront. The wicket was really slow and it took time to adjust. (I) really don't know where the power comes from, (I) work hard in the nets and then play my shots. Our plan was to go hard late on as we didn't have wickets in hand, (we) should have gone a bit earlier." 

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4:59 PM

Bell looking to end Australia hopes

Bell looking to end Australia hopes

Ian Bell, once derided by Australia, is relishing his lead role in the destruction of the tourists' Ashes ambitions and he is determined to put the final nail in the coffin at Old Trafford next week. 
Bell struggled for form during England's 2005 Ashes triumph, scoring just 171 in 10 innings with his only meaningful contributions being two half-centuries in the draw at Old Trafford. 
The Warwickshire batsman, nicknamed 'The Shermanator' by Shane Warne after a geeky character from the American Pie films, averaged just 32 in 18 Tests against Australia before this series. 
But Bell has matured into England's middle-order lynchpin. He has scored a century in the last three Ashes Tests, including vital innings in the victories at Trent Bridge and Lord's. 
"From my first couple of (Ashes) series I knew I had to improve on that," Bell said. 
"The (Australian) team I started against was pretty good, so it is nice to be putting my hand up now as a senior player when we've needed it. 
"I feel pretty confident right now and it is good to be putting it together in an Ashes series which is what I've wanted to do. 
"I don't really feel too bad about the previous series but it is nice to be able to do things when the team need it most and scoring hundreds is what you want to do. 
"To have three now against Australia is exactly where I want to be." 
Bell has always found Old Trafford to be a happy hunting ground. He has scored two hundreds and a 97 in five Manchester Tests, at an average of 87. 
England's record there is positive too, winning six of their nine Old Trafford Tests since the turn of the century. 
In short, it is a good place for England to be heading as they look not just to retain the Ashes, which they will do with a draw, but win the urn outright. 
But if there is anything Bell takes from that titanic drawn Test in 2005 - the last Ashes match played at Old Trafford - it is that Australia will be battling for their lives. 
"I know that the Test matches I've been involved in there, we've got a good record so it is a good place for England to go to now," Bell said. 
"The 2005 Test was a game we were looking at (targetting) another win, but Australia battled right to the end. 
"They were so excited about getting the draw, so you felt a little shift in the series right there because they were happy to get out of it. 
"It was an intense game as all Ashes games are and I would expect another tough game coming up. 
"Coming into this series it has been about contributing to the team and at Lord's we had to work hard in different periods of the game and we got our rewards at the end. 
"It has been hard work, but these couple of days will give us a nice break from the cricket so we're right for Old Trafford." 
Bell's bid for a Lord's hundred could have ended on just three when he fended a rising delivery from Ryan Harris to Steve Smith in the gully, only for the third umpire to rule the ball had not carried. 
David Gower, commentating on television, described it as an appalling decision and it reignited the debate about whether a batsman should walk. 
Bell revealed he was told to stand his ground by the umpires. 
"At the time it didn't look quite right. I looked around and as the umpires got together they told me to hold fire at the crease," Bell said. 
"As soon as they say wait there because they're going upstairs it is out of your hands. 
"If the umpires had said 'go' then I'd have gone. I didn't see the replay but at the time it looked like it was just in his finger tips so did some of the ball touch the ground. 
"Generally the rule is the batsman gets the benefit of the doubt on things like that so it probably goes more in the batter's favour when it goes upstairs." 

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4:57 PM