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Pool A

The business end of the tournament began with a tie between Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) at the Sheikhupura Stadium. Chasing 268, KRL were on course to win after a middle-order slide with Ali Khan slamming a 30-ball 54, but the ninth-wicket pair of Zulfiqar Jan and Saeed Ajmal failed to see their side through.NBP, after being asked to bat first, were powered by Kamran Akmal’s 118 and Naumanullah’s 66. The pair added 190 for the third wicket before Yasir Arafat took 5 for 42 to bowl them out just before the 50 overs. Akmal’s knock included 11 fours and three sixes while Naumanullah hit seven fours in his 87-ball knock. Saeed Anwar Jnr and Ali Naqvi led the chase with half-centuries and KRL progressed well thanks to their stand of 131 for the second wicket. However, the middle order succumbed to Qaier Abbas’ left-arm spin and Akmal made a strong impact behind the stumps as well by claiming five victims, which included four stumpings. Khan revived the chase from 178 for 5 and smashed five sixes in his knock but his efforts weren’t enough to seal the victory.An undefeated ninth-wicket stand of 57 between Yasir Ali and Mohammad Rameez guided Rawalpindi Rams to a tense two-wicket win against Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) in Lahore. Chasing a modest 202, the Rams had all but lost it at 148 for 8 before the pair combined to see their side home in the 45th over. Rameez compiled a run-a-ball 27 with four fours and a six while Ali’s 26 off 36 balls included three fours. Earlier, WAPDA failed to bat out their fifty overs, with Aamer Sajjad op scoring with 49. Babbar Naeem, the left-arm spinner, finished with 3 for 50.

Pool B

Habib Bank Limited (HBL) began their Super Eights campaign with a three-wicket win over Lahore Eagles at the National Stadium in Karachi. Shahid Afridi wrecked the Eagles with figures of 5 for 49 and rounded off a solid all-round performance with a quickfire 45 off 29 balls as his side chased down 220 with more than seven overs to spare. Aftab Alam and Younis Khan too compiled 40s to back Afridi’s effort.For the Eagles, Ahmed Shehzad and Ashraf Ali compiled half-centuries after they were sent in to bat. The innings wobbled at 157 for 7 before an eighth-wicket stand of 52 lifted the score past 200. Junaid Zia, the right-arm seamer, inflicted early blows in HBL’s chase to reduce them to 49 for 3 before the middle order stepped up. Younis missed his half-century by a run, Alam compiled 40 off 62 balls, while Afridi slammed two sixes and a four in his knock before Zia returned to dismiss him and finish with figures of 4 for 45.A half-century by the opener Khurram Manzoor helped Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) ease to a six-wicket win against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex. Manzoor scored 68 off 90 balls with nine fours to lay the platform for PIA to chase down a modest 206. Fahad Iqbal chipped in with 40 while Faisal Iqbal finished with an unbeaten 39 to seal the victory in 46.4 overs. Earlier, SNGPL were rescued by Tauqeer Hussain’s battling 51 at No.8 after the innings wobbled at 96 for 6. The PIA seam attack of Anwar Ali, Najaf Shah and Ali Imran claimed three wickets each.

Tom Moody said there would be no sweeping changes in the Western Australia’s cricket team despite the fact the Warriors have not won a Pura Cup since 1998-99, when Moody himself captained them to victory. Western Australia scored a major coup by securing Moody, who recently guided Sri Lanka to the World Cup final and became one of the hottest properties in international coaching.Moody has initially signed on for three years and said one of his main aims was to set up the state for future success by helping junior players reach their potential. “It is important that the message we deliver at the top is learnt at under-17 and under-19 level,” Moody told .”We need to start the pattern so that 15- or 17-year-olds know what is expected to play state or international cricket. Whether it is technically, physically or mentally, or just game-wise, we want to make it clear that is the way the Warriors play and this is our brand of cricket.”Moody, one of Western Australia’s favourite cricketing sons, said he would initially take a careful approach with the Warriors. “I have to evaluate the cricketing structure and review what has been and what are the issues that need to be addressed,” Moody said.”I have my ideas but I am not going to come crashing through the door like a bull in a china shop. WA have been very successful but perhaps in the past couple of years they have stumbled a bit at critical times.”Moody confirmed he had approached Simon Katich, the former Western Australia batsman who has spent the last five seasons at New South Wales, about returning to Perth. However, Katich is likely to stay on at New South Wales and continue captaining the state.

Zee TV has won the exclusive telecasting rights for next week’s DLF Cup between India and Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. The two one-day internationals, which take place at the newly-built Zayed Cricket Stadium on April 18 and 19, will be in aid of the victims of the devastating earthquakes that hit the subcontinent in October last year.For the sum of US$219 million, Zee Sports has acquired the global media rights for the 25 matches that India are scheduled to play on neutral ground over the next five years, which works out at US$8.77 million per match.Yogesh Radhakrishnan, managing director and CEO or Real Media-Zee Network, said: “These international matches will definitely put Abu Dhabi on the world map of cricket, and Zee TV Middle East is proud to play a leading role in showcasing the capital’s sporting infrastructure.”Acquiring the global media rights is further proof of our commitment to promoting this game across the world and bringing exciting cricket right into the homes of cricket lovers.”

Sourav Ganguly’s six-match ban, which was upheld by Michael Beloff, the ICC’s appeals commissioner, could yet come up for arbitration according to an Indian newspaper report. Ehsan Mani had earlier denied that the issue had been debated, but , based in Kolkata, claimed that a source had told them: “An arbiter is going to be appointed. One will soon know who stands where…”The paper also quoted another source as saying: “Strictly technically, the Executive Board took up the BCCI’s objection to the application of the Code of Conduct provisions and Sourav wasn’t specifically named in the deliberations…”The ICC’s official stand is that they await a response from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, but it would be an extreme step to overturn the ban, with Ganguly already having sat out two matches. In the past, transgressions of the Code of Conduct have never come up for review once an appeals commissioner upheld the ban.Ganguly, who stands to miss four more games, ruling him out of the one-day tournament in Sri Lanka, was still clueless as to his fate, saying: “Till now, I haven’t heard anything and, so, wouldn’t like to say anything.”Since then the ICC has made it clear that no further action would be taken on the case till the Indian board puts forward its point in a written communication. A spokesperson said in a media release, “The ICC, through its President Ehsan Mani, has agreed that should the BCCI wish to take this matter further it must write to the ICC which would then refer this to the ICC Disputes Resolution Committee.”

KwaZulu-Natal went top of the Super Sixes table, thanks to the first-innings bonus points they captured against Western Province. And Maurice Aronstam ground out a nine-and-a-half-hour double-century for Northerns against Boland:Super Sixes – 3rd day:Western Province 311 and 287 for 3 (Bassage 61, Ferreira 100,Prince 75*) lead KwaZulu-Natal 332 by 266 runs
ScorecardA first-innings deficit of 21 was quickly wiped out after Western Province bowled KwaZulu-Natal out for 332 at Newlands. Natal nonetheless collected enough bonus points to go to the top of the table. A far more docile pitch awaited the WP batsmen today, and they put on 287 for 3 before stumps was drawn. Derrin Bassage helped himself to 61, Lloyd Ferreira passed 3000 first-class runs in the course of his hundred, and Ashwell Prince, back from international duties in New Zealand, was left not out on 75. WP are 266 ahead, and we could be in for a close finish tomorrow.Free State 267 and 139 for 3 (Liebenberg 72) lead North West349 (Jacobs 164) by 57 runs
ScorecardDavey Jacobs must know every blade of grass at Potchefstroom’s North West Stadium after spending six hours at the crease for his 164, which helped his side to a lead of 82. Free State, batting for a second time, ended the day on 139 for 3 after Gerry Liebenberg put together a neat 72. Bad light once again brought an early end to proceedings – bad news for Free State, who need a win to stay in touch with the leaders.Shield – 2nd day:Northerns 451 for 7 dec (Aronstam 201*, Groeneveld 4-49) lead Boland 97 for 4 by 354 runs
ScorecardMaurice Aronstam, 23, marked only his second first-class appearance with a masterful double-century as Northerns amassed 451 for 7 at Boland Park. His marathon innings took nine and a half hours, and he hit 19 fours and four sixes. Aronstam and Pierre Joubert (48*) equalled Northerns’ eighth-wicketpartnership record of 131*, set by Neville Alistoun and Trevor Rolfe against Natal B at Berea Park, Pretoria, in 1968-69. With Alfonso Thomas taking three wickets, Boland struggled to 97 for 4 by the close, still 354 behind.Gauteng 34 for 1 v Eastern Province
ScorecardOnly half-an-hour’s play yesterday … and none at all at the Wanderers today as overnight rain and persistent showers forced an abandonment.

ADELAIDE, Dec 19 AAP – Young Western Australian left arm spinner Beau Casson took the first six wickets of his first-class career today as South Australia wasted a solid start to crash to all out for 226 at stumps on day one of their Pura Cup match at Adelaide Oval.Casson, 20, and playing in just his second first-class match, took 6-64 in 29.4 overs to be the hero for WA.It was a vital role for the Warriors, missing veteran Brad Hogg, who has been called up to play for Australia in the one-day match against Sri Lanka at the WACA on Sunday.Casson, who like Hogg spins the ball both ways, said he had attempted to model his own performance on his fellow left-arm spinner.”I had been rooming with Brad, and I was just trying to learn as much as I could from him,” Casson told AAP.”Obviously he went to play for Australia and I got my opportunity and it was just great, I was just trying to learn, see how professionally the side does it and try to learn as much as I can.”SA looked to have gained a crucial advantage when skipper Greg Blewett won the toss and elected to bat first on a flat pitch in extremely hot conditions.Openers David Fitzgerald (63) and Shane Deitz (56) looked to have the WA bowlers at their mercy when they put on an opening partnership of 114 with few troubles, although it came at a slow rate, taking almost 50 overs.But Casson then led a fightback by taking three wickets in the space of six overs, starting with his career-first scalp of Deitz, caught at deep midwicket, then dismissing Fitzgerald and Chris Davies (two) as SA lost 3-9 to slump to 3-123.SA skipper Greg Blewett (48) and Jeff Vaughan (nine) put on a 52-run fourth-wicket stand to help SA recover briefly, before Casson struck again, this time in bizarre fashion.Vaughan played a full-blooded pull shot off a short Casson delivery, which cannoned off short leg fieldsman Chris Rogers, who was trying to avoid it, and ballooned up to provide Mike Hussey with a simple catch at forward square leg.Rogers spent several minutes writhing on the ground in pain before leaving the field with a badly bruised ankle.The wicket sparked another SA meltdown, with Brad Williams dismissing Blewett eight overs later with the first delivery with the new ball.Mark Higgs was run out by Paul Wilson two after that, and left-arm paceman Michael Clark then dismissed Brad Young and Mike Smith cheaply, before Casson returned to snare tailenders Paul Rofe and Shaun Tait, both for ducks, completing his six-wicket haul.Casson credited WA skipper Justin Langer for helping the Warriors maintain their resolve after failing to take early wickets.”It was just pretty much perseverance … obviously they started getting away from us a bit, then a few things went our way, such as that freakish effort from the short leg and (Paul Wilson) got a run out,” Casson said.”Justin just made sure we persevered right down to the last ball, and it came off.”

Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, the chairman of the probe committee appointedto look into the alleged mismanagement of funds at the Board of Control forCricket in Sri Lanka, handed over his initial report to the Minister ofSports, Lakshman Kiriella, yesterday.Warnakulasuriya and four others were appointed by the Minister ofSports to look into the alleged mismanagement of funds from the day theprevious interim committee ceased its function to the date the presentinterim committee was appointed.Priyantha Algama, a member of the probe committee, told CricInfo that his committee had looked into the alleged mismanagement of funds in building the Dambulla International cricket stadium in particular.However, Thilanga Sumathipala, the ousted president of the BCCSL, has saidhe will not co-operate with the committee as he has no confidence in themembers appointed to the committee.The report is expected to be published by the 21st of this month.The committe is expected to hand over its second report on the 31st ofAugust and the final report on the 31st of December.

Harbhajan Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni have been declared fit for the Test series against South Africa after a test at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore.”As per the [fitness] report, both the players have recovered from injuries and are available for South Africa Series,” Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, said in a statement.Harbhajan, who was diagnosed as suffering from a hamstring injury after the Australia tour, was put through specific drills at the NCA, including indoor tests and sprints outside under a light drizzle, by the fitness team of Paul Chapman and Paul Close before being declared fit. “I am very much fit,” Harbhajan said.Dhoni was put through routine wicket-keeping drills indoors and an X-ray taken on the injured finger on his right hand.Both Harbhajan and Dhoni were included by the selectors in the 14-member squad for the first two Tests against South Africa, and were asked to report to the NCA for fitness tests.

The new coach of the Pakistan team will be appointed by July 1, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the PCB, told reporters at a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium, “We are in search of a qualified coach and will be selecting the most suitable candidate with the help of our search committee andd the process will be completed by July 1.”The board had publicly advertised the position of coach on its website, much to the irritation of ex-players and coaches such as Javed Miandad and Intikhab Alam. But Ashraf defended the move and added that four foreign coaches had applied for the job from the West Indies and England.”We need a computer literate, qualified coach and if some one has any objection to the way we are selecting a coach by advertising the post, we cannot help them,” Ashraf added.The board is planning to wait till May 15 for more applications before they start filtering out potential candidates. The task of choosing the best applicant will fall to a technical committee comprising Mudassar Nazar, director of the National Cricket Academy, Zakir Khan, director cricket operations and former Test wicketkeeper Imtiaz Ahmed.Pakistan has been without a coach since the death of Bob Woolmer. Talat Ali, the team manager, has taken over coaching responsibilities until a new man is found. Former India coach and New Zealand opener, John Wright’s name has been linked with the job

Another series, more injuries and another captaincy conundrum; when England’s selection panel meets this weekend to finalise the squad for next week’s first Test against Sri Lanka, not only will enough fit players have to be found, but a man to lead them will also be announced.David Graveney, chairman of the three-man selection panel, indicated to reporters that the captain, at least, is likely to be Andrew Flintoff. He did, however, also acknowledge ongoing fears that the extra responsibility on Flintoff’s admittedly broad shoulders remains a concern.”The first thing to be discussed is if Michael Vaughan is out of contention, for how long and how does that affect the captaincy,” explained Graveney to reporters. “We hear what everybody is saying about workload for Freddie. But let’s not forget he captained one of the most memorable victories, which was the last Test match we played – you can draw your own conclusions from that.”Graveney was referring to England’s stunning win against India at Mumbai, one which levelled the series many expected England to lose. England suffered similarly catastrophic luck against India with injuries to key players Marcus Trescothick, Simon Jones as well as captain Michael Vaughan, all of whom missed the entire series.The list of injured absentees for this Test is equally frightening, though at least there isn’t a broken metatarsal anywhere in sight. Vaughan has failed to recover from his knee problem, James Anderson has been ruled out with a back injury, Jones has ongoing knee problems, Ashley Giles remains a long-term casualty and Steve Harmison hasn’t recovered from the shin problems that curtailed his tour of India. Thus England will again take to the field against Sri Lanka under an inexperienced captain and team.The other possible alternative as captain is Andrew Strauss who captained England in two ODIs in India though Graveney was unwilling to reveal too much more. “There’s a huge difference between a one-off Test match and doing a whole series. We’ll monitor the situation. Michael Vaughan is captain of England, and let’s hope he comes back as soon as possible.”