LHR 23-08-2012_Layout 1 8/23/2012 3:42 AM Page 16
Thursday, 23 August, 2012
no more Bolt-Blake duels this season Page 23
Aussies land in Dubai heat for Pakistan ODI series A DUBAI Afp
USTRALIA'S acting coach Steve Rixon said Wednesday he hoped his players would adjust to the hot conditions in United Arab emirates during their upcoming matches against Afghanistan and Pakistan. Australia's squad arrived with the temperature at 43 degrees Celsius (109 Fahrenheit), but Rixon said sleeping late and breakfast at noon would help during the series in which one-day games will start as late as 6pm. Australia take on Afghanistan in the first-ever one-day game between the two countries in Sharjah on Saturday before facing Pakistan in three one-day and three Twenty20 games. The pre-series hype focused on how Australia will cope up with the high temperatures but Rixon said a policy had been devised to combat it. "Our guys will have to eat late in (the) night and just start the pattern. We need to start the patterns now so by the time the first game comes around, we'll be starting to build some sort of body clock that's going to work for us," Rixon told a press conference. The 58-year-old former Australian wicket-keeper batsman is standing in for head coach Mickey Arthur who will join the tour later, having been busy with plans
for next month's World Twenty20. Rixon said the team had prepared to combat heat. "The weather was very warm up in Darwin where we camped but nothing as oppressive as over here. We're well aware of how hot it's going to be. If we sit here and talk about the weather all day, we're not getting the job done. "We don't see the sun," he said. "We'll be in night-cricket mode, although it will be warm. But we're not getting the (sun) rebound off the ground which is always a big problems at most cricket grounds. "So to me, just get on with it." Rixon said the matches in UAe will help the team warm up for World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka. "Whatever happens here will be a very big stepping stone to us being successful in Sri Lanka," said Rixon of Australia
who slipped to fourth in one-day rankings for the first time in three years. He said players were now accustomed to playing in heat. "I think a lot of players in the modern day games playing a lot more in the sub-continent with IPL (Indian Premier League) and other forms of cricket played in the sub continent in places like Chennai where it is very warm." The acting coach agreed Afghanistan will be an unknown quantity, but was sure his team can beat them. "Afghanistan has come in as a minor contender but they are now competing at the top and best level. So we have got to come in with every answer and respect for the opposition. "We also like to think that we are going with the upper hand to be able to beat them in these sort of conditions with the sort of side we have with us." Rixon said Australia have prepared well to tackle Pakistan's much vaunted spin-attack, led by Saeed Ajmal. "The emphasis on Darwin camp was on spin. So we are looking at the strength of the opposition. We are trying to play to our strengths more importantly but we have prepared well for Pakistan," said Rixon. Pakistan and Australia will play the first one-day in Sharjah on August 28 followed by ones in Abu Dhabi (August 31) and Sharjah (September 3). All three T20 matces will be played in Dubai on September 5, 7 and 10.
Pakistan lose to Windies by 16 runs South Africa takes over as top team in Test Championship LAHORE
sTAff RepORT
Graeme Smith receives Test mace from ICC Chief Executive David Richardson at Lord’s LAHORE sTAff RepORT
South Africa replaced england as the top team in the Reliance ICC Test Championship table following its 2-0 victory over Andrew Strauss’s team in the three-match series which ended at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London today. South Africa’s series victory means that it is the clear leader at the top of the table and england is now second, pushing Australia to third place. Graeme Smith and his team received the prestigious Reliance ICC Test Championship mace from ICC Chief executive David Richardson who was joined in the presentation party by ICC Director and england and Wales Cricket Board (eCB) chairman Giles Clarke, eCB Chief executive David Collier, Cricket South Africa (CSA) acting Chief executive Jacques Faul and Pramod Garg – CFO, europe Reliance Globalcom. england had been the top team in the Reliance ICC Test Championship table since August 2011 when it dethroned India while South Africa has assumed the number one spot for the first time since November 2009. Test Championship (as of 20 August, after the england-South Africa series) RAnK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
teAM South Africa england Australia Pakistan India Sri Lanka West Indies New Zealand Bangladesh
RAtInG 120 117 116 109 104 98 90 80 0
Pakistan were defeated by the West Indies by 16 runs in the ICC Under19 Cricket World Cup at endeavour Park 1 in Townsville on Wednesday. Chasing the 183-run target, Pakistan collapsed from 71 for two to 166 all out in 48.3 overs. The defeat means Pakistan will play Bangladesh on Friday in the seventheighth position play-off, while the West Indies will take on england in the fifthsixth position play-off, said a press re-
lease. Pakistan, which is the only side to date to win back-to-back titles (in 2004 and 2006), had not previously finished below fourth. It finished fourth in 1998 in South Africa, lost in the semi-finals in 2000 and 2008, and appeared in the finals of the 1988 and 2010 events. During the match, it earlier seemed as if Pakistan will win when left-arm fast bowler Mir Hamza took three wickets for 44 and wrist spinner Usman Qadir bagged two for 22 to dismiss the West Indies at 182 runs. For the West Indies, Test opener and captain Kraigg Brathwaite was the
top scorer with 39 runs while Stephen Katwatoo scored 35.West Indies’ fast bowlers Derone Davis and Jerome Jones shared five wickets between them as Pakistan lost its last eight wickets for 95 runs. Pakistan was eventually bowled out for 166 in 48.3 overs. Davis grabbed three for 20 to win the player of the match award while Jones took two for 29. For Pakistan, captain Babar Azam finished as the top scorer with 38, while Umar Waheed scored 31. The 2 batsmen added 51 runs for the third wicket after Pak had slipped to 20 for two in just under 11 overs.
ICC Champions Trophy to re-ignite traditional rivalries LAHORE sTAff RepORT
The International Cricket Council today announced the full schedule from the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 with Cardiff, edgbaston and The Oval set to host the threeweek tournament featuring the world’s top eight ODI sides. The 50 over-a-side competition begins on 6 June next year in Cardiff with a heavyweight clash between the current ICC Cricket World Cup holders, India, and South Africa, the winners of the inaugural tournament in 1998. The host, england, will kick off its campaign by taking on the current Champions Trophy title holders, Australia, at edgbaston on 8 June. The group stages at edgbaston will also include two eagerly anticipated head-to-head contests between arch sporting rivals Australia and New Zealand – on 12 June – and India and Pakistan – on 15 June.
fIxTURe lIsT IN fUll group A: Australia, england, new zealand, Sri lanka group B: india, Pakistan, South Africa, west indies day, date, Team 1, Team 2, Timing, venue Thursday 6 june 2013, india, South Africa, day, Cardiff friday 7 june 2013, west indies, Pakistan, day, The oval Saturday 8 june 2013, england, Australia, day, edgbaston Sunday 9 june 2013, Sri lanka, new zealand, day, Cardiff monday 10 june 2013, Pakistan, South Africa, day-night, edgbaston Tuesday 11 june 2013, india, west indies, day, The oval wednesday 12 june 2013, Australia, new zealand, daynight, edgbaston Thursday 13 june 2013, england, Sri lanka, day-night, The oval friday 14 june 2013, west indies, South Africa, day, Cardiff Saturday 15 june 2013, india, Pakistan, day, edgbaston Sunday 16 june 2013, england, new zealand, day, Cardiff monday 17 june 2013, Sri lanka, Australia, day-night, The oval wednesday 19 june 2013, Semi-final 1 Team A1, Semi-final 1 Team B2, day, The oval Thursday 20 june 2013, Semi-final 2 Team A2, Semi-final 2 Team B1, day, Cardiff Sunday 23 june 2013, final winner Semi-final 1, final winner Semi-final 2, day, edgbasto.
ICC u19 CrICket WOrld CuP 2012
Australia beat South Africa to reach final LAHORE sTAff RepORT
Australia took a huge stride in its quest for its fourth ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup title on Tuesday when it became the first side to seal a place in the final, after defeating South Africa by four wickets at the Tony Ireland Stadium. Australia overcame a late charge by South Africa to achieve its target of 192 with nine balls and four wickets to spare. The final is scheduled to be played on Sunday 26 August and Australia will now wait for the winner of Thursday’s second semi-final between India and New Zealand to know its opponent. The loser of Thursday’s semi-final will meet South Africa in the third-fourth position play-off on Saturday 25 August. Australia opener Cameron Bancroft was the star of his side when he scored a fine 66 and featured in a matchwinning 95-run third wicket partnership with Kurtis Patterson (46) after the defending champion had slipped to three for two in two overs in its run-chase. Bancroft, who faced 133 balls and hit five fours and a six during his nearly threehour vigil at the crease was declared player of the match. Australia, which is also bidding to become the second side after Pakistan to win back-to-back titles, made a good start to the day when Will Bosisto won an important toss and elected to bowl in overcast conditions in Townsville. Joel Paris and Mark Steketee both struck early with the new ball to remove South Africa’s in-form Quinton de Kock (one) and Gihahn Cloete (zero). Steketee returned for his second spell and took the crucial wicket of South Africa captain Chad Bowes (46: 104b, 1x4, 1x6) who had struck up a handy partnership of
88 with Murray Coetzee. Coetzee (50:76b, 3x4) went on to make his second half-century of the tournament before he was runout with a direct hit by Ashton Turner. Gurinder Sandhu maintained a good line and length in the morning, ending with the tidy figures of two for 23 from ten overs, featuring three maidens. Steketee claimed three for 35 from his ten overs. In reply, Australia lost the early wickets of James Peirson and Meyrick Buchanan to be in strife at two for three. However, Bancroft and Patterson both soaked up the occasion and repaired the damage before Patterson was caught behind by de Kock for 49 (71b, 7x4). Bosisto once again showed his class at the crease as he and Bancroft chipped away for a fourth wicket stand of 75 before Bancroft was run out for 66 (133b,5x4, 1x6). Bosisto looked likely to take Australia through to the win but he was run-out by Theunis de Bruyn for 40 (85b, 2x4) as the home side slipped from 173 for three to 188 for six, before Turner hit a four through extra cover to seal the victory for his side. enGLAnD DeFeAt BAnGLADeSH: A brilliant century by Litton Das, who also featured in a 113-run second wicket stand with captain Amanul Haque, went in vain as england defeated Bangladesh by four wickets at endeavour Park 2. The victory meant england will play the winner of the Pakistan-West Indies match in the fifthsixth position play-off on Friday 24 August.
Batting first, Bangladesh was cruising at 122 for one in the 27th over before it choked for the second successive time and finished on 217 for seven, with the last 22 overs producing just 95 runs. Litton hit nine fours and a six in a 134-ball 102 while Amanul maintained his fine form to score 56 off 80 balls with eight fours. Amanul now has scored 237 runs in five matches and is the third leading run-getter in the tournament. england’s lanky left-arm fast bowler Reece Topley was the most impressive bowler, with figures of 10-0-32-5. In turn, even contributions by Ben Foakes (47), Sam Wood (46), Adam Ball (34 not out) and Aneesh Kapil (33 not out) ensured england crossed the finish-line with 10 balls and four wickets to spare. Topley, who now leads the wicket-takers’ list with 16 wickets, was adjudged player of the match. Plate Championship play-offs In the Plate Championship playoffs, Afghanistan scored a massive 126runs victory over Scotland at the Allan Border Field, Nepal overpowered Namibia by 39 runs, and Papua New Guinea (PNG) upset Zimbabwe by 12 runs. The feature of these matches was an excellent century by Afghanistan’s Javed Ahmadi (134: 111b, 17x4, 4x6), an equally fine innings by Nepal’s Pradeep Airee (98 not out: 76b, 3x4, 3x6), a match-winning spell by Nepal’s left-arm spinner Bhuvan Karki (7.3-0-21-5) and Charles Amini’s 63, which helped PNG first score 235 and then skittle out Zimbabwe for 223. SCOReS In BRIeF: Super League Semifinal: Australia beat South Africa by four wickets at Tony Ireland Stadium. South Africa 191 for eight, 50 overs (Murray Coetzee 50, Chad Bowes 46, Prenelan Subrayen 30 not out; Mark Steketee 3-35, Gurinder Sandhu 2-23). Australia 193 for
six, 48.3 overs (Cameron Bancroft 66, Kurtis Patterson 49, Will Bosisto 40; Lizaad Williams 3-40). Player of the match – Cameron Bancroft (Australia). Play-off: england beat Bangladesh by four wickets at endeavour Park 2. Bangladesh 217 for seven, 50 overs (Litton Das 102, Anamul Haque 56, Salman Hossain 26; Reece Topley 5-32). england 218 for six, 48.2 overs (Ben Foakes 47, Sam Wood 46, Adam Ball 34 not out, Aneesh Kapil 33 not out; Taskin Ahmed 2-66). Player of the match – Reece Topley (eng) Plate Championship: Play-offs: Afghanistan beat Scotland by 126 runs at Allan Border Field. Afghanistan 336 for seven, 50 overs (Javed Ahmadi 134, Najibullah Zadran 83, Afsar Khan 42, Abdur Mangal 31; Patrick Sadler 3-69, Aman Bailwal 2-81). Scotland 210 all out, 39.4 overs (Mathew Cross 37, Peter Ross 34; Aftab Alam 3-63, Hashmatullah Shaidi 2-20, Yamin Ahmadzai 2-28, Sayed Shirzad 263). Player of the match – Javed Ahmadi (Afghanistan) Nepal beat Namibia by 39 runs at Peter Burge Oval. Nepal 219 for seven, 50 overs (Pradeep Airee 98 not out, Subash Khakurel 35; Chris Coombe 3-61, Shalako Groenewald 2-35). Namibia180 all out, 46.3 overs (Stephan Baard 56, Zhivago Groenewald 54; Bhuvan Karki 5-21). Player of the match – Bhuvan Karki (Nepal) Papua New Guinea (PNG) beat Zimbabwe by 12 runs at WeP Harris Oval. PNG 235 all out, 50 overs (Charles Amini 63, Lega Siaka 50, Dogodo Bau 30; Luke Jongwe 3-38, Kieran Geyle 344, Peacemore Zimwa 2-30). Zimbabwe 223 all out, 49.1 overs (Luke Masasire 68, Kieran Geyle 42, Nyasha Mayavo 36; Kabua Vagi Morea 3-26, Chris Kent 226, Alei Nao 2-55). Player of the match – Charles Amini (PNG).