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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday January 21, 2014
Azhar carries Pakistan to dramatic series-levelling win
(REUTERS) - Azhar Ali hit a belligerent century on the final day as Pakistan pulled off a dramatic five-wicket victory in the final Test against Sri Lanka to level the three-match series 1-1 yesterday. Azhar struck his fifth Test century and featured in two crucial partnerships with captain Misbah-ul-Haq (68 not out) and Sarfraz Ahmed (48) as Pakistan chased down a 302-run victory target in 57.3 overs. Azhar, 28, eventually fell after a 137-ball 103 which contained six fours, leaving Pakistan needing seven runs for victory. Misbah completed the formality, scoring the winning run off Shaminda Eranga and the clean-shaven Pakistan captain celebrated by twirling an invisible moustache. “We were 1-0 down in the series, so we had no other option. Everybody felt we should have a go at it,” said Misbah, calling the win a farewell gift for departing coach Dav Whatmore.
Chasing what appeared an improbable victory target from 59 overs, Pakistan got off to a flying start with openers Khurram Manzoor (21) and Ahmed Shehzad (21) adding 35 quick runs before both fell to Suranga Lakmal in their pursuit of quick runs. Azhar and Younus Khan (29) showed the same urgency as they maintained a four-plus run rate before Younus pulled Angelo Mathews to midwicket to leave Pakistan at 97 for three. Azhar then added 89 brisk runs from 14.5 overs with Sarfraz Ahmed, whose 46-ball cameo included four boundaries and a six off Rangana Herath. Eranga denied Sarfraz a half-century but Azhar raised 109 runs with Misbah for the fifth wicket to take Pakistan to the verge of a memorable victory. Earlier, Sri Lanka added 81 runs to their overnight score of 133-5 before folding in their second innings.
(REUTERS) - Australia’s Ashes hero Mitchell Johnson denied Michael Clarke a hat-trick when the paceman edged his skipper in a tight vote to pick up a maiden Allan Border medal yesterday. The 32-year-old, adjudged man-of-the-series in Australia’s 5-0 Ashes triumph over England, garnered 168 votes, 12 more than his captain, to cap a spectacular comeback by claiming his country’s most prestigious individual award.
“It has been an amazing journey coming back from injury, having a lot of doubters out there,” said Johnson, who collected more wickets than any of his compatriots across three formats of the game. “But I just knew in my own heart that if I had that opportunity that I could make the most of it,” said the left-arm paceman, who was named International Cricket Council’s International Player-of-the-Year in 2009.
SRI LANKA first innings 428-9 decl. Pakistan first innings 341 SRI LANKA second innings (o/n 133-5) D. Karunaratne b Talha 8 K. Silva b Rehman 36 K. Sangakkara c Manzoor b Rehman 8 M. Jayawardene c Azhar b Ajmal 46 D. Chandimal b Talha 13 A. Mathews c Manzoor b Talha 31 P. Jayawardene c Azhar b Ajmal 49 D. Perera c Azhar b Rehman 8 R. Herath c Younus b Rehman 0 S. Eranga c Rehman b Ajmal 3 S. Lakmal not out 2 Extras: (b-2, lb-4, w-2, nb-2) 10 Total: (all out, 101.4 overs) 214 Fall of wicket: 1-13, 2-37, 3-66, 4-89,
Azhar Ali celebrates his fifth Test hundred as Pakistan pull off a dramatic victory in the final Test on the fifth day in Sharjah.
Johnson pips Clarke to Allan Border medal
CRICKETQUIZ CORNER (Tuesday January 21, 2014) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230)& CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Maurice Fernandes (WI vs ENG, Bourda, 1930) 709 ODIs; 363 victories Today’s Quiz: Which two made their Test debut in the same game? Viv Richards; Andy Roberts; Gordon Greenidge; Michael Holding; Len Baichan Which team was the first to defeat the WI in an ODI game at Bourda? Answers in tomorrow’s issue
Mitchell Johnson’s 37 wickets during the Ashes paved the way for Australia’s 5-0 whitewash of England. players, the media and umpires. Tasmanian James Faulkner, whose scintillating late assault powered Australia to a thrilling one-wicket win over England in the Brisbane one-dayer on Friday, came third with 121 votes in the poll drawn from fellow
Clarke, however, could not be denied Australia’s Test Player-of-the-Year award, while George Bailey (one-day internationals) and Aaron Finch (Twenty20) won honours in the shorter formats.
5-127, 6-189, 7-203, 8-203, 9-209. Bowling: Junaid 20-6-34-0 (w1), Talha 23-2-65-3 (nb-2, w-1), Rehman 33-10-56-4, Ajmal 25.47-53-3. PAKISTAN second innings K. Manzoor c Jayawardene b Lakmal 21 A. Shehzad c Karunaratne b Lakmal 21 A. Ali c P Jayawardene b Lakmal 103 Y. Khan c Sangakkara b Mathews 29 S. Ahmed c P. Jayawardene b Eranga 48 Misbah-ul-Haq not out 68 A. Shafiq not out 1 Extras: (b-6, lb-1, w-3, nb-1) 11 Total: (five wickets, 57.3 overs) 302 Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-48, 3-97, 4-186, 5-295. Bowling: Lakmal 12-0-79-3, Eranga 15.3-0-68-1 (nb-1, w-1), Herath 190-100-0 (w-2), Mathews 11-0-48-1.
BCB names Junior Elite squad for 2014 tournaments THE junior selection committee of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), under the chairmanship of Leslie Solomon, has named a junior cricket squad for the 2014 Inter-county season that would commence training shortly under the Junior Elite Training Programme. The squad is divided into three sections - Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 and will be trained by a panel of qualified cricket coaches including Michael Hyles-Franco, Winston Smith and Albert Smith. Chairman of the BCB Special Events Committee and Public Relations Officer, Hilbert Foster, stated that more cricketers would be added to the squad based on performances in upcoming junior tournaments. Members will be involved in physical fitness sessions while coaches would also work with them to correct any personal problems in their cricket. A oneday cricket development seminar will be organised by the Special Events committee along with a social skills seminar. Members of the squad are reminded to keep themselves in good physical condition and to do a lot of individual training during the rainy season until the Junior Elite Training Programme starts. The BCB, Foster stated, would start its junior tournaments at all three age groups and in the Inter-Club and Zone categories as soon as the weather improves. The full 2014 squads named are: Elite Under-15: Yashpaul Shewtahal, Hemchand Singh, Kris Ramnarine, Saheed Khan, Kevin Sinclair, Junior Sinclair, Malcolm Mickle, Ezekiel Kempadoo, Karaan Rajpaul, Re-
Shimron Hetmyer naldo Rowe, Joshua Clifford, Emanuel Seecharran, Besham Surujnarine, Jason Permaul, Keith Semple, Javed Karim, Kevin Anderson, Bharrat Bhopal, Joshua Bartrum, Brandon Stewart, Garfield Benjamin and Steve Deonarine. Elite Under-17: Ritesh Omrow, Suraj Dookna, Kevindra Persaud, Rabindranauth Roopchand, Randy Wade, Brandon Persaud, Javid Seecharan, Adrian Sukhwa, Joshua Harrichand, Totoram Rajaram, Azam Khan, Jaleel Jofer, Devon Rambarose, Shumar Jack, Jason Johasen, Matthew Hardial, Veramootoo Senwansane, Robert Barrington, Sylus Tyndall, Enoch Carmichael, Steve Deonarine, Joshua Gobin and Bramdat Singh. Elite Under-19: Shimron Hetmyer, Sharaz Ramcharran, David Latchaya, Derek Narine, Hakeem Hinds, Askay Homraj, Nick Ramsaroop, Leon Andrews, Avishkar Sewkarran, Arif Chan, Nial Smith, Grisean Grant, Nicholas Cameron, Balchand Baldeo, Brandon Prashad, Daniel Lewis, Kassim Khan, Gavin Moriah, Deon Esau, Viendra Gooniah, Parmanand Ramdhan and Navendra Permaul.