Sanath Jayasuriya became the second Sri Lankan and 14th batsman in ODIhistory to be left stranded on 99 when he spooned a simple catch tohis Indian counterpart off the bowling of Shewag in the final of theCoca- Cola Cup. The only other Sri Lankan to suffer this fate isRomesh Kaluwitharana. This was also the fourth such instance againstIndia.Of the 14 batsmen who have missed their hundred by just one run, fiveremained unbeaten as either the innings was completed or the targetwas achieved.
Hampshire almost pulled off an incredible win, in their delayed NUNCL Division Two match at Southampton on Monday.Set 264 to win by Glamorgan, Hampshire wicket lost their ninth wicket at 205, but the next 53 runs (a Hampshire 10th wicket record) came from just 20 balls.The Hampshire bowlers were still recovering from their NatWest semi-final defeat as Glamorgan amassed 263 for 5 in their 45 overs, which included the highest first-wicket stand between the teams. Newell and Elliott were particular aggressive, with dark clouds over the ground threatening rain, which never came. Steve James became the third player to reach 50, and Hampshire’s task was awesome.Kenway and Smith gave the home side a good start, but the vital wicket of the captain fell to a spectacular slip catch by his opposite number.A partnership of 81 by Kendall and Mascarenhas brought them above the Duckworth/Lewis par score, but Mascarenhas was out to a well-flighted ball from Croft, and Kendall lost his partners at regular intervals.Tremlett joined Kendall with the home crowd drifting to the gates, but those who stayed were treated to a blow-by-blow attack, as Hampshire just fell short.Tim Tremlett, Hampshire’s Director of Cricket remarked about his son, “He has scored more sixes in that innings (3) than I had scored in my career.”This victory keeps Glamorgan in contention for a promotion place, as they move above Middlesex into fourth place.
ScorecardFile photo – Asghar Stanikzai smashed 13 fours and six sixes in his 127 off 163 balls•ICC/Helge Schutz
Coach Inzaman hails Afg’s come-from-behind win
Afghanistan coach Inzamam-ul-Haq has said the win against PNG was all the more significant given his team had been switching between formats a lot of late. “The performance was exceptional and outstanding because this was the third different format they were playing inside four weeks,” he said, adding their aggressive approach after a poor start was important. “These are big, powerful and talented lads who play without fear. It requires a lot of guts and courage to hit the number of fours and sixes they hit in the second innings when they had their backs against the wall. “These are positive signs and we just want to build upon these foundations without burdening them with too much information.”
Afghanistan completed a stunning comeback win as they overcame a 151-run first-innings deficit to thrash Papua New Guinea by 201 runs in Sharjah. Asghar Stanikzai (127), Mohammad Shahzad (116) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (112) all struck centuries as Afghanistan piled on 501 in their second innings – along with handy lower-order fifties from Gulbadin Naib and Mirwais Ashraf – to set PNG a target of 390.PNG were never in the chase at any point as they lost wickets in clumps to succumb for 188. Assad Vala struck his second half-century of the game and offered some resistance with his 81 but it was not close to enough. Zahir Khan and Yamin Ahmadzai both picked up four wickets to break the back of the PNG chase.Earlier, it was PNG that dominated with both bat and ball as they bowled Afghanistan out for 144, with Norman Vanua doing most of the damage with figures of 4 for 36, and then put up a total of 295 through Mahuru Dai’s 129 and Vala’s 62 to earn a lead of 151. Zahir and Ahmadzai were again the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets apiece.
Errol Stewart, who recently refused an invitation to lead a South Africa A side to Zimbabwe on moral grounds, now faces a ban after the South Africa board (UCB) made clear it disapproval of his stand. Stewart said his conscience would not allow him to travel to a country that violates human rights.Stewart, however, has found support from the South African Cricketers Association (SACA) who have sought legal advice on the validity of the UCB’s proposal, and a spokesman said that it would not allow the player to be used as a “political football”.”If it emerges that the UCB has instructed the selectors not to consider me again because of my moral stance on Zimbabwe, I would consider taking my case to the Constitutional Court”, Stewart said. “This kind of action could be interpreted as a denial of my freedom of speech, which is guaranteed by our constitution.”Omar Henry, the chairman of selectors, denied reports that Gerald Majola, the UCB’s chief executive, had ordered him not to consider Stewart for any representative side. He said he had been in touch with Stewart to tell him that his future could not be guaranteed now that he had not made himself available for the tour of Zimbabwe.”The views Gerald expressed were personal, they were not an instruction to me,” Henry claimed. “I have never been instructed not to select Errol again. However, I have spoken to Errol in my own right and told him there could be no guarantees after he turned down selection for the South African A tour. What he has to do now is come back to me and tell me that he wants to be considered for selection again and we would take it from there.”
The West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) have responded forcefully to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) bypassing them in negotiations for next month’s tri-nation series in Kuala Lampur and Singapore, calling the board’s action “premature” and accusing them of trying to “divide and rule.”In a media release, the board said negotiations with WIPA had broken down on August 2 and because of the “tight timelines between now and the September tournament,” they had decided to offer match/tour contracts directly to the 14 players invited to play in the tournament.However, WIPA rejected the board’s explanations yesterday. The players’ body said they were “alarmed at the decision taken by the WICB to bypass the official and legitimate representative body of West Indies players and to negotiate individually with the players.”Claiming that the WICB had acted while negotiations were still in progress, the WIPA release said: “The basic tenets of good industrial relations have been flouted by the board. WIPA cannot help but conclude that the WICB continues to show total disregard and disrespect for the players’ organisation and the players themselves.”The release continued: “To allege that time was against the board and that it needed to conclude negotiations for the series is clearly indicative of its last-minute approach to negotiations and its internal problems that should not be inflicted on the players and the cricketing public.” WIPA said “eleventh hour pressure to coerce players to sign agreements…would be tantamount to acceding to blackmail.”The release said further: “What is particularly disquieting from WIPA’s standpoint is the apparent divide and rule approach.”WIPA said they only became aware of the deadline and ultimatum from the players who were being contacted individually.”This action by the WICB was being undertaken even in the midst of negotiations between the WICB and WIPA as it was at that time after WIPA was making its second offer that we were informed by the WICB of its decision to go directly to players. This is another clear manifestation that the WICB was not negotiating in good faith.”WIPA also said that the tri-nation series which is also to involve India and Australia, was outside of the Future Tours Programme (FTP) and as such, the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding agreed to by the WICB and WIPA must be observed. These include that the WICB will provide WIPA with reasonable opportunity to consider the proposed arrangements prior to adoption.The release said also that, “from the inception of our several agreements, it was clearly established that matches outside the FTP would be essentially a revenue earner for both parties. WIPA articulated this position making it clear that it wanted to share in any profits generated from tours outside the FTP.”During the course of the negotiations WIPA reduced its initial proposal on two occasions to the WICB as part of a compromise. On the other hand the WICB has not done the same regarding its first proposal which remained its final proposal. Indeed, it adopted “a take it or leave it attitude”. WIPA consider this approach by the WICB an anathema to basic and good industrial relations practice.”The players’ body also claim that they have not been given full financial details about the series. “While WIPA received some financial details about this event on July 31, WIPA is yet to receive information that it has requested pertaining to the name of the team’s sponsor for the event, the obligations of the players and the value of the sponsorship deal.”By participation in this series,” the release said, “the Champions Trophy and the Pakistan tour will result in travel savings to the board of approximately US$300,000. It is also of interest to note as well that the players would be away on tour for well over three months.”Despite their several concerns however, WIPA said they were “fully committed to resolving this matter in the interest of West Indies cricket and the cricket loving public of the region and sincerely hope for an observance of the type of industrial relations and negotiating standards that the region would expect from WIPA and the WICB.”
Shaun Tait is set to make his Test debut as Australia bid to fight fire with fire in the latest thrilling instalment of the Ashes series at Trent Bridge. On hearing the news Tait hoped he and Brett Lee could become a fearsome pace combination in the image of Lillee and Thomson.The selectors have decided to give Tait, whose 65 wickets in last season’s Sheffield Shield was the second-best haul in the history of Australia’s first-class competition, a shot at the big time in place of Jason Gillespie, and will become Australia’s 392nd Test player. “The ball is swinging around here,” Ricky Ponting said, “and it will be even more difficult for anyone to combat him and play him in these conditions.”Asked if he and Lee could be the “new Lillee and Thomson” Tait replied: “Yeah, that’s what I’ve had in the back of my mind as well. Brett’s pretty young, he’s really fit and he’s bowling lightning at the moment. So I think over the next few years it could be exciting. If all goes well it would be great for the country to watch two young, genuine quick bowlers in action together.”Ponting said he had no fears regarding the economy rate of Tait, a 22-year-old who sprayed the ball last year during a short stint with Durham. “Taity might go for a few runs but he has that out and out wicket-taking ability,” he said. “The game the other day [he took 2 for 52 in the draw against Northamptonshire] and his record suggests he will do that. If we set the right fields for him and use him and Brett in shorter bursts then we will be able to cope well.”During Australia’s final warm-up match for the fourth Test, Tait hit the Northamptonshire opener Tim Roberts on the head, the batsman leaving the field with blood pouring from above his left eyebrow. “I was a little bit worried because I’d never actually seen that much blood on a cricket field before,” he said. “I’d seen a bit in the past but not that much dripping out of his head, it was quite a decent gash so I was a little bit worried for him.”Tait, who said the prospect of wearing the baggy green cap was a “dream come true”, insisted he was ready to be on the receiving end of plenty of short-pitched bowling. “I’ve got to worry about my own head,” he said. “They’re not shy of hitting our blokes in the head. It will be a good contest. I’m up for that.”Ponting said he has been excited by the prospect of playing Tait and would give him a licence to attack. “That is the only way he knows,” he said. “I watched him in the last tour game and he bowled lots of bouncers and yorkers. He knows we want him to run in and bowl fast and try and get wickets for us. That’s the way he will be used.”
Group C ScorecardSouth Africa scraped their way into the Super League by the narrowest of margins with a one-wicket win against England at Chittagong. England, though, still made it through as winners of Group C.South Africa had to win the match to qualify and they looked in control after bowling England out for 189. But they made hard work of the run chase, and it needed a nervy 20-run last wicket stand between Keagan Africa and Waylain September to secure the victory.Six different South African bowlers picked up wickets as Steven Davies, Man of the Match against Nepal, was the only batsman to reach 50. He was bowled for 63 after adding 83 with Ravi Bopara. England then lost their last six wickets for only 31 runs.The South Africa reply was anchored by opener Vaughn van Jaarsveld, who scored 76 to pave the way for Africa and Craig Alexander to edge the side to victory.Russell Domingo, South Africa’s coach, was relieved with the outcome. “The bowling and fielding departments are performing to expectations but our batting remains weak,” said Domingo. “The team’s performance will have to improve during the next phase of the tournament.”The result meant that South Africa and England will play in the Super League while Nepal – who beat South Africa two days ago – and Uganda go into the Plate Championship.
So we meet again. Cricket-crazy India and cricket-mad Sri Lanka – two nations separated by the Palk Straits but joined by our great love of the game. Monday’s encounter at Wanderers promises to be a fantastic spectacle and all of us in the Sri Lankan camp are eagerly looking forward to the challenge.India, under New Zealand’s shrewd coach John Wright and skippered by Sourav Ganguly, are a stronger side these days.Until recently, they were infuriatingly inconsistent despite being blessed with prodigious talent. Their woeful record in the finals reflected their tendency to crumble under pressure. This meant you knew that if you dismissed Sachin Tendulkar cheaply, then, India rarely came back into the game.
Not anymore.If early wickets fall, then, they have the rock-solid Rahul Dravid and the exciting Yuvraj Singh to rescue them. This helps them bounce back even after a poor start.The same is true of their bowling. In this World Cup, they have a balanced attack. There is the experienced Javagal Srinath, the fast-improving Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra, a left-armer who has proved a revelation. In Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble, meanwhile, they boast two world-class spinners.The team as a whole appears fitter, better prepared and, after a hesitant start, are growing steadily confident. Yes, they struggled on the moist pitches during their recent tour to New Zealand, but here in South Africa they are clearly a more consistent team.Their biggest strength is their explosive batting line-up, which contains players capable of batting any side in the world out of the game on their day. I still remember our game at Taunton in the last World Cup when I was working as a commentator: Ganguly and Dravid, then, were sensational.Thus, we are under no illusions about the immensity of the challenge ahead. To beat India we will certainly have to be at the top of our game: a loose start by the opening bowlers and it could all be over in a flash.We are a different side than India: a bit steadier. In an ideal world, I think we would like to bat first and build a decent total. After achieving that, we must also bowl very, very tightly and put their batsmen under as much pressure as possible. The key is simple; we will have to do the basics well.The little master is obviously a major threat. The tournament’s highest run-getter by a distance, Tendulkar carries their batting. Although India may now be less dependent upon his talents than they earlier were, there is no doubt that his will be the prized wicket.He can be phenomenal. I watched his innings closely the other day against Pakistan. It was brilliant, quite brilliant. His crisp footwork, perfect balance and impeccable shot selection were a joy to watch and an example for any budding cricketer.We have watched videos and analysed him. We do that for all opponents. Theories have been formulated and strategies discussed. We have an idea of where we want to bowl to him. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to tell you that he possesses few obvious weaknesses. This means the bowlers and the fielders are going to have to work very hard to make sure that we claim his wicket early.But whilst Tendulkar is undoubtedly a great player and a major threat, we will not let our preparations be dominated by him alone. This Indian side possesses an abundance of talent and we would only underestimate the others at our peril.
Moreover, the Sri Lankan philosophy is to focus on what we have to do as individuals. We do not allow ourselves to be distracted by the reputation of the opposition. Each individual has a defined role and responsibilities. We try to make the game simple and reduce the pressure.Unlike India, we are not packed with stars: our strength is teamwork. It is this quality of ours that makes me believe this Sri Lankan side can go all the way. After difficult tours of South Africa and Australia, we have adjusted to the conditions. All the heartache has proved worthwhile. Ironically, our only failure against Kenya was on the slowest pitch that we have played on. Confidence is growing steadily but it has not peaked. There is plenty more petrol in the tank.The Kenya defeat was a setback, costing us valuable Super-Six points. Losing the game placed the players under real pressure in the next two encounters. The matches against West Indies and South Africa were, then, a major test of character, one we passed with flying colours.Our loss to favourites Australia in our first Super Six match proved a slight dampener. But the fact that they have lost key players means Ricky Ponting’s men are far from unbeatable. Jason Gillespie started the tournament in brilliant form and, although his replacement Andrew Bichel had his day in the sun against the English, the former will be missed. The absence of Shane Warne has barely been noticed thus far, but it was always in the final rounds that he was going to be needed the most.Thus, despite all the pre-tournament predictions that sub-continental sides would not prosper this time, I feel that both India and Sri Lanka have the talent and mental strength to become world champions once more. We will know more after Monday.
Four Somerset batsmen hit half-centuries to secure a valuable first inningslead in the top three First Division clash at Old Trafford.Mike Burns and Peter Bowler provided a solid pre-lunch platform, then IanBlackwell and Rob Turner led a determined recovery from 199 for five to 385for nine in reply to Lancashire’s 324.Turner top-scored with 72 and although his innings was the slowest, taking238 minutes and 202 balls, it was also the most valuable as he linked upfirst with Keith Dutch then Blackwell to add 138 for the sixth and seventhwickets.Following an unbeaten century in the last game against Essex, it continuedthe wicket-keeper’s return to form after a lean season, and left Somerset ina good position – especially with Lancashire’s captain John Crawley unlikelyto take any further part in the match following a family bereavement.Somerset’s captain Jamie Cox was also missing at the start yesterday forfamily reasons, so Bowler joined Burns to resume their innings on 77 forone.Burns quickly reached an 84-ball 50 with 10 fours and a six, but he was thefirst man to go in the 18th over of the day, a victim of a sharp returncatch by Gary Keedy.Keedy was the pick of the Lancashire bowlers, as he also took three morewickets – all caught by Chris Schofield in the gully – to end the day withfour for 73 from 34 overs.Mark Lathwell was the first and then, after Cox had been bowled bySchofield for 46, Keedy had Bowler snapped up, but only after the veteranhad made a typically patient 65.With the pitch offering plenty of turn, Lancashire would have beenconfident of a first innings lead, but Somerset, and especially Turner, hadother ideas.Dutch hit all but ten in a sixth-wicket stand of 41, then Blackwelldominated the seventh-wicket partnership, with the former Derbyshire spinnerreaching his 50 from 60 balls and going on to 64 with 12 boundaries.He was finally bowled by John Wood with the second new ball but Turnerground on to 72 until he, too, fell to the Keedy-Schofield combination.
Celtic are now reportedly in pole position to sign a key attacking addition for Wilfried Nancy, having already made their first approach.
Nancy wants Celtic to sign "personality" in January
There would have been no one more relieved than Nancy when Celtic picked up the first victory of his tenure against Aberdeen last time out. The Frenchman eased the pressure and now has the task of picking up back-to-back wins when his side travel to face Livingston on Saturday.
With the January transfer window just around the corner, the Livingston game may be the last chance that certain players have to impress Nancy before he marks his own stamp on the side.
Kenny should never start again if Celtic sign £34m striker target
Johnny Kenny may never start again for Celtic if the club lands this striker in the January window.
ByDan Emery
Speaking to reporters about January additions, the manager said: “We have a lot of ability in terms of the way we play. It is important that when you sign players, they need to have personality. This is a big club. To play here is not always easy. It is so, so important to have players who can play here at a club like this.”
He then continued, saying: “When I talk about personalities, it’s not only to be vocal, it’s to have the right attitude when it is difficult.
“This means when we attack, can we keep showing ourselves for each other, can we still press, or can we defend like crazy in the moment? It’s more about the attitude for me. This is what I am looking for.”
Whether a much-needed attacking addition ticks that box is the question that Celtic fans will be asking. The Bhoys desperately need a consistent goalscorer and have been linked with the likes of Evan Ferguson as a result. But if it’s not the Brighton man, on loan at AS Roma, then it could be Ibrahim Diabate.
Celtic launch approach to sign Ibrahim Diabate
As relayed by the Scottish Sun, Celtic have now launched an approach to sign Diabate from Swedish side GAIS and are in pole position to secure a deal. The forward finished joint-top of the Allsvenskan’s scoring charts this season, with 18 goals to his name, and could now get the chance to enjoy similar success in Scotland.
Valued at £3m in Sweden, Celtic won’t need to break the bank to welcome the forward next month and it’s no doubt a move that Nancy needs.
Dubbed “powerful” by football consultant Kai Watson, the Hoops aren’t the only side interested in Diabate, but he has played down rumours that he could join Egyptian side Al-Ahly, saying: “These are just rumours. Nothing is clear about any transfer and there have been no discussions. Very little of what has been said about me signing for Al-Ahly is true.”
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Celtic will be hoping to have more luck when it comes to luring the forward away from Sweden next month, but club chiefs will have to back Nancy if they are to turn what has been a dire campaign around.