Cricket South Africa has named a 15-member Under-19 squad for the tri-series against India and Sri Lanka, as well as the youth World Cup in New Zealand next year.

Cricinfo staff17-Dec-2009Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced a 15-member Under-19 squad for the triangular series against India and Sri Lanka, as well as the ICC U-19 World Cup to be held in New Zealand in January 2010.Northern’s wicketkeeper batsman, Joshua Richards will captain the squad, which also includes run-machine, Colin Ackerman. Richards previously led the SA U-19 Invitational XI against England U-19 in January and is solid behind the stumps. Ackerman was the leading run-scorer in the CSA U-19 three-day competition, where he averaged 200 with two centuries.Announcing the team in Benoni, the U-19 convener of selectors Shafiek Abrahams expressed confidence in the selected squad. “I am very excited with the squad that we have selected and I am confident that they will do the country proud,” he said.South Africa U-19 Sqaud: Joshua Richards (Northerns, Captain), Samuel Mofokeng (Northerns), David White (EP), Colin Ackerman (EP), Matthew Kennedy, (EP), Simon Khomari (FS), Stephan Smit (FS), Bokang Mosena (FS), Dale Deeb (Gauteng), Graham Hume (Gauteng), Malcolm Nofal (Gauteng), Dominic Hendricks (Gauteng), Cody Chetty (KwaZulu-Natal), Rabian Engelbrecht (Boland), Jerry Ngolo (Border).

A sensational collapse of six wickets for 23 in 71 balls left South Africa clinging to the wreckage of their second innings at Kingsmead

The Bulletin by Andrew Miller29-Dec-2009South Africa 343 (Kallis 75, Smith 75) and 76 for 6 (Boucher 20*, Morkel 7*) trail England 574 for 9 dec (Bell 140, Cook 118) by 155 runs

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsJacques Kallis’s post-tea dismissal was a massive blow to South Africa’s hopes•Getty Images

A sensational collapse of six wickets for 23 in 71 balls left South Africa clinging to the wreckage of their second innings at Kingsmead, as Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann capitalised on an aggressive finale to England’s innings to tear the heart out of their opponents’ batting line-up, and propel their team towards victory on an extraordinary fourth day’s play.By the close, South Africa were reeling at 76 for 6, and even that grim scoreline had to be salvaged by a dour seventh-wicket stand of 26 between Mark Boucher and Morne Morkel. Together they endured for 10.5 overs before bad light brought salvation, but with just four wickets still standing and a deficit of 156 runs still remaining to be wiped off, England were circling for the kill after one of their most dominant days of recent times.The day had begun with England well placed on 386 for 5, a lead of 43, and thanks to the efforts of Ian Bell, who converted his overnight 55 into an excellent 140, Andrew Strauss was able to declare on 574 for 9 in the first half-hour after lunch, with a handy 232-run lead in the bag, and the best part of five sessions in which to turn the screw. For the first nine overs of South Africa’s innings, however, there was barely a flicker of alarm as Graeme Smith and Ashwell Prince negotiated the new ball. But then, with tea looming, Swann entered the attack to devastating effect.Swann’s habit of taking wickets early in his spells is rapidly turning into a self-fulfilling prophecy. He memorably claimed two scalps in the first over of his Test career, against India in Chennai last December, and in last week’s first Test at Centurion he dislodged Prince with his second delivery of the series. Sure enough, his introduction paid instant dividends, as Prince once again propped forward uneasily, for Bell at silly point to cling on superbly as the ball rebounded off an inside-edge and into his outstretched right hand.Twelve Swann deliveries later, and 27 for 0 had become 37 for 2, as the obdurate Hashim Amla was undone by a wonderful double-whammy on the stroke of tea. The first ball of his third over was tossed up outside off, and took a fat inside-edge as Amla leaned into a cover-drive. The second ball was a fraction fuller and equally well flighted, and Amla was comprehensively gated as the ball burst out of rough and into his stumps.Far from taking solace in the tea break that followed, South Africa’s anxieties were heightened by the 20-minute interlude. Jacques Kallis can generally be relied upon to bat throughout any given crisis, but Broad’s second ball of the session was simply too good. Pitching outside off and seaming wickedly back off a perfect length, it crashed into Kallis’s off stump as he shouldered arms for 3, and at 40 for 3, England were rampant.AB de Villiers had a massive let-off before he had scored, when Swann believed he’d found his outside edge, but the referred decision proved inconclusive in the absence of the snickometer. His reprieve lasted all of eight balls, however. In Broad’s very next over, he produced a carbon-copy of the delivery that had done for Kallis, and this time the review could not save de Villiers, as he shouldered arms in front of off stump, and was sent on his way for 2.Broad by now was in the same full-length rhythm that had routed Australia at The Oval in August, and no-one it seemed could resist him. One ball later, JP Duminy also succumbed to a misjudged leave, as he hoisted his bat high above his head, and deflected the ball into the base of his off stump, and though Boucher averted the hat-trick, he couldn’t prevent a further meltdown. At the start of that Broad over, Smith could have run himself out for 16 had the substitute, Luke Wright, hit the stumps with a shy from short cover. Instead, it was Swann who ended his stay, as he straightened an offspinner from round the wicket, and an overbalanced Smith was pinned lbw for 22.The breathlessness of the final session was at complete odds with the serenity of England’s own progress earlier in the day. Bell’s 140 was the backbone of their fourth-day performance, as he compiled an innings of grace and determination that ensured that his team did not squander their overnight advantage. Few players in the world game look so compact and composed when given licence to play their natural game, and that is exactly what he produced as he closed in on an a 172-ball century.His morning was launched in confident style when Dale Steyn served up a leg-stump loosener that was clipped emphatically through square leg for four, and suitably emboldened, he set about putting bat to ball on his own terms, opening and closing the face at will to work singles into the numerous gaps at midwicket and backward point. He added just one more boundary as he moved towards the nineties – a steer through third man as Makhaya Ntini offered too much width – but having milked Paul Harris’s defensive leg-stump line with a series of deft sweeps, he moved to his hundred in style with an open-shouldered loft over long-on.Bell’s celebrations were a clear release of emotion, as he punched the air with his bat, and kissed the England badge on his shirt. His critics have grown in number since the last time he reached three figures, again against South Africa at Lord’s in July 2008, and they will still be able to point to the peculiar fact that he has never yet produced a hundred without one of his fellow batsmen doing likewise. But for now, all he was doing was laying a platform for an England victory push, and by the close, there was no quibbling with the importance or the timing of his performance.At the other end, Matt Prior injected some welcome urgency to the innings with a well-paced 60 from 81 balls, and though he eventually under-edged a drive from Duminy into his off stump, England’s lead by that stage was already 134, and with a naturally aggressive tail to follow, the stage was set for some fireworks. At first, however, the response was disappointing, as Bell and Broad bedded in for the final hour of the session, mustering 36 runs from 91 balls. Immediately after lunch, however, England kicked into overdrive.Broad, who had taken 51 deliveries over his first 10 runs, signalled the onslaught by smashing Harris for six over cow corner in an over that went for 15 runs. He was subsequently caught at slip for 20 to give Duminy his third of the innings, but Swann emerged with his mindset plain to see. He laid into the toiling Ntini, claiming a six and a four from the final two balls of an over that had already leaked five overthrows, before chipping a leading edge to Prince, as Steyn found some lively swing with the third new ball.Steyn’s swing also accounted for Bell in his very next over, as he toe-ended a cut to the keeper, and Strauss’s decision to declare was hastened by the sight of an Ntini bouncer crashing off the badge of Graham Onions’ helmet and away for four leg-byes. Though England found little assistance with the new ball, Swann’s staggering self-confidence made the difference on a bland track, and by the close, they were within touching distance of a remarkable victory.

A day after the Rajasthan Royals announced plans to create the first global sport alliance, the BCCI has reacted warily to the move

Cricinfo staff09-Feb-2010A day after the Rajasthan Royals announced plans to create the first global sport alliance, the BCCI has reacted warily to the move. Rajasthan revealed they had tied up with Hampshire, Cape Cobras, Trinidad and Tobago and an Australian domestic team to form a worldwide Twenty20 brand but the Indian board’s chief administrative officer, Ratnakar Shetty, said they had “not sought permission” to take such a step.”Rajasthan Royals have not written to us and have not sought permission on this,” Shetty told . “In case the Indian cricketers, who are contracted with the board, have to participate, they’ll have to seek our permission. We have not heard anything from anyone as yet and the players can’t take part unless we give them the permission.”Rajasthan, however, said the IPL was in the know and they were confident there would be no conflict of interest with the league. “The IPL has been aware of our plans and have been nothing but supportive. We know exactly where we stand and there has never been an intention to create any sort of conflict with the BCCI,” the franchise said.

Mountaineers put their disaster of the previous morning behind them to beat the favourites, Mashonaland Eagles, in magnificent style by nine wickets to win the final of Zimbabwe’s inaugural Twenty20 competition

John Ward20-Feb-2010
ScorecardHamilton Masakadza led the chase with an unbeaten 64•Zimbabwe Cricket

Mountaineers put their disaster of the previous morning behind them to beat the favourites, Mashonaland Eagles, in magnificent style by nine wickets to win the final of Zimbabwe’s inaugural Twenty20 competition. After bowling their vaunted opponents out for a mere 105 runs, they stormed to victory on the back of impressive innings by the two renowned internationals and former schoolmates, Hamilton Masakadza and Tatenda Taibu.The rain, so common in February in Zimbabwe, threatened to spoil the finals day at Harare Sports Club, and there were showers just before and after the toss. But the tournament’s good fortune continued, and despite the uncertain weather a large multi-racial crowd of several thousand attended. They did not get the bonanza of boundary hitting that they no doubt expected, but they seemed to have a good time. Mountaineers continued their remarkable run with the toss, putting Eagles in to bat.Doug Marillier, after playing and missing the first two balls from Tendai Chatara, drove the third over the covers for four. His partner, the aggressive Cephas Zhuwawo, hit a couple of boundaries before he was well caught at deep midwicket for 13. The opening pair put on 26, and this was destined to be the highlight of the innings as far as Eagles were concerned. Without addition Marillier drove a catch to mid-off, and the slide was on.For a while Prince Masvaure and Greg Lamb consolidated, adding 20 before the former, on 10, skied a catch to deep mid-off. The 50 came up in the ninth over with three wickets down, but after this the tension certainly seemed to affect the Eagles batsmen, even as the Mountaineers were stimulated to their best bowling and fielding standards. Lamb, swinging at a ball from the legspinner Natsai Mushangwe, was caught at the wicket for 14, and Forster Mutizwa and Regis Chakabva quickly followed.This left Elton Chigumbura carrying the burden of the innings, as he has done with such success before. But this was not to be his day: having scored 20 off 17 balls, he appeared to be caught in two minds and presented Timycen Maruma with a simple return catch. Mountaineers celebrated with great excitement, certain now that they were right on top; 84 for 7 in the 15th over. So it proved, and only minutes later Mushangwe, not yet a regular Mountaineers player, achieved a brilliant direct hit to run out Admire Manyumwa. The innings did not even go the distance, closing for 105 in the 19th over. Greg Smith and Prosper Utseya both took three wickets.After their collapse the previous morning, Mountaineers could take nothing for granted. Masakadza slashed the second ball of the innings over the slips for a one-bounce four. He soon lost Greg Smith (1), however, who pulled a ball from Douglas Hondo low to midwicket in the third over. Taibu joined Masakadza, and these two experienced players were not about to repeat the mistakes of the previous morning against this opposition. They played the bowling on its merits, which were considerable, with Taibu especially careful until he swung a ball from Lamb over midwicket for six, followed by another six over extra cover in Lamb’s next over. Eagles fought desperately hard to break through, but the team that is so often an irresistible force in Zimbabwe cricket now met two immovable objects, and the runs kept coming at the ample rate of about six an over.The match was as good as decided when, on 101, a powerful smash by Taibu burst through the hands of the mid-off fielder. Masakadza pulled the following ball for a thunderous four to tie the scores, and then swung the next to long leg for the winning run, bringing the entire team running on to the field to celebrate. Quite a section of the crowd followed, to congratulate the popular winners. It was indeed a thrilling achievement for the team based in Mutare, the small city in Zimbabwe’s eastern highlands.This tournament has been an unqualified success for cricket in Zimbabwe – or Harare, at least. Dominus Sports ran a successful marketing campaign that quite outdid expectations, drawing crowds numbering thousands at the weekends, more than have been seen at most international matches. Given that Twenty20 is basically ‘gimmicky’ cricket, the general standard of play was good and the feeling abounds that cricket in Zimbabwe is vibrant again and only a short distance away from regaining Test status with honour.

Injured fast bowler Sohail Tanvir and Shoaib Akhtar have not been included in the 30-man squad

Cricinfo staff26-Feb-2010Except for the omission of fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, there were no major surprises in Pakistan’s preliminary 30-man squad for the defence of their World Twenty20 title in the Caribbean in two months’ time. Injured fast bowler Sohail Tanvir, who has not played any cricket since November, was also overlooked.Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, said Shoaib had been overlooked because he had hardly played any cricket in the past ten months. Though Shoaib has only taken part in a couple of List A matches since the series against Australia in UAE last May, he had said last week that he was still confident of making an international comeback. He will lead Islamabad Leopards in the upcoming RBS Twenty20 Cup.Butt said Tanvir would undergo knee surgery in Australia. “The doctors are not sure when he will regain the fitness,” he told .Another fast bowler who was missing from the probables was Mohammad Talha, who had been part of the squad for the two Twenty20s against England last weekend.The PCB also announced a list of 30 probables for the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 which will run parallel to the men’s tournament in the West Indies.Men’s squad: Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Hafeez, Salman Butt, Shahzaib Hassan, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Naveed Yasin, Hasan Raza, Kamran Younis, Misbah-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Arafat, Hammad Azam, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami, Saeed Ajmal, Raza Hasan, Abdul Rehman, Kamran Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Zulqarnain Haider.Women’s squad: Sana Mir, Bismah Maroof, Nain Abidi, Sajjida Shah, Javeria Khan, Almas Akram, Nida Dar, Zeba Manzoor, Kainat Imtiaz, Faryal Awan, Armaan Khan, Sumaiya Siddiqi, Urooj Mumtaz, Nazia Sadiq, Sabeen Abdul Samad, Masooma Junaid, Qanita Jalil, Sadia Yousuf, Sania Khan, Marina Iqbal, Sana Gulzar, Ayesha Qazi, Sukhan Faiz, Rabia Batool, Saima Jamil, Batool Fatima, Asmavia Iqbal, Rabia Shah, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz.

Usman Khawaja and Phillip Hughes narrowly missed centuries as they strengthened New South Wales’ position in Hobart

Cricinfo staff05-Mar-2010New South Wales 6 for 468 dec and 4 for 245 (Khawaja 89, Hughes 84) lead Tasmania 303 (Doolan 100, Copeland 5-56) by 410 runs

ScorecardUsman Khawaja top scored with 89 as the Blues dominated•Getty Images

Usman Khawaja and Phillip Hughes narrowly missed centuries as they strengthened New South Wales’ position in Hobart. The Blues finished on 4 for 245 to gain a 410-run lead after Khawaja breezed to 89 off 99 balls and Hughes posted 84, becoming the season’s leading scorer with 936, during a stand of 163.Tasmania were dismissed for 303 in the second session to fall 165 behind on first innings during a match they must win to stay in contention for the final. The Blues are out already and are trying to end the hopes of the third-placed Tigers.Trent Copeland’s 5 for 56, his third five-wicket haul in his opening four games, helped finish off Tasmania, who resisted through Xavier Doherty (48) and James Faulkner (40). Steven Smith (3 for 99) and Mitchell Starc combined for the rest of the wickets before the Blues chose not to enforce the follow-on.Hughes was bowled by Doherty while Khawaja went the same way to leave their side at 3 for 185. Smith chipped in with 36 off 23 and Peter Forrest (26) finished the day with a six off Doherty, who had 3 for 76.

Paul Collingwood outshone a glittering batting line-up to give Delhi Daredevils a big total, which their bowlers defended comfortably despite a late assault from Ross Taylor who tried to sweep them into oblivion

The Bulletin by Sidharth Monga04-Apr-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were outPradeep Sangwan’s yorkers proved hard to put away•Indian Premier League

Paul Collingwood outshone a glittering batting line-up to give Delhi Daredevils a big total, which their bowlers defended comfortably despite a late assault from Ross Taylor, who tried to sweep Bangalore to victory. Virender Sehwag and David Warner played their cameos, but it was Collingwood who carried Delhi in the later half of their innings.The first half of the match was a series of punches and counter-punches. Bangalore bounced back from aggressive knocks with wickets, but kept getting pushed back by knocks even more forceful. Sehwag’s 22-ball 35 was ended by Abhimanyu Mithun, only for Warner to start hurting Bangalore. A smart catch from Virat Kohli stopped Warner at 33 off 22, only for Collingwood to provide the innings the final, and most important, thrust with an unbeaten 46-ball 75.After Anil Kumble left out Dale Steyn and Praveen Kumar to accommodate Taylor and left-arm spinner KP Appanna, Bangalore’s inexperienced attack could have been blown away by Sehwag and Warner. Kumble made sure Delhi didn’t run away by bowling a two-run first over, and Mithun responded by removing Sehwag second ball.Between that, though, Sehwag raised hell, hitting five fours and two sixes, taking Delhi to 35 in 4.2 overs despite that Kumble over. That second six was a demoralising hit off Mithun’s first ball in this IPL, but he came right back with one that nipped back at Sehwag. The Bangalore fielders responded, running out Gautam Gambhir, and getting Warner with an overhead catch on the long-on boundary.Between those wickets, Warner had done some hell-raising himself, hitting three fours and two sixes to take Delhi to 83 in 9.4 overs. The immediate response to that wicket was an elegant straight-drive from Dinesh Karthik, but Bangalore struck again via a blinder from Cameron White at extra cover. This was the lift in fielding standards that the tournament desperately needed.Collingwood, however, had quietly played himself in by then and reached 14 off 15 courtesy a six-inch back-lift six while charging down to Jacques Kallis’ slower ball. And his immediate response to Karthik’s dismissal was to raise the back lift a little more and punish White with two sixes and a four in his only over, taking Delhi to 111 after 12.No real explosion came in the next six overs, mainly because Delhi lost Kedar Jadhav too, but Collingwood kept Delhi going with two sixes – not into the stands, just over the fielders. The first of those hits brought up his fifty, but at 154 after 18 overs Delhi needed a big finish.Collingwood was up to it again, this time punishing the youngster Mithun’s length bowling. These two sixes were massive and 31 came off the last nine balls Collingwood faced. Even though Vinay Kumar finished with a decent last over, 30 runs in the last two overs set up a delicious chase for a line-up boasting Kallis, Kevin Pietersen, Robin Uthappa, Taylor and White.It proved to be a bit of anti-climax, though. Bangalore opened with White and Kallis but, on a slow pitch, they never could free themselves from Delhi’s choke hold after an 11-run first over. Farveez Maharoof, Amit Mishra and Daniel Vettori bowled in the Powerplay, giving them neither the pace nor the room.White took Mishra level with purple-cap-holder Muttiah Muralitharan when he holed out to long-off in the fourth over. Mishra would go ahead and claim the purple cap with two tail-end wickets. Maharoof came back to concede just one run in the sixth over, consigning Bangalore to perhaps their worst Powerplay effort, at 38 for 1.Rajat Bhatia, with his slow leggcutters, and Pradeep Sangwan, with his yorkers, conceded only 13 in the next three overs. One of Sangwan yorkers consumed Pietersen in the 10th over, and Uthappa couldn’t quite recreate his fireworks, and holed out to long-on, making it 76 for 3 after 11.5.While Kallis stroked his way to another fifty, off 38 balls, same as Collingwood, Bangalore were missing an innings that would rattle Delhi. Taylor tried to do that, sweeping Mishra for three sixes in the 14th over, but Bhatia trapped him too far across in the next over.Kallis’ wicket in the over following ended the contest, leaving Kohli and Rahul Dravid 67 to get off 25, and also raised the question if one of those two batsmen, and not Manish Pandey, should have made way for Taylor.