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South Africa have not played a single, full 20 over game in the tournament having been hounded by rain

Raunak Kapoor30-Jan-2025

Australia

The story so far: Australia topped their group with comfortable wins against Scotland and Nepal, and a tense two-wicket win against Bangladesh. An easy win against West Indies in the Super Six combined with other results meant they secured a semi-final spot ahead of their final Super Six clash against Sri Lanka, where they failed to chase 100, becoming the only semi-finalists to suffer a defeat in the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup.What’s working: The bowling attack. Eleanor Larosa’s left-arm swing is a genuine threat with the new ball. Fifteen-year old WBBL sensation Caoimhe Bray, who idolises Ellyse Perry, is playing Perry’s role for this U-19 team: wicket-taking, decisive counter-attacking batting or making tough catches look easy. Legspinners Teegan Williamson and Hasrat Gill have 15 wickets between them at a combined average of 7.77. Lily Bassingthwaighte’s late entry into the playing XI has added more teeth to the attack, resulting in opposition scores of 48, 91 for 9, 56 for 8, 53 and 99 for 8.What’s not working: The batting. Openers Kate Pelle and Ines McKeon are both power-hitters, but have consistently misfired, leaving Australia with a big decision on whether to leave one of them out in the semi-final. Nepal captain Puja Mahato had them at 14 for 3 before Bray’s brilliant counter-attacking 45, also the highest score for an Australian batter in the tournament, helped them post their highest team total of 139 for 6. Accurate spin bowling has also been a challenge for the Australian batters at the top and in the middle order, a struggle that was apparent in their last game when they failed to chase 100. Captain Lucy Hamilton at No. 3 remains their most reliable bat. Her innings of 30 off 35 on a tough spinning surface in Bangi, Malaysia, against Bangladesh won her the Player of the Match in a chase of 92.What to look out for: They might be entering the semi-final off a loss, but Australia have been tested as a unit far more than their opposition, or for that matter, all the other semi-final sides. Their batters would welcome the change of venue to the Bayumeas Oval in Kuala Lumpur where run-scoring has been much easier than the more challenging UKM Oval, where Hamilton’s side have played all five of their matches in the tournament. If they can get a competitive total, even 100-110, they’ll back the form of their bowlers to defend it.South Africa go into semi-finals undefeated•ICC/Getty Images

South Africa

The story so far: Rain has followed Kayla Reyneke’s South African side throughout the tournament. But it has relented just enough to allow them one reduced game after another to secure the wins needed to top both their Group Stage and the Super Six Group, without having played a full 40 overs once. They won an 11-overs-a-side game against New Zealand, an eight-overs a side shootout against Nigeria and a 10-overs per side contest against Ireland. Their only full match happened to be against Samoa, where they blew their hapless opposition away for a record low of 16 and chased it in 10 balls. Their final Super Six match against USA was washed out.What’s working: While they’ve never had to bowl a full 20 overs, the bowling unit does seem well-equipped and well-rounded. Nthabiseng Nini might be among the quickest in the competition and has been effective moving the ball away from the right-handers, while Monalisa Legodi moves it the other way. Legspinner Seshine Naidu and captain Reyneke’s offspin have made light work of any opposition so far. All four playing in their second U-19 Women’s World Cup. Reyneke has led the side impressively and in spite of lengthy rain breaks and waiting on the sidelines, South Africa have looked sharp when on the field.What’s not working: They might have four wins on the board but South Africa’s batters have batted only 26.5 overs all tournament, less than half of England (55.2) and India (54.2), just over a third of the overs their more battle-hardened semi-final opponents Australia (76.5). It’s hard therefore to conclude what sort of form their batters are in but openers Jemma Botha and Simone Lourens, and keeper Karabo Meso have notched up quickfire 20s and 30s when needed. All three of them are also playing their second edition of the women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup.What to look out for: South Africa’s spinners will be key to testing Australia’s vulnerabilities. Reyneke leads their wicket-taking list with nine wickets at an average of 3.88 and economy of 4.03.

Wicketkeeper proud of record stands with Mitchell, but admits team ‘haven’t been quite there’

Matt Roller26-Jun-2022Tom Blundell said that New Zealand have “got to fight” on the final day of the Headingley Test in their bid to avoid a 3-0 whitewash, but retains hope that the pitch deteriorating will help them create eight opportunities and bowl England out with only 113 more runs required to win.Blundell was unbeaten on 88 as New Zealand were bowled out for 326 in their second innings to set England 296, but an unbroken third-wicket stand of 132 runs in 26.5 overs between Ollie Pope and Joe Root has put them on back foot.”This team has been known to fight and we’ve got to come out there and do that tomorrow,” Blundell said. “You put a couple of wickets on there and you just never know. Obviously you’ve got two guys out there in good form but if we get one of those, who knows.”The wicket is deteriorating. A little bit of variable bounce, obviously with the spin as well. It’s quite hard to drive with that older ball. It looks like it’s going to deteriorate even more and hopefully we can utilise that tomorrow.”Blundell will finish the series with three fifties and a hundred to his name and an average of 76.60. He has consolidated his position as BJ Watling’s replacement and shared four century partnerships with Daryl Mitchell, but said that the tour had ultimately been “disappointing” after defeats in the first two Tests.”It’s obviously disappointing: as a group we probably haven’t been quite there,” he said. “Who knows tomorrow. On a personal note, it’s been fantastic to bat with Daryl and have those partnerships, it’s just unfortunate that a couple of results haven’t really gone our way.”Jack Leach, who took his second five-for of the match to complete the first ten-wicket haul of his career, said it had been “amazing to experience and be a part of” the England dressing room throughout the series since Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes were appointed as coach and captain respectively.Related

• Ben Stokes hails 'unbelievable' mindset switch as England power to 3-0 series win

• Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root rampage to England's seven-wicket win, and series clean-sweep

• Stats – Daryl Mitchell's successive hundreds, and a record pairing with Tom Blundell

• Ollie Pope, Joe Root break England's chase after Jack Leach stars with maiden ten-for

• Kane Williamson at a crossroads as form slump mirrors New Zealand's decline

Leach was due to come in next if a wicket had fallen in the final 20 minutes of the fourth day and joked that Stokes had told him he would be used as a “night-pinch-hitter” rather than a nightwatchman.”It was the longest 20 minutes padded up as nightwatchman,” he told Sky Sports. “I stuck my head out the window and I said, ‘are we still going for this tonight if I get in?’ Stokesy said it’s a night-pinch-hitter now. But no, I would have been trying to survive [until] the morning and then have a swing.”It’s a challenging surface, it’s day four and things are happening, so the way Popey and Rooty especially played there was really good to watch. We’ve got to come back tomorrow and do the good things again but it’s just a positive mentality. You realise how many decisions in cricket are based maybe around negativity.”This new way, if you like, is extremely positive. It feels like in a lot of four or five-day games, you give up on the win quite early in the game, whereas [in this England team] it feels like you’re always pushing for that win. That’s obviously going to be tested – and is being tested now, because we need 100 more on a day-five wicket.”

PCB says it’s pleased the coach has “promptly and swiftly” resolved the issues that led to the NOC being denied earlier

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Sep-2020Faisal Iqbal is set to rejoin the Balochistan team for the National T20 Cup tournament that starts on Saturday, after he was granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), his parent organisation, on Friday.Faisal is already in isolation in Muridke and ready to join the squad in Multan. He was initially withdrawn as the head coach for the Balochistan first XI when PIA had delayed in issuing him an NOC. ESPNcricinfo understands the reason for the delay was an inquiry about discrepancies in his date of birth in two official documents he had submitted to PIA. Iqbal also had to extend his stay in a bio-secure environment by five days after he violated protocol alongwith assistant coach Wasim Haider.However, the PCB said – via a statement issued by Junaid Zia, the general manager for domestic cricket – on Friday that Iqbal had “promptly and swiftly” resolved the matter and will rejoin the Balochistan side now.”The PCB is pleased Faisal Iqbal has promptly and swiftly resolved an ongoing matter that could have resulted in distraction during an important period for his side and the tournament,” Zia said. “Hopefully, Faisal will now fully focus on the job at hand and make meaningful contribution as head coach of the Balochistan cricket team.”Balochistan will play their tournament opener against Sindh on October 1.

Veteran says he wants to go out on a winning note

Danyal Rasool15-Jun-2020Mohammad Hafeez, the second-longest serving Pakistan cricketer in the current setup, could yet extend his 17-year career. Hafeez’s original plan was to retire in November this year, after the T20 World Cup in Australia but he said – in a video conference – that he would continue to make himself available if the tournament was delayed due to Covid-19. Hafeez said he wanted to go out on a winning note.”I gave retiring from T20 cricket after the World Cup a lot of thought. Just like when I retired from Test cricket, I decided to retire on my own terms. It took into consideration my own goals, as well as the interests of Pakistan cricket. I want to retire from T20 cricket after playing a big tournament in which I perform well, and hopefully go out on a winning note. This is my plan, and if the World T20 is postponed to November or some later time, that doesn’t mean I won’t play it.”The length of Hafeez’s career has meant there have been several calls over the years for Pakistan to move on to younger prospects, but the allrounder continues to work himself back into the side. Hafeez has played all but one World T20 – the one Pakistan won in 2009. Should he play the upcoming one, he’d tie the Pakistan record for most World T20s played, equaling Shahid Afridi’s five.He retired from Test cricket in December 2018, but continued to make himself available in the shorter formats. He was called up for the three-match T20I home series against Bangladesh in January this year, the first time he featured in a T20I in over a year. Following that, he announced that the T20 World Cup would be his final tournament. Hafeez insisted whenever it was played, he would ensure he was physically up for the challenge.”I would like to play it, because I have never compromised on ensuring my skillset and my physical preparation. I will never be found lacking in the requirements necessary to play cricket for Pakistan. If the tournament is delayed, I’ll ensure my physical fitness is up to standard, so I can play in it when it does take place. If there are better options at international level, then of course they’ll play, and I’ll happily step aside. In that case I’ll turn my focus to international leagues, which I hope to play another couple of years,” he said.One of the higher-profile names calling for Hafeez to call it quits was Ramiz Raja, who said earlier this year Hafeez and fellow veteran Shoaib Malik should “retire gracefully”. This week, he doubled down on his comments, criticizing Misbah for including the pair in the squad for the England tour, calling Hafeez a “weak fielder” while saying his performance was “not the same anymore”. Hafeez, however, made it clear he wouldn’t be taking heed of those comments, and would make decisions about his career on his own terms.”Ramiz is a friend of mine,” he said. “Everyone has the right to express themselves. But I’m not going to quit cricket because someone asks me to, same as I never started playing at someone else’s behest. Playing for Pakistan is an honour for me. Even when I started in 2003, people thought Hafeez should not play cricket because I came from a very small town – Sargodha. I’ve spent the last 17 years justifying my selection, and I hope I’ll justify my selection again this time. All I’d like to say is – my career, my choice.”

Selling equity stakes to investors could lessen the financial hit from coronavirus lockdown

Matt Roller28-Apr-2020The ECB should consider selling equity in Hundred teams to private investors to lessen the financial hit it faces from the coronavirus pandemic and to attract an Indian fanbase, according to a new report from a sports consultancy firm.The Hundred’s current model is similar to that used in the Big Bash, with independent boards running the eight teams under the governing body’s jurisdiction. But the report by Oakwell Sports – who advised private equity firm CVC on its investment into Premiership Rugby and recently brokered a AUS$250 million line of credit for Australia’s NRL – suggests that the competition’s costs could be significantly reduced if stakes in the teams were sold to investors using a franchise model.The Hundred is set to cost the ECB £58.4 million in its first season – including payments of £1.3 million to each county and £11.3 million in playing and support staff salaries – against income of £51 million, and is not expected to break even until its fifth season. The report suggests that a substantial proportion of these could be footed by turning central payments to the counties into equity stakes and looking to attract investment – particularly from India.The report, entitled ‘The Impact of Covid-19 on English Cricket’, states: “The ECB should consider converting its revenue distributions to counties into equity stakes and gifting these to each county. Therefore each Hundred franchise would own its revenue distribution % as an equity stake too.”This has real capital value for a county. This will attract potential private capital into buying stakes in Hundred franchises and help counties fund the overall game.”ALSO READ: Case for Hundred “greater than ever” due to Covid-19 – HarrisonIt is likely that there would be no shortage of interest from Indian investors if the Hundred were to open itself up to a franchise model. Two teams in the Caribbean Premier League are owned by the parent companies of IPL teams – Trinbago Knight Riders (Kolkata Knight Riders) and St Lucia Zouks (Kings XI Punjab). Red Chillies Entertainment (KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan’s company) had also purchased the Cape Town franchise in the aborted Global T20 League in South Africa, while Delhi Capitals’ owners GMR Sports were also due to own a team. In 2008, Hampshire became part of Rajasthan Royals’ ‘Royals 20/20’ venture, albeit little came of it.The report adds: “The Hundred needs to be able to attract Indian players and subsequently an Indian fanbase, too. The Indian subcontinent constitutes 90% of the 1 billion cricket fans aged 16-69 globally.”Indian investment into the Hundred, including from IPL team owners, may facilitate the involvement of Indian players in the longer term. In addition to generating revenue out of India, this would be vital in unlocking the south-Asian UK-based fanbase.”Currently, the BCCI does not allow Indian players to take part in overseas T20 leagues, and while there is little prospect of Virat Kohli or Jasprit Bumrah playing in the Hundred, some older players may be interested. ESPNcricinfo revealed last October that Harbhajan Singh had put his name forward for the Hundred’s inaugural draft, but withdrew after the story broke fearing he would be unable to continue playing for Chennai Super Kings, while Yuvraj Singh said it “could be an exciting format”.The Hundred’s inaugural season is likely to be postponed at an ECB board meeting on Wednesday, with little appetite to launch the competition when it seems unlikely that overseas players will be able to take part or that fans will be able to attend games. Chief executive Tom Harrison denied that the tournament’s future was in doubt on Friday, suggesting that the case for its existence was “greater than ever” on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.The report’s other recommendations include the ECB borrowing against its broadcasting contracts and lending money to help the counties survive expected combined losses of more than £85 million. A spokesperson clarified that the reported was not ECB-commissioned.

Spinner has been overlooked in one-day cricket, but is timing his run to the World Cup well

Deivarayan Muthu in Ranchi07-Mar-2019In 2015, Nathan Lyon was left out of Australia’s World Cup squad in favour of left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty. Overall, he has played a mere 18 ODIs since his debut in the format in 2012. The other spinners who were part of that game – Doherty himself and Rangana Herath – have both retired from cricket, but Lyon’s ODI career is only beginning to take shape in the lead-up to the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales.Both on this tour in India and then in the UAE, Australia might break away from the old tradition at times and play two frontline spinners in Lyon and legspinner Adam Zampa – they did in the second ODI in Nagpur. This means Lyon could be in for the most sustained period of ODI cricket in his career. He’s among the best spinners – if not the best – in Test cricket already, but have seasons in the wilderness in white-ball cricket got to him?”No, not really, I’m really enjoying playing white-ball cricket and being back in coloured clothing for Australia,” Lyon said on the eve of the third ODI against India in Ranchi. “For me, it’s about enjoying the challenge and try to get better in the shorter format. I’m always about learning every time I go out to bowl. There is added pressure, I guess, but none I’m putting on myself. I’m just looking forward to doing my best for the Australian cricket team.”Australia tested India in the first two ODIs, but they couldn’t quite close those matches out. Marcus Stoinis, in particular, was visibly broken after tripping at the final hurdle in Nagpur. Despite Australia finishing at the wrong end of the results, Lyon stressed that all was well within the management and backed his side to turn the tables on India.”It was disappointing to lose and not get across the line against India in their home conditions,” he said. “They have some superstars. They have a legend like MS Dhoni still running around and controlling the back-end of the innings through the tempo. Then, there is Virat Kohli, who in my eyes is one of the greatest players to play in my era.”They are a superstar unit and we are young side that is learning. We are getting better and looking forward to the challenges. There is a lot of belief in our team and this series isn’t over yet. We believe we can still win the series. It’s going to be a challenge up against one of the best sides in the world in their backyard, but it’s exciting and we are looking forward to it.”Lyon’s USP is his ability to generate extra bounce and overspin, but the skiddier pitches in India have somewhat neutered his threat. However, he believes that his variations in pace will still hold him in good stead.”I still believe bounce is a massive weapon,” he said. “Having the ability to change up variations, pace and mindset, depending on who I’m bowling to… Personally, I’m trying to read the game; what’s going to happen in the game, and control that moment. Bounce is still an important factor for me, if I can hit the stickers on the bat and hopefully those catches will go to the hand and not into the stands. It’s a good challenge and it’s something I’m excited about.”The wristspinners are dictating terms in limited-overs cricket – Zampa has been Australia’s first-choice pick in recent times – but Lyon believes that a fingerspinner will round out the attack nicely. He had bowled constricting lines and lengths in Nagpur and came away with 1 for 42 in his ten overs.”Obviously, the wristspinners are a valuable part to any side, and I’m working on a couple of different variations to keep up with the game,” he said. “The game is moving so fast, and it’s a great opportunity for everyone to learn. But it’s pretty important to have the balance of a couple of good spinners in your side. You look at India, Kuldeep Yadav’s skills are unbelievable and [Ravindra] Jadeja has been quite impressive as well. I think it’s important for any international side to have a couple of decent spinners going into the World Cup.”S Sriram, the former India spinner and Australia’s spin consultant, has been a prominent figure in the visitors’ training sessions, often feeding the sweep shot for Stoinis or instructing Lyon and Zampa to attack the stumps.”Obviously, he [Sriram] knows these conditions inside-out and has passed on some great knowledge about the Indian batsmen and how they go about their business,” Lyon said. “So, to have inside knowledge like Sri has been absolutely exceptional for the batters as well as bowlers – whether fast bowling or spin bowling.”Personally, I’ve enjoyed talking with him about variations and whether you defend or attack a batsman. He has been great personally for my mindset.”Lyon insisted “Australia have been training the house down” on this tour. They now need to put their preparations to good use if they are to save the series in Ranchi.

The BCB is expected to earn $30 million for the financial year 2017-18, but only 1.8% of the amount will be put aside for the national team’s salaries

Mohammad Isam11-Oct-2017The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is generating greater revenues than it ever has, but that growth has not filtered down to the men most responsible for it: the national team. For the financial year 2017-18, the BCB is expected to earn $30 million, but they will spend only 1.8% of that amount on the national team’s salaries.Documents obtained by ESPNcricinfo show that the BCB will spend $550,500 in total yearly players’ salary for the centrally contracted cricketers. Over half of the BCB’s earnings can be said to be generated from the senior team: $17 million comes from title sponsors for international home series, national team sponsorship, ICC and ACC events, as well as international TV rights. The BCB will earn $1.4 million in this period, as part of a $20-million broadcast deal with that ends in 2019. The players’ salaries constitute just over 3% of this $17 million.It isn’t as if the BCB has not recognised the players’ contribution at all. In May this year, the board raised player salaries, though they still didn’t match those of Zimbabwe or Ireland players. The highest paid Bangladesh players – Mashrafe Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim – are set to earn $63,000 annually, a 68% rise from the $37,500-retainer that Grade A-plus cricketers earned the previous year. In the next four grades, players are paid between $45,000 and $15,000 annually.The players’ match fees in all three formats have also seen an increase; a Test appearance fetches $4,300, an ODI $2,500, and for T20s, $1,250 per game.This year’s salary hike is mainly down to negotiations between senior players and BCB officials earlier in the year. Players like Mortaza, Shakib, Mushfiqur and Tamim Iqbal have been at the forefront of negotiations on big and small issues for the senior team. But what they put forward as their end of the bargain doesn’t usually contain properly vetted numbers from within the BCB’s financial reports, on which they can base their demands.For instance, they don’t know how much the BCB earns from ICC events ($9 million in 2017-18) or from the broadcast deal. They also aren’t fully aware of team sponsorship deals. It hasn’t helped that the players’ body, the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), has become largely ineffective over the years.The influence of these senior players is also limited to their team, and not for professional cricketers throughout the country. The BCB has been paying first-class cricketers a monthly salary since 2012, but has talked about shutting that down this year. Instead, most professional cricketers rely heavily on the Dhaka Premier League (DPL), the domestic one-day competition, for income. A top cricketer can earn between $40,000 and $60,000 there.Another source of income now is the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Mushfiqur, Tamim, Shakib, Mashrafe, Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman are projected to earn between $62,500 and $125,000 from BPL contracts for this year’s tournament (the franchises don’t disclose icon players’ fees). But the DPL is poorly run, often with no paperwork to back players’ claims for payment, or even a proper yearly schedule. In many seasons, the DPL is delayed for months, keeping even the top players uncertain about their financial future.In contrast, a six-man foreign coaching staff stands to earn around $1.1 million – double the total spent on player – in salaries. In the last few years, the BCB has relied on a number of foreign coaches, beginning with Chandika Hathurusingha and Heath Streak in mid-2014. They have since replaced Streak with Courtney Walsh. Coaching staff aren’t paid match fees, however.

Pakistan have banked on their collective consistency in this series while Sri Lanka have relied on individual brilliance. The home team face an uphill task in what could be the series decider

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando21-Jul-2015

Match facts

Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Start time 1430 local (0900 GMT)Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik seem to have plugged the holes in the Pakistan batting lineup•Associated Press

Big picture

Some time in the past year, tables have turned, boots have switched feet, and these teams have exchanged personalities. So far in the series, Pakistan have been defined by consistency. Someone in the top three has found a way to make runs, the men in the middle have contributed, and Shoaib Malik has tapped into his experience to prove a canny finisher. Sri Lanka meanwhile, have relied on the spectacular performances – like Kusal Perera’s in Pallekele – to remain competitive.With Azhar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez and Malik all in form, and Sarfraz Ahmed having turned in a substantial innings as well, the visitors will feel they have Sri Lanka’s bowling well covered – particularly as the hosts’ attack has been toothless. This situation, Sri Lanka fans have felt, is not helped by their refusal to play more than two specialist bowlers. Angelo Mathews has responded by saying they have considered the likes of Sachith Pathirana and Thisara Perera as front-line bowling options.Pakistan’s bowlers do not seem have such a pronounced edge over Sri Lanka’s batsmen, despite Yasir Shah’s rich haul on Sunday evening. Lahiru Thirimanne stroked his way to a significant score for the first time in the series, and in the Sri Lanka top seven, there is a mix of talent and experience that suggests the team can compete in one department at least. Any hope of Sri Lanka levelling this series lies in that batting order.Security has been substantially beefed up for this match, after violence broke out in the stands then spread to the surrounding neighbourhood on Sunday evening. The players were never in great danger that evening, but Sri Lanka’s authorities have made plans to deploy Special Task Force personnel through the venue.

Form guide

Sri Lanka: LWLLW (last five matches, most recent first)Pakistan: WLWWW

In the spotlight

Lasith Malinga continues to battle substantial injury concerns, but arguably he does not help himself out by allowing the kilograms to pile on. He has been a diminished international bowler in the past year, but appears to harbour hopes of defending the World T20 crown he was instrumental in achieving in 2014. Mathews said he had had a chat to his spearhead about three modest outings so far, and hopes a corner will be turned.He’s among the more non-descript Pakistan bowlers, but Rahat Ali has found the means to trouble Sri Lanka’s batsmen all through the tour, on every kind of surface. Sharp, with a natural length that invites the drive, Rahat has delivered incisive new-ball spells and posed a menace through the middle overs as well. He equals Hafeez as the highest wicket-taker with six scalps in the series so far.

Teams news

Has Sri Lanka lost patience with Thisara Perera? His place seems the shakiest in this XI. Mathews also suggested Ashan Priyanjan could be in line for a return to the team, probably at the expense of Milinda Siriwardana.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Kusal Perera, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Lahiru Thirimanne, 4 Upul Tharanga, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt.), 6 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 7 Ashan Priyanjan, 8 Sachith Pathirana, 9 Thisara Perera/ Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Nuwan PradeepPakistan are unlikely to change a winning combination.Pakistan (probable): 1 Azhar Ali (capt.), 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Mohammad Rizwan, 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Anwar Ali, 9 Yasir Shah, 10 Rahat Ali, 11 Mohammad Irfan

Pitch and conditions

There are thunderstorms forecast for Wednesday afternoon, so there is a chance the match will go into its reserve day, on Thursday. Angelo Mathews said he didn’t know what to make of the pitch, which both appeared dry, yet featured live grass.

Stats and trivia

• Sri Lanka’s bowlers have taken 12 wickets in the series so far, to Pakistan’s 24 scalps (not including run outs).
• Kusal Perera needs 20 runs to bring up a 1000 runs in ODIs. He has played 44 innings.
• Sri Lanka have lost nine and won five matches against Full Member opposition this year.

Quotes

“You can’t have XI new players. I know that this is a transition period, but it has to be a smooth transition. Experience also matters. Younger players learn from the experienced guys. More often than not we think about injecting new blood into the system as well as the need to win. You need to have that correct combination when it comes to youth and experience. We’ve got a few experienced guys – TM Dilshan is one, Lasith Malinga is one, and Upul Tharanga has played quite a lot of one dayers. But all the others haven’t played that many games.”

Warwickshire were indebted to a gritty unbeaten 144 from their former captain Ian Westwood for sustaining their County Championship title challenge

07-Sep-2011
ScorecardIan Westwood laid a solid platform for Warwickshire•Getty Images

Warwickshire were indebted to a gritty unbeaten 144 from their former captain Ian Westwood for sustaining their County Championship title challenge against defending champions Nottinghamshire at Edgbaston.The left-handed opener batted through an attritional day to help Warwickshire to 235 for 3 and collect a batting bonus point which nibbled away at the seven-point gap leaders Durham, who sit out this round of matches, enjoyed at the start of play.It was hard going against an accurate seam attack and the batsmen also found timing difficult when the ball went soft. But Westwood applied himself diligently and his patient innings stabilised the innings with support from Jim Troughton after Warwickshire had made uncertain progress to 114 for 3.Westwood’s century was the ninth of his career and his second of a season that was disrupted by a broken finger last month. He resigned last winter after two years as captain so that he could concentrate on his batting and found form in mid-season after a spell of second-team cricket.Westwood dominated a second-wicket stand of 56 with William Porterfield, of which the Ireland captain’s contribution was only 14, and then shared a more fluent unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 121 with Troughton, who succeeded him as captain.Warwickshire’s innings almost shuddered to a halt during a tedious afternoon session when they were pegged back by the accuracy of Andre Adams and they managed only 54 runs in 29 overs. Shivnarine Chanderpaul batted 46 balls for eight runs but then edged a low catch to Chris Read off Darren Pattinson.Chanderpaul and Westwood had chiselled out 19 from 17 overs in a strokeless third-wicket stand but Westwood then played with greater fluency and turned a 106-ball 50 into a 205-ball century. The majority of his 16 fours were cut or off driven. There was a moment of alarm for Westwood as he neared his century with a top-edged hook for four off Adams, who was again the pick of Nottinghamshire’s attack.Westwood outscored Troughton in their unbroken stand of 121 but Troughton, without a championship century in two years, buckled down and played a disciplined innings in support of his fellow left-hander.Both attacked against slow left-armer Graeme White with Westwood bringing up the 200 when he went down the pitch and straight drove the spinner. Westwood had just struck his 20th boundary of the day when umpires Nick Cook and Steve O’Shaughnessy took the players off for bad light 40 minutes before the scheduled close.

A round-up of matches from the first day of the One Day National Cup Division Two 2010-11

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jan-2011Group A
Left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti and opener Sharjeel Khan starred in Hyderabad Hawks’ resounding win over Quetta Bears at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad. Put in to bat, Quetta’s batsmen went about laying a solid platform for a challenging score but failed to consolidate on starts. Each of the top seven batsmen reached double-figures, including Taimur Ali who top-scored with 34, but a steady fall of wickets amid some tight bowling restricted Quetta. Bhatti bagged three wickets as Quetta were bowled out for 188. In response, Sharjeel made mince meat out of Quetta’s score, smashing three sixes and 16 fours in his unbeaten 129 to seal victory with almost 14 overs to spare.Three half-centuries set up State Bank of Pakistan‘s successful chase of 256 against Karachi Zebras at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex in Karachi. Shoaib Khan jnr, the opener, set the ball rolling with a half-century before he retired hurt, and Adnan Raees and Naved Yasin took on the mantle in in a 114-run third-wicket stand. Yasin was aggressive while Raees scored steadily to help scale what seemed like a challenging total with 28 balls to spare. The fourth-wicket pair of Wajihuddin and Rameez Aziz had struck fifties in helping the Zebras reach 255, but their efforts were in vain as SBP won the battle of the bats.Group B
Lahore Eagles edged a low-scoring contest against Peshawar Panthers at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. Offspinner Waqas Aslam combined with seamer Emmad Ali to skittle out Peshawar for 135 as the pair shared seven wickets; only Nawaz Ahmed was able to offer any significant resistance with 34. In response, seamer Taj Ali bagged four wickets to put the Eagles under pressure but captain Intikhab Alam led the reply with 39 and Aamer Hayat guided the team home by two wickets in the 36th over with an unbeaten 20.Khan Research Laboratories, thanks to a 118-run stand between opener SaeedAnwar jnr and Ali Naqvi, had reached 166 for 3 in 36 overs against Abbottabad Falcons at the Gohati Cricket Stadium in Swabi before rain intervened and washed out the remainder of the game.