Nepal's achievement, on their World T20 debut was no less memorable

For the first time in five years, an Associate nation has won a game at the World T20. Okay, so that was a given, as Hong Kong and Nepal contested the maiden encounter between two second-tier sides in the tournament's history, but Nepal's achievement, on their World T20 debut, was no less memorable for that. 

Paras Khadka, Nepal's statesmanlike captain and the man who has been so visible in their remarkable rise through the echelons of world cricket, struck a belligerent 41 and Gyanendra Malla 48 to set up a resounding 80-run win. Hong Kong, bristling with confidence before the game, crumbled in pursuit of 150, dismissed with three overs left unbowled as only three batsmen made double figures. Playing in front of the TV cameras, if not a packed-out stadium, perhaps exacerbated their nerves. 

Having worked hard to get back into the match after an 80-run stand between Khadka and Malla, Hong Kong slipped quickly back into the red by losing two wickets in the first two overs. Babar Hayat and Waqas Barkat got through the Powerplay before Shakti Gauchan claimed the first of his three wickets and when Mark Chapman was bowled by Basant Regmi - the first of two in two balls for Nepal's slow left-armer - it precipitated a calamitous collapse. 

Gauchan struck twice in the next over, rattling the stumps for the fourth time in a row, and charged off with his arm pointing to the sky in celebration. This was a night on which Nepal's passion for cricket was given rich reward. 

"Paras Khadka, chhaka padka" [Paras Khadka, hit a six] implored the Nepal support and this was the only facet of their evening in which they were to be disappointed. On social media, pictures were posted of crowds gathered in front of specially erected big screens in towns and cities in Nepal. Much has been made of this World T20 extending cricket's global reach; in Khadka, who later took a wicket with his first ball, Nepal has an impressive ambassador. 

Ponting calls on Australia to raise their game

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said his side had to address "fundamental skill errors" after presiding over his country's first Test defeat at Lord's in 75 years. England's 115-run win concluded on Monday in the second Test saw them take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series just over a week after they scrambled to a draw with one wicket standing in the first Test in Cardiff.

Ponting pinpointed the first innings, where Australia could only manage 215 in reply to England's 425, on a typically good batting pitch at Lord's, as a key factor in the eventual outcome. They then collapsed to 128 for five in their second innings, chasing a world record 522 to win, before a sixth-wicket stand of 185 between Michael Clarke, who made a superb 136, and wicket-keeper Brad Haddin (80) revived Australia.

However, both men lost their wickets as England took the five they needed for victory before lunch on Monday, with fast bowler Andrew Flintoff (three) and off-spinner Graeme Swann (two) doing the damage. "There are fundamental skill errors that we have made in this game," Ponting told reporters here on Monday.

"I'm not just talking about the bowling. We didn't bat very well either in our first innings. Two hundred-odd on that wicket was a long way short of what we needed to get. "The first two days was where the game was decided. I was pretty happy with the way we stuck at things for the remainder of the game. It's just little skill errors that have cost us big time."

Ponting insisted the teams remained evenly matched, unlike the 2006/07 Ahes where he led Australia to a 5-0 whitewash of their oldest foes. It's grabbing the momentum when you can and running with it for as long as you can that's going to decide this series," he said. "If you look at this game, they grabbed the momentum on day one, ran with it, and we found it hard to wrest it back.

"A lot of Test matches are won with what happens in the first hour's play. We were a fair bit off at the start of this game and we have to make sure we're a whole lot better when we start the third one." England captain Andrew Strauss was delighted by the way his side had bounced back from a mediocre performance in Cardiff.

"It was pretty much the ideal response," said Strauss. "It was important we came out and started the game well. "We'd been given that little bit of momentum from the way the guys played that final day in Cardiff and we needed to build on that. "We came out well and put the Aussies under pressure for the first three-and-a-half days, but as is always a case in an Ashes Test they come back at you at some stage.

"To go 1-0 up in the series is all you can ask for and if we can continue playing that brand of consistent, positive cricket then we'll put them under pressure again and then it's just a case of us taking our chances." The third Test starts at Edgbaston on July 30.

Kolkata Knight Riders beat Chennai Super Kings by 7 wickets

It all came back for the Knight Riders, albeit a little too late. All the gumption that Shah Rukh Khan expected from his Knights was there to be seen as Brendon McCullum's boys made a fabulous chase of a huge 189-run target to notch up their second win of the tournament.

Scorecard

The last over blues almost haunted them yet again, as they needed six off the last six balls. But Wriddhiman Saha and Brad Hodge held their nerves and did it on the last ball in spite of a brave effort with the ball by Suresh Raina.

The skipper led from the front and had some of the shots he played came off earlier in the tournament, Knight Riders may not have been languishing where they are at the moment.

The Kiwi just put his front foot forward and hit through the line as the Chennai bowlers struggled to keep him in check. Whenever anything was pitched short, he promptly went on to the back foot and pulled with ease.

It seemed that McCullum (81 off 48 balls) will run away with the game, but Shadab Jakati removed him to get Dhoni's boys back in control. But Brad Hodge was there to take charge. He launched a vicious attack on the Chennai bowling line-up which didn't look at their best on the day.

Chennai were in the mood to experiment just a bit in the game with a semis berth already booked. Hayden took a break, but with MS Dhoni and Raina around in the middle-order, it was difficult for the likes of Albie Morkel and Jacob Oram to get some batting practice. The duo carried on with their supreme form as Team Chennai looked set to close in on Delhi at the top.

Though the game was of academic interest, Raina was not in the mood to let the opportunity go. From the time he came to the crease, Raina looked to take on Ajantha Mendis and he did that with consummate ease.

A couple of his huge hits off Mendis disappeared into the stands and Chennai were on a roll. Even after Raina got out, Dhoni carried on with his breathtaking strokeplay. But all that fell flat following the Hodge-McCullum heroics.

South Africa to host IPL 2nd season

South Africa was on Tuesday named as the host for the second edition of the Indian Premier League which has been shifted out of India because of security apprehensions.

IPL commissioner Lalit Modi and Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola announced the news formally in a press conference in Johannesburg. The decision to hold the lucrative Twenty20 tournament was taken after a meeting between Modi and Majola at an undisclosed venue.

"We are very happy to confirm that South Africa will host the 2009 Indian Premier League," IPL chairman Lalit Modi said in a statement following a meeting with Cricket South Africa.

The tournament will be held between April 18 and May 24, a delay of about one week from the original schedule of April 10, 2009. Modi thanked CSA for agreeing to host the Twenty20 event in such a short notice.

"We would like to thank Cricket South Africa very much for the support they have given us over the past few days, which has helped us to come to this decision," said Modi. “And we look forward to a successful and exciting tournament being held at venues throughout South Africa," Modi said in the news release.

Six venues have been identified for staging the eight-team tournament and the matches will start at 4 pm IST and 8 pm IST to make it convenient for Indian elevision viewers back home. The tournament will feature 59 matches as planned and the fixtures will be announced shortly.

South Africa pipped England as the venue after the BCCI decided to shift the tournament outside India because of security issues in view of the general elections.

"The organisers can be assured that they have the full support of CSA's structures and the South African public to stage a successful tournament,” said Majola, CEO CSA, during the press release.

"This is a great compliment to both CSA and our nation to be shown this confidence in our ability to hold one of the world's top sporting events at short notice,” continued Majola.

England was initially tipped to be the front-runner but the wet weather there during April and May swayed the IPL officials to consider South Africa as the preferred venue.

Another reason for England's chances receding is the assurance from South Africa government and CSA officials that the tournament will receive full support.

South Africa was considered to be a better option because the cost of running the tournament would be substantially less than in England and their domestic event would have concluded by the time IPL began, sources said.

Nepal lifts ACC U-19 Women's Championship

In their first international victory, Nepal's women cricket team celebrates victory at Chiang Mai, Thailand, after defeating Malaysia in the final match of ACC U-19 Women's Championship on Tuesday, Dec 23 08.

Nepal routed Malaysia by seven wickets, reaching the 46 run target in just 12 overs. Nepal's Sonu Khadka took three wickets while Rekha Rawal and Keshari Choudhari took 2 wickets each.

Invited to bat first after losing toss, Malaysia lost its wickets in 16.2 overs.

Nepal remained unbeaten in earlier matches of the tournament, sidelining Bhutan, Singapore, Kuwait and China.

"We always knew we had the team to win, we've been playing a long time and have enough confidence in matches," ACC's website www.asiancricket.org quoted Nepal's captain Nary Thapa as saying on her team's victory.

"We played very well," reacted Nepal's coach Jameel Ansari.

Last year, Nepal had lost to Bangladesh in the ACC U-19 Championship.

Nepal U-19 ladies cricket team off to Thailand

Nepal U-19 ladies cricket team has left for Thailand to compete in the ACC U-19 Women Cricket Tournament starting from 13th December to 23rd at Chiang Mai.

Versatile athlete Nary Thapa, who is also the national champion in badminton, is leading the team while Maya Rawat is her deputy. Sarita Diswamagar, Sita Ranamagar, Keshari Chaudhary, Sabina Karki, Gita Chudal, Mamata Thapa, Trishna Singh, Roshani Bohara, Sonu Khadka, Rekha Rawal, Sushminta Chaudhary and Binu Budhamagar are the other players.

The substitutes are Benja Rayamajhi, Samjhana Sharma, Sarita Magar and Rachita Ojha.

Nepal is drawn into Group B along with Malaysia, Singapore, Kuwait, China and Bhutan. The top two teams from each group will make their way to the semifinal round.

Nepal is slated to play its first match against Malaysia on December 13, second match against Bhutan on December 14, third match against Singapore on December 16, fourth match against Kuwait on December 17 and fifth match against China on December 20.

Member Secretary of National Sports Council Jeevan Ram Shrestha and President of Cricket Association of Nepal Binaya Raj Pandey bade farewell to
the team.

Meanwhile, talking to Nepalnews, skipper Nary Thapa said that China and Malaysia are the real threat in the tournament. Bangladesh had defeated Nepal in the previous edition.

India completed a crushing victory over Australia in the second Test

India completed a crushing victory over Australia by a record margin of 320 runs in the second Test on Tuesday to seize a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.

It was India's biggest ever Test win by runs, bettering their 280-run success over South Africa in Kanpur in 1996. Khan struck in the first over to dismiss Brad Haddin and snuff out any slim Australian hopes of salvaging a draw.

Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke top-scored with 69 before being the last man out, pulling leg spinner Amit Mishra to mid-wicket. Mishra finished with a match haul of seven for 106 after claiming five wickets in the first innings on his Test debut.

An off-colour Australia, reduced to 141 for five overnight, subsided against pace and spin on a slow Mohali pitch. Khan struck his first blow when he bowled Haddin on his overnight score of 37 with a perfect off-stump yorker.

In the next over, he forced Cameron White (1) to edge a drive to give wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni a low catch and he bowled Brett Lee first ball to be on a hat-trick.

Clarke, who added 84 runs for the sixth wicket with Haddin, put on another 50 for the ninth with Mitchell Johnson (26) before Mishra had the tail-ender caught and bowled.

Harbhajan Singh took five wickets in the match to leave himself one short of becoming the third Indian bowler to claim 300 Test wickets.

Sachin Tendulkar claimed the world record for most Test runs and Sourav Ganguly struck 102 in his farewell series to help India amass 469 in their first innings. The first Test in Bangalore ended in a draw. The third Test starts in New Delhi on October 29.

Tendulkar breaks Lara's record, crosses 12000-run mark

Sachin Tendulkar became the highest scorer in Test cricket after surpassing West Indian legend Brian Lara in the ongoing second Test in Mohali on Friday.

After breaking Lara’s record, Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman to reach 12000-run mark in Test cricket.

The Master Blaster needed just 15 runs today to overtake Lara's Test match tally of 11,953 runs and establishing a fourth world record in his illustrious career.

The 35-year-old batting maestro is already the world's top-scorer in One-Day International (16,361) and has the most centuries in Test matches (39) and One-dayers (42).

The Mumbaikar came close to surpass Lara's milestone in the drawn first Test in Bangalore but he fell short of just 15 runs after playing a gritty knock of 49 runs in the second innings to help India seal a draw.

Sachin made his Test debut at the tender age of 16 against Pakistan in 1989 in Karachi. From there on the little master of world cricket has never looked back.

The Mumbaikar came into limelight with his first Test century on a seaming Old Trafford track against a formidable English attack as he saved the match for India.

Tendulkar still remains the most admired cricketer from all quarters the world ranging from experts to cricket ardent fans despite not being in his best of form off late.

The body of the master blaster has taken its toll as he has been playing international cricket to close to two decades. Though several injuries marred his playing career time and again during the last five years but his never-say-die attitude still makes him the heartthrob of cricketing world.

India beat Sri Lanka by 33 runs

India made mess of a brilliant start as they just managed to scrape through to a narrow 33-run win in the third one-day to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

After putting up 237 on board, India had the Lankans on the mat as the hosts were reduced to 94 for seven at one stage but visitors dropped as many as four catches to put themselves in an embarrassing situation in the flood lit affair.

Earlier, Dhoni played a captain's knock of 76 runs to rescue India from a mid-innings collapse. Indian top-order struggled to be among runs but thanks to Dhoni's crucial partnerships with Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma, India were able to get past the 200-run mark after electing to bat.

The left-handed diminutive Raina also batted sensibly for his 80-ball 53 and kept the scoreboard ticking when wickets were tumbling at the other end.

Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene raked up a sensational 94-run knock and brought his team close to the doors of an incredible victory but could not finish the game in his team's favour as the hosts innings folded at 204 in 49 overs.

South Africa complete victory on fourth day

South Africa defeated England by 10 wickets in the second Test at Headingley on Monday to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series with a day to spare.

England, who made 203 on Friday, were dismissed for 327 in their second innings shortly before the close on the fourth day, leaving South Africa needing only nine runs to win.

South Africa's winning performance was dominated by centuries from AB de Villiers (174) and Ashwell Prince (149) as they set up their team's imposing first innings total of 522. De Villiers revealed he was motivated by boos from the crowd and abuse from England players after he claimed a catch on Friday that was shown to have bounced first.

Andrew Flintoff, in his first Test for 18 months, resisted South Africa's victory charge in an unusually slow innings of 38 from 95 balls before he was caught at second slip off Morne Morkel. The time in the middle should at least be some consolation for him and England.

The day started well for England as night-watchman James Anderson took some painful blows to the body from Dale Steyn while making a Test best 34.

Top scorer Alastair Cook was caught off a leading edge by Hashim Amla at cover from the bowling of Jacques Kallis for 60 after batting for almost five hours.

South Africa are seeking their first series win in England since their return from international isolation. They last won in 1965.

Smith keeps South Africa hopes alive

South Africa captain Graeme Smith ground out a 23rd Test half-century on Sunday to keep alive his teams hopes of saving the first Test against England at Lord's.

At tea on the fourth day South Africa were 128 without loss in their second innings after being asked to follow on 346 runs in arrears. Smith had scored 71 and his opening partner Neil McKenzie was on 50.

The 50 partnership took 164 minutes and the century stand was posted in 109 minutes with a controlled edge by Smith to the third man boundary.

Smith had reached his half-century from 106 balls while McKenzie took 190 for his 15th Test fifty.

Runs rushed more liberally after the lunch interval with Smith off-driving James Anderson to the boundary and using his feet well to on-drive Panesar for another four. He established his growing mastery over the bowlers with a flowing off-drive off Panesar for four in the left-arm spinner's final over before tea.

McKenzie played one false shot off Anderson past Ambrose to the boundary but was otherwise rarely troubled.

Bell chimes for England against South Africa

Ian Bell fell painfully short of a double century at Lord's but his Test-best 199 left England in a commanding position against South Africa on the second day of their series opener on Friday.

The Proteas, when rain forced an early close, were seven without loss in reply to England's first innings 593 for eight declared, a deficit of 586.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith, who'd opted to field after winning the toss, was two not out and Neil McKenzie five not out.

Bell did something few England batsmen have managed in recent years - upstage the South Africa-born Kevin Pietersen who earlier made 152 in his first Test innings against the Proteas.

His innings was all the more impressive as Bell had arrived at Lord's under pressure for his England place after making just 45 runs in his four previous Test innings and knowing Andrew Flintoff's return from injury was imminent.

Bell completed his 150 in classic style by driving Steyn straight down the ground for four into the pavilion fence.

Hopes both England's centurions would bat through the morning session ended when Pietersen's gloved hook off Morkel was caught down the leg-side by wicket-keeper Mark Boucher.

Pietersen hundred puts England on top

Kevin Pietersen marked his first Test innings against South Africa, the land of his birth; with a commanding 104 not out as England regained the initiative here at Lord's on Thursday.

England, at stumps on the first day of the first Test, was 309 for three, having been 117 for three not long after Pietersen came to the crease.

And England's position might have been worse had not South Africa missed a chance to run-out Pietersen before he'd scored.

But come the close they were on top, especially as South Africa captain Graeme Smith had decided to field after winning the toss in the opening match of this four-Test series.

Ian Bell initially led the fightback with some stylish shot-making before becoming more of a support act. However, at the close he was 75 not out, his unbroken stand with Pietersen worth 192 in 46 overs.

The 28-year-old Pietersen, whose decision to turn his back on South Africa because he believed a racial proportion selection policy was hampering his progress remains controversial in his homeland, found his form against left-arm spinner Paul Harris.

Then a forcing boundary shot through point off Morkel saw Pietersen to his century, which he celebrated outrageously by punching the air in delight as he leapt off the pitch.

He'd reached three figures in just 127 balls with one six and 13 fours. It was his 13th hundred in 40 Tests and his fourth at Lord's. But Pietersen's reaction spoke more expressively than statistics ever could.

Pakistan crush India by 8 wkts to stay afloat

Familiar Team India opponent Younis Khan (123 not out) rose to the instance with a dazzling century as Pakistan chased down a threatening target course to an eight-wicket win against their lackluster archrivals to stay floating in the Asia Cup cricket tournament.

With Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (76), Rohit Sharma (58) and Virender Sehwag (49) chipping in with the bat, India put 308 for seven on the board.

Their languid bowling colleagues, however, could not defend the total and Pakistan speed to 309 for two wickets in 45.3 overs to make the chase look like a leisurely walk in the park.

Chasing 309 to stay afloat in the tournament, Pakistan got off to a rollicking start with Nasir Jamshed (53) and Salman Butt (36) taking the Indian attack by the scruff of its neck.

And when Butt returned, following an almighty mix-up, and Jamshed retired hurt due to dehydration, Younis Khan once again emerged as India's bogeyman, while stand-in skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (70 not out off 62 balls) ensured it remains an all-round memorable outing for him.

Pakistan meet Bangladesh day after and going by form, the hosts should not have much of a problem taming the minnows. In such a case, run-rate might play a vital role in deciding who play the Lankans on Sunday.

Sehwag slams historic triple ton

Friday, March 28, 2008

India opener Virender Sehwag hit his second career triple century in the first Test against South Africa on Friday. Sehwag finished unbeaten on 309 as India reached 468 for one in reply to South Africa's first innings 540 all out at the close on the third day. The Indian batsman lashed 42 fours and five sixes to race to his triple hundred, nudging paceman Makhaya Ntini for a single to square-leg.

The 29-year-old, who also made 309 against Pakistan at Multan in 2004, became only the third player to achieve the feat of two triple 100s, matching Australian Don Bradman and West Indies batsman Brian Lara. It was the fastest triple hundred in Test cricket since the scorers began recording number of balls faced by a batsman. Sehwag chased to 300 off 278 balls in the final session, outshining Australian Matthew Hayden's 362-ball effort when he scored a then world record 380 against Zimbabwe at Perth in 2003-04.

Sehwag, who batted for eight hours to reach the milestone, lifted his arms triumphantly as the South African fielders applauded and the Indian players and the rest of the spectators gave him a standing great reception.

Brett Lee falls just short in quest for maiden ton

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

World record holder Haile Gebreselassie has confirmed in an interview with a Spanish newspaper that he will not run in the Beijing Olympics marathon due to the climatic conditions in the Chinese capital. He says he does not want to 'commit suicide' as he suffers from asthma and also added that its purely his personal decision to protect his health from the pollution, heat and humidity in Beijing.