Sports Bulletin

Bipin Dani The father of Zimbabwe's captain Craig Ervine has been following the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka on the internet as there is no live telecast of these matches in his country.  Rory Ervine was disappointed when Craig could not complete the century in the second ODI. "Missing a century is always disappointing but winning the game is rather more important", he said over the telephone from Harare.   He was bowled in Nervous Nineties. "Out is out, whether bowled or caught. It is the same. It was unfortunate. I think the batter has to keep playing the best he can for the sake of the team", he added. Incidentally, Craig is born in a sports loving family. Father played First Class matches, two brothers-Sean and Ryan and uncle Neil also played cricket. "Having family members to play cricket helped Craig to hone his skills", the dad added.         Craig almost had a hand amputated in his early teens following a freak accident where he slipped and fell on broken glass in his family's living room. His mum Judy, who is still a nurse, immediately helped his son from excessive bleeding. The injury required a three-hour reconstructive operation to his right hand.

Bipin Dani Sri Lanka's fast bowler Chamika Gunasekara is out of the ongoing series against Zimbabwe, it is learnt. The 22-year-old right-arm pacer must be considering himself to be the "unlucky" player as he could bowl only one over on his debut match against Zimbabwe on Sunday but had to leave the field following the hamstring injury.  "He has left the team hotel and headed for home", the SLC source said exclusively.     "He has been advised to rest and may be out for about 4-6 weeks". Good news for the visiting Zimbabwe team was that their Indian head coach Lalchand Rajput was given a green signal to join the squad. "Yes, in his last PCR test done on Monday, he was tested negative and headed to Kandy Tuesday morning", one of the sources said from Colombo. The second ODI between the two teams was played on a different pitch and not on the first wicket, where the Sri Lankan team had won.  

Sports Bulletin ISLAMABAD:-South Africa’s Dewald Brevis and England’s Tom Prest played captain’s innings to propel their sides to victory at the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup. Brevis cracked 108 and took the final wicket as South Africa downed Uganda by 121 runs in Trinidad, an emphatic response to their opening Group B defeat at the hands of India. Prest made 93 at a run-a-ball before chipping in with two wickets to see England to a 106-run victory over Canada, making it back-to-back Group A wins in the process. In the day’s other game in Trinidad, Afghanistan became the final team to get their tournament underway and rolled Uganda for 65 to prevail by 135 runs. ‘Baby AB’ puts on a show Having elected to make first use of the Queen’s Park Oval pitch, the young Proteas stuttered and lost openers Ethan-John Cunningham (1) and Valintine Kitime (12) in the powerplay. That brought Brevis to the crease, with the starlet nicknamed ‘Baby AB’ hoping to build on his fine 65 in a tournament-opening loss to India. He cracked a pair of back-foot boundaries from the second and third balls he faced and pulled medium pacer Yunusu Sowobi dismissively for six in the 13th over. Brevis’s fast start allowed skipper George Van Heerden to play on the undercard and the pair combined for 74 before the latter pulled a full toss to Fahad Mutagana at 113 for three. Brevis pressed on, scoring heavily behind square on the off side and building a half-century partnership with Kaden Solomon that ended when the keeper-batter was stumped at 166 for four. Wickets fell around him regularly but with a quick single in the 41st over, Brevis brought up a superb century from 108 balls and lifted his side above 200. The innings petered out somewhat and South Africa lost their last five wickets for 24 runs thanks to seamers Juma Miyagi (3-33) and Pascal Murungi (3-58). Uganda also found the powerplay overs tough going and left-armer Aphiwe Mnyanda turned the screw early on, castling Ronald Omara in the second over. Mutagana and Isaac Ategeka steadied the ship and got to 33 for one before the former nicked off to Solomon to give Mnyanda another. That would prove the biggest partnership of the innings as Uganda subsided to 110 all out, losing their last five wickets for 24 runs. Brevis was the undisputed star of the show with bat and ball, also chipping in with 2-18 and bowling Juma Miyai to take the wicket that sealed victory. South Africa finish their Group B campaign against Ireland on Friday while Uganda face group leaders India on Saturday. England show off batting firepower England only needed to chase down 98 to win their opening game against Bangladesh but could flex their batting muscles when inserted by Canada at Warner Park. Jacob Bethell (7) was bowled in the seventh over, bringing together George Thomas and captain Tom Prest who immediately took the game to the Canadian bowling attack. Prest was particularly good at picking length and pealed a pair of fours from the final over of the powerplay, which England ended at 48 for one. He also played an inventive scoop off Gurnek Singh for four behind square and brought up his half-century in 58 balls. Prest lost Thomas midway through the innings when he played a tentative push and missed, bowled for 52 at 116 for two. He was ably supported by James Rew (33) and when the skipper was trapped in front for a run-a-ball 93, the momentum was maintained by William Luxton and George Bell. The buccaneering pair struck five sixes between them with Bell responsible for three in an eye-catching 57 from just 35 balls. That took England to 320-7 from 50 overs. England got rid of Canada opener Siddh Lad (5) in the fifth over but were met with firm resistance in the form of a second-wicket stand worth 60. Keeper-batter Anook Chima made a measured 38 from 65 balls and Yasir Mahmood (25) joined him at the crease for a productive ten overs. Skipper Prest got rid of Mahmood and then four wickets fell for 35 runs as the Canadian run chase floundered. England were defied by Gurnek Singh, who hit four fours and two sixes, and Ethan Gibson who also played a range of attacking shots in a seventh-wicket stand worth 74. But Josh Boyden took control with the ball and snaffled three of the last four wickets to fall to tear 4-44, his second four-wicket hall in as many games. Canada were only bowled out in the penultimate over, for 214. Afghanistan excel with bat and ball Afghanistan, quarter-finals at the last edition of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, made a steady start but were rocked by shedding three wickets in four overs inside the powerplay. Mohammad Ishaq (21) was brilliantly caught by Peter Karoho, Bilal Sayedi (12) was comprehensively bowled and Allah Noor (2) flicked to a fielder as they sank to 40 for three. The innings hinged on the fourth-wicket stand between captain Suliman Safi and Ijaz Ahmadzai, who took the game away from PNG with a partnership of 105. They struck a perfect balance between attack and defence and dealt primarily in boundaries, with 44 of Safi’s 62 runs coming from fours and Ahmadzai striking seven fours and a six. They were separated by Katenalaki Singi at 145-4 and his superb spell of 4-18 from five overs helped bowl Afghanistan out for 200 in 38.2 overs. But PNG, appearing at the event for the eighth time, never looked likely to chase it down and it was downhill from the moment that Karoho was bowled on the first ball of the innings. The Afghan attack all excelled and emerged with remarkable figures, with Naveed Zadran taking 2-9 from five overs and Nangeyalia Kharote 2-5 from three. With No.8 Aue Oru top-scoring with 13, PNG were dismissed for 65 from 20.5 overs. Next up for Afghanistan is rivals Pakistan on Thursday, who PNG then face on Saturday.

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD (January 18, 2022):-Pre-tournament favourites Bangladesh and Sri Lanka eased to victory in their respective games on the opening day of the ICC Commonwealth Games Qualifier 2022 at the Kinrara Oval in Kuala Lumpur. Bangladesh spinners set up a regulation run chase to overcome Malaysia while Sri Lanka thwarted Scotland through a powerful batting display. Bangladesh beat Malaysia by 8 wickets Bangladesh got off to a winning start on the back of a disciplined bowling effort led by Rumana Ahmed, who picked up two for four in her full quota before a quick-fire 28 from Shamima Sultana helped them chase down a target of 50 in just eight overs. Bangladesh won the toss, elected to field first, and strung together a procession of dot balls in the Powerplay. Malaysian opener Wan Julia lost her off stump to an arm ball from off-spinner Salma Khatun to leave the hosts one wicket down in the fourth over with just three runs on the board. Yusrina Yakoop was next to go, playing around a low full toss from seamer Suraya Azmim. Mas Elysa then joined skipper Winifred Duraisingam at the crease. The pair stitched together 15 runs — the highest partnership of the innings — before Mas Elysa backed up too far at the non-striker’s end and was run out by bowler Nahida Akter. A few balls later, Malaysian skipper Duraisingam charged down the track and drove left-arm spinner Akter through the off-side for the first boundary of the innings. However, she departed in the very next over after chipping Ritu Moni to Sobhana Mostary at backward point. Malaysia was reeling at 26 for four at the halfway point and things only got tougher as leg-spinner Rumana Ahmed was introduced into the attack. She gave nothing away, picking up the key wickets of Ainna Hamizah and Arianna Natasya; the latter caught and bowled. Akter returned to clean bowl Nur Zulaika before Suraya Azmim disturbed the timber of Nik Atelia. Malaysia would go on to post 49 for nine with Duraisingam top-scoring with 12 off 31 balls. Needing to chase 50 for victory at 2.5 runs per over, Bangladesh’s openers wasted no time whatsoever. Shamima Sultana brought up a milestone of 500 T20I runs courtesy of a flurry of boundaries, including a towering six over square leg off the bowling of Duraisingam. With the opening partnership at 38, Malaysian left-arm spinner Arianna Natasya remained competitive, dismissing Salma Khatun off a straighter one that grabbed her outside edge and was taken by wicketkeeper Wan Julia. In her next over, she snared the wicket of the dangerous Sultana, but it was all too late as skipper Nigar Sultana and Fargana Hoque steered Bangladesh home with 12 overs and eight wickets to spare. Leg-spinner Rumana Ahmed was adjudged Player of the Match. “As a spinner, turn is less but (the pitch is) good for spinners if they bowl in the right areas with good variation,” she said. Malaysian skipper Duraisingam admitted that they were short on runs in the first innings. “First of all we need to put runs on the board. We need to start believing in ourselves and apply it in the centre,” she said. Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana acknowledged how her team’s hard work is paying off. “We worked so hard back home for this. We played some practice matches…we all know if we do well here, this is going to help us in the upcoming World Cup as well,” she said Sri Lanka beat Scotland by 109 runs Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu led from the front, pummeling 86 runs off 45 balls with 13 fours and two sixes to propel her team to 182 before her bowlers stepped up to bowl Scotland out for 73. Scotland, however, were unfortunate to lose both Lorna Jack and Ellen Watson to injury; the former not batting at all and the latter retiring hurt on 30. Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat. Athapaththu took advantage of opening bowlers Kathryn Bryce and Rachel Slater missing their lines in the Powerplay as she scored boundaries all around the wicket. Teenage off-spinner Katherine Fraser was then introduced into the attack, trapping opener Vishmi Gunaratne in front for eight. Chamari Athapaththu of Sri Lanka hands over her Player of the Match to Sachini Nisansala Chamari Athapaththu of Sri Lanka hands over her Player of the Match to Sachini Nisansala This, however, did not deter the Sri Lankan skipper who peppered the off side boundary both in front of and behind square, taking seamer Hannah Rainey for 15 runs in her solitary over and leg-spinner Abtaha Maqsood for 13 in her first over. Abtaha would return to snare the wicket of Athapaththu with a smart piece of bowling that saw the batter stumped down the leg side. However, just as Scotland were edging their way back into the contest, the trio of Harshitha Madhavi, Nilakshi De Silva, and Ama Kanchana combined to score 53 runs in the last five overs to get Sri Lanka up to 182 for four. In reply, Scotland started well with both Ellen Watson and Sarah Bryce finding the fence on a regular basis. Soon after lifting left-arm Udeshika Prabhodani over long on for six, Sarah Bryce tried to go over the top but could not clear mid-off, getting caught in the circle by Nilakshi De Silva. Kathryn Bryce found the boundary immediately with an elegant cover drive before left-arm spinner and debutant Sachini Nisansala bowled her with a straighter one. In her next over, Nisansla would shine again, running out Katie McGill with a direct hit off her own bowling. Two balls later, Ellen Watson limped off the field and Scotland never recovered. They were bowled out for 73 with Watson and Lorna Jack unable to return to the batting crease. Sri Lanka won by 109 runs to put future opponents on notice. Athapathu won the Player of the Match award but chose instead to dedicate her award to debutant Nisansala for her two wickets and an impressive effort in the field. “She is a young and exciting player. She has been doing all the hard work in the nets and I’m happy she made her debut. You can expect some big contributions from her in the future,” said Athapaththu. As captain, she encouraged her bowlers to stick to the basics. “The best bet is to bowl wicket-to-wicket and always put the ball in the right areas. Obviously, minimise the loose balls and wait for the batter to make a mistake,” she said. While Scottish skipper Kathryn Bryce agreed that Athapaththu was in red-hot form, she also cited the dropped chance that allowed her to continue her innings. “We created chances but just didn't take them and that could have changed the momentum of the bowling innings,” she said. Kenya is the fifth team participating in the Qualifier to decide one remaining slot at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. Australia, Barbados, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa have already qualified. Brief scores: Bangladesh beat Malaysia by 8 wickets. Malaysia 49/9 in 20 Overs; Bangladesh 53/2 in 8 overs. Player of the Match: Rumana Ahmed Sri Lanka beat Scotland by 109 runs. Sri Lanka 182/4 in 20 Overs; Scotland 73 All Out in 12.1 Overs. Player of the Match: Chamari Athapaththu

Aamir Ali Janjua Dubai (January 18, 2022):-The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that the 2021 edition of the ICC Awards, celebrating and rewarding the top performances across men’s and women’s international cricket throughout the year will be unveiled on all of ICC’s channels and platforms this week. Beginning with the ICC Teams of the Year in the T20I category for both men’s and women’s on Wednesday, 19 January followed by the ICC Teams of the Year in ODI for both men’s and women’s revealed on Thursday, 20 January. The ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year will also be revealed on 20 January. The individual awards for excellence in women’s and men’s international cricket will be revealed on the ICC channels on 23 and 24 January. This year’s awards will comprise a total of 13 individual awards in all as listed below: Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Year ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year ICC Spirit of Cricket Award ICC Umpire of the Year Players that have had the most impactful performances in the period under consideration – 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 were nominated for these awards. The ICC Voting Academy, comprising a wider selection of global cricket journalists and broadcasters, have voted for their first, second and third choices, while an overwhelming 1.2 million global cricket fans also submitted their votes to choose their favourite cricketers of the year. The result of the ICC Voting Academy selections and the fans’ vote will be combined to determine the winner in each of these categories. The Emerging and Associate categories listed above did not feature shortlists and were determined solely by the ICC Voting Academy.

LAHORE (January 18, 2022):-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today confirmed that it has received the final awards of the arbitration proceedings initiated by it against Techfront International FZE (Techfront) as well as the two separate arbitrations filed against it by Blitz Advertising (Pvt) Limited, before the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), and the outcome of all arbitrations has been favourable towards the PCB. The dispute relating to Techfront International FZE (Techfront) was on default of rights fee payments due in respect of the Television Broadcast and Live Streaming Media Rights Agreements of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL), while the disagreement with Blitz Advertising was, inter alia, on the delayed television broadcast and live streaming media rights fee payments for HBL PSL 2020 matches. In the arbitrations, the sole arbitrator appointed by the LCIA dismissed Techfront and Blitz Advertising’s claims and directed both entities to pay to the PCB rights fees rightfully due to be paid to PCB as claimed as well as the costs claimed by the PCB in lieu of counter-claims, damages, arbitration and legal costs and other miscellaneous expenses incurred. All awards have been issued in accordance with the laws of Pakistan as well as LCIA Rules under which every award shall be final and binding on the parties and by virtue of the arbitration agreement, the parties undertake to carry out any award immediately and without any delay. PCB Chief Operating Officer Barrister Salman Naseer: “These are major triumphs for the PCB as we have been able to successfully claim substantial revenues of the HBL Pakistan Super League. This also indicates we have air-tight contracts and that we will go full distance in protecting the HBL PSL brand as well as the interests of our franchises.” (Press Release)

Sports Report LAHORE:-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) suspended the ongoing National Under-13 and under-16 One-Day Tournaments after it became aware that some over-aged cricketers had been participating in the events taking place in Karachi and Multan, respectively. To protect the spirit and essence of these U13 and U16 tournaments by ensuring that only deserving cricketers feature in the relevant age-group competitions, which act as pillars of the PCB’s Pathways Programme, the PCB has decided to conduct a third round of bone age verification tests, following which the teams may be revised before both tournaments commence next week from scratch. Bone age tests in Multan, where each Cricket Association has fielded two teams each, will be conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, while tests on 150 cricketers (including playing members, traveling reserves and reserve pool of players per side) participating in the U13 event in Karachi will be held on Tuesday. Players found over-aged following the latest bone age tests, will not be allowed to participate in these competitions. However, before the PCB takes appropriate actions, it will provide these players a two-day appeals window at the back of the fresh tests, during which the players can either undergo another round of bone age test or submit their original birth certificates and other supporting documents to verify their ages. Until the tournaments resume, the teams will remain at their stations and will continue to train and practice under the supervision of the PCB-appointed coaches. PCB Director – High Performance, Nadeem Khan: “After visual assessment confirmed that some over-age cricketers were participating in the U13 and U16 tournaments, suspending the events and conducting fresh bone age tests was absolutely the right thing to do. “The PCB, as the sole governing body of cricket in Pakistan, cannot allow over-age cricketers to take advantage of the flaws in the system and cause demotivation and mental stress to deserving under-age cricketers as well as their parents. “Falsifying age to become eligible to participate in age-group cricket is not only an offence but a menace that has been plaguing our system. This now needs to be corrected to protect the integrity of the tournaments as well as to stop the exodus of young talented cricketers. “The PCB will carry-out third round of bone age tests and players who are ultimately found to have breached the process, will be ejected from the tournaments before a decision on their future participation in PCB-organised events is made. Separately, the PCB will also review its internal processes and try to put in place protocols whereby only cricketers who are genuinely the relevant age get an opportunity to compete in PCB-organised events so that they remain on track to fulfilling their dreams though our pathways programmes.”

Sports Bulletin ISLAMABAD:-The ICC has confirmed that the Event Technical Committee of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 has approved Benjamin Cliff as a replacement for Sonny Baker in the England squad. Baker has a back injury and is not able to take any further part in the tournament. The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad. The Event Technical Committee consists of the Chair Chris Tetley (ICC Head of Events), Ben Leaver (ICC Senior Event Manager), Fawwaz Baksh (Tournament Director) Roland Holder (CWI Representative) Alan Wilkins and Russel Arnold (both independent representatives). England will next face Canada in Tuesday’s group A match at Warner Park in St Kitts and Nevis.

Sports Bulletin ISLAMABAD:-Dunith Wellalage was again the star for Sri Lanka as he took a five-fer and scored 52 to guide his side to a four-wicket victory over Australia in the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup. The Lions came out on top in the tussle between the two unbeaten teams in Group D, with no Australian able to match Wellalage in Basseterre. Hosts West Indies did the business against Scotland as the bowlers dismissed Scotland for less than 100, with bowling coach and Windies legend Curtly Ambrose proudly watching on. Teddy Bishop then showed his skill with the bat to guide West Indies to a comfortable victory in Group D to sit second in the table with one game to go. Pakistan showed their batting strength as they played their opening game in Group C in Guyana, putting on 315 thanks to a Haseebullah Khan century. Zimbabwe fell 116 runs short in the chase despite an 83–run eighth-wicket partnership between Brian Bennett and Tendekai Mataranyika. West Indies show their all-round dominance in comfortable win over Scotland West Indies were ruthless after winning the toss and putting Scotland into bat as Shiva Sankar took the first three wickets including two in two balls on his way to match-best three for 17. Muhaymen Majeed made an entertaining knock at No.6, but his score of 11 was the second-highest of Scotland’s innings as they were unable to get close to the 178 they put on in a losing cause in their opener against Sri Lanka. Spin twins Onaje Amory and Anderson Mahase took a combined four for 42 as Scotland were restricted to 95 all out. Shankar was again involved as opener Oliver Davidson was the final wicket to fall, throwing a direct hit from deep to run out the left-hander who had battled to a valiant 43 from 93 balls. West Indies were steady in their march to the low total, their first wicket falling in the seventh over as Matthew Nandu was dismissed for eight off the bowling of Jack Jarvis, who was playing with a dislocated finger. Charlie Peet took the Windies’ second wicket, deceiving Shaqkere Parris with a pitched-up delivery that went straight through to the opener’s stumps to leave the hosts at 2-48. Wicket-keeper batter Rivaldo Clarke looked to combine with Teddy Bishop to guide West Indies home before falling to a similar delivery to the Parris dismissal but this time Davidson claimed the wicket as Clarke was caught behind. Bishop was able to stay at the crease to seal the win for the Windies, their first of the tournament, his six brought up the seven-wicket victory in just 19.4 overs. Wellalage stars again as Sri Lanka cruise to victory over Australia Australia struggled to build partnerships having been put in to bat by Sri Lanka, their highest stand coming between Campbell Kellaway and Nivethan Radhakrishnan as they put on 46 for the fourth wicket. Kellaway was Australia’s top scorer with 54 runs from 77 balls as the three-time champions slumped to 175 all out off the final ball of their innings. The last three wickets fell for eight runs as Wellalage produced his second double-wicket over of the match, as he also claimed his second five-fer of the World Cup. This time the slow left-armer went for one more run than against Scotland to return figures of five for 28, which sees him five clear in the early race to top the wicket standings. In reply, Sri Lanka kept above the required run rate but were consistently pegged back by the Australian quicks. Tom Whitney and William Salzmann took Sri Lanka’s second and third wickets in the space of three balls to reduce them to 41 for three in their chase of 176. Wellalage again helped to steady the ship, this time with bat in hand, putting on a 70-run partnership with Anjala Bandara, before Bandara was dismissed sending an outside edge into the hands of wicketkeeper Tobias Snell. Sri Lanka’s captain continued on to his half-century, coming off 69 balls and featuring four fours and one six. With the Lions requiring just five runs, it seemed that Wellalage would steer the team home but he was dismissed caught and bowled by Whitney and it was left to Raveen De Silva to hit the winning runs as Sri Lanka emerged the only unbeaten team in Group D. Haseebullah posts highest score of World Cup so far in Pakistan win Pakistan’s opener Haseebullah put on the highest score of the tournament so far with 135 from 155 balls as he and Irfan Khan combined for a 192-run third-wicket partnership. Irfan was forced to go for 81 from 77 balls, including eight fours, after being caught by David Bennett off the bowling of Mcgini Dube. Zimbabwe continued the fightback, led by right-arm seamer Alex Falao, who took the wicket of Haseebullah on his way to five for 58 as Pakistan ended with 315 for nine. The Chevrons had already produced a score higher than this against Papua New Guinea in their opening game of Group C but faltered in this chase. Matthew Welch and Steven Saul combined at the top of the order to put on 34 for the first wicket. The next six wickets fell for 77 runs before a timely partnership of 83 runs between Bennett and Mataranyika gave Zimbabwe a glimmer of hope. But with Bennett’s dismissal they were left needing 121 runs with only 58 balls remaining, Mataranyika followed his partner back to the hutch two balls later before the final wicket of Mcgini Dube fell to hand Pakistan a convincing 115-run victory.

Bipin Dani Sean Williams was the only centurion of the 1st ODI against Sri Lanka on Sunday, though his Zimbabwe team could not win the match. Back home, his father, Collin Williams, who also played First Class cricket, did watch the match on TV.   "I have always said this and I will say it again, for any Zim player to make 100 in these types of games is a huge achievement. These young men have to work twice as hard when they bat on the international stage", speaking exclusively, he said. "I am a very proud dad, to sit and watch our son make a 100 on tv is just fantastic and uplifting. When they left for tour, I wasn’t sure on how much match practice and preparation the team had managed to get in, but clearly they had done fairly well as I thought a good few of the players were nice and positive". "As for Sean his attitude was indeed positive from ball one and went at a run a ball for his innings, I thought the openers did a nice job, they got off to a nice start". Sean Williams has dedicated this innings to his father. "For this reason, it was very emotional. Sean and I are very close and I had been talking to him and saying he still has plenty of cricket left in him, not only with the bat and ball but as a senior player, he has the right mentality to bring young players on", he added. Sean had announced his Test retirement in August last year. "No, I wasn’t disappointed at all as it was his choice really. Sometimes the cricket gets overshadowed by side shows, like I also said I feel he has still a lot more to offer. Sean is a natural player and he does things that always bring positive input, I think he is happy with that". "Our chats are simply about playing and doing the best he can for as long as he can. I could go on but for now I am simply a very proud dad and look forward to watching him again as I always do", he signed off.