Cricket
Concrete pitches help batsman to regain rhythm, says Lankan curator
BIPIN DANI
Sri Lanka's former pitch curator Jayananda Warnaweera was not surprised to see Australian opener David Warner regaining his form.
The 35-year-old left-handed batsman Warner, who was running out of form before the match against Sri Lanka, scored 65 runs (which included 10 boundaries) at Dubai Sports City (DSC) ground on Thursday.
Warner was not in the form even in the IPL also. He is understood to have practiced hard on concrete pitches in the UAE before the match against Lankans.
"Practising on a hard concrete wicket is always helpful because the ball comes faster on this pitch and it helps the batsman to regain his confidence", the 60-year-old Warnaweera, who has vast experience of working as a groundman in Sri Lanka said exclusively over the telephone.
"We don't have concrete pitches (in Srti Lanka) and I very well remember Kumar Sangakkara practicing on a turf wicket in Galle for three-four hours and it helped him a lot".
"Team India captain Virat Kohli also practices hard facing balls coming at a faster speed. The batsman can change his mind set up, tries to hit hard and gets well-adjusted to the timing".
Warner powers Australia to convincing win over Sri Lanka
Sports Bulletin Report
Dubai (October 29, 2021):-Australia laid down a marker with a convincing seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Dubai to make it two wins from two in the Super 12 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.
David Warner and Aaron Finch set the tone with a 70-run opening stand as the Aussies chased down a target of 155 with relative ease, with the former making 65 in a return to form.
That sets them up perfectly for the next game in Group 1 against England, who are also two from two, with the winner taking a giant step towards the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have been beaten for the first time in the tournament and face a crucial clash with South Africa next up.
After being put into bat, Sri Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka to an early top edge off Pat Cummins, but Charith Asalanka signalled his intent immediately with back-to-back boundaries. In the next over from Glenn Maxwell, he lifted the spinner out of the ground from the very first ball.
A 63-run partnership with Kusal Perera set the platform, but the introduction of Adam Zampa changed things. He had a big shout for LBW in his first over and in his second he had Asalanka caught sweeping by Steve Smith for 35.
Perera carried the fight with a big six off Mitchell Starc but a ball later he was heading back for the same score as Asalanka, unable to keep out a vicious yorker.
At 86 for three and with two new batters, Sri Lanka needed to rebuild but Zampa got another, Avishka Fernando, while Starc had Wanindu Hasaranga caught behind.
From the chance of making 170 or more, Sri Lanka were in trouble, not helped by Zampa finishing off his spell for a miserly two for 12.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa set about consolidating with his skipper Dasun Shanaka as the pair added 40, largely thanks to 17 off the 17th over from Marcus Stoinis.
Cummins broke that partnership as Shanaka top-edged to Matthew Wade, but Rajapaksa ended up unbeaten on 33 to take Sri Lanka to 154 for six.
Very quickly, it became clear that they did not have nearly enough. Finch and Warner tucked into the bowling, readily accepting a regular supply of bad balls to dispatch to the boundaries.
Finch powered two fours in the very first over and he and Warner combined to take Lahiru Kumara for 20 runs off his first over.
Warner should have been on his way for 18, gloving one through to Perera off Dushmantha Chameera, but the wicket-keeper put it down as his bowler started to celebrate and umpire Richard Illingworth was twitching his finger.
That was costly and by the end of the powerplay, Australia were 63 for none, the best performance of the tournament so far.
Finch fell for 37 in Hasaranga’s first over, chopping on and in his next, Maxwell picked out Fernando on the boundary after dragging the ball over midwicket from outside off.
Warner kept going though, moving to a half-century in the 12th over as he and Smith saw off the threat of Hasaranga and then went after the fast bowlers.
As Australia looked to finish it off quickly, Warner found Rajapaksa on the boundary for 65 off just 42 deliveries, but Smith and Stoinis got them home with three overs to spare, to boost the net run-rate as well.
Scores in brief
Australia beat Sri Lanka at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai by seven wickets
Sri Lanka 154/6 in 20 overs (Charith Asalanka 35, Kusal Perera 35; Adam Zampa 2/12, Mitchell Starc 2/27)
Australia 155/3 in 17 overs (David Warner 65, Aaron Finch 37; Wanindu Hasaranga 2/22, Dasun Shanaka 1/6)
Player of the Match: Adam Zampa (Australia)
PCB names officials for Pakistan-West Indies series
Hammad Ahmed Kayani
KARACHI (October 28, 2021):-Former Test cricketer and member of PCB’s elite panel of match referees Ali Naqvi will lead the playing control team in the three One-Day Internationals between Pakistan Women and West Indies Women at the National Stadium, Karachi on 8, 11 and 14 November.
The on-field umpiring responsibilities will be shared amongst Asif Yaqoob, Faisal Afridi and Rashid Riaz – all on the PCB’s elite panel of umpires.
The match officials’ appointments in detail are below:
8 Nov – 1st ODI. Rashid Riaz and Asif Yaqoob (on-field umpires) and Faisal Afridi (reserve umpire). Ali Naqvi (match referee)
11 Nov – 2nd ODI. Asif Yaqoob and Faisal Afridi (on-field umpires) and Rashid Riaz (reserve umpire). Ali Naqvi (match referee)
14 Nov – 3rd ODI. Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires) and Faisal Afridi (reserve umpire). Ali Naqvi (match referee).
AS Ali Trophy: KPK and Sindh claim victories
SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT
ISLAMABAD (October 28, 2021):-Khyber PakhtunKawa and Sindh have won their matches in the AS Ali Blind Cricket Trophy 2021 after beating their opponents on Thursday at Faisalabad. Col (Rtd) Ijaz Ahmed Nasir, Special Assistant to Chairman Interloop Ltd inaugurated the event. He was accompanied by Syed Sultan Shah, Chairman Pakistan Blind Cricket Council.
Results (Day-1):
Islamabad-AJK Vs KPK: (Venue: Boranwali Cricket Ground Faisalabad)
1st Match of the event was played between Islamabad-AJK and KPK. KPK won the toss and decided to bowl first.
Islamabad-AJK scored competitive 366 runs in stipulated 40 overs by losing their 6 wickets. Mohammad Salman played excellent innings of 90 runs (off 77 balls) and Anees Javed made unbeaten 82* runs (off 54 balls). Shahzeb Haider took 1 wicket.
KPK in reply chased down the target in 35 overs for the loss of 1 wicket. Nisar Ali played a captain’s knock and he made outstanding 213* runs (off 120 balls) helped his side to beat Islamabad-AJK by 9 wickets. Mohammad Talha scored 109 runs (off 76 balls). Ejaz Hussain claimed 1 wicket.
Result: KPK won by 9 Wickets
Man of the Match: Nisar Ali
Sindh Vs Punjab (Venue: Cricket Ground of Sports Complex Chak No 8 Faisalabad)
Sindh won the toss and asked Punjab to take guard. Punjab made par score of 331 runs by losing 9 wickets in allotted 40 overs. Muhammad Akram was the top scorer for his side with 80 runs off (53 balls), Atiq ur Rehman chipped in with 72 runs (off 74 balls). Amjad Hussain claimed 2 wickets while Badar Munir, Muhammad Safdar, Muhammad Rashid and Riasat Khan took 1 wicket each.
Sindh reached the target in 36.3 overs by losing their 4 wickets. Mohammad Rashid played wonderful inning of 86 runs (off 68 balls) and Riasat Khan scored brilliant 80 runs (off 59 balls). Mohammad Akram took 2 wickets while Sajid Nawaz and Kamil shared a wicket each.
Result: Sindh won by 6 Wickets
Man of the Match: Mohammad Rashid
Golden Stars beat Fazal Memorial
LAHORE (October 28, 2021):- The Golden stars cricket club beat Fazal Memorial cricket club by 77 runs in the Dosti Cup Cricket Tournament at Township whites ground.
The winning team scored 249 for 7 in 35 overs fixture. Mahad Bajwa was top scorer with 72 runs, as he hit five fours and one six during his innings. Kashif Ali and Zamin Ali respectively contributed 45 and 43 runs.
Summarized scorecard:
Golden Star Cricket Club: 249/7 in 35 Overs (Mahad Bajwa 72 4X5, 6X1, Kashif Ali 45,Zamin Ali 43,& Zain 15, ALI 5/42, Kamran 2/32)
Fazal Memorail Cricket Club: 171/all out in 32 Overs (Ali 51, Waseem 15 Ihsan 14, Mohammad Shehrooz 2/10, Asad Ali Asif 2/24, Abdul Rehman 2/30, Zain Jutt 2/33, Ali Raza 2/33)
(Press Release)
Three female players test corona positive
Sports Reporter
Karachi (October 28, 2021):-Three squad members of the national women’s team participating in the pre-West Indies series camp at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre have tested positive for Covid-19.
These members tested positive in the routine Covid-19 testing yesterday and are under 10-day quarantine, which ends on 6 November.
The other squad members will remain in isolation till 2 November and undergo tests every alternate day, starting tomorrow, to stem any potential spread of the virus.
As per the PCB Covid-19 Protocols, all squad members had joined the bio-secure environment after returning two negative tests. These squad members had been vaccinated for Covid-19 in May.
Pakistan and West Indies will play three ODIs on 8, 11 and 14 November at the National Stadium.
CRICKET - 28 Oct, 2021
Special Report
LAHORE (October, 27, 2021):-The second round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2021-22 started with a century scored in each of the three matches.
Southern Punjab’s Tayyab Tahir recorded his maiden first-class century with an impressive 181 not out at a healthy strike rate of 80 against Balochistan at Multan Cricket Stadium on the first day.
Tayyab anchored Southern Punjab to 344 for three in 81.3 overs as he smashed 19 fours and four sixes. The right-handed batter stitched partnerships worth 90 and 191 with Umar Siddiq (32 off 70) and Imran Rafiq (81 off 122).
At Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium, Sindh finished the day on 260 for four, thanks to incredible 129 from Saad Khan and 94 not out from captain Fawad Alam.
Sindh were reduced to 16 for three as Imran Khan Snr accounted for last match’s centurion Khurram Manzoor (eight) and Test batter Asad Shadiq (0), while Sharjeel Khan was sent packing by Sameen Gul.
Saad and Fawad added 191 for the fourth wicket to rescue Sindh, before Saad, who smoked 14 fours and a six in his 195-ball stay, was dismissed by off-spinner Sajid Khan. Fawad will resume Sindh’s innings with wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Hasan.
Northern’s Faizan Riaz smashed his second century of the tournament, as he was unbeaten on 146 against Central Punjab when stumps were drawn at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Faizan, to date, has struck 15 fours off 221 balls and will be continuing an undefeated fourth wicket stand of 202 with Sarmad Bhatti, who stroked an unbeaten 81.
Central Punjab had a good start to the day after their captain Azhar Ali elected to bowl as they had two Northern batters – Mohammad Huraira and Umar Amin – back in the pavilion by 4.3 overs. Huraira was dismissed LBW by Ehsan Adil and Umar was caught off Bilawal Iqbal.
Nasir Nawaz, however, held an end with his 46 off 71.
Scores in brief:
Southern Punjab choose to bat after winning the toss against Balochistan at Multan Cricket Stadium
Southern Punjab 344-3, 81.3 overs (Tayyab Tahir 181 not out, Imran Rafiq 81, Umar Siddiq 32, Zain Abbas 30)
Innings points – Southern Punjab 3, Balochistan 1
Sindh choose to bat after winning the toss against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
Sindh 260-4, 79.3 overs (Saad Khan 129, Fawad Alam 94 not out; Imran Khan Snr 2-37)
Innings points – Sindh 2, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 1
Central Punjab elected to bowl after winning the toss against Northern at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Northern 281-3, 80 overs (Faizan Riaz 146 not out, Sarmad Bhatti 81 not out, Nasir Nawaz 46)
Innings points – Northern 2, Central Punjab 1
West Indies: Holder replaces McCoy
SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT
Dubai (October 28, 2021):-The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 has approved Jason Holder as a replacement for Obed McCoy in the West Indies squad.
The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 has approved Jason Holder as a replacement for Obed McCoy in the West Indies squad.
All-rounder Holder, who has played 199 international matches including 27 T20Is, was named as a replacement after McCoy was ruled out due to a leg injury. Holder was a reserve as per the allowance for teams to travel with extra players in view of COVID-19 quarantine requirements.
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 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 consists of Chris Tetley (Head of Events, Chair), Clive Hitchcock (ICC Senior Cricket Operations Manager), Rahul Dravid and Dhiraj Malhotra (BCCI Representatives), Simon Doull and Ian Bishop (Independent Members).
Namibia defeat Scotland by 4 wickets
Report:- ABDULLAH ASJAD
Islamabad (October 27, 2021):-Namibia claimed a great win against Scotland by 4 wickets in the ICC Men’s World T20 Cup 2021 at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
According to information, Namibian captain Richie Berrington won the toss and invited opposition to bat first. Namibians Lefty bowler Ruben Trumpelman bowled excellent and got out three batters in first over of match. Left arm medium pacer Jan frynklicn picked up 2 wickets for 10 runs while JJ Smit took solitary wicket and restricted to Scotties on109 runs in 20 over game.
Namibia chased 109 runs in 19th over with 4 wickets in hand. Opener Craig Williams scored 23 runs in 29 balls while second opener Michael van Lingen added 18 runs in 24 deliveries.
Earlier, Scotland started his batting very poorly and loss 3 wickets in first over of the game and gave low total to Namibia for the chase. Scotland’s wicket keeper batter Matthew Cross scored 19 runs in 33 balls while Michael Leask played a batter innings and scored 44 runs in 27 balls. Scotland bowler Michael Leask got 2 wickets for 12 runs in 2 overs while Brad Wheal, Josh Davey and Safyaan Sharif shared one wicket each. Ruben Trumpelmann awarded man of the match.
Scores in brief
Namibia beat Scotland at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi by four wickets
Scotland 109 for eight, in 20 overs (Michael Leask 44, Chris Greaves 25; Ruben Trumpelmann 3/17, Jan Frylinck 2/10)
Namibia 115 for six, in 19.1 overs (JJ Smit 32 not out, Craig Williams 23; Michael Leask 2/12, Brad Wheal 1/14)
Player of the Match: Ruben Trumpelmann (Namibia)
England grab an easy win against Bangladesh
Report: ABDULLAH ASJAD
Islamabad (October 17, 2021):- England claimed a big win against Bangladesh 8 wickets in the ICC T 20 World Cup 2021 at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirate(UAE) on Wednesday.
English bowlers restricted Bangladesh on 124 runs in 20 over game. England’s left arm fast bowler Tymal Mills showed a brilliant piece of bowling and sent 3 Bangladeshi batters back to pavilion. Batting all-rounder Liam Livingstone got 2 wickets and conceded 15 runs only while right arm spinner Moeen Ali took 2 wickets. English batters chased 125 a small total in 14 overs after wasting two wickets.
Opener Jason Roy played a brilliant innings of 61 runs in just 38 balls. He knocked 5 fours and 3 huge sixes. Dawid Malan added 28 runs and he faced 25 deliveries. Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler completed his 18 runs innings.
Earlier, Bangladeshi Skipper Mahmudullah decided to bat first after winning the toss. Mushfiqur Rahim was the major scorer with 29 runs in 30 balls for Bangladesh. Nasum Ahmed contributed 19 runs after facing only 9 balls. Captain Mahmudullah added 19 runs. Bangladesh’s Bowlers Shoriful Islam and Nasum Ahmed got one wicket each. Jason Roy awarded man of the match for his sparkling batting.
Summarized scorecard:
Bangladesh Batting: Mushfiqur Rahim(29 runs in 30 balls)3 fours, Nasum Ahmed(19 runs in 9 balls)2 six 1 four, Mahmudullah (19 runs in 24 balls)1 four.
England Bowling: Tymal Mills 3 for 27, Liam Livingstone 2 for 15, Moeen Ali 2 for 18.
England Batting: Jason Roy (61 runs in 38 balls) 5 fours 3 sixes, Dawid Malan (28 run in 25 balls) 3fours, Jos Buttler(18 runs in 18 balls)1 four 1 six.
Bangladesh Bowling: Shoriful Islam 1for26, Nasum Ahmed 1for 26.
Toss: Bangladesh won the toss elected to bat first
Result: England won by 8 wickets
Man of the match: Jason Roy
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