All posts by h716a5.icu

While the big boys of world cricket are bellowing about their hopes of winning the World Cup the little guys are contemplating their chances too. Just not for World Cup. Zimbabwe are targetting 2023

Firdose Moonda23-Jan-2015While the big boys of world cricket are bellowing about their hopes of winning the World Cup – South Africa in the literal sense, Australia with dominance in a triangular series at home, New Zealand by breaking records – the little guys are contemplating their chances too. Just not for World Cup.”By 2023 we want to be contending for the World Cup. That’s the aim,” Alastair Campbell, Zimbabwe Cricket’s newly-appointed managing director said. “It’s not an aim that’s unrealistic. It’s achievable. We’ve got a long-term view on this.”Campbell was given the organisation’s top job at the beginning of the year and put in charge of healing an ailing operation left embarrassed by the team being blanked in Bangladesh late last year. The former captain, who was previously the convener of selectors and in charge of the cricket committee, will oversee everything from finances to future cricketers and has put an eight-year plan in place to do that, with an eye on that year’s World Cup to measure his progress.”This is an executive role. It comes about because the board have found a real need for Zimbabwe cricket to progress in the right direction. After the Bangladesh tour, nobody had a pleasant word to say about Zimbabwe cricket. The results weren’t of the required nature and there has been fall out from that. There is a new coach, a new structure will be put in place and that falls under my plate,” Campbell explained in his first interaction with media on Thursday in Harare.”After this World Cup, we no longer automatically qualify unless we are in the top eight. We will have to go to a qualifying tournament and if we don’t qualify, that will have dire consequences for the game in Zimbabwe. So we need to create viable player pathways so that we identify talent and make sure that we are nurturing that talent.”And when we’re talking eight years, guys that are 15, 16 and 17 now those are going to be our World Cup contenders then, so that’s where the effort needs to be spent. We need to make sure our under-19 and under-17 sides are competitive and are getting access to the most professional coaching available. That’s easier said than done because a lot of that stuff takes money.”That is the one thing ZC have struggled for more than anything else. Their cash-flow problems have included mismanagement of an ICC loan, two crippling player strikes in as many seasons over non-payment and they remain knee-deep in debt. But Campbell, who is also an entrepreneur, is looking to change that by creating a more transparent financial model of which they hope investment will form the foundation stone.”My staff and I are going to go out there to local and international corporates and engage them to play a part in development structures,” Campbell said. “But we want to make sure we are not paying lip service to our development structures and there is tangible coaching going on and tangible benefits from the money that is being put in. We need to make sure we are accountable for the funds. It is a big task but we are going to start from square one again and make sure we build up slowly.”After attracting companies such as Stanbic Bank to back their T20 competition, ZC lost significant chunks of sponsorship when the honeymoon period after their Test comeback ended. Zimbabwe’s wider financial crisis was one reason for that, ZC’s own murky finances another and Campbell has promised there will be no repeat of the latter. “Maybe in the past some of the corporates have felt that ZC hasn’t been accountable enough for cash that has been given. We want to say that from now on every dollar you give us, there is some tangible reward and result from that,” he said.Money will go into academies and age-group teams as well as the domestic game. Campbell said ZC would even look into “reopening” the Southern Rocks franchise in Masvingo, which was dissolved at the start of this season, once they have got themselves on stable ground. For now, any money obtained will be spent on coaching but also on developing less technical aspects of the game.”There’s so many things that come into making a good sportsman. Donald Bradman said cricket is 90% mental and we need to nurture that mental side. Too much of that is neglected,” Campbell said. “Everyone thinks that if you hit a thousand balls every day that will make you a good player but if you can’t handle pressure, you’re not able to play on the big stage.”The immediate future presents the biggest stage and although Zimbabwe are not among the candidates who can win the World Cup, Campbell is expecting a certain minimum from them that he hopes will serve as the drawcard for the first investments. “We’re hoping our team can go to the World Cup, do well and be competitive. We’re under no illusion that we need to beat Ireland, we need to beat the UAE but against those other sides we need to be competitive,” he said.”Sometimes it’s the manner in which you lose. That’s what irritated the cricketing public – the way that the team have lost. You want to see them being competitive. If they’re competitive to the last five overs, they’ve had a good game. But if the game is gone in the 30th over and everyone turns off the TV and Zimbabwe have lost, that’s when people get irritated. I hope our guys can go there, take advantage of playing on a world stage and come back with their heads held high because that helps with the commercial side of the game. If you have a team that’s competitive, a team that’s winning some of the time. a team that’s seen to be improving, people are willing to part with their money because they see its nice being associated with a good brand.”But he also allowed himself to dream a little bit about some of the upsets Zimbabwe could pull off. “India are in their pool and they have already been on the road for three months so they will be tired and there’s a sniff there,” he said. “Pakistan are unpredictable. We’ve beaten them before, we can beat them again.” Everyone, even the boss, can dream a little.

The one-off Twenty20 between West Indies and Bangladesh was called off after heavy rain hit Warner Park 17 minutes into the match

The Report by Mohammad Isam28-Aug-2014Match abandoned
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
The trophy was shared after rain and power failures allowed less than five overs of play•AFPThe one-off Twenty20 between West Indies and Bangladesh was called off after heavy rain hit Warner Park 17 minutes into the match. The match officials held a final inspection more than two hours later after which they decided conditions weren’t good enough even for a shortened game.Besides the downpour, the groundstaff had to battle strong winds, which left them struggling to control the covers early on. The extra time they took to cover the surface allowed the deluge to drench the pitch. There was also trouble with the floodlights which hampered the groundstaff in their work after the rain stopped.Before the rain, Bangladesh batted and got to 31 for no loss in 4.4 overs. Tamim Iqbal struck one over mid-off and Anamul Haque got a four and a six but the visitors’ brightest start on tour was cut short.The two-match Test series begins on September 5 in Kingstown, before which Bangladesh will play a three-day practice match in Basseterre against St Kitts and Nevis.Mashrafe Mortaza, who is not part of the Test squad, suffered a groin injury in the first one-dayer and had been rested for this game. He is set to head home to gear up for the Asian Games next month.

Zimbabwe named two uncapped players for the Tests and brought back Craig Ervine and Tinashe Panyangara for both Tests and ODIs in their upcoming tour of Bangladesh

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Oct-2014Zimbabwe squad changes for Bangladesh

TESTS
In: Craig Ervine, Brian Chari, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Shingi Masakadza, Wellington Masakadza, Natsai M’shangwe
Out: Cuthbert Musoko, Donald Tiripano, Mark Vermeulen, Sean Williams
ODIs
In: Craig Ervine, Regis Chakabva, Tinashe Panyangara
Out: Luke Jongwe, Shingi Masakadza, Tino Mawoyo, Cuthbert Musoko, Donald Tiripano, Sean Williams

Zimbabwe have brought back Craig Ervine and Tinashe Panyangara for the upcoming Tests and ODIs in Bangladesh and have named two uncapped players – Brian Chari and Wellington Masakadza – in the Test squad.While Panyangara was expelled for indiscipline in August, Ervine, who last played a Test in March 2013, had made himself available earlier this month for the Bangladesh tour, 18 months after he had refused a winter contract in April 2013.Chari, a top-order batsman, and Masakadza recently toured Bangladesh as part of the Zimbabwe A squad. Chari was the leading run-scorer in the two unofficial Tests with 174 runs at an average of 43.50, and Masakadza, a left-arm spinner, impressed the selectors with 12 wickets, including figures of 6 for 63, at an average of 16. Wellington Masakadza will join his brothers Hamilton and Shingi Masakadza in the Test squad and if the three brothers do play a Test together, it will be only the fourth such instance in Tests.Richmond Mutumbami had injured his arm during the tri-series against Australia and South Africa but has recovered to make both squads.Allrounders Tafadzwa Kamungozi and Natsai M’shangwe, who have played ODIs but are yet to make their Test debuts, were named in both squads. Shingi Masakadza also made a comeback to the Test squad, having last played a Test in September 2013, against Pakistan.Chari, Shingi and Wellington Masakadza will return to Zimbabwe after the Tests and will be replaced for the ODIs by three players out of Neville Madziva, Timycen Maruma, Solomon Mire, Peter Moor, Tawanda Mupariwa and Brian Vitori.Two prominent players who had played the only Test against South Africa – Sean Williams and Mark Vermeulen – were missing from both squads.Zimbabwe will play three Tests starting October 25, followed by five ODIs in November and December.Test squad Brendan Taylor (capt), Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Brian Chari, Tendai Chatara, Elton Chigumbura, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Shingi Masakadza, Wellington Masakadza, Natsai M’shangwe, Richmond Mutumbami, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusi Sibanda, Malcolm WallerODI Squad Elton Chigumbura, Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Natsai M’shangwe, Richmond Mutumbami, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusi Sibanda, Malcolm Waller, three out of Neville Madziva, Timycen Maruma, Solomon Mire, Peter Moor, Tawanda Mupariwa and Brian Vitori

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) and its franchises will contract 55 players for the 2014-15 season, which will also see a shrinking of the domestic game

Firdose Moonda17-Jul-2014Zimbabwe player contracts

Central contracts: Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva , Tendai Chatara , Elton Chigumbura, Hamilton Masakadza, Shingirai Masakadza, Tinotenda Mawoyo, Natsai M’shangwe, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams

Winter contracts: Donald Tiripano, John Nyumbu, Mark Vermeulen, Timycen Maruma, Richmond Mutumbami, Michael Chinouya

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) and its franchises will contract 55 players for the 2014-15 season, which will also see a shrinking of the domestic game. While 15 central contracts have been awarded and 40 domestic players will be signed up, the number of franchises has been cut from five to four with the Southern Rocks the team to have been dissolved.The announcement brings certainty to a situation which has hovered in limbo since a series of player strikes of non-payment hit Zimbabwean cricket last summer. Financial difficulties meant that players – both national and domestic – went up to four months without salaries. They protested by boycotting the local competitions which caught the attention of the ICC.In March, ICC CEO David Richardson and chief financial officer Faisal Hasnian visited Zimbabwe and recommended a series of cost-cutting measures including reducing the number of franchises and cricketers on contract. Now it appears ZC are implementing some of those measures as they look to reach stable ground which enable them to fulfill their international obligations.Fielding a full-strength national side is the most important step to doing that and Zimbabwe’s central contracts should make that easier. Along with the expected names of Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Prosper Utseya and Elton Chigumbura, Zimbabwe have contracted batsmen Sikandar Raza and Regis Chakabva and bowlers including Tinashe Panyangara and Tendai Chatara. Sean Williams, who was one of the players unsure of his position last season, has also been contracted.In addition to those deals, ZC has also secured the services of six more players for international fixtures over the off-season through winter contracts. These agreements, which are typically three to four months long, will ensure the players are available for the Test against South Africa in August and the tri-series which follows and also includes Australia.Most notable among the six winter contractees is Mark Vermeulen, the 35-year old batsman with a troubled past who is determined to give himself the best chance of playing international cricket again. The list also includes wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami, promising seamers Michael Chinouya and Donald Tiripano, offspinner John Nyumbu and batsman Timycen Maruma.All six players on winter contracts will form part of the 40 that are contracted domestically as well. That means there is room for a further 34 cricketers to receive franchises deals in Zimbabwe which will run for the 2014-15 season. Previously, each of the five franchises contracted seven players – giving Zimbabwe a total of 35 on domestic retainers – so although the number of teams has been cut, the number of players who will earn money from the game has increased.The Southern Rocks were expected to become defunct in April because they were regarded as the most financially unsustainable team in Zimbabwe’s system. Apart from the costs involved in maintaining the facilities, housing players and transporting them to Masvingo – which lies 280 km south of Harare and the same distance east of Bulawayo, making it the least accessible franchise in terms of location – the Rocks only had sparse successes.Although they won the 40-over competition in the second season of franchise cricket in 2010-11 the Rocks were mostly a middling side who struggled in first-class cricket in particular. Where they were adequate was in producing players for Zimbabwe, the most prominent of whom is left-arm seamer Brian Vitori.ZC had a choice between holding on to the franchise in the hope it could be a source of development or sacrificing a team for the greater monetary good, at a time when the administration was suffering from spiraling debt. The latter always looked the better option. Add to that that ZC has lost many of the coaches it would use in the franchise system, with Grant Flower involved in Pakistan, Heath Streak in Bangladesh and Gary Brent no longer heading up the academy, the decision to erode the Southern Rocks appears practical.If it means ZC will be able to pay players for the full duration of the 2014-15 season and meet all its commitments for incoming tours, it could also be a masterstroke in restoring the country’s cricket credibility.

Division Two leaders Hampshire were left frustrated after being unable to close out victory against bottom side Derbyshire on a rain-hit final day at the Ageas Bowl.

Press Association04-Jun-2014
ScorecardJames Tomlinson ran through the Derbyshire top order on the final day•Getty ImagesDivision Two leaders Hampshire were left frustrated after being unable to close out victory against bottom side Derbyshire on a rain-hit final day at the Ageas Bowl. But with Worcestershire also drawing against Surrey at The Oval, Hampshire remain four points ahead at the top of the table.With the morning session a wash-out, play was not able to start in Southampton until 2:30pm when Derbyshire resumed on 31 without loss chasing an improbable 346 for victory. Led by some fine bowling from left-armer James Tomlinson, the hosts ripped out eight wickets before finally being checked by the weather just before 6pm.When the players were able to get out onto the field, there was a swift breakthrough as Tomlinson had Paul Borrington caught behind from the first delivery. Fellow opener Stephen Moore, adding just three to his overnight 22, and then Marcus North both swiftly followed as Tomlinson struck again to leave Derbyshire 40 for 3.Matt Coles trapped Scott Elstone leg before without troubling the scorers and the visitors were five men down when captain Wayne Madsen was caught in the slips. Wicketkeeper Gareth Cross and Alex Hughes managed to steer Derbyshire to 51 for 5 at tea.In the first over of the final session, Kyle Abbott had Cross lbw for 5 as the visitors’ tail were left with some 32 overs to try to navigate safely.Left-arm spinner Danny Briggs, who claimed 5 for 50 in the first innings, chalked up another wicket when he trapped David Wainwright lbw for 22 to leave Derbyshire holding on at 94 for 7. Briggs struck again when Tony Palladino went the same way, adding just 2, leaving a potential 20 overs left to wrap things up.But cruelly for the rampant hosts the weather returned to hamper that victory bid, with the players taken off at just after 5:15pm when Derbyshire were 104 for 8. Hampshire looked to then have 8.4 overs to finish off the visitors, but bad light finally called an end to proceedings.Hughes was unbeaten on 18, which came from 85 balls and just shy of two hours in the middle, while tail-ender Tim Groenewald had made four in Derbyshire’s 107 for 8 off 52 overs.Tomlinson finished with an impressive 3 for 16 from his 11 overs, which included seven maidens.

Centurion is a long way from Chittagong but it is the last place South Africa and Australia will meet before they go in search of a piece of ICC silverware neither has won before

The Preview by Firdose Moonda13-Mar-2014Match facts AB de Villiers may return after sitting out the Durban match•AFPMarch 14, 2014
Start time 1800 (1600GMT)Big pictureCenturion is a long way from Chittagong but it is the last place South Africa and Australia will meet before they go in search of a piece of ICC silverware neither has won before. It was also the first place they met on this tour, little more than four weeks ago.Since then, Australia have announced their threat as a Test team by beating the top-ranked side in their own backyard; a man who served his country for 12 years and led them for 11 – Graeme Smith – retired; the two boards are in talks to lengthen future Test series to four matches and a T20 series that seemed destined to be washed out managed to squeeze in 14 overs in Durban. Both teams will want nothing less than another 20 overs as they finalise their preparations for the World T20.As much as that tournament will be at the back of both camps’ minds, so will the competitive streak between both sides. It doesn’t matter what the occasion, these teams manage to bring out the best and worst in each other. It took only an hour of intensity at Kingsmead to prove that.South Africa posted the highest seven-over total, which required Australia to score at almost two runs a ball to win. They managed, despite losing two wickets in an over that went for just five runs. Despite the rain and the gimmicky nature of a shortened match, it was a contest worth watching and this one is expected to be no different.Centurion is where it all started for Australia and is where it will end for both teams, until next time.Form guide (completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa LLWWW
Australia WWWWLWatch out for South Africa’s finishers did not have the opportunity to get into the game at Kingsmead with the top three doing all the batting. Albie Morkel, in particular, will be anxious for crease time having not played international cricket for 18 months before doing only fielding duty in Durban. AB de Villiers, JP Duminy and David Miller will also want the opportunity to see how they can end innings off for South Africa.Having only played the third Test, bowled one over in the second T20 and batted for 11 minutes Shane Watson will be keen to make his presence felt. With the news that he will captain Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and his own tough talk about his country’s chances at the World T20, Watson will want to show he can also walk the walk before the tournament begins.Team newsDale Steyn and Morne Morkel are still in the final stages of recovery following injuries and are unlikely to feature for South Africa again. That will mean Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Wayne Parnell and Beuran Hendricks will share the bulk of the seam bowling duties with Kyle Abbott, who is not included in the World T20 squad, unlikely to feature. De Villiers could be back after being rested from the Durban match which will mean no place for Farhaan Behardien and South Africa may want to field a specialist spinner to give Imran Tahir game time before the big event.South Africa: (likely) 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 AB de Villiers, 5 JP Duminy, 6 David Miller, 7 Albie Morkel, 8 Wayne Parnell, 9 Beuran Hendricks, 10 Lonwabo Tsotsobe, 11 Imran TahirAustralia will not want to tinker too much with a batting line-up that has been rejigged to include David Warner and Watson. With Brad Hogg fit, there may not be room for another spinner in James Muirhead and Moises Henriques could also find himself on the sidelines again.Australia: 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Shane Watson, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 George Bailey (capt), 6 Brad Hodge, 7 Brad Haddin (wk) 8 Brad Hogg, 9 Dan Christian, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Nathan Coulter-NilePitch and conditionsWith wet weather dominating the build-up, the pitch would have had to have been prepared under a tent and ever-present moisture could mean a tricky batting track. South Africa’s Highveld has been hard hit by rain over the last two weeks, but Friday is forecast to stay dry, despite being cool and cloudy. There’s a strong chance a full game will be played which will ensure the South African international summer ends on a high note.Stats and trivia South Africa and Australia have played three two-match T20 series (which is effectively what this one has become) against each other in the past. They’ve each won one series with the most recent one, in 2011, being shared with one victory apiece SuperSport Park is the venue where the record for the highest first-wicket partnership in any T20 was achieved. Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman smashed 170 against England in November 2009 and managed that off just 13.1 overs Quotes “There’s always a lesson no matter how many overs you play. Australia won the game and deserved to do so, but I wasn’t too disappointed about the way we played.”
“Anytime when you get to put yourself under pressure, it’s good. I’m just here to complement those guys up the top and use my experience.”

English cricket would love to see Steven Finn bowling Middlesex to victory, but on the final day at Lord’s it was Tim Murtagh who put in the defining performance to leave them third in the table

Andrew McGlashan at Lord's14-May-2014
ScorecardTim Murtagh was once again Middlesex’s inspiration•Middlesex CCCEnglish cricket would love to see Steven Finn bowling Middlesex to victory, but on the final day at Lord’s it was Tim Murtagh who put in the defining performance to set up a 10-wicket victory, their third home win of the season to leave them third in the table.At one stage before lunch, with Lancashire 45 for 5, it appeared Middlesex would be reflecting on a job well done sooner rather than later, but it was not until shortly before the final hour that they were able to wrap up a 10-wicket victory.Ashwell Prince and Jos Buttler had given Lancashire hope of salvaging a draw, adding 117 for the fifth wicket to show that conditions were still perfectly good for batting, but Murtagh refused to yield during lengthy spells from the Nursery End in an exemplary display of swing and seam to finish with 6 for 60.It led to glowing praise from his captain, Chris Rogers, who lauded him as one of the best bowlers he has led. “I thought that was outstanding in the second dig,” Rogers said. “To get six, and when the game looked like it was drifting to get three in a spell that’s outstanding. It showed why he is one of the best bowlers I’ve ever been lucky enough to captain.”Just to be able to give him the ball and they tell you when they are done: it’s exceptional to have and I’m very privileged to have him. We missed him when he went to play for Ireland last week which was disappointing but that’s the way it goes.”Murtagh already had one wicket to his name overnight and resumed Middlesex’s task of taking nine more when he removed nightwatchman Simon Kerrigan with a beauty early on. However, it was two wickets in the space of four balls moments before tea which revived the victory push when he had Buttler caught a first slip, three balls after he was dropped by John Simpson, and then found Tom Smith’s outside edge, leaving Lancashire seven down at the interval.Another frustrating stand began to form between Prince, who had been given a tough time by Finn in the afternoon but attacked the same bowler after tea when he dropped repeatedly short, and Glen Chapple which took Lancashire into the lead and ate up valuable time.Again it was over to Murtagh, who was not rested before the second new ball, although his fifth wicket was given a considerable helping hand by Prince’s horrid slash outside off which undid nearly four hours of concentration. When Chapple played across a full delivery from Toby Roland-Jones, Lancashire’s chances of salvaging a draw had all but vanished and Murtagh’s sixth wrapped up the innings leaving Middlesex 19 overs to complete the formalities.Apart from a few dropped catches, Rogers could not pick holes in the performance. “This was almost a perfect game for us; win the toss, put them in and bowl them out then go a long way past them then bowl then out again – that’s a perfect game,” he said. “But we can get better, we dropped a few chances, and I do expect a lot of the guys.His more immediate concern, however, was ensuring Middlesex improve their away record when they travel to Northamptonshire on Sunday, after twice being heavily beaten on the road, and also juggling the rapid change in formats which will now come with the start of the NatWest T20 Blast.”It’s a tough job and I don’t know how it’s going to work to be honest. There’s a lot being asked of these guys and we’ll need to be quite understanding of their loads.”Overall, it was a familiar tale for Lancashire. Their top-order batting is a serious threat to their chances of staying in Division One. Their average total at five wickets down this season has been 99 and while on some occasions, such as at Wantage Road, there were some mitigating circumstances, having the top order fail on a warm, sunny day at Lord’s highlights the weakness.They did have to contend with some fine bowling in the morning, and not just from Murtagh. Roland-Jones trapped Karl Brown for a duck and Finn earned an lbw against Paul Horton although the ball may have been sliding. There was no doubt about Luke Procter’s wicket, brilliantly caught low down to his left by Simpson during one of Finn’s more impressive spells of the match.For Buttler it at least allowed him another backs-to-wall situation in which to show his ability to grind out an innings with his second half-century of the match, although if he walks in too many more times with his side in strife he may pine for the days of watching team-mates at Somerset pile on the runs.When his footwork let him down, playing away from his body against Murtagh, only for his opposite number to palm away a regulation chance it just started to appear that he may help Lancashire escape, but Middlesex’s perseverance held sway.

Faf du Plessis believes that Australia’s bowlers will try and target him because of his new responsibility batting at No.4, replacing Jacques Kallis

Firdose Moonda in Johannesburg04-Feb-2014Faf du Plessis is bracing himself to be one of the men with a bulls-eye on his back for the upcoming Test series against Australia. With it all but confirmed that du Plessis will bat at No.4, in what used to be Jacques Kallis’ spot, he believes that the Australian pack will aim specifically at him because of his new responsibility.”The one thing the Australians do really well is that target guys,” du Plessis said after the first day of South Africa’s practice match against a Composite XI. “They will probably target Graeme because he is the captain, and I thought they did that really well with Alastair Cook, and then look at other guys. Like myself. I am going to be a new role so they may want to target that.”Peter Siddle already explained Smith will be one of the pillars they want to send crashing and du Plessis may have given Australia an idea of who the other can be. Their memory of him is of Adelaide, where he batted for almost eight hours and tired their attack, to secure a draw which South Africa described as providing the morale for them to win the series.Going after a man who showed such defiance may prove difficult, but du Plessis is wary that Australia may aim to do that, in order to try and break South Africa at one of their strongest points. So, he is planning to keep his game plan as “tight,” as possible and not to give Australia a sniff that they could use to get through him.”I am just going to be very patient and wait for mistakes from the bowlers. When you bat up the order you have to stay in your bubble a little bit longer,” du Plessis explained. Although he has not batted at No.4 too often for South Africa, on the occasions when he has done it, such as against India at the Wanderers last December, he has gone on to score big. “I think I play at my best when I am being patient,” he said.Du Plessis demonstrated some of that in the tour match. He came in with South Africa stuttering on 46 for 2 and saw them slip into even deeper trouble at 51 for 3. With JP Duminy, he ushered them to some safety. Du Plessis batted for over two hours and faced 83 balls, including some quick ones from Wayne Parnell, to score 36. He enjoyed the battle in challenging conditions.”The wicket was tough to bat on early on and usually we would not choose to bat first, we’d let our bowlers go in and exploit the conditions but because we’re in preparation, we wanted to ourselves,” he said. “There was a lot of movement and tennis-ball type bounce.”Later in the afternoon, when the sun came out, batting became easier but this time, du Plessis had not lasted long enough to cash in. He was dismissed when he offered a return catch to offspinner Simon Harmer, and it was up to the tail to take South Africa to 300.Vernon Philander, in particular, stood out for his ability to bat the team out of trouble at a good rate. “Vernon has been batting beautifully for us for the last year or so. He has really put his peg in the ground as a proper allrounder,” du Plessis said. “If you look at all those lower-order guys, they are at their best when they are looking to score. So their job is to be nice and positive.”The batsmen at the bottom could also end up being specific targets, because du Plessis isolated them as having a deciding role to play in this series. “No. 7 to 11 will play a crucial part for both teams,” he said. “Australia also bat deep so I think that will play a big role in this series.”His analysis fits in well with the way the contest has been hyped up – as a battle of the bowlers, with all indications suggesting that it will be tough for the batsmen. Du Plessis endorsed that notion, predicting a spicy Centurion pitch for next week’s opener. “We’ve done well at home on wickets that have assisted the bowlers and been quite difficult to bat on, especially with the new ball,” du Plessis said. “But if we get a flat wicket, then that could assist Australia, because they are quite attacking in their strokeplay.”SuperSport Park has often given South Africa’s quicks exactly what they want and with Dale Steyn ready to fire after a rib injury, there’s no reason to believe it won’t do so again. Steyn bowled just three overs on the first day of the tour match and will increase his load as game day draws nearer. “Dale was at about 60% today, off half a run-up, just to get back into it,” du Plessis said. “You’ll see over the next few days, he’ll be stepping it up.” No doubt, Steyn has his own targets in mind come next Wednesday.

Cameron White smashed an unbeaten 49-ball 84 to help Melbourne Stars thump Melbourne Renegades by nine wickets

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jan-2014
ScorecardCameron White struck six fours and four sixes during his 49-ball 84•Getty ImagesNineteen sixes were showered at the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, as the spectators were treated to a scrumptious display of big hitting from both the Melbourne Stars and the Melbourne Renegades.In the end though, the Stars overhauled 164 quite easily, thanks to the captain Cameron White’s 49-ball 84 – his 24th Twenty20 fifty – that completely took the match away from the Renegades.The Stars, who now move to the top of the table by virtue of their nine-wicket win, were comfortable throughout the chase, and were rarely threatened by a Renegades bowling attack that failed to produce a consistent, if not threatening, line and length.James Pattinson conceded just two runs off the first over of the innings, but White smoked Matthew Gale for three fours in the second to get the team underway. While White was aggressive, his opening partner Luke Wright was more content picking up singles to keep the runs flowing and rotate the strike. Wright was eventually dismissed for 17 after the pair had made 69 from eight overs, but there was to be no reprieve for the Renegades.Glenn Maxwell combined with White for an unbroken second-wicket association that yielded 98 runs from 50 balls, and ultimately took the Stars over the line with 22 deliveries remaining.The Renegades bowlers were all expensive, particularly Aaron O’Brien who leaked 26 runs in the 13th over. Maxwell finished unbeaten on 58 with two fours and six sixes, and sealed the victory with an outside edge that raced past the keeper for four.That the Stars had to even chase that much in the first place was due to Aaron Finch and Tom Cooper’s fourth-wicket stand of 102 which helped the Renegades recover from a slow start. The Renegades, choosing to bat, were reeling at 3 for 17 thanks to Jackson Bird’s triple strike in the second over, before Finch and Cooper counterattacked by striking seven fours and eight sixes between them.Cooper fell for a 44-ball 60, but Finch remained unbeaten on 84, with six giant sixes, including one off James Faulkner that he pulled straight up to the roof of the stadium. The team finished at 5 for 163, but in the end, it proved to be well short of a total intimidating enough to worry White and Maxwell.

Mumbai Indians and Lions will meet each other in a must-win encounter in Jaipur, after torrential rain in Ahmedabad left the ground at Motera unfit for play

The Preview by Alagappan Muthu26-Sep-2013Match facts September 27, 2013
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)Sachin Tendulkar is closing in on 50,000 runs in recognised cricket•BCCIBig PictureBoth teams have taken the field only once in this Champions League T20, but when Mumbai Indians and Lions meet in Jaipur, neither will be far from desperate times. Both could not impart any damage to Rajasthan Royals’ perfect record at their home ground this year and with torrential rain in Ahmedabad causing a double washout to compound their troubles, Mumbai and Lions are still searching for their first win. They will need to win to prevent themselves from a situation wherein their fortunes are dependent on other results.History sides with Lions, although their 2-0 record over Mumbai was cultivated in South African conditions and with a markedly different team. Neil McKenzie’s absence, courtesy a pulled stomach muscle, hit them hardest in their previous match. Though captain Alviro Peterson acclimatised reasonably well to his new role in the middle order, there was very little support on offer from the others, unlike in the last edition when veteran opener Gulam Bodi – another man who was missing from the XI against Royals – gave McKenzie company among the top three run-getters in the tournament.Experience, however, does not guarantee success as depicted by Mumbai’s faltering top order. Only once has the opening partnership crossed 12 in the last five matches and Mumbai will hope that on a true Jaipur pitch, Sachin Tendulkar, who had averaged 22.07 in IPL 2013, and Dwayne Smith strike better rhythm. They might have to contend with the threat of Imran Tahir, after Lions witnessed the exploits of legspinner Pravin Tambe first-hand.The situation reverses in the bowling department with Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Coulter-Nile forming a potent combination at the top, the former bringing the ball in and the latter taking it away. Without Malinga’s pin-point yorkers to bank on in the death and Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha looking tame enough that they only bowled four overs between them in the first match, Mumbai will have to concentrate on early wickets.There’s a bit of a sidenote to this match: Tendulkar is 31 runs short of becoming only the 16th player and first Indian to aggregate 50,000 runs in all recognised cricket.Players to watchHardus Viljoen lived up to his billing of being as fast as Dale Steyn, consistently touching speeds in excess of 145kph. His height adds an extra dimension, which could prove decisive on a pitch with ample carry and against a batting line-up that revolves around Indian batsmen and Kieron Pollard.The rise of Ravindra Jadeja has relegated Pragyan Ojha to excess baggage in the Indian team and he would have endured a sense of déjà vu as he was limited to bowling only one over in Mumbai’s opening match. Against a side on its first tour of India, his flight and guile would be expected to make an impact.Quotes “We need to lift our game, and if we do that, we have enough talent in our bowling and batting to make it to the semis.”