All posts by h716a5.icu

Mark Wood continues to make a good impression as Durham try to disguise the injury absence of their main man, Graham Onions

Tim Wigmore in Taunton20-May-2014
ScorecardAlviro Petersen top-scored with 78 for Somerset•Getty Images”You wouldn’t want to face Graham Onions on this,” one supporter said as Durham tried to exploit an overcast start to the second day at Taunton. But, with Onions missing with a back injury, Chris Rushworth and Mark Wood provided a reminder of the depth of Durham’s fast-bowling stocks.England have already shown an interest in Wood, involving him in the Lions tour to Sri Lanka. Based on this compelling evidence – and a first-class haul that is now 60 wickets at 22 apiece – he may soon be the latest Durham bowler to earn a Test cap.From an idiosyncratic start, beginning his run-up like a relay runner about to receive a baton, Wood generates distinctly sharp pace: his deliveries invariably arrived in Phil Mustard’s gloves with a notable thud. His natural delivery, short-of-a-length, is a little reminiscent of Andrew Flintoff’s, though it comes from a shorter and less stocky frame.After pushing batsmen back, Wood possesses a yorker that can exploit any hesitation coming forward. Twice he earned the satisfaction of removing the batsman’s middle stump; few players would have been able to resist the delivery that accounted for Craig Kieswetter. As spectacular as the sight was, most impressive of all was Wood’s relentless line outside off-stump: 97 deliveries in the day yielded only 31 runs.In Chris Rushworth, he had the ideal ally. With a fuller length and longer run-up, Rushworth’s style is less distinct than Wood’s. But his value to Durham is beyond dispute: he took 57 wickets in last season’s championship victory, and a new contract retaining him until 2017 is recognition of his worth.The scalp of James Hildreth, strangled down the legside to the first ball after lunch, transformed the trajectory of the day. Hildreth, driving with nonchalant ease and timing a pull off Rushworth so supremely that it went for six, had looked serene in adding 79 with Alviro Petersen. When Rushworth disposed of Peter Trego and Alfonso Thomas soon after, it left Somerset stuck in a rut at 154 for 7.It fell to Petersen to prevent the work of his compatriot Thomas on the opening day going to waste. The judgment he displayed, switching from stern defence at the start of the day to controlled belligerence when Somerset were vulnerable after lunch, was befitting of an established Test player, and a pair of thumping sixes off Jamie Harrison threatened to test the resilience of the press box windows.But it seemed apt that Petersen’s wicket should eventually go to Harrison: Paul Collingwood, who had earlier spilled him in the slips on 30, did not repeat the mistake.After the first day included the confusion of the Overton twins bowling from both ends, the second brought an even bigger challenge as they batted together. But Craig soon became identifiable by the distance he harrumphed the ball. Three sixes included an astonishing flat-batted pull, reminiscent of a tennis forehand, off Rushworth.The upshot was that Somerset reached 234. While adding 80 for the last three wickets was commendable, the innings still rather reeked of missing an opportunity to gain a more decisive advantage.That sense was added to as Durham enjoyed batting in the sunniest conditions of the match. Even with Scott Borthwick going to hospital – he was struck on his right-hand just a fortnight after chipping a bone, and his fitness to bat will be assessed in the morning – Durham lent the first innings scores in this match a new perspective.Mark Stoneman and Michael Richardson had added an unbeaten hundred by the close – both had reached half-centuries, with Richardson twice dispatching George Dockrell for sixes.Thomas, who claimed Keaton Jennings with a sharp catch at square leg by George Dockrell, was exemplary again, darting the ball both ways. He deserved more reward, but by the close Craig Overton’s drop of Stoneman, 10 runs into his unbeaten 60, had the feel of being a pivotal moment.

Tom Harrison, a former Derbyshire allrounder and currently a senior figure at sports marketing company IMG, is the surprising choice as the new chief executive of the ECB to replace David Collier

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Oct-2014Tom Harrison, a former Derbyshire allrounder and currently a senior figure at sports marketing company IMG, is the surprising choice as the new chief executive of the ECB to replace David Collier.Harrison, 42, had a brief first-class career in 1995 – playing in a team that included Dominic Cork, Phil DeFreitas, Devon Malcolm and Daryll Cullinan – before moving into the business world where he worked with the ECB for three years including as head of marketing. He then worked for ESPN Star Sports in Singapore until 2011 before his current position with IMG as a senior vice-president where he is heavily involved in TV rights negotiations, which will be a key part of his new job.He has never held a position as high as chief executive but has been preferred ahead of the widely tipped Richard Gould, the Surrey chief executive, who was believed to be the favoured choice of chairman Giles Clarke.”As a lifelong cricket fan, I feel extremely honoured and privileged to have been offered this opportunity to lead the ECB as its new chief executive officer,” Harrison said. “I am a passionate supporter of the game across all formats, at all levels and I am genuinely excited by the substantial opportunities that the game has moving forward in this country.”Clarke said the interview panel had been impressed with Harrison’s “energy, passion for the game and his positive, bold, creative and ambitious vision for the future of cricket in England and Wales”.Harrison’s recent role in the TV rights business will be brought to the fore early in his ECB tenure as the board’s current deal with BSkyB runs until 2017, although there is the option for two more years. There is likely to be greater competition for rights in the next round of bidding with the presence of the aggressive BT Sport, who have made a big play for Premier League rights and are keen to expand into the cricket market.The ECB may reconsider how its rights are packaged. At the moment all live rights are bundled into one deal – only home international highlights are separate and reside with Channel 5 in the UK – but they could look to offer Twenty20 as a separate package while the issue of no live cricket on free-to-air television, which has been the case since 2005, remains a significant debate.Colin Graves, the deputy chairman and chairman of the commercial committee, said: “Tom’s commercial experience of working on some of the biggest sponsorship and broadcast deals completed in sport, means that he is exceptionally well qualified to help to drive more revenue into the whole game whilst his excellent network in Asia and at the ICC will be critically important as we look to continue to play a central role in the growth of the game internationally in the years ahead.”Harrison is due to take up his position in mid-January.

Who are the top earning American players in Major League Soccer? Goal breaks down the top 10

The MLS players union released its salary data last week, and the numbers showed some interesting trends. 

Three Americans were in the top 10 in the league in terms of total compensation, while a fourth landed in the top 25. 

Even among Americans Toronto FC dominated the list of high earners, but Sporting Kansas City and Orlando City each placed a pair of players on this list. 

Here's the rundown of the top 10 highest paid Americans in Major League Soccer.

USA Today Sports10Michael Bradley, Toronto FCThe U.S. national team captain and Toronto star is the highest-paid American in the league at $6.5 million per year. AdvertisementGraig Abel9Jozy Altidore, Toronto FCThe former AZ standout returned to MLS to a big payday and will make $5 million in total compensation in 2018. USA Today8Tim Howard, Colorado RapidsThe highest paid goalkeeper in the league is also the Colorado Rapids' highest earner at $2.5 million this season. ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

USA Today7Clint Dempsey, Seattle SoundersDempsey took a cut in pay for the 2018 season but still ranks among the five best-paid American players at $1.7 million this season.

When bullets meet balsa wood there is generally only one winner. The metaphors regularly employed should have warned that Lancashire would find Sussex’s attack hard to handle

Paul Edwards at Old Trafford05-May-2014
ScorecardSteve Magoffin caused Lancashire predictable problems (file picture)•Getty ImagesMeringues, balsa wood, talcum powder. A variety of metaphors connoting flimsiness have been employed to suggest the frailties of Lancashire’s batting in 2014. Ramrods, a gun barrel, bullets. The similes used to explain the virtues of Sussex’s bowling for much of this still young season have been equally instructive.So when Chris Nash’s powerful, if hardly irresistible, forces came into contact with the very moveable objects known as Lancashire’s batsmen, something approaching cricketing carnage was predicted. So it proved. This game’s much-vaunted uncertainty can only do so much, we thought.But even Werner Heisenberg, who knew a thing or two about uncertainty, might have been pushed to suggest that there was an unlikely quality about Lancashire’s collapse to 80 for6 in a mere 34.5 overs.Even Robert Peston could not have deepened the gloom pervading the Old Trafford pavilion in mid-afternoon on the second day of this game. “It’s all right redeveloping the ground,” grumbled one member, “What about redeveloping a few of the ruddy players?”At this point, Tom Smith, who has actually been in vaguely respectable form, was joined by the diminutive wicketkeeper Alex Davies, who was only playing his sixth first-class match because Jos Buttler is with the England squad.Wile Smith is in decent nick, Davies is a determined little so-and-so in the Lancastrian tradition of George Duckworth and Warren Hegg. And even as the skies darkened around Old Trafford this May Bank Holiday, the pair lifted the mood of the home supporters with a truculent, industrious, unbroken stand of 77 for the seventh wicket. When bad light ended play 21.3 overs early, Smith had passed forty for the fourth time in seven innings and Davies was 41 not out, which is his career-bestSmith measures 6ft 3ins in height, seven inches taller than his partner, and their batting styles reflect the difference. The experienced all-rounder utilises his height to drive the ball in an imperious fashion; Davies prefers cuts, pulls and deliciously timed clips off his hip. Smith is a genial fellow, who smiles a lot and is self-deprecating about his talents; Davies, you sense, likes a fight and relishes the struggle.Both batsmen displayed a secure defence and, indeed, this was a sine qua non for anyone hoping to resist Nash’s bowlers, particularly Steve Magoffin, whose 3 for 31 runs from 17 overs were nothing less than his deserts. The Australian began Lancashire’s subsidence when he moved one off the seam and had a blameless Paul Horton brilliantly caught one-handed by second slip Michael Yardy, who dived to his left to complete the snare. Magoffin then had Luis Reece lbw, playing no shot. The rookie opener has scored 62 runs in seven Championship innings and must hope that the rest of May affords him kinder wickets than the green seamers of April.Lancashire were poorly placed on 32 for 2 at lunch and their decline accelerated in the early afternoon. Magoffin’s accuracy was too much for Brown’s defensive push and Prince’s back foot slash off James Anyon inside-edged the ball to Ben Brown. Prince remains the prize wicket for Lancashire’s opponents, although that title does not take much earning at the moment.Steven Croft was recalled for this game but played down the wrong to his fourth ball and lost his off stump to Anyon. He trudged off, possibly reflecting that scoring 197 off Yorkshire’s second team at Northop Hall, a picturesque but small ground in North Wales, is not ideal preparation for playing Divison One cricket.Lancashire’s travails on Monday were completed – although no one thought it so at the time – when Luke Procter misread slow left-armer Ashar Zaidi’s length and was lbw on the back foot for 26. Once again, most frustratingly for himself and others, Procter had played himself in, only to get himself out.The rest of the day belonged to Smith and Davies, who both played outstandingly well against a fine attack. Indeed, Sussex should be in the hunt for the County Championship this summer.One cannot be so sanguine about Lancashire’s prospects. The Old Trafford side’s Division One batting woes in 2012 were chronicled in black-bordered detail at the time. This season Lancashire’s average partnership going into this game was worth just 21.5 runs. Raising that bar should not be the responsibility of Alex Davies, although there can be little doubt that he would be up for the fight.

The members of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) have filed a no-confidence motion against CAN president Tanka Angbuhang Limbu. The issue will now be discussed at a special convention, which will have to be convened within 45 days

Amol Karhadkar27-May-2014The members of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) have filed a no-confidence motion against CAN president Tanka Angbuhang Limbu. The issue will now be discussed at a special convention, which will have to be convened within 45 days.”More than 43 members of CAN’s last convention have submitted a no-confidence motion against the president,” CAN general secretary Ashok Nath Pyakuryal told ESPNcricinfo. “As per our constitution, a special convention will now have to be called and if the motion has to be passed, it will require two-third majority on the floor of the house.”As per the CAN rules, a no-confidence motion can be initiated against the president only if more than 25% of the members from the preceding general convention ask for a special convention to be called. Since the last general convention had 87 members, more than half of the members seem to have lost their confidence in the CAN chief.The root cause of the members revolting against their president, it is believed, has been his decision to outsource the organisation of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), a 50-over and Twenty20 domestic tournament that was recently launched, to a private firm. When the members of the NPL governing council learned that the tournament had been allotted to Zohra Sports Management, all the CAN members on its governing council resigned – just two days prior to the 50-over tournament – and announced that the NPL will not be an official CAN event.”On May 13, the president attended the inauguration ceremony and backed the event even after the members had disapproved it,” Pyakuryal said. “That appears to have been the trigger for the motion to be passed against him.”It is believed by some in the Nepal cricket fraternity that the president has some sort of a deal with Zohra Sports Management. As a result, he had apparently decided to not make it mandatory for the firm to even submit the accounts of the tournament to CAN officials.Limbu did not respond to ESPNcricinfo’s attempts to reach him for a comment.The 50-over-a-side leg of the NPL was played last week and the T20 leg is scheduled to be held next month. The turmoil in CAN had raised doubts over the T20 tournament.Pyakuryal, however, assured all the stakeholders – especially the players – that the board will not disrupt any tournament. “CAN is all for all such tournaments that give more opportunity to the players. Even though the members are demanding transparency, it has been decided to not oppose any tournament or players’ participation in it.”Nepal caught the cricketing world’s attention by qualifying for the 2014 World T20. The team’s head coach, Pubudu Dassanayake, hoped that the administrative issues are settled at the earliest, so that the game could continue to grow. “The players are quite confident that these issues won’t harm them but still, such atmosphere is never good for a developing set-up like Nepal,” Dassanayake, the former Sri Lanka wicketkeeper, said. “I just hope that these issues are addressed and resolved at the earliest since Nepal cricket finds itself at a critical juncture right now. Such issues being discussed among players is not really good for their morale.”

ESPNcricinfo’s blow-by-blow coverage of the 2014 IPL player auction in Bangalore

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Feb-2014Catch the auction as the franchises go about building their new squads.

The curator at the St. George’s Park left more than just a healthy covering of grass on the pitch, raising Australian eyebrows, as he awaited instruction from the South African camp

Firdose Moonda18-Feb-2014What do Hashim Amla and the St George’s Park pitch have in common? Both have gone unshaven for a long time.”That pitch scares me at the moment,” Adrian Carter, the Port Elizabeth groundsman, told ESPNcricinfo. “I’d like to give it a cut. If it was left like this, I’d be skeptical even for the franchise game because I think there would be a lot of assistance for the seamers.”Carter left more than just a healthy covering of grass on his pitch, raising Australian eyebrows, as he awaited instruction from the South African camp, which will likely see a lot of it cut-off.  “At the moment, its very furry and it’s green,” Carter said, before his meeting with Domingo and Co. “I have had a phone call from the South African camp and I’ll talk to them again and see what they want. There’s a lot of experience in Adrian Birrell and Russell – between them they’ve coached here for over 10 years – so they know St George’s as well as anyone.”As soon as the squad arrived at the ground, Domingo, who coached the local franchise – the Warriors – before becoming Gary Kirsten’s assistant, and Birrell, who is a former Eastern Province coach, headed straight for the strip. They examined it with Carter, and were joined by bowling coach Allan Donald and Graeme Smith. The conversation appeared good-natured and shortly afterwards, Carter was relaying instructions to his assistants.It’s likely South Africa will want some to keep some grass on the surface to assist their own pack, but not so much as to roll out a red carpet for Mitchell Johnson. Morne Morkel, though, said the nature of the pitch should not make a difference to Johnson. “Whether it’s a slow wicket or a quick wicket, if a guys is going at 150kph, its quick,” Morkel said. “So the pitch won’t play a big role in whether a guy like that is effective or not. He is bowling well so it the pace of the wicket doesn’t matter.”Those words had barely left his mouth when Morkel stressed the pitch will not resemble what he called the quickest Centurion pitch he has seen in 10 years. “It will be completely different from the Highveld,” he said. “We know it’s a touch slower and there’s an almost subcontinent feel.”Carter concurred saying even with the grass covering, St George’s will never be like SuperSport Park as that simply isn’t its character. “I was going through the archives the other day and looking at a report from a Test match here from the early 1900s and they said it was played ‘on a slow pitch’. So this pitch has been slow for 114 years. I can’t get it quicker,” he said. “I don’t think St George’s will ever behave like Centurion. It’s different clay, it’s at the coast.”Seam movement and swing, rather than bounce, will be an early factor with the wind being an additional element. So far, it has been blowing from a westerly direction, which comes from inland, and is known as the drying wind that flattens the surface out. But is likely to change direction over the course of the next few days, to become more easterly, which comes off the sea, brings clouds, rain and good news for bowlers.That will probably mean the surface won’t be allowed to dry out too much and the spin factor may not be as important as it can be here. Carter also said he expects it to hold together for a large part of the match. “We don’t get very big cracks. We might get small hairline cracks that open up two millimetres.”With that type of surface, Carter said he has been quite pleased with “our four-day pitches over the last few seasons.” There have been two four-day games played at St George’s Park this summer, both high-scoring. In the Warriors-Cobras clash both teams made over 500 in their first innings and the trend sort-of continued into the Warriors-Titans game. Then, the Warriors made 502 but bowled an under-firing Titans line-up out for under 250.Tellingly, Wayne Parnell took eight wickets in the game and Simon Harmer, the offspinner, finished with six. Considering it will be a similar pitch this time, that may influence South Africa’s selection and see Parnell make a Test return on his homeground. And by then, the pitch should only have as much stubble as he does.

The preview of the third ODI between Pakistan and South Africa in Abu Dhabi

The Preview by Firdose Moonda05-Nov-2013Match factsWednesday, November 6, 2013
Start time 1500 local (1100GMT)Hashim Amla will be in, while Nasir Jamshed could be out•AFPBig PictureWhat was orginally a five-match series, has suddenly mutated into something much more. On the eve of the third ODI, the South African and Pakistan boards announced another series between the two, starting mere days after this one ends. Three more ODIs and two more T20s will take the number of limited-overs matches played between the two teams to 12 in the space of a month.That probably means the pressure of the current series has been somewhat lifted because of the marathon contest it has become. That news is probably more welcomed by South Africa, whose limited-overs batsmen have failed to adapt to the UAE conditions, and look lost against Pakistan’s spinners.Though they will have Hashim Amla back for the remainder of the tour, which should add some stability, their middle-order worries are likely to remain. With Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez all continuing to cause problems, one of AB de Villiers, JP Duminy or Faf du Plessis need to step up.A similar appraisal could be made of Pakistan’s line-up, who have also been faltering in the middle. Umar Amin and Umar Akmal are yet to make meaningful contributions. In their case though, it is pace, rather than spin, that has got the better of them.Both bowling attacks continue to impress, marking a change from the usual high-scoring gluts that this format can produce. But even that novelty is likely to soon wear off as the teams are going to be playing against each other till the end of the month.Form guide (last five completed games most recent first)
Pakistan WLWWL
South Africa LWLLW
In the spotlightHe has operated as more of a frontline bowler than frontline batsman in the series so far and Mohammad Hafeez will be keen to turn that around. After being left out of the Test series, Hafeez has plenty to prove with the bat.Dale Steyn is not guaranteed a place in the XI because of how well South Africa’s attack has operated in his absence, but he has rejoined the squad and could replace Morne Morkel as part of a rotation policy. After dismissing Hafeez eight times in seven Tests and three times in six ODIs, Steyn may be itching to have a go, just so he can come up against the batsman that he has had so much success against.Team newsPakistan won the second match, but that does not mean their XI couldn’t do with some tinkering. Nasir Jamshed’s continual failings at the top may prompt an experimentation with Sohaib Maqsood, while Wahab Riaz’s place in the team will also be questioned. Apart from two meaty sixes, his only role in the second ODI was to bowl two overs. With the spinners causing plenty of problems, Pakistan may choose to leave Riaz out and strengthen the batting instead.Pakistan: (likely) 1 Nasir Jamshed/Sohaib Maqsood, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Umar Amin, 6 Umar Akmal (wk), 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Mohammad IrfanSouth Africa sent Colin Ingram home as soon as they could – he even managed to play in a domestic one-day match on Sunday – because they were assured of Hashim Amla’s return. Following the birth of his second child, Amla will return to the top of the order to partner Graeme Smith and add experience to a line-up which has looked fragile.Should South Africa want to make a change in the middle, their only option would be to bring in Robin Peterson, who has batted higher up than his usual No.8 position in the past, for du Plessis. Steyn has also rejoined the squad, although it may be tricky to find a spot for him in an attack which has done very well in his absence. He may replace Morkel, in keeping with the policy of resting the quicks, or he may join Vernon Philander for drinks duty.South Africa: (likely) 1 Graeme Smith, 2 Hashim Amla, 3 JP Duminy, 4 Faf du Plessis/Robin Peterson, 5 AB de Villiers (capt & wk), 6 David Miller, 7 Ryan McLaren, 8 Wayne Parnell, 9 Morne Morkel/Dale Steyn, 10 Lonwabo Tsotsobe, 11 Imran TahirStats and trivia Hashim Amla’s ODI record against Pakistan will give South Africa a confidence boost. He has a batting average of 57.60, marginally higher than his 54.85 overall, and two of his 11 centuries have come against them. Although Faf du Plessis has had a lean year, he has one record he can be proud of. He is second on the list of the most catches in ODIs in 2013 with 13 to his name, two behind Suresh Raina. Quotes”It’s not Afridi versus South Africa, its Pakistan versus South Africa. This current team is a mix of seniors and juniors and I am feeling younger with each passing day.”
“A lot of us, including myself, have got in to 20’s and 30’s and gone out. The guys that are in, need to take the responsibility to push on to get 80’s and 100’s. We have done the business in the past; it’s about making sure we back ourselves to do it again.”

Despite a strong year in the format, Kumar Sangakkara remained firm on his decision to retire after the World Cup, stating that he did not wish to “take up the spot of another player”

Andrew Fidel Fernando13-Dec-20141:27

Sangakkara ‘at peace’ with ODI retirement

If Kumar Sangakkara had a perfect Kandyan farewell – which featured a series win, a raucous full house, and a century – its mood was dampened slightly by one question: why is he already planning retirement?Sangakkara has had a rich year in ODIs, hitting 1382 runs at 47.03, and leads the series run-scorers’ list by 134 runs. Age has seemingly only enhanced him, as four consecutive years with over 1000 ODI runs will attest. Those runs have come quickest in the past two years, when he has struck at close to 90.News that he will retire from ODIs after the World Cup has prompted widespread pleas for him to stay on as long as he is scoring runs, but Sangakkara himself sees it differently.”If I’m not able to play in the next World Cup when one World Cup ends, there is no point in me sticking around,” Sangakkara said after the sixth ODI. “All I’ll end up doing is taking up the spot of another player.””We have four years to build up a good team. Today, Dinesh Chandimal came in after a while and played a very special, very important innings. Just like that, the likes of Lahiru Thirimanne, Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera have plenty of ability and plenty of talent. We need to give them time and opportunities, just like we had when we were younger. They need time to settle, and mature and win another World Cup after this next one.”Sangakkara also confirmed he was in talks with Surrey about a county stint in 2015, and that the details of his Test future had not yet been nailed down. He strongly suggested he would not play beyond the India series penciled in for next August, at the latest.”My plans for next year are a case of finalising my Test career, and ensuring I can keep my word to the people that I’ve given my word to,” he said. “The only thing left is to think about my Test career beyond the World Cup. But I don’t see myself playing more than a couple of series at the most.Kumar Sangakkara is more at peace with his own ODI retirement than some•AFP”Playing for Surrey is something that I really want to do as well. Graham Ford is there. I’ve worked with Fordie, and he’s been brilliant for Sri Lankan cricket, and personally to me. He’s been a fantastic influence in my career. The idea is not to go cold turkey with retirement, but to slowly wind it down and make sure I don’t drive my family nuts by staying at home all day. Hopefully I’ll be able to make it there and have a good season.”Though he will not play an ODI in Sri Lanka beyond Tuesday’s match, there is a chance Sangakkara will play again for Sri Lanka in Kandy. Trinity College, who own and maintain the ground at Asgiriya, have asked for a Test next year, and if they are granted a match, Sangakkara may play one more game at the ground where he made his name as a teenager. But regardless of Trinity’s request, the Pallekele ground is also still in contention to host Tests next year.His run-a-ball 112 made for a memorable last ODI at home, though Sangakkara said he had not begun the match with a burning desire to get to triple figures. “I just wanted to go out with a win, and to seal the series before we go to Colombo. We don’t want to go to Colombo, have it be the final crunch game, and have other emotions and muddy the waters. We just wanted to make sure we had a good performance here. It was never a question of going out there to score a hundred.”As the innings progressed, England bowled pretty well at the start, and it was hard work. Dilshan stuck around and we managed to build a partnership. Once that partnership progressed, run-scoring became a bit easier. Then once you get past the 70s and 80s, it was a case of trying to put pressure back on England.”The final ODI, which is now a dead rubber, will also be Mahela Jayawardene’s final match of any kind, in Sri Lanka. Tillakaratne Dilshan, however, has suggested he may play ODIs beyond the World Cup.

A round-up of the Group A matches of the Ranji Trophy that took place on December 7, 2013

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Dec-2013
ScorecardHarshal Patel triggered panic in the Karnataka camp with a five-wicket haulKarnataka were coasting towards a first-innings lead in Lahli but there was room for afternoon drama following a batting collapse. Harshal Patel ran through the middle and lower order with a five-wicket haul, leaving Karnataka nine down and still needing two to overhaul the home side’s 247. Karnataka eventually scraped through and ended the second day six ahead with a wicket in hand.Karnataka got off to a strong start, with their openers Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul adding 96. Ashish Hooda and Patel struck quickly, reducing Karnataka to 120 for 3. Rahul and captain CM Gautam then added 97 to put Karnataka on track towards taking an innings lead. The trouble started when Sachin Rana got rid of Gautam for 54. Karnataka’s mainstay, Rahul, fell two short of a hundred when he was bowled by Patel. Karnataka had lost half their side for 224 and the score quickly became 234 for 7 after Patel, the right-arm seamer, trapped Ganesh Satish and Stuart Binny leg before. Patel bowled Abhimanyu Mithun with the visitors still 11 short of equaling the score and there was further drama when Ronit More fell with the score on 246. Abrar Kazi and the No.11 HS Sharath saw the side through the nervous moments.
ScorecardAn unbeaten 158 by Rajat Bhatia helped Delhi to 442 before the seamers removed three Odisha top-order wickets on the second day in Sambalpur. Resuming on 268 for 6, Delhi lost the early wicket of Varun Sood, off Suryakant Pradhan. Odisha struggled to dislodge the lower order, with Sumit Narwal and Ashish Nehra scoring 40 each and adding 65 and 92 respectively with Bhatia. Bhatia went on to score is 13th first-class century and his knock included 18 fours and two sixes.Narwal and Nehra struck early with the new ball by removing Bikas Pati and Niranjan Behera in the seventh over. Natraj Behera and Govind Podder gave the innings some stability with a stand of 53, before Parvinder Awana removed Podder for 34. Odisha were in a spot of bother at 70 for 3, but Natraj remained unbeaten 53 and had Biplab Samantray for company till stumps.
ScorecardFaiz Fazal and Ravi Jangid took Vidarbha to a commanding position with a solid 203-run stand for the second wicket, giving them a lead of 148 runs at the end of the second day against Punjab in Mohali. Fazal, who already has two hundreds this season, fell short of another one by one run and Jangid scored 104, his second first-class hundred.Fazal and Jangid started the day at 75 for 1 and took the total to 222 before the former was dismissed by Sandeep Sharma. Vidarbha’s innings stuttered from there as they lost five more wickets within 19 runs as Sandeep and VRV Singh ran through the middle and lower order. Sandeep trapped Hemang Badani and Shrikant Wagh lbw for ducks on their first and second ball respectively, to finish with 4 for 78 on the second day.At 241 for 7, and with a lead of 57, Vidarbha were steered to safety with a partnership of 91 between Urvesh Patel and No.9 Amol Jungade. While Patel scored a patient 32 off 99, Jungade scored a brisk 59 off 83 with 11 fours.