Australia will use a target that only one team has bettered to inspire them as they attempt to create a world record of 17 consecutive wins. Despite being outplayed by India for the second day in a row, the home side have not ruled out a surge for victory even though they will resume wanting a further 348.Only West Indies, who stormed to 7 for 418 against Australia in 2003, have captured more than the 413 Australia need, but coach Tim Nielsen does not believe it is out of reach. “In the back of their minds they think this will be a pretty special thing to do,” he said. “That tends to fire them up a little bit and get them enthusiastic.”Many great moments have occurred under Ponting during the unbeaten streak, which stretches back to 2005, but one thing missing is a huge fourth-innings pursuit. It would be a remarkable way to collect the new mark – an India win is the most likely result – and Australia’s task was made even harder when both openers were lost as they reached 65 by stumps.Nielsen was not concerned by the early losses and his outlook was boosted when Ponting (24) and Hussey (5) made it through unharmed. “One way or another, if we play well enough, we’ll give ourselves the chance to chase down a really big total and get the record we’re looking for,” he said. “It’s an achievable result for us and we feel as though we’ve got the quality of batsmen and pretty good conditions on our side.”Despite his optimism, Nielsen knows the final two days will not be easy and the team is desperate for a couple of big hundreds from the top order to secure a stable base. “Ricky and Michael will be vital in that regard to set it up for us,” he said. “The good thing is the wicket’s still in pretty good shape, the outfield’s fast and we’ve seen that when batsmen get in they find it easier to score.”Nielsen said the side was still suffering from being dismissed for a below-par 212 in the first innings and the problems were not caused by a lack of group impact from the pace brigade. He also insisted the players remained upbeat. “We knocked a few runs off the total tonight,” he said, “and there’s still a positive mood around the rooms.”
New South Wales imploded for 53 in just over two hours, recording their lowest Pura Cup total and almost certainly ending their hopes of reaching the final. Tasmania were on track to secure hosting rights for the decider despite a better second-innings showing from the Blues, who were 2 for 149 in their follow on.Dominic Thornely, the stand-in captain, and Peter Forrest, in his second Pura Cup match, recovered with a 124-run stand that raised even more questions about the visitors’ disastrous first effort. Forrest was on 57 – his maiden first-class half-century – and Thornely was 68 as New South Wales tried to clamber out of their sizeable hole.Only two Blues reached double-figures before their pitiful first innings ended in the 32nd over. It was their worst effort in 115 years of Pura Cup/Sheffield Shield competitions but they could not blame the pitch, as Tasmania completed their 370 in the morning session.Luke Butterworth earned his best first-class tally, 4 for 18, after Damien Wright (3 for 7) and Ben Hilfenhaus (3 for 14) started the carnage. Hilfenhaus picked up the first three wickets and was on a hat-trick when he bowled Thornely and the visitors were 3 for 14. They went to lunch at 7 for 31 and Butterworth cleaned up the final three Blues shortly after the break.Wright had New South Wales at 2 for 25 in their follow-on and it seemed the game could be over within two days before Forrest and Thornely cut the deficit to 168. Barring a stunning turnaround, New South Wales will only reach the final if Victoria and Western Australia – both of whom were in reasonable positions – fail to win.
Khaled Mahmud, Bangladesh’s veteran allrounder and former captain, finally bowed out after the first ODI against Sri Lanka at Bogra. And he signed off with a gutsy 36 which rescued his side from ignominy, leaving the field to a standing ovation from a capacity crowd.Mahmud’s announcements of his impending retirement had become as frequent as his Test wickets, but his decision to hang on for one last day in the sun worked out well. It could have gone horribly wrong, but he saved one of his better performances with the bat until the end. It was a far cry from when he was booed off by home supporters after an abject performance – both personally and by his team – against England at Chittagong in 2003-04.His stats do not make pretty reading. In 77 ODIs he scored 991 runs at 14.36 and took 67 wickets at 42.76 with an economy rate of 5.07. He also played 12 Tests, scoring 266 runs at 12.09 and capturing 13 wickets at 64.00. But against that, it should be remembered that he was part of a team that was being beaten regularly, and for some of that time had the added burden of the captaincy. His first-class record, however, is far more impressive.While those statistics were often ridiculed on the international stage – never more so than when he briefly had a Test bowling average of over 400 – he stuck to the task in hand, and was a valued contributor in a young squad off the field. At 35, he was a positive geriatric in such a youthful side.Mahmud will continue to play club cricket, and the chances are that he will pop up again in some capacity. Bangladesh cannot afford to lose someone with his wealth of experience.
For sheer excitement, edge-of-the-seat tension and high-quality cricket, few matches will come close to the Test between India and Pakistan at Chennai in early 1999. There was top-drawer fast bowling from Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Venkatesh Prasad. There was a pure-as-magic century from Sachin Tendulkar. And there was Saqlain Mushtaq’s fine exhibition of spin bowling.By the end of four days, the cauldron that is the MA Chidambaram Stadium was supercharged with emotion, and the ebb and flow of the game had taken such a toll that fans momentarily forgot their nationality, and climbed on chairs to give the Pakistan team a standing ovation as they did a victory lap after wrapping up the Test by 12 runs, the slimmest of margins.India began the Test well, getting on top of Pakistan thanks to another relentlessly accurate spell of bowling from Anil Kumble, who took 6 for 70 in Pakistan’s first innings 238. Even this score looked unlikely when Pakistan were reduced to 91 for 5, but Moin Khan’s gutsy 60 at No. 7 held up the Indians.India replied gloriously with Sadagoppan Ramesh, making his debut, and VVS Laxman, rattling off 48 runs from 8 overs in the fading light at the end of the first day. But things changed quite quickly on the 2nd day. Saqlain Mushtaq took his excellent one-day performance into the Test arena, scalping the first of four consecutive five-fors. Half-centuries from Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly ensured that India were not totally swamped, and even managed a slender lead of 16 runs.Shahid Afridi, the ultimate manic dasher, knuckled down for an uncharacteristically dour innings at the top of the order, and gave Pakistan the backbone they so sorely lacked in their first dig. He blocked, pushed, and very occasionally biffed his way to 141 invaluable runs. Unfortunately for Pakistan, the only real support for Afridi came from Inzamam-ul-Haq, who made 51. Venkatesh Prasad was having one of those days. His 10.2 overs may have cost 33 runs, but they also yielded 6 wickets as Pakistan were dismissed for 286.This left India chasing 271 with one day and an hour left to play. Pakistan’s pros then got right in on the act. The breezy start that India got in the first innings was banished to distant memory as Waqar sent Ramesh and Laxman back with just 6 runs on the board. Somehow Dravid and Tendulkar saw off a tense passage of play, and India reached 40 for 2 with a day to play.It was not unreasonable to expect India to score the 231 runs needed on the final day, with 8 wickets in hand, to win the Test and take a 1-0 lead in the series. What followed was a day of cricket as richly layered as any you would hope to see. Akram dug deep – even taking injections for a troublesome knee in breaks – and produced ball after probing ball at India’s batsmen. Tendulkar answered all the questions asked of him, and was defiant even after India were shaken to 82 for 5. Tendulkar ploughed a lone furrow, battling a very painful back, attacked the spinner and kept out the pacemen to the tune of 136 runs, till he fell to a tired shot off Saqlain. India were 254 for 7 at that stage, needing just 17 runs from Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Sunil Joshi and Venkatesh Prasad.Tendulkar reportedly wept in the dressing-room, flat on his back on the physio’s table, as Pakistan picked up the last three wickets for the addition of just 12 runs. Akram, who had lead Pakistan to victory on Indian soil, said, “I have long said that Tendulkar is the best batsman in the world and today we saw one of the best innings I have ever seen played. We never gave up but we knew the key was getting him out.” Tendulkar was so drained after his innings that he did not even come out to receive his Man-of-the-match award, and Azharuddin, who came in his place, was loudly jeered by the crowd. But the match will always be remembered as the day an Indian crowd stood on its feet as one and applauded the old enemy for winning a great game of cricket.
These are the results of the Bowling Performance of the Year award:The winner Shane Warne 7 for 94 v Pakistan at Colombo (first innings) Australia won by 41 runs This was one of Warne’s best performances in years, against the one team from the subcontinent that he has always dominated. With 7 for 94 in the first innings and 11 wickets in the match, he almost single-handedly bowled Australia to a 41-run victory, and showed again the entire range of variations that makes him perhaps the world’s most versatile bowler.The other nominees Shoaib Akhtar 5 for 21 v Australia at Colombo (second innings) Pakistan lost by 41 runs If Pakistan came so close to winning this Test, it was because of Shoaib Akhtar. Australia led Pakistan by a massive 188 runs in the first innings, and were then 74 for 2, when Shoaib produced a breathtaking spell of bowling, ripping out the heart of the Australian middle order in 14 balls. Three of his victims were bowled, and two leg before, as Australia collapsed for 127. There are other fast bowlers in contemporary cricket who have been more consistent, but few have been as unstoppable as Shoaib in the short spells where everything comes together for him.Andrew Caddick 7 for 94 v Australia at Sydney (second innings) England won by 225 runs Unusually for a fast bowler, most of Andrew Caddick’s best performances in Test cricket have come in the second innings. This was one of the most memorable: England had lost the first four Tests of the series, but the batting finally clicked at Sydney, and Australia were set a last-innings target of 454. On a wearing pitch with uneven bounce, with novices partnering him, Caddick knifed through Australia to win the game for England.Jermaine Lawson 7 for 78 v Australia at Antigua (first innings) West Indies won by three wickets West Indies had toyed with a number of fast-bowling prospects in this series in the hope of finding someone to unsettle the Australian batsmen, but it was Lawson who finally met the challenge with a hostile spell. A number of his victims fell to well-directed bouncers, and he took his last four wickets in successive overs. Australia were restricted to 240, and West Indies were able to keep up with them for most of the game, till their batsmen saw them through in the end to a famous victory.Shaun Pollock 6 for 39 v England at Nottingham (second innings) England won by 70 runs On a wicket that was deteriorating rapidly, South Africa would have sensed they were in trouble when they conceded a lead of 83 to England in their first innings. But Pollock kept them in contention with a masterly spell of medium-fast bowling, putting the ball in exactly the right areas, hitting the seam with characteristic regularity, and letting the pitch do the rest, as England were shot out for 118.
The information carried by the second scoreboard which is situated next to the old Stragglers Pavilion at the County Ground, is to be substantially improved before the start of the new season.Chief Executive Peter Anderson told me, “Improvements are being carried out on the second scoreboard at Taunton which will be able to give more information than last season, especially regarding the number of overs.”He continued, “The moving message which was installed over the main board for 2001 will also move across to the second board so that more people can see it.”The changes to the scoreboard will be funded by money raised by the Taunton Area Committee of the club.The Chief Executive said, “The improvements have been made possible by the dedication and fund raising of the Taunton Area committee, who stood for many days in the cold and wet collecting car parking fees at the County Ground in the pre Christmas period. This raised over £3000 which will fund the improvements to the scoreboard.”
Haryana were struggling to avoid an innings defeat at the hands of Jammu &Kashmir on the third day of their North Zone Ranji Trophy clash at theMaulana Azad Stadium in Jammu today. A marvellous century by Ajay Jadeja ona day when the match-fixing noose was tightening around his neck saw hostsJ&K advance to 364, for a lead of 190. Opening bowler Abdul Qayoom thentook the baton from Jadeja, grabbing 4/35, to leave Haryana tottering at100/6 in their second innings, still 90 runs adrift of their opponents.Resuming at 247/5, Jadeja lost two more partners before he found a staunchally in Qayoom. The pair added 70 for the eighth wicket before Jadeja wascaught by Jasvir Singh off leg spinner Amit Mishra for 120 (296 balls, 13fours, 2 sixes). Seven runs later, Mishra had Qayoom (28) stumped by AjayRatra to bring the curtain down on the innings in the 141st over. Theleggie returned figures of 5/99 in 47.3 overs.Qayoom was nicely warmed up for the action to follow and ripped through theHaryana middle order to bring them to their knees at 67/6 in the 30th over.Sanjay Dalal (14) and Ajay Ratra (17) then added an unbroken 33 in amini-recovery before stumps.
Tottenham Hotspur’s inconsistencies continued under Antonio Conte as his side were beaten by a Cristiano Ronaldo masterclass at Old Trafford on Saturday evening.
Spurs twice responded to the Portuguese’s efforts but the 37-year-old headed home a corner from Alex Telles just nine minutes from time to hand Manchester United all three points on their own turf.
The north Londoners have slipped to seventh in the standings, as a result.
Conte will surely be seething on his way back to Hotspur Way after his side leaked more goals, in fact, it’s now 15 goals conceded across their last nine league outings.
Sergio Reguilon was a fine example of their defensive troubles up against the talismanic veteran as he failed to make the most of his return to the starting lineup. Indeed, in the absence of Ryan Sessegnon, the Spaniard made his first start in six games.
However, it was he who played Jadon Sancho onside before he made things worse with his appeals to the linesman, instead of tracking back with Ronaldo, who fired home his second past Hugo Lloris.
The 25-year-old, who is valued at £25m by CIES Football Observatory, somewhat made amends with his involvement in Harry Maguire’s own goal but overall, he was shocking defensively and that leaves far too many concerned amid their backline woes.
Reguilon was dribbled past on two occasions during the 90 minutes, on top of only one tackle and one interception, via SofaScore.
And just as football.london reporter Alasdair Gold explained in his post-match ratings column, the former Real Madrid dynamo was ‘indecisive in attack.’
You could also say he was ineffective too.
He failed to deliver a single accurate cross to Harry Kane and co from seven attempts, whilst from 73 touches (third-most), he was unable to contribute more than one key chance, also losing possession on 21 occasions – the most of any player on the night, also via SofaScore.
It meant that Reguilon gifted the ball back to the Red Devils once every 3.4 touches or once every 4.2 minutes.
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Heung-min Son was one of many names criticised by the aforementioned Spurs reporter after the game but Reguilon failed to have any major influence on the game, one fluke incident that saw Maguire turn the ball into his own net doesn’t fully atone for his ineffectiveness in the final third, nor his weak attempts defensively.
He let Conte down up in Manchester this weekend.
AND in other news, “Might work out…”: Spurs insider drops big transfer claim that’ll excite supporters…
ScorecardSanath Jayasuriya’s preparation for the CB Series took a severe blow when he was forced to retire hurt after being hit on the jaw during the Sri Lankans’ defeat by Tasmania. Jayasuriya, who was struck when trying to pull a Tim MacDonald bouncer in the eighth over, left the field for six stitches and later went for an x-ray, which cleared him of a fracture.Brendan Drew also hurt the visitors with 5 for 36 from ten overs and they could only reach 9 for 183 in 47.4 overs. Drew, the right arm swing bowler, was impressive, removing Upul Tharanga (24), Kumar Sangakkara (0) and Chamara Silva (5) in his first spell before coming back for the crucial wickets of Chamara Kapugedera and Farveez Maharoof.The pair had put on 46 when Kapugedera fell swiping straight for 34 and Maharoof went in a similar fashion in the next over for 29. Tasmania continued to exert pressure through the left-arm spin of Xavier Doherty, who collected 2 for 36 off ten.The highlight for the tourists was the form of the captain Mahela Jayawardene and he stayed for 59 balls in making a brisk 51. However, his bowlers were quickly in trouble as Tasmania eased to their target in the 37th over.Tim Paine opened with a half-century and Michael Dighton (45) and Dane Anderson (47 not out) also picked up control of the chase. Nuwan Kulasekara was the most penetrative, removing both openers, but the tourists have some concerns ahead of their first CB Series game against India in Brisbane on Tuesday.
A four-member anti-corruption unit of the ICC arrived in Nagpur today to conduct a probe into the allegations of match-fixing involving Marlon Samuels, the West Indian allrounder, and bookie Mukesh Kochar.The Nagpur Police revealed last week that they had taped four telephone conversations between Samuels and Kochar on the eve of the first ODI between India and West Indies in Nagpur on January 21.The team, headed by N S Virk, regional security manager of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit, met SPS Yadav, Nagpur’s Police Commissioner, who contacted the Indian board (BCCI) with the initial details.Brian Murgatroyd, an ICC spokesman, told reporters in Nagpur that the ICC’s anti-corruption unit was speaking to the police and cricket officials in Nagpur after being given the details by the Indian board: “The unit will extract more details and all possible angles from the police. We will leave no stone unturned in the investigation”. He said no timeframe had been fixed by the ICC in which to complete the probe.Later, Yadav told reporters he’d passed on to the ICC officials the information that, because of a delayed flight, the West Indies team received their playing kit after the toss for the match in question had taken place. This, he said, could have been the reason why Brian Lara, who had won the toss, decided to field first.