Sunday, November 29, 2009

Shane Bond leads New Zealand to thrilling win


Shane Bond
Bond has had an injury plagued career since his Test debut in 2001

Returning fast bowler Shane Bond inspired New Zealand to a thrilling 32-run victory in the first Test against Pakistan in Dunedin.

Bond, playing his first Test since 2007, followed his 5-107 in the first innings with 3-46 as Pakistan, set 251 to win, were skittled for 218.

Bond's second-innings haul included the crucial wickets of Mohammad Yousuf (41) and Umar Akmal (75).

Earlier, New Zealand, resuming on 147-8, were bundled out for 153.

It was a final day that ebbed and flowed as New Zealand added only six runs to their overnight total of 147 for the loss of their final two wickets when play resumed.

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That left Pakistan chasing 251 for victory - a target that looked well beyond them when they were reduced to 24-3 inside the first 11 overs.

But a composed half century from Umar to follow up his maiden Test hundred on debut swung the momentum back Pakistan's way.

When Yousuf departed for 41 after a 71-run partnership with Umar, Shoaib Malik joined Umar in the middle and together they steadily chipped away at the target.

But five minutes before tea Iain O'Brien forced the error from Malik, who top-edged Brendon McCullum after the pair had put on 66. That left Pakistan at 165-5 at tea, needing 86 runs to win in the final session.

Full credit goes to New Zealand for the way they played and the way they bowled in the second innings
Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf

That target looked gettable with Umar and Kamran Akmal at the crease but the brothers could not reproduce their heroics of the first innings, when they scored 176 runs for the sixth wicket to rescue Pakistan.

When Umar was caught and bowled by Bond for 75, Pakistan still required another 56 runs, and the departure of Kamran five balls later for 27 saw Pakistan's hopes fade further.

Bond's career has been blighted by injury since he burst onto the scene in 2001, to the extent he has only played 18 Tests, and he was banned by his own cricket board after joining the Indian Cricket League in 2008.

"It was perfect really, it's why you want to play Test cricket because it is a true test and it has mental highs and lows," said Bond, 34.

"It was great cricket and to win in a team that's working so hard as well makes it satisfying. The boys are putting in a lot of hard work and I think we are starting to reap the rewards for it which is nice."

Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf was left to rue a slew of dropped catches following the defeat, with Imran Farhat missing several chances, including one off Daniel Vettori in the first innings when he was on nought. The New Zealand skipper went on to make 99.

"The result is disappointing obviously but full credit goes to New Zealand for the way they played and the way they bowled in the second innings," said Yousuf.

"We dropped vital catches, otherwise we wouldn't be chasing 250, but I'm pleased with the way the team fought back."

India spinners seal emphatic Test win over Sri Lanka

Harbhajan Singh celebrates taking the wicket of Prasanna Jayawardene
Harbhajan Singh ended up with figures of 3-98

India earned their 100th Test victory by comprehensively beating Sri Lanka by an innings and 144 runs in Kanpur.

The margin was India's biggest over Sri Lanka, surpassing the previous best of an innings and 119 runs in 1994.

Resuming on 57-4, Sri Lanka were dismissed for 269 before tea with only Thilan Samaraweera offering any resistance, finishing unbeaten on 78.

The crushing win puts India 1-0 ahead in the series, with the third and final Test taking place in Mumbai next week.

Paceman Zaheer Khan got the hosts off to the perfect start on the fourth day, taking the wicket of all-rounder Angelo Mathews for 15 in the second over.

Prasanna Jayawardene added 61 runs for the sixth wicket with Samaraweera before off-spinner Harbhajan Singh bowled him for 29.

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Harbhajan also trapped Rangana Herath leg before wicket for 13 while Muttiah Muralitharan, who scored 29 off 11 deliveries, fell to spinner Pragyan Ojha.

Samaraweera, the only Sri Lankan batsman to score a half century in the match, then forged another partnership with Ajantha Mendis - the eighth wicket duo putting on 73 - before Yuvraj Singh bowled Mendis for 27.

Ojha then caught and bowled last man Chanaka Welegedara, the wicket sparking wild celebrations.

"It is a moment of pride for me and the whole team to be a part of this 100th win," said Indian captain Mahendra Dhoni.

Dhoni was delighted with the performance of paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, who was named man of the match after picking up 5-75 in the first innings and finishing with 6-122.

"The changes in the side brought in some fresh legs, Sreesanth was fantastic and he used the reverse swing very effectively," added Dhoni.

"The amount of runs we scored on the first day were very important, putting pressure on the Sri Lanka batting side.

"It was important to get some big momentum on our side going into the final Test match. I'm sure the wickets are going to be something different for the fast bowlers and the spinners so let's hope for some exciting cricket."

Meanwhile, Dhoni's counterpart Kumar Sangakkara insisted his side could bounce back and level the series, saying: "Every Test match offers an opportunity to come back.

"The team is hurting right now, they are disappointed with themselves, but we're mentally pretty strong and we want to come back and win the Test match."

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

India batsmen dominate Sri Lanka


Second Test, Kanpur, day one (close):
India 417-2 v Sri Lanka
Match scorecard
Coverage: Regular score updates plus daily reports on BBC Sport website, plus live television coverage on Sky Sports 1 from 0400 GMT


Virender Sehwag
Sehwag hit 18 fours and two sixes in his 16th Test century

Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag hit hundreds as India dominated day one of the second Test against Sri Lanka.

Gambhir (167) and Sehwag (131), who was dropped in the opening over by Mahela Jayawardene, put on 233 after India won the toss and elected to bat in Kanpur.

Muttiah Muralitharan removed both men either side of tea, but Rahul Dravid (85 not out) and Sachin Tendulkar (20 not out) led India to 417-2 at stumps.

It was the first time India had made 400 in a day in a Test match.

Kumar Sangakkara's depleted attack was hammered around the park as India's top order ensured there was no capitulation as in the first Test in Ahmedabad.

Sehwag, 31, was uncharacteristically scratchy in the first hour and was dropped by Jayawardene at first slip before he could get off the mark, before going on to dominate the opening stand.

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DPD

He broke the shackles by driving Angelo Mathews for his first boundary in the 12th over and followed that with a pull to the mid-wicket fence in the same over.

Sehwag then surged ahead of Gambhir and reached his 16th Test century off just 97 deliveries by turning Muralitharan for a boundary to fine leg.

Sehwag hammered Muralitharan for three consecutive boundaries as India sped past the 200 mark in the afternoon session and continued to accumulate runs at breakneck pace before Muralitharan made the breakthrough.

Sehwag drove at a delivery with a little more air and picked out Tillakaratne Dilshan at extra cover.

"It was a good track to bat on and we capitalised on that," said Sehwag. "I knew they were playing with three spinners so I decided to play out the first few overs when the ball was seaming before hitting out against their slow bowlers.

"We will now look to put up a big total and put Sri Lanka under pressure. The wicket should crack up on the third and fourth days and we are confident of taking 20 wickets."

The 28-year-old Gambhir, who had provided the early momentum, slowed as he neared his century but got there in style, skipping down the track to hit Rangana Herath for a straight boundary.

It was his eighth century, fourth in as many Tests and second in succession after a century in the second innings in Ahmedabad.

Together with Dravid, Gambhir added 137 for the second wicket, before Muralitharan pulled off a brilliant caught and bowled for Sri Lanka's second wicket of the day.

Dravid reached his half-century - his 58th in Tests - by sweeping Muralitharan for a single and he and Tendulkar played cautiously to finish the day unbeaten.

Ajantha Mendis, who took injured fast bowler Dammika Prasad's place in the side, conceded 87 from 19 overs while Herath - the third specialist spinner in Sri Lanka's attack - leaked 91 from 18 overs.

Muralitharan, whose form has been questioned of late, finished with figures of 2-100 from 18 overs.

Monday, November 16, 2009

India v Sri Lanka 1st Test Match: Day one

Test Match Series: India v Sri Lanka
16-11-2009 at Ahmedabad, Day 1 of 5
Close
India won the toss and decided to bat
385 for 6 (90.0 overs)

India 1st Innings
Runs
Balls
4s
6s
Gambhir
b Welegedara
1
10 0 0
Sehwag lbw b Welegedara
16
11 3 0
Dravid not out
177
251 26 1
Tendulkar
b Welegedara
4
3 1 0
Laxman
b Prasad
0
4 0 0
Yuvraj c Dilshan b Muralitharan
68
93 13 0
Dhoni c Jayawardene b Prasad
110
159 10 1
Harbhajan not out
2
11 0 0
Extras
2nb 1w 2b 2lb 7
Total
for 6 385 (90.0 ovs)

Bowler
O
M
R
W
Welegedara 17.0 3 75 3
Prasad 18.0 1 90 2
Mathews 12.0 1 50 0
Muralitharan 23.0 3 90 1
Herath 19.0 1 73 0
Dilshan 1.0 0 3 0

Fall of wicket
14 Gambhir
27 Sehwag
31 Tendulkar
32 Laxman
157 Yuvraj
381 Dhoni

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Umpires: A L Hill, N J Llong, J J Crowe, A M Saheba
India: Sehwag, Gambhir, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman, Yuvraj, Dhoni (C/W), Harbhajan, Mishra, Zaheer, I Sharma
Sri Lanka: Dilshan, Paranavitana, Sangakkara (C), M Jayawardene, Samaraweera, Mathews, Jayawardene (W), Prasad, Herath, Muralitharan, Welegedara