NEPAL, NATURALLY: ACC U-17 ELITE CHAMPIONS

U-17 ELITE CUP
NEPAL, NATURALLY: ACC U-17 ELITE CHAMPIONS

Nepal, playing close to perfect cricket, in front of a raucous partisan crowd estimated to be 8,000 strong, beat Malaysia by 10 wickets in the Final of the ACC U-17 Elite Cup at Tribhuvan University. They have now won ACC age-group championships in all categories, including women.

"We just couldn't cope with the pressure," said Malaysia's captain Keithan Goonasageran afterwards, "playing in front of a crowd like this for the first time shook a few of our players but really it was the spot-spot-spot bowling of Nepal's spinners that hurt us."

Malaysia’s first 50 took 13.2 overs, their next 50 took 20 as the Nepali spinners, backed up by athletic fielding and acute placement choked the life out of the vaunted Malaysian middle-order. Goonasageran, victim to leg-spinner Rochak Bhatta, in charging down the wicket at the start of the 31st over, in a hapless attempt to break the stranglehold the most culpable of the Malaysian batsmen. “The boys weren’t taking enough singles,” said Malaysia’s coach Haris Abu Baker.

Malaysia showed enough talent to suggest that their status as ACC Elite nation is assured, little wicket-keeper/opener Zubair Norazmi played some sublime drives, as did Goonasageran himself but they were few and far between. A little more game-skills, like the Nepali players have, and Malaysia would not have succumbed so easily. “On talent the teams are quite close,” said Nepal’s coach Roy Dias, “Malaysia have improved a lot since 2005 (the last time the two teams met, in the ACC U-19 Cup Final). What is most satisfying from the neutral point of view is that two countries with 100% local players have reached the Final and played good cricket.”

Nepal have actually been under-performing in this tournament now, coming through hard-fought games against Hong Kong and UAE not totally convincingly but today they played like champions. The bowlers did what they could and the batsmen – just two of them needed – Sagar Pun and Aakash Pariyar did the rest.

Sagar Pun’s had a quiet tournament up to the Final, this from a local Twenty20 phenomenon, today he was a Virender Sehwag. Late cuts were interspersed with dynamic strokes in front of the wicket, touch was alternated with power: all assured, completely unstoppable. Even when he gave a chance, when on 34, he got away with it. “We lost heart things didn’t go our way early on, we kind of gave up,” admitted Malaysia’s captain. He’d have needed a fielder in the crowd to catch the 6 with which Sagar Pun reached his 50 and took Malaysia past 100 at the start of the 21st over.

Pun and Pariyar hustled for each other, pressured the fielders, dived, scrambled and did everything they could to win the game for Nepal. They did so much no one had to do anything else.

Sagar Pun and Aakash Pariyar

The Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal presented the ACC U-17 Elite Cup to winning captain Prithu Baskota in front of the thousands staying on for the prize-giving, the match being carried live from the start by Nepal TV 2. Cricket’s big in Nepal and it’s going to get even bigger and better.

ACC U-17 Elite Cup
Final: Nepal v Malaysia at Tribhuvan University
NEPAL WON BY 10 WICKETS
Malaysia won the toss and chose to bat
Malaysia: 124 off 37.1 overs (Z.Norazmi 31, K.Goonasageran 28; P.Baskota 3-16)
Nepal: 125 for 0 after 23.3 overs (S.Pun 65*, A.Pariyar 53*)
Man of the Match: Sagar Pun (Nepal)

ACC U-17 Elite Cup 2009

Venue	:	Kathmandu, Nepal
Dates	:	4 – 12 February 2009

Scorecard

NEPAL v MALAYSIA at Tribhuvan University, 12/2/2009

40-overs a side
Toss won by: Malaysia, chose to bat

MALAYSIA			R	B	4s	6s
†Zubair Norazmi	c P.Baskota	P.Airee	31	29	6	0
Faisal Rosmanizam	c K.Gurung	B.Karki	5	29	0	0
*Keithan Goonasegaran	st A.Pariyar	R.Bhatta	28	59	4	0
Kamarul Azhar	c K.Karki	P.Baskota	9	20	1	0
Syadhat Ramli	c A.Pariyar	P.Baskota	2	6	0	0
Ahmad Adnan	lbw	P.Baskota	1	8	0	0
Kavintheran Kumar	c+b	R.Bhatta	1	20	0	0
Ramdan Samsudin	run out		21	19	2	1
Ammar Rusli	b	A.Karn	9	18	1	0
Pavithren Nadaesan	run out		1	4	0	0
Bakri Zulkifeli	not out		0	0	0	0
Extras: b1, lb2, w13			16
Total			124	/10	37.1	ovs

Fall of wickets:
1-34(10.5 ovs), 2-40(11.4 ovs), 3-68(19.2 ovs), 4-73(21.4 ovs), 5-77(23.5 ovs), 6-86(30.1 ovs), 7-87(30.3 ovs), 8-121(36.1 ovs), 9-123(36.6 ovs)

NEPAL Bowling	O	M	R	W
Krishna Karki	4	2	14	0
Avinash Karn	5	0	15	0(2w)
Bhuwan Karki	8	2	18	1(1w)
Pradeep Airee	4.1	0	31	1(9w)
Prithu Baskota	8	2	16	3
Rochak Bhatta	6	0	15	2
Bivek Dali	6	0	15	2

NEPAL			R	B	4s	6s
Sagar Pun	not out		65	60	7	3
†Aakash Pariyar	not out		53	81	7	0
Prithu Baskota
Pradeep Airee
Nischal Chaudhary
Bhuwan Karki
Krishna Karki
Bivek Dali
Kirten Gurung
Avinash Karn
Rochak Bhatta
Extras:b1, lb2, w4			7
Total			125	for 0	23.3	ovs

MALAYSIA Bowling	O	M	R	W
Ramdan Samsudin	5	1	28	0
Kavintheran Kumar	3	0	14	0(3w)
Pavithren Nadaesan	8	0	30	0(1w)
Ammar Rusli	3.3	0	16	0
Kamarul Azhar	2	0	12	0
Ahmad Adnan	2	0	22	0

NEPAL WON BY 10 WICKETS
Man of the Match: Sagar Pun (Nepal)

Umpires: Imtiaz Amjad (Oman), Mohammad Riyaz (Maldives)
Match Referee: Buddhi Bahadur Pradhan (Nepal)
Scorers: Dhiraj Gyawali (Nepal), Pabitra Raut (Nepal)

GROUP A		GROUP B
Singapore		Bahrain
Nepal		Kuwait
Qatar		UAE
Hong Kong		Malaysia

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• Match Reports
  
  12th February 2009

  -	Final: Nepal v Malaysia at Tribhuvan University: NEPAL, NATURALLY: ACC U-17 ELITE CHAMPIONS

  
  10th February 2009

  -	SF 1: Nepal v UAE at Tribhuvan: NEPAL ENTERS FINAL AFTER TENSE WIN
  -	SF 2: Malaysia v Qatar at Engineering College: MALAYSIA MAKE IT THROUGH

  
  

	Match Schedule:
	February 4	Nepal v Qatar at Engineering Ground, Pulchowk Bahrain v Kuwait at Tribhuvan University Ground, Kirtipur Hong Kong v Singapore at Army School Ground, Bhaktapur
	February 5	Hong Kong v Qatar at Tribhuvan Bahrain v UAE at Engineering Ground Kuwait v Malaysia at Army School
	February 7	Malaysia v UAE at Tribhuvan Qatar v Singapore at Engineering Ground Nepal v Hong Kong at Army School
	February 8	Nepal v Singapore at Tribhuvan Bahrain v Malaysia at Engineering Ground Kuwait v UAE at Army School
	February 10	SF1: Nepal v UAE at Tribhuvan SF2: Qatar v Malaysia at Engineering College 7th/8th Playoff: Singapore v Kuwait at Army School
	February 11	3rd/4th Playoff: UAE v Qatar at Engineering Ground 5th/6th Playoff: Hong Kong v Bahrain at Army School
	February 12	FINAL: Nepal v Malaysia at Tribhuvan

India tour of New Zealand, 2008/09

India tour of New Zealand, 2008/09

February 2009
Wed 25 19:00 local, 06:00 GMT	1st T20I - New Zealand v India AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Fri 27 19:00 local, 06:00 GMT	2nd T20I - New Zealand v India Westpac Stadium, Wellington Originally scheduled for March 6, 2009
March 2009
Tue 3 14:00 local, 01:00 GMT	1st ODI - New Zealand v India McLean Park, Napier Originally scheduled for March 8, 2009
Fri 6 14:00 local, 01:00 GMT	2nd ODI - New Zealand v India Westpac Stadium, Wellington Originally schedule for March 17, 2009
Sun 8 14:00 local, 01:00 GMT	3rd ODI - New Zealand v India AMI Stadium, Christchurch Originally scheduled for March 20, 2009
Wed 11 14:00 local, 01:00 GMT	4th ODI - New Zealand v India Seddon Park, Hamilton
Sat 14 14:00 local, 01:00 GMT	5th ODI - New Zealand v India Eden Park, Auckland
Wed 18 - Sun 22 11:00 local, 22:00 GMT	1st Test - New Zealand v India Seddon Park, Hamilton Originally scheduled for March 26-30, 2009
Thu 26 - Mon 30 11:00 local, 22:00 GMT	2nd Test - New Zealand v India McLean Park, Napier
April 2009
Fri 3 - Tue 7 11:00 local, 22:00 GMT	3rd Test - New Zealand v India Basin Reserve, Wellington

Adjusting to NZ conditions will be tough - Tendulkar

India in New Zealand 2008-09

Adjusting to NZ conditions will be tough - Tendulkar

February 12, 2009

	Sachin Tendulkar does not want to disrupt a winning Twenty20 unit during India's tour of New Zealand © AFP

Sachin Tendulkar, who has toured New Zealand six times, has said the toughest task for India will be to adjust to the harsh local conditions. Tendulkar was confident that the seniors in the squad would help the younger players adjust, but he has ruled himself out of contention for the two Twenty20 internationals in New Zealand.

"It is a fairly new team and the challenge is definitely there. Playing in New Zealand, where the conditions are going to be tough, is a completely different experience," Tendulkar said in Mumbai.

Tendulkar said the wind plays an important role in venues like Wellington and one has to be wary of the changing conditions. "In places like Wellington from one end a bowler comes at 135kph with the breeze behind him and then suddenly you are facing someone else who is very slow and there is no wind. With the wind behind the bowler it affects the batsman as he can't keep his eyes open long. So it becomes tough as one needs to change the bat swing, balance and the rest."

India's tour of New Zealand was extended to include a third Test and a second Twenty20 international. The extra fixtures were included at the expense of the tour match which means India will have no practice games during their visit that includes two Twenty20 matches, five ODIs and three Tests. India will arrive in New Zealand on February 20, eight days earlier than originally scheduled, and will begin the tour with a Twenty20 match in Christchurch on February 25.

Napier will host the additional Test, the second of the three-match series, from March 26 to 30. The reworked schedule resulted in the dates for the second Twenty20 game and the first three ODIs being brought forward. The three-day warm-up match against a New Zealand XI in Lincoln between the ODIs and Tests has also been scrapped.

The axed practice match drew flak from former players but Tendulkar played it down. "International calendar is such that we need to adjust to such situations but it should not be a worry," he said.

Tendulkar pointed out that even if there were many rookies on the New Zealand trip the seniors in the management could guide them. "It is going to be a learning experience for the first-timers," he said. "We have a good balance of experience and youth and the seniors and coaches will guide the newcomers."

Asked if he would make himself available for the two Twenty20 clashes on February 25 and 27, Tendulkar said he did not want to "disturb" the balance of the Indian squad. Tendulkar hasn't played a Twenty20 international after featuring in India's maiden Twenty20 match, against South Africa in 2006, and said he had no intention to do so now.

In 2007 he took his name out of contention for the Twenty20 World Cup, opting to take a break. "I was tired and wanted to take a break after the England trip in 2007," said Tendulkar. "It was a conscious decision not to play then and I did not want to have feeling of not being able to give my best. I do not want to disturb the present winning combination. The team is doing well and I do not want to be part of the Twenty20 set-up."

India last toured New Zealand in 2002-03 and were beaten 0-2 in the Tests and 2-5 in the ODIs.

The brothers Pathan clinch India victory

Sri Lanka v India, Twenty20 international, Colombo

The brothers Pathan clinch India victory

February 10, 2009

India 174 for 7 (Irfan 33*, Raina 35) beat Sri Lanka 171 for 4 (Dilshan 67, Jayasuriya 33) by three wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

	Tillakaratne Dilshan's half-century was undone by two smaller but far more significant Indian contributions © AFP

On a day when the Hussey brothers did the winning act for Australia, India found their answer in the two Pathans, with Yusuf and Irfan scripting a thrilling three-wicket win in the one-off Twenty20 game. Set a challenging 172 for victory, India seemed to have botched up the chase when Sri Lanka's spinners reduced them to 115 for 7, but then came the last twist on an evening which had several: a 59-run partnership off 25 balls, and India were home and dry with four balls to spare, ending the tour with five wins in six games.

The Twenty20 game is designed to thrill, and this game did that in ample measure: there were 345 runs scored in 39.2 overs, with 11 sixes and 32 fours. The most important of them, though, came late in the evening from the Pathan brothers, after it seemed Sri Lanka's spinners had spun the match irreversibly in their favour.

From an utterly dominant 81 for 2 after eight overs, India lost their next five wickets for 34 runs as Malinga Bandara, the legspinner, and Sanath Jayasuriya turned it around with a mix of fine bowling and some curious shot selection from the Indians. With Yuvraj Singh - who continued his sublime form with an utterly dominant 21-ball 32 - Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja all back in the hutch and the asking rate an imposing 11.40 an over, Sri Lanka were well on their way to an incredible come-from-behind victory.

Enter the Pathan brothers. Yusuf had already made a name for himself in the IPL, and here he decided to remind the Sri Lankans of his prowess before the second season which starts later this year. The second ball he faced, from Bandara, was smashed over extra cover, the next one disappeared behind the sightscreen, and two balls later, another hit vanished over wide long-on. The requirement had come down to 40 from four overs.

That forced Tillakaratne Dilshan to abandon the idea of bowling more overs of spin, but when the fast bowlers returned, Irfan was ready to join in the fun. Lasith Malinga was carved over extra-cover for a one-bounce four, Dilhara Fernando was clubbed over midwicket for six, before the coup de grace was finally delivered off Malinga with a meaty blow over midwicket. Game, set, and match for the Pathan brothers.

Till that amazing turnaround, the match had gone pretty well for Sri Lanka and for first-time captain Dilshan: he won the toss - something that has been as rare as a victory for Sri Lanka in this series - starred with the bat despite a shaky start with a busy 61 to lift his team out of a mid-innings slump, and then, doing the job of makeshift wicketkeeper, even managed a sharp catch to dismiss the fluent and in-form Yuvraj. When he did make mistakes, lady luck still smiled on him: Irfan dropped a sitter in the first over when Dilshan was 0, but when Dilshan missed a chance from Raina on 28, it only cost his team seven runs.

It was with the bat, though, that Dilshan made his biggest contribution, getting to his first half-century in this format. Sensibly, he played the second fiddle to the rampaging Jayasuriya, contributing just 18 in an opening partnership of 59. Thereafter, he assumed the role of senior batsman, flaying through the off side, running hard, and pushing the score along with some support from Chamara Kapugedera. Ishant Sharma, who redeemed himself somewhat with a fine last over, and Zaheer were pasted all over the park by a marauding Jayasuriya and Dilshan as 53 came in the first five overs.

At that stage, a total of around 200 was well on the cards, but Sri Lanka lost the plot completely in the middle overs, scoring just 36 between the sixth and 12th overs, as Jehan Mubarak did his best to neutralise the momentum his team had got from Jayasuriya's early blitz. Eighty-two came from the last eight, which ensured Sri Lanka had a reasonable total to defend, but Dilshan will still rue the sloppiness of his bowlers. There were seven wides in the first six overs, and ten in all, and Dilshan was left screaming at his bowlers and wringing his hands in despair.

His spinners brought his team back into the contest, just as India's had, but the ultimate difference was the last three overs of both teams: Sri Lanka scored 19; India hammered 30.

Sri Lanka claim consolation victory

Sri Lanka v India, 5th ODI, Colombo

Sri Lanka claim consolation victory

February 8, 2009

Sri Lanka 320 for 8 (Dilshan 97, Sangakkara 84) beat India 252 (Yuvraj 73, Jadeja 60*, Dhoni 53) by 68 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

	The Man-of-the-Match Kumar Sangakkara continued his good series with a brisk 84 as Sri Lanka denied India a clean sweep © AFP

Finally Sri Lanka showed up, prevented their first 5-0 series whitewash, and stopped India at nine ODI wins in a row. A turnaround began at the first toss they won in the series, continued with near-centuries from Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara, and culminated in an energetic and smart show in the field.

For 62 balls Yuvraj Singh played a dream knock, keeping India in the game despite wickets falling around him. When he became the fifth Indian to fall, for a dazzling 73 out of India's 121 in the 22nd over, the 321-run target looked far away. But for that blitz from Yuvraj and a late-order collapse, Sri Lanka dominated the whole game, a feat that had looked unimaginable in the first four games.

Perhaps the toss played a big part. This was only the second time Mahela Jayawardene beat Mahendra Singh Dhoni with the coin in the last 11 occasions. On a dry track, Sanath Jayasuriya and Dilshan provided Sri Lanka with the ideal start and feasted on the wayward trio of Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma, and L Balaji, making his ODI comeback after more than three years.

It was Jayasuriya who provided Sri Lanka with the springboard. During his short stay at the crease he beat the bowlers into submission. By the team Jayasuriya departed in the 11th over, after having displayed his trademark clip over midwicket, cut through point, the short-arm pull, and the loft over mid-off, Sri Lanka had reached 66.

The pyrotechnics may have stopped upon Jayasuriya's dismissal, but the runs kept coming at a fair pace. Sangakkara picked up boundaries regularly, minus the flashy strokeplay. The second ball he faced, Sangakkara reached out for a fullish delivery and cut it off the front foot for four. He also benefited from some wayward bowling from Virender Sehwag, who gave him a gift down the leg side at least once in his three overs. The fine-leg fielder was a busy man when Sehwag bowled, but in vain. Sehwag was replaced by another part-timer - India used six such bowlers, making it nine in all - but Sangakkara's paddle to fine leg kept yielding him rich results. In all, Sangakkara took 28 runs behind square on the leg side.

India tried to hustle through the middle overs, using all their dibbly-dobbly part-time spinners to bowl 21 overs between the drinks breaks, but all they managed to hurry was the scoring. Sangakkara's slog-sweeping over midwicket was effective. He hit three fours and a six there, taking 23 runs in the midwicket region. But his final slog-sweep denied him a century and ended a 143-run partnership.

It was easy to miss Dilshan with Jayasuriya and Sangakkara going hard, and he chose to stay inconspicuous, running hard between the wickets and waiting for the loose deliveries. He was especially severe outside off, finding the gaps through the covers consistently. Seventy of his runs, and eight of his nine boundaries, came through the point and cover region. His running with Sangakkara was exemplary, both of them often running seconds on the throw. This was Dilshan's first half-century of the series, and could very easily have been a century but Dilshan became part of a late collapse.

In his comeback spell, Ishant took two wickets in an over during a period when four wickets fell in six deliveries. As a result only 65 came in the last nine overs, and India were upbeat going into the chase.

But all such notions were put to rest in the first three overs through some smart cricket by Jayasuriya and Sangakkara. First Jayasuriya moved to his left to take a sharp catch from Sehwag off Thilan Thushara, in the second over of the innings. In the next over Sangakkara, who stood up to the seamers right from the start of the innings, hung on to a thick edge from Suresh Raina.

Yuvraj, though, didn't slow down even as India kept losing top-order wickets. Yuvraj picked his fifth delivery from outside off and flicked it over square leg for four. That was about the worst his timing would get, and this was divinely timed. Mere pushes split the field and sped off for boundaries, flicks and half-lofts reached the boundary on the bounce, and those hit straight to the fielders took some stopping. Neither Nuwan Kulasekara, Farveez Maharoof nor Thushara was spared as Yuvraj picked the slower balls and swept with ease; one of them off Maharoof went for a huge six. Yuvraj reached his 50 in 46 balls, hitting 10 boundaries.

The trouble was that two more wickets fell quickly, and Yuvraj had to keep the scoring-rate up. In the 22nd over of the innings he top-edged a sweep off Muttiah Muralitharan to give Sri Lanka the final fillip. At that time India needed 200 more in 28 overs, and as they looked to consolidate the asking-rate kept creeping on them. Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja, the debutant, got half-centuries, but they were always racing against time. And the latter had a head start.

Gambhir stars in fourth straight win

Sri Lanka v India, 4th ODI, Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Gambhir stars in fourth straight win

February 5, 2009

India 332 for 5 (Gambhir 150, Dhoni 94) beat Sri Lanka 265 (Sangakkara 56) by 67 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

	Gautam Gambhir scored a career best 150 to lead India to their fourth win of the series © AFP

India marched to their longest winning streak - nine matches - with a comprehensive win that pushed Sri Lanka further towards their first 5-0 ODI whitewash. The victory was built around Gautam Gambhir's personal best and Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 94 at No. 3, innings that helped set Sri Lanka a target of 333, 62 more than the highest-ever chased at the Premadasa Stadium. Sri Lanka hit the ground running at the start of their chase but Praveen Kumar and Pragyan Ojha eventually choked off the run supply.

The toss was won yet again by Dhoni, his ninth success in ten games against Sri Lanka, and it proved crucial as Ojha and the part-timers looked more effective under lights than even Muttiah Muralitharan did in the first half of the match. Murali did break the record for the most wickets in ODIs but his landmark victim, Gambhir, had scored 150 by then.

The toss was not the only correct call Dhoni made today. He promoted himself to No. 3 for the first time as captain after the early dismissal of Virender Sehwag. The last time he went in at No. 3, against Bangladesh, Dhoni had added 87 with Gambhir, who scored his second ODI century. Dhoni missed a hundred today after adding 188 with Gambhir, but maintained his superlative record at one-drop. Gambhir went on to make the highest individual score in Sri Lanka.

The total of 332 was achieved only after a difficult start. The pitch at the R Premadasa offered some movement with the new ball and Farveez Maharoof and Nuwan Kulasekara troubled the openers.

After Sehwag's fall - to a sharp catch by Sanath Jayasuriya at mid-off that was about the only moment of inspiration in the field - Gambhir and Dhoni were not given easy offerings. India hit only five boundaries in the first 14 overs and Gambhir had to step out and loft to break the shackles.

In the absence of boundaries, Gambhir and Dhoni ran with ferocity and the kind of understanding that Gambhir and Sehwag demonstrate. The Sri Lankan fielding wilted under the pressure, managing three misfields, not backing up well twice, and allowing too many twos in the outfield. The batsmen were alert to every opportunity, even running overthrows to ricochets off the stumps. Between them, Dhoni and Gambhir took 25 twos and five threes. Dhoni and Gambhir stepped up the pace when Mahela Jayawardene turned to his fourth and fifth bowlers. In back-to-back overs, Gambhir hit Angelo Mathews for a six to bring up his half-century and Dhoni treated Muttiah Muralitharan similarly to reach his. Dhoni looked for another higher gear but top-edged Jayasuriya to short third man when he was six short of his century.

Following the loss of three quick wickets, Gambhir switched from steady accumulator to ruthless hitter. He was on 87 off 98 balls when Yusuf got out, but scored 63 off the next 49. Along with Gambhir, Suresh Raina kept finding the gaps and India scored 97 in the last 12 overs.

Facing a daunting target, Sri Lanka's best chance was for Tillakaratne Dilshan and Jayasuriya to take on India's new-ball attack of Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan. They got off to a blazing start but the weight of the required run-rate was too much and both batsmen fell trying to manufacture shots. Kumar Sangakkara scored an impressive half-century but with wickets falling at the other end, he did not have it easy.

Unruly elements in the crowd interrupted play for the third match in a row just before Sri Lanka came unstuck. This time around, Dhoni led his team off the field. Only 17.2 overs had been bowled then, and 27 minutes were lost to the disruption. Play resumed only after a few stands were vacated.

Before the interruption, Praveen Kumar bowled an eight-over spell during which he reined Sri Lanka in. He had conceded only 33 of the 102 runs at the end of 16 overs, 12 of which came in his second over when Dilshan got stuck into him. At the other end, Jayasuriya took delight in flicking Irfan Pathan off his pads and hitting him over extra cover. However, he tried one shot too many and pulled Irfan straight to short cover where Rohit Sharma reacted quickly. Praveen had the final laugh in the battle against Dilshan, after the batsman top-edged a pull yet again. Between them Jayasuriya and Dilshan had scored 61 in 65 balls, but their dismissals meant Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene had to consolidate for a while.

After the interruption, Sri Lanka lost the plot in face of disconcerting turn the Indian spinners got from the pitch. Ojha was the most impressive, casting the first seeds of doubt by spinning the ball across Jayawardene regularly.

Ojha bowled better than his 1 for 34 suggests and the part-time spinners benefited from the shackles that he imposed. Sri Lanka lost their last eight wickets for 125. Only nine boundaries and two sixes were hit after the 16th over, all of them after the match had practically been lost.

Yuvraj and Sehwag set up series win

Sri Lanka v India, 3rd ODI, Colombo

Yuvraj and Sehwag set up series win

February 3, 2009

India 363 for 5 (Yuvraj 117, Sehwag 116, Pathan 59*) beat Sri Lanka 216 (Sangakkara 83, Ojha 4-38) by 147 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

	Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag hammered hundreds to set Sri Lanka a massive target © AFP

Muttiah Muralitharan equalled Wasim Akram's world record of 502 one-day wickets, but there was little else for a voluble crowd to celebrate as swashbuckling centuries from Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag led India to a comprehensive 147-run victory at the Premadasa Stadium. There was a big-hitting cameo from Yusuf Pathan and four wickets for the promising Pragyan Ojha as the series was wrapped up with two games to spare. Kumar Sangakkara's classy 83 proved to be little more than a footnote on a day when Sri Lanka were again way off the pace.

Yuvraj and Sehwag were in sensational form, though Sri Lanka didn't really help their cause with some decidedly poor fielding. After being reduced to 24 for 2, it was Yuvraj who cornered most of the strike, stroking some magnificent boundaries on either side of the wicket. Too often, the bowlers strayed on to the pads and he was more than happy to work them fine or swat them contemptuously over midwicket. There was much for the purist to admire too though, with beautifully timed shots through cover and backward point.

Sehwag was a spectator in the early part of the partnership, but when the opportunity presented itself, he was no less ruthless. Nuwan Kulasekara was taken for three successive fours, after which he enjoyed his first moment of good fortune. A slower ball struck him initially on the pad in front of middle stump, but the proximity of the bat to the pad and the subsequent contact fooled the umpire.

Not that Sri Lanka made their own luck either. Farveez Maharoof didn't sight the ball when Yuvraj miscued Ajantha Mendis over midwicket, and Dilhara Fernando palmed a tough chance over the rope when Sehwag, then on 45, lifted the same bowler over wide long-on. Sanath Jayasuriya was the next culprit, grassing a routine caught-and-bowled chance with Sehwag on 72.

You can't give such batsmen such reprieves. It took Yuvraj only 82 balls to score his 11th one-day century. It took Sehwag seven deliveries less. By then, they were dismissing the bowling at will. It didn't matter whether it was Murali or Mendis, or Fernando. The ball kept disappearing over the infield or into the gaps, and some appalling fielding, epitomised by Mendis letting one through his legs, merely increased Mahela Jayawardene's angst.

Yuvraj finally departed after making 117 off 95 balls, but there was no real zest to Murali's celebration. By then, the partnership was worth 221, from just only balls. Sehwag left not long after, for 116 off 90 balls, when Jayasuriya threw the stumps down from mid-off. The scoreboard showed 265, and there were still 15.1 overs to be bowled. Yusuf Pathan then clouted three mighty sixes down the ground on his way to a 33-ball half-century, and though Mahendra Singh Dhoni was initially circumspect, the damage had already been done.

India would argue that they were due a rub of the Colombo green. Sachin Tendulkar, who had thumped an enormous six off a free hit, was unlucky to be given out leg-before for the third time in the series. The Fernando delivery was slanting down the leg side, but the umpire decided otherwise, leaving Tendulkar with 18 runs after three matches.

Gautam Gambhir, dropped before he had scored by Thilina Kandamby at point, was then run out after backing up too far. Again, Fernando's luck was in, with Sehwag's firm straight drive just brushing his fingertips before colliding with the stumps. It wouldn't halt India's momentum though, against pace and spin alike. They took 50 off the bowling Powerplay and 43 from the batting one, and a mammoth total gradually took shape.

But for a 67-run partnership between Sangakkara and Jayawardene, Sri Lanka were never in the contest. Sanath Jayasuriya chopped the first ball he faced on to the stumps. Praveen Kumar's relative lack of pace and a hint of swing provided the breakthrough, and though Tillakaratne Dilshan got the scoreboard moving with a couple of streaky fours, the required rate was a Damocles sword hanging over Sri Lankan heads from the outset.

Dilshan pulled Praveen for one mighty six, but his attempt to cleave Zaheer over midwicket only resulted in the middle stump being pegged back. The captain and his deputy briefly resurrected hopes, taking 39 from the bowling Powerplay, but India tightened their grip once Sri Lanka opted to take the batting one immediately afterwards.

Jayawardene miscued Praveen to Virender Sehwag at mid-off and the spell was broken, and Kandamby, nearly the hero in the last game, followed soon after, with an ill-judged reverse sweep. Dhoni had waited till the end of the fielding restrictions to introduce spin, and the gamble worked a treat.

Pragyan Ojha, taken for two fours in his opening over, turned one right across Chamara Kapugedera's bat to hit middle stump. And with the ball gripping and turning, Ojha turned in his best one-day display. Farveez Maharoof was smartly caught at slip and Sangakkara's resistance ended with a miscue to short fine leg, before Murali under-edged one to Dhoni.

A last-wicket partnership of 26 was merely academic, and there was plenty to ponder for a Sri Lankan side that bore no resemblance whatsoever to the one that was once so formidable on home turf.

Ricky Ponting has been rested

Australia captain Ricky Ponting has been rested for the next two one-dayers against New Zealand, lending the reins to Michael Clarke.

© Getty Images

Ponting is one of only two players who have not had a break in the busy schedule, the other being Michael Hussey. They have not skipped a single match since the tour to India in October.

The right-hander played four Tests against India, two against New Zealand, three against South Africa, two international Twenty20 matches and six one-day matches since October last year.

The skipper will fly to Melbourne with the squad for the Allan Border Medal on Tuesday but will head home to Sydney before the second ODI in Melbourne.

Soon after the New Zealand series, Australia will fly to South Africa for three Tests and five one-dayers.

Ponting had a major operation on his wrist after the West Indies Test series and has batted with pain during the summer, but has managed to play more cricket than almost every other senior Australian player.

Commenting on the selection of the squads, NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said, “The National Selection Panel has selected a squad of 13 players for the next two games. There are two changes to the squad. Shaun Marsh has been ruled out with a hamstring injury and, consistent with Cricket Australia’s policy on managing player workload, Ricky Ponting has not been named in this squad.

“Naturally, as Australian captain, Ricky is keen to play every game and these next two games were no exception,” he said.

“However, it was always planned that Ricky would have a break at this time. While this is a difficult decision for the NSP, given the current performance of the team, in our view it is essential that Ricky has an opportunity to prepare for the forthcoming South Africa tour given his immense workload since the start of the India tour in late September last year,” Hilditch added.

Squad for 2nd and 3rd ODI: Michael Clarke (captain), Michael Hussey (vice captain), Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait, David Warner, Cameron White, Adam Voges, Callum Ferguson.

Cool Taylor steers New Zealand to tight victory

Australia v New Zealand, Chappell-Hadlee Series, 1st ODI, Perth

Cool Taylor steers New Zealand to tight victory

February 1, 2009

New Zealand 8 for 182 (Taylor 64, Bracken 3-38) beat Australia 181 (Hussey 49, Mills 4-35) by 2 wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

	Ross Taylor's clever innings gave New Zealand hope and ended in a sweet success © Getty Images

Ross Taylor showed calm class and Kyle Mills combined with bat and ball, but New Zealand had to wait until the last delivery to hand Australia their fourth loss in a row and gain a 1-0 lead in the Chappell-Hadlee Series. Taylor guided the tentative chase of the home team's below-par 181 and carried an order of novices before Daniel Vettori sealed the success with a glide behind point.

The timing of New Zealand's batting Powerplay was crucial - it came with eight overs to go - as they went from heading towards a troubling loss to redirecting course. Mills, who had already earned four wickets, picked up consecutive boundaries off Nathan Bracken (3 for 38) in a 12-run over that was followed by 11 from Shaun Tait, including a brave six swiped over midwicket by Taylor.

There was a late shift when Mills went for 26 from 35 balls and Taylor was caught by Michael Clarke for 64 off 97. With three wickets left, the visitors required nine from the final two overs and five from the last, losing Tim Southee before Vettori's poise.

Taylor's enthusiastic attitude brought some energy to the pursuit that was ailing at 3 for 25 in the 14th over and there were plenty of moments of doubt throughout. He was missed at third man on 15 by Mitchell Johnson, but his innings will be remembered for the Tait six, some fine cover drives and his desire to look for singles at every opportunity.

In a match that was excruciatingly ugly at times and gripping at others, Australia's batting was awful and New Zealand's was only slightly better. There were mistakes made at the WACA from players and officials that would not have been acceptable in the World Cricket League Division 3, where Afghanistan and Uganda finished on top. However, the bowling was a lot better than the standard at that tournament in Argentina, especially the work of Mills and Bracken.

New Zealand overcame two horrible moments in their chase, starting with Brendon McCullum being given out lbw despite a thick edge from the second ball of the innings off Tait. In the 36th over Neil Broom was "bowled" on 29 by Clarke after sharing a positive stand of 42 with Taylor. Not only did Brad Haddin's gloves come in front of the stumps, but he knocked off the bails and the ball did not seem to hit the wickets. Vettori was also involved in a tight run-out call but survived late in the game.

Life was hard for the visiting batsmen but three of the top order did not help their chances of success. The opener Martin Guptill's 13 took up 33 balls as the side started with extreme caution. Peter Fulton, who was even more of a tortoise than Guptill with 7 off 35, was the victim of a sensational caught-and-bowled from Johnson and then Grant Elliott spent 31 balls over 8 as the pressure increased on Taylor. He coped with it like it happens every week.

Mills provided the spark for New Zealand as they added to Australia's month of pain. Ricky Ponting's side lost the No. 1 ranking with their defeat to South Africa on Friday and there was no sign of recovery as the top order crumbled again at the WACA. Australia did worse than their 4 for 53 two days ago by slumping to 5 for 54 on a pitch Ponting said was ideal for batting after winning the toss.

A mix of loose shots, tight bowling from Mills and Vettori, and awful running contributed to the severe problems. Not only did the wickets fall quickly and early, but the batsmen also found it incredibly difficult to score at much more than two an over until Michael Hussey was joined by Haddin.

Mills was excellent over three spells and gained 4 for 35 as he ensured the innings finished eight balls early. Vettori is always a threat for Australia but was virtually impossible to get away as he gave up only 22 from ten overs in a fabulous display.

Hussey followed his breakthrough 78 on Friday with a measured 49 - he didn't have much choice considering the situation - and Australia were thankful for his effort. He pulled a six off Jeetan Patel and struck only one four, an off drive from Mills, before miscuing to mid-off.

Australia's troubles were highlighted by Ponting and Clarke, the two most senior players. They were too keen to show their aggression and made poor choices when chasing unachievable twos to the deep and were run out with the side already in trouble.

Mills began the match by removing both openers, with Shaun Marsh (15) and David Warner (7 from 18 balls) both finding the two-metre Fulton at short cover. Shortly after the start of the second innings Marsh fell to the ground while chasing a ball and was helped off with a left hamstring injury, adding to Australia's worsening situation.