New Zealand blast 335/5 against Bangladesh

WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s beleaguered top order finally clicked by scoring 335 for five off 50 overs in the second One-Day International against Bangladesh in Napier on Friday.

Peter Fulton top-scored with 83, while Jamie How, who scored 88 in the six-wicket victory in the first match on Wednesday, followed up with 74 as the Black Caps plundered Bangladesh’s bowling to all corners of McLean Park.

Big-hitting all-rounder Jacob Oram produced a sparkling example of his power at the end of the innings, stroking four boundaries and blasting four sixes in scoring 55 off 31 balls.

New Zealand’s score was their second-highest in One-Day Internationals against Bangladesh, falling just short of the 338-4 they scored in Sharjah in 1990. It was their highest One-day score against Bangladesh in New Zealand.

All of the top order, who had been under pressure to perform after One-day series losses against South Africa and Australia, got starts with Brendon McCullum adding 35 and Scott Styris 41. Ross Taylor took a back seat to Oram’s power hitting at the end of the innings to finish on 34 not out, off 24 balls.

Oram, who had smashed two fours and a six in the final over, was caught in the deep off the last ball of the innings. Abdur Razzak was the most successful of Bangladesh’s bowlers with two wickets, though he conceded 75 runs off his 10 overs.

No mercy for ICL rebels, asserts PCB

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf has ruled out the possibility of giving a general amnesty to players who were banned for participating in the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

“Well it is something that can be discussed by our governing body members and they have the authority to take a decision on this. But I must emphasise that the players knew what they were doing and the consequences of playing in the ICL when they signed their contracts, he said when asked whether the players would be pardoned.

Ashraf said the decision to ban the players was not unilateral and was agreed upon in an ICC meeting.

“I don’t know why this impression is being given that only the PCB has taken this decision. The fact is this was a policy decision discussed by all member boards of the ICC and also agreed upon. So we have done nothing new or unilateral,” he explained.

Pakistani Test discards Imran Farhat, Shabbir Ahmed, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood and former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq appeared in the ICL in its inaugural edition last month.

And on returning home they were told by their departments that the board has instructed them not to select them as they had appeared in an unauthorised foreign league.

Ashraf said the players were aware of the problems they could face when they signed up to play in a event which is not recognised by the ICC or any of its member boards.

“We have nothing personal against these players. They can go and play in the ICL and earn good money. But when they were available we tried to talk sense into them and they didn’t listen. The PCB as a governing body of the sport in Pakistan has to follow certain regulations,” he said.

Chanderpaul and Powell put West Indies on top

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa – A disciplined century from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and an incisive spell by fast bowler Daren Powell put West Indies on top on the second day of the first test against South Africa on Thursday.

Chanderpaul became the third player after West Indian Everton Weekes and Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower to score half-centuries in seven consecutive test innings with 104 in his team’s first innings 408. The left-hander faced 253 balls and hit 12 boundaries in an innings lasting more than six hours.

Powell followed up with three for 40 as South Africa stumbled to 122 for five at the close.

“It’s great to be up there with those names,” Chanderpaul told a news conference. “When you get an opportunity to get in, you want to make a big score. That’s something I’ve been working on for the past couple of years.”

After West Indies resumed on 281-4, fast bowler Makhaya Ntini struck in the seventh over of the day when he found the leading edge of Dwayne Bravo’s bat.

The ball looped up on the off-side where Ntini and Herschelle Gibbs, who was fielding in the gully, collided.

Ntini took the catch to dismiss Bravo for 12. Neither Gibbs nor Ntini were injured.

In Ntini’s next over, a superb away swinger took the outside edge of Denesh Ramdin’s bat and he was caught by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher for one.

Chanderpaul and Daren Sammy consolidated with a partnership of 57 that was ended after lunch when AB de Villiers swooped from the covers to run out Sammy for 38. Chanderpaul was the ninth man out when fast bowler Andre Nel hit the top of his off stump.

POWELL STRIKES

Nel ended the innings three balls later by having Fidel Edwards caught by Ashwell Prince in the gully for a duck.

Powell struck when Gibbs was caught behind without scoring by wicketkeeper Ramdin with the fifth ball of South Africa’s reply.

Jerome Taylor claimed his first wicket when Graeme Smith was trapped in front for 28.

Twelve balls later South Africa slipped to 53-3 after Jacques Kallis attempted to leave a delivery from Taylor and was smartly caught by Bravo at third slip for nought.

Hashim Amla played over a full toss from Powell and was bowled for 29 before Prince and AB de Villiers stood firm in a stand of 33.

Powell ended the partnership when Prince, who scored 20, drove at a wide delivery and was caught by Runako Morton at second slip.

“The bowlers fought back nicely this morning to take the last six wickets for 127 runs,” Prince said. “Obviously, the batting didn’t go according to plan.

“There were a few soft dismissals, including myself. A few guys got starts into the 20s, and I’m sure the others will feel as disappointed as I do at the moment.

“Chanderpaul was very patient, and if he didn’t come at us we didn’t feel we had a chance of dismissing him early.

“Maybe our guys were a bit impatient, wanting to play a few too many shots.”

Aus in complete command at tea

Australia went to tea at 248 for five, 395 runs ahead and firmly in control of the Test match on Day 3 of the Boxing Day test. Michael Clarke scored his fifty and was unbeaten on 52 on the break, while wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist was on 1.

Just as it seemed Australia were upping the ante, Andrew Symonds departed leg before to Zaheer Khan for 44. Symonds took the attack to the Indian bowling, smashing them all around the MCG. Zaheer bowled it full from round the stumps and the ball hurried onto Symonds. There was heavy incoming reverse swing and the batsman got his pad in the way before the bat came down. Incidentally, Zaheer cleaned up Symonds when he was early in the innings, but it came off a no-ball. Australia were 243 for 5 when Symonds fell.

India picked up their fourth wicket of the morning when RP Singh removed the set batsman, Michael Hussey. Singh bowled it full and outside the off-stump, across the left-hander. There was a hint of reverse swing and Hussey flashed hard at the ball without getting behind the line, thereby taking a thick edge, which Tendulkar pouched smartly at first slip. Hussey went for 36, with Australia at 161/4.

Phil Jaques was the third wicket to fall to a soft dismissal, immediately after lunch as he tried to force a drive to one that was tossed up and had a subtle change in pace. Jaques was dismissed immediately after reaching his fifty. Australia were 139/3 when Jaques went.

Australia finished the morning session of Day 3 in the Boxing Day Test, in complete command of proceedings, at 135 for two gaining a lead of 282 runs over India. Phil Jaques was unbeaten on 49, while his partner Michael Hussey was on 29.

Jaques continued from where he left off in the first innings, keeping it simple and busy. He had an ideal partner in Hussey who rotated the strike at every opportunity. He looked tentative against spin, but once he graduated into his innings – the confidence was getting better and the fluency flowing back.

India’s mission on Day 3 was clear – take wickets and restrict Australia to a bare minimum. It didn’t look like happening for a long time, till about the 11th over of the innings when Harbhajan Singh picked up opener Matthew Hayden for 47. Hayden came down the track going for an audacious shot, only to hole out to Sourav Ganguly at long-off.

And then one brought two, when they yet again removed Ricky Ponting for cheap. Harbhajan turned one into the right hander from outside the off-stump, and Ponting obliged the bowler by opening the face of the bat to guide it down into the hands of the waiting Dravid at slip. Australia were 89/2 at that stage, having lost Hayden just six runs earlier.