Veteran batsman Aravinda de Silva, on the verge of retirement after hisrecent omission from the national squad, blamed Sri Lanka’s bowlers andfielders for their seven-wicket defeat by India in the second Test Kandy.De Silva, writing for the wicket.com, said: “Sri Lanka’s bowlers were unableto disrupt the Indian batsmen’s concentration and delivered too many fourballs, which enabled them to score far more freely than should have been thecase.””The Sri Lankan bowling also failed to respond to the challenge, with themain attack force, especially Muralitharan, failing to get as much turn outof surface as he normally does in the fourth innings,” he said. “The seamerswere just as disappointing in their length and direction.”De Silva, not the sharpest in the field, went on to criticise the home sidesfielding: “Sri Lanka’s patchy fielding effort did not help, with too manycatches being dropped at crucial stages of the innings. It was so unlikeMuttiah Muralitharan to drop a catch at a crucial moment.””It was also disappointing to see Russel Arnold, one of the more brilliantfielders in the side, dropping an easy catch which could have changed thewhole course of the match,” he added.De Silva pointed out, however, that Sri Lanka were unlucky: “Sri Lanka alsohad their moments of misfortunes. There were several confident appeals forleg-before decisions, which did not earn the umpires approval.”He did, though, comment that: “Compared to the previous match in Asgiriya inMarch against England, the umpiring was of a far higher standard in thisgame.”

The chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), TimLamb, will meet the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) officials in Mumbai onFriday to explore the possibility of making couple of changes in thevenues for England’s winter tour of India.The ECB officials are not happy with two main venues – Kanpur andMohali in Chandigarh – as they claim that there are no direct flightsto Kanpur. Chandigarh also does not have a five-star hotel.However, the BCCI officials insist that Mohali has a fantastic groundwith very good dressing rooms for the teams. The hotels in Chandigarhoffer good facilities and moreover it is left to the host nation tochoose the venues, the sources added.

The South Australian State Selectors have named the four teams for round 3 of the 2001 Redbacks League. Both matches will be played at Park 25.Jason Gillespie will be playing in the Chappel XII.Round 3 (10.00am Start) Sun 30 September

• Chappell XII v Sleep XII
• Freeman XII v Cunningham XIISleep XII
  1. Plant, Tom (Glenelg)
  2. Cameron, Ben (Tea Tree Gully)
  3. Vaughan, Jeff (Capt. – Prospect)
  4. Harris, Ryan (Northern Districts)
  5. Fergusion, Callum (Prospect)
  6. Ellicott, Stuart (Prospect)
  7. Manou, Graham (Kp – Northern Districts)
  8. Duval, Chris (Northern Districts)
  9. Harden, Michael (Prospect)
  10. Thomas, Wes (Tea Tree Gully)
  11. McIntyre, Peter (Tea Tree Gully)
  12. Borlace, Travis (Tea Tree Gully)
  Chappell XII
  1. Williams, Luke (Adelaide)
  2. Johnson, Ben (Capt. – Adelaide)
  3. Deitz, Shane (Kp – Southern District)
  4. Fitzgerald, David (Glenelg)
  5. Ridley, Liam (Glenelg)
  6. Maraun, Shane (Adelaide)
  7. Williams, Sam (Adelaide)
  8. Rowe, Neil (Glenelg)
  9. Bulger, Ryan (Glenelg)
  10. Ross, Dwayne (Southern District)
  11. Gillespie, Jason (Adelaide)
  12. Bevan, Brett (Southern District)
  Freeman XII
  1. Taylor, Jarrod (West Torrens)
  2. Monger, Darryl (Port Adelaide)
  3. Kelly, Trent (West Torrens)
  4. Harris, Daniel (Woodville)
  5. Young, Bradley (Capt. – West Torrens)
  6. Higgins, Ben (West Torrens)
  7. Reeves, Darren (Kp – West Torrens)
  8. Harrity, Mark (Port Adelaide)
  9. Sainsbury, Andrew (Port Adelaide)
  10. Marsh, Jamie (Port Adelaide)
  11. Swain, Brett (West Torrens)
  12. Whiteoak, Steve (Port Adelaide)
  Cunningham XII
  1. Adcock, Nathan (Capt. – Sturt)
  2. Borgas, Jason (Sturt)
  3. Crook, Andrew (East Torrens)
  4. Dempsey, Darren (Kensington)
  5. Stokes, Matthew (Sturt)
  6. Williamson, Simon (University)
  7. King, Matthew (Sturt)
  8. Palmer, John (Kensington)
  9. Rofe, Paul (East Torrens)
  10. Wilson, Paul (University)
  11. Tait, Shaun (Sturt)
  12. Borgas, Cameron (Sturt)

The Pakistan cricket selectors had picked an unfit AzharMahmood for the ongoing Sharjah Cup after having bungled upthe case of paceman Mohammad Akram last August.According to insiders in the board, Azhar was struggling wasstomach injury owing to using wrong medication for sidestrain.Sources further said Azhar had skipped PIA’s threesuccessive matches in the Patron’s Trophy after havingplayed in the first game and finished with a match haul of10 wickets.They further said Azhar had taken limited part in thetraining camp, held prior to team’s departure, and alsowatched the one-day practice game between Pakistan XI andRest of Pakistan from the dressing room.Sources said Azhar has been advised a six-week rest and itwas highly unlikely that he would appear in any of theremaining three matches, in case Pakistan reaches the final,in Sharjah.Earlier in August, the selectors had picked paceman MohammadAkram. And if Akram’s explanation is to be believed, he hadadvised the concerned authorities not to consider him forthe matches as he was planning to proceed to England.The selectors would continue to pick unfit players unlessthey don’t visit the stadia. Their lack of interest can bejudged from the fact that the chairman of selectors WasimBari visited the UBL Sports Complex only on Sunday afterhaving missed the entire previous round action and much ofthe ongoing proceedings.While Bari was generous enough to make a courtesy call atthe UBL Sports Complex, his fellow selector Mohsin Khan hasyet to make his presence felt despite being employed at ahandsome Rs 30,000 monthly stipend.Highly placed sources further revealed that the currentPakistan team have at least three players whose selectionwas not supported by the selectors. But instead of pleadingthe cases of the players and convincing the concernedauthorities with their arguments, they kept mum.Imran Nazir, Fazle Akbar and Arshad Khan were in theselectors’ squad but Taufiq Umer, Shoaib Akhtar and ShoaibMalik were picked instead in the side that was named Oct 13.

South Australia has surged to a powerful innings and 40 run win over a bruised and battered Tasmania on the fourth and final day of the teams’ Pura Cup clash here in Hobart today.After their batsmen completely outwitted the Tasmanian bowlers yesterday, it was the turn of a depleted attack today to impressively secure the Redbacks’ first outright points of the season.The home team was murdered one day and buried the next.In skittling Tasmania for a paltry second innings total of 167, the South Australians defied the forecast of grim weather that never materialised and longstanding perceptions about the placid nature of Bellerive’s pitch. Accordingly, they emphatically reversed the result of an equally crushing defeat in the corresponding match last season.Darren Lehmann, the chief architect of the Redbacks’ already powerful position by the end of the third day, declared his team’s first innings closed at the mammoth overnight score of 5/589, leaving Tasmania with the exercise of accumulating 207 runs before the visitors would even be required to bat againIt was a task that quickly began to overwhelm them.Opener Dene Hills, still nursing a strained abductor muscle from yesterday, was unable to bat as the Tigers’ innings began.Worse news was to come as their customary mainstay, Jamie Cox (0), fell to an lbw decision when playing well forward to Mark Harrity (5/65) on just the second delivery of the innings. Though it took a while longer for the second victim to succumb – makeshift opener Michael Dighton (15) failing to remove his gloves from the line of a delivery that steepled from a good length – it set an ominous tone.On a day when the Tasmanian Cricket Association had thrown open its doors to the public to show off its new grandstand, its batsmen subscribed to a revolving door policy instead.In taking each of the first four wickets to tumble and splitting the most meaningful partnership of the innings when he forced top scorer Shane Watson (58) to play a delivery back into the stumps, it was Harrity who instigated a stunning collapse that saw seven wickets crash for the addition of a mere 25 runs in mid-afternoon.Harrity was an immensely promising left arm tearaway when he first entered first-class cricket in 1993-94, but his career has been stalled by a series of cruel injury blows in each of the eight seasons that have passed since. In the absence from the attack of Jason Gillespie on account of international duty, and the injured Paul Wilson, Brett Swain, Mick Miller, Ryan Harris and Greg Blewett, he chose a propitious time to rediscover some of his old fire today.Paul Rofe (3/24) complemented Harrity with impeccable accuracy and similarly produced career-best figures, and spinner Brad Young (2/71) also snared two vital wickets amid Tasmania’s crumble.Though Watson and Daniel Marsh (31) stood firm with a 75-run stand for the third wicket, and last pair Sean Clingeleffer (28*) and Shane Jurgensen (7) defied the inevitable for a plucky 61 minutes, they were the only three bowlers needed.”It’s been a long time coming,” said Harrity of his triumphant performance.”I haven’t managed to get through a full season in nine seasons so that’s the main aim this year and hopefully to live up to what’s been expected of me for nine years.”Darren Lehmann turned the game for us (yesterday), along with Greg Blewett. It was some of the best batting I’ve ever seen. That put us all on a high and I went to bed last night thinking ‘if we stick at it here today, you never know’.”What Harrity scarcely needed to add was that, throughout this match, his team far better understood the imperative of pitching the ball in the right areas on a pitch that offered consistent and sometimes menacing life.Because, amid the ruin of the last two days, the message had already been etched firmly on Tasmania’s tombstone.

England will be without Graham Thorpe for the rest of the Test series in India.The Surrey left-hander is flying back to England today to sort out personal matters at home.The decision to let Thorpe go home for the last fortnight of the six-week tour was taken last night. Thorpe, 32, has been replaced in the side for the second Test by Yorkshire’s Michael Vaughan.An England and Wales Cricket Board statement read: “The England team management today announced that Graham Thorpe is to return to England and consequently will play no further part in the Test series with India.”Pressing matters of a personal nature have arisen that required Graham’simmediate attention.”The team management request that Graham’s privacy and that of his family berespected by all.”Michael Vaughan will replace Graham in the second Test.”

Canterbury set Wellington a target only three other teams have achieved in domestic cricket history in New Zealand when leaving them 410 to score to win their State Championship match at Rangiora tomorrow.Wellington were 71/1 at stumps, still 339 from their goal.Canterbury and Wellington have played some fantastic cricket matches over the years, and if Wellington can get up, or even close, another thriller may be on the cards.Given the batting collapses both teams have suffered at various stages of the game it would be a minor miracle if it was that close at the end.The only previous successful chases ahead of what Wellington require in the record books are: 475 by Wellington in 1994/95, 473 by Canterbury in 1930/31 and 453 by Northern Districts in 1995/96.Wellington’s batsmen will have their mettle tested fully by a Canterbury attack which offers all the bowling possible from the right-handed side of the bowling spectrum.Canterbury declared at 288/6 today after the provision of an example of the batting riches contained in the pitch for those prepared to build an innings in the manner achieved by Chris Harris 117 not out and Aaron Redmond 101 during their record Canterbury sixth wicket stand against all comers of 209 runs. The stand was the third-best stand for the wicket among inter-association teams.For Redmond it was a maiden first-class century that was richly earned and which followed five previous half centuries and a highest score of 92 which was achieved playing for New Zealand A against Sussex last year.Harris was outstanding. The whole exercise was a mere continuation of the batting paradise Rangiora has become for him. In matches on Dudley Park his scores now read: 14, 0, 29, 251 not out, 33, 13, 46, 79, 70, 117 not out.His total is 652 runs in seven matches for an average of 81.50.It is a fine record and his batting today bore all the hallmarks of the experience he has accrued on the first-class scene. By comparison with his first innings which had four sixes for his first four boundary shots, he was much more subdued today, hitting 11 fours and a six.Sitting on two overnight, he rebuilt his innings sensibly, especially after losing skipper Gary Stead when the score was 59. At one stage Redmond was threatening to outscore Harris but the arrival of off-spinner Jeetan Patel eased the pressure the medium pacers had been exerting.Harris cashed in and posted his 50 off 85 balls in 120 minutes while the 100 partnership came up with a lovely Harris off drive to the boundary from Matthew Walker’s bowling. It took 123 minutes and 193 balls.Redmond scored his 50 in 129 minutes off 108 balls. The only chance either gave was when Harris was on 65 and offered a chance back to bowler Patel which he wasn’t able to hold as he dived to his right.The second new ball slowed proceedings down, but only briefly as the pair carried on with Harris reaching his century in 248 minutes off 187 balls with 11 fours and a six and when Redmond cover drove a ball from Walker for four to go to 98 and placed the next ball backwards of square for two, he scored his century in 233 minutes off 177 balls.At the same time he brought up the 200 stand off 360 balls.As has happened so often in this game, a break in play produced a wicket and it was Redmond’s misfortune to be bowled by Ash Turner for 101 straight after the tea break.That gave Wellington its solitary delight from the day as Turner achieved the notable milestone of a five wicket bag, at a cost of 66 runs, on debut.Wellington lost Phil Chandler for 11 with the score on 16, but a solid recovery was made by skipper Richard Jones and Selwyn Blackmore, who scored 40 and 16 respectively, knowing that they must get Wellington through the first hour tomorrow, while also getting the score over the psychological barrier of less than 300 to get as quickly as possible.It has turned into an intriguing contest with the prospect of two Canterbury spin bowlers in off-spinner Paul Wiseman and leg-spinner Redmond looking to carry their side home to a rare victory in recent times.

The Hero-Honda Challenger Trophy 2002 threw up a result that can only be described as good for Indian cricket at large when India `A’ beat the India Seniors team by two wickets with almost two overs to spare. The opening match of the tournament threw up some strong performances, none more so than the one from Yuvraj Singh, who notched up the only half-century of the match, playing a leading role in his team’s triumph.When Sourav Ganguly won the toss and elected to bat first, he would have been more than a little surprised at the pace and bounce that the wicket at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium afforded. Only recently, the same ground provided a more gentle wicket for the Test match against the touring England side. With the ball moving a bit in the air and cutting off the wicket, batsmen were made to feel uncomfortable every time the seamers bowled a good line and length.Trying to work his way out of a dreadful patch in the longer version of the game, Ganguly failed, making just 2 before falling to Daniel Manohar. Deep Dasgupta (10) and Virender Sehwag (4) followed their captain back to the pavilion and India seniors were in trouble at 64/4.Hemang Badani, fighting to make his way back into the national side, struggled early on. The southpaw did not move his feet nearly as fluently as he usually does and was lucky to survive a confident shout for lbw early on. However, Badani calmed his nerves and soon began to time the ball sweetly. In the company of Jacob Martin, Badani notched up 41 (36 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) and took India seniors on to 126/5 in the 28th over before falling to Sarandeep Singh.A flurry of wickets suggested that the seniors side might fold up without playing out the 50 overs available to them. A cameo from Sunil Joshi (25) and the wholesome thumping of Harbhajan Singh (36 runs, 42 balls, 1 four, 3 sixes) saw the team notch up 229, a total that looked at best unlikely till it was achieved.The selectors present at the venue had a good chance to look at the players strutting their stuff and would have been impressed by more than one performance. With the ball for India A, Ajit Agarkar was nippy, getting the ball to skid through nicely in the course of his haul of 2/32. Sarandeep Singh too reminded the selectors that he was hot on Harbhajan Singh’s heels with a return of 3/36.It was India A who came together well on the day, teaching the India seniors side a lesson or two. Chasing the target of 230, the India A side struggled, threatened to throw it away towards the end but held on for a valuable victory.Hyderabad’s Daniel Manohar beginning patchily, playing and missing more than once, scored 37 at the top of the order, to add to his three-wicket haul. Manohar truly had a memorable game. After the fall of skipper VVS Laxman’s wicket with the score on 83, two more quick wickets fell. Manohar was cleaned up by a Bangar in-dipper and Rohan Gavaskar (4) gloved a short ball from Ganguly to the hands of Deep Dasgupta behind the stumps.Then came the phase of the game that steadied the India A innings. Yuvraj Singh, judiciously mixing caution with aggression, restated his claim for higher honours with a sprightly innings of 55 (77 balls, 6 fours). In the past, there have been innumerable occasions where the strong left-hander had got good starts, appeared in command, only to throw his wicket away. That certainly wasn’t the case today. When the ball was there to be hit, Yuvraj gave it a fair whack, but did not make a serious error till the ball that dismissed him. Losing his concentration after reaching his half-century the Punjab lad flirted with a Tinu Yohannan delivery outside the off, managing only to edge the ball through to the wicket-keeper.Ajit Agarkar (11) fell to a rash stroke at an inopportune moment soon after Yuvraj Singh’s dismissal, but India A were close enough to the target by that stage for the tail-enders to complete the job, something they duly did.If nothing else, the game will serve as a good wake up call to the India seniors side in this tournament.

Colts Cricket Club started the Super League stage of the Premier League witha crushing innings victory over Colombo Cricket Club.Colts were the only side to secure an outright win in the Super League afterCCC collapsed meekly in the second innings to be bowled out for just 58.Dulip Liyanage picking up 5 for 22.But it was veteran batsman Aravinda de Silva who dominated the weekendheadlines. The 36-year-old, scorer of 19 Test hundreds, smashed 154 from 241balls in his first serious match since being recalled to the nationaltraining squad.De Silva, who then compiled a breezy 37 not out from 38 balls in the secondinnings, guided his club, Nondescripts CC, to a first innings win againstTamil Union.Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club also registered a first innings winwhen Burgher Recreation Club failed to overhaul their modest 274 firstinnings total.TM Dilshan scored half centuries in both innings for Bloomfield and he waswell supported by S. Jayanatha (75) in the first innings and Sanjaya Rodrigo(100) in the second.BRC were bowled out for 219 despite a fifty from DN. Hunukumbura (60). S.Dissanayake grabbed five for 37.Sinhalese Sports Club secured an easy first innings win against Panadura SC.Missing all their international stars, forced to rest by coach Dav Whatmore,SSC scored 364 in reply to Panadura’s 266 first innings.

New Zealand needs its bottom five or six batsmen to ice the cake, not bake it, captain Stephen Fleming said last night after the 33-run loss to England that squared the National Bank Series 2-2.That was a clear reference to another failure by the top order players to establish themselves and to dissect the bowling of Darren Gough, Matthew Hoggard and Andrew Flintoff for the second time in the series.Again the partnership building was done by England, especially Michael Vaughan and Graham Thorpe in their 89-run, 87 ball stand which placed them in such a strong position when it rained during their innings.Fleming had no problems with the desire of local officials to see the match cleaned up last night by use of the Duckworth/Lewis system instead of coming back tomorrow to play the game.”We’re in the entertainment business and we have a full house and there is a responsibility to provide entertainment. I would certainly prefer to play a limited overs match in front of 36,000 people than 10,000 tomorrow,” he said.The system had been discussed many times, but Fleming said the bottom line had been that New Zealand had been set a target and they didn’t chase it very well.”We saw the target and saw it was quite healthy so we had to create the strike rate. There was a level of risk that was increased and the result was that it bordered on recklessness at times.”The intent to create a strike rate was there, we faced some good bowling at the outset and we just played our shots at the wrong time,” Fleming said.The series was set up well for the finale in Dunedin and Fleming said the results had almost mirrored themselves.”We had our week last week, they had their week this week,” he said.The momentum was now with England.The New Zealand top order was only sparking on one cylinder instead of four or five and that was what was needed to win.”The series is something we desperately want and we tend to play our best cricket when we are desperate. Perhaps we are not used to being in the comfort zone when we are 2-0 up.”New Zealand would not be painting over the flaws in their approach and they would be making full use of the two days of practice they have in Dunedin to put everything into winning on Tuesday.