2nd ODI: SA post challenging 286 against Pak

Abu Dhabi: A superb century by Colin Ingram and half-centuries by Hashim Amla and JP Duminy helped South Africa score 286 for 8 against Pakistan in the second one day international on Sunday at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Ingram scored 100 while Amla and Duminy scored 65 and 54, respectively, as South Africa set the Pakistanis a challenging target.

ngram, who made his debut in the recent home series against Zimbabwe, reached his second ODI century in only his 5th international, to put South Africa in a strong position to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Ingram's 100 came off 119 balls and included ten boundaries and one six. The 25-year-old left-handed batsman also starred in two useful partnerships, an 84-run stand with Amla for the second wicket and another 86 runs for the third wicket with AB de Villiers.

Amla slammed eight fours in his 65-run knock off 62 balls while Duminy's 54 included three fours and a six.

Earlier, Johan Botha, standing in as captain for Graeme Smith, won the toss and elected to bat first.

Smith, who is nursing a finger injury which he suffered when a Shoaib Akhtar ball hit him in Friday's first ODI, was rested as South Africa made two changes. Jacques Kallis, who retired after scoring 66 runs on Friday because of dehydration following a viral infection, was also rested.

Pakistan made one change with left arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz replacing Umar Gul. The paceman picked up two wickets and so did Afridi but could not stop the Proteas from piling on the runs.

T20: SL register comprehensive victory

Australia was comprehensively outplayed in its one-off Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka, losing by seven wickets at the WACA ground in Perth.

Skipper Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that backfired when Australia's top batsmen failed and relied on a rescue mission from the middle order to compile 8 for 133.

Australia's barely competitive total then always looked reachable with Sri Lanka's batsmen at the crease as the visitors cruised to victory with 3.3 overs the spare.

Typically, noted destroyer Kumar Sangakkara took it upon himself to bash the Australian attack, racking up 44 runs from 43 balls after the touring openers had put on 35 for the first wicket.

Mahela Jayawardene (24) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (41) got Sri Lanka off to a flying start, allowing Sangakkara to unleash his wrecking-ball style to see through a simple victory.

He was joined at the finish by the unheralded Thisara Perera, who made himself known to the WACA with three consecutive boundaries - including two cracking sixes - to finish off the Aussies in the 17th over.

Perera, who had earlier starred with the ball taking 2 for 22, punished spinner Steven Smith (1 for 35) to finish with 17 from just four deliveries as Sri Lanka celebrated its first ever Twenty20 win over Australia.

Earlier, Smith's innings of 34 was crucial to a 66-run partnership with Brad Haddin (35) that helped Australia avoid total humiliation, having joined forces in the 11th over of the home side's innings at 5 for 43.

The two sides will square off in Melbourne on Wednesday for the first of three one-day internationals.

New Zealand team arrives for Indian tour

Ahmedabad: New Zealand cricket team, on a tour of India to play three Test matches and five ODIs, arrived at the Sardar Patel International Airport on Saturday night.

"The entire team has landed at the airport here," Gujarat Cricket Association(GCA) Spokesperson Jagat Patel said.

New Zeleand team will be spending almost one and a half months in the country playing Test and ODI series. Their first test match is scheduled to be played at the Motera stadium here and will begin from November 4.

The team was welcomed by the GCA members here.

Daniel Vettori is the captain of the New Zealand team, while Mark Greatbatch is the team coach.

England arrives for Ashes with cautious captain

Perth: England's cricket team arrived Down Under on Saturday for a five-match Ashes tour with its captain Andrew Strauss taking a cautious approach to the opposition.

Strauss said England would not target any members of the Australian team, including struggling captain Ricky Ponting, when the series begins with the first Test November 25 in Brisbane. England holds the Ashes after a 2-1 series win in England last year.

"I don't know what his (Ponting's) state of mind is but one thing I do know is we're not in the business of targeting opposition players," Strauss said. "My past experience is that if you say too much about opposition teams, it can come back and haunt you."

"We expect Australia to be very strong. Their record here is very good. When you're out here, you can't afford any passengers in your side, so you need all 11 to be performing and standing up at the right time."
Strauss' comments were in contrast to the ones made several days earlier when the team left England.

"I'm not sure about not being able to say hello to them, but until the end of that fifth test there's two sides at war with each other," Strauss said in London. "Both sides know that at the end of the series there's going to be 11 guys feted as heroes and 11 guys who failed in their task. Until that final Test is over there's no point being too hunky-dory or friendly with the opposition. Our task is to go out there and try to beat them."

Australia has slipped one spot below England to fifth in the ICC Test rankings but England has not taken a series Down Under since 1986-87 and has won just three of its last 26 Ashes tests in Australia - all when the outcome had already been decided.

South Africa beat Pakistan in one-dayer

ABU DHABI, Paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe took four wickets and Jacques Kallis hit an unbeaten fifty to help a disciplined South Africa down Pakistan by eight wickets in their first one-day international on Friday.

Tsotsobe took a career-best 4-27 off his ten tight overs to trigger a middle-order collapse and helped South Africa dismiss Pakistan for 203 before Kallis (66 retired hurt) saw off the target with 9.3 overs to spare.

The modest target was never beyond South Africa's reach after Pakistan batsmen once again failed to take advantage of a good start on a flat Abu Dhabi Stadium, much to the disappointment of a 10,000 holiday crowd.

The 35-year-old Kallis, back after missing the limited over series against Zimbabwe at home and South Africa's 2-0 win in the Twenty20 series which finished here on Wednesday due to injury, was at his usual best.

He steadied the South African innings through a solid 77-run stand with AB de Villiers, who also hit an attractive 51, after Graeme Smith (18) retired due to a finger injury and Hashim Amla dismissed for a well-made 35.

Kallis, who hit five boundaries and a six off paceman Abdul Razzaq, added another 41 runs with Jean-Paul Duminy (10 not out) to give South Africa a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

With just 16 needed for win Kallis suffered cramps and retired. The second match will be played here on Sunday.

Earlier, 26-year-old Tsotsobe took 4-27 put brakes on Pakistan's innings who lost their last eight wickets for a mere 46 runs after winning the toss and deciding to bat.

Tsotsobe, who took five wickets in the two Twenty20 matches, rocked the Pakistan middle-order with a burst of three wickets off just nine balls during his second four-over spell.

Tsotsobe's effort backed by disciplined spin bowling by Johan Botha (2-40) derailed Pakistan after Mohammad Hafeez (68) and returning Younis Khan (54) put on 114 for the second wicket.

Tsotsobe removed opener Asad Shafiq (19) in the eighth over before Younis -- returning to the side after being cleared by Pakistan Cricket Board last month following a ban on discipline violation, joined Hafeez in a damage repair act.

Hafeez hit seven boundaries during his 84-ball sixth one-day fifty before cutting Botha straight into the hands of Charl Langeveldt. Four overs later, Younis was trapped leg-before by Botha.

Younis hit two boundaries during his 75-ball knock.

Tsotsobe's triple strike followed as he removed Misbah-ul-Haq (14), Shahid Afridi (one) and Abdul Razzaq (two) to complete Pakistan's slide on a similar pattern of Twenty20 matches in which they were restricted to 119 and 120-9.

Tsotsobe's previous best bowling figures were 4-50 against Australia on his one-day debut at Perth last year.

1st ODI: SA to chase 204 against Pak

Abu Dhabi: Lanky South African paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe carried his Twenty20 form into the 50-over game with a career-best feat to derail Pakistan to 203 in the first day-night international here on Friday.

The 26-year-old from Eastern Province took 4-27 off his ten tight overs as Pakistan lost their last eight wickets for a mere 46 runs after winning the toss and deciding to bat on a flat Abu Dhabi Stadium pitch.

Tsotsobe, who took five wickets in South Africa's 2-0 win in the Twenty20 series which finished here on Wednesday, rocked the Pakistan middle-order with a burst of three wickets off just nine balls during his second four-over spell.

Tsotsobe's effort backed by disciplined spin bowling by Johan Botha (2-40) put brakes on Pakistan's innings after Mohammad Hafeez (68) and returning Younis Khan (54) put on 114 for the second wicket.

Tsotsobe removed opener Asad Shafiq (19) in the eighth over before Younis - returning to the side after being cleared by Pakistan Cricket Board last month following a ban on discipline violation, joined Hafeez in a damage repair act.

Hafeez hit seven boundaries during his 84-ball sixth one-day fifty before cutting Botha straight into the hands of Charl Langeveldt. Four overs later, Younis was trapped leg-before by Botha.

Younis hit two boundaries during his 75-ball knock. Tsotsobe's triple strike followed as he removed Misbah-ul-Haq (14), Shahid Afridi (one) and Abdul Razzaq (two) to complete Pakistan's slide on a similar pattern of Twenty20 matches in which they were restricted to 119 and 120-9.

Tsotsobe's previous best bowling figures were 4-50 against Australia on his one-day debut at Perth last year.

Cricket: SLanka squad close to settled for WCup: Jayawardene

PERTH, Australia,  Vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene said Friday Sri Lanka's squad was close to what will be fielded in next year's World Cup.

The Sri Lankans will use Sunday's Twenty20 clash at the WACA Ground here as their final tour match preparation for a three-match one-day international series against the top-ranked Australians.

Jayawardene said Sri Lanka would use the three one-dayers, starting in Melbourne next Wednesday, to further develop the squad ahead of next February's World Cup on the sub-continent.

"There's a lot for us to gain in this series in trying a few different combinations and seeing what suits us, Jayawardene told reporters.

"I think (the squad we've brought over) is very close (to what we'll use at the World Cup).

"I think there's only two or three positions up for grabs.

"With a few of the younger boys here for us we want to give them a go against a tougher opposition and see how they come up."

Jayawardene said Australia's youthful T20 line-up possessed plenty of match-winners.

"Obviously the batting looks stronger with (David) Warner, (Shane) Watson ... Cameron White has been in pretty good form the last six months," he said.

"(But) anyone on their day can be crucial, especially Twenty20 cricket because if you make a mistake it's very difficult to come back into the game."

Coach Trevor Bayliss, who will quit his position following the World Cup, said he was satisfied with Sri Lanka's preparation for the tour, despite rain interfering in two of their three warm-up matches.

Sri Lanka beat Queensland by 112 runs in a one-day game in their first tour match but a 50-over fixture against New South Wales was abandoned without a ball being bowled, before they won a Twenty20 match against NSW on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

We'll have to step up considerably against India: McCullum

New Zealand opening batsman Brendon McCullum says his team will have to pull up their socks to great extent as they face India in a three-Test series in their own backyard.

"We've got to take them on. We can't outlast them; their stats prove that they can outlast pretty much any opposition. So we're going to have to bowl well and get clever with our fields and plans with the ball," stuff,co.nz quoted McCullum.

McCullum had a quiet time in the disastrous Bangladesh tour after getting off to a blistering start with a 45-ball knock of 61 runs in the first ODI.

His Test form, however, is top notch, having scored 388 runs at 77.6 from his last three matches – one against Bangladesh and two against Australia.

McCullum, who has recently relinquished his wicketkeeping gloves, hopes to play on for another five-six years for New Zealand batting in the top-order.

"I don't know whether it's going to work but my focus is there and I've got immense drive to score runs at the top of the order in Test cricket and to win more Test matches. I've been involved in 52 Tests and we've won hardly any. There haven't been too many real memorable series victories."

ODI series preview: Pakistan v SA

Well that was rather one-sided, wasn't it? It's always difficult to gauge just how good or bad teams are based on their Twenty20 performances, but you have to say that Pakistan looked rather poor in Abu Dhabi while the South Africans were formidable in the two games.

If Pakistan, especially their batsmen, fail to pull the finger out then we could be in for a lopsided one-day series as well. To be honest, it's difficult to see how they can change things around in the ODIs as they have the same squad as the one that did duty during the T20s. Younis Khan is likely to return to the middle order as his feud with his cricket board is now something of the past, but you can't put all your hopes on a man who has been out of international action for so long.

Unfortunately the rest rarely come to the party. Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat and Fawad Alam rarely hold down one end, Shahzaib Hasan and Asad Shafiq are still inexperienced at international level, Misbah-ul-Haq's big scores come every blue moon, Umar Akmal has failed to kick on after his impressive start and the less said about Shahid Afridi's batting the better.

So where exactly will the runs come from when they come up against an impressive Proteas bowling attack that will be bolstered by the fit-again Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis? Although it's tiresome hammering away at the same point, Pakistan's batsmen will decide the outcome of the series. Make no mistake, there is nothing wrong with their bowling line-up and they did a good job in the T20s. But you can't expect them to pull off a victory when the batsmen have only posted a handful of runs.

Besides problems in the batting department, Afridi's captaincy leaves a lot to be desired. It looks like his struggles with the bat are getting the better of him. Don't be surprised he if chucks in the towel before the end of the series as it looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Enough of Pakistan's struggles. Their opposition South Africans have some selection headaches ahead of the series, albeit good ones. Kallis and Steyn missed the Twenty20s as well as the series against Zimbabwe due to injury, but both have recovered and will no doubt return to the starting XI.

Who do you leave out though? The youngsters in the South African team have really stepped up in the two veterans' absence. Colin Ingram, David Miller and Lonwabo Tsotsobe were outstanding in the T20s against Pakistan, JP Duminy made a welcome return to form and Rusty Theron forced his way into the squad with match-winning displays. In fact, just about everyone bar Loots Bosman contributed. The disappointing opener will make way for Hashim Amla. Ingram's fine knocks mean David Miller is likely to be the unlucky one to miss out when Kallis returns eventually while Steyn could replace Albie Morkel.

South Africa will also have the added luxury of being able to rotate players throughout the series without actually weakening the team. With so many quality players on the sidelines, those in the starting XI know they can't muck up and will no doubt be keen to impress with the World Cup not far away.

Key Players
Pakistan: You can pick out any one of Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal. One or two of them need to make a few decent scores to give their side a chance of winning a game or two.

South Africa: Rookie Colin Ingram has made an impressive start to his international career. "He knows when to build an innings and when caution is required, however, he also has the talent to put it out of the ground when you need him to bring down the run rate." This little gem courtesy of Michelle Foster, editor of our sister site PlanetF1. You can't add much more to that.

PredictionPakistan were really poor in the two Twenty20s and it's difficult to see them turning their fortunes around in the ODIs where more will be asked of their batsmen. South Africa will win the series, but hopefully Pakistan will sneak one or two wins.

Squads
Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Shoaib Akhtar, Tanveer Ahmed, Zulqarnain Haider, Shahzaib Hasan, Wahab Riaz.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers (wk), JP Duminy, Colin Ingram, Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt, David Miller, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Rusty Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Fixtures
First ODI: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on October 29
Second ODI: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on October 31
Third ODI: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, on November 2
Fourth ODI: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, on November 5
Fifth ODI: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, on November 8

We should keep Gary even after World Cup: Gambhir

New Delhi: Prolific Indian opener Gautam Gambhir feels that the Indian Cricket Board should renew the contract of coach Gary Kirsten after it expires at the end of the World Cup next year.
"Gary is the best coach India has ever had. I have often said that and I keep on stressing that we need Gary. I don't need to speak much about him. His fabulous record speaks for itself. He has been a great man-manager. So I believe that he should be retained after the World Cup also," Gambhir said at the sidelines of a promotional event.

Gambhir is thus the latest among the Indian stars to join the bandwagon who want the South African to be retained as Cricket South Africa wants him to take over once he finishes his stint with the Indian team.

The opener also supported Kirsten's idea of sending the top-order batsmen to South Africa, a week in advance so that they can get themselves acclimatised to the pace and bounce of wickets over there.

"We haven't played much cricket in South Africa of late. So it will be a great idea if we go there a bit early to get used to the conditions. If such a thing happens, it may just work in our favour," Gambhir said.

Strauss expecting little love in Ashes

England captain Andrew Strauss has ordered his troops not to be too friendly with the Australian side in next month's Ashes series.

In his final press conference before flying out on Friday, the normally amiable skipper said there was too much at stake to worry about friendships in the five-Test series starting November 25 in Brisbane.

"Until the end of that fifth Test we have two sides at war with each other," he said.

"Both sides know that at the end of the series there will be 11 guys that are going to be feted as heroes and 11 guys that are going to have failed in their task.

"Until that final Test is over there is no point in being too hunky dory and friendly with the opposition.

"Our task is to go out there and beat them."

On catching up with his counterpart Ricky Ponting, Strauss said: "We will save our meaningful conversations until the end of the series."

The skipper said his no-nonsense approach wasn't personal.

"I don't think it is about anger, I think it is about being clinical and logical and dealing with the pressure well," he said.

"It is not about us hating the Australians or anything like that.

"It is about us beating the other 11 players on the park."

Strauss's men are aiming to be the first England side to win an Ashes series in Australia since Mike Gatting's men won in 1986/87.

The tourists are scheduled to arrive in Perth on Saturday afternoon and have three warm-up matches before the series opener at the Gabba.

Since the victorious 1986/87 tour, England have only won three Tests in Australia.

All three victories were produced when the Ashes were no longer up for grabs.

During that time Australia have won 19 Tests and there has been four draws from the 26 contests.

Australia's recent 2-0 loss in India saw them slip behind England on the world rankings for the first time.

"There is nothing to be overawed about," he said.

"It is a tough out there is no doubt about that but if you are prepared for it you should not be overawed by it.

"I think there is a real relaxed excitement about the troops because they feel ready for it."

2nd T20: SA humble Pak again, win series 2-0

Abu Dhabi: Rusty Theron took a career-best 4-27 to help a clinical South Africa upstage Pakistan by six wickets in the second Twenty20 international here on Wednesday to take the two match series 2-0.

The 26-year-old Theron bowled with purpose as South Africa once again restricted the former World Twenty20 champions to a low score of 120-9 on a flat Abu Dhabi cricket Stadium for a second day in succession.

South Africa won the first match by the same margin on Tuesday. Graeme Smith (38) and Colin Ingram (31) led the South African reply with Jean-Paul Duminy (19 not out) hitting the winning runs to complete the team's chase with eight balls to spare.

Smith and Loots Bosman (11) gave South Africa a sound start of 38 before Bosman fell to Shahid Afridi. AB de Villiers and Smith took the score to 63 when Pakistan took two quick wickets.

Smith and De Villers fell in quick succession, but Duminy and Ingram added 41 for the fourth wicket, batting with guts and application as Pakistani spinners failed to extract any life out of the track.

Ingram hit four boundaries and a six during his robust 17-ball innings. Earlier, Theron (4-27) built on some early knocks by fellow fast bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe (2-20) to stop Pakistan from posting a fighting total for a second day in succession.

Only Misbah-ul-Haq, who top scored with 27 in the first match, survived the effective South African bowling, with a resolute 38-ball 33, hitting two boundaries and a six.

It was Haq who gave Pakistan's total some respectability through a 45-run sixth wicket stand with Abdul Razzaq (25) after Pakistan lost half of its side for a paltry 39 inside eight overs.

Tsotsobe, who took 3-16 to restrict Pakistan to 119 on Tuesday, once again removed both the openers Shahzaib Hasan (six) and Imran Farhat (nine) to give South Africa an ideal start after their opponents won the toss and elected to bat.

Theron then took charge as he removed Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi (three) before dismissing Haq and Umar Gul off successive deliveries. He finished his spell by bowling Zulqarnain Haider (17) off the last ball of the innings.

The two teams now play the first of five one-day internationals here on Friday.

Sachin inspires to keep going: Hussey

Perth: Australia batsman Mike Hussey is taking inspiration from India's Sachin Tendulkar and has no plans to retire from cricket.

Hussey's place in Australia's Test side has come under increasing pressure, with just two centuries since the start of 2009 spurring talk that the 35-year-old should be phased out of the team.

But after watching 37-year-old Tendulkar scored his sixth double century and take his career tally past 14,000 runs in a 2-0 India Test series win over Australia, Hussey said "it does give you a bit of inspiration."

Tendulkar scored 214 in the first innings of the second Test — his 49th Test century — and took his series aggregate to 403 runs, at an average of 134.5.

Hussey said he was also encouraged by the late career performances of fellow Australian players.

"Steve Waugh played quite late into his 30s, Matthew Hayden played very well, Justin Langer played very well into his late 30s. So I don't think age is a barrier whatsoever," Hussey told AustralianAssociated Press.

"It's about whether you're up for the battle, you're enjoying the challenge out in the middle."

Hussey will make a rare appearance for Western Australia in their Sheffield Shield state game against South Australia, starting Friday at Adelaide Oval, and the November 17-20 match against Victoria in Melbourne.

The left-hander, who in between will play for Australia in the three-match one-day series against Sri Lanka, said the domestic games were vital for his Ashes preparation.

The first of five Ashes Tests against England begins on November 25 in Brisbane.

Disciplined South Africa beat Pakistan

Paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe and off-spinner Johan Botha took three wickets apiece to help South Africa beat Pakistan by six wickets in the first of two Twenty20 matches here on Tuesday.

Tsotsobe, with a career-best 3-16, and skipper Botha (3-31) led a spirited South African bowling to restrict Pakistan to a paltry 119 at the Abu Dhabi Stadium in a match whose income will go to flood victims in Pakistan.

Over two million people were displaced in the worst-ever floods in Pakistan.

Jean-Paul Duminy hit an elegant 41 while Colin Ingram remained unbeaten with 46 as South Africa reached the target after losing three early wickets for 26.

The two left-handers shared a solid 66-run partnership for the fourth wicket after paceman Shoaib Akhtar gave Pakistan some hope with the quick wickets of opener Loots Bosman and AB de Villiers in the third over.

Ingram hit two towering sixes and four boundaries during his 38-ball knock.

Duminy hit five boundaries as the two dominated the Pakistan bowling which initially looked threatening.

Earlier, Tsotsobe and off-spinner Botha bowled tightly to derail Pakistan, who won the toss and batted on a flat pitch.

Misbah-ul-Haq, recalled after being axed following the World Twenty20 in May this year, topscored with 27 with a six and two boundaries.

Skipper Shahid Afridi hit a rapid seven-ball 25 before he became one of Botha's three victims.

Pakistan had raced to 16 in the second over before Tsotsobe removed openers Imran Farhat (10) and Shahzaib Hasan (nine) in the sixth.

Botha then removed Mohammad Hafeez (13), Afridi and Abdul Razzaq (four) to end Pakistan's hopes of reaching a respectable total.

This is Pakistan's home series shifted to United Arab Emirates due to security fears.

The two teams meet in the second Twenty20 here on Wednesday.

They then play the first two one-day internationals and the second Test in Abu Dhabi. Dubai will stage the last three one-day and the first Test.