Tag Futebol

Division One

Points TableHampshire completed a comprehensive victory over Nottinghamshire. The champions fared slightly better in their second innings, but once Darren Bicknell fell for a patient 97, Notts’ spirit seemed to wane. Shaun Udal capped his season in great style by grabbing four wickets, to see the champions fall by an innings and 188 runs.In a rain-interrupted day at The Oval, Mark Ramprakash continued where he left off yesterday, as did Surrey who reached 607 without losing any further wickets against Middlesex. 203 further runs were added with Azhar Mahmood scoring the bulk of the runs. He remained not-out on 167, and Ramprakash reached 242. Surrey hold a lead of 203 runs, in a match which is almost certainly heading for a draw.Sussex wrapped up a comprehensive victory over Kent by 8 wickets at Hove. Kent could only manage 238 in their second innings, collapsing from their overnight score of 144 for 3. Naved-ul-Hasan and James Kirtley each took four wickets, which left Sussex with the straightforward task of knocking off 148 runs. They lost two wickets, but Mike Yardy saw them home with 55.Gloucestershire are struggling in their match against Warwickshire, and face an uphill battle to avoid defeat. Set 411 to win, they closed the third day on 97 for 2 with Naqqash Tahir picking up both wickets. Earlier, Warwickshire had amassed 320 with Nick Knight making 94 and Jim Troughton 57.

Division Two

Points TableLeicestershire scraped past Lancashire by just four runs in low-scoring game at Old Trafford. James Anderson mopped up Leicestershire’s tail to restrict them to 200, and set Lancashire a target of 175 runs. But Lancashire lost wickets regularly, with three wickets for Charl Willoughby and Stuart Broad.Monty Panesar took his ninth wicket of the match as Yorkshire stumbled to 101 for 4 in their second innings against Northamptonshire. On a rain-affected day at Northampton, Michael Lumb was left not-out on 31, as Yorkshire trail the hosts by 198 runs.Luke Sutton made the remarkable decision of declaring Derbyshire’s innings, midway through the 171st over, with Graeme Welch left stranded on 99. Sutton declared on an imposing 707 for 7, and quickly grabbed two wickets to leave Somerset on 173 for 2, trailing by 275 runs.Rain also affected play at Worcester, but there was enough play possible to ensure Worcestershire hauled their way up to Essex’s first innings score of 574. Stephen Moore, not-out overnight on 124, fell nine short of 200, and Ben Smith reached 154. Worcestershire closed on 424 for 3, and trail by 150 runs.

The Pakistan Cricket Board will not block any efforts by Saleem Malik to open up his own cricket academy. In a report in , a senior official from the PCB confirmed, “As far as we are concerned, he is banned from playing international, domestic and club cricket. But we can’t stop any individual from doing something to earn a living. As long as it does not involve him playing any competitive cricket, we have no problem.” The report went on to state that the board would not support or offer any assistance to the academy.The PCB were reacting to news yesterday that Malik, a former captain currently serving a life ban for his alleged involvement in the match-fixing scandal that rocked the game a few years ago, was planning to set up an academy to help solve the batting crisis in Pakistan cricket. Malik, who was banned from the game four years ago after being found guilty in the Justice Qayyum Report on match-fixing, plans to set up the coaching academy in Lahore later this year.Talking to AFP, Malik had said, “I want to start a new career as a coach because everyone I meet asks me why I don’t start coaching budding players. I would want the PCB to avail my services. I have already found the site in Lahore and hopefully will start coaching later this year, because I realise my duty as a former player to overcome the shortage of good batsmen in the country.” Now 41, Malik has played no cricket for four years, but said, “I follow cricket with the same interest of my playing days.”He continues to maintain his innocence as well, arguing, “My whole career was destroyed by a one-sided ban because nothing was proved against me. I was cleared by the first inquiry [the PCB inquiry in 1995]. It’s a universal law that you are innocent until proven guilty and I have been desperate to clear my name.”Malik has filed several appeals against the ban, including one in the High Court, which have been rejected. His present appeal is pending in the Supreme Court (Lahore Bench). The PCB has refused to review the ban.Malik was one of three international captains banned for match-fixing in 2000 – Mohammad Azharuddin and the late Hansie Cronje being the others who were implicated. Cronje apart, the others have consistently pleaded innocence of any wrongdoing. Malik played 103 tests for Pakistan, scoring 5,768 runs at an average of nearly 44, with 15 hundreds.He also played 283 ODIs, scoring 7170 runs. His alleged penchant for bookies aside, he will be remembered by many as a gifted and wristy strokemaker – unfairly labelled by Imran Khan as a flat-track bully, despite his Headingley heroics – and among the best batsmen this country has produced. And one of the first batsmen, as Scyld Berry recalled, to dominate Shane Warne.

LAHORE, March 13: Former Test cricketer Sarfraz Nawaz has levelled corruption allegations against some senior officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and demanded of President Pervez Musharraf to change the present set up.Addressing a Press conference here on Thursday Sarfraz said that the Pakistan team had been tasting defeats regularly fromthe home series against England to the World Cup-2003 and now there was no justification for General Tauqir Zia to head the PCB.Sarfraz claimed that he had brought it to the notice of the PCB chairman some incidents of corruption in PCB, two years back but no action had yet been taken by him.He alleged that the National Academy building in Lahore had been completed at a cost of Rs 600 million which should be around Rs 300 million. He went on to say that according to laws, any national project exceeding Rs 500 million should get an approval from NAB which was not sought for the academy. He also said that NAB should investigate the TV rights deal of 40.5 million dollars recently signed between PCB and Taj Company.He said that PCB chairman had changed the name of inquiry committee as review committee which was formed by the board to present its report on the debacle of the Pakistan team in the World Cup-2003.He said that Aaqib Javed, one of the members of the committee, had said that Wasim and Waqar were his favourite bowlers. How could he give his recommendation against them.He asked why the three foreign coaches of the team, Richard Pybus, Dennis Waight and Daryl Foster were not asked to appear before the review committee.He suggested that Moin Khan should be named as next captain of the team.

Graham Thorpe has been ruled out of the Fourth npower Test at Headingley. His hand injury has not recovered sufficiently to allow him to be considered for selection.A bone in Thorpe’s hand was broken by a delivery from Brett Lee during the Second Test at Lord’s.Thorpe ruled himself out of contention today after a fitness test, commenting that the hand “is still very sensitive."

The grand final between the two teams commenced amidst a packed house. The spectators must have enjoyed every minute of the game, but the result was one sided. Though it was unusual for Pakistan to surrender, they did so today.Bating first South Africa did not have a promising start losing 2 wickets for only 29 runs on the board. Gary Kirsten and Nicky Boje later succeeded in picking up the score and raising it to 70 in 15 overs, when the game was suspended on account of rain.On resumption the match was reduced to 35 overs each, thus prompting the players to score fast. As a result 40 runs were added in 5 overs. The rate of scoring going up created lot of excitement for the spectators. South Africa lost 3 wickets for 126 with Gary Kirsten having scored a marvelous 62 and Nicky Boje hoisting 50 in 36 deliveries.With full consideration of the reduced innings South Africa was trying to score the maximum runs. The batsmen at the crease were hitting all over the ground with a grand exhibition of slogging too. Pakistan’s poor fielding enabled them to pile up runs. Having survived a lot of chances, the Proteas were 152 for 6, eventually ending up the innings at 197 for 7. Daryll Cullinan remained unbeaten with a valuable contribution of 31 runs. Kabir Khan and Abdur Razzaq claimed 2 wickets each.Though the Proteas had scored 197 runs, the Umpires gave Pakistan a target of 215 runs in 35 overs to win. With a rain soaked pitch and wet atmosphere it was not an easy target.Pakistan opened with Imran Nazir and Saleem Elahi and lost the 1st wicket at 7, when Imran Nazir was out. He was followed on his trail by Yousuf Youhana rendering Pakistan to 33 for 2. Saleem Elahi who showed some courage to stay was trapped LBW for a useful 26 bringing down Pakistan to 44 for 3.All hopes now rested on the great pair of Saeed Anwar and Ijaz Ahmed but a good bowling – fielding combination of the Proteas did not let them flourish. Saeed Anwar was out after scoring a brilliant 24, while Abdur Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood followed him quick reducing Pakistan to a miserable 76 for 6.With the mountain of a target ahead, the players had lost heart and the spirit to fight. Ijaz Ahmed was the only batsman capable of pulling the team out of crisis but it was not a one man’s job. He was out after scoring a valuable 31 rendering Pakistan to 102 for 7. Rest was the matter of time. With no intentions to fight, the whole team was out for 121 runs in 28 overs.South Africa thus defeated Pakistan by 93 runs to win the Trophy. For his excellent all round performance Nicky Boje was declared Man of the Match.It was a very poor display of cricket by Pakistan. The players some how, did not have their heart in the game. Contrary to their previous performance they lacked the fighting spirit. South Africa certainly deserved to win. They gave a masterly performance to cause Pakistan’s demolition in less than the lesser quota of overs. Well done Proteas.

Umpire Gerard Abood became the first on-field official to wear head protection in an Australian fixture during Melbourne Renegades’ Big Bash League fixture against Perth Scorchers on Wednesday.Abood said he had been weighing up protection for some time due to the increased power in the modern game. “I’ve had close shaves in the past, a couple have been real tight and they weigh on your mind,” Abood told the Cricket Australia website. “I thought, ‘What needs to happen before we do put one on?’ I’d rather put one on just before I get hit than just after.”The T20 game has evolved to the stage where guys are practising specifically whacking balls as hard as they can and it’s just coming off faster and faster. As far as I’m concerned, it has just reached the point where it makes sense on every level, we’re only 24 yards from the bat and if it’s coming back at us pretty quickly there’s not a hell of lot of time to move.”Abood wore a black Masuri batting helmet, but Cricket Australia, the ECB and ICC are working together to design umpire-specific protective gear.Abood’s move comes after his compatriot John Ward was struck on the head during a Ranji Trophy fixture between Punjab and Tamil Nadu on December 1. Pashchim Pathak, the Indian umpire who was stood at square leg when Ward – who is still recovering from concussion – was struck, had also recently worn head protection. In November 2014, Israeli umpire Hillel Awasker died after being hit by a ball during a match in Ashdod.

ScorecardSri Lanka A ended their tour with a 154-run win against Durham after bowling them out for 217 on the final day. Chanaka Welegedara claimed four wickets as Durham collapsed following a fourth-wicket stand of 93 between Gordon Muchall and Gary Park.After batting on for a further 50 runs, Sri Lanka set the home side 372 for victory but they never threatened to get close. However, their bid to save the game started solidly with an opening stand of 71 between Will Smith and Mark Stoneman before Smith was trapped lbw by Dilruwan Perera.Park made 51, but he was caught behind off Welegedara shortly after Muchall had been run out. The lower-order didn’t offer much resistance as the last six wickets fell for 50 runs, the third run-out of the innings completing the victory for Sri Lanka and a highly satisfactory tour where a number of fringe players have shown pleasing form.

With a replica urn positioned a few metres from the table, as if anyone needed reminding of the impending announcement, David Graveney confirmed England’s squad of 16 to tour Australia this winter, to be captained by Andrew Flintoff, in a press conference at The Oval, a year to the day since England regained the Ashes.There were no major surprises, either. In fact the only source of contention Graveney was forced to alleviate was the decision to choose five players returning from injury (and, with Marcus Trescothick’s fitness still uncertain, six). Such concerns were roundly straight-batted and quashed, however.”We believe they will be fit by the time we go to Australia – it’s as simple as that,” Graveney firmly insisted. “If I can refresh your memories to four years ago, Flintoff arrived at the academy hardly able to walk – Darren Gough was in a similar condition. We are confident that all the injuries will be resolved. The situation now is that our medical team is much more professional and much better organised.”Graveney, who at times answered in quite a prickly fashion, said Ashley Giles would be on the plane to India for the Champions Trophy but only to assess his fitness. Prior to today’s announcement it was expected England would fly five reserves out to Perth under the wing of Paul Terry, who runs an academy there. Perth is sufficiently detached (by time zones, if anything) from the main squad to avoid treading on their toes, but close enough for the players to be called upon when required. However, the decision to shift the entire academy squad out there leaves England with, effectively, a squad of 30 to choose from.

“We’ll arrive on the 15th or 16th of November and will stay there until, roughly, December 22, Peter Moores, the Academy director, confirmed. “This enables us to prepare, get them bowling and [have them] ready should they be needed. It’s a high-performance camp – a training camp – to have players on standby. Paul Terry will help us out if we need to play any games but, in general, it will be a training base.”After months of speculation, Flintoff – looking mean and trim – was clearly delighted in his appointment as captain, but refused to send a message to Ricky Ponting or Australia.”Last summer was something special and some of the lads who are going want it again, some probably watched it and want to experience that euphoria,” he said. “There will be a lot of excited young lads. We’re going out there to play good cricket and compete with Australia who are the best team in the world.”Both James Anderson – who has missed the entire season with a back injury – and Liam Plunkett, whose side injury forced him out of the remaining Tests in the Pakistan series, were named – but there was no place for Simon Jones. Such a key figure in England’s win last summer, he underwent knee surgery in America during the summer and will not return to first-class cricket until next season.The first Test at Brisbane gets underway on November 23.

Scorecard

Bermuda virtually guaranteed themselves a place in the ICC Intercontinental Cup semi-finals when they wrapped up an innings-and-105-run victory over Cayman Islands in Toronto.Canada need to score more than 575 inside 90 overs against Cayman Islands later this week and then bowl them out twice if Bermuda are to be denied. But weather forecasters expect heavy rains in the Toronto area from Hurricane Katrina, and if correct that match could be a complete washout.It took Bermuda a little over an hour to polish of Caymans. Resuming on 50 for 4, they had little answer to Dwayne Leverock who took five of the six wickets to fall, finishing with 6 for 16 and match figures of 11 for 72. Despite that, Clay Smith was named Man of the Match for his first-innings hundred.Bermuda, barring miracles from Canada, will meet Kenya in Namibia in October. The other semi-final will be between Ireland and United Arab Emirates.

England 319 and 99 for 3 beat West Indies 208 and 209 by 7 wickets and lead the series 2-0
ScorecardDay 5
Bulletin – England wrap it up in half-an-hour
Verdict – From world-beaters to woeful losers
Quotes – ‘It’s taken a hell of a lot of hard work’
News – Lara and Jones fined
News – Ricky Skerritt resigns as manager
Day 4
Bulletin – England on the brink of victory
Verdict – England’s discipline made the difference
News – Jones apolgises for Sarwan outburst
News – Lara reported to referee
Roving Reporter – Limited satisfaction
Day 3
Bulletin – Thorpe extends England’s lead
Verdict – Patience, persistence, resistance
Quotes – ‘Personal scores are irrelevant,’ says Nasser Hussain
Day 2
Bulletin – Rain halts West Indian fightback
Verdict – Survival of the grittiest
Roving Reporter – Backbench rebellion
Quotes – Fletcher backs the old guardDay 1
Bulletin – Harmison demolishes West Indies … again
Verdict – From damage limitation to Curtly imitation
Roving Reporter – Taking the strain in Port-of-Spain
Pre-matchPreview – West Indies pick up the pieces