Southern Stars into semis despite defeat

Updated October 02, 2012 09:48:09

Defending champion Australia has lost its last group match of the women's World Twenty20, going down by seven wickets to England in Galle.

The Southern Stars won the toss and elected to bat first, posting 5 for 144 from 20 overs with opener Meg Lanning scoring 39 runs from 31 balls and veteran Lisa Sthalekar contributing 38 off 28.

Despite an early breakthrough by Julie Hunter, England knocked off the runs with 11 balls to spare.

Sarah Taylor, the number one ranked women's T20 batter, played a great innings hitting 65 off 53 balls to help England's successful chase.

Southern Stars captain Jodie Fields, who took a great one-handed catch, was disappointed with the loss.

"It felt like we were right in the match right up until the last couple of overs. Our batting innings went the way we wanted it to do, we aimed for 140 and we got that target," she said.

"We have a really strong batting order and we can bat from one to 11 and I was really happy with the batting performance today.

"I guess we need to come out of this loss now and train hard over the next two days and look towards the next match."

Australia will play the West Indies in the semi-finals on Friday.

"The West Indies are a strong team and we were lucky enough to play them in a warm-up match which gave us an idea about how we can play against them," Fields added.

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sri-lanka, australia

First posted October 02, 2012 08:15:15

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Aussies stretch lead despite Windies fight

Updated April 26, 2012 09:38:27

Australia ended day three of the third Test against West Indies with a commanding 310-run lead despite a brave fightback by the hosts at Windsor Park in Dominica.

The tourists were 6 for 200 at stumps, losing its last three wickets for 32 runs after Ricky Ponting and Ed Cowan shared in a vital 87-run third-wicket partnership to rescue a rocky start.

David Warner (11) and Shane Watson (5) both fell cheaply either side of lunch after the plucky West Indies were bowled out for just 218 in reply to Australia's first-innings total of 328.

In difficult conditions to make runs, West Indies will need to produce a comeback similar to their remarkable chase down of 418 against the Australians in Antigua nine years ago to level the three-Test series.

Cowan, for one, believes that is an unlikely outcome.

"I think we're in control, definitely. I think 300 already is a big score. If we can get to lunch unscathed and maybe have 350, 360 lead, all of a sudden I think that's a winning total," he told reporters.

"We're confident we've got heaps of runs on the board already."

Warner started aggressively but, in the last over before the interval, he drove loosely at a Kemar Roach delivery and edged to Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the slip cordon.

Spinner Shane Shillingford then struck in his second over. Watson guided a ball off the face of the bat straight to leg slip where Darren Sammy held on to a sharp chance and the tourists were looking shaky at 2 for 25.

Cowan made it to 20 for the fourth consecutive innings and went past his highest score of the series when he reached 35.

The opener eventually departed for a typically patient 55 before Ponting (57) followed in strange circumstances after adding 56 runs with skipper Michael Clarke.

The former Australian captain looked to have found his feet in his final Caribbean knock when he ducked under a Roach bouncer but left his bat telescoped in the air.

The ball hit it and looped up for Chanderpaul to scoot around from slip and take the catch.

Roach has dismissed Ponting more times than any other West Indian bowler.

"Unbelievable, I guess if you play cricket long enough you are going to be dismissed every which way, I guess he was due for a periscope," said Cowan of Ponting's wicket.

"I feel sorry for the bloke because he has been batting beautifully and again it will give ammunition to some bloody journalist back home.

"Ammunition to lampoon, but you guys have seen how well he is playing in tough conditions."

Clarke (25) and Matthew Wade (4) followed in quick succession as West Indies showed spirit in a Test series now slipping out of reach at 1-0 down.

Mike Hussey (17) and Ryan Harris (4) took Australia to stumps without any further scares.

West Indian all-rounder Narsingh Deonarine admitted it would be tough for his team to get the win it needs.

"Whatever Australia put on the board we have to go there and look to get it," said West Indian all-rounder Narsingh Deonarine, who picked up the wicket of Wade.

"The first thing is to try and get those four wickets for as low as possible tomorrow morning and when the time comes to bat you're just going to have to fight very hard because the pitch is not conducive to stroke play as we've seen.

"Everybody will have to dig in there, score some runs and hopefully when we get a chance to bat again we just knock off the runs"

Earlier, the hosts' total owed much, as ever, to a typically stubborn innings of 68 by veteran Chanderpaul.

West Indies had been 8 for 165 overnight with Chanderpaul and Ravi Rampaul having already put on 45 for ninth wicket.

They took their partnership to 66 before Nathan Lyon (4 for 69) broke through for his fourth wicket.

The visitors took the new ball after 83.1 overs and in the end it was Chanderpaul that fell lbw to Mitchell Starc (2 for 29).

Chanderpaul had faced 164 balls for his 68 as he once again top scored for the home side.

He is also the highest scorer in the series with 277 runs at an average of 92.33.

He has managed to face up to the Australian's bowling for more than twice as many balls as any of his team-mates.

ABC/AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, dominica, australia

First posted April 26, 2012 07:47:49

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Proteas soldier on despite poor weather

Updated March 24, 2012 17:08:06

South Africa made light of the grim weather as it cruised to 2 for 246 on the second day of the weather-affected third and final Test against New Zealand on Saturday.

Alviro Peterson, who struggled for runs in the first two Tests, found the Basin Reserve pitch in Wellington to his liking as he moved to 96 not out and closed in on his third Test century, while JP Duminy was on 76.

The pair had put on 140 for the third wicket when bad light stopped play for the second consecutive day with only 79 of a possible 180 overs bowled in the first two days.

South Africa, which already has an unbeatable 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, was clearly intent on batting its way to an imposing total with the aim of dismissing New Zealand cheaply and enforcing the follow on.

The tourists resumed the second day at 2 for 136 and put on 110 runs without loss in the 37 overs available after rain wiped out the morning session.

The New Zealand bowlers have been unable to benefit from the favourable fierce wind, overcast skies and a green-tinged wicket and the fielders were incapable of taking the few chances on offer as the batsmen dominated.

Petersen offered two edges through the vacant third slip position but Martin Guptill, diving from second slip, was unable to grasp either one.

Otherwise Petersen looked comfortable with senior bowler Chris Martin unable to generate significant swing or garner extreme pace from the tail wind.

Duminy had little trouble finding gaps in the New Zealand field, although he brought up his fourth half-century with a wayward shot that that was intended for square leg but went behind wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk.

The only bad news for South Africa was the likelihood it has lost key batsman Hashim Amla for the rest of the match after undergoing emergency surgery on his groin area.

Amla was hit on the first day by an inside edge from a Martin delivery. He was able to bat on and progressed from 33 to 63 before he was dismissed and then rushed to hospital.

"Hashim underwent emergency exploratory surgery resulting from blunt trauma sustained to his groin region," team manager Mohammed Moosajee said in a statement.

"He spent the night in hospital and was discharged this morning. The surgeon is satisfied with the outcome and expects Hashim to make a full recovery.

"However, it is unlikely that he will be able to take further part in the current Test match at the Basin Reserve."

South Africa is without star all-rounder Jacques Kallis for this Test after he was ruled out with a stiff neck.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, new-zealand, south-africa

First posted March 24, 2012 17:08:06

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Scorchers take top spot despite loss

Updated January 19, 2012 16:20:27

The Perth Scorchers secured top spot in the Big Bash League despite a dramatic one-run loss in Wednesday night's clash with the Sydney Sixers at the SCG.

The Sixers seemed to have the victory comfortably in their hands when the Scorchers needed seven off the last two balls.

But Brett Lee (0 for 35 off four overs) dramatically bowled a no-ball and a wide to leave the Scorchers just five short of their victory target of 177 still with two balls remaining.

In the end though the Sixers held their nerve and ran out Scorchers captain Marcus North for 59 as he tried to score a run to level the scores off the final delivery in a stunning finish in front of a healthy crowd of 20,400.

Despite the defeat the Scorchers had already reached the 168 needed to take top spot on the ladder and secure a home semi-final.

The Sixers' win was tempered by a horror night for embattled Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who made a second ball duck and dropped North when the Scorchers skipper was on 29.

The Sixers have finished third and will play the Hurricanes in a semi-final in Hobart on Saturday.

North's 69-run fourth-wicket stand with fellow veteran Simon Katich (31 off 26 balls) came at a crucial time for the Scorchers after Test quick Mitchell Starc (3 for 29 off four) had ripped through their top-order.

The 21-year-old left-armer, who is hoping to retain his starting position for next week's fourth Test in Adelaide, dismissed international team-mate Shaun Marsh (18), Marsh's little brother Mitchell (0) and then former England international Paul Collingwood (2) in five balls to leave the Scorchers 3 for 34.

The Sixers' innings was highlighted by a 25-ball 51 from Steve Smith, while young gun Nic Maddinson chipped in with 49 before falling to evergreen spinner Brad Hogg (2 for 22 off four).

Smith's eventful knock, which featured three sixes, came to an end at the hands of impressive paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile who continued his solid tournament by claiming 3 for 38 off four overs.

North said securing the home final had been a priority for the Scorchers but he had still wanted to extend his team's winning streak to six matches.

"My message throughout the innings was to win the game and by doing that we should meet those targets," he said.

"It's been a fantastic game of cricket. Obviously we were on the losing end of it but credit to both teams for putting in a really good show in this T20 competition."

The Scorchers will play either the Stars, Brisbane Heat or Strikers in Perth on Saturday with a place in the lucrative Champions League going to the victor - a carrot which North said made it almost the most important game of the domestic summer.

"There's no doubt that's a final in itself, the big one to get to India," he said.

Man of the match Starc said it was nice to continue his good run of form after the Perth Test and ensure the Sixers would play against the Hurricanes in Hobart on Sunday.

"It's just good to get the win for the Sixers and gain momentum before the finals. We said at the start of the competition that we wanted to entertain and I think we've done that tonight," Starc said.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted January 18, 2012 22:55:35

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Pakistan on top despite Shakib's efforts

Updated December 21, 2011 09:26:10

Shakib Al Hasan became the first Bangladeshi to hit a century and take five wickets in an innings in the same Test but his efforts look like being in a losing cause after Pakistan seized control of the second Test in Dhaka.

All-rounder Shakib followed his first-innings 144 by snapping up 6 for 82 as the hosts bowled out Pakistan, already 1-0 up in the two-match series, for 470 on the fourth day.

However, pacemen Umar Gul and Aizaz Cheema then claimed two wickets apiece as Bangladesh limped to 5 for 114 in its second innings, trailing the visitors by 18 runs overall.

Nasir Hossain (30) and Mushfiqur Rahim (7) were still at the crease when bad light ended play for the day.

"Shakib's performance was great," Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez told a news conference.

"That was something special. He bowled really well after scoring the hundred. I praise him because he is doing a wonderful job for Bangladesh."
Bangladesh coach Stuart Law was unhappy his side dropped six catches though.

"That is an area of concern for us," said the Australian.

"You'll never take every catch that comes your way but for the easy ones we have to be switched on.

"When you're dropping good players you're giving them two chances. There's no excuse, there are no 38-year-olds running around for us out there."

Bangladesh's relief at taking all 10 Pakistan wickets subsided quickly when Gul struck twice in two balls before tea to reduce the home side to 2 for 24.

Gul had Tamim Iqbal caught by Misbah-ul-Haq at first slip for 21 although video replays suggested the ball might have hit the opener on his helmet.

The paceman then trapped Shahriar Nafees leg before for a duck.

Abdur Rehman bowled Nazimuddin for 12 before Cheema dismissed Mahmudullah (32) and Shakib (six).

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, bangladesh

First posted December 21, 2011 08:04:35

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