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Yorkshire’s new Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc made a great impression on his debut with 3 for 28 but it was Gary Ballance’s 77 that propelled the home side to a seven-wicket win against Derbyshire at Headingley.

20-May-2012
ScorecardYorkshire’s new Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc made a great impression on his debut with 3 for 28 but it was Gary Ballance’s 77 that propelled the home side to a seven-wicket win against Derbyshire at Headingley.Ballance, in prime form at the moment, timed his innings to perfection as Yorkshire reached their 220-run target with 14 balls to spare. He faced 60 deliveries and thumped six fours and four sixes, putting on 69 for the third wicket with Phil Jaques and an unbroken 70 for the fourth with Joe Root.Ballance has now scored 121 not out, 76 and 77 not out in his last three innings and his last three partnerships with Jaques have seen them add 203, 149 and 69 together.All of Yorkshire’s five batsmen made telling contributions, skipper Andrew Gale (33) and Adam Lyth (31) sharing an opening stand of 56 and Jaques and Root later weighing in with 47 and 28 not out respectively. But it was Ballance and Root who made it look easy for Yorkshire in the end by cracking 41 off three overs to leave the scores level at the start of the 38th over.Ballance began the onslaught by striking Garry Park for consecutive sixes backward of square leg, following up by steering him for four to third man and Root joined in the spree with two successive boundaries off Tim Groenewald.Yorkshire’s target turned out to be a lot easier than appeared likely while Derbyshire’s openers, Chesney Hughes and Martin Guptill, were putting together a rousing partnership of 137 in 25 overs. But once they had been parted, Yorkshire tightened the screw to such an extent that Derbyshire could only add 82 from 15 overs, during which time they lost eight wickets.Hughes was first to go, bowled leg stump by Moin Ashraf for 50 from 73 balls with four boundaries, but it was Guptill who provided the real firepower with his 89 from 83 deliveries with four fours and five sixes, most of them coming from full-blooded drives.Guptill was third out when he tried to force Anthony McGrath outside off-stump and wicketkeeper Gerard Brophy held on to the catch.Confident batting by Hughes and Guptill had denied Starc a wicket in his opening burst of five overs but he came back strongly later on to claim 3 for 11 in his second spell. His first wicket for Yorkshire was that of Ross Whiteley who was held on the cover boundary by Lyth before Dan Redfern was caught behind attempting an audacious reverse paddle. Starc struck again with the final ball of the innings which knocked back Tom Poynton’s stumps as he went for a wild swing.Former Yorkshire all-rounder David Wainwright, who moved to Derbyshire in the close season, received a generous ovation from the home fans when he went out to bat and his unbeaten 13 included a cheeky six off Iain Wardlaw over the top of Brophy’s head. Wardlaw proved expensive, conceding 63 runs.Yorkshire omitted their out-of-form leg-spinner Adil Rashid but off-spinner Azeem Rafiq enjoyed only limited success in his place. He went for 44 runs from his eight overs and his only wicket came when he held on to a smart low return catch from Durston.

وجه لادان بوسو المدير الفني لمنتخب نيجيريا للشباب، الشكر لاتحاد الكرة في بلاده، بعدما نجح في تحقيق الفوز على مصر في ثاني جولات دور المجموعات ببطولة أمم إفريقيا تحت 20 عامًا.

وكان استاد القاهرة قد استضاف مواجهة مصر ونيجيريا للشباب، والتي حسمها النسور بهدف دون رد.

فيديو | منتخب مصر يخسر أمام نيجيريا ويُعقد موقفه في أمم إفريقيا للشباب

وقال لادان في تصريحات بالمؤتمر الصحفي الذي عقد عقب المباراة: “نشكر الجميع ونشكر الاتحاد النيجيري على دعمه لنا، ونركز الأن على اقتناص الثلاث نقاط المقبلين”.

وأضاف: “أفضل اللاعبين القادرين على التطور، من سيلعب جيدا في منتخب الشباب يستطيع اللعب في الفريق الأول وهناك 4 لاعبين يستطعيون اللعب في المنتخب الأول، وأتواصل دائمًا مع بيسيرو المدير الفني للنسور الخضراء”.

وتابع: “أتيت إلى هنا بثلاثة حراس مرمى، والحراس يعطون أفضل ما لديهم”.

واستكمل: “مباراة اليوم كانت أقوى من مواجهة السنغال، مصر فنيًا منتخب جيد جدًا واضاعوا فرصًا”.

ترتيب مجموعة مصر في كأس أمم إفريقيا للشباب بعد الهزيمة أمام نيجيريا

واستطرد: “رئيس الاتحاد النيچيري يركز مع منتخب الشباب وهدفنا التأهل لكأس العالم”.

واختتم: “أما عن غياب لاعب خط الوسط داجا، فانا أركز مع كل اللاعبين وليس لاعب بعينه، وبعدما أصيب نجحنا في تعويضه، وقد لا يلعب المباراة المقبلة”.

ESPNcricinfo previews the fifth ODI between India and West Indies in Chennai

The Preview by Dustin Silgardo10-Dec-2011Match factsIndia v West Indies, December 11, Chennai
Start time 1430 (0900 GMT)Rahul Sharma should enjoy the Chepauk pitch•AFPBig PictureVirender Sehwag’s record-breaking double-century in Indore could have one of two effects on Sunday’s match in Chennai. Either fans will still be abuzz with the euphoria that surrounded the feat and turn up hoping for a reprise, or they will believe the zenith of the series has already been reached, and with the result decided as well will struggle to find meaning in the dead rubber.For the India team, though, the match does hold some significance. Injuries to Praveen Kumar and now Varun Aaron, mean Vinay Kumar and Abhimanyu Mithun will both be on the plane to Australia for the Test series. In Indore, the pair bowled just eight overs between them and were taken for 71 runs, hardly the kind of form you’d want two of your seamers going to Australia in. On a Chennai pitch that has been slow and low through the year, and offered nothing for the quicks, it will be a test of both their mettle to see if they can at least get through a full quota of overs and take some confidence into the big tour of Australia.After the thrashing in Indore, one could forgive the West Indies players if their minds were already on the plane back home. But Darren Sammy’s side have repeatedly shown fight on this tour, highlighted by their performance in the third Test in Mumbai. Through the one-day series so far, West Indies have put on more runs for the last five wickets than the first five and they will believe that if the top order can come good, they can get a total that will challenge India.Form guideIndia WLWWW (Most recent first)
West Indies LWLLLIn the spotlightThere had been a bit of mystery surrounding the logic behind having Rahul Sharma in the India squad for two one-day series and a Test series without giving him a game. In Indore, there was some vindication for the selectors, who had picked Rahul Sharma despite the fact that he has only played 10 first-class games. He impressed with his ability to turn the ball even with a flat trajectory and his variations in pace, and struck three times in his first three overs. The pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium has kept low and will be conducive to Rahul Sharma’s skiddy topspinner.Marlon Samuels has got plenty of starts on this tour of India, but is yet to score a century since returning to international cricket after a two-year ban. His only previous ODI in Chennai was in 2007, when he scored 98 and helped West Indies win. As the most experienced batsmen in the ODI team, he will be the one West Indies rely on to turn the form of the top order around.Pitch and conditionsRain is always a possibility in Chennai at this time of year. While thundershowers are expected through most of next week, the forecast says Sunday will be sunny.The pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium has played low and slow all year. During the World Cup, it was the most difficult of all the Indian pitches to bat on. West Indies were bowled out for 188 in their group game against India in Chennai, with spinners taking six of the ten wickets. The pitch has also produced low-scoring encounters through the IPL and Champions League Twenty20, and it could be a hard grind for the batsmen against spin on Sunday.Team newsWith the series already in the bag, India could experiment with their line-up on Sunday. Irfan Pathan will expect to be given a game but it will be difficult deciding who to leave out as Vinay and Mithun are both headed to Australia and the selectors may want to give them game time. Rahul Sharma deserves another chance after his impressive debut and R Ashwin is the local lad. Irfan could be slotted in as an allrounder, with Ravindra Jadeja being rested. Ajinkya Rahane and Manoj Tiwary are part of the squad without getting a game so far this series. Perhaps one of them could be given a chance in the dead rubber, with one of the middle-order batsmen rested.India (probable): 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Virender Sehwag (capt), 3 Ajinkya Rahane/Manoj Tiwary, 4 Rohit Sharma, 5 Suresh Raina, 6 Parthiv Patel (wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja/ Irfan Pathan, 8 R Ashwin, 9 R Vinay Kumar, 10 Abhimanyu Mithun, 11 Rahul SharmaDarren Bravo missed the fourth ODI with a hamstring injury and it is not certain whether he will be fit for Sunday’s game. Whether or not he returns, Danza Hyatt must surely make way after scoring just 62 runs in four innings in the series. Adrian Barath could replace Hyatt if Bravo does not play. Given the nature of the pitch, West Indies may opt to play two spinners, and bring Anthony Martin in for Kermar Roach.West Indies (probable): 1 Lendl Simmons, 2 Kieran Powell, 3 Adrian Barath/ Darren Bravo, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Andre Russell 7 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Ravi Rampaul, 10 Kemar Roach/ Anthony Martin, 11 Sunil NarineStats and trivia Virender Sehwag has never scored back-to-back centuries in ODIs. Seven of his 15 one-day hundreds have been succeeded by single-digit scores.
Out of the four ODIs played at Chepauk this year, three have been won by the side batting first. The average second-innings total in matches that the team chasing lost is 193.Quotes”I have been interacting with Eric Simmons [the India bowling coach] regarding variations and that has helped me a lot. I am also learning a lot while playing alongside Ashwin. It looks like a turning track. I would definitely like to do well again and ensure a 4-1 series victory for us.”

Sussex veteran Murray Goodwin hit his fourth County Championship hundred of the summer as the visitors reached 312 for 6 on day one against Nottinghamshire

12-Sep-2011
Scorecard
Sussex veteran Murray Goodwin hit his fourth County Championship hundred of the summer as the visitors reached 312 for 6 on day one against Nottinghamshire. The 38-year-old hit 14 fours from 241 balls and shared in century partnerships with Ed Joyce (63) and 20-year-old Matt Machan, who struck an accomplished 71 on his championship debut.Goodwin had reached 117 not out at the close in the sixth century of his career against Nottinghamshire, in what had so far been a chanceless innings. Seamer Charlie Shreck, making his farewell appearance for Nottinghamshire having agreed to move to Kent at the end of the season, picked up two wickets, while Andre Adams claimed 3 for 79 to bring his haul for the campaign to 65.With both sides safe from relegation and out of the title reckoning, there was a distinct end-of-season feel to some of the early play, as bowlers and batsmen struggled to contend with a strong, blustery cross-wind. Shreck made the breakthrough in the ninth over of the day when Chris Nash was lbw to a full inswinging delivery, while Adams removed Joe Gatting’s off-stump in the next over.Joyce and Goodwin profited from several half-volleys to drive through the covers as they reached lunch without further alarm. There was minor controversy soon after the interval when Joyce refused to walk having apparently edged Adams to Alex Hales at first slip when on 49, with umpires Tim Robinson and Rob Bailey conferring before giving the batsman the benefit of the doubt.Adams did get his man eight overs later with a sharp low catch by Steven Mullaney at second slip, Joyce having hit eight boundaries from 134 balls. Sussex captain Mike Yardy survived a big lbw shout first ball and went on to make 29, falling just before tea by edging Luke Fletcher to Chris Read.Youngster Machan had been given the ideal opportunity in which to make his maiden championship appearance and batted with confidence, coming down the track to spinner Graeme White and punching several neat boundaries through the off side. Having dominated a fifth-wicket partnership of 114 in 30 overs with Goodwin, the left-handed Machan eventually fell to the new ball as Adams leapt high at third slip for a catch off Shreck.Ben Brown was then unfortunate to play on to Adams, the ball trickling onto the stumps after the right-hander had tried to play a short ball off his ribs.

Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lanka fast bowler, is likely to miss the series opener at Pallakele Stadium on Wednesday

Sa'adi Thawfeeq09-Aug-2011Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lanka fast bowler, was named in the 16-member squad for the first three One-Day Internationals against Australia but is likely to miss the series opener at Pallakele Stadium on Wednesday.Chairman of cricket selectors Duleep Mendis said that although Malinga has been named in the squad, he is has been advised to rest. “We have been advised by the team physio to rest Malinga for the first ODI,” Duleep said. “We will consider him for the remaining matches.”Malinga, who retired from Test cricket in April, missed the two Twenty20 Internationals against Australia due to a back injury. He has been under treatment since then but showed that he was on the road to recovery by bowling in the nets prior to being included in the one-day squad.Duleep stated that the selection panel would review the performance of the players in the first three games and if necessary make changes to the squad for the remaining two matches.

ESPNcricinfo previews the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab in Bangalore

The Preview by Siddhartha Talya05-May-2011Match factsFriday, May 6, Bangalore
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)Adam Gilchrist needs to fire for Punjab•AFPBig pictureRoyal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab have had contrasting runs in the lead-up to Friday’s fixture, though both teams have had fewer games than most others and can be expected to spice up the race for the play-offs even more. Bangalore have won three on the trot, their batting coming good each time, whether they have been chasing or setting a target. Virat Kohli has been the backbone of those successes with the bat and with Chris Gayle in prime touch, things are looking up. A win should push them to the top four, though with five games still to play after Friday, there’s still a long way to go.Punjab, who’ve been beaten in their last three games, have struggled to contain the opposition with their bowling, while their middle order, including David Hussey and Abhishek Nayar, has underachieved. Punjab are already in a deep hole that they need to quickly climb out of, for a defeat, at a point when they are second from the bottom on the points table, could leave them needing too much out of their remaining six games to progress.Form guide (most recent first)Royal Challengers Bangalore: WWWLL (sixth in points table)
Kings XI Punjab: LLLWW (ninth in points table)
Team talkBangalore have had a week-long break ahead of the game, a long-enough period to address any niggles if there have been any. They could field the same XI that beat Pune Warriors in their previous match, with Mohammad Kaif playing ahead of Cheteshwar Pujara.David Miller, the big-hitting South Africa batsman is part of the Kings XI squad, and is an option instead of Hussey in the line-up. Piyush Chawla has been expensive with his legspin, and that too would be a worry.Predict the playing XIs for this match. Play ESPNcricinfo Team selector.In the spotlightSaurabh Tiwary’s performance was one of the highlights for Mumbai Indians last season, where he formed a successful partnership with Ambati Rayudu, who continues to shine. With Bangalore, however, Tiwary is yet to hit it big on the field, though he was picked for US$1.6 million at the auctions. He’s had starts, with scores of 14, 18, 14, 7, 16* and 26 so far, and is due a longer stint.Adam Gilchrist needs to inspire his team at the top with a runaway knock, something he’s promised in the middle this season but hasn’t quite achieved. In Paul Valthaty, he has an able partner but the dominance has largely eluded him.Prime numbers Adam Gilchrist leads the sixes tally for the IPL overall, with 70. Yusuf Pathan is one behind him in the same number of games – 53. Gilchrist also has the record so far for the most wicketkeeping dismissals in the IPL, with 41 in 53 games. Second to him is Dinesh Karthik with 37.The chatter”I wanted to bat up the order for the last three IPL seasons and this time I got the chance. I always wanted to be in the top order but I was batting at Nos. 5, 6 and 7.”

Lasith Malinga announced his return to full fitness by storming his way to an unprecedented second World Cup hat-trick that shut out Kenya

The Bulletin by Siddarth Ravindran01-Mar-2011 Sri Lanka 146 for 1 (Tharanga 67*, Dilshan 44) beat Kenya 142 (C Obuya 52, D Obuya 51, Malinga 6-38) by nine wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Kenya had no answer to Lasith Malinga•AFPLasith Malinga announced his return to full fitness by storming his way to an unprecedented second World Cup hat-trick with an exhibition of yorker-on-demand bowling that proved too much for Kenya’s tail at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The visitors imploded to 142 all out despite dogged half-centuries from the Obuya brothers, who enjoyed plenty of fortune in a determined 94-run stand that kept the varied threats of Sri Lanka’s bowling at bay for nearly 30 overs. Sri Lanka’s batsmen barely had to break a sweat in the chase, finishing it off in 18 overs.Smart Stats

Lasith Malinga became the only bowler to pick up two hat-tricks in World Cups. His previous one had come against South Africa in 2007. So far, six bowlers have taken a hat-trick in World Cups.

This was also the first instance of bowlers taking hat-tricks in consecutive matches in a World Cup. The 2003 World Cup was the last edition to see two hat-tricks.

Malinga’s 6 for 38 is the second-best bowling figures by a Sri Lankan bowler in World Cups, behind Chaminda Vaas’ 6 for 25 against Bangladesh in 2003.

The 94-run stand between David Obuya and Collins Obuya is the fourth-best for Kenya for the third wicket in World Cups.

Apart from David Obuya and Collins Obuya, the rest of the batsmen failed to reach double figures and aggregated just 20 runs among them. From a decent position of 120 for 3, Kenya lost the last seven wickets for just 22 runs to be bowled out for 142.

David Obuya’s strike-rate of 48.11 and Collins Obuya’s strike-rate of 52 are third and seventh on the list of lowest strike-rates for scores between 50 and 99 in World Cups. The lowest is Ishwar Maraj’s 53 off 155 balls, at a strike-rate of 34.19 against South Africa in 2003.

The 188 dot-balls in the Kenya innings is the second-highest in the 2011 World Cup, behind the 194 dots in Canada’s innings against Zimbabwe.

Sri Lanka’s nine-wicket win over Kenya was achieved with 188 balls to spare. This is third on the list of victories with most balls to spare for Sri Lanka in World Cups.

The Obuyas weren’t exactly convincing – testing every edge of their bat, surviving close lbw calls, regularly air-driving outside off and rarely reading the spinner’s variations – but hung on obdurately to take Kenya into triple-digits. A solid platform was in place when they had hauled Kenya to 102 for 2, but Malinga’s burst demolished the tail as the final eight wickets were blasted out for 40 runs. None of the other Kenyan batsmen made it past single-figures.The Kenyan collapse was rapid: it took only 22 deliveries for them to go from 127 for 4 to being bowled out. Muttiah Muralitharan started it off by getting the set batsman David Obuya to slog-sweep to midwicket.Then it was Malinga time. Jimmy Kamande barely found his bearings after being struck by a toe-crusher, and decided to go for a single when the ball was only a couple of metres away from him. Chamara Silva pounced from midwicket and did a passable imitation of Jonty Rhodes from 1992 to crash into the stumps and dismiss Kamande.Tanmay Mishra was next, becoming the first victim of Malinga’s hat-trick after missing a full delivery on leg stump to fall for a 13-ball duck. It was the final ball of the over, and Malinga gave Peter Ongondo the warmest welcome possible to the tournament in the first ball of his next – a yorker that uprooted middle. The staggered dismissals meant many in the crowd weren’t aware that Malinga was on a hat-trick. He steamed in and middle stump was dismantled again next ball, the clueless batsman this time was Shem Ngoche.Attention then shifted to whether Malinga could repeat his outrageous four-in-four from the 2007 World Cup, but he sprayed a wild delivery for five leg-side wides. Elijah Otieno defended the next ball, but that was followed by another unstoppable yorker from Malinga that thud into leg stump to end Kenya’s innings. Malinga had taken four in five legal deliveries to finish with 6 for 38.A tiresomely familiar tale seemed set to play out earlier in the afternoon when Kenya slid to 8 for 2 in the third over. Nuwan Kulasekara and Malinga removed the openers cheaply with their favourite weapons – Kulasekara getting Maurice Ouma with an inducker, and Malinga dislodging Seren Waters with an inswinging yorker that left the batsman on his knees.The Obuyas ensured there wasn’t a repeat of Kenya’s house-of-cards performance against New Zealand. Kulasekara gave away only nine runs in a constricting six-over opening spell, but Kenya were more at ease against Angelo Mathews, who was taken for a couple of boundaries.Sri Lanka brought on the spin of Ajantha Mendis in the 14th over to break the frustrating stand, but though the batsmen weren’t sure which way the ball would turn, they survived his bag of tricks with some dour defence. Kumar Sangakkara then turned to Muttiah Muralitharan to get the wickets, but though there were leading edges and outside edges, Murali couldn’t break through, with the batsmen negotiating him with a series of sweeps.It was painfully slow progress from the Obuyas, and after more than two hours of defiance, it was that most deadly of weapons that separated them – a Malinga yorker. Some more of those left Sri Lanka chasing a tiny target in front of a raucous Colombo crowd.The fans had even more to cheer when Sri Lanka batted, as Tillkaratne Dilshan provided a typically fast start with an array of punches through cover. He picked up a couple of boundaries in three successive overs to power Sri Lanka to 51 in the sixth over. Upul Tharanga, who started sedately, then joined the party with three fours in the next over. Dilshan fell short of a half-century, but Tharanga went on to make 67 with a string of lofted boundaries in the batting Powerplay to hasten the finish, and push Sri Lanka to the top of the table on net run-rate.Match Timeline

حققت البطلة المصرية هنا جودة المركز الأول بمنافسات الزوجي المختلط تحت 15 سنة ببطولة العالم لتنس الطاولة للناشئين، المقامة حاليا في تونس خلال الفترة ما بين 4 وحتى 11 ديسمبر الجاري.

وتمكنت هنا جودة من التفوق على زوجي إسبانيا والبرتغال في المباراة النهائية رفقة زميلها الكازاخستاني ألان كورمانجالييف بثلاثة أشواط نظيفة لتحقق المركز الأول بالبطولة لأول مرة بمنافسات الزوجي المختلط في تاريخ مصر ببطولات العالم.

وكانت قد حققت هنا جودة الفوز بالأمس في مباراة نصف النهائي بالزوجي المختلط على الثنائي الياباني المصنف الثاني على البطولة بنتيجة ثلاثة أشواط مقابل شوطين في مباراة قوية.

وتضم البعثة المصرية 15 لاعبا ولاعبة على صعيد المسابقات المختلفة حيث يشارك كل من ياسين جابر في منافسات الفردي تحت 15 سنة ومروان جمال في منافسات تحت 19 سنة.

طالع | الأهلي يعلن تجديد عقد هنا جودة لمدة موسمين

أما على صعيد فردي الناشئات فستشارك هنا جودة وحبيبة الباسومي في منافسات تحت 15 سنة فيما تشارك كل من فريدة بدوي ورؤى صلاح في منافسات تحت 19 سنة.

وعلى صعيد الفرق فتضم قائمة منتخب الناشئين كل من ياسين جابر وحمزة خالد وعبدالملك أشرف وسيف الدين قاسم في منافسات تحت 15 سنة.

أما على صعيد الناشئات فتشارك مصر في منافسات تحت 15 سنة وتحت 19 سنة حيث تضم قائمة تحت 15 سنة كل من هنا جودة ولانا حازم ونور صلاح ورسل أسامة وتتكون قائمة تحت 19 سنة من فريدة بدوي وهند فتحي وجنى سعد ورؤى الناغي.

كما تشارك البعثة المصرية في منافسات الزوجي المختلف سواء مع بعضها لبعض أو بمشاركة أحد العناصر الخارجية.

ويترأس البعثة المستشار عصام زيدان عضو مجلس إدارة الاتحاد المصري لتنس الطاولة ويقود المنتخب فنيًا كلًا من شريف ضياء كمدرب للناشئين وهشام إسماعيل مدربًا للناشئات.

وكان تواجد معتز عاشور، رئيس الاتحاد المصري لتنس الطاولة وعضو اللجنة الأولمبية المصرية ، في عمّان عاصمة الأردن، لحضور اجتماع الجمعية العمومية للاتحاد الدولي لتنس الطاولة.

Pakistan were shot out for 120 and it was too little to defend even for their talented bowling attack. Their spinners posed a brief threat but South Africa shut them out to seal a 2-0 series win

The Bulletin by Sriram Veera27-Oct-2010South Africa 125 for 4 (Smith 38, Ingram 32, Duminy 20*) beat Pakistan 120 for 9 (Theron 4-27) by six wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsShahid Afridi could not last long enough to make an impact•AFP

Another day, another batting collapse from Pakistan. They were shot out for 120 and it was too little to defend even for their talented bowling attack. Their spinners posed a brief threat but South Africa shut them out to seal a 2-0 series win. Graeme Smith’s 38 wasn’t a fluent effort but he fought on to push South Africa close before Colin Ingram and JP Duminy applied the final touches.When a struggling Smith was stumped off Saeed Ajmal, South Africa needed 53 from 40 balls, raising the possibility of an improbable twist in the tale. Ajmal had 3.4 overs left in his spell and there were two new batsmen in the middle but Ingram killed the contest with admirable coolness. He pulled Umar Gul for four before collecting three boundaries off Shoaib Akhtar in the 17th over – a smashed six over long-on and two fours dragged to square-leg – to push South Africa ahead in the chase. He fell, holing out to long-on, but Duminy stayed put till the end.Nothing went right from the start for Pakistan. Shahzaib Hasan continued to be a walking wicket and his exit, to an ugly slog across the line, opened the floodgates. Imran Farhat, who was bowled going for an over-ambitious heave, left one wondering whether the selectors were being too harsh on Imran Nazir. Like yesterday, it was Lonwabo Tsotsobe who removed the openers.Again there was no middle-order revival. Mohammad Hafeez averages just 20.01 from 53 ODIs and 16.53 from 17 Twenty20s. Today was yet another day where he played a couple of pretty shots before combusting. He was caught at the crease, pondering whether to cut or steer, and lost his stumps before he could make up his mind. Umar Akmal ran himself out following a mix-up with Misbah-ul-Haq, and Shahid Afridi scooped Rusty Theron to deep point. Abdul Razzaq improved on his performance from yesterday – he swung a couple of sixes – but tapped a full toss straight to mid-off.It was left to Misbah to push Pakistan over 100. It was another one of his meandering knocks that seemed to go nowhere until the last couple of overs when he showed some intent. Like yesterday, he initially struggled to find his timing but fought on to hold one end up. He went for the big shots in the end – there was a neat six over wide long-on, hit on a bent knee, and a shuffled swat to the backward square-leg boundary – but it was too little and too late.It was difficult to rate South Africa’s bowling in this context. Did Pakistan’s shoddy batting display make the bowling look better than it was? It would be unfair, though, to not credit them for their discipline. Tsotsobe punctuated his natural left-armer’s angle with the ones that straightened to collect early wickets, Johan Botha, as ever, strangled the run-flow in the middle overs with his variations, and Theron enhanced his reputation as a death-over specialist with three wickets in the last over. Pakistan’s bowlers again attempted the improbable but it was a bridge too far to cross.

Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s Test captain, has said the criticism of his surprising appointment was unfair until he had an opportunity to prove himself as a leader

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Oct-2010Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s latest Test captain, has hit back at criticism over his surprising elevation, arguing that he hasn’t even had the opportunity yet to show his capabilities as a leader. Misbah has at least two Tests as captain against South Africa in the UAE next month.”I do not agree with what they [former cricketers] are saying, doubting my abilities as a captain, and saying I am not capable of delivering,” Misbah told reporters in Lahore. “I know the task assigned to me is not easy. However, underestimating me as a captain and batsman is not fair as one always learns with time and improves.”Wasim Akram was one of those surprised by the decision to give Misbah, who is 36, charge of the Test team a day after he was named in the squad for the first time since the tour of Australia in 2009-10.Misbah, however, said he had spent time away from the team training and preparing for any comeback. “I did not give up. I used to train to keep myself in prime form,” he said. “And I was engaged in cricket because I was confident that I can make a comeback, which eventually happened.”The series against South Africa will be Pakistan’s first since the controversy-ridden trip to England, during which then captain Salman Butt and fast bowlers, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, were provisionally suspended by the ICC over their alleged involvement in a spot-fixing scandal.Pakistan had problems on the field as well, their batsmen struggling in bowler-friendly conditions; they were bowled for under 100 twice in four Tests and rarely made it past 200. Misbah, however, was confident of a better showing in friendlier conditions in the UAE.”I think it’s a bit unfair to judge the batsmen solely on the tour of England, as batting appeared to be very difficult,” Misbah told . “The batsmen at my disposal are much better than their statistics in England suggest. The conditions in the UAE will be more akin to what the Pakistani batsmen are used to seeing, and I am confident that the batting lineup will deliver against South Africa.”With Amir and Asif missing in action, Pakistan’s bowling attack will rely heavily on Umar Gul and the spinners – Saeed Ajmal, Danish Kaneria and Abdur Rehman. “Our strength in the spin bowling department could be the key in the UAE,” Misbah said. “We have three spinners in the squad and all are different styles of spinners, so the variety is there. There should be turn and bounce on offer, and it’s up to them to make the most of those conditions.”The fielding – shockingly shoddy in England – remains a concern, as Misbah – one of the side’s best slippers – acknowledged. “We cannot overcome it [poor fielding] in short time as we have been lacking in this department for years,” he said. “Only sincere efforts and hard work by players can bring improvement in fielding.”South Africa, on the other hand, are likely to be in their usual, top fielding form when the first Test begins in Dubai on November 12.