Ranji final: Uttar Pradesh 123/4 at lunch

With Mumbai sniffing victory on the final day of the Ranjiy Trophy final, Uttar Pradesh managed to compile 123/4 at the stroke of lunch break on Friday.

In the process of chasing a huge target of 525 runs, Mohammad Kaif (44) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were (36) at vigil after Uttar Pradesh lost four batsmen in the first session.

Earlier, TM Srivastava and SS Shukla took charge of their second innings.

On the fourth day of the match, Vinayak Samant (113) blasted his maiden first class century, while team-mate Rohit Sharma (108) struck his second of the match as Mumbai virtually assured itself of its 38th Ranji Trophy title on Thursday.

Mumbai's star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who was down with viral fever, failed in both the innings. He scored a duck in the first innings and scored only four runs in the second innings in which he batted at number seven.

Triangular Tournament Al Hasan inspires Tigers

Shakib Al Hasan: Scored a match-winning 92

Bangladesh recorded only their second ODI victory over Sri Lanka with a thrilling five-wicket win at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Shakib Al Hasan scored a sparkling 92 not out as Bangladesh chased down Sri Lanka's total of 147 with all of seven overs in hand.

The match was reduced to 31 overs after heavy fog delayed the start in Mirpur.

But once play got underway, Bangladesh made immediate in-roads in to the Sri Lanka innings.

Mashrafe Mortaza removed opener Upul Tharanga for a duck with the third delivery of the day, while Kumar Sangakkara also fell without scoring in his next over.

Dismissed

Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene steadied the ship with a stand of 71 for the third wicket.

However after Jayawardene was dismissed for 28, the Sri Lankans lost wickets at regular intervals.

Debutant fast bowler Rubel Hossain did the damage by polishing off the tail on his way to figures of 4-33, but it was Mortaza who removed the dangerous Jayasuriya for 54.

Jayasuriya was dropped off Mortaza for 28, but the Bangladesh bowler got his revenge by holding on to a catch off his own bowling.

Despite dismissing Sri Lanka for just 147, the Tigers got off to a terrible start in reply as both openers - Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Siddique - were run out and Mushfiqur Rahim was removed for just one.

However, Mohammad Ashraful and Al Hasan dug in to turn the innings around.

The pair put on 91 runs for the fourth wicket - with Al Hasan providing the lion's share of the runs as Ashraful contributed 26 before he was dismissed by Nuwan Kulasekara.

Al Hasan, though, steered Banglasdesh home with his unbeaten 92 coming off just 69 balls and including 10 fours and two sixes.

Cricket-Sri Lanka lose five wickets for 6 runs in tri-series final

DHAKA, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka lost five wickets for six runs in eight overs in the tri-series one-day international final against Bangladesh on Friday.

After Bangladesh were skittled out for 152, Sri Lanka lost non-striker opener Sanath Jayasuria after the first ball of the over when he was run out. Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Kapugedera and Thilina Thushara then fell in quick succession.

Ganguly to pick IPL babes for Kolkata Knight Riders

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, who is popularly known as the Prince of Kolkata, will pick a new cheerleader for his Indian Premier League team, the Kolkata Knight Riders. sourav_ganguly-238x300 Ganguly to pick IPL babes for Kolkata Knight Riders

Ganguly is all set to make his small screen debut in Shahrukh Khan’s show, Knights and Angels. But unlike other cricketers he will not be seen participating, but rather judging the reality show Knights and Angels.
The talent hunt show, which will air on NDTV Imagine, will look for cheerleaders who will cheer for Kolkata Knight Riders in the second edition of the Indian Premier League.

Ganguly has agreed to appear on reality TV show, The Sun reported.

Shahrukh Khan had brought in the much needed glamour quotient to the first edition of the IPL.

King Khan is showing serious interest in television production and Red Chillies Entertainment will produce the show.

Noted choreographer Shiamak Davar will train the girls taking part in the show. L

But cheerleaders and the megabucks Twenty20 tournament have not always mixed well together.

Last year, Dehli Daredevils withdrew their cheerleaders after an outrage from local politicians. And, Deccan Chargers all-rounder Shahid Afridi complained his team’s dancers were an unwanted distraction. (ANI)

Sourav is the God of off-side

Shatrunjay Gaekwad

He may have been known so far as the son of former Indian opener and coach Anshuman Gaekwad. But now after landing a one-year contract with the Kolkata Knight

Riders (KKR), Shatrunjay Gaekwad is opening a new innings for himself. In town for the trials for the KKR team, the Baroda batsman is all smiles after getting the contract papers. “It will be an opportunity to share the dressing room with some great players,” he says. Ask Shatrunjay whether the trials were very tough and pat comes the reply, “Not at all. I didn’t have to outplay myself. I’m an attacking batsman who just needed some improvisation. I am keen on playing the T20 format as there are not many opportunities at the domestic level.” Shatrunjay is also happy to be part of the KKR team for another reason —- his adulation for Sourav Ganguly. There was a time when he carried Dada’s picture in his ‘coffin’. Breaking into a smile, he says, “Yes, I used to. But we no longer use coffins. These days it is the kit bag. I’m a great fan of Sourav. I have interacted with him since the time my father was the coach of the Indian team. And I have got many valuable tips from him.” The fact that both of them are left handed batsmen has probably drawn them closer. Shatrunjay reveals, “I am an off-side player and Sourav is the God of off-side. I idolize him.” But the association with Dada just doesn’t end there. The 25-year-old, who is also an avid music lover, has another secret to share with us. “Every year I get some gifts from Sourav and I treasure all the gloves, shoes and bats that he has presented me with. I shall never share the gloves with anyone,” says Shatrunjay. The batsman is also eyeing the KKR team as a springboard to get into Team India. And he is optimistic. “It is a dream to wear the Indian blues,” he says. But isn’t age a factor, considering he is already 25? “Why should it be? My state mate Yusuf Pathan is the biggest example. With just one good T20 season, he was catapulted into the Indian team. So anything can happen,” Shatrunjay sounds ever optimistic. Talking of his famous surname, he says, “I’m only under pressure when I am with my father. But on the field, there is no pressure. In fact, I draw inspiration from it.” Picking from many of his father’s innings, the innings of 80 odd runs against West Indies is his best. “The innings against the West Indian pace battery surely gives me goosebumps. With broken ribs and bruised ear he braved the onslaught. Even Sunil uncle (Gavaskar) kept shouting that Indians have got kids back home,” shares Shatrunjay. For someone who enjoys music, he is currently on a song.

Australia remain world's best after avoiding whitewash

Beaten but not bowed: Smith, the South Africa captain, played with an injured hand and although he could not save the final Test, he had already led his side to a series win

Australia salvaged a consolation win against South Africa after dismissing the tourists for 272 with only ten balls remaining on the fifth day to clinch a 103-run victory in the third Test at the SCG.

South Africa entered the final day needing a further 314 runs to pull off an improbable win, and a series clean sweep, having progressed to 62 for one at stumps on day four. But any hope of an unlikely victory disappeared when the tourists lost Neil McKenzie, Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla in the opening session.

Australia removed JP Duminy, Mark Boucher and AB de Villiers in the middle session to take control of proceedings to leave South Africa on 193 for seven at tea. Paul Harris went lbw to Peter Siddle in the sixth over after the resumption to leave the South Africans 202 for eight but Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini held out for over 17 overs, adding another 50 runs before Steyn was removed lbw by Andrew McDonald.

Graeme Smith had not played since retiring hurt with a broken finger and troublesome left elbow in the South African first innings but the skipper returned to courageously bat out the remaining overs with Ntini. But with only ten balls to spare, he was bowled by Mitchell Johnson for three.

Siddle was the pick of the Australian bowlers, taking three wickets for 54, while McDonald returned figures of two for 32.

South Africa had already clinched the three-match series after winning the first two Tests in Perth and Melbourne but Australia's victory meant that they retained their position at the top of the ICC's official Test rankings.

South Africa's braveheart captain Graeme Smith

Melbourne (PTI): South Africa's braveheart captain Graeme Smith played down his Sydney heroics and left for home to recuperate from a broken finger and a bruised elbow, which jeopardise his prospects of playing in the home series against Australia.

The Sydney Cricket Ground crowd on Wednesday gave a standing ovation to Smith, who removed the cast and defied both injuries to walk out and bat. It not enough in the end as South Africa was eventually bowled out but Smith's brave effort drew praise from all quarters.

The humble Protea captain himself, however, played down the effort. "Opportunities come around to show a little bit of bravery...but in the context of life it was just nice to have that opportunity," Smith said before departing for South Africa.

"It would've been nicer if I lasted 10 balls longer, but it wasn't to be," said Smith, who was the last man out, just 10 balls before the scheduled close. "I'm sure Ricky would have done a similar thing... he's a real competitor and I think Australian people appreciate that," he added.

England axe hanging over coach Moores

A rift has developed between Peter Moores, left, and England captain Kevin Pietersen.


Hugh Morris, the managing director of the England cricket team, will spend the weekend deciding whether to sack the coach, Peter Moores, and is likely to cancel a holiday scheduled for next week if he fails to reach a conclusion.

Morris must choose due to a rift between the coach and Kevin Pietersen, the captain, who feels that Moores is out of his depth and the relationship between the two is damaged beyond repair.

The decision will be the most difficult of Morris's professional life as Moores is one of his closest friends in the game. The friendship goes back to when they played for the England Schools Under-19 side in 1981. Morris was one of Moores' strongest backers when the former Sussex coach replaced Duncan Fletcher in April 2007.

Giles Clarke, the England and Wales Cricket Board chairman, said yesterday: "All team matters are dealt with by Hugh Morris. There will be a full review of the tour of India, which was a difficult tour in view of what happened before it. I don't believe all this stuff I'm reading about Michael Vaughan."

That was a reference to reports that ­Pietersen is threatening to quit over Vaughan's exclusion from the England squad to tour West Indies this month. Pietersen did want Vaughan in and Moores did not, but a source close to the ECB said last night: "The Vaughan issue is something of a red herring. The problem goes back further than that."

The crux of the problem is that the England captain is bright enough to realise he is not quite bright enough, at least where the tactical nuances that made Vaughan such a fine captain are concerned.

Pietersen has not been taken by Moores' boot-camp philosophy and, like Vaughan before him, feels that Moores, a county player who never got near Tests, is not up to it. Moores has lost four of his seven Test series and the likes of Monty Panesar have not progressed. Moores, Pietersen and Morris were unavailable for comment.

Andrew Strauss is expected to restore stability and calm to an England cricket team rocked by Kevin Pietersen

LONDON: Andrew Strauss is expected to restore stability and calm to an England cricket team rocked by Kevin Pietersen's resignation and the sacking of coach Peter Moores, with the ultimate goal of beating Australia in the Ashes.

With England in disarray after losing both Pietersen and Moores on Wednesday, Strauss, who was due to hold a news conference at Lord's later Thursday, is considered a safe choice as captain amid speculation that the team was split over the conflict between the captain and the coach.

"If there is one man who can get the England team to gel and bring the players together after weeks and even months of damaging rumors, it is Andrew Strauss," former captain Michael Vaughan wrote in Thursday's Daily Telegraph. "Such a decent man can bring back maturity and stability to the England team."

Although the England and Wales Cricket Board moved quickly to appoint Strauss as captain for the upcoming tour of the West Indies, it still has to find a coach to replace Moores, who was in charge for 18 months after the 2007 World Cup.

After the tour of the Caribbean, England hosts the West Indies and then takes on its oldest and most competitive opponent Australia in an Ashes series starting July.

The upheaval caused by Wednesday's shock moves will have hindered England's chances of taking the Ashes from Ricky Ponting's team, even though the Australians have lost their last two series against India and South Africa.

Strauss now has the tough job of creating harmony within the team amid speculation that some players were against Pietersen in his conflict with Moores.

"We are pretty shocked. We never really knew things were so bad," batsman Ian Bell told BBC radio on Thursday.

"With captains and coaches, people are going to have their own ideas. There are always going to be conversations where people want their way and others want something slightly different. I was very shocked to see how fast it developed. I am very amazed that both have gone. It is really important now as a team that we get back together and back on track."

Without divulging where he stood on the Pietersen vs. Moores issue, Bell said the players had to support Strauss. He said he was glad to see that Pietersen, the team's star batsman, had confirmed he would continue to play for the team.

"We want to get back on the field as fast as possible and give Straussy as much support as we can," Bell said. "(Pietersen) is the best player in the world. That is something you want in your dressing room. He is a matchwinner who can turn things on their head and he plays well under pressure. Kevin Pietersen makes England a lot better team than we are without him."