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A round-up of the latest round of matches of the MiWAY T20 Challenge 2011-12

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Feb-2012Khayelihle Zondo’s unbeaten century ended up in a losing cause as Impi fell short by 40 runs in a high-scoring contest against Cape Cobras in Paarl. Chasing 212, Hondo led a single-handed effort because the rest of the batsmen failed to give him support. Cobras were led by half-centuries by Stiaan van Zyl and Dane Vilas. The pair was involved in a stand of 67 in just 5.5 overs. The experienced Mark Boucher and Vernon Philander then added 53 for the fifth wicket in just five overs to take the score past 200. Philander finished with an 18-ball 55. Impi failed to put on substantial partnerships to threaten Cobras. Zondo ended up carrying his bat and in the process scored his first T20 century.Dolphins prevailed by eight runs in another high-scoring encounter, in Bloemfontein, against Knights. Cody Chetty’s blazing 82 off 49 balls, and David Miller’s 40, off 25, helped Dolphins reach a competitive 184. Chetty smashed four sixes in his knock and added 76 in seven overs with Miller for the fifth wicket. Knights began steadily, with the pair of Rilee Rossouw and Obus Pienaar adding 71 for the second wicket. At 104 for 3, Knights needed to rebuild but they failed to put on a substantial partnership to overhaul the target. Ryan Bailey finished with an unbeaten 50.An unbeaten 56 by Jonathan Vandiar helped Lions coast to an eight-wicket win over Warriors in Port Elizabeth. Warriors scored only 134, thanks to a combined bowling effort by Lions, led by Chris Morris, who took 2 for 19. JJ Smuts was the top scorer with 42. Lions opener Vandiar hit five fours in his knock, off 53 balls, to steer his team home. Neil McKenzie joined him in a stand of 62 for the third wicket to seal the game.

Marcus North showed his class with a captain’s hundred to put Western Australia in a reasonable position at stumps on the first day at the Adelaide Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Oct-2011
ScorecardMarcus North made 119 for the Warriors•Getty ImagesMarcus North showed his class with a captain’s hundred to put Western Australia in a reasonable position at stumps on the first day at the Adelaide Oval. North made 119 and Liam Davis scored 89, but South Australia’s bowlers fought back late in the afternoon through Peter George and Gary Putland to leave the Warriors at 7 for 288 at the close of play.George (3 for 59) was on a hat-trick at one stage after he had Davis caught behind and then trapped Adam Voges lbw next delivery. The hat-trick was not forthcoming, but soon afterwards Putland picked up the key wicket of North, who was given lbw, ending a 169-ball innings in which he looked in total control.Earlier, Putland had had Wes Robinson caught behind for 7 from a nasty short delivery that the batsman failed to fend properly, after the debutant Joe Mennie ended the opening partnership by having Marcus Harris caught behind for 22. At stumps, Travis Birt was the key man for the Warriors and was on 21, with Michael Beer on 5.

Twenty20 Finals Day was introduced to its first One-over Eliminator as a mad-cap semi-final swung one way and the other before settling in Leicestershire’s favour as Will Jefferson clubbed 15 runs of four balls in a dramatic finish

The Report by Sahil Dutta at Edgbaston27-Aug-2011 (D/L method)
One-over Eliminator
ScorecardWill Jefferson booked a spot in the final for Leicestershire by smashing three boundaries in the Super Over•Getty ImagesTwenty20 Finals Day was introduced to its first one-over Eliminator as a mad-cap semi-final swung one way and the other before settling in Leicestershire’s favour as Will Jefferson clubbed 15 runs off four balls in a dramatic finish. The victory booked Leicestershire both a place in the final and a spot in the Champions League qualifier next month, but for now their thoughts will be on the Birmingham finale.After rain had twice curtailed the game to leave Lancashire needing 80 from 11 overs, Gareth Cross clubbed a six off the final delivery to leave the scores level and set up the Eliminator. Stephen Moore had been Lancashire’s highest scorer in the tournament and was given the responsibility of setting the target with Steven Croft. Moore started with a six down the ground and added a four as the fielder at deep-square leg misjudged on the boundary. Claude Henderson, however, finished with two dot balls.Leicestershire had to chase 14 in their over and Jefferson made it look easy. Earlier he had seemed in good order during a 15-ball 23 but found better range against Gary Keedy. The first delivery was clattered through midwicket for four and the second down the ground. With four needed from the last two balls, Jefferson mowed a huge six deep into the stands over midwicket, sparking wild celebrations from both the Edgbaston crowd and the Leicestershire players.Though it ultimately made for a thrilling finish, the clouds that stalked the ground all day twice delivered downpours to interrupt the game. The first, in Leicestershire’s innings, lopped the match down to 18 overs a side but the second – after eight overs and one ball of the chase proved more decisive.Lancashire had skipped out of the blocks to take 38 from the five Powerplay overs but were bogged down by Henderson’s left-arm spin to be 53 for 1 when the rain arrived. With three games to squeeze into the day the chase was curtailed by the delay to leave Lancashire needing 27 from 17 more balls.Their response was to hack wildly. Batsmen walked in and off a procession as five wickets fell. Joshua Cobb, whose contribution had been limited to a diamond duck, was given the penultimate six balls and delivered a fearless over of offspin that gave away just six runs and brought two wickets. Wayne White’s final over had been superb until the last delivery – a low full toss – was dispatched by Cross over long-on to tie the scores. The crowd had started the day quietly but became ever more gripped by the wildly fluctuating match and were in raptures by the time the six set up an eliminator.Up until that Super Over, the first semi of Finals Day had proved a tale of two matches. Batsmen profiting against seamers and hamstrung against spin. Through the match 18 overs from the quicker men went for 157 while the spinners shared five wickets for 44 in 11. Hampshire’s trio of twirlers would have eyed each rasping turner with giddy anticipation.While the wicket may have raised eyebrows it was not unexpected. Peter Moores, the Lancashire coach, said afterwards he had no complaints. “The wicket played pretty much what we thought,” he said. “Edgbaston is pretty consistent, it sticks in the pitch a bit, mix your pace, it turns a bit. And it’ll turn a bit more probably as the day goes on. But its nothing different. Normally 150 will be a good score, and that’ll hold sway throughout the day.”That Leicestershire ended up victorious was all the more unlikely after they lost their way batting first against Keedy and Stephen Parry’s left-arm spinners. With the ball gripping violently they were reduced to 82 for 5 by the 12th over. But, after a slow start Abdul Razzaq launched three sixes and two fours – sharing a crucial 40-run stand with Paul Nixon to haul them up 132. It proved enough, just, to extend Nixon’s career that little bit more.

There was barely a moment on the second day in which Glamorgan relinquished their strengthening grip on this match, and by the close of play their lead had stretched to an imposing 367

Liam Brickhill at Lord's20-May-2011
ScorecardThere was barely a moment on the second day in which Glamorgan relinquished their strengthening grip on this match, and by the close of play their lead had stretched to an imposing 367. The feebleness of Middlesex’s batting effort yesterday – taking nothing away from James Harris’s well-earned five-for – was thrown into stark relief by the ease with which Glamorgan’s batsman went about their business on the second day to reach 517 for 8 – their highest total at Lord’s, beating the 505 all out two seasons ago.Gareth Rees and William Bragg swelled their patient stand for the second wicket, begun yesterday afternoon, to 140 before they were parted, after which Ben Wright’s dashing hundred and some resolute batting from the lower order demoralised Middlesex even further.Middlesex appeared to give themselves something to fight for with two quick wickets on either side of lunch, but Glamorgan counter-attacked in fine style through Wright and wicketkeeper Mark Wallace’s rapid 119-run stand for the fifth wicket. Wright, in particular, looked keen and able to take charge, bursting out of the blocks to raise his half-century from just 46 deliveries.After losing his partner for a breezy 46, Wright slowed down in the company of Harris, who nudged and chipped his way to 41 – out of a stand of 60 – before he was bowled swiping at a Jamie Dalrymple offspinner. Wright shrugged off the setback to reach his hundred from the 127th ball he faced, but then top-edged a pull at his 128th to be easily caught by Scott Newman at mid-on.Glamorgan’s lead had already passed 250 by that stage, and there was to be no respite as Robert Croft and Graham Wagg eased their way through a 101-run partnership at better than four an over. Wagg became the fourth batsmen of the innings to pass 50, racing to the mark from 66 deliveries, and had swung his way merrily to an innings worth 63 that included nine fours and a six before he played one shot too many to Dexter, driving straight to mid-off. The dismissal came moments before stumps and Alviro Petersen will now have the pleasure of considering whether or not to declare overnight, his team in total control.Middlesex’s best chance of gaining a foot-hold in this match had come in the morning when, under mostly grey skies, the ball had nipped around once more and both Rees and Bragg were beaten outside off stump in the opening spells of Gareth Berg and Corey Collymore. The edge never came, however, and after 40 minutes, Dexter turned to Toby Roland-Jones and Tim Murtagh in the hope of forcing a breakthrough.Bragg, who had been so strong through cover point on Thursday afternoon, showed that he also has a good pull shot, going for the stroke even with two men out at deep square and long leg, and using it to good effect as he put Murtagh away with authority to move into the 80s. He fell against the run of play shortly afterwards to the same bowler, the seamer getting one to move back into his pads down the slope to dismiss him lbw for 87.Murtagh was at least more consistent in line and length than he had been yesterday evening, and bowled much straighter – particularly after the wicket. The wicket breathed new life into an attack about which there is an undeniable sameness and who thus require such moments of inspiration. Murtagh found an extra yard and at the end of an hour-long spell then prised Rees from the crease in similar fashion to the previous dismissal, the Umpire upholding an appeal after the left-hander had been caught on the crease and pinged on the pad in front of middle twenty minutes before lunch.Mike Powell departed to the second ball after the interval, getting a feather on one that left him off the pitch, and, having reduced Glamorgan to 230 for 5, there was still hope for Middlesex to limit the damage. Any such ambitions dissipated steadily over the course of the afternoon, and Middlesex now face a Herculean task if they are to salvage a draw from this game.

New Zealand Cricket XI, a shadow New Zealand Test team, have come out of the tour match against the Pakistanis in Whangarei with the psychological advantage of having taken a 97-run first-innings lead

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jan-2011ScorecardUmar Gul rearranged Brendon McCullum’s stumps on the third day•Getty ImagesNew Zealand Cricket XI, a shadow New Zealand Test team, have come out of the tour match against the Pakistanis in Whangarei with the psychological advantage of having taken a 97-run first-innings lead. The match ended in a draw after both teams decided to end the third and final day’s play early, with New Zealand having reached 111 for 4 in 32 overs in their second innings.Misbah-ul-Haq, the visitors’ captain, completed his century on the third day as his team added another 53 runs to their overnight total of 234 for 8. Misbah, who has scored half-centuries in each of his last three Test innings, remained unbeaten, finishing on 126, but New Zealand will be satisfied that he was the only Pakistani batsman to go past fifty. The New Zealand Cricket XI bowling attack was similar to the one expected to take-on Pakistan in the first Test, which starts on Friday, with Chris Martin, Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee and Brent Arnel all featuring in the tour match.Martin and Vettori had already taken three wickets apiece on the second day. On Tuesday morning, James Franklin picked up his second wicket of the match, dismissing Sohail Tanvir for a duck. Pakistan’s last-wicket pair put together 51 runs, with Tanvir Ahmed scoring 25 and sticking around for 52 balls to support Misbah. Southee finally took the last wicket, getting Tanvir Ahmed out caught by Tim McIntosh.Umar Gul was able to prevent Brendon McCullum from building on the confidence he earned with his first-innings double-century, bowling him for 18. Gul dismissed Kane Williamson two balls later for a duck to leave the home side at 25 for 2. McIntosh and James Franklin spent some time at the wicket, getting 26 and 30 respectively. Younis Khan took the final wicket of the day with his seamers, bowling McIntosh. Wicketkeeper Reece Young and Southee were unbeaten at the end of play.

Cameron White is fast running out of time to locate the power game that until six months ago had marked him as one of cricket’s most fearsome hitters

Daniel Brettig in Mirpur09-Apr-2011Though his new captain is doing all he can to support him, Cameron White is fast running out of time to locate the power game that until six months ago had marked him as one of cricket’s most fearsome hitters. A dreadfully laboured innings of 20 off 50 balls against Bangladesh in Mirpur summed up White’s problems all too well, as he made his customary circumspect start but was then unable to slip through the gears when needed.By way of a comparison, White’s previous international half-century in October last year was a galloping 89 off 49 balls, an innings that for now looks like his last glorious hour. Michael Clarke resorted to pushing White’s seldom used legspin as a means of getting him back into the game, but even he admitted White’s place would be discussed before the second match on Monday.”We’ll wait and see, Whitey’s a huge player for us, not only with the bat but as I’ve said with the ball as well, he only bowled one over today but I always had that option, which is handy,” Clarke said. “Whitey’s performed really well in one-day cricket for Australia throughout his career. He obviously hasn’t made a big score of late and I know he’s working his backside off to try to make that big score. But in regards to the team we’ll wait and see, I’ll chat to Andrew Hilditch tomorrow and again try to work out what the best XI is going into the second game.”While the two-gear batting approach favoured by White throughout his career continues to malfunction, Clarke was not ready to suggest a change in method. “I don’t think so, I think he’s had success playing for Australia the way he plays, and I continue to tell him to back himself and do things his way,” Clarke said. “He just hasn’t been able to get that start and be in a position then to accelerate. So I’m confident if he keeps doing what he’s doing, and keeps working as hard as he is, he’ll turn it around, because he’s got a lot of talent, we’ve seen that already.”Conditions were quite hard to start today as well so it did take everybody a bit of time to get in and they’ve got four pretty good spin bowlers as well.”A victory and a century in Clarke’s first match as Australia’s full-time captain was an auspicious start, even if the latter overs of Bangladesh’s failed chase were decidedly inglorious. For this, Clarke thanked his predecessor Ricky Ponting, who played with striking fluency before he was run out. “Ricky’s been so supportive and he’s made my job a lot easier by giving me advice and help, and by being one of the boys, which makes it easy for me,” Clarke said. “I have a great relationship with Ricky and I was very confident coming here he would do everything in his power to make my job easier to help me out, and I was certainly right about that today.”I thought he batted beautifully and was very unlucky to get run out. In my opinion he’s still one of the best fielders in the world and he showed that today. He’s 36 going on 25 at the moment, running around like a youngster and today he batted as well as he did in the World Cup in that last game against India.”Mitchell Johnson, with runs and wickets, was Australia’s most arresting performer save for Clarke.”He played beautifully,” Clarke said of Johnson. “He’s always been a good striker of the ball, Mitch, and it’s just about opportunity and spending a little bit of time in the middle.”He might’ve mistimed the first couple and then he hit one out of the middle and he was away, so he’s an amazing player, a big player in our team in all forms of the game. I think he’s enjoyed the chance to bowl with the new ball, there wasn’t much swing there today for him, but he bowled beautifully. I thought he and Brett (Lee, in his 200th ODI) did a really good job.”

The Rajasthan Cricket Association and Rajasthan Royals will meet in Mumbai on Tuesday in a move prompted by the BCCI to find a solution to their public conflict

Tariq Engineer16-May-2011The Rajasthan Cricket Association and Rajasthan Royals will meet in Mumbai on Tuesday in a move prompted by the BCCI to find a solution to their public conflict that erupted after the Sawai Mansingh Stadium pitch was switched for the game against Chennai Super Kings last week. The meeting follows RCA’s rejection of an apology offered by the Rajasthan franchise, with the state board also threatening further action if the matter was not resolved to its satisfaction.Since the pitch was changed for the May 9 game, Shane Warne, captain of Rajasthan, and Sanjay Dixit, the honorary secretary of the RCA, have engaged in a war of words that has been fought, in public, private and through the media. The dispute has grown to involve Lalit Modi, who was Dixit’s predecessor and opponent at RCA, and who has maintained good relations with Warne on Twitter.In his latest salvo on the micro-blogging site, Warne posted on Sunday to ask his fans to “wait till the end of IPL and I will say everything he promised and went back on his word about to the Royals. Unfortunately it is all about Dixit ego! RR has been fantastic for RCA – it’s about RR not Dixit.” To which Dixit replied: “I want to hear them too. Be sure to back it up with evidence, though.”Meanwhile Modi was re-posting a number of comments from other Twitter users critical of Dixit, such as one that read: “a quick way up the ladder in BCCI, is to publicly defame @LalitKModi and everyone he knows, don’t believe me ask @sanjay_dixit.” The RCA secretary was quick to respond to Modi directly, writing, “Bloody fugitive. Come back to India and I will give you your just desserts.”The Twitter exchange came after the RCA complained to the BCCI and IPL that Warne reportedly abused Dixit after his team’s loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore in Jaipur on Wednesday. The reported that RCA venue director Narendra Joshi had written to IPL’s chief operating officer Sundar Raman, alleging that Warne had publicly abused Dixit by calling him “a liar and egoistic” and demanded action against Warne.Rajasthan subsequently sent an email apology on May 14 to Dixit, in which the team said it would take disciplinary action against Warne, who had also apologised for “any distress caused”. However, according to Dixit, the franchise has refused to say what that disciplinary action would be, something he considers unacceptable. “We asked them what action they were going to take, but they never divulged it,” Dixit told ESPNcricinfo. “They are playing diversionary tactics.” Rajasthan Royals did not respond to phone calls or text messages seeking comment.Dixit said there has been no communication with the franchise since Sunday and in the wake of Rajasthan’s silence, he has threatened to take further action “because we want to put an end to these kinds of incidents. We cannot have players coming and abusing senior officials just because they don’t get what they want.”Warne’s alleged tirade has its genesis in Dixit’s refusal to have the match against Bangalore played on a different pitch to the one on which Rajasthan had lost to Chennai. The pitch for both the Chennai and Bangalore games was flat, unlike the slow and low tracks for Rajasthan’s first five home games, and had a short boundary, a switch that Warne had criticised after the Chennai match, saying he had never before been told which pitch to use in the four years of the IPLAt the time, Dixit contradicted Warne, saying the BCCI has always had the final say on which pitch is to be used. “The BCCI has already clarified that the pitch comes under the purview of the pitch committee and curator. So, how could I have acceded to his demand?” Dixit told the . “His behaviour was totally unjustified and I have asked for action against him.”The BCCI ratified that in a statement after the Chennai game. “Neither of the playing teams has a choice of the wicket, on which to play the game,” the statement said. “It is the curator, in consultation with the committee chairman, who prepares the wickets.”The Jaipur pitch first became a topic of discussion after Mumbai Indians were restricted to 94 for 8 on it, and Sachin Tendulkar called the track two-paced. At the time both Warne and Dixit had criticised Mumbai for their comments on the pitch. The BCCI’s pitches committee head Venkat Sundaram attended Rajasthan’s next home game, and took the decision to switch the pitch for the Chennai game. The same pitch was then used for Rajasthan’s last home game, which was also Warne’s last match in Jaipur, and Rajasthan were once again comprehensively beaten.

An all-round show from the Matabeleland Tuskers carried them to a convincing win over the Mountaineers in the first round of the matches of the MetBank Pro50 Championship

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Sep-2011An all-round show from the Matabeleland Tuskers carried them to a convincing win over the Mountaineers in the first round of the matches of the Coca Cola Pro50 Championship at the Mutare Sports Club.After being sent in to bat, Tuskers got off to a wobbly start losing three wickets with 52 runs of the board. However a 61-run third-wicket partnership between Craig Ervine and Keith Dabengwa steadied the innings. Ervine was dismissed for 47, but Dabengwa, who remained unbeaten on 82, combined with No. 7 Keegan Meth (43*) to put on an unbroken 108-run stand that lifted Tuskers to a solid 240 for 5.In reply, the Mountaineers’ batsmen never got going as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Only Masakadza, batting at No. 8, managed to get into the twenties as they were bowled out for 109 in just under 34 overs. Chris Mpofu and Meth did the damage, picking up four wickets apiece as Tuskers registered a comfortable 131-run win.In a rain-affected match at the Masvingo Sports Club, Mashonaland Eagles beat Southern Rocks by six wickets (D/L method).The match was reduced to 40 overs after rain stopped play just 2.1 into the Rocks innings. Three of their batsmen got into the twenties while Mark Vermeulen top scored with 41, but none of them went on to make a big score as they were restricted to 186 for 8. Nathan Waller and Mark Mbofana picked up two wickets apiece.Eagles lost Sikandar Raza in the second over but Forster Mutizwa, unbeaten on 73, and Stuart Matsikenyeri (26) and Mbofana (24*) ensured there were no further alarms as Eagles reached the target with 13 balls to spare.

According to a report from Sky Sports Germany (via Sport Witness), Liverpool are still ‘in talks’ to sign Red Bull Salzburg sensation Karim Adeyemi. 

The lowdown: Dortmund bound?

The Reds have been heavily linked with a move for the 20-year-old in the past but it had appeared a move to Borussia Dortmund was on the horizon for the upcoming summer window.

Already a regular for club and country, Adeyemi has amassed an incredible 45 domestic goals and 32 assists in his senior career to date, racking up 123 first-team appearances after a sensational career at youth level.

He has scored once in three caps for Germany, and Liverpool could be about to spoil Dortmund’s party if reports on the continent are to be believed…

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The latest: Reds in talks, Klopp loves him

As per Sky Sports Germany, translated by SW, the Anfield club are believed to be ‘still in talks’ with representatives of the exciting youngster.

The report claims that despite Salzburg and Dortmund reaching an ‘agreement in principle’, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain remain interested in scuppering the deal, and Jurgen Klopp is personally a ‘big fan’ of the player.

Dortmund were expected to pay €35million (£29million) for the man who was described as an ‘ice cold’ finisher by national team boss Hansi Flick.

The verdict: Make it happen

We feel Adeyemi would be worth the additional hard work that has so often been avoided by a clean transfer strategy amongst the Reds recruitment team.

As Julian Ward prepares to cut his teeth in place of acclaimed sporting director Michael Edwards, pulling off this kind of coup would be the ideal way to endear yourself to the Anfield faithful – Ward already played a big role in the capture of immediate fan favourite Luis Diaz.

So far this seasonm the versatile Adeyemi has scored 20 times and provided five assists in 38 appearances across all competitions – including five direct goal contributions in the UEFA Champions League.

Those numbers alone are proof of a player ready to take the next step in a promising career, but it’s the youngster’s ability to play across the frontline that would truly make Adeyemi a superb addition to Klopp’s already blessed squad, potentially starring in the next generation of Liverpool forward’s after the current famous trio eventually move on.

In other news: Portuguese newspaper makes Liverpool transfer claim

Aston Villa are on course to seal the permanent signing of goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

What’s the Word?

That’s according to Football Insider, who claim that a source has revealed that Villa are in advanced talks to sign Olsen on a permanent deal from AS Roma – the 32-year-old shot-stopper who has been at the Premier League side on loan since January.

With just over a year left on his Roma contract, Gerrard could secure the services of Olsen on the cheap and he would provide solid cover for Emiliano Martinez next season.

Robin Olsen would provide excellent cover at Villa

During the first half of the campaign, Olsen was plying his trade at Sheffield United in the Championship, turning out 17 times for the Blades whilst only keeping one clean sheet.

This didn’t stop player John Egan from boosting the £13k-per-week keeper’s confidence, stating in the media that the Swede had a “big presence” and that they “were lucky to have him”.

Massive praise for someone who often let in too many goals during his tenure in the Championship. However, his international experience plus his age could well prove to make him a huge coup for Gerrard and Johan Lange.

Despite not making a first-team appearance for the side since his arrival, he has obviously impressed Steven Gerrard and the coaching staff. The Swede does have prior experience in the top flight, however, featuring for Everton on 11 occasions in the 2020-2021 season.

With further progress needed to show the board that he is moving in the right direction; Gerrard will be aiming to utilise his funds carefully and not squander vital cash on poor signings.

European football must be the aim and that is why the board went all out to secure his services from Rangers in November. The former England captain faces a huge summer ahead.

AND in other news: Gerrard now plotting AVFC bid for £46k-p/w “phenomenon”, he’s better than Phillips