Pradeep's double leaves Pakistan struggling

DUBAI: Paceman Nuwan Pradeep took two wickets to leave Pakistan fighting to avoid defeat on the third day of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Dubai on Friday.

The right-arm fast bowler had Mohammad Hafeez (one) and Khurram Manzoor (six) in his hostile first spell before Pakistan reached tea at 85-3, still needing another 138 runs to avoid an innings defeat and going 1-0 down in the three-match series.
The first Test ended as a draw in Abu Dhabi last week.
Experienced batsman Younis Khan (41) and Misbahul Haq (27) were at the crease, having added 66 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket stand in Pakistan’s last hope for safety.
Sri Lanka earlier gained a big 223-run lead by scoring 388 in their first knock.
Pradeep, who took a career best 3-62 in Pakistan’s first innings of 165, had Mohammad Hafeez caught behind in his second over and in his fourth swung one across Manzoor for wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene to take his seventh catch of the match.
Pakistan had lost opener Ahmed Shehzad in the last over before lunch, caught behind for nine off spinner Rangana Herath.
From 19-3 it was left to Younis and Misbah to repair the damage. Misbah completed his 3,000th Test run when on 10, becoming Pakistan’s 15th batsmen to achieve the milestone.
The Pakistan captain survived one leg-before referral on one and twice on close catches behind the wicket, once off a miscued hook which went to the boundary. He has so far hit three boundaries and a six.
Younis was more sedate, hitting three boundaries off 83 balls.
Earlier, Mahela Jayawardene hit a fighting 129 and when on 117 became the eighth highest run-getter in all Test cricket, surpassing Australia’s Steve Waugh’s 10,927 in 140 Tests. Jayawardene now has 10,940 in 140 Tests.
Resuming at 318-4, Sri Lanka lost skipper Angelo Mathews, caught behind by wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed off paceman Rahat Ali in the second over of the day, without adding to his overnight score of 42.
Mathews, man of the match in the drawn first Test in Abu Dhabi for his 91 and 157 not out, hit five boundaries during his 88-ball knock.
Mahela Jayawardene’s brilliant knock ended when he was bowled while trying to reverse sweep Saeed Ajmal.
Jayawardene batted resolutely for 423 minutes and hit 15 boundaries in an innings which gave Sri Lanka the crucial lead.
Ajmal’s wicket came in his 29th over and he took one more in the end to finish with 2-56 in 34 overs.
Left-arm paceman Junaid Khan finished with the best figures of 3-102, removing Prasanna for nine.

Johnson given break in opening ODI

SYDNEY:
Ashes man-of-the-series Mitchell Johnson will be rested from the opening One-Day International (ODI) against England to freshen up for the rest of the series, said Australia coach Darren Lehmann on Thursday.

The lethal left-arm paceman was the star of Australia’s 5-0 Ashes clean sweep of the tourists with his express bowling, finishing with 37 wickets at 13.97.
Johnson will miss Sunday’s opening one-dayer in Melbourne but will return for the second match at the Gabba on January 17.
“It’s obviously been a big summer for him so we will just give him a short break,” Lehmann told reporters.
“It’s about making sure he is fresh for the other one-dayers as well.
“It’s important that we put out the best side we possibly can but we have to understand it’s been a hectic five Test matches and some of the Test boys are getting a bit weary,” Lehmann added.
 photo 5_zps575097e1.jpg
“Mitch will play in Brisbane definitely. It’s one of his home towns. We want them to play in their home state.”
It is likely that Test stars Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin and Shane Watson could also be given matches off during the ODI series, the coach added.
The losing Ashes team from the past three series has bounced back to win the subsequent one-day tournament, including England in 2006-07 when they were also crushed 5-0 in the Test matches.
‘We need to keep the momentum going’
However, Lehmann wants his team to continue England’s winless tour.
He said Australia’s victory against England in the ODI tournament that followed the 2013 Ashes defeat had helped lay the foundation for this southern summer’s Ashes whitewash.
“England will be trying to do the same thing and they will be building for the World Cup,” he said.
“We have got to keep the momentum going because winning becomes a habit.”
Lehmann said strong performances in the five ODIs against England would count for something when selectors decide on the tour squad to head to South Africa on January 29

England vow to reclaim lost pride

MELBOURNE: 

England go into the opening One-Day International (ODI) in Melbourne on Sunday desperate to salvage some pride, but face a torrid task with a fired-up Australia vowing no let-up after dominating the Ashes.

The first of five matches, a day-nighter, is the first opportunity to see how the shell-shocked tourists progress from their nightmare Test series, with captain Alastair Cook demanding an improvement, and quickly.

“I am desperate to try and turn it around,” he said after the 5-0 Ashes whitewash.

“When you strip everything down, every single player has to go back and have a look at themselves, have a look at their techniques. Have a look at the way they’ve bowled and start rebuilding again.

“And that hunger has to come from within to do it.”

Both sides eyeing top ODI spot

The series could see either team reclaim the number one limited-overs world ranking, depending on how India fare when they face New Zealand in a five-match series that begins in Napier on January 19.

India are currently the top-ranked one-day team in the world, followed by Australia and England, with all three building towards next year’s 50-over World Cup.

A rattled England head into the series without the experience of Kevin Pietersen and Jimmy Anderson — who have both been rested — with Cook leading a team that has much to prove.

Former left-arm spinner Ashley Giles has taken over from Andy Flower as the one-day coach, assuming responsibility with Cook for repairing some of the damage inflicted by Australia.

Only all-rounder Ben Stokes and pace man Stuart Broad came out of the Ashes with a semblance of pride, leaving the door open for the likes of Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Chris Jordan, Ravi Bopara and Chris Woakes to stake their claims in the one-day format.

Australia have recalled dynamic opener David Warner while captain Michael Clarke, who missed the one-day series in India last year with chronic back trouble, also returns.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2014.

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2nd Test: Younus, Misbah keep Pakistan afloat

DUBAI:
Seasoned batsmen Younus Khan and Misbahul Haq hit resolute half-centuries to take the fight to Sri Lanka in the second Test in Dubai on Friday.

Younus was unbeaten on 62 and Misbah scored 52 not out to help Pakistan reach 132 for three at close on the third day at the Dubai stadium pitch which is likely to help spinners on the last two days.
Pakistan still need another 91 runs to avoid an innings defeat and going down 0-1 in the three Test series after the first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.
Younus and Misbah came together with Pakistan in dire straits at 19 for three in the second innings.
Sri Lanka earlier gained a big 223-run lead by scoring 388 in their first knock.
Younus said the fight back will continue.
“It’s nice to fight back,” said Younus. “I had a good partnership with Misbah when the team needed it and our first target on Saturday will be to erase the lead and then bat on.”
It was pace man Nuwan Pradeep (two for 28) who gave Pakistan early wobbles.

2nd Test: Younus, Misbah keep Pakistan afloat

DUBAI:
Seasoned batsmen Younus Khan and Misbahul Haq hit resolute half-centuries to take the fight to Sri Lanka in the second Test in Dubai on Friday.

Younus was unbeaten on 62 and Misbah scored 52 not out to help Pakistan reach 132 for three at close on the third day at the Dubai stadium pitch which is likely to help spinners on the last two days.
Pakistan still need another 91 runs to avoid an innings defeat and going down 0-1 in the three Test series after the first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.
Younus and Misbah came together with Pakistan in dire straits at 19 for three in the second innings.
Sri Lanka earlier gained a big 223-run lead by scoring 388 in their first knock.
Younus said the fight back will continue.
“It’s nice to fight back,” said Younus. “I had a good partnership with Misbah when the team needed it and our first target on Saturday will be to erase the lead and then bat on.”
It was pace man Nuwan Pradeep (two for 28) who gave Pakistan early wobbles.

Sri Lanka suffers Kulasekara injury setback

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Sri Lanka suffers Kulasekara injury setback
By AFP Published: January 4, 2014
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There will be no replacement for Kulasekara as Sri Lanka have enough fast bowlers in the squad, said Mathews. PHOTO: AFP FILE
ABU DHABI: Sri Lanka suffered a big blow when experienced fast bolwer Nuwan Kulasekara was ruled out of the ongoing Test series against Pakistan due to a hamstring injury, skipper Angelo Mathews said on Saturday.
The 31-year-old paceman was rested for the first Test against Pakistan which ended in a draw on the fifth and final day on Saturday.
“Kulasekara suffered a hamstring injury which was discovered recently and will be returning home,” said Mathews.
However, Mathews ruled out an emergency replacement. There will be no replacement for Kulasekara as Sri Lanka have enough fast bowlers in the squad, he said.
Kulasekara has so far played 20 Tests, 146 one-days and 32 Twenty20s for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka have pacemen Suranga Lakmal, Shaminda Eranga, Nuwan Pradeep and uncapped Vishwa Fernando in their squad.
The second of three Tests starts in Dubai on Wednesday.
Pakistan too have suffered from injuries with paceman Umar Gul released from the squad after not recovering fully from a knee operation and wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal forced to return home after fracturing his finger during the first Test.

New Zealand win rain-hit fourth ODI

NELSON:
New Zealand won a rain-affected fourth One-Day International (ODI) by 58 runs on Saturday to take a 2-1 lead over the West Indies in their five-match series.

The game in Nelson was decided under the Duckworth-Lewis (D/L) method after wet weather set in with the West Indies apparently heading for their second consecutive heavy defeat.
A timely return to form for opener Martin Guptill, who made 81, saw New Zealand make 285 for six in their 50 overs and the West Indies were 134 for five after 33.4 overs when the rain sent the players from the field.
New Zealand, who won the Test series 2-0, now lead the ODI series 2-1 with one match to play in Hamilton next Wednesday.
“It was probably a 250 wicket,” said New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum.
“Obviously Martin, with his innings and the guys being able to bat around him, allowed us to get 30 runs over par.”
Frontline bowler Ravi Rampaul was ruled out with a broken finger, becoming the sixth injured first-choice ODI player in the West Indies squad.
With their bowling weakened, the West Indies needed their batsmen to compensate but were again let down.
“Losing early wickets, two run outs, batters getting starts but not making full use of it, we have only ourselves to blame,” said West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo. “We can’t blame the weather.”
Chadwick Walton (0) was run out in the first over and Johnson Charles was also removed for a duck in the fourth over to leave the West Indies two for two.
Lendl Simmons and Kirk Edwards managed to put on 60 for the third wicket before another run out when Edwards gambled on out-running Brendon McCullum’s throw.
Simmons departed for 43, caught by Guptill at midwicket off Kane Williamson, as the rain was starting to fall.
When the umpires eventually took the players from the field, Bravo was unbeaten on 43, with Ramdin on 17.