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Leading the two-Test series 1-0, Sri Lanka may once again go in with the three-pronged spin-attack that fetched them 17 wickets in the first game

The Preview by Firdose Moonda19-Jul-2018

Big Picture

Soon, Sri Lankans might be making jokes about how the captain, the coach and the manager should be banned more often. Dinesh Chandimal, Chandika Hathurusingha and Asanka Gurusinha will miss four of the five ODIs against South Africa, after the ICC meted out its most severe punishment earlier this week since the demerit points system was introduced, but that is not a concern for the next five days.The trio is also out of this second Test but, even sans their engine room, Sri Lanka had trounced South Africa so soundly in Galle that they can confidently say they don’t need the big three back just yet. Rather, it’s the other three Sri Lanka will rely on: the three spinners.Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera and Lakshan Sandakan made South Africa look like amateurs on a surface that was challenging but nowhere near a minefield, and they will look to do it again in Colombo. It’s difficult to imagine South Africa’s batting line-up doing worse, but stranger things have happened.For a start, South Africa have to decide on their approach against spin. Are they going to attack, with the mentality that they have to get runs before the ball gets them – something Ottis Gibson said was a tactic on seamer-friendly pitches – or are they going to show patience, bat time and trust that runs will follow? The latter sounds more sensible, the former more desperate, and desperate is what South Africa are.In 2014, South Africa reached the SSC 1-0 up in the series and were dogged in their determination not to lose the advantage. What followed was a blockathon that made the rain breaks more entertaining than play. Four years on, Sri Lanka are 1-0 up at the SSC and will want to turn the screws. South Africa will be happy to draw the series, but whether they are capable of that is the real question.

Form guide

Sri Lanka: WWDLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa: LWWWL

In the spotlight

While Dimuth Karunaratne scored more than the entire South Africa team in the first Test, he also made more runs than any of his team-mates, which puts the onus on Angelo Mathews, among others, to step up. In absence of Dinesh Chandimal, Mathews is the senior-most batsman in the line-up and will want to show that. He was their second-highest run-scorer, behind Chandimal, when they visited India last year, before missing two of the three Test in the West Indies for personal reasons. He has not got past the 30s in his last five innings, numbers that simply won’t do for the man who should be leading with the bat.On his first tour of the subcontinent, Aiden Markram already showed improvement from one innings to the next in the first Test and will want to leave his mark on the series in Colombo. Markram faced 46 balls in the second innings, six times more than what he faced in the first, and, though he was stumped trying to charge the spinner, he showed a little more patience and a little more finesse the second time. Batting coach Dale Benkenstein expects Markram’s ability to adjust quickly to bring more rewards in the second Test.

Team news

The major decision South Africa have to make is whether or not to leave out Vernon Philander – who, despite his efforts with the bat, bowled only 11 of the 112.1 overs they delivered in the Galle Test – and finding a suitable replacement. If it’s an extra batsman they’re looking for, Theunis de Bruyn will slot in. If it’s a bowler, Lungi Ngidi could come into contention.South Africa: (possible) 1 Dean Elgar, 2 Aiden Markram, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Temba Bavuma, 5 Faf du Plessis (capt), 6 Quinton de Kock (wk), 7 Vernon Philander/Theunis de Bruyn, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Tabraiz ShamsiHaving had success with a three-pronged spin-attack against Australia at the SSC in 2016, Sri Lanka will probably go with a similar strategy.Sri Lanka: (possible) 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Dhananjaya de Silva, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Roshen Silva, 7 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Suranga Lakmal (capt), 10 Rangana Herath, 11 Lakshan Sandakan

Pitch and conditions

The SSC surface is expected to take substantial turn in the latter half of the Test, but it does also tend to be conducive to seam bowling on the first morning and generally has more runs in it than the Galle pitch.Some rain is forecast for every day of the match. However, the second day is the most likely to be affected, with an 80% chance of showers.

Stats and trivia

• Hashim Amla needs three more runs to become the third South African, after Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith, to 9000 Test runs.
• Angelo Mathews is eight runs away from 5000 runs. He will become the ninth Sri Lanka batsman to reach the milestone.
• In Galle, South Africa lost 17 of their 20 wickets to spin. In Colombo in 2014, they lost the same number of wickets to Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera, but managed to draw the Test and win the series.
• Irrespective of the outcome of the series, both South Africa and Sri Lanka will remain in their current positions – No. 2 and No. 6 respectively – on the ICC rankings table. If Sri Lanka win 2-0, they will gain six points, and South Africa will lose six. If the series is drawn 1-1, Sri Lanka only gain two points and South Africa lose two.

Quotes

“It is very important that we win a series, and that we win at home. They are the No. 2-ranked team. We need a victory to gain confidence, so it’s a very important game.”
“I will give him a kiss on the cheek.”

Mustafizur Rahman sliced through Ireland’s middle order to pick up four wickets and set up Bangladesh’s eight-wicket win

ESPNcricinfo staff19-May-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMustafizur Rahman sliced through Ireland’s middle order•AFP

Mustafizur Rahman’s spell accounted for the cream of Ireland’s batting and helped Bangladesh cruise to their first win in the tri-nation series.Ireland, sent in to bat, were bowled out for 181 in 46.3 overs with Mustafizur taking 4 for 23 off nine overs. Soumya Sarkar then struck his second successive half-century as Bangladesh cruised to victory by eight wickets in the 28th over.Ireland’s inability to convert starts – three batsmen made 25 or more but no one got to 50 – resulted in them losing wickets in clumps. They lost Paul Stirling in the first over, but recovered briefly: they were 60 for 2 in 14 overs when Andy Balbirne played all around a Shakib Al Hasan delivery and was lbw. In a nine-over spell courtesy spin, Ireland managed just 31.The only resistance came when Ed Joyce, who top scored with 46, and Niall O’Brien put together 55 for the fourth wicket. Mustafizur returned to dismiss O’Brien to expose the lower-middle order with 22.3 overs still to play.George Dockrell’s 50-ball 25 lifted Ireland to 181 before Mashrafe Mortaza, the captain, brought the innings to a close. Mashrafe and Sunzamul Islam, the debutant left-arm spinner, finished with two wickets apiece.Bangladesh’s openers – Tamim Iqbal and Sarkar – started steadily, before they went into overdrive in the ninth over when Sarkar blasted Barry McCarthy for two fours and a six. Tamim, generally the aggressor, built gradually to make 47 before the O’Brien brothers combined to break a 95-run stand. Tamim, looking to run the ball down, could only get a faint nick through to the wicketkeeper.Sabbir Rahman found his groove quickly, making an enterprising 35 that included three fours and a six, before falling with Bangladesh 10 short of victory. Sarkar was unbeaten on 87 at the finish.

Bangladesh’s batting in the Powerplay is the aspect of their game that requires most urgent improvement, Shakib Al Hasan has said

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Bangalore22-Mar-20162:46

Shakib Al Hasan has indicated his willingness to bat at no. 3

Bangladesh’s batting in the Powerplay is the aspect of their game that requires most urgent improvement, allrounder Shakib Al Hasan had said on the eve of the match against Australia.Missing star opener Tamim Iqbal through injury, Bangladesh made only 33 in their first six overs against Australia, on a Bangalore surface that had been expected to be good for batting. That slow start, and the frequent loss of wickets through the middle overs, put the team on course for the relatively modest total of 156 for 5.”I think we can improve in the first six overs, with our batting,” Shakib said. “We scored only 30-odd runs in our six overs. Here in India most of the teams are scoring 45-50 runs in the first six overs because that’s the best time to bat, I feel. I think that’s the part where we lost the game. If we had scored 15-20 runs more, that would have been a different ball game altogether. Batsmen who are getting runs need to contribute a bit more and finish the game. We need to get 170-180 runs, since that’s what the average score is on this ground.”Shakib said he would relish the chance to be part of that top-order push. He has been batting at no. 4 in this tournament, but has put his hand up for a promotion. Shakib has batted at no. 3 on 16 occasions, and has hit 519 runs at an average of 37.07, which represents much better returns than he has had from other positions. His career average in T20 internationals is 24.52.”It depends on what the team wants from me,” he said. “I would bat at no. 3 if given the option. I had done well in that position. The team’s situation and demands requires me to bat at no. 4. My personal opinion is that I prefer batting at no. 3, but I don’t mind batting anywhere.”Bangladesh had also dropped two catches in the match against Ausralia, including a crucial one in the first six overs of the chase. Shakib, though, felt it was important not to read too much into those errors.”We would like to take all the catches. We’d love to save runs in ground fielding. We couldn’t do it yesterday. It was disappointing because we have some young players and we have some outstanding fielders. If you look at our side, most of the matches we have been doing really well in fielding. These things might happen in one or two games. Anyone can miss a catch. I don’t want to make that an excuse for the loss.”Captain Mashrafe Mortaza had been emotional in his defence of suspended fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, who, he felt, did not have a faulty action. Shakib said Bangladesh had been affected by the suspensions, but was keen to shift the focus to the coming matches.”Taskin was bowling well for us for the last six months or so – so yes, he was an important part of the team. But it’s not like everything has ended because he can’t play for the next few games or so. I believe we still have a team that can do well in tomorrow’s game against India.”Bangladesh have recently had considerable success in ODIs, but are yet to beat India in T20Is, in four attempts. India had defeated them at home twice already this month, during the group stage and final of the Asia Cup, but Shakib said Bangladesh remained a confident side.”The mindset has certainly changed a lot in the last three or four years. Now we know how we can win games. We have some very good players. They can win games for the team. We have more contributors in the side now. Previously it was two or three guys, now it’s four or five who contribute regularly. These are the big changes that have happened. When we play at home we have been doing so well, so that confidence gives us a chance to show that in different conditions, we can still do well.”

More than six weeks after Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat offered to “apologise” to anyone who he had offended in the BCCI, Jagmohan Dalmiya, the interim BCCI chief, has welcomed Lorgat’s offer

Amol Karhadkar04-Sep-2013More than six weeks after Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat offered to “apologise” to anyone who he had offended in the BCCI, Jagmohan Dalmiya, the interim BCCI chief, has welcomed Lorgat’s offer.”Lorgat is a nice gentleman but it would be nice of him if he apologises,” Dalmiya said in Kolkata, when asked about his reaction to Lorgat’s offer that was made immediately after he was appointed the CSA chief executive despite the BCCI raising its objections.While this may appear as softening of the BCCI’s stand with Lorgat, the deadlock over the BCCI going to trim what was till a few days ago a tour of three Tests, seven ODIs and two Twenty20s, prevailed for another day.While Dalmiya reiterated what the BCCI president N Srinivasan had said three days ago that “the tour is on”, there was no formal exchange between representatives of the two boards. Even though Srinivasan, board secretary Sanjay Patel and treasurer Ravi Savant were together for most of the day along with other key executives at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, it was understood that the South Africa tour itinerary “wasn’t even mentioned” in their discussions.”The sole purpose of the meeting was to proof read and sign the annual report before it goes for printing ahead of the AGM,” said an insider who was a part of the proceedings.Across the continent, CSA indicated it would send out a release on Wednesday afternoon to reassure the fans and thank them for their support, but later said they would “try for tomorrow”. Officials contacted at various franchises said they had no knowledge of any progress on the BCCI-CSA issue and were awaiting further instructions, although many of them expressed concern over a curtailed tour.It appears that unless CSA accedes to the cricket bosses in India, the situation is unlikely to change. At least till the BCCI AGM on September 29.

Imran Tahir was reflecting on a sudden no-balling problem as he joined the rest of the South Africa squad on a relaxing day at the London Olympics.

Firdose Moonda08-Aug-2012Most of the South African squad are enjoying some down time at the London Olympics but Imran Tahir, the legspinner, would be advised to use the opportunity to work on his no-ball problem with South African women’s’ javelin finalist Sunette Viljoen. Like bowlers, javelin throwers are not allowed to step outside their throwing area, something Tahir has been doing with unusual regularity.He bowled nine no-balls in the Headingley Test match, eight of them in the first innings and four on the fourth morning, when South Africa were going after England’s last five wickets. To add to the eight no-balls he bowled at the Oval, Tahir has sent down almost three extra overs in the series and developed an area of concern that did not affect him previously.”That is the main issue for me at the moment, because I don’t want to carry on like this,” Tahir said with a distressed expression. “I have never been a bowler who bowls so many no-balls in a game. I just don’t know what happened. I need to go and check my action.”Despite the overstepping, Tahir has been among the wickets and has recorded his best results after two Tests in a series. He is South Africa’s joint second-highest wicket-taker, with seven scalps, the same number as Morne Morkel and three behind Dale Steyn, and wrapped up the England tail at Leeds with three wickets in 13 balls.Combine that with the overall numbers: Tahir also has a slightly better average than Morkel and a lower economy rate than Steyn and you may see a sign that he is learning to blend defensive tactics with aggressive ones.”I am trying to be as patient as I can,” Tahir said. “I have always been an attacking bowler but I am trying my best to learn every day.”Failing to rein in over-eager instincts is something Tahir has been criticised for, particularly when he used his variations indiscriminately. He has since become shrewder in deciding when to bowl his googly and he has seen the results. Many of England’s batsmen were unable to pick the delivery as Tahir disguised it cleverly.But he erred by mixing up threatening balls with a assortment of freebies – full tosses and long hops – that he admitted were a poor reflection on his own ability. “I didn’t bowl well the first day. It was hard for me in the first innings,” Tahir said. “I think two or three balls turned in the whole five days. The cracks are very hard, not like at The Oval.”Unhelpful surfaces have been the norm for Tahir, since he made his Test debut for South Africa against Australia in November last year. Although he has seasons of experience in England, on tracks that offer turn, wet weather has prevented them from behaving similarly this time around. Tahir is hopeful that the third Test, at Lord’s, will present him with the opportunity to come into this own.”It has always been a flat wicket at Lord’s and I think it will turn more than at Headingley,” Tahir said.
London is forecast to remain dry for the rest of the weekend but rain is predicted for the first few days of next week, before it clears in time for the Test.

Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan allrounder, has been cleared by the PCB’s integrity committee and is now eligible for selection for the national team

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Aug-2011Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan allrounder, has been cleared by the PCB’s integrity committee and is now eligible for selection for the national team. Malik, a former Pakistan captain, has not played for the national side since the controversy-filled tour of England last summer, and has been involved in a long-drawn out battle with the PCB to be cleared. He was named a reserve player for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe, but the PCB have not yet announced whether he will be included in the main squad now that he has been cleared.The main issue blocking Malik’s clearance was certain deposits in his overseas bank account, but the PCB has said in their release announcing Malik’s clearance that he was able to provide evidence that the deposits did not emanate from any questionable source or activity.Malik first met the integrity committee in January this year, along with Danish Kaneria and Kamran Akmal, but was not cleared and missed out on the World Cup. He met the committee again on August 15, and, after a meeting of the committee on August 19, has been cleared. The August 19 meeting was attended by PCB chairman Ijaz Butt and the board’s legal advisor Taffazul Rizvi among others. They came to the joint decision that there was no incriminating material suggesting the deposits in Malik’s accounts were related to dubious activities.”Shoaib Malik was directed to provide complete information supported with relevant documents regarding the source of the said deposits which he did provide,” the PCB statement said. “The committee reviewed all the material in detail and also verified the veracity of the said information from relevant authorities.The integrity committee after detailed deliberations has unanimously reached the conclusion that prima facie Shoaib Malik has been able to establish that the said deposits in this overseas account did not emanate from any questionable source or activity.”Though he was not cleared to play for Pakistan, Malik has been playing domestic cricket. He was the second-highest run-getter in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Division One last season, with 799 runs at an average of 73.57. He also featured for Sialkot Stallions in the recently-completed Faysal Bank Super Eight T20 Cup.Malik said he was looking forward to representing Pakistan again. “The last year was very tough on me and not playing the 2011 World Cup was the biggest tragedy of my life,” he said. “But now I will do my best for my country whenever I get a chance.”

Kent have replaced the famous lime tree that grew within the playing area of the St Lawrence ground at Canterbury, after the original blew down in strong winds back in January

Cricinfo staff14-Aug-2010

Kent have replaced the famous lime tree that grew within the playing area of the St Lawrence ground at Canterbury, after the original blew down in strong winds back in January. A short ceremony took place at 11am on Tuesday, March 8, one that was made all the more poignant by the recent death of the club president, Brian Luckhurst, who succumbed to cancer last week.Luckhurst had been due to conduct the ceremony, but instead the duties were carried out by his precedessor, Robert Neame, who oversaw the repositioning of a sapling that had been planted on the boundary’s edge in 1999, when the club first became aware of the poor state of the old tree.Chris Cowdrey, the former Kent and England captain, read a poem entitled “Farewell the St Lawrence Lime”, which was written by a Kent fan shortly after the January storm. The show must go on,” Cowdrey said, in reference to Luckhurst’s untimely death. “We’ll try and make it a celebration rather than a sad occasion.””There has been a lime tree on the boundary’s edge for as long as cricket has been played on the St Lawrence Ground,” said Carl Openshaw, the club chairman. Under special rules that were adapted for Kent’s – and the tree’s – benefit, it was deemed that any shot that struck the tree, no matter how high or low on its branches, would count as four runs.Kent are hoping to make a range of mementos from the wood of the original tree, which was over 200 years old.

Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo scored his first goal for the club in a 4-2 win over Newport County.

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Mainoo scores first goal for Man UtdRed Devils win 4-2 over Newport CountyTeammates congratulate youngsterWHAT HAPPENED?

Mainoo has been one of the key revelations for Erik Ten Hag this season, and the 18-year-old has gotten his goal-scoring account for the club opened. The goal was an important one for the Red Devils as they struggled against the third-tier side despite a 4-2 win. Mainoo received messages from his teammates post-match as they congratulated him for his goal on Instagram.

InstagramInstagramAdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite the rather underwhelming performance on the night, second-half goals from Antony and Rasmus Hojlund helped the Red Devils break pull away after Newport made it 2-2 early in the second half. They will play either Bristol City or Nottingham Forest after the sides drew 0-0 and will play in the fourth-round replay on Wednesday, January 31.

Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?

Mainoo's goal in the 13th minute of the game was the second goal of the game and as per OptaJoe, it was the first time Manchester United went two up in an FA Cup match since their 6-0 win over Tranmere Rovers in 2020.

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WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

Mainoo is unlikely to start in Ten Hag's side's next match which will be on February 1 against Wolves at Molineaux Stadium. The youngster could, however, feature for the side at some point in the game.

MatériaMais Notícias

A volta do Campeonato Catarinense ganhou mais um capítulo daqueles nos bastidores. O Tubarão entrou com um pedido no TJD-SC para cancelar o estadual. No documento, o clube solicitava o encerramento do torneio sem campeão e com a suspensão do rebaixamento.

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Após analisar o pedido, o Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva não acatou o encerramento antecipado do torneio, mas por outro lado, definiu que nenhum clube será rebaixado até a decisão da justiça.

Sendo assim, todos os jogos das quartas de final e da luta contra o rebaixamento estão mantidos e começam a ser definidos a partir da próxima segunda-feira, dia 27 de julho.

Confira os confrontos:

Quartas de Final
Avaí x Chapecoense
Brusque x Joinville
Marcílio Dias x Criciúma
Figueirense x Juventus-SC

Fuga do Rebaixamento
Tubarão x Concórdia

Two old adversaries are set to lock horns again at Camp Nou on Sunday, but which members of their respective squads are pulling in the most money?

Clasico rivalries will be rekindled this weekend when newly-crowned La Liga champions Barcelona welcome Real Madrid to Catalunya.

There will be no guard of honour for Ernesto Valverde’s side at Camp Nou, with two old adversaries having exchanged barbs this season when it comes to acknowledging the achievements of the other.

Plenty of superstars will be on show, however, with the eternal battle for global supremacy between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo set to open another chapter.

It comes as no surprise to find that two men with 10 Ballons d’Or between them will be the best-paid performers to take to the field on Sunday, but who joins them on the Clasico rich list?

• Getty
  

  25Andre Gomes | Barcelona | £80,000-a-week

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  24Dani Carvajal | Real Madrid | £85,000-a-week

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  23Keylor Navas | Real Madrid | £85,000-a-week

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• 22Paco Alcacer | Barcelona | £90,000-a-week