Sri Lanka v England, 1st Test, Galle, 2nd day Herath haul bowls England out for 193

Tea Sri Lanka 318 (Jayawardene 180, Anderson 5-72) lead England 193 (Bell 52; Herath 6-74) by 125 runs
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

	Rangana Herath was England latest spin-tormentor with 6 for 74

All England's old troubles against spin came back to haunt them once again as they were bowled out for 193 on the second day of the first Test in Galle.

Rangana Herath, a tidy left-arm spinner, tore through the tourists' top order with six for 74, while off-spinner Suraj Randiv claimed two for 26. It meant Sri Lanka's spinners had claimed eight for 100 between them and had earned their side a first innings lead of 125. While England avoided the ignominy of following-on - a distinct possibly when they were 92 for 6 - they still have a mountain to climb if they are to avoid their fourth successive Test defeat. On a pitch that is expected to deteriorate, conceding a first innings lead of such magnitude should prove decisive.

While in the UAE England came up against a top spinner with a bag full of tricks, here there were no such excuses. Herath is a worthy cricketer, certainly, but he offers none of the mystery of Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal. Herath gained little turn, bowled at a gentle pace with modest variations and received only grudging assistance from the surface. For much of the time it was, to borrow an expression from the political world, like being savaged by a dead sheep.

Yet it still proved too much for England. Perhaps mentally disturbed by their experiences in the UAE, several batsmen missed straight balls or played back when they should have been forward.

There were exceptions. Ian Bell, the one specialist batsman to offer any meaningful resistance, was bowled by a beauty that drew him forward, turned and clipped the top of off stump.

But generally, England will reflect that they surrendered their wickets rather too cheaply. Andrew Strauss missed a sweep to a non-turning half-volley, Jonathan Trott came down the pitch and missed with a horrible swipe across the line and Matt Prior, squared up and back when he should have been forward, gave the ball time to turn and trap him on the back leg.

Samit Patel's maiden Test innings ended when he, again back when he should have been forward, missed an arm ball and Stuart Broad's counterattack was ended when he missed another sweep. The sight of Trott, flat on his back with his wicket broken after he came off second best in a clash with Sri Lanka's wicketkeeper, Prasanna Jayawardene, as he struggled to regain his ground summed up the balance of power.

Herath was well supported by Sri Lanka's seamers, too. Alastair Cook was trapped on the crease by a fine delivery that nipped back from Suranga Lakmal, while Kevin Pietersen played-on off the inside edge as he tried to push at a good length ball from Chanaka Welegedara, bowling around the wicket.

Bell, at least, offered a glimpse of hope for England. Adopting a positive approach, he timed the ball beautifully and had the confidence to hit over the top when the opportunity allowed. He contributed more runs in this innings than he had in the whole Test tour of the UAE.

He enjoyed one moment of fortune. Sweeping the off-spin of Suraj Randiv on 41, he hit the ball hard but straight at the short-leg fielder who deflected it back to the wicketkeeper; Bell survived as the ball had hit the fielder's protective helmet.

England's tailenders also put the pitch - and the bowling - in perspective. Broad thumped 28 out of a seventh-wicket stand of 30, launching into a series of pulls, cuts and drives off Lakmal, while James Anderson, Graeme Swann and even Monty Panesar also put the efforts of the top order to shame. The ease with which Anderson drove, swept and even reverse swept boundaries spoke volumes not just for his improvement as a batsmen but the failure of his top-order colleagues to take advantage of a blameless pitch and a worthy but hardly fearsome attack.

Earlier Anderson claimed his first five-wicket haul in a Test in Asian conditions as England dismissed Sri Lanka for 318 early on the second day. It took only 6.3 overs for England to claim the two wickets they required to finish off the Sri Lankan innings. Anderson claimed them both, producing a well disguised off-cutter that crept through the sizeable gap between Chanaka Welegedara's bat and pad before Mahela Jayawardene's superb effort was ended by a fine delivery in the channel outside off stump that held its line and took the edge of the bat. Anderson finished with 5 for 72; the 12th five-wicket haul of his Test career and his third outside England.

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Williamson secures hard-fought draw

 

South Africa 474 for 9 dec (Petersen 156, Duminy 103, Gillespie 6-113) and 189 for 3 dec (de Villiers 68) drew with New Zealand 275 (Guptill 59, Philander 6-81) and 200 for 6 (Williamson 102*, Morkel 6-23)

An outstanding rearguard 102 from Kane Williamson negated Morne Morkel's career-best figures of 6 for 23, as New Zealand held on for 80.4 overs to draw the third Test at the Basin Reserve. South Africa gifted Williamson two lives and the umpires one, but a flawless last session, much of it in the company of a courageous Doug Bracewell, ensured his side could glean positives from a difficult series, though they lost 1-0. New Zealand ended at 200 for 6, 189 short of the target they never attempted. 



The sparse Wellington crowd cheered every wicketless delivery, as the full day's quota approached. Hampered by the loss of Ross Taylor, New Zealand had only nine wickets to play with, but Williamson and Bracewell, who played out 19.1 overs together ensured Mark Gillespie and Chris Martin were left unused. The Test had one final twist when the new ball became available with one over to bowl, but Vernon Philander could not break Bracewell, proving there were some things even he can't to with the ball, despite having enhanced his fearsome reputation with each game this tour. 



Smart stats Kane Williamson's hundred was his second in Tests. It was also the 15th century by a New Zealand batsman against South Africa and the first since 2006. Since their readmission, South Africa have won seven of the eight series against New Zealand. The only drawn series was in 2003-04. Morne Morkel's 6 for 23 was his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests and his first since his 5 for 20 against India in Centurion in 2010. Morkel's 6 for 23 was the third-best bowling performance by a South African in Tests against New Zealand. It was also fifth on the list of top bowling performances by visiting bowlers in Wellington. AB de Villiers' strike rate of 138.77 during his innings of 68 was his highest for a fifty-plus score in Tests. Overall, it was second on the list of highest strike rates for fifty-plus scores for South African batsmen.

South Africa added four clear-cut chances in the second innings to the five they'd missed yesterday. Alviro Petersen spilt Williamson on 10, diving to his right at gully only to palm it to the ground. The drop was particularly painful for Petersen who had appeared to take a low chance cleanly several overs before, only for the third umpire to deem Williamson not out, to South Africa's surprise. AB de Villiers was the next culprit, dropping a low chance at second slip with Williamson on 22. Dean Brownlie then got a life from Graeme Smith, though he didn't capitalise, adding no more runs before being dismissed and Bracewell was shelled late in the day, again by de Villiers at second slip. 



If Williamson had been fortunate to survive till tea, his batting through the final session was pure technique and application. Not having to contend with hooping outswing or biting turn, Williamson tuned his mind solely to blunting South Africa's favourite weapon in the third Test: bounce. Picking the lifters early, he'd duck everything South Africa pitched in their own half. If the balls were fuller - just short of a length - he'd climb on his tip-toes, elbows always high, and punch the ball down into the off side. Yorkers came into vogue later in the session, but having seen Morkel unleash hell with those at the other end, he was prepared. He dug them out dutifully, turning down runs into the outfield to keep himself on strike. 



New Zealand's now-abandoned four-seamer policy had been tried partly because Doug Bracewell's first class career had promised runs at Test level. Until his 59-ball 20 here, he'd barely distinguished himself above Chris Martin as a batsman. Bracewell flirted dangerously outside off stump twice; once off Morkel and once off Steyn, and was dropped in the slips once, but otherwise willow met leather comfortably whenever a stroke was offered. He even ventured two consecutive fours either side of the stumps off Marchant de Lange in the last half hour, as South Africa grew desperate. With Bracewell's defence seeming more secure with each stroke, Williamson no longer bothered shielding him from the strike towards the end. 



Williamson's 228-ball vigil had begun when Brendon McCullum was dismissed in the fifth over. With Taylor undergoing surgery, Williamson had been promoted to No. 4, and his inexperience showed, as both he and Martin Guptill shut down their scoring almost completely for the duration of their partnership. Williamson's first ten runs came from 55 deliveries, and with South Africa able to pool all their resources into attack, it was only a matter of time until the wicket came. Guptill edged Morkel to gully soon after lunch. 



Positivity eventually found its way into Williamson's game, and he and Dean Brownlie resisted, making their second 50-run stand of the game. A serene straight drive off Vernon Philander was followed by consecutive sweeps to the fence off JP Duminy, and Williamson flew towards his second fifty of the series as the field relaxed somewhat. Kruger van Wyk contributed another gritty knock, holding the visitors at bay for 80 deliveries either side of tea, and was perhaps unlucky that Morkel stuck out his left hand on his follow-through to snatch a bludgeoned drive. He partnered Williamson for the longest time of his team-mates, as their stand ate up more than a quarter of the overs New Zealand batted out. 



South Africa were hamstrung by a pitch that had flattened out significantly throughout the Test, but would have been disappointed that in spite of all the missed chances, only Morkel was able to take wickets. Philander was threatening, as always, sticking methodically to the back-of-a-length and off-stump line that had reaped him so much success in the series, but having suffered at his hands so severely, New Zealand finally seemed capable of combating his threat - even if the pitch did much of this for them. Steyn was unlucky, as he has been all series. Most of the dropped chances in the match were off his bowling, and Steyn swung the ball early, at good pace, for no reward. 



Three of Morkel's wickets came from searing yorkers. McCullum couldn't get bat to one that would have hit leg stump, Brownlie let one slip beneath his bat and Daniel Vettori barely had time to register being at the crease before Morkel bowled him first ball. Late in the day, Morkel tried everything to dismiss Williamson and Bracewell, but the batsmen were resolute. An over of short balls was followed by one where he pitched full, but nothing worked. 



Smith vexingly wasted thirteen overs by using JP Duminy, who never looked like breaking through, though among his other regrets may be batting for too long at the start of the day. Though de Villiers made good use of the time they kept New Zealand in the field, making a 49-ball 68, perhaps 388 was far too conservative a lead, given New Zealand had not passed 300 in the series

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Faysal Bank Super 8 Twenty 20 Cup 2011-12 Rawalpindi Schedule

• 1st Match - Faisalabad Wolves VS Peshawar PanthersSun Mar 25 11:00 GMT | 16:00 PKT | at Rawalpindi
• 2nd Match - Karachi Zebras VS Lahore LionsSun Mar 25 15:00 GMT | 20:00 PKT | at Rawalpindi
• 3rd Match - Lahore Eagles VS Sialkot StallionsMon Mar 26 11:00 GMT | 16:00 PKT | at Rawalpindi
• 4th Match - Rawalpindi Rams VS Karachi DolphinsMon Mar 26 15:00 GMT | 20:00 PKT | at Rawalpindi
• 5th Match - Faisalabad Wolves VS Karachi ZebrasTue Mar 27 11:00 GMT | 16:00 PKT | at Rawalpindi
• 6th Match - Lahore Lions VS Peshawar PanthersTue Mar 27 15:00 GMT | 20:00 PKT | at Rawalpindi
• 7th Match - Karachi Dolphins VS Sialkot StallionsWed Mar 28 11:00 GMT | 16:00 PKT | at Rawalpindi
• 8th Match - Rawalpindi Rams VS Lahore EaglesWed Mar 28 15:00 GMT | 20:00 PKT | at Rawalpindi
• 9th Match - Karachi Zebras VS Peshawar PanthersThu Mar 29 11:00 GMT | 16:00 PKT | at Rawalpindi
• 10th Match - Faisalabad Wolves VS Lahore LionsThu Mar 29 15:00 GMT | 20:00 PKT | at Rawalpindi
• 11th Match - Karachi Dolphins VS Lahore EaglesFri Mar 30 11:00 GMT | 16:00 PKT | at Rawalpindi
• 12th Match - Rawalpindi Rams VS Sialkot StallionsFri Mar 30 15:00 GMT | 20:00 PKT | at Rawalpindi

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All Results of Icc T20 Qualify 2012

1st Match, Group A: Afghanistan v Papua New Guinea at Dubai (DSC) - Mar 13, 2012

Papua New Guinea 112/6 (20/20 ov); Afghanistan 113/4 (19/20 ov)

Afghanistan won by 6 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)

2nd Match, Group B: Italy v Oman at Dubai (GCA) - Mar 13, 2012

Oman 89/9 (20/20 ov); Italy 90/1 (14/20 ov)

Italy won by 9 wickets (with 36 balls remaining)

3rd Match, Group B: Ireland v Namibia at Dubai (GCA2) - Mar 13, 2012

Namibia 160/8 (20/20 ov); Ireland 156/9 (20/20 ov)

Namibia won by 4 runs 

Namibia upset Ireland in close contest

4th Match, Group B: Uganda v United States of America at Sharjah - Mar 13, 2012

United States of America 123/8 (20/20 ov); Uganda 124/6 (19.2/20 ov)

Uganda won by 4 wickets (with 4 balls remaining)

5th Match, Group A: Canada v Netherlands at Dubai (DSC) - Mar 13, 2012

Netherlands 135/6 (20/20 ov); Canada 93 (16.4/20 ov)

Netherlands won by 42 runs

6th Match, Group B: Kenya v Scotland at Dubai (GCA) - Mar 13, 2012

Scotland 178/7 (20/20 ov); Kenya 164 (20/20 ov)

Scotland won by 14 runs

7th Match, Group A: Hong Kong v Nepal at Dubai (GCA2) - Mar 13, 2012

Nepal 130/6 (20/20 ov); Hong Kong 102/9 (20/20 ov)

Nepal won by 28 runs

8th Match, Group A: Bermuda v Denmark at Sharjah - Mar 13, 2012

Bermuda 116/7 (20/20 ov); Denmark 117/3 (19.1/20 ov)

Denmark won by 7 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)

9th Match, Group B: Ireland v Kenya at Dubai (DSC) - Mar 14, 2012

Kenya 71 (19/20 ov); Ireland 72/0 (7.2/20 ov)

Ireland won by 10 wickets (with 76 balls remaining)

10th Match, Group A: Canada v Papua New Guinea at Dubai (GCA) - Mar 14, 2012

Canada 167/5 (20/20 ov); Papua New Guinea 161/3 (20/20 ov)

Canada won by 6 runs

11th Match, Group A: Bermuda v Hong Kong at Dubai (GCA2) - Mar 14, 2012

Bermuda 161/5 (20/20 ov); Hong Kong 164/2 (17.3/20 ov)

Hong Kong won by 8 wickets (with 15 balls remaining)

12th Match, Group B: Italy v United States of America at Abu Dhabi - Mar 14, 2012

Italy 137/6 (20/20 ov); United States of America 129/8 (20/20 ov)

Italy won by 8 runs

13th Match, Group A: Afghanistan v Netherlands at Dubai (DSC) - Mar 14, 2012

Netherlands 149/6 (20/20 ov); Afghanistan 150/6 (19.4/20 ov)

Afghanistan won by 4 wickets (with 2 balls remaining)

14th Match, Group A: Denmark v Nepal at Dubai (GCA) - Mar 14, 2012

Denmark 82 (19.1/20 ov); Nepal 85/1 (12.4/20 ov)

Nepal won by 9 wickets (with 44 balls remaining)

15th Match, Group B: Oman v Uganda at Dubai (GCA2) - Mar 14, 2012

Oman 128/8 (20/20 ov); Uganda 132/7 (19.1/20 ov)

Uganda won by 3 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)

16th Match, Group B: Namibia v Scotland at Abu Dhabi - Mar 14, 2012

Namibia 192/3 (20/20 ov); Scotland 143/8 (20/20 ov)

Namibia won by 49 runs

17th Match, Group A: Canada v Hong Kong at Dubai (GCA) - Mar 15, 2012

Hong Kong 81/8 (20/20 ov); Canada 84/2 (14/20 ov)

Canada won by 8 wickets (with 36 balls remaining)

18th Match, Group B: Namibia v United States of America at Dubai (GCA2) - Mar 15, 2012

Namibia 177/4 (20/20 ov); United States of America 160/7 (20/20 ov)

Namibia won by 17 runs

19th Match, Group B: Ireland v Italy at Abu Dhabi - Mar 15, 2012

Italy 100/7 (20/20 ov); Ireland 104/8 (19.4/20 ov)

Ireland won by 2 wickets (with 2 balls remaining)

20th Match, Group A: Afghanistan v Denmark at Sharjah - Mar 15, 2012

Afghanistan 172/5 (20/20 ov); Denmark 83/9 (20/20 ov)

Afghanistan won by 89 runs

21st Match, Group B: Scotland v Uganda at Dubai (GCA) - Mar 15, 2012

Scotland 170/6 (20/20 ov); Uganda 136/9 (20/20 ov)

Scotland won by 34 runs

22nd Match, Group B: Kenya v Oman at Dubai (GCA2) - Mar 15, 2012

Kenya 176/5 (20/20 ov); Oman 141/9 (20/20 ov)

Kenya won by 35 runs

23rd Match, Group A: Bermuda v Netherlands at Abu Dhabi - Mar 15, 2012

Netherlands 125/9 (20/20 ov); Bermuda 121/8 (20/20 ov)

Netherlands won by 4 runs

24th Match, Group A: Nepal v Papua New Guinea at Sharjah - Mar 15, 2012

Papua New Guinea 137/8 (20/20 ov); Nepal 102/8 (20/20 ov)

Papua New Guinea won by 35 runs

25th Match, Group A: Bermuda v Canada at Dubai (DSC) - Mar 16, 2012

Canada 175/6 (20/20 ov); Bermuda 103 (19.2/20 ov)

Canada won by 72 runs

26th Match, Group A: Denmark v Netherlands at Dubai (GCA2) - Mar 16, 2012

Denmark 117/9 (20/20 ov); Netherlands 122/3 (16.1/20 ov)

Netherlands won by 7 wickets (with 23 balls remaining)

27th Match, Group B: Namibia v Uganda at Abu Dhabi - Mar 16, 2012

Namibia 140/5 (20/20 ov); Uganda 136/6 (20/20 ov)

Namibia won by 4 runs

28th Match, Group B: Oman v Scotland at Sharjah - Mar 16, 2012

Scotland 158/5 (20/20 ov); Oman 106 (17.4/20 ov)

Scotland won by 52 runs

29th Match, Group A: Hong Kong v Papua New Guinea at Dubai (DSC) - Mar 16, 2012

Hong Kong 131/9 (20/20 ov); Papua New Guinea 132/6 (19.5/20 ov)

Papua New Guinea won by 4 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)

30th Match, Group B: Ireland v United States of America at Dubai (GCA2) - Mar 16, 2012

Ireland 160/6 (20/20 ov); United States of America 96 (18/20 ov)

Ireland won by 64 runs

31st Match, Group B: Italy v Kenya at Abu Dhabi - Mar 16, 2012

Italy 145/4 (20/20 ov); Kenya 146/3 (17.5/20 ov)

Kenya won by 7 wickets (with 13 balls remaining)

32nd Match, Group A: Afghanistan v Nepal at Sharjah - Mar 16, 2012

Afghanistan 157/6 (20/20 ov); Nepal 123/6 (20/20 ov)

Afghanistan won by 34 runs

33rd Match, Group B: Oman v United States of America at Dubai (DSC) - Mar 18, 2012

United States of America 141/7 (20/20 ov); Oman 111/7 (20/20 ov)

United States of America won by 30 runs

34th Match, Group A: Denmark v Hong Kong at Dubai (GCA) - Mar 18, 2012

Hong Kong 170/5 (20/20 ov); Denmark 135/9 (20/20 ov)

Hong Kong won by 35 runs

35th Match, Group A: Netherlands v Papua New Guinea at Abu Dhabi - Mar 18, 2012

Papua New Guinea 140/7 (20/20 ov); Netherlands 141/1 (16.4/20 ov)

Netherlands won by 9 wickets (with 20 balls remaining)

36th Match, Group B: Italy v Uganda at Sharjah - Mar 18, 2012

Italy 131/7 (20/20 ov); Uganda 118 (19.4/20 ov)

Italy won by 13 runs

37th Match, Group A: Afghanistan v Canada at Dubai (GCA) - Mar 18, 2012

Afghanistan 174/8 (20/20 ov); Canada 133/9 (20/20 ov)

Afghanistan won by 41 runs

38th Match, Group B: Ireland v Scotland at Dubai (DSC) - Mar 18, 2012

Ireland 159/5 (20/20 ov); Scotland 142/7 (20/20 ov)

Ireland won by 17 runs

39th Match, Group A: Bermuda v Nepal at Abu Dhabi - Mar 18, 2012

Nepal 151/6 (20/20 ov); Bermuda 127/5 (20/20 ov)

Nepal won by 24 runs

40th Match, Group B: Kenya v Namibia at Sharjah - Mar 18, 2012

Kenya 108 (18.4/20 ov); Namibia 109/3 (16.3/20 ov)

Namibia won by 7 wickets (with 21 balls remaining)

41st Match, Group A: Netherlands v Nepal at Dubai (GCA) - Mar 19, 2012

Nepal 85/7 (20/20 ov); Netherlands 86/4 (13.5/20 ov)

Netherlands won by 6 wickets (with 37 balls remaining)

42nd Match, Group B: Italy v Scotland at Dubai (GCA2) - Mar 19, 2012

Italy 136/8 (20/20 ov); Scotland 137/3 (18/20 ov)

Scotland won by 7 wickets (with 12 balls remaining)

43rd Match, Group B: Kenya v United States of America at Abu Dhabi - Mar 19, 2012

United States of America 90 (18.2/20 ov); Kenya 93/1 (10/20 ov)

Kenya won by 9 wickets (with 60 balls remaining)

44th Match, Group A: Afghanistan v Hong Kong at Sharjah - Mar 19, 2012

Hong Kong 103/9 (20/20 ov); Afghanistan 104/1 (11.1/20 ov)

Afghanistan won by 9 wickets (with 53 balls remaining)

45th Match, Group A: Bermuda v Papua New Guinea at Dubai (GCA) - Mar 19, 2012

Papua New Guinea 155/6 (20/20 ov); Bermuda 158/5 (19.3/20 ov)

Bermuda won by 5 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)

46th Match, Group B: Ireland v Uganda at Dubai (GCA2) - Mar 19, 2012

Ireland 179/5 (20/20 ov); Uganda 97 (19.5/20 ov)

Ireland won by 82 runs

47th Match, Group A: Canada v Denmark at Abu Dhabi - Mar 19, 2012

Canada 178/3 (20/20 ov); Denmark 123/4 (20/20 ov)

Canada won by 55 runs

48th Match, Group B: Namibia v Oman at Sharjah - Mar 19, 2012

Namibia 120/7 (20/20 ov); Oman 84 (18.4/20 ov)

Namibia won by 36 runs

49th Match, Group A: Afghanistan v Bermuda at Dubai (GCA) - Mar 20, 2012

Afghanistan 177/5 (20/20 ov); Bermuda 162/7 (20/20 ov)

Afghanistan won by 15 runs

50th Match, Group B: Kenya v Uganda at Dubai (GCA2) - Mar 20, 2012

Kenya 167/3 (20/20 ov); Uganda 119/8 (20/20 ov)

Kenya won by 48 runs

51st Match, Group B: Ireland v Oman at Abu Dhabi - Mar 20, 2012

Ireland 160/5 (20/20 ov); Oman 116/6 (20/20 ov)

Ireland won by 44 runs

52nd Match, Group A: Hong Kong v Netherlands at Sharjah - Mar 20, 2012

Netherlands 201/5 (20/20 ov); Hong Kong 118/7 (20/20 ov)

Netherlands won by 83 runs

53rd Match, Group B: Italy v Namibia at Dubai (GCA) - Mar 20, 2012

Namibia 194/2 (20/20 ov); Italy 167/8 (20/20 ov)

Namibia won by 27 runs

54th Match, Group B: Scotland v United States of America at Dubai (GCA2) - Mar 20, 2012

Scotland 161/8 (20/20 ov); United States of America 162/3 (19.5/20 ov)

United States of America won by 7 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)

55th Match, Group A: Denmark v Papua New Guinea at Abu Dhabi - Mar 20, 2012

Papua New Guinea 148 (20/20 ov); Denmark 134/8 (20/20 ov)

Papua New Guinea won by 14 runs

56th Match, Group A: Canada v Nepal at Sharjah - Mar 20, 2012

Canada 101/8 (20/20 ov); Nepal 83 (18.2/20 ov)

Canada won by 18 runs

57th Match, Preliminary Final: Canada v Ireland at Dubai (DSC) - Mar 22, 2012

Canada 106/8 (20/20 ov); Ireland 109/0 (9.3/20 ov)

Ireland won by 10 wickets (with 63 balls remaining)

59th Match, 15th Place Play-off: Denmark v Oman at Dubai (GCA2) - Mar 22, 2012

Oman 155/5 (20/20 ov); Denmark 138/6 (20/20 ov)

Oman won by 17 runs

60th Match, 11th Place Play-off Semi-Final: Hong Kong v Uganda at Sharjah - Mar 22, 2012

Uganda 130/8 (20/20 ov); Hong Kong 134/5 (19.2/20 ov)

Hong Kong won by 5 wickets (with 4 balls remaining)

58th Match, Preliminary Final: Netherlands v Scotland at Dubai (GCA) - Mar 22, 2012

Scotland 166/6 (20/20 ov); Netherlands 169/7 (19.1/20 ov)

Netherlands won by 3 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)

61st Match, Preliminary Final: Afghanistan v Namibia at Dubai (DSC) - Mar 22, 2012

Afghanistan 146 (20/20 ov); Namibia 99 (18.1/20 ov)

Afghanistan won by 47 runs

64th Match, 11th Place Play-off Semi-Final: Bermuda v United States of America at Sharjah - Mar 22, 2012

United States of America 193/5 (20/20 ov); Bermuda 159/8 (20/20 ov)

United States of America won by 34 runs

63rd Match, 7th Place Play-off Semi-Final: Italy v Papua New Guinea at Dubai (GCA2) - Mar 22, 2012

Papua New Guinea 118/9 (20/20 ov); Italy 106/7 (20/20 ov)

Papua New Guinea won by 12 runs

62nd Match, 7th Place Play-off Semi-Final: Kenya v Nepal at Dubai (GCA) - Mar 22, 2012

Kenya 139/4 (20/20 ov); Nepal 141/5 (19.4/20 ov)

Nepal won by 5 wickets (with 2 balls remaining)

67th Match, 13th Place Play-off: Bermuda v Uganda at Dubai (GCA2) - Mar 23, 2012

Bermuda 179/4 (20/20 ov); Uganda 138/5 (20/20 ov)

Bermuda won by 41 runs

65th Match, Preliminary Final: Ireland v Netherlands at Dubai (DSC) - Mar 23, 2012

Netherlands 114/7 (20/20 ov); Ireland 115/3 (16.4/20 ov)

Ireland won by 7 wickets (with 20 balls remaining)

66th Match, 9th Place Play-off: Italy v Kenya at Dubai (GCA) - Mar 23, 2012

Kenya 170/5 (20/20 ov); Italy 132 (18.3/20 ov)

Kenya won by 38 runs

68th Match, 5th Place Play-off: Canada v Scotland at Dubai (DSC) - Mar 23, 2012

Canada 135/8 (20/20 ov); Scotland 136/6 (20/20 ov)

Scotland won by 4 wickets (with 0 balls remaining)

70th Match, 11th Place Play-off: Hong Kong v United States of America at Dubai (GCA2) - Mar 23, 2012

Hong Kong 177/4 (20/20 ov); United States of America 100 (16.2/20 ov)

Hong Kong won by 77 runs

69th Match, 7th Place Play-off: Nepal v Papua New Guinea at Dubai (GCA) - Mar 23, 2012

Papua New Guinea 129/5 (20/20 ov); Nepal 133/4 (19.5/20 ov)

Nepal won by 6 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)

71st Match, Preliminary Final: Ireland v Namibia at Dubai (DSC) - Mar 24, 2012

Namibia 94/6 (20/20 ov); Ireland 96/1 (10.1/20 ov)

Ireland won by 9 wickets (with 59 balls remaining)

Final: Afghanistan v Ireland at Dubai (DSC) - Mar 24, 2012 

To be played

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Ireland beat Namibia and Qualify for the T20 2012

Namibia 94/6 (20/20 ov) vs Ireland 96/1 (10.1/20 ov)

Ireland won by 9 wickets (with 59 balls remaining)

 Two good upcoming teams qualify for the World T20 event.Afghanistan And Ireland . I've great respect for both these teams. Looking forward for World T20 this September." 

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Afghanistan secure World Twenty20 berth

 

Afghanistan ensured they will appear at the ICC World Twenty20 for the second competition running with a comprehensive win over previously unbeaten Namibia in Dubai. Victory by 47 runs booked Afghanistan a place in the final of the qualifying tournament, where they could meet Namibia again; they will play either Ireland or Netherlands - who both won their first play-off games earlier in the day - for the second berth on offer for the 2012 World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.

Having chosen to bat, Afghanistan were dismissed off the final ball of their innings for 146. Against big-scoring Namibia, other sides may have felt that score was barely enough - but Afghanistan have swept all before them in the last week and the bowlers blew away their opponents' dangerous top order, effectively ending Namibia's hopes at 18 for 4 after four overs. Dawlat Zadran was the destroyer-in-chief, taking 3 for 1 in his opening two-over spell, including the wicket of Raymond van Schoor, the tournament's leading runscorer, for a first-ball duck. Gerrie Snyman was also dismissed for 0 in the same over, before Dawlat had Craig Williams caught behind and Aftab Alam - who went on to claim 4 for 25 - removed Louis van der Westhuizen, ensuring that none of the top four made double figures.

After that opening blitz, Namibia's hopes were in tatters and they were eventually bundled out for 99. Their struggles put into perspective Afghanistan's score, with several batsmen getting in and then out. Karim Sadiq and Javid Ahmadi put on 57 for the opening wicket in 6.3 overs but they both fell in quick succession as Sarel Burger claimed three for 16 from his four overs. With boundaries drying up - Afghanistan managed 10 fours and no sixes - Asghar Stanikzai and Mohammad Nabi chipped away lower down the order. In the end, their efforts proved more than enough.

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Injured Mathews out of first England Test, future as bowler doubtful

Angelo Mathews, the Sri Lanka allrounder, has been ruled out of the first Test against England with a calf injury that has quickened speculation that his ability to bowl at international level is now open to serious doubt.

The assertion by Ashantha de Mel, Sri Lanka's chief selector, that Mathews faces a potential future as a specialist batsman will come as a shock to a side that has only a couple of days to regroup ahead of the Galle Test after rushing back home from the Asia Cup in Bangladesh.

Mathews failed a fitness test on his injured calf on Friday morning. The injury kept him out of the Asia Cup and the finals of the Commonwealth Bank tri-series. Chamara Silva, a middle-order batsman, who made a magnificent century against England for the Sri Lanka Development XI earlier this week, replaces Mathews in the squad. Thilan Samaraweera takes over Mathews' role of vice-captain to Mahela Jayawardene.

"I don't think we can use Mathews as an allrounder in the future," de Mel said. "Mathews has some problem with his legs and it is very unlikely he will bowl much. We have to look at him purely as a batsman."

Silva, who took 163 from 180 balls off the tourists' attack on a bountiful batting surface at the SSC, only for England to win by four wickets in a last-day run chase, has been in prolific form during the home first-class season, being the only batsman to top 1000 runs. He played the last of his 11 Tests for Sri Lanka in April 2008 against West Indies in Port of Spain, and has since been in and out of the one-day side.

De Mel also stated that Tharanga Paranavitana and Lahiru Thirimanne will contest the right to partner Tillakaratne Dilshan at the top of the order. A fast bowler's spot is also likely to be similarly contested with either Suranga Lakmal or Dhammika Prasad expected to partner Chanaka Welegedara.

"The team management will have to take a call on who should bat at no. 7," De Mel said. "It is between regular wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene and Dinesh Chandimal, who has not kept wickets for some time."

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Brutal Pollard helps West Indies take series lead

West Indies 294 for 7 (Pollard 102, Barath 41) beat Australia 252 all out (Lee 59, Hussey 57) by 42 runs

	Kieron Pollard scored his second ODI hundred with a brutal display of power hitting in St Lucia

Kieron Pollard at his most brutal left Australia with an insurmountable challenge at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia as West Indies took a 2-1 lead with one to play in an ODI series that is rivalling their wildest dreams. Pollard produced a memorable display of power hitting, 102 slugged from 70 balls to vanquish an Australian side that West Indies had come to regard as virtually unbeatable.

After a demoralising run against Australia of 13 defeats in 14 ODIs (the other being a no-result), West Indies now have two wins and a tie from their last three games. No side had ever scored more on this ground batting second than West Indies' 284 for 5 to beat England in 2004 and Australia had little chance to buck the trend once they had lost half their side for 112.

That they got so close owed much to a considered half-century by David Hussey and a wrathful late assault by Brett Lee, who was struck on the arm by a beamer from Kemar Roach and, despite fulsome apologies, was sore enough in mind and body to take 24 from Roach's next over, following three fours with two sixes flayed over long-on.

When Lee struck Andre Russell down the ground for two successive sixes, he surpassed his highest ODI score of 57, in his 216th match - and Russell had done nothing to vex him at all. Roach finally got his man in his final over, last out, caught at long-off, with 22 balls remaining.

Pollard had reached his hundred in the final over of West Indies' innings when he slugged a short ball from Lee over midwicket for six, a shot that looked as ponderous as it was effective. It was only his second ODI hundred in 55 attempts (he had only passed 50 four times before), but his threat is growing as an ODI average rising from 19 to 26 in the last year testifies. "It's only one of two," Pollard said. "I'm just trying to learn my craft. Some of those sixes I didn't middle."

Smart stats With their 42-run win in the fourth ODI, West Indies are on the verge of winning their first ODI series against Australia (bilateral series) in 17 years. Their last series win was in 1995 at home when they won 4-1. In the 1999 series, they drew 3-3 with one tie in Guyana. The century is Kieron Pollard's second in ODIs after his 119 against India in December. He now has 1255 runs at an average of 26.14 with two hundreds and four fifties. Pollard scored 102 off just 70 balls to push West Indies to 294. His strike rate of 145.71 is the highest strike rate for a 100-plus score by a West Indian batsman against Australia and the fourth-highest overall for such a score by a West Indian. Pollard, who hit eight sixes during his knock, is now level third on the list of West Indian batsmen with the most sixes in an ODI innings. Pollard also holds the second position too with 10 sixes in Chennai against India. The eight sixes is also a record in an ODI innings against Australia. West Indies scored 134 runs in the last 11 overs of the innings. This is the second-highest aggregate for them in the last 11-over period since 2005. The highest for them is 141 against Pakistan in Adelaide in 2005 when Brian Lara made 156. The 19 sixes hit in the match is a record for the most number of sixes hit in a West Indies-Australia ODI. West Indies' score of 294 is their third-highest overall and their second-highest first-innings total against Australia. They have lost on only one occasion after scoring over 280 in their first innings. Sunil Narine's economy rate of 2.10 is the best for West Indies against Australia since Mervyn Dillon's spell of 4 for 20 in ten overs in 1999 (ten-plus over spells). Brett Lee made his highest ODI score. Lee hit five sixes during his knock and took 24 runs off Kemar Roach's ninth over.

West Indies' innings, stagnating for long periods, finished in a mood of revelry. They took 23 from the final over from Lee, Darren Sammy rounding things off with 31 not out in 13 balls as if he briefly imagined himself Pollard reincarnate.

Shane Watson's decision to bowl first was out of character for an Australian captain. Perhaps the excitement of the journey north to St Lucia got the better of him as Australia finally escaped the slow surfaces of St Vincent. Instead, on a surface offering more pace and bounce - disconcertingly steep bounce on occasions - they ran into Pollard's meaty destruction. "I wouldn't do anything differently," said Watson. "Pollard was impressive, no doubt. It was a beautiful wicket, but if we had taken our catches it would help."

After 39 overs, West Indies were 160-5, four overs of a Powerplay had brought only 15 runs and their innings was close to stagnation. Then Watson, whose seven overs had cost only 15, conceded 17 runs from his eighth as Pollard moved into overdrive. He had a lively ally in Andre Russell during a sixth-wicket stand of 94 in 11 overs that changed the complexion of the match.

Pollard had his moments of good fortune and most of them involved Peter Forrest. Like most touring cricketers, he might not have known the whereabouts of St Lucia in relation to St Vincent but his sense of direction was equally lacking when it came to the exact position of the boundary rope at deep backward square.

Pollard was only 15 when a venomous, flat pull flew through Forrest's hands as he came in a couple of yards closer than he had to. Another mishit against Lee on 24 narrowly evaded David Hussey as he sprinted back at midwicket. Much punishment later, Xavier Doherty dropped a simple chance; and Forrest might also have caught Pollard on 81, but it required several TV replays before the third umpire, Kumar Dharmasena, decided that Forrest's catch was illegal. It was hard to tell whether Forrest's boot had brushed the rope but in any event his decision to throw the ball back infield as his momentum carried him over the rope was a lackadaisical effort.

Pollard can destroy a fielding side's bearings. He blocks more balls than most, but when he hits, he hits so powerfully that his blocking becomes irrelevant. Even when he did not quite middle a pull against Watson, late in his innings, leaning back like a boxer on the ropes, it careered for six over long-on, an area where he got roughly half his runs.

Johnson Charles' innings was made of different stuff. He is only the second cricketer from St Lucia to represent West Indies and was playing in front of his home crowd for the first time. He was angsty, understandably so, needing 30 balls to reach double figures. He encouraged the crowd into excitement with a straight six against Clint McKay but fell for 37 soon after the mid-point, holing out at long-on to an unusual dancing catch by Lee.

Adrian Barath, back in the side after a hundred for Trinidad against Guyana a week ago, provided early impetus with nine fours in all in his 41 from 31 balls. But Marlon Samuels' contribution was excruciating and Dwayne Bravo fell first ball.

Australia's reply malfunctioned as early as the second over when David Warner, one of the few batsmen capable of matching Pollard's slugging style, spooned a drive against Dwayne Bravo to mid-on.

Watson played smoothly for a while, only to pull Darren Sammy's loosener to mid-on. Sammy's short ball, not often regarded as devilish, enjoyed further spoils in his next over when Charles plunged forward at third man to hold a top-edged hook from Forrest and leave for ice pack treatment on a damaged shoulder.

If Sammy's breakthroughs frustrated Australia, two wickets in an over for Russell would have irked them even more. Russell, defying a knee complaint, could barely muster a limping celebration as he first had George Bailey caught at the wicket, cutting, and then two balls later defeated Mike Hussey's attempted pull.

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Petersen, Duminy make hosts toil after rain delay

South Africa 246 for 2 (Petersen 96*, Duminy 76*) v New Zealand

	JP Duminy, playing his first Test in two years, showed skill in picking gaps in the field.

New Zealand's on-field misery matched Wellington's weather, as South Africa continued their domination via an unbeaten 140-run partnership that took them to 246 for 2. Alviro Petersen went to stumps four short of a third Test hundred, while JP Duminy was on 76. Not even a furious tailwind from the Vance End, nor heavy cloud cover, could conjure a breakthrough for New Zealand, after rain accounted for almost four hours of play first up. Seven overs into the second session, evening gloom set in to end a frustrating day for the hosts, who are quickly running out of time to affect a series-levelling win.

Alviro Petersen had been obdurate on the first day, as he fought to make his first substantial contribution of the tour, but adopted a brighter approach early on the second with a fifty beckoning. Chris Martin's fourth ball was slapped through midwicket, before an edge from an attempted cover drive brought up the milestone. Positivity paying off, he continued in the assured vein, missing few chances to pierce the field when New Zealand erred.

Duminy eased to his half-century too, crisp cover-drives characterising his first Test innings in two years as South Africa's third-wicket stand swelled beyond 100. Adept at finding gaps in the field, Duminy matched his lively partner for pace and outlook. An inside edge over the stumps and a top-edged hook that took him past 50 were the only bumps in an otherwise uncomplicated innings.

Ross Taylor might have rued not placing a third slip when second-slip Martin Guptill dived over, then palmed two edges off Petersen, but in between the chances, the New Zealand bowlers rarely looked like taking wickets in the wind. Martin swung the ball modestly early on, but could not maintain the movement for long, while Mark Gillespie's gun-barrel straight deliveries were navigated without complaint. Daniel Vettori battled the northerly for much of the day, darting balls in to keep his end secure rather than attacking with flight. But even he could not help being unsettled by the gusts, as he regularly offered long hops the batsmen happily dispatched square

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Pakistan prevail in dramatic final

Pakistan 236 for 9 (Sarfraz 46*, Hafeez 40, Razzak 2-26, Shakib 2-39) beat Bangladesh 234 for 8 (Shakib 68, Tamim 60, Cheema 3-46) by two runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

	Shakib Al Hasan's dismissal with Bangladesh needing 58 off 39 balls was one of the game's turning points

When their gut-wrenching disappointment dies down, Bangladesh will remember that they were just one stroke away from the Asia Cup title. And see it as clinching evidence of their progress. When their sense of relief passes, Pakistan will remember that they were tested to the hilt, but came through somehow. And see it as confirmation of their renowned ability to win the big moments.

But for the moment, Bangladesh will be gutted; gutted at what could have been, gutted that it wasn't to be. They had lost their first tournament final by two wickets to Sri Lanka in 2009. The margin was two runs today.

What wouldn't Shahadat Hossain give to take back the 50th over of Pakistan's innings bowled by him which went for 19? What wouldn't Nazimuddin and Nasir Hossain give to take back their innings of 16 off 52 balls and 28 off 63 in the chase?

In a game that came down to four runs needed off the last ball, several passages of play could be said to have been decisive. Sarfraz Ahmed's 46 off 52, which turned 199 for 8 into 236 for 9. Shahid Afridi's 32 off 22 and 1 for 28 in ten overs with the ball. Shakib Al Hasan's dismissal with Bangladesh needing 58 off 39.

Bangladesh had themselves to blame for allowing a target that had seemed gettable at the start to turn into a daunting one. It was Nazimuddin's clueless crawl of an innings that invited pressure despite Tamim Iqbal's fourth consecutive half-century. Tamim's departure to Younis Khan's third sharp catch further increased the pressure on the hosts in their first chase in a tournament final.

While the plan could have been for Nazimuddin to be the anchor and Tamim to be the aggressor, the former became completely subdued after being beaten four times in five deliveries by Umar Gul in the second over, leaving run-making duties completely to his partner.

Tamim responded by hitting Gul out of the attack with four fours in nine deliveries. All shots bore the mark of a man in top form, with the highlight being a punch through point played with his feet off the ground. Nazimuddin continued to dig a deeper hole for himself, treating Mohammad Hafeez with utmost respect and allowing him to get through five overs for only 10 runs.

Realisation belatedly dawned on him, but by then, he had got into such a rut that he was mistiming almost everything. Bangladesh were not able to get anywhere close to dominating, which they should have given the way Tamim was batting. In the same Shahid Afridi over in which Tamim brought up his fourth half-century of the tournament, off 48 balls, Younis finally ended Nazimuddin's misery with a running catch at long-off. By then, Nazimuddin had used up 52 balls for his 16.

	Sarfraz Ahmed's 46 off 52 balls gave Pakistan's bowlers something to defend.

Jahurul Islam did not last long against Ajmal's doosra and gave Younis his second catch, at slip. With Nasir also struggling to get going, Tamim decided to take on Gul but only found extra cover with a mis-hit pull, Younis diving forward to take another excellent catch.

Carrying his nation's hopes once again, Shakib walked in at 81 for 3 and pulled his first delivery for four. Afridi and Gul responded with consecutive maiden overs. Shakib set about targetting Hammad Azam and Cheema as Bangladesh tried to keep the rate from galloping out of control.

It rose above eight. Shakib swung Cheema over midwicket for six. Despite Shakib's hitting, Nasir's struggle had begun to hurt Bangladesh. It was similar to the way the innings had cantered and stalled alternatively when Tamim and Nazimuddin were batting.

Nasir finally holed out off Gul in the 43rd over. Shakib coolly scooped the last ball of that over past short fine leg. But an attempt to repeat the stroke in the next over off Cheema resulted in his leg stump being rattled.

With 47 needed off five overs, Mushfiqur Rahim swung Cheema straight to deep midwicket. This Bangladesh side does not easily roll over though. Mahmudullah and Mashrafe Mortaza smashed Gul for three fours in four balls in the 47th over. It came down to 19 needed off 15. Mortaza then paddled Ajmal into the hands of short fine leg.

With Mahmudullah still around and four needed off two, Abdur Razzak turned Cheema onto his stumps, and, in an ironic end, Shahadat, could not get the last ball away for more than a leg-bye.

As Misbah-ul-Haq embraced Cheema, there were tears in the Bangladesh dressing room. They had been favourites to crack on their biggest day as a cricketing nation. A fourth consistent performance on the trot was expected to be beyond them. But they gave an extremely creditable account of themselves, especially with the ball.

Pakistan are masters of the big moment, though, and somehow find a player who performs. Wicketkeeper Sarfraz, who had a highest ODI score of 24 and a strike-rate of 62.35 before this game, weighed in with a 52-ball 46.

Bangladesh's bowling was tight and their fielding was energetic, as it had been throughout the tournament. Pakistan were not allowed to get away, except in the last over. Bangladesh's leading ODI wicket-taker Abdur Razzak rose to the occasion, with figures of 10-3-26-2. But Shahadat proved expensive once again in a horror last over which contained two no-balls and went for 19.

Bangladesh's discipline till then had kept Pakistan under relentless pressure. And that pressure had brought wickets. Their openers, Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed - who had a century and a double-century stand earlier in the tournament - failed to clear the infield in their attempts to hit out. Younis and Umar Akmal got rough decisions, Misbah's hesitation ran him out, and Azam and Afridi threw it away.

Afridi was his normal hit-or-depart self, and another promising innings was soon terminated, after a few breathtaking strokes, with a mis-hit to long-off. There was no knowing at that stage that it would turn out to be one of the most important knocks of the game.

Gul could not repeat his salvage act from the tournament opener against Bangladesh, and Sarfraz was the unlikely candidate for a mini-recovery. He ensured Pakistan batted the full 50 overs and Bangladesh finally fell apart in the last one. Shahadat served up waist-high full tosses, and short and wide deliveries to be carted for 19, and left Pakistan's strength, their bowling, with a decent score to defend.

A chase in a final was something Bangladesh had never encountered before. It did inhibit the usual freedom of a couple of their batsmen, and that was the difference in the end.

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