3 Match = South Africa vs New Zealand

South Africa vs New Zealand - ODI - September 24, 2009 Centurion

Toss: South Africa elected to field |

Result: SA won by 5 wkts
Man of the match: W Parnell South Africa: 217 - 5 (41.1 overs) Current RR: 5.27

A Morkel 19(14) - *AB Villiers 70(76)
Partnership: 37 runs in 32 balls - This over: 4,

Scoreboard

New Zealand Innings			R	B	4s	6s	SR
	Brendon McCullum (W)	c JP Duminy b Johan Botha	44	58	3	2	33.33
	Jesse Ryder	c van der Merwe b Parnell	8	12	1	0	66.67
	Martin Guptill	c Amla b Wayne Parnell	21	26	4	0	80.77
	Ross Taylor	lbw b Wayne Parnell	72	106	6	2	67.92
	Grant Elliott	b Roelof van der Merwe	39	48	4	0	81.25
	Neil Broom	lbw b Roelof van der Merwe	1	4	0	0	25.00
	Gareth Hopkins	c JP Duminy b Wayne Parnell	13	13	2	0	100.00
	Kyle Mills	c AB de Villiers b Dale Steyn	0	3	0	0	0
	Daniel Vettori (C)	Not Out	1	2	0	0	50.00
	Daryl Tuffey	c JP Duminy b Wayne Parnell	4	2	1	0	200.00
	Shane Bond	c AB de Villiers b Dale Steyn	0	4	0	0	0
	Extras	(b 4,lb 5,w 1, nb 1)	11
	Total	(all out; 47.5 overs)	214	(4.47 runs per over)

Fall of wickets: 1. 12/1 (3.6 ov) Jesse Ryder, 2. 58/2 (12.6 ov) Martin Guptill, 3. 92/3 (23.1 ov) Brendon McCullum, 4. 163/4 (38.6 ov) Grant Elliott, 5. 171/5 (40.5 ov) Neil Broom, 6. 203/6 (44.6 ov) Gareth Hopkins, 7. 204/7 (45.5 ov) Kyle Mills, 8. 209/8 (46.3 ov) Ross Taylor, 9. 213/9 (46.5 ov) Daryl Tuffey, 10. 214/10 (47.5 ov) Shane Bond

Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
Dale Steyn	9.5	1	32	2	3.25
Wayne Parnell	8	0	57	5	7.13	(w 1)
Jacques Kallis	8	0	24	0	3.00
Albie Morkel	3	0	13	0	4.33	(nb 1)
Johan Botha	9	0	44	1	4.89
Roelof van der Merwe	10	1	35	2	3.50

Power Play: 1-10, 11-15 (bowling), 43-47 (batting)

South Africa Innings			R	B	4s	6s	SR
	Graeme Smith (C)	c Vettori b Daryl Tuffey	7	14	1	0	50.00
	Hashim Amla	lbw b Daniel Vettori	38	65	3	0	58.46
	Jacques Kallis	c McCullum b Shane Bond	36	39	6	0	92.31
	AB de Villiers	Not Out	70	76	9	0	92.11
	JP Duminy	c McCullum b Kyle Mills	11	13	2	0	84.62
	Mark Boucher (W)	c McCullum b Daryl Tuffey	28	28	4	0	100.00
	Albie Morkel	Not Out	19	14	3	0	135.71
	Johan Botha
	Roelof van der Merwe
	Wayne Parnell
	Dale Steyn
	Extras	(b 0,lb 2, w 4, nb 2)	8
	Total	(5 wickets; 41.1 overs)	217	(5.27 runs per over)

Fall of wickets: 1. 22/1 (5.6 ov) Graeme Smith, 2. 74/2 (16.3 ov) Jacques Kallis, 3.108/3 (23.2 ov) Hashim Amla, 4. 138/4 (26.5 ov) JP Duminy, 5. 180/5 (35.5 ov) Mark Boucher

Bowling	O	M	R	W	Econ
Kyle Mills	8.1	0	45	1	5.51	(nb 1)
Shane Bond	10	0	51	1	5.10	(w 2)
Daryl Tuffey	9	1	52	2	5.78
Daniel Vettori	10	1	34	1	3.40
Jesse Ryder	2	0	15	0	7.50
Martin Guptill	1	0	13	0	13.00
Grant Elliott	1	0	5	0	5.00

Power Play: 1-10, 11-15 (bowling), 40-44 (batting)

Series: Champions Trophy, 2009
Venue: Centurion, Tshwane
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2009
Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK),Asad Rauf (PAK) and Daryl Harper (AUS)
Referee: Roshan Mahanama (SL)
Man of the Match: Wayne Parnell

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Match 2 = Pakistan vs West Indies

West Indies vs Pakistan

Match: 2nd ODI
Venue: Johannesburg | Date: September 23, 2009
Toss: West Indies elected to bat

West Indies 133-10 (34.3) | G Tonge 4(9)

This Over: 0,1,W,

Other innings: Pakistan

West Indies vs Pakistan Match: 2nd ODI Venue: Johannesburg | Date: September 23, 2009 Toss: West Indies elected to bat

Coverage: Champions Trophy 2009

West Indies 133-10 (34.3) | G Tonge 4(9)

This Over: 0,1,W,

Other innings: Pakistan

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West Indies	133-10 (34.3)	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
D Richards	c and b Aamer	1	4	0	0	25.00
A Fletcher	c Nazir b Naved-ul-Hasan	7	14	1	0	50.00
D Smith	c U Akmal b Gul	18	28	2	0	64.29
T Dowlin	c K Akmal b Aamer	0	2	0	0	0.00
*F Reifer	c M-ul-Haq b Gul	7	23	0	0	30.43
D Bernard	b Aamer	6	14	1	0	42.86
D Sammy	b Ajmal	25	37	5	0	67.57
C Walton	lbw b Gul	0	1	0	0	0.00
N Miller	c Malik b * Afridi	51	57	6	1	89.47
T Best	st K Akmal b Ajmal	8	19	1	0	42.11
G Tonge	not out	4	9	0	0	44.44

Extras: 6 b:0 lb:0 nb:1 w:5

Total: 133-10 (34.3) | Curr. RR: 3.86

FOW:D Richards (2-1, 1), A Fletcher (11-2, 4), T Dowlin (14-3, 4.5), D Smith (36-4, 10.3), D Bernard (43-5, 13.3), *F Reifer (47-6, 14.3), C Walton (47-7, 14.4), D Sammy (85-8, 24.5), T Best (121-9, 31.1), N Miller (133-10, 34.3)

Pakistan	O	M	R	W	Nb	Wd	RPO
M Aamer	7	1	24	3	0	1	3.43
Naved-ul-Hasan	7	0	26	1	1	2	3.71
U Gul	8	2	28	3	0	2	3.50
*S Afridi	8.3	0	39	1	0	0	4.59
S Ajmal	4	0	16	2	0	0	4.00
I Nazir
U Akmal
M Yousuf
S Malik
K Akmal
M-ul-Haq

Pakistan team: M Aamer, Naved-ul-Hasan, U Gul, *S Afridi, S Ajmal, I Nazir , U Akmal, M Yousuf, S Malik, K Akmal, M-ul-Haq

Powerplay: 1: 1-10 ovs, 2: 11-15 ovs, 3: 27-31 ovs

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Pakistan	134-5 (30.3)	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
I Nazir	b Tonge	5	6	1	0	83.33
K Akmal	c Walton b Tonge	5	12	1	0	41.67
S Malik	c Walton b Tonge	23	39	2	1	58.97
M Yousuf	c Walton b Tonge	23	31	4	0	74.19
Misbah-ul-Haq	c Walton b Bernard	6	22	0	0	27.27
U Akmal	not out	41	51	6	0	80.39
*S Afridi	not out	17	25	1	0	68.00
Naved-ul-Hasan
M Aamer
U Gul
S Ajmal

Extras: 14 b:0 lb:2 nb:3 w:9

Total: 134-5 (30.3) | Curr. RR: 4.39

FOW:I Nazir (5-1, 1.1), K Akmal (21-2, 5.1), S Malik (54-3, 13.3), M Yousuf (61-4, 15.1), Misbah-ul-Haq (76-5, 22.3)

West Indies	O	M	R	W	Nb	Wd	RPO
D Sammy	7	0	29	0	0	0	4.14
G Tonge	10	3	25	4	1	2	2.50
T Best	6.3	0	50	0	0	5	7.69
D Bernard	7	0	28	1	0	3	4.00
*F Reifer
T Dowlin
D Richards
C Walton
N Miller
A Fletcher
D Smith

West Indies team: D Sammy, G Tonge, T Best, D Bernard, *F Reifer, T Dowlin, D Richards, C Walton, N Miller, A Fletcher, D Smith

Powerplay: 1: 1-10 ovs, 2: 11-15 ovs

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Match 1 = South Africa vs SriLanka

South Africa vs SriLanka Match: 1st ODI Venue: Centurion | Date: September 22, 2009 Toss: South Africa elected to field

Result: Sri Lanka won by 55 runs (D/L Method) Man of the match: T Dilshan

South Africa 206-7 (37.4) | A Morkel 29(32) RE Merwe 3(4)

Patnership: 8 run(s) in 10 ball(s) | This Over: 1,1,2,0,

Other innings: Sri Lanka inn: 319-8 (50)

Sri Lanka	319-8 (50)	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
T Dilshan	c Morkel b Steyn	106	92	16	1	115.22
S Jayasuriya	lbw b Steyn	10	9	2	0	111.11
*K Sangakkara	c and b Duminy	54	74	5	0	72.97
M Jayawardene	c Duminy b Parnell	77	61	8	1	126.23
T Samaraweera	c Merwe b Parnell	37	47	1	0	78.72
A Mathews	b Steyn	15	14	0	0	107.14
T Kandamby	c Duminy b Parnell	6	5	1	0	120.00
N Kulasekara	run out (Merwe)	1	2	0	0	50.00
M Muralitharan	not out	0	0	0	0
L Malinga
A Mendis

Extras: 13 b:0 lb:5 nb:3 w:5

Total: 319-8 (50) | Curr. RR: 6.38

FOW:S Jayasuriya (16-1, 2.2), *K Sangakkara (174-2, 28), T Dilshan (181-3, 29.1), M Jayawardene (297-4, 46.3), T Samaraweera (297-5, 46.4), T Kandamby (314-6, 49), N Kulasekara (317-7, 49.4), A Mathews (319-8, 50)

South Africa	O	M	R	W	Nb	Wd	RPO
D Steyn	9	2	47	3	0	1	5.22
W Parnell	10	0	79	3	1	3	7.90
J Kallis	7	0	43	0	0	0	6.14
A Morkel	4	0	39	0	1	0	9.75
J Botha	9	0	53	0	1	1	5.89
RE Merwe	10	0	42	0	0	0	4.20
JP Duminy	1	0	11	1	0	0	11.00
*G Smith
H Amla
AB de Villiers
M Boucher

South Africa team: D Steyn, W Parnell, J Kallis, A Morkel, J Botha, RE Merwe, JP Duminy, *G Smith, H Amla, AB de Villiers, M Boucher

Powerplay: 1: 1-10 ovs, 2: 11-15 ovs, 3: 45-49 ovs

South Africa	206-7 (37.4)	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
*G Smith	b Mendis	58	44	9	1	131.82
H Amla	b Mathews	2	10	0	0	20.00
J Kallis	c Mathews b Mendis	41	48	4	0	85.42
AB de Villiers	c Jayawardene b Malinga	24	38	0	0	63.16
JP Duminy	b Mendis	0	1	0	0	0.00
M Boucher	lbw b Mathews	26	29	2	0	89.66
A Morkel	not out	29	32	3	0	90.62
J Botha	c Mathews b Malinga	21	20	4	0	105.00
RE Merwe	not out	3	4	0	0	75.00
W Parnell
D Steyn

Extras: 2 b:0 lb:0 nb:0 w:2

Total: 206-7 (37.4) | Curr. RR: 5.47

FOW:H Amla (9-1, 3), *G Smith (90-2, 14.1), J Kallis (113-3, 20.3), JP Duminy (113-4, 20.4), AB de Villiers (142-5, 26.2), M Boucher (163-6, 31.2), J Botha (198-7, 36)

Sri Lanka	O	M	R	W	Nb	Wd	RPO
L Malinga	7.4	0	43	2	0	1	5.61
N Kulasekara	7	0	44	0	0	0	6.29
A Mathews	8	1	43	2	0	0	5.38
M Muralitharan	8	0	46	0	0	0	5.75
A Mendis	7	0	30	3	0	1	4.29
T Kandamby
S Jayasuriya
T Samaraweera
T Dilshan
M Jayawardene
*K Sangakkara

Sri Lanka team: L Malinga, N Kulasekara, A Mathews, M Muralitharan, A Mendis, T Kandamby, S Jayasuriya, T Samaraweera, T Dilshan, M Jayawardene, *K Sangakkara

Powerplay: 1: 1-10 ovs, 2: 11-15 ovs, 3: 34-38 ovs

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Sri Lanka drub South Africa in rain-hit game

Led by a blazing century from Tillakaratne Dilshan and a brace of cameos, the world's No. 5 team started their Champions Trophy campaign in fine style by beating the top-ranked side. Graeme Smith's decision to field was based on the amount of dew around, but bar Dale Steyn none of the bowlers made an impression in the afternoon. Dilshan's 92-ball 106, coupled with significant inputs from captains former and present, lifted them to a daunting total that was well beyond South Africa.

Sri Lanka carried the energy from their powerful batting display into the field and Ajantha Mendis, unlike the home side's spinners, extracted bounce and turn under lights. Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis showed signs of dominance with an 81-run stand in quick time but once Smith was bowled by Mendis' first delivery, and Kallis and JP Duminy fell in successive balls, Sri Lanka had applied the chokehold.

Smith had a smile on his face when the toss went his way and Steyn nipped out Sanath Jayasuriya, but it was soon replaced by a frown. In a 158-run partnership with Kumar Sangakkara, who provided solid support with 54 from 74 balls, Dilshan played anchor and aggressor in equal measure. The first to feel Dilshan's force was Wayne Parnell, preferred to Makhaya Ntini; he struggled to hit a consistent length and went for 39 in five overs. It was a recurring leitmotif in those early overs, Parnell dragging the ball down and Dilshan pinging the deep point and midwicket boundaries. Albie Morkel was thrashed for 22 in two overs as Sri Lanka reached 100 in the 13th over.

The onslaught forced Smith, who refused to delay the Powerplay, to turn to his spin pair to try and stop the destruction. The pair stemmed the flow of boundaries but lacked bite and Sri Lanka ticked along at over six an over. Dabs, drives, flicks, shots off angled bats, and punches all evaded fielders and Sangakkara brought up his first half-century since February. He fell to an innocuous delivery from Duminy, after which Dilshan's boundary blasting - he hit 16 fours and a six - ended when he slashed the first ball of Steyn's return over to third man.

Sri Lanka used the platform extremely well and crossed 300 thanks largely to Mahela Jayawardene's 77 off 61. He was his usual deft self: cutting, nudging and pushing into the gaps with excellent timing. His feet constantly moved as he made room to create singles and, with Thilan Samaraweera playing in a similar vein, Sri Lanka pressed ahead. Before South Africa knew it Jayawardene was 41 off 40 balls - the majority of those runs coming from controlled paddles and sweeps - and the stage was set for a late surge; the final ten overs cost 85. Parnell gave some respectability to his figures by dismissing Jayawardene and Samaraweera in successive deliveries though by then Sri Lanka were 297 for 5 in the 47th over.

Chasing more than a run a ball from the start, South Africa needed a strong platform. They were in early trouble when Hashim Amla was cleaned up by Angelo Mathews off an inside edge in the third over. Kallis joined Smith, looking leaner having shed a few kilos, and the pair milked the wayward Nuwan Kulasekara, who seemed to contract Parnell's problem of bowling short. Kallis was quick to punish him and Kulasekara's fifth over went for 14, with Smith particularly strong through the off side.

While Smith danced down the track at will and shuffled about to unsettle the fast bowlers, Kallis chose to clip the ball sweetly from the crease. Smith looked increasingly confident at the crease, but playing for a Mendis offbreak he missed one that skidded and hurried on and had his leg stump pegged back.

Mendis had again proved a valuable go-to man for his captain by ending the flourishing partnership. Smith's bullish start hinted at the possibility of a Dilshan-style ambush, but inside four overs Mendis ripped the heart out of the batting order. Kallis showed glimpses of his class in compiling a brisk 41 before he was excellently caught at mid-off by a tumbling Mathews. Next ball, Duminy was castled by a flipper.

The required run-rate was already above seven at 113 for 4 in the 21st over, placing too much pressure on the rest of the order. Lasith Malinga, having bowled just one over at the start, returned to dismiss AB de Villiers and later snapped a gung-ho stand between Morkel and Johan Botha before rain interrupted the chase. At that stage Sri Lanka were well in command, and were later adjudged deserved winners.

Sri Lanka had previously lost only once after posting a 300-plus total in one-day internationals and, led by Mendis, the masters of asphyxiation struck. Adapting to early-season South African conditions superbly, Sri Lanka have taken the lead in showing that Asian teams are a force to be reckoned with in this tournament. South Africa, frustratingly, have shown again why their ability in multi-team tournaments has long been questioned.

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India Squad - champions trophy

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Abhishek Nayar, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra, R.P.Singh, Ishant Sharma, Amith Mishra, Dinesh Karthik.

Hoping that Gambhir is back, Virat Kohli may be a replacement if Gambhir doesnt make it..

Sachin is at his ever best, classic century at the emerald isle is a good example to show the elegance and the ease with which Sachin plays these days..

Rahul’s inclusion is great for the side. MSD and Yuvi have been more than consistent.. The only cause of worry could be the inexperience in the lower middle order and the fast-bowling is a bit weak.. Though Nehra is back to form, the fast bowling doesn’t have enough experience to handle an onslaught..

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South Africa Squad - champions trophy

Graeme Smith (Captain), Johan Botha, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher (WK), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell, Robbie Peterson, Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Great line up on paper yet again.. On numerous occasions SA gone into a major tournament with a match-winning combination but have fallen short of everyone’s expectations and have earned the title “CHOKERS”.. 50 over cricket on their backyard, hope they perform a little better this time around.. Amla is back, mostly as opener or may have to sit out with 11players picking themselves.. The spin duo of Botha and Roelof may prove more than handy against NZ and England while the Lankans may play it easily..

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Pakistan Squad - champions trophy

Younis Khan (Captain), Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (WK), Mohammad Yousuf, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamer, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Mohammad Asif.

With the ex-ICL players back in the fray, Pakistan look more potent now.. Imran Nazir, Yousuf, Rana Naved are back.. Yousuf and Younis lend solidity while Nazir, Afridi, Akmal providing the fire power at the top and Umar Akmal lower down the order should be enough.. Aamer will be tested in SA.. As usual, the dual side of Pak is always there, no team can lose as badly as Pak and come back winning.. Overcoming India and Australia may be tough though..

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Sri Lanka Squad - champions trophy

Kumar Sangakkara (Captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Thilina Kandamby, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dammika Prasad, Lasith Malinga.

40 year old Sanath is still fit and raring to go.. Murali is back after resting himself for a couple of weeks.. Lower middle order is a bit fragile.. Samaraweera has had a tremendous year in test matches that has prompted the selectors to give him a go in the ODIs and should we say he has grabbed it with both his hands.. Kandamby is proving to be an Asian Bevan, though it is too early to confer him with such a title but looking at his performances one is prompted to see the glimpses of Bevan in him.. Bowling is alright, Kulasekara and Thushara and later Mathews and Malinga would prove potent at the swinging conditions and bouncier wickets..

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Australia Squad - champions trophy

Ricky Ponting (Captain), Michael Clarke, Callum Ferguson, Tim Paine, Michael Hussey, James Hopes, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron White, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Bracken, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Nathan Hauritz.

A changing Aussies, no more invincible and they do not seem to have the aura around them but do not discount them off too soon.. Brett Lee is in great form + a few wides and no balls ; Watson at the top is useful; Fergusson has been in good form ever since he made his debut.. The main 3- Ponting, Clarke and Hussey are not in great form.. Ponting’s century against England in the 5th ODI is a welcome sign.. Will face a tough competetion from India..

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New Zealand Squad - champions trophy

Daniel Vettori (Captain), Neil Broom, Brendon Diamanti ,Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey, Shane Bond, Ian Butler.

The workman like team.. Extremely poor series in Sri-Lanka, have to leave that behind and move ahead or else they will be the first team to exit.. Batting lacks depth and experience.. Bowling is ordinary., will face serious tests against Lankans, Africans..

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England Squad - champions trophy

Andrew Strauss (Captain), Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Joe Denly, Andrew Flintoff, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (WK), Adil Rashid, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, James Anderson,.

Looking at the way they have played against the Aussies so timidly, one would be encouraged to call them a weaker side.. ICC rankings don’t come to their support either, they are just above Windies and Bangladeshis.. The batsmen do not want to take risk and score runs and if this continues they will be in for a shock.. Their selection policy also needs to be questioned.. Their group is not that easy either, SA, SL and NZ will offer tough fight..

Luke Wright has been removed from the squad due to injury.. Replacement yet to be announced..

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West Indies Squad - champions trophy

Floyd Reifer (capt), Darren Sammy, David Bernard, Tino Best, Royston Crandon, Travis Dowlin, Andre Fletcher, Nikita Miller, Kevin McClean, Chadwick Walton (WK), Kieran Powell, Dale Richards, Kemar Roach, Devon Smith, Gavin Tonge.

A ‘B’ side from Windies.. The other sides will have it easy against them. Having said that if a team is too complacent, then an upset is on cards.. Sammy, Bernard, Richards hold the key.. They have lost to Cape Cobras failing to defend 327 and later won against North West by 103 runs..

A late news from the ICC that they are willing to accept a “revised” line-up in the event the industrial relations dispute between the board and the players is resolved.

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West Indies Steamrollered By Slick South Africa

South Africa 388-4 (Kallis 86, Smith 83, Duminy 80no) beat
West Indies 200 (Sammy 52, van der Merwe 4-34) by 188 runs
ICC Champions Trophy warm-up, Potchefstroom

South Africa underlined their strength going into the ICC Champions Trophy with a dominant 188-run win over a West Indies side which could be one of the worst to play in the tournament in recent years.

Four South Africans reached half-centuries with embarrassing ease as they racked up 388 for four before the West Indies managed just 200 in 41.1 overs.

Graeme Smith led the way with 83 in 74 balls and after he and Jacques Kallis (86 in 90) had laid the platform, JP Duminy and Mark Boucher laid into the West Indian bowlers, who struggled badly.

Duminy blasted an unbeaten 80 in 49 deliveries with four fours and five sixes while Boucher helped himself to 55 in 27 balls with nine fours and a six.

Herschelle Gibbs retired having made 38 and AB de Villiers was the only man to miss out when he made 16, although even he needed just 15 balls.

Tino Best and David Bernard both picked up two wickets but at a combined cost of 159 runs in 20 overs worth of bowling.

Despite putting on 80 for the first wicket, the West Indies were never going to be able to keep pace with the South African juggernaut, and so it proved.

Dale Richards (41) and Andre Fletcher (35) needed no second invitation to play their strokes, but the middle order fell away, exposed by the spin bowling of Johan Botha (1-23), and Roelof van der Merwe (4-34).

Darren Sammy, who before the game had identified the Proteas as likely contenders for overall victory, was the only West Indian to settle, scoring 52 before being bowled by van der Merwe.

There was a wicket apiece for Dale Steyn, Kallis and Duminy.

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Pakistan Boosted By Warm-Up Win Over Sri Lanka

Pakistan 306-8 (Kamran Akmal 82, Misbah-ul-Haq 72) beat
Sri Lanka 198 (Kapugedera 59, Naved-ul-Hasan 5-41) by 108 runs
ICC Champions Trophy warm-up, Benoni

Pakistan gave themselves an enormous boost ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy with a convincing 108-run warm-up win over Sri Lanka, a team who arrived in South Africa high on form following decent home series against their opponents today and New Zealand.

Pakistan posted an imposing 306 for eight and Sri Lanka were then bowled out for 198, never recovering from losing five wickets before 100 runs were on the board.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan picked up five wickets, following up the efforts of Kamran and Umar Akmal as well as Misbah-ul-Haq, who all struck half-centuries in Pakistan's innings.

Kamran's 82 was a vital innings, as he lost three partners early on as Imran Nazir (12), Younus Khan (9) and Mohammad Yousuf (0) came and went, and he faced just 78 balls in all.

He formed a handy 71-run stand for the fourth wicket with Misbah, who made 72 and when Kamran was passed, the baton was passed from one brother to another and Umar was in scintillating form, blasting 67 from just 51 balls to put Pakistan on course for what turned out to be a winning score.

Shahid Afridi did his bit as only he can, weighing in with an unbeaten 36 in 24 balls to get his side past 300 although Nuwan Kulasekara returned three wickets and Muttiah Muralitharan marked his return from injury with a couple of scalps to give Sri Lanka hope.

The hope was misplaced - Mohammad Aamer struck with the third ball of the reply to have Tillakaratne Dilshan caught by Mohammad Yousuf and by the 23rd over, Sri Lanka were five down with 83 runs on the board.

Unlike against New Zealand earlier in the month, there was to be no way back - the total they were up against was too large which meant that although Chamara Kapugedera showed resolve and skill aplenty in scoring 59 and Angelo Mathews impressed with 49, Pakistan were always on top.

Naved finished things off, returning five for 41 when he had Dammika Prasad caught behind and he then ended the game by running out Thilan Thushara.

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New Zealand Humbled By Warriors In Trophy Warm-Up

Cheverolet Warriors 239-8 (D Jacobs 54, Butler 4-53) beat
New Zealand 237 (Guptill 78, Theron 5-42) by two wickets
ICC Champions Trophy warm-up, Pretoria

A New Zealand side minus three of its major stars was defeated by South African domestic franchise the Chevrolet Warriors as they got their preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy off to the worst possible start at the LC de Villiers Oval in Pretoria.

Batting first, a New Zealand side lacking the firepower of Jesse Ryder, Daniel Vettori and Shane Bond, was bowled out for 237 and despite not having a single established international player in their ranks, the Warriors reached 239 for eight with seven balls to spare.

Daniel Vettori had spoken before the game of the need for his batsmen to step up and although three of them did, they were still left short of a defendable total, particularly once Brendon Diamanti was unable to complete more than 2.3 overs.

Martin Guptill, opening the innings with Brendon McCullum, made 78 in 97 balls, Ross Taylor made 51 in 70 deliveries and Grant Elliott scored 47 in 48 balls but they were the only men to shine with the bat as the innings fell away with Juan Theron picking up five for 42 and Lyall Meyer two for 15.

Chasing 238 to win, the Warriors lost early wickets as Daryl Tuffey broke through to dismiss the top three men but unlike New Zealand, their lower middle-order kept them in the game.

54 from Davey Jacobs and 37 from JP Kreusch gave them hope before Theron, unbeaten on 21 in 19 balls, and Darryl Brown, who made eight not out, finished the match in the penultimate over.

Diamanti's problem meant that Elliott, Neil Broom and Guptill had to fill in, piling the pressure on the regular bowlers, for whom Ian Butler impressed by taking four for 53.

New Zealand play India in their final warm-up match on Sunday (20th September) and open their Champions Trophy campaign when they play South Africa on 24th September.

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Sri Lanka cricket team leaves for South Africa

Lanka cricket team left today for South Africa with the blessings of Buddhist monks to take part in the ICC Champions Trophy match.

The 2009 ICC Champions Trophy is to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa from September 22 to October 5.

Australia, England, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, and West Indies are the other participating countries.

Sri Lanka squad: Kumar Sangakkara (capt.), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dammika Prasad, Thilan Samaraweera, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Thushara

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India to play Kiwis at Champions Trophy warm-up

India have been allotted a warm-up match against New Zealand on September 20 at Potchefstroom ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa.

The Champions Trophy commences on September 22, where India, currently world’s top-ranked team, is placed in Group A along with defending champions Australia, recently crowned Twenty20 World Champions Pakistan and West Indies.

The ICC announced the schedule of warm-up matches ahead of the eight-nation extravaganza.

All the practice matches will be played on September 18 and 20 in Potchefstroom, Benoni and Pretoria.

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Predicting Champions winner is a tough call

EXPECTATIONS are on the rise with the ICC Champions Trophy cricket tournament about to start in South Africa.

On Cricinfo website this week, South Africa’s AB de Villiers made the point that the Proteas are keen to prove they are the best ODI side in the world and this justifies their present number one ranking.

India, who play Sri Lanka and New Zealand in a one day triangular in Sri Lanka this weekend, could very well take over the number one ranking if they win all their games.

A lot is at stake right now and there is not much to choose between the top teams. It could be one of the most wide open ICC tournaments of recent times.

A few teams are also playing cricket on the eve of this tournament, while others have had time off. Who will or will not benefit from their present situation?

For the record it is worth looking at South Africa’s record in ICC tournaments.

Sadly, our record has been below expectations, having only emerged triumphant in the inaugural Champions Trophy in 1998.

We have reached the semi-finals of the competition each time except in 2004, appeared three times in the final four of the World Cup, qualified for the semis of the ICC World Twenty20 this year and were knocked out in the Super Six round of the same tournament at home in 2007. No wonder the choker’s tag surfaces when it comes to the big time and whether it is an apt description or reason for our failures is debatable.

Nevertheless it still hangs around and only winning will rid South African cricket of this irritating and embarrassing tag. It would be foolish to keep betting against South Africa winning for surely our time will come. In this do-or-die competition, form and confidence will be vital.

This brings into consideration my point about form and confidence. Will South Africa benefit from not having played for four months? Could this be the catalyst for a runaway Champions Trophy win?

As I mentioned, Sri Lanka and New Zealand will have had plenty of cricket but playing all that cricket in sub-continent conditions still requires getting used to South African conditions.

India will have some good competitive cricket under their belt, but may well be a little rusty as could South Africa when it comes to game time.

Australia and England have also played plenty of cricket and they may be feeling fatigued by the time the tournament starts here on September 22.

They too need to adjust to South African conditions but this should be easier for them.

The West Indies it seems will be sending out their second XI which will be a great shame so one can’t seriously expect much from them.

Pakistan, the unpredictable dark horses of any tournament have also not played for a while. Form does not seem to worry them much as they find a way to win when it matters most.

It’s potentially anybody’s tournament, but one thing I would be comfortable with, is a little more tough cricket under the belt before things start.

India may be in a good position in this regard. Perhaps our long lay-off will mean greater intensity, energy and a will to win. The other teams who played plenty of cricket of late may be in the groove and battle-hardened. It’s a tough call.

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Champions Trophy umpires appointed

The ICC on Sunday announced details of the umpire and match referee appointments for the group stage of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa, which will take place from September 22 to October 5.

The match referees' responsibilities throughout the tournament will be shared between Jeff Crowe, Javagal Srinath and Roshan Mahanama of the elite panel of ICC match referees.

The on-field responsibilities will be shared by eight of the elite panel of ICC umpires, namely: Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Ian Gould, Daryl Harper, Tony Hill, Asad Rauf and Simon Taufel. Appointments have also been made for the warm-up matches to be played at Potchefstroom, Pretoria and Benoni on September 18 and 20. As at previous ICC events, none of these matches will carry official ODI status.

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ICC Champions Trophy South Africa 2009 - Match Schedule

Group A	Group B
Australia	South Africa
India	New Zealand
Pakistan	Sri Lanka
West Indies	England

Day	Date	The Wanderers	Centurion
1	Tue 22 Sep		South Africa v Sri Lanka D/N
2	Wed 23 Sep	Pakistan v West Indies D/N
3	Thu 24 Sep		South Africa v New Zealand D
4	Fri 25 Sep	Sri Lanka v England D/N
5	Sat 26 Sep	West Indies v Australia D/N	India v Pakistan D/N
6	Sun 27 Sep	New Zealand v Sri Lanka D	South Africa v England D/N
7	Mon 28 Sep		Australia v India D/N
8	Tue 29 Sep	England v New Zealand D/N
9	Wed 30 Sep	India v West Indies D/N	Australia v Pakistan D
10	Thu 1 Oct
11	Fri 2 Oct		Semi-final D/N
12	Sat 3 Oct	Semi-final D/N
13	Sun 4 Oct
14	Mon 5 Oct		Final D/N

Day games (D) start at 0930 hours and day/night (D/N) start at 1430 hours, local time. During the ICC Champions Trophy, South Africa is one hour ahead of the UK.

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SA to host ICC Champions Trophy

Cricket South Africa has accepted an invitation from the International Cricket Council to host the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy from 24 September to 5 October.

After the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked by terrorists in Pakistan at the beginning of March, the ICC decided move the event from Pakistan to Sri Lanka. Later, they decided to move it again, because of concerns about the weather in the island nation at that time of the year.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) was invited to host the Champions Trophy on 16 March and said it would look into the financial implications before making a decision.

On Wednesday, CSA announced that it will host the event, which pits the world's top 12 teams against one another in 50-overs-a-side competition. It is, in essence, a mini-World Cup.

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