Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Sri Lanka captain, has said that his team can do well in South Africa if they can manage to put runs on the board

Firdose Moonda in Benoni07-Dec-2011Sri Lanka’s Test squad have arrived in South Africa with an obvious weakness – their bowling. Tillakaratne Dilshan, their captain, chose to say almost nothing about it.”Any fast bowler who comes to South Africa likes to bowl here,” Dilshan said in Benoni, where Sri Lanka are preparing to play a warm-up match against an Invitation XI starting on Friday. And that was that.He made no reference to their missing quintet of seamers that includes Suranga Lakmal, their carrying of the perennially under-performing Dilhara Fernando, the responsibility that will sit on the shoulders of Chanaka Welegedara or the adjustments Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath will have to make to be effective in South Africa. He made no comments about the need to take 20 wickets to win a Test – something Sri Lanka have never done in South Africa.Instead, Dilshan’s plans for success in a country with some of the most seamer-friendly, pacy and bouncy pitches in the world did not involve the ball at all. “If the batting unit can put some runs on the board, we will do well in South Africa,” he said.Except that even in the batting department, Sri Lanka have not been their usual powerful selves. Only Kumar Sangakkara scored a century in their recent three-Test series against Pakistan, which they lost 1-0. Sri Lanka were bowled out in five of the six innings, three times for less than 260. “We know in the last few series, batting didn’t click,” Dilshan admitted.Yet when asked to identify the area which could prove match winning for Sri Lanka, Dilshan was adamant that it would be batting. If the line-up could use Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara as their kingpins and perform around them, Dilshan predicted they would do well. “The batting unit is experienced; Mahela and Sanga have played a little bit in South Africa. Those are experienced guys. We can build around them. Thilan [Samaraweera] has come back into the side, he is experienced guy in the middle order. Myself and the youngsters, like Chandimal, have to put their hands up.”Jayawardene and Sangakkara are two of the three players (the other being Fernando) to have played a Test in South Africa before, Sri Lanka last toured the country nine ago, in 2002. Dilshan admitted that his team will have to make a speedy adjustment to the conditions that are foreign to them. “We have played on and off one-day series in South Africa and that has helped a little bit,” he said. “But, everyone should get ready for these conditions as soon as possible.”The warm-up match will be Sri Lanka’s only opportunity to acclimatise to conditions and the pitch in Benoni should provide them with a good introduction to South African surfaces.Although not a particularly spicy pitch, it has recently produced a match in which wickets fell heavily. The SuperSport Series contest between the Titans and the Cobras in October saw the Titans dismissed for 112 in their first innings and nine wickets fell on the second day.Dilshan did say that some of his batsmen, including him, are already comfortable with such pitches. “Sanga, Mahela and myself really like bouncy tracks,” he said. “If we get runs on the board as a batting group in this three-day match and everyone can come into form, that will be important for us. We have to play our brand of cricket. If we can play our brand of cricket we can beat South Africa.”At the same time, Dilshan recognised that Sri Lanka had no room for mistakes. “We can’t make any mistakes. We have to be at 100% commitment for this series. Everyone should put their hands up and take responsibility.” Hopefully, that includes the bowlers as well.

Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka’s new captain, has said his second term will be for a year at most and that his priority is to rebuild the team after a string of defeats

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jan-2012Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka’s new captain, has said his second term will be for a year at most and that his priority is to rebuild the team following a string of defeats in Tests and ODIs after the 2011 World Cup. The tri-series in Australia, involving the hosts and India, will be Jayawardene’s first assignment after taking over the leadership from Tillakaratne Dilshan.”I took up the captaincy once again, for one year. Our target is to win matches, to regain our place as one of the top four Test-playing nations,” Jayawardene said in Colombo. “We have failed as a team in the past but we have to look past that and move forward. We face India and Australia next month. We need to take the positives from South Africa and focus on winning matches again.”Jayawardene was ODI captain from 2004 till 2009 (he took over as Test captain in 2006). He resigned in 2009, saying he wanted his successor to have sufficient time to build the team for the 2011 World Cup. Kumar Sangakkara took over from Jayawardene but stepped down after leading Sri Lanka to the final of the World Cup. Dilshan led Sri Lanka for nine months after the tournament, but resigned following series defeats in both Tests and ODIs in all his four assignments.”This is a juncture where the Sri Lanka cricket team needs someone’s help,” Jayawardene said. “I told the selectors that I will at the most remain the captain for a year, and we came to an agreement. To remain as the skipper I will have to contribute to the team. If I’m not doing a perfect role as a player, then I should not hold the captaincy.”I will turn 35 this year and I don’t have any intention to even remain in the team if I’m not making my contributions as a player. It’s a short-term decision. We will work on grooming the team and a future captain as well.”Dilshan backed Jayawardene’s appointment and said his tenure should be for more than a year. “Twelve months is not enough to groom a young Sri Lanka cricket team and a new captain. My opinion is that Mahela should be there for at least two years and we as players are willing to offer our support to him.”Sri Lanka’s next series will not only be under a new captain but also a new coach, Graham Ford, who replaced Geoff Marsh. Both Jayawardene and Dilshan did not comment on Marsh’s departure as Sri Lanka coach. Marsh had been appointed in Sepetmber 2011 but his tenure ended after defeats in the UAE and South Africa.”That is not my area. That is up to the selectors,” Jayawardene said when asked about Marsh. “My focus is to work with what I have got. Graham is experienced, and we need his services to rebuild, harness new players and win games.”Dilshan said: “There was criticism after we lost games about my leadership, so I resigned. The coach [Marsh], I don’t know, that is a decision of the selectors.”

A round-up of the latest round of matches of the SuperSport Series 2011-12

Firdose Moonda08-Jan-2012Cape Cobras held on to their spot at the top of the table with an innings and 54-run win over the Knights in Kimberley.The feat of the match came from the wicketkeeper-batsman Dane Vilas, who became the first to score more than 150 and make 10 dismissals, all catches, in a first-class match. Vilas was the star of the show as the Knights were skittled out for 218 and 160 in each of their innings.Between them, the Knights’ top three managed two ducks and a score of eight in their first innings, before Boeta Dippenaar’s 69 restored some pride. Rory Kleinveldt, who is part of South Africa’s one-day squad to play Sri Lanka, led the charge with 5 for 26.The Cobras fared little better and teetered on 106 for 6 before Vilas arrived at the crease. He combined with Robin Peterson for an eight wicket stand of 257. Peterson was out for 97 but Vilas went on to score the eighth first-class fifty of his career, a pacy 187 off 198 balls, including 23 fours and six sixes.Stunned by that effort, the Knights fell victim to Justin Kemp, who took 5 for 31, and fell apart. The massive loss was not their only casualty. Batsman Dean Elgar, who received his maiden call-up to the national side for the five-match one-day series against Sri Lanka, suffered a knee injury and was ruled out of the match and the international series. The Knights sit mid-table, in third position, a mere 2.66 points behind the Cobras.Even closer to the Cobras than that, are the Titans, who beat the Warriors by 202 runs in Benoni and are just 0.3 points off the lead. The national selectors would have watched that match with interest as a number of fringe players put their hands up for higher honours.Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who was playing in his first competitive match since October, took 4 for 90 as the Titans amassed 393 in their first innings. Faf du Plessis scored 112 and Albie Morkel an unbeaten 127. Wayne Parnell did not have anything pleasing to report as he finished with figures of 0-53 in seven overs and suffered a pinched nerve which kept him out of bowling in the second innings.Michael Price and JJ Smuts put on 113 for the third-wicket but the Warriors did not have too much other significant resistance and were bowled out for 264. Morkel took 3 for 33 while du Plessis’ legspin earned him 4 for 65.The Titans piled on the runs in the second innings, with Tumelo Bodice scoring 51, du Plessis 57 and Henry Davids 105. They declared on 326 for 6, setting the Warriors an improbable 456 for victory. An already tough task became impossible when the Warriors slumped to 10 for 3 in the fourth over, with Marchant de Lange doing the early damage.Jon-Jon Smuts defied the Titans for a while, with his 143, but had little support. Morkel picked up another two wickets and du Plessis 4 for 47 to end with eight in the match and give the Titans a comfortable win before lunch on the fourth day.

Northamptonshire have concluded their search for a left-arm spinner by bringing in Con de Lange, a 31-year-old South African who qualifies as a UK resident from his time living in Scotland

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Feb-2012Northamptonshire have concluded their search for a left-arm spinner by bringing in Con de Lange, a 31-year-old South African who qualifies as a UK resident from his time living in Scotland. de Lange’s signing has been made possible due to the assistance of “external benefactors”, chief executive David Smith said.Northants have been without a left-arm slow bowler for the last two years and recently stated that they were looking to fill that gap before the start of the season. de Lange, who has played all of his cricket in South Africa, has 175 first-class wickets to his name and is a capable lower-order batsman.”I’m very excited to be joining the Northants squad, having noticed how well the team has played over recent seasons,” de Lange said. “I want to be part of a successful squad and help the club gain promotion to Division One of the County Championship. I’m a fighter and I’m determined to always give my best for the team.”The arrival of de Lange will provide competition for offspinner James Middlebrook as the county looks to go one better on last season’s third-place finish in Division Two.David Capel, Northamptonshire’s head coach, said: “We have considered many candidates throughout the past 12 months and I am pleased that we a signed a player of Con’s quality, who will further strengthen the spin bowling department. I’m sure he will prove to be a great addition to the team.”Smith added: “The club has been very fortunate to have had some external benefactors in Northamptonshire assisting us in making this signing possible. At 31 years of age, Con will bring valuable experience to our squad and help us to be competitive in all forms of the game.”

David Hemp, the Bermuda captain, has said the fact that his team have played all but one of the teams in their World Twenty20 qualifier group before gives them an advantage

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Mar-2012David Hemp, the Bermuda captain, has said qualifying for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka would go a long way in resurrecting cricket on the island, particularly from a financial perspective. Bermuda cricket has seen a downturn since the heights of qualifying for the 2007 one-day World Cup but they have an opportunity to qualify for another ICC event when they participate in the World T20 qualifiers in the UAE in March.”It would mean an incredible amount, not only from a financial perspective but also from a cricketing one,” Hemp said. “I say this in light of the position that we currently find ourselves in, having slipped away from both ODI and High Performance status, which has naturally had a negative impact on funding. Qualifying for the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka would create an excitement and rejuvenate interest in the game again.”Bermuda are in Group A of the 16-team tournament in the UAE, along with Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, Denmark, Canada, Netherlands, Hong Kong and Nepal. Hemp said the fact that his team have played all but one of the teams in their group before gives them an advantage.”We’ve met all the sides in our group apart from Nepal so we’re feeling good after plenty of practice and preparation on the island in the last few months. I believe that the squad does have a chance of qualifying. We have a good balance between experience and youth, and several players possess the ability to perform a variety of roles if needed.”Bermuda will need to finish in the top three in their group to have a chance of earning one of the two spots up for grabs for the World Twenty20, to be held in September 2012. Hemp said he was aware that Canada and Netherlands, who played in the 50-over World Cup last year, and Afghanistan, who qualified for the previous World Twenty20, would be favourites to progress from their group.He said one of the players to watch out for in the Bermuda side was 17-year-old fast-bowling allrounder Kamau Leverock, nephew of Dwayne Leverock, who was one of Bermuda’s most-famous players. “Kamau is currently at school in the UK and has been getting some experience in second XI county sides. Another couple of players to watch out for are Joshua Gilbert, who is an offspinner, and Terryn Fray, a right-hand batsman who is currently attending college in the UK.”Edited by Dustin Silgardo

Huw Waters recorded career best bowling figures as Glamorgan fought their way back against Hampshire

20-Apr-2012
ScorecardHuw Waters recorded career best bowling figures as Glamorgan fought their way back into their County Championship Division Two clash against Hampshire on the second day at Cardiff.Waters, who missed most of last season with a stress fracture in his back, helped to bowl Hampshire out in their first innings for 156 with figures of 7 for 53. By the close Glamorgan had reached 73 for 3 in their second innings, an overall lead of 20.After resuming on 29 for 1 Hampshire had reached lunch at 108 for 4 to lead by five runs. But though they had got themselves into the lead they suffered three setbacks during the morning session.Waters, who had claimed the wicket of Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams yesterday evening, struck again to trap opener Liam Dawson lbw to leave the visitors 56 for 2. Simon Katich, the first man to score a Test century at the ground during the Ashes clash of 2009, lasted only 16 balls before being trapped leg before attempting to whip fellow Australian Moises Henriques on to the leg-side.Michael Carberry looked well set until he was dealt a painful blow in the groin and next ball he top-edged a hook straight to Waters at fine leg to give Henriques his second wicket in the space of three overs.After lunch Hampshire lost three wickets for the addition of just four runs in 19 balls. Eight deliveries into the session Sean Ervine was trapped leg before by Waters, who claimed his fourth wicket when James Vince edged an attempted hook straight to wicket-keeper Mark Wallace.The third wicket came when Jim Allenby had Chris Wood leg before to leave Hampshire 112 for 7. After more than an hour for rain Waters returned to take two more wickets.He produced a fine delivery to have Michael Bates caught behind and in his next over he had Hamza Riazuddin caught at mid-on. Waters completed his seven-wicket haul by having Danny Briggs caught at backward point.Glamorgan employed a new opening partnership for the second innings with Nick James taking over from Stewart Walters. But after a promising start it was the more established opener Gareth Rees who went. After driving David Balcombe for consecutive fours he was then bowled via an inside edge by the Hampshire seamer.Six overs later Will Bragg was also out trapped leg before by Riazuddin to leave Glamorgan 34 for two. James had reached 30 impressively until he was bowled shouldering arms to Ervine.

ESPNcricinfo previews the IPL match between Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils in Dharamsala

The Preview by Kanishkaa Balachandran18-May-2012

Match facts

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Start time 1600 (1030 GMT)Adam Gilchrist wasted no time in finding his rhythm after an injury layoff•AFP

Big Picture

Kings XI Punjab’s sternest test has been left for last. They came into their final two games needing to win both, first against the defending champions and then this year’s form team, to have any chance of progressing to the playoffs. They duly trampled Chennai Super Kings in Dharamsala to remain in contention, and will need to repeat the performance against Delhi Daredevils on Saturday. Even if they do, they will have to hope for a couple of other results to go their way, to secure their place in the final four.Getting past Daredevils, needless to say, will be a tough proposition. The teams met on Tuesday for the first time, with Daredevils securing an easy five-wicket win. Kings XI did well to pick up four early wickets to give themselves a fighting chance of defending 136, but in the final analysis, their batsmen let them down. They turned it around against Super Kings with a fine bowling effort in seaming conditions. Kings XI’s ground fielding, though, wasn’t impressive.Daredevils fell short by 21 runs in a high-scorer at the Feroz Shah Kotla against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Their bowlers had a tough outing, taking just one wicket and leaking 215. Virender Sehwag sat out due to an illness and Morne Morkel was rested. Their return for the final league match is uncertain. Daredevils can still experiment, considering they’re already through to the playoffs and have made sure they’ll have the added benefit of finishing in the top two. Daredevils’ batting looked vulnerable in spicier bowling conditions in Chennai recently. Dharamsala may not give them much respite.

Form guide

Kings XI Punjab: WLWWL (most recent first, completed games)
Delhi Daredevils: LWLWL

Players to watch

Adam Gilchrist had to sit out nine matches to allow his torn hamstring to heal. The wait was worth it as he hammered an unbeaten 64 against Super Kings to pilot Kings XI’s chase, and there were no signs of rustiness as he brought out his trademark cuts and slogs.It had been a sleepy tournament for Ross Taylor until his aggressive 55 off 26 balls at the Kotla against Royal Challengers. Taylor was the only half-centurion for Daredevils in their chase of 216 and his wicket turned out to be the most prized of the evening. His return to form has strengthened Daredevils’ middle-order, which had seemed in dodgy form after Kevin Pietersen’s departure.

Stats and trivia

• Daredevils have the second-best strike-rate this season: 132.35, behind only Royal Challengers Bangalore
• Kings XI’s current leading run-scorer and wicket-taker are Indian players: Mandeep Singh (432 runs) and Parvinder Awana (17 wickets)
  

  Quotes

  “We are underdogs, and we have still managed to beat all the big teams. We always believed in our game and played hard cricket.

Andrew Strauss promised that he would allow himself to celebrate with a “little glass of something” after his first Test hundred for 18 months

David Hopps18-May-2012Andrew Strauss promised that he would allow himself to celebrate with a “little glass of something” after his first Test hundred for 18 months ended concerns about his faltering batting form as England captain.”You feel like you want to take the monkey off your back and contribute to the team – that’s the most important thing,” he said on Sky Sports. “It was a great feeling. It was quite tortuous getting the final 20 runs but I suppose that makes it all the more rewarding. I had to dig pretty deep.”Strauss’ home crowd were jubilant as he made his fifth Test hundred at Lord’s. “It was a very special ovation,” he said. “It went on and on. It was slightly emotional. I have felt good in the preparation to this game but you still have to go out there and do it. It is a great feeling tonight to know that that I have got a few.”England finished the second day of the first Test against the West Indies on 259 for 3, 16 ahead, and Strauss, his authority again unquestioned as the captain who has led England to the No. 1 Test ranking and home and away Ashes triumphs, will resume on 121 not out on the third morning.”I think my hundred on debut at Lord’s was probably more important but it’s been a while so it’s probably one of the more special ones,” he said. “I love batting here. It is the home of cricket and the ground by which every other ground is measured. I may have a little glass of something tonight.”Strauss had no complaints about the scrutiny that has built up around his modest batting form since his last hundred, against Australia in Brisbane in November 2010. “It is what it is. It becomes the talking point and until you get runs it remains the talking point. That’s just how it is. It is enjoyable to get the hundred and now I can flick it to someone else.”He also had praise for the England team-mates who have stood by him. “We stick together and when one guy is under the pump a bit we are delighted when he comes through,” he said.

Derbyshire put a significant dent in Lancashire’s hopes of qualifying for the Friends Life t20 quarter-finals by claiming a three-wicket win with seven balls to spare at Old Trafford

01-Jul-2012
ScorecardWes Durston’s half-century helped steer Derbyshire home•Getty Images

Derbyshire put a significant dent in Lancashire’s hopes of qualifying for the Friends Life t20 quarter-finals by claiming a three-wicket win with seven balls to spare at Old Trafford. Derbyshire came out on top on a slow pitch to secure victory for only the second time in the North Division, the first of those also being against Lancashire – who may now have to win their last three matches to qualify.Pakistan fast bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan led the way with 3 for 20, including two wickets in the penultimate over of the innings, as the hosts could only post 122 for 8.Man of the match Wes Durston then hit three sixes in four balls off Steven Croft in the third over to break the back of their chase. Having earlier taken 2 for 16 from four overs of off-spin, Durston, the former Somerset man, also hit five fours in a score of 56 off 36 balls.Lancashire’s spin duo of Gary Keedy (2 for 20) and Stephen Parry also impressed to make the contest tighter than it could have been before Rana hit the winning run.Invited to bat, Lancashire failed to recover from losing Stephen Moore to the second legitimate ball of the match, stumped by Tom Poynton off Durston. Croft and Tom Smith shared 54 in eight and a half overs for the second wicket but that was as good as it got. Croft top-scored with 48 off 46 balls, including three fours and a six. Lancashire only hit five fours and a six in the innings, all of those coming in the first five overs.When Durston had Croft caught at short fine-leg via a top-edged sweep, the hosts were 78 for 4 in the 14th over. Paul Horton added 27 off 26 balls but even that failed to add any impetus to the innings.Fledgling left-arm spinner Tom Knight impressed with 1 for 13 from three overs and Tim Groenewald picked up two wickets at the death. Rana bowled Smith with a slower ball before getting Yasir Arafat caught at mid-off and Glen Chapple trapped lbw in the 19th over. Durston then capitalised on seeing opening partner Usman Khawaja dropped on 4 by Moore at cover off Croft by taking a liking to the same bowler.He brought up his fifty off just 24 balls, also including five fours, but was stumped by Gareth Cross off Keedy to leave the score at 76 for 1 in the 10th over, in which Keedy also bowled Khawaja (15). Parry conceded only 11 runs from four overs before Croft, Arafat and Chapple all struck consolatory blows, although they were not enough to prevent Derbyshire reaching 124 for 7.

Former Pakistan fast bowler and coach Waqar Younis has been confirmed as the coach for the Ruhuna side for the inaugural season of Sri Lanka Premier League

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jul-2012Former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis has been confirmed as the coach for the Ruhuna franchise for the inaugural season of Sri Lanka Premier League, according to the organisers Somerset Entertainment Ventures Ltd. Other notable appointments include former Sri Lanka captain Duleep Mendis and Australians Tom Moody and Trevor Bayliss.”Waqar [Younis] is one of six appointments that have been finalised regarding the coaching positions, with only Kandurata province yet to finalise who their coach will be,” Sandeep Bhammer, chief executive of Somerset Entertainment Ventures Ltd, told . “We have a couple of local appointments, with Duleep Mendis coaching Basnahira and Naveed Nawaz will be head coach for Uva.”In addition, and to add to the international flavour of the tournament, Australian’s Shane Duff will be the head coach for Nagenahira, Tom Moody will coach Utuhura and Trevor Bayliss has been appointed as head coach for Wayamba.”The squads for the seven franchises were announced on July 6. A total of 56 overseas players and 107 local players are part of the squads, giving each franchise a preliminary list of 24 players. The tournament is scheduled to start on August 10.