India meet SA to prove ODI superiority

After the Test stalemate, a depleted India and a scarred South Africa will begin their battle of ODI supremacy today when the three-match series gets underway at a fortified Sawai Mansingh Stadium here. The Indian team arrived here yesterday high on morale and low on resource and it would require more than a nip and a tuck to fill the void created by the absence of some of their key players. The hosts’s bowling unit will lack the firepower of Zaheer Khan after the pace spearhead strained a leg muscle during the Kolkata Test against the Proteas. Zaheer’s absence would sorely be felt not just because he leads the attack but also because he has been virtually India’s bowling captain, mentoring fellow pacers with his elder-brotherly concern. The spin department would also not be the same without the feisty Harbhajan Singh, who would miss the first two ODIs to attend his sister’s wedding. The volatile offie, who had just regained his mojo in Kolkata, would have been quite a handful for the South Africans with his bag of tricks and reckless slogging down the order, not to mention of his confrontational approach. India’s batting also loses some of its formidability because of the absence of left-handed duo of Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir, the first is nursing an injury in his left wrist and the second a groin. Like the recent Test series, here also India has more than just a bunch of personal reputations at stake. India need to win the three-match ODI series to remain the number two one day side in the world which would entitle them to USD 75,000 from the ICC. To stave off the South Africans, India would expect the substitute players to come to the party today. S Sreesanth, Zaheer’s replacement, is expected to share the new ball with Ashish Nehra tomorrow and the Kerala speedster would have to ensure that he is upto the mark. Uttar Pradesh teammates Sudeep Tyagi and Praveen Kumar would vie for the third pacer’s slot tomorrow. In the slow bowling department, Amit Mishra is almost certain to play tomorrow and he is expected to share the spin burden with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, whose utility in one day cricket has been proven beyond doubt. In the batting line-up, Gambhir and Yuvraj’s absence could be compensated only if the top order fire in unison. Irrespective of whether India set a total or chase one, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar would have to provide the start they are expected of and Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina need to continue the good work. Mahendra Singh Dhoni has fond memories of the venue. In 2005, it was at the same venue that the star stumper-batsman, then with flowing tresses, had hit a devastating unbeaten 245-ball 183 which remains his highest ODI score so far. Since then, the Indian captain has modelled himself more into a finisher but the crowd would assemble here tomorrow to see glimpse of the old Dhoni. A product of the same power-hitting school, Baroda all-rounder Yousuf Pathan is also set to make it to the playing XI tomorrow, hoping to continue his red hot form that has won him a recall to the side. Fortunately for Dhoni, India is not the only team grappling with injuries. South Africa has already lost their charismatic captain Graeme Smith and even though stop-gap leader Jacques Kallis has an enviable record against India, how much inspiration this burly all-rounder manages to provide remains to be seen. Prolific top order batsman Hashim Amla has been asked to stay back and fill Smith’s void. Amla may have been a run-machine in the drawn Test series but one day cricket is a different kettle of fish altogether and the bearded batsman might struggle to adjust to the ODI mode. Their bowling, especially Dale Steyn, looked too hot to handle in the Nagpur Test but was pretty pedestrian in Kolkata. Steyn’s pace, Morne Morkel’s bounce and Wayne Parnell’s angles remain a worry but the Indian line-up is capable enough to blunt them all.

South Africa Seals First Test Cricket Series Win in Australia

South Africa clinched an historic Test series win in Australia to leave the Baggy Greens facing an uncertain future after years of domination.

Fresh from their series defeat in India, Ricky Ponting's Aussies were expected to return to the routine of smashing opponents around on home turf – notwithstanding the talent of the current South Africa side.

A 2-0 series win against New Zealand had the train back on the rails before the arrival of Graeme Smith's saboteurs, with two gutsy fightbacks by the Proteas in each of the two Tests so far have leaving the hosts with some hard questions before their Ashes tour of England in the summer.

Hashim Amla hit the winning runs on Tuesday as the tourists reached their target of 183 to win by a massive nine wickets.

Captain Smith stroked 75 before falling just before lunch as Neil McKenzie, with 59 not out, and Amla saw South Africa home.

Dale Steyn, who took five wickets in the Aussies' second innings and hit 76 in South Africa's first, was voted man-of-the-match.

Ponting must deal with the reality of becoming the first captain in 16 years to cede a series defeat at home, while question marks hang over the futures of batsmen Matthew Hayden and Mike Hussey – giants of their craft currently going through torrid spells.

Where paceman Brett Lee used to provide the support for Glenn McGrath in the attack, he now holds the cutting edge without which his own support bowlers look lacking.

And after Jason Krejza's promising start in India, it now looks like there will be a long, hard search for a replacement capable of hitting half the heights of spin legend Shane Warne.

Ponting said there were few positives to be taken from his side's performances.

"South Africa have outplayed us in all the big moments of these two Test matches," he said. "There are some positives there for us, but not many. This is a series win for them that's well-deserved." The sides now travel to Sydney for the third and final Test, with Australia needing to turn their big starts into a win. They had set South Africa a huge run chase of 414 in the first match in Perth, only to see their opponents whittle it down with little fuss. And on day two at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground the tourists were 198-7, almost 200 runs behind Australia, before Steyn and rookie Duminy shared an incredible ninth-wicket partnership of 180 to get the Proteas back in the match.

South Africa win the 2nd test against

South Africa swept aside Bangladesh by an innings and 48 runs in the second Test Friday at SuperSport Park, wrapping up victory more than an hour before the close on the third day of the match.

South Africa was led by centuries from Ashwell Prince, who hit a career-best 162 not out, and Mark Boucher (117) and carved out a first innings lead of 179. They were dismissed shortly before lunch Friday, and then skittled Bangladesh for 131 in their second innings, in 36.4 overs.

Although Bangladesh were competitive for longer periods in the second Test, they put up a poor show in their second innings in the face of fiery fast bowling from the Proteas, with Makhaya Ntini, Morne Morkel and Monde Zondeki each picking up two wickets. The tourists also suffered three run-outs.

Bangladesh showed no stomach for the Proteas' short-pitched bowling, and only four batsmen reached the 20s. Debutante middle-order batsman Raqibul Hasan was the top scorer with 28.

South African opening batsman Neil McKenzie scored a duck when his side batted, but grabbed his second great diving catch in the gully, off Morne Morkel, to send Tamim Iqbal on his way for 20.

Prince was named man of the match and of the series. He scored 59 not out in his only innings in the first Test.

The major breakthrough for the tourists had come via left-arm spinner Shakib al Hasan, who took three wickets in fours balls in his second over of the day, midway through the first session.

Al Hasan finished with 6-99 in the Proteas first innings. He was clubbed for 11 runs in his first over of the day, which included a four and six to midwicket by Prince, but he hit back dramatically in his next over.

Prince surpassed his previous best score of 149, scored against England at Leeds earlier this year, just over an hour into the day's play, but Mark Boucher's dismissal soon afterward set in motion a lower-order collapse.

The South African wicketkeeper prodded an Al Hasan delivery to silly mid-off when he had made 117. He had hit 16 fours and the partnership between he and Prince was broken at 271, compiled in 190 minutes.

Morne Morkel chopped the next ball onto his leg and back onto the stumps to be out for a duck, and two balls later Monde Zondeki was caught behind as Al Hasan's final ball of the over brushed his gloves.

Makhaya Ntini was the third batsman in a row dismissed without scoring, when he drove Shahadat Hossain to mid-off for Mohammad Ashraful to take a diving catch. Dale Steyn, who scored one run, helped Prince add 17 for the last wicket before bottom-edging an attempted hook onto his stumps to give Hossain his second wicket.

Prince's 10th Test century meant he has scored a hundred against all the other test-playing countries except Sri Lanka. The gritty left-hander finished with 23 fours and two sixes.

South Africa won the first Test by an innings and 129 runs at Bloemfontein.

Siddique and Rahim guide Bangladesh, 2nd Test Bangladesh in South africa 2008

Morne Morkel caught and bowled Mohammad Ashraful

1st Day
Junaid Siddique and Mushfiqur Rahim hit half-centuries to lead a spirited Bangladesh batting effort on the first day of the second and final Test against South Africa at Centurion Park Wednesday.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 250, with Siddique making 67 and Rahim 65.

South Africa were 20 for one at the close, with Neil McKenzie dismissed for nought in the third over of the innings.

Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel took four wickets each but South Africa's all-pace attack met stiffer resistance than they did in the first Test in Bloemfontein, where South Africa won by an innings and 129 runs.

The bowlers were not helped by some uncharacteristically sloppy South African fielding, with both Siddique and Rahim surviving two dropped catches.

The tourists showed greater resolve from the moment captain Mohammad Ashraful won the toss and decided to bat, in a reversal of his team's policy in the first Test.

It took South Africa an hour to separate opening batsmen Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes, who batted with patience and discipline.

There was another useful stand between Iqbal and Siddique but Bangladesh seemed to be heading for familiar territory when three wickets fell for 17 runs on either side of lunch to reduce them to 71 for four.

But Siddique and new cap Raqibul Hasan put on 51 for the fifth wicket before Shakib Al Hasan and Siddique added 37 for the sixth wicket.

The left-handed Siddique was seventh man out after facing 144 balls and hitting 11 boundaries. He played some confident off-side strokes after surviving chances on 14 and 19.

Rahim, batting at number eight, had only 16 when he was joined by last man Mahbubul Alam but he then went for his shots in a last wicket stand of 56 in which Alam scored only one run.

The diminutive Rahim hooked and then pulled South Africa's leading fast bowler Dale Steyn for sixes. It was a poor day for Steyn, who took only one wicket and conceded 80 runs in 17 overs.

Ntini was the pick of the South African bowlers, taking four for 32 in 19.2 overs before leaving the field after two balls in a final spell with what appeared to be cramp.

The tall Morkel bowled some ferocious deliveries but struggled to find a consistent rhythm, conceding 12 no-balls as he took four for 73 in 18 overs.

South Africa made a poor start when McKenzie was squared up by a lifting delivery from Mashrafe Mortaza and looped a catch to gully.

New batsman Hashim Amla survived a frenzied appeal for a legside catch by wicketkeeper Rahim off Mortaza's next ball but umpire Ian Gould ruled correctly that the ball had deflected off the batsman's thigh pad.

Scoreboard at close of play on the first day of the second and final Test between South Africa and Bangladesh at Centurion Park here on Wednesday:

Bangladesh, first innings

Falls: 1-25 (Kayes), 2-56 (Iqbal), 3-57 (Ashraful), 4-71 (Mehrab), 5-122 (Raqibul), 6-159 (Shakib), 7-166 (Siddique), 8-186 (Mortaza), 9-194 (Shahadat)

South African win 1st test by an innings and 129 runs defeat against Bangladesh

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful admitted his side failed to cope with South Africa's fast bowlers after they crashed to an innings and 129 runs defeat on the fourth day of the first Test at Springbok Park here Saturday.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 159 in their follow-on innings after being dismissed for 153 in the first innings.

"The wicket was good but it had a bit of bounce and the batsmen couldn't apply themselves," said Ashraful.

The left-handed Mehrab Hossain provided the only highlight for Bangladesh Saturday as they lost seven wickets for 92 runs, with the match ending 20 minutes before lunch.

Fast bowler Dale Steyn took five for 63, his ninth five-wicket haul in 26 Tests.

Ashraful said he would look for an improved performance in the second and final Test starting in Centurion Wednesday but indicated there would be no change from the generally aggressive approach by his team's batsmen.

Responding to a suggestion that some of the batsmen may have thrown their wickets away, Ashraful said: "It might appear that way but in Test cricket you also have to score runs."

There is unlikely to be any respite for Bangladesh as South African coach Mickey Arthur said he had requested a pitch with pace and bounce at Centurion.

South African captain Graeme Smith, who was named man of the match after scoring 157 in South Africa's innings, said he was satisfied with his team's first Test outing in almost three months.

He was not concerned by the lack of form of some of his top order batsmen, with the side slumping from 327 for one to 441 for nine.

"We wanted everyone to have a good go in the middle in these two Test matches.

"It wasn't a wicket where it was easy to force the pace and when we tried to do that in the middle order we lost our way a bit, with maybe one or two careless shots.

"But 450, 500 was a total we wanted to declare on so we could have a go at their batsmen that afternoon."

Smith and Arthur indicated that fast bowler Monde Zondeki might come into the side in place of injured left-arm spinner Paul Harris for the second Test as part of an all-pace attack, despite the recall of Robin Peterson, another left-armer, for Centurion.

Overnight batsmen Ashraful and Hossain survived the first half hour without any major alarms before Makhaya Ntini switched to bowling around the wicket. His first delivery after the change reared up at Ashraful who could only fend the ball to Neil McKenzie at gully.

It was the start of a disastrous period for Bangladesh as three wickets fell for one run in 11 balls.

Shakib Al Hasan was undone by the pace of Steyn, caught behind as he tried to withdraw his bat, before first innings top scorer Mushfiqur Rahim was run out for nought after a mix-up with Mehrab Hossain.

After that Bangladesh were doomed to an early defeat, with Steyn having Naeem Islam caught behind off a classic fast bowler's away swinger. Mashrafe Mortaza was bowled before Mehrab Hossain and Shahadat Hossain put on 44 for the ninth wicket.

Shahadat, whose stand of 60 with Mushfiqur Rahim was the best of the first innings, again lived dangerously as he made 16 before he was bowled by Steyn.

Jacques Kallis completed South Africa's win when he had last man Muhbubul Alam caught at mid-on.

Proteas in charge

South Africa enjoyed a commanding position at tea on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh.

After declaring their first innings on 441 for nine, the hosts reduced Bangladesh to 33 for three in Bloemfontein.

Dale Steyn produced a superb delivery to uproot Tamim Iqbal's off stump before Junaid Siddique got a leading edge to Morne Morkel to give Ashwell Prince a simple catch at point. Imrul Kayes was the third man to go, caught by Hashim Amla off the bowling of Paul Harris.

Earlier in the day, the home side lost four wickets for 38 runs before Prince (59 not out) helped steer them to a sizeable total.

Harris injury blow for South Africa

South African left-arm spinner Paul Harris suffered a fracture to the base of his left thumb before play started in the first Test against Bangladesh, it was revealed Thursday.

It was announced that Harris would not bat but that he would be able to bowl.

The injury happened during the warm-up before play Wednesday. Because it happened after the toss Harris could not be replaced.

Media officer Michael Owen-Smith said further details would be released when a full medical report was available.

3rd ODI Bangladesh in South Africa 2008

The final one-day international between South Africa and Bangladesh at East London has been washed out. The weather had been poor through the night and there was no let-up during the morning ahead of the day/night encounter, leaving the umpires no option but to abandon the game an hour before the start.

Why Smith is making such awful fuss?

"It's a sad day for cricket when one team stops chasing when they are
three wickets down"South Africa captain Graeme Smith

I know Graeme Smith is not only a very aggressive Batsman but also famous for his firebrand remarks. He likes to attack both on field and off field. Now, he targets a relatively soft target which is unfortunately helpless Bangladesh cricket team. He joins the cheerleading club "GetOUT Bangladesh".South Africa scored 358 runs in 50 Overs and four wickets were down.
Bangladeshi bowlers are massacred by South African bowlers.

Fall of wickets of Bangladesh
1-46 (Tamim Iqbal, 4.6 ov), 2-88 (Imrul Kayes, 16.1 ov), 3-101 (Mohammad Ashraful, 19.4 ov), 4-127 (Raqibul Hasan, 26.5 ov), 5-140 (Junaid Siddique, 31.3 ov), 6-169 (Shakib Al Hasan, 38.2 ov), 7-170 (Naeem Islam, 38.6 ov), 8-172 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 40.6 ov), 9-225
(Mashrafe Mortaza, 48.3 ov), 10-230 (Syed Rasel, 49.2 ov)

Bangladesh started the inning brightly thanks to the storming innings from Tamim. After him only Mohammad Ashraful and Shakib Al Hasan were the last hope to cross 300 marks. But after loss of three top order batsman is there any team in the world want to chase 358 runs in a cloudy and windy day with Dale Steyn bowling at 140Km/h? Every team wants to build up partnership from there and try to make losing margin smaller. But according to him this approach makes the "sad day for cricket". Is it so easy to make Cricket sad so easily? Is Cricket like a crying doll who always cries when the button is pressed?

3rd ODI at Kennington Oval, London - Aug 29, 2008
England won by 126 runs
England 296/7 (50 ov); South Africa 170 (42.4 ov)
Fall of wickets1-19 (Gibbs, 6.3 ov), 2-67 (Amla, 15.4 ov), 3-77 (Kallis, 18.2 ov), 4-82 (de Villiers, 20.5 ov), 5-114 (Boucher, 28.6 ov), 6-134 (JA Morkel, 32.4 ov), 7-142 (Duminy, 33.5 ov), 8-160 (M Morkel, 38.4 ov), 9-170 (Botha, 42.1 ov), 10-170 (Ntini, 42

Look at this scoreboard. Aug 29, 2008 was another sad day for Cricket. Isn`t it? Let us stood side-by-side for a one-minute silence in memory of that day (!).

Why he is making such awful fuss? Perhaps he did not want to field for long 218 minutes (49.2 overs). "You can fry an egg on his (Smith's) face within two minutes." Shane Warne. Thank you Mr. Shane Warne your one line statement has expressed thousand words.

2nd ODI Bangladesh in South Africa 2008

Hashim Amla scored his maiden one-day international century as South Africa beat Bangladesh by 128 runs to take a 2-0 lead in their three-game series. He shared an opening stand of 136 with Graeme Smith (65) and cracked four sixes in his run-a-ball 140. AB de Villiers hit four maximums in his 54 not out, while Albie Morkel smashed 37 off 13 to set an imposing 358-4. Tamim Iqbal blazed 41 off 22 but the Tigers reply faltered as Johan Botha and Dale Steyn took three wickets each. An asking rate starting at over seven-an-over was always going to be too much for Bangladesh who had not helped themselves with some wayward bowling and poor fielding after asking their hosts to bat first. Amla was dropped by Mashrafe Mortaza on 15 and he took full advantage, playing some elegant strokes early on before extending his arms in the later overs. Smith was also dropped, on 54, but looked in good touch on his return from the tennis elbow injury he suffered while on tour in England in August, stroking six fours and one six to help set the foundation for his side's huge total. Kallis also scored his 49 at a run-a-ball before being cleaned up by Abdur Razzak, while de Villiers and Morkel produced some late fireworks, hitting seven sixes and five fours between them. "It's a sad day for cricket when one team stops chasing when they are three wickets down"
South Africa captain Graeme Smith

Teenager Iqbal hit four boundaries in Johann Louw's first over and two fours and a six off Steyn in the next to get Bangladesh's reply off to a bold start. But, after scoring 41 off 21 deliveries, he top-edged an attempted hook off Steyn to JP Duminy at square leg and the Tigers stuttered. Off-spinner Botha removed Imrul Kayes and Mohammad Ashraful in quick succession to leave Bangladesh 101-3. Junaid Siddique started aggressively, but became tied down and was leg before to Botha for 47 off 80 balls, to leave the visitors 140-5 and only a plucky ninth-wicket partnership between Mortaza and Abdur Razzak gave the score any respectability. But Bangladesh's approach to the game drew criticism from South Africa skipper Smith. He said: "It's a sad day for cricket when one team stops chasing when they are three wickets down. "Perhaps it's something that cricket needs to look at."

South Africa beats Bangladesh by 61 runs in the 1st ODI

Fast bowler Dale Steyn wrecked Bangladesh with a haul of 4-16 to help South Africa complete a 61-run victory in their first one-day cricket international Friday.

Bangladesh was bowled for 222 in the 45th over, after good late-innings hitting propelled South Africa to 283-8 at Senwes Park.

South Africa leads 1-0 in the three-match series, with the next match scheduled for Sunday in Benoni.

Man of the match Steyn, only recently returned to action after illness, snared two early wickets to leave the Bangladeshis on 19-2. Later, he removed danger man and captain Mohammad Ashraful for 73 as he struck twice in two balls in the 35th over.

Ashraful had featured in two threatening partnerships. He and opener Tamim Iqbal - 24 off 39 balls with four fours - added 54 for the third wicket, keeping up the required run-rate until the 14th over.

Then, after Iqbal was run out, Ashraful paced himself well in concert with left-hander Shakib Al Hasan - 51 off 77 balls with six fours - to add 92 for the fifth wicket in 20 overs.

Bowling with attitude, Steyn struck with the first ball of his second spell, having Ashraful, who had started to accelerate his scoring rate ominously, caught behind. The small but powerful right-hander smashed 10 fours in a delightful 79-ball innings, four of them in one Johan Louw over.

After his dismissal, Bangladesh folded and was all out in 44.2 overs. Allrounder Albie Morkel also grabbed two wickets in an over in his 3-40, while his brother Morne finished with 2-44.

South Africa smashed 66 in its final five overs to make the total competitive.

Rookie allrounder Louw battered three sixes and a boundary for 23 off seven balls, and captain Johan Botha hit five fours but needed eight extra deliveries for his 23.

The Proteas' run-rate had earlier been slowed by Bangladeshi spinners Naeem Islam and Abdur Razzak.

Jacques Kallis top-scored with 50 off 73 balls and put on the biggest partnership of 69 with A.B. de Villiers - 35 off 43 with three fours - for the third wicket in just under 15 overs. Kallis was out to a good catch on the long-leg boundary by Iqbal off Islam.

The only other 50-run stand was between openers Hashim Amla and Justin Ontong. Amla was run out for 35 off 34 balls with six fours after being sent back when attempting a risky single, to leave South Africa at 56-1. Ontong hit four fours in his 27 off 38 balls.

Botha slammed a four off the first ball of the 46th over through mid-on to start the late onslaught, and picked up another boundary sweeping to fine-leg in the same over.

He flicked two boundaries in two balls off reverse sweeps in the next over from Islam, but was out immediately afterward when he top-edged a conventional sweep to Razzak.

That brought Louw to the wicket and he smashed a six to midwicket off his first ball, from slow left-armer Shakib al Hasan, then repeated the feat immediately, hitting the ball even farther.

Louw followed the sixes with a beautiful cover drive to the fence off the third ball he faced, to take his tally to 16.

In the 49th and next over, Louw easily cleared the midwicket boundary for a third six. But he was out off the first ball of the final over, bowled by left-arm seamer Syed Rasel as he went for another big shot.

At the other end, the Proteas' renowned big hitter, Albie Morkel, rotated the strike. He brought an end to the innings by lifting a ball from Rasel over the boundary at wide mid-on to finish 32 not out off 39 balls with two fours and a six.

Islam was the best of the Bangladesh bowlers with 3-60 after dismissing Kallis, De Villiers and Botha.

For more news

Steyn blows Bangladesh away The Times, South Africa

Steyn rescues stuttering Proteas Independent Online, South Africa

SA beat Bangladesh by 61 runs Dispatch Online, South Africa

Steyn too sharp for Tigers SkySports

Steyn pace sinks Bangladesh AFP

Bangladesh tour of South Africa 2008

Wed 5 18:00 local, 16:00 GMT	Only Twenty20 International - South Africa v Bangladesh New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Fri 7 14:30 local, 12:30 GMT	1st ODI - South Africa v Bangladesh Senwes Park, Potchefstroom
Sun 9 10:00 local, 08:00 GMT	2nd ODI - South Africa v Bangladesh Willowmoore Park, Benoni
Wed 12 14:30 local, 12:30 GMT	3rd ODI - South Africa v Bangladesh Buffalo Park, East London
Sat 15 - Sun 16 10:30 local, 08:30 GMT	South African Airways Challenge XI v Bangladeshis De Beers Diamond Oval, Kimberley
Wed 19 - Sun 23 10:30 local, 08:30 GMT	1st Test - South Africa v Bangladesh OUTsurance Oval, Bloemfontein
Wed 26 - Sun 30 10:30 local, 08:30 GMT	2nd Test - South Africa v Bangladesh SuperSport Park, Centurion