Yuvraj Singh's brutal 123-run knock helps India A thrash Windies A

 

Bangalore: Yuvraj Singh staked his claim for national team selection as he struck a brutal 89-ball 123 to lead India `A` to a thumping 77-run victory over West Indies `A` in the first of the three-match One-day series, here on Sunday.

Handed a lifeline to return to the ODI team by being named captain of India `A`, Yuvraj produced a sensational exhibition of strokeplay by hitting eight fours and seven sixes in his scintillating innings to help India raise 312 for four after being put to bat at the Chinnaswany Stadium.

The match was reduced to 42-over-a-side affair due to two-hour delayed start on account of wet outfield.

India `A` then bowled out the visitors for 235 in 39.1 overs, giving the home side 1-0 lead in the series with the remaining two matches to be played at the same venue on September 17 and 19.

Chasing the formidable target, the visiting side lost the plot early on as they were reduced to 58 for three in the 11th over and after a brief recovery with a 54-run stand between Narsingh Deonarine (57) and Andre Fletcher (29), they again lost quick wickets to fold up at 235.

Ashley Nurse (57) was the other notable contributor for West Indies `A` whose batsmen perished while playing shots for quick runs.

For India `A`, R Vinay Kumar, Rahul Sharma, Yusuf Pathan and Sumit Narwal grabbed two wickets each while Jaydev Unadkat got a wicket.

Earlier, Yuvraj tore apart the West Indies `A` bowling attack as he unleashed his wide range of strokes after a cautious start.

The 31-year-old left-hander, who last played an international match in January, was simply superb with his drives on the up and also with the pull shots which all came with impeccable placement and timing.

Mandeep Singh and Yusuf Pathan -- who is also looking for a comeback to the ODI team -- played perfect second fiddle to Yuvraj to help themselves to 67 from 78 balls (7x4, 1x6) and 70 not out from 32 balls (4x4, 6x6) respectively.

Will BCCI impose life ban on Lalit Modi?

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi is set to be banned by the BCCI on charges of financial irregularities in its Special General Meeting (SGM) on September 25.

According to a news channel, a report submitted by the cricket board’s disciplinary committee alleges Modi of rigging bids to favour two companies to buy new IPL franchisees, rigging league’s internet and broadcast rights and attempting to form a rebel league among others.

The committee has recommended a life ban on Modi who ran the lucrative tournament for the first three years before being suspended and subsequently moving to London claiming danger to his life in India.

For the ban to be imposed, a two-third majority needs vote in its favour meaning at least 21 members will have to support the decision at the SGM.

1st Test, Day 3: Younis Khan leads Pakistan’s fightback

Harare: Veteran Younis Khan led a Pakistan fightback after his side lost three early second-innings wickets on the third day of the first Test against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday.

Pakistan were 168 for four at the close, a lead of 90 runs, with Younis unbeaten on 76.

Younis and fellow veteran, captain Misbah-ul-Haq, ground out a fourth-wicket stand of 116 after their side, who trailed by 78 runs after the first innings, slipped to 23 for three against Zimbabwe`s new ball bowlers Tinashe Panyangara and Tendai Chatara.

It was slow going against accurate bowling on a pitch of occasional low bounce. The partnership occupied 48.4 overs and Pakistan were still in trouble when Misbah played too early at a slower ball from Shingi Masakadza and gave a simple catch to cover. Misbah made 52 off 157 balls, with four fours.

Younis and Asad Shafiq saw out the day and will resume on Friday, with a new ball due after 10 more overs. Younis, who came to the crease soon after lunch, had faced 174 balls by the close and hit seven fours, while Shafiq was 15 not out.

They will aim to take their side to a total which will give off-spinner Saeed Ajmal a chance of bowling Zimbabwe out. Ajmal took seven for 95 in Zimbabwe`s first innings of 327.

Ajmal took all three Zimbabwe wickets that fell on Thursday as the host nation added 46 runs to their overnight 281 for seven. It was his eighth haul of five or more wickets in Tests, but his best figures remain seven for 55 against England in Dubai in January 2012.

Elton Chigumbura became the third Zimbabwe batsman to score a half-century, making 69 before he was ninth out, caught off bat and pad at short leg by Azhar Ali after a 129-ball innings which included eight boundaries.

Pakistan made a disastrous start to their second innings, losing Khurram Manzoor before lunch, with Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez following soon after the interval.

Tinashe Panyangara took two wickets for 12 runs in an opening spell of eight overs. Predominantly swinging the ball away from the right-handed batsmen, he gained both his wickets with deliveries which cut back, trapping Manzoor and Azhar leg before wicket.

Tendai Chatara claimed the third wicket when Hafeez drove a catch to short cover.

Ganguly bats for Tendulkar`s 200th Test in Mumbai

Kolkata: Amid the pitched battle over hosting Sachin Tendulkar`s 200th Test, former India captain Sourav Ganguly today said it would be a fitting tribute if the Mumbai batsman plays the milestone match at his home ground.

"It would be the biggest thing if Tendulkar gets to play the 200th Test in Mumbai purely on emotional grounds. He has all his friends and family members there," Ganguly said on Tendulkar, who is two Tests shy of the milestone.

"At this moment, it seems it would be impossible for anybody to break the record of playing 200th Tests. It would be fulfilling moment for him," he said.

"Hope we all would be there. It would be a treat to watch Sachin take guard for his 200th Test. This moment would not come again, Sachin should enjoy the moment fully," said Ganguly who also hailed the BCCI`s initiative to squeeze in the West Indies home series in view of Tendulkar`s 200th Test.

The former left-hander said he would not like to speculate about Tendulkar`s retirement plans but added it would leave a vacuum in the Indian cricket.

"We have seen many retirements, like Gundappa Viswanath, Sunil Gavaskar, and in recent past Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. Players will come and go... Presently, it`s an era of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja.

"But we would never see a player like Tendulkar again. The void that Tendulkar would leave would be hard to fill," Ganguly told a Bengali news channel today.

Reminiscing Steve Waugh`s retirement in Sydney, he said Tendulkar should plan his retirement properly and make a prior announcement so that he could be able to play freely.

"We want to see him go with his bat held high, and we don`t want to see a struggling Sachin. If Tendulkar retires by scoring a century, the same critics, who are after him now, would say he could have played a little more," Ganguly added.

Leander Paes is still going strong at 40 having made the semifinals in the ongoing US Open, and Ganguly said it`s different for the tennis ace as it is an individual sport.

"We should not compare him with Tendulkar as here the future lies with the selection," he said.

Indian cricket may be going through a difficult phase in the aftermath of IPL spot-fixing scandal but Ganguly said there could be more challenging times ahead.

"I`m sure Indian cricket would overcome the phase. But I consider the next 16 months more challenging with the Indian team`s tour of South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia," Ganguly added.