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Sri Lanka breezed into the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy by crushing their former colonial masters by a massive 206 runs.The Netherlands, playing their first official One-Day International since the 1996 World Cup, were bowled out for just 86 after the hosts racked up 292/6 in their innings.Sri Lanka are now expected to play Australia – assuming the world champions defeat Bangladesh – in the second semi-final on September 27.Despite the convincing margin of victory, Sri Lanka will have been disappointed by a lacklustre performance by their middle-order – victory against the formidable Australians will require a significant improvement.Before the game, record scores had been predicted and at one stage they looked set for a total well in excess of 300, but Sri Lanka slipped from 175/1 to 247/5 as they tried to accelerate during the latter part of their innings.But Dutch inexperience was more brutally exposed when they batted. After the first 19 balls of their innings they had lost three wickets with only four runs on the board.They recovered briefly – no doubt breathing a sign of relief as they passed the world’s lowest one-day score, the 38 scored by Zimbabwe last year at the SSC – with No 4 batsman Tim de Leede (31) and Reinout Scholte (12) adding 42 in 61 balls.However, having safely negotiated the fast bowlers, they ran into difficulties against the spinners with off-spinner Kumar Dharmasena, picked ahead of leg-spinner Upul Chandana, finding the edge of Scholte’s bat in his first international over since the Sharjah Cup last April.And after Dharmasena clean bowled Luuk van Troost for a duck and de Leede was athletically caught by wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara off a top edge, Muttiah Muralitharan took just five balls to grab his first wicket.But Sri Lanka’s master spinner did not have it all his way, as the confident Edgar Schiferi (15) confirmed his budding reputation as a fearless stroke-player, crashing a four and six in Muralitharan’s second over.Schiferi’s entertaining resistance though was ended soon after, paving the way for Muralitharan to wrap up the innings to finish with four for 15 from 5.3 overs.Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya had won the toss and batted first, a decision that had annoyed those hoping for an early finish.Jayasuriya was once again in good form, racing to 36 from 36 balls. However, he missed out on another large score when he skewed a catch into the covers, an unexpected dismissal that prompted wild celebrations in the Dutch camp.It was no surprise that Marvan Atapattu – who has built a reputation on cashing in when conditions are favourable and the opposition is weak – made the most of an opportunity to find some form before facing the Australians.The right-hander top scored with 101 from 118 balls, hitting just eight fours along the way. It was his fifth one-day century and his first for 18 months.He added 116 runs in 127 balls with Sangakkara (41) before Sri Lanka started to lose their way.Sangakkara was bowled by off-spinner Adeel Raja, Aravinda de Silva (23) was brilliantly caught by de Leede on the boundary – the catch of the tournament thus far – and Mahela Jayawardene (14) was run out by a direct hit from Bas Zuiderent at cover.Russel Arnold capitalised on a rare chance in the middle, scoring an unbeaten 22 before running out of overs.Earlier, Jaywardene had been involved in the first real controversy created by the ICC’s experiment with technology as he was reprieved by the television umpire Russel Tiffen despite the field umpire David Orchard initially raising his finger after an appeal for lbw.According to the criteria laid down by the ICC for referring lbw decisions, the third umpire can only provide guidance on whether the ball pitched outside leg, whether it hit bat before pad and whether it was too high – not whether it was going to hit the stumps.On this occasion the ball was drifting down the leg-side, but height was not a problem and it didn’t pitch outside leg or hit the bat. Thus, according to the confusing ICC guidelines, Orchard should have raised his finger for the second time.However, whether the correct process had been adhered to or not, the right decision was made in the end, a fact that the experiment’s supporters will only be too happy to point out.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)’s management has decided against renewing contracts of three current Test cricketers.All-rounders Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood and batsman Yousuf Youhana, all of whom were on PIA’s payroll since 1999, were not given fresh contracts after their previous ones expired last month.Instead, PIA has opted to sign on young batsman Bazid Khan, son of ex-Test captain Majid, slow left-armer Azam Hussain and left-hander opener Kamran Sajid.Razzaq, Azhar and Youhana who were drawing Group Six salaries plus other perks, had not played regularly for the national carrier in the national cricket championships for a variety of reasons.Tight international schedule was one major factor. But on the other hand, even when available, they seldom responded to the call and failed torepresent PIA in key matches.This has been a major complaint from other departments as well who often feel let down by their star players. After all, these organization were dishing out handsome package to the top cricketers on a monthly basis.Razzaq, for instance, had barely featured in 10-12 first-class and one-day matches during his three-year spell with PIA.Saeed Anwar, the Test reject, is another player who has not been a regular in the ADBP team despite being on its payroll for more than a decade.PIA, arguably the most star-studded side on domestic circuit, still has the likes of Wasim Akram (Group Eight), Moin Khan (Group Six) – both employed on permanent basis – Saqlain Mushtaq (Group Six – contractual), Faisal Iqbal, Shoaib Malik, Fazle Akbar and Mohammad Zahid in their cricket squad.

The Mumbai Indians have launched an official complaint against Suresh Shastri, the third umpire, over two ‘contentious’ run-out decisions that went against them in their match against Kings XI Punjab on Wednesday. Mumbai lost the crucial encounter by one run in the last over, a result which has made their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals more difficult.The first run-out appeal, in the ninth over of Punjab’s innings, involved Luke Pomersbach. Shaun Pollock’s throw from deep extra cover appeared to hit the stumps directly with the batsman short of his ground. However, the replays were inconclusive as to whether the ball had indeed dislodged the bails or if Dwayne Smith, the bowler, made contact with the stumps. Pomersbach, then on 21, was given the benefit of the doubt and he went on to score 79.The second decision, involving Smith, occurred in the ninth over of Mumbai’s innings. Smith was struggling to make his ground after being refused a single by Sachin Tendulkar, and the bowler Piyush Chawla appeared to knock off the bails with his arm though with the ball in hand but again the replays weren’t entirely convincing.”Yes, I can confirm that the franchise owners have filed an official complaint,” Lalchand Rajput, the coach, said on the eve of the match against the Delhi Daredevils in Delhi.Tendulkar, the Mumbai captain, too felt aggrieved at the decisions. “The whole world has watched what it was all about,” he said. “Everyone has seen what happened and in whose favour the decisions eventually went. Had we got those two run-out decisions our way, we would have added two more runs to the tally and won the match.”Shastri, however, defended his decisions, saying he went by the law. “I don’t want to make any comments. I can only say I went by law 28.1 (The wicket is down).” The law states that a dismissal is made if a bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps, or a stump is struck out of the ground by (i) the ball, (ii) the striker’s bat, whether he is holding it or has let go of it, (iii) the striker’s person or by any part of his clothing or equipment becoming detached from his person, (iv) a fielder, with his hand or arm, providing that the ball is held in the hand or hands so used, or in the hand of the arm so used.

Yorkshire have maintained their dominance of the Frizzell Women’s CountyChampionship by winning the competition for the eleventh time in twelve years at Cambridge today. The team, which includes three regular England internationals, Captain Melissa Reynard, Clare Taylor and young bowler Laura Spragg, secured their win after all matches were abandoned today due to rain.Kent gain promotion from Division Two to Division One having been relegated last year, and Hampshire will move from Division Three to take their place next year.Northamptonshire enter the competition for the first time in Division Three having won the Emerging Counties tournament last week, and will replace Wiltshire.Melissa Reynard said “it was disappointing not to play Berkshire today as it would have been a great game, but we won all our matches and the team have performed really well”.England selectors will name the England Test squad tomorrow to face India in a two match Test Series, starting at Shenley on 8th August.The Final Tables

Division OneTeam Played Won Lost PointsYorkshire 3 3 0 81.5Berkshire 3 2 1 70.5Sussex 3 2 1 66Nottinghamshire 3 1 2 54Surrey 3 1 2 49Staffordshire 3 0 3 40Division TwoTeam Played Won Lost PointsKent 3 3 0 84.5Lancashire 3 3 0 80.5Hertfordshire 3 2 1 68Somerset 3 1 2 52Middlesex 3 0 3 42.5Derbyshire 3 0 3 41Division ThreeTeam Played Won Lost PointsHampshire 3 3 0 82.5Warwickshire 3 2 1 68.5Cheshire 3 2 1 68Essex 3 1 2 55.5Durham 3 1 2 54Wiltshire 3 0 3 36

All Frizzell Women’s County Championship matches are one-day 50 overs per side. There are three divisions of six teams in the tournament, which is run on a round robin basis within each division, with relegation and promotion for the teams finishing top and bottom. All matches took place at University Grounds, Cambridge from Saturday 27th – Wednesday 31st July.

Ricky Ponting showed more leadership qualities with the bat by helping cover for another mixed return from the Waugh brothers in the third cricket Test against South Africa in Durban.Ponting has scored 189 runs in two crucial Test innings inside four days as he prepares to lead the Australian one-day team for the first time next week.His 89 at Kingsmead preceded a commanding 91 from his one-day deputy Adam Gilchrist, who has been a run-scoring revelation on this tour with 457 Test runs for just two dismissals.In contrast, captain Steve Waugh has struggled with the bat and his short stay for seven, after Mark failed to convince his critics despite scoring 45, tightened the pressure during his mediocre international season.Steve Waugh’s batting average will drop below 50 for the first time in two years if he scores less than 42 in the second innings although his captaincy and influence on the team remains unquestioned after five consecutive wins against South Africa.But Ponting has bloomed since he was handed the one-day captaincy last month in a positive sign to selectors eyeing the Tasmanian or Gilchrist as potentialsuccessors to Waugh’s outstanding reign.Ponting’s 100 not out in the second innings of the Cape Town Test victory last Tuesday was perhaps the most responsible knock of his career and yesterday’sinnings in Durban was also classy.The 27-year-old was robbed of his chance for a century when run out for the third time in his last seven innings, caught inches short during a quick single with Mark Waugh.Ponting had fuelled Australia’s first innings before Gilchrist took over in the competitive total of 315 after the tourists were sent in to bat by Mark Boucher.South Africa was 1-48 at stumps after its best day of the six Tests against Australia this summer but they were again cursing Gilchrist.The 30-year-old mopped up a middle order collapse with his usual onslaught, hitting 14 boundaries before he swatted a catch to Graeme Smith at deep mid-wicket from spinner Paul Adams.Gilchrist’s Test average is back to 61.25 and his scores of 204 not out, 138 not out, 24 and 91 in South Africa have shot him into elite Australian company.His 457 runs are the third highest in a three-Test series by an Australian, behind Matthew Hayden’s rampaging tour of India last year (549 at 109.80) and Mark Taylor’s memorable performances in Pakistan in 1998-99 (513 at 128.25).Gilchrist plays with astonishing power but with minimal risk and the wicketkeeper again raced Australia’s lower order through valuable partnerships.His innings was in direct contrast to the flat atmosphere at Kingsmead, where more than 1000 school children bumped the disappointing first day crowd up to 6300.”That was one thing that stood out – the lack of crowd. If you took the school kids out there were probably more Australians in the crowd from tour groups thanlocals,” Gilchrist said.”We’re trying to win every Test match and we were under pressure again because they came out fighting – a lot more fight than they showed in that first Test.”They don’t want to go down 6-0 in total and we desperately want to win it.”

Shane Warne says he won’t go to Pakistan if Australia’s cricket tour later this year goes ahead.Warne put safety and family ahead of cricket following the suicide bombing outside the New Zealand team’s hotel in Karachi last week which killed 14 people.The New Zealanders immediately abandoned their tour and Australian Cricket Board chief executive James Sutherland said the situation would be carefully monitored.Whatever decision the ACB made, however, Australia’s greatest bowler said he would not be going.”If it was on in Pakistan I don’t think I would be going,” the leg spinner said today.”For obvious reasons. There’s a war going on there, there was a bombing with New Zealand.”If it was tomorrow and we were going, I wouldn’t be going, no way.”I don’t think anyone would hold it against people if they decided not to go to Pakistan.”It’s a big decision especially when you’ve got kids involved.”I’ve got three kids and there’s a lot more at stake when you’ve got family. It’s a pretty hostile place at the moment.”Warne is currently in very hospitable Monte Carlo with captain Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Glenn McGrath representing the Australian team nominated forWorld Team of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards.All had reservations about the Pakistan tour which starts in August.They were all confident in leaving the matter to the ACB which Warne said had made the right decisions in the past in cancelling the recent tour of Zimbabwe and forfeiting a 1996 World Cup match in Sri Lanka.While Warne has made up his own mind, McGrath has already been told by his wife he won’t be going.”At the end of the day, we play cricket and we love what we do but to put your life on the line for a sport, is not what it’s all about,” McGrath said.Waugh said it was a weighty dilemma and he had faith in the ACB, but said no-one should be forced to go if they felt at risk.”It’s pretty hard to give in to terrorism,” he said.”You look at it from both sides. One side you go for the good of cricket and not giving into terrorism and on the other side is that it may be dangerous and you’re putting yourself at risk.”We want to go out there and play cricket but if you’re in danger, you’ve got to consider what the options are.”They’ve got to send players over there who want to go. If the players don’t want to go, there’s not much point in sending a team.”Alternative venues including Sharjah, Morocco and Bangladesh have been suggested for the three Test series.Pakistan has become a security flashpoint since the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US.The Karachi bombing, which was immediately linked to Osama bin Laden’s terrorist network, was the third attack involving foreigners in the country in six weeks.The wife and daughter of an American diplomat were killed in a grenade attack in Islamabad in March while an American journalist was kidnapped and murdered.Pakistan Cricket Board director Munawwar Rana said it would take a lot of effort to convince the ICC and other cricket boards to play in Pakistan.

Pakistan distanced itself from the conflict between the game’s controlling body and some of the teams on the players contracts.Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed said Friday that his team would be signing the contract by Monday.”Pakistan considers the ICC as the supreme body and then there is no direct clash of interest between the Pakistan players and ICC over the sponsors of its tournament,” Yawar said.Ausralia, England, India and New Zealand have refused to sign the contracts that have left the four teams on collison course with the ICC.When pointed out Pakistan might not have a direct clash with any of the sponsors in the ICC Champions Trophy and the World Cup where Pepsi is the sponsor but could happen next year when Pepsi’s rival can secure the sponsorship, Yawar said the players contracts was for 30 days before the tournament and 30 days after the tournament. “But yes, this is a issue that we will have to discuss at board level when we return Pakistan.Yawar will be leaving for Cape Town on Aug 27 to attend the managers meeting on the issue. He said he hasn’t seen the agenda of the meeting and was therefore, not in a position to discuss that at this stage.

Burgher Recreation Cricket Club completed the upset of the weekend when they bundled out the Sinhalese Sports Club for 116 in their second innings and went on to win the match by seven wickets, despite conceding a 73 run first innings deficit.Elsewhere, Colombo Cricket Club narrowly avoided defeat to salvage first innings points as Panadura pressed them in the gloom; Bloomfield Sports and Athletic Club romped home to an emphatic ten-wicket victory against Tamil Union; and Nondescripts Cricket Club secured a first innings victory against a depleted Colts Cricket Club side.The Sinhalese Sports Club looked to have established a position of dominance against BRC when they dismissed them for a lowly 117, thanks to a seven-wicket haul by PDRL Perera, but came unstuck in the second innings as S. Weerakoon snapped up six wickets. This still left BRC needing a tricky 190 runs in the final innings. They started well, however, with an 82 run partnership and went on to win in the 52nd over of the innings.Bloomfield dominated their encounter with Tamil Union right from the start. Tamil Unuion were bowled out for 126 in the first innings and could only muster 160 in the second as Bloomfield compiled 266 for eight declared in their first innings.Colombo Cricket Club overhauled Panadura’s first innings score of 152 to secure first innings points thanks to a 46 run partnership for the eighth wicket. They were lucky to stave off defeat, however, as the Panadura batsmen rallied in the second innings and went on to score 274. CCC then required 269 runs for victory, but slumped to 142 for nine. The final wicket pair though saved them as they batted out the final four overs before the close of play.The NCC-Colts fixture was never likely to produce an outright victory after the Prime Minister’s helicopter interrupted play on the first day and wasted approximately seventy overs. NCC nevertheless made good use of the limited time available as they secured first innings points after Amarasinghe and Kalpage bowled out Colts for 181. NCC replied solidly, scoring 226 for three before they declared.

Alastair Cook has revealed that meetings between Kevin Pietersen and the England management will continue during the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka but was unable to provide any hopes of an immediate reconciliation between the player and the ECB.England will begin their attempt to retain the World T20 title, without the services of Pietersen, on Friday. David Collier, the ECB chief executive, and Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, are both in the country, where Pietersen is working as a television summariser.Pietersen was not considered for selection for the Test tour of India after it emerged that there was a breakdown in trust and respect between him and the rest of the team and Cook, England’s new Test captain, admitted that the team would miss his batting.”Time is a great healer,” said Cook, who sits on the selection panel but does not have a vote. “Kevin has proved in all conditions around the world that he is a world-class player. He will be missed. It’s a sad circumstance.”I did have a meeting with Kev. Clearly the issues haven’t been resolved and that is why he is not available for selection at the moment. Time, hopefully, will be a healer and we’ll be able to move on. At the present time, though, the issues haven’t been resolved so he can’t be selected.”Meetings are still going on in Sri Lanka at the moment. Hugh Morris and David Collier are out there. But we’re trying to conduct this behind closed doors so we can get the best possible outcome for the English cricket team. It’s sad that this has happened and that we’re not taking Kevin to India, but that is the reality.”We are trying to do what is best for English cricket. There is nothing else in our minds. We always try and do that and we are trying to resolve these issues.”I think he can play for England again, certainly, but there are still issues to be resolved and until that happens he is unavailable.”Pietersen is not the only familiar face missing from the India tour squad. England are also without Andrew Strauss who, after 7,000 Test runs and 21 centuries, has retired. Bearing in mind that England are also likely to be without Ian Bell for at least one Test, as he returns to England to be with his wife, who is expecting their first child in late November, and England may have to field a very inexperienced batting line-up. But it is perhaps Strauss who Cook will miss most.”I have spoken to Straussy and I will more over the coming months and years,” Cook said. “There will be times when I pick up the phone to him, so I hope he doesn’t just let it go to answerphone! I feel I have a really good relationship with Straussy. He was the best captain I played under in the way he led men. If I can lead men like he did, I’ll be very happy.”He was so genuine in what he said. He just commanded respect in what he said. When he spoke, people listened. He would never expect anyone to do anything he wouldn’t do. He was just a bloody fine man.”The best advice I could give the new players is that the game doesn’t change. Sometimes people pull on the England shirt and think you have to play a different way. You don’t. I know we have a challenge in front of us in India. We know they have an amazing home record. But I’m not leading a team out there to lose. We’re going out there to win. We’ve nothing to fear. If we play as well as we can, I can see no reason why we can’t win.”Alastair Cook is supporting Buxton’s Less Is Best campaign. Pledge to lessen your environmental impact and win 2013 Ashes tickets at www.buxtonwater.co.uk

Sri Lanka Twenty20 cricketer Chinthaka Jayasinghe has retired from first-class cricket in Sri Lanka, citing frustration with continued non-selection for the national team as a major reason. Jayasinghe, 34, played in five T20 matches from December 2009 to May 2010, making a high score of 38 from three innings in the lower-middle order. He played as a fast-bowling allrounder for his domestic sides, and has 104 wickets at 24.48, but did not bowl in internationals.Jayasinghe said he has a contract to play domestic cricket in Australia during the southern summer, and another six-month contract to play in England next year. He was not among the 60 players offered an SLC contract in 2012 and he said this was central to his decision to move on.”I have played 14 years of first-class cricket in Sri Lanka and it’s saddening to see the SLC selectors favouring certain players who are proven failures,” Jayasinghe said. “The way things are going, I feel like Sri Lanka cricket is not moving forward, especially after the seniors in the national team retire.”Jayasinghe played for the Uva Next franchise in the Sri Lanka Premier League, and last played first class-cricket for Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic club, having previously represented Burgher Recreation Club and Nondescripts Cricket Club.