A review of the fifth round of games in the 2009-10 Plunket Shield

Cricinfo staff15-Dec-2009 Central Districts’ openers turned around a match in which they were not in the reckoning at any stage, to hand Wellington an unlikely defeat at Basin Reserve. As impressive as the result was the emphatic manner in which it achieved – for the loss of just one wicket.
Set 443 in 105 overs, Central began the final day requiring 374. Openers Peter Ingram and Jamie How seemingly took it upon themselves to win the game – they added a record 428 runs before How departed for 176, including 25 fours and three sixes. He was, however, overshadowed by Ingram whose unbeaten 245 came off only 286 balls and included 36 fours and a six. The partnership eclipsed the previous first-class opening record for New Zealand, set in 1971/72 by Glenn Turner and Terry Jarvis against the West Indies.Before the epic stand, Wellington would have expected to win a game they dominated from the outset. An unbeaten 220 from Luke Woodcock and a century from tailender Ili Tugaga rescued them from 215 for 8 to an imposing 440 in their first innings. In response Central frittered away a solid start and lost their last eight wickets for 57 runs to fold for 205, Andy McKay and Jeetan Patel picking up four apiece. The hosts pressed home the advantage through Cameron Merchant’s 93, piling up 205 runs in 54 overs and setting a fourth innings target that would have been safe for at least a draw. Someone forgot to tell the visitors’ openers though.Corey Anderson and Hamish Bennett bowled Canterbury to a ten-wicket victory over Northern Districts at Seddon Park. Beginning their second innings 84 runs behind, Northern collapsed for 111 with only three batsmen managing double figures. Anderson picked up five wickets for 22 while Bennett scalped four to put their side in sight of a victory that was duly earned by the openers who knocked off the target of 28.Earlier, a steady bowling display led by Brandon Hiini’s medium-pace ensured that Northern managed only 205 in their first innings. Opener Michael Parlane’s 65 was their lone bright spot before he became the second of Hinii’s four wickets. Canterbury’s reply was rocked early as they lost Rob Nicol and Peter Fulton with just one run on the board. Centurion Johann Myburgh then combined with Michael Papps to steady the ship and later secure a first innings lead of 84 – a deficit that Northern Districts barely managed to wipe out in the second dig.An unbeaten 152 from Neil Broom guided Otago to a five-wicket victory against Auckland at Colin Maiden Park. Chasing a tricky target of 314, the visitors got into trouble losing three quick wickets to be reduced to 154 for 5. Broom then joined forces with Leighton Morgan to take his side home in the 80th over.The hosts will look back at the match with mixed feelings, having recovered from 136 for 9 in the first innings to make a fist of it. Warren McSkimming was the chief wrecker, snaring 5 for 17 in his eleven overs before a tenth-wicket stand of 93 between Andrew de Boorder and Peter Erasmus took the hosts to 229. Otago also relied on a lower-order rear-guard effort to secure a 41-run first innings lead. Greg Todd anchored the innings with an unbeaten 78 even as opening bowler Michael Bates picked a five-for. Auckland then seized the initiative through Jeet Raval’s century and solid supporting acts from Gareth Hopkins and Reece Young. McSkimming picked four more scalps to finish with an impressive match tally of 9 for 79, but he could not stop Auckland from reaching 354. Broom’s effort however settled the issue in Otago’s favour.Northern Districts maintain their lead at the top of the table despite their defeat while Wellington move down the table to fifth place, only ahead of Auckland who are still searching for their first victory after five games.

A round-up of the eleventh round of matches in Tier A of Sri Lanka’s Premier League Tournament

Sa'adi Thawfeeq31-Dec-2009

Tier A

Lahiru Thirimanne’s consistent performances for Ragama CC have earned him a national call-up•AFP

Chilaw Marians CC were crowned as the new Premier Tier A league champs when they took first innings points against Moors SC in their final match of the season which ended in a draw at the Moors Sports Club ground, Colombo. Those points were sufficient for Chilaw Marians to oust Nondescripts CC from the top of the table and finish four points clear of their rivals in the final standings.Chilaw Marians had to wait until the third and final day to start the celebrations when rain threatened to interrupt proceedings and nearly spoil their chances of a maiden league triumph. The decision by skipper Mahela Udawatte to field first seemed to backfire initially when Moors managed a respectable 260 on a rain-restricted first day. Heavy overnight rain delayed the start of the second day and only 39 overs were possible during which period Marians progressed to 197 for 5. The final day was full of drama as Marians lost both overnight batsmen to slide to 238 for 7, still 23 runs adrift of the vital first innings lead. However the eighth wicket pair of Suresh Niroshan and Dinuka Hettiarachchi steered them through the anxious moments with an unbroken partnership of 27.Chilaw Marians coach Mahesh Weerasinghe said that it was luck that saw them win the title. “The game of cricket needs luck and it certainly was with us in our final match and throughout the season,” he said.”We were badly placed at 157 for 5 and it was a vital 75-run stand for the sixth wicket between Janaka Gunaratne and Lahiru Weragala that brought us into the game.”Marians declared soon after passing the Moors total and pressed for a win, but Moors held on to reach 257 for 9 at stumps despite a valiant effort by Hettiarachchi whose sixth five-for in an innings made him the leading wicket-taker of the season with 66 wickets (avg. 18.96) from 11 matches.Udawatte attributed the success was to the team’s blend of experience and youth in the side. “Apart from Hettiarachchi and all-rounder Gayan Wijekoon, the rest of the side is full of youngsters. Our success is that we were able to use their individual talents properly,” Udawatte said.”We had three batsmen with over 500 runs this season and three others with over 400 runs. In the bowling Dinuka was our main strike bowler while the others chipped in around him.”Although this was their first triumph in the Premier league championship, Chilaw Marians’ best season was in 2004-05. Then they had finished runner-up in the Premier league, were joint champions with Tamil Union in the Premier limited-overs tournament and won the Under-23 Tier A title. In addition, they were also crowned Premier Twenty20 champions which enabled them to qualify for the International Club Twenty20 championships in Leicester where they finished runner-up to Pakistan’s Faisalabad Wolves.General secretary and manager of the team, Godfrey Dabare stated that the crying need for the 34-year-old club was practice wickets and a club house. “This is the biggest drawback we have. Despite these obstacles we have produced a champion team and been among the top contenders for several seasons,” he said.Colombo Colts CC captained by former Sri Lanka fast bowler Chaminda Vaas finished in third spot despite conceding first-innings points to Badureliya CC in their drawn match played at the Colts Cricket Club Ground. The highlight of the match was the knock played by Tillakaratne Sampath, younger brother of Sri Lanka’s famed opener Tillakaratne Dilshan for Badureliya. Sampath hit a career-best 158 to steer Badureliya to a first innings total of 372 for 9 declared. Colts stumbled to 89 for 5 before recovering to 294 largely through their lower order after medium-pacer Duncan Arnolda wrecked the top order with career-best figures of 5/64.Ragama CChad every reason to be pleased with their dominant performance in a drawn encounter with Saracens SC at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground. Opener Lahiru Thirimanne and leg-spinner Malinga Bandara celebrated their inclusion in the Sri Lanka one-day squad to Bangladesh with outstanding performances. Thirimanne, a former member of the Sri Lanka Under-19 World Cup side, scored 144 and 74 not out while Bandara picked up seven wickets to dismiss Saracens for 231 in reply to Ragama’s first innings effort of 375-7 declared.Army SC and Moors SC finished at the bottom of the table and face relegation to Tier B next season. Meanwhile Tier ‘B’ champs Lankan CC will be promoted to play in Tier A next season.Cricketer of the Week – Lahiru Thirimanne What a season it has been for Lahiru Thirimanne who has been rewarded for his consistency with the bat for Ragama CC with a spot in the Bangladesh-bound Sri Lanka team for the one-day tri-series in January 2010. Thirimanne was the third highest run-getter for the 2009-10 season accumulating 709 runs (average 59.08) from 8 matches inclusive of two centuries and five fifties. He rounded off the season with a fine show against Saracens CC, scoring 144 and 74 not out. Fatherless since the age of 12, his career has been supported by his guardian and uncle Viraj Thirimanne, a life member of Ragama CCr. According to the club’s president Roshan Abeysinghe, Thirimanne is the first thoroughbred cricketer produced by the club for since the age of 15 he has been a member. What impressed the national selectors was Thirimanne’s ability to finish matches, a skill that the national team lacks at the moment. He has been picked to fulfill that role. Thirimanne is considered the best young all-round batsman in the country today equally good in defence and attack. “I am thrilled to be selected to represent my country so early in my career. I knew I had a good opportunity having scored heavily this season but the call up came as a surprise. I hope to make the most of it,” said Thirimanne.

Tier A points table

A Brad Hodge-inspired Victoria have booked a place in the Big Bash preliminary final with a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over Tasmania

Andrew Fuss15-Jan-2010
Scorecard
Brad Hodge’s belligerent innings sealed a spot for Victoria in the preliminary final of the Big Bash•Getty Images

A Brad Hodge-inspired Victoria have booked a place in the Big Bash preliminary final with a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over Tasmania in front of a record crowd of 43,125 at the MCG. Hodge blasted five sixes in his 56-ball 90 as he and fellow opener Aaron Finch (58 not out off 39), who was pushed up the order in the absence of keeper Matthew Wade, set a Victorian record partnership of 147 to hunt down the Tigers’ modest total of 160 easily.It was vintage Hodge in front of his big home crowd, bludgeoning the Tigers attack to all corners, including one huge six over midwicket off the crafty Rana Naved, which landed more than 20 rows back in the Great Southern Stand. The visitors had no answers to the opening duo’s relentless attack, making bowling and fielding changes to no avail, as the hosts reached the total with a massive 19 balls to spare.Tim Paine had earlier blasted the Tigers to a great start, smashing a 26-ball 50 to have the visitors well placed at 2 for 98 at the half-way mark. But young spinner Jon Holland made a surprise breakthrough in the 11th over, trapping the keeper in front for 61.From there, the Bushrangers’ regular bowling changes (nobody delivered more than a one-over spell in the last 10) unsettled the Tigers’ rhythm, with Dirk Nannes, Clint McKay and Dwayne Bravo combining to restrict the visitors to 38 off the final eight overs.With Victoria’s spot in the next round secured, attention turns to the Gabba for Saturday night’s winner-takes-all clash between Queensland and Western Australia. The victor will host Tuesday night’s preliminary final and the winner of that game will play South Australia for the title, as well as gaining a spot in the lucrative Champions League in India.

Marvan Atapattu, the former Sri Lanka captain and opening batsman, has been hired by Singapore as their coach till the end of 2010

Cricinfo staff22-Jan-2010Marvan Atapattu, the former Sri Lanka captain and opening batsman, has been hired by Singapore as their coach till the end of 2010. This is Atapattu’s first full-time assignment of a coach of a national side, after a short previous stint as Canada’s batting coach in early 2009, subsequently helping them qualify for the 2011 World Cup, and his main task will be the World Cricket League Division 5 in Nepal next month.”We have been looking around for a suitable person to help us move our cricket forward,” said Singapore Cricket Association deputy president Mahmood Gaznavi. “And Atapattu is definitely one who has the experience to push the team in the right direction.”Atapattu, 38, has previously also worked with the Fingara Cricket Academy, a coaching facility in Sri Lanka, for a couple of months before the Canada role. He will travel with Singapore to the six-nation tournament and fight for a place among the top two to advance to Division 4.”I am looking forward to doing all possible to help Singapore cricket,” said Atapattu, whose assignment started this week. “It is a challenge that can be realised by effort from both the players and the coach. I have seen some of the players at practice sessions and I must say I am impressed with the quality of some of these players.”Singapore won the World Cricket League Division 6 tournament last September with an unbeaten run against Guernsey, Botswana, Bahrain, Malaysia and Norway. In Nepal, they will face the hosts, Bahrain, Fiji, Jersey and the United States of America.”We have a realistic chance of doing well in Nepal,” said Singapore captain Munish Arora. “With proper application and commitment, Singapore can take on any of the other teams in Division 5. Atapattu’s engagement will be useful.”The Australian Trevor Chappell had coached Singapore for the World Cricket League Division 5 but his engagements back home did not permit him to continue with the team this year.

Harbhajan Singh has come in for criticism after a lacklustre showing during the defeat in Nagpur, but he defended his performance

Cricinfo staff11-Feb-2010Harbhajan Singh, India’s leading spinner, has come in for criticism after a lacklustre showing during the defeat in Nagpur, but he defended his performance in a Test where he was outbowled by South African left-arm spinner Paul Harris. After returning figures of 2 for 166, with only one maiden in 46 overs, Harbhajan praised the manner in which South Africa batted.”You can’t really take five wickets every day,” he told the on Wednesday. “They (the South Africans) have come here to play, they aren’t here on holiday. They are among the best in the world, and have played superbly, you can’t take that away from them, give them that credit.”Despite being the top wicket-taker in the home series against Sri Lanka late last year, a listless tour of Bangladesh followed by the ineffectiveness in Nagpur has put Harbhajan, India’s most successful offspinner with over 300 Test wickets, under pressure. “I have the support of my team and frankly, that’s what matters, not what anyone says,” he said. “I know myself, I know what I need to do. I’ve performed very well over time and the statistics, the records reflect that, that’s for everyone to see.”Anil Kumble, the senior spinner in the Indian team for much of Harbhajan’s career, said he expected a much-improved performance in Kolkata. “I am confident that if he gets some early wickets, he will be a different bowler,” he told the . “It’s only a matter of confidence … Kolkata has been a favourite ground for Harbhajan and I am confident he is going to get back to his old way of picking wickets.”India’s hold on the No. 1 Test ranking is shaky after the embarrassing loss in Nagpur, and though the new-look batting flopped in both innings, there was plenty of concern over the bowling, which despite being at full strength allowed South Africa to pile up 558 for 6. Unless the home side win the second Test in Kolkata, starting Sunday, South Africa will win the series and reclaim top spot in the ICC rankings.

It’s hardly the most flamboyant clash given the two basement dwellers are pitted against each other, but this is an opportunity for the teams to get their campaign on track

The Preview by Jamie Alter23-Mar-2010

Match facts

Wednesday, March 24
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)Yusuf Pathan hasn’t performed since his century, Shane Warne hasn’t performed at all•Associated Press

Big picture

It’s hardly the most flamboyant clash given the two basement dwellers are pitted against each other, but this is an opportunity for the teams to get their campaign on track. Kings XI Punjab are tied with Rajasthan Royals on two points, separated only by a minor difference in net run rate, with both picking up their maiden wins after three defeats. Rajasthan earned their first points with a disciplined fielding and bowling effort against an insipid Kolkata Knight Riders, and Punjab held their nerve to force a tie against Chennai Super Kings and then clinched the Super Over.Punjab’s IPL campaign has been hampered by the absence of their Australian players, either injured or unavailable, and the poor form of captains former and present, Yuvraj Singh and Kumar Sangakkara. The batting has not been imposing, the bowling toothless. But on a steamy Chennai night that turned from deplorable to delirious, their bowlers managed to convert a modest total into a mountain and procure a tense win in the Super Over. Now, with the arrivals of Brett Lee and Shaun Marsh, Punjab have another reason to believe they’ve turned the corner. Critics will argue that one win won’t cure Punjab’s frailties but it has given them a much-needed shot of enthusiasm, which Sangakkara and Yuvraj hoped would mark a change in their fortunes.Rajasthan have also been hurt by the absence of Shane Watson and injuries that ruled out Graeme Smith and Dimitri Mascarenhas. As a result, their batting has been poor and the bowling lacks the zing that a player of Watson’s ability brings, especially since Shaun Tait’s radar needs drastic fine-tuning. Worse, the middle order has not responded as a unit; their only win was put into motion by Abhishek Jhunjhunwala’s 45 and a debut innings from Adam Voges. Shane Warne has been an utter flop with the ball and his tinkering with the bowling attack – he’s opened with five different bowlers in four games – hasn’t yielded desired results. Warne has vocally and tactically shown a lot of faith in Yusuf Pathan, opening with his offspin successfully in the win over Kolkata, but the time has come for the likes of Michael Lumb, Tait, Munaf Patel and Naman Ojha to perform.

Team talk

The arrival of Lee and Marsh is immense for Punjab. As a precaution Punjab tested Lee in a practice match today and a final call on him and Marsh, who has also been sidelined by injury, will be taken before the game. If they are passed fit, expect the Aussie pair to slot right in at the top of the batting and bowling line-ups.Rajasthan might not want to tinker with the unit that secured a maiden victory, despite how disappointing Hampshire’s Lumb has been. He scored a duck in the last game but should continue at the top of the order in place of the absent Smith, until Watson arrives next month.

Previously…

Rajasthan won the first game played between these two sides in 2008, by six wickets, before Punjab hit back with a 41-run win. When they came up against each other in South Africa, Punjab beat Rajasthan by 27 runs before losing the second game by 78 runs.

In the spotlight

Yusuf Pathan: Yusuf has failed to get going since that 37-ball century in the first match. He can’t obviously be expected to score centuries each time he walks to the middle but, being Rajasthan’s main match-winner, he’s got to take stock of where his batting’s at. Yusuf has been exposed by the short ball in his last three innings.Piyush Chawla: The man – yes, he really is, so can the TV commentators stop referring to him as a youngster? – singled out by Sangakkara as “outstanding” needs to do something, anything. Chawla has taken two wickets in four games at an average of 52.00 and an economy-rate of 7.42. His variations have been limited, the batsmen haven’t been kept guessing, and the legbreak isn’t being crafted well enough.

Prime numbers

• Punjab have been the most successful batting side in the last five overs of a game. In four macthes they have scored 203 runs off 120 balls, losing 11 wickets. In that same period, Rajasthan have scored 173 while losing more wickets than any other team, 14.
• Rajasthan have conceded the least number of sixes in the last five overs, just three in four games.
• In six innings played by Swapnil Asnodkar, Naman Ojha and Paras Dogra – three of Rajasthan’s young Indian talents – they have scored a combined total of 157 runs at an average of 26.16.

The chatter

“Why would he return if he’s not fit? He’s raring to go. Good days are back.”
“The IPL is a bit [more] relaxed than ODIs or Tests and it will be easy for me after the injury.”

Piyush Chawla, the Kings XI Punjab legspinner who has made a comeback into the Indian team for the World Twenty20 in the West Indies, is eager to grab the opportunity and cement his place in the team

Cricinfo staff20-Apr-2010Piyush Chawla, the Kings XI Punjab legspinner who has made a comeback into the Indian team for the World Twenty20 in the West Indies, is eager to grab the opportunity and cement his place in the national side.”I have worked really hard during the last one-and-a-half years to earn my comeback. Now that the selectors have chosen me for the job, I need to deliver the goods and make a long-lasting impression. I want to be part of the Indian team for a longer period and for that the World Twenty20 will be the most important tournament for me. The competition is tough but I need to stand out,” Chawla told PTI.Chawla was pleased with his form in the IPL, where he picked 12 wickets in Punjab’s 14 league games. “I enjoyed bowling on the Indian tracks as I was able to extract turn from the wickets and was happy to deceive the batsmen in the air. I am in fine form and bowling with rhythm. The IPL was only a dress-rehearsal for the World Twenty20,” he said.Chawla was confident that the pitches in the West Indies would aid spin. “I have never played in the West Indies. But I have been told that the Caribbean wickets are quite similar to the Indian ones. So, I am quite keen on bowling there. I have had a good domestic seasons but my IPL form will give me the required boost and confidence,” he said.Chawla was excited by the prospect of playing a support role to first-choice spinner Harbhajan Singh during the tournament. “I have had the opportunity of bowling with Harbhajan Singh on several occasions. I remember bowling alongside him in Australia in 2008. I was selected with Bhajji when we won the first World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007, but unfortunately got injured. I hope the combination can work for India.”The World Twenty20 begins five days after the finals of the IPL, raising the issue of fatigue, but Chawla believed that it would not be a problem. “I don’t think so [that fatigue will have an impact]. Our top players like MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan are in top form so I think this will help them in the West Indies because we won’t have to start from the scratch. Also we have had closer look at our opposition players, so it will help us in a big way,” Chawla said.

Half centuries from Moeen Ali, Daryl Mitchell and Gareth Andrew helped Worcestershire edge the honours on the first day of their County Championship game against Leicestershire at Grace Road

04-May-2010

ScorecardHalf centuries from Moeen Ali, Daryl Mitchell and Gareth Andrew helped Worcestershire edge the honours on the first day of their County Championship game against Leicestershire at Grace Road.Moeen and Mitchell shared a third-wicket stand of 145 to lead the fightback after Worcestershire slumped to 15 for 2 and some late order resistance saw them through to a total of 308. Leicestershire captain Matthew Hoggard claimed 3 for 69 and 19-year-old Nathan Buck 3 for 64 and the home side then survived two awkward overs to reach stumps on 9 without loss.There was a degree of surprise when Worcestershire captain Vikram Solanki batted first on a green-looking pitch after winning the toss. And when two wickets fell – including Solanki’s – for 15 runs in the first six overs the decision was looking even more questionable.But Solanki, who popped an easy catch off Hoggard, was able to breath much easier after the partnership between Mitchell and Moeen had launched the recovery. The third wicket pair rode their luck at times but also profited from some erratic bowling from the home attack who failed to make the most of the conditions.Moeen was severe on anything loose and raced to 50 by hitting left-arm spinner Claude Henderson for 18 off one over. He struck a six and three fours to reach a half century from 60 balls. Mitchell was more circumspect but he too reached 50 off 93 balls shortly after lunch.But the partnership was broken by Hoggard who trapped Moeen lbw as he tried to work the ball on the leg side after making 80 off 127 balls. His departure triggered a middle-order collapse as Leicestershire regained the initiative. Hoggard snapped up his third wicket by trapping Mitchell lbw, Ben Smith was out in the same fashion to Henderson and Ben Scott edged Andrew McDonald to wicketkeeper Tom New.It meant four wickets had fallen for 39 runs with Hoggard taking 2 for 16 in an impressive nine-over spell. But a fluctuating day swung back in Worcestershire’s favour as Alexei Kervezee and Andrew led another recovery with a stand of 51.It needed a magnificent one-handed slip catch by Will Jefferson to remove
Kervezee off the bowling of McDonald with the total at 250. Andrew, however, reached his half century with a six off Hoggard before carving
a catch to point. Last man Jack Shantry ended a run of four consecutive ducks with a boundary off Hoggard but then fell lbw to Wayne White at 308.

Ben Wright recorded a career-best 172 and James Allenby scored his first century for Glamorgan as the Welsh county put themselves in a strong position

19-May-2010
Scorecard
Ben Wright recorded a career-best 172 and James Allenby scored his first century for Glamorgan as the Welsh county put themselves in a strong position against Gloucestershire going into the final day at Cardiff. Responding to the visitors’ 417 all out Glamorgan amassed 583 for 9 before declaring – giving them a first-innings lead of 166.And Gloucestershire then finished day three on 12 for 1 with Dean Cosker
getting a vital breakthrough bowling Chris Dent with the final ball of the
evening session.Glamorgan were indebted to Wright, who scored the second century of his career. He dominated the fourth-wicket partnership of 157 with Michael Powell, who was only able to contribute 37. After Wright went, Jim Allenby and veteran Robert Croft shared a record seventh-wicket stand for Glamorgan against Gloucestershire of 153 in 39 overs.After a 30-minute delay to the third day because of rain Wright built on his fine overnight platform of 77 not out, reaching his second century in 140 balls with 14 fours and a six before overtaking his career-best 108 against Leicestershire in 2007. That was after Glamorgan had resumed the day on 257 for 3 – 160 behind Gloucestershire.But he was not content with just a century as he hit Vikram Banerjee and Gemaal Hussain for sixes into the grandstand racing to 150 with the final ball before lunch – his third 50 coming up in only 49 balls.The Gloucestershire bowlers did not have much to smile about until James
Franklin bowled Powell with a ball which kept a little low, and Wright was in sight of becoming Glamorgan’s first double-centurion since July 2006 when he edged a lifter from Jon Lewis. His impressive innings came to an end having faced 219 balls with 23 fours and three sixes.After Mark Wallace went for a duck caught at third slip off Anthony Ireland it was left to Allenby and Croft to take Glamorgan to maximum batting points and then take them past Gloucestershire. Croft produced a wonderful cover drive to take Glamorgan into the lead before Allenby secured his sixth 50 in six championship games this season. He reached the landmark from 78 balls, and his fifty included six boundaries.After going to tea at 478 for six, a lead of 61, Croft went to a 104-ball half-century, and after he was out, Allenby reached his first Glamorgan century from 157 balls with eight fours and a six. Allenby faced another 10 balls before he holed out to deep backward square off Ireland, who was the pick of the bowlers with 5 for 114, in the pursuit of quick runs.

Karachi opener Shahzaib Hasan, one of three new faces in Pakistan’s side for the upcoming Asia Cup, believes he is ready for the challenges of international one-day cricket

Cricinfo staff09-Jun-2010Karachi opener Shahzaib Hasan, one of three new faces in Pakistan’s side for the upcoming Asia Cup, believes he is ready for the challenges of international one-day cricket.”I am confident that I can play well in the 50-over format of the game,” he told . “While I have no international experience at the 50-over format, I’m sure that I can turn my recent good domestic form into runs at international level and I am ready for the challenge of 50-over international cricket.” In domestic one-dayers, Hasan has scored 504 runs at an average of 38.76 and a strike-rate of 100.Hasan, who has played four Twenty20 internationals, is currently attending the national training camp at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where the team is being put through net sessions and fielding practice, along with lots of one-on-one coaching. “We are being pushed hard by the coaches and it is tough work in this heat, but I am really enjoying it,” he said. “Waqar bhai and Ijaz bhai are just tremendous; they have a real connection with the boys, and know how to get the very best out of them.”Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi also gave Hasan batting advice, which the 20-year-old has taken to heart. “Shahid bhai has told me to be positive, and to bat with a positive attitude and not to think of any negative thoughts when I am batting, which I think is excellent advice and advice that I will take on board”The tip from Afridi came on top of advice Hasan received from Pakistan legend Javed Miandad at a recent emerging players camp. “He [Miandad] gave me a lot of advice, especially with regards to some technical issues and batting with soft hands and rotating the strike. He also told me to concentrate more on working the ball around the field instead of looking for big shots all of the time.”A fellow rookie in the Pakistan squad, Umar Amin, also expressed his excitement at being called up and his eagerness to succeed at the international level. Umar, who has a first-class average of over 42, was playing a club match in Rawalpindi when he heard the news. “My mother called me up and told me that I had been selected for the Asia Cup squad. I think my form currently is pretty good after the recently concluded Pentangular Cup in Karachi.”Umar said that, if given the opportunity to play, the knowledge of Sri Lankan conditions acquired on A-team tours would prove handy. “I am very aware of the conditions in Sri Lanka and I’m happy to bat wherever I am required.” On that tour, Umar made 153 against Sri Lanka A in a four-day game in Dambulla, the venue for the Asia Cup.