Cricket: Younis Falls Short- Exciting draw at Karachi 1st Test

Thursday, February 26, 2009
Younis falls short:
Exciting draw at Karachi:

Pakistan's Kamran Akmal plays a straight drive on the fifth and final day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the National Cricket Stadium in Karachi yesterday. He was unbeaten on 158.Photo: AFPAfp, Karachi

Younis Khan failed to post the highest Test score by a Pakistani batsman as the first Test against Sri Lanka ended in a draw, after some late excitement raised hopes of an unlikely result.

Khan fell for 313, 24 short of Hanif Mohammad's record score of 337, but the home team still achieved their highest Test innings score of 765-6.

Sri Lanka had declared their first innings at 644-7.

After Younis's dismissal leg-spinner Danish Kaneria sparked late interest in a game heading for a draw when he claimed the wickets of Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene (22) and Kumar Sangakkara (65) in the space of four overs.

But Thilan Samaraweera (24) and Prasanna Jayawardene (seven) played out seven overs to take their team to 144-5 and thwart Pakistan's attempts of an unlikely win.

The second and final Test starts in Lahore Sunday.

Younis said he did not feel disappointed at not breaking records.

"I am not heartbroken," said Younis. "I may have more opportunities in the future so records don't matter for me. I am satisfied with the team effort and will go into the second Test, hoping Sri Lanka struggle like they did today."

Jayawardene was also satisfied with the result.

"You always want to play well in the first Test of a two-match series," said Jayawardene, who scored 241 and shared a world record stand of 437 with Thilan Samaraweera (231) in his team's first innings.

"We batted badly in the second innings but overall it was a satisfying result. We had our opportunities but Younis played a brilliant knock and took away our chances."

Trailing by 121 runs, Sri Lanka had a disastrous start to their second innings as they lost opener Malinda Warnapura (two), caught behind off paceman Umar Gul in the first over.

Gul then had Tillakaratne Dilshan (eight) caught off a mistimed pull. In between Gul's double strike, opener Tharanga Paranavitana was run out when he failed to beat Yasir Arafat's direct throw while taking a single.

Paranavitana, who fell for a duck in the first innings, managed just nine to cap a miserable Test debut.

It was also a setback for 31-year-old Younis, Pakistan's new captain, who had set his sights both on Hanif's record for Pakistan and West Indies Brian Lara's world record score of 400.

Younis, who resumed at 306, played on to Sri Lanka's Dilhara Fernando in the ninth over of the day, to the disappointment of a sparse crowd at the National Stadium hoping to see him break Lara's record, set against England in 2004.

Hanif's Pakistani record was set against the West Indies in Barbados in 1958.

Kamran Akmal notched a fiery career-best 158 as Pakistan improved on their previous best Test innings total of 708, made against England at The Oval in 1987.

The home team's total of 765 runs also becomes the highest innings total in a Test in Pakistan, overtaking the 699-5 by Pakistan against India at Lahore in 1989.

Younis, who came to the crease on Sunday, batted for a marathon 12 hours and 48 minutes, facing 568 balls and hitting 27 boundaries and four sixes.

His triple ton eclipsed Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene's 240, part of a record 437 fourth-wicket stand with Thilan Samaraweera (231).

Akmal, 27, completed his 2,000 runs when he was on 56. He hit five sixes and eight boundaries. Arafat finished with 50 not out and put on 169 quick runs for the seventh wicket with Akmal.

England scent a win

Friday, February 20, 2009

England opener Alastair Cook works the ball on the on side during the fourth day's play of the third Test against West Indies at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St John's on Wednesday. Photo: AFPAfp, St John's

England were eyeing a series-levelling victory, after setting West Indies 503 to win the third Test on Wednesday and at stumps on the fourth day needed seven wickets on the final day to secure the win.

England declared their second innings on 221 for eight about an hour after the scheduled tea break, and then restricted West Indies to 143 for three in their second innings when stumps were drawn.

Alastair Cook hit the top score of 51 in the England second innings, Paul Collingwood made 34, Kevin Pietersen got 33 as England batted themselves into an impregnable position.

For West Indies, Daren Powell collected two wickets for 33 runs from seven overs, Ryan Hinds took two for 45 from 11 overs, and Sulieman Benn two for 58 from 13 overs.

England then had to wait an hour and 15 minutes either side of tea before they claimed their first wicket, and then took two more to leave West Indies wobbly on 96 for three.

But the visitors then met stern resistance from Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, two of the West Indies' most recognised batsmen, in the final hour.

Sarwan, not out on 47, and Chanderpaul, not out on 19, added 47 - unbroken - for the fourth wicket and will carry the burden of responsibility of saving the test.

England's progress was slowed, when West Indies captain Chris Gayle and Devon Smith had carried their side to tea on 32 without loss and then proceeded to take their opening stand over the 50 mark before the visitors broke it.

Steve Harmison had Smith adjudged lbw for 21, and this started the shaky period for West Indies.

Graeme Swann had Gayle also lbw for 46 sweeping across the line of a well-pitched delivery, and Stuart Broad deceived Ryan Hinds with a slower delivery and had him caught at mid-on for six essaying a firm drive.

But he was England's final success for the day, as Chanderpaul joined Sarwan and batted through until the close with little or no alarms.

Earlier, Cook had hit his second half-century of the match to help England beef-up their lead, as they reached 135 for three at the interval.

Cook turned his 92nd ball from Benn behind square for a single to reach the landmark, as England made steady, if not rapid progress before lunch, after they continued from their overnight total of 31 for one.

Cook had been allied with James Anderson and they frustrated West Indies for the first hour in a stand of 46 for the second.

But Anderson was dismissed on the stroke of the drinks break, when he was caught behind for 20 off Powell.

England continued to chase quick runs, and Owais Shah struck Powell for a wonderful six over mid-wicket before the same bowler spectacularly bowled him middle-stump for 14 to leave the visitors on 97 for three.

After lunch, England suffered an early setback in their hunt for quick runs, when Cook was caught at slip off Hinds' modest left-arm spin gloving a delivery that bounced awkwardly.

But Paul Collingwood joined Kevin Pietersen and they raised the tempo in a stand of 44 for the fifth wicket with a mixture of aggressive strokes and well-judged runs.

Pietersen improvised with a number of reverse sweeps and cross-batted strokes, but he tried one too many, and was caught behind to give Benn, one of the heroes of West Indies victory in the first Test, his first wicket in his 54th over of the match.

England then lost four wickets for 17 runs in the space of 26 balls before two sixes - one apiece to Matt Prior and Harmison - off Hinds sealed the 500-run lead and the declaration.

England trail 0-1 in the series which now comprises five Tests, following an innings and 23-run defeat in the opening Test at Kingston inside four days.

The other two Tests in the series take place at Kensington Oval in Barbados from February 26 to March 2, and Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad from March 6 to 10.

England is Driving Position on Antigua Test

Page last updated at 21:17 GMT, Wednesday, 18 February 2009 West Indies v England 3rd Test Antigua, 15-19 February 2009

Third Test, Antigua (day three, close): England 566-9 dec & 221-8 dec v West Indies 285 & 143-3 Swann's fine form continued with the wicket of Chris Gayle England remain in full control of the third Test after setting West Indies 503 to win and reducing them to 143-3 by the close on day four in Antigua. After the tourists resumed on 31-1, Alastair Cook's 58 helped them to 221-8 declared with over a session remaining. West Indies reached tea on 32-0 but then lost Devon Smith, Chris Gayle and Ryan Hinds in quick succession. The key pair of Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul return to the crease on the final morning. Weather reports suggest a 40% chance of rain in Antigua on Thursday but unless it arrives West Indies will be desperate for Sarwan (47no) and Chanderpaul (18no) to forge a lengthy partnership. The Caribbean islanders hold the record for a successful fourth innings run chase - they scored 418-7 to beat Australia at this stadium, the Antigua Recreation Ground, in 2003 - but avoiding defeat is likely to be their priority on this occasion. England will be pleased with their position going into day five and must hope the ARG pitch continues to break up and show signs of unpredictable bounce. Their only concern surrounds the fitness of Andrew Flintoff, whose hip injury seems to be restricting his movement considerably. Flintoff was dropped to number eight in the batting order and seemed in some discomfort as he recorded his second duck of the match before bowling just three overs in the Windies second innings. The day started slowly for England and 16 deliveries had passed before Cook and night-watchman James Anderson got the scoreboard moving. Anderson, dropped at slip by Gayle off the bowling of Fidel Edwards, contributed just 16 runs in the opening hour and, perhaps to England's relief, he was eventually caught behind off Daren Powell. Owais Shah's arrival was timely for the tourists and the Middlesex right-handed signalled his intent by clubbing Powell over midwicket for six. The 30-year-old was a picture of confidence until ambition got the better of him and, pulling at a Powell delivery that was never there to be pulled, saw his middle stump knocked back. It looked as though the stage was set for a Twenty20-style cameo from Kevin Pietersen but the former captain was fortunate to survive when umpire Daryl Harper called a no ball after he was caught and bowled by Sulieman Benn. Cook weighed in with his second half-century of the match As in his first innings, the expansive Pietersen looked to be struggling for rhythm and failed to properly execute any of his numerous attempted switch-hit strokes. Cook notched his 18th Test fifty before lunch but the Essex left-hander had faced just four balls after the re-start when he gloved Hinds to Smith at slip. With Pietersen now partnered by Paul Collingwood, England seemed to adopt a greater sense of abandonment. Both batsmen took thumping boundaries off one Taylor over before Collingwood (34) clubbed Hinds over wide long-on. Pietersen would have been run out had West Indies asked for a direct hit by Brendan Nash to be referred to the third umpire, but he fell moments later after nicking Benn to wicketkeeper Dinesh Ramdin. Strauss decided against calling England in - he was evidently keen to establish a lead of at least 500 - but it was wickets, rather than runs, that came more readily. Collingwood lost his stumps to Hinds, Stuart Broad was run out and Flintoff volleyed Benn to midwicket. A swept six over midwicket by Matt Prior and Steve Harmison's emphatic heave over midwicket took the lead to 502 and heralded the declaration. Gayle and Smith to the hosts' second innings off to a fairly cautious start, declining the opportunity to take risks but punishing the bad balls with a series of beautiful off-side drives and cuts. Neither batsman was troubled as West Indies eased their way through to tea but England's bowling unit looked pumped up as they returned for the final session and the breakthrough would not be long in coming. Graeme Swann was dispatched by Gayle for two crunching boundaries in his first over after the break but the off-spinner continued to probe in the dangerous footholes outside off-stump. At the other end Harmison was finding a consistent line and length and he gained reward for his disciplined spell with the lbw dismissal of Devon Smith. That decision was somewhat dubious - Smith appeared to be struck a touch high - but there was no doubt surrounding the end of Gayle after he was trapped plumb by a jubilant Swann. West Indies were in serious danger of collapsing when Hinds drove Broad tamely to Shah at short midwicket but Sarwan and Chanderpaul were on hand to steady the innings and guide their side through to the close.

Graeme Swann claimed a five-wicket haul

Third Test, Antigua (day three, close):
England 566-9 dec & 31-1 v West Indies 285

Swann made his Test debut against India at Chennai last December

Graeme Swann claimed a five-wicket haul as England bowled out West Indies for 285 and finished day three of the third Test in Antigua 312 runs ahead at 31-1.

Swann took two wickets before lunch but England wilted in the sun as Ramnaresh Sarwan hit 14 fours and a six in 94.

But spinner Swann, in his third Test, struck twice in two balls to claim 5-57 and Andrew Flintoff took 3-47 as the last three wickets fell in three overs.

England decided not to enforce the follow-on but lost Andrew Strauss.

Swann, 29, who took two wickets in his first over at Test level against India late last year, fully justified the last-minute decision to include him at the expense of Monty Panesar.

The Nottinghamshire spinner's success sweetened a difficult day for England who, on a sweltering day, were hindered by their two senior fast bowlers being unable to fire on all cylinders.

Steve Harmison was suffering from an illness caused by the heat, and Flintoff had a similar problem, plus a niggling injury.

The tourists were also perhaps guilty of being pre-occupied with the much-fabled ridge across the wicket of the Antigua Recreation Ground.

England's bowlers appeared to forget about line, so any deliveries that did shoot along the uneven deck did not threaten the stumps.

Swann began the day with what appeared to be a token over to allow Harmison to bowl from the Factory Road End.

But one ball turned extravagantly and, luckily for England, his bold variations of pace and flight kept him in the captain's thoughts.

England were wicketless in the first hour before Smith's loose shot

Night-watchman Daren Powell, a former schoolboy opening batsman, played commendably straight, but enjoyed more than his fair share of good fortune.

Twice he managed to slice through a narrow gap between third slip and gully, and on 19 he clearly edged a drive at Swann to Matt Prior.

The Windies survived the first hour but the second ball after the drinks break accounted for Devon Smith, who played an uncharacteristic swipe at one that drifted, brushed the pad and bowled him.

Stuart Broad bowled the best line of the pace quartet, but it was in the field that he came close to claiming the next wicket when he almost ran out Powell.

Powell was eventually well caught low at slip by Paul Collingwood, but Sarwan was full of intent from the outset and drove Swann for four and then launched one over mid-wicket for six.

The ever-industrious Flintoff, though troubled by a hip problem, got one to climb at Ryan Hinds but he fended it short of Kevin Pietersen diving forward in the gully.

With frustration growing in the field, Pietersen produced one sharply spinning off-break that almost squeezed through Sarwan, but it looked as though the closest England would come to dislodging the Guyanese was when he crashed a drive painfully into his inside leg.

Hinds had been content to play watchfully, scoring only 17 from 65 balls, before Pietersen's inconsistency allowed him to sweep a four and throw the kitchen sink at another that went all the way for six.

But with Strauss perhaps wondering if Prior might have to turn his arm over, the dependable Flintoff tempted the left-hander to edge to the keeper's left, ending a partnership of 70.

The breakthrough was welcome but on such an arduous day England would not have relished the sight of the limpet-like Shivnarine Chanderpaul walking out to bat, a man with a Test average of 100 in the last two years.

He was out eight balls later, however, well caught low to his left by Prior as Broad collected a deserved wicket.

Broad should have added the scalp of Sarwan on 63 but a sharply struck return chance squeezed through his hands.

England turned to Collingwood after tea but Sarwan displayed his full range of strokes, an exquisitely played drive down the ground followed by another boundary, a glorious cover drive that took him into the 90s.

With 116 still needed to save the follow-on, Sarwan, maybe trying to reach three figures with a six, was lured down the pitch by Swann but mistimed his drive and found the safe hands of Flintoff at short mid-wicket.

The dismissal of Denesh Ramdin, who chipped back a full toss to a grateful Swann, gave England genuine hope of ending the innings, something that appeared highly unlikely just a couple of hours earlier.

Jerome Taylor kept out the hat-trick ball but was soon pinned on the helmet by Harmison, who returned with a testing spell.

James Anderson took the new ball with Broad, who should have trapped Nash on 11 with a fine yorker.

But umpire Daryl Harper not only rejected the appeal but gave the leg-bye as a run.

It did not prove significant as Nash was caught at second slip, and Swann celebrated his maiden five-wicket haul by trapping the giant Sulieman Benn on the front pad, before an exhausted Flintoff ended the innings by clutching Taylor's steepling top edge off his own bowling.

With several of the England bowlers feeling the strain, the decision was made to allow them to rest, though why Anderson was sent in as night-watchman after Strauss was caught at second slip for 14 was not so easy to understand.

However, the next major decision for the captain as he bids to level the series will be more important - that of when to announce his declaration.