Beyond the Test World
Tension underlies Uganda's trip to Namibia
Colin Macbeth
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Colin Macbeth
When the Uganda national cricket team set off for South Africa last Saturday they had one intention in mind: to give Namibia a good thumping in their own backyard.
September 18 sees the start of their four-day Intercontinental Shield match against the ‘kaburu’ (Boers), a match likely to be sweating with tension after its unpopular transfer by the International Cricket Council (ICC) from Kampala to Windhoek on security grounds.
The move followed the Al-Shabaab bombings in which scores of people were killed at Kyadondo rugby ground, just a stone’s throw from the main cricket ground, Lugogo.
But the decision left players and cricket-lovers in Uganda in dismay and some vowed vengeance - on the field of play. Both teams have plenty to play for, as whichever side wins the Windhoek fixture will go on to the Shield final against UAE in Dubai in November. And that means money.
Full postMalaysia prevail in rain-hit Twenty20s
Tony Munro
Liam Brickhill
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
Twenty20 Final Malaysia 74 for 5 (Alagaratham 30*, Arudin 26; Baeau 2-15) beat Papua New Guinea 72 for 7 (Vala 26, Arua 12; Azis 4 for 13) by five wickets
Malaysia - and the weather - combined to beat Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the final of the Twenty20 section of the four nation Air Niugini Super Series in Port Moresby on Sunday.
PNG were batting first, after winning the toss, when rain temporarily halted play after eight overs. Upon resumption, the match was reduced to 13-overs-a-side, and PNG, propelled by Assad Vala's 26, reached 72 for 7 from their allotment. Malaysian medium-pacer, Eszrafiq Azis, stifled PNG's momentum, taking 4 for 13.
Full postPNG beat Hong Kong to win quadrangular
Papua New Guinea 205 (Arua 61, Vala 41, A Khan 4-46) beat Hong Kong 149 (Gull 48, Baeau 4-31) by 56 runs
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Papua New Guinea 205 (Arua 61, Vala 41, A Khan 4-46) beat Hong Kong 149 (Gull 48, Baeau 4-31) by 56 runs
Papua New Guinea has won the Air Niugini Supa Series quadrangular tournament after beating Hong Kong by 56 runs on Friday. Singapore's 11-run defeat of Malaysia in Friday's other game meant they finished second, while Malaysia and Hong Kong finished third and fourth.
PNG won the toss and elected to bat, however Hong Kong took early wickets to reduce the hosts to 80 for 5. Kapena Arua and Jack Vare steadied the innings for PNG with a 58-run partnership and ensured Hong Kong would require 206 for victory. Asif Khan took the key wickets of Assad Vala, Kila Pala, Kapena Arua and Kila to finish with 4 for 46.
Hong Kong's reply got off to a steady start but the run out of Roy Lamsam (16) sparked a mini-collapse that reduced Hong Kong to 39 for 3. Some solid batting from Ilyas Gull (48) steered Hong Kong to a position of relative strength at 105 for 4 but then the innings folded rather meekly as paceman Baeau (4-31) ran through defences of the middle and lower order batsmen. Hong Kong was all out for 149 in 46 overs.
Full postPNG keep winning, Malaysia beat Hong Kong
Papua New Guinea 229 for 5 (Ura 69, Reddy 2 for 38) beat Singapore 225 for 6 (Param 77, Arora 48*; Nou 2 for 25, Dai 2 for 33) by five wickets
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Papua New Guinea 229 for 5 (Ura 69, Reddy 2 for 38) beat Singapore 225 for 6 (Param 77, Arora 48*; Nou 2 for 25, Dai 2 for 33) by five wickets
Papua New Guinea remained the only undefeated team in the four nations Air Niugini International Supa Series after beating Singapore by five wickets in Port Moresby on Thursday.
Singapore elected to bat on a good track and their openers began strongly as Chetan Surayawanshi and Buddhika Mendis put on 54 from eight overs before Surawanshi was dismissed for 34.
The visitors managed to put together decent partnerships which enabled them to finish on a healthy 225 for 6 from their 50 overs. A Param top-scored for Singapore with 77 and received good support in the latter stage of the innings from M Arora with an unbeaten 48. This was despite the restrictive bowling of PNG spinners, Mahurua Dai and Jason Kila.
Full postPNG and Singapore register wins
Papua New Guinea 204 for 5 (Amini 71*, Ura 57, Arifin 1-24, Rahim 1-22) beat Malaysia 158 (Alagaratham 49, Dikana 2 for 14, Areni 2 for 27, Dai 2 for 41) by 46 runs
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Papua New Guinea 204 for 5 (Amini 71*, Ura 57, Arifin 1-24, Rahim 1-22) beat Malaysia 158 (Alagaratham 49, Dikana 2 for 14, Areni 2 for 27, Dai 2 for 41) by 46 runs
Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Singapore have scored comfortable wins on day one of the Air Niugini Supa Series in Port Moresby on Wednesday.
The home side beat Malaysia by 46 runs at Amini Park thanks to a strong batting performance, while Singapore exposed Hong Kong's inexperience to win by 90 runs at Colts Ground.
Malaysia won the toss and sent PNG in on a bouncy wicket. The PNG batsmen, led by Chris Amini, responded with 204 from 50 overs. Openers, Vani Vagi Morea and Tony Ura gave the PNG innings a firm base putting on 51 runs for the first wicket. Ura continued to reach first half-century for the Barramundis while in partnership with Chris Amini. The more experienced Amini batted in his usual attractive manner to close the innings out with an unbeaten 71.
Full postPNG to host international associate series
Tony Munro
Liam Brickhill
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
International cricket will come to Papua New Guinea next week when the national team hosts Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore in the Air Niugini International Supa Series from September 1 to 5.
There will be two tournaments in one as the four teams initially play each other once in the 50-over format during the first three days before converting to Twenty20 mode on the last two days, culminating in a final.
Visiting national teams to PNG are rare - perhaps the only exception being West Indies in 1975, so numerically at least this is possibly the biggest tournament of its kind in PNG cricket history.
Full postShenyang Sport University continue dominance
Shenyang Sport University have maintained their dominance of cricket in China, recently winning the men's national championship for the fifth year in a row.
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Shenyang Sport University have maintained their dominance of cricket in China, recently winning the men's national championship for the fifth year in a row.
They are the only team to have won the championships since they began in 2007.
According to the Asian Cricket Council, 98 teams from across China took part in University, High School Senior, High School Junior, High School Women, Combined Primary School Boys and Primary School Girls divisions. A total of 28 teams competed in the finals which were held in Linhai, Zheijiang Province in eastern China for the first time. Previous finals have been played in Beijing and Shanghai. In 2009 61 teams took part nationally.
There are expatriate competitions in Shanghai and Beijing. However, the Chinese Cricket Association (CCA) in its professed desire to develop cricket among the Chinese has had little or no interaction with the expatriates, who do not fall under the CCA umbrella.
Full postLife and cricket go on
Paras Khadka - Nepal captain
Liam Brickhill
25-Feb-2013
Paras Khadka - Nepal captain
First of all, I just want to apologise to any readers of my blog that were hoping for something yesterday after our defeat to the USA but I just couldn’t bring myself to write, I was too disappointed in the side and myself to post anything.
Today was a tough match to get motivated for knowing in the morning that we were virtually out of the competition for promotion but the boys still put in a spirited effort against the Cayman Islands for victory today.
It’s hugely disappointing not to have qualified, we worked so hard for this tournament but when it mattered we didn’t perform to the standard I know we are capable of playing.
Full postNepal back on track
Paras Khadka - Nepal captain
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Paras Khadka - Nepal captain
After two disappointing batting displays by the side I feel that we’re back on the road to recovery with our performance today. The batsmen showed what we are capable of but we are by no means the finished article and there is still room for improvement in all aspects of our game.
I think our openers did well today, Anil and Mahesh put the runs on the board and then when I joined Pradeep at the crease I felt we were a good settled unit. I was particularly pleased with Pradeep today who made his debut for the side. He showed good maturity for a 17-year-old to grind out his 38 not out and I hope he continues to do well.
I still think our ground fielding needs to improve and it may be a case of going back to basics with that too and making sure we’re quick on our reactions when it comes to claiming catches in the field.
Full postDesperate times ...
On the face of it, the return of Steve Tikolo to Kenya’s side for the 2011 World Cup has to be a rare flicker of good news in a dismal year for cricket in the country
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
On the face of it, the return of Steve Tikolo to Kenya’s side for the 2011 World Cup has to be a rare flicker of good news in a dismal year for cricket in the country. Officially he will have to fight his way back into the team. However, Kenya's recent performances have been so dire that he could walk back in even were he to bat left handed.
However, great player though he undoubtedly was, there were some who were far from unhappy when Tikolo quit. They felt that his powers were on the wane – as can only be expected from a man who will be 40 next June – and his presence in the side led to others taking the mindset that even if they failed, Tikolo would bail them out. Without him, so the argument went, others would have to stand on their own two feet. Recent performances suggest that's something beyond them.
When Tikolo indicated earlier in the year he might return but only on his terms he riled board officials, and then he sprung up as a ringleader of the strike which led to Kenya’s short tour of England being scrapped, benefiting nobody and further denting Kenya’s tarnished international standing. There appeared no way back.
But so desperate are Kenya to avoid humiliation in the World Cup – and any other matches that come their way in the build-up – that the board now appears to be trawling round former players to try to bolster their hapless team. While it is nothing more than short-term clutching at straws, there appear few alternatives.
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