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Two Barbadians at the centre of disciplinary action by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) were fined less than $600 each for misdemeanours on the West Indies "A" team’s summer tour of England and Canada.WICB president Wes Hall said yesterday the board ratified the decision of its disciplinary committee with regard to charges against Barbadians Sulieman Benn and Tino Best, and Nevisian Runako Morton, but would only issue a release after the players were informed.Investigations by the DAILY NATION, however, revealed that Benn and Best were fined 10 per cent of their tour fee, which amounted to US$291 (BDS$582). The fine must be paid in seven days.Best, one of the most exciting young fast bowlers in the region, is one of three Barbadians invited to a WICB fast bowlers’ clinic in Antigua, starting on December 9.Ryan Nurse and Fidel Edwards are the other Bajans who have been invited to the clinic, which will be conducted by former outstanding West Indies pacer Andy Roberts.There was increasing speculation yesterday that Best, 21, was also in serious contention for a place in the West Indies team for next month’s short tour of Bangladesh.Recently, Benn was involved in another disciplinary matter that led to the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) withdrawing him from its year-round national programme.The BCA subsequently arranged a course of professional counselling and mentoring which the young cricketer has agreed to participate in.Best and Benn appeared before the WICB disciplinary committee on October 8 after the board reviewed tour reports from team management.Manager Joel Garner spoke of a lack of discipline by some players.Morton also went before the WICB disciplinary committee to explain the circumstances that led to his early departure from the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka two months ago.He was permitted to leave the tournament after informing team management about the death of his grandmother; but information later emerged that one of his grandmothers died 16 years ago and the other lives in Antigua.

Fluent half-centuries from Lawrence Prittipaul and James Adams, together with James Tomlinson’s three wicket burst eased Hampshire through to their third Second XI Trophy final in the last four years with a 60 run triumph over Yorkshire at Stamford Bridge near York on Monday.Electing to bat first, Hampshire lost skipper Jason Laney early but a steady collection of runs led by opener Adams (53) saw the total accumulate.Alex Morris (37), John Francis (36) and James Hamblin with a quickfire 38 joined forces with Prittipaul, who remained undefeated at the innings close with 61 not out as Hampshire racked up a formidable 278-5 in their allocation.Chris Elstub (1-30) and Gary Fellows (0-41) took the bowling plaudits despite Nick Thornicroft taking two wickets but at a price of 74 runs.Yorkshire’s reply stumbled as they lost first team opener Vic Craven without scoring to the impressive Tomlinson, whose two wicket opening spell set the tone. Aided by Prittipaul’s lively medium-pace, the home side slipped to 88-4.However, former England and Scotland international Gavin Hamilton revived the innings with 76 before Tomlinson (3-35) returned to remove him and with it any hope of overturning the Hampshire target.Prittipaul added two run-outs, of Guy and last man Thornicroft, to his 2-51 while all the bowlers enjoyed fruitful days to lead Hampshire to the re-run of the 1999 final against Kent, victors over Middlesex by 4 wickets at Uxbridge, on Monday September 9.The draw as to who hosts the final was made at Lord’s with Hampshire being the lucky ones. The match will be at The Rose Bowl…HAMPSHIRE’S PREVIOUS 2nd XI TROPHY FINAL APPEARANCES1987 v Derbyshire at County Ground, Southampton
Hampshire 166-9 (55 overs) (Savage 61, Beardshall 4-32)
Derbyshire 167-3 (46 overs) (Brown 65, Anderson 58, Shine 2-43)
DERBYSHIRE WON BY 7 WICKETS1999 v Kent at Canterbury
Kent 267-6 (50 overs) (Clinton 54, Hockley 54*, Hansen 2-42)
Hampshire 161 (39.3 overs) (Prittipaul 57, James 52, Llong 5-32)
KENT WON BY 106 RUNS2000 v Leicestershire at County Ground, Southampton
Leicestershire 205 (49.3 overs) (Adshead 58, Tremlett 2-22, ZC Morris 2-27)
Hampshire 180 (47.3 overs) (Sexton 58, Griffith 3-27, CD Crowe 3-41)
LEICESTERSHIRE WON BY 25 RUNS

Western Australian cricket selectors today announced an Australian Cricket Board Cup Second XI with a distinct view to the state’s future.The team will be captained by experienced Western Warriors all-rounder Stuart Karppinen.With a clear indication of a youth policy within the Second XI round-robin interstate competition, the selectors have banked heavily on emerging young players from the Warriors squad.Australian Under-19 World Cup 2002 team winning team member Shaun Marsh has been named vice-captain.Subiaco-Floreat top order specialist Brett Jones replaces injured opener Scott Meuleman.The team, to play South Australia in a four-day match at Tompkins Park starting on Monday, is:Stuart Karppinen (Captain), Shaun Marsh (vice-captain), Beau Casson, Michael Clark, Geoff Cullen, Andrew James, Brett Jones, Luke Ronchi, Craig Simmons, Michael Thistle, Callum Thorp, and Adam Voges.The team will be coached by Western Warriors assistant-coach Noel Knight.

At the start of the third day, England were favourites to win, the draw could not be discounted and there was just an outside chance that India could get back into the match. At the end of the day, Indian hopes have been effectively extinguished. For that, they need look no further than an inept batting display. To be bowled out for 221 on this pitch indicates a serious lack of resolve that is likely to be punished in the course of the next two days.With Simon Jones claiming his first Test scalps, and generally causing the batsmen to hop around a bit, and with wickets falling at regular intervals, India found themselves in rapid decline. Without taking anything away from the England bowlers, the Indian batsmen will have asked some searching questions of themselves for allowing so many wickets to fall on this pitch. At least, they should have been asking themselves those questions.A full house gathered at Lord’s in anticipation of a Sachin Tendulkar run-feast came perilously close to disappointment when he had just ten to his name. Jones, working up a fair head of steam from the pavilion end, found a great delivery from around the wicket that opened up Tendulkar. An outside edge went low down to first slip where Graham Thorpe failed to cling on to a chance that just about carried and should have been held.After the drop, Tendulkar gave mere glimpses of his class, as did Dravid at the other end. Dravid had been watchful throughout his innings. At one point yesterday he went for 50 minutes without adding to his score. When he found the boundary off the 144th ball he faced, it was his first since the 33rd.The England bowlers kept the scoring rate in check with some controlled aggression. Jones in particular looked understandably more relaxed than the previous day and found sufficient rhythm to cause moments of anxiety as the batsmen hurried their strokes.England got the breakthrough for which they were probing when Matthew Hoggard found the first ball to misbehave on this otherwise perfect pitch. From just short of a length, he got one to lift appreciably as Dravid tried to withdraw his bottom hand, but the ball looped to backward point where Michael Vaughan held a simple catch.As ever, the major wicket was Tendulkar’s. White had been bowling well but as so often happens, it was not the best ball he has ever bowled that got one of his most valuable victims. It was short and outside the off stump, causing Tendulkar to have a wild slash that only succeeded in finding the edge and Alec Stewart made no mistake.As is always the case when a batsman of Tendulkar’s class and reputation is out, there was an extra bounce to the steps of the fielding side while those in the pavilion find their heads dropping. Sourav Ganguly gave a tame catch to Vaughan in the gully off Andrew Flintoff, before Jones managed to take his first wicket at this level when Ajay Ratra flashed at a short ball to edge to the keeper.Having waited 16 overs for that success, his lbw appeal was turned down next ball but in his next over had Ajit Agarkar caught at slip. White came back to bowl Anil Kumble with the score on 209 – still 79 short of avoiding the follow-on.By farming the strike, VVS Laxman managed to add another 12 runs and prolong the end, which came when Zaheer Khan was caught by Thorpe off Hoggard, leaving Laxman undefeated on 43. India were 266 behind, but Nasser Hussain opted against enforcing the follow-on and chose to bat again on a pitch that was showing little sign of wear.The openers were settling into their task without either Zaheer or Nehra getting the same movement as in the first innings. However, Kumble was introduced to bowl the ninth over and with his fifth ball claimed a wicket. Mark Butcher went to sweep and, although he protested otherwise, made no contact and was out lbw.Psychologists might have the answer to why Hussain has not gone beyond twenty in the second innings after scoring a Test hundred in the first, but whatever the reason, he maintained the pattern here. Agarkar got a lot of lift from just short of a length, for Hussain to have a wild flash and touch it to the wicket-keeper.Thorpe has not had a happy return to the international scene. One catch held, one dropped, four from one shot in the first innings, and now just a single in the second. He cut Kumble uppishly into the covers for Ganguly to dive forward to take the catch. Thorpe dwelt in the middle as his fate sunk in before leaving for the sanctuary of the pavilion.At that point, further wickets could have just opened a chink for India. Vaughan and John Crawley effectively closed even that small opening with some sensible batting that illustrated to their opponents what could be achieved in these conditions with the right application. That was reflected in the statistics for Vaughan’s fifty – 78 balls with just four boundaries – although he was dropped by the wicket-keeper immediately after getting there. That, and the earlier spurned chance by Wasim Jaffer at point that gave Crawley a life, will undoubtedly be a source of regret before long – if it is not already.Crawley completed a second fifty in the match as the pair started to increase the range of their strokeplay so that by the close of play, the only question left unanswered was at what point Hussain will declare. Time, along with everything else, is certainly on his side.

Former Test paceman Paul Wilson faces the daunting prospect of making his Pura Cup comeback in South Australia’s most important four-day match in three seasons.But Redbacks captain Greg Blewett is glad to have the 30-year-old back in the extended version of the game after an injury-plagued 12 months for the bullocking quick.Wilson’s bowling style should be well suited for the WACA pitch in the vital match against Western Australia starting tomorrow.The Redbacks and Warriors are two of the four teams still in the running for spots in the final heading into the last round of matches.Queensland is in the best position on 30 points, but needs first innings points against Victoria to ensure its third home final in a row.Meanwhile, Western Australia and Tasmania are locked on 24 points and need large victories to improve their chances of making the final.The Redbacks (20) have a slim hope of playing next week but need an outright victory over the Warriors and other results to fall their way.Blewett today welcomed the four changes made to the Redbacks’ line-up for the match after back-to-back losses at home.”We felt that we needed a bit of a change in personnel because we thought the guys who’d been beaten pretty soundly in the last couple of games were a little bit flat, so we have got some new guys in the team,” he said.Blewett said Wilson, who has played a handful of one-day matches since returning from a knee operation, had not been recalled earlier because of the Redbacks’initial run of good form post-Christmas.”I think Paul is one of the best bowlers in our state and he is always pretty tough under these conditions over here so I am glad to have him back,” Blewett said.”He’s really keen to do well as this is his only game for the season. He generally hits the right area and hits the seam so he’s a difficult customer.”Blewett said the pitch looked a little moist and could provide assistance for the bowlers early on.Meanwhile, for the Warriors, Murray Goodwin has been recalled to open the batting with Michael Hussey.And veteran paceman Jo Angel needs just five more wickets to become the second-highest wicket-taker in Australian domestic first-class cricket.Angel, who has taken 37 first-class wickets this season, has 380 career wickets in Austalian domestic first-class cricket while Clarrie Grimmett is the leading wicket taker with 513.Angel will also become Western Australia’s highest wicket-taker in Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup history if he passes Terry Alderman’s mark of 384 wickets.Teams:Western Australia: Simon Katich (capt), Jo Angel, Ryan Campbell, Michael Clark, Murray Goodwin, Brad Hogg, Michael Hussey, Matthew Nicholson, Marcus North,Chris Rogers, Brad Williams, Brad Oldroyd (likely 12th man).South Australia: Greg Blewett (capt), Nathan Adcock, Chris Davies, Shane Deitz, David Fitzgerald, Ryan Harris, Ben Johnson, Paul Rofe, Mike Smith, Paul Wilson, Bradley Young, Daniel Harris (likely 12th man).

Worcestershire held their nerve to secure a comfortable five-wicket win overNorthants in the Benson and Hedges Cup on Wednesday. In a performance whichensured Monday’s mauling at the hands of Gloucestershire was consigned to the memory bank, Worcester’s talented top order proved their calibre. Andy Bichel highlighted his worth as Worcester’s overseas player with four wickets and showed a cool head to guide his side to victory. Despite a superb all-round performance from Tony Penberthy and half-centuries from Mike Hussey and Jeff Cook, Northants bowling attack lacked the depth to take a promising position through to victory.Chasing 233 to win on a fair Wantage Road track which offered assistance with the new ball did not look like being a simple task. The visitors managed an excellent start. A good opening spell from Carl Greenidge was not helped by Mike Cawdron’s inaccuracy – his first two overs went for 22 – and a shoulder injury which took Ben Phillips out of the attack after two overs. Vikram Solanki, along with his opening partner Stephen Peters, punished some terrible bowling. Other than Greenidge, the Northants bowlers were too short, and mistakes were quickly seized upon. Solanki showed his ability off the front foot whenever a bowler over-compensated. Solanki reached his half-century with a delicate late cut. He had faced only 53 balls, striking five fours and two sixes. Peters provided an excellent foil, easing the ball through the field and always willing to attack on the back foot.It was left to veteran performer Penberthy to put the brakes on, a nagging line and length indicative of his experience. The pressure told, and sharp work from Toby Bailey saw an over-balancing Solanki well short of his ground. Along with Penberthy, off-spinner Graeme Swann helped keep Peters and Graeme Hick quiet for a time. Hick, who had spent time at the crease trying to establish himself, went for 17, leg before shouldering arms to an in-ducker from Penberthy. The next over saw the back of Peters, (52) lbw to Swann attempting to sweep. Penberthy finished with 2-18 from his ten overs, as the required rate pushed above six runs per over.David Leatherdale joined Ben Smith, with the pressure mounting. In a breezypartnership, with Leatherdale striking the ball cleanly through the off-side, Worcester re-gained the initiative. The pair began to take advantage of Swann, working him comfortably away without dominating. Not one to be overshadowed, Smith struck Cook for consecutive boundaries on either side of the wicket as the partnership passed 50 at better than a run a ball. With the game beginning to look lost, an uppish drive from Smith was well caught by skipper Michael Hussey at point. Leatherdale (33) soon followed, to a questionable caught behind decision, Cawdron the lucky bowler.It was left to Gareth Batty and Andy Bichel to see Worcestershire home, Batty signalling his intentions by lofting a Cawdron long-hop over mid-wicket for six. Not wishing to be outdone, Bichel hit Cook over long-off in the next over. A leg-side flick bought Bichel six more to compound Cawdron’s misery. Bichel hit the winning runs in the 48th over, flicking Greenidge away through mid-on to bring up the fifty partnership.The day began well for Worcester, with Graeme Hick winning the toss andelecting to field. Bichel struck early, removing Swann and Mal Loye in hisopening spell. Swann, who had clubbed two early boundaries, tried to turn anout-swinger to leg, only succeeding in edging to Stuart Lampitt, who took afine low catch at slip. Loye was caught on the crease, and bowled by a rogueball which kept low. Whilst Bichel was able to trouble Michael Hussey, hiscompatriot took advantage of a quick outfield and looser bowling fromAlagmir Sheriyar.David Sales made a horrible nine, scratching in defence after missing earlyattacking opportunities. He fell to Kabir Ali, flaying a wide ball through to `keeper Steve Rhodes. Russell Warren began positively, whilst Hussey emerged from his shell to lazily hook Kabir Ali over mid-wicket for six. The reintroduction of Bichel bought immediate success, Warren gloving a short ball down the leg side to Rhodes. All the while Stuart Lampitt was proving his worth, his ten overs costing just 25.Hussey continued to look to hit to leg, though the pace of the wicket hampered his efforts. He reached his half-century from 90 balls in the 35th over. He celebrated with a second six, lofting Gareth Batty over mid-wicket. Revenge came quickly for the off-spinner, as Hussey was bowled round his legs the next ball. Hussey’s 58 was a knock of patience, and vital to Northants making a decent total.Big-hitting Jeff Cook hammered David Leatherdale through the covers to signal his arrival, with the home side desperate to take advantage of the final overs. After a couple of mistimed strikes, and a replacement bat, he began to dominate. Cook launched Batty over long-off for six, and then hit Kabir Ali over both cover and Vikram Solanki’s desperate boundary effort. All the while veteran Tony Penberthy helped the board tick over, giving the strike back to Cook. The left-hander’s second six was a massive effort: straight over long-off. Later in the over, Cook hit over the leg side, this time for a one bounce four. He reached his half-century from his 36th ball, gliding Sheriyar to third-man.Once again it was Bichel’s return which proved successful for Worcestershire. Cook tried one slog too many, and was caught easily by David Leatherdale at mid-on. His 50, in a partnership of 68 with Penberthy, gave Northants the edge at halfway. Penberthy’s first boundary saw Sheriyar once more disappearing out of the ground, over mid-wicket for six. The next ball went slightly straighter for six more. His third six was straighter still, over long-on to bring up a superb fifty. Sheriyar got his man with the fifth ball of an extraordinary over, as Penberthy played all over another attempted six. Sheriyar’s ten overs cost 68. A total of 232-7 was more than competitive, set up by Hussey, and completed by Cook and Penberthy’s assault, with 92 runs added in the last ten overs.It was a case of what might have been for Northants. Hussey gritted things out after their batsmen struggled early on, enabling Cook and Penberthy to take advantage. With the ball, wickets came, but the intervening periods were often dismal. Phillips’ injury was a problem, with Cook and Cawdron haemorrhaging runs and Hussey with nobody to turn to.

Inspired by a four-wicket burst from Oliver Thomas (4/28), a South Australian Invitation Under-19 team has narrowly taken away the honours from the first match of the Sri Lankan national under-19 team’s current tour of Australia. The two-day encounter ultimately ended in a draw – with the South Australians at 0/63 in their second innings and holding an overall lead of eighty-three by the end – but not before there had been an exciting contest for a first innings victory.In the final analysis, it was the right arm pace bowling of Thomas which played the deciding role. He took a wicket early in the Sri Lankan innings before returning to capture the last three and seal the twenty run first innings win for the locals at the Adelaide Oval No 2 ground.But, for all of that, it was a generally satisfactory start to the Sri Lankans’ tour. The visitors fielded fourteen of their sixteen-strong touring party -under the specialised rules in place for this match – and several of them turned in heartening performances. Particularly pleasing were the stylishly crafted half-centuries from captain Thilina Kandamby (56) and Muthumudalige Pushpakumara (56) today.The local team had started proceedings in good style yesterday by assembling the respectable total of 274. Captain Andrew Crook (79) and wicketkeeper Jim Plant (49*) were the main contributors with the bat, while left arm paceman Chandana Nilantha (4/18) stole the show with the ball.

Inzamam-ul-Haq became victim of a dubious “leg before decision” as SriLanka were crowned new Asian Test champions after beating Pakistan byeight wickets on the fifth morning at the Gaddafi Stadium Sunday.The Pakistan vice-captain was declared out by Australian Daryl Harperoff a no-ball. Earlier Harper blundered when headjudged Abdul Razzaqlbw off Muttiah Muralitharan.Inzamam’s dismissal opened the floodgates for Sri Lanka with thesecond new ball as Pakistan were bowled out for 325, having startedthe day at 248 for five.Sri Lanka, needing 32 for victory, took as many deliveries but lostboth the openers before completing a clinical and professional job.Despite Harper’s howlers the visitors deserved victory, their ninth insuccession as Pakistan were totally and utterly outclassed.”I would say Inzamam was very unlucky,” Pakistan coach Mudassar Nazarremarked.Without defending Pakistan’s pathetic and indisciplined performanceand belittling Sri Lanka’s professional show, Harper’s horrendousbloomer took the gloss off what was set to be an exciting finale tothe final day following 328 minutes loss on the fourth day.Pakistan’s gallant fightback was being led by Inzamam with ShoaibMalik extending good helping hand. But the 31-year-old was givenmarching orders at 99 – his sixth nervous ninety figure in 80 Tests -and after he had added 100 runs for the sixth wicket with Shoaib Malikin 183 minutes.Harper, who is in the panel of ICC umpires, had also denied Pakistanvictory in the 1999 Test against Australia at Hobart. On thatoccasion, he had given Justin Langer not out after the left-handerthick edged Wasim Akram to Moin Khan. Australia won the Test by fourwickets to take an impregnable 2-0 lead that led to a 3-0 demolitionof Wasim’s men.Harper’s decision adds fuel to the debate on giving more powers totelevision umpires who have replay facilities. If leg before decisioncan’t be referred to TV umpires, no-balls can definitely be adjudgedwith television assistance.The Sri Lankans clearly had problems with over-stepping in the match.Chaminda Vaas alone over-stepped 30 times, including 20 in the secondinnings. Overall, 66 no-balls were bowled in the match, a fact thatmight interest the statisticians.The idea of judging no-balls was floated last year after Old TraffordTest where Pakistan were fortunate to escape away with four wickets,all off no-balls. The umpire that time was David Shepherd, which alsoproves the point that umpiring is overall on a decline.Pakistan can feel cheated as it is the third time in less than twoyears that they have to pay for umpiring errors. In 2000, they weredenied to make history in the West Indies when New Zealander DougCowie declared last man Courtney Walsh not out when he was held atshort-leg off a big inside edge.In December 2000, Jamaican Steve Bucknor forced the conclusion of thethird Test in near darkness, overruling Pakistan protest of notsighting the ball.Reverting to the proceedings of the game, Inzamam began positively andconfidently under a clear blue sky by hitting Muttiah Muralitharan for14 runs in an over with two boundaries and a six. He looked confidentand on a mission as he batted with responsibility and commitment untilHarper gave him the shock of his life.Inzamam occupied the crease for exactly five hours during which hereceived 228 balls. Inzamam, normally a free stroking batsman, hit sixboundaries and a six.Inzamam’s dismissal, in the seventh over of the day and fourth withthe second new ball, ended slim Pakistan hopes and after Shoaib Malikand Rashid Latif back in the pavillion within a space of nine balls.Skipper Waqar Younis threw his bat around and picked up fourboundaries and a six off Vaas to avert innings defeat until he wasadjudged caught at forward short-leg off Muralitharan who finishedwith four wickets for 72 runs.The spin king had match figures of eight for 127. He now has 48wickets in his last seven Tests on Pakistan soil.Vaas ended up with four for 85 following his two for 62 in the firstinnings.While the defeat ended Pakistan’s run of six straight victories, itwas their sixth loss in the last 14 Tests at home since losing toAustralia at Rawalpindi in 1998. The home team has won just two Tests,one each against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.Pakistan, who paid the price for dropping Saqlain Mushtaq and by notconsidering Wasim Akram for selection, were badly let down by thefielders who grassed no less than four catches – three off Sangakkara.Sri Lanka have sent Pakistan back to the drawing board who were flyinghigh following their victories over poor Bangladesh and the WestIndies.New Zealand are to arrive here in less than five weeks and unless theproblems are sorted out, identified and dealt with, more embarrassmentlooks to be in store.

Match facts

October 18, 2012
Start time 1330 local (1130 GMT)Mitchell Starc has been an integral part of the Sydney Sixers’ impressive pace battery•Associated Press

Big Picture

There is a striking similarity in the Champions League campaigns of the Sydney Sixers and the Highveld Lions. They have won their two opening matches – counting Chennai Super Kings among their victims – their batsmen have contributed right across the order and their pace attacks have thrived on the fast, bouncy surfaces at the Wanderers and in Cape Town. They remain in Cape Town for this clash, and the winners will be within touching distance of the semi-finals.In Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Shane Watson and Josh Hazlewood, the Sixers have a better pace battery than most international sides can claim, and they will be riding high after restricting Yorkshire to 96 for 9 only two days previously at the same venue. On that occasion, the pace and bounce generated by the Sixers’ quicks on a helpful surface not only proved penetrative, but when that aggression was allied with tight lines, the bowling was difficult to score off as well.If the Sixers can take early wickets, they will be able to test a Lions middle order that hasn’t yet been called upon for big runs in this tournament. But given the Lions top four boasts the experience of Alviro Peterson, Gulam Bodi and Neil McKenzie, that will not be an easy task. How the young Sixers pacemen go against the established Lions top order might go a long way in determining the outcome.The Lions attack may not have as many big names, but they have restricted oppositions to two chaseable totals so far. Different bowlers have starred in each game and stepped up to break burgeoning partnerships, and with the batting also following a similar pattern, the team bears the hallmarks of a side who are achieving beyond what their individual records suggest.

Watch out for…

Apart from having perhaps the best profile picture ever, Aaron Phangiso has provided economy to the Lions attack while some of the seamers have been going for runs. The pitches have not been conducive to turn, but Phangiso has been disciplined and varied enough his pace to strike a good balance between attack and defence on the early-season pitches. He has 3 wickets for 34 from eight overs so far.Beyond franchise cricket, Brad Haddin‘s future is being decided by the Australian selectors, as they ponder whether to bring in Haddin or retain Matthew Wade in the Test team. Haddin was belligerent when he came out to bat in what was a straightforward chase against Yorkshire – perhaps in an attempt to improve the Sixers’ net run rate, but surely also, to prove his worth to the Australian cause. If the Sixers make it to the Champions League final, Haddin will not have time to play a Sheffield Shield match before the South Africa tour of Australia begins. The best he can do to woo the selectors, if that happens, is to score heavily in the Twenty20 tournament he is playing.

Quotes

“In the past people saw the Lions as a team that fights from behind. This time we were out to change that perception. We wanted to lead and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

With the help of a fighting 79 by opener Arvind Maan and an unbeaten 60 byGaurav Tikkas later in the day, Central Zone struggled to 241/9at close of play against East Zone in their Vijay Hazare Trophy Under-16semifinal at the RSI grounds in Bangalore on Sunday.The day started on a bad note for Central Zone as play started an hour latedue to the non-availability of a sight screen and then they lost the toss.Put into bat, openers Arvind Maan and Shivakanth Shukla (35) added a slow65 runs in 26.5 overs. Shukla was the first to be dismissed, bowled byArshad Iqbal. Thereafter, Iqbal trapped Ali Akbar (4) in the 29th over.Skipper Tahir Abbas (11) hung around for 27 minutes as the score proceededto 87 before he was run out. All along it was Arvind Maan who did the bulkof the scoring and reached his fifty off the 147th ball he faced. A Alamwas the next to be sent back, bowled by B Mohanty.After battling for 242 minutes, Maan was run out.During his stay he faced 203 balls and hit 11 fours. Then Rahat Ilahi(30) and Gaurav Tikkas forged a 51 run partnership for the fifth wicket.Rakesh Mohanty bowled Ilahi in the 66th over of the innings after whichTikkas progressed to his fifty with the help of 84 balls. ThoughTikkas kept one end intact, he lost partners at regular intervals. DevendraSingh then accompanied Tikkas to stumps. Arshad Iqbal was the pick of theEast Zone attack with figures of 4 for 36.