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A round-up for the fourth day’s play of the fifth-round matches of the Ranji Trophy Plate League

Cricinfo staff15-Dec-2008Scorecard
Samiullah Beigh’s three quick strikes at the start of Haryana’s chase effectively snuffed out their semi-final hopes © Shailesh Bhatnagar
Goa’s win on Sunday left Haryana with no choice but to win against Jammu & Kashmir in Rohtak. Their bowlers provided them a glimmer of hope on the final day by dismissing the visitors, but the hosts, trying to battle the time constraint by scoring at a quick pace, lost wickets in the process and eventually fell short of their target by 45 runs. The win was Jammu & Kashmir’s first of the season.Jammu & Kashmir resumed their second innings at 40 for 2, a lead of 69, and Ian Dev Singh and Ahmed Nizam pushed the score to 74 before Jitender Billa struck for the third time in the innings. Billa got his fourth to make it 86 for 4, and after 23.2 overs in the day, the chances of a win for Haryana seemed bright: Jammu & Kashmir were struggling at 101 for 6. But like in the first innings, Ian Dev held fort at one end. Wicketkeeper Parveez Ganei played out 45 balls for his 6 in a 27-run stand with Ian Dev. Frustratingly for Haryana, the partnership lasted 14.5 overs. It was nine overs more before Ian Dev finally fell for a 165-ball 78. It was the second time he was dismissed in the 70s in the match, and by left-armer Sanjay Budhwar. Haryana could have got more overs for their chase by dismissing the tailenders cheaply, but Amit Baloria, batting at No. 9, thwarted their plans with an unbeaten 53-ball 22. After Ian Dev fell, Haryana took another 8.2 overs to wrap up the innings, with Budhwar taking four of the last five wickets to end with career-best match analysis of 9 for 105.Haryana were chasing 203, but had yet to score when Samiullah Beigh struck two blows in the first over. He got his third, and ninth in the match, by having Sumeet Sharma caught behind for 5. Haryana’s batsman, though, were still undeterred, with nothing to lose if they were defeated. P Sahu, at the other end, hit his way to 38-ball 42, including five fours and a six. When he fell, Haryana were at 69 for 4 off 11.3 overs, but two strikes in successive overs left them at a precarious 94 for 6. Wicketkeeper Nitin Saini chipped in with a run-a-ball 42, and Dhruv Singh and Manav Sharma continued scoring at a brisk rate.However, the two were among the three wickets scalped by left-arm spinner Ahmed Nizam, and medium-pacer Arshad Seikh made it three bowlers with three wickets in the innings with the dismissal of Billa. Haryana’s final score was 158 in 27.3 overs, a run-rate of 5.74.
Scorecard
The more Jharkhand’s lower order hung on, the higher would have been the chances of them salvaging a draw against Kerala at the Keenan Stadium in Jamshedpur. The last three pairs survived 26.1 overs on the final day, but they could only push the overnight lead of 69 to 137, a target which Kerala chased patiently for the loss of two wickets.The eighth and ninth wickets added 26 and 11 for the hosts, and the final pair of Shankar Rao and Sujit Roy put on 31. Sony Cheruvathur, the Kerala captain, took his fourth wicket to end the innings; he dismissed Roy, whose 31 was the second-best score in Jharkhand’s 212.Kerala’s opening stand was broken on 23, but opener Sambasiva Sarma and Robert Fernandez put their team on course. After Sarma was run out, Fernandez, the first-innings centurion, and Sreekumar Nair steered them to victory.
Scorecard
There were quite a few similarities between the Chennai Test and the Group B match between Services and Assam in Delhi. Like England, Services had gained a significant first-innings lead but they meandered along during their second innings, eventually declaring with nine wickets down. Both India and Assam were chasing 370-plus targets – although Assam had lesser time for their 371 than India for their 387. Both ended with the chasing sides winning by six wickets, and while India completed the fourth-highest successful chase in Tests, Assam completed the fifth-best chase in the Ranji Trophy.Services had a 300-plus lead at the end of the third day, and if they needed to provide a reason for not declaring and challenging Assam to chase, it was aptly given by their opponents. No. 11 Pankaj Kumar hit a few fours to push to lead from 332 to 370 in five overs, at which point Services declared. Assam then went along at 4.71 runs per over, and reached the target comfortably in 78.4 overs.Kumar struck in the fourth innings to remove opener Palash Jyoti Das quickly, but K Saikia and Tarjinder Singh set the platform with a stand of 90 in 19.1 overs. Singh was out for 80, but captain Rashmi Parida took charge of the chase. He hit only 11 fours, but needed only 160 balls for his 136. Jacob Martin was a bit slower in scoring his 80, staying unbeaten as the visitors clinched a win. Services ended the tournament winless.Parida was pleased that his team ended the Ranji season with a victory. “It’s my best innings of the season because we were chasing 371 on a fifth-day track,” he told the . “I wasn’t enjoying cricket there (Orissa), I got an offer from Assam being a professional player and I decided to come on board.”
Scorecard
A win could have pushed Madhya Pradesh, already assured of a semi-final spot, to first position in Group B, and they tried to force a result by an early declaration in their second innings.Leading by 148, Madhya Pradesh played out 31 overs to set Tripura a target of 285. Sunil Dholpure, promoted to No. 3, scored 63 off 82 balls, while Himalaya Sagar chipped in with 46. Tripura were wobbling at 79 for 3, but No. 3 Subal Chowdhury shored up the innings with his century. He took them to 216 for 4 with Abhijit Dey, but the overs were running out. Legspinner Yogesh Golwalkar dismissed Chowdhury for 118 – an innings that took 140 balls and included 20 fours. Golwalkar took two more to finish with four in the innings, but the seventh wicket fell in what was the final over of the match.
Scorecard
Bengal’s bowlers nearly pulled off an improbable win after they eventually crept past Vidarbha’s first-innings total of 403 in Nagpur. Ashok Dinda grabbed five as Vidarbha were reduced to 62 for 7, but Ranjit Paradkar and Shrikant Wagh played out 31.2 overs to secure a draw. The three points from the first-innings lead helped Bengal retain first place in Group B ahead of Madhya Pradesh.Resuming on 371 for 6, Bengal lost their overnight batsmen before taking the lead. Avik Chowdhury and Ritam Kundu were both dismissed for 49, trapped leg-before by Umesh Yadav. Two wickets had fallen in the space of ten balls for five runs, but the Bengal tail did not panic. Sourav Sarkar scored 21 and Dinda an unbeaten 11 to help them to a 23-run lead. Yadav, playing his fourth first-class game, bagged his first five-for.Ranadeb Bose struck twice in the first over of Vidarbha’s second innings, and Dinda then took over to leave them at 28 for 4. By the time he bagged his five-for, Vidarbha were reeling at 62 for 7 in 23.4 overs. Paradkar, though, hung around 139 balls for his 21, while Wagh played 96 for his 34.Bengal will face Goa in the semi-final starting December 18 at the Karnail Singh Stadium in Delhi, while on the same day Madhya Pradesh begin their semi-final against Himachal Pradesh at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground in Nagpur. The two finalists earn a promotion to the Super League for 2009-10, and will also play this season’s Super League quarter-finals.Bengal will be further bolstered by the inclusion of Sourav Ganguly in the 14-member squad for the semi-final. Laxmi Ratan Shukla has been retained as captain for the match.

Group A Team Mat Won Lost Tied Draw Aban Pts Quotient For Against

Himachal Pradesh 5 31 0 1 0 19 1.8812523/71 1587/84 Goa 5 31 0 1 0 15 1.0582174/87 2054/87 Haryana 5 22 0 1 0 14 1.3882322/70 2199/92 Kerala 5 21 0 2 0 14 0.9702270/66 2376/67 Jammu & Kashmir 5 13 0 1 0 6 0.6332132/100 2558/76 Jharkhand 5 03 0 2 0 4 0.6572136/83 2783/71

Group B Team Mat Won Lost Tied Draw Aban Pts Quotient For Against

Bengal 5 3 0 0 2 021 1.857 1838/57 1615/93 Madhya Pradesh 5 2 0 0 3 021 1.664 2107/60 2005/95 Assam 5 3 2 0 0 015 0.894 1947/89 1934/79 Vidarbha 5 2 2 0 1 011 0.986 2261/91 2016/80 Tripura 5 1 3 0 1 06 0.760 2038/97 2130/77 Services 5 0 4 0 1 01 0.550 1913/97 2404/67

Kevin Phillips has lauded the confirmed news that Newcastle United have signed Joe Willock on a permanent deal.

The Lowdown: Willock confirmed

The St. James’ Park faithful have confirmed the signing of Willock permanently from Arsenal after a successful loan spell in the 2020/21 season.

He was not registered in time to take any part in their 4-2 opening day loss at home to West Ham United on Sunday afternoon, but he was unveiled in front of the Toon Army and should be able to play in their next fixture.

The Latest: Phillips lauds Willock signing

Speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League striker now pundit Phillips has lauded the signing of Willock by the North East club, but has warned that he should not be put under too much pressure to perform to the levels that he did during his loan spell on Tyneside:

“One word, brilliant.

“Bruce will be delighted, it’s a great signing. We know he was the priority.

“Willock clearly loves playing up there and the fans are back so that will be a whole new experience for him.

“There is a certain amount of pressure, there will be people who expect him to carry on that goal scoring form.

“He’s a quality player and he will score goals but you can’t put too much pressure on him to repeat what he did last season.”

The Verdict: No-brainer

It was certainly a no-brainer to bring Willock back to the Magpies as he made such a big difference when he came into Steve Bruce’s team. The prospect of a link-up between Willock, Allan Saint-Maximin and a now fully fit Callum Wilson is mouthwatering.

The Englishman scored no fewer than eight goals in 14 games in the top flight last campaign from midfield (Transfermarkt), helping them pull away from the relegation zone and finish comfortably in mid-table.

It will be hard to replicate that kind of form once more, but Willock will now feel that he has a point to prove and show the Toon Army just how good of a player he is.

In other news, find out who NUFC are now interested in signing here!

Thilan Samaraweera, the Sri Lankan batsman, feels Bangladesh will be unable to mount a Mirpur-like challenge in the fourth innings, with conditions in Chittagong not very conducive for batting

Cricinfo staff05-Jan-2009
Thilan Samaraweera, who scored an unbeaten 72 on Monday, feels the current lead will be enough for Bangladesh © AFP
Thilan Samaraweera, the Sri Lanka batsman, feels Bangladesh will be unable to mount a Mirpur-like challenge in the fourth innings, with conditions in Chittagong not very conducive for batting.”The two wickets are totally different,” he said after ending the third day unbeaten on 72. “Here it is not easy to play shots, that is the important difference and you have to bat very straight from the start to the end. The Dhaka [Mirpur] wicket got better and better each day but this one is uneven and getting slower. There are cracks developing and if you bowl slowly then it gets very difficult to play strokes.”In Mirpur, Bangladesh scored 414 chasing an improbable 521 and another target in excess of 500 is on the cards for the hosts, with Sri Lanka having already raked up a 472-run lead with six wickets remaining in their second innings.”I think 400 is a safe score. We didn’t declare today probably because the bowlers needed a rest after bowling long spells. Someone like Murali [Muttiah Muralitharan] has bowled 70-odd overs already.”The lead was boosted by an unbroken 131-run stand between Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan. The two finished unbeaten on 72 and 81 respectively, but Samaraweera said it would be up to the team management on whether they are given the chance to reach their hundreds.Although the focus has been on the spin pairing of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, Samaraweera felt the new ball would play a vital role like in the first innings, when Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando gave the spinners a head start with early wickets.Samaraweera was not too positive about batting on the final two days, but his Bangladesh counterpart Raqibul Hasan felt patience was the key. “Just like we did in Dhaka we will try to play session by session without thinking about the target. The pitch is slow and some balls tend to keep low but it is not alarming.”

Mark Warburton has dropped an update on the future of Queens Park Rangers defender Rob Dickie.

What’s been said?

In comments cited by Football League World, the QPR boss revealed that he was not concerned about losing the centre-back over what remains of the summer transfer window, despite the reported interest from Premier League outfits Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

When questioned whether he was concerned about the interest in the 25-year-old, Warburton said: “No. I’m not saying that to be disrespectful to Rob. Any player can go, but it’s about the price. Do I want him to go? Absolutely not.”

In further remarks, the 58-year-old stated that the closer Tuesday’s transfer deadline gets, the more the Rs’ asking price for the defender increases.

As cited by West London Sport, the manager said: “There will be a point when, towards the end of the window, the value goes up.

“If a player is worth a price and someone comes in with a bid for three times that then the board would look at it because it makes financial sense.

“You have a value of a player. It’s as simple as that. And the nearer you get to the end of the window the value increases appropriately.”

Fans will be buzzing

Considering just how impressive Dickie has been for QPR this season, the fact that it appears Warburton is extremely adamant to sanction the sale of the centre-back this summer, unless it is for a fee the club simply cannot refuse, is sure to leave the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium faithful buzzing.

Indeed, over his four Championship appearances for the club so far this season, the £2.25m-rated defender has helped his side keep one clean sheet, as well as making an average of 1.3 interceptions, 1.3 tackles, three clearances and winning 5.8 duels per game.

The player Ryan Dilks dubbed an “unbelievable” talent has also impressed in an attacking capacity, scoring two goals, in addition to taking an average of 1.5 shots and making 0.3 key passes per match.

These returns have seen the £8k-per-week man average a rather remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.63, ranking him as the Rs’ best performer in the league so far this term, and the third-best player in the entirety of the division.

As such, retaining the services of the 25-year-old beyond Tuesday’s transfer deadline will undoubtedly provide Warburton’s chances of mounting a push for promotion this season with a considerable boost, something that would leave everyone involved with the club over the moon.

In other news: QPR development confirmed on “excellent” £270k-rated gem, Warburton will be delighted

Peter Siddle’s first five-wicket haul in Tests halted a familiar third-day fightback from South Africa, who with the exception of Mark Boucher and Morne Morkel, finally showed signs of tiring at the end of a whirlwind series

The Bulletin by Brydon Coverdale05-Jan-2009
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Peter Siddle bowled fast and straight and finished with 5 for 59 © PA Photos
Peter Siddle’s first five-wicket haul in Tests halted a familiar third-day fightback from South Africa, who, with the exception of Mark Boucher and Morne Morkel, finally showed signs of tiring at the end of a whirlwind series. Australia closed the day with an advantage of 151 and on a cracking surface it was a more than useful buffer with ten wickets in hand.Matthew Hayden survived a perilously tight lbw shout from Dale Steyn late in the day as Australia faced a tricky 20-minute period that closed a day that, but for one partnership, belonged largely to Australia. Boucher and Morkel combined for a 115-run sixth-wicket stand, the only highlight for a generally lacklustre South Africa.When Siddle broke the stand with a straight ball that crashed into Morkel’s middle stump, the end came quickly. Siddle kept the ball on target and rattled the stumps of Steyn and Boucher and trapped Paul Harris in front to finish with 5 for 59, which gave Australia a first-innings lead of 118.It was always going to be a revealing day for an Australian attack as green as the SCG outfield. With Brett Lee and Stuart Clark watching on in varying degrees of bandaging, Shane Warne in the commentary box and Glenn McGrath encouraging the crowd to turn pink for breast cancer awareness, Ricky Ponting was relying on a bowling group that boasted Mitchell Johnson as its most experienced member.The task was to change the familiar script of South African comebacks and for the first session the signs were good for Australia. Three wickets and a strangling of the run-rate suggested the match might not head in the same direction as the first two Tests, and Siddle’s strikes ended the day on a high. The problem for Australia was what was sandwiched between the good times.The Boucher-Morkel effort continued the series trend of lower-order batsmen outshining their more fancied colleagues, just as Johnson and the Australian tail had done in the first innings. Boucher was the key man for South Africa and his first half-century of the tour came at a valuable time. There was no Graeme Smith in the dressing room – he flew to Melbourne for treatment on his injured elbow – and the visitors needed another tough customer to show some grit.Boucher will not be South Africa’s captain in the field, that role will be taken by Neil McKenzie, but he led from the front with the bat. He began in defensive mode, just trying to stem the flow of wickets, and gradually built up his strokeplay to keep the scoreboard ticking. Three fours from an off-target Andrew McDonald over took him past fifty, although he missed the chance for a sixth Test hundred when he was the last man out for 89.Morkel, like his fellow left-hander Johnson, played with a straight bat and put away some boundaries with proper cuts and pulls. His 40 was his highest Test score and the stand with Boucher proved a major frustration for Australia. Both men had moments of incredible fortune and the Australians were baffled as to how a bail bobbed up and back down into position not once but , when Nathan Hauritz turned one into Boucher’s leg stump and when Morkel’s inside edge off Johnson clipped the side of his off stump.At least neither moment came off the bowling of Doug Bollinger, who already was nearly tearing out his carefully replaced hair as he had a couple of awfully close lbw shouts turned down. Bollinger is a demon on the SCG surface in state matches but couldn’t break through for a maiden Test wicket on debut, though his figures of 0 for 78 were not a fair reflection of his efforts.It was a challenging day for Australia’s bowlers. Hauritz was expectedly tidy though without success, Johnson tried hard for his two wickets and the debutant McDonald proved a mostly economical medium-pacer, relying heavily on offcutters around the 125 to 130kph mark. Things became tough for McDonald later in the day but in the first session he was unfailingly accurate in a spell of 1 for 4 from eight overs. The success came when he nipped one back off a crack to trap Hashim Amla lbw for 51.Amla had been the main man early for South Africa and he concentrated hard to bring up his half-century from 125 balls. In the second over of the day he had lost his overnight partner Jacques Kallis, who slashed carelessly at a wide one from Johnson and edged to slip. It was symbolic of the lethargy shown by South Africa in the first session, although AB de Villiers would have been more embarrassed by his dismissal.The ground was bathed in pink for Jane McGrath Day – even the statue of Yabba had some pink zinc cream daubed on its cheeks – but de Villiers was left red-faced after he was run-out at the striker’s end by a direct hit from Johnson at mid-on. de Villiers began the run inexplicably flat-footed and failed to reach top speed, although his lack of pace seemed somehow appropriate in a session that brought only 51 runs.Johnson chipped in again when he jagged one back off a crack to pin JP Duminy in front for 13 and there began the Boucher and Morkel fightback. But at the end of the day it was not enough to give South Africa a lead and their chances of completing a whitewash by Wednesday had faded.

Sky Sports have revealed that Manchester United winger Dan James has now completed his medical ahead of a move to Leeds United on transfer deadline day.

What’s the story?

Writing on Twitter this morning, journalist Fabrizio Romano said: “Daniel James deal has been completed between Leeds and Manchester United, done and confirmed. Permanent move, paperworks signed. #MUFC #LUFC Everton have never been in the race or hijacking the deal. #EFC #DeadlineDay”

Sky Sports have now delivered a fresh update on where things stand at the moment surrounding James and a move to Yorkshire to join up with Marcelo Bielsa’s side, revealing that he has now completed his medical.

Fans will be buzzing

Leeds Live’s Beren Cross has previously admitted that the Whites could be eyeing up a winger in this summer transfer window, but with Manchester United wanting to make a profit, and Victor Orta keen to spot a deal abroad, a move for James may have been unlikely.

He said: “If Bielsa liked Dan James in 2019, he’s likely to still rate him now. It’s a similar dynamic with Ryan Kent. Bielsa won’t stop liking players just because they move elsewhere. Whether he’s someone Leeds will pursue in this window, I can’t be sure.

“There is chatter about wanting a winger and I am sure his name would be in the conversation, but Man Utd would want to make a profit on him and, as we have seen with Raphinha, Orta loves a bargain on the continent.”

However, it now appears that James will indeed be making the switch to Elland Road, and that Andrea Radrizzani has coughed up the money required to tempt the Red Devils into selling him this summer.

The Whites lack real strength in depth in the wide areas, especially in terms of quality, with both Ian Poveda and Helder Costa flattering to deceive last season in the Premier League when given the chance to do so – the duo combined for just three goals in 39 games between them.

Therefore, the impending arrival of James, who has plenty of Premier League experience in his time at Old Trafford, should bolster Bielsa’s wide options and have fans buzzing at the prospect of closing in on a signing on deadline day.

After transfer claims earlier this week from the likes of Phil Hay that incomings would be unlikely at Leeds heading into deadline day, this latest news that James has completed his medical is exciting for Whites supporters.

Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett has dropped an update on Aston Villa’s transfer plans.

What’s the story?

Dean Smith’s side have had an eventful transfer window thus far, making a number of new signings in the shape of Emi Buendia, Danny Ings and Leon Bailey among others, while they’ve also waved goodbye to talisman Jack Grealish, who is now with Premier League champions Manchester City.

It now appears that Smith is happy with the club’s transfer business as we get into deadline day, although an intriguing claim has been made about a possible late swoop.

Writing ahead of deadline day on Twitter, Dorsett said: “#avfc won’t pursue a deal for #lfc midfielder Curtis Jones. Dean Smith happy with the squad he has, but still has money for a midfielder if a decent deal is forthcoming before tomorrow’s deadline. Already seen bids knocked back for Ward-Prowse and Smith Rowe.”

Now or never for NSWE

While NSWE have spearheaded another impressive summer of recruitment following last year’s one which saw the likes of Emi Martinez and Ollie Watkins coming in to help Villa to just outside of the top ten, deadline day gives them a superb opportunity to take the club to the next level.

Having seen bids rejected for the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Emile Smith Rowe as Dorsett himself says, clearly Villa wanted a central midfielder, and that really shouldn’t be off the agenda just because we’re heading into the closing stages of the transfer window.

It’s the position which needs the most strengthening, as evidenced by what Express and Star journalist Luke Hatfield had to say exclusively to Football FanCast earlier this month.

He said: “Midfield is the one I think Villa need to address, particularly after their start in the Premier League. I think every Villa fan out there really wants to see them sign a defensive midfielder.”

If a deal is “forthcoming” for Villa, then NSWE simply must bring out the cheque-book one final time this summer and splash the cash today.

It would bolster Smith’s options in the middle of the park significantly and ensure that Villa don’t regret missing out on the likes of Ward-Prowse and Smith Rowe earlier this summer.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa must keep this star on transfer deadline day…

The ICC has decided not to stage the postponed 2009 Champions Trophy in Pakistan after several members expressed reservations about touring the troubled country

Cricinfo staff01-Feb-20092010 World Twenty20 venues accepted The ICC has accepted the West Indies board’s recommendation that the 2010 World Twenty20 be held in Barbados, Guyana, and St. Lucia. A women’s World Twenty20 will be held alongside the men’s tournament and the women’s semi-finals and final will take place on the same day and at the same venue as the men’s matches.The ICC has decided not to stage the postponed 2009 Champions Trophy in Pakistan after several members expressed reservations about touring the troubled country on the second day of its board meeting in Perth. The location of the event, however, is yet to be finalised, but a decision is expected before the board’s next scheduled meeting in April.”It is unfortunate the ICC Champions Trophy will not take place in Pakistan due to circumstances completely beyond the control of the PCB,” Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, said. “However, the board has accepted the need for certainty in planning for and delivering a world-class event and will now assess where the event should be held.”The tournament, originally scheduled for September 2008, had been postponed by a year after a number of participating countries raised concerns over touring Pakistan due to security concerns. Although Pakistan will not host the event, they will retain the revenue due for hosting the tournament, the ICC board decided.The ICC also offered to form a task team to visit Pakistan and work with the PCB “to find ways to ensure that, wherever possible, international cricket is played in the country in the future”. Pakistan has struggled to attract touring teams for a number of years owing to their concerns over its security. Two home series, against Australia and West Indies, were relocated in the aftermath of the 9/11 bombings in America in 2001, and Australia also postponed their full tour of Pakistan last year. India then pulled out of a tour starting in January this year in the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist strikes, following which Sri Lanka agreed to a split tour.Former Pakistan captain and commentator Ramiz Raja, however, was disappointed with the decision to shift the tournament. “I think Pakistan has done enough to tell the world that cricket is not targeted in the country,” he told AFP. “While the PCB wanted to host the Champions Trophy, they insisted to host Australia on a neutral venue in April. That must have confused the decision-makers.”Managing security and terrorism intelligence has been high on the agenda for the ICC, and it was believed the attacks on Mumbai and the troubled security situation in Pakistan which led to the postponement of the Champions Trophy may have also prompted the ICC to consider extending the purview of the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).The Champions Trophy is expected to rake in around US$40 million, most of which will be redeployed for the development of the game.

A superb century on debut from Marcus North and a thrilling boundary-filled innings from Mitchell Johnson allowed Australia to take charge of the opening Test

The Bulletin by Dileep Premachandran27-Feb-2009
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Marcus North became the 18th Australian to score a Test century on debut © AFP
A superb century on debut from Marcus North and a thrilling boundary-filled innings from Mitchell Johnson allowed Australia to take charge of the opening Test at the Wanderers, and the feel-good factor was enhanced in a final session in which they grabbed three wickets and reduced the run-rate to a crawl. Two century partnerships, both involving North, were followed by a stunning 53-run stand between Johnson and Peter Siddle, which included 26 from a Paul Harris over. Ben Hilfenhaus then took a wicket with his second ball in Test cricket as a glum crowd looked on, and it was clear that if South Africa are to wrest that No.1 ranking, they’ll have to do it the hard way.In 132 years of Test cricket, only 18 Australian batsmen have madecenturies on debut. Michael Clarke was the last, in Bangalore in 2004, and North joined that select band with a wonderfully mature innings that allowed his team to take firm control. His 117 spanned nearly three sessions and 233 balls, and it was the 113-run partnership with Brad Haddin that changed the complexion of the match. The 117 that he went on to add with Johnson for the eighth wicket was a record for Australia against South Africa, and both stands served to highlight the maturity and composure of his batting.At 29, he’s no greenhorn and he came into this Test with 8880 first-class runs behind him. As much as the fluent drives and the precise sweeps against the slow bowlers, what was really notable was his judgment of which deliveries to leave. There were few wild wafts, and initialcircumspection gave way to much more positivity after lunch.Australia had added 97 in 33 overs in an extended opening session, but caution was quickly abandoned after the interval. Johnson’s aggression took the pressure off, and a deft dab behind point for three off JP Duminy got North to three figures from 207 balls. Soon after, he survived a vociferous appeal for leg-before from the same bowler, and South Africa’s feeling of anguish deepened when Johnson then thwacked one over long-on for six.Minutes later, another huge six took Johnson to 50 from 100 balls, and Graeme Smith then turned to Paul Harris, who had been standing idle while Duminy spun his offbreaks. North swept him for four, but a bit of extra flight from Harris then did the trick. North was stranded down the pitch going for the big hit, and South Africa must have thought their misery wasover.Far from it. Harris had bowled tidily up till then, but when Johnson decided to take him on, there was no answer. Two fours and three sixes were struck in an arc between square leg and long-on, with the last hit clearing the stadium walls. Dale Steyn wasn’t spared either, with an edge over slips being followed by clubbed hits over mid-off and mid-on.Smart StatsMarcus North became the 18th Australian to score a century on Test debut, and the fourth at an away venue. North is the first debutant to score a century at the Wanderers, and the sixth in South Africa.Mitchell Johnson’s 96 not out, his career-best score, was the fifth-highest score by an Australian batting at No. 9 or lower, and the fourth-best score by a batsman at No. 8 or lower against South Africa.Johnson hit 26 off an over by left-arm spinner Paul Harris, the most runs for Australia in an over.Australia’s 466 is the third-highest first-innings total by a visiting Test team in South Africa since their readmission to international cricket.At the Wanderers, the highest first-innings total in a defeat has been 303. There have been seven wins and seven draws for teams that have gone past 300, and two defeats.Australia’s last five pairs put on 284, the third-best by the bottom half in an innings at the Wanderers.Two of Australia’s three debutants, Phillip Hughes, who faced the first ball, and No. 11 Ben Hilfenhaus, bagged ducks. It was the first time two or more debutants had scored nought in the same innings since 2004, and the first for Australia since 1970, when they also fielded three debutants against England in Brisbane.He was left stranded on 96 though, with Peter Siddle nicking Morne Morkel to second slip. A delivery earlier, Morkel had overstepped and Siddle had played the very same stroke. So much for learning from mistakes. Johnson was then a rueful onlooker as Hilfenhaus edged the first ball he faced to third slip.Whatever frustration he felt was unleashed on South Africa’s batsmen though. Graeme Smith edged a perfectly pitched away-going delivery, and when Hilfenhaus got Hashim Amla to play a similar stroke, South Africa were rocking. Jacques Kallis pushed one to cover to get to 10,000 runs and then took Peter Siddle for three fours in an over, but an attempt to drive a fourth behind point only found Michael Hussey at gully.Apart from a cut and a square-drive off Siddle, Neil McKenzie was largely becalmed, and even AB de Villiers was noticeably subdued with the Australians bowling such tight lines. Hilfenhaus was the pick of the bunch, and there were signs towards the end of play that North might be afactor with his offspin as well.Australia had started the day in sedate fashion, and South Africa got themselves a lifeline with the second new ball. A pleasing straight drive off Steyn signalled Haddin’s intent, but there was nothing distinguished about the cross-batted slog to mid-on that cost him his wicket for 63.When Steyn then produced a perfect outswinger to send McDonald back for a duck [296 for 7], South Africa might have envisioned a quick wrap. And it might have been the case had Lonwabo Tsotsobe hit the stumps with Johnson struggling to complete the single that got him off the mark.Johnson made South Africa regret the lapse soon enough, with a hefty pull for four off Kallis and a magnificent drive through cover. An edge through gully off Morkel further frustrated the South Africans, and when North hit the shot of the morning, an imperious push through the covers off Kallis, the complexion of the match was looking very different from what it had 24 hours earlier. By stumps, it was as if Australia’s travails of the past few months had just been a bad dream.

Crystal Palace winger Jeffrey Schlupp has sustained an injury whilst on international duty. 

Schlupp started for Ghana in their World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia, along with club team-mate Jordan Ayew, but was forced off after only 27 minutes of the match.

Crystal Palace fans are now waiting to discover the severity of the problem.

Schlupp has appeared in all four competitive matches so far under new manager Patrick Vieira.

The 28-year-old sustained two injuries last season, the first a knock and the second a more serious hamstring issue which kept him out for ten matches at the start of the year (via Transfermarkt).

What about Palace’s other injuries?

Luka Milivojevic and new signing Michael Olise could make their first appearances of the season shortly after the international break.

But Eberechi Eze and Nathan Ferguson remain out long-term after suffering Achilles injuries.

Fan feed Palace XTRA relayed the news from Ghana, and here’s what supporters made of it.

Crystal Palace fans lament Schlupp blow

“Happens all the time, feel sorry for him”

Credit: @TheEagleDC

“Entering the last year of his contract I had hoped we might see a bit more grit this season from him”

Credit: @ARJW78

“Delete before I report you”

Credit: @palaceawayy

“This hasn’t happened before…”

Credit: @Jacobcpfc_

“Went from a few wingers to no wingers”

Credit: @FCCWalkerT

“Well that was always going to happen”

Credit: @CPFC_GH

In other news, this Palace forward has admitted he considered leaving.