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New Zealand bowlers take control in opening Test
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA: New Zealand’s bowlers held the advantage on the first day of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead on Friday. South Africa struggled
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA: New Zealand’s bowlers held the advantage on the first day of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead on Friday. South Africa struggled to 236 for eight at the close of play after deciding to bat in overcast conditions, with the floodlights on for most of the day. Left-arm opening bowler Trent Boult struck two telling blows, making the first breakthrough when he had Stephen Cook caught behind for 20, then dismissing top-scorer Hashim Amla for 53. Fellow left-arm seamer Neil Wagner finished the day with the best figures of three for 47, while left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner halted a promising fightback by South Africa when he dismissed Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma in the space of three balls.
BRIEF SCORES
South Africa 236/8 (H Amla 53, T Bavuma 46, Q de Kock 33; Boult 2/42, Wagner 3/47, Santner 2/22) v New Zealand.
SHARJEEL SETS UP PAK ROUT OF IRELAND
MALAHIDE, IRELAND: Sharjeel Khan’s blistering 152 laid the platform for Pakistan’s 255-run thrashing of Ireland in the first one-day international at Malahide on Thursday.
Sharjeel’s maiden century in the format became the third quickest 150 ever seen in ODI history as Pakistan piled up 337/6 in a rain-reduced 47 overs, with Shoaib Malik (57*) and debutant Mohammad Nawaz (53) also in the runs in the first of a two-match series.
Ireland were then skittled out for just 82, with Imad Wasim taking an ODI best 5/14 and Umar Gul 3/23 as Pakistan completed their biggest win by runs in the format, while the hosts posted their second lowest total.
B’DESH SACK COACH KALPAGE FOR NO-SHOW
DHAKA: Bangladesh cricket authorities said on Friday they have sacked the national team’s assistant coach Ruwan Kalpage after he failed to report for duty.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had asked Sri Lankan Kalpage to join the national team’s conditioning camp by August 16 ahead of a home series against England.
“We set a deadline for him to join, but he did not respond,” said BCB chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury.
KOHLI GOOD TO LEAD IN ALL FORMATS: DHONI
NEW DELHI: India’s limited overs captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels his heir apparent Virat Kohli will make a good captain in all three formats.
Dhoni, showering praise on India’s Test captain, said Kohli is always pushing the envelope and that is what makes him special.
“Virat has been fantastic over the years; if you see what really counts is how you can improve your game.
“Right from the very first game that he played for India, he is somebody who always wanted to improve and he always wanted to contribute in the team’s win and by contribution it was not a small, he always wanted to be the Man of the Match in those terms,” he said.
