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Home , Dilruwan Perera, Khurram Khan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Preston Mommsen, Shaminda Eranga

Sports45 FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014

Scotland, UAE grab final 2015 World Cup berths

RANGIORA: Scotland pipped Kenya to petitive 260 before being all out on the second World Cup appearance, first final over. (3-35) was the secure their third World Cup appearance last ball of the 50th over. Matty Cross since 1996. pick of the UAE bowlers who first denied yesterday while (55) and (78) “You can’t describe in words the feel- Namibia a flying start and claimed wick- (UAE) also booked their ticket for next shone with the bat for Scotland but it ing,” UAE captain said. ets at crucial times to restrict their oppo- year’s marquee 50-over tournament in was Taylor’s late assault that earned “I’ve been playing for UAE since 2001 and nents to 227 for nine. Australia and New Zealand. them a thrilling three- victory it is an amazing feeling to help my team Scotland and UAE will now play the On the final day of the Super Sixes in and their first World Cup appearance to qualify. “It’s been very, very hard to tournament final at on Christchurch, Rob Taylor shrugged off his since 2007. make it this far. Most of us are part-time Saturday. The winner of the contest will poor form and, at number eight, “It is absolutely awesome, we have cricketers - we are not professionals. This join England, Australia, , blasted 46 unbeaten runs off 37 balls to worked really hard to get to this posi- is for everyone who trusted us and Bangladesh, New Zealand and help Scotland reach the 261-run victory tion and to actually get over the line is believed in us,” he said. Afghanistan in Group A while the loser target with three balls to spare. unbelievable. The feeling is immense,” Having decided to bat first, none of will be clubbed in Group B alongwith Opting to bat first, Kenya rode Alex Mommsen said. At Rangiora, UAE beat the UAE batsmen could reach fifty but , India, , West Indies, Obanda’s 89 off 101 balls to post a com- Namibia by 36 runs to secure their they still put up 263 before folding in the Zimbabwe and Ireland. —Reuters Five-star Perera hands ICC set to go back to the future Sri Lanka massive win LONDON: For much of its history the International Council (ICC) was unable to do anything without the approval of England and Australia, the two original Test nations. DHAKA: Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera They have won four Tests, two each that someone from the top plays a big So the announcement from the ICC’s headquarters in Dubai on picked up five as Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe and the West Indies. innings.” Wednesday that it had agreed in principle to be effectively run by India, thumped fragile Bangladesh by an Bangladesh captain Opener Shamsur Rahim was dis- England and Australia had a familiar ring to it. innings and 248 runs in the first Test in rued the lack of runs in the first innings missed off the second ball of the day, Plans to bolster the position of the ‘Big Three’ within the ICC include Dhaka yesterday. Bangladesh, trailing by that set his team back. “It was a good fending at a vicious short ball from the formation of a new five-man executive committee, with three seats a huge 498-run margin on first innings, wicket to bat on, but we did not play Shaminda Eranga and edging a catch to reserved for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the England were bowled out for 250 in their second well from day one and that put us on the wicket-keeper . and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and (CA). knock after lunch on the fourth day at back foot,” he said. “It is very difficult to smashed eight bound- The BCCI now generates 80 percent of world cricket’s wealth and the the Sher-e-Bangla stadium. come back from there. aries in a fluent 50 off 57 balls, but the only way most other boards remain financially afloat is from the colossal Perera, a 31-year-old playing in his assault did not last long as he fell leg- television rights they receive from a tour by India. second Test, finished with five for 109 Big innings before to Perera. Given that, greater BCCI influence in the running of the ICC was all but while seamer Suranga Lakmal took three “The boys just did not show the fight The second Test starts in the port city inevitable. Almost as understandable was the BCCI’s decision to form as the hosts were dismissed in 51.5 overs in the middle. Hopefully we will come of on February 4. It will be links with CA and the ECB, the only other major boards to consistently with a day to spare. Bangladesh, who back strongly in the next Test. We need followed by two matches and turn a profit. Prior to this week’s two-day ICC board meeting in Dubai, a resumed the day at 35-1, failed to cope to work on our batting. It is important three one-day internationals. —AFP leaked ‘position paper’ from the ‘Big Three’ suggested they be spared rel- with Sri Lanka’s pace and spin assault egation in any new two-division Test set-up because of their commercial and lost their last nine wickets for 215 importance. runs despite the even-paced pitch. But come a statement released after the first day of talks on Tuesday, The hosts were reduced to 197-9 there was no mention of promotion and relegation, with the ICC declar- before the last-wicket pair of Rubel ing there would be “participation based on meritocracy; no immunity to Hossain and Al-Amin Hossain boosted any country, and no change to membership status”. the total with lusty hitting during an That promotion and relegation was conceded by the ‘Big Three’ sug- entertaining partnership of 53 runs off gests it was always something to be given away in return for acceptance 38 balls. Rubel made 17, while Al Amin of more fundamental points. returned unbeaten on a quickfire 32 off 18 balls that contained four sixes and ‘Big Three’ one boundary. That appears to be what has happened with strugglers Bangladesh, Bangladesh, who made 232 in their whose Test status has been repeatedly called into question on the back first innings, conceded their highest Test of a string of defeats. With major constitutional changes to the running of total of 730-6 declared. Three Sri Lankans the ICC requiring a three-fourths majority-ie eight of the 10 leading hit centuries including Mahela nations-it now seems the ‘Big Three’ are one vote away from getting sup- Jayawardene, who scored an unbeaten port for their revamp plan. double-ton. West Indies, who forecast they would receive a hundred percent Jayawardene, who was named man increase in revenue as a result of the changes, and New Zealand, both of the match, said he was happy to con- appear to be onside. That leaves the ‘Big Three’ needing to win over just tribute to what was a “great game” by one of South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the three most vocal oppo- the team. “It has been some time since I nents of the leaked plan, when the ICC reconvenes for another meeting got a big one,” the 36-year-old former next month. captain said. “I thought it was a great On Tuesday, the ICC trumpeted “unanimous support” for the princi- game by the team as everyone put their ples behind the revamp, only for a Sri Lankan source to tell AFP: “As far as hands up and performed. DHAKA: Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim (R) plays a shot as Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal looks on during the fourth day Sri Lanka is concerned, there was no unanimity on this.” “I think the wicket played really well, The end of the Future Tours programme announced on Tuesday and of the first Test match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka The Sher-e- and even today there was a little bit of a return to ‘bilateral tours’ has raised concerns that weaker nations could pace for our quicks, and for the spinners Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka yesterday. —AFP suffer from a lack of competitive cricket. it was turning, but the important thing But New Zealand Cricket’s Martin Snedden told the country’s Radio was the bounce which really helped us. LiveSport: “There was a lot of speculation that we would get some “ is all about handling situ- SCOREBOARD crumbs from the big guys and just end up playing mainly the small guys. ations, that is where our guys did well. “That’s not going to happen. We’ve locked in good commitments We applied ourselves and made sure we Bangladesh first innings 232 Robiul Islam lbw b Lakmal 1 from Australia, England and India through that 10-year period (to 2023).” did not lose wickets up front.” Sri Lanka Sri Lanka first innings 730-6 declared c Silva b Perera 17 On Tuesday saw current ICC chief executive David Richardson pro- have now won 14 of their 15 Tests Bangladesh second innings (overnight 35-1) Al-Amin Hossain 32 claimed: “I am looking forward to bringing to fruition some of the princi- against Bangladesh, eight of them by an c Perera b Herath 11 Extras (b-9, lb-10, nb-2) 21 innings margin, and drawn the other. ples that have been proposed and accepted”. Shamsur Rahman c Chandimal b Eranga 9 Total (all out, 51.5 overs) 250 That brought a mocking response from former England captain On their previous tour in 2008-09, Sri c Silva b Lakmal 18 Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-35, 3-50, 4-102, 5-133, 6- Michael Atherton who, writing in The Times, declared the former South Lanka had won the first Test by 107 runs Mominul Haque lbw b Perera 50 150, 7-183, 8-197, 9-197. Africa wicketkeeper a “chief executive without a shred of executive pow- and the second by 465 runs. Bangladesh, lbw b Perera 25 Bowling: Lakmal 14-4-39-3 (2nb), Eranga 6-1-26- who languish at the bottom of the Test Mushfiqur Rahim b Perera 14 1, Herath 9-3-47-1, Perera 19.5-0-109-5, Mathews er, and chief executive of a body with no function”. rankings at number 10 — lower than c Herath b Perera 29 3-0-10-0. There is no guarantee the ‘Big Three’ will remain a settled unit, given unfancied Zimbabwe-have lost 68 of their Sohag Gazi lbw b Lakmal 23 Sri Lanka lead two-test series 1-0. —Reuters the political and even racial tensions that have often seen India involved 82 Tests since gaining full status in 2000. in bitter arguments with England and Australia. —AFP