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Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Abdul Razzaq slammed 71 off 29 deliveries to power Lahore to victory•Getty Images

A vintage Abdul Razzaq onslaught muscled Lahore Lions to the second highest total of the tournament, which proved too much even for Karachi Dolphins’ powerful batting line-up in the final of the Faysal Bank T-20 Cup at a packed Gaddafi Stadium. Lahore’s openers, Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad, also made major contributions to leave Karachi without a trophy despite four trips to the final of the domestic Twenty20 competition.Shehzad, an 18-year-old who played one match during Pakistan’s run to the World Twenty20 title last year, did the early damage cracking four fours and a six in fast bowler Mohammad Sami’s first two overs. He fell for 43 in the seventh over, by when Jamshed had shrugged off his slow start. Even the dismissal of Umar Akmal, perhaps Lahore’s most dangerous batsman, did not slow Jamshed, who brought up his second half-century of the tournament.Shehzad finished as the second highest run-getter in the competition and Jamshed the third, but the batsman who made the most impact on the final was Razzaq. He started the 18th over on 28 off 15 deliveries, and clubbed four sixes and three fours in the final three overs to finish on 71 off 29. Lahore looted 57 in that spell to amass 221 against a Karachi side that had easily hunted down 210 in the semi-finals.Karachi made a spirited start to the chase, with two sixes in the first over showing their intent. They sprinted to 53 for 1 in the fifth over before losing Shahzaib Hasan, the tournament’s most successful batsman and another youngster who came into prominence during last year’s World Twenty20. Still, Fawad Alam and Shahid Afridi, who played crucial roles in the semi-final win on Friday, remained and they powered Karachi to 88 for 3 in nine overs.Fast bowler Wahab Riaz, who recently took five wickets on Test debut at The Oval, then provided the breakthrough, removing Alam in an over which cost only two runs. Much depended on Afridi now, a man who bludgeoned runs at a strike-rate of 216 through the competition. He wasn’t giving up – even with the asking rate beyond 14 – and blasted two sixes and three fours in a two-over spell that yielded 42 runs and had Karachi hoping again.The match was effectively finished in the 16th over when a slower ball from Waqas Ahmed bowled Afridi. From 151 from 7, and all their main batsmen dismissed, Karachi’s chances evaporated and they were finally bowled out for 184, handing Lahore their first Twenty20 title.

Owais Shah has been released by Middlesex, leaving him searching for a new county. He was angered after only being told of the decision through a friend. On a busy day the club also confirmed Eoin Morgan had signed a new deal while Chris Rogers, the Australia opener, had already announced his move from Derbyshire.Shah, who has played two Tests, 71 ODIs and 17 Twenty20s for England, has been a regular throughout the season but Middlesex have had another disappointing campaign and Angus Fraser, the managing director of cricket, wanted to freshen up the squad.However, Shah’s agent issued a statement hitting out at the way a senior player was released and said the situation was “quite disgraceful.””Owais was very surprised and hurt that he was not the first one to know the club were going to release him,” his agent John E. Barnett said. “If they don’t want to sign him again, that’s their entitlement but at least have the decency to speak to the player about it before alerting the media.”It is quite disgraceful that the county allowed this to happen. I feel very hurt for him. Why did other people know about it before the player did? That’s the hurtful thing – it’s bad enough if you’re going to release someone, but at least do it properly.”Fraser said it was a tough decision to release Shah but added he is expected to play the remaining games of the season for Middlesex.”Saying goodbye to a player who has represented your club with distinction for such a long period of time is very hard,” Fraser said. “I have always been extremely fond of Owais, who began to emerge as a player of exceptional talent as my playing career reached its conclusion. It was a delight to watch him go on to play and perform well for England.”I believe the Middlesex team has reached a point where it needs freshening up if the fortunes of the young side are to continue to improve,” he added. “Owais has worked hard and given total commitment to Middlesex in 2010 but I feel that a change will be good for both him and the club. It goes without saying that I wish him well wherever he goes and I am sure he will score plenty of runs there. Owais will always be welcome at Lord’s where he has many friends and admirers.”Owais will play in Middlesex’s remaining fixtures this season, giving the club’s supporters a final chance to show their appreciation for one of the clubs leading modern players.”There had been speculation that Middlesex would sign Kevin Pietersen, who needs a permanent county after leaving Hampshire, but that possibility receded when a temporary deal couldn’t be arranged for the end of this season. Pietersen subsequently joined Surrey after being omitted from England’s one-day squad.Middlesex, though, won’t be short of international cricketers after retaining Morgan’s services despite interest from Warwickshire, Sussex and Surrey. Although the county may not see much of Morgan due to his England commitments, Fraser was pleased to retain a quality player as he looked towards the future with the club.”Everybody is thrilled that Eoin has committed his future to the club,” Fraser said. “The thought of seeing another county’s name against his on England team sheets is not something that appealed to me or anyone at Middlesex.”Middlesex are extremely proud to have played a leading role in his development and, indeed, that the club is currently supplying the England Test team with three of its cricketers. I believe we have the personnel at the club that will help Eoin achieve everything he wants to as a cricketer.””I am delighted to continue my career at Middlesex,” Morgan said. “I started my association with Middlesex as a sixteen-year old, and the club have played a major role in me getting to where I am now. The future of the club looks very healthy and I am looking forward to playing my part when my England commitments allow.”

Seventeen months after the March 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore, the PCB has finally sent the judicial inquiry report on the incident to the ICC, after getting the approval of the Punjab Government.”The board sent the report [on Lahore terror incident] to the ICC about one month ago after seeking approval of the Punjab government,” PCB chairman Ijaz Butt told . “As the Punjab government had sent a copy of the judicial inquiry report to the PCB with the instruction to keep it confidential, we were not in a position to forward the report to the ICC initially. But soon after the Punjab government allowed us, the PCB dispatched the report to the international body.”An ICC spokesperson confirmed to Cricinfo that the report was received on August 3. “It is a confidential report and the ICC will not make any comments on it,” the spokesperson told Cricinfo.On March 3 last year, the bus in which the Sri Lanka side was travelling to the Gaddafi Stadium was attacked by terrorists. Eight policemen lost their lives, while several others were injured, including some of the Sri Lanka players.Since the attack, no international cricket has been played Pakistan, and only two international events in any sport have taken place in the country – the Asia Cup baseball qualifiers in Islamabad and an international boxing tournament in Karachi.The 600-page report was put together by Lahore High Court Justice Shabbar Raza Rizvi, who questioned a number of security officials, as well as Butt, former PCB COO Saleem Altaf and the present COO Wasim Bari, who was the human resource director at the time. The report comes down heavily on the weaknesses in the security arrangements made by the Punjab government, which was running under governor’s rule at the time.Former ICC president Ehsan Mani recently criticised the PCB for taking so long to submit the report to the ICC, whose own security task force is engaged in finding ways to bring international cricket back to Pakistan.

Scorecard
Chamara Silva masterminded a win though Sri Lanka A needed 87 off 45 at one stage•Getty Images

Chamara Silva sent a strong reminder of his abilities to the national selectors with a counterattacking 84-ball 104 that swept the visitors to a thrilling two-wicket victory and sealed the series 2-0.Chasing 247 in a 40-over match at the Allan Border Field, Sri Lanka seemed to be out of the game when they stuttered to 88 for 5 after 19 overs before Silva revived their hopes through a 72-run stand with Kosala Kulasekara. Australia were still in charge when Kulasekara holed out to Travis Birt in the 33rd over with the visitors needing 87 off 45 deliveries.A flurry of sixes from Silva, who made only his second hundred in 185 List A matches, and brisk cameos from allrounder Thissara Perera and Sachithra Senanayake took Sri Lanka to the target with five deliveries to spare.Both sides had agreed 40 overs-a side due to concerns about the fading afternoon light in Brisbane. Australia struggled early on after being sent in on a pitch that offered some assistance to the bowlers. Adam Voges’ 89-ball 81 was the cornerstone of their innings, with Matthew Wade and George Bailey also offering support.It was left to Travis Birt’s big hitting to push Australia’s run-rate past six. He bludgeoned four sixes and four fours in a 22-ball 52 to set a tough target, but Silva’s brilliance ensured it the Sri Lankans took the one-day series after losing both the first-class matches and the Twenty20s.”It’s obviously pretty disappointing as we really wanted to finish the series with a win,” the home side’s captain, George Bailey, said. “I thought we batted well on a pitch that offered a bit to the bowlers but as it turns out, it wasn’t quite enough.”All credit goes to Sri Lanka and the way they fought back with the bat; we were in a strong position when we had them five for less than 90, but they slowly worked their way back into the game and Silva was very impressive.”

Uganda coach Mohammed Ebrahim Barney has re-called former Under-19 captain Hamza Almuzahim and batsman Nand Kishore Patel in the hope of boosting the national side’s fragile batting line-up as Uganda begin preparations for their ICC Intercontinental Shield four-day game against Namibia, which starts on September 18.Almuzahim has returned to Uganda from England and has recovered from the injury problems that curtailed his semi-professional stint at Bourton Vale CC in North London.Uganda are currently at the top of the points table in the competition with 29, but Namibia are only three points behind them and recently crushed Bermuda by an innings and 185 runs at Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek.”It’s nice to have Hamza back in the squad,” said Barney. “He is rated highly. I saw him bat and he is the sort of guy who can drive the ball well down the ground. Nandi also has a proven record and his inclusion will be key. But these two have to prove themselves.”The provisional squad of 20 is currently training at Lugogo. Uganda will also play Namibia in a series of Twenty20 and limited-overs games after their Intercontinental Shield encounter.

ScorecardCheteshwar Pujara led from the front with an unbeaten double-century to set India A to an imposing 543 for 8 in Croydon. It was another tough day in the field for West Indies A, whose bowlers struggled to contain the Indians, save for Andre Russell, who took a second five-for in as many first-class games.Pujara resumed his innings on 111 with Wriddhiman Saha, and the pair ensured India held the advantage early on. Saha fell for 62, caught by the wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton off Russell. Jaskaran Singh provided valuable support to Pujara as he neared a double-century. Jaskaran too helped himself to a half-century, hitting nine boundaries in his 58. Pujara declared the innings when on 208 and his knock included 34 fours and a six. Russell finished with 5 for 97.West Indies however lost the early wicket Kraigg Brathwaite for 3 to their nemesis on tour, Jaidev Unadkat. West Indies will look to bat out the third day and not let India retain the edge.

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Alex Gidman fell one short of a century as Gloucestershire’s batsmen finallyfound some form in their County Championship Second Division match withLeicestershire at the County Ground in Bristol.The captain Gidman led from the front as he found the boundary on 10 occasions on hisway to 99 before Leicestershire skipper Matthew Hoggard had him caught by AndrewHarris. Gloucestershire finished the day on 314 for 6, which had looked beyond themafter Gidman lost the toss and quickly saw his slide slump to 8 for 2.But Gidman shared a fourth-wicket stand of 138 with Hamish Marshall (86)after Chris Dent’s 34 had helped overcome the early setbacks. Hoggard must have hoped for better, having put Gloucestershire in on a green looking pitch, although he would have been happy with his own return of 3 for 49.A combined total of 43 wickets had fallen on the first days ofGloucestershire’s previous two Championship games at Bristol, both of whichended in defeat, and neither yielding a single batting point to either team. But they went into this game heartened by successive away victories over Middlesex and Surrey and despite the early loss of openers Will Porterfield andJonathan Batty hey showed resolve to fight back.Both openers fell in Hoggard’s opening six-over spell of 2 for 10. WillJefferson took a juggling catch at second slip to send back Porterfield for aduck and Batty was lbw pushing forward, having made 6.England Under-19 player Dent has been used to walking out with his team in astate of adversity this season and not for the first time he showed a goodtemperament to add 66 for the third wicket with Marshall. His 64-ball innings featured five fours and meant the new ball had been seenoff by the time he fell lbw on the back foot to Claude Henderson in the slowleft-armer’s second over.It was 82 for 3 at lunch and the afternoon session saw Marshall reach hishalf-century off 101 balls, with eight fours, and Gidman follow suit from 91deliveries, with seven boundaries. Marshall made only one century in a disappointing campaign last summer so hehad every right to feel frustrated when playing down the wrong line to Harrisand departing lbw when looking set for three figures.Gidman was on 74 when tea was taken at 212 for 4. But, having played withgreat fluency and punishing anything dropped short, he began to lookmore sketchy as he approached his hundred. Hoggard may have sensed that as he took the second new ball. He pitched the second delivery with it short and Gidman top-edged a pull shot to Harris, who took a good tumbling catch running in from fine leg.The crestfallen Gidman had faced 183 balls and hit 10 fours. But his good workdidn’t go to waste as Taylor accelerated towards a half-century off 90 balls,with nine fours before gloving a leg-side catch to wicketkeeper Tom New offNathan Buck.

The controversy over the sale of the IPL Kochi franchise has claimed its first victim, with India’s junior foreign minister Shashi Tharoor resigning over allegations of a conflict of interest in his mentoring the consortium through the successful bid. Earlier in the day Sunanda Pushkar, Tharoor’s close friend whose 4.7% “free equity” stake in the franchise had become the source of the controversy, said she had offered to give up her holding.”It’s a voluntary resignation. I don’t want to embarrass the party. I want parliament proceedings to go on, hence I have decided to resign,” Tharoor said in his letter. A statement from the Prime Minister’s office said the resignation had been forwarded to the President “with a recommendation that it be accepted”.Pushkar’s offer to give up her share in the franchise – seen as an attempt to save Tharoor – was revealed in the evening, a few hours before Tharoor’s resignation. “Given the deeply unpleasant publicity surrounding my involvement, I can no longer find the enthusiasm required to associate myself with any IPL activity in the future,” Pushkar said in a statement. “I therefore voluntarily offer to return to Rendezous the sweat equity they offered me. I do not wish to ask for compensation for my services rendered to them.”The decision, Pushkar’s lawyer said, was made on Saturday. On Sunday, Tharoor, a member of the ruling Congress party, met with the Indian prime minister amid speculation over whether he would resign from his post as junior minister for foreign affairs because of the controversy about whether Pushkar was acting as a proxy for him, a charge Tharoor had denied. Tharoor tendered his resignation late on Sunday and it was accepted by the prime minister.Pushkar had also denied she was acting as a proxy for Tharoor and said the Rendezvous Group had given her equity as payment for her marketing expertise and her help in putting the bid together. Tharoor, however, was criticised, by the opposition party among others, for not revealing his link to Pushkar earlier.The controversy over the ownership of the Kochi franchise became public after IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi revealed the composition of its stake holders on his Twitter account. According to his posts, the Kochi consortium break-up was: Rendezvous Sports 1%, Anchor 27%, Parinee [Developers] 26%, Film Waves Combine 12%, Anand Shyam 8%, Vivek Venugopal 1% with Rendezvous having an additional 25% free equity. That equity is held by Kisan, Shailender and Pushpa Gaikwad, Sunanda Pushkar, Puja Gulathi, Jayant Kotalwar, Vishnu Prasad, Sundip Agarwal.

Somerset have signed Australian paceman Damien Wright to replace Murali Kartik for the first month of the season while Kartick is involved with the Indian Premier League.Wright, 34, has had county experience with Northamptonshire and Glamorgan, and also played for Scotland in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy in 2002. He’s played state cricket in Australia for both Tasmania and Victoria, where he’s had good success this winter. In total Wright has had 103 first-class outings, collecting 335 wickets at an average of 28.72 and also taken 122 one-day wickets at 29.51 runs. He also has a useful first-class record with the bat, making 3,264 runs at an average of 24.35.Brian Rose, Sopmerset’s director of cricket, thinks Wright’s experience is perfect for his stand-in role in early part of the season. “He nearly became my first signing as director of cricket at Somerset and I have always rated him as a fine player. Damien is the sort of bowler who you want if you are looking to fill a gap for four weeks, because he is experienced, he has been there and is performing well,” Rose told Western Morning News.”He will be able to walk in and take on board the conditions that he will face in England early season because he has experienced that during his time at Northamptonshire. He is highly regarded by Cameron White for example and the rest of the Victorian Bushrangers team and is a very skilful opening bowler.”Somerset captain Marcus Trescothick said: “We have made no secret of the fact that we were looking to sign a quick bowler for the opening few matches and Damien Wright is a good performer so I am delighted to have him joining us. I have met him on numerous occasions and got to know him pretty well and several of the other guys at the club also know him so he will fit in well in the changing room and will do well for us out on the pitch.”

Indian captain MS Dhoni is confident that the absence of key players will not upset India’s chances in the three-ODI series against South Africa, starting tomorrow at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Dhoni said the team had learned to cope with injuries in the recent past and the series presented an opportunity to fringe players in Indian cricket.The injured players in the Indian team are Zaheer Khan (leg), Yuvraj Singh (wrist) and Gautam Gambhir (groin). All three were ruled out of the series, while offspinner Harbhajan Singh, the best bowler in the Kolkata Test, will miss the first two games in order to attend his sister’s wedding. The selectors have included allrounders Yusuf Pathan and Abhishek Nayar and offpsinner R Ashwin.”The confidence of the team is good. As far as missing a few players is concerned, we are missing some player or the other in every series,” Dhoni said after the team’s net session. “I think it is a good opportunity for young players to prove that they belong to the international level. Besides, it also gives you the chance to test your bench strength.”We will see whatever the best combination we can pick according to the situation and the wicket. We will miss a few players but whatever players we have in the team, they all have done well whenever given a chance. I don’t think it should be a big worry and whoever gets a chance will do well.”Dhoni said Harbhajan will be missed but a number of part-time spinners will be able to fill the void. Ashwin, the Tamil Nadu spinner, was named as Harbhajan’s replacement.”Harbhajan is a great spinner. He bowls well and does both the roles, containing as well taking wickets. Of course we will miss him but hopefully everything would go well,” Dhoni said. “You can say we have quite a few batsmen who can bowl. We are still searching for the perfect allrounder, a fast bowling allrounder, because it balances the team combination.”In this side it is good that we have batsmen who can bowl like [Virender] Sehwag, Abhishek Nayar, Yusuf Pathan, [Ravindra] Jadeja and Suresh Raina. So we have quite a few batsmen who can bowl. There is some extra help in case one of your regular bowler is struggling.”With Zaheer out, Dhoni hinted Praveen Kumar could get a look-in. “If you see Praveen, he has not got the pace. He is not an express bowler but I feel he is a street-smart cricketer. The change in length, speeds and the variation that he has got, and the amount of cricket that he has played, really helps him.”