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Kumar Sangakkara said the target of 269 was achievable but his batsmen lost the advantage when five wickets fell in the first 15 overs

Sa'adi Thawfeeq in Dambulla24-Jun-2010Following Sri Lanka’s comprehensive 81-run defeat in the Asia Cup final, the captain Kumar Sangakkara said the target of 269 was achievable but his batsmen lost the advantage when five wickets fell in the first 15 overs. He added that the fielding was not up to the mark especially in an important game like this.”Unfortunately, our batting style wasn’t probably apt for the conditions. Maybe it would have been a bit tighter and we should have been a bit more positive in executing our strokes,” Sangakkara said. “If we had got through that difficult period, it may have been a couple of wickets down for 60 on the board in the first 15 overs and it would have been a great run chase.”We weren’t the greatest on the field. We had a lot of missed goals that cost us boundaries, 19 extras really doesn’t help the cause especially when you know that you are facing the tougher conditions batting second. We dragged it back in the last 12 overs which cost us only 60 runs but unfortunately, India had a great start, a couple of good partnerships in the middle and 268 was always a very good score on a track like this. We probably gave India about 15-20 runs extra but it wouldn’t have mattered in the end because we got only 187.”Although his team could not make it three Asia Cup wins-in-a-row, Sangakkara said the entire squad showed a lot of character and ability.”What you’ve got to learn is when you get to a final that’s probably where you should play your best cricket, just lift your standards up as high as you can and really go for the blow,” he said. “Unfortunately we had three great games where we outplayed the opposition.”Under Sangakkara’s leadership, this defeat was third in a tournament final, twice to India (first at the Compaq Cup last year) and once to Pakistan (ICC World T20).”We always manage to get into the final unbeaten, then not really perform in the final. Unfortunately we haven’t been able to lift our standards,” Sangakkara said. “You can always talk about the toss at R Premadasa Stadium (Colombo) and at Dambulla but it’s always the mentality that really counts in the end.”The defeatist attitude once the toss goes up and doesn’t come our way is not the right way to go playing cricket. You’ve got to work a lot harder, especially in the first 15 overs.”Commenting on the conditions at Dambulla, Sangakkara said: “We were expecting the ball to move anyway under lights in Dambulla. Both sides played three seamers, unfortunately for us we couldn’t deal with the movement. They bowled good lines and lengths that were tight and hitting the right areas more often than we did at the start. We can talk about swing and seam and all of that, but at the end of the day technically we could have dealt with it a lot better. Getting through difficult periods is the key, not everything goes your way every day. When it doesn’t that’s when the character shows.However, Sangakkara said the fielding was a big disappointment. “We had three great games fielding wise but in the final again we probably saw a big lax in really stopping the ball and converting half chances,” he said. “Especially in a final the margin for error is very little. Conditions or form don’t affect fielding, it is the one thing that you are totally in control of.”

Karunaratne says they have drawn up several plans to Root but have been forced to go back to square one

Andrew Fidel Fernando04-Sep-2024Joe Root has scores of 42, 62 not out, 143, and 103 so far in this series. In general, he averages 67.55 against Sri Lanka, having hit 186 and a 228 in his last series against this opposition as well, those mammoth scores coming in Galle.He sweeps and reverse-sweeps well, tends to be proactive against the seamers, and on the occasions in which he chooses to defend, has one of the best techniques in the game.It is no surprise, that in the approach to the third Test, much of Sri Lanka’s team discussion has centred around this question: “How do we get Root out?”Related

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According to senior batter and former captain Dimuth Karunaratne, Sri Lanka have rifled through several plans to Root already, but have been forced to go back to square one by Root’s consistent excellence in this series. They are brainstorming again.”We’ve tried a few things against Joe but they were always unsuccessful,” Karunaratne said. “I think the turning points in the matches have been those Joe Root innings. Even when we’ve played at Galle, he’s hit big runs, but the batters around him haven’t scored as heavily. We really need to minimise the runs he’s scoring.”Homework for Sri Lanka’s bowlers is likely to have been dominated by watching replays of Root bat, with analysis of the likeliest strategies that will bring about his dismissal.”We need to look at his past performances more closely, see where he’s got out, and what kinds of things we can do on these pitches. We need to make a new plan based on that.”Counterintuitively, Karunaratne thinks perhaps this can come about by attacking him less.”Maybe sometimes we attack him too much and he takes advantage of that. Some players don’t like it when we ask them to be less aggressive. Sometimes boring batters out can also be a tactic.”Sri Lanka’s other major problem, however, has been the failure of their senior batters, who between them have produced six fifties in 16 combined innings. Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, and Dhananjaya de Silva – have all had a fifty-plus score, and yet have not made significant impressions.”The seniors have talked a lot about how to perform and ease the pressure on the juniors. The juniors have been doing well, especially Kamindu Mendis. Some people adapt very fast to conditions and some struggle. That’s the way the game is. Every game is quite tough.”For Karunaratne, the fact that Root has scored 153 more runs than the next-best England batter, is proof that batting has been difficult.”In England the conditions are tough for batters, and we saw that even their openers struggled, as well as their No. 3. Apart from Joe Root the others also struggled despite this being home conditions for them. We’re playing after a very long time here.”

Century on debut powers new team to record-equalling 334 for 5 and 131-run win

ECB Reporters Network22-Apr-2023South East Stars 334 for 5 (Scholfield 111, Davidson-Richards 73, Chathli 48) beat Thunder 203 (Dottin 51, Davies 3-27) by 131 runsA debut century by Paige Scholfield propelled South East Stars to a record-equalling 334 for five in a convincing 131-run victory against Thunder in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy opener at Emirates Old Trafford.Scholfield, playing her first game for the Stars after signing from Southern Vipers, blasted 111 from just 90 balls, hitting five sixes and 11 fours, as she helped add 143 off 115 balls for the fourth wicket with Alice Davidson-Richards who contributed a classy 73.The Stars’ total equalled the highest score made in just over three seasons of regional cricket and the Thunder never threatened to chase down the required runs as they were bowled out for 203 in 42 overs.The first half of the Stars’ innings had been a fairly even contest on a good wicket with wicketkeeper-batter Kira Chathli and Ryana Macdonald-Gay steadily compiling an opening partnership of 52 until the latter was bowled for 18 by a big inswinging delivery from Deandra Dottin, the former West Indies all-rounder who has returned to Thunder for a second season.Chathli perished for 48 after driving left arm spinner Alex Hartley to Kate Cross at mid-on, and when Stars’ skipper Bryony Smith swept leg spinner Liv Thomas into the hands of Fi Morris on the midwicket boundary for a hard-hitting 35 off 31 balls, the game was finely poised with Stars 130 for three in the 27th over.Scholfield injected immediate impetus into the visitors innings hitting three of her first six deliveries to the boundary and she received great support from Davidson-Richards who paced her innings expertly as their alliance blossomed.The pair pounced on anything bowled short or wide to reach a 56-ball fifty partnership while their century stand arrived from only 92 balls with the under-pressure Thunder not helping their cause by dropping Scholfield on 63 and Davidson-Richards on 48 as the runs flowed.Davidson-Richards had struck two sixes and eight fours before eventually departing for 73 to a fine catch at long leg by Thomas off Tara Norris in the 46th over but Schofield went on to reach a fabulous century from 85 balls and was undefeated on 111 when the innings ended.Thunder used eight bowlers in an attempt to stem the flood of runs as the Stars hammered 132 from the final 10 overs, with Cross the pick of the home attack conceding 45 off her 10.Thunder needed a positive start to their challenging run chase but instead lost England opener Emma Lamb caught behind by Chathli off Phoebe Franklin for six and Scholfield then added to her great day by nipping one back to bowl Morris for 18.Not to be outdone, Davidson-Richards produced a seaming delivery of her own to bowl Ellie Threlkeld for 14 to leave Thunder 68 for three in the 19th over.Naomi Dattani made a steady 33 until trapped lbw by Dani Gregory before the afternoon was enlivened by some big hitting from Dottin who reached her maiden Thunder fifty off 37 balls before skying a steepling catch that was well judged by Scholfield – who else? – off Gregory for 51.From 143 for five the Thunder innings fell away quickly from that point with Freya Davies (three for 27) picking up a trio of wickets and MacDonald-Gay two, as the Stars clinched victory with eight overs to spare.

Returning from maternity leave, the captain says their aim at the World Cup is to reach the semi-finals

PTI16-Feb-2022She is well aware of the pressure of playing against arch-rivals India in the Women’s ODI World Cup opener next month but Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof hopes that the marquee match will inspire girls across the border to make a career in the sport.India are set to face Pakistan in their opener of the World Cup on March 6 in Mount Maunganui. The tournament will be held from March 4 to April 3 across six cities in New Zealand.”Pakistan vs India is indeed a great stage for any player to establish her credentials, but at the end of the day, it is a cricket match that has to be won by executing the basics right and keeping thing simple,” Maroof, who is making a comeback after motherhood, told PTI from Queenstown.Related

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“This match is a great opportunity to inspire millions of girls in Pakistan and India to take up this sport as a profession. It is the biggest rivalry, and attracts innumerable eyeballs.”I hope girls in the two countries will watch this match and will be inspired to take up the game.”She praised the Indian team led by Mithali Raj, but she was very optimistic about Pakistan’s chances against them.”The Indian team is a good unit and has done well recently. They also have had some very good youngsters coming in of late,” she said. “Our aim is to make it to the semi-finals, something which we have never done before. I strongly believe that this side has all the ingredients to achieve that.Being the senior-most player and the captain of the team, Maroof felt it was her duty to lead from from the front.”Being the senior player and the captain of the side you have to inspire your team and lead by example. If you are not doing the right things, you cannot demand them from girls. I have a very clear vision with this team that we need to be in top four.”When asked about the team composition, she said that conditions in New Zealand will determine the playing XI.Maroof has played 108 ODIs and equal number of T20I matches and has scored 2602 and 2225 runs, respectively.Having seen many ups and downs in her journey so far, she had once decided to quit cricket to embrace motherhood.”It has been an incredible journey and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Being a cricketer has designed my life and played a very important role in the person I am today. There have been ups and downs, which have made me learn,” she said.”I am very excited to be back. It feels like I am making my debut again for Pakistan. I am grateful to my family, especially my husband who has supported me immensely throughout this phase. I also want to mention the support that the Pakistan Cricket Board has provided me through the parental policy.”To make a successful comeback after motherhood is not easy and Maroof has worked very hard to regain that level of form and fitness.”The journey from childbirth to getting here had its fair share of difficulties, as I had to start from scratch to regain my fitness,” she said. “Women don’t often return to sports or continue their professional careers after getting married or childbirth.”I spent a lot of time doing strength and conditioning sessions at the National High Performance Centre in Lahore.”

SLC’s first preference still is to hold the tournament in Sri Lanka

Andrew Fidel Fernando02-Nov-2020The Lanka Premier League’s 21 November start date is being reconsidered, while there is also now a possibility the tournament will be moved to the UAE or Malaysia.Tournament director Ravin Wickramaratne told ESPNcricinfo that Sri Lanka Cricket would much prefer to play the tournament on the island. However, the 14-day quarantine that Sri Lanka’s health ministry is insisting on increasingly appears a dealbreaker for some foreign players, as well as an operational obstacle for broadcast crews and commentators set to come for the tournament.Having repeatedly cancelled previous iterations of the tournament, SLC is desperate to make it happen this year, and is now considering three options, Wickramaratne said.ALSO READ: Irfan Pathan signs with Kandy Tuskers in the LPL“The first option is to play the tournament across two venues in Sri Lanka – in Hambantota and Pallekele – but we might have to move the tournament back by about one week. The second option is to play it all in one venue, which will make the arrangements around a biosecure bubble for players and staff more straightforward.”The last option, which we would rather not take, is to play in the UAE or Malaysia. This is a Sri Lankan tournament so it should be played here. But this has been a much-awaited tournament, and there are many Sri Lankan players who have been waiting to play in it. So we want to play it.”SLC officials and tournament organisers are now set to meet with Sri Lanka’s health ministry on Wednesday, after which the path forward will be clearer. Among SLC’s requests is for players to be required to do a five to seven-day quarantine only, after which they would be allowed to begin training within the LPL bubble.Sri Lanka’s sports minister Namal Rajapaksa is also understood to be supporting SLC’s requests, but has not so far succeeded in securing a more flexible quarantine plan from another wing in his own government. Although it is likely that both the minister and SLC officials are wary of criticising the health ministry’s staunch position for fear such criticism could come off as callous, within the board at least there seems to be mounting frustration that health authorities are thwarting attempts to bring high-profile cricket back to the island. Among the arguments SLC is likely to make is that the LPL will be a significant economic boon to Sri Lanka’s economy, in a difficult time.The owner of at least one of the franchises – Jaffna Stallions – has expressed support for the LPL despite uncertainties surrounding it, stating that the franchise is aware it must be adaptable in a pandemic year. There are also talks from tournament organisers to bring Andre Russell back into the league, although Wickramaratne had earlier said he was out of the LPL due to injury. Russell’s hamstring may heal in time for him to play the IPL playoffs, however.At present, the LPL is set to run from November 21 to December 13, with matches to be played in Hambantota and Pallekele.

Nottingham-based team likely to appoint local coaching staff to assist former New Zealand captain

George Dobell01-Jul-2019Stephen Fleming, the former New Zealand captain and multiple IPL-winning coach, looks set to be named as head coach of the Nottingham-based The Hundred side, Trent Rockets.Fleming enjoyed a long association as a player with Nottinghamshire and has subsequently forged a successful career as a coach. As well as leading New Zealand to their only global tournament success at the 2000 Champions Trophy, he was captain of sides which won Test series against India, England, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and West Indies. As coach he was worked in the IPL, winning the competition with Chennai Super Kings three times, and BBL, and is understood to have recently confirmed that he has no interest in the England coaching position.Fleming’s likely appointment follows news that Andrew McDonald and Mahela Jayawardene are set to be named as head coaches of Birmingham Phoenix and Southern Brave respectively. Daniel Vettori and Shane Bond are set to be named as their deputies. Shane Warne has been linked with London Spirit – the team based at Lord’s – while the has reported that Ricky Ponting is favourite to coach the team based at The Oval. It is also understood that Vikram Solanki will be involved in that coaching set-up.While many teams in The Hundred look set to name overseas coaching duos, Trent Rockets are keen to ensure the remainder of the team is staffed by coaches already involved with the county clubs – Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire – behind the new identify.”Fleming has expressed an interest and we have spoken to him,” Mick Newell, director of cricket at Nottinghamshire, confirmed. “We want all the other coaches to come from this area. We think that’s the right model for this competition.”Although many of these deals are agreed in principle, contracts are not yet signed as the counties are still in the process of negotiation their agreements with the ECB.

The allrounder has been named in a 13-man squad that will take on an ICC Rest of the World XI at Lord’s to raise funds for rehabilitation of cricket centres in the Caribbean

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Apr-2018Allrounder Andre Russell is set to return to the West Indies squad for the first time since he was banned for a doping-code violation in January 2017. He was named in a 13-man squad for the Hurricane Relief T20 Challenge, a charity match against an ICC Rest of the World XI. The match is being staged with the support of the MCC, ECB and ICC to raise funds to rebuild and restore five cricket venues in the Caribbean that were damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria last year.The squad will be led by allrounder Carlos Brathwaite and will also feature openers Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis. All three of them, along with Russell, are currently playing in the IPL, which is scheduled to end on May 27, three days before the charity match at Lord’s.”We welcome the return of the players who missed the Pakistan series and are delighted to recall Andre Russell to the squad, as we believe he will have a key role in our white-ball cricket. Denesh Ramdin and Keemo Paul keep their places after encouraging performances at both regional and international level,” the chairman of selectors Courtney Browne said.

The five major venues

• Ronald Webster Park, Anguilla – damaged in Irma

• Sir Viv Richards Stadium, Antigua – temporarily converted to host refugees from Barbuda following Irma

• Windsor Park Stadium, Dominica – damaged in Maria

• A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground, BVI- damaged in Irma

• Carib Lumber Ball Park, St Maarten – damaged in Irma

Russell last played an international match in August 2016 and is currently in the middle of a productive comeback which began with him representing Jamaica in the Regional 50-over competition in February.This isn’t the first charity match being staged to raise funds to repair the damage done by the two Category 5 hurricanes, Irma and Maria – the former being the most powerful recorded in the Atlantic since 2005 – which ravaged the Caribbean Islands last year, among other hurricanes through August and September.In October last year, Darren Sammy and Kieron Pollard had led the Caribbean Select XI and Trinidad sides in a charity match that was aimed to directly help the communities that had suffered damages. This time round, the focus will be on the major cricketing centres that were affected, with all proceeds going into their rehabilitation.Cricket West Indies CEO Johnny Grave said: “On behalf of CWI, I’d like to thank the players for their commitment to and support of this vital cause. We’re hoping to raise a significant sum from the Hurricane Relief T20 Challenge and are very grateful to the MCC, ECB and ICC, without whom this match would not be taking place.”West Indies squad: Samuel Badree, Carlos Brathwaite (capt.), Rayad Emrit, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Kesrick Williams

A mature century from Eoin Morgan helped England to what may well prove a daunting total in the first ODI of the series against West Indies in Antigua

The Report by George Dobell03-Mar-2017

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsEoin Morgan acknowledges his 10th ODI hundred•Associated Press

A mature century from Eoin Morgan helped England to victory in the first ODI of the series against West Indies in Antigua. The win was secured with almost three overs to spare, with Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett taking four wickets apiece.Morgan, the England captain, had spoken the day before the game about the need for his side to temper their aggressive instincts a little on a surface that he anticipated would do little to encourage stroke-play. It proved an accurate analysis. On a sluggish, slightly two-paced pitch England were precariously placed at 29 for 2 when Morgan walked to the wicket after West Indies had won what appeared to be an important toss in a match delayed by rain.It took Morgan seven balls to get off the mark and 33 to reach double-figures. But he did not panic. Recognising that this was a surface on which a total of 270 might prove match-winning, he batted accordingly and reached his tenth ODI century – and second in three matches – with his second six in the 49th over of the England innings. It was a masterful demonstration of experience and calculated aggression in conditions demanding more subtlety than aggression.It was the first time England had failed to post a total of at least 300 when batting first in an ODI since February 2016. But, in these conditions, it was a challenging total and testament, perhaps, to some growing sophistication within an England side that has tended, until now, to try to blast its way to success. Had they attempted to make 350, they could very well have subsided for fewer than 200.”It wasn’t easy or pretty,” Morgan said afterwards. “It was hard work, especially getting in.”It was very tacky early on. When they peeled the covers off, it was damp. They rolled it and it looked dry but it just rolled the moisture into the wicket. Over the first 15 or 20 overs the moisture came out of it and that balls that dismissed Joe Root and Jason Roy both kept low.”It was Morgan’s fifth century as captain, a new record for an England skipper surpassing the four made by Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook.West Indies will rue two missed chances, though. First Kieran Powell, at slip, was unable to cling on to an outside edge offered by a loose drive off Carlos Brathwaite’s first ball when Morgan had just 4, while later Shai Hope was unable to complete a tough catch after a delivery from Jason Mohammed turned, bounced and took Morgan’s outside edge when he had 69.Perhaps more significantly in the grand scheme of things, Morgan also had an escape when he was struck by a bouncer bowled by the impressively sharp Shannon Gabriel. Through a pull shot too early, Morgan was struck on the stemguard but, thanks to the extra protection, he was able to go on and celebrate a fine century in front of a crowd dominated by travelling England supporters. Ticket prices of USD75 appear to have done little to attract local spectators.Morgan accelerated intelligently after his careful start. He struck the spinners for four fours in eight balls at one stage, going deep in his crease to pull and lofting the ball over mid-off when the man was pulled into the circle, while also clearing his front leg and striking the seamers for his two sixes.He was given excellent support from Ben Stokes. Stokes, too, ensured he played himself in before going on the attack and it took him 26 deliveries to reach double-figures but once he settled he went on the attack and helped his captain add 110 in 18.4 overs.Struggling to hit fours on the slow surface and with bug square boundaries, Stokes instead relied on his power. He struck three sixes in 12 balls at one stage – helped by Kraigg Brathwaite stepping over the boundary as he attempted to take a catch at deep midwicket – and registered his sixth score of 50-plus in his last nine ODI innings, from 56 balls.While he was eventually caught at long-on and Morgan was run-out backing-up – Moeen Ali hit the ball straight back at the bowler, Brathwaite, who threw down the stumps – Moeen contributed 31 from 22 balls to help England plunder exactly 100 runs off the final 10 overs of their innings.West Indies rarely threatened to get close to their target. After Evin Lewis pulled to deep midwicket, Kieran Powell sent a leading edge to point as he tried to turn one into the leg side, and Kraigg Brathwaite pulled to mid-on. Mohammed and Jonathan Carter added 82 in 13.5 overs to revive West Indies hopes, but when Carter was brilliantly caught by Jason Roy, charging in from deep midwicket, and Mohammed was run-out by some nifty footwork from the bowler, Steven Finn, having been called through for a sharp single, their chase fell away.”We were in the game right through,” Mohammed said afterwards. “But when a team scores a hundred in the last 10 overs, they’ve got a really good chance. That was a crucial part in the game.”A couple of chances went down, too. If we’d held on to them, there could have been a different result.”England’s victory was achieved without the need to use Stokes’ bowling skills. The much-anticipated rematch between him and Carlos Brathwaite, therefore, will have to wait. Woakes, who finished with four wickets as reward for an intelligent display of control and variation, dismissed him with a slower ball. Plunkett also finished with four wickets, while Finn, in his first ODI since September 2015, was wicketless but bowled with good control. It was, in short, a good display by England’s seamers.”I thought they were brilliant in conditions that don’t really suit us,” Morgan said. “We were relentless in making them hit cross-bat shots into the wind. It was an outstanding performance from the seamers.”It wasn’t pre-planned not to us Ben. I just didn’t need to go to him.”Sam Billings will feel he only partially took his chance to impress having retained his place at the top of the order. He registered his second half-century in three ODI innings to steady England, after Gabriel defeated Roy with one that may have kept a little low and bowled Joe Root with a beauty that cut in off the seam. Billings may feel he squandered a chance to register a really telling total, though, when skipping down the pitch and drilling a catch to mid-on.”He’s got to keep churning out runs,” Morgan said when asked if Billings had done enough to see off the return of Alex Hales over the next couple of games. “Alex is a very formidable player in our side and has scored a lot of runs when we’ve won games. It’ll all depend on how Hales has pulled up from training.”

The prospect of West Indies sending a second-string team to the World T20 has increased after the sides failed to reach agreement in their contract impasse

George Dobell10-Feb-20161:29

Disaffected players have received an ultimatum from the West Indies board

The prospect of West Indies sending a second-string team to the World T20 has increased after the sides failed to reach agreement in their contract impasse.WICB CEO Michael Muirhead responded to the players’ request for a doubling of their remuneration package in the tournament by reiterating the view that the compensation package was agreed with the players’ union, WIPA, last year and would not be changed on the eve of the event.Muirhead also stated that any player who had not confirmed their acceptance of the current contracts by February 14 would be presumed to have refused selection.With only days to go before that deadline, it is becoming hard to see how agreement can be reached. The breakdown in the relationship between international players and their union would appear to have robbed the parties even of the mechanism for meaningful dialogue and there seems little time for Caricom leaders to intervene.

The crisis letters

ICC

The exchange of letters between Darren Sammy and Michael Murihead shows that West Indies cricket is again in crisis as World Twenty20 approaches

The possibility that West Indies will send a second string squad unable to reflect their No. 2 position in the T20 rankings and, as a consequence, tarnish the tournament, is real and growing.Darren Sammy, the captain of the West Indies World T20 team, had earlier written a second letter to the WICB repeating the view that his squad “don’t accept that WIPA can represent us” and insisting on an increase in the financial terms on offer for their availability in the tournament. His first letter complained of a cut of up to 80% in the remuneration on offer to West Indies players at this event compared to previous global tournaments.”WIPA became conflicted during its negotiations with you and compromised itself,” Sammy said. “It could not and did not actively represent the best interests of all West Indies cricketers.”The difference between the remuneration on offer from previous World Cups to this one is shocking and we cannot accept the terms on offer.”To now be offered just US$6,900 per match across the board irrespective of experience is totally unacceptable. Players are being asked to start providing services from nearly four weeks ahead of the World Cup and be guaranteed just US$27,600 if they play all the guaranteed matches [which] is a staggering reduction. We are looking, even on 2012 figures, [at] reductions of between 50-80%.”We suggest that 100% of prize money needs to be paid to the players as per previous tournaments. Twenty percent should not be retained by the WICB.Michael Murihead has named a February 14 deadline to accept terms•WICB Media/Brooks LaTouche Photography Ltd

“We also suggest that the match fees be doubled from US$6,900. In summary, we cannot accept the terms on offer. The players are not happy and understandably so with such big differences.”But Muirhead insisted that the players take up their issues with their player association directly with WIPA and gave no indication he was about to reopen negotiations over remuneration.”The terms on offer were negotiated and agreed between WICB and WIPA with the assistance of representatives from the ICC and FICA during a mediation process last year,” Muirhead stated. “And all parties agreed that they were fair and equitable and acceptable to be offered to the members [of the] WI team selected for the relevant ICC Event.”As mentioned in my previous email to you, this information was shared with all players following that process in May last year. Players were given an opportunity to discuss the new structure and no concerns were raised at that time.”It is disappointing that you would choose to question the terms now, on the eve of the WT20 in India.”

Opener Ruvindu Gunasekera’s fifty and unbeaten hundred in consecutive innings, and a collective bowling performance, saw Canada win the two-day Auty Cup match against the United States on the basis of a first-innings lead.

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jul-2013
ScorecardRuvindu Gunasekera put up strong performances in both innings for Canada, scoring 72 and an unbeaten 100•Canadian Cricket Association

Opener Ruvindu Gunasekera’s fifty and unbeaten hundred in consecutive innings, as well as a collective bowling performance, helped Canada win the two-day Auty Cup match against the United States on the basis of a first-innings lead.Canada, chosing to bat, made a strong start with a 105-run opening stand between Gunasekera and wicketkeeper Trevin Bastiampillai. However, once left-arm spinner Ryan Corns broke the partnership, Canada lost regular wickets and were eventually dismissed for 228. Gunasekera top-scored with a 164-ball 72, which included six fours, while Bastiampillai made 55 off 91 deliveries. USA captain and legspinner Timil Patel took four wickets for 66 runs, while Corns ended with 3 for 21.USA made a poor start to their innings, losing openers Steven Taylor and Alan Dodson for just 28 runs in 11 overs. But a 79-run, fourth-wicket stand between Ravi Timbawala and Karan Ganesh stabilised the innings, before Ganesh fell for 35 to left-arm spinner Salman Nazar. From there on, USA slumped from a stable 134 for 3, to 183 all out. Nazar and medium-pacer Harvir Baidwan picked up three wickets each, as USA conceded a 45-run lead.Canada’s batsmen played freely in the second innings, scoring at more than five runs an over. Gunasekera led the way again, scoring an unbeaten 93-ball 100, which included 11 fours and three sixes.The two teams will play a 50-over match on July 27, as well as two Twenty20 matches on July 28.