All posts by csb10.top

Ramnaresh Sarwan believes the tour of England is the perfect opportunity for West Indies, who he admitted were “in a bit of a turmoil”, to launch a new era.Speaking for the first time since arriving in the UK, he said it was important for the team to stick together and shake off the tag of indiscipline which dogged them during the World Cup.”Both teams are under a bit of pressure, after not playing that well in the World Cup,” he said. “We’ll have to be very careful what we do against England – but I think they’ll be a bit low on confidence as well. They didn’t do that well in the Tests in Australia, so this is an opportunity for both teams to revive themselves.”The West Indies board has gone to great lengths to ensure the players maintain their focus on tour. The players were given a handbook of rules and regulations before they left Barbados, including an 11.30pm curfew, which Sarwan is confident will be adhered to.”When we were playing at home there was speculation about guys being indisciplined,” he said. “Those rumours were unfortunate; when you are not playing well people tend to point fingers. I think the board realised there were perhaps one or two things that could be changed to help to take West Indies cricket forward.”Discipline plays a major part in sport, and sometimes you have to clamp down on that. We never had a curfew before, and that is in place now. I don’t think any of us will have a problem with that.”Despite the retirement of Brian Lara, Sarwan remains confident about his team’s chances. “Of course we think we can win this series – that’s why we’re here,” he said. I want to see us be positive and put in that effort which has probably been lacking in the past. If we can do that I’ll be very happy.”He will lean heavily on the likes of Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul who have past experience in England. The squad also includes youngsters Ravi Rampaul, Darren Sammy and Runako Morton and Sarwan remains realistic about what is possible in a short space of time.”West Indies cricket is in a bit of turmoil, and it is very important for this group of young guys to pull together as a team and move West Indies cricket forward,” he said. “It’s not going to happen overnight – it’s going to be a long process.”West Indies don’t have much time to prepare with just one match, against Somerset starting on Saturday, before the first Test on Thursday.

Nottinghamshire have signed swing bowler Darren Pattinson on a two-year contract.Pattinson, 28, was born in Grimsby but raised in Australia. He made his first-class debut for Victoria in 2006-07 and has played in five Pura Cup and 12 limited-overs games for the state.”We have had an eye on Darren for a couple of years, ever since he came along for a net with us two years ago,” Nottinghamshire’s director of cricket Mick Newell said. “Like Charlie Shreck, he’s come into the first-class game late and that should mean he’s got plenty of miles left on the clock.”He bowls with good pace and gets the ball to swing. We’re keen to see how he gets on with more regular cricket and believe he will be a very useful performer in all competitions.”

Rangana Herath and Marvan Atapattu have been named in Sri Lanka’s 20-member squad for the Test series against South Africa and the tri-series involving India and South Africa in August. Jehan Mubarak and Nuwan Kulasekara are the only players from the squad that toured England in June to miss out.Ashantha de Mel, the chairman of selectors, said that the squad of 20 was selected with the 2007 World Cup in mind. “We think this will be the nucleus of players from which the final 14 will be selected for the World Cup,” said de Mel. “That is why we have included Atapattu even though he is not available for the Test and one-day series. There maybe a few changes to the squad as we go along.”de Mel said that in the absence of Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene will be asked to continue as captain for the Test and one-day next month. “Marvan is recovering from a back operation and he is not likely to be fully fit until the Champions Trophy tournament in October. Mahela will be asked to continue until such time Marvan recovers.”Under Jayawardene, Sri Lanka drew the Test series in England 1-1 before winning the one-day series 5-0.Squad: Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Marvan Atapattu, Michael Vandort, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Ruchira Perera, Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga, Malinga Bandara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Zoysa, Prasanna Jayawardene

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out – New Zealand
How they were out – Kenya

New Zealand had few problems securing their place in the next stage as they gave Kenya a reality check with a 148-run victory in St Lucia. An injury-hit Ross Taylor struck an elegant 85 and Craig McMillan a brutal 48-ball 71, as the Kiwis compiled their highest World Cup total. Kenya’s top order then fell in a heap and Ravi Shah’s determined 71 only delayed the inevitable.With a view to the greater challenges ahead this was a useful workout for New Zealand. Four attacking half-centuries ensured the sixes tally cruised into double figures as the ball flew over the rope – and often into the stands – 12 times, McMillan responsible for five as his resurgence in form continued.Two early wickets for Michael Mason, recalled in place of Jeetan Patel, and some shambolic running from Kenya meant the match ended as a contest early in the chase. The only difficulty New Zealand encountered was reaching the 20-over mark between the showers meaning McMillan and Daniel Vettori were used to race through a few overs.When Lou Vincent’s poor start to World Cup continued with a fourth-ball duck it appeared New Zealand would be tested. But Kenya’s bowlers, who maintained such impressive pressure against the more placid Canadians, were harshly shown up as the military medium-pace and varying styles of spin were all treated with equal force. However, what will be more disappointing for the coach, Roger Harper, is the poor standard of fielding; at least four catches (not all easy) were shelled while Maurice Ouma was poor with the gloves.But New Zealand gave a lesson in how to deal with a potential banana-skin fixture – aggression. Fleming benefited from a series of long hops, pulling into the stands between square leg and long leg on three occasions, his footwork improving in a 53-ball half-century. After negotiating the early movement Taylor, too, became more expansive although he survived a tough chance to Tanmay Mishra at midwicket on 5 – the first of Kenya’s fielding fumbles.Kenya’s attack was toothless and second wicket came from an aberration by Fleming; Taylor knocked the ball direct to short fine-leg, the captain thought there was a run but he didn’t get within a bat length of the crease. Scott Styris quickly showed the confidence gained from his match-winning effort against England. Kenya again let themselves down, this time Jimmy Kamande dropping a simple chance at midwicket with Styris on 19.The third-wicket stand with Taylor was coursing along, Taylor’s half-century arriving off 80 balls, and Kenya quickly resembled a club side – not a true reflection of their ability. But Taylor, who’d bounced back after his opening duck against England, was then struck by the hamstring injury. He resumed with Vincent as a runner, but it was later confirmed as a strain. The injury hampered his movement and after one more crunching six over midwicket he popped a gentle catch back to Tikolo.

There was never likely to be a let-up in boundaries and McMillan swung merrily from the off as his sixes count started off the 12th ball. Styris continued to unleash the long handle approach, fifty coming off 56 balls before one attempt to clear long on was taken by Mishra. Thomas Odoyo had a moment of personal joy when he bowled Jacob Oram for his 100th ODI wicket, but McMillan’s striking carried the total well over 300.Kenya never had a real chance of making the runs, but their batsmen could have taken the opportunity to show their wares. Instead they were four down within 12 overs; David Obuya was beaten by Mason’s yorker, Ouma chanced a single to Vincent, Tikolo pulled to mid on and Mishra fended at James Franklin, the catch taken as it rebounded off Brendon McCullum’s glove.Shah could have gone at any point in his first 20 runs – more than once to a run out – but he slowly became more fluent and unfurled some classy strokes, including a lofted drive for six off McMillan, as his half-century came off 63 balls. Kenya’s first World Cup century was coming within view, but he chipped a return catch to hand Vettori just his third World Cup wicket.The margin of defeat did no favours to Kenya’s net run-rate, which has now slipped below England’s. However, unless there are two days of rain in St Lucia the final Group C clash will be winner takes all. Based on this effort it shouldn’t be close. New Zealand, meanwhile, can watch on comfortably and think of the Super Eights.

1994-95 in South Africa
Wisden report | Cricinfo site
Pakistan arrived in South Africa with confidence high on the back of a hard-earned Test series victory over Australia, but would finish the tour with defeat amid rumours of dressing room unrest. Only the inaugural Test between the two nations was played, with both sides also taking part in the quadrangular Mandela Trophy held in South Africa before the tour started. Pakistan lost both their warm-up matches convincingly, to Western Province and Natal, and South Africa beat them by 324 runs in the Test at Johannesburg to record their largest win on home soil. Brian McMillan, with a maiden Test century, and Fanie de Villiers, who claimed ten wickets, were the heroes for South Africa, while Inzamam-ul-Haq gave further notice of his burgeoning talent with a defiant 95 in Pakistan’s second innings. Pakistan’s cause had not been helped by unfortunate injuries, with Waqar Younis pulling out on the eve of the Johannesburg Test, but it was clear that they had lost their discipline by the end of their stay. Worse was to follow, as they left South Africa for an ill-tempered tour of Zimbabwe.
South Africa 1 Pakistan 0

1997-98 in Pakistan
Wisden report | Cricinfo site
The first meeting between the two teams in Pakistan was a chance for both to lay claim to the position of the leading challenger to Australia at the summit of the world game. It was South Africa who emerged victorious, thanks in no small part to a strong unit and the allround talents of Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener and Brian McMillan. Pollock and Allan Donald made for a formidable opening pair, in stark contrast to their counterparts Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram who, afflicted by injury and fatigue, did not play together until the final Test. Ironically, after a dead pitch and poor weather had ensured draws at Rawalpindi and Sheikhupura, this was to prove the decider. South Africa, inspired by the words and deeds of Pat Symcox and four second-innings wickets in seven balls by Pollock, came back from a big deficit to bowl Pakistan out for 92 and record a remarkable 53-run victory. For Pakistan the spinners Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq impressed throughout, while Ali Navqi and Azhar Mahmood became the first pair of same-team debutants to score a century in the same Test at Rawalpindi, but the defeat was an opportunity missed.
Tests: Pakistan 0 South Africa 1
1997-98 in South Africa
Wisden report | Cricinfo site
In the intervening four months before they met again in South Africa, Pakistan had regained the winning habit and thumped the West Indies 3-0 at home, while South Africa had gone down narrowly 1-0 in Australia. The stage was set for a battle between two well balanced sides, and accordingly the series was fairly drawn 1-1. Inevitably, however, the tour was dominated by controversy involving Pakistan. They arrived under a cloud surrounding Wasim Akram’s controversial omission, officially for fitness reasons, and Rashid Latif became their fourth captain in ten months. Allegations of match-fixing refused to go away and the gossips had a field-day when the first Test had to be postponed for twenty-four hours after two Pakistan players were supposedly mugged outside the team hotel. Whispers that the attacks had in fact taken place in local nightspots could not be proved, but the mud had stuck. The first Test at Johannesburg was a disappointing draw, notable only for Pat Symcox scoring 108 from number 10 in the order. Pakistan showed a fleeting glance of their remarkable abilities at Durban, with the spin of Mushtaq Ahmed helping them to a 29-run victory, but shot themselves in the foot in the final Test at Port Elizabeth. The recall of a clearly unfit Wasim Akram did little for team unity and Pakistan were heavily beaten, once more unable to convert their undoubted talent into a consistent level of performance.
Tests: South Africa 1 Pakistan 1

2002-03 in South Africa
Wisden report | Cricinfo site
The chaos that traditionally surround Pakistan plumbed new depths as they were soundly beaten in both the one-day and Test series by a ruthless South African side. Pakistan arrived on the back of a demoralising thrashing at the hands of Australia, but had regained some pride with convincing displays in Zimbabwe. However, when the real contest got underway they were found severely lacking. Save for one inspired batting performance they were poor in the one-dayers and went down 4-1, and things did not get much better as South Africa won both Tests convincingly. Once again the Pakistan camp was split throughout, with Wasim Akram, predictably, at the heart of things. Shoaib Akhtar withdrew from the first Test through injury and subsequently threw himself with gusto into the Durban nightlife, epitomising the prevailing attitude of the tourists, and the captain Waqar Younis appeared to have little hope of changing things around. South Africa profited from the Pakistanis decision to enter both Tests with just three bowlers and an allrounder, racking up 368 at Durban and 620 at Cape Town to gain a firm grip on each match that they never looked likely to relinquish. Pakistan pleaded exhaustion, while the result moved South Africa above Australia to the top of the ICC Test rankings, an outcome that appeared farcical in the wake of their comprehensive defeats at home and away to the Australians the previous year.
Tests: South Africa 2 Pakistan 0
ODIs: South Africa 4 Pakistan 12003-04 in Pakistan
Wisden report | Cricinfo site
When a bomb exploded in Karachi 48 hours before South Africa were due to arrive it looked like the tour was a non-starter. However, the discovery that the explosion was gang-related and had nothing to do with terrorism made the United Cricket Board of South Africa’s decision to cancel the tour look unnecessarily hasty. Inevitably, after much wrangling, the tour went ahead after all, albeit with an altered schedule that saw two Tests played instead of three and a further two one-day internationals added. On the pitch controversy was never far away either. Andrew Hall was banned after getting unnecessarily physical in the ODIs while his captain Graeme Smith was also punished. South Africa hit back, accusing Shoaib Akhtar of verbally abusing Paul Adams in the first Test. Akhtar was suspended and honours were even on that score, but the atmosphere between the two teams did not recover as the remainder of the series was played out in near silence, with players straining to steer clear of trouble. Pakistan won the series 1-0, with the pace of Akhtar and 99 from Asim Kamal on debut guiding them to victory in the first Test at Faisalabad. The second Test was drawn, with South Africa once more left to rue costly dropped catches as Pakistan clung on. It capped a disappointing tour for the South Africans, who appeared to have little stomach for the trip after a gruelling tour of England and for whom further contests with the West Indies and New Zealand lay in store. They did have the consolation of victory in the one-day series, but Pakistan’s greater firepower proved decisive in the longer game.
Tests: Pakistan 1 South Africa 0
ODIs: Pakistan 2 South Africa 32006-07 in South Africa
Cricinfo site
South Africa, fresh from beating India 2-1, were thoroughly tested at home by a strong Pakistan side before winning by the same margin. The tourists initially left out Shoaib Akhtar, ostensibly on fitness grounds – and allegedly due to a strained relationship with captain Inzamam-ul-Haq – but recalled him three days before the series began as Umar Gul pulled out with an ankle injury.Makhaya Ntini and Mohammad Asif ran through each others’ batting line-ups in the first Test at Centurion, but Ashwell Prince and Herschelle Gibbs’ 213-run fifth-wicket stand ensured South Africa edged ahead. Paul Harris’ four wickets left the hosts with less than 200 to get, which they chased down comfortably. The one black spot was a two-match ban for Gibbs, on grounds of racial abuse during an altercation with spectators. Pakistan fought back in Port Elizabeth, a lethal Shoaib ripping apart South Africa – and then joining Gul on the injury list with a hamstring problem – before Ntini replied in kind, but Inzamam made the difference with an imperious unbeaten 92 at No. 8. Asif and Danish Kaneria ensured Pakistan would also chase under 200, which they did, after a few flutters. Inzamam hailed the win as his best. In the decisive Cape Town Test, Pakistan’s batting failed twice despite Mohammad Yousuf’s induction; the South Africans followed suit in the first innings, and threatened to implode again at 39 for 4, before Jacques Kallis and Prince gave them a second series win in under a month.South Africa’s bowlers, led by Shaun Pollock and Ntini, helped them to an emphatic 3-1 result in the ODI series as Pakistan collapsed in the last two matches.Tests: South Africa 2 Pakistan 1
ODIs: South Africa 3 Pakistan 1

Pakistan’s continuing problems with openers has meant that for Imran Nazir, the door for a return, remains wide open. Poor form and injury has kept Nazir out of the Pakistan Test side for four years, while his last ODI appearance was over two years ago.A typically rampaging hundred against Uttar Pradesh in the ongoing Mohammad Nisar Trophy for Sialkot comes conveniently timed and on a suitably big stage. And though upstaged by the likes of Mohammed Hafeez, Imran Farhat and Salman Butt, Nazir is still hopeful of a comeback.”I want to return to the Pakistan team for both ODIs and Tests. I am doing well at the moment and it all depends on the selectors,” Nazir told PTI in Dharamshala. “I was out of action for a year with a fracture in the right shoulder. I did a lot of training and physiotherapy to recuperate from that injury. Now I am perfectly fine and playing well.”Nazir could get his chance in the Champions Trophy in India, after Wasim Bari, the Pakistan chairman of selectors, stated that he was being considered as a replacement for Inzamam-ul-Haq. Inzamam has been banned for four ODIs for bringing the Oval Test against England into disrepute due to ball-tampering allegations.”Imran has a chance of being selected because he is a brilliant fielder and very energetic as a batsman,” Bari said. “But it is also a fact that he is an opener while Inzamam is a middle-order batsman.” However, Nazir was not a part of the 30-man probables squad for the tournament and Bari added that his selection would require permission from the ICC. Younis Khan, the Pakistan captain, would be consulted regarding the replacements.Nazir is leading Sialkot in the four-day Nissar Trophy match and has played just eight Tests and 61 ODIs since his debut for Pakistan in 1999. But he has been undone on occasion as much by his own rashness, though he is hardly alone among Pakistan openers recently in that trait.”People say that (I am prone to playing rash shots) about me. But, I am confident about myself. What I need to do is keep performing consistently because that’s what is in my hands.”Nazir added he was enjoying the experience of being in Dharamshala. “I am enjoying very much playing at such a unique place like this. The mountains and the ground are beautiful. I went around the place last night, it was a good feeling.” A better feeling no doubt would be a recall to the Pakistan side.

James Faulkner predicts more feats of run scoring and further sobering times for bowlers in the second ODI between Australia and India at the Gabba, even though playing conditions have actually eased in favour of the fielding sides since last year’s World Cup.Batting Powerplays were abolished three months after Australia’s players lifted the trophy at the MCG last March, but a preponderance of flat pitches, spring-loaded bats and powerful hitters mean that scoring has been only subtly affected by the change.Faulkner pointed out that the Gabba shared the WACA’s tendencies for fast scoring in ODIs, and expected something similar to the series opener when Australia reeled in India’s 309 with something in reserve, on a surface affording less assistance to the bowlers than the hosts had expected.”Everyone was quite surprised by the way the wicket played in Perth, it was very flat and we saw a lot of runs scored. I think any time you see 300 scored and chased it’s definitely a flat wicket,” he said in Brisbane. “I’m expecting the same sort of scenario here as well, I haven’t seen a one-day wicket that hasn’t been flat here for a fair while, so it should have good pace, carry and be a good contest again.”In general it’s a tough gig bowling in Perth and here. Runs can be scored so fast due to the pace on the ball, change-ups don’t grip as much as other grounds like the MCG and Canberra that we’ll see later in the series. Everyone got hit the other day so I don’t think you can single out one or two bowlers.”Commenting on the removal of the Powerplay, Faulkner said the ability of the fielding side to post five boundary riders was a relief. He also felt it meant that batsmen were less likely to contrive their innings by playing within themselves before the chance to hit into unmanned expanses of the outfield caused them to switch to and overtly aggressive posture.”I did notice a change,” he said. “The big change was the overs leading into the old Powerplay where batters tended to milk it around and stay in and then use that as a launching pad. That was a dangerous time for any team batting, if you lost a wicket before that five-over period it could really halt your momentum.”Likewise if you didn’t lose a wicket you could really set up a big total. I like the new rules, it goes back to five in the last 10 and it’s still a massive challenge for the bowlers, but it’s a bit more normal instead of players milking it around before.”While admitting he was trying to “avoid” taking in too much of the Big Bash League while on Australian duty, Faulkner indicated that Australia’s players felt no more pressure to be entertainers than they usually are under their coach Darren Lehmann’s desire for attractive cricket.”Every time you go onto the ground you try to entertain, I don’t think you specifically go out there and think ‘I want to put on a show’, it’s more worrying about what you can do to contribute to the team,” Faulkner said. “The revolution in T20 cricket and how successful the Big Bash has been this season with the crowd numbers that have attended and also on TV, it’s only going to get bigger.”It’s an exciting time for cricket in general, you’re seeing a lot more high scores in the one-day format as well. That’s entertaining enough.”

Amazing acts of individual brilliance have sometimes decided the outcome of Cup finals, and three breathtaking moments of magic from Shawn Findlay effectively settled the KFC Cup final last night.

As a result, Jamaica’s long wait for regional limited-overs glory is over, triggering emotional celebrations that included a spontaneous rendition of their national anthem moments after the mission was accomplished at 9.20pm.Under lights at the 3Ws Oval before an appreciative crowd, Jamaica won an absorbing duel against dethroned champions Trinidad and Tobago by 28 runs in a match in which Findlay’s sensational triple-play in the field proved decisive.As Trinidad and Tobago were trying to keep hope alive in pursuit of 231 from 50 overs, Findlay produced magic at critical times to help limit the men from the Land Of The Hummingbird to 202 in 49.3 overs.Daren Ganga’s men were just about starting to recover from the early discomfort of 36 for three in a fourth-wicket partnership of 43 between the solid Lendl Simmons and the potential big-hitter Kieron Pollard when Findlay intervened.Spectators at long-off were scampering for cover when Pollard launched into a drive against medium-pacer Brendan Nash that seemed headed for six, but were stunned to see Findlay leap to clutch in a spectacular left-handed catch.It was almost unbelievable. It was out of the top drawer. It was one of the finest ever in regional cricket. More was to come. With Simmons on 64 and a lot depending on him, he was prised out required confirmation from the television replay umpire.It left Trinidad and Tobago 130 for 5 in the 31st over and the match still delicately poised, but Jamaica refused to let up and went on to claim their first regional limited-overs success since 1999.Denesh Ramdin tried his best to rally the effort for Trinidad and Tobago, but when he was caught at extra-cover for 48 in the 42nd over, the match was as good as over. Findlay’s third piece of magic was late in the piece, a wonderful diving catch running in from the cover boundary in which the ball was taken inches off the turf as he dived forward.Jamaica owed their early inroads to incisive fast bowling from their West Indies combination of Jerome Taylor and Daren Powell, who combined to claim the first three wickets, including Trinidad and Tobago’s two most reliable batsmen at this level, Ganga and Dwayne Bravo.Taylor started things by removing Mario Belcon, who was an lbw victim playing across the line, in very much the same way Powell accounted for Bravo for a first-ball duck. In between, Taylor took care of Ganga, whose unconvincing attempt to hook ended up in a catch to the keeper. Twice, Taylor and Powell knocked batsmen on the helmet and their early impact was just as crucial as Findlay’s contribution.The two fast bowlers were earlier part of Jamaica’s rally at a time when Trinidad and Tobago might have been fancying their chances of restricting Jamaica to a total of less than 200. It was somewhat of a surprise that Trinidad and Tobago chose to field first and their decision seemed to be paying off when Jamaica were 167 for 7 in the 42nd over, subsiding to a quick three-wicket burst from leg-spinner Samuel Badree, after off-spinner Sherwin Ganga, who also took three wickets, stemmed the early flow of runs.Brenton Parchment provided the early impetus with 52 off 67 balls, but after Jamaica ran into the trouble they required important runs from the lower half which was getting a chance to bat for the first time in the competition. Danza Hyatt, who batted at No. 5, made 28 and there were also useful runs from Carlton Baugh (25), Nikita Miller (26), Powell (20) and Taylor (18).

Delhi consolidated their position over Hyderabad thanks to an unbeatenhundred by Shikhar Dhawan, in the three day Vijay Merchant Trophy(under-16) semifinal at the Calcutta Cricket and Football Ground onWednesday. Delhi were 277/5 at the close of play in reply to Hyderabad’sfirst innings score of 139 all out.Resuming at 58 for no loss Delhi found themselves in a spot of bother,thanks to some tight bowling. Without a run for the first 38 balls, Delhilost opening batsman PP Singh for 35. MP Arjun, who claimed Singh’s wicket,went on to trap Aditya Jain LBW for 8. Delhi were 67/2 at that stage.Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan was joined in the middle by Himansu Mehtaand they carried Delhi past the first innings score of Hyderabad with apartnership of 76 runs. Delhi were 143 when they lost Mehta for 36, AmolShinde accounting for that dismissal. Mehta hit 5 boundaries and a six inhis 101 ball innings. Shinde soon sent back the new batsman Abhishek Nagfor just one run, trapped in front.It was then Dhawan decided to bloom. He was in a punishing mood, smashingthe ball for 18 boundaries to reach his well deserved hundred off 304balls. Rawat was the fifth batsman to be dismissed for 17, Absolom beingthe bowler. At close of play Dhawan was going strong with an unbeaten 136off 370 deliveries. He has already hit 25 boundaries in his marathoninnings off 7 hours and 36 minutes. Giving him company is Sumit Kapoor on 10.

Scorecard

Sri Lanka A raced to 170 for 4 in just 36.3 overs before rain caused play to be abandoned on the final day of their game against the Bangladeshis at the Colts Cricket Club ground in Colombo.After the Bangladeshis declared on their overnight score of 245 for 8, the Sri Lankan openers, Michael Vandort and Mahela Udawatte, put up a brisk 61-run partnership. Vandort celebrated his recall to the national team with an aggressive knock of 38, including five boundaries, before Syed Rasel had him caught behind.The loss of Vandort didn’t slow down Udawatte, who helped himself to a run-a-ball half century. He reached the milestone in style by hitting Abdur Razzak for a six and a four off consecutive deliveries. However, Razzak got his revenge as he bowled Udawatte in the same over. Three overs later, Shakib al Hasan dismissed former Test player Thilan Samaraweera leaving two new batsmen at the crease. After this, the Bangladeshi spinners managed to keep the Sri Lankans quiet until rain curtailed play for the second consecutive day.Mohammad Sharif was the most impressive Bangladeshi bowler on display and managed to stifle the Sri Lankans when they were on the attack. The opening pair of Rasel and Shahadat Hossain looked toothless against the rampaging Sri Lankan top order.The Bangladeshis will be disappointed by the amount of time lost due to rain, as they wanted to use this game to gauge their backup bowling for the upcoming Test series. The first Test starts on Monday at the Sinhalese Sports club ground in Colombo.