Race tight for Cobras and Warriors

The Warriors and Cape Cobras remain in a tight race for the South African first-class title with just 0.18 of a point separating them at the top of the table.

Warriors franchise kept themselves within touching distance of the table-topping Cobras with a 10-wicket win over the Knights in Bloemfontein while the Cobras were defeated for a second successive week. A thriller in Cape Town saw them lose by 15 runs to the Dolphins. The other team in contention for the title, the Lions, will take their contest against the Titans into a fourth day with bad weather in Johannesburg threatening to wash out the fixture.

Interestingly, both today's results saw a bowler from South Africa's most recent emerging squad take eight wickets in an innings. Kyle Abbott did it for the Dolphins to take his match haul to 12 while Andrew Birch was the Warriors destroyer. There was only one century scored across the matches, Rillee Rossouw's 100 in the Knights losing cause.

Rossouw's innings was much needed, after the Knights slumped to 21 for 3, having opted to bat first against the Warriors. Gurshwin Rabie took two of three early wickets to fall, including that of Test batsman Dean Elgar, who made 4. Rabie returned to remove Ryan Bailey and Obus Pienaar even as the Knights recovery had barely got underway.

Lower-order partnerships of 58 for the eighth wickets and 64 for the ninth, largely thanks to Dillon du Preez's aggressive 88 saw the Knights bowled out for a fairly competitive 268. A dream start saw the Knights reduce the Warriors to 36 for 2 but contributions from Arno Jacobs (40), Ashwell Prince (37) and Vuyisa Makhapela (35) followed by the only half-century of the Warriors innings, 50 from Simon Harmer helped them take a slender 13-run lead.

Birch made it count for much more as he sliced through the Knights in the second innings. He singlehandedly reduced them to 22 for 4 before Harmer took the fifth wicket. Elgar's 34 was the top-score and one off just three that went into double figures. The Knights were skittled for 106 and the Warriors required 94 runs to win.

They polished off the target inside 14 overs to show the surface was no demon. Michael Price was unbeaten on 48 while Davy Jacobs finished 44 not out in one-day fashion, off 35 balls. The victory puts the Warriors on 92 points and in firm contention to win their maiden first-class trophy since the franchise system started in 2004-05.

The Cobras have been frequent recipients of the title and would have thought they could open a gap against the chasing pack when they bowled the Dolphins out for 174. Divan van Wyk's 92 was the only score of substance as the Dolphins registered seven single figure scores. Beuran Hendricks' five-for was the main protagonist in the Dolphins demise but they responded well to their below-par performance.

Andrew Puttick was caught behind with the score on 21 but Alistair Gray and Stiaan van Zyl's 51-run second wicket stand seemed to steady the Cobras. When van Zyl was dismissed with the score on 112, the Dolphins bowlers sensed an opening. They hunted as a pack and took seven wickets for 94 runs to ensure the Cobras lead was only 32 runs.

The Dolphins began woefully in the second innings. At 57 for 5 it seemed they had learnt nothing from their first knock but Jonathan Vandiar's 78 combined with three scores in the twenties from the lower order gave them a fighting chance. The Cobras were set 183 to win, a chase they would have fancied.

Abbott had other ideas, though. He and his new-ball partner, Mthokozisi Shezi, got rid of the Cobras openers but then van Zyl and Justin Ontong put on 55 for the third wicket. At 71 for 2, the Cobras were well set. But Abbott took three quick wickets, including two in the same over, to put the Dolphins back in the frame with the Cobras on 82 for 5.

Justin Kemp scored 29, Johann Louw 16 and Dane Piedt 20 to push the Cobras ever closer but all of them failed to take their side over the line. When the ninth wicket fell, the Cobras needed 17 runs to win but Abbott plucked the last man four balls later to cap off a thrilling win for the Dolphins.

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Dhaka seal second straight win

Dhaka Gladiators 202 for 5 (Ashraful 73, Nasir 1-25) beat Rangpur Riders 167 for 4 (Nasir 80, Shakib 2-17) by 35 runs Scorecard

Dhaka Gladiators made it two wins out of two after another comfortable win, this time beating newcomers Rangpur Riders by 35 runs. Mohammad Ashraful played like the old, carefree approach he's been known for with a 47-ball 73. He struck the ball sweetly to set up the win, as Riders couldn't do enough to reach the target that had a required rate of more than 10 an over.

Nasir Hossain and Niall O'Brien steadied the Riders' innings after they lost three early wickets by the sixth over, which included the wicket of Kevin O'Brien. They added 118 runs for the fourth wicket, the first century partnership of the tournament. A confident Nasir struck half a dozen sixes and five boundaries in his 49-ball 80 which kept the small crowd entertained. He had support from Niall who didn't contribute a boundary during the partnership, but fed him the strike regularly. He ended up with an unbeaten 40 off 35 balls with a solitary boundary.

Earlier, Ashraful began his innings by playing second fiddle to Luke Wright, Dhaka's latest arrival from the Big Bash League. Wright looked set for a big innings but mistimed left-arm spinner Amit Kumar in the fifth over. The former Bangladesh captain then dominated the second-wicket stand, worth 57 runs, with Anamul Haque as he reached a half-century off 30 balls.

Shakib Al Hasan came and went after hitting a six and a four, after which Ashraful and Owais Shah added 36 runs for the fourth wicket. Ashraful, with eight fours and three sixes, dictated the Riders bowling attack that lacked the pace to unnerve him, but it was the final push from Shah and Joshua Cobb that got Gladiators to their second score of over 200 runs. The pair added 54 off just 25 balls, with excellent running and good hitting from Cobb who struck two fours and two sixes in his 17-ball 34.

Riders bowled poorly, despite their local experience in the form of Tapash Baisya, Mohammad Sharif and captain Abdur Razzak, though it was Nasir Hossain's tidy off-breaks that gave away least runs in the innings.

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SuperSport to investigate cause for blackout

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has apologised for the worldwide break in transmission during the ODI between South Africa and New Zealand in Paarl but does not have an explanation for the blackout. Instead, host broadcaster SuperSport International will investigate the reasons and report back to CSA as soon as possible.

"The loss of transmission was due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of CSA," the organisation said in a statement. "The matter is currently being addressed by our host broadcaster to avoid a repetition of what transpired. SuperSport International will investigate the matter and furnish CSA with a detailed report."

Television coverage was first interrupted after 7.1 overs and repeated breaks accompanied by a power cut punctuated the first 25 overs of New Zealand's innings. A source at the ground told ESPNCricinfo that the initial problem was caused by the broadcaster's generator malfunctioning.

The subsequent electricity outage occurred because when the broadcaster allegedly attempted to use stadium power whose capacity was quickly exhausted, according to the source. The entire media centre operated in the dark for a period of time. SuperSport told ESPNcrinfo that while they are waiting for a detailed report from people in the outside broadcast facilities they understand the power cut at the stadium came first and then a technical problem in the van. They also apologised for the interruption.

It was during the power cut that Brendon McCullum was given out lbw off Rory Kleinveldt's bowling. The delivery struck him on the back foot, after angling in. McCullum spoke to the on-field umpire about referring the decision as New Zealand still had their review in hand.

McCullum was then informed DRS could not be called upon because there was no electricity. CSA said all relevant parties were informed that the technology could not be used until the problem had been rectified. "During the break in transmission no DRS was available to be utilised by the match officials and the umpires did inform the players on field as such," their statement read.

Repeated cuts followed before the situation stabilised in the second half of New Zealand's innings. Paarl is not the only ground to have been affected by power cuts this summer. The Twenty20 against New Zealand on December 23 in East London was interrupted when one of the floodlight pylons stopped working.

Both venues are regarded as "smaller grounds," a definition imposed on them because they are unlikely to host Test matches (although Buffalo Park has done so in the past against Bangladesh) and they are on a rotation system to host other internationals. With CSA's aim to spread the game throughout the country, both have hosted matches for a second successive summer but problems like these may put that status at risk.

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Mashonaland Eagles win rain-hit final

Mashonaland Eagles 222 (Utseya 53, Meth 3-54) beat Matabeleland Tuskers 203 for 8 (Ewing 94, Utseya 3-41) by five runs (D/L method)
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

An all-round performance by offspinner Prosper Utseya helped Mashonaland Eagles beat Matabeleland Tuskers by five runs to win the Pro50 Championship final in Bulawayo, in a match that was repeatedly interrupted by rain. The result was decided via the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Tuskers, who won the toss and elected to bowl, kept Eagles' innings in check with regular breakthroughs. While most of the middle order got starts, Utseya, coming in to bat at No. 7, was the only batsman to reach 50. He was given out obstructing the field as Eagles were kept to 222 in 49.1 overs.

Tuskers looked to be in control of the chase, in spite of several rain interruptions, as the opening pair of Gavin Ewing and Brian Chari added 138 runs. They began sedately but solidly, and launched later when the rain seemed like it would be an issue. However, wickets then began to tumble and apart from a late charge from Charles Coventry, none of the other Tuskers batsmen could make substantial contributions. Tuskers needed 23 runs from 18 balls, before rain interrupted their chase yet again and the D/L method came into play.

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Selection panel not only for former players

Following a week of mudslinging over Zimbabwe's Sports and Recreation Commission's (SRC) new directive governing selection committees, the mandate is set to be amended to include a minority of non ex-players. Initially, the policy said only former internationals could sit on the selection panel of all sports organisations, a suggestion which was greeted with great furore by Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) in particular.

The revised order will mean most recent convenor of selectors Givemore Makoni could continue as a selector although he will not be able to chair it. It will also allow ZC to appoint a coach who is not a former national player and the new coach can also sit on the selection panel.

"The SRC stated that we would consider suggestions from any national sports associations to refine and improve the directive," David Coltart, Zimbabwe's minister of education, sport, arts and culture, told ESPNcricinfo. "The principle issue remains binding and the majority of selectors and the chair have to be ex-national players."

Changes to the directive are expected to be announced in the next week and it is due to come into effect on February 1. ZC is the body most likely to appreciate the loosening of the provisio because of the impact it will have on the appointment of a new national coach. Historically, Zimbabwe's national cricket coach has not been a selector and only advised the panel but in October last year ZC changed that. The coach now acts as a selector as well which meant that if the directive remained as it was originally written, ZC would have had to appoint a former player as the coach because he would also have had to operate as a selector.

That would have had the most obvious effect on current assistant coach Stephen Mangongo, who is one of three applicants in line to replace current coach, Alan Butcher. Zimbabwe's tour to West Indies, which starts next month and ends on March 24, will be Butcher's last in charge because he has opted not to renew his contract. Mangongo, current batting coach Grant Flower and bowling coach Heath Streak have all put their names in the hat to be appointed to the main job.

Mangongo is the only one who has not played for Zimbabwe and the only black African of the three. His exclusion as coach because of the requirement that he would also have had to be a selector was labelled "racist," by Makoni.

Coltart denied any agenda to exclude black Zimbabweans from positions of power in sport. He also appears mindful of the consequences the initial directive could have on those who were denied opportunity to play international sport because of racial prejudices in the past.

Makoni, who was set to lose his post on the selection panel, will now also be eligible for it provided he is part of a minority of non ex-players. Zimbabwe's last three-person selection committee comprised of Makoni, former Test player Wayne James and the late Kevin Curran. Since Curran's death, James and Butcher have been selectors although Makoni continued to have a casting vote.

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Stirling fifty sets up Sylhet win

Sylhet Royals 175 for 7 (Stirling 50, Mominul 45) beat Barisal Burners 142 for 9 (Kabir 50, Shuvo 3-23) by 33 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Paul Stirling and Mominul Haque helped Sylhet Royals to a competitive score of 175 for 7 before their bowlers put in a spirited effort to secure a 33-run win against Barisal Burners in their first game. It was an impressive start for the franchise that won just two games in the first edition of BPL.

Put in to bat first, Sylhet began at a good pace but lost Hamilton Masakadza in the fourth over when left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam had him trapped lbw for 19. Thereafter, Stirling and Mominul added 51 quickly, using the pace of the ball on most occasions to find boundaries. Stirling cracked eight fours and a six in his 29-ball half-century, backing away whenever he sought a boundary, while Mominul showcased strength in hitting three fours and a six and supported the big-hitters at the other end well.

But after the team had reached the hundred-run mark in the tenth over, the Sylhet batsmen lost their way. Kabir Ali and Alok Kapali took two wickets each, as Barisal restricted them to 175 but that total was still going to be a challenge for a team that has lost players like Kamran Akmal and Umar Gul in the mass Pakistani pull-out.

Mohammad Nabi, the Afghanistan allrounder who was acquired by Sylhet after they lost two West Indies players (Andre Russell and Tino Best), took two early wickets with his flighty offspin before the rest of the slow bowlers took over. Sohag Gazi didn't pick up a wicket but created enough pressure for the likes of Elton Chigumbura, Suhrawadi Shuvo and Bishawnath Halder to pick up cheap wickets. Ali was the only man to make some runs, hammering 50 off 21 balls with four huge sixes, before being stumped the off Shuvo. None of the other Barisal batsmen stayed at the crease long enough to have a serious go at the target.

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Warwickshire to hold second-round interviews

Warwickshire will hold second interviews for shortlisted candidates next week as they seek to fill the role of director of cricket following Ashley Giles' departure to coach the England limited-overs teams. Candidates will be expected to stage a presentation to the interview panel with the name of the successful applicant due to be announced in the week beginning January 28.

Reports that Ottis Gibson, the West Indies coach, had already been appointed to the role were premature. While ESPNcricinfo understands Gibson is among the short-listed candidates, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) remain confident of retaining his services. It is expected that his West Indies contract, which expires in a couple of months, will be discussed at the next meeting of the WICB in St Lucia next week.

Other candidates for the Warwickshire role who are expected to be interviewed for a second time in the coming days include David Parsons, the ECB performance director, Graeme Welch, Warwickshire current bowling coach, and Dougie Brown, the club's assistant coach. David Hemp, former Glamorgan and Bermuda captain and now coaching at Solihull School, is understood to not have been invited for a second interview, while Andy Moles, former Scotland, Kenya and New Zealand coach, was discounted without a first interview.

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Overburdened de Villiers abandons gloves

AB de Villiers has, for the first time, admitted being overburdened by his roles as a batsman, wicket-keeper and part of South Africa's leadership core. His acknowledgment comes after a policy change to the limited-overs squads which has seen the gloves taken away from de Villiers to allow him to focus on captaincy.

"I have always felt a bit rushed trying to captain the side and keep wicket," de Villiers said ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand in Paarl. "I will probably stand at mid-off and be able to communicate with my bowlers a lot better as well as get a better perspective of the game."

De Villiers latest statement contrasts with his assessment of his own handling of the triple task the last time South Africa played limited-overs cricket, at the World Twenty20 in September. De Villiers required three weeks rest after the tournament after he aggravated his chronic back condition during the tour of England and the ICC event.

Despite the recurrence of the injury, de Villiers insisted he was not paying the price for taking on too much. "I don't believe there is too much on my plate; I really enjoy the captaincy and batting and keeping. It's what I am going to do," he said, while even going as far as to say he would continue in all three roles irrespective of the effect it had. "If I miss out on a year of my career, so be it."

Since that tournament, de Villiers has played five Test matches for South Africa and one domestic 50-over match. De Villiers complained of a tired body after turning out for his franchise, the Titans in the one-day cup playoff. He scored a hundred in a losing cause that day but was so worn out from the cumulative effects of that match after a Test series that he to be rested from the three-match T20 series against New Zealand, a request which was granted.

In that time, de Villiers also "changed his mind," according to convenor of selectors Andrew Hudson about 'keeping at Test level. When de Villiers was required to take over from Mark Boucher in and emergency situation in England, he was reluctant to become the permanent wicket-keeper. During the third Test against Australia in Perth in early December, Hudson spoke to de Villiers again and he asked if he could continue in the role. The selection panel and team management agreed.

But de Villiers 'keeping at Test level has widespread implications beginning with his own batting. Crouching behind the stumps for extended periods seemed to hinder de Villiers ability to bat with freedom, which South Africa needs him to do. As yet, that theory has not been completely disproved. The 169 he blazed at the WACA came after he was in the field for three overs more than an ODI. Even against New Zealand, where he scored two half-centuries, periods on the park were minimal thanks to the visitor's short batting time.

It has been enough to convince the powers that be, though and de Villiers will continue as Test wicket-keeper but in order do that, he has had to give up the gloves in shorter formats. Quinton de Kock did the job in the T20s and will do in the ODIs, to allow de Villiers time to develop his leadership style, 18 months after taking over the job.

De Kock's selection is also a means to ensure de Villiers' back can be rested, although how much it will be questionable. Gary Kirsten revealed yesterday that de Villiers finds keeping in 50-overs "more intense," than in a Test. Previously de Villiers went on record saying he found it harder on his body to be in the outfield - where he will now prowl - than to keep wicket.

After the three ODIs, it may be clearer which discipline takes greater toll on de Villiers because his back can be compared to the way it felt after the World T20. Should de Villiers first guess be correct and he comes out worse, he may have to consider 'keeping again which will require another rethink of South Africa's limited-overs policy. Should he cope well with fielding again, it could open up another option for South Africa at Test level, the specialist wicket-keeper, should they require it.

As a result, the debate over South Africa's wicket-keeping options is far from closed. Life after Boucher was always going to be uncertain because of the poor planning that preceded it. Even as Boucher's form dipped, no clear attempts were made to identify or groom a successor.

At that time, de Villiers himself distanced himself from wicket-keeping permanently as he confirmed his career goal was simply to become the best batsman in the world. Recently, he has spoken of his desire to improve his wicket-keeping, to captain the side as best he can and to contribute with the bat.

To change one's mind or expand one's goals is only natural, for the administrators to accommodate that if it works with their team plans is also understandable but it all points to an obvious question that must be asked soon: when does too much room for individual flexibility cause too much disruption to the team's needs?

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Gayle to play in Caribbean T20

Chris Gayle will join the Jamaica squad in the ongoing Caribbean T20 as a replacement for the injured Andre McCarthy. Expected to fly in to St Lucia immediately, Gayle is likely to be available for selection for Jamaica's final league match against the Combined Campuses and Colleges on Friday.

Gayle's inclusion is bound to inject confidence into the Jamaicans, who are currently lying second behind table-toppers and defending champions Trinidad & Tobago, on 13 points. But their batsmen have failed to dominate, with not a single player scoring a fifty.

Gayle would also expect to set his own record for Jamaica straight: in the eight Twenty20 matches he has played for Jamaica, he has managed just 136 runs.

The explosive opener, who topped the run charts in the last two editions of the IPL with powerful batting performances, has been low on form after his below-par performances for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League. Thunder were the poorest team in the tournament, failing to notch a single win in eight matches. Gayle just got one fifty, departing the tournament with 137 runs from seven matches.

Still, an aggressive 65, including a 25-ball half-century, in the final match would have boosted his morale and that of Jamaica now.

Last month, the Jamaican selectors were forced to omit Gayle from the final squad after the batsman said he would be available in the event Thunder failed to qualify for the knockouts. According to the tournament rules, the only way Gayle could be included in the squad was a replacement for an injured player.

Currently second on the points table, Jamaica are favourites to qualify for the play-off stage when they play on Saturday.

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Lara unveiled as BPL ambassador

Brian Lara has been unveiled as the brand ambassador of Chittagong Kings for the second season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and the former West Indies batsman believes the franchise system will widen the net to find talented cricketers across the world.

He will accompany the Kings' ownership in commercial and promotional activities, but is not likely to have a coaching role. But he will be sought out by the young players in the squad for batting tips, especially the local ones who are extremely eager to have a player who scored 11,953 Test runs and 10,405 in ODIs at such close proximity.

"I love the invention of the franchise teams," Lara said. "I think it takes away a lot of control that the individual boards have. It brings about a lot of income for the players and also for the owners, and you see a lot more people coming to watch the T20 game. That in itself has a lot of benefit and goes down to the grassroots level.

"In the West Indies we found it very difficult to get teenage cricketers playing. We are now launching our own T20 franchise cricket and hopefully that will see a lot more youngsters get the opportunity to advance."

Lara has supported the similar concept in Zimbabwe, where he played a few games two years ago. He cited the example of Viv Richards, who was in Australia's Big Bash League, as a means for legends to spread the word. "As a former cricketer you want to give something back," he said. "I was in Zimbabwe a few years back and supported them in their game at the Test level and at the one-day level, I actually even played in their T20 competition.

"But it's just a matter of wanting to get back. You saw Viv Richards in Australia recently. There have been a couple of other players in the world. I am quite happy to do something like this. The younger players who are not up to their highest standards, I think I get a lot more benefit or satisfaction to helping a team that needs someone like myself."

The game will be popular, he believed, but not at the cost of other formats. "I believe now with T20 cricket, a lot more people are watching the game. Just remember, we are all entertainers," he said. "If this kind of cricket brings interest to the people, cricketers will be happy to indulge in it. Test cricket is still important, so are ODIs, but T20 should be there too because of the crowd factor."

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