Lancashire batting in question

Lancashire 77 for 6 trail Nottinghamshire 272 (Patel 93, Hales 61, Anderson 5-55) by 195 runs
Scorecard

Only 34 overs were possible on the second day of this game, but there was enough play to suggest that Lancashire's batting could be a major issue for them this season.

Lancashire were reduced to 77 for 6 by the time rain intervened, meaning they still require 46 more runs to avoid the follow-on. While conditions remain helpful for seam bowlers, this is something close to a second string attack for Nottinghamshire. Had Andre Adams, who has a calf injury, or Peter Siddle, who hopes to arrive on Tuesday having resolved his visa issues, been available, things could have been much worse for Lancashire.

This is not a new problem for them. In 2012, the year they were relegated in the County Championship, it was their batting that let them down. They passed 400 only twice in the season and only one batsman - Ashwell Prince - scored more than 700 runs. Prince was also the only man in the side to score a century at home.

So their failure to strengthen is a surprise. While the presence of Simon Katich helped them gain promotion last year - both he and Prince passed 1,000 Championship runs - there was little sign of improvement from the regular players, with no-one else reaching 750. With Katich retired, the burden on Prince who is now 36, appears excessive.

Help may be at hand. The club, keen to provide opportunities for their young batsmen, have yet to sign an overseas player and could call for reinforcements. Faf du Plessis, who made such a positive impression upon the club in his previous stint as a Kolpak registration in 2008-09, is one obvious candidate and would now be able to gain a visa as an overseas player.

But such measures tend to mask problems rather than solve them and Lancashire are, admirably, taking a longer-term view. They aim to provide room in the side for the likes of 23-year-old Luis Reece to develop into a high-quality player who could serve club and perhaps country for several years.

But, Reece apart, the lack of batsmen who have developed through the club's system is an obvious weakness and does threaten their Division One survival prospects. Karl Brown and Steven Croft, two locally developed players who were not selected for this match, do not have the first-class averages (26.32 and 31.29 respectively) to suggest they are the answer to Lancashire's problems.

Lancashire never looked likely to prosper in their first innings here. After Paul Horton, attempting to play across a full ball, was the only victim of a fine first spell from Luke Fletcher, Reece, with feet of cement, fenced at one he could have left off the decidedly slippery Harry Gurney. Andrea Agathangelou lost his off stump having left one that nipped back, before Prince was drawn into poking at one he could have left to present Jake Ball with his maiden Championship wicket. Ball, a rangy seamer, followed up with the delivery of the day, nipping back into the left-hander Luke Procter, to win a leg before decision. By the time Alex Davies' loose drive was beaten by another than nipped back, Lancashire were in something approaching disarray.

There is a little mitigation. Such early-season pitches magnify batting flaws and, had Glen Chapple and Kyle Hogg been available for Lancashire, it is likely that Nottinghamshire might have struggled to pass 200.

But take James Anderson out of this Lancashire side - and England surely will - and the county remains as overly-reliant on Chapple as it has for much of the last decade. And that, in turn, might have consequences for the coaching aspirations of Peter Moores. For while Lancashire's long-term ambitions are clearly to be applauded, it would be an odd situation whereby the ECB employed their new coach from a team struggling towards the bottom of the Championship and seemingly unable to mend a long-existing weakness.

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'Showed we could win big moments' - du Plessis

South African captains have previously returned from major tournaments red-faced. Kepler Wessels, Hansie Cronje, Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers have had to explain why the teams they led crashed out in varyingly curious or embarrassing ways.

Faf du Plessis came back rosy cheeked. Even though the group he was in charge of did not bring home the thing South African supporters wanted most - a trophy - they learned a lesson which du Plessis believes will ensure they capture a cup in the near future.

"Previously we deserved a lot of criticism we got for the way we played in big moments. But now this team has showed we can perform under high pressure," du Plessis said. "To get 170 in the semi-final after losing a wicket in the first over was a really good effort. In terms of playing big moments, this team has showed we can also do it."

South Africa's batting has been their Achilles' heel in major tournaments in the past. At the Champions Trophy last June, despite batting fairly well throughout the event, they slipped to 80 for 8 in the semi-final against England before staging a small recovery while their stumbling in their chasing a modest 222 against New Zealand in the 2011 World Cup in Dhaka remains fresh in the mind.

When du Plessis arrived at the Shere Bangla Stadium to prepare for South Africa's shootout against India, "the first thing I thought about was my scrum in the middle with the New Zealand players that day," he said. Du Plessis was involved with the run-out of AB de Villiers that derailed the chase, back in 2011, and was involved in an on-field altercation with Kyle Mills which was the first sign of South Africa's implosion.

Even though that was more three years ago and du Plessis was a relative rookie at the time, the experience was fresh in his mind. South Africa wanted to guard against the mistakes they had made that day, and their many other fluffs before the final hurdle in previous tournaments. "Because we played the first week in Chittagong, we felt very confident when we went to Dhaka," du Plessis said. "The past experience wasn't too much of a factor so I didn't feel it necessary to talk too much about it."

But when Quinton de Kock was dismissed at the end of the first over, to cap off a underwhelming showing in what du Plessis dubbed "the most pressure he has played under," South Africa could have unraveled. Du Plessis was the next man in and knew he could not repeat the 2011 episode. He built partnerships with Hashim Amla and JP Duminy and South Africa posted what he thought was a winning total.

It went wrong in the field where "too many extras," cost South Africa and although du Plessis is concerned about the wides, he does not want that to detract from the way his team defended totals in their other three matches. South Africa's matches against New Zealand, Netherlands and England went deep and they left it late to assert themselves.

That they could set themselves up for a final assault through the man du Plessis said he considers South Africa's man of the tournament, Imran Tahir, and could then close the deal with Dale Steyn represents progress for both du Plessis and coach Russell Domingo. Another South African side would not have won matches they seemed destined to lose. This one did and that experience will stand them in good stead for tournaments to come, starting with fifty-over World Cup next year.

Du Plessis is not currently part of South Africa's ODI set-up, after he was dropped ahead of the India series last December, but he hopes the door will still be open for him. He said one of the primary issues confronting the team's preparation for the tournament is squad certainty, which will largely depend on the availability of Jacques Kallis. The all-rounder remains interested in turning out at the event and will play in most of the almost 30 ODIs South Africa have planned before the competition to work on combinations.

For once, that could be the only thing South Africa have to worry about because the a lot of the extensive mental preparation they usually do would have been taken care of at this World T20. "I am very happy with the team's performances. Apart from not winning, I was really proud of how everyone performed. For me it wasn't a disappointment. We've proven to ourselves we can play in big moments," du Plessis said.

South Africa have seen first-hand that it can be done. They also watched Sri Lanka break an 18-year trophy drought to earn another title and du Plessis, in particular, was heartened by Sri Lanka's performance. "I was very happy for Sri Lanka. I thought India were too strong for them but they proved me wrong. Where Sri Lanka did well is that they restricted India's powerhouse batting," he said. "I am really happy that they also had a chance to win something." Now he will hope that South Africa, like Sri Lanka, will not have to lose in five finals before they finally win one.

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Gibson shifts focus to 2015 World Cup

West Indies coach Ottis Gibson wants his team to immediately shift gears towards the 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year following a semi-final exit which led to them relinquishing their World T20 title to eventual winners Sri Lanka. Gibson was optimistic that his team could put forth a formidable charge at another global tournament, and has urged his troops to ride the wave of their impressive T20 form over the past few months.

"I've been speaking to Richard Pybus (Director of Cricket) about getting together a core group of players to target the 50-over World Cup, getting some fitness done and making sure those guys are at the peak of their fitness," Gibson said. "All those [series] are opportunities to start to formulate a team or a squad of players that will then become the basis of the team that is likely to play in the World Cup, and get those guys playing together as often as possible.

"It would give captain [Dwayne] Bravo an opportunity to work with this group of players and get a brand of cricket that he wants to play developed and strong, so that by the time we get to the World Cup next year, the guys are ready to peak again and have a real good go at winning a world title."

Gibson added that while a 30-man preliminary squad would be chosen to groom the final team, there was a sense of urgency needed in establishing the nucleus of the team as early as possible.

"You have to look at where we are going and then you look at the people that we have in the Caribbean that are likely to succeed in those conditions and give them the opportunity to play," he said. "You will have a World Cup 30-man squad but by now there will be a core group of 15-20 players that you will be looking to choose from and give opportunities to, and whittle it down. You have to get that 15-man squad playing as much cricket together as possible and start to develop some cohesiveness.

West Indies have not won the World Cup since the first two tournaments held back in 1975 and 1979. They exited at the quarter-final stage in India three years ago, reached the Super Eights at home in 2007, and were quickly dispatched out of the first round in South Africa in 2003. Despite their indifferent form in recent World Cups, Gibson said that there was 'a hunger inside the team' following their World T20 loss, which he hoped would spur the players on.

"I think the taste of winning a world title in Sri Lanka [in 2012] has given everybody a fantastic appetite for it [winning titles]. We know what it takes, we know it's going to take a lot of hard work and commitment to the cause and that's what we are starting to see now."

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Ryan Harris given Australia A coaching role

Ryan Harris has taken an unexpected early step into coaching, having been named assistant coach of Australia A for a home series in July and August. Cricket Australia has confirmed that Harris will be the official assistant to head coach Michael di Venuto for the series against South Africa A, India A and the Cricket Australia National Performance Squad, which will take place in Darwin, Palmerston, Townsville and Brisbane.

Harris is currently recovering from knee surgery following his key role in the series win in South Africa and hopes to be available for Australia's Test series against Pakistan in October. However, the coaching opportunity with Australia A will keep Harris involved in the game during an otherwise lengthy lay-off, and he said he was excited to be given the chance.

"I certainly didn't expect or ask for this opportunity but I jumped at the chance when [CA's general manager of team performance] Pat Howard asked me," Harris told the Courier Mail. "To get this sort of position, you normally have to have been coaching for a long time so I am very fortunate.

"I am the first to admit I have got a lot to learn about being a coach. And it is not for me to go in and change things. I will just try to give the guys some advice when they need it and hopefully they can learn a bit from my experiences."

Australia's selectors have named a preliminary 21-man group for the Australia A series, including incumbent Test No.3 Alex Doolan and other fringe members of the Test squad such as Phillip Hughes, James Faulkner and Moises Henriques. The two leading wicket takers in the Sheffield Shield this summer, Steve O'Keefe and Jason Behrendorff, were named, as was the injury-prone Pat Cummins.

There was no place for Matthew Wade, who has been viewed as the backup to Brad Haddin since he was dropped from the Test team following last year's tour of India, although Tim Paine was also left out, with national selector John Inverarity declaring them both "known quantities". New South Wales gloveman Peter Nevill and Western Australia keeper Sam Whiteman were both named in the group.

"Sam Whiteman and Peter Nevill have shown excellent recent form with the gloves and the bat and thoroughly deserve the opportunity to impress at this level," Inverarity said. "Matthew Wade and Tim Paine have had considerable international experience and are well regarded known quantities. The NSP is hopeful that this international exposure with Australia A will provide Sam and Peter with invaluable experience.

"Steven O'Keefe and Cameron Boyce have performed well during the 2013-14 season and will share the spin bowling duties. Steven topped the Sheffield Shield bowling aggregate and averages with 41 wickets at less than 21 per wicket. Cameron took 26 wickets with his steadily improving legbreaks.

"The NSP is especially keen for the potential future international all-rounders, James Faulkner, Moises Henriques and Mitchell Marsh to have this opportunity to develop further and enhance their claims. Alex Doolan will be looking to build on his promising start in Test cricket and Phillip Hughes, Callum Ferguson, Chris Lynn, Tom Cooper and Peter Forrest have enjoyed productive domestic seasons and will be looking to push for higher honours.

"Mitchell Starc has recovered well from the injury which kept him out of cricket for most of the summer. He may use the Australia A program to prepare optimally for the 2014-15 season. Pat Cummins has been making pleasing progress and some appearances for Australia A will be a significant step in his return.

"Josh Hazlewood has recently taken a big step forward by taking 6-50 from 22 high quality overs in the Sheffield Shield Final at Manuka Oval in Canberra and this will give him a great deal of confidence. Jason Behrendorff and Chadd Sayers have bowled very well in Shield cricket throughout the summer. They have been prolific wicket-takers with 40 and 36 wickets respectively. Kane Richardson and Ben Cutting have established themselves as white ball prospects and will be looking to enhance their claims for selection in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup squad."

Australia A's winter begins with two four-day matches against India A in Brisbane starting from July 6, followed by a quadrangular one-day tournament in Darwin. That is followed by a pair of four-day games in Townsville against South Africa A in August.

Australia A preliminary squad Jason Behrendorff, Cameron Boyce, Tom Cooper, Pat Cummins, Ben Cutting, Alex Doolan, James Faulkner, Callum Ferguson, Peter Forrest, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Phillip Hughes, Chris Lynn, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Steve O'Keefe, Kane Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc, Cameron White, Sam Whiteman.

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Sri Lanka savour long-sought success

'Hard work, not luck, paid off' - Malinga

"There were two gentlemen who gave a lot not only to Sri Lankan cricket but to cricket as a whole. May be the Almighty wants them to win a World Cup and leave on a high. That's why He put his hand in this so that they get another match."

When Darren Sammy made this prediction at the end of the first semi-final, one felt how strongly the West Indies captain believed in destiny, particularly after a hailstorm hit the Shere Bangla National Stadium to give Sri Lanka a win through D/L, and depriving the defending champions of an assault in the last few overs.

Sri Lanka's captain Lasith Malinga said the win had nothing to do with luck, but a lot of hard work and planning which brought them the victory. Either way, destiny or not, it was down to winning the big moments, and that's where Sri Lanka stepped up.

Sammy's statement also brought to mind the sheer respect that world cricket has for Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Sammy was right in the end. Perhaps it was all meant to be, as Sri Lanka won a major tournament final, after four failed attempts in the last seven years.

Both had announced their retirement prior to the start of the World T20, drawing a bit of flak for taking away too much attention. The team however, said they wanted to win it for their two ayyas, the word for elder brother in Sinhalese. Sangakkara said that they won it for every Sri Lankan.

"It is wonderful that the side wanted to win it for us," Sangakkara said. "But there are 20 million other people to win for. It's not just about me or Mahela.

"It's about an entire squad, everyone who stands with you and behind you. We get noticed because it's our last game, but at the end of the day everyone has played a part."

Sangakkara paid tribute to everyone who supported Sri Lanka cricket, and the cricket team, through thick and thin. There have been tough moments, particularly the four tournament final defeats over the past seven years.

In 2007, they were steamrolled by Australia but the momentum was with Sri Lanka in 2009 when they lost to Pakistan in the World T20 final. In the 2011 World Cup final, they seemed to have India on the mat but were pushed out of that contest by MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir. At home, in the last World T20 final, Sri Lanka failed to chase a moderate target against West Indies.

"This is the first time I have been a part of a team that has won a World Cup," Sangakkara said. "It's hard to describe exactly what you feel, but you feel humble. You realise how difficult it is to get here, how much support you need, not just from your team-mates, but from your family, your fans, the support staff.

"You can never do anything alone. You may be the best batsman in the world or the best bowler in the world, but you can't do anything without support. At moments like this you have to look back, reflect and be thankful for that support, because without that you wouldn't be here. It's been an amazing journey. It's time to walk away, and to walk away like this is even better."

Before Sangakkara spoke, Malinga said that he backed his experienced players to come good on the big day, as he understands their ability having observed them for the past decade.

"I've played over ten years in this team, I know every single player, their ability, what they can do," Malinga said. "I enjoyed my captaincy in the last three games, I know exactly what particular players have what ability. I used that experience during my captaincy and I was successful.

"Anyone can say anything. Some say winning is luck, some say winning is talent. I really trust that we didn't have luck. We worked hard, we know our ability, we can do that, everyone is talented, that's why we won the match. I don't believe in luck."

Sangakkara, in a way, echoed Malinga's viewpoint when asked if the game of cricket had finally given back to him and Jayawardene after years of serving the game. He said it was about finally taking an opportunity.

"I don't think the game owes us, or any player, anything. Our job is to try and play it as best as we can, and walk away hopefully having made a positive impact.

"The game gives us the opportunities and it's up to us to try and take them. We had four opportunities before this, and today we took it. You need a bit of ability, luck, planning, execution. Right place, right time, right game."

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Sri Lanka's life assurance policy to the rescue again

India had no answer to the Sri Lankan bowlers at the death, particularly Lasith Malinga, whose wide yorkers were worth their weight in gold

Cullinan: SL brought out their best game on big day

At the end of the 15th over, India were 95 for 2. They had erected a platform, Virat Kohli feverishly throwing up scaffolding while Yuvraj Singh pulled on his overalls and got ready to go to work. Nuwan Kulasekara bowled the next over and Kohli rattled 14 off the first three deliveries, as India moved friskily into three figures. Keep going at that sort of rate and they would set a useful 160-odd, enough to put the pressure on to a Sri Lanka batting attack that has developed a few creaks.

Kohli finished the over on 70 from 50 balls. He would end the innings being run out for 77 from 58. The last four overs of the India innings dragged them under like a dead weight. Yuvraj never got going, and practically played a match-losing knock, as Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga and Sachithra Senanayake colluded in a T20 closing spell for the ages. Kumar Sangakkara, whose unbeaten half-century clinched the match, said he had never seen anything like it.

If Quentin Tarantino's film Deathproof was about cricket, it would star Malinga bowling the final overs. He is Sri Lanka's life assurance policy. Here he filled the 18th and 20th with yorker after yorker, mostly wide, occasionally trying to play the xylophone on the batsman's toes, all virtually unhittable. Yuvraj poked and prodded; at the other end Kohli twiddled and fumed. MS Dhoni could barely touch him, either, while two of the runs that did come at the end were byes, when even Sangakkara was foxed.

Yuvraj had already taken three balls to get off strike to Senanayake in the 17th, then Kohli was kept down to two singles from the remaining two balls. Twice Malinga sneaked dipping full-bungers past Yuvraj, as Sri Lanka ticked up the deliveries without conceding a boundary.

Malinga had the triple burden of captaincy, expectation and the memory of 2012. "Past is past," he said dismissively afterwards, when asked about the final against West Indies two years ago, when his second over was taken for 21 and his third 19. Flamed by Marlon Samuels, he ended with figures of 0 for 54. This time he was wicketless again, but not trophyless. Past is past, now.

With 12 balls to go, Kulasekara returned, changing ends. Yuvraj spooned a full toss to long-off, who must have considered whether dropping it and allowing the batsmen to run two was a better option than taking the catch. India had lost their lead balloon but the gravitational forces were by now too strong. This is supposed to be the time of the innings that bowlers lose the thread and completely unspool; instead, Kulasekara targeted the inner edge of the tramlines unerringly and tightened the game even further.

Malinga bowled a wide in the final over, almost as if out of pity. Dhoni couldn't hit the first three legitimate balls, one of which slowed down to flirt with off stump on its way through. Kohli finally managed to get on strike for the last delivery of the innings, having faced just seven of the preceding 23. No boundaries had been scored and none would be. Worse, Kohli was dismissed by a direct hit trying to squeeze one last concession out of Malinga. Four overs, 13 singles, a two, two byes, a leg bye and a wide.

Sangakkara had one word for the display: "immaculate". It denied India a score approaching competitive, somehow managing to vacuum-wrap the Man of the Tournament and neuter his team-mates. Kohli had a medal hung round his neck come the end but not the one he wanted; Yuvraj had an albatross.

"Those last four overs were immaculate," Sangakkara said, "I haven't seen four overs like that bowled to a guy on 70-something off 50 balls and to a guy like MS Dhoni who can hit any ball out of the park, for them not to be able to get bat on ball for four overs, 24 balls, that just goes to show the quality of our bowling attack and the hard work that they've done, the planning before this game and how we executed that. I think that really set up the win, chasing 130, you'd take that any day on any wicket but to restrict a side like that we needed something special and our bowlers produced it."

Faced with India's prince and one of their grand old dukes, Malinga, Kulasekara and Senanayake thought nothing of deference. Afterwards, it was Dhoni who had to pay tribute. "You should give credit to the Sri Lankan bowlers," he said. "They executed their plan brilliantly. They were looking for wide yorkers and all the balls were perfect wide yorkers. I think they only bowled one wide, other than that they were right on mark, which made it all the more difficult for our batsmen to score freely."

Two years ago in Colombo, West Indies resuscitated their chances in the latter stages to set Sri Lanka a target that was beyond their reach. This time around, fittingly, it was Malinga with the hooded cloak and scythe, and India's chances that were put to rest.

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Sri Lanka keep their emotions in check

Even at a time when yorkers were being pumped under India's bats towards the end of their innings, that Sri Lanka could fluff their lines occurred to one and all. By 10:26pm on a refreshingly cool Dhaka night however, the unease of the last seven years had flown away into the dark sky. Sri Lanka let emotions take over only in the end, as they remained true to practicality for much of the final, easing their path to a first major title win since 1996.

While much of the talk would surround Yuvraj Singh's inability and Sri Lanka's efficiency with the ball in the last four overs, the 131-run chase had "tricky" written all over it. But when you have won every crucial game in the previous ten weeks, the habit takes over.

When they lost four wickets, conventionally it should have been Angelo Mathews to walk in but Lasith Malinga decided that they should attack with Thisara Perera, and it paid off handsomely.

"That's why we always trust Thisara Perera," Malinga said after the game. "We know that we have to get 7.5. Thisara has the ability to clear the boundary, whether there are fielders there or not. That's why we wanted to send him in before Angelo. He did good for us."

Kusal Perera and Tillekaratne Dilshan went after the Indian seamers but even when they were dismissed, you somehow knew that Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene would not let this one slip out of their grasp.

The pair added only a run-a-ball 24 for the third wicket but Jayawardene's batting spoke of how calm he felt even in exceptional pressure. Sangakkara, who had made a first-ball duck in the Asia Cup final just under a month ago, kept the shape of the innings and started taking chances as soon as he realised Thisara Perera was hitting it well.

"What I did differently was that I probably watched the ball a bit better today," Sangakkara said. "I was a bit more positive. Earlier when I went in at two down, I was cautious, trying to build a partnership, not being positive and showing intent. That's something I changed today."

Malinga was pleased to see his two most experienced players ensure a smooth path, despite wickets falling at times to slow them down. He also said that the team wanted to win the game for Sangakkara and Jayawardene.

"I think Sanga has been struggling because in a few matches he didn't get runs but I am always talking with him. I know he only have to get one knock, then we will win the match. Mahela also showed his experience. We all had to do something special today, all the support staff, team members, [for these two players]. That's why we were doing our best."

Sangakkara said that he only let emotions take over after they had reduced the chase to single-digit at the start of the 18th over. "I am a great believer that if you get emotional you have to use it to your advantage. If not, then forget about being emotional.

"When we had 11 to get and I top-edged a boundary, I knew it was a couple of shots away, and with Thisara at the other end it was a done deal. That's when I thought I could show some emotion. Sometimes you have to pump yourself up to get over the line. That's what happened today."

This is perhaps what Sangakkara has learned from Bridgetown, Lord's, Mumbai and Colombo in the four finals that Sri Lanka has lost. While they were crushed by Australia's might and Pakistan's momentum in the first two finals, they had one foot in the door in the 2011 and 2012 finals against India and West Indies.

This time, they let their emotions wait and ensured their plans were fitted into the situations they faced. They had a winning feeling, having won every trophy that has come their way during this season in Bangladesh, before this final, and they applied every lesson from these months of staying together, and the seven years they were second best.

That tag can now be stripped away from their skin.

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No one will be as disappointed as Yuvraj himself - Dhoni

It was to be expected that MS Dhoni would be asked mostly about Yuvraj Singh after India's defeat in the World T20 final. Yuvraj made 11 off 21 as India never built any momentum in the middle overs to manage a below-par 130 for 4, which Sri Lanka chased down with 2.1 overs and six wickets to spare.

Did Dhoni send out any instruction to Yuvraj seeing him scratch around in the middle? "The thing is he was trying. That is the most you can do," Dhoni replied. Did Yuvraj's knock rob India of the impetus they so desperately needed at that stage? "It's a team thing, let's not talk about individuals."

When asked how disappointing it was for fans that a player of the calibre and experience of Yuvraj was not able to click, Dhoni said no one would be more gutted than the man himself tonight. "I can tell you one thing, you talk about the anger of the fans and all, you know it's always the individual who is more disappointed than the fans," Dhoni said. "As a player you go through more because you have your expectations and everything else. So I think that's not the statement you should talk about. Yes, fans get angry but you should also think about the individual.

"Nobody wants to really play bad cricket. In front of 40,000 people you don't really want to drop a catch or misfield. It's part and parcel of the game. And we have seen it happen to some of the international athletes, not just cricketers. Let's get rid of it. Yuvi tried his best, it was an off day for him, at the same time it is not easy for a batsman to go out there and start slogging."

Dhoni said that because Yuvraj, like most India batsman, was one who took some time to get going. They had batted him at No. 4 ahead of Suresh Raina and Dhoni himself. "We only have one - somebody like Suresh Raina who can go in and really start hitting from the very first ball. Most of the other batsmen like to spend a bit of time and then play the big shots. That's the reason why we want Yuvi at 4 and then Suresh Raina at 5. And also this game what happened is, two right-handers were batting at that point of time [Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli]. So you wanted a left-right combination to make it difficult for the bowlers to execute their plans. And that was the reason why we had Yuvi at 4. After that we wanted to keep a left-right combination. But the last two overs, I said let me go [ahead of Raina] and try something."

Yuvraj has lost his place in the India Test and ODI sides. In the World T20, he made 100 runs in five innings at a strike-rate of 98.03. Sixty of those 100 came in a largely inconsequential group game against Australia, when India had already qualified for the semi-finals following three successive wins. When questioned how long India would be able to retain Yuvraj in the shortest format, Dhoni said now was the not the time to speak about selection-related matters.

"Today is a big day, so let's not talk about selection because, effectively our season ends today. Now we go into the domestic cricket with the IPL. So let's not talk about selection as of now, we'll see when it comes."

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Tsvanhu five routs Tuskers for 63

Mountaineers lifted themselves off the bottom of the table with a six-wicket victory after skittling Matabeleland Tuskers for 63 in under 20 overs in Mutare. The start had been delayed by rain and another interruption trimmed the match to 37 overs per side, but Tuskers barely managed half those overs. Prosper Tsvanhu claimed 5 for 14, his maiden one-day five-wicket haul, having begun in style by claiming three wickets his opening over to leave Tuskers 41 for 6. An opening stand of 42 did most of the work in the chase and although Mountaineers lost four quick wickets they had nearly 22 overs to spare in the end.

A century by Sikandar Raza took Mashonaland Eagles to 298, setting up their 104 run win against Southern Rocks at the Harare Sports Club. Raza walked in after the Eagles lost their second wicket at 53 in the 15th over. He added 53 with Nick Welch, who scored a quick 32. The biggest partnership of the innings, and the match, was 106 for the fourth wicket between Raza and Regis Chakabva. After Chakabva fell in the 40th over, Raza continued his onslaught. He fell five overs later, hitting 130 off just 106 balls, with 11 fours and four sixes. Trevor Garwe took 3 for 55 while Luke Jongwe took two wickets but leaked 71 off nine overs. The Rocks openers added 40 but the rest failed to put on substantial partnerships, in the face of a tall target. Tinotenda Mutombodzi and Brighton Mugochi took three wickets apiece to stifle the Rocks. Jongwe top scored with 56 off 52 balls and when he fell, Rocks were 178 for 7 in the 38th over. The Eagles wrapped it up four overs later and recorded their fourth win and they are now second place, behind Rocks who are just a point ahead.

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Dhoni shuts out off-field issues

MS Dhoni is into his seventh year as India captain. It all started for him with the 2007 World T20, and for the first time after that, India are in the final of another edition of the tournament. In this time, Dhoni has seen "almost everything" there is to see in the game. He, as well as India, have been through on-field transition as well as off-field controversy.

The latter word just refuses to leave Indian cricket alone, and brings additional pressure with it. Somehow, Dhoni and his men have managed to win a Champions Trophy surrounded by IPL-related controversy, and could hold all three major limited-overs titles if they beat Sri Lanka on Sunday, again amid the grip of similar controversy. As he stood on the cusp of another major triumph, Dhoni said that through his tenure, he had tried to control what he could while trying to ignore anything beyond that domain.

"Over the years that I have been the captain I have seen almost everything," Dhoni said. "There is nothing really that I have not seen in cricket. We have Indian cricket perform at their best and at the same time we had to go through a lean patch where we had really tough times. Controversies are big part of Indian cricket and I have been through all it. There's hardly any good or bad in Indian cricket that happens without my name. We have to go through everything but the good thing is we have to concentrate on the process more.

"I know there are certain things that are in my control. I look to move in that direction rather than thinking or living a thought that's beyond my control and that has really helped me. It's been an interesting time, ups and downs. That's all it's all about - in international sport it doesn't matter which game you are playing. It has taught me a lot and it's still a learning curve for me and hopefully it will teach me many more in coming life after cricket."

When asked how his leadership had changed over these years, Dhoni said that was for watchers to judge, but added that he had tried to own up to his mistakes every time. "That's not really for me to decide because from outside, you can judge it better than me. Of course, I take it as a job and responsibility, I have been given the responsibility and I try to fulfil it to the best potential that I have got.

"At the same time, as an individual, you will make mistakes and as a captain. I feel it is very important that if you commit a mistake, you go out there and admit it because it won't always go your way because the captain, almost 98% of the time, decides on something but it is somebody else who has to fulfil the job. Ultimately, it depends on the person and how he responds to the situation. You try to be honest to yourself, you read the game and decide something. If it doesn't work, you stand up and take the responsibility because that's what your job needs you to do."

India have won three major finals under Dhoni, at the 2007 World T20, the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. Was it that he was able to step up his leadership when it came to ICC tournaments? Dhoni did not think so, preferring to give credit to his players instead.

"Not really. I think the players have responded really well. If you talk about this tournament, your spinners have come into action. They got a bit of purchase off the wicket and they made sure that they capitalised on that. That's what the team environment is all about.

"When the fast bowlers have conditions that are in favour of them, then they have to deliver and when it is not in favour of them, when you are playing on flat wickets but it has a bit of turn, then the spinners have to come into action and I felt in this tournament, the spinners have done a fantastic job.

"Depending on different games, all of them have contributed, even the part-timers, somebody like Suresh Raina has bowled really well whenever we have needed him. Overall it is a perfect team environment where somebody needs to do the job and there have been individuals who rose to the occasion and said I will be the person who will take the responsibility."

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