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Now that the emotional tide has settled somewhat, both Pakistan and Zimbabwe will feel they can get down to business

The Preview by Firdose Moonda23-May-2015Match factsSunday, May 24, 2015
Start time 1900 local (1400GMT)Big pictureSomething would have seemed amiss had the first match of Pakistan’s return home ended in anything other than victory for them. They chased down 173 to put cricket at the forefront of a series threatened to be swept up in sentiment. Now that the emotional tide has settled somewhat, both teams will feel they can get down to business.For Pakistan, it will be finding consistency in the bowling attack and solidity in the middle order, which they will ultimately hope will lead to securing a trophy at home. Wahab Riaz’s waywardness will be an area of concern, especially if the third seamer is as expensive as Bilawal Bhatti was in the first match. While Pakistan will be pleased with the way Mukhtar Ahmed partnered Ahmed Shehzad, they will also want runs from the senior men Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik.For Zimbabwe, it will be building up the confidence to press home any advantage they may get and square a series to set themselves up for the ODIs. Zimbabwe are equally as unused to being ahead of the game as they are to playing in front of massive crowds and the effects of that showed in the first game. After posting a decent total, their bowlers began poorly and the pressure from the partisan crowd mounted. But they will know they competed deep into the game and will now want to take that one step further by ending up on the right side of the result.Form guidePakistan WLLWL (last five matches, most recent first)
Zimbabwe LWWLLIn the spotlightIt’s difficult to imagine Shahid Afridi overwhelmed but he appeared exactly that in the way he managed his bowlers in the first match. He seemed to be rotating them on feel rather than plan but composed himself enough by the time he needed to bat and hit the winning runs to seal cricket’s comeback to his country. His home crowd will hope that the one delivery Afridi faced, which he bludgeoned over the bowler’s head, was just a taster for bigger innings.Since his second stint as captain began, Elton Chigumbura has notched up his highest ODI (90) and T20 (54) score but the increased responsibility is not the only reason for his improving form. Chigumbura has been bumped up the order to bat in the top five and spending more time at the crease seems to be paying off. Both Chigumbura’s career bests came in losing causes and the man himself has said that he would find it more rewarding if his next major contribution concludes with a victory.Elton Chigumbura has said he would find it more rewarding if his next major contribution concludes with a victory•AFPTeam newsPakistan’s victory would suggest that no changes are needed but they may want everyone in their T20 squad to get a run at home. Nauman Anwar, Mohammad Rizwan, Imad Wasim and Hammad Azam are the four members of the squad who did not play the first match and may come into contention.Pakistan: 1 Ahmed Shahzad, 2 Mukhtar Ahmed, 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Umar Akmal, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Shahid Afridi (capt), 7 Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Anwar Ali, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Mohammad Sami, 11 Bilawal BhattiAfter a spirited performance in the first match, Zimbabwe will not have much reason to change their XI, but may want to look at giving another seamer an opportunity. Tawanda Mupariwa could come in for Tinashe Panyangara while Craig Ervine could be used in the middle order in Sikandar Raza’s place.Zimbabwe: 1 Vusi Sibanda, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Charles Coventry, 4 Elton Chigumbura (capt), 5 Sean Williams, 6 Sikandar Raza/Craig Ervine, 7 Richmond Mutumbami (wk) 8 Graeme Cremer, 9 Tinashe Panyangara/Tawanda Mupariwa, 10 Chris Mpofu, 11 Brian VitoriPitch and conditionsThere will be more runs on offer on a surface that is tailor-made for big totals and that’s not the only reason the fielders will be wary. Sunday is expected to be even hotter than Friday was, with day-time temperatures reaching 44 degrees.Stats and trivia Zimbabwe have only scored more than 170 in a T20 on four occasions and only reached 200 once.. Their 172 for 6 in the first match was their fourth highest total in the format. The last time Pakistan won a T20 series of more than one match was against Zimbabwe, in August 2013. They have played four two-match T20 series since then, lost one and drawn three.Quotes”I don’t think so you will find Ajmal in near future, it’s definitely a thing which is missing.” 

Yorkshire’s worsening financial position, and the dilapidated state of Headingley, will only serve to toughen the resolve of the incoming ECB chairman, Colin Graves, to consider any option to sort out the finances of the professional game

David Hopps04-Mar-2015If Colin Graves, one of the men charged with bringing a fresh new look to England’s professional circuit, has had any fleeting doubts that an overhaul is necessary, those doubts will have been largely banished by Yorkshire’s deepening financial plight.Yorkshire won the Championship in 2014, and provided a steady stream of players for England, yet their finances remain bleak after announcing a loss of £300,000 for 2014, adding to debts already in the region of £22m.The county only survived a decade ago thanks to Graves’ financial support. Now he is in charge at the ECB, he is determined to examine all ways that can improve cricket’s popularity and relevance and put the game on a firmer financial footing.A respect for the game’s eternal verities will not be allowed to cloud the imperative for England’s professional circuit to make a stronger connection in the modern era.Although Yorkshire’s results did bring the consolation of halving the £600,000 loss the previous year, their continued financial straits are an indication of the dangers facing the English counties, where total debts are estimated around £120m. Results, though, have been mixed – Notts and Sussex have recently announced satisfactory financal figures.Without their success in producing England players, Yorkshire’s finances would have made even grimmer reading. Income from the ECB increased by £400,000 thanks in part to prize money for winning Championship and increased payments in respect of the development of England players and their representation for the national side.But international match revenue in 2014 was only £2.2m, 30 per cent of total income, slightly down on the previous year, even though the Test against Sri Lanka took place later in the year, in June, and Headingley sold out for an ODI against India in which the local favourite, Joe Root, made a match-winning century.Yorkshire, under their new chief executive, Mark Arthur, are making concerted efforts to strengthen links with the public in a county which professes to house the most committed cricket followers in the land but which seems reluctant to prove it at the turnstiles, amid grouses about high prices and the poor standard of Headingley.Despite ground improvements in the last decade, Headingley remains a work in progress and the old rugby stand could be closed for the next few years after parts of it were condemned as unsafe during a recent inspection.During the year the club received a £1m payment from the ECB which was used to repay a short term loan that was taken out in 2013 to repay £500,000 of a long-term loan from Leeds City Council loan and to fund capital projects.Paul Hudson, director of finance, claimed: “Improved results after a period of heavy financial losses.”Yorkshire are now pinning their hopes on what Hudson called “a significant investment” in the installation of permanent floodlights, which will allow NatWest Blast matches to begin at 7pm, instead of 5.30pm when the clog of the Leeds rush hour made attendance impossible for many thousands of would-be spectators. Only the Roses match, though, is a certain sell-out – and thanks to a washout in 2014 many spectators will get in for free this year.But Yorkshire spectators’ parochial disdain for England is damaging their own county to an extent many have yet to come to terms with.The second Investec Test against Sri Lanka was a compelling, fluctuating affair – Sri Lanka won when last man Jimmy Anderson was caught off the fifth ball of the last over of the final day.But even heavily reduced admission prices over the final three days – as low as £5 with free entry for juniors on the last day – could not attract more than 13,000 spectators over that period.Arthur pointed out at the time that the total aggregate attendance of 38,000 was significantly better than the 29,000 for the 2013 game against New Zealand, but revenue was down.Yorkshire have opted not to replace their 2nd X1 coach, Richard Dawson, who has joined Gloucestershire as chief coach, preferring to appoint from within.With Yorkshire in such financial disarray, and further ground improvements held at the moment at the architects’ drawing stage, no wonder that Dickie Bird, the former Test umpire, club president, and (in the Broad Acres at least) national treasure, has felt the need to offer to stump up the cost of a dressing room balcony out of his own pocket.

The Blancos, amid a testing 2017-18 campaign, are expected to overhaul their squad in the summer and will have a sizeable budget at their disposal

Galacticos of 2018?

Real Madrid are expected to spend big this summer, with a forgettable domestic campaign highlighting the flaws in a squad that swept to a La Liga and Champions League double in 2016-17. Reports suggest that the Blancos could invest as much as €600 million in fresh faces, with high-profile sales – such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Keylor Navas – helping to counter a sizable outlay and ensure the club adheres to Financial Fair Play regulations. Who, though, is on their shopping list as the next ‘Galactico’ recruitment drive at Santiago Bernabeu is pieced together?

AdvertisementGettyDavid de Gea: €130m

The Manchester United goalkeeper has been a longstanding target, with a deal almost done in the summer of 2015 only for a now-infamous fax delay to scupper a return to Spain for the former Atletico Madrid custodian.

De Gea has said of his Old Trafford future: “I don't think it's the time to start talking about the future, it's not the time to be talking contracts. Being a player and a part of this club is special, so when you get to wear the shirt, you go to away games, that's something you are always proud of and is very special.”

Getty ImagesThibaut Courtois: €100m

Amid the struggles to get an agreement in place for De Gea, Chelsea’s current number one has emerged as a possible alternative – with the former Atletico loanee having made no secret of his desire to return to Spain.

Courtois has said: “Yes, my heart is in Madrid. It is logical and understandable. If they [Real] want me, they have to contact Chelsea. We'll see. But they have not done that. What is certain is that one day I will return to Madrid.”

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Getty ImagesToby Alderweireld: €30m

Another man to have once graced the books at Real’s cross-city rivals Atletico, the Tottenham defender is now considered a realistic target as he is yet to commit to fresh terms in England and has a release clause set to kick in from 2019 if no extension is agreed.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has said of the Belgian centre-half: “Toby still has two-and-a-half years of contract. Messi was six months left on his contract. Messi! If something happens, the club is going to communicate.”

Xavi revealed his admiration for Alvaro Morata and stated that he spoke to the striker over a possible transfer to Barcelona.

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Xavi wanted Morata at BarcelonaAdmires the Spain forwardHas scored 12 goals in all competitionsWHAT HAPPENED?

The Barcelona manager confirmed that he had a chat with Atletico star Morata and wanted the player to join the Catalan club. He also revealed that he admires the Spain striker and was looking forward to welcoming him in his team but unfortunately the move never materialised.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT XAVI SAID

Speaking to reporters, the coach said: "It's true that I wanted to sign him. There was that possibility. I was talking to him and I wanted him in the team, but it couldn't happen. He's a forward that I really like. Morata is a great forward. He is a generous footballer, who works a lot for the team, he works a lot. He goes very well into spaces and helps his teams a lot. I really like him a lot. With him and with [Antoine] Griezmann, Atletico has a world-class forward line."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Catalan giants reportedly tried to sign the Spanish forward in January 2021 when he was on loan at Juventus from Atletico, according to . The former Chelsea man was not getting too many opportunities to play at the Italian club and was considering returning to his parent club before making a move to Camp Nou. The Bianconeri, though, did not want to release Morata at that point and thus a move to the Blaugrana could not take place.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR ALVARO MORATA?

The 31-year-old has had an impressive outing for Atletico in the ongoing season having scored 12 goals in 17 appearances across all competitions including seven La Liga goals which is the same as Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski. He will be next seen in action on Sunday when Diego Simeone's side lock horns against the defending champions in La Liga.

United States men's national team boss Gregg Berhalter has revealed he was "very close" to taking the Club America head coach job last summer.

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Berhalter guests on Lalas' podcastReveals he almost joined Club AmericaWas instead re-hired as USMNT bossWHAT HAPPENED?

On Alexi Lalas's podcast, where the ex-U.S. international hosted Berhalter as a guest, the USMNT boss revealed that last summer was a state of uncertainty between stints as manager. At the end of 2022, a scandal involving the Reyna family resulted in a months-long investigation into a 1992 Domestic Violence incident.

The subsequent investigation found that Berhalter was both honest and forthcoming around what happened and owned his actions. The investigation concluded that he would be available as a candidate for the USMNT job once again, and was re-hired in the Summer of 2023.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT BERHALTER SAID

“To me it was about unfinished business,” Berhalter said. “So when this opportunity [the USMNT job] came, it was something that I felt very strongly about. But in terms of Club America, it was very close. One thing I could say is it’s a really professional club, high-level club, an exciting club and [there are] really good people there. For me, it was a really good opportunity.”

The USMNT boss elaborated that the "pressure" of the job in Mexico is what enticed him, explaining: “When I was in discussions with Club America, it was really exciting to be playing under that pressure, coaching under that pressure every single week, because it’s very volatile there and it forces you as a player to really push and to be focused on performing at a really high level every game.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Berhalter was reinstated as USMNT boss and the group has since come together to qualify for the Concacaf Nations League semifinals this March and this summer's Copa America. The biggest tests of his managerial career await him, and they're both coming up fast.

It feels as thought it's win-or-nothing this March, whereas Copa America will be a true test for the 50-year-old and his squad. If they can manage to find themselves in a semifinal match this summer, it will likely be looked at as positive growth for the group.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BERHALTER AND THE USMNT?

The squad has a Concacaf Nations League semifinal against Jamaica this March to focus up on before this summer's Copa America. If they defeat the Reggae Boyz, they're then onto the final for a chance at their first trophy of 2024.

Durham stumbled to 92 for 8 – a lead of 210 – in their second innings after Chris Rushworth’s best figures had helped blow Somerset away

Les Smith at Chester-le-Street11-Apr-2013
ScorecardAlfonso Thomas took three cheap wickets in Durham’s second innings as Somerset fought back with the ball•PA PhotosThis was the kind of day that gives county cricket a good name. Strokeplay might have been in short supply, but almost every one of the 18 wickets to fall was the result of excellent seam bowling and fielding; only one player could be said to have given his wicket away and the battle between ball and bat was engrossing. Durham’s collapse to 92 for 8 – still a lead of 210 – in the latter half of day loosened their grip on proceedings but Somerset had already been undermined by then.Somerset finished their first innings 118 runs behind but Durham’s second knock was similarly afflicted, as controlled, lively seam bowling accounted for the top four batsmen for 20 runs by the 12th over. The role Graham Onions had played in the morning was replicated in the afternoon by Peter Trego. The allrounder bowled Keaton Jennings and Will Smith, and had Mark Stoneman caught behind before Alfonso Thomas wheedled out three of Durham’s middle order, including the dangerous Ben Stokes and Paul Collingwood on either side of tea.That Durham are still just about in control of the match is down to their first innings, which gained lustre overnight. They were all out off the last ball of the first day and might now reflect that 250 was not too bad a first-innings score on the opening day of the season.The inroads into the Somerset order on Thursday morning were made by Graham Onions, the leading wicket-taker in first-class cricket last summer. He last played in a Test match in June – and suffered on England’s tour of New Zealand – so will have been pleased to take the first three wickets of Durham’s season with selector James Whittaker looking on. He bowled with pace, accuracy and some hostility, and his wickets included the crucial one of Marcus Trescothick, in his third over. The majority of his peers consider Trescothick to be the best player in county cricket, and there was much jubilation when he was out.Onions’ new-ball partner was Chris Rushworth, who was wicketless in his first spell but returned before lunch and soon had Craig Kieswetter caught at first slip. He went on to take five further wickets in the afternoon session including top-scorer Jos Buttler, who, one ball after smacking a six over midwicket, played all around a straight one. Rushworth finished with career-best figures of 6 for 58 to leave Somerset 132 all out. The accuracy with which Onions and Rushworth exploited helpful conditions was indicated by six slip catches, an lbw, and a bowled.Rushworth’s career has been a curious one, the sporting equivalent of snakes and ladders. A modest ascent occurred early on when, after impressing in minor counties cricket for Northumberland, he was given a one-day debut by Durham at the age of 19. He spent the next five years back playing league cricket for his home town club in Sunderland, and in Australia during the winter. Durham kept an eye on him, though, and by 2010 had seen enough to offer him an extended opportunity at first-class level. His most significant climb came in the 2012 season, by the end of which he had taken 38 wickets and established himself as first choice to partner Onions at the start of the innings. He climbed another ladder here.

ESPNcricinfo previews the third Test between England and India as the home side aim to become No. 1

Preview by Andrew McGlashan09-Aug-2011Match FactsAugust 10-14, Edgbaston
Start time 11.00 (1000GMT)Tim Bresnan is certain to keep his place after Chris Tremlett was ruled out injured•Getty ImagesThe Big PictureIn 1981 the race riots were an undercurrent throughout a summer where England claimed a famous Ashes series victory. Thirty years later the unrest which began in London and has now spread elsewhere has overshadowed the build-up to a Test match where England can go No. 1 in the world with victory over India.The England team were locked in their hotel on Monday evening, while India were keeping tabs on the situation, but the match is expected to go ahead as planned at a new-look Edgbaston which has undergone extensive redevelopment. The hosts are a win away from taking over from India at the top spot in Test cricket and they will take some stopping in their current form.India have been a major disappointment during the opening two matches except for the herculean efforts of Rahul Dravid and occasional bursts from their pace bowlers. The batsmen have failed to reach 300 in four innings, while the support bowling for the quicks has been awful and the fielding often poor. For a side that came with such a mighty tag it has been quite a fall from grace.MS Dhoni, himself in a poor run of form, and coach Duncan Fletcher have a major challenge. They will hope the return of Virender Sehwag can provide an x-factor but he’s played hardly any cricket recently, falling for 8 against Northamptonshire over the weekend. Still, he has never been a player to value warm-up matches too highly.Despite England’s outstanding performances it is now that they could be at their most vulnerable. They have a recent track record of losing their way when a major target is there for the taking; at Headingley in 2009 and Perth in 2010 they stumbled with the Ashes up for grabs before recovering to claim the prize while last summer against Pakistan they lost at The Oval having been 2-0 up. This time they’ll be desperate not to leave the series open.Form guide (Most recent first)
England WWDDW
India LLDDWWatch out for…India have sent out their SOS – Send our Sehwag. After three months on the sidelines with a shoulder injury Virender Sehwag has returned to action although it remains to be seen how effective he can be. His shoulder is still causing trouble and he’s also suffered partial deafness. Yet he has the ability to open some old scars. His 83 off 68 balls in Chennai was the key innings in India’s successful run chase during the 2008 series against England. Sehwag is the type of batsman who can score a hundred in a session and give a struggling team belief. Still, it’s asking a huge amount of one cricketer.Another batsman returning to Test cricket, although under different circumstances, is Ravi Bopara. However, with Jonathan Trott unlikely to be absent for long it is set to be a one-off chance for Bopara to show his game has matured to make him a viable option in the Test team. He’ll slot in at No. 6, a more natural position than No. 3 where Australia found him out, but still needs to convince he has the technique and temperament for the top level. However, having narrowly missed out to Eoin Morgan earlier in the summer he knows he’s still the next in line.Team newsWith Trott and Chris Tremlett ruled out England don’t face any last-minute selection issues. Steven Finn is part of the squad but won’t keep out Tim Bresnan after his outstanding display at Trent Bridge. Bopara is likely to bat at No. 6 on his Test return which means Morgan moving up one spot.England (probable): 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Ian Bell, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Ravi Bopara, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Graeme Swann, 11 James Anderson.India know they’ll be without Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh for the rest of the tour, but will at least be able to welcome back Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir to strengthen the batting and allow everyone to play in their usual positions. Given Suresh Raina’s problems against the short ball Virat Kohli, who replaced Yuvraj, may be considered while Amit Mishra is still favourite to come in for Harbhajan despite talk of a four-man pace attack.India (probable): 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Gautam Gambhir, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 VVS Laxman, 6 Suresh Raina, 7 MS Dhoni (c) (wk), 8 Amit Mishra, 9 Praveen Kumar, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Sreesanth.Pitch and conditionsThe surface was very green in the days leading up to the game and although some grass will be taken off there should still be plenty to encourage the seamers. However, Steve Rouse, the Edgbaston groundsman, said there won’t be much pace. The ground has had problems with wickets this summer and one Championship pitch was ruled ‘poor’ and cost Warwickshire eight points. The forecast, meanwhile, is mixed with rain expected to be around at times.Stats and trivia England have won four out of five Tests against India at Edgbaston although the two teams haven’t met on this ground since 1996, when Nasser Hussain and Sachin Tendulkar scored hundreds. Kevin Pietersen averages 60.57 at this ground but the next best among the fit England batsmen is Andrew Strauss’s 32.10.For a full stats preview click hereQuotes”Even in the two Tests we’ve played, there are moments when we’ve really had our backs to the wall. We’re not expecting anything different from them, we’re going to have to work very hard and hopefully earn the right to get on top in this Test match.”
“If he nicks it and doesn’t walk it may be different, but apart from that he’s quite good.”

Duncan Fletcher may have coached the England team for eight years but there’s still a “hell of a lot” about them that he “doesn’t know at all”, offspinner Graeme Swann has said

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Apr-2011Duncan Fletcher may have coached the England team for eight years but there’s still a “hell of a lot” about them that he “doesn’t know at all”, offspinner Graeme Swann has said. Fletcher was named India’s new coach, replacing Gary Kirsten, and his first assignment is likely to be the tour of England later in the year.Swann, who was not in Fletcher’s good books when he first played for England in 2000, said any presumptions from the coach about knowing it all about England had the potential to backfire.”Fletcher knows a few of our players better than some other coaches would,” Swann told the . “But there’s a hell of a lot of our team he doesn’t know at all. I think that will work to our advantage, because he might be trying to double guess us a little bit and come a cropper.”Swann made his ODI debut on the tour of South Africa in 2000, when Fletcher was coach, but lost favour with the team due to his off-field behaviour. He played his first Test almost eight years later. “If I was a coach 10 years ago, I don’t think I would have picked me, and I wouldn’t have particularly liked me being on that tour,” Swann said. “If you’re my sort of character, you soon become quite irksome to the people around you if you’re not backing your talk up on the field.”I was just a young upstart tourist, and it was a good job I didn’t play because I wasn’t good enough. I’d probably have been found out and cast aside for good, and never been given my eventual second chance.”There are several players in the current England set-up who’ve either not played under Fletcher or done so only occasionally. Jonathan Trott and Steven Finn made their debuts after Fletcher left, while Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan and even Swann gained prominence much later.”It’s nice for him to come back to England, because he’s got a fine record with the England team,” Swann said. “Now he will get a chance to pit his wits against this new England side during the summer. Technically, though, I don’t think it helps him much to know a few of our players, because there’s so much footage available that you can work anybody out.”Even James Anderson, who Swann believes could be the key against India, played only 16 of his 57 Tests under Fletcher. “If the ball swings like it did last year and Jimmy bowls as well again, there’s no team in the world that can touch us,” Swann said. “I think we will give India a very good run for their money, if not beat them.”

Trinidad & Tobago secured a place in the final of the Regional Super50 with a four-wicket win against Guyana at Providence

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Oct-2011Trinidad & Tobago secured a place in the final of the Regional Super50 with a four-wicket win against Guyana at Providence. Guyana chose to bat but came unstuck against T&T’s spin-heavy attack and medium-pacer Rayad Emrit. Legspinner Samuel Badree, who bowled an economical spell of 1 for 28 in ten overs, struck the first blow, dismissing Guyana captain Assad Fudadin for a duck. Emrit got rid of the other opener, Trevon Griffith, and Guyana were 22 for 2. Leon Johnson, who top scored with 66, led the resistance from the middle order but it was broken by the offspinners, Sunil Narine and Sherwin Ganga. Narine bowled a 12-over spell and finished with 2 for 26. Emrit returned to jolt the lower order, picking up 4 for 39 as Guyana were limited to 200 for 9.T&T’s chase got off to a rocky start with wicketkeeper William Perkins falling to offspinner Steven Jacobs before a run had been scored. Jacobs would go on to finish with figures of 2 for 20 in 12 overs. The other opener, Justin Guillen, scored 63 to keep one end steady but there was little support at the other. Guyana were in with a solid chance when Sherwin Ganga fell with T&T on 106 for 5 in the 28th over. Jason Mohammed, however, scored an unbeaten 65 from No. 5 and shepherded T&T home. He had support from Emrit and Kevon Cooper, who both made 17, as they reached 201 for 6 with 23 balls to spare.

Dean Elgar and Rory Kleinveldt have been included in South Africa’s 14-man squad for the first two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Dec-2011South Africa one-day squad

AB de Villiers (capt & wk), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, JP Duminy , Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Jacques Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

Dean Elgar, the uncapped left-handed batsman, and seamer Rory Kleinveldt have been included in South Africa’s 14-man squad for the first two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka. The series will also be the first chance for AB de Villiers as captain after injury meant he missed the matches against Australia.Elgar, the Knights opening batsman, is the only rookie in the squad. Kleinveldt has already represented South Africa in two Twenty20 internationals, the latest one during the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.The squad includes three changes from the one that faced Australia at home recently. de Villiers will take over the wicketkeeping duties from Mark Boucher alongside his captaincy duties, while Elgar replaces batsman David Miller and the selectors chose to switch legspinner Imran Tahir for Kleinveldt.”We have chosen a squad of 14 for the first two games only,” Andrew Hudson, the Cricket South Africa’s selection convener, said. “Those members of the squad who are not involved in the final Test match in Newlands next week will be released to play for their franchises before the squad assembles on January 9.”There have been a number of batsmen showing good form in domestic cricket, and Elgar fully deserves his opportunity,” Hudson added. “He was the leading run-scorer in the One-Day Cup (567 runs) and also had the best average (81). In addition he gives us very useful bowling options as a left-arm spinner.”Kleinveldt played an important role with the ball in helping the Cobras to win the One-Day Cup and he also has a lot of potential as a lower-order power hitter.” Kleinveldt was the second-highest wicket-taker for the Cobras, taking 13 wickets in nine matches.With Johan Botha and Robin Peterson the two specialist spinners in the side, Hudson said the committee didn’t feel the need to include Tahir, even though he adds variety with his legspin.”We feel we won’t need three frontline spinners in South African conditions, so it makes sense to change the bowling balance of the squad slightly,” Hudson said.The first match starts on January 11 at Boland Park, Paarl.