‘Zaheer will be contracted for 150 days a year’
Kolkata: India's new bowling consultant Zaheer Khan will be offered a contract of 150 days per season, informed Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) member Sourav Ganguly. "Zaheer was contacted for 150 days per year," Ganguly told reporters at Eden Gardens. While the BCCI has already clarified in a statement that Zaheer's appointment is on a tour-to-tour basis, it is clear that he will be spending around five months with the Indian team. Zaheer reportedly did not wish to commit more than 100 days but with CAC insisting, it is now a done deal for 150 days.
Challengers beat Smashers in utt
Chennai: Shaze Challengers got the better of Dabang Smashers TTC 15-12 to make a winning start to their campaign in the inaugural CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) at the Nehru Indoor stadium here on Friday. After appearing to be coasting to an easy victory with a 10-5 advantage at the end of five matches, Challengers were tested by their rivals, who hit back through their captain Marcos Freitas, who rallied after being one game down to beat li Ping 7-11, 11-6, 11-5 in the eighth match. Going into the last match, Challengers were ahead 13-11. Petrissa Solja kept her nerve to record a 2-1 win over Tetyana Bilenko and give her team a flying start. Chennai player Anthony Amalraj gave it his all and was hugely disappointed to lose 11-10, 2-11, 9-11 to Andrej Gacina as Challengers appeared to strengthen their grip on the match before Freitas fought back. Kim Song I brought Smashers back in contention with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat of India's Mouma Das to reduce the score to 9-12. Challengers had grabbed the initial advantage and led by a handsome margin after five matches despite Freitas giving his side a winning start, by beating India's Soumyajit Ghosh. Ghosh lost 3-11, 6-11, 11-10.
Ervine ton lifts Zimbabwe out of trouble
Colombo: Craig Ervine hit an unbeaten 151 to pull Zimbabwe out of trouble on the opening day of their one-off Test against Sri lanka on Friday. Ervine's career-best effort lifted Zimbabwe from a precarious 70-4 to 344-8 at stumps. Sri lanka spinner Rangana Herath took four wickets. The left-handed batsman held on with Donald Tiripano (24 not out) at the end of play, putting on a frustrating 62-run stand for the ninth wicket. Ervine, who surpassed his previous Test best of 146, built crucial partnerships including a 84-run fifth-wicket stand with Sikandar Raza (36). It was the 31-year-old's second Test ton in the 12th match of his seven-year-old international career. Herath, 39, who returned figures of 4-106, provided early delight for Sri lanka's new Test captain Dinesh Chandimal after he lost the toss.
South Africa reach 309-6 on Day 1 of 2nd test
NOTTINGHAM: South Africa came through two difficult periods to reach 309-6 against England at stumps on Day 1 of the second test on Friday, suggesting the Proteas' gamble to bat first in difficult conditions may have paid off. South Africa was 66-2 before a 113-run partnership between Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock. Then, Stuart Broad (3-47) and Ben Stokes (2-77) combined to take four wickets early in the final session for England but South Africa, at 235-6, came back again with an unbroken 74-run stand between bowlers Vernon Philander and Chris Morris. Returning South Africa captain Faf du Plessis trusted his batting lineup on a cloudy morning at Trent Bridge, choosing to bat in what appeared to be difficult conditions. Agencies