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Victoria have not lost a game in the two seasons of Australia’s domestic Twenty20 competition but have a tough challenge in the final at the MCG on Saturday, facing Tasmania without their destructive captain Cameron White. The Tigers could also be down one key player depending on the availability of Ben Hilfenhaus, who was a late addition to the Australia one-day squad.In a season when only one team has won batting second, it could be argued that the biggest contest of the night will be the coin-toss. But Victoria, who have made the extra-short format their own, proved against Western Australia on Wednesday it is possible to chase down huge scores, reaching their target of 202 with 11 balls to spare.Even without White, who is in the Australia squad for the CB Series, the Bushrangers’ batting line-up looks imposing. David Hussey, Brad Hodge and Aiden Blizzard have each smashed big scores this season, while Andrew McDonald and Adam Crosthwaite have kept the runs flowing in the late overs. Tasmania should also be capable of setting a target or chasing, if the in-form Michael Dighton – whose 111 from 56 balls against New South Wales on Wednesday was the highest score in the competition – and Michael Di Venuto can again start well.Shane Harwood, whose opening spell could prove vital for Victoria, said White’s absence would not affect the team. “We’re confident we can win batting first or second – and no matter who we have out there,” Harwood said. “We have won with Cameron in and won without him. He deserves his place in the Australian team.”The two sides were to meet in the preliminary rounds last week but the match at Hobart was rained out without a ball being bowled. The shared points put the only blemish on Victoria’s otherwise perfect record and gave Tasmania an edge compared with Queensland and Western Australia, both of whom were considered more likely finalists before their losses on Wednesday.Tim Coyle, the Tasmania coach, said his side deserved to be playing off for the KFC Twenty20 title regardless. “I wouldn’t say we were surprised to make the final, we needed a little luck to go our way and for once it did,” Coyle told Hobart’s newspaper. “It is a good Twenty20 team, we have got good strength in our batting, we field well – all the things that are pretty important – and the bowlers are standing up most of the time.”The loss of Hilfenhaus, however, could give Victoria’s batsmen an advantage. The Tasmania fast bowler was a late replacement in the Australia line-up for Brett Lee, who has a chest infection. Should Hilfenhaus remain with the squad over the weekend, Luke Butterworth looks set to take his place in the Tigers’ team. Cricket Victoria hopes to draw a crowd of more than 25,000 to the MCG for the final, which will begin at 7pm.

Matthew Hayden might have spent only two weeks withthe Indian Premier League, but the experience has leftmore than memories. As he contemplated a return tolife as a Test player, Hayden joked about the changeshe would need to make before the first Test againstWest Indies on May 22.”Don’t be surprised if you see me trying to hit overthe top in the first few overs,” he said. “There’ll bebig adjustments.”Hayden has a lot to think about over the nextcouple of weeks after his journey in India involvedtrying to launch balls out of stadiums. Regaining thedefensive outlook required to deal with openingbowlers delivering red balls will be essential whenAustralia take their first Test steps since the 2-1victory over India in January.A five-day camp in Brisbane started the change inapproach for the 15-man squad and Hayden spoke of thealterations while standing next to his opening partnerPhil Jaques. “Jaquesy and I have to graft away forfour-and-a-half hours before we get a chance toexpress ourselves,” he said. “[In Twenty20] it’s agreat relief for opening batsmen to feel like you havea licence – you feel like Adam Gilchrist.”While Hayden was blasting away in the IPL, Jaquesspent four weeks at home with his family afterconcluding his season with a Pura Cup victory. Hehas had some time in the nets and enjoyed his break. “I’vefreshened up,” he said, “now it’s business time.”The trip to the West Indies will be Jaques’ first Testtrip as a settled member of the side. In the lead-upto the previous campaign he was trying to stay aheadof Chris Rogers to take Justin Langer’s place, butthis time his preparations are more stress free.”I was not guaranteed a spot this time last year,” hesaid. “I had to work really hard to make that spotmine. In the short-term at least there’s a little bitof breathing room, but everybody’s got to perform andkeep raising the bar.”Hayden is excited to be returning to the Caribbean,the scene of Australia’s 2007 World Cup triumph, andthe start of a long campaign. By the time the squadhas its next major break Hayden is likely to havejoined Langer in retirement.”We’re really excited about the next phase … we haveto be because it’s two years of solid cricket,” hesaid. “The West Indies holds amazing memories for mefrom the World Cup. I’ve enjoyed my cricket there asmuch as anywhere in the world.”

Khulna are the glamour side in the National Cricket League, boasting almost half the Bangladesh team’s regulars. However, even with Mashrafe Mortaza and Syed Rasel thriving on pitches not conducive to seam bowling and Shakib Al Hasan batting like a man possessed, they had be content with their second draw in a row when visitors Chittagong held on at the Khulna Divisional Stadium.Khulna had done all the right things after being put in; half-centuries from opener Imrul Kayash and Tushar Imran gave them a strong start, which was built on by Shakib’s maiden first-class hundred (108). At stumps on day one Khulna were 361 for 7. Another 49 runs were added the next morning as the batsmen maintained a rate of almost four an over throughout the innings. If Khulna were worried about the absence of left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak and fast bowler Dolar Mahmud, away on Hong Kong Sixes duty, they were soon lifted as unheralded offspinner Murad Khan sent back Nafees Iqbal (35) and Nazimuddin (30) after Mortaza and Rasel had made their customary early strikes. A 99-run sixth-wicket stand between Faisal Hossain and Dhiman Ghosh provided respectability to the Chittagong total as Khan and Rasel took four wickets apiece to dismiss them for 248 early on the third day. Habibul Bashar gambled by not enforcing the follow-on and Khulna rode on a 69-ball 50 from Shakib, playing despite a severe bout of influenza, and a rapid 30 from Mortaza to set Chittagong a target of 367. Tamim Iqbal’s 81 off 166 balls made Chittagong’s intentions clear as the match headed for a draw. Bashar tried everything, including giving Khan the new ball and, towards the end of the match, getting Mortaza to bowl spin on a pitch offering turn. He managed to get the wicket of Ehsanul Haque out but Chittagong hung on to end at 252 for 7. Nazimuddin was again among the runs with an uncharacteristically sedate 56.Rajshahi may not have the marquee names of Khulna or Dhaka but the team is a model of commitment, dedication and hard work. Led by the persevering Khaled Mashud they have set the early pace in the NCL after thumping Barisal by 8 wickets at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium. Mashud inspired a fightback after Barisal’s pace duo of Talha Jubair and Sajidul Islam had reduced Rajshahi to 46 for 4 by exploiting the juice in the wicket. Such situations bring out the best in Mashud and his workmanlike 89 from 263 balls and equally important knocks of 67 from Mushfiqur Rahman and 52 from Farhad Reza took Rajshahi past 300. Their depth then came to the fore as their supposed second-choice bowlers Reza, Suhrawadi Shuvo and Nayeem Islam shared nine wickets to dismiss Barisal for 87, the lowest score in an innings so far this season. Following on they were spared a repeat by Raisul Islam’s 52 and 45 from No. 10 Jubair. It was only a matter of time before Rajshahi got the last wicket on the final morning as Barisal folded for 222, left-arm spinner Shuvo again claiming three, and were left with completing the formality of scoring nine for victory.Dhaka missed captain Mohammad Ashraful and Mahmudullah, who were in Hong Kong, but were still too strong for a lacklustre Sylhet, thumping them by an innings and 34 runs at Bogra. Losing Javed Omar with six on the board after being sent in was the only hiccup for the champions as the other opener, Anwar Hossain (54), stand-in skipper Al Sahariar (54) and Mehrab Hossain jnr with set up the platform. Cameos from Mosharraf Hossain (35 n.o.) and Mohammad Rafique (39) ensured Dhaka’s batting bonus as they declared on 351 for 9 on the second day. In good times a team with Rajin Saleh, Alok Kapali and Mushfiqur Rahim would be expected to give a spirited reply but Sylhet, who had used nine bowlers to contain Dhaka, are struggling. Mahbubul Alam, who stepped in for flu-stricken Shahadat Hossain, bowled a fascinating 11-over spell for 14 runs and sent back four of the top five batsmen. Mohammad Sharif, at the other end, took his cue and bowled a fuller length, getting the ball to swing with devastating effect. Sylhet were 26 for seven in the 17th over and without Rahim’s 36 would have been bowled out for under 50. Sylhet’s hopes of stretching the game beyond day three were dashed by the left-arm spin of Mehrab and Mosharraf when they followed on. Mehrab struck a double blow in the 41st over, removing Sharifullah and Sylhet captain Saleh, on his way to 5 for 43 while the towering Mosharraf continued to impress with his loop as he picked up three wickets.

Khulna’s top order crumbled against Chittagong in front of a packed home crowd at the Khulna Divisional Stadium. – unprecedented in the NCL – but they recovered to post 196. Something special was called for and Mortaza (5 for 31) provided it, sending back the dangerous Aftab Ahmed (7) and Nazimuddin (5) in his opening burst before returning to dismiss Ehsanul and Shabbir Khan in the same over as Chittagong slipped from 154 for 6 to 154 for 8. Mortaza then cleaned up Rubel Hossain as Chittagong fell nine short. This was Mortaza’s second match-winning effort in the space of a week following his 35 and three wickets in Khulna’s victory over Dhaka in the first round.Junaid Siddique did not play the four-dayer as he was in the Hong Kong Sixes team but flew back a day before Rajshahi’s match against Barisal at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium and belted the bowling with his opening partner Jahurul Islam. The two were separated when Jahurul fell for a 52-ball 55 after a stand of 121 in 19.2 overs but Junaid continued the momentum until his dismissal for 120 in the 42nd over. Rajshahi’s total of 295 for 8 proved too intimidating a target for Barisal, whose cause was not helped when captain Shahriar Nafees was out without scoring in the first over. They eventually limped to 179 as Rajshahi’s maintained their hundred percent record in both forms of the NCL.

Dhaka have unearthed an unassuming hero in Mosharraf. His three wickets at Bogra stifled Sylhet in the middle overs as they could only muster 195 on a flat deck at Bogra. Then, given another opportunity to bat at No. 3, Mosharraf repaid the faith for the second game running with 49 not out as the target was overhauled with 8.4 overs and seven wickets to spare. Mosharraf had made 72 in the loss to Khulna in round one.Player of the week Shakib Al Hasan
Not in the best of international form coming into the NCL, Shakib had vowed before the start that he would make this tournament count and so far he has backed that confidence with action. With critics eager to bracket him as a one-day specialist the 20-year-old is letting his bat do the talking. His 108 and 50 at Khulna came when the situation demanded he anchor the innings and he instantly adapted to this role, never hurrying and minimising the risk knowing that his natural talent will always be there to ensure fluency.

Points table

National Cricket League

Note: Points include bonus points for batting and bowling and points for the first-innings lead in the drawn gameNational Cricket League one-day

Mike Procter, the match referee who found Harbhajan Singh guilty of calling Andrew Symonds a “monkey” during the Sydney Test, relied on the evidence of three Australian players in reaching his decision, it has been revealed. Harbhajan was banned for three Tests for that offence but the sentence was suspended following an appeal, by the Indian team, which will be heard next week.In a leaked copy of his report on the hearing, Procter says: “I have heard evidence from Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke and Matthew Hayden that he did say these words. Harbhajan Singh denies saying these words. Both umpires did not hear nor did Ricky Ponting or Sachin Tendulkar. I am satisfied and sure beyond reasonable doubt that Harbhajan Singh did say these words.”I am satisfied that the words were said and that the complaint to the umpires, which forms this charge, would not have been put forward falsely, I dismiss any suggestion of motive or malice.”Procter’s decision came late into the night of January 6, after Australia won a Test match that was mired in controversy and ended amid inflamed passions among players and public. The race issue apart, there were several contentious umpiring decisions, largely going against India, and visible tensions between the teams. The verdict itself created almost as much controversy as the incident; it was welcomed and criticised along national lines, the neutrals preferring to wait and see how Procter reached his decision, and these revelations are likely to stir up emotions again..Among those present at the hearing was Sachin Tendulkar, the other Indian batsman at the crease, but Procter indicates he would not have been within earshot of the incident. “It was submitted to me by Chetan Chauhan [the Indian team manager] that there was doubt because the umpires and other players did not hear the words but, in my judgment, they would not have been in a position to hear them,” Procter says. “I note that Sachin Tendulkar only became involved when he realised that something was happening and was gestured over. He tried to calm things down because something had happened that he did not hear.”The second issue he had to consider; Procter said, was whether Harbhajan used the words with the intention of insulting or offending him. “I am sure beyond reasonable doubt that the use of the word “monkey” or “big monkey” was said to insult or offend Andrew Symonds on the basis of his race, colour or ethnic origin.”While asserting that whatever may have been said between them prior to the exchange in question was irrelevant, Procter acknowledges there was a “history” between the two dating back to the one-day international in Mumbai late last year.”It is not relevant to my findings here to decide what happened in Mumbai. Nevertheless there was trouble in Mumbai when members of the crowd were arrested for using the word “monkey” and gesturing towards Andrew Symonds. This caused both Indian and Australian boards to issue a joint-statement. To this extent Mumbai is relevant to this hearing.”The spat between Harbhajan and Symonds took place on the third day of the second Test in Sydney, when India were batting. Symonds later revealed he approached Harbhajan after the Indian offspinner had tapped Brett Lee on the back with his bat.”I was standing nearby and when I saw what happened, I thought, ‘Hold on, that’s not on’,” Symonds told the : “I’m a firm believer in sticking up for your team-mate so I stepped in and had a bit of a crack at Harbhajan, telling him exactly what I thought of his antics. He then had a shot back, which brings us to the situation we’re facing.”Tendulkar and the umpires – Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor – intervened to defuse the situation, Benson covering his mouth while talking to Harbhajan to avoid lip-reading television viewers. The umpires reported Harbhajan to Procter after receiving a complaint from Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting, who was abiding by the ICC directives concerning racism.Following India’s appeal the ICC appointed New Zealand judge John Hansen to chair the hearing, which is slated to be held on January 29 and 30 in Adelaide.

Bollywood superstars Kareena Kapoor and Aamir Khan are likely to beassociated with teams in the unofficial Indian Cricket League, Cricinfo haslearnt. However, unlike the Indian Premier League, the ICL has ruled outhanded over ownership to the superstars.”Ever since our inaugural tournament we have seen some interest fromBollywood personalities and we are at an advanced stage of discussionswith a few of them,” Ashish Kaul, the executive vice-president of Essel Group, told Cricinfo.”This may involve owning a part of the stake, it may have to do withlong-term associations, or long-term sponsorships, tie-ups.”However, Kaul confirmed that the ICL were not changing their model andwould not hand over entire ownership to individuals. “Our cricket is notfor sale,” he said, “and we are not going to function with auctions.”Khan and Kapoor, it is learnt, are leading contenders to have long-termassociations with teams. Both may be marketed as the face of the team andused as ambassadors in sponsorships.Kapoor had performed at the opening ceremony of the inaugural edition of the ICL in Panchkula. The latest instalment of the ICL kicked off on March 9, with two new teams – increasing the total to eight – and is to be held at three venues, Panchkula, Hyderabad and Gurgaon, instead of one.

DAV Chandigarh and University of Moratuwa will play the first semi-final on Friday, while Great Britain Combined University Team will take on the University of Karachi in other knockout clash, after all four teams secured their progress on day three of Campus Cricket World Final.University of Moratuwa defeated Bangladesh’s University of Liberal Arts by 15 runs to place them three points ahead of Liberal Arts, who would need to win their final match to qualify for the semi-finals. Moratuwa’s win was propelled by sturdy contributions from the middle order, with Randika Perera the most impressive of the three batsmen who breached 30, hitting his 37 not out from 17 balls, to help his side to 146 for 6.Liberal Arts began with a 30-run partnership, but continued to lose wickets too regularly to mount a meaningful challenge to Moratuwa’s total. They were dismissed in the 19th over, for 131, with Vihangun Ariyaratne taking 3 wickets for 23 from his three overs.University of New South Wales had their first win of the tournament – one which almost got them into the semi-finals – when they defeated University of Karachi by five wickets, in a match shortened to 14-overs a side. New South Wales asked the opposition to bat first, and ensured Karachi could not launch a rapid start, through opening bowler Phil Hartig-Franc, who dismissed both openers and only conceded four runs an over. Karachi’s middle order stabilised the innings, before No. 5 Abdul Khan hit 30 from 16, to help propel his side to 123 for 8.New South Wales began more slowly than they might have wished, and at the end of the eighth over, needed 60 runs from six overs. A 34 to James McNeil and 33 from 10 balls to Hugh Campbell helped them achieve their target however, and a better net-run rate than Karachi gave them hope of reaching the semi-finals.Great Britain Combined University Team denied University of Liberal Arts a place in the semi-finals, with a five-wicket, final-over victory in the evening. Liberal arts made 133 for 8 after being put in to bat, with Mahmudur Rahman and Eftekhar Ahmed, the chief contributors to that score. Rahman, who held the innings together with his 41, could not score at a run-a-ball however, as James Saddington, Ben Wylie and Robert Woolley took two wickets apiece.Great Britain Combined began poorly in their chase, stumbling to 47 for 5 by the 11th over, but an unbeaten 87-run partnership between Jay O’ Nien, who made 34 from 25 and wicketkeeper batsman Alex Martin, who made 47 from 29, helped their side home with four balls to spare.DAV Chandigarh lost their first match of the tournament, as University of Karachi forced their way into the semi-finals with a four-wicket victory in a high-scoring encounter. Gurinder Singh motored Chandigarh to the biggest total of the tournament with a 56-ball unbeaten 101, that was also the tournament’s first century. He had support from opening batsman Jaskaran Singh, who contributed 57 from 39, but found little help from the middle order, after their 96-run second-wicket partnership was broken.Karachi began poorly, losing two wickets for 23 in the fourth over, but launched something of a recovery through Abdul Khan and Ramiz Aziz, who put on 60 together, before No.7 Nabeel Khalid played a stunning innings to bring his side back into the tournament from the brink. His unbeaten 51 from 18 balls featured six sixes and two fours, and Khalid’s heroics helped Karachi reel Chandigarh in with five balls to spare.

Lou Vincent has not ruled playing for South Australia at some stage in his career but said he was committed to New Zealand and Auckland in the immediate future. reported this week that Vincent was considering a move to Adelaide, where he spent most of his teenage years, to play with the Redbacks next season.Vincent said he had had talks with the state but he was not looking to relocate at the moment. “I have been discussing playing options with South Australia,” Vincent said. “I grew up there and have strong links to a number of people in SA and they have always been interested in my cricket career.”At some point I would be interested in playing for SA but my current priority is the Blackcaps. I love representing my country and still have a lot to achieve in international cricket.”Vincent, 28, played for representative age-group teams during his time at Adelaide before returning to Auckland and starting his first-class career there. He has played 22 Tests and 97 ODIs and was among New Zealand’s best performers in the recent CB Series. Signing Vincent would have been a boost for South Australia, who had a dismal 2006-07 during which they won only one Pura Cup match.

Three countries have applied for ICC Affiliate membership and two more to be upgraded from Affiliate to Associate membership.Bulgaria, Estonia and Turkey’s applications for Affiliate membership will be considered by the ICC and its annual conference in Dubai at the end of June.Guernsey and Vanuatu have applied for an upgrade to Associate membership which, if successful, will mean a substantial increase in the funding available to their national associations.Consideration of Vanuatu’s application is subject to it meeting the playing standard criterion in its matches against existing Associates in the World Cricket League Division 5. An ICC team is inspecting the facilities in Guernsey this week.

February 22, 1991 – Sanath Jayasuriya makes his Test debut in the second Test against New Zealand at Hamilton. Only required to bat once, he scores 35 at the No. 6 position.August 22, 1991 – In his fifth Test innings, Jayasuriya scores his maiden Test fifty, a 66 off only 70 ballsagainst England at Lord’s, but could not stop Sri Lanka from losing the match by 137 runs.January 25-29, 1996 – Scores his maiden Test century, in his 17th Test, against Australia at Adelaide. His 112 in the second innings followed in a 48 in the first but Australia still went on to win by 148 runs.August 2-6, 1997 – Jayasuriya plunders 340 in the first Test against India in Colombo, the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan. His 576-run second-wicket partnership with Roshan Mahanama was the first 500-plus partnership in Test cricket.August 9-13, 1997 – Jayasuirya follows up the triple-century with a 199 off only 226 balls in the 2nd Test at Colombo as the series is drawn.August 27-31, 1998 – Scores 213 off 278 balls in the first innings against England at Lord’s to set up Sri Lanka’s first Test victory in England.July 1999 – After a poor performance in the 1999 World Cup, Jayasuriya was made captain of the side after the selectors sacked the influential figure of Arjuna RanatungaJuly 21-23, 2002 – Scores his 10th Test century in his 74th Test against Bangladesh at Colombo.March 22, 2003 – Jayasuriya ,resigns as captain after leading Sri Lanka to a record ten consecutive Test victories as well as a series win over India and a clean sweep over West Indies.June 20-24, 2003 – Scores his 5000th Test run in his 79th Test against West Indies at St Lucia.October 20-24, 2004 – Hits 253 in the second innings of the first Test against Pakistan at Faisalabad and sets up a 201-run win.September 20, 2005 – Becomes the first Sri Lankan to play 100 Tests when as Sri Lanka took on Bangladesh in Colombo.November 11, 2005 – After a string of poor performances, Jayasuriya is dropped from the Sri Lankan Test squad for the first time since 1995.December 22, 2005 – Barely six weeks later, a series of protests and criticism, including involvement from the Sri Lankan president, sees the return of Jayasuriya to the Test squadApril 4, 2006 – Having announced his retirement from Test cricket, Jayasuriya faces a painful exit as he injures his right hand in his last Test at that timeJune 1, 2006 – Asantha de Mel, the new chairman of selectors, forces Jayasuriya to reconsider his retirement and the batsman returns to the team against England in NottinghamDecember 3, 2007 – At 38, however, Jayasuriya finally quits Test cricket and scores a rapid 78 – including six fours in one over – in his final innings against England at Kandy

Bob Woolmer’s widow Gill has requested India and Pakistan to play a Twenty20 game to raise funds for a cricket academy the former Pakistan coach had planned to set up in South Africa. Woolmer’s family intend to bring his plans to fruition through a trust fund set up in his memory.”She has written to the board president requesting to play a Twenty20 match for the academy,” Niranjan Shah, Indian board secretary, told Reuters. “A decision has not been taken yet. We need to find the time because we’ve already finalised our schedule.”Woolmer died in Jamaica on March 18, a day after Pakistan suffered a shock defeat against Ireland and were knocked out in the first round of the World Cup. His death was investigated as murder until after the tournament when Jamaican authorities announced it was due to natural causes.