All posts by csb10.top

Pakistan has embarked on a diplomatic bid to retrieve what benefits it still can from the 2011 World Cup and narrow the widening rift that seems to have developed between it and the Asian bloc, after the ICC unanimously voted last month that Pakistan would not be the location for any of the matches.Following the initiation of legal action by the PCB against the decision, a way forward seems to be emerging. Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, is on a trip to meet counterparts in Sri Lanka, and possibly India, and the ICC now says that Pakistan’s hosting rights were never taken away from them, only the matches.On Thursday, the ICC issued a rejoinder to Pakistan’s legal claims, highlighting various “factual inaccuracies and misunderstandings”. In a point-by-point reply, Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, clarified that the ICC board had removed Pakistan as host location, not the PCB as joint host for the World Cup; Pakistan’s removal as a host location was on the ICC Board’s agenda; and the ICC board has the power to make such decisions.The less-than-clear stance on hosting, however, suggests that there is some wriggle room for all parties to operate within. One possibility could be that Pakistan’s share of matches move to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Though PCB officials talked of making such a proposal soon after the April meeting, nothing, apparently, has come of it. “The ICC has never received any proposals from the PCB on alternate venues so we cannot speculate on how the ICC Board would deal with any requests,” an ICC spokesperson told Cricinfo. There is, it is understood however, considerable opposition to this move among some ICC members, particularly India.There also exists the option of some kind of a financial-sharing arrangement of the event’s hosting fee with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the other co-hosts. The host for each World Cup match receives US$750,000 from the ICC for the “extra work”, 100% of gate receipts and 100% of money raised through hospitality.The host board also gets a 7.5% share of distributions from the event, which is worked out on the basis of 75% of the amount being divided between the ten full members of the ICC and 25% for the developing cricket world. “Hosting fees are only paid for hosting matches,” the ICC spokesperson said, but added that “financial sharing is a matter for the co-hosts to firstly consider and then for the ICC Board to agree.”Much will depend, however, on Butt’s meetings with his co-hosts. Ehsan Mani, former ICC president and an advisor to Pakistan in the current dispute, has maintained that the PCB needs to keep back-channel communications open and the board seems to have taken the advice on board.Butt left Thursday and is already in Sri Lanka, before he heads to Delhi for a possible meeting with Sharad Pawar, the ICC vice-president and former BCCI president who still has the final word in Indian cricket affairs. “We have no knowledge of any such visit,” a BCCI official said. Sources in Pawar’s office, however, have confirmed that the veteran politician who is a major player in the ongoing Indian election process, will be in New Delhi early next week. “If anybody can help the PCB wriggle out of this mess, it’s Pawar who will become the ICC president next year and continue through the World Cup,” the Indian official said.The Indian board is understood to be livid at the PCB’s aggressive posture on the World Cup. “There has always been a political disconnect between the two countries, yet the two cricket boards have enjoyed a wonderful relationship and worked closely together,” a senior BCCI official said. “But all that has changed now, and we are very disappointed with the PCB’s approach on the World Cup issue.”At some point soon, something will also have to be done to repair a faltering relationship between the ICC and Pakistan. The two options, it is believed, have always been available to Pakistan and by acting as it has, it has possibly strained relationships with other members as well. The ICC’s offer of support earlier this year to work out a viable way forward has not been taken up. “The ICC offered to form a task team to assist Pakistan and ensure the game remains on its feet in the country in these difficult times,” the spokesperson said. “That offer was made at the ICC Board meeting in Perth in January/February but, to date, there has been no response from the PCB. The task team could assist in some or all of these matters.”

Several veteran players from the Associate nations have targeted adding another World Cup to their resume ahead of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa.One of those is Steve Tikolo, the Kenyan allrounder, who has already taken part in four World Cups and has collected more World Cup runs than former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq. “This qualifier is one of those big tournaments you play cricket for. The stakes are high and the prize is a big one,” he said. “The feeling of running out in front of a big crowd at the World Cup is something you can never grow tired of.”Thirty-four year-old fast bowler Trent Johnston had led Ireland to memorable victories over Pakistan and Bangladesh in the 2007 World Cup, and said that experience would spur his side during the WCQ. “We have been given a taste of that [playing in the World Cup] and now we want more,” he said. “… we know it’s not going to be easy but the memories of 2007 will be all the motivation we need to make sure we give it everything so we get another chance to compete at that level.”It was a view shared by Canada’s John Davison, who in 2003 bludgeoned what was then the fastest World Cup century against West Indies. “Those of us who have been lucky to play in the World Cup know what it’s like and the other guys in the squad want that feeling too,” he said. “The result is that this tournament is going to be intense and very closely fought.”The sides finishing in the top four of the WCQ will gain entry to the 2011 World Cup, and the top six qualify for ODI status and increased funding. David Morgan, the ICC President, called the tournament “probably the most important 19 days in any four-year cycle”.

What compelling drama, what brilliant theatre. This was a Test of West Indian nerve like no other and it so nearly became too much for them. The prospect of regaining the Wisden Trophy and winning their first series since 2004 enveloped them in a fog of uncertainly on the final day. In the end it needed the cool head of Denesh Ramdin and the lunging defence of Fidel Edwards to hold a rampant England at bay. But after waiting so long for success, all that mattered was that they didn’t let it slip away.”I’m really happy, overjoyed, and you just have to enjoy the moment,” Chris Gayle said as he could finally soak up the feeling of success. “These things don’t come around often and I just want to thank each and every player for their efforts and the character they have shown. I’m really happy, but not just for the team but also the people overseas. I’m sure they are jumping for joy.”For the second time in the series the West Indies lower order had to repel the visiting bowlers as James Anderson found lethal reverse swing and the spinners had nine men around the bat. The local fans found their voice, cheering every dot ball, but the glum faces of those hunched over their radios when each wicket fell spoke volumes of their greatest fears. Would old West Indies come back at the crucial moment and undo a month of hard work?This was Test cricket at its ultimate, a timely tonic after some of the lop-sided, bat-dominated draws in recent times. It is a cliché to say that the game needed to show its best side, but how often it is true. Even if there was more than a hint of old-school West Indian panic in the final two sessions, in the bigger picture the game was better for it.Not that Gayle will have been thinking that at the time. Surely he had to have been feeling the pressure, even as he sat their emotionless on the balcony? “I had a lot of confidence in the guys but it was pretty tense,” he said. “Batting in these situations is never easy, but I was confident. We had a bit of a scare but we had capable batsman like Ramdin and we know Fidel has been in this situation before.”Gayle emerged at No. 8 with his pulled hamstring to block his way through 42 balls with the sheer determination that the series wasn’t going to be wrestled away. “It was hurting, but bearable pain and as you saw I was doing a lot of stretching to try and reach the ball. But I knew I could bear it so it wasn’t too much for me,” he said.He played one attacking stroke, which nearly ended up as a return catch to Monty Panesar, but largely it was the most out-of-character innings from the captain. He had put his heart and soul into winning this series – and, arguably, put his reputation on the line with some of his tactics – so knew the chance couldn’t slip away. However, he couldn’t see it right to the end and with 9.4 overs remaining he had to haul himself back to the dressing room and watch the tension unfold.At times West Indies became their own worst enemy throughout the final day. It had been clear from the start of the game that the summit of their ambitions was a draw: that is a dangerous mindset to be in. They never once showed a desire to try and win this match. Two more wickets and serious questions would have had to be asked of Gayle’s tactics. As it was, thanks to Ramdin and Edwards, West Indies’ survival means he won’t have to contemplate where it went wrong. It did came mighty close.Gayle, though, defended the way he went about the final day. “It was nothing about being negative or anything like that. If you watch the way we have bowled in the last couple of games that’s the way we have bowled. There was no plan to be negative.”Of course, none of that matters now. Instead he is the captain that has brought success back to the Caribbean and for that he can be rightly proud. It’s been a long and painful road (especially painful for Gayle given the state of his hamstring) but after such a drought success will feel even sweeter. No wonder they wanted it so badly, yet that almost proved their downfall; old demons are easily awoken when momentous occasions draw near.Even the mainstays of the batting – Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul – couldn’t bail them out on this occasion. However, the key thing about this team is each time they have been in trouble somebody has come to the rescue. For three Tests in a row they have responded to totals over 500 and saved the matches.”Sarwan has been consistent throughout the series. He didn’t get many runs in New Zealand but he came here and stepped up to the plate and it was a really big effort from him,” Gayle said. “Also, Ramdin and Brendan Nash getting their first Test hundreds was crucial and Chanderpaul has been as consistent as ever. We have also got a few young players in the team and hopefully they can follow suit.”After years in the doldrums West Indies cricket can at last look forward to the future with some optimism. The final hours put their players and fans through an emotional rollercoaster, but after the wait they’ve had for success they probably didn’t expect anything less.

After 48 hours below the radar, Allen Stanford has been located in Virgina and served with the complaint from the Securities and Exchange Commission by FBI officials. An FBI spokesman said Stanford had not been charged and had surrendered his passport.”The agents served Mr Stanford with court orders related to the SEC civil filing against the Stanford Financial Group,” FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said in a statement. However, he refused to comment on whether Stanford had alerted authorities regarding his whereabouts or was traced by other means to a place near Fredericksburg, Virginia, around 50 kms south of Washington.This news emerged even as raids continued on his offices across the US and investors and depositors queued up to recover their money from his various companies.On Wednesday, Stanford, who has been accused of being involved in an US$8 billion fraud, allegedly attempted to hire a private jet to fly him from Houston to Antigua, but his credit card was declined and the hire company insisted on a wire transfer. Stanford’s accounts were frozen on Tuesday.Stanford’s influence even extended to the political arena in the USA where his corporate body was involved in donations towards campaigns of various politicians, who are now lining up to return the money given to them by the Stanford Financial Group (SFG), reported. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the SFG gave US$2.4 million to political parties, committees and more than 100 political candidates since 2000, including $31,750 to President Barack Obama when he was senator, the third-highest sum among lawmakers. His rival in the presidential election campaign, Republican Senator John McCain, as reported by the center, received $28,150 from the SFG. The reported that the money, according to the recipients, was intended for charity purposes.Over the past couple of days thousands of ordinary people who had invested in his companies or put their money in his banks formed long queues formed outside the Bank of Antigua in St John’s and other places in a bid to to withdraw cash despite assurances that the bank had enough money to meet all its liabilities.Faced with widespread anxiety on the island, where Stanford employs more than 5% of the total workforce, Antigua’s prime minister, Baldwin Spencer, went on television to urge people to remain calm although he admitted the scandal could have “catastrophic” consequences.

The financial worries within West Indies cricket have again surfaced with news that the four-day match between Leeward Islands and Guyana has been moved from Antigua to Nevis.In a curt statement the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) said that it was “not in a position” to stage the fourth-round fixture which was due to start on January 30 to February 2 because of venue and financial issues.”The situation is that we have made a decision that we won’t be hosting the game,” ABCA vice president Leon Rodney said. “It’s a venue constraint because we are really short on venues. Our economic condition is also a deterrent.”The Antigua Sun reported the news “sparked a heated and angry exchange of words on a national radio station between Rodney and local government minister Winston Williams”. The ABCA has not hosted a regional four-day fixture within the last five years because it has not proven to be a financially viable undertaking.At the weekend it was announced that the game between Trinidad & Tobago and Leeward Islands had been moved away from Shaw Park in Tobago because of financial and media issues.

Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, is expected to be fit for the return series against Australia, which starts on February 26. While the fracture Smith sustained in his left hand during the third Test in Sydney has healed, he has also put off surgery on his tennis elbow – in his right hand – until after the series.”He is fine,” Arthur told the . “He has had his second injection [in the elbow], which is a good thing. The fracture in his hand has mended perfectly, and we are hoping he will be having a hit in about two weeks. It is even better than expected.”Smith said he would be available for selection for the Cape Cobras for next weekend’s Standard Bank Pro20 semi-finals, should they qualify for the knock-out stage. “The medical team have given me the go ahead to resume playing,” said Smith. “They are very happy with my hand injury and they feel they can manage my elbow through the home series against Australia. I will get back into the nets next week and hopefully the Cobras will make it through to the last four.”Smith had managed to play on during the Tests in Australia by getting the tear in his elbow injected with his blood. He was already slated to fly home after the three-Test contest when he suffered a broken knuckle off a Mitchell Johnson delivery during his first innings in Sydney. Smith did not open in the second innings of the Test, but bravely walked out at No. 11 as South Africa – who had already sealed the series 2-0 – tried to save the game, which he nearly did with Makhaya Ntini.”It still remains to be seen once he [Smith] starts playing but the good thing is that the fracture has mended perfectly,” said Arthur. “It is really excellent to have him fit. We weren’t sure how it was all going to come through but at this stage, touch wood, it all seems to be very good.”Australia, who are in danger of losing their No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings, have named their 14-man squad for the three Tests, and have included three uncapped players in Phillip Hughes, Bryce McGain and Marcus North.

Western Australia 5 for 149 (North 45*, Voges 39, Bracken 2-24) beat New South Wales 5 for 148 (Hughes 35, S Smith 34*) by five wickets
Scorecard

Marcus North led from the front to guide Western Australia to a five-wicket win over New South Wales in their Twenty20 Big Bash encounter in Sydney. North scored an unbeaten 45, and put on a vital 65-run stand with Adam Voges to put the chase on track after the loss of two quick wickets.Set 149 to win, Western Australia were fast out of the blocks with Shaun Marsh hitting five fours and a six in a 19-ball 31. Luke Pomersbach fell early to Nathan Bracken, who conceded only 24 in his four overs. Marsh and Theo Doropoulos were dismissed in the space of five balls, but North found support in Voges who hit four boundaries in his 39.When Aaron Bird trapped Voges leg-before in the 15th over, Western Australia still needed another 39. Bracken added to the worries by getting rid of Craig Simmons, but North stayed till the end to see his team home with five balls to spare.Western Australia also improved on their performance in the field, after having conceded 182 against South Australia in their first game. Umar Gul collected 4 for 15 in that game, but he took some stick on Tuesday, giving away 41 for the lone wicket in his four overs. New South Wales’ opening pair of Phillip Hughes and David Warner put on 38. Hughes top scored with 35, but the vital innings came from Steven Smith, who made an unbeaten 34 from 21 to take them to 148.

Scorecard
Assam’s bowlers came back strongly after having conceded a first-innings lead on Monday, skittling out Vidarbha for 97 in their second innings to clinch a 71-run win in Nagpur. Assam, who began the day at 10 for 0 – trailing by 15 runs, kept the contest alive by scoring briskly after Vidarbha had declared their first innings at 324 for 9.However, a collapse saw them fold for 193, but a similar slump for Vidarbha robbed them of the chance of gaining a win or three points for the first-innings lead. Rashmi Parida led Assam’s charge, scoring 89 off 84 balls, with seven fours and a six. No other batsman went past 25. Assam were at a comfortable 187 for 4 when Gaurav Upadhyaya struck in his only over of the day. It sparked a collapse, with Umesh Yadav taking four wickets in four overs to sent them crashing.But the collapse perhaps worked to Assam’s advantage, setting Vidarbha a gettable score. The hosts, though, failed to keep the score ticking after the first wicket fell, and Assam prised out wickets at regular intervals. At 77 for 4, they were still in the hunt, but three wickets fell on that score and the next three fell for two runs.Assam move into third place in Group B, three points clear of Vidarbha, who have played an extra game. The top two teams move into the semi-finals.
Scorecard
Jasvir Singh’s unbeaten 103 helped last-placed Services cling on for a draw against Group B leaders Madhya Pradesh in Delhi. Services nearly survived the final day in an earlier fixture against Vidarbha, but this time Jasvir ensured they gained their first point.Having lost a wicket late on Monday, it was Jasvir who faced the first ball on Tuesday. He stayed until the end, and got vital support from No. 9 Rakesh Kumar, who faced 83 deliveries in a an unbroken stand spanning 28 overs. Resuming on 20 for 2, Services were quickly 24 for 3. Yashpal Singh pushed the score along with a 40-ball 30 before he became Shantanu Pitre’s third wicket.MP chipped away, and at 196 for 8, defeat seemed imminent for Services. Jasvir and Rakesh, though, put on a 52-run stand to deny the visitors.
Scorecard
Coach Dodda Ganesh was hoping his team would force a draw, but Goa’s batsmen barely put up a fight against Haryana in Rohtak. Haryana declared their innings one over into the final day, setting the visitors an unlikely target of 361.Chasing was improbable, and surviving the day became impossible after Sachin Rana and Jitender Tarsemlal Billa wreaked havoc with the new ball. In the first innings, Goa had been reduced to 0 for 3 thanks to Billa. The only positives from their second innings was that only one wicket fell on no score, and the performance of the tail. Rana and Billa shared the first eight wickets as all of Goa’s top eight failed to make it past single figures: half of them made ducks.Each of the next three nearly outscored the eight before them. Saurabh Bandekar (44), Robin D’Souza (54 not out) and Ryan D’Souza (27) showed the top order how it should be done. The win gave Haryana a four-point lead over Goa in the fight for the second semi-final spot from Group A.Dodda was disappointed with the lack of application from the batsmen. “It was poor cricket from our boys,” he told the . “They simply did not follow the basics. When our target was to play out the full day, they had no business to play cross-batted shots. And when your eight batsmen are dismissed for zero in a match, there’s little chance of a fightback. Except for Saurabh Bandekar and Robin D’Souza no one had stomach for a fight.”
Scorecard
Himachal Pradesh extended their lead at the top in Group A by gaining a first-innings lead in the drawn encounter against Jharkhand in Ranchi. The hosts, thanks to Saurabh Tiwary’s unbeaten century, were at 341 for 6 in reply to HP’s 551, but their last four wickets fell for 90 runs on the final day.Tiwary was the first to be dismissed on Tuesday; he added 25 to his overnight 144 before he was caught off Sarandeep Singh. The score was 384 for 7, but Jharkhand’s lower order ensured went past the follow-on mark of 402.With the match almost dead – Jharkhand had batted out 45.3 overs – HP’s openers took advantage. Sangram Singh, who hit double-centuries in the previous two innings, missed a hundred by nine runs, and Manish Gupta made 75.

Match facts

Nov 22, 2008
Start time 9.30 am (0730 GMT)

Big Picture

Zimbabwe’s first ODI at home since December 2007 had a promising beginning but ended in disaster. Their top order laid a steady platform against Sri Lanka on Thursday, reaching 124 for 3, but they lost their last seven wickets for three runs in 3.5 dramatic overs. Zimbabwe’s last six batsmen were all dismissed for 0, equalling the record for most ducks in an innings. It was a calamitous collapse that would have severely dented the confidence of a young side, but captain Prosper Utseya said his batsmen had learnt from the experience. Converting the knowledge into an improved on-field performance, however, won’t be easy as Sri Lanka are unlikely to take the hosts lightly.Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan captain, said he wanted a “much better standard” from his players. He said Zimbabwe should not have scored as much as 127 and called for improvement despite winning by six wickets and with 16.4 overs to spare.

Form guide (last five ODIs, most recent last)

Zimbabwe LLWLL
Sri Lanka LLLWW

Watch out for

Muttiah Muralitharan has a terrific record against Zimbabwe – 47 wickets at an average of 16.55 and economy-rate of 3.43. Before the first game, Utseya said Murali would not be as effective as Ajantha Mendis but the offspinner ended up wth 4 for 14. Tatenda Taibu was doubtful for the first ODI because of a contractual dispute with Zimbabwe Cricket but he played and remained unbeaten, amid the devastation, on 36. Taibu also adopted a novel approach against Mendis, trying to reverse-sweep almost every ball.

Team news

Zimbabwe could draft Sean Williams, their talented but temperamental allrounder, into the starting line-up to bolster the batting order. Williams had initially pulled out of the series but made himself available in the days leading up to the contest.Zimbabwe (likely): 1 Sean Williams, 2 Vusimuzi Sibanda, 3 Chamunorwa Chibhabha, 4 Tatenda Taibu, 5 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 6 Elton Chigumbura, 7 Timycen Maruma, 8 Prosper Utseya, 9 Raymond Price, 10 Tawanda Mupariwa, 11 Christopher Mpofu.Sri Lanka have several players in reserve all itching to get a game, including Angelo Matthews, Thilina Kandamby, Dilhara Fernando and Dammika Prasad, but they are unlikely to make major changes to the combination until the series is won.Sri Lanka (likely): 1 Upul Tharanga, 2 Mahela Udawatte, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 5 Chamara Kapugedera, 6 Jehan Mubarak, 7 Farveez Maharoof, 8 Thilan Thushara, 9 Ajantha Mendis, 10 Muttiah Muralitharan, 11 Nuwan Kulasekara.

Stats & Trivia

• Kumar Sangakkara’s unbeaten 46 was the top score in the first ODI. He scored two half-centuries in his previous two innings in Zimbabwe and averages 182 in the country.
• Williams is the only batsman in the Zimbabwe squad with an average of over 30 (minimum of five ODIs). He’s scored 606 runs with seven half-centuries in 24 innings.
  

  Quotes

  “Although Murali got four wickets I think we were coping with his turn.”

Exciting start of the day
Brett Lee swung the first ball of the fourth day into Zaheer Khan and hit him on the pads. Lee turned around, spread his arms, splayed his legs and roared an appeal. Meanwhile, the ball had bounced towards third man and Anil Kumble had set off from the non-striker’s end for a leg bye. Zaheer, however, was only interested in whether Asad Rauf’s finger would stay down and Kumble had to hurry back from half-way down the pitch.Rehearsal of the day
Lee beat Zaheer several times outside the off stump and in the 108th over Zaheer lost his patience and aimed a wild hit down the ground. He didn’t connect and when Lee went up to the batsman to have a word, Zaheer shadow-practiced the shot as if to say I’ll do it again. The next ball, however, was defended solidly off the front foot.Record of the day
Lee’s no-ball in the 110th over was the 46th extra of the innings. The most Australia had ever conceded against India was 45 in the second innings in Mumbai in 1986. A short while later Mitchell Johnson’s bouncer hit Ishant Sharma on the shoulder and went towards the fine leg boundary to take the tally past 50. Brad Haddin played a crucial part in the tally as he conceded 23 byes.Tense moment of the day
Batsmen get nervous in their 90s so it’s quite understandable that Zaheer was feeling jittery on 49. He dropped the first ball towards point and wanted to get the milestone out of the way. Kumble, however, saw Ponting react quickly and sent Zaheer back. Johnson swung two out of the next three balls past the outside edge. Zaheer took a breather, walked a few paces towards square leg, and seemed to ask umpire Rauf how many balls were left in the over. Rauf said two and Zaheer tucked the next one off his pads to reach his half-century.Waft of the day
Judging by how he played his first delivery, you wouldn’t have thought Matthew Hayden was on a pair. He reached out for a full and wide delivery from Zaheer and got beaten on the drive by the movement away from him. Later in over, Hayden offered no shot to one that cut back in and thudded into his ribs. He finally got off the pair on his seventh delivery by driving Zaheer to cover where Gautam Gambhir fumbled the ball.Rude awakening of the day
Hayden was batting on 13 when a full delivery from Zaheer swung into him late and hit the pad as he tried to play the ball on the leg side. Despite Zaheer’s confident appeal, Hayden immediately turned his back on both the bowler and the umpire, not wanting to see at the decision. The terrific roar from the crowd, however, made him realise it was time to turn around and head towards the dressing room.Contrast of the day
In Australia’s first innings, Ricky Ponting had hit the first delivery he faced from Harbhajan for four. Mahendra Singh Dhoni had fielders crowding the bat for the rematch. Harbhajan bounded in with a slip, silly point, short leg and leg slip and delivered the ball on middle and leg. Ponting moved forward and there was a loud appeal after the ball went straight to Virender Sehwag at leg slip. Rudi Koertzen, however, correctly decided that it had come off the pad.Long wait of the day
Simon Katich had clung to the crease like a barnacle would to a rock. He blocked, nudged and pushed and scored at a strike-rate of below 20 for the majority of his innings. He hit his first boundary off his 97th delivery in the last over before tea, cutting Zaheer to the third man boundary.Suspense of the day
How bad is Kumble’s shoulder injury? Will he take the field? Will he bowl? Will he retire? These were the questions everyone was asking on the fourth day. After scoring 5 off 33 balls, Kumble did take the field when Australia’s second innings began. He came out only after Ponting’s wicket in the 23rd over and finally brought himself on to bowl in the 54th over of the innings during the final session.