Harbhajan Singh emerged as India’s unlikely batting hero when he scored his maiden hundred to bail the hosts out of a tight situation for a draw in the first Test against New Zealand yesterday.
Harbhajan, who had hit a career-best 69 in the first innings, combined in a 163-run partnership with Vangipurappu Laxman for the seventh wicket and put paid to any hopes the visitors had of winning.
A fiery spell of fast bowling by Chris Martin had reduced India to 15 for five on Sunday and it required dogged innings from Laxman (91) and Harbhajan (115) to arrest the collapse.
Resuming on a precarious 82 for six, India finished their second innings on 266, setting New Zealand a target of 295 runs from 24 overs.
The visitors lost Tim McIntosh for a golden duck to Zaheer Khan and reached 22 for one before the captains settled for a draw.
Harbhajan brought up his ton by lofting New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori over the long-off boundary to bring the crowd at the Sardar Patel Stadium to their feet.
“I never dreamt I would be man of the match in Test matches for my batting, but it’s fantastic to get my first Test hundred,” Harbhajan said at the presentation ceremony.
TAIWAN SIXES
By Grant Dexter
Contributing reporter,
with staff writer
Taiwan Southerners Cricket Club (TSCC) denied Pakistan Cricket Club Taipei (PCCT) a fourth consecutive Taiwan Sixes championship by beating them in the final in Chiayi on Sunday afternoon. The win came on the back of explosive innings from captain and MVP Duane Christie (31 not out) and Graham Terblanche (28 not out) which saw them to 87 off the five overs available to them.
Rehan Raheem (31 not out) led the PCCT response with his own brand of power hitting and captain Mujahid Muhammad cracked four fours to provide real impetus to the chase. However, Roy Horgan picked up the only wicket of the match when he bowled Muhammad in what was probably the defining moment of the game.
PCCT required 17 from the final over. It went down to the last ball with a boundary needed, but PCCT could only manage a single.
Earlier, PCCT beat the Pakistan Badshaws in one semi-final, comfortably chasing down 50 to claim the win. TSCC beat the Swingers in the other semi.
Bowl Trophy champions Swingers beat Formosa Cricket Club and the Oddfellows in an impressive weekend for them.
The Oddfellows downed the Baboons in the Plate Trophy final after the X-Bats failed to turn up.
For more information on upcoming tournaments check out the ‘Taiwan Cricket’ Facebook page.
WICKETKEEPER MISSING
AFP, DUBAI, united arab emirates
Pakistan cricket authorities said they will investigate the case of wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider, who left the team’s hotel in Dubai and did not come to the ground for yesterday’s one-day international against South Africa.
“On Monday morning, Haider left the team hotel without informing any member of the team and the management. Haider was in possession of his passport and there are indications that he has left for London,” a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) release said.
The PCB release said they had informed the Dubai Police about Haider’s disappearance.
Haider sent a SMS text message to a Pakistani journalist and posted a message on his Facebook page which both read: “leaving Pakistan cricket because get bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game.”
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