'That's the only way I play cricket'

Thursday, October 13, 2011 Amol Karhadkar - "I am an instinctive player. When I feel like going for a shot, I back myself to do it." The moment you hear these words, you are reminded of Virender Sehwag, the hotshot India opener. On Tuesday night, it wasn't the Delhi Dazzler speaking the "instinctive truth". It was Robin Uthappa, the Karnataka batsman who has been trying to regain his place in the national squad he lost over three years back. Uthappa has played 71 First Class matches, scoring 4693 runs at an average of 40.45 with 11 100s and 27 50s. © AFP When he spoke about his instinctive trait, it was in response to a query regarding his atrocious shot-selection against India Red in the Challenger Series, which resulted in his throwing away a splendid start for the umpteenth time. But the Indian Green opener soon realised he needs to do more than score an aggressive fifty to attract the selectors' attention. "Need to focus a little more and not give it away," he told HT. On Wednesday, the Bangalorean turned out in his best avatar, keeping faith in his aggressive style of batting. The whirlwind 132 off just 103 balls against India Blue in a virtual semifinal not only set up his team's victory but also made the selectors realise that he was not a spent force. An on-song Uthappa is a treat for any cricket lover - the burly batsman is one of the most fluent exponents of straight drive on the domestic circuit. And, he played his favourite stroke at will. It didn't matter whether the bowler was Irfan Pathan, Pragyan Ojha or Amit Mishra, he kept hitting them straight till he retired at the end of the 23rd over after raising his bat for a memorable century, his third in the Challenger Series. On Tuesday, when HT had asked him whether it was difficult to curb his instinct in an important tournament like the Challenger Series, he had said, "I have played cricket only one way all my life. It's better for me to continue playing the way I have been playing. If I play like (Rahul) Dravid or (S) Badrinath, I won't be very successful." At that point, it appeared as if the 25-year-old was overconfident about his abilities. Wednesday's knock put the confusion to rest.

Pakistan upstage Sri Lanka for Twenty20 clean sweep

Abu Dhabi: Pakistan put up another clinical performance to win the only Twenty20 by five wickets against Sri Lanka at Abu Dhabi stadium on Friday, blanking their rivals in all three forms of the game. Misbah-ul-Haq hit an unbeaten 48 off 38 balls to guide Pakistan to a tense five-wicket win over Sri Lanka. © AFP Paceman Aizaz Cheema took 4-30 to bowl Sri Lanka out for 141 in 19.3 overs before skipper Misbah-ul Haq kept his nerves with a fighting unbeaten 48 to help his team chase down the target with three balls to spare. The victory capped a remarkable performance by Pakistan who won the preceding three-Test series 1-0 and the five-match one-day series 4-1. Misbah, who hit three boundaries and a six off 38 balls, added 46 for the fourth wicket with Asad Shafiq (33) after Pakistan lost their way in persuit of the target. They lost Mohammad Hafeez (13), Imran Farhat (13) and Umar Akmal for a first ball duck. Shafiq hit three boundaries during his run-a-ball knock before he was bowled by Lasith Malinga. Misbah hit Dilruwan Perera for a huge six and when 43 needed off the last four overs, the Pakistani captain hit three boundaries in Dilhara Fernando's 17th over of the innings. When Pakistan needed 23 off the last two overs Afridi hit Fernando for two sixes over deep mid-wicket before the paceman had him caught behind. Pakistan needed nine off the last over bowled by Malinga whose first ball saw two taken by Misbah but the ensuing throw went for four before Shoaib Malik knocked off the winning runs. Earlier Cheema took 4-30 in a superb display of swing bowling to derail Sri Lanka who had looked set to put up a big total on the back of maiden Twenty20 half-century by Dinesh Chandimal. Aizaz Cheema took 4-30 in a superb display of swing bowling to derail Sri Lanka who had looked set to put up a big total on the back of maiden Twenty20 half-century by Dinesh Chandimal. © AFP Chandimal had looked threatening during his 44-ball 56, hitting six boundaries and added a firey 31 for the second wicket with skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan (28) before Cheema came into his own. Sri Lanka were off to a flying start of 30 by the third over before losing opener Upul Tharanga, bowled by Cheema for 12. Dilshan miscued a drive off spinner Saeed Ajmal in the sixth over but Sri Lanka still had a ten run avergae by the sixth over. Pakistani bowlers led by Cheema, playing only his second Tewnty20 match, checked Sri Lankan innings as they lost their last seven wickets for 54 runs. Chandimal brought up his maiden half-century in the shortest form of the game off 40 balls before Cheema had him in the 19th over of the innings, trapped leg-before. Cheema also had Thissara Perera (nought) and Malinga (one) to finish his four-over spell. Sri Lanka's poor batting was not helped by two run outs of Angelo Mathews (14) and Chamara Silva (four). Umar Gul polished off the tail with 2-16. Pakistan fly off to Dhaka on Saturday to play a Twenty20, three one-day internationals and two Tests. The Twenty20 will be played in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Injured Yusuf doubtful for rest of Ranji season

Vadodara: India discard Yusuf Pathan risk missing the remaining Ranji Trophy season as the Baroda allrounder has suffered a hair-line fracture in his knee. Yusuf, who is vice captain of Baroda, suffered the injury during the last Ranji match against Haryana while attempting a catch off the bowling of his younger brother Irfan.

Yusuf Pathan has suffered a hair-line fracture in his knee. © AFP

Baroda Cricket Association Secretary Snehal Parikh said that Yusuf, an explosive batsman and a spinner, has been advised four to six weeks' rest.

Yusuf Pathan has suffered a hair-line fracture in his knee.

"This knee injury was confirmed by a specialist doctor of the Board in Mumbai. He has advised him four to six week rest. The injury was noticed by team's physiotherapist and MRI was carried out and specialist doctor was consulted in Mumbai," Parikh told PTI.

"As of now, it is not known when he will be fit. So, he may miss remaining match of this Ranji season," he added.

Utkarsh Patel has replaced Yusuf in the side for the next match against Delhi, starting on Tuesday. Yusuf played in all the three previous Ranji matches -- against Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana.

His brother Irfan has replaced him as vice captain of the team. Baroda will also miss services of seamer Murtuza Vahora who had suffered a thigh injury while attempting a sweep shot in the match against Haryana.

Vahora, who has been replaced by all-rounder Abhijit Karambelkar, is expected to be fit to play against Gujarat from December 10.