Zimbabwe register exciting win

Zimbabwe 370 (Masakadza 104, Sibanda 78, Taylor 71) and 291 for 5 dec (Taylor 105*, Taibu 59) strike Bangladesh 287 (Nafees 50, Ashraful 73, Shakib 68, Vitori 4-66) and 244 by 130 runs

Zimbabwe have registered an affecting 130-run win over Bangladesh in the only Test in Harare and completed a winning return to the longer format of the game.

Returning to Test cricket after their self-imposed exile, Zimbabwe bundled out Bangladesh for 244 runs in their second innings as crazy revels began in the Harare Sports Club ground.

Bangladesh had started the day on 112 for three in pursuit of an improbable victory target of 375.

But the loss of five wickets meant Bangladesh was facing defeat and Zimbabwe was on the edge of a winning return.

Bangladesh lost Mohammad Ashraful to leave the tourists on 140 for four and still 235 runs away from recording an unlikely win.

Ashraful had put jointly a partnership of 38 with Mushfiqur Rahim before he was bowled by Brian Vitori for 39 off an inside edge.

When Bangladesh lost Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim in succeeding overs the home side closed quickly on victory.

Mahmudullah was caught by Tatenda Taibu off the bowling of Chris Mpofu for 11 and when Shakib was wedged by Brendan Taylor off Elton Chigumbura for six the visitors were reeling on 174 for six.

Mushfiqur also fell to Mpofu, this time wedged by Craig Ervine, for 28 without further addition to the scoreboard.

Abdur Razak and Shafiul Islam put on a disobedient half-century for the eighth wicket before the former was bowled by Chigumbura to go away the total on 224 for eight and Zimbabwe on the verge of victory.

Razzak had smashed 43 of those runs off just 17 balls, including five fours and three sixes, before his discharge saw Bangladesh's last hope disappear in the final over before lunch.

With four more runs added before the break the tourists were relying on Shafiul (seven not out) and Rubel Hossain, who was unbeaten on four.

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No central contract for Afridi, Kamran Akmal

Shahid Afridi, the former Pakistan captain, and Kamran Akmal, the wicketkeeper, have not been award central contract by the PCB.

Afridi retired "conditionally" from international cricket following his exclusion as captain post the tour of West Indies, while Kamran, who had established a Category A contract last year, was dropped from the national side for that tour and hasn't played since.

Younis Khan, who had been banned for disciplinary reasons following a winless tour of Australia in 2009-10 didn't feature in the contracts list last year, has been award a Category A contract along with current captain Misbah-ul-Haq, allrounder Mohammad Hafeez, spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman and seamer Umar Gul - the only player retain in the group from last year's list.

Umar Akmal and opener Imran Farhat were retaining in Category B. Also included in that grade are Abdul Razzaq, demoted from grade a last year, middle-order batsmen Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali who have proved inspiring finds for Pakistan in the last couple of years and left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz, whose exploits comprise a five-for against India in the World Cup semi-final.

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England be obliged it to Flower, Strauss

ECB's managing director, Hugh Morris, believes England's presentation against India is a result of Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss' "exceptional leadership".

Leading 2-0 in the series, England can topple India from the top mark if they win the Edgbaston Test, starting August 10.

"One of the most significant reasons is we have excellent leadership in Flower and Strauss. They've shown a clear direction and vision to the players and organization," Morris told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek' programme.

"A lot of hard work has gone in over the last few years to get us to this position. The short-term goal is to win at Edgbaston and what we've got to try and do is sustain it over a period of time," he added.

Morris said both Flower and Strauss would be significant for the development of English cricket in the coming years.

"Very recently, Andy dedicated his future to England cricket. We always said that after the Ashes and World Cup we would sit down and begin to plot a plan over the next period of time," Morris said.

"He's on a staff-employment agreement, he's got a long-term notice period to that contract and he's very dedicated to the post," he added.

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RP Singh: I won't let down selectors

Left-arm pacer Rudra Pratap Singh, who has replaced Zaheer Khan for the rest of the England tour, believes he will justify selectors' faith.

"Ever since Zaheer bhai walked out of the Lord's Test holding his hamstring, I was hopeful about my probability of making it to the Indian team.

"I know I have been away from international cricket for some time now, but I have been maintaining my fitness and bowling a lot in the nets. I can vouch, I am match fit and will not disappoint the selectors," RP said from Delhi, where he is making preparations to fly off to England.

Seeing the plight of the Indian bowling on the ongoing tour, many former English cricketers have been enquiring about the Rae-B areily Express, because when India had last visited England in 2007, Zaheer (18 wickets) and RP (12) had troubled the English batting line-up.

The duo along with Anil Kumble (14) had ensured India's 1-0 series success in the three-match series. RP's problem lies in being mentally prepared for a huge task of propping up a stressed team, particularly as he last played a Test match over three years ago.

In 2008, after failing to make a crash in Chennai and Motera against South Africa, he was dropped for the Kanpur Test and thereafter ousted from the Indian team in total, despite skipper MS Dhoni's strong plea for his inclusion.

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Wasim Akram: Sachin will score 100th ton

Wasim Akram feel the fourth Test at The Oval will provide Sachin Tendulkar with a perfect opportunity to achieve the milestone of scoring 100 international centuries.

Akram is, however, not sure if the champion batsman would be able to get to the marker in the third Test at Edgbaston, where the ball swings around, and the force would be on India to come back into the series.

"I think Tendulkar will reach the landmark in the fourth Test at the oval where he has the best possibility of creating history. But I have no doubt he will get this milestone and become the first batsman to accomplish this record," Akram told reporters in Karachi.

He was in the city to attend the opening of a T20 corporate event being organized by former captain and close friend, Moin Khan at a brand new ground in the posh Defence Housing Society area.

Akram said the force comes from the fact that Tendulkar is standing on the threshold of achieve a landmark no cricketer has come close to in the history of the game.

"There has been so much publicity and build up to this series and mainly around Tendulkar's milestone that clearly the pressure must be felt by the great batsman. Even the greatest of batsman feel the pressure in such situations."

Akram said Tendulkar had not batted badly so far in the series, allowing for the conditions in England.

"You require a bit of luck in English conditions where the ball does a lot and unfortunately he has not got that bit of luck. But I think his best chance of scoring his 100th international hundred will be at the Oval," he added.

The pacer, who has played a number of times next to Tendulkar, said there was no uncertainty about the greatness of the Indian.

"To be able to score 100th international hundreds is an wonderful achievement and I don't see anyone coming close to it for a long long time," Akram said.

India, who have lost the first two Tests by huge margins, are grapple with several fitness issues with top players like Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh down with injuries.

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Prior credit England's team strength

England wicket-keeper Matt Prior, who has played some crucial knocks next to India, qualified their accomplishment to new-found "resilience" and "team spirit".

Prior said when England were stressed at 124 for eight in the first innings of the second Test at Trent Bridge, his mind went back to 2007 when they faced a similar circumstances against India and broken up on the losing side.

"When we were 128 for eight in the first innings, and it felt like we could have potentially lost the game on the first day, my opinion went straight back to '07.

"That was a bad Test match for England and we involved headline for the wrong reasons - a crushing beat and high jinks with jelly beans. This time it was very different and was probably the best win I have been concerned in with England," Prior wrote in his column in the Daily Telegraph.

Prior, who scored a century in the first Test at Lord's, has been a vital cog in England batting in the series with 247 runs in four innings at an average of 82.33.

"We showed flexibility at Trent Bridge against India and that is a recompense for the hard work we put in to our training. Success breeds confidence, but you need something else to kick-start that. You can't just rely on winning."

"Our hardiness comes from the amount of hard work we put in as a team. The precision that goes into our training for every Test leaves the guys feeling very sure before the match has even started."

Prior credited the success of the team to their meticulous training that has imbibed team spirit and made every member accountable for the team.

"We know, as a team, we have done everything we perhaps can to prepare and the rest is down to a bit of luck and having your day. That comes from hard work in nets."

"It helps to build our team spirit because you always feel sure someone will pull out a performance when we most need it. Thanks to the way we get ready, no one goes to the wicket feeling under force. They just go out and play their normal game.

That shows the confidence the dressing room has to rebound back from a bad start and that is precisely what happened at Trent Bridge."

Prior said he is happy to give to the team's victory.

"Before the series starts I always look at the 'keeper I am up against. You forever want to beat your conflicting number.

"Obviously MS Dhoni is a class act and it is a nice challenge to put yourself up against him. I am very happy with how it is going but the significant thing is keeping the constancy going. That is the challenge for all of us now."

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Zimbabwe balanced for historic win

Bangladesh 287 and 112 for 3 (Tamim 43) require another 263 runs to strike Zimbabwe 370 and 291 for 5 dec (Taylor 105*, Taibu 59)

An exciting final day's play is in prospect in the one-off Test between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in Harare.

The hosts affirmed on 291 for five in their second innings, leaving Bangladesh needing a tough 375 runs to secure victory.

By the close of play, the visitors were 112 for three - need another 263 runs for an improbable success.

Zimbabwe in progress the fourth day 92 for four - and made good progress before declare at tea.

Captain Brendan Taylor led by instance with an unbeaten 105, Tatenda Taibu weighed in with 59 and Craig Ervine scored 35, sharing in an steady stand of 86 for the sixth wicket with Taylor in less than 18 overs.

The only wicket to fall happen when Taibu departed in the 75th over for 59, with the score on 202, when he hit a Shafiul Islam delivery directly to Robiul Islam at extra cover.

Zimbabwe affirmed at tea, giving Bangladesh four sessions to reach their aim - and the visitors started well with Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes put on 65 for the opening wicket inside 14 overs.

However, the get through came when Tamim shouldered arms and saw his off stump uproot by a Chris Mpofu release.

Kayes follow in the 22nd over, with the score on 87, when he fended at a Kyle Jarvis delivery and was snap up behind by wicketkeeper Taibu for 31.

And Bangladesh's hope took a further knock with the last ball of the 26th over when Shahriar Nafees was on his way for nine, his middle stump detached by Jarvis.

Captain Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur Rahim averted further troubles in the final four overs, send-off plenty to play for on the final day.

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