TAHIR TAKES FIVE AS PROTEAS SEE OFF ZIMBABWE

EAST LONDON: Leg-spinner Imran Tahir bowled South Africa to a 34-run win in the first T20I against Zimbabwe at Buffalo Park on Tuesday. Tahir took 5/23 as South Africa, defending 160/6, bowled out the tourists for 126. The damage was done in the first four overs as Tahir took the first three wickets. He came back later to take two wickets off successive balls to reduce Zimbabwe to 65/6. Peter Moor scored a quickfire 44 off 21 balls but it didn’t prove enough. Earlier, Rassie van der Dussen scored 56 for the hosts.

Mumbai ODI to be decided today, Kolkata to stage T20

MUMBAI: A decision on whether the October 29 ODI between India and West Indies will be played at the Wankhede will be taken on Thursday at a meeting between the CEOS of BCCI and Mumbai unit. While BCCI has decided to foot the entire match expenses, it remains to be seen whether the Mumbai unit CEO agrees to take up the responsibility of floating tenders. Last week some MCA officials had petitioned the Bombay High Court to let them form an ad-hoc body to hold the match. The matter is in the Supreme Court. It is learnt the Bengal unit has confirmed to BCCI it will host the first T20 on Nov 4 after the Board agreed to give half its share of complimentary tickets. However, the third T20 in Chennai may be shifted out as the Tamil Nadu unit has said it needs 8,000 of the total 24,000 complimentary passes.

Rain washes out first Sri Lankaengland ODI

DAMBULLA: England’s first One-day International against Sri Lanka was abandoned following heavy rains in Dambulla on Wednesday. England managed to score 92-2 in 15 overs, with Akila Dananjaya and Nuwan Pradeep claiming the wickets of Jason Roy (24) and Jonny Bairstow (25) respectively. Joe Root (25) and Eoin Morgan (14) were scheduled to return for England once the rain cleared but the match was called off as the bad weather continued. The teams will stay in Dambulla for the second of the five-game series on Saturday.