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Sri Lanka is fast emerging as the likeliest venue to host a shortened bilateral series between Pakistan and India. Sri Lanka Cricket has been sounded out by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and appear very keen to host the series.Things have moved fast since BCCI president Shashank Manohar and PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan met at the ICC headquarters in Dubai on Sunday afternoon to break the deadlock over where the series should be held. The BCCI has made no comment as yet on the meeting, and Manohar left Dubai this morning to return to India.Shaharyar left too, and was meant to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore on Monday, to brief him on the discussions in Dubai. But the meeting could not take place as Sharif was busy. “I could not meet him as he was very occupied with various things, so I will communicate to him in writing all that transpired at the meeting,” Khan said. He also pointed out that he would not be travelling back to Dubai on November 25, as originally planned, to meet ECB president Giles Clarke, who is acting as a mediator between PCB and BCCI.*Shaharyar and Najam Sethi, PCB’s head of executive committee, had come out of the Dubai meeting sounding optimistic, but they did not divulge any details. Those were supposed to be provided by Clarke at a media briefing today in Dubai but it is understood that will not happen. The ICC also confirmed there was no media conference scheduled.The biggest hurdle to the series was the venue: the BCCI had made it clear that it would not play Pakistan anywhere else but in India. Rejecting that offer, the PCB responded by saying the memorandum of understanding signed by both countries in 2014 clearly stated India would travel to the UAE. Then, last Friday, Shaharyar added that the final decision would be taken by the Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.The UAE has not been dropped as a venue, officially speaking, but Manohar’s opposition to play there remained. So holding the series in neutral ground like Sri Lanka was one of the proposals the PCB placed at the Dubai meeting. Also with South Africa’s tour of India finishing on December 7 and India travelling to Australia for a limited-overs series from January 12, both boards decided to modify the original schedule. The best possible option was playing three ODIs and two T20Is. In the ICC FTP Pakistan are listed to host India for a full tour comprising two Tests, five ODIs and two T20Is.According to an official privy to the details of the meeting, a final decision on the series would be made by November 27. He added that dates and stadiums haven’t been chalked out yet but indicated the matches would be played towards the latter part of December to avoid washouts.A Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) official said Khettarama and Pallekele were the likeliest venues to host the tour. It has rained almost daily in both Colombo and Kandy this month, but the weather is expected to clear towards the end of December. The northeast monsoon typically tapers off quicker in these cities than in Hambantota or Dambulla.There is a potential clash since Khettarama is scheduled to host domestic T20 matches on December 23rd and 30th, but those games may be moved elsewhere. Pallekele’s schedule is wide open in the window for the Pakistan-India series.Since Pakistan would play the host, the series would be broadcast by Ten Sports. No official from Ten was available for comment. Although no definite plans have been made yet, the Sri Lankan official said SLC would expect significant compensation for the use of their stadiums.*12.30GMT, November 23: This article was updated.

An outstanding, unbeaten century from AB de Villiers enabled South Africa to become just the fourth side to come from 2-0 down to win an ODI series after defeating England by five wickets in another enthralling, if error-strewn, match in Cape Town.On a couple of occasions, first as Reece Topley claimed three wickets in nine deliveries and then as England’s spinners provoked a hiccup in mid-innings, it seemed South Africa may buckle under the pressure of chasing their modest target in the fifth and final game.But, in the end, the class of de Villiers, proved decisive. The South Africa captain, playing his 200th ODI, made a sparkling century – the 24th of his career – to lead his side to victory with 36 balls remaining and ensure they did not lose the ODI and Test portions of a home season to the same opposition for the first time since 2001-02.It was not just de Villiers’ extravagant ability to put away the poor ball that made the difference. It was his composure. In a match characterised by missed opportunities and reckless batting, de Villiers was one of the few to combine restraint with his natural positivity.So while England were, for the second match in succession, bowled out within their 50 overs as punishment for some reckless batting, de Villiers attacked with discretion. And while Farhaan Behardien was lured into clubbing to mid-on and Rilee Rossouw, who replaced JP Duminy in the South Africa side, drove to short cover, de Villiers waited for the poor ball and was happy to play out a few dot balls safe in the knowledge that his side had plenty of time.That result – both of the game and the series – represented scant reward for Alex Hales. After four half-centuries – including an innings of 99 at Port Elizabeth – in the first four matches of the series, Hales became the fifth England player to register five successive scores of 50 or more in ODI cricket. The previous four were Geoff Boycott, Graham Gooch, Alec Stewart and Jonathan Trott. None of them had managed it in the same series.Here Hales, with his second and highest ODI century, was the only man to reach 30 as England failed to exploit a frenetic display in the field from South Africa and failed to show the composure required on a pitch offering the bowlers some assistance. It helped Hales finish the series as the leading run-scorer on either side (he amassed 383 runs at an average of 76.60) but he lacked the support to earn England a commanding position.The frustration, from an England perspective, will be that South Africa did not bowl especially well. With de Villiers winning an important toss – rain had kept the pitch under covers until about 30 minutes before the start of an overcast morning – the bowlers benefited from some assistance.AB de Villiers recorded his 24th ODI hundred•Getty Images

But instead of maintaining a tight off stump line and full length, they instead unleashed a barrage of short deliveries and struggled to maintain the tight line that might have brought them greater rewards. Chris Morris, while the quickest of the attack, also conceded four of the 11 wides.Imran Tahir, introduced into the attack in just the fifth over, trapped Jason Roy – beaten a leg break that gripped and hit him on the back leg – with his sixth delivery, while Joe Root was unable to punish Hashim Amla for dropping him on 12 and was adjudged leg before, after a review, when he missed an attempted sweep against the same bowler. Eoin Morgan’s modest series with the bat – he averaged 12.80 – ended when he gave himself room and could only edge a wide delivery outside off stump.While Ben Stokes and Hales were putting on 70 in 11 overs, it appeared South Africa may have squandered their opportunity. But when Stokes, moving across his stumps, was bowled round his legs by Kagiso Rabada, it precipitated a decline that saw England lose five wickets for 37 runs in nine overs in mid-innings.Jos Buttler, beautifully set up by a field that suggested a short ball, was slow to react to the full ball that followed from Rabada and played on, before Moeen Ali, attempting to hit over the top when the situation – with more than 15 overs remaining – required retrenchment, was brilliantly caught at cover. Chris Woakes chipped a half-volley outside leg stump directly to the fielder on the fine leg fence and Adil Rashid then attempted to clear the in field – an unnecessary risk with so much of the innings remaining – and gifted a simple catch to mid-off.Not for the first time, the thought occurred that, for all England’s admirable dynamism and boldness in recent times – and it is worth remembering that is exactly 12 months since they produced a timid performance in their opening match of the World Cup – it might prove rather more successful if it was allied to some common sense and match awareness.On this surface, a total of 280 may well have proved enough, but in attempting to score 320, they left themselves requiring a miracle. They were, once again, the Blackjack player that keeps saying ‘hit me’ until they have a perfect 21. A more sophisticated approach may serve them better.Hales, once again showing the maturity to complement his natural positivity, put away the wayward deliveries – and there were many – with customarily sweet timing to keep his side in the game. Strong off his legs, strong on the cut and pull, he also drove fluently. The on drive that brought up his century, a beautifully timed shot, was reminiscent of the stroke that brought Boycott his 100th hundred.He enjoyed some fortune. He utilised a review, on 20, when umpire Johan Cloete thought he had edged a delivery off Morris – reward, as much as anything, for Hales persuading Roy not to squander the review on his leg-before dismissal – and reached his 50 with an inside edge that flew perilously close to the stumps on its way to the fine leg boundary. Twice more he was slightly late on yorkers, but got enough bat on the ball to squirt the ball past the stumps or slips.Within eight overs of the South Africa reply Topley had three wickets and South Africa were 22 for 3. Quinton de Kock was caught behind – England reviewing a decision that was originally given as not out – before Faf du Plessis was beaten by a beautiful inswinging yorker first ball and Rossouw mistimed a slower ball to cover.But first with Amla and then with David Wiese, who took the pressure off his captain with a thumping 41 off 32 balls, de Villiers kept his head when all others were losing theirs and saw his side to a victory that should restore some confidence going into the T20I section of the tour and the World T20 that follows.

Northamptonshire escaped any penalty for the state of their Wantage Road pitch after Matthew Hayden staged a batting masterclass to leave his Northamptonshire side in charge against Essex.The tall Australian cracked a six and 17 fours in his magnificent 164 off 260 balls as Northants closed on 337 for seven, a lead of 104 with two days remaining.And Hayden’s men were able to celebrate their promotion into Division One, albeit 24 hours late, following the ECB pitch panel’s decision not to order a deduction of points.Phil Sharpe, the Board’s Pitch Liason Officer, said: “During the cricket on the first day the ball turned sufficiently to warrant a further inspection, and I asked for a second opinion.””Having seen the cricket on the second day, along with Alan Smith, we came to the conclusion that this was not a substandard pitch and did not warrant a rating of poor.”Hayden and David Sales (61) posted 122 in 34 overs for the third wicket after off-spinner Tim Mason had removed Adrian Rollins and Jeff Cook cheaply.Sales struck nine boundaries in his 109-ball knock before edging Peter Such to slip, but Hayden powered on and gave a superb demonstration of footwork and concentration, securing three batting bonus points.”It has been a stressful day for us. Now we can celebrate a bit,” commented Northants’ relieved Director of Cricket Bob Carter when the panel’s findings were eventually announced shortly after tea.

Matthew Bell and Iain O’Brien have been handed New Zealand Cricket contracts for the remainder of the season. The pair were given deals that expire on May 31 as they took over the contracts vacated by Shane Bond and Lou Vincent, who joined the Indian Cricket League.Bell bounced back into the Test team in January after an absence of more than six years and he immediately impressed with 107 against Bangladesh. However, his results against England – 19, 0, 0 and 29 – have been less inspiring.O’Brien also enjoyed a strong series against Bangladesh, collecting seven wickets at 16.57, but a toe injury has kept him out of the first two Tests against England. The contract list for the 2008-09 season is likely to be finalised before New Zealand set off for their tour of England in late April.

ScorecardAn attacking knock of 48 off 28 deliveries from captain Younis Khan took Abbottabad Falcons to a last-ball five-wicket win against Karachi Zebras at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. Chasing 136, they had lost four wickets for 71 runs in the 13th over, needing 68 off 43 balls, before Younis dominated his stands with Baber Khan, and later Khalid Usman, and kept them in the hunt. Karachi seamer Tabish Khan bowled economically, giving away 18 runs in his four overs.After being put in to bat, Karachi kept losing wickets regularly. By the seventh over, four of their top-order batsmen had been dismissed. However, a fighting 73-run stand in quick time between Daniyal Ahsan and Sheharyar Ghani helped them build a solid platform for acceleration towards the end. But that didn’t happen, as they lost their last six wickets for 19 runs, due to wickets by Amjad Waqas, Junaid Khan and spinner Khalid Usman, who took three wickets in the innings, and two run outs.Abbottabad were in control of the chase at 67 for 2, with opener Hammad Ali having scored 35. Two quick wickets and slow scoring pegged them back, before Younis played his match-winning hand.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA solid combined batting effort and a four-wicket haul by left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar ensured Multan Tigers’ convincing 42-run victory against Sialkot Stallions. Sialkot’s chances of chasing down 156 were blown away early when Zulfiqar, and seamers Mohammad Irfan and Kashif Naved left them struggling at 29 for 5 in the eighth over. Although captain Shoaib Malik and No. 7 Nayyar Abbas stuck together till the 12th over to repair the damage, and Nayyar tried to steer the innings towards some respectability in the company of the lower-order batsmen, the target proved too far off.Multan’s innings revolved around two productive partnerships, and three knocks worth over 30 runs each by opener Sohaib Maqsood, wicketkeeper Gulraiz Sadaf and Naved Yasin, who remained unbeaten. They also suffered a setback early in their innings, when opener Zain Abbas was dismissed for four in the third over. But a 44-run stand between Maqsood and Sadaf, and a 54-run stand in 5.1 overs between Yasin and Kashif Naved took them to 155 for 7 after 20 overs.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAfter a slow start, captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Imran Khalid helped Faisalabad Wolves chase 136 in 18.2 overs and defeat Peshawar Panthers by seven wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium. The duo, having been together at the crease since the 11th over, did not hit a single boundary till the 13th over, when the required run rate had gone beyond eight per over. An expensive 14th over, in which four boundaries were hit, and the 16th over, of which 11 runs were taken, made the chase easier. Needing 18 runs off 18 deliveries, two fours, a six, and five singles took them home with ten balls to spare.Peshawar, it seemed, paid the price for the want of better acceleration in their innings. Their innings run rate could have been higher than the eventual 6.75 per over, as they had lost only four wickets after 20 overs. Opener Israrullah scored a half-century, Shoaib Khan snr scored an unbeaten 24 off 30 deliveries. At 107 for 4 at the end of the 18th over, middle-order batsman Zohaib Khan smashed three sixes and eight fours to take his team to 135 for 4.
ScorecardImranullah Aslam was the star of the chase as Bahawalpur Eagles overhauled Lahore Eagles’ total with eight wickets in hand and continued their unbeaten run in the tournament. Imranullah shared a quick half-century stand for the first wicket with Hamid Ali and then added 38 runs for the second wicket with Kashif Siddiq. By the time he was out, for 60 off 46 balls, the Stags needed 33 off 43 balls. Kashif ensured that there was no further damage as the chase was completed with 17 balls to spare.Eagles, after choosing to bat, were in early trouble as they lost three wickets with 30 runs on the board in the sixth over. But skipper Taufeeq Umar scored a half-century and shared a 74-run stand with Raza Ali Dar to revive the innings. The lower order, however, crumbled again and Eagles were limited to 136.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA collective bowling performance by Lahore Lions helped them defeat Quetta Bears by 44 runs. Although Quetta’s left-arm spinners Jalat Khan and Mohibullah took three wickets each to restrict Lahore to 130 for 9, their batsmen let them down.Lahore’s innings was built on productive knocks by the top five batsmen, all scoring between 19 and 26 runs, which helped them to 109 for 4. But they too collapsed, as the last five batsmen scored 16 run between them. Opener Nasir Jamshed was the highest scorer in the match with 26.Quetta went about their chase slowly, but two quick wickets in the 10th and 11th overs pegged them back. Three more batsmen were dismissed quickly, but after having lost seven wickets for 69 in the 15th over, they scored a further 17 runs off the remaining deliveries. Their run rate at the end of the game was 4.30 runs per over.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAn unbeaten half-century by Shoaib Ahmed was the highlight of Rawalpindi Rams 19-run win against Hyderabad Hawks at the Gaddafi Stadium. Shoaib shared a 75-run stand with captain Sohail Tanvir that lifted the team from a tricky 63 for 4. After Tanvir’s dismissal, Shoaib carried on the acceleration as 61 came off the last five overs.In their chase, Aqeel Anjum and Rizwan Ahmed put up 56 runs for the third wicket, but the lack of boundaries in the partnership pushed the required scoring rate up. Once Rizwan fell, the incoming batsmen were not able to keep up with the rate and lost their wickets. Aqeel, who scored an unbeaten 75 off 48 balls, remained unbeaten as the team fell short by 19 runs.

James Anderson has been ruled out of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Durban due to a calf strain.Anderson reported tightness in his right calf muscle on Monday evening and underwent a scan on Tuesday morning. The strain was confirmed on Thursday, following the ECB medical team’s evaluation of the scan.It is not thought to be a serious injury and England remain hopeful that he will be fit for the second Test, which starts in Cape Town on January 2, although there are only two days between the Tests which puts time at a premium.Anderson joined his team-mates on the outfield on Thursday morning but did not join in a jogging session at the start of the session. Instead, he glumly kicked a football around with the bowling coach Ottis Gibson.The rest of the squad, including Steven Finn, were declared fit for the Test match though Joe Root missed training on Thursday due to an upset stomach.”If you talk to Jimmy, he feels he could have played here,” Stuart Broad said. “It’s just a slight niggle, but the management decided it really wasn’t worth the risk in the first Test. There’s a feeling he’ll be okay for Cape Town.’We do know this is a four-Test series and we want him to play a part in it. We’ve got such depth in the squad there’s not the need to take a risk. He’s disappointed but with the strength in depth we’ve got in this group it’s not a hammer blow to us.”It seems the beneficiary of Anderson’s injury is likely to be Chris Woakes. Woakes, who played the last of his four Tests in August 2014, trained with the likely team on Thursday, while Mark Footitt, Chris Jordan and Gary Ballance trained in a separate group for part of the session.Head coach Trevor Bayliss said that much onus now rested with Broad to lead the attack. “From Stuart’s point of view we’ve got an obvious replacement as leader of the attack there and I’m sure he would show that he could handle that as he didagainst Australia in the fourth Test,” Bayliss said. “It’s always a concern if your leading bowler or leading batter misses a game, but the last time Jimmy missed one we did pretty well.”James Anderson has his sights set on Cape Town•Getty Images

The last game Anderson missed – and he will now have missed three of England’s last six Tests – was at The Oval where Australia won.But Broad was encouraged by a look at the Durban wicket, which he feels might add seam movement and reverse swing.”I’m useless at judging a cricket wicket,” Broad said. “I wanted to bat at Trent Bridge.”But there is patchiness and that’s interesting as a bowler because when it doesn’t look completely smooth you know there could be some different bounce off the different parts of the wicket. From six years ago, I remember the cracks offered a bit in second innings.”All the talk is about dryness and I remember reverse swing last time. So it’s important we take on the lessons from the UAE because our seamers over there bowled really nicely. If we get any chance to reverse it, then we must throw ourselves into it as a team, because the ball moving sideways means you’re in the game.”Talk from the groundstaff also suggested a hard pitch full of runs, but with some concern that a continuation of the very hot weather could possibly see it break up later. For all the talk about Anderson, the spinners may have a significant say in the outcome of the match.Anderson, even if fit for Cape Town, may be underprepared. He has bowled only five overs in match situations on the tour so far and he would need some flat-out training sessions around the New Year to offset his lack of bowling.It seems Anderson had been aware of a tightness in his calf throughout the tour, but felt the situation deteriorate after attempting to bowl flat out in training on Monday afternoon.Anderson, now aged 33 and a veteran of 110 Tests, was also forced out of the Ashes series at the halfway point due to a side strain. He missed the final two Tests having been forced off the pitch mid-over during the third Test at Edgbaston.While his long-term fitness record remains outstanding – since the start of 2012, only the spinner Rangana Herath has bowled more overs in international cricket – there will be a concern that his heavy workload is starting to catch up with him.Anderson’s status as leader of England’s attack remains unquestioned, however. Although Stuart Broad performed brilliantly in his absence in the Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, Anderson was immaculate during the recent tour of the UAE. In conditions offering him little, he conceded fewer than two runs an over and claimed his 13 wickets – more than any seamer on either side – at just 15.61 apiece.Woakes, the likely replacement, was pencilled in to the side anyway before Finn proved his fitness somewhat ahead of schedule during the tour match at Pietermaritzburg.England’s preparation for the Test series against South Africa had appeared to be progressing remarkably smoothly. They crushed the South Africa A side by an innings in their final warm-up game and, as well as Finn proving his fitness, there have been runs for all the top six and wickets for the spinner, Moeen Ali. Anderson’s absence has taken the gloss off such promising beginnings.Ben Stokes was probably the most impressive batsman in the nets on Thursday. One of the net bowlers was forced to seek medical assistance when struck by an especially fearsome straight drive, while Footitt, bowling at sharp pace, made a late bid for inclusion. Alex Hales, on the brink of his Test debut, looked nervous and was dismissed on a couple of occasions.

The Women’s Big Bash League has continued to gain strong support, with the Ten Network confirming it will now provide television coverage of the tournament semi-finals and also move two of the remaining three matches to its main channel.Each semi-final is to be played as a double-header with the men’s semis, and will be broadcast on the network’s digital channel One. That brings the number of games being broadcast up to 10 from eight.The Sydney derby between the Sixers and the Thunder on Saturday January 16 will be shown on Channel Ten, as will the final on Sunday January 24, which will serve as part of a double-header with the men’s final.The move comes after Ten moved last week’s Melbourne derby to its main channel and was rewarded with impressive ratings figures, a peak audience of 439,000 viewers nationally and an average of 372,000. Other matches had been shown on one of Ten’s digital multi-channels, but the network’s sport executive David Barham said the WBBL was proving to be a hit.”Network Ten is a big supporter of women’s sport,” Barham said. “We are putting the same resources into the WBBL broadcasts as we are for the men’s games and it is certainly proving to be a hit. We are thrilled with the WBBL ratings to date and are excited to be working with Cricket Australia on this initiative. It is a very exciting time for women’s cricket and women’s sport as a whole.”The post-game coverage for the remaining three broadcast matches will also be extended by half an hour. Cricket Australia is also reportedly in discussions with the Nine Network about the possibility of moving the upcoming three women’s T20 internationals between Australia and India onto its main channel.”This is another significant step forward for women’s sport and in particular women’s cricket in Australia,” Ben Amarfio, Cricket Australia’s executive general manager – media, communications and marketing, said. “We want as many people to be exposed to the game, so to have another two WBBL matches move to Ten’s primary channel is a great endorsement for the growing appeal of women’s cricket.”There is a proven TV appetite with the five WBBL broadcast matches so far this season averaging a TV audience of just under 250,000 across Ten’s secondary and primary channels, including a record national average of 372,000 tuning in for the women’s Melbourne derby last weekend.”We are committed to embracing all Australians and promoting cricket as being a female-friendly environment. Network Ten has been a great supporter and is playing a key role in inspiring females to understand that cricket is a game for girls and women too.”

Division One

Nottinghamshire became the first side to notch a win in 2008’s Championship with a comprehensive rout of Kent, who were beaten by 10 wickets at Canterbury. Nottinghamshire only needed 22 runs to complete the victory with Will Jefferson (5) and Matthew Wood (17) guiding them home.Hampshire’s match against the champions Sussex ended in a predictable draw, with rain preventing any play on the fourth day at The Rose Bowl.Persistent drizzle in London also called a halt to the game at The Oval, with Surrey drawing their match against Lancashire.

Division Two

Essex eased to their first win of the season, beating Northamptonshire by nine wickets on the final day at Chelmsford. After their poor day yesterday, when they slipped to 38 for 4, Northants’ batsmen fared much better with Lance Klusener cracking 92. But he became David Masters’ fourth victim, Essex dismissing Northants for 237 to leave the home side needing a mere 15 to win. Jason Gallian fell for 1 but Varun Chopra saw them home in the third over.Nadeem Malik took 5 for 51 to spark a mini Middlesex collapse in which they lost their last five wickets for 141 as Leicestershire romped to a six-wicket win at Grace Road. Owais Shah notched his fifty, adding to the fine 116 he made in the first innings, and Shaun Udal also cracked his maiden half-century for his new county, but Middlesex fell away to be dismissed for 258, leaving Leicestershire 166 to win. Chris Silverwood nipped out two early wickets to give Middlesex hope, but Matthew Boyce’s 66 and an unbeaten 69 from Jim Allenby urged Leicestershire to their target.Tony Frost, Ant Botha and drizzly conditions in Birmingham all conspired against Worcestershire, who were denied an opening victory against Warwickshire on the final day at Edgbaston. Resuming on 26 for 3, Warwickshire’s resilience began with the nightwatchman, Lee Daggett, frustrating for nearly an hour before he was bowled by Gareth Batty. Navdeep Poonia followed almost immediately, and when Luke Parker edged to gully, the hosts were 109 for 7. Enter Frost (46*) and Botha (18*) who ground Worcestershire down for an hour-and-a-half, and inclement weather prevented any further action after tea.No play was possible between Gloucestershire and Derbyshire at Bristol, the match dribbling to a damp draw.

The inaugural overseas tour by Canada women will feature five matches in Trinidad and Tobago. The team leaves on April 10 for their two-week trip including two matches against Trinidad & Tobago Under-21. They also have two games against a Development XI and one against Tobago with the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Couva, Trinidad their main base.Mona Persaud is to captain Canada for the first time on this trip. Speaking after a practice session at Etobicoke’s Qasra Sports, she said: “It is a very young team. Not all the girls have got much experience but we are looking forward to this first Canadian team tour. It is going to be tough but we have been working hard.”The players had been through fitness exercises and fielding drills in addition to batting and bowling in the nets. “Hopefully we will get more exposure so we can attract people to the game.”Sheryl Tittlemier, who is based in Ottawa but was born in Selkirk, Manitoba said: “I am absolutely looking forward to the trip” but was “not looking forward to the weather.” It has been a snowy winter in the GTA and Ottawa but the trip will bring a major contrast in temperature.”This will be my third full season, after attending practices about four years ago.”Her family has about 25 years’ involvement in baseball. “A good friend of mine, who comes from Trinidad, Greg Tony, was responsible for me getting into cricket.” Tittlemier plays with the men’s club New Edinburgh in the Ottawa Valley Cricket Council as a right-handed batsman. “I can’t say enough good things about the guys at the club that I play with.”This trip comes before the season has begun in Canada, so the heat is unlikely to be the only challenge, although the schedule was adjusted to ensure the players have a day or so to practice before the first match which, in reality, is not a lot of time.Canada beat Bermuda and Argentina to win the first ICC Americas Regional Women’s Championship in August 2007, but lost to the Trinidad & Tobago Under-17s. But it was useful experience albeit experience gained eight or nine months ago.ScheduleApril 13 v Development XI (National Cricket Centre, Couva)
April 15 v Tobago (Tobago)
April 17 v Trinidad & Tobago Under 21 (UWI, St Augustine)
April 19 v Development XI (NCC)
April 20 v Trinidad & Tobago Under-21 (NCC)

Prashant Chopra’s 338, the tenth-highest individual score in the Ranji Trophy and the first triple-century by a Himachal Pradesh batsman, helped the side amass a record 729 for 8, their highest total in the tournament on the second day against Punjab in Dharamsala.Chopra began the second day on 271 off 289 balls and barely let up his momentum, reaching 300 off 318 balls. A return catch to part-time offspinner Pargat Singh ended his 363-ball stay at the crease, by which time Chopra had hit 44 fours and two sixes. Himachal were on 602 at the time and the lower-middle order, led by Ankush Bains (80) and Rishi Dhawan (49) then helped them move past 700.Opening the innings with Jiwanjot Singh, Pargat struck a quick 64 off 69 balls in a 106-run opening partnership. He fell to Gurvinder Singh four overs before close of play, with Punjab trailing by 619 runs.
Ashok Dinda smacked an unbeaten 25-ball 55 to extend Bengal’s advantage over Services on the second day in Palam. His rapid fifty, and a 77-run tenth-wicket stand with Mohammed Shami that motored along at a rate of more than 10 per over propelled Bengal to 552 for 9. By close, Services had put up 103 on the board for the loss of one wicket.Bengal’s top order had done well to set up a strong base on the first day, reaching 341 for 3, and after quick wickets in the morning had left them at 378 for 6, their lower order stepped in. The last four wickets added 174 runs between them, with offspinner Aamir Gani chipping in with 51 off 84 balls to help the score past 450. The last-wicket pair of Shami and Dinda, however, laid into the Services attack. Dinda struck eight fours and two sixes, while Shami was unbeaten on 23 off 22 balls.
Wicketkeeper Manoj Singh’s maiden first-class century led Chhattisgarh’s rally on the second day against Goa in Porvorim as the lower-middle order helped the side amass 458 from an overnight score of 189 for 5.Manoj, who resumed the day on 31 in the company of Mohammad Kaif, scored 125 off 322 balls, and was the common factor in two big partnerships on the second day. After adding 93 with Kaif for the sixth wicket, Manoj and Jatin Saxena put on 132 for the seventh to take the side close to 350. An eighth-wicket partnership with Sumit Ruikar (57) then helped the side cross 400. Eight of Chhattisgarh’s dismissals fell to spin: left-arm spinner Darshan Misal, who had taken two wickets on the first day, completed his five-for and conceded 79 runs while offspinner Amit Yadav took a couple of lower order wickets to finish with 3 for 111.Goa’s openers managed to see the side through to close of play, adding 28 on the board.