Sl appoint Rixon as fielding coach
Colombo: Struggling Sri Lanka on Saturday announced the appointment of former Australian cricketer Steve Rixon as their fielding coach, in a bid to boost preparations for the world cup next year. The 64-year-old will begin his new assignment later this month and join the team in New Zealand where, starting December 15, Sri Lanka are scheduled to play two Tests, three one-day internationals and one Twenty20. They will later play two Tests in Australia from January 24. "We are happy to welcome Steve into the team," Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva said. "I am sure he will be able to help the team moving forward, with his expertise in the area of fielding which is a vital component of the game." De Silva said Rixon will work with the national team until the end of the 2019 World Cup.
Manav enters Jr Worlds q/f
New Delhi: India's Manav Thakkar beat Feng Yi-Hsin of Chinese Taipei 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 9-11, 14-12, 11-1 to enter the Junior Boys singles quarterfinals in the 2018 World Junior Championships at Bendigo, Australia, on Saturday. However, Manush Shah and Jeet Chandra exited after losing their main draw matches in the first round itself. Jeet lost to Roumanian Cristian Plelta 8-11, 5-11, 8-11, 8-11 while Manush went down to Singapore's Pang Yew En Koen in a hard-fought round of 32 match 11-6, 9-11, 11-4, 5-11, 4-11, 7-11. Manav now takes on China's Xiang Peng in the quarterfinals. Earlier, the sixth seed pair of Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah did well to survive against Argentina's Martin Bentancor and Santiago Lorenzo to enter the quarterfinals, winning the contest 12-14, 11-8, 11-6, 11-13, 11-7. They will take on Tapie's Feng Yi-Hsin and Li Hsin-Yang in the quarterfinals.
Rajasthan thrash Assam
Jaipur: Rajasthan pacer Aniket Choudhary grabbed his second five-wicket haul as the hosts recorded an emphatic innings and 43-run win against Assam in their Elite Group C match. 28-year-old left-arm pacer Choudhary, who had picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings, shone in the second innings too to return with exceptional figures of 5-40 as Rajasthan bundled out Assam for 174. Choudhary ended the match with excellent figures of 10-78 (5-38 and 5-40). This is Rajasthan's fourth win of the season. Assam, who began the penultimate day at 109 for 3, slumped to 174 all out in their second essay.
Kerala face uphill task against TN
Chennai: Kerala was 27 for 1 in 11 overs at stumps on the third day, chasing 369 for a win against Tamil Nadu in the Elite Group 'B' match. K B Arun Karthick (on 12) and Sijomon Joseph (1) were at the crease at close of play. Tamil Nadu declared their second innings at 252 for 7, riding on half-centuries from captain Baba Indrajith (92) and M Kaushik Gandhi (59) to set the visitors a daunting target. The home team bowlers came to the fore to dismiss Kerala for 152 in the first innings in response to TN's 268 early this morning.
