LONDON — South Africa’s Marais Erasmus and England’s Richard Kettleborough will be the on-field umpires for the Champions Trophy final between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Friday.
Both officials are known for their calm demeanor, a quality that could come in useful with a capacity and raucous crowd expected at The Oval in south London Sunday when India and Pakistan meet in the latest edition of international Cricket’s most high-profile clash.
Erasmus, a 53-year-old former Boland fast-medium bowler, will be standing in his 71st one-Day International, having officiated during Pakistan’s eight-wicket semifinal win over tournament host England in Cardiff Wednesday.
Sunday’s match will be the 44-year-old Kettleborough’s 72nd ODI as an umpire.
The former Yorkshire and Middlesex batsman was in the middle for Thursday’s second semifinal, when title-holder India beat Bangladesh by nine wickets at Edgbaston.
Australia’s Rod Tucker will be the television umpire Sunday, with Sri Lanka’s Kumar Dharmasena the reserve official.
Both Tucker and Dharmasena stood in each of the semifinals.
David Boon, the former Australia batsman, will be the match referee for the final, which marks the conclusion of a tournament featuring the world’s top eight ODI sides.
Unlike four years ago, when India won the title by beating England in an Edgbaston match reduced to 20 overs per side by rain, a reserve day for the final has been scheduled in the event of bad weather.
India began its title defence with a 124-run thrashing of Pakistan at Edgbaston June 4.
India openers inspire Kohli
India captain Virat Kohli heads into a Champions Trophy final against Pakistan back on top of the ODI batting rankings.
But the star batsman insists it is the form of the title-holder’s opening duo that is giving him confidence in the lead up to Sunday’s clash between the sub-continent Cricket giants at the Oval.
The 28-year-old Kohli is also top of the tournament batting averages with a scarcely credible mark of 253 — a figure that owes much to the fact that three of his four innings so far have been not outs.
Kohli was undefeated again as India crushed Bangladesh by nine wickets in a commanding semifinal victory at Edgbaston — the venue where they won the 2013 Champions Trophy title — Wednesday.
His 96 not out saw Kohli end the match with nearly 10 overs to spare by hitting a four off Sabbir Rahman.
But Rohit Sharma was 123 not out at the other end, having shared an unbroken stand of 178 with his skipper.
By the time Kohli came in, however, India were well on its way to chasing down a modest victory target of 265 thanks to a brisk opening partnership of 87 between Sharma and left-hander Shikhar Dhawan, who made 46.
“I’m really enjoying the way I’m batting,” Kohli told reporters.
“For me the number of runs do not matter at this stage. I’m really enjoying the process.
“The way Rohit and Shikhar batted, it just gave me so much confidence heading out of the changing room. Those two guys really dent the opposition mentally,” he explained.
While it may be one of Cricket’s oldest cliches to label Pakistan “unpredictable”, they’ve done their best to live up to it during this tournament.
After a performance against India even Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur labeled “shambolic”, it bounced back to beat top-ranked South Africa.
Pakistan then held its nerve to beat Sri Lanka in what was a virtual quarterfinal in Cardiff Monday.
Two days on, it raised its game still further to inflict a crushing eight-wicket defeat of previously unbeaten tournament host England in a semifinal in the Welsh capital.
For all that India’s margin of victory was greater, Pakistan’s last-four success was arguably even more impressive given it bowled England out for just 211.
“The turnaround has been magnificent,” said Kohli of Pakistan’s progress.
“They’ve beaten sides that looked really strong against.”
Coetzer ton lifts Scots
Kyle Coetzer smashed a century as Scotland beat Zimbabwe by 26 runs Thursday to end their wait for a first official ODI victory over a Test nation.
Coetzer hit 109 and he was well supported by Craig Wallace and Michael Leask, who both recorded half centuries in the hosts’ total of 317-6 from 50 overs.
Zimbabwe had reached 107-4 before rain forced a Duckworth-Lewis rule adjusted run chase.
Malcolm Waller smashed 92 for Zimbabwe and Sean Williams added 70. But Scotland weren’t to be denied, with Con de Lange taking five wickets as Zimbabwe were dismissed for 272. — Agencies
