Cricket Buzz: De Kock equals record as SA beat Zimbabwe

Quinton de Kock tied a One-day International record as South Africa beat Zimbabwe by 61 runs on Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The 21-year-old wicketkeeper-opening batsman made 38 to equal the mark of England's Jonathan Trott in reaching the landmark of 1,000 runs in only 21 one-day games.

Faf du Plessis top-scored with 55 as South Africa were bowled out for 257 in 49.4 overs after being put in to bat.

It was only the third time in 34 ODI meetings that Zimbabwe had bowled out their southern African rivals.

Out-of-form South Africa captain AB de Villiers was involved in a bizarre dismissal.

He missed a delivery from spinner Prosper Utseya and, in the mistaken belief that Richmond Mutumbami did the same, set off for a single only for the bemused wicketkeeper to run him out for one.

Sean Williams (55) then passed 50 for the second successive match but Zimbabwe were bowled out for 196 in 49.1 overs.

Paceman Wayne Parnell took three for 28 while all-rounder Ryan McLaren picked up three for 21.

The final match is also in Bulawayo on Thursday before South Africa and Zimbabwe are joined by Australia for a triangular series that stars in Harare on Monday.

- NEXT: Gibson, West Indies part ways

Ottis Gibson has quit as West Indies coach and will be replaced by Richie Richardson on an interim basis for the home series against Bangladesh, the West Indies Cricket Board said.

"Today the West Indies Cricket Board and Mr Ottis Gibson mutually agreed to terminate their association with immediate effect," the WICB said in a statement.

"On behalf of the Board and West Indies cricket as a whole we express our gratitude to Ottis for his work, particularly in coaching the team to winning the ICC World Twenty20 in 2012, and offer our best wishes to him in all his future endeavours," WICB chief executive Michael Muirhead said.

Former captain Richardson, currently the team manager, will take the reins against Bangladesh, with the first one-day international match on Wednesday in Grenada.

The move follows changes to the national selection panel earlier this month with former captain Clive Lloyd taking over.

Clyde Butts, the previous chairman of the selection panel, and Robert Haynes made way for the new panel members, who also included former fast bowlers Eldine Baptiste and Courtney Walsh.

Gibson took over the West Indies coaching job in 2010 after quitting as England's bowling coach.

Despite guiding the team to a maiden World Twenty20 trophy in 2012, the Caribbeans have continuted to toil in Tests, and lost series to New Zealand home and away and also against India over the past 12 months.

West Indies are ranked eighth in Tests out of 10 nations and eighth in ODIs.

They take on Bangladesh for three ODIs, one T20 international and two Tests.

- NEXT: Pakistan call up Irfan

Pakistan are sending tall left-arm paceman Mohammad Irfan to Sri Lanka to bolster their One-day squad.

"The management have asked for Irfan as cover for Junaid Khan who was injured in the second Test in Colombo," a Pakistan Cricket Board official said.

Junaid was hit on the head by a bouncer in the second and final test that ended on Monday and did not bowl or bat after being taken to hospital for precautionary scans.

Pakistan lost the Test series 2-0.

Irfan has not played for Pakistan since injuring his hip in the Twenty20 series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates last year.

The three-match One-day series starts in Hambantota on Saturday.

- NEXT: Sri Lanka shuffle pack

Sri Lanka have made several changes after naming a 15-man squad for the first two One-day Internationals against Pakistan

Batsmen Upul Tharanga and Dinesh Chandimal, spin duo Seekkuge Prasanna and Suraj Randiv, and fast bowler Dhammika Prasad have been recalled after missing last month's three-match series against South Africa that Sri Lanka lost 2-1.

Paceman Suranga Lakmal was not selected because of injury while Ajantha Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Sachitra Senanayake, Kithuruwan Vithanage and Kusal Perera were left out.

The first game of the three-match series is in Hambantota on Saturday, with the second being played in Colombo on August 27.

Squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Tillekaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Ashan Priyanjan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dhammika Prasad, Rangana Herath, Seekkuge Prasanna, Suraj Randiv, Thisara Perera.

- NEXT: Clarke says Zimbabwe tour not for auditions

Australia captain Michael Clarke has dismissed the idea that the upcoming One-day tour of Zimbabwe might serve as a sort of extended audition for players keen to get into the squad before next year's World Cup.

Australia's 14-man squad departed on Wednesday for southern Africa, where they will play the hosts and South Africa in a triangular One-Day series starting next Monday in Harare.

With regulars like the injured Shane Watson and rested opener David Warner not making the trip, Clarke's squad includes a string of fringe players.

Clarke, though, scoffed at the suggestion that the relatively low key tour would provide selectors with an opportunity to give them all a chance to show what they can do.

"It's not a token tour, it's about winning, so the selectors with (coach) Darren Lehmann will come up with what they think is the best 11," he told reporters at Sydney airport.

"I'm certainly not there to give guys an opportunity, I'm in the business of winning."

- NEXT: ‘It’s a chance for some players to cement their spot’

At the same time, Clarke said the likes of all-rounders Mitchell Marsh and Ben Cutting as well as seam bowler Kane Richardson needed to grab their chances if they got them.

"I think they'll see it as a chance to get a foot in the door, cement their spot, make it hard the players that aren't on this tour," Clarke said.

"We've got a lot of talent, particularly in the shorter form of the game, and now these guys are getting an opportunity and they've got to grab it with both hands.

"Unfortunately we've only got 11 spots and we've probably got 20 players who are ready to be a part of that 11 so now it comes down to consistent performance."

Clarke has had a long rest since leading Australia to the 2-1 Test series triumph in South Africa that temporarily put his team top of the world rankings in the longest form of the game.

The 33-year-old played through a broken shoulder during that series and said he was expecting South Africa's pace bowlers to again target him with short deliveries in Zimbabwe.

"I think I'm probably going to get plenty of those before the end of my career," he laughed.

"I think it's going to be a tough tour. The wickets in Zimbabwe will be quite slow, there'll be a bit of spin in them as well.

"We're in for tough series and I think these young guys will stand up."