the Panthers wrap up a three-game road swing with a trip to Sun Belt Conference | Forum

Over the past few years, visitors to Zimbabwe have faced an unwelcome prospect: little to gain, everything to lose. Fake Vapormax Cheap .The decreasing value of a tour of Zimbabwe can be seen in its most consistent marker. As India visited in three of the last four years, the teams they selected became ever weaker. In 2013, five first-XI players were rested. This year, as many as 17 players who were in Indias previous limited-overs squads were left at home.Sri Lankas situation on this tour is slightly different in that the five first-choice players back home were all injured, and so this is the strongest possible side. Yet, the players coming in still faced the prospect of gaining little at best, and, at worst, kissing goodbye to future selections at the highest level. The way they have gone about their business has not suggested that this has been weighing on their minds.The first Test brought a maiden century for Kusal Perera, and a first Test hundred in a decade for Upul Tharanga. But with Zimbabwe dropping six catches as they felt their way back into top-flight cricket, and both batsmen benefiting from the foundation laid by Sri Lankas openers, neither century was one to seal debates on their long-term future.The situation was different when Dhananjaya de Silva walked to the crease on the first day of the second Test. Sri Lanka were 112 for 4, and under pressure for the first time in the series. I think we dropped our guard a little bit yesterday morning and we found ourselves in a spot of bother, Graham Ford, Sri Lankas coach, said after day two. Some of our batters came in under pressure, and it was pleasing to see the composure in the way they absorbed the pressure that we needed them to.Zimbabwe had enjoyed a little bit of luck in taking three wickets prior to lunch. It wasnt necessarily luck that they deserved, but after the first Test, it could be argued that it was luck they were due. When they came out after lunch, the hosts seemed to have acknowledged that and decided to make the most of it. Bowlers who were so errant in the first session ramped up the pressure on de Silva and Tharanga, with the first 18 overs of the session yielding just 44 runs. We started off badly in the first session, but I think we pulled it back quite nicely as the day wore on, Hamilton Masakadza said.De Silva looked the perfect batsman for the circumstances. Although the pitch had even bounce, it remained on the slow side. Zimbabwe were playing the waiting game - a game that flashier batsmen than de Silva might well have lost. Instead, he remained compact, his neat technique never allowing him to get ahead of himself. Crucially on this surface, his range of strokes made it difficult for Zimbabwe to bowl in one place and block him up. By the end of the first day, he had an unbeaten hundred, having feasted on the spinners during the evening session. A Cricviz analysis showed the balance in his strokeplay: 51 runs off the front foot, 49 off the back foot; 51 on the off side, 49 on the leg side.Hes known as the Ice Man in our dressing room because he showed such composure and handled real pressure against Australia - they were one of the best attacks in world cricket and he showed that he was up for Test match cricket, Ford said. Theres that side to it, but he also seems to have a lot of time. We saw he plays the short ball pretty well - he can dispatch it - and has good technique. There are lots of positives there when you add all of that together, so hes a real find for Sri Lankan cricket.While de Silva looks to have set up his stall for the foreseeable future, adding depth to a batting department that is coming to terms with the retirement of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, Asela Gunaratnes case may be slightly different. Already 30 years old, Gunaratne is classified as an allrounder, but his bowling is never likely to be used on more than a part-time basis in Test cricket. As Sri Lanka toiled for 10 wickets on the last day of the first Test, Herath never once tossed him the ball.But 186 runs in three innings for two dismissals is difficult to argue with. In the first Test, Sri Lanka were 351 for 5 when Gunaratne came to the crease. In the second Test, the score was 255 for 5. With Gunaratne marshalling the tail, they have added 435 runs for the last five wickets over the course of two first innings. Angelo Mathews will walk back into the Test side when Sri Lanka head to South Africa next month, but it will be difficult to keep Gunaratne off the plane.Its good to see the form that the batsmen have shown, Ford said. Before the series, we knew that some of the fringe players had some talent but hadnt seen much opportunity. Now, theyve put their hands up and scored runs, so to see some depth in our batting department is really encouraging and important.On the little to gain dilemma, he added: The batsmen can only do what they can do, which is go out and score runs. If the wicket is flat, theres nothing they can do about it.Sri Lankas greatest challenge may yet come over the final three days of this match, as they face an improving Zimbabwe side on another flat pitch. Ford believes it will take some turn, but with fewer favours from Zimbabwes batsmen - and the umpires, now that DRS is in place - a lot of hard work lies ahead. So far, Sri Lankas batsmen have ticked all the boxes. Now, its over to the bowlers. Yeezy Replica Cheap . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. Yeezy Boost 350 v2 Fake For Sale .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. http:///...-plus-clearance.html . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. MADISON, Wis. -- Backup quarterback Alex Hornibrook led No. 9 Wisconsin to three scoring drives in the second half, helping the sluggish Badgers avert an embarrassing upset with a 23-17 win on Saturday over Georgia State.Hornibrook took over for Bart Houston late in the third quarter with Wisconsin stuck in an offensive malaise. The freshman finished 8 of 12 for 122 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Penniston with 7:25 left to give the Badgers the lead for good, 20-17.Wisconsin (3-0) heads into Big Ten play next week at No. 12 Michigan State with questions at quarterback. Houston, a senior making his third career start, was 10 of 18 for 91 yards.Im proud of what Alex did, and how he came in. Im not planning anything right now except appreciating this win, coach Paul Chryst said.Georgia State (0-3) played well after losing its first two games by a combined 79-35.Conner Manning threw for a career-high 269 yards and a score. Kyler Neals 9-yard touchdown run with 11:36 left gave the Panthers a brief lead before the Badgers defense reasserted itself.Our kids fought every down. There are no moral victories for Georgia State. Im very disappointed, coach Trent Miles said.THE TAKEAWAYGEORGIA STATE: The Panthers can build on a respectable effort against a Big Ten power after losing to Ball State and Air Force in its first two games. With two of Wisconsins top running backs hurt, a defense that was allowing an FBS-worrst 394. Adidas Gazelle Wholesale. 5 yards rushing per game gave up just 187 on Saturday. On offense, coach Miles team softened up Wisconsins rough-and-tumble defense with quick and short passes over the middle.WISCONSIN: Dont put the blame for Wisconsins early offensive problems solely on Houston.The Badgers need to work on their offense inside the 30 after having to settle for two field goals on two first-quarter drives. They came away scoreless on two other drives after losing a fumble near the goal line and missing a 30-yard field goal at the end of the first half.We just werent in rhythm. Thats it, Houston said.Starting tight end Troy Fumagalli and running back Taiwan Deal both left with right leg injuries after Wisconsins first drive, and the team was already without top running back Corey Clement, who sat after rolling his left ankle in the 54-10 win over Akron on Sept. 10.UP NEXTGEORGIA STATE: After a bye next week, the Panthers wrap up a three-game road swing with a trip to Sun Belt Conference favorite Appalachian State on Oct. 1.WISCONSIN: The two-week honeymoon period is over in an otherwise brutal schedule. The trip to play the Spartans starts a four-game stretch against AP Top 25 opponents.---AP College Football: http://collegefootball.ap.org/---Follow Genaro Armas at: https://twitter.com/GArmasAP ' ' '