Report
Mascarenhas shows his Hampshire value
An outstanding partnership of 137 between Michael Brown and Dimitri Mascarenhas carried Hampshire to a vital four-wicket victory against Worcestershire to keep their hopes of a quarter-final place alive
Cricinfo staff
20-May-2008
Hampshire 202 for 6 (Brown 96*, Mascarenhas 56*) beat Worcestershire 201 for 8 (Batty 52, Mascarenhas 3-37)
Scorecard
Scorecard
An outstanding partnership of 137 between Michael Brown and Dimitri Mascarenhas carried Hampshire to a vital four-wicket victory against Worcestershire to keep their hopes of a quarter-final place alive.
Hampshire were in tatters at 65 for 6 after Simon Jones struck twice in two balls, having Jimmy Adams caught at second slip and beating Greg Lamb for pace, in a superb opening spell where he topped 90mph. However, Mascarenhas - who is yet to confirm whether he will return to the IPL now that the Rajasthan Royals have made the semi-finals - showed his value to his county with a fine captain's innings to follow three wickets.
The revelation, though, was Brown who is known more for his Championship batting. He kept his composure after Jones and Steve Magoffin created major problems and paced the chase superbly to complete a career-best. In the end, victory was achieved with 13 balls to spare and towards the finish Brown and Mascarenhas were doing it comfortably.
Full postPrior rescues Sussex with fighting century
On the opening day of Sussex's crucial match at Trent Bridge, Matt Prior rescued his team from disaster with a fighting century
John Ward at Trent Bridge
20-May-2008
Nottinghamshire 46 for 2 (Voges 19*, Wagh 5*) trail Sussex 277 (Prior 131) by 231 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
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The England selectors rarely forgive their discarded wicketkeepers, especially
those whose glovework has been embarrassing, but Matt Prior clearly does not
intend to go gentle into the not-so-good night. On the opening day of Sussex's crucial match at
Trent Bridge, he rescued his team from disaster with a fighting century after
another destructive new-ball spell from Darren Pattinson, enabling his team to
finish the first day on fairly even terms.
This is a key match in Division One, with Nottinghamshire, the current log
leaders, hosting Sussex, the reigning champions. The visitors won the toss and
decided to bat, though within an hour they were probably regretting it.
Full postYusuf powers Rajasthan into semi-finals
A disciplined performance with the ball, followed by a counterattacking blitz from Yusuf Pathan, sealed a six-wicket win at Eden Gardens for the Rajasthan Royals
The Bulletin by Mathew Varghese
20-May-2008
Rajasthan Royals 150 for 4 (Yusuf 48*, Kaif 34*) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 147 for 8 (Ganguly 32, Das 31, Tanvir 3-26) by six wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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A disciplined performance with the ball, followed by a counterattacking blitz from Yusuf Pathan, sealed a six-wicket win at Eden Gardens for the Rajasthan Royals who, with 18 points from 11 matches, become the first team to seal a spot in the semi-finals. At the toss, Shane Warne had said his intention was to knock out the Kolkata Knight Riders and the loss leaves the home side nearly out of the running for a semi-final place.
Rajasthan were on top for most of the game, barring a spell in the chase when wickets fell in a flurry. Warne decided to stick with his tried-and-tested policy of fielding first, with the pitch offering assistance to the bowlers. They kept Kolkata on a leash, and a regular stream of wickets ensured the home side could manage only 147.
Full postDelhi secure much-needed win
Bangalore Royal Challengers are out of contention for a spot in the semi-finals following a five-wicket defeat at the hands of the Delhi Daredevils
The Bulletin by Nishi Narayanan
19-May-2008
Delhi Daredevils 158 for 5 (Sehwag 47, Kumble 2-18) beat Bangalore Royal Challengers 154 for 7 (Goswami 52, Misbah 47*) by five wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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Bangalore Royal Challengers ruled themselves out of the semi-finals following their fifth successive defeat of the tournament. Tight spells from Delhi's medium-pacers kept Bangalore down to a modest total before Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag's 90-run opening stand - filled with full-blooded strokes - allowed them to careen towards victory.
Though the Delhi Daredevils suffered a few scares after the openers fell, with Bangalore bowling intelligently and catching sharply, they recovered in time to boost their semi-final hopes. Delhi's fourth successful chase was another instance of them hunting down a target without losing more than five wickets.
Considering the form that Gambhir and Sehwag have been in through the IPL, Bangalore's 154 was hardly a daunting one. Gambhir set the tone of the partnership with a four to square leg off the first ball. He then drove Dale Steyn and Praveen Kumar for fours through cover and long-on as Delhi reached 60 in the first five overs.
Full postOram ton ensures Lord's draw
A magnificent 101 from Jacob Oram helped New Zealand stave off a spirited England bowling performance as the first Test at Lord's petered to a draw
The Bulletin by Will Luke at Lord's
19-May-2008
New Zealand 277 and 269 for 6 (Oram 101, How 68) drew with England 319
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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A magnificent 101 from Jacob Oram helped New Zealand stave off a spirited England bowling performance as the first Test at Lord's petered to a draw. Oram's fifth Test hundred rescued New Zealand from a tricky 120 for 4, but with excellent support from Daniel Flynn, whose immaculate composure earned him a dogged 29 from 118 balls, New Zealand take the honours while England enjoyed the best of the conditions.
In an interview prior to this Test Oram spoke fondly of Lord's and his burning desire to have his name etched on the honours board. "If you had a five-wicket haul or a hundred and had to retire the next day," he said, "you'd probably still be fairly happy." Judging by the pride with which he celebrated, there isn't a cat in hell's chance of him retiring - and, with the return to form he showed today, New Zealand need his cultured strokes at No. 7 for the next two Tests. With Brendon McCullum casting a daunting figure at No. 5, New Zealand's middle and lower-order contains the spunky verve that their top-order traditionally lacks. England, beware.
Full postRain stops Australia but not Katich
The only thing that didn't go right for Simon Katich in a dream all-round match was that rain arrived to force a draw
Cricinfo staff
18-May-2008
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The only thing that didn't go right for Simon Katich in a dream all-round match was that rain arrived to force a draw with the Australians on the verge of victory over a Jamaica XI. Following his first-innings 97, which sealed a Test return, Katich chipped in with four wickets from his left-arm wrist spin before scoring 37 not out as the team posted 65 for 1. They needed only 31 more when the weather decided the result.
In the lead-up to the match there had been debate over who would replace Michael Clarke for the opening match of the three-game series - Ashley Noffke and Brad Hodge also had claims - but the discussion has ended. Katich can prepare to add his first Test for two and a half years at Sabina Park on Thursday.
Full postGallian century gets Essex home
A round-up from the latest Friends Provident Trophy matches
Cricinfo staff
18-May-2008
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Midlands Division
Ian Westwood's 64 proved to be a match-winning contribution for Warwickshire against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, where the hosts capitulated from 61 for 1, chasing 174, to be all out for 121 in the 30th over. James Anyon and Neil Carter were the destroyers, picking up three wickets each, and the problems really started for Nottinghamshire when Will Jefferson (41) was caught at midwicket off Carter, sparking a mini-collapse of three wickets in 13 balls. The captain Chris Read tried to launch a rescue mission but he copped an unlucky lbw decision for 19, Anyon wrapped up the tail. It was a remarkable turnaround after Warwickshire, who entered the game without a win, stumbled to 14 for 3 as the hosts' Australian import Darren Pattinson continued to impress. Westwood led the recovery and although it was slow going - his 64 took 116 balls - he made sure the visitors batted out their overs. Pattinson finished with 4 for 29 and Nottinghamshire looked set to continue the season undefeated, until their own batting woes kicked in.Claude Henderson ensured it was not two surprise wins in a row for Ireland who went down to Leicestershire by 81 runs at Belfast. Ireland were fresh from their win over Warwickshire on Friday but they could not repeat the effort as Henderson ran through them with 4 for 30. Ireland were chasing 246 for victory but Henderson's strikes, including his first, having William Porterfield caught for 65, made their job too difficult. From a manageable 103 for 2 with Porterfield at the helm, the hosts crashed to 123 for 6 and it was all downhill from there. Ireland's bowlers had struggled to pick up regular wickets in the Leicestershire innings. Boeta Dippenaar's calm 119-ball 69 was the cornerstone of the total, and his 80-run stand with his fellow South African HD Ackerman laid the groundwork. Paul Nixon lifted the pace with 48 from 45 deliveries, and their efforts helped Leicestershire to the top of the table.
