Report
India clinch fourth successive Asia Cup
India thrashed Sri Lanka by a 177 runs in Kurunagela to clinch their fourth successive Women's Asia Cup
Cricinfo staff
11-May-2008
India 260 for 7 (Rawat 97, Raj 66, Dhar 50, Siriwardene 4-53) beat Sri Lanka 83 (Seema 3-10, David 3-11) by 177 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
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India, led by Asha Rawat's 114-ball 97 which included 12 fours and a six, thrashed Sri Lanka by 177 runs in Kurunegala to clinch their fourth successive Women's Asia Cup.
Mithali Raj won the toss and chose to bat, but India had an early blip when Jaya Sharma was dismissed without scoring by Shiromala Weerakkody. But Rawat and Karu Jain added 71 runs for the second wicket to lay the platform for a big score. Jain, however, fell to the left-arm spin of Suwini de Alwis for a sedate 68-ball 28. Her dismissal did not deter Rawat, who went from strength to strength after making her third ODI fifty.
Full postSparkling Ganguly inspires victory
Sourav Ganguly the batsman finally made his presence felt in the IPL in stunning style, carving a 57-ball 91 to fashion a convincing 23-run win for the Kolkata Knight Riders
The Bulletin by S Rajesh
11-May-2008
Kolkata Knight Riders 204 for 4 (Ganguly 91, Hussey 57*) beat Deccan Chargers 181 for 7 (Venugopal 71*, Dinda 3-33) by 23 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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After a torrid run through the first seven matches of the IPL, Sourav Ganguly the batsman finally made his presence felt in stunning style, carving a 57-ball 91 to fashion a convincing 23-run win for the Kolkata Knight Riders, their fourth of the tournament. Ganguly's knock, coupled with a blinder from David Hussey, lifted Kolkata to an imposing 204, which was far too much for the hapless Deccan Chargers, who collapsed to their seventh defeat in nine games and are all but out of the competition.
Kolkata's batting display was the perfect example in pacing a 20-over innings. Through the first half, Ganguly and Aakash Chopra batted steadily and built a platform: after ten overs, only 73 were on the board, but with nine wickets in hand, there was plenty of ammunition left. That was put to outstanding use later in the innings, as Hussey blitzed 57 off 29 balls in a 102-run partnership that came off a mere eight overs to set up a target which ensured Deccan have lost all four games at home.
Full postAckerman hundred drives Leicestershire
Leicestershire continued their excellent start to the Friends Provident Trophy with their third win in four matches, seeing off Northamptonshire by the slender margin of seven runs at Northampton
Cricinfo staff
10-May-2008
Leicestershire 268 for 6 (Ackerman 139) beat Northamptonshire 261 for 8 (O'Brien 95, Cummins 2-35) by seven runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
Leicestershire continued their excellent start to the Friends Provident Trophy with their third win in four matches, seeing off Northamptonshire by the slender margin of seven runs at Northampton. Chasing 269, Niall O'Brien cracked 95 from 108 and Johann Louw nearly took the home side to a nail-biting victory with a blistering 36, but Northamptonshire ran out of overs.
In a match dominated by 11 South African Kolpak players, Leicestershire's 268 for 6 was set-up by HD Ackerman's career-best 139 from 150 balls, and he dominated the five partnerships in which he featured. He and Tom New (14) put on 49 for the first wicket after a slow start, while Jim Allenby (21) helped Ackerman put on 62 for the second. Boeta Dippenaar scored the next highest score with a meagre 23, but it was Ackerman who continued to bolster Leicestershire's innings with a slick 119-ball century that included 12 fours, including four off one Lance Klusener over.
Northamptonshire's chase began poorly. Ryan Cummins (2 for 35) produced a fine opening spell, with Stephen Peters (1), Andrew Hall (6) and David Sales (1) falling in quick succession to leave the hosts struggling on 46 for 3. And when Claude Henderson removed Nicky Boje, stumped for 19, Northamptonshire had stumbled to 98 for 5. O'Brien wasn't finished though, and found good support in Lance Klusener (42 from 67) with whom he put on 76 for the sixth wicket. However, Nadeem Malik dismissed O'Brien five short of his century to pick up his second wicket - brilliantly caught by Cummins at deep midwicket - while Klusener fell to Garnett Kruger - who conceded a miserly 38 in his 10 overs - for 42.
Full postNerveless Arafat hands Kent first win
A round-up from the last day in the latest County Championship matches
Cricinfo staff
10-May-2008
First Division
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Kent pulled off a remarkable three-wicket win over Nottinghamshire on the last day at Trent Bridge, as Yasir Arafat (36*) and Ryan McLaren (37*) held their nerve to guide them to their target of 244. Kent resumed on 129 for 4, and Martin van Jaarsveld received a beauty from Ryan Sidebottom first up, but he battled it out to register his fifty from 79 balls with a leg-glance off Stuart Broad. However, Sidebottom returned for a new spell around the wicket and, with his second ball, bowled van Jaarsveld for 63. Geraint Jones didn't last long, fending to leg gully, and when Justin Kemp was beaten by a Charlie Shreck slower ball, the visitors were tottering on 173 for 7. But Arafat joined McLaren and - as he did in his first innings 67 - Arafat was immediately on the attack, carving through the covers. The pair brought up their fifty partnership, and in spite of Sidebottom's energy, McLaren pulled a four off Samit Patel to secure Kent's first Championship win of the season.
Somerset's match with Hampshire ended in a tame draw at Taunton with Michael Brown notching 104 as Hampshire reached 198 for 1 after 69 overs chasing a huge and unlikely 422. Earlier, Justin Langer delayed Somerset's declaration with Zander de Bruyn falling two short of his maiden hundred for his new county. Together with Peter Trego, the pair put on 111 for the sixth wicket with some attractive and aggressive strokeplay, but de Bruyn played across the line on 98 to hand Sean Ervine one, expensive wicket. Somerset declared on 654 for 6 shortly before midday and Hampshire dropped anchor in their second innings, with Jimmy Adams and Brown crawling to 31 from 15 overs. Brown offered one chance in his 231-ball hundred when Craig Kieswetter missed a stumping off Ian Blackwell, and although Adams fell for 49, the result was never in question.
Full postBalaji's five-for sinks Kings XI Punjab
A match that swung from one side to the other was decided by two exceptional overs from L Balaji, as Chennai Super Kings ended Kings XI Punjab's winning streak
The Bulletin by Mathew Varghese
10-May-2008
Chennai Super Kings 181 for 4 (Badrinath 64, Dhoni 60*) beat Kings XI Punjab 163 for 9 (Marsh 58, Pathan 40, Balaji 5-24) by 18 runs
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 match that swung from one side to the other was decided by two exceptional overs from L Balaji, the India international: he first picked up two crucial wickets in the 13th over to seize the initiative for his side, then picked up the IPL's first hat-trick in the final over to finish the match. Balaji's performance, in front of an ecstatic home crowd, pushed Chennai Super Kings to second place in the points table and ended Kings XI Punjab's streak of five successive wins.
Chasing a stiff 182, Punjab lost two early wickets but Shaun Marsh stayed calm at the other end, working the Chennai bowlers into the gaps for runs while picking up the odd boundaries. As the asking-rate escalated to over ten, Marsh decided to step it up, punishing Palani Amarnath for two sixes over the straight boundary and bringing up his fifty with another clean straight hit, off Balaji.
Full postCarberry limps off after century
The day before England name their squad for the first Test against New Zealand the batsmen with the most realistic prospects of a call-up in the near future failed to make the most of their second innings for the Lions at The Rose Bowl
Andrew McGlashan at The Rose Bowl
10-May-2008
England Lions 280 and 275 for 5 (Carberry 100 ret hurt, Prior 47) lead New Zealanders 273 (Redmond 146, Hoggard 3-45, Onions 3-53) by 282 runs
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The one man to make the most of ideal batting conditions was Michael Carberry - a long way from an England call-up despite his presence in this team - with a 183-ball century. However, his innings ended almost immediately when he pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring strain after his celebrations and was carried off on a stretcher. At one stage the groundsman's truck was also on the ground in case Carberry needed a lift off, although an ECB spokesman said it was "a severe case of cramp."
It was an unfortunate way for his innings to end after he'd pressed the accelerator during his second fifty, which took 56 balls compared to 127 for the first. He was the stand-out batsman on the Lions tour of India in January and February where they took part in the Duleep Trophy and received some positive reviews.
Full postTaylor leads Gloucestershire home
Craig Spearman and Chris Taylor led Gloucestershire to a six-wicket win against Glamorgan in the first match at the new-look Sophia Gardens
Cricinfo staff
10-May-2008
Gloucestershire 204 for 4 (Taylor 66*, Spearman 66) beat Glamorgan 202 for 9 (Wright 60) by six wickets
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Scorecard
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The Glamorgan new-ball bowlers gave their side a chance with three early wickets on a lively pitch that had some uneven bounce. Jason Gillespie had fellow Australian Marcus North caught behind after bowling Alex Gidman in the first over. When David Harrison had Hamish Marshall taken at slip Gloucestershire were struggling on 16 for 3.
But Spearman played his naturally aggressive game and knocked the quick bowlers, especially Harrison, off their length with a series of strong pulls and cuts. He dominated the partnership with Taylor until being trapped lbw by Dean Cosker. However, Gloucestershire had the momentum and the required rate was never a concern. Taylor played with composure while David Brown twice cleared the boundary in his 53-ball 45 as the chase was completed with more than five overs to spare.
Full postSomerset's Ashes rivals pile on the runs
A round-up from the third day in the latest County Championship matches
Cricinfo staff
09-May-2008
First Division
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The last day is unlikely to last as long at Trent Bridge but it promises to be tense after Kent closed on 129 for 4, needing another 115 to beat Nottinghamshire. Ryan McLaren (6 for 75) ripped through the Nottinghamshire middle order in an explosive first hour in muggy conditions to reduce them to 134 for 6, a lead of 98. But Chris Read (88), first with Stuart Broad (20) and then former Kent stalwart Mark Ealham (39) steadied the ship. Read opened up as his innings progressed, lofting James Tredwell for a straight six and then hooking McLaren for six. Geraint Jones' fourth catch, a superb diving effort, eventually did for Read and he was soon followed by Ealham, giving Jones his fifth catch. Set 244 in a little over four sessions, Joe Denly and Tredwell started unconvincingly, repeatedly playing and missing, before Broad removed them both as well as Matt Walker. Martin van Jaarsveld (45*) held firm but Darren Stevens fell to a loose drive shortly before close.
Click here for John Ward's report from Old Trafford, where James Anderson picked up 5 for 46 to drive Lancashire to a huge win over Durham.
Full postRajasthan outplay listless Deccan
Rajasthan Royals strolled to the top of the table with an eight-wicket win over Deccan Chargers
The Bulletin by Nishi Narayanan
09-May-2008
Rajasthan Royals 141 for 2 (Yusuf 68, Smith 40) beat Deccan Chargers 140 (Gilchrist 61) by eight 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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After their batsmen collapsed in spectacular fashion following Adam Gilchrist's dismissal, Deccan's fielders, perhaps hindered by the dust storm blowing across the stadium, failed to save runs and apply any pressure on Rajasthan. Deccan have now lost six matches out of eight and, with six games to play, their chances of making the semi-finals look dim.
It all looked very different at the start. Gilchrist, the stand-in captain, said his batsmen had the challenge of putting up a total that his bowlers could defend. He led the way, starting off the evening with a cover drive off the first ball and following it with a cut to backward point as Sohail Tanvir went for eight runs in the opening over. Shane Watson was flicked for a massive six to square leg when he sent down a half-volley and Munaf Patel was glanced for a four to fine leg.
Full postSorry Durham offer little
John Ward reports on the third and final day at Old Trafford where Durham offered little with the bat
John Ward at Old Trafford
09-May-2008
Lancashire 143 and 293 beat Durham 114 and 90 (Anderson 5-46) by 232 runs
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Scorecard
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James Anderson was the man of the morning, bowling throughout to finish with
five wickets, and nine in the match, a performance he will doubtless hope will
help him retain his place against strong competition in England's Test team.
Lancashire never looked like losing their grip. Anderson and Andrew Flintoff kept up their relentless attack from opposite ends and, without Dale Benkenstein (attending the birth of his child) and Neil McKenzie (given leave to attend a wedding), only Michael Di Venuto inspired any remote hopes of Durham, 28 for 3 overnight, approaching their target of 323.
Full post