Report
Key and Tredwell make Kiwis toil
If the venue is Canterbury, and there's a touring side in town, you can bet your life that Robert Key will be there to ensure that their stay is as uncomfortable as possible
Andrew Miller at Canterbury
28-Apr-2008
Kent 324 for 1 (Key 178*, Tredwell 123*) v New Zealanders
Scorecard
Scorecard
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If the venue is Canterbury, and there's a touring side in town, you can bet your life that Robert Key will be there to ensure that their stay is as uncomfortable as possible. Kent's captain has an agenda this season - he wants to reclaim the England Test place that he vacated four seasons ago - and today, by smearing the star-shorn New Zealanders for 178 not out from 260 balls, he made the biggest statement that the occasion could allow him.
The New Zealand team may not be at full strength just yet, with five senior players away at the Indian Premier League, but aside from the stabilising influence of Daniel Vettori, the attack they put together was not dissimilar to the one that will represent them at Lord's in the first Test on May 15. Either way, it made no difference to Key, whose record against touring opposition is phenomenal.
Full postBig guns thrash the minnows
A review of the second round-up in the group stages of the CLICO International Under-15 Championship
Cricinfo staff
28-Apr-2008
West Indies maintained their unbeaten record with an easy 103-run win over Ireland to put themselves into the semi-finals. Kraigg Brathwaite, who has emerged as the batsman of the tournament, fell two short of his second hundred, while Sunil Ambris chipped in with a brisk 40 as West Indies made 220 for 5. Ireland's batting lacked depth and Derone Davis (4 for 29) did the bulk of the damage as they were bowled out for 117.
Bangladesh thrashed Kenya by 187 runs in a disappointing one-sided contest. Rakin Ahmed (75) and Litton Kumer Das (64) provided the platform for Bangladesh's 257 for 8 and Kenya, whose batting has looked fairly dismal throughout, had no answer to Shahariar Islam (4 for 10) and Asif Hasan (5 for 11) as they took 41 overs to crawl to 70. Only Irfan Karim, who made 28 not out to add to his 46 on Saturday, appeared to be good enough at this level. Bangladesh need to beat Ireland to ensure their place in the last four.
Pakistan progressed into the semi-finals in style, hammering 416 for 6 against ICC Americas in a 293-run drubbing. Mohammed Babar, who had made fifties in his previous two innings, thumped 165 while Muhammad Naeem made 72 and Mohammad Nawaz scored 50. Trevor Manoosingh took four wickets, but his figures - 4 for 103 - were hardly comfortable reading. ICC Americas crept to 123 in 45.5 overs, an innings almost entirely based on Abhijit Joshi's 70.
Malaysia also booked their semi-final place with a nine-wicket win over Netherlands, bowling them out for 133 and knocking off the runs with almost 19 overs to spare. Pavithren Nadaesan was the pick of the Malaysian bowlers with 4 for 23 while Zubair Asyraf and Keithan Goonasagaran made 58 and 57.
Full postConsistent Ruhuna enter Super Fours
A wrap of the last three rounds in the league phase of Sri Lanka's inaugural inter-provincial Twenty20 tournament
Sa'adi Thawfeeq
28-Apr-2008
Ruhuna, who finished on top after the preliminary rounds, entered the Super Four stage of Sri Lanka's inaugural inter-provincial Twenty20 tournament. Kandurata and Wayamba, the joint champions of the inter-provincial 50-over tournament, also qualified for the round-robin matches that will decide the finalists. Here's Cricinfo's coverage of the final three rounds of the league phase.
Round 3
Shanuka Dissaayake, the left-arm spinner, took 3 for 17 and effected a run-out to help Basnahira North to a 14-run win over the Schools Invitation XI at the Burgher Recreation Club Ground. Tharindu Thushan scored 36 opening the Schools' innings, but they collapsed once he was bowled by Dissaayake. Earlier, Basnahira North were bowled out for 117 after choosing to bat, with legspinner Udara Jayasundera claiming figures of 3 for 14.
Wayamba's seamers, Chanaka Welegedara and Tissara Perera, took three wickets each in their thrilling three-run win over Kandurata at the Colts Cricket Club Ground. Chasing 128, Kandurata slipped to 58 for 5, before they were rescued by a 54-run stand between Jeewan Mendis (27) and Chintaka Jayasinghe (33). Kandurata lost Mendis and allrounder Kaushalya Weeraratne in the penultimate over, and needed 14 runs when the last over began. But their chances of a win received a setback when Jayasinghe was dismissed in the first ball of the over, and while Akalanka Ganegama struck a six, he could not follow it up with another big hit. Earlier, Wayamba lost their top-half with just 66 runs on the board, but Asela Jayasinghe blasted 41 off 21 balls to ensure that they had a total to defend.
Full postWest Indies and Pakistan start with wins
A review of the first round-up in the group stages of the CLICO International Under-15 Championship
Cricinfo staff
27-Apr-2008
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Ireland had no problems in beating a poor Kenya side by seven wickets as once again the Kenyan batting proved feeble. A score of 110 was never remotely challenging.
Pakistan enjoyed easy pickings when they batted against Netherlands, running up 332 for 5 with Muhammad Naeem making 90 and Mohammad Babar, Ahsan Ali and Zafar Gohar chipping in with fifties. Netherlands were blown away for 102 to give Pakistan a massive 230-run win.
The two outsiders produced the closest game as Malaysia edged out ICC Americas by two wickets. Abhijit Joshi led the way for ICC Americas with 64 but there were no other significant contributions as they made 156. Malaysia squeezed home with 20 balls in hand.
Full postFlintoff and Lancashire thrash Scotland
A round-up from the latest round of Friends Provident matches
Cricinfo staff
27-Apr-2008
North Division
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Andrew Flintoff smacked 27 from 23 balls to take Lancashire to a thumping eight-wicket win over Scotland in Edinburgh. Scotland, inserted by Lancashire, slumped to 21 for 5 with James Anderson and Glen Chapple nipping out the top-order. Scotland didn't help themselves, however, with three farcical run-outs, though Majid Haq at least managed to lift their total to something resembling respectability, with 23 from 64 balls. Tom Smith trapped him lbw to pick up 3 for 14 from 10 overs. A target of 74 was never going to trouble Lancashire, though they did lose Mal Loye and Gareth Cross. Flintoff, however, was in no mood to hang around, cracking four fours and lifting a six to take his side home in the 12th over.
Derbyshire were bowled out for just 94 on a wet day at Headingley as Yorkshire romped home by 25 runs. In a match reduced to 24 overs due to rain, Yorkshire themselves slipped to 47 for 4 and it was only Adil Rashid's 36-ball 41 which gave them a total that was vaguely competitive. Set 120 from 24 overs, Derbyshire crashed to 27 for 4 with Tim Bresnan grabbing two early wickets, but it was Anthony McGrath who shone with the ball, taking 3 for 16 in four overs as Derbyshire were dismissed in the 23rd over.
Full postRedmond stakes claim for Test place
New Zealand may only have three-quarters of their squad assembled in England, but their new opening batsman, Aaron Redmond, got his tour off to a useful start with a solid 72 against MCC in the traditional opening match at Arundel
Cricinfo staff
27-Apr-2008
MCC 44 for 2 (Gillespie 2-26) drew with New Zealanders 239 for 9 (Redmond 72, Stephenson 2-42)
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New Zealand may only have three-quarters of their squad assembled in England, but their new opening batsman, Aaron Redmond, got his tour off to a useful start with a solid 72 against MCC in the traditional opening match at Arundel. Rain interrupted the game throughout the day, and it dribbled into a draw after nine overs of MCC's run-chase.
Jamie How, New Zealand's stand-in captain in place of Daniel Vettori - who is on leave with the Indian Premier League - shared in an opening stand of 91 with Redmond. How smacked 10 fours in his slick 46 from 56 balls before he was caught off Chris Cairns, his former team-mate, who was captaining MCC. Redmond, who played for Wigan in the Lancashire League last year, fell to a brilliant one-handed catch by Paul Nixon for 72.
Full postCampbell powers West Indies to easy win
West Indies won the toss and decided to bat in Group 1 of the CLICO International Under-15 Championship against Bangladesh, but in overcast conditions the batsmen soon found themselves in difficulty with the ball seaming around
Cricinfo staff
27-Apr-2008
West Indies 237 (Campbell 112) beat Bangladesh 200 (Nelson 3-43)
Scorecard
Scorecard
West Indies won the toss and decided to bat in Group 1 of the CLICO International Under-15 Championship against Bangladesh, but in overcast conditions the batsmen soon found themselves in difficulty with the ball seaming around.
The first blow was struck when the prolific Kraigg Brathwaite, with scores of 122, 65 and 77 from the last three matches, was trapped lbw to Shahariar Islam for just 7. As in the Knockout Final against Pakistan, the West Indies middle order was again severely tested with Senior, Ambris and Katwaroo back in the pavilion for scores of 7, 9 and 10 respectively.
But John Campbell, the surprise of this tournament for West Indies, came to the rescue and put on a wonderful display of batting. With the team struggling at 134 for 4 in the 32nd over, Campbell, ably supported by young Akeem Saunders, staged West Indies' recovery who were all out for 237. Campbell ended with a fine 112.
Full postGilchrist leaves Mumbai gasping
Adam Gilchrist set alight the DY Patil Stadium with the fastest century of the tournament as the Deccan Chargers raced to their first win of the tournament
The Bulletin by Mathew Varghese
27-Apr-2008
Deccan Chargers 155 for 0 (Gilchrist 109*, Laxman 37*) beat Mumbai Indians 154 for 7 (Bravo 34, Nayar 34) by ten 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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Adam Gilchrist ignited the DY Patil Stadium with the fastest century of the tournament as the Deccan Chargers raced to their first win. The battle between the two bottom-ranked teams was a no-contest once Gilchrist teed off, and Deccan charged to an emphatic ten-wicket victory in the first major game at the stadium.
Andrew Symonds had got a century off 47 deliveries the previous game but Gilchrist needed only 42 as he decimated the weak Mumbai Indians' attack on a small ground. The intent was aggressive right from the word go, and Gilchrist made use of short deliveries in the first over from Ashish Nehra, dispatching one over square leg and the other through cover point.
Full postKatich and VRV Singh set up Punjab's win
Simon Katich's last game of the IPL turned into a memorable one as he steered Punjab's run-chase against a formidable Delhi bowling line-up in Mohali
The Bulletin by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
27-Apr-2008
Kings XI Punjab 162 for 6 (Katich 75) beat Delhi Daredevils 158 for 8 (Tiwary 39, VRV Singh 3-29) by four 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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Simon Katich's last game of the IPL turned into a memorable one as he steered Punjab's run-chase against a formidable Delhi bowling line-up in Mohali. After a four-pronged pace attack had made use of a surface that offered bounce, keeping Delhi down to a modest total, Katich's innovative methods helped Punjab to their second successive win in the competition. After watching two early losses, Priety Zinta has plenty of reasons to smile.
Delhi's bowlers had set up both their earlier wins but their batsmen squandered the early advantage at the toss here. A string of sketchy cameos allowed them to reach a competitive total but even the usually niggardly bowling line-up had no answer to Katich's cheeky shuffles.
Full postHard work pays off for Miller
Four days ago, Jamaican left-arm spinner Nikita Miller did not know what if felt like to take five wickets in an innings at the first-class level
27-Apr-2008
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Four days ago, Jamaican left-arm spinner Nikita Miller did not know what if felt like to take five wickets in an innings at the first-class level.
Within three days of a one-sided Carib Beer Challenge final which saw Jamaica prevail over Trinidad and Tobago by nine wickets at Sabina Park, he has two five-wicket hauls, and ten in a match for the first time.
"It's been a long time coming, and I must say that I'm really, really elated," Miller told the Sunday Express. "I'm really, really happy. I've been working really hard this season, and I'm very grateful."
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