Report
Dhammika spins Lankan CC to victory
Ranil Dhammika, the left-arm spinner, claimed career-best figures of 6 for 39 as Lankan Cricket Club beat Burgher Recreation Club by 113 runs to clinch the Tier B section of the Premier Limited Over Tournament
Cricinfo staff
21-Dec-2007
Lankan Cricket Club 275 for 7 (Shiroman 79, Fernando 40, Abeyratne 3-35) beat Burgher Recreation Club 162 (Sandagirigoda 44, Dhammika 6-39) by 113 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
Ranil Dhammika, the left-arm spinner, claimed career-best figures of 6 for 39 as Lankan Cricket Club beat Burgher Recreation Club by 113 runs to clinch the Tier B section of the Premier Limited Over Tournament, Sri Lanka's main domestic List A tournament.
Chasing 276 to win, Burgher were off to a solid start with Dilan Sandagirigoda being involved in a 60-run opening stand with Chamil Perera (28). But Burgher went downhill once an opening was found by Dammika, who caught Perera off his own bowling.
Dhammika then wreaked havoc with the middle order, dismissing three more batsmen, including Sandagirigoda for 44. Wicketkeeper Mudhita Fernando made 15 before he was run out while Janaka Kumarage, the No 3 batsman, was trapped by Raju Gayashan as the pressure got to Burgher. When Sathira Fernando was dismissed by captain Suranjit Silva, Burgher had slumped to a precarious 116 for 7, having lost their first seven wickets for the addition of only 56 runs.
Full postJones leads Auckland to victory over Bangladeshis
Thanks to captain Richard Jones' brisk unbeaten 85, Auckland made light of a target of 243 in 50 overs and handed the Bangladeshis their second defeat in as many completed matches at Hamilton's Seddon Park
Cricinfo staff
21-Dec-2007
Auckland 243 for 3 (Jones 85*, Guptill 59) beat Bangladeshis 242 (Tamim 104) by seven wickets
Scorecard
Scorecard
 |
|
Led by captain Richard Jones' brisk unbeaten 85, Auckland made light of a target of 243 in 50 overs and handed the Bangladeshis their second defeat in as many completed matches on their tour of New Zealand so far. The visitors opted to bat but bar Tamim Iqbal's 104, the first hundred of the trip, there were few contributions to speak of and even more worryingly, the Bangladeshi bowlers managed just three Auckland wickets ahead of a full ODI and Test series.
Paul Hitchcock, who earlier picked up 2 for 48, scored 35 in an opening stand of 81 with Martin Guptill to set the base for Auckland. After his departure, caught by Ferhad Reza off Nazmul Hossain, 21-year-old Guptill fell for 59 from 61 balls. Jones and Colin de Grandhomme (34) finished the match with ease, adding an unbroken partnership of 97. Jones hit eight fours and a six to finish on 85, and denied the Bangladeshis any entrance into the middle order. The target was overhauled with 24 deliveries to spare.
Full postWeather and Cook delay Sri Lanka
England's hopes of securing a face-saving draw they scarcely deserve have been boosted after torrential rain washed out the final two sessions on the fourth day at Galle
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
21-Dec-2007
England 81 and 102 for 1 (Cook 53*, Bell 17*) trail Sri Lanka 499 for 8 dec by 316 runs
Scorecard
How they were out
Scorecard
How they were out
|
|
|
The forecast for the final day is not too encouraging so the series is threatening to fizzle towards a damp end. At least Cook's unbeaten 53 has begun to restore England's pride, but if the weather relents and a sustained period of play is possible on Saturday they still face an uphill battle with a mammoth 316 runs between the sides.
There was slightly less venom from Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga with the new ball than their destructive burst on Thursday. Cook benefited from a couple of edges that fell short of the slips and his tendency to play away from his body kept the quick bowlers interested. Boundaries flowed as the openers soon managed to perform better than the first six wickets in the first innings.
Full postRain ruins India's second warm-up day
India are facing a potential washout in their only warm-up match before the first Test after only ten overs were bowled on the second day against Victoria
Brydon Coverdale at the Junction Oval
21-Dec-2007
Indians 4 for 133 (Ganguly 59, Dravid 38*, Wise 4-37) v Victoria
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
|
|
|
India are facing a potential washout in their only warm-up match before the first Test after only ten overs were bowled on the second day against Victoria. More rain is expected on Saturday, which is the last day of the match, and with India at 4 for 133 there is a chance none of their bowlers will have a decent run before Boxing Day.
The players have instead been training at the MCG's indoor nets while not at the Junction Oval and they were heading back there for more practice as soon as play was called off, shortly after 3pm local time. The start had been delayed by nearly two hours following the heavy rain on the first afternoon, which had left wet patches on the ground, and shortly after lunch was called the persistent showers started up again.
Full postOntong hundred puts hosts in command
Justin Ontong scored a an unbeaten 109 to put South Africa A in charge in Eat London
Cricinfo staff
20-Dec-2007
South Africa A 351 for 7 (Ontong 109*, van Wyk 89, Duminy 62, McKenzie 54, Bravo 3-43) lead West Indians 193 by 158 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
|
|
|
The only preparation for the visiting West Indian team ahead of the Test series against South Africa has hardly gone to plan. On the first day, the West Indians were rolled over by a Monde Zondeki five-for, and their anguish increased on the second following a hundred from Justin Ontong, which helped South Africa A finish truly on top at the half-way stage in the match.
Resuming on 78 for 1, a disciplined batting performance saw the hosts reach 351 for 7 at close, a lead of 158 runs. Overnight batsmen Morne van Wyk and Neil McKenzie added 28 more before McKenzie was trapped leg-before by Dwayne Bravo for 54. van Wyk then combined with JP Duminy to take the team close to establishing the lead but was out 11 short of his hundred, playing a Fidel Edwards delivery on to the stumps.
Full postMannu thwarts Mumbai as Himachal secure draw
A round-up of the final day's play of the sixth-round matches of the Ranji Trophy Super League, 2007-08
Cricinfo staff
20-Dec-2007
On the final day of the sixth round, Himachal Pradesh and Andhra secured what could prove to be crucial results. In Group A, Himachal hung on for a draw, denying Mumbai the lead in the points table. Mumbai, with three points from the match, are now tied with Delhi, who were frustrated by rain at Bangalore, at 18 points. Himachal got themselves one point too, which could help them in the fight to avoid relegation, when they face competitors Rajasthan next. Saurashtra are in pole position with 20 points after their win against Maharashtra.
In Group B, Andhra took three points off leaders Baroda and came back into the semi-finals race, after having lost two successive matches outright. Punjab completed an easy win over Orissa to ensure they won't be relegated this season, even though they don't play in the next round. One of Bengal, Hyderabad, Orissa and Andhra will be relegated this season.
Mumbai 370 and 65 for 1 drew with Himachal Pradesh 214 and 430 (Mannu 103, Malik 48, Thakur 46*)
Scorecard
Full postScorecard
Rain force damp squib
Delhi moved to second place in Group A with 18 points while Karnataka remained sixth with ten after rain washed out the final day's play
Cricinfo staff
20-Dec-2007
Delhi moved to second place in Group A with 18 points while Karnataka remained sixth with 10 after damp conditions ruled out any chance of play on the final day between Karnataka and Delhi at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The umpires inspected the damp conditions six times, the covers came on and off repeatedly but the weather, which was predominantly wet with scanty dry patches, remained unsuitable for play. The teams got a point apiece.
Delhi needed 10 wickets to secure first-innings points, but heavy rain on the third day, and a light drizzle this morning, had left the field wet. When the covers were finally removed, it was discovered that water had seeped on to the pitch and left a damp patch at one end. Even though the sun came out briefly and artificial methods of drying were used, the progress was slow. And when it began to rain steadily at 3.00 pm, the slim chances of salvaging some play vanished.
Full postHopeless England routed for 81
A mentally shattered England folded for 81, their lowest total for five years, on the third day at Galle as Chaminda Vaas led a bowling display which put Sri Lanka within sight of the 2-0 win that will lift them to second place in the world rankings
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
20-Dec-2007
England 81 (Vaas 4-28) and 2 for 0 (Cook 1*, Vaughan 1*) trail Sri Lanka 499 for 8 dec (M Jayawardene 213*, Vaas 90, Dilshan 84) by 416 runs
Scorecard
How they were out
Scorecard
How they were out
|
|
|
There was always potential for England's dramatic slump, but they took it to extremes. Thoughts briefly turned to the record books and their low points; 45 against Australia in 1887, narrowly bettered by their 46 at Trinidad in 1994. Although those ignominies were avoided, their eventual meagre total is the first time they have been bowled for less than a 100 since 2002 against Australia at Brisbane. Sri Lanka bowled superbly as a unit, showing that there is plenty in the surface, but England's strokeplay spoke volumes of their mind set.
For the second match running they had been through a draining experience in the field and the top order didn't appear in any state to mount a rearguard that would at least save face, if not the series. The bare statistics give the best picture; England's feeble lasted 30.5 overs, while during the morning Sri Lanka slammed 115 runs in 19.5.
Full postGanguly fights in rainy Melbourne
Torrential rain limited the first day of India's warm-up match against Victoria to one session, in which Sourav Ganguly survived some early wobbles to score a half-century and Rahul Dravid settled into the opening role
Brydon Coverdale at the Junction Oval
19-Dec-2007
Indians 3 for 110 (Ganguly 51*, Dravid 33*, Wise 3-22) v Victoria
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
|
|
|
Torrential rain limited the first day of India's warm-up match against Victoria to one session, in which Sourav Ganguly survived some early wobbles to score a half-century and Rahul Dravid settled into the opening role. The rest of India's top order struggled against Victoria's fringe fast bowler Allan Wise before the Junction Oval was flooded by a sudden downpour that started as the players left the ground for tea.
The rain was so heavy that the ground began to resemble a rice paddy, then as the showers became heavier it was more like a small lake. The groundstaff will face a major battle to have the field ready for play on Friday and, with further thunderstorms predicted for the next two days, India will have limited preparation in their only practice match ahead of the Boxing Day Test.
Full postPonting gains revenge with century in series win
Ricky Ponting wanted to regain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy more than any of his team-mates
Peter English
19-Dec-2007
Australia 6 for 282 (Ponting 134*, Symonds 52) beat New Zealand 168 (Styris 75) by 114 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
|
|
|
Ricky Ponting wanted to regain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy more than any of his team-mates and his determination translated into consecutive centuries as he commandeered a dominant 2-0 series win. Ponting was resting when New Zealand whitewashed Australia in February and his mission of revenge was completed after his 134 not out set up a 114-run victory in Hobart.
His 107 had done a similar job in securing the opening win in Adelaide, but the home team had some tense moments at Bellerive Oval before Ponting arrived to overcome a deceptive pitch. Australia, who had rested Adam Gilchrist, fell to 3 for 87 after being sent in and needed rescuing by Ponting, who steadied and then accelerated on the way to a rewarding total of 6 for 282.
Full post