Report
Tons from Kohli and Dhawan spur Delhi
Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan helped themselves to centuries as Delhi finished the first day at a commanding 337 for 2
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Egged on by their teammates in the dressing room - from where shouts of lage raho and jaage raho (keep going, stay awake) emanated - they indulged themselves in the middle knowing only they could have got themselves out. It was that kind of a day.
Dhawan opened up first with a drive and a fierce pull off S Dhananjaya in the day's second over, following it up with a crisp on-the-up cover drive and a spanking drive off R Vinay Kumar. Delhi's sole blip came soon after with the fall of Aakash Chopra's wicket. He survived a close lbw shout off Vinay Kumar before he was trapped by Dhananjaya, though the ball appeared to have struck him rather high. Later, Chopra appeared philosophical about it: "You have to expect at least three bad decisions in a domestic season."
Full postBlues wrap up big pre-Christmas win
New South Wales jumped back to the top of the Pura Cup table with a crushing 260-run win over Queensland, who lost seven wickets in one session on the final day
Cricinfo staff
17-Dec-2007
New South Wales 438 and 7 for 209 dec beat Queensland 236 and 151 (Bollinger 3-25, Nicholson 3-25) by 260 runs
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Scorecard
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New South Wales jumped back to the top of the Pura Cup table with a crushing 260-run win over Queensland, who lost seven wickets in one session on the final day. The Bulls have had a horror start to their season and their fourth defeat was confirmed just before lunch when Matthew Nicholson collected his third victim of the innings.
The Bulls began the day on 3 for 79 chasing an unlikely 412 and it seemed that Brisbane's stormy weather forecast might be their only salvation. But they lost 7 for 72 in less than two hours and especially struggled against Nicholson and Doug Bollinger, who each finished with 3 for 25.
Full postNasir Hossain helps Bangladesh take series lead
Bangladesh Under-19 beat their Sri Lankan counterparts by 44 runs in the third one-dayer to take a 2-1 lead
Cricinfo staff
16-Dec-2007
Bangladesh U-19 203 (Nadimuddin 66, Nasir Hossain 41, Pathiran 4-43) beat Sri Lanka U-19 159 (Perera 47, Mahmud 3-24) by 44 runs
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Scorecard
Nasir Hossain turned in a fine all-round performance to help Bangladesh Under-19 beat their Sri Lankan counterparts by 44 runs in the third one-dayer at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra. Hossain was named Man-of-the-Match for his 41 runs and two wickets as Bangladesh took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Electing to bat, Bangladesh lost Mithun Ali in the second over, but two patient partnerships, 56 for the second wicket between Nadimuddin (66) and Ashraful Hossain, and 82 for the third between Nadimuddin and Nasir Hossain put the innings on course. Marshall Ayub, the No. 5 batsman who had made a defiant 90 in the previous match, scored a run-a-ball 24. Bangladesh were well-placed for a final assault at 163 for 3 in the 42nd over, but were unable to up the scoring as left-arm-spinner Sachith Pathirana snapped up four wickets.
The Sri Lankan reply was rocked by a triple-strike from Dolar Mahmud which left them at 26 for 3. Mathurage Perera made 47 but the visitors were unable to stitch together any substantial partnerships. They collapsed from a relatively secure 113 for 5 to 118 for 9, dashing hopes of a victory.
Full postShabbir hat-trick seals win for Superstars
Chennai Superstars became the champions of the inaugural ICL tournament
Nagraj Gollapudi in Panchkula
16-Dec-2007
Chennai Superstars 155 for 8 (Harvey 36, Law 34) beat Chandigarh Lions 143 for 8 (TP Singh 35, Hall 30*, Shabbir 4-23) by 12 runs
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Scorecard
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Chennai Superstars became the champions of the inaugural ICL tournament, with all-round team work helping them beat the Chandigarh Lions by 12 runs. After being put into bat, the Superstars made 155 for 8 which seemed to be short of their expectations, but Shabbir Ahmed tamed the Lions with his 4 for 23, which included the first hat-trick of the tournament.
The grand finale lived up to its reputation with a Super Bowl-like atmosphere: a fashion show, Bollywood stars, a full house, fireworks, and big hits. Panchkula, on the outskirts of Chandigarh, was alive and reverberating. Sadly, only part of the cricket matched the entertainment off the field.
Full postSouth Africa stunned by red-hot West Indies
Twenty20 is meant to be a batsman's game, but try telling that to anyone present at Port Elizabeth as West Indies completed a five-wicket win with 19 balls to spare in a frantic match reduced to 13 overs a side by early rain
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
16-Dec-2007
West Indies 60 for 5 (Steyn 4-9) beat South Africa 58 for 8 (Botha 28*, Taylor 3-6) by five wickets
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How they were out
Scorecard
How they were out
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West Indies went hard at the run chase from ball one, literally, as Brenton Parchment walked down the pitch at Shaun Pollock then three balls later launched him out of the ground, half way towards Cape Town. But he slapped the final ball of the first over to cover as Pollock won a mini battle. A few moments of normality followed as West Indies moved to 32 for 1 before Steyn's intervention.
Devon Smith was late to get his bat down, losing his off stump, Runako Morton was bowled off his pads and Marlon Samuels offered Steyn a full view of the timber as he backed away to leg. None of those were anything, though, in comparison to Dwayne Bravo's first-ball dismissal as he was left with one stump standing following a shattering 90mph yorker from Steyn. For a moment it looked like South Africa might pull off an astonishing turnaround, but Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Denesh Ramdin produced some sensible shot selection although Chanderpaul could have been run out on 4.
Full postAtapattu stars as Jets take third place
Marvan Atapattu hit an unbeaten 76 from 56 balls to lead Delhi Jets to a five-wicket victory over Kolkata Tigers
Cricinfo staff
16-Dec-2007
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Marvan Atapattu hit an unbeaten 75 from 56 balls to lead Delhi Jets to a five-wicket victory over Kolkata Tigers in their third-place playoff in Panchkula. Atapattu's decision to field first was vindicated with his bowlers doing a tidy job to keep Tigers to 141 - five of six bowlers used picked up a wicket - and the former Sri Lankan batsman capped a good tournament with a cool half-century in a tense match that went into the final over.
While Monish Mishra and Niall O'Brien, another overseas import, fell early Atapattu began carefully, just picking up singles with the odd boundary. With the score on 41, Atapattu was given a reprieve when the umpire didn't refer a run-out appeal. Atapattu was airborne, with neither the bat nor his feet grounded behind the crease, as a direct hit came in from cover. Craig McMillan, the Kolkata captain, was clearly miffed at proceedings but Atapattu continued to tick along.
Full postDorey's five drive Warriors home
Brett Dorey bowled Western Australia to their third win of the season with a five-wicket haul that brought them victory within three days against South Australia
Cricinfo staff
16-Dec-2007
Western Australia 332 and 3 for 61 beat South Australia 184 and 208 (Ferguson 56, Cosgrove 55, Dorey 5-82) by seven wickets
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Scorecard
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Brett Dorey bowled Western Australia to their third win of the season with a five-wicket haul that brought them victory within three days against South Australia. Dorey collected 5 for 82 as the Redbacks struggled to 208 in their second innings, setting the Warriors a simple target of 61.
The home side reached their goal comfortably, finishing on 3 for 61 with their pair of formerly suspended batsmen at the crease - Luke Pomersbach was on 18 and Shaun Marsh had 23. Rain interrupted play at the WACA but there was not enough to force the match into its final day as South Australia's batting woes returned following two consecutive wins.
Full postBangladeshis slump to seven-wicket loss
Northern Districts followed up a disciplined bowling display with a fluent run chase to hand the Bangladeshis a seven-wicket loss in their first match of the tour
Cricinfo staff
16-Dec-2007
Northern Districts 228 for 3 (Horsley 92, Marshall 55*) beat Bangladeshis 222 for 8 (Siddique 73) by seven wickets
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The Bangladeshi top order wobbled against a predominantly seam-friendly attack. Tamim Iqbal and Tushar Imran went early, both nicking to the wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan, but young Junaid Siddique and Mohammad Ashraful, the captain, resurrected matters somewhat with a 57-run stand for the third wicket. But Ashraful, having hit 30 from 37 balls, and Siddique, who dug in for 138 minutes and 114 balls for his 73, both fell edging the seamers to McGlashan and the Bangladeshi middle order followed suit. Farhad Reza (27) and Mashrafe Mortaza (25) hit a few boundaries to get their side up over 200, but a target of 223 - Brent Arnel took three and Simon Andrews a couple - proved rather easy for ND.
Horsley got the hosts off to a good start, putting on 62 inside 15 overs with BJ Watling. Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak had Watling stumped for 21, but Horsley motored past fifty, striking four sixes before falling for 92 from 99 balls. Mortaza later got Daniel Flynn for 31, but Marshall's quick half-century, with fours and one six, easily carried ND home.
Full postWatson fails again as Blues eye victory
Queensland face a major challenge to avoid defeat against New South Wales at the Gabba, where the Bulls need 333 on the final day with seven wickets in hand
Cricinfo staff
16-Dec-2007
Queensland 236 (Nye 61, Noffke 51, Bollinger 4-55) and 3 for 79 need a further 333 runs to beat New South Wales 438 and 7 for 209 dec (Jaques 63, Katich 54)
Scorecard
Scorecard
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Queensland face a major challenge to avoid defeat against New South Wales at the Gabba, where the Bulls need 333 on the final day with seven wickets in hand. The Blues set Queensland 412 for victory and at stumps the score was 3 for 79 with Jimmy Maher on 12 and Clinton Perren falling for 31 from the final ball of the day.
Their chase began poorly when Shane Watson again failed at the top of the order, caught by Simon Katich off Doug Bollinger without scoring. Watson was bumped up to open for the Bulls this season in an audition for a similar role with the Test team but his results have been disastrous - he has made 0, 0, 0, 15, 13 and 0.
Full postRain ruins second ODI in Sydney
Rain ended Australia's hopes of regaining the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy within three days as only six overs were possible in the second ODI at the SCG
The Bulletin by Brydon Coverdale
16-Dec-2007
Match abandoned due to rain New Zealand 3 for 30 (Styris 12*, Lee 2-12) v Australia
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
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Rain ended Australia's hopes of regaining the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy within three days as only six overs were possible in the second ODI at the SCG. Australia were well on top when the weather turned bad, reducing New Zealand to 3 for 30 after Daniel Vettori chose to bat.
The umpires called for the covers at 3.30pm local time, just 30 minutes after the start, which had also been delayed due to drizzle. As the day progressed the weather radar continued to display a bleak outlook and only the most optimistic spectators stayed at the ground.
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