Report
Katich's 306 reminds selectors of his worth
Simon Katich made an emphatic statement in the lead-up to Australia's six-Test summer, smashing a career-best 306 in front of a national selector while also earning New South Wales first-innings points against Queensland
Cricinfo staff
28-Oct-2007
Queensland 467 and 0 for 23 trail New South Wales 8 for 601 dec (Katich 306, Haddin 123, Thornely 64, Noffke 5-108) by 111 runs
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Simon Katich made an emphatic statement in the lead-up to Australia's six-Test summer, smashing a career-best 306 in front of a national selector while also earning New South Wales first-innings points against Queensland. Katich crawled to triple-figures from 204 balls but cut loose in the middle session, cracking 184 in the two and a half hours between lunch and tea.
His second hundred took 75 deliveries and his third came in 67 as the spinners Chris Simpson and Daniel Doran suffered the most. With Jamie Cox, one of the Australia selectors who axed Katich from the contract list during the off-season, watching on, Katich struck 30 fours and nine sixes in reaching the highest first-class score at the SCG since Don Bradman made 452 in 1929-30.
Full postHogg wins battle of Brads as Warriors sniff victory
It was a tale of two Brads at the MCG, where Brad Hogg put Western Australia in a winning position and Brad Hodge watched his Test hopes slip further away with a first-ball duck
Brydon Coverdale at the MCG
28-Oct-2007
Victoria 114 and 4 for 116 (Hussey 62*, Hogg 2-34) trail Western Australia 277 and 6 for 289 dec (Marsh 67, Hussey 59, Hogg 58*) by 336 runs
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It was a tale of two Brads at the MCG, where Brad Hogg put Western Australia in a winning position and Brad Hodge watched his Test hopes slip further away with a first-ball duck. Hogg made a fiery half-century and snared a late pair of wickets as Victoria finished the day at 4 for 116, needing a further 337 for victory with David Hussey on 62 and Michael Klinger on 2.
The Warriors set Victoria 453 from just over four sessions and the chase started badly with Hodge failing to use his feet and wafting at a Mathew Inness outswinger, edging to second slip. It continued a horror game for Hodge, who made 2 in the first innings while trying to make himself a contender for the vacant Test opening spot.
Full postMash leads strong Chairman's XI reply
Lloyd Mash made a stylish 95 to lead a strong reply for the Chairman's XI on the second day in Adelaide
The Bulletin by Jenny Thompson in Adelaide
27-Oct-2007
Australia Chairman's XI 4 for 262 (Mash 95, Hughes 49, Plant 63*, Ronchi 0*) trail Sri Lankans 6 for 368 dec (Jayasuriya 154, Atapattu 56, Vandort 55, Samaraweera 71) by 106 runs
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Lloyd Mash made a stylish 95 to lead a strong reply for the Chairman's XI on the second day in Adelaide. Mash dodged the showers, the bouncers and three missed catches and then Tom Plant chipped in with an unbeaten 63 to leave the home side on 4 for 262 at stumps.
The Sri Lankans may have rested their two premier fast bowlers, Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga, but the left-hander Mash still played with a composure and forthrightness that provided a useful test of their attack. Doug Bollinger also gave their batsmen a good working over, removing both Jehan Mubarak and Thilan Samaraweera to prompt the declaration midway through the morning.
Full postNew Zealand seamers script opening victory
New Zealand romped to a 216-run win over a South African Invitational XI on the third day at Bloemfontein, with another impressive performance from their bowlers who dismissed the hosts for 91
Cricinfo staff
27-Oct-2007
New Zealanders 318 (Vettori 99) and 145 (Cumming 67, Kent 4-45) beat SA Invitational XI 156 (Amla 67, Oram 4-17) and 91 (Tsolekile 30, Bond 3-26) by 216 runs
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New Zealand romped to a 216-run win over a South African Invitational XI on the third day at Bloemfontein, with another impressive performance from their bowlers who dismissed the hosts for 91. But on a day which saw 20 wickets fall for 236 runs, their top-order has had little time out in the middle ahead of the first Test on November 8.
Impressive though New Zealand bowled, they too suffered an ignominious batting collapse in their second innings. Ethy Mbhalati (3 for 53) and Lonwabo Tsotsobe tore into New Zealand's top-order to leave them wobbling on 81 for 5. While wickets tumbled around him, Craig Cumming - who made 12 in the first innings - remained firm and stroked 14 fours in a stabilising 67.
Full postOuma and Onyango guide Kenya to series win
A bristling 54 from Maurice Ouma and a fearless 34 from Lameck Onyango, who remained unbeaten at the end, took Kenya to a three-wicket win over Bermuda in the second one-dayer at the Gymkhana
Cricinfo staff
27-Oct-2007
Kenya 187 for 7 (Onyango 34*, Ouma 54, Leverock 3-28) beat Bermuda 183 for 9 (Romaine 61*, Odoyo 3-7) by three wickets
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A bristling 54 from Maurice Ouma and a fearless 34 from Lameck Onyango, who remained unbeaten at the end, took Kenya to a three-wicket win over Bermuda in the second one-dayer at the Gymkhana. Encouragingly, Bermuda fought harder this time after their dismal effort in the first ODI and the game was not without incident, but they nevertheless face a 3-0 whitewash going into the final match tomorrow.
Irvine Romaine, the Bermuda captain, called a halt to play while Kenya were chasing down 184 when a section of the crowd began chanting "policeman". Four minutes were wasted while Romaine was appeased by the umpires, Buddhi Pradhan from Nepal and the South African, Ian Howell, together with Mike Proctor the match referee. The crowd's target, Dwayne Leverock - a policeman back home - seemed far less bothered by the kafuffle.
Romaine was Bermuda's mainstay in their underwhelming total of 183, grinding out a laborious 61 from 131 balls. Thomas Odoyo broke through the top-order to finish with the remarkably miserly figures of 3 for 7 from seven overs.
Full postTop order stars as Blues storm into final
India Blue racked up a mountain of runs, sparked by Sehwag's blistering 57-ball 75, and the spinners turned it on under the Motera lights to storm into the final
The Bulletin by Jamie Alter
27-Oct-2007
India Blue 330 for 8 (Sehwag 75, Yadav 65, Karthik 65, Raina 64) beat India Green 239 (Parthiv 53, Powar 3-45, Mishra 3-50) by 91 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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Virender Sehwag's prediction after winning the toss was spot on: India Blue racked up a mountain of runs, sparked by Sehwag's 57-ball 75, and the spinners turned it on under the Motera lights to storm into the final of the Challenger Trophy. Parthiv Patel dazzled briefly but a succession of wickets jolted the prospect of a thrilling run-chase, as the Greens, attempting to chase down a target of 331 in 40 overs to qualify for the final, fell short by 91 runs.
For the second day in a row India Green's scarce bowling options were exposed as Sehwag, Arjun Yadav, Suresh Raina and Dinesh Karthik made merry on a flat Ahmedabad track. Sehwag backed his decision to bat with a blistering innings: no bowler was spared as Sehwag cashed in during the first and second Powerplays, hitting 14 boundaries and a six .
Full postBlues rely on Katich after Hayden's 179
Matthew Hayden's powerful 179 combined with the inability of New South Wales' all-star attack to finish off the tail left Queensland with a healthy lead of 316 at stumps
Cricinfo staff
27-Oct-2007
New South Wales 3 for 151 (Katich 70*) trail Queensland 467 (Hayden 179, Noffke 50, Clarke 3-22, Clark 3-79) by 316 runs
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Matthew Hayden's powerful 179 combined with the inability of New South Wales' all-star attack to finish off the tail left Queensland with a healthy lead of 316 at stumps. In reply to 467 the Blues were 3 for 151 with Simon Katich unbeaten on 70 and Dominic Thornely on 7.
Katich's 103-ball effort gave his side some hope as Mitchell Johnson's first chance with a red ball in some time - he took 0 for 70 from 15 overs - was costly. Phil Jaques (34) did not convert his start but probably has the Test opening slot sewn up anyway after his main opponent Brad Hodge failed in Melbourne.
Full postVictoria crash for 114 as Warriors take charge
Western Australia extended their lead to 244 with the best partnership of the match after Brad Hogg and Steve Magoffin helped restrict Victoria to a mediocre 114 at the MCG
Brydon Coverdale at the MCG
27-Oct-2007
Western Australia 277 (Pomersbach 89, Denton 3-58) and 1 for 81 (Langer 49) lead Victoria 114 (White 46, Hogg 3-21, Magoffin 3-27) by 244 runs
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Western Australia extended their lead to 244 with the best partnership of the match after Brad Hogg and Steve Magoffin helped restrict Victoria to a mediocre 114 at the MCG. Justin Langer and Michael Hussey (29 not out) guided the Warriors to 1 for 81 at stumps, stumbling on the final ball when Langer overcommitted to a single and was run out for 49 trying to turn back.
After Victoria outplayed the Warriors on day one but failed to hold their catches, Western Australia had complete control on day two. Hogg would have liked a lengthy spell to show the selectors his Test potential but the Bushrangers' rapid demise denied him the opportunity. However, his 3 for 21 proved useful in finishing off the home side after Cameron White tried to consolidate following their early troubles.
Full postDighton's 90 leads Tigers to big win
Michael Dighton ensured South Australia's poor start to the season continued, making 90 as Tasmania raced to a six-wicket win with 11 overs to spare
Cricinfo staff
27-Oct-2007
Tasmania 4 for 216 (Dighton 90, Marsh 53*, Tait 3-44) beat South Australia 7 for 207 (Manou 50) by 6 wickets on D/L method
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Michael Dighton ensured South Australia's poor start to the season continued, making 90 as Tasmania raced to a six-wicket win with 11 overs to spare. Chasing an adjusted target of 212 after rain interrupted the Redbacks' innings, the Tigers cruised on Dighton's run-a-ball effort before Daniel Marsh sealed the victory, the bonus point, and his half-century with a six off Ryan Harris.
Marsh finished unbeaten on 53 from 45 balls but it was Dighton and Travis Birt (43) who set up the chase with a 97-run opening stand. When Birt holed out in the 17th over, giving Shaun Tait the first of his three victims, the Redbacks were already regretting their middle-order stumbles.
Full postT&T advance to final after washout
Trinidad and Tobago advanced to the KFC Cup final by virtue of a better net run-rate after their semi-final against Barbados was called off
Cricinfo staff
27-Oct-2007
Defending champions Trinidad & Tobago advanced to the KFC Cup final by virtue of a better net run-rate after their semi-final against Barbados was called off without a ball being bowled due to heavy overnight rain at the Three Ws Oval. T&T will now face Jamaica in the final on Sunday at the same venue.
The rain left parts of the outfield soggy and after several inspections, the match officials decided to call the game off. With no reserve day allocated for the match, there was no possibility of a replay.
"We exhausted all the options available to us. We had not seen significant improvement of the facility," umpire Norman Malcolm told Caribbean Media Corporation's CricketPlus radio channel after a final inspection at 5.45 pm. "That whole ring outside the 30-yard (circle) was still soggy and wet. When you walk on it, you can still see water coming out."
Barbados coach Hendy Springer expressed his disappointment at being knocked out on run-rate and called for a reserve day for matches. "These regional competitions should be run similar to how you run a competition at the highest level," he told Reuters. "There should be a reserve day which takes the weather into consideration."
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