Report
Romaine stands alone as Bermuda wilt
Bermuda's nightmare European tour continued with an abject performance on the first day of their Intercontinental Cup match against Netherlands at Amstelveen
Cricinfo staff at Amstelveen
13-Aug-2007
Netherlands 152 for 0 (de Grooth 70*, Kervezee 69* ) trail Bermuda 183 (Romaine 103*, Panchal 5-34) by 31 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
Bermuda's nightmare European tour continued with an abject performance on the first day of their Intercontinental Cup match against Netherlands at Amstelveen. Only a battling hundred from their captain, Irving Romaine, spared them from complete ignominy, but it was still a fairly one-sided affair as Netherlands closed on 152 for 0 in reply to Bermuda's 183.
Bermuda, already seriously weakened by retirements and other absences, came to the Netherlands on the back of two one-day defeats by Denmark, and there was nothing to today to suggest that they have turned the corner.
Invited to bat in bowler-friendly conditions, they struggled from the off, and when Romaine walked out to the middle they were 32 for 3. With the exception of a brief attacking cameo from Lionel Cann, thereafter he was left to battle on his own. Roderick Master kept his end up but took 62 balls to make 2, but aside from him, there was precious little resistance.
Full postShahzad century leads Pakistan to tense win
Ahmed Shahzad led Pakistan Under-19 to a hard-fought and close victory against England Under-19 to draw the two-Test series 1-1
Cricinfo staff
13-Aug-2007
Pakistan Under-19 219 and 342 for 7 (Shahzad 167) beat England Under-19 332 and 228 by 3 wickets
Scorecard
Scorecard
Ahmed Shahzad led Pakistan Under-19 to a hard-fought and close victory against England Under-19 to draw the two-Test series 1-1. Chasing 342 in the final innings, Shahzad scored 167 as Pakistan survived several tense periods before they completed a three-wicket win on the fourth day at Derby.
The match was evenly poised at the start of the final day with Pakistan on 102 for 2, needing 240 more to win with eight wickets in hand. The pitch was getting slower and lower and left-arm spinner Liam Dawson provided England with the first breakthrough when he had Taimur Ali caught and bowled for 22, leaving Pakistan on 140 for 3.
The fourth wicket partnership between Shahzad and Usman Salahuddin swung the advantage Pakistan's way. They added 103 of which Salahuddin scored 42 off 125 balls with only three boundaries. Shahzad, who resumed this morning on 45, remained solid at the other end even when Pakistan were reduced to 243 for 5 after losing Salahuddin and Ali Asad in quick succession to Steven Finn.
Full postEngland wrest a draw but concede the series to India
India won their first series in England since 1986, albeit 1-0, after England held on for a draw on the final day of the last Test at The Oval
The Bulletin by Anand Vasu
13-Aug-2007
England 345 and 369 for 6 (Pietersen 101) drew with India 664 (Kumble 110*, Dhoni 92, Karthik 91, Anderson 4-182) and 180 for 6 dec.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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India won their first series in England since 1986, albeit 1-0, after England held on for a draw on the final day of the last Test at The Oval. It was a fitting denouement to a hard fought and evenly contested series as India's bowlers seldom slackened in their effort to force a win whereas England's batsmen displayed remarkable application. Kevin Pietersen helped himself to a workmanlike century and provided the backbone for England's resistance as they ended on 369 for 6. On a day when wickets fell at regular enough intervals to keep India interested till the very end, England held on, but Michael Vaughan's unbeaten home record slipped from his grasp.
England's batting in the second innings was in sharp variance to their first. While the first was dotted with cameos and generously sprinkled with batsmen error, the second was one characterised by abstinence and self-denial. England's batsmen focused purely on eliminating risk, to the exclusion of all else, and that paid off.
Full postEdwards stars in England win
England women pulled off a notable scalp as they claimed the opening Twenty20 against New Zealand women by 20 runs at Bath
Cricinfo staff
12-Aug-2007
England 172 for 2 (Edwards 60, S Taylor 43) beat New Zealand 152 for 6 (Mason 54, Bates 40) by 20 runs
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Scorecard
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England women pulled off a notable victory as they claimed the opening Twenty20 against New Zealand women by 20 runs at Bath. Charlotte Edwards' 51-ball 60 led an impressive display with the bat as England racked up 172 for 2 then an impressive display in the field kept New Zealand down despite Aimee Mason's 54.
After winning the toss, England raced out of the blocks with Edwards and Sarah Taylor (43 off 33 balls) adding 96 for the first wicket. Both the openers fell to Sarah Tsukigawa, but her two wickets came at the cost of 49 runs off four overs.
Full postPakistan fight back to set up intriguing finish
The second Under-19 Test between England and Pakistan was headed for an intriguing final day with both sides in with a chance of victory at Derby
Cricinfo staff
12-Aug-2007
Pakistan Under-19 219 and 102 for 2 need another 240 runs to beat England Under-19 332 and 228 (Lyth 66, Dawson 58)
Scorecard
Scorecard
The second Under-19 Test between England and Pakistan was headed for an intriguing final day with both sides in with a chance of victory at Derby. England dismissed Pakistan for 218 to gain a first-innings lead of 113 after which they were all out for 228, setting Pakistan a sizable target of 341. Pakistan ended the day on 102 for 2, needing another 240 runs to win with eight wickets in hand.
Pakistan's bowlers got stuck into England's top-order. Mohammad Aamer dismissed Billy Godleman, who hit a century in the first innings, lbw for a duck in the first over. Pakistan continued to chip away and England were in deep trouble at 106 for 6, with an overall lead of 219, before Adam Lyth and Liam Dawson salvaged the innings with half-centuries.
Lyth scored 66 off 142 balls and added 50 runs for the seventh wicket with Dawson before he was caught by Umar Amin off Azhar Attari. Dawson added 51 more with Chris Woakes for the eighth wicket but the innings folded quickly for 228 after he was caught and bowled for 58 by Mohammad Rameez. England's overall lead of 341 was substantial but Pakistan had done well to restrict them.
Full postBotha and Cusack flay tired Scotland
Career-best hundreds from Andre Botha and Alex Cusack ensured Ireland took the maximum bonus points available from their Intercontinental Cup tie against Scotland at Stormont
Cricinfo staff at Stormont
12-Aug-2007
Ireland 473 for 7 (Botha 186, Cusack 130, N O'Brien 83) drew with Scotland 314
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Scorecard
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The loss of the whole of yesterday to rain and a delayed start this morning because of a wet outfield meant that the six bonus points on offer for a first-innings lead were all that was at stake. Once Ireland had grabbed those midway through the afternoon, the game was only about personal records.
On the second day Niall O'Brien and Andre Botha rescued Ireland from an early wobble with a pugnacious fourth-wicket stand, but it only extended into the second over today as O'Brien skied an attempted hook and the ball went straight up into the off side.
Full postOjha spins India A to big win
Pragyan Ojha grabbed six wickets to spin India A to a comprehensive victory against Kenya. Kenya, overnight on 4 for 2, crumbled against the left-arm spin of Ojha to be bowled out for 124 in their second innings
Cricinfo staff
12-Aug-2007
India 429 for 5 dec (Patel 164, Badrinath 160*, Yadav 60) beat Kenya 218 and 124 (Ojha 6-31) by an innings and 87 runs
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Scorecard
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Ojha punctuated big-spinning deliveries with the straighter ones to trouble the batsmen. Jimmy Kamande offered some resistance with a 46-ball 30 but it was always going to be an uphill task for Kenya after they lost the top six batsmen for a paltry 73.
Pankaj Singh bowled tightly without picking a wicket while Irfan Pathan had a few lbw shouts but none went in his favour.
Full postvan Wyk guides South Africa to victory
South Africa A eased to an eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe Select at Harare Sports Club, taking a little over an hour to score the 88 runs they needed to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series
Cricinfo staff
12-Aug-2007
South Africa A 280 and 132 for 2 (van Wyk 63*) beat Zimbabwe Select 242 and 169 by eight wickets
Scorecard
Scorecard
South Africa A eased to an eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe Select at the Harare Sports Club, taking a little over an hour to score the 88 runs they needed to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Zimbabwe's only hope was to make early breakthroughs, and those did not come as Morne van Wyk and Paul Harris extended their second-innings stand to 82 before Harris holed out in the deep off Stuart Matsikenyeri. But van Wyk and Hashim Amla knocked off the remaining 14 needed with no alarms.
Zimbabwe will take heart from this performance in which they held their own in the first innings, but they are still struggling in terms of technique with their batting and consistency in their bowling. It should also be noted that despite the team's name, this is almost a full Zimbabwe XI and almost all of the side will face a full-strength South Africa in three ODIs later this month.
Full postEngland keep hopes alive chasing 500
With India having desisted from enforcing the follow-on, England began their second innings in much better fashion than their first, stitching together 56 for no loss in pursuit of an unlikely 500 for victory
The Bulletin by Anand Vasu
12-Aug-2007
England 345 and 56 for 0 need 444 to beat India 664 and 180 for 6 dec (Ganguly 57)
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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If the first three days had mostly followed India's script, the fourth saw England throw some clunkers into it. At the end of the day, India, however, were still very much on top, with England on 56 for no loss in their second dig, chasing a highly improbable 500 for victory, looking to play out 90 overs on the final day to hang on for the draw. What's more, England have never batted out 110 overs in the final innings at The Oval.
When the day began, the focal point was the follow-on, and whether India would enforce it, and go for the kill. They didn't enforce the follow-on, but if you ask Rahul Dravid, he will tell you he was doing what he thought would give India the best chance of sealing a series win. And that's a logic you can hardly fault, even if the execution went horribly wrong for a time.
Full postMatsikenyeri battles to keep Zimbabwe afloat
After two days where the sides were evenly balanced, South Africa A took charge on the third day at Harare Sports Club to move within 88 runs of beating Zimbabwe Select
Cricinfo staff
11-Aug-2007
South Africa A 280 and 44 for 1 need another 88 runs to beat Zimbabwe Select 242 and 169 (Matsikenyeri 67*, Hall 3-38, Harris 4-38)
Scorecard
Scorecard
After two days where the sides were evenly balanced, South Africa A took charge on the third day at Harare Sports Club to move within 88 runs of beating Zimbabwe Select. Only a battling 67 from Stuart Matsikenyeri meant that the match went into a fourth day.
Zimbabwe resumed on 17 for 0, still 21 runs in arrears, but were in trouble as early as the fourth over when Hamilton Masakadza was run out by a direct hit from Johan Botha pushing for a single that was never on. When Tino Mawoyo, whose place must now be in doubt, fell leg-before to Andre Nel in the next over, it was always going to be backs-against-the-wall cricket.
The pace was funereal on a slow pitch - 44 runs came from the first 30 overs - and wickets tumbled steadily. The killer blow was delivered just after lunch when Andrew Hall had the in-form Tatenda Taibu caught behind to reduce Zimbabwe to 61 for 4, and that became 78 for 7 as Paul Harris snuffled two wickets.
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