Report
Kent take Twenty20 in thrilling final
Kent claimed only their third domestic title in 29 years with a thrilling four-wicket victory in an action-packed and controversial Twenty20 final against Gloucestershire
Kent 147 for 6 (Walker 45, Stevens 30*) beat Gloucestershire 146 for 8 (Marshall 65, McLaren 3-22) by four wickets
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The equation had come down to six off three balls when Stevens launched Greenidge over cover. Kent's batsmen ran off to begin celebrating, but Gloucestershire were ready for another ball and the umpires weren't sure either. It had been missed, apparently by everyone except TV, that a no-ball had also been called. After a consultation between the umpires the Kent celebrations began in front of a near full-house.
The champagne spraying was led by Robert Key, but the final was tinged with a moment of controversy involving the Kent captain's dismissal for 18. He flicked a ball from Greenidge and Hamish Marshall dived forward at midwicket to claim, what appeared, another impressive catch. Key took Marshall's word and made his way off, but in similar scenes to Kevin Pietersen's 'dismissal' at Lord's against India earlier this season the big screen flashed up a replay before Key reached the boundary.
Full postKohli ton boosts India to 301
A counter-attacking 144 by Virat Kohli helped India Under-19s recover to post 301 on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka Under-19s at the Colts Cricket Club in Colombo
Cricinfo staff
04-Aug-2007
Day 1 Sri Lanka Under-19 5 for 2 trail India Under-19 301 (Kohli 144, Sangwan 57, Kavikara 3-72) by 296 runs
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A counter-attacking 144 by Virat Kohli helped India Under-19 recover to post 301 on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka Under-19 at the Colts Cricket Club in Colombo. India were struggling at one stage at 74 for 5 before the Delhi duo of Kohli and Pradeep Sangwan (57) pushed the side to a respectable total.
The top order made starts but failed to convert them as the Sri Lankans made early inroads. A double strike by Navin Kavikara saw the visitors lose half their side for 74, before Shreevats Goswami and Kohli started the recovery with a stand of 62. Sangwan joined Kohli with the score on 167 and the pair added a further 111 to wrest the initiative. Sangwan scored four boundaries in his half century while Kohli's knock was studded with 21 boundaries, including a six. He kept the tempo up, despite the fall of wickets, facing 185 balls in his knock. The Sri Lankans stumbled in their reply, losing their openers to left-arm spinner KP Appanna with five runs on the board at stumps.
Full postWakely and Lyth make hay
England Under-19 showed their batting class on the first day against Pakistan, reaching 351 for 2
Cricinfo staff
04-Aug-2007
England U-19s 351 for 2 (Godleman 71, Wakely 112, Lyth 92*, Wright 52*) v Pakistan U-19s
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England Under-19 showed their batting class on the first day against Pakistan, reaching 351 for 2 on a flat deck. Alex Wakely made 112 before being run out in a close call, while Adam Lyth is on the brink of a century, with 92 not out.
Ben Wright, the stand-in captain in Rory Hamilton-Brown's absence, also cashed in with an unbeaten fifty, as they ran Pakistan ragged at Scarborough under fine, breezy conditions.
The home side weren't ruffled by disruptions in the lead-up. The venue was changed because of flooding - originally this match was scheduled for Worcestershire - their captain was changed, and Chris Jordan, the fast bowler from Barbados was ruled out because of ineligibility.
Full postKey eases Kent to final in thriller
If the opening semi was a forthright one-sided affair, this one was a steamily unpredictable battle of heart and soul, with a steely Kent finally emerging triumphant over Sussex in the last over
The Bulletin by Jenny Thompson at Edgbaston
04-Aug-2007
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If the opening semi was a forthright one-sided affair, this one was a steamily unpredictable battle of heart and soul, with a steely Kent finally emerging triumphant over Sussex in the last over. Kent will now meet Gloucestershire in what promises to be a tight battle, after the fielding of both finalists had a massive part to play in their success.
A polished Kent stifled Sussex's early charge to dismiss them for 140 but despite another dominant opening stand of 65 between Joe Denly and Rob Key, some smart Sussex bowling threatened to upset the cart. Key's huge hits, though, were the other decider as he posted an unbeaten 68 to lead from the front and take them to the final. He picked off three boundaries in the penultimate over from James Kirtley then Rana Naved-ul-Hasan's two no-balls in the last sealed the result.
Full postExplosive Spearman leads Gloucestershire to final
Craig Spearman chose the ideal time to make amends for a meagre Twenty20 season with a match-winning 55-ball 86 to put Gloucestershire into the final, for the first time, at Edgbaston with 19 deliveries to spare
Gloucestershire 152 for 2 (Spearman 86, Kadeer 33*) beat Lancashire 148 for 6 (Croft 33) by eight wickets
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Craig Spearman chose the ideal time to make amends for a meagre Twenty20 season with a match-winning 55-ball 86 to put Gloucestershire into the final, for the first time, at Edgbaston with 19 deliveries to spare. An impressive fielding display kept Lancashire to 148 as Gloucestershire produced two vital run-outs, including Andrew Flintoff for 3.
Gloucestershire produced the brand of cricket that made them a one-day powerhouse under Mark Alleyne and John Bracewell. Crucially they came out on top during the six-over fielding restriction periods, which play such a vital part in Twenty20, and Spearman expertly showed how to exploit the early overs.
Full postWatson and McCallum rescue Scotland
Ryan Watson and Neil McCallum's double-century stand helped Scotland make amends for their side's lax fielding against Netherlands on the second day at Aberdeen
Cricinfo staff
04-Aug-2007
Scotland 277 for 3 (Watson 141*, McCallum 97*) lead Netherlands 255 (de Grooth 98, Blain 5-84) by 22 runs
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Ryan Watson and Neil McCallum's double-century stand helped Scotland make amends for their side's lax fielding against Netherlands on the second day at Aberdeen. Scotland wobbled to 55 for 3, but Watson and McCallum combined to ease them past Netherlands' 255, to take a lead of 22 with seven wickets in hand.
McCallum, who has only one century at this level, was left in sight of a second on 97, while Watson was hunting down 150; he was on 141. The pair's unbroken stand was worth 222 by the close.
Geert-Marten Mol and Qasim Sheikh helped Netherlands to an encouraging start, with a wicket apiece, and the run-out of Omer Hussain for 8 helped further. But the bowlers had no means of breaking through the fourth pair's defences, and Scotland are now handily placed to build a big lead heading into the third day.
Full postSri Lankans build after Dravid finds form
Dravid's assured 67 led a solid batting effort, allowing the Indians to declare after compiling 238 for 5
Sri Lanka A 266 and 112 for 1 (Vandort 61*, Perera 48*) lead Indians 238 for 5 dec (Dravid 67*, Gambhir 67 retd) by 140 runs
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How they were out
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How they were out
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A polished half-century from Rahul Dravid boosted India's preparations ahead of the final Test at The Oval, one where they need to only draw to seal the series. Dravid's assured 67 led a solid batting effort, allowing the Indians to declare after compiling 238 for 5.
The Sri Lankans responded assertively in conditions ideal for batting, stretching their lead to 140 by the end of the day. None of their bowlers made an impact but a 110-run stand between Michael Vandort and Dilruwan Perera continued from where they'd left off in the first innings. With chances of a result being remote, both sides would look for as much batting practice as they can get.
Full postDurham keep pressure on leaders
A round-up from the latest County Championship matches
Cricinfo staff
03-Aug-2007
Division One
Durham kept up the pressure on the top of the table sides with a nine-wicket win against Warwickshire at The Riverside. They produced an outstanding final-day effort, taking nine wickets before knocking off 192 with more than five overs to spare. Michael Di Venuto and Phil Mustard (76 off 58) did most of the work, adding 157 at one-day pace, and Di Venuto ended unbeaten on 91. Warwickshire had been well placed to salvage a draw when play started on 256 for 1, but Paul Wiseman removed Ian Westwood (116) early and the bowlers continued to chip away. Durham were put firmly in control when five wickets fell for 13 runs to Wiseman and Ottis Gibson, before a last-wicket stand of 71 between James Anyon and Lee Daggett gave Warwickshire some hope. Durham, though, had few problems racing to victory and claiming 21 vital points.
