Report
Australia secure 4-0 lead with 85-run success
Australia continued their unbeaten run in the Rose Bowl Series with an 85-run victory that took them to a 4-0 advantage
Brydon Coverdale
26-Oct-2006
Australia 9 for 252 (Poulton 68, Watson 2-32) beat New Zealand 167 (Fahey 56, Nitschke 3-32) by 85 runs
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Australia continued their unbeaten streak in the Rose Bowl Series with an 85-run victory that took them to a 4-0 advantage. The home side's 9 for 252 proved too great a target for New Zealand, who were bowled out for 167 in 44.3 overs.
An already tough chase was made harder for the visitors when Nicola Browne was taken to hospital after retiring hurt on 6. Taking a quick single, Browne was hit in the back by a Kate Blackwell throw, overbalanced and in the fall knocked a tooth through her lip. It was a sorry end to a disappointing day for Browne, who opened the bowling for New Zealand and delivered five wides and a no-ball in her third and final over.
Full postHilfenhaus leads Tasmania to last-over victory
A five-wicket haul to emerging fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus drove Tasmania to a thrilling last-over victory on a pulsating final day at the WACA
Cricinfo staff
25-Oct-2006
Tasmania 7 for 553 dec and 7 for 200 dec (Paine 56, Heal 5-57) beat Western Australia 5 for 353 dec and 394 (Voges 152*, North 107, Hilfenhaus 5-79) by 6 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
A five-wicket haul to emerging fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus drove Tasmania to a thrilling last-over victory on a pulsating final day at the WACA. With four balls remaining, Western Australia wanted eight runs to reach their target of 401 and the Tigers needed a wicket to justify their pair of declarations on a lifeless surface.
Michael Di Venuto starred in the conclusion as he ran out the No. 11 Ben Edmondson with a direct hit running in from deep mid-on to prevent a second. The win was Tasmania's second away from home in a row and they sit on a lofty 12 points after two games.
Western Australia had 81 overs to reach their goal after the Tigers declared in the first session and they were on track with centuries to Marcus North and Adam Voges. Voges was unbeaten on 152 in a fantastic display - he faced only 203 balls with 13 fours and a six - and took the Warriors desperately close to their aim.
Full postFleming leads NZ to deserving win
New Zealand became the first side to qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy when they eased past Pakistan by 51 runs to register their second win of the tournament.
The Bulletin by S Rajesh
25-Oct-2006
New Zealand 274 for 7 (Styris 86, Fleming 80) beat Pakistan 223 (Yousuf 71, Malik 52, Bond 3-45) by 51 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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New Zealand became the first side to qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy when they eased past Pakistan by 51 runs to register their second win of the tournament. In their 500th one-day international, and in Stephen Fleming's 194th match as captain - a world record - New Zealand notched up an impressive result with a clinical allround display. Scott Styris (86) and Fleming (80) led the way with the bat, while the lower order spanked vital runs towards the end to lift them to an imposing 274 for 7. New Zealand then withstood a spirited run-chase to restrict Pakistan to 223, with Fleming fittingly taking the final catch and the Man-of-the-Match award.
Pakistan were coming off a wonderful win against Sri Lanka in a similar run-chase, but this time the target proved just a little too stiff, despite a typically classy and unhurried 71 from Mohammad Yousuf and his 94-run stand with Shoaib Malik, who contributed yet another half-century. Ultimately, though, New Zealand deserved the win for battling through unfavourable conditions - in spite of the chemical spray, there was still a generous amount of dew which made bowling difficult late in the evening.
Full postBulls claim bonus point against the Blues
James Hopes' first limited-overs century and some outstanding new-ball bowling from Andy Bichel were the catalysts for a Queensland victory against New South Wales
Brydon Coverdale
25-Oct-2006
Queensland 7 for 262 (Hopes 102, Buchanan 40*, Bollinger 2-48) beat New South Wales 197 (O'Brien 55, Thornely 47, Hopes 3-40) by 65 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
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James Hopes' first limited-overs century and some outstanding new-ball bowling from Andy Bichel were the catalysts for a Queensland victory against New South Wales at the Gabba. The Blues were all out for 197 and the 65-run win earned the Bulls a valuable bonus point, easing their initial concerns that the 7 for 262 would not be enough on a good batting pitch.
New South Wales slumped to 3 for 12 within six overs after Bichel, who picked up 2 for 21, claimed the vital early breakthrough when Phil Jaques got a thin under-edge to the wicketkeeper Chris Hartley. Bichel also had the New South Wales captain Brad Haddin caught behind in the third over after Craig Simmons was bowled by Scott Brant.
Full postLanger gives up double-century in bid for result
The oldest batsman in the Test side showed he still knows how to make a huge score just a day after Dennis Lillee voiced concerns the ageing top order could cost Australia the Ashes
Cricinfo staff
24-Oct-2006
Tasmania 7 for 553 dec and 5 for 149 (Paine 56, Bevan 46) lead Western Australia 5 for 353 dec (Langer 188*, Marsh 50, Ronchi 47*) by 349 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
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The oldest batsman in the Test side showed he still knows how to make a huge score just a day after Dennis Lillee voiced concerns the ageing top order could cost Australia the Ashes. Justin Langer was unbeaten on 188 when he declared Western Australia's first innings closed 200 runs short of Tasmania's total as he pushed for an outright result at the WACA.
With Tim Paine and Michael Bevan (46) flying in the second innings - Tasmania were 5 for 149 at stumps with a lead of 349 - both sides will be battling for victory on day four. Langer had also scored freely, bringing up his hundred in 140 balls, including 20 boundaries, before declaring at tea with the score 5 for 353.
Full postSeamers bowl SA to 78-run win
A superb bowling performance by South Africa gave them their first win of the Champions Trophy and kept them in the tournament as they eased to a 78-run win against Sri Lanka, who are now on the brink of elimination
The Bulletin by S Rajesh
24-Oct-2006
South Africa 219 for 9 (de Villiers 54*, Malinga 4-53) beat Sri Lanka 141 (Jayawardene 36, Nel 3-41) by 78 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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A superb bowling performance by South Africa gave them their first win of the Champions Trophy and kept them in the tournament as they eased to a 78-run win against Sri Lanka, who are now on the brink of elimination. South Africa's total of 219 for 9 - built around an 80-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Jacques Kallis (43) and AB de Villiers (54) - seemed too little, but their seamers hit back in style, as Sri Lanka were routed for 141 at Ahmedabad.
At the halfway stage of the match there was little to suggest that South Africa would romp to such a convincing win. The pitch, while on the slower side, was playing reasonably well and was expected to stay firm, and the prediction was for dew to make it extremely difficult for the bowling side later in the evening. Moreover, Sri Lanka had a long list of in-form batsmen used to these conditions - everything suggested a fairly comfortable Sri Lankan win.
Full postAustralia seal Rose Bowl 3-0 after Poulton century
A century from the opener Leah Poulton in her third one-day international has secured the Rose Bowl for Australia
Cricinfo staff
24-Oct-2006
Australia 6 for 236 (Poulton 101, Sthalekar 46, Devine 2-32, Watson 2-42) beat New Zealand 8 for 231 (Fahey 69, Browne 35*, Andrews 2-51, Hayes 2-53) by 5 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
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A century from the opener Leah Poulton in her third one-day international has secured the Rose Bowl for Australia after another thrilling match at Allan Border Field. The five-run victory over New Zealand gave the Southern Stars a 3-0 lead in the five-game series after they won the first two encounters by one run and one wicket.
Australia's 6 for 236 was led by Poulton, whose 101 included seven fours and one six, and the stand-in captain Lisa Sthalekar, who narrowly missed her third consecutive half-century. In reply the visitors reached 8 for 231, with the opener Maria Fahey (69) doing her best to upset the Australians until she and Sarah Tsukigawa (10) fell in one Sarah Andrews over. A late flurry from the allrounder Nicola Browne, who picked up 35 not out from 27 balls, was not enough for the White Ferns to steal a late win.
Full postLanger leads Western Australia chase after Paine 215
Justin Langer might have thought Western Australia's chances were slipping through his fingers at Perth on day two against Tasmania
Cricinfo staff
23-Oct-2006
Western Australia 1 for 133 (Langer 83*) trail Tasmania 7 for 553 dec (Paine 215, Bevan 83, Birt 71, Bailey 55, Marsh 54, Heal 5-103) by 420 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
Justin Langer might have thought Western Australia's chances were slipping through his fingers at Perth on day two against Tasmania, but he quickly set about limiting the damage with an unbeaten 83. Langer had dropped Tim Paine on 199, with the ball racing through his fingers to the boundary to bring up Paine's double-century.
Paine, playing his fifth first-class game, resumed on 119 and again took advantage of a placid pitch by turning his maiden first-class century into an impressive 215, with 27 fours and two sixes. The score was the highest by a Tasmanian against Western Australia, beating Ricky Ponting's 211 in 1994-95, and Paine was well supported by George Bailey (55) and Daniel Marsh (54) as they piled on 7 for 553 declared. Despite the Tigers' dominance, there were some good signs for the Warriors as the left-arm orthodox spinner Aaron Heal earned career-best figures of 5 for 103, including three stumpings to Luke Ronchi.
The home side's reply got off to a shaky start, with the opener Chris Rogers caught behind on the last ball before tea for 7. After the break Langer re-started the recovery by racing towards a century - his innings lasted 113 balls and contained 17 fours - and he combined for a valuable stand of 111 with Shaun Marsh, who was 39 not out. The first day-three target of Western Australia, who finished at 1 for 133, will be the 271 runs required to avoid the follow-on.
Full postTasmania ride on Paine's hundred
A fine maiden first-class hundred from Tim Paine and half-centuries to Michael Bevan and Travis Birt put Tasmania firmly in command over a butter-fingered Western Australia on day one at the WACA
Cricinfo staff
22-Oct-2006
A fine maiden first-class hundred from Tim Paine and half-centuries to Michael Bevan and Travis Birt put Tasmania firmly in command over a butter-fingered Western Australia on day one at the WACA. On the same ground on which Western Australia posted a mammoth 3 for 608 a week ago, Paine and Bevan, who added 132 for the second wicket, cashed in on dropped catches - both were reprieved in one over from Ben Edmondson - to take toll of the bowling.
Justin Langer, the Western Australia captain, won the toss, inserted Tasmania under overcast skies, and Sean Ervine, the former Zimbabwe allrounder, quickly removed Michael Di Venuto (14). But if Langer thought the early wicket would start a slide, Paine and Bevan had other plans. Paine, 21, was playing only his fifth match for his state and easily beat his previous best of 36 in an unbeaten 119 that included 13 boundaries.
Bevan got his first impressive Pura Cup score of the season, an 87-ball 83, and hit Edmondson for consecutive sixes over fine leg shortly after lunch. He eventually fell to a catch behind off Ervine, the most successful bowler with 2 for 35 from 16 overs. Bevan's dismissal ushered in Birt, who progressed to 71 before he edged Aaron Heal's left-arm spin to Luke Ronchi eight overs before bad light ended play.
Full postFlintoff plays down defeat
Andrew Flintoff has unsurprisingly brushed off suggestions England will now be under more pressure going into next month's Ashes series after losing to Australia in the Champions Trophy on Saturday opening stand from Ian Bell and Andrew Strauss to st
AFP and Cricinfo staff
22-Oct-2006
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Andrew Flintoff has unsurprisingly brushed off suggestions England will now be under more pressure going into next month's Ashes series after losing to Australia in the Champions Trophy on Saturday.
England's chances of qualifying for the semi-finals virtually ended on Saturday when they crashed to a six-wicket defeat, their second successive loss. They will now clash with West Indies in their last league game at Ahmedabad on October 28.
"We took this match in isolation," he said, "as a must-win game for both the sides to stay in the tournament." Regardless of Flintoff's attempts to play down defeat - "In the build-up people were trying to link it to the Ashes," he said, "but the Ashes start when we go to Australia" - the Australians will be boosted greatly by their victory in India.
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