Report
India Red surge to 21-run win
India Blue suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of India Red, failing by 21 runs to chase down the target of 281 in the opening match of the Challenger Series for the NKP Salve Trophy
The Bulletin by Anand Vasu in Chennai
01-Oct-2006
India Red 280 (Gambhir 111, Rao 67) beat India Blue 259 (Yuvraj 57, VRV Singh 3-49) by 21 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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India Blue suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of India Red, failing by 21 runs to chase down the target of 281 in the opening match of the Challenger Series for the NKP Salve Trophy. A solid score - thanks mainly to 110 from Gautam Gambhir and a half-century from Y Venugopala Rao - followed up by a thoughtful and incisive bowling display from VRV Singh and Murali Kartik sealed the deal for India Red.
It was always going to be a tricky chase - 280 was a good score on a pitch characterised by decent bounce and good carry - but India Blue slipped into a familiar trend, starting well, faltering, and failing to apply themselves in the face of some sensible bowling. The manner in which Sachin Tendulkar began suggested to the 5000-plus crowd at the MA Chidambaram Stadium that 280- might just not be enough. Tendulkar, was in one of those moods, and seemed destined for a big one. He played straight, leaning nicely into drives, punching rather than hammering the ball, but he too was not averse to unfurling the big hit when the bowlers erred in length, as Sreesanth did twice. The first was deftly pulled for six over deep backward square-leg, the second slapped back over the bowler's head even as the little master gave charge.
Full post RP Singh stars as UP trounce Sialkot
RP Singh demolished Sialkot, taking 4 for 25 in 9.5 overs as Uttar Pradesh romped home to a 316-run win to lift the Mohammad Nissar Trophy
The Bulletin by Sriram Veera
30-Sep-2006
Uttar Pradesh 316 and 373 for 7 decl (Rizwan Shamshad 88, Ravikant Shukla 64, Suresh Raina 55, Jyoti Yadav 53*) beat Sialkot 261 and 112 by 316 runs
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How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
RP Singh demolished Sialkot, taking 4 for 26 in 9.5 overs as Uttar Pradesh romped to a 316-run win to lift the Mohammad Nissar Trophy. Set an improbable 429 for victory, Sialkot crumbled to 112 for 7 just after lunch, and with Khalid Mahmood, Imran Nazir and Mohammad Asif all injured, the match ended in a comprehensive defeat for the visitors.
By delaying the declaration - it came in the third over of the day after Jyoti Yadav reached his fifty - UP, it was felt, might have hampered their chances of victory but a combination of a disciplined bowling performance, and lack of application and technique from the Sialkot batsmen meant that it was not to be.
RP Singh and Praveen Kumar knifed through Sialkot with an incisive opening spell that left the visitors hobbling at 36 for three before Shalabh Srivastava made further inroads with a two-wicket burst. RP Singh came back to hammer the final nail in Sialkot's coffin, triggering celebrations in the UP camp.
Full postRizwan Shamshad propels UP to 416-run lead
Uttar Pradesh ended the third day with a massive 416-run lead after Rizwan Shamshad, who stalled in the second session, exploded in the third. But despite the advantage UP currently enjoy the result is far from a foregone conclusion.
The Bulletin by Sriram Veera
29-Sep-2006
Close of play Uttar Pradesh 316 and 361 for 7 (Rizwan Shamshad 88, Ravikant Shukla 64, Suresh Raina 55) lead Sialkot 261 by 416 runs
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How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Uttar Pradesh ended the third day with a massive 416-run lead after Rizwan Shamshad paced his innings thoughtfully - playing the percentages when the bowlers were disciplined and exploding in the third session when he could manage some leeway. But despite the advantage UP currently enjoy the result is far from a foregone conclusion.
When UP started batting today, the plan would have been simple. Put runs on the board at a fast clip, set up a target and push for a declaration in the last session. The plan was well under way in the pre-lunch session when Suresh Raina bolted off with a feisty fifty - 147 runs were rattled off in 35 overs - but hit a speed-breaker in the second session when they were pegged back by some niggardly bowling. But, post-tea, UP raced off again, thanks to the Shamshad show, to a position of strength from where they can apply pressure on the visitors.
Never hurried into his shots, Shamshad, playing in his 105th first-class game, imposed himself in the last session in a serene manner, cutting and pulling Sarfraz Ahmed who didn't hit the right areas. With one eye on the declaration, he dismantled Sarfraz before proceeding to tear apart the medium pace of Tahir Mughal. A fierce cut and a caressed cover-drive - he never looked ungainly even when going for the broke - was followed by a spanking pull as the runs leaked from both ends. Earlier, in the second session, when his partner Ravikant Shukla was strangled by the bowling, Shamshad had chosen to jog at an easy pace. Of course, there was a pull here, a lofted drive there, but for the main he chose to play quietly. Maybe, the plan was to run the bowlers to ground, preserve wickets and go for it in the last session. Jyoti Yadav was the ideal partner, rotating the strike with singles and slipping in a few biffed-hits to the fence. Shamshad fell, 12 runs short of what would have been his 20th first-class ton, to a very good tumbling catch by the substitute fielder Satvinder Singh, the local under-22 cricketer who had to take the field as Sialkot camp was hit by injuries, at square-leg when he top-edged a pull.
Full postNazir special brings Sialkot back
Imran Nazir's cavalier 123 helped Sialkot cut Uttar Pradesh's lead significantly after they had been reduced to 96 for 6
George Binoy
28-Sep-2006
Uttar Pradesh 316 (Shamshad 84) and 14 for 0 lead Sialkot 261 (Nazir 123) by 69 runs
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How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
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The second day of the match between the domestic champions from India and Pakistan ran along similar lines to the first. Uttar Pradesh's bowlers reduced Sialkot to 96 for 6 but Imran Nazir's cavalier century from No.7 boosted them to a competitive 261. UP ended the day on 14 for no loss with an overall lead of 69.
Nazir had initially opened the innings but was forced to retire after just two balls because of a shoulder injury sustained during fielding. He returned to the middle after the top order capitulated to some disciplined bowling and outstanding catching from Uttar Pradesh. Sialkot's batsmen were guilty of the same error committed by UP's top order on the first day: they were too hasty on a slow pitch that offered little bounce. As a result several wickets were lost to indiscreet shots.
Full postShamshad and Shukla lead UP fightback
Uttar Pradesh's lower-order batsmen staged a doughty fightback after Sialkot's fast bowlers had knifed through the top order to leave the match evenly poised on the opening day at Dharamsala
George Binoy
27-Sep-2006
Uttar Pradesh 268 for 7 (Ravikant 54, Rizwan 61*, Chawla 49) v Sialkot
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Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
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Uttar Pradesh's lower-order batsmen staged a doughty fightback after Sialkot's fast bowlers had knifed through the top order to leave the match evenly poised on the opening day at Dharamsala. Mohammad Asif and Sarfraz Ahmed bowled searing opening spells to reduce UP to 53 for 4 at one stage. Ravikant Shukla, who battled for 54, was the spine of an innings bereft of beef or bone until Rizwan Shamshad and Piyush Chawla's plucky rearguard propped UP to 268 for 7.
UP were jolted even before the start when Mohammad Kaif, their captain, was declared unfit to play due to exhaustion. Sialkot, too, received a crippling blow to their attack soon after the start when Asif, Pakistan's McGrath, was forced out of the attack with a back problem. "It is a minor injury. But I did not want to take a risk as the Champions Trophy is round the corner," he said later.
Full postIndia outclass Pakistan to win U-19 series
India Under-19 completed a 4-0 series victory against Pakistan Under-19 after they won the final match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore by four wickets
Cricinfo staff
25-Sep-2006
India Under-19 192 for 6 (Jadeja 94) beat Pakistan Under-19 191 for 8 (Sharma 5-36) by four wickets
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Scorecard
India Under-19 completed a 4-0 series victory against Pakistan Under-19 after they won the final match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore by four wickets. Sumeet Sharma's 5 for 36 helped restrict Pakistan to 191 for 8 and Ravindra Jadeja's 94 ensured victory in the 44th over.
Pakistan started poorly, losing their first three wickets for 60 runs. They began to rebuild the innings through a 52-run stand for the fourth wicket between Zeeshan Mushtaq, who was unbeaten on 44, and Rana Adnan, 38, but Sharma sliced through the middle order without allowing any partnerships to flourish. Abu Nechim Ahmed bowled a tight spell and conceded just ten runs from eight overs of which six were maidens.
Chasing just 192, India's innings also began badly with the first three wickets falling for 16 runs. However Jadeja, who was adjudged Man of the Match, put the chase back on track with an 82-run stand for the fourth wicket with B Sumanth. Jadeja fell six short of a well-deserved centry but Tanmay Srivastav, who was unbeaten on 25, steered India to victory.
Full postBenham brilliance promotes Hampshire
A magnificent 158 from Chris Benham took Hampshire into Division One of the Pro40 for next season after comprehensively beating Glamorgan at The Rose Bowl, in the tournament's inaugural play-off.
Cricinfo staff
24-Sep-2006
Hampshire 265 for 9 (Benham 158) beat Glamorgan 114 (Harrison 28, Ervine 4-24, Bruce 3-28) by 151 runs
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A magnificent 158 from Chris Benham took Hampshire into Division One of the Pro40 for next season after comprehensively beating Glamorgan at The Rose Bowl, in the tournament's inaugural play-off. Set a sizeable 266 to win, Glamorgan were never in the hunt and they crumbled limply to 114 all out.
The day revolved around Benham whose wonderfully attacking innings provided the perfect end to Hampshire's summer. It was his second one-day hundred and by some distance his best innings for the club who he has played for since he was 10. Right from the outset, he took the attack to Glamorgan's bowlers - particular to James Franklin, before using his feet to the spinners. Though the pitch was even and true for the seamers, there was no shortage of turn available for Robert Croft and Dean Cosker, but Benham's poise and balance - not to mention his fearless strokeplay - was a cut above.
Full postSouth Africa presented with questions, not answers
South Africa's bowling limitations were further exposed in a warm-up match at Centurion on Sunday, as the Titans swept to a 26-run win to raise concerns over the side's form and preparations ahead of next month's Champions Trophy
Keith Lane
24-Sep-2006
Titans 269 for 6 (Bodi 103, Myburgh 75*) beat South Africa 243 (Pollock 67) by 26 runs
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South Africa's bowling limitations were further exposed in a warm-up
match at Centurion on Sunday, as the Titans swept to a 26-run win to raise concerns over the side's form and preparations ahead of next month's Champions Trophy.
After electing to field first Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini and Jacques
Kallis kept things relatively tight but there are concerns as to the backup bowlers. As was the case against a relatively weak Zimbabwean team the South African support bowlers lacked the cutting edge in the middle and latter stages of the Titans' innings, and were incapable of closing off the match. Andrew Hall, for example, was only disciplined for five out of six balls, the last being severely punished. Andre Nel also has a lot of work to do, both in terms of line, length and especially pace, while Robin Peterson simply cannot be relied to tie up one end for 10 overs.
Full postRampant Australia clinch title
Australia steamrolled the West Indies by 127 runs to take the DLF Cup in some style on a day that saw one team straining to lift its game as the other fell completely to pieces
The Bulletin by Anand Vasu
24-Sep-2006
Australia 240 for 6 (Martyn 52, Symonds 52) beat West Indies 113 (Lee 4-24) by 127 runs
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Australia steamrolled West Indies by 127 runs to take the DLF Cup in some style on a day that saw one team straining to lift its game as the other fell completely to pieces. For West Indian supporters this is just yet another defeat that will be hard to stomach, and barring the unfortunate dismissal of Brian Lara - given out caught behind when he had not touched the ball - they had no-one to blame but themselves. The batsmen failed utterly in their pursuit of 241, at one stage being reduced to 56 for 6, before some desperate hitting reduced the margin of defeat.
Australia, in stark contrast, showed the appetite for hard work when they batted. They quickly realised that it was not easy to score fluently on this pitch, and approached the innings with realistic expectations. Damien Martyn provided the sense, Andrew Symonds the brute force, and Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin put the icing on a well-baked cake. The West Indian reply was another story altogether.
Full postIndia outclass Pakistan to win U-19 series
India U-19s crushed their Pakistan counterparts by 174 runs in the third one-day match to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the four-match series at the Bagh-e-Jinnah ground in Lahore.
Cricinfo staff
24-Sep-2006
India U-19s crushed their Pakistan counterparts by 174 runs in the third one-day match to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the four-match series at the Bagh-e-Jinnah ground in Lahore.
The Pakistan U-19s put up another poor show with both bat and the ball, suffering their third defeat in a row, after having lost the opening tie by 82 runs and the second by just seven runs. The fourth and final match will be played on Sunday here at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Put into bat by home captain Riaz Kail, the touring side were propelled by half-centuries from Tanmay Srivastava and Virat Kohli, totalling 298 for nine in the allotted 50 overs and then bowling out Pakistan for 124 in a ball short of 37 overs.
Srivastava and Kohli revived a timid Indian start at 47 for two with a third-wicket stand of 152 runs revived the fortunes of the Indian batting after they were 47 for two. Srivastava's 88 came from 114 balls with seven fours while Kohli's 80 was made from only 92 balls, with nine fours.
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