Report
Rain denies Pakistan after impressive bowling
Pakistan were denied the chance to press home a match-winning position when rain arrived at Sophia Gardens
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
30-Aug-2006
Pakistan 46 for 1 (Hafeez 18*, Younis 12*) against England 202 (Bell 88, Asif 3-28, Shoaib 3-45) - No result
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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There wasn't much more Pakistan's bowlers could have done after a pinpoint display in the field. After putting England into bat there was plenty of early movement for Asif and Shoaib. Andrew Strauss and Marcus Trescothick struggled to force the pace and the pressure accounted for both openers as they tried to make something happen. Strauss was cramped for room and top-edged a pull to square leg, then Trescothick gave himself room and toe-ended an ugly slash, leaving England in a common one-day pickle.
Pakistan continued to make headway when Asif removed Kevin Pietersen - who he'd struck on the helmet - for the third time in four innings, as he found the edge and Kamran Akmal held a low catch in front of first slip. Pietersen has not struggled with one single bowler the way he has with Asif and it is allowing Pakistan a significant hold over England's key batsman. Asif's first spell ended with the fine figures of 8-3-19-3.
Full postSussex dimmed despite Mushtaq's efforts
Northamptonshire's title hunt was kept alive and Sussex's dented after the home side eased to a 33-run victory in a rain-affected pro40 match at Northampton
Cricinfo staff
30-Aug-2006
Northants 148 for 9 (Mushtaq 5-25) beat Sussex 110 (Crook 4-20) by 33 runs (D/L)
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Sussex appeared well on course when they skittled Northants for 148, Mushtaq Ahmed doing to damage with 5 for 25 in his eight overs. At one stage, Northants were 65 for 1 as Usman Afzaal (37) and Chris Rogers (33) got them off to a decent start, but that became 119 for 9 before some late hitting from Matthew Nicholson and Monty Panesar.
That stand proved crucial as Steve Crook, who finished with 4 for 20, triggered an even more dramatic collapse, Sussex crashing from 42 for 1 to 65 for 6, eventually losing their last nine wickets for 68.
Full postRaj and Chopra dominate
This was an historic day for England women's cricket as Taunton was launched as the heart and home of the game. But it wasn't just England settling in: India made themselves right at home in the second and final Test, striking 168 for 2 on a truncated fir
The Bulletin by Jenny Thompson at Taunton
29-Aug-2006
India 168 for 2 (Raj 64*, Chopra 56*) v England
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Rain washed out the morning session but when play finally got underway it was India who took charge, slowly but surely building themselves a solid platform on a sluggish pitch. It was hardly cricket to set the pulse racing, yet it was tidy enough.
Mithali Raj led from the front and she was unbeaten on 64 by stumps, having put on an unbroken stand of 128 with Anjum Chopra after the openers put on a steady 40. Raj's fifty came from 115 balls and included seven fours and there was a fifty too for Chopra - and both half-centuries were warmly cheered by a rightly appreciative crowd.
Full postPakistan ease to five-wicket win
Pakistan showed they are focused on finishing their tour on a positive as they warmed-up for the one-day series with a comfortable five-wicket win, with 13 balls to spare, in the Twenty20 at Bristol
Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
28-Aug-2006
Pakistan 148 for 5 (Hafeez 46) beat England 144 for 7 (Trescothick 53, Razzaq 3-30) by five wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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Marcus Trescothick prevented a total collapse after three wickets had fallen in five balls as England slipped to 40 for 3, but the batsmen struggled to find the boundary and only managed one six in their innings. Boundaries are not something Afridi often struggles for and he didn't hang about trying to open his account, despite walking in with Broad on a hat-trick.
Broad, too, had wasted little time in making his mark on proceedings and gave a glimpse of the ability that has got the cricket world talking. His first over went for just two, then with his 10th ball on the international scene he trapped Shoaib Malik lbw. Throughout the season Broad has proved himself to be a thinking bowler and he then showed his adaptability by bouncing Younis Khan first ball, who gloved his pull shot to Chris Read. He wasn't afraid of a stare towards the batsmen and while he hasn't picked up bowling skills from his father, Chris, he certainly has traits of his combative spirit.
Full postLewis XI beat Ganga XI by three runs
Rawl Lewis XI pipped Daren Ganga XI by three runs to win the first practice game of the Stanford Super Star training camp at the Stanford Cricket Ground in Antigua on Saturday
Cricinfo staff
28-Aug-2006
Rawl Lewis XI pipped Daren Ganga XI by three runs to win the first practice game of the Stanford Super Star training camp at the Stanford Cricket Ground in Antigua on Saturday.
After batting first, Darren Sammy, the allrounder from St Lucia, propelled Lewis XI to 162 for 5 in their 20 overs. Sammy smashed 57 with three fours and four sixes and received support from William Perkins, the Trinidad and Tobago opener, who scored 25. Jerome Taylor, the West Indies fast bowler, took 2 for 15 in four overs while Mervyn Dillon, Tonito Willet and Nelon Pascal all chipped in with a wicket each.
Ganga led the run-chase by top-scoring with 70 and Kieron Pollard slammed five fours and two sixes during his 53. However, Pedro Collins took 3 for 25 off four overs to cripple the chase.
Ganga XI needed six runs off the final delivery and Dennis George, the left-arm spinner from Grenada, gave them a boost by bowling a wide. With five runs needed, Sylvester Joseph smashed the final ball over cover but couldn't manage more than a single as Ganga XI were restricted to 159 for 5.
Full postKirtley takes Sussex to famous win
A superb spell of bowling from James Kirtley helped Sussex beat Lancashire in a thrilling final of the C&G Trophy at Lord's
Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan at Lord's
26-Aug-2006
Sussex 172 (Yardy 37, Arafat 37) beat Lancashire 157 (Cork 35*, Kirtley 5-27) by 15 runs
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The highest score of the match was the 37 made by Michael Yardy and Yasir Arafat as Sussex struggled during their turn to bat. Lancashire bowled and fielded outstandingly, with Sajid Mahmood claiming an impressive three-wicket haul, but Sussex weren't going to roll over and let Lancashire claim the trophy. When Kirtley snared the final wicket, trapping Murali Kartik in front, he fell to his knees and was swamped by his team-mates while the balcony erupted. This may not have been classic one-day cricket in favour of the batsman, but it was still a classic one-day match.
Mal Loye went first in the chase, plumb lbw to a ball that nipped back, and four runs later Nathan Astle went in very similar style as he planted his front foot and the ball angled back and would have hit middle and leg. While Lancashire could have little complaint about the first two dismissals, the third will have left them stewing. Stuart Law went to defend his first ball, getting a thick inside-edge onto his pads but Jeremy Lloyds's finger went up for a third time.
Full postBroad's fab four can't prevent draw
Leicestershire made firmly sure of the draw at Northampton, declaring their second innings on 175 for 6, the third declaration of the match, to leave Northants an unassailable target of 338
Cricinfo staff
25-Aug-2006
Leicestershire 515 for 8 dec and 175 for 6 dec drew with Northamptonshire 353 for 4 dec and 259 for 6
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Leicestershire made firmly sure of the draw at Northampton, declaring their second innings on 175 for 6, the third declaration of the match, to leave Northants an unassailable target of 338.
The home side fell way short, reaching 259 for the loss of six wickets, although they gave game chase, rattling along at five an over as this pitch continued to leak runs. Not even a four-wicket haul from the wunderkind Stuart Broad could force a win for Leicestershire.
There were two wickets, too, for Claude Henderson but despite the Broad and Claude show, Northants were never in danger of losing after a fourth-wicket stand between Usman Afzaal and Bilal Shafayat. After missing out on a fifty first time around, Afzaal coursed to 88, while Shafayat made his second half-century of the game to put the result beyond doubt.
Full postEngland storm to clean sweep
England absolutely annihilated India to ensure a 4-0 cleansweep against India, putting the polish on Charlotte Edwards' first home series in charge
Jenny Thompson
25-Aug-2006
England 132 for 3 (Newton 41) beat India 131 by seven wickets
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Demolition jobs don't come much sleeker. England absolutely annihilated India to ensure a 4-0 cleansweep against India, putting the polish on Charlotte Edwards' first home series in charge.
A clinical bowling job, backed up by lightning fielding, dismissed India for a gibbering 131 and then England knocked off the runs for three wickets, with Laura Newton (41) leading the charge.
Full postDurham and Notts race home
A round-up from the latest County Championship matches
Cricinfo staff
24-Aug-2006
Division One
Kent collapsed twice in a day as Nottinghamshire boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation with an innings-and-85-run win at Trent Bridge. Ryan Sidebottom took nine wickets in the match as Kent lost 18 wickets on the third day. David Fulton went early, without adding to his 57, and it was downhill in Kent's first innings from there on, despite Matthew Walker's 65. Sidebottom took four and Mark Ealham three wickets and Kent were asked to follow on. Their second innings was even worse, as Sidebottom took four of the first five to fall. Geraint Jones had a miserable match - out twice for 4, and Nottinghamshire claimed the extra half hour to finish the match. Andy Harris and Charlie Shreck did the mopping up job.
An unbeaten 101 for Durham opener Jimmy Maher secured his side a seven-wicket victory over Warwickshire at the Chester-le-Street. Neil Killeen crippled Warwickshire in their second innings with 5 for 29, his best figures of the season, and broke the key stand of 96 between Jonathan Trott and Alex Loudon. Lee Daggett struck two early blows as Durham chased 196, but Maher's 101 came from 126 balls and he crunched 14 fours in the process. Ben Harmison (61 not out) enhanced his reputation with his second half-century of the match as Durham eased home with a day to spare
Division Two
Taylor guides England to series
An innings of immense promise from Sarah Taylor enabled England to secure a three-wicket victory in the fourth one-day international at the Rose Bowl and with it the series against India.
Andrew McGlashan
24-Aug-2006
England 195 for 7 (Taylor 61, Gunn 46, Goswami 3-20) beat India 192 for 8 (Chopra 43, Raj 47, Kala 40) by three wickets
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An innings of immense promise from Sarah Taylor enabled England to secure a three-wicket victory in the fourth one-day international at the Rose Bowl and with it the series against India. Taylor's 61 was the outstanding innings of the day and she batted with an ease that no one else managed. England's chase was not without its alarms, but they had enough in reserve as Jane Smit and Katherine Brunt carried them over the line with 26 balls to spare.
India had fought back after a poor start as they lost both openers with just a single on the board. Mithali Raj and Anjum Chopra added 108 for the third wicket to lead the fightback, however a clutch of late wickets restricted the total to below 200.
England's chase was rocking after an impressive early spell from Jhulan Goswami, who took three wickets in an eight-over burst that went for just 10 runs. She claimed two in two balls when Caroline Atkins inside-edged onto her stumps then Charlotte Edwards, again batting down the order, pushed at her first ball and was well taken by Karu Jain.
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