Report
Gillespie holds up Lancashire
A round-up from the latest County Championship matches
Cricinfo staff
18-May-2006
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Division One
Yorkshire capitulated in the face of tight, controlled Lancashire seam bowling but ended the third day just 16 runs adrift of the follow-on target with that man, Jason Gillespie, providing another dogged tailend performance. Not for the first time this season, the Lancashire captain Mark Chilton turned to Tom Smith for a breakthrough who duly provided, bowling Matthew Wood for 13. And when Luke Sutton caught Matthew Lumb off Smith's bowling, Yorkshire had stumbled to 99 for 3. Darren Lehmann and Anthony McGrath rallied with a fourth-wicket stand of 57, but Lehmann was outdone by Gary Keedy's flight, allowing Sutton to whip off the bails. With the dangerman gone, Yorkshire collapses from 156 for 4 to 198 for 9 until Gillespie (39*) and Deon Kruis (21*), the No. 11, edged Yorkshire up to the follow-on target. If this last pair can knock off the final ten runs needed to avoid the follow-on, the game is as good as safe with just one day to go.
Durham made slow but steady progress on the second rain-affected day against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, but nevertheless made the most of their time in the middle to reach 332 for 6. Jonathan Lewis and Gordon Muchall extended their promising partnership last night, nothing up a vital hundred stand before Lewis was trapped lbw by Paul Franks. Gary Pratt batted cautiously for his 26 before Dale Benkenstein played the anchor innings, adding useful stands of 64 with Pratt and 47 with Gareth Breese. After a brief rain delay, Benkenstein was trapped in front by Mark Ealham for a patient 73 shortly before the close.
Full postJohnston's six shreds sorry Namibia
Trent Johnston destroyed Namibia's line-up with a six-wicket haul in just his tenth first-class match
Cricinfo staff
18-May-2006
Ireland 78 for 3 (Morgan 23*, Joyce 8*) trail Namibia 95 (Johnston 6-23)by 17 runs
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Namibia's hopes of staying in the competition are hanging in the balance after the defending champions Ireland skittled them for just 95 at Clontarf.
Trent Johnston destroyed Namibia's line-up with a six-wicket haul in just his tenth first-class match. The Australian-born Johnston, who has been playing for Ireland for two years, took 6 for 23 in a mere 9.5 overs as Namibia continued to struggle with alien conditions.
Kola Burger, the left-handed batsman, injected some beef into Namibia's innings with a fizzing knock of 39. He finally fell to Johnston, too, who made mincemeat of the side.
Full postDravid ton sets up Indian win
Rahul Dravid's well-paced century built the platform from which the Indian middle order completed the victory in the final over of the first ODI at Sabina Park
The Bulletin by S Rajesh
18-May-2006
India 254 for 5 (Dravid 105, Kaif 66*) beat West Indies 251 for 6 (Gayle 123) by five wickets
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How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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In a match dominated by two superb batting performances, Rahul Dravid marginally outshone Chris Gayle as India drew first blood in the one-day series with a thrilling five-wicket win at Kingston. Gayle's powerpacked 123 lifted West Indies to a challenging 251 after rain had lopped off five overs from the 50-over quota, but India had their answer in their captain. Dravid, opening the innings as India played with only five specialist batsmen, controlled the run-chase quite magnificently with a 102-ball 105, and despite plenty of stutters towards the end, India squeaked home with one ball to spare, with Mohammad Kaif unbeaten on a patchy 66.
A match which at one stage seemed likely to be called off without a ball being bowled eventually started after only a one-hour delay - thanks to the excellent drainage facilities at the Sabina Park - and the crowd was treated to some nail-biting action with both sides seeming to fluff their lines as the pressure mounted. With four overs to go, India needed just 25, and with Kaif already past his half-century, a victory seemed there for the taking.
Full postRain dampens Surrey's fire
Rain and bad light were the only things that could stop Surrey's openers today. Scott Newman and Jon Batty had coursed to 126 without loss
Jenny Thompson at The Oval
17-May-2006
Surrey 126 for 0 (Newman 65*, Batty 44*) v Worcestershire
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Rain and bad light were the only things that could stop Surrey's openers today. Scott Newman and Jon Batty moved their side to 126 without loss when inclement weather put paid to proceedings; bottom-placed Worcestershire were delighted to go off.
Newman, the man they nickname Ronaldo, showed skills every bit as silky as the footballer en route to a chanceless fifty. More than once did the left-handed Newman open his shoulders and dispatch the wayward stuff, not to mention the better stuff, too. He particularly favoured the offside and was brutal around the coverpoint area. He and Batty strolled steadily at three an over.
Full postLoye punishes wayward Yorkshire
A magnificent 113 from Mal Loye put Lancashire in charge of the 242nd Roses match against Yorkshire at Headingley
Cricinfo staff
16-May-2006
Lancashire 228 for 3 (Loye 113*, Law 59*) v Yorkshire
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Yorkshire, who chose to field for the third time in as many matches, were serenaded onto the pitch by a corps of drums, and soon had Lancashire in the perilous position of 17 for 2. Deon Kruis found one to bounce on Mark Chilton, the Lancashire captain, who fended it to Anthony McGrath at second slip. Not long after, Iain Sutcliffe got himself into a dreadful mess when, pushing a delivery from Jason Gillespie, he trod on his stumps.
Although the situation, not to mention the conditions, favoured the bowlers Loye was dominant from the outset. With Brad Hodge - who returned from his brief trip back to Australia, for the birth of his son - the pair put on a vital 69 for the third wicket. And though Hodge was looking increasingly confident, smashing five fours and taking particular fancy to John Blain, a lazy pull destroyed his stumps to give Blain his first and only wicket of the day.
Full postIndians open their tour in fine style
Led by a solid batting performance, the Indians began their tour of the West Indies with an emphatic victory, overwhelming the Jamaica XI by 116 runs at Montego Bay
Indians 289 for 7 (Raina 50 retd, Kaif 49, Dhoni 45) beat Jamaica XI 173 by 116 runs
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Led by a solid batting performance, the Indians began their tour of the West Indies with an emphatic victory, overwhelming the Jamaica XI by 116 runs at Montego Bay. Handy contributions from Suresh Raina, Mohammad Kaif and Mahendra Singh Dhoni set up a daunting total, one which the Jamaicans never threatened to overhaul.
Close to 4000 spectators filled the picturesque Jarrett Park and got a chance to witness some sparkling strokeplay during the Indian innings. Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid set the ball rolling with a rollicking 61-run stand, in just 12 overs, before the Uttar Pradesh duo of Raina and Kaif built a solid platform. The two came together when the Indians needed to rebuild - having lost their way a bit owing largely to Andrew Richardson, the talented young medium-pacer - but their hustling methods paid off.
Full postGloomy skies and a resolute tail defy England
Sri Lanka pulled off a stunning escape on the final day as the tail defied everything England could throw at them
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
15-May-2006
Sri Lanka 192 (Jayawardene 61, Hoggard 4-27) and 537 for 9 (Vaas 50*, Muralitharan 1*) drew with England 551 for 6 dec
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How they were out
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The final act was played out between two former team-mates as Andrew Flintoff tried to fire out Muttiah Muralitharan and leave England with a tantalising target. After Matthew Hoggard had ended Kulasekara's outstanding 64, Flintoff sent a fierce delivery down to Muralitharan which rapped him on the gloves. The umpires offered the light and six vital overs were lost. When play resumed Muralitharan blocked 15 more deliveries with all he could muster and England's last chance went when, quite aptly, Paul Collingwood spilled Vaas - their ninth miss of the match - in the gully. That would have left them with 24 overs to chase 170.
England took two wickets during a shortened morning session and were expected to finally end Sri Lanka's resistance, which had started on Saturday afternoon after being asked to follow-on. However, Vaas and Kulasekara withstood everything that Flintoff threw at them for the next 45.3 overs and the impossible became possible. Kulasekara also benefited from being missed, on 14, when Alastair Cook fluffed the chance at gully early in the afternoon session. England would have had ample time to claim the final wicket and knock off the target but with each over Kulasekara batted Sri Lanka nudged closer.
Full postSarwan leads West Indies to series whitewash
As expected, West Indies wrapped up a 104-run victory over Zimbabwe in the seventh and final ODI at Queen's Park Oval, and in so doing completed a 5-0 whitewash in a series that was never been remotely competitive
The Bulletin by Martin Williamson
14-May-2006
West Indies 266 for 8 (Sarwan 91, Chanderpaul 45, Lara 40) beat Zimbabwe 162 (Taylor 43, Sibanda 42, Smith 4-29) by 104 runs
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How they were out
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The margin of victory here - 104 runs - was academic from early in the Zimbabwe innings when it became apparent that they were again going to concentrate on survival rather than chasing. The Carib Beer girls kept partying until the end, but there was precious little entertainment in the second half of the match for another small crowd.
West Indies had won by half-time, their total of 266 for 8 putting the game beyond Zimbabwe's limited resources, but again their innings raised a number of concerns about the forthcoming series against India. The total was based on a solid 91 from Ramnaresh Sarwan, 45 from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and lit up by a sparkling cameo from Brian Lara. Chris Gayle again looked out of sorts, and the middle order folded in a series of lofted drives and overambitious swats. In the context of this match, it mattered little, but against the Indians it will be crucial.
Full postJayawardene and light delay England
Mahela Jayawardene fought tooth and nail before being cruelly dispatched after an outstanding fighting century that kept Sri Lanka's hopes of a draw flickering in the gloom at Lord's
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
14-May-2006
Sri Lanka 192 (Jayawardene 61, Hoggard 4-27) and 381 for 6 (Dilshan 39*, Kapugedera 5*) lead England 551 for 6 dec by 22 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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Their cause was helped when bad light lopped 24 overs off the evening and the forecast tomorrow suggests more assistance from the elements can't be ruled out. But for large parts of today it was the Sri Lankans who aided themselves. Jayawardene and Farveez Maharoof negotiated a full morning session and Tillakaratne Dilshan, following a double burst from Sajid Mahmood, ensured the resistance remained.
Jayawardene is enjoying a fine match and his outward emotion on reaching the hundred showed what it meant to him. Four overthrows brought up his century off 191 balls but it didn't matter how he got there as he pumped his fists, signalling to the dressing room, and certainly hadn't given up hope of pulling the match out of the fire.
Full postHoffmann routs sorry Namibia
Scotland completed an innings-and-65 run rout of Namibia with more than a day of their Intercontinental Cup tie at Aberdeen to spare
Cricinfo staff
13-May-2006
Scotland 360 (Watson 167, Smith 70, Snyman 5-96) beat Namibia 168 and 127 (Hoffmann 5-14) by an innings and 65 runs
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Scotland lost both their overnight batsmen in quick succession but Craig Wright and Dewald Nel, who had been expected to push for quick runs, ground down the Namibians with a patient seventh-wicket stand of 78. Gerrie Snyman brought the innings to a rapid conclusion with four wickets in as many overs.
Namibia faced a tough ask with a first-innings deficit of 192, and they were all at sea on a seamer's paradise, with Paul Hoffmann causing havoc by taking the first five wickets, three of them bowled, and breaking two stumps in the process. At 35 for 5 it was game over, and it took some big hitting from the tail to enable Namibia to reach three figures. Kola Burger enlivened things with three big sixes off one Ross Lyons over before he holed out to Ian Stanger attempting a fourth.
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