Report
Raza steers Pakistan to victory
A century from Hasan Raza was the anchor for Pakistan A's 36-run victory over India A in the final of the EurAsia Series in Abu Dhabi
Cricinfo staff
05-May-2006
Pakistan A 288 for 4 (Hasan Raza 106*, Misbah-ul-Haq 73) beat India A 252 (Sodhi 70, Rao 69, Mansoor Amjad 4-68) by 36 runs
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Pakistan came into the final on the back of a defeat when the two sides met in the group stage, but they deserved their win after outplaying India in all departments.
Raza's unbeaten 106, made off 112 balls, came at a time the innings had lost some momentum after the loss of two wickets in quick succession reduced them to 88 for 3. Raza found valuable support in Misbah-ul-Haq who made a vital 73 from 94 balls with four fours and a six. The pair, who came together at the end of 15th over, added 174 runs for the fourth-wicket which was only broken with Misbah's run out in the penultimate over of the innings.
Full postAkram destroys sorry Gloucester
Six wickets from Mohammad Akram helped Surrey romp to a thumping innings-and-297-run victory over Gloucestershire at a sun-drenched Oval
Martin Williamson
05-May-2006
Surrey 639 for 8 (Ramprakash 292, Benning 112, Newman 81, Ball 6-134 ) beat Gloucestershire 207 and 135 (Akram 6-34) by an innings and 297 runs
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The early exchanges were all about Mark Ramprakash, who only added 16 to his overnight 276, but that was enough to enable him to post a career-best score. He made his intentions clear from the off, smacking Martyn Ball for six, before holed out to long-leg off the same bowler.
Facing a massive deficit of 432, Gloucestershire needed to show more fight than they had on the first day. If anything, they were even more feeble.
Full postLewis adds to Sri Lanka's batting gloom
Paul Coupar reports on the first day of the Sri Lankans' tour match against England A at Worcester
Paul Coupar at Worcester
04-May-2006
England A 96 for 2 (Key 46*, Joyce 24*) trail Sri Lankans 179 (Dilshan 47, Lewis 6-49) by 83 runs
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Fraser's fellow seamer Jon Lewis could be forgiven a grumble in sympathy. Playing for England A at sunny Worcester Lewis today whipped out six of Sri Lanka's expected Test line-up, for 49 runs. Yet hardly anyone expects him to play in the first Test at Lord's next week.
A late call-up, Lewis only featured because the younger and more glamorous
Sajid Mahmood was being hidden from the Sri Lankans ahead of an
anticipated Lord's debut.
Full postRamprakash doubles up in style
Mark Ramprakash eased his way to an unbeaten 276 as Surrey put Gloucestershire to the sword at The Oval
Andrew McGlashan at The Oval
04-May-2006
Surrey 608 for 7 (Ramprakash 276*, Ormond 0*) lead Gloucestershire 207 by 401 runs
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There was a sense of inevitability from the moment Ramprakash walked out on the first evening that he wouldn't be heading back the pavilion without plenty of runs to his name. His latest double hundred, the 11th of his career, was a seamless progression through the milestones as he tucked in against each of the Gloucestershire bowlers and he stands just four shy of a new career-best.
Regardless of the quality of the attack some of Ramprakash's strokeplay just had to be admired. His timing and placement were out of the top draw and one effortless flick through midwicket and two scorching cover drives, with a hint of the Caribbean, were especially memorable. His first hundred took 146 deliveries and then he decided to take his time, as James Benning took over the axe wielding, and reached his double off 324 balls. But even the celebration on reaching his 200 - a casual wave to the dressing room and spectators - was of a man who'd seen it all before.
Full postSouth Africa in command after Kiwi collapse
Jamie How, Michael Papps and Scott Styris were all blasted from the crease for ducks, as New Zealand made a disastrous start to the third and final Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg
The Bulletin by Andrew Miller
04-May-2006
Close South Africa 133 for 4 (de Villiers 1*, Prince 1*) lead New Zealand 119 (Fleming 46, Ntini 5-35) by 14 runs
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How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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A collapse of three wickets for 32 including two in the space of six balls put a dampener on South Africa's progress on the first day at Johannesburg, but they still reached stumps in command of the final Test, after bundling New Zealand out for 119 in just 44 hostile overs. In reply, South Africa had reached 133 for 4, with Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla contributing a pair of timely half-centuries.
Needing a victory to square the series and preserve their fifth spot in the ICC world rankings, New Zealand lost a crucial toss at a wintery Wanderers and proved powerless to resist as Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn reprised their matchwinning form from the first Test at Centurion. The pair shared eight wickets between them, with Ntini once again the star, finishing with 5 for 35, his fifth such haul of the season.
Full postWeston breaks ton drought but Surrey take charge
Phil Weston fought a lone battle on the opening day at The Oval as Surrey took charge of the clash between two of last season's relegated teams
Andrew McGlashan at The Oval
03-May-2006
Surrey 132 for 1 (Newman, Ramprakash) trail Gloucestershire 207 (Weston 102) by 75 runs
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No side believes they belong in the second division but for Surrey, and their collection of household names, it is certainly not somewhere they want to call home for very long. Following a slightly false start against Derbyshire, when they were forced to bat out a draw after following on, their pursuit of promotion back to the top flight is taking shape.
Weston proved their only obstacle with his first Championship century for nearly two years. Last season was forgetable as he scored just 465 runs at 23. His last hundred in this competition was also against Surrey, at Bristol, on June 4 2004. That innings set up a Gloucestershire victory - there will have to be a dramatic turnaround for the same to happen here.
Full postVandort guides Sri Lanka home
Michael Vandort guided the Sri Lankans to a moral-boosting six-wicket win over Derbyshire as the batting finally began to find its feet in the English spring
Cricinfo staff
01-May-2006
Sri Lankans 166 for 7 dec and 262 for 4 (Vandort 90*) beat Derbyshire 219 and 208 for 4 dec (Birt 83) by six wickets
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Michael Vandort guided the Sri Lankans to a morale-boosting six-wicket win over Derbyshire as the batting finally began to find its feet in the English spring. His unbeaten 90 meant the target was reached with relative ease after Derbyshire had declared following a delayed start.
Vandort, who is fighting for one of the opening slots with Upul Tharanga and Jehan Mubarak, took his chance with both hands. Tharanga played his part in an opening stand of 60, but it was Vandort who caught the eye with some powerful driving.
Kumar Sangakkara spent a useful 90 minutes in the middle, adding 96 with Vandort, before Derbyshire's spinners brought them back into the match. Andy Gray had Sangakkara stumped and Ant Botha claimed two wickets, including Tillekeratne Dilshan who continues to be short of runs.
Full postPrince and Styris enliven final day
Ashwell Prince and Scott Styris brightened an otherwise dull final day at Cape Town with two attractive innings, and Dale Steyn bowled an impressive spell, as the second Test petered out into a draw
The Bulletin by Will Luke
01-May-2006
New Zealand 593 for 8 dec and 121 for 3 (Styris 54*, Oram 8*) lead South Africa 512 (Amla 149, Prince 108*) by 202 runs
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Ashwell Prince and Scott Styris brightened an otherwise dull final day at Cape Town with two attractive innings, and Dale Steyn bowled an impressive spell, as the second Test petered out into a draw. After Prince brought up his hundred in the morning session, Styris opened his shoulders to reach a brisk fifty before bad light once again forced the players off.
While Ntini has bowled so impressively and with such character all season, he has lacked a regular new-ball partner with whom he can create pressure. Steyn, who played in the first Test, showed glimpses of brilliance but today he bowled with consistent accuracy, not to mention great pace.
Full postBirt flays Sri Lankans after batting struggles
The Sri Lankans suffered a tough day against Derbyshire as the top order struggled in seaming conditions and then Travis Birt smashed a violent 83
Cricinfo staff
30-Apr-2006
Derbyshire 219 and 208 for 4 (Birt 83, Taylor 53) lead Sri Lankans 166 for 7 (Kapugedera 45) by 261 runs
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The Sri Lankans certainly aren't having things all their own way as they prepare for the first Test against England, but decided to make a game of their warm-up clash against Derbyshire. After struggling to gain a foothold in their reply to Derbyshire's 219, they declared 53 behind. The bowlers then suffered some tap, especially from Travis Birt, setting up the prospect of a final-day run chase.
However, as with their wobbles against British Universities last week, it is the batting of the Sri Lankans where most interest lies. Facing up to the likes of Matthew Hoggard and Andrew Flintoff is hard enough at the best of times, but without form behind you it becomes even tougher.
Four of the probable Sri Lankan top order for the first Test at Lord's made a combined total of 12 runs between them. The inexperienced opening pair of Michael Vandort - needlessly run-out in a mix-up with Kumar Sangakkara - and Upul Tharanga were quickly followed back to the hutch by Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan. Much rests on the latter two and they are struggling for meaningful innings.
Full postIreland spin their way to upset
Ireland showed they aren't to be taken lightly in the C&G Trophy as they pulled off the first upset of this year's new-style tournament, downing Gloucestershire by 47 runs at Bristol
Cricinfo staff
30-Apr-2006
Ireland 193 for 9 (Gillespie 41, Averis 4-17) beat Gloucestershire 146 (Afridi 3-4, McCallan 3-5) by 47 runs
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Ireland showed they aren't to be taken lightly in the C&G Trophy as they pulled off the first upset of this year's new-style tournament, downing Gloucestershire by 47 runs at Bristol. They were led to victory by an outstanding performance from two of their spinners - the well-known Shahid Afridi and not-so-famous Kyle McCallan.
The pair bowled 12 overs between, with nine maidens, conceded just 11 runs and took six wickets. They induced a Gloucestershire collapse from 124 for 4, proving almost unplayable. Afridi, who earlier contributed an unusually sedate 36 to the Ireland innings, was playing his first match of the season after arriving late due to family illness. What a way to start.
His figures were exemplary - of the type rarely seen in one-day cricket - but McCallan's performance was equally impressive. He claimed two wickets in his first over, the vital strike of Chris Taylor then Mark Hardinges first ball, before nailing the final scalp of James Averis - fittingly caught by Afridi.
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