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Honours even on half-pace day
It was just about honours even at the end of a low-scoring second day of the State Championship final between Wellington and Central Districts at the Basin Reserve
Cricinfo staff
04-Apr-2006
Wellington 93 for 2 (Bell 51*) trail Central Districts 312 (Englefield 69, Sinclair 67) by 219 runs
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It was just about honours even at the end of a low-scoring second day of the State Championship final between Wellington and Central Districts at the Basin Reserve. At the close, Wellington had reached 93 for 2 in reply to Central Districts 312.
It was a day for the purists as Central Districts, who resumed on 184 for 2, barely managed two an over in the face of a far more spirited performance from Wellington's bowlers. Scott Rasmussen, who took the only two wickets to fall on the opening day, added two more to finish with 4 for 67, as Central Districts lost their last 8 wickets for 106 inside two sessions.
Full postLee and Kasprowicz steal two-wicket thriller
Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz buried their Ashes nightmares with a 19-run eighth-wicket partnership to secure a gripping victory and earn a 3-0 cleansweep against South Africa
The Bulletin by Peter English
04-Apr-2006
Australia 270 and 294 for 8 (Martyn 101, Lee 24*, Kasprowicz 7*) beat South Africa 303 and 258 by two wickets
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Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz buried their Ashes nightmares with a 19-run eighth-wicket partnership to secure a gripping victory and earn a 3-0 cleansweep against South Africa. Set 292, Australia rode home with two wickets remaining and Justin Langer gloved up in preparation if either batsmen fell, but he was able to avoid damaging his recovery from a head knock and was needed only for delicate back-slapping.
Kasprowicz walked out to meet Lee with 17 to go in a scene of Edgbaston revisted. He picked up a two and a legbye before Lee cut the aim to eight when he strode forward to thunder Shaun Pollock through cover. Kasprowicz followed his team-mate with a square boundary and thoughts would not stop flicking to his dramatic caught-behind dismissal to Steve Harmison with only three runs to win in Birmingham last year.
Full postPakistan fightback through dazzling Asif
Muttiah Muralitharan picked up his 51st five-for in Tests but another fluctuating day saw Sri Lanka crash to 73 for 8, with Mohammad Asif wrecking havoc at Kandy
The Bulletin by Osman Samiuddin
04-Apr-2006
Sri Lanka 279 and 73 for 8 (Asif 5-27) lead Pakistan 170 (Muralitharan 5-39) by 182 runs
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Muttiah Muralitharan loves the Asgiriya stadium but at least one bowler will walk away from this ground, irrespective of the result, as infatuated by it. No sooner had Muralitharan sat down to contemplate his 51st five-wicket haul, one that had seemingly shifted a taut Test decisively away from Pakistan in the afternoon, he was contemplating coming out to bat, barely two hours later. For this he can blame Mohammad Asif who with a second five-wicket haul - 11 for the match - ensured that the daunting advantage Muralitharan had gained - a 109-run lead - had been hacked considerably. On an insanely fluctuating day, Sri Lanka crashed to 73 for 8, with Sanath Jayasuriya unlikely to bat, a lead of 182 and the match, still and again, in the balance.
Had Glenn McGrath been watching Asif today, he might have allowed himself a smile, but only after recoiling in horror first at a decent mimic. In 12 overs, he loitered around off-stump and cut and seamed through Sri Lanka. For nine overs, Kumar Sangakkara and Upul Tharanga had played and missed but also scored runs occasionally and at 22 for no loss, it was game, set, almost match. Even the loss of Tharanga, cleaned up by a superb offcutter, didn't seem to matter too much.
Full postNtini and Martyn set up thrilling final day
Both teams face a nervous wait for the conclusion of a pulsating final Test as Damien Martyn's unbeaten 93 crept Australia to within 44 of their target with four wickets left
The Bulletin by Peter English
03-Apr-2006
Australia 270 and 248 for 6 (Martyn 93*, Hussey 89) need 44 runs to beat South Africa 303 and 258 (Boucher 63, Gibbs 53, Clark 4-64)
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Makhaya Ntini charged through Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne after Nicky Boje finally removed Hussey, and Jacques Kallis, a debutant captain under unfamiliar pressure, ended a dangerous drive from Andrew Symonds. The last three batsmen fell for nine runs in a dramatic turnaround as South Africa's mood changed from one of impending defeat to hope of a first positive result in six Tests against Australia this summer.
Through the chaos Martyn remained calm, like he had throughout an innings that was crucial to his career prospects, and Australia finished at 248 for 6. The reshuffled order meant Hussey was promoted to his preferred spot of opener and while his place was assured after his brilliant entry this summer, Martyn was at an important stage in a three-match comeback that was not convincing until today. Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, picked Martyn's experience for this type of uncompromising situation and by stumps he had repaid them. On Tuesday he will aim for a 13th century and an Australian victory.
Full postCentral Districts make slow progress on opening day
Half-centuries by Jarrod Englefield and Mathew Sinclair helped Central Districts reach a comfortable 184 for 2
Cricinfo staff
03-Apr-2006
Central Districts 184 for 2 (Englefield 69, Sinclair 55*) v Wellington
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Half-centuries by Jarrod Englefield and Mathew Sinclair helped Central Districts reach a comfortable 184 for 2 at close of play on the first day of the State Championship final at the Basin Reserve. The Wellington bowlers made run-making a difficult proposition - Central Districts scored at barely more than two per over - but couldn't manage more than two wickets in nearly 87 overs.
Sent in to bat, Central Districts got off to a steady start as the openers Geoff Barnett and Englefield, the captain, put on 81. Barnett scored 41 off 129 balls with six boundaries before he was dismissed leg-before by Scott Rasmussen. Englefield brought up a laborious half-century in 196 balls and along with Sinclair, the pair added 95 for the second wicket. Rasmussen claimed the second wicket as well, as Englefield edged one to Stu Mills, the wicketkeeper, for 69. His obdurate knock came off 240 balls with seven fours. Sinclair was unbeaten on 55 at close of play on a day on which the ball made its way to the fence only 16 times.
Full postSangakkara shines in even battle
It swung one way, then the other, then back again only to be further prodded and nudged back and forth on an intriguing first day.
The Bulletin by Osman Samiuddin
03-Apr-2006
Day 1 Sri Lanka 267 for 8 (Sangakkara 79, Samaraweera 65, Asif 5-41) v Pakistan
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It swung one way, then the other, then back again only to be further prodded and nudged back and forth on an intriguing first day at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy. Every moment one side sensed an advantage, the other seized it back and as play came to an end, it settled neither here nor there. Mohammad Asif's first five-wicket haul, backed by Danish Kaneria's wiles, was cancelled out by another stirring hand from Kumar Sangakkara and some Thilan Samaraweera stodge and meant neither side would be too ecstatic or too despondent at the close with Sri Lanka 267 for 8.
It would be cute to suggest that Asif swung the match Pakistan's way in the morning, but it wasn't so much swing he relied on as seam. Asif bowled as if on a different pitch, with a different ball to different batsmen than his medium-pace partners, Umar Gul and Rao Iftikhar Anjum. His 12-over spell, unchanged and five minutes short of two hours, was similar to that of a spinner's in its duration, perseverance and probing. The speed gun betrayed tiredness, possibly from an increased burden, but luckily for him speed guns don't measure movement and cut, the real currency of his bowling. That remained and by the time he finished, it was too late already for Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene.
Full postYuvraj inspires India to 3-0 lead
Inspired by a superb hundred from Yuvraj Singh India took a 3-0 lead against England with a comprehensive win in Goa
The Bulletin by Anand Vasu
03-Apr-2006
India 294 for 6 (Yuvraj 103, Raina 61) beat England 245 (Collingwood 93, Pathan 4-51) by 49 runs
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Yuvraj Singh played an inspired innings of rare quality after Rahul Dravid won an important toss on a sluggish pitch as India posted a mammoth 294 and overwhelmed England by 49 runs to take an impressive 3-0 lead in this seven-match series. A raucous Goa crowd cheered India all the way as a strident batting performance laid the base for a strong win.
When India began to bat it was immediately obvious that this 22-yard strip of real estate was not unlike life one of Goa's beaches - slow and not particularly conducive to getting anywhere in a hurry. The pitch at the Nehru Stadium in Goa has not been used for a single first-class match this season, and till late February the ground had been used for football. In that sense it is understandable - though by no means excusable - that the surface is as it was, slow, crumbling, taking spin, breaking up and deteriorating with every passing hour. Virender Sehwag was hardly amused when the first few deliveries shot under his bat and after having a biff or two was cleaned up by one that came back in a touch. India's decision to leave out Gautam Gambhir worked well as Dravid opened, and he was best equipped to show the way to bat on this pitch.
Full postBoucher knock gives South Africa the edge
Australia will have to chase at least 284 for a 3-0 cleansweep after South Africa spent most of the day building a hugely competitive lead in an absorbing contest
The Bulletin by Peter English
02-Apr-2006
South Africa 303 and 250 for 8 (Boucher 55*, Gibbs 53, Clark 4-64) lead Australia 270 (Hussey 73, Lee 64, Ntini 6-100) by 283 runs
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The pitch is offering disconcerting pace and movement, especially with the new ball, and the target will be a severely challenging one as both teams attempt to end a one-sided series on a high. Each time South Africa threatened to run away with the match Australia dragged themselves back, although the hosts finished extremely strongly in the last 30 minutes with Mark Boucher and Andre Nel taking them to 250 for 8 when bad light ended play early again.
Clark used the conditions superbly to deliver a consistent line that challenged the batsmen and upset their rhythm. He finished with 4 for 64 while Warne struck three blows - two with full tosses - as the side performed without Michael Kasprowicz for the final two sessions as he struggled with a back problem. They were already missing Justin Langer, who was recovering from the hit he copped from Makhaya Ntini yesterday, and he is still waiting to make a decision about whether he will bat in the second innings.
Full postTime runs out for the Netherlands
Despite a fifty from Daan van Bunge, time was against the Netherlands and they failed to enforce a win against Kenya
Cricinfo staff
01-Apr-2006
Netherlands 474 and 202 for 5 (van Bunge 70*) drew with Kenya 367 (Tikolo 212*)
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Steve Tikolo's classy double-hundred led Kenya to safety on the final day of their Intercontinental Cup match against the Netherlands at Nairobi Gymkhana. Tikolo, resuming on 186 and with Kenya trailing the Netherlands by 142, remained unbeaten on 212 when Hitesh Modi was the last man out. It was a dull end to a match which the Netherlands had dominated on the first two days and, despite a fifty from Daan van Bunge, time was always going to be against them after Tikolo dropped anchor.
Tikolo wasn't the only name on show in Kenya's innings today, though. Yesterday, Modi wasn't expected to bat after breaking a finger on his left hand on the first day, but hung around for 17 balls almost batting one-handed. Modi helped Tikolo edge Kenya towards a position of safety, with a heartening last-wicket stand of 52. Kenya were finally bowled out for 367, with van Bunge bowling impressively to pick up 3 for 51.
This still left the Netherlands with a lead of 107, but in order to enforce victory they needed to score quick runs in the first session and bowl Kenya out in the afternoon. However, when the Netherlands slipped to 61 for 3, a draw was the only possible outcome. van Bunge made amends for his cheap dismissal in the first innings to contstruct a solid anchor-innings of 70 which was made from 176 balls.
Full postNortherns edge past Boland in tight final
Despite a quick-fire 58 from Wallace Albertyn, Border fell by four runs to Northerns in the final of the SAA Provincial Cup at Paarl
Cricinfo staff
01-Apr-2006
Northerns 240 for 4 (Dros 68) beat Boland 236 for 8 (Albertyn 58*, Mashimbyi 4-57) by 4 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
Despite a quick-fire 58 from Wallace Albertyn, Boland fell by four runs to Northerns in the final of the SAA Provincial Cup at Paarl. Having slumped to 102 for 5, Warren Swan led the recovery for Boland with a 57-ball fifty to revive hopes of chasing down Northerns' 240. But Mandla Mashimbyi (4 for 57) dismissed Swan and although Albertyn swung lustily, 17 runs were needed from the final over which proved too great.
Northerns were powered to their total of 240 for 4 thanks to a triplet of half-centuries, with Gerald Dros top-scoring with 68. Dros took just 44 balls to bring up his fifty, which included four sixes and his innings acted as a perfect addition for Northerns' innings after Francois du Plessis (65) and Maurice Aronstam (59) launched an opening stand of 113. Ultimately though, it was the penetration of the Northerns' bowlers which stood out between the two teams, and Boland fell to their second consecutive narrow defeat in a final. Northerns now have the opportunity to do the double when they meet Western Province in the final of the SAA Provincial Challenge on Thursday April 6.
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