Report
Misery in the gloom
The second day verdict by Charlie Austin
The Verdict by Charlie Austin
27-Mar-2006
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The skies were dark and the atmosphere moist. The pitch had been covered for over 36 hours and when the umpires walked out at 10am, 30 minutes early to catch up on lost time, it was a fast bowler's paradise. Pakistan, although handicapped by the sudden departure of Rana Naved-ul-Hasan back home for personal reasons, capitalised wonderfully.
Mohammad Asif was the star of the show, a major handful for all the batsmen as he swung and seamed the ball around dangerously. Umar Gul had more nip but Asif was always probing in the right areas. All four of his dismissals came from top class deliveries, not just in their own right but in the context of the entire spell.
Against Kumar Sangakkara, Asif had been pushing the ball towards the slips, drawing him into furtive dabs outside his off-stump. He knew he should not be following the ball. But just when he thought he discovered one to leave alone, it moved in wickedly and brushed over his off bail.
Full postAuckland declare early to setup final day clash
A round-up of the State Championship matches that took place on March 28
Cricinfo staff
27-Mar-2006
A sporting declaration
by Auckland set up an interesting final day in the State Championship match against Otago at Eden Park. After bundling out Otago for 268, Auckland declared at 99 for 2 and grabbed two early wickets as Otago ended the day with an overall lead of 172. Earlier, Otago lost their last five wickets for 45 runs as Andre Adams ran through the side with figures of 6 for 49. Gareth Hopkins was the top-scorer for Otago with 61. The Auckland openers, Richard Jones and Martin Guptill scored at a fast clip, with Jones compiling a half-century before the unexpected declaration. The gamble worked in Auckland's favour immediately, as Kerry Walmsley set the opposition back with two wickets in his first over.
Only 30 overs were possible in a rain-interrupted third day
at Basin Reserve as Wellington managed to add 56 runs to their overnight score in their State Championship match against Canterbury. Wellington lost Luke Woodcock for 64, caught by Chris Harris off Paul Wiseman. Neal Parlane (27) and Grant Elliot (19) were the two not-out batsmen when bad light stop play prematurely.
The entire third day's play
in the State Championship match between Northern Districts and Central Districts at Hamilton was abandoned due to rain. Northern Districts ended the second day at 66 for 4 with Nick Horsley and Joseph Yovich at the crease.
Full postFarhat and Asif give Pakistan the advantage
Pakistan moved nervously into a position of strength against Sri Lanka on the second day of the first Test in Colombo
The Bulletin by Osman Samiuddin
27-Mar-2006
Stumps Pakistan 124 for 4 (Farhat 69) trail Sri Lanka 185 (Dilshan 69, Asif 4-41) by 61 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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Pakistan moved nervously into a position of strength against Sri Lanka on the second day of the first Test in Colombo. Having made the most of helpful conditions to dismiss Sri Lanka for 185 by tea, thanks to spectacular opening bursts from Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul, Pakistan overcame an edgy start to end the day on 124 for 4, built from a 94-run partnership between Imran Farhat and Inzamam-ul-Haq. With six wickets in hand and 65 runs behind, they will come out tomorrow with some confidence.
Until Farhat and Inzamam got together, confidence was difficult to find. Three wickets in nine balls - and two in two from Farvez Maharoof including Younis Khan first up - had reduced Pakistan to 28 for 3. Lasith Malinga, headband-ed and afro-ed like John McEnroe, steamed in to provide admirable support. As well as dismissing Faisal Iqbal, he came back late in the day to eke out Farhat for 69, both falling to hooks, top-edged and ill-advised.
Full postTest heads for draw as third day is washed out
The final New Zealand-West Indies Test match slumped further towards a draw when the third day's play was abandoned without a single ball being bowled
The Bulletin by Anand Vasu
26-Mar-2006
West Indies 256 for 4 (Morton 70*, Bravo 22*) v New Zealand
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
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The final Test between New Zealand and West Indies slumped further towards a draw when the third day's play was abandoned without a single ball being bowled. The forecast had always been for rain but both teams would have been hoping against hope that the weathermen would get it wrong. They did not. At first the start of play was delayed, then finally after interminable delays Mark Benson and Ian Howell, the umpires, called play off.
It's now extremely hard to imagine any sort of positive result in the game. With three days gone West Indies have reached 256 for 4 in their first innings. Only 78.1 overs have been bowled of the 270 that would have been possible in three days had there been no interruptions. What's more, with more rain forecast over Tuesday and Wednesday there is little to look forward to for either side.
Full postGillespie's six-wicket haul rocks Canterbury
State Championship round-up
Cricinfo staff
26-Mar-2006
A six-wicket haul by Mark Gillespie, the fast bowler, put Wellington on top at the end of the first day in their State Championship match against Canterbury at Wellington. Canterbury lost their way after a solid opening stand of 85 between Todd Astle (56) and Michael Papps (25), losing three quick wickets for two runs, all falling to Gillespie. Chris Harris (29) and Andrew Ellis (28) staged a recovery, adding 45 for the fifth wicket, before Grant Elliot claimed both victims. Gillespie ended the day with figures of 6 for 78, his sixth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket as Canterbury finished on 256 for 9 at stumps.
Rain washed out the first day's play in two State Championship games at Auckland
and Hamilton
between Auckland and Otago and between Northern Districts and Central Districts respectively. Central Districts and Otago are tied at second place with 26 points in the points table, with the former slightly ahead on net runs-per-wicket. Both games are scheduled to commence at 10.00am local time Monday morning.
Full postHeavy downpour forces abandonment of play
The first day of the first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the SSC ground in Colombo has been called off
The Bulletin by Osman Samiuddin
26-Mar-2006
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The first day of the first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the SSC ground in Colombo has been called off by umpires Rudi Koertzen and Steve Davis.
Although the rain had stopped by the time the umpires arrived to inspect the ground at 1.00pm local time, parts of the outfield, though covered, were submerged due to the heavy nature of the earlier showers. Upon inspection, the umpires decided the ground would not be in any condition to allow play and immediately ended the day. Just over a week ago, a spectacular thunderstorm had washed out the first ODI between the two sides at the Premadasa stadium in Colombo.
When play now resumes tomorrow morning - half an hour early to make up for the lost time - Sri Lanka will be without the services of their opening batsman and opening bowler, Marvan Atapattu and Chaminda Vaas, and Pakistan will have to do without the experience of Mohammad Yousuf who has pulled out with a hamstring strain. His place is likely to be taken by Faisal Iqbal, scorer of an impressive maiden Test century in Pakistan's last Test, against India in Karachi.
Full postLara and Morton sparkle in the rain
A rousing innings from Brian Lara and inspired counter from Runako Morton, took West Indies to 256 for 4 at the end of the second day of the final Test at Napier
The Bulletin by Anand Vasu
25-Mar-2006
West Indies 224 for 4 (Morton 49*, Bravo 12*) v New Zealand
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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A rousing innings from Brian Lara, followed hot on the heels by an inspired counter from Runako Morton, took West Indies to 256 for 4 at the end of the second day, again badly hit by rain, of the final Test at Napier. Though the day had dawned clear and the first session, which began half an hour early was completed uninterrupted, the rains came down in the middle of the day, and only a total of 78.1 overs has been possible in two days.
In the first half hour of play, designed to make up some of the 60-plus overs lost on the first day, West Indies had both joy and disappointment. Lara, who looked in even better touch on the second day than on the first raced along to his half-century. At the same time Daren Ganga failed to capitalise.
Shane Bond's pace has hurried batsmen through the course of this Test but it was a cleverly disguised slower ball that accounted for Ganga. Almost yorker length the ball was too good for Ganga, who was bowled for 38.
Full postKallis the guiding light
Andrew McGlashan's verdict from the second day of the second Test at Durban
The Verdict by Andrew McGlashan
25-Mar-2006
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At 10 for 2, with Brett Lee consistently hitting above 150kph, the South Africans could have gone like a pack of cards, especially after a frustrating time trying to wrap up the Australian innings. But Jacques Kallis, who is playing under constant pain from what has been diagnosed as tennis elbow, refused to wilt. He was made to hop about, and was not always convincing against the short ball, but to beat Australia those are the periods batsmen have to battle through.
Ironically, it was Ricky Ponting's decision to bring Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds into the attack - so that the umpires wouldn't offer the light - that enabled South Africa to finish on a more level playing field than had appeared likely for most of the day. Ponting's move was another subtle way of Australia making a further statement of intent; they are already 1-0 up and could quite easily have headed for the dressing room, but this is not a team that plays for draws. South Africa are the ones who need to force the pace, yet would have been quite happy to kick their heels as the clouds rolled in.
Kallis clearly wasn't happy with the conditions and a couple of his boundaries were a release of frustration, but he and AB de Villiers soon realised that Warne and Symonds were not posing a huge threat. Kallis is certainly not considered a dasher among the world's leading batsmen, but followed his aggressive intent from the first Test. He hasn't had a huge amount of cricket of late, after sitting out the majority of South Africa's recent one-day matches, and the benefits of an extended period in the middle showed as his balance and footwork returned to something near their best.
Full postSaleh ton secures whitewash
Rajin Saleh's maiden one-day international century powered Bangladesh to a whitewash of their series against Kenya
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
25-Mar-2006
Bangladesh 237 for 3 (Saleh 108*, Bashar 64*) beat Kenya 232 for 8 (Tikolo 81, C Obuya 45) by seven wickets
Scorecard
Scorecard
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However, Bangladesh have become more convincing as the four matches have progressed and really strutted their stuff during the run chase. Saleh took his time in the early stages, a situation forced on him by some loose shots from the top order. But he ensured the required rate never spiralled out of control and started to impose himself after 15 overs of consolidation.
Bashar had not reached a half-century for 20 ODI innings, so the chase was at a crucial juncture when he joined Saleh in the 14th over. Bangladesh's two leading strokemakers, Mohammad Ashraful and Aftab Ahmed, had played their shots too early and another quick strike would have left Kenya poised for a face-saving victory. Bashar, though, worked the ball around and with Saleh finding the boundary the Kenyans began to loose their sparkle.
Full postKaif thwarts England in tense clash
Mohammad Kaif timely century and Suresh Raina's allround performance spurred Rajashtan Cricket Association XI to a five-run victory against England XI at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur
The Bulletin by George Binoy
25-Mar-2006
RCA President's XI 260 for 6 (Kaif 119*, Raina 49) beat England XI 255 (Bell 71, Prior 55)
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How they were out
Scorecard
How they were out
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Mohammad Kaif's timely century and Suresh Raina's allround performance spurred Rajashtan Cricket Association XI to a thrilling five-run victory in the final over against England XI at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Ian Bell and Matt Prior kept England in the hunt for most of the match but a spate of run-outs and tight bowling by RCA XI's spinners derailed England's chase.
Chasing 261, Prior gave the initial push with a 69-run stand for the third wicket with Kevin Pietersen. The early loss of Vikram Solanki and Owais Shah didn't faze him as he collected runs by cutting and lofting over the infield. The opening bowlers were guilty of offering far too much room to Prior and bowling much too straight to Pietersen, who milked runs to the midwicket fence. But they found runs hard to come by against Piyush Chawla and Ramesh Powar and Prior holed out soon after Pietersen was run out.
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