Report
South Africa on the ropes after Clark five-for
Australia entered the first Test with concerns over their fast bowlers, but South Africa's batsmen were the ones with problems on the opening day
The Bulletin by Peter English
16-Mar-2006
Australia 63 for 1 trail South Africa 205 (Boje 31, Clark 5-55) by 142 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out
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Australia entered the first Test with concerns over their fast bowlers, but South Africa's batsmen were the ones with problems on the opening day as Stuart Clark's five wickets on debut dropped them for 205. While much of the lead-up was spent wondering about the missing Glenn McGrath, Clark, a 30-year-old first-gamer, and Michael Kasprowicz, one of Mark Boucher's "Ashes rejects", were responsible for flooring the host's ambitious plans after winning the toss.
Clark's stunning welcome of 5 for 55 was the best by an Australian since Brett Lee's 5 for 47 against India in 1999-2000 and Lee's three wickets finished off the work his back-up bowlers had started. It was not a day for fluent batting and by stumps Australia had cut the deficit to 142 for the loss of Justin Langer for 16.
Full postKarnataka and Railways enter quarter-finals
A summary of the pre-quarterfinal matches in the Ranji Trophy One-Day Tournament
Cricinfo staff
14-Mar-2006
Bharat Chipli steered Karnataka to the quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy one-day tournament with a five-wicket win over Haryana at Kanpur . Karnataka got off to a shaky start, losing their first four wickets for 58 runs, before Thilak Naidu joined Chipli at the crease. Chipli finished with an unbeaten 117-ball 90, studded with 12 fours, and, in combination with Naidu (58), polished off the target of 191 with nearly six overs to spare.
Choosing to bat first, Haryana let themselves down after being well placed at 167 for 3 in the 35th over. A major collapse ensued, where they lost the last seven wickets for only 23 runs. Sunny Singh stood out, scoring the bulk of the runs during his stay, but was unfortunate to fall five short of his century. NC Aiyappa and Vinay Kumar, the Karnataka seamers, shared five wickets between them while C Raghu, the offbreak bowler, captured three wickets in an economical spell. Karnataka meet Uttar Pradesh in the quarter-final in three days' time.
An aggressive 81 off only 64 balls by Sanjay Bangar helped Railways storm into the quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy one-day tournament at Kanpur, beating Gujarat by eight wickets. Bangar, the captain, struck five fours and five sixes in his knock as he and Tejinder Pal Singh (43*) overhauled the modest target of 149 in the 23rd over. Bangar had a good outing with the ball as well, with figures of 3 for 23 off seven overs after sending Gujarat to bat.
With the exception of Akash Christian, who top-scored with 51, the Gujarat batsmen struggled against a varied attack. Kulamani Parida chipped in with three wickets with his offbreaks as Railways set up a quarter-final clash against Tamil Nadu on March 17.
Full postWellington and Central Districts post wins
A round-up of the fourth day's play in the State Championship matches
Cricinfo staff
14-Mar-2006
Wellington defeated Northern Districts by 90 runs in their State Championship match at Hamilton, despite a fighting century by Joseph Yovich. Chasing a challenging 354, Northerns were in all sorts of trouble at 33 for 5 after Scott Rasmussen cut through the top order with an incisive spell of fast bowling. Yovich, coming in at No.7, started the fightback and was supported by Peter McGlashan, the wicketkeeper, who hung around for a patient 29 off 89 balls. Yovich was finally dismissed for 111 and helped take the score to 183 before he was caught by Kyle Mills off Jesse Ryder. His innings came off 212 balls with 21 fours and his stay at the crease caused a few anxious moments for the fielding side, given their commanding position earlier in the day. Graeme Aldridge offered some resistance with an unbeaten 40 but by then, the loss of wickets prevented them from pulling off an unlikely victory. Rasmussen finished with four wickets while Elliot bagged figures of 3 for 52. With this win, Wellington retain their position at the top of the points table.
Min Patel, the former England left-arm spinner, took his second five-wicket haul in as many matches, guiding Central Districts to a 140-run win
against Auckland in their State Championship match at Palmerston North. Patel's 6 for 121 ended Auckland's spirited chase as they were bowled out for 315, in pursuit of 456. Tim Lythe and Matthew Horne, the overnight batsmen, both made half-centuries before Patel accounted for both and cut through the middle order, dismissing Rob Nichol (43), Lou Vincent (13) and Reece Young (8). Tama Canning hung around for nearly two hours for his 43 before getting bowled by Michael Mason. Andre Adams (24) played an entertaining cameo towards the end to take the score past 300.
Full postHussain hundred sets up Faisalabad's commanding win
A round-up of the second round matches that took place on March 13
Cricinfo staff
14-Mar-2006
Asif Hussain's century powered Faisalabad Wolves to 352 for 7 as they trounced Karachi Zebras by 110 runs at the National Stadium in Karachi. Hussain scored 104 and put on 125 runs for the second wicket with Mohammad Hafeez who struck ten fours and a six for his 97. Karachi's chase began with a 52-run partnership before they lost three wickets for four runs. Saeed Ajmal picked up 4 for 32 as Karachi were dismissed for 242 in 47 overs.
Rashid Riaz's maiden hundred took Lahore Lions to the top of the Silver league table with a six-wicket win over Quetta Bears at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. Chasing 255, Lahore were struggling at 54 for 3 when Riaz (91) and Adnan Raza began their 191-run partnership that shut Quetta out of the game. Riaz's 108 came off 111 balls but included just seven fours. In the first innings, Quetta Bears rode on half-centuries from Tariq Aziz and Adil Nisar, who scored 74 off 71 balls with 7 fours and a six, to reach 253. Mohammad Hussain was Lahore's best bowler, taking 3 for 31, as Quetta were dismissed in the 50th over.
Peshawar Panthers coasted to a 75-run victory against Lahore Eagles in their third-round Gold League match at the United Bank Limited Sports Complex in Karachi. Rafatullah Mohmand and Wajahatullah Wasti struck half-centuries, after Peshawar were asked to bat, and took the score to 259 for 6. In the second innings, three run-outs and Mohammad Aslam's 3 for 24 helped skittle Lahore for just 184 in 40.4 overs. Sohail Ahmed was Lahore's top-scorer with 41.
Rawalpindi Rams won a low-scoring contest against Multan Tigers by six wickets at Karachi to move up to second place in the Gold league. Chasing 215, Mohammad Ibrahim, Usman Saeed and Naved Ashraf scored fifties as Rawalpindi finished the game in the 48th over. Their bowlers took advantage of winning the toss and didn't allow Multan to get a partnership going by taking wickets at regular intervals. Azhar Shafiq top-scored with 49 as Multan were restricted to 214 for 9 in 50 overs.
Full postOtago ease home by nine wickets
A round-up of the third day's action from the State Championship
Cricinfo staff
13-Mar-2006
Otago beat Canterbury comprehensively by nine wickets in their State Championship encounter at Queenstown. After following on, Canterbury just about managed to stave off an innings defeat, leaving Otago to chase only seven. Chris Harris and Paul Wiseman were the only Canterbury batsmen to pass fifty as their side stayed on the defensive throughout, facing over 130 overs for their total of 276. Wiseman top-scored with an unbeaten 80. For Otago Bradley Scott, the left-arm fast bowler, was the most impressive, taking 5 for 48.
Central Districts took command at the end of the third day at Palmerston North, leaving Auckland to chase a target of 456 with only three sessions left. Central were earlier bowled out for 390 in their second innings and Auckland, in reply, lost two wickets with 85 on board. Central rode on solid contributions by their middle order, with half-centuries by Jacob Oram (89) , Timothy Weston (70) and Bevan Griggs (50). Oram scored as many as 60 runs through boundaries alone while Griggs compiled a run-a-ball half-century with six fours. Auckland lost Richard Jones early with the score on 1. Tim Lythe and Matthew Horne were at the crease at stumps.
Wellington and Northern Districts both made sporting declarations
to set up a chance for a result in their State Championship match at Hamilton. Northern declared their first innings 98 behind Wellington, after Alun Evans scored 103. Wellington rode on Matthew Bell's 109 at the top of the order, who shared a 141-run stand with Michael Parlane. Jesse Ryder made an aggressive half-century, scoring 55 off 51 balls. Wellington declared at 255 for 8, leaving Northerns to chase 354 in the last innings. Grant Robinson fell early as Northern ended the day at 3 for 1.
Full postVictoria book place in Pura Cup decider
Victoria sealed their place in the Pura Cup final against Queensland for the fourth time in seven seasons with a fighting victory against Western Australia
Cricinfo staff
13-Mar-2006
Victoria 206 and 5 for 361 (Mash 82, Jewell 58, Hussey 53, Hodge 52) beat Western Australia 225 and 341 by 5 wickets
Scorecard
Points table
Scorecard
Points table
Victoria sealed their place in the Pura Cup final against Queensland for the fourth time in seven seasons with a fighting victory against Western Australia at Melbourne's Junction Oval. The Bushrangers had not won on the ground for 15 years, but they ended the drought at a vital stage and fought off the four other teams vying for a place in the decider.
Entering the last round in second place, the Bushrangers were delayed by an hour at the start because of a wet ground, although the showers that were forecast for during the day did not arrive and they skipped home with five wickets in hand. Chasing 361 to secure their spot, the Bushrangers resumed at 0 for 43 and almost escaped damage in the first session as they reached 106 by lunch. Jason Arnberger (32) was the only casualty when he hooked Ben Edmondson to fine leg while Lloyd Mash produced a mature 82 that laid an ideal platform.
Mash's fifty arrived with a six off Brett Dorey, but he was denied a century by a smart catch from Chris Rogers at second slip off Steve Magoffin. Western Australia, who also wanted a win to face the Bulls in the Gabba final on March 24, had to work for their breakthroughs and the third came after tea when Nick Jewell departed to David Bandy's medium pace on 58.
Full postSouth Australia win but lose finals race
Jason Gillespie's five wickets drove South Australia to a satisfying victory, but it wasn't enough to reach the Pura Cup final
Cricinfo staff
13-Mar-2006
South Australia 7 for 541 dec and 3 for 115 dec beat New South Wales 6 for 314 dec and 297 (Mail 79, O'Brien 48, Gillespie 5-56) by 45 runs
Scorecard
Pura Cup table
Scorecard
Pura Cup table
Jason Gillespie's five wickets drove South Australia to a satisfying victory, but it wasn't enough to reach the Pura Cup final. While the Redbacks needed an outright win to stay in contention for the March 24 decider against Queensland, they also required a draw in the Victoria-Western Australia game in Melbourne to allow their passage.
Shortly after Gillespie's 5 for 56 tied up the six points with a 45-run success, Victoria marked their five-wicket victory. Both New South Wales and South Australia set their sights on a win today and they locked eyes throughout the conclusion.
New South Wales started the morning wanting 338 and their charge was immediately hit by Gillespie, who collected Phil Jaques lbw to his opening ball before a lifting delivery accounted for Matthew Phelps for 1. Gillespie troubled the batsmen throughout the innings, returning to pick up the dangerous pair of Dominic Thornely (41) in the second session and Brad Haddin (46) after tea to drop the Blues to 5 for 216.
Full postNew Zealand rout India with 210-run win
New Zealand completed the five-match ODI series in style with a thumping 210-run win against India in the final ODI at Lincoln
Cricinfo staff
13-Mar-2006
New Zealand 272 for 7 (Drumm 67*, Tiffen 79, Bates 69) beat India 62 (Milliken 3-30, Burke 3-17) by 210 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
New Zealand finished the five-match ODI series 4-1 with a thumping 210-run win against India in the final ODI at Lincoln. After posting 272, the New Zealand bowlers decimated India for a paltry 62 in only 28.2 overs.
New Zealand, after choosing to bat first were propelled by a 105-run third wicket stand between Haidee Tiffen (79) and Suzie Bates (69). Karu Jain had a remarkable day behind the stumps, effecting five stumpings, as the batters regularly stepped down the track trying to cart the spinners Neetu David and Reema Malhotra over the top. Both spinners took three wickets each. Emily Drumm and Nicola Browne kept the score ticking with some excellent running between the wickets, adding 71 for the sixth wicket, hitting only four fours in total. Drumm remained not out on 67 off 66 balls.
Jain started the chase positively, striking four boundaries before the collapse started. Louise Milliken and Sarah Burke, the opening bowlers ran through the Indian batting line-up sharing six wickets between them. Only two players, Jain (19) and Mithali Raj (12*) managed to reach double figures.
Full postMunaf hurries India to victory
Virender Sehwag got stuck into the England bowlers and India romped to a nine-wicket win in the second Test
The Bulletin by Anand Vasu in Mohali
13-Mar-2006
India 338 (Dravid 95, Flintoff 4-96) and 144 for 1 (Sehwag 76*) beat England 300 (Flintoff 70, Kumble 5-76) and 181 (Patel 4-25, Kumble 4-70) by 9 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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A festive Monday afternoon crowd, probably the largest of the match, beat their drums and waved the tricolour as Virender Sehwag got stuck into the England bowlers and India romped to a nine-wicket win in the second Test, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. When as many as 115 overs - some of which were subsequently made up - were lost in the first two days, it seemed scarcely possible that either team would be able to force a result in this Test. Yet India's relentless forward press, through a captain who made 95 and 42 not out, tail-enders rallying around to score invaluable runs, an ace spinner tirelessly asking questions and a young bowler running in and bowling quick, paid off in the end.
When the final day began, with England on 112 for 5 and Andrew Flintoff still at the crease, there was still plenty of work to be done. After South Africa's heroics of the night before, where 434 was successfully chased down at the Wanderers bull-ring in Johannesburg, suddenly there was hope that even the most impossible situation could be turned round. What if Freddie played a blinder? Would Geraint Jones support him? Could England pull something really special out of the hat? In the end it was India who had all the answers.
Full postBond five-for seals New Zealand win
After the tug-of-war of the first four days, New Zealand ensured that there would be no final West Indies comeback by taking the last two wickets for 17 runs to go up 1-0 in the series
The Bulletin by George Binoy
12-Mar-2006
New Zealand 275 (Styris 103*, Astle 51) and 272 (McCullum 74, Gayle 4-71) beat West Indies 257 (Sarwan 62, Bravo 59) and 263 (Gayle 82, Ganga 95, Bond 5-69) by 27 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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After the tug-of-war of the first four days, New Zealand ensured that there would be no final West Indies comeback by taking the last two wickets for 17 runs to go up 1-0 in the series. Shane Bond, the architect of New Zealand's final surge, fittingly took the last wicket and bagged a five-wicket haul in his first home Test since December 2002.
New Zealand began the day with two tailenders to dismiss and 44 runs to defend. Daniel Vettori prised out Ian Bradshaw, caught by Stephen Fleming at bat-pad. Bond followed up by bowling Jerome Taylor, who had struck two boundaries off Vettori to give a flutter of hope to the dressing-room, off the inside edge to end the match in the tenth over of the day. This 27-run win was New Zealand's narrowest in terms of runs, beating their 40-run victory against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in 1962.
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