Report
Spinners leave England reeling
It was long day as India relentlessly pressed forward, and the rewards eventually came
The Bulletin by Anand Vasu in Mohali
12-Mar-2006
Close England 300 and 112 for 5 (Bell 57, Flintoff 16*) lead India 338 (Dravid 95, Flintoff 4-96) by 74 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
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A determined knock from Rahul Dravid, backed by aggressive innings from Irfan Pathan and the tail paved the way for India to take a small lead, then bowl aggressively on a pitch offering assistance, and grab control of the match. It was a long day as India relentlessly pressed forward, and the rewards eventually came. If the weather holds on the last day - and the forecast is for sunshine - England will have to bat out of their skins, as at 112 for 5 their lead is only 74, to stay alive in the match.
Full postPacy Bond sets up tantalising finish
Shane Bond engineered a spectacular collapse to put New Zealand on the verge of victory after West Indies were cruising towards the target on the fourth day at Auckland
The Bulletin by George Binoy
11-Mar-2006
West Indies 257 and 246 for 8 (Ganga 95, Gayle 82, Bond 4-66) need 45 more runs to beat New Zealand 275 and 272
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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If not for early-morning rain and dimming light, today would have been the last day of this topsy-turvy Test, but there could well be a final twist to what promises to be a tantalising finish. West Indies' cruise, made possible by a 148-run opening stand, was abruptly halted by an inspirational spell from Shane Bond, who blasted out four wickets and put New Zealand on the verge of a memorable victory. West Indies needed 45 more, New Zealand required two wickets, and the smattering of spectators at Eden Park will need another set of nails to chew on the fifth day.
Bond's was a scintillating display of fast bowling. Bowling extended spells with accurate pace, Bond broke the back of the West Indian chase with a four-wicket burst after Chris Gayle and Daren Ganga had laid the perfect platfrom with dominant half-centuries. However, with 70 runs to get and three wickets in hand, Denesh Ramdin and Ian Bradshaw defied New Zealand, after Bond had been taken off, during a 25-run partnership. Three balls before the light was offered, Ramdin played one of the most reckless sweeps to deep square leg to give New Zealand their eighth wicket and a sniff at victory.
Full postWestern Province win Pool B
A round-up from the third and final day of the latest round of SAA Provincial Challenge matches
Keith Lane
11-Mar-2006
A drawn match in Port Elizabeth between Eastern Province and Boland
allowed Western Province to comfortably win Pool B of the competition.
Boland started the day on 99 for 4 and extended that to 373 for 6
thanks to a career-best 158 from Henry Davids and a maiden
first-class hundred from Wallace Albertyn. With no time available for
Eastern Province to chase the 326-run target, the game fizzled into a draw with the home team finishing on 105 for 4 with Umar Abrahams not out on 51.
On the final day at Potchefstroom, North West drew with Northerns to end their hopes of reaching the Provincial Challenge final next week. Having taken a first innings lead of 55, the North West's hopes were dashed as the Gauteng opening pair of William Motaung and Jean Symes both recorded hundreds. Motaung, who had to retire ill on 77 returned to the crease at the fall of the fourth wicket to complete his hundred while Symes scored 133, his maiden first-class century. Totalling 476 in their second innings Gauteng had all but closed the game up and North West had to settle for the draw scoring 33 for 2 when the match was called off.
Full postMatch is evenly poised - Harmison
Steve Harmison said he was reasonably pleased with the position England find themselves in on the third day, and even more pleased that the pitch offered something more for his style of bowling
Cricinfo staff
11-Mar-2006
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"Luckily, the rain has stayed away and the game is nicely poised," he told Cricinfo after the day's play. "We've got the runs on the board and with the pitching starting to go up and down, we have the [right] seam bowlers to make the most of the conditions."
Harmison was full of praise for Andrew Flintoff and Geraint Jones, who put on 103 for the sixth wicket to edge England past 300.
"I thought it was a fantastic innings by Jones," he said. "Fred [Flintoff] just went about his innings the way [he] does and Geraint made a top knock for the team and it was just disappointing that we couldn't stay with him for longer. He took a good catch as well [to dismiss Sehwag], so he had a good day."
Full postInching forward in the gloom
Paul Coupar's verdict from Mohali
Paul Coupar in Mohali
11-Mar-2006
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During the 1989 Ashes, Robin Smith grew thirsty while batting, and asked
for a glass of water. "No, you can't have a glass of water," spluttered an
enraged Allan Border. "You can wait like all the rest of us. What do you
think this is, a tea party?" Quite right. Test cricket is not a tea party.
England rediscovered that this afternoon and took control of the Mohali
Test.
After two rainy days the game was caught in what Ken Barrington would
have called 'two-man's land'. Now England have begun to inch forward.
Given early strikes and quick runs tomorrow, they will have about a day to
budge India for a second time - and secure an improbable victory. "We've
got the seam bowlers to exploit the conditions," said an optimistic Steve
Harmison at the close. But within an hour of those comments, it was
raining again, and the match could still disappear into drizzle.
However, zooming out to take in the bigger picture, it was a better day
for both sides than the scorecard suggested. England found some oomph.
And India found a quick bowler.
Full postSouth Australia strike after scoring 541
South Australia dominated New South Wales for the second successive day in their Pura Cup match at Adelaide
Cricinfo staff
11-Mar-2006
New South Wales 3 for 103 trail South Australia 7 for 541 dec (Deitz 154, Borgas 149, Cosgrove 101) by 438 runs
Scorecard
Pura Cup table
Scorecard
Pura Cup table
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South Australia dominated New South Wales for the second successive day in their Pura Cup match at Adelaide. Resuming at 2 for 356, the Redbacks stretched their total to 7 for 541 before declaring, and then took early wickets as the Blues struggled to 3 for 103 at close of play on the second day.
If Shane Deitz and Cameron Borgas were the stars on the opening day, then the second belonged to Mark Cosgrove, who became the third centurion in the innings, stroking 101 off 171 balls with eight fours and a six. New South Wales had their moments on the field, including a first-ball dismissal of Darren Lehmann, the Redbacks captain, but Cosgrove held firm, putting together useful partnerships with the lower order.
Full postDorey's six inspires WA
Brett Dorey's fiery spell, when he was rewarded with a six-wicket haul, helped Western Australia gain a vital lead in Melbourne and harbour thoughts of entering the Pura Cup final
Cricinfo staff
11-Mar-2006
Western Australia 225 and 1 for 91 lead Victoria 206 (Harwood 68, Dorey 6-36) by 110 runs
Scorecard
Pura Cup table
Scorecard
Pura Cup table
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Brett Dorey's fiery spell, which fetched him a six-wicket haul, helped Western Australia gain a vital lead in Melbourne and harbour thoughts of entering the Pura Cup final. Having kept Victoria down to 206, gaining a slender 19-run lead, Western Australia cruised to 1 for 91 when stumps were drawn.
Victoria were kept in the contest through a battling 68 from Shane Harwood, a defiant two-and-a-half-hour knock, but he suffered cramps in the legs and forearms and was unable to bowl in the second dig. The match is now likely to produce an outright result, with the winner setting up a clash against Queensland in the final at the Gabba.
Harwood's maiden first-class half-century and his 100-run stand with Nathan Pilon, the wicketkeeper, lifted Victoria from the depths of 7 for 92. Ben Edmonson broke the resistance by trapping Pilon lbw before Dorey mopped up the tail in quick time.
Full postTigers keep brawling despite Queensland's best Hopes
Michael Bevan blasted an authoritative century to help Tasmania consolidate a solid position on the second day and keep their brave push for a spot in the final very much alive
Cricinfo staff
11-Mar-2006
Queensland 176 and 0 for 50 trail Tasmania 356 (Di Venuto 47, Bevan 115, Hopes 6-70) by 180 runs
Scorecard
Pura Cup table
Scorecard
Pura Cup table
Michael Bevan blasted an authoritative century to help Tasmania consolidate a solid position on the second day and keep their brave push for a spot in the final very much alive. They nearly had a second centurion in their ranks, but Daniel Marsh was left stranded on 96 not out when James Hopes knocked over the tail to scoop 6 for 70. Tasmania built on their overnight 2 for 91 to make 356, a first-innings lead of 180.
Queensland reduced the deficit through the openers Jimmy Maher and Brendan Nash, who took them to 50 without loss by the close. But this still leaves them trailing by 130 runs and, heading into day three, it's undoubtedly Tasmania who have the upperhand.
Bevan was dominant throughout, striking 16 fours en route to 115 before becoming Andy Bichel's second victim, caught hooking. But it was Hopes who stole the bowling show, with an impressive stint which helped check Tasmania's progress and give his side some hope.
Full postDrumm stars as NZ Women wrap up series
Emily Drumm celebrated her 100th one-day international in fine style with a splendid 83 as New Zealand trounced India by 97 runs to take an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the five-match series
Cricinfo staff
11-Mar-2006
New Zealand Women 272 for 7 (Drumm 83, Tiffen 53, Fahey 50) beat India Women 175 by 97 runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
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Emily Drumm celebrated her 100th one-day international in fine style with a splendid 83 as New Zealand trounced India by 97 runs to take an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the five-match series. In a one-sided game at Lincoln, New Zealand racked up 272 for 7 after winning the toss, with Haidee Tiffen (53) and Maria Fahey (50) offering fine support to Drumm. The Indians were never in the hunt, being bowled out for 175 in the 49th over.
Drumm came in to bat after New Zealand had lost both openers with 56 on the board. With Tiffen she added 63 for the third wicket, and then put together 97 - the most substantial partnership of the innings - for the fifth wicket with Fahey. Drumm struck five fours in her innings, which came off only 97 balls, before being bowled by Jhulan Goswami, India's most successful bowler with 3 for 49.
Full postSri Lanka seal series despite the rain
Rain kept the players off the field for seven hours at Bogra, but when the weather did clear, Sri Lanka only needed eight overs to knock off the 43 runs they required to seal a ten-wicket
Cricinfo staff
11-Mar-2006
Sri Lanka 316 and 120 for 0 (Tharanga 71*, Vandort 40*) beat Bangladesh 234 and 201 (Bashar 73, Rafique 64) by 10 wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Rain kept the players off the field for seven hours at Bogra, but when the weather did clear, Sri Lanka only needed eight overs to knock off the 43 runs they required to seal a ten-wicket win and wrap up the series 2-0. Upul Tharanga remained unbeaten, and he moved on to 71 by the end, while Michael Vandort, his opening partner, was not out on 40.
Tharanga, who had scored 165 in the first innings, continued his fine form to smash eight fours and one six in his second knock. His fellow left-hander, Vandort, was more sedate, hitting four fours off 82 balls.
Both took their time to get used to the wet conditions, but still charted a path of steady accumulation against Mohammad Rafique and Shahadat Hossain in the opening overs. Then they cut loose.
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