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England fight back after Kumble special
The first full day's play showed just why this Test has been all about what could have and might have been
The Bulletin by Anand Vasu in Mohali
11-Mar-2006
India 149 for 4 (Dravid 60*, Dhoni 12*) trail England 300 (Flintoff 70, Kumble 5-76) by 151 runs
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The first full day's play showed just why this Test has been all about what could have and might have been. One thing was very likely, and that was Anil Kumble reaching 500 Test wickets. With the sun beating down on the Punjab Cricket Association stadium in Mohali for the first time in three days India, led by Kumble, bowled England out for 300, and then reached a dodgy 149 for 4 at stumps.
Kumble, as he has done on countless occasions for India, probed away relentlessly even after a wicketless nine-over first spell. When he finally did strike, though, it was three lethal blows that nailed the door shut on England. Geraint Jones, who had made 52, dragged one back onto his stumps and Kumble was in kissing distance of 500 wickets. Steve Harmison has certainly improved his batting in recent times, but not to the extent that he could keep out a Kumble special.
Since that day in Manchester some 16 years ago, when Kumble first played a Test for India, it has been the ripping straight one that has caused most problems for batsmen. Dead straight, homing in on the stumps, hurrying off the pitch, it's a ball that leaves batsmen dead in the water, but umpires in no doubt. It was just such a delivery that Harmison received first up and when he was late in coming forward, Simon Taufel barely had to think before raising his finger, at 1.21pm, giving the signal for the Indians to converge on the man of the hour. Yuvraj Singh was the first to reach Kumble, scrambling from his position at silly point, and he clasped Kumble in a bear-hug before hoisting him off the ground.
Full postEastern Province on top against Boland
A round-up from the second day of the latest round of SAA Provincial Challenge matches
Keith Lane
10-Mar-2006
Fine innings from Umar Abrahams (91) and Riaan Jeggels led Eastern Province to declare at 336 for 6 on the second day of their match against Boland. In reply, Boland lost Warren Hayward for nought and stumbled to 10 for 3 when Dawid Malan was trapped lbw by Lonwabo Tsotsobe. They hold a slender lead of 51 with six wickets remaining going into day three.
Gauteng ended day two on top against North West after bowling out their opponents for 252. Johnson Mafa took 4 for 56 but only Thando Bula (68) reached fifty for North West. Gauteng raced to 184 without loss in reply, and lead by 129 runs; William Motaung (77*) and Jean Symes (93*) crashed 22 boundaries in their positive response.
Full postWest Indies start well in quest of 291
On another see-saw day, West Indies consolidated their overnight advantage in the morning, conceded ground to New Zealand in the afternoon, and wrested the initiative back in the final session
The Bulletin by George Binoy
10-Mar-2006
West Indies 257 and 48 for 0 need 243 more runs to beat New Zealand 275 and 272 (McCullum 74, Gayle 4-71)
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How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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This absorbing Test is now headed for denouement. After another day of see-saw battle West Indies go to the fourth day - which is likely to be the final one, barring bad weather - with more than just a sniff of their first overseas win against opponents other than Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in six years. Chasing 291 is by no means easy, but Chris Gayle, who played a big part in restricting New Zealand on a flat third-day pitch, has kept the West Indian hopes alive by stitching together a confident 48-run opening partnership with Daren Ganga.
The last time West Indies won a meaningful Test abroad was against England at Birmingham in June 2000. Today they scrapped all day, to give themselves a realistic shot at another. They had a perfect first session, conceding just 63 runs and striking thrice, as New Zealand were reduced to 161 for 7 at lunch. Brendon McCullum fought back with 74 and strung together half-century partnerships with Daniel Vettori and Shane Bond to push New Zealand's lead to 290 in the afternoon. Gayle ensured that West indies finished the day on a high note, taking four wickets to wrap up the tail and scoring 28 as they went into the fourth day needing 243 runs for victory with all wickets intact.
Full postAustralia level series in thriller at Durban
Australia crept past South Africa by one wicket to level the five-match series 2-2 in a thrilling match at Durban
The Bulletin by Will Luke
10-Mar-2006
Australia 247 for 9 (Symonds 76) beat South Africa 246 for 9 (Dippenaar 101, Pollock 53*) by one wicket
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How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
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Australia kept their nerve and eked out a one-wicket win against South Africa to level the five-match series 2-2 in a thrilling match at Durban. After Boeta Dippenaar (101) and Shaun Pollock (53 not out) had guided South Africa to 246 for 9, Australia were in some strife at 101 for 4. But Andrew Symonds blasted 76 from just 71 balls, and with the rest of the cast chipping in as well, Australia crept home with five balls to spare.
Australia began their run-chase superbly, with Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich adding 87 for the first wicket in less than 18 overs. However, four wickets then went down for 14, with Ricky Ponting being one of the casualties as well. Australia's hopes rested on the broad shoulders of Symonds. The pressure didn't tell, initially: striking fours and disconcertingly powerful sixes with his usual strength, he kept Australia on course to win. With Mike Hussey providing support with a characteristically impish innings, the pair put on 52 at a run-a-ball. However, a canon-like drive from Symonds at the end of the 39th over reached Andrew Hall at mid-off whose dead-eye threw down the stumps to leave Hussey scrambling.
Full postDietz and Borgas flay New South Wales
Shane Deitz collected his fourth first-class century and Cameron Borgas his second as South Australia dominated the crucial encounter against New South Wales at Adelaide
Cricinfo staff
10-Mar-2006
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New South Wales' bowlers struggled for impact without their band of international performers on an excellent batting surface, and the only bright moment before tea came when Doug Bollinger forced an edge from Daniel Harris with the score on 64. From there Deitz, the opener, and Borgas grabbed control for South Australia, including moving from 150 to 200 in ten overs.
Deitz's century came first, while Borgas brought up his milestone in style with three fours in an over from the offspinner Jason Krejza.
Deitz fell in the final hour for 154. Their stand surpassed the 234 runs made by George Giffen and John Lyons at the SCG in 1891-92 - the summer before the Sheffield Shield was struck - as the highest second wicket stand for SA versus NSW.
Full postWarriors fight back from Victoria attack
Victoria bowled like the second best team in the competition as they knocked over the third-placed Western Australia for 225
Cricinfo staff
10-Mar-2006
Victoria 3 for 36 trail Western Australia 225 (Voges 57, Denton 3-65, Moss 3-50) by 189 runs
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Pura Cup table
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Pura Cup table
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Victoria bowled like the second-best team in the competition as they knocked over the third-placed Western Australia for 225 on an eventful first day at St Kilda's Junction Oval. However, the home side's bright mood quickly disappeared as they crashed to 3 for 36 with Brad Hodge, who was overlooked for the Test squad, falling caught behind to the final ball of the day.
Playing on a ground they haven't won on in 15 years, the Bushrangers can seal their spot in the Pura Cup final against Queensland with an outright victory, but they have work to do after Brett Dorey removed Lloyd Mash lbw with the first ball of the innings and returned for Jason Arnberger. Steve Magoffin chipped in with the big wicket of Hodge for 16 as Western Australia kick-started their charge towards a top-two finish.
Jon Moss helped reduce the visitors to 4 for 44 with a spell of 3 for 0, removing Shaun Marsh, Marcus North and Clint Heron after the Warriors were sent in by Cameron White. Marsh and North departed in Moss's fourth over and Heron left lbw in his sixth before Adam Voges and David Bandy steered away from severe trouble with a 91-run stand.
Full postTigers pounce after dismissing Queensland for 176
Tasmania's brave push for a spot in the Pura Cup final received a huge boost when they dismissed Queensland for 176
Cricinfo staff
10-Mar-2006
Tasmania 2 for 91 (Di Venuto 47) trail Queensland 176 (Love 66, Griffith 3-35, Geeves 3-38, Hilfenhaus 3-46) by 85 runs
Scorecard
Pura Cup table
Scorecard
Pura Cup table
Tasmania's brave push for a spot in the Pura Cup final received a huge boost when they dismissed Queensland for 176 on the first day at Bellerive Oval. Stuck in last spot two games ago, the Tigers have a chance of making the decider if they win outright and at stumps were 85 behind with eight first-innings wickets in hand.
Queensland sealed hosting rights for the final last week, but their preparations for the match starting on March 24 turned sour from the third over. Lachlan Stevens, who replaced Matthew Hayden, fell for 2 to Adam Griffith and he added his 45th and 46th wickets of the season with Jimmy Maher (20) and Clinton Perren (6) as the Bulls slid to 3 for 52. Brendan Nash soon became Brett Geeves's first victim before Martin Love and James Hopes steadied the situation slightly with a 34-run stand.
However, they never escaped the trouble and were 7 for 146 when Love departed for a calming 66 from 123 balls with eight fours. Scrambling from Ashley Noffke and Nathan Hauritz, playing his opening first-class game of the season, pushed Queensland to 176 as Geeves wrapped up the innings with 3 for 38. Ben Hilfenhaus also performed strongly to claim 3 for 46 and continue his impressive debut season.
Full postGloom has the final say
The curtain came down on a dull, dreary unsatisfactory day a little before 3.30pm when play was called off
The Bulletin by Anand Vasu in Mohali
10-Mar-2006
England 200 for 5 (Flintoff 26*, Jones 7*) v India
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How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
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The curtain came down on a dull, dreary unsatisfactory day a little before 3.30pm when play was called off. A steady drizzle had begun to fall, and the covers which lay on the square were getting a thorough drenching when Simon Taufel and Darrell Hair decided that enough was enough, after four inspections.
After a first day pregnant with possibilities yet falling short on delivery the second day was almost a total write-off. Just over an hour of play was possible, and the forecast is not great for tomorrow either. In what little play was possible Anil Kumble inched closer to 500 Test wickets, picking up Paul Collingwood, but the game barely moved forward, with 37 runs being added in 14.3 overs as England reached an even 200 for 5 when bad light stopped play.
If the light was a problem, though, Andrew Flintoff seemed not to notice, striking five boundaries, two each off Irfan Pathan and Munaf Patel and one off Kumble. Collingwood was not as assured and it cost him dear. He played a defensive shot down the wrong line to a Kumble delivery that drifted in, pitched and turned just enough to beat bat and hit the top of middle stump.
Full postSri Lanka close in on victory
Muttiah Muralitharan became the second bowler in history to claim 600 Test wickets as Sri Lanka seized control and paved the way for a certain 2-0 series win
The Bulletin by Charlie Austin
10-Mar-2006
Close Sri Lanka 316 and 77 for 0 (Tharanga 48*) need a further 43 runs to beat Bangladesh 234 and 201 (Bashar 73, Rafique 64)
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How they were out
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When Sri Lanka return on Saturday morning, Upul Tharanga (48 not out) will aim to follow his marathon first innings century with another half-century, having unleashed a string of beautifully timed offside strokes in the final session. For the third successive night, he walked off the field unbeaten. His partner, Michael Vandort, was more crabish and uncertain on 22 not out when the umpires called it quits.
As was the case in the Chittagong Test, Bangladesh wilted in the second innings having conceded an 82-run lead - not mountainous but useful on a pitch offering the kind of pace, bounce and turn that makes Muralitharan almost impossible to hold at bay. When the day started, he appeared destined to join Shane Warne's 600 club and the only surprise was that he claimed only two more scalps to his five in the first innings, finishing with 7 for 141 in the series.
Full postWest Indies hit back with crucial wickets
The advantage swung back and forth on the second day with New Zealand and West Indies balanced on a knife edge as neither team was able to capitalise when they held the upper hand
The Bulletin by George Binoy
09-Mar-2006
New Zealand 275 and 98 for 4 lead West Indies 257 (Sarwan 62, Bravo 59) by 116 runs
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How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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The advantage swung back and forth on a fascinating second day at Auckland, at the end of which the game was balanced on a knife edge with neither New Zealand nor West Indies being able to capitalise when they held the upper hand. West Indies stemmed an early-morning collapse and looked set to surge ahead but frittered away the chance to consolidate, conceding an 18-run first-innings lead. New Zealand rebuilt after an early loss in the second innings but gave it away with some indiscrete strokeplay, ending the day 116 ahead with six wickets in hand.
West Indies however might feel that they ended the day on a high. They had one bowler, Jerome Taylor, struggling with a hamstring, and another, Ian Bradshaw, warned for running on to the danger area on the pitch. After the loss of an early wicket, New Zealand had strung together a 56-run partnership. But just when the tide seemed to be turning other way, Bradshaw and Fidel Edwards produced a three-wicket burst, with generous assistance from the New Zealand batsmen of course.
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