Report
India tighten the screw
India enjoyed the best of the opening day of the series, despite losing the toss and an impressive 60 by Alastair Cook
The Bulletin by Andrew Miller
01-Mar-2006
England 246 for 7 (Cook 60, Collingwood 53*, Pathan 3-52 ) v India
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
 |
|
By the close, England's fortunes were resting entirely with their last recognised batsman, Collingwood, who followed his twin scores of 96 and 80 at Lahore before Christmas with his third half-century in as many innings. He brought up his fifty with a drilled six over long-on, but for the most part he had relied on timing and a lightning-fast outfield. This, allied to the sluggish nature of the wicket, made England's close-of-play total of 246 seem all the more wasteful, and India's efforts with the ball all the more admirable.
Those efforts were spearheaded by the whippy debutant Sreesanth, who claimed the wickets of Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen in an energetic maiden performance, and capped by Irfan Pathan, who was ineffective early on but irrepressible as the afternoon wore on, when he boomeranged the old ball to claim three key wickets. In between whiles there was a scalp apiece for the spinners Anil Kumble and, notably, Harbhajan Singh, who went wicketless throughout a dispiriting tour of Pakistan but, rearmed with his favourite SG ball, twirled away menacingly for 26 overs.
Full postSpirited Bangladesh peg back Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka recovered from a mid-afternoon wobble and saved themselves from the embarrassment of a first-innings deficit to close on 313 for 6
The Bulletin by Charlie Austin
01-Mar-2006
Sri Lanka 313 for 6 (Mahroof 72, Sangakkara 69, Samaraweera 57*) trail Bangladesh 319 by 6 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
|
|
|
Sri Lanka recovered from a mid-afternoon wobble and saved themselves from the embarrassment of a first-innings deficit. Bangladesh, on their part, sensing an upset and brimming with energy throughout, pushed and harried the tourists for the second consecutive day. By the close, though, Sri Lanka had reclaimed the slimmest of advantages, finishing on 313 for 6, just a handful of runs adrift with Thilan Samaraweera cemented at the crease on 57.
Samaraweera has done many such rescue acts in the past so the fact that he was able to so effectively stabilise the innings - despite coming straight into the Test without proper match practice - was not surprising. The revelation was Farveez Maharoof, who for the first time unwrapped his obvious batting potential with a fine 72, an innings that confirmed he is far more than a bowling allrounder.
Full postNew Zealand surge to another big win
A total of 324 - thanks to Lou Vincent's confidence-coated 102 and fifties from Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming - proved more than enough for New Zealand to power to a 91 -run win at McLean Park
The Bulletin by Jamie Alter
28-Feb-2006
New Zealand 324 for 6 (Vincent 102, Astle 81, Fleming 67) beat West Indies 233 for 8 (Morton 110*) by 91 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
|
|
|
New Zealand buried West Indies under a huge total at McLean Park to record their fourth successive victory in the five-match series. Powered by Lou Vincent's confidence-coated century and fifties from Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming New Zealand ran up the first 300-plus score of the series, and their opening bowlers then pegged back the West Indians. Runako Morton merely delayed the inevitable with his maiden international hundred.
New Zealand made Shivnarine Chanderpaul rue his decision to insert them under clear skies with three dominant innings from their top order. Fleming and Vincent paved the way with a 106-run stand, and Vincent then Astle added 156 for the second wicket that would prove the fulcrum of New Zealand's total. After a sedate start - New Zealand were 36 for no loss after ten - Fleming exploded to life in a ten-ball spell that moved him from 10 off 25 to his half-century. Ian Bradshaw was hit for four consecutive boundaries in the tenth over, while Deighton Butler's first over allowed Fleming to carve a hat-trick of sixes over the point boundary as 58 came from the first Powerplay.
Full postSialkot romp to third successive win
A round-up of Twenty20 matches that took place on February 27
Cricinfo staff
28-Feb-2006
Pool A
Imran Nazir led by example with a rollicking 40 to guide Sialkot Stallions to their third successive win,
beating Peshawar Panthers by five wickets. Nazir started the match on the right note by winning the toss and putting in; in helpful conditions, Mohammad Asif, Sarfraz Ahmed and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan chipped in collectively to dismiss a Younis Khan-less Peshawar for 126. It was never going to be enough as first Nazir, caning all his runs in boundaries, and then Shahid Yousuf with a more cultured 38 saw Sialkot home with overs to spare. Three games gone and Sialkot are looking worthy title contenders.
Who says players don't take this competition seriously? After Rawalpindi Rams had been restricted to a middling 157
- only Mohammad Waseem and Sohail Tanvir could repel the dangers of Imran Farhat's leg-spin (three for 26) and Sohail Ahmed's slow left-arm - Lahore Eagles were coasting to their second win in three games. Mohammad Ashfaq was one away from a maiden century (and the third in Pakistan's Twenty20), three were needed for victory and Najaf Shah promptly came along and bowled a deliberate leg-side wide which went for four. Ashfaq, tragically, remained unbeaten on 99, Lahore moved closer to the semi-finals, Rawalpindi further away from it, but Lahore refused to shake hands with their opponents so upset were they at the act. Competition lives on.
Multan Tigers beat Karachi Zebras by virtue of having made more runs in the first 10 overs (94 as opposed to 82) after both sides ended 173 for nine
. Have Karachi Zebras become king of the ties? Probably not, for after beating Peshawar two days ago by virtue of losing lesser wickets, they were beaten by Multan despite both teams ending at 173 for nine: the match was decided in hindsight on who scored more in the first 10 overs. Karachi opener Khurram Manzoor had more reason than most to feel hard done by, having scored the competition's third hundred (and second of the day) off 61 balls to set Karachi on their way. They lost direction thereafter collapsing from 108 for one. Multan should have been outright winners for they were 159 for three at one stage, with Saeed Anwar jnr and Hasnain Abbas embedded in a 113-run partnership. But they imploded to Hasan Raza's curiously effective wrong-foot leg-spin and mad running; having not won a game (and lost the last one due to a power failure) they won't mind how their wins come, as long as they do.
Full postSamuels and Joseph too hot for depleted England
West Indies A won the first Test against England A by one wicket in a nail-biting finish at St John's after doing their best to squander a comfortable position
Cricinfo staff
28-Feb-2006
West Indies A 253 and 366 for 9 (Samuels 118, Joseph 106, Mahmood 4-51) beat England A 386 and 231 by one wicket
Scorecard
Scorecard
West Indies A won the first Test against England A by one wicket in a nail-biting finish at St John's after doing their best to squander a comfortable position. Hundreds from Marlon Samuels and Sylvester Joseph appeared to have assured them of victory, but both fell to careless shots to set up a dramatic finale.
The pair added 194 for the fourth wicket in uncompromising style. Samuels is unquestionably talented, but his stop-start Test career has been more stop, largely because of injury. But he showed his class with 118 which included three sixes, while Joseph's 106 was equally impressive.
At first the pair steadied the ship after West Indies slipped to 83 for 3, and then as the morning progressed they cut loose. England, who in fairness have at times not been sure who is exactly playing for them, such have been the comings and goings, were so short that they had to recruit a local teenager to field for them. Short of a cutting edge, it was not too surprising that they were unable to make any inroads, and when Samuels holed out to make it 277 for 4, it seemed little more than a consolation.
Full postWest Indies A sneak home in a thriller
Samuels and Joseph struck centuries as West Indies A successfully chased 365
Cricinfo staff
28-Feb-2006
West Indies A 253 and 366 for 9 (Samuels 118, Joseph 106, Mahmood 4-51) beat England A 386 and 231 by one wicket
Scorecard
Scorecard
In a thriller, West Indies A sneaked home by one wicket against England A on the fourth and final day of the first unofficial Test at Antigua. Needing 330 more runs to win on the final day, the West Indies chase was powered by centuries from Marlon Samuels and Sylvester Joseph, the captain, with their 194-run fourth-wicket partnership taking the game away from England. Subsequently, however, West Indies were precariously placed at 351 for 9, but Jermaine Lawson and Carlton Baugh weathered the storm and took them to the target of 365.
Samuels joined Lendl Simmons at the crease early, after Dale Richards was caught off Sajid Mahmood. Simmons played a fluent knock of 45, hitting a six and five boundaries before edging the ball to Chris Read, the wicketkeeper, off Kabir Ali. Samuels found a steady partner in Joseph, adding 43 as they progressed to 126 for 3 at lunch. England, who in fairness have at times not been sure who is exactly playing for them (due to late withdrawals), such have been the comings and goings, were so short that they had to recruit a local teenager to field for them.
The second session was a real struggle for England as they were unable to dislodge the pair. By tea, the score read 259 for 3, with the pair adding 176 valuable runs and victory was always in sight. The aggressive intentions were evident, with Samuels striking three sixes and 15 fours in his innings of 118, his fifth first-class century. Joseph too asserted his authority, given that over 50% of his runs came off boundaries.
Full postBlackwell and Rolton seal series cleansweep
Half-centuries from Alex Blackwell and Karen Rolton steered Australia to a sweat-free victory in the third and final women's ODI against India
Cricinfo staff
28-Feb-2006
Australia 1 for 129 (A Blackwell 63*, Rolton 56*) beat India 7 for 128 (Malhotra 27*, Rolton 2-6) by 9 wickets
Scorecard
Scorecard
|
|
|
Half-centuries from Alex Blackwell and Karen Rolton steered Australia to a sweat-free victory in the third and final women's one-day international against India at Adelaide. Rolton, the captain who was dropped three times, continued her impressive series with an unbeaten 56 off 86 balls while Blackwell carried her bat for 63 as Australia wrapped up the contest 3-0.
Jodie Purves, the wicketkeeper, was the only casualty, falling to Jhulan Goswami for 3 in the third over, as they reached 1 for 129 with 15.4 overs to spare. Rolton replaced the retired Belinda Clark as captain this season and she produced a string of superb allround performances to be named Player of the Series. In the first match she collected a hard-hitting 47 before picking up 4 for 29 in the second game, and today she added 2 for 6 in six overs to her half-century.
Full postFranklin puts Wellington in charge
James Franklin's 173 put Wellington in charge against Auckland - a round-up of the second day's action in the fifth round in the State Championship
Dylan Cleaver
28-Feb-2006
James Franklin sent a message to the New Zealand selectors about his allround ability with an unbeaten 173 against Auckland. His innings contained 22 fours and three sixes and helped Wellington to an imposing 436 for 5 at stumps in reply to Auckland's 235. Franklin was dropped for the final two one-day internationals against the West Indies after some uninspired bowling and will be keen to press his credentials as an allrounder ahead of the Test series. Franklin was not the only centurion, with Neal Parlane (110) also passing three figures. Matthew Bell (58) and Chris Nevin (48 not out) cashed in as well. Lance Shaw took 3 for 90.
Canterbury will take a handy advantage over Northern Districts into the third day of the match after a number of useful contributions enabled them to post a first innings lead of 41 with three wickets remaining. At the top of the order Gary Stead made 51 and Michael Papps a laboured 45. There were cameos from Craig McMillan (23) and Chris Harris (22), before Andrew Ellis (57) and Todd Astle (41) put on 82 for the sixth wicket. Canterbury ended the day on 310 for 7. Joseph Yovich was costly, but his 18 overs also saw him capture 3 for 91.
Central Districts were in the box seat at New Plymouth after posting a first-innings total 416 and watching Otago go to stumps at 191 for 5. Central resumed day two on 275 for 6 and made it past 400 thanks to half-centuries from Bevan Griggs, the wicketkeeper, and Brendon Diamanti. David Sewell was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 87. Otago began the long chase for first innings comfortably enough, but trouble struck late in the day when the impressive Jordan Sheed was out 11 shy of his maiden first-class century. Otago's hopes rested with Neil Broom, who battled to 34 not out. Min Patel, the former England spinner, bowled Otago to a virtual standstill with his 1 for 20 off 18 overs.
Full postAshraful century boosts Bangladesh
Mohammad Ashraful propped up Bangladesh on the opening day of this two-Test series in Chittagong with a brilliant 136
The Bulletin by Charlie Austin
28-Feb-2006
Bangladesh 315 for 9 (Ashraful 136, Malinga 3-55) v Sri Lanka
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
|
|
|
Mohammad Ashraful, batting with calm assurance and delightful touch, propped up Bangladesh on the opening day of this two-Test series in Chittagong with a brilliant 136, the third hundred of his career and his second against Sri Lanka. His classy solo effort, supported by some gritty contributions from his colleagues, ensured that Bangladesh completed a satisfactory start to the series, finishing on 315 for 9.
Sri Lanka, playing a reduced-strength team, had grasped the upperhand just before the lunch break as Malinga Bandara, their fast-improving legspinner, whipped out Nafees Iqbal (34) and Habibul Bashar (29). But Ashraful, continuing the fine form he showed during the ODI series, steadied the innings in partnership with Shahriar Nafees (26), the pair adding 65 runs for the fifth wicket.
Full postPower failure aids Rawalpindi Rams
A round-up of Twenty20 matches that took place on February 26
Cricinfo staff
27-Feb-2006
Pool A
Not rain, not bad weather ... but a power failure at the National Stadium allowed the Rawalpindi Rams to register their first win
at the Twenty20 Cup, against Multan Tigers. Two former Pakistan Test openers, Mohammad Waseem and Naved Ashraf ensured the Rams put up at least a defendable total of 165. That total briefly looked insufficient but after the light failure, the target was revised for Multan to 100 off 10 overs and at 75 for five, they ended comfortably short.
Faisalabad Wolves sent out the most emphatic reminder to teams around the country last night that they are back in business with a ruthless performance
to brush aside Karachi Zebras, chalk up their second successive win and bring their title defense back on course after a shock opening day loss. Asif Hussain, the stocky dynamo opener - officially the best batsman last year - smashed 84 from 43 balls after his side has been inserted and helped by contributions from Mohammad Salman (35) and Misbah-ul-Haq (38) led his side to an imposing 221. The Zebras were never in the hunt, collapsing to 53 for seven, to the combined swing and pace of Ahmed Hayat and Samiullah Niazi, who took all seven wickets. Although they recovered, it was only to 108 and they were bowled out in 14.4 overs.
Imran Farhat's occasional legspin proved an unlikely saviour for Lahore Eagles in their five-wicket win
over the floundering Peshawar Panthers. Farhat picked up the key wickets of Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan and Jannisar Khan to restrict the Panthers to 171. With Wajahatullah Wasti's 17-ball 40 and Hameed's 55, they would have gotten many more, but for Farhat's looping, big-breaking spin. And despite making a first-ball duck himself, Farhat saw team-mates Mohammad Ashfaq and Kamran Sajjad put on a blistering 104 runs to lead them to a comfortable win.
Full postMost Read
Writers