Report
Maniar gives Saurashtra a great platform
Saurashta took the honours on the first day of the Ranji Trophy Plate Group final at Rajkot against Rajasthan
Cricinfo staff
02-Feb-2006
Saurashtra 36 for 0 trail Rajasthan 201 (Jadeja 71, Kanwat 50, Maniar 5-59) by 165 runs
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Scorecard
Saurashta took the honours on the first day of the Ranji Trophy Plate Group final at Rajkot thanks to an impressive spell of fast bowling from Sandip Maniar that dismissed Rajasthan for just 201.
Maniar struck blows at vital junctures: he drew first blood by forcing Mithun Beerala to edge behind in the fourth over, and then, broke a threatening 89-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Nikhil Doru and Ajay Jadeja, Rajasthan's captain. Following Doru's dismissal, Maniar ran through Rajasthan's tail en route to his fifth first-class five-for.
Maniar's initial strike opened the gates for Sandeep Jobanputra to prise out additional wickets at the top, leaving Rajasthan at 91 for 4 going in to lunch. Rajasthan's fightback came in two spurts: in the first session Rahul Kanwat smacked a 58-ball 50 to add 44 with Doru, while in the afternoon Jadeja scored an impressive 71. Barring these three, no other Rajasthan batsman contributed anything of note, and this may prove costly as the match progresses.
Full postEngland claim the warm-up honours
England claimed a highly encouraging 28-run win against India in their first warm-up match
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan in Colombo
02-Feb-2006
England 186 (Stoneman 64, Bandekar 3-36) beat India 158 (James 3-20, Nelson 3-37) by 28 runs
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England were cruising along after choosing to bat, as Stoneman and Robert Woodman blasted a 97-run stand in 14.2 overs. However, they then lost 5 for 13 in 35 balls, leaving Mark Nelson to halt the slide with a gritty 34. Those runs proved vital, and so would his early strikes with the new ball.
Rohit Sharma's boundary-studded 34 countered Nelson's early brace, sending India's run-rate to the heady heights of 10-an-over and, at times, India seemed too intent on maintaining that blistering pace. However, credit must go to Ali, who was quick to adapt by bringing on the left-arm spin of Graeme White as early as the sixth over, followed by his fellow left-armer Nick James, the Supersub. The moves paid off as first the run-rate slowed, then India played some injudicious shots, at times appearing in too much of a rush when application was the key.
Full postKaif leads Uttar Pradesh to maiden Ranji Trophy title
Mohammad Kaif lead Uttar Pradesh to their first-ever Ranji Trophy final victory when the hosts beat Bengal on the basis of their first-innings lead
Nagraj Gollapudi at Lucknow
02-Feb-2006
Uttar Pradesh 387 and 342 (Kaif 109, Raina 52) drew with Bengal 373 and 109 for 5 (Kumar 5-33). Uttar Pradesh win on the basis of a first-innings lead
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How they were out
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How they were out
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Mohammad Kaif lead Uttar Pradesh to their first-ever Ranji Trophy final victory when the hosts beat Bengal on the basis of their first-innings lead. Bengal had fallen short by just 14 runs to UP's first innings total of 387. On the final day, chasing an improbable target of 357 in 43 overs, Bengal managed to get to 109 for 5, with Praveen Kumar, the UP medium pacer, taking all five wickets.
Kaif made the opposition pay for granting him two lives - once dropped when he was yet to open his account and then Deep Dasgupta, the Bengal captain, missed a stumping chance when his counterpart was on 43 - by reaching his first century of the season early today with some aggressive batting. In the morning Kaif and Suresh Raina started off rapidly and with that took the game away from Bengal.
Bengal of course contributed in no small measure to their own undoing. After Shib Paul and Ranadeb Bose had initially restricted UP in the first innings with some steamy opening spells, they let up on the pressure subsequently. Later, some of Bengal's fidgety batsmen were to gift away their wickets. A couple of questionable umpiring decisions didn't help either. Fielding was another crucial area where Dasgupta's men let themselves down - Kumar, Raina and Kaif were dropped early on in their first-innings knocks (Kumar went on to make a blistering 48, while Raina and Kaif got out in their 90s).
Full postDi Venuto and Bevan revive Tasmania
Tasmania v Western Australia, Pura Cup, Bellerive Oval, 2nd day
Cricinfo staff
02-Feb-2006
Tasmania 6 for 229 (Di Venuto 105, Bevan 61) and 86 lead Western Australia 215 (Rogers 135, Griffith 5-80) by 100 runs
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Michael Di Venuto, the Tasmania opener, scored 105 as his team staged a spirited comeback against Western Australia in the Pura Cup match at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. Tasmania ended the day at 229 for 6, giving them a lead of exactly 100.
Di Venuto, by far the best Tasmanian batsman in either innings, added 140 for the second-wicket with Michael Bevan, who made 61. Di Venuto took the attack to the bowlers, scoring 16 boundaries while Bevan played a more sedate knock, giving good support to his partner. Tasmania eased past their deficit with nine second-innings wickets remaining and looked set to cause a few worries in the opposition camp.
However, after Bevan's dismissal, Western Australia came right back, picking up four wickets in the space of 36 runs. Shawn Gillies, the Jamaican-born medium-pacer in his Pura Cup debut, orchestrated the collapse, accounting for Di Venuto, Daniel Marsh and Sean Clingeleffer in a four-over burst. George Bailey (38) and Brett Geeves survived until stumps.
Full postVictoria make light work of Redbacks' total
Victoria made South Australia pay for a poor batting performance as they passed their total for the loss of only one wicket at Adelaide Oval
Cricinfo staff
02-Feb-2006
Victoria 1 for 137 (Hodge 56*, Mash 54*) lead South Australia 134 (Ferguson 42, Warne 3-35, Harwood 3-44) by 3 runs
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Victoria made South Australia pay for a poor batting performance as they passed their total for the loss of only one wicket at Adelaide Oval. The Bushrangers joined Queensland and Western Australia in sealing first-innings points on the first day in this round of matches as Lloyd Mash and Brad Hodge raised half-centuries. At stumps the pair had compiled 97 and the visitors were running comfortably at 1 for 137.
South Australia began badly by losing Shane Deitz in the first over and their situation didn't really improve apart from brief rallies from Greg Blewett 23 and Callum Ferguson 42. They were 6 for 80 at lunch and allout before tea for 134. Shane Warne was refreshed after three weeks holidaying in Thailand and Fiji and he picked up 3 for 35, including the caught and bowled of Ferguson, while Shane Harwood also created trouble with 3 for 44.
The pitch offered early encouragement for the seamers and Mick Lewis and Gerard Denton took advantage with two wickets each. Denton's first-ball removal of Darren Lehmann, who drove straight to Mash at point, was the most important and he returned to add Blewett. Victoria are now level with New South Wales and South Australia on 20 points at the top of the table.
Full postWatson shines as Queensland seize two points
Shane Watson's impressive comeback from shoulder surgery gave him hope of a national recall
Cricinfo staff
02-Feb-2006
Queensland 3 for 178 (Love 77*, Hayden 55) lead New South Wales 169 (Haddin 43, Watson 4-34) by 9 runs
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Shane Watson's impressive comeback from shoulder surgery gave him hope of a national recall as Queensland grabbed first-innings points by the end of the opening day against New South Wales. Watson's 4 for 34 in front of Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, helped dismiss the Blues for 169 on a surface offering helpful bounce, and the Bulls held a nine-run lead at stumps.
The only downside for Watson, who partially dislocated his shoulder in the first Test against West Indies, was that he was one of the fallen batsmen and made only 2. Matthew Hayden had a successful return from illness with 55 while Martin Love pushed his side past the NSW total with an unbeaten 77.
Queensland's catching was outstanding as they rocked New South Wales in 39 overs after Brad Haddin had decided to bat. Six chances were accepted in the cordon and none was better than Chris Hartley's diving effort to remove Phil Jaques for 30. Haddin collected a brisk 43 before becoming Andy Bichel's second wicket, and Watson quickly closed the innings with three blows. The Bulls are currently in fourth spot on 18 points, two behind the leaders New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria.
Full postde Villiers pulverises the Lions
Standard Bank Pro20 round-up with wins for the Titans and the Dolphins
Keith Lane
02-Feb-2006
The Standard Bank Pro20 innings of the season was played by AB de Villiers scoring 91 not out with seven sixes and five fours coming off 52 balls as the Titans beat the Lions by six wickets in a high-scoring game
at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.
Winning the toss and batting first, the Lions put together a decent total of 179 for 4 in their 20 overs. Adam Bacher got the innings off on the right foot, scoring 52 from 37 but when he was brilliantly caught at extra cover by Aaron Phangiso one felt that the Gods were smiling on the
Titans. Neil McKenzie got off to a slow start but once in his stride, was very strong on the leg side in his 66 off 48. Vaughn van Jaarsveld was aggressive in his 35 off 18 as they put on 83 in seven overs. Brendon Reddy was the pick of the Titans bowlers, getting rid of both van Jaarsveld
and McKenzie in consecutive balls.
The Titans innings could not have started any better with de Villiers launching the first ball of the innings into the crowd. The fourth ball received the same treatment and the home spectators sensed something special. And special it was; the second highest score in the South
African competition with shots going to all parts of the ground. A square drive for six will long be remembered. One wonders why he is not in Australia with the Proteas. With a willing partner in Goolam Bodi (36 off 33) they put on 93 for the first wicket. It was, however the class of
de Villiers and the aggression of Gerald Dros (24 off 11) that put the Titans into a winning position with eight balls to spare and assuring them a home semi-final.
The Dolphins won their first match in the Standard Bank PRO20 Series by defeating the Warriors by 11 runs at Kingsmead in Durban.
Batting first, Doug Watson got the Dolphins off to a solid start as he struck nine boundaries and a six in a 23 ball 48. A 46 off 30 balls from Ahmed Amla, that included six fours and a six, saw the Dolphins getting to hundred in just 57 balls. Unable to sustain the run rate and wickets falling, the Dolphins could only score 65 in the final 11 overs, and finished on 165 for 7. Some good bowling at the end of the innings contributed to the Dolphins decline with Robin Petersen taking 2 for 23 and Justin Kreusch,
3 for 24.
Full postHosts humbled in opening encounter
A round-up from the warm-up matches of the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka
Cricinfo staff
01-Feb-2006
The first round of warm-up matches in the Under-19 World Cup brought victories for Pakistan, the West Indies and Zimbabwe. The outstanding performer though was 'extras'; Scotland and Uganda led the way with an astonishing 31 wides
Kemar Roach and Sharmarh Brooks bowled the West Indies to a comprehensive 87-run victory over the hosts Sri Lanka, after their batsmen had laid a solid platform of 293 for 6. William Perkins, Richard Ramdeen and Kieron Pollard all hit fifties with Pollard's coming from 45 balls with four fours and a six. In reply, Angelo Mathews played a captain's knock of 61 but the West Indies bowling was far too strong. Roach took a hat-trick with the wickets of Dilhan Cooray, Prabudha Perera and Sachith Pathirana and finished with 4 for 44.
Ali Asad struck a plucky 41 for Pakistan who beat Australia by three wickets at Moratuwa in their first match. Jamshed Ahmed's three wickets helped restrict Australia to 215, with a lone half-century from Usman Khawaja. Despite fifties from Mohammad Ibrahim (62) and Nasir Jamshed (56), six of Pakistan's top nine fell for under 10 in their pursuit, making Asad's unbeaten knock all the more impressive.
Zimbabwe swept to an easy
104-run victory in their warm up against Uganda. Ryan Higgins batted confidently for his 56, before Keagan Meth struck a lightning-fast 51 from 24 balls, taking his side to 283 for 8. In reply, Uganda crumbled meekly with Raymond Otim making 48 from 101 balls to help his side avoid being bowled out.
Full postUttar Pradesh take the honours on engrossing day
On a day when everything hinged on who would take the first-innings lead, Uttar Pradesh held their nerve to dismiss Bengal 14 runs short of their target and build a platform from which they look hard-pressed to lose
Nagraj Gollapudi at Lucknow
01-Feb-2006
Uttar Pradesh 387 and 183 for 2 (Kaif 81*) lead Bengal 373 (Shukla 66, Chawla 5-83) by 197 runs
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How they were out
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On a day when everything hinged on who would take the first-innings lead, Uttar Pradesh held their nerve to dismiss Bengal 14 runs short of their target and build a platform from which they are very unlikely to lose.
Following a defiant overnight stand between Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Ranadeb Bose, Bengal looked well set to overhaul UP's first-innings 387. Bose, a rank tailender, had batted 68 deliveries for his 11 in a vital 32-run stand for the ninth wicket; however, following a brace of aggressive hits past Shalabh Srivastava he failed to keep his bat out of the way of a well-directed bouncer and edged to the wicketkeeper.
Keen to get past UP's total, Shukla launched a mighty six off Piyush Chawla's legspin over long on and then reverse-swept the same bowler past third man to bring Bengal within striking distance. With the field spread, Shukla looked keen on going for the big hits. Chawla, however, proved the decisive factor between Shukla and the lead when he tossed one up on leg and saw Shukla's slog-sweep spiral high in the air towards deep square-leg where Ali Hamid Zaidi, the substitute fielder, dived forward and plucked a beauty. As the entire UP team ran towards the fielder - whooping and yelling in delight - Shukla cut a forlorn figure as he loped back to the pavilion.
Full postMcMillan steers Canterbury into final
Craig McMillan hit a run-a-ball 75 as Canterbury coasted to a five-wicket win against Auckland and secured a berth in the State Shield final
Cricinfo staff
01-Feb-2006
Craig McMillan hit a run-a-ball 75 as Canterbury coasted to a five-wicket win against Auckland and secured a berth in the State Shield final. Chasing 261, McMillan strung together useful partnerships with Nathan Astle (53) and Peter Fulton (36) but three quick wickets reduced Canterbury to 184 for 5. Chris Cairns (46) and Chris Harris (24) stemmed the collapse with a 77-run stand for the 6th wicket and completed the victory with two overs to spare. Auckland, having been asked to bat, posted a competitive 260, built on Lou Vincent's 88 and useful contributions from Richard Jones (55), Scott Styris (40) and Rob Nicol (38).
Ross Taylor struck a fine 121 that led Central Districts to a thumping seven-wicket win against Wellington and set up a semi-final clash with Otago. Jamie How, the stand-in captain for the injured Jacob Oram, put Wellington in and at one stage, Stephen Fleming (57) and Michael Parlane (68) threatened to post a tall score. But Central's bowlers did a fine job to restrict Wellington to 226 for 9. How scored 68 in Central's chase but it was Taylor's century that authored a convincing win.
Bradley-Jon Watling's unbeaten 116 powered Northern Districts to 315 for 5 as they crushed Otago by 128 runs at Dunedin . Watling and Vettori (76), who opened the batting after winning the toss, added 137 for the first wicket and lower-order cameos propelled the score past 300. Otago's chase never got any momentum as wickets feel at regular intervals. Bruce Martin and Brent Arnel took two wickets each for Otago.
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