Report
Dasgupta and Shukla put Bengal ahead
Bengal, helped by excellent hundreds from Deep Dasgupta and Laxmi Ratan Shukla, extended their first innings lead to 276 against Baroda on day three of the Ranji Trophy semi-finals at Kolkata
Cricinfo staff
22-Jan-2006
Bengal 517 for 6 (Dasgupta 171, Shukla 137*) lead Baroda 241 by 276 runs
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For Bengal it was imperative that they gained a substantial lead, as there was always the possibility that they would have to bat last on a pitch that could crumble as the match progresses. Unlike the first two days, where the first hour saw two wickets fall, today's first session was dominated by the bat. At the forefront of Bengal's surge was Dasgupta, who carried on his good work yesterday in defying anything bowled at him, running the singles well, and proving why he has been such a worthy performer for Bengal over the past four seasons. Dasgupta, whose previous hundred came against Gujarat in December, produced a definitive innings under trying circumstances, and it should provide inspiration for his team-mates.
It certainly did for Shukla, whose unbeaten 137 was an innings of determination. Shukla has been a talent talked about for some time now - after making his Ranji Trophy debut for Bengal in the 1997-98 season, he hit a match-winning century as an opener in the Wills Trophy semi-final against Delhi in the next - and was seen as future India material. But a dip in consistency and a reported attitude problem has seen his name sidelined when it comes to national selection matters. Bringing up his second fifty of the season in the morning, in 190 minutes and from 155 deliveries, Shukla provided a glimpse of his potential once again.
Full postAuckland and ND tie a thriller
A summary of the latest action in the seventh round of State Shield matches
Cricinfo staff
22-Jan-2006
In a dramatic finish, Auckland and Northern Districts somehow conspired to tie a game no team deserved to win. Daniel Vettori, the ND captain, ran out Chris martin for a duck on the penultimate ball of the match with the scores level at 275. For the second time in less than a fortnight, Paul Hitchcock scored a century against Northern Districts in the State Shield. Unlike the last occasion it was not enough to see his team win. Hitchcock's 107 from 102 balls was the highlight of Auckland's chase for 275 set by the home team, but he failed to find any significant support. Bruce Martin was the most effective ND bowler, taking 3 for 42 off his 10 overs. It was a great allround double for Hitchcock who took 4 for 45 earlier in the day. ND would have been disappointed it did not make better use of the 135-run opening partnership provided by Vettori (84) and BJ Watling (50). James Marshall provided a useful 42 while others made starts they failed to capitalise on.
Full postDravid and Laxman lead India's reply
India ended the day on a healthy 110 for 1 in response to Pakistan's 588
India 110 for 1 trail Pakistan 588 (Afridi 156, Inzamam 119, Younis 83, Yousuf 65) by 478 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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We're almost halfway into the series and the bowlers must be thinking about the marginal role they are playing in this contest. The bat continued to hold sway on the second day of the second Test at Faisalabad with Pakistan erecting an imposing structure before India began to whittle away the deficit. Having been battered for close to a day and a half, India showed the gumption needed to wriggle out, ending the day on a healthy 110 for 1, but still a good 278 adrift of saving the follow on.
Shahid Afridi's powdered 156, his highest Test score, was the talking point of the day, but Inzamam-ul-Haq's calm century and India's response, despite the loss of Virender Sehwag, were crucial elements as well. Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman shored India up, with a fine 71-run stand at the end of the day, and raised visions of reprising their heroics at Lahore. It won't be easy, especially with variable bounce on the pitch and no forecast of inclement weather, and India will need one mighty batting effort if they harbour hopes of leaving Faisalabad unscathed.
Full postJayasuriya sets up 51-run win for Sri Lanka
Australia suffocated under a massive total set up by Sanath Jayasuriya's century-making return from a shoulder injury as Sri Lanka won 51 runs
The bulletin by Peter English
22-Jan-2006
Australia 258 (Clarke 67, Hopes 43, Bandara 4-58) lost to Sri Lanka 7 for 309 (Jayasuriya 114, Sangakkara 78, Jayawardene 56) by 51 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 suffocated under a massive total set up by Sanath Jayasuriya's century-making return from a shoulder injury as Sri Lanka sealed their second win of the VB Series. Jayasuriya's brilliant 114 from 96 balls bounced the tourists to a massive 7 for 309 and while Australia felt in touch on a couple of occasions they were unable to conquer the unusual situation and lost by 51 runs.
Trying a strange line-up that omitted the in-form Phil Jaques and Glenn McGrath, Australia were punished for their experiments as their back-up seamers were thrashed and the opening batsmen missed their chances to push for longer stints in the current roles. Sri Lanka carried the vibe of their wonderful batting performance into the field and Australia suffered a poor start - the required run-rate was already above seven at 3 for 41 in the 13th over - to place too much pressure on the rest of the order.
Full postKumar and Srivastava rock Mumbai
Praveen Kumar and Shalabh Srivastava shared seven wickets between them to rock Mumbai as Uttar Pradesh shot out the 36-times champions for a paltry 199
Cricinfo staff
21-Jan-2006
Mumbai 199 and 21 for 0 trail Uttar Pradesh 250 (Raina 72, Kaif 64) by 30 runs
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Praveen Kumar and Shalabh Srivastava shared seven wickets between them to rock Mumbai as Uttar Pradesh shot out the 36-times champions for a paltry 199 before playing out the two overs without any damage to take the honours at the end of the opening day in the semi-final clash at the Wankhede stadium. The last time the two teams met in a semi-final clash was in 1997-98 and UP - powered by Ashish Zaidi- had shot out Mumbai for a shocking 98 on the first day. Seven years later at the same venue, it appeared the story would repeat itself but a valiant effort from the tail - involving Avishkar Salvi and Swapnil Hazare - lifted Mumbai, one stage tottering at 153 for 9 in 63.1 overs, to a fighting total. However UP - which had bounced back under Mohammad Kaif's leadership after a lackluster start to the season - will be quite happy with their day's work.
The Mumbai batting had been brittle all summer and especially with the absence of Wasim Jaffer- away on national duty - it would have been a slightly vulnerable Mumbai team that entered the Wankhede stadium today. "We look unsettled because the guys have not scored. We have failed to put a big score. It's time people such as Nishit Shetty converted those 30s into something big. They have to take more responsibility," Kharsan Ghavri, Mumbai's coach, had said on the eve of the game. The events on the field would have left him disappointed as UP bowlers created a stranglehold on the opening day.
The Mumbai innings was a crawl - the first fifty came in 27.5 overs at the cost of three wickets, the second took 17 overs but Mumbai lost two wickets and bled three more for the third fifty which came in 16 overs. Only Sahil Kukreja, the opener, offered any resistance with a 142-ball 49. But he once again failed to capitalise on his good start- the story of his season so far, averaging 30 with two fifties in 11 innings. The other batsmen however didn't quite get even a start with only Ramesh Powar and Aavishkar Salvi going past the 20-mark.
Full postSubhomoy Das and Dasgupta lead the way
Riding on a vital hundred from Subhomoy Das, their opener, Bengal edged closer to Baroda's first innings total with a useful performance on the second day's play of their Elite Group semi-final at Kolkata
Cricinfo staff
21-Jan-2006
Bengal 246 for 5 (Subhomoy Das 115, Dasgupta 50*) lead Baroda 241 by 5 runs
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Though he chipped in with useful runs this season - he averages over 40 - Das had not gone on to make a hundred. An 83 against Railways in his previous match was his best return, and he could not have timed his first century of the season - and third in first-class cricket - better. His 115, from 215 deliveries and with 15 hits to the fence, put his side in a position from which they can build a lead.
It was not all smooth sailing, however. With their medium-pacers moving the ball around throughout the first day's play, Bengal's batsmen had enough reason to be wary of the grass remaining on the Kotla pitch. Those worries became a reality as Bengal were left reeling at 2 for 10 following a twin strike from Rakesh Patel, Baroda's opening bowler. Arindam Das was the first to fall, edging one to Pinal Shah, the wicketkeeper, while Abhishek Jhunjhunwala followed 10 deliveries later, trapped leg before for 0. Baroda had their tails up, but in Manoj Tiwary, Das found an able ally and the two were able to stave off any further threat. Tiwary showed good composure in his 37, and with Das steady at the other end, the duo added 98 for the third wicket.
Full postWest Indies Under-19 begin tour with 36-run win
The West Indies Under-19 opened their tour of Pakistan with a 36-run victory at the National Stadium in Karachi
Cricinfo staff
21-Jan-2006
The West Indies Under-19 opened their tour of Pakistan with a 36-run victory at the National Stadium in Karachi. Rest of Pakistan Under-19 were dismissed for 202 after a collective effort by the West Indians helped post a total of 238 for 8.
The West Indians got of to a good start after winning the toss as Richard Ramdeen and Williams Perkins put on 73 for the first wicket. But thereafter Pakistan U-19 struck at regular intervals and prevented the batsmen from building partnerships. Useful contributions from Kieron Pollard (38) and Shamarh Brooks (35) and indisciplined bowling - Pakistan U-19 gave away 42 extras - helped the West Indians reach 238.
Pakistan U-19 got off to a disastrous start losing their first three wickets for 48 runs before a middle-order collapse further reduced them to 99 for 7. Yasim Murtuza, the Pakistan U-19 captain, followed up a fine spell of 2 for 33 with a rearguard half-century that lent some respectability to the chase. In the end it wasn't enough and the West Indians won by 36 runs. Kemar Roach (3 for 44) and Sunil Narine (2 for 26) were the pick of the bowlers.
Full postJamie How leads the way for Central Districts
Jamie How scored 95 against Canterbury
Dylan Cleaver
21-Jan-2006
Jamie How smashed 95 as Central Districts beat Canterbury by seven wickets
in their State Shield match at McLean Park in Napier today. The hosts passed Canterbury's 162 in the 40th over. How was run out in the 33rd over with the hosts 137 for 2, but the captain had already ensured a victory that put Central firmly on top of the State Shield ladder. Mathew Sinclair hit the winning runs to finish not out on 23. How's innings was remarkable for the fact that the opening 49 runs of his opening partnership with Geoff Barnett all came from the bat of How.
Canterbury, stacked with international stars, were woeful when they batted. Lance Hamilton, who finished with three for 33, made early in-roads removing both openers, Shanan Stewart and Nathan Astle with just 17 on the board. Canterbury were soon reeling at 48 for five when Chris Cairns fell to Hamilton trying to fiddle the ball to third man. Chris Harris top-scored with 63.
Otago easily dealt with Wellington with a six-wicket victory
in a dull match in the capital. Chasing 227 for 8, Otago reached the target in 45.1 overs with Neil Broom (48) and Gareth Hopkins (9) the not out batsmen. In the chase Aaron Redmond was the top scorer with 63, while Jonathan Trott, who earlier took 3 for 33, scored 43. Wellington's innings never got going, despite skipper Stephen Fleming's 45. A middle order collapse was averted by Matthew Bell who scored a patient 67 not out.
Full postCenturies from Dogra and Nayyar power HP to win
A summary of the last day in the last Plate Group round
Cricinfo staff
21-Jan-2006
Himachal Pradesh 216 and 297 for 4 (Dogra 113, Nayyar 100*) beat Goa 347 and 163 by 6 wickets
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Plate Group Points Table
Scorecard
Plate Group Points Table
Powered by centuries from Paras Dogra and Rajeev Nayyar, Himachal Pradesh pulled off a thrilling win in the last mandatory over to beat Goa by 6 wickets. Rahul Panta and Sangram Singh, the medium pacers, grabbed two apiece to hasten the end of Goa's, overnight on 117 for 5, second innings. Set to chase 295 HP reached 59 for 3 by the 15th over before Dogra and Nayyar took over. The combination of the youth and experience charged the run chase, adding 173 runs to pull of the victory. For Dogra, the 21year old, it was his maiden first-class ton and after he fell, Nayyar took control and along with Rahul Panta (39 not out) steered HP home.
Full postHodge hands Victoria the first Twenty20 title
A thrilling hundred from Brad Hodge and some disciplined bowling earned Victoria a crushing 93-run win over New South Wales as they became the first Twenty20 champions
Cricinfo staff
21-Jan-2006
Victoria 7 for 233 (Hodge 106) beat New South Wales 140 (Simmons 39, White 3-8) by 93 runs
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A thrilling hundred from Brad Hodge and some disciplined bowling earned Victoria a crushing 93-run win over New South Wales as they became the first Twenty20 champions.
Cameron White's decision to bat was promptly rewarded as Victoria, who were powered by Hodge's 106 from just 54 balls with seven sixes, raced on to an imposing 7 for 233 in their 20 overs before dismissing NSW for 140.
Hodge, whose only Twenty20 innings this season was a 15-ball 26 against South Australia on January 8, needed only 54 deliveries to post his maiden Twenty20 hundred, and it proved far too much for NSW. Hodge hoped the innings would increase his chances of returning to the Australian one-day team.
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