Report
Clarke double century lights up draw
Michael Clarke posted his maiden first-class double-century as he staged a dramatic push for a swift return to the national team at the SCG
Cricinfo staff
29-Nov-2005
Queensland 266 and 4 for 162 (Maher 60, Philipson 45*) drew with New South Wales 7 dec for 488 (Clarke 201*, Thornely 86, Phelps 62)
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Michael Clarke posted his maiden first-class double century as he staged a dramatic push for a swift return to the national team at the SCG. Dropped a week ago, Clarke added a further 94 runs today against a Queensland attack including the internationals Andy Bichel and Michael Kasprowicz to give New South Wales an outside chance of victory in the rain-affected match.
Despite giving up Lachlan Stevens and Martin Love to be 2 for 28 before tea, Queensland held on to reach 4 for 162 at stumps and secured a draw, although the Blues collected two first-innings points. However, the main talking point was again Clarke's batting and whether it would gain him a spot in the middle order for Australia's first Test against South Africa starting on December 16. He did not offer a chance in his 201 from 282 deliveries and celebrated the milestone in the final over before lunch, when the Blues declared at 7 for 488.
Full postEngland waste golden chance
England missed a golden opportunity to stamp their authority in the decided Test at Lahore
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
29-Nov-2005
England 248 for 6 (Collingwood 71*, Vaughan 58, Trescothick 50, Malik 3-58) v Pakistan
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England missed a golden opportunity to stamp their authority on the deciding Test at Lahore after frittering away the platform of a century opening stand between Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan. Shoaib Malik was the surprise package with the ball as he swept away the top three, while Rana Naved-ul-Hasan produced another wholehearted performance of swing bowling. Paul Collingwood prevented the innings falling into terminal decline with a maiden Test half-century, but the relative ease with which he played just emphasised the wastefulness of the earlier batting.
They could not have asked for a better chance to set up a match-controlling position. Vaughan and Trescothick were reunited at the top of the order for the first time in 20 months - with immediate result. Vaughan showed glimpses of the imperious form he produced opening against Australia in 2002-03, with a sweetly timed on drive and two trademark swivel-pulls the highlights. The previous opening stands in the series - by Trescothick and Andrew Strauss - amassed less-than-impressive totals of 18, 7, 33 and 1, so today's 101 represented riches indeed.
Full postHayden takes Australia to 3-0 sweep
An unbeaten 87 by Matthew Hayden led the way for Australia, as they clinched a seven-wicket win in the third Test at Adelaide to seal the series 3-0
The Bulletin by S Rajesh
29-Nov-2005
Australia 428 (Hussey 133*, Langer 99, Bravo 6-84) and 3 for 182 (Hayden 87*) beat West Indies 405 (Lara 226) and 204 (Bravo 64, Sarwan 62, Warne 6-80) by 7 wickets
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An unbeaten 87 by Matthew Hayden led the way for Australia as they clinched a seven-wicket win in the third Test at Adelaide to seal the series 3-0. Requiring a further 106 on the last day, Australia achieved the target in the fourth over after lunch, with Michael Hussey keeping Hayden company on an unbeaten 30.
Australia only lost one wicket on the fifth day, but it was hardly a walk in the park for them, as West Indies showed plenty of spirit in the field. There was constant chatter among the players - enough for Billy Bowden to step in and ask them to tone it down - the bowlers kept Australia on a tight leash most of the time, and the fielding was exemplary. A thigh injury meant that Dwayne Bravo - West Indies' bowling hero in the first innings - didn't send down a single delivery, but the rest of the cast rose to it. Only five fours were scored in the first 90 minutes before Hayden decided to step it up, walking across his stumps and flicking the fast bowlers quite imperiously for a couple of fours to get the score moving.
Full postSri Lanka run into trouble on India tour
Sri Lanka's batsmen faltered against spin at the start of their Test tour of India, leaving them short of confidence ahead of the first Test starting in Chennai on Friday
Cricinfo staff
28-Nov-2005
Sri Lanka's batsmen faltered against spin at the start of their Test tour of India, leaving them short of confidence ahead of the first Test starting in Chennai on Friday. The tourists were reduced to 171-9 in reply to the Indian board president's X1 total of 317-4 before the rain-hit practice match was abandoned as a draw here on November 28.
The entire first day's play and a major part of the second had been lost to rain, but Sri Lanka embarrassed themselves in whatever little play was possible. Kumar Sangakkara top-scored for the tourists with 43 as young spinners Amit Mishra and Kulamani Parida shared seven wickets between them. Earlier, the home team took their overnight score of 217-2 to 317-4 declared with Sridharan Sriram making 61 and Venugopal Rao, the captain, scoring 46.
To add to Sri Lanka's woes, Chamara Kapugedara was asked to fly home following pain in his right knee. The team management has asked for a replacement. After the Chennai Test, the second Test will be played in Kanpur from December 10 and the third in New Delhi from December 18.
Sri Lanka were thrashed 6-1 by India in the one-day series earlier this month.
Full postDi Venuto keeps Tasmania afloat
Tasmania struggled to 5 for 145, still 265 in arrears, on the second day of their Pura Cup match against Western Australia at Perth
Cricinfo staff
28-Nov-2005
Tasmania 5 for 145 (Di Venuto 78) trail Western Australia 405 (Marsh 94, Heron 84, Campbell 80, Griffith 4-118) by 165 runs
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A sparkling 75-ball 78 from Michael Di Venuto gave Tasmania a good start in reply to Western Australia's 405, but ultimately it was the home side who ended the second day of the Pura Cup clash at the WACA in charge. By the close, Tasmania had slipped to 5 for 145, still 116 runs short of avoiding following on.
Tasmania worked hard in the morning to take the last five Western Australian wickets for 100 runs. Ryan Campbell added only four to his overnight 76 before being run out while Adam Griffith took two more wickets to finish with 4 for 118.
Di Venuto attacked the bowling, so much so that he dominated the opening partnership of 93 with David Dawson (19), but once Ben Edmondson had removed both batsmen in successive overs, Tasmania's innings drifted. Shortly before the close Brett Dorey took two quick wickets, both caught behind by Campbell, to leave Tasmania on the rack.
Full postArnberger ton gives Victoria slim lead
Jason Arnberger's 149 helped Victoria significantly erase much of their deficit against South Australia on day three of the Pura Cup match at the Junction Oval
Cricinfo staff
28-Nov-2005
Victoria 149 and 4 for 318 (Arnberger 149, Mash 94) lead South Australia 389 (Cosgrove 184, Deitz 78, Wise 4-78) by 78 runs
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Jason Arnberger's 149 helped Victoria significantly erase much of their deficit against South Australia as they ended day three of the Pura Cup match at 4 for 318. Arnberger, who had managed just 43 runs in seven innings this season, returned to form by posting his 12th Pura Cup century and also brought up 5000 first-class runs as the Bushrangers earned a 78-run lead.
Beginning the day 233 runs behind, Victoria were given a solid start by Arnberger and Michael Klinger (38) before Lloyd Mash (94) joined Arnberger in an 184-run stand for the second wicket. Mash, 23 and playing only his third first-class game, got off the mark with a six but then did not score for 41 deliveries, and his innings included times of caution and sessions of pure aggression.
However, just when it seemed Victoria would secure a significant lead both batsmen fell to the impressive Jason Gillespie, who took 2 for 66. David Hussey was the other batsman out today, caught by Callum Ferguson at square leg off Matthew Weeks for a duck.
Full postDravid takes India home
South Africa kept sniping back at regular intervals, but with only 222 needed for victory, India were in the box seat to win the Mumbai ODI and level the five-match series 2-2
India 222 for 5 (Dravid 78*, Yuvraj 49, Nel 2-35) beat South Africa 221 for 6 (Kallis 91, Pathan 3-20) by five wickets
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Having restricted South Africa to 221 for 6 from their 50 overs, India were made to fight every inch for the five-wicket victory that allowed them to tie the five-match series. Fittingly, it was Rahul Dravid, India's captain and most valuable player, who anchored the run-chase with an unbeaten 78. There was another fine innings from Yuvraj Singh, and cameos from Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar that gave India the early momentum which was never relinquished despite a tigerish performance from South Africa's pace bowlers.
Dravid played some glorious drives down the ground, and also rode his luck with a couple of streaky edges as he and Yuvraj, who played with considerable panache for his 49, added 79 to put India in charge. Even Mahendra Singh Dhoni's failure to fire - much to the dismay of a crestfallen crowd - couldn't prevent India easing past the target with 16 balls to spare.
Full postDravid opts to field in crucial tie
Rahul Dravid gambled at the toss by electing to field, citing the dew factor which would come into play in the evening session
Toss India won the toss and sent South Africa in to bat
Needing victory to deny Graeme Smith and South Africa a first-ever one-day series win on Indian soil, Rahul Dravid gambled by electing to field, citing the dew factor which would come into play in the evening session. It was a risky decision given that the team batting first had won five of seven matches played under lights at Mumbai, and that no side had chased more than 225 to triumph in the darkness.
India's last outing here ended in a 77-run defeat against Australia in the TVS Cup two years ago, with Michael Clarke and Nathan Bracken taking four wickets apiece to buttress a superb century from Damien Martyn. South Africa, emphatic winners in front of a packed Eden Gardens, made just the one change, with Makhaya Ntini, who recovered from illness, replacing Albie Morkel.
Despite that defeat, all the more painful because of the antics of certain sections of the crowd that booed even Sachin Tendulkar, India kept faith in the same XI, with Gautam Gambhir the bail-out clause in the event of another batting collapse. There was a definite tinge of green to the pitch which may have prompted Dravid to do what he did, but it was clear that India's bowlers would need to pull out all the stops to curtail a South African side that had been given a huge boost by the events in Kolkata. At least here, they could depend on the home fans to behave like home fans normally do, especially when supporting a team that has won seven of its last 10 completed games.
Full postClarke hits back from Test dumping with century
Michael Clarke responded to his Test dropping in the style the selectors had hoped with a century
Cricinfo staff
28-Nov-2005
New South Wales 5 for 331 (Clarke 107*, Thornely 86, Phelps 62) lead Queensland 266 by 65 runs
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Michael Clarke responded to his Test dropping in the style the selectors had hoped with a century that helped earn New South Wales first-innings points against Queensland at the SCG. Clarke, who was cut from the national squad last week, was sent back to the domestic scene to "clear his head" and he breezed to his ninth Pura Cup century, a milestone he celebrated by kissing his helmet.
Batting at No. 4, Clarke replaced Simon Katich at 2 for 99 and combined with Dominic Thornely in a 171-run partnership that passed Queensland's first-innings 226 to secure two points. However, Clarke missed making his point in front of the Test selector David Boon, who attended Sunday's rained out day but had other commitments today. He hit 13 boundaries in his unbeaten 107 while Thornely fell 14 short of three figures in an innings including six fours and two sixes.
Full postJeffers helps Leewards build lead
Leeward Islands reached 214 for 8 against Jamaica on a rain-shortened third day of their first round Carib Beer Series match at Kensington Park
28-Nov-2005
Leeward Islands 196 and 46 for 1 lead Jamaica 223 (Lambert 51, Banks 5-76) by 19 runs
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Leeward Islands reached 214 for 8 against Jamaica on a rain-shortened third day of their first round Carib Beer Series match at Kensington Park.
Leewards, who made 196 in their first innings to which Jamaica responded with 223, have a 187-run lead heading into today's final day. At the crease are Carl Simon on 22 and Alderman Lesmond on 3.
Leewards started the day at 46 for 1, and lost the wicket of Runako Morton for 14. He was run out when a shot from Jeffers hit his bat and removed the bails at the non-striker's end. Shane Jeffers top-scored with 88, including six fours and one six, and Sylvester Joseph and Omari Banks both made 26. Nikita Miller took 3 for 34 from 26 overs, while Gareth Breese took 3 for 60.
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