Report
Sri Lanka complete crushing win
Sri Lanka comprehensively outplayed West Indies in the third match of the Indian Oil Cup at Dambulla
The Bulletin by Anand Vasu
02-Aug-2005
Sri Lanka 241 for 6 (Atapattu 70, Sangakkara 79) beat West Indies 191 (Smith 68, Maharoof 3-9) by 50 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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West Indies were comprehensively outplayed by Sri Lanka in the third match of the Indian Oil Cup at Dambulla. Marvan Atapattu read the conditions perfectly, batted well within himself to help set a more-than-decent target of 242, assisted by Kumar Sangakkara. Atapattu then led his team on the field as they dismantled West Indies with a clinical performance to win by 50 runs. As West Indies' top order collapsed, Dwayne Smith thumped 68 late on, but his battling stand was never going to alter the result.
The pitch being used for this match has already staged one game - the opener between India and Sri Lanka - and so wore a dry look. With cracks threatening to open up, Atapattu had no hesitation in choosing to bat when he won the toss and although the young opener Upul Tharanga - on debut - fell early, Sri Lanka consolidated.
Full postTushar guides Bangladesh A to easy win
Tushar Imran struck an impressive 93 to guide Bangladesh A to a comfortable victory over Lancashire, by seven wickets, at Liverpool.
Cricinfo staff
01-Aug-2005
Lancashire 149 (Horton 46, Razzak 3 for 25) lost to Bangladesh A 155 for 3 (Tushar 93) by seven wickets
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Scorecard
Tushar Imran struck an impressive 93 to guide Bangladesh A to a comfortable victory over Lancashire, by seven wickets, at Liverpool. He cracked 11 fours and a six in his 91-ball innings and only fell with the winning post in sight.
Bangladesh had won the toss and produced an impressive bowling display and fielded very tidily to run through Lancashire, who fielded a weakened XI following their Twenty20 defeat at the weekend. They were captained by Iain Sutcliffe, who opened the batting with Andrew Crook, but only the young Australian-born batsman Paul Horton offered any resistance, with a solid 46. Lancashire's tail were only able to provide 20 runs between them.
For Bangladesh, the left-arm spinner Abdur Razzaq ended with the impressive figures of 3 for 25 from seven overs, while Syed Rasel conceded just 16 runs from his 10 overs. The Bangladeshi senior side were widely criticised for their fielding mishaps during their tour of England earlier this season, so they would have been encouraged to see their A team fare better by achieving two run-outs.
Full postKasprowicz takes five in rain-hit draw
Michael Kasprowicz put the pressure on the Australia selectors with a five-wicket haul in the drawn tour match against Worcestershire
Cricinfo staff
01-Aug-2005
Australians 406 for 9 dec and 161 for 2 (Ponting 59*, Clarke 59) drew with Worcestershire 187 (Moore 69, Kasprowicz 5-67)
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Rain put paid to any serious chance of a result on the final day of the three-day match between Worcestershire and Australia at New Road. But Australia got a decent work out ahead of the second Test which starts at Edgbaston on Thursday.
Today it was mainly the turn of Australia's bowlers to make the most of the practice - the batsmen did get another go later on - after Ricky Ponting declared on their overnight total of 406 for 9. Australia made short work of skittling Worcestershire for 187 on a docile pitch, Michael Kasprowicz making his presence felt for the home side and Australia's selectors with 5 for 67. It is unlikely to matter too much as his rival Jason Gillespie also bowled creditably, and ended with 2 for 15 from 12 overs.
Full postRolton's ton helps Australia crush Ireland
Australia women crushed Ireland by 240 runs at Dublin
Jenny Thompson
01-Aug-2005
Australia 295 for 3 (Rolton 151, Sthalekar 100*) defeated Ireland 55 (Nitschke 4 for 15) by 240 runs
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Australia's men may have struggled at the start of their UK tour, but there were no such concerns for their women as they got their summer off to a flyer, walloping Ireland by 240 runs at Dublin. It was a contest that wasn't so much one-sided as non-sided as the World Champions took on a team who had failed to win a match in the World Cup this year. But, after the first game of this three-match series was washed out, Australia were grateful for any practice they could grab ahead of their trip to England.
Heather Whelan's first match at Ireland captain didn't quite go to plan - on a personal level, she went wicketless and made a duck, on a team level Ireland were thumped - but playing Australia was always going to be a tough ask. Whelan won the toss but things went downhill from there: after inserting Australia, they went on to amass 295 for 3 from 50 overs.
Karen Rolton and Lisa Sthalekar cashed in, each striking some of the easiest - but nonetheless impressive - centuries they could hope to make at this level. It was the second successive international hundred for Rolton, whose last one-day knock happened to be the World Cup final, and here she treated a modest crowd to another classy display, taking just 114 balls to deposit 151 runs. Sthalekar's 100 not out came from a comparatively sedate 123 balls.
Full postHaddin misses century as Aussies pile up runs
Brad Haddin struck 94 as the Australian enjoyed some useful batting time against Worcestershire
Cricinfo staff
31-Jul-2005
Australians 406 for 9 (Haddin 94, Hayden 79, Langer 64, Gillespie 53*) v Worcestershire
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The Australians enjoyed a solid workout against Worcestershire on the second day of their match at New Road. Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer opened with a century stand and after Worcestershire had fought back to dismiss the middle order, Brad Haddin, the reserve wicketkeeper, made full use of the rare opportunity for an extended bat by striking an impressive 94.
Only one over was possible on the first day so Langer and Hayden virtually started from scratch when play began. After watchfully seeing off the new ball they became increasingly assured against an honest Worcestershire attack. Both passed their half-centuries before they departed after lunch. Langer edged a catch to James Pipe (110 for 1) and Hayden was taken by Stephen Peters (149 for 2) - both off Matt Mason, Worcestershire's Aussie seamer.
Full postDravid guides India to six-wicket win
Rahul Dravid scored an unbeaten 52 to guide India to victory against West Indies in the Indian Oil Cup
The Bulletin by Anand Vasu
31-Jul-2005
India 180 for 4 (Dravid 52*) beat West Indies 178 (Deonarine 41) by 6 wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out
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India stuttered in pursuit of 179 in their match against West Indies but eventually Rahul Dravid kept a cool head and steered his team to a six-wicket win with 14 overs to spare at Dambulla. West Indies, after choosing to bat, made a complete mess of things, and ended up with 178, a total that briefly challenged India, but eventually proved to be inadequate.
Bennett King, the West Indian coach, must be tearing his hair out at the performance of his batsmen. This depleted, second-string line-up, has given fans little room for hope. Their ineptness with the bat, followed up by an erratic performance in the field ensured that India picked up their first win in this tournament, albeit after a few scares, and the customary crisis knock from Dravid.
Full postSmith helps Somerset lift trophy
Lancashire won the toss and batted against Somerset
The Bulletin by Jenny Thompson
30-Jul-2005
Somerset 118 for 3 (Smith 64*) defeated Lancashire 114 for 8 (Law 59) by
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Somerset have already caused one or two upsets this summer - just ask Australia - and today was no different when they defeated the favourites Lancashire to lift the Twenty20 trophy for the first time. And, again, it was the imperious Graeme Smith who led from the front to mastermind victory in a rain-reduced, relatively low-scoring chase under the lights.
Smith was in control from the outset, mixing up his bowlers, setting fields with aplomb and then striking 64 not out to take them home after Lancashire made just 114 for 8 from their 16 overs. James Hildreth, who hit the winning runs, joined Smith in a matchwinning fourth-wicket stand of 53 from 36 deliveries.
Full postSomerset edge thriller to put out holders
Leicestershire's spinners bowled well to restrict Somerset to 157
Cricinfo staff
30-Jul-2005
Somerset 157 for 9 defeated Leicestershire 153 for 8 (Maddy 56) by four runs
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The Twenty20 trophy will have a new name on it after Somerset knocked out the holders Leicestershire in a nail-biting semi-final. Graeme Smith mixed up his bowlers to devastating effect as Somerset successfully defended 157 to earn their place in the final alongside Lancashire.
Their total hadn't looked to be enough when the opener Darren Maddy posted 56 to set a solid platform in reply, but Ian Blackwell turned the screw in the middle overs to dismiss him, and turn the match. Richard Johnson mopped up later on. Leicestershire entered the final over needing 17 to win, and fell just short. "We chucked that away," fumed Leicestershire's captain HD Ackerman afterwards.
Full postLancashire defeat Surrey
Twenty20 finals day got off to an electrifying start as Lancashire, who won the toss, made 217 for 4 from their twenty overs against Surrey, in the first semi-final of the day.
The Bulletin by Will Luke
30-Jul-2005
Lancashire 217 for 4 (Symonds 52*, Flintoff 49) beat Surrey (Ramprakash 45, Benning 42) by 22 runs
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Twenty20 finals day got off to an electrifying start as Lancashire, who won the toss, made 217 for 4 from their twenty overs against Surrey, in the first semi-final of the day. It proved too much for Surrey who, despite an aggressive start from their openers, fell 22 runs short.
Lancashire started confidently, if not spectacularly, safe in the knowledge that Andrew Flintoff and Andrew Symonds were waiting in the wings. With Mal Loye and Stuart Law putting on 52 for the first wicket, and Ian Salisbury dropping a simple chance at first slip, the stage was well set for Flintoff. He launched into Surrey's bowlers, striking four fours and three sixes before falling one short of a 28 ball fifty. Symonds matched Flintoff's efforts with a brutal innings of 52, from 30 balls, putting on 79 with the resourceful Dominic Cork.
Full postJayasuriya steers Sri Lanka past India
India scored only 205, and it was simply not enough to deny Sri Lanka victory, by three wickets, playing at home at the Rangiri International Stadium in Dambulla.
The Bulletin by Anand Vasu
30-Jul-2005
Sri Lanka 206 for 7 (Jayasuriya 43*) beat India 205 for 9 (Dravid 54, Muralitharan 3-33) by 3 wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out
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Rahul Dravid, the bedrock of dependability on which this Indian team is built, pulled out all the stops in his first match as captain in this new season, scoring a fighting half-century and then pressing hard on the field with all attacking instincts - but he still ended up on the losing side. India scored only 205, and it was simply not enough to deny Sri Lanka victory, by three wickets, playing at home at the Rangiri International Stadium in Dambulla.
Sri Lanka's batsmen made heavy weather of the run chase, losing wickets at regular intervals against some disciplined Indian bowling. Dravid realised early on that he would not win this match by restricting the Sri Lankans, and gave his front-line bowlers - Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan - long first spells, and it paid dividends. Pathan was particularly sharp, pitching the ball just outside the off and swinging it in, and struck first, removing Kumar Sangakkara, opening the batting in place of the injured Sanath Jayasuriya, with a curling delivery that rapped the pads in front of the stumps (19 for 1).
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