Report
Lewis makes the breakthrough for England
England and Bangladesh prepare to do battle at The Oval
The bulletin by Andrew Miller
15-Jun-2005
Bangladesh 31 for 2 (Nafees 12*, Tushar 3*) v England
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Jon Lewis vowed earlier this week that he would not be having a haircut until the dream start to his England career came to an end, and on today's showing, he will soon be sporting a mullet to rival Jason Gillespie's. He grabbed two wickets in consecutive deliveries, to add to his four-wicket haul in Monday night's Twenty20, as Bangladesh stuttered to 31 for 2 in seven overs at The Oval.
For the third time in three matches against Bangladesh, Michael Vaughan won the toss and chose to bowl first, as England set out to maintain their disciplines after their thrilling success against Australia. In an identical scenario to the Test matches, Vaughan had no compunction about throwing his full bowling weight against the Bangladeshis, and under overcast skies, both Lewis and Darren Gough obtained some tricky seam movement.
At first the Bangladeshis resisted manfully, and Javed Omar, their star of the Test series, carved Gough through point for four. But he soon spoiled his start with a careless flick across the line to give Lewis the plumpest of lbws, and off the very next ball, Mohammad Ashraful fenced a low edge to Andrew Flintoff at second slip. Nafees Iqbal kept out the hat-trick yorker, and soon afterwards play was halted by a brief shower.
Full postAustralians crash to humbling defeat
On Monday it was Australia's batsmen who imploded in spectacular fashion. Today, as if to prove a point, it was the turn of the bowlers
Andrew Miller
15-Jun-2005
Somerset 345 for 6 (Smith 108, Jayasuriya 101) beat Australians 342 for 5 (Ponting 80, Hayden 76)
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Scorecard
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On Monday it was Australia's batsmen who imploded in spectacular fashion. Today, as if to prove a point, it was the turn of the bowlers. Somerset, powered by two brilliant centuries from their international imports, Sanath Jayasuriya and Graeme Smith, chased down a monumental target of 343 to win by four wickets with a massive 19 deliveries to spare.
Two days ago, Ricky Ponting tried to laugh off the relevance of Australia's 100-run defeat in the Twenty20 international, but he will have to come up with a better excuse this time around. This was a bona fide humiliation for Australia. Michael Kasprowicz looked every one of his 33 years as he was belted for 89 runs in eight innocuous overs, and the management's worries were compounded when Brett Lee left the field with a shoulder problem. But he will have ended the day cherishing his relatively economical figures of four overs for 26.
Full postMCC complete comprehensive win
MCC wrapped up a convincing 112-run win over an International XI, in the tsunami appeal match at Lord's
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
14-Jun-2005
International XI 327 for 7 (Kallis 62, Fleming 62, A Flower 55) beat MCC 215 (Smith 68, Lara 42) by 112 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
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Brian Lara and Graeme Smith lit up Lord's with some thrilling stroke play, adding 75 in just 8.1 overs as the asking rate was kept within reach, but once they both departed the rest of the International XI fell in something of a rush.
Anil Kumble removed three key batsmen, including Lara as he got a leading edge that was comfortably taken at short third-man by Shoaib Akhtar (141 for 3). Lara faced 27 balls, hitting five fours and six - a stunning check-drive off Kumble - to all corners of Lord's. He received a standing ovation as he returned to the pavilion, a rare sight for an innings of 42 - but it was special while it lasted.
Full postGough and Lewis devastate Australia
Darren Gough and Jon Lewis destroyed the Australian top order in less than six overs
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
13-Jun-2005
England 179 for 8 (Collingwood 46) beat Australia 79 (Gillespie 24, Lewis 4-24, Gough 3-16) by 100 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
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Darren Gough and Jon Lewis destroyed the Australian top order in less than six overs as England skittled Australia for 79, to complete a 100-run win in the Twenty20 international at The Rose Bowl. The match appeared to be evenly balanced at the midpoint after England had reached 179 for 8, thanks to a well-paced innings from Paul Collingwood who made 46 from 26 balls.
But even Collingwood's boundary blitz in the final four overs was nothing compared to what came next, as the Ashes summer was launched in spectacular fashion. In an amazingly frenzied atmosphere, Australia's top seven batsmen fell in the space of 20 balls, for eight runs.
Full postBangladesh seal first tour win
Bangladesh beat Worcestershire by six wickets to complete their first win on tour
Cricinfo staff
12-Jun-2005
Bangladeshis 169 for 6 (36 overs) (Omar 43, Ashraful 40) beat Worcestershire 168 (44.1 ovs) (Nazmul 3-24) by four wickets
Scorecard
Scorecard
As England will testify, confidence is everything in cricket, and so maybe, just maybe, Bangladesh's first victory will enable them to turn the corner on their arduous tour of England. They secured a four-wicket win at New Road, as Habibul Bashar guided them home, with 14 overs to spare, after a middle-order wobble against Worcestershire
Bashar finished unbeaten on 26 as he and Manjural Islam Rana added 44 for the seventh wicket. Bangladesh appeared on course for a more comfortable win as Javed Omar and Mohammad Ashraful manoeuvred them to 106 for 3. But, as their top-order slump to 24 for 3 emphasised, one Bangladesh wicket on this tour as often brought a clatter so at 125 for 6 the game was back in the balance.
However, Bangladesh were always well ahead of the required rate so Bashar knew he did not need to take any undue risks and Rana showed he was more than capable with the bat. They managed the see off the threat of Shoaib Akthar - who was making his Worcestershire debut - although he did snaffle Rajin Saleh in his first spell as Bangladesh's chase started in nervous style.
Full postSmith and Joyce make sure of draw
Middlesex and Surrey played out a draw on a slow final day at Lord's
Jenny Thompson
11-Jun-2005
Middlesex 437 and 353 for 6 dec (Smith 88, Joyce 60) drew with Surrey 460
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Scorecard
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Middlesex and Surrey played out a draw on a slow final day at Lord's. Surrey's bowlers failed to make inroads as Middlesex kept their Eds - Smith and Joyce - long enough to put the result beyond doubt. Smith posted 88 and Joyce made 60 and, with Surrey's bowlers failing to find any penetration on a flattish pitch, the game petered out into a tame draw.
The final day started with Surrey in a position to go for the win and Graham Thorpe - Surrey's stand-in captain in the absence of the injured Mark Ramprakash - kept the catchers in but his bowlers lacked the venom to force the issue. Thorpe turned to Dominic Thornely to try for the breakthrough. It was a sound decision: Thornely removed Smith 12 short of what would have been only the third championship century for Middlesex this season. But by that time, Smith and Joyce had posted a stand of 100 and the result was a foregone conclusion.
Full postEngland rout Hampshire at the Rose Bowl
England crushed a Hampshire XI by 153 runs at the Rose Bowl
Cricinfo staff
11-Jun-2005
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Hampshire's innings got off to a terrible start - Jones striking with his first ball to remove Derek Kenway - and never recovered. But the day was Gough's. He proved that he still has what it takes in the one-day arena, removing Craig McMillan, John Crawley and Chris Benham in quick succession.
Hampshire had nowhere to hide and the match was wrapped up within 20 overs, with Chris Tremlett the top scorer - shooting 21 from No 10. Shaun Udal and Greg Lamb were the only other players to make double figures - they both made 17 - while their side posted five ducks. One of these was their guest, Vikram Solanki, who had been included in the side along with Jon Lewis to allow all 13 of England's one-day squad (with the exception of the injured Steve Harmison) to get a run-out ahead of England's one-day series with Australia and Bangladesh. And he was indeed run out, as his short, sharp practice came to an end on just his third ball.
Full postAustralians plunder Leicestershire attack
Australia overwhelmed Leicestershire at Grace Road
Cricinfo staff
11-Jun-2005
Australians 321 for 4 (Hayden 107, Symonds 92*, Martyn 85) beat Leicestershire 226 for 8 (Hogg 3-56, Gibson 50) by 95 runs
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Scorecard
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England's bowlers may have stolen the show at the Rose Bowl today, but up at Grace Road, Australia's batsmen served up a timely reminder that stiffer tasks lie ahead. Led by a thumping 107 from Matthew Hayden and iced with a thrilling 59-ball 92 not out from Andrew Symonds, the Aussies ran riot, racking up a massive 321 for 4 in their 50 overs against Leicestershire, to ensure an overwhelming 95-run victory in their warm-up for the NatWest Series.
Leicestershire did at least save face with the bat, batting out their full quota of overs, but victory never entered the equation. Tom New and Darren Maddy were pinned down from the start by Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath, and when Brad Hogg ripped out the middle-order with a three-wicket burst, Leicestershire had slumped to 120 for 6 and a rout beckoned.
Full postAll square as Brown cuts loose
A sparkling and characteristically boundary-strewn hundred by Ali Brown gave Surrey a slim first-innings lead against Middlesex
Martin Williamson
09-Jun-2005
Surrey 460 (Brown 152*, Thornely 81, Clinton 73, Richardson 6-106) lead Middlesex 437 by 23 runs
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Scorecard
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The beauty of Brown is you know what you are getting, and he was soon into his stride after Alan Richardson had removed Richard Clinton without adding to his overnight 73. Brown was in no mood to be subdued, and from the moment Richardson struck again, Jonathan Batty holing out to Paul Weekes at third man, Surrey took firm control.
Brown and Dominic Thornely feasted on Middlesex's all-seam attack cutting and driving with power and authority. Thornely, who a week ago was chilling out doing a little fishing in Australia, found his stride and hit the shot of the day, a straight drive which shattered a window in the refurbished pavilion.
Full postSurrey shade opening day
Middlesex missed an opportunity to take full advantage of near perfect batting conditions against Surrey at Lord's
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
08-Jun-2005
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He must have feared the worst when Middlesex went to lunch on 89 for 0 despite Hutton and Ed Smith, the openers, having their fair share of luck along the way, including when Hutton was dropped at leg gully when he had 11. Smith, too, was far from comfortable at times, especially against the increasingly impressive Tim Murtagh. His opening six overs deserved a wicket as he beat Smith on the inside and outside edges and had him edging short of second slip.
Martin Bicknell was not quite at his best during his opening spell, but he returned from lunch a rejuvenated bowler. He has not collected over 1000 first-class wickets without being a clever bowler and used all his experience to completely work over Hutton. After sending down three balls that slanted across Hutton he bowled the perfect inswinger and, expecting another outswinger, Hutton shouldered arms and saw his off-stump flattened in similar circumstances to Jacques Rudolph at The Oval in 2003 (100 for 1).
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