All posts by csb10.top

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Taking no prisoners: Flintoff flays his way to 99© Getty Images

England broke their 11-match run of defeats after batting first in one-dayers with an emphatic 70-run victory over India to clinch the three-match NatWest Challenge in the second game at The Oval. The platform for their win was set up by Andrew Flintoff, the Man of the Match for his stroke-filled 99, and Paul Collingwood who hit 79 not out. They shared in a record fifth-wicket stand of 174, which rescued England from a mid-innings slump. After a cautious start, the batsmen broke free to set an imposing total of 307: India’s innings fired in fits and starts, but never really got going, and despite some lower-order resistance they were eventually bowled out for 237.Flintoff came in with England wobbling after a bright start, and played himself in quietly before stamping his authority with two sixes off Virender Sehwag. Flintoff brought up his half-century with a swept four, and Collingwood wasn’t far behind: he took their vital stand past 100 by clipping Sehwag powerfully over midwicket for four, and reached his own half-century with a drive through the covers off Lakshmipathy Balaji’s slower one.Flintoff stepped up a gear in the last ten overs, straight-driving Yuvraj Singh and then smashing Balaji for an astonishing low six that was never more than three metres above the ground. He should then have been out, but Balaji put down a swirler at deep square.Balaji’s nightmare continued next over, as Flintoff carted him for another six and two more fours to move to 96. Balaji was mercifully removed from the attack – after conceding 77 in eight overs – but then Flintoff’s fine innings came to an abrupt end, just one short of what would have been his third one-day hundred of the summer (279 for 5), as Rahul Dravid made no mistake in holding a catch from a top-edged swipe off Ajit Agarkar, who proved even more expensive (6-0-60-1). Flintoff and Collingwood’s stand comfortably beat England’s previous best for the fifth wicket in ODIs – the 142 of Robin Smith and Graham Thorpe against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993.

Harbhajan Singh conceded just 14 runs, and picked up two wickets, in an excellent early spell© Getty Images

Earlier, England made a strong start before the offspinning combination of Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh pegged them back. Marcus Trescothick and Vikram Solanki had been motoring along at almost seven an over before Sourav Ganguly switched to spin, triggering a mini-collapse in which four wickets tumbled for 34.Trescothick got going with some meaty drives through the off side, and Solanki, who reached 1000 runs in one-day cricket this season early on, played a series of excellent shots all round the wicket. Agarkar came into the attack in only the sixth over, but the boundaries continued to flow, and the fifty partnership came up from only 49 balls.Harbhajan, who missed out on the last match at Trent Bridge, was brought on after just ten overs. He made an immediate impact today, tempting Trescothick into a leg-side heave that was snapped up by Balaji (71 for 1). Harbhajan then struck again to have Michael Vaughan well caught down the leg side by Rahul Dravid (93 for 2). Sehwag came on at the other end, and England’s batsmen started to self-destruct, with Andrew Strauss top-edging a gentle catch to Ganguly to depart for just 2 (98 for 3).Solanki brought the hundred up in the 19th over, but was out shortly afterwards, just two short of what would have been a superb half-century. Mirroring Vaughan’s dismissal, Solanki was caught down the leg side, and a fourth wicket had fallen to spin (105 for 4). India seemed to have the game by the scruff of the neck – but Flintoff and Collingwood clawed their way back to set up what was, eventually, a matchwinning total.India were in trouble from the very first over, as they lost Sehwag to the third ball of the innings, lbw to Darren Gough (2 for 1). Ganguly briefly threatened with some characteristically brutal slashes past point, but he was then run out by Flintoff after a mid-pitch collision with VVS Laxman (10 for 2).Both Laxman and Mohammad Kaif went on the counter-attack, putting on 89, but the match tilted firmly back England’s way after a double strike by Ashley Giles, who was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 26. Giles kept the pace off the ball, and wasn’t afraid to keep it pitched up either. He soon reaped the rewards, as Laxman was completely undone by a flighted delivery and popped a simple catch to Collingwood at extra cover (99 for 3). Things then got worse for India, as Dravid came and went very quickly for just a single, edging Alex Wharf to Geraint Jones (102 for 4).

Sourav Ganguly vents his frustration after being run out© Getty Images

Kaif brought up a good half-century with a whipped two off Alex Wharf, and many Indian fans would have started harbouring hopes of a fightback to equal the one between Yuvraj and Kaif in the NatWest Series final at Lord’s in 2002, but it was not to be. Kaif fell to Giles in tame fashion, top-edging a sweep to Vaughan at short fine leg (113 for 5)Rohan Gavaskar then played over the top of a full delivery from Giles and was bowled for 13, and at 143 for 6 things were looking very dire for India. Agarkar went down fighting, crashing sixes off Giles and Vaughan, but he couldn’t stop India’s slide. Yuvraj chipped Gough straight to Vaughan at midwicket (169 for 7), and two balls later Pathan was out too, top-edging a pull after being cramped for room by a Gough bouncer (169 for 8).Gough wasn’t done there, and had Agarkar caught by Trescothick at long-off to take his tally of ODI wickets to 199 (173 for 9). The 200th evaded him, though, as Balaji and Harbhajan compiled a record tenth-wicket partnership of 64 for India before Flintoff wrapped up the innings, and a fine day in the field for himself, by bowling Balaji for 18.

Matthew Hayden: enjoys cooking wild animals?© René Goscinny, Albert Uderzo

The ruthless efficiency of the world’s best team is making them an easy target. As successfully predictable as a Delta Goodrem song, their clinical side is masking the brilliance. By playing so well and often, the spectacular has become normal over frequent examinations and what was once an A is a comfortable pass.Build a big lead through a few of the top seven, unleash the four bowlers, grind them towards collapse and don’t enforce the follow-on. The bat-first theoryhas been followed meticulously and even Stephen Fleming has fallen asleep in the dressing room.But it is not an attack of the clones that has pushed Australia to current home-and-away wins against every side except India, Bangladesh and New Zealand, who should be added any day. If their lustre clouds it is necessary to view this almost-all-conquering side in other ways. Off-beat lists and loony comparisons are a successful way of staying awake, and can be helpful remembering favourite cartoons and comics.The destructive missions of Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden are like those of Asterix and Obelix, the indomitable Gauls. Asterix is small, shrewd, ready foranything and full of intensity; Obelix is a hulking figure with superhuman strength who travels at his own pace and enjoys cooking wild animals. An incredibly successful partnership, the Gauls despise the Romans while Langer and Hayden dislike bowling. Beginning the day intent on more plunder, Langer collected his 6,000th Test run and Hayden picked up a bleeding chin from a top-edged sweep off Daniel Vettori on the way to a half-century.Ricky Ponting completes everything at full pace and his sprint across the pitch from bat-pad yesterday was classic Taz, the Tasmania devil who sees the world ina hungry spin. Yogi Bear is an old-style character to be matched with Darren Lehmann: both are swayed by picnic baskets and colourful adventures, althoughLehmann seems happy to wear pants. Usually next to Lehmann in the order, Damien Martyn is Boo Boo, the small, under-rated, but essential accomplice.

New Zealand on tour: no plan has fully ignited and the dynamite either quickly ran out or was faulty© Warner Bros.

Michael Clarke, the young pup, is all excitement, has been in a hurry throughout his career and gets everybody’s attention. Already a star after six Tests,he is Pluto and shines ahead of Adam Gilchrist, the side’s clean-cut Clark Kent ready to don cape or gloves. Bugs Bunny keeps chewing after any disasterand like Shane Warne is always the show’s star. Warne spent much of the first innings asking "What’s up, Shep?" Not much was the answer.A huge presence in Asia, Michael Kaprowicz is Hong Kong Phooey as he charges in ready to strike. When Jason Gillespie pulls his helmet down he could beMarvan the Martian, and as he bowls on his home ground there are always expectations of an earth-shattering kaboom. Running through the 400-wicket wood is Glenn McGrath, a Tigger-like pest who, as Stephen Fleming discovered yesterday, pops in for regular surprises. Relief comes only when he’s gone.New Zealand currently resemble Wile E. Coyote on a tour where no plan has fully ignited and the dynamite either quickly ran out or was faulty. Australia havespent four days running them around on an Adelaide road, and the second innings will determine the remaining strength of their characters.

The 2004-05 season has been a miserable one for the India team, but suddenly it’s been lit up by two personal milestones being achieved in successive days by two of India’s greatest cricketers: on the first day of the Dhaka Test against Bangladesh, Anil Kumble went past Kapil Dev as India’s leading wicket-taker in Tests, and today, Sachin Tendulkar equalled Sunil Gavaskar’s world record of 34 Test hundreds.Both reached that landmark in their 119th Test, but as the table below shows, Tendulkar had a lot of catching up to do: he had 15 hundreds after 60 Tests, compared to Gavaskar’s 22. However, Tendulkar’s golden run from 1997-98 meant that he made up for his relatively poor start pretty quickly – by the 80th Test, he was only one behind. They both recorded their 28th centuries in their 88th Tests – Gavaskar against West Indies at Georgetown in 1982-83, Tendulkar versus England at Ahmedabad in 2001-02. Since then, Tendulkar has kept pace with Gavaskar – both got their 30th hundreds in their 99th Tests, and their 34th in the 119th. (Gavaskar’s last century was a 176 against Sri Lanka at Kanpur.)

Hundreds after…	20 Tests	40 Tests	60 Tests	80 Tests	100 Tests	119 Tests
Gavaskar	6	15	22	25	30	34
Tendulkar	4	9	15	24	30	34

Tendulkar’s century at Dhaka was his first against Bangladesh. It completes the full set for him, and he joins Steve Waugh and Gary Kirsten as the only batsmen to score hundreds against all Test-playing nations. Gavaskar only got to play against six teams, though, and managed centuries against each of them.

Versus	Gavaskar 100s/ Tests	Tendulkar 100s/ Tests
Australia	8/ 20	7/ 21
England	4/ 38	6/ 16
New Zealand	2/ 9	3/ 16
Pakistan	5/ 24	2/ 10
Sri Lanka	2/ 7	6/ 13
West Indies	13/ 27	3/ 16
Bangladesh	–	1/ 2
South Africa	–	3/ 16
Zimbabwe	–	3/ 9

Tendulkar has been more prolific in victories than Gavaskar, but Gavaskar has much better stats in matches when India lost the toss, when, surprisingly, he averages almost 14 more than in games when the toss was won.

	Gavaskar 100s/ Ave	Tendulkar 100s/ Ave
Matches won	6/ 43.97	10/ 63.15
Matches lost	6/ 35.06	8/ 36.77
Matches drawn	22/ 65.64	15/ 73.49
1st innings	23/ 50.90	25/ 62.52
2nd innings	11/ 51.46	9/ 46.90
Toss won	18/ 44.71	20/ 66.71
Toss lost	16/ 58.06	14/ 47.02
Home	16/ 50.16	15/ 58.53
Away	18/ 52.11	19/ 55.87

India tsunami relief As a global charity working in all of the countries affected by the tsunami, World Vision as global agency has given a long-term commitment of $100 million. This money will be spent over the coming few years, not only to provide immediate aid and relief but to rebuild, rehabilitate and restore.Targeted beneficiaries so far: approx 200,000
Monies committed so far (toward a US$2m budget): US$1.34 mWith procurement of relief material going forward at a very fast pace, the distributions in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam have moved into top gear. To ease the workload of the teams in the field some of the major items such as utensils are being procured centrally in Chennai while food items and clothes are purchased close to the project locations.In Cuddalore, the relief teams reached 1,039 families with clothes, towels and blankets in the villages of Thalanguda, Puddukuppam and Sonangkuppam. The team in Nagapattinam, while continuing enumeration in various locations, managed to reach 2,275 families in the villages of Kallar, Thiruthuraipoondi, Vetharanyam and Tharangampadi. In addition to clothes, towels and blankets, the people were provided with cooked food, biscuits, bottled water, soaps, disinfectants, and tooth powder.As most of the families are still based in camps, World Vision continues to provide them with food aid as well as non food items. Once the families start heading back to their homes, more food items will be provided to them.As part of a long-term assistance program, World Vision is looking at rebuilding houses of 2,000 families in Cuddalore.Sri Lanka tsunami relief World Vision Lanka is helping people across Sri Lanka who were affected by the events of December 26. In the first week, World Vision targeted 200,000 beneficiaries in twelve of the countries fifteen districts. US$1.2 million in aid deliveries made it to the field between December 27 and January 3.The majority of aid items, including food, clothing, hygiene products, sleeping mats, pillows and blankets were purchased locally. Additional aid is scheduled to arrive on several humanitarian airlifts in the coming days. Additional vehicles to deliver aid are to arrive at Colombo airport tomorrow as well as blankets for relief distribution.Two other relief flights are scheduled to arrive on Thursday (Jan 6). The first, a 747cargo plane from the World Vision/WFP warehouse in Brindisi, Italy will bring 83 tonnes of blankets, sleeping mats, tarps, cook sets and soap. The second flight from Dubai loaded with 55 tonnes of equipment including gerry cans, tarps, blankets, and water filters is also due for arrival. The goods will be rapidly transported to areas in need within the next few days. Additional humanitarian flights are being arranged for next week.Emergency Relief teams deployed in Ampara, Batticaloa, Killinochchi, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Gampaha, Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Trincomalee have distributed relief packs to 30,908 families – benefiting a total of 153,700 people in these districts. World Vision relief teams have directly distributed cooked food, dry rations, kitchen utensils, clothing, medicines and water to the displaced living in temporary shelters in the affected districts. Of the 15 affected districts, six are located in the North and East and consist of both government-controlled and LTTE-controlled areas. World Vision Lanka has an established presence in some of the LTTE-controlled areas and has already distributed aid there.World Vision is a humanitarian relief and development organisation and has been engaged in humanitarian work in Sri Lanka since 1977.

Western Australia 7 for 204 (North 71) beat Victoria 177 (Elliott 77, Casson 3-34) by 27 runs
Scorecard

Marcus North top-scored for WA with 71© Getty Images

For the second time in a week Western Australia defeated Victoria in a one-day match at the WACA. On Wednesday WA won Australia’s first official Twenty20 gamne, and today they took the honours by 27 runs in the ING Cup, and closed to within two points of Victoria and Tasmania in the cup table, which Queensland lead by some 12 points.WA recovered from a poor start to post a handy total of 7 for 204. After the early loss of the openers Justin Langer for 5 and Luke Ronchi for 6, which left WA 2 for 19, Marcus North rescued them with an innings of 71. North, who was born near Melbourne in Victoria, defied his native state by sharing a series of handy partnerships, even though the next-highest score was only 28, by Michael Hussey.Ian Harvey, looking to reclaim his place in Australia’s one-day side, took 1 for 32 in his ten overs, but Shane Warne took some punishment, his nine overs costing 51 runs for the wicket of Murray Goodwin, who made 24. Michael Lewis ended up with the best figures – 2 for 31.Victoria made a poor start under the lights, as Darren Wates bowled Jonathan Moss for 15 and Brad Hodge for 5. Wates then ran out David Hussey for a single, to leave Victoria reeling at 3 for 43. Matthew Elliott dropped anchor for 77, putting on 42 with Graeme Rummans (25) – but both eventually fell to the slow left-armer Beau Casson, who finished with 3 for 34 as Victoria subsided to 177 all out.

Happier times have arrived for Jeff Wilson since the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Wales© Getty Images

Jeff Wilson’s transition from Black Cap to All Black and back became another step closer today when he was named in New Zealand’s squad for the first two one-day matches against Australia. Kyle Mills joins Wilson in the 13-man squad for the Twenty20 match on Thursday and 50-over games at Wellington and Christchurch after recovering from an Achilles injury.Wilson, who played 60 rugby Tests, first showed his all-round cricket talents for his country almost 12 years ago and has been given an opportunity to add to his four international matches following success against the FICA World XI. “Jeff has slotted in very well and probably surprised a few people, especially with his pace," John Bracewell, the coach, said. "He has given us glimpses of his potential and now he will get the chance to give us an eyeful." Wilson, a bowling allrounder, took 3 for 9 in the third match of the series last month.Bracewell said Mills was not showing any lingering effects from the injury that restricted his involvement in the Auckland Aces’ last State Shield match and ruled him out of the State of Origin fixture at New Plymouth. New Zealand will release one player for domestic duties after the Wellington game on Saturday.New Zealand Stephen Fleming (capt), Nathan Astle, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Hamish Marshall, Chris Cairns, Brendon McCullum (wk), Jeff Wilson, Daniel Vettori, Andre Adams, Kyle Mills, Daryl Tuffey.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Even as Pakistan bowled him a restrictive line, Virender Sehwag managed a quick 81© AFP

Rahul Dravid scored an exquisite hundred to keep India, who were given a typically blistering start by Virender Sehwag, ahead for the better part of the day, but Pakistan worked their way back in to the game with a spurt of wickets at the close. India had been coasting at 278 for 2 when Sachin Tendulkar was out for 52, and Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman followed soon after. Dravid was out for 110 in the last over of the day, and a dominant position had turned into one of just a slight advantage.There was no assistance in the Eden Gardens pitch for the bowlers. Much of thegrass that had been on a couple of days before the Test had been shaved off, and Pakistan’s bowling in the first two sessions was sometimes wayward, mostly ineffectual. The Indian batsmen were unworried and assured.The morning belonged to Virender Sehwag. Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s coach, had said before the game: “We will not give [Sehwag] a car.” But Sehwag did get the automobile in question, as the bowlers strayed. Mohammad Sami was too full, and often wide, and struggled to find rhythm. Mohammad Khalil, brought into the side in place of the injured Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, bowled better, but Sehwag’s back-foot defence sufficed. He was never tempted into the pull, and was brutalwhen he got space on the off side.Danish Kaneria was brought on as early as the tenth over, but Sehwag read him like a favourite book. Kaneria did get Gautam Gambhir’s wicket, but was otherwise a benign force. Dravid played him with utter ease, and Pakistan sweated in vain.Shahid Afridi, brought into the side in place of Salman Butt, showed how useful the fifth bowler could be with a probing spell after lunch, in which he frustrated Sehwag out. Sehwag mistimed a heave and Inzamam-ul-Haq, not a nimble mover but a committed man, took a good catch at cover, running backwards.Tendulkar took 19 balls to open his account, but the quality of the cover-drive that got him his first runs was so outstanding that there was no question of his form. He batted solidly, and played some delicate strokes on both sides of the wicket. At 2.39pm, with an on-side dab, Tendulkar brought up his 10,000th run in Test cricket.But it was Dravid who was the star of the day. His innings was flawless. He was his usual assured self in defence, so much so that the act of bowling to him seemed an exercise in futility. His driving and cutting had both classicism and artistry, his concentration was as relentless as the sun that beat down upon the field, and as frustrating for Pakistan on a warm and humid day.Dravid added 122 with Tendulkar, who batted more and more freely as the innings went on, but the end of the partnership brought on a mini-collapse. First Tendulkar was out, caught behind after chasing a wide ball from Afridi. Then Sourav Ganguly, after scratching around unconvincingly, flashed at a good-length ball outside the off stump and was caught behind. VVS Laxman was leg-before first ball, and Pakistan had fought back.Afridi chuffed in like a fast bowler, Razzaq and Sami bent their backs, but it was Kaneria who had the last word of the day, drawing Dravid forward and inducing an edge with a legspinner. As at Mohali, Pakistan had begun badly but recovered well. Here, though, they had come back on the first day itself. What would happen on the second?How they were out
Tried to sweep and was rapped on the front foot by an overpitched googly. Fair decision. Went for a mighty heave, mishit the ball, and was caught by Inzamam-ul-Haq, running backwards from cover. Chaseda wide legspinner, bottom-edged to the keeper. Flashedat a good-length ball outside off, caught behind Played down thewrong line to an inswinger Playedforward and edged a legbreak

Pommie Mbangwa: heading to South Africa© Getty Images

A report in the Sunday News claims that Pommie Mbangwa has retired from playing and coaching to concentrate on his career as a commentator. It is expected that he will sign a new deal with South African broadcaster Supersport.Ahmet Esat, chairman of the Matabeleland Cricket Association, confirmed that Mbangwa resigned as Matabeleland’s provincial coach last week and added that he was already in South Africa."Obviously, we are disappointed as a board that he has left at such short notice," Esat told the newspaper. "There weren’t even signs that he would quit and it has derailed our provincial’s side preparations for the Logan Cup. It is late to appoint someone."Mbangwa had been criticised in some quarters for his commitment to his coaching role as his increasing commentary duties had meant that he was increasingly absent. "There were worries on his commitment to his job as Matabeleland coach as he spent most of the time outside the country," Esat explained. "We actually wanted to discuss the issue with him but he resigned."Mbangwa played 15 Tests between 1996 and 2000, taking 32 wickets, and also made 29 ODI appearances where his 11 wickets cost 103 each. His form of late in domestic matches had been very ordinary.

Wellington 235 (Parlane 74, Adams 5-39) and 111 for 4(Woodcock 41*, Parlane 5*) lead Auckland 325 (Canning 106, Nicol 75, Cachopa 69, Gillespie 6-81) by 21 runs
Scorecard

Tama Canning: crucial allround display gives Auckland control© Getty Images

An impressive allround display from Tana Canning gave Auckland control of the State Championship at Eden Park in Auckland, as Wellington closed the third day holding a slender lead of 21 with six wickets remaining. Canning’s first major contribution was to carve out a vital century – and a sixth wicket partnership of 125 with Carl Cachopa – after Auckland and been stuttering at 173 for five late on the second day.Canning faced 274 balls before becoming one of Mark Gillespie’s six wickets, as the Wellington seamer ran through the tail – Auckland losing their last five wickets for 27 runs – to restrict them to a first-innings lead of 90. Carl Cachopa notched up his maiden first-class half-century and proved the perfect foil for Canning.Keith Walmsley claimed an early wicket as Wellington set about trying to erase the deficit, having Matthew Bell caught by Richard Jones. But Luke Woodward and Michael Parlane were edging Wellington closer to a lead, when Canning took centre stage again. He trapped Parlane lbw and then had Samuel Fairley caught behind, and a further strike by the legspinner Brooke Walker left Wellington with plenty of work to do to set a competitive target.

Primarily a wicketkeeper, Ridley Jacobs often batted his side out of trouble © Getty Images

Joey Carew, the convenor of West Indies’ selectors, has paid tribute to their former wicketkeeper, Ridley Jacobs, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket.Jacobs, now aged 37, was a sprightly 31 when he made his Test debut for West Indies in 1998-99, two years after his first one-dayer, and went on to play in 65 Tests and 147 limited-over internationals. Only Jeff Dujon, among West Indian wicketkeepers, has played more in both forms of the game.His first experience of Test cricket was a 5-0 whitewash in South Africa, but Jacobs withstood the barrage better than any of his colleagues, and was more or less a permanent fixture for the next six seasons, until a chronic knee injury began to limit his effectiveness.”It would be remiss of me if I did not place on record the profound appreciation various selection committees have had over the years for the commitment to West Indies cricket and grit he always showed,” said Carew, as West Indies prepared to play for pride in the fourth and final Test against South Africa in Antigua.”I can only hope and pray that some percentage of that kind of commitment, discipline and dedication to the game would be emulated by present and future cricketers in the region.”