Australia on top after Symonds's strikes

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

Andrew Symonds struck thrice in quick time and allowed Australia to grab a valuable lead © Getty Images

Australia pressed forward in the second Test, bowling South Africa out for 311 and then reaching 2 for 110 at stumps on the third day, securing a sizeable lead of 154. It was a combined bowling effort, led by the pacy Brett Lee and the effervescent Andrew Symonds, that cost South Africa its last eight wickets for 142 runs. With two days left to go, it will take a mammoth effort from South Africa to stave off defeat on a pitch that is occasionally two paced and consistently taking spin.When the day began, full of hope for South Africa on 2 for 169, it was Lee who rattled the batsmen. He softened up Jacques Kallis with a fiery spell, hit him on the helmet, and then cleaned him up with a fierce yorker. Then Lee returned with the new ball, just two overs before lunch, and removed Jacques Rudolph, South Africa’s hero from the first Test at Perth, with a perfectly pitched outswinger that swung back in to the left-hander just enough to beat the bat and hit the top of off stump.Meanwhile Shane Warne continued his hold over Ashwell Prince – he has dismissed him in each innings of the series – when Ricky Ponting reacted brilliantly to take a sharp one-handed catch at bat-pad. When Prince was dismissed South Africa had slumped to 4 for 192.On the second day Gibbs was unsure whether to attack or defend, and he continued much in the same tentative vein on the third morning. Occasionally chancing his arm for the booming drive, but otherwise settling for defensive play. He was especially troubled by Warne and Stuart MacGill, who got good purchase off the pitch, spinning the ball sharply.Mark Boucher’s arrival at the crease helped ease the pressure on South Africa. He adopted a positive approach, looking to press on and score runs and backed himself to play his favourite shots. But, just as he was settling into a groove, and had reached 23 with four boundaries, a bit of bad luck sent him on his way. He missed the line of a big inswinger from Symonds and was adjudged lbw, although replays suggested that the ball would have sailed over the stumps.Symonds, keen not just ride on umpiring largesse, produced a peach of a delivery to Gibbs. For someone who had scored 94 and been at the crease 234 balls, Gibbs was still remarkably tentative. After being set up by a variety of deliveries that in turn went straight through or moved away, he failed to react quickly enough to an inducker and was bowled. Then Symonds made it three wickets for his spell with one that kept a bit low and trapped Shaun Pollock in front of middle stump. Nicky Boje was quickly cleaned up, sweeping all over Warne, and South Africa were 9 for 291. Some lusty biffing from the last pair pushed the score on to 311, but South Africa still 44 adrift, had to then contend with Australia’s second innings. Symonds, with 3 for 15 from his last spell, and Lee, with three wickets of his own had caused the South Africans all kinds of problems.Phil Jaques, who did not last long in the first innings, made only 28 in his second dig before he missed a pull shot against Nel coming round the wicket and was trapped lbw. By then, though, the opening stand was worth over 50, and Matthew Hayden was in ominous touch. Ponting was content to play second fiddle to Hayden till he played back to a fullish delivery from Pollock that came in a touch and was plumb in front. Brad Hodge, once again cheered on by his home crowd, kept Hayden (45 not out) company as Australia closed the day on 2 for 110.How they were out
South AfricaGraeme Smith lbw b Lee 22 (1 for 36)
AB de Villiers lbw b McGrath 61 (2 for 122)
Jacques Kallis b Lee 23 (3 for 184)
Ashwell Prince c Ponting b Warne 6 (4 for 192)
Jacques Rudolph b Lee 13 (5 for 214)
Mark Boucher lbw b Symonds 23 (6 for 260)
Herschelle Gibbs b Symonds 94 (7 for 265)
Shaun Pollock lbw b Symonds 9 (8 for 281)
Nicky Boje b Warne 12 (9 for 291)
Andre Nel c Hussey b MacGill 14 (10 for 311)
Australia 2nd inningsPhil Jaques lbw b Nel 28 (1 for 53)
Ricky Ponting lbw b Pollock 11 (2 for 82)

Hampshire in talks with Hayden

Matthew Hayden – set for a return to Hampshire? © Getty Images

Hampshire have confirmed they are holding talks with prolific Australian batsman Matthew Hayden with the view to signing him as an overseas player. The captain Shane Warne has been leading the county’s search for a second overseas player for 2006 and has approached a number of his Australian team-mates over the festive period.Hayden had a spell with Hampshire in 1997, when he scored 1446 runs at an average of 53.55. “He is one of three or four of Australian cricketers we have been speaking to,” Tim Tremlett, Hampshire’s director of cricket, said. “It depends on availability. Australia do not have a lot of international cricket but they do have a series against Bangladesh. There is no immediate rush to sign anyone but it would be good to have it tied up by the end of the month.”Hampshire are pursuing Hayden after ruling out a return for another Australian, Simon Katich, because he is due to get married. The allrounder Shane Watson, who made a huge impression at the Rose Bowl last year, has also been overlooked for a return as he is nursing an injury.

Dominic Thornely joins Hampshire

Australia A batsman Dominic Thornely has joined Hampshire on a one-year contract for the 2006 season.Thornely, 27, will join Hampshire captain and legendary Australia legspinner Shane Warne who led the county to runners-up spot in the County Championship last season.”I’m really looking forward to playing at Hampshire,” Thornely said. “I feel a county season will develop my game further under the captaincy of Shane Warne and the support staff at Hampshire. The club were very successful last season, and I hope to contribute to that success with both bat and ball.”Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove was delighted to have signed the New South Wales player, who bowls medium-pace. “His positive allround approach to the game is consistent with the way we play, and I am confident he will quickly become a firm favourite with our supporters.”

Zimbabwe v Kenya – A brief history

Zimbabwe v Kenya ODI records

Ravi Shah jumps into the arms of team-mate Collins Obuya after Heath Streak was caught for a duck when Kenya played Zimbabwe in the 2003 World Cup © Cricinfo

Zimbabwe’s elevation to Full Member status inside the ICC in 1992 brought a second African country into mainstream international cricket, and their initial success raised hopes that more would join them. Kenya, who had been languishing in the twilight zone of the game when Zimbabwe first played a Test, gradually worked their way through the system, so much so that by the turn of the century they were widely being touted as the next most likely country to follow Bangladesh. That that never happened owes much to several years of internal bickering and mismanagement. But Kenya’s stagnation and ultimate downgrading in 2005 (when they lost their unique ODI member status) was not helped by the rapid decline in Zimbabwe’s fortunes from the early part of the decade.The two met 11 times in the 1990s, with Zimbabwe winning every time. That was only to be expected as Zimbabwe were at their zenith while Kenya were slowly building the side that was to reach the 2003 World Cup semi-finals. Their first official meeting (they had previously crossed paths in tournaments such as the ICC Trophy) came in the 1996 World Cup when Zimbabwe won by five wickets (Kenya’s moment of glory came two days later when they beat West Indies), and they again met in the 1999 tournament when the outcome was the same. In between Kenya took part in two triangular series involving Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, losing all seven games against the latter.In 2002-03 Zimbabwe hosted Kenya for the first time in a three-match series ahead of the World Cup, which Zimbabwe won 2-0 (the third match was washed out). The two sides met again in the 2003 World Cup after both had, remarkably – and aided by points awarded after countries refused to visit Nairobi or Harare on safety grounds – progressed to the Super Six stage. It was Kenya, at the 12th time of asking, who won the game by seven wickets with more than 23 overs to spare. But Zimbabwe were a side in crisis, with serious divisions following the Andy Flower/Henry Olonga black-armband protest earlier in the tournament.Zimbabwe won the most recent meeting between the two, a rather hastily-arranged tournament in Sharjah days after the World Cup finished. That time it was the Kenyans who were in disarray, only participating at the last minute after a dispute over money owed from the World Cup. That row was to eventually lead to an all-out strike in 2004.With Zimbabwe in Test isolation, Kenya were invited for a five-ODI tour in early 2006 and with little time to acclimitise, they were well beaten in the first ODI. Kenya bounced back to win the next two matches, Zimbabwe crashing to 69 all out chasing 134 in the third game, but the series was levelled thanks to a much-improved display from the hosts, setting up a decider which was rained off. The standard was not high, the media coverage almost non existent, and all that the series confirmed was that the two teams would struggle at the following year’s World Cup.Kenya continued to try to set up matches with Zimbabwe but, amid rumours that Zimbabwe Cricket were not prepared to risk losing to an Associate, their approaches were consistently stalled. The teams did not meet again until October 2008, two-and-a-half years later, when, in a rain-blighted triangular series, Kenya confirmed Zimbabwe’s fears by beating them in the only game which avoided the deluges.

Laxman and Kaif expect the axe

Sreesanth: a viral fever has forced him to miss the second Test © AFP

On the evening of the second Test Mohali was abuzz with speculation on the Indian team’s final composition and it emerged that India were certain to go into the Test match with five bowlers. This automatically meant that VVS Laxman and Mohammad Kaif would miss out, with Sreesanth, struggling with flu, also likely to sit out the game. The last time India played five bowlers in a Test match was in the drawn second Test against Pakistan at Faisalabad in January.While the Indian thinktank would not confirm or deny that they were set to go into the Test with five bowlers, it is understood that Irfan Pathan will have Anil Kumble, Munaf Patel, Harbhajan Singh and either RP Singh or Piyush Chawla for company. A final decision on whether Chawla or RP Singh will get the nod will be made on the morning of the game.Yuvraj Singh, who is fit to play will replace Kaif, who scored 91 in the first Test at Nagpur. Rahul Dravid, though not answering directly on the question of Kaif, admitted that it was tough for a captain to leave out someone who had done well. “It’s a tough one, to be honest,” he said, when asked what it was like to have to explain to someone why they were dropped even after performing well.”It’s not always easy but as captain, all you can do is be as honest as you can and explain the situation. You tell the player that while he continues to be in your scheme of things for the long term, for this particular match, it may not be able to fit him in, especially when a proven, experienced performer comes back in,” said Dravid. “You tell him that it’s not meant to be an indication of his performance. We will try and give him as many opportunities as possible over a period of time, you just tell him that he has to be patient and keep working hard.”At the same time Dravid admitted that it was good to be in a position where the team was spoiled for choice, rather than the other way round. “In a way, it’s a good situation to have because you have choices to make. It’s a good feeling to know that you can call up anyone in the squad and that everyone can perform.”Probable squad Rahul Dravid (capt), Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Dhoni (wk), Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Rudra Pratap Singh, Piyush Chawla.

Nafees leads Bangladesh's magnificent charge

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

On a high: Shahriar Nafees celebrates his maiden Test hundred © Getty Images

Shahriar Nafees’s brilliant maiden Test hundred gave Australia a rude awakening and Bangladesh their most promising start to a Test match on the first day at Fatullah. His 187-run stand with Habibul Bashar – the highest for Bangladesh in Tests – highlighted a raucous day for the hosts as they finished on 355 for 5.Australia were expected to dominate the match from the start, but from the moment Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bat, their batsmen took charge. In a scenario resembling a one-day match, runs ticked along at close to five an over as Nafees and Bashar launched a stirring attack on the No.1 side in the world.The day clearly belonged to Nafees, whose innings was a fine riposte to the Australian juggernaut. That his first hundred in first-class cricket should came against an attack comprising Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee, on the opening day of a Test match, was surreal. Like the Energizer Bunny, Nafees just kept ticking on and on … and on. Having raced to fifty before lunch with some deft cuts and drives off the quicks, Nafees channeled his aggression towards Warne, 674 Test wickets and all. Anything pitched up was driven, anything pitched short was played easily off the back foot. He did not commit himself to the front foot and was impeccable in his ability to judge the length. There was no trace of pressure as he approached his hundred, as he swept into the nineties by taking 14 off Warne’s ninth over – three twos, a cover-drive and a sweep for four.At 2.12pm local time, Nafees nibbled Warne around the corner for his second consecutive boundary to send out a most emphatic statement to Australia. Nafees’s Test career had thus far yielded just a solitary fifty and today he picked a grand stage to move it up a notch. His magnificent innings came to an end on 138 when he was bowled round the legs trying to sweep Stuart MacGill, but for three-quarters of the day Nafees had given all of Bangladesh a chance to stare Australia in the face.While much attention centred around Nafees’s century, Bashar – Bangladesh’s most consistent batsman in their brief Test history – played a gem of an innings. Whether dancing down the track to Warne or cutting through gully, Bashar was confidence personified during his innings of 76. His fluency helped Nafees and ensured that Bangladesh got the upper hand in the morning. It was to Bashar’s discredit, though, that he threw it all away two deliveries before tea – a crude pull at a MacGill long-hop went to Lee at mid-on – when a hundred seemed there for the taking. Mohammad Ashraful came, biffed 29 from 28 and was given out lbw to Jason Gillespie to one that pitched on middle and leg, while Aftab Ahmed pulled MacGill to midwicket just to balance the equation a little. But Rajin Saleh buckled down and was unbeaten on 35 at the close.

Gotcha! Jason Gillespie takes his first wicket on his fifth ball in his comeback Test © Getty Images

Despite a forecast of rain in the morning, play began on time and Nafees and Javed Omar gave Bangladesh a great start with a 51-run stand in just over ten overs and paved the way for Bashar and Nafees to take it up a notch. In conditions slightly more humid than in South Africa, Australia’s bowlers looked woefully out of depth on a pitch that did little. There were too many full-tosses and long-hops, and the batsmen found the boundary with ease.Stuart Clark, not used to such situations in his three-Test career, looked a far cry from the bowler who reaped 20 wickets against South Africa. Faltering in line and length and with the pitch not responding to his efforts, Clark was clicked to the tune of 5.67 runs an over from his initial spell. Warne struggled to find his radar and was welcomed to Bangladesh – he had bowled 38,733 deliveries in Tests but none to this opposition – with a series of sublime cuts, drives and sweeps. It’s a rare day when you see Warne go for 5.60 on the opening – nay, any day – of a Test match.Gillespie gave Australia their only moment of celebration in the morning with Omar’s wicket in his first over in Tests since August and got rid of Ashraful later on, and was the best bowler on view. Subtract his consistency and cool head and Australia’s bowling figures could have been a lot worse. MacGill was the most successful with three wickets – all to unnecessary shots – but was guilty of also offering too many four-balls. Lee managed a hint of swing when he pitched it up, but otherwise the threat of a formidable Australian attack was negated. This was no David-slays-Goliath but the efforts of Nafees and Bashar may just have shaken Australia a little.How they were outJaved Omar lbw b Gillespie 27 (51 for 1)
Habibul Bashar c Lee b MacGill 76 (238 for 2)
Shahriar Nafees b MacGill 138 (265 for 3)
Mohammad Ashraful lbw b Gillespie 29 (295 for 4)
Aftab Ahmed c Hayden b MacGill 29 (351 for 5)

Baugh included in squad for last two ODIs

Carlton Baugh returns to the one-day team after two years © Getty Images

Carlton Baugh, the Jamaica wicketkeeper, replaces Denesh Ramdin in the West Indies team for the last two one-day internationals against Zimbabwe in Trinidad over the weekend. Ramdin is being rested ahead of the series against India starting May 18 in Jamaica.Baugh, 23, has played five Tests and six ODIs for West Indies. His last appearance in a one-day match was in July 2004 in the NatWest series against New Zealand at Cardiff, scoring 7 in a five-wicket defeat.But his recent performances include a series-clinching match for West Indies A against England A in March 2006. He scored 71 of 73 balls hitting four sixes, coming into bat at 50 for 5.Ian Bradshaw, the left-arm seamer is back in the team after sitting out the three ODIs played in Guyana and St Lucia. He played in the first two matches in Antigua which West Indies won easily.Sewnarine Chattergoon, the West Indies opening batsman was dropped to include Bradshaw in the team. West Indies have already won the seven-match series, leading 4-0.Brian Lara, the West Indies captain is looking for more convincing victories in the last two ODIs. “Hopefully, these matches will be the start of something to come. We have a very important series, starting next Thursday against India, and the next 200 overs of ODIs against Zimbabwe, we must execute pretty well.”I told the guys from the beginning that if we were batting second in any of the matches, we should try to achieve our target in less than 35 overs, and if we are bowling second, we should try to win the games by 100 runs.”Lara felt that West Indies had played good cricket though they had been slow in the field. “I think [Chris] Gayle and [Sewnarine] Chattergoon batted really well in that game, especially Chris who seems to be coming into some form. Others like [Ramnaresh] Sarwan, and myself, have not got a chance yet to make a big score. Hopefully, we will get big scores this weekend, and enter the ODI series against India with some confidence under our belts.”I think the guys know that we can compete and beat India because we have done it in the past in India and the West Indies, so it is just a matter of getting mentally and physically ready and getting the confidence up.”Terrence Duffin, the Zimbabwe captain said that the idea was to keep trying to do the basics and then hope for a win. Duffin feels the team, which will play World Cup qualifiers Bermuda and Canada in a triangular series in Trinidad from May 16 to May 20, will gain experience from the current series. “This series will be a big help for us and, hopefully, we can prove something there.”Squads:West IndiesBrian Lara (captain), Christopher Gayle, Runako Morton, Ramnaresh Sarwan, ShivnarineChanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Smith, Carlton Baugh Jr, Corey Collymore, FidelEdwards, Jerome Taylor, Ian Bradshaw, Dwayne Bravo and Dave Mohammed.ZimbabweTerrence Duffin (captain), Piet Rinke, Brendan Taylor, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Justice Chibhabha, Charles Coventry, Elton Chigumbura, Gregory Strydom, Keith Dabengwa, Ryan Higgins, Keegan Meth, Blessing Mahwire, Tawanda Mupariwa, Prosper Utseya, Anthony Ireland

Rain dampens Surrey's fire

Scorecard

Scott Newman is imperious on his way to an unbeaten 65 on the first day © Jenny Thompson

Rain and bad light were the only things that could stop Surrey’s openers today. Scott Newman and Jon Batty moved their side to 126 without loss when inclement weather put paid to proceedings; bottom-placed Worcestershire were delighted to go off.Newman, the man they nickname Ronaldo, showed skills every bit as silky as the footballer en route to a chanceless fifty. More than once did the left-handed Newman open his shoulders and dispatch the wayward stuff, not to mention the better stuff, too. He particularly favoured the offside and was brutal around the coverpoint area. He and Batty strolled steadily at three an over.The battle of the Battys was bossed by the batsman, Jon, who refused to succumb to any of the tantalizing stuff offered by Gareth as Worcestershire searched in vain for the sniff of a chance. Batty and Kabir Ali put the most pressure on the batsmen when they were bowling in tandem, shortly before lunch, yet all they could elicit was the odd edge which fell short – there were sniffs, but no chances.Just after the resumption Vikram Solanki turned to Zaheer Khan and Matt Mason, but again to no avail. Then rain had the final say – and, with more bad weather due to follow, this could be Worcestershire’s hope of their first draw this season.In fact, across the country it was much the same story – a good day for batsmen and good weather for ducks.In the other second division match, Michael di Venuto was well in sight of his 34th first-class hundred when rain put paid to proceedings for the day at Derby. Steve Stubbings was on course for his fifty, he had made 38 of an unbeaten opening stand of 130 as Derbyshire bossed proceedings against Leicestershire.In division one, Durham‘s Jimmy Maher was the only faller in the 37.5 overs that were possible at Trent Bridge. Paul Franks claimed the wicket for Notts, caught by Jason Gallian after Maher had made 33 in a solid opening stand of 62. His partner was John Lewis, who reached 36 not out before play was called off, with Durham 88 for 1.
Headingley was the only venue where at least two full sessions of play were possible. Lancashire piled up 417 for 9 on what is the second day of their match, before making a tea-time declaration against Yorkshire – which proved the end of the day as stumps were called early. Stuart Law joined Mal Loye as Lancashire’s second centurion, romping to 101 from 144 balls. His knock included 17 fours. Loye added 25 to his overnight score before falling for 138, Tim Bresnan’s third victim.

Kenroy Martin leads the way for St Vincent

Scorecard

Martin Nurse on his way to 35 during Barbados’s win over Anguilla © The Nation

St. Vincent cantered to a five-wicket win over United States Virgin Islands and booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Stanford 20/20 tournament. Kenroy Martin took three wickets and scored an unbeaten 21 as St. Vincent reached their target with five overs to spare.Earlier, Martin and Nixon McLean, the former West Indies fast bowler, combined to dismiss Virgin Islands for a disappointing 92, sharing six wickets between them. McLean struck early, dismissing Terrance Webbe in the second ball of the match. Most of the batsmen succumbed while attempting big hits, and Martin exploited this by varying his pace regularly. Former Leeward Islands batsman Clifford Walwyn was the top scorer for the Virgin Islands, scoring 40 off 33 balls. Virgin Islands sensed an opportunity for a win with St. Vincent at 69 for 5, but Kissinger McLean and Martin guided the team through to the target with a 27-run stand.
ScorecardBarbados got off to a good start in their first match in the Stanford 20/20 tournament, with a 38-run win over Anguilla. The Barbados attack, loaded with four internationals, never allowed the opposition to get near the required run-rate, wrapping up Anguilla for 103. Pedro Collins got the early breakthroughs and finished with three wickets for 13 runs off four overs. Barbados batted first and finished with 141 for 6, with contributions from Martin Nurse (35) and Jason Haynes (38).

Steyn on standby for Ntini

Dale Steyn gets a chance to impress in the ODIs © AFP

Dale Steyn, the South African fast bowler, will stay back in Sri Lanka as cover for Makhaya Ntini, who looks a doubtful starter for the first match of the one-day tri-series due to a hamstring injury.Ntini pulled out midway through his sixth over in Sri Lanka’s second innings on the fourth day of the second Test and then bowled only two more overs in the rest of the innings. Steyn, originally not included in the ODI squad, was the leading wicket-taker for South Africa in the two-Test series with eight wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings of the second Test. Ntini is currently seeking treatment from Shane Jabaar , the team physiotherapist.”Shane Jabaar is treating Makhaya regularly and constantly assessing his condition,” Gordon Templeton, the team’s media officer, told Supercricket. “We just have to wait and see how he responds to treatment.”The other Test specialists, Nicky Boje, Hashim Amla and Jacques Rudolph left for Johannesburg early on Wednesday while the majority of the ODI squad trained at the SSC ground in Colombo. South Africa play their first match on Monday, against Sri Lanka.

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