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Andrew Flintoff will help coach the UAE national team while he recovers from his latest operation in Dubai.His agent, Andrew “Chubby” Chandler, told The Times the work was part of a deal struck with Dubai Sports City where Flintoff will undertake treatment in the coming months. The arrangement will be informal and he will not have an official role.”A partnership has been agreed to use their gym and facilities as a base for his rehabilitation,” Chandler said. “I believe he will be one of the first people to use them. In return he will be carrying out some coaching for the UAE national team over the next six months. There’s been good growth in UAE cricket in the last few years and Andrew felt that he wanted to give something back.”Chandler also revealed Flintoff’s children had already started at a local school and the family were on the hunt for permanent accommodation.Flintoff’s decision will come as a boost to the UAE, which is among the leading Associate sides and which will host the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers later this year.

Tim Nielsen has not discounted the prospect of Brett Lee making a surprise return for the Ashes decider at The Oval should conditions prove conducive for reverse swing. Hot and dry weather is predicted for London for the three days immediately preceding the fifth Test – an ideal forecast for “Irish” movement – and Nielsen said Lee’s old ball prowess could yet count in his favour at the selection table.Reverse swing played a major role in England’s Ashes triumph four years ago, but has hardly figured over the course of this cooler, wetter summer. By far the most potent display of old ball movement this series was that obtained by Lee in Australia’s pre-Ashes warm-up against England Lions, during which he claimed 6 for 76 in the first innings, but an injury sustained in the latter stages of that match has thus far prevented him from playing any role in the Test series.Ricky Ponting, writing in a newspaper column this week, observed that The Oval was the one English venue at which the Australians anticipated reverse swing, “especially if we have a dry, hot week.” Nielsen echoed those sentiments on Monday, prompting speculation that Lee could be contender for Australia’s final bowling berth.”I think if it does reverse he’ll very much put his hand up,” Nielsen said. “Historically it’s a drier surface that does bounce and carry a bit and those sort of conditions can help the ball get scuffed up, which everyone knows helps it reverse. When that’s happening Brett is as good an exponent of [reverse swing] as anyone in the world. As long as he’s fit and gets through the next three days and the conditions suit, he’ll very much come into contention to play.”Lee was Australia’s leading wicket-taker during the most recent tour match in Canterbury, although appeared somewhere short of peak form in his first competitive outing in six weeks. He struggled for rhythm in his opening spell on Saturday evening, but found both speed and movement the following day to finish with figures of 3-37 from 16 overs.”He bowled with good pace, swung the new ball away then had some success reversing it in Canterbury,” Nielsen noted. “All the things he brings to the table are really positive. He’s very much putting his hand up for selection.Lee will presumably battle Stuart Clark and Nathan Hauritz for Australia’s fourth bowling slot, both of whom bring compelling cases to the selection table. Clark played a leading role in Australia’s first innings rout of England at Headingley last week, providing the accuracy and veteran presence lacking on tour to that point. Hauritz, meanwhile, has taken 10 wickets at 32.10 at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff and Edgbaston, and would offer the Australian attack an added dimension as The Oval pitch deteriorates.Nielsen said the final decision would be strongly influenced by surface conditions. “The team that played so well at Headingley has obviously given us a real quandary,” he said. “It’s a nice one, obviously, to be able to go into a Test match with our full squad available and playing well. We’ll have a look in the wicket today. Over the next two days we’ll see how it does change and once we get a feel on it we’ll make a decision on what the squad will be.”We’re trying to be sensible and calm and make the best decisions about what the best team is for the conditions we play in. I expect that if the wicket looks like it will bounce and carry it will bring the fast bowlers into the game. The big thing is to ensure that we’ve got the balance right for a wicket that will obviously deteriorate over the five days. My understanding is the forecast is pretty good so with a bit of sun around it will dry up over the time of the game.”Clive Stephens, Surrey’s operations director, predicted The Oval’s veteran groundsman, Bill Gordon, would produce an even, well-grassed surface that would assist batsmen over the first three days and deteriorate thereafter. Stephens was not, however, optimistic that reverse swing would play a major factor in the fifth Test.”I don’t think so this year,” said Stephens, when asked whether old ball movement had been prevalent during Surrey’s home games this season. “Whether reverse swing will come into it, I don’t know, but we’re aiming to do out there is to provide a great wicket and a great outfield that sets the stage for a great competition.”

Trevor Bayliss, the Sri Lanka coach, has said the turning point in his side’s 146-run loss to Pakistan in the fourth ODI was the dismissal of Chamara Kapugedera to a diving, one-handed catch by Naved-ul-Hasan.Sri Lanka were threatening to push Pakistan hard despite facing a mammoth target of 322, reaching 157 for 3 in the 30th over, but their resistance melted away after Kapugedera’s exit; the last seven wickets going down for 17 runs.”We were going along pretty well up until the stage when Naved took a stunning catch falling backwards to remove Kapugedera,” Bayliss said. “We set ourselves a few targets and we were right on schedule but unfortunately we lost too many wickets around about that time. This wicket gets difficult to play on the longer the game goes and it makes it difficult for the new batters coming in to start and get into the groove.”The coach said that fast bowler Lasith Malinga’s fitness to play in the fifty-over game needs to be reassessed. Malinga sent down 26 wides out of 29 conceded by his team. “We got him in the team to try and bring him back after injury and try and rest him in some matches,” Bayliss said. “We brought him back through the Twenty20 when he had four-over spells, now we are trying to step it up a little bit to get him to bowl 10-over spells. He’s got a little bit of work to do on his fitness but that’s only natural after being out for so long.”Malinga, who was near unplayable in the World Twenty20 in England, went for 79 runs in his ten overs without taking a wicket and came in for some harsh treatment from centurion Umar Akmal who hit him for 21 runs in the 46th over.”Not too many players can hit Malinga the way he did,” Bayliss said. “Umar showed some good ability up in Dambulla so we weren’t surprised that he can play. He batted extremely well tonight. Looks like he’s got a good future in front of him.”Sri Lanka’s chase was spearheaded by opener Upul Tharanga who scored his second successive half-century. “Upul looks like he’s getting into the swing of things and getting his confidence back. He is starting to time the ball very nicely. He was strong enough to hit one straight for six.”Bayliss said that Sri Lanka will be looking to make a few changes in the last ODI on Sunday in order to give some of the other players a rest. “We had a long program and we got a very busy schedule in front of us. We want to give some guys a bit of a rest in view of the New Zealand Test series and the Champions Trophy. It gives us an opportunity to play some of the guys on the fringes who are trying to make their way into international cricket and get into the team.”

ScorecardTwo days after belting a match-winning century, Steven Smith followed up with a three-wicket haul that again helped set up a comfortable victory for the Australian Institute of Sports. Guided by a half-century from Tom Cooper, the AIS had no trouble overhauling India Emerging Players’ score of 139 with nearly 15 overs remaining.Despite economical bowling from Amit Mishra, Dhawal Kulkarni and Sudeep Tyagi, India had little chance of restricting the AIS following their below-par batting effort. Cooper finished unbeaten on 72 and had support from the 17-year-old Mitchell Marsh, the brother of Shaun, who made 29.The triumph had been set up when the home team refused to let any hefty partnerships build during the Indians’ innings. Virat Kohli posted 35 before becoming one of two wickets that fell to the Kerala medium-pacer Nizar Niyas, who was playing for the AIS.The real damage came via the Australians’ spin, with Jon Holland picking up 2 for 39 from his ten overs. The legspinning allrounder Smith, who two days earlier had scored 125 against the New Zealanders, helped finish off the Indians in the 42nd over as he ended up with 3 for 13.
ScorecardSouth Africa Emerging Players continued to roll on with defeat of New Zealand, whose batting woes continued to let them down in pursuit of a small target. Tim Southee and Neil Wagner were impressive with their seamers as South Africa were dismissed for 203, but New Zealand’s top order was quickly in trouble at 3 for 26 and could not fight back.Wagner and Colin de Grandhomme hit at South Africa’s top order but Rilee Rossouw carried the innings with a composed 67 and Heino Kuhn contributing 44 from 51 balls. Wanger and Southee checked the lower order well and South Africa were dismissed in 48.2 overs.Then CJD de Villiers and Thandi Tshabalala, who took 4 for 41, confounded New Zealand as South Africa continued their unbeaten run in the tournament. BJ Watling went for 8 and de Villiers found the edge of de Grandhomme’s bat for 10, after which New Zealand slumped to 4 for 49. Anaru Kitchen (37) and Nick Beard (41 not out) found little support along the way as Tshabala struck with his handy and accurate spin. He cut off Kitchen before scalping lower-order wickets, including Southee who swung his bat for 17 off 12 balls.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentarySarah Taylor’s elegant yet powerful 120 was chock-full of attractive strokes•Getty Images

Sarah Taylor produced another stellar performance with bat and gloves, and Laura Marsh held her nerve with 3 for 33, to cut short a thrilling response by Australia’s top-order, as England went 2-0 up with an impressive 55-run win in the second of five ODIs at Chelmsford.Taylor’s near-chanceless 120, following her thumping 68 in England’s win yesterday, led her side to a dominating 259 for 6, a total that appeared out of reach for Australia’s shaky batting lineup. Yet Shelley Nitschke and Lisa Sthalekar put on a rollicking 85 in 15.4 overs as Isa Guha and Katherine Brunt, England’s in-form and fiery opening bowler, both strayed in their lines.So confident were Australia that runs were scored at will all around the ground. Guha, in particular, offered far too many loose deliveries and Sthalekar was in no mood to submit meekly. A lashing cut sped for four, and two more drifters were dispatched with authority in Guha’s third over. Another short, wide half-volley was smashed, before a leg-side gift was flicked for four more. Nitschke, meanwhile, steered Brunt for four through point, cracked a commanding four off Guha down the ground before creaming a quite effortless cover-drive for four. Brunt shelled a dolly in the deep when Nitschke was on 27 as England began to flounder.Enter Nicky Shaw, the stand-in captain owing to Charlotte Edwards’ illness, and Marsh, both of whom bowled with much greater discipline to stifle the two trailblazers. Marsh, who mixed up her pace beautifully, bowled Nitschke around her legs while Shaw had the dangerous Sthalekar caught at extra cover for 43. England were fighting back, but Australia were still within sight of their target, as long as they kept wickets in hand.They didn’t, thanks to a brilliant swoop by Guha – making up for a forgettable opening spell – at short midwicket to run-out Jodie Fields for a duck. And when Taylor pulled off another deft stumping off Marsh to remove Alex Blackwell, Australia had slipped to 115 for 5, still needing 145 from 138 balls.The Marsh-Taylor combination worked beautifully again to dismiss Karen Rolton. A looping, dipping offbreak beat the left-hander from around the wicket, a thick outside edge sneaking through to Taylor who took it expertly at waist height. Lauren Ebsary and Ellyse Perry both struck powerful blows to give Australia the faintest of hope, and Perry put on 29 for the final wicket with Erin Osborne, but Marsh’s three-wicket burst had done the damage.For the second match in a row, Taylor batted with a command belying her age, stroking her third ODI hundred and offering not a single chance. Nitschke’s length was either too short or too full, and Taylor punished her accordingly, pulling powerfully through midwicket, and picking up a single to register her slick fifty.Her senior partner and namesake Claire, meanwhile, was uncharacteristically subdued, though she took advantage of two loose deliveries from Osborne, creaming her for four through extra cover with pure timing. Another crashing drive off Sthalekar got her feet moving, but she fell in her next over, cutting a delivery which was much too full.Sarah Taylor was then joined by Beth Morgan, who performed so impressively in the ICC World Twenty20, and the pair put on a brisk 86 in 15.2 overs of strong, match-seizing hitting. Morgan was out of the traps in a hurry, guiding Farrell beautifully through point for four and flicking the wayward Sthalekar down to fine leg for another boundary. Taylor showed no signs of trepidation in sight of her third hundred, picking up Andrews for four, ala Kevin Pietersen, and crashing Nitschke behind square for four more. Australia were rapidly losing the plot.After notching her ton from 112 balls, Taylor really opened up, stepping outside leg to give herself room before clattering Sarah Andrews, who tried to straighten her line, for two more classy fours over the midwicket boundary during a blistering fourth-wicket stand of 45 with Ebony Rainford-Brent, who was busy in her 32-ball 30.That England let Australia even have a sniff at victory will be a topic for discussion ahead of the third ODI. Yet as they continue to show, when one player fails to perform, another steps up to the mark – and all the while, Taylor is fast becoming the hottest property in women’s cricket.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Jacques Kallis put in an excellent all-round performance to boost Bangalore’s chances of making the semis•Associated Press

Royal Challengers Bangalore boosted their chances of securing a place in the semi-finals, winning a crucial game against Delhi Daredevils fairly comfortably at the Wanderers. Jacques Kallis starred in an excellent all-round performance, playing an important role in restricting Delhi to a chaseable score, and shepherding the chase with an assured half-century to take his team to fourth place.Bangalore were dented early with the wicket of Robin Uthappa, but Rahul Dravid and Kallis timed the chase well, intent on preserving their wickets in early phase before opening up. They did get themselves into a bit of a hole after the early setback, struggling to get singles, and relying instead on the bad balls to score off. They inched to 27 in the Powerplay, with boundaries – including a six over midwicket by Kallis – accounting for 18 of those runs. But with the field spread, and the batsmen set, the rest of the innings panned out according to plan.Virender Sehwag may have missed a trick by opting to bring the spinner in as late as the ninth over. Though the opening bowlers Ashish Nehra and Avishkar Salvi had proved tidy, neither Dravid nor Kallis had offered any chances. They then approached the chase as one would in an ODI, piercing the field with little difficulty and scoring the odd boundary to knock off 27 in the four overs before the timeout. The only scare was an incredibly difficult attempt at a catch by AB de Villiers at cover, who failed to latch onto a ball hammered by Kallis.Amid the spate of singles and twos, Dravid and Kallis ensured there were no wasted opportunities. Andrew McDonald’s first ball, a juicy half-volley was duly dispatched for a boundary by Dravid and a rank long hop from Vettori received the same treatment. But just when a predictable outcome seemed on the cards, Dravid lobbed a catch back to offspinner Yogesh Nagar.With 65 needed off 48, Delhi still had an outside chance, but Ross Taylor quashed it with a blistering cameo, displaying shades of the monstrous assault against Kolkata which put Bangalore back in contention for a place in the top four. He wasted little time to settle into his groove, leading the charge in the 14th over, punishing freebies from Salvi for a four over extra cover and a massive six over midwicket. Nagar then erred in length the next over to watch the ball sail over deep midwicket and deep square leg for two more sixes, before Taylor – a victim of complacency – holed out to long-on. But the damage had been done, though a tight over from Vettori next up gave Delhi the only sign of hope.The game was effectively sealed in the 18th over, with Kallis launching Vettori for six and a four over cover to narrow it down to 9 off 12. Mark Boucher flicked Nehra for a boundary, and the pair knocked off the rest in singles to complete a comprehensive win against the table-toppers.

Bangalore’s win was set up by a professional bowling effort, as Kallis and Praveen Kumar struck early to dent a strong Delhi line-up on a slow pitch. The spinners, led by Anil Kumble, then took over, restraining the middle order before Dinesh Karthik staged an inadequate recovery.The tone was set in the first over with the wicket of a struggling Virender Sehwag, who failed to curb his instinct, clipping Praveen straight to square leg. When Mithun Manhas, promoted to No.3, top-edged an attempted hook to slip two balls later, the responsibility, yet again, was palmed off to the middle order.Kallis had struggled as a bowler this tournament, capturing just four wickets and proving ridiculously expensive. But his spell today marked a stark contrast, as he used his variations well, consistently probed the batsmen by maintaining a tight line outside offstump and dried up the runs at one end. Though Delhi had been provided some release by an undeterred Gautam Gambhir, Kallis was rewarded for his persistence when the left hander mistimed an attempt to clear point.Spin has played a decisive influence in the tournament, often introduced before the Powerplay, but Kallis’ frugality meant that Roelof van der Merwe didn’t come on until the eighth over. Delhi did their best to keep up the run-rate, de Villiers scoring a run-a-ball 28, but when he, their best batsman, failed to pick an arm ball by van der Merwe, Bangalore were firmly in control. Pace ceded the floor to spin, and the newbie Andrew McDonald, replacing Tillakaratne Dilshan, was yorked by Anil Kumble to continue the slide.Karthik and Nagar cobbled up a fighting stand of 39, but both fell trying to accelerate. Delhi did post a competitive score, and a slow track, holding up and taking spin, gave them reason for encouragement. But they were undone by a brilliantly executed run-chase, that has intensified the race for the knockout stage.

Dwayne Leverock, Bermuda’s most recognisable player, has hung up his boots after the side lost their ODI status and failed to qualify for the 2011 World Cup.”I can always hold my head up and know that I gave Bemuda everything I have,” Leverock said after the win over Uganda which secured Bermuda ninth place in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers. “I’m speechless right now. I shed a few tears early this morning and late on after the game when we won. It’s hard for me. This is what I love to do. It’s all in my heart, but this is the right time.”There comes a time in your career when you need to take a step back. You’ve given all you can and your body sometimes tells you, with the aches and pains after games, that it is time to slow down. Even though my heart is still in it, the body says slow down.”It is time to take a backseat especially with the youngsters coming through. I want to try to give them an opportunity to play and maybe I can spend some more time with my daughter. I haven’t seen her as much as I would have liked to over the last four or five years.”Although the unlikeliest looking sportsman, his bulk has often overshadowed his undoubted ability with the ball and he has repeatedly been Bermuda’s most consistent bowler in both limited-over and first-class cricket. While his batting was poor and fielding less than agile, his weight was no barrier to him bowling lengthy spells and he missed very few games.He will, inevitably, be best remembered for his diving slip catch against India at the 2007 World Cup and the remarkable and earth-shattering victory sprint which followed.”It has meant so much to me to have people recognize me for who I am as an athlete,” he told the Bermuda Sun. “Some people say it is just your size but people look past that, you know. Walking through airports people recognise you, going through different countries people recognise you and talk about the World Cup and my achievements in the Intercontinental. I always have time for youngsters. It’s a nice feeling to sign autographs and give them advice on their cricket.”He is not likely to be lost to the game altogether as he has plans to go into coaching and is aiming to get the necessary qualifications to help the next generation come through.”I know the level that I’ve been playing at and I know some of these youngsters can get to that level. It’s very important for me to help this programme go further. I was given the opportunity, now it is time for others to get their chance.”In 32 ODIs he took 34 wickets at 33.02 with an economy rate of 4.00, and in 15 first-class outings he captured 71 wickets at 26.47.

Match facts

April 22, 2009
Start time 16.30pm (14.30GMT)All Humpty: Deccan will want to continue with such celebrations•Getty Images

Big Picture

The bottom-placed teams from last season had undergone massive changes this year but one of them, Bangalore Royal Challengers, already threaten to revert to type, via a dispirited show against Chennai Super Kings on Monday. They will now want to push Deccan Chargers back to type and maintain equilibrium in the table.Deccan, though, had a more authoritative win than Bangalore to start their campaign. They outplayed their opposition, albeit the weaker Kolkata Knight Riders, right from the time Fidel Edwards bowled the first ball. Looks can be deceptive, but Deccan looked the part, Bangalore didn’t.Bangalore may have won one comprehensively, and lost one in the same manner, but their batsmen were consistent in their failures. It is not a good reflection on the side if they have to rely on Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid for the runs. They should be the springboard for the bigger hitters, the Ryders and Pietersens. Which is the real Bangalore? Wednesday could be a good time to find out.Also of interest will be to see whether Newlands improves for the batsmen. We shouldn’t be complaining about a more even contest between the bat and the ball, though.

Player form guide

Deccan: They will be absolutely pleased with the opening combination of Fidel Edwards and RP Singh, who set up the big win for them – Edwards through tight, fast bowling, RP through movement, bounce, and wicket-taking deliveries. Will be too early to read into the batsmen’s form – they were chasing only 102, but Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs, on current form, are a tempting proposition at the top.Bangalore: The batsmen need to score. And fast. The New Zealand imports, their two big draws, haven’t really clicked. Jesse Ryder was mysteriously dropped for their second game. Ross Taylor now has one run from five balls and two innings. Dravid and Kallis have looked their best batsmen. It’s their bowling that has kept them in so far, but Praveen Kumar and Dale Steyn would want a better show than in their game against Chennai, the two of them giving away 72 runs in eight overs.

Watch out for

Gilchrist v Praveen: Murderous intent v wily swing bowling. Vast experience v young wise head. As it stands, it’s 2-0 to Praveen. Surprising as it may sound, Praveen took Gilchrist out, early, in both the finals of the CB Series last year.

Friendly fire

Gibbs v Steyn: Who will the crowds go mad for? So far every time the ball has gone to Gibbs, and every time Steyn has beaten the batsman, there has been generous appreciation from home crowds. This one should be a monumental contest. Can Gibbs pull a fast Steyn delivery, of un-pullable length?

Team news

Ryder, if there is no injury concern, should take his place ahead of compatriot Taylor. Ryder looks in better touch, is a more complete batsman, and provides a lot with his smart medium-pace bowling. One Indian slot has been a complete waste for them, too. B Akhil looked out of his depth against quality spin bowling, and he didn’t get a bowl. His replacement in the second game, Rajesh Bishnoi, didn’t get to bowl either, and came in to bat after the game had been lost. They just can’t keep wasting a player.Bangalore Royal Challengers (probable) 1 Jesse Ryder, 2 Robin Uthappa (wk), 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 Kevin Pietersen (capt.), 5 Rahul Dravid, 6 Virat Kohli, 7 B Akhil/Rajesh Bishnoi/somebody new, 8 Praveen Kumar, 9 R Vinay Kumar, 10 Anil Kumble, 11 Dale Steyn.Deccan might not need any changes. The bowlers were perfect, the batsmen untested.Deccan Chargers (probable) 1 Adam Gilchrist (capt. & wk), 2 Herschelle Gibbs, 3 VVS Laxman, 4 Rohit Sharma, 5 Scott Styris, 6 Venugopal Rao, 7 Ravi Teja, 8 Harmeet Singh, 9 Pragyan Ojha, 10 RP Singh, 11 Fidel Edwards.

Head-to-head record

Bangalore won both their matches last year: the first one a thriller by three runs, and the next seemingly comfortably by five wickets.

Windward Islands scripted a dramatic come-from-behind win over champions Jamaica at the Trelawny Stadium. Batsmen found it tough going right through the match and it got worse when Jamaica, who led by seven on first innings, were dismissed for 107 the second time around. Chasing 115, Windwards managed to scramble to a three-wicket victory. Earlier, resuming on 8 for 1, the Jamaicans were soon reduced to 17 for 5 on the third morning. Nelon Pascal struck first, bowling Danza Hyatt for 7, while Deighton Butler sent back night-watchman Andrew Richardson, Tamar Lambert and Wavell Hinds. David Bernard stubbornly resisted with a 61-ball 50 and put on 58 with Brendan Nash but the partnership ended just before lunch when Nash handed a return catch to Shane Shillingford. Keon Peters then sliced through the lower order as Jamaica failed to add substantially to their lunchtime score of 80 for 6. Butler, Shillingford and Peters ended with three wickets apiece. Windwards lost openers Miles Bascombe and Devon Smith before tea during the chase but had edged close, entering the last session at 69 for 2. But they endured another nervy period as they lost a flurry of wickets. Odean Brown reduced them to 96 for 5, picking up the key wicket of Andre Fletcher who top-scored with 43, including six fours and a six. Nash struck a double-blow to remove Liam Sebastien and Butler, but captain Rawl Lewis and Shillingford saw the visitors home.Spinners Veerasammy Permaul and Davindra Bishoo shared seven wickets among them to hand Guyana first-innings points against Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) at the Queen’s Park Oval. Permaul bagged 4 for 54 and Bishoo picked up 3 for 48, to restrict the hosts to 259 in reply to Guyana’s 282. Captain Daren Ganga stroked a stylish half-century but the middle and lower-order batting failed to click. Continuing from their overnight score of 53 for 1, Barath was first to be dismissed off Brandon Bess for 38. The in-form Darren Bravo then joined Ganga and added 63 before Permaul had Bravo caught at point by Sewnarine Chattergoon. Sherwin Ganga put on a useful 73-run fifth wicket partnership with his brother Daren, but Permaul struck again, dismissing Sherwin for 36. Daren, who looked on course for his 21st first-class century, holed out to Bess off Permaul soon afterwards as the hosts stuttered. He ended up with 92 off 262 balls, hitting eight fours and three sixes. The remaining batsmen failed to offer resistance as Bishoo accounted for Gibran Mohammed, Rayad Emrit and debutant Navin Stewart as T&T folded disappointingly. Guyana were zero without loss at stumps.Runako Morton stroked a brilliant 173 as Leeward Islands responded strongly to Combined Colleges & Colleges’ (CCC’s) first-innings total of 519 at Grove Park. Resuming on 75 for 1, Leewards had a strong morning session, adding 91 runs and losing Montcin Hodge for a marathon 64, comprising six boundaries. Having reached his fifty before lunch, Morton marched to a hundred in the afternoon session as Leewards continued to dominate the CCC bowling. Morton played a diligent innings and by the end of the day had struck 19 boundaries and two sixes; he was looking good for a double-century. Anderson Sealy was the most successful bowler for CCC with 3 for 119.”This was a more patient innings than last week against Barbados,” Mortontold . “To be honest, the bowlers didn’t make it easy for us to score and we had to work hard for these runs.”

Scorecard

The batting might of West Zone helped them crush East Zone by 218 runs in Cuttack and pocket their ninth Deodhar Trophy. It completes a triumphant season for Wasim Jaffer, who had also led West to the Duleep Trophy, besides winning the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai.Such a huge defeat didn’t look on the cards for East when their new-ball bowlers got rid of the prolific Ajinkya Rahane and Parthiv Patel to reduce West to 40 for 2 after 8.1 overs. Jaffer was dropped by the wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha in the next over on 16, and he got another life when Dhiraj Goswami grassed a caught-and-bowled chance when on 49. Still, when West slipped to 85 for 3 in the 17th over after Rakesh Solanki was run out, the game was evenly balanced.It was all one-way traffic after that, though. Jaffer and Cheteshwar Pujara, two of the highest run-getters of the season, put on a brisk 158-run stand to give West the upper hand. Fifteen boundaries and a six helped Jaffer along to his sixth List A century, but Pujara fell six runs short of a hundred. Both men were dismissed in the space of 15 balls, but there was no easing up of the scoring-rate.Ravindra Jadeja, fresh from his stint with the national team, and the big-hitting Abhishek Nayar tore into the East attack to plunder 113 runs off the last ten overs. Jadeja slammed five fours and four sixes in a 30-ball 61 and Nayar needed only 25 deliveries for his 54.East had opted to go with an additional batsman, picking Halhaldar Das instead of the left-arm spinner Tushar Saha, and the strategy backfired, with 105 runs coming off part-timers Manoj Tiwary and Deepak Sharma’s 11 overs.Faced with a massive target, East’s chances became bleaker when medium-pacers Siddharth Trivedi and Jayesh Odedra got three early wickets. Worse was to follow as captain Tiwary and the in-form Ishank Jaggi fell within the space of five balls; East were soon at 49 for 6. There was some brief resistance from tailenders Rakesh Mohanty and Goswami but not enough to worry West. The victory was confirmed when Jadeja took two wickets in four deliveries to bundle East out for 144.