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Jim Allenby hit an unbeaten 138 against his old county as Glamorgan totally dominated the second day against Leicestershire at Grace Road.

22-May-2013
ScorecardJim Allenby made his highest first-class score•Getty ImagesJim Allenby hit an unbeaten 138 against his old county as Glamorgan totally dominated the second day against Leicestershire at Grace Road. Glamorgan declared 442 for 9 and by the close their battery of seam bowlers had routed Leicestershire for 142.Michael Hogan took 4 for 25 and John Glover 4 for 51 as Leicestershire were rolled over in 44.3 overs. Josh Cobb was top scorer with 29 while Australian Joe Burns managed 21 on his debut. It left the home side 300 runs behind, facing the prospect of being asked to follow-on.It was all a far cry from Allenby’s performance that had him celebrating his first century against Leicestershire since he left them to join Glamorgan four years ago. And it beat his previous best Championship score of 137 against Surrey at the Oval in 2009.Having been dropped on 20, Allenby began the day needing 11 runs to reach fifty. Three boundaries off Nathan Buck quickly took him there and from that point on Glamorgan piled on the runs in fluent style. In all, they added another 186 runs in 48 overs to their overnight 256 for 5.Graham Wagg ensured a fourth batting point with a reverse sweep to the boundary off Jigar Naik in the 110th over and went on to reach his half century off 83 balls with seven fours. Allenby’s century off 160 balls with a six and nine fours came in the same over with the seventh wicket pair sharing a stand of 117. Glamorgan declared when the ninth wicket fell with Allenby 138 not out off 204 balls and Leicestershire needing 293 to avoid the follow on.Glamorgan’s bowlers then took over, ripping through Leicestershire’s top order with the first five wickets falling for 47 runs in 16 overs. It was a hapless batting effort from the hosts, and when Hogan took the final wicket in the penultimate over of the day, Leicestershire were left facing a massive task to avoid defeat inside three days.

David Hopps at Taunton16-May-2013
ScorecardTim Murtagh called his day in Taunton among the best of his career•Middlesex CCCThere is something impressively businesslike about Middlesex. They came to Taunton with definite Championship credentials. They will expect to return to London by the weekend with that reputation enhanced.They look brisk, vigorous and confident in their good habits, the smart, well-drilled side down from the big city. Fifteen Somerset wickets in 56 overs tend to do wonders for your belief. Fifteen Somerset wickets in 56 overs : such things do not happen.Tim Murtagh, the leading Division One wicket taker with 28 at 15 runs apiece, so far has eight wickets for spit in the match. He has an insistent, all-brushed-up style, swings the ball and, at 31, is logically approaching his peak. He felt so good in himself that afterwards he even described the day as probably the best in his career.Victory against Somerset would take them to the top of the First Division with the LV= Championship not far short of midway and encourage hopes of winning their first title for 20 years when Mike Gatting was at the helm.Gatt would drink to that; in fact, he would probably eat to it as well. He should start tucking in his napkin now because on the evidence of the past two days they have a good shout. If there is disarray and dismay south of the Thames, there is organisation and stability to the north of it.When the West Country tyro, Jamie Overton, completed the opening day well on the way to a career-best 6 for 95, he had been the only Somerset quick to make much of an impression on a pitch which, although green, did not – as Overton related – do as much as Somerset expected. Then when Middlesex bowled, it presumably did considerably more than they ever imagined.Murtagh did not find as much swing as he can, nor Toby Roland-Jones as much bounce, nor James Harris as much fortune (certainly first time around), but backed up by committed fielding they took hold of the match within a few hours in a manner that Taunton crowds, more used to run gluts, have rarely witnessed in recent seasons.For a brief period, it seemed as if Middlesex might even win inside two days as they enforced the follow-on with a lead of 195. Memories of Somerset’s failure to beat Warwickshire when Marcus Trescothick failed to enforce the follow-on last month were still strong.Then Somerset had already bowled 65 overs and Trescothick insisted afterwards that he had no regrets: the bowlers were tired and the pitch was flat. On this occasion, it was a no-brainer; Somerset’s first innings had only lasted 45 overs so exhaustion did not come into it and there was enough encouragement to keep Middlesex’s bowlers interested.That prospect of a two-day finish was removed by a crisp half-century from Peter Trego, with Jos Buttler in subdued support, but they remain 83 runs in arrears. Even Tractor resorted to heavy irony as Trego’s flurry brought Roland-Jones falling to the floor in his follow-through. “On the way, on the way,” he roared. Trego had also put up most resistance in Somerset’s first innings before he was ninth man out, having a blast at Neil Dexter.Murtagh never let Somerset’s top order rest. After reaping 4 for 28 first time around, he followed up with 4 for 18 with the new ball to leave Somerset tottering at 35 for 5 by the 11th over.Arul Suppiah, was lbw without scoring and is yet to reach 20 in six knocks; Alviro Petersen, who will soon be heading off for the Champions Trophy, was averaging 82 in the Championship, but Murtagh has picked him off for 0 and 4 here. James Hildreth and Lewis Gregory also succumbed to Murtagh in both innings, Hildreth at slip, Gregory lbw, the same dismissals twice in a few hours.It was the sort of beautiful late afternoon that Taunton delivers as invitingly as anywhere on the county circuit, the sunshine and blue skies enhanced by the fraternal nature of the crowd, but two old Somerset boys had seen enough as they headed for the exit, walking sticks a swinging. “They should bring back Rosey,” burred one of them. If they weren’t exactly angry they were certainly, to resort to an old Somerset phrase, a bit begrumpled.Suitably, they were walking through the Brian Rose gates at the time, named in honour of their former director of cricket who stood down at the end of last season because he was weary of finishing second – or because he knew this Somerset side was beyond its best.If his replacement, David Nosworthy, is to gain the same affection, the old boys muttered, he would be advised to cut down on the management speak to explain what looks likely to be a rare Somerset failure in front of their own supporters. They don’t like too much of that around here.

Several players have shown their desire to be part of Australia’s team for the first Test against England with heartening displays at Taunton

Daniel Brettig at Taunton 28-Jun-2013
ScorecardJames Pattinson took three wickets, including Marcus Trescothick caught behind for 32•Getty ImagesJames Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Shane Watson, Phillip Hughes and Nathan Lyon have all shown their desire to be part of Australia’s team for the first Test against England with heartening displays at Taunton. Having seen off a twilight commencement to their chase of 260 to defeat a doughty Somerset, Ed Cowan and Usman Khawaja will hope to join them on the final day, but concern may be growing over Peter Siddle’s place.While Nick Compton’s efforts to turn the heads of the England selectors were curtailed by a debatable lbw decision, Hughes made sound first innings runs before Pattinson and Starc used the old ball almost as effectively as they had harnessed its newer relative on the first evening. Lyon spun the ball usefully and harvested three wickets, though he was slapped to the fence four times in one over by Peter Trego at the end.The Australian declaration when only one run on from Somerset’s first innings and Trego’s late afternoon entertainment kept the game open, sating the wish of the captain Michael Clarke, his deputy Brad Haddin and the new coach Darren Lehmann to gain relevant information about the younger players under their command in pressured fourth innings situations.James Faulkner was serviceable with bat and ball but Siddle remained short of rhythm and direction, leaving Lehmann and the selector on duty, Rod Marsh, to ponder using him against Worcestershire. Siddle’s struggles were puzzling given that he is not coming off an injury and has been in the country for nearly a month with Australia A but he has trailed Pattinson and Starc by a distance in terms of threat.The day had begun badly for Haddin, who found himself outsmarted by Jamie Overton, the first ball of the day whirring full and straight into the wicketkeeper’s pads for a swift lbw verdict. Faulkner then played neatly as 55 runs were collected.Hughes’ innings was most notable for the comfort with which he played in a lower posting. Though an aversion to spin is well known, Hughes handled the left-arm slow bowling of the Irishman George Dockrell soundly enough, while driving and pulling the pacemen with some relish. He might have been momentarily miffed to be called in when a century beckoned, but, with 21 first-class hundreds already, he does not share Shane Watson’s problems of conversion.Siddle and Faulkner shared the new ball over Pattinson and Starc, a sign that Lehmann and company were keen to observe all their charges with a brand new Dukes ball in hand. Neither was to be particularly impressive in the brief spell up to lunch, however, and afterwards it was Pattinson who struck, tempting Marcus Trescothick to flirt at an angled ball. Trescothick chose to walk after a thin edge, something Pattinson was momentarily oblivious to as he prolonged a vehement appeal with his back turned to Somerset’s captain.Compton’s wicket was somewhat due for Lyon after a very adjacent appeal had been turned down on day one, but the batsman did not appear happy at the verdict, the ball angled in the general direction of leg stump. The first-innings centurion Chris Jones had less reason to complain, unable to get his bat down in time on a Pattinson yorker speared in at middle and off, and Craig Kieswetter was similarly confounded, his off stump neatly plucked.Pattinson had started to gain some reverse swing, and Starc was soon to show his ability to exploit the old ball’s bend. There was the whiff of Wasim Akram about the two deliveries that opened up Alex Barrow and George Dockrell. The first from over the wicket started outside leg stump and swerved to clip off. For the second Starc had moved to around and straightened the ball on to a line that Dockrell’s bat was never more than vaguely in the vicinity of.At the other end Lyon worked through a fruitful spell, gaining spin and bounce to add another two wickets to his tally. A fluent James Hildreth was perhaps unfortunate, scorching a short ball towards midwicket where Hughes juggled the chance before clutching it in one hand, but Craig Meschede was genuinely beaten by spin and pace off the pitch.At 183 for 8, the visitors’ chase looked like being a meagre one, but Trego and Gemaal Hussain ensured that there was enough room in the chase for one or two hundreds to be made by batsmen who need them. Cowan and Khawaja completed the first part of the job, but it is by building a substantial score on day four that they can follow others in showing their worth to the Test XI.

ESPNcricinfo previews the third Investec Ashes Test at Old Trafford

Daniel Brettig31-Jul-2013Match factsAugust 1-5, Old Trafford
Start time 1100 (1000 GMT)Kevin Pietersen’s chances of participation in the third Test remain clouded•PA PhotosBig Picture Over 16 years of discontent between 1989 and 2005, England found themselves 2-0 down after as many Ashes matches no fewer than six times. The lead-in to the third Test was invariably accompanied by all manner of introspection within the team and public ridicule without, while selections tended to lean towards changing the combinations that did not work in the first two matches, carrying the air of last-chance for the selectors and the captain if not the players themselves. Something else about those six occasions is also noteworthy – while often England produced an improved display, not once did they ever actually win the third match, usually giving up the urn as a result.This unpalatable scenario is now Australia’s cross to bear, following a tight result at Trent Bridge and a decidedly loose one at Lord’s. There will be changes to the team, most likely three as David Warner returns after doing penance in South Africa while bowlers Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc are recalled having not done too much wrong to be dropped in the first place. Of greater import for Australia, however, is getting the best out of the few batsmen they know to be of high quality. Michael Clarke has batted away speculation that he has entered the last six months of his international career but has so far been unable to do likewise to England’s bowlers, while Shane Watson’s threatening starts have remained just that from the moment James Anderson and co have managed to narrow their aim onto his front pad. Chris Rogers must lift too, having been called into the team late in his career simply to churn out hundreds – nothing more and nothing less.As for England, a draw will be sufficient to retain the Ashes, but Anderson’s words last week provided ample evidence that the hosts are seeking something grander, a 5-0 margin of victory to be precise. Kevin Pietersen’s fitness has been a source of minor irritation to England’s planning, but in James Taylor they have a reserve batsman capable of playing the long innings that will further wear down an Australian bowling attack that has toiled manfully against the creeping realisation that no matter what they bowl their opponents out for, it will not be enough. Nevertheless, England cannot expect to be continually bailed out by Ian Bell following the loss of trios of early wickets, and so Alastair Cook will be particularly keen to score the runs that ensure the proceedings at Old Trafford carry on in the same lopsided manner in which they did at Lord’s.Form guideEngland: WWWWD
Australia: LLLLL
Players to watchRight now it feels strange and distant to consider that for years Graeme Swann considered Australia to be his toughest opponents. The impression was created by some indifferent days against the likes of Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke in 2009 and 2010-11, but the former’s retirement has given Swann some greater room to flourish against batsmen with very little confidence against the spinning ball. Now, at Old Trafford, the scene of Jim Laker’s 19 wickets in 1956, Swann’s threat looms larger than ever for the tourists.Rather than playing against Sussex, Shane Watson spent a week in London, training specifically to work on his susceptibility against the ball angling back into his pads for an lbw shout. As his opening partner Chris Rogers stated, Watson has the potential to do more damage to England’s bowlers than any other member of the Australian batting line-up, and if he has managed to smooth out this long-standing technical kink he may find Manchester very much to his liking.Team newsKevin Pietersen has not quite assuaged all doubts about his fitness, following a calf strain, by training in Manchester, and if he is not deemed ready James Taylor will slot into the batting order. Monty Panesar is on hand with his left-arm spin, but Tim Bresnan’s strong showing on a dry surface at Lord’s plus his extra batting heft make a change less likely.England (probable) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Joe Root, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Graeme Swann, 11 James AndersonDavid Warner appears a likely inclusion for Australia following his century for Australia A in South Africa, but the question is for who and where in the batting order. Phillip Hughes is under some pressure following a trio of low scores after his 81* in Nottingham, and Steve Smith is nursing a sore back. Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon are probable bowling inclusions for the injured James Pattinson and Ashton Agar.Australia (probable) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Chris Rogers, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Steve Smith, 6 David Warner, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Peter Siddle, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Ryan Harris, 11 Nathan Lyon.Pitch and conditionsThe tourists have been greeted by another very dry surface that already shows evidence of cracking, alongside a few curious “burnt” patches. It is quite hard underfoot however, so there will be some bounce on offer to shotmakers and pace bowlers alike. Intermittent rain is forecast for the week.Stats and trivia Don Bradman’s 1936-37 Australian side are the only team ever to have overcome a 2-0 deficit after as many Tests to win the Ashes An Australia defeat will hand the tourists seven consecutive Test match losses for the first time since 1888 Stuart Broad needs one more wicket to become the 15th England bowler to claim 200 in their Test careerQuotes”As soon as you become distracted you can come unstuck. Yes, we’ve earned the right to be in a pretty good situation in the series. But the series is still alive.”
“I was part of the team that won 16 in a row, so I guess I’m seeing both sides. The reality is you want to win every time you walk out onto the field. But you have to perform at your best to do that. If we don’t and we lose this Test match, we’ll hold a record that I certainly won’t be proud of and I don’t think anyone in the current team will be proud of.”

The ICC has fined Australia’s coach, Darren Lehmann, over his comments that Stuart Broad had blatantly cheated in failing to walk when he edged Ashton Agar during the first Test

Brydon Coverdale22-Aug-2013The ICC has fined Australia’s coach, Darren Lehmann, over his comments that Stuart Broad had blatantly cheated in failing to walk when he edged Ashton Agar during the first Investec Test at Trent Bridge. Lehmann has been fined 20% of his match fee for the final Test over the interview with the Australian radio station Triple M this week, in which he also said he hoped spectators would “give it to” Broad during the upcoming Ashes series in Australia.Lehmann pleaded guilty to breaching Article 2.1.7 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to “public criticism of, or inappropriate comment in relation to an incident occurring in an international match or any player, player support personnel, match official or team participating in any international match.”The ICC chief executive, David Richardson, laid the charge and on Thursday night, Lehmann admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by the match referee Roshan Mahanama, who is overseeing the ongoing Test at The Oval.”Whilst noting the context and nature of the comments made, showing mutual respect for one’s fellow professionals – including for coaches, players and match officials – is a cornerstone of how we play the game,” Richardson said.During the radio interview, Lehmann was asked about the incident from the first Test in which Broad edged and the catch was taken at first slip after deflecting off the wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. Lehmann said it was a case of cheating on the part of Broad.”Certainly our players haven’t forgotten, they’re calling him everything under the sun as they go past,” Lehmann said in the interview. “I hope the Australian public are the same because that was just blatant cheating. I don’t advocate walking but when you hit it to first slip it’s pretty hard.”

Michael Clarke’s career-long back problem has flared up again towards the final days of Australia’s tour of England, leaving in doubtful for the deciding one-day international at the Ageas Bowl

Andrew McGlashan15-Sep-2013Michael Clarke’s career-long back problem has flared up again towards the final days of Australia’s tour of England, leaving in doubtful for the deciding one-day international at the Ageas Bowl, while Shaun Marsh has already been ruled out with a hamstring injury.Clarke’s back forced him to miss the Champions Trophy at the beginning of Australia’s summer-long stay in England and although he played throughout the Ashes there was often talk that it was causing more worries than were made publicHe will be given every chance to prove his fitness for the final ODI, but coach Darren Lehmann has said there is too much at stake in the future for him to be risked if there are any doubts. It also raises the question as to whether Clarke will be part of the one-day tour to India in October, which comes little more than a month before the return Ashes begins.”It’s a big game but if he’s not right, we won’t risk him,” Lehmann told . “It’s an important series but we’ve got another one-day series and an Ashes series coming up.”Clarke scored a superb hundred at Old Trafford to set up Australia’s victory – the ground where he also made a century during the Ashes – but did not appear completely at ease in the middle during his 22 in Cardiff on Saturday. He was discomforted by the bounce of Boyd Rankin before falling, slightly unluckily, lbw to Steven Finn.Australia could, therefore, be fielding a very different top order in a match that Lehmann has termed a “grand final”, as they aim to finish a difficult tour with some silverware. Marsh, who has made 0 and 25 in his two innings for the series, picked up a hamstring strain in the fourth match – the latest occasion his career has been interrupted by injury – which is likely to offer a last-ditch opportunity to Phillip Hughes, who has been on the sidelines since he was dropped after the second Test at Lord’s.”We’ll look at the pitch but I think that’s the probably the way we’d go,” Lehmann said. “It gives him an opportunity. He’s playing really well and working on his game and that’s all we can ask. He’s ready to go. Hopefully he gets his chance and away he goes.”Australia were well placed to seal the series with a match to spare when Clint McKay took a hat-trick in Cardiff to leave England 8 for 3, and they later reduced the home side to 144 for 6 but were beaten by Jos Buttler’s calculated late assault.”It gets down to a grand final set-up now, which is great,” Lehmann said. “That’s what we want the players put under most of the time, although you would have loved to close out the series.”We’re certainly playing the right brand of cricket, we just made a couple of elementary mistakes. Apart from that, we’ve pretty much played how we want to play. Now the case is we want to finish on a high and get moving on.”McKay, who removed Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Joe Root to complete a star-studded hat-trick, admitted it was a tough defeat to take after having had England on the ropes. ”The boys are a bit flat,” he said. ”We had a massive opportunity to take this series home and unfortunately we couldn’t deliver. But we’ll bounce back and fight hard again on Monday.”

Ireland needed just under 10 overs on day four to bowl Scotland out and thump the visitors by an innings and 44 runs in Dublin

14-Sep-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMax Sorensen picked up his third five-wicket haul in first-class cricket•ICC/John BoomerIreland needed just under 10 overs on day four to bowl Scotland out and thump the visitors by an innings and 44 runs in Dublin.Scotland had been put on the back foot for large parts of day three, owing to an incisive spell from right-arm seamer Max Sorensen, who claimed the last wicket to fall and record his third five-for in first-class cricket.A 79-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Safyaan Sharif and Majid Haq was broken off what proved to be the last ball of the third day and only three overs were bowled on the fourth morning before Iain Wardlaw edged Craig Young to second slip and Scotland slumped to 148 for 9. The final-wicket pair Majid Haq and Alasdair Evans survived 40 deliveries, but Sorensen finished things off in the 61st over to secure the win.The win increased Ireland’s lead at the top of the Intercontinental Table to 22 points, and marked a successful summer for the hosts after they also sealed the World Club Championship in Belfast last week, again by defeating Scotland.The result also ensured that Ireland will play Afghanistan in the final of the competition, where even a draw will be enough for them to take home the trophy since they topped the table.

Narsingh Deonarine resisted India A with a plucky 99 but the bowlers burst through to deliver a series-levelling innings win in Hubli

Sidharth Monga in Hubli12-Oct-2013
Scorecard Zaheer Khan displayed better intensity than in the previous match and picked up four wickets•BCCINarsingh Deonarine resisted India A with a plucky 99 but the bowlers burst through to deliver a series-levelling innings win. Abhishek Nayar, that champion in domestic cricket, provided the only two wickets in the first session, ending an 82-run stand between Deonarine and Assad Fudadin. Deonarine’s vigil continued, in the company of Nikita Miller, until Zaheer Khan produced what seemed a magic delivery. With Jahmar Hamilton injured and unavailable to bat, the loss of the last four wickets for eight runs signalled the end of the match minutes after the afternoon drinks break.West Indies A began the day with seven wickets in hand and needing 180 to make India A bat again. Deonarine and Fudadin seemed largely comfortable and even a longer-than-usual six-over first spell from Zaheer didn’t bring India any success. Then, Cheteshwar Pujara did what Mumbai captains often do at such times: get Nayar to bowl. And Nayar did what he does: bowl wide outside off, play on the batsman’s patience, and somehow the batsman follows one. Fudadin committed the mistake this time, edging to the keeper on 49.Jonathan Carter, who had injured himself when filling in for the keeper Hamilton, came in to bat at No. 6, but fell to a special Nayar delivery. It was short of a length, from round the stumps, pitched middle and off, beat the outside edge as it held its line, and sent the off stump cartwheeling.Deonarine looked assured in his effort, not going after wide deliveries, driving and cutting the loose ones, while Miller gave him good support. The two went to lunch having put up a reassuring stand. After lunch, too, they carried on. Dhawal Kulkarni seemed to have taken Deonarine’s edge when he was on 94, but he had overstepped. It was the last over of his spell.On came Zaheer, fitter, slowly raising his intensity after his first-class comeback in the previous match in Shimoga. In his second over, he pitched one on a length, seemingly angling in, enough to make Deonarine look to play to midwicket. However, he ended up losing his off stump. It had all the indications of the Zaheer legcutter, which leaves the left-hand batsmen.With Deonarine gone, and one-and-a-half sessions to bat out, those who were fighting their natural attacking instincts let themselves go. And thus began a procession. Miller stepped out to Bhargav Bhatt and gave an easy catch to mid-off. Ashley Nurse pushed forward to Zaheer and lost his off stump. Miguel Cummins tried to swing hard at a few, and lost his off stump a ball after he had hit Zaheer for four. With so much time left in the day, it wouldn’t have been wise for Hamilton to further risk his injured hand.West Indies A won the one-day series 2-1, lost the one-off T20, took the lead in the first-class series through their spinners, but couldn’t hold on to it.

A round-up of the third day’s play from second-round Group A matches of the Ranji Trophy 2013-14

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Nov-2013
ScorecardZaheer Khan took two quick wickets to dent Punjab’s chase•ESPNcricinfo LtdA brisk half-century from Suryakumar Yadav and a cameo from No. 10 batsman Javed Khan helped Mumbai set Punjab a target of 399 to win. Despite left-arm spinner Rajwinder Singh’s maiden five-for, Punjab were a shaky 108 for 4 by the end of the day.With a first-innings lead of 127, Mumbai began the third day at 35 for no loss and the openers Kaustubh Pawar and Aditya Tare added another 42 runs before Tare fell to Rajwinder. Rajwinder made further inroads, dismissing Wasim Jaffer and Abhishek Nayar quickly to leave Mumbai at 119 for 4. Debutant, Siddhesh Lad, and Yadav then added 80 runs, stretching Mumbai’s lead beyond 300.Lad’s dismissal to Harbhajan Singh, however, triggered a slide, with Mumbai losing their next five wickets for 27 runs, before a 30-ball 44 from pacer Javed Khan powered the side to 271. Rajwinder finished with 5 for 102, while Harbhajan took his second four-for in the game, to end with 4 for 67.Punjab started well as openers Jiwanjot Singh and Ravi Inder Singh added 48. However, Zaheer Khan’s two wickets in successive overs set them back. Taruwar Kohli and Yuvraj Singh shared a brief stand, but Vishal Dabholkar, who took a six-for in the first innings, struck to dismiss Kohli and Mandeep Singh. Punjab’s hopes now of survival now rest on Yuvraj, who is unbeaten on 19 off 47 balls.
ScorecardHalf-centuries from Manish Pandey, Ganesh Satish and Vinay Kumar helped Karnataka take a 60-run first-innings lead against Jharkhand on the third day in Mysore.Karnataka began the day at a strong 123 for 1 and the overnight batsmen, Mayank Agarwal and Kunal Kapoor extended their stand to 99 before Kapoor was dismissed for 49. Agarwal missed a century on his first-class debut by 10 runs after he was bowled by Rahul Shukla.Manish Pandey and wicketkeeper CM Gautam added 69 runs for the fourth wicket, the first of four fifty-plus stands between Karnataka’s middle and lower-middle order that helped the side grab the first innings lead. Satish and Vinay Kumar chipped in with fifties before Karnataka declared their innings at 424 for 7. In reply, Jharkhand were 4 for none at the end of the day.
ScorecardOffspinner Jayant Yadav’s maiden five-wicket haul helped Haryana gain a 71-run lead against Vidarbha in Nagpur at stumps on the third day. Vidarbha began the day at 94 for 3, but didn’t have the best start, losing overnight batsman Ranjit Paradkar for 14.Hemang Badani and Rashmi Parida added 55 for the sixth wicket but Yadav, who had taken three wickets on the second day, broke the stand, sending Badani back for 65 with the score at 167 for 5. Parida and Amol Jungade resisted with a 45-run stand, but once Parida was dismissed by Yadav for 60, Mohit Sharma and Yuzvendra Chahal cleaned up the rest of the line-up to dismiss the hosts for 287 and give Haryana a lead of 42. Haryana’s second innings was jolted by the quick loss of openers Nitin Saini and Abhimanyu Khod, and they played out 10 overs on the third day to finish at 29 for 2.
ScorecardDelhi picked up four Gujarat wickets in the second innings after conceding a 25-run lead, but an unbeaten fifth-wicket stand of 42 between Parthiv Patel and Smit Patel stretched Gujarat’s overall lead beyond 100 to set up the prospect of a result-oriented final day in Surat. On a testing pitch, 10 wickets fell and only 189 runs were scored on the third day, with left-arm spinner Akshar Patel picking up a maiden five-wicket haul.Read the full report here.

New Zealand suffered few alarms as they eased to an eight-wicket victory in Hamilton to claim the series 2-0. It was their first series victory over a top-eight nation since they beat the same opposition in 2006

The Report by Andrew McGlashan21-Dec-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsKane Williamson played confidently in New Zealand’s chase•Getty ImagesNew Zealand suffered few alarms as they eased to an eight-wicket victory in Hamilton to claim the series 2-0. It was their first series victory over a top-eight nation since they beat the same opposition in 2006. Kane Williamson provided the main contribution, with an elegant 56, while Hamish Rutherford was unbeaten on 48, having been required to fight a little harder.The winning runs came at 1.45pm when Rutherford drove Narsingh Deonarine through the covers, meaning Ross Taylor could not quite score enough in the second innings to become New Zealand’s leading scorer in a calendar year after Williamson had been bowled with six runs required.The only chance West Indies had of conjuring something remarkable after yesterday’s post-tea demise, where they lost 10 wickets in a session, was to grab a couple of quick breakthroughs to create some nerves in the home camp. However, Rutherford and Peter Fulton saw through the initial stages, and although Fulton chipped a return catch back to Darren Sammy – the West Indies captain’s fourth sharp take of the match – the visitors could not strike in quick succession.Narine probed away throughout the entire first session, making life tough for Rutherford who was stuck at the offspinner’s end for the eighth to the 26th over. Rutherford was given out, caught behind, on 24, but the DRS showed that he had hit the ground rather than the ball. Although rarely convincing, he did collect a couple of boundaries off Narine when the bowler dropped his line short.Williamson was more free-flowing after taking 15 deliveries to open his account. He greeted Veerasammy Permaul’s first over with two classy drives, exhibiting swift footwork and confidence against the more orthodox spin of the left-armer.A third lofted boundary by Williamson brought the end to Permaul’s brief spell, and Tino Best, who has been one of the major disappointments of the series, was given a run with little impact.After lunch, Williamson skipped to his fifty from 74 balls, his second of the match, but could not quite see the chase to its conclusion when he aimed a pull at a ball from Permaul which skidded through. The job, though, was soon completed and New Zealand were able to celebrate a convincing start to their international season. For West Indies, their Test cricket does not hold much cause for satisfaction.