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Left-arm spinner Ajay Mandal’s second four-wicket haul helped Chhattisgarh bowl Haryana out for 178 in Guwahati. After Haryana elected to bat, the early damage was caused by seamer Pankaj Rao – who removed opener Nitin Saini and Himanshu Rana – and Mandal, who left them struggling on 63 for 6. Rohit Sharma, who top-scored with 45, and Harshal Patel (34) mended things slightly with a 64-run partnership, before Patel fell to the part-time medium-pace of Abhimanyu Chauhan. There were a few minor contributions from the lower order before Haryana folded up in the 55th over. Seamer Abhishek Tamrakar chipped in with two wickets.Chhattisgarh were solid in their reply, ending the day on 68 for 1.Opener Bishal Ghosh’s century and Smit Patel’s second successive ton were instrumental in Tripura racking up 305 for 2 against Himachal Pradesh in Kalyani. Sent in to bat, Tripura had a solid start courtesy a 65-run opening stand between Ghosh and Udiyan Bose. After Bose was bowled by Pankaj Jaiswal, Ghosh and Patel raised 230 runs for the second wicket. Ghosh, 20, however, fell four short of his 150 in the penultimate over of the day.Centuries from captain Sagun Kamat and debutant opener Sumiran Amonkar powered Goa to 333 for 2 at stumps against Services in Cuttack. Services’ decision to bowl was vindicated almost immediately as Diwesh Pathania had opener Swapnil Asnodkar caught behind in the first over. But, Kamat and Amonkar scored at a brisk pace while add 237 runs, before Amonkar was trapped lbw by Pathania for 101 off 195 balls. Kamat, however, put on an unbroken partnership of 91 runs with Snehal Kauthankar (35*), and remained unbeaten on 177 off 267 balls. That Services had a hard day was further illustrated by the fact that seven of the eight bowlers used had no success.Half-centuries from Sachin Baby and Jalaj Saxena steered Kerala to 223 for 4 after they elected to bat against Hyderabad in Bhubaneswar. After opener VA Jagadeesh was removed by left-arm seamer Chama Milind in the fourth over of the day, Bhavin Thakkar (38) and Rohan Prem (41) put on 75 runs for the second wicket. Hyderabad’s bowlers hit back with three quicket wickets; Sanju Samson and Prem were dismissed for the addition of merely two runs in the space of 6.5 overs. Baby and Saxena, however, arrested the slide and put on an unbroken stand of 114 runs.Opener Shubham Khajuria’s 90 held Jammu & Kashmir‘s innings together as Andhra‘s seamers reduced them to 205 for 6 at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. Electing to bowl, Andhra prised out three of J&K’s top-four batsmen for 51 runs. Khajuria and Parvez Rasool (45) then added 99 runs, but once D Siva Kumar had Rasool caught behind, J&K lost two more wickets for 36 runs. Seamers Siva Kumar and DP Vijayakumar, and left-arm spinner Bhargav Bhatt picked up two wickets each.

Division One

A remarkable unbeaten 261 from Darren Lehmann, made from only 302 balls, powered Yorkshire to 473 for 3 on the first breathless day in the relegation decider against Durham at Headingley. The winner of this match stays in the first division and Yorkshire have raced out of the blocks and can already eye safety. Although in some trouble at 43 for 2, Lehmann was dominant from the outset and brought up his first hundred in just over two hours from just 114 balls. He wasn’t finished, though, clobbering 43 fours and two sixes for good measure before the umpires finally called stumps, to end a miserable day for Durham. His innings utterly overshadowed those of Anthony McGrath – whose 79-ball 62 was no less attractive – and Michael Lumb who remained unbeaten on 82.Two fine hundreds from David Fulton and Matt Walker led for Kent on the first day against Middlesex at Canterbury as the home side reached an impressive 353 for 3. The Middlesex bowling left a lot to be desired – only Chris Silverwood, who took two economical wickets, was any resemblance of a threat – as Fulton, in what is likely to be a farewell appearance for Kent, and Joe Denly, the 20-year-old right-hander, put on 123 for the opening stand. Silverwood finally made the breakthrough, bowling Denly for 66, but Walker and Fulton batted magnificently together to put on 196 for the third wicket.For a full report of Sussex‘s key clash against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge click here.For a full report of Lancashire‘s crucial match against Hampshire down at The Rose Bowl click here.

Division Two

A fine 77 from Lee Goddard saved Derbyshire from capitulation on the first day against Surrey at Derby. Goddard came to the crease with his side in deep trouble at 102 for 5, but found excellent support in Graeme Wagg. The pair put on an unbeaten stand of 149 – comfortably the innings’ highest – as Derbyshire closed on 273 for 6.Fifties from Hamish Marshall, Chris Taylor and a particularly aggressive unbeaten 87 from Alex Gidman gave Gloucestershire the honours on the first day against Glamorgan at Cardiff. Both Gloucestershire’s openers, Kadeer Ali and Craig Spearman, fell cheaply to leave the middle order shouldering the responsibility – and they did just that. Marshall smacked 11 fours and cleared the boundary twice in his 79, before he was run out. But Taylor (54) and Gidman made good Marshall’s work as the visitors closed on 342 for 5.Alastair Cook celebrated his first England contract with a brilliant 132, salvaging a sinking Essex ship on the first day against Leicestershire at Grace Road and keeping them in control of their own promotion. Mark Pettini and Ravinder Bopara both fell for 11 and, once Andy Flower (5) and Ronnie Irani departed Essex were in danger of collapsing. Enter James Foster, the forgotten England wicketkeeper, who helped stage a superb fight-back with Cook; the pair put on 155. Though Cook fell, Foster (94*) found good support from Ryan ten Doeschate as the visitors closed on 322 for 6. Essex began with a four point advantage over Worcestershire and will be confident of bagging at least four batting bonus points on the second day.A typically bullish 96 from David Sales was the standout performance for Northamptonshire against Worcestershire on the first day at Northampton. Worcestershire, though, managed three vital bonus points in their push for promotion. The home side’s batsmen all made starts, but only Sales and Ben Phillips (75) took advantage. However, in spite of the impressive run-rate, both fell in quick succession and Northants were dismissed for 342 when the umpires called stumps.

India lately has been hoping for Virender Sehwag to come good. There have been endless public assurances and even bouts of captaincy for good measure. It hasn’t worked. Jamshedpur only added to the unease.India might not fret a great deal about the loss in the sixth one-dayer. Heat was terrible and there were far too many replacements, including a new set of medium-pacers. But it needs a reassurance on its top order. India is not willing to let go on Sehwag or Mohammad Kaif, or for that matter Sachin Tendulkar. But time is running out.Ideally, all of India would love to have these men in the 2007 World Cup. But it also needs time to think of alternatives. Between now and the Caribbean Carnival, a new player could at the most have 15 one-day internationals. If India must change horses in the midstream, the time to do it is now. That Sehwag has been affected is there for all to see. His initial bravado has given way to skepticism. Sehwag in repose at the crease has resembled a cat ready to pounce on anything which comes his way. A cobra in coil, a panther on haunches, a falcon in that strategic patrolling of the sky. He is a quintessential four-man; always visualizing the shortest and swiftest passage of the ball to the boundary. Not at the moment though. Bowlers now are teasing him outside the off-stump and he is curbing himself. He has put his instincts on hold which is a dangerous ploy for those who are nature’s product. He has even begun to weigh the virtue of pull shot these days. Sehwag is not the kind of batsman who can get away by restructuring his batting.Mohammad Kaif’s case is equally a study in regret. He has been dealt harshly by fate: his 90s and 50s have usually resulted in his omission in the next game while for others it generally is a license for the next dozen games. Now when a string of failures have come, Kaif is leaning not so much on his reputation as on goodwill. Not long ago, he was one safe pair of legs in a bunch of no-gooders. Now even he doesn’t stand out among Generation Next of Indian cricket. Kaif of today will increasingly have to lean on his batting to firm up his base. Mere fielding will not do.One guesses there are still three games for these men to sort themselves out. It isn’t the case of loss of ability; but a snapping up of confidence. They are lucky that India is winning otherwise they would have been still more untenable. One senses that India would still have decided on the two by the end of Abu Dhabi gamesAmong the youngsters, Ramesh Pawar has steadily gained in impression. In Jamshedpur, he stuck it out with bat. He has the sort of frame which would be ridiculed in modern era. One is now used to seeing a lot of fitter, stronger and mobile cricketers on the field. He is a complete antithesis of it and sooner or later the cry on his frame would only get shrill. For the moment though, he is allowing India to play with five bowlers. Pawar’s presence has also galvanized Harbhajan Singh, who has by far been the best bowler on either side in the one-day series. Against better players of spin than England, it would be tricky for India to choose between the two of them.England, on their part, would be happy for the form of James Anderson who has been one spirited presence since the Mumbai Test. Andrew Flintoff now probably can choose to stay in the hut in Indore as well. Andrew Strauss too could smile as there wasn’t an Irfan Pathan to keep him in torment. Ian Bell didn’t have to bat out of his skin because of the low target and it suited England fine. By the evidence of this game, it seems okay that these three Indian medium-pacers are not the first choice of the team management.Finally, it is nigh difficult to believe that any cricketer would be keen for competitive cricket in weather as severe as the one in Jamshedpur. Mercury is rising in India and it’s time to lay down the arms.

Scorecard

Michael Hussey again finished a difficult job for his team, taking Australia to victory against New Zealand with two wickets to spare. Hussey’s unbeaten 65 was the key in a tight run-chase of 219 and he brought up the win with a six in the 49th over.New Zealand pushed Australia to the very end but their decision to play only four bowlers cost them dearly as Craig McMillan and Nathan Astle proved too easy to score off in the dying overs. McMillan had already done his part with 89 in New Zealand’s 219 but Hussey and Michael Clarke (75) earned Australia their fourth win of the series.Clarke’s dismissal in the 38th over triggered a mini-collapse as Cameron White and Brett Lee fell soon after and when Nathan Bracken was caught with two runs required the outcome was still uncertain. But Hussey pulled Astle over square leg for six to end another matchwinning innings.The visitors played an extra batsman with Hamish Marshall replacing Jeetan Patel and the move backfired on two counts. Marshall made 0 in another disappointing team effort and in the dying overs Stephen Fleming was forced to use part-time medium-pacers when his four strikers were bowled out.Defending New Zealand’s below-par total was always going to require a flawless performance in the field. Instead, they repeatedly gave lives to Clarke and Hussey and failed to capitalise on a terrific opening that had Australia at 3 for 17.The most telling error was a shambolic attempted run out when both batsmen almost ended up at the striker’s end. With the score on 4 for 116, Clarke pushed into the off side and took off for a single before halting but Hussey kept coming and should have been caught well short at the bowler’s end. Marshall fumbled several times before ending up sprawled on the pitch and flicking the ball back to Daniel Vettori who broke the stumps with his hand rather than the ball with Hussey short of his ground.The mistake not only allowed Hussey, who was 18 at the time, to continue through the innings but it also demoralised the tourists at a critical moment. Clarke was dropped on 17 and again on 42 and holding either chance could have put New Zealand back on top. The first was a simple outfield opportunity when James Franklin spilled a top-edged hook at deep backward square leg. The second was an inside edge to Brendon McCullum, standing up to the stumps, off Franklin’s bowling.

When Clarke gave his third chance, a skied opportunity that Ross Taylor took on the second bite at midwicket, he had already hurt the visitors and taken Australia within 52 runs of victory. Clarke and Andrew Symonds (38) steadied Australia after the home team stumbled to 3 for 17 from six overs.Adam Gilchrist flayed at an extra wide Franklin outswinger and was caught behind for 3 and Matthew Hayden continued his disappointing series with a drive in the air to cover for 0. Ponting, who batted at No. 4 to allow Clarke a promotion, was lbw for 5 to a Michael Mason ball that jagged back off an uneven strip on the pitch.New Zealand also started poorly and it was only through McMillan’s innings – his best ODI score since 2002 – that they recovered from 4 for 54. McMillan’s 87-ball innings featured three sixes – one was a spectacular cut shot over backward point off Lee – and he made the most of a lucky break when he was given not out on 1 despite replays suggesting he edged behind.McMillan and Franklin added 57 in a 39-ball eighth-wicket partnership that restored some dignity to the New Zealand scorecard but Glenn McGrath (3 for 24) and Stuart Clark (4 for 54) ensured the total did not get out of hand.The visitors were unable to bat out the 50 overs and their inability to compile a consistent, professional batting effort was again underlined. The top order remained a concern as Lee’s opening spell shattered any hopes of a solid foundation. New Zealand were 2 for 7 as Lee had both openers caught behind with fast, swinging deliveries.

Andrew Flintoff could have done with a fly-swatter while addressing themedia on the eve of England’s knock-out game against Australia. As heanswered a variety of questions – ranging from the Ashes to hisshirt-waving spectacle at Mumbai in 2002 and the Diwali fireworks expectedtomorrow – Flintoff couldn’t but swing his arms, trying to keep out thepests that swarmed around him.During the game tomorrow, especially after sunset, he might feel likeblocking his nose and stuffing his ears. The flies may keep away but theexplosive fire-crackers – a part and parcel of Diwali, the festivalof lights – is likely to pose a share of problems. Locals estimate thatthe pollution levels (both air and noise) increase by 200% on Diwali day.Both captains warned that there’s still a while to go before the event butthere’ll be plenty of ashes around the city tomorrow.The cloud of smoke that’s likely to envelope the city might well affectthe dew factor, an issue that’s slowly becoming one of the talking pointsof the tournament. Pakistan benefited from the film of dew while chasingagainst Sri Lanka but whether there will be dew to the same extent tomorrow, with thenight skies set alight, remains the question. Added to that is the possibility ofshowers – Australia’s practice session was slightly delayed owing toearly-morning rain. Modern cricket teams are accompanied by a sizeablesupport staff but it’s high time someone appointed a permanentmeteorologist.”Some days the dew’s been a factor, some days it’s not,” said a slightlybemused Flintoff when asked about how he went about practicing for thedew. “I don’t think there’s any hard and fast way to find out when it’sgoing to come down. In the game we played against India, I don’t think thedew came down a great deal. It’s something we’ve to look at on the day,after seeing overhead conditions.”England are no doubt preparing themselves for fielding under lights, withthe prospect of having to bowl and field with a soggy ball. “We had afielding practice before the India game,” said Flintoff as he continuedhis battle with the flies,” and we’re having another session underfloodlights tonight. It’s something we’ve come across before – we’veplayed under floodlights in England and the dew plays a part in SouthAfrica as well.”As far as tactics go, it’s pretty much the same really. A good area tobowl is a good area to bowl. You need to bowl pretty straight, thatdoesn’t change if the dew comes in. Sometimes you get a bit more swing, orball may seam a bit more but the areas you put the ball is prettysimilar.”Irrespective of the atmospherics, England are likely to stick to the sameXI that played the first game. The spinners – Michael Yardy and JamieDalrymple – were impressive against India while the seamers did their bitto make a meagre total into a challenging one. What England couldn’t doagainst India, and what they can’t do without tomorrow, is to raise theirintensity and Flintoff underlined the importance of an aggressiveapproach. “Australia are a fine side and remain favourites going into it,”he added. “But both sides have lost first and I don’t think they’ll be.We’ll try and take Australia on and see what happens.”Statistics don’t reveal much. The two teams have encountered each otherjust twice on Indian conditions: first at the famous World Cup final in 1987, when Mike Gatting reverse-swept England to their doom, and next atthe Nehru Cup in 1989, when a Wayne Larkins hundred steered England home.Ultimately it will come down to the team that holds its nerve, gas-masksand ear-muffs best. It promises to be a cracker, in more ways than one.England (likely): 1 Andrew Strauss, 2 Ian Bell, 3 Andrew Flintoff (capt), 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Michael Yardy, 7 Jamie Dalrymple, 8 Chris Read (wk), 9 James Anderson, 10 Sajid Mahmood, 11 Steve Harmison.

Percy Sonn, speaking at the ICC’s annual conference at Lord’s on the day he took over from Ehsan Mani as ICC president, said that the next 12 months was a vital period for the long-term health of the game.”During that time we will be negotiating the sale of our commercial and broadcast rights for the next eight years to 2015,” he explained. “The last time we did that, in 2000, we received US$550 million and that money has benefited every one of our Members in some way. It provided financial security that has allowed us to develop plans to take the game forward and the next agreement will, we hope, do the same.”But while commercialism is important, we must not let it dominate the landscape or lose sight of what this great game is all about. Financial considerations cannot be our only driver and cricketing considerations must also play a vital part in any decisions the ICC makes.”After all, we should all remember how and why we came to love this great game. I did so because of the joy I got from playing it, the excitement I got from watching it and the fellowship that came from being part of a team sport that has always embodied fair play.I am keen that we remember all these things so we can ensure cricket can be a strong sport growing stronger during my Presidency.”In order for cricket to do that the ICC must maintain a unity of purpose, something that characterised the discussions of our board in April when it agreed to the venues for the hosting of 17 events over eight years with a positive consensus.”We should never overlook the simple truth that, as an organisation, we are stronger when we all act together. It sends out the right messages to our stakeholders and it is something else I am keen to maintain over my time as ICC president.”

Scotland have called up 19-year-old fast bowler Bradley Wheal for their upcoming tour to Hong Kong in January 2016. Scotland will play an Intercontinental Cup match, two ODIs as part of the World Cricket League Championship, and two Twenty20 internationals between January 21 and 31.South Africa-born Wheal, whose mother is Scottish, took seven wickets in a match for a Scotland XI against MCC in August this year. He played his first season for Hampshire in 2015, taking eight wickets in four matches in Division One of the County Championship, including a four-for against Middlesex.The squad does not include Hamish Gardiner and Gavin Main from the team that played the Intercontinental Cup and WCL Championship matches against Netherlands in September. Main was unavailable for selection, after opting to play in New Zealand in early January and February. Ruaidhri Smith, the 21-year-old allrounder, cited unavailability for the tour due to exams in January. Both Main and Smith are available for World T20 selection, a release from Cricket Scotland said.Matt Machan scored 0 and 3 in the Intercontinental Cup match against Netherlands but enjoyed a strong county season with Sussex, finishing with 955 from 14 matches at an average of 39.79. Machan returns after missing the World T20 Qualifier earlier in the year.Scotland’s Intercontinental Cup match against Hong Kong will be played between January 21 and 24. The two ODIs will be played on January 26 and 28, while the T20 matches are scheduled for January 30 and 31.Scotland are currently fourth on the WCL Championship table with two wins from four matches, and two no-results after their Netherlands fixtures were washed out. They are yet to register a win in the Intercontinental Cup after two games – they drew their opening match against Afghanistan and lost to Netherlands by 44 runs – and are placed seventh on the points table.Scotland squad: Preston Mommsen (Captain), Alasdair Evans, Bradley Wheal, Calum MacLeod, Con de Lange, George Munsey, Josh Davey, Kyle Coetzer, Mark Watt, Matt Machan, Matthew Cross, Michael Leask, Richie Berrington, Rob Taylor, Safyaan Sharif.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked the ICC to look into derogatorycomments allegedly made by Rudi Koertzen about the Pakistan team.During the Central Employment Tribunal’s hearing into Darrell Hair’s caseagainst the ICC last week, Hair had described a phone call in whichKoertzen, the South African umpire, had referred to the Pakistan team ascheats.Nasim Ashraf, chairman PCB, said, “We have written to the ICC to look intothis matter and verify the authenticity of the remarks Koertzen is allegedto have made.”Ashraf, who appeared at the tribunal half-an-hour before Hair withdrew thecase, also reiterated Pakistan’s stance that they felt Hair was unfit toofficiate at the elite level. “We have no personal issue against Hair,” he said. “Ourcomplaint was on the basis that Hair as an umpire failed. His judgement waswrong that day and his behaviour has to be rectified. For that he isundergoing rehabilitation and that is a positive step.”When asked what Pakistan’s stance would be were Hair to return, Ashrafsaid, “To say that he is coming back on the panel is putting an optimisticface on it. After rehabilitation, the ICC may consider if Hair is fit forumpiring. Our position remains the same, but after rehab the ICC boardwill revisit the issue.”

Michael Vaughan, the England captain, might resort to using an oxygen chamber in a bid to hasten his recovery from a broken finger.Vaughan fractured his right middle finger when he was struck by a lifter from Stuart Clark in Yorkshire’s Championship match against Hampshire at The Rose Bowl last Thursday, almost certainly ruling him out of the first Test against the West Indies in two weeks. Early reports from the England management also suggested that he might miss the second Test at Headingley, too.But Scott McAllister, the Yorkshire physio, isn’t ruling out using the oxygen chamber. “It is just one of the options being considered,” he told the , “but it may or may not be beneficial in Michael’s case. “We’re icing the finger to keep swelling to a minimum and concentrating on making sure it is immobile at all times.”Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a technique in which patients are exposed to 100% pure oxygen, promoting the formation of new capillaries surrounding the wounds and thus helping to hasten the recovery. It has been used by Wayne Rooney, the England footballer, and Simon Jones, the England fast bowler.”That combination of regular icing and immobility could well be the best route to follow but we’re keeping an open mind right now,” McAllister added. Should Vaughan not be fit in time for the first Test, which gets underway at Lord’s on May 17, it seems likely Andrew Strauss will replace him at the helm. And Strauss, who led England to a 3-0 win over Pakistan last summer, has received support from Darren Gough.”Without a doubt Strauss [should be captain], as he’s done it before and knows what it’s all about,” Gough told BBC Radio Five Live. “Unfortunately Flintoff got done for going out and having a drink but that should not stop him being captain of England. But I think they will go for Strauss.”

The Barbados government has rejected out of hand a plea by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to allow it to use Kensington Oval’s World Cup (CWC) gate receipts to clear some of its US$15 million debt.”It would be an act of irresponsible folly for us to take the only thing we would get from the World Cup and give it to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to pay its debts,” prime minister Owen Arthur said yesterday evening. He urged WICB president Ken Gordon and other officials of the cricket-managing body to “pass over the gate receipts so that we can start dealing with our financial matters at the Oval”.Arthur made the call while addressing Barbados Labour Party (BLP) faithful at Christ Church Parish Centre attending the uncontested nomination of minister of health Jerome Walcott, the sitting Member of Parliament, as candidate for Christ Church South. Arthur said Government had raised “a lot of money” to redevelop Kensington Oval with the understanding that the Local Organising Committee (LOC) would get the gate receipts from the matches played there.However, he disclosed that Gordon had written him, saying the board had a US$15 million debt “and they want us to agree that we will give them the gate receipts to pay their debts”.The Prime Minister said: “Now I have already written him to say that the Government of Barbados does not and will not agree . . . .” He said while he was sympathetic to the needs of the WICB and wanted to see its debt problem addressed, the board should hand over the gate receipts to the various countries that hosted CWC games “so that they can start paying their debts for building these stadiums”.Arthur also dismissed what he said was a statement by Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) president Tony Marshall that his group owned Kensington Oval. He said what the BCA owned was the land at Kensington Oval. Government owned 90% of the property development company that had been set up to develop Kensington, with the BCA owning the rest, Arthur said. Government, having spent over $100 million to redevelop the Oval, “shall not surrender our interest in it”, he declared. But he told the meeting: “We would like the partnership to continue.”The prime minister also announced that he had summoned a meeting with “all concerned” to deal with the ownership issue as well as the management of the Oval. “What the Government owns is ours and we have to put together a company to jointly manage it and a company also has to be put together to jointly own it and manage it, using a partnership.”