Tag Futebol

Division One

Points table

Middlesex and Durham contested a tight match at Lord’s but it was the home side who ran out winners, by 13 runs. When Durham slumped to 99 for 5 chasing 259 it seemed that the game was over, but Gary Scott (49*) helped to rally the troops and they made a handy fist of things, but in the end the total was just too much for them. Owais Shah did the damage for Middlesex, blasting an unbeaten 122 from 109 balls, and he was well-supported by Scott Styris’s 74 not out; they shared an unbroken – and crucial – stand of 145 runs.Usman Afzaal and Robert White both hit rapid fifties to set up victory for Northamptonshire at Northampton. The home side made a mountainous 271 that proved too much for Nottinghamshire who made a game chase, but were always behind the target. Lance Klusener stood out among the bowlers – he took 4 for 54 from his 7.5 overs.

Division Two

Points tableThe game of the day came from the Rose Bowl where Somerset edged a low-scoring thriller with three balls to go. Hampshire made just 156 but some tight bowling – in particular Shaun Udal’s 2 for 32 – kept them in the hunt till the end, although Matthew Wood stood firm from the top with an unbeaten 77. But it was Somerset’s bowlers who had the edge; Richard Johnson impressing with 1 for 17 from seven overs, and Arul Suppiah took 2 for 20 from his seven. Hampshire’s topscorer was Dominic Thornely, who made 66.Surrey coasted to an easy eight-wicket win against Derbyshire at Chesterfield. Nayan Doshi took five wickets to spin out Derbyshire for 207, then Ally Brown and James Benning put on a commanding opening stand of 155 to set up the win, Brown making a 68-ball hundred and Benning a 59-ball 66. Brown’s knock included eight fours and eight sixes, Benning’s 11 fours and just the one six, with the pair continuing their good form in the Twenty20. Mark Ramprakash (33*) completed the job with Mark Butcher who didn’t even need to face a ball.Gloucestershire dominated a non-contest against Yorkshire at Cheltenham. Alex Gidman’s 3 for 21 helped to chip out Yorkshire for just 154, with Craig White’s 69 the only contribution of note. In reply, Hamish Marshall and Chris Taylor both made unbeaten fifties in quick-time to take Gloucestershire to an eight-wicket win with more than 16 overs to spare. Their unbroken stand was worth 104.

The Edgbaston groundsman Steve Rouse believes he is several days behind in his preparation for the second Ashes Test following last week’s freak tornado which swept through Birmingham.England, 1-0 down in the series after losing last month’s series opener against Australia by 239 runs at Lord’s, added Paul Collingwood to their squad Monday for the game, which is due to start on Thursday, because of concerns about the wet surface.”I’ve been devastated about this,” Rouse told the Birmingham Post on Wednesday. “You work up to this all season and when the weather comes down like that and you can’t do anything you sometimes wonder whether it’s all worth it.”You have to tell yourself it’s all part of the job, but you can never trust the English weather. It’s not like being in Cape Town or Perth when you can flood the wicket a few days before, roll it out and it’s all done. “I’ve never been so far behind prior to a Test match before. We’re probably about four days behind in our preparation – it won’t be a quick wicket, that’s for sure,” added Rouse, who played at Edgbaston as a Warwickshire seam bowler throughout the 1970s and early 80s.Even so, Warwickshire might have had to cancel the match or see it taken elsewhere had the tornado hit the ground rather than struck 400 yards away. But while buildings at Edgbaston remain unscathed, the pitch suffered from three inches of rain in four days and an inch falling in a minute at the tornado’s peak last Thursday.”The wicket has got a crust on the top of it at the moment, but there’s still a lot of moisture underneath which isn’t surprising after what we had,” said Rouse. “It was frightening what happened and the covers that were supposed to be out there were just floating on top of the water.”Up until then our preparations were fine. It was damp, but you can usually water it up until a couple of days before – it’s been the worst possible preparation leading up to the Test match.”

Match abandoned due to rain

The rain has returned to put an end to what would have been, in effect, the first Twenty20 international. Following a major mopping-up operation at Hampshire’s Rose Bowl ground, the game between West Indies and New Zealand had been reduced to a bare-minimum 20-overs-a-side affair. But, no sooner had Brian Lara won the toss and decided to field, the heavens opened and the match had to be called off.It was rather a surprise that any match at all had been in prospect. After several failed inspections, umpire Daryl Harper finally announced at 3pm that there was time for a 20-overs game, but that 4.32pm was the latest possible start time. As if on cue, heavy rain drenched the outfield at 4.30pm, and that was effectively that.In a surprise selection, New Zealand had called Andre Adams into the squad for this game. Adams had been playing club cricket in the Lancashire leagues, and was called in as bowling cover ahead of the Lord’s final, after an injury had sidelined Daryl Tuffey. But the rain gods have forced the postponement of his comeback.

Here is confirmation of the details for Glamorgan`s fourth round match in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy against Derbyshire at Cardiff on 28th May 2003 (reserve day 29th May).The match will start at 10.45am, and the cost for members and non-members alike will be £12 for adults, and £6 for juniors (16 or under as at 1.4.03) and Senior Citizens (state pension age).Tickets can be purchased in advance from Glamorgan`s Reception at Sophia Gardens during normal office hours – and matchdays – or by ringing our main office number 029 2040 9380 (Postal / Phone applications attract a £1 admin fee per ticket).

Somerset all rounder Ian Blackwell told me he was flattered to be nominated by the Cricket Writers for the Young Player of the Year Award.After scoring 86 to help Somerset Sabres beat Leicester Foxes at the County Ground he told me, “I feel very flattered to be nominated, but to be quite honest I hadn’t heard anything about it until I read it on Ceefax.”He went on, “it’s hard to take on board the recognition that people give you but it’s nice to be appreciated.”

Former New Zealand bowler Gavin Larsen has been named a national selector as a replacement for Bruce Edgar, who stood down from the position in May.Larsen will assist New Zealand coach Mike Hesson in picking the Test, ODI, T20I as well as the New Zealand A squads. Larsen’s first task will selecting the squad for the tour to Zimbabwe and South Africa, which will be announced on Thursday.”Gavin will be a real asset,” NZC’s Head of Cricket Lindsay Crocker said. “His breadth of experience – as a player, as a Cricket World Cup administrator and a former chief executive of Cricket Wellington means he’s stayed close and connected to the game.”Larsen, who served as a Cricket Operations Manager for New Zealand during the World Cup, expressed excitement about the new role. “I have the utmost respect and admiration for the way the Blackcaps have moved things forward under Mike’s direction and I’m looking forward to helping that progress continue.”It’s impossible not to be impressed by the consistency and stability of the selection process in recent years, which, I believe, points to excellence in terms of leadership.”Larsen played 121 ODIs and eight Tests between 1990 and 1999.

With a number of counties under attack for packing their sides with Kolpak players – last week Geoff Miller, the head selector, was at Edgbaston where Warwickshire and Leicestershire fielded ten South Africans between them – David Smith, the Leicestershire chief executive, has hit back.Smith said that Leicestershire had identified the need to bring on the best young English talent and, as a result, had a policy of including England-qualified under 25s.”The make-up of our core group of senior professionals this season has been the subject of some comment recently in the media,” Smith said. “What has received less comment is the number of young England-qualified cricketers that we have played so far in line with our stated policy. In each of our three Championship games to date, Leicestershire have selected more England qualified cricketers aged 25 and under than each of our respective opponents, averaging over five per game.”In recent seasons, Durham have demonstrated that the tactical use of non-qualified, senior role model professionals, such as Dale Benkenstein, can be highly effective and beneficial and there need not be a contradiction between playing non-qualified senior players and developing cricketers for England. That is the same path we at Leicestershire have chosen to take.”Smith insisted that young players who show promise in the 2nd XI will be given every opportunity. “With four ECB Level 4 coaches we have one of the most highly qualified coaching teams in the country aimed at developing young cricketers and giving them every opportunity of making the grade in first-class cricket. Our core group of senior players will be rotated over the season.”

Even after the debacle of the first ODI, following as it did hard on the heels of the 3-0 Test whitewash, Shaun Williams, Bangladesh’s coach, had refused to become despondent. “I think still there were lot of positive things for us as we dominated the match till 60 overs and our bowling was tremendous,” he said.However, the biggest question surrounding the Bangladesh team is whether, despite the obvious intent, they can avoid repeating the negatives. Throughout the summer, the batting has let them down and the first ODI had presented the same script.Unlike in the Tests, they had made a promising start and Sri Lanka’s 234 did not look too distant at 45 for 0 in 11 overs. But then came the familiar collapse as they slid to 56 for 5. The broadsheets back home in Bangladesh have not taken to it kindly. The Daily Star slammed Mohammad Ashraful’s tendency to play rash strokes with a headline, ‘A fatal illness!’Ashraful had swayed away from two bouncers but top edged the third to fine leg. “Believe me I went into the middle with a mind set of avoiding the pull shots, but I made the same mistake,” Ashraful said. “I am ready to accept all the blame. All the other batsmen have reasons for their dismissals but there was no excuse in my case. I can’t still believe that we lost the match. What a great opportunity we spoiled.””It was disappointing the way we lost the match because we were in a position to win it. But I don’t want to criticise any individual player because the whole squad is disappointed by the outcome,” said Williams. Tomorrow offers another opportunity at redemption.However, they would take heart from the bowling performance. Mashrafe Mortaza, who had looked listless in the Tests, came back up with an improved performance and Syed Rasel strangled with a nagging line and length.Sri Lanka do not have any such worries. “We want to have a clean sweep in the one-day series just like the Tests,” Mahela Jayawardene said on the eve of the ODI series. Although without Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas they have a strong bowling lineup in Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando and Farvez Maharoof. The batting, with the return of Sanath Jayasuriya, looks formidable and Jayawardene will be looking to seal the series tomorrow.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq guided a jittery Pakistan to a five-wicket win as they began their UK tour in Edinburgh. Pakistan wobbled on 93 for 5, but they eventually eased home with 37 balls to spare. However, Scotland can be proud of their efforts, especially the stand of 113 between Ryan Watson and Neil McCallum which was the backbone of their total.The packed Grange ground was treated to a decent day’s cricket, starting with impressive bowling from Pakistan, followed by the Watson-McCallum alliance, a fine spell from Paul Hoffmann and the elegance of Yousuf and Razzaq. However, at the end the international skill and calmness of Pakistan proved too much for Scotland.But at one stage a major upset was on the cards. Hoffman caused the early alarms for Pakistan through an outstanding spell of medium-pace with the new ball. He had Salman Butt caught at slip, Shoaib Malik clubbed to mid-on and also removed Younis Khan. The top order didn’t find their timing – they only arrived in the country on Sunday – and the situation was particularly dicey when Inzamam-ul-Haq was caught behind off Dewald Nel.The 3000-strong crowd had flocked in to watch many of the Pakistan stars, but none more so that Shahid Afridi. The cheers that greeted him as he walked in continued with every shot although he never really hit his straps. Attempting to up the tempo he was held on the long-off boundary off Ross Lyons – the young offspinner – and Scotland started to believe.However, Yousuf is a master of such situations and milked the bowling in partnership with Razzaq. As the target got closer both batsmen began to open their shoulders and Razzaq completed the chase with a rash of blistering boundaries across, and over, the ropes to stamp Pakistan’s authority. Scotland, though, more than held their own.Spurning the chance to enjoy some early-tour batting practice, Inzamam asked Scotland to bat first and was immediately rewarded when Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif reduced them to 20 for 4, also with the aid of Gavin Hamilton’s run out.However, Watson has been in fine form of late in club and C&G Trophy cricket and took the attack to the Pakistan bowlers. After weathering the storm from Asif and Gul he tore into a wayward first over from Razzaq – which cost 16 – and launched Scotland on their way then launched Danish Kaneria over deep midwicket for six. Watson’s fifty came off 49 balls as Pakistan were given more of a run-around than they would have expected.He received outstanding support from McCallum, who was happy to play second fiddle, but also kept the scoreboard ticking. His half-century took 100 balls as the pair added Scotland’s highest stand against a full international side. Watson chipped a catch back to Afridi and when a useful stand of 55 between McCallum and Douglas Lockhart was ended the innings withered away. Malik helped himself to three wickets at the death and kept the total down after 230 was a possibility.Scotland gave Pakistan a real test with the type of performance that the beleaguered England side would gladly take. It wasn’t enough, but everyone took plenty from the match; Pakistan have started with a win and Scotland have shown they are no pushovers as they build towards the World Cup.

Little-known opening batsman Brendan Nash pushed Queensland into a promising position against NSW on the opening day of the Pura Cup cricket match at the Gabba today.At tea, the Bulls were 2-176 with Nash batting through both sessions for 91 not out after Queensland had been sent in by new Blues skipper Simon Katich.Nash was the anchor for the Bulls, outlasting captain Jimmy Maher (39) and Martin Love (27) and showing some aggression against leg-spinner Stuart MacGill (1-49 from 16 overs).The 24-year-old left-hander raced past 50 with three boundaries, hitting against the spin, from one MacGill over before hitting two fours from the next over sent down by Nathan Bracken (0-20).Nash was following his excellent 96 against Tasmania in the Bulls’ Pura Cup final victory last season.Stuart Law was unbeaten on nine at tea, playing a record-breaking 124th interstate match for Queensland.The Bulls did not give a chance until Maher edged Don Nash (1-26) down the legside to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin in the second over after lunch.Nash and Love then added 79 runs in a stylish partnership before MacGill was rewarded by claiming Love to a sharp catch at first slip by Michael Clarke.