ScorecardCheshire made up for the disappointment of losing the MCCA Knockout at Lord’s by absolutely thumping Northumberland by an innings and 4 runs to take the MCCA Championship title.Nathan Dumelow took 6 for 74 to destroy Northumberland’s first innings, before Warren Goodwin and Danny Leech put on an opening stand of 317. Goodwin went on to make 154 and Leech 202. The trio’s outstanding performances at Jesmond gave Cheshire the upperhand early and they needed fewer than three of the four days of the final.Dumelow, the former Derbyshire player, went on to take nine wickets in the match, and there were five for Danny Woods.
A match that was billed as the clash of two returning legends has now been overshadowed by the words of another from across the seas. Sachin Tendulkar and Glenn McGrath are poised to renew acquaintance on Saturday afternoon, but the build-up to the match was dominated by Shane Warne’s scathing comments on coach John Buchanan.”I’m a big believer that the coach is something you travel in to get to and from the game!” Warne said, and catchy line though it was, neither Ricky Ponting, who addressed the media ahead of the India game, nor Buchanan was amused. You can depend on Warne to cause a stir though. No other cricketer on the planet would have managed to steal the limelight from Tendulkar, that too less than a day after a stirring unbeaten 141 on his return to the big time.Both teams struggled in the face of stunning assaults from West Indies in the Powerplay overs, but Australia held on to prevail, while India were denied the chance of a comeback by rain. And given the fact that they already have points on the board, Ponting hinted that Australia would keepfaith in the relatively inexperienced faces that triumphed over West Indies. One change could be at the top of the order, where Matthew Hayden – who averages a mighty 54.81 in 17 matches against India – should get the nod ahead of Simon Katich.Though the redoubtable McGrath will ask stern questions of India’s line-up, the likes of Nathan Bracken and Mitchell Johnson will be under immediate pressure against batsmen who certainly aren’t shot-shy. DanCullen, the offspinner from whom so much is expected, will also relish thechallenge of bowling to players who play spin perhaps better than anyoneelse.India are also likely to make just one change, with Yuvraj Singh coming infor either Mohammad Kaif or Suresh Raina, who batted so well in the slogovers against West Indies. “He came through a training and net sessionvery well yesterday, he had good practice,” said Dravid, when asked aboutYuvraj. “Today, he did all the physical drills, and he is fully fit. Ithink he should be there tomorrow.”Dravid also suggested that Virender Sehwag could continue in the middleorder as India look to fine-tune their strategy ahead of the ChampionsTrophy. “It’s all about how best to utilise the 50 overs,” he said. “Inthe middle overs, we need players with power and creativity on slow tracksthat we should find in India in the Champions Trophy and for the WorldCup. It’s an area that we have suffered in; lots of teams don’t haveplayers who can dominate the middle overs. We have Yuvraj and Dhoni, andif it works with Sehwag, it will be great for us. One-day cricket is allabout flexibility and being able to adapt.”The five-man bowling attack is unlikely to be weakened given how easilyWest Indies took them apart. But with Sreesanth and Ramesh Powar waitingon the sidelines, Rudra Pratap Singh and Harbhajan Singh will need to showsome improvement to keep their places in the XI for the remaining matches.India will take heart from numbers that suggest they play better againstAustralia at neutral venues. Though the overall head-to-head record isoverwhelmingly in Australia’s favour – 49 wins to 27 from 80 games – itnarrows down to 11 Aussie wins and 9 losses when the teams clash onforeign soil.
Come Saturday though, even the statistically minded will have eyes trainedon the tussle between two of the game’s ultimate warriors. Tendulkaraverages an astonishing 49.02 in 44 matches against the world’s best,further evidence, if any was needed, as to why he’s light years ahead ofanyone else as a one-day batsman. The fact that McGrath has just 32wickets at 26.28 – his career average is 22.45 – in 22 games against Indiaoffers further proof of just how effective Tendulkar has been at taking onthe shiny white ball. That said, McGrath won the contest that mattered, inthe 2003 World Cup final, something that still rankles with Tendulkar.Expect some fireworks.It will also be a big match for one man on the sidelines. Greg Chappell’splace in Australian cricket’s pantheon is beyond dispute, and this will bethe first time that he leads his Indian wards in a contest against theteam that has set the standards for nearly a decade. As Ponting said athis press conference, Chappell knows most of the Australian players aswell as anyone, and any little chinks that he remembers will be of immenseuse to an Indian side that has to win to stay alive in the competition.India (likely): 1 Sachin Tendulkar, 2 Rahul Dravid (capt), 3 IrfanPathan, 4 Virender Sehwag, 5 Yuvraj Singh, 6 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), 7Mohammad Kaif, 8 Ajit Agarkar, 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Rudra Pratap Singh,11 Munaf Patel.Australia (likely): 1 Matthew Hayden, 2 Phil Jaques, 3 RickyPonting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Mark Cosgrove, 6 Shane Watson, 7 BradHaddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Nathan Bracken, 10, Dan Cullen, 11Glenn McGrath.
An unbroken sixth wicket partnership of 110 by Matthew Maynard and RobertCroft restored Glamorgan`s fortunes after they had slumped to 38-4 in replyto Derbyshire`s first innings total of 420.Matthew Maynard continued his fine start to the season with an imperious 85,and the 37 year old had struck 14 crisp boundaries when bad light brought apremature end to the day`s play at 5.15pm.His partner Robert Croft had also looked in good form with the bat, racing toa 48 ball half-century. Earlier in the day, Croft claimed his 600th first-classvictim for the county when he took the final wicket of the Derbyshire inningsas Luke Sutton was caught by Adrian Dale for 120.There is better news today about Darren Thomas` twisted knee, and scans at aDerby hospital revealed that the seamer had only slightly torn a cartilegein his left knee, and the injury was not as bad as first thought.Andrew Davies had also recovered from the stomach virus that had forced himoff the field yesterday, and he was able to spend the morning session in theoutfield as the game resumed in Arctic-like conditions. A stark contrast tothe balmy temperatures yesterday, and it was so cold today that umpire David Constantdonned a white bobble hat and white gloves.
ScorecardAfter two draws and two defeats, New Zealand have finally completed their first victory of the tour, as Leicestershire were rolled over for 232 on the final day at Grace Road, to lose by 328 runs.Daniel Vettori was New Zealand’s star performer, picking up figures of 5 for 92, after Leicestershire had resumed on their overnight 68 for 2, still needing an improbable 493 for victory. But their faint hopes evaporated as soon as John Maunders was caught behind off Kyle Mills for 54 (124 for 3).It was a bit of a procession thereafter. Chris Cairns snuck in to bowl John Sadler for 18, and then it was over to Vettori, who grabbed five of the last six wickets. Only Darren Maddy offered any resistance. He played three Tests against New Zealand on their last tour in 1999, and his 87 was one of only four scores in double figures.Maddy was aided and abetted by Charlie Dagnall, who provided a bit of late resistance with a brisk 17, but Vettori swept both batsmen aside, as New Zealand gave themselves a timely shot in the arm before Thursday’s second Test at Headingley.
NATIONAL LEAGUE, ROUND 7Matches played Sunday 12 JanuarySunday 11 January – Mutare Sports Club v Queens Sports Club, at Harare Sports Club, was not played due to the cancellation of the air flight from Bulawayo.
ALEXANDRA SPORTS CLUB v QUEENS SPORTS CLUBAt Alexandra Sports Club. Match drawn (rain).QUEENS+W T Siziba c de Grandhomme b Blignaut 0R J King c Goosen b de Grandhomme 12M L Nkala c Goosen b Barry 8G M Strydom c D A Marillier b Barry 0H H Streak c Rennie b Stannard 75N R van Rensburg run out (Goosen/de G’homme) 1P N Engelbrecht c ? b D A Marillier 6M W Townshend c and b Rennie 0*M Mbangwa b D A Marillier 11R Lombard not out 7J Nyumbu c D Marillier b S Marillier 0Extras (lb 1 w 12) 13(49.4 overs) 133Blignaut 10 1 26 1 (6w)Barry 6 1 14 2de Grandhomme 6 1 15 1 (1w)Rennie 10 4 13 1D A Marillier 10 1 33 2 (3w)Stannard 5 0 22 1S J Marillier 2.4 0 9 1ALEXANDRAD de Beer c Siziba b Mbangwa 9C de Grandhomme not out 36*G J Rennie c and b Lombard 6D A Marillier not out 10A M Blignaut+G C GoosenJ CameronS J MarillierS BarryC M AnticevichD D StannardExtras (b 4 lb 2 w 8) 14(2 wkts; 20.4 overs) 75Nkala 4 0 23 0Streak 7 4 10 0Mbangwa 7.4 2 15 1Lombard 2 0 21 1HARARE SPORTS CLUB v MUTARE SPORTS CLUBAt Harare Sports Club. Mutare Sports Club won by 59 runs (Duckworth-Lewis).HARARE SPORTS CLUBM A Vermeulen c Sims b L J Soma 17*T R Gripper lbw b Whittall 56S V Carlisle not out 129+B R M Taylor b A Flower 15M R D Brundle lbw b A Flower 11R Croxford st Ferreira b Sims 12A Penney not out 4S BalaA MwayengaG Johnstone-RobertsonA MhanduExtras (lb 4 w 6 penalty 5) 15(5 wkts; 50 overs) 259Brent 6 0 27 0L J Soma 6 0 32 1Whittall 10 2 36 1Lewis 10 2 57 0 (1w)Sims 7 0 55 1A Flower 10 0 37 2 (5w)A D Soma 1 0 6 0MUTARE SPORTS CLUB*A D R Campbell not out 100+N R Ferreira c Mwayenga b Bala 46G J Whittall not out 16A FlowerR W SimsK P R WentG B BrentA D SomaL J SomaK J TaylorJ M LewisExtras (lb 2 w 16 nb 1) 19(1 wkt; 31 overs) 181Mwayenga 4 0 32 0Mhandu 4 0 29 0Penney 4 0 18 0Carlisle 3 0 20 0Bala 8 0 41 1Gripper 8 0 39 0OLD GEORGIANS SPORTS CLUB v OLD HARARIANS SPORTS CLUBAt Old Georgians Sports Club. Old Hararians won by two wickets.C B Wishart run out (Butterworth) 4A J Mackay c Brewer b Rinke 17*G W Flower c Ziegler b Chari 12C N Evans c Rinke b Chari 0L S Malloch-Brown c R Ervine b Strang 7M de Souza b Rinke 13G F Barrett c Benade b Rinke 13S Jones lbw b Strang 0W Mwayenga c Kaschula b Strang 5R J Bennett run out (Benade/Butterworth) 15I M Coulson not out 9Extras (lb 2 w 13 nb 2) 17(30.2 overs) 112Rinke 10 1 43 3Chari 9 1 33 2Butterworth 1 0 13 0Strang 8.2 4 13 3Benade 2 0 8 0OLD HARARIANST Benade c Barrett b Mackay 36R Kaschula c Evans b Mackay 1C H Brewer lbw b Mackay 7R E Butterworth c Jones b Mwayenga 4*P A Strang b Bennett 12C Ervine c Jones b Mwayenga 0G Ziegler b Coulson 19H P Rinke c Jones b Evans 4N Chari not out 15R Ervine not out 0+S KhanExtras (w 8 nb 7) 15(8 wkts; 32.1 overs) 113Mackay 9 0 44 3 (1w 7nb)Mwayenga 10 2 25 2 (3w)Bennett 7 2 26 1Flower 4.1 1 6 0Evans 1 0 12 1Coulson 1 1 0 1TAKASHINGA v KWEKWE SPORTS CLUBAt Eaglesvale School. Takashinga won by 99 runs. The Kwekwe innings does not add up.TAKASHINGAA Maregwede b Ervine 14E Chauluka b Price 30*S Matsikenyeri c Friend b Price 10T Taibu c and b Viljoen 9H Masakadza c Friend b Viljoen 67E Chigumbura b Rainsford 36P Utseya c Cornford b Sibanda 15R N Manyande c Macmillan b Ervine 4H K Olonga b Ervine 4A Maungwa not out 1A Mbwembwe b Ervine 0Extras (b 2 lb 6 w 13 nb 13) 34(48 overs) 224Ervine 9 0 47 4 (1w 8nb)Macmillan 2 0 22 0 (4w 2nb)Rainsford 10 0 45 1 (4w 2nb)Price 10 1 34 2 (1w)Viljoen 9 0 27 2Sibanda 8 0 41 1KWEKWET Duffin c Chigumbura b Olonga 0V Sibanda c Olonga b Masakadza 34T J Friend lbw b Olonga 6S M Ervine c Maregwede b Masakadza 47C Macmillan c Maregwede b Masakadza 3D P Viljoen c Chauluka b Masakadza 3J M Cornford b Utseya 3R W Price c Olonga b Masakadza 5+D J R Campbell run out (Matsikenyeri) 11B Hundermark not out 1E C Rainsford st Taibu b Masakadza 2Extras (w 6 nb 4) 10(33.4 overs) 126Olonga 7 2 22 2 (1w 4nb)Chigumbura 5 0 23 0 (1w)Maungwa 2 0 14 0Utseya 10 3 24 1 (2w)Masakadza 9.4 0 43 6
India did not enjoy a very testing warm-up for their first One-Day International in the triangular tournament, against Zimbabwe on Sunday.Zimbabwe A put up a dismal batting performance, allowing the Indians to romp home to an all-too-easy ten wicket victory in this match played at Sunrise Sports Club, in the heart of the Harare Indian community.Zimbabwe A suffered a poor start after winning the toss and batting. They lost both openers for 18, but then schoolboy Stuart Matsikenyeri (38) and Craig Wishart (22) overcame keen bowling backed by some superb fielding to improve the position with some bold strokes.Both fell in quick succession, together with Barney Rogers (0), and the score plummeted to 78 for five. It soon became 84 for seven as Tatenda Taibu ran himself out for four and captain Paul Strang was caught at the wicket first ball.Dirk Viljoen (12) briefly held up the tourists, but the miserable display continued to a total of 103 all out, off only 32.4 overs. Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Zahir Khan and Hemang Badani took two cheap wickets each.Virender Shewag got the Indian reply going with some lusty blows, and Sourav Ganguly soon began to find his form, hitting a huge six over long-on.Shewag generally took the eye, though, playing his strokes with gay abandon, and finished unbeaten on 75 (two sixes, 10 fours), with Ganguly 31.Only Bryan Strang was able to keep the score within reasonable bounds as the Zimbabwe A bowlers appeared as outclassed as their batsmen. They could and should have done much better, but it wasn’t easy to believe on this showing.
When Liverpool kicked off against Bournemouth in August, the Premier League cowered against Arne Slot’s title-winning side, who had so confidently won the previous edition and then made sweeping summer additions.
But many things, for different reasons, have gone wrong for the Anfield side. Several superstar signings, such as Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, have yet to hit their stride and prove to the Reds that they are worth the sum total of £241m.
Recent wins over Inter Milan and Brighton & Hove Albion, clean sheets in both, have provided a good foundation for the Merseyside club to build on going forward.
However, Liverpool can only go so far given the tactical imbalances in Slot’s squad. Much has been made of the lack of defensive depth, but the failure to directly replace Luis Diaz is proving a leech on the side of Slot’s set-up, and that’s why there is a vested interest in signing Antoine Semenyo this January.
Why Liverpool want Antoine Semenyo
Liverpool are just one team in a pool of suitors for Semenyo’s signature this winter. However, FSG and sporting director Richard Hughes believe they have the lead in the race, with the Bournemouth forward leaning toward a move to Anfield.
Semenyo’s £65m release clause becomes active in January. He has scored six goals and supplied three more in the Premier League this season, with teammate Justin Kluivert marvelling at his “world-class” partner’s consistency and influence.
Liverpool could do a lot worse. Slot knows first hand the impact the 25-year-old can have in the Premier League, such explosiveness and dynamism when surging forward, on the right flank or the left.
Liverpool did not replace Luis Diaz when they sold him to Bayern Munich in August, and now they are looking to amend that. However, Semenyo isn’t the only talented winger on the market; there is another who has been earmarked and might actually be the better pick.
Liverpool could sign a Semenyo upgrade
Semenyo is the talk of the town in the Premier League, but he’s not the only good winger who FSG could add to Slot’s Liverpool squad.
Bradley Barcola, for example, might be an alternative who could actually prove an upgrade on the Ghana international, who has not yet tried his hand at the highest level.
The 23-year-old is establishing himself as one of the most exciting forwards in Europe, and Liverpool are aware of this, with Caught Offside reporting last week that FSG are chasing their long-standing interest in the Frenchman as they sound out alternatives to Semenyo.
Recent sources suggest that a figure in the ballpark of £100m could be needed to convince PSG to part with one of their most exciting prospects, a player who had a vocal contribution to last year’s quadruple-winning success.
Is Barcola the finished product? No he is not. But even so, this Les Bleus winger is establishing himself as a superstar in the making, actually described as “one of the best left-wingers in Europe” already by analyst Ben Mattinson.
Last season, he scored 21 goals and supplied 21 assists for Luis Enrique’s side. This year, Barcola has bagged five goals from 13 matches in Ligue 1, starting nine of those games.
Looking at the sum of his quality, it’s clear to see that Barcola has more athleticism and roundedness across the park, and his natural wellspring of creativity could be perfect for a striker like Isak, who has only scored one Premier League goal this season.
Antoine Semenyo vs Bradley Barcola (past 12 months)
Stats (per 90)
Semenyo
Barcola
Goals scored
0.36
0.35
Assists
0.20
0.41
Shots taken
2.76
2.98
Shot-creating actions
3.51
4.58
Touches (att pen)
4.90
8.44
Pass completion (%)
73.2
83.6
Progressive passes
3.45
4.02
Progressive carries
3.65
5.08
Successful take-ons
1.62
1.57
Ball recoveries
4.18
3.10
Tackles + interceptions
1.87
2.07
Data via FBref
Isak is one of the best forwards in the world. Liverpool paid a lot of money for his goals. But this season, it’s been difficult for the Sweden international, who is struggling to adapt, struggling to restore his finest form and fitness levels.
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Still, his movement and anticipation are second to none when he is on his A-game. A creator like Barcola beside him, naturally disposed toward wing play, could prove the formula to bring back his blistering form in the final third. He might be a better pick than Semenyo.
Of course, one of these wingers plays for Bournemouth on the English south coast, while the other stars for PSG, widely regarded as the most accomplished and devastating outfit last season; perhaps that is still the case.
But Barcola’s talent is evident. This is a star worth getting behind, and he would be worth the extra pennies, should FSG decide to move for him over Semenyo.
He's proven Carragher wrong: Liverpool star has become their best player
This Liverpool star is certainly in the conversation for the club’s Player of the Season accolade.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMohammad Shahzad’s 63-run opening stand with Usman Ghani set the base for Afghanistan’s imposing 187•Chris Whiteoak
Both sides were far from their best on the field. While that didn’t translate into a high standard of cricket, it made for an entertaining clash nonetheless. The end result was a last-ball finish, with two metres and a fine low catch by Gulbadin Naib separating both sides as Afghanistan held their nerve to outclass Zimbabwe by five runs in the first T20I in Sharjah.But the catch wasn’t Naib’s only contribution in the match. His cameo of 37 and a 52-run stand for the fifth wicket with Mohammad Nabi gave Afghanistan the impetus they needed after a middle order slump orchestrated by Graeme Cremer, who picked up three wickets. Afghanistan blasted 66 off the last five overs to finish with 187 for 7. It nearly didn’t prove enough.With 60 needed off the last five overs, Zimbabwe were in with a slim chance. Malcolm Waller swung his way to more runs in this innings alone than he had done in the preceding ODI series, while Elton Chigumbura found his hitting range to bring it down to 21 off the last over. Asghar Stanikzai’s decision to keep his premier pacer Dawlat Zadran worked, but by only just. His end figures of 3 for 32 were far more flattering in the overall context, but the scorecard wouldn’t reveal how he nearly finished second-best on the night.He was lucky to get away with two high full tosses that were called no-ball, to give Zimbabwe two free-hits, which they couldn’t take full toll of. One of them even accounted for Chigumbura’s run-out as he was scampering back for the second. What followed was total pandemonium. But with 16 needed off four, Luke Jongwe muscled a six and a four to bring it down to six off two. Then came a close call, with Dawlat flirting with the wide line.With six needed off the final ball, Jongwe carved one over the infield only for Naib to, quite fittingly, take the catch at the deep-cover boundary to end the heart-stopping thriller. In the end, Zimbabwe were left wondering what could have been had they held their chances that would have ensured they didn’t have to chase these many.Mohammad Shahzad was dropped by Chamu Chibhabha at deep midwicket off the third ball to deny debutant Donald Tiripano a wicket Shortly after, Masakadza was caught in a brain freeze as his decision to run towards the stumps instead of lobbing a throw to the wicketkeeper resulted in Usman Ghani a reprieve. The result of the two misses cost Zimbabwe 33 and 42 respectively, which set them a solid base for a blaze at the end.But Cremer wasn’t giving up. The classical legspinner used his height and clever use of angles to generate bounce and beat the batsmen with his dip. The end result was magical figures of 4-0-17-3 that briefly caused a few flutters in the Afghanistan camp as they slipped from 62 without loss to 105 for 4. But Tendai Chisoro, the left-arm spinner, and Raza, the part-time offspinner, failed to create the same impact Cremer had.While Chisoro kept firing them in, only for Nabi and Naib to get underneath the ball and hit them cleanly, Raza fed them with long hops that were dispatched. When their partnership, that gave the innings a power-boost ended with Chisoro sending back Nabi, the mood in the Zimbabwe camp spelt relief.There wasn’t an iota of doubt that this would be a difficult chase. The loss of two early wickets, both to Dawlat, gave Afghanistan an early advantage. But Hamilton Masakadza and Richmond Mutumbami then came out swinging as Afghanistan’s bowlers repeatedly missed their lengths. The result was Zimbabwe wiping out 95 runs in 11 overs.But the pressure of the asking rate and some tight bowling by the spinners following Masakadza’s downfall to a reverse sweep for 33 allowed Afghanistan a foot in the door. Sikandar Raza and Waller then continued to keep the fight going. Aiding them along the way was some heavy dew and some poor death bowling as Zimbabwe managed to find the boundaries with regularity.Waller cashed in on Rashid Khan’s inexperience by targeting the short midwicket boundaries. Yet there was a lingering feeling that Zimbabwe were just a wicket away from being squeezed out of the contest. But they did well to hang in till the very end courtesy Jongwe’s two blows that could have been decisive, but Afghanistan did remarkably well to hold their own under pressure to eke out a win that could have a galvanising effect on them.
An enthralling series swung back England’s way at Edgbaston with a well-constructed 42-run victory. Chasing 282, India made a decent fist of the pursuit as Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid added 104 in nearly 20 overs, but Chris Tremlett removed both in a vital second spell. Paul Collingwood enjoyed a fine all-round game with 44, two wickets and a couple of sharp catches, while Ian Bell’s 79 had held the batting together.It was a superb collective effort from England’s bowlers, without the services of Andrew Flintoff with a knee injury. James Anderson led the display with another mature performance – removing Sachin Tendulkar for the fifth time this summer – and was backed-up by an excellent early spell from Stuart Broad. Tremlett , England’s most expensive bowler at Bristol, bounced back from watching his first two overs go for 20 with the key double of Dravid and Ganguly in the space of six balls.Their third-wicket stand had wrestled back the initiative from England after Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik picked out off-side fielders against the short ball. Dravid was the first to show aggression, taking 12 off Broad’s eighth over, and his 51-ball half-century continued an upturn in form since the one-dayers began. Ganguly settled into playing the anchor role, and his knock included was studded with some fine boundaries. Twice he guided Tremlett through the vacant slip cordon and launched Monty Panesar over long-on for six.Without Flintoff, and with Tremlett’s early profligacy, Collingwood was really tested in the field. Almost all his moves paid off and when he recalled Tremlett for another burst, Dravid chopped one onto his stumps and Ganguly was undone by extra bounce as he tried to find third man again. England had an opening and Collingwood had some breathing space.As India tried to rebuild for a second time, Collingwood bowled himself, Panesar and Ravi Bopara but managed to keep the asking rate at a tough level. Mahendra Singh Dhoni never unleashed his full power, and when Collingwood brought back Anderson he picked out the captain at backward point.India had taken a risk by naming a team with a batting order that ended at No. 6. The move had now come back to haunt them with Yuvraj Singh left stranded with the lower order. Collingwood removed Ramesh Powar and Piyush Chawla, both expertly pouched by Bell. If ever there was a match where one team deserved victory for completely out-fielding the opposition this was it. As if to sum up India’s lethargy, their last hope vanished when Yuvraj was run-out in a hopeless mix-up with Zaheer Khan.
Both India ‘s defeats have come after Dravid asked England to bat. Here he had been tempted to bowl because of the 10.15 start but the sun was soon out and there wasn’t much joy for the quick bowlers. Alastair Cook – dropped on 15 by RP Singh at long leg – and an unconvincing Matt Prior provided a solid base with 76 before Bell took over.He followed his unbeaten 126 at the Rose Bowl and 64 at Bristol with another well-paced innings, constantly having to adjust his target as England lost regular wickets. There was another fascinating battle between England’s batsmen and India’s spinners, who sent down 26 overs after they were introduced well inside the Powerplay and continued as late as the 45th over.Powar flighted the ball enticingly – some deliveries were as slow as 43mph – and the batsmen struggled to get him away. Chawla again troubled Kevin Pietersen with his googly and changes of pace, beautifully setting him up before Pietersen charged down the track and played all round another wrong ‘un.Bell and Collingwood stabilised the innings although there was a hint of block-or-bash about the approach as both batsmen managed to clear long-on while struggling to milk the runs along the ground. Collingwood’s ugly attempt at a reverse sweep found short third-man, ending a stand of 75, just at the time they were aiming to press the accelerator with Bell reaching fifty off 64 balls.Owais Shah, after a late recall to replace the injured Dimitri Mascarenhas, offered a skittish 19 which included plenty of by-play with Yuvraj. A big full toss was slammed over deep midwicket, the next ball Shah was bowled by a flatter ball and Yuvraj didn’t hide his delight. However, it was England who had the last laugh as they continue to exceed expectations in this series.
ScorecardSussex’s batsmen took a firm grip on the Championship trophy at Trent Bridgetoday as they finished the first day of their title decider on 420 for 5, claiming all four bonus points.The day ended dramatically with Charlie Shreck bowling Murray Goodwin for 99 with the final ball but even this could not take the gloss off Sussex’s performance.They had recovered from a difficult start – Richard Montgomerie andMichael Yardy putting on 144 for the second wicket after Carl Hopkinson hadrun himself out in the third over. As it transpired, Hopkinson was the onlySussex batsman to miss out, with Yardy continuing his fine summer in scoring119 and Goodwin, Montgomerie and Chris Adams also scoring fifties.Yardy’s was a fine innings, full of character, after a scratchy start when he edged a couple of balls through the close cordon and could have been run out. He gained another reprieve when Stephen Fleming put him down at slip off Andrew Harris and damaged his little finger in the process, resulting in a trip to hospital for the Notts captain. This incidentepitomized Notts’ performance in the field, with missed opportunities allowingSussex to speed towards 400.Notts missed their captain badly, and their bowling became more ragged asthe day went on. Even Ryan Sidebottom, the one bowler to emerge with credit,seemed pedestrian by the end, conceding four fours to Matthew Prior in onelate over.Richard Montgomerie had scored a fine 82 to anchor the innings, and after hewas out to Harris, Yardy and Goodwin continued the good work in apartnership of 110. Yardy had begun to accelerate, looking every inch anEngland player as he feasted on a series of loose balls to move quicklythrough the nineties to his ton, before he was lbw playing across the lineto the spin of Samit Patel.Goodwin, whose effort was doubly commendable as he was batting with aninjured hand, was then joined by the captain Chris Adams. They moved rapidlytowards the 400-mark before Adams clipped an innocuous Shreck delivery with the second new ball straight to midwicket. Adams was visibly annoyed with himself after a 91-ball 72, but he had done his job, guiding his side to within touching distance of the title.With Lancashire 333 for 7 at The Rose Bowl and in danger of dropping vitalbonus points, Sussex can really turn the screw tomorrow, and with Matt Priorlooking in ominous touch and Robin Martin-Jenkins to come they are well set topush on to 500 before letting Mushtaq off the leash.