Pentasoft ousted Canara Bank by two wickets to enter the semifinals of the Moin-ud-Dowlah Cup in Hyderabad on Friday. With ONGC having withdrawn from the tournament, this Group D encounter was a cut throat game at the ECIL ground, both protagonists having beaten Hyderabad Districts, the only other team in the group. Brothers S Ramesh and S Mahesh were the leading participants in the Pentasoft run-chase as the Chennai based software company reached their target of 200 with seven balls to spare.In the morning session, the bankmen after being put in to bat, made 199/9. This was a palpable recovery for they had been lost four wickets for 30 at one stage, including the important scalp of Vijay Bharadwaj for 11. But the lower order applied themselves to the task of batting out the full 50 overs. Sunil Joshi (29) and Somasekhar Shiraguppi (31) commenced the rearguard action. And it was completed with gusto by Srinivas Murthy who remained undefeated on 46 (53 balls, 4 fours) and skipper Venkatesh Prasad who revealed some hitherto unrevealed flair with the bat with a run-a-ball 24. S Mahesh and S Satish both had identical figures of 2/30.In reply, Openers M Arvind and S Ramesh added 62 for the first wicket and skipper Ramesh in the company of SS Das compiled another 58 for the second. At 134/2 Pentasoft were sitting pretty but the loss of three wickets (Ramesh, Kanitkar and Jaffer Ashiq) in the space of four overs left them slightly perturbed at 139/5. Ramesh’s 59 was a quickfire effort, coming off 71 balls and inclusive of eight boundaries. Although C Raghu (4/30) kept Pentasoft on their toes, Mahesh (43 not out, 60 balls, 4 fours) retained his composure to see Pentasoft home from the last ball of the penultimate over and round off a good match for him.

BPL put it across hosts Hyderabad by two wickets in a seat edgethriller in the Moin-ud-Dowlah Cup at the AOC ground in the citytoday. SR Deepu had a brilliant allround game for the winners,grabbing 5/33 with the ball to shut out Hyderabad for 177 and thenmaking an unbeaten 42 to pilot BPL home with one ball to spare.Hyderabad elected to bat after winning the toss and a useful openingstand of 76 between Nandakishore (45) and Daniel Manohar (41) in lessthan 20 overs gave them a strong foundation which the later batsmencontrived to squander. After Syed Nooruddin made the initial inroadsby dismissing Manohar, Deepu took over, slicing through the middleorder with precision. Nooruddin also joined the party with a bag of3/32 as Hyderabad collapsed from 113/1, losing their last nine wicketsfor 63.In reply, BPL lost Nooruddin to Fiaz Ahmed in the third over and thesame bowler also sent back Yere Goud to leave them at 26/2. VinayKumar (30) and Nitin Mulki (52) then came together in the brightestspot of the innings, adding 55 for the third wicket. Mulki and Deepuput on a further 44 for the fourth wicket before the former was runout at 125.From there things steadily went downhill for BPL as the next threebatsmen fell for ducks and they slipped to 128/7, having lost fourwickets for three runs in a spectacular collapse. Deepu who hadsurvived all the carnage got a willing partner in BN Ramesh with whomhe added 37 to take BPL to the doorstep of victory. No.10 SandeepHebbar came out with 13 required in 15 balls and they just aboutsqueaked home.

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Wriddhiman Saha fell two short of a century in Mohali•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Jiwanjot Singh followed up his double-century on debut with an unbeaten century in his second first-class game to help put Punjab into a position of strength in Mohali. With his 102 not out, scored alongside Mayank Sidana’s unbeaten 107, Jiwanjot’s average now reads 315. This was Sidhana’s second first-class century.Such joy evaded Wriddhiman Saha, who fell two short of a century in the morning session. This was Saha’s third fifty-plus score in three innings in this Ranji Trophy. Punjab, though, did well enough to take the last three Bengal wickets for just 12 runs. Rahul Sharma, making a comeback after Harbhajan Singh left for the England Tests, took four wickets.Bengal made a good start with the ball, but after Karan Goel’s wicket they bowled 57 wicketless overs for 206 runs. Ashok Dinda bowled 20 unsuccessful overs.
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At the end of a topsy-turvy second day, Mumbai and Rajasthan looked set to settle their differences through first-innings lead. Rajasthan scored 209 runs for the loss of eight wickets on day two, following which the Mumbai openers batted out 28 overs without any loss.Rajasthan lost Vineet Saxena for his overnight 114, and Mumbai capped off a tight session with the wickets of Robin Bist and Ashok Menaria. At 322 for 5 Rajasthan found a 58-run partnership for the sixth wicket only to lose three for 19 again.However, Dishant Yagnik and Pankaj Singh added 62 for the ninth wicket, and a 17-run final-wicket stand took Rajasthan to 478. The Mumbai openers, though, brought the game right back in balance by denying the Rajasthan bowlers.
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VVS Laxman, who after his Test retirement has committed to helping his Ranji side out of the doldrums, scored his 55th first-class century to carry Hyderabad to 341, a score from where they can hope to earn their first points of the season.This was Laxman’s 55th first-class century. Twenty-three of those have come for Hyderabad, a record for the Ranji side. He began the day at 70 not out, but lost Hanuma Vihari early. Vihari scored 81 in a 143-run partnership. Laxman, though, carried the lower order until he fell for 120, with the score at 251 for 7.A familiar story of a collapse after Laxman seemed to be playing itself out, but Mohammed Khader and Vishal Sharma added 71 crucial runs for the last wicket, a contribution most likely to please Laxman, who made scoring with the tail an artform.The bowlers continued in that spirit and Khader, Pagadala Naidu and Vihari took a wicket each before stumps to put Hyderabad in control.
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Overnight batsmen Manprit Juneja and Rujul Bhatt ground Saurashtra into the Surat dust as Gujarat added 322 runs on the second day before declaring at 600 for 9. Saurashtra might have started the day with some hope after having taken five wickets on the first day, but it took them 53.1 overs to take their first wicket of the second, by which time Juneja and Bhatt had added 239 for the sixth wicket.This was the second first-class century for both Juneja and Bhatt, who are making it a habit of making tons into big ones. Their 159 and 160 not out didn’t even come close to threatening their personal bests, 201 not out and 186.The Saurashtra openers batted out the 12 overs they were asked to just before stumps, but their side know they are still in for a big fight.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details3:17

Our batting has been disappointing – Patel

Nawroz Mangal’s second consecutive Man-of-the-Match performance put Afghanistan back in the World Twenty20 as the side coasted to a six-wicket win over Papua New Guinea. Mangal hit a chanceless 65 not out to chase down PNG’s 127 for 6, as Afghanistan reached the target with 10 balls to spare.PNG’s decision to bat first was a curious one with the knowledge that all four morning games at Malahide prior to Thursday’s contest had been won by the chasing team. Afghanistan gleefully accepted the opportunity to bowl first and pinned PNG back to 20 for 2 in a boundary-free Powerplay.Both openers were caught behind for 5 in successive overs – Lega Siaka was out after flat-footed swish to Dawlat Zadran while Tony Ura feathered an edge off an attempted pull against Shapoor Zadran. Vani Morea fell to Mohammad Nabi in the eighth over for 9, given leg-before missing a paddle sweep, though replays showed there was some doubt as to whether contact was in line with off stump.Assad Vala, PNG’s leading scorer in the group stage, added just 7 before he was given out shuffling across his stumps to the medium-pace of Mirwais Ashraf. Mahuru Dai tried to bring life to PNG’s innings by scooping Shapoor over fine-leg but was out next ball for 11 after his uppercut found Mangal at third man to make it 55 for 5 in the 13th.Hamid Hassan had been out of the line-up for Afghanistan’s two losses in the tournament to Oman and Hong Kong, and bowled decently in his first three overs to take 1 for 16 including a reverse-swinging gem that bowled Jack Vare for 13 to end the 17th at 89 for 6. However, Hassan came in for some heavy punishment in the 19th from Norman Vanua and Charles Amini, conceding 20 runs to spoil his figures.Vanua, whose unbeaten 28 off 10 balls at no. 10 propelled PNG to a two-wicket win over Ireland, came in at no. 8 today and provided a similar spark, cracking Hassan over square-leg for six and again through the covers for four before Amini paddled a four behind square later in the over. Vanua ramped Mirwais Ashraf in the 20th and ended unbeaten on 22 off 10, while Amini’s run-a-ball 37 was PNG’s highest individual score in Ireland. The pair’s 38-run stand to end the innings gave the side hope.That hope was extended further on the first ball of the chase as Vanua got Mohammad Shahzad to chase a short and wide delivery, giving a toe edge for a golden duck. Another opportunity was available to get Asghar Stanikzai on 9 in the fourth over, but Amini’s dart for the stumps from mid-on was wide.PNG did their best to keep things tight but Afghanistan were patient enough to wait for the loose ball to release any building pressure. Mangal smacked a boundary over the leg side to start the sixth off Chad Soper and then heaved a half-tracker from Dai over the midwicket rope to start the ninth.The 57-run stand was finally broken by the legspin of Amini, who enticed Stanikzai to come down the track on a loopy good length delivery dragged wide outside off. The turn beat Stanikzai’s edge and Vare whipped off the bails for 22, ending the 10th at 57 for 2.The briefest bit of PNG momentum was stolen back immediately by Mangal, who counter-punched in the 11th by launching back-to-back sixes from Dai’s off spin back over the bowler’s head. The only blips in the chase from thereon were the wickets of Samiullah Shenwari and Mohammad Nabi. Shenwari’s attempted reverse-paddle off Amini went to Dai at backward point and Nabi skied a pull against Vanua to Dai at midwicket in the 17th.But Mangal had brought up his 50 off 43 balls by that point and any hopes of a PNG comeback were completely shattered when Loa Nou bowled consecutive front foot no balls in the 18th, the second of which was catapulted for six by Najibullah Zadran to bring the equation down to nine off 15 balls. Najibullah ended the match in the next over with another six.Afghanistan now go to the World Twenty20 for the fourth consecutive time while PNG end the tournament with three straight defeats when a win in any of those contests – against Namibia, USA and Afghanistan – would have clinched a spot in India for the side.

Pakistan will tour England for the first time since the spot-fixing scandal of 2010, with next summer’s schedule for four Tests, five ODIs and a T20 confirmed by the ECB. Sri Lanka are England’s other opponents and will arrive in early May, a time of the year that regularly leads to a clash with the IPL.Both touring sides will play ODIs in Ireland ahead of limited-overs series with England – a development that goes towards Cricket Ireland’s attempts to secure more regular fixtures against Full Member opposition.England’s Test series against Pakistan will be squeezed into little more than a month, with two sets of back-to-back Test matches separated by an eight-day gap – during which Pakistan will play a tour match against Worcestershire. They have also been given three-day warm-up matches at Taunton and Hove before the first Test at Lord’s begins on July 14.The Test will Pakistan’s first at Lord’s since the events of 2010 that led to Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif being banned for a scheme to bowl deliberate no-balls. Amir could yet be part of the touring squad, having recently begun to play domestic cricket again in Pakistan. The bans on all three will expire next week.Sri Lanka also have two tour matches scheduled, against Essex and Leicestershire, before beginning the three-Test series with back-to-back matches at Headingley – scene of their series-clinching victory in 2014 – and Chester-le-Street. A Lord’s Test in the relative warmth of June follows, then two ODIs in Ireland, five ODIs against England and a single T20.Trent Bridge will not host a Test for the first time since 2009, while Bristol will hope to see the return of international cricket after five years, having suffered a washout during the visit of India in 2014.Sri Lanka in England and Ireland 2016
May 4: Sri Lanka arrive
May 8-10: Essex, Chelmsford
May 13-15: Leicestershire, Grace Road
May 19-23: 1st Investec Test, Headingley
May 27-31: 2nd Test, Chester-le-Street
June 9-13: 3rd Test, Lord’s
June 16: 1st ODI v Ireland, TBC
June 18: 2nd ODI v Ireland, TBC
June 21: 1st Royal London ODI, Trent Bridge
June 24: 2nd ODI, Edgbaston
June 26: 3rd ODI, Bristol
June 29: 4th ODI, Kia Oval
July 2: 5th ODI, Cardiff
July 5: NatWest T20, Ageas Bowl
Pakistan in England and Ireland 2016
June 29: Pakistan arrive
July 3-5: Somerset, Taunton
July 8-10: Sussex, Hove
July 14-18: 1st Investec Test, Lord’s
July 22-26: 2nd Test, Old Trafford
July 29-30: Worcestershire, Worcester
Aug 3-7: 3rd Test, Edgbaston
Aug 11-15: 4th Test, Kia Oval
Aug 18: 1st ODI v Ireland, TBC
Aug 20: 2nd ODI v Ireland, TBC
Aug 24: 1st Royal London ODI, Ageas Bowl
Aug 27: 2nd ODI, Lord’s
Aug 30: 3rd ODI, Trent Bridge
Sep 1: 4th ODI, Headingley
Sep 4: 5th ODI, Cardiff
Sep 7: NatWest T20, Old Trafford

ScorecardMark Footitt joined the England squad in the summer [file picture]•Getty Images

Mark Cosgrove scored his second century of the season against Derbyshire to raise Leicestershire’s chances of completing a championship double over their local rivals in the Division Two match at Derby.The Foxes skipper followed his hundred at Grace Road last month with an unbeaten 126, his highest score of the season, after the visitors had been in trouble at 55 for 3 and shared a fourth wicket stand of 144 with Aadil Ali who made 62Mark Footitt, who could be playing his last game for Derbyshire, was again the pick of the home attack, taking three more wickets to claim 10 in a match for the first time in his career but at the close Leicestershire were 284 in front on 307 for 7.The first part of the day had belonged to Derbyshire with Ben Cotton scoring a career-best 43, adding 65 in 14 overs with Tom Millns to give their side a slender 23 run lead before Footitt plunged the visitors into trouble with two wickets in three overs.Cotton defeated Ned Eckersley’s defence push to leave the batsmen with the worrying statistic of having been bowled in 14 of his 33 first-class innings this season and when Footitt had Dan Redfern caught at second slip and Angus Robson edged behind, Leicestershire were only 32 runs ahead.Another wicket at that stage would have left them in danger of losing in three days but Cosgrove has a good record at Derby, having scored a career best 233 for Glamorgan on this ground in 2006, and after a cautious start, he began to put his team back in the contest.Ali again showed impressive judgement and temperament to help his captain restore the balance, pulling Wes Durston over the long on boundary after Cosgrove had driven the off-spinner for six.Cosgrove drove Millns for four to take the stand past 100 and the intensity of the cricket led to the umpires speaking to both captains after an exchange between Cosgrove and Cotton just before tea.Perhaps that disturbed Ali’s concentration because he was lbw to the final ball of the session from Durston and when Niall O’Brien fell to Footitt without scoring, Derbyshire sensed another opening.But Cosgrove, who completed 1,000 championship runs for the season, was the key and he reached his fourth hundred and his third in eight innings when he drove a Durston full toss for his 18th four.Lewis Hill helped him add 61 in 15 overs and with Ben Raine chipping in with 27, Derbyshire have a lot to do to avoid going through a season without a home championship win for the first time since 2005.”After the morning session when we didn’t play our best cricket, the back end of the day was ours in the end but it’s probably 60-40 so there’s no real lead at the moment,” Cosgrove said.”It was an important partnership between me and Aadil because at that stage of the game we needed to dig in and bat time and knock it around. Aadil has been fantastic for us this year and it’s really good to see the young kids come through.”Cotton believes Derbyshire are still in with a good chance of finishing with a victory. “The sun’s been on the pitch for three days and it’s starting to flatten out a little bit so once you get through the new ball there’s not a great deal there although I thought we clawed it back in the last session.”It’s not one of those games that’s just going to fizzle out and we are going to try and be aggressive and take it all the way.”

Cricket Australia will make a decision on whether to proceed with the Test tour of Bangladesh after its security manager Sean Carroll meets with officials in Bangladesh over the coming days. Australia’s players were due to fly out for Bangladesh on Monday morning but that departure has been postponed due to new security advice from the Australian government.The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued updated travel advice on Friday, stating that “there is reliable information to suggest that militants may be planning to target Australian interests in Bangladesh”. The government contacted Cricket Australia directly on Friday afternoon to relay the latest advice, which has led to Carroll being dispatched to Bangladesh to assess the situation.Carroll is expected to meet with the Australian High Commissioner in Bangladesh on Sunday, ahead of further meetings with Bangladesh government, police and security officials from Monday. The Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said that while CA wanted the two-Test tour to proceed, it would not be possible to make any decisions until such meetings had taken place.”Our position is we want the tour to go ahead as planned,” Sutherland told reporters in Brisbane on Sunday. “This has obviously come very suddenly and we’ve needed to make this response. Our preferred position is to continue with the tour, but the safety and security of our players and staff is the absolute priority and the first priority for us is to secure that.”We’ll be endeavouring to get some undertakings and understandings of what the situation is in Bangladesh before making any further decisions in regard to the tour.”Sutherland said Cricket Australia had been advised by the Australian government on Friday that there would be an adjustment to the official recommendations for traveling in Bangladesh as a result of intelligence advice from DFAT and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).Although DFAT’s Smartraveller website often advises general caution when travelling in Asia, the wording of Friday’s updated advice – that “militants may be planning to target Australian interests” – is unusually specific. There is no such specific wording listed in the travel advice for neighbouring countries in the region.”The government came to us on Friday afternoon to advise us that they had some credible threats to western interests and on that basis, knowing that the team was not far away from leaving, that we should understand that there would probably be some alteration or adjustment to the travel advice for Australians going to Bangladesh,” Sutherland said.”What we’ve heard from our government and the Department of Foreign Affairs is that there are credible threats to Australian and western interests in Bangladesh. We obviously take that very seriously and we need to respond, and are responding in the manner that we have so far.”However, he also noted that the travel advice was for ordinary Australians travelling in Bangladesh, and the Australian squad would have extremely high levels of security if the tour went ahead.”The DFAT advice is for ordinary civilians who are travelling on holidays or on business in Bangladesh, which is very different to the Australian cricket team, which is afforded the highest level of security by Bangladesh police and armed forces while they’re there,” Sutherland said. “Those things need to be weighed up in the circumstances.”Cricket Australia has kept its players updated on the situation by email and the general manager of team performance, Pat Howard, has spoken directly to some players. Sutherland said he had also been in direct contact with Nizamuddin Chowdhury, the CEO of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, to keep the BCB updated on the situation.”I’ve spoken to my equivalent in Bangladesh and they understand our position,” Sutherland said. “They understand that we’ve taken advice from our government and they will go to every length to provide whatever support is necessary including arranging whatever meetings are necessary for our head of security and others to be able to get an understanding of the situation and what security response there may be from Bangladesh police, government and other security forces.”Australia’s former captain Michael Clarke said on Sunday that he hoped the tour would be able to go ahead, but that the decision should be made by the government and administrators rather than the players. Clarke said he was disappointed that during his international career of more than a decade he had never been able to tour Pakistan, due to security concerns.”A lot of the time as a player you leave decisions like this up to the experts,” Clarke said on Channel Nine’s . “This is one of the occasions you want, DFAT, CA, the Australian Cricketers’ Association to make the decision for you.”If they’re saying lets hold the guys’ travel off for a few extra days, that shouldn’t affect the tour at all. If they’re still saying don’t go in a week or two weeks’ time then we’re having a different conversation.”For the game we need to see teams be able to travel the world and play in all different conditions. I never got to play in Pakistan. I hope over time cricket is played all around the world and we don’t have these problems.”The short nature of the two-Test tour gives Cricket Australia little time to make a decision, and it would be unlikely that the matches could be rescheduled to another location at such short notice. The Australian Cricketers’ Association chief executive Alistair Nicholson said the ACA would work with Cricket Australia to keep the players informed.”We continue to be in close contact with the players, who fully understand that their safety is our foremost concern, that and any recommendations we make will be made with this in mind,” Nicholson said. “We’re also liaising with our security experts, CA and FICA – as the peak body for cricket player associations. We’re awaiting updated and more detailed assessments and will keep the players informed of any developments.”

ScorecardFile photo – Rahul Shukla took his second five-for in first-class cricket•BCCI

Seamer Rahul Shukla’s six-wicket haul helped Jharkhand shoot out Tripura for 166 in 55 overs.Electing to field in Agartala, Jharkhand reduced Tripura to 46 for 3, Shukla bowling Arindam Das and Udiyan Bose. There was hardly any partnership of significance, as Shukla & co. kept striking at regular intervals; the hosts slumped ot 81 for 6 and 130 for 8 before Parvinder Singh, who top-scored with 66, put on 31 runs with Tushar Saha.Parvinder was the ninth batsman to be dismissed, as he was caught behind, off Shukla, by Sumit Kumar, who finished with five catches.Jharkhand replied solidly, despite losing opener Sumit Kumar in the sixth over.
ScorecardOpener Prashant Chopra’s second century in three matches helped Himachal Pradesh reach a strong position at the end of the first day in Rajkot.The visitors got off to a strong start after opting to bat, as Chopra and Ankush Bains, who made 47, raised 120 for the opening wicket. After Jaydev Unadkat bowled Bains, Chopra, along with Ankit Kalsi, added 81 runs. Saurashtra sent back Kalsi and Paras Dogra to have the visitors three down for 237, but Chopra, who remained unbeaten, shared an unbroken 73-run alliance with Robin Bist to take Himachal Pradesh’s total past 300.The hosts’ bowlers had a tough time, with four of them conceding more than four runs an over.
ScorecardSoumik Chatterjee’s fifth first-class century put Services in a strong position after they were inserted by Hyderabad at the Palam A Ground in Delhi.Openers Chatterjee and Anshul Gupta put on 108 before Gupta was caught behind by Sumanth off left-arm seamer Chama Milind. Milind then removed Amit Pachhara and Rajat Paliwal in quick succession to reduce Services to 134 for 3, but Chatterjee and Yashpal then shared an unbroken 110-run partnership to consolidate the hosts’ good start.
ScorecardHalf-centuries from VA Jagadeesh and Robert Fernandez helped Kerala finish the opening day on 224 for 5 against Goa in Porvorim.Opting to bat, Kerala enjoyed a decent start with openers Jagadeesh and debutant Mohammed Azharuddeen, who made 31, adding 57 before former Kerala seamer Prasanth Parameswaran trapped Azharuddeen lbw.After Shadab Jakati bowled Rohan Prem, Jagadeesh and Sachin Baby steadied things. But, the visitors slumped from 139 for 2 to 147 for 5 in the space of five overs, with offspinner Amit Yadav accounting for Jagadeesh and captain Sanju Samson.Kerala, however, were rescued by Robert Fernandez, who remained unbeaten on 51, and Akshay Kodoth, who shared an unbroken 77-run stand.

Gloucestershire have booked their place in a hat-trick of Lord’s finals, asthey beat Lancashire by 15 runs at Bristol on Monday. Mike Smith led theGloucester charge, with figures of 4-27, as the Lancashire chased falters.The victory furthers Glouctershire’s claim to be the premier one-day side inthe country.A near capacity crowd cheered the Bristol-based side on, with a place in thefinal against Glamorgan beckoning. Despite Mike Smith’s efforts, it was RobCunliffe who earned the man of the match award, for a sparkling 71.Gloucestershire won the toss, electing to bat on a pitch which didn’t seemto have suffered any ill effects of the weekend rain. The game, of course,actually began on the reserve day, after Sunday’s effort was ruined thanksto a sodden outfield. Soon enough, openers Tim Hancock and Kim Barnett werehitting their straps. Hancock peppered the off-side boundary withregularity, whilst Barnett was dismissed just as he began to look settled.The veteran was neatly caught by Hegg, from the bowling of Peter Martin. Atthe other end, Ian Austin was his typically miserly self, bowling at acracking line and length which the batsmen could do nothing with.Chris Schofield entered the attack, and was immediately launched way overlong on, then through the covers, by an ever confident Hancock. Just asHancock looked as if he may destroy the Lancashire attack, he played a looseshot, and was well caught down the leg side by Hegg.New men Rob Cunliffe and Matt Windows kept the score moving, as theyscampered between the wickets at every opportunity. Windows was particularlysavage on anything short, cutting ferociously, whilst Cunliffe played theshot of the day, a perfectly timed off-drive. With the partnership locked on71, Windows found the bucket hands of Peter Martin at long on, dismissed fora fine 43. England all-rounder Mark Alleyne joined Cunliffe, as the boardticked at six an over. Cunliffe was rattled by a bouncer from Flintoff, thenmeekly spooned him to mid-off. It was a sad end to a very fine innings, froma player with enormous potential. In the final slog, Snape and Alleyne felllooking for runs, Alleyne for a classy 32.A target of 221 was certainly within Lancashire’s grasp. Gloucestershirewere weakened without their overseas star Ian Harvey, dubbed the finestdeath bowler in the world. Still, they were not prepared to lie down. JonLewis ripped out Mike Watkinson’s off-stump, whilst Mike Smith removed JohnCrawely’s leg peg. When Smith got rid of Andy Flintoff, to an ill-judgedpull edged onto the stumps, Gloucestershire were well on top. Mike Athertonplodded along at the other end, but was given a torrid time by Smith, whostruck him first on the finger, then on the box.Atherton and Fairbrother gave Lancashire hope, as Fairbrother used the sweepshot to great effect. Snape was in for particular punishment in his firstfew overs, and it was brave of Alleyne to keep him in the attack. Alleyne’sfaith was justified, as Snape got rid of Atherton. The off-spinner, who was(according to the speed-gun at least) varying his pace from 40-65mph, lobbedone up to Atherton who chipped it to mid-wicket. Snape picked up anotherwicket when Lloyd tried to turn to leg, trapped lbw. By now, the requiredrate was well over six.Warren Hegg, with 30, kept Lancashire’s hopes alive. At the other end,Fairbrother, who was batting with a runner, was supreme. He hit five foursand a six in his 74, which was ended by a fine catch in the deep from MattWindows. Chris Schofield played a cameo, and Ian Austin clubbed a few, butit was too little too late.Mention should be made of two others. James Averis, whose figures of 1-37betrayed a brilliant spell tarnished by two expensive overs at the death.Also, Chris Taylor. The youngster, who has played less than half a dozengames for his county, didn’t bat or bowl. But he scampered round theoutfield, fielding with enthusiasm that personified this, truly excellentGloucestershire team.

Central Zone eased past South Zone by seven wickets on the opening dayof the CricInfo Rani Jhansi tournament for women in Chennai at theIntegral Coach Factory ground. After being put in to bat South hadstarted confidently and were eyeing a useful score at 108/3 in the31st over but the Central spinners led by Bindeshwari Goyal pulled therug from under them as South collapsed to 137 all out. Centralopeners, Bharati Varma and Priyanka Sailey then put on an openingwicket stand of 73 and although both were sent off in quicksuccession, Central still had enough firepower to end the contest withfourteen overs to spare. Central keeper Arundhati had a satisfyingday, snapping up five catches behind the stumps and stroking an unbeaten 27that included four boundaries.Amsavalli and Karuna Jain opened the batting for South and in thefourth over of the day Neetu Singh struck first blood for Central whenshe sent back Karuna for a duck. Harsha came in at one drop with thescore at 10/1 but there was poor coordination between the twobatswomen in their running between the wickets and almost inevitablythe stand ended in a run out, with Amsavalli the victim. EarlierHarsha had scored the first two boundaries of the innings in the 10thover bowled by Tara. She seemed to be in a belligerent mood when shewas stumped by the keeper off Preeti for 32 (49 balls, 3 fours), whichturned out to be the highest score for South.The sun had come out in full splendour belying the weather office’sgloomy predictions of morning showers. Sudha Rani and Vinita Violathen put on a significant if not entirely convincing stand of 48 forthe fourth wicket. But after Sudha was caught at long on for 29 whenshe stepped to the pitch and drove Bindeshwari , South suffered aninexplicable collapse. Vinita too departed at 119, bowled by Preetiand the last six wickets fell for 18 as the innings folded up for 137in the penultimate over. Bindeshwari Goyal was the most successfulbowler for Central with her nagging offbreaks claiming 3-26 in tenovers. She was well supported by fellow spinners Preeti Dudhe andVarsha Raphael with two wickets each.Facing an asking rate of 2.76, Central openers Bharti Varma andPriyanka Sailey began their reply on a strong footing. But GSLakshmi, the South captain, threw everything into a desperate effortto derail Central. She bowled a torrid but luckless first spell inwhich Bharati was dropped in the slips, the ball actually goingthrough the slip cordon for three runs. Priyanka was also notcomfortable with Lakshmi medium pace stuff and popped one justout of reach of forward short leg. When Lakshmi came off after a firstspell of 6-1-15-0, the openers breathed easy. Priyanka was the moreresourceful of the two as she kept stepping out and lofting to long onalthough the thickish grass in that region of the outfield preventedthe ball from going all the way.Bharati patience finally snapped when she tried to swing one fromoff spinner Nooshien Al Kabir into the depths of the on side and got atopedge which was swallowed by Harsha at point. She had made 26 andCentral were 73/1. Nooshien struck again in her very next over,rearranging Priyanka’s stumps but not before she had made the matchtop score of 36 (64 balls, 2 fours). Central’s No.3, Chitra Bajpai,who has appeared in India colours, summoned all her experience andstemmed the breach with some fluent hitting. Chitra was bowled at 132,when Central were within one scoring stroke of victory, but RahulSingh then delivered the finishing stroke with a boundary tomidwicket.