Shivnarine Chanderpaul carried
West Indies hopes on his shoulders yet again as the touring side
battled to avoid defeat by England in the first test at Lord’s
on Saturday.

West Indies bowled England out for 398 in their first
innings to trail the hosts by 155 runs but they lost three
wickets in nine balls just before tea to undo the good work.

Chanderpaul, who made 87 not out in the first innings, and
Marlon Samuels dug in, however, and they reached the close on
the third day on 120 for four, 35 runs behind.

The world’s top-ranked batsman Chanderpaul, at the heart of
another rearguard action, was unbeaten on 34 with Samuels on 26.

England resumed on an overcast morning on 259 for three and
captain Andrew Strauss added just a single to his overnight 121
before nicking pace bowler Kemar Roach through to wicketkeeper
Denesh Ramdin.

Jonny Bairstow struck three fluent fours on his test debut
but his bright innings ended on 16 when Roach jagged a ball
sharply back to trap him lbw.

Matt Prior also looked confident in his knock of 19 but he
became Shannon Gabriel’s first test victim, playing an airy shot
at the young fast bowler to be bowled through the gate.

Bresnan edged Darren Sammy to Ramdin for a duck and England
had slumped to 323 for seven.

Ian Bell batted through the morning session to reach lunch
on 38 not out but he lost Stuart Broad soon after the interval,
bowled by a superb delivery from Fidel Edwards that hit the top
of his off stump.

Graeme Swann played a forceful innings, striking six clean
fours in his 30 from just 25 balls.

Bell reached a patient fifty before Gabriel bowled Swann.
Bell was last man out for 61, well caught at deep square leg by
the diving Powell off Gabriel who finished with figures of three
for 60 on his debut.

Barath and Powell withstood a fierce examination from James
Anderson and Broad, surviving 12 overs of high quality fast
bowling surrounded by a ring of close fielders.

But with tea looming, Barath edged a catch to Prior off
Bresnan, and Powell and Edwards soon joined him back in the
pavilion after two inexplicable rushes of blood.

Powell foolishly pulled a short ball from Broad straight to
Bell at deep square leg and Kirk Edwards was brilliantly run out
by a direct hit from Bairstow attempting a non-existent single.

Darren Bravo joined Chanderpaul and made a fluent 21 before
Swann bowled him with a clever delivery which the deceived the
left-hander into offering no shot.

Source: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/19052012/2/cricket-chanderpaul-primed-dogfight.html

Breaking Five people have been rescued and two are still missing after a dinghy capsized near Auckland’s Mangere Bridge this afternoon, police say. According to witness reports, a father and children were among those on the boat.

Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10807109&ref=rss

By Tom Fordyce
Chief sports writer, BBC Sport

England are closing in on victory in the first Test at Lord’s after reducing West Indies to 120-4 – still 35 in arrears – with two days to go.

Only Shivnarine Chanderpaul, with a typically dogged unbeaten 34 from 95 balls, and Marlon Samuels (26 not out) offered sustained resistance on a pitch that has flattened out the longer the game has gone on.

The obstinate Chanderpaul survived a brace of early edges and a late referral for lbw to frustrate England but, with time on their side and the West Indies tail weak, a home win remains the most likely outcome.

Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann took a wicket apiece on a day that began with a flurry of wickets and runs before fizzling out into a battle of attrition.

England added a further 139 to their overnight 259 to open up a first-innings lead of 155, thanks in part to Ian Bell’s patient 60.

Analysis

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman Test Match Special summariser

“Shiv is a guy that will stay in and hang around. The guy is a very accomplished player and he can play. He likes batting and he can bat all day.

“It was an excellent day’s cricket dominated by the bowling of both teams. The bowlers were excellent. The quality of pace, line and length was pretty good.”

After a steady start from openers Adrian Barath and Kieran Powell, the wheels came off the West Indies reply in dramatic fashion just before tea.

First Barath fell, tempted into a little poke outside off stump to a Bresnan delivery that did just enough off the seam to take the edge.

Powell followed in the next over, top-edging a hook off Broad to Ian Bell at deep square-leg, and then Kirk Edwards found himself stranded mid-pitch after a mix-up with Darren Bravo as Jonny Bairstow threw down the stumps brilliantly from cover.

Three wickets had gone down in nine balls without addition to the score and, with England’s lead still 119, the die was cast.

Chanderpaul and Bravo dropped anchor, adding only 20 runs in the first hour after tea, but another misjudgement cost them dear as the younger man shouldered arms to Swann’s arm ball and was bowled for 21.

Analysis

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent

“Chanderpaul clings to that crease like a limpet. He must be infuriating to bowl at – he leaves and leaves, prods and prods, and then as soon as you bowl something just a fraction fuller, he drives you away for four. He just never misses out.”

• Read Aggers’ column

As on so many occasions in his 18-year Test career, Chanderpaul continued with remorseless concentration, Samuels happy to copy his example as the pair fought to survive to the close.

The West Indies attack, benign on the first two days, had earlier found its bite on an overcast morning and made immediate inroads into the England top order.

Andrew Strauss added just one to his overnight 121 before he was caught behind off Kemar Roach, ‘HotSpot’ indicating on the referral that the ball had found the inside edge on its way through to Denesh Ramdin.

Strauss has now resumed overnight on 100 six times in Test cricket and never added more than six runs the following day.

If there was regret in the full house at Lord’s that the skipper could not go on to make a maiden Test double-hundred, there was further disappointment when Jonny Bairstow’s debut ended on 16 when he was trapped lbw by Roach.

The Yorkshire tyro had settled quickly, timing away a sweet four off his pads and then square-driving for four more.

But he was beaten by one that was angled in and beat his firm push, and, when Matt Prior and Tim Bresnan went in quick succession, England had lost four wickets for 64 runs.

Prior aimed an airy drive at a straight, full ball to give Shannon Gabriel his first Test wicket, while Bresnan was tempted by one from Darren Sammy that moved off the pitch to find the edge.

Broad went with England’s lead still to reach 100, sparking unexpected optimism in the tourists’ ranks.

Swann had other ideas. Fed a succession of full deliveries after fending off a beamer from Edwards first ball, he battered a rapid 30 off 25 balls, including six fours, in a 55-run partnership with Bell for the eighth wicket.

Bell breezed to his half-century from 94 balls before Swann was bowled by Gabriel, and Bell followed in the burly bowler’s next over when he looped a mishit pull to the diving Powell sprinting in from deep square leg.

With the lead extended past 150, England were back in total control – a position they did not look like relinquishing for the rest of the day.

Listen to how the second day of the international summer unfolded on

the TMS podcast.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18132587

Saeed Ajmal is known for his straight talk and has a tendency to make big, carefree declarations at press conferences. On Saturday though, which was the last day of Pakistan’s preparatory camp in Lahore, he was rather cautious while fielding the media’s questions. On the tour of Sri Lanka, he said, he will look to keep things ‘simple’.

Does he have another new delivery to unveil, following the ‘teesra’ that he dished out against England in the UAE earlier this year? “There is no need to introduce any new delivery, let us keep things simple,” Ajmal said. “Mastering any new delivery takes time and a lot of work is involved in it. With more varieties, more complications are created [for the bowler]. So I would like to just take control of my conventional spin, which is giving me results.”

For now, Ajmal said, he is focussing on just bowling at his best and displacing South Africa’s Dale Steyn as the world’s No. 1 Test bowler. “Presently my focus is to win the series [in Sri Lanka] for Pakistan. The goal is to archive the No. 1 spot [on the rankings], for that I am putting in a lot of hard work.”

Ajmal did not have much of an impact the previous time Pakistan played in Sri Lanka, as the visitors went on to lose both the Tests and ODIs. This time, Ajmal is looking to compensate for that below-par showing. “Things are going in my way [recently], I will try to extend my recent form. I am ready to take on the Sri Lanka challenge once again.”

“My body is fully fit and ready to cope the heat [in Sri Lanka], and I know onus will be on the spinners. We[spinners] have to bowl more overs than the fast bowlers because of the heat. But I think we have fast bowlers who can provide a breakthrough even in shorter spells, and they will be equally important. [Abdur] Rehman I make a good pair, and we are ready to bowl longer spells.”

While wary of the likes of Thilan Samaraweera and Kumar Sangakkara, Ajmal said Pakistan is quite confident. “We have been practicing assuming that we will be playing on batting [batsmen-friendly] pitches there. We have been doing well for quite a long time now, so I don’t think plans will be difficult for us to execute. They have got some good batsman like Sanga and Samaraweera, who had scored runs against us the last time in the UAE, but we still produced good results against them.”

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/565491.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Leicestershire 372 and 148 for 3 (Sarwan 61*) lead Essex 409 (Foakes 93, White 5-74) by 111 runs
Scorecard

Essex teenager Ben Foakes narrowly missed out on a century on Championship debut as the Division Two game against Leicestershire was left finely balanced at the end of the third day at Grace Road.

Foakes, 19, made an eye-catching 93 to help Essex to a total of 409 and a first-innings lead of 37. But with Ramnaresh Sarwan making his second half-century of the match, Leicestershire closed on 148 for 3 to lead by 111 runs going into the final day. Sarwan was still there on 61.

Foakes, an England U-19 international who was handed his debut in the absence of both Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara, became one of five victims for the Leicestershire seamer Wayne White when he edged behind shortly after lunch.

But Sarwan and Will Jefferson steered the home side back into the game with a third-wicket stand of 97, halted when Jefferson was out for 49 just before the close as bad light and rain brought an early end with 6.2 overs remaining.

Resuming the second day on 239 for 5, still 133 behind, Essex enjoyed a productive first session, adding 121 runs in 32 overs for the loss of just one wicket. The batsman out was James Foster, who received a virtually unplayable rising delivery from Matthew Hoggard and edged behind. His share of a stand of 87 with the impressive Foakes was 26.

Foakes looked untroubled, and cover-drove White to the boundary twice in one over. He reached 50 from 72 balls by on-driving Matthew Hoggard to the ropes for his ninth boundary. He went into lunch on 93 but failed to add to his score after the break, edging a fine delivery from White to wicketkeeper Ned Eckersley in the third over of the afternoon. He hit 14 boundaries and faced 139 balls in an excellent debut performance.

A typically aggressive knock of 35 from Graham Napier kept the scoreboard moving, but White brought the Essex innings to a close with the wickets of David Masters and Charl Willoughby to finish with 5 for 74 – his third five-wicket haul of the season. Wicket-keeper Eckersley also impressed with five catches.

Matt Boyce and Greg Smith went cheaply when Leicestershire batted again, but Sarwan, who reached 50 off 73 balls with seven fours, and Jefferson regained the initiative until Jefferson edged behind off a swinging delivery from Willoughby.

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2012/content/story/565362.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Hampshire 427 and 21 for 1 lead Yorkshire 399 for 9 dec (McGrath 106*, Jaques 93) by 49 runs
Scorecard

Had circumstances been different at the start of this summer, Anthony
McGrath may not have even featured in Yorkshire’s Championship
line-up, but he appears to have ensured his continued involvement
after scoring a defiant century to bring his side back into their
contest with Hampshire.

Now 36, McGrath’s struggles for runs last season – when he scored only
one century and one half-century in 23 Championship innings – put him
under threat for his place at the start of this summer, particularly
after Yorkshire strengthened their batting by recruiting Australian
Phil Jaques during the winter.

Rather than shirk from the challenge, McGrath has demonstrated his
versatility by claiming wickets and scoring 90 in Yorkshire’s recent
win against Leicestershire, and has now scored his first century since
last August to prevent Hampshire establishing control of the match.

Without McGrath’s controlled contribution, Yorkshire would have been
facing a major first-innings deficit and the prospect of battling to
save the game on the final day. Instead, he helped prise 162 priceless
runs out of the final three wickets to enable a declaration 28 runs
adrift on 399 for 9.

“Going into the season, we had plenty of batting options,” he said.
“It was always going to be tough on selection, so whoever played was
always going to have to get some runs. I failed early on at No 3 and
got pushed down to 6 or 7. I’ve felt really good all season, to be
honest, but it’s about getting runs on the board.”

Yorkshire’s first target, batting under cloudy conditions, was to save
the follow on after resuming 178 runs away from making Hampshire bat
again. Although they enjoyed their share of good fortune with both
Gary Ballance and Jacques Rudolph edging through the slips during a
149-run stand, they appeared to have reached a position where they
could take control of the game.

That position was undermined by the loss of four wickets either side
of lunch that left Yorkshire in danger of following on with a major
deficit. The experience of McGrath, playing 17 years to the day after
making his Yorkshire debut against Glamorgan at Bradford, in batting
with the lower order proved the key point of the day.

Teaming up with Ryan Sidebottom 191 runs adrift, McGrath carefully
guided Yorkshire closer, firstly to the follow on target and then gave
them the opportunity to declare with 10 overs remaining, only for bad
light to halt proceedings with 2.4 overs unused. They enjoyed their
luck, with Sidebottom being dropped on 20 by James Tomlinson in his
delivery stride.

McGrath also received a reprieve, missed on 61 by Simon Katich at slip
off Kabir Ali, but they added 84 for the eighth wicket before
Sidebottom edged Kabir behind. McGrath continued aggressively and hit Liam
Dawson’s left-arm spin for four and a straight six off successive
balls to take Yorkshire nearer saving the follow on.

Once Steve Patterson edged Dawson to slip, leaving McGrath 16 short of
three figures as last man Iain Wardlaw arrived at the crease, he was
forced to adopt a more tactical approach and for the first time in his
four-hour innings he refused singles to keep the strike.

The landmark, which included 14 fours and a six, was reached with a
two to cover off Dawson and marked with considerably less fuss than
the England captain at Lord’s – McGrath bent down, straightened his
pads and took off his helmet, before politely acknowledging the crowd’s
applause.

“It’s been tough for everyone around the country to get runs,” McGrath said. “There are a few guys who have got 600 to 700 runs, but for
everybody else it’s been pretty sparse. You’ve got to fight it out and
have a bit of luck, like I did today, but when you get in you’ve got
to try and cash in.

“I just want to play in the first team so I’m happy to play in any
position. It was a tough year last year as we all know, so I’m really enjoying it at the moment. It’s a satisfaction to reach three
figures with the troubles I had last year. I think the situation of
the game took away my thoughts of reaching a hundred though.”

Hoping to bowl 10 overs at Hampshire before the close, Yorkshire were
only given 7.2 overs before bad light closed in, but enough time for Dawson to slap an Adil Rashid long hop straight to point to suggest there may be life in the game yet.

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2012/content/story/565363.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Stuart Meaker produced a fine spell of bowling to give Surrey hope of claiming an incredible victory against Somerset.

The visitors, who made 512 in their first innings, were reduced to 154-7 in their second with Meaker taking 5-42.

Earlier in the day, Surrey moved from 286-6 to 388 with Tom Maynard, who was 63 not out overnight, out for 89, while Jon Lewis added 42 and Gareth Batty 36.

Somerset’s Nick Compton made 50 but four wickets fell for only 25 runs to leave Surrey with a chance of a win.

Jon Lewis frustrated Somerset with his innings of 42

Surrey trail by 278 and will be aiming to take the last three Somerset wickets quickly on Saturday morning.

Compton’s half-century means he has now scored 869 first-class runs this season and is on course to become the first man since Graeme Hick in 1988 to reach the 1,000-run landmark by the end of May.

Only Craig Kieswetter provided any support as he registered 43 off of 60 balls before he was caught by Rory Hamilton-Brown to become one of Meaker’s five victims.

James Hildreth and Arul Suppiah, who both made centuries in Somerset’s first innings, struggled in the second innings and only scored four and 10 respectively.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

BBC London 94.9′s Mark Church:

“An inspired spell of fast bowling from Stuart Meaker has set up an intriguing final day of this game.

“Meaker took 5-42 as Somerset closed on 154-7 in their second innings, a lead of 278.

“Earlier in the day, Surrey had avoided the follow-on thanks to the efforts of Tom Maynard and Jon Lewis. Maynard made 89 and Lewis a valuable 42 as Surrey were all out for 388.

“Meaker then bowled a couple of hostile spells from the Vauxhall End as only Nick Compton with 50 and Craig Kieswetter with 43 seemed to be able to cope with his pace.

“Somerset still have the runs in the bank and will be happy with where they find themselves on the third evening.

“But if Surrey could pick up the final three wickets quickly and give their powerful batting line-up time to chase, well you never know. It all points to a cracking final day.”

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18117219

Ed Joyce and Chris Nash shared an unbroken opening stand of 143 as Sussex built a big lead on day three of their clash with Worcestershire.

Joyce was unbeaten on 70, with Nash 69 not out when rain forced an early close at New Road, with Sussex leading by 199 with all 10 wickets intact.

Earlier, Worcestershire added 28 to their overnight score to be bowled out for 259, a first-innings deficit of 56.

Monty Panesar removed last man Richard Jones to finish with 3-65.

“Tomorrow Sussex will need quick runs and for Yardy to be brave with his declaration. If he is and Monty Panesar can weave his magic, then Sussex could still claim a second County Championship win of the season”

BBC Sussex’s Adrian Harms

The century stand between Joyce and Nash was their first for a year and put their side into a commanding position before the weather intervened at 15:00 BST.

Nash impressed with his driving and stroked 11 fours, while Joyce displayed excellent timing as he notched eight boundaries and pulled a six off David Lucas.

Earlier, any hopes Worcestershire had of matching Sussex’s first innings total disappeared as Jack Shantry, who hit 22 not out, ran out of partners.

Ben Scott was leg before to Jimmy Anyon and Lucas was run out by Nash’s quick reactions at short leg before Jones scooped Panesar to mid-on.

VIEWS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX:

BBC Radio Hereford Worcester’s Dave Bradley:

“Pity about the rain as it has messed up the mathematics of the game, Sussex pushing on for a declaration late on the third day or early on the last.

“Nash and Joyce were going well, the latter looking like a different player from the first innings when he scratched around for six in an opening stand of 50-plus.

“While one man never makes a team, the Worcestershire attack is never the same without Alan Richardson. Saturday’s run chase – and surely there will be one – will depend upon Michael Yardy’s gambling instincts, although it’s a while since Worcestershire chased down anything over 300 on the last day.”

BBC Sussex’s Adrian Harms:

“Sussex will be cursing the bad weather, with first bad light and then rain, preventing any play after 3pm on the penultimate day.

“Michael Yardy’s side have played positive cricket throughout the match, and had the weather not intervened a declaration before the close of play today was not out of the question.

“Tomorrow Sussex will need quick runs and for Yardy to be brave with his declaration. If he is and Monty Panesar can weave his magic, then Sussex could still claim a second County Championship win of the season.”

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18117213

Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s Test and ODI captain, has said that his team’s recent record against Sri Lanka gives it the edge leading into the tour slated for June and July.

“Sri Lanka is always a difficult team to play against, especially in their back yard,” Misbah said on the sidelines of Pakistan’s preparatory camp in Lahore. “Obviously we have to be at our best in all departments, because they always come hard at the opposition. But our record against them gives us the upper hand, and our confidence level is high.”

In their last series against Sri Lanka, in the UAE in October-November 2011, Pakistan won in all three formats. In the three-Test series, they won 1-0, took the ODIs 4-1 and won the one-off Twenty20. They also beat Sri Lanka in the one game the teams played against each other in the Asia Cup in March. However, the previous time the two teams played in Sri Lanka, Pakistan lost the Tests 2-0 and the one-dayers 3-2.

Misbah said Pakistan’s improvements on the fielding and fitness fronts would help them this time around. “I think we have shown a lot of improvement in fielding and fitness in last couple of years,” he said. “Every coach in the past, whether it was Waqar Younis and Ijaz Ahmed, everyone did a good job [with those disciplines] and now Julian [Fountain, the fielding coach] is doing a great job.”

For the Sri Lanka tour, Pakistan have picked specialist players in each format, meaning Misbah has missed out in the Twenty20 squad, and the captaincy was handed over to Mohammad Hafeez. Misbah reiterated that he will be available in the shortest format, should Pakistan require him.

“It [Twenty20] is a format that is widely played in the world and I will keep on playing it,” he said. “As far as [ending] my international career is concerned, I think that decision has to be taken by the PCB.”

“Obviously the burden on me has been eased, and I can now focus on two formats. But if you are enjoying playing cricket, you can easily cope with it [playing all three formats too].”

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-pakistan-2012/content/story/565377.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Lancashire will have to bat throughout the final day to avoid defeat in their Division One game against Warwickshire.

The visitors trail by 243 runs with seven second innings wickets remaining after having to follow on at Edgbaston.

Lancashire resumed on 61-5 and were dismissed for 197, with Ashwell Prince the only batsman to provide any resistance as he scored an unbeaten 87.

Following-on, Lancashire ended on 122-3 with Stephen Moore, Karl Brown and Prince out before bad light ended play.

Lancashire’s poor start to 2012

1. v Sussex
   
   (12-14 April) – Lost by 10 wickets
2. v Warwickshire
   
   (19-22 April) – Lost by 5 wickets
3. v Somerset
   
   (26-29 April) – Match drawn
4. v Nottinghamshire
   
   (2-5 May) – Lost by 185 runs
5. v Sussex
   
   (9-12 May) – Match drawn

Lancashire, the 2011 county champions, have failed to win a Championship match in 2012 and need to produce a resolute display on Saturday to salvage a draw.

Their hopes could rest on the form of opener Paul Horton, who ended Friday’s play on 56 not out.

He had been involved in an 89-run partnership for the second wicket with Brown (45), who was caught behind off the bowling of Chris Wright.

Prince could not repeat his first innings heroics as he only scored one run before being caught by Rikki Clarke at slip off Jeetan Patel.

Earlier in the day, Prince was the only Lancashire batsman to score more than 20 in the first innings as his side failed to collect any batting bonus points.

Chris Woakes, who was playing his first Championship game for Warwickshire since injuring ankle ligaments in March, was the pick of the home bowlers, taking 3-20 off 11 overs.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18115659

Andrew Strauss promised that he would allow himself to celebrate with a “little glass of something” after his first Test hundred for 18 months ended concerns about his faltering batting form as England captain.

“You feel like you want to take the monkey off your back and contribute to the team – that’s the most important thing,” he said on Sky Sports. “It was a great feeling. It was quite tortuous getting the final 20 runs but I suppose that makes it all the more rewarding. I had to dig pretty deep.”

Strauss’ home crowd were jubilant as he made his fifth Test hundred at Lord’s. “It was a very special ovation,” he said. “It went on and on. It was slightly emotional. I have felt good in the preparation to this game but you still have to go out there and do it. It is a great feeling tonight to know that that I have got a few.”

England finished the second day of the first Test against the West Indies on 259 for 3, 16 ahead, and Strauss, his authority again unquestioned as the captain who has led England to the No. 1 Test ranking and home and away Ashes triumphs, will resume on 121 not out on the third morning.

“I think my hundred on debut at Lord’s was probably more important but it’s been a while so it’s probably one of the more special ones,” he said. “I love batting here. It is the home of cricket and the ground by which every other ground is measured. I may have a little glass of something tonight.”

Strauss had no complaints about the scrutiny that has built up around his modest batting form since his last hundred, against Australia in Brisbane in November 2010. “It is what it is. It becomes the talking point and until you get runs it remains the talking point. That’s just how it is. It is enjoyable to get the hundred and now I can flick it to someone else.”

He also had praise for the England team-mates who have stood by him. “We stick together and when one guy is under the pump a bit we are delighted when he comes through,” he said.

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-west-indies-2012/content/story/565383.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Captain Andrew Strauss admitted it was a huge relief to make his first Test century since November 2010 as England scored 259-3 against the West Indies.

“It’s a bit of a monkey on your back, you’re keen to get rid of it if you haven’t scored a hundred for a while,” said Strauss, who hit an unbeaten 121.

“The last 15 runs or so were quite tortuous – I didn’t enjoy that at all.

“We want to make use of the conditions, hopefully bat long, get a big score and put West Indies under pressure.”

England, who will play three Tests, three one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international against the Windies, closed day two of the first Test with a lead of 16 runs.

Analysis

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent

The time had come for Strauss to perform and he knew that.

• Read the full Jonathan Agnew column

“It was important for the side that we went on and got a decent score,” said Strauss, playing his 95th Test.

“It was important for myself; as captain you want to lead from the front – you want to set the example.

“And that’s why it was a great feeling of relief and release to get that hundred.”

Since making 110 against Australia in Brisbane 18 months ago, Strauss had played 25 innings and scored 717 runs at an average of 28, with six fifties.

“All hundreds are special,” he said. “When you haven’t got one for a while it’s harder to get to three figures.”

The 35-year-old skipper was asked how his 20th Test century compared to the

177 he made in New Zealand in March 2008

when his place in the team was in jeopardy.

“In Napier it was more do-or-die time,” he said.

“At the start of this summer it was important that I re-established myself as a batsman.

“I’ve taken a step to doing that today but there’s still a lot of hard work to do.”

Like the rest of his batsmen, Strauss struggled in the United Arab Emirates in the series against Pakistan during the winter, scoring 150 runs in six innings, and also had a modest return in Sri Lanka with 114 runs from four innings.

The 3-0 defeat against Pakistan

and a

1-1 draw in Sri Lanka

led some critics to question whether changes were needed in the England batting line-up and Strauss admitted: “It was a talking point.

“I don’t read the media but I do quite a lot of press conferences so I get asked quite a lot of questions.

“That’s what we’re in the business of – that’s what we’re supposed to do as batsmen.

“It’s just really nice to get a few and I feel in good nick.”

Listen to how the second day of the international summer unfolded on

the TMS podcast.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18127018

ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek voters are returning to the establishment parties that negotiated its bailout, a poll showed on Thursday, offering potential salvation for European leaders who say a snap Greek election next month will decide whether it must quit the euro. The poll, the first conducted since talks to form a government …

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bollywood-star-gets-cricket-stadium-ban-row-134411385.html

By Tom Fordyce
BBC Sport chief sports writer at Lord’s

A first Test century in 18 months from captain Andrew Strauss put England in a dominant position on day two of the first Test against a toothless West Indies.

Strauss ended the day unbeaten on 121 as England reached 259-3, a lead of 16 runs, with Ian Bell alongside him on five.

The skipper started the week fielding questions about his form and place in the side, and he provided the best riposte of all – batting for all but one ball of the day for his first hundred in 26 Test innings.

Analysis

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent

“There had been talk of a media witch-hunt against the England captain but that is utter nonsense. There isn’t a person in the media who I can imagine having any feelings against Strauss. He is a likeable and thoroughly professional man who demands respect.”

He was kept company by a typically patient half-century from Jonathan Trott and a more flamboyant cameo from Kevin Pietersen, but this was undisputably Strauss’s day.

He was rewarded for his long-awaited landmark with a standing ovation from the sell-out Lord’s crowd that was as heartfelt and sustained as the old ground has seen in an age.

If Strauss left the field with a broad smile on his face, this was another chastening day for West Indies.

Conditions appeared favourable for swing bowlers, but the tourists’ attack could not find a cutting edge to match their effort.

Stuart Broad had wrapped up the West Indies innings with the first ball of the day to record Test-best figures of 7-72.

Strauss relief after special innings

It meant a golden duck on Test debut for Shannon Gabriel, caught comfortably at second slip off the outside edge, and left Shivnarine Chanderpaul high and dry on his overnight 87.

It also makes Broad the fifth Englishmen along with Andrew Flintoff and Ian Botham to have recorded both a Test century and five-wicket haul at Lord’s and thus make it on to both batting and bowling honours boards.

Strauss and Alastair Cook progressed in untroubled fashion during the morning against Fidel Edwards and Kemar Roach until, with the score on 47, Cook slashed at one from Roach that was too close to cut and played on for 26.

If Strauss felt under pressure it did not manifest itself in his display at the crease. Twice he drove with sweet timing to the mid-on boundary, and he brought up his half-century off 97 balls with a glance off the hips for four more.

Trott was settling in for the long haul at the other end, unperturbed by an lbw referral from Darren Sammy that was rejected despite Hawk-Eye suggesting the ball would have hit a decent chunk of leg stump.

The number three also survived what looked to be a thin edge behind that even wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin failed to appeal for, and in his usual fidgety fashion moved to his 10th Test fifty, off 109 balls, just before the tea interval.

The West Indies bowlers were struggling to extract any movement from a flat track despite the clouds parked up above.

Skipper Sammy went on the defensive with his side’s lead still in excess of 100, leaving just one slip in for paceman Edwards, but with a lack of energy from his field the England pair were able to accumulate in untroubled fashion.

After 87 runs had come from 28 overs in the afternoon session, the scoring rate continued to plod along in a pedestrian evening session.

Strauss looked edgy as he moved slowly through the 80s and 90s, wafting dangerously at two wide ones from Edwards before driving sweetly back down the ground for a steadying four.

Tom Fordyce’s blog

Tom Fordyce
Chief Sports Writer, BBC Sport

Lord’s has seen bigger hundreds. It has seen more important hundreds.

But the standing ovation that Friday’s full house gave Andrew Strauss as he celebrated his first Test century in a year-and-a-half was as long and as loud as any at headquarters in an age.

• READ MORE: Strauss’s century silences critics

He then edged Edwards to slip off a no-ball – and was dropped to boot – before Trott went for 56, driving at Sammy and edging behind to Ramdin.

Sammy then dropped short outside off and Strauss cut for four, punching the air and being embraced by his partner Pietersen as the full house at Lord’s rose to salute him.

It was the first time he had reached three figures since making 110 against Australia in the opening Ashes Test at Brisbane in November 2010.

Pietersen perished to an undisciplined cut shot off spinner Marlon Samuels for 32 but, with seven wickets in hand and the forecast set fair for the weekend, England will expect to compile a match-winning total.

Listen to how the second day of the international summer unfolded on

the TMS podcast.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18120818

Match facts

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)

Big Picture

As the league phase enters its final weekend, the priorities are completely different for the two opponents meeting at the Sahara Stadium in Pune.

Kolkata Knight Riders are enjoying their best IPL season, and are looking for a victory that will grant them a chance of finishing at the head of the table, or at least secure them a place in the top two and guarantee them two shots at making the final. Pune Warriors, on the other hand, are striving to end one of the longest losing streaks in IPL history. Eight defeats in a row have crushed their chances of making the playoffs, and another reverse will leave them open to the possibility of finishing last, if Deccan Chargers win their final game.

One area of concern for Knight Riders is their batting, and its dependence on Gautam Gambhir, who has six half-centuries this season. Gambhir leads the way with 546 runs at 144.06, but the next three highest run-getters for the team – Jacques Kallis, Manoj Tiwary and Brednon McCullum – are all scoring at a strike-rate of 106 or lower. With Yusuf Pathan also out of form, can Knight Riders put up a big score in case their captain fails?

Form guide

Pune Warriors: LLLLL (most recent first)
Kolkata Knight Riders: WLLWW

Players to watch

Jacques Kallis might not have hit top gear with the bat, but he has been invaluable with the ball this season for Knight Riders. He showed it again in the game against Mumbai Indians, dismissing the finishers from the West Indies, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Smith, off successive deliveries, to dent the chase. He had similarly got rid of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers off consecutive balls to derail Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens.

This could well be Sourav Ganguly’s final competitive match. The years have caught up with him, slowing his reflexes and the imperiousness of old has been missing from his batting. There were flashes of his abilities, especially in the game against Delhi Daredevils, and he will be hoping for a similarly inspirational showing to sign off the season.

Stats and trivia

• Warriors have only taken 65 wickets this season – the lowest of all teams, including Chargers, who had one game washed out
• Knight Riders have hit the lowest number of sixes (55) this season and the second-lowest number of fours (166)

  Quotes

  “The one in Mumbai, where we defended 140. Mumbai had 10 internationals in their line-up. The outfield was fast, the wicket decent and the ground small… Yet, the boys did it.”
  Trevor Bayliss explains why the victory over Mumbai Indians was the most satisfactory one of Knight Riders’ campaign so far

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-premier-league-2012/content/story/565386.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Kent 123 for 3 trail Northamptonshire 418 (Sales 140, Middlebrook 73 Willey 64) by 295 runs
Scorecard

Kent made a faltering reply to Northamptonshire’s first-innings on the second day of their Championship Division Two clash against Northamptonshire at Canterbury.

The hosts went in at stumps on 123 for 3 after Northamptonshire had extended their overnight score of 244 for 4 to 418 all out. Having taken just over nine hours to dismiss the visitors on what appeared a placid pitch, Kent’s top order all experienced some difficulty contending with fading light and variable bounce.

On-loan opener Scott Newman went for 16 just after tea, inside edging Lee Daggett’s delivery on to his off stump. But it was the bowling of Northamptonshire captain and one-time Kent overseas player Andrew Hall that did most to derail the reply mid-way through the final session.

The South African allrounder ended a decent second-wicket stand of 63 by enticing left-hander Ben Harmison to drive wide outside off stump, picking out David Willey at backward point.

Then, in his next over from the Nackington Road End, Hall got one to hold its line against the slope and brush the edge of Rob Key’s bat to give a regulation catch to another former Kent man, wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien.

Key batted a shade over two hours for his 48 but, with the floodlights on, fourth-wicket partners Michael Powell and Brendan Nash saw out the final half-hour to go into day three trailing by 295 runs.

The day had started with David Sales and James Middlebrook hogging centre stage with their side’s record fifth-wicket stand against Kent – 205 in 66.1 overs – beating the county’s previous best against Kent, the 187 set by Rob Bailey and Richard Williams at Wantage Road 22 years ago.

Sales contributed an excellent 140 to the cause having batted 319 minutes for his part in the stand. His innings ended when, having just driven James Tredwell for two successive boundaries, he attempted an impudent lap-sweep against the England offspinner only to top-edge to the keeper. Middlebrook was leg before soon after, off balance and playing across the line to a full ball from Matt Coles, the former Essex man gone for 73.

That brought together Con de Lange and Willey for another century stand, this time for the seventh wicket. On a docile pitch – and against an old ball – scoring became such an easy past-time that Kent skipper Key introduced his own brand of slow bowling in an effort to encourage an early declaration. His one over cost 11 runs, but failed to have the desired effect as the visitors batted on.

Willey was finally caught in the deep for a career-best 64 in 85 balls, Daggett clipped one to short mid-on and last man Jack Brooks dragged on against Darren Stevens to complete the Northamptonshire innings.

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2012/content/story/565216.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Derbyshire 335 for 5 (Guptill 132, Madsen 122* ) lead Glamorgan 236 (North 79) by 99 runs
Scorecard

New Zealand’s Test opener, Martin Guptill, took full advantage of Glamorgan’s generosity to score his second century of the season and put Derbyshire in a strong position on the second day of the Division Two match at Derby. Guptill was dropped three times on his way to 132 and added 170 with Derbyshire’s skipper Wayne Madsen, who was unbeaten on 122 as the home side closed at 335 for 5, a lead of 99.

Although Marcus North took 3 for 40 with his off-spin on debut for Glamorgan, his sixth county, an injury-depleted attack struggled on a good pitch and Guptill punished them by completing a hundred between lunch and tea.

Mike Reed claimed his first Championship victims but the bowlers failed to build up any sustained pressure and allowed the home side to take control after light rain delayed the start by 75 minutes. With their leading strike bowlers Graham Wagg and James Harris both missing, Glamorgan needed to take every opportunity that came their way but Guptill was given two lives before Derbyshire had reached three figures.

Skipper Mark Wallace failed to cling on to a difficult chance down the leg side off the former England pace bowler, Simon Jones, when Guptill was 17 and the score 35, but Nick James’ drop at mid-off when he was 65 was a bad one.

By then, Reed had celebrated his first Championship wicket by having Paul Borrington caught behind for 15 shortly before lunch but the afternoon session belonged to Guptill and Madsen who plundered 156 runs in 40 overs. Guptill took three fours from a Reed over on his way to an 88-ball 50 and he moved into overdrive to reach his century, which contained 19 fours, from 143 balls.

Jones fluffed a simple chance at backward point when he was on 114 but three overs after tea he was lbw trying to whip Reed through midwicket.

By then, Derbyshire were closing in on Glamorgan’s 236 and Wes Durston contributed half of a 60 stand in 12 overs before he skied a sweep to deep square leg.

North took a return catch off a leading edge to remove Dan Redfern for a duck but Madsen patiently moved to his second hundred of the season from 192 balls to leave his side with a good chance of completing a Championship double over Glamorgan and a third victory of the campaign.

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2012/content/story/565218.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

A century from Steve Davies kept Surrey alive in their match against Somerset.

However, the hosts still need to score another 77 runs with only four wickets remaining to avoid the follow on.

Continue reading the main story

“Somerset will be happy with their efforts today and Surrey will know there is still a lot of hard work to do”

Mark Church
BBC London 94.9

Somerset resumed on 441-5 and fell to 474-9, before number 11 Jamie Overton hit 34 off 35 balls to frustrate Surrey as the visitors declared on 512-9.

Opener Davies scored 104, Zander de Bruyn added 52 and Tom Maynard will return to the crease on Friday morning on 63 not out with Surrey on 286-6.

Overton, who was making his Championship debut and joined brother Craig in the Somerset team, was dropped in the slips on nine before helping his side past the 500-mark.

Surrey made a poor start to their reply as Jacques Rudolph was bowled by Jamie Overton, who claimed a wicket in only his fifth delivery in Championship cricket.

The hosts looked well placed on 188-2 but then lost three wickets for five runs to be back in trouble.

Vernon Philander (3-66) was the pick of the Somerset bowlers as he took the wickets of Jason Roy, de Bruyn and Rory Hamilton-Brown.

But Maynard steadied the ship late on and Surrey’s hopes of avoiding the follow on rest on his shoulders.

VIEWS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX

BBC London 94.9′s Mark Church:

“A graceful century from Steven Davies, his first of the season, saw Surrey close on 286-6 in reply to Somerset’s 512-9 declared.

“Davies made 104 in lovely fashion as Tom Maynard’s unbeaten 63 guided Surrey to the close and set up an intriguing third day.

“Somerset were grateful to Jamie Overton’s unbeaten 34 earlier in the day to get them up to their declaration total after Surrey’s bowlers had picked up wickets in the morning.

“Overton’s first-class debut got even better when he bowled Jacques Rudolph with his fifth delivery for one.

“But Davies looked in exquisite form as he glided to his century from 113 balls. After tea, Surrey suddenly found themselves 227-6 as George Dockrell and Vernon Philander combined to put Surrey under pressure.

“Maynard, as he has done all season, adapted quickly to the situation and he formed a crucial partnership with Gareth Batty late in the day to take Surrey to the close.

“Somerset will be happy with their efforts today and Surrey will know there is still a lot of hard work to do. But with Maynard unbeaten they are still very much in the game.”

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18107236

Moeen Ali scored his third half-century of the season but Worcestershire face a first-innings deficit against Sussex.

Continue reading the main story

“Moeen Ali looked suitably aggrieved to be given out to a ball that could well have been missing his leg stump”

Dave Bradley
BBC Hereford Worcester

Ali made 85 in a three-hour stay at the crease as the home side looked set to nudge ahead of Sussex’s 315 all out.

But they slipped from 206-4 to 231-7, still 84 runs behind, with Steve Magoffin, Naved Arif and Monty Panesar all taking two wickets.

Earlier, Sussex added 32 to their overnight total with Magoffin ending unbeaten on a season-high 41.

After impressing with the bat against his former club, Magoffin excelled with the ball as nine of his first 18 overs were maidens.

The Australian then came back later in the day with the new ball and got rid of Gareth Andrew to finish with figures of 2-28.

Panesar also impressed, in front of watching selector James Whitaker, taking 2-64.

The spinner took the wickets of Vikram Solanki for 34 and James Cameron for 13.

VIEWS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX

BBC Hereford Worcester’s Dave Bradley:

“Another good day’s cricket with Sussex taking over in the closing stages, Magoffin adding some good bowling to some useful runs in the morning session.

“Moeen Ali was again out short of a deserved century and he looked suitably aggrieved to be given out to a ball that could well have been missing his leg stump.

“Pardoe again looked the part and Panesar twirled away in front of watching selector James Whittaker – he could be the pivotal man in this game.”

BBC Sussex’s Adrian Harms:

“Another day with the initiative swinging from one side to the other, but late wickets with the new ball gave Sussex the edge.

“Steve Magoffin yet again showed what a good signing he has been. Firstly blasting a rapid 41 off just 40 balls to secure a third batting point and then taking 2-28 in 22 accurate overs.

“With an uncertain weather forecast for the weekend, Sussex will be looking to polish off the Worcestershire tail quickly in the morning, and then score runs at a brisk rate to allow sufficient time to bowl Worcestershire out.

“Monty Panesar could hold the key. He bowled well today and could be a handful on the final day on a drying pitch.”

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18107331

Charlotte Edwards, captain of England Women, is to become the first woman to sit on the MCC World Cricket committee. Edwards, 31, is one of four additions to the committee, with former West Indies captain Jimmy Adams, former Australia wicketkeeper Rod Marsh and former England captain Michael Vaughan also joining.

The new quartet – who join the committee as part of MCC’s rotation policy – replace outgoing members Tony Lewis (the former chairman), Tony Dodemaide, Andy Flower, Mike Gatting, Alec Stewart, Michael Tissera and Courtney Walsh, who had served on the committee since its inception in 2006.

Edwards said: “I’m passionate about the game of cricket, and feel I’ve got plenty to add to the discussion. It’ll be an amazing experience just to pick these guys’ brains and talk cricket with them. On a broader level, it’s great for the women’s game that I’ve been given this opportunity.”

Sri Lankan batsman, Kumar Sangakkara, is another recent recruit, having attended his first meeting in Cape Town in January 2012, while David Richardson, who has just been nominated to succeed Haroon Lorgat as chief executive of the ICC, has also been on the committee since 2009. The committee is currently chaired by former England captain Mike Brearley and next meets at Lord’s on August 13 and 14.

“MCC is privileged and very grateful to have these four eminent cricketers, each with such deep knowledge of the game, agree to join the MCC World Cricket committee,” Brearley said. “I am sure that all four will have much to contribute.”

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-west-indies-2012/content/story/565226.html?CMP=OTC-RSS