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Nashua WP scored a convincing innings and 14 run win over Free State in a Supersport Series match which ended in Bloemfontein on Monday.Man of the Match Charl Willoughby was the star performer claiming 10 wickets in the match for 103 runs. He received support from Claude Henderson, Roger Telemachus and Paul Adams.On the batting front Ashwell Prince(98) and Renier Munnik(87) supported by debutant Johno Maclean enabled WP to post a respectable 376 in their first innings. Nashua WP gained 17.92 points from the match.The next WP match starts on Friday against Griquas in Kimberley.

Four stitches and a perforated ear drum is what Rockingham-Mandurah captain Shane Saxon recieved from Willetton allrounder John Taylor during round five of the SunSmart Cup.Victorian import Taylor, 23, hit Saxon with a lively bouncer forcing him from the ground with a nasty gash to the ear.Saxon was immediately taken to hospital in an ambulance where doctors discovered the blow had burst his eardrum.On a flat wicket poor shot was to blame according to Taylor with Saxon ducking into the ball.Rockingham-Mandurah President Peter Swarbrick said Saxon had been cleared of permanent damage and should be to playing in two weeks.”Hopefully he’ll be back to playing in a couple of weeks, it’s up to the specialist,” he said.”We are trying to find the black cat.”Swarbrick was referring to the amazing run of bad luck that has afflicted Rockingham-Mandurah’s top order in recent weeks.English import Mark Powell is out with an injured back and Corey Whisson has a chipped bone in his finger courtesy of a lifting Paul Wilson delivery.With Saxon out, three of Rockingham-Mandurah’s top order are unavailable. �

An incisive spell of bowling from Pakistan international Azhar Mahmood has brought Surrey back into contention on the second day of their top-of-the-table match with Lancashire at The Oval. Mahmood took all Lancashire’s second-innings wickets as they reached 124 for five, a lead of 228, before bad light forced an early close. Earlier Alex Tudor (61) and James Ormond (35*) put on 52 for the last wicket to take Surrey to 216 all out – rather better than they might have expected when they were 92 for seven yesterday evening.The game at Taunton between champions Yorkshire and last year’s runners-up, Somerset, is also heading for an intriguing finish. In their second innings Yorkshire closed on 280 for 9, a lead of 261, thanks mainly to Craig White (61) and Michael Lumb (62). This after Ian Blackwell was dismissed for 114 this morning as Somerset were eventually bowled out for 232.Kent will be hard pressed to avoid defeat at the Rose Bowl after Hampshire forced them to follow on, dismissing them for just 118 in reply to the home side’s 345. Dimitri Mascarenhas took four for 49 as Hampshire ran through the Kent batting, Andrew Symonds top-scoring with 39. Despite an unbeaten half-century from Ed Smith, Kent are struggling in their second innings as well, closing on 148 for four, still 171 behind.Darren Stevens (125) piled on the agony for Warwickshire’s bowlers at Grace Road as Leicestershire, 292 for four overnight, finished on 523. Michael Bevan reached 146 and in reply Warwickshire were 36 for three at the close of a truncated day, with Leicestershire’s two veterans Philip DeFreitas and Devon Malcolm taking a wicket apiece.In Division Two, Northants have a mountain to climb at Derby, after the pre-season outsiders took huge strides towards making it three wins out of three. After Derbyshire completed a total of 538, there was a spectacular collapse by the visitors. Dominic Cork (four for 29) and Kevin Dean (three for 28) were again the destroyers, as Northants were reduced at one point to 25 for seven. Six batsmen failed to trouble the scorers, who were probably more bothered by the pace of the dismissals. Graeme Swann (44) and Carl Greenidge (46) eventually took Northants to 131 all out. Although they have done rather better following on, at 100 for no wicket they are still adrift by 307 runs.An all-round contribution from Greg Smith helped Nottinghamshire consolidate their grip at Trent Bridge against Essex. Smith made an unbeaten 35 to take Notts to 213 all out, a lead of 83, and then took five wickets as Essex ended the day on 215 for seven, just 132 runs ahead. Paul Grayson was Essex’s top scorer with 89.A draw looks likely at New Road after Worcestershire failed to capitalise on an excellent start to their innings. They bowled Glamorgan out for 286 this morning, and Anurag Singh (81) and Stephen Peters (71) then put together an opening stand of 156. However once they were parted wickets fell at regular intervals. Darren Thomas took five for 77 as Worcestershire were bowled out for 298. Glamorgan closed on 38 without loss, a lead of 26.

ScorecardAt the end of the teams’ first innings of this match, any of the several hundred spectators could be excused for giving a hollow laugh at any suggestion that Nottinghamshire, who started the game at the top of the Division One table, might finish as County Champions. Their innings, against bowling that was no more than average in quality, was reminiscent of the march of the lemmings, as one batsman after another perished to strokes they doubtless now feel ashamed of.So Surrey are well on course for their first Championship victory of the season, though even they may concede their rolling of Notts for 218 in their first innings was due more to a dismal batting performance than to any outstanding performance of their own. Only when they had put the home side in a second time did they really start to show the vibrancy and self-belief of a winning team. And for a while the Notts second-wicket pair showed enough fight to arouse hopes of a real battle on the final day.Surrey did not begin the day auspiciously: 356 for 7 overnight, they lost Chris Jordan to the fourth ball without addition. Darren Pattison got the ball to lift and the result was a comfortable catch to first slip.They still had batting – of sorts – to come, though, and it was entertaining. Saqlain Mushtaq and Jade Dernbach both applied ‘block and slog’ tactics, with basic defence being supplemented by moments of extreme violence. Saqlain soon hit Pattinson for six over long-on, and ran to 50 off 66 balls before driving a return catch to the bowler.Last man Pedro Collins, who has been a total nonentity with the bat for Surrey this season, excelled himself today with 6 runs off 14 balls, which allowed Dernbach off successive deliveries to step back and deposit Graeme Swann over the wide long-on boundary with two terrific yahoos. He finished unbeaten on 16; Surrey reached 403, the highest by any team at Trent Bridge this season, and the only bowler who would take any pleasure in his figures was Pattinson with 5 for 72.The overall verdict on both the Nottinghamshire batting and the Surrey bowling might be: strong on entertainment but ultimately weak in discipline. The Surrey bowling is more renowned for pace than accuracy, and this enabled Will Jefferson to get off to a flier, mainly at the expense of the erratic Dernbach. He flirted unwisely at some deliveries outside the off stump, but raced to 31 off the first 21 balls he faced. Finally, groping forward again, he was caught at the wicket off Matt Nicholson for 42 off 39 balls; 60 for 1. He was Nicholson’s 400th first-class victim.The score at lunch was 64 for 1, but the second ball after the break accounted for Mark Wagh (3), caught at second slip off one from Nicholson that bounced. Notts continued to push along aggressively at more than four an over, with even Matt Wood, who had started quite solidly, starting to open up. But both he and Adam Voges, for 38 and 33 respectively, were caught down the leg side off misdirected balls from the fortunate Dernbach; Voges had already been dropped in the slips off Nicholson when 24. When Chris Read (5) shouldered arms and was bowled by Chris Jordan, Nottinghamshire were 146 for 5.Most of the batsmen thus far had given their wickets away, and this trend continued as, just before tea, Samit Patel culpably took a wild heave at part-time off-spinner Matthew Spriegel and skied a catch for Jonathan Batty to collect in the region of point – his fourth of the innings. Mark Ealham (12) was perhaps unlucky, bowled behind his legs by Nicholson. But, with the follow-on becoming an increasing threat, the shots of Swann (33), holing out on the leg boundary off Saqlain just after having swept him riskily for six, and Andre Adams, skying the same bowler to extra cover, were even more culpable.The innings closed for 218, with most of the dismissals brought about by an apparent suicide pact. Collins, the most consistent of the pace bowlers, failed to take a wicket; the main beneficiaries of the home team’s largesse were the more erratic Dernbach (2 wickets) and Nicholson(3), and the wily Saqlain (also 3). Surrey, after starting the match bottom of the division, may have felt the confusion of a mediocre gambler finding himself with a full house, but managed to convey successfully their wish to indulge in a follow-on.Christmas was still not over, as with only a leg-bye on the board Jefferson was bowled by Dernbach via the inside edge. Suddenly Surrey were bowling with real purpose and self-belief; similarly Nottinghamshire had lost their cavalier abandon and were looking nervously over their shoulders to find their backs to the wall.Strangely, there followed the best cricket of the match so far. Wood and Wagh decided to knuckle down and fight it out; Collins, Dernbach and Jordan produced some superb bowling of genuine pace and hostility, and with greater accuracy too. At last we had the sight of two teams rising to the challenge, giving no quarter and engaging in a tense battle for supremacy and pride. It was only spoilt, for Nottinghamshire, in the penultimate over when Wagh tried to leg-glance Collins and was taken by the keeper for 19; 46 for 2.Some intriguing questions should be answered on the final day. Will Nottinghamshire drag themselves out of the pit they dug for themselves and force an honourable draw? Will Surrey be able to seize the day and record their first Championship win of the season? And when these are answered, what effect will this match have on the future progress of the two sides this season? This may well prove to be one of the most significant matches of the 2008 Championship.

Michael Clarke will use the lessons learned from his previous captains when he leads Australia against Bangladesh in his first full series in the top job. Clarke’s major duties start in Darwin on Saturday, when he steps in for the injured Ricky Ponting, and while he has thought of his predecessors, he also intends to follow his own instincts in the three matches.”I’ve always played my cricket my own way and that’s certainly the way I want to lead the team,” Clarke, who guided the side during two one-day games in the West Indies, told the Sun-Herald. “I think I can do that, along with the help and advice of those who’ve come before me.”I plan to be a captain who leads in the same style that I play. I feel that I’m an attacking and positive sort of player. I love the challenge of a hard-fought game of cricket. I like being the one who is responsible for making the right or wrong decision.”Clarke, who is now 27, has played under some of Australia’s most successful leaders and he has thought of them when working out his own outlook. “There are strengths in each of the captains I’ve played under,” he said. “I’ve had Waugh, Ponting, Warne – a lot of good captains, even at grade level. But the key thing I’ve learnt from a number of them has been to always be your own person.”You need to back yourself 100% and always believe in yourself. You need to back your instinct. If you feel like you want to make a change or something, you have to back your own judgment and ability. That’s certainly one of Punter’s strengths and it’s a strength of pretty much all the captains I’ve played under.”However, Clarke said he was prepared to go his own way. “The last thing I want to do is be like someone else,” he said. Clarke’s leadership record is currently unblemished after victories in two Twenty20 encounters and success in both the one-day games in the West Indies in July.

ScorecardWarwickshire came back almost from the dead to tie their match with Gloucestershire at Bristol, courtesy of a four off the final ball of the match by captain Ian Westwood. Gloucestershire had reason to feel deflated, as they had looked likely winners for most of the game, and also in that their ground was less than half-full.Winning the toss, Warwickshire put in Gloucestershire, who opened with their two New Zealanders, Craig Spearman and Hamish Marshall. Spearman began the onslaught, then Marshall shot ahead, with such success that the 50 was raised in the sixth over. The stand was broken at 60 in the following over, Spearman (20) lofting a catch near the midwicket boundary, and two overs later Marshall was stumped for 46.The bowler was Ant Botha, with his cunning off-breaks, and he also had Chris Taylor caught for 13. His superb bowling earned him figures of 3 for 22 off four overs, while Ian Salisbury at the other end also did a fine job with 1 for 25. The contrast with the seamers was stark: they were all hammered for at least nine an over. New Zealander Chris Martin, bowling for Warwickshire for the first time after rain on Wednesday denied him an over on his debut, only bowled three overs for 27 runs.Thanks to the noble work of the spinners, Gloucestershire reached only 158 – with six wickets in hand, they would have expected more. Yet it looked likely to prove sufficient. Jon Lewis trapped Navdeep Pooniah lbw off the first ball of the innings, and Warwickshire’s top order were unable to put together a partnership, falling steadily behind the clock. After ten overs they had a third of the required runs and needed more than ten an over.Tony Frost batted superbly as he sought desperately to bring his team back into the match, and at last he found support in Tim Groenewald. Despite the urgency of the situation they hit wisely and well, and when they took 15 off the 18th over, bowled by Carl Greenidge, the task looked possible with 22 needed off two. But Marcus North bowled a tight penultimate over at the pinch to concede only eight, and it was top bowler Lewis to bowl the last.Off the first ball Frost, having just reached an admirable 50 off 30 balls, holed out on the cover boundary after a stand of 66 in 31 balls. Groenewald responded with a magnificent straight six next ball, but Lewis kept it tight thereafter until the final delivery, when Westwood was facing his first ball with five to win. He sliced a four to the third-man boundary and the match was tied, leaving Groenewald unbeaten on 39.

Relegated Hampshire meet Frizzell County Champions Surrey at the Rose Bowl in their last 4 day encounter of the 2002 season. They retain the eleven that drew with Sussex at Hove last week, and add John Crawley to make a squad of 12.”A good result against the Champions” said Robin Smith, “may not help us for this year, but could restore some pride, before we disperse for the winter”.The 12: Neil Johnson, Jason Laney, John Crawley, Jimmy Adams, Will Kendall, Robin Smith, John Francis, Nic Pothas, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Shaun Udal, Alan Mullally and James Tomlinson.

By the late sixties and early seventies, the great West Indian side ofthe decade had broken up, but by 1974, the rebuilding process had beencompleted, and it was a strong and confident side that came to Indiaduring the winter. Clive Lloyd took over the captaincy and the sidebristled with brilliant young stroke players in Gordon Greenidge, RoyFredericks, Lawrence Rowe, Vivian Richards and Alvin Kallicharran. Inaddition, they had fine all-rounders in Bernard Julien and Keith Boyceand a fearsome pace bowler in Andy Roberts while veteran Lance Gibbs,at 40 was still around to shoulder the spin burden.

Even as the West Indies had completed their rebuilding process, Indiawere going through a turbulent period. In England in 1974, India hadbeen routed in all three Tests and a few seamy happenings off thefield added to the already clouded atmosphere. As the team approachedthe series against the West Indies, they could not have been in aconfident frame of mind, particularly since Ajit Wadekar suddenlyannounced his retirement and the Indian Cricket Board slapped a oneTest ban on Bishen Bedi for airing controversial views during anunauthorised TV interview in England.The selectors had to find a new captain and they fell back on MansurAli Khan Pataudi. But while leading India in the first Test atBangalore, which was lost by 267 runs, Pataudi was injured. Atemporary replacement had to be found for the second Test at New Delhiand the selectors’ choice was Sunil Gavaskar. But the opening batsmanwas injured in a Ranji Trophy game and this led to utter confusion asto who would lead India since the captain had not been appointed evenon the night before the commencement of the Test.Ultimately, S Venkatraghavan was chosen to lead the team on themorning of the match. But the change of captaincy did not result in achange of fortunes and India lost by an innings and 17 runs theirfifth successive defeat in the space of six months – to go two down inthe series.At this stage, interest in the series declined and a 5-0 rout waspredicted. The West Indian batsmen had made hay with Greenidge,Richards, Lloyd and Kallicharran making hundreds while Roberts withhis pace, Vanburn Holder with his cut and swing and Gibbs with his offspin had mowed down the Indian batting. There seemed a lack offighting spirit in the home team.Astonishingly, however, India won the next two Tests to draw level inthe series. And they did so without the services of Gavaskar, who wasstill on the injured list. The architect of this turn about wasGundappa Viswanath.With scores of 52 and 139 at Calcutta and 97 not out and 46 at Madras,he more than anyone else helped shaped victories by 85 runs and 100runs. The spin trio of Bedi, Prasanna and Chandrasekhar weavedpatterns around the West Indian batsmen and suddenly the visitorslooked very vulnerable. They were also timely contributions from newplayers like Madan Lal, Anshuman Gaekwad and Karsan Ghavri and thisoffset the poor form of Pataudi. But if Pataudi’s reflexes hadconsiderably slowed down – this was his last series – he displayedshrewdness and skill in his captaincy, a notable factor in India’sfightback.Predictably enough, there was tremendous interest in the decider to beplayed at the brand new Wankhede stadium in Bombay. Could Indiaemulate the feat of Australia in 1936-37 as the only side to come from0-2 down to win a five-Test series? The answer was emphaticallyanswered in the negative by the West Indies who ran up a total of 604for six declared on the third morning after a minor riot interruptedplay on the second evening. Lloyd hammered an unbeaten 242 whileFredericks got his second hundred of the series.Despite some fine batting by Gavaskar, Viswanath, Gaekwad and EknathSolkar, who posted his only Test century, India just about managed toavoid the follow on and the West Indies had plenty of time to coast tovictory by 201 runs in the decisive Test, played over six days.While the batting certainly played its part in the West Indies’triumph, the most vital role was the pace bowling of Roberts who with32 wickets, set a record for IndiaWest Indies matches. Gibbs showedthat he had lost none of his old magic in taking 21 wickets.But India too came out with flying colours, thanks principally to thebatting of Viswanath who finished with 568 runs in the series. Hestrode like a colossus, emphasised by the fact that the next highestaggregate was Farokh Engineer’s 222. The spinners, handled in adroitfashion by Pataudi, too had a major hand in India’s gallant showing.Also, the fact that all five Tests produced results in India, wherepitches were reputedly slow and heavily loaded in favour of thebatsmen, did not go unnoticed. Indeed, it was a series in which theaccent was on attack even as negative tactics were generally shunned.

Match facts

Thursday, June 12, 2008
Start time 15.00 (local), 9.00 (GMT)

The Big Picture

Any doubts about how an Indian batting line-up would perform without their senior players were put to rest by the clinical victory over Pakistan. Bangladesh, who are yet to win a match against significant opposition since last year’s World Cup, now have the unenviable task of beating an in-form India to avoid elimination. India’s massive win on Tuesday means that only an unlikely defeat by more than 218 runs will stop them from making the title clash.

Form guide – India

Last five matches: WWWWL (most recent first)
Players to watch: Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir have been in sensational form in recent months. Their opening partnerships in the IPL formed the bedrock of the Delhi Daredevils’ IPL campaign and the ease with which they piled on 155 at more than seven an over against Pakistan would worry any opposition.

Form guide – Bangladesh

Last five matches: LLLLL (most recent first)
Player to watch: For a batsman of Mohammad Ashraful’s undoubted class, an ODI average of 22.71 is unacceptable. Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons was heartened by the manner in which Ashraful ground out an unbeaten 56 against Pakistan, shunning the impetuousness that has brought an abrupt halt to many of his innings. It will be interesting to observe what sort of approach Ashraful adopts against India.

Team news

With Farhad Reza having had a horror run in the recent series against Pakistan, Bangladesh are likely to retain the XI they went in with for the previous game.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Shahriar Nafees, 3 Mohammad Ashraful (capt), 4 Raqibul Hasan, 5 Alok Kapali, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza, 9 Dolar Mahmud, 10 Abdur Razzak, 11 Shahadat Hossain.

India’s coach Gary Kirsten spoke about adopting a rotation policy, and with a place in the final almost assured, they are likely to experiment with the line-up. Ishant Sharma has recovered from a niggle he picked up in the game against Pakistan but could be rested to give Manpreet Gony a debut.India (probable): 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Gautam Gambhir, 3 Yuvraj Singh, 4 Rohit Sharma, 5 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), 6 Suresh Raina/ Robin Uthappa, 7 Yusuf Pathan, 8 Irfan Pathan, 9 Piyush Chawla, 10 Praveen Kumar, 11 Manpreet Gony

Pitch and conditions

With pitches offering considerable assistance to spin, and getting slower as the ball gets older, the batsmen may want to make the most of the hard, new ball. And with the tracks being composed of black soil, it has also been tougher for the batsmen to sight the ball as the innings progresses. Although heavy showers are forecast for the rest of the week, the excellent drainage facilities – and the reserve day – should ensure a completed match.

Stats and trivia

Graeme Hick, that great enigma of English cricket, has struck again. This time, it was not with a sparkling century for Worcestershire to remind the selectors of his prodigious talent. Batting fluently at Taunton, Hick mowed a drive which broke Marcus Tresothick’s thumb, probably ruling the England star out for the rest of the season.This is a massive blow for England’s immediate future. Trescothick, bundled into international cricket thanks to injuries in 1999, has never looked back. It was not so long ago that Somerset were trying to turn him into an all-rounder, but the left-hander is now one of the game’s hottest properties.In the scheme of things, Trescothick will probably be back in the side for the Ashes, and continue his excellent career. Four missed Test matches won’t be vital and, when Nasser Hussain eventually retires, he looks favourite to become the next England captain.This summer however, Trescothick’s broken thumb rather throws the cat amongst the pigeons. While Hick was still batting at Taunton, it appeared that Trescothick would only miss the first Test. By the time Jamie Cox and Peter Bowler got to the crease for Somerset, it was clear that the injury was much more serious.Where now then, for Hussain’s men? If Trescothick was out for only one game,Mark Butcher could move up the order, and John Crawley to number three. Withsuch a prolonged absence, and given that Butcher has achieved so much at three, the selectors may look at fresh faces.Top of the list must be Sussex’s Richard Montgomerie and Kent’s David Fulton. Both had dream seasons in 2001 and, though such summers are not easily repeated, they remain in good form. Both are good, solid county players. Given that a Trescothick recovery ensures an almost automatic recall, it may be better to give seasoned pros a chance.If England look to youth, and this is probably unlikely, Ian Bell stands out. This unflustered, technically correct right-hander is going to play Test cricket. But his inclusion in this situation would however move Butcher up the order, which is best avoided.An alternative selection could conceivably see Robert Key thrust into the side. The 23-year-old Academy graduate is highly thought of, hits the ball hard and could be risked to replicate Trescothick’s role. Doubts will be raised about whether Key is ready for international cricket. There is only one way to find out.The most probable outcome is the recall of John Crawley or Mark Ramprakash. Such a move would attract criticism, though Crawley is in good form and Ramprakash is scoring double-hundreds for fun and hitting centuries for breakfast. Neither would be the bravest selection, but either Crawley or Ramprakash is the most sensible.Some critics will wonder what Trescothick was doing playing for Somerset. Those who suggest that England players should only play for England must realise that cricketers need cricket, cricket needs fans, and fans need entertainment. England players provide this, and a one-day game in mid-season should hardly be a high-risk exercise.Freak accidents happen, and of three broken bones in the England set-up this summer, both James Kirtley and Jamie Foster suffered their injuries in the nets. If England cricketers are to be banned from playing for their counties, we might as well ban training.