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Scorecard
Karnataka waltzed into the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy for only the second time since their triumphant campaign in 1998-99 by prevailing over Punjab on the basis of the first-innings lead in Mysore. The competitive interest in the game had evaporated yesterday afternoon when Punjab decided to adopt a go-slow approach in their batting and nothing much changed today as Punjab declared only 76 minutes before tea and both teams agreed to call off the proceedings at 3.11 pm.There were three insignificant half-centuries for Punjab: Sunny Sohal and Uday Kaul missed centuries and Mayank Sidhana fell for an exact fifty and while there was nothing to get enthused about any of the three innings in the context of the game, Sohal’s effort would have warmed the hearts of Punjab fans. He is not known for patient knocks and has in the past been guilty of throwing away starts but he dropped anchor today. Curiously, this effort came when perhaps a more adventurous route was the crying need of the day but Sohal was just following the team plan.Bhupinder Singh Sr, Punjab’s coach, said that Manpreet Gony wasn’t fit to bowl (shoulder injury) and he felt some of the batsmen would do well to get some practice in the middle. It’s debatable what the practice was for as their campaign had derailed with this season-ending game and they are headed home for some rest.Kaul has been Punjab’s best batsman this season and he proved it again today with yet another assured knock. Rarely was he hurried, and seldom was he in any trouble. As the innings progressed he took more risks, shuffling across the stumps to flick to the on side but fell, against the run of play, to one such attempt. He walked across and tried to lap a short-of-a-length delivery to the on side but got a top edge that was swallowed by the bowler Vinay Kumar. Mayank and Taruwar Kohli too got among some runs but the game was always destined to end up going nowhere once Punjab shut shop yesterday.”I was a little surprised by how Punjab batted, thought they would make us bat for 60 overs and set us a target, but no complaints,” Rahul Dravid said later. “We were happy to wrap up the game and move on. We could have bowled a bit better at the end of the first day, certainly our catching could have been a lot better and we should have converted more of our starts while batting.”For his part, Pankaj Dharmani, Punjab’s captain, said he was satisfied with their performance this season. “We were hit by the ICL and we are in a transition stage. We have played well to reach the quarter-finals and our bowling has been good. Some 12-14 players have made their debuts in the last two seasons and we are slowly getting to form the nucleus of the side.”

Not for keeps
Brad Haddin’s wicketkeeping is often criticised but there was nothing wrong with his leap to intercept Adrian Barath’s edge from Peter Siddle before tea. It was a great take, the sort that would even impress retired wicketkeepers in the commentary box. The only problem was that Siddle had bowled a no-ball.Backing the Bulls
There are four ex-Queenslanders on display in this game and a good way to win the crowd back is to go after the bowling. Nathan Hauritz hasn’t been back here for five years after leaving for New South Wales, but he entertained his old fans during an aggressive innings that resulted in his maiden Test half-century. Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson and Brendan Nash are the other former Bulls on show this week.No longer Nashville
Team Nash is sitting in the lower northern stand providing support for Brendan Nash, the former Queensland batsman who enters at No. 6 for West Inides. When he came to the wicket with his side at 4 for 63 Nash received some loud cheers from his family, friends and most of the crowd, but there were also some boos. He was expecting them as well as the first-up bouncer from Mitchell Johnson, his former flat-mate. Next ball he cut Johnson for four through point.Another review, another not out
The Australians want their top order to have the first say on the umpire reviews, but they had two spare when Johnson, the No. 8, didn’t think he had edged Sulieman Benn to Denesh Ramdin. Play was stopped for a couple of minutes while replays from all available angles were viewed to determine whether Ian Gould’s decision was correct. None could prove either that he did or didn’t touch it. Under the new system’s regulations if there is no conclusive evidence that the judgment is wrong, the on-field official’s ruling stands and Johnson walked off.Wasted calls
Gould was supported by the technology again when Gayle tested his lbw decision in a strange choice by the batsman. Gayle was hit on the back leg, right in front, but after standing at the crease and starting to step off the ground he changed his mind. When the call came back from upstairs Gould walked back behind the stumps and raised his finger for a second time. The second unsuccessful review came in similar circumstances when Shivnarine Chanderpaul moved across his stumps and was caught in front by Siddle. Both challenges were gone by the 17th over.Opening exchanges
Barath was fortunate to grab his first Test run when he could have been run-out for zero. He pushed a single to the offside and was short when the throw narrowly missed the stumps at the bowler’s end. An off-drive off Siddle helped settle his nerves, but he was soon in discomfort again, first with the edge to Haddin and then another to Watson off Johnson.

Sri Lanka’s opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan has fractured his nose after colliding with one of his team-mates while playing football following the first Test against India in Ahmedabad on Friday. Brendon Kuruppu, Sri Lanka’s team manager, confirmed the news upon arrival in Kanpur, the venue for the second Test starting Tuesday. Dilshan had to be rushed to hospital where an X-ray revealed the damage.However, Dilshan may yet be available for the second Test. “The injury was put right by the surgeon before we left for Kanpur and Dilshan is out of danger,” Kuruppu said. “He is not in any kind of great discomfort. He will resume practice with the rest of the team tomorrow (Sunday).”This is Dilshan’s second injury on this tour. Prior to the first Test, he sprained his ankle during practice, but recovered in time to score a century.

The wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has been called up to the Indian squad as cover for openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, who sustained injuries during the third one-dayer against Australia in New Delhi.”Dinesh Karthik will be joining the Indian team in Mohali,” N Srinivasan, the BCCI secretary, said in a statement. “Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir sustained injuries during the third match and a final decision on their availability for the fourth match, to be played at Mohali on November 2, will be taken on the morning of the game.”While Sehwag was hit on the foot by a Peter Siddle yorker in the eighth over, which prompted the physio’s attention, Gambhir was struck on the neck by a Ricky Ponting pull. He did not field for the rest of the Australian innings. Neither batsmen managed a substantial score during the chase but India went on to win by six wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the seven-match series.Karthik, 24, who was overlooked for the current series after last featuring in the Champions Trophy, has scored 502 runs in 33 ODIs at 23.90 and is likely to be a backup to captain MS Dhoni behind the stumps as well.

Group A

National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) needed just 22 overs to storm to an innings-and-46-run win against Lahore Shalimar at the Gaddafi Stadium. Already on the backfoot as the day began – on 131 for 5 and 165 adrift of defeat – Mohammad Asif removed the two overnight batsmen. The 104-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Sheraz Butt and Saad Nasim was to be the only highlight, as Mohammad Talha and Qaiser Abbas completed formalities.Sui Southern Gas Corporation (SSGC) thrashed Pakistan Customs by eight wickets and took full points at the United Bank Limited Sports Complex. Resuming on 16 for 1, with 223 needed for victory, opener Asif Zakir scored an unbeaten 122 off 157 balls to ensure a smooth passage. Together with Haaris Ayaz, who managed a well-compiled 68, including seven boundaries, the pair put on 146 for the second wicket to bat out Customs out of contention. Zakir was later joined by Wajid Ali (32) and the two took SSGC home in 60.3 overs.Captain Azhar Shafiq and Umar Akmal continued the good work by the openers from the previous day to help Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) beat Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) by six wickets at the Iqbal Stadium. Needing 147 to win on the final day, SNGPL lost overnight half-centurions Naeemuddin (91) and Mohammad Hafeez (55), but the third-wicket stand of 106 between Shafiq and Akmal proved to be decisive as they completed the win by the 37th over of the day. While Akmal struck five fours and a six during his 63-ball 52, Shafiq saw his side through with an unbeaten 78 off 83 balls, including 12 boundaries and a six.Khurram Manzoor’s patient double-hundred helped Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) take first-innings points against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) at the National Stadium. Resuming on 333 for 3, PIA lost captain Faisal Iqbal early for 53, but Manzoor was joined by Shoaib Khan snr and the two put on 159 for the fifth wicket to help them go past KRL’s first-innings total of 468. Manzoor smashed 27 boundaries during his 556-ball 241, while Shoaib struck eight fours and a six during his well-compiled 73. PIA finally declared on 517 for 6, and managed the lone wicket of Azhar Ali when they sent in KRL to face 17 overs in the day.

Group B

Karachi Blues steamrolled Peshawar by an innings and 251 runs at the Khan Research Laboratory Ground to get their campaign off to a rousing start. Struggling at 82 for 5 the previous day, it was always going to be difficult for Peshawar to avoid the follow-on. Offspinner Atif Maqbool did them no favours as he made light work of the remaining batsmen to finish with a five-for. Shot out for 141, Peshawar was hoping for a turnaround in the second innings, still trailing by a massive 317. But the fast men Mohammad Sami and Tanvir Ahmed had other plans and they ran riot. The top three Peshawar batsmen were caught behind, with two of them managing ducks and there was to be no joy from there on. Captain Sajjad Ahmed managed the highest score of 17, before being trapped in front by Tanvir. Tanvir went on to take six wickets as Peshawar folded for a dismal 66 in 18 overs.Adnan Raees picked up a five-for to give Abbottabad a whiff of full points against Quetta at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium before Arun Lal waged a brave battle to ensure there was to be no humiliation. Resuming on 184 for 5, overnight batsmen Mir Azam (37) and Khalid Usman (31) took them past the 200 mark, but both were sent back by left-arm spinner Jalat Khan. Arshad Khan wrapped up the innings by taking two wickets as Abbottabad finished on 247. The target of 256 was going to be tough, and Raees did not make life easier for the Quetta batsmen after left-arm quick Juniad Khan had dismissed the openers. The string of 30s by the Quetta batsmen did prove crucial and they managed to hold on for the draw, even as Raees continually dented the middle order.Hyderabad opener Sharjeel Khan scored a magnificent century as they survived a minor scare against Islamabad at the Diamond Club Ground. Set an impossible target of 411, right-arm fast bowler Shehzad Azam struck four crucial blows as Hyderabad lost regular wickets. However, Khadim Hussain and wicketkeeper Zeeshan Gul held fort so that Hyderabad kept their first-innings points. Zeeshan Mushtaq followed up on Umair Khan and Ashar Zaidi’s brilliant efforts for Islamabad from the previous day, scoring 60 off 63 balls, including six fours and a six. Islamabad eventually declared on 382 for 8, and from then on it was the Sharjeel show. The 20-year-old left-hander gave Hyderabad a rousing start and was involved in key partnerships with captain Faisal Athar and Hanif-ur-Rehman. Sharjeel’s 135 off 145 balls, which included 17 boundaries and two sixes, went a long way in securing the draw.

Mulewa Dharmichand starred with bat and ball as hosts Singapore recorded their second win in Division Six of the ICC World Cricket League, beating Botswana by 55 runs at the Indian Association Ground. Dharmichand made 39 at the top of the order before Narender Reddy (40) and Anish Param (47) helped steady a shaky middle-order. But it was Saad Janjua’s entertainingly free-spirited 51 which gave Singapore the momentum they needed, an innings which included five fours and two sixes. Set 246 to win Botswana began nicely with Faisal Rana (53) and Shah Zaib Khan putting on 77 for the opening wicket but there was little fight from the middle and lower order, as Dharmichand (3 for 49) and Reddy (3 for 25) stifled their run-chase.Singapore captain Chetan Suryawanshi said he was looking forward to the next game against Bahrain. “It’s going to be a good match because we’ve both won two games but we have previously played them in an Asian Cricket Council event and both times we beat them convincingly so I’m confident.”His counterpart Omar Ali reflected on the positives after the defeat. “Those positives include the fact that the top order did particularly well today and our bowlers managed to make some good breakthroughs,” Omar said. “I feel with tomorrow’s game against Malaysia, we can definitely put up a fight against them. It’s obviously going to be tough, especially since they have come off such a commanding victory over Norway, but I’m not going to let that daunt any of my team.”Bahrain outplayed Guernsey with Adil Hanif cracking 92, to win by 62 runs at the Kallang Ground. Guernsey began strongly, however, when Blane Queripel’s two quick wickets left Bahrain limping on 39 for 3. But Hanif soon took command with 92 from 123, while their innings was given a major late boost by Azeem ul Haq’s thrilling and unbeaten 72 from 71 balls. Guernsey set off in pursuit of a tricky 252 but their top-order, like Bahrain’s, struggled to be reduced to 98 for 4. Unlike Bahrain, however, they couldn’t mount a strong enough counterattack despite 56 from Jeremy Frith and 36 from Ben Ferbrache, and they fell 62 runs short. Fahad Sadeq was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 47.It was Guernsey’s third defeat to Bahrain in the last four months, and the coach Andy Cornford obviously wasn’t pleased. “Bahrain are very positive when they bat,” he said. “They bat well and they bat deep which is something we just weren’t able to combat today. It’s something we spoke about before the match but not a plan that came off when we were out there.”We’re in a bit of dogfight now to stay in Division 6 and tomorrow’s game against Norway is going to be crucial for us, so we’ve got to go in there with a good attitude despite the loss today.”Over at The Padang, Malaysia completely outplayed Norway, beating them by nine wickets with more than 18 overs to spare. Norway could only manage 188 in their innings, Adeel Ibrar top-scoring with 66 from 100 balls, while Shahid Ahmed made 41. Malaysia lost Shafiq Sharif† early for 8 before Rakesh Madhavan (95*) and Ahmed Faiz put on an unbroken second-wicket stand of 167 to seal the match in emphatic style.Malaysia captain Suhan Alagaratnam was happy with the way his players carried themselves in the field. “I’m really happy with the way my team came through today and the boys really played well,” Alagaratnam said. “I think we just played more freely today and enjoyed ourselves out in the field. We showed everyone that we can bounce back from defeat by winning by nine wickets and I hope we carry this momentum through to the next matches.”

Brian Lara, the former West Indies captain, has confirmed he is in talks with the Trinidad & Tobago board about a role for him in T&T’s Champions League campaign. His role is likely to be a coaching one since he cannot join the side as a player – under the rules, the squad must be the same as the one that participated in the domestic competition.”I haven’t been approached but we have had discussions on it,” Lara was quoted as saying in the . “I think we really want to come to a mutual understanding of exactly what Trinidad and Tobago cricket wants to get out of Brian Lara. I think you are going to play in an international tournament for the first time, we’re accustomed to playing regional tournaments but we have to know exactly what the pitches are going to be like.”T&T are the only West Indies team to compete in the tournament, which includes three sides from India, two each from Australia, England and South Africa and one each from Sri Lanka and New Zealand. They will be up against international stars like Brendon McCullum, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Dale Steyn, Virender Sehwag and Daniel Vettori.”The opposition is on an international stage … so I see some merit in it but to know exactly what role I’ll be playing, I’m not so sure. If they see I can be an asset, it is something I’ll definitely look at.”Lara had signed up with the ICL for their first season but that is unlikely to affect his role with the T&T since players who have ended their association with the unofficial league are being rehabilitated by their country’s boards.

Stuart’s broadside
Stuart Broad returned serve to Stuart Clark after being struck for consecutive sixes on the second day, welcoming the Australian with four boundaries in his opening over of the morning. Broad started with a streaky edge over the cordon before an airy slash through point, a scoop over mid-on and a loft to cover. The day livened up dramatically with the quartet of fours.Runs galore
The action continued in the next over from Peter Siddle with five wides over Brad Haddin, another four byes next ball, and then Broad’s half-century with a fierce off drive. Graeme Swann jumped into Clark’s follow-up offering at the other end and England suddenly had slammed 48 in three overs. Clark, with 32 from 12 balls, delivered embarrassed waves whenever he was cheered at fine leg.Finding their voice
Australian fans have been feeling much stronger this week and can now sing with confidence. Today’s stand-out ditty occurred before Broad and Swann’s fireworks with “Where’s your army gone?” There were a lot of barmy England supporters in the ground but at that stage there wasn’t any reason to make noise.Quick nick
The England players barely had time to sit down on the dressing-room balcony before James Anderson pushed an edge to Ricky Ponting from the third ball of the day. Ben Hilfenhaus was the successful bowler and the crowd went quiet, except for the pockets of green and gold.Drought breaker
This was Ricky Ponting’s second Test win in England as captain and his first since July 2005 at Lord’s. When the final wicket fell he ran down to third man to pick up the ball as a team souvenir. It left the ground in Mitchell Johnson’s pocket after his 5 for 69.Deal breaker or draw maker?
The Oval will host the final Test and it will be the first time since 1965-66 that the teams enter the last game of an Ashes series level. Forty-three years ago the MCG hosted the match with the sides at 1-1, but it didn’t turn out to be a tie-breaker, with the draw keeping the Ashes for Australia.Now it’s my turn
Brett Lee has wasted little time in commencing his selection bid for The Oval. No sooner had the Australians left the field at Headingley after their innings and 80 run victory than Lee was bowling at full throttle on the not-yet-three-day-old Test strip. Lee bowled for ten minutes to a cordon that included Tim Nielsen, Jamie Cox and Merv Hughes, and will presumably continue his comeback from a rib injury in Australia’s two-day tour match against Kent from August 15.

Andy Flower, England’s coach, is optimistic that Andrew Flintoff will be fit to play in the second Test at Lord’s, starting on Thursday, despite reporting soreness and swelling in his right knee after falling awkwardly in the field during last week’s first Test in Cardiff.Given his recent injury problems, which have forced Flintoff to miss 25 of England’s 48 Test matches since the 2005 Ashes, the news of his latest injury setback had been greeted with concern, especially as the injured knee was the same one that required surgery back in April, after Flintoff tore his meniscus while playing for Chennai Superkings in the IPL.Flower, however, sought to play down the extent of the latest injury, and told reporters at Lord’s that Flintoff’s surgeon, Dr Derek Bickerstaff, had suggested “he should be okay to play”, having received a cortisone injection on Monday to assist with the recovery.”He [Bickerstaff] was quite optimistic about him [Flintoff] playing in this game,” said Flower. “He won’t bowl today, but he’ll have a bat and he’ll have a bowl tomorrow, and we’ll assess it tomorrow. We’ll let it settle today.”Despite finishing with disappointing figures of 1 for 128 in 35 overs, Flintoff bowled with pace and hostility in his first Test outing of the summer in Cardiff, and with his batting showing signs of returning consistency, England still retain the hope that he might yet rediscover the form that made him such an irresistible force in the 2005 Ashes.Nevertheless, Flower was wary of getting too hopeful about his long-term fitness. “I think with Fred and his injury record we’re always concerned, to be honest,” he said. “His body is in that sort of state, at this time of his career, when he seems vulnerable a lot of the time. We can’t get away from that, but he’s a hell of a player and we want him in our side if fit.”The statistics of Flintoff’s recent form and impact on the Test side, however, are not flattering. Since the 2005 Ashes, he has averaged 28.25 with the bat and 34.68 with the ball in 23 Tests (both figures down on his overall Test record), and he has not managed a century or five wickets in an innings in any series since then.Most damning of all, however, is his record as a match-winner. Although some leeway has to be made for the quality of the opponents – Flintoff has often been recuperating during low-key series in preparation for the marquee events – the statistics paint a sorry tale. In the 25 matches that Flintoff has missed since 2005, England have won 12, drawn 10 and lost on only three occasions. In the 23 matches in which he has been present, those numbers are almost exactly reversed – won 3, drawn 7, lost 13.What is more, there is a growing suspicion that the unpredictable nature of Flintoff’s fitness record has an adverse impact on the balance of the side, and the role of the less-vaunted players. James Anderson, for instance, who recently admitted it is hard to avoid feeling like a second-fiddle when Flintoff is in the side, averages nearly 10 runs higher when his Lancashire team-mate is also in England’s bowling attack.Flower, however, does not have any time for suggestions that Flintoff’s comings and goings unsettle his team-mates. “I don’t think that’s something that should distract any of our boys, whether or not Fred’s playing,” he said. “The guys will just get on and prepare, as professional sportsmen do. Frustrating or not, that’s how it is, there’s no point in getting too het up about it.”In the meantime, Flintoff could either be replaced by, or joined in the same line-up as, Steve Harmison, who was understood to have frustrated the England management with his poor fitness and attitude on their recent tour of the Caribbean. His form this summer brooks no equivocation, with six wickets in a fiery performance for England Lions against Australia at Worcester earlier this month, and a five-wicket haul for Durham in his most recent Championship outing against Yorkshire.Despite suggestions that Flower had been the most ardent critic of Harmison’s attitude, he disputed it on the eve of the second Test. “I never drew any line under Steve, that wasn’t the case at all,” he said. “If that was the perception elsewhere, there’s nothing I can do about it. Steve was always in the frame, because he’s a hell of a fast bowler with a very good record for England.”

South African domestic first-class cricket resumed with the 2003-04SuperSport Super Sixes series kicking off in Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Durban.TournamentDay one reports
Griqualand West 129 for 4 (Bosman 34) v WesternProvince
ScorecardDespite asking Griqualand West to bat first under overcast skies at Newlands, Western Province could not fully exploit the overhead conditions. The threat of rain caused hold-ups throughout the day and when rain chased the players off for an early tea, Griquas had progressed to 129 for 4. Wendell Bossenger was not out on 25 after Loots Bosman had scored 34. No further play was possible after tea.Border 153 (Gamiet 45*, van der Wath 4-24) v Free State 122 for 4 (Liebenberg 35, Venter 28*)
ScorecardAfter winning the toss and batting, Border never made headway as the pace attack of Free State fired on all cylinders. Four wickets from Johannes van der Wath and two each for Allan Donald, Dewald Pretorius and Victor Mpitsang had Border all out for 153. Laden Gamiet, scoring an undefeated 45, was the only Border batsman able to withstand the heat.Bad light brought about an early end with Free State in command at 122 for 4. Gerhardus Liebenberg (35) and Kosie Venter (28 not out) were the maincontributors.North West 255 (Grace 102, Bailey 47, Tweedie 3-76) v KwaZulu-Natal 10 for 0
ScorecardKwaZulu-Natal sent North West in to bat on a lively pitch, and soon reaped the benefits of some good bowling. An 81-run fifth wicket partnership restored some equilibrium but when Ryan Bailey fell for 47 it was left to Graham Grace, with a determined 102, his first SuperSport hundred, to get the Dragons to a respectable score of 255. Ros Veenstra and Nixon McLean took two wickets each while Andrew Tweedie bagged three. North West managed to get three overs in before stumps was called with Natal 3 for 0.