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Anil Kumble, who led Rest of India in this year’s Irani Cup, has credited the team 187-run win over Delhi to the team’s fielding and catching.”It was a great fielding effort by the side,” Kumble said. “We managed really some extraordinary catches which ultimately made a big difference to the outcome of the match. Catches always win matches and the boys were up to the mark today.”Notable among Rest of India’s catches were Mohammad Kaif’s low one at slip to dismiss Aakash Chopra in Delhi’s first innings, two brilliant catches from Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps, and a couple of sharp takes at slip by Rahul Dravid.”I am satisfied with the overall performance of the team,” Kumble said. Most of the Rest of India players were regulars from India’s Test squad, whom Kumble will lead in the upcoming Tests against Australia. “The bowlers did well and the batsmen also managed to spend some time out there, even though not all of them scored big. I’m happy with the way it went.”The wicket was not conducive for stroke-play. It was not those kind of wickets where you go out and play your shots. It was quite difficult and I think the 75-run first innings lead proved crucial in the end.”

Kumble and Gary Kirsten, India’s coach, also backed Dravid to come good in the Test series. Dravid managed just 148 runs at 24.66 in three Tests against Sri Lanka, but scores of 46 and 69 in Vadodara have impressed his captain and coach.”I think it turned out to be a good outing for him,” Kirsten said. “He achieved what he had come for. He is a key player for us and has been successful for years. I do not look at a particular game, but performance over six or seven months. If someone has been in form for that period, it does not matter if he does well or not in a game. He knows now we face Australia, the world’s No. 1 team, and it should give boost his confidence.”Kumble too said it was good that Dravid got some runs before the Tests. “He [Dravid] is a class act. In this kind of situation, you have to bat long and grind the bowlers. He knows that and he did a great job.”The first of the four Tests against Australia begins on October 9 in Bangalore.

ScorecardCaptain Steve Tikolo scored nearly half the runs as Kenya made 344 for 7 on the first day of their four-day game against the Pakistan Cricket Academy in Nairobi. For the visitors, opening bowler Anwar Ali, who scripted Pakistan’s dramatic win in the target=”_blank”>Under-19 World Cup final in 2006, finished the day with six wickets.Pakistan chose to bowl under overcast conditions, and Anwar struck thrice to reduce them to 17 for 3. Kennedy Otieno and Rakep Patel fell when Kenya’s score was still on 0, and Anwar added a third when he removed Alex Obanda for 12. Wicketkeeper-batsman Maurice Ouma and Tikolo ensured Kenya didn’t collapse for a paltry score. The two added 171 for before Anwar removed Ouma for 79.Allrounder Thomas Odoyo was trapped leg-before by Anwar for 4, but Jimmy Kamande gave Tikolo company with a 121-ball 49. At the other end, Tikolo pushed along to 170, a knock which included 21 fours. Kamande was also dismissed by Anwar and Tikolo fell late in the day, stumped off part-time spinner Umar Amin.

Group A

Afghanistan finished on top of Group A in Asian Cricket Council Elite Trophy by beating Bahrain by seven runs in their final group match at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur. Asghar Stankzai scored 102 off 110 balls and Mohammad Nabi and Shafiqullah contributed half-centuries to lead Afghanistan to 293 for 9 in 50 overs after they were struggling at 166 for 6 at one stage. Bahrain used as many as eight bowlers all of whom picked up a wicket with the exception of Mirza Yaqoob. Opener Ashraf Mughal led Bahrain’s chase, scoring a run-a-ball 81. However, they found it hard to recover from a top-order collapse that resulted in them slipping from 53 for 0 to 88 for 4. Abdul Waheed scored 51 off 55 balls at No. 8 to bring Bahrain close but they fell short by seven runs finished fourth in the group.Twin hundreds from Rakesh Madhavan and Suhan Alagaratnam helped Malaysia crush Saudi Arabia by 193 runs at the Kinrara Academy Oval and finish third in Group A. Malaysia had lost two wickets on 89 in the 15th over when Madhavan and Alagaratnam began their partnership and by the time they were separated Malaysia had piled up 259 in the 44th over. Madhavan made 101 off 137 balls and Alagaratnam hit four sixes during his 83-ball hundred. The target of 317 proved to be beyond Saudi Arabia’s means and they folded for 123 with captain Sarfraz Ahmed top-scoring with 44. Priyankara Wickramasinghe’s 3 for 8 were the best figures for Malaysia. Saudi Arabia finished bottom of Group A.

Group B

Nepal chased down the target of 104 in 29 overs to record a seven-wicket win against Kuwait at the Selangor Turf Club and finish on top of Group B. Nepal’s new-ball bowler Mahaboob Alam reduced Kuwait to 17 for 3 during his opening spell while Shakti Gauchan picked up 3 for 5 in eight overs. Kuwait were dismissed for 103 in the 39th over. Nepal lost their first three wickets for 54 runs during the run-chase but Sharad Vesawkar and Paras Khadka remained unbeaten until victory was sealed.Zain Abbas and Skhawat Ali helped Hong Kong overcome a disastrous start and beat Singapore by 93 runs at the Royal Military College. Hong Kong’s total of 255 for 9 seemed improbable after they were reduced to 2 for 3 and then 25 for 4 but Abbas and Ali, who struck 80 and 83 respectively, added 158 for the fifth wicket. Singapore’s Mohammad Ali chipped away at the middle-order to finish with figures of 5 for 45 in nine overs. Singapore’s run-chase never took off and they were crippled by wickets falling frequently. They were dismissed for 162 in the 37th over. The victory gave Hong Kong second spot in Group B while Singapore finished third.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out (South Africa)
How they were out (England)

South Africa maintained their domination of the second Test at Headingley, leaving England in the forlorn position of 50 for 2 at stumps on the third day, still trailing by 269. AB de Villiers’ magnificent 174 lofted South Africa’s first innings to 522, grinding down England’s weary bowlers mercilessly. On a wearing pitch, the hosts have rather little hope of preventing South Africa taking a 1-0 series lead in the next 48 hours.South Africa have outplayed them in nearly every session since the third day at Lord’s, and it is due to their resilient batting that the home have been left kicking the turf in frustration. England’s prospect of batting all day tomorrow and Tuesday to save the Test is not one they will cherish, on a surface beginning to offer variable bounce and movement. South Africa fought back brilliantly to save the Lord’s Test, but that was on a pitch more akin to Lahore than London. Still, Headingley has history in creating history.It was pleasing to see Makhaya Ntini return to something like his best, too. Poor at Lord’s and disappointing in the first innings, he bowled much wider of the crease today – like he used to – as recommended by his former team-mate, Shaun Pollock. The acute angle created, slanting across both Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss, affected the judgement of their off stump, but it wasn’t until he went around the wicket that he really threatened. A surprise lifter outside off was fended behind by Strauss, and South Africa had kicked the door open on weary England.England so nearly resisted. For once, Michael Vaughan survived several near misses off Dale Steyn who produced two leg-cutting jaggers that zipped off the seam. Vaughan picked him off through midwicket twice, but Steyn continued to attack and could easily have had him lbw on 9. However, with one over left in the day, Ntini squared him up with a corking leg-cutter to cap a perfect day’s Test cricket.

South Africa owe their position to Ashwell Prince and de Villiers, whose hundreds – though not always glitzy, attractive innings – were models of patience and resilience, and they needed to be. England fought hard this morning, grateful for a pitch that at last offered seam movement, and both batsmen could have fallen within the first hour. Inevitably, it was to Andrew Flintoff that Vaughan turned for early inspiration, and in a lively morning spell he found encouraging movement off the pitch, beating de Villiers with several leg-cutters and even luring the normally sober Prince into a washy drive outside off.James Anderson impressed throughout, though to judge by his pained expression and Angus Fraser-like kicks at the turf, his patience wore thin as he passed the edge of Prince and de Villiers’ bat time after time. de Villiers was particularly tentative, doubtless nervous about a possible hundred, and was beaten all ends up by a corking outswinger that came off his hip. England were at last making them work.They were far from faultless, tiring visibly, and for all Anderson’s occasional jaffas, too often they were followed by half-volley gifts that de Villiers made sure to capitalise on, flicking through midwicket with fine timing. Prince was less tentative, and accordingly less patient, edging the impressive Darren Pattinson behind one short of his 150. Nevertheless, South Africa’s lead had swelled beyond 200.Mark Boucher struggled, as he has all series, and narrowly escaped edging behind on numerous occasions, but de Villiers powered onwards and upwards to register his sixth Test hundred from 264 balls. The Headingley crowd unsportingly booed their disapproval, doubtless with a nod to de Villiers’ non-catch which he tried to claim on the first day, but this was a courageous and skilful innings, even if the half-cut couldn’t bear to acknowledge it. Anderson was eventually rewarded for persistence when he bowled Boucher, and de Villiers fell to an outstanding catch by Flintoff at first slip – diving to his left to pluck a grass-licker – while Monty Panesar picked up 3 for 65. The damage had been done, however, and in losing two late wickets, England look down and out.The door hasn’t quite been shut on them, but it is only just ajar. Not even the weather is looking down in their favour with two days’ hard work ahead.

The World Order in women’s cricket is significantly different to that of themen’s game. It is with that in mind that we report that Pakistan are on thebrink of a crushing defeat by Ireland in their one-off women’s Test atCollege Park, Dublin.Ireland, making their first appearance on the Test arena in the women’s game,look set to wrap up their four-day match against Pakistan, who are playingtheir second-ever women’s Test, in about a day and a half.Pakistan, batting first after winning the toss, were all out for 53yesterday. Ireland, in reply, made 193 for 3 before declaring. Pakistan endedthe first day on 8 for 1, still needing another 132 runs to make Ireland batagain.Pakistan struggled against the Irish bowling, taking 47.4 overs to extracttheir 53 first innings runs. The wickets were shared for Ireland by CatherineO’Neill (4/26), Barbara McDonald (3/9) and Ciara Metcalfe (3/15).Ireland’s innings, which was in fact four balls shorter than Pakistan’s, wasdominated by Caitriona Beggs (68*) and Karen Young (58).For Ireland, the visit by the Pakistan team is their major workout before the2000 CricInfo Women’s World Cup in New Zealand at the end of this year.Ireland have appeared regularly at World Cups since 1988. Pakistan, with ashorter history of women’s cricket at international level, appeared in the1997 World Cup – a rare instance of a Pakistani sporting team playing onIndian soil – but failed to qualify for this year’s event when the number ofparticipating teams was cut back from eleven to eight.Pakistan’s development in the women’s game has been hampered byfactionalisation at the administrative level, and currently there are twoorganisations claiming to be the official governing body in Pakistan. It isthe Pakistan Women’s Cricket Control Association, who are affiliated with theIWCC, who are conducting the tour to Ireland.Pakistan have played just one women’s Test to date, away to Sri Lanka in1998. That match also being Sri Lanka’s first (and only thus far) women’sTest, the home side defeating Pakistan by 309 runs.The current match in Dublin, which resumes today at 11am local time, is thefirst women’s Test played anywhere in the world since England met India inJuly 1999.

Steve Massiah, the USA captain, has said that his side’s lack of preparation was the reason they did not reach the final for the ICC World Cricket League Division Five event in Jersey last month. Had they done so, then they would have gained promotion to Division Four and, theoretically, would have still been in with a chance of qualifying for the 2011 World Cup in India.”We had one weekend together in Florida where it was only net sessions, and where four players were missing,” Massiah told dreamcricket.com. “Those other teams were preparing for months and weeks and had warm-up games in Pakistan and India.” USA faced unfamiliar conditions in Jersey where the pitches were green and there was tremendous help for the bowlers.”I think if I had three months of competition under my belt, there was no way I could see ourselves failing,” he said “We would beat those teams easily.” Undoubtedly, the USA’s suspension from international cricket because of the internal squabbles which dogged USACA in recent years made the players’ task all the harder.Questions have also been asked about the national selectors who, unlike almost every other country, remain unknown. Ostensibly this is to prevent undue pressure being put on them, but it has led to accusations of unfairness and secrecy.There has also been disquiet over the appointment of former West Indies and USA batsman Clayton Lambert as the national coach, despite his having no obvious outstanding credentials for the post. “His selection came as a surprise,” one player admitted, ” and it’s hardly the message to send out when other Associates we should be competing against are getting named coaches.” It is unclear who made the appointment.

LONDON, Dec 14 AFP – Ian MacLaurin, departing chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), says the England team should be more like premier league soccer champions Arsenal if it wants to succeed.”We don’t have the discipline in the England side that Arsenal Football Club have,” MacLaurin told Saturday’s edition of the Guardian newspaper.England have failed to win any of the 12 matches played so far on its tour of Australia, a run which MacLaurin reckons has left team morale “shot to pieces”.Adding to their difficulties has been the three-cornered row between MacLaurin, Andrew Flintoff and Darren Gough which began when the chairman questioned the allrounder’s dedication to getting fit.Both Flintoff (groin) and fast bowler Gough (knee) were selected in the hope they would regain fitness while on tour.But that did not happen and Gough has already been ruled out of February’s World Cup in South Africa while Flintoff’s participation is now doubtful.MacLaurin’s criticisms of Flintoff were branded “disgusting” by Gough, who trained alongside the Lancashire favourite at England’s National Sports Centre in Lilleshall before the tour began.Reflecting on the row, MacLaurin said: “I think it was sad. It was a knee-jerk reaction. I had plenty of evidence to say that maybe Freddie (Flintoff) didn’t do as much as he should have done. Well he, didn’t. We know that.”It doesn’t do the game any good when Darren Gough comes in and he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”Arsene Wenger (Arsenal manager) wouldn’t allow anything like that to happen. They give very clear instructions to their players and we have to move along that way.”MacLaurin, who is also chairman of telecommunications company Vodafone, England’s team sponsor, said of the current series: “Getting whopped as we are at the moment is not good. It will take us a while to recover.”MacLaurin, who insisted he played no part in Vodafone’s England dealings, nevertheless said commercial backers would be intolerant of on-field failure.”If you’re a sponsor, do you want to sponsor a side that’s just got beaten 3-0, 3-2 or whatever it is? Everybody has to get their minds round that because without it you ain’t got no television and you ain’t got no sponsors.”MacLaurin, ECB chairman for six years, leaves his post in January.His departure has been sparked by his failure to convince the 18 first class counties and MCC, who have the ultimate voting power in English professional cricket, of the need for a slimmed-down management board.”Look at New Zealand, an up-and-coming cricket nation with nowhere near the cricketers we’ve got.”New Zealand is run by six guys who are accountable for everything. Australia’s the same. It’s straight-line management,” MacLaurin said.”I wrote 19 letters… and I got four replies. It was quite clear to me that they wouldn’t embrace what I wanted to do, so I stepped down.”

Namibia is finding the going very hard in the Standard Bank Cup domestic one-day competition. Having been beaten by Western Province on Wednesday evening, they followed it up on Sunday, with another loss against Free State in Bloemfontein.Winning the toss Namibia asked Free State to bat first and did well to restrict and bowl out a strong team for 216 after Free State squandered the chance of setting a big target.After a solid start and reaching 145/2 in 29 overs, thanks to 48 from Morne van Wyk, 50 from Johnathan Beukes and 30 from Boeta Dippenaar the hosts collapsed to 216 all out in the 45th over.Bjorn Kotze in taking 3/41 in his nine overs was instrumental in causing the collapse, getting rid of Van Wyk, Beukus and Jimmy Adams. Nineteen wides however put a damper on the Nambian bowling, and not having the best batting team it is runs given away that they can ill afford.After scoring 44 in Cape Town, Daniel Keulder, with an undefeated 51, was again the mainstay of the Namibian batting scoring the majority of the 116 run total.Free State will be happy with the form of Nicky Boje, returning from a finger injury, who ripped the heart out of the Namibian batting taking 4/29 in his nine overs. Gaining the bonus point Free State now move to the top of the Pool B log.In Potchefstroom North West continued on their winning ways, this time beating neighbours Northerns by 25 runs and going to the top of Pool A.Winning the toss and batting North West never got on top of the bowling. Arno and Davey Jacobs did put on a 56 run third wicket partnership, but it was left to a quick 24* from Alfonso Thomas to get the boys from Potchefstroom to 215/5 at the end of the 45 overs.Northerns could only reply with 190/5 with Jacques Rudolph undefeated on 98. The second loss in two games leaves them at the bottom of the table, sharing the spot with KwaZulu-Natal.

Paul Stirling, the Ireland batter, will replace New Zealand’s Devon Conway at Southern Brave, and the availability of Wahab Riaz, the Pakistan quick, for the Trent Rockets means their South African recruit Marchant de Lange will leave the men’s Hundred after four matches and return to Somerset for their Royal London One-Day Cup campaign.Conway, also a Somerset man and one of the more prominent newcomers at the international stage, had a steady run with Brave in the Hundred, getting starts on each occasion. He had scores of 18, 23, 34 and 22 for a tally of 97 runs, scored at a strike rate of 112.79. But in that last game, against London Spirit at Lord’s, Conway took a blow from a Blake Cullen delivery in the fingers of his left hand very early in his innings, and while he finished his innings, he didn’t come out to field.Stirling, the veteran batter, wasn’t at his best when he turned out for Ireland during South Africa’s visit in July for a set of ODIs and T20Is, but brings with him a wealth of experience. Not to forget the exceptional form he was in earlier this year in Abu Dhabi, when he scored ODI centuries against UAE and Afghanistan.de Lange, meanwhile, was one of the bowling stars of the competition, the joint-leading wicket-taker after the first 17 matches with eight wickets, the same as Northern Superchargers’ Adil Rashid and the Rockets’ Rashid Khan.But the Rockets will welcome back their original pick, Riaz, whose participation in the Hundred had been delayed after he reached the UK because of an issue with his visa – he didn’t have a valid work permit – which forced him to fly home, sort it out, and then return to link up with his team. He has completed his mandatory quarantine on his return to the UK, and is available for the Rockets’ next fixture, against Welsh Fire on Friday in Cardiff.The Rockets have had the better time of it at the tournament so far, three wins in four outings giving them a top-of-the-table spot with six points, while Brave are in the other half of the eight-team table, down at seventh place with four points from four games, only above Spirit.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details4:47