All posts by csb10.top

Wardown Park:
Hertfordshire 206-8dec & 231-2dec (D Lowe 142*)
Bedfordshire 126 & 244 (A Roberts 113)
Herts (21 pts) bt Bedfordshire (3 pts) by 67 runsFinchampstead:
Dorset 203 & 175 (DJ Cowley 55; RP Davis 4-48, PR Carter 4-32)
Berkshire 160-6dec & 219-6 (J Wood 65)
Berkshire (20 pts) bt Dorset (3 pts) by 4 wicketsMarlow:
Buckinghamshire 269-5dec (PD Atkins 55, RP Lane 81)
Suffolk 266-6dec (R Catley 100no, I Graham 52)
Match drawn: Buckinghamshire 4 pts, Suffolk 4 ptsBowdon:
Cheshire 208 & 72 (K Evans 5-15)
Shropshire 119-4dec & 119-8 (SJ Renshaw 5-57)
Match drawn: Cheshire 6 pts, Shropshire 8 ptsExmouth:
Cornwall 98 & 157 (J Bishop 6-44)
Devon 177 & 80-0
Devon (21 pts) bt Cornwall (4 pts) by 10 wicketsGrantham:
Lincolnshire 129 & 192 (MA Fell 66*)
Cumberland 397
Cumberland (24 pts) bt Lincolnshire (4 pts) by an innings & 76 runsJesmond:
Northumberland 200-9dec & 198-4dec (J Graham 70, A Heather 55)
Cambridgeshire 179-8dec (SA Kellett 73) & 179-6 (SA Kellett 72, B Potter 50)
Match drawn: Northumberland 8 pts, Cambridgeshire 9 ptsBanbury:
Oxfordshire 91 & 318
Herefordshire 208 & 165 (P Sarfraz 52)
Oxfordshire (20 pts) bt Herefordshire (5 pts) by 36 runsWalsall:
Norfolk 173 & 314-4dec (C Amos 138, CS Carey 72*)
Staffordshire 228-4dec & 200-7 (GF Archer 71)
Match drawn: Staffordshire 10 pts, Norfolk 5 ptsWestbury:
Wales Minor Counties 163 & 204 (A Jones 56)
Wiltshire 163 & 205-2 (R Howe 67, M Coxon 62*, M Soully 53)
Wiltshire (20 pts) bt Wales Minor Counties (4 pts) by 8 wickets

ScorecardBabar Hayat hit 186 across both innings in Hong Kong’s victory•HKCA/Bridget Rive

Slow left-arm spinner Nadeem Ahmed and pacer Haseeb Amjad shared eight wickets between them to shoot UAE out for 105, securing Hong Kong’s vast win, their first in the Intercontinental Cup.Resuming from an overnight, 5 for 0, UAE were rocked by regular wickets, with nine of their batsmen bagging single-digit scores. Debutant Laxman Sreekumar (61) and Qais Farooq (26) added 65 together to offer the lone source of resistance before Amjad killed off UAE by dismissing Sreekumar with a bouncer.The win, though, was set up by Babar Hayat, who struck 186 across both innings, including 113 in the first dig. After choosing to bat, Hong Kong had a solid base with opener Kinchit Shah and Hayat putting on a 106-run stand but that was soon squandered as the middle order crumbled. However, Hayat combined well with captain Tanwir Afzal, who made a century of his own, to lift their side to 378.”It’s a great day for Hong Kong, beating the UAE in a first class game – it is a special day for Hong Kong and for the whole team. It’s a really special day for us,” Hayat said. “I am really happy with my batting performance. I used to bat No. 5 or 6, but I talked to Simon Cook and he said you are going to move up. I’m really happy batting at this position and am really looking forward to the next few games here on the same pitch, and hopefully get some more runs.”Afzal carried the momentum into his bowling and quickly reduced UAE to 23 for 3. Sandeep Patil and Usman Mushtaq then got together and assembled a 77-run partnership to mount a recovery but a lower-order collapse meant that UAE folded for 181.They did not fare any better in their second innings, chasing 382, after Hayat’s 73 guided Hong Kong to 184, despite slow left-arm spinner Ahmed Raza’s five-wicket haul.”The game has pretty much gone to script as far as we are concerned,” Simon Cook, the Hong Kong coach, said. “This was the icing on the cake, to do it so convincingly in the first session. We had discussed about how important the first hour was today, and that would really set up the day, and it proved so, with the UAE losing five wickets for one run in the space of about 15 balls. That really set us up.”

ScorecardKyle Coetzer struck nine fours and a six for his 63•ICC/Donald MacLeod

Scotland have booked their place in the World T20 in India after beating Oman by 23 runs in their last Group B game in Edinburgh. With all matches having being played in Group B, Netherlands, Afghanistan and Oman, who are second, third and fourth respectively will play in the playoffs next week. Netherlands finished second, falling just short of the top spot in spite of beating Kenya by four wickets – they needed to score the target of 98 within eight overs but reached it in the ninth. Opening batsman Kyle Coetzer’s 38-ball 63 and pacer Safyaan Sharif’s 3 for 27 helped wrap up the win for Scotland. The win helped them finish at the top of the Group B table with four wins in six matches, while Afghanistan also finished on eight points with three wins in six games and two abandoned matches.Coetzer, who had initially been omitted from Scotland’s squad for the Qualifier, gave the team a brisk start, 60 in 6.1 overs with Calum MacLeod, before the latter was dismissed by seamer Mohammad Nadeem for 20. Scotland appeared to build on the aggressive start with a promising 35-run stand between Coetzer and Matthew Cross but left-arm spinner Zeeshan Maqsood brought Oman back by dismissing Cross and George Munsey in a space of 10 deliveries to leave Scotland on 101 for 3. By then, Coetzer had brought up his fifty and made his way to 63 – taking his tally for the tournament to 173, the highest for Scotland – before Maqsood had him edge one to the keeper off the final ball of the 14th over. Richie Berrington (26) and Preston Mommsen (32*) helped Scotland add 54 runs off the last six overs to finish on 173 for 5.Oman’s start was not ideal as Sharif claimed openers Zeeshan Maqsood and Zeeshan Ahmed within the first four overs of the innings. Jatinder Singh and Aamir Kaleem added 44 for the third wicket, but Alasdair Evans’ strikes off successive deliveries in the 11th over – to account for Jatinder and Mehran Khan – left Oman reeling at 68 for 4. Kaleem’s 40-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Amir Ali looked to revive the chase but after that stand was broken in the 15th over, Oman found it difficult to keep up with the required rate. Shareef was eventually dismissed for 59 off 47 deliveries in the 18th over and with 39 required off 12 deliveries, the match slipped away from Oman.

ScorecardLuke Wells battled more than two-and-a-half hours for 54•Getty Images

Somerset wrested back the initiative in dramatic style at the close of a rain-affected first day against Sussex. Resuming on 105 for 2 after the third of the day’s interruptions for rain, Sussex lost four more wickets as Somerset’s seam attack fully exploited the conditions, getting plenty of swing and finding movement off a wicket with grass left on it.Somerset had bowled tightly throughout the morning and afternoon but, despite two wickets in two balls from Lewis Gregory, saw countless deliveries beat the bat or drop just short of the slip cordon.The breakthrough came as Sussex were starting to edge in front after Luke Wells and Chris Nash had brought up a gritty 50 partnership in 23 overs. Craig Overton got a ball to cut back off the surface and trim Nash’s bails as the batsman was left in two minds whether to cut or leave.

New contracts for Gregory, Overtons and Bates

Somerset have acted to secure the services of three of their brightest talents on new three-year contracts. Lewis Gregory and twins Craig and Jamie Overton, who have all received England call-ups this year, have signed with the club until the end of 2018. Jamie has been invited to help England with their preparations ahead of this summer’s Ashes series and will meet up with the squad on Monday, where he will bowl in the nets ahead of the first Test in Cardiff.
Somerset have also extended the contract of wicketkeeper Michael Bates, who was released by Hampshire at the end of last season. Bates was originally signed by Somerset on a one-month deal and has already made an impact with the gloves. Matthew Maynard said that the challenge for Bates now was to score runs and the contract extension would give him the opportunity to do that.

Four overs later, Peter Trego struck in his opening over to end a two-and-a-half hour vigil from Wells, who hit an elegant 54 off 122 balls, frustrating the Somerset bowlers in between the showers.Wells lived dangerously early on. Almost run out without facing in the first over, he edged a number of boundaries through the slip cordon during the morning session before starting to score runs on both sides of the wicket as the afternoon went on. He admitted after close that it was a pitch he never felt comfortable on, with the rain delays meaning he had to play himself in each time.Trego struck again in his third over as Craig Cachopa played forward and got an edge through to Jim Allenby at first slip. Trego’s figures by this stage were 3-2-4-2. The momentum firmly shifted Somerset’s way as they claimed a fourth wicket towards the close of play when Ben Brown edged Alfonso Thomas to Trescothick at slip for 9.Somerset had won the toss and put Sussex in. After surviving a tight, but never penetrating, opening spell, Wells and opening partner Ed Joyce started to look increasingly comfortable and score runs on both sides of the wicket before the first of the day’s interruptions for rain at 47 for 0 from 15 overs.One over after the resumption, Gregory struck with consecutive deliveries. First, Joyce got an edge through to Michael Bates behind the stumps, attempting to pull, for 28. Matt Machan then prodded at a good-length ball and edged to Allenby.It was a much tighter spell from Somerset, which saw them concede 25 runs from 8.2 overs before the rain returned with some force to bring an early lunch and leave pools of water on the covers and puddles on the outfield.Somerset’s director of cricket, Matthew Maynard, was impressed with the way his charges had gone about their business. “The way that we bowled today was very reminiscent of the way we bowled against Hampshire,” he said. “We were very disciplined with good skills and the ball was swinging but they didn’t try to get too greedy and try too many things, we just kept on trying to hit our lines.”I don’t think that we got our rewards in the first session but just said to keep on hitting good areas and going past the bat and hopefully find the edge which is what happened and we are in a good position after day one.”Wells pointed to the quality of batting still to come in the Sussex line-up and said that if they could scrap out a total between 200 and 250, it would be very competitive on this surface.

Match facts

September 11, 2015
Start time 10.30am local (0930 GMT)3:11

McGlashan: Both captains would like to bat first

Big Picture

England’s win at Old Trafford kept alive hopes of beating Australia in an ODI series for the first time since 2012, as well as eased fears that they will fall below Bangladesh in the ICC rankings. Even a 4-1 defeat will see England remain in sixth, for now, while two more victories would drag them up to within range of Sri Lanka in midtable.The last time England managed consecutive ODI wins over Australia was also three summers ago. That 4-0 win was among the peaks of Alastair Cook’s roundhead reign as captain but the ODI world has shifted dramatically since then – and England have at last shown signs of catching up. Only Eoin Morgan and Steven Finn remain from the 2012 NatWest Series (with Stuart Broad’s future undecided) and pulling back the No. 1-ranked side from a 2-0 lead would be worth a campaign medal for Trevor Bayliss, Paul Farbrace and their new model army.They will attempt to do so in front of a packed house at Headingley, home of the back-to-back County Champions, Yorkshire. The locals have sometimes struggled to work up enthusiasm for England visits – and a significant number will be at Lord’s hoping to see their team lift the Championship pennant on Friday – but, having paid their shilling, they will demand England maintain the standards on display across the Pennines.Australia, too, can claim a strong Yorkshire connection, from the coach, Darren Lehmann, through to Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell – both of whom have had to make do with representing Yorkshire’s 2nd XI this season. Coming towards the end of a long tour that has yielded rather less success than was promised, Australia would surely like to tap into the prevailing mood of celebration by sealing the series with a game to spare.Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid and Jonny Bairstow are likely to play on their home ground•Getty Images

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)
England WLLWW
Australia LWWWW

In the spotlight

Alex Hales is hot-and-cold player. Having come into the one-day series on a blazing run of scores for Nottinghamshire – 85, 9, 81, 58, 189 and 62 – he has felt the chill of Autumn more than most: four innings against Australia, including the T20, have tallied 52 runs and a high score of 22. Hales has still only played 17 ODI innings and, with a couple of blistering half-centuries against New Zealand earlier this year, looked to be finding his feet. He has, however, lost form at the wrong time and has been outshone by his opening partner Jason Roy in the series so far.Pat Cummins, 22 years old and with 16 ODI caps to his name, could find himself the most experienced member of the Australia pace attack on Friday. If Mitchell Starc is rested, then Cummins – comfortably the quickest bowler on either side – will be required to step up and lead the way. He has impressed with his pace, steepling bouncer and impressive control; he is the leading wicket-taker in the series, with the best average and, among pace bowlers to have delivered more than eight overs, the lowest economy. Perhaps more importantly, he has avoided injury – this will be his fifth consecutive ODI and his longest run in the side.

Team news

Chris Woakes has been ruled out with a thigh injury, so England will be forced to change their attack – David Willey seems the most likely candidate, offering a left-arm angle as well as the potential for bludgeoning runs lower down the order. Mark Wood and Reece Topley are the other pace-bowling options in the squad.England (possible) 1 Jason Roy, 2 Alex Hales, 3 James Taylor, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Adil Rashid, 9 David Willey, 10 Liam Plunkett, 11 Steven FinnAustralia have already had three players withdraw from their squad and look set to give Mitchell Starc a rest after playing in all 12 of Australia’s international fixtures in the West Indies, England and Ireland. John Hastings, called up as cover from Durham, could come in for his first ODI appearance since 2011.Australia (possible) 1 Aaron Finch, 2 Joe Burns, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 George Bailey, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Ashton Agar, 9 John Hastings, 10 James Pattinson, 11 Pat Cummins.

Pitch and conditions

England, in their stodgy former mould, still managed to knock up 294 under clear skies against India at Headingley last year and Lehmann said he expected the pitch the good for batting. The forecast is good, if a little cool, for Friday but an early start and any passing cloud cover could interest the seamers.

Stats and trivia

• England and Australia last contested an ODI at Headingley in 2005 (the scheduled fixture in 2013 was washed out)
• Australia have won 11 out of their last 13 ODIs against England
• Steven Finn needs two more wickets for 100 in ODIs
• If they play, Cummins, James Pattinson and John Hastings will form an Australia pace attack comprised of 41 caps between them

Quotes

“I was keeping tabs on the score on Twitter, looking every five minutes and there were texts flying around.”
Adil Rashid couldn’t join in with Yorkshire’s Championship celebrations but enjoyed from afar“We’re all tired, but that’s international cricket, that’s what you do when you’re representing your country.”

The issue of broadcast rights could determine the fate of the Pakistan-India series, scheduled for the end of this year. The rights to Pakistan’s home matches are held by Ten Sports; however, the BCCI has a public and long-running problem with Ten’s owners, the Essel Group, and this could become a sticking point.The series has come into focus now, more than six months before it is due to start and even before the two governments have signed off on it, following statements made by PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, who was in India meeting BCCI officials over the past few days. Shaharyar was quoted in Indian newspapers on Wednesday as saying that his board’s hands were tied with respect to Ten Sports because it won the bid by paying $60 million more than the competing bidder.A way around this could involve the BCCI asking the PCB to play the series in India. This would give the PCB a major chunk of the revenue because it would still be their ‘home’ series but it would involve a different broadcaster.Shaharyar also said the BCCI’s objections to Ten Sports had not been formally stated in writing, which might have allowed the PCB to keep Ten Sports out of the bidding process on grounds of acceptability.”We have said that if you (BCCI) have a problem with Ten Sports or the Essel Group, just let us know in writing that because of this problem, we would not like X company to bid for the series, because of their association with anti-BCCI activities,” Shaharyar told . “We were never told in writing, even though we asked for it. You write to us and we will do what is necessary, because legally, our position is then established that the BCCI is not willing to accept a particular broadcaster.”However, any change of broadcaster is likely to be strongly opposed by Ten Sports. Rajesh Sethi, CEO of Ten Sports, told ESPNcricinfo that they would explore all options to protect themselves if pushed into a corner.”We are not going to let it go so easily. We are the legal rights holder for the contract (Pakistan home series). There are financial guarantees that have been provided. If there is something on which we feel there is not a ethical and fair push to us we have every right to defend and we will strongly defend,” Sethi said on Wednesday.He said that neither Shaharyar nor anyone from PCB had brought up the issue of thinking of an alternate broadcaster for the India series if the BCCI or ICC sent them in writing that they did not want Ten Sports as the broadcaster. “No one has brought up this issue with us. We talk to them everyday on various different things on which we are partners. So had this been a point in case it would have been discussed.”Rajesh Sethi, CEO of Ten Sports – “We are the legal rights holder for Pakistan’s home series. There are financial guarantees that have been provided”•Getty Images

Sethi said he believed the reports were speculative at the moment. “Beyond the contractual arrangements we also share a huge moral partnership and a strong relationship with various cricket boards and stood with each other through thick and thin. And none of them has ever brought any such issue or discussion point with us where they have even thought of Ten Sports being a partner not being an option. So I will call all this extremely speculative. I will call this not having a strong base at least as of now.”Sethi also pointed out that the BCCI had never interfered with Ten Sports or created hurdles for the broadcaster anywhere in the cricketing globe, at least over the last couple of years. “To be fair to BCCI, no. We have never faced any challenges,” he said.The problem could recur during India’s proposed tour of Zimbabwe for a limited-overs series in July, and the tour of Sri Lanka for three Tests in August. Ten Sports hold Zimbabwe Cricket’s terrestrial rights for the Indian subcontinent, and could win the rights to the Sri Lanka series too.It could not be ascertained if the BCCI has held formal or informal discussions with Zimbabwe Cricket with regard to withdrawing Ten Sports as a broadcaster for the India series. The Sri Lanka series could only be in jeopardy if Ten Sports wins the broadcast rights for the India series. Since India’s tour to Sri Lanka wasn’t included in SLC’s deal with Ten Sports, SLC has invited bids for broadcast rights for the three-Test series.The BCCI’s well-documented problems with the Essel Group include the rebel Indian Cricket League in 2007 – a T20 tournament that preceded the IPL but was marginalised into shutting down by the Indian board. There have been subsequent court disputes between the two parties. The Essel Group has also been publicly speaking about a new breakaway Twenty20 league.

An understanding of the impact isolation from international cricket can have on a country and a desire to improve bilateral relations between the two boards were what motivated Zimbabwe to tour Pakistan, according to Ozias Bvute, the former Zimbabwe Cricket managing director who is heading the visiting delegation.The Zimbabwe squad and its accompanying officials arrived in Lahore early on Tuesday and they had their first training session at the Gaddafi Stadium later in the day. Zimbabwe will play two T20 internationals and three ODIs against Pakistan between May 19 and 31, the first international matches to be held in the country since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus on March 3, 2009.”For many years, as you know, Zimbabwe was isolated,” Bvute said at the Gaddafi Stadium, referring to ZC’s self-imposed isolation from Test cricket between September 2005 and August 2011. “We understand the politics of isolation. We therefore say isolation is not the right way. In order for brothers to relate to one another we must break the barriers that exists between us and we must interact.”We have come here to strengthen the bilateral relations between our two nations. Cricket is bigger than any one of us and therefore we hope by coming here we have shown that cricket is and will be the winner. We look forward to an exciting two weeks, my team and I are raring to go. We are here to play cricket, we are here to uphold the spirit of brotherhood, which makes up the cricket fraternity.”Bvute denied reports that said Zimbabwe’s players were hesitant to tour Pakistan, and that they had to sign indemnity forms because the government’s Sports and Recreation Commission had not cleared the trip. “The position was that our players were offered the opportunity to voluntarily come to Pakistan,” he said. “They accepted the position and that’s why we are here with a full-strength team.”We obviously weighed the pros and the cons of what we wanted to achieve. And what we wanted to achieve is to come and play cricket against our brothers. Therefore we are here to affirm the position that regardless of various opinions that are being proffered throughout the world as to why we are here, we are here to play cricket and we will play cricket. No player has signed an indemnity form and they are all here voluntarily.”The system of sports in Zimbabwe is that the Sports and Recreation Commission governs us. SRC wrote a letter to ZC and indicated that the final decision as to whether the Zimbabwe team tours Pakistan solely rests on ZC. Our chairman Wilson Manase took the decision and we agreed to tour Pakistan. The board and players were supportive of his decision and ultimately we are here and this is the testimony of the fact that cricket is the ultimate winner.”The Zimbabwe delegation comprises 28 people – 16 players – and is being given security befitting a guest of the state. Their motorcade included patrolling vehicles and thousands of policemen have been deployed across the city. The route between the hotel and the stadium is seven kilometres long and the team will be escorted through it with no traffic. Bvute said he was pleased with the arrangements.”No one can ever guarantee your security anywhere in the world. Certainly the risk profile differs from country to country. Conditions will always not be the same and the principal is that we like to play cricket, we have come as brothers, our intentions are not political and our intentions are that cricket fans and Pakistan people will see good cricket.”

Sussex 188 for 7 (Wright 111*) beat Gloucestershire 185 for 4 (Klinger 61, Marshall 37) by 3 wickets
ScorecardLuke Wright once again starred on England’s T20 stage•Getty Images

Luke Wright smashed an amazing century to guide Sussex to an astonishing three-wicket NatWest T20 Blast win over Gloucestershire at Bristol as he once again underlined his status as one of domestic cricket’s finest T20 stars.With just two overs remaining, the visitors still required 43 to overtake Gloucestershire’s 185 for 4. But the 19th over, bowled – initially at least – by James Fuller saw the game turned on its head as 34 runs were added.Wright hit four sixes off it, the last after Fuller had been ordered out of the attack for two no-balled full tosses and Craig Miles was forced to bowl the final delivery.That left only nine needed from the final over, sent down by off-spinner Jack Taylor, and two more Wright boundaries sealed a sensational victory with a ball to spare.

Insights

Gloucestershire are proving to be a strong and well-rounded team this season and they should continue to challenge for a quarter-final place despite this defeat. However, they arguably lost this match, and may lose similar matches in the future, because they lack an international quality, standout player, be that with bat or ball, but especially ball. Of their starting XI, only Hamish Marshall and Geraint Jones have played international cricket, and neither have done so for almost a decade. The likes of James Fuller can’t be relied upon to close out matches.

Wright finished unbeaten on 111, having played virtually a lone hand with the bat for his side. He had cracked 7 fours and 8 sixes in facing just 56 deliveries.”I’m especially delighted being skipper this season,” Wright said. “When I took that role on I always thought the best way I could lead was with performances like that. I changed my bat for a bit of luck, they started to miss their lengths and I finally managed to get a few out of the middle.”With ten overs left I felt we had too much to do because they were bowling so well. But in the end the kept putting the ball in my area and it was a very special night for me. We chased down 220 in 19 overs in a remarkable game against Essex last year, but in terms of the game’s importance against a side close to us in the table, this was even more special.”Gloucestershire’s captain Michael Klinger said: “It was a crushing defeat for us in the circumstances, but all the credit must go to Luke Wright for a fantastic innings. James Fuller had a plan for bowling to him in the penultimate over and simply couldn’t execute it.”Earlier, Klinger had taken his NatWest T20 Blast run tally for the season to 518 in just seven innings as Gloucestershire posted what looked a winning score only for Klinger, outstanding all season, to be denied once again.After a delayed start until 6pm, the Australian shared an opening stand of 88 in 10.4 overs with Hamish Marshall (37) after winning the toss.Marshall, returning after a calf injury, lost nothing in comparison with his captain, scoring his runs off 27 balls, with 4 fours and a six, before being caught at mid-on attempting to pull a ball from Tymal Mills.Ian Cockbain, also enjoying an excellent run in the competition, then joined Klinger, who reached a 41-ball half-century, with 4 fours and a six.The pair added 42 in four overs, taking unusually heavy toll on Michael Yardy, whose three overs cost 41, before Klinger skied a catch to wicketkeeper Craig Cachopa attempting a big hit off Chris Liddle. Cockbain hit three sixes in moving to 30 off 16 balls. And after he was bowled off an inside edge by Mills, Benny Howell and Geraint Jones ensured Gloucestershire of a competitive total.The Sussex response got off to a poor start when Chris Nash, having hit the first ball of the innings for four, fell lbw to James Fuller two deliveries later.It was 13 for two when Matt Machan got a leading edge to Klinger at cover in Fuller’s next over and 51 for three when Craig Cachopa fell for 18, caught at long-off to give left-arm spinner Tom Smith his 17th wicket in South Group matches.Despite Wright’s best efforts, Sussex were only 67 for three at the halfway stage of their innings. And when George Bailey smacked a Benny Howell full toss straight to Marshall at deep mid-wicket their chance looked to have gone. When Smith struck again to have Harry Finch stumped the asking rate was already above 13 an over.Two Wright sixes saw 21 come off the 17th over from Kieran Noema-Barnett, but Taylor conceded only five off the next and Gloucestershire seemed as good as home. Wright had other ideas as a woeful over from Fuller changed the course of the match

The Pakistan board has offered to organise a meeting between an ICC task force and Yousuf Gillani, the country’s prime minister, in a bid to relieve fears over security ahead of the Champions Trophy in September.”The task force will be meeting top-level government officials on its visit to Pakistan and, if possible, we will also arrange a meeting with the prime minister,” Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB’s chief operating officer, told the “We want to send a clear signal to the cricket world that every possible measure is being taken to make the Champions Trophy a grand success.”The PCB was preparing for the task force’s visit. “We are already doing our homework for the trip,” Naghmi said. “Once the dates are confirmed by the ICC, we will start setting up a series of meetings between the task force and top officials from the interior ministry and the security agencies.”The task force was constituted after the teleconference on July 24, when it was decided that the Champions Trophy would go ahead in Pakistan as scheduled despite security concerns. The decision was met with reservations from the players’ associations from Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand, who warned of player boycotts.The eight-man delegation is led by David Morgan, the ICC’s president, and also includes Sharad Pawar (vice-president), Haroon Lorgat (CEO), IS Bindra (principal advisor), Tim May, the chief executive of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations, representatives of ESPN-Star (the broadcasters of the event) and the board’s security consultants.

England cricket selectors will wait until Friday morning before naming their team to play Australia in the third Test at the WACA Ground in Perth.England coach Duncan Fletcher said batsman John Crawley was again out ofFriday’s match with a hip injury while fast bowler Andrew Caddick willbe given extra time to decide whether he can play with a back problem.Caddick bowled in the nets today but England officials want to see howhe feels after cooling down.Opening batsman Michael Vaughan has been cleared to play but told not tobowl his part-time off-spinners because of knee and shoulder niggles.Fletcher said the make-up of the team could not be discussed untilCaddick’s fitness was known, but he indicated young off-spinner RichardDawson was likely to play.England trails 2-0 in the five-match series.