India end day one at Centurion on 136/9

South Africa took the upper hand on the first day of the first Test against India at Centurion as the touring side ended the day at 136/9. Early morning rains meant that only 38 overs were possible during the day.

Virender Sehwag was out in the third over of the day when he upper-cut a ball outside the off-stump from Dale Steyn. The ball swung away and the timing went awry, in the process offering a simple catch to the fielder at third-man Hashim Amla.

Gautam Gambhir did not have it too easy either and was induced into playing a false stroke outside the off-stump while when Rahul Dravid was sent back lbw off the same bowler, India were 27/3.

Sachin Tendulkar started off well and understanding well that the conditions were going to make it difficult for the side, he took on the bowling. Eight boundaries were hit in his innings of 36 and just when it looked like he had take the side out of trouble, he was dismissed by Steyn.

In the meantime, VVS Laxman and Suresh Raina were also sent back to the pavilion and the Indians were left to fend for themselves. Harbhajan Singh played a few airy-fairy strokes before running himself out and the tail proved no match for the South African bowling.

MS Dhoni was unbeaten on 33 along with Jaidev Unadkat as India will now look to get to as many as possible before trying to exploit the conditions as well.

Australia bowled out cheaply at WACA

England went on top of their opposition on the first day of the third Ashes Test between Australia and England a WACA in Perth. Australia were shot out for 268 on the first day and England ended the day on 29 without any loss.

England won the toss and decided to field first given the grass on the track. They were immediately rewarded by the dismissal of the new opener Phil Hughes who was bowled by the comeback man Chris Tremlett.

Ricky Ponting came out with aggression written all over his batting but after three boundaries he could only edge it to the slips. Michael Clarke’s innings did not last too long and when the other opener Shane Watson also fell the side had been reduced to 36/4. Steven Smith was the fifth man out as the side was at 69/5.

It was only after Michael Hussey scored his fourth half century of the series and was followed by an excellent stand between Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson. Both the batsmen got to their respective half-centuries as well, but the Aussies will be upset that none of the three half-centurions could go on to make a century – something that would have ensured that the side would have got to at least 350.

By the time the stumps were drawn, the English openers had struggled to see off and that should mean that the second day could be interesting based on how the Aussie bowlers bowl.

England cruise to innings win at Adelaide

England won the second Ashes Test match of the series at Adelaide on the fifth and the final day of the game by an innings and 71 runs. This gave them a 1-0 lead in the series and the team will now look to ensure that they defend the lead for the next three Test matches.

The Aussies had started off the day at 238/4 after the last ball overnight had seen the wicket of Michael Clarke go down. However, the dismissal of Michael Hussey immediately after he had got to his half century could have hardly gone down well with the Australian team.

Steven Finn had Hussey pulling the ball but only managing a leading edge to mid-on. Once Hussey was out for 52, the rest of the side capitulated rather easily.

Marcus North’s poor of form continued as he scored only 22, whereas Brad Haddin scored 12 while Ryan Harris made a duck. Graeme Swann picked up the last three wickets of the innings to hasten the side’s charge towards the win that came within 90 minutes of the start of the day.

With Australia bowled out for 304 after their first innings total of 245, the visitors had taken a 1-0 lead.

Kevin Pietersen was declared the man of the match for his superb double-century. The third Test match of the series will be played at the WACA in Perth.

Bangladesh win second ODI at Dhaka

Bangladesh won the second ODI against Zimbabwe by six wicket to level the series at one game apiece.

Shakib al Hasan decided that Bangladesh will field first after winning the toss. Despite an early wicket, the visitors were able to get away to a decent start as they got to 50 in the tenth over for one.

The introduction of spinners put the brakes on the scoring for the Zimbabwean tea yet again, and it was not a surprise that the side also lost the middle-order wickets after this. Both, Brendan Taylor and Revis Chabakva were out within six runs of each other and despite a near-50 partnership, the Zimbabweans lost quick wickets to get to 132/6.

The Zimbabweans were rescued well by the partnership between Prosper Utseya and Craig Ervine, who joined together rather well and ensured that the side was out of trouble with their 67-run stand. The needed only eight overs to score the runs and at one stage, it looked like they 230 was an achievable total.

Unfortunately for the tourists, Abdur Razzaq bowled an excellent last spell to pick three wickets off three balls to bowl the side out. They were all out for 191 in the end.

The target was never going to be difficult for the side, as they lost Imrul Kayes, Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Siddique before getting to the requisite total. Both Siddique and Raqibul Hasan scored a half century and ensured that they had made it 1-1.

Rain plays spoilsport on day three of Test three

The third day of the third Test match between West Indies and Sri Lanka was totally rained off without a ball being bowled at Pallekele. West Indies failed to resume from their overnight total of 244/5 at the end of the second day and the day was called off at 2.30 pm local time.

What makes the situation even worse was that the rain may make it impossible for the sides to get out in the middle even on the fourth day. And that would definitely mean that the third Test match will also end in a draw, making it a fully drawn Test series.

The score currently reads 0-0 after a Chris Gayle triple century in the first Test match got the Sri Lankans on the mat while rain saved West Indies in the second one.

Earlier, on the second day, the West Indian side had lost their three wickets in the 41 overs that were possible, but half centuries from Brendan Nash and Shivnarine Chanderpaul pulled them out of trouble.

The ODI series follows this one, and will see the two teams play each other five times.

Rain-hit first day sees West Indies end on 134/2

West Indies gained the upper hand on a rain-shortened first day of the third Test match against Sri Lanka at Pallekele. Only 40 overs were bowled and the visitors reached 134/2 at the end of the day’s play.

Sri Lanka decided to field first after they had won the toss, a decision that was surprising given that it was going to turn out into a slower and lower track. They did pick up an early wicket of Chris Gayle when he was given out LBW off the very first ball of the game, but beyond that, the Lankans struggled.

The second wicket stand between Devon Smith and Darren Bravo added a century as the two batsmen played the Sri Lankan bowlers very easily. They were severe on Dilhara Fernando and got off to 115 before Mendis separated the duo.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul came into bat but played out only 30 balls before rain and bad light stopped play again. Bravo had scored his third successive half century and was not-out on 63by close.

Suranga Lakmal and Mendis took the a wicket each.

Zimbabwe stun Bangladesh in first ODI

Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh by nine runs in the first ODI at the Shere Bangla stadium in Dhaka to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Shakib al Hasan won the toss and he decided to field first. Zimbabwe started off well thanks to the opening pair of Brendan Taylor and Justice Chibhabha as the pair added a half century for the first wicket.

However, a typical Zimbabwean collapse saw them lose three wickets for almost next to nothing. The score read 71/3 in the 14th over thanks to some good bowling by the opposition. Tatenda Taibu and Regis Chakabva did prevent a total collapse but the pair could add only 23 in 11 overs before Taibu departed.

It was the fifth wicket partnership of 65 runs between Chakabva and Craig Ervine that ensured that the side would get something substantial on the board. Chakabva made 45 while Ervine scored 41 before Zimbabwe was bowled out for 209 in 49 overs.

In reply, chasing a paltry total of 210 for the win, the Bangladeshis began well with a 44-run stand for the first wicket. However, once a poor decision saw the dismissal of Tamim Iqbal, the side kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Shakib was the only batsman to get to a half century but without any support at the other end, things began to look even bleaker. Still 23 were needed off 21 with Shakib still there at the crease when the side lost Mashraf Mortaza. Shakib played a strange stroke as well even as the rest of the team collapsed to hand Zimbabwe the game.

Christopher Mpofu took three for 25 and was the man of the match.

Hussey, Anderson dominate day two at Brisbane

A wonderful knock by Michael Hussey took Australia to just 40 runs within the England total at the end of the second day of the first Test between the two sides. The day was curtailed by rain and nearly over an hour was lost to bad weather and light.

Hussey came in at a difficult situation and especially when the English bowlers were on top but attacked right from the start. He was also involved in an unbeaten 77 run partnership for the sixth wicket with Brad Haddin, who was playing his first Test since March.

Earlier, a good opening partnership from Shane Watson and Simon Katich looked to be taking Australia towards a good score. However, three quick wickets hampered Australia’s chances. Hussey then looked to counter attack and was successful in taking some pressure off. Graeme Swan was targeted and 34 runs were scored from his first four overs.

However, England once again managed to come back and picked up the wickets of Michael Clarke and Marcus North. Clarke struggled for his nine runs and faced fifty balls before his agonizing stay ended when he could only edge a pull shot. North got out to his 15th one digit score in just 33 innings and is in danger of being dropped from the squad.

Australia were struggling at 143/5 when Haddin joined Hussey. Haddin looked composed, despite being put under pressure from a good spell of bowling from James Anderson, who was the pick of the England bowlers.

Rain came when the new ball was available to England after 80 overs. They are most likely to use that from the start tomorrow and the first session will be the key.

Rain, Sangakkara thwart West Indies

Kumar Sangakkara scored an excellent century to take Sri Lanka to a comfortable position at the end of the second day’s play of the second Test against the West Indies. Sri Lanka finished at 294/5 on a day that was once again curtailed by incessant rain. The game could be heading for a draw but Sri Lanka would be feeling that they might have a chance if they can bat just once and pile a big score.

Sangakkara was excellent right through the day and shared a spectacular partnership with Thilan Samaraweera, who missed out on a well deserved hundred. The duo put on 170 for the fourth wicket after Sri Lanka had been in trouble at 34/3. However, West Indies came back strongly at the end of the day picking up the two important wickets of Samaraweera and Angelo Matthews. However, Sangakkara is still unbeaten on 135 and looks set for a big score, if he has company at the other end. Prasanna Jayawardene was unbeaten on 12, at the other end.

Sangakkara and Samaraweera were excellent in the first session of play and scored 115 runs. Both looked set for a hundred but Samaraweera fell for a trap set for him by Dwayne Bravo, after he pulled a short ball to the fielder at deep fine leg. Sangakkara carried on and reached his hundred in a quick flourish. Matthews settled down only to be dismissed by a wonderful ball from Kemar Roach.

Sangakkara and Matthews then played for five overs before rain first stopped and then ended play.

Misbah helps Pakistan draw Abu Dhabi Test

Pakistan managed to draw the second and final Test against South Africa at Abu Dhabi, through some gritty batting by Azhar Ali and their new captain, Misbah Ul Haq. Pakistan had to bat for more than 80 overs after South Africa declared and they managed to bat out 67 overs before the game was declared a draw. With the draw Pakistan also managed to draw the series 0-0.

It was the third half century in the series for Misbah Ul Haq, who once again showed how good a batsman he is in the longer format of the game. While he hasn’t shown anything spectacular in his captaincy, he has shown how good a batsman he can be in demanding situations and how well he handles pressure. While he saved the first game in the company of Younis Khan, he saved this one with the company of Ali, who has come to show how solid a batsman he is.

South Africa declared after scoring 30 runs today morning and gave their bowlers almost an entire day to dismiss Pakistan. Pakistan started well as Taufeeq Umar and Mohammed Hafeez added 66 for the first wicket. Then came the slide and Pakistan lost both their openers and the team’s most experienced batsman, Younis Khan, in the space of eight balls. It was the spinners who caused the damage picking up all three wickets.

However, Misbah and Ali batted out the remaining overs in the session and when they reached the final session Pakistan were 127/3. South Africa once again failed to dismiss Pakistan in the last innings but this track as well was as lifeless as the one in Dubai.

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