South Africa 340 for 3 (Smith 131, de Villiers 98, Kallis 54) lead Zimbabwe 54 (Kallis 4-13, Pollock 3-9, Ntini 3-23) by 286 runs Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Zimbabwe were routed for 54 in a little over a session on the opening day of the first Test at Newlands, nine runs short of their previous-lowest score in Tests, 63 against West Indies at Port-of-Spain in 1999-2000. The pitch held few demons, and as if to underline the point, South Africa raced to 340 for 3 by the close. Their lead of 286 is the highest that a side batting second has established by the end of the first day in any Test.In the history of Test cricket there can rarely have been a day as obscenely one-sided as this. Zimbabwe had the look of a very average club side, and by and large the technique to match it. The wickets which they claimed both owed more to boredom on the part of the batsmen – all three fell trying to hammer the hapless Graeme Cremer over Table Mountain – than any cunning plan. If the first session was depressing as Zimbabwe’s batsmen succumbed, the last was embarrassing, as AB de Villiers, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis hit boundaries at will – in all South Africa piled on 249 runs in 33 overs after tea.Although South Africa’s seamers bowled well in the morning, the batsmen’s techniques were largely to blame for the humiliation. This was Test cricket in name only. The paltry crowd – some 1600 imported schoolchildren more than doubled the attendance – showed that the locals knew that this was always likely to be a one-sided encounter. But even they must have been surprised and ultimately depressed at what they saw.
On a hot and sunny day, Tatenda Taibu won the toss and batted on a pitch which appeared to offer little to the bowlers apart from a hint of early moisture. But so fundamental were the flaws in his players’ techniques that the bowlers had to do little more than put the ball on the spot and wait. The muted celebrations – only Makhaya Ntini’s 200th Test wicket produced anything resembling delight – underlined that the South Africans knew the value of their achievements. Ntini, Kallis and Shaun Pollock took some of the easiest Test wickets they will ever collect. As if to underline the unevenness of the contest, Kallis, usually reluctant to bowl these days, has rarely been so keen.Heath Streak briefly showed that he was not out of his depth, one cracking cover-drive merely emphasising the inadequacies of what had gone before. But even other more experienced colleagues, such as Dion Ebrahim, were all at sea.Pollock started the rot when he turned Barney Rogers square and had him caught behind, and thereafter it was a procession. Ntini claimed two in his opening eight-over burst, Stuart Matsikenyeri fending to third slip (20 for 3) and Mark Boucher taking his 300th Test dismissal when he caught Brendan Taylor (22 for 4). Kallis snapped up 4 for 13 with no more than gentle outswing which was still too good for the middle order.
In comparison with what was to follow, South Africa started sedately, as Smith and de Villiers saw off the new ball and Streak, the only bowler who asked any serious questions. Smith twice drove loosely, edges narrowly missing his off stump, but that was as close as Zimbabwe got to the breakthrough.After tea, the floodgates opened and dot-balls became rarer than boundaries. Smith brought up his eighth Test hundred and look set to fill his boots before he wearily skyed Cremer to Hamilton Mazakadza for 131. de Villiers was also left ruing a missed opportunity when, two short of what would have been his second successive Test hundred, he tried to drive Cremer against the spin and lofted to Andy Blignaut in the covers.Kallis and Jacques Rudolph set off with all the gusto of children let loose in the sweet shop but who feared teacher would come in to spoil their fun at any moment. Kallis hammered three successive sixes off Cremer, and the usually circumspect Rudolph cracked four fours in five balls off Elton Chigumbura. Even Streak, was savaged and Taibu looked bewildered as he ran out of bowlers to stem the flow, or fielders to plug the gaps.Kallis’s fifth six brought up his fifty in 24 balls – the fastest-known in Test history – before he became Cremer’s third wicket, again courtesy of a top-edge attempting an even bigger hit. Cremer ended the day with the remarkable figures of 9-0-86-3.Kallis departed into the lengthening shadows. The integrity of Test cricket had disappeared some time before that.Martin Williamson is the managing editor of Cricinfo.
CloseAuckland 164 for 5 (Horne 16*, Young 3*) trail Pakistan 318 by 154 runs ScorecardPakistan could not get in too many overs against Auckland on the second day of their match at Eden Park’s outer oval. Morning rain prevented any play until 1.40pm, and the late start left Auckland in no man’s land at stumps.They were still 154 runs short of Pakistan’s total, and it may be that for any real benefit to come from the match, a declaration will be required early tomorrow so Pakistan can leave Auckland a target.However, Rob Nicol, another promising batsmen, scored 60, including three sixes and six fours, off 107 balls. Both overnight batsmen, Mark Richardson (23) and Tim McIntosh (32), were dismissed by Shabbir Ahmed, who ended the day with 2 for 24.Matt Horne dug his way to 16 not out in over an hour and a half. He was accompanied by Reece Young, the wicketkeeper, who remained on three not out. Mohammad Sami had a horror day, bowling 11 no-balls and ending wicketless from his 14 overs for 51 runs.
Andrew Penn has never known a day, in a bowling career hampered by injuries and disturbed by very public crises of confidence, like the one he enjoyed at the Basin Reserve today – where Wellington beat Canterbury by 31 runs.Penn surfed the cricket equivalent of the perfect wave on a day filled with many extraordinary and some historic events to achieve career-best figures of eight for 21 and to wreck Canterbury’s chase for a victory total of 152. His return was the fifth-best by a Wellington bowler in all first-class matches.Penn destroyed Canterbury’s innings in one long spell of perfectly-tuned fast bowling with the new ball. He had never bowled a longer spell in his first-class career – his physical condition would often prohibit it.But on this magical day at the Basin Reserve, Penn couldn’t have been separated from the ball with a crowbar. He bowled and he bowled – and all of his overs in that opening upwind, into a stiff northerly breeze.Wicket after wicket fell as he maintained a difficult length, as he found seam movement and irregular bounce.When he was finally rested, reluctantly, after some 17 overs, he had taken seven for 16 and Canterbury was 33/7.When Penn finally retired to the boundary, Canterbury’s innings began to slowly revive. Having survived his onslaught, they crawled from the trenches and launched a counter attack on Wellington.Peter Fulton and Ryan Burson joined in a partnership for the eighth wicket which was troublesome at first and then passed, through degrees, to frustrating, threatening and finally terrifying. Matthew Bell worked his bowlers as Penn rested but could find no way of separating a pair who were steadily playing Canterbury back into the match.The target of 152, which had seemed unusually imposing at the start, had begun to seem achievable and Wellington’s nerves had again come under assault.Finally, with hope abating, they made a crucial breakthrough through Matthew Walker, who trapped Burson lbw. He had made 39 in 96 minutes and in a partnership of 73 with Fulton, had carried Canterbury to 106/8.There were then only 46 runs needed for victory and Fulton, who had batted with enormous determination, remained at the crease. But he was unable to forge a partnership of sufficient strength with Canterbury’s last two men in to achieve what would have been a marvelous fightback victory.Stephen Cunis was run out for 0 by a throw from the boundary by James Franklin and Canterbury was 109/9.No 11 Wade Cornelius stayed with Fulton for 24 minutes, scoring no runs but courageously holding up one end, till Penn was finally recalled to the attack to deliver the coup de grace.He did so at 6.05pm at the end of an extraordinary day when he bowled Cornelius and ended the Canterbury run-chase at 120. Fulton was left 46 not out and had been at the crease in a superb fighting innings for exactly three hours.Penn had his eight for 21 and Wellington had its third outright win in successive games. As with all four of its outrights this season, the win was achieved after Wellington had conceded a first innings lead.In this case that lead was only 11 runs but that was still a considerable advantage in a match of such narrow margins. Wellington had been out for 182 in its first innings and Canterbury for 193 in reply.Wellington managed 162 in its second innings after being 98/6 and Canterbury failed on a deteriorating pitch to achieve its victory target. By the third day of this match the pitch had become shifty and treacherous. The ball still seamed, it still turned but the judgement of line and movement, of pace and bounce, was an impossible science.Penn crashed through the Canterbury innings with relentless accuracy and command of movement.He dismissed Robbie Frew for 0 when Canterbury was one and then struck the critical double blow on which Wellington’s victory was largely built. He removed Michael Papps and Gary Stead – the leading scorers in Canterbury’s first innings – with successive deliveries in his 11th over.Papps made 68 in the first innings, Stead 52 and the pair shared a 107-run fourth wicket stand. Their dismissals today for 13 and 0 dealt a staggering blow to Canterbury’s chances.Penn then had Shanan Stewart for 10 when Canterbury was 25 and Gareth Hopkins for 0 when they were 29. He removed Aaron Redmond and Paul Wiseman and Canterbury were 33/7.Redmond’s dismissal was the most remarkable of the day. He was stumped by Glynn Howell from Penn’s bowling, giving him another first – his first dismissal in first-class matches achieved by that method.”What a day, eh?” Penn said.”It’s not often you’re getting rhythm like that. That was the best rhythm I’ve ever had. When you get that you’re so worried you’re going to lose it. It just takes a couple of bad overs and it’s gone.”Penn could not be talked into bowling downwind. It was by bowling into the breeze that he was able to achieve that perfect physical poise.”I was always confident that 152 would be enough,” he said. “I mean that especially with this team, the way we’re play and because of the number of times we’ve come out of tight situations.”The pitch by this third day was desperately hard to bat on. Wellington knew that after their experience earlier in the day and backed themselves to make Canterbury’s life difficult. They did so but there are now real concerns at the nature of the pitches the Basin Reserve is producing.This was the second pitch, after that used for last week’s match against Otago, to play such a large part in determining outcome of the match.Wellington’s next match is also at the Basin, against Northern Districts starting on Monday.
The Cooch Behar Under-19 Trophy tournament match between Tripura andBihar at the PIG ground in Agartala was declared a draw afteruninterrupted rain forced the suspension of play at 9.15 am on the thirdand final day on Sunday.In all, only three overs were possible in the match on the opening dayon Friday before the rain gods took over to wash away any hope ofplay for the rest of the match. Electing to bat, Bihar scored only fiveruns without loss in the three overs. Both teams got three points each.
Aston Villa saw a run of three consecutive Premier League victories come to an end in the capital as Steven Gerrard’s side lost 2-1 to West Ham on Sunday afternoon.
It took 70 minutes for the deadlock to be broken as winger Andriy Yarmolenko controlled teammate Said Benrahma’s pass nicely and executed an exquisite finish which was followed by emotional celebrations from the Ukrainian.
The hosts’ lead was doubled 12 minutes later by Pablo Fornals but Jacob Ramsey gave Villa hope late on, but it wasn’t to be for the West Midlands outfit.
It certainly wasn’t a woeful performance from the Villans, however, midfielder Douglas Luiz was particularly underwhelming given his usual high standards.
According to SofaScore, the Brazilian offered little at both ends of the pitch, producing zero shots whilst also failing to make a single block or tackle.
Moreover, the 23-year-old made zero dribble attempts whilst failing to complete a single long ball or cross at the London Stadium.
Also, 62 touches made during the 79 minutes in which he was on the pitch for is arguably a low tally for someone who is usually such a presence under Gerrard.
On a positive note, the midfielder did win most of his duels with a 60% success rate and also enjoyed an 89% passing accuracy with one key pass produced.
However, it was certainly an off day for the Brazilian, whose side are still targeting a top-half finish in the Premier League with the Villans sat in ninth.
To achieve that feat would certainly show signs of progress for the West Midlands club, who haven’t finished in the top ten of the Premier League since their ninth-place finish in 2010/11. Yet, they will need more from their Brazilian enforcer who may just have cost them in the race for top half this afternoon.
From a personal perspective, Luiz will certainly want to put Sunday’s performance and result behind him, with the 23-year-old once again a kingpin for Aston Villa alongside Jacob Ramsey and John McGinn in the midfield this season with the Brazilian accumulating 24 appearances in the top-flight so far this term.
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Since joining Aston Villa in July 2019 from Manchester City, the 23-year-old has gone from strength to strength, racking up 101 matches for the Villans.
Although, the aforementioned trio, as well as the injured Marvelous Nakamba, will have to be wary of seeing a drop in their performances with Gerrard very likely to push to sign a top midfielder in the summer, with Brighton’s Yves Bissouma a player regularly linked to Villa Park.
In other news: Gregg Evans drops behind-the-scenes Villa update which will have many Villa fans sweating
A desire to protect his bowlers convinced Ricky Ponting to bat again as Australia looked to seal a 14th consecutive Test win. The home team had a lead of 296 after dismissing Sri Lanka in the final session, but Ponting chose not to enforce the follow-on as early as the fall of the eighth wicket.”It was just the fact that it was back-to-back Tests and back-to-back innings,” Brett Lee said. “He was just making sure the bowlers were looked after.”Lee, who was again impressive as the attack leader, was one of the main beneficiaries of the break after collecting his third four-wicket haul of the series. “Without saying it or thinking it, I’ve stepped up to the mark and really enjoyed that role,” he said. “I’m really happy with way the ball is coming out.”He opened with two breakthroughs in his first spell of the morning to deflate Sri Lanka and finished off the innings by removing Dilhara Fernando and Mahela Jayawardene, who steered his team with 104. The most spectacular dismissal was his yorker to Michael Vandort that sent the middle stump tumbling.”It’s always nice when a plan comes off,” he said of his opening success. “You get to the top of your mark and visualise, and sometimes you can see it going through and missing the batsman. When it comes off it’s sweet.”At stumps Australia had reached 1 for 111, a lead of 407, and they are aiming to maintain their charge at the record of 16 wins achieved by Steve Waugh’s side in 2001. “It would be lovely to get 16 or 17 straight, but if we worry about the stats and the record it’s not going to be the best thing for us,” Lee said. “We’ve got to win here first, it’s going to take a lot of hard work, and it’s a pretty flat old track.”Andrew Symonds did not field today – Lee was hopeful he would return from an ankle problem in the morning – and there was also a problem with Stuart MacGill. “He fell on his arm and at some stages was finding it hard to grip the ball,” Lee said. “He bowled some great legspinners, the one he bowled to the left-hander was great.” Sanath Jayasuriya was beaten trying to sweep MacGill and he finished with 2 for 81 after picking up Chamara Silva when he edged to Adam Gilchrist.
Click here to have your sayThe ongoing mystery over the marketing deal agreed by the USA Cricket Association and Centrex continues, with the USACA refusing to provide stakeholders or the media with any information.It now seems that not even all the association’s board of directors are aware of what has been signed. “At a conference call on November 16 we were promised a copy of the deal,” one member told Cricinfo. “We were clearly told that it would not be in electronic form as “some” board members were prone to “leaking” such information and the executive was going to make it harder to “leak” such information.”He continued: “A marketing deal that is supposed to be beneficial to the organisation is not touted to the membership and press as the best things since sliced bread; instead we are concerned about the information “leaking” to the media and the membership. I know, I find that rather hard to swallow too.”The USACA has a long history of refusing to keep stakeholders informed, and for several years it has effectively shut out the media. Senior officials have repeatedly refused to answer questions put to them by Cricinfo.There is growing concern over exactly what the new deal, which according to some could earn US cricket millions of dollars, actually involves. Given that there is a continuing row over the USACA’s constitution, there have also been questions as to whether it is within the current leadership’s powers to agree to enter into such a major contract.
Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain, has admonished Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee for being reported on misconduct charges during the third Test against South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground.McGrath was officially reprimanded by Chris Broad, ICC match referee, for using obscene language and Lee was also officially reprimanded for showing dissent. Ponting said it was “not acceptable” to have the players appearing before a disciplinary hearing to defend their conduct. “It’s obviously not ideal. It’s not anything any of those guys or I as captain are proud of that’s for sure,” Ponting told AFP. “We have worked hard on it over the last couple of years and the guys really pride themselves on what they’ve done over the last couple of years.”Ponting said frustration was at the heart of the disciplinary breakdown amid widespread criticism of the performance of Billy Bowden and Aleem Dar, the match umpires. “Frustration is the big thing that comes into it. A lot of it is game-related and happens in the heat of battle on the field. A lot of the guys are quite tired at the moment as well. It’s something we have to look at and talk about there’s no doubt about that. As I’ve always said, it’s not acceptable that we have guys up on report. You’d like to think that that won’t happen again.”Mickey Arthur, the South Africa coach, was also hauled up before the match referee but was found not guilty of making public criticism of the umpires at a press conference during the Test.
The first World Cup – which came two years before the men’s version was born – was held in England, and won by the hosts in a one-sided final against Australia. The brainchild of Sir Jack Hayward, who paid £40,000 of the costs, the 60-over tournament comprised Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, England, Young England and an International XI, and the cup was awarded to the team at the head of the points table after the round-robin.The competition was dogged by rain in the initial stages, but the weather held fair for the final match between the two top teams, England and Australia. It was a stroke of good fortune that the 21st and final match proved the decisive tie – and England defeated Australia by 92 runs at Edgbaston. The victory was given a royal seal of approval: the trophy was presented by Princess Anne.India 1978 Australia got their revenge against England, completing a comprehensive eight-wicket win with more than 18 overs to spare in the final. This time the competition was played in a 50-over format and was contested by only four teams – India, England, New Zealand and Australia – after West Indies and Holland had to withdraw because of financial difficulties.Only six matches were played, held between January 1 and January 14. But that was six more than many people had expected: fears that the tournament would not go ahead were only ended when India – the only country which would attract large enough crowds to make it financially viable – agreed to host the tournament. The buildup was marred by controversy when England’s captain Rachael Heyhoe-Flint was dropped amid rumours of jealousy of her popularity, with the older Mary Pilling replacing her in the leading role. Nevertheless, England managed to make the final, although they were soundly beaten after crawling to 96 for 8 at less than two an over.New Zealand 1982 The same four teams that ran out in 1978 – plus an international XI – contested the third World Cup, and the format reverted to 60 overs. Australia took the honours once more when they faced England in a repeat of the 1978 final. The result went the same way when – in the penultimate over – Australia reached their target with three wickets to spare. More than 3000 spectators watched the match at Christchurch, and the game was also televised.Australia 1988-89
Yet again the old firms of England and Australia met in the final, but Australia extended their advantage, scooping the title for the third time in a row. The match was held at the MCG, where England eked out a painfully slow 127 from 60 overs. Australia’s batsmen responded in equally slow, yet ominously deliberate, fashion, losing only two wickets in reaching their target with 15 overs to spare. Ireland reached the third-place play-off.England 1993 A giant leap for womankind: at last, a different finalist – New Zealand. They took on England, the hosts, for the trophy after winning all seven of their qualifying matches and conceding only 1.6 runs an over. Australia failed to qualify for the final for the first time, but England marched there thanks in no small part to Carole Hodges’ match-winning century against the old enemy in the qualifiers.England proceeded to scoop their second trophy in front of 4,500 at Lord’s: lorry driver Jo Chamberlain was the hero of the hour with a spanking 38, a run-out, wicket and a catch. Denmark managed to win one match in what was an otherwise disappointing first World Cup, while Holland also won only one match.India 1997
The sixth World Cup returned to India in 1997, and the 50-over format made a comeback as one-day cricket was standardised worldwide; it is a format which has endured. Playing in front of vast crowds, Australia picked up their fourth World Cup when they overhauled New Zealand with three overs to spare in a thrilling final at Eden Gardens. Belinda Clark played a captain’s knock with 52 as opener.New Zealand 2000 New Zealand, the hosts, pulled off a shock four-run win over the favourites Australia in a nail-biting contest at Auckland. After scoring only 184 New Zealand seemed to have blown their chances, but offspinner Clare Nicholson turned events in their favour when she bowled Belinda Clark for 91 with Australia on 150 for 7. They lost two more wickets and started the final over needing five runs, but Charmaine Mason fell on the first ball of the over. Finally, the World Cup trophy had a new name on it.
With most Indian fans basking in the euphoria of what happened in Brisbane, and with Les Burdett having promised a batting-beauty pitch at the Adelaide Oval, it’s easy to forget that India were bundled out for 110 here just four years ago. Back then, a good pitch couldn’t quit counterbalance India’s lack of quality, or some decidedly dubious umpiring against Sachin Tendulkar.Four years on, Tendulkar’s thunder, and just about everyone else’s, has been stolen by the Indian team management’s decision to fly in Murali Kartik. Considering that he gets into Adelaide only late Thursday night, it’s unimaginable to think of him starting the match – jetlag and all – if India have to bowl first.Sourav Ganguly wasn’t revealing too many cards at the pre-match press conference, saying that the team would have a good look at the wicket tomorrow before deciding on whether to play two spinners or not. It was blistering hot in Adelaide two days ago, and though it has since cooled down, the wicket is expected to be dry, and full of runs over the first three days.Anil Kumble, reduced to a stock bowler the last time India toured, could be given a chance to make amends. “He’s a handy customer if the pitch is dry,” said Ganguly. “He’s also a bit of a skidder off the pitch. But I’m not sure it’s right to say that he’d be doing the third seamer’s job. He’s a spin bowler at the end of the day.”If Kartik’s midnight-hour finds him a spot in the XI, Harbhajan Singh, who finished with 1 for 169 from 35 overs at the Gabba, might be the one to make way. “He’s been working hard in the nets, and is a quality bowler,” said Ganguly about someone he has always backed wholeheartedly. “But he has to improve, that’s the way we’re looking at it.”Steve Waugh wasn’t overly worried by the fact that India might go in with two spinners. “We’ve got two of our own in Simon Katich and Stuart MacGill,” he said. “The pitch looks very good, with lots of runs. I can see both sides making lots of runs batting first. It should be a good wicket for three days at least.”Brad Williams, who flew in from Perth yesterday, will come into the side, replacing Andy Bichel, who was carted around by the Indians at the Gabba. It was a tough call for Australia to make, given that Bichel had taken ten in his last outing at the Adelaide Oval, in a Pura Cup match against South Australia two weeks ago.Waugh reckoned that India’s strength lay in their middle order, and said that early wickets were essential to put pressure on them. Speaking of Tendulkar, who got another dodgy decision in Brisbane, he said, “There’s always pressure when you fail in an innings. Adam Gilchrist also made a duck at the Gabba, and no matter how good a player you are, there’ll be a few nerves when you walk out to bat the next time.”He also singled out VVS Laxman as a player to watch. “He’s an amazing player with a great eye,” said Waugh. “When the ball isn’t moving too much, he’s a real danger, but we’ve got a plan for him.”If the pitch deteriorated over the final two days, Waugh reckoned that MacGill could be a possible matchwinner. “He’s always been a wicket-taking bowler, and he’s very confident. The Adelaide pitch will help him, and I can sense a big performance from him. He’s been building up to that.”Ganguly accentuated the positives from Brisbane – “On previous overseas tours, we have usually lost the first Test and been under pressure” – but whichever attack he goes in with, there will be no margin for error. The Adelaide Oval has the shortest square boundaries in Australia – 63m from the middle to the rope – to compensate for what is possibly the longest straight boundary in the world at 95m.
Even a miscued sweep from Matthew Hayden could go for six in the general direction of the river. There will be no safety in spin numbers for India, not here. Unless the bowlers are spot on, they’ll be chewed up and spat out. And the same applies for their Australian counterparts.If the team that wins the toss makes in excess of 500, they might not have to bat again. So watch that spin of the coin carefully tomorrow. It could well determine the outcome of a series that is no longer as cut-and-dried as everyone thought it would be.TeamsAustralia (likely) 1 Justin Langer, 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 Ricky Ponting, 4 Damien Martyn, 5 Steve Waugh (capt), 6 Simon Katich, 7 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 8 Jason Gillespie, 9 Nathan Bracken, 10 Brad Williams, 11 Stuart MacGill.India (likely) 1 Akash Chopra, 2 Virender Sehwag, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 Sourav Ganguly (capt), 6 VVS Laxman, 7 Ajit Agarkar, 8 Parthiv Patel (wk), 9 Anil Kumble, 10 Zaheer Khan, 11 Harbhajan Singh.