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ScorecardSouth Africa A eased to an eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe Select at the Harare Sports Club, taking a little over an hour to score the 88 runs they needed to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.Zimbabwe’s only hope was to make early breakthroughs, and those did not come as Morne van Wyk and Paul Harris extended their second-innings stand to 82 before Harris holed out in the deep off Stuart Matsikenyeri. But van Wyk and Hashim Amla knocked off the remaining 14 needed with no alarms.Zimbabwe will take heart from this performance in which they held their own in the first innings, but they are still struggling in terms of technique with their batting and consistency in their bowling. It should also be noted that despite the team’s name, this is almost a full Zimbabwe XI and almost all of the side will face a full-strength South Africa in three ODIs later this month.Brendan Taylor should return from his self-imposed exile for the second match with starts at Bulawayo on Monday, and Terry Duffin may also get his chance after yet another failure at the top of the order by Tino Mawoyo.

Supersubs may be an extinct phenomenon but it’s the Powerplays that came to the fore in the low-scoring dogfight at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Both batting line-ups suffered jolts with the effect of the second Powerplay and, in a coincidence of sorts, both scored exactly 24 runs and lost three wickets in the ten specified overs.While Andrew Flintoff preferred to enforce the two Powerplays immediately after the 10th over, when India were motoring along at a run-rate of 5.6, Rahul Dravid, defending a modest target, chose to hold it back. While England fought back through the nagging accuracy of their unheralded medium-pacers – Kabir Ali and Liam Plunkett – India turned it around with a thrilling spell of spin.It would have no doubt been a tough decision to take: India didn’t have too many runs to play with, the ball had lost much of it’s early shine, and Kevin Pietersen was toying with the medium-pacers with some brash swipes to leg. Dravid, who’s usually favoured wicket-taking to restriction, revealed the rationale behind the move.”It was a tough one as a captain and it’s not easy with players of the calibre of Pietersen and Flintoff to come. We had only 203 to defend and needed wickets. At that stage, Pietersen was going really well. We thought we’ll just break things up a bit and delay it by two or three overs. We got another wicket but Flintoff came in and that posed some more problems.”Flintoff had joined Pietersen in the 12th over and the duo hushed up the jam-packed Kotla by carting 60 in the next eight. To compound matters, Dravid hadn’t yet used his fifth bowler yet. That was when dust started turning into gold. Yuvraj came on and delivered, of all things, a full toss. Pietersen swept it straight to deep midwicket.Dravid needed to act, swiftly. “Once we’d got Pietersen, we had the opportunity to use the second Powerplay. For me it was the last throw of the dice. If Pietersen hadn’t got out in three or four overs, we would have had to use it anyway.” As it turned out, the dice landed magically. Flintoff swept to his doom and heralded a manic passage of play when the stadium erupted back to life. Within the next ten overs the game was as good as over (when England crumbled to 141 for 8) and chants of “Bring back Sourav” (that were heard during the lunch break) were a distant memory.

Geoff Lawson delivered a strong message to the Pakistan squad about the hard work needed to make the team successful when he was interviewed for the coach’s job. Lawson believes Dav Whatmore, the former Bangladesh mentor, is the favouite for the position, which is also being chased by Richard Done.”I won’t be surprised if I get it, I won’t be surprised if I miss out,” Lawson said in the Sydney Morning Herald. “I wouldn’t have gone for the interview if I wasn’t keen. It would be a terrific challenge. Dav is obviously the front-runner, but I told [the players] about the hard work that has to be done to make the team successful.”I think they appreciate how the Australian approach to playing cricket is a successful one and that’s what they’re trying to tap into. I didn’t chase the job, so there isn’t much to lose if I don’t get it.”Lawson said he was waiting to hear from the Pakistan Cricket Board about the appointment. When he went for the interview last month the players were at a training camp and Lawson was impressed with what he saw.”Those internal games can sometimes be played at, how would you say, less than full intensity, but they were having a go,” he said. “My impressions were very good. They were playing hard and they were playing with attitude. There’s a lot of talent there to work with. It’s an exciting prospect.”

After trying more than a dozen times on Wednesday Australian captain Ricky Ponting finally got the opportuntiy to apologise to BCCI chief Sharad Pawar on the phone on Thursday over the incident during the presentation of the Champions Trophy last Sunday.Peter Young, Cricket Australia spokesperson told that Pawar has now accepted Ponting’s assurance that no disrespect was intended. “It was a very amicable telephone call and the two of them decided they would take a sporting approach and move on, ” he said.”Ricky offered an apology on behalf of himself and the team and it was accepted in good spirit.” Ponting’s apology comes close on the heels of Martyn’s who, on Thursday, had said that he was sorry for any misconduct.On Friday Indian media had quoted top BCCI officials saying that Pawar had indeed spoken to Ponting, and as far as the BCCI was concerned the matter was closed.Ponting and his team-mate Damien’s Martyn’s conduct, where they were seen trying to usher Pawar off the victory podium in their eagerness to celebrate, drew ire from the Indian officials and media. Pawar, himself had called the Australians’ attitude as “totally uncivilised”.Ponting, who arrived back home on Tuesday, said there was no offence intended and he was unaware there was a problem until he saw the television footage of the incident on Thursday morning. “It doesn’t look great on television, but I think the more times you look at it, you probably realise that there’s no intent to offend anybody,” he said.”We all probably got a little bit caught up in the excitement of the moment. That’s why I think it’s so important for me to be in personal contact (with Pawar) and if there is anything lingering on, to get it sorted out as quickly as we can.”James Sutherland, Cricket Australia’s chief executive, admitted the episode had the potential to damage the image of the Australian team.”I think it’s definitely a concern about how this has been perceived in India,” he said. “I think everyone in Australia sees and understands that it was certainly an unfortunate incident and can perhaps understand to some extent how it may have happened.”The disrespect that people have gathered from this is obviously more heartfelt in India and that’s something that we need to accept and obviously deal with.”Sutherland said Cricket Australia chairman Creagh O’Connor had spoken to BCCI senior vice-president I.S. Bindra on Thursday to pass on Australia’s concern.Since Australia and India had recently signed an agreement where both teams would play Test and/or one-day matches against each other annually for the next four years, Sutherland felt there will be plent of opportunities for his team to make amends.”There’ll be plenty of opportunity for them to make amends and to show the Indian public what they really think about India and its people.”

Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s coach, has said that Inzamam-ul-Haq and his team are prepared to accept a punishment for bringing the game into disrepute, but warned that the forthcoming one-day series against England could be scrapped if he is found guilty of ball-tampering.”My feeling is that the ICC have already closed ranks and will penalise Inzamam heavily,” Woolmer told . Inzamam will face an ICC hearing on Friday after being charged with two Code of Conduct offences resulting from the Oval Test, and he faces a possible four Test or eight ODI ban. If the team does pull out, the Pakistan Cricket Board would risk a fine of $2m (approx £1.1m) and a possible suspension by the ICC.”The ball-tampering charge is the sticking-point,” Woolmer told ITV News. “There’s probably room for reason here. We have no truck at all with the England cricket board and players, but we have been accused of cheating [by the umpires], and that is the worst thing you can do to this Pakistan cricket team.”If Inzamam is penalised and penalised heavily, which he could well be, then I cannot guarantee that my side will definitely play. I would think the one-day series may well be in serious jeopardy. It would be difficult for the players to play on if we are labelled cheats.”Woolmer’s comments come after Shaharyar Khan, the PCB board chairman, told reporters that the series was not in doubt. His stance appeared to be backed by Inzamam himself when he told London’s Daily Express: “We will wait for the decision and then make up our minds but it would be difficult for the players to play on if we are labelled cheats.”Inzamam also called on the ICC to declare the Test as null and void after the incidents. Writing in his column for , a Pakistan-based daily, he also stated that this was the biggest disappointment in his career. “If anything we want the ICC to declare the Oval test result as null and void,” he wrote. “The Pakistan Board is already trying to convince the ICC to do this. I am hugely disappointed and hurt by the slur cast on our team by Hair. I never thought my last test in England would end this way.”Inzamam has been charged with two offences, one relating to the condition of the ball and the other – the more serious one – which accuses him of bringing the game into disrepute. The first carries a maximum fine of 100% of his match fee and/or a one Test/ODI ban. The second carries a maximum penalty of a four Test/eight ODI ban.If he is found guilty then he has 24 hours to appeal and he would be free to play until that appeal is heard. Usually, that would mean that the appeal would be heard while the one-day series is still taking place. However, the authorities might opt to avoid a showdown by not scheduling the appeal hearing until after the end of the one-day series.

Rain caused Australia the most discomfort in New Zealand, but it couldn’t wash away a string of brilliant performances by Gilchrist, McGrath, Warne and Ponting. When the quartet is in form it is hard to think of any team that could match it. New Zealand managed to pressure Australia for two days in the first Test before being ruthlessly overpowered – a constant theme of the tour – and only wet weather prevented a 3-0 result. Hamish Marshall and Daniel Vettori were the home side’s high points while the Australians were busy jostling for top billing again.Australia
9.5Adam Gilchrist
Absolutely amazing and the Man of the Series. Turned the first Test with 121 off 126 balls and the second with 162 off 146 balls, in which he passed Ian Healy’s tally for the most runs by an Australia wicketkeeper. Belted Australia ahead at Auckland with 60 not out off 62 at No. 8 and terrified New Zealand’s bowlers. Wicketkeeping was barely noticed but picked up seven catches.Glenn McGrath
Brilliant. Closed down the main threat of Stephen Fleming and hounded 18 wickets at 15.72. Changed the Christchurch Test with six first-innings scalps to end Australia’s lethargy and hardly bowled a ball off line in the final Test, giving away 89 runs in 50.2 overs for 7 wickets. Will begin his opening over at Lord’s with 499 Test victims.9Shane Warne
The second of Australia’s bowling diamonds, Warne kept shining and New Zealand couldn’t find a way to avoid the glare. Embarrassed Hamish Marshall around and through his legs in the first Test, finishing them off with 5 for 39 as they collapsed for 131. A constant threat in the remaining matches, he collected 17 wickets at 22 to extend his world record.8.5Ricky Ponting
Played the innings of the Test with 105 and 82 not out at Auckland when he danced at almost a run a ball on a pitch nobody else mastered. The second knock was brilliant under lights as he flayed to finish the match a day early in drizzle. Left New Zealand with 289 runs at 96.3 and showed his ruthlessness as captain by piling on 570 before the Wellington declaration. Still could have been more damaging with the bat, missing a pair of half-centuries in the first Test.7Damien Martyn
Beat early struggles at the Basin Reserve to post a delightful 165, his highest Test score, alongside Gilchrist. Was twice trapped playing back to spin, although both deliveries hit his bat, but breezed to 235 runs at 78.3 to cap a satisfying series.6Justin Langer
Belted Australia to victory with second-innings half-centuries in the first and final Tests to banish jitters of chasing low totals. Deserved another half-century at the Basin Reserve after he gritted through the first-morning difficulty to stabilise the side on the way to 570. Dropped a comfortable chance at slip at Christchurch, but was safer with next three offerings.Simon Katich
His on-again off-again Test career is back on. Again. Returned for his first Test since India and jumped Australia from passing the follow-on to parity. His 118 was shot-laden and attractive, but was towered by Gilchrist’s explosion. Finished the tour with a pair of 35s and can get comfortable for an extended run at No. 6.5.5Jason Gillespie
Reversed an awful first-Test first innings, which increased calls for him to give way to Brett Lee, into three lbws that toppled the top-order. Given a tip by Merv Hughes to straighten his run-up, he arrowed in to reconfirm his place as Australia’s No. 2 paceman. Will move into fifth place on Australia’s wicket-taking list with his first wicket in England after joining Richie Benaud on 248Michael Kasprowicz
Held his spot ahead of a deafening campaign for Lee and celebrated his 100th wicket at the Basin Reserve. It was a satisfying milestone and his regular incisions and sliding cutters regularly challenged the batsmen. Ended the series with eight wickets and can look forward to the Ashes after a stint with Glamorgan.4Matthew Hayden
Spent most of the first Test rubbing his injured shoulder and ached – and failed – to end his poor streak. A patient 61 in the second Test showed he was willing to work, although hard for his runs but he couldn’t turn starts into substance. Will enjoy the break but not the horrible run-out to end his summer.3Michael Clarke
Finding life as an international much harder with the bat after his promotion to No. 5. Scores of 8, 8 and 22 gave him a thud after his glowing Test start. A couple of stunning run-outs boosted the side and his ability to pick up a wicket when thrown the ball will increase comparisons with Mark Waugh and Doug Walters.

New Zealand
8Daniel Vettori
Bowled superbly at Christchurch for six wickets and was a regular tormentor on pitches ordered for seam instead of spin. Missed support in delivering 123.5 overs, and if it wasn’t for Gilchrist’s crash-tackling his figures would have sparkled. Hampered by back trouble, he averaged 66 in an amazing lower-order batting performance and picked up eight wickets.7.5Hamish Marshall
Stunning maiden Test century – only his second in first-class cricket – with 146 that scared Australia at Christchurch. Looked at ease against the pace but twice fell to Warne when more patience and a better legside defence was needed. Set up New Zealand with a gutsy 76 at Auckland and collected 269 runs at 44.83. An exciting long-term prospect.6.5Nathan Astle
Acted up as the side’s senior batsmen with Fleming out-of-form and performed at his best in the opening and closing stages. His results had an almost symmetrical feel with 74, 21, 9, 4, 19 and 70 and he deserved a century for the extra responsibility. Also contributed with a wicket in each Test.6James Franklin
Hit and miss in the first two matches before finding his range with a career-best six wickets in the final Test. Twelve series victims was a worthy return for a bowler who swung the ball regularly and increased his pace following the Australia tour last November. Picked up four first-innings wickets in the second Test after wasting two new balls, and also improved his batting contributions.5Lou Vincent
Recalled after more than a year away, he ensured he would be a starter for the Sri Lanka series with 160 runs in six bats. The Wellington half-century showed his attitude and greater maturity, and he hauled New Zealand from disaster with 40 from 33 balls in the final Test. New Zealand will need more from him in the future.4Craig Cumming
Showed he could see off the new ball and may be a medium-term option if his game tightens up by becoming more selective with his hooking and pulling. Made a big impression with 74 on debut before falling horribly to a legside trap, but tailed off at Auckland with 5 and 0.Brendon McCullum
Competing with Gilchrist proved too much. Too eager to attack, his batting was disappointing for someone so talented, and his wicketkeeping swayed on both sides of good. Grabbed a super legside catch standing up to dismiss Ricky Ponting, but needed to take more chances in earlier matches to trouble Australia.3Stephen Fleming
The move from No. 4 to opener was a failure in a disastrous sequence of 18, 17 and 0 so he dropped down for the final Test, improving with 65 and 3. As captain he let Australia off in each Test – Gilchrist deserved a lot of credit for this – when he could have tackled manageable totals. A respected leader who missed his chance to beat Australia.Iain O’Brien
Matthew Hayden was his first Test wicket on debut and he kept moving the ball around in various spells, but he lacked overall impact. Was dropped for Eden Park, but could be a useful third-seamer with better support from the openers.2Chris Martin
Kept running in and swung the ball wildly on occasions, but his impact was minimal. New Zealand miss an opening bowler who can strike regularly and Martin, who took two wickets at 198.5, is not the answer.James Marshall
Made his debut as an opener in the third Test, where batting with his twin brother was the highlight. Fought his way to 29 in the first innings, ran out Clarke with a fine throw, and was McGrath’s 497th wicket in the day-three gloom.Paul Wiseman
A tough non-selection at Christchurch and Wellington, he was brought in for the dropped-in pitch at Auckland. Collected Damien Martyn with a big-turning off-spinner for his only wicket.1Craig McMillan
Red-faced after falling to Warne legside trap at Christchurch and lucky to get another go in the second Test, where he fell to a wild slog-sweep and was bowled by Warne. Dropped for Auckland because Australia had his number.

Ajit Agarkar, the Indian fast bowler, has joined Sachin Tendulkar at Lashings cricket club in England for a short stint.The Kent-based club announced the new arrival today: “Just when you thought the Lashings line up couldn’t get anymore exciting, Lashings announce that they have also welcomed Ajit Agarkar to the side.”Agarkar has been pencilled in for three matches for Lashing World XI, led by Richie Richardson, the former West Indies batsman. The first, against Surrey’s Reigate Priory Cricket Club, was scheduled for today, followed by ones against Middleton Cricket Club and Sutton Valence School.Agarkar was not included in India’s Test side in the West Indies despite a fine display in the preceding five-match one-day series. He previously played for Middlesex in 2004, and had indicated that he was keen to spend time before India’s next assignment – a one-day tournament in August-Septemer – playing some form of professional cricket in England.Tendulkar, who joined Lashings as part of his shoulder rehabilitation, smashed a thrilling century in his debut last week.

Holland 56 for 3 trail Ireland 407 for 4 dec (Bray 135, Botha 97, Joyce 54, Molins 53, Gillespie 50*) by 351 runs
ScorecardIreland eased into the semi-finals of the Intercontinental Cup after their match with Holland petered out into a tame draw, with the poor weather which had washed out the first day returning to bring a premature end to a game which had long since ceased to have any meaning.Ireland’s powerful batting performance yesterday had ended any hopes Holland had of reaching the last four, and they had to be content with some gentle batting practice. Resuming at 56 for 3, they soon lost Eric Szwarczynski but then Ryan ten Doeschate (84) and Alexei Kervezee (46*) put on 115 for the fifth wicket to ensure that at least they were saved the embarrassment of having to follow on. By the time ten Doeschate was caught behind off Andre Botha, the game had meandered into insignificance, and the return of the rain was not unwelcome.Holland have suffered appallingly from the weather. Their first match at home to Scotland was washed out, and almost half of this game fell victim to the elements, making it almost impossible for them to mount any serious challenge for a semi-final berth. What was, on paper, the strongest of the four zonal groups in the tournament was reduced to a meteorological lottery.But that does not ignore the fact that Ireland rallied superbly to defeat the fancied Scots, and then clinically batted Holland out of this game knowing that a draw was all they needed to book a place in Namibia. They will face the United Arab Emirates at Windhoek in a three-day game starting on October 23.

The Sri Lankan board has launched an investigation into allegations of misconduct by two players during the Champions Trophy newspaper last month. newspaper said that Sri Lanka Cricket had been prompted to take action after being “tipped off by well-informed sources” that the two players – allegedly Avishka Gunawardene and Kaushal Lokuarachchi – were involved in a late-night drinking binge midway through their rain-interrupted match against England.Mohan de Silva, the cricket board president, confirmed to Wisden Cricinfo that a disciplinary probe was already under way: “Investigations have been started. We have instructed the disciplinary committee to look into these allegations and they are making preliminary enquiries now before the players return from Pakistan.”The allegations surfaced soon after Sri Lanka’s early exit from the Champions Trophy, but were not taken seriously at the outset after being flatly denied by Ajit Jayasekera, the team manager at the time, and the coach John Dyson.de Silva refused to confirm the identity of the two players, and insisted that the decision to drop both Gunawardene and Lokuarachchi for Sri Lanka’s second match in the Paktel Cup had not been triggered by the inquiry.Lokuarachchi was banned for four months from all forms of cricket last year after his involvement in a tragic late-night driving accident. Legal proceedings are still continuing in that case.

A wicket from the last ball of the day for Matthew Nicholson has given Western Australia the edge at stumps on day two of their Pura Cup clash against South Australia at the Adelaide Oval.The Warrior paceman ripped out Jeff Vaughan’s off stump with a delivery that stayed down after the batsman had let it go. That wicket, the third that South Australia surrendered in the space of just over three overs at the end of the day, left the hosts reeling at 5/133.After captain Darren Lehmann’s unfortunate run out, the Redbacks lost a further two wickets for the addition of just five runs. Nicholson was the main destroyer, snaring the last two wickets in the final over of the day.The lanky right arm bowler was close to the best of the Western Australian attack today, with 2/42 off his 14.5 overs. Conceding 40 runs off his 17 overs for one wicket, chinaman bowler Brad Hogg was also in top form. And Jo Angel, who conceded just 14 runs from his seven overs, was typically economical.The Warriors will be looking for early wickets tomorrow to finish off the South Australian lower order and possibly enforce the follow on. South Australia’s hopes, meanwhile, will rest principally with 27-year-old batsman Ben Johnson, who is averaging 34 in domestic first class cricket. The hosts trail by 347 runs with only five wickets in hand.Earlier in the day, the Redbacks had been provided with a solid start by opener Shane Deitz. The 25-year-old played a typically patient and watchful innings today, bringing up his third half century in what is only his fifth first class match. Deitz’s fifty, which came from 128 balls, included four boundaries.Darren Lehmann, at the other end, scored at a quicker rate, posting 38 off 52 deliveries. Together with Deitz, he recorded a 50-run partnership, the highest of the Redback innings, from 101 balls.But just when those two looked settled, Deitz set off for a suicidal single off Warrior captain Tom Moody’s first ball. The throw from Ryan Campbell at mid wicket was an accurate one and, by the time that Lehmann reached his crease, wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist had already dislodged the bails. The Redback captain’s innings contained four boundaires.Next in, Jason Gillespie quickly signalled his intentions with a boundary to get off the mark. But the Redbacks ran into even more trouble soon after, when Deitz was trapped lbw by Nicholson for 60.Earlier in the final session, Australian Test hopeful Greg Blewett had failed to catch the selectors’ eyes, scoring just two runs off 21 deliveries. Blewett, who lingered before walking to the pavilion, was clearly unhappy about the caught and bowled decision that brought about his demise. Left armer Hogg, however, was delighted at having held the low catch off the Redback’s bat.Blewett’s counterpart and occasional Australian teammate Damien Martyn (122) enjoyed a better day. A philosophical Martyn, who averaged 60 in Australia’s last Test series against New Zealand, says he knows Ricky Ponting’s recovery from injury will leave him out of the national team for the start of this summer’s Test series against the West Indies.”I haven’t been really worrying about that. I’ve just started my season and am going about my job,” he said. “I’d like to play Test cricket again. I got to play Test cricket in New Zealand and it was a lucky break and if I just keep making runs, you never know, anything could happen. If I’m not there in the first Test, I won’t be too unhappy about it.”Martyn’s ton was good, but Gilchrist’s early in the day was just superb. The Australian vice-captain, who had come to the crease when Martyn was at 58, even found his way to his century before his partner. Along the way, he belted 12 fours and two sixes to finish with 102 off 99 deliveries.He punished all the Redback bowlers, striking boundaries off even the accurate and economical Gillespie. He eventually fell to Peter McIntyre, missing a drive and watching the ball dislodge his off-stump instead. Martyn later described Gilchrist’s sparkling innings as a real bonus for his team.