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ScorecardEngland surged to a series-levelling six-wicket win, overcoming a tenacious Sri Lanka side after four days of hard fought cricket at Scarborough. Having folded in the first Test, this was a spirited comeback by an England side beset with off-field problems. That they completed victory was largely down to a 174-run fourth-wicket stand between Daniel Bell-Drummond and Ateeq Javid that hauled England out of trouble at 25 for 3 to make their 221 chase a formality.Rather than try to blaze their way out of trouble Bell-Drummond, still only 16, and Javid patiently dug in and ground the Sri Lankan bowlers down. In a partnership that lasted the best part of 61 overs runs were eked out at a snail’s pace.Javid struck 11 boundaries and batted for nearly four hours, and was the first of the pair to reach his half-century off 111 balls. Bell-Drummond was equally resolute at the other end, taking 137 deliveries to register his fifty as the pair batted throughout the afternoon session.Finally Sri Lanka struck, with offspinner Rumesh Buddika trapping Javid in front for 89 but by that stage England had victory in their sights. Jack Manuel ensured they got over the line with the minimum of fuss, swiping a couple of fours and a six to end unbeaten on 18 off 13 balls. Throughout Bell-Drummond stood firm, finishing undefeated on 88 after 197 deliveries to carry England home. It was an innings of immense maturity at the top of the order, made all the more special after a frustrating morning for England’s bowlers and fielders.With Sri Lanka starting the day at 171 for 7, England would have fancied their chances of wrapping things up quickly and getting the chase underway. Jacob Ball got them off to a good start, adding two wickets to his overnight haul to bring up his five-for but a 40-run final wicket stand halted England in their tracks. Sanitha de Mel smashed six boundaries and took the Sri Lankan lead to a competitive level, but England’s diligent batsmen ensured it wasn’t enough.

Sharad Pawar, the newly appointed ICC president, denied suggestions of a rift developing in the ICC after the body rejected John Howard’s bid to become the vice-president. Howard was nominated for the role by Australia and New Zealand but failed to find enough support from the other countries. Pawar, however, said that the decision had been deliberated upon within the council.”I don’t think there is any division. We have discussed the matter individually and collectively with everybody including Australia, England and New Zealand,” Pawar said. “The majority did not support him. Ultimately, in any democratic organisation, there has to be support from the majority but that was not there in his case.”Pawar was confident of managing his ICC responsibilities in addition to his role as the union minister for agriculture in the Indian government. “Fortunately the ICC headquarters is in Dubai where they work on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a matter of a two-hour flight [from India]. There won’t be any difficulty.”He said he would request the Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh to lessen his ministerial workload. “I will discuss with the prime minister about my responsibilities and will take appropriate decision so that my government work is not affected,” he said. “I may suggest having more hands to help me. I had asked for three ministers but they have given me only one. If I request to reduce some of my work, we may find some solution. I won’t allow my work in the government to suffer.”

Sreesanth, the Kerala fast bowler, has said he might switch teams in the next domestic season. He was included in Kerala’s 25-man preliminary squad but not named captain.”Though I have not taken a final decision,I might opt for playing for another state in the coming season,” he told . “Even if I play for some other state, it is because I want to play more cricket so that I could do well and get into team India.”Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) secretary TC Mathew said Sreesanth would need an NOC from the KCA if he wanted to represent another state side. “If Sreesanth has decided to play for another state, then he will have to obtain NOC (no objection certificate) from Kerala Cricket Association,” he said. “Once application is given for NOC, the KCA’s Central council will discuss and take a decision on that.”Sreesanth has been training at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore as he attempts to regain a place in the Indian team after being left out of the squad for the Asia Cup. He said his focus is on making a national comeback. “I am working very hard and I want to play for the country. I am really hoping to make a comeback into team India.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Steven Finn continued his outstanding match to secure a five-wicket haul on his home grund•Getty Images

In the end England’s eight-wicket victory came with ease on the final afternoon at Lord’s as they comfortably chased down 160 following Steven Finn’s first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Andrew Strauss guided the pursuit with a confident 82 after the visitors’ last five wickets fell for 35 under cloudy skies against Finn and Tim Bresnan, yet they have done much to enhance their standing over the last five days.With the ball new and the morning overcast the odds were always against Bangladesh delaying England long enough to put the result in serious doubt. It took ten overs to make the breakthrough but they then chipped away regularly to wrap up the innings on the stroke of lunch. Strauss and Alastair Cook were gifted a 60-run start by some woeful bowling and negative fielding settings. The only tension was to see whether the win would come before tea. Despite Kevin Pietersen playing out a maiden from Shakib Al Hasan some scurrying from the umpires ensured it did.However, without Finn England would have had serious problems dismissing Bangladesh twice in this match. The 21-year-old has led the bowling effort in both innings, impressing with his maturity, accuracy and stamina. Strauss gave him an eight-over spell on the final morning and he responded with three further wickets to earn a place on the honours board in his first Test on his home ground.Junaid Siddique and Shakib fought hard to survive and, as often happens when pressure builds, it was one of worst deliveries that made the breakthrough when Shakib cut a wide ball straight to Eoin Morgan at point. Siddique had again resisted stubbornly while England tried to pepper him with the short ball and the tactic could well have played a part in his demise as he tried to drive with his feet planted in the crease and popped a catch to mid off.That gave Finn his fourth and this time he wasn’t going to be denied a place on the board when he produced a beauty that climbed and took Mushfiqur Rahim’s outside edge. However, he couldn’t quite claim the scalp that would have made him the first since Ian Botham in 1978 to claim a 10-wicket match haul at Lord’s.James Anderson endured a frustrating morning as his rhythm continued to improve but was unable to add to his collection. He produced a testing nine-over burst and regularly beat the outside edge, but the closest he came to a breakthrough was when Bresnan spilled a tough chance at third slip off Mahmudullah.Mahmudullah, who is batting far too low even taking into account the nightwatchman, continued the defiance shown by many of his team-mates. He and Rubel Hossain resisted for 10 overs until Bresnan found Rubel’s edge as the No. 10 tried to leave the ball. It’s been a difficult match for Bresnan, and he came in for some guarded criticism from Andy Flower on the fourth evening, but he closed the innings when Mahmudullah had a wild heave in the last over before lunch and ended with 3 for 93.While Bangladesh’s batting is making huge strides, there progress will be held back by the weak pace bowling. Shahadat Hossain’s opening over went for 11 as he sprayed the ball wide at Strauss, while Rubel and Robiul were given an over apiece before spin came on from both ends.Mahmudullah removed Cook as the left hander was given out lbw on the front foot and replays showed the ball would have gone over the stumps for the second time in the game. Strauss, though, eased to his second fifty of the match from 50 balls – nothing more than a gentle net for the captain – while Jonathan Trott eked along at his own sedate pace before Strauss was caught behind cutting with 13 needed.The final result was as expected, yet Bangladesh can take great heart from the way they took the game five days and made England dig deep. Strauss and Flower will expect their side to be far more commanding in the second, at Old Trafford, on Friday but the visitors will have ambitions to make a mark of their own.

Scorecard
Phil Jaques shook off his poor form to reach 92 on the first day against Derbyshire•PA Photos

Daryl Mitchell completed a century and Phil Jaques emerged from one of the worst spells of his career as Worcestershire’s openers put them in control at New Road for the first time in this season’s County Championship. After 71 wickets in barely four-and-a-half days’ cricket in two Second Division fixtures on the ground, the batsmen cashed in today as Derbyshire conceded a first day total of 376 for 3.Jaques, dismissed for a duck in five of his six previous Championship innings, re-discovered his form with 92 from 135 balls and Mitchell ploughed on to 148, his first hundred since making a career-best 298 against Somerset at Taunton last September.Their partnership of 167 extended into the 10th over of the afternoon session before Jaques, having hit 15 fours, shaped to cut a ball from Tom Lungley but dragged it on to his stumps.For Derbyshire, it was a welcome change of luck after a frustrating morning in which the Australian left-hander mixed a number of streaky shots with a fine array of strokes in front of the wicket.It was Worcestershire’s best start in the Championship since Jaques, in anearlier spell with the county, and Stephen Moore, now with Lancashire, put on 234 against Surrey at New Road in 2007. This was also the second three-figure partnership for Jaques and Mitchell this summer – they started with 105 against Middlesex – but in between the first wicket had failed to get into double figure seven times out of eight.Badsey-born Mitchell, now in his sixth season with his native county, moved up the ranks this summer with his appointment as vice-captain. A natural accumulator, he served his side well in seeing off a strong opening spell by Steffan Jones and then milked the Derbyshire attack until reaching hissixth first-class century from the third ball after tea.There were some blemishes along the way but he maintained his focus, even after the confusion that cost Vikram Solanki his wicket. Sent back by his partner, he was run out for 42 by Tim Groenewald.In the next over from Robin Peterson, Alexei Kervezee survived a chance toGarry Park at silly point. It proved to be a costly mistake for Derbyshire during as the productive stand eventually yielded 114.While Mitchell was bowled, attempting to cut Peterson, after picking up 17fours from 260 balls, Kervezee stayed undefeated with 66, having followed his positive instinct to post a half century with an upper cut for six off Jones.

Umar Gul, the Pakistan fast bowler who was ruled out of the World Twenty20, revealed he had voluntarily opted out of the squad owing to fitness concerns arising from the bowling-shoulder injury he picked during the pre-tournament training camp.”I am 70 to 80% fit at the moment but I do not think that is enough to play in an international event which demands 100% fitness,” Gul told the . “Everyone including the coaching staff was keen to have me on the team considering the fact that my bowling was of some help during the previous two editions of the World Twenty20. Majority of the stakeholders believed that I can regain fitness in ten to fifteen days but that is something that was entirely based on hope.” he said.Gul, the world’s leading wicket-taker in Twenty20 internationals, felt going into the tournament with a question mark over his fitness would have been risky. “I knew very well that it was a big opportunity for me to bag some more wickets. But it was a risk that I think the country and the team was not in a position to afford. I think you can only stake a claim when you feel you are in a position to deliver. I may be able to regain fitness or could never have been in a position to bowl a single delivery in West Indies. That would have been a blow to the team’s chances,” Gul said.Gul was prescribed three weeks of rest before resuming action. “I even have bowled four overs on Sunday but it is the comfort level that is more important. I do not think I was feeling all that relaxed and tension-free while delivering the ball. If that is the case, it means you need rest and some weeks off from training,” he said. “I think I would be ready to offer my services for the England tour. The specialists are taking care of my injuries and hopefully I would be back in action in less than a month.”Allrounder Yasir Arafat was the other injury casualty during the rigorous training camp. After some amout of confusion, the PCB had named Mohammad Sami and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman as the replacements.

Peter George, the young South Australia fast bowler, has been called into Australia’s Test squad in New Zealand as cover for Ryan Harris, who is battling a side injury. Harris is carrying the slight problem following the one-day series and was unable to train outside due to the rainy conditions in Wellington on Wednesday.Alex Kountouris, Australia’s physiotherapist, said it was not clear if Harris would be available for Friday’s opening Test at the Basin Reserve. “The plan is he will bowl again outdoors [on Thursday] and hopefully be passed fit to play,” he said.Harris, who has not appeared in a Test, has been outstanding in the one-day games this summer and has been jostling with Clint McKay for the final bowling spot in the XI. George, 23, had a strong season with South Australia, finishing second on the Sheffield Shield wicket list with 36 at 30.44.Andrew Hilditch, the national selection chairman, said George was an exciting fast bowler. “The panel believes that should the opportunity arise, Peter has the skillsto succeed at this level and will benefit greatly from being around theAustralian set-up,” he said.Queensland’s Ben Cutting seemed a more suitable candidate for some work experience but he is involved in the Sheffield Shield final against Victoria at the MCG. Australia are already without Peter Siddle (back) and Ben Hilfenhaus (knee), while Brett Lee has retired from Tests to extend his limited-overs career.

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The nervy finish at the Bandra Kurla Complex provided the perfect end to the one-day series between the teams and set up the Twenty20s wonderfully. World champions England, already having surrendered the series, would have been desperate to end on a high and avoid a 1-4 scoreline. They owed it mostly to No. 7 Danielle Wyatt, who struck 25 not out off 26 balls and shepherded them home with a ball to spare. India though fancied their chances with fine fifties from Harmanpreet Kaur and Mithali Raj taking them to a competitive total.Heather Knight looked to have given the visitors a solid start during the reply with a patient 49. But with the Indian bowlers striking regularly, the task at hand appeared difficult. At 161 for 6, with seven more overs to go, Wyatt was joined by Danielle Hazell, who provided some late momentum hitting three fours en route to a 11-ball 18. Even as Hazell departed, Wyatt held her nerve to reduce the equation to three off the final over.Put in by England, India were in trouble from the start with Nicky Shaw and Katherine removing four batsmen in quick time. But the experienced Raj along with Kaur put on 80 for the fifth wicket to keep India in the game. Raj was caught behind off Brunt soon after her half-century, but Kaur continued the good work with Soniya Dabir (31 not out). Kaur missed out on a well-deserved hundred, finishing on 84 with nine boundaries, and became Jenny Gunn’s second victim.

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Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited were the Pentangular Cup champions for the first time after coasting to a seven-wicket win on the final day at the National Stadium. Misbah-ul-Haq played a captain’s knock of 89 to ensure that they knocked off the remaining 105 runs without any worries.SNGPL were the favourites at the end of the fourth day, finishing on 117 for 2, chasing 222. Opener Naeemuddin fell shortly after reaching his fifty, caught off Taufeeq Umar. That was HBL’s only success as Misbah and Usman Arshad added 74 to see them through. Misbah smashed 12 fours and four sixes in his 129-ball knock as SNGPL needed just 30 overs in the day to finish the game.

East Zone

Orissa maintained their perfect record in the tournament, beating Bengal by six wickets at the Barabati Stadium. Bengal would have fancied their chances after getting to 283 batting first, but Paresh Patel’s sparkling unbeaten century during the reply ensured victory with 10 balls to spare. While opener Sudip Chatterjee laid a solid platform during the Bengal innings with 53, Manoj Tiwary top scored with a quick 86. A 102-opening stand between Patel and Natraj Behera (55) ensured Orissa were on top from the start of the reply. Two half-century partnerships from there on had the hosts in the driver’s seat as Patel finished on 123 off 129 balls, hitting 10 fours and three sixes en route.Bengal’s hopes in the tournament hinged on the result at the Ravenshaw College Ground but even as Tripura beat whipping boys Assam by seven wickets, the net run-rate of +0.185 was not enough for them. A disciplined bowling effort from Tripura first up restricted the opposition to 172. Nishit Shetty then starred with a 92-ball 81 during the chase, and had able support from Bappa Das (47) during their third-wicket partnership of 115. Shetty remained unbeaten as Tripura sealed the win in the 38th over.

North Zone

Haryana stormed to the top of the points table with a 208-run demolition of Jammu & Kashmir at the Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium in Rohtak. Twin centuries from opener Rahul Dewan and wicketkeeper Nitin Saini were the high points of Haryana’s innings after they chose to bat. While Dewan smashed 10 fours and two sixes during his 140-ball 131, Saini’s 109 comprised nine fours and a six. J&K were never in the hunt chasing down the imposing 313, and lost wickets cheaply. Three double-digit scores summed up their plight and they were put out of their misery in the 36th over, making them the worst-placed bottom team across all zones with -3 from five losses.Punjab were made to sweat by Himachal Pradesh in a high-scoring thriller at the Shah Satnam Ji Stadium in Sirsa. With both teams in with a chance to qualify for the next stage, Punjab made a rousing start by piling up 344 for 8. The opening partnership between captain Karan Goel (72) and Ravi Inder Singh (92) set the tone and MS Gony’s late cameo added to the run-feast. Hemant Dogra’s 50 meant HP made a bright start to the reply, and captain Paras Dogra took up the reins with a breezy 109, including three fours and eight sixes. No. 8 Rishi Dhawan’s contribution of 31 came off 18 balls, but with his departure, HP needed 11 off seven balls. However, the task proved too tough for the last-wicket pair Sarandeep Singh and Jitender Mehta, with the former being run out off the last ball.With an aim to qualify for the next stage, Delhi put in strong display to beat Services by 113 runs at the Tata Energy Research Institute Oval in Gurgaon. Mithun Manhas’ classy 148 made all the difference after Delhi chose to bat. He struck 10 fours and a six during his 154-ball innings and was partnered well during a 133-run third-wicket stand by Rajat Bhatia (56). Right-arm fast bowler Shadab Nazar’s five-for made little difference as Delhi managed 311 for 6.What Services lacked during the reply was a sizeable contribution from one of the batsmen. A string of forties was not enough as right-arm seamer Parvesh Chikara helped himself to four wickets. Services succumbed in the 48th over to hand Delhi five crucial points.